We’re halfway through 2025, and it’s already shaping up to be a banner year for comics. This week, we’re breaking down our picks for the standout series and graphic novels of the year, so far, including everything from Absolute Martian Manhunter to Exquisite Corpses to Bowling With Corpses.
But before we dive into our favorites, we’ve got a packed news segment featuring Marvel and DC’s September 2025 solicitations, huge updates from both publishers, a Marvel/DC crossover expansion, and new series announcements from IDW, Dark Horse, Dynamite, and more. Oh, and don’t you dare miss a surprise visit from X-Men Monday columnist Chris Hassan!
Plus: we’ve got our top books of the week, next week’s most-anticipated releases, our standout KAPOW moment, and the always stylish Judging by the Cover Jr.
Strap in. It’s a big one!
You can stream the AIPT Comics podcast below or find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts.
AIPT Comics Top Books of the Week:
Dave:
- Benjamin #1 (Ben H. Winters, Leomacs)
- Fantastic Four Fanfare (2025) #2 (Various)
Alex:
- Absolute Flash #4 (Lemire, AL Kaplan)
- Exquisite Corpses #2 (Tynion IV, Walsh, Marianna Ignazzi)
Standout KAPOW moment of the week:
Alex: Gwenpool #2 (Cavan Scott, Stefano Nesi)
Dave: Emma Frost: White Queen #1 (Amy Chu, Andrea DI Vito)
In our Judging by the Cover segment, Dave loves Terry Dodson’s Ultimate Spider-Man #18 cover and Alex can’t get over the amazing Absolute Martian Manhunter #4 covers! Check them out below!
AIPT Comics Podcast Best Comics of the Year…so far!
Alex:
Pick 3 series:
- Absolute Flash (Jeff Lemire, Nick Robles)
- Storm (Murewa Ayodele & Lucas Werneck)
- Exquisite Corpses (James Tynion IV, Michael Walsh, et al.)
Pick a graphic novel or collection:
The Nice House by the Sea Vol. 1 (Tynion IV, Alvaro Martinez Bueno)
Dave:
Pick 3 series:
- Assorted Crisis Events (2025) #1 (Deniz Camp, Eric Zawadzki) (3 issues out)
- Absolute Martian Manhunter (Deniz Camp & Javier Rodriguez) (3 issues out)
- Absolute Batman (2024) (Scott Snyder, Nick Dragotta, Marcos Martin) (6 issues out this year)
Pick a graphic novel or collection:
Bowling With Corpses and Other Strange Tales From Lands Unknown. Written by Mike Mignola. Art by Mike Mignola. Colors by Dave Stewart.
Chris:
Pick 3 series:
- The Amazing Spider-Man (Joe Kelly, Pepe Larraz) (6 issues in 2025)
- The Moon Is Following Us (DWJ and Riley Rossmo) (6 issues in 2025)
- Jumpscare (Cullen Bunn and Danny Luckert) (4 issues in 2025)
Pick a graphic novel or collection:
Low Orbit (Writer-artist Kazimir Lee)
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