Weekly Discussion Thread: Comics, TV, and More! [April 6, 2026 - Absolute Bat-Cow When? Edition]

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u/beary_neutral Telos Apr 06 '26

Weekly Meta Discussions Thread

39

u/TroubAlert The Good Skeets Apr 06 '26

The community of Bedford, Colorado, is a sleepy small town. The people say hello to their neighbors, attend town hall meetings, and root for the local high school football team on Friday nights. But this idyllic small town is thrown upside down when the Nuclear Man arrives and starts... experimenting. Firestorm has turned buildings to sand and people to glass with no remorse and no warning. But what exactly provoked Ronnie Raymond to commit this heinous act, and can anyone contain the fury that is Firestorm?

Brought to you by the incredible team of Jeff Lemire (Absolute Flash, JSA) and Rafael De Latorre (The Penguin) comes the next epic in the Next Level line.

Preview

29

u/Dent6084 Apr 08 '26

Glad that it didn't beat around the bush with revealing at least something of what's going on. Cool, ominous atmosphere.

16

u/another_deaf_guy Apr 08 '26

Hell yeah Firehawk. Hope she stays involved as a main character. Love the creepy vibe I was getting from the sentient matrix.

29

u/wowlock_taylan Batman Animated! Apr 08 '26

Well damn...it is Captain Atom Black Label levels of horrifying. So the Firestorm Matrix became 'sentient' and decided to go 'Captain Atom with God complex' levels. Trapped Ronnie inside a fantasy loop.

And Professor Stein is definitely doing the 'scientist who is terrified of what is unleashed'. Lorreine might think he can help but would he even want to? OR would this Sentient matrix even allow him back in, considering it keeps Ronnie trapped inside to 'not be controlled anymore'.

13

u/Golden_Alchemy Apr 09 '26

At least it is not on the level of Captain Atom assassination and it is the fault of the Firestorm Matrix. Hope we see more of Killer Frost because, what would be the best way to deal with a superhero than their best villain.

8

u/wowlock_taylan Batman Animated! Apr 09 '26

Yea, thankfully writing is actually make sense here instead of Ronnie going full 'god complex' crazy, it is basically the Matrix itself becoming sentient and the horror of that situation.

25

u/coltvahn Red Robin Apr 08 '26

I knew it! I think there’s something purposeful about making this reveal this early, and I appreciate that Lemire just went “this isn’t that story again”. We don’t need the tension of whether it is or isn’t Ronnie. We know Ronnie Raymond. This is more interesting. Art is great. And it’s always a treat to see Firehawk.

9

u/BergmanGirl Swamp Thing Apr 08 '26

Someone in another thread was saying this reminded them of 80s Alan Moore and that’s really right on the money. This is scratching a Swamp Thing-like itch in my soul.

18

u/Mr_Wh0ever Apr 08 '26

It's an interesting start.I wish that they revealed the truth a few issues down the line and let the mystery play out a bit longer.

16

u/lemmmmmmmmmmonade Firestorm Apr 09 '26

As a big Firestorm fan, I'm really glad that Lemire decided to jump right in and say "Ronnie isn't evil now", it'd be a really easy but lazy and ooc writing choice to play on the idea that this is how he's crashing out after learning the revelations from Doomsday Clock, and we do still have a mystery, it's just that instead of "What's going on with Ronnie", it's "What happened to the Firestorm Matrix"

6

u/Embarrassed_Piano_62 Swamp Thing Apr 09 '26

I actually prefer it this way, it means there´s a lot more in the next issues

25

u/Androktone Alan Scott Apr 07 '26

Super excited for this. I feel like the minority who's into JSA and Absolute Flash, but I really like Lemire's pacing

15

u/s_walsh Nightwing Apr 08 '26

I really enjoy Absolute Flash, but I really didn't love JSA, it felt too unfocused. I think maybe Lemire struggles with a big cast of characters and multiple plot points happening concurrently, but when he focuses on just one or two characters he really excels

6

u/StellarKnife Apr 08 '26

Yeah Lemire's team books are always pretty lame.

6

u/Golden_Alchemy Apr 08 '26

Yeah, those books are...way too much what you expect from a team book.

6

u/ComicSams1 Apr 09 '26

Love seeing the Firestorm Personality again, hopefully they calm down a bit, lol, I wouldn't mind going back to having Firestorm be it's own being with the 2 hosts, but I'm liking this so far. Hope we get back to good fun Firstorm and Firehawk stories! And we reconcile the, not very good, Doomsday Clock retcon and we can get Ronnie and Stein as friends again. Much like how Adams fixed what Heroes in Crisis did to Wally.

16

u/Will-Of-D-3D2Y Apr 08 '26

It's not a bad issue but it feels like the kind of event setting up 20 years of 'Can we really trust you after X happened?' storylines that every unstable and/or overpowered superhero gets.

