Comic Book Reviews for This Week: 9/20/2023

DC #1

BATMAN/SUPERMAN: WORLD'S FINEST #19

The conclusion of the latest flashback arc feels like the series' weakest to date, but that doesn't stop it from still being one of the best books that DC Comics is printing in the superhero world today. Jax-Ur's monologue tends to fall flat though the chemistry between the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel still shines bright here. The conclusion also sets the stage for a future storyline arriving next year, which takes some of the bite from the current arc. The latest arc doesn't quite stick the landing in comparison to what has come before, but it was simply an exceptionally high bar to cross and the series remains some of the best of what the superhero genre has to offer. -- Evan Valentine

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

BATMAN: WHITE KNIGHT PRESENTS – GENERATION JOKER #5

Throughout Generation Joker #5 the most consequential visual elements consistently fail to land on the page. As the issue opens with Harley and Jack's children flying through the air at the end of an explosive car chase, it's difficult to discern where they are moving or how quickly. The result is a chaotic set of pages where the end result is clear but the sequence can hardly be appreciated. Much of the issue is devoted to connecting dots and moving characters into place for the finale. Threats between competing parties summon a figment of tension before being quickly dissipated, often by a child making an obvious point in dialogue. That all of this staging is grounded in flashbacks, lore from prior White Knight-related series, and the final appearance of a character completely detached from the story at hand makes the entire affair seem underwhelming – a story constructed with little genuine emotion or excitement, thankfully arriving at its end next month. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 1.5 out of 5

CATWOMAN #57

Despite the incredibly-contrived journey it took to set up "The Gotham War," this installment ups the ante in some meaningful and successful ways. From the first page to the last, Tini Howard's script dives further into Selina's motivation in this unique conflict, which vastly overshadows the frenetic action and interpersonal conflicts of the issue. Veronica Gandini's color work especially stands out amid Nico Leon's angular and lively art. All in all, this sets a slightly-higher bar for what the rest of this event has in store. -- Jenna Anderson

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

CYBORG #3

If you aren't reading Cyborg, you're doing yourself a disservice. Cyborg #3 continues its compelling and fascinating plot that combines the past of Silas Stone with technology and transhumanism with an unsettling and horrifying twist that, in this issue, sees Cyborg teaming up with the digital double of his late father to try to liberate others while also dealing with the tech genius, Markus, behind it all who is turning out to be a sinister figure. Not only has Morgan Hampton created a genuinely original and engaging story, he's doing some incredible character work here with both Silas and Cyborg that balances the psychological and the physical. The art is pretty solid, too. It's an outstanding issue with only one drawback: I wish there was more. -- Nicole Drum

Rating: 5 out of 5

GREEN LANTERN: WAR JOURNAL #1

John Stewart is arguably the most popular Lantern in the pop culture world and so him receiving his own comic book series once again seems like a slam dunk. Luckily, Stewart is given a rather interesting hook to work with in his premiere issue as the Green Lantern Corps is a quite different regime these days. As John attempts to find himself, he finds himself harassed by a new ring wielder as an interesting B-Plot plays out in the stars. War Journal feels like a great new introduction to John Stewart while working with a new status quo for the Lanterns that ups the ante for the superhero. -- Evan Valentine

Rating: 4 out of 5

HARLEY QUINN: BLACK + WHITE + REDDER #3

Harley Quinn: Black, White, and Redder #3 is solid in every sense. Not only does this issue have some great stories and inventive art, but it might be some of the best Harley stories across the board. Gail Simone kicks things off with "Deeply Strange Adventures" and not only is it a fun and unexpected trip to Rann, but Simone perfectly and playfully skewers Tom King's Heroes in Crisis and Strange Adventures. The second story, "Stacked Deck" from Chris Condon and Jacob Phillips is unlike anything we've really seen with Harley, but it is a deftly crafted dark psychological take on the character that has been sorely missing for a long time. The third story, "The Rebound" from Aditya Bidikar and Juni Ba is just full stop adorable. This whole issue is inventive and balanced and is some of the best Harley we've ever gotten. More like this, please. -- Nicole Drum

Rating: 5 out of 5

DC #2

HAWKGIRL #3

Now halfway through its run, Hawkgirl is starting to feel like a story that doesn't know what it wants to be. Axelrod manages to inject some stellar character moments throughout this third issue, only for the plot to largely be a carbon copy of the first two issues. It's the same thing once again and worse yet, the story forces itself to feature DC's most popular characters when it shines best when it focuses on Hawkgirl and Hawkgirl only. -- Adam Barnhardt

Rating: 3 out of 5

NIGHTWING #106

After a surprisingly long wait, an all-new story arc begins here in Nightwing #106 as Tom Taylor plots a new tale featuring Blüdhaven's own superhero. Stephen Byrne steps into the role of artist here and fortunately for us all, the artist's style isn't too different from that of his predecessor Bruno Redondo. Taylor heads back to the days of Nightwing's previous creative team with this new arc, bringing characters and lingering plot threads from then and pushing them into the spotlight here. It's a risk brining much of that stuff back given how stale it ran, but let's see what this new team can with it. -- Adam Barnhardt

Rating: 4 out of 5

SUPERMAN #6

Superman's highly anticipated new arc "The Chained" kicks off in Superman #6, and it was well worth the wait. Writer Joshua Williamson picks up from the shocking cliffhanger of issue #5, and things take a swerve that forces Superman into unfamiliar territory. One of the most intriguing aspects of Supercorp has been Superman's hesitation in embracing it contrasted with how helpful and positive it's repeatedly been shown to be. That continues in issue #6, and one of the clear benefits of that effort and investment is the relationship between Superman and Mercy. As for The Chained, he makes one hell of a first impression, and the seeds of intrigue are already starting to produce results. Series artist Jamal Campbell isn't at the helm this time, but artist Gleb Melnikov, colorist Alejandro Sanchez, and letterer Ariana Maher do a stellar job of keeping the series' overall tone while adding their own style and flair. Their work shines brightest in the book's darker moments towards the end of the issue, which are simply fantastic and have the added benefit of presenting The Chained as a legitimate threat to Superman. Superman fans are pretty spoiled right now, and you will not see me complaining about that one bit. -- Matthew Aguilar

