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. The storytelling and craftspersonship that we encountered was impressive. 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, Action Lab Studios, Oni-Lion Forge Publications, Image Comics, and Abstract Studios 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:
Bitter Root #6
Image Comics
Written by David F. Walker, Chuck Brown, & Sanford Greene
Art by Greene
Colors by Sofie Dodgson
Letters by Clayton Cowles
Cover art by Greene
Bitter Root‘s return is spectacular. Under new editor Shelly Bond, this issue is an excellent jumping on point to this series. The first arc is out in trade paperback form. The narrative of the issue balances nicely with delivering effective backstory recaps and moving forward with a strongly defined new mission. There are some new characters introduced that with scare the daylights out of you. Sanford Greene is having so much fun drawing this bizarre adventure full of limbo realms and monster hunters. You can see it in every panel. Sofie Dodgson‘s illumination of characters is a major asset to the read of this book. We are glad to have this series back.
Daredevil #18
Marvel Comics
Written by Chip Zdarsky
Art by Jorge Fornes
Colors by Nolan Woodard
Letters by Clayton Cowles
Cover art by Julian Totino Tedesco
For the last dozen and a half issues, Chip Zdarsky has been taking Matt Murdock through the wringer and building him back up. Along the way, he has introduced some interesting new characters. Those characters play a central role in this issue and present a fully developed voice in their own actions. At the same time, Murdock appears to be learning the lessons that Zdarsky has been teaching him. Jorge Fornes and Nolan Woodard present an absolutely gorgeous visual narrative for this issue. The ability to imbue strength into a quiet panel must not be underrated. It appears more chaos is on the horizon for Daredevil, and this issue really pays off the time invested in the supporting characters.
Family Tree #4
Image Comics
Written by Jeff Lemire
Pencils by Phil Hester
Inks by Eric Gapstur
Colors by Ryan Cody
Letters by Steve Wands
Cover art by Hester, Gapstur, & Cody
This book is excellent. The strong sense of dread and urgency that is part of each page of this book is critical to the overall feel of the story. The art team of Phil Hester, Eric Gapstur, and Ryan Cody use a heavily shadowed style that adds to the macabre feel of the book. The core of this book is in the title. Family. This particular issue continues the theme of consistently revealing the past while putting the core family through life threatening peril. This book is phenomenal.
Five Years #8
Abstract Studio
Written by Terry Moore
Art by Moore
Letters by Moore
Cover art by Moore & Steve Hamaker
If you have been reading in the “Terry-verse” over the last few years, you do not want to miss this issue. It is probably the most action packed issue in some time, and it is fantastic. The tension in this series gets stronger as each issue gets closer to the terrible consequences that await the end of the Five Years. Get this book.
Going to the Chapel #4
Action Lab Danger Zone
Written by David Pepose
Art by Gavin Guidry
Colors by Elizabeth Kramer
Letters by Adriana Maher
Cover art by Johanna the Mad
What a way to stick the landing!! The entire team on this book delivers a fantastic conclusion to this mini-series. One of the lingering questions that has been scratching on the back of my brain throughout this series was, “How the hell is David Pepose going to write his way out of this one?” Boy, did he come up with a creative way out of it. We love art and character design in this book and Adriana Maher‘s lettering is really excellent. Don’t miss it.
Hardcore Reloaded #3
Image Comics
Written by Brandon Thomas
Art by Francis Portella
Colors by Leonardo Paciarotti
Letters by Thomas Mauer
Cover art by Nic Klein
Brandon Thomas takes the Hardcore franchise to the next level with this issue. While fans of this franchise have been familiar with high speed action chases, this one puts all of that in perspective as the hardcore technology is compromised. Francis Portella presents a dynamic innovative chase while the story gets more intense. Thomas Maurer‘s lettering work is critical to the success of this issue and should not be underrated. Buckle up and get this issue.
He-Man and the Masters of the Multiverse #4
DC Comics
Written by Tim Seeley
Art by Tom Denerick
Colors by Matt Yackey
Letters by Saida Temofonte
Cover art by Inhyuk Lee
Well, It took until the fourth issue of this excellent series, but the universe hopping team of warriors has finally made it to the version of He-Man we are all most familiar with, and it is glorious. Tim Seeley does a great job navigating the difficulties of multiverse travel and crafts an engaging and captivating story. Tom Denerick‘s work in the issue and series has been fantastic. This issue was really a treat.
Marauders #8
Marvel Comics
Written by Gerry Duggan
Art by Stefano Caselli
Colors by Edgar Delgado
Letters by Cory Petit
Cover art by Russell Dauterman & Matthew Wilson
This has been one of our favorite of the “Dawn of X” series, and it is about to undergo some significant trauma. Stefano Caselli does the heavy lifting in this issue. It is verbally quiet with minimal dialogue as the characters are forced to comprehend horrendous news. Gerry Duggan is certainly going out of his way to let the reader know what has happened without actually saying it out loud. This is a well constructed and executed comic.
The Old Guard: Force Multiplied #3
Image Comics
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Leandro Fernández
Colors by Daniela Miwa
Letters by Jodi Wynne
Cover art by Fernández & Miwa
The use of color combined with shadow and interesting perspective make this issue a treat to behold. Greg Rucka and Leandro Fernández really know how to tell a story and rope in the audience. We totally love this series. This issue is full of action and intense contemplation, but the last two pages are a clinic in visual storytelling. We cannot wait for the next installment of this book.
Seven Days #5
Oni-Lion Forge Comics
Written by Gail Simone
Art by
Pencils by José Luís
Inks by Jonas Trindade
Colors by Michelle Madsen
Letters by Saida Temofonte
Cover art by Stjepan Sejic
The countdown continues as the pressure intensifies in this book. Gail Simone has been telling a story of impending planetary peril, and in this issue she continues to show the effects that knowing your time will soon be up has on humans. José Luís presents the visuals in this issue in some fantastic ways. The color work by Michelle Madsen has been tremendous. We are both excited for and dreading the next issue of this series. Excellent stuff.
Also don’t forget to check out our weekly reviews of New Numbers Ones. This week we reviewed:
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