8

u/StellarKnife Apr 08 '26

Yeah exactly, I'm tired of this and I wish they would do something different. Issue itself is not bad, though, you're right, just why this direction?

1

u/Koushikraja1996 Apr 08 '26

SPOILERS

Oh thank god this was not written by Tom King. Or else it would have been a "character deconstruction/assassination" by having Ronnie actively murder all those people in the name of existential contemplation. Lemiere is doing something special here.

14

u/Golden_Alchemy Apr 08 '26

It was way too similar at the start of Jenny Sparks and Captain Atom.

1

u/android151 Resurrection Man May 03 '26

My GOAT CANNOT stop turning people into glass :(

Blackest Night really did a number on him

-2

u/JingoboStoplight4887 World's Finest Apr 08 '26

I find it interesting that the Firestorm Matrix (who trapped Ronnie inside) spent a week affecting the torn of Bedford, Colorado, resulting in the Department of Defense recruiting Lorraine Riley (aka Firehawk) to deal with it and for Lorraine to try and find Professor Stein. I wonder if this comic would mention a lot of Firestorm lore, such as Felicity Smoak (who is Ronnie’s stepmother), Ronnie’s mom (who was resurrected as the result of Flashpoint), and Ronnie and a different old man (who was the result of Lazarus Planet). Jeff Lemire has done a good job proving an interesting lore for Ronnie and Firestorm. Let’s hope that Lorraine will find Stein and convince him to save Ronnie from the Firestorm Matrix and reconcile with Ronnie after what happened during Doomsday Clock. Overall, this comic is good.

31

u/TroubAlert The Good Skeets Apr 06 '26

Absolute Green Lantern #13

Tomar-Re is here, and he will not allow Jo Mullein's inexperience to compromise his mission. It's Anomaly versus Anomaly!

Preview

29

u/Mr_Wh0ever Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26

Wow, crazy issue. I don't have much knowledge about Adam Strange/Shade the Changing Man lore, but I'm guessing Emily Hawke is gonna be the absolute version of Strange going forward. But then again, dont know much about her history either. All in all, it's a cool diversion into an absolute Rann status quo. Poor Alanna.

20

u/Ashburton_Grove Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26

Emily Hawke seems to be a brand new character. I've seen people theorize she's gonna be Absolute Lady Blackhawk or Absolute Hawkwoman. I'm leaning toward Hawkwoman bc it'd make sense to introduce a Thanagar-related character in an issue focusing on Rann.

8

u/gosukhaos Apr 08 '26

I think it's both actually, her look and hair are obviously Shiera's but Baron Blitzkrieg was a 40s Nazi counterpart to the Blackhawks

11

u/ptWolv022 Apr 08 '26

but I'm guessing Emily Hawke is gonna be the absolute version of Strange going forward.

Well, it's interesting, she seems to be new. She's mentioned as an O.S.S. agent (basically the predecessor of the CIA). Baron Blitzkrieg is obviously a Nazi villain, as you could guess by the name. Her last name being "Hawke" could indication some sort of relation to Blackhawk (Bartholomew Hawk), who was another WWII hero or to Sheila Hawke (She-Hawke), a one-time female Blackhawk (prior to the creation of Lady Blackhawk). Or she could relate to Hawkgirl, as Kendra Saunders' grandfather was Cyril "Speed" Saunders, an OSS agent from Detective Comics #1-58 (except for #2).

Or she could just be a totally new amalgam of all of them and yet not filling the role of any particular one.

19

u/Golden_Alchemy Apr 07 '26

Shade? As in...Shade the Changing Man? Rann? Maybe Absolute Adam Strange? I love how big deal is Tomar Re here and my book of the week already.

Question, anyone knows when will the volume 2 be released?

18

u/wowlock_taylan Batman Animated! Apr 08 '26

Rac Shade? The Changing Man got 'lasered' into being the opposite of himself huh. And they basically 'lobotomize' people with lasers to 'remove' the emotions. Poor Alanna.

Well I guess we got this Emily Hawke to be the new 'Adam Strange'. Stuck in the Mad Zone with a big Manhunter thing.

Sinestro seems to be afraid of dealing with Anomalies coming together.

4

u/Future_Vantas Apr 08 '26

Hope Agent Hawke didnt kill Alanna, it would be fun if they still had that connection like in the main universe. Maybe yuri can cure lobotomies in the Absolute Universe.

That Manhunter reveal is quite interesting. Was it shunted there when it went out of control like in the main universe? Or is it native and still guiding the cult of Oa from the Mad Zone?

Sinestro should be worried. The usual wielders of light are nothing before the Blackstars, only the Anomalies have been able to fight back. If they team up they can only get stronger.

