Hey There Folks!! This column is designed to bring you reviews of new comic book series that came out this week. We will try to focus on independent and original series for the most part. This week we have two Marvel Comics series for you along with a new book each from AfterShock Comics, Image Comics, Oni Press, and Titan Comics.
You will usually find the books that we review in this space on our month list of New Number Ones. You might want to check over there to see what you can expect for the rest of the month.
This week we will bring you our thoughts on four books: Adler #1, The After Realm Quarterly #1, Aggretsuko #1, Dark Agnes #1 , The Man Who F#&%ed Up Time #1, and X-Men + Fantastic Four #1
Check out the reviews below in alphabetical order:
Adler #1
Titan Books
Written by Lavie Tidhar
Art by Paul McCaffrey
Letters by Not Simon Bowland
Cover art by Butch Guice
We are immediately on board with this book. The first issue gives you just enough plot and characterization to be intrigued for more. Paul McCaffrey’s layouts are a an excellent use of space. The character style fits the theme of the story. This is a well done issue on all front.
Note: Simon Bowland is credited as the letterer of this book, but according to his Twitter feed, it is not his lettering.
The After Realm Quarterly #1
Image Comics
Written by Michael Avon Oeming
Art by Oeming
Colors by Taki Soma
Letters by Shawn Lee
Cover art by Oeming & Soma
I really enjoyed this extra-sized book. It began as a project on Michael Oeming‘s Patreon page, and has grown and developed into an engaging fantasy story. The character development is well done. The plot is solid. The art that Oeming and Taki Soma created is gorgeous. Soma’s coloring is critical to fantastic liveliness of this fantastic story. While the book is scheduled to be a quarterly publication, we will be looking forward to the next issue.
Aggretsuko #1
Oni Press
Written by Daniel Barnes
Art by D.J. Kirkland
Colors by Sarah Stern
Letters by Crank!
Cover art by C.J. Cannon
We were surprisingly excited by this book. Daniel Barnes hit the mark with a coincidentally timely story about a rapidly communicable infection. The art by D.J. Kirkland captures action and emotion equally well. The style maintains an excellent balance with the cartoony nature of the original material, which you can find on Netflix, and the comic style that allows for more visual details. Sarah Stern‘s colors are excellent and guide the mood of the story wonderfully. Crank! also brings some fantastic lettering to this book.
Dark Agnes #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Becky Cloonan
Art by Luca Pizzari
Colors by Jay David Ramos
Letters by Travis Lanham
Cover art by Stephanie Hans
This is a fantastic story of a swashbuckling heroine originally created by Robert E. Howard. Becky Cloonan comes out of the gate with swords clanging and guns blazing. The no nonsense brusk persona of the lead character belies a fragile soul underneath. The story moves at an excellent pace and has presented and interesting set of threads to be explored. The art team of Luca Pizzari and Jay David Ramos deliver a completely immersive experience that flows in a perfect way to tell this story. We are hooked on this series.
The Man Who F#&%ed Up Time #1
AfterShock Comics
Written by John Layman
Art by Karl Mostert
Colors by Dee Cunniffe
Letters by Layman
Cover art by Mostert
This is the perfect example of the book that you get excited about when it is initially solicited, and then it delivers the goods when you get it in your hands. John Layman has developed a complicated time travel mixup that is a good setting for a personal story of struggle for the main character. Karl Mostert‘s line art is well done and presents a clear story. Dee Cunniffe‘s colors help define the mood of each scene excellently, and Layman’s lettering is really great. What a fantastic first issue.
X-Men / Fantastic Four #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Chip Zdarsky
Pencils by Terry Dodson
Inks by Rachel Dodson, Dexter Vines, Karl Story
Colors by Laura Martin
Letters by Joe Caramagna
Cover art by Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson
The conflict presented in this book has been hinted at since the beginning of Jonathan Hickman‘s “Dawn of X” storyline. We have been interested in how this story would work and Chip Zdarsky proves once again why he is one of the best comic writers out there. His ability to hit the right real world human emotions once again shines through. The entire art team delivers a stunningly beautiful, action packed comic story. This book is a must read. I can’t wait for more.
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
