When Is a First Issue Not a First Issue?
This week on First Issue Club, the crew dove into everything from Batman’s latest relaunch to the growing debate around AI art at conventions. Between jokes about Ninja Turtle sleeping habits and the tragedy of never owning a race car bed, the conversation turned into one of the sharpest and most heartfelt discussions about where comics—and comic culture—stand today.
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The Many Lives of Batman #1
If you’re a new reader wandering into a shop, a shiny new Batman #1 might look like the perfect jumping-on point. But as Greg pointed out, it’s not truly a fresh start—it’s Volume Four of the ongoing saga, continuing threads from Zdarsky’s run while opening the door for a new creative vision. Mike D compared it to the old riddle: “When is a first issue not a first issue? When it’s a prestige character from a major publisher.”
Still, this latest launch feels different. Matt Fraction is promising that every issue will be self-contained—a bold approach that brings back the bite-sized storytelling charm of old superhero books. Vargas praised the premiere’s emotional core: Batman facing Killer Croc not with fists, but with empathy. Croc’s regression into a childlike state sets up a heartbreaking mirror for Bruce Wayne himself. The issue blends classic gadgets, fresh villains like the “Creeps,” and the intriguing presence of an AI Alfred.
For longtime fans, it’s a refreshing balance of nostalgia and innovation. For new readers, it’s an open invitation.
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DragonCon vs. AI Art
The team also tackled one of the biggest stories in comic culture this month: DragonCon’s decisive move to ban AI-generated art from its vendor spaces. When a seller was caught passing off AI work as original, organizers didn’t just ask them to pack up—they had them escorted out by police.
“Good on them,” Mike D said. “Conventions taking a stand early sets the tone for how the community values real art.” Vargas clarified that the police were called only after the vendor refused to leave, but the consensus among the crew was clear: protecting creators matters more than filling tables. Other conventions like GalaxyCon are adopting similar policies, showing a ripple effect in the industry.
Greg took the conversation further, riffing on other booths he’d happily see banned: turkey leg vendors, 3D-printed trinket sellers, and the dreaded “blind box of junk” booths. It was equal parts comedy and critique, but the underlying message stuck: conventions thrive when they spotlight originality, not mass-produced clutter.
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Fresh Voices in Horror and Heartbreak
Beyond the big headlines, the episode spotlighted three standout new books:
Everything Dead and Dying (Tate Brombal & Jacob Phillips) – A haunting twist on the zombie genre, told through the eyes of a farmer caring for his infected town as though nothing has changed. Vargas compared it to The Last of Us Nick Offerman episode—poetic, tragic, and full of love for the lost.
Closer (Kieron Gillen & Steve Lieber) – A one-shot that turns the pain of a breakup into a literal apocalypse. Greg praised Gillen’s precision, calling it “brilliant, heartfelt, and devastatingly human.”
Black Diamond (Panic Entertainment) – A tense horror debut about a father forced into an impossible choice after his son is kidnapped by a cult. Vargas, now a new parent himself, said it hit especially hard, blending parental fear with sharp storytelling.
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Why It Matters
Episodes like this remind us why First Issue Club exists: to make sense of the constant swirl of comics, reboots, and industry shifts while celebrating what makes the medium endlessly exciting. Whether it’s Batman showing mercy, conventions protecting artists, or indie creators reshaping genres, the world of comics is alive with both battles and breakthroughs.
As Greg put it best: “It’s about compassion—whether for zombies, villains, or fellow fans. Comics remind us not just who heroes are, but who we could be.”