Welcome to the second in my trial run of a return to new release posts! This post covers Marvel Comics February 8 2023 releases.
This list includes every comic and digital comic out from Marvel this week, plus collected editions in omnibus, hardcover, paperback, and digest-sized formats. For each new release, I’ll point you to the right Crushing Comics guide.
Marvel Comics February 8 2023 Collected Editions
Avengers by Jonathan Hickman Omnibus, Vol. 1
(2017 hardcover, ISBN 978-1302907082 / 2023 hardcover, ISBN 978-1302945473 / digital)
This is the massively-satisfying first half of Hickman’s Avengers run, taking it through the end of the Infinity event in perfect Hickman-approved reading order. Although I’ve been known to have complains about this run, they’re 100% from the back half – you cannot go wrong with this (and I’m a rare dissenter on the run as a whole). See the Guide to Avengers Flagships (2010 – Present Day).
Avengers By Jason Aaron Vol. 11: History’s Mightiest Heroes
(2022 paperback, ISBN 978-1302928858 / digital)
This is the final volume of this series collected on its own before it heads into the climactic Avengers Assemble crossover. See Guide to Avengers Flagships (2010 – Present Day).
Avengers: Kree/Skrull War Gallery Edition HC
(2023 oversize “Gallery” hardcover, ISBN 978-1302949594)
These gallery editions are even larger than omnibus-size – they’re similar to DC Absolutes. And, if any classic run of art merits one, it’s Kree/Skrull war, which contains one of my favorite issues of all time, Avengers (1963) #93 – “Journey to the Center of the Android.” See Guide to Avengers (1963 – 1996).
Mighty Marvel Masterworks: Captain Marvel Vol. 1 – The Coming of Captain Marvel
(2023 paperback, ISBN 978-1302948894 / digital)
This book is part of Marvel’s new paperback Masterworks recollection line, which does not always line up directly with the breaks in the original Masterworks line. See Guide to Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers or Guide to Captain Marvel, Mar-Vell (eventually).
Star Wars Legends Epic Collection: The Menace Revealed Vol. 3
(2023 paperback, ISBN 978-1302932312 / digital)
This release (and the announcement of some Epics for later in 2023) brings us tantalizingly close to full coverage of Star Wars Legends in Epic format. Of course… Marvel hasn’t reprinted a single volume, so some of them have risen to omnibus-prices on the aftermarket! We’ll see if Marvel releasing the actual omnibuses deflates that a bit. See Guide to Star Wars Legends (Expanded Universe, 1977-2015).
X-Men: The Animated Series – The Adaptations Omnibus
(2023 oversize hardcover, ISBN 978-1302947774 / digital)
This one is PACKED with nostalgia for us 90s X-kids. It collects the three ongoing series comic adaptations-slash-extensions of the iconic X-Men Animated series. Collects X-Men Adventures (1992) #1-15, X-Men Adventures (1994) #1-13 and X-Men Adventures (1995) #1-13 in full. See Guide to X-Men Ongoing Titles.
Read on for a rundown of Marvel Comics February 8 2023 single-issue releases, including a link to their accompanying guide pages on Crushing Comics.
Marvel Comics February 8 2023 Physical Comic Releases
In 2022 I took a year’s break from new Marvel Comics, which I also did back in 2016 after Secret Wars. That means this is one of the only two times since 2010 where I don’t have an informed opinion on any current Marvel issues! Soon enough I’ll be all caught up on the Marvel Universe and giving you live on their weekly line-up. For, now all I can do is speculate and point you towards the right comic book guide.
Alien (2022) #6 – See Guide to Aliens (eventually). I’ve been a massive fan of the Alien franchise since I was too-young to watch the first pair of movies (but watched them anyway), but I just wasn’t feeling Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s first go at this series in 2021. Is anyone reading this 2022 volume that can recommend it? Because that cover (shown at right) is rad as fuck. (In other news, Alien is currently tied for the #2 choice in my Patron’s Choice poll for a Indie or Licensed Guide in March, so that “eventually” might be sooner than you think).
The Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #19 – See Guide to Spider-Man, Peter Parker (2018 – Present Day). Just as this issue hit the stands, Marvel has started teasing THE MOST SHOCKING REVELATION in fifty years of Spider-Man history coming up in issue #25 May. As shocking as Gwen Stacy dying, is the implication! But, I haven’t seen anyone who is super-hooked on this run. In fact, I feel like there’s less noise on it than there was for Spencer’s undying zombie run. Anyhow, this guide is completely up to date!
The Avengers: War Across Time (2023) #2 – See Guide to Avengers Flagships (2010 – Present Day) or my brand new Guide to Kang the Conqueror. I was just checking out issue #1 of this Paul Levitz and Alan Davis mini-series, and it seems clear that it’s placed between Avengers #11 and 16. Looks like I need to update that Kang Guide already! Meanwhile I’m a bit of a curmudgeon when it comes to Marvel inserting endless extra stories into the first three years of the Silver Age, but there’s a certain appeal to seeing Levitz play with the Marvel toybox and I’ll never turn down Alan Davis on any comic, ever.
Bishop: War College (2023) #1 – See Guide to X-Men – Age of Krakoa. This is, ah… lumpy. Very lumpy. I was so excited for a book focused on 6th Class mutants getting trained by Bishop, but it starts as just another “Bishop is a hardass” book and ends with some sort of alternate reality shenanigans. Also, the art is wildly inconsistent throughout. Bishop is such a stellar character with so many good stories to tell, I don’t know how you wind up with this.
Black Panther (2021) #14 – See Guide to Black Panther. I’m not yet caught up on this John Ridley run. At DC he’s been alternatingly spectacular (Other History of the DC Universe) and awful (Next Batman), but knowing German Peralta is on art with Jesus Aburtov certainly moves this up my pull pile.
