It’s the first new comic book day of the year, and a fun, eclectic slate of release awaits us all in comic shops. But what made the cut in The Pull, which looks at my buys, recommendations, and curiosities from the week of comics? You can find out below.

Comic of the Week: Absolute Batman: Ark M Special #1

This is a fun way to expand on the Absolute universe, particularly the Batman side of things, as this one-shot explores the origins of the Ark M project outside Gotham. Not only that, but it ropes in a co-writer in Frank Tieri and an Absolute newcomer in artist Joshua Hixson, both of whom will bring a new flavor to the events in the Absolute Batman world. I’m here for it. This is a smart way to expand, especially considering how potent these origins issues have been so far.

Trade/Graphic Novel of the Week: Banana Sioule Vol. 3

I’ve only read the first volume of this translation of the French graphic novella series, but Banana Sioule is a real treat. Cartoonist Michaël Sanlaville was one of my final cuts for my Creators of 2025 list, as his cartooning is just exquisite in this series about a young woman coming up as a rising star in the world of sioule, a rather brutal and honestly kind of bizarre sport her father once starred in. That’s right: This is a sports comic series! And it’s a hoot at that. I’m looking forward to getting both the second and third volumes this week, if I’m lucky.