Holy New Comics, Batman!! If you are new here, in this column, we have compiled an alphabetical list with cover art and the official solicitation text from the publishers of some of the cool new comics that are coming out this month. Check below for our PCS NOTES to find out what we just have to tell you about the new comics in question.
There are a ton of new books this month. It feels like big two are jumping back into the fray this month after a couple of relatively slow new number one months for them. There are a couple of special things to look out for as well. Keep an eye out for the sister column to this one: New Number Ones: Specials and One-Shots where we highlight important releases that are not part of series. Some of the books on this list are in some ways related to books on that list.
Also this month has Free Comic Book Day, and we will have a special column later this week so that you can see what to expect when you go to your Local Comic Shop on May 6th.
This month, we have books on the list from: DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Image Comics, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, Dark Horse Comics, , Mad Cave Studios, Ablaze Publishing, Titan Comics, Oni Press, Red 5 Comics, and IDW Publishing.
One thing to remember, we continue to measure the “comic week” as Wednesday. As such, if we have a month like March that starts on a Wednesday, the comics released the day before count as week one. #NCBD is Wednesday.
We will bring you reviews of these debut issues as they come out, and don’t forget to use the comments section to let us know what you think of this list.
You will find the books listed below in the order of when they are released. There are five Wednesdays in May 2023, so that means five weeks of new comics.
Week of 5/3/23
Week of 5/10/23
Week of 5/17/23
Week of 5/24/23
Week of 5/31/23
Week of May 3rd
Animal Castle, Vol. 2 #1
Ablaze Publishing
Written by Xavier Dorison
Art by Felix Delep
Cover Art by Delep
Animal Castle Vol. 2 picks up shortly after the events of Vol. 1 with Miss B trying to convince the animals not to give in to violence, in order to put an end to Silvio’s reign…
At the castle, the dictatorship continues. Thanks to the efforts of Miss B and her friends, the animals attempt to remobilize the pacifist movement of the Daisies. But Silvio the bull dictator is trying to keep them under his hoof to keep his power. Helped by his cruel canine militia, he decides to have the rebellious animals imprisoned in the dungeon. But Miss B and her friends will respond once again with trickery…and solidarity!
Release Date: May 3, 2023
PCS NOTES: We haven’t read the first volume of this book, but it looks intriguing.
Cult of Carnage: Misery #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Sabir Pirzada
Art by Francesco Mortarino & Javier Tartaglia
Cover Art by Skan
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION RETURN HOME! Liz Allen is the mother of Normie Osborn, who she is blissfully unaware is the all-new and all-deadly RED GOBLIN! But what Liz DOES know is that the Red Goblin has been active and has been seen VERY close to her home. And after her late husband’s father, NORMAN OSBORN (maybe you’ve heard of him?), gets pulled into the chaos and violence swirling around Normie, Liz has no choice but to use the resources at her disposal as the head of ALCHEMAX to take matters into her own hands and become something the Marvel Universe has NEVER SEEN BEFORE!
Release Date: May 3, 2023
PCS NOTES: Who doesn’t love a little Carnage in their life?
Edge of The Spider-Verse #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Zander Cannon & Karla Pacheco
Art by Pere Perez, Guillermo Sanna, Rico Renzi, Antonio Fabela
Cover Art by Patrick Brown
ENTER: KRAVERTOOTH THE HUNTER / CURSE OF THE SPIDER-KILLER
INTO THE OTHER EDGE OF THE SPIDER-VERSE! SPIDER-REX returns and faces the VENOMSAURUS! PLUS—WHO IS THE SPIDER-KILLER?! Zander Cannon introduces the world to the scariest Spider-Character EVER CREATED!!! Bringing your favorite breakout characters back, as well as introducing brand new Spiders who will blow your mind!
Release Date: May 3, 2023
PCS NOTES: This just looks hella fun…
Groot #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Dan Abnett
Art by Damian Couciero & Matt Milla
Cover Art by Lee Garbett
Before he was a Guardian of the Galaxy…before the Grootfall…young Groot lived a life of tranquility on his serene home world. But when monstrous invaders attack his planet, Groot must accept his heroic destiny! But will this destiny lead him to come to blows with a young Kree soldier by the name of Mar-Vell?
