Happy new comic book day, and happy new year! It’s another big week in the world of comics, and the ComicBook staff have come together to break down and review as many of the new releases from this week as possible. Now obviously this isn’t every single comic on stands, but we’re breaking down new releases from Marvel, DC, Image Comics, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse, Dynamite, Oni Press, IDW, Mad Cave Studios, DSTLRY, and more!

We’ve also carved out some additional space for two of this week’s biggest books in Aquaman #1 and The Lucky Devils #1, so if our smaller reviews here pique your interest, make sure to check out the full reviews for a much more comprehensive analysis of those issues. As for ratings, we keep things simple with a whole or half number out of five, and you can check out some of our previous reviews right here. With all that said, let’s get to this week’s new comics!

DC

Absolute Batman #4
Absolute Batman #4 takes us into the earliest iterations of Batman as Bruce works out exactly how he wants to approach his crusade against crime in Gotham all while juxtaposing it against his past. While this is by no means new for the title, using the past to inform the present is particularly interesting here in that we get a stronger glimpse of just how Bruce’s father’s murder changed him while also seeing how Bruce’s innovations started young. It also expands the overall “lore” by giving readers more of what this take on Bruce Wayne’s family looks like all while further reinforcing that this Bruce Wayne is much more all-consumed by his trauma than perhaps we’ve seen before. The art in this issue feels a little less clean, but there is a lot of hard emotion in each panel, making it all work together just so well. It’s a very solid issue. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Aquaman #1
Aquaman has a number of Titles to his name, whether that be Father, Husband, superhero, or King. More often than not only one of those aspects are the focus at any one time those elements and more are all on display for Aquaman’s DC All In debut. The team of Jeremy Adams, John Timms, Rex Lokus, and Dave Sharpe look to encompass elements from each and every part of Arthur’s world, and while ambitious, Aquaman #1 effortlessly soars and delivers a grand adventure that no fan should miss. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 5 out of 5 (Read the full review here)

Batman and Robin #17
Batman and Robin #17 is easily the best of the Memento arc so far. The issue sees Batman go perhaps too far in his pursuit of Memento to near-catastrophic result for himself personally while for Robin, we see him get some important insight and perspective about his own role in things and ends up being something of a voice of wisdom and reason while cementing that he really is his father’s son. The issue also gives us a solid answer about little Emma’s fate all while bringing an unexpected ally into things. There are a lot of twists and turns to this issue and it’s a thrill of a read all while deepening the mystery of Memento in a meaningful way. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 5 out of 5

Batman: Dark Patterns #2
Batman: Dark Patterns continues to be a must read as series writer Dan Watters is delivering what is poised to be a classic Batman story. There’s a timeless quality to the narrative being told, one that feels like could have arrived in any era of the character’s history, which not only makes it approachable and new reader friendly, but fresh for longtime fans too. Once again series artist Hayden Sherman and color artist Triona Farrell are doing stellar work, making Gotham feel alive and the character designs unique. The pacing of the story’s visuals is also a highmark, and one that’s setting a standard that other Bat-books on the shelves cannot follow. – Spencer Perry
Rating: 5 out of 5

DC Vs. Vampires: World War V #6
DC Vs. Vampires lives up to its World War V title as the fragile alliances and hopeful moments of the past have now come to an end. Now two desperate armies clash for survival in what is a beautifully bloody battle from the talented team of artist Otto Schmidt, colorist Pierluigi Casolino, and letterer Tom Napolitano. Then when you feel you’ve settled into some sort of comfort with how things are going, writer Matthew Rosenberg sends you reeling with a reveal that changes the whole landscape of this conflict. Supergirl vs Wonder Woman? Check. Justice Leaguers getting crushed? Check. Major twist? Triple Check, and you want to miss any of it. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 4 out of 5

MARVEL

All-New Venom #2
All-New Venom #2 is a straightforward, solid superhero story with stellar art, crisp and clean. There are some fun flourishes in there, too, including the new Venom taking on a gang of criminal jugglers and new tryouts, one a clear Gritty knockoff, and another an overcommitted pirate cosplayer. While it could have been a throwaway scene, this opening fight goes a long way toward distinguishing this new Venom’s tone from the previous hosts, giving them a slightly slapstick flare as they eat a bomb to save civilians and their head expands like a cartoon character’s from the explosion. There are also some new wrinkles in the mystery of the new Venom host that make this sophomore outing a clear improvement over the debut issue. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Daredevil: Unleash Hell #1
Elektra acting as the second Daredevil of Hell’s Kitchen is a tricky tight-rope to walk. The former Hand assassin and love of Matt Murdock’s life is attempting to turn over a new leaf, fighting against crime and corruption in New York City while maintaining a rule of not taking any lives. For this latest series, the “Red Band” banner does live up to its name as Elektra is seemingly about to be dragged into a hellish fight against a deceased Daredevil villain, Muse. The issue is one that ventures slightly into Elektra’s headspace while painting a gruesome picture for Muse to boot. Unleash Hell doesn’t feel on the same level as the main Daredevil book but it sticks its initial landing, justifying its existence. – Evan Valentine
Rating 3.5 out of 5

Magik #1
There have been many attempts to spin X-Men characters into ongoing solo books without many long-running successes outside of Wolverine. The X-Men aren’t the Avengers or the Justice League; it’s not a group formed out of preexisting characters meant to stand on their lonesome, but original characters created to be one aspect of a larger whole, more like the Fantastic Four. Once one of those characters Is standing on their own, it becomes clear that they lack a foundational premise needed to generate new and exciting adventures in the long run. For its part, Magik #1 does a stellar job of building that foundation for Illyana Rasputin. Now an adult, Magik suffered a traumatic childhood in Limbo and a traumatic adolescence as a New Mutant. She finally let her guard down and her friends in while enjoying the safety of Krakoa, only to have that security ripped away from her during the Fall of X, re-traumatizing her into adulthood. Magik #1 sees her wrestling with metaphorical demons to match the real demons that have long been a part of her life, a notion that the dark and dreary artwork drives home. With Magik now unwillingly made the mentor toward a young boy in a situation not altogether dissimilar from her origin, Magik is shaping up to be a stronger tale than what your average X-Men solo series has to offer. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

New Champions #1
New Champions might cause a bit of confusion regarding its name, but if you give it a chance you are likely to find an endearing new group of heroes that might just capture your heart, and it’s bound to only get better from here. That’s because the book starts with the core four but then shows how quickly that group is set to expand, and the possibilities with hat wild lineup are endless. Writer Steve Foxe picks up the story from the recent Spider-Woman series that first introduced these characters into the Marvel Universe, so if you’ve read that you’ll be able to pretty much hit the ground running. Those who haven’t might be a bit fuzzy on some details, but the book quickly expands from that initial premise and starts to roll in its own direction, so things should clear up relatively quickly. Foxe does a wonderful job of establishing who each member of the team is and their unique skillset and personality, building around the mystery of Hellrune’s origin and powers to provide the key spark. It works pretty well, and so far Moon Squire, Liberty, Cadet Marvel, and Hellrune make for a compelling central quartet. That said, things really hit second gear when they find themselves colliding with a host of other young heroes, with the team of artists Ivan Fiorelli, Ig Guara, colorist Arthur Hesli, and letterer Travis Lanham showing what they can do when the toybox is loaded with so many variables. New Champions delivers an entertaining debut, but if those final few pages are anything to go by, this is nothing compared to what the series will be down the line. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

NYX #7
NYX has been sort of doing its own thing since the fall of Krakoa, and there’s been a lot to love about this ever-evolving team. Unfortunately most of what I’ve loved about the series doesn’t come into view much throughout NY #7, which focuses mostly on a rushed confrontation between Prodigy and Synch as opposed to the contrasting personalities between the team. The ongoing discussion through their battle feels incredibly condensed, and while I was intrigued to see what would come of their clash, it just ends rather abruptly and without the moment that would justify that ending. On the other hand, Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly do keep the confrontation between Ms. Marvel and the Truthseekers moving in an intriguing direction, and the artwork from the team of Enid Balam, Raul Angulo, and Joe Sabino during that battle specifically is stellar. NYX #7 is one of the weaker issues of the series so far, but there’s still some memorable moments along the way. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 3 out of 5

The Amazing Spider-Man #65
The Amazing Spider-Man #65 sees Spidey facing the inevitability of death, the latest challenge from one of Cyttorak’s scions playing out like an existential crisis as he gets the long view of human existence, which always ends the same way. This issue’s art team of penciler Cafu and colorist Frank D’Armata create pages with a statuesque quality to them, scenes of frustration and, ultimately, futility as even Spider-Man can’t hold back the reaper (here played by Phil Coulson, which is a bit distracting). Ultimately, it leads to a dramatic turn. While we’ve seen Peter Parker try to abandon his duties before, the bone-deep weariness and sense of nihilism underpinning everything is a different flavor than Pete’s usual melodramatics. This issue feels like the real turning point in the “8 Deaths of Spider-Man” saga, and the creative team does a stellar job of driving the weight of everything home to the reader. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

The Uncanny X-Men #8
The Raid on Graymalkin comes to an end with a shaky landing as it feels like the meeting of the two premiere X-Teams post-Krakoa didn’t ultimately warrant a four-issue long crossover. Simone has a few twists and turns in the conclusion of Scott and Rogue’s teams butting heads but it hardly feels much like a satisfactory one. The true identity of “Inmate X” remains a mystery and Xavier simply tells his students “better luck next time” in the final moments. Simone and Garron are still at the top of their game here in both characterization and art direction but the overall story is one that simply feels a bit like a letdown in terms of what we’ve seen from Uncanny so far. Raid of Graymalkin feels like a missed opportunity for a crossover that could have been so much greater than what we saw when it wrapped. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 3 out of 5

Ultimate Black Panther #12
I have quietly been begging Ultimate Black Panther scribe Bryan Hill to dive head first into something different, to really make this series feel like something readers couldn’t get in the main Marvel universe. The pieces have been there, but they’ve often been put in alongside familiar elements. With Ultimate Black Panther #12 though, the dive has finally started and we’re seeing something we can’t see elsewhere. Hill’s Vodu-Khan, almost like a Wakandan version of Dune’s Bene Gesserit, are integral to the issue which not only gives this one a unique DNA but also delivers us a characterization of T’Challa himself that feels fresh. Series artist Stefano Caselli is back with color artist David Curiel and the pair continue to deliver tremendous work. There’s a dramatic buildup in the final pages of this issue that are built on the way Caselli chooses to frame his shots but also their pace, resulting in a moment that genuinely took me by surprise. – Spencer Perry
Rating: 5 out of 5

Wolverine #5
Unfortunately, the same problems I’ve had with the first four issues of the Canucklehead’s post-Krakoa storyline remain in issue five. Ahmed’s approach to characterization is one that works for Matt Murdock in Hell’s Kitchen but that same approach fumbles for Logan. The Adamantine are an interesting enough concept but the villainous entity is still a bit too wrapped up in mystery to make it truly compelling. Wolverine was a series that was marketed as diving into Logan’s wild side, running through the wilderness and struggling with his Berserker side, though those ideas have mostly fallen to the wayside. There are some clever moments in this latest issue but not enough to buck the trend for Wolverine’s latest series. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

IMAGE COMICS

Geiger #10
Junkyard Joe is back! Geiger #10 sees the return of the fan-favorite character, but also sees Geiger with a major problem: something is very wrong with him. Geiger being unwell — as well as the revelation of Junkyard Joe being a help rather than a hindrance — is the bulk focus of the issue, as well as a glimpse into Geiger’s life from before. It’s all interesting and gets us to Lewiston and perhaps the next big challenge. In the larger scheme of the overall story, it’s a solid issue and it’s clear that there are a lot of details being laid down. However, it does feel a little like a bridge to something else. Not exactly filler, but not exactly not filler at the same time. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Moon Man #6
The latest issue of Moon Man is certainly one of its most satisfying narratively as writers Scott Mescudi, Kyle Higgins, and Joe Clark weave in and out of time to fill in the gaps of the backstory. What ends up becoming especially true for the issue though is that series artist Federico Bertoni is showing off exactly what he can do not only with unique panel layouts but massive splash pages. Moon Man has spun its wheels at times, but what Bertoni along with colorist Igor Monti and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou pull off in Moon Man #6 is remarkable stuff to behold. The plot remains somewhat elusive, both simple in its design but dense in execution, so this is a good one to just stare at in awe. – Spencer Perry
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Snotgirl #17
Lottie accidentally stumbles on something she shouldn’t when it comes to Caroline (and Virgil’s) family trauma. Virgil stumbles upon a mysterious sisterhood that might be up to something, and Lottie’s own family drama is about to get even wilder when a meet the family dinner shifts to a getaway — and her sister is along for the trip. Snotgirl #17 proves that the story hasn’t lost any momentum since its return and the complicated connections and deeper mysteries are just as interesting. This time around, however, we’re getting a little bit deeper into Lottie as a person and seeing a bit more about the factors that make her, well, Lottie. It’s fun, even if it is a slightly challenging read. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 3 out of 5

The Lucky Devils #1

Lucky Devils is a comic that hits the ground floor running, presenting a fiendishly clever premise via four main appealing characters. The new Image Comic has a big act to follow after Eight Billion Genies and this opening salvo does just that. Collar and Rake might just be the top demons of 2025 and I look forward to seeing what Soul and Browne have in store for the rest of the series. – Evan Valentine. Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (Read the full review here)

Transformers #16
Daniel Warren Johnson and Jorge Corona continue depicting one of the most brutal battles featuring the Autobots and Decepticons to this day. The fact that classic Cybertronians like Optimus Prime and Starscream are requiring to forge new body parts from various sources makes the war that much more hard-hitting, adding an unsettling layer to the affair. In my past reviews, I’ve spoken highly of the Energon Universe as a whole and this latest Transformers series is one that continues to act as the torchbearer for the new crossover universe. The comic remains a larger-than-life, hard-hitting thrill ride that remains one of the best takes on the Transformers in any medium and is well worth your time, whether you have followed Cybertron in the past or not. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 5 out of 5

What were your favorite new comics of the week? You can talk all things comics with me on Bluesky @KnightofOA!

The post Comic Book Reviews for This Week: 1/8/2025 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Eight Billion Genies was a comic with such a premise and a strong story backing it up that when the creative team announces a new series, it’s going to get some people interested. Writer Charles Soule and artist Ryan Browne are bringing their talents to a brand new limited series that trades in genies for demons. Lucky Devils introduces two “average joes” who are running into some life-shattering problems that might have a supernatural origin. In its premiere issue, the new Image Comics offering is one that has big shoes to fill but it might just create a story that does exactly that.

Lucky Devils begins its nine-issue run by introducing readers to Cam and Starr, a Philosophy 101 professor and a nurse residing in Chicago. While Cam appears to be dealing with a number of inconveniences that are ruining his love life and financial status, Starr is dealing with a lack of opportunities to move up in her career. Things appear to change for both of these down-on-their-luck characters when they are introduced to Collar and Rake, their own personal demons. The underworld duo has been responsible for much of the misfortune that have befallen their human targets throughout their lives but the demons have a unique proposition for the teacher and nurse. As is the case with Eight Billion Genies, not everything is at it seems and some characters are holding their cards close to their chests.

Both Starr and Cam are interesting enough characters here to lead the story, as the parallel lives of both have enough differences to make them both appealing to follow despite their similarities in the demon department. On the flip side, Collar and Rake, who happen to be romantically intertwined, are hilarious and colorful foils to their downtrodden counterparts. This premiere issue is one that has plenty of ground to cover with just as much exposition, but luckily, the demonic couple work well in conveying the information in an entertaining manner.

Of course, what would a good story be without a better twist and boy does Lucky Devils have a good one. It’s not hard to determine that Collar and Rake aren’t exactly being straight forward with Cam and Starr, but their lies are such that not many readers will utlimately be able to see through them until they’re shown in the issue’s final pages. The series is one that takes a U-turn in its final pages, demanding that the reader stay on board its train for the foreseeable future and said approach is definitely a strong one.

As mentioned earlier, exposition can be a tough, but sometimes necessary, storytelling element but luckily, Browne is the perfect foil for Soule’s script here. Ryan makes complete use of all the space given to him on each page, with Rake and Collar routinely blending into the panels themselves and intertwining their “explanations” with one another in different locations. The real testament to Browne’s skill is when we are finally given the opportunity to see what the demons’ underworld abode looks like.

Browne creates a hellish environment that is quite like our own for Collar and Rake, albeit with some truly demonic twists on the streets. It’s an ugly, congested locale that also feels lived in while not diving off the deep end in its absurdity. The artist also does an exceptional job of capturing the feelings of these ugly monstrosities in our hellish lovers, showing how they care for one another in the quiet moments before the hammer falls on their masterplan reveal.

Lucky Devils is a comic that hits the ground floor running, presenting a fiendishly clever premise via four main appealing characters. The new Image Comic has a big act to follow after Eight Billion Genies and this opening salvo does just that. Collar and Rake might just be the top demons of 2025 and I look forward to seeing what Soul and Browne have in store for the rest of the series.

Published by: Image Comics

On: January 8th, 2025

Written By: Charles Soule

Art by: Ryan Browne

Colors by: Ryan Browne & Kevin Knipstein

Letters by: Christopher Crank

The post The Lucky Devils #1 Review: A Hell of A Good Time appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Aquaman has a number of titles to his name, whether that be father, husband, superhero, or king. More often than not only one of those aspects are the focus at any one time those elements and more are all on display for Aquaman’s DC All In debut. The team of Jeremy Adams, John Timms, Rex Lokus, and Dave Sharpe look to encompass elements from each and every part of Arthur’s world, and while ambitious, Aquaman #1 effortlessly soars and delivers a grand adventure that no fan should miss.

Arthur’s sphere of influence is incredibly daunting, but Adams manages to boil each slice of Arthur’s life down to its core importance and then seeks to explore the attention that each of those slices demands from him. Adams has worked wonders with Hal Jordan in Green Lantern with a similar approach, and while they are very different characters, the air of relatability and humanization that has benefited Hal is already having an effect on Arthur.

Now, while the attention is exploring the many sides of Arthur Curry, that doesn’t mean the book lacks in the superhero action department, providing fans with epic clashes that showcase Aquaman’s new and improved skillset. Whether that’s against a god-like creature in the future or against a Kaiju-size water beast in the here and now, Timms, Lokus, and Sharpe bring an aura of elegance, style, and power to the King of the Seas that deserves immense praise. Speaking of powers, without going into major spoilers, Adams finds a way to imbue Arthur with new abilities while also creating more complexities within his inner circle, which creates new opportunities for character development as opposed to just being a flashy new power that will be forgotten about in six issues.

[RELATED: Absolute Superman Reveals Shocking Fate of Key DC Character]

A genuinely intriguing mystery is also key to making this feel unique amongst past Aquaman stories, and just like Arthur’s new powers, this mystery ties directly into the people and the things that Arthur holds dear. What does his life look like without those people, and what lengths will go to in the effort to bring them back? Well, we’ll get our answer soon, but as those final pages tease, the stakes are absurdly high, and we can’t wait to see how it all plays out from here.

Aquaman #1 is a stellar debut, moving in fresh directions and setting the stage for even bigger things to come. Issue #2 can’t get here soon enough.

Published By: DC Comics

On: January 8, 2025

Written By: Jeremy Adams

Art By: John Timms

Colors By: Rex Lokus

Letters By: Dave Sharpe

What did you think of Aquaman #1? You can talk all things comics with me on Bluesky @KnightofOA!

The post Aquaman #1 Review: A Grand Beginning to a Bold New Era appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Happy new comic book day, and happy new year! It’s another big week in the world of comics, and the ComicBook staff have come together to break down and review as many of the new releases from this week as possible. Now obviously this isn’t every single comic on stands, but we’re breaking down new releases from Marvel, DC, Image Comics, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse, Dynamite, Oni Press, IDW, Mad Cave Studios, DSTLRY, and more!

We’ve also carved out some additional space for two of this week’s biggest books in Deadpool/Wolverine #1 and Justice League: The Atom Project #1, so if our smaller reviews here pique your interest, make sure to check out the full reviews for a much more comprehensive analysis of those issues. As for ratings, we keep things simple with a whole or half number out of five, and you can check out some of our previous reviews right here. With all that said, let’s get to this week’s new comics!

DC

Absolute Superman #3
Writer Jason Aaron and artist Rafa Sandoval pull off the ultimate magic trick in Absolute Superman #3 by answering questions that the reader didn’t even know they wanted to learn about. Aaron manages to weave surprising subtlety throughout the story seen in the latest issue of the series, detailing specific elements about Superman’s character that really paints a full image of who he is in this world (and Sandoval follows suit of course with an image on the penultimate page that is not to be missed). Letterer Becca Carey also remains one of the secret weapons of Absolute Superman, making key components of the story concise, interesting, and unique. – Spencer Perry
Rating: 5 out of 5

Batgirl #3
The year of Cassandra Cain continues in Batgirl #3, and in what has become a tradition with this series, the team of Takeshi Miyazawa and Mike Spicer once again deliver some of the most cinematic superhero fights around. That includes a train fight that feels like it leaped from Mission Impossible, balancing an element of elegance with sheer brutality. Perhaps just as impressive is the work Tate Brombal has done with Lady Shiva, a character I’ve never had much of an attachment to. Similar to Cass’ own shifting pint of view though, that’s slowly starting to change as new layers of depth shine through in regards to Shiva’s impact on the world and her true feelings towards her daughter. Batgirl is hitting on all fronts and deserves not to be missed. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 4 out of 5

Batman #156
Batman #156 finally pulls the various threads of this arc together and reveals the real forces behind what’s going on Gotham — and the real foe that Batman has to face. While one may have guessed several clicks back that Riddler wasn’t exactly the mastermind of the situation, the reveal of the real forces behind bringing down Bruce Wayne, Batman, and trying to take Gotham is not only fascinating but oddly of the moment. There’s quite a bit of action here and it is very fitting for the climax of the arc. It makes for a great read and perhaps one of the strongest Batman issues in awhile. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 4 out of 5

Batman: Full Moon #3
Rodney Barnes’ continues to impress not only with his grasp of character dynamics in the DCU but careful plotting for what could easily be a story that goes off the rails. Barnes’ careful words would already be enough to love Batman Full Moon but when combined with Stevan Subic’s artwork it’s an unbeatable combination. Subic manages the staging of werewolf fights, giant monsters, magic, and gloomy gothic cities with ease and beauty. Those looking for a horror-tinged cape comic should really look no further. – Spencer Perry
Rating: 5 out of 5

Birds of Prey #17
Bird Undercover reaches its riveting conclusion in Birds of Prey #17, delivering the series’ patented wit and charm in the midst of what is pretty much an all-out brawl. Kelly Thompson is one of the best at weaving in memorable characters moments even when the action is at its highest, and while that is absolutely true of characters like Black Canary, Barda, and Batgirl, it’s wonderful to see Grace, Onyx, and Sin get some well deserved shine too. Now mind you, if you did want to simply see Black Canary kick absolute a**, Sami Basri, Adriano Lucas, Vicente Cifuentes, and Clayton Cowles will not let you down. There’s no massive hook for what’s next, but this series has shown time and time again it will deliver no matter what’s coming down the road. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 4 out of 5

DC Horror Presents: Creature Commandos #4
Dastmalchian is such a great fit for the Creature Commandos. His work on Count Crowley is such a perfect precursor to this series, shining spotlights on the fine lines between morality and what society deems acceptable, as well as the cold truths about where monsters are so often hiding. This series also acts as a wonderful compliment to its new on-screen counterpart. – Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 4 out of 5

JSA #3
The heroes of the Justice Society of America have been on their heels since the series started, but it feels like slowly but surely the tide is starting to turn. Jeff Lemire explores the JSA from several different angles, and the cracks are very much showing through, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The JSA has rarefy felt more like family, dysfunction and all, and some of the best moments can be found in the family chaos. Moments with Doctor Fate and Wildcat or Jade and Sand stand out in this regard, and while I could have used a bit less time with Hawkman, it looks as if it’s leading to some intriguing places, and will likely be worth the investment. Meanwhile Artist Diego Olortegui, colorist Luis Guerrero, and letterer Steve Wands are at the top of their game throughout, including a bombastic battle that can’t help but turn anyone into a Doctor Fate fan. JSA looks to be building to something epic, and the wait will likely be more than worth it. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Justice League: The Atom Project #1
Setting aside that the Justice League routinely deals with new superpowered threats, the idea of an ambitious new superpowered player with nothing to lose emerging is scary, at least to those who do have something to lose. Parrot and Ridley have tapped into an interesting thematic vein to mine. While the storytelling in this debut issue is somewhat lacking, the premise of Justice League: The Atom Project is compelling enough to allow the creators some time to cook in the hopes that future installments can deliver with more clarity and confidence. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3 out of 5 (Read The Full Review Here)

Poison Ivy #29
Pam finally gets to the bottom of who is behind the ecoterrorism cult that has centered her as their god and it’s a surprising figure, one that ties back to her past. While the reveal is a little anti-climactic, it serves as a vehicle for Pam to have to further examine her own past and her own plans with her new life after having been brought back by the Green. That might be the most interesting aspect of this issue, seeing Pam have to face a bit of her own self doubt and insecurity. It does feel a little like we are going in circles with the character and these repeated moments of questioning, but it also serves as a reminder that healing isn’t linear — and now the stakes are higher than ever. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 3 out of 5

Two-Face #2
Harvey Dent’s new series is really throwing me for a loop in terms of just how fun and solid the story has been so far, which is really saying something considering that we’re only two episodes in. As in the premiere issue, Two-Face is handling a wild court case involving Gotham’s super villains, though this time it’s a far more wild case involving a divorce featuring the Royal Flush Gang. Ward and Veras are creating one of DC’s best books at the moment with Harvey, and certainly one of the best books focusing on a supervillain that I’ve read in some time. Two-Face might not have the same popularity as a Joker or a Penguin (with the latter riding high on his MAX series) but he just might if more folks check out this excellent series. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Marvel

Cable: Love and Chrome #1
Nathan Christopher Dayspring Askani’son Summers is back in Cable: Love and Chrome #1, the debut issue of a new limited series from writer David Pepose, artist Mike Henderson, colorist Arif Prianto, and letterer Joe Sabino. Cable’s a complicated and often convoluted character to explain, no matter how many times Marvel tries to reset him. No such effort is made here, and instead, we get an opening sequence of Cable in action that does an admirable job of distilling the character down to his essence in a way that conveys what he’s all about without needing to retread his entire history in detail, all with brisk and fast-paced artwork and enjoyable action. The remainder of the issue then puts Cable in an unusual position, one of being accepted, even bonded with, over his unusual life and condition. Many Cable comics have focused on him being a soldier, a time traveler, or a hero, but fewer have framed him this emphatically as a person living with a chronic disease, and it’s a spin that feels fresh. There are still questions about how much the series will deliver on its promises — Will the new villain introduced in the “cold open” tie in satisfactorily to the larger story at hand? Can the comic follow through on this thematic framing of Cable in a meaningful way? — it’s off to a strong start and ripe with potential.
– Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Daredevil #17
Ahmed and Kuder return once again the Guardian Devil of Hell’s Kitchen, as Matt continues to face a supernatural threat worthy of his current closer relationship with the Catholic Church. Saladin does a great job of following the thoughts of Murdock here, with Daredevil fighting crime around town. The star of the show here is Aaron Kuder’s art, who captures both the more grounded and supernatural aspects of this latest story. Daredevil has a lot going for it right now, which is usually the case with any Daredevil arc as Murdock routinely seems to dodge so many bullets that other Marvel characters can’t. The series continues to be one of Marvel’s best. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 4 out of 5

Deadpool/Wolverine #1
Whenever Marvel brings together Deadpool and Wolverine, chaos always follows, and it’s almost always entertaining. With the MCU bringing that delightful chaos to the big screen in Deadpool & Wolverine, it seems like a perfect time for the duo to come back for another adventure in the comics that got this started in the first place, and that adventure is fittingly titled Deadpool/Wolverine #1. While the team-up sticks to a classic formula, there’s a welcome change in the dynamic between Deadpool and Wolverine throughout that shakes things up, and the artwork is sensational. All in all, no fan of either character will want to let this one pass them by. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 4 out of 5 (Read The full Review Here)

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #28
While a lot of big character team ups in these solo series feel forced and frustrating, Miles spending a little time in Wakanda has been a breath of fresh air. Getting him involved with Bast and the other ancient gods is a great way to put him in unexpected situations, making for moments we don’t often get to see. It’s a really fun adventure he’s on. – Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 4 out of 5

Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider #9
The latest issue of Ghost Spider’s adventure in the 616 sees the Black Tarantula mostly taking center stage as he fights against Mr. Fear. Of course, this doesn’t mean that Gwen is completely out of the picture as she struggles with the toxin coursing through her veins. This latest issue doesn’t break the wheel in many respects, feeling a tad lower than the issue before it, but still works well at showing the new environment that Spider-Gwen has made for herself, as well as hinting at the dangers facing her original reality. There are still some chinks in the armor of the Ghost Spider here but there’s more good than bad to be found. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 3 out of 5

The Avengers #22
Every so often a change of pace is needed, even in the world of superheroes, and The Avengers #22 feels like a welcome breath of fresh air. With everything being epic in scale with a team as powerful as this one, Jed MacKay finds a way to keep the sense of scale while narrowing the focus to something everyone happens to love, and that’s a heist. The opportunities this creates for rich exchanges between team members can’t be overstated, and MacKay takes advantage with some moment of gold between characters like Scarlet Witch and Storm, Iron Man and Captain Marvel, and more. The Oceans 11 vibes are brilliantly captured by Farid Karami, Federico Blee, and Cory Petit, leaning into the disguises and false pretenses of everything happening in the casino. The whole game within a game aspect is interesting as well, though has the potential to be the weaker element of all this. Only time will tell, but anytime you can involve Black Cat it’s a win, especially when MacKay is at the helm. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 4 out of 5

The Spectacular Spider-Men #11
The latest issue of the team-up book with Peter and Miles is one that is an absolute ball of fun to dive into. Throwing everything and the kitchen sink at the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Men, Weisman sets up a pint-sized adventure for the pair that also just so happens to introduce a new Spider-person to the roster. There’s a lot going on here but it’s all enjoyable. Unfortunately, Genolet and Randal on art here can sometimes be a little choppy in comparison to what we’ve seen before but it’s a minor bump in the road. If it weren’t for Ultimate Spider-Man, the Spider-Men would be the best Spidey book on the market.
– Evan Valentine
Rating: 4 out of 5

The Ultimates #8
In The Ultimates previously, Deniz Camp cast America Chavez as the youthful embodiment of the American dream, a dream that had been sullied, imprisoned, and oppressed into becoming the cornerstone of a much uglier reality. The Ultimates #8 reveals America’s origin story in a poignant way that deepens that symbolic history, revealing that the same forces that wielded oppression for power have stolen away a bright, optimistic, utopian future that America helped create and maintain. Juan Frigeri and Federico Blee cut loose in depicting this forgotten future of colorful and diverse heroes. Underneath it all, America’s resolve to not abandon those not fortunate enough to have benefited from her lost utopia speaks volumes about her character and her commitment to the Ultimates’ fight. All the while, Camp seeds in foreshadowing about terrible things on the horizon for The Ultimates, that their cause is seemingly guaranteed to fail and that one of their own may be responsible for their undoing and that of many others. The issue raises questions about whether it’s worth it to continue fighting in the face of seemingly assured failure, loss, and betrayal, setting the stage for an eventful second year of the new Marvel Ultimate Universe. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 4 out of 5

Werewolf By Night #6
Werewolf By Night continues to do what you might expect from this corner of the Marvel universe, but writer Jason Loo’s interests lend themselves more to gory spectacle than outright interesting narrative. On the plus side of that, artist Ton Lima and colorist Alex Sinclair get plenty of wild monsters and bizarre blood to infuse each panel with, however this leads to a story that meanders and which doesn’t hold much water for all the characters present. It’s at least nice to know Marvel is recognizing this part of their pantheon, even if the end result isn’t the best. – Spencer Perry
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

What If…? Galactus Transformed Hulk #1
While the wrap up of the issue is a little simplistic and wildly smoothes over the Avengers’ maltreatment of the Hulk, What If…? Galactus Transformed Hulk #1 is a pretty interesting spin on the general “what if” concept. Getting to explore Bruce’s vulnerability and insecurity and see how easily that can be manipulated makes for an interesting read. Given that this is a one-shot it was never going to get very deep, but the story as presented offers a lot of questions for fans to ponder. The design of Herald Bruce is also pretty interesting making this a fun read over all. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 3 out of 5

X-Factor #6
On the one hand, X-Factor feels like it’s hitting its stride as this first arc comes to its close. On the other, there’s still something off about the tone. Perhaps it is a sign of the times, but Mark Russell’s usually satirical tone feels somehow nihilistically cynical here as everybody comes off as some combination of morally compromised or utterly foolish. Bob Quinn’s artwork is sharp, and so are moments of dialogue that are genuinely worth a laugh. There’s even a nice character scene involving Pyro and Cecilia Reyes. All that said, the series has played so fast, loose, and recklessly with its characters and direction that it still feels a bit unmoored. Perhaps the changing of the guard and big reveal, such as it is, at the issue’s end is setting up a more cohesive and assured direction going forward, but with multiple tie-in issues on the horizon, that’s hard to say. Currently, X-Factor occupies that awkward space where it is enjoyable and competently put together enough to read, but it’s hard to shake the feeling that something is missing and simply off in the story. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3 out of 5

X-Force #7
X-Force #7 finally takes the focus off of Forge and Sage and shifts it to Askani and Captain Britain, who are attempting to recuperate and maintain Askani’s hastily reconstituted physical form within the picturesque confines of her mind. It’s a welcome change of pace, moving away from the crunchy sci-fi technobabble to something more grounded in emotion, which guest artist Jim Towe is well suited to depicting. It helps make the moment when it all goes to heck much more impactful, even if the new villain introduced in the last issue still feels ill-defined within the context of X-Force’s world. It makes for the strongest issue of X-Force yet, even if the series still feels like it’s in search of a firmer identity. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3 out of 5

OTHER PUBLISHERS

Fence Challengers: Sweet Sixteen #1
If you understand fencing, Fence Challengers: Sweet Sixteen #1 is fine. If you don’t or have no passing interesting in Fencing, it’s a long, tedious read that is essentially just a number of fencing bouts over and over as the main team we’re following works their way through the tournament. Sprinkled in with that are some personal bits about the various athletes, but much of the tension and drama is simply lost in the minutiae of the sport.
– Nicole Drum
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Rick and Morty: New Year, New Rick Special #1
The plot here feels true to Rick and Morty, from top to bottom. Every character gets a great story and plenty of time to shine, and all of those storylines feel plucked right from the show. If only the dialogue of the comic was on par with what the TV series delivers on a regular basis. That’s the one place this book is lacking, and it makes a bigger difference than you might expect. – Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 3 out of 5

What were your favorite comics of the week? You can talk all things comics with me on Bluesky @KnightofOA!

The post Comic Book Reviews for This Week: 1/1/2025 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Whenever Marvel brings together Deadpool and Wolverine, chaos always follows, and it’s almost always entertaining. With the MCU bringing that delightful chaos to the big screen in Deadpool & Wolverine, it seems like a perfect time for the duo to come back for another adventure in the comics that got this started in the first place, and that adventure is fittingly titled Deadpool/Wolverine #1. While the team-up sticks to a classic formula, there’s a welcome change in the dynamic between Deadpool and Wolverine throughout that shakes things up, and the artwork is sensational. All in all, no fan of either character will want to let this one pass them by.

Few seem as locked in with a character as writer Benjamin Percy, bringing out the classic elements fans love about Wolverine while not making it feel like a caricature. That’s especially true when characters like Maverick, Deadpool, and others that have extensive history with Logan are also in the picture. Speaking of Maverick, some of those scenes were my favorites of the entire issue, and it would seem we are poised to get even more of those moving forward.

Speaking of Logan, Joshua Cassara and Guru-eFX deliver a Logan for the ages here. Those classic (and brutal) Wolverine vibes are here in spades, and yet this still feels like a modern Logan in terms of style and approach. The grisly action hits you in the face, and paired with Joe Sabino’s brilliant lettering creates some truly visceral moments between the two frenemies. In fact, neither one even needs to be doing anything to catch your attention, as just watching Logan’s healing factor work its magic is oddly and disturbingly captivating.

This has been largely Wolverine-centric, but there are two people listed in the title, so let’s shift focus to good old Wade Wilson. As the book’s co-star, Deadpool is actually the character to make the biggest first impression, as the merc with a mouth gets an action packed sequence to himself early on. In keeping with Wade’s rep, it’s hilarious, resulting in a body being used like a missile.

Aside from one rather brief sequence later on, this is the only time we see Deadpool being his normal ridiculously jovial self. That might be a negative to some, but I actually found it a welcome change of pace. It shifted the dynamic between the two in a major way, with Logan having to reign Wade in as opposed to Logan being the uncontrollable berserker.

It also showcases Deadpool’s skillset and effectiveness in this chosen profession. Fans have seen Deadpool bumble his way through a mission and come out on top simply due to his ability to survive just about anything, but we don’t often get to see that skillset operating at peak efficiency. It’s a welcome change, and gives this familiar team-up just enough fresh energy to keep you hooked. Speaking of hooked, that ending is surely something all X-Men fans will want to pay attention to, and that complicates things in a major way moving forward.

Deadpool/Wolverine doesn’t shake the foundations of what a superhero team-up is supposed to be, but it’s also an example of bringing something new to a longtime formula and creating something delightful in the process, and fans will find plenty to enjoy if they decide to tag along.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Published by: Marvel Comics

Written by: Benjamin Percy

Art by: Joshua Cassara

Colors by: Guru-eFX

Letters by: Joe Sabino

What did you think of the issue? You can talk all things comics with me on Bluesky @KnightofOA!

The post Deadpool/Wolverine #1 Review – A Delightfully Chaotic Marvel Team-Up appeared first on ComicBook.com.

One of my least favorite tropes of comic book storytelling is when an issue opens in the middle of an action-packed sequence before flashing back to some time before the proverbial excrement hits the fan, backfilling all the information readers need to understand how the book’s characters got where they were on page one via a series of less exciting scenes. While I have seen the technique occasionally used effectively to build intrigue or suspense, it most often reads as a lack of confidence on the part of the creators, either in their ability to craft captivating scenes without violence or in the intended audience’s willingness to engage with such scenes. Justice League: The Atom Project #1 — written by Ryan Parrot and John Ridley, with art by Mike Perkins, colors by Adriano Lucas, and letters by Wes Abbot — employs this trope, poorly executed, and it reeks of a lack of confidence in both the storytelling and the audience, setting the stage for a middling debut of an ambitious spinoff series. 

The DC Universe metanarrative has recently been concerned with power and who wields it. The Absolute Power event, true to its name, saw all power — literally, as in the superpowers of various DC heroes — consolidated into the hands of one person, Amanda Waller. With Waller defeated, those comics have mostly returned to their original wielders. However, some have been scattered to random humans, a story playing out with superhuman melodrama in the pages of Justice League Unlimited. The most recent issue of that series set the stage for this spinoff, which sees the Atoms — both Ryan Choi and Ray Palmer — working on a solution to the crisis, in part by conducting painful experiments on Nathaniel Adam, also known as Captain Atom, one of the heroes whose powers did not return to their prior host. 

Justice League: The Atom Project #1 opens with Adam traveling. Readers don’t know his situation, yet his aggressively mundane outfit and face-obscuring cap suggest he’s on the run, fugitive style. The tension in the visuals, which contrast realistic linework with sharp but slightly surreal coloring, establishes the atmosphere of a man-hunt in progress. The scene ends with Palmer arriving with military backup to bring Adam in before flashing back three weeks to explain how they got to this point.

[Related: Justice League Unlimited #1 Review – Endless Possibilities]

The opening pages are not dynamic enough to give readers an adrenaline rush capable of carrying them through the more expository pages that follow. Events depicted are divorced from any context, making it hard to understand why it matters. Perhaps most frustrating is the issue fails to close the circle by the end: we do return to this opening scene to set the stage for what comes next, but the middle section of the issue doesn’t provide a clear connection for how the events of the flashback lead the scenes bookending the issue.

The middle flashback is more interested in contrasting the attitudes of the two Atoms toward handling the crisis and what that crisis represents. Focusing on Captain Atom and two atom-themed scientist-heroes, The Atom Project casts the idea of superpowers running amok in the DC Universe as a story of nuclear power on a geopolitical scale, who has it, and who shouldn’t be allowed to.

Where Choi tries to be empathetic to those who suddenly find themselves with unexpected new and dangerous abilities — as well as Adam, who is dealing with both a loss of his identity and the physical pain of the Atoms’ experimentation — Palmer brushes all of that aside, affecting a midcentury American can-do attitude that borders on sociopathy as he becomes singularly focused on the idea of some unknown new player coming into a brand new set of superpowers. Palmer is dedicated to restoring and maintaining the status quo to the point that he’s willing to lie to children and hunt a colleague to accomplish his goal, which feels like a statement about the relationship between science and the military-industrial complex.

But also, is Palmer right? Setting aside that the Justice League routinely deals with new superpowered threats, the idea of an ambitious new superpowered player with nothing to lose emerging is scary, at least to those who do have something to lose. Parrot and Ridley have tapped into an interesting thematic vein to mine. While the storytelling in this debut issue is somewhat lacking, the premise of Justice League: The Atom Project is compelling enough to allow the creators some time to cook in the hopes that future installments can deliver with more clarity and confidence. 

Published by DC

On January 1, 2025

Written by Ryan Parrot, John Ridley

Art by Mike Perkins

Colors by: Adriano Lucas

Letters by: Wes Abbot

The post Justice League: The Atom Project #1 Review: A New Atomic Age in the DC Universe appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Happy new comic book day! It’s another major week in comics, and the ComicBook staff have come together to break down and review as many of the big comics releasing this week as possible. Now obviously this isn’t every single comic on stands, but we’re breaking down new releases from Marvel, DC, Image Comics, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse, Dynamite, Oni Press, IDW, Mad Cave Studios, DSTLRY, and more!

We’ve also carved out some additional space for two of this week’s biggest books in Dust to Dust #1 and Hellhunters #1, so if our smaller reviews here pique your interest, make sure to check out the full reviews for a much more comprehensive analysis of those issues. As for ratings, we keep things simple with a whole or half number out of five, and you can check out some of our previous reviews right here. With all that said, let’s get to this week’s new comics!

