Jumping On: New Story Arcs Kicking Off On September 22, 2021

One of the hardest and most frustrating things about finding new comics to read and enjoy is finding a good jumping on point. It can be confusing and disheartening to pick up a single issue from the middle of an arc without having the context of the previous chapters.

With that in mind, here are some titles kicking off new story arcs and a few interesting #1’s premiering this upcoming New Comic Book Day, Wednesday, September 22, 2021.

New Arcs:

Alien #7, Marvel

‘THE SEARCH FOR SANCTUARY BEGINS! A small colony of “Spinners,” looking to lead a simpler life, have nearly completed terraforming a moon. A ship crashes into their Eden from the heavens. A terror is unleashed.’

Notable #1s:

The Death of Doctor Strange #1, Marvel

‘DEATH COMES FOR THE SORCERER SUPREME! Doctor Stephen Strange is the world’s greatest neurosurgeon and Earth’s Sorcerer Supreme. He defends our planet from the supernatural and interdimensional threats no other hero is equipped to handle. But what would happen if he unexpectedly died? Who would protect Earth and keep the mystical evils at bay? And most importantly…who killed Stephen Strange?! The final chapter in the life of Doctor Strange starts here by Jed MacKay (MOON KNIGHT, BLACK CAT) and Lee Garbett (CAPTAIN MARVEL)!’

Batman Secret Files: Miracle Molly #1, DC

‘Since Miracle Molly’s explosive first appearance in the pages of Batman, people have been clamoring to know more about the colorful transhumanist vigilante! Now the wait is over—the history of Gotham’s latest breakout star is revealed! It’s a story so secret even Miracle Molly doesn’t remember it! Discover what led a regular Gothamite to reject their past, name, and humanity to embrace the promise of a blank slate—the promise of the Unsanity Collective! 

Batman series writer James Tynion IV teams up with rising superstar artist Dani to bring you all the way back to the beginning of Miracle Molly in this exciting and integral Fear State special. 

FEAR STATE TIE-IN’

Frontiersman #1, Image

‘PATIENCE! CONVICTION! REVENGE! ATRICK KINDLON & MARCO FERRARI return with an all-new ONGOING SERIES!

Classic Green Arrow-style adventure blends with the thoughtfulness of Concrete in a super-hero odyssey for mature but uncynical readers! Frontiersman is coaxed out of retirement by an environmentalist group, only to find that being a spokesperson makes him a target for old and new enemies alike! For the super-hero reader looking for me.’

Star Wars Adventures: Ghosts of Vader’s Castle #1, IDW

‘Join Cavan Scott, Francesco Francavilla, and a host of classic Star Wars artists in the epic conclusion to the Vader’s Castle saga! Star Wars Adventures: Ghosts of Vader’s Castle is a horror-packed, star-studded, five-week event guaranteed to haunt your dreams.

In issue #1, life is looking up for Lina and Milo Graf and Crater, but Milo has been having nightmares… about zombie droids! Find out what’s causing these dreams and if Milo can handle being haunted by the GHOSTS OF VADER’S CASTLE.’

X-Men: The Onslaught Revelation #1, Marvel

‘YOU HAVE STRAYED FROM THE WAY OF X. THE ONSLAUGHT IS UPON YOU! The X-Men’s greatest foe, mutantkind’s primal evil, slithers in the minds of its most senior leaders… The kids whisper of the CRUCI-BALL: a party to end all parties. A party to end everything. The seals are broken, the trumpets have sounded; only a small band of eccentric mutants can hope to break the fall… Can Nightcrawler light the spark that will drive out the shadows…or will Krakoa slip into the abyss…?’

Suicide Squad: King Shark #1, DC

‘On leave from the Suicide Squad, King Shark and unfortunate tagalong the Defacer get swept into a mystical tournament for totemic animal spirits at the behest of King Shark’s father, the god of sharks! Now King Shark must battle brutal warriors like Queen Tiger, King Roach, Prince Nematode, Princess Peregrine, and the terrifying Man King to finally attain his destiny and make his dour dad proud!’