Release Date: May 3, 2023
PCS NOTES: The idea of Dan Abnett writing a young Groot story sounds fantastic to me.
Lamentation #1
Oni Press
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art by Arjuna Susini & Hilary Jenkins
Cover Art by Maan House
From the mind’s eye of master storyteller Cullen Bunn (The Sixth Gun, Basilisk) and rising star Arjuna Susini (Made Men) comes a darkly glamorous tale of bone-splintering terror at the intersection of shadow and light… dream and nightmare … life and the grim specter of Death himself.
After weeks of grueling rehearsals, a new production is set to begin at the famed Requiem theatre: Razide’s Lament, three acts of gothic horror set inside a haunted castle with a story that some say is more than mere fantasy. Under the stern rule of a dedicated but temperamental director, the script seems to be ever-changing, and, more mysterious still, our lead actress has found herself cast in the role of a lifetime without so much as an audition. Her grand debut is fast approaching-and, with it, a barrage of razors in the night that will terrorize audiences and actors alike. There is no exit, no escape, and when the curtain finally rises, Razide himself will take center stage to cross the threshold into the unholy darkness that lies just beyond …
Release Date: May 3, 2023
PCS NOTES: Cullen Bunn will scare the pants off you.
Monomyth #1
Mad Cave Studios
Written by David Hazan
Art by Cecilia Lo Valvo & Marissa Louise
Cover Art by Lo Valvo & Louise
Magic is all but extinct. When the last ailing wizard casts a final desperate spell to summon the descendants of ancient bloodlines to a school for magic now in disrepair…those chosen ones find a horror of the likes they’ve never experienced. They will have to confront the deepest parts of themselves, their tragic pasts and defeat each other in order to survive the ordeal.
Release Date: May 3, 2023
PCS NOTES: I am excited to see the inside of this book.
Peacemaker Tries Hard #1
DC Comics
Written by Kyle Starks
Art by Steve Pugh & Jordie Bellaire
Cover Art by Kris Anka
BOOK ONE
Having earned his release from the Suicide Squad, Peacemaker wants to try and do normal superhero stuff for a change. Unfortunately everyone, including the bad guys, thinks he sucks at superhero stuff. But when busting up a terrorist ring introduces Christopher Smith to the cutest thing to ever walk (awkwardly) on four legs, he finds the unconditional love he’s been denied his whole life. That is, until the dog is kidnapped right out from under him by a super-villain who has some very un-super-heroic plans for Peacemaker’s brand of ultraviolence. Will he help an infamously unstable super-powered criminal steal the world’s most valuable—and dangerous—DNA? Honestly, Christopher’s pretty lonely, so it probably just depends on how nicely they ask…
Breakout writer Kyle Starks (I Hate This Place, Six Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton) and art legend Steve Pugh (Preacher Special: Saint of Killers, Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass) deliver a brutal and hilarious take on DC’s biggest P.O.S. that will bust guts, break bones, and melt hearts!
Release Date: May 2, 2023
PCS NOTES: What a perfect creative team for this book!? I am in.
Shazam! #1
DC Comics
Written by Mark Waid
Art by Dan Mora & Alejandro Sánchez
Cover Art by Mora
MEET THE CAPTAIN!
The World’s Finest creators present the World’s Mightiest Mortal in a dazzling solo series! Dinosaurs from space! The Clubhouse of Eternity! Homicidal worms and talking tigers! Atomic robots, alien worlds, mad scientists, sinister curses, and villains from throughout the DC Universe—welcome to the wild adventures of Billy Batson, whose big red alter ego defends the Earth from its weirdest and wildest threats! Want to stop Lex Luthor and The Joker? Call Superman and Batman! International crises? Page Wonder Woman! But when Garguax, Emperor of the Moon, sets his sights on Gorilla City, that’s when you shout “Shazam!” The fan-favorite team of Mark Waid and Dan Mora (Batman/Superman: World’s Finest) brings the magic!
Release Date: May 2, 2023
PCS NOTES: The next chapter in the world of the World’s Mightiest Mortal starts here. I will definitely be there to see where it leads.
