Rob's Picks:

Star Wars: Shadow of Maul #1 One of the greatest strengths of the Star Wars universe is its flexibility, capable of shifting between genres from swashbuckling adventure to espionage thriller, with the comics often leading the charge in terms of variety. Leading into the upcoming Darth Maul television series, Marvel delivers a hardboiled detective story set in the galaxy far, far away from writer Benjamin Percy. The planet Janix is a criminal haven far removed from the watchful eye of the Empire or the chaos of rebellion, where scum and villainy flourish in the shadows. Captain Brander Lawson is one of the few still chasing justice, accompanied by his droid partner Two Boots. If Lawson is the least corrupt cop left on the planet, he’s also the most jaded, and we meet him mid-investigation as he tracks down a dealer in exotic animals tied to a murder. The interrogation quickly explodes into a classic Star Wars action sequence, a chaotic battle against a menagerie of alien creatures. Evidence soon points toward the rise of a powerful new syndicate, prompting Lawson to accept a new squad to assist him—though trusting them may be another matter entirely. Complicating things further is the arrival of a new Imperial official who takes an immediate interest in the case. While not the central focus of this first issue, Darth Maul’s presence looms in the background, manipulating events from the darkness. His brief appearance reinforces the danger he represents and sets him on a collision course with Lawson. Artist Madibek Musabekov illustrates Janix with a sci-fi noir aesthetic reminiscent of Blade Runner, transforming the planet’s sprawling cityscape into a shadowy mirror of Coruscant. A strong recommendation for anyone who enjoys exploring the grimy underbelly of Star Wars, where smugglers, bounty hunters, and other scoundrels do their dirtiest work.

X-Men Annual #1 The time has come once again for the oversized yearly special, and the latest X-Men Annual brings together an eclectic group of creators to celebrate both the long-running series and the comic medium itself. Down in Louisiana, the Uncanny X-Men are enjoying a rare night off when Jean Grey unexpectedly arrives, briefly stepping away from her cosmic journey to deliver a dire warning: an unknown psychic force is moving against them. Rogue, Gambit, and Wolverine barely have time to process the message before a massive creature materializes, first sketched across the fabric of reality before emerging fully into the world. This attack marks only the beginning of a larger threat from a mutant known as The Creationist, whose ability to bring any image he conceives to life is limited only by his own complete lack of imagination. To compensate, he has forced two unwilling collaborators into helping him: real-life comic artists Sanford Greene and Ryan Stegman, the latter also serving as writer for the issue. Their unexpected self-insert appearances are among the story’s biggest surprises, though the book otherwise resists crowding the narrative with guest stars, focusing instead on a classic lineup that includes Jubilee and Nightcrawler. Fans hoping to see the newer Haven House mutants may be disappointed, but the tighter cast allows Stegman to dig deeper into the Creationist’s motivations. Though he does not appear as a character, artist Steve Skroce also contributes to the issue’s visual energy, helping craft a dynamic celebration of past and present X-Men styles.

Batman/Green Arrow/The Question: Arcadia #3 The uneasy alliance between Batman, Green Arrow, and the Question remains only a step ahead of the ruthless billionaire Rotha as they attempt a daring escape from his privately run nightmare of a compound. Their flight ends with a crash in the mountains, leaving the trio stranded while tensions within the partnership continue to simmer. Oliver Queen remains focused on freeing the trafficked laborers Rotha exploits, the Question is determined to uncover and expose the tycoon’s hidden secrets, and Batman struggles to keep both men aligned with his carefully calculated strategy. Writer Gabriel Hardman opens the issue with an intense burst of action, but it’s the dialogue that truly elevates the story. Each hero’s voice is sharply defined: the Question narrates with dry irony and precise phrasing, while Queen’s fiery speeches reflect his passionate convictions. Their ideological differences are ever-present but handled with nuance, allowing the characters to debate without becoming simplistic mouthpieces. The political themes and Green Arrow’s involvement naturally invite comparisons to the classic Hard-Traveling Heroes storyline, yet Hardman’s approach matches its quality while surpassing it in subtlety. For readers seeking intelligence, maturity, and layered character work, Arcadia continues to stand out as the best series yet produced under DC’s Black Label banner.

Solo's Picks:

Marvel Team-Up Vol 3: Spider-Man Meets Invincible #14 A rerelease for the ages! This crossover has been gaining a ton of attention online following the success of Invincible’s animated show—particularly the panel where Mark teases Spider-Man and Superman for their overly simple superhero names—so it’s returned in a restored facsimile edition. Reading it in full for the first time, I was surprised by how genuinely heartwarming and funny the story is. Taking place during Mark’s battle with Angstrom Levy, Invincible crash-lands in the Marvel Universe where he helps Peter Parker deal with an agitated Doctor Octopus while learning a few important lessons about responsibility and pulling your punches. While the book focuses primarily on Spidey and Invincible, the brief moments Mark spends interacting with the Avengers are absolutely hilarious, and it’s a real treat seeing Marvel characters drawn by Cory Walker—even if his design for Mary Jane got a laugh out of me since she looks exactly like Atom Eve. Aside from a hilarious dialogue change in the final two pages that very clearly came from Amazon directly, this is the exact same story that released nearly two decades ago, so if you missed it the first time or want to add it back to your collection, now’s your chance.

Poison Ivy #42 A brand new chapter begins for the Green Goddess, and it comes with a new title: Mayor Ivy. One of DC’s most iconic villains has always dreamed of wielding real influence, so giving her the mayor’s office while framing the story as an ironic jab at the current political climate feels perfectly timed. Ivy’s manipulative brilliance is on full display as she quietly shapes Gotham’s political landscape, appointing figures like Warren White, Peter Undine, and Janet to key roles while also trying to deliver tangible improvements for Gotham’s citizens. She pressures the police department, pushes through environmental reforms, and works to fulfill some of her more idealistic promises. At the same time, Xylon warns her that her actions have upset the natural balance, forcing Ivy to confront the consequences of reshaping both the human and ecological worlds. Some readers might claim this arc feels “out of character”—whatever that means in 2026—but the story actually reads like a calculated first step toward the larger global ambitions Ivy has held since her earliest appearances. It feels like a return to her villainous roots while still allowing her to operate in a morally gray space as a true neutral force. This direction completely reignited my excitement for the series, and I’m very interested to see where the story goes next.

Moonstar #1 Death walks among us in Moonstar’s first-ever solo series, written by Ashley Allen with art by Edoardo Audino. It’s honestly surprising that a character with over forty years of history is only now headlining her own title, but with her popularity surging in recent years it’s definitely a case of better late than never. The issue opens with a brief history lesson surrounding the legendary blade Dainsleif before shifting to Dani Moonstar herself, who has been trying to enjoy a quiet return home and rebuild some sense of normalcy after she and Magik defeated the Eternal Dawn. That calm doesn’t last long. Yanisa and Kian arrive at her door and quickly pull her into a new crisis, bringing her to Boulder, Colorado where a horde of zombies has overtaken the city. Audino’s artwork is spectacular throughout the issue. While Moonstar initially appears slightly younger than I’m used to seeing her portrayed, the style quickly grows on you, and the expressive faces combined with bold, rough-edged action panels help the story move with an energetic flow. This first issue focuses heavily on establishing the world and conflict, but it lays a strong foundation for what could become an outstanding run. If you’re a fan of Moonstar, this is an easy recommendation and absolutely worth picking up.