Welcome back to Everything We Read This Week. This is the place that we make our weekly trip through this week’s pull-list. It features mostly spoiler-free brief analysis and commentary of each book.
This week we read a bunch of great comics. There were a few books that dealt with either the approach or the results of a worldwide catastrophe. I think that says something about the state of group consciousness. It is one of the reasons that I love comic books and an expression of how comics are representative of the greater society. Go out and find the comics you like, and remember, Read More Comics!!
We reviewed books from DC, Marvel, Dark Horse Comics, Ahoy Comics, Abstract Studio, Berger Books, IDW Publishing, and Image Comics this week. As always, we hope you might find what we say interesting enough to try some of these comics. Don’t forget we welcome comments on these and any other comics that you read. Feel free to leave a comment and get the conversation moving.
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 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 #82
DC Comics
Written by Tom King
Art by Mikel Janín
Colors by Jordie Bellaire
Letters by Clayton Cowles
Cover Art by David Finch & Alex Sinclair
Is this the best issue of Batman that Tom King has written? Probably not, but it is up there on the list. Is it the most beautiful piece of comic storytelling during his run? Quite possibly. Janín pulls out all the stops in this non-stop visceral brawl of a comic. Jordie Bellaire’s subtle color work serves this book excellently. Regardless of whatever your opinion of King and his run on Batman is, this book is an excellent example of complete comic storytelling.
Death Or Glory #6
Image Comics
Written by Rick Remender
Art by Bengal
Letters by Rus Wooton
Cover Art by Bengal
We are thrilled to have this book come back for more. The second arc picks up where the previous one left off and keeps the pedal to the metal. Bengal renders Remender’s twists and turns in this story masterfully. It is a very clean story for the level of complexity that is woven into it. Rus Wooten’s lettering is also an absolutely critical component to this book. Well executed.
DIE #9
Image Comics
Written by Kieron Gillen
Art by Stephanie Hans
Colors by Hans & Elvire De Cock
Letters by Clayton Cowles
Cover Art by Hans
It is difficult to accurately say what I feel about this book. Gillen has crafted this amazing story, and it is full of writer’s conceit. However, it doesn’t matter because as you see through the structure of what is being built and glimpse the cogs making the story engine run, you just don’t care because it is masterfully done and gorgeously illustrated. There is a whole new level of world building added to this story in this issue and … Wow!! The consummate sadness and tragedy that permeates every page of this book is tempered by reckless hope for the future of the characters by the reader. Do not miss this book.
Doctor Doom #2
Marvel Comics
Written by Christopher Cantwell
Art by Salvador Larroca
Colors by GURU-eFX
Letters by Cory Petit
Cover Art by ACO
Anyone who knows me should be shocked that I eagerly anticipate each issue of this book. This is the doing of a damn good story by Christopher Cantwell. This issue has a comfortable melody with appropriate uplifts in timbre and some satisfying beats. The dialogue is perfect and Larroca delivers a beautiful comprehensive visual narrative. There is definitely a game changer on the last page, and again, we will be anticipating the next issue.
Dragonfly and Dragonflyman
Ahoy Comics
Written by Tom Peyer
Art by Peter Krause
Colors by Andy Troy
Letters by Rob Steen
Cover Art by Jamal Igle
Hot #1
HOO BOY! That is some good comic book storytelling. The double cracked mirror stories being told are excellent. The campy Dragonflyman story is appropriately fun and silly while also a serious tale. The Dragonfly story is “dark and gritty” but also filled with emotion. Krause and Troy do a fantastic job of navigating the look and feel of two different worlds. Fans of The Wrong Earth will not be disappointed with this glimpse into the past of these two slightly different worlds.
Everything #3
Dark Horse Comics / Berger Books
Written by Christopher Cantwell
Art by I.N.J. Culbard
Letters by Steve Wands
Cover Art by Culbard
The revelations that are confirmed in this issue are delivered in an extremely satisfying manner. Cantwell’s second offering on this list is very good. Culbard’s art is striking, and it is the perfect compliment to this freaky midwestern mystery. This issue certainly raises the stakes and the pace of the story. Readers need to buckle in and hold on tight for the next issue.
Five Years #5
Abstract Studio
Written by Terry Moore
Art by Moore
Letters by Moore
Cover Art by Moore & Steve Hamaker
Terry Moore’s countdown to the end of the world continues in this issue, and it is gorgeous. The non-verbal storytelling on display is exquisite, and the detail placed in the backgrounds and settings are stunning. There is a steady but subtle rise in the ambient tension that this story is telling. Also whatever you do… DO NOT GET STUCK IN AN ELEVATOR WITH ZOE!!
