You know those books you just can’t stop talking about?
The kind you mention so often you almost start to feel a little embarrassed? If you’ve been reading my newsletters, or even caught my article in our third Fanzine about the complex lives of adaptations (expertly edited by the wonderful Daniel, who took a deep dive into the intersection of manga and western comics), you already know that Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin is that book for me.
But after some time away—and what you could honestly call a clear case of Gundam burnout—I hadn’t really touched it in a while. When you hype up a book over and over, you might even start to question your own enthusiasm! So, the only thing to do was to give it another read, pulling it off my ever-growing, almost-overloaded shelf. Those hardcovers are massive—easily twice the size of a typical omnibus—so they’re hard to miss. And honestly? It’s every bit as good as I remember. The story, Yasuhiko’s art, it still blows me away.
I could easily fill a whole year’s worth of newsletters just talking about this series. But with the final volume of the Deluxe Editions about to drop, it feels like the right moment to (at least for now) wrap up my Gundam talk. So, let’s make this last round count!
GUNDAM ORIGIN VOL. 6 HC
The wait is finally over: Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin—the series that helped define anime and manga as we know them—reaches its grand finale with an epic finish.
The war between Zeon and the Earth Federation reaches its climax. Amuro faces off against Char in a final confrontation that’s been so carefully built up, the payoff is hard to put into words. This is what comics are all about! The kind of storytelling that sticks with you. People often compare Gundam to Star Wars for its massive influence and devoted fanbase, but when it comes to epic space operas, this story can easily hold its own.
And if you’re new to Gundam, finishing The Origin is hopefully just the beginning of an incredible journey. Its world is vast, the stories are gripping, and the artistry is unmatched. It’s a rabbit hole well worth exploring.
For starters, the Universal Century timeline just keeps expanding: after The Origin comes Zeta Gundam, then Char’s Counterattack—and that’s only scratching the surface. There’s an entire multiverse of spin-offs and alternate timelines to discover. Whether you’re into classic war stories or eager for more daring, experimental takes, there’s a Gundam for everyone.
Even Team Walt has some personal favorites, including The Witch From Mercury, Gundam Wing, and the what-if reimagining written and produced by Evangelion’s Hideaki Anno: Gundam Gquuuuuuux—a version where Char actually takes over the Gundam and leads Zeon to victory.
On the manga side, don’t miss the Cucuruz Doan hardcovers. They cover the “lost episode” and tell the story of a Zeon soldier turned defector, brought to life by the same team behind The Origin. It’s a real gem that deserves way more attention. Our bundle with all five volumes flew off the shelves during last month’s manga sale, but don’t worry—we’re working to restock soon!
DAREDEVIL OMNIBUS VOL. 4
Frank Miller’s late-1970s run on Daredevil didn’t just change the title for the years to come, it changed the whole landscape of superhero comics. He took an underdog title and turned it into one of Marvel’s most daring, exciting series. Since then, Daredevil has become a showcase for some of the industry’s best writers and artists, including Bendis, Nocenti, Brubaker, Waid, and more.
What makes this character so fascinating is that each new creative team doesn’t just imitate Miller, they build on his foundation, adding their own voice and vision.
But here’s the thing—Daredevil’s greatness certainly didn’t start with Miller.
The early stories have a dynamism and inventiveness that set the stage for everything that followed, and they’re every bit as compelling today. Gene Colan is a true Marvel legend who helped define Daredevil’s visual style, bringing his unique artistic sensibility for action and atmosphere to the page during a run that lasted nearly 80 issues. In this very omnibus, Colan even introduced the iconic and fan-favorite villain Bullseye, who’s become central to Daredevil’s world and is now making his impact felt in the MCU in the second season of Daredevil: Born Again.
Colan’s work stands shoulder to shoulder with the greatest runs in the character’s history. If you want to experience where so much of what makes Daredevil great began, don’t sleep on this Omni, it’s essential reading for any fan of the Man Without Fear.
BATMAN: GARGOYLE OF GOTHAM
Bringing it back to the main idea of this newsletter and applying it to arguably the most popular character in superhero comics: can you ever really burn out on Batman?
With so many titles released over the years, you’d think the creative well would have run dry by now. But there’s just something about Batman, a character so big and iconic, that keeps attracting top talent and fresh ideas. Time and again, creators step up and find new ways to make the character feel more alive than ever. Just look at Absolute Batman: there are hardly words for what that book has been accomplishing month after month. It’s arguably the biggest superhero comic of the 21st century.
But that creative energy is especially clear in out-of-continuity projects like the wonderful Black Label books. Freed from the usual restrictions, creators can take risks and reimagine Gotham on their own terms (unless, of course, they run up against DC’s surprisingly strict “no Bat-@!$%” rule. if you missed the Batman: Damned controversy, it’s worth a quick Google).
Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham by Rafael Grampá is a perfect example of what happens when a creator is allowed to truly let loose with the Dark Knight. You can sense the Brazilian artist pushing boundaries and digging into territory that fits both his unique style and the world of Batman. It’s dark, it’s gritty, and it’s exciting in all the right ways.
He isn’t an artist you’d normally associate with superhero comics, and that’s exactly what makes him such a perfect fit for a Black Label Batman story. His fresh perspective brings something striking and unexpected to Gotham. Demand was high for the single issues throughout their run, as the series never lost momentum and it likely won’t be any different with this new deluxe edition.
You can check out everything in FOC here:
Wednesdays are the cutoff for the prices, but we don’t actually change them until Friday.
See you,
Tomás