Jumping On: New Story Arcs Kicking Off On August 16, 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, Series Premieres, and One-Shots available this upcoming New Comic Book Day, Wednesday, August 16, 2023.

New Story Arcs:

X-Men: Red #14, Marvel

AFTER THE FALL! As the Brotherhood reels from the cataclysmic events of the Hellfire Gala, Genesis takes advantage of the chaos—and declares war! Two vast mutant armies clash, and Arakko’s idols fall…but this is only the beginning of a conflict that will remake the Red Planet. And whatever happened to Isca the Unbeaten?

 

Series Premieres and One-Shots:

The Invincible Iron Man Annual #1, Marvel

IRON MAN VS. STORM! When the forces of chaos move upon our heroes, the past, present and future come crashing in on them—and only one can emerge victorious! The might of human ingenuity versus the power of the natural universe: IRON MAN battling STORM is a clash of titans you won’t want to miss!

Uncanny Avengers #1, Marvel

THE FALL OF X CALLS FOR THE RETURN OF THE AVENGERS’ UNITY SQUAD! Innocent people and world leaders are dead after simultaneous attacks on the U.S. and Krakoan governments, and that means one thing: It’s time for a new squad of Avengers. False-flag attacks meant to whip up anti-mutant hysteria are unfolding, and hey, some of Steve Rogers’ best friends are mutants. Your new unity squad is: Captain America, Rogue, Deadpool, Quicksilver, Psylocke and Monet. They must solve the mystery of who the new, murderous Captain Krakoa is—and stop his team of killers from igniting the fires of a new world war. PLUS: A bonus page written by Jonathan Hickman—WHO ARE THE G.O.D.S.?

Dark X-Men #1, Marvel

WELCOME TO THE DARK X-MEN… HOPE THE WORLD SURVIVES THE EXPERIENCE! Following the explosive events of the Hellfire Gala, MADELYNE PRYOR realizes the world needs the X-Men now more than ever. HAVOK and GAMBIT have served on the team before…but never one that looks like this! And how does GIMMICK, breakout star of MARVEL’S VOICES: PRIDE, fall under the Goblin Queen’s sway? Find out in the most horrific installment of the X-Men saga yet!

Disney Villains: Hades #1, Dynamite

FROM THE CLASSIC DISNEY FILM HERCULES – THE LORD OF THE UNDERWORLD FINALLY TAKES CENTER STAGE!

Hades – the lord of darkness! The most deceitful and scheming of the Greek gods!

The one god not invited to the weekly brunch at Mount Olympus!

Obviously, a slight like this calls for the total destruction of the gods of Olympus. To make that happen, the hot-tempered ruler of the underworld needs to acquire the magical Golden Fleece of Colchis. Unfortunately, the Fleece is guarded by a sleepless dragon and soldiers made out of teeth, so Hades assembles a ragtag group of morally questionable adventurers to help him steal the Fleece before some dude named Jason and his Argonaut bros swoop in and ruin his perfectly logical plan. It’s absolute chaotic hilarity courtesy of writer ELLIOTT KALAN (Spider-Man & The X-Men) and artist ALESSANDRO RANALDI (Zorro)!

Godzilla: War for Humanity #1, IDW

“Godzilla saved us that day.” When Dr. Yuko Honda was young, she was chased by Hedorah, the smog monster, and thought it was all over… until Godzilla saved her! Now a respected professor and writer, she’s dedicated her life to showing that while Godzilla may be a monster, that doesn’t mean it and the other kaiju are enemies. Unfortunately, when a strange new monster emerges, her belief in the good of Godzilla will be put to the test. If Godzilla doesn’t defend them, what can humanity do against the might of Zoospora?

Alpha Flight #1, Marvel

SAVING CANADA…FROM THE MUTANT MENACE?! GUARDIAN, PUCK, SNOWBIRD and SHAMAN return, as a terrestrial ALPHA FLIGHT bursts onto the scene! But what schism will pit these heroes against their former teammates AURORA, NORTHSTAR and NEMESIS, as well as Aurora’s beau, FANG? The FALL OF X has changed the game, and will Alpha Flight soar to new heights…or be crushed under the weight of an impossible mission?

The Penguin #0, DC

Following the Penguin’s death in the landmark Batman #125, the mysterious Executor has enlisted Catwoman to carry out the departed’s last wishes and track down his next of kin. But when the Penguin’s heirs start getting murdered, Catwoman will have to find the killer and discover what truly became of Oswald Cobblepot. Collects the Batman #125-127 backup stories by the red-hot creative team of Chip Zdarsky and Belén Ortega!

