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John Greycrow defends the X-Men’s Alaskan base in X-Men #39. We look at the DNX tie-in, Netho Diaz’s art and Derrick Chew variant
This X-Men #39 comic review looks at Marvel’s latest chapter in the ongoing X-Men series from writer Jed MacKay and artist Netho Diaz. Tying directly into the DNX storyline, the issue shifts attention away from the larger battle in Philadelphia and back to the X-Men’s home base in Alaska, where John Greycrow suddenly finds himself responsible for defending the Factory.
This copy features the Cover B Derrick Chew Variant, presenting Greycrow and Psylocke in the dramatic, polished style that has made Chew one of the more recognizable modern variant-cover artists.
Derrick Chew’s variant puts the characters directly into the action. Psylocke dominates the upper portion of the composition with her katana while John Greycrow brings heavy firepower below, surrounded by energy, debris, and explosive color.
Chew’s detailed rendering and strong contrast between Psylocke’s purple tones and the fiery background make this a particularly eye-catching X-Men cover.
X-Men #39 takes a different approach from a massive team battle by focusing much of its attention on what happens when most of the X-Men are somewhere else.
While the team is occupied with the crisis in Philadelphia, enemies target the Factory, the X-Men’s base in Alaska.
That leaves John Greycrow facing a situation where backup is not immediately available.
The idea works because Greycrow is a character whose history makes him particularly well suited to a story built around survival and overwhelming odds. Rather than relying on an entire X-Men roster to defend the base, the story turns the Factory itself into the battlefield and gives Greycrow the opportunity to demonstrate exactly why underestimating him is a serious mistake.
As a DNX tie-in, the issue connects to the larger events occurring elsewhere without simply becoming another chapter dominated by the entire crossover cast. Instead, Jed MacKay uses the larger conflict as the reason to isolate Greycrow and put him at the center of the story.
That gives X-Men #39 its own identity while still advancing the broader storyline.
Netho Diaz handles the interior artwork for X-Men #39.
A story focused on defending a single location requires the artist to make that environment feel important. The Factory is not simply a background location—it is the X-Men’s home, and the attack therefore carries consequences beyond another superhero fight.
The action-oriented premise also gives Diaz plenty of opportunities to emphasize Greycrow’s combat abilities and the escalating danger surrounding the base.
For this edition, however, the immediate visual attraction is Derrick Chew’s variant cover.
Chew is known for highly polished character work, and this cover combines that approach with a much more aggressive action composition. Psylocke’s katana and Greycrow’s weaponry give the image two very different forms of combat while the surrounding explosions and energy tie everything together.
Rather than presenting the characters in a simple portrait, the cover feels like a snapshot taken in the middle of a much larger battle.
John Greycrow is the obvious focus of X-Men #39.
Grecyrow has spent much of his history carrying the weight of his past, and modern X-Men stories have increasingly allowed him to exist as something more complicated than the villain he was originally introduced as.
Putting him in charge of defending the Factory gives the character responsibility rather than simply another target.
The situation also tests his relationship with the X-Men. He may not always occupy the most prominent position on the team, but when the people and location associated with the X-Men are threatened, Greycrow does not walk away.
That makes the issue an opportunity to show his value through action rather than simply telling readers that he has changed.
The presence of Psylocke on Derrick Chew’s variant cover also reinforces the connection between characters whose histories have increasingly crossed within Marvel’s mutant books.
X-Men #39 has several qualities that make it interesting to collectors.
It is part of the ongoing DNX storyline, focuses heavily on John Greycrow, and continues Jed MacKay’s X-Men run.
Marvel released the issue with several covers, including the Tony S. Daniel main cover, the Derrick Chew variant, and an ACO incentive variant. Penguin Random House Comics Retail
The Derrick Chew Cover B Variant is an open-order variant rather than a ratio incentive, so it should not be treated as inherently scarce.
Its appeal comes primarily from the artist.
Derrick Chew has developed a large following among modern variant collectors, and his distinctive polished character artwork makes his covers easy to recognize.