DC

Absolute Wonder Woman #3
Absolute Wonder Woman #3 might have set a new standard for the series and if you’ve read the first two issues, you know how grand a statement that is. It’s warranted though, as writer Kelly Thompson, artist Hayden Sherman, colorist Jordie Bellaire, and letterer Becca Carey are able to create a truly vivid picture of who Diana is, how others view her, and the lengths she will go to in order to give others hope, and every panel somehow adds to that picture in some small but meaningful way. This is also the most we’ve seen of Diana in action in the present, and the team takes full advantage, showing off her new skillset with some unexpected twists along the way. Questions are answered and the stakes are set ever higher, but perhaps most impressive is how Absolute Wonder Woman keeps clearing its own high bar every single month. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 5 out of 5

Action Comics #1081
Action Comics #1081 wraps up the Phantom Zone conflict but while the story concludes, it almost feels a little too tidy. After setting up Xa-Du and the Zoners as genuine threats, the story closes with a bit of trickery on the part of Superman and his allies then sorts things out with hope for redemption because of his actions. Even Mon-El’s part of the story has a little bit of a clean conclusion — though I hope that they will revisit his story in the future. As for the Supergirl story, it concludes as well but in a way that ends the adventure and still leaves a lot of questions. It’s still a little unclear exactly what the story was about, though it’s clear it’s meant to be a lesson to Kara about Krypton. Overall, it’s been a fun 12 week run with these stories, but their ends aren’t quite as epic as they could have been.
– Nicole Drum
Rating: 3 out of 5

Batman: Brave and the Bold #20
Batman: Brave and the Bold #20 has 4 strong stories. While two of them are continuations — Man’s Underworld Part 2 and Hive Mind Part 2, it’s The Price and The Tattoo that might be the standouts. The Price brings Bat-Mite and Zatanna into things in a charming, funny, and ultimately very interesting story while in The Tattoo, Simone Di Meo does a fantastic job of exploring Bruce’s anxiety. Just about everything works in this issue with these stories and it’s really nice to see. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Batman The Long Halloween: The Last Halloween #4
Batman The Long Halloween: The Last Halloween #4 departs just a little from the series thus far to focus more on Robin, his trauma, and the lengths he will go to to save his adopted father after having endured so much loss. Timed at the Christmas season, it’s actually a really lovey story that still has action — and continues the mystery of what exactly is going on in Gotham — while focusing on family. We also get a chance to see Robin really shine and that’s great. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 4 out of 5

Detective Comics #1092
Detective Comics #1092 continues the story of an old friend offering Bruce Wayne a form of eternal youth with the shocking revelation that there may be nefarious happenings behind the scenes of Sangraal. The story treads the line between falling into the familiar trope of Bruce Wayne’s resurfaced friend being Batman’s old enemy (though whether that’s exactly the case remains to be seen) and a thematic look at how Bruce and Scarlett handled their respective childhood traumas. Mikel Janin uses varied line weights — heavier on the outside, lighter for the inner details — to allow the silhouette outlines of his loosely muscular figures (Janin draws Batman like an old-school wrestler or strongman rather than a sculpted bodybuilder) to appear bold on the page. His colors help set the mood of the various locations visited throughout the story, from the luminous, clinical clean of Scarlett’s lab to the violent warmth of the scene of a crime bathed in police lights, made all the more dramatic by panels drawn at extremely low angles to emphasize the Dynamic Duo’s presence and actions. Detective Comics #1092 lacks the central big swing that the first two installments of Janin and Tom Taylor’s run had — no big retcon or ponderous conversation between Batman and Superman — but that mostly means there’s no flashpoint to overshadow the strong art, crisp dialogue, and all around stellar storytelling throughout, making this the strongest installment of “Mercy of the Father” thus far. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 4 out of 5

Green Arrow #18
The opening of Green Arrow #19 is one of the most striking first few pages of a comic I’ve encountered in some time. In flashback, time dilates as groceries fall down the panel tiers as a mother rushes to the side of her prone child. It’s a page that conveys that these are the seconds that changed a woman’s life. While the entire creative team contributes to the magic of this moment — the bag of sundries falling with perfect pace and weight down the page — the addition of the lettering to the bag’s silhouette, running through the book’s credits and culminating in the series’ logo, gives it the feeling of a cinematic opening. Truly, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou’s lettering stands out for all the right reasons throughout the issue, most poignantly in the way the tails of the word balloons containing the sickened child’s fading breath reach inside the mouth, conveying how the utterances are escaping from the boy rather than projecting forth, and again in the violent, cornering, claustrophobic effect of a dog’s loud barking in a tense later moment. Chris Condon writes Oliver Queen with the correct amount of self-righteous swagger. His coming up short of saving the day by something as simple as there being “no shot” goes grounds GA in the creative team’s noirish tale, with its conflicting morals and human stakes. The book’s lush, velvety colors sell the atmosphere and inventive visual angles that make even a simple conversation in a car a compellingly dynamic scene. The new Green Arrow run is an example of what’s possible, and what talented creators with a firm vision for a fan-favorite character can do when operating at their best. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 5 out of 5

Harley Quinn #46
Harley Quinn enjoying a fine smoothie from an upscale shop in the formerly rundown but recently gentrified neighborhood of Gotham that she has sworn to protect and restore authenticity to before picking up a brick and throwing it through that same shop’s window is a nice encapsulation of the dissonance that often takes over when discussing these matters in fiction. Many find it hard to deny that we individually enjoy having fine establishments and amenities nearby while also espousing distaste for the loss of local flavor that tends to be the tradeoff for such boons (which is a reductive way to discuss what is often the pricing out of many people from their homes, but this comic is more than content dealing with these topics at a surface level). The current run of Harley Quinn does a good job of playing in the distance between those two warring but often jointly held perspectives. This issue delivers another delightfully over-the-top villain of the month, a truck man serving as the avatar of every Amazon delivery van that’s ever existed. The visuals are appropriately exaggerated, with the thick linework giving everything a cartoon sensibility, while sometimes those lines can make a page feel crowded or too busy when a lot is happening — Harley’s moped incident, in particular, feels indistinct in its sequencing. For the most part, though, while Harley Quinn isn’t doing much serious probing of the themes at hand — which usually fade into the background once the villain shows up and the fighting begins — it’s got enough personality and fun supporting characters to be a joyous read month-to-month. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Justice League Unlimited #2
Justice League Unlimited has embraced the potential of its premise and is already delivering some delightfully different team-ups, including the team-up we didn’t know we all needed in Martian Manhunter and Dr. Occult. If you had told me that was a team-up happening in 2024 I might not have believed you, but here we are, and it’s fantastic. Mark Waid just gets it, and both Manhunter and Dr. Occult benefit from the time and opportunity, though that’s especially true of Manhunter, who plays a far different role in all of this than initially assumed. Other memorable moments populate the issue as well, and these team-ups (like Mary Marvel and Wonder Woman) are benefited by a truly disturbing set of enemies, and all of this is brought brilliantly to life by artist Dan Mora, colorist Tamra Bonvillain, and letterer Ariana Maher. Justice League Unlimited continues to live up to its billing in every way. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 5 out of 5

Metamorpho: The Element Man #1
Metamorpho: The Element Man is not only off to a strong start but is bringing something to comic book stands (and the DCU as a whole) that readers are not getting anywhere else. It’s a comic series that is prioritizing fun alongside a great story, and it’s been created with confidence. Newcomers and fans of the title hero can approach this one the same level, with no knowledge required to pick up and enjoy. Perhaps the biggest point of interest for comic readers is that the new series lends also itself to standing alongside Lieber’s other notable works like The Superior Foes of Spider-Man and Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen; so fans of those specific works should look no further if they’re after something that’s just as fun to read. – Spencer Perry
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Power Girl #16
Power Girl and Ejecta remain perfect counters for one another. The action between them flips between being extremely crisp and frustratingly muddled, but the pace and energy never slow down. There’s a lot left for this rivalry and I hope we get to see their next chapter sooner rather than later. – Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 4 out of 5

Superman #21
Even a superpowered relationship needs a date night here and there, though leave it to Superman and Superwoman to have one of the most chaotic ones on record. Joshua Williamson balances a host of various story threads and moves almost all of them forward in some small way through interludes while the main focus remains on Clark and Lois. I say Clark and Lois purposefully, as while they are mostly in costume throughout the issue, the prevailing heart of the story is clearly two individuals who truly adore each other as they attempt to deal with the stakes and danger that accompany their chosen superhero profession. Dan Mora, Alejandro Sanchez, and Ariana Maher bring moments both small and grand to life beautifully throughout, whether that’s on the moon, in the midst of a full scale war, or heartbreaks of the past. Simply put, Superman has rarely been better, and deserves a spot in your regular rotation. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 5 out of 5

Marvel

Amazing Spider-Man #64
There’s more pathos to the Justina Ireland-scripted issues of “The 8 Deaths of Spider-Man” than in the more buoyant and flippant issues penned by Joe Kelly. In The Amazing Spider-Man #64, the growing number and scale of Peter Parker’s responsibilities to superhero-grade anxiety. That is a fitting thematic undercurrent when facing off against Scions that stand for inevitable misfortunes in life, such as pain or death. The issue’s art leans a bit too heavily in that direction, its smudgy coloring evocative of a soft camera filter, blunting some of the sharpness of the artwork. Despite the strong theme, there are structural issues with the storytelling. It ends with Spider-Man battling the next of Cytorrak’s scions, as has been the story’s episodic structure, but the ease with which Spider-Man claims victory — driven home by a ramping up of panel size into a muddy, unfocused two-page spread — says more about the scion than Spidey, which would be fine if said scion had shown any signs of depth or staying power beyond a disposal monthly villain. He has not, which means that the issue contains worthwhile scenes, the story ultimately concludes with a feeling of letdown.
– Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3 out of 5

Blade: Red Band #3
In the latest issue of this story of the Daywalker, we learn a bit more about the “big bad” that Eric Brooks is having to deal with post-Blood Hunt. When it comes to the latest vampiric threat, there is an interesting twist injected into the method that this creature of the night is undertaking. However, despite this compelling wrinkle, the same complaints I had for the first two issues remain here. Not enough time is ever really given to dive further into Blade’s character, especially considering what took place in the recent comic book crossover. Red Band doesn’t feel as extreme as it could be in some respects and doesn’t feel as intimate as it could be in others. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Exceptional X-Men
Exceptional X-Men has quickly become one of my favorite corners of the X-Men world, and issue #4 cements its top tier status. Writer Eve L. Ewing’s investment in new recruit like Melee, Axo, and Bronze gives the series a bolt of fresh energy as well as a grounded point of view free of most continuity barriers. Issue #4 specifically narrows the focus to Bronze, and the bigger personalities of White Queen and Iceman make for a wonderful contrast. While that’s happening, the mystery surrounding Kate’s decision to split off from everyone comes further into view, adding a welcome element of mystery to an already compelling recipe. Artist Carmen Carnero and colorist Nolan Woodard bring so much depth and personality to Bronze and the rest of the cast throughout the issue, and while they also can hit hard with epic action, they also known how to land the critical emotional beats that can’t help but keep you hooked on what happens next. This team might be one of the newest on the X-Men block, but it’s also becoming one of the best. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Hellhunters
World War 2 is always a fun time for Marvel’s super heroes, which makes sense considering characters like Captain America, Bucky, and Nick Fury were born as a result of the conflict. With teams like the Invaders and the Howling Commandos normally being the “go to” examples of super heroes fighting against Adolf Hitler’s forces, Marvel Comics is looking to branch out with a new World War 2 fighting force unlike anything seen before. In the premiere issue, we see the early formation of these Hellhunters, but do we also get a worthy opening salvo for this new Marvel band of heroes? – Evan Valentine
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (Read the full review here)

Iron Man #3
Spencer Ackerman’s new take on the Iron Avenger is one that was able to balance the high octane fun and insanity of the Marvel Universe in some unexpected ways, and this third issue is perhaps the best example of that so far. Blending a fight worthy of all things Iron Man and Tony Stark’s fight in a boardroom that is unlike any boardroom ever seen makes for some hilarious and fantastic yarn-spinning. Julius Ohta solidly captures the wild environments and action necessary for Tony Stark’s current wild ride. While it is a little disheartening to see the Stark-Roxxon War seemingly wrapped up in a neat little package here, the issue still makes for a fantastic ride in Tony’s latest adventures. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 4 out of 5

Mystique #3
Mystique might lack some focus here and there, but the story at its center remains compelling throughout the third issue. The characters of Fury and Mystique are such a no-brainer combination for a game of cat-and-mouse, and it would be tough to make a story about this duo uninteresting. – Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 3 out of 5

Rogue Sun #24
Rogue Sun is able to pull off the difficult trick of bringing focus to both the past and the present in the same issue, with both elements bringing some weight and excitement to the story. The past influences the present and sets the entire saga up for the future, all in one standard sized issue. This is how it’s done. – Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 4 out of 5

Timeslide #1
Honestly, when it comes to Marvel using comics to hint at what’s to come in their universe, Timeslide makes for one of the more ingenious ways of laying out the breadcrumbs. Creating an X-Men story that features some of the biggest time traveling members of the team joining forces to take down a unique threat works well in not only hinting at the future but showing what some mutants have been up to in the post-Krakoa era. Bishop and Cable work well bouncing off one another, even though there is a part of me that wishes they would reference when they were once bitter enemies trading blows in the timestream. If you’re a fan of any of these X-Men, or want a glimpse at what’s to come in the Marvel Comics Universe, Timeslide if worth your time. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 4 out of 5

Ultimate Black Panther #11
A recurring complaint I’ve hard about Ultimate Black Panther is that it is both not too different from a regular Black Panther comic, but also that series writer Bryan Hill seems to spin his storytelling wheels to make sure all the pieces are in the right place. Ultimate Black Panther #11 could very nearly fall into this category but this issue feels like the night before a battle, an instance where the calmness and the placing of the pieces are not only necessary but fundamental to the larger story. Carlos Nieto steps in as a guest artist for the latest issue (with series regular colorist David Curiel still credited) and though it largely fits in with the work by Stefano Caselli, some awkward anatomy certainly stands out.
– Spencer Perry
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

West Coast Avengers #2
West Coast Avengers #2 is a solid second outing for the newly assembled iteration of Earth’s Mightiest B-Team. That Rhodey and Tony are trying to rehabilitate villains with the group helps give this iteration of the team a distinct identity. However, while it’s an enjoyable read, some issues pop up. Gerry Duggan has a light, snappy, often humorous tone. However, as tends to be the case with other writers of a similar style, he’s coming close to making everyone funny in the same ways, robbing each character of their distinct identities. Visually, where the previous issue had a sub-bleached atmosphere, the visuals don’t change drastically enough to suit the nighttime raid that is the core action of the story, with it all looking overlit and lacking dramatic shadows and lighting. There are also issues with the layouts, which use too few panels to convey the action meaningfully, instead feeling more like glossing over the details. Despite the uneven visuals, the relatively low stakes (so far) and oddball cast help maintain West Coast Avengers’ charm, making it feel like a spiritual successor to Duggan’s run on Marauders. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

X-Men #9
The latest X-Men crossover, and the first post-Krakoa, reaches structural collapse in X-Men #9. Multiple artists contribute to the issue, creating a depthless mess of characters committing vaguely defined acts of violence seemingly devoid of character or meaning. What actual plotting exists retreads old ground as present-day Cyclops and Rogue do their best impersonation of 2011’s Cyclops and Wolverine, relitigating the merits of Xavier’s dream, their old teacher’s influence, and what fighting for a better world for mutants looks like. It’s a conversation that might be interesting if it at all took into account everything the X-Men have been through over the past decade and some change, but the “Raid on Graymalkin” writers seem so blindingly intent on creating a storyline that is accessible to readers who checked out of the Krakoan age that they’re willing to simply regurgitate the plot of an older event free of meaningful new wrinkles. The result is a messy, hollow endeavor soaked in nostalgia for an era that resonated for reasons beyond this current direction’s grasp. If the issue’s ending doesn’t make your eyes roll, you’re simply operating on a different wavelength than I am. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 1.5 out of 5

Image Comics

Dust to Dust #1
Dust to Dust #1 works on every level. While the series will turn into a mystery thriller, the first issue doesn’t rely on that premise to tell a good story and get the reader hooked. Instead, it’s the humanity of the characters and the challenges facing them from both without in a Great Depression/Dust Bowl setting and within that make this such a strong kickoff. Pair that with the setting of a time in American history that perhaps doesn’t get enough attention in fiction and entertainment and the issue feels like the making of an incredible series. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 5 out of 5 (Read the full review here)

Geiger #9
Geiger #9 is almost all action, with Geiger facing off with the new King in a battle that threatens to endanger the entire town Geiger has come across as well as some complicated impacts on Geiger himself. But while the action is good and we get the heartfelt near-sacrifice of a friend, it’s Geiger’s message for the adults in the town that really stands out. It’s moments of humanity that make this such an interesting title and this issue in particular — the advice of a grieving father to others about how their attempts to protect may actually be harmful — really hits that chord. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 4 out of 5

G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #312
Larry Hama offers two scenes with two different outcomes, each built on the clash of modern versus antiquated warfare. Where Destro out-techs the Cobra forces standing in his way, the G.I. Joe ninja squad successfully takes on all comers despite seemingly being outgunned on every level. But this issue is Destro’s, a fast-paced read that sees the man in the chrome mask blowing through Springfield like a force of nature. If anyone can convey that sensibility through comic book visuals it’s Chris Mooneyham and Francesco Segala, whose artwork oozes drama and fiery atmosphere through lighting choices, layered layouts, and a textured approach to coloring. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #312 is over before you know it, but that’s because it’s such a thrilling read, especially as the first major player in this complex game of over-the-top intrigue finally falls. If you’re looking for gritty, action-packed comics, look no further than G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. Larry Hama and his collaborators have been delivering for years. They show no signs of slowing down now. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Redcoat #8
Simon Pure has stumbled into quite the problem in the latest issue of Redcoat. Geoff Johns and Bryan Hitch remain at the top of their game here, portraying the titular character as he fights against a family that holds a lot in common with Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s collective. It make for a fun and breezy one-off that ultimately is lacking in some of the mystic time-traveling motif the series has been known for some time, minus the final pages. So far, Redcoat has been free to operate outside of the other titles of the Ghost Machine line though it seems as though this might be coming to an end. There’s plenty to enjoy here in this one-off issue, though, this story is one that doesn’t feel like a must read to the overall arc so it’s fair to keep that in mind to boot. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Void Rivals #15
There remains a lot happening in the pages of Void Rivals and unfortunately, the sheer number of moving pieces continues to make this series the weakest of the Energon Universe. Not to say that there isn’t fun to be had here when it comes to following a rag tag collection of Transformers and GI Joe favorites, but the space-faring adventure doesn’t feel as though it gels as well as it should. Kirkman’s universe building alongside Lorenzo De Felici’s art accomplishes their tasks but it never manages to hit the same high bar that has made this new Skybound universe so appealing. If you’re an absolutist for all things Energon, this makes for a strong enough showing but those not caught up might find themselves lost in the sauce. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 3 out of 5

The post Comic Book Reviews for This Week: 12/26/2024 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

World War 2 is always a fun time for Marvel’s super heroes, which makes sense considering characters like Captain America, Bucky, and Nick Fury were born as a result of the conflict. With teams like the Invaders and the Howling Commandos normally being the “go to” examples of super heroes fighting against Adolf Hitler’s forces, Marvel Comics is looking to branch out with a new World War 2 fighting force unlike anything seen before. In the premiere issue, we see the early formation of these Hellhunters, but do we also get a worthy opening salvo for this new Marvel band of heroes?

Since Hellhunters is a series that focuses on Marvel’s old and new heroes uniting under a supernatural banner, it makes sense that the series would have a definitive horror theme. Our issue begins with a band of German forces wandering into a bewitched wood that holds secrets and madness unique to this cursed locale, setting the stage for a threat that will unite this ragtag band of oddballs. The series works as both an origin story for the Hellhunters themselves and for “Ghost Rider ’44”, a new take on the Spirit of Vengeance who recently made his eruptive debut in the pages of The Incredible Hulk. Luckily, Hellhunters delivers on its unique blend of horror and action for its preliminary adventure.

Phillip Kennedy Johnson is the perfect choice to helm the writing responsibilities for this series, being the creative mind responsible for WW 2’s Spirit of Vengeance. Having honed a fantastic level of horror to his recent take on Bruce Banner, Johnson brings that same spirit here in creating creepy creatures that add a new level of danger to the worldwide conflict. The opening intro with a band of on the run Nazis and a demon that takes the form of what I can only describe as a half-rotted horse chained to a tree works well at giving readers a taste of what they’re in for.

Johnson has a good handle of the war itself when it comes to both sides of the equation, and while I wish we had more time to really get to know this past Spirit of Vengeance, Sal Romero, what we get is a fun introduction. It’s clear that the creative team on Hellhunters is attempting to pack a lot into its opening issue, especially considering half the team has yet to be assembled, and for the most part, the creators are able to keep the plates spinning in introducing this supernatural side of the past Marvel Universe.

To start, the issue introduces not just the Ghost Rider of 1944, but also has Nick Fury entering the scene alongside the “Soldier Supreme” and the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s own Peggy Carter to round out the initial Hellhunters. While the grouping of these characters happens a tad too quickly for my liking, readers get the gist of the characters at play here. Alongside the horror that is inherent in the writing and art, it’s clear that the creative team is having an absolute ball with the themes and elements at work in this supernatural romp and that feeling is infectious.

On the art side, Adam Gorham is an excellent pick when it comes to depicting both the real-life, rough aesthetic of the World War 2 battlefield and the horrific supernatural threats that burst their way onto the scene. The old adage of “the devil is in the details” is one that rings true here especially, as you can spot quite a few when examining Gorham’s panels. Hellhunters is a series that excels in the wildness of its premise and Gorham feels like a natural pick in depicting this new side of Marvel’s second World War.

Hellhunters isn’t the perfect introduction for a Marvel comic but it’s a darn good one. There’s far more things to enjoy in this premiere issue than to nitpick and I’m looking forward to seeing how the limited series stretches its legs into the supernatural underbelly of this World War 2-era superhero story.

Published by: Marvel Comics

On: December 25th, 2024

Written by: Phillip Kennedy Johnson

Art by: Adam Gorham

Colors by: Frank Martin

Letters by: VC Travis Lanham

Cover by: Jonas Scharf

The post Hellhunters #1 Review: A Supernatural World War 2 Romp appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Of all of the periods of American history that people talk about and explore through fiction, one that is simultaneously the least represented and perhaps most fascinating is the Dust Bowl era of the Great Depression. The result of numerous factors — including severe drought and failure to use farming methods to prevent wind erosion — the Dust Bowl decimated the Great Plains across three waves starting in 1934 and, in turn led to many families abandoning their homesteads to head West seeking work. A bleak time in history, the era saw many suffer financial ruin and exposed darker realities, including class inequality.  It’s that setting that Image Comics’ new series Dust to Dust occupies as it sets up a murder mystery of sorts and while the landscape may be dry, Dust to Dust #1 is anything but.

Written by J.G. Jones and Phil Bram along with art by Jones, Dust to Dust #1 introduces us to Sheriff Meadows, the lawman for the town of New Hope in Cimarron Count, Oklahoma in 1935. The town and its people are in dire shape thanks to the drought and right out of the gate, we get an idea of just how bad it is. The Olsen family is packing up what little they own to head away to California hoping for a better life. Turns out, businessman Hillard, who it is soon revealed seems to own the whole town, had been continuing to push farmers to drill for water, but each attempt was fruitless. Meanwhile, in town Meadows meets Sara Grange, a stringer photographer from Chicago who is taking pictures of the situation, looking for the next big story.

While the book is billed as a story in which a serial killer stalks the small town, the first issue doesn’t really dig too much into that. Instead, we’re getting the lay of the land and it’s an excellent narrative and visual strategy for Jones and Bram. There are a lot of little clues in the story that are set up by establishing the characters and the setting. Early on, we see the Olsen’s young son and dog come across suspicious bones near the drilling, though it’s not made clear just yet what exactly that bone is, human or animal.  We also get a very clear picture of the inequity in the town when Hillard is enraged upon learning that the Olsens pulled up to head West. Turns out, Hillard — like nearly everyone in the town — owes him money and the heartless Hillard doesn’t seem to care that people are struggling. There’s even a moment in the center of town where another farmstead is being sold at auction — and seemingly a wealthy outsider is seeking to profit on the misfortune of others, which nearly starts a riot among the citizens. All of this on a backdrop of an environment that itself is hostile as the issue closes with another violent dust storm on the horizon that could very much endanger the town and the Olsens on the road.

[RELATED: Freddie the Fix #1 Review: Old Tropes, No Horror]

While the story doesn’t fully drop us into the serial killer of it all just yet, it’s a fantastic issue just the same. By giving the story a full issue to set the stage, it allows for readers to settle in and even identify with the characters. There’s something distinctly human about the Olsen’s struggle and Meadows’ impossible position trying to maintain order and dignity in the dying town while simultaneously having to deal with what is essentially a corporate overlord completely removed from humanity and decency by his own greed. The story may be set in a different era, but the challenges and even potential doom that the characters face in these hard times is something reader will be able to richly understand. Visually, the issue works incredibly well due to not only the very realistic art style, but the absence of color. Jones isn’t working in black and white here, but rather shades of brown and beige, visually mimicking the dry, desolate geography of the Dust Bowl at that time. Even at that, though, the contrast between dark and light is a little unsettling as this isn’t a book that feels grimy — and given that the book will soon descend into a serial killer mystery, that lightness feels just a touch disorienting.

Overall, Dust to Dust #1 works on every level. While the series will turn into a mystery thriller, the first issue doesn’t rely on that premise to tell a good story and get the reader hooked. Instead, it’s the humanity of the characters and the challenges facing them from both without and within that make this such a strong kickoff. Pair that with the setting of a time in American history that perhaps doesn’t get enough attention in fiction and entertainment and the issue feels like the making of an incredible series.

Published by: Image Comics

On: December 25, 2024

Written by: JG Jones and Phil Bram

Art by: JG Jones

Letters by: Jackie Marzan

The post Dust to Dust #1 Review: A Creepy, Slow Burn Depression Era Mystery appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Trying to follow Jack Kirby’s work on the Fourth World is an unenviable task for any comics creator. While there have been a couple of success stories in that regard, many more creators have only dashed themselves against the Source Wall in their attempt to harness Kirby’s signature creative crackle. However, Ram V is a writer with experience shaping stories around gods and legends — Rare Flavours, These Savage Shores, and The Many Deaths of Laila Starr all speak to his ability to human meaning beings that are larger than life or of a monstrous nature. This is why those familiar with V’s work who might otherwise feel trepidatious met the news of his reteaming with Evan Cagle and Francesco Segala, his artistic collaborators on Dawnrunner, with anticipation (and it only took the first preview pages of Cagle and Segala’s artwork to get most everyone else to the same place). Of course, high expectations come with a tyranny of all their own, but one that the fine craft and thematic richness of The New Gods #1 quickly overthrow.

The New Gods is a somewhat loaded title in this iteration. All that is new eventually becomes old; this is the fate facing the gods of New Genesis and Apokolips. Darkseid’s death has thrown off the cosmic balance of good and evil in the DC Universe, and a moral dualism abhors a vacuum as much as anything. A newer god is about to emerge, potentially relegating the New Gods to the same fate as those old gods that preceded them, leaving Highfather and his kin — adopted and otherwise — to act.

The New Gods #1 is upfront about the scale of its story, beginning with the prologue telling of the death of a god named Amaxazu, illustrated beautifully in four pages by guest artist Jorge Fornés, who plays lightly with the form by having the gutter shatter as the god is incinerated, the message being that we are playing at the edge of creation and the very form that this fictional universe has taken is at stake. With Cagle taking the reigns, the rest of the issue has an energetic and modern grandeur. New Genesis looks billowy and heavenly, as if the entire planet is on top of a mountain, basking in the clouds, and similar formal playfulness follows in instances such as Orion’s name taking on an almost tangible presence within a panel of his introduction.

[RELATED: Ram V’s All In New Gods are Epic, Relatable, and Incredibly Messy]

While the epic, mythological nature of the story is quickly established, an emotional core emerges as well. Highfather has a task, a foul deed not meant for the pure gods born of New Genesis, like ever-loyal Lightray. Instead, it falls to Orion, adopted by Highfather but born to Darkseid. That Highfather trusts Orion to do this task unquestioningly says something subtly damning about their relationship. Orion quickly turns to Mister Miracle, Highfather’s trueborn son, for aid, which says something subtly powerful about how the person he wishes he was is vastly different from the person Highfather sees him as, and thus must be.

If The New Gods #1 contains a flaw, it’s that it moves too fast. The weight of the story at hand feels like it deserves to be pondered over, and more time should be spent on the conversations between these characters, the decisions being made, the eons of history being drawn upon. Perhaps it’s a side effect of the prolonged intro, but despite this, there’s still a vast thematic density to draw upon. It’s a generational story, with Highfather casting his sons against and alongside one another, in a conflict that resonates on multiple levels as the DC cosmology seems prepared to move on to its next generation. Morality, family bonds, and eschatology are all stirred into the mix of The New Gods, with a modern flavoring that brings to mind another great Kirby revisit in recent years, Kieron Gillen and Esad Ribic’s work on Eternals.

The New Gods #1 delivers a godly debut, bringing a gorgeous look and fresh ideas to Kirby’s timeless mythology. Ram V and Evan Cagle seem poised to shake DC’s heavens, and readers will be eager to see what falls from the skies.

Published by DC

On December 18, 2024

Written by Ram V

Art by Evan Cagle 

Colors by: Francesco Segala

Letters by: Tom Napolitano

The post The New Gods #1 Review: Shaking the Heavens of the DC Universe appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Happy new comic book day! It’s another major week in comics, and the ComicBook staff have come together to break down and review as many of the big comics releasing this week as possible. Now obviously this isn’t every single comic on stands, but we’re breaking down new releases from Marvel, DC, Image Comics, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse, Dynamite, Oni Press, IDW, Mad Cave Studios, DSTLRY, and more!

We’ve also carved out some additional space for two of this week’s biggest books in Freddie The Fix #1 and TVA #1, so if our smaller reviews here pique your interest, make sure to check out the full review for a much more comprehensive analysis of those issues. As for ratings, we keep things simple with a whole or half number out of five, and you can check out some of our previous reviews right here. With all that said, let’s get to this week’s new comics!

DC

Absolute Batman #3
Absolute Batman #3 continues to establish that this isn’t the Batman DC fans know while also deepening a conflict that makes this take on Gotham extremely interesting. The issue delves into Bruce’s history, specifically with a young Selina Kyle, while also establishing just how big and pervasive the threat the Party Animals — and Black Mask — actually are. Of particular interest is how Snyder creates completely new versions of both Alfred and Batman as the story continues, something that is very evident in the advice Alfred gives Batman and in a surprising choice that Batman makes in the name of potentially protecting those he loves. It’s a little bit of a slower issue, but very fascinating and makes for an interesting window into the psyche of Batman. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 4 out of 5

Action Comics #1080
Action Comics #1080 sees Superman and his allies on a bit of cleanup duty when it comes to dealing with the Phantom Zoners and the issue is structured, largely, with different pairings going after differing escapees. It makes for an issue of action even as it explains a bit of the complicated situation they are in — so many escapees, limited resources, and Mon-El in dire straights. But while that is fun to read, the issue is a bit weaker than previous entries, particularly with the twist at the end that feels a bit cliche. Overall, the issue feels very much like a bridge to get us to the next, major part of the arc and while it’s by no means bad, it also just doesn’t quite live up to previous issues. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 3 out of 5

Batman and Robin: Year One #3
Batman and Robin: Year One #3 dispenses with some of the cheesy moments of dialogue we’ve seen in previous issues and instead does a lot of work setting up the threat that Batman and Robin are dealing with — while also setting in motion a high-stakes fight with the Maroni crime family and a surprising turn from Two-Face. There is also a bit of humor in Bruce’s lack of parental skills as well as a truly tense moment where we see Robin’s inexperience in full and what it means with real stakes for everyone involved. This might be the best issue of the run yet. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 4 out of 5

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #34
One of the benefits of Mark Waid’s take on earlier stories featuring the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel is to further explore stories that don’t necessarily have Clark and Bruce front and center. This time around, it’s up to Jimmy Olsen and Batgirl to find out what has happened to the World’s Finest and the Boy Wonder. On top of Waid’s continued mastery of all the characters within the DCU, the writer is joined this time by artist Fran Galan. Galan benefits here from handling both pencils and colors, creating some truly striking visuals in the one-off story. World’s Finest remains one of the best books that DC is printing, a note that I make quite consistently in my reviews of it so far, and even with Dan Mora handling other titles, Waid’s writing and the new artists coming on board has worked well in these new stories. – Evan Valentine
Rating 4.5 out of 5

Catwoman #71
Catwoman #71 is a long read and it’s generally quite enjoyable. However, it’s a read that requires one to stay engaged the whole time and if you go into it without having freshly read the preceding issue, you may find it a bit hard to follow. The issue largely follows Catwoman still trying to find who put the bounty on her head and it leads her to an old acquaintance in Stockholm. The issue is full of interesting details and even a little spy craft as we get to a bit of a cliffhanger as Selina gets close to what she’s seeking. It is overall a good issue, if one wants to invest the time reading it. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 4 out of 5

Challengers of The Unknown #1
It’s admirable how well DC is making these new comics fit together so seamlessly. JLU has re-written the status quo and it would be easy for something like a new Challengers of the Unknown to awkwardly be thrust into the limelight, but series scribe Christopher Cantwell has found an amazing balancing act that not only keeps the series firmly planted in the current goings-on of the DCU but still feel classically “Challengers.” Series artist Sean Izaakse (and colorist Romulo Fajardo Jr.) manage to elevate the material in major ways too, delivering smooth action across pages while also striking the right amount of each character. – Spencer Perry
Rating: 5 out of 5

Green Lantern/Green Arrow: World’s Finest Special #1
Scribe Jeremy Adams pens a fun tale set deep in DC continuity, one that reunites Oliver Queen and Hal Jordan from their heyday. The oversized one-shot has two stories, the first of which is the superior tale, but which makes for a fun throwback issue for longtime fans. Artist Lucas Meyer tackles the first (the Ollie & Hal team-up) which has expertly designed action beats across its many creative moments. As for the second story, a Hal and Barry Allen team-up, artist Travis Mercer does well to capture the stillness of seconds as Barry runs through and does his thing. The biggest hindrance on this story is that it’s over the second it’s already started, leaving a bit to be desired after the pacing of the first.
– Spencer Perry
Rating: 4 out of 5

Nightwing #121
Watters’ latest run on the former Boy Wonder is one that had to fill some big shoes and while he still hasn’t quite done so, the writer is getting a better handle on Dick Grayson. While the current threat facing Bludhaven isn’t entirely original, it makes for some dynamic set pieces thanks in part to artist Dexter Soy here. Between the fight scenes and Dick’s interactions with Barbara Gordon outside of her duties as Batgirl, the latest Nightwing issue feels like one of the stronger entries of the new run so far. Here’s to hoping future issues take a page from issue #121 and find the perfect unison between Dick’s daily activities and his nightly excursions as Nightwing. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 3 out of 5

The Question: All Along The Watchtower #2
After a stellar debut, Renee Montoya’s captivating Watchtower mystery continues in The Question: All Along The Watchtower #2. With the team in place, it’s time for the investigation to kick into gear, and writer Alex Segura throws all sorts of chaos is thrown into the mix to ramp up the drama and intrigue. The Blue Beetles, Bulleteer, and Animal Man all provide wonderful contrasts to Renee’s more closed off demeanor, and that is especially true of Batwoman’s presence, as their history and dynamic grounds the bigger than life aspects of the book that surrounds them. That chaos looks fantastic though, and it’s not hyperbole when I say that The Question has rarely looked this freaking cool, all courtesy of the talented team of artist Cian Tormey, colorist Romulo Fajardo Jr, and letterer Willie Schubert. It’s not even just The Question, as everyone delivers so much personality in their mannerisms and expressions, and Eradicator looks phenomenal as well, but Montoya just looks effortlessly cool in every single scene, and it’s worthy of praise across the board. I want to see even more mined from Renee and Kate’s history as we continue, but right now Renee’s time as Watchtower Sheriff has been every bit the noir rollercoaster ride I hoped for. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 4 out of 5

Titans #18
Titans #18 is fittingly titled All In The Family, and the issue is at its strongest when family is the focus. Writer John Layman finds plenty of conflict to explore as the Titans move into their new home and new role within the DC hero community now that the Justice League has returned. The various opinions on this shift and how the Titans are responding to it overall is compelling and rather relatable, but it also presents opportunities for amazing moments from Starfire, Raven, and Beast Boy. The friction between Nightwing and Donna Troy is also intriguing as she looks to lead the team in her own way, though at times both characters don’t feel 100% natural in their exchanges for all the history they have. At times the expressions clash a bit with the dialogue and the overall tone, and then there’s moments that are complexly in sync, like Raven’s marvelous scolding of the team. When the fists start flying the team of artist Pete Woods and letterer Wes Abbott take advantage and give the proceedings some welcome bigger than life impact, delivering one of Mammoth and Shimmer’s best outings in quite some time. The seeds of the grander story are interesting, though it does feel like we’ve been here before, so hopefully more twists are on the way. Titans #18 is a solid issue with some big moments to build on, and here’s hoping even bigger things are headed our way. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 3 out of 5

Wonder Woman #16
Apes make everything better and Wonder Woman #16 is proof of that. While the Sovereign storyline continues to feel like something that has been dragged out a bit too long, there is something to be said about using Detective Chimp to expose him. We also get a few more details about Trinity’s early life through the issue’s fantastic art, and the follow up that offers the origin of the Sovereign is a pretty interesting read. But when taken on the whole, Wonder Woman #16 still feels like it’s dragging its feet on a story that really should see more forward motion at this point and while by issue’s end it feels like we are getting closer to something more interesting and more concrete, it still feels like a lot of investment on something that could have been done a bit more simply. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

MARVEL

Daredevil #18
Matt Murdock has gone through a lot in a short amount of time in Saladin Ahmed’s run focusing on Hell’s Kitchen’s Guardian Devil and all that turmoil makes for some interesting storytelling. Daredevil pulls quite a few tricks out of his hat here, whether it be via his courtroom skills or his superheroic ones. While Ahmed is doing some solid writing here, the true star of the issue is Aaron Kuder’s art. Kuder has long been an artist that I’ve felt should receive a bigger push and he proves it here. Whether Murdock is saving children in traffic or fighting against a demon that hits a bit too close to home for Daredevil’s liking, the latest issue is one that does well at raising the stakes and making for another solid issue of the latest run on the blind lawyer. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 4 out of 5

Deadpool #9
The latest Deadpool issue left a bad taste in my mouth, not so much for its characters and puns, but rather, thanks to how quickly Wade Wilson’s untimely demise was undone. This has long been a problem in superhero universes, Marvel and DC alike, and the Merc With A Mouth only being dead for a handful of issues after being touted as a giant event unto itself is a knock against what this story could be. Ellie barely had her time to shine in her role as the new Deadpool and from what we see in the latest issue, she is already getting quite the handle on it. There are some interesting hints as to what is to come for Deadpool and Ellie but it’s hardly enough to outshine the weaknesses of the latest outing.
– Evan Valentine
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Fantastic Four #27
Ryan North’s run on Marvel’s most famous family has hit all the right notes when it comes to the Fantastic Four, and this latest issue does all that and more. Specifically focusing on Nicki Master-Grimm, a Skrull child adopted by Ben and Alicia, we get one of the funniest comics of the year along with a heart-warming tale that shows why the Thing works so well as a father in recent years. Even if you haven’t been keeping up with all the misfortunes that have recently befallen the Fantastic Four, this issue works well as a one-and-done that helps to prove what the team is all about. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Hellverine #1
Hellverine does exactly what any good first issue should, sets up the premise in intriguing ways for newcomers and longtime readers while also giving us huge clues about where this will go in the future. Benjamin Percy has long proven himself to be a secret weapon for Marvel, taking ideas that in the wrong hands could be a disaster and making them compelling and fun; Hellverine is no exception. Artist Raffaele Ienco keeps things simple but plays with the perspective of the title character and his transformations to the fullest effect. This may seem like a gimmick comic, but it’s one that’s absolutely worth reading.
– Spencer Perry
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

The Immortal Thor #18
Thor and Amora’s son from another reality, Magni, is welcome to the family by way of a four vs. four showdown with the new would-be gods of Midgard who proved problematic for Thor previously. The scene of Thor quickly warming to Magni over a game of catch the hammer is charming but it’s clear that his introduction is meant to bear fruit later on in Immortal Thor’s narrative plan as he doesn’t have much of an impact on this issue’s climactic battle. Outside of Magni’s introduction, the story  — and this arc — is fairly straightforward superhero fare in structure. Thor struggles against an alliance of new foes, recruits allies, and proves victorious in the rematch. But this may be, in respect, intentional as the story title, “To Be Continued,” alludes to one thing building on the next, and the issue foreshadows multiple stories yet to be told. The artwork is fine, but not much memorable is made out of the showdown with the supervillains. This has proven to be a more subtle arc for Immortal Thor, but it seems just as likely to be a pivot point as the ongoing tale moves into its next act. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

TVA #1
Marvel has a number of stellar shows under its umbrella, but one of its best is the timeline-hopping sensation known as Loki. That story wrapped up in Loki season 2 with a meaningful sacrifice, and unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that a season 3 is likely to happen. Loki fans are in luck though, because Marvel has brought quite a few of those elements to the comics with its TVA series, and the Time Variance Authority reunion can’t help but strike some of those lovely nostalgic chords, with some wonderful new additions to the mix. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 4 out of 5 (Read the full review here)

Ultimate Spider-Man #12
Pound for pound, I think this might be my favorite single issue of the year. Hickman has made some big changes to the Parker family as a part of Marvel’s new Ultimate universe but issue twelve is one that truly capitalized on these shifts in the best way. For the vast majority of the issue, readers aren’t privy to any Spidey-shenanigans, instead focusing on the holiday get together of the Parkers and the Watsons. One of the biggest things to take note of is that Mary Jane’s family is vastly different here than the original 616, giving her both a mother and sister that are a part of her life. MJ’s dialogue-heavy interactions all hit hard here, and help to hide the fact that there is a giant reveal that was hiding in plain sight the entire time. The final pages pull off a twist on the same level as the original Thunderbolts’ reveal and it puts a wild new spin on a classic Spider-Man villain. Ultimate Spider-Man remains the best Spidey book on the market today and issue twelve once again proves that fact. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 5 out of 5

IMAGE COMICS

Freddie The Fix #1
Ultimately, Freddie The Fix has an interesting premise that it largely wastes on trying to be edgy, sacrificing shock value for actual story, and overstuffing the pages with a lot of writing that doesn’t necessarily get the job done. While the story is set as the debut offering for the creator-owned and driven horror showcase Ninth Circle, it really serves as sort of a weak introduction. The story, instead of functioning as something with horror and scares, feels more like elaborate world building. The reader is left with the feeling that there should be so much more to this story. We just unfortunately don’t get it. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 2 out of 5 (Read the full review here)

G.I. Joe #2
G.I. Joe kicked off its new era with a bombastic first issue with one hell of a cliffhanger, and issue #2 doesn’t let off the gas in the least. Not only does writer Joshua Williamson establish the stakes from the outset, but things somehow get even worse for the Joes, once again leaning into how outgunned they are compared to Cobra’s technological might. Meanwhile Artist Tom Reilly, colorist Jordie Bellaire, and letterer Rus Wooton create a sense of desperation and unpredictability around the battle that only invests you further, and the cinematic flair they give the proceedings is unmatched, as Duke rising from the rubble might as well have a soundtrack. All the drama within the two organizations is as compelling as ever as well, and the new recruits will only ratchet that up a few notches more. G.I. Joe didn’t lose a step with its second issue, and that last page promises even more big things from issue #3. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 5 out of 5

OTHER PUBLISHERS

House of Slaughter #28
House of Slaughter #28 hits hard from the very first page and then shifts perspectives several times over the course of the issue, and that comes with its share of positives and negatives. The macro view of The Order and how it not only finances everything but also refills with recruits after their numbers dwindle due to deadly operations adds welcome context and allows you to see the whole picture, but then we scale down to a more individual perspective that explores dynamics within the different factions of masks. There’s interesting elements here, but the extensive dialogue and narration here slows the pace considerably, and that’s before another shift that slows that pace to a crawl and muddies the main throughline story before things ramp up on the final few pages. I typically adore the deep dives into the Order’s history and exploring the different groups within it, but this issue felt weighted down by it, so here’s hoping things pick back up in the next chapter.
– Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Power Rangers Prime #2
It’s a bold new world in Power Rangers Prime, and the series’ second issue emphasizes that in a major way. While some of the faces are familiar, the circumstances in which we meet them are substantially different, and the new characters we meet along the way change up the dynamics significantly. Melissa Flores is taking advantage of those new dynamics while also taking the time to build up these new leads, and the work is already paying off, as it never feels like you’re watching the B team and waiting for the A squad to show up. That said, Flores’ Rita Repulsa is simply effortless, and she can’t help but command all the attention whenever she’s on the page, which is also due to the wonderful talents of artist Michael YG, colorist Fabi Marques, and letterer Ed Dukeshire. The teased VR Trooper showdown is already shaping up to be something special too, so at the moment, Power Rangers Prime is hitting on all cylinders and shows no signs of slowing down. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 5 out of 5

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5
With the Turtles reunited, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5 spotlights the new villain menacing New York City, an aggrieved and corrupt man in a position of power, wielding the resources of government, juiced by the power of shadowy donors, to take out his misplaced rage on the most vulnerable communities in his constituency. This figure acts as the public face of the Foot Clan, villains once forced to operate from the shadows whose ideologies, with a veneer of institutionalized legitimacy, are now celebrated. It’s a move that feels like a natural next chapter after the community-focused storytelling of the previous TMNT era and a thoroughly modern take on the symbolic role of urban vigilantism in fiction. If the villains are now operating with power and impunity in broad daylight, then the heroes must be against those corrupted institutions. The artwork draws the reader into the stark, shadowy, and unflattering world of this villain lacking in grace but not in violence as Casey Jones returns to rile things up with a dose of sports-themed brutality. The explanation of recent events provided by the issue does raise some questions — given that all four Turtles were already preoccupied, it seems odd that Hale would attract their attention by sending Foot ninjas after them unless we are meant to see this as a strategic failure on his part, though whether that’s the case is still unclear — but Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5 still manages to bring this overture act to a successful close, setting up a dangerous new reality for the Turtles to navigate. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 4 out of 5

The post Comic Book Reviews for This Week: 12/18/2024 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Marvel has a number of stellar shows under its umbrella, but one of its best is the timeline-hopping sensation known as Loki. The series’ story wrapped up in Loki season 2, with a meaningful sacrifice from the titular character himself, and unfortunately, it doesn’t appear that a season 3 is likely to happen. Loki fans are in luck though, because Marvel has brought quite a few of those elements to the comics with its TVA series, and the Time Variance Authority reunion can’t help but strike some of those lovely nostalgic chords, with some wonderful new additions to the mix.

