February 25th, 2026
Rob's Picks:
Punisher #1 – Punisher wasted no time getting back to business after the explosive Red Band finale, and Benjamin Percy picks up the carnage without missing a beat for Marvel Comics. The rough-and-ready brain surgery that freed Frank from Kingpin’s control has left lingering blackouts and instability, but violent mood swings are hardly new territory for Castle. With Fisk sidelined and Tombstone locked away, a power vacuum has small-time criminals scrambling to level up—until Jigsaw sees his long-awaited opportunity. Billy Russo, forever denied respect among his peers, plans to dismantle what remains of Fisk’s empire and finally claim his due, saving his revenge on Frank for last. Percy’s pulpy narration once again drives the momentum, but artist José Luis Soares Pinto shifts the visual tone away from glossy 90s action spectacle and into something grimmer and more grounded, evoking the gritty 70s vigilante cinema that birthed the Punisher mythos. The action remains brutal and tightly scoped, dirtying the streets rather than blowing them apart, and the result feels meaner, leaner, and deeply in character.
Universal Monsters: Phantom of the Opera #1 – Another classic horror property receives a stylish reinvention as Tyler Boss and Martin Simmonds breathe new life into The Phantom of the Opera under the Universal Monsters banner. Paris is thrown into chaos when a celebrated singer is murdered mid-performance, and Inspector Raoul Dubert must sift through rumor and superstition as whispers of a vengeful ghost spread through the opera house. From stagehands to management, everyone harbors secrets and ambitions, leaving Dubert drowning in suspects but starved for truth. His only reliable connection may be Christine, a childhood friend and rising star who is far closer to the masked killer than he realizes. While earlier entries in this line experimented with sequels and modern twists, this installment begins as a more traditional retelling, though subtle deviations hint that future issues will drift into darker and less familiar territory. Simmonds’ artwork is the true showstopper, marrying shadow-soaked gothic horror with bursts of lush color that make each page linger in the mind long after you turn it. For fans of classic horror cinema, gothic literature, and striking visual storytelling, this is essential reading.
Sorcerer Supreme #3 – After the spell-slinging showdown between Scarlet Witch and Agatha Harkness in the previous issue, it seemed impossible to escalate further—until this chapter hurls Wanda into Limbo itself. Betrayed and burned by her own power, she must confront Limbo’s reigning sorceress, the Goblin Queen, who has struck a bargain to keep Wanda trapped. Refusing to be sidelined, Wanda counters with a deal of her own, turning a prison sentence into yet another high-stakes negotiation. Artist Bernard Chang continues delivering some of Marvel’s most visually dynamic magic, imbuing each spell with weight and texture that makes the arcane feel tangible. Writer Steve Orlando deepens the intrigue by peeling back the layers of the Vishanti, revealing fractures within the supposedly unified Three-Who-Are-One and reminding readers that even the “good” mystics of the Marvel Universe carry a sharp edge. With escalating stakes, layered character history, and spellcraft that crackles off the page, Sorcerer Supreme surges ahead as one of the strongest titles to emerge from the One World Under Doom aftermath.
Solo's Picks:
New History Of DC Universe: Dakota Incident #1 DC has been steadily building toward folding Milestone into the mainline universe for years, and with the help of Beacon—the boy from a different future—we finally see the legendary Static Shock suit up and return to the field… sort of. If you haven’t read DC KO: The Kids Are All Fight, that’s where his official comeback begins, but this issue serves as a powerful prelude, answering the long-standing question of what happened to the Milestone heroes. Without spoiling the major reveals, this was an outstanding issue that treats each character with care, offering multiple perspectives on the harrowing Dakota Incident. A standout moment in act two, where Bronze Tiger questions whether he’s fighting on the right side, adds emotional weight and moral complexity. Even with the admittedly bittersweet endings of the first two acts, a hopeful undercurrent runs throughout as the cast finds ways to remain heroic despite losing their powers due to President Luthor’s overreach. I loved everything about this book, and if you grew up a Static Shock fan, you already know—it’s a must-buy. I have very high hopes for the future of Milestone.
The Peril Of The Brutal Dark #1 Back in 2020, Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips debuted a Patreon-exclusive digital comic following detective Ezra Cain, earning overwhelming praise from subscribers. Now, thanks to Vertigo, Brutal Dark returns with a new story that retains all the grit that made it stand out, centering on a conspiracy far deeper than Ezra could have imagined. As someone who missed the original run, everything here felt fresh, and I was immediately struck by Ezra’s characterization. He’s a fundamentally decent man, but rather than a naive optimist, he’s portrayed as exhausted yet determined—knee-deep in trouble, with new problems barging into his office, and sometimes even his bedroom, at every turn. Through one of his clients, we’re introduced to a shadowy organization known as “The Brutal Dark,” a group that has been quietly disappearing people without a trace. While there are already hints about who might be involved, their true goals and leadership remain intriguingly obscured. If you’re craving a story that blends classic mob drama with hard-boiled noir thriller sensibilities, this is absolutely for you. Pick it up.
Iron Man #2 Joshua Williamson and Carmen Carnero continue their stellar new run as Tony Stark dives deeper into his hunt for A.I.M. and Madame Masque, following his assistance to Captain America with lingering Latverian threats and a tense update to an associate about his current predicament. Though fast-paced, this issue feels surprisingly intimate, presenting a more openly panicked Tony than we’re used to seeing and giving us a closer look at the fears that drive him. The artwork across these first two issues has been phenomenal, with an early splash page standing out in particular—Tony reflecting on his time with Whitney as the two lie in bed surrounded by equipment, a striking image that reinforces the emotional vulnerability threaded through the story. There are explosive visuals as well, including Tony dismantling A.I.M. bases, but it’s those quieter character moments that elevate the issue. So far, this run has been firing on all cylinders, and I highly recommend adding it to your pull list.