Welcome to this week in comic book reviews! The staff have come together to read and review nearly everything that released today. It isn’t totally comprehensive, but it includes just about everything from DC and Marvel with the important books from the likes of Image, Boom, IDW, Scout, Aftershock, and more.

The review blurbs you’ll find contained herein are typically supplemented in part by longform individual reviews for significant issues. This week that includes Batman: The Detective #1, Guardians of the Galaxy #13, and Locke & Key/Sandman: Hell & Gone #1.

Also, in case you were curious, our ratings are simple: we give a whole number out of five; that’s it! If you’d like to check out our previous reviews, they are all available here.

And with that, on to the reviews — which are listed in alphabetical order, but first by DC, Marvel, and the rest of the publishers.

DC #1

AMERICAN VAMPIRE 1976 #7

American Vampire 1976 #7 provides readers with an interlude after the stunning events of issue #6 told in 3 parts by 3 outstanding guest artists: Tula Lotay, Francesco Francavilla, and Ricardo Lopez Ortiz. The introductory story sets expectations high as it examines the origins of the United States and its vampire problem. Lotay delivers some awe-inspiring pages, especially the final one in which cherry blossoms fall to the snow surrounding Mount Vernon. This story also promises readers that there is more to be learned before the finale, but the rest of the issue fails to deliver on this promise. While the latter pair of entries are both visual delights—Francavilla draws New York City unlike anyone else in comics—they read like sketches. There’s little substance to be found here, only reminders of who these characters were briefly before this final confrontation with the beast buried in American soil. While issue #7 does collect some excellent pages, it ultimately reads like it’s stalling for time. — Chase Magnett

Rating: 3 out of 5

BATMAN: THE DETECTIVE #1

[READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE]

Batman: The Detective #1 begins a 6-part miniseries from writer Tom Taylor, artist Andy Kubert, and colorist Brad Anderson set in the midst of DC’s Infinite Frontier line. The series begins with a tragic event in England that quickly pulls Batman into a fraught investigation that proves to be frighteningly personal. The creative talent assembled to tell this superhero-mystery is top-notch, but the underlying conspiracy may prevent them from elevating this story above the tawdry and familiar. — Chase Magnett

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

BATMAN: URBAN LEGENDS #2

Much like the debut installment of this series, this entry is another mixed bag, starting off strong and getting progressively lackluster. The first story focuses on Red Hood as he grapples with unintentionally becoming a young boy’s guardians and the risks and rewards that come with the responsibility, while the second story sees Oracle giving a new, casual “costume” a field test against a Gotham City hacker. The back half of the book gives the next chapters in adventures focusing on the Outsiders and on The Grifter, both of which feel like wheel-spinning filler that will only appeal to devout fans of these characters. One difference this issue has from its premiere outing is just how strong the Red Hood and Oracle stories are, especially when juxtaposed with one another. Red Hood’s story explores more mature subject matter and the responsibilities of heroes when it comes to how they leave victims they rescue, while Oracle’s adventure is bright, fun, and whimsical, showing off an all-new corner of Gotham City. We do get a slightly better idea of the “Urban Legends” angle of the premise, as each story explores a different side of Gotham, even if there isn’t much emphasis on the city itself. — Patrick Cavanaugh

Rating: 4 out of 5

THE JOKER #2

The most ironic part of this new series following the Clown Prince of Crime is that the Joker is the most boring part of the story, in a good way. While perhaps selling this as a Commissioner Gordon series wouldn’t be as marketable, it’s certainly the comic’s strength as we learn more about Jim and the relationship he has with Batman and Barbara. The conversation between Gordon and the Dark Knight is perhaps one of the most interesting I’ve seen to date, and is worth the price of admission alone. — Evan Valentine

