Jumping On: New Story Arcs Kicking Off On September 21, 2022

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 New Story Arcs, Notable #1s, and One-Shots premiering this upcoming New Comic Book Day, Wednesday, September 21, 2022. 

New Story Arcs:

Batman / Superman: World’s Finest #7, DC

STRANGE VISITOR, CHAPTER ONE: RECKLESS YOUTH

BRAND-NEW STORY ARC! The untold story of Superman’s short-lived sidekick is at last revealed, but what secret connection to one of DC’s most timeless tales does this story foreshadow? Only time will tell (that’s a clue, folks). The next epic arc in the World’s Finest saga begins here! INTRODUCING: BOY THUNDER!

Notable #1s and One-Shots:

Batman: One Bad Day – Two-Face #1, DC

Two-Face has always been viewed as Batman’s most tragic villain. If only Harvey Dent hadn’t been scarred by acid, he could have continued his good work as D.A. in Gotham City and been Batman’s greatest ally and friend…right? Or has Batman extended Harvey Dent too much grace in his multiple attempts at reform? He’ll question himself as Harvey Dent is free once more, scarred but seemingly free of Two-Face’s influence. But…when it’s revealed Harvey Dent’s father has been threatened to be murdered on his 88th birthday, will Two-Face be able to resist joining the party? From the bestselling creative team of Mariko Tamaki (Detective Comics, Crush & Lobo) and Javier Fernandez (Nightwing, King Spawn)!

X-Terminators #1, Marvel

ENTER THE GRINDHOUSE OF X! When Jubilee and Boom-Boom agree to take Dazzler out for a night on the town to console her after her nasty breakup, they have no idea they’re about to be kidnapped and put into elaborate death traps for their efforts! What are three girls with the power to blow things up to do? Leah Williams and Carlos Gómez put the X in eXploitation in this tale of blood, sweat and REVENGE!

Vanish #1, Image

Oliver Harrison was a mythical hero who slayed the greatest threat to his realm before even hitting puberty. But that was then.

As an adult, Oliver leads an average cookie-cutter suburban life—aside from the fact that he’s mentally unstable, massively paranoid, smokes like a chimney, and gets blackout drunk every night to hide from his horrific nightmares. Will the arrival of a superhero team called the Prestige prove the madness isn’t all in Oliver’s head? And what about all the epic fantasy crap from his childhood?

Join us for a brutal as hell tale of magical worlds, gifted youth, evil sorcerers, superheroes, war, blood, guts, and death that punches you right in the face! 

From DONNY CATES (GOD COUNTRY, Hulk, Thor), RYAN STEGMAN (VENOM, King in Black), JP MAYER (Absolute Carnage, Fantastic Four), SONIA OBACK (Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows, Han Solo), and JOHN J. HILL (CROSSOVER, Harley Quinn), the all-star creative team that brought you VENOM, comes an all-new take on the classic hero’s quest!

Harley Quinn 30th Anniversary Special #1, DC

You are cordially invited to an oversize extravaganza celebrating the Clown Princess of Crime’s thirtieth birthday on this fantabulous particular! That’s proper—Harley Quinn turns 30 in absolute fashion and has invited a squad of her previous inventive buddies to affix her with a killer lineup of fantastic tales! And the evaluations are in—it’s assured AWESOME:

“Last chance, Quinn. Don’t make me do this.” —Amanda Waller

“Wait…you’re not going back to…” —Red Tool

“Sigh.” —Poison Ivy

Titans United: Bloodpact #1, DC

The Titans are back, united against a common foe…aren’t they? All seems lost when Tim Drake wakes, out of uniform and seemingly out of time. Surely he was just fighting alongside Nightwing, Superboy, Starfire, Beast Boy, and Donna Troy? But where is Raven and what links her to the Fearsome Five? A blood sacrifice is coming that will change the world forever.

Creepshow #1, Skybound

In the debut issue, CHRIS BURNHAM (DIE!DIE!DIE!, NAMELESS) terrifies with a tale of trick or treaters who are taught what happens when you mess with the wrong house.

