While some Marvel and Image Comics titles made our top ten, it was DC Comics who dominated this week. They came out of the gates swinging with some of the best comic book fights and stories of the year. One of them will go down as one of the best battles ever.
On that note, let's start the list with that particular comic book.
Absolute Batman No. 14
- Writer: Scott Snyder
- Artist: Nick Dragotta
- Colors: Frank Martin
Absolute Batman No. 14 featured the best fight of 2025. But Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta didn’t just give readers the battle of the year; The Dark Knight’s victory over Bane added to Absolute Bruce Wayne’s story, too. This one is becoming more like Herculean lore than a comic book tale. And it's thrilling to see.
DC KO No. 2
- Writers: Scott Snyder and Joshua Williamson
- Artists: Javier Fernández and Xermánico
- Colors: Alejandro Sánchez
Protecting characters is important in comics. You can’t have someone easily defeated because it will make them look bad, and it will make it all the more unbelievable when they win their next fight. DC KO No. 2 managed to protect all of the losers while making the winners look good. Superman and Lex Luthor may have come out looking the strongest, but everyone looked good.
Supernatural No. 2
- Writer: Greg Pak
- Artist: Pasquale Qualano, Vincenzo Federici, Eder Messias, and Alessandro Ranaldi
- Colors: Ellie Wright
In this issue of the comic adaptation of the classic CW/WB series, Dean Winchester tries one of his classic get-rich schemes and almost loses everything. Through a twist of fate, Sam helps a ghost that saves him and his brother. In turn, they do the same.
This story proves that Greg Pak understands the characters of Supernatural and what made the show a classic. It’s no wonder he was excited to announce that he was writing this project.
Blood and Thunder No. 2
- Writer: Benito Cereno
- Artists: E. J. Su
- Colors: Michele Assarasakorn
The social commentary that I love about this series was on display. This time, writer Benito Cereno uses the alien planet’s mining as a way to discuss the atrocious things that happen in the prison system.
If not for the fights in DC KO and Absolute Batman, this issue of Blood and Thunder would have had the best action of the week. It was short, but smoothly drawn. There was also a good amount of banter that made the pages funny.
Superman No. 32
- Writer: Joshua Williamson
- Artist: Eddy Barrows
- Colors: Eber Ferreira
Lex Luthor explaining how and why he entered the tournament was exactly what people reading DC KO needed. And it wasn’t done in a boring way either. You got some banter between the villains and a grasp of why Luthor feels the way that he does. And, for once, this isn’t all about hubris. Luthor may actually be right about why Superman will lose.
Infernal Hulk No. 1
- Writer: Phillip Kennedy Johnson
- Artist: Nic Klein
- Colors: Matthew Wilson
The Eldest is now the Hulk, and they made their debut by brutalizing a military force in a way Bruce Banner/Hulk never did. It wasn’t that they couldn’t. They just held back. Well, the Eldest isn’t. For reference, I never knew what a Hulk thunder-clap could do to a person up close. Fun fact, it isn’t pretty. And don’t get me started on that ending. There are so many questions that need answering, and we’ll have to wait a month for the next issue.
This is only the beginning of what comic book readers are going to witness from the Eldest with the power of the Hulk. What Phillip Kennedy Johnson does going forward will be diabolical.
Absolute Wonder Woman No. 14
- Writer: Kelly Thompson
- Artist: Matías Bergara
- Colors: Jordie Bellaire
I continue to be amazed by this series's ability to use Greek lore more than Prime Earth's Wonder Woman. In this case, Gaia, Mother of Earth. What’s even more impressive is how Kelly Thompson showed the Absolute Universe as being more influenced by evil, while highlighting the things that happen in the real world.
Also, readers should pay close attention to whatever Zatanna did to Diana. While Wonder Woman says it’s a curse, I believe Zatanna did something to free herself from Veronica Cale. Maybe more will be revealed in the next issue when Absolute Wonder Woman meets her universe’s Batman.
Undeadpool
- Writer: Tim Seeley
- Artist: Carlos Magno
- Colors: Guru Efx
Deadpool is at his best when he’s protecting people, and it looks like Tim Seeley understands this. In issue 2 of Undeadpool, we see Wade protect a young kid named Fearless and give them some happiness in a world without it. As a major fan of the Merc with a Mouth, it was a joy to read. It was a reminder of how much Wade cares.
Expatriate X-Men No. 2
- Writer: Eve L. Ewing
- Artists: Francesco Mortarino
- Colors: Raul Angulo
Eve L. Ewing took her young characters from her run of Exceptional X-Men and showed how dark times can make good people do bad things. Expatriate X-Men No. 2 combines that amazing storytelling with phenomenal art. One picture in particular is the sad fate of one of the gentlest souls in comics.
Universal Monsters: The Invisible Man No. 4
- Writer: James Tynion IV
- Artist: DaNi
- Colors: Brad Simpson
James Tynion IV saved the best for last. It feels impossible to read this issue and not be drawn in by the story that was told. It became clear that Image Comics’ use of the classic monster movie characters is a brilliant idea. Comic book readers are seeing old stories told with new twists that don't ruin what came before.
Best of the week by category:
- Comic book pick of the week: Absolute Batman No. 14
- Hero of the week: Superman (DC KO No. 2)
- Villains of the week: Lex Luthor (DC KO No. 2 and Superman No.32 )
- Fight of the week: Batman vs Bane (Absolute Batman No. 14)
- Team of the week: The Terrific Ten (Justice League Unlimited No. 13)
- Moment of the week: The Eldest’s rampage (Infernal Hulk No. 1)
- Writer of the week: Scott Snyder (Absolute Batman No. 14 and DC KO)
- Artists of the week: Lorenzo Tammetta and Andrew Dalhouse for Cloak or Dagger No. 2
- Cover of the week: DaNi and Brad Simpson for Invisible Man No. 4
- Funny moment of the week: “Darksied is what…?” (The Flash No. 17)
- Underrated comic book of the week: Blood and Thunder No. 7
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