Jace and Rocky break down all the DC Comics releases for the week of April 22, 2026, covering 10 books with a wide range of reactions from solid entertainment to standout highlights. Superman #37 features a meta-driven Superboy Prime navigating life in Metropolis while grappling with his past and a surprising encounter with Witchfire, Flash #32 introduces a dangerous viral stunt app pushing Wally West to his limits while juggling family life, and Detective Comics #1108 continues Tom Taylor’s grounded mystery with Bruce teaming with Green Arrow and Black Canary while uncovering secrets tied to Prion’s legacy. Absolute Flash #14 explores the Mirror Master storyline with Wally and Linda trapped in the mirror dimension and a deal involving Ray Palmer, while Absolute Wonder Woman #19 continues Diana’s mythic journey with high-stakes magical elements. Green Lantern #34 sets up future developments with Hal Jordan and Kyle Rayner while introducing the mysterious Toby Y2K, and Justice League Unlimited #18 examines the controversial decision to grant villains amnesty in the face of larger threats. Harley Quinn #61 leans into the split between Harley’s personalities with the Bat-Quinn concept, while Harley & Ivy: Life and Crimes #5 slows things down with character work at Ma Hunkel’s home and a Clayface cliffhanger. The Brutal Dark #3 builds its noir mystery around Ezra Kane with deeper connections to the museum heist and missing persons case. The episode also includes discussion of industry news, including layoffs and broader market trends, along with thoughts on speculation around current titles. As always, Jace and Rocky run down reprints, facsimiles, and collected editions, rank every book from the week, and each give their pick for Book of the Week.
Jace welcomes returning creaor Richard Ashley Hamilton to discuss Leo Da Vinci: Renaissance Kid, a graphic novel that reimagines a young Leonardo da Vinci as an adventurous and inventive kid while drawing from real historical elements of his life. The conversation covers the inspiration behind portraying Da Vinci as a mischievous and empathetic protagonist, the balance between factual history and fictional storytelling, and how the Renaissance setting mirrors modern-day experiences for younger readers. Jace and Richard also explore the artistic work of Marco Matrone, the accessibility of the graphic novel format as a gateway for new readers, and how the story encourages curiosity about history through engaging, character-driven storytelling rather than traditional educational approaches.
Jace takes a look at Fireborn #1 from Image Comics, breaking down how the issue connects to the Lost Fantasy universe while evaluating how effectively it functions as a standalone story. With discussion of the creative work from Curt Pires, Franklin Jonas, Patrick Mulholland, Mark Dale and Micah Myers, the episode examines the structure of the oversized debut, the introduction of Aaron Hilberg and his connection to the dragon egg, and how the pacing benefits from the extended page count. The conversation also explores how the character’s attitude is grounded in his personal circumstances, the balance between action and setup, and whether the issue establishes a strong foundation moving forward. Additional context is provided on the early market reaction, including the sellout and speculation, along with whether the demand reflects genuine reader interest or short-term attention.
Jace takes a look at The Hab #1 from Bad Idea, a high-concept horror story from Joshua Dysart, David Lapham, Bill Sienkiewicz and more, exploring a billionaire-built survival habitat meant to outlast the end of the world, only for things inside to begin to unravel as hallucinations, violence and deeper mysteries tied to the environment start to surface, with discussion of the layered themes, unsettling tone and standout visual storytelling that make this one of the more intriguing indie releases currently flying under the radar.
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Jace and Rocky break down the DC releases for the week of April 15, 2026. Lobo #2 is discussed as a surprise standout with its corporate bounty hunter premise, meta humor, and unexpected fun factor, while Deathstroke the Terminator #2 follows Slade Wilson through an extremely violent and grief-driven search for whoever is manipulating him after Wintergreen’s death. Superman Unlimited #12 centers on the return of a younger Jon Kent, the sacrifice being made by the older Jon Kent as Tomorrow Man, Lois being brought to tears by seeing Jon again, Damian’s suspicion that something is wrong, and the possibility that the returned Jon may not actually be the real younger Jon. Nightwing #137 focuses on the sniper situation on the Blüdhaven bridge and the contrast between Batman and Nightwing’s approaches, while Batwoman #2 features Kate Kane in a brutal confrontation that appears to end with her using lethal force to save her father. New Titans #34 reveals Cyborg split into separate human and cybernetic entities, Catwoman #84 continues Selina Kyle’s conflict with Black Mask and Katarina Beloff as her inner circle is targeted, End of Life #3 blends absurd humor, strong action, and emotional material with Eddie Stallion caring for his dying father, Wonder Woman #21 continues the Wonder War storyline with its possible-future setup and split narrative structure, and Absolute Batman #19 is discussed in terms of its shock-value storytelling, Scarecrow’s appearance feeling more like future setup, and a major character death that lands as wasteful rather than earned. As always, the episode also includes the week’s rankings, Book of the Week discussion, and a rundown of the reprints and collected editions.
