Jumping On: New Story Arcs Kicking Off On August 23, 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 23, 2023.

New Story Arcs:

Undiscovered Country #25, Image

NEW STORY ARC

“VICTORY,” Part One

LANDMARK 25TH ISSUE! After the harrowing revelations of the “Disunity” arc, the final leg of the spiraling journey to the center of the new America begins. For the first time since entering the undiscovered country, the group has regained contact with the outside world. But what shocking news will be delivered?

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #111, BOOM! Studios

In the kickoff of this monumental 12-month event, Mistress Vile has won, or so it seems, with control of the Grid and Dark Specter’s infections spreading through the universe!

As if an epic battle between Vile and the Vessel wasn’t enough, the separated and stranded Rangers receive help from the last team they’d expect, but it may not be the help they were hoping for…

In the tradition of Shattered Grid and perfectly timed with the 30th anniversary of Power Rangers, writer Melissa Flores (Dead Lucky) and Simona Di Gianfelice (All-New Firefly) kick off the event they’ve been building to for the last year that will forever change the Power Rangers universe!

Fans of Marvel Zombies and DCeased wouldn’t be caught dead missing out on the debut of the Dark Grid Variant Covers-the most twisted threats the Rangers have ever seen brought to life!

Series Premieres and One-Shots:

Fantastic Four Annual #1, Marvel

GHOST RIDER VS. THE HUMAN TORCH! The Fantastic Four is drawn into the mayhem when the Human Torch is pitted against Johnny Blaze, the Ghost Rider! It’s flame versus hellfire when the two heroes face off—but who will emerge victorious?! Plus: More of Agatha Harkness’s plan is revealed—along with those determined to stop her!

Immortal Thor #1, Marvel

AL EWING, MARTÍN CÓCCOLO & ALEX ROSS GIVE THE GOD OF THUNDER THE “IMMORTAL” TREATMENT! In Norse myths, they called him Thunderer. Vuer has he been called, and Hloriddi. The Gods know him as Asgard’s King, keeper of Mjolnir, hero of the tales. When injustice grips the Earth and ancient powers bring down the sky, he fights for those who cannot—and when the tale is done, we will know what that cost him. This is the story of THE IMMORTAL THOR. PLUS: A bonus page written by Jonathan Hickman—WHO ARE THE G.O.D.S.?

Jean Grey #1, Marvel

SUPERSTAR CREATORS TAKE JEAN GREY’S LEGACY TO FIERY NEW HEIGHTS! After the events of the Hellfire Gala, Jean’s life is in shambles. Mutantkind is in dire straits—and there’s nothing this founding X-Man can do. She’ll have to save herself first. And that means looking into her past—for the moment when it all went wrong—in a desperate attempt to save her and all Krakoa’s future. Legendary writer Louise Simonson returns to the X-Men with a story full of fan-favorite moments, heartrending revelations and pulse-pounding devastation!

Realm of X #1, Marvel

Leaping straight from the astonishing events of this year’s Hellfire Gala, the unlikely team of Magik, Mirage, Marrow, Dust and Typhoid Mary find themselves stranded in…Vanaheim? And what’s even more confusing, the locals seem to believe that they hold the key to fulfilling a prophecy that can either raise the realm to riches—or cause it to fall to ruin. With Magik’s powers malfunctioning and a mysterious figure amassing power on the outskirts of the realm, these X-Men are going to have to band together if they want to stay alive long enough to find their way home!

The Penguin #1, DC

REVENGE IS FOR THE BIRDS. After retiring to Metropolis following his “death,” Oswald Cobblepot finds himself forced back into the unpredictable and violent Gotham City underworld as a pawn for the United States intelligence community! Gotham’s criminal element has been evolving since he was last in the city, with his bastard twin children ruling the Iceberg Lounge. And what of the man he framed for his death—Batman? Is the Penguin walking into a death sentence? 

From award-winning and bestselling writer Tom King (Batman, The Human Target) and artist Rafael De Latorre (Daredevil) comes a bloody, hard-boiled tale of redemption and revenge!

Captain America: Finale #1, Marvel

CAP’S FINAL STAND! Captain America takes his final stand against the Outer Circle! Using information gathered from friends on the inside, Steve Rogers sets his sights on releasing the world from the Outer Circle’s influence and ending the Century Game for good. The explosive conclusion to the groundbreaking story of CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY is here—and you won’t want to miss it!

Marvel Unleashed #1, Marvel

KRAVEN UNLEASHES THE BEASTS! When Kraven abducts Lockjaw at the same time a local scientist mixed up with A.I.M. goes missing, it’s up to Throg the Frog of Thunder, Redwing the Falcon, Chewie the Cat Flerken, Lucky the Pizza Dog, Bats the Ghost Dog and their scrappy new ally D-Dog to save the day. But there’s more to this case than meets the eye, and something infernal lurks in the shadows. Can feathers, fangs and claws stand against one of the deadliest foes in the Marvel Universe?

