January 29th, 2025

Rob's Picks:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6
The Turtles are back together and back in NYC! Writer Jason Aaron (Absolute Superman) has delivered an incredible run so far, giving each brother a spotlight before reuniting them. The solo character-focused stories served as a great reintroduction and were crucial in understanding their current relationships. With issue #6, the story goes full speed ahead, no longer filling in gaps between this series and the last. The Turtles return to find the Foot Clan stronger than ever, and the city they’ve protected for years has turned against them. Now under attack both in the sewers and on the streets, their greatest threat might not be an enemy, but their own fractured family dynamic. Juan Ferreyra (Rex Mundi, Spine-Tingling Spider-Man) joins the series as artist with this issue. His work is expressive, with just the right amount of gritty roughness around the edges, perfectly capturing the weight and speed of every punch thrown. For those who haven’t picked up the series yet, this issue is still a great jumping-on point, neatly recapping past events without slowing the momentum of the story.

Sabretooth: The Dead Don’t Talk #2
This Gangs of New York-flavored throwback starring one of the X-Men’s most brutal villains makes the most of its premise in issue #2. Operating under the alias Mad Dog Murphy, Sabretooth has made a name for himself in the Five Points, a battleground for the city’s toughest gangs. Working as an enforcer for the Fisk organization, Murphy has been literally tearing through the competition in a series of bloody clashes. This rising violence has pushed the already colorful gangs to new extremes, leading them to seek out superpowered advantages of their own. The result? Pure comic book fun. From the Nikola Tesla-inspired Shockers to the undead and well-read Frankengang, each new faction adds to the wild energy of the series. If that weren’t enough, a giant crocodile man with a vendetta against Boss Fisk and a hired killer who may actually be a match for the nigh-unkillable Murphy enter the fray. Frank Tieri (Multiversity: Harley Screws Up The DCU) is delivering a killer limited series, finding the perfect balance between gritty, street-level violence and over-the-top superpowered spectacle. Michael Sta. Maria’s artwork deserves just as much praise, nailing the period setting while infusing it with classic Marvel flair.

Ripperland #1
There are high concept stories, and then there’s Ripperland—a comic that blends gothic literature, dystopian cyberpunk, murder mystery, and geopolitics into one wild ride. The year is 2188… but not in London, where the Victorian era has returned. After economic collapse and the disintegration of the United Kingdom, the British government struck a deal with the United States: in exchange for aid and military protection, England was transformed into a country-sized theme park. Now, every citizen must live as though it’s the 19th century, with no access to modern technology—an immersive experience designed to entertain wealthy American tourists. But when a high-profile U.S. visitor is found murdered in London’s back alleys, Scotland Yard detective Edwin Fogg is assigned the case alongside FBI agent Jesse Holden. Holden’s superiors believe this case belongs to the future, not an “anachronism” like Fogg, setting up a classic clash of perspectives. The culture shock between the two is immediate, but their investigation takes an even stranger turn when clues begin pointing to the impossible: the return of England’s most notorious killer—Jack the Ripper. Writers Steve Orlando (Annihilation: 2099) and John Harris Dunning (Summer Shadows) make a strong first impression with this stylish debut, setting the stage for a gripping whodunit. Alessandro Oliveri’s art is the perfect fit for the book—his exaggerated, caricatured style enhances the sense of unreality, emphasizing both the theatricality of recreated London and the stark contrast between its gaslit streets and the sleek, futuristic world Holden left behind.

Solomon's Picks:

Storm: Lifedream #1 – A new Marvel Voices story arrived this week, celebrating 50 years of Storm! This book centers on that milestone as a group of interdimensional archivists honor Ororo, preserving her life story in their multiversal database. Of course, we need an antagonist, and a bug in the system attempting to enter the real world serves that purpose. While the general premise isn’t particularly unique, this issue is an incredibly enjoyable read that does a fantastic job of capturing the spirit of its title character. This book is sort of an anthology—each section is handled by a different creative team, but the chapters all flow together to tell one chronological story. One standout moment for me was the climax of Chapter 3, written by Curtis Baxter and illustrated by Karen S. Darboe. The book was already engaging, but that chapter, in particular, delivered some of the most stunning artwork I’ve seen from Marvel this year. While the format works well overall, I do wish some chapters were given a few more pages, as each creative team was doing an excellent job with limited space. If you’re a Storm fan, definitely grab this issue!

The Seasons #1 – What an intriguing new series from none other than Rick Remender and Paul Azaceta! The city of Neocairo has mysteriously gone radio silent, cutting off all incoming flights, trade, and communication. We open with a haunting image of its citizens lying motionless in the streets, smiling eerily. From there, we jump to our protagonist, Spring, who is chasing a letter—an action that serves as the driving force of this debut issue. This opening chapter focuses more on atmosphere than plot, and honestly, that was a fantastic decision. It allows for plenty of subtle world-building for keen-eyed readers. While the story’s grander themes aren’t entirely clear yet, it’s fun to analyze and speculate. I suspect self-centered behavior will be a major theme, as hinted at by the ghostly citizens all gazing at themselves in handheld mirrors while remaining in an eerie, zombie-like state. Spring’s own actions reinforce this idea as she continually disregards other people’s time and space in pursuit of her letter. From the opening pages, I had a nagging sense of familiarity, but I couldn’t quite place it. As I followed Spring’s chase through the city, that feeling grew stronger—until I read the letter page at the end and saw the team explicitly declare this book a love letter to Tintin. The influence is everywhere! Absolutely looking forward to the second issue, and I highly recommend checking this one out.

Power Lords #1 – From Dennis Culver, Matt Hotson, and V. Ken Marion comes Power Lords, an incredibly entertaining book with gorgeous artwork, based on an ’80s toy line! The story kicks off with an intense battle on Volcan Rock, a fortress containing the most advanced technologies and weapons in the universe. The Power Lords defend this stronghold under the command of Lord Power, a man infused with the Power Jewel—a legendary artifact capable of transforming an ordinary human into a cosmic-level entity. In the midst of battle, the jewel is violently ripped from Lord Power’s head and sucked into a wormhole. Much to his team’s dismay, he risks everything by leaping after it, launching himself on a journey beyond space and time. The artwork in this book is absolutely stunning—there are several panels that will leave you in awe. The action sequences are beautifully illustrated, but even the quieter moments, where characters strategize or converse, are visually captivating. The character designs and personalities are equally compelling, and I can’t wait to see how they develop as the story progresses. Admittedly, Power Lords predates my time, and I’ve only heard about the toy line and earlier comics in passing. But after reading this issue, I’m eager to explore what I missed—especially the DC comics from the ’80s. If you’re looking for an exciting new sci-fi adventure, definitely pick this one up!