Welcome to Can’t Wait for Wednesday, your guide to what comics are arriving in comic book stores, bookstores and on digital.
I’ve pulled out some of the highlights for this week below, but for the complete list of everything you might find at your local comic shop and on digital this week, you’ll want to check out one or more of the following:
- Penguin Random House (Marvel + IDW + Dark Horse + more)
- Lunar Distribution (DC + Image + more)
- Diamond’s PreviewsWorld (Dynamite + more)
- ComicList (Pretty much all of the above)
- Amazon/Kindle new releases (digital comics)
As a reminder, things can change and what you find on the above lists may differ from what’s actually arriving in your local shop. So check with your retailer to see what’s arriving at their shop this week.
Superman Unlimited #1 (DC, $4.99): Longtime Marvel/Spider-scribe Dan Slott is “all in” at DC, as he and artist Rafael Albuquerque launch a new Superman ongoing series as part of the “Summer of Superman” initiative. It starts with a meteor heading for Earth, but that’s nothing for the Man of Steel, right?
“When an asteroid the size of Metropolis hurtles toward collision with planet Earth, the Justice League dispatches Superman to avert the crisis–but a sinister threat lurks within that will change the world like never before, and this danger glows green.”
The Free Comic Book Day issue, which can be found on Comxiology for free, revealed what the danger was and left us on a cliffhanger, so this week we can find out what happens next. Also, while I’m thinking about it, Happy Miracle Monday to all who celebrate — Superman may need one after this.
Spider-Man & Wolverine #1 (Marvel, $4.99): Marc Guggenheim and Kaare Andrews team up for the mightiest of team-up comics, with each issue featuring Spider-Man and Wolverine doing what they do best. The first issues sees the duo facing off with two of their deadliest villains — Kraven and Omega Red.
Sleep #1 (Image Comics, $3.99): Zander Cannon, creator of Kaijumax and Heck, is back with a new miniseries that “explores the horrifying waking hours of an unwilling part-time killer,” as a man named Jonathan Reason becomes a serial killer when he sleeps at night for unknown reasons.
The Thing #1 (Marvel, $4.99): With the new Fantastic Four film arriving this summer, Marvel is focusing heavily on the first family in the comics as well — which includes this new miniseries starring The Thing by Tony Fleecs and Justin Mason. The story finds Ben Grimm back on Yancy Street, where his attempts to stop a criminal conspiracy has placed him in the crosshairs of a mysterious villain who issues a contract on him — drawing the attention of everyone from Bullseye to the Juggernaut. Yes, it’s the Thing vs. everybody.
Robowolf #1 (Dark Horse, $4.99): Jake Smith has a really fun art style, as seen in titles like Godzilla: War for Humanity, and in this new series he both writes and draws, he introduces Robowolf — the leader of a group of bank robbers trying to get their score to Colonel Massacre, who kidnapped Robowolf’s daughter and is holding her for ransom. His crew will have to fight through bloodthirsty cannibals, ninjas, robots and more to get to them.
Whatever Happened to the Crimson Justice? #1 (Mad Cave Studios, $4.99): Frank Tieri and Inaki Miranda reunite for the story of Crimson Justice, a hero who disappeared in a hospital fire while fighting his archenemy, Dr. Mayhem. Now Dr. Mayhem is back — could the Crimson Justice be far behind?
The Vision & The Scarlet Witch #1 (Marvel, $4.99): Steve Orlando — who has been killing it on Scarlet Witch stories in recent years — teams with Lorenzo Tammetta and Jacopo Camagni to bring the iconic couple back together to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. The plot revolves around a series of mysterious doors opening all over the world, “drawing people in with promises of miracles and reunions with lost loved ones.” When Vision is injured investigating them, the Scarlet Witch resorts to extreme measures to save his life.
Spawn: The Curse of Sherlee Johnson #1 (Image Comics, $5.99): Todd McFarlane’s Spawniverse continues to grow with the addition of this new title by Daniel Henriques and Jonathan Glapion. It’s about Sherlee Johnson, who was killed by the child serial killer Billy Kinkaid way back in Spawn #5. “Her harrowing adventures with the Stranger are laid bare as her story and the world she now inhabits is revealed,” according to the solicit text.
Hulk & Doctor Strange (Marvel, $4.99): J. Michael Straczynski’s series of one-shots featuring oddball team-ups brings together a not-so-odd couple this time around, as the Hulk enlists the help of Doctor Strange in a story drawn by German Peralta and Natacha Bustos. Two former Defenders teammates coming together doesn’t seem so odd, so there’s also an Aunt May/Agatha Harkness team-up story that seems more like it’s following the theme.
Also the timing itself seems a bit odd when you consider the next comic on our list this week …
The Incredible Hulk #25 (Marvel, $4.99): This oversized issue by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Nic Klein features the Hulk and his “sidekick,” Charlie, searching for Doctor Strange — who now lives in Asgard, ever since he lost his title to Doctor Doom (it’s a whole thing). When they try to make the journey across the rainbow bridge to find the former sorcerer supreme, Thor is waiting to collect a toll.
And yes, that’s two comics featuring the Hulk seeking the aid of Doctor Strange in the same week.
Ghostbusters: Skeleton Crew #1 (Dark Horse, $4.99): David M. Booher and Aviv Or present another story featuring the new crew of Ghostbusters, as a cursed saber summons the ghost of Captain Kidd and threatens to transform New York into a ghostly pirate town.
Adventure Time Deluxe Edition #1 (Oni Press, $9.99): This “deluxe edition” of Nick Winn and Derek M Ballard’s new Adventure Time comic comes polybagged with a new cover by James Stokoe and a set of stickers. Stickers!
Arsene Schrauwen (Fantagraphics, $29.99): Fantagraphics brings Olivier Schrauwen’s graphic novel inspired by his mid-century colonialist grandfather’s adventures in Africa back into print in this 10th anniversary paperback edition.
Spent: A Comic Novel (Mariner Books, $32): Fun Home creator Alison Bechdel returns with a new graphic novel about “her own greed and privilege” while running a pygmy goat sanctuary in Vermont.