Jumping On: New Story Arcs Kicking Off On December 1, 2021

One of the hardest and most frustrating things about finding new comics to read and enjoy is finding a good jumping on point. It can be confusing and disheartening to pick up a single issue from the middle of an arc without having the context of the previous chapters.

With that in mind, here are some titles kicking off new story arcs and a few interesting #1’s premiering this upcoming New Comic Book Day, Wednesday, December 1, 2022

New Arcs:

Action Comics #1037, DC

‘THE WARWORLD SAGA, PART TWO / MARTIAN MANHUNTER, PART ONE 

THE FACE-OFF YOU’VE BEEN WAITING FOR! SUPERMAN AND THE AUTHORITY finally face MONGUL and his champions head-on! The fates of Warworld and all who live under Mongul’s rule hang in the balance…but He Who Holds All Chains is better prepared than Superman knows. Not everyone walks away from this one!’

Deadly Class #49, Image

‘A FOND FAREWELL, Part One

The first chapter of the final arc of critically acclaimed DEADLY CLASS! The promise of what

could have been, a life that never was – Marcus and Saya are the deadliest couple on Earth, but what happens when they’re hired to kill each other?’

The Scumbag #11, Image

‘NEW STORY ARC

“GOLDENBROWNEYE,” Part One

Ernie has double-crossed every spy organization on Earth. Now, a method to extract the Formula Maxima has been discovered—at the cost of Ernie’s life. Who will kill Agent Scumbag and claim his powers?’

The Avengers #50, Marvel

‘WORLD WAR SHE-HULK, CONCLUSION

Throughout this supersize extravaganza, fans will also witness the shocking conclusion of “World War She-Hulk”, finally learn the true purpose of the prehistoric Avengers, uncover the shocking secret of the Iron Inquisitor, watch the Avengers recruit some surprising new members, and follow the Ghost Rider on a quest for vengeance across the Multiverse that will spark an all-new era in Avengers history!

LEGACY #750’

Notable #1s:

Batman: Fear State Omega #1, DC

‘As Gotham’s Fear State comes to a close, a new day dawns on the city…one without Batman. But the Dark Knight’s absence does not mean the city is without heroes. Join James Tynion IV and Riccardo Federici as they bring “Fear State” to its conclusion and introduce a new status quo that will reverberate throughout the DCU for years to come.’

Justice League Incarnate #1, DC

‘After the shocking ending of Infinite Frontier, Justice League Incarnate defends the Multiverse from Darkseid across infinite Earths!

Following a devastating defeat at the hands of the one true Darkseid, the Superman of Earth-23 leads a team of superheroes from myriad worlds that includes Flashpoint Batman, China’s Flash from Earth-0, Captain Carrot from Earth-26, and the brand new superhero DR. MULTIVERSE from Earth-8 in a last ditch effort to stop the end of every possible universe as we know it!

Written by Joshua Williamson and Dennis Culver with first-issue art by Brandon Peterson and Andrei Berssan and a rotating cast of artists exploring the many different worlds of the DC Multiverse, this can’t-miss series is the next thrilling chapter in the Infinite Frontier saga!’

The Death of Doctor Strange: Spider-Man #1, Marvel

‘This ain’t Ben Reilly’s first rodeo as Spider-Man, but he’s never had to deal with the death of the Sorcerer Supreme and what it does to New York City. Part of Strange’s will and testament was to ask Spidey to deal with particular problems… Is BEN up to it? Black Cat isn’t a big Ben fan, so is she riding shotgun because she owes Strange to keep an eye on Ben, or to sabotage Ben?! 

DEATH OF DOCTOR STRANGE TIE-IN’

Hecate’s Will #1, Black Mask Studios

‘Written and illustrated by breakout new creator Iolanda Zanfardino (Alice In Leatherland), HECATE’S WILL is the story of a legendary NYC graffiti artist who has decided to retire and abandon her mission of changing the world through art, but, before she quits, she’s going to create one final street-art experience: a graffiti scavenger hunt through the streets of Manhattan that will lead her fans to a final message and artistic testament.

As her street-art experiment catches fire with young NYC artists and activists, and while she simultaneously gets roped into working on a rock musical, all of Hecate’s expectations and assumptions will be challenged.

But will it be enough to renew the strength of her conviction to remain true to her artistic self?

HECATE’S WILL is a story for anyone who knows you can’t escape being who you are and that making Art means proudly showing your scars to the world.’

Maniac of New York: The Bronx is Burning #1, AfterShock

‘The bloody saga of Maniac Harry continues!

After the tragedy of The Death Train, Detective Zelda Pettibone and mayoral aide Gina Greene have lost the trail of the Maniac – and the support of the city. Copycats are springing up, tensions are high and traffic is a nightmare. So, what happens when your favorite unstoppable, mindless killer resurfaces in a Bronx high school? Can Zelda and Gina get there before Maniac Harry adds to his body count? Will the stu-dents tear their attention away from their phones long enough to notice there’s a mon-ster in the halls?

Writer Elliott Kalan and artist Andrea Mutti return for the next chapter of the hit horror-satire that’s somehow even scarier than the world we actually live in!’

Evil Ernie #1, Dynamite

‘Dynamite Entertainment proudly presents an all-new Evil Ernie #1, written by Scott Lobdell and illustrated by Ariel Medel! Featuring two amazing covers: The King of the Undead — Arthur Suydam and amazing superhero artist Brett (Titans) Booth!

After ERNEST GLECKMAN is mortally wounded, he discovers he must “pay down his new lease on life” by serving as a part time fixer for a death cult. Each time he manifests his dark side as EVIL ERNIE it becomes harder to maintain his tenuous grip on his inherently good humanity.

