100 COMICS WE LOVE #98: OLD CAVES

On The Comic Crush, we pick another of our 100 Comics We Love: A retiree dedicates his days to combing a dense, snow-covered forest in pursuit of the unknown, and his nights to reminiscing about his wife. Old Caves is a peek through a frost-covered window at isolation, obsession, and the slow erosion of relationships. The high contrast black and white art enhances the sense of absolute solitude. Old Caves is one of the best-looking graphic novel debuts in recent memory.

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FANTASTIC FOUR: A COMIC CRUSH GUIDE

On The Comic Crush: check out our guide to Marvel’s First Family! Our short series of reviews and essays on some of the best modern FF stories is your entry point to the world’s greatest superteam!

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FANTASTIC FOUR: SOLVE EVERYTHING OMNIBUS (TP)

On The Comic Crush, we join the Fantastic Four and solve everything! Solve everything! Inside a room kept secret from even his closest friends and family, Reed Richards had scrawled upon the walls 100 of the biggest and boldest ideas his brain could produce. And, recently, he added a 101st, the most audacious ever: 'Solve everything.' It would be a mantra that would lead the obsessively intellectual Mr. Fantastic to do great works on behalf of humanity - and, in typically fantastic fashion, lead him into even greater trouble! For, as the big brain of the Fantastic Four will find out, solving everything carries with it a great cost and one that is perhaps too much to pay.

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BACK ISSUE BLUES: FANTASTIC FOUR - WORLD'S GREATEST (TP)

On The Comic Crush, we begin our look at the Fantastic Four when Marvel's First Family meets Millar and Hitch! When one of the world's greatest writers teams up with one of the world's greatest artists, the result is the truly World's Greatest Comic Magazine! Following their epic successes with ULTIMATES and ULTIMATES 2, Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch reunite to forge a new future for the Fantastic Four! Taking their cue from the wild-eyed, creative abandon of the classic Lee/Kirby years, Millar and Hitch make the book decisively their own! First up is the return of Reed Richards' old flame, Alyssa Moy, with news of worldwide calamity that only Mister Fantastic can help divert - but what if the price is his marriage to Sue? Next, the Defenders are back and barraging New York with high-velocity attacks. This mysterious group of heavies has taken out Doctor Doom and Johnny Storm - and that's not even their biggest surprise!

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NIGHT OF THE GHOUL (TP)

On The Comic Crush: A dazzling work of horror, intercutting between the present-day narrative and the story of a lost horror film. Director T.F. Merrit has spent decades confined in a retirement facility, which he claims is run by the Order of the Fly, a cult organization from his very own movie. And as the night goes on, Forest Inmann and his son Orson find themselves falling deeper into his cinematic nightmare. The writer and artist behind Batman: The Black Mirror reunite to shed light on a celluloid artifact once thought forever missing, perhaps with good reason…

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POISON IVY VOL.1: THE VIRTUOUS CYCLE (HC)

On The Comic Crush, Paul Dunne reviews Poison Ivy Vol.1: Pamela Isely has been a lot of things in her life: a living God, a super-villain, an activist, a scientist…and dead.In a new body that she didn't ask for and with a renewed sense of purpose, Ivy leaves Gotham and sets out to complete her greatest work: a gift to the world that will heal the damage dealt to it...by ending humanity. But plans have a tendency of changing, and Ivy realises life isn't just black and white and all humans aren't evil - except for the ones destroying the Earth with corporate greed. And Ivy will make. Them. Pay.

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ONCE UPON A TIME AT THE END OF THE WORLD BOOK 1: LOVE IN THE WASTELAND (TP)

On The Comic Crush: A Post-Apocalyptic Fable Told In Three Parts For Fans of Saga! In this decades-spanning post-apocalyptic tale, Maceo and Mezzy have never met anyone like each other, and they'll need all the help they can get to survive a planet ravaged by environmental catastrophe. "Love in the Wasteland" kicks off the first arc of this epic trilogy that spans a lifetime as the dark mysteries of a ruined world and their own stark differences tear at the threads holding Mezzy and Maceo together. As they endure the horrors of plastic tornadoes and frozen sludge, Maceo proves to be more than just a burden, and they make an unlikely connection. But to their peril… they might not be as alone as they thought…

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DO A POWERBOMB (TP)

On The Comic Crush: From the creator of MURDER FALCON and Wonder Woman: Dead Earth comes the wrestling adventure of the decade! Lona Steelrose wants to be a pro wrestler, but she's living under the shadow of her mother, the best to ever do it. Everything changes when a wrestling-obsessed necromancer brings her to another dimension and asks her to join the DEATHLYFE tournament, the grandest - and most dangerous- pro-wrestling tournament of all time! It's The Wrestler meets Dragonball Z in a tale where the competitors get more than they ever bargained for!

