MY WEEK IN COMICS - - - July 19, 2026

MY WEEK IN COMICS  - - - for the week ending Sunday,  JULY 19, 2026    

#271 =  THE NICE HOUSE BY THE SEA #5 of 12 by James Tynion IV and Alvaro Martinez Bueno (DC Comics/Vertigo, March 2025)

Sea House resident Victor Pace/The Writer: “We aren’t the last humans. We still need to prove ourselves exceptional, if we want the eternity we were promised.”

Sea House resident Quinn Thomas/The Scientist: “There ae multiple cells of humanity left, and Oliver may be the key to eliminating some of our rivals. He knows the people in the other house . . . He may have even let them in.”

Sea House resident Cherri Campbell/The Singer: “They were here?”

Sea House resident Henry Allen/The Historian: “Yes, Ms. Campbell. They are already aware of us. They are, no doubt, considering the same course of action we are . . .
   . . . If we don’t move first, they could return and kill us in our sleep.”

    Prior to this scene, I was enjoying TNHBTS but not vested as much as when I read TNHBTL. Since I knew the premise, it was just getting familiar with the new characters, and learning more about the old characters. With this issue, that changed. Things got ‘real’ and the suspense/dread/thrill is back. 

   In other confessionals from House members, we learn that Walter really didn’t play by the rules. Not only did he tell Oliver in advance of what he was doing, but he also confided in Norman/Norah several times - even enlisting her help in planning the Lake House and then erasing her memories of this. 

   At the Lake House, Max has been even more permissive as to what he allows the residents to do. We learn that the body modification controls he let them play with can go beyond just making residents fitter and younger in appearance, as Oliver learns to his detriment.

   Norah, who seems to have a preference for leaving the Lake House and sitting on shore rocks to vent and rant at Walter (hoping he is listening), gets caught in another manufactured heavy storm just as Max crosses over to have a chat with her.

Back to FIVE STARS. I’m in it now. 

#272 =  THE NICE HOUSE BY THE SEA #6 of 12 by James Tynion IV and Alvaro Martinez Bueno (DC Comics/Vertigo, May 2025) 

In the confessional opening scene, we learn that Lake House resident Veronica “Ronnie” Wright/The Scientist also had a previous connection to Sea House resident Oliver Landon Clay/The Actor. They both have connections to Walter and Max. 

    Lake House resident Norah seems to be even more important regarding events yet to happen, as Max meets her to enlist her help (just as Walter did when she helped fake his death, as well as all their prior collaborations.).They have a moment . . 

Norah: “Take what seriously, Max? What about this am I supposed to take fucking seriously? . . . . Is it my alien ex-girlfriend telling me I should be dead? . . . Tell me, Max. Tell me what I’m thinking. Explain it to me like I’m the stupid little monkey you clearly think I am.”

Max: “Your species is so tribal, and this is your tribe, and you’ve done your part to protect it - - but you understand that when the time comes, Walter and my Superiors will exterminate you all . . .

      And this latest gambit - - leaving the door open between your cells - - It’s going to bring it all to a head much faster than it needed to.”

They do come to an agreement, that may not be good for many others, as the issue and the first story arc ends. FIVE STARS.

#273 =  THE NICE HOUSE BY THE SEA #7 of 12 by James Tynion IV and Alvaro Martinez Bueno (DC Comics/Vertigo, April 2026)

Previously suppressed memories are returning for several of the Lake House residents. The opening spotlight is on Reginald “Reggie” Madison/The Painter, who recalls Walter introducing him to the alien void where he helped shape and design the “paradise.” At the same time, Reggie also saw at least fifty more separate alien cores that were turned into similar human housing. 

Reggie has discovered how to open the way and he brings Ronnie/The Scientist along as they explore the buildings of the Sea House. They discover an entrapped Oliver and break him out. He explains that the Sea House residents know about the Lake House and may be already there to start killing the residents. 

  And, the attacks begin upon the unsuspecting Lake Housers. The obnoxious and unfunny David Daye/The Comedian encounters Sea House resident Hector Agular/The Doctor, who seems to be the most versed in how to manipulate Sea House controls and reveals some weird body modifications to a startled David. And, Hector seems equally knowledgable about the Lake House controls and begins to manipulate them in potentially fatal ways. FIVE STARS.

#274 =  ABSOLUTE CATWOMAN #2 by Scott Snyder & Che Grayson with art by Bengal (DC Comics, September 2026. “The Yarn, Chapter Two”  The story is being told in two different timelines.

One occurs in current day, where Selina Kyle receives a strange sphere from an old friend (Holly) just before her friend is abducted during a fight with Catwoman and a quartet of cat-costumed mercenaries.  

