In our previous Bam Smack Pow must-read comic books article, Absolute Batman No. 22 led the way. It was another great issue, but one of the saddest because of what readers learned about Harley Quinn and her connection to Joker and Dr. Arkham. It showed that no matter the reality: The Joker is usually connected to Harley.
This week, we have a whole new list of comics. In this article, Image Comics and IDW Publishing show up a lot. With that in mind, let’s begin with another incredible story from IDW Dark.
Smile: For the Camera No. 5 (IDW)
- Writer: Hannah Rose May
- Artist: Miriana Puglia
- Colors: Dearbhla Kelly
Writer Hannah Rose May completed her flawless mini-series, Smile: For the Camera, by making readers wait until the end to see what happens to the main character. Does she die and pass on the Smile parasite, or survive and give it to someone else? I won’t spoil it, but the good news is this isn't the end. A new Smile title from IDW Comics begins in September, titled Smile: Any Given Smile.
X-Men No. 33 (Marvel)
- Writer: Deniz Camp
- Penciler: Tony Daniel
- Inker: Mark Morales
- Colors: Fer Sifuentes
In this issue, readers are reminded that Kid Omega, while he has grown, is still dealing with a lot. This is shown by the way he was more than happy to explain why killing Schwarzschild is a bad idea, but also okay with Benjamin Liu killing Schwarzschild later. It will be interesting to see if this leads to Liu becoming the X-Men's next villain.
Wonder Woman No. 35 (DC)
- Writer: Stephanie Williams
- Artist: Clayton Henry
- Colors: Pedro Estouco
Writer Stephanie Williams didn’t just tell a story of a young Wonder Woman here. She added to the lore of Themyscira and Queen Hippolyta. If you’re a fan of Diana Prince, DC Comics, or comic book lore, this is a must-read. In fact, it’s a must-read if you just enjoy a good story.
Assorted Crisis Events No. 9 (Image)
- Writer: Deniz Camp
- Artist: Eric Zawadzki
- Colors: Jordie Bellaire
Assorted Crisis Events returns with another brilliant time travel story with depth and a look at real life. In this tale, writer Deniz Camp shows the toxic side of the job industry and corporations and how it can turn good people into monsters. While the story is being told, artist Eric Zawadzki and colorist Jordie Bellaire show readers the horror of it all through amazing art.
Absolute Green Arrow No. 3 (DC)
- Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote
- Artist: Rafael Albuquerque
- Colors: Marcelo Maiolo
Dinah Lance (Black Canary) gets closer to the truth about what happened to Oliver Queen in this one, but the more she learns, the more confusing things become. If that wasn’t bad enough, Absolute Green Arrow No. 3 ends with the arrival of a terrifying villain. Here’s a hint to who it is: He was born on a Monday.
Sleepy Hollow: The Witches of Western Wood No. 3 (IDW)
- Writer: Delilah S. Dawson
- Artist: Jose Jaro
- Colors: Xenon Lopez
The way writer Deliliah S. Dawson has shown Sarah’s slow descent into dark magics in this Sleepy Hollow series has been perfect. At first, you understand why Sarah attempts to learn the art of being a witch. She was looked down on by most of the town. This leads to her becoming overprotective of her sister, Mary, and an even faster decline into evil arts.
Mister Nemo No. 1 (Mad Cave)
- Writer: Mark London
- Artist: Alden Kaye
- Colors: Alex Sinclair
If you’re a fan of classic literature, then you recognize the name Nemo. For those of you who don’t, writer Mark London does a great job in issue one of reintroducing the lore. Instead of only fighting imperialism, Nemo (which translates to no one) is fighting fascists. To some, this will be a story that relates to things happening today. To others, it could become an awakening.
Invincible: Battle Beast No. 11 (Image/Skybound)
- Writer: Robert Kirkman
- Artist: Ryan Ottley
- Colors: Annalisa Leoni
The fight between Conquest and Battle Beast continues and remains the best fight of 2026. However, the battle between the two was only part of what made this dope. Writer Robert Kirkman and artist Ryan Ottley made it a point to show the collateral damage and people put at risk during their fight. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that there are innocents around when superpowers fight, but the creative team was clearly aware.
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #2 (BOOM! Studios)
- Writer: Marguerite Bennett
- Artists: Andrew Griffith and Phillip Sevy
- Colors: Joshua Jensen
The Power Rangers are older and out of practice and yet they are forced to save Angel Grove. So what does that mean for the former heroes? That it’s time to use the skills that they’ve developed as adults.
This was a smart move by writer Marguerite Bennett. They understand that while the Power Rangers aren’t young anymore, the heroes certainly aren’t without skills. It shows that this won't be a series where the team wins every battle with kicks and punches. Everything from Zack's skills as a lawyer to Trini's time as a diplomat will come in handy.
Inglorious X-Force No. 7 (Marvel)
- Writer: Tim Seeley
- Artist: Michael Sta. Maria
- Colors: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
The main story with Cable and the rest was good, but nothing beat the way the creative team showed Domino’s powers. Not only was this a cool way to display how her powers work subconsciously, but the added literal dominoes in the background as calamity happened, adding up to 13, was a nice touch.
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