Best new comics week of February 7, 2024: Batman #142, Ultimate Black Panther #1 & more

❘ Published: 2024-02-05T16:39:31

Joker, Black Panther, and Power Rangers key art.

DC Comics | Marvel Comics | BOOM! Studios

The Joker’s origin, Guy Gardner’s love story, and the return of the original Pink Mighty Morphin Power Ranger make up the best new comics for the week of February 7.

With January behind us, February’s comics are starting to ramp up. We’re already seeing events like Gang War draw to a close while Fall of X races to its conclusion.

February also obviously brings Valentine’s Day with it, which means romance comics are lining up, including romantic spins with Guy Gardner and…Godzilla?

If you’re looking for the best new comics this week, here’s a rundown of what you can expect.

Best new comics releasing the week of February 7, 2024

From the Joker’s origins to a Guy Gardner love story, here are the best comics releasing the week of February 7, 2024. Books from DC Comics will be released on Tuesday, February 6, while books from other publishers, such as Marvel, Image, & BOOM!, will release on Wednesday, February 7.

You can find your local comic shop by visiting Comic Shop Locator.

The Joker gets a new origin in Batman #142.

Batman #142

Chip Zdarsky’s Batman has been a somewhat divisive run, with events like Gotham City War not ringing the bell like fans hoped. Still, it’s hard to deny that the run is doing some incredible work fleshing out the Bat-family, with the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh getting a huge upgrade.

Now that attention to detail is being turned to The Joker. The character has always had a multiple-choice origin, though The Killing Joke is often treated as the “correct” origin. So what will happen with this version of a Joker origin? And after last year’s The Man Who Stopped Laughing…is this even the real Joker?

Buy Batman #142 on Comixology

THE JOKER YEAR ONE, REVEALED BY CHIP ZDARSKY AND GIUSEPPE CAMUNCOLI! The tragic “death” of the leader of the Red Hood Gang in a vat of chemicals has become the subject of myth…but what is the heartbreaking and gruesome tale of the monster who walked away from that violent birth? And how does it affect Batman’s distant future? “The Joker Year One” begins here!

By Chip Zdarsky, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Andrea Sorrentino, Stefano Nesi, Dave Stewart, Alejandro Sánchez, & Clayton Cowles

A new T’Challa faces a new Moon Knight in Ultimate Black Panther #1.

Ultimate Black Panther #1

For me, personally, Ultimate Black Panther is the biggest surprise of the announced titles. Yeah, Ultimate Spider-Man #1 was incredible, and Ultimate X-Men makes a lot of sense. But there’s a ton of baggage around Ultimate Comics and Black Panther.

The original Ultimate Comics run introduced a Black Panther, but it was used as a twist to make Captain America the Black Panther before bringing T’Challa in. Beyond that, the books didn’t use the character a lot. This new version promises to change that, bringing Storm and Killmonger into the fold from the onset and pitting Black Panther against an Ultimate incarnation of Moon Knight.

Buy Ultimate Black Panther #1 on Comixology

THE NEW ULTIMATE BLACK PANTHER! In the wake of ULTIMATE INVASION, Khonshu and Ra — the force known together as Moon Knight — are seeking to expand their brutal control of the continent of Africa. In response, the lone bulwark against them, the isolated nation of Wakanda, will send forth its champion… its king… the Black Panther! From the creative minds of Bryan Hill (BLADE, KILLMONGER) and Stefano Caselli (X-MEN: RED, AVENGERS) comes a bold new take on the world of Black Panther and Wakanda!

By Bryan Hill, Stefano Caselli, & David Curiel

How to Lose a Guy Gardner in 10 Days #1 cover art

DC’s most divisive Green Lantern becomes a love story icon in How to Lose a Guy Gardner in 10 Days.

DC’s How to Lose a Guy Gardner in 10 Days #1

DC Comics has a ton of romance-oriented comics in their back catalog, like the all-time classic Young Heroes in Love or pretty much any Harley Quinn & Poison Ivy story. So it may seem bizarre to include Guy Gardner for 2024’s Valentine’s Day festivities.

There is a kind of sense to it, though. Guy’s the eternal hot-headed schmuck who means well but seems to have his foot perpetually in his mouth. There’s more to this one than just Guy, though, with promises of romantic hijinks starring Red Tornado, Plastic Man, The Flash, and more.