Rating: 5 out of 5

TITANS #3

Titans is simultaneously grounded superhero fun and supernatural satanic insanity. Taylor has crafted a spooky mystery fueled by the occult while throwing a light coat of capes and tights on it to tidy it up a bit. Between the Church of Blood and some body horror throughout, Scott's artwork shines particularly bright in an otherwise gloomy, dark issue. -- Adam Barnhardt

Rating: 4 out of 5

THE VIGIL #5

The Vigil #5 reveals the secret origins of the team, their secret backer, and the forces arrayed against them; it's the sort of concept that will thrill fans of Morrison or Borges, especially as it takes a set of (relatively) minor superpowered individuals and moves them towards the strangest boundaries of DC Comics. What's conceptually fascinating is not always met by the work depicted on the page. A stunning horror spread depicting a worst-case scenario of teleportation utilizes its layout and concepts well, but the lack of detail and inconcsistent linework throughout the issue struggles to consistently reach that profound mood. The sense of horror is absolutely vital to an issue in which much of the space is devoted to pure exposition, revealing the truth behind all things in this narrative. There is an idea that arrives by the end that everything until this point has been uncontextualized prologue and, given that this is issue 5 of 6, saving that big of a surprise for so long may serve to undermine the whole affair. The Vigil #6 will decide whether this miniseries stands out as one of DC's most ambitious additions in 2023 or an interesting effort that couldn't quite stick the landing. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

WONDER WOMAN #1

[READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE]

Wonder Woman #1 has potential in that it's a departure from what readers have seen across more recent runs on the title. By taking on the sociopolitical climate surrounding immigration, there's an opportunity to explore our shared humanity and values. Unfortunately, even in the first issue some of King's standard weaknesses are present with a top-loaded story that is heavy on narration with plenty of telling-not-showing, the recycling of a previous (and problematic) story, and the distortion of existing characters to fit a theme rather than writing a story that stems from the characters being written. It is all in furtherance of what feels like a too lofty goal that doesn't have a clear path forward. The only saving grace is the artwork, which is outstanding. Wonder Woman #1 is a comic book likely to be of great appeal to King fans but it is already showing signs of falling short of servicing the character whose name is on the cover and remains strangely absent from its pages. -- Nicole Drum

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Marvel #1

ALPHA FLIGHT #2

While I'm not a super huge fan of, well, any of the current X-related stories, there's a good bit of important storytelling in Alpha Flight #2. Brisson does a great job of showing the challenge that Alpha Flight finds themselves facing as they try to navigate the dangerous anti-mutant world they are in and the demands their government is placing on them with the choice of how to act to best save as many mutants as possible without compromising their ability to do so. While there are moments where it feels like parts of this issue just don't connect or are a little rushed, there's a lot of tension and emotion that comes across. Things definitely take an unexpected turn in the issue which is enough to keep the interest and story moving forward. It's a decent issue, though the pacing does make one wonder if this story might be better suited for a collection rather than an issue by issue story. -- Nicole Drum

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #34

Spider-Man cuts loose in a rampage worthy of the Green Goblin-ego now inhabiting his psyche as he seeks out supervillains and ex-girlfriends alike for some violent catharsis. With Peter Parker temporarily holding the role of villain in Amazing Spider-Man, the series' focus shifts to its supporting casts and current antagonists with Norman, Kraven, and others responding to a sincerely terrifying vision of Spider-Man. Patrick Gleason's redesign of the classic black costume makes the typically lithe figure appear daunting; Gleason often obscures much of Spider-Man's form to build tension and their use of shadows and black backgrounds throughout the issue create a potent atmosphere. It also goes to show just how far many figures in the supporting cast have grown with both Norman and Mary Jane's responses reflecting just how critical they remain to the narrative while occupying radically different roles. This inversion of "Kraven's Last Hunt" continues to be one of the most impressive twists on Spidey lore in recent memory and one that bolsters minor villains, like the new Kraven clone and Goblin Queen, to far more interesting positions. If Amazing Spider-Man can sustain this energy, it's well on its way to producing another classic storyline for Marvel's flagship series. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

CAPTAIN AMERICA #1

[READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE]

Captain America #1 teases a promising new exploration of Steve Rogers, which should be worthwhile for the beloved character's fanbase. If it wants to actually achieve anything new or interesting, though, there's still a lot of work to be done. For now, it's spending too much time talking about stories and not nearly enough time actually telling one. -- Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

CULT OF CARNAGE: MISERY #5

The final issue of Misery wraps up all of the miniseries threads in a fashion that feels anything but climactic. Liz Allen's final action sequence relies on an obvious solution that has been present from the story's start, while Spider-Man's inclusion never creates any sense of tension as he battles against the lowest rung of villainy imaginable. When the smoke settles, there's little in the way of advancement and the status quo addressed at the start of "Carnage Reigns" remains largely intact, with the only threat to a shift in the Osborn family comfortably tucked away in a coma. The action and plot advancement are plainly told, but there's too little meat on the bones of a miniseries focused on tertiary Amazing Spider-Man characters to make even that mundane delivery worth much attention for all but die-hard fans. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 2 out of 5

