Comic Picks of the Week for Delivery 1/4/23

Every week, tons of new books hit the stands, each with potential. Some live up to that potential. We pick the ones we think have the best shot at heating up. Here are the picks of the week for delivery this Wednesday

Hey Wednesday Warriors. Another small week.

New #1’s
Children Of The Black Sun #1 – Ablaze -It is not difficult to be happy under a blue sky. But it takes a lot of courage to be strong even under a black sun.’ Over the years, a black sun has risen twice. A dark dawn whose rays have done terrible things to people’s minds, driving them to all sorts of horror. Twelve years have passed since the last time and the world still fears the return of that inexplicable phenomenon. But fear is not the only legacy of those terrible days. All the women who got pregnant under the influence of the black sun have given birth to babies with some… peculiarities. White hair, ashy skin, abnormal proportions, and eyes as red as fire: the Children of the Black Sun. Brightvale is a small town like many others. Here the Children of the Black Sun are treated with particularcontempt, especially in the days leading up to the anniversary of the two disasters. The hatred of their fellow villagers, terrified of a possible return of that horror, will push these kids to unite and embark on a hallucinatory journey to discover themselves and their true nature. But is the black sun really about to return? 1:10 and 1:15 Variants available.

Hammerfall #1 – Opus – When a lone warrior rides deep into the forest to face the savagery and madness head-on, his quest for justice leads him to a figure from his past-the herald to a dark master who cannot be undone by mastery of arms alone

Joe Fixit #1 – Peter David’s tour de force through some of his greatest Hulk hits continues with a return to JOE FIXIT! Gone are the ripped-up shorts of the Hulk of yore-this enforcer prefers the slick suave of a striped suit, and the Hulk has traded in “monster” for “mobster” as he lends his strength to the Las Vegas casino scene. Of course, the Kingpin has his own ideas about who the toughest guy in town is, and it’s up to Spider-Man to keep the two of them from destroying Sin City!

Phantom Tomorrow #1 – Opus – Scientist Dennis Kane has an intellect matched only by his massive ego. When his hubris causes the world to fall apart around him, a dark avenger is born of his agonizing shame. A mysterious figure caught between life and death, the ‘Blackbird’ desperately seeks redemption, willing to fight through Hell and back to get it.

Scarlet Witch #1 – Not sure how the series will turn out, but I am digging the Hughes Homage Variant and the Ivan Tao Cover

Spy Superb #1 – Dark Horse – New but pricey Matt Kindt series It’s John Wick meets Wes Anderson in this mystery-thriller about a secret organization that’s developed the perfect spy. Who is the perfect spy? A spy who doesn’t even realize they are a spy. AKA the useful idiot.” This particular useful idiot is named Jay. Jay is sent on missions without even realizing he’s on a mission. Until he picks up the wrong phone with the wrong secret intel and now Russian hit-squads and elite assassins are after him. But Jay believes he was a sleeper agent–and really is the “spy superb”. His complete obliviousness and lack of survival skills may be the only thing that saves him in this globe-trotting espionage tale . . . where nothing is what it seems . . . but also . . . kind of actually is what it seems.

Trojan #1 – AWA Studios – Once upon a time, we lived alongside Legends. Creatures of myth. Centaurs, fauns, gorgons, kelpies, gnomes, and more. They were spectacular. Majestic. Powerful. Peaceful. Pure. In comparison, we were ugly. Weak. Warmongering. Rotten. Is it any wonder we could not live alongside them any longer? After driving these Legends to the fringes of society, an uglier form of mythos takes shape in the form of rumors of live snuff shows for dark web high rollers. When a mysterious young woman, Nessa, enlists the help of a hacker to take a tour of the grisliest corners of the Dark Web, she sets in motion a war between those who peddle to mankind’s darkest fantasies and a world that transcends imagination. Trojan is fantasy thriller full of wonder and horror in equal measure

One to Watch
Star Wars High Republic #2 – Marvel is writing a new chapter in Star Wars history, so as a result, there are a ton of new characters each issue. They need to stick, or show up on screen, so keep an eye out on these.

Small Press pick of the Week
Mosely #1 – Two good reasons for this book to be picked up, Boom #1 and Rob Guillory. Mosely is a satirical sci-fi blockbuster perfect for fans of God Country and Ghost Cage! In the hyper-technological world of the later 21st century, Mosely is a bitter old janitor on a mission from a higher power-to unleash holy Hell upon the ‘too big to fail’ Tech Gods. Can one man bring down the corporate powers who’ve used their vast influence to oppress an all too complacent human race (and hopefully win back the favor of his estranged family while he’s at it)? Mosely’s taking up the Holy Hammer and you better believe he’s gonna smash some $h!t until he sets mankind free!

Pick of the Week
Spider-Man #4 – A misspelling back in Amazing Spider-Man #1 created the Spider-verse. The way Stan Lee told it, he forgot Peter’s last name. Anyway, several times in ASM #1 Parker was called Palmer. Well, Peter Palmer Spider-Man appears this issue. (See panel below). Fun issue for Spider-Fans.