5

u/Golden_Alchemy Apr 08 '26

...Even better, Hawke? Not only Adam Strange, isn't she Hawkwoman?! And she fought facists but got teleported to Rann in the future?! IS THAT WHY THE ABSOLUTE HAWKMAN IS A FACIST?! Because Hawkwoman wasn't there to stop him and convince him of a better way?!

8

u/wowlock_taylan Batman Animated! Apr 08 '26

She is an OC as Al Ewing confirmed it on social media after hearing 'Where are the characters that are NOT from the main universe?'.

3

u/Golden_Alchemy Apr 08 '26

Oh...i see.

3

u/Beidah Robin Apr 09 '26

Considering she mentions the OSS, I'm guessing she's connected to the Blackhawks, but maybe a combination of that and Hawkwoman.

10

u/marcjwrz Apr 08 '26

I think I have only one complaint about this book.

I wish it was bi-weekly because, God damn do I want more.

3

u/SonicSpiderRanger10 Bizarro Apr 08 '26

Yeah, I agree. Wish we could get the new issues quicker.

8

u/Dent6084 Apr 08 '26

Interesting that Emily Hawke seems to be an entirely new character - but may be about to be "Lady Black Hawke" if somehow she learns how to channel Blackstar tech.

6

u/BlackJimmy88 Apr 08 '26

I don't really know my Green Lantern lore, but whoever this Emily Hawke is, I like her. She left a hell of an impression in half an issue.

14

u/[deleted] Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26

I don't who she is neither. But she's a redhead that kill fascists. Only a few pages and i'm already a fan.

8

u/Oberon1993 Apr 08 '26

OK, so what book was solicit guy reading?

3

u/ptWolv022 Apr 08 '26

The answer: He wasn't. Solicits can be made well in advance, not always even by the writer, so it's probably that Ewing had an outline, the solicit got made based on that, and then the actual issue turned out significantly different than whatever outline the solicit had been written based on.

3

u/ArtsyTLF Red Robin Apr 08 '26

Loved this issue, I hope that this detour pays off, because I kind of enjoyed this issue more than the main plot of the series

2

u/Future_Vantas Apr 08 '26

Talk about a misleading solict, Jo and Re were only mentioned and otherwise have nothing to do with this issue (sidebar the variants for this series are so boring). This was still a fun look into Absolute Rann, and a peek into the Blackstar operations. Absolute Space is quite rough, you either deal with a fascist empire or weird space hippies. Agent Hawke was pure badass this whole issue, bad matchup for Rac, I dig this reinvention of Adam Strange.

1

u/Blitzhelios Hal Jordan Apr 08 '26

Great issue overall and one of the better ones writing wise the use of Tomar Re is interesting i can't think of a GL book in a long time that has used Re in this big of a proportion.

Introduction of shade and seemingly a version of adam strange is interesting.

Still think this book has some issues of pacing overall though.

16

u/TroubAlert The Good Skeets Apr 06 '26

Action Comics #1097

The heroes of tomorrow have arrived in the past, and they need Superboy's help! But what can a young Clark Kent do that they can't? Find out as Smallville is turned upside down and the Reign of the Superboys continues!

Preview

15

u/BergmanGirl Swamp Thing Apr 08 '26

I really like Waid’s Booster Gold. JLU hasn’t really allowed for fleshing out of anyone except Terrific and Airwave, so I’m glad to see actual character writing.

3

u/Androktone Alan Scott Apr 10 '26

I was kinda taken aback by how jovial he was in the Expo scene, but it got addressed within the issue

16

u/KrypticJin Shazam Apr 08 '26

Waid you better not be setting up Mary x Clark

11

u/ptWolv022 Apr 08 '26

I imagine Clark is going to be have a crush on her, but there will probably be an awkward moment where she's like "Ha, sorry, time travel, but also you're way too old for me in my time."

2

u/Androktone Alan Scott Apr 10 '26

Mary hasn't been born yet right? Like she's 16, and current day Clark is like 40.

I think he's kinda pulling on Saturn Girl & Superboy vibes, but I do agree

1

u/JingoboStoplight4887 World's Finest Apr 08 '26

I don’t think that Waid is going to do that.

16

u/wowlock_taylan Batman Animated! Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 08 '26

I guess Clark as Superboy is kinda used to 'time travel' stuff with Legion of Superheroes in his future but boy, Booster picks the worst places to go in time.

Mary, don't confuse the young Clark. He is an adult, married man in your time!

13

u/StealthHikki2 Nightwing Apr 08 '26

Idk if Mary did anything other than touch Clark's hand. Her perspective, I think, will be fanboying over Clark but Clark might get confused all on his own, as teenage boys are wont to do.

Source: Was a teenage boy once

1

u/wowlock_taylan Batman Animated! Apr 08 '26

I know, that is why I said 'don't confuse the young teen Supes.'