TVA #1 sets its story after the events of Loki season 2, so Loki served his glorious purpose just like he did in the series. That said, the comic leverages the ability to draw from everything and not just things already introduced in the MCU, so it gets to have its cake and eat it too by including characters like Ghost-Spider, Jimmy Hudson, Captain Britain (Peggy Carter), and more. That actually turns out to be its best decision, as the influx of new characters helps keep things fresh and avoids being just a watered-down version of the show.

Writer Katharyn Blair retains the wit, earnestness, and occasional snark that made the show such a favorite, and this is reflected most through Gwen Stacy. Gwen acts as the main narrator of the issue, helping get fans up to speed in case they aren’t as familiar with Loki’s second season, and doing so in her incredibly relatable and comedic way. She’s one of my favorite aspects of the issue, and her personality is a brilliant foil for characters like B-15, O.B., Mobius, and of course, Miss Minutes, who steals the show in her own right as well.

[RELATED: All-New Venom #1 Review: Marvel’s New Symbiote Lacks Bite]

There’s one other key character introduced to the team that will surprise you, and their presence has an immediate impact, though I won’t spoil that here. Things pick up considerably when the entire team (at least this version of it) is up and running, and we get a better sense of what this series will really be from here on out.

The art team of Pere Perez, Guru-eFX, and Joe Sabino also deserve praise for encapsulating so much personality and flair from the show. Several characters look as if they stepped out of the television and into the comic, though some do look a bit awkward (looking at you Mobius). The battles that take place are thrilling and boast creative set pieces that take advantage of each character’s unique powerset and individual history, and this should only increase as they continue to work as a team. By the way, if you didn’t love Miss Minutes, Sir Seconds, and Doc Clock, you absolutely will by issue’s end, and I need more of them in my life from here on out.

This is all wonderful if you’re already entrenched in the world of the show, but if you aren’t, some aspects of TVA might not resonate nearly as much. That’s why it was a wonderful decision to include Ghost-Spider and Captain Britain, and the new addition will also bring in some fans, but compared to them the Loki crew just isn’t as interesting if you aren’t familiar with the show, with the exception of O.B., because he’s delightful whether you’ve watched the show or not.

If you loved Loki, this is the best of both worlds, bringing what you loved about the show and mixing in some characters and concepts that can only be done in the comics (at least for the time being). If you didn’t love the show or aren’t familiar with it, it might be a bit more of a mixed bag for you, but I would still implore you to give it a shot because it just might win you over anyway.

Published by: Marvel Comics

On: December 18, 2024

Written by: Katharyn Blair

Art by: Pere Perez

Colors by: Guru-eFX

Letters by: Joe Sabino

The post TVA #1 Review – The Best of Both Worlds appeared first on ComicBook.com.

When the rich and famous — particularly in Hollywood — do messed up things and find themselves in compromising positions, they call on a fixer to mitigate the damage and make things go away. But what about when it’s Hollywood After Dark and it’s the things that go bump in the night that need things fixed for them? That’s the premise of Freddie The Fix from writer Garth Ennis and artist Mike Perkins and while the premise is intriguing and the idea of werewolves, vampires, zombies and more getting in over their heads in a decidedly debauched Hollywood is fascinating, this one shot manages to miss the mark as a horror offering and weave a tale that is more wandering than it is complex.

Freddie The Fix opens up with our fixer, Freddie, explaining in narration what exactly his job is as he’s on his way to something he has to fix: Lou the Werewolf has gone a little too far with a male sex worker leading to a pretty gruesome death. It’s just another day at the office for Freddie who counsels his client on how to deal with the situation while also offering some sage advice on things he shouldn’t be doing generally even though he admits to himself it’s not going to stick and he’ll be back to dealing with Lou again at some point. He next finds himself called to the office of a movie mogul where he’s given news of something much bigger that he needs to deal with: the Boogeyman has died and it’s something that needs to be dealt with ASAP.

The Boogeyman is made out to be a real evil and his death being an overall win, but Freddie reluctantly signs on to help clean up the death — specifically to make sure that the death goes largely unnoticed. As Freddie starts to investigate and work on tying up loose ends, however, he finds himself dealing with a larger conspiracy and finds out that the Boogeyman’s death may not be exactly as it seems. Just another day at work for the fixer. Generally, it’s an interesting premise. Freddie’s work takes him on pretty much a tour of just about every sort of supernatural or horror creature you can imagine. We’re also taken on a bit of a side tour when Freddie is himself threatened as he continues his work, revealing that sometimes Freddie’s work means that he’s helping the evil get away with things, making him largely a morally grey figure.

[RELATED: Laura Kinney: Wolverine #1 Review — A Marvel Fan-Favorite Finds New Purpose]

But while the story is full of horrific creatures and things that traditionally are at home on the pages of horror stories, Freddie The Fix never really rises to a horror story. Instead, the whole issue feels like a long, rambling slice of life for Freddie that barely scratches the surface of the sort of dark things he encounters. Instead, the story leans too hard on shock value and sexual perversion to be edgy. Nearly every creature we encounter in the story has some sort of kink and most of the encounters Freddie has with various creatures and characters throughout the story comes with either a sexual sight gag or some direct reference to sex, usually in some sort of attempt at humor — particularly there’s a dildo joke that just feels played out and unnecessary.

As for the actual tension and mystery of the issue — the circumstances around the Boogeyman’s death — that almost feels like a bit of an aside. The issue tries very hard to interconnect the various creatures Freddie encounters as part of this big shocking death, but the ties seem superficial at best and when the issue does reveal what really went on with the Boogeyman, it’s not only something that the reader could have easily guessed, but the connections the issue tried to thread just don’t work. And, given that this is a one-shot issue and therefore a complete story, the resolution feels too easy and too clean, especially when things end by going full circle back to the mess from the beginning. Just another day at the office for Freddie.

While the story aspect of Freddie The Fix leaves quite a bit to be desired, however, the art is actually pretty solid. The art in the issue has something of a 70s vibe to it and the horror creatures are particularly well-crafted. Even the dinosaurs (yes, there are dinosaurs in this) are pretty great. In terms of colors, the issue does a great job of setting tone and mood using color, which is great considering how dense the actual writing is. The result is art that actual goes a lot further in telling the story than the writing on the page does. The only real weakness there is that some of the renderings of faces seems to change from page to page, but fortunately the character count is low enough that it’s easy to keep everyone straight.

Ultimately, Freddie The Fix has an interesting premise that it largely wastes on trying to be edgy, sacrificing shock value for actual story, and overstuffing the pages with a lot of writing that doesn’t necessarily get the job done. While the story is set as the debut offering for the creator-owned and driven horror showcase Ninth Circle, it really serves as sort of a weak introduction. The story, instead of functioning as something with horror and scares, feels more like elaborate world building. The reader is left with the feeling that there should be so much more to this story. We just unfortunately don’t get it.

Published by: Image Comics

On: December 18, 2024

Written by: Garth Ennis

Art by: Mike Perkins

Colors by: Mike Spicery and Andy Troy

Letters by: Rob Steen

The post Freddie the Fix #1 Review: Old Tropes, No Horror appeared first on ComicBook.com.

For years now there’s been a set of standard recommendations to give to new Batman readers, the same 10 or so titles that have been sitting in libraries and at every Barnes & Noble in America. Now we finally have some new blood that can be shown to fans as a steady place to start. With Batman: Dark Patterns, DC has not only continued its legacy of delivering standalone stories that don’t shoulder the burden of a larger continuity but which also give potential readers a brand new place to enter.

Batman: Dark Patterns was announced as a “series of Lo-Fi, Mystery-Focused,” and after reading it that is exactly what it’s doing. Scripted by writer Dan Watters (Detective Comics, Lucifer) a specific kind of noir tone is established. This feels like quintessential Batman not only because of the way we’re embedded into the dark knight detective’s mind but in the world around him. Gangsters run amok, corruption abounds, crime is rampant, and a killer is targeting people with an unknown connection (and his methods seem…torturous). 

Watters’ story is carefully plotted, with meticulous attention to the clues and details that never feel like a heavy handed “look over here, pay attention to this.” As readers we are embedded in the mystery with Batman, not only as he starts to peel away the layers that are in front of him but in how he’s juggling life as Gotham’s vigilante. The drive to stop crime is there, but there’s also the reminder that he’s human. Every hit he takes is a wound that needs to be patched up later, and we see it all.

Central to making this moody, stoic story work (and thrive) is that art by Hayden Sherman and colors by Triona Farrell. For starters, Sherman’s unique paneling makes every new page a surprise, as the layout will be dictated entirely by the sequence itself. This may seem natural in traditional rectangular panels that we are used to, but Sherman manages to create pages where it begins with a larger circular image that spirals out and fits all the panels together with rounded edges. Another could be jagged rectangles that slice across the page itself or an action scene where the punches themselves appear to dictate a break in the paneling. It’s all a unique and exciting exercise in the form of layouts and makes this something worth just staring at because it’s a visual treat.

Beyond the paneling, Sherman and Farrell also deliver amazing action sequences and character designs. Batman himself has a classic style, one that harkens even to Keaton’s take on the character from Tim Burton’s first movie with its pitch-black suit and bustling yellow emblem/utility belt. A key element of Sherman’s take on Batman visually is how often we seldom see all of him, especially his face. Instances where Batman is alone and contemplating his next move offer a chance to really see him, but in the midst of a fight or while conversing with people he may not trust we’re given an image that often obscures him. The story itself may have us as passengers along for the ride in Batman’s head but we can see that in the world itself he keeps an arms length away from many others.

Batman: Dark Patterns is off to a very strong start. Not only has Watters crafted a story that feels like a classic Batman tale, but it brings a new narrative to the table that allows fresh readers to arrive and enjoy. Dark Patterns doesn’t require reading any other Batman comics to track what’s going on or to become aware of its new characters, everything it has is introduced in its pages. This, along with the fact that it’s a refreshingly low-key tale, makes this a perfect jumping in point for new readers and (provided it sticks the landing) an easy recommendation for new readers.

Published by: DC Comics

On: December 11, 2024

Written by: Dan Watters

Art by: Hayden Sherman

Colors by: Triona Farrell

Letters by: Frank Cvetkovic

The post Batman: Dark Patterns #1 Review: Meticulously Plotted Mystery With Gorgeous Art appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Happy new comic book day! It’s another major week in comics, and the ComicBook staff have come together to break down and review as many of the big comics releasing this week as possible. Now obviously this isn’t every single comic on stands, but we’re breaking down new releases from Marvel, DC, Image Comics, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse, Dynamite, Oni Press, IDW, Mad Cave Studios, DSTLRY, and more!

We’ve also carved out some additional space for one of this week’s biggest books Laura Kinney: Wolverine #1, so if our smaller review here piques your interest, make sure to check out the full review for a much more comprehensive analysis of the issue. As for ratings, we keep things simple with a whole or half number out of five, and you can check out some of our previous reviews right here. With all that said, let’s get to this week’s new comics!

DC

Action Comics #1079
Action Comics #1079 sees things go from bad to worse for Superman after he saved Earth last issue and it’s a turn, while not exactly surprising, ends up being pretty thrilling. All of the Kryptonians in the Phantom Zone now have powers thanks to the yellow sun and are wreaking absolute havoc on Earth. Superman is nearly killed by them and things seem like a lost cause, until the Els are joined by their allies for some creative fighting. The issue is fast paced and packed with action, plus throws in a few emotional notes and another dramatic turn at the end. This run has been fantastic, and this issue is definitely a high note. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Batman & Robin #16
Batman & Robin #16 introduced complications into every aspect of the story. In his hunt for Memento, Batman finds himself investigating a new set of killings but now with the addition of a foreign detective who doesn’t share his theory meanwhile Damien is still dealing with the trauma of the little girl’s death which is causing a rift between father and son. While there is a lot going on in the issue, it’s well-executed and makes for an issue that is both interesting on its own and that ups the intensity for next issue. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 4 out of 5

Batman: Dark Patterns #1
Batman: Dark Patterns is off to a very strong start. Not only has Watters crafted a story that feels like a classic Batman tale, but it brings a new narrative to the table that allows fresh readers to arrive and enjoy. Dark Patterns doesn’t require reading any other Batman comics to track what’s going on or to become aware of its new characters, everything it has is introduced in its pages. This, along with the fact that it’s a refreshingly low-key tale, makes this a perfect jumping in point for new readers and (provided it sticks the landing) an easy recommendation for new readers.
– Spencer Perry
Rating: 5 out of 5

Black Lightning #2
Black Lightning #2 feels like DC trying to do an X-Men comic with it’s “anti-metahuman” sentiment as a core element of the story and fractured interpersonal relationships ships. Anissa is all sorts of resentment towards her father, citizens have resentment toward the heroes and there is a budding subplot about a new meta as well. There is a lot going on here and it is a little challenging to figure out what the big conflict really is. But it’s a good story that does what DC does well: digs into the humanity of its characters. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 3 out of 5

Green Lantern #18
It’s a bit absurd how much is being done in Green Lantern at the moment, as last month’s issue had all the makings of an oversized one-shot in the space of 22 pages, and somehow the team managed to deliver another blockbuster back to back. Civil Corps Part III dives right into the cosmic chaos that has the world on the brink, and despite all the players on the board and the massive ramifications of every move they make, writer Jeremy Adams makes it all look effortless. As Dark Star and Varron are so powerful it makes every decision the Lanterns make a matter of life or death, and the stakes are extremely palpable throughout as a result. The cosmic scale of it all is beautifully brought to life by the dynamite team of artist Xermanico, colorist Romulo Fajardo Jr., and letterer Dave Sharpe, weaving swaths of green, red, yellow, purple, and white light with otherworldly creatures and ring slinging squirrels and somehow keeping everything steering in the same direction. It’s an impressive feat, and that’s on top of everything that’s being built on the outskirts of the main battle that will become main factors in the future. Green Lantern is hitting on all cylinders at precisely the right time, and it rarely gets better than this. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 5 out of 5

Superwoman Special #1
Superman has knocked its last few specials and annuals out of the park, and the same is true of its latest one-shot Superwoman Special #1. After the events of Absolute Power, Lois Lane suddenly had superpowers but no one knew how. Now answers have arrived, though not every mystery is solved, and that’s actually a truly wonderful thing. A staple element of Joshua Williamson’s Superman run has been turning small threads into major ones over time and then paying them off in grand fashion down the line, and that seems to also be the case with Lois, who does reveal the events that led to her powered-up state without giving away the farm in the process. The core of Lois remains the same, and it’s a delight to see Lois interact with Lana, Kara, and even Clark in a truly different way, but it never feels as if Lois moves off of centers despite the bigger than life elements now present in her life. Artists Edwin Galmon ,Laura Braga, and Nikola Cizmesija team up with colorist Rex Lokus and letterer Dave Sharpe to deliver bombastic action sequences that can’t help but impress, though some of the best moments are simply moments of shock from the family at Lois’ new part time gig. There’s also a last moment hook that can’t help but get you hyped for what’s coming next, adding another stellar special to the Superman Family’s tremendous run. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Marvel

Alien: Paradiso #1
In concept, Alien: Paradiso is pretty great. Bring the Xenomorphs to a space resort where everything is sunny and beautiful. The execution just isn’t there; at least not yet. The final pages feel like there may be hope in the second issue, but we’ll have to wait to see if that actually delivers. This debut just takes entirely too much time to get anywhere, and where it goes isn’t all that engaging. – Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 2 out of 5

Laura Kinney: Wolverine #1
Laura Kinney has been a fan-favorite for a long time now, buy it’s been a minute since she’s had a clear path forward. While she continue to be a welcome asset to any team she’s a part of, it’s felt like she hasn’t had a real place within the world of X-Men and mutantkind to call her own over the past year. Enter Marvel’s Laura Kinney: Wolverine, a new ongoing series which sets about changing that and ultimately succeeds. By issue’s end Laura has a compelling end goal that plays into her strengths with some welcome mystery in the mix as well, getting this next chapter off to a stellar start. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 4 out of 5 (Read full review here)

Phoenix #6
Phoenix scribe Stephanie Phillips spends the latest issue getting Jean prepped for what seems like a major climactic moment to follow, but its the exploration of both Thanos and new character Adani that make Phoenix #6 a worthwhile read. Artist Marco Renna (collaborating with color artist David Curiel) delivers some great linework between panels that give this a unique kind of fluid movement that sometimes gets lost in comics. Renna also delivers some iconic takes on Marvel villains which are damn near Kirby-esque.
– Spencer Perry
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Scarlet Witch #7
It was apparent that Scarlet Witch #7 was going to deliver the very moment Russell Dauterman debuted that absolutely wicked cover, and it turns out that’s exactly what happened. What starts out as a relaxing stroll though a hidden festival swiftly shifts into mayhem, and part of what makes it so eventful is the company. Steve Orlando doesn’t miss a beat with the banter between Wanda, Amaranth, Wiccan, and Speed, but takes things up a notch by finding ways to isolate them and Scarlet Witch while leaning into Wanda’s parental and mentor role with each one of them. That said, some of the best moments of the issue are simply Wanda being Wanda and all of the magical chaos that brings with it. Artist Lorenzo Tammetta, colorist Frank William, and letterer Ariana Maher are sincerely brilliant, providing Wanda with a welcome edge to her movements and combat and a wealth of creativity in the magical battle that ensues with her mystery opponent. I won’t spoil who it is, but MCU fans will surely want to take note, and the seeds continue to be sewn for even more explosive moments to come. Scarlet Witch continues to find a way to highlight the most intriguing aspects of the character while simultaneously introducing new elements to keep things fresh, and overall Scarlet Witch fans should be over the moon.
– Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Spirits of Vengeance #4
Some exciting, and awesome, splash pages make Spirits of Vengeance the kind of book that fans of these characters are always itching for, but the problem of course is that they make up a small portion of the entire thing. Series writer Sabir Pirzada works his way through an elaborate flashback to set the stage for the current story, but the connectivity feels tenuous when the characters themselves are so uninteresting. Spirits of Vengeance features a team of artists that includes pencilers Sean Damien Hill & Brian Level, inkers Brian Level, Jay Leisten & Aure Jimenez, and color artist Andrew Dalhouse, who all manage to deliver a visual fidelity across most of the issue. Though the big action beats look great, the slower dramatic ones don’t offer much. – Spencer Perry
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku – Republic Under Siege #4
The Battle of Jakku is bringing together its main players, both on the light and dark sides of the Force, as the latest Star Wars crossover events ramp toward its grand finale. While the light side of things seems par for the course, General Adlehard finds himself on the receiving end of a betrayal that has been in the works for some time. Ultimately, Republic Under Siege has quite a few chinks in its armor but there are a few shining moments in this latest chapter. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 3 out of 5

Storm #3
The pacing of Storm is becoming a distraction to the overall story. Every challenge that arises is solved with little meaning — the illness that seemed to be the crux of her journey is magically (literally) brushed aside, her meeting with Doctor Voodoo proves unremarkable, and her reunion with the X-Men only serves to highlight how odd it is that’s apart from them and hanging with the Avengers instead. Now she’s off to visit Doom. It’s a lot of legwork for little payoff thus far, and the artwork is veering into uncomfortably photo referenced territory. The series has quickly lost its iconic stature and reached for melodrama as a narrative crutch, a symptom of its need for a firmer identity and focus.
– Jamie Lovett
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

The Amazing Spider-Man #63
Amazing Spider-Man hands over a couple of Spider-Man’s eight deaths to the creative team of Justina Ireland and Gleb Melnikov, who reconnect the drawn-out gauntlet structure with the themes established by the earliest issues. The battle between Spider-Man and the latest of Cytorrak’s brood to come calling is concise and cleverly resolved, with Melnikov putting his touch on certain milestone moments from Spidey’s history. The rest of the issue sees Peter Parker applying the lessons Spider-Man learned about the inevitability of time and taking some friendly advice to find joy where he can. Some of the dialogue verges on therapy-speak that has become, but it’s a minor flaw in an otherwise solid issue.
– Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

The Incredible Hulk #20
Werewolves are a great addition to a run that’s already been packed with vicious monsters and terrifying creatures. The Lycana lore is also a wonderful new layer to Hulk and Charlie’s journey, though this new story doesn’t yet appear to be quite as strong as previous arcs. The bar has been set unreasonably high with this series, though.
– Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 4 out of 5

Ultimate X-Men #10
Another Ultimate X-Men issue arrives and my same complaints remain, in that this doesn’t feel like it should be the premiere mutant book in the new Ultimate universe. That being said, this is the strongest issue of the series to date thanks to the terrifying tale of Natsu’s powers run amuck. Peach Momoko’s art can be rather hit or miss and the same can be said of the characters here as well. Honestly, the series still feels quite discombobulated and considering it’s being sold as a “team book”, you would think that many of these elements would be congealed already ten issues in. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Uncanny X-Men #7
The Raid on Graymalken continues as Gail Simone and her team take the reins in this mutant crossover. While the reasoning behind why Scott Summers is hesitant to add Rogue’s team to the mix is a little shaky, it makes for a dynamic action beat when the mutant civil war kicks off. Simone continues to have both a firm grasp on the tried and true X-Men along with the new youngster added to their roster. David Marquez is joined on art duties by Edgar Salazar, who has a style comparable to Marquez here, making the transitions seamless. This crossover event is a strong one though not as strong from what Uncanny has given readers so far. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 4 out of 5

Image Comics

Witchblade #6
With much of the larger “new origin” side of this fresh take on Witchblade out of the way, series scribe Marguerite Bennett can continue to explore the character and her new identity even deeper. The series manages to find a fun balance of both internal and external plot, with the latest issue no expectation. A key highlight of the series so far and which remains true is the line art by Giuseppe Cafaro (aided on colors by Arif Prianto) due in large part to his unique paneling and the huge splash pages. Once again this remains an accessible and timely reboot of a classic character. – Spencer Perry
Rating: 4 out of 5

The post Comic Book Reviews for This Week: 12/11/2024 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Laura Kinney has been a fan-favorite for a long time now, buy it’s been a minute since she’s had a clear path forward. While she continue to be a welcome asset to any team she’s a part of, it’s felt like she hasn’t had a real place within the world of X-Men and mutantkind to call her own over the past year. Enter Marvel’s Laura Kinney: Wolverine, a new ongoing series which sets about changing that and ultimately succeeds. By issue’s end Laura has a compelling end goal that plays into her strengths with some welcome mystery in the mix as well, getting this next chapter off to a stellar start.

Many have struggled to find their way after the fall of Krakoa, though less well known is how those who never made it there are processing everything. Writer Erica Schultz shines a light on this throughout the issue, highlighting those who are genuinely trying to help and process things themselves as well as those who are using that grief and sudden isolation to their own ends. It’s a rather detailed picture of post-Krakoa society on a global scale, and a viewpoint we haven’t had a great look at thus far since that story concluded.

Schultz then utilizes that viewpoint to give Kinney some much needed direction, playing into elements we’ve seen from Laura in other books while also utilizing the extra time and space to lean into how Laura’s history shapes her distinct point of view and subsequent mission.

With the foundation in place, the talented art team of artist Giada Belviso, colorist Rachelle Rosenberg, and letterer Cory Petit get to let the claws fly and lean into the brutality that Wolverines are so famous for. When you have an unstoppable force like Wolverine, you have to think of inventive ways to deliver obstacles to their path, and the team does this in a number of ways throughout the first issue, including an acid in the eyes sequence that had me reeling.

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I probably could have used a bit more to this fight sequence, just because it was so well done, but I still enjoyed getting to see Laura on the hunt for a truly altruistic cause. It tees up a central mystery that’s compelling, and as the final page of the issue keys in on, also gives Laura reasons to interact with people outside of the normal X-Men sphere.

Laura Kinney has always been one of my personal favorites, so it’s nice to see her have a long term goal that feels important on an individual level while also exploring the various themes post-Krakoa from her unique perspective, and she’s a complete badass at every step along the way. This is the start of something great, so Wolverine fans owe themselves to jump in and see what all the fuss is about.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Published By: Marvel Comics
Written By: Erica Schultz
Art By: Giada Belviso
Colored By: Rachelle Rosenberg
Lettered By: Cory Petit

What did you think of Laura Kinney: Wolverine? You can talk all things comics with me on Threads @mattaguilarcb and on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post Laura Kinney: Wolverine #1 Review – A Marvel Fan-Favorite Finds New Purpose appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Happy new comic book day! It’s another major week in comics, and the ComicBook staff have come together to break down and review as many of the big comics releasing this week as possible. Now obviously this isn’t every single comic on stands, but we’re breaking down new releases from Marvel, DC, Image Comics, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse, Dynamite, Oni Press, IDW, Mad Cave Studios, DSTLRY, and more!

We’ve also carved out some additional space for three of this week’s biggest books, including All-New Venom #1, Two-Face #1, and Snotgirl #16, so if our smaller review here piques your interest, make sure to check out the full review for a much more comprehensive analysis of both issues. As for ratings, we keep things simple with a whole or half number out of five, and you can check out some of our previous reviews right here. With all that said, let’s get to this week’s new comics!

DC

Absolute Superman #2
With the pieces now in place, Absolute Superman writer Jason Aaron can let things start to fly with this new series. The remixing of the DCU remains a pretty fascinating anecdote to be considered within each new chapter, but as with the powerful expression in the debut issue it’s the artwork by Rafa Sandoval that makes this series so breathtaking. Sandoval (along with color artist Ulises Arreola) continues to display Superman’s powers as something that shakes the Earth and everyone around it has to reckon with. All of DC’s Absolute comics continue to impress, and Superman is scratching an itch that will satisfy classic and new readers alike. – Spencer Perry
Rating: 5 out of 5

Action Comics #1078
All of the threads come together in Action Comics #1078 and while I’m still a little iffy on Conner and Kenan’s previous side quest, now that Earth is on the line everyone is coming together to solve the problem — but the choices are all bad. To save Earth will require a seemingly suicide-mission from Superman with an unlikely rescue mission from the other team to spare those in the Phantom Zone, and the decision is set to cost Superman his culture. As you can guess, nothing in this plan goes quite to plan, but the result is an issue that is high on energy and action as the plan is carried out as well as emotion with the toll it threatens to take. Artistically, however, this issue feels a little uneven with the two differing art styles being very different and it is, in some moments, a little distracting. The Supergirl backup continues to be a little drawn out and a little confusing, but it seems that the stakes are very high for Kara and there is enough tension in the issue that you get the feeling that there’s a big secret that is going to have a shocking reveal very soon. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Batgirl #2
The mother and daughter conflict at the center of Batgirl #1 was already compelling on its own, but the potential of that dynamic wasn’t truly realized until Ba Bao, Van, Liam, and Tony entered the picture. Writer Tate Brombal utilizes them brilliantly throughout the rest of the issue, especially in scenes between Ba Bao and Shiva, and it genuinely feels like she’s able to get through to Shiva in a way only a parent could ever hope to achieve. Every inch forward in Cassandra and Shiva’s relationship feels earned, and that pairs with frenetic action sequences that feel elegant in one panel and viciously brutal in the next, which are brought to life by the talented team of artist Takeshi Miyazawa, colorist Mike Spicer, and letterer Tom Napolitano. Now, if one thing turns out to be true I’m going to be crushed, but I’ll table that for next month. As it stands, Batgirl is off to an outstanding start, and it has the potential to only get better from here.
– Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 5 out of 5

Batman #155
Batman #155 begins the work of tying together some of the threads that have been woven into “The Dying City” in the previous two installments of the arc and while there are a lot of mysteries that still need to unfold, there are big revelations here. The idea of infidelity and what it leads to runs between both the current storyline with the death of the mayor as well as the more past-centric storyline with Bruce’s alleged half-brother. In both cases, there’s missing information that Batman is trying to get and what the issue does very well is not only sees him crack something significant in his case but also sees Batman perhaps not on the victorious side of things, at least for now. Nygma is turning out to be a significant threat, but it remains to be seen just how deep his villainy goes. There’s a lot of forward motion and frankly, just good storytelling in this issue. It’s one of the strongest of the Batman title in a bit. As for the backup story, that’s a preview of Batman Dark Patterns #1 and while it’s not a lot, it’s tantalizing — but is perhaps most notable for how it uses iconic Batman colors to really make its visuals pop. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 4 out of 5

Batman/Santa Claus: Silent Knight Returns #2
I genuinely have no idea what is going on in Batman/Santa Clause: Silent Knight Returns #2 but we’ve got Santa, Arthurian legend, a Justice League fight against threats, and a really intense-looking holiday party and while the issue is a little challenging to follow, those elements make for a wild and interesting issue. The story appears to be less Batman and Santa and more of a holiday-set Justice League story, but there also appears to be some real stakes here. It’s a little crowded, a little messy, but this one is fun and perfect for the holidays. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 3 out of 5

Birds of Prey #16
It truly is a wonderful time to be a Cassandra Cain fan, as DC has hit with a one-two punch of Batgirl and Birds of Prey in back to back months. Batgirl already ruled this week, and to no one’s surprise, Birds of Prey #16 kicks too, and that’s not even taking into consideration what the rest of the team brings to the party. Kelly Thompson’s investment in Cass from the very beginning has paid off in spades, as the team’s concern for Batgirl feels genuine and earned. It also creates wonderful opportunities for Barda to shine like only Barda can, but we also get to see the dynamite art team of Sami Basri, Vicente Cifuentes, Adriano Lucas, and Clayton Cowles put the sheer power of this team on display, and they deliver quite the final page hook to boot. Birds of Prey delivers on every single level, and continues to set a high bar for any team trying to take the throne. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 5 out of 5

DC Horror Presents #2
The newest take on superheroes and supervillains in a horror-based setting once again works well in DC Horror Presents issue two. To start, we are given a quick and effective slasher story featuring a doomed couple encountering a familiar Gotham puppet. To finish out, we see MAX star Oswald Cobbelpot having to deal with a supernatural threat in the Iceberg Lounge. This anthology series has been working well at adding some creepy imagery to the DCU, and implementing some interesting twists into the stories. While this latest outing doesn’t break the “horror wheel” it works well by introducing some interesting new takes on classic comic book characters. If you’re missing out on the Halloween spirit, this new horror anthology is a nice reminder of the spooky season. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

DC Horror Presents: Creature Commandoes #3
This isn’t at all like the Creature Commandos fans are expecting to see in the upcoming animated series, but that’s what makes Dastmalchian’s take here so enjoyable. It’s dark and brooding and messy and just an all-around great read. – Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 4 out of 5

JSA #2
The JSA seemed a bit at odds from within in the team’s All In debut, and with further context from JSA #2, it’s clear that was only the tip of the iceberg. Jeff Lemire fills in some of the blanks in issue #2, revealing the chaotic throwdown that happened at JSA Headquarters and caused the team to be split down the middle. It does provide some welcome context, though the real highlight is getting to see the thrilling throwdown that cause all this havoc in the first place, and things get even better when the battle shifts to the present. The stellar team of Diego Olortegui, Luis Guerrero, and Steve Wands deliver on both, and the promise of even more chaos in issue #3, has me counting the days till next issue. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 4 out of 5

Poison Ivy #28
Poison Ivy #28 is a very introspective issue where we get a lot of Pamela’s thoughts about being a messiah figure for a misguided group of devotees that she never asked for, but it also starts to truly pull back the layers and give us the start of an explanation for some of the weird that’s been going on: a conflict between the Green and the Gray that is all Pamela’s fault. Add to that the hilarious side story of Janet and Croc with their very unexpected budding romance and you’ve got an issue that is equal parts thought-provoking and charming. The art here is absolutely stunning as well, particularly when it comes to the mysterious figures the issue introduces. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 4 out of 5

Shazam! #18
Things are pretty bleak right now for the Shazam family, and that’s just at the beginning of Shazam! #18. Things only get worse from there, and writer Josie Campbell ratchets up the stakes in a major way as the issue plays out, especially in regards to Mary Marvel and Freddy Freeman. Artist Dan McDaid, colorist Trish Mulvihill, inker Roberto Poggi, and letterer Troy Peteri take this to the extreme though, creating true visual impact for every shocking moment to really bring it home. Freeman’s internal struggle with Mr. Mind and the external signs that follow paint a vivid picture of the pain he’s going through at the moment, and yet the impact is felt by Mary Marvel and Billy in a visceral way as well. It’s always darkest before the dawn never felt more true, and I’m quite invested in what happens next. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Two-Face #1
Harvey Dent has been a terrifying villain for the Dark Knight for decades at this point, as Two-Face has routinely harassed the denizens of Gotham City with his own twisted sense of justice. Despite his status as one of DC Comics’ most recognizable villains, Dent has never received an ongoing series to call his own, until now. For Dent’s first solo outing, writer Christan Ward and artist Fabio Veras set the stage for a very appropriate setting for the Batman villain that is attempting to often rest control away from his twisted half. Based on how Two-Face #1 begins the series, there might be a lot to look forward to in this dark underbelly of Gotham City. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 4 out of 5 (Read the full review here)

Marvel

All-New Venom #1
All-New Venom lacks the strong thesis statement that Ewing typically makes when beginning something new. Venom has always been a character and concept that survives more on looking cool than being about anything, but All-New Venom #1 abandons what substance had existed and finds nothing to replace it. It’s hard to be excited about a first-arc secret identity mystery when the hero hiding that identity doesn’t make much of a first impression. Alas, that is the all-new problem that All-New Venom has bonded itself to.
– Jamie Lovett
Rating: 2.5 out of 5 (Read the full review here)

Avengers Assemble #4
welcomed or even allowed into the nation she once served, and how the strife therein can wreak havoc on an entire region. To show this idea in Victorious pounding on the barrier that the newly ascendant Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Doom, has erected is clever. Enough to carry an entire issue? Less so. It starts solidly enough, but the premise of Victorious standing at Latveria’s border as different Avengers take turns trying to talk her down is a bit tiresome by the time it’s all done, feeling somewhat like a waste of the visual potential of the medium. That said, the arguments and characterizations are strong and it’s easy to sympathize with everyone involved, and it isn’t a bad-looking issue, but it doesn’t quite achieve its full potential. — Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3 out of 5

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #27
Putting Miles and T’Challa together could’ve been an easy cash-grab kind of arc for the series, but this is some genuinely great execution of their dynamic. The two alone have great chemistry, but the story taking them deep into Wakandan mythology has really taken things up a notch. – Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 4 out of 5

NYX #6
Out of all the X-Books, NYX seems to be the one moving to its own drum the most, and NYX #6 continues that trend. Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly give the team some much needed time off, but a often happens with superheroes, conflict has a habit of seeking them out, even at a Dazzler concert. Speaking of Dazzler, despite only being in the issue a bit, this very much feels like an issue of her solo series, but the intertwining makes sense for this particular group, and the event brings out some of the fun dynamics within the team. It also delivers one of the best versions of Mojo to date, and artist Michael Shelfer, colorist Raul Angulo, and inker Elisabetta D’Amico are a big reason why. There’s something sleek and menacing here about a character that is so often the opposite of sleek, and it really works when combined with this still evolving team. There are times that it feel more like a tie-in issue to Dazzler than another issue of NYX, but if the Mojo stuff takes hold in a big way, this will be an important step in that storyline, and fans won’t want to have missed out. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 3 out of 5

Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku – Republic Under Siege #3
The Battle of Jakku rages on with some interesting character moments in an issue that might seem like a lot for those who aren’t up to date on Marvel’s Star Wars universe. There are a few too many moving pieces here at the end of the day but when The Battle of Jakku hits, it is able to hit hard. Segura and Raffaele have a good handle on the Jedi-packed universe and there are interesting elements to be found. Still, there are some side stories here that aren’t able to hit the same heights as Republic Under Siege at its best. Marvel’s Star Wars can still explore some meaty, interesting parts of the timeline but it always risks the danger of being drowned out by too many voices in the kitchen when it comes to its characters, as we see here. – Evan Valentine
Rating 3 out of 5

The Avengers #21
Much has been written about the upcoming Avengers vs X-Men 2 event, which was going to revisit an event that was pretty divisive despite its strong sales. If anyone could pull it off though it was the team of Jed MacKay, Valerio Schiti, Federico Blee, and Cory Petit, though we’ll have to wait and see if that happens, because this was not that book at all. While the first few pages certainly give the impression of an impending throwdown, what follows is sort of a throwback to the delightful X-Team off time moments of the past, where the X-Men would play baseball or football when they weren’t saving the world. This time it’s Avengers vs X-Men but in that format, and you can’t help but smile at delightful meetings and moments from Juggernaut and Glob and Storm. MacKay also enriches relationships between Captain Marvel and Cyclops, while also providing a unique perspective in exchanges between Vision and Kid Omega. While this was not at all expected, it was truly delightful, though I can see some feeling like the rug was pulled out from under them a bit regarding expectations. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Rating:

The Ultimates #7
In pre-launch interviews, writer Deniz Camp pitched The Ultimates as a superhero team by way of a resistance network. That’s mostly been true in concept rather than execution until now — young Tony Stark would refer to the Ultimates as a network, but readers would mostly see them operating as an assembled force — but The Ultimates #7 gives a clearer example of how the network functions, showing individual members scattered and on differing pursuits. Some are mourning — be it Tony Stark or those lost on the day of the disaster for which the Ultimates have been framed. Their means of mourning or furthering the cause couldn’t be more varied — some partake in a communal display despite the risk to their life and liberty. The elder heroes drink respectfully at a bar, the younger generation takes the fight directly to the enemy or brings citizens into the fold, and those with the means grow the movement beyond any perceived worldly limit. The key here — as Hawkeye poetically puts it — is that whether it’s the war at home or against oppression on another continent or another realm of the world tree, it’s all one fight. It’s a wonderfully thoughtful reassessment of what a superhero coalition should be to meet the meaning needed in our current moment. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Werewolf By Night #5
Writer Jason Loo does a good job juggling a lot of different supernatural corners of the Marvel universe, but a larger cohesion appears to be missing from the narrative itself, at least one that makes it flow. Series artist Sergio Dávila’s artwork also is at its best when he’s allowed to explore detail in closer images, anything that requires a big scope leaves something to be desired. There’s also an inconsistency across the images that stands out (say, for example, the size of Elsa Bloodstone’s hair). – Spencer Perry
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Wolverine #4
It’s a real shame that Logan’s latest foray in the wilderness continues to feel like one of the weaker titles in the “From The Ashes” status quo of Marvel’s X-Books. The idea that Wolverine is now a mentor to a young Wendigo is an extremely interesting concept but its hampered by the continuing exposition that flies fast and furious from Logan. Sometimes, the series would greatly benefit from quieter moments that could reflect on Logan’s new wilderness setting though there are some gems to be found here. The Constrictor makes for a funny addition to the series, as the blue-collar villain has quite the run-in with the Wolverine this time around. While the final reveal of the mystery villain might throw fans for a loop, it makes for an interesting hook for the future. Wolverine still needs to hammer out some of the chinks in its armor to truly stand toe-to-toe with the other offerings of the X-universe at the moment. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

X-Force #6
X-Force #6 feels like someone pressing an emergency button after realizing that the series of near-random events of the past five issues haven’t amounted to much. The insertion of a new villain who has supposedly been there all along feels like an attempt to backfill meaning onto a meaningless endeavor. That Forge creates simulations of exes to serve as the angel and devil on his shoulders is somehow more offputting than his seeming inability to have regard for the lives of his teammates. It all lacks verve or meaning and is an increasingly tiresome endeavor. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 2 out of 5

Image Comics

I Hate Fairyland #18
It’s honestly a little disappointing that this is the “endgame” for I Hate Fairyland, because this return has been a total ball. Young has Gert digging into parts of herself we haven’t seen before and she’s clicking as a character in a way she hasn’t in some time. Pile on even more alt-universe Gerts and you’ve got yourself a winner. – Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 4 out of 5

Snotgirl #16
Overall, Snotgirl #16 is an issue that is well worth the wait. The series brings readers right back in while giving them just a bit of character development for Lottie as well. By serving as both a catch-up issue as well as by giving readers something just a little bit fresh for this character — and not to mention making some of-the-moment references to social media — the series has not only recaptured what made it such a favorite when we last got a new issue but also makes it a timely read for the now as well. The life cycle of an influencer may be short and unpredictable, but with Snotgirl #16, fans are going to continue to want to like, subscribe, and follow. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 5 out of 5 (Read the full review here)

Other Publishers

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher #4
Nothing solidifies a new hero’s presence like introducing an inverted doppelganger rival. Nightwatcher does this by constating the title hero — who might be described as a “chaotic good” vigilante fighting for the good of the community despite the corrupt systems at play — with the newly arrived Ysengrin — who might be described as a “lawful good” bounty hunter whose comfortable working for the corrupt systems because, ultimately, those he hunts are guilty of something. Contrasting both the lighting effects of their suits and the lining of their speech bubbles, red against blue, is a simple but effective visual motif. Outside this first meeting, Attorney General Hale is a creature of the system, playing all sides to his advantage, the perfect representation of everything that Jennika opposes. All of this is established without losing the heart of the story, that of a man on the run who ultimately is faced with a choice between escaping his sordid past or taking steps towards atonement. Nightwatcher #4 is morally murky street-level storytelling executed well.
– Jamie Lovett
Rating: 4 out of 5

The post Comic Book Reviews for This Week: 12/4/2024 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s been more than four years since comics fans checked in with Lottie Person, but after a lot of waiting and patience, Snotgirl is finally back — and fans of the Image Comics series don’t have to do a deep dive to jump back in. Snotgirl #16 is not only a very welcome return to the social media and attention-centric influencer and her rather interesting social circle, but it serves as a great bridge from the issues that came before it and the newest challenge that Lottie is set to face — a new relationship and her mother.

