Comic Book Reviews for This Week: 7/26/2023

DC #1

BATMAN BEYOND: NEO-GOTHIC #1

Batman Beyond has long been a fan favorite, and DC has continued to explore Terry's future world with quality results over the years. That makes Batman Beyond: Neo-Gothic #1 all the more impressive, as DC's latest foray into the future might just be one of the character's best yet. The writing team of Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing team up with artist Max Dunbar, colorist Sebastian Cheng, and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou to create a perfect launching point for new fans that also rewards longtime readers in a satisfying way. The book picks up after Terry has taken down the living Gotham, but the city is still a prominent character, just not in a sentient way. By the way, the city and the underbelly of the city are beautiful, with the blinding neon of topside giving away to the haunting lights of what's below, but the characters within those worlds also give each one its own distinct personality and feel. Meanwhile Terry has rarely felt so layered, and Kyle brilliantly pushes Terry further out of his comfort zone. Whether you're a long time fan or someone looking to start something new, I couldn't recommend Batman Beyond: Neo-Gothic #1 more. -- Matthew Aguilar

Rating: 5 out of 5

BATMAN: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD #3

Batman: The Brave and The Bold #3 opens with a new feature, "Mr. Baseball," from writer Dennis Culver and artist Otto Schmidt. While fans may find themselves aching for more of "The Winning Card," this interlude delivers a vicious new antagonist with the name and stylings of a Silver Age villain. Schmidt's style carries the fast-paced action well and the premise behind Mr. Baseball makes him perfectly suited to a one-and-done mystery exactly like the one presented here. "Down With the Kings" provides its best installment to date as the story begins revealing its broader conspiracy and provides the team with their gnarliest foe yet in a particularly gruesome action sequence. "Order of the Black Lamp" is the most indulgently designed contribution and readers will find plenty to appreciate in Javier Rodríguez's depiction of the climax, even if the final note leaves the story seeming incomplete. The final entry for this third outing seems designed to pitch an Elseworlds miniseries as Jorge Molina's best pages are centered on presenting an urban fantasy vision of Gotham in the midst of a brief and all too familiar origin. The Brave and The Bold continues to curate an outstanding array of talent in an anthology bound to please any Batman fan. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 4 out of 5

KNIGHT TERRORS #2

Knight Terrors #2 is a case of a comic that doesn't really know exactly what it's trying to do all built on a premise stretched so thin that the holes get bigger and bigger every page. The issue tries to give some backstory and some context for the Nightmare Stone—which, again, feels like the cheesiest and least sensical plot device ever—but it's really just a paper thin excuse to involve Sandman for reasons that make no sense. The issue just jumps from flashback to dream sequence to flashback and back again, disrupting any momentum the story could have, and then tries to some how loop it all back to Deadman and his weird "pick me" agenda of it all. Add to that that none of what is being set up here seems to carry with any of the rest of the event and what you've got is sort of a weird, jumbled mess that tries to be quippy but spooky and deep, but thrilling and fails at all of it. -- Nicole Drum

Rating: 1.5 out of 5

KNIGHT TERRORS: ACTION COMICS #1

While as an event series, the tie ins for Knight Terrors have no consistency whatsoever, Knight Terrors: Action Comics #1 is actually really fantastic and is probably the best one of the whole event thus far. There are two stories, one from Leah Williams centering around Power Girl and it is just another bit of evidence that confirms Williams is the absolute perfect person to be writing the character, as the story drags the character through nearly ever facet of her life and history and preys upon her deepest insecurities in a way that genuinely feels like nightmares – the teams delving into Batman's bad dreams should take note. The second story, from Philip Kennedy Johnson, is a bit more slower paced and centery around Superboy, Steel, and the kids with the watching of a horror movie as a device, but it's really brilliantly put together, giving both stories a tone that is exactly the right kind of unsettling a tie in like this needs. The art in both stories is top notch as well. -- Nicole Drum

Rating: 5 out of 5

KNIGHT TERRORS: ANGEL BREAKER #1

Knight Terrors: Angel Breaker #1 proves the concept of its overall event beautifully, creating a terrifying showcase for one of DC's newest antiheroes. As Angel Breaker embarks on her latest mission, the ever-growing world of nightmares forces her to confront her own past darkness, and Tim Seeley's script lets that unfold in an accessible and delightful pace. Acky Bright's art is the perfect blend of whimsical and horrifying, making this a consistently-good issue overall. -- Jenna Anderson

Rating: 4 out of 5

DC #2

KNIGHT TERRORS: DETECTIVE COMICS #1

Knight Terrors: Detective Comics has some very impressive art in a very strange and horrific nightmare story. As someone who doesn't follow the main "Knight Terrors" events, I'm not really sure if Jim Gordon's nightmare involving a grotesque facsimile of Batman attacking Gotham is necessary reading for the event. However, the artwork by Riccardo Federici is top-notch and gorgeous. In a lot of ways, it reminds me a bit of JH Williams III's artwork mixed with a touch of HR Giger. Truly fantastic stuff – Federici needs a top-tier comic ASAP. -- Christian Hoffer

Rating: 5 out of 5

KNIGHT TERRORS: HARLEY QUINN #1

Another "Knight Terrors" tie-in where it seems like the rules don't really apply across the titles, Knight Terrors: Harley Quinn #1 takes the approach that because Harley is "crazy" she doesn't really have any nightmares, that her craziness has already seen her confront everything so instead she gets to just meddle with the multiverse instead. While it's a convenient way to more or less just avoid "Knight Terrors" entirely, the reality is it's just bad storytelling. It leans too hard into the idea of "crazy" for Harley, making her a very one-dimensional character but by then just having her mess around with the multiverse, that also just doesn't really make any sense except to fill space and put her on zany adventures in what is supposed to be some sort of somber exploration of fear and self. The backup story is also a bit rough and confusing, though it mostly suffers from being a high concept that needs more space to play out and both stories over all suffer from just bad art – particularly Ben Templesmith's work in the backup story. This is just a rough, rough issue and further cements that no one knows what they're doing with Harley. -- Nicole Drum

