This marks the third consecutive year that I will attempt to document my comics reading by writing at least a mini-review. The goal is 1200 books read and reviewed in 2023, although I missed the mark in 2022 by 88 books. Still, I like that number as it’s easy enough to track - - - 100 books per month on average. Wish me luck!
# GOAL FOR June 30, 2023. . . 600 comics documented
CURRENT COUNT . . . . . 428 comics documented
#405 QUEEN OF SWORDS #1 by Michael Moreci and Corin Howell (Vault Comics, May 2023) I’ve said this before. A little sword & sorcery / barbarian comics go a long way. Read too many and they stop being exciting. I enjoyed Vault’s BARBARIC mini-series because it was a fresh approach to the genre, both in story and art, and didn’t stray that far from the standard approach.
For those who didn’t take Moreci’s bait before, QUEEN OF SWORDS is a good entry point to see if this excites you. Its’ set in the same Barbaric universe, and reunites the trio of female characters from BARBARIC: HELL TO PAY brought together on a new quest (of course).
The debut issue is 36 pages, which adds enough space to develop the characters further. The friction between them and the banter and quips are what make this a fun read. Also, Corin Howell’s art is especially great, the best I have seen from her and shows a marked progression in her work.
Deadheart the Barbarian is a fierce warrior (like Red Sonja) who wields a sword that contains the talking spirit of Ga’Bar, a smack-talking, sarcastic bigot. Ka is a trained but reluctant Assassin. Serra is a Witch still learning to control her powers. Ka doesn’t trust Serra, and vice versa. Deadheart seems to have a narrow-minded focus, and acts first, thinks second. The backstories are interesting. It could be fun to see where Moreci takes this. FOUR STARS.
#406 AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #27 by Zeb Wells and Ed McGuinness (Marvel Worldwide Inc., August 2023) Disney 100 variant cover. There are two plot-lines in this issue, beginning a new story arc. In the first one, Peter Parker (and also Norman Osborn to a lesser degree) is experiencing deep depression and a fog of inactivity after last issue’s death of a superhero (if you don’t know who by now - I’m not going to spoil it). Not even current girlfriend Black Cat can spring him out of his lousy mood.
I’ve read post mortem issues before following the death of a prominent character, and have been moved by the portrayal - - sometimes a bit of sad dialogue, expressive art, or the setting and scenery. I hate to admit it did not work for me here. It was not the fault of McGuiness’ art, which was great. Seemed like writer Wells just wanted to get it out of the way, and introduce the new storyline featuring Doctor Octopus.
Doc Oc has been having trouble with his mechanical arms, which have become self-aware and seem to resist his direction. So he works up an upgrade and we will see the results as the story moves forward. I expect the old set of tentacles to play a role, perhaps as an adversary to Doc Oc.
I’ve been reading this series mainly because a long-distance comic friend is at war with his local shops and has asked me to pick up the Disney 100 variant covers for him. Nothing Wells has done so far has endeared me to this title, and once the Disney issues stop so will I. Just not my cup of tea. THREE STARS.
#407 GREEN LANTERN #2 Hal Jordan story by Jeremy Adams and Xermanico; Jon Stewart story by Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Montos (DC Comics, August 2023) You can read the plot synopsis elsewhere. I’m just going to rant a little.
I guess I was in a generous mood when I plunked down $5 to pick this up. I”ll blame it on the art, which is really good. Yeah, that’s what convinced me to give GL another chance to win me over.
The story isn’t bad, and as far as character development and introducing the continuing players Adams does a good job. But the storyline itself is too much start/stop with quick action scenes with third-rate villains, and moves at a snail pace. Two issues in with a new (albeit reboot of a familiar character) title and a real conflict isn’t established until the very last page’s cliffhanger. Then, the story will be on pause for two more months while the Knight Terrors crossover event interrupts. C’mon DC, do you really think readers have this much patience? That’s the last issue for me. This time I mean it.