What If…? Dark: Moon Knight #1, Marvel

What if Moon Knight did not survive his battle with Bushman? When Khonshu’s avatar is slain, a different god empowers their own surprising new champion. From the darkness, emerges a new force to light the way…Luminary! But will her quest for revenge against Moon Knight’s killer result in her own downfall?

The Cull #1, Image

Something is Killing the Children-horror vibes mix with The Goonies-style adventure as five friends set off to shoot a short film on a forbidden rock near their home the summer before they all go their separate ways. But that’s not really why they’re there. One of them has lied… and it’s a lie that will change their lives forever.

Marvel’s Voices: X-Men #1, Marvel

MARVEL’S VOICES continues with this stunning anthology of all new stories celebrating Marvel’s mightiest mutants! From the exhilarating days of Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters to the current halcyon days of Krakoa, these stories span the gamut of the X-Men’s history—delving into the past of some of your favorite X-Men as well as looking toward their future. With an exciting lineup of fan-favorite creators and fresh new talent, you won’t want to miss out on this issue!

Rare Flavours Ashcan, BOOM! 

The Eisner, Harvey, and Ringo Award-nominated team of Ram V and Filipe Andrade make their celebrated return, and you can get a first taste in this exclusive ashcan edition!

Tantalize your senses with this amuse bouche introducing this creative duo’s next masterpiece marrying the supernatural, Indian cuisine, and the cutthroat world of chef-driven celebrity in what will be the most talked about new comic of 2023!

This ashcan will be strictly limited to its first printing, never to be printed again!

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate #1, IDW

When Splinter is kidnapped, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles search for clues across NYC to try to find their master. With all signs pointing to the nefarious Foot Clan, April and Metalhead analyze artifacts recovered by the brothers to help zero in on where Splinter is being held. However, as the gang gets ever closer to Splinter’s location, they start to uncover an even greater threat working from the shadows!

Dark Spaces: The Hollywood Special #1, IDW

All aboard The Hollywood Special, the 1942 luxury train touring the United States to support the war effort. On board is fading star Vivian Drake, doing her part to boost morale and finally give the tabloids something other than her nose-diving career and shambles of a family life to write about. But when the Special pulls into the coal-mining town of Minersville, PA, amid the collapse of a mine, Vivian finds herself facing every failure and bad memory she’s bottled up in the form of what the miners found in the dark-the thing they call the Mismatch Man, who feeds on pain and regret.

Leaded Gasoline #1, Black Mask

In the 1980s a killer stalks the streets of South Central Los Angeles. Task forces are assembled, detectives work overtime, but the bodies keep coming. This is the story of a community college professor who believes there’s more to the story than a single madman. From writer Patrick Kindlon (Frontiersman, Nobody Is In Control, We Can Never Go Home) and your next favorite artist Lorenzo Re, Leaded Gasoline captures the mad energy of the most brash and risk-taking horror comics that are smart, dangerous, and intent on taking a sledgehammer to your mind.

Chilling Adventures Presents… Strange Science #1, Archie Comics

Danni Malloy is Jinx Holliday’s best friend, and where one goes, the other is sure to follow… even if that means through hell and back and forth through the depths of space and time. When Danni receives a mysterious message from former friend Dilton Doiley, Danni is horrified to learn that he’s built a time machine and it’s gone terribly wrong-and now the three of them have been transported to warped version of Riverdale, where nothing seems quite right. It’s up to Danni to set things right and bring them back to the present day, and the hometown they know and love… and she might have to explain a thing or two to Jinx about what’s going on, too! Strange Science explores Danni’s personal history, time travel, and the importance of being true to yourself and what matters most to you.

Hack/Slash Vs Seance Room #1, Source Point Press

Cassie Hack and Vlad guest star in this issue where Harry puts his true and tried style of mental torment up against Cassie’s good old fashioned cut-off-heads-first-and-ask-questions-later style. The world of horror will never be the same, perhaps even Cassie and Vlad will come out of the Séance Room changed?

Orson Welles: Warrior of the Worlds #1, Scout

NONSTOP. You’ve seen Orson Welles direct the greatest films of all time. You’ve heard his thunderous voice on the radio pulling off the infamous prank “War of the Worlds” broadcast. But now, for the first time ever, the truth is finally revealed: the broadcast was real! Welles lived a secret double life as a filmmaker by day, interstellar warrior by night. Buckle up for mind-blowing adventures as Orson fights in the Great Galactic War, travels through dimensional portals, and faces the ultimate threat to the Milky Way.