Rating: 1.5 out of 5

KNIGHT TERRORS: TITANS #1

"Knight Terrors" remains an interesting crossover in DC Comics' arsenal, taking the opportunity to show the worst nightmares of the comic book universe's heroes and villains. Like many tie-ins, a crossover event will have its hits and misses, with the latest featuring the Titans being somewhere in-between. Based on the number of heroes that make up the team, we unfortunately don't get as much time to really dive into the interesting terrors presented here, especially with Starfire and Donna Troy. Perhaps the most noteworthy was Beast Boy's nightmare, presented as the most harrowing thanks to his lovable nature. The issue's conclusion loses a lot of its "oomph" not due to the creators themselves, but the decision to use the conclusion as the cover of the issue itself, lessening its impact. If you're a fan of the Titans, this might be worth your time to explore their psyches a bit more, but otherwise, it might be a tie-in worth skipping if you're not a "Knight Terrors" completionist. -- Evan Valentine

Rating: 3 out of 5

POISON IVY: UNCOVERED #1

It's a little hard to critique something like Poison Ivy: Uncovered #1 because it's really just a very nice collection of variant covers from the first year of the current ongoing series sprinkled with a little bit of well-written monologuing/dialoguing from Pam (and guest Harley Quinn) sort of guiding the reader through the story to now. It makes for a nice sort of guide to the covers and keeps things interesting in what is otherwise just a well-curated art collection that covers a strong variety of different approaches to Poison Ivy and the series to date. There's nothing groundbreaking here, but as these sorts of collections go, this one in particular is very nice and well-executed. -- Nicole Drum

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

SUPERMAN: THE LAST DAYS OF LEX LUTHOR #1

[READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE]

Superman: The Last Days of Lex Luthor #1 reaffirms Hitch's place in comics and is worth reading, if only to see his depiction of grandiose Superman adventures. Yet the underlying premise proves far weaker than it appears on the cover. Superman's approach to this conundrum only envisions a world in which he and Luthor matter, even as it depicts a sprawling globe filled with individuals in Hitch's iconic style. It ignores the sticky nature of this premise in order to barrel ahead without addressing the conflicts and interests that may interest readers more than the fate of a fictional villain. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Marvel #1

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #30

Disregard the number in this review's title; one of the great joys of reading Amazing Spider-Man is seeing one of superhero comics' longest-running sagas continued. The Amazing Spider-Man #30 is a testament to how legacies can empower these serials and carve out new stories building upon the past, and it does so in a very fun fashion. The conclusion featuring three of Spidey's greatest foes (four if you count Ock's old arms separately) makes it clear that they've all grown—nearly all reformed—and that makes for a better story. The heroes, including the likes of J. Jonah Jameson and Norman Osborn, express empathy and new perspectives that make them seem more relevant than the hundreth iteration of their more familiar stories. They also frame Doctor Octopus in a far more sympathetic light as his own path to reform was stolen from him, although it creates the opportunity for an outrageous showdown. The dueling arms between Spidey and Ock fill pages with bombastic action that Ed McGuinness delivers with outstanding style. The thoughtful sentiments and character growth are evident throughout the issue, but only take a down-to-earth tone in the final few pages (to excellent effect). Building upon now-classic stories ranging from Green Goblin's earliest victories through Superior Spider-Man, it's clear this vision of Amazing Spider-Man is creating a very bright future for the series and character, alike. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

THE AVENGERS #3

It can be challenging to create an adversary worthy of a group as powerful as The Avengers, but Jed MacKay, C.F. Villa, Federico Blue, and Cory Petit are off to a stellar start so far. The spotlight is firmly centered on this new threat in Avengers #3, as fans get to know the Ashen Combine and the extent of their powerful abilities. Avengers #1 captured those classic assembling the team vibes and elements, and issue #3 follows suit with what feels like a classic Avengers set piece, filled with grand stakes, powerful foes, and the surge of hope and safety when an Avenger meets that threat head-on. This is only furthered by the lovely work of Villa and Blee, who bring a distinct energy and threat to each member of the The Ashen Combine. The villains were clearly created with the Avengers' abilities in mind, but that's what makes their eventual collision and the tease of more to come so satisfying. MacKay is utilizing the team's varied skillset while also exploring the interpersonal and leadership dynamics that come with leading a team of leaders, kings, and powerhouses. Carol and T'Challa's exchanges are especially great, and while a few pieces of dialogue try a bit too hard, it's a small hiccup in an otherwise excellent issue, and I can't wait to see these bigger than life battles play out when Avengers #4 hits. -- Matthew Aguilar

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

AVENGERS BEYOND #5

And with this final issue, perhaps the worst comic book of the year comes to an end. Thanks to the writing and art used in this mini-series, I still am not quite sure what the point of this Avengers story was, or how it was all supposed to come together around the Beyonder. Ultimately, this series never justified its existence and its poor plodding was joined by poor artwork that made this an extremely easy series to recommend that no one pick up. Avengers Beyond is a sloppy, confusing mess that should have never seen the light of day. Avoid at all costs. -- Evan Valentine

Rating: 1 out of 5

COSMIC GHOST RIDER #5

Cosmic Ghost Rider #5 puts a twist on our favorite interstellar destroyer. At last, we learned why a horde of riders are out for Frank, and it turns out the man is the piece they've been missing for so long. As for Frank, well – Cosmic Ghost Rider wants nothing more than to settle a debt, and his issue ends with the man seemingly passing his powerful torch to another. -- Megan Peters