Snotgirl #16 largely picks up where the series left off back in 2020 — and the issue does give readers a very brief, superficial recap on top of that. The issue finds Lottie in the aftermath of Meg’s (aka Normgirl) wedding and finds Lottie in the situation of her actual dreams: in bed with Caroline, aka Coolgirl. After the events of the wedding, the pair finally kissed and while Lottie doubts what she’s experiencing at first, it turns out that they really are in a relationship, with Lottie losing several days of time just wrapped up in the new, blissful relationship she’s found herself in. Of course, when the pair do venture out from their blissful bubble, it’s back to socializing with Lottie’s friend group where we get a recap of things there as well. Meg has moved on to a new group of “friends” to try to stay relevant, the core friend group is still as superficial as ever during their Hater’s Brunch, we find out that Meg’s fiancé Ashley is going through it and to top everything off, Lottie’s mom and her own friend group is at the same restaurant. It’s a lot, but in classic Snotgirl style, it all just flows with Lottie’s own special brand of easy breezy anxiety.

Broadly speaking, Snotgirl #16 fires on cylinders and makes the long wait for the issue simultaneously worth it and also not feel like much of a wait at all. Bryan Lee O’Malley and Leslie Hung have crafted a story — both in words and visually — that both satisfies longtime readers and should be enough to attract new ones, but more than that the story doesn’t feel like it was frozen in time pre-pandemic. We see pretty clearly and quickly that the relationship with Caroline is changing Lottie and it looks like for the better. This issue sees Lottie behave in perhaps her most mature way to date, though she’s also still very much Lottie and while that maturity is nice to see, she’s still pretty shallow. But what is particularly intriguing about Snotgirl #16 is that it wastes no time in giving Lottie a curveball that feels a little like an existential crisis. Lottie’s mom finding out about her relationship and then immediately wanting to have the girls over for dinner.

[RELATED: The Rocketfellers #1 Review: An Intriguing Time Travel Adventure]

It’s a fun bit of development for Lottie as a character and the issue feels very much like catching up with an old friend, but Snotgirl #16 isn’t just a reintroduction. The seeds of mystery remain in some of the more subtle storytelling, Virgil is still weirdly watching Sunny and something certainly still feels a little “off” about Caroline. It’s just a small part of the issue, but it definitely feels like it is sowing the seeds of something bigger as the story continues and serves as a reminder that there is a story outside of Lottie — just don’t tell Lottie that.

As for the art in the issue, Snotgirl #16 feels like no time has passed visually, but there are still some really stunning moments. In particular, the art as it relates to Lottie and Caroline’s more intimate moments is both beautifully and tastefully done. There is nothing exceptionally explicit here, but the simplicity of how the moments are drawn really stand out. Lottie’s facial expressions in particular are extremely well done and add a bit of depth to everything. After all, we’ve spent a lot of time previously in Lottie’s head; getting to see the actual expression of things has a unique beauty all of its own. It’s all very well done.

Overall, Snotgirl #16 is an issue that is well worth the wait. The series brings readers right back in while giving them just a bit of character development for Lottie as well. By serving as both a catch-up issue as well as by giving readers something just a little bit fresh for this character — and not to mention making some of-the-moment references to social media — the series has not only recaptured what made it such a favorite when we last got a new issue but also makes it a timely read for the now as well. The life cycle of an influencer may be short and unpredictable, but with Snotgirl #16, fans are going to continue to want to like, subscribe, and follow.

Published by: Image Comics

On: December 4, 2024

Written by: Bryan Lee O’Malley

Art by: Leslie Hung

Colors by: Rachael Cohen

Letters by: Mare Odomo and Iasmin Omar Ata

The post Snotgirl #16 Review: Well Worth the Wait appeared first on ComicBook.com.

To best assess the merits of an all-new Venom, it may help to look back on what defined the entirely old Venom and the somewhat newish Venom. The former was the answer to “What if Spider-Man was a violent vigilante in the mode of the antiheroes growing in popularity in the early 1990s?” After bonding with Spider-Man’s used laundry, Eddie Brock began protecting people using lethal force until he learned that was wrong and started to walk on a slightly less crooked but not entirely straight and narrow path toward heroism. This ultimately made him boring enough for Marvel to strip him of the Venom symbiote and pass it off to more morally dubious characters like career criminals Lee Pace and Mac Gargan before more memorably falling to Flash Thompson, facilitating the transformative arc of Peter Parker’s high school bully into a dark reflection on the meaning of heroism in the post-9/11 era, eventually becoming a shining Spaceknight in black-and-white armor.

But then Sony announced they’d be making a Venom movie with Tom Hardy playing Eddie Brock, thus synergy demanded Venom rebond with his best-known host. In 2018, Marvel launched a new Venom #1 that kicked off a saga involving Eddie Brock’s son, Dylan, his symbiote archnemesis, Carnage, and the God of all Symbiotes, Knull. Six years and multiple symbiote-themed Marvel comics events later, that story only wrapped up last week in the final issue of the Venom War event, paving the way for the All-New Venom era to follow.

And what does this All-New Venom era have to offer? From its debut issue, that’s a little unclear. The issue isn’t told from this new Venom’s perspective as this first arc is built around the mystery of the new Venom host’s identity. Instead, readers only see the new Venom, with his black and gleaming gold symbiote suit, in action as he stops an AIM attack on a courthouse where Madame Masque is on trial.

Masque is one of four suspected new Venom hosts who happen to escape the courthouse before Venom arrives, the others being Luke Cage, Rick Jones, and Robbie Robertson. The issue spends most of its time attempting to establish them as credible host possibilities but doesn’t achieve much beyond the introductions. All-New Venom #1 doesn’t lay out the types of clues that would allow readers to participate in unraveling the mystery, outside of Robertson being conveniently interrupted before he can spill some secret he’s carrying, which feels too obvious to be anything but a red herring. Since the suspects are all given the same set of circumstances, they’re all equally suspicious, which leaves the reader without much to think about.

[Related Link: Marvel’s All-New Venom: How Eddie Brock Became Carnage]

The new Venom quells the attack without taking any lives while bantering like he’s one of the Spider-Men, which makes his first appearance somewhat forgettable, painting them as a generic any-superhero. Venom, at its best, is a character concept that puts a gruesome twist on Spider-Man’s “with great power comes great responsibility” mantra by replacing the great responsibility part with “tremendously violent urges” and then adding, “I mean, it’s the alien that wants to eat people, so do I have any responsibility at all?” If Venom isn’t someone struggling to constrain their dark side — or otherwise reveling in indulging it — then what is the point of them?

All-New Venom #1 doesn’t supply an answer. That lack of a strong theme or direction for this new Venom makes for a debut that feels shallow — not a word typically used when describing work by Al Ewing, who managed to plumb new depths out of the man-monster dichotomy of the Hulk for 50+ issues of The Immortal Hulk and continues to do similarly impressive work on Thor in The Immortal Thor, both of which began with knockout first issues that laid out their premises with a narrative force that could not be ignored. Ewing has expressed in press releases about All-New Venom the desire to do something a bit simpler, more straightforward than what he’s already done on Venom — his run up until now involved a cosmic symbiote pantheon, time travel, and the like, which may understandably seem like a lot for the character who, up until now, has been “scary Spider-Man.” However, All-New Venom swings too far in the streamlining direction, offering something that feels like a “back to basics” relaunch but without the basics to fall back on.

When Ewing first took over Venom, Marvel paired him with Bryan Hitch, a supremely talented artist whose style, nonetheless, is synonymous with the height of the “widescreen comics” movement some two decades past. That’s a choice that hardly screams “all-new.” Here, Ewing is instead teamed with Carlos Gómez, an artist well-suited to the more straightforward approach of this new era. It’s not that Gómez necessarily bucks the overbearing, conservative house style that Marvel Comics has adopted over the past few years — readers aren’t going to open All-New Venom and think, “Wow, I haven’t seen this from Marvel recently” — but he elevates that style in a way that few of his peers can match. His layouts are clean and flow with more dynamism, his characters have more energy and expression, and there’s a sharper polish to the whole reading experience (the coloring is mostly serviceable, but gives everything an odd, artificial sheen). It isn’t Gómez’s best work — that remains X-Terminators, where the grindhouse vibes allowed both he and writer Leah Williams to cut loose and have more fun than mainstream superhero comics typically allow — but it does add the visual equivalent of a new-car smell to an otherwise unremarkable midsized sedan of a first issue. 

All-New Venom lacks the strong thesis statement that Ewing typically makes when beginning something new. Venom has always been a character and concept that survives more on looking cool than being about anything, but All-New Venom #1 abandons what substance had existed and finds nothing to replace it. It’s hard to be excited about a first-arc secret identity mystery when the hero hiding that identity doesn’t make much of a first impression. Alas, that is the all-new problem that All-New Venom has bonded itself to. 

Published by Marvel Comics

On December 4, 2024

Written by Al Ewing

Art by Carlos Gómez

Colors by Frank D’Armata

Letters by Clayton Cowles

The post All-New Venom #1 Review: Marvel’s New Symbiote Lacks Bite appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Harvey Dent has been a terrifying villain for the Dark Knight for decades at this point, as Two-Face has routinely harassed the denizens of Gotham City with his own twisted sense of justice. Despite his status as one of DC Comics’ most recognizable villains, Dent has never received an ongoing series to call his own, until now. For Dent’s first solo outing, writer Christan Ward and artist Fabio Veras set the stage for a very appropriate setting for the Batman villain that is attempting to often rest control away from his twisted half. Based on how Two-Face #1 begins the series, there might be a lot to look forward to in this dark underbelly of Gotham City.

Rather than seeing Two-Face once again attempt to create a maniacal plan to take down Bruce Wayne’s alter-ego, Dent is once again stepping into the courtroom, albeit one that isn’t exactly working within the boundaries of the law. Instead of working officially in Gotham’s courts, Harvey is now a prosecutor in a criminal network known as the “White Church.” Harvey isn’t the only one that is a part of this strange new setting as Reaper, Mr. Zsasz, and Killer Croc all have their own unique parts to play. Of course, all is not as it seems as Harvey is harboring a dark secret that readers might not have seen coming and adds a dynamic conflict to the villain-centric series.

RELATED: An Iconic Batman Villain’s Origin Story Is Revisited With a Surprising Twist

Two-Face: No Objections Here

The White Church is a fantastic setting for Two-Face to flourish here, in that this bizarre court still sees Harvey Dent as a prosecutor but has a very different sense of justice than any other courtroom in Gotham. The issue itself starts off with a quick recap of how Dent became one of Gotham’s greatest villains, albeit in an artistic style that makes the flashback well worth diving into even for those who know their Dark Knight lore backwards and forwards. This is helped in both Ward’s handling of the titular character and Veras’ dynamic direction with his art.

Two-Face’s new environment is a fun and creepy one, and the inclusion of lesser known villains like the Reaper really works here. There has always been one aspect of the Batman story that I’ve loved, which was a primary factor in comics such as The Long Halloween and movies like The Dark Knight, and that is the push and pull between the mob and Gotham’s “freaks.” That dynamic is demonstrated well here, as Harvey is trying to discover the truth behind a series of murders which involves both a mafioso and the self-harming Mr. Zsasz. The mystery itself is satisfying enough thought its in the fallout and the meeting of the White Church’s leaders that help the issue sing.

Of course, what would a Two-Face story be without Harvey and his darker side squabbling for control of their body. In this new status quo, things are not quiet as they seem this time around injecting a nice new flavor into the White Church. This new structure is one that also acts as an intriguing ticking time bomb for all the characters involved, potentially amplifying the idea of Dent being a “Jekyl and Hyde” figure.

This Coin Lands Face Up

As is the case with all comics, it takes a village to convey a story focusing on a hero and/or a villain. Fabio Veras does some fantastic work here, not only with the emotions that are strewn across the faces of the mostly villain-centric cast, but as mentioned earlier with the flashback sequence, creates some dynamic direction to help sell some of the harder hitting moments. On top of Veras’ pencils, I would be remiss if I didn’t also not Ivan Plascencia’s colors that help Harvey’s latest foray truly pop off the page.

Two-Face #1 offers an interesting new take on the classic villain and does one of the most important things a first issue can do in that it justifies its existence and then some. The White Church as a concept is a very intriguing one that I’m looking forward to seeing develop here and, hopefully, in the wider DC Universe as a whole. Harvey Dent is a character who might have always been sold as a villain to throw a monkey wrench into the Dark Knight’s nightly activities, but now that he’s out of Batman’s shadow, Two-Face might just have received one of his strongest stories to date.

Published by DC Comics

On December 4th, 2024

Written by Christian Ward

Art by Fabio Veras

Colors by Ivan Plascencia

Letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Cover by Baldemar Rivas

The post Two-Face #1 Review: DC Flips a New Coin appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Happy new comic book day! It’s another major week in comics, and the ComicBook staff have come together to break down and review as many of the big comics releasing this week as possible. Now obviously this isn’t every single comic on stands, but we’re breaking down new releases from Marvel, DC, Image Comics, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse, Dynamite, Oni Press, IDW, Mad Cave Studios, DSTLRY, and more!

We’ve also carved out some additional space for two of this week’s biggest books, including West Coast Avengers #1 and Justice League Unlimited #1, so if our smaller review here piques your interest, make sure to check out the full review for a much more comprehensive analysis of both issues. As for ratings, we keep things simple with a whole or half number out of five, and you can check out some of our previous reviews right here. With all that said, let’s get to this week’s new comics!

DC

Absolute Wonder Woman #2
Following a killer debut is never easy, but it’s a challenge Absolute Wonder Woman tackles with ease. Kelly Thompson keeps thing moving and shifting throughout the second issue, keeping the stakes incredibly high while also leaning into the new dynamic between Diana and Steve Trevor, and it’s quite the combination. Hayden Sherman, Jordie Bellaire, and Becca Carey pivot with ease between grand battles to banter-filled walks through hell, and both feel alive in their own distinct ways. To be honest, I could just have Wonder Woman putting arrogant generals in their place for an entire issue, though Diana’s banter and biting wit with Trevor steals the show at several points as well. Absolute Wonder Woman continues to be simply outstanding and must read each and every single month.
– Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 5 out of 5

Action Comics #1077
Action Comics #1077 continues the “Phantoms” story arc but gets us a good bit closer to sending Superman back home — though it’s setting up less as a triumphant return and more as an urgent mission to try to save Earth thanks to the sun at risk of being destroyed due to the events in the Phantom Zone. The story seemingly offers some resolution to what is going on in the Phantom Zone and while it’s a less engaging installment of the story than some of the others, it pulls things together nicely. As for Conner and Kenan, their adventure also seems to get some closure as well with the pair triumphant in getting Superman’s collection back. It’s still unclear exactly how this ties into the rest of the story, but it’s starting to seem like the two plots are going to collide soon. Overall, it’s a solid issue in terms of overall storytelling, even if it does feel a bit like connective tissue to get to something perhaps a bit more explosive next issue. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Batman: The Brave and The Bold #19
Batman the Brave and the Bold #19 might be the weakest thus far with five stories in the anthology that are all dense and long and in a few cases, hard to follow. “The Hum” in particular just seems off, particularly in how it approaches the idea of Batman and doubt while “Hive Mind” drops the reader in with little context and doesn’t exactly do much to build interest before stopping on a cliffhanger until the next part. Generally, this issue feels like it’s very high concept but the execution overall doesn’t quite match it. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Batman: The Long Halloween – The Last Halloween #3
While things get a touch confusing in the last couple of pages of The Last Halloween #3, the issue is packed with narrative movement that feels like we’re getting close to something explosive. With the FBI continuing to be more of a hindrance than a help, it falls to Batman to find Gordon’s son months after he was taken and, in the process, seems to be led in the direction of who is really behind what is happening in Gotham. The issue lacks a little bit of subtlety and nuance and there are moments where it feels like the story assumes the reader is in on things more than they actually are, but it’s a solid issue that at least has a small piece of happiness in it before things get grim again. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 3 out of 5

Black Canary: Best of the Best #1
Black Canary: Best of the Best lives up to its name and captures the big fight feel of its central premise brilliantly, especially if you’re already a fan of boxing, pro wrestling, or mix martial arts. The series just beams with authenticity in that regard, and Tom King’s work on the fight commentary alone is delightful. Much like in wrestling though, it’s the story layer that lies underneath the battle that really delivers the impact, and here it’s the underlying family dynamic between mother and daughter powers the rest of the engine. In the ring, Ryan Sook, Dave Stewart, and Clayton Cowles tell a story with each and every move, and coupled with the at times hilariously accurate commentary, all of it whisks you off into a rollercoaster ride of emotions as a persevering underdog looks to finally take down the unconquerable titan. As a comic fan I loved this, and as a wrestling fan I adored this, so it’s a win across the board. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 4 out of 5

Detective Comics #1091
Detective Comics has Bruce Wayne fighting an emotional war on multiple fronts. He’s still dealing with the guilt brought on by his harsh reaction to the petty thief in the previous issue while also dealing with the seemingly eternal youth on offer from someone with a surprising connection to Batman’s origin. It’s no surprise to see him turn to his much more emotionally stable bestie for guidance in such a trying time. The scene is written in a way that speaks to these heroes’ familiarity with each other, primarily through Superman recognizing all of Batman’s defense mechanisms throughout the conversation. However, it is a conversation between two of the most powerful people in the world, supposed icons of virtue, discussing the world’s inequalities with bemused detachment, which is a bit chilling. I’m not convinced that’s intentional. The slow pace and perhaps ill-conceived optics are saved by the artwork, which is moody and enhanced by painterly colors that make striking use of the contrast between light and shadow. In particular, a sequence of Superman turning into the sunrise is memorably staged and executed. That craftsmanship makes this a solid issue.
– Jamie Lovett
Rating: 4 out of 5

Green Arrow #18
Green Arrow #18 brings aboard a new creative team with a take on the Emerald Archer that couldn’t be more different from what came before in this series. Gone is the extended family, high-tech superhero escapes, sharp lines, and sleek colors. Instead, the vibe is decidedly more Bronze Age as Oliver Queen goes back to investigating Star City crimes involving rich folks (his former people) with a tenuous relationship to the idea of social justice at best, all rendered with a soft touch, lots of shadow, and highly saturated, almost plush colors. The plot revolves around the murder of one of Oliver Queen’s old colleagues whose shady business practices got some people sick or dead. On its face, it seems predictable — a survivor of that environmental catastrophe, or someone otherwise connected to it, is out for revenge and will eventually target Ollie for his small, regrettable role in allowing it to happen. Perhaps there will be some unexpected swerves along the way. Yet, even if it lays out exactly as expected, it still sets up some interesting challenges for Oliver over whether he’s as willing to accept responsibility for his role in past deeds as he is to dole it out. Green Arrow #18 is a gorgeous debut and a commanding return to form for the character. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Harley Quinn #45
Harley Quinn’s anti-gentrification campaign continues in Harley Quinn #45, which kicks off with a fun diversion into noir tropes before refocusing on matters at hand. Despite being infused with real and relevant issues, there’s a placement to this Harley Quinn that comes out in Harley’s self-awareness about how decisions she’s making now may clash with values expressed previously, and especially in the artwork, which feels appropriately cartoonish with the barely contained energy in the linework, which also lends itself perfectly to the juvenile resolution of this issue’s art-based conflict. The level of attraction between Harley and her new nemesis adds an extra layer of fun and Harley’s cast of supporting characters are quickly well-established and welcome. The whole enterprise still feels a bit like it’s living in the shadow of Harley Quinn: Breaking Glass, but for fans of the characters, there are hardly worse things to be offered. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Justice League Unlimited #1
The Justice League is embarking upon its most ambitious era to date, expanding the scope of what the League hopes to achieve and thus also expanding the roster to meet those new needs. That allows for countless possibilities, and the team of Mark Waid, Dan Mora, Tamra Bonvillain, and Ariana Maher commit to that mantra in earnest. Justice League Unlimited feels immense in scale while also honing in on the humanity and compassion that have inspired so much admiration over the years, and visually it’s simply second to none. Justice League Unlimited #1 is a resounding success, and the future couldn’t look brighter if it tried. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 5 out of 5 (Read the full review here)

Nightwing #120
Dick Grayson’s new journey in Bludhaven remains a solid enough one, but the former Dark Knight sidekick is still hindered by some chinks in the armor of this run. The inclusion of an adorable new pet for Nightwing feels like old territory, which even the book itself makes note of. While there are interesting elements here in relation to the sheer amount of factions that are making a play for the city, the overall story is one that feels like well-tread territory for the masked superhero. TThe series needs a shot in the arm to really set itself apart from what has come before and the fact that I’m saying this on its second issue is quite the statement. – Evan Valentine
Rating 2.5 out of 5

Power Girl #15
Williams is playing the long game with Power Girl and her enemies in this series, and it is paying some serious dividends right about now. Her newly formed rival is almost brand new to her journey, but they instantly feel like they’ve been on a collision course for decades, making for an exciting back and forth that should be able to carry this series into its future. – Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 4 out of 5

Superman #20
First and foremost, Superman #20 is a true visual spectacle in every sense of the term. What Dan Mora, Alejandro Sanchez, and Ariana Maher pull off in this issue is simply second to none, delivering a bombastic issue that has Superman pushed to his absolute limit. Superman fans have been spoiled by great artwork over the past few years, but this is easily in elite level discussions. You’ll feel every single blow as Superman and Doomsday shake the city to its core, and while Maher’s work has been second to none over the course of series, this issue might be one of her all time best, with one particular panel achieving out of this world territory. While you’ll be dazzled by the artwork, Joshua Williamson once gain backs it all up with rich and multifaceted storytelling, delivering moments that can’t help but affect longtime fans. I won’t spoil here, but if you’ve been here for the full ride, one will absolutely break your heart, but it’s a testament to the work Williamson has done since the series began. Superman continues to soar to new heights, and is one of the best books in comics. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 5 out of 5

Marvel

Blade: Red Band #2
I had a lot more fun with the second issue of Blade’s second Red Band issue than its first, as the Daywalker is given an interesting “sidekick” for the remainder of this limited series. In fact, Blade’s new partner seems almost far more interesting than the titular character here, having an interesting background story along with some neat characterization. There remain some complaints that do follow the series from its first issue however, mostly in that the series still doesn’t feel as “mature” as it could be and that Blade hasn’t seemed as affected by the events of Blood Hunt as he could be. Issue two feels like a departure from the first issue in some ways but its a welcome one. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 3 out of 5

Dazzler #3
After a disastrous talk show appearance, things go from bad to worse for Dazzler in issue #3, but this might be the most interesting issue of the series to date because it takes things away from the concert setting and starts to put together the case for who might actually be behind the attacks on the mutant popstar. While there is still quite a bit of fluff in this title overall (and note, that’s not a bad thing), the issue also does a really good job of shining a lot on the toxicity of social media and how perception can turn on a dime. It’s an interesting read overall. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 3 out of 5

Iron Man #2
Ackerman and Ohta’s second issue is one that does a solid job of juggling both new elements to Tony Stark’s life along with quite a few comic book references, and characters, that only long-time Marvel readers might recognize. Luckily, said injected elements don’t necessarily distract from the overall story. Ackerman as a writer here is throwing everything and the kitchen sink at Tony in his fight against Roxxon and it shows. For the most part, this works, even if there are some elements that get a little lost in the shuffle. This new take on Iron Man injects some fun new story aspects into the life of the Armored Avenger and it makes for a fun ride. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 4 out of 5

Spider-Boy #13
Spider-Boy might be in the title, but he’s very much sharing the spotlight, and it’s far from a bad thing. Spider-Boy #13 is as much an issue about Bullseye and his new Spider-Girl apprentice Maka as it is Bailey and Daredevil, and yet there’s also the new addition of Hulkette in the mix too. Dan Slott does an admirable job of balancing all of these characters into one central story that still makes Bailey feel like a critical part. Paco Medina and Erick Arciniega are the perfect team to bring these new duos to life, and the fights are fun and frenetic throughout. I already need more Bullseye and Spider-Girl as soon as possible, and the way things are going, it looks like that’s exactly what we’re going to get.
– Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 4 out of 5

The Amazing Spider-Man #62
The Amazing Spider-Man continues to showcase the creative team’s knack for writing Spider-Man well. The banter between Spidey, Doctor Strange, and Black Cat is all endearing and the artwork delivers a lot of expressive bunches, both in terms of characters and in some wild layouts as the plot takes the climactic fight scene to absurd levels. However, the plot remains a bore, There are hints that there may be something to do — that Peter’s repeated deaths are meant to drain some of the life and energy out of his persona — but hinging the plot on excising the biggest draws from the story seems like a bad idea. Similarly, Cytorrak’s eight-fold brood, the big bads of this storyline, get some development apart from clashing with Spider-Man, but they don’t make much of an impression. It’s hard not to feel like that space may have been better spent with Peter’s extended cast of non-costumed characters established in the previous issue only to get barely any time in this one. The surface-level charms of this book can only carry it so far. It will need a stronger hook by the end to prove worthwhile and memorable. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

The Incredible Hulk #19
This might be the best issue of this Incredible Hulk run yet. It’s tough to say, because so many of them have been fantastic, but man this just hits right on every single level. The body horror is unreal. The villain is fantastic. Hulk is perfect. And if this ending doesn’t leave you breathless I’ll be shocked. What an absolute wallop of an issue, tucked right into a series that has been chock-full of ’em. – Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 5 out of 5

Ultimate Black Panther #10
Ultimate Black Panther continues to be a fun read but the current format of monthly chapters in the story is not suiting the larger writing style. Series scribe Bryan Hill does a good job seeding his plot and giving us enough answers that it develops more questions for us as readers, but as has been the case for a few issues now some plots get stagnant while others persist very quickly. Carlos Nieto hops in this issue as a guest artist, delivering a style that fits perfectly alongside Stefano Caselli’s artwork, which is to say that when you’re reading all their issues together there will not only be a high level of fidelity across the visuals but a story that perhaps has a better pacing than waiting for weeks for the next issue. – Spencer Perry
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Uncanny X-Men #6
Gail Simone is joined by fill-in artist Javier Garron for the sixth issue of Uncanny’s “From The Ashes” run and this latest issue just so happens to be one of the run’s strongest. Simone’s characterization is firing on all cylinders by showing some interesting new sides to these classic characters, especially when it comes to the likes of Logan, Gambit, and Rogue. I also have to give a shout out to one of the most touching scenes involving Nightcrawler that I’ve seen from an X-Men book in some time. There’s a lot of moving plates to be balanced in Uncanny’s latest issue, especially when it comes to the new kids being tutored by Marvel’s merriest mutants, but luckily, all the plates are spinning to perfection. I absolutely cannot recommend this book enough for those looking to read a book in the X-Men universe that can hit the same heights as the Krakoa era.
– Evan Valentine
Rating: 5 out of 5

Venom War #5
The conclusion of Venom War feels like a fitting end, with writer Al Ewing wrapping up the narrative in a way that’s not especially surprising considering the entire event has been singularly focused in one place and answering a lot of symbiote related questions. It does feel like it hit below its weight as an ending to the story though. Ewing will continue writing the All-New Venom when it premieres, but this series began with such an operatic scope and major science fiction roots that a simple beat-em-up in a wrestling arena feels like it never reached its full potential. The good news is that for fans of Venom and all of Marvel’s symbiote characters, series artist Iban Coello and color artist Frank D’Armata make the entire thing very visually engaging. As the cover reveals, a gold version of Venom makes his debut, and the way his transition and powerset are handled look spectacular. Even if the final moments don’t feel like where the story itself was headed a couple of years ago, the ending itself isn’t dull. – Spencer Perry
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

West Coast Avengers #1
The West Coast Avengers are back and ready for a lighthearted superhero adventure. Duggan is showing all of his strengths with this debut and the artwork couldn’t be better suited to the title’s tone. Any readers looking for a superhero title with a fun atmosphere less likely to get tangled up in universe-altering events every second issue will likely find West Coast Avengers a delight. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 (Read the full review here)

Image Comics

Falling In Love On The Path To Hell #6
If there’s ever a comic book title that tells you exactly what you can expect when you open the front cover, this is it. It’s a beautiful and tragic love story set in the midst of some eerie folk horror. There are moments that you wish would hit just a little harder, but that doesn’t stop Falling in Love on the Path to Hell from being a grisly, enjoyable achievement.
– Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 4 out of 5

Feral #8
The world of Feral just isn’t that accommodating to happy moments, so you knew the semi-joyful cliffhanger was not going to be exactly what it seemed. That very much turns out to be the case here as well, though this time writer Tony Fleecs builds up the tension slowly over time, playing with the reader’s hopes that perhaps Elsie, Lord, and Gigi and her family have finally found safe refuge. As that strings you along, Trish Forstner, Tone Rodriguez, and Brad Simpson play on your emotions even more with shifts in expression and tone from page to page, never letting you settle into any sort of comfortable place, which makes the shocking moments that much more visceral. There’s still all sorts of questions about who is here and why, and the lingering issues between Elsie and Lord are also very much still in play. Feral deserves to be on everyone’s Pull List, and that isn’t changing anytime soon.
– Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 5 out of 5

Hornsby & Halo #1
Peter Tomasi has had a long and varied career in the super hero world. Responsible for some classic runs on series including, but not limited to, Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, and Nightwing, Tomasi is joined by artist Peter Snejbjerg for a story of heaven and hell. Hornsby & Halo has all the makings for a great new series, doing an excellent job of not only establishing its world, but presenting its protagonists in a way that is both appealing and makes you want to follow this devil and angel on their idiosyncratic journeys. Both Tomasi and Snejbjerg do a fantastic job of capturing both Zachary and Rose’s characters here. The Ghost Machine line as a whole has been a fascinating one and this new duo makes for a worthy pair to add to the line. Hornsby & Halo is a fantastic start to a series that could have serious legs in the comic book world and I’m interested to see where it goes moving forward. – Evan Valentine
Rating 4.5 out of 5

Hyde Street #2
Hyde Street #2 gives us a bit of the backstory of Pranky and while we don’t get the story of how he ended up on Hyde Street, we learn a lot about his tragic life as well as the fact that he chooses to be there — and doesn’t want to leave. The issue sees another “bad” person delivered, but we get a little bit of a complication as well. Pranky is ordered to make peace with Mr. X-Ray. What that will entail and where this all leads remains a mystery, but it also makes for a fun setup for a holiday issue of the strange horror comic. It’s interesting and engaging, but it would be nice to get a little more direction about what is actually going on or if this is just a series of individual stories with slight connection. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 3 out of 5

Rogue Sun #23
For better or worse, Rogue Sun is a breezy, BREEZY read. It always feels like an issue is done in the blink of an eye, and this new installment might be the strongest example of that. It’s wonderful how quickly this book moves and it’s tough to imagine complaining about that, especially when so many others struggle to find that kind of pace. However, this is an issue that leave you wanting just a little more, like it was over just a hair too soon.
– Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 3 out of 5

Universal Monsters: Frankenstein #4
Universal Monsters: Frankenstein comes to an end with #4 and while it feels like there could have been just a little more fleshing out of things to connect the issue to the previous (and the whole series could have used this overall), the issue is very heartfelt and explores the idea of who is the real monster — or rather what. Taken in context, the series feels more like an exploration of grief what it can drive us to do, which ultimately grants humanity both to Frankenstein and his monster. It’s a beautiful issue, even if it might break your heart. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 4 out of 5

Void Rivals #14
Void Rivals always seems like the black sheep of the Energon Universe and unfortunately, its for good reason. Kirkman and De Felici provide some solid enough storytelling here, blending the worlds of the Transformers and GI Joe into a wild space-faring epic but it can get a tad confusing with the sheer amount of storylines converging. The shining spots of the series remain Kirkman’s hilarious sense of humor, injecting some gut busting moments into the series along the way. De Felici’s art also works well to capture both the quieter moments and the space-faring business at hand. It’s an exceptionally tough comparison since Transformers and GI Joe’s “main books” are firing on all cylinders but still, if you want to inject every part of the Energon-verse into your veins, Void Rivals remains a worthy enough read. – Evan Valentine
Rating 3.5 out of 5

Other Publishers

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4
While each new issue of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles since the relaunch has shown a different Turtle in a prison of one sort or another — a literal prison in Raph’s case, a gilded cage or Mikey, and a prison of the mind for Leo — none compare to what Donatello is shown to have endured in Teenage Mutants Ninja Turtles #4, as he’s both incarcerated and tortured to the point of nearly losing his grasp on reality. This issue brings on Chris Burnham, the last of the four big artists announced as kicking the new era of TMNT off, and his style of artwork proves vital to making the issue since. Burnham’s combination of scratchy detail at times, and almost over-the-top expressiveness in his characters conveys the feeling that Donatello is on the edge of insanity, and the bluntness of the violence feels both gritty and slapstick at the same time. And yet, among all of this grit and grizzlies, TMNT #4 still conveys persistence in Donatello that so often manifests as heroism; he couldn’t stop himself from studying magic and more than he can stop himself from volunteering for all of the fights that occur in the twisted mutant safari/fight club. With all of this, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4 becomes one of the most memorable TMNT tales in recent memory. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 4 out of 5

What were your favorite comics of the week? Let me know on Threads and Twitter @mattaguilarcb and on Bluesky @knightofoa!

The post Comic Book Reviews for This Week: 11/27/2024 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The West Coast Avengers are back for more fun in the sun with the latest version of the team and the comic to come out of Marvel Comics. This time, writer Gerry Duggan teams with artist Danny Kim, colorist Arthur Hesli, and letter Joe Caramagna. The debut issue leans into the West Coast Avengers’ reputation for being Earth’s Mightiest B-Team which, when paired with some old-school visual charm and a confounding mystery surrounding the group’s least likely team member, makes an endearing introduction that’ll likely have readers coming back for the second installment and then some.

West Coast Avengers sees Tony Stark again bankrolling a team of Avengers, though this time his bank account is not as bottomless as it once was. As such, he’s running around in his Silver Centurion armor from the 1980s, at times with external power sources clinging to the side, which is about as perfect a symbol for the new West Coast Avengers team’s whole vibe as can be. Tony’s pal War Machine is backing him on this venture, along with Spider-Woman and two villains looking for redemption: Blue Bolt and Ultron.

Yes, Ultron. There are multiple mysteries surrounding Ultron’s inclusion in the team which the creators seem intent on keeping close to the vest for now. That’s a little bit frustrating since the beginning of Ultron’s path to redemption gave Tony the idea to bring back the West Coast Avengers team, which leaves readers somewhat in the dark about the mission statement. That said, Ultron’s muted demeanor and straight-man role make him an interesting addition to the personality dynamics.

But the themes are a bit more clear. Redemption and the different ways to pursue it are front and center. Outside of whatever happened with Ultron, Tony’s search for redemption in the aftermath of the Fall of X,  with the Stark Sentinels and his marriage to Emma Frost, is projected outward into the new Avengers squad. Tony then chooses Rhodey for reliable support and Spider-Woman because her past is almost as checkered as his own (not to mention, she’s local). And then there’s the Avengers prisoner rehabilitation program that drafts Blue Bolt on the team.

The raucous energy in the narrative and the ragtag group of characters with dubious pasts feel reminiscent of Duggan’s early days on the X-Men line writing Marauders. This may play to his strength as the light, borderline irreverent humor he peppers into his stories feels more natural coming from a team of primarily disreputable second-stringers than big guns dealing with world-threatening events.

The visuals add to that charm, and something in the layouts and the compositions harkens back to the superhero comics of the 1970s and 1980s, eschewing overlapping panels and widescreen aesthetic for something cleaner and more straightforward but not less powerful. It’s dynamic, but the dynamism is drawn more from the positioning of the characters, and the pop of the colors than from scale or an oppressive sense of realism. Those colors are primarily warm with a soft texturing and just enough sheen to suggest the sunbaked plasticity the West Coast has garnered a reputation for. The characters are expressive, their body language suggesting they’re having fun even in unfun situations, though some instances of awkward perspective distract from the overall effect. 

The West Coast Avengers are back and ready for a lighthearted superhero adventure. Duggan is showing all of his strengths with this debut and the artwork couldn’t be better suited to the title’s tone. Any readers looking for a superhero title with a fun atmosphere less likely to get tangled up in universe-altering events every second issue will likely find West Coast Avengers a delight.

Published by Marvel Comics

On November 27, 2024

Written by Gerry Duggan

Art by Danny Kim

Colors by Arthur Hesli

Letters by Joe Caramagna

Cover by Ben Harvey

The post West Coast Avengers #1 Review: Fun in the Sun for Earth’s Mightiest B-Team appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Happy new comic book day! It’s another major week in comics, and the ComicBook staff have come together to break down and review as many of the big comics releasing this week as possible. Now obviously this isn’t every single comic on stands, but we’re breaking down new releases from Marvel, DC, Image Comics, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse, Dynamite, Oni Press, IDW, Mad Cave Studios, DSTLRY, and more!

We’ve also carved out some additional space for three of this week’s biggest books, including The Question: All Along the Watchtower #1, The Rocketfellers #1, and Star Wars: The Battle of Jaku – Republic Under Siege #1, so if our smaller review here piques your interest, make sure to check out the full review for a much more comprehensive analysis of all three issues. As for ratings, we keep things simple with a whole or half number out of five, and you can check out some of our previous reviews right here. With all that said, let’s get to this week’s new comics!