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DARK SPACES: WILDFIRE (TP)

On The Comic Crush, we review Dark Spaces: Wildfire: Legendary writer Scott Snyder presents Dark Spaces, a thrilling new anthology series exploring our deepest fears of the unknown. Six weeks into the slow burn of the historic Arroyo Fire, a crew of women from an inmate firefighting program are risking everything on the frontlines when their newest recruit-a white-collar convict with a deep network of shady dealers-discovers they're mere miles from her crooked former associates abandoned mansion. When she proposes a plan to abandon their duties and hunt for riches under cover of smoke and ash, the team must decide if they're ready to jeopardize their one sure path back to normalcy for a shot at a score that would truly change their lives... but is this a flicker of fortune, or a deadly trap?

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YOUTH VOL.1: TRUE FANTASY (TP)

On The Comic Crush, with Indigo Children out now, Paul looks back at Vol. 1 of Youth, the previous collaboration between Curt Pires and Alex Diotto. YOUTH is Larry Clark's Kids meets Chronicle. X-Men by way of Frank Ocean. It smashes together the violence of coming of age with the violence of the superhero narrative - as well as the beauty. YOUTH is a coming-of-age story that tells the story of two queer teenagers as they run away from their lives in a bigoted small town, and attempt to make their way to California. Along the way their car breaks down and they join up with a group of fellow misfits on the road. Embarking together in a van traveling the country they party and attempt to find themselves. And then something happens . . .

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THE LONESOME HUNTERS VOL. 1 (TPB)

On The Comic Crush, Paul Dunne reviews The Lonesome Hunters Vol. 1: The Pitch: From Russ Manning Award-winning and Eisner-nominated Harrow County co-creator Tyler Crook comes this supernatural fantasy about loss, power, and destiny. An old and out-of-practice monster hunter in hiding crosses paths with a young girl that forces him to confront these chaotic creatures. As the beasts invade their tenement they set off on a supernatural road trip to stop these ancient evils in a story that explores the ways that youth informs adulthood and how early traumas can haunt us in old age.

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HARLEY QUINN (2022) VOL.1: NO GOOD DEED (TP)

On The Comic Crush, Paul Dunne checks out Stephanie Phillips’ Harley Quinn. But first, a word from HQ herself: Harley Quinn here to let everyone know that I’m starring in a brand-new graphic novel collection with a brand-new status quo! I’m coming back to Gotham City to make up for the sins of my past, and to help the city recover from the Joker War! But there’s no welcoming committee waiting for me, your favourite Maid of Mischief! And between you and me, some real creeps are working to keep the city broken. We can’t let that happen, can we? Rising-star writer Stephanie Phillips, my new partner in crime, takes me into a bold new era with her partner in artistic crime Riley Rossmo, who I gotta say designed a real nice new costume for me. You’re not gonna wanna miss this one, folks!

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CAPTAIN AMERICA - SENTINEL OF LIBERTY VOL.1: REVOLUTION (TP)

On The Comic Crush, Paul Dunne reviews Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty Vol.1! A new era of shield-slinging begins! When Arnim Zola launches a catastrophic attack on New York City, he meets his match - in two Captain Americas! But a shocking secret about Steve Rogers' iconic shield will change the way he views the 20th century he came from - and how he chooses to fight in the 21st! Steve follows a trail of coded breadcrumbs to Germany in pursuit of an elusive organization making bold and deadly moves, while Bucky Barnes' own investigation leads him to the high roller’s tables in Madripoor. Thousands of miles apart with no backup, will Steve and Bucky find what they're looking for, or are they both in over their heads? Featuring the shocking return of the Dryad herself: Peggy Carter!

