Superman/Spider-Man #1 - DC Comics/Marvel Worldwide [Part One]

SUPERMAN/SPIDER-MAN No. 1, May 2026

It’s probably a tough task to open up a publication specifically touted as celebrating fifty years of DC/Marvel crossovers. But Mark Waid’s “Truth, Justice And Great Responsibility” arguably does it rather well, thanks largely to its American author wasting absolutely no time in explaining how the two leading comic book franchises somehow share a merged existence together, and instead simply throwing his audience knee-deep into an enthralling adventure which sees Doctor Octopus and Brainiac joining forces to ensure that “world upon world will bow before the genius of Otto Octavius.”

Furthermore, the notion of the Daily Bugle’s photographer and Daily Planet’s reporter sharing an assignment together makes perfect sense, and logically allows the story’s protagonists to soon get into combat with their deadly adversaries. Splendidly sketched by Jorge Jimenez, these face-offs even contain a few surprises for fans of such team-ups, most notable of which is Superman encountering Doc Ock wielding a set of arms powered by synthetic Kryptonite; “I read about you… before the accident that turned you..! It’s not too late… to reform..!”

Similarly as scintillating has to be this anthology’s second yarn “The World’s Finest”, which rather cleverly follows the exploits of Lois Lane and Mary Jane as their beloveds battle a giant Sentinel-248. Penned by Tom King and dynamically drawn by Jim Lee, this nine-pager provides a genuinely intriguing insight into the lives of two of the central protagonist’s most beloved secondary cast members. Indeed, the sheer number of coincidences between the two characters is sincerely surprising as the women swap numerous notes with one another as to how dangerous their lives are.

In addition, the tale features a rather impressive cameo by Gambit, as the X-Man comes to both Spider-Man and Superman’s aid as they tackle their huge indestructible foe. However, this short-lived appearance by the smooth-talking Cajan mutant is also particularly welcome as it subsequently provides Lois with a wonderful moment in the spotlight as she scrambles around in her handbag for the set of playing cards she uses to gain detainee access with a guard at Stryker’s Island - a deck which is immediately put to good use by Chris Claremont’s co-creation, and brings the pulse-pounding punch-up to a suitably satisfying end.

Writers: Mark Waid & Tom King, and Artists: Jorge Jimenez & Jim Lee

Star Wars: Jedi Knights #8 - Marvel Comics

STAR WARS: JEDI KNIGHTS No. 8, December 2025

It’s debatably somewhat difficult to determine whether Marc Guggenheim purposely penned the central character in this story to be so dislikeable, or if the American screenwriter just inadvertently caused Soona Taj to be the main reason behind poor Seera Longa and Berem Khana’s pointless deaths. In fact, the New York City-born novelist actually does a good job of making the two “recently knighted” secondary cast members pretty disagreeable too when they place the entire onus of becoming a Jedi upon the shoulders of one so insanely young; “How can anyone that small make a decision so huge?”

This aversion for the main trio arguably makes it a tad tough to feel much pity for the Force Users when they rather naively fall for a space pirate ruse and land aboard the villains' vessel expecting to simply fix their ship's engines. Sure, the soon-to-be-dead heroes were initially trying to help its crew – which even the young child understands they must do. But the pair genuinely appear to be holding their own against their would-be-killers until the infant decides to ignore their order to safely remain aboard their T-6 Shuttle and promptly blunders right into the middle of a desperate firefight.

Such disobedience also makes it somewhat hard to swallow Kelleran Beq's claim that the Youngling is apparently “a very brave little girl” after he has to conveniently arrive to ‘save the day' and free her from a cell. This high praise however is then sensationally overshadowed when Soona suddenly manifests enough power to hurl the pirate’s captain to his doom, and then, without any training whatsoever, uses her force abilities to call one of her dead recruiters’ light-sabres and outrageously joins the supposed "fan-favourite Jedi" in his battle against the remaining bandits.

