#625 = MURDER PODCAST #1 by Jeremy Haun and Mike Tisserand (Ignition Press, September 2025) This debut title from new publisher Ignition Press sold out at the distributor level, and a second printing with a new cover is forthcoming. Grab a copy if you can still find any on comic shop shelves. It’s definitely worth a try-out.
MURDER PODCAST is a bloody, brutal mystery thriller revolving around a true crime podcast that causes its’ listeners to go on a mindless berserker killing spree. As the story opens, an unlucky husband stumbles across his wife listening to it in their kitchen and pays a fatal price.
The series features an ensemble cast of five women in their ’30’s from different backgrounds and professions who get together regularly to chat about their favorite podcast, “Kill, Killer, Killing”. As the issue ends one of the five, Mina - a cookbook author and restaurant reviewer - enters the subway and witnesses one of the brutal murders committed by a traveler listening to the new “Dead Sounds” podcast that mysteriously shows up on the cellphones of true crime podcast enthusiasts. Will she be next?
There are two interesting side stories involving an all-out police bureau search for a missing obnoxious senator; and a weird masked and robed stranger inside an abandoned factory. He looks like the main singer from the Ghost rock band. Is he behind these crazy podcasts?
Lot of potential here in Jeremy Haun’s story and the appealing art of Mike Tisserand. A solid FOUR-STAR rating with the potential to go higher if this lives up to my expectations.
#626 = ROOTS OF MADNESS #1 by Stephanie Williams and Letizia Cadonici (Ignition Press, October 2025) The tag line promoting this title is “horror that reaches back through history . . .” ROOTS OF MADNESS is a slow burn of a horror story, with the debut issue all foreshadowing and set-up. It will be interesting to see what direction the creators take this. It’s certainly not predictable after reading Issue #1.
At the turn of the 19th century Etta Knight is a brilliant young black girl, learning of natural medicines from her mother, using a cryptic recipe book passed down through generations in her family. Etta asks too many questions, and her mother cautions her.
Years later in 1905, Etta is a young woman operating a small shop (Knight’s Natural Remedies & Care Products) to help fund her research into deciphering more of the recipe book. Her opportunity arrives when a strange woman visits the shop and offers Etta a Meridian Fellowship to expand her research.
This did not capture my attention in the same way as MURDER PODCAST. Things move a little too slowly for me in the debut issue. Still, this could end up being a sleeper title, one where the impact of the story creeps up on you. THREE STARS.
#627-#628 = HIGH STRANGENESS #1 by Chris Condon and Daniel Noah with art by Dave Chisholm (Oni Press, October 2025) “Book One: 1967” 36 pages, $7.99. The pitch:
"SpectreVision, the genre-distorting production company co-founded by Elijah Wood and Daniel Noah, joins forces with Oni Press and a rotating cast of premier comics talents for an unprecedented excursion into HIGH STRANGENESS—a brand-new series influenced by real, documented cases of paranormal phenomena, to reveal the liminal spaces where reality and hallucination and science and mythology give way to cosmic wonder and existential terror . . .
As debut issues go, this one does a commendable job of indicating what direction this title will be taking and what can be expected: one-shot stories exploring various aspects of paranormal phenomenon with a different creative team and theme each issue. Also,you can expect text pieces by acknowledged “experts” in the field that shed further light on the proceedings.
Issue #1 is beautifully illustrated with weird art by Dave Chisholm and tells the story of an investigative journalist looking into the disappearance of a Indiana woman after she witnesses some U.F.O. activity, goes public, and then gets visited by the alien-like Men in Black. The journalist starts out as a skeptic, becomes a believer, and then has reason to suspect his own sanity and fears he’s being followed.
Next issue will tackle the Sasquatch legend. THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.
#629-3630 = THE NEW GOLDEN AGE One-Shot by Geoff Johns and various artists (DC Comics, January 2023) This is the prelude to the 2023 Justice Society mini-series by Geoff Johns.
The story jumps all over the place as far as what year it is and when it occurs. The initial scene in each setting is identified, but from there you’ll need to note the change-over between artists to realize that the story has jumped in time. Johns also puts in some clever transitions to help those paying attention. For example, back in 1940 with the original Justice Society, Dr Fate’s prophetic helmet is causing severe headaches when a member suggests checking his eyes. Next page, we’re in 1976 and Hourman is giving Dr. Fate an eye examination.
If you’re going to read the re-boot of The Justice Society of America (also by Johns) this one-shot is essential reading. What it boils down to is a preview of various storylines to come (many of which are too cool to spoil too much, like the future Batman family). What I can say is that perhaps this is overly ambitious based on how many side plots and guest characters (past, present and future) that Johns throws in. If he works all this into the new title, then he’s outlined more than a few years of issues. (I’ll let you know, as I plan to read that next).
What I can share is that the JSA never disbands and stays intact way into the future (think Legion of Super-Heroes era), comprised of various members that are descendants of or related to the original team. There’s a dark and powerful human presence referred to as The Stranger who’s been observing the JSA since Day One and makes his presence known by either stalking or killing future characters. The various incarnations of Dr. Fate presented here all share one vision courtesy of the helmet - - the demise of Dr. Fate and the JSA. THREE AND THREE-QUARTER STARS.
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