Each week, CBR has your guide to navigating Wednesday's new and recent comic releases, specials, collected editions and reissues, and we're committed to helping you choose those that are worth your hard-earned cash. It's a little slice of CBR we like to call Major Issues.
If you feel so inclined, you can buy our recommendations directly on comiXology with the links provided. We'll even supply links to the books we're not so hot on, just in case you don't want to take our word for it. Don't forget to let us know what you think of the books this week in the comments! And as always, SPOILERS AHEAD!
FANTASTIC FOUR #35 (MARVEL)
Over half a century ago, the debut of the Fantastic Four kickstarted the modern incarnation of the Marvel Universe, and Marvel is celebrating the team’s 60th anniversary with Fantastic Four #35. This stand-alone issue features a fantastic lead story by Dan Slott, John Romita Jr., JP Mayer, Scott Hanna, Cam Smith, Rafael Fonteriz, Mark Morales, Marte Gracia, Erick Arciniega and Joe Caramagna. The story ostensibly focuses on several Kang variants teaming up to take on the FF at various points through their history.
This issue marks Romita’s first substantial Marvel work in years, and the veteran artist delivers some impressive, jaw-dropping work throughout. Along with some clever design choices in the main story, this issue also features a sweet short by Jason Loo and a compelling expansion into the FF’s origin by Mark Waid, Paul Renaud and Caramagna.
TITANS UNITED #1 (DC)
After being relegated to teachers in Teen Titans Academy, Titans United #1 puts DC's elder Titans back in the spotlight in a new miniseries by Cavan Scott, Jose Luis, Jonas Trindade, Rex Lokus and Carlos Mangual. With a roster of heroes that includes Superboy, the Red Hood and even an appearance by Hawk and Dove, this is team is clearly meant to resemble the team from HBOMax’s Titans, but it still offers a fun, accessible adventure with DC’s young heroes.
In the issue, the Titans clash with a young man with a mysterious set of powers that seem to be affecting their own abilities as some of the team’s more aggressive members lock horns with each other. With solid art throughout and a strong grasp on characters, this debut issue presents a solid jumping-on point for fans of the show.
BATMAN ’89 #2 (DC)
Batman ’89 #2, by Sam Hamm, Joe Quinones, Leonardo Ito and Clayton Cowles returns to the world of director Tim Burton’s Batman movies. This issue highlights the versions of Robin and Harvey Dent who never appeared on-screen and expanding this world’s grounded version of Gotham City. With a surprisingly timely bent, the issue takes both of those characters into some unexpected directions that make this much more than a retread over their well-worm origins.
Quinones and Ito’s art remains strong, and their dynamic storytelling is accented by sharp visual references to Batman lore. Even though Batman only appears in costume on a few pages, this issue finds a compelling story in the city that he protects.
X-MEN: THE TRIAL OF MAGNETO #2 (MARVEL)
In X-Men: The Trial of Magneto #2, Leah Williams, Lucas Werebeck, Edgar Delgado and Clayton Cowles continue to explore the fallout of the Scarlet Witch’s apparent death and Magneto’s apparent involvement in it. Where the first issue of this series played out like a procedural, this one is a more conventional Marvel superhero team-up, as the Avengers come to Krakoa to mourn their fallen friend.
Williams delivers a smart script that leaves room for some tender moments between some members of the comic’s large cast. The art team handles the book’s large cast well, especially with pages containing the comic’s biggest revelations.
SUPERMAN AND THE AUTHORITY #3 (DC)
With Superman and the Authority #3, Grant Morrison, Mikel Janin, Travel Foreman, Jordie Bellaire, Alex Sinclair and Steve Wands continue to assemble a cutting-edge superhero team to protect the future of the DC Universe. In this penultimate issue, an aging Superman brings the majority of this team together for the first time and sends them out on missions to recruit their final member and stop an attack from the Ultra-Humanite.
With sleek, modern art and a refined version of the original Authority’s progressive approach to stopping evil, this fun, action-packed comic feels like a blueprint for a future than a finite statement in its own right. Although it sets up a tall order for the miniseries’ last issue, there’s still more than enough to make this worthwhile.
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