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

RORSCHACH #7

Rorschach #7, for better or for worse, will be a much discussed comic for a number of years. It’s not a particularly captivating or compelling comic—like the previous issues, we get a lot of talking and vague philosophizing and some very weird alternate universe theorizing of what the comics industry would be like in the world of Watchmen. But the real weirdness of the comic is that it is mostly a Frank Miller monologue. This isn’t hyperbole or a metaphor—most of the comic is the Watchmen Universe’s version of Frank Miller (wearing a Rorschach costume) explaining a seance he had with Otto Binder and the thinly disguised Steve Ditko and trashing his own seminal work as he criticizes a thinly disguised Dark Knight Returns. There are reports that Miller consented to this depiction and even wrote his fictional self’s dialogue, which would at least put to bed the most problematic aspect of featuring a still-living comics creator opining about political assassinations. Still, it’s all… just so bizarre. It’s very hard for me to reconcile that a publishing company thought it would be a good idea to turn a supposedly real seance held by Otto Binder to contact his dead daughter into a key plot point of a Watchmen comic. It’s so macabre and feels so disrespectful (and that’s not including the transformation of Steve Ditko into costume-wearing politician murderer after shifting his politics from libertarian to liberal) and I can’t help but wonder if this unease and disgust I feel from reading this comic is the reaction that the creators are going for, or if this is just me being influenced by what feels like a strange level of disrespect for the creative team’s peers. — Christian Hoffer

Rating: 1 out of 5

SUPERMAN #30

Superman #30 sends Superman and his son back into space, this time to re-visit a world from one of Superman’s past adventures. It’s an intriguing space mystery, one that uses the language barrier between Superman and his old allies to great effect. The Ambush Bug back-up is a bit more divisive. I’ve never been a fan of Ambush Bug or his fourth-wall cracking antics, so I didn’t like it. However, those who enjoy Ambush Bug will, and I appreciate how the back-up continues the plot thread from last month’s issue while focusing on a different Metropolis resident. — Christian Hoffer

Rating: 3 out of 5

SWEET TOOTH: THE RETURN #6

The long-awaited follow-up to Sweet Tooth has arrived and as quickly as it burst onto the scene, it sped through six issues in the blink of an eye. Here, Lemire brings everything full circle—ahem, quite literally in the sense of The Return—and the end result is a fitting conclusion for a story that didn’t necessarily even need a sequel. The Return has all the hallmarks you have come to expect from this title in writer—bone-chilling sci-fi goodness, and a tremendous amount of heart. The latter is, after all, the basis of our protagonist Gus, and that’s a character trait The Return executes flawlessly on. It’s a cautionary tale that warns of the dangers of false idolization while promoting the idea of faith, and two ideas work in harmony—perhaps more here in the finale than anywhere else in the title. — Adam Barnhardt

Rating: 4 out of 5

WONDER WOMAN #771

Wonder Woman #771 continues the adventure begun in the fantastic Wonder Woman #770 that sees Diana in Asgard, but kicks things to the next level as it cracks open a complex and fascinating mystery. With the Valkyries disappearing and Yggdrasil dying, Diana goes to seek Thor’s help to no avail, setting her off on her own journey. What works especially well here is that, while Conrad and Cloonan are writing a Diana who isn’t completely clear on all aspects of who she is, she still is very much true to the core of her character. The issue also has a few surprises (particularly in terms of the villain) and is overall just spot on with great pacing and fantastic art and color. The only real drawback is that while Diana is true to the character, there are moments when it’s not tonally quite right. Still, cover to cover, it’s a stellar issue and is makes a strong case for this being one of the best Wonder Woman stories in years. — Nicole Drum

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Marvel #1

BLACK CAT #5

It’s a new arc in Black Cat #5 and while the issue is a bit dense and packed with a lot of dialogue as well as some shifting timelines and perspectives, it sets up a hell of a story. To be clear, there’s not a lot about the story that is a surprise: Fox has a secret and a trick up his sleeve that has potentially catastrophic consequences and while Felicia is surprised by some of it, the reader may not be. That said, the issue builds tension beautifully. There’s an elegance to this particular sort of heist story and Jed MacKay pulls off something that is hearbreaking, thrilling, and satisfying all at once. — Nicole Drum

Rating: 4 out of 5

CHILDREN OF THE ATOM #2

Children of the Atom #2 ends exactly where Children of the Atom #1 did with more pages added, but no progress made. The sophomore installment consists of three sequences, all of which reflect beats from the first issue with little progress made. There are adult superheroes inexplicably unaware of the obvious truth surrounding these teenagers, teenage angst unpacked to provide information without clear motives, and another fight with the same villains. It’s sincerely difficult to state what changes between the first and final pages of this issue as the characters continue to expand upon their personalities and powers without acknowledging where either are rooted. There is not even the glimmer of a mystery as important information is simply hidden from readers without adding any depth to the story. Compounding this frustration is an overly verbose level of narration with an extensive domestic sequence stuffed with two treks of narration in the dialogue and internal monologue that makes reading each page a slog. Slow going stalling is a poor look for any story, but it’s especially difficult to ignore at the start of a new superhero comic. It’s time to get to the point because Children of the Atom is already a drudgery to read. — Chase Magnett

