A.V. Pull List: Donny Cates is back and this comic fan couldn’t be more excited
Donny Cates is, without question, one of my favorite comic book writers. The guy just gets it. Whether he’s reinventing characters or crafting entirely new mythologies, everything he touches ends up on my pull list, even if I wasn’t interested in the character before. His work on Venom was groundbreaking, especially with King in Black, which expanded the symbiote lore through the introduction of Knull, the god of the symbiotes. Babyteeth gave us a modern-day Omen-style tale centered around the birth of the Antichrist. God Country delivered an emotional, fantastical story about a small Texas town, dementia, and a mythical sword. And let’s not forget Doctor Strange: Damnation, which is a really fun read where Doctor Strange tries to undo the destruction of Las Vegas, only to turn it into Hell on Earth. Also, Silver Surfer: Black, Thanos, Cosmic Ghost Rider…the list goes on. If Donny Cates writes it, I read it.
Unfortunately, in 2022, Cates was involved in a serious car accident that resulted in temporary amnesia. This forced him to step away from the industry and leave several high-profile books mid-run. His work on both Thor and Hulk ended abruptly, leaving plotlines unfinished and fans curious about what might have been. But now, after nearly two years, he has officially announced his return. In a recent Instagram post he wrote, “Just wanted to check in with all of you and let you know that your boy is back on the dance floor. Expect announcements this summer. And then another one after that. What do you think? Anyone want to guess? If you get it right I’ll buy your first issue.” It’s great to see him in good spirits and even better to know that he’s already cooking up multiple projects.
Right now, I don’t have any guesses about what those projects could be, but I’m hoping for at least one or two original titles in the spirit of Babyteeth or God Country. Something that feels like it came directly from the depths of his imagination. But I’m also hoping he does something totally unexpected. I would love to see him write a Star Wars book. Honestly, Star Wars comics have been in a rut, and someone like Cates could bring the jolt of energy and creativity they desperately need. On top of that, I think he’d be the perfect writer to tackle a new Sentry series. With his own experience dealing with memory loss, I imagine he could take that concept and craft something deeply personal and powerful. He’s also mentioned in interviews before that he wants to write Batman someday. Let me just say, I would absolutely love to read a Donny Cates Batman story. That kind of pairing just feels right, and I hope it happens eventually.
Truth be told, I’d read anything Donny Cates writes, even if it’s a character book I normally wouldn’t touch. His name alone guarantees that the story will be unique, exciting, and full of big ideas. So yeah, this comic fan couldn’t be more excited. What do you think Donny Cates will do next? Drop your guesses in the comments, and don’t forget to like, subscribe, and join the conversation. Whatever comes next, I know it’s going to be something special.
-Brad McBoom