DARK X-MEN #2

The Dark X-Men creative team is doing a commendable job of applying horror genre stylistic touches to a Marvel superhero story. It's obvious in Jonas Scharf and Frank Martin's artwork, with its heavy shadows and dark color palette applied to moments of body horror and infernal imagery. It there's in the text as well, as Steve Foxe uses the narration to set the oppressive mood, and sprinkles the dialogue with turns of phrases like "coppery heat" to describe the consumption of blood and flesh. The focus on mood results in a sluggish pace of the plot—much of Dark X-Men #2 is spent on bickering between teammates and the filling in of backstories—but it's a worthwhile tradeoff when the mood is apple this well. -- Jamie Lovett

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

DEADPOOL: BADDER BLOOD #4

Badder Blood #5 sees Deadpool finally (thankfully) escape the Killville subplot and sets his sights on another climactic fight to try and find Thumper alongside Wolverine, Venompool, and Spider-Man. While the latest band of rogues is starting to resemble a Youngblood comic (I'm fairly certain the leader of the group was from the original Youngblood #1), I'm just glad we're out of that virtual world subplot. -- Connor Casey

Rating: 3 out of 5

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY #6

This isn't just the best issue of Guardians of the Galaxy yet, it might be the best Marvel issue I have read all year. Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing's script delivers one beautiful, earnest gut-punch after another, while still harnessing the root of what makes the group such a meaningful and essential part of the Marvel mythos. Alex Lins' art is a scrappy, pulpy accent to that script, brilliantly accented by KJ Diaz's shades of blues and golds. This issue was nothing short of breathtaking. -- Jenna Anderson

Rating: 5 out of 5

LOKI #4

My biggest complaint regarding this Loki miniseries is that, even with this excellent ending, I'm genuinely sad that it's over. This finale issue pits the God of Mischief against one of his most unlikely villains as of late, Bullseye, in a conflict that Dan Watters' script has some clever, poignant fun with. German Peralta's art blends the surreal with the superheroic in some inspired ways, especially with Mike Spicer's gorgeous colors. Now that it's all said and done, this Loki miniseries is a fascinating bridge between who Loki has been, and who he just might become in the Marvel mythos next. -- Jenna Anderson

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

PREDATOR VS. ALIEN #1

It only makes sense that superstar Wolverine scribe Benjamin Percy would pen the crossover battle fans have waited years for, and he doesn't disappoint. A murderer's row of artists handle the duties of this first issue with Ken Lashley drawing one time period, Greg Land with inker Jay Leisten working in another and Andrea Di Vito bringing to life the third. Lashley's is the best of the bunch, though sadly only lasts a few pages, while the Greg Land portion of the story is the bulk of the issue, complete with the trademark problems that have plagued Land's style for years. Things are left in an intriguing place for the remaining issues of Predator vs. Wolverine, and as long as they can get the visuals in a fun place for the rest of the story (and complete Ken Lashley's part of the narrative) it's looking like a big win for Marvel. -- Spencer Perry

Rating: 4 out of 5

Marvel #2

STAR WARS: BOUNTY HUNTERS #38

As the bounty hunters await updates on Valance possibly having his memory restored, a flashback shows that the space station they are on has a history with General Grievous, proving that the station's inhabitants are devoted to their mission, even when up against a threat like Grievous. Between the bounty hunters waiting for Valance, glimpses of Valance's "repairs," Zuckuss and 4-LOM confronting a droid army, and Grievous flashbacks, we're given many glimpses and fragments of a variety of stories, none of which are particularly engaging yet aren't necessarily throttling the overall story. The whole Dark Droids event sprawling across Star Wars comics has been more superficial than other events, leaning into a conceptual spectacle as opposed to a galaxy-defining landmark, so this issue and its fragmented story just cement some pieces into specific places to possibly lead towards a more fulfilling future. It's not bad, but it's not great, though this chapter in the saga could prove to be a necessary stepping stone to something larger. -- Patrick Cavanaugh

Rating: 3 out of 5

STAR WARS: DARK DROIDS – D-SQUAD #1

Serving somewhat as a spinoff from the overall Dark Droids event, readers learn what happened to R2-D2 after a Scourge-infected C-3PO launched him into space. R2 is still on a quest to save his friend, with his mission seeing him collide with a number of other beloved droids. In addition to plating the seed of droids rebelling against the Dark Droids who have already begun their own rebellion, the book concludes with more insight into how the "Scourge" started in the first place, as the droid Ajax questions both his motivations and his methods. The portions of the book focusing on R2-D2 were delightful and allowed for some highly entertaining exchanges between familiar droids, while also setting the stage for the D-Squad of droids to be significant figures in this crossover event. While this narrative was entertaining from a superficial level, the concluding story that uncovered more elements of Ajax's backstory then added more gravitas to everything going on across almost all Star Wars books. As surprising as it might sound, D-Squad might be the most entertaining issue we've gotten yet in the Dark Droids event. -- Patrick Cavanaugh

Rating: 4 out of 5

STRANGE ACADEMY: MOON KNIGHT #1

Writer Carlos Hernandez has a lot to work with in this second part of this Strange Academy crossover, deftly expounding on its larger plot for potential newcomers while also pushing things forward and making sure that the title hero has something to do. It's not always successful, but the bar it's aiming for isn't a multiverse re-writing crossover event, it's a simpler, fun one. Artist Julian Shaw, and colorist Edgar Delgado, have a fun opportunity with the action beats in this one, though sometimes their visuals are overcrowded by some wordy balloons. -- Spencer Perry

Rating: 3 out of 5

UNCANNY AVENGERS #2

The latest issue of Uncanny Avengers partially addresses the criticisms I had of its first issue, if it can really handle the fallout of the Hellfire Gala in a meaningful way. That answer is still unclear but at least the question itself is becoming a narrative point for the entire series. Series artist Javier Garrón is tasked with an issue that has minimal action beats compared to the first, but manages to make his visual style flourish (with help from colorist Morry Hollowell) even when a bulk of the panels are simple dialogue exchanges between parties that aren't moving. There's still promise here, and also some suspicion on my part. -- Spencer Perry