Then, legendary Batman: The Animated Series creator PAUL DINI, STEVE LANGFORD, and JOHN McCREA (DEAD EYES, Hitman) petrify with the party antics of Shingo, the birthday clown with an appetite for more than cake!

Each issue of CREEPSHOW will feature different creative teams with uniquely horrifying standalone stories.

Stuff of Nightmares #1, BOOM! Studios

R.L Stine is back-but not for the faint of heart-with a chilling take on an iconic character, perfect for fans of Fear Street and EC Comics horror titles!

In Stine’s reanimated reimaginingIn the first of Stine’s reanimated reimaginings, you’re familiar with the classic tale of a mad scientist hell-bent on creating life, but what these two demented brothers have created is something else entirely!

Horror lovers won’t want to miss the legendary author’s return to comics in his first creator-owned single issue series, with art by A.L. Kaplan (Maw, Jim Henson’s The Storyteller).

Fans also won’t want to miss celebrating this milestone event with a Björn Barends variant signed by R.L. Stine and not one but two extra spooky glow in the dark covers by Francesco Francavilla and original Goosebumps cover artist Tim Jacobus!

Bloodshot Unleashed #1, Valiant

Dangerous super soldiers and bloodthirsty living weapons have mysteriously escaped into the world to wreak havoc across the dying towns and forgotten farms of America. Now, Bloodshot must take up arms again to travel across the country hunting down these violent monsters, battling his own demons, and defending the most defenseless. Deniz Camp (Agent of W.O.R.L.D.E.) and Jon Davis-Hunt (SHADOWMAN) join forces to unleash Valiant Entertainment’s first Mature Readers title that puts the BLOOD in BLOODSHOT.

Crashing #1, IDW

Rose Osler is a specialist. Her focus? Patients with Powers… at a hospital with a No Powered Patients policy. When a battle between Boston’s protectors and destroyers erupts, Rose is trapped between saving the city’s beloved hero by day and greatest villain at night. Except Rose could become a casualty when she’s forced to risk her recovery. As Rose pushes past her limits to save everyone else, will she be able to save herself?

Chilling Adventures Presents… Weirder Mysteries #1, Archie Comics

Riverdale is known to be a hotbed of strange happenings and paranormal activity… always has been and always will be. Take a look as a few extra-special case files are opened that highlight the weird occurrences that happen in the small, quiet town, in a one-shot anthology that’s equal parts The X-Files and Black Mirror. *

The Infernal Pact #1, Scout

Beatrice, Biscuit, and Punk Rocker are three meth heads who jokingly sell their souls for drugs and find themselves actually cursed. The newly damned trio begin trying to find a way to save their damned souls as they are hunted by Devil worshiping bikers.

Mega: Rise of the Black Swan #1, Red 5

Eons ago, the Ancient Ones won the war against the Jackals and managed to incarcerate them in the depths of our planet. Humankind and all life on Earth arose and evolved on the surface of a massive inner prison. Now, the Primordial Jackals are awakening one by one, and only Mega stands in their way to re-emerge from the darkness. After the success of the first miniseries, Salvador Sanz delivers a new chapter in the epic Mega saga.

Transformers: Best of Starscream #1, IDW

Watch your back! This duplicitous Decepticon air commander’s coming for the throne! But will the scheming Seeker ever achieve his goal of ultimate power? And what of the rumors that he’s actually got a kind Spark? Don’t believe what you hear-unless Starscream’s the one telling you!

Best of Starscream collects The Transformers: Infiltration #6, “Three Monologues” from Transformers: Robots in Disguise #20, “Choose Me” from The Transformers Holiday Special, “Your First Mistake” from Transformers: Till All Are One #12, Transformers: Shattered Glass #3, and more

Crucified: Exorcisms #1, Scout

And just like that, we’re back! The Christ finally sits down for his eagerly anticipated and heavily hyped first LIVE TV interview with a surprising network and even more surprising choice of interviewer. During this interview, after recounting in vivid detail a recent exorcism he performed on a child in Haiti, The Christ’s claims of divinity are challenged. He is put to the test in front of a national audience. SPOILER: You won’t see the end coming!