DC

Action Comics #1076
Still not sure about the Superboys sub story in Action Comics, but Action Comics #1076 is fantastic otherwise. Things happen fast on Krypton with some major revelations about the El family dynamic as well as Kal doing some things that may have some major impact on how things play out for the doomed world — without changing the outcome. It’s a moving story and while it moves a little fast, there’s something beautiful about Kal getting to see the truth of his history as well as being part of it. As for the Supergirl backup, it’s the art here that is a real standout (though the story is good, too). – Nicole Drum
Rating: 4 out of 5

Batman and Robin: Year One #2
Batman & Robin: Year One #2 is a bit better than #1. While there’s still a bit of goofiness to Dick in this issue, it’s much more focused on the crime in Gotham — particularly the struggle with the General and Two-Face. We also get to see Robin coming into his own a bit while there’s the more quiet threat of social services when it comes to Bruce’s adoption of Dick. The three pieces of the overall story make the bigger picture all the more interesting as Batman and Robin find themselves dealing with a problem that might be bigger than either of them expect. Samnee’s art is the real standout of this issue — it just looks good, particularly with all of the Robin-centric action. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 4 out of 5

Batman: Full Moon #2
Rodney Barnes has a fierce command on top of the many characters that populate Batman: Full Moon, making sure all of their voices feel distinct and propel the narrative forward. The real reason to pick up the series though is the threatening aura on every page that artist Stevan Subic brings to life. Not only does Subic deliver a moody atmosphere across each sequence in Batman: Full Moon, but he’s able to channel specific imagery that makes them equally horrifying, whether it be a cerebral moment or something in the real world. Plus, naturally, he makes a werewolf transformation look spectacular.
– Spencer Perry
Rating: 5 out of 5

Batman/Superman: World’s Finest #33
Mark Waid might not have artist Dan Mora at his side for this latest arc, but artist Adrian Gutierrez truly finds their groove in this final issue of the Eclipso arc. This arc, perhaps more so than any others, has truly focused on the expansive roster of superheroes that make up the DCU, crossing generational divides by throwing the Justice Society into the mix. It makes for a strong conclusion of the latest World’s Finest outing, as Waid does what he does best and Gutierrez is able to inject some wild energy into the panels here, though admittedly sometimes they can get a tad confusing in terms of their layouts in said action beats. The fight against Eclipse might not be the best that World’s Finest has to offer from what we’ve seen so far but the book itself easily remains one of the best that the DC Universe has to offer. – Evan Valentine
Rating 4 out of 5

The Question: All Along The Watchtower #1
With DC’s All In, the Justice League is more expansive than ever, ready to tackle any threat that comes their way. An unlimited roster also brings its own challenges, and DC’s Trinity has now entrusted The Question to deal with those challenges and more mysterious threats from within. The premise alone is rife with opportunities for compelling storytelling, and that’s even before bringing in some of Renee Montoya’s complex past into the thick of it. Coupled with stakes that will have ramifications on the very new dynamic amongst DC heroes, you’ve got a series that still feels true to its lead character while feeling like it also matters to the bigger picture, and it’s a complete home run. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 5 out of 5 (Read the full review here)

Titans #17
Titans #17 is fantastic fun. The issue sees Clock King flexing his new powers post-Absolute Power to try to get in the heads of the team and use the information he finds to learn everything about them — and other heroes by extension but while the baddie is a smart guy, he doesn’t quite account for everything. The issue does a fantastic job of putting the new team dynamic into action and offers up plenty of action without being overly reliant on fight scenes. The final pages also sets up for an exciting next part of the story once Deathstroke shows up and overall, the whole issue is just well done. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Wonder Woman #5
Wonder Woman #15 is more of the same for this run. It’s a long narration from the Sovereign blathering on about wealth and power and corruption while bemoaning how Wonder Woman undid it all all layered over absolutely stunning art, specifically of Diana with the infant Trinity and of her allies carrying out what feels less like a quest for justice but a long play at revenge. At this point, it just feels like the story has dragged along too long and we’re just stretching things thin — and this issue really makes that clear. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Marvel

Daredevil #15
Hell’s Kitchen resident avenging devil is dealing with some issues that are directly linked to his faith. In this dichotomy, Matt Murdock gets some great one-on-one time with both Elektra and Father Javi peeling back the layers of the lawyer by day, superhero by night in some interesting respects. The mystery of this arc also deepens with a nice cliffhanger that might throw a monkey wrench into one of Matt’s longest and healthiest relationships, you know at least in terms of how any relationship can be healthy in Daredevil’s world. Ahmed and Zagaria. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 4 out of 5

Exceptional X-Men #3
Few X-Men combinations have proven to be as wonderfully chaotic as Kate Pryde and Emma Frost, and they continue to work their magic in Exceptional X-Men #3. While Kate and Emma would be worth the price of admission on their own, Eve L. Ewing has now introduced three delightful new personalities into the mix that really change the dynamic ff the book in a huge way, and their presence can’t help but draw you in. Carmen Carnero and Nolan Woodard are a dynamite team as well, bringing these new characters to life while also crafting a stellar throwdown between the two former Marauders. Exceptional X-Men is quickly becoming one of my favorite X-Men books, and it only seems to get better with each and every issue. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Immortal Thor #17
Immortal Thor #17 begins with the Asgardian hero in peril. Writer Al Ewing weaves Thor’s conflict with the so-called gods of Midgard into Enchantress’ emotional manipulation of Thor. With no sign of coordination between the two sets of antagonists — these self-styled gods are revealed to be at odds with Amora — it’s a contrived coalescence. It leads to Amora seemingly returning to form as Ewing digs deep into Thor’s history to bring back a forgotten character. Encantress’ sudden and inevitable betrayal is to be expected, yet the nature of what she achieves raises interesting questions about her motives regarding Thor. Jan Bazaldua is a competent artist, possibly chosen for their soft touch with characters and faction expressions. That makes sense given that the current storyline resembles an Asgardian soap opera, with Thor and Amora plunging into the depths of barely the barely contained sexual tension that can only exist between two people inextricably bound to one another no matter how much they may occasionally loathe each other. But all of this contributes to a sense of mundanity swirling around the issue compared to the far more primal, epic storytelling that Ewing and Martin Coccolo crafted earlier in the series.
– Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #26
It’s rare to see issues like this one anymore. Maybe two-thirds of this Miles Morales adventure is nothing but a brawl with Vulture, but it’s a lengthy fight that found interesting angles and hard-hitting moments throughout. An issue largely focused on a single fight that never gets incoherent or stale, and still somehow manages to find a way to tie an emotional bow around it all. – Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 4 out of 5

Phases of The Moon Knight #4
The best compliment that I can pay Phases of the Moon Knight is that every single story or version of Moon Knight that has been featured in this series feels like it could anchor at least a limited run on its own. All of these worlds and characters feel rich and exciting. This fourth issue was maybe the weakest of the bunch, but we’re talking about a pretty high floor here. It’s all been solid. – Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 3 out of 5

Phoenix #5
Since the beginning, Phoenix scribe Stephanie Phillips has made it clear that she fully understood this character down to her bones. With the latest issue, Phillips is just showing off not only how well she knows Jean Grey, but her place in the Marvel universe. There’s a fascinating dialogue scene that takes up the bulk of the issue and not only does Phillips deliver stunning prose, but series artists Alessandro Miracolo & Marco Renna make it all visually captivating. The creative team on Phoenix is one of the best marriages happening at Marvel right now, and the series is a must read. – Spencer Perry
Rating: 5 out of 5

Sentinels #2
Sentinels #2 sees our cybernetically enhanced (or perhaps compromised?) protagonists invade Bagalia — a bad place — to capture a bad man who’s running a bad prison, and they’re doing all of this in the service of some pretty bad people. All this suggests a lot of moral gray, but it’s such an action-heavy issue that it is easy to forget most of it. The artwork is raw, if not rough, and a subplot brewing involving Onslaught feels too detached from the main throughline. The plot is busy and though the premise is interesting it feels like it’s missing a strong hook that fully draws in the reader. Perhaps it’ll find its way with more time, but Sentinels doesn’t feel like it’s living up to its full potential. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3 out of 5

Spider-Gwen: Ghost Spider #7
The Gwen Stacy from another universe continues her journey in the 616 with one of her strongest issues in her latest run so far. Phillips does a solid job of highlighting Gwen’s character here but the true star of this issue comes from Von Randal’s art. Using a more grounded, character-centric approach, the interactions between Gwen and the Black Tarantula are the highlights of this issue. This new series focusing on Ghost Spider had a shaky start but it’s beginning to find its footing and here’s to hoping that it continues to do so moving forward. The MCU might have its fair share of Spider People but Gwen has definitely, and is continuing to, earned her place within it. – Evan Valentine
Rating 3.5 out of 5

Spider-Man: Reign 2 #5
Reign 2 has been shaky at best since the start of its run, and that doesn’t change here. It often feels disjointed and lakes a visual coherence. But it does manage to deliver a strong ending that at least puts a satisfying spin on many of its lackluster story elements.
– Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku – Republic Under Siege #1
There’s a lot of territory to explore in the Star Wars universe that was never covered in the original trilogy. While the Star Wars Extended Universe spent decades via novels, comic books, audiobooks, and more documenting Luke, Leia, Han, and the rest of the cast’s life past Return of The Jedi, said Universe is now defunct. Thus, Marvel Comics is taking the opportunity to further flesh out the time that transpired following the fall of the Empire and what immediately filled the void left by the deaths of Palpatine and Darth Vader. In this, The Battle of Jaku – Republic Under Siege finds its legs. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 3 out of 5 (Read the full review here)

Storm #2
The title of Storm #2’s story is “Death by Voodoo” and that title alludes to a big reveal at the issue’s end. The problem is that if you are at all familiar with what the big reveal turns out to be, you likely see it coming from early in the issue, if not page one, and then spend the entire issue waiting for it to happen. If you’re not already familiar the reveal likely means nothing to you, and it struggles to land either way. Having spent the debut of the series depicting Storm as a godlike hero on the same level as Superman, Murewa Ayodele spends much of the second issue humanizing her with a montage of menial chores and boxing her in as everyone around her treats her with animosity for varying reasons. Some fo those reasons are obvious — basic ant-mutant bigotry brought on by the most recent mutant-related tragedy — and others less so. Storm visits a doctor for treatment and is greeted with smug indifference. It’s a conversation that seemingly wants to illuminate the difference between being a mutant and being an X-Man, to make mutant culture less monolithic. Yet, the doctor’s dialog is snide and reverses suddenly, making it difficult to track his point. Lucas Werneck delivers some of his best work, enhanced greatly by Alex Guimaraes’ sleek and subtle colors — the title page, in particular, is a power splash silhouette that may stun the reader into being still for a moment — but the issue is paced languidly to reach an end that is either predictable or meaningless. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Ultimate Spider-Man #11
Hickman’s Ultimate Friendly Neighborhood Wallcrawler remains the best book on the market today focusing on Peter Parker, thanks in part to not only the differences incorporated in the new series but how the creative team handles the strengths of Spidey as a character. There’s some interesting new territory that is studied here (including Peter’s general lack of fighting skills) along with some hard conversations that Peter has with his loved ones. This remains my favorite Ultimate book on the market and I feel as though this series will stand toe to toe with Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley’s run that helped kick off the original Ultimate universe. There’s so much to unpack here but at the end of the day, Ultimate Spider-Man continues to earn its title as one of Marvel’s best.
– Evan Valentine
Rating: 5 out of 5

Wolverine #3
The current Wolverine issue tends to struggle with the same issues that I felt issues one and two did in that Logan’s internal monologue is out of control. For a story that wants to rely on Wolverine’s “Berserker Rage” and seeing him in the wilderness, we don’t see him cut loose in the ways that you would think. There are some interesting story bits that are highlighted here but it still feels like the series doesn’t bring enough new to the table and focuses too much on exposition rather than letting the story breath on its own. “From The Ashes” has a big legacy to live up to following the Krakoa Era of the X-Men and unfortunately, Wolverine feels as though it is floundering amidst the other titles focusing on Marvel’s Merry Mutants. – Evan Valentine
Rating 2 out of 5

Image Comics

Geiger #8
Geiger #8 sees Geiger and Nate take the children the encountered last issue to their home but while they discover a community untouched by the bombs and radiation they also discover that this paradise is its own sort of hell — one where books and knowledge of the outside world and what was are banned specifically to keep the citizens (specifically the children) ignorant in the name of safety. It’s an interesting bit of commentary, particularly with Geiger taking the stance that this isn’t his down or his kids, but the issue then takes a hard turn when the King shows up endangering everyone. It’s a good issue with really lovely art — the book burning in particular is rather chillin — so there is really only one drawback; the issue just feels too short. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 4 out of 5

Ice Cream Man #42
The latest issue of Ice Cream Man walks a thin line, but the experiment from writer W. Maxwell Prince and artist Martin Morazzo is a balancing act that they mostly make work really well. Issue #42 takes a meta approach not only with Prince himself appearing but continuously reminding readers about the form and function of horror comics, along with the real world horrors that await us when we put the book down. Morazzo’s artwork, as always, strikes the right tone for the book, with intense line work that really shows the visceral detail of some of these moments. There’s even less subtly to be found in this issue than in others, but considering the target that the creatives are aiming for, it doesn’t need any subtlety. – Spencer Perry
Rating: 4 out of 5

The Department of Truth #27
The Department of Truth #27 paints the tragic death of Marilyn Munruo — here positioned as the “fiction” that overtook the life of Norma Jean — as a turning point in the tense struggle to define the nature of our reality. Writer James Tynion IV does a fine job setting the tone with somber dialog, including musing about the difference between a real angel and what everyone believes is an angel, if one exists. However, artists Alison Sampson and colorist Jordie Bellaire steal the show as they convey the feeling of living on the threshold of what’s real and imagined. Marilyn becomes more and less solid from panel to panel as her reality shifts within her. There’s no struggle to follow the story as letterer Aditya Bidikar guides the reader’s eye, punctuating certain moments with sudden shifts in style. Heavenly light is shown with searing hues and the contrast of dark and light plays across a roiling depiction of one agent’s sleepless night. It’s a masterful, unsettling issue from creators who excel at depicting the unimaginable — or perhaps, more accurately, the line between that and the entirely imagined. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 5 out of 5

The Moon Is Following Us #3
From its outset, The Moon Is Following Us has been about the relationship between parents and children. It’s hardly subtle given its plot involves two parents delving into a dangerous dream world to rescue their imprisoned daughter. The Moon Is Following Us #3 makes that theme more concrete and urgent in a single pane that reminds every parent that their children are always watching and of how easy it is to pass their fears and traumas onto the next generation. The moment works partly because of how it’s foreshadowed earlier in the issue, but mostly because of how poignantly Riley Rossmo draws his characters at their most vulnerable and broken. The issue reshapes everything about the story. Where it was plainly before about the fear of losing a child, it is not as much about the fear of what that child faces simply by living and whether it’s all worth it. Rossmo and Daniel Warren Johnson have built a mountain to climb to reach a satisfying conclusion to such personal and distressing themes. All evidence suggests it will be a worthwhile journey. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 4 out of 5

The Power Fantasy #4
After ending the previous issue with a world-altering revelation, The Power Fantasy #4 is a profoundly intimate, interior affair focusing on Morishitu Masumi, a superpower responsible for some tragic event that struck Tokyo in 1982, of which readers are only allowed a glimpse. That’s a recurring theme throughout the issue. Masumi’s destructive powers are tied to her emotions, meaning her negative feelings must be kept buried at all times lest she lose control again. Just as this part of her personality is kept hidden not only by her self-control but by the glass house, glass existence, that has been built around her, so is the full nature of her power hidden from the reader, only glimpses in moments when there is the threat of the glass shattering. Another layer is added through Masumi’s artwork on display at a gallery showing. Her art is her only outlet for these dangerous feelings Caspar Wjingaard’s cleverly composed panels make the reader feel that the artwork’s presence serves the same purpose as the cutaways to the threat beneath the water. It’s a quietly desperate character piece that seems crafted in the spirit of Watchmen with its depiction of the most tragically human of superhumans and thoughtful use of visual motifs.
– Jamie Lovett
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

The Rocketfellers #1
While the story could use just a little more meat and we don’t get to know our characters perhaps as well as we might like just yet, The Rocketfellers #1 is a fun first issue that brings slightly kitschy sci-fi to life in a story that is as curious as it is centered in humanity. With solid art and plenty of questions, there is a lot to be interested in with just this first issue and it makes for an intriguing prospect going forward. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 4 out of 5 (Read the full review here)

The post Comic Book Reviews for This Week: 11/20/2024 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Time travel stories are classic. Tales of people going back and forward in time can be found in almost every type of media, often delivering stories of adventure as the characters find themselves in unfamiliar circumstances, often trying to find a way to not only survive but make their way back home as well. The Rocketfellers is one such story. Written by Peter J. Tomasi with art from Francis Manapul, The Rocketfellers takes on the idea of what might happen if you combined The Jetsons with something like Lost in Space or The Swiss Family Robinson, just with time travel thrown in — and with a manhunt of sorts and the fate of the future to up the stakes. And while the first issue doesn’t fully outline many of the details of why this adventure is happening or reveal too much about the titular family at the story’s center, The Rocketfellers #1 has just enough intrigue jet propel things forward for what could be a perfectly timed adventure.

The Rocketfellers #1, more or less, starts things in media res with readers being introduced to the family in the 25th century as things are starting to go south for them. The family — dad Roland, mom Rachel, kids Richie and Rae, and grandpa Rodney and grandma Rosie — is fleeing from an unexplained threat. While the adults are trying to keep things chill for the sake of the kids it is clear that something or someone is chasing them. The family is headed for a time pod but are being pursued by Chronex. Whatever the reason for the pursuit, it’s important enough Rosie is willing to sacrifice herself so everyone else can escape not to a place, but a time: the 21st century.

From there, the issue establishes what life in a “primitive” time is like for the Rocketfellers. Despite being in the 21st century for a year, they aren’t fully acclimating. They barely know their neighbors, they’re having a difficult time fitting in, and everyone is eager to head back home but aren’t able to just yet. Eventually, it’s revealed that they may not get to go home at all and, more than that, there is something mysterious that is the cause for all of the upheaval — and it is suggested that things might get worse, both in the future and the present.

[RELATED: You Won’t Feel a Thing #1 Advance Review: Twilight Noir That Pulls You In]

Overall, the issue is good. It’s a fun read and the art has a slightly retro, space-age quality to it that feels a little larger than life, making it fit well with the story. That said, The Rocketfellers #1 spends most of its time not revealing anything. It, in a sense, feels less like a comic book and more like a half hour episode of television meant to simply introduce the cast and general conceit without really diving into the story. With that in mind, the issue gives readers a sense for each of the members of the Rocketfeller family and their personalities as well as how they are adjusting — or not adjusting — to their new home. In terms of tension and forward motion, things really only start to get interesting in the last few pages when readers find out that things back in the future are still high risk and that there may not be a happy ending and while that is enough to make one want to turn the page for the next part — scheduled to come out in December — it feels like there could have been just a little more to the story offered here. Beyond that, however, there’s a freshness to the story that isn’t necessarily superhero-coded and just feels like an old school sci-fi story, something that there’s always more room for in comics.

While the story could use just a little more meat and we don’t get to know our characters perhaps as well as we might like just yet, The Rocketfellers #1 is a fun first issue that brings slightly kitschy sci-fi to life in a story that is as curious as it is centered in humanity. With solid art and plenty of questions, there is a lot to be interested in with just this first issue and it makes for an intriguing prospect going forward.

Published by: Image Comics

On: November 20, 2024

Written by: Peter J. Tomasi

Art by: Francis Manapul

Colors by: Francis Manapul

Letters by: Rob Leigh

Cover by: Francis Manapul

The post The Rocketfellers #1 Review: An Intriguing Time Travel Adventure appeared first on ComicBook.com.

There’s a lot of territory to explore in the Star Wars universe that was never covered in the original trilogy. While the Star Wars Extended Universe spent decades via novels, comic books, audiobooks, and more documenting Luke, Leia, Han, and the rest of the cast’s life past Return of The Jedi, said Universe is now defunct. Thus, Marvel Comics is taking the opportunity to further flesh out the time that transpired following the fall of the Empire and what immediately filled the void left by the deaths of Palpatine and Darth Vader. In this, The Battle of Jaku – Republic Under Siege finds its legs.

Our issue begins with Luke and Rynn finding themselves on the swamp planet Lehanis, surrounded by a troublesome new group known as the Acolytes of The Beyond. Readers also see Princess Leia struggling with the task at hand in not only fighting a new threat in the form of Governor Adelhard, but perhaps the much more difficult task of how to build a new Republic. Leia is working through her options in her story here and none of them appear all that appealing when all is said and done. Finally, Star Wars fans are able to see the inner workings of Adlehard’s new Empire, as the villain attempts to bring together what remains of the nefarious forces.

An Empire In Shambles

The Battle of Jaku – Republic Under Siege works best in its “quiet” moments, where the likes of Leia and Adlehard are having to make difficult decisions that entail diplomacy and politicking to make sure their visions come true. In terms of the New Republic, Leia attempts to forge a new democracy for the universe but is slowly realizing that in order to maintain peace, she might need to get her hands dirty. This is an interesting take on Leia as a character, presenting her with difficult choices that aren’t nearly as cut and dry as blowing up a Death Star.

I also had a lot of fun when it came to Adlehard’s story here, as he takes a somewhat similar approach to Leia, albeit more than willing to do whatever is needed to build his new Empire. There were many moving pieces that made up Palpatine’s regime and he was able to keep said pieces in check not only thanks to his Sith abilities but his cunning intellect and cruel intentions. Oskure acting as the devil in his ear works surprisingly well here, adding a nice contrast to Adlehard’s character. The Governor is a “true believer” of the Empire, and while it’s always going to be difficult to create a new villain to match what has come before, Adlehard is a nice change of pace.

RELATED: Star Wars Unlimited Twilight of the Republic Starter Set Review – A Stellar One-Two Punch for Clone Wars Fans

The Republic Has Cracks in The Foundation

One of the biggest problems I had with this first issue is that it takes place in the middle of a major storyline at the halfway mark. If you jump right into issue #1 here, you’ll definitely be more than a little confused as to what is happening for the characters involved, as I was. There’s a decent enough primer at the start but a first issue, to me, should always give some incentive to new readers.

Luke and Rynn’s story also feels weak in comparison to Leia and Adlehard’s respective ordeals, even with the inclusion of comic book favorite Dr. Aphra in the final page. Skywalker and his current ally mostly have one big fight scene and said scene somewhat falls flat amidst the other interesting tidbits that make up the premiere issue.

Star Wars: The Battle of Jaku – Republic Under Siege has some interesting things going for it, but has some chinks in its armor from making it a truly great comic. The series might have felt more worthwhile were it rolled into an ongoing Star Wars series rather than being a first issue but the overall arc is a fascinating one. This issue is a good one for Star Wars’ diehards but might not be a recommend for those unfamiliar with the inner workings of Marvel’s Star Wars universe.

Published By: Marvel Comics

On November 20th, 2024

Written By: Alex Segura

Art By: Stefano Raffaele & Jethro Morales

Colors By: Alex Sinclair & Jim Campbell

Letters By: VC’s Joe Caramagna

The post Star Wars: The Battle of Jaku – Republic Under Siege #1 Review: Not For Beginners appeared first on ComicBook.com.

What becomes of an old detective at the end of their days? Scott Snyder and Jock have told plenty of noirish tales, and the main character of their new DSTLRY series You Won’t Feel a Thing, having spent most of his life and career chasing serial killers, could likely have starred in a few of them. But what happens now that death has come for him, not in the form of a masked murderer but as a tumor applying increasing pressure on his brain? Can he go quietly into that dark night, or will unfinished business have him going down fighting?

Our terminally ill detective is living in an assisted living facility called, almost mockingly, Harmless House in the Montana town where he grew up. It’s also the Montana town where someone brutally murdered his first girlfriend, perhaps sparking his choice of career and obsession with the possibly invented serial killed he’s dubbed The Chatter Man.

While the night of that murder is decades in his past, the memories are kept fresh by recall exercises he undergoes with his aide. He’s asked to tell her what’s behind different doors, with each threshold leading to a different time in his life. While he only reports mundane details to her, the reader sees inside his mind, with Snyder providing internal monolog narrating a young boy’s first love and first time with the same smoky prose more often employed for scenes occurring in a P.I.’s office.

Doors and what hides behind them are recurring themes throughout the book, whether they contain a memory, an eager lover, or a violent killer. Snyder also positions the blank smiles of Harmless House’s denizens as suggestive of an emptiness within. It’s the same gleeful obliviousness the detective sees in his infant grandson’s face before the tumor turns it into something terrifying, reemphasizing the link between youth and the end of life established by the earlier flashback to his teenage years.

That blurring of the real and the unreal makes this the type of story Jock excels at. Using a style that is like a more controlled Bill Sienkiewicz, Jock’s thick black lines move between rigid and irregular with ease as the panels of his layouts seem to float above larger backgrounds, Lee Loughridge’s colors saturating the visuals with cool darkness or searing, violent warmth as the scene requires. He leaves no mark to indicate the gaps missing in time as we see events through our protagonist’s eyes, ensuring the disorientation and confusion hit us with the same impact as it hit him, relying on Snyder’s persistent narration to provide clear narrative continuity. 

“You won’t feel a thing” is a phrase told to those undergoing a frightening but necessary process. Maybe it’s going under anesthesia before surgery, or it’s letting go of one’s grip on one’s existence and transitioning to the other side of the ever-opaque door between life and death. Though it is never said, it’s the phrase that temps this detective as he grows closer to death and increasingly accepts his fading relevancy, even seeking it out to ease the pain that has lingered with him for years. Can he shrug that malaise off and face the pain again as The Chatter Man rears his head?

You Won’t Feel a Thing #1 is a moody debut issue loaded with pathos and undergirded with a nebulous mystery. Is The Chatter Man real? Is he connected to Harmless? Or is it more personal than that? Can we put to rest the demons lurking in the closets of our lives before turning out the light on our existence? Snyder and Jock offer no easy answers here, only a murky mist of unanswered questions and unreliable narrators, but that only makes the tale more engrossing. There’s an unmistakable sense that there’s more going on here beneath the surface, and You Won’t Feel a Thing #1 will have readers eager to keep digging.

Published by DSTLRY

On January 15th, 2025

Written by Scott Snyder

Art by Jock, Dom Reardon

Colors by Lee Loughridge, Jock

Letters by Andworld Design

Cover by Jock

The post You Won’t Feel a Thing #1 Advance Review: Twilight Noir That Pulls You In appeared first on ComicBook.com.

A new team of familiar creators injects some magic — literally — into Peter Parker’s life in The Amazing Spider-Man #61, kicking off the much-hyped “The 8 Deaths of Spider-Man” storyline. Writer Joe Kelly and artist Ed McGuinness have worked separately on The Amazing Spider-Man in the past and collaborated on several other projects, including the Spider-Man/Deadpool team-up series. The duo typically bring out the best in one another. That remains true with their reunion in the opening chapter “The 8 Deaths of Spider-Man,” which delivers pretty much what anyone would expect from a Spider-Man story but with extra polish and a gimmicky hook.

As The Amazing Spider-Man #61 begins, Peter Parker gets a triple dose of the “Parker Luck.” A run-in with a newbie villain called Burnout leads to him losing F.E.A.S.T. money that Aunt May had entrusted to him, breaking his camera, and missing a lunch date with his current girlfriend, Shay. Kelly brings the requisite repartee as Spider-Man workshops Burnout’s burgeoning supervillain career throughout the midair showdown, drawn with McGuinness’s (and inker Mark Farmer’s) signature strong, dynamic poses, fluid action, powerful splash pages, and energetic characterizations.

It’s practically the platonic ideal of a modern Spider-Man comic up until Doctor Doom shows up and tries to forcibly conscript Spidey into fulfilling something called “The Covenant,” at which point Spider-Man gets drug into a magical conflict that’s usually out of a wheelhouse. After initially refusing Doom’s cryptic call to action, a run-in with a scion of an eldritch god causes Spidey to reconsider. One flashback infodump and magically-enhanced new costume later and Spidey is weaving arcane webs against his powerful new foe in a battle preordained to end with the first of his eight-fold fatalities.

Amazing Spider-Man #61 repeatedly emphasizes that Spider-Man is out of his depth here, being a hero who typically deals with street crooks rather than extradimensional demons or cosmic gods. Visually, the idea is held up by the switch in artistic style when flashing back to the actions of young Doctor Strange that set the stage for the current story (depicted over a few gorgeous pages of Nico Henrichon artwork). Whether this attempt to paint Spider-Man as a B-list hero within the Marvel universe tracks with Spider-Man’s history is debatable — when he’s not playing the part of “Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,” Spidey has been involved with wars secret, civil, infinite, Hulk, and of the realms — Kelly seems determined to link Spidey not being a heavy-hitter in the hero space to Peter Parker’s inability to get his personal life together. Peter Parker and Spider-Man both need to level up and figuring out how to step up as Spider-Man may give Peter some insight into how to manage his hectic life without the mask.

[RELATED: 8 Deaths of Spider-Man: Where to Start Reading the New Era of The Amazing Spider-Man

That’s a fine enough premise, thematically, but the plot mechanics are hamfisted and tacky. Spider-Man ends up with another new costume. However, the frequency with which Marvel trots out new Spider-Man costumes saps the moment of any potential thematic weight even before noticing that the new suit is hardly Spidey’s best look. What’s worse is that this suit — or whatever magical incantation Doom used to summon it — seemingly downloaded all the magical know-how Peter needs to cast spells and wield magic powers on a whim. Thematically, it clashes with Spidey’s whole deal, granting him new power without any particular responsibility. More practically, it feels like a narrative shortcut, like a training montage without the montage.

Kelly and McGuinness can capably deliver a story in the tried and true Amazing Spider-Man mold, as the first half of this issue attests. They’re trying something different, which is commendable, but endowing Spidey with magical powers feels more like a stunt than a meaningful story. More depth may come as the story progresses. For now, readers are better off enjoying the nice art and snappy dialog.

Published By: Marvel Comics

On: November 13th, 2024

Written By: Joe Kelly

Art By: Ed McGuinness, Mark Farmer, Nico Henrichon

Colors By: Marcio Menyz

Letters By: Joe Caramagna

The post Amazing Spider-Man #61 Review: Old Spidey, New Magic appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s been a few years since Black Lightning had his own title, but the character returns with a new solo series from writer Brandon Thomas and artist Fico Ossio and it sees the hero, much as the rest of the heroes in the DC Universe following Absolute Power, dealing with not only the impact of his own personal experiences during Amanda Waller’s. machinations, but also a change in powers — not for himself necessarily, but for others around him. With the metahuman landscape changed, Jefferson Pierce finds himself leading the charge on a new outreach initiative to help those with their powers, but as is the case with almost all things Black Lightning, it’s not only a family affair but one that hits a little close to home when it comes to his own daughters, Thunder and Lightning. The net result is a kick off issue that feels both fresh and familiar for fans of the character while opening up a wider mystery about what is coming for the community-minded hero.

Black Lightning #1 opens with not only something of a recap of the basic events of Waller’s campaign against heroes but also reveals how what happened the night Amanda Waller won continues to impact Jefferson now that things have more or less righted themselves. Speaking with his ex-wife Lynn, Jefferson continues to struggle with the events of that night, particularly that he was at some point powerless to protect his daughters in the fight. It’s a moment that haunts Jefferson, but also appears to be driving him as well when it comes to the metahuman outreach initiative which we see him throw himself into along with his daughter, Jen, aka Lightning. The duo soon comes to the aid of a young man whose powers have manifested rapidly but even with their efforts, the story reveals something else. Everyone in the Pierce family is dealing with the fallout of what happened with Waller. Jefferson is perhaps overprotective, Jen is wanting to use her powers more, and as for Anissa/Thunder, she’s not even in Metropolis anymore, having gone to New Orleans and making very little contact with her family as a result. Soon enough, it’s revealed why. Anissa’s powers aren’t what they were before and Anissa has been hiding that from her family.

What works best about most Black Lightning stories is its unique rooting in family and community, and Thomas does an excellent job of that with this issue. For Black Lightning, the issues of the community are personal, which is part of what makes him an effective hero and with his outreach efforts as well as his own continued concern over his family — as well as the young man they help, who happens to be a student at the school Jefferson serves as principal for — the story is very grounded in that. What is perhaps a little less clear in the issue is the social and cultural issues brewing in Metropolis’ suburbs between humans and metahumans. We get a glimpse of this when Black Lightning responds to an issue at the high school. The young metahuman is cornered by police who are really only escalating the situation, but we don’t really get much of a sense of just how significant or problematic this is at this particular point. After all, the arrival of Black Lightning seems to neutralize things effectively and quickly. It begs the question as to what the focus of the overall series is going to be — Jefferson’s family concerns or a larger, more social-based conflict. Not that the overall story going forward can’t have both — and given the reveal about Anissa at the end of the issue it seems like that is the direction things are going — but just in this first issue the direction doesn’t seem quite that clear.

In terms of the art in the issue, Ossio does a good job of making everything have an electric and kinetic feel, even when the page or panel isn’t especially action oriented. This in particular works very well considering that both Black Lightning and Thunder have energy-based powers and it certainly seems like several of the new metahumans popping up have energy-based powers as well.  Between this and the way the story is presented, even with the denser moments setting up the mechanics of what is going on with the metahuman genes in this post-Waller situation, the story overall moves at a nice clip.

While Black Lightning #1 is a little light on the social and cultural aspects of the story, the issue leans into the strengths of the character overall. By centering the story and its mystery into the personal — specifically family — Black Lightning #1 creates a compelling story that not only resonates but helps further flesh out what the post-Absolute Power landscape looks like. It’s a solid read and it will be very interesting to see where things go from here.

Published by: DC Comics

On: November 13, 2024

Written by: Brandon Thomas

Art by: Fico Ossio

Colors by Ulises Arreola

Letters by Lucas Gattoni

Cover by Ossio & Arreola

The post Black Lightning #1 Review: Black Lightning’s Back appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The Heroes in a Half-Shell have crossed over into some wild universes in the past when it comes to the green siblings’ comic book history. Raphael, Leonardo, Donatello, and Michaelangelo have met the Dark Knight, the Masters of the Universe, the Power Rangers, the Ghostbusters, and even the kids of Stranger Things. Now however, one of their wildest and most anticipated crossovers of all time is right around the corner in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto, and we had the opportunity to check out the first issue early thanks to IDW Entertainment. If nothing else, the meeting of the four turtle siblings and Konoha’s finest is not what you might expect.

Our first issue of this epic crossover begins with April O’Neil already traveling with the original Team 7, aka Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, and Kakashi. In this new universe, April has visited with the current Hokage of the time, Lady Tsunade, to beg for help in returning to a very different New York City. As many comic book crossovers go, things go awry for this escort mission as Team 7 and their guest come into contact with the Foot Clan. This brand of the Foot is defeated soundly thanks to the arrival of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, living up to the superhero trope of fighting their potential allies thanks to a misunderstanding. While things wrap in a similar fashion to many comic crossovers, the final stinger is one that many won’t see coming.

To start, when it comes to comic book crossovers such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto, the question arises of how the beloved characters will meet. Rather than seeing the Heroes in a Half-Shell or Team 7 tripping the multiverse, the IDW mini-series presents the TMNT as being a part of the “Naruto-verse” from the jump. New York City is now “Big Apple Village” and the new designs for the turtles reflect a different landscape they now inhabit. While their origins might now be different, writer Caleb Goellner has an exceptionally good handle on all the characters involved.

One of the most interesting aspects of this crossover, and any comic book crossover that sees two universes smashed together, is how characters respond to these new interactions in some of the quieter moments. Highlights include Naruto and Sasuke reflecting on Baxter Stockman’s plans in relation to their own statuses and the dynamics between all the characters involved. Goellner plays well with the battles that he lays out before readers as we are able to see interesting interactions between the likes of Leonardo and Sasuke, Sakura and Raphael, and Donatello and Michaelangelo tag-teaming Naruto and his clones. It works well in terms of presenting the concept.

What doesn’t work nearly as well is how the premiere issue simply dives head-first into this new universe, which might come as confusing to many. To reiterate, this is a brand new world that sees the TMNT being a part of Naruto’s universe, rather than seeing the two original universes clash. For better or for worse, these are entirely new Turtles though this doesn’t have much of an effect on their overall personalities. The first issue could have benefitted a tad from taking things a little slower to start but these are ultimately minor qualms in a comic that delivers on what is ultimately promised.

There’s certainly fun to be had with the idea of “Big Apple Village” and how these new Heroes in a Half-Shell interact with their established universe. As mentioned earlier, one of the things I loved the most was the final panel stinger, promising that the pasts of all the characters involved might be far different from what many readers might have expected. Naruto has always been a series that works well at following the story of past generations and it’s looking as though this comic book crossover aims to follow this trend.

On the art front, Hendry Prasetya is a gift for this series, capturing a worthy blend of comic book art and the anime essentials that make the future Seventh Hokage and his allies pop. The direction of the panels, lush environments, and perhaps most importantly, the fast and furious battle scenes capture the spirits of all the characters involved. It’s a hard line to walk in terms of capturing the eclectic style of Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto, and while Prasetya doesn’t walk that same line, he pays homage to all the characters involved by capturing an anime aesthetic here.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto #1 is a ton of ninja fun, introducing interesting concepts and a brand new universe that many didn’t see coming. While there are a few hiccups in this premiere issue, they aren’t enough to water down the overall experience and there’s something to enjoy here for both fans of the Heroes in a Half-Shell and the Hidden Leaf Village’s Team 7 alike. This is a must-buy for fans of either franchise and I’m looking forward to what surprises the crossover has waiting in the wings.

Rating 4 Out Of 5

Published by IDW Publishing and Viz Media

On Wednesday, November 13th, 2024

Written by Caleb Goellner

Art by Hendry Prasetya

Colors by Raul Angulo

Letters by Ed Dukeshire

Cover by Jorge Jimenez

The post Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto #1 Review (Exclusive) appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Star Trek: Lower Decks is in the midst of its fifth and final season on Paramount+. However, anyone familiar with Star Trek’s multimedia history knows that a show’s season finale isn’t necessarily the final adventure for its crew. Star Trek: Lower Decks already made its debut in comics with a three-issue miniseries published by IDW Publishing in 2022 from writer Ryan North and artist Chris Fenoglio. Those issues were received well enough for IDW Publishing to greenlight a new ongoing series that will keep the U.S.S. Cerritos flying for the foreseeable future. North returns to write with Derek Charm taking over art duties (Fenoglio was presumably busy working with North on the excellent Star Trek: Lower Decks — Warp Your Own Way interactive graphic novel), and the debut issue suggests that the comics will be a worthy successor to the beloved show that spawned it.

Star Trek: Lower Decks #1 finds the Cerritos‘ Lower Deckers, especially Beckett Mariner, struggling with a series of mind-numbingly safe and efficient (boring) missions. Right as Mariner is reaching her breaking point and ready to turn to the holodeck for distraction, a real adventure materializes along with a mysterious, mostly forgotten Starship from Starfleet’s earliest days. She and her usual group of friends and colleagues — Brad Boimler, D’Vana Tendi, Samanthan Rutherford, and T’Lyn — volunteer to take part in the away mission to investigate and discover a mystery dating back to Kirk and Spock’s days on the Enterprise.

The issue hits all the comedic beats fans expect from a Lower Decks story. The rapid-fire use of opening establishing shots with episode titles overlain to emphasize the monotony that has recently overtaken hits exactly the balance of reverence for and subversion of Star Trek tropes that have come to define the show. North has shown a love of science in his other comics work, particularly his current run on Fantastic Four, and that same passion is on display as he crafts pseudo-scientific challenges and solutions for Tendi and Rutherford to gush about. Elsewhere, the issue pokes fun at certain uninterrogated assumptions of the Star Trek universe, such as humans overusing metaphors that wouldn’t make any sense to anyone without an Earth-based frame of reference, to equally hilarious effect, as well as the monumental discoveries that tended to be forgotten, due to early Trek’s episodic storytelling structure.

[RELATED: Star Trek: Lower Decks #1 Preview Reveals the Cerritos Crew’s Next Mission]

North punctuates nearly every page with asides from a faceless voice written in the gutter at the bottom. These comments exist outside the narrative but comment on whatever has transpired on that page’s panels. They’re funny but can interrupt the book’s flow and may diffuse a reader’s immersion in the story. It’s like watching an episode of television with a friend who can’t help interrupting with their amusing observations and commentary. In this case though, while I found the notes worth reading while progressing through the story, the reader may ignore them without worrying about coming off as rude and revisit them later to see what they missed.

Like Fenoglio before him, Charm does an excellent job of matching the style of Star Trek: Lower Decks. Complimenting mimicry may sound like faint praise at best. However, it’s a credit to Charm’s storytelling skills that while yes, the characters are on-model, the visual beats all allow the jokes to land with the right timing, and the framing and character expression perfectly telegraph whether the dialog should be received as setup, punchline, or just plain absurd. It all goes a long way toward inviting the reader to lose themselves in the misadventure.

Despite many being apprehensive of Star Trek: Lower Decks given how far it seemed to venture from what Star Trek had always been until then, fans have come to embrace the show and will lament its ending after five seasons. Those fans should take heart in the existence of Star Trek: Lower Decks #1, which promises future adventures that successfully translate the charm, heart, and humor of Lower Decks into a new medium. 

Published By: IDW Publishing

On: Wednesday, November 13th, 2024

Written By: Ryan North

Art By: Derek Charm

Letters By: Clayton Cowles

Cover by Derek Charm

The post Star Trek: Lower Decks #1 Review: Cerritos Strong appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Captain America and the Avengers receive a distress signal in outer space. Hopping aboard a Quinjet, Earth’s Mightiest Heroes fly to save the day, only to encounter the Xenomorphs. Maybe, they encounter face bursters that infect Wolverine, giving us a Xenomorph with an adamantium skeleton and a massive healing factor. For the most part, this seems like the making of a traditional crossover between Marvel’s premiere superhero team and some of cinema’s scariest creatures. Jonathan Hickman and Esad Ribic have not taken this route and in creating a story that is so unexpected and against the grain, have perhaps created one of the greatest crossovers for either franchise.

Things are not looking good for the Avengers in our second issue of this crossover epic. Earth’s Mightiest Heroes are much older than readers are used to and the tide is turning against them. While Tony Stark has been able to wade off the advances of Weyland Yutani in the board room, thanks in part to wielding some Iron Man-esque tricks up his sleeve, the elderly Avenger has come to a horrifying conclusion. Humanity is doomed and the Avengers need to save who they can. In what might be a final display of heroism for some of Marvel’s finest, the final pages of issue two introduce a very interesting element to the conflict which might put a hamper on humanity’s chances for survival.

A Comic Book Crossover For The Ages

Jonathan Hickman is a genius in terms of world-building, having a firm grasp on the characters that are a part of whatever sandbox he is helping to build. Aliens Vs. Avengers feels as grand as Secret Wars, arguably one of Marvel Comics’ greatest crossover which both Hickman and Ribic were in charge of. This fact helps create a different, more earth-shattering feel for this crossover, helping readers to invest more in these characters that act as reflections of the Avengers of Earth 616. On top of this, Hickman has weaved a very different threat to the world at large.

The alien scourge, which is currently overwhelming humanity and threatening its very existence, is far from the only threat that is facing Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. In working on this story, Hickman is truly incorporating all the elements of the “Alien Universe” to present a multi-tiered threat to the Avengers. Weyland-Yutani and its androids specifically almost act like Hickman’s “Builders”, a key part of the writer’s Avengers run that kept the band of superheroes on their toes. In the final pages, we are given a look at the Engineers, a long tenant in the Alien universe that offers a very different threat. Aliens Vs. Avengers is a story that hits the heroes on all sides and it makes for an amazing read in doing so. This series is the pinnacle example of “expect the unexpected.”

In extrapolating this point, I need to point out Miles Morales and the hilarious new symbiote that Brooklyn’s friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is partnering with. It’s an ingenious way to blend the two universes together and that is such a strength here for Hickman that it’s worth focusing on that point specifically. The merging of these two universes feels so natural that you could see it happening in either landscape, which is another major strength of the series.

Abandon Earth

Of course, a great comic book series needs a great artist to accompany a writer and Esad Ribic once again hits the heights of his career with this story. Ribic can both capture the menace of the xenomorph scourge and the heroism intrinsic in what is left of humanity in their final push for survival. While the Avengers might look greatly different from what we’ve seen in the past, you can tell through Ribic’s art who is supposed to be who and the emotion that is apparent on their faces in this darkest hour.

