Jumping On: New Story Arcs Kicking Off On October 27, 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, October 27, 2021

New Arcs:

Detective Comics #1044, DC

‘FEAR STATE, PART TWO / FOUNDATIONS, PART ONE

When the terrorist organization known as THE RED CROWN took control of Mayor Nakano’s personal security detail, only the Batman could protect Gotham’s highest-ranking city official from certain death! But when the pair is thrust into the sewers below, a much more sinister threat lurks in the darkness. Better look sharp, Batman, because a hundred thousand eggs with a hundred thousand little monsters inside are about to hatch…and they look HUNGRY…

Arkham Asylum may have been decimated during A-DAY, but its legacy lives on. Now, Mayor Nakano has given the green light for a brand-new ARKHAM TOWER to be erected in the heart of Gotham City, and some strange and horrific things are going down at the construction site. Don’t miss this epic kick-off to a story arc that will shape the Batman universe for years to come! 

FEAR STATE TIE-IN’

The Amazing Spider-Man #77, Marvel

‘Kelly Thompson and Sara Pichelli pick up the baton to define this new era for Spider-Man. The Beyond Corporation has retuned and this is your chance to meet the people who’ve brought you the new (and improved) Spider-Man. There’s a target on Spider-Man’s back and one of his classic villains is out for blood.

LEGACY #878’

Wolverine #17, Marvel

‘WHO CAN YOU TRUST? MAVERICK returns to team up with WOLVERINE! Meanwhile, C.I.A. Agent Jeff Bannister has just uncovered a secret surveillance device aimed at Krakoa. Now someone wants their bug back and Bannister out of the picture. Nowhere on or off Krakoa is safe.

LEGACY #359’

Notable #1s:

House of Slaughter #1, BOOM! Studios

‘Discover the inner workings of the House of Slaughter in this new horror series exploring the secret history of the Order that forged Erica Slaughter into the monster hunter she is today.

You know Aaron Slaughter as Erica’s handler and rival. But before he donned the black mask, Aaron was a teenager training within the House of Slaughter.

Surviving within the school is tough enough, but it gets even more complicated when Aaron falls for a mysterious boy destined to be his competition.

Dive deeper into the world of Something is Killing the Children in this first story arc by co-creator James Tynion IV (The Department of Truth, The Nice House on the Lake) and co-writer Tate Brombal (Barbalien), with art by rising star Chris Shehan (The Autumnal) and co-creator Werther Dell’Edera (Razorblades).’

Task Force Z #1, DC

‘On A-Day, hundreds of Gotham City’s most dangerous and deranged criminals were left dead after an attack on Arkham Asylum and now, they’re getting a second chance at life. A mysterious benefactor is bringing together a new Task Force and has recruited the only person who could lead them, someone who knows what it’s like to come back from a brutal death: Red Hood. Now Jason Todd has to unravel the mystery surrounding this team of the recently deceased while leading a line-up of some of Gotham City’s worst criminals who’ve ever lived: Bane. Man-Bat. The Arkham Knight. Sundowner. Mr. Bloom.’

Darkhold: Blade #1, Marvel

‘THE KING OF DEATH! Are you fanged, or are you food? The world is divided into humans and vampires—and Blade, the one who walks between them both…and kills with equal impunity. After reading from the cursed Darkhold, Blade and a cadre of other heroes were meant to enter Chthon’s dimension and stop the ancient god from destroying the Multiverse. But reading the book has changed all their lives and histories…and for Blade, the consequences are far-reaching. Vampires rule the world, and he rules over them all. But there are some heroes left—and Blade is not as omniscient as he thinks.’

Cross To Bear #1, AfterShock

‘Jack the Ripper was never caught because no one was looking for him in the Wild West…No one accept The Order. An organization made up of the descendants of Crusaders sworn to eradicate the unnatural, The Order will stop at nothing to fulfill the pledge their forefathers made, even if it means crossing the ocean or a line or two…’

Hellboy: The Silver Lantern Club #1, Dark Horse

‘In the debut issue, Hellboy learns about the mysteries of an exorcism gone wrong and more when his occult investigator relative reveals secretive and perilous adventures of one of the Hellboy Universe’s most mysterious societies. Silver Lantern Club member Simon Bruttenholm relates a tale from the dawn of radio, in which Sir Edward Grey and Sarah Jewel go toe to toe with . . . technology?’

Star Wars: War of the Bounty Hunters – IG-88 #1, Marvel

‘NO ONE CAN DEFEAT IG-88! IG-88 is an advanced assassin droid designed for death, destruction, and mayhem. Its weapons systems are unparalleled, its design flawless. Yet the galaxy’s most sinister droid bounty hunter can still fail. What motivates IG-88’s resurrection time and time again? Is it programming or something…more? And can IG-88 find a strategy to overcome its old foe, Boba Fett?! Rodney Barnes’ and Guiu Vilanova’s one-shot is the fourth of four action-packed “War of the Bounty Hunters” tie-ins about the criminal underworld’s most notorious hunters and scoundrels, all told by the best STAR WARS writers and illustrators in the galaxy.