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

UNCANNY SPIDER-MAN #1

Uncanny Spider-Man #1 walks a fine line between its shared premises as the debut establishes Nightcrawler as someone exceedingly well-suited to Spider-Man's lifestyle as beloved neighborhood hero and addresses the anti-mutant bigotry that has compelled him to hide behind a mask. Spurrier's version of Nightcrawler remains both charming and relatable with his own take on Spidey's trademark humor and reflections on the poor state of mutant affairs in the wake of Hellfire Gala 2023 that offer insight beyond summary. Artist Lee Garbett captures the high-velocity action of Nightcrawler's constant teleportation combined with a flashing blade and swinging tail wonderfully. There's a sense of chaos within the many "BAMF"s on the page that makes clear how disorienting and effective he can be when tackling a wide array of foes. The use of message boards and mundane interactions with citizens, thieves, and New York City's unhoused develop important understandings about Nightcrawler's new status quo and place readers in his new footies when casual hatred hits home. Uncanny Spider-Man #1 is an excellent debut for the rare Nightcrawler solo series – one that weds the character's intrinsic joy with the tragic optimism he must possess in a world filled by so many shadows. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 4 out of 5

WHAT IF...? DARK: CARNAGE #1

What if…? Dark: Carnage #1 is really more of a "but why, though?" This issue has a lot going on in it and unfortunately while the idea of "what if Cortland Kasady became Carnage" is interesting, this book doesn't exactly explore that nor does it even make any sense while trying to not explore that. There's just page after page of weird trip into the bowels of Ravencroft that seems more like a bad acid trip, some bumbling staff, a lot of not great art, and a whole lot of hard to follow story and hard to read lettering. Even reading the issue three times I'm still not sure I could tell you what was going on other than something that feels like the comic equivalent of throwing every random idea at the wall and letting it all just slide down and calling that the story. It's just very weird. -- Nicole Drum

Rating: 1.5 out of 5

WOLVERINE #37

Benjamin Percy's delightfully gruesome Wolverine run is back with issue #37, dropping Logan right in the middle of the "Fall of X" drama. But first he has some unfinished business to attend to as three of the underdeveloped Wolverine clones Beast created managed to escape the X-Force thwarting his plan. Logan goes on the hunt to put all three out of their misery, only to find that they've each been lured to signature places from his past – his childhood home, Japan and Madripoor. This alone would've made for a fun arc across a few issues, but they still manage to tackle the various aspects of Wolverine's decades as a solo character in just one book. It's a fun ride, but don't let The Hulk's billing on the cover distract you, he's not much more than a distraction. -- Connor Casey

Rating: 4 out of 5

X-MEN ANNUAL #1

X-Men Annual #1 is a superhero comics tale nearly as old as the genre. Take two heroes—Cyclops and Captain Marvel in this instance—add one misunderstanding exacerbated by aggression, and watch the fireworks. However, it isn't a good version of that formula. The cartoonishly exaggerated artwork pushes the simple premise to the point of feeling silly, while the way the conflict plays out is dull and stretches the boundaries of believability. The narration goes out of its way to paint Scott and Carol as opposites, Cyclops being a cerebral tactician when Captain Marvel approaches problems fists first. However, that contrast doesn't show in how the fight plays out. Cyke meets Cap's aggression with more unthinking aggression, at least until his final gambit, which is only marginally more clever. Meanwhile, Cap lays into Cyclops hard enough to tear up a sidewalk, and the mutant—a normal, if physically fit, person aside from those eyebeams—shrugs off the damage with seemingly no repercussions. It feels like there's a disconnect between the story the creators think they're telling and the story that appears on the page, and I'm not entirely sure they envisioned the same one to begin with. -- Jamie Lovett

Rating: 1.5 out of 5

Other Publishers #1

ANTARCTICA #3

When Antarctica works, it really works. The couple of characters we've actually gotten to know are engaging. There's so much bubbling underneath the surface that you can't help but be excited to find out what happens next. But that excitement is sometimes bogged down by an exhausting narrative that doesn't always know where it wants to go or what's actually important. A little more focus and this story would soar. -- Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 3 out of 5

THE BLACKOUT BOMBSHELL #1

The Blackout Bombshell is a new pulp detective comic about a detective and lawyer with messy personal lives and a penchant for finding even bigger messes. When Jack Atlas wakes up from a particularly terrible blackout drinking session, he discovers that he's taken on a case… and that case immediately shows up to try to kill him. He's joined by Casper Fitzpatrick, a lawyer with a mistress and seems to be the reluctant straight man to Atlas's brand of sloppy justice. Writer Louis Southard and artist Dean Kotz deliver a strong opening issue, bringing a fun spin on the hardboiled detective that's perhaps not too unique but is still fun to watch as he stumbles through an intriguing new case. -- Christian Hoffer

Rating: 4 out of 5

BLACK'S MYTH: THE KEY TO HIS HEART #4

Black's Myth remains the pinnacle of what Ahoy as a comic company has been putting out, and the creative team was able to weave quite the story in The Key To His Heart. Palicki and Cavalcanti have sharpened what might have been a little dull in the first series and improved upon it, expanding the supernatural world. Black's Myth takes the opportunity to sprinkle in new revelations while ending with quite the cliffhanger for its penultimate issue. Here's hoping that Black's Myth has a long future ahead of it at Ahoy as the universe of Strummer and her fellow detectives clearly have a vast, interesting universe to explore. -- Evan Valentine

