First Issue Club Comic Books

Put on your war hat! The club is back in the weekly comic book battle field, taking on topics like Marvels push for Reptil to be its next big character, and the odd comic card boom on ebay. As always we're also talking about two first issues; Comic book all-stars Jeff Lemire and Jock have the comixology exclusive Snow Angels out this week, and the team who brought you TET is back with Hollow Heart.

Radiant Black is the hottest first issue release in Feb. from Image, a can't miss super hero start. Then it's onto AWA with their thriller about cheating on your spouse, it's a gripping read of Fatal Attraction stuff into a comic book. On the news we have tons of people getting checked for doing bad stuff - Joss Whedon leads us off - but don't worry there is (some would say) juicy Batman News.

YES! Club favorite writers are back for our reads this week. Matt Kindt brings us Fear Case #1 on Dark Horse Comics, and Mirka Andolfo pens Deep Beyond on Image Comics (Both getting second prints already!) & before we sign off, we've got some big FIC family news after arguing which is better: Earths oceans, or outer space.

Star Wars: The High Republic is the hottest marvel book flying off the shelves, and we are covering it - at the time that it gets a reprint - it's a club first. Then we get into the Vampire Book Stake that nobody asked for but everyone needed. WandaVision leads our news and we have so much hot more hot news! They might as well call this the news episode cause it's so full of news it takes over the rest of the pod.

The club is back with another DC Future State first issue, this time featuring Superman... kinda? Saying this book stars characters who wonder where Clark Kent has gone, may be more accurate. Our second book is another independent entry from one of our favorite writers Matt Kindt, who has Crimson Flower out on Dark Horse Comics. Read along! It's a club! You're in it too!

This week, the club chats with Zac Thompson about his new book, I Breathed a Body out today on Aftershock Comics, before getting into this weeks first issues! First, we're catching up with Gotham's most famous orphan, Bruce Wayne, to see what he's been doing since his apparent death in Future State: Dark Detective #1. Next, we'll hash out how we feel after reading the clown-centric and twilight-zone-esque HAHA #1, by W. Maxwell Prince and Vanesa R. Del Ray.

Last week kicked of DC's mega event Future State, and our wallets are already feeling the pain! For this weeks episode, we're focusing on what Gotham's future has in store with The Next Batman - An oversized first issue with a few different stories, all taking place within Gotham city limits. Next, Kieron Gillen and Esad Ribić take on Eternals. Can they make one of the more challenging Marvels make sense? Let's see!

The most hyped issue of Crossover thus far! You've read it, we've read it, let's talk about it!

This week, the club asks what should publishers, characters, comic shops, and more be resolute to change in the new year?

To round out the year, the club discusses a spectrum of their favorites from 2020.

AW, HEY! At First Issue Club we don't take holidays off, so we're here to cover an x-mas themed issue of Immortal Hulk by Al Ewing, and Steve Skroce takes us on a wrecked-future thrill ride in Post Americana, out on Image Comics. How do these stories stand out from the pack of dystopian future comics and holiday super hero tales??? Listen and find out!

We're back again, and way sooner than expected. "Why?", you may be asking? Well, I have answers! Image released a surprise Robert Kirkman & Ryan Ottley comic from the middle of a series... that hasn't previously existed??!!?! WE KNOW! Listen on, to see what we're speculating.

We talk about all the exciting news for what Spider-Man 3 says it's going to try to do. D.C. did some fun things this week. Then we get into the hard sci-fi book of S.W.O.R.D. from Al Ewing. And Home Sick Pilots - holy smokes do not skip this book - it's certified gooood baby!

Introducing CROSSTALK! The First Issue Club is entering untrodden territory, by following a comic series beyond its first issue. In this bonus show, we'll share our thoughts on each release of the endlessly fun to discuss Crossover, on Image Comics. Hold all 8 of our hands and jump into the unknown with us babyyyy!

We're starting the episode sans our news segment so we can get into a little bit of the Marvel Comics event KING IN BLACK, before we cover a K.I.B. tie-in title wherein our writer Paul Grist introduces us to a slew of new characters that join Union Jack in a UK team-up. Then, a duo from the new HULU show starring M.O.D.O.K., Patton Oswalt & Jordan Blum, give us their take on the heady villain ahead of the shows debut in M.O.D.O.K.: Head Games.

Looking for facts, and simile? This episode is chock full of both. Lucky you! James Patrick gives us an Oceans 11 style caper set in a Godzilla attack backdrop on Aftershock called Kaiju $core, and Ryan North pens the return of Power Pack on Marvel Comics - bringing the series up to speed by dropping our heroes into Marvels Outlaws event.