Spider-Man 2099: Dark Genesis #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Steve Orlando
Art by Justin Mason & Jordan Boyd
Cover Art by Nick Bradshaw & Neeraj Menon
PART I
As society begins to crumble, SPIDER-MAN 2099 will need all the help he can get—but does the public even want his help? Or do they all just want to watch this world burn? Steve Orlando (SCARLET WITCH, SPIDER-MAN 2099: EXODUS) continues his journey through the future world of 2099, this time paired with bombastic artist Justin Mason (SPIDER-PUNK)—get ready for the debut of the NEW HEROES and VILLAINS that populate the future!
Release Date: May 3. 2023
PCS NOTES: This is another example of having the perfect creative team. Fans of the Spider-Man 2099 universe should be very excited about this.
Starsigns #1
Image Comics
Written by Saladin Ahmed
Art by Megan Levens & Kelly Fitzpatrick
Cover Art by Levens & Fitzpatrick
SERIES PREMIERE
The constellations of the zodiac fall to earth, granting twelve ordinary people from very different walks of life the superhuman powers of the Starsigns. But each of them is about to learn that power always comes with a price…
Release Date: May 3, 2023
PCS NOTES: Saladin Ahmed has been very prolific lately, and in this book, he teams up with a fantastic art team. We will be very interested to check it out.
Survival #1
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Sean Lewis
Art by Bryndon Everett
Cover Art by Tomm Coker
When Emma Reed journeyed back to her hometown in Alaska, she was expecting little more than a tense family reunion at the annual military alumni get together. But early that morning, a plane crash landed in the thick woods near the mountain. And the creature within brings an ancient terror to the last American frontier, and will turn this unspoiled wilderness into a killing ground.
Release Date: May 3, 2023
PCS NOTES: Read this one with the light on.
Week of May 10th
Batman: White Knight Presents – Generation Joker #1
DC Comics
Written by Katana Collins, Clayton McCormack, & Sean Murphy
Art by Mirka Andolfo & Alejandro Sánchez
Cover Art by Murphy
Youth in revolt!
Spinning out of the runaway hit Batman: Beyond the White Knight comes an unforgettable coming-of-age super villain tale starring the children of Harley Quinn and The Joker!
When the rebellious twins run away in a stolen Batmobile, only Joker Jack Napier’s quickly fading hologram has any hope of getting them home safely and keeping them out of the family business. But a life of crime isn’t the only temptation young Bryce and Jackie are facing: the kids uncover a dark secret that could bring their dad back to life for good! With a wild array of Batman’s former enemies and allies on their tails, will the kids succeed in reviving the Dark Knight’s greatest foe? Find out as Jackie and Bryce take center stage in the White Knight Universe!
Sean Murphy reunites with co-writers Katana Collins (Batman: White Knight Presents: Harley Quinn) and Clay McCormack (Batman: White Knight Presents: Red Hood) to bring fans the latest chapter of the White Knight story with the help of rising-star artist Mirka Andolfo (Sweet Paprika, Superman vs. Lobo).
Release Date: May 9, 2023
Extreme Venomverse #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Ryan North, Mirka Andolfo, Leonardo Romero
Art by Romero, Paulo Siqueira, & Nico Leon
Cover Art by Leinil Francis Yu
RETURN TO THE VENOMVERSE! Face front, Venomaniacs—to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the creation of VENOM, the SUMMER OF SYMBIOTES IS UNDERWAY! And it all starts with EXTREME VENOMVERSE, a landmark series that’s going to take Mighty Marveldom to corners of the hive never seen before in three titanic tales! FIRST! Comics superstars Ryan North and Paulo Siqueira put a fresh and exciting spin on a story you may be familiar with…starring Eddie Brock as…SPIDER-MAN?! THEN! Your new favorite comics writer, Mirka Andolfo, shows you a side of the whole Brock family you NEVER thought you’d see! AND FINALLY! One of the best writer/artists in comics today, Leonardo Romero, reimagines Venom as a SAMURAI! But whether all of your new favorite symbiotes will survive this summertime saga remains to be seen…
Release Date: May 10, 2023
PCS NOTES: Venomaniacs…. Have at it!!
Ghostlore #1
Boom! Studios
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art by Brian Hurtt
Cover Art by Leomacs
We’ve all heard of ghost stories… but what stories do the ghosts themselves tell us?
An estranged daughter and her pastor father wander a haunted land; they only have the restless spirits, each with its own story to tell, as company along the way.