The Jon Stewart back-up story is much tighter. It has to be, since eight pages is the allotment for the second part of the Revenant Queen story. This is more interesting than the Hal Jordan story, although I don’t know enough of Stewart’s back-story as guardian and head of Watchtower to follow everything here. Still, I’m not going to spent $5 a month for an 8-page serialization. THREE STARS.
#408 NIGHTWING #105 “You Are Nightwing” by Tom Taylor and Bruno Redondo (DC Comics, August 2023) Reminder to self: bookmark this issue for Best One-Shots of the Year nomination, especially for the humorous approach to this story which would have been run-of-the-mill without the outstanding visuals.
Synopsis: Dick Grayson/Nighwing and current girlfriend Batgirl are on the trail of the Double Dare team, who have stolen a biological weapon.
The entire story is told in Doom fashion ( FYI . . . I’m referring to the old, old PC computer game) from the point-of-view of Nightwing, as the cover demonstrates.
While that seems kind of gimmicky, the way that Taylor and Redondo present the story is quite impressive - - and vey amusing. Ever imagine what it would be like to travel high atop the skyscrapers of Bludhaven and what it would look like? Redondo gives you a brilliant example.
The only time Nightwing is fully in panel (except for his hands and forearms) is when there is a mirror in the scene or his image is reflected back in a pane of glass or someone’s eyeglasses. There’s a lot of humor in Taylor’s dialogue as well as some Easter eggs hidden among the art, like a Funko figure of Robin on Dick Grayson’s bookshelves. FIVE STARS - - not for story, but for presentation.
#409 THE VIGIL By Ram V and Lalit Kumar Sharma (DC Comics, August 2023) Of all the Dawn of DC titles I’ve been trying out lately (and giving a chance to win me over) THE VIGIL is the one I am most confident of. This provides great and complex story-telling worth multiple readings with bold and expressive artwork. I will definitely stay with this through it’s limited run.
The spotlight this issue is on Captain Aquib Khan a.k.a. Arclight, my favorite character so far. We are presented with his back-story and his motivations (more like an obsession) for working with The Vigil. Some of the high tech weaponry that The Vigil interrupted a shipment of in Issue #1 was to be delivered to a military base where some wild experiments have been going on.
Arclight is on the case, and encounters one of those experiments, a child with incredible power (and I suspect a future member of the team). The book is a mix of espionage and super-heroes, and reminds me a bit of DC’s CHECKMATE. FOUR STARS.
#410 CITY BOY #1 by Greg Pak and Minkyu Jung (DC Comics, July 2023) I decided to try this one out solely on the strength of Greg Pak, a skilled writer that I respect. He’s building something here with this character that I’m not quite sure of yet as regards Cameron’s true motivations as well as the limits and scope of his powers. He’s in tune with the city, which allows him to quickly find money and valuables left behind or hidden within the corners and crevices of the metropolis. His power also allows him to blend and/or melt into city streets and structures similar to Kitty Pryde (Marvel’s X-Men). With all that potential, I’m curious as to why he functions as a wandering scavenger one step removed from a homeless person (because he has a rundown sleazy apartment). Seems like he’s suppressing or holding back - - maybe afraid of what damage he’s capable of. In Issue #1 he runs afoul of a small time gang who want their cut of his findings. But he’s got bigger folks with their eye on him, as revealed in the final pages. I’ll hang around for another helping, and take it from there. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#411 GODZILLA: HERE THERE BE DRAGONS #1 by Frank Tieri and Inaki Miranda (IDW Publishing, June 2023) I’m not really up for reading yet another Godzilla book. After reading a couple of them, my appetite diminishes. Another Godzilla book? Oh, a pirate comic that just happens to feature Godzilla? Now, that has potential. Add Tieri on story and Miranda on art, two creators I like, and I’ll give it a shot. In fact, there’s enough here that I think I’ll keep going with this mini-series. A captured pirate, sentenced to execution, tries to stall or trade his status for a good story and he certainly knows how to spin a tale about the Caribbean in the 1550’s and seafaring legends and myths. The story that captivates the attention of his captors is the one featuring Sir Francis Drake, who learns of a remote island where pirate treasure is buried and strange creatures live there - - Monster Island. This is the story of that discovery. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#412 ASSASSIN’S APPRENTICE #1 by Robin Hobb and Jody houser with art by Ryan Kelly (Dark Horse Comics, December 2022) I read ASSASSIN’S APPRENTICE, the first paperback in Robin Hobb’s fantasy series, many years back. I meant to get back to it, but never did. This comic adaptation, with Hobb’s involvement, doesn’t seem to stray too far from the novel. Kelly’s artwork is impressive. If you’re looking for a good fantasy series to follow (up to Issue #6 as I write this) - - this is one you should consider. Main character Fitz was known mainly as “boy” until his uncle brings him to the capital to meet his royal grandfather. Fitz is the bastard/illegitimate son of a village noble. But he’s not a normal child and possess an ancient power inside him. While I enjoyed viewing this adaptation, I don’t think I’ll try to catch up with the remaining issues. Since it seems to follow the original story so closely, I really don’t need to read the comic (and there are so many others waiting for me to get to). This also could have benefited from skipping ahead a little to some action scenes. Issue #1 is pretty wordy, with a lot of explanation. You can’t read this in a hurry. THREE STARS.