It's Turkey week, and the comic book gods have blessed us with a bounty for conversation. We start the show hashing out the tweet-storm surrounding Franklin Richards losing his Mutantdom. Next, the club gets into our experience with Dr. Who, surrounding a conversation of Titans newest arch of the BBC shows comic. Finally, we get into a Scouts action thriller The Recount, where there's a lot to unpack!

This week we discuss a duo of first issues from big 2 baddies. Punchline #1 and Taskmaster #1.

This week we focus on all things Donny Cates! His Thor run starts a new story arch with an obscure character for newbies, so we try to help unpack his history. Then, the main event! We discuss one of the most hotly anticipated independent first issue releases in a long time... CROSSOVER, from Image Comics.

The club starts the show talking Donny Cates conspiracy theories, and event covers, before getting into a couple hot hot hot first issues! First up is The One You Feed out on Panel Syndicate, from the creative team that brought you Cosmic Ghost Rider on Marvel comics. Next, we discuss Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin, the hotly anticipated & hard to find first issue of a mini-series penned by the original TMNT creators! What a week!

This year, the club celebrates Halloween by taking a trip to the Salem Comic Book Convention, and talking to the fans, creators, and celebs we meet.

This week the club is at odds with which first issues deserve the title "humdinger"! First we discuss Peach Momoko covers, to grade or not to grade, and the M.O.D.O.K. trailer in our intro. Next, we move onto Commanders in Crisis - Steve Orlando's super team event debut on Image Comics, before finishing with Tom King's entry into the Watchmen universe with Rorschach #1.

Sina Grace & Peter Milligan have authored our bounty this week, bringing us two wildly different comic books! Plus NYCC panel buzz.

Another week means more first issues, and we've got some doozies here from writers we know and love! First up, Gene Yang gives Shang-Chi some extreme family tension, and next, the Department of Truth blows our minds, when James Tynion IV explores conspiracies and truth itself. Sound intriguing? It is! So start listening!

BOOM! Studios and Vault comics bring us our first issues this week – two perfectly spooky titles to transition us into the Halloween Season. Beforehand, we get into more streaming platform announcements on new high profile comic book shows coming our way. Lucky us!

This week, we discuss the direction the new creative team is taking Tony Stark in IRON MAN #1 from Marvel Comics, and club favorite writer Chip Zdarsky kicks off his newest independent series with STILLWATER #1 on Images Skybound imprint.

On this weeks episode, the club talks video game preferences before getting into the first of a brand-new four issue comic book series set in the world of the hotly anticipated game Cyperpunk 2077 (It's out on Dark Horse comics by a club favorite writer Cullen Bunn!) Next up, none of us are Ultraman experts, but did we love this cultural and literal giant's move into Marvel Comics anyway? One way to find out... press plaaaaay!

Whew! We loved so many of last weeks first issues that we decided to cover 'em all, and contentiously count down to our favorite first issue of the week. No spoilers, but in alphabetical order we'll cover, Black Widow on Marvel, Grendel Kentucky on AWA Upshot, Inkblot on Image, Hellblazer: Rise & Fall on DC's Black Label, Lonely Receiver on Aftershock, Spy Island on Dark Horse, & We Only Find Them When They're Dead on Boom! Studios.

On this weeks show, we remember Chadwick Boseman and talk about the Marvel + Fortnite crossover, before getting into the most anticipated comic of the month... Maybe year? EVEN DECADE? Yes, Three Jokers is finally here on DC's Black Label imprint, and we're here for it. We also catch up with Zack Quaintance on what it's like writing and covering comics, and get the scoop on his new comic NEXT DOOR, which is up on kickstarter.

This week, after catching up on all of the news from DC Fandom (Video Games! Movie Trailers! Comics! & more!), we get into what we do best... Rev up the old reading club and discuss last weeks first issues! First up, from Vault Comics is SHADOW SERVICE, a story that follows a private eye with magical witchy powers. Next, we move on to Marvel Comics for MAESTRO, to explore the origins of a Bruce Banner/Hulk personality that was introduced way back in 1992's Future Imperfect.

It's another Wednesday and comics are still coming out! PHEW! This week the club gets into comic book news like the DC layoffs & changes at the CBLDF. Then, we're on to the main event – Seven Secrets out on BOOM! Studios comes from a club favorite writer Tom Taylor, then Jason Howard takes double duty on art and story for his newest title on Image Comics... BIG GIRLS!

We're back talking about first issues. WHO KNEW?! This week features a couple independent offerings - Bad Mother comes from AWA's Upshot imprint, and Atlantis Wasn't Built for Tourists is out on Scout.

This week the club is whittled down to just two hosts, but Mike and Greg do their best to guide you through two new & exciting titles from the big 2! Mariko Tamaki starts her anticipated run on Wonder Woman #759 (what we're calling a 'spiritual first issue'), and Leah Williams pens the newest x-title that takes mutant detectives outside of the gates of Krakoa in X-Factor #1.

