We'll Always Have Berlin.
This is my first newsletter after Walt's big event and man, how great it was!
Well, I booked a hotel too far away, arrived late, and had to leave in a rush ’cause German public transport has a special way of screwing you over. BUT the time I was there was great, and everyone I talked to was really nice.
I got a 30-minute Uber ride with Omar. He was tired but still a trooper for putting up with my nonstop fangirling, given that the only alternative was jumping out of the car. I can’t thank him enough for how nice he was!!
I unexpectedly formed a Portuguese-speaking alliance with my boyfriend, Filipe Andrade, and Sara. She was working at the event, and we only realized way too late that she also spoke Portugues, especially since I’d been making jokes in Portuguese with my boyfriend the whole time. We never expect others around here to understand us, so you can imagine the level of cringe those jokes reached. Anyway, sorry, Sara, if you didn’t hear anything, just forget this whole paragraph.
So yeah, four people speaking Portuguese together. I’m sure we were loud, and I loved every second. I even told Filipe (one of my favorite artists) that Portugal’s Portuguese accent feels like an act just to mess with Brazilians a little. Yes, I was tipsy, and yes, it was only one drink.
Uff. That’s basically the gist of the trip. Now I can rest. Wait… CHIP ZDARSKY IS COMING? WHEN?? Oh…
Absolute Batman 2025 Annual #1
The only thing more fun than creator-centered reimaginings is… other creators getting to play with the same reimagining. It’s one of my favorite aspects of Big Two comics: the sense that it’s a massive group project we can all chip in on. I’m glad the new line is opening itself up a little.
Hopefully this group project doesn’t have the guy who shows up at the last minute and makes everyone else mad.
Happy to report it doesn’t seem to be the case. We have freaking Daniel Warren Johnson, the comic superstar from Do A Powerbomb and the massively well-received Transformers Energon Universe reboot. Now that he’s free after passing the torch to Kirkman and Mora, one of his first stops is this one-shot. His comics are pure rock-and-roll and acid-trip-infused madness, and our working hustler Bruce is the perfect fit.
We also get a story by James Harren, from underground gems Rumble and Ultramega. Talk about genre-mixing and punk-rock insanity, this is your guy. If that’s not enough, Meredith McClaren is also confirmed, Kelly Thompson’s co-creator on Black Cloak. Her art style reminds me of Nimona, and this is by far the most intriguing combo in the line-up. I’m very excited for that.
So, if you want a sample of this new version of Batman everyone’s talking about, this seems like the perfect deal. Or you can read our article on the Absolute Universe. Or both! Let’s say both, deal?
→ Absolute Batman 2025 Annual #1
The Infernal Hulk #1
Guys, is Hulk one of the most reliable, consistent characters this decade? I… I think he is.
You heard about Ewing’s Immortal Hulk sensation, but Phillip Kennedy Johnson followed that with a double-down on the small-town horror vibe. It’s a Universal Monsters movie turned into Marvel goodness. And now we have a retitled relaunch that works as both a raise-the-stakes sequel and a jump-in point. (Similar to how Marvel relaunched Immortal Thor as Mortal Thor earlier this year).
And we’re going Infernal. If you hate how MCU Hulk isn’t scary anymore, take a look at this. He’s scary, kind of disgusting, and the story leans into that. If I say this is Stephen King’s Hulk - for all its goods and bads - will you guys get mad at me? But… it is, isn’t it?
Superman Red & Blue 2025 Special #1
Both DC and Marvel have been exploring these color-themed collections. They bring together big names and rising stars to reimagine classic characters. The format has been a massive success. The number of Eisner nominations, and the many “give this to your non-comic friends as a gift” recommendations, is probably unhealthy at this point.
Of course, the quality varies. Still, they feel like a big-two version of a themed magazine like Heavy Metal (minus the pure Heavy Metal energy). And yes, I’ve been building an obsession with that magazine, so I had to sneak it in today.
This is a one-shot that I’m sure will also double as a “give this to your friends who do read comics but have been turned off from superheroes, as a gift.” It’ll definitely pick up a single-issue Eisner nomination next year.
The standout here is Paul Dini writing Superman. You know him from Batman: The Animated Series, the creation of Harley Quinn, and the ultimate “give this as a gift” book, his Batman omnibus. If that’s not enough to sell you, I don’t know what I’m doing here. (Am I just name-dropping as a job? Wow.)
Also featured is Michael Walsh, fresh off Exquisite Corpses - maybe one of the best new releases of the year from the Tiny Onion conclave. And Rainbow Rowell, the YA writer who has been giving Marvel some of its best books in years with Runaways and She-Hulk. I’ll never get over their cancellations, and no, the Runaways mini this year is NOT ENOUGH.
→ Superman Red & Blue 2025 Special #1
Universal Monsters: Dracula Black & White Special #1
Speaking of Universal Monsters and speaking of color-themed one-shots. Wow. I love when things come full circle. James Tynion IV is coming back to his version of the classic character in this one shot. Wow, this guy is WORKING.
(not to discount this very awesome book that I will pick-up, but Tynion if I have to wait years for Nice House again I will simply explode into a swarm of vengeful aliens and reset this whole experience I promise you. Just kidding king, take your time, take your time.)
→ Universal Monsters: Dracula Black & White Special #1
Ultimate Spider-Man #1 (Facsimile Edition 2025)
We're getting a facsimile from the original Bendis run! Very good memories from reading this when I was younger and I will forever use this issue as a massive example of “this is why I love cape comics”.
I don't have the omnibus (because my budget is not as big as my ability to blab on-and-on) but it's insane to not have this in my collection in any shape or form. Best modern Spidey run? Yeah. (I only added “modern” so you over-40 guys don’t swear me to death upon reading)
(Just kidding, I love my seniors. Thank you for serving 🫡)
→ Ultimate Spider-Man #1 Facsimile
Doctor Who: The Prison Paradox #1
While Doctor Who unfairly sits in the cancellation bubble, Titans keeps publishing stories from the gone-too-soon Ncuti Gatwa Fifteenth Doctor. We all know the show will return at some point (I think people are unfair with the Russell 2 era, and I’ll fight you on it if asked). But how long will it take? We don’t know. I’m just glad comics remain a wonderful space where Doctor Who can live on forever.
Did you know Walt’s actually has a lot of the Target collection prose novels available? Yeah, check that out.
→ Doctor Who: The Prison Paradox #1
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Godzilla #1
I’m pleading the Fifth (love saying this as a Brazilian guy in Germany). Is there anyone these guys don’t meet? They need a secretary just to manage their dinner plans, good god. I’m sure they take every guest star to the same pizza place, but does Godzilla even like pizza? I feel like Godzilla would say something like, “Tokyo’s pizza is way better.”
Or maybe just, “ROOARRRR WAAAA.”
→ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Godzilla #1
Want to try some buzzy new publishers? Perfect week for it!
DSTLRY has Galactic #1 on FOC. From Curt Pires (Lost Fantasy) and Amilcar Pinna (Generation X, 2017), it’s pitched as Star Wars meets Saga and Sex Criminals. You had me at Star and Wars and Saga and Sex and Criminals. Instant pull! There’s even an ashcan if you want to sample it.
Bad Idea Comics (I’m obsessed with their whole thing after my recent 2012 Valiant bender) is FOC’ing Ordained, from personal favorite Robert Venditti and Trevor Hairsine. It’s about a priest version of John Wick. Okay, you had me at Priest and John and Wick. Honestly, I think you never didn’t have me.
Oh god I'm already way over the space limit so I'll just say a simple goodbye.
Goodbye,
Math.
