Action Comics #1001 (DC)
Martin: 3.5/5 stars. Gleason’s art is really great, & the writing & plot are a step up from some previous mis-steps. However, the title of this comic is “Action Comics” & yet there’s none, aside from a small scene showing how street toughs are no match for Superman.
NickZ: Bendis is trying so hard to carve out his own iconic version of Superman but failing miserably! At least we get to look at Gleason’s amazing art again.
The Amazing Spider-Man #2 (Marvel)
NickZ: Especially with Peter and MJ back together, there are so many similarities between Spidey and Invincible that I never really noticed until Ottley started drawing it.
Bone Parish #1 (BOOM!)
Infinite Speech: Once again, Cullen Bunn has impresses with his new series and that twist at the end just opens up so many more questions! Can’t wait to read issue #2!
Darth Vader Annual #1 (Marvel)
Infinite Speech: A story that takes place before Rogue One with some great callbacks and is a cold display of Tarkin and Vader’s relationship prior to when we meet them in Episode IV.
Descender #32 (Image)
Arnab: This series has been just amazing.
NickZ: While I’m excited that this story will continue on in Ascender, I’m also sad by the way this series ended. I hope the next ending these characters get will be a happier one.
Detective Comics #985 (DC)
Martin: 4/5 stars. I’m still not thrilled with the characterization of Karma; the trope of “every villain knows Batman’s secret identity” is really over-done at this point. That said, the *idea* of Karma is interesting, as are his effects on the Bat Family.
Doomsday Clock #6 (DC)
Infinite Speech: The nod to the Frank Gorshin Riddler was pretty cool but you still might want to spend your cash elsewhere. This has barely any momentum left.
Arnab: Lowkey, forgot this book existed.
Martin: 3/5 stars. The backstory of Mime & Marionette is engaging, and the art is still great. But, continued publishing delays make the reading experience a chore (I honestly couldn’t even remember what happened last time). Will probably read better as a trade.
NickZ: We barely made the half way point folks. Between delays and the writing, this big event has been moving at a snails pace. That being said, this wasn’t a bad issue.
Executive Assistant: Iris #3 (Aspen)
Infinite Speech: I hope Iris kills EVERYBODY at Magni and I found out what ‘Cotards Delusion is. Thanks, Blake Northcott!
Flash #51 (DC)
Infinite Speech: Wally may not be my Flash but I respect him a bit more after this.
Martin: 4/5 stars. The epilogue to the “Flash War” arc shows a Flash Family damaged by those events. Wally is the worst off, as evidenced by his leaving for Sanctuary. I’m really not thrilled with the characterization of “Wallace” (Wally 2), but other than that, a good issue.
Harbinger Wars II #3 (Valiant)
Infinite Speech: like the story so far but this does not feel like the Livewire we’ve been with the past few years.
Hit-Girl #6 (Image)
Infinite Speech: Nothing too exciting happens here but it’s still a solid read.
Incidentals #10 (Lion Forge)
Infinite Speech: This is a step in the right direction and I’m hoping it’s just in time. Oh, and Marko should have known Granville was evil when he saw the hair. It screams bad guy all day!
Infinity Wars Prime #1 (Marvel)
NickZ: Now this is how you kick off an event book! It takes balls to immediately kill off one of your best villains!
Justice League Dark #1 (DC)
Infinite Speech: Didn’t know what to expect but the creative team made me want to come back for the 2nd issue. Still not sure if DC is trolling or sincere with the redesign for Swamp Thing looking like Alan Moore but it’s pretty cool.
Martin: 4/5 stars. Great intro to a new team full of unconventional characters. The stars are Detective Chimp & Man-Bat, but the door’s open for new characters to join. Creepy visuals add to the experience. Read my full review here!
NickZ: I love the negative reaction all the magic users have to Wonder Woman riding in on her white horse to save the day.
Lucy Dreaming #3 (Boom!)
Martin: 4/5 stars. A wonderful, under-rated mini-series with a strange, unique, and engaging story and charming characters. I loved the play on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” in this issue, as well as the real-world interactions of a young angsty teen & her mom.
Mr & Mrs X #1 (Marvel)
NickZ: I’ve never been a big Rogue and Gambit shipper but this book is so much fun and the art is great! This is exactly the kind of story you want for these two.
Saga #54 (Image)
Arnab: While I am terribly sad this is going on a hiatus, it’s too amazing for me not to understand the need for a break.
NickZ: More proof that we are living in the darkest of timelines. I don’t know if a year hiatus will be enough to recover from this issue.
The Silencer #7 (DC)
Infinite Speech: Tell all the other New Age of Heroes to go home because this is the only one you need to be reading!
Superb #11 (Lion Forge)
Infinite Speech: This series rightfully deserves its name because it’s that damn good!
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #84 (IDW)
Infinite Speech: Every issue I wait for Splinter to come to his senses but it never happens. Baxter Stockman is also making power moves and I like it!
Teen Titans #20 (DC)
Infinite Speech: You can’t be mad at Damian here and okay with how Barry handles villains on the Flash tv show.
Martin: 2.5/5 stars. It’s a step-up from the Teen Titans Special #1, but that’s not saying much. There are some decent ideas here, but Emiko and Wally (“Wallace”) are completely mis-characterized. The new characters don’t have enough depth, & Damian is worse than usual.
NickZ: This has to be my least favorite thing to come out of Justice League No Justice. It looks like Damian is making his way to becoming a full on villain.
The Terrifics #6 (DC)
Martin: 4/5 stars. Unique story-telling technique to separate the 4 heroes to deal with individual conflicts, since there’s a limit to how far apart they can be. Although this issue focuses on Metamorpho, Plastic Man & Phantom Girl are the most interesting.
Transformers: Unicron #2 (IDW)
Infinite Speech: Everything is going from bad to worse and it’s great watching it all just crumble apart. This would have made a fantastic sequel to the 86 animated movie!
Venom #4 (Marvel)
Infinite Speech: Cates just took the origin of the symbiote and blew the doors off what we already knew! Great issue and how hasn’t Miles not crapped his suit yet??
NickZ: If you are going to retcon the origins of the Symbiotes, THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT! If you’ve ever been a fan of any incarnation of Venom, do not miss this series!
Wayward #27 (Image)
Infinite Speech: THIS ISSUE WAS STRAIGHT CRAZY and then Zack Davisson schools us on Oni at the end! Put Wayward in your read pile now!
Wonder Woman #51 (DC)
Martin: 4/5 stars. Orlando gets the book back on track with just one issue. While this was a one-off story, it picks up threads from the Shea Fontana run, and focuses on Diana’s continual search for hope and her desire to connect with her past foes.
X-Men: Grand Design: Second Genesis #1 (Marvel)
Infinite Speech: Ed Piskor is giving us soooo many easter eggs in the retelling of the history of the X-Men. You can tell he knows his mutant history and not just the comics side either!
X-Men: Wakanda Forever #1 (Marvel)
Infinite Speech: This is one team-up that needs to happen again!
arnab@comicattack.net
infinitespeech@comicattack.net
martin@comicattack.net
nickz@comicattack.net