In this column, we make a quick trip through this week’s pull-list. It features mostly spoiler-free brief analysis and commentary of each book.
There are plenty of good comics out there. There are some great first issues of series this week. Don’t forget to check our hotlist of new books debuting this month over here. You will see books that we were looking forward to with the designation Hot #1 by them.
DISCLAIMER:
There is a 4 star rating system. It is simple and not to be taken too seriously as everyone gets their own impressions of art. These ratings are just to give our readers an idea of what we thought of the book, and they will be on the generous side normally. So don’t expect to see a lot of 1 Stars. After all, its not often that you have a bad book on your pull-list.
The rating system is as follows:
Great
Good
OK
Not Good
And here are the books we read in alphabetical order:
Click a link below if you want to jump to a particular review:
Batman #56, Blackbird #1, Champions #25, Dr. Strange #6, The Dreaming #2, House Amok #2, Jook Joint #1, Justice League #9, The Lone Ranger #1, The Magic Order #4, Nightwing #49, Shatter-Star #1
Batman #56
DC Comics
Written by Tom King
Pencils by Tony S. Daniel
Inks by Daniel & Danny Miki
Colors by Tomeu Morey
Letters by Clayton Cowles
Cover Art by Daniel & Morey
Batman is being pushed. That is the realization that Tom King’s run has been leading us toward. The events of the failed wedding and the previous issue are taking a toll on the Dark Knight. They have hit him in places that strain his reasonable responses. The individual vignettes that make up this issue are on their own entertaining and fantastically drawn, but they are all bringing the Batman closer to a dreadful climax. Tony Daniel’s line work is awesome in every panel of this book.
BLACKBIRD #1
Image Comics
Written by Sam Humphries
Art by Jen Bartel
Layout Art by Paul Reinwand
Colors by Nayoung Wilson and Bartel
Letters by Jodi Wynne
Cover Art by Bartel
See our Preview Review here.
Champions #25
Marvel Comics
Written by Jim Zub
Art by Sean Izaakse & Max Dunbar
Colors by Marcio Menyz & Nolan Woodward
Letters by Clayton Cowles
Cover Art by Izaakse & Menyz
This issue sends the heroes to a strange land, and they struggle to find the reality of the world they landed in. The story being set up is interesting and compelling. The art compliments the setting of the story very well. We look forward to seeing how this group will find each other and save themselves.
Doctor Strange #6
Marvel Comics
Written by Mark Waid
Art by Javier Pina
Colors by Brian Reber
Letters by Cory Petit
Cover Art by Kevin Nowlan
A lingering question rolling around in our heads during this run has been, “What about Mark Waid’s previous run on Doctor Strange?” Well, it is answered here. “The Doctor Is Out” is displayed front and center beginning in this book, and it does not bode well for the Sorcerer. Javier Pina comes on board for this issue, and it is a smooth transition from Jesus Saiz. The storytelling is high quality, and leads the audience on journey of exploration. Backstory issues are not easy to pull off but this one works well.
The Dreaming #2
DC Comics
Written by Simon Spurrier
Art by Bilquis Evely
Colors by Mat Lopes
Letters by Simon Bowland
Cover Art by Jae Lee & June Chung
The Dreaming is in serious trouble. The storytelling techniques used by Spurrier are effective in telling a narrative but also in little bits of foreshadowing. Characters that are explored and reintroduced bring excitement to fans of all parts of DC’s horror comics’s past. Bilquis Evely’s art is beautiful, and the panel layouts are intriguing.
House Amok #2
IDW / Black Crown
Written by Christopher Sebela
Art by Shawn McManus
Colors by Lee Loughridge
Letters by Aditya Bidikar
Cover Art by McManus
Sebela and McManus are a brilliant team on this book. The visual narrative combined with the matter-of-fact written words lead the audience on a trail to madness. The themes regarding collective consciousness that are explored are frightening, but that terror is hidden every so slightly by the sweet and pleasant line work of McManus. Loughridge’s color palette compliments the feeling of foreboding that fills this book.
Jook Joint #1
Image Comics
Written by Tee Franklin
Art by Alitha E. Martinez
Colors by Shari Chankhamma
Letters by Taylor Esposito
Cover Art by Martinez & Chankhamma
This is the best debut issue that we read this week. Tee Franklin marries erotic supernatural horror with heartbreaking domestic and sexual violence in an exquisite fashion. The books grabs you and sucks you in. Martinez’s imagery is lovely and, despite the graphic horror, disarming. This book comes with a “Trigger Warning” on the first page, which is not an exaggeration. At the end of this book the reader is left to catch their breath. A fantastic first issue.
Justice League #9
DC Comics
Written by Scott Snyder
Art by Jorge Jimenez
Colors by Alejandro Sanchez
Lettters by Tom Napolitano
Cover art by Jim Cheung & Tomeu Morey
Jorge Jimenz’s art is wonderful in this book. He continues to do an excellent job depicting the grandeur of the landscape of this book. This issue is absolutely a clean-up issue. There is exploration of the new Hall of Justice and a resolution to the massive event that occured in the first arc.
Lone Ranger #1
Dynamite Entertainment
Written by Mark Russell
Art by Bob Q
Letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Cover Art by John Cassaday & Jose Villarrubia
“From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse Silver! The Lone Ranger rides again!” While those words do not appear in this issue, you can hear them in your subconscious as you read this book. Mark Russell has another winner on his hands. His aptitude for taking familiar characters and injecting a combination of excitement and social commentary is on full display here. Bob Q’s west is glorious. Issue two cannot come fast enough.
The Magic Order #4
Image Comics
Written by Mark Millar
Art by Olivier Coipel
Colors by Dave Stewart
Letters by Peter Doherty
Cover Art by Coipel & Stewart
This book continues to hit the mark, issue after issue. Dave Stewart’s dark tones and the wispy edges to Coipel’s lines portray a melancholy mood for this book that is constantly tipping on the edge of calamity. The characterization that Millar gives to the principles of this story is compelling. The story keeps getting more clearly developed. We have nothing but praise for this issue and series.
Nightwing #50
DC Comics
Written by Benjamin Percy
Art by Travis Moore, Chris Mooneyham, & Klaus Janson
Colors by Tamra Bonvillain, Nick Filardi & John Kalisz
Letters by Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Art by Mooneyham & Filardi
A new direction for one of DC’s oldest characters starts here. From the cover of this book to the last page the tragedy that occured in Batman #55 is explored. Percy does an excellent job setting up the new status for the hero, which is a difficult for fans of the character. Mooneyham’s sequences are gorgeous. There is a strong sense of intent and purpose to the story being told. The character exploration in this issue is the best since this creative team came to the book.
Shatter-Star #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Tim Seeley
Pencils by Carlos Villa
Inks by Juan Vlasco
Colors by Carlos Lopez
Letters by Cory Petit
Cover Art by Yasmine Putri
This book surprised me. I am not historically a huge fan of the character, but I am interested in this series. Seeley does a typically excellent job in setting up the conflict in an entertaining way. Villa’s visual narration compliments the exposition, and the glimpses of action are wonderful. We are looking forward to seeing where this story goes.
Well, that is it for this week. Thanks for reading, and let us know what you think about these books or any books you are reading in the comments.
