Jumping On: New Story Arcs Kicking Off On June 7, 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, June 7, 2023.

New Story Arcs:

Batman #136, DC

Failsafe and Red Mask have forever changed Batman, and Gotham isn’t as welcoming as it once was. Can Batman remind them who he is? Can he remind…Catwoman? The future of the Bat-books starts here, and everyone’s world is about to explode!

 

Notable #1s and One-Shots:

X-Men: Before the Fall – Mutant First Strike #1, Marvel

KRAKOA STRIKES?! Ever since mutants declared themselves humanity’s new gods, certain circles have been waiting for the other shoe to drop—the wrath. When a small New England town is hit by a devastating mutant attack, it seems the wrath is here. But all isn’t as it appears. And Krakoa doesn’t hesitate to save lives—so it’s time for BISHOP to lead Krakoa’s biggest rescue effort yet!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vs. Street Fighter #1, IDW

When a prestigious martial arts tournament invites fighters to travel to Atlantic City and test their skills, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles jump at the chance to compete. But a big stage means big competition, and the world famous STREET FIGHTERS have shown up in force to prove the mettle of their PSYCHO POWERED fighting forms. As if that’s not enough of a challenge, there are rumors of competitors disappearing and the identity of the contest’s benefactors is shrouded in mystery.

Don’t miss the matchups of your favorite fighters as the half-shell heroes face the likes of Ryu, Guile, Chun-Li, and more.

TMNT Vs. Street Fighter kicks off a five-issue fight card of fury starting this May!

Loki #1, Marvel

THE LIAR, CHAPTER ONE

LOKI SAVES THE MARVEL UNIVERSE? He may be the “benevolent” God of Stories now, but Loki’s past as the God of Lies returns to haunt him when ancient, powerful weapons he once built end up scattered across the Ten Realms! Loki must track down these weapons before they fall into the wrong hands and bring about Ragnarok! Surprising guest stars, exciting new characters and startling twists await in this all-new miniseries by rising stars Dan Watters (Sword of Azrael) and Germán Peralta (BLACK PANTHER)!

LEGACY #27

Steelworks #1, DC

FORGING THE FUTURE! The Metropolis of the future is here today, but can it survive a terrorist who’s out for revenge against its builder—John Henry Irons, a.k.a. Steel—and his company, Steelworks…and who possesses secrets that could undo everything John has worked so hard to build? 

While John’s professional life is firing on all cylinders, his personal life is even better, as his on-again, off-again relationship with Lana Lang might be back on, permanently. Now he must decide whether it’s time to give up being Steel once and for all. But does John even know who he would be without his superhero identity? How does the other Steel—John’s niece, Natasha Irons—feel about his momentous decision? And does any of that matter if Steelworks crumbles around him when he lacks the superpowers to fight back? Writer Michael Dorn (the voice of Steel in Superman: The Animated Series) teams up with artist Sami Basri (Harley Quinn, Catwoman) to bring you the next chapter of Steel’s saga in this not-to-be missed six-issue miniseries!

Deadpool: Badder Blood #1, Marvel

DEADPOOL, WOLVERINE, CABLE—IT DOESN’T GET BADDER THAN THIS! WADE WILSON is back, and he’s brought some frenemies! As the villainous THUMPER returns to take out the man who created him, WOLVERINE and CABLE step in for a daring rescue mission. But as DEADPOOL becomes embroiled in nefarious criminal machinations in MADRIPOOR, will the trio be able to join forces…or will Thumper’s agenda put an end to their efforts? Don’t miss the highly anticipated follow-up to DEADPOOL: BAD BLOOD, as Rob Liefeld returns to the Merc with a Mouth and introduces NEW characters into his wild world who are sure to become the next fan-faves, including the first appearance of SHATTERSTORM!

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi – The Empire #1, Marvel

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF THE EMPIRE TOOK OVER? As operations begin to take shape on the moon of ENDOR, a technician must figure out how to live under the control of THE EMPIRE. But if he can’t stay out of trouble, what will the Empire do with him? Continuing the 40TH ANNIVERSARY celebration of RETURN OF THE JEDI, JODY HOUSER & JETHRO MORALES pull back the curtain of the Empire like never before!

