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.
- Batman (1940) #395
- Detective Comics (1935) #562
- Batman (1940) #396
- G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #s 307-315
- Strange Scales Infinity Comic #1
- Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #93
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #s 258-259
- Marvel Team-Up (1972) #s 145-146
- Detective Comics (1935) #563
- Batman (1940) #397
- Energon Universe 2026 Special #1
- 2000 AD Prog 2482 (Brink story only)
- Marvel Team-Up (1972) #s 146-150
- Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man (1976) #s 94-100
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1963) #s 260-262
- Web of Spider-Man (1985) #1
- New Titans (2023) #35
- Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man (2017) #3
- G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #s 316-317
- JSA (2024) #s 13-18
- Batman (1940) #s 398-399
- Detective Comics (1935) #s 564-567
- Batman Annual (1961) #10
- G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #s 318-319
- Flash Gordon (2024) #1
- Batman (1940) #400
- Justice League of America (1960) #98
- The New Teen Titans (1980) #6
- Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man (2017) #4
- Amazing Spider-Man: Family Business OGN
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 546-548 (Start of Brand New Day era)
- Justice League of America (1960) #99
- G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #320
- SNAFU #s 1-3
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 549-551
- The Adventures of Superman (1986) #500
- Action Comics (1938) #687
- Superman: The Man of Steel (1991) #22
- Superman: The Man of Steel Annual (1992) #2
- Justice League of America (1960) #s 100-101
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 552-554
- Absolute Green Lantern #s 8-14
- Zatanna (2025) #s 1-2
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 555-557
- The War
- The Amazing Spider-Man (2025) #28
- Captain Marvel: Dark Past #2
- Civil War: Unmasked #1
- Fantastic Four (2025) #10
- MutoManiac (Dark & Golden)
- X-Men (2024) #29
- Wonder Man (2026) #2
- Destination Kill #1
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 558-561
- Black Market Presents: Tree App
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 562-563
- Iron Man (1968) #108
- Star Wars (1977) #7
- Zatanna (2025) #3
- Justice League of America (1960) #102
- Superman (1986) #78
- The Adventures of Superman (1986) #501
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #564
- DC/Marvel: Superman/Spider-Man #1
- Superboy & the Legion of Super-Heroes #247
- Justice League of America (1960) #103
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 565-567
- The Champions (1975) #4
- The Avengers (1963) #s 164-166
- Zatanna (2025) #4
- Jubilee: Deadly Reunion #1
- Blackhawks (2011) #2
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 568-574
- Zatanna (2025) #5
- Knight Terrors #2
- 2000 AD Prog 2483 (Judge Dredd and Brink stories only)
- Machine Man (1978) #1
- Transformers (2024) #32
- Judge Dredd Megazine #492
- Zatanna (2025) #6
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 575-577
- Action Comics (1938) #688
- Superman: The Man of Steel (1991) #23
- Superman (1986) #79
- Superman Annual (1987) #5
- The Adventures of Superman (1986) #502
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 578-580
- The Amazing Spider-Man: Extra! #1
- Zatanna (2026) #1
- Wade Wilson: Deadpool #4
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 581-588
- The Amazing Spider-Man: Extra! #s 2-3
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 589-591
- Knight Terrors #s 3-4
- Knight Terrors: Night’s End #1
- Titans: Beast World #s 1-3
- Titans (2023) #s 6-7
- Titans: Beast World #s 4-6
- Action Comics #1064
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 592-594
- Amazing Spider-Man Family (2008) #s 1-6
- Secret Invasion: Spider-Man #s 1-3
- The Amazing Spider-Man Annual (2008) #1 (#35 overall but renumbered and then they resume the numbering for the next one?)
