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 a nice cross section of comic storytelling that we came across this week. We tackled multiple genres and each of these offerings were superb. We encourage you to go out and find the comics you like, and remember, Read More Comics!!
We reviewed books from DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Ahoy Comics, Boom! Studios, Image Comics, and Dynamite Entertainment 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:
The Clock #2
Image Comics
Written by Matt Hawkins
Art by Colleen Doran
Colors by Bryan Valenza
Letters by Troy Peteri
Cover art by Doran
The global health crisis at the center of this book is becoming more timely by the day. The intrigue of a human hand having a role in manipulating a cancer epidemic brings an abundance of tension to the book. There is a point in this book that has the reader gasp audibly. The art by Colleen Doran is gorgeous and tells a dramatic narrative. Bryan Valenza does an excellent job portraying the emotion of each scene with his color work. Very solid second issue to this series.
Dragonfly & Dragonflyman #4
Ahoy Comics
Written by Tom Peyer
Art by Peter Krause
Colors by Andy Troy, Paul Little, and Kelly Fitzpatrick
Letters by Rob Steen
Cover art by Jamal Igle
This comic is deceptively important. It is a middle issue in an arc that is in itself and interlude, but it is speaking loudly about human behavior. While ostensibly challenging and caricaturizing superhero comics with sidekicks, Tom Peyer also is making important commentary on human relations and parenting. Peter Krause is in great form in telling these dual stories. His use of creative panel designs and layout are impressive. Jamal Igle‘s cover is gorgeous as well.
Ghosted in L.A. #8
BOOM! Studios
Written by Sina Grace
Art by Siobhan Keenan with Grace
Colors by Cathy Le
Letters by DC Hopkins
Cover art by Keenan
Selflessness and community are the key themes in this issue of Ghosted in L.A. Sina Grace composes a beautiful story that continues to illuminate these fantastic characters and move the story forward. I really love the work that Siobhan Keenan is doing on this series and this issue in particular. The style of the supernatural characters for this ghost story is not horrific, but rather Keenan portrays them with a mostly common place treatment, while relying on Cathy Le to identify them as ghosts. If you are not reading this book, you are missing some really good stuff.
James Bond #3
Dynamite Entertainment
Written by Vita Ayala & Danny Lore
Art by Erica D’urso with Marco Renna
Colors by Roshaw Kurichiyanil
Letters by Ariana Maher
Cover art by Jim Cheung & Romulo Fajardo Jr.
This is a kinetic and dynamic comic. It is full of tension and action. The caper that the first few issues of this series has been telling has an exciting resolution. Vita Ayala and Danny Lore set a fantastic tone to this book, and Erica D’urso does a fantastic job making it come to life. The fight scenes are masterfully realized and we are enjoying this series immensely.
Marvels X #2
Marvel Comics
Written by Alex Ross & Jim Krueger
Art by Well-Bee
Letters by Cory Petit
Cover art by Ross
This is an intense post-apocalyptic story. The weight of the terrifying world that this comic takes place in is tangible throughout the story. Despite there being heartbreaking events on every other page in this book, there is this faint cry of hope that manages way to make itself heard. The art style that Well-Bee executes is a perfect melding of Alex Ross‘ glorious painting and a world falling into chaos.
SFSX (Safe Sex) #6
Image Comics
Written by Tina Horn
Art by Jen Hickman
Colors by Hickman
Letters by Steve Wands
Cover art by Tula Lotay
This series continues to impress. The matter of fact approach to dealing with subjects considered taboo by mainstream society puts the focus on the very dangerous rescue story that is the main plot of this book. Tina Horn succeeds, in this book, in humanizing her characters and relating their needs and fears. Jen Hickman is simply astounding. Their visual narrative is brilliant. This is a great example of provocative comic storytelling.
Thor #3
Marvel Comics
Written by Donny Cates
Art by Nic Klein
Colors by Matt Wilson
Letters by Joe Sabino
Cover art by Olivier Coipel & Laura Martin
Let me first say that I am loving this Donny Cates Thor run. It strikes me in a strange but good way. It is not a traditional Thor story, but it is captivating nonetheless. This issue features a fairly common devastating battle between two erstwhile “brothers”. Violence ensues for the sake of a lack of understanding the motivation of the other. This is a tried and true convention in comics. In many instances it is also tired, but in this case two aspects make it work well. First, the combatants, Thor and Beta Ray Bill, are pugilistic in nature and not you think before you punch types. Second, NIC KLEIN and MATT WILSON absolutely slay on the visual depiction of this knock down, drag out, hammer smashing battle. As a single issue, this is a visual treat that manages to move the story. Well done.
Wonder Woman #751
DC Comics
Written by Steve Orlando
Art by Jan Duursema
Colors by Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Letters by Pat Brosseau
Cover art by Aaron Lopresti & HI-FI
This is a fantastic jump on issue, and I recommend doing so, as Steve Orlando has PLANS! If you were ever confused as to what Wonder Woman stands for, this “day in the life” styled issue lays it out beautifully. The interior line art by Jan Duursema is delightful, and the composition is dynamic. This is a very fun issue and appears to be the start of something wonderful… (ha ha!)
X-Men #6
Marvel Comics
Written by Jonathan Hickman
Art by Matteo Buffagni
Colors by Sunny Gho
Letters by Clayton Cowles
Cover art by Leinil Frances Yu & Gho
I am torn over the events that take place in this book. First of all, it is the expansion on a throw-away line of dialogue from much earlier in this “Dawn of X” storyline. The plot of this book is something that I anticipated and find to be immensely interesting. However, on the other hand, is it too soon to start exposing the flaws in Hickman’s utopia? Can’t these mutants enjoy a little bit of peace, ever? It could be that this issue is just pulling on the thread a little bit, and it will be a while before the whole ball of yarn unwinds. However, the fact that it will unwind seems inevitable, and that is a little sad. Despite all this, the issue in question is a fine and lovely comic with a sensational story.
Also don’t forget to check out our weekly reviews of New Numbers Ones. This week we reviewed:
Alienated #1
Boom! Studios
Harley Quinn and the Birds of Prey #1
DC Comics / Black Label
Tartarus #1
Image Comics
Undone By Blood or the Shadow of a Wanted Man #1
AfterShock Comics
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
