Bug Wars #1  Writer: Jason Aaron Artist: Mahmud Asrar, Matthew Wilson Letterer: Becca Carey Publisher: Image Comics Release Date: February 12, 2025 Cover Price: $4.99 Mini-Series Premiere. Slade Slaymaker is a kid from Alabama suddenly lost in a vicious world beyond his imagining, a world of marauding ant armies, spellcasting spider witches, and beetle-riding barbarians. A kingdom of tiny but deadly warriors hidden in his own backyard. The same world that saw his father eaten alive by insects now plunges young Slade into the middle of a brutal Bug War to decide the fate of his family. From the superstar team of writer Jason Aaron and artist Mahmud Asrar comes the over-sized debut of a dark fantasy epic for the ages. Score: ★★★★1/2 (4.5/5) QUICK REVIEW: Jason Aaron describes 'Bug Wars' as “ Game of Thrones meets Honey, I Shrunk the Kids ” and you know in the opening sequence it's an all-out war giving credence to that description. It's an R-rated ' A B...

  Kill Train #1 Writer: Olivia Cuartero-Briggs Artist: Martina Niosi, colored by Simone D’Angelo,  and lettered by Becca Carey Publisher: Mad Cave Studios Release Date: January 29, 2025 To control the population explosion that nearly crippled the city, New York has instituted Kill Train, a randomized, extermination program where designated subway trains are picked at random, and all the passengers are slaughtered by the end of the line. In this not-so-distant future, we meet Vanessa, a struggling single mom in the midst of a nervous breakdown, who discovers that she, herself, is on a Kill Train. Now, for once in her life and with everything to prove, Vanessa decides she's not going down without a fight. Score: ★★★★1/2 (4.5/5) "Kill Train" is a dystopian horror story that keeps readers on edge, bracing for the inevitable. Olivia Cuartero-Briggs wastes no time setting expectations—the title alone signals impending violence, so buckle up. From the start, a sense...

  Babs #5 Writer: Garth Ennis Artist: Jacen Burrows, Andy Troy Letters: Rob Steen Publisher: Ahoy Comics Release Date: January 29, 2025 Cover Price: $3.99 More sword-and-social-satire action from the acclaimed Ennis/Burrows team! In the depths of Tiberius Toledo's diamond mine, Babs and her allies toil in captivity, until an escape plan forms involving the libidinous Head Guard and a shocking sacrifice of virtue! Score: ★★★★☆ (4/5) 'Babs' has been a monthly blast of entertaining satire and laughs. Issue five is a pivotal one as Babs and Izzy look for a way to escape the mines they've been forced to work in if only they can get past the guards. Meanwhile, Mook and his cohorts realize snitching and throwing their fellow weirdo citizens under the bus for the White Knights turned out to be less rewarding and less glamorous than they thought. Now, Tiberius Toledo and his knights are ready to pull stakes and leave town.  This might be some of Garth Ennis' best...

  Space Ghost #9  Writer: David Pepose Artist: Jonathan Lau, Andrew Dalhouse Letterer: Taylor Esposito Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment Release Date: January 15, 2025 Cover Price: $4.99 In this issue: With his old foe Space Ghost on the ropes, Metallus surveys the destruction he has wrought - and deems it good. Now it's all up to Jan, Jace, and Blip to somehow pull victory from the jaws of defeat - and help their mentor take Metallus down once and for all! Award-winning author DAVID PEPOSE and artist extraordinaire JONATHAN LAU shine a light into the darkness with Space Ghost #9 - backed up by high-wattage covers from FRANCESCO MATTINA, JAE LEE & JUNE CHUNG, BJORN BARENDS, and ANTHONY MARQUES! Score: ★★★★1/2 (4.5/5) QUICK REVIEW: I'm running out of superlatives  when reviewing 'Space Ghost.' It's consistently one of the most exciting action comics, but there is little to critique. If there is a criticism to be had is the similarities between arcs wh...

  Katabasis #1 Writer: Damien Becton Artists: Rodrigo Rocha, Salvador Pomar Letters: Dezi Sienty Publisher: Blackbox Release Date: December 18, 2024 Cover Price: $9.99 Demons can't get into Heaven, Angels can't get into Hell but Juniper can. Juniper was once the deadliest mercenary on Earth, but then something went wrong. Now, trapped in a vegetative state on Earth, she's tasked with using her skills to save a soul from the Underworld. Realizing she doesn't need permission to play God anymore, Juniper decides to take matters into her own hands. Should they go to Heaven or Hell? Or is there another option? Score: ★★★★1/2 (4.5/5) Katabasis #1 kicks off with intense action as Juniper, an assassin, attempts a daring rescue in the land of the living. This sets the stage for her journey into Purgatory, where the mythology of souls and the realms of Heaven and Hell is unveiled. Juniper possesses the unique ability to traverse these realms, opening up rich storytell...