Rating: 2 out of 5

DAREDEVIL #29

Daredevil #29 is a brilliantly structured comic stringing key decisions and revelations for its entire cast across a brutal prison fight picking up directly where Daredevil #28 left off. Regarding those many individual character beats, together they display the tapestry Zdarsky has been weaving for nearly 30 issues with the family drama of gangsters unknown to readers 3 years ago proving to be gripping fare. Elektra, Wilson Fisk, and Mike Murdock all receive significant entries as well, with each character meriting a cliffhanger unto themself. However, that final page is reserved for the series’ eponymous hero in the best action sequence of a consistently gripping run since “The Battle of Hell’s Kitchen.” The prison yard throwdown is beat-for-beat one of the most surprisingly effective bits of action told making inventive use of Daredevil’s power set to build tension and pace the fight across an entire issue. It’s the backbone to an issue that never relents as readers learn things will certainly get worse before they get any better. I simply cannot wait to find out just how bad it gets. — Chase Magnett

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

DARKHAWK: HEART OF THE HAWK #1

I should come out right away to say that I am a huge Darkhawk fan, so to say I was looking forward to this issue would be a serious understatement. Marvel is celebrating the hero’s 30th anniversary with a special one-shot that features three stories focusing on three different timelines of the character, and I’m glad to say that it scores with a hit with two out of the three. The first story has the closest ties to Powell’s origins and family, but the classic tone of the dialogue and storyline just didn’t grab me. That said, that tone is purposeful so no knock to it, it just didn’t click with me. The second story by Dan Abnett, Andrea Di Vito, and Sebastian Cheng is much more my speed, as it puts us in the aftermath of the War of Kings and further along the hero’s evolution with the datasong. Di Vito and Cheng’s artwork is stellar throughout, and the action sequences deliver across the board. Finally, we get to the most compelling story of the trio from writer Kyle Higgins, artist Juanan Ramirez, and colorist Erick Arciniega, who take us to the future and present a version of the character that can’t help but draw you in. This is the shortest of the three stories, which is a shame, but it also delivers a scintillating hook for what’s to come, and for those who are hoping to see Darkhawk again, this tees that up brilliantly. There’s a lot to love here about Darkhawk: Heart of the Hawk, and it sets up the character for a promising future. — Matthew Aguilar

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

FANTASTIC FOUR #30

Tie-ins are rarely ever as good as the main book their spinning from, and that’s definitely the case here. When all of the Knull/Symbiote stuff is dropped and taken care of at the end of the issue, the true heart of the FF bursts through and gets you excited for what’s to come. Most of it, unfortunately, is just a slog. — Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 2 out of 5

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #13

[READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE]

There’s plenty here to make any fan of Marvel’s cosmic heroes excited about the future. There’s an interesting plot thread where two Quasars—Wendell Vaughan and Avril Kincaid—must use the Quantum Bands to switch places in this reality and an unnamed dimension, as only one of them can occupy this reality at once. Then you have the classic Guardians team popularized by the Marvel Cinematic Universe, plus Phyla-Vell, Moondragon, and a few other exciting cameos. At the very least, Guardians of the Galaxy #13 serves as an exciting debut for what appears to be one of the biggest cosmic stories told at Marvel Comics recently. Ewing’s track record speaks for itself at this point, so it’s just a matter of time before things coalesce. In the meantime, just look at Frigeri’s beautiful cosmic art and have a jolly ol’ time. — Adam Barnhardt

Rating: 4 out of 5

Marvel #2

IRON FIST: HEART OF THE DRAGON #4

As Heart of the Dragon barrels towards its epic conclusion, it continues to feel more and more like an event title that’s supposed to spread across multiple titles. Last month’s issue got quite busy, and that’s a theme that carries over to #4 here as the story digs out even more characters from deep within the Iron Fist lore. Unlike last month, however, this time around is an adequate time exploring motivations and characterizations—save for a massive twist at the end. The good thing here is that this issue ends in a way you’ll never see coming, so it’s as good of a guess as any as to where this title heads next. Luckily it’s a good thing to be kept on your toes. — Adam Barnhardt