The Joker: Uncovered #1, DC

Lowlifes, creeps, and scoundrels, it’s your Uncle Joker here. You know art can come from many places. And most great art is about truly despicable people, like me. In that spirit, you should buy The Joker: Uncovered to see a murderer’s row of the world’s greatest comic book artists commit my beautiful image to dozens of wonderful variant covers, all collected in one place for the very first time. Expand your mind a little bit, and take in some good art.

In Hell We Fight! #1, Image

SERIES PREMIERE

Life in hell ain’t easy. Demons try to torture you for all eternity. Monsters want to eat you. There’s a stunning lack of reliable indoor plumbing. And it’s almost impossible to get ice cream. At least, until today, when three condemned teens and their annoying tagalong demon frenemy embark on a daring scheme to hijack a demon lord’s delivery truck. What happens next will take them on an epic journey across the underworld, an infernal excursion of nonstop excitement, danger, and adventure.

Presenting a devilishly fun new series from multiple Eisner-winning writer/letterer JOHN LAYMAN (CHEW, Suicide Squad: Kill Arkham Asylum) and Argentinian superstar artist JOK.

New Talent Showcase: The Milestone Initiative #1, Milestone

In May of 2022, 12 writers and 12 artists came to DC headquarters to hone their skills with some of the best comics creators in the business, and one year later, we’re showing the results of the cohort’s hard work! This special showcases all 12 stories created out of the Ally-sponsored Milestone Initiative…If you don’t grab a copy, you’ll be missing some of the first published work of the stars of the future!

Frank Frazetta’s Mothman #1, Opus

Inspired by the sightings of a giant man-size moth with glowing eyes from 1966 to ’67 in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.

Sins of the Salton Sea #1, Artists Writers & Artisans

Wyatt, a professional thief living off the grid, is recruited by his brother for one last job. Their target: an armored car traveling down a desolate stretch of California highway. But when it turns out that their target is carrying not gold bars but human cargo, Wyatt is plunged into a conflict between warring factions of a doomsday cult. The cult claims that it is their solemn duty to save the world by means of human sacrifice. Will Wyatt protect the boy who has come into his charge? Or will he be swayed by the cult’s increasingly convincing claims that the end of the world is fast approaching?

You’ve Been Cancelled #1, Mad Cave Studios

In the near future, cancel culture means more than just losing your job…it could mean your life. The world’s premier entertainment event is CANCELLED – a live-streamed program where elite bounty hunters called cancellers kill individuals who society has voted to “cancel” following heinous actions or offenses. Our story follows Roland Endo, the world’s #1 ranked Canceller. Because of this status, Roland lives in a constant state of paranoia with a target on his back…

Svengoolie: Lost in Time #1, Frank Miller Presents

In this first of two specials, MeTV sensation Svengoolie appears in his first full length comic book feature, as the evil Svenbot goes to the past to undo Svengoolie’s future. Learn the secrets behind Sven, and his crazy cast of friends, Boddy Sorrell, Tombstone and Kerwyn as told by the show’s creators Rich (Svengoolie) Koz, Jim Roche and Chris Faulkner.

Buy this at your local store and remember, No Personal Checks!

Archie & Friends: Hot Summer Movies #1, Archie Comics

A BRAND-NEW STORY kicks off this BLOCKBUSTER issue! In “Riverdale Jones and the Burger of Density,” Hero burgerologist (it’s a real job, trust us!) Riverdale Jones is deep in the heart of the rainforest to discover the most delicious, exotic burger recipe! Join our hungry hero Jughead, with his faithful pet Hot Dog by his side, in this fun, an adventure-filled riff on Indiana Jones just in time for the new movie!

Sudden Death #1, Scout

Hank Kelly cannot die. With this revelation, he is catapulted into a world of fame and fortune that he hopes will repair his broken family. But detective Rosalind Lovejoy works to unravel the dark mystery truly behind Hank’s immortality.

Destiny, NY: Mystic Mafia #1, Black Mask

Lilith Aberdine is the last surviving daughter of a mystical crime family. She has spent her whole life running from her past, but now those old demons are finally catching up to her. She thought she was meant to be with former prophecy girl Logan McBride, but life has pulled them apart. Now, with Lilith in New York and Logan in California, will destiny reunite them or drive them further apart?