#413 FRANK FRAZETTA’S TALES OF SCIENCE-FANTASY #1 by Denton J. Tipton and Miguel Angel Ruiz (Opus, April 2023) The tag-line for Opus is “art inspired stories from incendium”. They’ve managed to create several series (Death Dealer, etc) based on the amazing fantasy artwork of the late Frank Frazetta. This is the debut issue of a quarterly anthology, with each issue containing a one-shot story based another piece of Frazetta art. I’m impressed at the story that Tipton created here based solely on a single image, “Alien Crucifixion.” The art and colors are not Frazetta-like, but the action/pacing is fluid and the colors are gorgeous to view. A four-armed warrior/general/dictator has fallen in popularity and is on the run from enemies and even some former allies. Although, he has a loyal band of supporters and manages to elude capture (as well as that cover image) until the final pages. It’s a subtle commentary on modern politics, fascism, and authoritarianism that is not heavy-handed in presentation. I picked up on it from the early pages, and imagined a contemporary political figure (that I feel great disdain for) as the besieged general Duce while I read the story. That made it impossible for me to empathize with the character. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#413 CYBORG #1 by Morgan Hampton and Tom Raney (DC Comics, July 2023) I’ve always felt that Cyborg deserved more of a spotlight within the DC Universe. Yet, his solo series always seems to fizzle out and result in short runs. This one holds some promise, and many reviewers are praising it, but somehow I was not able to get excited by this and won’t continue. There is some very good Raney art here and if you follow him you’ll want to check this out. Victor Stone/Cyborg gets called backed to Detroit and has to put down two lame characters, Gizmo and Mammoth, in the opening pages. This is the only action in the debut issue, as Vic attends the funeral of his father (heart attack) and, with a lab assistant of Dr Silas Stone, he reviews his troubled family history and the strained relationship with his father. Vic gives a respectful eulogy at the funeral but the sense of the grudge/estrangement comes through in his words. However, as the final pages reveal, Dr. Stone may not be entirely gone and this sets up the major conflict for the next issue. THREE STARS.
#414 ROACHMILL #2 by Rich Heddon and Tom McWeeney (It’s Alive, April 2023)
This continues the series of 1980’s reprints of ROACHMILL, a mutated (four arms, two of them like cockroach appendages) pest exterminator in the 30th century. Pests include all types, human or animal.
Roachmill has been injured and pursued by police. He’s been framed and has to break out of prison to clear his name.
A fun story, but nothing special. What really drew me to this title was the highly detailed, black and white classic pencil and ink work. I needed to read a second issue to determine if that was enough to sustain me. Nope. THREE STARS.