Jace is joined by Cody to break down Geiger #1 from Geoff Johns and Gary Frank, exploring the debut title that launched the Ghost Machine publishing imprint. The discussion covers the post-apocalyptic setup of Tariq Geiger, the nuclear event that transforms him, and the introduction of key world-building elements including the Unnamed War, the Las Vegas factions, and the early hints of a shared universe. The episode also touches on how Geiger evolves from a seemingly self-contained story into a broader connected narrative within Ghost Machine.
Jace takes a look at the first three issues of D’Orc from Image Comics, breaking down the story, humor, and overall execution to evaluate whether the book’s rapid rise in the aftermarket is supported by the actual reading experience. With discussion of the creative work from Brett Bean, Jean-Francois Beaulieu, and Nate Piekos, the episode examines the structure of the first three issues, the use of familiar fantasy elements, and how the tone balances cartoon-style violence with comedic intent. The conversation also explores how low initial orders, FOC attention, and social media momentum contributed to the book’s visibility, along with whether that attention reflects long-term value or short-term demand. A comparison is made to a key past fantasy humor comic to provide additional context for how a similar concept performed over time.
Jace reviews Web of Venom #1 from Marvel Comics. The issue introduces a new symbiote and a new host, with Boomerang playing a central role, while raising questions about the growing number of symbiote-related titles. The discussion covers what works in the issue, including the core concept and accessibility, as well as concerns about overexposure and whether the story adds meaningful value to the broader Venom mythos.
Jace and Rocky break down the DC releases for the week of April 8, 2026. Gotham City Sirens is discussed with its standout Babs Tarr art, strong variant covers, and battle with the villain Horoscope, while Bleeding Hearts #3 continues the story from Poke’s perspective as the zombie’s inability to communicate with the surviving mother and child adds to the tension. Firestorm #1 launches DC’s Next Level take on the character with Ronnie Raymond apparently trapped, Firehawk brought in to investigate, and the mystery of who is really controlling the Firestorm Matrix left unresolved. Nice House by the Sea #9 deepens the contrast between Walter’s and Max’s houses, raises questions about whether the destruction of Earth is even real, and continues exploring the changing dynamics between the people chosen to survive. Green Lantern Corps #15 focuses on John Stewart confronting Parallax and his past with help from Soranik Natu, while the Manhunters turn Aya’s apparent victory into a trap by taking over her body. Action Comics #1097 follows Booster Gold, Martian Manhunter, and Mary Marvel traveling back to Superboy’s era as Epoch steals the rocket that brought Kal-El to Earth. Supergirl #12 centers on Kara waking up in Kandor as a cybernetic Supergirl after being badly injured, with Black Flame’s rebellion, the city’s secrets, and Team Thunder all adding to the conflict. Emperor Aquaman is discussed with Arthur continuing to establish himself as “Emperor of the Blue” by setting up lighthouses across the universe, gaining King Shark’s allegiance following his DC KO vision, and fulfilling a prophecy on another world by freeing a parasite-controlled race. Absolute Green Lantern #13 shifts to Ran, introducing Rack Shade, the M Zone, Professor Sardin, Alana, and Emily Hawk as the mythology around the Black Stars and the Controller of Mu continues to expand. As always the episode also includes a rundown of the week’s reprints and collected edition releases, as well as Jace and Rocky rankings for all the books and their picks for Book of the Week.
Jace reviews Royals #1 from Image Comics, written by Derek Kirk Kim with art by Jacob Perez. The episode covers the introduction of brothers Castor and Paul, their psychic connection used to gain an advantage in televised poker tournaments, and the early setup involving a high-stakes game against casino owner Dasham Kang. The discussion also touches on the character dynamics between the brothers, the use of telepathic communication, the poker sequences that drive the issue’s tension, and the implications of their actions as the story begins to expand into a larger crime narrative.
Jace is joined by writer Pornsak Pichetshote to discuss his upcoming Absolute Green Arrow series, including the tone, themes and approach to the character within the Absolute Universe. The conversation also covers his Day 2 Substack project, focusing on navigating a career in comics after breaking into the industry, along with thoughts on current trends in comics, the success of the Absolute line and how creators balance their voice when working on established characters.