Rating: 3 out of 5

CULT OF CARNAGE: MISERY #3

There's a video game sort of logic that pervades symbiote-centered comics as the muck occasionally shaped like characters endlessly reforms itself amidst waves of action. That continues in Cult of Carnage: Misery #3. The new villain Madness is more comical than threatening with a rainbow of symbiote faces forming appendages across his chest. As they battle Liz Allan, it seems like the series' protagonist is largely absent from her own tye-dye suit as events happen to her. Splashes lie flat on the page and are best characterized as odd. Yet a new symbiotic sort of villain promises less messiness in what's to come, so maybe the next issue will be better. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 1.5 out of 5

DANNY KETCH: GHOST RIDER #3

Danny Ketch: Ghost Rider #3 is where this story begins to crumble under the weight of its nostalgia. Though the series has been packed to the brim with fun Easter eggs paying homage to the stories of yesteryear, the non-existent plot has finally grown stagnant. While this issue is a tremendous tribute to the stories that have come before, it does nothing to propel the tale or its characters forward. -- Adam Barnhardt

Rating: 3 out of 5

DAREDEVIL & ECHO #3

Daredevil & Echo #3 certainly cranks up the action this issue, but it still struggles to find anything interesting for its modern day characters to do. Even with Ghost Rider, Demogoblin and a group of possessed children, the artwork remains incredibly stiff as though no one knows how to choreograph a fight involving any of the characters – to the point where Demogoblin is taken down on a single page once the story calls for it. It feels like the book wanted to be about Daredevil and Echo's ancestors but could't get off the ground unless Matt Murdock & Maya Lopez were directly involved. -- Connor Casey

Rating: 2 out of 5

Marvel #2

DEADPOOL #9

Deadpool #9 delivers one hell of a gut punch. Since Alyssa Wong's Deadpool run first began, it felt like she was setting up Wade for yet another heartbreak with Valentine Vuong. But this issue decides to put all her cards on the table, revealing her connection and hatred for the Horned Emperor. But Deadpool's fight with the mysterious figure comes at a terrible cost, meaning we're probably getting the heart-wrenching conclusion next issue. -- Connor Casey

Rating: 4 out of 5

GHOST RIDER #16

Ghost Rider #16 functions like a ghost story told by a campfire with a narrator detailing the narrative of a mysterious hitchhiker who crosses paths with all three of Marvel's most prominent Ghost Riders. The concept makes for an intriguing one-shot, especially with the tightly paralleled trio of stories providing plenty of material to reflect the broad strokes of this new villain's origin. When the hitchhiker's nature and goals are revealed, it's an especially gruesome twist that makes for some excellent horror, but the artwork can't bear the load of these sequences. Gory elements of dismemberment and exposed muscle underwhelm expectations and cannot make the revelations of this harrowing antagonist's nature as impactful as they ought to be. Readers will be left anticipating the reappearance of this hitchhiker, which makes the upcoming crossover with Wolverine a bit more interesting. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 3 out of 5

HALLOWS' EVE #5

Hallows' Eve #5 concludes the anti-heroine's first solo outing, but also makes it clear why she'll be returning in both an upcoming annual and one-shot. Her showdown with goons armed by the many magical masks in her bag provides the biggest display of this colorful powerset in the entire series before delivering a final showdown with Maxine Danger. The shape of the plot is familiar, but it provides every element well and carves out space for a few surprises by the end. Janine's victim from the very first issue (i.e. the guard-turned-werewolf) is given plenty of space to experience their own story that enhances Janine's own perspective and development; minor characters are provided the space they need to appear human in a familiar pattern for figures like Janine Godbe. Her development from villain to antihero is earned in the climax of this adventure and sets the stage for much more fun to come with writer Erica Schultz. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 4 out of 5

HELLCAT #5

Hellcat's finale culminates as meaningfully and bizarrely as Patsy Walker deserves. As Patsy backslides into being Demonic Hellcat once again, she discovers the truth about the series' murder mystery—and about herself—that completely changes the game. While the ending leaves Patsy on a surprising footing, it's also an incredibly profound one, further proving Christopher Cantwell's knack for writing her. Alex Lins' art is a perfect match to that, getting even more surreal, but heartfelt, as the issue goes allong. I'm incredibly sad that this journey for Hellcat is over, but it was absolutely an excellent one. -- Jenna Anderson

Rating: 5 out of 5

I AM IRON MAN #5

The final issue of I Am Iron Man is easily among its best, providing a gripping tale of invention, action, and Tony Stark's own hubris. As Tony navigates an increasingly-complex situation, Murewa Ayodele's script not only provides room for charming banter, but for some spine-tingling reveals regarding Tony's tech. Dotun Akande's art is equally-excellent, particularly in the use of panel composition, and in conveying a lifetime of emotion in a single expressiveless panel of Tony's helmet. While I Am Iron Man has now come to a close, you definitely owe it to yourself to check out the journey – or at very least, this issue. -- Jenna Anderson

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

THE INCREDIBLE HULK #2

Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Nic Klein have teamed up for what is easily the raddest book currently being published by Marvel Comics. The Incredible Hulk #2 dives even further into the southern horror and chilling religious ties that were only teased in the first issue. On top of that, Banner is as interesting as he's ever been, and his relationship with Hulk has taken some great notes from Eddie Brock and Venom. An issue of an Incredible Hulk series that doesn't even feature the Hulk until the final page might sound like a drag, but this backwoods zombie revival is as thrilling as any Marvel comic could hope to be. -- Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 5 out of 5