     The other story occurs in Selina’s past, where we learn about her association with Holly as orphans/foster kids and the formation of a band of cat-burglars called the Calico Club. This is how we learn about the changes that Snyder/Grayson bring to the characters. 

   Back in present time, Selina puts the sphere on black market auction in hopes of finding out what it does as well as how to find and rescue Holly.  This leads to an underground auction house underneath icy Switzerland, and a reunion with some more former members of the Calico Club.

     The story is engaging, and while the art isn’t spectacular it has some cool moments. I wanted to see if this title would interest me as much as Absolute Batman. It doesn’t, and I’m not going to continue. I do believe this is a mini-series slated for 5-6 issues. THREE STARS.

#275 - #276 =  SHUDDER #3 by various creators (Warrant Publishing, April 2022)  This particular issue is a stellar example of how great the old Warren Publishing black & white illustrated horror magazines were (CREEPY and EERIE), and it is the best homage to those glory days that I have yet found from reading random SHUDDER and THE CREEPS magazines. Issue #3 hits all the marks. Story and art are equal to the levels of greatness from those Warren magazines. Every story has that unique twist that sets it apart from the ordinary.

   The best story here is the cover entry, “The Tomb of The Mummy” by Don Glut and Reno Maniquis, although it has nothing to do with defiling a tomb as pictured one the cover. We’ve seen that one countless times before.  

     “Drake sets out to make the most realistic Mummy film to date and tempts fate to do it . . .”  A cruel film director disrespects the ancient mummy he bought on the black market and earns the wrath of the Egyptology expert he hired to consult on the film. The mummy doesn’t have to do anything - - just serve as final justice in the twisty ending.

My second favorite was an adaptation of the very creepy and disturbing “Lost Hearts”, originally written by M.R. James in 1895 and adapted by Artie Godwin and Santos Zaballos. 

In “The Cleaner” by Steve Ringgenberg and Rodel Noora a crime boss utilizes a vampire to serve as his “cleaner” and dispose of the bodies after his henchmen make a kill. 

Those were the stand-out tale, but the other three stories this issue were also worthwhile, especially the story that never made it into the history books in “Dismember The Alamo” by Don Glut and Carlos Lamani.  FOUR STARS OVERALL.

#277-#279 =  ALTER EGO magazine #170 text articles by various writers (TwoMorrows Publishing, April 2022)  The entire issue is dedicated to informative articles on Jack Kirby’s extensive career in comics (illustration, and creative writing).

    One of best pieces was The Secret History of Iron Man! by Will Murray. I remember reading some of those while in elementary school and remembering how the artists would make minor changes to the look of the original costume. 

  Also fun to read was The Top 10 Jack Kirby Marvel Slugfests (1961-1970) selected by John Cimino.  I agree with his #1 pick of FANTASTIC FOUR #25-#26 (1964), the two-part Hulk Vs. Thing with the Fantastic Four and The Avengers. FOUR STARS.

#280 =  KINGDOM OF EARTH #1 of 4 by David Dastmalchian and Leah Kilpatrick with art by Son Lee  (Dark Horse Comics, July 2026) The promotional synopsis:

2036. Two years ago, hordes of monsters rose from the earth and sea, devouring everything in sight. Much of mankind was massacred before the monsters realized they needed humans. In this new world, humans have two options: service or slaughter. When a young child named Frankie narrowly escapes their fate as livestock, they soon realize that their fight for survival has only just begun. 

  Must be Monster Apocalypse Month at Dark Horse Comics, with this new title and ONLY THE SAVAGE ARE LEFT. Actually, that book debuted last month - - I only happened to read them both in the same month so it feels like a theme to me.

   Putting that observation aside, this is some nice character work as well as interesting world building from the team of writer/movie actor Dastmalchian and Kilpatrick. Her art is very eye-appealing and there are some great panels here that help tell the story without an abundance of dialogue or text. 

North America has been divided into four territories plus a barren zone. In the Northern Territory, which spans from the Texas/Mexico border up through the Mid-West into Canada, a railroad car of feedstock (humans) for the monsters gets spoiled and the foreman/monster loses his job (fatally). An Ozark Howler (a shaggy combination of bear and buffalo) takes over, and the young female main character uses this to make her escape into the woods. But there’s an equal amount of danger there, and she ends up being saved by an Ozark Howler (apparently not the same one). 

    The Howler has more dialogue than she does. Not only is she not identified, she hasn’t uttered a real word other than expressions (gasp -huff, huff, huff - mmmmh, etc). I would not even know her name (Frankie) if not for that publisher synopsis.