#415 - #416 LAMENTATION #1 by Cullen Bunn and Arjuna Susini (Oni / Lion Forge Publishing Group, May 2023) The debut issue does a bang-up job (both story and art) of building a real sense of dread in this story-within-a-story, play-within-a-play horror tale. There’s a deeper mystery here that has not been totally revealed. I’m anticipating more intensity to come. Synopsis: “After weeks of grueling rehearsals, a new production is set to begin at the famed Requiem theatre: Razide's Lament, three acts of gothic horror set inside a haunted castle with a story that some say is more than mere fantasy. Under the stern rule of a dedicated but temperamental director, the script seems to be ever-changing, and, more mysterious still, our lead actress has found herself cast in the role of a lifetime without so much as an audition. Her grand debut is fast approaching-and, with it, a barrage of razors in the night that will terrorize audiences and actors alike. There is no exit, no escape, and when the curtain finally rises, Razide himself will take center stage to cross the threshold into the unholy darkness that lies just beyond … FOUR STARS.
#417 HAUNT YOU TO THE END #1 by Ryan Cady and Andrea Mutti (Image / Top Cow Comics, June 2023) Another impulse buy. I’ll pick up anything I see Andrea Mutti art on. This was great, nearly perfect. I’m sold. Good, solid storytelling with multiple layers. Interesting characters. Funny jabs at modern society and billionaires. Dynamic watercolor expressive art from Mutti, as always. A suspenseful set-up issue that layers in the dread. In the 21st century, failure to address carbon emissions, global warming and climate catastrophes resulted in a “Hothouse Earth” scenario, devastating much of the population and the landscape. Now, in the 22nd century society has adapted and returned to former norms. But, as the intro page states: “adaptation does not guarantee survival, and as for those who do survive . . . . . What are they living for?” An eccentric billionaire, Callum Shah - a collector of paranormal artifacts and ghost investigator, remains optimistic. He’s convinced that the existence of ghosts is proof of an afterlife. He finances an expedition to a remote island known as the most haunted place on Earth to obtain final proof that will lift up the spirits of the human race. They have only three days before the Pacific Rim Desolation wipes the island away forever. The island was the former property of an oil company, long abandoned after multiple incidents of suicides and murders among employees. Shan brings a crew along, including skeptical journalist Matt Park who has referred to Shan’s expeditions as “exca-vacations requiring overpaid ghost busting assistants.” Even before the plane can land, there is a dangerous incident. If horror comics are your thing, this is for you. FOUR AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#418 - #428 TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: THE LAST RONIN by Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird & Tom Waltz with art by Esau & Isaac Escorza, Ben Bishop & Kevin Eastman (IDW Publishing, Sixth Printing, January 2023) My original thoughts from August 2022 . . . I'm glad I read this at one sitting. I collected the individual issues, and after the delayed and infrequent release dates took the wind out of the sails, I decided to hold them and wait until I could read the entire story. Glad to see this released in a quality hardcover edition, which is the version that TMNT die-hards should treasure. Although the comic series isn't finished, this puts a nice bookend on the end of the original four TMNTs (except for the little twist in the epilogue) in a satisfactory fashion. The art was premium quality and the story was compelling, if not a little predictable. What made it work for me were the interactions between long-running TMNT family members (Casey Jones, April) with Mikey and his developing mentor relationship with April's ambitious daughter. UPDATE: JUNE 2023 P.S. . . . Some spoilers below, so don't read unless you already know this story . . . . . I read this for the second time in preparation for a book club meeting, this time in the premium quality hardcover edition which really enhances the great coloring job on this book as well as the finer details of the art. I had less trouble this time picking up on the transitions between current events in the apocalyptic age and flashbacks to earlier days of the TMNTs. Still, I think this could have been handled a little more distinctively for first-time readers. Also, while I clearly remember seeing the details of the deaths of Raphael, Donatello, and master Splinter - - I can't recall the specifics of how Leonardo passed away. I'm not going to read this for a third time, but did I miss that? This was certainly a grittier, grimmer TMNT story compared to many of those that have been published over the past decades. The Last Ronin reminded me of the days when my son and I were reading the original black-and-white Mirage Studios comic books. We had 40+ issues. I would definitely put The Last Ronin among the Top 5 All-Time TMNT Storylines. FOUR AND ONE-HALF STARS, up from the previous Four Star rating. It actually improved on a second reading.
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