THE INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #8

Just when you feel like you've seen Tony Stark at his lowest, Duggan and Frigeri continue to push the Avenger lower. Now eight issues in, Tony Stark's officially gone deeper than the Ninth Level of his personal Hell and the end is most definitely nigh for Mr. Invincible himself. Brilliantly paced, Invincible Iron Man #8 ties into Marvel's biggest storylines of the moment without sacrificing its own story, effectively becoming a masterclass on what event tie-ins, no matter how loosely connected, should be. A must-read for any Iron Man fan, no doubt. -- Adam Barnhardt

Rating: 5 out of 5

Marvel #3

PREDATOR #5

The latest arc of Marvel's new Predator comics comes to a very quick close. After building up the events with major twists and turns, writer Ed Brisson manages to put a bow on things very fast in the final issue, perhaps too fast. Artist Netho Diaz, collaborating with inker Belardino Brabo and colorist Erick Arciniega, deliver some gruesome imagery here, as one might expect from a finale, the kind of gory art that Predator fans dream of seeing. It's a fast ending, but a satisfying one, and where the path ahead is clearly marked once again. -- Spencer Perry

Rating: 4 out of 5

SHE-HULK #15

She-Hulk, in its finale, delivers on all of the promise contained, not only in the current story "Girl Can't Help It," but the entire series to date; it is funny, thrilling, dramatic, action-packed, romantic, and sincere across that entire range. She-Hulk's final confrontation with Scoundrel sets up a conflict that pulls in every aspect of her life in some way. Whether it's the understated humor of Punch Club or a twist from one of Jennifer Walter's patent cases, the issue delivers on every page for readers of the previous 14 issues. An amusing new antagonist expands the scope beyond Scoundrel in a useful manner, although the sprawling action implied by the repeated use of "horde" is not managed well by Genolet's character-centric style. Yet at the heart of this neatly woven grand finale plot rests the series' beating heart: She-Hulk and Jack of Hearts romance. The way in which this story's love triangle is concluded in the final few pages is a soaring feat that will have all but the hardest hearts smiling from ear to ear. The only big disappointment in this finale is that She-Hulk won't be on the stands in August, but expect Sensational She-Hulk to be the best new Marvel Comics series to arrive this fall. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

SILK #3

The new Silk series is able to find a right blend of dream world and real world antics in its latest issue. Artist IG Guara, with help from colorist Ian Herring, manages to combine the aesthetics that readers associate with Silk but stretch them into new territory as the dream takes on a pirate motif. Series writer Emily Kim introduces some elements to the story that at first appear to be a little too convenient, but in the end they bring the issue to a more interesting place than the previous ones were able to manage with their own conclusions. -- Spencer Perry

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

SPIDER-MAN: INDIA #2

Following Pavitr Prabhakar's debut in Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse, a new series focusing on Spider-Man: India seemed like a smart move for Marvel. Unfortunately, this new series is too entrenched in presenting a "Spider-Man story" rather than one that shows off the strengths of this alternate wall-crawler. This series simply plays it too safe and it almost feels as though you could have swapped out Pivitr and his new take on the Lizard with the original iterations and not miss a beat in the mean time, minus a few tweaks. This feels like a Spider-Man story that we've seen all too many times before and by not breaking the wheel, misses out of some exciting territory for Prabhakar in the process. -- Evan Valentine

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

STAR WARS: DARTH VADER – BLACK, WHITE & RED #4

The first story in this book brings to an end Jason Aaron's highly anticipated return to Star Wars and, much like his story in the previous three issues, this final installment reminds us why he has been one of the best to ever do it in the realm of Star Wars comics. Vader is ruthless, exacting, and strategic in all of his schemes, with every setback only allowing him to learn from such an experience to make sure it never happens again. After the conclusion to Aaron's story, we see a bit more of an ambitious tale from Steve Orlando about Vader becoming infected on an alien planet, and while the story itself is exciting enough, the art from Paul Davidson might be the best execution of the black, white, and red theme in the whole series. Between Vader's black armor and red blade, these colors often dominate any scene he's in, with Davidson's art finding new ways to use these contrasts to make for some truly stunning artwork that's both frightening and beautiful. The final story sees Vader coming to Hoth and facing off against a gang of wampas, and while the experience itself is entertaining enough, and does fall in line with the tone of this miniseries, it doesn't really do much outside of "Vader fights wampas." Understandably, that's an exciting showdown to watch, but given the inherent potential of the entire Black, White, & Red series, it felt like an underwhelming sendoff. Had these three stories in the final issue had even been rearranged to create a different dynamic for the reader, this issue could have been the best the miniseries has to offer, and while still engaging and intimidating, sends us off slightly underwhelmed, given how much the book has offered over the last few months and the talented creators involved. -- Patrick Cavanaugh

Rating: 4 out of 5

STAR WARS: THE MANDALORIAN SEASON TWO #2

In hopes of finding more Mandalorians, Din Djarin accepts to transport a woman across the galaxy in hopes of reuniting her with her husband and giving her eggs a shot at survival. As things tend to go in this franchise, this is easier said than done, as a run-in with The New Republic forces them to touch down on an icy planet, which is the least of their worries when it comes to hatching eggs. In comparison to the live-action version of this story, the "Frog Lady" doesn't hold quite as much charm when she's illustrated as opposed to being brought to life in an endearingly absurd way, but her exotic look shines through, as does the frigid locale that is visited in this chapter of Din Djarin's journey. Especially given how many episodes and issues of the series are spent in dusty and arid environments, this chapter gets all of the major narrative points across as the art helps break up the monotony of the otherwise straightforward adaptation of the Disney+ show. -- Patrick Cavanaugh