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 595-599
- Dark Reign: Mister Negative #s 1-2
- Captain America (2025) #11
- Spectacular Spider-Man: Brand New Day #1
- Iron Man (2026) #5
- The Mortal Thor #10
- Ultimate Endgame #4
- Dark Reign: Mister Negative #3
- The Amazing Spider-Man Annual (2008) #36
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #600
- The Amazing Spider-Man/Venom: Death Spiral: Body Count #1
- Black Cat (2025) #10
- Uncanny X-Men (2024) #28
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #601
- Amazing Spider-Man Family (2008) #s 7-8
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 602-604
- Green Arrow (2016) #s 18-20
- Action Comics #s 973-976
- Superman (2016) #s 18-19
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #605
- Action Comics (1938) #689
- Action Comics Annual #5
- Superman: The Man of Steel (1991) #24
- Superman (1986) #80
- The Adventures of Superman (1986) #503
- Batman Eternal #s 3-4
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 606-607
- Batman Eternal #5
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #608
- Action Comics (1938) #690
- Superman: The Man of Steel (1991) #25
- Superman (1986) #81
- The Adventures of Superman (1986) #504
- Green Arrow (2016) #21
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 609-610
- Daredevil (2011) #1
- The Defenders (1972) #102
- Batman Eternal #s 6-9
- Machine Man (1978) #2
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 611-614
- Machine Man (1978) #3
- Web of Spider-Man (2009) #s 1-2
- Action Comics (1938) #691
- Superman: The Man of Steel (1991) #26
- Superman (1986) #82
- The Adventures of Superman (1986) #505
- Batman Eternal #10
- Daredevil (2011) #2
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 615-616
- The Amazing Spider-Man Presents: Jackpot #1
- Web of Spider-Man (2009) #3
- Batman Eternal #11
- 2000 AD Prog 2484 (Judge Dredd and Brink stories only)
- Justice League Unlimited (2024) #19
- Batman (2025) #10
- Justice League: Dream Girls – A DC Pride Event #1
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 617-620
- Web of Spider-Man (2009) #4
- Batman Eternal #12
- Superman (2023) #38
- Batman (2016) #163 (Much delayed last chapter of H2SH, and oof.)
- Machine Man (1978) #4
- Batman Eternal #s 13-14
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 621-622
- Web of Spider-Man (2009) #5
- Daredevil (2011) #3
- Machine Man (1984) #1
- Batman Eternal #s 15-20
- Paradax #s 1-2
- Summer of Love (Full newspaper strip run)
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 623-626
- Peter Parker (2010) #1
- Web of Spider-Man (2009) #6
- Batman Eternal #s 21-24
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 627-629
- Peter Parker (2010) #2
- Absolute Green Lantern #15
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 630-633
- The Many Loves of the Amazing Spider-Man #1
- The Amazing Spider-Man Annual (2008) #37
- Peter Parker (2010) #s 3-4
- Web of Spider-Man (2009) #7
- The Amazing Spider-Man Presents: American Son #s 1-4
- Peter Parker (2010) #5
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #634
- Batman Eternal #s 25-26
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 635-637
- Web of Spider-Man (2009) #s 8-12
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 638-641
- The Amazing Spider-Man Presents: Jackpot #s 2-3
- The Amazing Spider-Man Presents: Anti-Venom – New Ways to Live #s 1-3
- The Amazing Spider-Man Presents: Black Cat #s 1-4
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 642-647 (End of Brand New Day era)
- Dark Reign – The List: The Amazing Spider-Man #1 (I forgot this one Brand New Day one-shot!)
- 1st Issue Special #1
- Machine Man (1978) #5
- Web of Spider-Man (1985) #35
- Batman Eternal #27
- Justice League of America (1960) #104
- Sleeper #s 1-2
- Point Blank #1
- Wolverine: Weapons of Armageddon #4
- Ultimate Impact: Reborn #1
- Machine Man (1978) #6
- Point Blank #s 2-5
- Gen 13 (1995) #s 25-28
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #648 (First issue of Big Time)
- The Amazing Spider-Man (2025) #29
- Venom #258
- Captain America (2025) #s 6-11 (Complete Doom’s Shadow storyline)
- Machine Man (1978) #7
- GAG! (2022) #1
- The Great British Bump-Off: Kill or Be Quilt #s 1-4
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #649
- Osborn #1
- GAG! (2022) #2
- Machine Man (1978) #s 8-9 (End of the Kirby run)
- Red Hulk (2025) #s 1-5
- Osborn #2
- Red Hulk (2025) #s 6-10
- Fantastic Four (2025) #11
- Inglorious X-Force #s 4-5
- Sleeper #3 (And Elliott Smith’s “Miss Misery” is in my head as a result.)
