Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Jed MacKay just proved he needs to leave X-Men. Not next year. Not after another relaunch. Right now.
X-Men #34 is the clearest sign yet that Marvel's entire X-Office is failing. The flagship mutant title has become repetitive, tone deaf, and completely disconnected from decades of X-Men history. Instead of rebuilding fan trust after Krakoa, Marvel keeps doubling down on the same creative mistakes that drove readers away in the first place.
The biggest problem? This is supposed to be the good X-Men book. If Jed MacKay's run is the standard Marvel is aiming for, the future of the franchise looks even worse than fans feared.
Fortunately, there were still plenty of great comics worth your money this week, including another masterpiece from Jim Zub on Conan the Barbarian, an outstanding Geiger, a surprisingly excellent Spider-Man What If?, and several more books that prove great comics are still being published every Wednesday.
Big thanks to The 616 Comics, the #1 producer-retailer in the comic book industry. Use code THINKINGCRITICAL at checkout for 10% OFF their exclusive variant covers on their website or app:
🔗 the616comics.com
🎧 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:
Geiger #24 — Ghost Machine/Image Comics
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Gary Frank
Geiger continues proving why Ghost Machine is the hottest publisher in comics. Geoff Johns and Gary Frank deliver outstanding character work while expanding the Unnamed Universe and setting the stage for the upcoming Redcoat crossover.
TMNT: Saturday Morning Adventures #39 — IDW Publishing
Writer: Erik Burnham
Artist: Sarah Myer
Another pitch-perfect adventure inspired by the classic 1987 animated series. The Turtles battle bizarre mutants while proving once again why this remains one of the best all-ages comics on the market.
Conan the Barbarian #33 — Titan Comics
Writer: Jim Zub
Artist: Fernando Dagnino
Conan and Valeria return to the high seas for a pirate adventure filled with monsters, deadly storms, gorgeous artwork, and another outstanding standalone story. Jim Zub's run continues to set the gold standard for licensed comics.
Feral #25 — Image Comics
Writer: Tony Fleecs
Artist: Trish Forstner
The milestone issue raises the stakes once again as the Stray Dogs crossover continues. Horror, suspense, and emotional storytelling combine for another excellent chapter in one of Image Comics' best ongoing series.
What If?... Spider-Man #1 — Marvel Comics
Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Yıldıray Çınar
J.M. DeMatteis revisits Kraven's Last Hunt with a compelling alternate timeline that feels true to the spirit of the original while delivering one of Marvel's strongest What If? comics in years.
Doomquest #3 — Marvel Comics
Writer: Ryan North
Artist: Francesco Mobili
Doctor Doom rewrites American history in a wildly entertaining alternate reality adventure that embraces its ridiculous premise while delivering one of Ryan North's most enjoyable Marvel comics to date.
Superman Annual: Year One Thousand — DC Comics
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Eddy Barrows
Joshua Williamson and Eddy Barrows deliver a beautiful Superman story that finally reveals the Man of Steel's mission after DC K.O. while laying important groundwork for the return of the Legion of Super-Heroes.
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
00:58 Jed MacKay Needs to LEAVE X-Men Immediately
04:18 Geiger #24
05:31 TMNT: Saturday Morning Adventures #39
06:35 Conan the Barbarian #33
07:59 Feral #25
09:08 What If?... Spider-Man #1
10:53 Doomquest #3
12:25 Superman Annual: Year One Thousand
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.
Jed MacKay just proved he needs to leave X-Men. Not next year. Not after another relaunch. Right now.
X-Men #34 is the clearest sign yet that Marvel's entire X-Office is failing. The flagship mutant title has become repetitive, tone deaf, and completely disconnected from decades of X-Men history. Instead of rebuilding fan trust after Krakoa, Marvel keeps doubling down on the same creative mistakes that drove readers away in the first place.
The biggest problem? This is supposed to be the good X-Men book. If Jed MacKay's run is the standard Marvel is aiming for, the future of the franchise looks even worse than fans feared.
Fortunately, there were still plenty of great comics worth your money this week, including another masterpiece from Jim Zub on Conan the Barbarian, an outstanding Geiger, a surprisingly excellent Spider-Man What If?, and several more books that prove great comics are still being published every Wednesday.
Big thanks to The 616 Comics, the #1 producer-retailer in the comic book industry. Use code THINKINGCRITICAL at checkout for 10% OFF their exclusive variant covers on their website or app:
🔗 the616comics.com
🎧 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:
Geiger #24 — Ghost Machine/Image Comics
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Gary Frank
Geiger continues proving why Ghost Machine is the hottest publisher in comics. Geoff Johns and Gary Frank deliver outstanding character work while expanding the Unnamed Universe and setting the stage for the upcoming Redcoat crossover.
TMNT: Saturday Morning Adventures #39 — IDW Publishing
Writer: Erik Burnham
Artist: Sarah Myer
Another pitch-perfect adventure inspired by the classic 1987 animated series. The Turtles battle bizarre mutants while proving once again why this remains one of the best all-ages comics on the market.
Conan the Barbarian #33 — Titan Comics
Writer: Jim Zub
Artist: Fernando Dagnino
Conan and Valeria return to the high seas for a pirate adventure filled with monsters, deadly storms, gorgeous artwork, and another outstanding standalone story. Jim Zub's run continues to set the gold standard for licensed comics.
Feral #25 — Image Comics
Writer: Tony Fleecs
Artist: Trish Forstner
The milestone issue raises the stakes once again as the Stray Dogs crossover continues. Horror, suspense, and emotional storytelling combine for another excellent chapter in one of Image Comics' best ongoing series.
What If?... Spider-Man #1 — Marvel Comics
Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Artist: Yıldıray Çınar
J.M. DeMatteis revisits Kraven's Last Hunt with a compelling alternate timeline that feels true to the spirit of the original while delivering one of Marvel's strongest What If? comics in years.
Doomquest #3 — Marvel Comics
Writer: Ryan North
Artist: Francesco Mobili
Doctor Doom rewrites American history in a wildly entertaining alternate reality adventure that embraces its ridiculous premise while delivering one of Ryan North's most enjoyable Marvel comics to date.
Superman Annual: Year One Thousand — DC Comics
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Eddy Barrows
Joshua Williamson and Eddy Barrows deliver a beautiful Superman story that finally reveals the Man of Steel's mission after DC K.O. while laying important groundwork for the return of the Legion of Super-Heroes.
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
00:58 Jed MacKay Needs to LEAVE X-Men Immediately
04:18 Geiger #24
05:31 TMNT: Saturday Morning Adventures #39
06:35 Conan the Barbarian #33
07:59 Feral #25
09:08 What If?... Spider-Man #1
10:53 Doomquest #3
12:25 Superman Annual: Year One Thousand
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.