The combination of Chew artwork, Psylocke, Greycrow, and the DNX connection gives this issue appeal beyond someone simply collecting every issue of the main X-Men series.
As always with a newly released open-order variant, long-term value will ultimately depend on collector demand rather than the variant label alone.
X-Men #39 uses the larger DNX conflict to tell a more focused story about what happens when the X-Men’s home becomes vulnerable.
Putting John Greycrow at the center of the defense gives the issue a different perspective from a conventional full-team X-Men battle and gives a supporting character an opportunity to carry the story.
Jed MacKay’s setup provides the stakes while Netho Diaz handles the action inside the Factory.
For collectors, the Derrick Chew Variant is an especially attractive version of the issue. Chew’s Psylocke-and-Greycrow composition provides a strong character-focused alternative to the standard cover without requiring the premium associated with the ACO incentive edition.
Recommended for X-Men readers, John Greycrow fans, Psylocke collectors, Derrick Chew collectors, and readers following Marvel’s DNX storyline.
X-Men #39 Derrick Chew Variant is available from Razmataz Comics & Hobbies at razmatazcomics.com while supplies last.
The undead invade New York in TMNT #23. We look at The City That Never Dies storyline and Damien Worm’s IDW Goes Dark variant.
This Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #23 comic review looks at the latest chapter of IDW’s The City That Never Dies storyline from writer Gene Luen Yang and artist Fero Pe. New York’s supernatural crisis reaches a new level as the barrier between the living and the dead begins to collapse and the Turtles are forced to fight on multiple fronts.
This copy features the Cover E Damien Worm IDW Goes Dark Variant, transforming Raphael and the TMNT world into a much darker horror-inspired image.
Title: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Issue: #23
Volume: 1
Publisher: IDW Publishing
Release Date: October 14, 2026
Cover Date: October 2026
Written By: Gene Luen Yang
Art: Fero Pe
Colors: Luis Antonio Delgado
Cover Variant: Cover E IDW Goes Dark Variant
Cover Artist: Damien Worm
Cover Price: $4.99
Pages: 32
UPC: 82771403315102351
Storyline: The City That Never Dies, Part Three
Damien Worm’s cover pushes Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles directly into horror territory. Raphael charges through a rain-soaked cemetery while distorted figures and ominous architecture surround him.
The dark greens, purples and heavy shadows fit the IDW Goes Dark theme perfectly, giving the familiar TMNT world the atmosphere of a supernatural horror comic rather than a traditional martial-arts adventure.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #23 continues The City That Never Dies as the supernatural invasion of New York grows increasingly dangerous.
The veil between worlds has collapsed, allowing undead members of the Foot Clan, Purple Dragons and other threats to spill into the city. With the crisis spreading too quickly for the Turtles to handle as a single group, they are forced to divide their efforts.
At the same time, Baxter Stockman forms a dangerous new alliance while Shinigami faces questions about where her loyalty truly lies.
That setup gives writer Gene Luen Yang several conflicts to develop at once. The Turtles are not simply confronting another gang or mutant enemy—the city itself is becoming increasingly hostile as the distinction between the living and the dead begins to disappear. Penguin Random House Comics Retail
The supernatural direction also fits TMNT surprisingly well. The franchise has always mixed martial arts, science fiction, mutants and mysticism, so an undead invasion does not feel out of place.
Fero Pe handles the interior artwork, with Luis Antonio Delgado providing colors. Grand Comics Database
A story involving an undead New York gives the creative team an opportunity to make familiar streets and characters feel less safe than usual.
Rain, darkness, supernatural enemies and the breakdown of normal city life all push the visual tone toward horror while still allowing the Turtles’ action-heavy style to remain at the center of the book.
For this edition, however, Damien Worm’s cover is the immediate attraction.
Worm’s work naturally suits horror imagery, and the IDW Goes Dark theme gives him room to emphasize atmosphere instead of presenting the Turtles in a conventional action pose.
The result looks almost like a horror paperback illustration, with Raphael appearing less like a superhero and more like a lone survivor moving through a nightmare.
Splitting the Turtles apart creates opportunities to emphasize their individual personalities instead of relying entirely on the group dynamic.