Rating: 4 out of 5

IRON MAN #8

Yes, this Iron Man issue might not actually have Iron Man in it—but it still proves to be one of the most stellar installments this run has had thus far. The issue centers largely on Patsy Walker and her complicated trip down memory lane, one that not only showcases how underrated her Marvel Comics trajectory has been, but says some profound things about grief and trauma. It’s abundantly clear that Christopher Cantwell loves what Hellcat brings to the Marvel universe, and we’re all lucky to be able to witness it. When combined with Cafu’s brilliant art and Frank D’Armata’s moody colors, this issue is an absolute must-read, even if you haven’t been picking up Iron Man thus far. — Jenna Anderson


Rating: 5 out of 5

KING IN BLACK: NAMOR #5

Dark, supernatural forces, corrupted heroes, and past secrets defined King in Black: Namor, but surprisingly had little to do with those same elements from “King in Black.” Like so many tie-ins to this event, Namor managed to find space for a unique story and add an interesting new fold to the King of Atlantis’ past (and possible future). The remembered story finds a satisfying conclusion that does not rob the Black Tide of their threat and establishes their presence for a future tale. The sight of their final assault on Atlantis is stunning—the most impressive series of splashes in a miniseries filled with epic battles. What’s more is the deft character work done at the end of the series focused on its core trinity of (anti-)heroes. Their independent motives and arcs create a more satisfying ending with a mix of notes hit; Ambrose’s denouement somehow rising above them all. King in Black: Namor is hopefully not the last we will see of this story or from these creators as they have brought Namor’s story to comics in unparalleled fashion here. — Chase Magnett

Rating: 4 out of 5

MAESTRO: WAR AND PAX #4

Maestro: War and Pax #4 is an enjoyable yet predictable penultimate chapter. Still, even though this latest installment was rather straightforward and once again showed that you shouldn’t mess with Maestro, it sets things up nicely for the conclusion in issue #5. The driving conflict that has been teased since the first issue should be coming to a head in the next chapter and my hope at this point is that it’s quite the spectacle. Outside of getting a brief and interesting glimpse into the head of Bruce Banner in this new issue, the story has found itself becoming pretty bottlenecked. Fingers crossed that the build-up will be worth it. — Logan Moore

Rating: 3 out of 5

NON-STOP SPIDER-MAN #2

Writer Joe Kelly and Artist Chris Bachalo’s experiment of a Spidey tale that never slows down continues and the results are still semi-mixed. Bachalo’s pencils remina the true highpoint, and with the first issue exposition out of the way there aren’t as many claustrophobic letter ballon collections, but the lack of breathing room doesn’t always work. One thing that does is his unique sensibility of creating the spider-sense, which is dynamite. Like the first issue this is one that die hard webheads will find interest in, but it’s probably not a storytelling motif that will catch on with every other title. — Spencer Perry

Rating: 3 out of 5

POWER PACK #5

Writer Ryan North and artist Nicol Eon bring their new Power Pack to a close and as the last issue might have teased, the appearance of Wolverine in a hilarious new outfit is the crown jewel of the issue. The series has maintained a steady level of maintaining its place in the current Marvel Universe and the final has one last trick up its sleeve for the book as a whole with a nice meta-wink at everything that came before it. In the end, fun which is all the book ever set out to do. — Spencer Perry

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Marvel #3

SPIDER-MAN: SPIDER’S SHADOW #1

“What If” stories are tricky, but Spider-Man: Spider’s Shadow #1 not only manages to deliver on the curiosity of it all—it all in this case being “what if Peter had kept the alien black suit?”—but also crafts a tale that is at turns thrilling and chilling and satisfying in unexpected ways. While this story leans back into Marvel’s past to carve a different path than Eddie Brock becoming the host for the symbiote and, thus, Venom, Chip Zdarsky creates something that feels new, fresh, and current. The issue fires on all cylinders (story, art, colors, it all works here) and is a fantastic first outing for this alternate look at the Marvel universe. — Nicole Drum

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

STAR WARS: BOUNTY HUNTERS #11

Largely functioning as a one-shot focusing on Bossk, readers get to see him participate in a competitive deathmatch with a number of other bounty hunters in the Great Hunt of Malastare. For fans of the character, we get to see him in all his slithering and deadly glory, vanquishing the foes in his path and embracing primal tactics to win the day. There are hints at what Valance is getting up to during the Great Hunt, but this issue is assuredly all about Bossk, with a reader’s mileage varying based on how big a fan you are of the character. One strength that this installment has that predecessors were missing is a much more singular and cohesive storyline, making for an engaging read, even if it doesn’t bring with it much overall narrative momentum. — Patrick Cavanaugh