Rating: 4 out of 5

THE BONE ORCHARD MYTHOS: TENEMENT #4

Like so many other issues in the larger Bone Orchard Mythos collection, Tenement #4 is at its best when its wild horror moments come to the forefront. Some genuinely chilling moments happen in Jeff Lemiere and Andrea Sorrentino's latest, with colorist Dave Stewart's contributions clearly helping in some wordless panels, but overall the biggest problem of this chapter remains that its characters feel distant and often unknowable. The series remains a great one to read and look at, but it doesn't quite reach the heights of other Lemire/Sorrentino collaborations. -- Spencer Perry

Rating: 3 out of 5

CHILLING ADVENTURES PRESENTS... MADAM SATAN: HELL ON EARTH #1

The spooky season is upon us, and Chilling Adventures Presents... Madam Satan: Hell On Earth #1 is embracing its best. From ghouls to devils and blood sacrifices, this first issue sends our leads for a loop as they discover the supernatural is just a stone's throw away. So if you are looking for a creep-tastic read this October, Archie is prepping the perfect series for you. -- Megan Peters

Rating: 4 out of 5

DUNE: HOUSE HARKONNEN #9

As Dune: House Harknonnen enters its final act, events quickly expand in scope and scale as past mistreatment and plotting leads to some explosive revelations in this issue. It serves to improve upon the series' model of quickly rotating vignettes summarizing its source material as each new event is eye-catching in its own right, whether it's the speaking of prophecy from a mummified half-corpse or a heist of planetary wealth. The most extreme elements are depicted in fine fashion with plenty of attention to detail delivering several memorable panels throughout. Some less specific elements, like hints about foul science experiments lack the nuance often delivered in a novel and offer readers next to nothing by hiding visions of whatever unspeakable elements are just out of sight. While characters remain largely two-dimensional and the prelude reliance upon reader knowledge of Dune continue to hinder the overall series, Dune: House Harknonnen #9 provides some of the best adapted elements from the comic book to date. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 3 out of 5

Other Publishers #2

EARTHDIVERS #10

It's not often you see a comic where the lettering is the best part of it all, but Steve Wands' work within Earthdivers #10 is substantially better than the story at hand. As with issues passed, the time-traveling plot whips readers around in a horrifyingly jarring manner almost to a nauseating effect. -- Adam Barnhardt

Rating: 2 out of 5

FISHFLIES #2

It's easy to try and guess what Jeff Lemire is doing with Fishflies. By the end of the second issue our killer has fully transformed into a massive fishfly and seems to be getting along well enough with Franny in a "a girl and her monster" kind of way. But there's a level of uneasiness the books never lets go of. Maybe it's the pages of silent panels. Maybe it's the sketchbook art style. Maybe it's the dream sequences. Or maybe it's just that our main character can't stop her nose from running and nearly all of her dialogue bubbles are punctuated by a sniff. Perhaps it's all the above. Fishflies #2 isn't quite as gripping as the miniseries' opener, but it's still every bit as unnerving. -- Connor Casey

Rating: 3 out of 5

THE FORGED #4

The Forged continues to be a storytelling marvel as Rucka, Trautmann, and Henderson continue their military space epic. Ultimately spreading itself too thin over the past two issues, The Forged #4 hones in on Vic, finally giving the lead protagonist plenty of time in the spotlight, which gives readers enough time to see what makes the character click. Though this team continues to afford a lot of world-building to back-up prose, the comic itself is still a sci-fi delight. -- Adam Barnhardt

Rating: 4 out of 5

GARGOYLES: DARK AGES #3

Gargoyles: Dark Ages #3 is a lot of things, and boring most certainly isn't one of them. Weisman's script choppily moves along, jerking from one scene to the next at a record pace in an effort to get as much as possible within the pages of this one issue. There's little time for readers to take a breath as one moment after another is thrust into sight. Unfortunately for the title, the result is a rough comic that appears to not know what it wants. -- Adam Barnhardt

Rating: 3 out of 5

GRIM #13

Grim #13 is truly the Marcel show in a number of ways, and all of them are quite fascinating. Marcel comes to face to face with the pain, tragedy, and regret of his mortal life, though he's ill-prepared to be confronted by it in such a harrowing way. Writer Stephanie Phillips paints a vivid and heartbreaking picture of Marcel's life with Henri, and there are some difficult truths that come to light. Flaviano and Rico Renzi's stellar artwork captures your attention at every turn, bringing the sense of love and loss to light throughout the book's three acts. I'm eager to see where Marcel's story of bitter truths and self reflection takes him, and I think fans of the series will find this Interlude well worth their time. -- Matthew Aguilar

Rating: 4 out of 5

HAUNT YOU TO THE END #4

With only one issue left to go, the storm finally prepares to hit Isla Lodo and the remaining crew involved in this supernatural expedition fracture. While the pressure applied by ghostly visions and strange deaths is obvious on the page, the actual nature of the event is far from clear. There's a great deal of talk about Gersh, but her reappearance in this issue is only frightening in the abstract as something inexplicable. With attention divided between very real crimes against humanity, a priest's rantings, and various other facets of the mysterious island, the nature of the threat being confronted remains ambiguous. That's a problem for the overall miniseries; each distinct sequence functions well enough independently with frightening artwork from Andrea Mutti, but they fail to cohere and create a sense of overall momentum. Naming and describing the stakes ahead in the finale is a difficult task, which says a great deal about the structural flaws in Haunt You to the End. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 2 out of 5

Other Publishers #3

IMMORTAL SERGEANT #9

It only took me the better part of a full year to believe, but Immortal Sergeant #9 sticks the landing--and it sticks the landing hard. Though much of the title was a miserable story featuring a miserable man, that miserable man eventually shows us the reasons why he is the way he is. It's definitely a slog to get through at first, but Immortal Sergeant #9 isn't only the brightest part of this story, but it's an epic endcap to a human-driven story. -- Adam Barnhardt

