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Another week, another group of good books came out. Really enjoy weeks like this when there are a variety of publishers that make the list. The more healthy publishers comics have the better the industry is for everyone. With that let’s take a look at this week’s list:
(Editor’s Note: Solicitations provided by Respected Publisher)
10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto #1
Writer: Caleb Goellner
Artist: Hendry Prasetya
Publisher: IDW
Solicitation: It’s the coolest ninja matchup you could have ever dreamed of, had you dared! The Heroes in a Half-Shell meet the host of the Nine-Tailed Fox in the crossover everyone will be talking about.
When teenage reporter April O’Neil has a clandestine meeting with Tsunade, the leader of the Hidden Leaf Village, it garners the attention of Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi. They aren’t the only ones who are wondering what the two women were discussing, though. The sinister Foot Clan have their own interest in April’s visit, as they think she might hold the valuable information on mutation research being conducted by the scientist Baxter Stockman. With April caught between the forces of the Hidden Leaf Village and the Foot Clan, it can’t be long before the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles show up to lend her a hand!
Why it Made the List: There have been a number of comic book crossovers that have made this list typically it is when two properties I enjoy agree to join forces. That is not the case here. While I have read plenty of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I have never read or watched Naruto. (Pauses for outrage) So why am I interested in this? Well, because what better way to get exposed to that world than through a property I know well, and if I like it maybe it will propel me to finally get it a chance. Now I do run the risk of not understanding half the book due to my inexperience so I hope the creators keep in mind they need to be welcoming to both fanbases. You cannot assume only fans will pick this up in order for it to work for everyone.Â
Writer: Joey Esposito
Artist: Sean Von Gorman
Publisher: Magma Comix
Solicitation: A city on the brink of succumbing to the insidious forces of the Klutch! A hushed hero standing tall in the face of evil! Regular people drawn together by a desire to help each other and their town! Is this the beginning of the end… or just the end of the beginning?! Don’t miss the exciting conclusion of the Pedestrian’s first adventure! Writer Joey Esposito (Batman: Urban Legends) reunites with Pawn Shop collaborator, artist Sean Von Gorman (Ghost Planet), for an offbeat tale that will stick with you!
Why it Made the List: As someone who adores absurdity no matter the medium this strikes a chord I love hearing. Its tone reminds me of a Mark Russell book that is humorous but also has this ominous feeling throughout. Whenever I think we have done everything we possibly can with superheroes we get creators like Joey Esposito and Sean Von Gorman who create a completely original idea. Currently, this is listed as the final issue and I hope that is not the case because I have been enjoying it so much, and get the sense there is more story there to explore. For now, I am just going to enjoy what we have gotten because this is easily one of my favorite surprises of the year.Â
8. Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #33
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Adrián Gutiérrez
Publisher: DC Comics
Solicitation: Eclipso’s reign of terror has brought the Justice League to the brink of civil war… but there must be a way to break the spell! The answer lies within the very power source that allows Superman to race faster than a speeding bullet… It’s a battle for Earth’s yellow sun in the dramatic conclusion of “Darkness Falls”!
Why it Made the List: This has been DC’s best comic for years now and even with some changes in the art department that has not slowed down. This arc has been a coming-out party for Adrián Gutiérrez because he is doing such great work. Energy is the world that comes to mind when looking at his linework. The page radiates with it in how his lines move and shake throughout the page. He has quite the assignment as well with the amount of characters that have made up this story from across the DC universe. From the Justice League to the Justice Society nearly every major character has made an impact in some way. Also happy when we get a story like this involving a villain like Eclipso because he does not show up all the time. A nice change of pace compared to getting more Darkseid or The Joker.Â
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: David Messina
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Solicitation: WHO IS THE ULTIMATE BLACK CAT? Tensions rise between Spider-Man and Green Goblin in the wake of recent events! And a new villain steps up to the plate! What is her connection to the Black Cat on Kingpin’s Sinister Six?
Why it Made the List: The new Ultimate Universe has been the best thing going for Marvel. I am happy to say that eleven issues into this run because the foundation for the future appears firmly in place. There have been times I felt the development of this world could be a bit faster but the expansion in books like The Ultimates has done a lot moving things forward. Now we are getting a new version of one of Spider-Man’s best characters in The Black Cat. One big difference here is that Spider-Man is already a married man so do not think we can get the sexual tension these characters were known for. I mean…we can get it but it would make Spider-Man look quite bad. Intrigued to see what direction they will take this new version. David Messina is on art duties and not as big of a fan of his work compared to Marco Checchetto but he’s been growing on me since the last issue they did. He tends to far better when the issue is not heavily reliant on dialogue and I am guessing that will be the case here.
6. The Moon Is Following Us #3
Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson, Riley Rossmo
Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson, Riley Rossmo
Publisher: Image
Solicitation: Sam and Duncan finally have the training and firepower they need to go on the assault against the Cascade. It’s time to rescue their baby girl. LOCK AND LOAD.