2

u/StealthHikki2 Nightwing Apr 08 '26

You wrote "don't try to confuse" which is different from "don't confuse"

4

u/Feeling-Cranberry781 Superman Apr 08 '26

I’m not familiar with the Shazam family. About how old is Mary Marvel? She comes across as around the same age as teenage Clark but I’m not certain.

11

u/Realistic-Steak-1680 Apr 08 '26

She is a college student and the oldest of the Marvel Family.

-4

u/JingoboStoplight4887 World's Finest Apr 08 '26 edited Apr 09 '26

If we’re going by pre-Crisis ages, then I would say that Mary is 99 years old (but physically 80 years old) by now, since she and Billy (who made his debut as Captain Marvel at 12 years old in 1939) were born on April 1, 1927 and Mary made her debut as Mary Marvel at 15 years old in 1942.

If we’re going by pre-Flashpoint ages, then (in universe) I would say that Mary is 25 years old by now, since she made her debut as Mary Marvel at 14 years old and that it had been 15 years since Billy made his debut as Captain Marvel at ten years old.

If we’re going by post-Flashpoint ages, then (in universe) I would say that Mary is 21 years old by now, since she made her debut as Mary Marvel at 17 years old and that it has been four years since Billy made his debut as Captain Marvel at 15 years old.

3

u/Landon1195 Apr 09 '26

Good issue. Really hoping that thing with Mary is just a crush.

2

u/UnknownEntity347 Rorschach Apr 12 '26

I'm having trouble enjoying this run at this point, simply because I don't think the story Waid's writing is good enough to warrant steamrolling established continuity so much. As per Secret Origin, Clark knew what his origins were before he became Superboy, and I don't really love the idea of Clark knowing about future JLAers through time travel like this. The Legion at least is fine since they don't interact much with the main timeline people, but having Clark just know from the get-go who a bunch of people he later meets are is a needless addition to every past interaction he's had with a given character, and you'd think it'd influence how he'd feel about them even if he can't tell them about the time travel shenanigans.

I would've much preferred for this run to just be a fun, simple young Superman story that stayed focused on smaller-scale normal human dramas without needing to do Silver Age Superboy again because of Waid's love of the Silver Age when pretty much every post-Crisis version of Superman either said Superboy was never a thing, or, in Secret Origin, that Superboy was a thing but not a big public presence.

I did like the nod to KO and the larger story they're doing in the current era though.

-9

u/JingoboStoplight4887 World's Finest Apr 08 '26

I like that Clark gets to team up with a time-traveling J’onn, Booster, and Mary (who all told them that they’re his future friends) to defeat Epoch, with the Kents being amazed that they’re from the future. I also like that J’onn and Booster have a talk about what has happened (which includes Michael talking about his getting traumatized after he was kidnapped and tortured by the Absolute Legion) while Clark and Mary (who should’ve remembered her entire pre-Crisis and pre-Flashpoint histories by now) maintaining their secret identities. Let’s hope that they and the Kents will find Clark’s rocket ship and defeat Epoch in the next issue. Overall, this comic is great!

11

u/TroubAlert The Good Skeets Apr 06 '26

Supergirl #12

The conflict in Kandor between the Science Council and the younger Kandorians is only growing more tense. Supergirl's first run-in with the rebel leader Black Flame ends with her broken and without her powers, forcing her to seek recovery with the Science Council. But despite Supergirl's warning, the Council has their own plan to stop Black Flame: a powerful clone capable of taking down anyone in their path.

Enter Team Thunder!

Preview

10

u/Mr_Wh0ever Apr 08 '26

Weird that they marketed the original Thunder Boy in "Reign of the Superboys" and not the versions the comic introduced. But I'm gonna guess that ThunderGirl is going to be a reoccurring character down the line.

4

u/ptWolv022 Apr 09 '26

I have to wonder if maybe it wasn't known that Sophie would be re-designing them? The "Things to Come" Variant for Issue #12 also has them be White, with the girl version having long-hair. You can see different designs for all three of them (long-sleeves for Thunderlad and Thundergirl, while Thunderkid has the sleeveless design), like in the issue, but also not have traits like Kim-Da, unlike the issue.

It's worth noting as well that we might have a "Boy Thunder" as well. Because they're mentioned as Subjects 02, 03, and 04, IIRC, which could point towards an unaltered clone created before them that is "Thunderboy". Of course, it could just be that 01 is the original Boy Thunder and the use of "Lad" instead of "Boy" is just to not make any of them share the same name (or a rearranged name) with the original.

5

u/xehanortsguardian Apr 08 '26

I don't know too much about the council of Kandor, but they sure are amoral monsters. As an issue that is clearly still setup for a larger payoff, I will refrain from judging it too harshly. I'm mostly just curious how they're gonna bring back Kara to a non-cyborg state.

