Welcome back as we make our weekly trip through this week’s pull-list. It features mostly spoiler-free brief analysis and commentary of each book.
There are a lot of very good books out this week. Make sure you go find some. There are some new number ones out this week and new creative teams. Hopefully, you might find what we say interesting enough to try some of these comics. This is a big list again this week but still not all that we have on our list.
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, it’s 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:
Amazing Spider-Man #9, Avengers #10, Bitter Root #1, Cemetery Beach #3, Dark Ark #11, Detective Comics #992, Domino #8, Electric Warriors #1, Euthanauts #4, Fantastic Four #3, Jook Joint #2, Lone Ranger #2, Mister Miracle #12, Supergirl #24, Superman #5, Uncanny X-Men #1, Wonder Woman #58
The Amazing Spider-Man #9
Marvel Comics
Written by Nick Spencer
Pencils by Humberto Ramos & Michele Bandini
Inks by Victor Olazaba & Bandini
Colors by Edgar Delgado & Erick Arciniega
Letters by Joe Caramagna
Cover Art by Ramos & Delgado
Spencer has hit a nice groove on this book. The interplay with Spider-Man and Black Cat is a fun back and forth. Spencer is able to building a difficult but captivating front story challenge while simultaneously creating a background conflict that has the possibility of blowing up the status quo. All of that makes for a fun comic book. Ramos does the excellent work readers are accustomed to from him in the pages of this title. A solid read.
Avengers #10
Marvel Comics
Written by Jason Aaron
Art by David Marquez & Ed McGuinness
Colors by Justin Ponsor, Erick Arciniego, Frazier Irving, Matthew Wilson & Giana Marchisi
Letters by Cory Petit
Cover Art by McGuiness & Marte Gracia
The seven hundredth issue of The Avengers is thick book. Aaron’s run has had a strong, cohesive tone, and he continues it here. There is a bit more humor in this issue than others. It is just a few one-liners, but they seem to hit their mark better in this issue than previous ones. The art is solidly good, particularly with the angular camera sightlines portraying the chaotic nature of the landscape wonderfully. While there is little that is resolved in this issue, there are a more than one very intriguing setups for future issues.
Bitter Root #1
Image Comics
Written by David Walker & Chuck Brown
Art by Sanford Greene
Colors by Rico Renzi & Greene
Letters by Clayton Cowles
Cover Art by Greene & Jarreau Wimblerly
This is an excellent debut issue of this series. See out preview review here.
Cemetery Beach #3
Image Comics
Written by Warren Ellis
Art by Jason Howard
Letters by Fonografiks
Cover Art by Howard
What a fantastically put together comic book! There is very little dialogue in this book that has no narration boxes. It is an action packed chase book for most of this issue. The art by Howard is edgy and frenetic and wonderful. Ellis is building a very interesting sci-fi tale in this series, while not missing the opportunity to comment on the current state of the world.
Dark Ark # 11
Aftershock Comics
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art by Juan Doe
Letters by Ryane Hill
Cover Art by Doe
If you are a fan of this series, you will not be disappointed. We have spoken about this fantastic supernatural, biblical tale often, and this issue delivers the high quality imagery and smart plot lines that we have come to expect. There are twists being presented to the travelers on the Dark Ark that could result in serious changes in the status quo.
Detective Comics #992
DC Comics
Written by James Robinson
Art by Carmine Di Giandomenico
Colors by Ivan Plascencia
Letters by Rob Leigh
Cover Art by Di Giandomenico & Plascencia
Di Giandomenico brings a cinematic feel to this book with a great mix of tight and wide camera angles. The story is clearly a mid-arc fill issue. There is quite a bit of exposition and historical explanation in the narration. While the conflict is interesting and the question of how the story with Two-Face will unfold is intriguing, it feels like there is too much crammed into this issue. There is also a sense of over-explanation in the history of the characters that is presented in narrator boxes which feels like it diminishes the overall quality of the narrative.
Domino #8
Marvel Comics
Written by Gail Simone
Art by David Baldeón
Colors by Jess Aburtov
Letters by Clayton Cowles
Cover Art by Gang Hyuk Lim
Gail Simone doing some excellent work on this series. The tight, clear plots combined with the bright and snarky dialogue, for which she is known, make this an entertaining read. Baldeón is the perfect choice for this series, and the vampiry subject matter of this issue is right in his wheelhouse. Simone’s mastery of the development of secondary characters really shines in this issue as well.
Electric Warriors #1
DC Comics
Written by Steve Orlando
Art by Travel Foreman
Colors by Hi-Fi
Letters by Travis Lanham
Cover Art by Foreman & HiFi
This is a series we have been looking forward to. Orlando and Foreman do an excellent job of jumping right into setting the landscape for this future based tale. There are all kinds of nods to past and future DC stories with this story that is placed after “The Great Disaster” and centuries before the time of the Legion of Super-Heroes. It is a well crafted tale, and we are definitely on board for what comes next.
