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 great comics. The storytelling was impressive. 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, AfterShock Comics, 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. There are a couple on this list.
And here are the books we read in alphabetical order:
Decorum #1
Image Comics
Written by Jonathan Hickman
Art by Mike Huddleston
Letters by Rus Wooton
Design by Sasha E. Head
Cover art by Huddleston
Jonathan Hickman begins what appears to be a ambitious, star-spanning adventure with this comic. Mike Huddleston’s character designs, action sequences and scenery are all gorgeous and stunning. His limited use of color is truly stunning. Rus Wooten does an excellent job of delivering dialogue in a clear manner. The story that is being told is compelling, when you get to it. As with his recent run in the Marvel X books, Hickman presents the story with a lot of straight exposition and infographics. Perhaps this was just my personal take, but the point of telling the story in comic form means that you can tell it in that way, without a lot of backstory information. The first two chapters of this book were a bit of a heavy read. It is well designed and a lovely presentation of the story. Thankfully, the third chapter is fantastic, and that is what will bring me back to issue two, not the apocrypha and infographics.
The Man Who Effed Up Time #2
AfterShock Comics
Written by John Layman
Art by Karl Mostert
Colors by Dee Cunniffe
Letters by Layman
Cover art by Mostert & Cunniffe
Time travel stories are not easy, especially when they involve self interaction. John Layman has been able to deftly navigate the pitfalls of the genre and deliver an engaging story in this series. It has chaotic elements that are tempered by humor. Karl Mostert is doing an excellent job in laying out the visuals. There is one fight scene in this issue that is just phenomenal. Dee Cunniffe‘s colors are wonderful and a crucial element to this book. This is definitely something we will look forward to seeing how it plays out.
Reaver #7
Image Comics
Written by Justin Jordan
Art by Nico Henrichon
Letters by Clayton Cowles
Cover art by Becky Cloonan
Reaver is back. The second arc of this great comic series gets started with a wonderful first issue. One of the best things about it is that you can come in clean to the series and be completely on board with the events of this issue. It is truly just another story in the world that Justin Jordan and Rebekah Isaacs created in the first arc. The story is compelling and Jordan has a way of fostering unexpected strong emotional ties from the audience to characters in the narrative. Nico Henrichon is the perfect successor to Isaacs on this book. His style fits excellently with the setting. This book is at the top of the read pile every issue and will continue to stay there.
SFSX (Safe Sex) #7
Image Comics
Written by Tina Horn
Art by Jen Hickman
Letters by Steve Wands
Cover art by Tula Lotay
This basic plot of this series has been an infiltration and rescue operation into a government complex by a group of sex workers. That is intriguing enough with plenty of opportunity for drama and humor. Tina Horn has delivered both along the way. However, this book is about so much more. It is a manifesto decrying suppression of individual expression, both public and private. This issue is the culmination of the initial arc. They nailed it. This book is heartbreakingly beautiful and simultaneously inspirational. Jen Hickman’s art is amazing. There are so many wonderful things to say about this comic. Please, read it, and we will be eagerly awaiting the next arc later this year.
Stealth #1
Image Comics
Written by Mike Costa
Art by Nate Bellegarde
Colors by Tamra Bonvillain
Letters by Sal Cipriano
Cover art by Jason Howard
This is an interesting take on the superhero genre. In the solicitation for the book, it is noted that there is an aging superhero with a dementia like affliction. It is well executed, and the art by Nate Bellegarde is nicely drawn. Tamra Bonvillain‘s colors are truly beautiful with an excellent subtleness to the shadow work. This is a solid start for this series.
Thor #4
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
Four issues in and not a clunker among them. This issue of the story by Donny Cates and Nic Klein is majestic in scale. There is a palpable feeling of defiance and rage at times and each panel is imbued with a touch of heavenly power. The plot is consistent and deliberate, but there are two minor and important asides that Cates throws in just to keep your expectations on their toes. Klein and Matt Wilson do a fantastic job bringing the thunder to this issue. Do not miss it.
Young Justice #14
DC Comics
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by John Timms & Michael Avon Oeming
Colors by Gabe Eltaeb
Letters by Wes Abbott
Cover art by Timms & Eltaeb
This continues to be an enjoyable series. Quite a lot happens in this issue to move the story forward. The dialogue and humor are well designed. The tension level in the book seems to feel appropriate. The art that hands off between Michael Oeming and John Timms is really well executed. The highlight of the book is a double page splash page with no word that Timms pulls off to perfection. This is a book we continue to look forward to.
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