This week, our featured first issues are both out on Image Comics! First, we discuss John Layman's CHU #1, a return to the world of his hit Image Comic series CHEW. Next, we shift our focus to BLISS #1, an original series from the club favorite creative team that brought you COYOTES - Sean Lewis, and Caitlin Yarsky. This series looks to be following a hitman to the gods, in a world where a drug can wipe memories. Intriguing enough for you!?

SCOUT WEEK! WEEK 2! First up, Murder Hobo is based on the role-playing archetype of a player character known by the same term. (Think your friend who plays Dungeons & Dragons with no story or motivation, outside of killing, looting, & chaos.) Next, It Eats What Feeds It follows a young man who's car breaks down while replying to a help wanted ad at a scary dilapidated mansion. This sparse horror-trope filled romp feels colossally nuanced after reading Murder Hobo!

This week, Scout Comics released several first issues, and we're here for it! First up, we get into Loggerhead #1, a one-shot B-Movie style thrasher/monster story written and illustrated by Bryan Silverbax - kudos for doing double duty on this one Bryan! Next, we talk about Assassin and Son #1, penned by former WWE wrestlers Shad Gaspard & Marc Copani. Proceeds from the book go to the recently passed away Gaspard's family, so if you're a fan, make sure you track that down on Scouts website.

Robert Kirkman saves us from a light new comic book day with with two first issues! First, The Walking Dead creative team is back for a reprise with 'Negan Lives!'. 'Fire Power', is up next, wherein Robert teams up with club favorite artist Chris Samnee to bring us an original trade paper back origin story, along with a Free Comic Book Day first issue to kick off the new ongoing series. Both can be found on Images Skybound imprint, which was co-founded by Kirkman.

This week, the club decodes a prelude to Marvel's Empyre event, after checking out the comic book adaptation of Stephen King & Owen King's best selling novel Sleeping Beauties.

This week Synder and Capullo are back with an encore to their popular DC series with Dark Knights: Death Metal, and club favorite author James Tynion IV releases his next title on Boom!, called Wynd.

This week in comic book news, we talk PS5 and the Miles Morales' price boom, DC ditching Diamond, Comicsgate vs Gamergate, and Christopher Cantwell taking the wheel on Iron Man in the fall. Then, it's on to last weeks first issues. Image comics brings us Matt Fractions Adventureman, which takes a sec to set in with the club, but once we get it, ooo baby! Next, Ryan Ferrier sends Rick & Morty to Hell in a new mini-series out on Boom! Studios.

We are missing Greg and Kaitlyn again this week, so it's up to Mike and BK get you your fill of first issues. After discussing "the cartoons are better" argument for DC, the club gets into Kelly Thompson's second volume of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, with Sabrina: Something Wicked #1 (art by the Fish family). Next, Nailbiter is also back for a second volume in the horror inspired title Nailbiter Returns from Joshua Williamson & Mike Henderson.

The club talks about some of this weeks comic book news, before getting into Cullen Bunns Rouge Planet, and Joe Harris's Disaster Inc.

This week, the club got to read some brand new first issues for the first time in a couple weeks! One of our favorite online publishers, Panel Syndicate, has a creative team that brings it for Bad Karma #1, and Ludocrats #1 sees Kieron Gillen & Jim Rossignol get even more absurd than the title of their new Image Comic suggests.

This week, the club chats with Kelly Thompson, one of our favorite writers at Marvel Comics. You may know her work from her current runs on Deadpool, Captain Marvel, & Star, as well as her past work on some club favorites like West Coast Avengers, Hawkeye, and Captain Phasma.

For our special 150th episode we discuss our favorite scenes from the legendary Snyder cut of the Justice League film!

This week we talk about DC branching out from Diamond and what that might mean for the future of comic book distribution. Next, the scales have never been more greatly tipped in regard to our differing reaction to the two books we're covering... The Panel Syndicate released Friday with its' traditional "pay what you want" model, and AWA releases Old Haunts for free on their website. Which one did we like, and which one had us perplexed? Gotta listen to find out!

This week the club reads Eat, and Love Yourself, an inventive YA graphic novel by Sweeney Boo, out now on Boom! Box. We also catch up on some great things creators are doing to support comic book shops, and others suffering from the effects of the Corona Virus.

This week, the club checks out two offerings from TKO - discussing the first issue of Jeff Lemire and Gabriel Walta's Sentient, before moving to Garth Ennis and Steve Epting's first chapter of Sara. TKO offers these first issues for free on their website, if you'd like to dip your toe in and read along with us.

This week, we talk with Sean Lewis! Comic book writer and co-creator of club favorites such as Image Comics' Saints, The Few, Coyotes, & Thumbs.

No new first issues this week, so the club sat down for a video chat to discuss comic book news and more!