The larger supernatural conflict also tests characters outside the four brothers.
Shinigami’s loyalty becomes increasingly important as alliances shift, while Baxter Stockman’s new partnership threatens to make an already chaotic situation worse.
That gives the issue multiple personal conflicts beneath the larger undead invasion.
The Turtles have survived countless threats together, but a crisis that forces them to operate separately changes the equation. Each brother has to deal with danger without immediately relying on the rest of the family.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #23 has several things that make this particular edition appealing to collectors.
The issue is part of The City That Never Dies storyline, released during IDW’s October horror promotion, and features one of the company’s IDW Goes Dark variant covers.
The Damien Worm Cover E is an open-order variant rather than a ratio incentive, so it should not automatically be treated as scarce. IDW also released other covers for the issue, including variants by Kevin Eastman and Ben Bishop, Marcelo Ventura, J. Gonzo and incentive editions. Penguin Random House Comics Retail
Its appeal comes primarily from the artwork and the IDW Goes Dark theme.
For collectors who like darker TMNT imagery, horror comics or Damien Worm’s work, this version has a distinct visual identity that separates it from the regular covers.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #23 pushes The City That Never Dies deeper into supernatural horror while keeping the core TMNT combination of action, family and strange New York threats intact.
Gene Luen Yang’s storyline expands the conflict by forcing the Turtles to split up while Baxter Stockman and Shinigami add additional complications.
For collectors, the Damien Worm IDW Goes Dark Variant is especially well matched to the story. Its cemetery setting, rain-soaked atmosphere and horror styling make it one of the more distinctive covers for the issue.
Recommended for TMNT readers, Damien Worm collectors, horror-comic fans and anyone following The City That Never Dies storyline.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #23 Damien Worm IDW Goes Dark Variant is available from Razmataz Comics & Hobbies at razmatazcomics.com while supplies last.
Infernal Hulk attacks the Fantastic Four in this Hulk War prelude. We look at the story, Cian Tormey’s art and Clayton Crain variant.
Infernal Hulk vs. Fantastic Four #1 begins with New York under threat and Reed Richards holding what may be one of the few weapons capable of stopping the coming disaster.
That weapon is the Immaculate Engine, a mysterious supernatural machine housed inside the Baxter Building.
Infernal Hulk knows exactly what it represents.
If Reed can activate the engine, Hulk’s growing army could potentially be destroyed in a single strike. That makes the Fantastic Four and their headquarters an obvious target.
Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson uses the setup to bring two very different corners of Marvel together. The Fantastic Four traditionally approach impossible problems through science, exploration and teamwork. Infernal Hulk represents something far more primal and supernatural.
That collision creates the central tension of the issue.
The Fantastic Four are not simply trying to overpower Hulk. They have to resist his corruptive influence long enough to protect Reed’s invention and prevent themselves from being transformed into new recruits for the Infernal Avengers.
As a Hulk War Prelude, the one-shot also functions as a bridge into the larger conflict rather than an isolated battle.
Cian Tormey handles the interior artwork, and the premise gives him a wide range of visual material to work with.
The Fantastic Four bring bright superhero imagery, technology and the familiar environments of the Baxter Building. Infernal Hulk brings monstrous proportions, supernatural corruption and horror.
That contrast is important because the story depends on Hulk feeling fundamentally different from the kind of threats Reed Richards usually solves with another invention.
The result is a battle between clean Marvel science-fiction imagery and something darker and less predictable.
For this edition, Clayton Crain’s variant cover pushes heavily into that horror side.
Crain’s Infernal Hulk feels enormous, distorted and almost demonic, while the Fantastic Four appear comparatively small beneath him. The composition reinforces the scale of the threat before the reader ever opens the book.
Reed Richards sits at the center of the conflict because the Immaculate Engine represents exactly the sort of solution readers expect from Mister Fantastic.
When an impossible threat appears, Reed builds something capable of confronting it.
The problem this time is that building the solution also makes the Fantastic Four a target.