  Calavera P.I. #2  Writer: Marco Finnegan Artist: Marco Finnegan Publisher: Oni Press Release Date: December 4, 2024 Cover Price: $4.99 The mystery deepens in Marco Finnegan's (Morning Star, Night People) supernatural Chicano noir! Five years after he was gunned down in cold blood, private investigator Juan Calavera has been resurrected from the dead to help Maria Valdez find her missing son. As he contends with his ghastly new appearance and powerful abilities, Calavera returns to an unrecognizable Los Angeles ravaged by the Great Depression. Meanwhile, hidden amid the fog of the Mexican Repatriation, La Fantasma continues her human trafficking campaign. Will Calavera's thirst for vengeance get in the way of finding Maria's son? Score: ★★★1/2 (3.5/5) QUICK REVIEW: In this supernatural Chicano noir, private investigator Juan Calavera, resurrected after being killed five years earlier, teams up with Maria Valdez to find her missing son in a hauntingly transforme...

  Space Ghost #8 Writer: David Pepose Artist: Jonathan Lau, Andrew Dalhouse Letterer: Taylor Esposito Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment Release Date: December 11, 2024 Cover Price: $4.99 In this issue: The painful events of the past meet the brutal events of the present as Space Ghost and Metallus clash - and while these titans do battle, Space Ghost's young allies learn the shocking secrets behind their mentor's tragic history! Award-winning writer DAVID PEPOSE and acclaimed artist JONATHAN LAU add new layers of complexity to the Guardian of the Spaceways with Space Ghost #8 - enhanced by cutting-edge covers from FRANCESCO MATTINA, JAE LEE & JUNE CHUNG, BJORN BARENDS, and ANTHONY MARQUES! Score: ★★★★1/2 (4.5/5) In the past, General Metallus invaded Planet Vector, seeking to build an empire on the tragedy of countless deaths, including those of a young boy’s parents. Years later, that boy, now Space Ghost, seeks revenge against Metallus in Space Ghost #8, writt...

  Thundercats: Apex #1  Writer: Ed Brisson Artist: Rapha Lobosco, Roshan Kurichiyanil Letters: Jeff Eckleberry Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment Release Date: December 4, 2024 Cover Price: $4.99 Across a desert landscape, a cloaked rider emerges from the shimmering heat. A lone figure on a battered mount, he's a tempting target for bandits - and temptation is not something that the inhabitants of these badlands are inclined to resist. Unfortunately for the miscreants who decide to waylay him, that choice will likely be the last one they ever make. And when the dusty traveler walks into the local saloon, it soon becomes clear that anyone who stands between him and his mission will share the same fate. But who is this mysterious stranger - and what is the target that he has fixed his glowing red eye upon? Featuring otherworldly covers from DECLAN SHALVEY, LUCIO PARRILLO, MEGHAN HETRICK, and JAE LEE & JUNE CHUNG, this historic 40-page special from renowned writer ...

  LONG COLD WINTER #1 Writer: Francesca Perillo Artist: Stefano Cardoselli, Lorenzo Scaramella Letters: Buddy Beaudoin Publisher: Mad Cave Studios Release Date: December 4, 2024 Cover Price: $4.99 In the not-too-distant future, the air on Earth has become unbreathable. However, a multinational company called Air Co. has constructed generators that provide oxygen for those who can afford it. Peace Dog, a desperate ex-soldier, who has been willing to do anything to obtain breathable air is haunted by his past and hunted by bounty hunters, though, he may have found a way out of his current predicament by helping a mysterious robot child escape the dangerous and congested city. But, someone from his past has no intention of letting him leave...alive. Score: ★★★★☆ (4/5) "Long Cold Winter" is set in a dystopian future where the very air you breathe is a commodity, and survival comes at a steep price. In this world, you literally have to pay for the privilege of fresh ai...

Babs #4   (W) Garth Ennis  (A) Jacen Burrows, Andy Troy (L) Rob Steen  Cover A: Jacen Burrows Cover B: Peter Krause Publisher: Ahoy Comics Release Date: November 27, 2024 Cover Price: $3.99 More outrageous sword-slinging from the red-hot team of Garth Ennis & Jacen Burrows (Get Fury, Crossed)! On a mission to recover her friend, Izzy, Babs takes to the sea aboard a ship of smug, precious, affected elves, whose very existence infuriates her and whose captain has undisclosed plans for her! Score:  ★★★★☆ (4/5)   Babs by Garth Ennis, Jacen Burrows, and Andy Troy continues to shine as a sharp, entertaining satire of the fantasy genre, with a clear homage to the iconic barbarian She-Devil, Red Sonja. However, where Sonja is known for her fierce stoicism, Babs takes a much more irreverent approach—sarcastic, foul-mouthed, and just as formidable in battle. In this latest chapter, Babs finds herself aboard a boat full of obnoxious elves, headed on a missi...

