NEW COMICS 4 THIS WEEK (04/16/25)
All comics will be rated on a scale from 1 to 10
Absolute Flash # 2 
Batman/Superman: World’s Finest # 38
Detective Comics # 1096 
Godzilla vs Hulk # 1
New Gods # 5
Redcoat # 11
Spectacular Spider-Men # 14 
Summer of Superman Special # 1 
Superior Avengers # 1
Ultimate Wolverine # 4
Wolverine # 8
Godzilla vs Hulk #1 – This one-shot finds Godzilla facing off against The Incredible Hulk in an action-packed throwback story where General Ross enters the monster-killing business alongside a group of scientists called “The Thunderbolts” (including Bruce Banner, Doctor Demonicus, and various other scientists) to take down Godzilla. The vintage feel of this one-shot creates a fun tone that helps balance the all-out Kaiju action on display. However, the limited use of The Hulk feels like a letdown considering this is the Jade Giant’s first confrontation with Godzilla. But once he hits the scene, the action commences with no chance to pump the brakes. Even with the rushed ending and messy pacing, this doesn’t quite feel like Gerry Duggan’s best work, as his scripting resembles a poor imitation of Bill Mantlo’s iconic work that does not favor him, despite the vintage narration being on point. I’m guessing Greg Pak was probably approached to write this when the series was first conceived, but he must have gotten busy. It’s too bad because he could have done a better job with this premise. Still, it’s a Kaiju-filled romp that makes the path to the upcoming series “Godzilla Destroys The Marvel Universe” all the more appealing, thanks in part to the epic visuals brought to life by Giuseppe Camuncoli (who never disappoints with his excellent art). The visuals are the only aspect worth checking out about this one-shot for anyone who loves Godzilla or The Hulk.
Summer of Superman Special #1 – 2025 is turning out to be an absolutely banner year for The Man of Steel, with a new movie on the horizon and the super-titles running on all cylinders. It seems right for DC to celebrate with a giant-sized special (landing on the same week as Superman Day) that brings together the talents of Mark Waid, Joshua Williamson, and Dan Slott (making his DC debut), along with Jorge Jimenez, Dan Mora, and Belen Ortega on art, to create a Superman story that celebrates the character and his supporting cast in a monumental way. This features the wedding of Lana Lang and John-Henry Irons (Waid, Williamson, and Slott do wonders in making them the ideal couple), a Legion of Super-Heroes villain in Validus (who ties in perfectly with Clark Kent’s earlier days in Smallville as Superboy), and a shocking two-page epilogue that is sure to shake Superman’s world to its core (**NO SPOILERS**). Broken up into three chapters, Waid and Williamson navigate their stories with ease, but it’s Dan Slott who makes the most significant impression, demonstrating that he’s destined to write Superman, and he certainly does not disappoint. This special is a surefire hit in winning over Superman fans, old and new, with the three main Super-writers collaborating in perfect harmony while setting the course for an exciting future for the Man of Steel. 2025 is the best time to be a Superman fan.
Superior Avengers #1 – With “One Nation Under Doom” officially underway, it seems like a good time to introduce Dr. Doom’s own Avengers, featuring a surprising member in Kristoff Vernard (Dr. Doom’s adopted son) and multiple heroes from different worlds such as Killmonger, Onslaught, and a female Doctor Octopus, leaning into dysfunctional aspects along with the typical troupe of multiversal conflict that has become the norm in most Marvel titles. We get some face time with these characters to give readers a sense of their personalities, but while their goals aren’t exactly fleshed out, there may be a few issues before that pans out. The tense father/son relationship between Doom and Kristoff adds depth to this issue, coming off as promising in a way that’s never been seen before. This premise doesn’t offer anything new, but it’s an enjoyable, dark superhero team that works due to having Doom in the mix.
Wolverine #8 – This issue, celebrating its 400th installment, presents three stories that honor Logan in all his violent glory. The main story wraps up Logan’s battle with The Adamantine, while the Wendigo plotline receives a surprise ending in the second story (**NO SPOILERS**), culminating in a cliffhanger that showcases why Saladin Ahmed is a master storyteller. Trust me when I say the cliffhanger he set up will shock Wolverine fans. Yet, while readers must wait for the next issue, both of the beats in these two stories fail to capture the dynamic quality that would make them memorable; instead, they come across as forgettable and don’t quite make this a celebratory issue. However, the Daniel Warren Johnson feature is brutal and haunting and is, by far, the most enjoyable installment in this lukewarm 400th issue. It’s great to see Wolverine reach 400 issues, but this should have had more flair. Unfortunately, it feels flat in its execution despite the stellar creative team of Saladin Ahmed and Martin Coccolo (whose action sequences are breathtaking) at the helm. Still, this could have been another milestone event for Logan, but maybe that will happen when this title reaches 500. Marvel might also want to reconsider its $7.99 price tag to avoid scaring off its fanbase.
Well, that’s it for me. Thanks for sticking around, and I look forward to seeing you all next time.
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