Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The best comics. The worst comics. And everything in between from the first quarter of 2026.
In this special free episode of Hot or Not, Wes kicks things off by laying out his definitive picks for the hottest and nottest comics of the year so far—calling out the biggest wins, the most disappointing titles, and the trends shaping the current market. From breakout hits to books that completely miss the mark, nothing is off the table.
From there, Wes goes one-on-one with a lineup of fan-favorite guests—Dylan (TheRealComicBookGamer), Dok, Eric O’Sullivan, 32 Flavors of Nickweiser, and Aaron Sparrow—for a series of deep dives into what’s actually working in comics right now. They highlight the strongest books coming out of DC Comics, the Absolute Universe, the Energon Universe, Ghost Machine, and more, breaking down what these publishers are getting right while others continue to struggle.
The conversation also turns toward Marvel’s current lineup, examining why so many titles and franchises are falling flat in 2026, where the disconnect is happening, and whether there’s a clear path forward. They also dig into the ongoing frustrations around Nightwing and why longtime DC fans aren’t getting what they expect from one of the publisher’s most popular characters.
If you enjoyed this episode of the Hot or Not Podcast, the weekly review show featuring Jim and Wes breaking down all the new releases from DC, Marvel, and indie comics is available every week on Thinking Critical Patreon and Channel Memberships.
Back Thinking Critical on Channel Memberships
🔗 youtube.com/@Wes_From_TC/join
Support Thinking Critical on Patreon for Exclusive Content
🔗 patreon.com/thinkingcritical
🛒 Official Thinking Critical Merch
🔗 redbubble.com/people/T-Critical/shop?asc=u
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:01 Wes
00:23:33 Dylan aka TheRealComicBookGamer
00:45:45 Dok
01:07:59 Eric O’Sullivan
01:34:02 32 Flavors of Nickweiser
01:58:03 Aaron Sparrow
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.
The best comics. The worst comics. And everything in between from the first quarter of 2026.
In this special free episode of Hot or Not, Wes kicks things off by laying out his definitive picks for the hottest and nottest comics of the year so far—calling out the biggest wins, the most disappointing titles, and the trends shaping the current market. From breakout hits to books that completely miss the mark, nothing is off the table.
From there, Wes goes one-on-one with a lineup of fan-favorite guests—Dylan (TheRealComicBookGamer), Dok, Eric O’Sullivan, 32 Flavors of Nickweiser, and Aaron Sparrow—for a series of deep dives into what’s actually working in comics right now. They highlight the strongest books coming out of DC Comics, the Absolute Universe, the Energon Universe, Ghost Machine, and more, breaking down what these publishers are getting right while others continue to struggle.
The conversation also turns toward Marvel’s current lineup, examining why so many titles and franchises are falling flat in 2026, where the disconnect is happening, and whether there’s a clear path forward. They also dig into the ongoing frustrations around Nightwing and why longtime DC fans aren’t getting what they expect from one of the publisher’s most popular characters.
If you enjoyed this episode of the Hot or Not Podcast, the weekly review show featuring Jim and Wes breaking down all the new releases from DC, Marvel, and indie comics is available every week on Thinking Critical Patreon and Channel Memberships.
Back Thinking Critical on Channel Memberships
🔗 youtube.com/@Wes_From_TC/join
Support Thinking Critical on Patreon for Exclusive Content
🔗 patreon.com/thinkingcritical
🛒 Official Thinking Critical Merch
🔗 redbubble.com/people/T-Critical/shop?asc=u
Chapters
00:00:00 Intro
00:01:01 Wes
00:23:33 Dylan aka TheRealComicBookGamer
00:45:45 Dok
01:07:59 Eric O’Sullivan
01:34:02 32 Flavors of Nickweiser
01:58:03 Aaron Sparrow
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.