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

IN HELL WE FIGHT #4

Much of In Hell We Fight #4 is dedicated to non-chronological flashes of what's still to come, which is troublesome in a series already struggling to make its straightforward plotting compelling. As the angel takes over the narrative captions, readers are provided some portents of what the future holds thanks to her foresight, but that blunt foreshadowing isn't terribly foreboding given the thinness of characters on display. Amidst a battle against fearsome demonic giants, there's an abundance of expository dialogue explaining more about the nature of Hell – information that would have been useful several issues earlier and that only serves to undermine any excitement from the action packed between word balloons. There are new twists and cliffhangers to be found, but when tied to such a flimsy comedy tale that regularly fails to deliver any laughs, it's difficult to find a thread of interest anywhere in In Hell We Fight #4. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 1.5 out of 5

JACK KIRBY'S STAR WARRIORS: THE ADVENTURES OF ADAM STARR AND THE SOLAR LEGION #1

Jack Kirby's Starr Warriors: The Adventures of Adam Starr and the Solar Legion #1 is an odd comic book. Even before creating a comic book biography of Kirby, Tom Scioli's entire career has stood as an homage to the late "King" of comics. If anyone is going to "remix" Kirby's early work, as he's credited here, then Scioli seems like the person to do it. However, this updated release of Solar Legion -- the first comics work that Jack Kirby produced under that name, and only 22 at the time -- makes bold claims toward imagining a version of the world where Joe Simon didn't entice Kirby into a partnership with the promise of better paying work and instead of continued to go it alone as a solo cartoonist. There are glimpses of what would come later in Kirby's Fourth World saga within Adam Starr, particularly the subtle worldbuilding casually sprinkled throughout, particularly regarding the various cultures that inhabit the solar system. However, while it's hard to tell how much Scioli has changed without the original work to compare it to, the finished product hardly feels like a fully formed vision of what might have been. The young Kirby's storytelling is simplistic compared to what would come later, using two panels on a page despite the backup story's limited space. Scioli has also stripped the original colors from Kirby's work and replaced them with a two-toned look more aligned with Scioli's comics. The choice distances this version of Adam Starr from Kirby, making most of the page feel unused and without purpose, looking like something a bored student has scrawled in their notebook. That's a style not without its charms, but it's a questionable fit here, turning the pricey book into a strange curio for the Kirby collector. -- Jamie Lovett

Rating: 3 out of 5

JUNIOR BAKER RIGHTEOUS FAKER #1

This is quite the trippy read, and one that will have you thinking about your own existence more than you're probably comfortable with. But that's what Junior Baker Righteous Faker is all about, being open to the parts of our reality we choose to look past on a regular basis. Like its story, the comic book's art also explores how it can break the rules, resulting in an exciting adventure whenever you flip a page. -- Charlie Ridgely

Rating: 4 out of 5

KAYA #11

Kaya #11 draws the series' second arc to a close in a resounding battle populated by robots, mutants, lizard-folk, and new magic. Readers already familiar with Wes Craig's style and work on this particular series will understand the immense promise entailed in that brief summary and Craig certainly delivers upon it throughout the issue. Once the various factions converge, events move very quickly as Craig utilizes multi-tiered spreads detailing multiple perspectives and actions without ever slowing the pace of action. It's a relentless fury that reveals new depths of the characters involved as they summon new bravery and talents, alike. Everything about "Book Two" has taken what worked in the first arc and doubled down upon the most successful elements, producing a climax readers won't soon forget. Yet like "Book One," this conclusion offers a bittersweet set of understandings in a complex world where no victory is permanent. The final, few moments are soft, sweet, and sometimes sad, but Craig is every bit as capable of detailing emotion on the page and setting the stage for a long run to come filled with action, adventure, and genuine, heart-stirring drama. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

KILLER QUEENS 2: KINGS, NOT WINGS #2

Killer Queens 2: Kings, Not Wings #2 goes live this week with plenty of action and little more. As our heroes find themselves captured by hostile forces, this week's issue does little but explore their escape strategy. The update is nothing else but filler, but for fans of the sci-fi thriller, the action alone will be enough to keep them engaged. -- Megan Peters

Rating: 3 out of 5

Other Publishers #4

KLIK KLIK BOOM #4

Heartwarming, charming, deeply personal, and down right gorgeous. Throw all the buzzwords you can at Klik Klik Boom because this story deserves it. The fourth issue, despite featuring a bizarre (and one-dimensional) villain, is a masterclass in dynamic character work, with Wagner and Dabbs teaming up for an excellent exploration of Serena Biggs. -- Adam Barnhardt

Rating: 5 out of 5

THE LONESOME HUNTERS: THE WOLF CHILD #3

The Lonesome Hunters: The Wolf Child #3 flies by. Outside of a quick flashback scene and a brief conversation amongst the church members/ assassins, the entire book centers around Howard and Lupe trying to help the injured wolf mother of the titular child. The scene initially ends in tragedy, but it's immediately followed by a visual so insane you'd think it was straight out of a Norse myth. I wouldn't dare spoil the surprise since putting it in words won't do it justice. -- Connor Casey

Rating: 4 out of 5

MONARCH #6

Monarch #6 feels like somebody at Image slammed the "Wrap It Up" button on the comic. The subplot surrounding Todd proves to have been little more than a distraction. Many of the esoteric questions about existence are pushed to the side. And, perhaps most frustratingly, most of the jaw-dropping consequences from the early issues are reversed and the reader is quickly shoved into a rushed happy ending. This comic was simply outstanding at times but felt like it was just starting a much bigger story. -- Connor Casey