Infernal Hulk understands that destroying the machine may not be enough. Corrupting the people responsible for it could turn some of Marvel’s greatest heroes into weapons against everyone else.
That gives the battle a more personal dimension than a simple Hulk-versus-Thing rematch.
The Fantastic Four have always been strongest as a family. A supernatural threat capable of twisting members of that family against one another attacks the team at its most important foundation.
Infernal Hulk vs. Fantastic Four #1 has several features that make it interesting for collectors.
It is a one-shot, serves as a Hulk War Prelude, and puts the Fantastic Four directly into the growing Infernal Hulk storyline.
Marvel released the issue with several covers, including regular open-order variants from Clayton Crain, Danny Earls and Ken Lashley, along with higher-ratio incentive covers by Greg Land and Ken Lashley. Penguin Random House Comics Retail
The Clayton Crain Variant is an open-order cover rather than a ratio incentive, so scarcity should not automatically be assumed.
Its appeal comes instead from Crain’s artwork and the subject matter.
Crain’s painted approach is especially well suited to Hulk, symbiotes and darker supernatural characters, making his version visually distinct from the other standard covers for the issue.
The combination of Fantastic Four, Infernal Hulk, a crossover one-shot and a named modern cover artist gives the book several different collector audiences.
Infernal Hulk vs. Fantastic Four #1 takes the Fantastic Four out of their usual science-fiction comfort zone and throws them directly into the supernatural horror surrounding Infernal Hulk.
Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s premise gives Reed Richards something potentially capable of ending Hulk’s army while simultaneously making the entire Fantastic Four a target.
Cian Tormey handles the interior conflict, while Clayton Crain’s variant cover emphasizes the monstrous scale of Infernal Hulk and the danger facing Marvel’s First Family.
For collectors, the Clayton Crain Variant is one of the stronger visually themed versions of the issue, particularly for readers who prefer the darker side of modern Hulk stories.
Recommended for Hulk readers, Fantastic Four fans, Clayton Crain collectors, and anyone following the buildup to Hulk War.
Infernal Hulk vs. Fantastic Four #1 Clayton Crain Variant is available from Razmataz Comics & Hobbies at razmatazcomics.com while supplies last.
Logan heads to Miami in Wolverine: Paradise #1. We look at Dan Panosian’s new series, Dazzler’s role and the Phil Noto foil variant.
This Wolverine: Paradise #1 comic review looks at Marvel’s new 2026 Wolverine series from writer and artist Dan Panosian. Logan steps away from the X-Men and heads to Miami, where the city’s glitz and glamour hide a dangerous criminal underworld waiting to drag Wolverine back into trouble.
This copy features the Phil Noto Cover D Foil Variant, with Logan dressed for Miami nightlife while Dazzler dominates the background in a stylish retro composition.
Phil Noto’s foil cover gives Wolverine a completely different look from the usual battlefield or wilderness imagery associated with the character. Logan stands in a white jacket and sunglasses with his claws extended, while Dazzler and a disco-inspired background reinforce the Miami setting.
The foil treatment fits the nightlife theme particularly well, giving the cover a polished, almost poster-like appearance that stands apart from the more traditional Wolverine variants.
Wolverine: Paradise #1 takes Logan somewhere considerably different from his usual surroundings.
After stepping away from the X-Men, Wolverine heads to Miami looking for a change of pace. What he finds instead is a city where glamour, nightlife, and wealth sit directly above a dangerous criminal underworld.
That setup gives writer and artist Dan Panosian an opportunity to pull Wolverine out of familiar territory. Rather than placing Logan in another wilderness survival story or mutant conflict, the series drops him into a stylish urban environment where the danger is hidden beneath the surface.
The premise works because Logan is never particularly good at staying out of trouble. Even when he attempts to distance himself from the X-Men and the larger superhero world, violence has a way of finding him.
The addition of Dazzler also makes sense for the Miami setting. Her celebrity background and connection to music and nightlife give the story a character who naturally fits the environment while providing a strong contrast to Logan’s rougher personality.
Because Dan Panosian handles both the writing and artwork, Wolverine: Paradise has a strong unified visual identity.