Aquaman: The Becoming #1, Marvel

‘Jackson Hyde finally has it all. Mentors who support him, a community that loves him, an honest relationship with his mother, a cute new guy in Amnesty Bay who’s caught his eye, and access to Aquaman’s private training facility in Atlantis. Well, he had it all—until that training facility and half of the Atlantean palace got blown to kingdom come with Jackson in them. Now Jackson stands accused of wrecking the life he worked so hard to build. Aqualad’s going to need all of his skills, wit, and cunning just to prove his own innocence, let alone graduate from sidekick to Aquaman!’

Crash & Troy #1, Action Lab Comics

‘Explosions! Space chases! Cat videos! Crash and Troy are mercs for hire! Latest mission? Break out some blue nerd from an intergalactic prison. Who cares?! But blue nerd’s post-prison plans might kill billions!’

Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf in Gotham #1, DC

‘With the blood dry at Gotham’s fourth gruesome murder scene in as many weeks, Batman is stumped. The same hallmarks haunt each investigation: brute-force entries, bodies ripped to shreds and stamped with enormous bite marks, and clumps of fur—wolf fur—scattered in the wreckage. The streets buzz with rumors of the “Werewolf of Gotham.” Determined to crack this case, Batman finds no leads and a mysterious, hairy, chain-smoking figure dogging his every move. The Dark Knight’s dangerously close to losing his cool when a series of bombings levels the city’s libraries in the days leading up to the 32nd annual Gotham Literary Festival.

As Batman narrows in on the Bookworm and his literary henchmen, he discovers that an invaluable book from another world is at the center of the violence. Stranger still, the wolf is in on it. But what kind of monster is built from such brains and brawn—and is he an enemy or an ally?

Worlds collide as a Gotham mystery kick-starts a return to the world of Fables!’

He Who Fights With Monsters #1, Ablaze

‘On All Hallows’ Eve, a community struggles under the boot of the Nazi war machine when supernatural forces come to play a part in the conflict! From the artist of the bestselling Something is Killing the Children comes a Halloween tale that will send shivers up your spine…

It’s World War 2 and the struggle between good and evil is in full force. In Prague, the great Bohemian city is being oppressed by the Nazi occupation and the population lives in terror, while the resistance forces try to organize themselves in the shadows. It is an almost impossible task. With the ruthless SS tightening their grip on every street and neighborhood with overwhelming might, only one hope feeds the struggle. A crazy hope, which rests on the fragile foundations of an ancient, monstrous legend…’

Impossible Jones #1, Scout 

‘Explosive first issue! The grin gritty origin of comics’ newest sensation! A thief gets powers, is mistaken for a superhero… and runs with it! With no intention of giving up her criminal ways, mind you! (With these powers? You crazy?!) All she has todo is fool all of the people all of the time! It’s not impossible – it’s Impossible Jones! Full throttle thrills by Karl Kesel (Harley Quinn) and David Hahn (Batman ’66).’

The Citizen #1, Action Lab Comics

‘A journalist tries to cope with being the only non-super human in a city full of costumed heroes and villains.’

S Factor #1, Action Lab Comics

‘An under-appreciated-sidekick named called Greyfox decides to “re-brand” himself through a new dating reality TV show for super-heroes called The S Factor, where 12 female contestants fight for his affection. Meanwhile, his former superior, Darkfox, is bewildered as to why he would put himself in such a vulnerable position.’

Cookie and the Kid #1, Antarctic Press

‘Alex Kosakowski brings you another plateful of his tasty, all-ages fantasy adventure!  Deep down in the underground, Cookie and his friends search for the missing human child and uncover more than they bargained for: scary spiders, sticky webs, and the conniving Hube’s dastardly plan.’