- My First Paying Job as a Comicker (Eddie Campbell and Phil Elliott)
- Action Comics #1099
- Barbara Gordon: Breakout #2
- Justice League: Dream Girls – A DC Pride Event #2
- Cyclops (2026) #s 1-2
- Archie’s Madhouse #s 22, 24 (Sabrina the Teenage Witch stories only)
- Batman Eternal #s 28-31
- Brightest Day #s 0-1
- Sleeper #4
- JSA (2025) #20
- New History of the DC Universe: The Dakota Incident #1
- DC K.O.: The Kids are All Fight #1
- Sleeper #5
- Batman and Robin: Year One #1
- Brightest Day #s 2-3
- Marvel Fanfare (1994) #4
- Longshot (1998) #1
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #650
- Sleeper #s 6-7
- 2000 AD Prog 2485 (Judge Dredd and Brink stories only)
- Batman and Robin: Year One #2
- Sleeper #8
- Pirate Corp$ (1987) #1
- Batman Eternal #s 32-37
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #651
- Sleeper #s 9-12
- Sleeper: Season Two #1
- The Human Target (2021) #s 1-2
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 652-654.1
- Batman and Robin: Year One #3
- Sleeper: Season Two #2
- Batman and Robin: Year One #4
- Sleeper: Season Two #3
- Batman and Robin: Year One #s 5-6
- Venom (2011) #1
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 655-657
- Osborn #3
- Batman and Robin: Year One #7
- Sleeper: Season Two #4
- Batman and Robin: Year One #s 8-9
- Sleeper: Season Two #5
- Batman and Robin: Year One #10
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #658
- Batman Eternal #38
- Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #31
- Venom (2011) #s 2-4
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 659-660
- Fear Itself: Spider-Man #s 1-3
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 661-662
- Sleeper: Season Two #s 6-7
- DC/Wildstorm: Dreamwar #s 1-3
- The Authority (2003) #1
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #663
- Sleeper: Season Two #s 8-9
- The Infernal Hulk #7
- Sleeper: Season Two #s 10
- The Sentry (2026) #3
- The Ultimates (2024) #24
- Wiccan and Hulkling: Raid of Ultron #1
- X-Men (2024) #30
- Sleeper: Season Two #s 11-12
- Video Jack #s 1-2
- Justice League: Dream Girls – A DC Pride Event #3
- Cyborg (2023) #1
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 664-665
- Osborn #s 4-5
- Spider-Man: Chapter One #s 1-2
- Hulk ‘99 Annual #1
- Video Jack #3
- Absent Friends (1980s Paul Grist & Phil Elliott shorts anthology)
- 5 (self-published Becky Cloonan/Fabio Moon/Gabriel Ba etc. anthology)
- Rock ‘n’ Roll (Moon/Ba anthology)
- I Have No Idea What I’m Doing (Meggie Ramm minicomic)
- I Still Have No Idea What I’m Doing (Meggie Ramm minicomic)
- Charlesh! (Maybe Jay Edidin? minicomic)
- Batman and Robin: Year One #s 11-12
- Video Jack #4
- Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #1
- Spider-Man: Chapter One #3
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #666
- Video Jack #5
- The Transformers: The Movie #1 40th Anniversary Edition
- 2000 AD Prog 2486 (Judge Dredd and Brink stories only)
- Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers (2026) #1
- In Your Skin #2
- Video Jack #6
- New Titans (2023) #36
- Batwoman (2026) #4
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 667-668
- Cyborg (2023) #2
- Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos #2
- The Authority (2003) #2
- Cyborg (2023) #3
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 669-673
- Avenging Spider-Man #1
- Scarlet Spider (2012) #1
- Venom (2011) #s 5-9
- Cyborg (2023) #4
- Batman Eternal #s 39-41
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #674
- Daredevil (2011) #s 3-7
- The Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #s 675-676
- The Punisher (2011) #s 1-5
- Brightest Day #s 4-7
- Spider-Man: Chapter One #s 5-7
- Cyborg (2023) #s 5-6