Shared Universe Comics of the Week!
Week of 12/11/24
It’s an exciting day for shared universe comics with the first culminatory moment of the Ultimate Universe occuring with Ultimate Universe: One Year, Laura Kinney’s first solo book in 6 years, and the continuation of the big x-men crossover with the “Raid of Greymalkin part 2!”
Note: My hope is to make this a weekly posting on this substack, and use this to add my thoughts on stuff that I’ve been reading, and give any big news that came out about these universes. (Sections in order of “News of the Week, Thoughts of the Week, and then the list of shared universe comics of the week (for the universes/families I’m following). So without further ado;
Navigation Links:
News of the Week
It’s been a really quiet week but here’s some of the headlines.
Marvel is working on a new stormbook called Storm Lifedream as part of Marvel’s Voices
Dazzler is getting a sequel series in April of 2025
DC Universe Infinite Joins France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Brazil, and Mexico (About damn time!!)
The Thing has a solo book coming out in March by Tony Fleecs
The Dollar Tree is selling DC Comics now (only some legacy first issues though) for 1.25
Thoughts of the Week
Topic of the Week: The from the Ashes Catch up experience:
- So, when From the Ashes started, I was loosely excited for it. I was sad to see Krakoa go, but I really liked the FCBD issue with Jubilee. It had a compelling vibe. A group of people scattered to the winds, all trying to survive, and begin to build something again. However, when the first set of issues came out, it became clear that that scattered nature was substantially weakening the line. Without a clear over-arching story and a lack of connections between titles, I just found myself falling off it. There were some books I really liked: Exceptional X-Men and NYX being my favorite two. Still I found myself falling off hard, but in making these types of posts on Twitter, and prepping for the expansion of Our Comical Reality in the works. I wanted to check in on From the Ashes. I’m currently working my way through the line, and in doing so one thing has become clear: Marvel took too long to get to the big picture.
- After the first volume of both Uncanny X-Men and Phoenix, I finally understand what those stories will look like and feel like, but each book takes essentially a full volume to start establishing what the book is about. Uncanny X-Men takes until issue 6 to fully establish that this book is about Rogue and some X-Men, training 4 kids at a Louisiana Mansion. Phoenix took till issue 5 to start to explain the stakes and where the plot is going to be driven to (Phoenix trying to prevent a galaxy from enabling Tyranny). This same issue is true with Exceptional X-Men and NYX. By starting so slowly, my excitement for the universe had rapidly dropped. It felt like everything was taking too long to really explain why I should be reading every week, and so? I dropped off.
- Jumping back into everything, I’m starting to understand where the core of the story, and with it, my interest is slowly growing again. There’s still a decent ways to go for me to fully care about everything, but I’ve had a great experience so far with the 15 or so issues I’ve read in the last week. Once I catch up (guessing some point next week), I want to record a video/podcast discussing my thoughts on From the Ashes, so far. (TBD on details)
DC All-in (Main Continuity DC)
It’s a smaller week for DC, but does include some info drops in the form of Superwoman Special #1 and the continuation of the galactic war in the pages of Green Lantern.
Action Comics #1079 “Phantoms Part 10”
Prison break!
In a last-ditch attempt to save both the Earth and the Phantom Zone from certain annihilation, Superman has been knocked for a loop and is only just now regaining consciousness. But what's that in the distance? The tiny silhouettes of every single Phantom Zone prisoner freed and heading straight for him? Uh oh…
Plus, the true villain behind Supergirl's mission reveals himself!
Written by Mark Waid, Art by Michael Shelfer, Colors by Matt Herms, Letters by Dave Sharpe, Cover by Clayton Henry
Batman and Robin #16 “Momento Part 3”
As the Dynamic Duo attempts to solve the mysteries of Memento's recent attacks, Batman begins to fear that his bond with his son and partner is beginning to fracture. Is this simply teenage angst, or is Damian truly pulling away from his father? Meanwhile, Memento emerges from the shadows, and the stone-faced specter of atrocities past makes himself known in the Gotham underworld.
Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson, art by Carmine Di Giandomenico and Miguel Mendonca, Colors by Marcelo Maiolo, and Letters by Steve Wands. Cover by Javier Fernandez and Dave McCaig
Black Lightning #2 “The Standard Part 2”
Still struggling to move past the traumatic events of Absolute Power, Black Lightning's family is dealt a crushing blow after the reveal that his eldest daughter, Anissa, has lost control of her newly altered powers. Between his elevated responsibilities in the Justice League, his commitments to his community, and now needing to help his daughter, Jefferson Pierce just might crack under pressure!