Aliens Vs. Avengers is an example of what truly can be done in the world of comic book crossovers. In the past, we’ve seen both the Aliens and the Predators creating some fantastic crossovers in meeting with the likes of Batman, Superman, The Justice League, Wolverine, and more, but Hickman and Ribic are on another level with this series. I am hard-pressed to think of anything I don’t like about this series, turning each page on the edge of my seat, and I can’t wait to see how the creative team brings this one to an end.

Published By: Marvel Comics

On: Wednesday, November 6th, 2024

Written By: Jonathan Hickman

Art By: Esad Ribic

Colors By: Ive Svorcina

Letters By: VC’s Cory Petit

The post Aliens Vs. Avengers #2 Review: The Makings of A Pitch-Perfect Crossover appeared first on ComicBook.com.

What happens when you combine spiritualism, Edwardian England, and John Wick? The answer is Jamie McKelvie’s One For Sorrow and while that trio of elements may sound like they don’t go together, One For Sorrow #1 comes together to deliver an intriguing tale of class, crime, and revenge all while wrapping it in a mystery that keeps the reader guessing on nearly every page. It’s not a perfect kick off for the series — there are some parts of the issue where things feel a little dense and it isn’t clear how things connect — but there’s an epic twist at the end that sets everything up for an intriguing ride going forward.

One For Sorrow opens up in the East End of London in 1900 where a man finds himself stalked by a seemingly otherworldly entity that knows details of his greatest sin: he not only looked the other way when it came to some murders but kept the secret about what happened for a decade. It’s a scene that sets the tone before we get a bit of a jarring shift to an upper-class afternoon where a woman of some wealth and her friends prepare to see a medium in the hope of confirming that she has some sort of aristocratic heritage — Mrs. Sutton and her husband it seems are new wealth trying to prove they “belong”.  But the seance doesn’t exactly go as planned for the paying customers when there’s a terrifying display from the “other side” that leads to a further appointment and deeper revelations on the true nature of the medium. We also get the story of a barmaid named Bess who is doing her best to get in good with the shady businessmen operating out of the pub where she works all while in another story, a long-retired detective is again on a case. The individual stories seem unconnected, but by the time we get to the final pages, there’s a shocking revelation that changes everything and makes clear exactly how it’s all connected — and that there is a young woman who is not only seeking revenge for those murders mentioned in the opening, but who may have a little something supernatural going on herself.

Overall, One For Sorrow is a strong comic. McKelvie does a very good job of creating a compelling mystery and populating it with characters that you want to know more about. Bess, the barmaid, is a particularly interesting figure, one who becomes even more fascinating by the time you get to the final pages of the issue — and without getting too into spoilers, there’s a pretty important revelation about her that really amplifies things. When the twist at the end pulls the individual stories presented in the issue together, that’s when the comic really works because the wildly different characters we’re introduced to start to make sense. It’s just the getting there that takes a little patience. Individually, the story about Mrs. Sutton and the medium as well as Bess’s story in the pub are both interesting without any other connections, though in a vacuum the detective’s introduction as well as the tone-setting cold open both seem ill fits. This leads to a few places where the reader may need to pause and ask if they are reading one cohesive story or parts of an anthology. While that ultimately is a narrative choice to make the twist regarding the masked figure from the opening work, it does slow things down a bit.

Artistically, One For Sorrow is a nice book to look at. McKelvie makes great use of realism in the art which gives the characters a great deal of expression. It’s in those expressions that much of the story is told. There’s strong communication of emotion and atmosphere in the faces of his characters — something that works even in the mask of the mysterious, potentially supernatural being we’re introduced to in the opening, the terrifying Magpie Killer. This in particular works well because while there isn’t a ton of high-octane action in this issue, it’s made clear through the art that Magpie is not to be messed with, which makes things both fascinating and just a little chilling. Even the use of color does a good bit of storytelling, as the palette changes from setting to setting and enhances the overall experience.

Ultimately, One For Sorrow #1 is a really solid, intriguing start for a series. It has interesting characters, a unique setting that feels worth exploring, and the central mystery – or more accurately, the motivation of our unifying character – is a fascinating one. With strong art that conveys a lot of subtext and emotion, this is a story with plenty of layers to be peeled back. Once you get past some of the parts that feel dense and perhaps a little disconnected, the result is a story that makes you eager for the next issue so you can keep reading and it will be interesting to see where things go from here.

Published by DSTLRY

On November 6, 2024

Written by: Jamie McKelvie

Art by: McKelvie

Colors by: McKelvie, Courtney Vokey

Letters by: Ariana Maher

The post One For Sorrow #1 Review: John Wick Meets Edwardian England appeared first on ComicBook.com.

At first, Jason Aaron and Rafa Sandoval’s Absolute Superman #1 doesn’t feel like a dramatic departure from what we know. The table setting of this new Krypton, while different, has a lot of familiar elements, especially for other modern interpretations of the planet. This has been a guiding force of DC’s new Absolute titles; enough of a familiarity that the character is recognizable but using that as a means to jump into all-new realms. Absolute Batman making Bruce not wealthy but also giving him a living parent are two pillars that change who this version of the character is compared to the mainline Batman, but they don’t fundamentally alter the base nature of the character. The same can be said here, as Absolute Superman remixes much of the Kryptonian elements of his origin while still positioning the title hero as a powerful figure fighting for the powerless.

Krypton in the Absolute realm is a planet where hierarchy is everything, and the sigils on everyone’s chests reflect their status in the world. The science guild with their red sun emblem rule the planet, while the laborers, with their “S” symbols, are the lowest rung on the ladder. One of the biggest twists in this realm isn’t that Superman’s parents are simply laborers on Krypton, in fact they’re both smart and capable scientists destined for greatness, but because they dared to threaten the status quo they were cast aside and thrust into the lowest class stature. This is Aaron not only rooting Superman’s personal heroic mission fully within his Kryptonian roots, but also making the destruction of the planet deeply personal for Superman’s family. Their pleas to preserve Krypton for the future are ignored because they’re seen as disruptors.

Sandoval’s take on Krypton is one of the best elements of Absolute Superman as he takes on a new hierarchy of the planet and a new look for Superman’s home planet that feels fresh. Not only are the varying outfits, robes, and suits on display have grounded sci-fi roots, but they’re also character building in major ways; even the terrain of Krypton has new threats and fun color schemes.  The contrast between Krypton and Earth is stark as well. While Sandoval and color artist Ulises Arreola a gem-like hue thanks to its red sun, Earth looks dank, depressing, and sour. This is clearly thanks not only to the celestial body in the sky but how the world itself (at least the places Superman is living in) have become overrun by unchecked capitalism. It’s a clear line in the sand for the series to take, and one in line with what Siegel and Shuster were doing decades before.

The final third of Absolute Superman is where it is officially off to the races. This is not only when Aaron and Sandoval deliver the issue’s biggest action moments but where its biggest swings for the fences are revealed. Not only is there a major surprise revealed with Superman’s costume, but the antagonists that he’s facing in combat as well. It’s not super surprising to see soldiers in Peacemaker costumes acting as Judge Dredd-like enforcers, but the other familiar faces working for Lazarus that fundamentally alter the world.

Another interesting contrast piece that’s present in this section of Absolute Superman #1 are the two sides of Superman himself. The version that he presents to the public lurks in the shadows and does his best not to be seen, but when he does speak to people it is always to try and remain hidden, to not be noticed. It’s a defense mechanism, in the same way that the Clark Kent we know in the main book is a disguise, this version that tries to keep everyone at an arms length

On the flipside, when Superman is forced to engage and fight off the Lazarus Corporation goons we can see that he is still a fully capable fighter, but also one who wears his heart on his sleeve. In a key moment he laments “The workers are in danger, and it’s all my fault,” confirming that no matter the universe, Superman is pro-labor, but also showing us the compassion that Absolute Superman has in his core. 

Sandoval and Arreola take Superman’s powers to a unique place, really depicting the raw power that his speed, heat vision, and more, as being explosive forces. These aren’t just superpowers that inspire awe, they elicit fear and the sheer potential seen in these panels make it clear that the world shakes when Superman moves.

Absolute Superman’s stunning visuals are the thing that make it a must-read as the visual stylings of Krypton and Superman’s actual powers are the areas where, as a reinvention, it really thrives. There are also plenty of moments of intrigue where Aaron is planting seeds for the major moments of reinvention, though some of them are deliberately obscured here. That said, Superman’s costume and powers are perhaps its biggest swings in terms of taking narrative chances, but what’s clear at its core is that this is still Superman, not something else with a new label on it.

Published By: DC Comics

On: November 5, 2024

Written By: Jason Aaron

Art By: Rafa Sandoval

Colors By: Ulises Arreola

Letters By: Becca Carey

The post Absolute Superman #1 Review: When Superpowers Become a Force To Be Reckoned With appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Holiday anthologies aren’t uncommon in direct market comics. DC puts out a cleverly named anthology issue for practically every major celebration, and Marvel Comics has a superhero-stuffed Christmas-themed anthology set to hit shelves later this year. However, DSTLRY seems to be making a play to turn the most popular holidays into opportunities to showcase top talents working outside of the superhero or corporate-owned comics ecosystem. The Halloween-themed Come Find Me: An Autumnal Offering proved much more artistically ambitious and impactful than your typical, breezy holiday comic book showcase even as it reveled in the spooky season’s ominous atmosphere.

DSTLRY will attempt to do the same for the winter holidays with Through the Boughs: A Yuletide Offering, a Christmasy anthology that is no less ambitious than Come Find Me but goes against the grain of the traditional holiday spirit more than it embraces it. 

That subversive disposition is displayed from the start with the anthology’s opening story, “The Man in the Blood-Red Coat” by Patrick McHale and Jim Campbell of Over the Garden Wall fame. As the title hints, it’s a story about viewing Santa Claus from a perspective inverted from the one most holiday revelers assume. While young human children anticipate Santa Claus’s arrival as they expect him to bring a reward for their good behavior throughout the year, goblins, for whom supposedly naughty behavior is the norm, tell a different tale of a home invader who leaves odd, unwanted gifts. It’s a playful story, with subtle depth, drawn with off-kilter charm — you’ve never seen true joy until you’ve seen these goblin children relishing a frozen frog treat.

Sweeney Boo’s “The Yule Beast” follows and couldn’t be more different in tone. The story of a mighty cat-like beast hiding in the winter woods and meeting a wandering woman and her infant child as they each attempt to evade pursuit is beautifully drawn with bold visuals and icy polish. Still, the plot feels underdeveloped, unfortunately coming to its close only as it seemed to be beginning.

[RELATED: Come Find Me: An Autumnal Offering Review: A Collection of Dark Delights]

James Tynion IV and Jensine Eckwell’s “Crumbs” reads like a twisted holiday fairy tale. Thematically similar to “The Man in the Blood-Red Coat,” it tells the story of a town that has come to dread Christmas rather than find joy in it as each year its citizens are tormented by an elf with strange and unsettling predilections. The story stands out as much for its presentation as its subject matter, looking like traditional woodblock prints with added crimson accents, primarily used on Crumbs himself.

“Sol Saunter” by Molly Mendoza feels like something meant to be read in a winter haze. Its zodiac-themed story meanders through pages reminiscent of Little Nemo strips, each with an inventive layout that the characters within often choose to ignore as they lean into the adjacent openings, all colored with muted warmth. The dreamlike quality of the tale leaves a mark and the pages are worth poring over on return visits.

“The Goat King’s Son” by Ryan Andrews is built like a winter myth. It’s the tale of a royal family locked in a cycle of death and rebirth. Its patriarch must chase a goat god around the globe and ultimately behead it to release the light that ends 12 days of darkness, only for the goat to be reborn again, stealing away the light once more and bringing back the darkness. Like the strongest stories of myth, it packs a lot of meaning and subtext into its economical plot. The artwork gives the story a lot of energy, especially the colors that deftly use light to emphasize its themes dramatically.

The book closes with “Pulsar” by K. Wroten, another story with a touch of fairytale and myth but of a more ominous nature. Set in a world whose sun has seemingly become dangerously unstable, forcing most people to live entirely indoors, it plays with generational memory and the tension between faith and science. There’s wonderful detail in the art, and thick textured linework, and while the story’s ending may be too opaque for some, it will likely linger with readers for a while after they’ve flipped to the back cover.

Through the Boughs is a Christmastime anthology that draws on a different time, before holiday entertainment became all good cheer and Hallmark Channel movies, back when the coming of winter still came with a hint of dread. It’s an anthology for those who remember that A Christmas Carol is a ghost story and appreciate it all the more for it, and it’s likely best red by a fire — preferably one built outdoors beneath the trees on a night when the snow is falling. 

Published by DSTLRY

On December 11, 2024

Written by various 

Art by various

Colors by various

Letters by various

Cover by Jenn Ely

The post Through the Boughs: A Yuletide Offering Review: Not Your Typical Christmas Stories appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Happy new comic book day! It’s another major week in comics, and the ComicBook staff have come together to break down and review as many of the big comics releasing this week as possible. Now obviously this isn’t every single comic on stands, but we’re breaking down new releases from Marvel, DC, Image Comics, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse, Dynamite, Oni Press, IDW, Mad Cave Studios, DSTLRY, and more!

We’ve also carved out some additional space for three of this week’s biggest books, including The Amazing Spider-Man #60, It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour #1, and Poison Ivy/Swamp Thing: Feral Trees #1, so if our smaller review here piques your interest, make sure to check out the full review for a much more comprehensive analysis of all three issues. As for ratings, we keep things simple with a whole or half number out of five, and you can check out some of our previous reviews right here. With all that said, let’s get to this week’s new comics!

DC

Action Comics #1073
Other than the Superboy subplot that is wedged in the middle of things (and that, at this point, feels like it should have been a backup story rather than a subplot), Action Comics #1073 is outstanding. The issue sees Superman come face to face with Aethyr but then in a surprising twist finds himself in a much more dire situation when his attempt to find the way home goes sideways and lands him in an entirely different idea of home. What really works here is the centering of the story around the idea of what Jor-El really did in the creation of the Phantom Zone prison while still delivering on some high-stakes action. As for the Supergirl backup story, we get a little bit more about the mysterious prisoner, but the overall story still feels like a puzzle box that is moving towards solution at an almost too-slow pace. It’s interesting, but it just feels like there could be more. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 4 out of 5

Batman: The Long Halloween – The Last Halloween #2
Batman: The Long Halloween The Last Halloween #2 continues the slow burn of the story kicked off with the first issue, but keeps things moving by adding interesting elements, such as the arrival of the FBI — who has their own agenda — and by having Batman miss an important clue along the way. The tone of this issue is much more consistent than the first, particularly with Robin, and that also gives this issue a bit more gravity to it and makes it a bit more interesting, both to those unfamiliar with the original The Long Halloween and those who know it chapter and verse. The art fits the overall vibe very nicely as well.
– Nicole Drum
Rating: 4 out of 5

Poison Ivy/Swamp Thing: Feral Trees #1
DC has delivered the team-up I didn’t know I needed right in time for Halloween in a new one-shot special titled Poison Ivy/Swamp Thing: Feral Trees. As the title suggest, the issue brings Poison Ivy and Swamp Thing together in a haunting and emotionally complex adventure that conveys a clearer understanding of Swampy and Ivy’s roles in the protection of the green and how the Parliament of Trees fits into that equation and how they perceive outsiders. Poison Ivy/Swamp Thing: Feral Trees #1 keeps you hooked on the greater mystery and emotionally invested in the people in the center of it all the way through, and it’s an adventure you won’t want to miss.
– Matthew Aguilar (Read the full review here)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

The Nice House By The Sea #4
James Tynion IV finds new layers as he continues to dig deeper not only into his characters but in the larger plot of Night House by the Sea as well. As things continue to open up and reveal the broader picture, questions still linger, making the entire thing all the more intriguing. Series art by co-creator Álvaro Martínez Bueno remains the high point of experiencing the series though as he not only captures specific moods and styles (this issue depicts security camera footage and actually making it terrifying). Jordie Bellaire’s color work also remains an MVP, elevating the already great images to new heights.
– Spencer Perry
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Marvel

Captain America #14
The most surprising thing about this Captain America run is that it’s somehow still going on. Issue #14 brings Thor and Spider-Man into the fold to try and give Steve some familiar faces to fight alongside. Their additions are more hurtful than helpful. Neither one of them are written particularly well, with Spider-Man feeling like the most frustrating of the two. This continues, month after month, to be one of the most baffling books in Marvel’s lineup.
– Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 1.5 out of 5

Namor #4
Namor is awesome. I tried to think of a more eloquent, intelligent way to phrase that, but that’s not necessary. “Namor is awesome” is exactly what needs to be said right now. This saga from Jason Aaron is already a gripping, complicated tale about a fallen king wrestling with his past in order to save the future of a people that hate him. Now we’re adding an entire army of sentient beings made of the seaweed and coral reef that have been relentlessly abused over the years? It just doesn’t get much better than this. An absolute bruiser of a book week after week. – Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 5 out of 5

NYX #4
NYX has been quietly putting together one of the more compelling corners of the X-Men universe, and it feels as if NYX #4 is the true boiling point that will shift the series into its next gear. Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly have successfully woven Ms. Marvel into the fabric of the X-Men saga in a natural and organic way, and her interactions with Prodigy and Sophie are major parts of why NYX #4 works so well. Kamala is the heart and soul of this book, but as we’ve learned with the character in the past, one of her most important powers is the ability to relate to others in a meaningful way and get through when most others can’t, paving the way for welcome turns and heartbreaking turns in equal measure. Artist Enid Balam and colorist Raul Angulo pull on the heartstrings throughout the issue in several key scenes, but they also deliver frenetic action sequences that take advantage of the cast’s dynamic power set. Also, Julian looks like an absolute powerhouse in several of these sequences, and that last page has my hyped for an anticipated and long awaited throwdown. NYX has carved out a unique identity within the X-Books and is really starting to hit its stride at the right time. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 4 out of 5

Phases of The Moon Knight #3
This has been a really great concept for an anthology story. The nature of Moon Knight makes for a story that can span numerous characters, time periods, and settings, and the series has done an excellent job of finding little corners where magic can come alive. Not every story is as good as the others, but they’ve all been enjoyable to some degree.
– Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 3 out of 5

Predator vs. Black Panther #3
Benjamin Percy has proven himself already to be well suited to writing these types of epic crossovers for Marvel. Percy weaves a tight narrative that not only respect the lore of Marvel’s hero and his home but also the larger Predator franchise, making them work together and mingle in a way that only works in comics. This issue features artwork by pencilers Chris Allen & Sean Damien Hill (with inks by Craig Yeung & Jonas Trindade and colors by Erick Arciniega) and that many cooks in the kitchen has resulted in some inconsistent art on the whole. Larger pages that deliver huge splashes and tell the story across unique fragmented images are the best, while the traditional pages often leave something to be desired. That said, Predator vs Black Panther continues to impress.
– Spencer Perry
Rating: 4 out of 5

Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku – Insurgency Rising #3
There’s a good idea at the core of Insurgency Rising, it’s just a shame the book itself can’t reach quite as high. It’s scattered, both in its writing and its art. There’s little consistency with these characters and none of it ever feels particularly new. This is unfortunately just another stab at trying to tell fresh stories in a period of Star Wars canon that has been exhaustively explored. – Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 2 out of 5

The Amazing Spider-Man #60
Zeb Wells’ Spider-Man run is one that has been met with some major controversy thanks to some of the wild swings that it took with its story. The writer introduced us to the now infamous “Paul”, gave Mary Jane superpowers, stepped up Tombstone’s game, introduced the most villainous Ben Reilly to date, and even sent Spidey spiraling into the underworld. For all the flaws that Wells’ run might have had, the creator goes a long way in his final issue to not only pay tribute to Peter Parker but give a worthwhile ending to nearly every plot point that he introduced over the years. – Evan Valentine (Read the full review here)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Ultimate X-Men #8
Ultimate X-Men has some interesting elements and character beats that are a part of this new take on Marvel’s merry mutants but unfortunately, the series remains misplaced in terms of being the forefront of the Ultimate Universe in relation to the X-Men. Peach Momoko is able to give this series some really solid art but the story itself is one that just doesn’t resonate in the same way as its Ultimate counterparts. It feels…”off” in many regards in that it is a scattershot series that would work as an independent story but being the premiere Ultimate X-Men story hampers it. It just all feels extremely disconnected with its characters. This isn’t to say that it doesn’t have some noteworthy moments but they are not enough to right this ship’s trajectory. It’s really a shame but there are simply too many puzzle pieces that don’t fit here to truly make it stand toe-to-toe with the other Ultimates.
– Evan Valentine
Rating 2.5 out of 5

Wolverine: Revenge #3
One thing that I was expecting from Wolverine: Revenge, based on Hickman and Capullo’s first two issues, is plenty of blood and violence surrounding the Canucklehead. What I didn’t see coming was one of my favorite Logan and Deadpool interactions that I think I’ve ever read. In this alternate universe, Wade Wilson made a decision that means forgiveness might forever be out of his grasp, as Wolverine reminds him here. This story might not be “canon” but what the creative team is doing here might just give us one of the pinnacle Wolverine stories in Marvel history. There’s a lot to love in this tale of revenge and I’m beyond interested to see what takes place next when it comes to Logan’s journey, especially considering how this latest issue came to an end. – Evan Valentine
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Image Comics

Feral #7
The only thing that could make Feral more of a tension-filled affair has found its way into the series, and that comes in the form of three adorable little kittens. In Feral #7 the ice starts to subside and with it new dangers approach, and watching Elsie and Gigi try and navigate those unpredidtable dangers is as stressful as it is riveting. At this point I feel personally attacked by Tony Fleecs, Trish Forstner, Tone Rodriguez, and Brad Simpson for how long I find myself forgetting to breathe as the story twists and turns, and that still didn’t prepare me for one truly unexpected cliffhanger by issue’s end. Feral continues to be must read each and every single month, and now the long wait for Feral #8 begins.
– Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 5 out of 5

It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour #1
While we are still getting to know the overall world of Hyde Street in the main comic, It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour #1 makes for a strong and impressive introduction to the lure of the world. By speaking to something that is so relatable and unfortunately common for many by taking on the obsession with being thin, Devour #1 reminds readers just how easy it is to succumb to the lure of a quick fix with no thought to the consequences. The result is a horror that maybe isn’t full of jump scares or gore, but settles right into the thoughts and is deeply uncomfortable less for the world the story inhabits, but for the world the reader actually exists in. – Nicole Drum (Read the full review here)
Rating: 5 out of 5

Kaya #22
Kaya concludes its journey down the Dragon Road in stunning fashion. The issue begins with Kaya’s portentous dream but from the moment she awakes onward, it maintains a fast pace as she, Jin, and their mysterious new ally Razel try to escape from Atrian pursuers. As always, Wes Craig impresses with his unconventional character designs and creative layouts but Tom Nopalitano’s lettering stands out in this issue for ably conveying tones, timbre, and meaning with emphasis, shape, and color. This issue’s plot feels a bit thin and also light on character development — Kaya and Jin begin the issue divided over how much they should trust Razel and they don’t budge any from those positions — but makes up for it danger and adventure as it successfully ramps up the tension as it leads into a situation where Kaya and company are stuck between a robot army and a haunted city. After the previous, much weightier arc, “Kaya and the Dragon Road” proves lighter and much more visceral, making for a nice change of pace in this gripping journey.
– Jamie Lovett
Rating: 4 out of 5

Violent Flowers #2
Violent Flowers #2 spends most of the issue explaining things before sending Carnelia after Erzsebet at a strange, supernatural party that doesn’t exactly go as planned. It is certainly an interesting take on vampire stories with a strange, sexy edge, but the issue is hampered by both a lot and nothing really happening along with some somewhat cliche dialogue during the confrontation. A bit of a cliffhanger closes the issue and pushes the story forward, but it is otherwise a bit of a mixed bag. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 3 out of 5

Other Publishers

Anansi Boys #5
The screwball comedy of it all intensifies in Anansi Boys #5 as Spider takes Fat Charlie’s place at work for the date and his lunch date with Rosie. Meanwhile, Charlie wakes up to find an unfamiliar woman with him in bed and his would-be mother-in-law at his front door. Charlie’s confusion and exasperation are appropriately inverse to Spider’s natural charm as he fills in for his brother in some helpful ways and some less so. There’s a bit of an unexplained plot hole in that Rosie’s mother never really explains why she showed up at Charlie’s home if she thought he’d be at work anyway — Perhaps she planned to slide the paperwork about the upcoming wedding under his door, but then why knock at all? — but there are also some sly artistic touches, with Graham Coates drawn every bit as small in Spider’s presence as Charlie once did upon entering the boss’s office. Setting aside the one plot tangle, it’s a charming issue with the art to match. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 4 out of 5

Kill All Immortals #4
Finding interesting angles for immortal beings can be difficult, but Kill All immortals has an excellent angle that makes for a compelling read. Mixing this father/daughter rivalry and morality play with an organized crime saga is just really exciting stuff. These characters are fully realized and they fit seamlessly into the world that’s being created. – Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Night Club 2 #3
Who knew that all it would take is a change of scenery for Mark Millar’s style to actually feel fresh. The scribe continues to explore superhero tropes through the lens of a horror comic in Night Club 2 and since he’s not making sure to have a piece of shock value every other page there’s a nice rhythm to the story. Night Club 2’s real highlight however remains the artwork by Juanan Ramírez with colors by Fabiana Mascolo, as the pair have created a distinct look that combines pop-superhero artwork with moody grim horror. The result is stunning splash pages and reveals when you turn the page that makes your jaw drop.
– Spencer Perry
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

‘Patra #3
‘Patra #3 is part crime, part horror and while there is a lot of promise in the story of Patra hunting down the crazed killer Jeremy Jones, there’s a lot of character development and particularly dialogue between Patra and her sister that feels a little drawn out and very tedious when we could, at three issues in, already be getting further in the story. It’s also not quite clear yet what is really going on which is something that we should have some inkling about at this point. Still, the chase is interesting and if things ever really come together, it could be a cool story. Right now it’s just lot of extra that doesn’t fully come together. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Power Rangers Across The Morphin Grid #1
Power Rangers fans have seen a number of their favorite Rangers appear in the comics, but with Power Rangers Across The Morphin Grid, they have a chance to see those characters written by the people that brought them to life on the screen. Across The Morphin Grid is a one-shot special featuring five stories from franchise favorites, including David Yost, Nakia Burrise (with JD Sutphin), Steve Cardenas (with Mat Groom), Walter Jones, and Meghan Camarena, and while some are stronger than others, they all capture the core elements that made their characters such favorites to begin with. Billy’s Metamorphosis takes a trip to the future with out of this world style thanks to Patrick Mulholland and Ellie Wright, while Tanya’s Heavy-Metal Rescue is a thrilling Alpha team-up with the stellar art of Tango and JP Jordan. In The Red by Groom, Cardenas, Anand Ramcheron, and Francesco Segala might be my favorite in terms of highlighting the underrated aspects of a Ranger. An Apple A Day is solid and has some fun moments, though the issue ramps up the fun with Camarena, Paulina Ganucheau, and Rebecca Good’s hilarious Chloe’s Chaos Kitchen, which is the type of HyperForce absurdity we’ve missed so much. Overall it’s a thoroughly entertaining one-shot that will delight fans of the franchise. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 4 out of 5

Red Sonja #15
While the art in Red Sonja #15 leaves a bit to be desired, story wise it’s an interesting read. I am admittedly jumping into this one blind, but the issue overall does a surprising job of getting the reader up to speed without being overly repetitive about what is happening and what Sonja is facing. There is also plenty of action to keep things moving as well as Sonja finds herself trying to run from death only to end up in a dire situation. There are seemingly real stakes here which makes it all that much more interesting. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 3 out of 5

Sonic The Hedgehog #74
Sonic the Hedgehog #74 brings the series’ racing arc to a satisfying climax. The villain is revealed, and the endgame is set in motion, but what’s charming is that it doesn’t fall entirely to the heroes. Regular folks doing their jobs and looking out for another also play a crucial role. Whether the idea that a villain’s wrongdoing being revealed would lead to their downfall or any real consequences is wholesome or naive will likely be determined by each reader’s level of cynicism. The artwork gives the issue a comic, cartoonish energy, with layouts providing the perfect timing for certain comedic bits and the story playing out at a lively pace.  As multiple points of tension hang in the balance and lives are on the line, Sonic and most of the book’s major characters spring into action, teeing up what’s shaping up to be a fun, kinetic, and dramatic finale. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 4 out of 5

The post Comic Book Reviews for This Week: 10/30/2024 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

DC has delivered the team-up I didn’t know I needed right in time for Halloween in a new one-shot special titled Poison Ivy/Swamp Thing: Feral Trees. As the title suggest, the issue brings Poison Ivy and Swamp Thing together in a haunting and emotionally complex adventure that conveys a clearer understanding of Swampy and Ivy’s roles in the protection of the green and how the Parliament of Trees fits into that equation and how they perceive outsiders. Poison Ivy/Swamp Thing: Feral Trees #1 keeps you hooked on the greater mystery and emotionally invested in the people in the center of it all the way through, and it’s an adventure you won’t want to miss.

A Delightful Team-Up

Swamp Thing and Poison Ivy make for a compelling duo throughout the special, both in terms of their core personalities and in their relationship with the green. While there is a bigger story unfolding, this is just as much a character study of Swampy and Ivy, and their differing approaches play off each other extremely well.

G. Willow Wilson continues to work her Ivy magic, and the character has rarely felt more human, especially when contrasted by the patience and bluntness Swampy regularly displays. Ivy’s ability to act at a moment’s notice and her directness in that action is put up against the at times seemingly plodding nature of Swampy and the Parliament of Trees, and though assumptions are made when these two mentalities collide, fans will likely come away with a new appreciation for both characters and their approaches by story’s end.

Speaking of appreciation, plenty is reserved for artist Mike Perkins, colorist Mike Spicer, and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. Their Swamp Thing is a sight to behold, especially in regards to his facial expressions and how the team utilizes the shadows created by the vines that overtake parts of his face. Swampy can go from menacing to contemplative on a dime, and yet the more you learn about the character the more you realize it’s really the same tempered personality in all those instances.

[RELATED: Did The Penguin Just Tease Batman Villain Poison Ivy?]

The juxtaposition of personalities isn’t the only driving force however, as the exploration of what it means to serve and be a part of the green is also of great importance, and creates the space for some truly enlightening conversations. It’s not just Ivy and Swamp Thing having those conversations either, as a few other surprise characters are also found along the way, and each one has something unique to add to the discussion.

An Emotional Core

There’s one particular person at the center of all this discussion as the story progresses, providing yet another lens in which to view Ivy’s humanity and empathy, as well as Swamp Thing’s cold assessments. That’s selling him short in a way however, as it’s a matter of perspective, and Swamp Thing and the Parliament of Trees decided where they were standing long ago. There’s no clearly right answer to some of these questions, and that’s part of what makes how these characters react and which sides they choose so compelling.

The work from the art team on Ivy and Swampy is to be applauded, but so is their work on this particular element of the story. The haunting shadows and snow covered trees of the forest fade into equally dour flashbacks, even as the sun and bright lights try to pierce through. Those final pages are just as impactful if not more so, and will likely leave an impression on anyone, regardless of who they ended up siding with more.

I didn’t expect Poison Ivy/Swamp Thing: Feral Trees to leave that sort of impression, but it certainly did, and everyone should have a chance to experience it.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Published By: DC Comics
Written By: G. Willow Wilson
Art By: Mike Perkins
Colors By: Mike Spicer
Letters By: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

The post Poison Ivy / Swamp Thing: Feral Trees #1 Review – Haunting of The Green appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Zeb Wells’ Spider-Man run is one that has been met with some major controversy thanks to some of the wild swings that it took with its story. The writer introduced us to the now infamous “Paul”, gave Mary Jane superpowers, stepped up Tombstone’s game, introduced the most villainous Ben Reilly to date, and even sent Spidey spiraling into the underworld. For all the flaws that Wells’ run might have had, the creator goes a long way in his final issue to not only pay tribute to Peter Parker but give a worthwhile ending to nearly every plot point that he introduced over the years.

Amazing Spider-Man #60 is a comic that does everything in its power to make sure that there are no questions remaining for the old and new characters that were a part of Wells’ run. The preliminary story directly deals with the fallout from the fight against Tombstone, giving Peter Parker an ending that he might not have hoped for when it comes to the criminal justice system. The anthology-like issue also takes the chance to tell multiple stories, all written by Wells, to focus on the current state of Peter, his allies, and his enemies in one fell swoop. There’s plenty to love here in terms of the past while also setting the stage for Parker’s future.

The opening salvo makes for a good crescendo for the latest arc, as Peter not only has a face-to-face with Tombstone but also does the same with the Sandman, to a far lesser extent. What works so well about this initial outing is that Peter gets to have a quiet chat with his Aunt May, following the latter having a meeting with Parker’s alter-ego on the street. It’s a very quiet, meaningful discussion that adds a new layer to the relationship between May and Peter, while also injecting May’s thoughts on Spider-Man. There are instances where it’s a bummer that May no longer knows Spidey’s secret identity but this story works well in flipping that script. I would be remiss if I also didn’t mention John Romita Jr’s work here, which once again proves why he has become such a legend in the “Spider-Verse.”

Next up is “Doctor’s Orders”, which is clearly the story that sees Wells having the most fun. During Spidey’s journey to a demonic-filled world, one hanger-on has been the ridiculous “Rek-Rap”, a demonic doppelganger who is a twisted version of the wall-crawler. Joined by artist Ed McGuiness, this story is one that sees Wells trying his best to make sure that Rek-Rap has a future to hilarious effect. It’s a light-hearted story that is in and out, making for one of the lesser tales but it’s hard not to have fun here.

“Team-Up: Part 2” is next up and focuses on Wells teaming up with artist Todd Nauck to see Peter teaming up with the now super-powered Mary Jane Watson, aka Jackpot. Much of the controversy from Wells’ run has been the changes made to Mary Jane and the inclusion of her new partner, Paul. This story does have a hilarious element wherein Jackpot’s latest power creates countless versions of Spidey but much like the preliminary story that kicked off issue #60, Pete and MJ having a nice back-and-forth works well here in showing Wells’ handling of the characters. It again adds some heartfelt interactions into the mix of this Spider-Man story. There’s certainly reason to be sore that Peter and Mary Jane still are being kept from one another romantically but this story works well in accentuating the strength of their friendship at least.

The next story is perhaps my absolute favorite story of the issue, “Bubs.” In the “Brand New Day” era of Spider-Man, Peter Parker had a touching night on the town with Wolverine of all people, celebrating Logan’s birthday. This story is worth the price of admission alone, as Pete and Logan once again celebrate the latter’s birthday. Wolverine and Spider-Man might be like oil and water when it comes to their approach on tackling crime but boy do they work as one of Marvel’s best “odd couples” and that fact truly shines here. Wells is joined by legendary artist Paolo Rivera here, making for a welcome reunion.

“Same Spider-Channel” focuses on what is perhaps one of the most controversial characters of Zeb Wells’ run, Ben Reilly. Thanks to the Beyond storyline, the former Scarlet Spider went from becoming the new Spider-Man to completely losing his mind as the villainous Chasm. Like the stories before it, “Same Spider-Channel” works when Peter and Ben are able to have a quiet moment. Since I’m a big Ben Reilly fan, I’m not exactly thrilled that Wells decided to keep him in his role as an antagonist but it’s a well-told story all the same.

Finally, the issue closes with the one story not written by Wells as future writer Joe Kelly takes center stage to build toward Peter’s upcoming story as an underling of Doctor Doom, aka Marvel’s new Sorcerer Supreme. While not as strong as Wells’ stories here, this acts more like a teaser than anything else and proves that Kelly has a good handling on Peter’s web-swinging activities.

Zeb Wells’ Amazing Spider-Man run might only be viewed for its controversy but there are “diamonds in the rough.” This finale certainly is one of Wells’ best and the many moving pieces featured here work well to show off his strength as a writer. If I had to pick one issue to hand out to Spidey fans documenting the best of Wells’ work, it’s this one.

Published by Marvel Comics

On October 30th, 2024

Written by Zeb Wells, Joe Kelly

Art by John Romita Jr, Patrick Gleason, Todd Nauck, Paolo Rivera, Mark Buckingham

Colors by Marcio Menyz, Rachelle Rosenberg, Edgar Delgado

Letters by VC’s Joe Caramagna

Cover by John Romita Jr.

The post Amazing Spider-Man #60 Review: The End of an Era appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It has been said that the best and most effective horror stories are rooted in reality. That doesn’t mean that such horrors are based on true stories per se, but rather that they speak to something of the human experience that is authentic and relatable and when it comes to It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour #1, that is exactly the kind of horror story readers get. A one-shot set within the world of Geoff John’s new Hyde Street series, It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour #1 explores not exactly what’s going on on Hyde Street and the mystery set up with Mr. X-Ray, but instead dives into how some of the poor souls ensnared by the various bad actors on Hyde Street end up there — and in doing so provides a bit of incisive commentary on body image and to fixation with being thin.

Written by Maytal Zchut with art by Leila Leiz, Devour #1 is a story told over three generations — a mother, daughter, and granddaughter — through the bulk of the story is centered around the granddaughter, Lily. Lily is preparing for her wedding but finds it difficult to fit perfectly into a wedding dress. It’s a scenario not uncommon for many brides, and Lily finds herself dieting to make it work. Except, it’s difficult and it is something not made any easier by her mother and grandmother, who are both incredibly thin. As readers learn from the outset, Lily’s grandmother was once overweight herself but wandered into the shop of Miss Goodbody who sold her a mysterious supplement called Devour that promised a dramatic and miraculous body transformation. Of course, because Miss Goodbody’s shop is on Hyde Street, this miracle weight loss comes at a price beyond just the generational trauma of a fixation on being thin.

What works particularly well about Devour #1 is that the real horror is less the truth about Devour — which the story does reveal and it is, on its own, quite horrifying — and more the reality of body image and the fixation on thinness as a hallmark of beauty. Lily’s grandmother is shown as being insecure about her body in 1983 despite being surrounded by the reassurances of her daughter (and before that, her husband) that she is beautiful as she is. The grandmother puts her own fatphobia onto her daughter, Patricia, even before she takes Devour, shaming the child for wanting cookies and warning her not to become fat like her mother. While we are never actually shown what happens with Patricia growing up, it becomes clear very quickly that Patricia has ended up on Devour as well, and though she initially advocates for Lily to have her own path towards comfort in her body, the pressure ultimately becomes too much and the cycle starts again, just in a more terrifying way than before as Lily becomes a mother herself.

While Devour #1 has a horror twist about what the active ingredient in the Devour product really is (and suggests what Miss Goodbody is really doing when she pushes her “miracle” product on people, Zchut does a fantastic job of making the real horror not the diet supplement, but the pressure placed on women by society and even their own loved ones to be thin. It is, in a sense, a timeless subject, but also one brought a little more to the surface discourse in recent months with the availability of medications that have been helping people lose weight. In particular, Lily’s struggle to lose weight on her own or “naturally” is particularly incisive as we see the young woman do everything “right” but still not achieve the goal placed on her by the perceptions of others. It’s perhaps in the contrast between Lily seemingly being somewhat content with who she is and the way those closest to her are trying to force her to be someone else where the most chilling — and heartbreaking — commentary lies and thus, makes the turn at the end with Lily and her own newborn daughter the real horror in the story more than anything Miss Goodbody is doing.

[RELATED: Hyde Street #1 Review: An Enticing Introduction Down a Dark Path]

Artistically, Leiz does a fantastic job of presenting the “normal” bodies of Lily and of her pre-Devour grandmother with respect and even beauty. They are some of the loveliest images in the entire book, as contrasted by with the skeletal forms of post-Devour grandmother and Patricia who both, despite being the thin ideal, look twisted and ugly. There are also some fantastic Easter eggs for Hyde Street sprinkled in the issue’s art as well, with Leiz incorporating the characters in a way that does not distract from the tale playing out in a subtly sinister fashion page by page.

While we are still getting to know the overall world of Hyde Street in the main comic, It Happened on Hyde Street: Devour #1 makes for a strong and impressive introduction to the lure of the world. By speaking to something that is so relatable and unfortunately common for many by taking on the obsession with being thin, Devour #1 reminds readers just how easy it is to succumb to the lure of a quick fix with no thought to the consequences. The result is a horror that maybe isn’t full of jump scares or gore, but settles right into the thoughts and is deeply uncomfortable less for the world the story inhabits, but for the world the reader actually exists in.

Published by Image Comics

On October 30, 2024

Written by Maytal Zchut

Art by Leila Leiz

Colors by Alex Sinclair

Letters by Rob Leigh

Cover by Ivan Reis, Danny Miki, and Brad Anderson

The post It Happened On Hyde Street: Devour #1 Review: An Unsettling, Relatable Horror Story appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Tony Stark has been dealing with a lot lately. On top of his “Avenging” duties, the man of iron got married to X-Men’s Emma Frost and saw his technology used to create a new generation of lethal, mutant-hunting Sentinels. Now, a new era is upon us for the Iron Man thanks to creators Spencer Ackerman and Julius Ohta who are giving Stark a battle that is taking place on multiple fronts. Luckily, there are plenty of elements here to throw some interesting curveballs at Tony while injecting new life into the story of Iron Man.

As mentioned earlier, Tony has seen better days. While he has been able to lay claim to Stark Enterprises once again from the villainous Feilong, Stark doesn’t have much chance to rest his head in the face of both physical and capitalistic threats. On top of A.I.M. making a play for his company, the villainous scientific collective has the backing of Roxxon and Justine Hammer. Now, his greatest creation and his own company are turning against him and things are not looking good for Tony as he begins to go to a “back to basics” approach that might be the only thing keeping his skin in the game.

Giving Tony Stark challenges can sometimes seem like a loft goal, especially since he is often portrayed as the “man who has everything.” Luckily, Ackerman does a fantastic job of amplifying the stakes by throwing everything and the kitchen sink in his way during this new series. The boardroom drama is solid here, as Tony finds himself on the receiving end of a hostile takeover. While Stark hardly needs the money that comes in, the idea that Advanced Idea Mechanics would gain access to Stark technology is what really helps sell Tony’s predicament.

Another tantalizing aspect of this new series is the idea that the Iron Man armors are beginning to fail. At a certain point, it’s almost become comical how advanced the mech suits have become for Tony at this point, with nanomachines, liquid metal, circuits fusing with Tony’s nervous system, and even magic incorporated into the suits. Finding that certain parts of the suits are no longer able to function as they once did presents an interesting problem for Stark on top of his personal life issues.

