Hello Comic Shop Friends! Hopefully, none of you were stuck in a time loop on Groundhog Day! And if you were, I hope you learned ice carving and read all the comics! If you want some excellent time loop movies I’d recommend, Timecrimes, Palm Springs, and Happy Death Day. A great comic about living the same situation over and over, is the overlooked Love Everlasting. Find it on our Tom King rec row!

Mark your calendars for Thursday, February 27th! We’re moving Late Nite Comics to the fourth Thursday this month, because Ben, John, and John Shearer will be at the ComicsPro retailer meeting during our usual Late Nite night.

We’ll put out a table full of dollar stock, and back issues will be 50% off from 8pm to midnight!

MARVEL COMICS

The legacy of Darth Vader continues in his bloodline, with Kylo Ren and his desire to finish what his grandfather started. Obsessed with destroying the past, his quest leads him to Mustafar, where he meets someone who served Vader. Someone who now offers to serve Kylo, and who may know how to turn his past into more power. Written by Charles Soule, with art by Luke Ross, this six-issue mini-series takes Kylo Ren on a quest across the galaxy and into the history of Darth Vader.

Continuing the Luke Cage story from his Timeless one-shot, the future Power Man who defeated a god finds himself in the modern Marvel Universe! With the blood of Hulk in his veins, the powers of Sentry and the emptiness of the Void in his mind, and the Iron Fist in his hand, Power Man is unstoppable. And utterly alone. Until he hears two words. “Help me.” The plea for help leads Power Man to a new foe intent on ending all things, and a mystery that will challenge even his indestructible, incorruptible, immortal abilities! “You don’t want a Hero for Hire. You want a hit man.” Written by Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, with art by Bernard Chang.

DC COMICS

Besides the Absolute Power collections out this week, DC doesn’t have anything huge. Except for one of my current favorites, Absolute Superman! I do hope the newly announced Absolute titles are as good as these first three.

Lois Lane searches for Superman, questioning those he has helped across the globe. She tries to tell them she’s just trying to protect him, but they know why she’s searching. They have searched too. But they know he does not need protection, he is not afraid, and they know he cannot help but save this world. “We pray for the Superman’s rage.” But Lois isn’t the only one looking, the Peacemakers and the Omega Men aren’t far behind. Will the Omega Men be friends or foes for Kal-El? Are they on the right side? Will Lane accept that she’s on the wrong side? What happens to Earth when the rage of Superman erupts? Make sure you’re on the correct side, and read this book!

SMALL PRESS COMICS

Time for more tales of kings, witchcraft, and dark fantasy in Cruel Kingdom #2! Oni and EC have yet another worthy anthology, and we still have issue #1 if you missed out!

To protect his family and his people, Lord Parzival uses a sword said to have been blessed by the gods. One that gives him “A Rare Immunity,” in Chris Condon and PJ Holden’s story.

For those of you who miss Agatha All Along as I do, Steve Niles and Andrea Mutti have a tale of the “Hammer of Witches” that would fit right into Agatha’s legacy.

Finally, the “Seat of Power” is up for grabs after a King’s death. Which of his sons will prove to be the one worthy? Written by Cameron Chittock, with art by David Lapham.

Fill your heart with horror! Hello Darkness #7 is a love story special, with six stories to share with that special someone who would appreciate a box of still-beating hearts. Or to remind you of the horrors of dating, so you appreciate the joys of being single! This Valentine’s gift contains:

“L-O-V-E”, a grand romantic gesture from a masked slasher. Written by Ethan S. Parker and Griffin Sheridan, with art by Edison Neo.

A one-pager from Robert Hack, with three panels of humor for your heart.

“Evermore”, written by David Hazan with art by Stefano Nesi, about lost love and the woes of a dating app.

Maria Llovet has “Words in the Smoke”, where burned letters cause a dead lover to come back. Or does he?

Writer Chris Gooch and artist Eli Powell perform an “Excision” to help a wife remove what ails a husband.

A man becomes an agent tracking a mysterious cult to search for his missing wife in “The Booth” by Anirudh J.