Rating: 4 out of 5

STORM #3

While it's easy to appreciate what its creators are attempting to do with Storm, something still feels not quite right with this throwback to 1980s era X-Men. While known for its soap opera vibe, the X-Men here feel petty in their interpersonal conflicts and wider concerns. Professor X feels more pedantic than ever, and everyone else seems to be their least mature versions of themselves. With so much of the issue spent on a poolside argument, it's hard nto to dwell on that aspect of the issue, but at least the artwork brings some real emotion to the proceedings, and the mystery villain remains interesting. Something is off in the calibration, but Storm remains a more interesting story than most of these Marvel rewind stories have been. – Jamie Lovett

Rating: 3 out of 5

Marvel #4

ULTIMATE INVASION #2

Ultimate Invasion #2 offers readers a lot more context about Maker's plans for his new setting in a familiar pattern of establishing alternate Marvel universes. The combined visual montage and data page makes it clear just how much has already been accomplished and it makes for a disturbing vision. However, even as readers are brought up to speed on this setting, Maker's endgame remains unclear and the stakes of a battle in one unfamiliar place set amongst infinite varieties are unclear. Panels and dialogue that play out as near-perfect recreations from Ultimates make for fun easter eggs, but don't clarify how this miniseries relates to that source material. Yet the fireworks that erupt before the issue's end provide plenty for readers to enjoy even as the purpose of this event narrative remains elusive. Alternate versions of Marvel heroes and villains are pulled into a sci-fi spectacle with violent sequences that remind readers why Ultimates was such a hit. More answers are teased in the final few pages and they can't come soon enough. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 4 out of 5

VENOM #23

Perhaps a more traditional-style Venom story, with fringes of Todd McFarlane all over it, is something that some readers will be eager to get their hands on, but not at the expensive of an interruption to Al Ewing's larger sci-fi run on Venom. Writer Torunn Grønbekk pens the new issue which is fine but feels out of place when set up next to the issues that preceded it. Marvel credits Ken Lashley and Ramón F. Bachs with artistic duties and the visual flair they bring to the issue is its best feature. A clear love for the look and feel of Venom and the world he inhabits is on display, with a special shout out to colorist Frank D'Armata for adding another layer of depth to it all. -- Spencer Perry

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

WHAT IF...? DARK: SPIDER-GWEN #1

Marvel's What If…? series continues this week with one of its most poignant questions yet. What do you do when you are stuck in the shadow of your darkest day? We know how Peter Parker reacted when he was faced with Gwen's death, but in Dark: Spider-Gwen, the series asks how things would have gone if Peter had been the one to die rather than Gwen against the Green Goblin. Faced with untold grief, this What If…? series asks us to step into a new world where Queens had lost Peter's protection, but it doesn't take long for Gwen to find footing as a hero in her own right. -- Megan Peters

Rating: 5 out of 5

WOLVERINE #35

Wolverine #35 finishes off the "Weapons of X" arc with a bang as the full X-Force team finally gets involved to tear its way through Beast's kaiju-esque fortress. And while it doesn't fully close the book on Beast's heel turn (I'd love for Wolverine to combat all of Beast's speechifying with his own but Logan is a man of few words), it's a ton of fun. Plus Deadpool gets the chance to shine which always makes for a good time. The ending also indicates Wolverine is moving on from Krakoa, so this might wind up being the last hurrah for the character during this massive X-Men saga. -- Connor Casey

Rating: 4 out of 5

THE X-CELLENT #5

There are some top-notch highlights in The X-Cellent #5, including a few very funny gags and some of the gnarliest Allred artwork in years when one longtime member leaves the team. Yet the issue never really coheres as a complete chapter, although it does serve as a finale. Zeitgeist's godhood is explored in a psychedelic sequence but amounts to a nebulous source of power that amounts to little and is quickly dispatched by a separate deus ex machina. It is also entirely divorced from the social media critique this miniseries has orbited. The surviving members of both teams receive little in the way of final notes or a denouement, which is disappointing given that there's seemingly no future forecast for the X-Statix story. Readers shouldn't walk away from this finale disappointed, but they likely won't find themselves remembering it in the same fond light as X-Statix, if at all. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 3 out of 5

X-MEN: HELLFIRE GALA 2023 #1

[READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE]

The story is competently portrayed with a talented line up of artists who generally manage to make the eccentric costumes and explosive events cohere amidst their distinctive styles. Narrative captions summarize those events and provide readers with clear knowledge about all of the terrible aspects of this massacre. Yet competence cannot make X-Men: Hellfire Gala 2023 an enjoyable comic; it does not even function as tragedy. Instead, it luxuriates in the unending punishments heaped upon Marvel's mutants and promises that this will always be their status quo. Four years after House of X and Powers of X revitalized the entire X-line, Hellfire Gala 2023 has extinguished any interest I still held in a truly dismal affair. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 1 out of 5

Other Publishers #1

007: FOR KING AND COUNTRY #4

007: King and Country #4 forces James Bond to question whether he's put his trust in the right people. There are no clear answers for Bond, and lots of talking things through, but when the action hits it is brutal and brash in all the right ways. The art is stylish and retro, seemingly going for the vibe achieved by Darwyn Cooke in his Parker adaptations, and the colors shift appropriately from mood to mood. Even for a relative neophyte to Bond's canon, King and Country has enough attractive flair to make it an enjoyable read and energetic reading experience. – Jamie Lovett

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

ALICE NEVER AFTER #1

Alice Never After kickstarts this week with a new issue, and it checks on Boom's gritty retelling of Lewis Carol's classic tale. With Alice free from prison, she is now stuck in her imaginary world while her sister tries desperately to bring Alice back. All the while, things begin going wild in Alice's fantasy as friends such as the rabbit start acting strangely. And by the end of issue #1, fans will be left wondering where Alice's journey will take her. -- Megan Peters

