Rob's Picks:

Teen Titans #1 - A new squad of super-teens assembles! Aging up the OG Titans opened up a lot of storytelling possibilities for Nightwing and company, but nothing emerged to fill the void in terms of young adult-focused titles until now. These teens, mostly the children of established characters, are tired of sitting on the sidelines while the world gets saved, so Fairplay (son of Mr. Terrific) does the generationally appropriate thing: setting up a Discord for adolescent metahumans. When one of their young followers goes missing, Bat-Family bad boy Jason Todd takes on the case, though he’s not interested in being a role model. Until he realizes it would really piss off Nightwing. Jason seemed like an odd choice for a team leader/mentor figure, but writer Kyle Higgins finds a teen-appropriate tone without sanding down too much of Red Hood’s edge. There is a rebellious spirit to this book, with original characters Proxy and Wildcard bringing most of the punk energy. The new Titans have a snappy rapport that feels authentically adolescent, while Jason Todd finally gets a book that isn’t fixated on his trauma. There is an intriguing new villain in Ascend, along with anti-superhero survivalists, but they take a back seat to introducing the team and establishing their dynamic with the JLA. Teen Titans #1 does have plenty of action, all of which is refreshingly street-level.

Legion of Superheroes #1 - DC has yet another incredible #1 this week, delivering an epic journey into the future from Joshua Williamson. One thousand years from now, the richest man in the galaxy is murdered, leaving a mystery that Brainiac 1 of 5 believes only he can solve, but using his super-intelligence means defying the intergalactic government. Forbidden from using their gifts to fight crime, superheroes have been almost completely suppressed. With a conspiracy to unravel and enemies all around, Brainiac sets out to unite the few remaining heroes to solve the murder and inspire the people. The first recruits for the new Legion include Saturn Girl and Lightning Lad, who are still coming to grips with their powers and finding their footing as heroes. Absolute Wonder Woman artist Hayden Sherman goes wild in this book, drawing heavy inspiration from Moebius for panels crowded with highly detailed sci-fi designs. His incredibly inventive paneling draws the eye along, adding an extra sense of motion to the already kinetic art. A series relaunch focusing on young adult characters, releasing this the same week as Teen Titans #1, shows the confidence DC has in this book. Though Williamson takes a more serious tone, the book is no less entertaining, and Sherman’s art blows away anything else on the stands. A gorgeous book for fans of ambitious, aspirational science fiction.

Black Panther / Namor: Doomed #1 - Two of Marvel’s mightiest kings join forces when Hell breaks loose. T’Challa has returned to Earth, taking a hiatus from Wakanda’s intergalactic business to clean up a few messes at home. It’s easy work for the Black Panther until a new enemy emerges from below with an army of demons. At the bottom of the sea, Namor has some trash of his own to take out, only to face a similar infernal interruption. The Submariner barely escapes when Atlantis falls, making his way to Wakanda, whose forces are having better luck than his—for now. Time is running out to save their people and perhaps the world from the unholy wrath of DOOM! The damned soul of Victor Von Doom has risen, declaring war on the living! Our heroes will have to put their royal egos aside and take the fight to Doom, even if it means going to Hell. This may be the most fun premise to emerge in the aftermath of One World Under Doom, spectacularly over the top with the potential to have serious consequences for the rest of the Marvel Universe, but a fun ride first and foremost.