Episodes

Thor #2 follows the big new series development where Thor is now the Herald of Thunder, guiding Galactus across the cosmos to consume enough power to prevent the Black Winter’s destruction of the universe. The story by Donny Cates, Nic Klein, Matthew Wilson, and Joe Sabino raises some interesting questions about Thor’s new role as Herald and King of Asgard and how the two may function in tandem. Today on The Cates of Hel #2 I’ll answer: + What does it mean to be a Herald of Galactus, looking a...

X-Force #6 by Benjamin Percy and Stephen Segovia digs into Beast’s role with the covert ops team, and it’s an eye-opening glimpse into Hank McCoy’s state of mind and current role on Krakoa. Honestly this issue might be a bit of a shock for long time X-Men fans, but for my money it very much aligns with where Beast’s been heading all decade, and maybe longer. For the full Dawn of X reading order: For all Comic Book Herald X-Men videos: Today I’ll answer: + Et tu, Beast? What the heck happened...

X-Men #5 by Jonathan Hickman and Powers of X artist RB Silva is a fantastic continuation of the series first issue, and the Mike Carey written run of X-Men from the mid to late 2000’s. Today I’ll answer: + Who the heck are the Children of the Vault and why are they such a threat? + Who is Synch and what do his resurrection challenges mean for Krakoa + Why one small character moment between Laura Kinney and Logan is such a big deal As the recap page reminds us, in X-Men #1 by Hickman and Lei...

Throughout its first six issues, Marauders has consistently been my favorite Dawn of X book in the new X-Men lineup, both delivering on the promise of post House of X innovation and the energy of X-Men comics set in the broader Marvel Universe. For the full Dawn of X reading order: For all Comic Book Herald X-Men videos: My Notes From the Review! Issue #6 concludes the series first arc, revealing the Hellfire power plays of Sebastian Shaw and the potential impact that will have on Kate Pryde ...

I had high hopes for Excalibur heading in to Dawn of X, and through two issues was still caught up in the potential of a book exploring magic in the world of mutants. Talented creators Tini Howard and Marcus To have been playing with Apocalypse as a wizard, a previously untapped look into how a mutant this ancient might have explored the supernatural, while simultaneously moving the Captain Britain mythos forward once again towards Betsy Braddock. Nonetheless, apart from Fallen Angels, Excalibu...

Beginning with Marvel Comics #1000, and more directly with the 2019 Incoming #1, Marvel Comics began building to a cosmic war event, with Empyre #1 launching in April 2020. The event promises to bring the Avengers and Fantastic Four together against a cosmic Kree and Skrull threat that connects back heavily to Marvel Cosmic stories told since the publisher’s earliest days. Today I’ll answer: + What comics set the stage for understanding this event? + Why Marvel’s promotional strategy for Empy...

When comics writer Donny Cates gets a chance at a Marvel series, he takes big shots, and aims for at least one clear, major hook to get readers on board. What if Thanos… won? What if Loki was the Sorcerer Supreme? What if Peter Parker could talk to Spiders? Ok that last one’s like half a joke (but seriously, it happened), but the idea is Cates excels as these balls-to-wall no-cards-left-on-the-table “WHAT IF” style narratives seen through to completion. It’s this approach that has generated an ...

While 2019’s Dawn of X ended on a middling, muddled note, 2020 is off to an improved start, beginning with the energizing X-Men #4 by Jonathan Hickman and Lionel Francis Yu. My Notes From the Review! The issue features Professor X, Magneto, Apocalypse and their security detail of Cyclops and Gorgon heading to a global economics summit to discuss Krakoa’s newfound place in the world. The issue is full of Hickman’s riveting political tete a tete perfected in East of West, as well as the ethos of ...

Incoming is Marvel’s 2019 year-end spectacular, simultaneously summarizing much of the publisher’s 2019 while building suspense for storylines and comics to come in 2020. Spoilers for Incoming #1 Follow! Today I’ll answer: What comics are the most important to have read prior to Incoming #1 What Incoming #1 teases for Marvel’s 2020, across everything from Hickman’s X-Men to a linewide event called Empyre to “perhaps” the death of teen heroes How Incoming #1 is the best idea Marvel’s had in year...

With East of West wrapping up its seven year journey into the Apocalypse, John and I are taking a look back at the Jonathan Hickman, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin, and Rus Wooten series from Image Comics! In addition to the CBH Deep Dive podcast, I’ve also included our “Journals From Armageddon,” an email conversation John and I had prior to this conversation. Check out part one here covering East of West #1 to #29 (the first two in-universe years of the Apocalypse), and we’ll be back in January ...

I definitely would not have predicted Gerry Duggan and Matteo Lolli’s Marauders would be my favorite “Dawn of X” X-Men comic in 2019 – particularly ahead of two Jonathan Hickman written series with X-Men and New Mutants, but it very much has held steady as the comic most clearly filled with purpose, humor, and vision. Marauders feels like a book that knows where it wants to go, and how it wants to utilize the new status quo of Krakoa and House of X for a successful long run. Today I’ll answer: ...

The third issue of New Mutants is the first solely written by Ed Brisson with art by Flaviano, and it’s a trip back from space to Krakoa and a whole new gang of youthful mutants. I’ve gathered the shift from the Hickman-driven classic New Mutants in space story is relatively divisive for some readers, but I honestly enjoyed the return to Krakoa with a new crop of youngsters. Today I’ll answer: + Who these (New) New Mutants even are! + How New Mutants *could* function more like an X-Men antho...