Rating: 3 out of 5

THE BONE ORCHARD MYTHOS: TENEMENT #2

Tenement #2 is at its best when it gets weird, when artist Andrew Sorrentino is able to play with the form of paneling and when the mundane world the characters live in is transported into something completely alien and hellish. The latest issue suffers a bit from getting to that point, with some peculiar staging when the story is still in its regular stages. With things finally in an interesting place the next issue seems poised to be its best, but the story is already half over with only two left, and no real sign of where things are going. -- Spencer Perry

Rating: 3 out of 5

BRZRKR: POETRY OF MADNESS #1

While readers of BRZRKR know the end of Unute's story, much of his past remains a mystery and that's what BRZRKR: Poetry of Madness seeks to fill in with mixed success. In terms of art, the sort of one-short special follows very much in the same vein as the series before it and is bloody and graphic without being too gore-filled. What it excels at here is the more fantasy and mythological elements that elevates the story, which is good because the story is just a little lacking, trying to merge a story of Atlantis with a Cthulu tale all while giving some sort of outsider's insight on Unute, all with mixed result. There's a lot of things that try to intersect but don't quite catch and the story leans a little too hard on contemporary vibes, for lack of a better term, in a story clearly set in the ancient past. It's, on the whole, a book that works for BRZRKR fans but probably isn't going to make much sense for new readers. -- Nicole Drum

Rating: 3 out of 5

CONAN THE BARBARIAN #1

[READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE]

Titan's debut issue of Conan the Barbarian may not be the very best we've seen from Conan over the years, but it's much closer to the character's best than his worst. It's a strong, if uneven first issue that plants the seeds for some exciting adventures ahead. -- Charlie Ridgley

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

CREED: THE NEXT ROUND #2

With the premise established already, Creed: The Next Round #2 uncovers new ground and delivers a stronger second round. Although there are no arranged fights here, the second outing delivers much more conflict as Amara seeks out her aunt as a trainer and Adonis seeks out new acquisitions for his growing company. Both tap into the history of the Creed clan and offer fans of the films (Rocky and Creed franchises, alike) new material and robust drama. Amara's Aunt Artemis, nicknamed "The Butcher" when she was a fighter, provides a pivotal new figure whose strained relationship with Adonis is both understandable and in need of resolution. She provides a perspective that enhances Amara's and their flashbacks and training sequences look quite good. Adonis' receives a much-needed sub-plot as a mysterious figure is set to oppose his own ambitions, as well. Creed: The Next Round is on the upswing and seems ready to continue developing an interesting set of new characters in this boxing saga. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

THE DEAD LUCKY #7

Bibi's life never fails to get a bit more complicated, though that only makes things more compelling for those reading along, and Dead Lucky #7 fits that bill perfectly. There's a palpable thrill in watching Bibi just be a badass and one of the best at what she does, and artist French Carlomagno and colorist Matt Iacono know how to maximize those sequences with big action and even bigger colors. Between the set pieces, writer Melissa Flores explores the price of peace and the toll grief and regret can have on someone, even someone as powerful as Bibi. A discussion between Bibi and Maria is easily one of the deeper conventions in the issue, and it will be interesting to see where Bibi as a character goes from here. Her more curmudgeonly demeanor plays best against the people who comment on it, and one such pairing also leads to a big reveal that has me hyped to see where things go from here. After that hook, next month's issue can't get here soon enough. -- Matthew Aguilar

Rating: 4 out of 5

Other Publishers #2

THE EXPANSE: DRAGON TOOTH #4

The Expanse: Dragon Tooth finally unveils the central conflict of its story, defining what the eponymous "Dragon Tooth" is and how it is poised to cause all sorts of disruptions for a solar system only recently returned to peace. That clarity is valuable and leads to the first notable action of the comics adaptation in an intense spacebound battle. However, comics proves to be a poor fit for the science-informed, space battle aesthetics of The Expanse, which worked splendidly on television. With such large distances all set against a black abyss, it's difficult to visualize the dynamics between vessels leaving much of the logic to dialogue. While readers can discern the ultimate outcomes, the journey to them is less than thrilling on the page. Yet the new intrigues and clarity of broader political conflicts here are sufficient to keep a fan of the television series, like myself, hooked. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 3 out of 5

THE GIMMICK #5

The Gimmick is racing towards a conclusion in its next issue that it doesn't quite feel prepared for. The characters are still largely deciding who or what they want to be and there's very little of the story remaining. Five issues in we should have some idea as to who these people are, but only one or two have actually shown real consistency. A little less story in the early issues would've helped this penultimate installment feel a little less rushed and chaotic. -- Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 2 out of 5

INDIGO CHILDREN #5

Indigo Children continues to be a case of style over substance, essentially a prolonged action movie sequence in search of even a shred of emotional resonance and reconfigured into comic book form. On the upside, at least the style is delivered more competently this time around. Where previous issues included some baffling layouts, Indigo Children #5 includes some slick page designs and capable use of insets to bring attention to details on a larger landscape (though they do not suggest any movement in time, as the best artists often manage to convey with such tools). But the while the sheen is there, it still reads like a lot of attractively drawn noise with little weight for readers to latch onto. -- Jamie Lovett

Rating: 2 out of 5

KLIK KLIK BOOM #2

Klik Klik Boom #2 continues the story of Sprout in spectacular fashion as the comic molds itself into one of the most inventive stories of the year. Wagner's duel-timeline script opens the writer up to a delightful balance of storytelling opportunities, allowing readers to examine the protagonist across all of time in a single issue. Though Dabb's lines are traditionally better when there's action aplenty, the gun fight here is expansive enough that only the couple of pages it takes place on are impactful enough. -- Adam Barnhardt