6

u/Blitzhelios Hal Jordan Apr 08 '26

Man i don't like to be negative about supergirl because ive been loving this book but this arc feels like a massive step down. It really does feel very forced and not why i was enjoying this book.
It does feel like Campbell was kinda forced to do it this way and up the stakes alot because of this crossover.
As this feels like nothing ive read from her writing wise and nothing like this books tone originally
Hopefully post this it goes back to being a bit more of how it was which was more unique

5

u/wowlock_taylan Batman Animated! Apr 08 '26

Kandor really is a dystopian mess. And man, Kara is living her nightmare, practically. Being turned into 'Cyborg Supergirl'. How are they gonna get her body back the way it was?

They cloned Boy Thunder? And of course Kandor's idiots would treat them as tools. They are asking for more Magogs.

Yea, Conner and Lena are 'technically' siblings, so their dynamic kinda fits.

-2

u/JingoboStoplight4887 World's Finest Apr 08 '26 edited Aug 23 '26

The only good thing about this comic is Conner and Lena trying to help Kara with something, with them spending time together as siblings. The rest is just Kara, who’s turned into a cyborg (or Cyborg Supergirl) defeating Zora (who should remember her entire pre-Crisis history) with help from Team Thunder (who are clones are Boy Thunder) in the Bottle City of Kandor. Overall, I would say that this comic is weak, but it is trying so hard to be an okay comic because I want to like this. I really do.

10

u/TroubAlert The Good Skeets Apr 06 '26

Bleeding Hearts #3

Poke returns to his horde after meeting Mama and Rabbit—profoundly changed and a bit confused. He's experiencing things he cannot explain...things like compassion and sadness. He's tried his best to convince Mama that he means them no harm and that they should stay hidden, but for Mama, trust is something hard-earned. So how much of a risk is she willing to take? And can Poke keep the latest hunting party from descending upon their hiding spot?

Preview

2

u/Blitzhelios Hal Jordan Apr 11 '26

Just continues to be a very strong book out of the deniz camp books im reading right now this is my least favourite but its a zombie book thats kept my attention which is rare naturally.
Morian is just a machine however.

1

u/Future_Vantas Apr 12 '26

Really digging this issue, this is setting up a very fun dynamic between Poke and his human "pals". I love how its far more than a lack of communication that is hampering the two. There is a whole lot of prejudice on both sides, neither can see the other as "alive". Yet Poke and Rabbit still try despite the danger

8

u/TroubAlert The Good Skeets Apr 06 '26

Green Lantern Corps #15

Possessed by the emotional entity of fear, Parallax, John Stewart is forced to face all his fears in order to regain control of his body. In the next galaxy over, Guy Gardner and his group of Lanterns search for Proselyte, the entity of compassion, outside of their jurisdiction, risking wars among the stars!

Preview

12

u/[deleted] Apr 08 '26

No more Soranik character assassination? Fuck yeah

11

u/s_walsh Nightwing Apr 08 '26

I really like a lot of the ideas in this series, but the writing does fall a little flat.

I think Morgan Hampton is a fairly new writer, so I'm interested to see how they grow. I definitely don't hate this book

8

u/gosukhaos Apr 08 '26

Yeah this is his second book after the Cyborg mini from a couple of years ago. It's not bad by any means but you can tell he's struggling to keep up with all the narrative threads

10

u/wowlock_taylan Batman Animated! Apr 08 '26

John went through his own past fears with Parallax trying to feed off it. Good thing his 'mama ring' was there to save him, though I guess that is it for 'her'. It is still hard to grasp the whole 'Two Johns' and 'Copy universes' stuff with this version of Katma.

Soranik is back in the game but man getting reminded of the terrible plot about her and Kyle's 'future son' was like a vietnam flashback. I guess it is fitting they went with 'shit happens' after she relived it so many times because of Parallax. But I am still upset it probably permanently harmed Soranik and Kyle.

Guy leading a team never ends well. And Aya getting a bit overconfident and got played by the Manhunters. Now, they have her body and are FAR more dangerous. I guess Razer would still be into it, though.

5

u/I-Might-Be-Something Batman Apr 08 '26

But I am still upset it probably permanently harmed Soranik and Kyle.

Eh, they'll probably make up at some point. Might not get back together, but that is still very possible.

2

u/ProfessorUber Apr 08 '26

Soranik is back in the game but man getting reminded of the terrible plot about her and Kyle's 'future son' was like a vietnam flashback. I guess it is fitting they went with 'shit happens' after she relived it so many times because of Parallax. But I am still upset it probably permanently harmed Soranik and Kyle.

