[Bagged & Boarded] Comic Picks: August 20th, 2025.

David @ 98 Comics
Aug 17
3 min read

This week’s comic drop is wall-to-wall fire, with fan-favorite characters, killer variants, and must-watch debuts lighting up the shelves. From the return of Marvel’s most seductive antihero, Black Cat, to the twisted corridors of deep-space horror Event Horizon, and a symbiote showcase drenched in red. This week’s picks are pure collector fuel.

Whether you're chasing emotional storytelling (Krypto), wartime (Escape), or variant eye-candy (Venom, Black Cat), these five books deliver a knockout mix of style, story, and spec appeal. Let’s dive into the top pulls you’ll want to grab before they’re gone.

BLACK CAT #1 (Marvel Comics)

Felicia Hardy is back, and this time, she’s trying to go straight… kinda. Black Cat #1 kicks off a slick new era for Marvel’s premiere feline felon, and we’re here for it.

G. Willow Wilson (Ms. Marvel) teams up with the energetic lines of Gleb Melnikov (Robin, Batgirls) to bring us a high-stakes, high-heel, antihero romp through the alleys and penthouses of NYC.

Felicia’s decided to play hero, or at least pretend for a bit. Her first test? A throwdown with The Lizard that’s sure to claw into collectors' must-pick lists.

Now let’s talk about that Jeehyung Lee variant. It’s moody, sleek, and dripping with noir attitude, the kind of cover that screams “wall-worthy.”

EVENT HORIZON: DARK DESCENT #1 (Titan Comics)

I love this movie, so just when you thought it was safe to drift in deep space… Event Horizon is back — and this time, it’s in comic form! Dark Descent #1 kicks off a chilling new chapter in the universe of the cult-classic 1997 sci-fi horror film.

Set decades after the doomed Lewis & Clark mission, this new storyline dives into the psychological terror and blood-soaked mysteries fans know and love, while introducing a brand-new salvage crew about to make contact with the horrors beyond the veil of reality.

The Love Cover variant? A stunning homage that echoes the film's iconic aesthetic, eerie, sleek, and just unnerving enough to make your longboxes whisper back. Perfect !!!

ESCAPTE #1 (Image Comics)

Strap in, because Escape #1 is coming in hot, literally. Set in a world of anthropomorphic animal soldiers and fascist empires, this isn’t your grandpa’s war story. Imagine

Blacksad crashing into Inglourious Basterds, with the urgency of a ticking bomb and a body count to match.

When bomber pilot Milton Shaw is shot out of the sky and lands behind enemy lines, he has 24 hours to escape before his side nukes the city. He’s injured, outgunned, and dragging emotional baggage as heavy as his flight gear. But help comes from the most unlikely allies.

Expect pulse action, haunting morality, and Remender’s signature gut-punch storytelling, all painted to savage life by Acuña.

VENOM: BLACK, WHITE & BLOOD #1 (Marevl Comics)

Venom: Black, White & Blood returns with a vengeance, and brutal stories that slice deep into symbiote lore. From jungle hunts to twisted family drama and a gritty revenge mission, this black-and-white (with a splash of blood red) anthology leans into everything fans love about Venom: rage, power, and a surprising emotional core. Whether you’re into monster mayhem or character-driven chaos, this issue covers all bases with classic callbacks and fresh new venomized chaos. I am a big fan of the Black, White & Blood lines, so this one is made for Venom.

The Peach Momoko variant is the cover that I like. This takes Venom into eerie, elegant territory with a cover that’s equal parts horror, beauty, and pure display-worthy fire.

KRYPTO THE LATS DOG OF KRYPTON #3

The cover is amazing, the story is Epic!!!; Grab the tissues and your heat vision, Krypto #3 might just break your heart in the best way. The galaxy’s most loyal good dog finds himself wandering the snowy woods, still holding out hope after everything he’s endured.

But this issue takes a softer, more emotional turn: a chance meeting with a lost young girl, just as scared and stranded as he is. It’s man’s best friend meets man’s most fragile, and the bond that forms between them is pure comics magic.

But survival in the wilderness doesn’t come easy, especially for a child. As exhaustion sets in and the cold closes in, tying into Krypto’s fate.

**Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #3 (Jae Lee Cover)**

FINAL THOUGHTS

From symbiote slashes to war-torn wastelands and one snowbound superdog, this week proves one thing: comic speculation thrives on the unexpected. Whether it’s a stealth first appearance, a low-print indie launch, or a jaw-dropping variant, these books won’t sit on shelves for long.

Happy collecting & Reading