Another week means another stack of comics to discuss, and while this week’s pull list was a little lighter than usual, it still gave us plenty to talk about.
In Episode #134 of Panel Chewing Pick of the Week, Jarrod and I kick things off with a discussion about DC’s Absolute Universe. After nearly a year of Absolute titles, has the line been a success? Which books have stood the test of time? And what lessons can publishers learn from alternate-universe superhero stories? We share our thoughts on what’s working, what isn’t, and where we’d like to see the line go next.
This Week’s Comics
We cover a variety of books from across the industry, including (Amazon Affiliate links):
- Astral Quantum #5 – The conclusion of Mad Cave’s sci-fi adventure and Moby Dick-inspired space epic.
- Absolute Green Arrow #1 – A mysterious new entry into DC’s Absolute Universe that left us intrigued.
- Only the Savage Are Left #1 – A post-apocalyptic survival story that feels familiar, but offers some interesting ideas.
- American Caper #7 – Dark humor, political satire, and absolute chaos continue in one of the funniest books on the shelves.
- Rook: Exodus #10 – Geoff Johns continues building one of the most compelling science-fiction worlds in modern comics.
- Elric: The Sleeping Sorceress #2 – Gorgeous fantasy artwork and classic Michael Moorcock storytelling.
- Powers 25 #9 – Brian Michael Bendis delivers another strong chapter in his long-running crime and superhero saga.
- Viking Moon #3 – Vikings, werewolves, mythology, and battle. Need we say more?
As always, we reveal our Picks of the Week and discuss which books stood above the rest.
Lone Wolf & Cub Volume 3 Discussion
The second half of the episode is dedicated to our ongoing community read-along of Lone Wolf & Cub.
Volume 3 feels like a turning point for the legendary manga. What begins as a series of standalone adventures starts evolving into something much larger, exploring themes of vengeance, morality, honor, social class, and the cost of following a path that cannot be abandoned.
We discuss:
- Ogami Itto’s continuing descent along the path of vengeance
- Daigoro’s growing awareness of the world around him
- The historical realities of Edo-period Japan
- The role of women and social hierarchy in the series
- The increasingly cinematic artwork
- How the series begins transitioning from episodic storytelling into a larger epic
It’s one of the strongest volumes we’ve read so far, and it generated one of our favorite discussions of the read-along.
Join the Read-Along
We’re reading one volume per week, and we’d love for you to join us.
The best part? You can read Lone Wolf & Cub for free through your local library using Libby or Hoopla. Volume 4 is next week’s reading assignment, and it’s easy to catch up if you’re just discovering the series.
Listen Now
If you love comics, manga, graphic novels, and weekly comic book discussions, be sure to check out Episode #134 of Panel Chewing Pick of the Week.
And let us know:
What are your thoughts on DC’s Absolute Universe? Which Absolute title has been your favorite so far?
