FOC | Ash Avenue Comics |

_{by Paul}

Careful observers of this site will have noted our halting efforts to create a weekly feature for the blog, but I think I’ve cracked the code this time! Welcome to There’s Always Next Week, the new feature where we look ahead to next week’s comics and also see which upcoming books are approaching Final Order Cut-Off on Sunday and Monday. What better place to start than with a look at the hot new Spider-Man title that’s got everyone all a-twitter (or all a-X, if you prefer)?

GIANT-SIZE SPIDER-MAN #1

Art: Iban Coello | Story: Cody Ziglar (Marvel Comics, $6.99)

But first, let’s talk about Giant-Size Spider-Man #1! Ha ha! That’s the kind of twist and turn you’ll be able to look forward to every week here at TANW. While Ultimate Spider-Man #1 may be the Marcia Brady to Giant-Size‘s Jan, this comic shouldn’t be overlooked. In the main feature, Son of Venom fails to see eye-to-eye with the People’s Favorite, Miles Morales, while the back-up is a re-print of Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man #22 by Brian Bendis and Sara Pichelli. Good value! You can hear writer Cody Ziglar cracking his knuckles here as a warm-up to February’s Spider-Punk: Arms Race #1, so if you’re excited for that, this makes a good appetizer.

PRE-ORDER IT: Bryan Hitch Main Cover | Alexander Lozano Variant | Dave Bardin Deadly Foes Variant

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #1

Art: Marco Checcetto | Story: Jonathan Hickman (Marvel Comics, $5.99)

Two things we know about the new 2024 model Ultimate Spider-Man: 1) He has a beard (not Mary Jane, an actual beard on his face) which is going to cause all kinds of static cling and chafing under the mask. 2) If I know Jonathan Hickman—and I think I do—there are going to be graphs. Glorious, glorious graphs. Rumor has it that we may be getting the Daily Bugle floor plan during this first story arc, but I’m taking a wait-and-see attitude so my heart doesn’t get broken. Again. This thing is already selling out here and it’s not even on the rack yet. Just because you have FOMO, it doesn’t mean you’re not missing out.

STAR WARS #42

Art: Steven Cummings | Story: Charles Soule (Marvel Comics, $4.99)

This is one of those things where it’s the first appearance of a character who may or may not become a mover and shaker in the wider Disney+ Star Wars universe, here in the form of a Sith woman sought out by Luke Skywalker so he can get the lowdown on some moves to take Darth Vader down a peg or two. I put it to you: Would a virginal young man with a lingering, thwarted sexual urge for his own sister somehow have trouble getting in touch with his dark side? That’s why he became a gross old hermit who tried to murder his nephew, people. Search your feelings; you know it to be true.

PRE-ORDER IT: Steven Segovia Main Cover | ~~Caspar Wijngaard Rebels 10th Anniversary Variant~~ | John Tyler Christopher Action Figure Variant | Logo Variant

DISNEY VILLAINS: CRUELLA DE VIL #1

Art: Miriana Puglia | Story: Sweeney Boo (Dynamite Entertainment, $3.99)

Alone amongst all Disney characters, I’ve always felt a great kinship with Cruella De Vil. Come to think of it, maybe that’s the reason I don’t get invited to parties at the homes of dog owners. Anyway, if you’re anything like me, you should give Disney Villains: Cruella De Vil #1 a look. It’s written by Sweeney Boo, and even if you’re not a fan of hers yet, you have to admit that it’s fun to say her name.

PRE-ORDER IT: Sweeney Boo Main Cover | Joshua Middleton Variant | Blank Authentix Variant

DEER EDITOR #1

Art: Sami Kivelä | Story: Ryan K. Lindsay (Mad Cave Studios, $4.99)

Sami Kivelä of Abbott fame draws this first issue of a murder mystery that entangles a hard-bitten newspaper editor. He’s also a giant talking deer. Get it? He’s a deer editor. It strikes me as a strange line of work for such a skittish creature to take up, but no doubt that’s my own prejudice talking. If this sounds like it’s up your alley, lock this book down now because we only ordered one copy.

PRE-ORDER IT: Sami Kivelä Main Cover

ON FOC THIS WEEK

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There’s Always Next Week: January 5, 2024