Rating: 4 out of 5

MIGHTY MORPHIN POWER RANGERS #110

"Darkest Hour" is set to live up to its name, and while the event has been building for a few months now, the event really gets underway in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #110. Writer Melissa Flores gets the ball rolling in a big way in the official prelude, moving all the pieces into place and putting the Rangers in a substantial hole right away. The continued evolution of Mistress Vile is a sight to behold, as the character has never felt more lethal, so much so that at times it feels like the Rangers are truly outclassed for the first time in a while. The scope of the story is impressive, with artist Simona Di Gianfelice and colorists Raul Angulo and Jose Enrique Fernandez giving the battles an epic feel and a sense of mounting dread as things become more dire. That said, the sequences involving Mistress Vile are some of the best in the issue, and her spells and abilities have rarely looked this good. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #110 gets "Darkest Hour" off to a thrilling start, and Power Rangers fans better buckle up for quite the ride. -- Matthew Aguilar

Rating: 4 out of 5

MONSTRESS #46

Monstress #46 is a fairly dense issue, as many are, but a lot of the individual bits of the story come together here and it feels like the issue is a massive turning point for everyone involved on Golga. Ren discovers that they are critical to getting everyone out safely, the tensions between the Monstra are higher than ever, and Maika makes a massive discover that could change just about everything and not necessarily in a good way. Monstress is always, always a fantastic book and always well written and well crafted, even on the art side of things, but this issue seems to go to the next level with its pacing and putting together the various pieces of the overall puzzle. It's masterful and suspenseful in a way the series hasn't been in a bit and it's amazing. -- Nicole Drum

Rating: 5 out of 5

THE NEIGHBORS #5

The Neighbors, for a lack of a better term, just sort of ends with its fifth issue. What's been haunting the family finally gets revealed and we're hit with the tragic ending many horror stories often take, but it's unclear what any of it was trying to say. All of the conversations about prejudice, transphobia, racism, divorce and newfound families is all drowned out by the big supernatural twist. For a book that wants to touch on some pretty serious subjects its final issue has shockingly little to say. -- Connor Casey

Rating: 2 out of 5

Other Publishers #3

NEWBURN #9

After a yearlong hiatus, Newburn returns with an outstanding issue that also serves to reset returning readers and provide new ones an excellent on-ramp. Newburn #9 does what every issue of the series does so well in delivering a taut and troubling mystery set amidst organized crime in New York City. The resolution of this specific mystery serves to highlight existing tensions within Newburn and between himself and his protege Emily. The addition of a journalist, Emily's diary, and that conclusion lay out the rising stakes ahead in a series that's already proven it doesn't pull punches. Combine that excellent return with the series' best back-up story to date, contributed by Nick Dragotta and David Brothers, and readers have a can't-miss issue of crime comics that promises the best is still yet to come. I can't wait. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

OLD DOG #6

The biggest piece of Old Dog's mystery finally clicks into place with this issue, offering a clarity that is equally thrilling and clever. As Jack faces off against some unwelcome house guests, we and Retriever finally learn the truth about his predicament, interspersed with some gripping action and effective dialogue. Declan Shalvey's work on this continues to be excellent, and I can't wait for Old Dog to barrel full-speed into what's next. -- Jenna Anderson

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

PATHFINDER: WAKE THE DEAD #2

Pathfinder: Wake the Dead continues to explore the horrific side of Nex, with the newly brought together party trying to escape from an awful city guarded by all kinds of undead. The comic does a fantastic job of really showing just how deadly Nex can be to the living, while also continuing to flesh out the party's personalities. My only criticism of the series is that some of the characters are a bit too quippy. The characters have differing personalities and humor is the best way to deal with horrific situations, but it still seemed like too many of the characters were cracking jokes at times and it undercut the horror at times. -- Christian Hoffer

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

PURR EVIL #1

Purr Evil kickstarts a new series under Image that will make cat lovers look at felines in an all-new way. The dark series doesn't shy away from gore as we watch a mother-daughter duo deal with everything from murder to cat devils and astra projections. Things go from bad to worse when an innocent boy gets dragged into the situation, and it falls to our favorite mother to save the couple from themselves. -- Megan Peters

Rating: 3 out of 5

RIBBON QUEEN #1

As I've stated in plenty of other comic book reviews, horror is an exceptionally difficult genre to convey on the printed page. You don't have the benefit of sound or moving pictures to convey a feeling of terror, so when a creative team is able to nail such a feeling, it's an accomplishment. Such is the case with Garth Ennis and Jacen Burrows' new comic, Ribbon Queen. The creators have worked well with one another on quite a few projects in the past, many of which were horror-related, so Ribbon Queen is able to work well in setting up a police-procedural aesthetic while throwing in such a horrific curveball that the series demands you to pick up the next issue to see what exactly is happening. Ennis is an old hat at setting a scene, horror or otherwise, and Burrows is able to convey the horrific aspects of this unsettling character quite well. While the premiere issue is dialogue heavy, it works well in terms of what the creators are going for and definitely worth a shot if you're looking for a great horror comic. -- Evan Valentine

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

RICK AND MORTY #7

Promising to be a new jumping-on point for Rick and Morty fans, this issue delivers the zaniness that fans might be looking for, but nothing that really reinvents the real. Both the main story and backup story deliver some dire and bizarre consequences for the Smith/Sanchez family, as well as a surprising character return, but the devil-may-care attitude might wear thin for some. The art, from both Fred C. Stresing and Suzi Blake, is perfectly servicable outside of some gleefully-unhinged character designs. If you're not already a Rick and Morty fan, this won't do much for you, but it has its moments. -- Jenna Anderson

