December 4 New Comics: Absolute Superman, X-Men, & More

Between some bum mental health spirals and the Thanksgiving holiday, I wound up taking a little more time away from here than I meant to, but I’m here now, and we’re ready to roll with December 4 new comics.

December is starting off with a bang, as the first big “X-Men” crossover kicks off, Two-Face gets his first ongoing, and Marvel debuts a brand-new Venom.

As for Homeworld this week, stay tuned to this space: I’ve got reviews of some toys in the pipeline, and we’re gearing up for The Game Awards next week, which I’ll be live-streaming as usual. Also hoping to get back to my “Final Fantasy VIII Remastered” Randomizer challenge run this week on Twitch!

All that being said, here are my picks for the best new comics releasing December 4. You can purchase digital copies via the Amazon links below or find a local store to support via Comic Shop Locator.

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Spotlight New Comics Releasing December 4th

Absolute Superman #2

by Jason Aaron, Rafa Sandoval, Ulises Arreola, & Becca Carey

The Lazarus Corporation sent their most battle-hardened crew of Peacemakers to locate the mysterious fugitive interfering with their mining operations — but they weren’t expecting one motor-mouthed, iron-willed woman to be the one to finally get the cuffs onto him!

I haven’t yet reached a conclusion on which of the three “Absolute” titles is my favorite. At present, I think “Absolute Wonder Woman” is winning the race for my heart, but they’re all pretty close.

But, as I already wrote following the first issue’s release, I think “Absolute Superman” has the potential to be the most important of the three. Not only is its Superman arguably the most drastic change the character has ever seen, but it feels reflective of the times we now live in in a way that other interpretations don’t. I’m excited to see where this Superman winds up!

Buy Absolute Superman #2 on AmazonBuy Absolute Superman #2 on Amazon

X-Men #8

by Jed MacKay, Ryan Stegman, J. P. Mayer, John Livesay, Marte Gracia, & Clayton Cowles

“RAID ON GRAYMALKIN” PART ONE! With one of their own incarcerated, the X-Men move on Graymalkin Prison in order to free their teammate. But it’s not just one team — in Alaska, Cyclops’ X-Men scramble a rescue mission, while in Louisiana, Rogue’s X-Men move to strike out on their own sortie. Doctrinal rivals each with their own objective, will these two fractious teams find themselves at cross-purposes? After all… an “X” is made by two lines crossing.

We’re only a few months into the ‘From the Ashes’ era of X-Men, but it feels like this confrontation has been brewing since minute one. With Cyclops in Alaska grappling with what we now know to be a major regenerative disorder tied to resurrection and Rogue at odds with the notion of leading a revived X-Men team, interactions between the two have been tense and sparse.

Following the capture of Jubilee, the X-Men are set to raid the Graymalking Prison. But how will that bring them into conflict with Cyclops’ team of outcasts? I’m honestly super excited to see not only the continued growth Rogue has enjoyed these last few years but also where Cyclops ends up on the moral spectrum when all is said and done. It feels like we’re getting very close to another era of Cyclops as a revolutionary.

Buy X-Men #8 on AmazonBuy X-Men #8 on Amazon

Birds of Prey #16

by Kelly Thompson, Sami Basri, & Leonardo Romero

AMAZONS IN TROUBLE! Did you ever wonder what happens when Small Bat gets big? And whatever will Big Barda have to say about it? Meanwhile, five Amazons’ lives are on the line and oh, the entire Birds of Prey field team is caught in a twist no one could have anticipated.

It is truly heartbreaking that I never see anyone talking about this book. “Birds of Prey” might be the best hidden gem DC is putting out right now, with stellar characterization and incredible writing for its entire cast of heroines.

This current arc is an incredible showcase for the team dynamic. Not only do you get some genuine excitement with Batgirl undercover, but seeing how the team handles the stress of not knowing what’s happening with her is just super interesting. If you’ve ever cared about any iteration of Birds of Prey, this run is for you.

