Welcome to the New Number Ones!
Each Wednesday we bring you the list of new series and special editions in a post highlighting what you need to put in your cart at the comic shop or digital marketplace.
In this week’s column, we have 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.
The fallout of last month’s Hellfire Gala will have effects on the rest of the Marvel universe; so keep an eye out for those new books.
This week, we have books on the list from: Marvel Comics, Image Comics, IDW Publishing, Archie Comics, Dynamite Entertainment, and First Second Books.
One thing to remember, we continue to measure the “comic week” as Wednesday. #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.
New Series
New One-Shots and Special Editions
New Series This Week
Alpha Flight #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Ed Brisson
Art by Scott Godlewski & Matt Milla
Cover Art by Leonard Kirk & Edgar Delgado
SAVING CANADA…FROM THE MUTANT MENACE?!
GUARDIAN, PUCK, SNOWBIRD and SHAMAN return, as a terrestrial ALPHA FLIGHT bursts onto the scene! But what schism will pit these heroes against their former teammates AURORA, NORTHSTAR and NEMESIS, as well as Aurora’s beau, FANG? The FALL OF X has changed the game, and will Alpha Flight soar to new heights…or be crushed under the weight of an impossible mission?
Release Date: August 16, 2023
PCS NOTES: Alpha Flight written by Ed Brisson is one of the great gifts that the comic gods could grant this summer.
The Cull #1
Image Comics
Written by Kelly Thompson
Art by Mattia De Iulis
Cover Art by De Iuls
Something is Killing the Children-horror vibes mix with The Goonies-style adventure as five friends set off to shoot a short film on a forbidden rock near their home the summer before they all go their separate ways. But that’s not really why they’re there. One of them has lied… and it’s a lie that will change their lives forever.
Release Date: August 16, 2023
PCS NOTES: I feel like we are suddenly being spoiled by creator-owned books from Kelly Thompson, and I am loving it.
Dark Spaces: The Hollywood Special #1
IDW Publishing
Written by Jeremy Lambert
Art by Claire Roe & Jordie Bellaire
Cover Art by Roe
All aboard The Hollywood Special, the 1942 luxury train touring the United States to support the war effort. On board is fading star Vivian Drake, doing her part to boost morale and finally give the tabloids something other than her nose-diving career and shambles of a family life to write about. But when the Special pulls into the coal-mining town of Minersville, PA, amid the collapse of a mine, Vivian finds herself facing every failure and bad memory she’s bottled up in the form of what the miners found in the dark-the thing they call the Mismatch Man, who feeds on pain and regret.
Release Date: August 16, 2023
PCS NOTES: This looks like a fun mystery.
Dark X-Men #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Steve Foxe
Art by Jonas Scharf & Frank Martin
Cover Art by Stephen Segovia & Rain Beredo
WELCOME TO THE DARK X-MEN… HOPE THE WORLD SURVIVES THE EXPERIENCE!
Following the explosive events of the Hellfire Gala, MADELYNE PRYOR realizes the world needs the X-Men now more than ever. HAVOK and GAMBIT have served on the team before…but never one that looks like this! And how does GIMMICK, breakout star of MARVEL’S VOICES: PRIDE, fall under the Goblin Queen’s sway? Find out in the most horrific installment of the X-Men saga yet!
Release Date: August 16, 2023
PCS NOTES: This “X” team has me intrigued, and the creative staff has me excited.
Disney Villains: Hades #1
Dynamite Entertainment
Written by Elliot Kalan
Art by Alessandro Ranaldi
Cover Art by Karan S. Darboe
FROM THE CLASSIC DISNEY FILM HERCULES – THE LORD OF THE UNDERWORLD FINALLY TAKES CENTER STAGE!
Hades – the lord of darkness! The most deceitful and scheming of the Greek gods!
The one god not invited to the weekly brunch at Mount Olympus!