Rating: 3 out of 5

THOR #14

If you were expecting a massive battle in the final issue of “Prey,” you’re not going to get what you came for with Thor #14. But this finale is better than expected, and it gives Thor his best single moment in years, potentially. — Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 4 out of 5

THOR & LOKI: DOUBLE TROUBLE #2

This Saturday morning cartoons take on Thor continues to be nothing but joyful. The art is wonderful, the writing remains witty, and the self-awareness on display makes for a lot of fun. Much like the first issue, this follow-up chapter is a brisk read that seems aimed at younger audiences. While you’re not going to get any sort of deep storytelling from Thor & Loki: Double Trouble, it’ll be hard to read without cracking a smile. — Logan Moore

Rating: 4 out of 5

WOLVERINE #11

The vampire storyline in Wolverine #11 is actually pretty clever. It’s surprisingly rooted in the Krakoa era of the X-Men, with Dracula trying to gain the same leverage the mutants did when they formed their own nation. As Wolverine hunts various vampire cells scattered across the United States, the vampires want to use Wolverine’s blood to negate their own aversion to sunlight, which would allow them to permanently come out of the shadows. While Wolverine and vampires might not seem like a natural fit, this comic has found a way to make it all work, even if it does feel a bit too convoluted at times, with the inclusion of Omega Red and a French vampire hunter introduced at the start of the series. — Christian Hoffer

Rating: 3 out of 5

Other Publishers #1

AVATAR: THE NEXT SHADOW #4

Avatar: The Next Shadow sure seemed like it was in a hurry in its fourth issue, though I’m not sure what it was hurrying towards. While most of the human involvement in the past issues was mundane, this one had a unique opportunity to follow a trio of Jake’s friends into dangerous territory to retrieve an antidote. Instead, we got but a few panels showing glimpses of what could’ve been while the quest was fast-forwarded through during Jake’s fever dream. Jake might’ve gotten his closure from his unconscious state, but the payoff wasn’t nearly as profound for those on the other side of it. — Tanner Dedmon

Rating: 2 out of 5

BIRTHRIGHT #48

Birthright #48 is in a unique position where it feels like the book moves by at a rapid pace, even though the plot hardly inches forward in the slightest. The latest arc for Birthright has stripped out most of the magic and fantasy the first 40-some issues dealt with, and that pushes out some grounded issues allowing Williamson and company to further explore the characters of the book. That said, this is a title that’s been around for years and most of the characters are as fleshed at as they can be, resulting in issues like #48 where the story feels more filler than anything. — Adam Barnhardt

Rating: 3 out of 5

BLACK HAMMER: VISIONS #3

The Black Hammer anthology continues with one of the world’s most popular superheroes: Abraham Slam. The rough-and-tumble street-level crimefighter is often the glue that holds the book together, so it’s only fitting his standalone Vision issues is the strongest of the series yet. The thing that makes the Black Hammer world stand separate from other superhero tales is its ability to reduced power beings to mere humans, and Visions #3 amplifies that with Abe Slam. Chip Zdarsky and company tell the typical “disgruntled old man” tale, injecting fresh ideas in it at just the right places. No slight to the creators that were part of the two previous Visions issues, it’s just that this issue checks off every box on the list of what makes Black Hammer great. — Adam Barnhardt

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

CHARIOT #2

This new modern take on Knight Rider continues to be a fun drift, with Bryan Edward Hill and Priscilla Petraites offering up another solid entry into the limited series. While this issue certainly opens the dam when it comes to just how extraordinary the world of Chariot is, the main strength is in the dynamic art by Petraites and Lesko, who are able to create some top-notch imagery and storytelling along the way. While some of the characters might be a bit too “run of the mill”, there’s a fun story here to be sure. — Evan Valentine

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

FRIDAY #3

Oh, to spend a few more pages in Marcos Martín’s vision of Kings Hill. The first half of Friday #3 takes readers on a tour of the small, Northeastern town that is nothing short of rapturous in a snowstorm. Detailed buildings and attention paid to small notes like street lights provides the setting with a sense of history—one that enhances the underlying mysteries and folklore of the series. Simply spending time with Friday walking those streets (and meeting some engaging new cast members) would be more than enough. Yet in the back half of this issue, Martín delivers perhaps the most thrilling sled ride ever portrayed in comics along with a stunning twist as the series’ reaches the end of its first act. Friday #3 confirms what Panel Syndicate readers already knew: This is a comic to watch, one filled with seemingly limitless potential and a team of creators all delivering their best in a story unlike any they’ve touched before. Whenever issue #4 drops, be prepared to hit download with an eager click of the mouse. — Chase Magnett

