First Issues NOW!

First Issues NOW!

First Issues NOW! is a weekly comic book review show, looking at all (or most depending on availability of release) of the #1 issues being launched! If daily isn't your think, also check out First Issues Weekly! Hosted by A.J. Carey, the Comic Archivist on YouTube

Episodes

August 17, 2025 4 mins
On one hand, the art is nice. On the other, it's currently being discussed on Comics Twitter for a perceived controversy. Otherwise this is really not worth talking about, sadly. 

Valiant Beyond: Bloodshot #1, written by Mauro Mantella, art by Fernando Heinz Furukawa, colors by Brushu Studio and Rocio Zucchi, with letters by Ezequiel Inverni.
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Somehow it seems every week this show becomes me needing to try to get more people on the Space Ghost train and eventually I will run out of things to say about how perfect it is. 

SPACE GHOST #1, written by David Pepose, art by Jonathan Lau, colors by Andrew Dalhouse, and letters by Taylor Esposito.
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All hail the new flesh - wait no wrong Cronenberg reference. Either way, this is a top notch read! 

CEMETERY KIDS RUN RABID #1, written by Zac Thompson, art by Daniel Irizarri, colors by Brittany Peer, and letters by Andworld Design. 
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A Black Label book by the guys that created Ice Cream Man about new Kryptonite? YES PLE- oh and look, there's Batman. Hi, Batman! 

SUPERMAN: THE KRYPTONITE SPECTRUM #1, written by W. Maxwell Prince, art by Martin Morazzo, colors by Chris O’Halloran, and letters by Good Old Neon.
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It's a bunch of yautja - and Kraven the Hunter - going to Earth to hunt and kill Marvel characters. What were you expecting? 

PREDATOR KILLS THE MARVEL UNIVERSE #1, written by Benjamin Percy, pencils by Marcelo Ferreira, inks by Jay Leisten and Daniel Piccioto doing both, colors by Frank D’Armata, with letters by VC’s Clayton Cowles.
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I mean it's Red Skull killing the same Nazi over and over for a full issue, that doesn't mean it's bad. 

BRING ON THE BAD GUYS: RED SKULL #1, written by Stephanie Phillips, art by Tommaso Bianchi, colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr, and letters by VC’s Travis Lanham.
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Why yes, the biggest hurdle in recording anything is being able to pronounce Cheetah and Cheshire. Yes, I cut about 10 minutes of struggling. Either way, that's still a great comic. And I think we're officially on Sam being either the Comic Casualist or the Casual Comicist. 
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On this week's special segment, Sammi's Pick, she chooses another crossover title. This time from Dark Horse. Neat. 

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August 10, 2025 5 mins
What's better than pulp horror? Nothing but pulp sci-fi is definitely at least on par! 

“In A Strange Land” written by J. Holtham, and art by David Rubin.
“Catch & Kill” written by Ann Nocenti and art by Kano.
“The Fittest” written by Greg Pak and art by Charlie Adlard.
Originally published in Weird Fantasy #22, we have “Derelict Ship” written by William M. Gaines and Al Feldstein, art by Bernard Krigstein, and colors corrected b...
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August 10, 2025 3 mins
I haven't gotten to say it about a romcom this year but boy howdy can I not wait for issue 2! 

ORLA! Written by John Lees, art by Sally Cantirino, colors by Dearbhla Kelly and letters by Lucas Gattoni.
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There's nothing worse than seeing a bland version of something you REALLY enjoy. Shame. 

TRAMPS OF THE APOCALYPSE #1, with the script, interiors and cover art done by Alice Darrow, with interior and cover colors done by Hugo Blanc and letters by Frank Cvetkovic.
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As a casual Hellboy fan, this was not my jam. But that doesn't mean it was bad. 

HELLBOY IN LOVE #1, script by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden, art and colors by Alex Neito, and letters by Clem Robins.
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August 8, 2025 4 mins
Every week, there's only a couple comics that I have no real context for, that when I read them, it's a great surprise. This is one of those reads. Pull it! 

ANCESTRAL RECALL #1, written by Jordan Clark, art by Atagun Ilhan, colors by Pippa Bowland, and letters by Rob Steen.
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The Kai-Sei Era of IDW Godzilla is fantastic, and this is no different! 

GODZILLA: ESCAPE THE DEADZONE #1, written by Ethan S Parker and Griffin Sheridan, art by Pablo Tunica, with letters and design by Nathan Widick.
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'80s Japanese X-Men?! FUUUUUU- YES! STICK IT DIRECTLY INTO MY VEINS! A PERFECT COMIC TRULY PERFECT! 

WOLVERINE BY CHRIS CLAREMONT #1, by Chris Claremont and Tom Reilly, colors by Chris O’Halloran and letters by VC’s Clayton Cowles.
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Sammi's Pick (she got two this week) is on an IP I know exists but have absolutely no idea about outside the dolls were everywhere it feels like a decade ago. Personally, pretty good comic though. 

Please check out the many shows from CareyOn Productions (website soon) 

MONSTER HIGH: WORLD'S SCARE #1, written by Jacque Aye, art by Caroline Shuda, colors by Katherine Shuda, letters by Kielamel Sibal. 
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August 5, 2025 4 mins
I don't think any fan of Titans would go "wow, this exploration of Donna Try as a character is GREAT!" but  here we are. Thanks, Phil! 

TITANS ANNUAL #1 written and illustrated by Phil Jimenez, colors by Arif Prianto, and letters by Wes Abbot.
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AJ can't be the only one to have way too much fun reading Dave Pepose revamps of classic shows.

Don't forget to listen to all the other CareyOn Productions podcasts! 

SPEED RACER #1, written by David Pepose, art by Davide Tinto, colors by Rex Lokus, letters by Buddy Beaudoin. 
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August 5, 2025 4 mins
Nightwing is my comfort character so color me shocked that this books is sheer perfection without him appearing at all. 

NIGHTWING ANNUAL #1, written by Dan Watters, art by Francesco Francavilla, and letters by Wes Abbot.
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I miss when events could just happen in a single universe and time instead of multiversal trips and Hypertime travel. But hey, Marilyn Midnight looks freaking dope. 

JUSTICE LEAGUE: DARK TOMORROW SPECIAL #1, written by Marc Guggenheim and Mark Waid, art by Cian Tormey, colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr, and letters by Dave Sharpe.
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