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. We encourage you to go out (or order in) and find the comics you like, and remember, Read More Comics!!
We reviewed books from DC Comics, Boom! Studios, 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:
Alienated #2
BOOM! Studios
Written by Simon Spurrier
Art by Chris Wildgoose
Colors by André May
Letters by Jim Campbell
Cover art by Chris Wildgoose
This book is a fantastic group effort. The intriguing story of the three Sams and their alien gets more complicated and uncovers questions of morality. Chris Wildgoose and André May combine to create a gorgeous visual narrative to go with Si Spurrier‘s plot and words. Jim Campbell is doing a superb job on the lettering in a challenging book to letter. This series looks like a keeper after just two issues.
Bitter Root #7
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
This book is an immersive emotional experience. This issue spends some time filling in some interesting information gaps in the backstory of this epic saga. The art is fluid and expressive. Sanford Greene‘s art is dripping with his love for the characters. Sofie Dodgson‘s excellent work with the colors on this book can not be overstated!! It is phenomenal!! This series is consistently top notch comic storytelling.
Family Tree #5
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
Sometimes a comic raises existential questions inside you. This is one of those. There are multiple angles from which to attack the subtext of this bonkers story about a girl turning into a tree. Take your pick. Phil Hester, Eric Gapstur, and Ryan Cody all combine to deliver a terrifying yet ultimately satisfying visual experience. Jeff Lemire‘s dialogue heightens the emotional reaction, and at the end… Well, you should read it for yourself.
He-Man and the Masters of the Multiverse #5
DC Comics
Written by Tim Seeley
Art by Tom Denerick
Colors by Matt Yackey
Letters by Saida Temofonte
Cover art by Inhyuk Lee
Look. This is a book based on a child’s toy from the 1980s. Yeah? So What? It is a fantastic comic story! Tim Seeley has crafted a compelling quest story that is consistently increasing in urgency. Tom Denerick‘s dynamic visual narrative is beautiful and engaging. Matt Yackey keeps the whole thing going with his consistent and rich color work. The final chapter is almost upon us, and I can’t wait.
Plunge #2
DC Comics / Hill House Comics
Written by Joe Hill
Art by Stuart Immonen
Colors by Dave Stewart
Letters by Deron Bennett
Cover art by Jeremy Wilson
This book is amazing. The art by Stuart Immonen is cinematic in scale. The perspective and camera angles keep every panel interesting. Colorist Dave Stewart keeps the somber and eerie tone through most of the book but then lets loose at times with dynamic flashes of color that serve a dramatic effect. Joe Hill‘s dialogue is smart and funny, and the plot is captivating. More, please.
Undone by Blood or the Shadow of a Wanted Man #2
AfterShock Comics
Written by Lonnie Nadler & Zac Thompson
Art by Sami Kivelä
Colors by Jason Wordie
Letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Cover art by Kivela & Wordie
There is so much to love about this book. Lonnie Nadler and Zac Thompson are crafting dual narrative that crave the attention of the reader. Both are intriguing. The art by Sami Kivelä is gorgeous. The camera angles help close up panels to be fantastically expressive. Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou‘s lettering is creatively executed. I think the real star of this book is Jason Wordie. I am quickly becoming a big fan. His textured and stylized color work in this book is some next level stuff. Just beautiful.
Also, Please check out our other review columns from this week. There were lots of great comics this week.
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