Jace of The Comic Source is joined by Rocky from Comic Boom! for this week’s DC Spotlight as they break down a lighter but still varied week of DC releases. Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #50 gets discussed for its Dr. Destiny dream story, Superman’s dream Supermobile, and a backup featuring Robin, Supergirl, Batgirl and Jimmy Olsen in a rivalry-fueled mystery. Batman/Static Beyond #5 continues to build around older Static mentoring a younger Batman Beyond while Failsafe and the larger Q-energy conflict move the story forward. Adventures of Superman: Book of El #7 delivers another dense chapter in the House of El saga with Otho-Ra, the future descendants of Superman and the larger science fiction mythology continuing to expand. Batman #8 is a slower setup issue centered on Bruce Wayne’s conversation with Alan Scott, the threat of Vandal Savage, and Gotham’s mayor Poison Ivy turning the city against Batman and Robin. Absolute Superman #18 stands out with Lois Lane confronting Talia al Ghul over her father’s death, Ra’s al Ghul showing the effect Superman has had on him, and the issue introducing Absolute versions of John Henry Irons and King Shazam while also hinting at the Phantom Stranger. Poison Ivy #43 continues G. Willow Wilson’s character-driven run with Pamela Isley using her position as mayor to go after Gotham’s corruption, while also advancing the fallout with Harley Quinn, Janet from HR and the consequences of Bob Venus. Bizarro: Year None #1 offers a different take on Bizarro through a Jimmy Olsen and Perry White focused story that sends them to Bizarro World, with the Daily Planet itself playing into that world’s creation. JSA #18 wraps up the Year One material while also including more of the Search for the Spectre backup and its focus on the newer generation of Justice Society characters. Mad About DC #1 serves as a full Mad Magazine-style send-up of DC characters, creators and fandom with multiple standout gags and a tone both hosts found genuinely funny. Batgirl #18 leans deeper into the Spirit World mythology, Cassandra Cain’s growing connection to the Wu clan, and the question of whether Lady Shiva is capable of redemption. The episode also includes a rundown of the week’s collected editions along with rankings for the books discussed and selections for Book of the Week.
Daredevil is getting a fresh start with a brand new #1 from Stephanie Phillips and Lee Garbett — but after the last run left a lot of fans frustrated, the real question is whether this reset actually fixes what wasn’t working. In this review, Jace takes a look at Daredevil #1 and breaks down what works, what doesn’t, and whether this new direction brings Matt Murdock back to the street-level hero fans have been missing. From stronger pacing and action to a compelling new villain in Omen, this issue feels like a true return to form — but is it enough to win fans back long-term? Let us know your thoughts in the comments — did you stick with the last run, or are you jumping back in with this new #1?
Jace takes a look at the first issue of The Exorcism at Buckingham Palace from writer Hannah Rose May, artist Kelsey Ramsey, colorist Heather Breckel and letterer Joe Troutman, discussing how the series builds on the ideas introduced in The Exorcism at 1600 Penn while shifting tone toward a more character-focused and atmospheric approach. The episode covers the setup involving a tragedy at sea that leaves the British royal line in crisis, the introduction of Theo as the reluctant heir to the throne, and the growing suggestion of a malevolent entity tied to the Belmont family that may be influencing his behavior. Jace also examines the pacing differences compared to the previous series, the use of horror elements alongside themes of duty, addiction and public pressure, and how the depiction of the monarchy and media attention adds a grounded layer to the supernatural story. The discussion includes thoughts on Ramsey’s textured and visceral art style, how it supports the tone of the narrative, and why the issue presents a compelling foundation for the series moving forward.
