A quick note before we get into the new releases: my usual information website is down this week, so I may have missed something – my apologies if I do!

And with that, let’s get into this week’s New Comic Book Day releases!

Single Issues:

WHO IS THE BLACK WIDOW?

The LIZARD KING has grown monstrous and deadlier than ever as the lord of his southern domain. But when rumour breaks that critical information is believed to be stored in his impenetrable fortress, only the greatest spy of all is up to the infiltration: the deadly BLACK WIDOW! But who is she, and how has she survived this many decades in the Wastelands undetected? Witness her first appearance in the Old Man Universe!

Another part of the Wastelanders comic/podcast hybrid series, so make sure you’re caught up before reading this.

THE HIT VOICES SERIES CONTINUES WITH AN EXTRAORDINARY ARRAY OF INDIGENOUS TALENT!

Year two of Marvel’s Voices kicks off with a celebration of Indigenous characters and talent! Get the full story behind River, the mysterious stranger from the pages of Rebecca Roanhorse’s new ECHO series! Discover Snowguard’s greatest hopes and fears in a tale by celebrated filmmaker Nyla Innuksuk! And many more reveals to come. New and established creators explore the wonders of the Marvel Universe – catch the next big wave here!

The next part in the Marvel Voices series, my only advice would be to make sure you know the basics about each character mentioned, and you should be fine to read.

ELSA AND THE FAMILY BLOODSTONE!

Who better to defend Earth from magical invaders than monster hunter ELSA BLOODSTONE?! Elsa is the best there is at what she does — tough, skilled and clever enough to handle any problem…except her brother, CULLEN. They have issues, and they’ll have to put them aside not only to protect Earth but also to welcome the latest addition to the Bloodstone clan: their long-lost SISTER! Her awesome set of powers and unique Blood gem have placed a target on her back, and the worst horrors from beyond this realm are on the hunt.

I’ll do a guide on Elsa Bloodstone and the Death Of Doctor Strange soon, right now, my advice is again, to make at the very least sure you’re caught up with the Death Of Doctor Strange storyline before reading this.

Bind Ups:

When a young writer named Chris Claremont took over X-Men in 1976, few fans could predict the incredible impact he would have on the series. With a flair for realistic dialogue, heartfelt storylines and hard-hitting action, Claremont’s writing breathed life into the characters. In collaboration with artists Dave Cockrum and John Byrne, Claremont crafted a run still heralded as a definitive era on the book. X-Men became more than just another super-hero title.

A great starting point, if you’re looking to get into X-Men comics! Claremont is an iconic writer for the team, and this is the start of his X-Men journey.

The first X-Men crossover event – and still the most brutal! When Sabretooth and the Marauders attack the underground outcasts called the Morlocks, the X-Men, X-Factor and the New Mutants join forces to stop them – with help from Thor, Daredevil and Power Pack! But the cost of victory is high, and many X-Men come away badly injured. While Shadowcat might be saved with the Fantastic Four’s help, the Angel contemplates a much bleaker fate! Psylocke, Longshot and Dazzler join the undermanned X-Men – just in time to clash with the Avengers – as Marvel’s mutants struggle to recover and rebuild! 

A reprint of an old omnibus, so it fits in better with other collections. This omnibus should be read before you read The Fall Of The Mutants.

A tower. A mission. A gathering of armies. Swords will be drawn in the first epic crossover of the astonishing Dawn of X! Wolverine, the X-Men, Cable, X-Force, Excalibur, X-Factor, the New Mutants, the Marauders, the Hellions and the rest of Krakoa’s residents will all feel the effects – but which ten mutants will wield the blades? Weapons both new and familiar are drawn from their scabbards as the X-Men prepare to do mythic battle against a truly daunting foe! Jonathan Hickman and his fellow visionary creators – who have painstakingly put all the pieces into place during Dawn of X – join forces to smash the board! 

The next part in the Dawn Of X storyline! Like I say in my guides, just make sure you’ve read House Of X/Powers Of X and then all 16 volumes of Dawn Of X and you’ll be good to go with this!

Captain America’s shield has been stolen! Nobody understand its value – scientific, inspirational, sentimental and strategic – like the people who have wielded it, so Steve Rogers and Sam Wilson set out on a road trip across America to chase down the thief. But instead they find…the Captains! Everyday people from all walks of life who’ve taken up the mantle of Captain America to defend their communities. And for some reason, the shield thief wants all of them dead. Can Sam and Steve find them first? Christopher Cantwell and Dale Eaglesham celebrate the Sentinel of Liberty’s 80th anniversary with a tour across the United States of Captain America – and some of the industry’s brightest talents join the star-spangled quest, telling the inspirational stories of each new Captain!

Finally, the bind up of Cantwell’s Captain America celebration has been published! This is a standalone one shot, so you should be fine to read without much prior knowledge, though I would still recommend reading Sam Wilson’s Captain America run, if not just because Sam made a fantastic Cap! If you want any recommendations for Steve Rogers, let me know and I’ll get on it!

Shang-Chi vs. the Marvel Universe! The martial arts master and his family are back – and this time, they’re colliding head-to-head with Earth’s biggest and best heroes! Shang-Chi has finally taken his place as the leader of the Five Weapons Society. But using a secret evil organization as a force for good won’t be easy. And it’s about to get a lot harder when Shang-Chi’s fellow super heroes – including Spider-Man, Captain America, Wolverine and the Fantastic Four – start to see him as the bad guy! Meanwhile, Shang-Chi sets his sights on a Cosmic Cube – and discovers a mutant sibling that he never knew about! But who is sending him messages from the Negative Zone?! Gene Luen Yang and Dike Ruan return to bring you the next chapter in the story of a true Marvel legend! 

The first one in this Shang-Chi series is called Brothers And Sisters.

Daredevil By Chip Zdarsky, Vol. 7: Lockdown

The Angel of Death has come to Hell’s Kitchen. As a series of grisly murders tests Elektra’s mettle — and her commitment to her role as the new Daredevil — the city spirals into a state of panic. With the body count mounting, even the Marvel Universe’s deadliest assassin is at somewhat of a loss — because this serial killer can be in more than one place at a time! A team? A mutant? Or something else entirely? Meanwhile, Matt Murdock faces challenges of his own behind bars after being exposed to a dangerous and experimental compound that makes subjects more aggressive and violent. Whatever happens, one thing is certain — Matt won’t be getting time off for good behavior! The next installment of Chip Zdarsky’s Eisner Award-nominated run delivers twists, turns and unexpected allies!

The first six volumes are called: Know Fear, No Devils Only God, Through Hell, End Of Hell, Truth/Dare and Doing Time.

The future is at stake in this pivotal tale in the saga of the Scarlet Witch! After months of trauma, Wanda Maximoff suffers a nervous breakdown – and descends into madness. Manipulated by Magneto, Wanda has turned on her teammates! Can the West Coast Avengers save her sanity – and themselves? And what is Immortus’ interest in Wanda’s breakdown? And when Loki unleashes his Acts of Vengeance, the East and West Coast teams are besieged by unfamiliar foes! Both squads of Avengers must come together to defeat Loki’s villainous Inner Circle of some of Marvel’s biggest and baddest! Plus: Hercules lends a hand in a clash of the titans, Terminus style! 

The previous volumes in this are: How The West Was Won, Lost In Space-Time, Tales To Astonish and Vision Quest.

And that’s everything coming out this week! What’s on your pull list? I’m eyeing up Daredevil, X Of Swords and Shang-Chi!