  The Horizon Experiment: Moon Dogs #1 Writer: Tananarive Due Artist: Jose Villarrubia, Kelsey Ramsay Letters: Jeff Powell Publisher: Image Comics Release Date: November 20, 2024 Cover Price: $3.99 Literary horror icon and multi-award-winning novelist Tananarive Due (The Reformatory) and hot newcomer Kelsey Ramsay present Moon Dogs-following East African werewolves secretly living in Miami, as this minority within a minority is caught in a burgeoning war that threatens both lycanthrope and human lives. Score:  ★★★★1/2 (4.5/5)   QUICK REVIEW: 'Moon Dogs' follows a hidden community of East African werewolves living secretly in Miami. This marginalized group becomes embroiled in an escalating conflict that threatens not only their existence but that of humanity as well. Tananarive Due's storytelling expertise is on full display in 'Moon Dogs' #1. Her skill in crafting multidimensional characters allows readers to deeply connect with them. In Due's hands...

  The Moon Is Following Us #3 Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson, Riley Rossmo, Mike Spicer Letters: Shawn Lee Publisher: Image Comics Release Date: November 20, 2024 Cover Price: $3.99 Score: ★★★★1/2 (4.5/5) QUICK REVIEW: Sam and Duncan return to the dream world, discovering that their allies may have finally pinpointed Penny's location. However, Duncan’s lingering reluctance from their last confrontation continues to create friction between them. Sam is determined, and willing to risk everything to bring Penny back to the real world, while Duncan remains hesitant. The tension builds relentlessly as Sam and Duncan’s differing perspectives clash. The complexity of Penny's mind, which is harder to locate, adds an intriguing layer to the plot. It’s suggested that Penny’s struggles are tied to the unresolved grief over her grandmother’s death, with the Cascade representing grief in a physical form. This emotional journey is balanced with the h...

  Archie is Mr. Justice #1 Writer: Tim Seeley Artist: Mike Norton, Glenn Whitmore Letters: Jack Morelli Publisher: Archie Comics Release Date: November 20, 2024 Cover Price: $4.99 BRAND NEW 4-PART ARCHIE PREMIUM EVENT LIMITED SERIES! Young Archie Andrews possesses super strength, super speed, invincibility, and an undying urge to do what's right for the world. His only "weakness" is his need to see the good in others, no matter how terrible they may be. His beloved hometown of Riverdale isn't the welcoming town it once was, Mr. Lodge tried to turn it into a more modern, luxury city instead, which pushed a lot of families out and left a lot of buildings uninhabited. A lot of the "old timers" stuck around, but without progress and the financial stability to keep anything viable, it's looking more and more like a ghost town. Archie's goal isn't just to restore Riverdale to its former glory-it's to bring it into the future, too. And i...

 You Never Heard of Me #1 Writer: Iolanda Zanfardino Artist: Elisa Romboli Publisher: Dark Horse Comics Release Date: November 20, 2024 Cover Price: $3.99 The ability to touch someone and see both the best and the worst moments of their life, be it past or future, means the ability to try to change things for the better. Such power can feel like a curse, especially if you're a teenage seer who thinks he has enough problems. Score: 8.5/10 'You Never Heard of Me' is a compelling comic by Iolanda Zanfardino and Elisa Romboli, centered on a teenager named William who inherits the ability to see the best and worst moments of people's lives from his grandmother. This unique gift, while powerful, becomes a curse that forces his family to move frequently to avoid those who wish to exploit them. The first issue establishes key relationships and the emotional toll this ability takes on William and his grandmother. William is relatable, characterized by a casual attitu...

  Autumn Kingdom #3 Writer: Cullen Bunn Artist: Christopher Mitten, Francesco Segala Color Flatting: Sabrina Del Grosso Letters: Taylor Esposito Publisher: Oni Press Release Date: November 20, 2024 Cover Price: $4.99 The deathly dark fairy tale from master of horror Cullen Bunn (Invasive, Harrow County) and Christopher Mitten (Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.) descends the treacherous path toward its bloody conclusion! Sommer and Winter continue their desperate search for their parents, stolen in the night by monsters and taken as sacrifices to the dying fae realm known as the autumn kingdom. When they encounter a fearsome huntress, the sisters rely on the powers of the mysterious sword as their battle rages through the forest, only to discover their enemy is more familiar than expected . . . Score: ★★★★1/2 (4.5/5) QUICK REVIEW: In its most action-packed issue yet, "The August Kingdom" thrusts Sommer and Winter into their toughest challenge as they face an unrelenting war...