While I am admittedly not the biggest expert on Soranik's character (but I do want to read more of her now), this return of her and how its being handled has given me a bit of thought about the different ways to handle "fixing character assasination".

When Soranik first showed up and was shown to be possessed by Parallax, I was wondering if that was going to be used to retcon her past actions as having been done under his influence. But this issue has Soranik say that the possession has only been for a few weeks, while she has meanwhile been a "rough few years" for her.

So I guess my point is that it does make me kind of think about the different ways characters who have been written poorly in the past can be handled; do you keep those past actions intact and try to develop them organically? Do you retcon those past actions as being done due to brainwashing? Do you just ignore / soft retcon it?

The brainwashing answer could be seen as lazy and taking away a character's agency, but depending on how bad the character assassination was it might be the best way to handle things without permanently harming the character.

Just went on bit of a tangent, but still do think its an interesting thing to consider. As I mentioned before though, I'm not overly familiar with Soranik and so don't think I know enough yet to make my own judgement on how well this works.

I do think though, from what I do know, that Soranik's actions seem quite extreme to walk back from and return her to the Green Lanterns if she was doing it all of her own free will.

6

u/TheRisenThunderbird Apr 08 '26

Caked up larfleeze jumpscare

3

u/ptWolv022 Apr 09 '26

Me: "Man, Aya can just.. hack the Manhunters? Like, all of them, or their central database and control systems? That seems... kinda OP."

Morgan Hampton: ":)"

So that's a good twist at the end. R.I.P. to John's Mom's Ring-Ghost/AI. It's a good way to get rid of her without it being a waste. Also gets John a bit closer to his main self, as he is forced to face his "failures" and accept that the main him wasn't a $#@%-up, he was just human and that's also right. The "other" John was fine screwing up and it's fine for him to do so, too, rather than trying to be better than himself.

3

u/I-Might-Be-Something Batman Apr 08 '26

I really enjoyed this issue. John's "mom" is gone, but I enjoyed her guiding her through the traumatic moments of his life (of which there are many), and pressing John to move on, since it what Paralax was feeding off of. Nice to see Soranik doing something again, and I really hope she becomes a supporting character again. But man, can they please move on from Pasarin? Guy can't draw faces for the life of him, and he doesn't even add little things like Soranik and the korugarans having pointy ears.

I just hope Hampton gets rid of Ellie. Not because I don't like her, but the cast needs to shrink. Right now Hampton is using too many characters which leads to the book feeling bloated.

1

u/JingoboStoplight4887 World's Finest Apr 08 '26

I like that Katma, Soranik (who returned as a Yellow Lanterm, in which I hope that we get to see her return as a Green Lantern and reconcile with Kyle Rayner as friends), a construct of Shirley, Sinson, and Lor-Zod (who should’ve remembered his entire pre-Flashpoint history by now) helped John (who had to face his many fears and mistakes such as the death of the original Katma and Xanshi) free himself from Parallax, while the other Lanterns has to deal with the Manhunters, resulting in Aya to be possessed by one. Overall, this comic is okay.

10

u/TroubAlert The Good Skeets Apr 06 '26

Emperor Aquaman #16

The lighthouse is lit, and Emperor Aquaman begins to send emissaries to the far ends of the universe to establish his kingdom in the far reaches of space. But when Jackson Hyde doesn't check in, Aquaman and the Emperor's guard, the Shiver, must embark on a rescue mission that turns friends into foes...a mission that won't be as simple as Aquaman had hoped.

Preview

12

u/wowlock_taylan Batman Animated! Apr 08 '26

They are setting up the new change for Arthur as 'Emperor' of the Blue. With his powers doing new stuff too, like turning stuff into ice. I suppose he will need more of these discoveries if he plans on connecting different places across the galaxy into one place where he rules. As we see here, it will invite more enemies to try to take advantage of it.

Mera finally got her powers back. I hope they don't make her feel redundant because Arthur got water powers now too.

King Shark is a true convert? I guess that vision from the tournament hit him hard to pledge loyalty to Arthur.

I suspect with Adams writing both these books, Zan and Jayna gonna meet by chance during these space adventures since both of them are tagging along with Arthur and Hal on their journey. But while waiting for that to happen, why not get to know other species like that ant-girl!

Of course the person to go to when you wanna oppose Aquaman, is Black Manta. Though Mera's mother might regret it if she tries to order him around.

9

u/Mr_Wh0ever Apr 08 '26

Dope start to the new arc. Glad that Mera has her powers back. And gaining King Shark as an ally is pretty cool. Meras mom teaming up with Black Manta feels a bit predictable, but they might go somewhere interesting with it.

5

u/TheGoddessLily Supergirl Apr 08 '26

Aquaman calling his control over his new powers absolute is a interesting choice of words. Surely not a accident using that word...

