Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
One of the best comic book weeks of the year is here. Nine books earned a recommendation, including a surprise #1 and one long-running series that finally found its footing.
Walking into this week, expectations weren't particularly high. By the time the dust settled, it turned into one of the strongest weeks of the year. Packed with major releases from Marvel, DC and the indie publishers, this was one of those rare weeks where quality matched quantity, with nine comics earning strong recommendations.
From Sean Gordon Murphy's surprise new creator-owned series, to the best issue of G.I. Joe yet, another brutal chapter of Battle Beast, and a Marvel comic that reminds everyone just how great Dan Abnett is, there's plenty to love this week. If you're looking for the very best comics hitting shelves right now, this is the list you don't want to miss.
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:
• The Last Driver #1 – Sean Gordon Murphy launches an over-the-top dystopian road adventure exploring freedom, AI and America's future in an unforgettable landscape-format comic.
• G.I. Joe #25 – Josh Williamson and Tom Reilly deliver the biggest confrontation yet as Duke, Baroness, Cobra Commander and the newly introduced Night Force collide in the best issue of the series so far.
• Battle Beast #12 – Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley conclude the savage Battle Beast vs. Conquest showdown with another brutally entertaining chapter packed with spectacular action.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #21 – Gene Luen Yang begins his final TMNT story arc while Baxter Stockman cements himself as one of the franchise's most despicable villains.
• Redcoat #19 – Geoff Johns and Bryan Hitch deliver an emotional turning point that changes Simon Pure forever and sets up huge developments for the Ghost Machine Universe.
• The Darkness #7 – Mark Silvestri continues Jackie's tragic journey with emotional storytelling, gorgeous artwork and plenty of supernatural horror.
• Punisher vs Spider-Man #2 – Dan Abnett delivers another outstanding chapter that finally allows both sides of the Punisher debate to be heard while bringing Peter Parker into the middle of the conflict.
• Absolute Flash #18 – Jeff Lemire's series takes a major step forward with the debut of Absolute Zoom and exciting new directions for Wally West's story.
• Deathstroke: The Terminator #6 – Tony Fleecs digs deeper into Slade Wilson's fractured family while setting the stage for the next phase of the series.
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
00:00 Intro
00:54 The Last Driver #1
02:31 G.I. Joe #25
03:55 Battle Beast #12
05:19 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #21
06:42 Redcoat #19
08:05 The Darkness #7
08:57 Punisher Vs Spider-Man #2
11:03 Absolute Flash #18
12:27 Deathstroke: The Terminator #6
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.
One of the best comic book weeks of the year is here. Nine books earned a recommendation, including a surprise #1 and one long-running series that finally found its footing.
Walking into this week, expectations weren't particularly high. By the time the dust settled, it turned into one of the strongest weeks of the year. Packed with major releases from Marvel, DC and the indie publishers, this was one of those rare weeks where quality matched quantity, with nine comics earning strong recommendations.
From Sean Gordon Murphy's surprise new creator-owned series, to the best issue of G.I. Joe yet, another brutal chapter of Battle Beast, and a Marvel comic that reminds everyone just how great Dan Abnett is, there's plenty to love this week. If you're looking for the very best comics hitting shelves right now, this is the list you don't want to miss.
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:
• The Last Driver #1 – Sean Gordon Murphy launches an over-the-top dystopian road adventure exploring freedom, AI and America's future in an unforgettable landscape-format comic.
• G.I. Joe #25 – Josh Williamson and Tom Reilly deliver the biggest confrontation yet as Duke, Baroness, Cobra Commander and the newly introduced Night Force collide in the best issue of the series so far.
• Battle Beast #12 – Robert Kirkman and Ryan Ottley conclude the savage Battle Beast vs. Conquest showdown with another brutally entertaining chapter packed with spectacular action.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #21 – Gene Luen Yang begins his final TMNT story arc while Baxter Stockman cements himself as one of the franchise's most despicable villains.
• Redcoat #19 – Geoff Johns and Bryan Hitch deliver an emotional turning point that changes Simon Pure forever and sets up huge developments for the Ghost Machine Universe.
• The Darkness #7 – Mark Silvestri continues Jackie's tragic journey with emotional storytelling, gorgeous artwork and plenty of supernatural horror.
• Punisher vs Spider-Man #2 – Dan Abnett delivers another outstanding chapter that finally allows both sides of the Punisher debate to be heard while bringing Peter Parker into the middle of the conflict.
• Absolute Flash #18 – Jeff Lemire's series takes a major step forward with the debut of Absolute Zoom and exciting new directions for Wally West's story.
• Deathstroke: The Terminator #6 – Tony Fleecs digs deeper into Slade Wilson's fractured family while setting the stage for the next phase of the series.
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
00:00 Intro
00:54 The Last Driver #1
02:31 G.I. Joe #25
03:55 Battle Beast #12
05:19 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #21
06:42 Redcoat #19
08:05 The Darkness #7
08:57 Punisher Vs Spider-Man #2
11:03 Absolute Flash #18
12:27 Deathstroke: The Terminator #6
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.
![Marvel Introduces New Danger Room [X-Men #27 Review]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ifFtTp067m0/mqdefault.jpg "Marvel Introduces New Danger Room [X-Men #27 Review]
The Danger Room isn’t training the X-Men anymore… it’s hunting them. Marvel just turned one of the most iconic concepts in comics into something completely different in X-Men #27—and not everyone is going to like it.
In this review, Wes breaks down X-Men #27 from Jed MacKay and Netho Diaz, including the debut of the new “Danger Room” — now a full team of manipulative villains led by Maxine Danger. Instead of building tension over time, Marvel dumps multiple new characters at once, all with overlapping abilities and questionable motivations, raising serious concerns about execution, pacing, and long-term payoff.
There are ideas here that could work. The problem is how they’re being delivered. This feels less like a natural evolution and more like a retroactive explanation for earlier plot decisions that didn’t land. At the same time, Netho Diaz continues to elevate the material with dynamic, high-energy visuals that make even the slowest scenes look engaging.
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 site or app: 🔗 https://the616comics.com
🎧 Want the FULL, unedited conversation?
Listen to the entire Dok Unfiltered Podcast right now on Thinking Critical Patreon and Channel Memberships, where Wes and Dok go deeper on Iron Man #1 and Marvel’s future.
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Support Thinking Critical on Patreon for Exclusive Content
🔗 https://patreon.com/thinkingcritical
🛒 Official Thinking Critical Merch
🔗 https://www.redbubble.com/people/T-Critical/shop?asc=u
Covered in this Video:
* X-Men #27 full review and analysis
* Marvel’s new Danger Room villain team explained
* Maxine Danger and her role in the story
* Why the villain introductions feel rushed
* Repetitive “manipulator” character problem
* Plot holes and questionable story logic
* Techno-organic virus twist breakdown
* Comparison to classic Danger Room concept
* Netho Diaz artwork review and strengths
* Final score and recommendation
Follow the Channel
📱 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thinking_critical
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thinkingcrit/
📘 Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1368359010382132
💬 Discord: https://discord.gg/uHM3Z68
🎮 Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/thinking_critical_yt
Contact Wes
🐦 Twitter: https://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.")
