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 ton of really good books out this week. We reviewed nineteen of them below. We reviewed books from DC, Marvel, Image, Dark Horse, Titan, AHOY, Aftershock, and Albatross Funny Books. Make sure you go find some comics to read. 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.
Also, 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. There are a quite of few of them out this week and they are really good.
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:
Batman #60, Blackbird #3, Breakneck #1, Dark Ark #12, Die #1, Doctor Strange #9, Doomsday Clock #8, The Green Lantern #2, Grumble #1, Justice League #13, Laguardia #1, Martian Manhunter #1, Marvel Knights #3, Nightwing #54, Prodigy #1, Umbrella Academy: Hotel Oblivion #3, Uncanny X-Men #4, Winter Soldier #1, The Wrong Earth #4
Batman #60
DC Comics
Written by Tom King
Art by Mikel Janin & Jorge Fornes
Colors by Jordie Bellaire
Letters by Clayton Cowles
Cover Art by Janin
Batman’s descent is accelerating in this book. As a single issue, this book is compelling. The page sharing by the pair of artists on this issue is a sublime decision. Janin’s smooth lines and excellent character expressions tell the tale of events away from Batman, and Fornes’ rougher rooftop fight sequences evoke an out-of-control Dark Knight and a bit of a memory of Mazzuchelli. Bellaire’s colors bring everything together with expected aplomb. The story by King is strongly put together. It is chugging along at an accelerating pace to the breakdown conclusion that the readers of this series can’t help but see coming. The final page is a big one for this story. A truly unexpected reveal.
Blackbird #3
Image Comics
Written by Sam Humphries
Art by Jen Bartel
Colors by Triona Farrell
Letters by Jodi Wynne
Cover Art by Bartel
Humphries and Bartel are creating a very interesting magical story in this series. The plot is advancing, but at the same time, it feels that Humphries is accomodating to new readers without taking away from the advancement. This is really a pretty book, and please understand that that is a compliment. Bartel’s character designs are excellent and the facial acting continues to be a major part of the way this book reads.
Breakneck #1
Titan Comics
Written by Duane Swierczynski
Art by Simone Guglielmini & Raffaele Semeraro
Colors by Lovern Kindzierski & Chris Chuckry
Letters by Jimmy Betancourt
Cover Art by Fay Dalton
Hot #1
The first New Number One on this week’s list lives up to its name. Swierczynski comes out of the gate hard. This is a well crafted, time sensitive tale filled with misdirection and immediately understandable characters. Guglielmini does a super job with the scenery in this issue, and that is incredibly important to the feel of the story. This book in compelling, and we are fully invested at first blush.
Dark Ark #12
Aftershock Comics
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art by Juan Doe
Colors by Ryane Hill
Letters by John J. Hill
Cover Art by Doe
Massive changes to this book begin in this issue. The biblical epic that has been crafted expertly by Bunn and Doe has been thoroughly enjoyable, and this issue is no exception. Doe’s shading combined with Hill’s color choices develop fantastic inside the ark visuals. The competing goals of disparate groups of evil characters will clash soon enough. and Bunn gives the audience a great look at where that may go. The end of this issue recalls the old saying, “Be careful what you wish for!”
Die #1
Image Comics
Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Stephanie Hans
Letters by Clayton Cowles
Cover Art by Hans
Hot #1
The truth about this book is that I was mildly interested in it. Let’s face it. There are plenty of creator owned Image books that indulge a niche fandom. This looked like it could be that type of book. I started to read this from the Image preview on Tuesday night of this week, and honestly, flipping through the first few pages, I became less enthused about this book. It is not really my favorite style of art. When I actually sat down to read this book properly on Wednesday, I was blown away. This is probably the best book that I read this week. Gillen’s opening salvo for this tale is a direct hit. It is a dark story filled with palpable loss, and high levels of anxiety. While Hans’ style is not my favorite for a comic book, it works very well here. It is a brushstroke, painted visual with a lack of bordering lines, but the lighting and colors really do illuminate just enough to create the perfect mood. We have high hopes for this series.
Doctor Strange #9
Marvel Comics
Written by Mark Waid
Art by Jesus Saiz
Letters by Cory Petit
Cover Art by Saiz
This is a bit of a quiet issue. Waid and Saiz build a tale that give some explanation into Dr. Strange’s affinity for Bleeker Street. It is well written, and the art work is nicely done, particularly the colors. There is interesting subtextual commentary on media and privacy rights just below the surface. The end of this issue does have preview of the next story to come in this series, which does look interesting.
Doomsday Clock #8
DC Comics
Written by Geoff Johns
Art by Gary Frank
Colors by Brad Anderson
Letters by Rob Leigh
Cover Art by Frank
The threat of the “Supermen Theory” that has been in the background of this series comes to the forefront in a big way in this issue. Johns and Frank are ratcheting up the danger that the world is facing. The characterizations of all the main participants are well done. Frank’s art is just absolutely beautiful. This is a really good comic and worthy of the high expectations of this series.
The Green Lantern #2
DC Comics
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Liam Sharp
Colors by Steve Oliff
Letters by Tom Orzechowski
Cover Art by Sharp & Oliff
This is a space mystery wrapped inside a superhero comic. Sharp is really on his game with some bizarre characters and beautiful starscapes. This issue is upping the quality of this series which was already pretty darn good. The conflict is becoming more defined, and our interest level stays at a very high level for this series.