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MODERN CLASSICS: THE IMPENDING BLINDNESS OF BILLIE SCOTT (NEW EDITION / TP)

On The Comic Crush, we launch our Modern Classics strand with The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott: Billie Scott is an artist. Her debut gallery exhibition opens in a few months. Within a fortnight she'll be completely blind. As Billie struggles to deal with her impending blindness, she sets off on a journey from Middlesbrough to London; into a world of post-austerity Britain and the problems facing those left behind. Her quest is to find ten people to paint for her exhibition, as well as the inspiration to continue with her art, and the strength to move on with her life.

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BOOTBLACK (HC)

On The Comic Crush, Paul Dunne looks back at Bootblack. Spring, 1945: the war leaves only death and destruction in its wake. To escape the horror of the present, Al, an American soldier, the only survivor of his unit, immerses himself in the memories of his New York life. Son of German immigrants, born in the United States, he was not yet ten years old when, in one night, under the approving eyes of anti-immigrant Americans, he lost his parents and his home in a terrible fire. Turning his back on his origins, Al has no choice but to live on the streets; he becomes a Bootblack, a shoe shiner. New York offers no future for the poor, Al understood that. He is therefore determined to earn more money, whatever the means. But he does not imagine, at that point, that the war which threatens will soon give him an appointment with his past...

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THE BEST OF 2000 AD (VOLUME TWO)

On The Comic Crush, Paul Dunne reviews The Best of 2000AD Volume Two! The ultimate 2000 AD mix tape has finally arrived! An explosive Judge Dredd adventure, fresh essays by prominent popular culture writers, a graphic novel-length feature presentation, and a vintage Dredd case. In this volume: Judge Dredd hunts untraceable assassins firing Magic Bullets by Al Ewing and Colin Wilson; even robots get the Red Planet Blues from Alan Moore, Steve Dillon, and John Higgins; not even Mega City One's brightest can escape The Vampire Effect; join the front line of the resistance against intergalactic bigots in Gothic masterpiece Nemesis The Warlock! Cover by Becky Cloonan and designer Tom Muller.

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DEATHBED: NEW EDITION (TP)

On The Comic Crush, Paul Dunne writes about the new edition of Deathbed: From Joshua Williamson and Riley Rossmo comes the tale of Antonio Luna, the most remarkable man in the world. As Luna lies on his deathbed, dictating his memoirs to failed novelist Valentine Richards, things get strange when they learn that someone is murdering everyone from Antonio's past who could corroborate his wild tales of alien mutants, mummy ninjas, and cannibal cults! Can this unlikely pair solve the mystery of who's trying to purge Luna from history before his life comes to a close?

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ANT-MAN: ANT-IVERSARY (TPB)

On The Comic Crush, Paul Dunne reviews Ant-Man: Ant-Iversary - Celebrate the astonishing legacy of the Ant-Man with every hero who ever donned the helmet! Reacquaint yourself with Hank Pym, the original Ant-Man, during his early days as a costumed hero! Join the irredeemable Eric O'Grady on an untold adventure set during the events of SECRET INVASION! And in the present day, reconnect with Scott Lang as he tries to stop the villainous Black Ant from freeing the killer android Ultron from captivity! But in the far future, who is the new hero calling himself Ant-Man? And what can he do against an Ultron who has become a god?! Plus: Classic tales featuring Hank at the mercy of the pernicious Protector - and tackling the terrible Time-Master!

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TRIAL OF THE AMAZONS (HC)

On The Comic Crush, Paul Dunne reviews Wonder Woman: Trial of The Amazons! After the events of Nubia & the Amazons, the dangers of Doom’s Doorway have found their way to Man’s World and garnered the attention of not one, but all three Amazonian tribes. The Bana-Mighdall consider it to be a weakness in the current regime and have decided to return to the shores of Themyscira to stake their claim over the island. Little do they know, the Esquecida are not far behind, but instead looking for help to combat the evil unleashed. Tempers rise and swords are brandished as the women argue about the best course of action. Now, Queen Nubia must show them all the way to peace by calling for one of the most famous Amazon traditions…the Contest.

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YA READS: THE STONE KING (TP)

On The Comic Crush, Paul Dunne reviews The Stone King, from Dark Horse Comics: When you become an adult, you have to prove yourself, at least that's how it works for the Stoneport thieves. Ave has decided to illegally harvest healing moss from the Stone King, a mighty giant who roams the lands. Her theft goes even better than she could have dreamed. The biggest gem she's ever seen is her prize. But what she thought would buy her a ticket to adventure and a better life, brings disaster instead. Now her home is in danger and fixing her mistakes is the city's only hope.

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