After a deadly accident of which they were the only survivors, Lucas and Harmony Agate can see the dead-an overwhelming amount of the deceased, all with their own warnings, cries for help, and malevolence alike.
But Lucas and Harmony aren’t the only ones with this ability; there are other nearly-deads, some of which have malicious motivations…
Cullen Bunn of Basilisk and The Empty Man acclaim is joined by superstar artist Leomacs (Basketful of Heads) and guest artist Brian Hurtt (The Sixth Gun)-the first in a haunting lineup of artists featured in each issue-to bring readers the most eye-opening spectral story since The Sixth Sense!
Release Date: May 10, 2023
PCS NOTES: More Cullen Bunn this month. This one looks spooky!! Check it out.
Green Lantern #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Jeremy Adams & Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Art by Montos, Xermánico, Adriano Lucas, & Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Cover Art by Xermánico
BACK ON EARTH
Spinning out of the events of Dark Crisis, the Guardians of Oa at the heart of the Green Lantern Corps have quarantined Sector 2814, home of the planet Earth—and its champion along with it! A heartbreaking defeat has sent Hal reeling, returning home to rediscover his roots…and find the man responsible for ruining his life: Sinestro. From the visionary team of Jeremy Adams and Xermánico (who brought you the epic Flashpoint Beyond) comes a tale of redemption, loss, and finding out that maybe…just maybe…you can go home again. At least if you’re willing to hot-wire a power ring to do it. Also featuring part one of John Stewart: War Journal from writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson and artist Montos!
Release Date: May 9, 2023
PCS NOTES: We are very excited for this latest New Number One in the realm of the Emerald Warriors. Can’t wait to get a hold of it.
Murder Inc.: Jagger Rose #1
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Michael Avon Oeming
Cover Art by Oeming
From the creators of the Eisner Award-winning, bestselling POWERS comes this brand-new world of historical crime fiction like you’ve never seen before.
Discover a world in which the five families of organized crime never lost their stranglehold on the United States. Now, half the country is a smorgasbord of sex and sin ruled by loyalty and “family values” and the rest of the world looks on in awe, rage, or jealousy. Join us as newly “made” Valentine Gallo and Jagger Rose rise through the ranks of the notorious Bonavese family. No spoilers, but Jagger has already proven herself one of the greatest assassins of all time. And, uh, the Pope would like a word. Yeah, that Pope. Huh.
Release Date: May 10, 2023
PCS NOTES: A new comic from a stellar team of creators infuses me with anticipation.
Silk #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Emily Kim
Art by Ig Guara & Ian Herring
Cover Art by Dave Johnson
SILK SWINGS BACK INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE! There’s something rotten in Los Angeles, and ace detective Cindy Moon is on the case! Wait…that can’t be right. In this mind-bending new series, Cindy will face old foes and never-before-seen dangers that will take her to the breaking point!
Release Date: May 10, 2023
PCS NOTES: I have a lot of high hopes for this new series featuring Cindy Moon.
Something Epic #1
Image Comics
Written by Szymon Kudranski
Art by Kudranski
Cover Art by Kudranski
SERIES PREMIERE
IMAGINATION IS REAL.
Outside our perception, creative thought takes physical form, with only a handful of individuals known as Epics able to interact with this wondrous hidden world. But for fourteen-year-old Danny Dillon, accepting these responsibilities himself won’t be easy-or safe. Lose yourself in a world of endless fantasy and creativity, where superheroes, monsters, magical creatures, and cartoon characters live and breathe alongside us.
Release Date: May 10, 2023
PCS NOTES: Looks fantastic.
Spirit World #1
DC Comics
Written by Alyssa Wong
Art by Haining & Sebastian Cheng
Cover Art by Haining
From the pages of Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate, a new Chinese hero emerges who’s able to travel to and from the Spirit World, the realm of the dead, and that of the living. Their name is Xanthe, and their superpower is being able to burn items folded from joss paper and immediately turn them into real objects, based on the East Asian practice of burning joss paper at graveyards in order to send resources to ancestors in the Spirit World…except Xanthe can retrieve those items in the world of the living! Their weapon of choice is a large broadsword (because who doesn’t love a big sword when you can choose to use a big sword?!). Xanthe is a master of the dark arts who’s here to give Constantine a run for his money…literally. When Constantine shows up saying Xanthe scammed him into buying something, he finds them and Batgirl Cass Cain fighting an abnormal influx of jiangshi (Chinese hopping vampires) and joins in to help. But when a portal opens up that drags Batgirl into the Spirit World, it’s up to Xanthe and Constantine to travel to the land of the spirits to rescue her! Who knows what other spirits we’ll find in the Spirit World—like that skateboarding boy wearing hanfu with some headphones and a gaping hole in his chest?!
