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Rapid Reviews: New Comics for the Week of 10/8/2025 – Marian Heretic #1, Mary Sue #1, Temporal #1

Rapid Reviews: New Comics for the Week of 10/8/2025 – Marian Heretic #1, Mary Sue #1, Temporal #1

Posted on by Bob Harrison

Welcome to our latest Rapid Reviews column. We are excited to talk about these three new number ones. They have some things in common; one of those things is they have a female lead character whose personal sense of self is challenged by the outside world. Each one of them is presented with different obstacles and approach those challenges in ways unique to their circumstances. We enjoyed all of these first issue. Read below to find out why and let us know what you think if/when you read them.

For all the New Number Ones that came out this week check out our weekly rundown Here.

Our reviews are spoiler free and focus on the positive aspects of comic storytelling in each issue. You can find all of these books at your Local Comic Shop now or wherever you get your comics.

Marian Heretic #1
Boom! Studios
Written by Tini Howard
Art by Joe Jaro
Colors by Walter Baiamonte
Cover Art by Jaro

ORIGINAL SOLICITATION:

Experience a bold new series where divine conviction meets dark compromise.

Sister Marian is a witch hunter, a Mother Superior and a heretic — guided by a Goddess the Church refuses to acknowledge. When the Holy Father Church brands her order blasphemers, Marian strikes a dark bargain to become their personal enforcer. As she delivers murderous judgment night after night in the city of Vespers, she can feel her soul fracture… but what can she do with the lives of her sisters at stake?

Acclaimed writer Tini Howard and artist Joe Jaro, launches a provocative new take on nunsploitation, religious horror, and rebellion!

PCS Review:

What at fantastic start to this highly anticipated series. Let’s talk about the concept for a second. This is the story of a woman who sacrifices her freedom and wellbeing to protect her family while maintaining a façade of subservience, despite a core belief that goes against that subservience. The power dynamics that are at play are masterfully orchestrated by both writer and artist for maximum evocation of compassion for the protagonist. We are immediately “Ride or Die” with Marian.

Joe (Jose) Jaro and Walter Baiamonte combine to craft a spectacular visual narrative that has a gorgeous anime-like feel. In particular there is a sequence in the middle of the book involving a fire that is, well.. “fire”.

The exploration of faith as a concept and religion as structure is on display in this tale. Tini Howard it tackling some heavy themes, and we are here for every panel of it.

Mary Sue #1
Boom! Studios / Boom! Box
Written by Meghan Fitzmartin
Art by Lisa Sterle
Colors by Dearbhla Kelly & Heather Breckel
Letters by Jodie Troutman
Cover Art by Lisa Sterle

ORIGINAL SOLICITATION: Continue reading “Rapid Reviews: New Comics for the Week of 10/8/2025 – Marian Heretic #1, Mary Sue #1, Temporal #1” →

Rapid Reviews: New Comics for the Week of 10/4/2023

Rapid Reviews: New Comics for the Week of 10/4/2023

Posted on by Bob Harrison

Welcome to our latest Rapid Reviews column.

This week we have some debut issues and an issue number two to discuss. We have a mix of publishers represented here as well a good sampling of different genres in this week’s reivews.

For all the New Number Ones that came out this week check out our weekly rundown Here.

Our reviews are spoiler free and focus on the positive aspects of comic storytelling in each issue. You can find all of these books at your Local Comic Shop now or wherever you get your comics.

The Devil That Wears My Face #1
Mad Cave Studios
Written by David Pepose
Art by Alex Cormack
Colors by Cormack
Letters by Justin Birch
Cover Art by Cormack

We always enjoy it when the mood of the comic meshes with the season. This comic is meant to be read at night by candlelight with the cool wind whipping at the windows. Alex Cormack has become of master of setting the mood of the narrative with his visuals and nails it once again in this debut issue.

This is creator-owned veteran David Pepose‘s first release in the Indie space in couple of years, and Who Boy! does he cook up a doozy of a story. The story is captivating, and he carries common perceptions of the topic into the story, which allows him to get to the narrative without spending a lot of time explaining the setting and scenarios. The pacing and dialogue are well done.

Justin Birch did an excellent job with the lettering in this book. Strong but fairly standard balloons and text make up the majority of the dialogue in the issue, but when called for, Birch dials up excellent special balloons and SFX to really enhance the experience.

Overall, this is a fantastic first issue with a fantastic reveal and set up for the rest of the series.

Fire & Ice: Welcome to Smallville #2
DC Comics
Written by Joanne Starer
Art by Natacha Bustos
Colors by Tamra Bonvillain
Letters by Adriana Maher
Cover Art by Terry Dodson & Rachel Dodson

It is truly enjoyable when DC Comics releases in continuity comics that don’t take themselves so seriously. That was one of the important aspects of the success of DeMatteis & Giffen’s Justice League. This book has taken that approach for a new generation of readers.

Joanne Starer and Natacha Bustos take the setup from the first issue of this series and boost it by seamlessly adding an interesting and wacky supporting cast. The dialogue and character interactions are easily accessible for the reader and serve to further a worthwhile story of finding one’s place in the world.

