Get ready to dive into an electrifying fall 2023 comic season where Marvel’s mutant saga intensifies with the “Sins of Sinister” crossover, DC ignites a new era with the “Dawn of DC” initiative, and beloved creators like Bill Watterson and Daniel Clowes make triumphant returns. From superhero epics to groundbreaking original stories, this fall promises a spectacular lineup that will redefine your comic book experience.
That the comics field has plenty of gas left in its tank became all the more obvious once a twin labor strike of Hollywood writers and actors meant comics could unexpectedly take center stage at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con. And if that event left observers with one big takeaway, it’s that some of the year’s best, brightest, and most innovative comic works are still ahead. These are some of the highlights you won’t want to miss.
Jonathan Hickman reveals his GODS
Jonathan Hickman’s G.O.D.S. is a bold reinvention of Marvel’s cosmic mythology, introducing a complex conflict between two abstract cosmic factions: The-Powers-That-Be, who govern magic and the weird, and The-Natural-Order-of-Things, who oversee science. The story centers on Wyn, the immortal avatar of The-Powers-That-Be, and Aiko Maki, a high-ranking member of The-Natural-Order, whose intertwined past and uneasy alliance are tested as they confront a catastrophic event threatening reality itself. Hickman blends philosophical themes with intricate world-building, exploring the tension between magic and science through a fresh lens in the Marvel Universe.
By Jonathan Hickman and Valerio Schiti
Jonathan Hickman belongs to that rare group in mainstream comics: writers who can sell a book through the presence of their name alone. Hickman revitalized the Fantastic Four a decade ago and put the Avengers through a universe-rebooting catastrophe that remains a high point for the franchise, but he’s been keeping a lower profile since departing his gangbuster reinvention of the X-Men franchise in 2019. Now, he’s taking another big Marvel swing by introducing a whole new clique of characters, mysteriously called the GODS.
Details have so far been sparse, save for the fact that these appear to be Kirby-esque semi-divine superbeings, with a cryptic and ubiquitous presence that’s been seeded in a host of Marvel titles this summer. Readers can look forward to learning more (including, we can hope, just what that acronym stands for) when the GODS formally make their entrance this fall, designed and drawn by Hickman’s erstwhile Inferno co-conspirator Valerio Schiti.
Wonder Woman wrestles with Tom King
Wonder Woman’s new 2023 series, written by Tom King and illustrated by Daniel Sampere, thrusts the Amazon warrior into a politically charged narrative where she becomes an outlaw in the United States. Following a mysterious Amazonian’s accusation of mass murder, Congress enacts the Amazon Safety Act, banning all Amazons from U.S. soil and deploying a ruthless task force to enforce it. As Wonder Woman seeks the truth behind the killing, she faces off against government forces and the shadowy villain Sovereign, who embodies the oppressive status quo. King’s run explores Diana’s rebellion against systemic power and deepens her complex relationships, including with Steve Trevor, while delivering intense action and thought-provoking social commentary.
By Tom King and Daniel Sampere
Tom King is the licorice of superhero writers. Since making his mainstream debut with Marvel Comics’ The Vision in 2015, he’s raised hackles among readers just as often as he’s won their hearts. That’s because he’s always willing to take big swings with high-profile characters, whether it’s attempting to arrange the marriage of Batman and Catwoman during his run on Batman, exploring the psychological trauma of superhumans in Heroes in Crisis, or going to town with forgotten ’70s heroes in Danger Street. This September, he returns to the main-continuity DC Universe when he takes the reins of a relaunched Wonder Woman alongside artist Daniel Sampere. The prospect of an all-male creative team on DC’s premiere superheroine is likely to raise eyebrows, but King proved more than capable in last year’s excellent Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow, and there’s no question Sampere is one of the sharpest artists in the DC stable. Love it or hate it, this one will be worth reading.
A pair of Black Label Batmans
In fall 2023, DC Black Label offers a compelling duo of Batman stories that stand out for their mature themes and creative depth. Among these, Batman: One Dark Knight delivers a gripping narrative that explores the darker facets of Gotham’s vigilante, while The Bat-Man: First Knight by Dan Jurgens and Mike Perkins revisits Batman’s earliest cases with a modern twist, set against the tense backdrop of 1939 America. These Black Label titles promise to captivate readers with their sophisticated storytelling and striking art, enriching the legacy of the Dark Knight with fresh, intense perspectives.
DC’s Black Label hasn’t exactly been the Vertigo replacement some observers might have hoped for when it premiered at the publisher in 2018, but there’s little doubt that it’s lived up to its mission to give top-line (and sometimes unexpected) creators a chance to play in the DC superhero sandbox without the restrictions of continuity or canon.