Release Date: May 9, 2023
PCS NOTES: Check out the We Are Legends #1 One-Shot this month for more about this new character. They look really cool.
Week of May 17th
Arcade Kings #1
Image Comics
Written by Dylan Burnett
Art by Burnett & Walter Baiamonte
Cover Art by Burnett
ROUND ONE: FIGHT! Joe, a mysterious new face in Infinity City, has suddenly become the hottest new player at the Round House Arcade. Anyone can challenge him, but no one can win. But Joe’s secret past is about to catch up to him when his most formidable challenge yet rolls into town, forcing Joe to combo his powers with a joystick, his fists…and his fighting family legacy!
Writer and artist DYLAN BURNETT (Ant-Man, Cosmic Ghost Rider) unveils a new prestige comics series sensation, perfect for fans of INVINCIBLE and MURDER FALCON.
Release Date: May 17, 2023
PCS NOTES: We are very intrigued by this one.
The Avengers #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Jed MacKay
Art by Carlos Villa & Federico Blee
Cover Art by Stuart Immonen
ASSEMBLE! JED MACKAY AND STORMBREAKER C.F. VILLA TAKE THE REINS OF EARTH’S MIGHTIEST HEROES! The Star. The Icon. The Witch. The Construct. The God. The Engineer. The King. The world is ever in peril, and a new team of Avengers mobilizes to meet any dangers that dare threaten the planet. But when TERMINUS attacks, a new and insidious danger rears its head: one that the Avengers know all too well, and one that comes to them in the most dangerous of guises—that of a friend.
Release Date: May 17, 2023
PCS NOTES: This new beginning for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes looks like a good one.
Batman: The Brave and the Bold #1
DC Comics
Written by Ed Brisson, Christopher Cantwell, Tom King, & Dan Mora
Art by Mitch Gerads, Mora, Javier Rodriguez, & Jeff Spokes
Cover Art by Simone Di Meo
THE WINNING CARD, PART 1 / DOWN WITH THE KINGS, PART 1 / ORDER OF THE BLACK LAMP, PART 1 / HEROES OF TOMORROW
Coming off the spectacular success of Batman – One Bad Day: The Riddler, the Eisner Award-winning team of Tom King and Mitch Gerads reunite for a horrifying four-part retelling of the first bloody clash between The Joker and the Batman. A tale of loathing, lies, and laughter, this may be the most frightening Joker story in a generation.
Superstar artist Dan Mora (Batman/Superman: World’s Finest, Detective Comics) makes his writing debut kicking off a new series of Batman Black & White short stories. In a Gotham City overrun by the cybernetic henchmen of The Joker, the only person who can save us is the mysterious motorcycle-riding, bat-costumed hero of urban legend…
The Justice League may be gone, but its enemies aren’t. Who’ll protect the world from the worst of the worst? Ed Brisson (Batman Incorporated) and Jeff Spokes (Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special) pick up the story started in the Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special as Director Bones and his new covert StormWatch team travel the globe on black-ops missions to take super-powered weapons of mass destruction off the board. But this is StormWatch, and as always, not all is as it seems. “Down with the Kings” starts here!
In “The Order of the Black Lamp—Part I,” from writer Christopher Cantwell (Co-creator, Halt and Catch Fire, Briar, Iron Man) and artist Javier Rodríguez (Daredevil, The Defenders), Superman finds a decoder ring with a secret message—“Save Me”—which sends him on a quest to solve a mystery with ties to the Man of Steel’s past.
Release Date: May 16, 2023
PCS NOTES: There is a lot of cool stories chocked into this new book. You won’t want to miss it.
