MY WEEKS IN COMICS - - - for the week ending NOVEMBER 08, 2026
#433 = IT DEMANDS SACRIFICE #1 by Philip Gelatt & David Yarovesky with art by Adam Pollina (Bad Idea, October 2026) This debut will remind many of BENEATH THE TREES WHERE NOBODY SEES in that on the surface it may appear to be a whimsical family tale but under the wrappings it is quite horrific.
The B variant cover by Tony Fleecs leans in that cartoonish direction, almost like it’s an alternate version of STRAY DOGS. But inside, both story and art quickly morph from appearing like a Disney comic to a PG-13 rated book to outright horror.
This starts out like a warm tale about a family of goat farmers (dad, mom, older sister, younger brother) down on their luck in 1971’s San Fernando Valley and struggling to pay the bills. Bronson, the youngest goat, is too small to fit in with the other goats and becomes the pet of young Wayne.
When some strangers arrive to ask for gasoline for their stranded automobile, the trouble starts. They are members of a hippie satanic cult and their leader has decided that the goats would make a suitable sacrifice to the demon they worship. Things get incredibly gory, brutal, and bloody and the goats are abducted as the issue ends.
There’s a cinematic quality to the story-telling that makes you want to see how this movie ends. The art is equally engaging, and treads that fine line between fantasy and horror. All the humans are skinny and have long legs, and the animals have expressive faces and visualization like in a LION KING film. FOUR STARS.
#434 = AVENGERS #1 by Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto (Marvel Comics, January 2027) Variant cover #1I with art by Stanley ‘Artgerm’ Lau. “Assemble, Part One”
I picked this up mainly because the impulse-buy demon on my shoulder persuaded me to get a blind-bag variant cover issue. I really didn’t have any intention of adding another super-hero /team title to my monthly reading. However, after reading this it created the urge to read more AVENGERS back-issues. So, I’d have to say the creative team got the job done here.
What makes this special and stand apart from the rest of the pack are two things:
- In this debut issue Zdarsky spends a minimal amount of time on setting up the threat/conflict and instead spotlights each of the individuals who will be involved: Spider-Man, Daredevil, Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers), Luke Cage, Wolverine, and Miracle Man. The story flows forward in spite of this without feeling like it’s just one character sketch after another. Things happen in linear fashion.
- The art is really good.
The story begins following the events of AVENGERS: ARMAGEDDON (which I didn’t read) in which the las Avengers team was disbanded. Super-heroes are no longer elevated in the public’s perception. They are actually dis-trusted and in many areas - regulated by government. Luke Cage happens to be the current mayor of NYC. In spite of appearing exactly like Miracleman, the newest member is identified as David Colton, former Captain America (who fought Red Hulk in that Armageddon mini-series).
The threat which will pull these characters together to team up is none other than Mephisto.
My favorite scene is between Daredevil and Carol Danvers/Captain Marvel as Matt Murdock talks her out of making a mistake that would reactive her alcohol dependency. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#435 = ARCHIE IN HELL #1 by Patrick Horvath and Tyler Crook (Oni Press/Archie Comics, November 2026)
The synopsis:
TO BE SAVED... HE MUST BE DAMNED! In the bloodstained tradition of AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE, something wicked this way comes to Riverdale in an infernal new ongoing series from multiple Eisner Award winner Patrick Horvath (Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees) and Russ Manning Award winner Tyler Crook (Out of Alcatraz, Harrow County)!
They say that every small town has a secret. Well, in the case of Riverdale, it’s one heck of a humdinger: An ancient order of cultists has infiltrated its townspeople, bent on using human sacrifice to usher a demon lord into our mortal plane. And they’ve finally identified the final target they need.
That target needs to be a wholesome, innocent juvenile, so guess who - - a trap is set to ensnare Archie by preying upon his desire to help those less needy by gathering donated food. Sabrina the teenage witch comes to the rescue, but not in time to prevent Archie from nearly dying. She sends him off into another reality in order to heal and leave him to his own devices as to how to return back to Riverdale. Archie is transported back to a Puritan society in the year 1690 as the story ends.