Rating: 3 out of 5

NOCTERRA #16

The "No Brakes" story wraps up this week with a character-driven issue that, ironically given its name, starts off pretty slow, with a couple of pages of exposition before we're dumped back into the hellish reality of the modern day. When it does, the action explodes onto the page with a suitably "loud" double-page splash that shows off three different kinds of cool stuff that Tony Daniel has been drawing in this series. Ultimately, there is something just this side of a holy war in the final pages, and in the end, you're left with the distinct impression that something—if not the series, then its first iteration—is truly over now. Scott Snyder promises otherwise in a letter at the back of the book, but certainly it seems like when Nocterra returns, it's going to be a very different look and feel. The art was strong, balancing chaotic crowd fights successfully, and the dialogue and conclusion were all sharp. There were some pacing issues around the middle, but it's overall a strong ending to "No Brakes," and it will be exciting to see where the world goes next. -- Russ Burlingame

Rating: 4 out of 5

PATHFINDER: WAKE THE DEAD #3

Pathfinder: Wake the Dead continues the makeshift party's haphazard journey into the Mana Wastes, where they encounter all manner of strange necromantic forces and wild magic that is always trying to harm the party. While the sheer number of horrific traps and monsters were fun to see, the artwork by Eman Casallos was particularly stiff and lifeless at times, to the point that it was a distraction. The comic feels very unfocused and stiff and is starting to lose steam. -- Christian Hoffer

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

RARE FLAVOURS #1

[READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE]

Throughout Rare Flavours #1 there is an undercurrent of memory played out in both the creation of food and capture of film. Rubin reflects on their millennia-long path; Mohan is reminded of his very first, and most precious, film; Satish carries the memory of home in his tea. Different forms of art connect characters to their past and work to reveal both comfort and ominous secrets. Whatever path lies ahead for the humans, rakshasa, and other mythical beings involved, this debut makes clear that it takes its subject matter, food, very seriously. With wondrous depictions of simple recipes, deep-seated emotional experiences, and a sense of wonder at the mundane, it summons an odyssey of memory bound to remind readers of the most profound flavors from their own past. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 5 out of 5

Other Publishers #5

RED SONJA #3

Red Sonja's latest crusade unfolds in an equal measure of compelling and convoluted, further expanding on her quest for better or for worse. Despite the overwhelming amount of exposition this issue has to deal with, Torunn Grønbekk's script has just enough heart and whimsy to keep the ball rolling. Walter Geovani's art is better in some panels than in others, especially with regards to facial expressions and body anatomy. But overall, just enough of this issue works to keep me curious for what's next for Red Sonja. -- Jenna Anderson

Rating: 3 out of 5

SAGA #66

It felt like Saga was building to something special given the series' first-ever unannounced delays in the months between Saga #65 capped off the narratives surrounding both Alanna and The Will in the current arc. And Saga has trained readers very well to expect monumental and tragic changes in sixth issues. When readers recognize the elements at play in this particular issue, there will be plenty of expectations that summon a mood of absolute dread and an abundance of tension. Brian K. Vaughan plays against those expectations with every page turn as he leads both the issue's primary point of view and readers down a rabbit hole. Those who resist the urge to flip ahead will be rewarded with reversals and one of the most intriguing final pages in Saga so far. Whether or not the new concepts introduced in this issue will pay off is a story likely years ahead of us, but the introduction makes the sort of bold promise that originally set Saga on the map and promises that the series still has plenty of good road to travel. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

SAVAGE SQUAD 6 #3

We're now at issue three and every character is dead sans one. Ultimately, the deaths simply feel unearned as readers have not had any time to truly get to know these paper-thin characters. While the idea of giant radioactive wolves stalking a radiated countryside is a novel one, Savage Squad 6 is unable to instill any true terror and tension with this fact. This issue effectively feels like it attempts to give each character their own "badass swan song" but they all fall flat. Savage Squad 6 is an easy one to avoid that is riddled with problems and fails to justify its existence when all is said and done. -- Evan Valentine

Rating: 1.5 out of 5

SCRAPPER #3

Scrapper continues to be a solid comic, but Scrapper #3 doesn't quite hit the way the previous two issues did. Our hero dog Scrapper now has allies and gains a better understanding of his collar and its workings, but rather than take a more prudent and measured approach to their next move against SMITE, they go full bore into a mission with disastrous result. It feels a bit rushed and more than that, the SMITE bad guy feels a little bit like a mustache twirling villain. Still, the story is intriguing and even if there are some sad moments (including a particularly distressing piece of information about cats) you'll want to keep going to see if Scrapper finally gets his day. -- Nicole Drum

Rating: 3 out of 5

SIRENS OF THE CITY #3

Sirens of the City #3 carries on its delicious tale of supernatural secrecy this week. As forces converge on Layla, she must navigate her own heritage and history if she wants to survive. And just when things begin to look bleak, a newcomer will leave fans questioning where Layla will go from here. -- Megan Peters

Rating: 4 out of 5

SOMETHING IS KILLING THE CHILDREN #33

Something is Killing the Children's anticipated showdown is almost here, but the tension and intrigue are already spilling over. Something is Killing the Children #33 brings Cutter and Erica into their final places for what promises to be a vicious final battle, though James Tynion IV also finds ample room to explore Gabi's trauma and the difficult process of working through it. Other possibly important threads with Erica's Totem are also seeded throughout, and every one of those moments pushes the sense of unease further and further thanks to the wonderfully talented team of artist Werther Dell'Edera, colorist Miquel Muerto, and letterer Andworld Design. Erica vs. Cutter was always going to be thrilling, but the attention to detail to everything that surrounds that inevitable collision is shaping up to make it something truly special. -- Matthew Aguilar