Cyborg #1
DC Comics
Written by Morgan Hampton
Art by Tom Raney & Michael Atiyeh
Cover Art by Edwin Galmon
When a family emergency brings Cyborg back home to Detroit, Victor Stone surprisingly finds himself enjoying returning to the simpler life–where everybody sees him for who he really is and always was, rather than a larger-than-life superhero. It’s been a while since Vic’s been able to lower his guard and seek a purpose outside of being Cyborg 24/7. But a lot has changed in Detroit while Victor’s been away. An aggressive new company is turning the Motor City into an overclocked engine for revolutionary artificial intelligence…and no one knows better than Cyborg that technological transformation always comes at a steep human price!
Release Date: May 16, 2023
PCS NOTES: It’s been a while since I was this excited about a Cyborg story!
Danny Ketch: Ghost Rider #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Howard Mackie
Art by Daniel Picciotto & Guru-eFX
Cover Art by Ben Harvey
DANNY KETCH IS BACK! Flashback to a time when innocent blood was spilled, a Spirit of Vengenace was born, and Danny Ketch found himself transformed into the GHOST RIDER! A gang war is breaking out across New York City, with Ghost Rider caught in the middle! But if it’s just rival gangs killing each other, does Ghost Rider need to get involved? Join us for an untold tale written by Danny Ketch co-creator Howard Mackie and artist Daniel Picciotto!
Release Date: May 17, 2023
PCS NOTES: Howard Mackie writing Danny Ketch?!? Yes! Please!?! Sign me up!!
Disney Villains: Maleficent #1
Dynamite Entertainment
Written by Soo Lee
Art by Jae Lee
Cover Art by Jae Lee
One of Disney’s Greatest Evildoers Stars in a New Epic!
Disney and Dynamite proudly present Maleficent, Queen of the Forbidden Mountain! Her realm is shrouded in darkness, and evil, and full of all things that go bump in the night. Her soul is cold, hardened by a lifetime of small-minded wanderers seeking to steal her powers to satisfy their mortal greed. Her patience wears thin. Her mystical might grows. It is a matter only of time before she descends the mountain and unleashes her horrible magics upon the powerless people below. A stunning vision of villainy from writer and artist Soo Lee!
Release Date: May 17, 2023
PCS NOTES: The Disney Villain stories are interesting and this one looks like a really cool one.
Elvira in Monsterland #1
Dynamite Entertainment
Written by David Avallone
Art by Kewber Baal
Cover Art by Dave Acosta
IT’S MONSTER MOVIE MADNESS AS ELVIRA FACES DRACULA!
What’s scarier than Dracula? ALL THE DRACULAS! Vlad the Impaler is back, and he’s raiding the Multiverse of Movies to build a monster army and conquer the world. And only one woman can stop him! Vampirella! But she’s busy in her own books… so it’s up to Elvira, the Mistress of the Dark, and bane of Vlad’s existence, to stop his evil plan! It’s monster movie madness horror from writer David Avallone (Elvira in Horrorland, Bettie Page: Unbound) and artist Kewber Baal (Vampirella, Red Rising, Red Sonja).
Release Date: May 17, 2023
PCS NOTES: A great creative team was put together for this new Elvira book. Check it out!
Star Trek: Echos #1
IDW Publishing
Written by Marc Guggenheim
Art by Oleg Chudakov
Cover Art by Jake Bartok
When a space anomaly thrusts a bounty hunter and her target-a criminal mastermind-into their universe, it’s up to Kirk and his crew to stop them from unintentionally starting a war with the Romulans and unleashing a superweapon of foreign tech onto the system. But the strangers from another universe are more familiar than they assume for underneath their helmets are their doppelgangers from an alternate reality!
Release Date: May 17, 2023
PCS NOTES: Oh Yeah!! I am here for this!!!
Titans #1
DC Comics
Written by Tom Taylor
Art by Nicola Scott & Annette Kwok
Cover Art by Scott & Kwok
The Dark Crisis is over, and the Justice League is no more. Now, a new team must rise and protect the Earth…Titans, go! The Teen Titans are ready to grow up. Each member joined as a much younger hero, certain that one day they’d be invited to join the Justice League. But the time has come for them not to join the League…but to replace it! Are the no-longer-teen heroes ready for the big leagues? Danger lurks around every corner as heroes and villains alike challenge the new team before they’ve even begun. Will the DCU ever be the same? Find out in this landmark first issue brought you by the all-star creative team of Tom Taylor (Nightwing, DCeased) and Nicola Scott (Wonder Woman Historia, Earth 2)!
