After 24 issues, I finally did it.

I dropped Absolute Superman.

I really wanted to love this series. In fact, I thought the first twenty issues were pretty strong. But somewhere along the way, the storytelling stopped giving me the tension, uncertainty, and character development that initially made it interesting.

And when you’re buying every issue with your own money, eventually you have to decide whether it’s still worth continuing.

That’s where we start this week’s episode of Panel Chewing.

Jarrod has his own disappointment with The Demon #1, a series he was looking forward to because of his history with the character.

Fortunately, not everything this week was disappointing.

We also discuss The Dirt Beneath the Devil, Minor Arcana, Crowbound, Hawkmoon, and the wonderfully disturbing Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees: Halloween Special.

I also took a chance on Midnight X-Men #1, a Halloween-themed X-Men story from Jonathan Hickman. And much to my surprise, I enjoyed it enough to give the second issue a chance.

Picks of the Week

Jarrod chooses Superman: The Stranger #2, praising Wes Craig’s take on Superman in Depression-era Metropolis. Ironically, the qualities he enjoys are exactly what I’ve been missing from Absolute Superman.

My pick is Hyde Street #13.

Geoff Johns has spent twelve issues establishing a cast of deeply flawed characters, and now the Butcher is tearing through everything we thought we understood about this world.

It’s unpredictable, disturbing, and some of the most compelling storytelling I’m currently reading.

Lone Wolf and Cub Volume 20

We finish the episode with our ongoing Lone Wolf and Cub group read.

This volume introduces a villain who relies on poison rather than direct confrontation, creating an entirely different kind of danger for Ogami Itto and Daigoro.

We also explore whether Ogami is becoming more compassionate as the series progresses, particularly when innocent people are threatened by the escalating conflict.

After twenty volumes, this series continues to surprise us.

Watch or listen to Panel Chewing #152 below, and let us know what comics you’re enjoying this week!

Thanks for reading, and we hope you find your Pick of the Week!

Find the audio version here