This is a set-up issue with enough horror to make it stick. Poor Principal Weatherbee. All the familiar characters are here, and Horvath scripts as if he’s been writing Archie comics all along. This is as much fun (and gore) as Afterlife With Archie provided - and if you liked that series you will enjoy this. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#436 = GANGS OF GOTHAM #1 by Christopher Cantwell and Mike Henderson (DC Comics, January 2027)
The synopsis:
Anarky rules! Anarky has been given an ultimatum by the Torus: Unify the 100 low-level street gangs not currently under Torus control—or die. If Lonnie Machin succeeds, he’ll get a seat at the table. But if he fails, it’s lights out for Anarky. His first stop? Gotham’s East End—a complete free-for-all for some of Gotham’s nastiest and most uncontrollable individuals. Should be simple enough…right? Spiraling out of the pages of Batman: Bad Seeds and Batman comes Gangs of Gotham, a thrilling, action-packed, street-level criminal saga from Christopher Cantwell and Mike Henderson!
I’ve never really liked the Anarky character, and i like the Lonnie Machin version even less. Vast parts of this are narrated by Anarky as we learn he was forced into his present situation, and is composing a letter to Batman looking for some help out of his jam. Unbeknownst to Anarky, Batman has already recruited and placed an undercover agent inside the same gang that Anarky just became a member of of. His agent is a reluctant Batgirl (the Stephanie version). That’s her new look on the cover.
The art is decent, but the story leaves me indifferent. Cantwell tries to flesh out the personality of Anarky but nothing happens here to make me care or worry about him. I don’t know if this is a new ongoing title or a limited mini-series, but I can’t envision a long run for this. THREE STARS.
#437 = HALLOWEEN - THE GAME COMIC #1 by Hans Rodionoff & Adam F. Goldberg with art by Eamon Winkle (Panick Entertainment, October 2026)
Some fans/reviewers credit writer/director John Carpenter with creating the slasher genre of horror movies with HALLOWEEN I believe the genre goes further back than that, with Alfred Hitchcock’s PSYCHO and many of the Italian giallo films of the 1960’s as antecedents. However, I absolutely believe that Carpenter established a template for so many films to follow (and try to copy him). He set the bar high. HALLOWEEN, in my opinion, sits on a plateau above the other slasher films. Atmosphere. Suspense. A compelling and disturbing film score. Jump scares. Creative and endearing characters, and some to be frightened of. HALLOWEEN has it all.
So, a new comic trying to recreate that magic seems like a daunting task. Maybe better to pay homage to the film and try to capture that feel in comics format. I’m not familiar with the video game but the comic brought back those evocative memories.
Also, this comic feels very familiar and includes scenes in places within the movie lore: the furious rainstorm that opens the film; the mental asylum in Smith’s Grove, Illinois; the Rabbit In Red bar/lounge; and the inclusion of Dr. Loomis, Nurse Chambers and of course - Michael Myers, Issue #1 is very cinematic in presentation and feels like watching a director’s cut of the movie with extended scenes. The art is the show-stopper here and appears photo-realistic.
Issue #1 covers Michael Myer’s escape from the asylum and his initial assault on the biker gang at the Rabbit In Red. I assume a visit to Haddonfield is next.
The mechanisms of that asylum escape, if my memory is correct, were not detailed in the movie - - so that’s an extra that the creators have provided here. In the text piece in the back of the book, they mention that while paying careful attention to details (which is accomplished) they want to tell the story of what you don’t see on the screen and still remain faithful to the core essentials. Some surprises are promised. That’s a tall order, but I’m convinced they can pull it off. I’ll be watching. THREE AND THREE-QUARTER STARS.
#438 = STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE - DARTH VADER #1 by Chris Condon and Luke Ross (Marvel Comics, December 2026) “Vader’s Deal”
To celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the STAR WARS: ROGUE ONE movie, Marvel published this, and several other one-shot comics. I’m not going to seek out all of them; and I don’t feel it matters to read just one and not all.
This story takes place before the events of the film, when the Empire was still in the beginning phases of constructing the Death Star. Director Krennic was dispatched to the planet Harreld to obtain deposits of the rare substance Kyber - essential to the Death Star make-up.
The planet ruler refuses to cooperate, which results in Darth Vader arriving to take charge. He dispatches four transports by sea to convey his storm troopers inland. They are intercepted and sunk, with the lone survivor being Darth Vader. He goes ashore, overcomes the planet’s defenses and engages in battle with their leader. It’s just Darth’s method of negotiating.
A fast paced story, with more evidence of the determination and overpowering persuasion of Darth Vader. The story would be kind of ordinary, if not for some fabulous art that makes this worthwhile. I was entertained, but this is mostly for fans. THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.
