Jumping On: New Story Arcs Kicking Off On March 22, 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, March 22, 2023.

New Story Arcs:

She-Hulk #11, Marvel

New arc! Great jumping on point! A new villain starts a thieving spree through New York City and ends up face-to-green-face with Jennifer Walters, the Sensational She-Hulk! Also, have you noticed that this is LGY #174? You’d almost think something very special is coming!

LEGACY #174

Vanish #5, Image

NEW STORY ARC! Oliver Harrison sounds more like a cursed man than the chosen one: psych wards, confrontations with the authorities, reality shifts, hexes, hallucinations, and bloody crime scenes. At least he has his lovely Elynor to come home to, right? …RIGHT?! Join us as the next epic VANISH arc begins right here!

Notable #1s and One-Shots: 

Dead Romans #1, Image

MINISERIES PREMIERE

Arminius, a Germanic prince raised in Rome, has sworn vengeance against the Empire that butchers his people. He wants to make a queen of the woman he loves, Honoria, a fellow slave. Now, fifty thousand Romans will die to give her a throne she never asked for…or wanted.

Lush, beautiful illustrations bring to life a brutal tale of love and war from the birth of the Roman Empire.

Batman: One Bad Day – Ra’s al Ghul #1, DC

WHY WON’T BATMAN SAVE THE WORLD?!

For centuries Ra’s al Ghul has wanted to save the Earth from the worst of humankind, and for centuries he has failed. Recently his greatest obstacle has been the Dark Knight Detective, Batman. Ra’s offered Batman a chance to be a part of his new world order, but Batman refused. For years their cold war has raged, but Ra’s will have no more. Ra’s will remove Batman from the equation and save the world, re-creating it in his image and bringing the peace and prosperity all the good-hearted souls of this Earth deserve. Don’t miss this epic tragedy from the all-star creative team of Tom Taylor (Nightwing, Superman: Son of Kal-El, DCeased) and Ivan Reis (Detective Comics, Blackest Night): the last of the One Bad Day specials, and one of the most epic to date.

Doctor Strange #1, Marvel

CHANGE YOUR REALITY! Stephen Strange is back! Reunited with Clea and Wong, it’s back to business as usual for the Sorcerer Supreme. Have your children fallen into a deep nightmarish slumber? Are demonic refugees invading your home? Is your husband possessed by a satanic entity? Then call Doctor Strange! Join Jed MacKay (MOON KNIGHT, BLACK CAT) and Pasqual Ferry (NAMOR: CONQUERED SHORES, SPIDER-MAN: SPIDER’S SHADOW, THOR) as they begin a new chapter in the life of the Master of the Mystic Arts!

Women of Marvel #1, Marvel

HEAR THEM ROAR! Marvel’s fiercest heroines take the spotlight in an all-new Women of Marvel one-shot! Get in now for a preview of the women creators taking Marvel Comics by storm! Power Rangers scribe Melissa Flores sends America Chavez on a pulse-punching adventure! She-Hulk steers straight into the gutters, and she loves it! Silk spins a wild web through New York City! All this and more as Women of Marvel celebrates more than ten years of uplifting the characters and creators you know and love—and the ones you’re about to.

DC’s Legion of Bloom #1, DC

How do you announce winter is coming to an end? You spring it on them! Welcome the springtime with a celebration of DC’s greenest and greatest. As the flowers bloom, breathe in that Swamp Thing smell. Watch the Blue Beetles fly out from Titans West. Pick a Captain Carrot or two from Floronic Man’s garden, but make sure to avoid the Poison Ivy. The season may go by in a Flash, but don’t worry—stories like these last forever. Oh, and Wonder Woman will be there, too!

Neighbors #1, BOOM! Studios

When Janet and Oliver Gowdie move to a quaint mountain town, their daughter Casey becomes part of a horrific chain of events revealing that their neighbors are anything but what they seem.

Soon an unsettling old woman named Agnes Early fixates on Janet and Oliver’s other daughter-2-year-old Isobel.

It becomes clear that it’s impossible to know who to trust… or who is even still human…

Steeped in Irish and English folklore and mythology, Jude Ellison S. Doyle (Maw) joins artist Letizia Cadonici (House of Slaughter), and colorist Alessandro Santoro (Bloom) to tread new ground in changeling horror. A tale perfect for fans of Eat the Rich and The Nice House on the Lake!

