ND 12-2024

AQUAMAN #49
Plot by EXCITER
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art by JIM LEE
“BABY SHARK”
At last, Arthur Curry sits upon the throne of Atlantis again! Now that the Kingdom’s struggles with the Lords of Order and Chaos are concluded, it’s finally time to celebrate! Let’s all GET WET!
And it’s perfect timing, too, because in Atlantis it’s Selachimorpha Festum: the Festival of Sharks! This is traditionally the biggest underwater party of the year as the annual spawn of Chondrakha, the god of sharks, is born and takes its first swim! There’s feasting and swimming and singing (do do dodo do) and it’s generally awesome!
Flash Aquaman Fact: Great white sharks are ovoviviparous, meaning the eggs hatch inside the female's body and the young are born live!
This year, though, there’s a complication. Aquaman with have to fight… for his right…to party!
Recent events diverted attention away from important Atlantean duties - like monitoring the Trench. Now the Trench creatures are overgrown and expanding outwards. They’re looking for food, and nothing is tastier (or more empowering) than divine Baby Shark!
It’s up to Aquaman, Crablad, Ocean Master, Mera and the other heroes of Atlantis to push the Trench back into their eponymous trench and save the Festival. It’s especially important for Nanaue, a.k.a. King Shark, to protect the 2024 Baby Shark - after all, it’s his half-brother!
32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

ATOMICA #6
Plotter: CaptCleghorn
Writer: Grant Morrison
Art: Frank Quitely
“One Less Atomica to Fry!”
It’s come down to this. Both Atomicas are real, but only one belongs with the Earth she has been currently dwelling on. Truthfully with infinite universes, differences can come down to what jelly you put on your english muffin at breakfast on May 16th, 2019. Alexander Luthor, the duplicate of our Earth’s Lex Luthor’s son from one of the two Atomica’s homeworlds pushes one of the Atomicas (Atomica A). Pariah, the sole figure in the multiverse pushes the other, Atomica 1.
It’s a comic book, so of course, the two are going to fight it out. And both are trained, dirty fighters, and also educated in their powers. One wins, one dies.
32pp $2.99 rated T

BAT-WING #64
Writer: Malcolm Jones
Artist: Dexter Soy
Plotter: Marvell2100
To Live and Die in the Congo! Part IV
Kia and Rick, after trying to protect the vigilante Dawn were about to be executed by Ravager and her death squad until Bronze Tiger came into rescue them, killing most of the assassins! However, Ravager escaped with Dawn and now Kia asks Bronze Tiger to help them find and save Dawn before it's too late! Back at David's place, he Matu and Dakota are trying to get answers! They found David's brother Isaac but he isn't Massacre, someone else has been going around doing the killing! David feels relieved that his brother hasn't become a killer again but now they have a new problem. As they try to figure out who the new Massacre is Isaac begins to slowly come out of his haze and says one name, a name that David hasn't thought of for a long time: Kinto Raxsum! Next Issue: Darkest Before The Dawn!
32 PGS./Rated T+...$3.99

DETECTIVE COMICS #39
Story by ANDY MANGELS
Art by MIKE ALLRED
Plot by CAPTCLEGHORN
The Sarah Collins Home for Orphaned Children opening was a success. Bruce Wayne’s ward Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon, quickly advancing librarian in the Gotham Public Library (GPL) are driving up the GPL bookmobile with a handpicked selection of educational books so the children in the Sarah Collins Home and Collinsport will have opportunities to learn and grow.
By the way, has anyone else noticed how much Barbara Gordon looks like the late eighteenth century figure Josette Collins? Barnabas has.
By the way, buy this issue or we put David Collins in a Robin suit. We’re finally serious.
32pp, $2.99, rated all ages

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THE FLASH #64
Plot by EXCITER
Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN
Art by FRANK CHO
“THE CLASH” part two
When Barry Allen speeds onto the scene, he arrives to find that Wally West has just beaten the ever-lovin’ crap out of Barry’s grandfather. Ut oh…
The disagreement over Mark “PDQ” Thompson and his suitability as a “hero” created an emotional and ideological fracture within the Flash Family. It’s a deeply personal rift based on perceptions of betrayal, loyalty, and the burden of past actions - and it’s been slowly growing over the last several months. Now, it has finally come to blows!
To Wally, PDQ is an amoral killer with a hidden agenda that is trying to corrupt his grandson. To Barry, PDQ is family with a checkered past that deserves an opportunity to make amends for his misdeeds. Who is right? Who is wrong? It seems that speedster fists are about to decide!
Two Flashes. One fight. One victor. Who will it be? And can their relationship ever be the same?
32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