Of course, what would a good Iron Man story be without its villains and this new series has them in spades. Hilariously, the most fun in the premiere issue comes from Tiger Shark and Flying Tiger, aka the Tiger Pack, as they try to defeat Stark for the viewers streaming the fight at home. On top of slinging some hilarious puns, the duo also reinforces the idea of “Stark betting”, which would be seen as a replacement to weapons manufacturing in allowing streaming viewers to bet on superhero battles. It’s an interesting tidbit that could be explored further here.

There’s a lot of meat on the bone here but all of said meat is a fine cut. Tony Stark assaulted on all sides, having to rebuild his armor, his business, and himself works best for any Iron Man comic and thus this makes for a nice reboot of one of Marvel’s most popular characters. Roxxon has become a gleeful villainous force in the Marvel Comics universe and I’m anxious to see where this all leads to.

On the art front, Julius Ohta does a fine job of both capturing the mechs, monsters, and emotions of all the characters involved here. There’s a tiny crack in the armor when it comes to some of the facial expressions here but ultimately nothing that is enough to stop this ride from being a fun one. Ohta manages to capture the energy that would go into suits of armor slamming into one another at mach speeds, making for some quite nice fight scenes along the way.

Marvel creating new number ones can sometimes feel a tad tedious, as many series feel like extensions of past storylines. This new Iron Man is one that earns its number one and manages to toss some interesting ideas Tony Stark’s way that will have readers more than likely sticking with him for the rest of the run. Iron Man #1 makes for a good return of the characters while adding some new elements for a strong showing.

Published by Marvel Comics

On October 23rd, 2024

Written by Spencer Ackerman

Art by Julius Ohta

Colors by Alex Sinclair

Letters by VC’s Joe Caramagna

Cover by Yasmine Putri

The post Iron Man #1 Review: An Iron War Like No Other appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Happy new comic book day! It’s another major week in comics, and the ComicBook staff have come together to break down and review as many of the big comics releasing this week as possible. Now obviously this isn’t every single comic on stands, but we’re breaking down new releases from Marvel, DC, Image Comics, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse, Dynamite, Oni Press, IDW, Mad Cave Studios, DSTLRY, and more!

We’ve also carved out some additional space for three of this week’s biggest books, including The Exorcism at Penn 1600 #1, Batman and Robin: Year One #1, and Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu #1, so if our smaller review here piques your interest, make sure to check out the full review for a much more comprehensive analysis of all three issues. As for ratings, we keep things simple with a whole or half number out of five, and you can check out some of our previous reviews right here. With all that said, let’s get to this week’s new comics!

DC

Action Comics #1071
Action Comics #1071 takes Superman to the Phantom Zone and sees him start to investigate whatever is going on there only to get hit with a shocking surprise when he sees who is behind the Phantom King. It’s an action-filled issue that sees Superman fight a giant spider creature while also testing his own limits. It’s not exactly clear what is going on overall, but that twist reveal certainly hints at something exciting going forward and gives the whole thing momentum. The Supergirl story is also interesting and sees a major complication thrown at Supergirl and again, while what is really going on remains a mystery, things get pushed to the next level making this whole issue overall one that just hooks readers even further. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 4 out of 5

Batman and Robin: Year One #1
Overall, Batman and Robin: Year One is a solid read. While there is a little bit of an issue with tone at points, specifically in regard to how we are introduced to Dick and then how he actually is presented, the story does a good job of offering a fresh take on the early dynamic of, well, DC’s dynamic duo. By centering things on the idea of Bruce as a parent just as much as a hero, Waid and Samnee have created a story that is interesting and unique, but still offers the promise of a classic Batman and Robin adventure.
– Nicole Drum (Click here for full review)
Rating: 4 out of 5

Catwoman #69
Selina Kyle gets a back-to-basics revamp for the All-In era, with almost all of the positives that that could entail. Torunn Gronbekk’s script takes a familiar enough premise and presents it with an intimate and lyrical quality, one that is matched pretty well by Fabiana Mascolo’s clean art and Patricio Delpeche’s noirish colors. While there’s no telling exactly how this arc will set itself apart from previous Catwoman eras, the work on display from this creative team is already exciting. – Jenna Anderson
Rating: 4 out of 5

Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #4
Both the main story from Jay Kristoff and backup story from Tom Taylor balance high-octane action with genuine pathos towards their parent-child relationships. While Tirso’s aesthetic choices on the main story are a bit more visually outstanding, Riccardo Federici’s art also delivers some cleverly conceived moments of action and gore. This spinoff is turning me into a believer of the larger franchise that Dark Knights of Steel has become.”
– Jenna Anderson
Rating: 4 out of 5

Green Lantern #16
The Green Lantern Civil Corps Special put a few big ideas into motion, and those ideas land with massive impact in Green Lantern #16. Things teased in the special have immediate consequences as the next major arc gets underway, and if you thought the Special was big, it’s nothing compared to what goes down in #16. Jeremy Adams will have Lantern fans of all kinds losing their minds at various times in the issue, and Xermanico and Romulo Fajardo Jr. might have created one of my favorite issues of the series to date just based on constructs alone, though that Mogo scene is a sight to behold as well. Adams continues to pull together the threads from Green Lantern and Green Lantern: War Journal, and the way those elements and characters come together is delightful, including one particular first meeting that had me reeling from the reveal but also has so many amazing possibilities. Green Lantern #16 followed up a special issue and might have just managed to run circles around it, and the next issue can’t get here soon enough. – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 5 out of 5

Jenny Sparks #3
Jenny Sparks #3 doesn’t really seem like it knows exactly what story it is trying to tell. The storyline continues between two timelines, this time with Jenny in the Middle East in 2004 confronting Superman on his non-involvement in matters of war and the present where the issue of Captain Atom at the bar only escalates. While it is obvious that there is supposed to be some parallel between the two storylines, it doesn’t really feel like it comes together. Like the previous issue, it’s very dense and one gets the idea that this is another story that may only make sense once it’s complete but, unfortunately, at this point, it feels like we are no further into the story than when we started. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Titans #16
Titans’ fresh start in the All-In era arrives with some potential, as well as a few flaws. John Layman’s script decently balances the team’s different personality types, but does get periodically bogged down by shortsighted narrative beats. Pete Woods’ art is also somewhat of a mixed bag, delivering gorgeously-rendered action sequences one moment and awkward facial expressions the next. It will remain to be seen if this Titans arc becomes a major jumping-on point for new readers, but at least conceptually, there is promise. – Jenna Anderson
Rating: 3 out of 5

Wonder Woman #14
Wonder Woman #14 finally gives us Trinity’s origin story. Overall, it’s a sad and beautiful story of loss and hope that is at times really elegantly written. But it is also stretched a little thin in spots with certain elements — such as the Fates — inserted into things in a way that almost doesn’t feel necessary and somewhat distracts from the core emotional pieces of things. There’s also a bit of the story being told out of order that does, at points, make it a little hard to follow exactly what is going on. Beyond that, however, this issue has some of the most gorgeous Wonder Woman art we’ve seen yet — and that says something considering how stunning this series has been overall. – Nicole Drum
Rating: 3 out of 5

World’s Finest #32
Waid is once again given quite the sandbox to play in when it comes to the best superhero book that DC Comics is printing today. In fighting against the villainous Eclipso, not only do we get the chance for the prolific writer to tackle the Justice Society but give Robin his chance to shine. As mentioned in my past review for this latest World’s Finest arc, Dan Mora is taking a break from the series, and while Gutierrez does a serviceable job, its a tough act to follow. Still, the series remains the gold standard for DC, even if its main artist is working on other projects in the DCU at the moment. The fight against Eclipso here is one that shows the best of DC’s heroes and once again proves how World’s Finest remains a must-read book for superhero fans. – Evan Valentine
Rating 4 out of 5

Marvel Comics

Avengers Assemble #2
Avengers Assemble #2 tries to keep the cooks, fun, old-school Avengers vibes going with a story about the new emergency response squad fighting ghost apes but it feels like a book that didn’t get the time and attention it needed, There’s a new penciled and inker team involved in Scott Eaton and Elisabetta D’Amico and the later doesn’t hold back with the blacks. It is, perhaps, an effort to give the ghost ape story some dark horror vibes but ultimately muddies much of the line work and makes the entire visual aesthetic feel cramped and heavy. Writer Steve Orlando tries to lighten the mood with fun character banter and interludes to the new and old team members still at the mansion bonding, though some of these vignettes are marred by confusing lettering placement. While the pitch is fun, it’s ultimately a pretty straightforward plot enlivened by a little extra focus on character, but hamstrung by some fundamental stumbles in most other departments.
– Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3 out of 5

Crypt of Shadows #1
The 2024 edition of this Halloween-centric one-shot is another fun little story from Marvel, but its biggest fault is that frankly the thing is too short. Leaving the readers wanting more is usually a good thing but by the time many of the stories in Crypt of Shadows #1 get started they’re already over. The standouts from this issue include “The Green Tide,” a Man-Thing Namor crossover from Benjamin Percy and Raffaele Ienco, and “Monster Games” a Kraven, Blade, Werewolf by Night story from Jason Loo and Carlos Magno. On the whole a fun read but not one that blows the doors off. – Spencer Perry
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #25
Giving Miles a villainous side with these vampire powers could be a really tough sell, but its his inner monologue here that allows it all to work. His internal struggles with power and responsibility are clear, crisp, and sometimes moving. The inner monologue can make or break a lot of Spider-Man stories. Thankfully, this falls into the former category.
– Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu #1
Marc Spector made his grand return in the pages Blood Hunt, and then he dealt with the Moon Knight imposter who had taken up the mantle during his time away. Now that some of the dust has settled, Jed MacKay, Alessandro Cappuccio, Rachelle Rosenberg, and Cory Petit are getting back to the core of what’s made this run so special, and it all kicks off in Moon Knight: Fist of Khonshu #1. Few teams are able to capture the core concepts of a character, let alone all of them, but this team has never struggled in that regard, and such is the case once again as a new era in the Moon Knight mythos begins. The Midnight Mission is back, and they haven’t lost a step. – Matthew Aguilar (Click here for full review)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Mystique #1
This series starts a little slow, following characters that aren’t necessarily vital to its plot. When Mystique and Nick Fury take over, though, this spy saga sings. Mystique is menacing and intriguing, while Fury acts the part of a foil trying to pull off the impossible with very little at his disposal. There’s a lot to be excited about in this series going forward.
– Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 4 out of 5

Spider-Man: Reign 2 #4
Reign 2 is trying to do entirely too much. There are far too many ideas at play here for any of them to find any solid footing. And this version of Peter just isn’t all that interesting, no matter how many interesting scenarios are thrust upon him. – Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 2 out of 5

Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku – Insurgency Rising #2
The Star Wars comics have had some success filling in the gaps from the stories in the movies, but Insurgency Rising just isn’t nearly as strong as some of its predecessors. It’s nice to have more time with Leia, and getting some actual Zorii Bliss backstory is nice, but none of it is enough to hold the whole issue on its shoulders. On top of that, a lot of the character art is seriously lacking. There’s little consistency and it makes for a frustrating read. – Charlie Ridgely
Rating: 2 out of 5

The Spectacular Spider-Men #8
The Arcadium might have been defeated by Peter Parker and Miles Morales but the scars left by Arcade and Mentallo are still fresh. Routinely in superhero fare, readers don’t see much in the way of battles having psychological effects on the heroes themselves so Weismann takes an interesting position when it comes to your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Men. Ramos is replaced by Laiso and Genolet, who both do a fantastic job of sticking to the previous artist’s style and capturing the emotions of the Daily Grind’s patronage. Spectacular Spider-Men remains the best Spider-Man book on the market today and Weisman is leading Miles and Pete on an interesting, introspective journey that has some amazing superheroing along the way. – Evan Valentine
Rating 4.5 out of 5

Ultimate Spider-Man #10
Hickman is joined by guest artist David Messina for this latest issue of the Ultimate Spider-Man and truly highlights one of the best, lesser-discussed parts of this new take on the Wallcrawler. Jonah and Ben Parker are the new dynamic duo of the comic book scene and they are front and center here in a story that is intriguing and jam-packed despite not seeing Peter throw on his special suit once to fight crime. The back-and-forth dialogue between these old friends looking to crack a new case is infectious, and it’s quite the feat that Hickman can weave an issue where you find yourself enraptured by the story without any superheroics whatsoever. Ultimate Spider-Man #10 works as an excellent stand-alone issue that truly demonstrates the strength of the series’ concept and how this new universe is one worth sticking with. – Evan Valentine
Rating 4.5 out of 5

Uncanny X-Men #4
Uncanny X-Men remains the book to beat in the post-Krakoa era of Marvel’s mightiest mutants. To start, Sarah Gaunt is an interesting new villain to the X-mythos, along with her ties to Charles Xavier and what said ties mean for the current state of the X-Men. Writer Gail Simone has a lot of plates spinning at once but she makes the act of juggling said plates appear effortless. On top of Sarah, Rogue’s new team is still dealing with taking in new mutants to their “humble abode” and now that they’re being placed into the line of fire, the storyline is heating up in the best ways. I would be remiss if I also didn’t touch upon David Marquez’s amazing art here, capturing both emotional, quieter moments alongside hard-hitting ones that see Rogue trying to take down Charles’ evil-ex. Uncanny has a lot going for it and I’m anxious to see what else Simone has in store for this team because it’s tough to find many faults here. – Evan Valentine
Rating 4.5 out of 5

Wolverine #2
Wolverine’s new status in the post-Krakoa era is one that sounds good on paper, but in execution, there are more than a few holes in this boat. For a story that relies on Logan stories wherein he is fending off his Berserker rage in the wilds of Canada, the second issue is wildly introspective. Wolverine finds himself monologuing throughout the entirety of the issue, breaking a pivotal rule in “show, don’t tell”. What the creative team does here with the Wendigo, aka taking on a new approach to the hairy albino monster, is serviceable but it almost seems as though this new story abandons the seeds that were planted in the first issue. From this second issue, Wolverine’s story might be dealing with more problems than Department H. – Evan Valentine
Rating 2.5 out of 5

Image Comics

Destro #5
Destro’s mini-series comes to an end, offering an interesting characterization of the “iron monger” and how COBRA is the perfect fit for the world that he wants to forge. The Energon Universe is one that has been able to capitalize on the strongest aspects of its heroes and villains, while also weaving the lines of modernizing the approach of both GI Joe and the Transformers. Destro’s fight against COBRA’s most famous twins and his interactions with Cobra Commander works well here, setting the stage for the antithesis of GI Joe to fully take root. The mini-series conclusion also hints at the future of the comic book run as a whole, planting some interesting seeds for the crossover universe. – Evan Valentine
Rating 4 Out Of 5

Falling In Love On The Path To Hell #5
To put it simply, this issue is stunning — both as a progression of the series’ ambitious plot, and as a rumination on love. Gerry Duggan and Garry Brown’s script traverses realities and points in time with a satisfying ease, which is matched by Chris O’Halloran’s expressve and rustic art. This series continues to impress in so many ways. – Jenna Anderson
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Local Man #25
Local Man’s final (for now) issue is exactly the finale it deserves… and so much more. Jack’s status quo as a superhero and a man culminates in a matter that is surprising and heartfelt, both to its cast of characters and to the mere concept of Image’s superhero boom. Tim Seeley and Tony Fleecs’ work on this series has been truly unparalleled, and as sad as I am that this chapter is over, I am absolutely looking forward to whatever their combined future holds. – Jenna Anderson
Rating: 5 out of 5

Radiant Black #30
The Catalyst War’s thrilling conclusion is finally here, and unlike some of the previous issues, issues 30 and 30. 5 are really part 1 and part 2 of this story as opposed to alternate viewpoints that weave together. This story has been incredibly ambitious, and despite the challenges inherent with the sort of scale and number of layers to all this, Kyle Higgins and Joe Clark have found a way to navigate it relatively smoothly. Once the issue gets past the trials explanation it really hits high gear, bouncing from frenetic chaos on the battlefield to complex conversations about turning away from what you know with ease. Marcelo Costa, Eduardo Ferigato, Raul Angulo, and Rod Fernandes pivot with ease as well, and there’s a sense of scale in this issue and its companion that is absurdly impressive and never gets old. The action is intense and the stakes are high, and while some of the bigger concepts might be a tad difficult to get your head around sometimes, it’s a stellar penultimate issue.
– Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 4 out of 5

Radiant Black #30.5
If Radiant Black #30.5 was truly a swan song for the character, it would be one hell of a final note, but as it stands, it’s still one hell of a finale to one of the most ambitious events in comic memory. The Catalyst War has been built in a variety of ways and through multiple points of view along the way, and it all leads to one of the best issues in the series to date. Radiant Black #30. 5 delivers epic action and a wealth of fan service for those who have followed along and invested in the rich and ever-expanding Massive-Verse. Did you want to see a fan favorite? It’s likely they’re here, and even if they don’t get a huge amount of screen time, it’s amazing to see your favorites come together for a common cause, and all of them look fantastic thanks to the talents of Marcelo Costa and Eduardo Ferigato. Meanwhile, Kyle Higgins and Joe Clark bring it all back to Nathan and Marshall, and their story features some welcome twists and turns before coming to a satisfying and rewarding conclusion. This isn’t the end of Radiant Black, but it does feel like the end of an era in that story, and that era landed the plane brilliantly – Matthew Aguilar
Rating: 5 out of 5

The Department of Truth #26
The Department of Truth #26 takes a detour in the vortex of fiction, rumor, and reality that surrounds Marilyn Monroe. Guest artist Alison Sampson and colorist Jordie Bellaire show stunning skill and versatility in making the reader feel unmoored in Monroe’s presence, as does the agent who visits her. Repeating panels used as background draw on Munroe’s film presence while making her seem to pop out of the page. The facial expressions in the artwork convey a wild swinging between a joyfully innocent woman and one who is entirely capable of seducing a president. Gilded colors drive home the opulence of the persona’s existence. It’s a gorgeous comic that is at times unnerving for its unrestrained beauty.
– Jamie Lovett
Rating: 4 out of 5

Ultramega #6
There’s no arguing with James Harren’s artwork. The introduction of the Ultramega planet into this series’ mythos has provided him an opportunity to channel more of that big, epic energy that he infused its debut issue while continuing to draw smaller scale but not less effectively kinetic action on Earth and weird little guys like the walking taking giant severed head that is our main character’s father. Unfortunately, the plot still feels scattered and unfocused, leaving little to hang all this wonderful artwork on. There are hints that these varied plot threads may soon coalesce into a tighter narrative. Until then, it’s mostly a fun ride with some incredible scenery. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Witchblade #4
The new Witchblade series remains a surprisingly fun read, one where the reinvention of the character and its mythology has not only taken on a more modern storytelling sensibility but one that seems to actually care about where it’s headed. Scribe Marguerite Bennett is planting seeds in each issue that make picking up the next a necessity and this one is no different while series artist Giuseppe Cafaro delivers amazing panel design that functions as both character work and pushes the story forward. Don’t sleep on the new Witchblade, it’s surprising in many ways. – Spencer Perry
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Other Publishers

Epitaphs From The Abyss #4
Epitaphs from the Abyss #4 might be the most chilling issue yet, this time with three stories that actually deliver unsettling scares. With stories that take on paranormal/monster streamers and their need to exploit lore for content, toxic marriage, and influencer and wellness fads, this trio of stories goes in some very dark directions. The real standout is Amy Roy & Claire Roe’s “The Perfect Pearl” but really, the whole issue is solid.
– Nicole Drum
Rating: 4 out of 5

Grim #20
A pivotal new issue in Grim arrives with series scribe Stephanie Phillips delivering a story that’s equal parts sexy and mysterious while also totally unique. Flaviano’s artwork manages to channel both of these descriptors throughout its pages while also making some of the dialogue punchlines land even harder with some hilarious panels. Series color artist Rico Renzi elevates the entire piece though, capturing the specific moods of each moment and the bizarre otherworldly lands on each page. – Spencer Perry
Rating: 5 out of 5

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin II – Re-Evolution #3
The Last Ronin II has been a slow burn, focused more on establishing this new generation of turtles as characters, and their superpowers, than on the plot transpiring mostly in the background, and that remains true through most of the series’ third issue. That this story’s villain is still barely present is in stark contrast to the first Last Ronin story, which was laser-focused on Michelangelo’s vendetta against Oroku Hiroto. That said, The Last Ronin II #3 remains an entertaining read. All that focus on the new characters has laid off in giving them distinct personalities to playfully bounce off of one another. There are some other beats here that play with the idea of the TMNT story cycle repeating itself, and seeing Kevin Eastman draw a couple of pages of old-school Turtles but through the filter of what is essentially urban legend is a delight. By the end, the story reaches a point i no return that seems likely to ramp up the tension and pace as the series continues. – Jamie Lovett
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

The Exorcism At 1600 Penn #1
May’s dialogue can be offputting at times (the phrases “chicken tendies,” “trending number one on TikTok,” and “liked by The Rock” appearing in quick succession may have some readers wanting to tap out early on), but weaves an intriguing tale of family drama against a backdrop both political and supernatural. Del Rey’s layouts, particularly over two pages, are sometimes flashy to the point of distracting from the scenes they are meant to frame. However, with Bellaire’s moody colors, her artwork makes the White House seem possessed and conveys the fracturing of a family. Otsmane-Elhaou’s lettering drives home key character moments, using irregular speech bubbles conveying crucial changes in voice (though some additional variation may have helped distinguish one vocal alteration from another). While those flaws are present, The Exorcism at Penn 1600 #1 is an impressive debut that draws readers in slowly but will likely have them fully enthralled by the final page-turn. – Jamie Lovett (Click here for full review)
Rating: 4 out of 5

The post Comic Book Reviews for This Week: 10/16/2024 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Every partnership has an origin and that’s especially true for DC’s dynamic duo of Batman and Robin. While the partnership between Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson as Batman and Robin has been a core aspect of DC through various stories for decades, it’s an iconic partnership that is more than just crimefighting. It’s a father and son story as well and when it comes to Batman and Robin: Year One #1, that is exactly what we get. Written by Mark Waid with art by Chris Samnee, Batman and Robin: Year One #1 takes readers back to the earliest days of the duo’s collaboration offering a glimpse at not only the challenges the pair face out on the streets of Gotham as they figure out how to work together, but what parenting looks like for Bruce. And while there are a few small matters of tone that might not hit exactly true for every reader, it’s a strong first issue that not only sets up a classic comic adventure but gives a heartfelt look at one of comic’s most iconic team ups.

In Batman and Robin: Year One #1, we enter the story mere weeks after the death of Dick’s parents and his being adopted by Bruce Wayne. Straight out of the gate, however, it’s clear that everyone is in a little bit over their head as Bruce has no experience parenting, Alfred isn’t too sure about the situation, and even Dick isn’t exactly in a stable place with the young aerialist ready to jump straight into crimefighting, potentially with not quite enough preparedness to truly do so. Suiting up, the two soon find themselves dealing with Two Face and the revelation of a larger threat — as well as the dynamics of working together. Straight out of the gate, this is a charming issue. Visually, the book has a vintage, almost retro vibe that not only fits the “Year One” feeling, but also helps to drive home the inexperience of the characters — Dick’s inexperience as a crimefighter and Bruce’s as a parent figure both in and out of the suit. Samnee’s art is crips and makes excellent use of lines, conveying sweeping action even in the smallest panels. Matheus Lopes’ colors are also fantastic, fitting nicely with the vintage feel.

In terms of overall story, Waid also does a great job of things with this adventure. We don’t waste a lot of time digging into how Dick ended up with Bruce or what their earliest weeks were like, but we move swiftly into an actual proof of concept of sorts, when Bruce takes Dick out as Robin, hoping to show him the ropes as the young hero’s training continues. The dynamic Waid gives the characters as Batman and Robin feels authentic and is at times even fun as we see an exuberance from Dick and perhaps a bit of unexpected anxiety from Bruce as the surrogate father watching his child do things without training wheels, as it were. The issue, however, is that some of the tone doesn’t quite fit with some of the words on the page. We’re told in text that Dick “smolders with rage” but what we’re shown doesn’t match that. Instead, Dick is quippy and funny, eager (perhaps too eager) to head into the field and prove himself. It’s an excellent portrayal of a kid playing at vigilante, but it feels wildly out of sync with what we’re being told about the character.

That said, while there is that tonal dissonance, it doesn’t detract from the comic overall. We get a bit more into Batman’s — and really, more Bruce than Batman — head when it comes to bringing Dick into this world. The issue also does a good job of bringing its lighter tone back to reality with the final page introducing the larger, looming threat that is coming for Batman and Robin. It’s a rather grim turn, but it’s effective — and serves as an excellent hook for the next issue. It goes a long way to tying things together and bringing readers back to center by reminding that while we’re dealing with a. young hero just starting out, this is still Gotham and the threats are still very, very real.

Overall, Batman and Robin: Year One is a solid read. While there is a little bit of an issue with tone at points, the story does a good job of offering a fresh take on the early dynamic of, well, DC’s dynamic duo. By centering things on the idea of Bruce as a parent just as much as a hero, Waid and Samnee have created a story that is interesting and unique, but still offers the promise of a classic Batman and Robin adventure.

Published by DC

On October 16, 2024

Written by Mark Waid

Art by Chris Samnee

Colors by Matheus Lopes

Letters by Clayton Cowles

Cover by Samnee and Lopes

The post Batman and Robin: Year One #1 Review: A Dynamic Take on the Iconic Duo appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The United States is currently wading through two recurring traditions simultaneously: the early fall Halloween season, in which most people indulge in the playfully demonic and monstrous, and the more seriously cursed election season, with 2024 being especially potent as it is a presidential election year. The two meet in The Exorcism at 1600 Penn #1, the first installment of a four-issue miniseries from writer Hannah Rose May, artist Vanesa Del Rey, colorist Jordie Bellaire, letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, and published by IDW Publishing. Though the combination of the political and the infernal may appear to be a superficial draw, The Exorcism at Penn 1600 #1 reveals greater depth in atmosphere and characterization as its inner darkness slowly creeps in.

The issue’s motifs are visually apparent on its opening page. Former United States Senator Kelly Doyle is delivering her fiery, optimistic inauguration speech following her swearing-in as the first female President of the United States. Yet, the scene looks anything but sunny, as grey clouds blot the sky and the Capitol Building looms behind, as if ready to consume her and everyone around her. It’s only a shame that staying true to how these traditions play out keeps the scene from occurring in front of the White House. Yet, once inside the president’s home, readers find it rendered like a haunted house with creeping shadows advancing from the edges and coloring that turns brackish or sickly in certain moments. Bellaire’s palette and technique combine with Del Rey’s thick lines and impressionistic facial features to create an unsettling sense of wrongness within the White House’s environment as if the entire place is ill without anyone realizing it.

But soon this malignance makes itself known. It isn’t long before the entire, once close-knit family (established by an almost unbelievably wholesome family dinner in the White House dining room early on) begins drifting apart as the pressures of being the first family drive a wedge. Kelly’s responsibilities as POTUS keep her away from her family, forcing her husband, Eric — a doctor who gave up his career to be first husband — to shoulder more parental responsibilities alone. Her son, Kevin, becomes all too willing to fit into a new circle of friends at his new school, even if it means sacrificing his relationship with his sister Mara.

Mara’s ostracization is the most acute and becomes the story’s cornerstone. She spends her days being ridiculed by her peers without backing from her brother. With her mother often absent, she receives some support from her father but spends most of the night doomscrolling on her phone. Del Rey pulls these posts out of Mara’s phone, making her compete with them for space within the panel, visualizing the mental anxiety this habit is causing her, taking up more and more space with each instance.

The deeper into doom-scrolling that Mara gets, the more she seems to awaken something supernatural lurking in the forgotten room of the White House that she has made her sanctuary. It’s in this room that Mara wakes after a nightmare of nuclear apocalypse. Following this is the issue’s only splash page, which places Mara and her consoling parents in a corner of light as the darkness, and whatever lurks within it, surrounds and threatens to consume them. Mara’s anxiety, or perhaps that of her entire family, is haunting them.

This isn’t a story specifically about corrosive media habits, even if it is a recurring point –another scene sees Del Rey’s brilliant layouts depicting shifting power dynamics as President Doyle goes from being in control during a press briefing to cornered as she’s barraged with bad-faith press questions. Mara’s plight is one aspect of a larger theme linking the infernal with mental health. While Mara spirals into depression, her mother is dealing with a crisis involving Havana Syndrome, that controversial diagnosis of a collection of mental health symptoms that have become fodder for conspiracies, seemingly linked here to something truly evil. The issue more subtly lampshades its focus on mental health in the repeated mention of Mary Todd Lincoln, the first lady who was Abraham Lincoln’s wife, whose history of manic episodes has led some historians and experts to believe she suffered from bipolar disorder. While the connection is not explicitly drawn in this issue, it may be that whatever lingers in the room Mara has been staying in had a hand in Mary Todd Lincoln’s struggles.

May’s dialogue can be offputting at times (the phrases “chicken tendies,” “trending number one on TikTok,” and “liked by The Rock” appearing in quick succession may have some readers wanting to tap out early on), but weaves an intriguing tale of family drama against a backdrop both political and supernatural. Del Rey’s layouts, particularly over two pages, are sometimes flashy to the point of distracting from the scenes they are meant to frame. However, with Bellaire’s moody colors, her artwork makes the White House seem possessed and conveys the fracturing of a family. Otsmane-Elhaou’s lettering drives home key character moments, using irregular speech bubbles conveying crucial changes in voice (though some additional variation may have helped distinguish one vocal alteration from another). While those flaws are present, The Exorcism at Penn 1600 #1 is an impressive debut that draws readers in slowly but will likely have them fully enthralled by the final page-turn. 

Published by IDW Publishing

On October 16, 2024

Written by Hannah Rose May

Art by Vanesa Del Rey

Colors by Jordie Bellaire

Letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Cover by Vanesa Del Rey

The post The Exorcism at Penn 1600 #1 Review: Welcome to the Haunted White House appeared first on ComicBook.com.

I often find myself fascinated by the conceit — and execution — of licensed comics. In the right hands, they can be well-executed retellings or expansions of stories fans know and love. In the wrong hands, they can be a half-hearted collection of storyboards, which either misunderstand or do not do justice to their source material. In a separate precarious set of circumstances, they can even lead to the birth of an original idea within the comic canon of another publisher. The latest fictional saga to play that game of chance is The Terminator, James Cameron’s surprise sci-fi hit that has blossomed into a wide-ranging collection of sequels, prequels, offshoots, and everything in between. While the sleek conceit of the franchise has led to quite a few comic spinoffs over the years, Dynamite’s newest crack at it is effective right out of the gate. This week’s The Terminator #1 comes close to being truly outstanding, offering an impactful reading experience for both die hard franchise fans and new readers alike. 

The Terminator #1 traverses across decades and quieter woodland locales to tell the story of Harper and Penny, an unassuming couple whose lives were forever changed by the war between man and machine. As the circumstances surrounding the couple grow more and more dire, a surprising amount of carnage ensues.

Anyone going into The Terminator #1 expecting the start of a massive battle against Skynet, littered with Easter eggs and high stakes for the overall franchise, might be left disappointed. This issue’s small-scale plot does very little to set up the grand narrative that might be on the horizon — but that is a large part of why it ends up being so effective. For those who are only culturally aware of the Terminator lore, the issue proves to be incredibly accessible, instead leaning on the universal emotions being felt by its protagonists. For those who might be a bit better versed in the Terminator world, there are certainly more levels of detail to be gleaned, but in a more subtle manner. If anything, the direct pivot away from the plight of Sarah and John Connor should prove to be a refreshing change of pace, preventing the franchise as a whole from getting a little too stale or insular.

A large part of the freshness of The Terminator #1 is thanks to Declan Shalvey’s script, which comes across as the perfect distillation of his scrappy, but emotional narrative style. Again, there are not necessarily massive pontifications about the ethics or politics of the robot apocalypse, but those observations can be clearly felt within the margins. Instead, the priority is delivering a self-contained exercise in emotion, which had arguably been lacking from some of the saga’s bigger installments as of late. Sure, some of Shalvey’s narration does land a bit awkwardly, but those moments are too fleeting to really bog down the story at hand.

On an aesthetic level, the art from Luke Sparrow fits both the gritty established oeuvre of Shalvey’s work, and the visual language of the franchise, while also advancing the overall look into a new territory. The character designs, both human and robotic, are consistent and intentional, and the wooded settings immediately feel immersive. Once the issue culminates into a tragic space, even the gore is handled tastefully but impactfully, to the point where readers can practically feel the splatters of blood and the desperate firing of a shotgun. The gorgeous color work from Colin Craker helps the art translate even more, bathing panels in a stunning collection of earthy teals, pinks, and browns. The unfussy lettering courtesy of Jeff Eckleberry helps convey the emotion of the issue’s proceedings, but does feel a bit underdeveloped in some text boxes.

The Terminator #1 might not be the most groundbreaking licensed comic to arrive this year (an honor that is easily given to the Aliens vs. Avengers crossover book from Marvel), but its debut issue is nothing short of a pleasant surprise. By shifting focus away from the worn-out stories of the franchise’s main protagonists, this first issue is able to craft a portrait of ordinary life in an anything-but-ordinary robot apocalypse. On both a narrative and aesthetic level, The Terminator #1 is so straightforward and effective that its attempts at a larger narrative feel like an afterthought — but you still can not help but be excited to see this creative team eventually tackle it. Whether you have voraciously followed every chapter in the Terminator saga, or are jumping into the decades-old story for the very first time, you will probably find something impactful in this debut issue. 

Published by Dynamite Entertainment

On October 9, 2024

Written by Declan Shalvey and Sal Crivelli

Art by Luke Sparrow with Colin Craker

Colors by Colin Craker

Letters by Jeff Eckleberry

Cover by Declan Shalvey

The post The Terminator #1 Review: An Emotional Upgrade appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Eric Brooks has been having a tough go of things in recent Marvel Comics days. Thanks to the events of Marvel’s Blood Hunt, Blade has found himself shunning society thanks to being possessed by the first vampire, Varnae. While Marvel’s most popular vampire hunter was able to escape the crossover without shedding this mortal coil, Blade finds his life at an impasse as he attempts to figure out what to do next. Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately for Blade, his next big challenge falls at his doorstep in the form of a mysterious group that are hoping the vampire hunter will give them some major assistance.

Obviously, Eric isn’t exactly in the best of moods at the moment, not that Blade has ever been known for his sunny disposition. Taking refuge on “Lupui Island” in Southeast Asia, we see Blade living off the land, forging new swords, and being presented with an “opportunity” by a mysterious organization known as the Spellguard. The common thread of this cult appears to be sewing members’ eyes shut, adding a creepy unease to the first meeting. Believing they have a common enemy, the Spellguard and Blade don’t have the most beneficial of meetings to cap off the first episode.

To start, Blade: Red Band feels like a story of missed opportunities. There’s a lot of story to explore with Blade going from the Marvel Universe’s big bad to a hero who is living in isolation. Would superheroes be gunning for him? Would the vampire world be more welcoming thanks to his turn as a result of Varnae’s possession? How does he interact with his daughter? Unfortunately, none of these aspects are tackled here and instead, we’re given something of a “run-of-the-mill” Blade story. That’s not necessarily a bad thing when all is said and done, there’s always fun to be had when it comes to Marvel’s resident vampire killer staking night stalkers but it feels like well-worn territory at this point.

The big “hook” of the first issue is in its cliffhanger, presenting a vampire lord that is also apparently a “Van Helsing”. Merging the two eternal enemies into one has some story potential, along with the ravages left behind by “Father Pontius”. There are some interesting foils for Blade here and his struggle with his own anger, I just once again wish that this new mini-series focused a little more on the fallout from Blood Hunt and Blade’s place in the Marvel Universe as a result.

On top of this, the issue is given the title of a “Red Band” coming, leading one to believe that this will be a far more “mature” and “anything goes” type of affair. While readers here are able to see Blade take quite a few heads of those unfortunate enough to get in his way, it doesn’t necessarily feel that much different from what we’ve seen the vampire hunter do in the past in all-ages iterations.

This isn’t to say that the issue is an entirely mediocre one as it still does some worthwhile digging into Blade’s character here. Bryan Edward Hill clearly had some ideas for how he would approach Brooks and the new challenge in front of him is an interesting one. The Spellguard is a creepy enough visual and I’m looking forward to seeing the role that they have to play in this five-issue mini-series.

On the art front, C.F. Villa has a great output here in not just capturing the quieter moments of Blade’s new status quo, but capturing the frantic energy that is an inherent part of his bloody battles. Blade’s world here is a bustling one and Villa’s art works well in tandem with Hill’s script. The premiere issue also gives us some of the best fights that I’ve seen Eric Brooks take part in, proving once again why Blade has become Marvel’s most successful night stalker.

Blade: Red Band has a solid enough start but is missing out on some key ingredients that could really bring a new side of Blade to the Marvel Universe. Hill and Villa are able to create another worthy tale to the Vampire Hunter’s roster of stories but ultimately don’t bring enough new elements to the table here. Blade’s anger is something that has been a part of the character for quite some time but digging further would help add some new, interesting elements to his first “Red Band” outing.

Published by Marvel

On October 9, 2024

Written by Bryan Hill

Art by C.F. Villa

Colors by Java Tartaglia

Letters by VC’s Clayton Cowles

Cover by C.F. Villa & Federico Blee

The post Blade: Red Band #1 Review – Blade Lacks Bite appeared first on ComicBook.com.

In the realm of comics, the idea of reinvention isn’t an uncommon thing. Over the years, creators have taken beloved characters, concepts, and stories and given them new takes including everything from small shifts in details to full-on changes to origins that lead to larger, more fundamental alterations to everything fans know about the iconic characters and stories that they love. With DC’s new All In publishing initiative, DC is taking on reinvention again with the Absolute Universe — including a new, reinvented version of Batman. Written by Scott Snyder with art by Nick Dragotta, Absolute Batman #1 introduces a very different version of Batman and Bruce Wayne as well as the Gotham he lives in than we’ve ever really seen before, making big shifts away from the familiar story of the playboy billionaire who is secretly Gotham’s Dark Knight towards something more grounded and more human but no less driven. And while, as a lifelong Batman fan, the idea a reinvented Batman admittedly had me skeptical going in, Absolute Batman #1 not only delivers on the promise of being something fresh and original but also creates what might be one of the most authentic Batman takes we’ve seen in a long time, bringing the character into the 21st century in a way that is exciting and thrilling and gives readers — new and seasoned — a new Batman to get behind.

In Absolute Batman #1, a mysterious group known as the Party Animals have been terrorizing Gotham City as they carry out disturbing and gruesome acts of violence with seemingly no rhyme or reason. Anyone who crosses their path is in danger. The horrifying situation has caught outside attention, prompting the dispatch of MI6 agent Alfred Pennyworth. However, it soon becomes clear that while Alfred has been dispatched to deal with things in Gotham, he’s not the only person trying to handle the situation. There’s another on the scene also attempting to deal with the Party Animals: Batman. Structurally, setting the story up from Alfred’s perspective is solid choice as it works on two levels. First, this Alfred has much of the dark, brooding personality many readers will more readily attribute to mainstream Bruce/Batman so, tonally, it feels familiar and is a good way to what is already expected and more easily brings people into the story. But with the revelation this is Alfred and not Batman, we also are given a better overview of what the situation in Gotham actually is and, in turn, are introduced to Batman much the same way as Alfred is as a character. This approach allows for the story to unfold naturally, providing a lot of information without being overwhelming or too bulky.

This approach also makes the revelation this Batman’s origin story feel that much more interesting. The Batman of Absolute Batman #1 does not have wealth and privilege, but he does share something with his mainstream universe counterpart in that his vigilante path is rooted in trauma — what would Batman be without his trauma, after all. That said, what Snyder does here feels more nuanced and more realistic in a sense. The reader is not only walked through the loss that changed Bruce Wayne’s life, but we’re also shown how it impacted him. It is perhaps some of the finest writing in this issue, dealing with the real traumatic impact of Bruce’s childhood trauma and how he internalizes it, the struggles he experiences growing up, and ultimately how he turns it into something else — and how even though he has become Batman. It’s not something that is portrayed as necessarily heroic or healthy. Instead, Bruce’s response to his childhood trauma is much more in line with what one might expect to see in the real world, even as it gets dialed up to the next level where he takes on this darker vigilante mission. And things do get darker. This Batman pushes things even further to the limit and is, in some respect, darker and more violent and it is much more fitting to what one might expect from his experience and a more “modern” Batman, but it works well and never deviates from the core of the character.

Artistically, Snyder’s writing is very well supported by Dragotta’s art. Dragotta’s distinctive stye both gives Absolute Batman a familiar look and feel while also reinventing the characters visually so that they feel new. Alfred in particular is very distinctively not like any previous version of Alfred Pennyworth we’ve seen before, but he also still has much of the physical carriage and grace one would expect from the man previously known as Batman’s butler. There’s also something to be said about the design of this universe’s Batman. While the character is massive — almost comically so — juxtaposed against the scope of the city and the threat and especially when you get to know more details about this version of Batman and Bruce Wayne, the heft and bulk of the character simply makes sense. Remember, this is a Batman without his money which makes everything much more physical and it is well-reflected in the art. Everything here feels fresh and bold while never straying too far from the familiar (and, notably, at the end of the issue there is one particular image of an unexpected character that is an exceptional example of this.) It is all just the right balance.

As I said before, reinvention isn’t an unfamiliar concept for comics, but it’s not one that always works. However, with Absolute Batman #1 Snyder and Dragotta have not only successfully reinvented and reimagined one of the most iconic and beloved characters in popular culture but have kicked off am expertly considered story as well, giving readers something that stands on it own and has real meaning. With a strong balance of familiar elements and a new approach that is both more contemporary and more grounded, Absolute Batman #1 has given new readers a compelling jumping on point while offering longtime comics fans plenty to be interested in as well. It’s a well-crafted issue that works on all levels and will be fascinating to see where it goes from here.

Published by DC

On October 9, 2024

Written by Scott Snyder

Art by Nick Dragotta

Colors by Frank Martin

Letters by Clayton Cowles

Cover by Dragotta and Martin

The post Absolute Batman #1 Review: A Reinvention to Be All In On appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Happy new comic book day! It’s another major week in comics, and the ComicBook staff have come together to break down and review as many of the big comics releasing this week as possible. Now obviously this isn’t every single comic on stands, but we’re breaking down new releases from Marvel, DC, Image Comics, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse, Dynamite, Oni Press, Mad Cave Studios, DSTLRY, and more!

We’ve also carved out some additional space for three of this week’s biggest books, including Storm #1, the DC All In Special #1, and Hyde Street #1, so if our smaller review here piques your interest, make sure to check out the full review for a much more comprehensive analysis of all three issues. As for ratings, we keep things simple with a whole or half number out of five, and you can check out some of our previous reviews right here!