Miami gives Panosian an opportunity to work with a very different palette and atmosphere than readers might normally associate with Wolverine. Bright lights, nightlife, tropical scenery, and upscale environments create a sharp contrast with Logan himself.
That contrast helps sell the central idea of the book: Wolverine may have traveled to paradise, but he does not necessarily belong there.
For this particular version, Phil Noto’s foil variant leans heavily into the stylish side of the concept. Logan’s white jacket, sunglasses, and exposed claws give him a sleek Miami look while still making it immediately clear that Wolverine is never far from violence.
Dazzler’s oversized portrait in the background ties the cover directly to the issue’s setting and supporting cast, while the foil finish adds another layer to the disco-inspired presentation.
Wolverine: Paradise #1 begins with Logan attempting to separate himself from the X-Men and find something resembling a break from his usual life.
That idea alone gives the story room to explore Wolverine outside of the team dynamic.
Logan has always struggled with the idea of peace. Even when he wants a quieter life, his instincts, reputation, and history tend to pull him back toward violence.
Placing him in Miami creates an interesting contradiction. The setting promises sunshine, glamour, and escape, while Logan remains someone constantly prepared for the next fight.
Dazzler offers another contrast. She is comfortable in the world of entertainment and nightlife, while Wolverine approaches that environment as an outsider. Their different personalities give the series an opportunity to explore Logan from a different angle than the usual mutant-team setting.
Wolverine: Paradise #1 has several things working in its favor as a collectible.
It is the first issue of a new Wolverine series, features Dan Panosian as both writer and artist, introduces a new Miami-based direction for Logan, and includes Dazzler as a prominent supporting character.
Marvel released the issue with several different covers, including standard variants and higher-ratio incentives. The Phil Noto Cover D Foil Variant carries a higher original cover price of $7.99, compared with $4.99 for the standard covers. Midtown Comics
This is not a ratio incentive variant, so scarcity should not automatically be assumed. Its appeal comes primarily from Phil Noto’s artwork, the foil treatment, Wolverine, and Dazzler.
That combination gives it strong display appeal for collectors who follow Wolverine, Dazzler, Phil Noto, or modern Marvel foil variants.
Wolverine: Paradise #1 gives Logan a refreshing change of scenery without abandoning the qualities that make Wolverine work.
Dan Panosian’s Miami setting provides a strong contrast to Logan’s personality, while the criminal-underworld premise ensures that the idea of “paradise” probably will not last very long.
The inclusion of Dazzler gives the series another character who naturally fits the setting and helps distinguish it from a standard Wolverine solo story.
For collectors, the Phil Noto Foil Variant is one of the more visually distinctive versions of the issue. Its retro Miami styling, Wolverine-and-Dazzler composition, and foil finish make it especially attractive as a display copy.
Recommended for Wolverine fans, Dazzler collectors, Phil Noto collectors, and readers looking for a different kind of Wolverine story.
Wolverine: Paradise #1 Phil Noto Foil Variant is available from Razmataz Comics & Hobbies at razmatazcomics.com while supplies last.
Eddie Brock and Venom reunite in Venom #1. We look at Charles Soule’s new series, Tommaso Bianchi’s art and the Adi Granov variant cover.
This Venom #1 comic review looks at Marvel’s 2026 relaunch of the symbiote series from writer Charles Soule and artist Tommaso Bianchi. After years apart, Eddie Brock and the Venom symbiote are finally reunited, giving one of Marvel’s most famous partnerships another chance to prove that together they can still be something more than a monster.
This copy features the Cover E Adi Granov Variant, with Spider-Man caught in a dark, striking composition as the Venom symbiote closes in around him.
Adi Granov’s variant immediately stands apart from many traditional Venom covers. Spider-Man occupies the center of the image while the Venom symbiote appears to engulf him from above and behind, creating an unsettling combination of two characters whose histories have been connected since the symbiote first entered Peter Parker’s life.
Granov’s darker approach, heavy shadows, and muted blue background make the red of Spider-Man’s costume particularly striking. Rather than relying on a straightforward Venom portrait, the cover plays with the long history between Spider-Man and the symbiote.
