Each week, ComicsXF staff offer their recommendations for what to read. New DC books come out Tuesdays, everything else Wednesdays.
Tony’s pick: Secret Wars: Battleworld #1: Forty years ago, Jim Shooter focus-grouped a bunch of kids and found out they loved the words “secret” and “wars.” He used that to create a story intended to sell action figures to rival DC’s Super Powers line, whereby those action figures would be mashed together to the amusement of a cosmic being called the Beyonder. Revisit that story with some between-the-raindrops material written by Tom DeFalco (late ‘80s Thor comics) and drawn by Pat Oliffe. ($4.99) Previously, in the 2015 Secret Wars …
Anna’s pick: Daredevil: Black Armor #1: ‘Member when Daredevil wore, like, a red-and-black costume with silver shoulder plates? Because it was the ‘90s and everyone had to get a new costume? Read five issues about it by writer D.G. Chichester and artist Netho Diaz. Then tune in in 2024 for U.S. Agent: That Ugly Ass Force Works Costume and Invisible Woman: 4-Shaped Boob Window. ($4.99)
Chris’ pick: The Addams Family: Charlaton’s Web #1: When Wednesday Addams discovers a mysterious health club has opened up in her hometown, she’s shocked to learn the rest of her clan has already joined its ranks and has quickly assimilated to its program, surrendering their individual personalities in the process. Are the Addamses still lurking behind those empty eyes? And in a backup feature, a burglar breaking into the Addams’ home discovers he might be the one losing everything when he stumbles on Gomez and Morticia. Written by Leah Williams (X-Terminators) and drawn by Juan Samu for IDW. ($5.99)
Dan’s pick: Somna #1: Ingrid is unhappily married to Roland, the town’s bailiff and chief witch hunter, who is on a single-minded quest to purge the “heretics” in their midst. After a prominent town leader is found murdered, accusations fly and no one is above reproach from Roland’s deadly crusade. Ingrid has her suspicions about who the real murderer is, but even as she pursues the truth, she’s pursued herself by a shadowy figure. Ingrid finds she’s drawn to the foreboding phantom in ways she can’t resist. Does this dark and tempting stranger hold the key to the mystery, or will he damn Ingrid’s soul to the blackest circle of Hell? By Becky Cloonan and Tula Lotay for DSTLRY. ($8.99)
Adam’s pick: Immortal X-Men #17: Xavier swore he would stay on Krakoa and defend its memory. He’s leaving. There must be a good reason to leave one doomed island for another. Meanwhile, something is very wrong with Jean … or is it something very right? Written by Kieron Gillen and drawn by Juan Jose Ryp. ($3.99) Previously, in Immortal X-Men and previously, in Jean Grey …
Rasmus’ pick: Wolverine #39: Logan has gone underground to dodge the heat from Orchis’ mutant hunt, while Black Panther is in exile on the outskirts of Wakanda. But when an illegal cache of precious metals is targeted to further Orchis’ agenda, these clawed compatriots will team up to keep the goods out of the bad guys’ hands. But can even these two heroes protect the innocents caught in the crossfire? Written by Benjamin Percy and drawn by Juan Jose Ryp. ($4.99) Check out a preview.
Matt’s pick: Grendel: Devil by the Deed, Master’s Edition: Matt Wagner returns to the seminal Hunter Rose story that started the epic, centuries-spanning Grendel saga. The original tale of the dashing and diabolical Hunter Rose was deceptively brief. Over the years, Wagner has expanded on the story of Hunter Rose, and now he weaves the most dramatic of those elements into a brand-new graphic novel. Featuring 120 all-new story pages. Published by Dark Horse. ($29.99) Check out our recent interview with Wagner on WMQ&A.
Mark’s pick: Klaus: The Complete Deluxe Edition HC: Deftly threading traditional tales of Santa Claus’ roots in Viking folklore and Siberian shamanism together with the pulp-inspired prototype of the superhero and barbarian swashbuckler, witness the true secret origin of Santa, long thought lost to history. Every single installment of the adventures of Grant Morrison and Dan Mora’s yuletide warrior is collected in this hardcover by BOOM Studios. ($59.99) Check out our reread of the Morrison run of New X-Men.
Austin’s pick: A Disturbance in the Force: How and Why the Star Wars Holiday Special Happened: Bea Arthur as the owner of the Mos Eisley Cantina. Long scenes entirely of Wookies bleating at each other, without subtitles. Harvey Korman, in drag, as a four-armed Space Julia Child. Six minutes of Jefferson Starship performing for Art Carney and a bored Imperial Guard. Mark Hamill, fresh from his near-fatal motorcycle accident, slathered in pancake makeup. Even by the standards of the 1970s, the 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special is a peerlessly cringeworthy pop-culture artifact. Just how on Earth did this thing ever see the light of day? Steven Kozak answers that question in this new book, just in time to dig up the special again on YouTube for the holiday season. ($24.95) Previously, in Star Wars stuff …
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Dan Grote is the editor-in-chief of ComicsXF, having won the site by ritual combat. By day, he’s a newspaper editor, and by night, he’s … also an editor. He co-hosts The ComicsXF Interview Podcast with Matt Lazorwitz. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, two kids and two miniature dachshunds, and his third, fictional son, Peter Winston Wisdom.
