Welcome to our New Number Ones: One-Shots & Specials for February 2023 column.
In this regular column, we collect the one-shot books, special anthologies, and original graphic novels that are being released this month. You can check out our regular New Number Ones column for the month here.
There is an alphabetical list of these special books below by release date, and don’t forget to check for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about these comics.
A couple of notes for this list. First of all DC Comics is in the midst of an event that is not quite an event. The Lazarus Planet storyline that is re-setting some status quos across the DC Universe is in full swing, but it is being told through a series of one-shots. We noted them here, because it seems pretty important to the cohesive narrative of the DC continuity of the moment.
Also, be aware that this list is very top heavy with the first week, mostly by DC books. The DC books actually hit some stores on January 31st because of their “New on Tuesday” rule. We consider the month to start on the first Wednesday of the month, so they are included in this February list.
One more thing, February is a month with themes and holidays. As such, you will find some anthologies on this page in honor of Black History Month, and there are some Valentine’s Day specials as well.
There are books on the list from: DC Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Marvel Comics, Archie Comics, Vault Comics, Top Shelf Productions, Little Bee Books, and Oni Press.
Batman: Legends of Gotham #1
DC Comics
Written by Andy Diggle
Art by Karl Mostert & Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Cover Art by Carmine Di Giandomenico
ONE-SHOT SPECIAL
With Batman preoccupied, his deepest, darkest, most dangerous secrets are about to be auctioned off to the highest bidder. The guest list is strictly villains only, and the outlaw Red Hood fits the bill–putting him on a collision course with Batman’s deniable black-ops team, the Outsiders! With Lazarus Island spawning wild-card superpowers across the globe, the stakes could not be higher. Jason Todd, Black Lightning, and Katana will have to put aside their differences to save Batman’s legacy–and with it, the world. That’s assuming they don’t kill each other first!
Release Date: January 31, 2023
DC’s Harley Quinn Romances #1
DC Comics
Written by Ivan Cohen, Amanda Diebert, Greg Lockard, Jessica Berbey, Alexis Quasarano, Frank Allen, Zipporah Smith, Raphael Draccon, Carolina Munho`z
Art by Ig Guara, Adriana Melo, John McCrea, Fico Ossio, Will Robson, Max Sarin, Priscilla Petraites, Gulio Macaione
Cover Art by Amanda Conner
ONE-SHOT SPECIAL
STRANGER THAN FAN FICTION / HERE’S TO JACK, HERE’S TO MOLLY / POWER GIRL AND ALL-AMERICAN BOY / GRACE / DATING APP DISASTER / ACROSS THE MULTIVERSE / ONCE UPON A ROMANCE NOVEL / SPLENDOR IN THE FOAM
DC is proud to present a selection of eight stories of rapscallion romance, prodigious passion, and undulating, unbridled affection. Tension builds as Apollo and Midnighter are captured by an unknown alien species who are determined to learn the secrets of their supersoldier success. Harley Quinn gets caught in a scintillating fantasy.
Release Date: January 31, 2023
DC Power: A Celebration #1
DC Comics
Written by Brandon Thomas, John Ridley, Jordan Clark, Evan Narcisse, N.K. Jemisin, Stephanie Williams, Morgan Hampton, Dorado Quick, Lamont Magee
Art by Clayton Henry, ChrisCross, Olivier Coipel, Valentine De Landro, Alitha Martinez, Jerry Gaylord, Darryl Banks, Jamal Campbell, Natacha Bustos, Taurin Clarke, Edwin Galmon, Manou Azumi, Robyn Smith
Cover Art by Jahnoy Lindsay
ONE-SHOT SPECIAL
BLACK PARADISE / SEPARATE BUT EQUAL / THE QUEEN, THE BEE & THE SYMPHONY / KEEPING THE PEACE / OWN YOUR NAME / BOOYAH! / VIXEN & BATWING / THE CAVALRY / FAR SECTOR PREVIEW
First there was DC Pride and DC Festival of Heroes; now it’s time to celebrate Black History Month! Cyborg, John Stewart, Aqualad, Kid Flash, Batwing, Vixen, Amazing-Man, and more take center stage to highlight the power of Black excellence across the DC Universe, in stories from a variety of comics’ finest Black artists and writers!
