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 so many great comics. There was some amazing storytelling out there this week. We encourage you to go out and find the comics you like, and remember, Read More Comics!!
We reviewed books from DC Comics, Ahoy Comics, Boom! Studios, Valiant Entertainment, Abstract Studios, 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. We didn’t have any new series come out this week on our pull list, but next week will be a different story.
And here are the books we read in alphabetical order:
Bloodshot #5
Valiant Entertainment
Written by Tim Seely
Pencils by Brett Booth
Inks by Adselso Corona
Colors by Andrew Dalhouse
Letters by Dave Sharpe
Cover art by Declan Shalvey
There is something very special about this book. Brett Booth‘s cyborg designs and battle scenes are fantastic, as expected. However, Tim Seeley‘s enjoyment in writing this book is obvious with the choice of setting, and gifting Booth with a comic story set in an Horror Convention just makes for great comic art. Seely’s plot is excellent, and the dialogue is well crafted. The colors and lettering are also a perfect match for the plot of this book. A fun read.
Five Years #7
Abstract Studio
Written by Terry Moore
Art by Terry Moore
Letters by Moore
Cover art by Moore & Steve Hamaker
We absolutely love this series and the world that Terry Moore has built. This issue is somewhat quiet in terms of advancing the global destruction plot, but it does serve to bring back a fan favorite character for a visit in a very unique way. It is a solid story, but let’s take a moment to admire the craftsmanship of Moore. There are few comics that you will find that are completely the work of a single creative talent, and his ability to give texture and depth to a black and white comic is a skill that should be celebrated. Everyone should be reading this series.
Ghosted In L.A. #7
Boom! Studios
Written by Sina Grace
Art by Siobhan Keenan & Grace
Colors by Cathy Le
Letters by DC Hopkins
Cover art by Keenan
In this issue of this adorable and intriguing series, there is quite a bit of character growth. Sina Grace has built a wonderful little story around a haunted estate and spends time each issue bringing attention to the questions of social interaction that everyone faces. Siobhan Keenan‘s art is wonderfully executed. The cartoony nature of the art lends to greater emphasis of facial expressions and adds to the storytelling experience immensely. DC Hopkins‘ colors are a beautiful and a vital story component. This is a really good comic book in a wonderful comic series.
Legion of Super-Heroes #3
DC Comics
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Pencils by Ryan Sook & Travis Moore
Inks by Wade Von Grawbadger & Travis Moore
Colors by Jordie Bellaire
Letters by Troy Peteri
Cover art by Sook
This issue is better than the previous, but that is not a huge hurdle to leap. The art by Ryan Sook and Travis Moore is gorgeous. The layout and visual narrative of this book is a wonderful experience. The story by Brian Michael Bendis is starting to become a something that makes sense, but in the middle of that, the reader is still subjected to irresponsible impulsive super powered teenage actions that cause the team problems. They also continue to talk over one another and cannot focus on a complete thought. The Legion of Super-Heroes has not historically been “Young Justice in the Future”, but sometimes that is exactly what this book feels like.
The Question: The Deaths of Vic Sage
DC Comics / Black Label
Written by Jeff Lemire
Pencils by Denys Cowan
Inks by Bill Sienkiewicz
Colors by Chris Sotomayor
Letters by Willie Schubert
Cover art by Cowan, Sienkiewicz, & Sotomayor
This oversized comic is a treat to behold. Visually, it is stunning lesson in comic storytelling by masters at every level. Jeff Lemire‘s plot and dialogue for this generational battle with darkness hits all the right beats. The layouts and camera angles in Denys Cowan‘s pencils keep pace with the emotional gravity of the story, and Bill Sienkiewicz‘s inks and Chris Sotomayor‘s colors illuminate the details of the this story in the most amazing ways. This is a work of art worthy of the story being told within it. Don’t miss it.
Safe Sex: SFSX #5
Image Comics
Written by Tina Horn
Art by Jen Hickman
Letters by Steve Wands
Cover art by Tula Lotay
We love this series. Adding Jen Hickman to the book is a stroke of genius. This is a perfect marriage of style and story. The pace of Tina Horn‘s narrative has been excellent throughout the series, and continues in this issue. There are some excellent story points that are revealed and advanced in this issue. The social commentary regarding sense of self and sexuality is just one of the many reasons that we recommend this book. HIckman’s art is gorgeous, and that might be the best reason to get this book.
Second Coming #6
Ahoy Comics
Written by Mark Russell
Art by Richard Pace
Inks by Leonard Kirk
Colors by Pace & Andy Troy
Letters by Rob Steen
Cover art by Amanda Conner & Paul Mounts
This issue represents the end of the first season of the infamous Second Coming comic. Mark Russell, Richard Pace, and everyone involve should be commended and applauded for the work they did in this series so far. They have told the story that they wanted to with passion and beauty. It is a story of a moral journey. It offers few answers but encourages introspection and thought. The art decisions and execution that toggles between Pace and Leonard Kirk‘s inks go a long way to illuminating the difference between reality and fictional heroics. Despite all of this being a fictional interpretation, there are lessons for everyone to take from this phenomenal book.
Undiscovered Country #3
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
Scott Snyder and Charles Soule are generating a harrowing tale in this series. The flashback storytelling techniques add to the sense of urgency by not taking time from the current story to explain the past. The art by Giuseppe Camuncoli and Daniele Orlandini is spectacular. Since this story takes place in a possible future, the visual license the timeline affords the artists is critical to the uniqueness of this book. We look forward to more of this book.
DISCLAIMER:
We use a 4 star rating system. It is simple and not to be taken too seriously. Everyone has 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:
OK
No