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

ROGUE SUN #14

Something big is about to happen in Rogue Sun but before that, a few small steps have to take place. Alongside last month's issue, Rogue Sun #14 churns forward ever so slowly as Parrott plays chess with the characters within. There's simultaneously a lot going on and nothing going on whatsoever as the story is pulled forward in three or four new directions. Alas, the tension is palpable – we just don't know if the payoff is going to be worth it. -- Adam Barnhardt

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Other Publishers #4

THE SAVAGE STRENGTH OF STARSTORM #3

The second spread in The Savage Strength of Starstorm #3 is impressive, featuring Starstorm in a battle against an oversized T-Rex with an engaging layout and detailed dinosaur that's bound to astonish readers. Those two pages are about all readers need to lay their eyes on in another issue filled with odd tangents and more than a dozen new characters that do little to build upon what preceded them. Tiger Clan, a team of seven interchangeable, interstellar bounty hunters, serve as the new antagonists for this issue and beyond some "shocking" actions at the end never earn the space they consume on the page. With dull designs and a standoff that provides almost no novelty, they make for a disappointing departure from the T-Rex, which somehow also possessed more personality. Stack another lackluster roster of Justice League knockoffs at the end of the issue, and it's apparent that The Savage Strength of Starstorm is dedicated to throwing half-baked ideas against the wall and largely ignoring its own artistic merits. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 1.5 out of 5

THE SEASONS HAVE TEETH #4

If you're looking for a definitive ending that explains itself to you in detail, The Seasons Have Teeth #4 won't give you the conclusion you desire. But that's okay, because that's never been what this book is about. Grief, regret, and hubris are complicated things that don't always deliver easy conclusions. The final act of the issue—and the series as a whole—isn't quite as thoughtful or exciting as the rest of the run, but it will sit with you for a while. -- Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 4 out of 5

STAR WARS: HYPERSPACE STORIES #6

Long before Greedo was met with the business end of Han Solo's blaster, he was a bounty hunter looking to get into Jabba the Hutt's good graces, only for a chance encounter with a romantic prospect to put his whole future in jeopardy. Given that Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories is targeted towards younger audiences, this issue gives a delightful and charming backstory for one of the franchise's seedier characters. While we can imagine a story set in the mainline Star Wars series at Marvel offering a much more adult-oriented narrative about the deadly exploits Greedo embarked on, this backstory offers a clever exploration into the character's history without toning it down entirely. By focusing on a love connection, we get to sidestep potentially deadly excursions and witness how, in addition to a bad attitude, Greedo has always been one to suffer with bad luck, while also informing readers in how he came under Jabba's employ. The Marvel Comics might be getting more attention from readers, but this chapter of Hyperspace Stories gives many of those books a run for their money. -- Patrick Cavanaugh

Rating: 4 out of 5

SUMMONER'S WAR: AWAKENING #4

Up to this point, Summoner's War: Awakening has been more lighthearted and whimsical affair, but issue #4 moves the grim reality of war and revolution into focus, and the weight of that definitely has an impact. Writer Justin Jordan, artist Luca Claretti, colorist Igor Monti, and letterer Justin Birch still fill the world with charming interactions and delightful action brimming with vivid colors and personality, but at a certain point some of that gives way to the brutality and tragedy of war. That grim reality leads to difficult choices and illuminating exchanges between characters, and you can't help but have a reaction to those circumstances and decisions as the story moves forward. Summoner's War: Awakening has been a delight since it launched, but with the added emotional weight in issue #4, it only seems to be getting better from here. -- Matthew Aguilar

Rating: 4 out of 5

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES/USAGI YOJIMBO: WHEREWHEN #5

Stan Sakai shows some restraint in the finale to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo: WhereWhen. The battles between WhereWhen's robotic minions and the assembled parties of the Turtles and Usagi Yojimbo and his allies could have taken up the entire issue. Instead, Sakai keeps the combat relatively brief and straightforward, emphasizing the sacrifice involved in defeating WhereWhen over the spectacle of the conflict itself. That's not to say the issue without close-quarters fighting entirely—Sakai remains as skillful as ever in his depiction of swordplay—but that focus and tightness is part of what makes each panel meaningful, and makes this a strong conclusion to a delightful crossover. – Jamie Lovett

Rating: 4 out of 5

VAMPIRELLA VS. THE SUPERPOWERS #3

Vampirella vs. The Superpowers #3 gets into some proper spycraft as Vampirella utilizes the prior issue's grim cliffhanger as an opportunity to investigate the conspiracy at work in Projection 1948. Any reader familiar with the genre will find nothing to surprise (or, even, intrigue) them as it runs in a paint-by-numbers fashion with interruptions and collisions between multiple conflicted parties playing out in predictable fashion. That's not an inherent fault if the formula is followed well, but as the last two pages will support, connections between specific elements of action are rarely made leaving what should be the issue's highlight a muddled mess. Combine that with tedious text pages that primarily recap existing knowledge, and the most recent entry remains a dull affair. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 2 out of 5

W0RLDTR33 #4

W0rldTr33 remains quite possibly my favorite horror comic book of the year, delivering an issue of solid character work, skin-crawling terror, and some big revelations for the characters looking to survive the darkest side of the internet. The "Undernet" is an amazingly interesting concept and Tynion and Blaco do a fantastic job of conveying the horror of what happens when you experience this "internet from another world". The different moving pieces of the series are beginning to coalesce and in doing so, help to make you care more about the characters here and their potentially bloody fates. W0rldTr33 takes an interesting scary concept and perfects it. -- Evan Valentine

Rating: 4.5 out of 5