Welcome to Can’t Wait for Wednesday, your guide to what’s coming to your local comic shop this week. It’s a really, really cold week for man in the United States, and a winter storm has wrecked havoc on a good portion of us. I would not be surprised if that has an impact on comic deliveries this week, so be sure to check with your retailer to see if they experience any delays.
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 + Mad Cave + 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. Always check with your individual retailer to see what’s arriving at their shop this week.
Iron Man #1 (Marvel, $5.99): Joshua Williamson makes a return to Marvel after years writing such high-profile titles as Superman at DC and G.I. Joe at Skybound. He takes the reins on Iron Man with artist Carmen Carnero in this oversized debut, bringing Tony Stark into conflict with his ex, Madame Masque, as she and AIM attempt to create the next great weapon. It’ll also feature members of the classic Thunderbolts team and a new archenemy.
DC K.O.: The Kids Are All Fight Special #1 (DC, $5.99): Jon Kent faces an unexpected challenge in this DC K.O. tie-in one-shot by Jeremy Adams and Travis Mercer. The young Superman always wanted to be a Teen Titan when he grew up, but now that he’s working alongside them to evacuate Earth, he’s stuck babysitting young sidekicks like Cheshire Cat, Cassandra Cain, Quiz Kid and more. When the kids sneak off to fight Granny Goodness, Jon will have to show these young heroes the ropes so they can save the day.
The Witcher: Blood Stone #1 (Dark Horse, $4.99): The Witcher is back in this four-issue miniseries by Daniel Freedman and Pius Bak. Ancient dwarven mines have attracted treasure hunters, and legend has it a horned beast is killing them. With no signs of an attack, Geralt surveys the lay of the land, but the mountains are deadly and the mines even deadlier.
Bug Wars: The Spyder Wytch Special (Image Comics, $5.99): Jason Aaron, Mahmud Asrar and Baldemar Rivas reunite for an extra-length special that burrows deep into the shadowy world of the Spyder Wytches of Wyrdweb, from their excellent Bug Wars miniseries. Learn new lore, see explosive action and discover web-woven secrets about the Yard.
DC’s Supergirl Next Door #1 (DC, $9.99): It’s a big year for Supergirl, so it’s not surprise she’s the star of this year’s Valentine’s Day anthology. Join Supergirl and a host of lovestruck heroes and villains as they bravely embark on quests for love, even if it means running through every rom-com trope to get there. Writers include Nathan Fairbairn, CRC Payne, Rosie Knight, Dorado Quick, Nicole Maines and Sarah Kuhn, with art by Paulina Ganucheau, Arielle Jovellanos, Rafael Perez and Michael Shelfer.
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 (Marvel, $4.99): Saladin Ahmed, Joe Kelly and Federico Vicentini team up as Spider-Man shows new speedster Rapid around his friendly neighborhood. Rapid has a lot to learn about the super-hero game, but the training wheels come off when Screwball livestreams death and destruction across New York.
Malevolent #1 (Image Comics, $3.99): The Spread team of Justin Jordan, John Bivens and Felipe Sobreiro launch a new ongoing series set in a world where mankind unleashed demons into the world. But humans can adapt to anything, even a demon haunted world, and have created a weapon that can kill demons — if she doesn’t kill us first.
Astro Quantum #1 (Mad Cave Studios, $4.99): This new space saga by Andrea Mutti and Arturo Fabra is about two unlikely allies that claw their way through underground bazaars, brutal creatures and bitter rivalries to chase a destiny bigger than either imagined: a place aboard the legendary Molok-hunting starship Pekuod.
Spirit of the Shadows #1 (Oni Press, $4.99): A mortal musician is reborn as a phantom in this new miniseries by Nick Cagnetti and Daniel Ziegler. Once, Erik Leroux was selflessly devoted to his music and his true love Katrina, but now he has to claw his way back from the infernal planes to uncover the mysteries of his own life and avenge the dark sins that transformed him into the Spirit of the Shadows.