Rating: 5 out of 5

GRENDEL: DEVIL’S ODYSSEY #5

It has been more than one year since the last issue of Grendel: Devil’s Odyssey, but picking up issue #5 the story (and my poor memory) didn’t miss a beat. Grendel continues to search the galaxy for habitable planets and he discovers a strange planet, not dissimilar from our own, completely coated in urban geography and technology. It hits a fine note of satire, mocking its target and moving quickly along with far greater expediency than most episodes of Black Mirror. The driveby approach to strange, alien landscapes has served Devil’s Odyssey well and allows for an easy re-entry point after an extended, pandemic delay. This comic is every bit as sharp, violent, and compellingly told as when it left the stands in 2020; I’m just glad to see it return. — Chase Magnett

Rating: 4 out of 5

Other Publishers #2

HOME #1

Home #1 certainly deals with some heavy subject matter, exploring some of the atrocities that happen on the American border through the eyes of a mother and son fleeing from Guatemala to forge a new life for themselves. Julio Anta and Anna Wieszczyk are able to set the stage well enough, presenting how truly terrifying it can be to try to cross the border and how horrific it can be if one is able to succeed. A solid opening issue that was definitely rough around the edges at times, but could prove to be a worthy entry into Image’s library. — Evan Valentine

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

HOME SICK PILOTS #5

Just as Home Sick Pilots develops the story it is telling, it opts to pivot into something else altogether. The climactic rise of a monster house the series has been building to from its start delivers a thrilling sequence as it battles TFT (i.e. the ghost of Hollywood Video). It’s a pitched battle cast in neon color, and one that supports this idiosyncratic take on ghosts. Yet the characters at the heart of this battle read like bystanders without control or understanding of their situation, which places readers in an even worse spot. The sudden introduction of ghost-powered forces and government conspiracies does far more to detract from this climax than to support it. There’s no catharsis here for any of the Pilots and it’s unclear whether those invested in their narratives should persist as the series reinvents itself. My primary concern with Home Sick Pilots #1 was that it failed to provide readers a clear premise in its first issue, then it refined its ideas in combination with impactful artwork and slick colors across 5 issues only to find itself facing the same problem once again. — Chase Magnett

Rating: 3 out of 5

JULES VERNES’ LIGHTHOUSE #1

Jules Verne’s Lighthouse sets forward with a meaty first chapter filled with pirates, betrayal, and an overprotective robot. The gorgeous sci-fi debut brings Verne’s vision to life in a sleek and colorful way that will appease fans. So if you have a thing for space adventures, this series is a must-read! — Megan Peters

Rating: 3 out of 5

KARMEN #2

Karmen #2 pulls through with a tense chapter that blends our heroine’s personal drama with some gorgeous mind-bending artwork. As life and death come head to head in this issue, readers will be left wondering life’s worth when betrayal seems to be hiding around every corner. And when combined with a juicy cliffhanger, Karmen is proving itself to be another hidden gem under Image’s umbrella. — Megan Peters

Rating: 4 out of 5

LOCKE & KEY/SANDMAN: HELL & GONE #1

[READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE]

While it’s apparent that Hill and Rodriguez are having fun with Neil Gaiman, Sam Keith, and Mike Dringenberg’s creations, it’s unclear if it amounts to anything more than fan service. Perhaps the second issue of Hell & Gone will tie Cain and Abel, Brute and Glob, Fiddler’s Green, and the rest together in a meaningful way. However, we know from covers, promotions, and interviews that the key to Hell is central to this story’s plot, yet the artifact receives no mention here. That suggests that the second issue has significant ground left to cover. Until then, this issue will best serve those who’ve read at least the first few volumes of The Sandman, but Rodriguez’s outstanding artwork will delight any reader. — Jamie Lovett