I’m guessing the four-issue mini-series is a trial run, as there is enough creativity here to lend itself to further development across a longer-running series. One to watch. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.

#281 - #283 =  SHUDDER magazine #1 by various creators (Warrant Publishing, December 2021)  I picked up the first several issues of this black and white illustrated horror comic in magazine format. I didn’t read them in order, didn’t really need to since they are short story anthologies. So far, Issue #3 is the stand-out, with the debut #1 doing a commendable job of capturing the feel of the old CREEPY and EERIE magazines from Warren in the 1960’s and 1970’s. 

   There are no issues with the art, which is great throughout. While the stories didn’t go for standard horror comics tropes, the endings were either predictable or a bit flat. 

  My favorite story is “The Legacy OF The Vampire” by Billy Grim and Santos Zaballos. Dr. Van Helsing’s protege and his partners are still stalking vampires. They visit a European mansion said to be the estate of an old vampire, and make some wrong assumptions. 

   “Hell Ship” was fun, by Steve Ringgenberg and I. Poliwko. It’s a tale of pirates who drug and abduct a young gentleman trying to locate his brother, and force him into servitude on their ship.They didn’t count on their being a full moon, and its effect on their captive slave.

   The classic tale this issue is “When I Was Dead”, written in 1896 by Vincent O’Sullivan and adapted by Artie Godwin and Mansyur Daman. The title is kind of a giveaway, as the main character sees the presence of a dead woman while others don’t.

  In other stories, a scientist in Nazi Germany patches together dead soldiers and returns them to the battlefield; a big game hunter’s brother passes on and leaves a financial legacy but it’s hidden and has to be hunted down; A cruel Colonel hunts for blood diamonds in Africa and murders those who won’t cooperate; and an alien being discovered on a space voyage becomes a television star on Earth.  THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS OVERALL.

MY WEEK IN COMICS: JULY 12, 2026

MY WEEK IN COMICS  - - -  for the week ending Sunday, JULY 12 2026    

#251 - #253 =  THE NICE HOUSE BY THE SEA #1 - #3 by James Tynion IV and Alvaro Martinez Bueno (DC Comics/Black Label, September-November 2024)

In the first cycle of this science-fiction/horror series, THE NICE HOUSE BY THE LAKE, there was an element of mystery and discovery that the second cycle doesn’t have since readers know the premise in total. For that reason, Tynion dispenses with the mystery about the end of the world and focuses on characterization, returning to the original cast and what has happened since TNHBTL ended as well as introducing an entire new set of characters.

   So far, I’m enjoying this but not quite as much as TNHBTL. There are some interesting plot threads being sewn and I expect them to develop further in engaging ways. However, without the mystery behind the whole set-up - I’m a little less interested in this than the first series. Still, if you are a fan of rich characterization in comics story-telling - then this is worth sticking around for. We shall see. 

In the first series, alien Walter brought together the people he loved most to be saved from the end of the world. As the series progressed we learned that Walter broke the rules he was given by his alien supervisors. It was also learned that there were other “nice houses” with other humans who were spared, and that a judgment day would come when those numbers would be whittled down.

In THE NICE HOUSE BY THE SEA we meet alien Max and his group of assembled survivors. Unlike Walter, Max followed the rules and chose people at the top of various professions. Like the first group, there is a Doctor, Writer, and Artist and new skills from a Historian, Actor, Priest, Scientist, Singer, Senator, and Mathematician. Unlike Walter’s group, these individuals are not necessarily friends and may not like each other. Most were total strangers until they assembled together.

In Issue #1, the first spotlight is on House By The Sea member 33-year old Oliver Landon Clay (The Actor). Despite winning Tony and Screen Actors Guild Awards he feels inferior to the other residents, and almost declined Max’s offer to be saved at the end of the world. Unlike the way Walter handled things, Max told all the residents beforehand who he was and what he wanted to do for them.  Walter also lets some of the residents handle various functions of the control center, like scheduled weather and body modification (a sensitive subject with The Priest). 

  The weather gets violently out of control, catching Oliver in its grasp as he takes a late night walk, apparently pushing him through a portal where he connects with some wanderers from The Lake House (Reggie, Ryan, Norah) who seem to know him.

Issue #2 takes us back to The Lake House. In the opening spotlight Ryan (The Artist) confides that she felt like a second-placer after learning that she was Walter’s replacement for Oliver (a former friend of Walter’s). In the daily drop-off of supplies, a dog shows up (apparently ordered by David/The Comedian). It soon becomes apparent that the cute and friendly dog (border collie mix) is Walter in disguise.