Easily this comic’s most intriguing element is therefore Madibek Musabekov’s layouts which depict the narrative exclusively from the perspective of Taj. This technique certainly is quite unusual from how most books are presented these days. Yet is also means that anyone can plainly see Seera’s shocked expression at seeing Soona appear behind her when the Jedi Knight is busy fending off the pirates, and her resultant death due to being fully focused upon the child rather than the laser-gun-toting despots trying to kill her. To make matters worse, the author desperately tries to fool his audience by suggesting that that the Pirate were “just lucky” when they gunned down Longa and Khana, when through the pencilled panels it's clear that the tiny child's presence caused both their downfalls.

The regular cover art of "STAR WARS: JEDI KNIGHTS" #8 by Madibek Musabekov & Jesus Aburtov

Deadly Hands Of K'un-Lun #4 - Marvel Comics

DEADLY HANDS OF K'UN-LUN No. 4, July 2026

For those bibliophiles whose heads weren’t spinning following this comic’s opening summary of events, the book’s subsequent twenty-pages of almost endless kung-fu fighters and immortal weapons most surely will. Indeed, whilst the New York City-based publisher may claim that this issue of the mini-series is “its most epic chapter yet”, it is also arguably it’s most disorientating instalment too as Danny Rand pops up out of no-where to momentarily save the day and approximately “fifty Iron Fists” summon their inner chi to help the now one-armed Lin Lie transform into some sort of living armament; “Go, Pei, keep Shou-Lao’s egg safe!”

Of course, some critics of Yifan Jiang’s script may well point out that few readers will actually understand much, if any, of what the numerous plot-threads throws at them - such as just how the likes of Elektra (Daredevil) and the White Tiger ever joined the multi-dimensional fight to thwart Chiyou’s return to the Earth in the first place. But for those onlookers who enjoy simply being caught up in a publication-long, pulse-pounding punch-up, “Instant Karma” undeniably delivers and is well worth holding on tight for.

In addition, it’s hard not to get completely wrapped up in the writer’s enthusiasm for having so many of the Marvel Universe’s top martial artists battling it out against one another in a single title, even if the author’s numerous attempts to explain just what is going on via a plethora of text boxes falls significantly short of its purpose. The best thing for a reader to do really is to just let any semblance of sense wash right over them, and to merely enjoy the evident big bad guy’s apparent fall from grace once “Tiger’s faithful daughter’s necklace” is smashed into so many impotent, red-coloured beads.

Similarly as smashing as this comic’s scintillating speed and adrenaline-fueled action has to be illustrators Paco Medina & Alessandro Miracolo’s prodigiously pencilled panels, which bring life to so many different faces and figures. The pair somehow seem to miraculously imbue the entire cast of warriors within this book with both palpable emotion and convincing determination to succeed, as well as help push the audience along whenever the penmanship debatably doesn’t really manage to make it terribly clear just what is happening during a deadly tussle or encounter.

The regular cover art of "DEADLY HANDS OF K'UN-LUN" #4 by Leinil Francis Yu

Nightwing #139 - DC Comics

NIGHTWING No. 139, August 2026

Arguably coming across more like a televised crime drama than a comic book thanks to the soap opera police procedural tone of its narrative, Issue One Hundred And Thirty Nine of “Nightwing” surely held the attention of much of its audience. In fact considering just how closely the titular character is shown working alongside Blüdhaven’s autopsy specialist it’s easy to forget that a Judge has actually supplied the authorities with an arrest warrant for the masked vigilante, ; “I used to work as a pathologist in Gotham. Assisted Batman a few times back in the day. How far have you gotten?”

In addition, Dick Grayson’s investigation into one final unnamed corpse definitely leads the original Boy Wonder down a route few bibliophiles will have seen coming. True, the Catholic priest Bruce Wayne’s heir meets during a stormy night does appear to be particularly insightful – quickly deducing that the millionaire is really the Teen Titan whilst taking his confession. But the notion that the white-haired 'Man of God' is responsible for the cold-blooded murder of Nightwing’s final ‘sodden corpse’ definitely comes straight out of the blue, as does the costumed crimefighter's desperate plea for “an excuse to let you go free.”