Written by Brandon Thomas, Art by Fico Ossio, Cover by Fico Ossio
Green Lantern #18 “Civil Corps Part III: Valley of Dying Stars”
Thaaros has arrived on Oa, hell-bent on destroying everything in his wake, with only Hal Jordan and the other Lanterns to stop him. Meanwhile, Kyle uncovers the secret of the Source Lantern as Varron moves to gain its power for his own. The Green Lantern universe flies toward a new status quo as our heroes contend with the nefarious forces gathered against them!
Written by Jeremy Adams, Art by Xermanico, Colors by Romula Fajardo Jr., Letters by David Sharpe, cover by Xermanico
Superwoman Special #1 “Secret Origin”
Serves as a Prelude to Superman #19
The amazing story of how Daily Planet Editor-in-Chief Lois Lane got superpowers and became Superwoman is finally told. What does it mean for the matriarch of the Super family to fly alongside her family and friends? And how long will these powers last? And who wants these powers for themselves?! Guest starring the Atom, Mister Terrific, Supergirl, and Silver Banshee!
Written by Joshua Williamson, Art by Laura Braga, Nikola Cizmesija, and Edwin Galmon, Colors by Rex Lokus, Letters by Dave Sharpe, Cover by Edwin Galmon
Marvel Ultimate Universe
This week includes the book everythings been building to, or at least it’s a book built to set up the next year of stories.
Ultimate Universe: One Year #1
THE CLOCK IS TICKING DOWN TO THE MAKER'S ARRIVAL! Deniz Camp flips the narrative on ULTIMATES and takes us inside the Maker's Council! The heroes of the Ultimate Universe aren't the only ones who have been preparing for the return of the Maker, and the clock is ticking down... This unique one-shot sets the stage for the second year of the Ultimate line and includes the debut of the Ultimate versions of two major Marvel characters!
Written by Deniz Camp, Art by Jonas Scharf, Colors by Mattia Iacono, and Letters by Travis Lanham
Backup by Chris Condon, art by alessandro cappuccio, colors by Bryan Valenza, and letters by Travis Lanha,
Ultimate X-Men #10
Writing and Art by Peach Momoko with Translation by Zack Davisson
X-Men: From the Ashes
The Raid on Greymalkin continues this week with the X-men Books while Laura Kinney gets her first solo book since All New Wolverine ended in 2018.
Dazzler #4 “Homecoming”
THE FINAL CURTAIN! Dazzler hits center stage in New York City — and the mastermind behind all of the attacks on her concerts is finally revealed! Action, heartbreak, surprise guests and one heck of a light show!
Written by Jason Loo, Art by Alan Robinson and Rafael Loureiro, Colors by Javier Tartaglia, Letters by Ariana Maher
Laura Kinney: Wolverine #1 “All the Places You will Go”
THE ULTIMATE MUTANT DEFENSE! WOLVERINE takes the fight to those who stand as enemies of mutantkind! LAURA KINNEY was bred to be the ultimate assassin as X-23. She's long left that life behind, but as she encounters mutants being forced to use their powers against their will, WOLVERINE takes it upon herself to right these wrongs - no matter who stands in her way! Dynamic scripter Erica Schultz (HALLOWS' EVE, X-23: DEADLY REGENESIS) and rising-star artist Giada Belviso (BLOOD HUNTERS, MS. MARVEL ANNUAL) bring Wolverine on her first mission abroad in the From the Ashes era, as Laura takes the fight to mutant oppressors wherever they may hide!
Written by Erica Schultz, art by Giada Belviso, Colors by Rachelle Rosenberg, Letters by Cory Petit. Cover by Elena Casagrande and Edgar Delgado
Phoenix #6 “Vol. 2 Part 1”
ON THE RUN AMONG THE STARS! JEAN GREY has been going toe-to-toe with some of the universe's toughest foes... but now a new threat is brutally asserting his dangerous reputation: none other than THANOS. And while she single-handedly battled back the BLACK ORDER, their nefarious progenitor (and his mysterious connection to Jean's many galactic enemies!) is another story entirely. To have a hope of victory, PHOENIX will need to reach out — beyond the limits of her own powers — and find allies to take a stand against the Mad Titan!