Buy DC’s How to Lose a Guy Gardner in 10 Days #1 on Comixology

EIGHT ROM-COM-INSPIRED NEW STORIES ABOUT LOVE—AND TRYING TO FIND IT—IN THE DC UNIVERSE! Romance is rarely a simple affair—love is almost always followed by some sort of conflict. Whether you’re Plastic Man twisting yourself into knots trying to please someone, or the Flash traveling back in time to make a catastrophic 50 first dates perfect, or even a lonely robot who just can’t seem to find love unless it’s mail from a computer screen, like Red Tornado, love actually is…a pain in the 27 dresses. So in the grand tradition of these dating conundrums a la rom-coms of the ’90s and ’00s, we are proud to present eight new stories about love and trying to find it in this zany world.

By Marguerite Sauvage, Aaron Waltke, Alex Galer, Brendan Hay, Danny Lore, Dennis Hopeless, George Mann, & Kenny Porter

Pink Ranger actress Amy Jo Johnson tackles writing duties on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #1

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #1

We spoke back in November of BOOM!’s Kickstarter for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return, a story about the Rangers forced to reunite to find a missing ally. The book lit up Kickstarter, becoming one of BOOM!’s most successful endeavors on the platform.

Fans who have been eagerly awaiting the comic can finally get their hands on the issue this week. Written by the original Pink Ranger, Amy Jo Johnson, The Return is promising something grand and new for the world of Power Rangers. BOOM! has made that promise multiple times already and delivered, with characters like Lord Drakkon and events like Shattered Grid, so The Return should be just as much of a slam dunk.

Buy Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #1 on Comixology

In an alternate universe, the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers finally defeated Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd, but at a terrible cost… In the wake of tragedy, the team went their separate ways.

22 years later, the long-disbanded team reunites to mourn the losses of beloved friends, but Zack and Billy have some unexpected information to share-Jason, the Red Ranger, has been operating as a lone vigilante, and has since disappeared.

Will the remaining Rangers be able to track him down, especially with a mysterious figure in pursuit?

Written by actress, screenwriter, and director Amy Jo Johnson, the original Pink Ranger herself, along with rising star co-writer Matt Hotson (Titans) and renowned artist Nico Leon (Spider-Man, Catwoman), fans can experience something unlike anything they ever have before in the Power Rangers universe, in TV or comics!

By Amy Jo Johnson, Matt Hotson, & Nico Leon

The X-Men face off against Nimrod in the latest installment of Fall of X.

X-Men #31

Another week, another chapter in the ongoing Fall of the House of X. Things are ramping up, though, as last week saw the Dead X-Men form to stop Moira X from developing her powers in the first place.

This week, the X-Men go on the offensive to battle Nimrod. The creation of Nimrod has always been presented as a turning point in mutantkind’s battle for acceptance, but can the disjointed X-Men really stand a chance against him?

Buy X-Men #31 on Comixology

THE ULTIMATE MUTANT HUNTER! The X-Men lived in fear of Nimrod’s creation, and now it’s clear why! The ultimate weapon of mutant extinction is ever-adapting, ever-evolving, with only one goal—DEATH TO MUTANTKIND!

By Gerry Duggan, Phil Noto, & Clayton Cowles

Bats the Ghost Dog takes his well-deserved spot on center stage in Doctor Strange #12.

Doctor Strange #12

There are good characters, and there are great characters. And then there is Bats the Ghost Dog, who is the goodest character.

Bats, the spectre of a senior dog who wound up in Doctor Strange’s care while he was briefly working as a veterinarian (I swear to you that is a real story), has long been a fan-favorite. There’s just an earnestness and fun to him that fans really connect with. A Bats-centric issue of Doctor Strange? Yes, please.

Buy Doctor Strange #12 on Comixology

Doctor Strange is a busy man—sometimes, it seems like the busiest man. But that man has a best friend. So when there’s something strange haunting the Sanctum Sanctorum, who can we turn to? Why, BATS THE GHOST DOG, of course! But can Bats solve the mystery on his own, or is this good dog in over his head?

By Jed MacKay, Danilo Beyruth, K.J. Diaz & Cory Petit