Tamra Bonvillain, Ariana Maher, and editor Andrea Shea round out a fantastic crew of women working on women led comic that should be on everyone’s pull list. Continue reading “Rapid Reviews: New Comics for the Week of 10/4/2023” →

Rapid Reviews for the Week of 6/21/23: Black’s Myth #1 and Wild’s End #1

Rapid Reviews for the Week of 6/21/23: Black’s Myth #1 and Wild’s End #1

Posted on by Bob Harrison

This week we reviewed a couple of New Number Ones for this column. We enjoyed them both and highly recommend them.

The books on today’s list are Black’s Myth: The Key to His Heart #1 from Ahoy Comics and Wild’s End #1 from Boom! Studios.

Our reviews are spoiler free and focus on the positive aspects of comic storytelling in each issue. You can find all of these books at your Local Comic Shop now or wherever you get your comics.

Black’s Myth: The Key to His Heart #1
Ahoy Comics
Written by Eric Palicki
Art by Wendell Cavalcanti
Letters by Rob Steen
Cover Art by Liana Kangas

Original Solicitation:

It’s back, the “moody tale that smartly blends familiar supernatural elements with the trappings of classic pulpy crime stories” (Comics Beat). In this new case, werewolf private eye Janie “Strummer” Mercado tries to prevent a young girl from becoming a monster, with the aid of her suave djinn assistant Ben Si’lat. But will Strummer gain an intern instead? And why is an old enemy sending mysterious packages to her house? Featuring a cover by Liana Kangas and an incentive cover by Tim Seeley. Continue reading “Rapid Reviews for the Week of 6/21/23: Black’s Myth #1 and Wild’s End #1” →

Rapid Reviews: New Comics for the Week of 5/17/23

Rapid Reviews: New Comics for the Week of 5/17/23

Posted on by Bob Harrison

Welcome to our latest Rapid Reviews column.

This week we have some debut issues and some middle issues to discuss. Both Marvel and DC relaunched major team books this week and we have reviews of both of those as well as some excellent smaller books that we think you should check out.

For all the New Number Ones and Special Issues for May check out our monthly rundowns on Here and Here.

Our reviews are spoiler free and focus on the positive aspects of comic storytelling in each issue. You can find all of these books at your Local Comic Shop now or wherever you get your comics.

Avengers #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Jed MacKay
Art by C.F. Villa
Colors by Federico Blee
Letters by Cory Petit
Cover Art by Stuart Immonen

As the cover indicates, the Avengers are looking up. This reset and new beginning to Earth’s Mightiest Heroes is encouraging. The debut issue to this volume is a well crafted jumping on point. It is accessible for new readers and establishes the rollcall through the use of structured flashbacks.

It is clearly a Carol Danvers story, and Jed MacKay has a good handle on the characters in this book. C.F. Villa delivers gorgeous and dynamic visuals and Federico Blee’s work adds an excellent mix of light and shadow that accentuates the important aspects of each page. It is a fun and exciting story that has me eager for the next issue.

Chilling Adventures Presents: Jinx, A Cursed Life #1
Archie Comics
Written by Magdalene Visaggio
Art by Craig Cermak
Colors by Ellie Wright
Letters by Jack Morelli
Cover Art by Cermak

This book is a rocking good time. Mags Visaggio crafted a fun one-and-done story with interesting personal dynamics and fun dialogue. Craig Cermak and Ellie Wright created a beautiful and engaging visual narrative. I will second the comments of editor Jamie Lee Rotante from the Letters column in that I love Visaggio writing the Jinx character. Continue reading “Rapid Reviews: New Comics for the Week of 5/17/23” →

Rapid Reviews for the Week of 1/11/2023

Rapid Reviews for the Week of 1/11/2023

Posted on by Bob Harrison

Welcome to our first Rapid Reviews column of 2023.

This week we have a bunch of middle issues to discuss. While we did include one New Number One and one concluding issue, the middle issues of comic arcs and series are often overlooked.  These books are really well done and definitely belong in your pull list.

Our reviews are spoiler free and focus on the positive aspects of comic storytelling in each issue. You can find all of these books at your Local Comic Shop now or wherever you get your comics.

All Against All #2
Image Comics
Written by Alex Paknadel
Art by Caspar Wijngaard
Colors by Wijngaard
Letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Cover Art by Wijngaard

The first issue of this comic was excellent. This second issue is better. The sides of the conflict that is rapidly escalating are clearly delineated in this issue. The defining feeling of this issue is the anxiety of the primary narrator B’Tay. Paknadel, Wijngaard, and Otsmane-Elhaou all combine to use their extensive skills to pass that uneasiness and anticipation on to the reader with this extraordinarily tense comic. It is beautiful, terrifying, and sad all at once. This book is a must pull.

Billionaire Island: Cult of Dogs #3
Ahoy Comics
Written by Mark Russell
Art by Steve Pugh
Colors by Chris Chuckry
Letters by Rob Steen
Cover Art by Pugh

This is a thoroughly entertaining comic. There are two complementary stories on display, and the techniques used to tell them clearly and effectively are brilliantly executed by Russell and Pugh. The rising tension in the main story has this reader completely engaged in this series. Pugh does wonderful job with high quality visual storytelling and Russell’s socio-economic commentary finds its customary place behind a thin veil in a post-apocalyptic storyline. Well done all around. Continue reading “Rapid Reviews for the Week of 1/11/2023” →