#669 = MURDER PODCAST #2 by Jeremy Haun and Mike Tisserand (Ignition Press, October 2025) It required another issue for me to be sure; but I am thoroughly ensnared by this title. While the premise is fascinating, that alone can’t always sustain a title. However, this is like a mini-soap opera with a cast of intriguing characters (all in their own 30’s with diverse occupations) and lots of blood and murder to provide the drama.
Synopsis from the back cover, in case you’re still unaware of this title:
“Listeners of Dead Sounds (the podcast) are going on murderous rampages, and they don’t stop until everyone around them is dead . . .
For Mina and her friends true crime programs provide them with endless fodder for conversation . . . They can only hope that all of this listening has prepared them for when they find themselves wrapped up in a deadly plot that could be fodder for a podcast all its own!”
Two more rampages occur this issue, with another one on the cusp of beginning as the issue ends. The shared locker room/bathroom/showers in a college dorm becomes a bloodbath. Do today’s youth always have earbuds on and listening to podcasts, even when they are brushing their teeth in a busy shared washroom? That spells trouble. When the murdering student is later questioned by police he doesn’t remember the details - just a sound in his head and a voice.
The other is the conclusion of the confrontation that began at the end of Issue #1, where Mina (the food writer) was assaulted on the street. She manages to escape by hitting the berserker in the head with her purse, and dislodging his earbuds on the second swing - which brings him out of the funk, dazed and confused. Things don’t end well for him.
The masked and robed mysterious figure from last issue assemblies his followers for a ritual where he anoints a female acolyte with blood and sends her out on a mission. Is he the force behind the podcasts?
Nika is a police detective investigating the murders, and the wife of one of the true crime friends (Josie, a librarian and powerlifting enthusiast). Things get awkward during a wine party to console the recovering Mina when Alice (boutique owner) asks some unsettling questions of Nika. We’re introduced to two male friends of the group, Pete and Zak, and I can’t help feeling that one of them will become a later victim (or maybe just listen to the podcast that just seems to show up on smartphones).
I’m starting to worry for these characters and appreciate getting the short glimpses into their lives and concerns. I’m elevating this to a FIVE STAR rating, anticipating that the slower, methodical approach to getting to the crux of the story has a big pay-out.
#670 = SUPER CREEPSHOW SPECIAL (Image Comics, October 2025) This one-shot presents three Creepshow horror stories featuring super-powers. While I welcome the idea, the execution left me wanting something with a little more of that Creepshow/Crypt/EC punch. These stories were fun, and featured some great art, but I found them to be mostly flat.
Only one story has that cruel twist and/or punchy ending, and that is the best one here: “Funeral For A Friend” by Dan Watters and Carmine Di Giandomenicco. If you guessed this might be a twist on the classic Death of Superman storyline you would be right. Lisa Lou mourns the death of her lover, Mr. Astonishing, but tells funeral ceremony participants that it’s entirely unnecessary because his solar powered cells will recharge within a few days to a month, at most. But when he eventually revives there are unforeseen consequences related to his altered composition.
The superhero Grave Ghost is murdered in 1995, when as the narrator describes: “It was a crazy time for superheroes like us. We were full of brashness and bravado, and we fought like hell for justice . . . But the corporate vultures just kept coming around. They wanted to monetize us. Wanted to turn us into brands.” Grave Ghost’s consciousness lives outside his body - in a sparrow who is always with him and can build him back., But since he was vaporized, it takes 30 years for the sparrow to reconstitute Grave Ghost . . . and the world has changed since he last left it. I saw this one coming. (“Grave Ghost: Reborn”, by Ryan Stegman and Riley Rossmo.
The final story, “Growing Pains” by Ed Brisson and Andrei Bressan details a scientist working on reprogramming human DNA who loses his job at a lab over ethical concerns. Then he loses his girlfriend after he uses her credit status to fund his own research. Four years later he perfects what he was working on and injects himself with his experiment, turning him into a monstrous figure like the Hulk or The Blob. In a revenge-minded rage he destroys the lab he was fired from, and then confronts his former girlfriend who has moved on and married. But he hadn’t quite perfected his super-serum. So much for beta testing.
I’ve never been a fan of mixing superheroes with horror tropes and don’t consider this Creepshow effort, while admirable, to be successful. THREE STARS.
#671 = IGNITION PRESS 2025 FIRST LOOK (Ignition Press, July 2025) Another exclusive I picked up at Baltimore Comic Con, this previews three of Ignition’s upcoming series with commentary from the creators.
I’ve written about ROOTS OF MADNESS before, which I think will be a sleeper hit once the word gets around. This is an 8-page excerpt from the first issue, in black-and-white before the colorist finished up. Writer Stephanie Williams details what all the foreshadowing is about: “This is a story about the delicate art of honoring where you come from while reaching for the impossible, about what happens when you’re the first to alchemize survival into dreams. It’s also about discovering that sometimes the very wisdom that helps us soar also awakens hungers our ancestors were wise enough to leave sleeping.” Art by Letizia Cadonici.
