Month: June 2026

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The Comics of May 2026

No, you decided to re-read all of the “Brand New Day” Spider-Man comics because of the new movie coming out, only to realize that — when you include the spin-offs and the tie-ins and everything — it’s something like 140 comics and also that these comics are somehow from two decades ago even though it feels like, maybe 10 years tops before you remember that you’re very old now. (They were more fun than I remembered, but also almost impressively light and throwaway in ways that are both good and bad; a fun trip down memory lane, if nothing else.)

Seemingly stuck in 2000s nostalgia, I also revisited Sleeper for the first time in… at least a decade, if not more. It’s funny to see how what once felt fresh and, well, “alternative” now reads like a template for the next decade’s worth of superhero mainstream, but pop will eat itself, as Clint Mansell knows all too well.

Highlight of the month, though, might have been this indie collection I’d forgotten I had: Absent Friends, which is a little 2004 collection of shorts from the late 1980s UK indie and small press scene by Paul Grist and Phil Elliott. It’s charming, understated, and very grounded and intimate and small in ways that it feels like comics just aren’t, anymore. I loved it not only because of what it was, but also because it underscored what I want from so many of today’s comics but rarely find. There’s an essay in there, somewhere.

  1. Batman (1940) #395
  2. Detective Comics (1935) #562
  3. Batman (1940) #396
  4. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #s 307-315
  5. Strange Scales Infinity Comic #1
  6. Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #93
  7. The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #s 258-259
  8. Marvel Team-Up (1972) #s 145-146
  9. Detective Comics (1935) #563
  10. Batman (1940) #397
  11. Energon Universe 2026 Special #1
  12. 2000 AD Prog 2482 (Brink story only)
  13. Marvel Team-Up (1972) #s 146-150
  14. Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #s 94-100
  15. The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #s 260-262
  16. Web of Spider-Man (1985) #1
  17. New Titans (2023) #35
  18. Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man (2017) #3
  19. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #s 316-317
  20. JSA (2024) #s 13-18
  21. Batman (1940) #s 398-399
  22. Detective Comics (1935) #s 564-567
  23. Batman Annual (1961) #10
  24. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #s 318-319
  25. Flash Gordon (2024) #1
  26. Batman (1940) #400
  27. Justice League of America (1960) #98
  28. The New Teen Titans (1980) #6
  29. Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man (2017) #4
  30. Amazing Spider-Man: Family Business OGN
  31. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 546-548 (Start of Brand New Day era)
  32. Justice League of America (1960) #99
  33. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #320
  34. SNAFU #s 1-3
  35. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 549-551
  36. The Adventures of Superman (1986) #500
  37. Action Comics (1938) #687
  38. Superman: The Man of Steel (1991) #22
  39. Superman: The Man of Steel Annual (1992) #2
  40. Justice League of America (1960) #s 100-101
  41. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 552-554
  42. Absolute Green Lantern #s 8-14
  43. Zatanna (2025) #s 1-2
  44. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 555-557
  45. The War
  46. The Amazing Spider-Man (2025) #28
  47. Captain Marvel: Dark Past #2
  48. Civil War: Unmasked #1
  49. Fantastic Four (2025) #10
  50. MutoManiac (Dark & Golden)
  51. X-Men (2024) #29
  52. Wonder Man (2026) #2
  53. Destination Kill #1
  54. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 558-561
  55. Black Market Presents: Tree App
  56. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 562-563
  57. Iron Man (1968) #108
  58. Star Wars (1977) #7
  59. Zatanna (2025) #3
  60. Justice League of America (1960) #102
  61. Superman (1986) #78
  62. The Adventures of Superman (1986) #501
  63. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #564
  64. DC/Marvel: Superman/Spider-Man #1
  65. Superboy & the Legion of Super-Heroes #247
  66. Justice League of America (1960) #103
  67. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 565-567
  68. The Champions (1975) #4
  69. The Avengers (1963) #s 164-166
  70. Zatanna (2025) #4
  71. Jubilee: Deadly Reunion #1
  72. Blackhawks (2011) #2
  73. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 568-574
  74. Zatanna (2025) #5
  75. Knight Terrors #2
  76. 2000 AD Prog 2483 (Judge Dredd and Brink stories only)
  77. Machine Man (1978) #1
  78. Transformers (2024) #32
  79. Judge Dredd Megazine #492
  80. Zatanna (2025) #6
  81. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 575-577
  82. Action Comics (1938) #688
  83. Superman: The Man of Steel (1991) #23
  84. Superman (1986) #79
  85. Superman Annual (1987) #5
  86. The Adventures of Superman (1986) #502
  87. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 578-580
