Jumping On : New Story Arcs Kicking Off On January 4, 2023

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 New Story Arcs, Notable #1s, and One-Shots premiering this upcoming New Comic Book Day, Wednesday, January 4, 2023. 

New Story Arcs:

Batman #131, DC

THE BAT-MAN OF GOTHAM, PART ONE / THE TOY BOX, PART 1

Gotham City has never been darker or deadlier. And after Failsafe, there is no Batman to save it. Can the fractured ghost that roams the streets survive? Whatever happened to the man known as…Bruce Wayne?

Notabe #1s and One-Shots:

Shang-Chi: Master of the Ten Rings #1, Marvel

FATHER AND SON, SIDE BY SIDE?! Shang-Chi is lost in time and the only one who can help him is…his father?! What will Shang-Chi do when he meets the younger version of his evil parent? Will he be able to change the course of history? Or will Shang-Chi be shocked to discover he didn’t know his father as well as he thought? Find out as Gene Luen Yang’s Shang-Chi saga comes to its shocking conclusion!

Joe Fixit #1, Marvel

PETER DAVID RETURNS TO JOE FIXIT! Peter David’s tour de force through some of his greatest Hulk hits continues with a return to JOE FIXIT! Gone are the ripped-up shorts of the Hulk of yore—this enforcer prefers the slick suave of a striped suit, and the Hulk has traded in “monster” for “mobster” as he lends his strength to the Las Vegas casino scene. Of course, the Kingpin has his own ideas about who the toughest guy in town is, and it’s up to Spider-Man to keep the two of them from destroying Sin City!

Mosely #1, BOOM! Studios

From Farmhand creator Rob Guillory and Sam Lotfi (Harley Quinn), Mosely is a satirical sci-fi blockbuster perfect for fans of God Country and Ghost Cage!

In the hyper-technological world of the later 21st century, Mosely is a bitter old janitor on a mission from a higher power-to unleash holy Hell upon the “too big to fail” Tech Gods.

Can one man bring down the corporate powers who’ve used their vast influence to oppress an all too complacent human race (and hopefully win back the favor of his estranged family while he’s at it)?

Mosely’s taking up the Holy Hammer and you better believe he’s gonna smash some $h!t until he sets mankind free!

Each issue has wall to wall content, and will feature a bonus story by series writer Rob Guillory starting with issue #2!

Children of the Black Sun #1, Ablaze

From the artist of the hit series The House of Slaughter!

“It is not difficult to be happy under a blue sky. But it takes a lot of courage to be strong even under a black sun.”

Over the years, a black sun has risen twice. A dark dawn whose rays have done terrible things to people’s minds, driving them to all sorts of horror. Twelve years have passed since the last time and the world still fears the return of that inexplicable phenomenon. But fear is not the only legacy of those terrible days. All the women who got pregnant under the influence of the black sun have given birth to babies with some… peculiarities. White hair, ashy skin, abnormal proportions, and eyes as red as fire: the Children of the Black Sun.

Brightvale is a small town like many others. Here the Children of the Black Sun are treated with particularcontempt, especially in the days leading up to the anniversary of the two disasters. The hatred of their fellow villagers, terrified of a possible return of that horror, will push these kids to unite and embark on a hallucinatory journey to discover themselves and their true nature. But is the black sun really about to return?

Gangster Ass Barista #1, Black Mask Studios

A COFFEE-FUELED CRIME COMEDY FROM PAT SHAND (DESTINY NY, AZZA THE BARBED, VAN HELSING)!

Trinity used to live a life of crime, but now she has left behind her old life and works at a coffee shop. Unfortunately, making ends meet isn’t easy to do with a minimum wage job. Not to mention the fact that customers are beginning to get on Trinity’s nerves, and it’s getting harder and harder to not let her old tendencies take control.

When Trinity’s past comes calling, it’s like the famous quote: “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!”

Includes a bonus comic in each issue!