Escape from Skull Island #1 (Titan Comics, $4.99): Simon Furman and Christopher Jones return to Skull Island in this continuation of the Netflix animated series. Trapped on Skull Island, a desperate band of survivors struggles against the land’s relentless horrors while an ancient threat rises from below. But as chaos unfolds, flashbacks reveal Kong’s turbulent youth: his battles, losses and the primal instincts that shaped him into the island’s sovereign.
Do Not Disturb #1 (Invader Comics, $6.99): David R. Flores and Jarod Hunter Roe launch a three-issue mystery/thriller with a supernatural twist set within an infamous hotel called The Argyle. The story follows private investigator, Randall Halsey, who has been hired to find a missing young woman, only to realize she and him have been murdered. Not letting death stand in the way of solving the mystery, Randall has to maneuver through both the human and supernatural worlds that lay within the walls of The Argyle, traveling through time itself to set things right.
Absolute Wonder Woman #16 (DC, $4.99): It’s a magical smackdown as Absolute Zatanna make sher debut. Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman begin a new story arc, “The Season of the Witch,” as Diana resolves not to let her personal mission overwhelm the one she was sent to the surface world to fulfill. But a new threat has emerged in Gateway City, and it turns out the best thing to send to kill Wonder Woman is another witch.
Monster High: Boomuda Triangle #1 (IDW, $4.99): This multiverse adventure by Megan Brown and Eileen Widjaja features Spelldon Cauldronello and Kieran Valentine, as they head to take part in a summer internship for the all-powerful guardian of the Boomuda Triangle, the place where all worlds are kept in balance. When things go wrong, as they often do, Spelldon and Valentine will have to overcome their insecurities, mend the rips and find each other in every universe.
White Shadows HC (Magnetic Press, $24.99): Originally published in French by Soleil Productions as L’Ombre blanche, Antoine Ozanam and Antoine Carrion’s early graphic novel comes to the U.S. for the first time. It’s the story of a kidnapped prince who may be the key to a kingdom in conflict, but the beast who took the boy may pose more threat than the hushed fairy tales suggest.
Sword in the Stone HC: Arthur’s Magical Kingdom (Papercutz, $14.99): It’s amazing to me how many comic publishers have a Disney license these days. Papercutz continues their all-ages graphic novel line with this one by Gabriel Valentin, Michael J. Snow and Lorenzo Colangeli, as they continue the story from the Disney classic The Sword in the Stone. Young King Arthur is still learning what it means to rule Camelot, but destiny isn’t finished with him yet. When the wicked sorceress Madam Mim claws her way back from the beyond, she brings a dark magic and familial connections that threaten to unravel the very fabric of history.
A Brief History of a Long War: Ukraine’s Fight Against Russian Domination (Ten Speed Graphic, $19.99): Mariam Naiem, Yulia Vus and Ivan Kypibida present a comprehensive graphic history of Ukraine’s centuries-long struggle against Russian domination, from the Middle Ages to today’s devastating war.
Unfairies (Amulet Books, $13.99): Huw Aaron launches a madcap graphic novel series following factions of sneaky, double-crossing fairies who will do anything for control of their world, The Garden. After being tasked with delivering an important message from the root stores all the way to the top of the tree, Pip the tree fairy is thrown into a whirlwind adventure involving a dubious ancient prophecy, epic acorn-based warfare and sinister plots that could shatter the delicate peace among the fairies for good.
Token City Wondercade (Top Shelf, $14.99): The Token City Wondercade has seen better days, but for 15-year-old Izzy, it’s both work and home. Her dad is already struggling to keep the business afloat when the arrival of a mysterious arcade cabinet bearing only the name “Hex” throws their world into chaos in this graphic novel by D. Bradford Gambles and Spencer Holt.
Demon of Beausoleil (Oni Press, $24.99): Mari Costa delivers a queer romance featuring a half-demon socialite-turned-exorcist and his disgruntled bodyguard. Together, the two venture into the streets of this pseudo-remix of Victorian London to exorcise demons and maybe cause a little mischief.