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

LOCUST #1

The spread of a deadly disease across the country has seemingly wiped out a majority of the population, with those who survived only able to do so by adopting extreme and dangerous beliefs. Given the state of the world, it’s hard to say anyone is really clamoring for dystopic tales of virus-ridden communities, but Locust already feels like something different from all of its contemporaries. Much like George A. Romero’s zombie films or The Walking Dead, it’s clear that this story won’t be about how the country found itself in this horrifying situation and more about how the survivors coped with the new status quo. The book’s creatives give just enough teases at how this isn’t your anticipated post-apocalyptic horror story, hinting at the nature of the virus and the religious extremism in the aftermath, but it spends just as much time quietly spending time with our protagonist and how much of his time is spend in near-isolation. Locust might not offer much escapism at the moment, but it’s off to a strong start and will have readers swarming for more. — Patrick Cavanaugh

Rating: 4 out of 5

Other Publishers #3

MANIAC OF NEW YORK #3

I’ve not been hot on Maniac of New York up until this point, but issue #3 is likely the best that the series has been so far. Much of this installment is quite intense as it focuses entirely on our protagonists chasing down the Maniac in a close-quarters location. While this is the main crux of the issue, we also get to learn some much-needed backstory on one of the characters that we have been following from the start, which at least makes me a bit more interested in them. I’m still not really hooked on Maniac of New York as a whole, but I’m hoping that future installments will continue to improve in this manner. — Logan Moore

Rating: 3 out of 5

MIGHTY MORPHIN #6

Man, who knew Eltar could be this cool? Writer Ryan Parrott knew evidently, and all of the small subplots and flashbacks are really starting to pay off, but not just in the obvious ways. Bringing Zelya into the book has allowed us to explore Zordon’s past not just through flashbacks but also through personal conversations, ones that elicit genuine reactions from someone who is, you know, a head in a giant tube. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him laugh to be honest, but it was quite the welcome sight, though it doesn’t work without the talented pencils of Marco Renna and the stellar colors of Walter Baiamonte, who also craft some stellar action sequences with the Eltar cast and the current squad of Rangers. Rocky is also starting to evolve as a character, as is Tommy, though they seem to be going in separate directions. Again, these little nuances are what keeps the team dynamics lively, and that last page will keep you hooked for what comes next. — Matthew Aguilar

Rating: 4 out of 5

PHANTOM ON THE SCAN #1

Cullen Bunn’s latest horror series, Phantom on the Scan, is shaking things up a bit. A group of psychics across the country are slowly being killed in horrifying fashion (a bad case of exploding heads!) and they’re all linked by the ability to see ghost-like figures. I have a feeling I already know where some of this is going, but Mark Torres art really hooks the ready in with a spooky atmosphere. — Connor Casey

Rating: 3 out of 5

PROCTOR VALLEY ROAD #2

Now that the train has left the station, Proctor Valley Road writers Alex Child and Grant Morrison have set the destination for Crazy Town. The series pushes itself to new limits with both its horror elements and its reality based satire, making for a great read. Series artist Naomi Franquiz gets the opportunity to stretch her muscles too, bringing the home life of the lead characters into view while also delivering some really unique and bizarre scares along the way. Colorist Tamra Bonvillain does great work establishing the mood throughout as well in what’s another solid issue. — Spencer Perry

Rating: 4 out of 5

RESIDENT ALIEN: YOUR RIDE’S HERE #5

Your Ride’s Here reads like a meditation on impermanence. Even with the promise of Harry’s departure resting just on the horizon, there are no climactic events or final resolutions. Things continue to change as folks get married and move forward in their lives, but it’s the strange evolution of time, not the satisfying final stroke of an author’s pen that defines those arcs. It’s what makes Harry’s many goodbyes in this penultimate issue bittersweet because it’s clear that everyone alive will continue to move forward, whether or not Harry is there. That provides this issue with a deeply human energy, one that resonates in slow, quiet layouts that allow people to exist at a normal pace—even government agents preparing to capture an extraterrestrial. I’ve consistently enjoyed the humanistic indie vibes of Resident Alien since discovering the comic and this issue exudes exactly that tone and approach; it’s going to be hard to say goodbye. — Chase Magnett

Rating: 4 out of 5

SAVAGE #3

Savage continues to be the weirdest ongoing comic book that I’m reading, but that’s not a complaint in the slightest. This third issue continues to keep things weird as Kevin reflects on his life when chilling on a desolate island. What I continue to appreciate about this series is that it finds a way to make some interesting social commentary while also boasting one of the most asinine comic book universes I have seen in a while. I wouldn’t necessarily say that the overall story of Savage is anything to write home about at this point, but it’s the moment-to-moment sequences in this series that I continue to enjoy a lot. Issue #3 is more of what we have come to expect from Savage in a lot of respects, and to me, that’s a good thing. — Logan Moore

