Rob's Picks:

DC / Marvel: Batman / Deadpool #1
Worlds collide again in this double-stuffed crossover as Batman races through a liminal dimension to stay ahead of a mystery villain chasing a reality-altering artifact, only to crash into the fourth-wall-shredding chaos of Wade Wilson, who is after the same target but far too obnoxious to team up without a mandatory hero-vs-hero brawl. As the setting grows increasingly abstract—with Deadpool’s cartoon physics meeting real consequences and crudely drawn ninjas bleeding real blood—Grant Morrison flexes his unmatched talent for bending reality until it squeals, peppering the adventure with deep-cut references and even a return to Amalgam’s wildest creation. Dan Mora delivers a stunning A-story worthy of Morrison’s madness, and the back half mirrors Deadpool / Batman with an anthology of crossovers ranging from goofy to heartfelt, highlighted visually by Hayden Sherman’s A Magician Walks Into A Universe, which puts John Constantine face-to-face with the Eye of Agamotto, and narratively by Tom Taylor’s Sticks & Snickts, a moving team-up between Laura Kinney and Dick Grayson reflecting on fathers and legacies. Rare cross-studio events already come with built-in hype, but this issue—like its predecessor—proves Batman and Deadpool can rise above both fan expectations and cash-grab skepticism.

The Punisher: Red Band #3
The question of what Wilson Fisk has on Frank Castle becomes the bloody centerpiece of an issue that fully earns its Red Band polybag, with the Kingpin weaponizing the Punisher against Tombstone’s crew like a guided missile until one particular order shatters Frank’s conditioning as he refuses to slaughter human cargo to “send a message,” forcing him to confront the terrifying truth that he’s been turned into someone else’s tool. Meanwhile, Tombstone inches closer to that same revelation via old-school torture, the FBI continues to trail behind both sides, and the news of Frank’s return ignites overlapping manhunts that promise even more brutal street-level chaos. Following a string of gloriously pulpy Predator crossovers, Benjamin Percy shows once again why he’s Marvel’s top pick for gritty, blood-spilling action, delivering an issue that mature readers will crack open and devour with glee.

TMNT: Casey Jones #2
History not only repeats itself but rubs salt in the wound when April O’Neil finds a battered Casey Jones on her bathroom floor again, and the once-charming self-destructive routine now leaves her tired rather than smitten, forcing Casey to hunt down a mutant-kidnapping snow leopard and tainted-mutagen dealer without her investigative expertise. Muscling through an underground mutant fight club, he takes a friendly beating from a boxing water buffalo and a much less friendly one from a panda mobster before finally landing a lead—only for Raphael to crash the third act and “communicate” the same warning April delivered: back off before this kills you, punctuated by a classic Raph-vs-Casey brawl. Their heart-to-heart gets cut short by a cliffhanger that guarantees Raph a major role next issue, and Alex Paknadel’s pitch-perfect character work shines throughout, proving once again how a regular human like Casey Jones can remain compelling even in a world overflowing with mutants, ninjas, and cosmic weirdness.

Solo's Picks:

Capes #1
The success of “Invincible” on Amazon Prime has pushed its universe into the mainstream spotlight, prompting a wave of reprints and new projects like “Battlebeast,” and this week Capes returns to shelves with a gorgeous visual overhaul and the promise of new stories once the original run finishes reprinting. Set within Capes Incorporated, a global hero-for-hire service employing hundreds of superpowered operatives, the story follows Kid Thor, a rookie with something to prove, and Bolt, a weary veteran who’s survived more crises than any man should. Though longtime readers may remember this series from years ago, this was my first read, and while the plot is engaging and clearly well-considered, the biggest surprise was just how funny the book is, especially compared to the darker tone often associated with the Invincible universe. The humor is sharp without being crude, playing brilliantly off the absurdity of superheroes navigating corporate culture. If you love Invincible and are feeling the drought between seasons, absolutely pick this up — it’s more than worth your time.

Batman/Deadpool #1
The latest Marvel/DC crossover arrives and somehow manages to outshine its predecessor, delivering another anthology showcasing top-tier talent from both publishers, with a standout Batman/Deadpool story that sends the duo crawling through a chaotic, reality-bending labyrinth filled with callbacks to their long histories. While I’m normally cautious about Deadpool stories that let him lean too far into nonstop clowning, the surreal setting and the meta nature of the crossover make his antics land perfectly. The Static Shock and Ms. Marvel team-up is another high point, blending two childhood-favorite heroes whose similarities I hadn’t fully appreciated until seeing them together. While both companies bring plenty to the table, I felt DC’s contributions this week were especially strong, offering more developed narratives paired with art that felt particularly striking. Even if you’ve already grabbed it, it’s worth saying again — this one’s a blast.

Spider-Man Holiday Special #1
This week’s festive anthology brings together current and former Avengers for their annual holiday party and more, with Rainbow Rowell, Luciano Vecchio, Paco Medina, Nathan Stockman, and Bob Quinn delivering a warm, charming collection of stories centered on everyone’s favorite wall-crawler. When Peter learns Aunt May will be out of town right before Christmas, he braces for a lonely holiday, but the wider Marvel cast steps in to keep him busy and included, resulting in a series of delightful, low-stakes interactions that highlight the many friendships and connections Spider-Man has built across countless teams. I’ve said it many times, but I always adore issues like this—quiet, character-focused moments where the masks come off and the heroes simply exist together, trading stories, jokes, and memories. With the holidays fast approaching, this is the perfect feel-good read to curl up with; simple, sincere, and wonderfully effective.