Grumble #1
Albatross Funny Books
Written by Rafer Roberts
Art by Mike Norton
Colors by Marissa Louise
Letters by Crank!
Cover Art by Norton & Louise
Hot #1
Roberts and Norton created a really nice comic here. There is an interesting premise, involving interdimensional magic users and grifters. Yeah, believe me it makes sense. The characters are inviting despite their faults. This issue is a bit of a love letter to Baltimore, which we certainly appreciate. Norton’s layouts are excellent and the art is easily accessible. The larger story is compelling and exciting. We will continue to see what happens next with Tala and Eddie.
Justice League #13
DC Comics
Written by James Tynion IV
Art by Guillem March
Colors by Arif Prianto
Letters by Tom Napolitano
Cover Art by March & Tomeu Morey
The Legion of Doom is front and center again in this book. Tynion continues to do excellent work in fleshing out the motivations of the villains in this series. March’s visuals are wonderful. Just the perfect tinge of shadowy evil in every panel. It feels like this is an important issue in the larger arc of this series, particularly with the reveal at the end of the issue.
Laguardia #1
Berger Books / Dark Horse Comics
Written by Nnedi Okorafor
Art by Tana Ford
Colors by James Devlin
Letters by Sal Cipriano
Cover Art by Ford
Hot #1
This is a strange tale in which Earth is a destination of extra-terrestrial immigrants. There is a thinly veiled commentary on the real world global issues surrounding immigration. Ford does a wonderful job in designing the look of this book. While this comic is highly socially conscious, the story is intriguing. We are looking to see where this goes.
Martian Manhunter #1
DC Comics
Written by Steve Orlando
Art by Riley Rossmo
Colors by Ivan Plascencia
Letters by Deron Bennett
Cover Art by Rossmo
Hot #1
There is a very different feel to this book when compared to other DCU series. Rossmo’s cartoonish style is striking. The art has a great deal to do with the tone of this book. Orlando’s writing works to create a strong coherent story alongside the interesting character designs that Rossmo throws in. This is a solid start to the series.
Marvel Knights #3
Marvel Comics
Written by Tini Howard & Donny Cates
Art by Damian Couceiro
Colors by Matt Milla
Letters by Cory Petit
Cover Art by Geoff Shaw & Rain Beredo
What a jam packed issue! Howard scripted a great comic book here. This series is a bit of a tag team event for the creative talent. It is all overseen by Cates’ story, but Howard really shines in this issue. Several weird but familiar characters are introduced in this realm filled with collective amnesia. The dialogue is smart and interesting. Couceiro has a tough task getting through the quick pace and ever changing settings in this book and does an excellent job at it.
Nightwing #54
DC Comics
Written by Scott Lobdell & Fabian Nicieza
Art by Garry Brown & Will Conrad
Colors by Nick Filardi
Letters by Andworld Design
Cover Art by Chris Mooneyham & Filardi
There are a lot of excellent emotional and character defining scenes in this issue. Brown and Conrad do a really good job in delivering the visual narrative. While fans of this series are eagerly awaiting Dick Grayson return to the black and blue suit, the writers have done a fantastic job of fleshing out the amnesiatic “Ric” and making him sympathetic. There are some particularly powerful points made in that regard within this issue.
Prodigy #1
Image Comics
Written by Mark Millar
Art by Rafael Albuquerque
Colors by Marcelo Maiolo
Letters by Peter Doherty
Cover Art by Albuquerque
Hot #1
Millar’s latest series from Image is off to an excellent start. The main character is a bit off-putting in the unbridled confidence in his own abilities, but the conflict is exciting and compelling. Albuquerque is just phenomenal in this issue. Millar crafts a strong tale in this issue and has us waiting for the next one.
Umbrella Academy: Hotel Oblivion #3
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Gerard Way
Art by Gabriel Ba
Colors by Nick Filardi
Letters by Nate Piekos
Cover Art by Ba
Way and Ba are an amazing team when creating stories in the world of the Umbrella Academy. This issue’s simultaneous storylines are masterfully done. The pace of about two pages at a time per storyline really works well. To be honest, there are some very interesting plot and character reveals in tis issue.
Uncanny X-Men #4
Marvel Comics
Written by Matthew Rosenberg, Kelly Thompson, & Ed Brisson
Art by Pere Perez
Colors by Rachelle Rosenberg
Letters by Joe Caramagna
Cover Art by Elizabeth Torque
This issue goes a long way toward explaining what is happening in this series. There are well played out fight scenes, some funny dialogue, and interesting plot developments. Perez does a great job with a large cast of characters. This is the issue that has us really interested in where this series goes.
Winter Soldier #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Kyle Higgins
Art by Rod Reis
Letters by Clayton Cowles
Cover Art by Reis
Hot #1
Kyle Higgins is an excellent comic writer, and he is bringing his “A” game to this new series. Reis’ art is very well done in this issue. The premise is intriguing and the conflict is interesting. This seems like it will be a winning series.
The Wrong Earth #4
AHOY Comics
Written by Tom Peyer
Pencils by Jamal Igle
Inks by Juan Castro
Colors by Andy Troy
Letters by Rob Steen
Cover Art by Igle
This series continues to deliver strong issue after strong issue. Two strikingly different shades of the same character continue their adventures in opposite dimensions and have the audience rooting for each of them. The villains are interesting, and the challenges are fascinating. Igle’s art sings in this book. This series is a rousing success by creating a high quality superhero book from scratch by a new publisher.
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.