There has been no shortage of excellent writers given a chance to strut their stuff in the line, but make no mistake: This fall belongs to Batman artists alone. First up in September is Brazilian cartoonist Rafael Grampá (Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child) returning to the Bat-fold with a psychological murder mystery in Batman: Gargoyle of Gotham. Then, the following month, there’s fan-favorite artist Christian Ward with his writer/artist debut on Batman: City of Madness. Both books are sure to benefit enormously from Black Label’s gloriously oversized, square-bound format, which might as well exist purely for the benefit of series like these. With Batman drawn this big and beautiful, you might as well forget words altogether.
Rare Flavours
Rare flavours in the fall 2023 comic scene bring an exciting mix of limited-edition variants and hard-to-find issues that collectors eagerly seek. These include ultra-rare variant covers with extremely low print runs, such as the Amazing Spider-Man #26 Bry’s Comics Exclusive Virgin Variant limited to just 20 copies worldwide, making them prized collectibles. Variants can also arise from printing errors or intentional alterations, adding unique appeal and scarcity that elevate their value. From exclusive retailer variants to special commemorative covers, these rare editions offer fans a chance to own something truly distinctive amid the biggest comic releases from Marvel, DC, and beyond this season.
By Ram V and Filipe Andrade
Two years ago, the writer-artist team of Ram V and Filipe Andrade wowed readers (and earned themselves an Eisner nomination) with The Many Deaths of Laila Starr, a lyrical fable drawing from Hindu mythology to explore notions of life, death, and the divine. This fall, the same team reunites for Rare Flavours, a series that plumbs the same mythical background in the service of fine cuisine. An unsettling, liminal horror series, the book will chronicle the adventures of an ersatz Anthony Bourdain who falls deep into the world of magic, mysticism, and exotic dining. Andrade’s art is delicate and gorgeous, and Ram V is among the very best new writers that mainstream comics has produced in recent years, which makes this indie title necessary reading.
Neighborhood Story
Comics have always thrived on the energy of their communities, and fall 2023 is no exception. Across the country, comic cons and local events are bringing fans together, creating vibrant hubs for collectors, cosplayers, and creators alike. From major conventions like New York Comic Con, which draws massive crowds and industry announcements, to smaller neighborhood gatherings filled with vintage finds and passionate fans, the season is packed with opportunities to share stories and celebrate the culture of comics. These neighborhood events not only spotlight the latest releases from giants like Marvel and DC, but also foster connections among fans, making every gathering a story in itself.
By Ai Yazawa
New work from one of the most highly regarded mangaka of recent decades makes its proper American debut when Viz begins publishing Neighborhood Story this fall. The Ai Yazawa-penned story, which ran for four years in its initial run and was adapted in a fan-favorite anime, tells the story of two students at a Tokyo art academy whose childhood friendship is threatened by the specters of budding sexuality, community gossip, and personal jealousies. Romantic entanglements, personal tragedies, and self-discovery are sure to ensue.
Roaming
Roaming through the fall 2023 comic scene means diving into a vibrant array of conventions and events across the country, where fans can immerse themselves in the latest from Marvel, DC, and beyond. From major gatherings like New York Comic Con in October to regional favorites such as Rhode Island Comic Con in November, these events offer exclusive previews, special issues, and opportunities to meet creators and celebrities. Whether you’re hunting for rare collectibles, exploring new storylines like Marvel’s Fall of X or DC’s Dawn of DC, or simply soaking up the cosplay and community spirit, the fall lineup promises an exciting journey for every comic enthusiast.
By Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki
It’s been almost a decade since we’ve seen a team-up between the writer-artist cousin team of Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki. The award-winning cartoonists made their reputation with a series of heartfelt and emotionally resonant graphic novels, ostensibly aimed at the YA set, but in truth as vibrant and well-crafted as any books on the stands. With this fall’s Roaming, however, they make their first full-blown attempt at adult graphic fiction, telling the story of three friends experiencing tension, love, and self-discovery during a summer trip to New York City. A queer romance with appealing art and striking color design, it promises the bittersweet, slice-of-life storytelling that this team always delivers.
Monica
Daniel Clowes’ Monica stands out as one of the most anticipated and acclaimed graphic novels of fall 2023, offering a genre-bending, multilayered narrative that chronicles the life of its enigmatic title character through a series of interconnected stories. Blending elements of war, romance, horror, crime, and the supernatural, Clowes crafts a fictional biography that is both deeply personal and richly allusive, exploring themes such as cults, conspiracy theories, and the lingering shadows of mid-20th-century America. The story follows Monica, abandoned by her mother as a child, on her quest for identity and understanding, as she navigates a tumultuous upbringing, the search for her parents, and the complexities of her own adulthood. Hailed as a masterpiece by critics and recognized with the prestigious Fauve d’Or at the Angoulême International Comics Festival, Monica marks a new artistic peak for Clowes and is essential reading for fans of literary comics.