Writers Jeremy Haun and Jason A. Hurley return with new stories to tell in the world of THE BEAUTY, where a sexually transmitted disease physically changes “victims” into beautiful people. The only downside is a slight constant fever.
Now, with the majority of the country infected with The Beauty, anti-beauty cells have popped up - some peacefully protesting and others taking a more violent and invasive approach.
As the story opens a woman with the Beauty has a disastrous accident. Meanwhile, a glamorous female attends a Beauty orgy/party in order to get close to a handsome male participant and try to grab data from his laptop once he’s asleep. As the preview ends, he wakes up and catches her in the act. Art by Emmanuel Lupacchino.
ARCADIA is the latest world-building creation from Inaki Miranda and Roy Miranda with art by Inaki Miranda. This one gets right to the action without much introduction, so we’ll have to figure out if this is a post-apocalyptic world (seems so) on Earth or some other planet.
Two explorers investigate a former Superdragon factory, (humanoid ancestors, it seems - again, little explanation), get surprised by some “ferals”, rescue a “newborn” but not without suffering a loss.
Intriguing. I’ve followed their work together before (WE LIVE) so I trust the Miranda brothers. Also, I can’t wait to see what Eva de la Cruz brings to this inventive world once she adds her brilliant colors.
This preview has me interested in all three titles, so that rates it THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.
#672-#675 = HELLO DARKNESS, VOLUME THREE by various creators (Boom! Studios, November 2025) A full review of this collection was posted to this blog for Thursday, November 13.
#676 = THE BEAUTY #1 by Jeremy Haun & Jason Hurley with art by Emmanuel Lupacchino (Ignition Press, October 2025) This is a continuation of the popular series that ran for 30 issues and was published by Image Comics from 2015-2019. I only read through the first volume many years ago, but it was easy to pick up the story in the debut issue from Ignition. Good timing, as THE BEAUTY is scheduled to be an FX network television series from director Ryan Murphy.
The story revolves around a sexually transmitted disease that changes victims into more beautiful versions of themselves . . . so it’s a disease that many people want to catch. The new series will show how the Beauty has changed society, as well as follow several characters whose lives/actions are connected to it.
The glamorous woman (code name Nox) from the 8-page preview turns out to be a thief/agent-for-hire whose employer is upset with her when her attempted theft did not obtain all of the required data from her last mark. She is sent back to finish the job and gets into further trouble when she interrupts something grisly.
Kevin Frost is a struggling-for-ratings tv weatherman who decides to obtain some Beauty by buying his way into an underground (but expensive orgy).
Crayton is one of two detectives who are called to investigate a murder victim who happens to be the last mark that Nox slept with. The deceased turns out to be a high-level government contractor who was slumming around (to coin a phrase). However, it appears that Crayton’s partner is not to be trusted, as he makes a secret phone call.
A nice beginning. I expect things to heat up as well as look forward to Haun mixing in some social commentary (perhaps about our obsession with self and vanity) as well. FOUR STARS.
#677-#680 = UNIVERSAL MONSTERS: CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON LIVES! #1 by Dan Watters and Ram V with art by Matthew Roberts (Image Comics/Skybound Entertainment, April - July 2024) A review of this title was posted to the blog earlier this week.
#681-#688 AVENGERS, VOLUME 7: THE AGE OF KHONSHU by Jason Aaron and various artists (Marvel Comics, December 2020)
As I commented to a fellow Goodreads reviewer - - -
Aaron tries to jam too much into the story, which makes it confusing for anyone who hasn't been reading his Avengers run up until this point. I was excited by his creativity but underwhelmed by the story. It's kind of all over the place.
Also, you have to accept that Moon Knight is capable of taking down the Avengers all by himself (but with spiritual aid - - and could he ever trust Khonshu? - - I think not), although his powers grow after he steals various artifacts/objects from the heroes and utilizes them to his own purposes (like Thor's hammer).
Also, across these eight issues there are nine different artists involved. Despite their trying to illustrate in a Marvel house style for consistency - it gets a little off-putting and pulled me out of the story in several places.
Despite all the villains introduced in this 8-issue story arc, the main culprit is Mephisto. Somehow, Moon Knight thinks he is the only one who can take him down - - but according to his spirit guide/god Khonshu not without defeating all the Avengers, usurping all their powers, and turning New York City into an Egyptian city with mummies as militia. It's a power grab for sure - but why didn't Moon Knight ask the Avengers for help? Combined, they probably would have seen victory by Issue #2. Oh well. That's superhero comics for ya.
To sum it up - - 4 Stars for creativity. 2.5 Stars for plot. 3 Stars for Art. THREE STARS OVERALL.
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