Captain America: Symbol of Truth (2021) #10 – See Guide to The Falcon. It’s wild that I haven’t heard any social buzz about the Falcon half of these twin Captain America titles, especially with a modern giant like R.B. Silva on artwork!
Daredevil (2022) #8 – See Guide to Daredevil. While this guide isn’t totally update, I just gave it a massive facelift, including adding every new collection from the past five years and a loose reading order from 2016 to present. You’re welcome ;)
Ghost Rider (2021) #11 – See Guide to Ghost Rider (although I haven’t had a chance to add this yet – next month!)
Gold Goblin (2022) #4 – See Guide to… I’ll be honest, I looked at the solicits, saw the title “Gold Goblin,” and thought it was a misprint! I assumed the new Red Goblin title would be the Norman Osborn book, but it’s actually this one – and it’s by Christopher Cantwell, who I was obsessed with on Iron Man. Yet another must-read. By the way, that would be the Guide to Norman Osborn – do you think I should make that one?
Joe Fixit (2023) #2 – See Guide to Hulk, Bruce Banner. Apparently Peter A. David is now into his “kept on retainer to write retcon insert stories” era the same way Claremont has been for the past few years. You know what? I can’t get too mad about it. All of his Symbiote Spider-Man stories were riotous fun, and that’s not even a character PAD is as famous for writing. Hulk is by far his most-recognized run alongside modern X-Factor, so if there’s anything for him to return to it’s this.
Miracleman by Gaiman & Buckingham: The Silver Age (2022) #4 – See Guide to Miracleman (eventually). I gave Alan Moore’s Miracleman a solid try last year. Some of it were the best comics I’ve ever read, but it quickly descended into Moore’s psychosexual stuff and I just don’t have the patience for it anymore. I’m curious to know if I need to press through the rest of that to appreciate this Gaiman-era material. From the looks of the first issue… maybe not? And it is SO FREAKING GORGEOUS with modern remastering. Maybe it’s time to take a second try.
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur (2022) #3 – See Guide to Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur. FYI, Marvel is listing this simply as Moon Girl (2022) on their site, though I’m not sure what the indicia says.
Namor the Sub-Mariner: Conquered Shores (2022) #5 – See Guide to Namor, the Sub-Mariner
Red Goblin (2023) #1 – Again, I’m not too sure what guide I’d put this in since it’s not actually Norman Osborn. Still, it feels like you’d expect to find all of the Goblin titles there, right?
Secret Invasion (2022) #4 – I think I’ll be placing this in a guide to Nick Fury Jr. or S.H.I.E.L.D. What’s that? I don’t have a guide to either of them yet? Hmm, interesting… maybe you should join my Patreon sometime in the next month or two…
Star Wars: Darth Vader (2020) #31 – See Guide to Star Wars. I’m torn as to whether I should continue to have one Star Wars Guide per movie era and then one big guide per continuity or break it out by comic title the way I would for any other comic star. What do you think – should I have a Darth Vader Guide? Anyhow, I was obsessed with the first two years of this Greg Pak Vader series, so I’m excited to get back to it.
Star Wars: Hidden Empire (2022) #3 – See Guide to Star Wars. In addition to writing the main Star Wars ongoing, Charles Soule has also been writing a trilogy of interstitial mini-series that move the overall plot of the era along. The first was the central book of the War of the Bounty Hunters event. The second was Crimson Reign. This is the third. Does that mean we’re already at the end of the post-ESB era of comics after just three years?! The first post-ANH era lasted for five.
Star Wars: The High Republic (2022) #5 – See Guide to Star Wars. This is the second volume of the main spine of the multi-publisher High Republic era, which also has in-canon entries at Dark Horse and Viz Media.
Storm & The Brotherhood of Mutants (2023) #1 – See Guide to X-Men – Age of Krakoa. I don’t do alternate realities anymore, so I’ve got three whole month’s to catch up on last year’s X-Men comics. Hopefully they do solid recap pages about Sins of Sinister once it’s over! (I joke. Somewhat.)
Stormbreakers 2023 Sketchbook #1 – An art jam issue.
X-Men: Legends (2022) #6 – See Guide to X-Men Ongoing Titles. Now this is that good Bishop shit that I want: Whilce Portacio and Brian Haberlin scripting a prologue to Bishop’s first appearance. I’m not usually a nostalgia junkie for these retcon stories to bygone X-Men eras because there is already SO MUCH X-MEN, but you can pump this right into my veins.
Marvel Comics February 8 2023 Digital-First Comic Releases
- Avengers Unlimited Infinity Comic (2022) #32 – See Guide to Avengers (2010 – present). This issue ends a mini-arc focused on Aaron’s Avengers team written by Jim Zub!
- Devil Dinosaur Infinity Comic (2023) #2 – See Guide to Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur
- Love Unlimited Infinity Comic (2022) #36 – I haven’t decided where this should be placed yet! (Any thoughts?)
- Marvel’s Voices Infinity Comic (2022) #39 – There have been enough “Voices” books in the past few years that I’m considering giving them their own guide page.
- Spider-Verse Unlimited Infinity Comic (2022) #36 – See Guide to Spider-Man, Peter Parker (2018 – present)
- Who Is… Miracleman Infinity Comic (2023) #1 – See Guide to Miracleman (eventually)
- Who Is… Moon Girl Infinity Comic (2023) #1 – See Guide to Moon Girl & Devil Dinosaur
- X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic (2021) #73 – See Guide t0 X-Men – The Age of Krakoa
Leave a Reply