The Man Comes Around

It's another one of those weeks - when you get three comics from me all at once, and they're all pretty big deals in large and small ways. Let's go through the list...

WHAT'S OUT TODAY?

Immortal Thor #25, that's what!

This is the long-promised end of Act One, where Thor finally passes into the land of the dead and what waits for him there, and we see the true effect of the spell Loki's been casting over Thor since issue #1 - with Thor himself the sacrifice to power it. Meanwhile, it wouldn't be a trip to Vidblainn, third land of the dead, without a visit from Thor's corrupted other self, Donald Blake. Tongues are definitely going to be wagging on this one, so read it quick before it gets spoiled - and drink in the beautiful artwork by the wonderful Jan Bazaldua, special guest Justin Greenwood and incoming artist Pasqual Ferry, with dazzling color by Matt Hollingsworth and Romuld Fajardo Jr. Titans, all!

Also out this week - Absolute Green Lantern #4. This feels like the most experimental title I'm working on right now - I just did a lettering check on #5 and there's a dreamlike energy there that makes it feel like the cousin to the head shop heroes of the 1970s - wait wait wait, is "be without fear" the cousin to "oh nobly born, listen well" from Timothy Leary? I just realized that now in real time. Anyway, I'm clearly starting to embrace this aesthetic consciously and unconsciously, ably aided and abetted by the stunning art of Jahnoy Lindsay, which is evolving on its own track into deep realms of richness and wonder. This issue, as every issue: questions are answered, more questions remain, and can you trust the answers anyway?

(On an unrelated note: I wanted to write "I just grokked that now in real time", but a mass-murdering junkie billionaire has stolen that word from us, transforming it with money from something I do all the time, i.e. come to an intuitive understanding of a concept, to something I would never do, i.e. use A.I. for anything at all. It's everywhere now! In everything! Unavoidable, sitting in the corner saying "ooh, stop thinking, it don't do to think!" And it exists for exactly that - the express purpose of degrading the human ability to think thoughts! Billionaires are pumping money into this crap BECAUSE it drives people crazy and/or turns them into drones! That's not a bug they missed - it's a feature they built it for! Well, that and theft. Anyway, I miss the word "grok". That mass-murdering billionaire junkie has a lot to answer for.)

Last but not least - it's All-New Venom #8! Our eighth issue tentacular spectacular, featuring a particularly villainous Doctor Octopus - and let me say, writing Otto was a real treat. Once I noticed how often I was making him toss out a literary allusion to show off how clever he is, his whole personality just locked into place. Who better to take on the symbiotes and Mary Jane? I'm not even going to mention the supporting cast - every time I do, people read into it like a pack of tarot cards - but they are also around, and all deftly delineated by the brilliant Carlos Gómez and captivatingly colored by the wonderful Frank D'Armata.

AND THAT'S THAT!

I'm out of time - as is the way on these three-book Wednesdays. Love, strength and justice to all who need it, and I'll play us out with "Only The Horses" by Scissor Sisters.