Buy Birds of Prey #16 on AmazonBuy Birds of Prey #16 on Amazon

All-New Venom #1

by Al Ewing, Carlos Gómez, Frank D’Armata, Clayton Cowles, & Adam Kubert

WHO IS THE ALL-NEW VENOM? The smiling, swashbuckling spider-hero New York loves to hate to love is back — and more fun-loving than ever! That’s right, it’s… Wait, it’s VENOM?! An all-new host is taking the symbiote in a whole new direction — but who? It could be the Journalist… the Terrorist… the Sidekick… or even the Mayor… We’re giving you all the clues, good believers — but you won’t know until the mask comes off! Writer Al Ewing (VENOM, IMMORTAL THOR) takes Venom in a completely new direction with artist Carlos Gómez (FANTASTIC FOUR, THE AMAZING MARY JANE) bringing the story to gorgeous life!

I’m hard-pressed to think of a Marvel character I’ve checked out on more than Venom. It feels like the last decade or so of Venom books have been focused on changing up the status quo constantly, to the point that he’s just wrapped up a run as a time-hopping multiversal entity.

All that seems to be coming to a close now with the promise of an all-new Venom, something we haven’t seen in a long time. Marvel is hinting pretty heavily that the symbiote is now bonded to a well-known hero who never carried the symbiote before. It’s possible this could be the start of a bold new era, similar to when Flash Thompson became Agent Venom, so this is a great time to get in on the ground floor.

Buy All-New Venom #1 on AmazonBuy All-New Venom #1 on Amazon

Two-Face #1

by Christina Ward, Fabio Veras, Ivan Plascencia, Hassan Otsmane-Elahou, and Baldemar Rivas

HARVEY DENT’S GREATEST TRIAL BEGINS! After years of internal conflict, both halves of Harvey Dent have reached an uneasy peace. In DC’s new Two-Face series, Harvey uses his skills as an attorney to resolve the conflicts of Gotham’s weirdest and most dangerous criminals, starting with Victor Zsasz. When Zsasz is accused of murdering a fellow member of Gotham’s underworld contingent, who better to prove a criminal’s innocence than someone who’s been on both sides of the law?

Am I being sensationalist to say that Two-Face is nobody’s favorite character? I feel like as soon as I put that out in the universe, someone is going to come out and tell me I’m wrong. He is, however, one of Batman’s most interesting villains, and in the hands of the right creative team, Two-Face is a hell of a character.

We’ve seen a lot of takes on Two-Face over the years, from “The Dark Knight”‘s more real-world, tragic Dent to the late Richard Moll’s sympathetic but cold take on “Batman: The Animated Series.” This series promises to explore the idea of Dent not just as a crime lord but as a legal expert, which could prove to be the most unique take we’ve gotten in years.

Buy Two-Face #1 on AmazonBuy Two-Face #1 on Amazon

Action Comics #1078

by Mark Waid, Clayton Henry, Michael Shelfer, Matt Herms, & Tomeu Morey

Two worlds in peril; only one can be saved. Teaming with his fellow Justice Leaguer, Mr. Terriﬁc, to defend against Aethyr’s deadly machinations, the Man of Steel is left on the defensive and out of options. Superman must choose which realm to save: Earth or the Phantom Zone!

Plus, Supergirl falls under the spell of Koncept!

I’m still really enjoying “Action Comics” and the “Phantoms” story arc, which will run weekly through the rest of 2024. With Superman’s jaunt back to pre-explosion Krypton behind him, we’re back to the Phantom Zone and the many changes it’s undergoing.

“Phantoms” is promising to be a game-changing adventure, as previews for the final installment promise massive changes to the Phantom Zone. How this informs Superman going into 2025 remains to be seen, but it’s looking like next year will be the Man of Steel’s to rule.

Buy Action Comics #1078 on AmazonBuy Action Comics #1078 on Amazon