The Schlub #1, Image

SERIES PREMIERE

VANISH artist/writer RYAN STEGMAN and Superboy writer KENNY PORTER team up with Beef Bros artist TYRELL CANNON for a new action/comedy series featuring colors by MIKE SPICER and lettering/design by JOHN J. HILL.

Failing dentist Roger Dalton blames the world for his problems until he is body-swapped with the world’s greatest superhero. Can Roger save Earth and finally prove to his family he’s not a loser? Or are we all doomed?

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – The Scorpius Run #1, IDW

Come back to Strange New Worlds with a never-before-seen adventure of the hit Paramount+ show! Set course with Captain Pike and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise to the Scorpius constellation! As they venture into the unknown, the Enterprise crew learn what it truly means to traverse through the strange and unfamiliar when they lose contact with Starfleet and find themselves trapped in unexplored space!

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.

The Addams Family: The Bodies Issue #1, IDW

Wednesday Addams doesn’t feel like she fits in anywhere. Not even at home after she discovers a beauty magazine in her Uncle Fester’s room that tells her all about how she should look and act. It doesn’t keep her down for long, however, as she quickly realizes that rather than change herself, it would be more fun to make over her family and force them to accept the societal norms they all normally reject. Reprinting the IDW one-shot, this spin-off from the animated The Addams Family movie features all your favorite characters, including Gomez, Morticia, Pugsley, Lurch, Thing…and, of course, Wednesday. Featuring a new macabre cover by Chynna Clugston Flores (Blue Monday), this kicks off a whole new run of comics featuring the creepy, kooky, altogether spooky Addams Family!

Magic Planeswalkers: Notorious #1, BOOM!

Two of the most popular Planeswalkers in Magic: The Gathering history- fan favorite vampire Sorin Markov and the incomparable necromancer Liliana Vess, come together for a team-up that’s not to be missed!

On a mysterious, unnamed plane, the two must work together to prevent a diabolical figure from unleashing hell on not only the residents of their plane of imprisonment… but other planes as well.

Superstar writer Cullen Bunn (Basilisk) brings his love for Magic to the page alongside a story featuring the incomparably mysterious Planeswalkers Oko and Calix by acclaimed writer Rich Douek (Breath of Shadows) and artists French Carlomagno (The Dead Lucky) and Carlos Pedro (Elephantmen 2260)!

Rick And Morty Presents: The Science Of Summer #1, Oni

AN ALL-NEW, GIANT-SIZED TALE FROM THE EDGE OF THE RICK AND MORTY OMNIVERSE STARRING . . . OH NO, IT’S SUMMER!

Summer is sick of being sidelined. She has opinions, she deserves attention, and in the absence of a loving family, she knows exactly where to get it: online. When her future self—the hottest influencer and social media maven of an alien planet—pulls her into what should be her dream life, she realizes that with great power comes very little responsibility.

Snow White Zombie Apocolypse: Legendary Edition #1, Scout

Snow White awakens to True Love’s kiss…28 days later. Shoulder-to-shoulder with his tough-as-nails paramour Rapunzel-the lovable-but-philandering Prince Charming braves the darkness of Snow White’s enchanted forest in a desperate bid for survival. But how long can the pair hold out as the denizens of Grimm’s Fairy Tales rise from their graves to devour the flesh of the living?

This new “Legendary Edition” format measures 11″ x 17″.

Godzilla: Monsters & Protectors – All Hail the King #1, IDW

Godzilla’s been missing for a year, and teen vlogger Cedric desperately wants new content, but alien invaders and enemy kaiju may change his mind! Don’t get us wrong, no Godzilla sightings means no destruction, and that’s no bad thing. But Cedric’s vlog views are dropping, and he’s facing competition and trolling in the form of Karen Higa and cyberbully Dragon. But nothing brings rivals together like a common enemy. When the otherworldly Xiliens begin using psychic technology to probe every mind on Earth for knowledge of Godzilla, they awaken the three-headed dragon King Ghidorah instead! Our kaiju-connected heroes, Cedric, Emily, and Anderson, will need all the help they can get to summon Godzilla and face the new threats! Is there any way Godzilla can defeat the golden gargantuan?

Mother Russia #1, Comics Experience Publishing

One baby. One rifle. Two million zombies! As a zombie apocalypse breaks out in WWII, a Soviet sniper risks her life to protect an innocent baby boy. From Jeff McComsey, the creator behind the hit Mother Russia: Winter Special and introducing rising star guest cover artist Ugis Berzins! Don’t miss the retailer incentive cover by Michael Avon Oeming!

My Little Pony Classics Reimagined: The Unicorn of Odd #1, IDW

In the second installation of IDW’s My Little Pony: Classics Reimagined line, L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz gets pony-fied! Travel through all of Odd with Applejack as Dorothy, Pinkie Pie as Scarecrow, Rarity as Tin Woodsmare, and Fluttershy as Cowardly Lion. In issue #1, Dorothy lives an ordinary life at her farm in Ponyville, Kansas, with her Uncle Henrie and Granny Em. But a tornado whisks her away to a magical land of Breezies, silver horseshoes, and good and evil princesses. It almost makes her want to sing… (But she won’t. Those songs aren’t in the public do-mane.)