With all that said, let’s get to this week’s new comics!

DC #1

Absolute Power #4

DC’s latest landmark event culminates in a brilliantly constructed and satisfying-enough fashion. Mark Waid’s narrative does occasionally land on some predictable plot twists, but the interplay between the characters is still too good to criticize. Dan Mora’s art is as excellent as ever, especially as the fighting grows more volatile. Even with the All-In and Absolute initiatives clearly on the horizon, it’s apparent that Absolute Power got to end on its own high-octane terms. – Jenna Anderson

Rating: 4 out of 5 

Batman #153

Batman #153 is a dense issue that sets up a lot of things that could be very interesting going forward. Thanks to Bruce Wayne’s efforts, Gotham may actually be starting to turn a corner into something good, but not everyone is happy about that and Batman can’t trust it. Add in a new vigilante, The Riddler having supposedly gone straight, and some corporate shenanigans with a stunning twist, you’ve got the brewing of a complicated and deeply personal Batman tale that could answer the question of whether Gotham can really change. There’s also a surprising death, just to keep things even more interesting and mysterious. It’s the best issue of Batman in a while, hands down. – Nicole Drum

Rating: 4 out of 5

Birds of Prey #14

The start of Birds of Prey’s newest arc boasts a unique blend of entertainment and intrigue that only it can uniquely deliver. As the arc’s central conflict builds in somewhat of a slow burn, the fun is largely found in the team dynamics, all of which Kelly Thompson crafts very strongly. Sami Basri joins the series’ aesthetic in a seamless way, rendering awesome sartorial looks and epic fight sequences in equal measure. If you’ve missed out on this Birds of Prey run so far, DC’s new jumping-on point is a great opportunity to fix that. – Jenna Anderson

Rating: 5 out of 5

DC All In Special #1

DC jumps into a bold new era with the much anticipated DC All In Special, an ambitious flipbook-style issue that seeks to set the status quo of the main universe while simultaneously detailing the origins of the Absolute Universe. It’s a daunting task, and while there’s a lot to get to, the team is up for the task, crafting a one-of-a-kind special that delivers on its mission statement while still letting the heroes and villains that power this grand universe shine on their own individual levels. This is just the beginning, but with All In DC has put its best foot forward, and the future couldn’t be brighter. – Matthew Aguilar

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (Read the full review right here)

DC’s I Know What You Did Last Crisis #1

Just in time for Halloween, DC Comics has crafted eight bone-chilling stories to celebrate the spooky season. The comic publishers have long held an enjoyable trend of creating anthology comics that celebrate a specific holiday. Much like any anthology comic book issue, Last Crisis has its share of hits and misses, bringing together veteran comic creators and newcomers to the DC Universe. Surprisingly enough, not only does this issue create some skin-crawling stories for DC’s heroes but also has some entries that act as further examinations of major crossovers including Infinite Crisis and Final Crisis. One story in particular featuring Nightwing and Superboy Prime written by none other than former DC head Dan Didio is worth your attention. If you’re looking for a fun, breezy set of eight stories exploring big and small DC characters like, I Know What You Did Last Crisis is worth its $8.99 price tag. – Evan Valentine

Rating 3.5 out of 5

DC #2

Justice Society of America #12

With Justice Society of America #11 having wrapped up the story, this week’s finale – Justice Society of America #12 – ends up being just a really nice post script to the story and for Stargirl fans, it’s a beautiful one. The issue is narrated by Courtney as she graduates high school and, over the overlay of some truly epic fight scenes, recounts the thing’s she’s learned as she closes out one chapter and prepares for whatever comes next. There’s nothing especially groundbreaking here, but Johns does a fantastic job of meditating on the challenges of life and how we never really face them alone. It’s a beautiful and fitting way to commemorate Stargirl’s 25th anniversary as well as close out this series overall. – Nicole Drum

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

My Adventures With Superman #5

My Adventures With Superman #5 sees Superman face off in a final battle for Amazo and at the same time, sees Amazo come to understand where he came from and his purpose – as well as how he’s deviated from it. It’s a tense issue with Superman advocating for the good in Amazo against a force that wants less to protect Earth but more to get his own glory and it all sets up for what promises to be a massive finale. This whole series has been a delightand this issue is no exception, especially with a little humor courtesy Ma and Pa Kent. – Nicole Drum

Rating: 5 out of 5

Plastic Man No More! #2

As Eel’s predicament gets more unpredictable and horrifying, Plastic Man No More! firmly establishes itself as one of DC’s most distinct miniseries in recent memory. Christopher Cantwell’s script is an emotional masterpiece, raising the stakes while allowing for some delightfully adult moments of character. Alex Lins’ art does double duty in rendering Eel’s modern body horror and unsettlingly quaint time with the Justice League, with the end result being both well-executed and skin-crawling. Do not miss out on Plastic Man No More!, trust me. – Jenna Anderson

Rating: 5 out of 5

Poison Ivy #26

Poison Ivy #26 kicks off a new chapter for Poison Ivy and sees her trying to set right some of the things that went so wrong with her battle against Woodrue, but in the process lands her in the middle of a huge mystery regarding a suburb that has suddenly emerged from the marsh as well as a twist of potentially mistaken identity that is going to make everything just that much harder. While the issue is a little on the slower paced side as it sets up the story, the focus on Janet as the gateway to events works really beautifully. Given the large scale the last arc took, this feels much more pared down but no less as important and it’s overall just very well done. – Nicole Drum

Rating: 4 out of 5

Shazam! #16

Shazam!’s jumping-on point for the All-In initiative is a charming, albeit visually disjointed, new chapter. The highlight is absolutely Josie Campbell’s narrative, which has a delightful grasp on the family’s dynamics and insecurities going into their latest threat. Dan McDaid’s art results in some awkward facial expressions and body composition, but still delivers in key action sequences. – Jenna Anderson

Rating: 3 out of 5

The Nice House By The Sea #3

James Tynion IV is playing his hand in the right order with this series, revealing just enough details that the WTF factor doesn’t overshadow the actual storytelling. The real selling point for The Nice House by the Sea is the artwork by Álvaro Martínez Bueno with colors by Jordie Bellaire. The pair capture not only fundamentally human elements like scrapbooks and photography but manage to evoke specific moods in eerie settings and reveal otherworldly character designs that can only be done in comics. Horror fans have a great one to catch up with if they haven’t made the trip to the House… – Spencer Perry

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Marvel #1

Daredevil #14

Matt Murdock might have beaten Wilson Fisk once again but he has two heavy challenges to handle in his immediate future. The first is the remnants of the Heat, the Kingpin’s now aimless army, and the second is his own faith. Considering writer Saladin Ahmed has spent the current series seeing Matt as a priest, Murdock having a tete-a-tete with his creator makes sense here and peels back the layers of the character. Matt’s decision to give up his holy profession makes sense here and feels organic to the character, as well as his bristly current standing with Elektra thanks to it. Ahmed and Zagaria deliver an interesting outing for the Guardian Devil with this latest issue while also setting up quite the mystery for Murdock to handle in the imminent future. – Evan Valentine

Rating 4 out of 5

Deadpool #7

Deadpool’s daughter Ellie, and her trusty Carnage-infused hound Princess, are looking to pick up where her dead dad left off. Ultimately, Ellie does a good job of bringing a mix of humor and action that are left in Wade Wilson’s wake though there does feel like something missing from this latest issue. The topic of death is one that has had its fair share of controversy in “cape books” in recent years and the way they approach the Merc With A Mouth’s demise here doesn’t do that topic any favors. Deadpool’s death feels like an afterthought here and that’s a real shame. There is some good story hooks to mine from a scenario like this but for the team of mercenaries, it almost feels like it’s business as usual. While Ellie makes for a solid protagonist, it feels like this move to kill Wade simply doesn’t feel earned here. – Evan Valentine

Rating 3 out of 5

Get Fury #6

It’s such a shame that the characters Garth Ennis writes tend to be the most misunderstood, because he’s so damn good at crafting these gut-punching depictions of humanity that it makes you wonder how anyone could see his take on the Punisher and think any kind of violence could be a good idea. This Castle and Nick Fury story is beyond bleak, but it’s the kind of reflective saga that is impossible to ignore. – Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 4 out of 5

Spider-Gwen: The Ghost Spider #6

Gwen Stacy’s foray into the Marvel Universe continues with a much more subdued issue that features Ghost Spider having a tete-a-tete with Jessica Jones. Gwen’s new series has been very hit or miss as she tangles with classic Spidey villains while keeping the reasoning for her dimension hopping close to her chest. Luckily, this quieter issue gives us a better look into the characters of both Gwen and her potential “big bad”, the Black Tarantula. I’m still not entirely sold on the Ghost Spider’s new status quo when all is said and done but here’s to hoping that future issues can stay truer to this sixth issue than some of its weaker counterparts. – Evan Valentine

Rating 3.5 out of 5

Star Wars: Inquisitors #5

What a wallop of an exclamation point this put on the whole Inquisitors series. It’s a dark ending that lays bare the ideals that tend to lead us to our most devastating losses, both in the real world and in a galaxy far, far away. This also helps build Darth Vader’s legacy as one of the most harrowing villains around, and that is always welcomed. – Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 4 out of 5

Marvel #2

Storm #1

Rather than shying away from Storm’s complex, sometimes conflicting history, Storm #1 embraces it all and comes away with a strong sense of purpose. The issue also lays down several potential complications in Storm’s life and while it is hard to see now how they’ll coalesce into a satisfying and coherent narrative, the strength of this debut issue has earned the creative team some space to make their point. At a time when new superhero comics often struggle to justify their existence, Storm #1 creates the framework to position Storm as a leading superheroine she perhaps should have become a long time. Here’s hoping they can build on this strong start. – Jamie Lovett

Rating: 4 out of 5 (Read the full review right here)

The Immortal Thor #16

Immortal Thor #16 is a beautifully structured superhero story. It begins in a contemplative mode, reflecting on the broad idea of superheroes and supervillains as gods who walk among the mortals of the Marvel Universe before honing in on Thor’s thoughts about his responsibilities as the All-Father of Asgard. From there, it escalates with the introduction of a new foursome of villains, godly avatars comprised of some of Thor’s past foes. Ewing and Bazaldua do an excellent job of slowly ramping up the tension as Thor arrives on Earth and must confront first the earthly authorities that pose him no real threat and then eventually a villain who poses even more threat to them than he does to them before finally facing the combined might of his primal enemies. It’s done with confidence and a sense of introspection largely lacking in many modern superhero comics, which helps make Immortal Thor stand out from the crowd. It may seem odd that assembling four villains who could generously be labeled “B-list” to face off with Thor would be so exciting, but Ewing has shown a knack for elevating such characters and instilling them with new weight and meaning. One expects he’s headed in the same direction again, and that’s something worth anticipating.  – Jamie Lovett

Rating: 4 out of 5

Ultimate Black Panther #9

The latest issue of Black Panther has T’Challa’s storyline marginally spinning its wheels, but writer Bryan Hill and series artist Stefano Caselli do great with the Killmonger and Storm side of the narrative. Hill’s writing in the series is always at its best when he’s keeping us guessing and this arc does just that. Caselli channels the powers of these two characters in unique ways while also delivering plenty of other surprises as they track down the new Sorcerer Supreme. As has been the cast this entire time, Ultimate Black Panther is at its best when setting itself apart, and that remains true here. – Spencer Perry

Rating: 4 out of 5

Venom War #3

If you haven’t been reading Al Ewing’s Venom from the start, the latest issue of Venom War might read like total nonsense, and even if you have it may feel like you’re caught in a whirlpool of lore. Ewing does his best to make it all make sense, but it becomes sensory overload despite. Series artist Iban Coello continues to do great work with the varied characters and symbiotes that are present, this time wrapping up the issue with perhaps its best final page yet. – Spencer Perry

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

X-Men #5

Why do this? Why create a story seemingly of a kind with certain highly-regarded past X-Men issues only to reject what made them great without purpose? To have Kid Omega speak during a psychic rescue, a plot device previously used to justify memorable silent comics, isn’t necessarily out of character – at least not if you roll back all of Kid Omega’s character development from the past 10 years, which is keeping in theme with the current X-Men volume –  but to have him do so without any specific repercussions renders the entire exercise moot. While Ryan Stegman has his strengths as an artist, his style does not have the gracefulness of Frank Quitely or Russell Dauterman, and the journey that Quentin and Kwannon embark on lacks the symbolism that defined past psychic rescue missions, which differentiated them from any other X-Men excursion. The villain reveal feels like yet another example of McKay doing a half-hearted Morrison cover, and having Kid Omega make a statement suggesting an understanding of the need for Psylocke’s professional precision to guide his raw power and then not visualize that any further than a nebulous splash page is a failure of plot. X-Men #5 simply does not measure up to the legacy it seeks to co-op. – Jamie Lovett

Rating: 1.5 out of 5

Image Comics

Hyde Street #1

Overall, Hyde Street #1 is a bit of a departure from what readers might expect from both Johns and Reis, but the story and its art simply works. The characters are interesting, if not mysteries of their own which beg to be unpacked, but the actual setting itself offers just enough questions to make readers want to know more as well as see more, thanks to Reis’ detailed and intricate art.. At its core, Hyde Street #1 sets the stage for what feels like a tale that is going to make the reader ask some hard questions of themselves, but also make them think twice about crossing the street in an unfamiliar neighborhood. It’s a promising start to a new horror story. – Nicole Drum

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (Read the full review right here)

Redcoat #6

Redcoat’s first story arc comes to a close in grandiose fashion, relying on the strengths of the series when it comes to big set pieces, bizarre supernatural shenanigans, and Simon Pure’s deadpan wit to make for a solid sixth issue. Johns and Hitch end the first arc strong while laying out quite the final page to hint at what is to come. Redcoat is arguably the strongest ongoing series from Ghost Machine and it’s issues like this that help to propel it as a must read for comic book fans. Here’s to hoping that Simon Pure and Albert Einstein are able to keep running with the ball in the future of both Redcoat and Ghost Machine as a whole. – Evan Valentine

Rating 4 out of 5

The Deviant #8

The Deviant is such a beautifully layered crime story that still, eight issues in, has you guessing everything you’re reading. It’s a great thriller even without the stories of identity and desperation and acceptance at its center. The whole package put together and tied with a bow has set the stage for Tynion’s holiday mystery to be an all-timer. – Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 5 out of 5

I Hate Fairyland #16

What an enjoyable return to Fairyland this turned out to be! Young has a couple jokes that don’t quite land and, at times, the dialogue can feel just a tad bit dated, but it’s never something you really mind all that much. Gert is a wonderfully messy character, which allows for the book to be a little messy sometimes, too. Seeing her accept her new role as a hero is such a fun direction for this story, especially when it’s made very clear that her heroics aren’t what she believes them to be. – Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Oni, Titan, and IDW

Conan: Battle of The Black Stone #2

It’s difficult for a time-hopping, monster-slaying Conan adventure to be anything other than a fun time, and Zub fully understands that. What we have here isn’t the best comic on the shelf by any stretch, but it’s a good time from the first page to the last, and that’s all you need every now and then. – Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 3 out of 5

Cruel Universe #3

The latest issue of Cruel Universe undoubtedly lives up to its concept and name, spinning a crop of largely-intriguing yarns about the dangers of technology. The highlights are definitely found in the latter half of the issue, as Ben H. Winters and Carson Thorn’s “The Deleted Man” and Cullen Bunn and David Rubin’s “Behave” deliver short and twisted parables about the modern pressures of technology. Every chapter is gruesome, and nearly every chapter is memorable, and horror fans owe it to themselves to check it out. – Jenna Anderson

Rating: 4 out of 5

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher #2

Nightwatcher’s second issue dives into Jennika and the series of events that led her to become the new vigilante protector of Mutant Town. Given that Nightwatcher’s debut depicted the character as a fairly straightforward urban avenger, this sophomore outing provides a surprisingly fantastical origin. It could be seen as unnecessary — Jennika has been protecting Mutant Town as part of the Ninja Turtles clan for a while now, it wouldn’t be surprising if she simply took on a new persona as the neighborhood’s current solo protector to be even more effective in that pursuit — but there is some narrative power in infusing the Nightwatcher with a power born of the cultures of Mutant Town’s people, making Nightwatcher more of an avatar of the community than a longe vengeful protector. The urban-surreal aesthetic of the visuals adds to this sensibility, one that straddles the line between street-level crime fighting and mystical, even occult themes. Nightwatcher #2 provides a strong, compelling origin for Mutant Town’s new protector that should continue to compel as the creators unpack it through future issues of the series.  – Jamie Lovett

Rating: 4 out of 5

The post Comic Book Reviews for This Week: 10/2/2024 appeared first on ComicBook.com.

DC jumps into a bold new era with the much anticipated DC All In Special, an ambitious flipbook-style issue that seeks to set the status quo of the main universe while simultaneously detailing the origins of the Absolute Universe. It’s a daunting task, and while there’s a lot to get to, the team is up for the task, crafting a one-of-a-kind special that delivers on its mission statement while still letting the heroes and villains that power this grand universe shine on their own individual levels. This is just the beginning, but with All In DC has put its best foot forward, and the future couldn’t be brighter.

Two Sides of the Story

Both sides of the story in the All In Special take place 52 days after the events of Absolute Power, and each side features a different point of view. The Alpha side of the story is told from the perspective of the heroes, mainly focusing on Superman and Booster Gold. The fallout from Absolute Power is ever-present, and this side will get those who missed Absolute Power up to speed in the broadest of ways, with one main element of Amanda Waller’s plan in the spotlight.

While there are several takeaways from Absolute Power that deserve to be explored, All In zeroes in on how the heroes were so quickly broken down by Waller’s onslaught because of their lack of communication. They were all doing their own thing, and there was no Justice League to act as their central hub, and that is one of the biggest weaknesses to address in the aftermath. Joshua Williamson addresses this on both a macro and micro level, and as he’s done so many times in Superman, he also finds a way to explore the magnitude of those bigger decisions in a meaningful way by getting to the ground level with the characters those decisions affect.

Case in point, Booster Gold, and fans of the character are going to love how much shine Booster and Skeets get throughout the issue. In many ways this is a Booster story, as he acts as the perfect prism for so much of what happens in both stories and where they ultimately converge. Booster fans are also going to adore what Daniel Sampere, Alejandro Sanchez, and Steve Wands bring to the character throughout the issue, delivering several stunning scenes that completely steal the show.

Alpha and Omega

Let’s move to the Omega side, which as you might surmise, is the story from Darkseid’s point of view. Scott Snyder, Wes Craig, Mike Spicer, and Steve Wands shift not just the story but the entire feel of the Special, moving alongside a more resolute iteration of Darkseid than we’ve perhaps ever seen. Darkseid makes decisions in this special that might seem more audacious than he’s typically accustomed to, but it’s all still in line with his lead goal, which is bigger than anything he’s tried before.

I mean, if you’re involving The Spectre in something, that kind of goes with the territory, but it was still jarring (in a good way) to see Darkseid pushing the envelope in this way. Craig, Spicer, and Wands bring each of these encounters to life in all their gruesome glory, and when the two stories finally merge, the beautiful page at its center stuns both visually and contextually, as it sets up a major showdown at some point down the line.

Now, it’s not perfect mind you, but it depends on from which point you’re jumping in. If you haven’t kept up with Absolute Power, you’re likely going to be a little muddled in spots, even with the quick recap in some of the opening dialogue. Likewise, if you don’t find the dynamics of Darkseid’s supporting cast and family interesting, the Darkseid story will likely drag a bit as it gets going. New readers will get the gist of how the new universe was formed and where the main universe is heading mind you, but it might take a second read-through to catch some of the smaller details, just due to how much the story is tackling at once.

That said, I was impressed by All In’s extensive scope and how the team was able to connect all of those bigger elements together into a story that felt satisfying on an individual level. The flipbook aspect of it brought some inventiveness to the equation as well, but also delivered two truly distinct stories that coalescence into a compelling whole, and both sides of this larger than life story delivered gorgeous and unforgettable moments along the way. An epic new era has begun, and it’s already off to a fantastic start.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5  

Published By: DC Comics

Written By: Joshua Williamson and Scott Snyder

Art By: Daniel Sampere, Wes Craig, and Dan Mora

Colored By: Alejandro Sanchez, Mike Spicer, and Tamra Bonvillain

Lettered By: Steve Wands

DC All In Special #1 is in comic stores now.

What did you think of All In? You can talk all things comics with me on Threads and Twitter @mattaguilarcb!

The post DC All In Special #1 Review: The Epic Birth of a New Era appeared first on ComicBook.com.

It’s officially October, the month of all things spooky, scary, and even a little twisted and for fans of horror comics, it also means that Hyde Street #1 is here. The latest from Geoff Johns’ Ghost Machine universe, Hyde Street #1 sees Johns and artist Ivan Reis step into the horror genre unlike we’ve seen from them before to take readers on a journey to a place — the titular Hyde Street — that feels part purgatory, part nightmare and all mystery full of tormented souls, dark mysteries, and perhaps even a disturbing look at humanity and what people will do to avoid their fate.

Hyde Street #1 opens up with a truly unsettling encounter between a seemingly kindly old lady who finds herself suddenly confused as she walks down the street with her groceries. There’s a great deal of construction cluttering up the intersection and things are strangely unfamiliar to her. She’s soon helped out by a young scout, but it’s quickly revealed that this isn’t merely a good deed. The old woman has dark secrets and the scout is on a mission to make her face them. It’s through that disturbing sequence that at least part of the nature of Hyde Street is revealed and we’re soon initiated into the idea that Hyde Street is itself disturbing, but so are its “residents” and their motives. We’re also introduced to Mr. X-Ray, another resident and it’s soon explained that even the residents have dark stories and that they’re all serving someone even darker, all playing a twisted game of presumably redemption from what feels like a much larger hell.

Narratively, it’s an interesting first issue. Johns sets up Mr. X-Ray as something of a protagonist even though he is far from an innocent — we learn about his own callousness and poor life choices early on — but much about the man or exactly why he’s ended up on Hyde Street remains a mystery. We’re also introduced to Pranky, the young scout, who seems to be filling a similar role to Mr. X-Ray but has a very different and more disturbing way of going about the task. The dynamic between the characters leaves a lot to unpack, but with plenty of tension as the first issue establishes a sort of rivalry between the two that only seems to be getting started. As for mechanics of Hyde Street and both of the characters we’re introduced to, Johns leaves quite a few things left to be revealed and in doing so, makes things just a bit more intriguing. The story is a slow burn that is just satisfying enough to enjoy but leaves the reader wanting more.

Art wise, Reis’s art is intricate and very detailed. Particular standouts in the issue are the facial features and expressions on the characters, which offer not only a bit of humanity — even in the old lady with a dark secret — but also contains secrets within themselves. Pranky in particular feels especially artistically fleshed out to the point where the visual of his dark turn is almost more impactful than what he’s saying in any given panel. Beyond just the characters, however, Reis has created a richly detailed world that manages to capture looking like any other city street or neighborhood with ease while also darkening every corner with shadow and suggestion of the horror to come. The art is made even more impactful by Brad Anderson’s colors, which are perfectly toned to be just the right amount of spooky.

Overall, Hyde Street #1 is a bit of a departure from what readers might expect from both Johns and Reis, but the story and its art simply works. The characters are interesting, if not mysteries of their own which beg to be unpacked, but the actual setting itself offers just enough questions to make readers want to know more. At its core, Hyde Street #1 sets the stage for what feels like a tale that is going to make the reader ask some hard questions of themselves, but also make them think twice about crossing the street in an unfamiliar neighborhood. It’s a promising start to a new horror story.

Published by Image Comics

On October 2, 2024

Written by Geoff Johns

Art by Ivan Reis

Colors by Brad Anderson

Inks by Danny Miki

Letters by Rob Leigh

Cover by Reis, Miki and Anderson

The post Hyde Street #1 Review: An Enticing Introduction Down a Dark Path appeared first on ComicBook.com.

The thing about Storm stories is that you’re never really sure which Storm it’s going to be about. Will it be the god, the thief, the punk, the queen, the X-Man, the Avenger? Storm’s ever-shifting identity and role in the Marvel Universe is front-and-center in Storm #1 from writer Murewa Ayodele, artist Lucas Wreneck, colorists Alex Guimarães & Fer Sifuentes-Sujo, and letter Travis Lanham, visualized with Ororo contemplating a virtual wardrobe of her past looks for bygone eras. Storm #1 ultimately does more to cement Storm’s position as a solo superhero than perhaps any past effort by drawing on various aspects from her past lives, setting up a potentially exciting series to come.

Though framed around the “Grand Opening” of the Storm Sanctuary, Ororo’s new airborne headquarters hovering above Atlanta, most of Storm #1’s action occurs in flashback to Oklahoma City one week prior, when Storm and Frenzy worked to save residents from an apparent meltdown at a local nuclear power plant. The truth is much more complicated and could poison all of the goodwill from the human community that Storm and Frenzy earned with their rescue efforts, leaving Storm with a weighty choice over whether to embrace the truth or spare mutants the additional prejudice it may bring upon them.

Arguably, Storm has never been fashioned so firmly in the mold of a superhero than she is in Storm #1. Werneck makes excellent use of background landscapes to frame the disaster in Oklahoma City as truly cataclysmic, bleeding out of frame as if to subsume that action within. Panels of Storm and Frenzy keeping the chaos at bay or finding civilians are shown from the point of view of someone looking up at them as they seemingly descend from on high, a godlike framing further emphasized by Storm’s new home among the clouds, an opulent abode that’s a far cry from the comparatively spartan culture of Arakko, where she previously resided.

This sequence wouldn’t feel out of place in a Superman story, the powerful but compassionate hero saving anyone they can without question or qualification before returning to their remote, personal sanctum. It all works well as a reflection of Storm’s magnanimity and conviction. Yet, some moments emphasize Storm’s frailty as well, such as when a wayward piece of splintered wood moving at high speed, detritus that would bounce off a Kryptonian’s torso, pierces Ororo’s chest. There’s another sign of Storm’s mortality that may act as a ticking clock in the story going forward.

While Storm has relatively little dialogue for this being her new solo series’ debut, the creative team’s vision of who she is comes through nonetheless. She is a being of near-godlike power with distinctly human empathy, one who isn’t afraid to leverage the grandiosity she is uniquely capable of wielding. She’s a hero who will do the right thing until it hurts, who values hard truth over convenient lies, and who may be destined for even greater things than even she could imagine.

Rather than shying away from Storm’s complex, sometimes conflicting history, Storm #1 embraces it all and comes away with a strong sense of purpose. The issue also lays down several potential complications in Storm’s life and while it is hard to see now how they’ll coalesce into a satisfying and coherent narrative, the strength of this debut issue has earned the creative team some space to make their point. At a time when new superhero comics often struggle to justify their existence, Storm #1 creates the framework to position Storm as a leading superheroine she perhaps should have become a long time. Here’s hoping they can build on this strong start. 

Published by Marvel

On October 2, 2024

Written by Murewa Ayodele

Art by Lucas Wreneck

Colors by Alex Guimarães & Fer Sifuentes-Sujo

Letters by Travis Lanham

Cover by Mateus Manhanini

The post Storm #1 Review: The Making of a Hero, Long Overdue appeared first on ComicBook.com.

Happy new comic book day! It’s another major week in comics, and the ComicBook staff have come together to break down and review as many of the big comics releasing this week as possible. Now obviously this isn’t every single comic on stands, but we’re breaking down new releases from Marvel, DC, Image Comics, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse, Dynamite, Oni Press, Mad Cave Studios, DSTLRY, and more!

We’ve also carved out some additional space for three of this week’s biggest books, including Masters of the Universe/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles of Grayskull #1, Batman: The Long Halloween – The Last Halloween #1, and Avengers Annual #1, so if our smaller review here piques your interest, make sure to check out the full review for a much more comprehensive analysis of all three issues. As for ratings, we keep things simple with a whole or half number out of five, and you can check out some of our previous reviews right here!

With all that said, let’s get to this week’s new comics!

DC #1

Absolute Power: Origins #3

An excellent tie-in to Absolute Power comes to an end in its third issue, once again diving deep into the mind of Amanda “The Wall” Waller. One of the most interesting aspects of this mini-series conclusion is Waller talking with her daughter and struggling to build a relationship with her in the face of the world she wants to build. Origins acts as the perfect tie-in to Absolute Power, performing a compelling deep dive into The Wall’s take on the world. At the end of the day, Absolute Power: Origins feels like essential reading for Absolute Power and that is the best kind of tie-in to earth-shattering comic book crossovers. – Evan Valentine

Rating 4.5 out of 5

Action Comics #1069

Superman and The Challenge From the Stars ends its three-part story in true Superman fashion with the Man of Steel not only showing why he’s the best of heroes, but by showing what teamwork looks like as well even when you are the most powerful player in the game. The whole arc was a nice little interlude before we get to All In, but it also felt like a nice resent, with Superman’s core values perfectly on display with plenty of action as well. Additionally the Lois & Clark: In Love. At Work finale is also very good in that it genuinely highlights the challenges that both Clark and Lois face when trying to balance their jobs as well as the dynamic of their relationship that lets them truly see and support one another. Two great stories that show the full breadth of the characters. – Nicole Drum.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Batman: The Brave and The Bold #13

Nearly a year and a half into its run, Batman: The Brave and the Bold has proven itself to be an ever-evolving and fun menagerie of DC adventures. There isn’t really a weak story in the bunch, but the highlights are easily the more eccentric team-ups between Green Arrow and Shazam! in Troy Peteri and David Baldeon’s “Downtime at the Diner”, and the first chapter in a crossover between John Constantine and Streaky the Super-Cat in “Petsurrection.” As a showcase for the weirdness that the DCU has to offer, Brave and the Bold is continuing to deliver. – Jenna Anderson

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Batman: The Long Halloween – The Last Halloween #1

The Last Halloween #1 is a well-crafted and worthy next chapter to the story that not only deftly matches the original’s tone but sets the stage for an intriguing, sure to be classic Batman story. Loeb slips back into writing this story as though it’s a comfortable pair of shoes and walks the reader back into Gotham’s dark and frightened heart. Batman’s overview narration of what is happening definitely does a lot of telling, but doesn’t distract from the pieces of dialogue that we get on the pages nor does it take from the art, provided by Eduardo Risso who takes up the challenge of following in the footsteps of the late Tim Sale and does it beautifully. The issue is a fitting complement to the original while also functioning as a solid kick off to its own story. While Sale is no longer with us to provide the art, the art here still honors and furthers the visual storytelling legacy and supports everything in a way that leaves readers wanting more. – Nicole Drum

Rating: 5 out of 5 (Click to read full review)

Harley Quinn #43

Harley Quinn #43 does a really nice job of wrapping up Harley’s current story right before heading off for All In and it does it by leaning into what Harley does best: uses all of her skills. Howard leans in to the idea that, underneath it all, Harley is a psychologist who knows human beings and how they operate and that is her real super power. We also get to see Harley use that super power for good while still being flawed – and she makes the case for the importance of allowing our heroes to be flawed. While this arc has had its ups and downs, this conclusion works very well and it’s great to see the character land firmly in herself again at last. – Nicole Drum

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

DC #2

Green Arrow #16

For better or for worse, Absolute Power is continuing to wreak havoc on the Green Arrow family, and this issue showcases all of the entertaining and frustrating elements that that entails. Joshua Williamson’s script is well executed, even as it remains predicated on twists without any meaningful context behind them. Amancay Nahuelpan and Sean Izaakse’s art is seamlessly aligned together, with clever and expressive decisions made when rendering the series’ ever-growing roster of characters. While this issue is far from perfect, it does sufficiently lay the runway for whatever Absolute Power has in store next. – Jenna Anderson

Rating: 4 out of 5

Outsiders #11

Outsiders’ finale is nothing short of operatic, weaving a top-notch tale about life, loss, and the beauty of comic storytelling. Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing’s script is endlessly clever and poignant, wrapping up the series’ disparate plotlines in a satisfying and emotional fashion. Robert Carey’s art is as dynamic and opulent as ever, rendering rainy cityscapes and the blank void of the multiverse with an equal sense of depth. There has been nothing quite like Outsiders in the past year of comics, and I am delighted that it was able to culminate on such good terms. – Jenna Anderson

Rating: 5 out of 5

Power Girl #13

Power Girl is such a solid book that it can go entire issues without its titular hero and you don’t mind one bit. Issue #13 focuses entirely on Omen, giving her more of the spotlight she deserves and allowing the saga a small detour away from Power Girl. It’s a brisk issue with some really enjoyable elements at play. Plus, a new character debut in the third act does a lot to get you excited for whatever’s next. – Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 4 out of 5

The Flash #13

The Flash is absolutely wild, and I mean that in the best way possible. At no point did I have The Flash working elements of humanity and child birth into the Speed Force, but we are here, and I gotta say, it was well worth the trip. Simon Spurrier really delves into this world in a way I never expected, unlocking a way to relate to it and to the speedsters that it calls upon in truly unique ways. Ramon Perez, Matt Herms, and Pete Pantazis sort of break your mind at times as The Flash maneuvers through reality-breaking scenarios, though it’s when the family becomes involved that the story truly starts to hit its stride, and it never looks back. This was not at all what I expected, but leave it to this dynamite team to leave any expectations in the dust and break new ground, and you can absolutely sign me up for more. – Matthew Aguilar

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Zatanna: Bring Down The House #4

This issue feels tailor-made for me in many ways, mostly because it’s primarily Zatanna and John Constantine just interacting, which to me is a recipe for success. Mariko Tamaki does one better though, weaving humor, intrigue, and welcome answers to the ongoing mystery throughout the two just simply existing together, which again, is a win in itself. Javier Rodriguez and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou literally work magic throughout the issue, and this is easily one of my favorite books visually in the series, including one simply breathtaking splash page that demands to be a poster on the wall. Zatanna vs Zatara is going to be epic, but even before that showdown finally happens, the team has already delivered one of the character’s best outings to date. – Matthew Aguilar

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Marvel #1

Daredevil: Woman Without Fear #3

Elektra’s time as the “Woman Without Fear” has been a high mark for the character overall, attempting to save Hell’s Kitchen as a way to prove herself to Matt Murdock. Most of this issue focuses on Elektra fighting against the likes of Count Nefaria and Silverman, and while it’s a strong enough brawl, it does feel a tad lacking at times in terms of overall characterization. Luckily, Dowling and Fiorellie on artistic duties work some magic here, adeptly covering the fight and the more grounded moments of this underworld extravaganza. Ultimately, had the characterization been a bit stronger, this could have been a great outing for Elektra but it failed to capitalize on the new Daredevil’s crime-fighting career. – Evan Valentine

Rating: 3 out of 5

Namor #3

Even when there’s less going on than in previous issues, Aaron’s Namor has yet to hit a speed bump. The Sub-Mariner is constantly at war with himself and his past, while simultaneously using the clarity from those memories to try and stop a literal war unfolding all around him. It’s a brilliant character study and a fantastic exploration of the Marvel Universe beneath the surface. – Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 5 out of 5

NYX #3

Despite a few moments of overdone platitudes or shaky characterization, this new generation of NYX continues to possess potential. Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing’s approach to the ensemble delivers poignancy and action in equal measure, perfectly accompanied by Francesco Mortarino’s chunky-but-lively aesthetic. NYX definitely remains a relevant book for this moment, and I’m curious to see exactly what the future holds for it. – Jenna Anderson

Rating: 4 out of 5

Phases of the Moon Knight #2

There’s a lot to like about this Phases of the Moon Knight idea, even if every story isn’t a knockout. The two stories in issue #2 depict a throwback detective-type adventure for Moon Knight and a futuristic tale set in the 2800s. The former, from writer Jed MacKay, is the much stronger of the two, but both find ways to be enjoyable. Neither lingers too long or outstays their welcome. – Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 3 out of 5

Phoenix #3

Though the series IS filled with grand action and huge splash pages from series artist Alessandro Miracolo, there is a gentleness at the heart of the Phoenix comic that is what really makes it sing. Miracolo channels the tender nature of the character in moments where her empathy and understanding become her biggest superpower, and series writer Stephanie Phillips continues to prove she has a firm understanding of the character. Spectacular visuals continue to collide with a personal take on a classic hero, making this a secret dark horse for one the best books out of the new X-Men. – Spencer Perry

Rating: 4 out of 5

Marvel #2

The Amazing Spider-Man #58

Zeb Wells and John Romita Jr’s run on your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is inching toward its finale as the creative team unleashes one of the most brutal fights in Peter Parker’s history. While there have been elements of time travel, snow deities, and Paul in the overall run, Tombstone has been a key focal point in the run so far. Lonnie Lincoln is given plenty of time to shine here as he looks to do the unthinkable, with only Spidey managing to stop the mob boss from killing his own daughter. Not since J. Michael Straczynski’s Morlun storyline have I seen a more hard-hitting battle for Spider-Man and while there have certainly been issues with the run overall, this latest issue makes it seem that Wells and Romita Jr. are going out on the highest of notes. If you’ve been looking for a more serious Spidey tale, The Amazing Spider-Man #58 is well worth your time and might be my favorite issue from the team so far. – Evan Valentine

Rating 4.5 out of 5

The Avengers Annual #1

The Infinity Watch has been a genuinely pleasant surprise over the past few months, and now this part of the saga has concluded in the pages of Avengers Annual #1. Granted, it’s just really the introduction, but it’s a compelling one, and shows that perhaps the Infinity Stones still have some life left in them after all. The Avengers Annual illustrates the stakes for failure rather effectively, and the contrasting personalities within the group showcase a lot of promise, with a few truly standing out by issue’s end. While we’ll have to wait and see what’s next for this eclectic group, Marvel has managed to get me invested and eager to see what that future holds. – Matthew Aguilar

Rating: 4 out of 5 (Click to read full review)

Ultimate Spider-Man #9

Though not a down step in any way, this is the first issue of Ultimate Spider-Man that has marginally felt like the wheels were spinning. Writer Jonathan Hickman reconvenes his characters into similar situations, with the Peter/Harry storyline feeling the most like its marching in place. The good news is that even when it seems to partially stall itself out, it’s still an engaging read. Series artist Marco Checchetto continues to do amazing work, making the action engaging and the slower moments have equal amounts of impact for readers. This continues to be a special book. – Spencer Perry

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Uncanny X-Men #3

In the wake of Krakoa, many readers wondered if the “From The Ashes” status quo would be able to live up to its predecessor and from Uncanny X-Men’s first three issues, the answer is a resounding yes. Gail Simone might be focusing on the merry mutants that were featured most prominently in X-Men ’97 but she has given them far different roles here. Setting the stage for a new generation of mutants, across all the titles, is a compelling twist but Uncanny feels like the strongest of the bunch so far. Simone and Marquez are firing on all engines here, doing an amazing job with both the recognizable mutants and their new students. On top of this, Gail has crafted quite the creepy new villain, who readers get to see in action this time around. Uncanny X-Men feels like the “must-read” book of the Marvel mutant line and that fact might just continue for issues to come if history is any indication. – Evan Valentine

Rating 4 out of 5

X-Force #3

X-Force #3 is a flat affair. Marcus To’s artwork is stellar, as usual. However, his style’s openness and natural flair for superheroics don’t fit well with a book where tech and moral ambiguity are big themes, perhaps better evoked by a more shadowy style with finer details. As is, the issue is fine enough to look at, but the plot is a pretty barebones superhero affair and most of the dialog is basic bickering. There’s not much memorable here and the issue is likely to be forgotten once its closed. – Jamie Lovett

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Image #1

Rogue Sun #22

There’s a lot going on here (perhaps a little too much) but the issue remaining rooted in the long-term effects of tragedy and grief help keep it engaging from page to page. The clean and crisp action also helps Rogue Sun move tremendously, creating a comic that’s always got something on its mind but is never bogged down by its own ideas. – Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 4 out of 5

Universal Monsters: Frankenstein #2

The second of 4 issues retelling the story of Frankenstein by telling the story of one body part used to create his monster, Universal Monsters: Frankenstein #2 this time centers around the brain – and how it goes a little bit awry. Story-wise, this is an interesting book and this particular approach is fascinating. Walsh does a great job with that, slowly unfolding what is ultimately a tragic tale. Art-wise, however, the book is a little harder to follow as some of the characters, at times, look too much alike to easily discern. Over all though, it’s a solid story and it will be interesting to see where it goes next. – Nicole Drum

Rating: 3 out of 5

Other Publishers #1

Conan The Barbarian #15

Conan’s arctic arc remains the strongest of this run to-date, though this issue is slightly weaker than the couple that came before it. It’s a good time, with some well-paced sequences for the titular hero, but the supernatural and sexual situations here don’t hit quite as well as the action-heavy adventures we’ve gotten used to. – Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 3 out of 5

Helen of Wyndhorn #5

“Stunning” doesn’t feel like a powerful enough word to explain Helen of Wyndhorn, but it suffices in the meantime. Tom King’s script spins a yarn that is filled to the brim with surprises and heart, with some profound moments that legitimately took my breath away. Bilquis Evely’s art could not be more outstanding, with an attention to detail and a sense of liveliness that is truly breathtaking. If you are not reading Helen of Wyndhorn, take this as a sign to fix that immediately. – Jenna Anderson

Rating: 5 out of 5

Masters of the Universe/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles of Grayskull #1

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been making the crossover rounds in the comic book world in recent years. Michaelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, and Leonardo have met, and teamed up with, Batman, the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, the kids from Stranger Things, the Savage Dragon, The Ghostbusters, and more. On the Eternia side of the equation, Prince Adam and his fellow Masters of the Universe fought against the twisted DC Heroes of the Injustice Universe and the Thundercats. Now, the heroes in a half-shell and the Eternians are coming face-to-face in a Dark Horse comic book crossover. – Evan Valentine

Rating: 3 out of 5 (Click to read full review)

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Usagi Yojimbo #1

Power Rangers fans have been rather spoiled in the crossover department, and their winning streak continues with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers/Usagi Yojimbo #1. Writer Ryan Parrott has already put his crossover skills on display in the stellar crossover with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and his enthusiasm for Yojimbo is just as readily apparent. Yojimbo is in many ways the linchpin of the story, and Parrott then utilizes him to highlight the Rangers’ various relationships with each other and their role as heroes. Shawn Daley, James Fenner, and Ed Dukeshire bring those interpersonal relationships and the fantastical action you’d expect from this team-up to life brilliantly, delivering a stylized world that still feels true to both sets of characters but also feels fresh and distinctly its own. The oversized one-shot format suits the story perfectly as well, so all in all, nothing but praise from here. – Matthew Aguilar

Rating: 5 out of 5

The post Comic Book Reviews for This Week: 9/25/2024 appeared first on ComicBook.com.