3

u/gsnake007 Apr 09 '26

Another dope issue. Mera has her water powers back, hers are unique and Arthur’s are more broad,bigger, and now he can do ice. Keep on rolling Adams!

-4

u/JingoboStoplight4887 World's Finest Apr 08 '26

I like that Arthur was able to properly restore his and Mera’s powers (after almost two years) before King Shark needed his help with something, resulting in them and Zan traveling to one of the many lighthouses and saving the ant people from the strange creatures. Also, this comic ending with Lolanna recruiting Black Manta (after Aquaman: The Becoming, his miniseries and Aquamen) to destroy Arthur and his family. Overall, this comic is good.

4

u/TroubAlert The Good Skeets Apr 06 '26

Batman: The Dark Knight Returns – DC Compact Comics Edition [TP]

Graphic novels to read anywhere: DC Compact Comics collect DC’s bestselling, most iconic stories in a new size!

Regarded as one of the greatest Batman stories of all time, master storyteller Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns is the perfect graphic novel for longtime comic book fans and new readers alike!

Writer/artist Frank Miller completely reinvents the legend of Batman in this saga of a near-future Gotham City gone to rot, 10 years after the Dark Knight’s retirement. Forced to take action, the Dark Knight returns in a blaze of fury, taking on a whole new generation of criminals and matching their levels of violence. He is soon joined by a new Robin — a girl named Carrie Kelley, who proves to be just as invaluable as her predecessors.

Can Batman and Robin deal with the threats posed by their deadliest enemies after years of incarceration have turned them into perfect psychopaths? And more importantly, can anyone survive the coming fallout from an undeclared war between the superpowers — or the clash of who were once the world’s greatest heroes?

3

u/TroubAlert The Good Skeets Apr 06 '26

Legion of Super-Heroes: Five Years Later Omnibus - Vol. 2 [HC] 2026 Edition

It's the Legion of Super-Heroes like you've never seen them before, as the heroes of the 30th-century continue one of their boldest and most controversial eras!

As DC's 30th century super-team, the Legion of Super-Heroes had always stood as a shining example of futuristic optimism--but that changed in 1989 with a new Legion of Super-Heroes series that brought the timeline forward five years. In this even further future, the United Planets became a darker place, with familiar characters changed and the Earth overtaken by alien invaders--and the team reunited to take on these dangerous new threats.

Now this bold and controversial part of DC history is finally collected in a second omnibus edition, from the creative team of DC legend Keith Giffen and Tom and Mary Bierbaum!

Includes L.E.G.I.O.N. #69-70. Legion of Super-Heroes #40-61, Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #4, Legion of Super-Heroes Annual #5, Legionnaires #1-18, Legionnaires Annual #1, Valor #20-23, and Who's Who Update 1993 #1.

5

u/TroubAlert The Good Skeets Apr 06 '26

Sirens: Love Hurts #3

The holidays are here, but not every Siren's feeling the cheer! Sure, Harley and Ivy's friendship warms to a romance, but Catwoman and millionaire Bruce Wayne go ice cold when Bruce attempts to define the relationship— wasn't he supposed to be a playboy? And then there's the matter of Black Canary's bachelorette party, where the Sirens and the police commissioner's daughter, Barbara Gordon, are all on the guest list. Tensions ride high...and Gotham's most elusive serial killer, Horoscope, is happy to cut right through them. Literally.

Preview

10

u/wowlock_taylan Batman Animated! Apr 08 '26

It is Tini Howard...as expected. And it is quite horny to say the least. The rest, well, just don't expect in-character writing.

6

u/Dent6084 Apr 08 '26

Gotta say, the villain's a real "powers change as the plot demands it to keep this going". She has goons for one scene, despite otherwise being a lone wolf serial killer. Despite Harley saying all her aliases have gone cold, she's carrying on her psych job in another. They're keeping watch but she's also in her home - where they have been (and where are they keeping watch if not on her place?) - killing someone. As a result, her whole deal is just very fuzzy. Between the four of them, it feels like the Sirens and Canary should've been able to wrap this one up by now if not for contrivances.

Also, we keep being told about the building friendship between the Sirens and Canary, but it'd be nice to see that actually breathe.

6

u/Dry_Construction4939 Batwoman Apr 08 '26

I feel like this is one of the ones where I'm really, truly, just in it for the art. Babs Tarr has a beautifully unique style.

2

u/DaRealHighMay Apr 08 '26

Shit idunno, I like it...