Release Date: January 31, 2023
PCS NOTES: We appreciate the celebration of inclusion that this book represents and look for more of it.
The Flash: One-Minute War Special #1
DC Comics
Written by Jeremy Adams
Art by Fernando Pasarin, George Kambadais, Lisando Estherren, Serg Acun`a, Matt Ryan, Jason Paz, Matt Herms, Patricio Delpeche, Rebecca Nalty
Cover Art by Serg Acun`a
ONE-SHOT SPECIAL
A lot can happen in 60 seconds…as the Flash event “One-Minute War” rages on, writer Jeremy Adams gives you further insights into the alien speedster race that has invaded Central City, and how the Flash Family fights back!
Release Date: January 31, 2023
Lazarus Planet: Legends Reborn #1
DC Comics
Written by Greg Pak, Dennis Culver, Alex Segura, Alex Paknadel
Art by Clayton Henry, Christopher Mitten, Jesus Merino, Minkyu Jung, Marcelo Maiolo, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Sunny Gho
Cover Art by Vasco Georgiev
ONE-SHOT SPECIAL
MASKS AND MONSTERS
Ancient and dangerous power has been awakened following the eruption of the Lazarus Volcano, and this surge of fantastical power will affect the DC Universe forevermore! In Lazarus Planet: Legends Reborn, we’ll explore corners of the planet newly awakened and primed to restore some heroes and villains long forgotten! With the help of Nightwing, can new hero City Boy hope to commune with Gotham in time to save it? Who are the mysterious trio claiming to be resurrected siblings of Raven? How far would the Question go to chase a lead across a transformed Gotham City? And will the flame of Firestorm burn out yet another horrific host? Not if Harley Quinn has anything to say about it!
Release Date: January 31, 2023
Bonding: A Love Story About People and Their Parasites HC
Vault Comics
Written by Matthew Erman
Art by Emily Pearson
Cover Art by Pearson
ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL
WEAR YOUR LOVE ON YOUR CHEST
A man, a woman-and their parasites. Marcus has been alone since the loss of his closest friend and has just recently entered into the dating scene, while Laura has drifted in and out of relationships since high school. They meet, they have a great first date, and Marcus almost dies-because the slug-like parasite that everybody carries in this world nearly rejects him, its host. Bonding is a funny, quirky, and honest look at love, in a world where everyone wears their anxiety, not on their sleeves, but on their chest like big ol’ leeches.
Release Date: February 1, 2023
PCS NOTES: This looks bizarre and sweet. Looking forward to getting our hands on it.
DC Universe by Dwayne McDuffie HC
DC Comics
Written by Dwayne McDuffie
Art by Various
Cover Art by Various
COLLECTED EDITION
Unforgettable stories starring DC’s greatest super heroes written by Dwayne McDuffie, the the co-creator of the Emmy Award winning television series STATIC SHOCK and of Milestone Media, the most successful black-owned comic book company in history!
Timeless tales starring Superman, The Demon, Impulse, Batman, Firestorm and other amazing DC characters which celebrate the amazing stories that acclaimed writer Dwayne McDuffie contributed to the DC Universe. He is best known for creating Icon and Hardware but these sensational stories should not be missed.
Includes Action Comics #847; The Demon #26-29; Impulse #60; JLA Showcase 80 Page Giant #1; Batman: Gotham Knights #27; Sins of Youth: Kid Flash/Impulse #1, and Firestorm: The Nuclear Man #33-35.
Release Date: February 7, 2023
PCS NOTES: We don’t always include Collected Editions on this list, but this one is unique and one that we would like to check out.
Lazarus Planet: Next Evolution #1
DC Comics
Written by Chuck Brown, Brandon T. Snider, Ram V., Delilah S. Dawson
Art by Alitha Martinez, Lalit Kumar Sharma, Laura Braga, Ro Stein, Mark Morales, Matt Herms, Alex Guimaraes, Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Cover Art by David Marquez
ONE-SHOT SPECIAL
HEROES WILL BE FORGED!