Through three issues X-Force continues to improve and build on the promise of House of X. It’s one of my favorite Dawn of X titles, and issue three by Benjamin Percy and Joshua Cassarra did not disappoint! Today on Krakin’ Krakoa #24 I’ll answer: How X-Force is the X-Men Dawn of X title most consistently fulfilling the promise of House of X What we’ve learned about the Death of Professor X The mystery of the 5th assassin! For all Comic Book Herald X-Men videos! For the full Dawn of X readi...

November 27 2019 – the day before Thanksgiving – was the first new comic book day in approximately 4 months with at least three new X-Men comics released on the same day. Appropriately, my varying reactions to the releases are a healthy reminder that more is not always better, and that one of House of X and Dawn of X’s greatest strengths has been a healthy sense of curation (Marvel as a whole is otherwise comically overproducing books these days). Big picture, New Mutants is a book I expected t...

Absolute Carnage wrapped up this week: I’ll review the full event, complete with tie-ins, and discuss what it means for the Marvel Universe! Spoilers for Absolute Carnage follow! For the video: For the full Absolute Carnage reading order: Comics Discussed Include: + Absolute Carnage + Venom + Tie-Ins! Music for Best Comics Ever by Anthony Weis. Check out more music at anthonyweis.com. Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Android To learn how you can support Best Comics Ever and receive more...

DC’s six issue “Event Leviathan” comes to a close, with the final chapter in Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev’s frustrating superhero mystery. I’ll review the full event, complete with tie-ins, and discuss what it means for DC’s 2019. For the video: For the full Event Leviathan reading order: Comics discussed include: + Action Comics by Brian Michael Bendis & Steve Epting + Event Leviathan + Manhunter (2000’s run) Music for Best Comics Ever by Anthony Weis. Check out more music at anth...

This month John & Dave tackle Doomsday Clock by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank in relation to HBO’s Watchmen and the original limited series by Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons, and John Higgins. For previous Deep Dives: For more, check out the full guides on Comic Book Herald: Watchmen Doomsday Clock I also recommend checking out HBO Watchmen’s Peteypedia! Comics discussed include: Watchmen Doomsday Clock Before Watchmen Music for Best Comics Ever by Anthony Weis. Check out more music at anthonyweis....

This week on “Previously On,” I’m digging into New Mutants #1 and answering questions about the comics role in Dawn of X, and some theories about Marvel Cosmic connections. 1) Who Are the New Mutants? The New Mutants debuted in 1982 in a graphic novel (Marvel Graphic Novel #4) by Chris Claremont and Bob McLeod. The original lineup includes Cannonball (Sam Guthrie), Wolfsbane (Rahne Sinclair), Karma (Shan Coy Manh), Psyche / Mirage (Dani Moonstar), Sunspot (Bobby Da Costa), Illyana Rasputin (Ma...

This was a big week for X-Men comics, as it’s the first week since House of X #1 launched that Marvel published two separate X-Men titles on the same day. First up, I put together my video review and theories for X-Force #1 by Benjamin Percy, Joshua Cassarra and Dean White. For all Comic Book Herald X-Men videos! For the full Dawn of X reading order: For the full X-Force reading order: Comics discussed include: 90’s X-Force Uncanny X-Force by Rick Remender & Jerome Opena (2018 to 2019) X-F...

Marvel’s bringing back the Annihilation event title for a mini-crossover this December 2019, Annihilation Scourge! I’m breaking down what comics set the stage for Annihilation, and what characters like Nova, Annihilus, Beta Ray Bill, Silver Surfer and the Fantastic Four have been up to setting the stage for this event. For the Video: For the full Comic Book Herald reading order: Annihilation Scourge reading order Comics discussed include: Annihilation Guardians of the Galaxy (Donny Cates and...

I explore what’s become of the Ultimate Universe since Secret Wars (2015), how Marvel’s quietly bringing it back before our eyes in 2019, and my theories for the best way to renew the Ultimate Universe imprint! For the Video: For the full Ultimate Universe reading order: Ultimate Marvel Universe Reading Order For Ultimate Universe comics after 2015: Ultimate Universe Comics After Secret Wars (2015) Comics discussed include: + Secret Wars (2015) + Ultimate Spider-Man + Miles Morales: Spi...

In Krakin’ Krakoa #13, my analysis of House of X / Powers of X, I’m considering why Jean Grey is wearing her Marvel Girl costume, and what it means for the Phoenix Force and the X-Men! For the Video: For the full reading order: Hickman X-Men reading order Phoenix reading order Comics discussed today include: + House of X / Powers of X + Dark Phoenix Saga + Secret Wars (2015) + Jason Aaron / Mike Del Mundo’s Thor + Avengers vs X-Men +Many more! Music for Best Comics Ever by Anthony Weis...

In Krakin’ Krakoa #12, my analysis of House of X / Powers of X, I’m investigating Moira X’s journal entries and mapping them to the entire history of X-Men comics! For the video: For the full reading order: Hickman X-Men reading order Music for Best Comics Ever by Anthony Weis. Check out more music at anthonyweis.com. Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Android To learn how you can support Best Comics Ever and receive more exclusive content from Comic Book Herald, check out the Patreon: https:/...

This month John & Dave tackle House of X and Powers of X by Jonathan Hickman, RB Silva, Pepe Larraz, Marte Gracia and collaborators. For previous Deep Dives: For more, check out the full guides on Comic Book Herald: Hickman’s X-Men John’s review of telepathy Comics discussed include: House of X / Powers of X Music for Best Comics Ever by Anthony Weis. Check out more music at anthonyweis.com. Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Android To learn how you can support Best Comics Ever and receive ...