Oath of the Green Lantern #64
Written by Deniz Camp
Plot by H-E-D
Art by Christian Ward
“Let Those Who Worship Evil’s Might”
Earth’s newest Lantern rises!
Wielding the Ring of Malvolio, Lantern 2814.5, Kyle Rayner, is on the job!
One problem: nobody is there to teach him what the job is.
Looks like Malvolio’s ring isn’t quite back to factory settings after all!
Kyle is a sweet guy, a sensitive soul — an artist.
He’s seen what Green Lanterns can do, on the news, on social media clips, what have you…
With abilities like that, Kyle knows he can do some real good for the world, for his community.
But when Kyle’s first attempt at crime fighting causes more problems than it solves, he attracts some unwanted attention.
Alan Scott, now Sentinel, and his children, Jade Yifei and Obsidian, gained their powers from the Emerald Flame, one of the seven fragments of the ur-magical Starheart!
Once, they were part of a global conspiracy called Meridian… but, they got better. Now they’re heroes!
Can Kyle Rayner stop his haywire ring from flattening DTLA before this family trio brands him a supervillain?
32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

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JLα #21
Plot by NX01A
Written by WARREN ELLIS
Art by JEFF SPOKES
'ALPHα & ΩMEGA' Part 4 'LURKS IN THE HEART'
•Dial H for HERO CRUZ and CASSANDRA 'HUSH' CAIN search for the older JLα members but are confronted instead by the final Companions of the Black Star as the old year winds down.
•These children aren't part of the OLD MAN's grand design (See the Next Dawn Holiday Special on sale now!) yet they might endanger it, so it falls to the benighted NYCTALOPE to silence Hush while the telepathic Egyptian AOUR-RUOA aborts superheroic wish-fulfilments as quickly as Hero's mind and H Dial can birth them.
•Hope may come at the stroke of midnight from the most unlikely place, as even alphas need betas.
Profil des l'Étoile Noire
NYCTALOPE (Léon Saint-Clair)
Powers: Optic Enhancement (E.M. Vision, Mesmerism); Artificial Heart (Enhanced Stamina)
Intelligence: 4 | Strength: 3 | Speed: 2 | Durability: 3 | Energy Projection: 3 | Fighting Skills: 5
AOUR-RUOA
Powers: Telepathy (Mind Reading, Mind Control, Psionic Cloaking)
Intelligence: 5 | Strength: 2 | Speed: 2 | Durability: 2 | Energy Projection: 5 | Fighting Skills: 4
32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99

NIGHT FORCE #6
Plotter: CaptCleghorn
Writer: R A Salvatore
Art: Sana Takeda
“SinEater, conclusion”
Donovan Caine is dead. On one leg, he held off the decaying body of the Sin Eater allowing Carrie, Bonnie, and Marian to survive. Caine died pure and totally free of sin. He gave his life for others and as a result, a crack in our reality occurred and a momentary glimpse into Heaven was seen.
Carrie Kelley stares into the light and in the same direction for minutes after the light fades, crying. Marian Mercer claims to have seen nothing. Bonnie Baxter sees the crack and the light but feels empty. Baron Winters is visibly shaken while his leopard companion Merlin is unusually close and caring.
The latest version of Baron Winters’ Night Force is tasked with the necessary handling of the creature called the Sin Eater. Is it a true representation of God and Satan or collections of man’s positive and negative emotions?
Carrie wants to help. Bonnie wants to find out. Marian wants to punish. But they all agree that the Sin Eater must be stopped. Immediately and permanently.
32pp $2.99 rated M Mature Audiences ONLY