  88. The Amazing Spider-Man: Extra! #1
  89. Zatanna (2026) #1
  90. Wade Wilson: Deadpool #4
  91. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 581-588
  92. The Amazing Spider-Man: Extra! #s 2-3
  93. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 589-591
  94. Knight Terrors #s 3-4
  95. Knight Terrors: Night’s End #1
  96. Titans: Beast World #s 1-3
  97. Titans (2023) #s 6-7
  98. Titans: Beast World #s 4-6
  99. Action Comics #1064
  100. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 592-594
  101. Amazing Spider-Man Family (2008) #s 1-6
  102. Secret Invasion: Spider-Man #s 1-3
  103. The Amazing Spider-Man Annual (2008) #1 (#35 overall but renumbered and then they resume the numbering for the next one?)
  104. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 595-599
  105. Dark Reign: Mister Negative #s 1-2
  106. Captain America (2025) #11
  107. Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #1
  108. Iron Man (2026) #5
  109. The Mortal Thor #10
  110. Ultimate Endgame #4
  111. Dark Reign: Mister Negative #3
  112. The Amazing Spider-Man Annual (2008) #36
  113. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #600
  114. The Amazing Spider-Man/Venom: Death Spiral: Body Count #1
  115. Black Cat (2025) #10
  116. Uncanny X-Men (2024) #28
  117. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #601
  118. Amazing Spider-Man Family (2008) #s 7-8
  119. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 602-604
  120. Green Arrow (2016) #s 18-20
  121. Action Comics #s 973-976
  122. Superman (2016) #s 18-19
  123. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #605
  124. Action Comics (1938) #689
  125. Action Comics Annual #5
  126. Superman: The Man of Steel (1991) #24
  127. Superman (1986) #80
  128. The Adventures of Superman (1986) #503
  129. Batman Eternal #s 3-4
  130. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 606-607
  131. Batman Eternal #5
  132. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #608
  133. Action Comics (1938) #690
  134. Superman: The Man of Steel (1991) #25
  135. Superman (1986) #81
  136. The Adventures of Superman (1986) #504
  137. Green Arrow (2016) #21
  138. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 609-610
  139. Daredevil (2011) #1
  140. The Defenders (1972) #102
  141. Batman Eternal #s 6-9
  142. Machine Man (1978) #2
  143. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 611-614
  144. Machine Man (1978) #3
  145. Web of Spider-Man (2009) #s 1-2
  146. Action Comics (1938) #691
  147. Superman: The Man of Steel (1991) #26
  148. Superman (1986) #82
  149. The Adventures of Superman (1986) #505
  150. Batman Eternal #10
  151. Daredevil (2011) #2
  152. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 615-616
  153. The Amazing Spider-Man Presents: Jackpot #1
  154. Web of Spider-Man (2009) #3
  155. Batman Eternal #11
  156. 2000 AD Prog 2484 (Judge Dredd and Brink stories only)
  157. Justice League Unlimited (2024) #19
  158. Batman (2025) #10
  159. Justice League: Dream Girls – A DC Pride Event #1
  160. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 617-620
  161. Web of Spider-Man (2009) #4
  162. Batman Eternal #12
  163. Superman (2023) #38
  164. Batman (2016) #163 (Much delayed last chapter of H2SH, and oof.)
  165. Machine Man (1978) #4
  166. Batman Eternal #s 13-14
  167. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 621-622
  168. Web of Spider-Man (2009) #5
  169. Daredevil (2011) #3
  170. Machine Man (1984) #1
  171. Batman Eternal #s 15-20
  172. Paradax #s 1-2
  173. Summer of Love (Full newspaper strip run)
  174. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 623-626
  175. Peter Parker (2010) #1
  176. Web of Spider-Man (2009) #6
  177. Batman Eternal #s 21-24
  178. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 627-629
  179. Peter Parker (2010) #2
  180. Absolute Green Lantern #15
  181. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 630-633
  182. The Many Loves of the Amazing Spider-Man #1
  183. The Amazing Spider-Man Annual (2008) #37
  184. Peter Parker (2010) #s 3-4
  185. Web of Spider-Man (2009) #7
  186. The Amazing Spider-Man Presents: American Son #s 1-4
  187. Peter Parker (2010) #5
  188. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #634
  189. Batman Eternal #s 25-26
  190. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 635-637
  191. Web of Spider-Man (2009) #s 8-12
  192. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 638-641
  193. The Amazing Spider-Man Presents: Jackpot #s 2-3
  194. The Amazing Spider-Man Presents: Anti-Venom – New Ways to Live #s 1-3
  195. The Amazing Spider-Man Presents: Black Cat #s 1-4
  196. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 642-647 (End of Brand New Day era)
  197. Dark Reign – The List: The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (I forgot this one Brand New Day one-shot!)
  198. 1st Issue Special #1
  199. Machine Man (1978) #5
  200. Web of Spider-Man (1985) #35
  201. Batman Eternal #27
  202. Justice League of America (1960) #104
  203. Sleeper #s 1-2
