NEW COMICS 4 THIS WEEK (08/05/26)
*All comics will be rated on a scale from 1 to 10*
Absolute Superman # 22 (8.5/10)
Amazing Spider-Man # 34 (9/10)
Batman # 12 (9/10)
Ben 10 # 4 (7/10)
Captain America # 14 (7.5/10)
Chachu # 1 (9.5/10)
Fantastic Four # 15 (9/10)
Iron Man # 8 (6.5/10)
JSA # 22 (8/10)
Marc Spector: Moon Knight # 7 (6.5/10)
Mary Jane: Face It, Tiger # 1 (6.5/10)
Uncanny X-Men # 33 (6/10)
Vampirella Versus Red Sonja: Red City # 1 (7/10)
What If…?: Captain America # 1 (9.5/10)
Batman # 12– While six of the world’s deadliest killers converge on Gotham, Batman races against time to uncover who hired them and target their plans. This issue introduces Alfred’s great-niece, Verity Pennyworth, who steps in as the new butler after Alfred’s passing. The plot feels overstuffed, with new villains like Lord Fantôme and Spyder Black seeming more like filler than memorable opponents. It also appears that Fraction is focusing too much on setting up future stories, which feels more like a chore than a cohesive progression. Verity’s espionage background is a welcome addition, though her understanding of Batman’s mission isn’t explained yet, likely to be clarified in future issues. Her interactions with Bruce and Damian are charming and a positive highlight. It may be time to retire the Alfred AI, as it’s becoming worn out. Despite the promising addition of Verity, managing two major storylines makes this issue feel overwhelming, but it might improve in the next installment.
Chachu # 1– This new 5-issue miniseries from Image Comics and Tiny Onion, features the writing debut of actress Iman Vellani (of “Ms. Marvel” & “The Marvels” fame) delivers a 1970s Neo-noir detective story where Leila, a witty 19-year-old Pakistani-Canadian girl with Hollywood dreams and a love for pulp novels, heads to California to experience the real world and this is where she comes in contact with her estranged uncle whose a cynical, middle-aged, semi-retired private investigator who famously married a starlet he was hired to find suddenly, her uncle’s celebrity wife goes missing again which forces the mismatched duo onto an impromptu California road trip filled with Hollywood politics and robbery. While this series is basically a passion project, right away readers can tell that Vellani is pouring her heart and soul into her writing that brings the charisma while blending family drama, humor and crime compontents that brightens the concept to get heights all while sidestepping the usual hardened private eye elements that stand out on its own (It’s like “Spider-Noir” without the superhero factor) while Vellani’s sharp and witty dialogue and monologues helps establish the wonderful chemistry between Leila and her uncle that is undeniable; The pairing of Marianna Ignazzi’s art and Jordie Bellaire’s coloring are in great harmony when it comes to capturing the essence of 1970s California that captures the noir tone with brilliance. It’s always a risk when celebrities try their hand at writing a comic book series, but because Vellani is a huge fan of the medium, this series is definitely off to a great start.
Mary Jane: Face It, Tiger # 1– This anthology one-shot, celebrating the 60th anniversary of Mary Jane Watson’s iconic debut in Amazing Spider-Man #42, presents a collection of stories that honor her legacy and remind fans of the profound impact she’s had on Spider-Man’s life. The standout stories by J.M. DeMatteis—offering an untold tale of MJ facing off against The Chameleon from the events in Spectacular Spider-Man #245—and J. Michael Straczynski—depicting an older MJ visiting Peter Parker’s grave in an alternate timeline following the events of Amazing Spider-Man #500—are the only two that truly carry emotional weight. Both highlight MJ and Peter’s marriage (with continuity seemingly set aside for this one-shot) and beautifully showcase Mary Jane’s resilience and unwavering love for Peter, both as himself and as Spider-Man. The contributions by Ann Nocenti and Ashley Allen are enjoyable, but feel more suited for an Amazing Spider-Man annual—though Allen’s story does a good job setting up MJ’s new post-Venom status quo, which looks promising. Overall, this one-shot is something of a mixed bag, but it does successfully celebrate everything fans love about Mary Jane Watson—from party girl to resident hero—giving her the well-deserved recognition that comes with 60 amazing years.
Vampirella Versus Red Sonja: Red City #1– Vampirella and Red Sonja team up in this multiversal adventure set on Earth-0001. Five years earlier, Dracula tried to turn this world into a blood-soaked realm like Drakulon. Though Red Sonja, Vampirella, and the superheroine Dyna Mite managed to defeat Dracula, they became permanently stranded, forcing the trio to fight for survival and search for a way home through the nightmarish Red City. Writer Chuck Brown crafts a story deeply rooted in multiverse themes—currently a major trend in comics—and delivers a series of unpredictable twists that keep readers engaged. However, Brown sometimes tries to include too many plot threads, from introducing new settings to building conflicts and tying them together, which can feel overwhelming. Still, he succeeds in making the story accessible to new readers, which is a strength. Artist Paulo H. Mel perfectly captures the book’s bloody, gritty aesthetic and excels at drawing high-energy action sequences that enhance the dark, intense tone Brown aims for in this one-shot. Despite the story’s fast pacing as it rushes toward a conclusion, ‘Vampirella Versus Red Sonja: Red City’ stands out for its compelling dark fantasy, balancing intrigue and danger to create an engaging narrative.
What If…?: Captain America # 1 – This new “What If…?” One-shot explores the scenario: What if Captain America were revived in the year 2099 instead of awakening in the modern “Heroic Age” of Earth-616? In this story, Steve Rogers remains frozen for decades longer and wakes up in a high-tech future, having missed the entire heroic era. As a result, the world has evolved without him. Steve must now navigate an unfamiliar landscape filled with advanced technology, extraterrestrials, artificial intelligences, and gods. Creatively, this installment is a true character study, demonstrating that Cap’s unwavering morals and determination persist, even in a bleak and cynical future. Marc Guggenheim introduces several 2099 characters, giving Captain America a renewed sense of purpose in the fight for liberty and justice while the narrative is action-packed and effectively connects Cap to the 2099 universe. The villain, however, is somewhat predictable (**NO SPOILERS**), but the story stands out by ending on an uplifting note—a refreshing change from the often tragic tone of other “What If…?” tales. Ultimately, this issue captures the enduring spirit of Captain America, inspiring a new generation to greatness.
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