Finally, this twenty-two-page periodical’s aforementioned opening in which the city’s “new prosecutor” boldy announces that she believes Grayson’s alter-ego to be a liar and a killer makes for a compulsive read, with the lady's fury at the hero daring to be “seen fraternizing with Superman” genuinely being palpable. Furthermore, it seems very clear that Miss Eastbourne’s contempt for the original Robin is already blinding her to just how thoughtful the man actually is – something which is shown when she brazenly declares he probably doesn’t even know the victims’ names who died in the recent pile-up on the super-highway, and Nightwing unthinkingly lists them off in his mind.

Lastly, Denys Cowan’s gritty-looking pencils really seem to suit this style of storytelling, with all the various sub-plots being pulled together by Francesco Segala’s sombre choice of colours. Of particular note is the sheer arrogance shown upon Miss Eastbourne’s face when she contemptuously makes her statement to the media which should make most onlookers instantly despise her, and definitely look forward to the solicitor’s fall from grace in an upcoming edition.

The regular cover art of "NIGHTWING" #139 by Jorge Fornes

Star Wars: Jedi Knights #7 - Marvel Comics

STAR WARS: JEDI KNIGHTS No. 7, November 2025

Falsely claiming that “Qui-Gon Jinn is dead!” at the beginning of this comic’s solicitation synopsis, it’s arguably difficult to therefore treat anything found within Issue Seven of “Star Wars: Jedi Knights” as implausible, sensationalist storytelling. Indeed, the very premise of its central plot appears to make no sense whatsoever when its revealed that the deadly assassin who previously cut down Count Dooku’s old padawan in the title's preceding instalment didn’t then just finish the job with one of his hand-weapons. But rather went to all the trouble of injecting his victim with the self-same, poison used to previously murder Jedi Master Fondar Etzis instead.

Furthermore, in using the now recognisable violet-coloured, slow-acting substance, as well as permitting an almost deceased Jinn to utter the name of the one planet where it's antidote is made, Marc Guggenheim is also able to manufacture Mace Windu and Aayla Secura’s desperate mission to a mysterious world where “Jedi are [apparently] forbidden.” Such a complicated contrivance should surely tax the willingness of any bibliophile to believe in the American author's subsequent penmanship, especially when he then has the two seasoned Force Users land their spacecraft at the one location where an inhabitant will dispense with the ramifications of Horomeeda, and tell the pair everything they need to know over a cup of tea.

Of course, this conversation luckily leads on to Windu and Secura needing to embark upon another assignment to convince the uncivilised thieves of “the most dangerous planet you’ve never heard of” to give them the rare cure before it’s too late – and subsequently chop down a gigantic Kaijura in the process. So clunky a narrative debatably doesn’t do the popular characters concerned any justice at all, and frustratingly even goes so far as to ignore perhaps this publication’s biggest draw which is to explore what the Jedi did to be banned from an entire world in the first place; “I… don’t know what that is.”

Fortunately, at least Madibek Musabekov’s artwork provides some prodigiously pencilled panels for this comic's audience to enjoy as the awkwardly-told yarn progresses. Although it does appear that the Kazakhstan-born illustrator ran out of room towards this adventure’s end, as one minute the titular characters have somewhat dubiously carried out King Gara’s demand and then in the very next instant they are disconcertingly back on Coruscant getting a medical update on Qui-Gon’s condition from Doctor Rig Nema.

The regular cover art of "STAR WARS: JEDI KNIGHTS" #7 by Madibek Musabekov & Jesus Aburtov

White Widow #1 - Marvel Comics

WHITE WIDOW No. 1, January 2024

Perhaps a little surprisingly weighing in as the twenty-second best-selling comic of November 2023, and featuring an impressive opening which sees the titular character face-off against Captain America, things certainly seemed to be going in the right direction for Issue One of “White Widow” when the mini-series first hit the spinner-racks. Indeed, Yelena Belova’s initial interaction with the First Avenger, along with the appearance of the Superspy’s mentee Marthe appears to promise plenty of future skirmishes between the rogue agent and the finest super-heroes that the Marvel Universe can offer.