Why it Made the List: Now that we are three issues into this series I feel safe in saying how emotionally hooked I am to this book because it centers on parents trying to save their child. That gets me nearly every time. This time it helps it is always a well-made book brought to us by some of today’s best comic creators. Getting art by Daniel Warren Johnson and Riley Rossmo in the same comic feels like we used some sort of cheat code or something. Also giving Rossmo room to create a world that exists within dreams has given us so much great imagery already. I had a lot of hope going into this book based on the creators and often that leads to disappointment. Not this time…at least so far.Â
Writer: Stephanie Phillips
Artist: Alessandro Miracolo, Marco Renna
Publisher: Marvel
Solicitation: LIFE INCARNATE VERSUS ENERGY INFINITE! Jean Grey made a human choice, and it’s come back to haunt her: The Dark God Perrikus has been freed from prison and set loose on a path of death and destruction. Now the PHOENIX must take action to protect her universe!
Why it Made the List: I did not expect this to develop into one of my favorite books for the current X-Men line. Now I do tend to enjoy the work of Stephanie Phillips, however, I wondered what you could do with a character like the Phoenix. Always seemed like a character where less is more, but what I adore about this book is how it has taken this as an opportunity to focus on the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe. Seeing characters like Nova show up has been a delight for me because he is one of my favorite Marvel characters and he rarely shows up anymore. It also makes so much sense for the character. Placing her next to some of the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe gives her struggles we are not used to seeing. It is simply a smart way to use the character and allows it to be so much different than anything else in the Marvel line right now.Â
Writer: Rick Quinn
Artist: Dave Chisholm
Publisher: Mad Cave
Solicitation: Melody Parker is losing her mind. She’s living on the streets of Seattle during the WTO protests of 1999. She is seeing things. Androids. Aliens. Pigs in high fashion. And a creature named Echo — one of the Sustained: elemental beings with the power to alter reality through music. She invites Melody to join her as she brings about the end of the world. As Melody tries to escape this strange woman, suppressed memories from across vast spans of time flood into her awareness, bringing her very identity into question. You don’t want to miss this stunning new release from writer Rick Quinn and music-comic-specialist Dave Chisholm (Miles Davis & the Search for the Sound).
Why it Made the List: Mad Cave may be my publisher of the year especially if this hits as hard as I am thinking it will. They have put out so many good books this year spanning a large variety of genres. Dave Chisholm has done some incredible work on books like Chasin’ The Bird: Charlie Parker in California, Enter the Blue, and Miles Davis and the Search for the Sound. No one has been able to represent music in comic book form quite like him. Rick Quinn, I am not familiar with as much but feel if Chisholm is working with him there is reason to have hope. Another positive is when you look at the landscape of comics right now it would be impossible to find something else like this. Comics are better when we get books like this that push the medium into new places.Â
3. Batman and Robin: Year One #2
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Chris Samnee
Publisher: DC Comics
Solicitation: Dick Grayson is struggling to adjust to his new life as Bruce Wayne’s ward, with both Bruce’s rules and Batman’s training making his life difficult. But Dick is happy to remind Bruce that turnabout is fair play. Gotham’s newest crime boss, the General, continues to vie with Two-Face for control — but could an alliance benefit both of them and spell trouble for Batman and Robin?
Why it Made the List: The first issue of Batman and Robin: Year One gave me everything I was hoping for and more. Chris Samnee had so many moments of brilliant storytelling that makes me think this could become the best thing that Mark Waid and Chris Samnee do together and that is saying a great deal. Can we also take a minute to appreciate Mark Waid? The guy has been making top-tier comics since the 90s and still in 2024 he has two of the best books for DC just this week. That longevity is incredible. When it comes to the narrative there’s nothing groundbreaking here but there does not need to be. We know the recipe they just need to execute it well. Based on issue one with have some Top Chiefs proving their worth.
Writer: Jordan Thomas
Artist: Chris Matthews
Publisher: Mad Cave
Solicitation: John is feeling the full weight of his mistakes as the people closest to him suffer the consequences. The war between the Woods and the Albanians is about the flip from cold to hot. And the shocking truth of what really happened to Grace is soon to be revealed. In the action-packed conclusion to Mugshots, no one is safe as the streets of Brighton fill with blood!
Why it Made the List: As I mentioned previously Mad Cave has had quite a year and this is probably my favorite book that they produced. For one it is in my favorite genre and approaches it in a refreshing manner that makes it stand out when compared to other quality crime series. Chris Matthews’s art style is a big reason for that. Matthews’s cartooning is strong and the use of color gives everything such a sleek atmosphere. Jordan Thomas is a writer who keeps getting better and better. When I look at a book like this compared to his other current series Skin Police I am amazed with the range. Genre storytelling at its finest that never feels like more of the same.Â
Writer: W. Maxwell Prince
Artist: Martin Morazzo
Publisher: Image Comics
Solicitation: Perhaps we should talk about what’s REALLY scary.
Why it Made the List: Ice Cream Man is one of those books when I am never fully sure when it is going to come out. You never know what each issue is going to be about, but what you do know is when it does appear you are in for a treat. A story centered on a haunted house does not seem all that out of the norm. We have seen plenty of those, haven’t we? But this is Ice Cream Man. Nothing is ever what it seems. Or maybe it will be and just be a really well-done story that fits into that genre. Anything is possible which is why this remains on top of my list anytime it comes out. A book that has helped lead the charge for the return of Horror Anthologies. Since this came out we have seen so many trying to repeat its success with some coming close. Still, nothing is quite like Ice Cream Man. Its ingunity, creativity, and craftsmanship have made it one of the best books of this current generation.Â