Release Date: May 16, 2023
PCS NOTES: Not Gonna Lie. I haven’t been this excited for a New Number One since I started writing this column four years ago. Get this and read the heck out it!!!
The Vigil #1
DC Comics
Written by Ram V.
Art by Lalit Kumar Sharma & Rain Beredo
Cover Art by Sumit Kumar
/…/
/Who Are The Vigil?
The shipping vessel Eastwind was taken captive by pirates off the coast of Thailand. 24 hours after the crew had been taken hostage, before communications had been established or any demands made, the crew reported an intervention by a group of unknown individuals. Amid other bizarre claims by the crew, are reports of an individual who changed his appearance at will and a woman who seemingly dodged bullets. Once the pirates were taken out, no attempts were made at rescuing the crew.
There have long been rumors rogue metahumans targeting weaponized illegal technology. With some hinting that they call themselves The Vigil. What were they after? Why did they intervene? Are there metas among us?
Stay tuned for more/
/…/
/you are being watched./
Release Date: May 16, 2023
PCS NOTES: This is another book that comes from We Are Legends, and this one has a great creative team to go along with an interesting story.
Week of May 24th
City Boy #1
DC Comics
Written by Greg Pak
Art by Minkyu Jung & Sunny Gho
Cover Art by Jung & Gho
First seen in Wildstorm 30th Anniversary Special and Lazarus Planet: Legends Reborn, there’s a new Korean hero named…City Boy! Or at least, that’s the best translation of what the cities call him. City Boy, a.k.a. Cameron Kim, is just trying to make a living by using his powers of being able to speak to cities to find lost and hidden goods to pawn, and it’s only just enough to get by. And those abilities mean he hears everything everywhere all the time, including each city’s histories and the truths behind them. (It’s very loud in his head and something he has to live with.) As his powers get stronger, the cities start forming animal avatars from scraps in order to physically travel alongside him on his adventures. Of course, Gotham is a rat avatar made of city scraps, but what about Metropolis, Blüdhaven, Amnesty Bay, or even Themyscira? And not all cities are so kind…
Release Date: May 23, 2023
PCS NOTES: The last new book to spin out of the We Are Legends One-Shot arrives here. Looks like a cool story.
Daredevil & Echo #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Taboo & B.Earl
Art by Phil Noto
Cover Art by Noto
SOMETHING STIRS BENEATH HELL’S KITCHEN! For months, the bloodthirsty and demonic Demogoblin has been kidnapping children for reasons unknown. In this series, Daredevil and Echo discover why—as Demogoblin works to wake an ancient and powerful evil deep within the bowels of the city. Reunited at last with Echo, herself fresh from a brief time as the host of the Phoenix Force, it falls to Daredevil to stop Demogoblin and save not only the children, but everyone in New York!
Release Date: May 24. 2023
PCS NOTES: No offense intended to anyone on the creative team or the characters, but if Phil Noto is doing interiors, I am buying it.
Dead by Daylight #1
Titan Comics
Written by Nadia Shammas
Art by Dillon Shook & Emilio Lecce
Cover Art by Ivan Tao
When the rebellious FRANK crashes into the lives of JULIE, JOEY and SUSIE, together they’ll unleash bloody chaos onto the sleepy, dead-end town of Ormond. Witness the terrifying origins of THE LEGION.
Release Date: May 24, 2023
PCS NOTES: Something about this book is making me add it to my pull list and I want to find out what it is.
Storm #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Ann Nocenti
Art by Sid Kotian
Cover Art by Alan Davis
STORM FACES THE BLOWBACK OF HER POWERS! ORORO MUNROE, A.K.A. STORM, has been a thief, a goddess and a leader of the X-MEN—and she’s just getting started! With her mutant ability to control the weather bolstered by her top-notch fighting skills, she’s a formidable opponent like no other (as CALLISTO of the MORLOCKS can attest)! But when an elemental power emerges near the XAVIER MANSION, it’ll take Storm to the limit of her powers and beyond! Get ready for an electrifying all-new series showcasing Storm’s days of rocking her mohawk and leading the X-Men, as she faces an ALL-NEW VILLAIN that will threaten to tear her apart from her team…and what she thought she knew about herself!