Disappointingly however, this notion seems to go completely out of the window once Sarah Gailey’s storytelling begins in earnest within the somewhat sleepy town limits of Idylhaven, and the American author rather unimpressively throws more information about the titular character’s new neighbours at her audience than any reader can possibly assimilate with even a couple of perusals. True, rattling off a number of lists concerning people’s ages, jobs and motivations, as well as those detailing the titular character’s loves, likes, dislikes and hates, certainly helps establish some sort of context for this book’s adventure in quick order. But it also arguably brings the publication’s pace down to that of a snail's crawl too.

Finally, any hope for Belova’s fans that this twenty-five-page periodical will show the Shadow of the Black Widow knee-deep in a yarn about international espionage, or simply tell of the deadly assassin’s code of conduct inexorably crashing into the moral virtues of the World's Mightiest Heroes are soon disconcertingly dashed when its revealed that the former Thunderbolt will just be confronting a somewhat small-time extortion racket in her own back yard; “I wanted someplace where things aren’t so much happening all the time, you know?” This underwhelming plot development must genuinely have frustrated those onlookers expecting so much more from a comic dedicated to “one of Marvel’s most enigmatic anti-heroes” and caused a fair few to refrain from pre-ordering its second instalment.

Unhappily, Alessandro Miracolo’s layouts don’t debatably live up to this “groundbreaking new chapter” in Yelena’s life either, despite the Italian illustrator demonstrating so much promise with his pencilling of the White Widow’s aforementioned skirmish with Captain America. Much of this frustration is undoubtedly due to the comic’s rather clunky script rather than anything else though, as whenever the artist is asked to sketch a punch-up or pulse-pounding panel he ramps up the adrenalin-fuelled violence in spades.

Writer: Sarah Gailey, Artist: Alessandro Miracolo & Color Artist: Matt Milla

Dungeons Of Doom #2 - Marvel Comics

DUNGEONS OF DOOM No. 2, April 2026

It’s debatably a little difficult for anyone perusing this thirty-page periodical to shake off the notion that they’re somehow participating in a game of “Dungeons & Dragons” rather than simply reading a comic penned by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Benjamin Percy. Indeed, this mini-series’ second instalment throws so many of Gary Gygax’s well known tropes at its audience, whether that be the all-seeing Eye of Khonshu, a mysterious Skull-Shaped Herb and the well-named Hammer of Treachery, that with each passing challenge any and all bibliophiles will feel that they’ve somehow outwitted another of Doctor Doom’s deeply buried dangers.

Perhaps foremost of these short-lived episodes is the one following Major Simmons and his depleted squad of American soldiers. Desperate to regroup alongside the formidably strong Red Hulk, this party of adventurers arguably appear to have the most humanity of the different “warring global factions” inadvertently hurled into “Doom’s most secret, most forbidden dungeons.” However, if any onlooker thought such a motivation was somehow going to protect them from the horrors trapped behind brick and mortar, they are soon put right – courtesy of their commanding officers’ well-meaning move to allow a limbless cadaver to somehow once again speak its words of magic.

Likewise, despite solely consisting of a lone Wakandan, the story of Umbra bravely diving into so ghastly a pit of unholy terrors appears just as riveting. Admittedly to begin with the white-clad operative does appear to be little more than a “thief” transgressing Latveria’s sovereign territory for their own ends. But such a label soon falls flat when its revealed that the agent’s mission is to penetrate a chamber packed full of T'Challa’s national treasures which Doctor Victor Von Doom has clearly stolen from the Black Panther's kingdom over a period of time.

Finally, the notion that a single publication featuring the work of five different artists would ordinarily be somewhat scoffed at by most comic book critics. And yet the illustrations of Justin Mason, Robert Gill, Carlos Magno, Georges Jeanty and Karl Story all seem to blend together quite magnificently, with only the odd strangely-sketched image of General Thunderbolt Ross’ colourfully-skinned alter-ego making those perusing Issue Two of “Dungeons Of Doom” momentarily doubt Senior Editor Jordan D. White’s decision to utilise so many talents all together.

The regular cover art of "DUNGEONS OF DOOM" #2 by Leinil Francis Yu & Romulo Farardo Jr.