Obviously, a slight like this calls for the total destruction of the gods of Olympus. To make that happen, the hot-tempered ruler of the underworld needs to acquire the magical Golden Fleece of Colchis. Unfortunately, the Fleece is guarded by a sleepless dragon and soldiers made out of teeth, so Hades assembles a ragtag group of morally questionable adventurers to help him steal the Fleece before some dude named Jason and his Argonaut bros swoop in and ruin his perfectly logical plan. It’s absolute chaotic hilarity courtesy of writer ELLIOTT KALAN (Spider-Man & The X-Men) and artist ALESSANDRO RANALDI (Zorro)!
Release Date: August 16, 2023
PCS NOTES: This take on a Disney villain looks entertaining.
Godzilla: War for Humanity #1
IDW Publishing
Written by Andrew MacLean
Art by Jake Smith
Cover Art by MacLean
“Godzilla saved us that day.” When Dr. Yuko Honda was young, she was chased by Hedorah, the smog monster, and thought it was all over… until Godzilla saved her! Now a respected professor and writer, she’s dedicated her life to showing that while Godzilla may be a monster, that doesn’t mean it and the other kaiju are enemies. Unfortunately, when a strange new monster emerges, her belief in the good of Godzilla will be put to the test. If Godzilla doesn’t defend them, what can humanity do against the might of Zoospora?
Release Date: August 16, 2023
PCS NOTES: Godzilla is our hero? I am here for it.
Uncanny Avengers #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Gerry Duggan
Art by Javier Garron & Morry Hollowell
Cover Art by Garron & Hollowell
THE FALL OF X CALLS FOR THE RETURN OF THE AVENGERS’ UNITY SQUAD!
Innocent people and world leaders are dead after simultaneous attacks on the U.S. and Krakoan governments, and that means one thing: It’s time for a new squad of Avengers. False-flag attacks meant to whip up anti-mutant hysteria are unfolding, and hey, some of Steve Rogers’ best friends are mutants. Your new unity squad is: Captain America, Rogue, Deadpool, Quicksilver, Psylocke and Monet. They must solve the mystery of who the new, murderous Captain Krakoa is—and stop his team of killers from igniting the fires of a new world war. PLUS: A bonus page written by Jonathan Hickman—WHO ARE THE G.O.D.S.?
Release Date: August 16, 2023
PCS NOTES:
New One-Shots and Specials
Chilling Adventures Presents… Strange Science #1
Archie Comics
Written by Magdalene Visaggio
Art by Butch K. Mapa
Cover Art by Mapa
Danni Malloy is Jinx Holliday’s best friend, and where one goes, the other is sure to follow… even if that means through hell and back and forth through the depths of space and time. When Danni receives a mysterious message from former friend Dilton Doiley, Danni is horrified to learn that he’s built a time machine and it’s gone terribly wrong-and now the three of them have been transported to warped version of Riverdale, where nothing seems quite right. It’s up to Danni to set things right and bring them back to the present day, and the hometown they know and love… and she might have to explain a thing or two to Jinx about what’s going on, too! Strange Science explores Danni’s personal history, time travel, and the importance of being to be true to yourself and what matters most to you.
Release Date: August 16, 2023
PCS NOTES: We are excited to see the exploration of Danni Malloy!
A Guest in the House HC
First Second Books
Written by Emily Carroll
Art by Carroll
Cover Art by Carroll
After many lonely years, Abby’s just gotten married. She met her new husband—a recently widowed dentist—when he arrived in town with his young daughter, seeking a new start. Although it’s strange living in the shadow of her predecessor, Abby does her best to be a good wife and mother. But the more she learns about her new husband’s first wife, the more things don’t add up. And Abby starts to wonder . . . was Sheila’s death really by natural causes? As Abby sinks deeper into confusion, Sheila’s memory seems to become a force all its own, ensnaring Abby in a mystery that leaves her obsessed, fascinated, and desperately in love for the first time in her life.
Emily’s masterful balance of black and white, surreal colors, rich textures, and dramatic lettering is assured to bring this story to life and give readers a chill up their spine as they read.
Release Date: August 15, 2023
PCS NOTES: Will definitely be checking this out.