Jace and Rocky break down a busy week of DC releases in DC Spotlight for the week of March 11, 2026, discussing nine titles in detail while also touching on the surge of speculation driving more fans into comic shops and sharing thoughts on the recently released Lanterns trailer and what it could mean for the future of DC television. The episode covers Bleeding Hearts #2 from the Vertigo imprint by Dennis Camp and Stipan Morian, which continues its unique zombie story told through shifting perspectives; Morgan Hampton’s Green Lantern Corps #14 as Guy Gardner deals with the psionic entities and a mission that sends a mixed team of Lanterns into Manhunter territory while Jon Stewart confronts Parallax; Sirens: Love Hurts #2 by Tini Howard and Babs Tarr featuring the complicated dynamics between Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Black Canary; Supergirl #11 by Sophie Campbell as Kara faces the mysterious Black Flame in Kandor while Boy Thunder finally enters the story; Emperor Aquaman #15 by Jeremy Adams and John Timms where Arthur returns from the Blue in a powerful new form; Absolute Batman #18 from Scott Snyder that continues the Seventh Kingdom storyline while revealing deeper connections between Martha Wayne and the Court of Owls; Absolute Green Lantern #12 by Al Ewing which expands the strange mythology of the Absolute Universe as Hal Jordan, Jo Mullein and others face Hector Hammond and encounter Tomar-Re; Harley and Ivy: Life and Crimes #4 from Erica Henderson exploring the complicated relationship between the two Gotham antiheroes; and Action Comics #1096 by Mark Waid and Skylar Patridge kicking off the Search for Superman storyline as Superboy deals with a bizarre cause-and-effect anomaly with help from Booster Gold, Martian Manhunter and Mary Marvel. Jace and Rocky also highlight the collected editions hitting shelves this week, including Batman/Superman: World’s Finest Vol. 8, the massive Green Lantern: Sinestro Corps War Compendium, DC Finest: The Flash – The Fastest Man Alive, Catwoman: The New 52 Omnibus, Flinch: The Complete Collection and Supergirl: The Bizarro Girl, before wrapping up the show with their weekly rankings of the books discussed.
On this episode of The Comic Source, Jace welcomes returning writer Chris Condon for a conversation that begins with the launch of Brutal Dark for DC’s revived Vertigo line, including how the project evolved from earlier iterations into its current form, the pulpy crime-noir and supernatural influences behind Ezra Cain’s world, and the collaborative storytelling approach Condon shares with artist Jacob Phillips, plus a reminder to pre-order Brutal Dark #2 ahead of its March 25 release. The discussion then shifts to Image Comics’ News From the Fallout now collected in trade, looking back on the book’s creative risks, the use of back matter and design elements, the team’s celebration event, and future possibilities for additional time-period stories with Jeffrey Allan Love. Condon also talks about his time on Marvel’s Ultimate Wolverine, what it has meant to write the character, how the series evolved from its original plan, and teases what’s ahead with Ultimate Impact: Reborn arriving May 20, including the process of building new characters and exploring the Ultimate Universe’s Negative Zone, before also previewing his upcoming Darth Vader project and how he’s approaching the character’s “hammer” presence and tone. The interview also covers the newly announced Image series Of The Earth (also out May 20), an eco-horror neo-noir story co-written with Andrew and brought to life by Charlie Adlard with colors by Pip Martin and letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, before closing with reflections on fan response to Condon’s Green Arrow finale, a brief update on That Texas Blood, and where listeners can follow more behind-the-scenes work via the Condon/Phillips Patreon and newsletter.Throughout the episode, Condon shares insight into collaboration, tone, creative risk-taking, and the balance between independent and Big Two storytelling.
The latest DC Spotlight episode for the week of February 4, 2026 features Jace and Rocky breaking down a strong slate of eleven new DC releases while reflecting on a rare week free of industry-wide bad news. The discussion is led by the return of The Nice House by the Sea #7, with James Tynion IV and Álvaro Martínez Bueno resuming the series after a long hiatus and using character guides and carefully integrated recap to maintain narrative momentum, followed by Batman: Static Beyond #3, which gains traction as Miguel Mendonça’s art and a more action-driven focus push the Elseworlds concept forward. Batgirl #16 marks a turning point in Cassandra Cain’s arc, delivering resolution to the Unburied storyline, expanding the Lazarus mythology, and setting up a return to Gotham, while DC KO: Night Fight #4 closes its mini-series by exploring Batman’s exile from the tournament, alternate futures, and the consequences of loss before re-inserting him into the larger DC KO event. The episode also covers Batman #6, emphasizing character fallout and the status shift for Tim Drake, Poison Ivy #41, which advances Pamela Isley’s path toward running for mayor through a jail-cell-centered narrative that keeps her agency intact, and DC KO: Boss Battle #1, a crossover-heavy one-shot pairing DC characters with external properties in a high-concept escalation of the tournament. Additional discussion includes JSA #16 continuing its Year One focus on early team dynamics, Absolute Green Lantern #11 deepening Al Ewing’s dense mythology with escalating threats and spectrum lore, Absolute Superman #16 introducing an Absolute Hawkman origin while advancing Lex Luthor and Brainiac plot threads, and Superman: Chains of Love Special #1, a Creeper- and Livewire-focused story that rounds out the week, before the hosts rank their favorites and preview the looming impact of DC KO #4.