Venom #1 brings Eddie Brock and the Venom symbiote back together after years apart.
That reunion is the foundation of the new series. Eddie is determined not to waste another opportunity with the symbiote and wants to prove that he can once again be Venom’s ultimate host.
More importantly, Eddie wants their renewed partnership to mean something.
Venom has spent decades moving between villain, antihero, reluctant protector, and outright hero. Reuniting Eddie with the symbiote gives writer Charles Soule an opportunity to revisit the relationship at the center of the character while moving both of them into another chapter.
The premise is especially interesting because Eddie’s confidence is clearly part of the conflict. He does not simply want to bond with Venom again—he wants to prove that the two of them belong together and that they can be heroes regardless of what anyone else thinks.
That gives the new series a straightforward starting point while leaving plenty of room for conflict with the larger Marvel Universe.
Artist Tommaso Bianchi takes on the interior artwork for the new Venom series.
Venom is a character who depends heavily on visual presence. The symbiote needs to feel powerful, unpredictable, and physically different from the heroes surrounding it, while Eddie Brock still needs to remain recognizable beneath everything Venom brings to the page.
The reunion of Eddie and the symbiote also creates an opportunity to visually emphasize the idea of two characters becoming one again.
For this particular edition, however, the immediate attraction is Adi Granov’s variant cover.
Granov’s realistic, heavily rendered style works especially well with characters such as Venom. Instead of presenting Spider-Man and the symbiote in a brightly colored superhero pose, the image feels darker and almost horror-inspired.
The result is a cover that emphasizes the uncomfortable connection between Spider-Man and Venom rather than simply treating them as opponents.
The most important relationship in Venom #1 is the relationship between Eddie Brock and the Venom symbiote itself.
The two characters have been separated, reunited, changed, and pushed in dramatically different directions throughout Marvel history. Bringing them together again allows the series to ask whether Eddie and Venom can actually return to what they once were—or whether both have changed too much.
Eddie’s determination to become the symbiote’s ultimate host also reveals something important about him.
This is not simply a partnership of convenience. Eddie views Venom as a fundamental part of his identity, and losing that connection has consequences.
Their reunion therefore carries more emotional weight than simply putting a familiar costume back on a familiar character.
The question going forward is whether Eddie’s belief that they belong together will ultimately make both characters stronger—or create another problem neither of them is prepared to handle.
Venom #1 has several elements that make it worth watching from a collector standpoint.
It launches a new volume of Venom, reunites Eddie Brock with the symbiote, and features a creative team of Charles Soule and Tommaso Bianchi.
Marvel also released the first issue with several variant covers from major artists.
The Adi Granov Cover E Variant is a regular open-order variant rather than a ratio incentive. Collectors should therefore not assume that the book is scarce simply because it is a variant edition.
Its appeal comes instead from the artist and subject matter.
Adi Granov remains a popular Marvel cover artist, while the combination of Venom and Spider-Man imagery gives this cover an immediate connection to the symbiote’s history.
There is also a separate Adi Granov virgin incentive version of the artwork, making this regular Cover E the more affordable way for collectors to own Granov’s image without paying the premium associated with the incentive edition.
Venom #1 brings the character back to the partnership that helped define him.
Reuniting Eddie Brock and the Venom symbiote gives Charles Soule a strong foundation for the new series while opening the door to questions about how much both characters have changed during their time apart.
Tommaso Bianchi’s artwork takes on the challenge of presenting that renewed partnership, while Marvel’s selection of variant covers gives collectors several distinctly different interpretations of Venom.
For this edition, Adi Granov’s Cover E Variant is the major attraction. The dark Spider-Man-and-symbiote composition draws directly from the complicated history between the characters and gives the issue a cover that feels appropriately sinister.
Recommended for Venom fans, Eddie Brock collectors, Spider-Man readers, Adi Granov collectors, and anyone interested in the beginning of Marvel’s newest Venom series.
Venom #1 Adi Granov Variant is available from Razmataz Comics & Hobbies at razmatazcomics.com while supplies last.