By Daniel Clowes
The career of Daniel Clowes has been a fascinating journey through the past three decades of comics. The indie darling behind the anthology series Eightball and stories like Ghost World and Art School Confidential entered the scene as one of the foremost exemplars of jaded, Gen X cartooning. But as the years have passed, his outlook has mellowed, his style has been refined, and he’s become more driven to experiment in each of his graphic novels. Monica is perhaps his most complex project to date: a threaded web of narratives drawn from different fictional modes that collectively paint a biographical portrait of one title character. Clowes’ work is compelling even when it doesn’t fully succeed, and a new book by this artist is always worth the price of discovery.
The Mysteries
The Mysteries in fall 2023 bring thrilling new chapters to beloved supernatural and fantasy universes. Titles like Myst: Dragon’s Guard see Sela Mathers return to defend mystical realms, summoning legendary forces to combat a rising evil, while Van Helsing: Bonded by Blood explores dark family ties and uneasy alliances between vampire hunters and their foes. These stories promise deep lore, intense conflicts, and a rich blend of magic and myth that will captivate fans of the genre.
By Bill Watterson and John Kascht
There are few sentences more capable of stirring the soul of comic readers than this: “Bill Watterson is back.” It’s putting it lightly to say the cartoonist behind the brilliant and beloved Calvin and Hobbes has been reclusive: Since ending his syndicated strip three decades ago, Watterson’s aversion to interviews and publicity, his dearth of new publications, and his vaunted unwillingness to see his creations licensed or adapted in any form have reached Salinger-esque proportions. But this year, in concert with artist John Kascht, he makes his return to the form with The Mysteries, a self-styled “fable for grown-ups.”
The book will be composed of Kascht’s lushly illustrated full-page art with Watterson’s prose, for an effect that turns a children’s picture book into an unsettling social allegory. Watterson is as towering a figure as comics has ever produced, so a new work from him is a true event.
Time Under Tension
Time Under Tension, a graphic memoir by M.S. Harkness, explores the challenging transitions in her life as she graduates art school and faces the struggle to find stability and dignity amid personal trauma and difficult relationships. The title refers to a weightlifting term symbolizing the emotional and life tensions Harkness experiences-the ups and downs of her journey toward adulthood, self-acceptance, and creative expression. Through sharp, candid storytelling and bold black-and-white art, the book captures her fight to forge connection and meaning despite the pressures of survival, past abuse, and the search for community.
By M.S. Harkness
M.S. Harkness is a young cartoonist with a big reputation. Since hitting the underground scene not too long ago, the Columbus-based artist has put out a series of rough-edged, expertly crafted, visually bombastic comics that capture some of the same punk-rock vitality that early Love and Rockets captured 40 years ago. And if Harkness lacks some of Los Bros Hernandez’s gleeful genre-hopping, she adds an autobiographical honesty and subtly refined sense of story structure that suggest a fully formed talent. Time Under Tension looks to be a major leap forward for this cartoonist that’s likely to establish her as a known quantity in the comics scene.
Which upcoming comics will redefine Marvel and DC in fall 2023
The fall 2023 comic season promises to redefine Marvel and DC with several landmark events and initiatives. Marvel will shake up its mutant universe with the “Sins of Sinister” crossover, which explores a dark future shaped by Mister Sinister’s betrayal, followed by the “Fall of X” storyline that signals a dramatic shift in the X-Men saga, potentially ending their golden age. Meanwhile, DC is launching the “Dawn of DC” initiative, a fresh start following the transformative “Lazarus Planet” event, where heroes gain new powers and the status quo is reshaped, setting the stage for a bold new era across its universe. Additionally, an unprecedented Marvel/DC crossover event is set for late 2023, including the Deadpool/Batman and Batman/Deadpool one-shots, marking the first major collaboration between the two publishers in over twenty years and promising to create new dynamics between their iconic characters.
Which crossover between Marvel and DC will have the biggest impact in fall 2023
The most impactful Marvel and DC crossover in fall 2023 is the unprecedented pairing of Batman and Deadpool in two special one-shot comics: Deadpool/Batman #1 (published by Marvel in September) and Batman/Deadpool #1 (published by DC in November). This marks the first major collaboration between the two publishers in over twenty years, making it a landmark event for both universes.
Batman/Deadpool #1 is particularly notable, featuring a lead story by acclaimed writer Grant Morrison and artist Dan Mora, with additional backup stories showcasing dynamic matchups between beloved characters from both universes. This crossover is expected to have a significant impact, both creatively and culturally, as it brings together two of the most iconic characters in comics history and signals a new era of collaboration between Marvel and DC.