Rating: 4 out of 5

Other Publishers #4

SCOUT’S HONOR #4

Even though Kit’s realization midway through Issue #4 comes off as a bit hokey, Scout’s Honor continues to be an underrated gem in its penultimate issue. With everything that’s been building up along with one more look at just how despicable the Ranger Scouts really are, the climactic issue should be a blast. — Connor Casey

Rating: 4 out of 5

THE SCUMBAG #7

The Scumbag has quickly run out of fuel following its first story arc. The parade of drugs, sex, and violence that made the story a madcap romp elevated by some excellent artists have been transformed into the aesthetic for a satire without teeth. The various forces attempting to control Ernie are rough approximations of left, right, and center in America with little connection to reality. Characters representing loosely defined ideologies utilize vocabulary with no sense of its meaning or context; it throws “neoliberal” around like posters on Reddit. There’s still some fun to be found as things go awry on the moon, but an increased fascination with jabbing at American politics conflicts with an abundant ignorance and unclear perspective on defining that subject. The Scumbag was substantially more enjoyable when it embraced being the dumb comic book on the shelves. — Chase Magnett

Rating: 2 out of 5

SH*TSHOW #3

Sh*tshow has been a wild ride of a book. Just three issues, but they’re all filled from cover to cover with rich story and kinetic art and #3 is no different. As Legend finds himself facing Balam for one final battle, there are plenty of turns to the story that will keep the reader on the edge of their seat. Sure, there are things here that aren’t surprises, but it’s put together in a way that even if you can guess what’s coming, how it is actually executed is still a thrill. What is particularly of intersest, however, is how the issue handles a pretty difficult topic in showing Legend as his absolute worst. It’s handled with a lot of dignity even with in the insane context of the story. Overall, Sh*tshow #3 is a solid conclusion to this arc, shows a lot of development from the first issue, and leaves the reader wondering what’s next. Here’s to hoping we find out. — Nicole Drum

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

STAR TREK: YEAR FIVE #20

Star Trek: Year Five #20 puts Spock into a kind of “would you kill Hitler?” scenario. Transported back through time, Spock finds himself living through the Time of Awakening when Surak’s teachings on logic became the planet’s dominant cultural philosophy. As writer Brandon Easton has Spock himself remark during the issue, this becomes an eye-opening experience for Spock in how the victors write history. Spock learned that Surak’s teachings inspired Vulcans to set aside their savagery in favor of enlightenment. He is understandably shocked and appalled to find Surak to be a brutal conquering forcing children into reeducation camps. It’s a fascinating situation to put to thrust Spock into, provoking an uncharacteristically but understandably rash response. Easton gives us more of the team-centered brainstorming that’s characters Kirk’s relationship to his crew through Year Five. Silvia Califano doesn’t attempt anything too ambitious with his artwork, providing stellar storytelling and only breaking from fairly standard layouts for something more angular when the threat of a space battle becomes eminent. His characters skew a little more on-model than some may like but are still solid and expressive depictions. This issue is another exciting new adventure for Star Trek fans to enjoy. — Jamie Lovett

Rating: 4 out of 5

UNDONE BY BLOOD OR THE OTHER SIDE OF EDEN #2

Undone By Blood splits its time between fiction and “the real world” and showing how half-cocked plans can easily go astray. While Solomon’s train caper goes horrifically sideways in the books, Silvano’s own planned heist goes awry when he discovers the headquarters of a secret society. This is a perfectly fine comic—it’s filled with irony and broodiness, and the big “real world” twist was very unexpected. Because of the split aspect of the comic, I feel like the next issue will really help determine the direction the comic is going. Right now, we’re still watching to see how these sideways capers will go. — Christian Hoffer

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

YOUNG HELLBOY: THE HIDDEN LAND #3

Mike Mignola and Thomas Sniegoski’s Young Hellboy reaches the moment where it really starts to feel like a proper part of the “MignolaVerse” canon, as the seeds for Hellboy’s antics as an occult detective are clearly rooted in how he sought adventure as a child. Artist Craig Rousseau makes his mark on the larger Hellboy world with this issue too, bringing even more unique monsters to life and setting the stage for a fun finale. Truly the only fault in the series is that Rousseau obscures characters into silhouettes at times, which would be okay but Stewart’s coloring presents a flat image that stands out from the rest. — Spencer Perry

Rating: 3.5 out of 5