Avengers: Rage of Ultron – Marvel Tales #1, Marvel

Ultron’s full robotic rage is unleashed as we celebrate the legacy of the House of Ideas with MARVEL TALES! This anthology series shines a spotlight on fan-favorite characters, features timeless stories and highlights some of Marvel’s most impressive talent from the past eight decades! In AVENGERS: RAGE OF ULTRON—an original graphic novel from the blockbuster team of Rick Remender, Jerome Opeña and Pepe Larraz—classic victory for the Avengers becomes a nightmare years later! Ultron, the homicidal artificial intelligence so long devoted to ending life on Earth, has found a new world to conquer—one with its own horrific legacy. When Titan—birthplace of Thanos—falls, Planet Ultron rises in its place! Thanos’ brother, Starfox, seeks the aid of his former allies – but the Avengers he finds are radically different from the ones he once knew!

Chilling Adventures Presents… Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe Of Horrors #1, Archie Comics

Pop Tate is the glue holding Riverdale together, whether everyone realizes or not. His Chock’lit Shoppe is the beating heart of the city, where everyone can stop in for a delicious bite and some safe haven—even the worst sorts. And not just the run-of-the-mill rapscallions who recently broke the jukebox. When a young Riverdale couple (Nick St. Clair and Sherry Thyme) attempt to dine and dash on the humble small business owner, they quickly discover the fryer grease isn’t the only heart-stopping thing about the Chock’lit Shoppe. From tales of mystery meat to the unnatural visitors that dine late at night, this anthology tells stories about the horrors that happen at Riverdale’s beloved malt shop—and how Pop Tate is at the center of it all, the most powerful figure in Riverdale providing haven to all sorts of terrors and underhanded villainy.

Order & Outrage #1, Dark Horse

Gene manipulation has always been solely for those who can afford the expensive prenatal treatments. Income determines status and, more importantly, survival. If your genes have not been optimized, the Order has no use for you. You are nonessential. Less than. To be eliminated. Everything is geared to keeping the ship of state sailing along smoothly, no matter the cost.??

But in every totalitarian system lies the seeds of rebellion, independence, and OUTRAGE.

Bram Stoker Monster Hunter #1, AfterShock

The writing team behind MARY SHELLEY MONSTER HUNTER reunites!

Through memories spurred by Oscar Wilde’s 1895 gross indecency trial, a young and troubled Bram Stoker discovers there’s a secret hiding in his new workplace of Dublin Castle, one that will either end his life, or change it forever.

Written by Olivia Cuartero-Briggs (SILVER CITY, MARY SHELLEY, MONSTER HUNTER) and Adam Glass (Suicide Squad, Teen Titans, ROUGH RIDERS), and illustrated by Emilio Pilliu (Monkeys, Evil Hunt: Mammauth), comes a new take on the origins of the most monstrous legend of them all – one that we dare you to sink your teeth into.

Curse of Cleaver County #1, Source Point Press

Set in the one of the deadliest fictional locations in the world, the Curse of Cleaver County is an ongoing anthology series that follows some of the most grotesque, gruesome, and gore-fueled killers as they haunt, horrify, and harrow the peaceful residents!

THIS ISSUE: The Hooked Horror of Harlow begins here!

Jennifer Harlow heads home to celebrate the sale of her fathers business. But dark secrets from Port Harlow’s past are about to RESURFACE that threaten everything her family’s built over the last 150 years.

Street Fighter Masters: Cammy #1, UDON

The mad cyborg known as Seth has been unleashed on an unsuspecting London, and it’s up to MI6 operative Cammy to take the mechanical menace down! The queen of the Cannon Spike dives into her own 1-shot adventure!

Etheres #1, Source Point Press

Where do souls go when they don’t belong anywhere else? Journey into Etheres searching for the answer in this introspective character study about pain and self-loathing. For fans of tales of the afterlife such as “The Lovely Bones” and “A.D. After Death.”

Following Valerie’s passing, she finds herself navigating an unknown and perilous world. She tells her story through poetry and narration as she experiences her surroundings while also recalling her past life, her trauma, and why she believes she deserves to be there.