Issue #3 continues at The Lake House. Norah (The Writer) in her spotlight relates the story of the relationship between Walter and Oliver and her involvement with both.  

Oliver brings the three members of The Lake House he ran into in Issue #1 back to a separate building ( a giant pub) created on The Sea House property. He lectures them on their responsibilities, arguments ensue, and Oliver makes the statement that Max is the one controlling all, including Walter.

Max shows up to escort the trio back to their system, stating that he’ll visit soon to meet with Walter and “make certain this sort of thing does’t happen again.”  FOUR STARS for now, with the potential to go higher.

#254 =  CONCRETE: STARS OVER SAND #1of 5. Story and art by Paul Chadwick (Dark Horse Comics, June 2026) I find the distinctive yet simplistic art style of Chadwick to be calming and eye-catching. It’s been so long since I’ve read anything by him that I can’t relate to this new adventure featuring Concrete.

   Concrete is heading with Larry, Ron, Maureen and baby Concrete through the desert highways on the way to Denver, where he will make a speech. Baby Concrete is on some kind of life support and needs constant vigilance by Maureen.

    Concrete gets reflective after the others have gone to bed and wanders off into the desert for a walk, where he gets struck by lightning which wipes his memories. When the group wake up the feeling is that he needed some quiet time to himself and should return shortly.

    While I love the art, the slowly-developing story is not catching on with me.  THREE STARS.

#255 =  ONLY THE SAVAGE ARE LEFT #1 by Zack Kaplan and Stefano Raffaele (Dark Horse Comics, June 2026) Some dynamic art and page-wide panels give this a cinematic feel. It’s another post-apocalypse saga with familiar beserker, zombie-like threats but with a few twists to help it stand out.

    The tetra virus turned people into raging monsters with an appetite for human flesh. The militant government took over and herded civilians into fenced-in encampments to weed out the healthy from the unhealthy/infected. in a cruel ironic twist, it turns out that burning the remains of the infected and inhaling the smoke provides a vaccine of sorts. 

   

The main story centers around a young couple in love who become separated as civilization breaks down and pocket settlements crop up, some friendly and some cruel. Ryan goes out in search of the lost Oaklynn and learns the only way to survive creates its own set of problems. 

      Fast-paced, engaging story with some promise. For me, I’ve just read too much of this genre to want to get involved further. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.

#256 =  THE NICE HOUSE BY THE SEA #4 by James Tynion IV and Alvaro Martinez Bueno (DC Comics/Vertigo, December 2024)

First thing I noticed was the Vertigo Logo on the cover, presumably since DC started putting out Vertigo titles again. I guess they will reserve the Black Label logo for just superhero mini-series now - when the story gets darker and/or more mature/adult.

   So far the action seems to revolve around what is happening at the Lake House rather than the Sea House, but it’s about a 50/50 balance this issue.  David (The Comedian) relates a tale of Walter struggling after the break-up with Oliver. Some inserted video testimony shows Walter having a melt-down when Oliver withdrew from Sarah Lawrence University without notifying him. 

   In present time, back at the Sea House, Oliver’s inviting Lake House members over (via portal) has been found out by several of his co-residents and they don’t take kindly to it. Oliver is definitely on the hot seat, as back at the Lake House members are talking about how he may be responsible for the separation of alien Walter from alien Max - and they worry that judgement day may be coming now rather than hundreds of years in their future. (I also learn this issue that Max is female - - the way she is drawn by Bueno is not conclusive). 

   Oliver is brutally punished by a trio of residents at Sea House. Meanwhile at the Lake House - - David believes Walter left the door open between the houses “because he wants us to save Oliver . . . He wants Oliver to finally choose him. To Say that he ws right.”  Of course, the adopted dog approves and gratefully licks David. FOUR STARS.

#257 - #261 =  SHADOW SERVICE, VOLUME 1: DARK ARTS graphic novel by Cavan Scott and Corin Howell (Vault Comics, April 2021) Collects SHADOW SERVICE #1 - #5 . . .

Not only is exploring the clearance/bargain bins of local comic shops a lot of exploratory fun, it also rewards by uncovering previously unknown gems like this title. Anytime you can pick up an entertaining trade paperback for between $3-$5 is a reward, which makes up for the ones you took a chance on and ending up not liking. 