Euthanauts #4
Black Crown / IDW
Written by Tini Howard
Art by Nick Robles
Colors by Eva De La Cruz
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Cover Art by Robles
Howard has developed a very complex and esoteric premise, and with the wonderful art of Nick Robles and her excellent writing, she is delivering an amazing tale of life and afterlife. While the subject matter can be depressive, it is presented in a way that has the audience rooting for Thalia to succeed and survive. This issue ends with one heck of twist that we did not see coming.
Fantastic Four #3
Marvel Comics
Written by Dan Slott
Art by Sara Pichelli & Nico Leon
Colors by Marte Gracia
Letters by Joe Caramagna
Cover Art by Esad Rebic
The final issue of the “getting the band back together” arc of Slott’s run is satisfying. There are plenty of Marvel heroes that appear, but the heart of the story is the interaction between the core of the Fantastic Four. The narrative highlights the family aspect of this team and allows each member of that family to shine by embracing their talents. The art is excellent, particularly when taking into account the vast array of characters that are used. Now that the Richards are returning to their home dimension and their universe building is complete, we look forward to what lies ahead.
Jook Joint #2
Image Comics
Written by Tee Franklin
Art by Alitha E. Martinez
Colors by Shari Chankhamma
Letters by Taylor Esposito
Cover Art by Martinez & Chankhamma
Supernatural revenge for sexual predation is not a light topic. It is not treated lightly in this series. It is, however, given a very serious treatment in this fantastic comic book. The words “mature reader” apply, and not because half the cast is naked more than half the time. Tee Franklin’s story is brilliant and captivating. Martinez’s art is absolutely gorgeous. This is a great series and and excellent issue.
The Lone Ranger #2
Dynamite Entertainment
Written by Mark Russell
Art by Bob Q
Letters by Hassan Otmane-Elhoaou
Cover Art by John Cassaday & Jose Villarrubia
You can read this book at face value. You would be missing incredibly insightful social commentary, but you could just read it as an old west story, and you would be happy with it. Russell has mastered the craft of telling a straight story while also commenting on the motives and morals of the characters and society. It is on full display in this issue. This issue serves the dual purposes of furthering the mission that was developed in the first issue and beginning to explain the backstory of the Ranger’s sidekick. Bob Q’s lines, colors, and layouts are all wonderful. We will be waiting eagerly for the next issue of this hot new series.
Mister Miracle #12
DC Comics
Written by Tom King
Art by Mitch Gerads
Letters by Clayton Cowles
Cover Art by Nick Derington
One of the best comic series of the decade is over. It was brilliantly written and amazingly illustrated. Everyone involved with this award winning book should be proud. This final installment is a fitting end to the series. Due to the events of the last issue, this one has a lack of overwhelming tension that has permeated the rest of them. The tension is replaced by warm soft moments of closure. We will miss seeing Scott and Barda on the couch.
Supergirl #24
DC Comics
Written by Marc Andreyko
Art by Evan “Doc” Shaner
Colors by Nathan Fairbairn
Letters by Tom Napolitano
Cover Art by Shaner
Marc Andreyko’s run on Supergirl is a really good comic story. The dialogue and characterization are highlights to a smart and clearly written quest tale. Doc Shaner’s art in this issue is wonderful. If there was a Krypto comic book and Shaner didn’t draw it, it would be a travesty. While we have not included this book in our review list in the past, expect to see it here for the foreseeable future. It is a well crafted comic book.
Superman #5
DC Comics
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils by Ivan Reis
Inks by Joe Prado & Oclair Albert
Colors by Alex Sinclair
Letters by Josh Reed
Cover Art by Reis, Prado & Sinclair
Zod makes his presence known in this issue that continues Superman’s battle with Rogol Zaar in the Phantom Zone. The amazing artwork in this book is punctuated with gorgeous depictions of desolate starscapes, massively rapid planetary enlargement and great shots of Kal-El’s face. This is a good mid-arc issue of an interesting arc by Bendis.
Uncanny X-Men #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Ed Brisson, Matthew Rosenberg, & Kelly Thompson
Art by Mahmud Asrar
Colors by Rachelle Rosenberg
Letters by Joe Caramagna
Cover Art by Leinil Francis Yu & Edgar Delgado
Uncanny X-Men has returned. With an All-Star lineup of writers and wonderful art by Asrar, the Children of the Atom are set to have lots of trouble ahead. This is going to be a weekly series for the next couple of months, so readers need to buckle up and hold on. The promise is that there will be mutants galore, and there certainly are in this issue. We are not sure what is going on just yet, but we are interested.
Wonder Woman #58
DC Comics
Written by G. Willow Wilson
Pencils by Cary Nord
Inks by Mick Gray
Colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Letters by Pat Brosseau
Cover Art by Terry & Rachel Dodson
Our regular Wonder Woman reader put this book down with the comment, “Now that is what a Wonder Woman comic should be.” The premise is engaging. The plot transitions make sense. The dialogue is spot on. The art is dynamic and well thought out. G. Willow Wilson is off to a great start on this book. We are looking forward to long successful run.
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.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving to our American readers. Next week will be a short highlight list due to our traveling for the holiday.