Release Date: May 24, 2023
PCS NOTES: This looks like a fun lost story from one of the iconic era for Ororo. Plus, have you seen that cover?
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Vs. Street Fighter #1
IDW Publishing
Written by Paul Allor
Art by Ariel Medel
Cover Art by Medel
When a prestigious martial arts tournament invites fighters to travel to Atlantic City and test their skills, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles jump at the chance to compete. But a big stage means big competition, and the world famous STREET FIGHTERS have shown up in force to prove the mettle of their PSYCHO POWERED fighting forms. As if that’s not enough of a challenge, there are rumors of competitors disappearing and the identity of the contest’s benefactors is shrouded in mystery.
Don’t miss the matchups of your favorite fighters as the half-shell heroes face the likes of Ryu, Guile, Chun-Li, and more.
TMNT Vs. Street Fighter kicks off a five-issue fight card of fury starting this May!
Release Date: May 24, 2023
We Are Scarlet Twilight #1
Red 5 Comics
Written by Benjamin Morse
Art by Morse
Cover Art by Morse
It’s 1938, and time to meet our hero-Captain Lancet. He’s a Golden Age All-American crime buster who’s about to accidentally create the world’s greatest villain. He’ll need to adjust to a strange new world-one that resembles Fritz Lang’s Metropolis with some cyberpunk dystopia sprinkled in-if he wants to overthrow the totalitarian vampire cult that now dominates the world!
Release Date: May 24, 2023
PCS NOTES: This is the kind of fun nugget that we like to highlight in this column. This solicitation along with the cover has our interest piqued. Gonna give it a shot!!
Week of May 31st
Cat Fight #1
Image Comics
Written by Andrew Wheeler
Art by Ilias Kyriazis
Cover Art by Kyriazis
John Wick meets Kill Bill, meets CATS?! Felix lives a life of high fashion and indulgence. Sure, he steals to get it, but he gets it on his own, nonetheless. When a mysterious character by the name of Schrodinger threatens Felix’s only surviving family member in an attempt to recruit him into a crime syndicate, Felix is sent on a globetrotting game of cat and mouse in a heightened world of colorful criminal masterminds.
Release Date: May 31, 2023
PCS NOTES: As a fan of Andrew Wheeler, this is one we will not miss getting.
The Lonesome Hunters: The Wolf Child #1
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Tyler Crook
Art by Crook
Cover Art by Crook
Monster hunters Howard and Lupe are on their way to get rid of the powerful sword, but car trouble leaves them stranded in a small town that is being terrorized by a magical wolf and a mysterious child in a wolf mask. While waiting for car repairs, Lupe befriends the child and she and Howard are drawn into a war between the townspeople and the deadly beasts.
Release Date: May 31, 2023
PCS NOTES: We are very excited for this return to The Lonesome Hunters “universe”. Can’t wait to see what comes next.
Savage Strength of Starstorm #1
Image Comics
Written by Drew Craig
Art by Craig & Jason Finestone
Cover Art by Craig & Finestone
SERIES PREMIERE
Orphaned amnesiac high school student Grant Garrison is just attempting to navigate his present and recall his past when a meteor decimates his school. In the rubble, Grant discovers a strange artifact from another galaxy, the weapon known as the Starstorm, and the power that resides within it will determine not only his and his friends’ future-but the fate of the entire universe.
Release Date: May 31, 2023
PCS NOTES: This looks pretty cool.
Suicide Squad: Kill Arkham Asylum #1
DC Comics
Written by John Layman
Art by Jesus Hervas
Cover Art by Dan Panosian
Before the Suicide Squad kills your favorite heroes in the upcoming video game, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, join us for this thrilling prequel and witness them kill Arkham Asylum! Amanda Waller has taken control of the recently rebuilt Arkham Asylum, and her brutal tactics and merciless methods have led to the most secure asylum Gotham has ever known. But when the cell doors open and the inmates are left in a free-for-all deathmatch, Waller’s true intentions reveal themselves: identify the strongest, smartest, and most brutal inmates of the asylum to serve her on Task Force X. Things are gonna get messy in this prequel to Rocksteady’s Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League!
Release Date: May 30, 2023
PCS NOTES: Last but definitely not least. DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK!! It will be excellent. I can smell the awesomeness from here.