Pink Elephant #1, Sumerian

From the writers of Heavy Metal Drummer, The Purple Oblivion, and The Firstborns comes this 80s slasher, lysergic, weird, indie, lynch-esque story. A group of teens on a road trip meet a creepy old woman at a gas station. A brief back and forth conversation with her leads to a night of acid trips, teen hijinks, and a giant killer with an elephant head. Things are about to get weird.

Ranger Stranger Summer Special #1, Scout

It’s summer! Another hot, scorching, fireball of fun. At least the bluegill are biting. And the ticks. And the African hornets! And the slithering, bloodthirsty rattlesn–where were we? Oh right, summer. Fear not, because your favorite deranged wilderness guide, Ranger Garland Woodburn, has cooked up a real humdinger of a Summer Special full of camping tips, water safety, and other questionable gems of nature knowledge to learn and enjoy while the world burns all around.

Catrina’s Caravan: The Night of La Lechuza #1, Scout

CHISPA. The mysterious figure of Doña Catrina sweeps into a small town with her traveling carnival and tells a gathered crowd a dark tale. A father and son are captured by a group of militiamen who use terror to “patrol” the border. At their darkest moment, the refugees find a fierce ally-but can they truly trust a monster once it has killed the other monsters?

Fence: Redemption #1, BOOM! Studios

USA Today best-selling author C. S. Pacat (Dark Knights of Steel: Tales From the Three Kingdoms, Dark Rise) and acclaimed cartoonist Johanna the Mad (Wynd) continue their winning streak with the continuation of the on-point GLAAD Media Award-nominated series!

Return to the thrilling world of high-stakes, competitive fencing with a brand new story featuring the beloved cast of characters from the original hit series.

Are Senji and Jesse really through? The rumors around Halverton, the prestigious fencing training camp, have spread like wildfire, but it’s not long before a mystery fencer arrives-one who may finally pose a threat to the #1 spot.

Will Senji’s unquenchable quest for rivalry be what finally makes him leave Nicholas behind? 

Biden’s Titans vs. AOC #1, Keenspot

Thanks to the AI-assisted evildoing of billionaire troll Elon Musk, Biden’s Titans’ most valued teammate AOC has abandoned the supergroup! In this new dark world, AOChaos reigns! Sides are being chosen -which one will Bernie pick? The Biden’s Titans saga heads into the Civil War of stupidity in this shocking fifth chapter! Includes bonus pull-out poster!

Hope #1, Source Point Press

Julie Lavelle’s superhero identity has been revealed, her daughter has been taken from her, her home has been destroyed, and she finds herself the target of villains and the media alike. Now, her husband is awakening from a coma… but will it make things better or worse?

Omega Gang #1, Scout

Gab, Luna, Adham, and Ama are a group of friends who call themselves the “Omega Gang,” as a way of expressing the hopelessness of their lives and their generation. It’s the beginning of summer, and quite unexpectedly, they discover a set of mysterious eggs that shake them from their usual Gen Z depression. This is a big deal! And they’ll have to figure out what to do with them soon-but are they gonna be ready for what is about to emerge from those shells?

Intertwined: The Last Jewish Daughter of Kaifeng #1, Fair Square

After the events of the original INTERTWINED series, Leah Ai Tian’s life has changed drastically. She had been dragged in Juan Jin’s adventures with the Spirits of WuXing against her will and Lady Xia passed on the mantle of Champion of the Water Element to her right before she was murdered.

Now, Leah fights along the Spirits of the Earth, Wood, Fire and Metal to preserve the balance of the universe while fully living her Jewish faith. But her past has come back to haunt her.

Puc the Artist and the Myth of Color #1, Scout

NONSTOP. A story is something you are drawn into-in this case, literally. Puc and his friends live in a world where paintings and drawings can come to life. But, unknown to them something important is missing…Color. Whatever Puc draws comes to life. Of course, there’s nothing special about that. This is perfectly normal for artists in his world. Puc’s home is a land full of monsters, kingdoms, and armies-all brought into existence in by artists. But while all the other artists work in black and white, Puc just found out that he can paint in Color!