Ghost Rider #2
Marvel Comics
Written by Ed Brisson
Art by Aaron Kuder with Craig Yeung, John Lucas, & Luciano Vecchio
Colors by Jason Keith
Letters by Clayton Cowles
Cover Art by Kuder & Dean White
We are loving this Ghost Rider series. Brisson has set up some interesting dynamics in this series, and in this second issue, there is conflict resolution in a very dramatic way. The art is wonderful in this book and Keith’s work on the flames is fascinating. We are fully on board with this series. It is good stuff.
Going To The Chapel #3
Action Lab Comics
Written by David Pepose
Art by Gavin Guidry
Colors by Elizabeth Kramer
Letters by Ariana Maher
Cover Art by Emily Pearson
Just one more issue to find out how this crazy wedding caper turns out, and we can’t wait. Pepose raises the temperature in this pressure cooker of a comic. Guidry’s clean lines and Kramer’s subdued color work bring the life to this wacky heist story. There is a clear feeling of tragedy and hopelessness that invades this book. While the characters are struggling to survive, so many of them are unhappy with their current states, and that dichotomy is interesting.
Green Lantern: Blackstars #1
DC Comics
Written by Grant Morrison
Art by Xermanico
Colors by Steve Oliff
Letters by Steve Wands
Cover Art by Liam Sharp
Hot #1
The art in this book as nothing short of gorgeous. The inventive character designs and ingenious panel layouts are amazing. Oliff’s colors add a rich depth to the tapestry. The story is crazy balls, but in a good way? It sets up one hell of a second issue to this series, and we will be there for it.
Legion of Super-Heroes #1
DC Comics
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils by Ryan Sook
Inks by Sook an Wade von Grawbadger
Colors by Jordie Bellaire
Letters by Dave Sharpe
Cover Art by Sook
Hot #1
I have been looking forward to this book for a long time. It is good. It is not great. I wanted it to be great. There is a lot going on in this book, but it also feels like nothing happens. There are lots of little stories started and a lot of talking but…. I just was hoping for something bigger. That is not to say that it isn’t beautiful or interesting. There is definitely enough in this book to give me hope in Bendis’ vision for the Legion. We will see what happens next.
New Mutants #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Ed Brisson & Jonathan Hickman
Art by Rod Reis
Letters by Travis Lanham
Cover Art by Reis
Hot #1
While the Legion book brought some disappointment, this regrouping of heroes of my youth was ultimately rewarding. The character designs and their voices were right on. The story had a decent pace, and it feels like it is well on its way to getting somewhere. I cannot praise the art by Rod Reis enough. It is remarkable. The colors and facial expressions are staggering. What at truly fun comic book.
No One Left to Fight #5
Dark Horse Comics
Written by Aubrey Sitterson
Art by Fico Ossio
Colors by Ossio with Raciel Avila
Letters by Taylor Esposito
Cover Art by Ossio
What?!?! I need more!!! This wonderful series concludes its first arc in this issue, and it is electric. Seriously, you might need to where sunglasses to deal with the sparks flying in this book. The battle has surprising ending, and the frailty of the characters is really what is endearing about this story. The visuals are fantastic. I am really hoping that this series continues.
Pandemica #2
IDW Publishing
Written by Jonathan Maberry
Art by Alex Sanchez
Colors by Jay Fotos
Letters by Shawn Lee
Cover Art by Sanchez & Fotos
This book is one of those that you need to sit down, make sure your seatbelt is fastened, and keep your hands and feet inside the car at all times. What a roller coaster ride to the apocalypse!! Maberry’s dialogue and narrative are well crafted at an excellent pace. Sanchez’s art is wonderful and expressive. This is a book that sneaks up and grabs you. Issue #3 can’t get here soon enough.
Ruby Falls #2
Dark Horse Comics / Berger Books
Written by Ann Nocenti
Art by Flavia Biondi
Colors by Lee Loughridge
Letters by Sal Cipriano
Cover Art by Biondi
This story of life in a sleepy Northern town is very intriguing. It is filled with immediately identifiable characters that are complex and engaging. The mystery afoot is one that we are excited to see play out. Despite the very clear story being told, Nocenti is making intriguing subtext comments on the state of the society in which we live. Biondi’s art is simply beautiful and full of quality comic storytelling.
Undiscovered Country #1
Image Comics
Written by Scott Snyder & Charles Soule
Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli & Daniele Orlandini
Colors by Matt Wilson
Letters by Crank!
Cover Art by Camuncoli
Hot #1
I was cautiously optimistic that this would be a good book, and that optimism was rewarded. I was immediately sucked in to the interesting story unfolding in these pages. Camuncoli and Orlandini’s line art is fabulous, and Matt Wilson’s colors, especially the backgrounds, are just lovely. We are looking forward to the next issue.
