Apparently this'll be another done at 10 issues book. That's fine. I've enjoyed it, I'm glad Marvel gave it a shot. It's the most I've followed Spider-Gwen since her initial series, so points for that. Mostly, I loved being introduced to Paolo Villanelli's art. I hope they'll do more work at Marvel.
This wraps up Year One of Absolute Flash, and I think my interest in this title has finally (no pun intended) run out. For a bit, I was really feeling it with its '50s sci-fi vibes, but it's been flat for a few issues now. With Ryan North jumping on the main book, I can get my Flash fix over there.
Prior to this arc, I had a hard time imagining how well this book would function as an ongoing comic but this arc really made its viability as a long running title clear, that that this Superman can easily fight his own never ending battle. This version is going to go the distance, guaranteed.
If this hadn't already been my favorite Absolute title from the start, this issue would've put it over the top. I love what Aaron has been doing with it, and I love that he's made the inspirational quality of Superman so central to this take. In a cynical world, Superman is always a beacon of hope.
Also, it can't be said enough how good Jorge Jimenez is. He's been killing on Batman for years, so the fact that he's been able to up his already impressive game for this run is insane. Batman has been drawn by legends, and Jimenez is one of the best to ever do it.
One reason I enjoyed Wells' and Capullo's Deadpool & Batman story so much is that we got to see something we'll likely never get again in regular continuity, a classic version of The Joker. But whatever. It is what it is. Fraction gets his Joker tale off to a good start. We'll see how it goes.
Given that, Fraction does as well as anyone possibly could. I just can't help but lament the fact that we lost The Clown Prince of Crime in exchange for whatever the Joker is now. The need to constantly up the ante with the Joker, to make him more and more inhuman and demonic, came at a cost.
This was the biggest test of this run for me. As someone who thinks that The Joker has been mangled beyond all repair as a character, could Fraction make his current incarnation palatable to me? The answer is, yeah, kind of. Writers working in comic continuity have to play the ball where it lies.
This mini wraps up in fine fashion here. Writer Jimmy Palmiotti and artists Tommaso Bianchi, Gabriel Guzman, and Mario Santoro did a solid job on this. Just a meat and potatoes, street level DD and Punisher tale with spot on characterizations and nicely gritty art. If they cook up a sequel, I'm in.
Oh, this was terrific! Super fun and creative story from Ryan Stegman, illustrated by himself, Steve Skroce, and Sanford Green. Even though it's an Annual for adjectiveless X-Men, it actually stars the Louisiana Uncanny crew, but regardless of that, it's just a cool X-Men tale. Thumbs up.
It's nothing fancy and it doesn't shake off the middle of the road nature of this run, but it also displays why it's been a dependable read: Ahmed writes a solid Logan. He gets the character and has a natural grasp on how he thinks and acts. So if nothing else, I feel like Logan's being well served.
Regular artist Martin Coccolo returns for one of the best issues of this run to date. Essentially a one and done involving the search for a missing mutant among the Morlock community Logan and Sable have been protecting, it leans into the main strength of this run, Saladin Ahmed's handle on Logan.
Speaking strictly of adjectiveless, this is, on every objective level, a rock solid superhero title. Strong characterizations, a set of interesting plots and subplots, and the art is consistently sharp. It's the first X book in a long time that reminds me of grabbing Uncanny off the spinner racks.
On the letters page this issue, a reader suggests that Marvel should shut down the X line for a few years, because it's in "shambles." I know comic fans are prone to absurd hyperbole and kneejerk hating, but it really is ridiculous to think of anyone being that cheesed with the current X line.
Speaking of collaborators, Netho Diaz is back on art this issue, and it looks spectacular. Now that Ryan Stegman is leaving the X world, I suppose Diaz will be considered the main artist here going forward. Sounds good to me. He held his own trading arcs with Stegman and just keeps getting better.
Still my favorite X book since the relaunch. It's nothing that changes the game, but if making satisfying superhero comics were easy, every mainstream title would be this good, and they aren't. There's an art to it, and Jed MacKay and his collaborators run circles around what most others are doing.
Also, special shout out to Farid Karami's art. His addition to the creative team really gave the back half of MacKay's run a big boost. In particular, the women of the Avengers have never looked more stunning and powerful. I hope Marvel has other stuff lined up for him.
It definitely makes a strong case for going back and revisiting this run as one long over arching narrative, something I hope more will do as I think this was a sorely underrated run. In true "The old order changeth!" tradition, I'm looking forward to whatever's next, but I'll miss this roster.
Jed MacKay sticks the landing on his Avengers run as beautifully as anyone could've. Honestly, I don't know if any writer has ever clocked out of their time with Earth's Mightiest Heroes quite as gracefully as this. This is just a perfect end to this run, giving time to every member of the roster.
McGuinness' art alone would've make this a killer issue, but Joe Kelly moves Death Spiral ahead nicely with satisfying character moments. As far as Torment goes, we're still in the build up phase, but while that danger inches closer, Peter touches base with both May and MJ after his long absence.
So satisfying to have an Iron Man run that's just straight up fun again, with a cool and confident Tony at its center. Joshua Williamson is really dialed in on this, as is artist Carmen Carnero. Reads great, looks beautiful, and I love how entrenched in current Marvel it is.
Benjamin Percy keeps serving up peak Punisher action, with Frank putting the pieces of his life together, all while annihilating scum on the sleazy streets of NYC. Artist Julius Ohta did a bang up job on the mini, but there's no dip in quality with Jose Luis Soares hopping on board for the ongoing.
Same, Carlos! North and Ramos are such a great team! Bringing in Ramos has given North's FF a whole new vibe.
Final issue. I would be irked that they're calling it a day already but I think this was always meant to be short lived, getting a couple of big names together - writer Marc Guggenheim and artist Kaare Andrews - to kick ass for a bit. And artist Gerardo Sandoval was a perfect addition to the team.
Oh, this was freaking great. Awesome kick off to Death Spiral. Not much actual Torment stuff this issue, but the fact that he's bad news for everyone in Peter's orbit is still well conveyed. Kelly, Soule, and Ewing seamlessly line up their individual chapters and Jesus Saiz's art is gorgeous.
Ron Garney's art was the main standout element for me back when this was new (ten years ago by now, unbelievable) but while Garney's art is still impressive as hell (some of the best stuff he ever did), coming back to this run with fresh eyes, the whole package feels more solid to me now.
I have the issues but the digest sized format on these trades looked appealing so I picked up the first one and I'm really enjoying the reread. At the time, I think this run suffered from having to follow Waid's, an incredibly hard act to follow. Revisiting it now, it's better than I remembered.
It might be the most X books to appear together on a single list so far this year, but mutant titles have been far absent from it in '26. Anyhow, another week, another entry in the spin cycle. When DC gets like 2 books on next week's list to Marvel's 7 or 8, it'll be the same thing.
It wouldn't be framed as a Marvel win, that's for sure. It'd be like "Marvel grabs the top spot, but little else!" It should also be noted that the subheadine this week asserts that "the X-Men titles return to the BC Weekly Top Ten Weekly Bestseller List" when they've been on it regularly all year.
DC got the top spot, sure, but "dominating" is an awfully strong word to use when Marvel has eight books on this list to DC's one. No doubt that AB is on a tear, saleswise. However, I imagine if Marvel was taking the top spot on a regular basis while DC basically filled in the rest, it'd be noted.