ERNEST GLECKMAN is a good kid with exceptional grades in his senior year at college…his only quirk is the rock band he sings in every Saturday night. He enjoys the rock esthetic and “dressing the role” if not acting like a nihilistic punk.

All that is changed when he assumes the role of… EVIL ERNIE who is the polar opposite of ERNEST. ERNIE is vicious and cruel and sadistic as he employs all manner of torture or murder (or oft-times both!) against his targets.

ERNEST is stable, good, focused. ERNIE is a chaotic, evil, anarchist.

Evil Ernie first appeared in December 1991! Celebrate 30 years of CHAOS!’

Wonder Woman Historia: The Amazons #1, DC

‘The wait is over, and the entire story of the Amazons can finally be told! Millennia ago, Queen Hera and the goddesses of the Olympian pantheon grew greatly dissatisfied with their male counterparts…and far from their sight, they put a plan into action. A new society was born, one never before seen on Earth, capable of wondrous and terrible things…but their existence could not stay secret for long. When a despairing woman named Hippolyta crossed the Amazons’ path, a series of events was set in motion that would lead to an outright war in heaven—and the creation of the Earth’s greatest guardian!

Legendary talents Kelly Sue DeConnick and Phil Jimenez unleash a reading experience the likes of which you’ve never seen, with unbelievably sumptuous art and a story that will haunt you—with subsequent issues featuring art by modern masters Gene Ha and Nicola Scott! One of the most unforgettable DC tales of all time begins here!’

King of Spies #1, Image

‘The world’s greatest secret agent has six months to live. Does he die quietly in a hospital bed, or does he make up for a lifetime of bad decisions? He’s been propping up an unfair system for over forty years. Now he knows where all the bodies are buried and has nothing to lose when he turns his guns on everyone who ever made a buck creating the mess we’re in right now.’

Odinn’s Eye #1, Bad Idea Comics

‘Solveig, a young farm girl of great promise, is haunted by visions from the god-king Odinn himself. In words she cannot understand, and images too violent for a child to comprehend, Odinn tasks Solveig with a brutal mission: retrieve his eye — the one he famously traded for wisdom — and bring it to him. In the real world, the winter season has not left the land of Solveig’s people for several years. As crops fail and livestock perish, fear and panic grow. In their desperation to appease the gods and free the land of this never-ending winter, the tribe turns to the child whose visions are surely a sign from Odinn. A war party is assembled. Solveig and a band of warriors — including an all-seeing witch — are sent north on a great quest — one which will change all that she knows, all who she has known, and all that she will become. An epic of incredible scope and vision from the minds of Joshua Dysart and Tomas Giorello. Told weekly in 5 parts this December.’

Sir Edward Grey: Acheron #1, Dark Horse

‘Hellboy is gone, and the B.P.R.D. managed to fight off the monsters on earth long enough for humanity to just barely escape underground, but Edward Grey must return to Hell to confront a familiar foe and finish what needs to be done to truly save the world.

Continuing after B.P.R.D.: The Devil You Know ended in 2019, this one-shot is written and drawn completely by Mignola with colorist Dave Stewart, featuring a cover by Mignola and Stewart and a variant cover by longtime Hellboy universe artist Ben Stenbeck.

A full issue written and drawn solely by Mignola!’

Lunar Room #1, Vault

‘Cynthia “Sin” Breaker used to be a lot of things. A werewolf. A mob enforcer for a powerful mage. A name feared on every street of Solar City. But now she’s forcibly retired from all those things, trying to get over her past job and past loves.

Zac Zero is a mage with their own agenda, and right now, item #1 is to hire some protection. Normally, Sin wouldn’t look twice, but Zero may have the key to getting back the most important thing she ever lost: herself.’

Hotell Vol. 2 #1, Artists Writers & Artisans Inc.

‘Five more interconnected stories chronicle another harrowing week at Pierrot Courts, the mysterious roadside motel where lost souls make their last stand with the demons that haunt them. A family, desperate and destitute after being evicted from their home. A struggling artist, yearning for inspiration. A lonely bachelor, tending to his beloved, ailing dog. A brutal motorcycle gang, hunting for a runaway initiate…When all these haunted souls check into the Pierrot Courts, who will survive to check out?’

A King’s Vengeance #1, Scout

‘A vexed warrior who was once a loving father and husband is brought back to life 25 years later and proceeds to avenge himself on the demons responsible. From the creator of the hit Scout series Once Our Land, get this awesome new first issue!’

Animal Castle #1, Ablaze

‘On the Farm all animals were equal.

In the Castle some are more equal than others.

For fans of the bestselling Stray Dogs and the Eisner Award winning Beasts of Burden comes an animal fable at once familiar and surprising! You may think you know the story but set aside your assumptions, this animal uprising is unlike any you have read!

Nestled in the heart of a farm forgotten by men, the Animal Castle is ruled with an iron hoof by President Silvio. The bull and its dog militia savor their power, while the other animals are exhausted by work, until the arrival of the mysterious Azelard, a traveling rat who will teach them the secrets of civil disobedience.’

No Holds Bard #1, Behemoth

‘When Queen Elizabeth I is kidnapped, only the dramatic duo of William Shakespeare and William Page in their superhero alter-egos, THE BARD and PAGE can save her! Written in iambic pentameter, No Holds Bard is a throwback comedy adventure 400 years in the making.

Gail Simone says, “…brilliantly written, gorgeously illustrated. This is why I am in love with comics.”’

The Last Session #1, Mad Cave Studios

‘Roll for initiative! Jay, Lana, Drew, Walter, and Shen have played Dice & Deathtraps together since high school. Now, on the verge of graduating college and scattering, they’ve decided to finally complete their unfinished first campaign. But when Jay’s partner Cassandra joins as a new player, Lana’s afraid the party won’t ever finish their quest…’