Good and bad, yin and yang…all sides of humanity will be transformed by the Lazarus event…and in the DC Universe one thing’s for sure: heroes will always rise. In this special we’ll explore some of the amazing new powers gifted to the freedom fighters of the future…and we’ll see what perils these villain-vanquishing virtuosos will face. What secret does Flatline seek from the heart of Talia al Ghul’s HQ? Can Red Canary bring order to an out-of-control city? What secret does the heroic Dead Eye hold that will haunt him forever? And enter into a brand-new legend with the fantastic debut of Vigil!
Release Date: February 7, 2023
Ashes
Top Shelf Productions / IDW Publishing
Written by Alvaro Ortiz
Art by Ortiz
Cover Art by Ortiz
ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL
Three old friends reunite for the mother of all road trips! One of Spain’s most brilliant graphic novelists finally makes his English-language debut in this elegantly unpredictable gem! Polly, Moho, and Piter haven’t seen each other in years. Now they’ve piled into a car for a loooong journey to a mysterious cross marked on a map. All their old personality quirks and conflicts are resurrected (with new wrinkles) as this surreal reunion gets underway. Up ahead are car chases, alcohol, roadside motels, banjo-playing thugs, a ship graveyard, violence, sensual tension, and, of course, a monkey! The captivating first graphic novel from internationally renowned cartoonist Álvaro Ortiz is an explosive mix of emotional road movie and hooligan thriller in which nothing is what it seems.
Release Date: February 8, 2023
PCS NOTES: We are excited for this and posted and exclusive excerpt last week.
My Life Among Humans
Oni Press
Written by Jed McGowan
Art by McGowan
Cover Art by McGowan
ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL
A nameless alien data compiler comes to Earth to study humans, setting up shop on the outskirts of a small desert community in North America. Working under forced labor, it must watch humans in complete secrecy while sending regular reports to its manager back home. Using spore-like technology to read the minds of his hosts, the alien quickly takes a special interest in Will, one of his early subjects. That interest proves to be a problem when the alien is accidentally revealed to Will’s family and it takes desperate measures to save its own life.
In doing so, it discovers a forbidden ability…it can control human minds. Now, the alien struggles to keep this secret from its manager, deal with a growing number of suspicious humans, and come to terms with its ethically questionable decisions. My Life Among Humans is a beautifully painted, evocative first graphic novel from illustrator and cartoonist Jed McGowan.
Release Date: February 8, 2023
PCS NOTES: I am super intrigued to see how the plot of this book plays out.
Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate #1
DC Comics
Written by Tim Seeley, Joshua Williamson, Dennis Culver, Alyssa Wong, A.L. Kaplan
Art by Kaplan, Ivan Plascencia, Baldemar Rivas, Chris Burnham, Haining, Sebastian Cheng, Nick Filardi
Cover Art by David Marquez & Alejandro Sanchez
ONE-SHOT SPECIAL
NEW THREATS WILL RISE!
When the Lazarus storm touches down, people from every walk of life stand to be affected. People who are kind, people who are good…and people who are evil. This epic issue will spotlight the many disastrous new villains created by the Lazarus event and the heroes who stand ready to stop them from doing harm to others! What sinister threat brings a new chapter to the Doom Patrol saga? Can a new hero channel the inexorable Still Force energy to fend off evil? What lurks in the corners of the Spirit World for new character Xanthe? And what early clue to the new direction in Arkham Tower will spell disaster for Gotham City?
Release Date: February 14, 2023
Chilling Adventures Presents … Betty: The Final Girl #1
Archie Comics
Written by Sam Maggs, Casey Gilly, & Micol Ostow
Art by Carola Borelli, Natalie Nardozza, Laura Braga, & Matt Herms
Cover Art by Braga
ONE-SHOT SPECIAL
Veronica has invited Betty to her luxurious mountaintop chalet for a cozy weekend of skiing. But their girls weekend is interrupted when Archie shows up and whisks Veronica off on their own snowy romantic adventure. What could go wrong at a fancy remote cabin in the mountains all by herself? Betty’s mind races and she can’t tell fact from fiction as she suddenly realizes she might not be so alone. Is Betty believing too much in the horror movies she’s watched, or is someone (or something) really out to get her? Find out in this BRAND NEW horror anthology one-shot that’s equal parts Scream and When a Stranger Calls.
Release Date: February 15, 2023
PCS NOTES: We are big fans of the Chilling Adventures Presents line at Archie, and this looks like another good issue.
