Doctor Strange just had a one-night stand with the strongest Avenger

If there’s one thing that superhero movies have a hard time replicating from the comics — from the Marvel Cinematic Universe to Justice League — it’s that superheroes are not just pawns who fight crime and prevent disasters. They are more than flying or laser beams or crossovers or space aliens.

Superheroes are about soap opera messiness. And I’ve never been so proud to deliver on the Monday Funnies promise to bring you the society pages of superhero lives when I say: Doctor Strange and Captain Marvel hooked up this week.

What else is happening in the pages of our favorite comics? We’ll tell you. Welcome to Monday Funnies, Polygon’s weekly list of the books that our comics editor enjoyed this past week. It’s part society pages of superhero lives, part reading recommendations, part “look at this cool art.” There may be some spoilers. There may not be enough context. But there will be great comics. (And if you missed the last edition, read this.)

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Captain Marvel #27

Image: Kelly Thompson, David Lopez/Marvel Comics

Carol is having a hard time getting over her breakup with Rhodey “War Machine” Rhodes, which she initiated because [checks notes] she just got back from an adventure in a future where she met Rhodey’s daughter with another woman and doesn’t want to get in the way of that amazing future person being born.

So say hello to Stephen Strange, the sloppy rebound. More power to the both of them, if you ask me.

Justice League #59

You can read our full review of Brian Michael Bendis’ first issue of Justice League here, but I’d like to shout out artist David Marquez and his wonderful sensitive-faced Superman.

Gosh, Superman, stop checking out Black Adam’s butt.

Ultramega #1

James Harren debuted his tokusatsu dream project this week, the body horror-filled Ultramega. If you’d like to read a series that looks to combine Mad Max with Ultraman with plenty of guts, gore, and mutant growth, this is for you.

Black Knight: Curse of the Ebony Blade #1

Image: Si Spurrier, Sergio Dávila/Marvel Comics

Si Spurrier and Sergio Dávila’s Black Knight kicked off this week, a book about the Marvel superhero whose sword is fueled by his emotional problems. But I’m here for his goat-headed butler.

Nightwing #78

It’s been a rocky road for Nightwing fans, with the character developing amnesia through brain trauma and deciding that he was going to call himself Ric for a couple of years. But Dick Grayson is back, he’s in the blue costume, he’s in Blüdhaven, and just look at the work Tom Taylor, Bruno Redondo, and especially colorist Adriano Lucas are doing in this book. A work of art.