#188-#193 = SUICIDE SQUAD: BLAZE #1-#3 of 3 by Simon Spurrier and Aaron Campbell (DC Black Label, April-September 2022)
Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . . .
To catch a monster, you have to become one—but some folks have a head start. The critically acclaimed John Constantine: Hellblazer team deploy Task Force X on their most brutal and bizarre mission yet!
The attacks begin without warning. Brutal, sudden…cannibalistic. A metahuman with all the power of Superman but none of his humanity. An unstoppable being ruled only by hunger and instinct, striking at random across the world. To stop this threat, Harley Quinn, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, and King Shark have been assigned to corral, nursemaid—and if necessary, execute—five deadly new recruits: the expendable products of a secret government procedure called BLAZE.
They’re ordinary prisoners, endowed with incredible power…and the certain knowledge that it’ll burn through them like wildfire. They have six months to live, maximum. If you’re staring down life in prison, maybe that’s a good deal—especially if you’re Michael Van Zandt, desperate to reunite with the mad lover who forsook you after your Bonnie-and-Clyde crime spree.
But that power? It’s surprisingly transferable. As each member of the Squad dies…the others get stronger. What would a hardened criminal do with that knowledge? Worse yet: What would a desperate, lovesick idiot do with it? One thing’s certain: this time the Suicide Squad’s bitten off more than it can chew. Win or lose-they all burn.
MY FOUR-STAR REVIEW:
Some might consider this a sneaky way to camouflage an apocalyptic horror story within a superhero comic. I wouldn't go that far, but I especially appreciate this work as it will really challenge regular readers of superhero fare.
Another reason why I like it: Simon Spurrier never takes the easy way, unfolding the story in bits and pieces while injecting a good amount of dark humor and social commentary while detailing the ineffectiveness of both secretive government agencies and superhero teams to truly comprehend and handle new and unknown threats like this properly.
Equally challenging is the artwork of Aaron Campbell, highly detailed and realistic when it comes to character close-ups but wildly confusing when it comes to action sequences. I defy anyone one to give me a specific description of the alien threat, which I believe is deliberately vague.
Colorist Jordie Bellaire has a field day with bursts of fiery color in these action scenes - which only adds to the challenge when trying to discern specific details.
This book is sure to garner its' share of haters, but it's worthy of multiple reads in order to take it all in.
#194 = DAREDEVIL #2 by Stephanie Phillips and Lee Garbett (Marvel Comics, July 2026) Two issues in with the new creative team, who are taking their sweet time to set things in motion. I’m hanging around and hope that my patience is rewarded.
Last issue, Daredevil found a masked man, looking like a cross between the Grim Reaper and Taskmaster, who spoke of Matt Murdock’s impending death. Then he, now referred to as The Omen, threw Daredevil out the window as the issue ended.
Now, DD is doing his best to uncover the whereabouts of the Omen and chooses to interrogate The Owl, who only offers up the name of a second-rate drug dealer - - - who is one of the eyeless victims as a new serial killer menaces the city - and we’re introduced to two detectives investigating the murders. The trail leads them to a suspect, and expect their paths to cross with Matt Murdock in future issues.
Meanwhile Murdock is having a hard time with his new role as a law professor.
A bit more activity this issue but essentially Phillips and Garbettt are still setting things up. I wasn’t particularly impressed by Garbett’s art in Issue #1 but it looks better here and I’m starting to appreciate the style. THREE AND ONE-QUARTER STARS.
#195 = IDW CRIME SAMPLER by various creators (IDW Publishing, May 2026) One of the Comics Giveaway Day offering this year, if you obtained a copy you received a 5-6 page preview of three upcoming crime comics from IDW. I’ve been impressed with the IDW Dark line of horror titles (Twilight Zone, Return To Sleepy Hollow, Event Horizon, and others) so far - and I was excited to get a look at this.
SEVEN WIVES came out last week (May 27), and features the investigation of the bloody murder of an Arizona preacher/commune leader in an isolated, secretive village of Fundamentalist Latter-Day Saints. Just like the Mormons, preacher Matthew Dunn had seven wives. Wonder which one of them did him in?
KILLER INFLUENCES comes out July 1 and features strange doings in Eden County, a small industrial town where if the pollution doesn’t slowly kill you, the serial murderer might.
Lastly, FIXATION takes place during an anniversary retrospective for Blood Mountain, a successful series of horror movies noted for treading the lines between reality and fiction.
Two prominent fan-girls and podcasters are headed to Vail, the location of the celebration and may arrive just in time to find the murdered female burglar in the famous house where the series is set. This title is set for September 9 release.
There’s just enough here to whet my appetite. I appreciate a good crime comic. Based on the IDW’s slate of horror titles, I’m going to check out at least the first issues of all three of these,
THREE STARS for the collection, and hopefully a higher ranking when the series debut.
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