Fae and the Moon
Little Bee Books
Written by Franco Aureliani
Art by Catherine Satrun & Sarah Satrun
Cover Art by Satrun
ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL
Fae, in mourning for her missing mother, sits night after night below the Moon that her mother so loved. Then one night she discovers she can pluck the Moon out of the star-filled sky! Back safe in her house, she holds it close, feeling comfort at last. But Fae loses the Moon, and finds that taking it has awakened ancient monsters, dragons, and more, who hunt it for themselves. Will Fae be able to reclaim the Moon, find her own inner strength, and save the world from eternal darkness? Filled with fearsome monsters, fascinating lore, and vibrant illustrations, Fae and the Moon is a much-needed adventure story about overcoming despair through the powers of love and hope.
Release Date: February 15, 2023
PCS NOTES: Read this solicitation and tell me you are not intrigued? Can’t wait to check this one out.
Marvel’s Voices: Wakanda Forever
Marvel Comics
Written by Sheena Howard, Murewa Ayodele, Karama Horne, Andrew Serwer, & Juni Ba
Art by Alitha Martinez, Todd Harris, Marcus Williams, & Adedotun Akande
Cover Art by Ken Lashley
ONE-SHOT SPECIAL
The special one-shot arrives just in time to celebrate Black History Month and puts the spotlight on iconic heroes of Wakanda. Black Panther, Shuri, Okoye, and more star in all-new stories by an incredible lineup of both fan-favorite creators and talent fresh to the Marvel Universe. Join them as they grow the inimitable world of Wakanda in these tales of myth, adventure, strife, and more! Creative teams for the book will be announced soon.
Release Date: February 15, 2023
PCS NOTES: Marvel Comics put together an anthology for Black History Month. We are looking forward to seeing the work of these talented professionals in the pages of this book.
And We Love You
Scout Comics
Written by Fell Hound
Art by Fell Hound
Cover Art by Angela Wu
ORIGINAL GRAPHIC NOVEL
In the throes of a violent dystopian war, a young soldier perishes on the battlefield and begins to bleed out all her memories. Mixing heart wrenching emotions with stunningly gripping visuals, this is the tale of one woman’s life, death, and the love which transcends both. A brand new epic from the world of the Ringo-nominated Commander Rao!
Release Date: February 15, 2023
PCS NOTES: We are huge fans of this book. We spoke Fell Hound, the creator of the book, and will be posting that interview shortly.
Lazarus Planet: Omega #1
DC Comics
Written by Mark Waid & Gene Luen Yang
Art by Phillip Tan, Billy Tan, Riccardo Federici, Brad Anderson, & Sebastian Cheng
Cover Art by David Marquez & Alejandro Sanchez
ONE-SHOT SPECIAL
FATE AND FURY.
The Devil Nezha and his son are at war—with all of humanity caught in the middle! The Lazarus storms are intensifying worldwide, Earth’s superheroes are on the ropes, and Batman is living on borrowed time. It’s up to Zatanna, the Spectre, the Demon, Klarion, and the rest of the DCU’s magic users to join Damian Wayne and set things right—but to do that, they’ll have to uncover Nezha’s final, explosive secret! Plus: Dreamer has rescued Doctor Fate’s helmet from destruction…but why does it keep glowing like that? The Dawn of the DCU begins as the Lazarus Planet saga crashes to a close!
Release Date: February 21, 2023
PCS NOTES: This is the official kick off of the Dawn of DC? Let’s get to it then.
The Last Days of Black Hammer
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Jeff Lemire
Art by Sefano Simeone
Cover Art by Simeone
COLLECTED EDITION
From the critically-acclaimed and Eisner-award winning writer Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth), along with artist Stefano Simeone (Good Luck) comes this essential prequel to the epic events of Black Hammer volume 1.
The Last Days of Black Hammer details the heroics of Joe Weber—the original hero known as Black Hammer—at the height of his power, along with the rest of the main Black Hammer heroes like Golden Gail, Abraham Slam, and Barbalien in the final days leading up their cataclysmic battle with the cosmic villain Anti-God and their imprisonment on the limbo farm!
Collects the original Substack series for the first time!
Release Date: February 22, 2023
PCS NOTES: This is an interesting collection because it was available on Substack, but this is the first print collected edition of this story. We want to see what it is all about.
