Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Absolute Catwoman and M.A.S.K. were supposed to be two of the biggest comic launches of the year. After all the hype, both debuts left a lot to be desired.
Absolute Catwoman was expected to be another major win for DC's hottest publishing initiative, while M.A.S.K. represented the next big expansion of the Energon Universe. Instead, both books delivered underwhelming debuts that raised more questions than excitement. One felt surprisingly conventional for the Absolute Universe. The other struggled to capture the action-packed spirit that made the property popular in the first place.
Fortunately, the week wasn't a total loss.
Dynamite continues to set the standard for licensed comics with another outstanding issue of Space Ghost. Larry Hama proves once again why he's one of the most reliable creators in the industry. Meanwhile, DC delivers multiple standout releases featuring Aquaman, Firestorm, and Barbara Gordon that deserve far more attention than the week's heavily promoted launches.
🎧 Want More No-BS Comic Talk?
The latest Hot or Not Podcast is live right now, covering even more weekly releases and deeper discussion.
Then it’s time for the week’s must-read comics:
Space Ghost #12 — Dynamite Entertainment
Writer: David Pepose
Artist: Jonathan Lau
The climactic showdown between Space Ghost and Tempus the Time Master delivers huge action, emotional payoff, and another reminder that this has been one of the best superhero runs of the decade.
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #329 — Skybound / Image Comics
Writer: Larry Hama
Artist: Paul Pelletier
Snake Eyes, mind bombs, conspiracies, and a killer cliffhanger prove Larry Hama still has plenty left in the tank.
Emperor Aquaman #18 — DC Comics
Writer: Jeremy Adams
Artist: Paulo Vannelli
A hilarious and action-packed adventure featuring Aquaman and Hal Jordan that reinforces why this remains one of the most underrated books in comics.
The Fury of Firestorm #3 — DC Comics
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Rafael De Latorre
Major revelations, Doomsday Clock connections, and escalating stakes make this one of DC's most compelling current series.
Barbara Gordon: Breakout #2 — DC Comics
Writer: Mariko Tamaki
Artist: Javier Rodríguez
A dramatic improvement over the debut issue with stronger storytelling, memorable visuals, and one of the week's biggest surprises.
Support the Channel / Join the Community
Support Thinking Critical on Patreon for Exclusive Content
🔗 patreon.com/thinkingcritical
Back Channel Memberships
🔗 youtube.com/@Wes_From_TC/join
🛒 Official Thinking Critical Merch
🔗 redbubble.com/people/T-Critical/shop?asc=u
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:33 Absolute Catwoman and MASK Debuts Underwhelm
04:39 Space Ghost #12
06:23 G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #329
08:01 Emperor Aquaman #18
09:56 The Fury of Firestorm #3
12:17 Barbara Gordon: Breakout #2
Follow the Channel
📱 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thinking_critical
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thinkingcrit
📘 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/1368359010382132
💬 Discord: discord.gg/uHM3Z68
🎮 Twitch: twitch.tv/thinking_critical_yt
Contact Wes
🐦 Twitter: twitter.com/Wes_from_TC
📧 Email: wesdigscomic@gmail.com
🔊 Automatic Dubbing Disclaimer
This video includes YouTube’s automatic dubbing feature for non-English speakers. Translations may contain minor errors and do not always reflect tone or expression. You can switch back to the original English track in the settings if needed.
Absolute Catwoman and M.A.S.K. were supposed to be two of the biggest comic launches of the year. After all the hype, both debuts left a lot to be desired.
Absolute Catwoman was expected to be another major win for DC's hottest publishing initiative, while M.A.S.K. represented the next big expansion of the Energon Universe. Instead, both books delivered underwhelming debuts that raised more questions than excitement. One felt surprisingly conventional for the Absolute Universe. The other struggled to capture the action-packed spirit that made the property popular in the first place.
Fortunately, the week wasn't a total loss.
Dynamite continues to set the standard for licensed comics with another outstanding issue of Space Ghost. Larry Hama proves once again why he's one of the most reliable creators in the industry. Meanwhile, DC delivers multiple standout releases featuring Aquaman, Firestorm, and Barbara Gordon that deserve far more attention than the week's heavily promoted launches.
🎧 Want More No-BS Comic Talk?
The latest Hot or Not Podcast is live right now, covering even more weekly releases and deeper discussion.
Then it’s time for the week’s must-read comics:
Space Ghost #12 — Dynamite Entertainment
Writer: David Pepose
Artist: Jonathan Lau
The climactic showdown between Space Ghost and Tempus the Time Master delivers huge action, emotional payoff, and another reminder that this has been one of the best superhero runs of the decade.
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #329 — Skybound / Image Comics
Writer: Larry Hama
Artist: Paul Pelletier
Snake Eyes, mind bombs, conspiracies, and a killer cliffhanger prove Larry Hama still has plenty left in the tank.
Emperor Aquaman #18 — DC Comics
Writer: Jeremy Adams
Artist: Paulo Vannelli
A hilarious and action-packed adventure featuring Aquaman and Hal Jordan that reinforces why this remains one of the most underrated books in comics.
The Fury of Firestorm #3 — DC Comics
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Rafael De Latorre
Major revelations, Doomsday Clock connections, and escalating stakes make this one of DC's most compelling current series.
Barbara Gordon: Breakout #2 — DC Comics
Writer: Mariko Tamaki
Artist: Javier Rodríguez
A dramatic improvement over the debut issue with stronger storytelling, memorable visuals, and one of the week's biggest surprises.
Support the Channel / Join the Community
Support Thinking Critical on Patreon for Exclusive Content
🔗 patreon.com/thinkingcritical
Back Channel Memberships
🔗 youtube.com/@Wes_From_TC/join
🛒 Official Thinking Critical Merch
🔗 redbubble.com/people/T-Critical/shop?asc=u
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:33 Absolute Catwoman and MASK Debuts Underwhelm
04:39 Space Ghost #12
06:23 G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #329
08:01 Emperor Aquaman #18
09:56 The Fury of Firestorm #3
12:17 Barbara Gordon: Breakout #2
Follow the Channel
📱 TikTok: tiktok.com/@thinking_critical
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/thinkingcrit
📘 Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/1368359010382132
💬 Discord: discord.gg/uHM3Z68
🎮 Twitch: twitch.tv/thinking_critical_yt
Contact Wes
🐦 Twitter: twitter.com/Wes_from_TC
📧 Email: wesdigscomic@gmail.com
🔊 Automatic Dubbing Disclaimer
This video includes YouTube’s automatic dubbing feature for non-English speakers. Translations may contain minor errors and do not always reflect tone or expression. You can switch back to the original English track in the settings if needed.
