Jean Grey, Romulus, And More Lead The Way In This Week's Comic Review Roundup

Comic book racks are filled to the brim these days with wonderful content, so much so that any one [...]

By Matthew Aguilar

Comic book racks are filled to the brim these days with wonderful content, so much so that any one person would have a hard time keeping track of them all.

With so many publishers putting out amazing comics, it can sometimes take a bit to get through them all. That is certainly the case for these books, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't set aside some time for them.

In fact, it is the opposite, and some of the books on this list are more than deserving of your time.

Time to get started with Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #24

The noble experiment of uniting the Yellow and Green Lantern Corps has worked thus far due to the strength of John Stewart and Soranik Natu, and both characters are once again thrust into the spotlight of issue #24.

Writer Robert Venditti excels at crafting personal relationships amongst all the cosmic surrealness of the series. Likewise in issue #24, the arc might be more about the fracturing of the Corps, but the heart of the book rests solely on Natu and Stewart. The former as she deals with the newfound knowledge of her son and the latter finding out one of his own might have pulled this uneasy alliance apart.

The tension is aided by Ethan Van Sciver's artwork, especially in regards to Soranik's possible villainous transition. The hurt on her face is palpable at the realization of Rayner's deception, as is the rage and subsequent loathing that comes through after she confronts him.

You might come here for the space odyssey, but you'll stay for the characters.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars.

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #24 is written by Robert Venditti with art from Ethan Van Sciver and a variant cover by Kevin Nowlan. You can find the official description below.

"FRACTURES" part three! Secrets are out and battle lines are drawn. The partnership of the Green Lantern Corps and the Sinestro Corps begins to crumble before it explodes!

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #24 is in stores now.

Jean Grey #4

One of the biggest pleasant surprises of ResurrXion continues to be Jean Grey, and issue #4 is no exception. What's better than teaming Grey up with Namor? Easy, team her up with Odinson and let the fun begin.

In fact, that's the easiest way to sum up this book, but that alone doesn't necessarily do it justice. Dennis Hopeless crafts a delightful Jean Grey, one who is looking for answers but isn't intent on wallowing in what she can't control. What follows is one of the more memorable team-ups in recent comics, with an Odinson that might not be what he once was but is no less entertaining.

Harvey Tolibao, Jay David Ramos, and Dono Sanchez-Almara provide some lovely visuals to go with this super powered bar fight, with some inspired panel layouts and stylish power displays. This includes one particular scene where Jean draws some weaponry inspiration from Thor, a sequence that is by far one of the book's many highlights.

Jean Grey is turning into one of the best X-Men books in Marvel's arsenal, and the team continues to add layers to a character that has always been immensely powerful but at times lacked consistent characterization. That's certainly not the case here, and you're going to have quite the entertaining ride getting to know Jean Grey all over again.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars.

Jean Grey #4 is written by Dennis Hopeless with art by Harvey Tolibao and a cover by David Yardin. The description can be found below.

After an adventure with Namor, the Sub-Mariner, Jean Grey is more determined than ever to escape her predecessor's fate and when the Phoenix comes for her, she will BEAT THAT BIRD DOWN. And to learn how to go toe-to-toe with a god, she'll seek out training from a god…Enter: ODINSON!

Jean Grey #4 is in stores now.

Jean-Grey-4-Cover
(Photo: Marvel Comics)
prevnext

Batgirl And The Birds Of Prey #

Batgirl and the Birds of Preys seems to have established a rhythm over the last few issues, and the start of a new arc brings new characters into the mix.

The key mechanic that makes the Birds of Prey work is the witty and jovial more often than not banter between Batgirl, Black Canary, and Huntress. The addition of Catwoman to that mix promises to increase the enjoyment factor, and writers Shawna and Julie Benson seem to already have a nice handle on her.

What isn't so clear is the history between these characters, as she refers to Batgirl's costume like she's seeing it for the first time. It would seem with all the time that has passed she would already know about it, as she does know about the Birds of Prey, a group that formed at the beginning of DC Rebirth.

She's not the only one who seems to be a bit off, as so far the book isn't quite selling Calculator's change of heart. Sure it's for his family, but with all the bile he previously had for Oracle, it still seems like he's come around too fast. Maybe that's intentional, but it still seems out of place.

The good news is Roge Antonio and Allen Passalaqua's art is delightful, going from moments of tremendous tension to breezy skylines with ease. His Batgirl and Huntress are especially on the money, specifically in how expressive they are. The Poison Ivy isn't quite as good, but then they did set the bar quite high.

There's a lot to like about the current Birds of Prey, and issue #12 is another winning combination. The series delivers consistently enjoyable stories with endearing characters that you invest in, though at times the storylines themselves aren't as memorable as the characters involved in them.

Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars.

Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #12 is written by Shawna Benson and Julie Benson with art by Roge Antonio. Yanick Paquette provides the issue's cover with a variant provided by Kamome Shirahama. The official description can be found below.

"SOURCE CODE" part two! Oracle crossed half the criminal underworld in his early years—and now, he's caused a black cat to cross the Birds of Prey's path! Catwoman's been waiting for a chance to get her claws on this guy for a while…but at this point, do the Birds even want to stand in her way?

Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #12 is in stores now.

Batgirl-Birds-of-Prey-12-Cover
(Photo: DC Comics)
prevnext

Romulus Vol 1

While she might not be a household name, comic fans should definitely give one woman army Ashlar a chance to impress them, because Vol. 1 most certainly does.

Writer Bryan Hill pulls the reader in with a fascinating backstory for Ashlar, who you will fall in love with quickly. Ashlar doesn't go out of her way to be endearing to the reader, she just is, mostly because she is head strong but also knows when she needs to let someone in. She's extremely human, despite her less than normal upbringing and circumstances, and you'll find yourself rooting for her before you know it.

It also helps that Ashlar is a complete badass, but that alone isn't her defining factor. Rather, her ability to overcome her human foibles is the star of the show.

A lead is only as good as the surroundings they're in, and artist Nelson Blake the II delivers some stellar visuals. There's plenty of stellar fight sequences in Vol. 1, but Blake handles the smaller more intimate scenes with equal ease, and it makes for a fantastic introduction to these characters and their world.

Romulus delivers a fantastic lead character and a compelling world full of unique factions and cutthroat characters, all with a delightful layer of charm and action. If you are looking for something entertaining with soul, you should definitely give Romulus a try.

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars.

Romulus Vol. 1 Trade Paperback is written by Bryan Hill with art by Nelson Blake II, and you can find the official description below.

Our world isn't free. All of us, for generations, have lived under the secret control of The Ancient Order of Romulus. One young woman, raised by them, trained by them, betrayed by them, must push through her fear to take a stand against the silent evil that masters our world. Her name is Ashlar, and her war begins with the brutal first chapter of the new Image series ROMULUS, from writer BRYAN HILL (POSTAL) and artist NELSON BLAKE II (MAGDELENA). Collects ROMULUS #1-4

Romulus Vol. 1 is in stores now for $16.99 in print and $9.99 on digital.

Romulus-Vol-1-Cover
(Photo: Image Comics)
prevnext
0comments
Start the Conversation

of