It's not like we haven't seen these situations and themes before. It's the way the creators mix them together to create something that feels more original and fresh. What impressed me about this title was the world-building, the characterization, and the art. It's fast paced and well-done escapist entertainment. Like a good action movie, it's not going to win any awards - - but you appreciate it and consider your time and money well spent. There's also some humor and nods to familiar pop culture favorites (like Doctor Who, the Umbrella Academy, etc.) There's a cool mystery behind everything going on that unravels as the story progresses, and kept me engaged throughout.

Gina Meyer is a private detective operating in London, with a special skill. She's a witch, but with a heart and empathy for her clients. Turns out one of them is more than he seems. Of course, it's her biggest customer. Gina often encounters demons and monsters, and has to employ black magic to survive some of the things she uncovers. This catches the attention of M.I.-666, a shadowy government agency countering occult and supernatural threats. After keeping them at bay, Gina ends up (coerced is more like it) working with them. 

The story wraps up, but not all plot threads are completely resolved. The story continues in two more volumes, and I'm tempted to keep going.

There's some welcome back-story regarding Gina's unsettling childhood and the discovery of her powers, as well as details on the spy agency she ends up working with. Not everything gets answered, so there's another tempting reason to continue. FOUR STARS.

#262 - #264 =  THE CREEPS #6 magazine  by various creators (Warrant Publishing, Summer 2016)  Somehow this respectful homage to the glory days of CREEPY and EERIE black & white horror magazines doesn’t resonate with me the same way the originals did. Same goes for SHUDDER magazine, which followed THE CREEPS a few years later. Maybe because when I read the originals I was still in elementary school and hadn’t been exposed to as much as years later. For my money, the various Oni EC reboots (EPITAPHS FROM THE ABYSS, CATACOMB OF TORMENT, CRUEL UNIVERSE, etc.) and HELLO DARKNESS from Boom! Studios are the current cream of the crop. 

   

  The best story this issue is an adaptation of a pulp classic, “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs. The comics version here by Artie Goodwin and Reno Marquis is a straightforward re-telling. Short and Blunt. Cruel and Concise. Still disturbing no matter how many times I’ve read or seen it. I won’t spoil it. 

   The other favorites from the eight stories here, a deft blend of science fiction, fantasy and horror, are “Foxy Lady” by Don Glut and Mansyur Daman - a Chinese twist on the werewolf legend; “Dead Ride” by Ernie Magnotta and Artie Godwin with art by Peter Cacho - about a small town sheriff who thinks he’s framed a biker gang he’s killed; and “My Pal Lucifer” by Nicola Cuti and Jason Paulos - a dark humor about a philanderer’s friendship with the devil.  The art throughout the issue is equal to the quality of those 1960’s and 1970’s treasures. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.

#265 - #267 =  ALL-NEW POPULAR COMICS #2 comics anthology by various creators (Amazing Things Press, May 2018)

An interesting mix of illustrated short stories and text fiction from various creators. This particular issue was spotlighting the Wild West, although there are also science fiction and super-hero tales and humor comic strips. 

The two best stories are both western-themed.

"Showdown" by Dan Johnson and Marvin Mann tells the tale of a notorious gunslinger who heads to a small town for a gunfight with his arch nemesis.

"The Day The Hangman Cried" by local Chester County, PA author Dan Smeddy and Kent Clark spotlights a hardware store owner in a small Texas town who also doubles as the local hooded hangman. Trouble is that in a small town you end up knowing the people you are executing.  THREE STARS.

#268 - #270 =  ACTION 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL magazine (Rebellion Publishing, 2026)

Back before 2000AD there were other notable UK comics being published. ACTION was one of them, and earned some notoriety in the 1970's for graphic violence until a censorship crackdown in 1976, when it merged with BATTLE to become a toned-down BATTLE ACTION. 

This 50th anniversary tribute contains four complete stories featuring some of the most popular series - - my favorite being Hook Jaw, the great white shark that helped earn ACTION that reputation. In "Necromone" by Steve White and Staz Johnson, Hook Jaw takes on the Venezuelan drug cartel as they try to recover their boatload of drugs (sunk by U.S. forces). 

Hellman was an unusual character for a war comic - - the commander of a Nazi Panzer tank division in WWII. In "A Winter's Tale" by Garth Ennis and Mike Dorey a tank gets stuck in an icy river bank just as Russian forces move after the division.

Lookout For Lefty was a football-centered series (soccer, for U.S. readers). Surprise! "Arise, Sir Lefty" by Rob Williams and Patrick Goddard is well-written and quite amusing.

"After The Action" by Garth Ennis and John Higgins features Dredger, and is my second favorite here. Dredger is a hard-nosed, brutal, vicious agent for a spy organization and very self-centered. He is more upset over damage to material things than he is to fatal injuries to his associates.

THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS for the issue.