Calavera P.I. #1 Writer: Marco Finnegan Artist: Marco Finnegan Publisher: Oni Press Release Date: November 13, 2024 Cover Price: $4.99 SOMETIMES IT TAKES A DEAD MAN TO CRACK THE CASE! From the desk of rising star Marco Finnegan (Morning Star, Night People), walk the shadow-shrouded alleys of Hollywoodland to solve the mystery of Calavera-a newly resurrected private investigator whose first case is about to straddle the blood-soaked boundaries between the living and the dead . . . In 1925, Juan Calavera died a hero. After a career spent outside the law defending the Chicano barrios where the police refused to operate, he earned a reputation for fearlessness . . . and a gunshot in the stomach. Now, five years later, on Dia de los Muertos, his restless spirit has been summoned from the grave to help a desperate former colleague unravel a kidnapping all too close to home. With only days to solve the case before he is called back to the underworld, can Calavera reveal the iden...

  G.I. Joe #1 Writer: Joshua Williamson Artist: Tom Reilly, Jordie Bellaire Letters: Rus Wooton Publisher: Image Comics Release Date: November 13, 2024 Cover Price: $4.99 Series Premiere. The biggest comic book launch of the decade! Conrad Hauser, Codename DUKE, has assembled a special force known as G.I. Joe to battle the rising power of the mysterious COBRA in the aftermath of the Autobots and Decepticons' arrival on Earth. But the enigmatic Cobra Commander has unleashed the power of Energon like never before! Featuring many familiar faces and the first appearance of an all new character, this is the comic that will change everything you think you know about G.I. Joe... and that's only half the surprises in store from the chart-topping Energon Universe dream team of Joshua Williamson and Tom Reilly! Score:  ★★★★1/2 (4.5/5) QUICK REVIEW: The first issue of 'G.I. Joe' successfully serves as an entry point for new readers while encapsulating the ongoing Energ...

  Space Ghost #7 Writer: David Pepose Artist: Jonathan Lau, Andrew Dalhouse Letterer: Taylor Esposito Publisher: Dynamite Entertainment Release Date: November 13, 2024 Cover Price: $4.99 In this issue: Our human heroes find themselves trapped on a mysterious jungle planet where they face The Creature King, who commands a host of beasts to do his nefarious bidding. In their most desperate hour of need, the team turns to the one member who can save them-Blip! An all-new arc begins for the phenomenally successful series as acclaimed author DAVID PEPOSE and virtuoso artist JONATHAN LAU continue their exploration of the wonders (and dangers) of the galaxy with help from space- age cover artists FRANCESCO MATTINA, JAE LEE & JUNE CHUNG, BJORN BARENDS, and ANTHONY MARQUES! ALL COVERS CARDSTOCK Score: ★★★★☆ (4/5) In the newest arc of  Space Ghost , Jace wakes up disoriented after the Phantom Cruiser crashes on Planet Halcyon, hearing Blip's voice telling him to sta...

  Autumn Kingdom #2  Writer: Cullen Bunn Artist: Christopher Mitten, Francesco Segala Color Flatting: Sabrina Del Grosso Letters: Taylor Esposito Publisher: Oni Press Release Date: October 9, 2024 Cover Price: $4.99 The deadly dark fairy tale from masters of folk-horror Cullen Bunn (Harrow County, Invasive) and Christopher Mitten (Hellboy and the B.P.R.D.) writes a frightful new chapter . . . Sisters Sommer and Winter are shaken and bewildered in the wake of a goblin horde smashing apart their family's vacation cabin and absconding into the night with their parents. But the mysterious, jagged, hulking sword they stumbled on as they fled into the forest offers the young girls surprising strength, agility, and a vicious means to fight back. When they seek shelter with an old couple in the woods, they learn the truth behind the monsters, the fairies, the withering realm known as the Autumn Kingdom, and the deadly sacrifice it requires . . . Score: ★★★★☆ (4/5) QUICK R...

  Night of the Slashers #1   Writer: Cavan Scott Artist: Paul Fry Letters: Shawn Lee Cover A by Paul Fry Cover B by Robert Hack Publisher: Magma Release Date: October 9, 2024 Cover Price: $3.99 Hill Creek is a lovely place to visit... except the one night of the year its citizens transform into bloodthirsty maniacs! Of course, that's the very night Lara's bus breaks down, stranding the disillusioned teen and her classmates in the secluded town. Secrets uncovered, terror at every turn-will anyone survive the night? New York Times bestselling writer Cavan Scott (Union Jack the Ripper, Star Wars: The High Republic) and Paul Fry (Spider-Man 2099, Green Arrow & Black Canary) bring the gore in the ultimate horror-loving slasher-fest. Score: ★★★★☆ (4/5) QUICK REVIEW: Spooky season is upon us and what better way to celebrate than with a genuinely spine-tingling slasher story to read by candlelight before bed. Cavan Scott and Paul Fry have conjured up a very famili...