Written by Stephanie Phillips, Art by Marco Renna, Colors by David Curiel, Letters by Cory Petit. Cover by Yasmine Putri
Storm #3 “Chapter Three: Impending Doom”
GUEST-STARRING THE UNCANNY X-MEN! STORM finds her way to NEW ORLEANS with DOCTOR VOODOO. The cost of VOODOO’s medical treatment is the loss of STORM’s powers for seven days. STORM seeks refuge with her former teammates, the UNCANNY X-MEN, but it doesn’t turn out to be the relaxing holiday she thought it would be. A secret that aches the heart is born, and it sends STORM into the hands of DOOM.
Written by Murewa Ayodele, Art by Lucas Werneck, Colors by Alex Guimaraes, Letters by Travis Lanham, Cover by Mateus Manhanini
Uncanny X-Men #7 “Raid on Graymalkin part 2”
"RAID ON GRAYMALKIN" Part TWO! THE GRAYMALKIN RAID CONTINUES as two conflicting teams of X-Men come to a crossroads at Graymalkin Prison, formerly Xavier's Institute! As if the Perimeter protocols and the prison's mutant TRUSTEES weren't enough, team leaders ROGUE and CYCLOPS find themselves at war over the uncertain legacy of Charles Xavier!X-Factor #5
Written by Gail Simone, Art by Edgar Salazar and David Marquez, Inks by David Marquez and Victor Olazaba, Colors by Matt Wilson, Letters by Clayton Cowles. Cover by Darid Marquez and Matt Wilson
X-Factor #5 “Prisoners of the Fun Room”
DEATH COMES FOR X-FACTOR! The mercenaries called X-Term besiege the team's headquarters! With mutant-human relations on the brink, X-Factor will have to choose a side... And one member of the team won't survive!
Written by Mark Russell, Art by Bob Quinn, Colors by Jesus Aburtov, Letters by Joe Caramagna. Cover by Greg Land
Energon Universe
Transformers #15 “Combiner Chaos Part 3”
Soundwave moves to finish the war with the Autobots... and all of Earth will suffer. Meanwhile, Optimus Prime, and Wheeljack search for the answers to a mystery that may change everything they knew.
Written by Daniel Warren Johnson, Art by Jorge Corona, Colors by Sarah Stern, Letters by Rus Wooton. Cover Art by Daniel Warren andMike Spicer.
Star Wars Universe (Post ROTJ)
Star Wars: The Battle of Jakkuu - Republic Under Seige #4 “Battle of Jakku Part 8”
A NEW REPUBLIC ON THE ROPES! LANDO and his allies defeated! MON MOTHMA faces a painful loss! LUKE SKYWALKER must defeat two of the galaxy’s deadliest killers to reach his friends! MOFF ADELHARD plays a final card against the New Republic — with shocking consequences!
Written by Alex Segura, Art by Stefano Raffaele, Colors by Alex Sinclair, Cover Art by Taurin Clarke
Our Comical Reality Updates:
Hey everyone!!! I’m just beginning the process of prepping to expand Our Comical Reality. Now, you might be asking…Nathan…I love reading your work, but you aren’t exactly a consistent writer…what do you mean expand? Well…this semester was a really busy one, and I wasn’t able to do the level of work I wanted to do on non-school stuff. That’s because I was having to finish my minor, major, and start my masters degree simultaneously. It was…well alot. However, doing work on my masters, led to the development of 2 big research papers (33 and 20 pages) on topics in Games. Those papers were also written for a podcast format (think Ezra Klein show) and my plan over break is to release both papers, and both podcasts publically (alongside a bonus one). Those papers and the Podcast will be released under Our Comical Reality.
On top of that, I’ll be moving over to BlueSky. I’ve realized that Twitter is surpressing links, so strongly that I basically can’t get any reach for this substack over there, and without the ability to substantially promote my work and build an audience, I’ve decided to move to a new platform where that is more possible. More details on that transition later, but as I begin to prep and consider the next phase of me as a writer, I’ve got some hopes on what can come next.
Thanks!
Nathan
Laura had that X-23 book that ran for about 10 issues back in 2018 to 2019 in that X-Men Blue and Gold era