The art, colors, the goddamn lettering! So fun! I think the dialogue is fairly entertaining, and the plot may seem kinda thin, but i guess I don't particularly care? It's a 4 part mini that's more of a showcase for the art team, and for that I think it's going good! Also fun to be reading a comic that my fiancé and sisters like to look at from time to time lol

-6

u/[deleted] Apr 08 '26

The fact that Tini Howard is currently writing Harley and Ivy better than Kalan and GWW is pretty hilarious

2

u/TroubAlert The Good Skeets Apr 06 '26

Thursday (WEBTOONS) - Batman: Wayne Family Adventures #195

Batman needs a break. But with new vigilante Duke Thomas moving into Wayne Manor and an endless supply of adopted, fostered, and biological superhero children to manage, Bruce Wayne is going to have his hands full. Being a father can't be harder than being Batman, right?

2

u/TroubAlert The Good Skeets Apr 06 '26

The Nice House by the Sea #9

Betrayed by the person who knows them all best, the residents of the Lake House must come to terms with the fact that their world might literally be coming to an end — and that the only one who can get them out of this is the one who got them into it in the first place... Walter. It's a shame they shot him in the head, then...

Preview

1

u/[deleted] Apr 08 '26

This was a weird chapter, full of weird things

I don't like that Sam let Norah join the others, just to make her choose half an hour later.

It's weird that the houses are sentient, but that may have something to do with the post-apocalyptic flashfowards at the beginning of each chapter. Like the house don't want to die or let them die, even if they were abandoned there

And its also weird that the people from one house remember the earth apocalypse being in June and the other October (and Max choose this moment to appear, so they can't talk more about it). We're about to have some other plot twist, maybe to be resolved in a third (and probably final) The Nice House book

2

u/BigotKing Apr 09 '26

The time difference makes me wonder if the world is really as dead as the aliens claim. The emotionally active machinery of the houses might tie into some broader theme to do with the connections and attitudes of the members of our main house, who are all quite ordinary compared to the supermen of the other house (who are probably more representative of the sorts of people chosen for the unseen houses). I can't put more flesh on that at present to put forward a proper thesis as to the themes; it's just a hunch.

1

u/TroubAlert The Good Skeets Apr 06 '26

Wednesday (DC Universe Infinite) - My Little Warlord #24

USAF pilot Travis Morgan finds himself stranded on a remote island and sets off with one mission: survive long enough to find a way home. But there’s something off about this island…join Travis as he battles the worst the wilderness has to throw at him—dehydration, dysentery, and… dinosaurs?!

Yes, Travis has landed on an island filled with creatures most fowl, and he alone must learn how to become the Warlord of Skartaris! If only he wasn’t so adorable!

1

u/TroubAlert The Good Skeets Apr 06 '26

Thursday (DC Universe Infinite) - Nothing Butt Nightwing #48

When Dick Grayson (a.k.a. Nightwing) went undercover as an international supermodel, his goal was simple: follow the fun. But now his globetrotting exploits have left him in a tangled haute mess, his super-identity revealed, and his new friends in danger! No matter where his new modeling career takes him (be it Antarctica, Brazil, or the red carpet), trouble seems to follow, begging the question: Is he the trouble? And could turning over a new leaf also mean running from his past? In this action-packed new season of Nothing Butt Nightwing from writer Patrick R. Young (Red Hood: Outlaws) and artist Moy R. Marco (West Coast Avengers), it’s time for Dick to face the music—and strut toward love and danger!

1

u/rexmundi69 Zatanna Apr 13 '26

I was not expecting this as the basis of a new Firestorm comic.This is horrific and this Firestorm is untethered from humanity and has no compunction about using his power.Really loved this and the contrast of the comic book world Ronnje has been consigned too. Next level,indeed.This was great!

1

u/TroubAlert The Good Skeets Apr 06 '26

Supergirl: Being Super [TP] 2026 Edition

It’s the Girl of Steel as you’ve never seen her before, when Caldecott Honor-winning writer Mariko Tamaki (This One Summer) teams with Eisner Award-nominated artist Joëlle Jones (Lady Killer) for a coming-of-age tale in SUPERGIRL: BEING SUPER.

Kara Danvers isn’t any different than any other teenager in her hometown. Problems with school. Problems with boys. Problems with friends. But while growing pains shake up Kara’s world, a series of earth-shaking events hits her hometown, leaving her with with the choice of blending in with the crowd, or being different. Being an outcast. Being super.

This reimagining of Supergirl will appeal to fans of all ages and readers new and old, as the Girl of Steel flies face-first into the struggles that every teenager faces.

Collects SUPERGIRL: BEING SUPER #1-4.

-1

u/JingoboStoplight4887 World's Finest Apr 06 '26

Good comic.

r/DCcomics Weekly Discussion Thread: Comics, TV, and More! [April 6, 2026 - Absolute Bat-Cow When? Edition]

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r/DCcomics Weekly Discussion Thread: Comics, TV, and More! [April 6, 2026 - Absolute Bat-Cow When? Edition]

DC and Imprints

Trade Collections

Digital Releases

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