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

STRANGER THINGS: TALES FROM HAWKINS #4

One of the most evocative images ahead of Season 2 of Stranger Things was seeing Hopper exploring a pumpkin patch full of rotting gourds, with this installment of the anthology series exploring who that damage directly impacted. After years of friendship, then a falling out, rival pumpkin-patch owners get in over their heads to settle their feud, only to get more than they bargained for in the bizarre town of Hawkins, Indiana. While this might not necessarily be a frightening story, it continues to make good on the theme of the title by shedding new light on Hawkins residents who don't have direct connections to the events of Stranger Things. Given how memorable the October setting of Season 2 of the TV show was, this marked a great opportunity to bring back an overlooked corner of Stranger Things lore while avoiding offering a game-changing reveal that would impact the mainline narrative. Instead, we're given an entertaining and even slightly heartwarming tale about uniting against a bigger threat, while also showcasing the severity of the weirdness in Hawkins and its impact on those who aren't in a direct fight against it. -- Patrick Cavanaugh

Rating: 4 out of 5

Other Publishers #6

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #143

The current arc of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles moves towards its climax as the Turtles and their allies begin patching things up and band together to confront mad scientist Jaspar Barlowe in the city's sewers. The pacing is a little off on the issue as it spends much of its time delving into the dark fantasies of each character, and the artwork is a bit stiff and almost overbearing in the darkness of the sewers and the lightning effects wreathing many of the layouts. However, the nightmarish imagery is affecting. Barlowe's plan is still vague, but whatever it is, it should be interesting to see how the Turtles and company handle him and move into the next chapter of their lives. -- Jamie Lovett

Rating: 3 out of 5

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES X STRANGER THINGS #3

While the first two issues of this series relatively effectively captured the tone, spirit, and voice of the respective franchises, fans have been wondering why these brands were brought together to begin with. Now that we're on the third chapter of this story, it's starting to feel like the collision of brands is the only reason this story was concocted in the first place. All of the connections being drawn between the more otherworldly elements of the Ninja Turtles and the Upside Down from Stranger Things feel convoluted and arbitrarily, making us ask who this series is for? It doesn't seem like there's much about the book that appeals specifically to Stranger Things fans or to Ninja Turtles fans, instead feeling like it was just an opportunity for the publisher to unite the two fandoms if for no reason other than to pique curiosity in readers to purchase the story without having to justify its existence. We won't give up hope on the series just yet, but we're losing hope with each installment that anything fulfilling will come from this crossover. -- Patrick Cavanaugh

Rating: 2 out of 5

TERRORWAR #6

Terrorwar #6 follows its team of characters as they narrate to readers each new horror they discover and how these discoveries relate to the stratified society they occupy. There are no distinct voices amongst a diverse team of individuals and their newest joiner Doctora Z. Rather, they recap information already available and admit all to readily to the next developments of plot. Doctora Z's defense of her own misdeeds is direct and cliched to an eye-rolling extent and one that could seemingly be written by a text generator. Beneath the ploddingly obvious developments of plot spoken into existence, there is a gnarly aesthetic given abundant opportunities to depict mayhem and carnage as the Terrors tear into the city. It's a style that fits well with the premise but can't mitigate the poor execution that structures this issue and series alike. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 2 out of 5

TIME BEFORE TIME #27

Time Before Time #27 feels like it's merely bridging the gap. The issue ends on a pretty major cliffhanger, but otherwise, there's not a ton of note that happens this time around. For the first time in quite a bit, I feel like Time Before Time is beginning to hit a lull. It seems like the next few issues could be quite action-packed, though, so I'm absolutely not writing off this current storyline just yet. -- Logan Moore

Rating: 3 out of 5

WILD'S END #4

In Wild's End #4, INJ Culbard puts on a masterclass in using various layouts, panel shapes, and compositions to achieve the desired effects. In one instance, Culbard uses a series of three tall panels to frame the group physically holding back Roddy from attempting a suicidal rescue of his entranced lover. The panel's composition is almost entirely of negative space, the struggle occurring in the panel's bottom third or quarter. All that space above, empty aside from word balloons, seems to weigh it down, conveying the desperation of the situation and making Roddy's fight feel fruitless. Culbard uses a similar technique to convey the immensity of a wall the group must scale, with the wall occupying the vast majority of each panel, the characters occupying a fraction of that space as they scurry down the wall's face. By contrast, Culbard uses a series of short, wide panels to depict the tension as members of the group attempt to stealthily wade through the mud surrounding their destination without alerting the Martian guards, the panel borders making their bodies vanish as much as the murky liquid in which they've submerged. Abnett more than pulls his weight, giving the old skipper a moment in the sun to reflect on times of crisis and what they mean for the people who unexpectedly find themselves caught in the crosswinds of history. This beautiful, unpretentious, skilled storytelling gives Wild's End its distinct and delectable flavor. -- Jamie Lovett

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

THE WITCHER: WILD ANIMALS #1

Dark Horse Comics' curation of The Witcher as a licensed property has proven to be one of the publisher's most successful recent endeavors. Each new installment captures the tone and mood of the franchise while delving into original stories that maintain the same sorts of mysteries and moral ambiguity that make Geralt of Rivia's adventures consistently thrilling. Wild Animals #1 introduces the story when Geralt is marrooned on an island following circumstances that, once again, suggest the real monsters are more likely to be found amongst humanity than in the wild. It introduces him to an island torn between warring parties in a conflict certain to challenge readers' assumptions. The mystery presented to kick things off are instantly enticing and it is paired with action that moves with the fierce speed and brutality that marks The Witcher across media. Wherever The Witcher: Wild Animals is heading in future chapters, readers may anticipate them without any worry that they're getting anything but the best Witcher story available in comics today. -- Chase Magnett

Rating: 4 out of 5