Collect covers by rising stars Conor Hughes (WHITE ASH), Elisa Romboli (ALICE IN LEATHERLAND, A THING CALLED TRUTH), & series co-creator Renzo Rodriguez (BREATHLESS)!

Trojan #1, Artists Writers & Artisans

Once upon a time, we lived alongside Legends. Creatures of myth. Centaurs, fauns, gorgons, kelpies, gnomes, and more. They were spectacular. Majestic. Powerful. Peaceful. Pure. In comparison, we were ugly. Weak. Warmongering. Rotten. Is it any wonder we could not live alongside them any longer? After driving these Legends to the fringes of society, an uglier form of mythos takes shape in the form of rumors of live snuff shows for dark web high rollers. When a mysterious young woman, Nessa, enlists the help of a hacker to take a tour of the grisliest corners of the Dark Web, she sets in motion a war between those who peddle to mankind’s darkest fantasies and a world that transcends imagination. Trojan is a fantasy thriller full of wonder and horror in equal measure.

Purgatori Must Die! #1, Dynamite

Purgatori’s always pissing somebody off – but this time she may have gone too far! It may have some connection to her growing insanely powerful and probably starting to kill and eat the gods. In fact, that last part for sure. And gods are like potato chips, right? It’s not like she’s going to stop at one. And so, the various pantheons have pooled their not inconsiderable resources to offer up a big prize to whatever psycho manages to kill her. Who wants to try? Hey, who doesn’t?! The creative team behind Vampirella Vs. Purgatori and the recent Purgatori miniseries reunite for the grand third act of this Purgatori saga! Guest-starring Evil Ernie, Vampirella, the Sacred Six… and more!

Grit N Gears #1, Blood Moon Comics

The wonders of steampunk technology have reached the old west! It is 1879 and the world is about to meet Ranger ONE, the first self-aware automaton programmed to eradicate crime in the town of Steam’s Eddy. But what happened in the next few years that made the federal government ban the existence of self-aware automatons? And whatever happened to the hero Ranger ONE? There are whispers of a grifter automaton named Screw Driver who’s saving humans and automatons ali-ke. He’s a machine wanted by the law… functional or dismantled.

Scotch McTiernan’s Holiday Party #1, Image

First came the 4/20 special, then came Scotch McTiernan’s Halloween party, and now the former Deadpool chums form Voltron again to bring you Scotch’s holiday bash. Emphasis on bash. The most powerful Scrooges in the human race are visited by the Ghost Of Christmas Future when they try to colonize Mars. All the fun, insanity, and thought-provoking violence of the first two comics are perfected in this third holiday installment. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll buy one to read and one to slab for your descendants.

Hammerfall #1, Opus

A vile blight spreads across the land. When a lone warrior rides deep into the forest to face the savagery and madness head-on, his quest for justice leads him to a figure from his past-the herald to a dark master who cannot be undone by mastery of arms alone.

Bulls of Beacon Hill #1, AfterShock

The team behind Justice League of America reunites for some HARD-HITTING REVENGE!

Doctor Christopher Boldt has everything he ever wanted: A successful career as a surgeon, a supportive and loving boyfriend, and an overload of hype on his rumored run for Boston City Council. But there’s one problem – it’s all held up by a lie. For years, Chris has been hiding in plain sight, desperate not to be connected to his father, Orin Paige, one of Boston’s most notorious gangsters.

Until now, Chris has been able to live with the secret. And Chris’s father has been just as happy to deny any connection to his queer son, who he sees as a liability in the mob world. Now, Chris’s political aspirations have put father and son on a collision course. A collision course bathed in blood.

From Eisner and GLAAD Award-Nominated writer Steve Orlando (Extreme Carnage, Midnighter, Darkhold, KILL A MAN) and artist Andy MacDonald (Rogue Planet, Loki, MY DATE WITH MONSTERS, I BREATHED A BODY), comes BULLS OF BEACON HILL, a story of family secrets and violent retribution.