NEW COMICS 4 THIS WEEK (03/25/26)
*All comics will be rated on a scale from 1 to 10*
Absolute Wonder Woman # 18 (7.5/10)
Amazing Spider-Man # 25 (7/10)
DC/Marvel: Superman/Spider-Man # 1 (10/10)
Detective Comics # 1107 (6.5/10)
Fantastic Four # 9 (7/10)
Fantastic Four: First Foes # 1 (6.5/10)
The Flash # 31 (10/10)
Harley Quinn # 60 (10/10)
Inglorious X-Force # 3 (8/10)
Iron Man # 3 (7/10)
Justice League Unlimited # 17 (8/10)
Mark Spears’ MidKnight Man # 1 (5.5/10)
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III # 5 (7.2/10)
Rogue # 3 (6.5/10)
The Silver Surfer # 1 (Facsimile Edition) (8/10)
Superman # 35 (10/10)
Uncanny X-Men # 25 (7/10)
DC/Marvel: Superman/Spider-Man # 1– The next major crossover between DC and Marvel delivers another significant collaboration, featuring an old favorite: The Man of Steel teams up with The Friendly Neighborhood Wall-Crawler to face off against the clever but deadly duo of Brainiac and Doctor Octopus. The main story provides everything fans would expect from such an iconic crossover, thanks to Mark Waid’s writing. He elevates the classic sibling-like dynamic between Superman and Spider-Man, adding charm to the intense action. Waid excels at immersing readers into the story without excessive exposition, making their conflict with Doc Ock and Brainiac feel authentic. An interesting aspect Waid highlights is that both heroes coexist despite originating from different universes, making the crossover more enjoyable and avoiding the typical ‘first meeting’ trope. Instead, it feels like a natural sequel to the 1976 and 1981 stories. The backup features are varied but include some standout mash-ups, such as the Jeff Lemire/Rafa Sandoval story with Jonathan Kent and Ben Parker, and the Tom King/Jim Lee story reuniting Lois Lane and Mary Jane Parker, both crowd favorites. Notably, the latter brings creative energy for Tom King- despite some criticism of his work. The Priest/Daniel Sampere story, involving Superboy Prime meeting Spider-Man in the mid-1980s with his black-and-white costume, offers a fun romp with clever fourth-wall-breaking commentary that showcases Priest’s storytelling strengths. Sean Gordon Murphy’s futuristic pairing of Superboy & Spider-Man 2099, set during the “Legion of Super-Heroes” era, adds a slight edge, especially with Batman Beyond’s involvement. While the Matt Fraction/Steve Lieber story, revisiting their run on “Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen” with a Carnage twist, leans into dark comedy, the Greg Rucka/Nicola Scott story about a rivalry between The Daily Planet and Daily Bugle feels somewhat flat, despite Rucka’s good intentions. The Power Girl/Punisher story by Gail Simone and Belen Ortega blends optimism and grit but can seem gimmicky, reminiscent of a plot from a Jennifer Aniston film—appealing or off-putting depending on the reader’s taste. Overall, the crossover is packed with impressive mash-ups and features an epic team-up of two legendary characters, making it a timeless event in comic book history, unique in its scope and enduring in appeal.
The Flash # 31– The fastest man alive gets a new lease on life thanks to the book’s fresh creative team of Ryan North and Gavin Guidry. Fans experience the full spectrum of Wally West’s world, from his heroics to his family life. The story’s central conflict centers on people putting themselves in danger, with a $10,000 reward for whoever uploads the best footage of the Flash saving them. While the Flash never hesitates to save people, he struggles with the idea of anyone profiting from his heroics. North and Guidry immediately demonstrate great chemistry, reminiscent of the creative spark Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo brought to the title during their run. Much of the brilliance comes from North’s infusion of fun, scientific elements that fit perfectly within the story, and the decision to make social media the antagonist feels both fresh and relevant. North’s writing makes Wally more likable than ever, and with this creative team already firing on all cylinders, this run serves as the perfect jump-on point for new readers while also delighting longtime fans. The Flash is definitely in good hands.
Harley Quinn # 60– Now that “DC K.O.” has concluded, nearly every character in the DC Universe is facing a new status quo—including Harley Quinn. She’s embraced the way of the Bat, adopting the darker yet quirky mantle of “Batquinn.” Now a Justice League recruit under Batman’s mentorship, Harley’s rational and chaotic sides have become distinct entities, making for an intriguing and refreshing change. Rather than relying on the familiar elements that made fans love Harley, this new direction brings a chaotic but zany superhero story that remains dark yet preserves her trademark silliness. Watching her playfully parody Batman tropes injects a sense of fun and unpredictability into her crime-fighting career, making it feel more vibrant. Carlos Olivares’s expressive art matches the frantic pacing, skillfully balancing the wackiness. While skeptics doubt this wild status quo will last forever, Harley’s latest era as Batquinn is undeniably entertaining—a surreal and hilarious read that offers something genuinely new for the character.
Mark Spears’ MidKnight Man # 1– This one-shot introduces a new hero to Mark Spears’ “Monsters” universe. While fans of the series and newcomers alike may find the complex plot confusing and somewhat dull, the story evokes the vibe of a low-budget 1980s sci-fi film that focuses on action over innovation. However, Spears’ 3D rendered artwork brings a realistic quality to the visuals, and the concept of MidKnight Man is intriguing. Still, Spears could work to make the story more engaging for those unfamiliar with “Monsters” and provide the hero with a more compelling and fully developed origin.
Superman # 35– After Superman’s disappearance at the end of “DC K.O.,” Superboy Prime steps up as the new Man of Steel. Although he hails from a world where he is the main hero and the DC Universe characters are fictional, his past as a villain during “Infinite Crisis” makes some wary of his attempt at heroism. However, Joshua Williamson takes great care to show that Prime can indeed change. The fourth-wall breaking remains intact, most notably when Prime addresses the readers directly on the first page, inviting them to join him on his journey for fun and life lessons—a playful, tongue-in-cheek touch. Williamson excels in establishing Prime as the hero Metropolis needs, and his interactions with Lois Lane are particularly enjoyable, as she is the only one willing to support him and teaches him how to adapt to Earth-0. Prime’s youthful energy is a refreshing aspect of his characterization, promising a new direction, though the metafictional commentary is both a blessing and a curse at times. With a new identity and a job at a comic book shop, this issue of “Superman” launches a new era for Superboy Prime, revealing a more engaging side that balances fiction and metafiction, true to his character. It remains to be seen how his heroics will hold up.
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