ORION OF APOKOLIPS #4 [Legacy #48]
Writer: Mark Evanier
Art: David Marquez
Plot: Marvell2100
INTO THE BADLANDS!
In the realm of Helheim, Orion, Forager, Valkyrie and Lightray are confronted by Morta, the Roman Goddess of Death and new ruler of Helheim! She found her prize, the crown of Hela, the former Queen of the Dead and claimed this land as her own! She wants to know why the living walk through her realm unannounced! Valkyrie quickly removes her sword from its' scabbard and tells Morta to return the crown of Hela to her, lest she remove it from her corpse! It does not belong to an interloper and thief!
Lightray quickly intervenes and tells Morta that they were sent here by the Fates for reasons that they don't understand. Morta then laughs and tells them that they are the fools who are prophesied as the "living who walk among the dead". There is a mystery, a question to be solved, something that has existed for over many millenia: Who or what killed the Old Gods? The were all killed during Ragnarok this is known, but what was behind Ragnarok? This is what they have been tasked with to discover and to prevent a similar fate from befalling The New Gods!
On the distant planet Barakos, a secret meeting is held between Scott Free and Haedes. Scott asks why does the ruler of Apokolips need help from New Genesis? Haedes tells him that as long as Orion was on the throne of Apokolips, the peace between their two worlds lasted. Now that he is gone, that peace may be gone as well! He does not want to fight a war with New Genesis but there are powerful forces on Apokolips who would like nothing more than to return the ways of old when there was constant conflict between them! Haedes tells Scott that if he wants to prevent another war from beginning between Apokolips and New Genesis, he needs his help! Scott must help him kill his mother Tigra!
The Zyphorean Sea, a giant primordial ooze of cosmic matter on a long dead and forgotten planet. It has existed for as long as the universe, unseen and undisturbed until now. Suddenly, something rises from the cosmic matter, a humanoid figure. It steps forward, unsteady like a newborn gathering itself. Then, it looks skyward and thinks to itself that the stars seem different, more dull than before. Growing stronger with each passing moment, it reaches down to help another emerge from the cosmic waste. They both kneel, saying a prayer to gods gone long before them. Then, they take to the cosmic space ways to begin the search for something that was lost, no, ...stolen from them and woe to any who would stand in their way!
32 PGS./Rated T+...$3.99
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ROBIN: SON OF BATMAN #4
Plot by EXCITER
Written by MARK MILLAR
Art by JOE MADUREIRA
“DON’T TRUST THE SCIENCE”
After his confrontation with Copperhead, a defector from the Cult of Kobra, Robin now knows that he is the subject of a doomsday prophecy. But how could he possibly bring about the end of the world? He’s a mere mortal boy, albeit a boy wonder. Moreover, he’s one of the good guys… if not the best!
As an unparalleled (in his estimation) detective, the young Damian Wayne concludes that the prophecy must have something to do with his maternal grandfather: the immortal R’as Al Ghul, leader of the League of Assassins! Damian’s investigation quickly pays off, as he discovers that R’as has used his resources to effectively take over a U.S. Army R&D compound on Gotham’s outskirts (the “Command-D” Compound). But why?
As Robin sneaks in, he discovers the lead scientist at Command-D is none other than the young Dr. Abel Cuvier (remember the biologist that was kidnapped by Killer Croc and rescued by Robin in Issue #1?). That would be an astounding coincidence… if Robin believed in coincidences!
Robin learns Cuvier, at the behest of R’as, is developing some kind of mutagen called “Cortexin.” But before he learns more… he’s discovered by Cuvier! And this guy isn’t just some science nerd anymore - he’s spliced his genes with (at least as far as Damian can tell) a hawk, a tiger, and a snake! Can Robin survive his encounter with… Chimera?!
32 PGs./Rated T+ …$2.99



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NEXT DAWN HOLIDAY SPECIAL #6
An anthology of non-stop holiday cheer!
“NEXT DAWN AND CHILL”
Plot by EXCITER
Written by ROBERT KIRKMAN
Art by FRANK CHO
'Tis the season… for rivalry! Two of the world's most infamous ice-powered villains—Captain Cold and Mr. Freeze—are on a mission to recruit the ultimate winter weapon: Frosty the Snowman! Each see the living snowman as a powerful asset for their criminal schemes, but they aren’t the only ones with eyes on Frosty’s potential…
When Frosty’s magic hat - which has the power to animate snow creatures - is mysteriously stolen, the two cold-hearted masterminds engage in a heated battle to find the thief and recover it first! But has the trail gone cold?
Expect a heartwarming twist in this, the coolest story of the year!
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"RING OUT THE OLD" (A tale of the JLα!)
By NX01A, ALAN MOORE & EDDIE CAMPBELL
There are older human immortals but none shaped the trajectory of the species like the OLD MAN. While Century Babies and Millennium Babies strut upon Earth's stage for blinks of his eyes, the Old Man has shepherded homo sapiens as its Holocene Epoch Baby for the last 12,000 years. He gave early humanity gifts of farming and rearing, metalwork and pottery, paper and the wheel, clothes and medicine, and he's watched humanity continue to kill each other despite his bestowed wonders. As the world spirals into territory controlled by the avatars of entropy, will he and his Companions of the Black Star pull humanity back from ultimate destruction or mercy kill the species before it endures the end of all things?
Profil des l'Étoile Noire
OLD MAN (Obadiah Oldbuck, Monsieur Vieux Bois, Father Time, The Sorcerer, etc.)
Powers: Grand Unified Morphogenetic Field Resonance (Immortality; Nudging the Red, Green, Grey, Black, etc. allows limited reality manipulation.)
Intelligence: 6 | Strength: 6 | Speed: 7 [Teleportation] | Durability: 6 | Energy Projection: 6 | Fighting Skills: 6
“HOLIDAYS WITH HAL”
Written by Deniz Camp
Plot by H-E-D
Art by JT Waldman
Carol Ferris is spending the winter holidays with Hal Jordan’s family this year…
Which is a complicated proposition!
Hal’s family is Jewish on his mother’s side, the Jaffes, and Catholic on his father’s, the Jordans.
And this year, both sides of the family are celebrating together… because the first night of Hannukah is December 25, Christmas Day!
As Star Sapphire and Green Lantern, they’ve faced cosmic challenges… but as Carol and Hal, can they handle the holidays?!
36 PGs./Rated T+...2 Turtle Doves