WAR OF THE BOUNTY HUNTERS TIE-IN’

Space Corps #1, Comics Experience Publishing

‘When an alien species attacks Earth, high schooler Deven Taylor is swept up in the machinery of an intergalactic war and finds himself serving alongside strange recruits from across the galaxy! As the Space Corps’ newest enlistee, Deven must come to terms with who he is and the price he’s willing to pay for survival. Co-created by Gannon Beck and Bryan Richmond, Space Corps is in a sprawling story of combat, honor and duty. Beck is a Marine veteran who hails from a multi-generational military family, and brings that experience to bear throughout this tale.’

Aquaman / Green Arrow: Deep Target #1, DC

‘Celebrating the 80th Anniversary of Aquaman and Green Arrow! The shadowy organization known as Scorpio has resurfaced, and it’s larger than before. While looting the past for artifacts and treasure, they have somehow altered the timeline, and only Aquaman and Green Arrow can fix it! Celebrating the 80th Anniversaries of Aquaman and Green Arrow, this high-octane story takes this unlikely pair from the depths of Atlantis to the surface world.’

Shriek #1, Fantaco Enterprises

‘All new tales of horror and dark fantasy from eight creators of the macabre!

Jim Whiting launches the return of Lady Dracula. While living in a trailer park in upstate NY, Cassandra, the daughter of Dracula is hunted by an army of Nosferatu, and begins the journey to restore the reign of Dracula. Keith Haugen and writer Dennis Webster spin a warped space-time twisting tale of terror in Dzonot. Writer/artist Matt Belkis’ The Goryo of Aokigahara takes us to Japan’s suicide forest to meet the evil samari spirit that rules the forest with a bloody sword. Writer Dorian Sinnott serves up The Hunger, a dark metaphysical tale of transformation in the dark woods and deep recesses of the mind. Nayara Moura takes us on a hunt for a serial killer who slaughters campers and hungers to kill again in Circus of Terror. Nekros: a Vampire Reflection, by writer/artist Nate Osborne asks the question; “What if everything you knew about vampires was just the next beginning?” A brutal killer abducts young women, chaining them up before feeding them to his blood thirsty swine in Bad-Medicine by Christopher Twin.’

Winchester Mystery House #1, Source Point Press

‘Thought to be one of the most haunted places in the world, The Winchester Mystery

House is much more than an architectural wonder. It’s a labyrinth full of secrets. Come step inside and hear the house’s whispers…

Inspired by true events, this masterfully crafted horror tale written by Joshua Werner and beautifully illustrated by Dustin Irvin takes you into the non-stop construction of “the house that spirits built” and its brilliant and mysterious owner, Sarah Winchester.

Chapter One: The Heart of the House

The year is 1886, and after suffering the loss of both her only child and husband, Sarah Winchester has come to California, bringing with her a massive inherited wealth. After buying a small farmhouse on a large plot of land, Sarah sets to work expanding it like a woman possessed. The construction crew’s first task will be to build a room that will later become legendary. But something is waking up…’

Godkiller : Spiderland #1, Black Mask Studios

‘Halfpipe and Soledad gaze into The Abyss. Things get intense. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.’

Hellcop #1, Image

‘WELCOME TO HELL

When mankind first broke through the walls between dimensions, nothing could have prepared them for what they would find in Known Reality Plane 1301-A: it was absolute Hell. Literally. A covert security force was quickly assembled to patrol the Hellplane and ensure that none of the nastier denizens made their way Earthside. They were dubbed the Pan-Dimensional Security Corps.’

Harbinger #1, Valiant

‘Peter Stanchek is the most powerful telepath on the planet, and the sole being capable of activating powers in others like him. THE HARBINGER will trace Peter’s path from the most feared man in the world to one of its greatest protectors. This character-driven journey will introduce new allies, new villains, new costumes, and a new meaning for the title of Harbinger.’

Alt Control Delete #1, Second Sight Publishing

‘In an isolated, megacity hidden deep in a icy wasteland thrives a society that has eliminated physical conflict and brutal war practices, the Games are valued above all else. Now, in a world where XP is currency and meritocracy thrives, Tess, a jaded professional gamer must decide between her tournament rankings and finding someone she loves.’

Provenance of Secrets #1, Scout

‘Set in LA, a brutal murder throws up some increasingly strange leads, and pushes a detective down a path to something that is far from his usual work. Taking the world that Robert Chambers’ “The King In Yellow” existed within, will only make this noir even darker and haunting. With a story written by Kiyarn Taghan, brought to life with artwork by Christian DiBari and made strikingly vivid with colors from Simon Gough, “Provenance Of Secrets” is a recipe for a horror noir, that you’ll want to keep reading knowing it will only get more terrifying.’

Merlin & Hector #1, Red 5

‘Before King Arthur, before Camelot, before Excalibur there was Merlin the swineherd. A young man of an unexceptional past who has never heard of magic, Merlin is looking at a life of hard work and small comfort, until his farm his attacked one night by rampaging monsters. Only local thief Hector believes him, but when the attacks increase it will be up to these two outcasts to save their village.’

North Bend #1, Scout

‘North Bend returns for the second and final arc! Brendan takes an unplanned journey back to his life as a soldier in the war in Russia. After visiting the ghosts of his past, paranoia takes hold as he gets firsthand experience of the crippling mind control drug DV. Jamie receives a stunning revelation about Brendan. And a greater, more sinister enemy is revealed in the trippiest issue of North Bend yet.’