Welcome back to another edition of Fantastic Five, where we shout out the best comics of the week! This week sees two excellent #1s and three continuations of some of the best series on shelves right now. Let’s get to the books!
Best comics of the week: January 9, 2025
#5: Zootopia #1
The Zootopia comic series is a delightful return to the vibrant and clever world of anthropomorphic adventures, excelling in humor, mystery, and energetic visuals. The emotional depth of its lead characters is lacking, but for an all-ages read, it’s excellent, remaining a highly enjoyable read for fans of the original film and newcomers alike. Perfect for those craving a fun, lighthearted detective story with plenty of heart.
Read Dave Brooke’s full review!
#4: Transformers #16
Transformers #16 is a nice step up from last time. While my concerns about repetition haven’t been fully abated, a lot of other worries have been. It helps that it feels like we’re moving into more new idea territory despite the repeated structural beats, which gives me a lot more to be excited about, as well as anticipate and speculate on. A step up, if ever there was one. Not that I ever had any real immense doubts, the book’s still going strong! Let’s hope it only keeps evolving, changing… Transforming.
#3: Aquaman #1
Aquaman #1 sprints out the gate with a familiar but fresh feeling. Jeremy Adams is crafting something new and exciting while John Timms provides art that matches the scope of the spectacle. If Adams and the team can keep it up, this run will shape up into something truly special.
Read Tyler Brown’s full review!
#2: NYX #7
Don’t be scared by the cover page! Synch and Prodigy are both safe and sound by the end of NYX #7. Ejected from academia, Prodigy is no longer a scholarly spectator or a secret instigator of mutant culture. It’s less glamorous than a cushy ESU gig, but David Alleyne is much better suited for community organizing–despite Synch’s intense interruption. On top of all that, Ms. Marvel has a dramatic confrontation of her own that’s not to be missed!
Read Jonathan Jones’s full review!
#1: Absolute Batman #4
Absolute Batman #4 honors the caped crusader’s storied history by giving us a perfect reinterpreted origin. A novel take on Year One right at the turn of New Year’s, one that also works great as a standalone single issue. It’s a personal story with a healthy dose of social commentary, ambitious in its scope, with a balance of homages and new ideas. The series has a freedom that previous Batman comics did not, and I’m especially excited as to how it explores Bruce’s relationship with his parent’s killer.