Writer Anas Abdulhak brings you this harrowing tale of the afterlife with groundbreaking art by Dennis Menheere, edits by “Color of Always” creator Michele Abounader and letters by Ringo-Nominated DC Hopkins.

We Wicked Ones #1, Scout

After being orphaned in a mass witch burning orchestrated by the US government, Celia Jordan grew up to be Washington DC’s darkest secret-she’s now wreaks havoc as the city’s resident witch… and its most sought-after contract killer. When a politician hires her to kill a beloved and powerful superhero, Celia hesitates, but not for long. No one has been able to catch her yet-why would they now? Featuring a breathtaking cover by world reknowned artist, David Mack.

Godzilla: Best of King Ghidorah #1, IDW

The monster from outer space, King Ghidorah, lands in this special one-shot reprint showcasing some of the greatest King Ghidorah stories that have ever smashed through our comics. These one hundred beautiful pages were written and rendered by a variety of superstar scribes and artists, including James Stokoe (Batman Annual), Eric Powell (The Goon), Ibrahim Moustafa (James Bond: Origin), Joshua Hale Fialkov (The Bunker), and many more. This special collection is sure to show kaiju fans everywhere why King Ghidorah is one of Godzilla’s greatest foes!

Popscars #1, Sumerian

Popscars is a gritty Hollywood revenge story about a vigilante badass in a pink ski mask and the famous Hollywood movie producer she is out to kill, who also happens to be her estranged father. In Hollywood revenge is best served in front of an audience. As our pink ski masked killer pushes her way through a Hollywood crowd, prepared to take her shot at her movie producer father, she’s quickly swept into a brand new revenge plot orchestrated by her own unsuspecting target.

Sereno #1, Comics Experience Publishing

Meet Sereno, the Mystic Master of Light and guardian of New Teia, a city where magic and science intertwine by night! An avatar of collective Paranoia, a shepherd of Nightmares, and a Cult of Hate are just the start of an evil conspiracy transforming the city. Can Sereno fight back while keeping super cat burglar Rufián from stealing… his heart?

All the Devils Are Here #1, Scout

Joe is an elderly dementia patient that becomes possessed by a powerful demon. In order to save him, an unconventional and mysterious exorcist, JC Garcia, must venture into his mind. Once inside, he finds far more than he bargained for: an ever-changing hellscape created by a fusion of Morris’s and the demon’s memories that brings JC face-to-face with his own traumatic past. All the Devils are Here reinvents the exorcism story with a unique, emotional tale about the power of love, loss, and memory.

Miracle Kingdom #1, Scout

A forensic accountant investigates a showboating televangelist with dubious healing powers, and quickly realizes that he may be dealing with the “Michelangelo of scam artists” when his miracles appear to be astonishingly convincing. Meanwhile, the accountant’s true purpose is shrouded in a mystery of its own. Slightly absurd and playfully self-aware, Miracle Kingdom is a tongue-in-cheek look at the clandestine systems that impact our lives and considers how these systems can be challenged.

Deep Dark #1, Source Point Press

Erica is looking for the mythical Deep Dark, hoping it sheds answers on her past. Instead, she finds herself in a world of gods and monsters, where all the horrors of myth and legend are very, very real.

The Shepherd: The Tether #1, Scout

Nonstop Imprint! Two years ago, Val Miller, the son of Lawrence Miller (The Shepherd) died tragically. Brutalized in the Afterlife, Val’s soul morphed into a vengeful wolf-wraith named Legio. In this terrible form, Val encountered his father, who had sensed Val’s situation and followed him into eternity. After great anguish and profound insights, father and son vowed to use their new understanding to help other struggling souls. Now with time to reflect on his mistakes, Val struggles with regret, mourning the life he can never have. In this state of restless wandering, Val encounters monstrous souls that are hunting a solitary, young woman.

Carmen Courageous #1, Scout

Nonstop Title! Carmen is a plucky private eye with a taste for trouble who is always on the lookout for a new case. In this action-packed first issue, Carmen tracks down a missing businessman and inadvertently uncovers a conspiracy by the evil Mr. Risk and his gang of creepy crooks!