  204. Point Blank #1
  205. Wolverine: Weapons of Armageddon #4
  206. Ultimate Impact: Reborn #1
  207. Machine Man (1978) #6
  208. Point Blank #s 2-5
  209. Gen 13 (1995) #s 25-28
  210. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #648 (First issue of Big Time)
  211. The Amazing Spider-Man (2025) #29
  212. Venom #258
  213. Captain America (2025) #s 6-11 (Complete Doom’s Shadow storyline)
  214. Machine Man (1978) #7
  215. GAG! (2022) #1
  216. The Great British Bump-Off: Kill or Be Quilt #s 1-4
  217. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #649
  218. Osborn #1
  219. GAG! (2022) #2
  220. Machine Man (1978) #s 8-9 (End of the Kirby run)
  221. Red Hulk (2025) #s 1-5
  222. Osborn #2
  223. Red Hulk (2025) #s 6-10
  224. Fantastic Four (2025) #11
  225. Inglorious X-Force #s 4-5
  226. Sleeper #3 (And Elliott Smith’s “Miss Misery” is in my head as a result.)
  227. My First Paying Job as a Comicker (Eddie Campbell and Phil Elliott)
  228. Action Comics #1099
  229. Barbara Gordon: Breakout #2
  230. Justice League: Dream Girls – A DC Pride Event #2
  231. Cyclops (2026) #s 1-2
  232. Archie’s Madhouse #s 22, 24 (Sabrina the Teenage Witch stories only)
  233. Batman Eternal #s 28-31
  234. Brightest Day #s 0-1
  235. Sleeper #4
  236. JSA (2025) #20
  237. New History of the DC Universe: The Dakota Incident #1
  238. DC K.O.: The Kids are All Fight #1
  239. Sleeper #5
  240. Batman and Robin: Year One #1
  241. Brightest Day #s 2-3
  242. Marvel Fanfare (1994) #4
  243. Longshot (1998) #1
  244. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #650
  245. Sleeper #s 6-7
  246. 2000 AD Prog 2485 (Judge Dredd and Brink stories only)
  247. Batman and Robin: Year One #2
  248. Sleeper #8
  249. Pirate Corp$ (1987) #1
  250. Batman Eternal #s 32-37
  251. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #651
  252. Sleeper #s 9-12
  253. Sleeper: Season Two #1
  254. The Human Target (2021) #s 1-2
  255. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 652-654.1
  256. Batman and Robin: Year One #3
  257. Sleeper: Season Two #2
  258. Batman and Robin: Year One #4
  259. Sleeper: Season Two #3
  260. Batman and Robin: Year One #s 5-6
  261. Venom (2011) #1
  262. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 655-657
  263. Osborn #3
  264. Batman and Robin: Year One #7
  265. Sleeper: Season Two #4
  266. Batman and Robin: Year One #s 8-9
  267. Sleeper: Season Two #5
  268. Batman and Robin: Year One #10
  269. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #658
  270. Batman Eternal #38
  271. Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #31
  272. Venom (2011) #s 2-4
  273. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 659-660
  274. Fear Itself: Spider-Man #s 1-3
  275. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 661-662
  276. Sleeper: Season Two #s 6-7
  277. DC/Wildstorm: Dreamwar #s 1-3
  278. The Authority (2003) #1
  279. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #663
  280. Sleeper: Season Two #s 8-9
  281. The Infernal Hulk #7
  282. Sleeper: Season Two #s 10
  283. The Sentry (2026) #3
  284. The Ultimates (2024) #24
  285. Wiccan and Hulkling: Raid of Ultron #1
  286. X-Men (2024) #30
  287. Sleeper: Season Two #s 11-12
  288. Video Jack #s 1-2
  289. Justice League: Dream Girls – A DC Pride Event #3
  290. Cyborg (2023) #1
  291. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 664-665
  292. Osborn #s 4-5
  293. Spider-Man: Chapter One #s 1-2
  294. Hulk ‘99 Annual #1
  295. Video Jack #3
  296. Absent Friends (1980s Paul Grist & Phil Elliott shorts anthology)
  297. 5 (self-published Becky Cloonan/Fabio Moon/Gabriel Ba etc. anthology)
  298. Rock ‘n’ Roll (Moon/Ba anthology)
  299. I Have No Idea What I’m Doing (Meggie Ramm minicomic)
  300. I Still Have No Idea What I’m Doing (Meggie Ramm minicomic)
  301. Charlesh! (Maybe Jay Edidin? minicomic)
  302. Batman and Robin: Year One #s 11-12
  303. Video Jack #4
  304. Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1
  305. Spider-Man: Chapter One #3
  306. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #666
  307. Video Jack #5
  308. The Transformers: The Movie #1 40th Anniversary Edition
  309. 2000 AD Prog 2486 (Judge Dredd and Brink stories only)
  310. Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers (2026) #1
  311. In Your Skin #2
  312. Video Jack #6 
  313. New Titans (2023) #36
  314. Batwoman (2026) #4
  315. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 667-668
  316. Cyborg (2023) #2
  317. Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #2
  318. The Authority (2003) #2
  319. Cyborg (2023) #3
  320. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 669-673
  321. Avenging Spider-Man #1
  322. Scarlet Spider (2012) #1
  323. Venom (2011) #s 5-9
  324. Cyborg (2023) #4
  325. Batman Eternal #s 39-41
  326. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #674
  327. Daredevil (2011) #s 3-7
  328. The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 675-676
  329. The Punisher (2011) #s 1-5
  330. Brightest Day #s 4-7
  331. Spider-Man: Chapter One #s 5-7
  332. Cyborg (2023) #s 5-6