November 13 New Comics: Every comic from Marvel, DC & more

The latest wave of new comics will hit stands on November 13, and there are more than a few surprises this week.

Last week saw some pretty notable new releases, including the first new Cassandra Cain/Batgirl ongoing in years and the Ultimates getting their asses absolutely stomped by Ultimate Hulk.

This week, things promise a little slower pace, with the next Absolute title dropping, a new Spider-Man creative team, and the long-awaited debut of Energon Universe’s G.I. Joe.

Contents show

Absolute Batman #2

Absolute Batman seems to have gotten its hooks well into readers. ICV2 has reported that Absolute Batman #1 topped the October sales charts alongside Absolute Wonder Woman. The books manage to unseat the juggernaut that has been Marvel’s Ultimate Spider-Man (but don’t worry, it still came in at #3).

It’s an exciting start for a line that shouldn’t work but does. I wrote last week about how important Absolute Superman will be over the next few years, and while Absolute Batman may not have that same political and societal commentary, it’s still standing out as a refreshing and unique take on DC’s Dark Knight.

Batman was born out of violence – a horrible tragedy that shaped the trajectory of his future. But when a vigilant MI6 agent starts tracking the lonely life of Bruce Wayne, he discovers the interconnectivity between a hero’s shell life and the many layers of the Black Mask Gang. It’s Batman versus Alfred Pennyworth!

By Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin, & Clayton Cowles

The Amazing Spider-Man #61

Amazing Spider-Man #61 cover art — A new Spider-Man creative team will see Spidey enlisted by Doctor Doom.

If, like so many fans, you were exhausted from the previous Spider-Man run, this is your lucky month. The wall-crawler has a new team starting this month, and while legendary artist Ed McGuinness is back on art chores, most fans will probably be excited about Joe Kelly stepping in on writing chores.

For those who don’t know, Kelly is arguably the man who made Deadpool what he is today with his seminal ’90s run. He’s also had his share of incredible Spider-Man runs, including Spider-Man/Deadpool and the criminally underrated Non-Stop Spider-Man. Kelly returns to Spidey just in time for Doctor Doom, who is now Marvel’s Sorcerer Supreme, to rear his head! I’m sure that’ll go well.

THE 8 DEATHS OF SPIDER-MAN BEGIN! The world has changed, Doctor Doom is Sorcerer Supreme, but he has no plans to spend his time like his predecessor… Each year, Doctor Strange would use every ounce of his power and experience to save the world from an evil god and his scions. This year, Doom is delegating this task to… SPIDER-MAN?! The leader of Latveria has given Spider-Man a new, magic-powered suit and EIGHT EXTRA LIVES with which to save the world?! True Believer, they won’t be enough…

By Joe Kelly, Ed McGuinness, Niko Henrichon, & Marcio Menyz

The Uncanny X-Men #5

Uncanny X-Men #5 cover art — From the Ashes: Uncanny X-Men’s first arc draws to a close, setting the stage for ‘Raid on Graymalkin.’

The first Uncanny X-Men arc of the From the Ashes era comes to a close this week, setting the stage for the next crossover arc, Raid on Graymalkin.

I’ve been enjoying the From the Ashes era overall, and Uncanny is probably my favorite book of the bunch. The biggest hurdle, as always, remains stubborn fans who have dismissed these titles outright before giving them a chance to find their legs. Uncanny X-Men under Simone has been refreshingly down-to-earth and sympathetic, and David Marquez’s art is excellent, as always. I think the Cyclops-led X-Men by MacKay and Stegman is going to ultimately wind up having the greater impact on long-term storytelling, but for classic X-Men action, Rogue’s Louisiana-based team is absolutely killing it.

The brutal conclusion to the RED WAVE storyline is here! The Uncanny X-MEN face an unstoppable force of evil and death who reveals a shocking secret… but they may not survive long enough to face it! Will the next generation of young mutants stand by Rogue and her team or join the other side?

By Gail Simone, David Marquez, Matt Wilson, & Clayton Cowles

G.I. Joe #1

I’m honestly surprised it took this long to get to G.I. Joe #1, but the slow-burn pacing of Energon Universe is paying off. America’s premiere fighting force makes its grand comic book return this month, picking up after the events of previous minis Duke and Cobra Commander, as well as Skybound’s Transformers.

I’m a bit behind on Energon Universe, but what I’ve read of Transformers, Duke, and Cobra Commander was genuinely way better than I expected. I grew up with an awareness of these properties, but they were already mostly old news by the time I was old enough for them. So, while I don’t have that pure attachment to these properties that most fans do, I can appreciate this updated take on the franchises and how they’re being blended together for Energon Universe.

Conrad Hauser, Codename DUKE, has assembled a special force known as G.I. Joe to battle the rising power of the mysterious COBRA in the aftermath of the Autobots and Decepticons’ arrival on Earth.

But the enigmatic Cobra Commander has unleashed the power of Energon like never before!

Featuring many familiar faces and the first appearance of an ALL NEW character, this is the comic that will change everything you think you know about G.I. Joe… and that’s only half the surprises in store from the chart-topping Energon Universe dream team of JOSHUA WILLIAMSON and TOM REILLY!

By Joshua Williamson, Tom Reilly, Jordie Bellaire, & Rus Wooten

Captain America #15

I know there’s a lot going on with Marvel titles right now, but I’m honestly surprised how much this current Captain America run has flown under the radar. The Straczynski-penned book has been consistently pretty great and has even tried some new and pretty out-there concepts, like an opening arc involving Doctor Strange communicating via a wooden puppet.

The current arc sees Cap teaming up with Thor and Spidey, but the underlying narrative — Cap is initially trying to just hang out with Spidey as an effort to ground his life as Steve Rogers — has some potential to be genuinely great storytelling. We’ll have to see how the friendship between the two builds from here, especially as they help Thor face the site of his greatest defeat: Broxton, OK.

“THE NEW WARRIORS THREE” PART TWO! J. Michael Straczynski revisits THOR and SPIDER-MAN! When Captain America, Spidey and Thor find themselves drawn to Broxton, Oklahoma, the trio will have to work together to find what’s drawn them to the ruined town — and site of Thor’s greatest shame. But what they find may prove too horrifying for even the greatest of heroes to overcome…

By J. Michael Straczynski, Jesús Saíz, & Taurin Clarke