The hard part about G.I. Joe is you want to impart how dangerous it is, but also not burn through characters who will be as gone as it gets for comic books. I appreciate that Energon Universe measures this as issue 24 has shocking surprises, but also moves the story forward in big ways.

It usually wouldn't be in my lane at all, but Super Mondo Mega Mutts was kind of fun! Its an homage to things like TMNT, Street Sharks, etc. Its mature readers with an over-the-top Robocop like aesthetic leaning into the absurd. Its comic booky & that's exactly what some people want from comics!

Check in with Wonder Woman 35 to see what @stephwilliams.bsky.social has for a new perspective on Diana's origin relating to the arrival of Steve Trevor and Hippolyta's time in the outside world with the JSA. Very well done, very new reader friendly so sample this issue to see how it goes.

In Captain America 13 Steve Rogers and Victor Von Doom battle their way across the most unjust place anywhere, Mephisto's Realm. Steve's soul makes for a powerful ally, but anyone could be in this place. So longtime Fantastic Four readers will want to be watching this storyline Armageddon or no.

Kingdom of Earth sees Humanity reduced to livestock for horrific being that arose just two years ago. The tables turn completely on Humans, but one escapes the system which must never happen. Really engaging first issue & there's a tiny molecule of whimsy in the despair here somehow. That's the hook

You've heard about Assorted Crisis Events, you know each issue is a unique concept stand alone story. Try issue 9 to see what's possible in the series. A guy gets caught up in a temp program as a minion in endless war between eternal despots & learns the meaning of "time is money" the hardest way.

I immediately wasn't with Punisher vs Spider-man, but it is an untold tale. Amazing 129 happened & Spider-man is still trying to figure Frank Castle out. Castle is doing the same with him. But at some point Spider-man will learn who Punisher really is versus who he wants him to be. Interesting!

I'm not a preexisting fan so the fact that I'm wildly impressed by New Titans says a lot. @tatebrombal.bsky.social makes it seem effortless to make these characters seem alive. Red Devil is becoming a favorite even though he isn't new. Great issue to pick up post-Dakota Incident to see Static again!

Three Worlds/Three Moons Foundations exceeded my expectations. It is a thing to behold in print even if you experienced it digitally. High concept yet relatable sci-fi, but the presentation is so bold its almost overwhelming. Just when you think you know all that comics can be/do. Don't pass this up

And with that my Cleveland Adventure for the Icons Fest event concludes. What a fantastic time! The Cleveland Library is incredible. The Maltz facility is amazing. Each discussion was great with stories even I’d never heard before. So good to see @brianmbendis.bsky.social in person again!

Any doubt that @robertkirkman.bsky.social isn't a serious fan should be gone because look who he's brought to Energon Universe! Far as I know Dr Arkeville has only been in a few cartoon episodes, that's it. I can hear Casey Kasem! Also, Flagg addresses all the skeptical reader questions of Optimus.

When reading a licensed property comic and my brain automatically hears the character voice from animation, to me, that means it is working. I definitely hear the late Brendan McKane when Miles Mayhem speaks. Well done @danpgwatters.bsky.social. I'm sure everyone will be fine in issue 3!

Absolute Batman 22 lures into a false sense that it could be a filler downtime issue, but that quickly becomes not the case. So many cards get turned over here as Harley Quinn tells her truth. There's an element of uncertainty, but is it uncertain in this series or exactly what's going on?

The unceremonious loss of Bill Foster in Civil War never sat right with me & Civil War Unmasked 3 pulls on the strings through his nephew in what seems like an analysis of the Black Goliath character. It really felt like @christosgage.bsky.social knew the character. Hope to see Tom Foster again.

Exquisite Corpses Rascal Randy can be read with no knowledge of Exquisite Corpses itself. This is the story of whoever's inside the mascot suit on their last rampage. It could be someone in the cast of characters or we may never know! @tylerboss.bsky.social must have watched a lot of horror movies.

When watching Fantastic Four, just like the comics version, I wondered exactly how old the Silver Surfer could be. I appreciate that @charlessoule.bsky.social touched on that in First Foes Shalla Bal. The Surfer is a very complex character in comics and I'm glad the movie conveyed that also.

Operation Iron Coffin is a revived Dracula working for the British government in WWII to redeem himself. His current mission is to destroy a train carrying a deadly virus & everyone aboard, unfortunately something else there will stop him in his tracks! Castlevania meets Resident Evil on a train!

Woooow! The kid from Marvels issue 2!

You may already be feeling Doctor Doom overload at this point, but do not pass up Challenges of Doom: Mr Fantastic. This is @al-ewing.bsky.social & @mikeshenderson.bsky.social revisiting the origins of the Doom/Richards conflict. Normally I don't love revisions, but everything here works for me!

Mortal Thor 12 is incredible. @al-ewing.bsky.social has one of the best Marvel Comics on the shelf & turns over the cards here. Jesus Saiz creates serious nightmare fuel in the art too. I could never have guessed where this was going even though I re-read the ending battle of Simonson Thor today.

The @nickfil.bsky.social colors really elevate everything that Dogsitter 1 has going for it. There’s actual lighting, artificial and natural happening in this story. Look at this comic on the shelf this week and look at others. You’ll see a difference.

While it did do one little thing that won’t bother anyone but me, Fantastic Four 13 was indeed aggressively creative. Ghost Rider is not in the issue but when the Storm siblings get together they can really put on a show. Ryan North must have had this in mind since he was a kid.

That’s right 70s kids, Team America Racing is back in an all new story (originally serialized across Comic Shop News magazine last year) this week! Plus, you get the most through history of Team America ever committed to paper. For somebody somewhere this is a huge deal.

There is a lot of issue 1 fatigue BUT are you utilizing jumping on point issues when they come up? Hmm? Iron Man 7 is a great place to start. Tony starts a new tech school & Rhodey has many questions about that. Sample this one to see what @joshuawilliamson.bsky.social can do plus cool Randal art!

The Spectre is not only without a host due to Darkseid in the All In Special, it isn’t governed by previous rules. @jefflemire171.bsky.social is doing a fantastic job with the JSA, a team I’m very protective of. Pick up Search for the Spectre in issues 19-21 to see why I’m so won over by this.

If you’re not convinced that W Maxwell Prince & @martinmorazzo.bsky.social aren’t modern masters, sample Deadman 2. To get information from a destroyed book, Deadman has to “work with” Batman & Plastic Man to get to a villain who remembers everything he reads. This is outstanding! Eisner outstanding

Admittedly, after 2 years of new Ultimate universe, it took me a minute to recall details of the original. But once I did, this was really good. The Ultimate Universe alone survived Secret Wars & Marvel Universe Peter Parker is trapped there. @alexpaknadel.bsky.social tapped classic What If vibes.

The Saw Gerrera Star Wars Rogue One anniversary one shot was quite surprising. I thought I knew what was about to happen, but what did unfold was a surprise & had even greater impact on what kind of man this was. Well done finding the story for him @marcbernardin.bsky.social

In addition to the content, there is something aesthetically pleasing about Mind MGMT especially the New & Improved 1 from @oni-press.bsky.social. The @mattkindt.bsky.social art & color, the tactile element of the newsprint in the hand. You don't have to have read previous material to participate.

Ultimate Endgame 5 is an abrupt wrap to a point that kind of reminded me of the close of the Krakoa era of X-men, but there is the Ultimate Universe Finale so the creative teams of each series can give their own dedicated send off or epilogue. If you followed the line you don’t want to skip these.