MY WEEKS IN COMICS - - - August 30, 2026

MY WEEKS IN COMICS  - - -  for the two weeks ending  AUGUST 30, 2026     

#301 =  WARBIRD #0 by Derek Kolstad & Robert Venditti with art by Jesse Lonergan. Cover by Frank Quitely (Bad Idea, May 2026) “The Bike Job”.

This is a one-shot story that gives a preview into the upcoming limited series; and it definitely whets the appetite for more. The art style of Lonergan is very eye-appealing and reminds me of the classic Metal Hurlant/European house style of comics art. 

    Cole Norton, with assistance from brother Doug, will steal anything that moves (car, boat, plane, etc) as long as his clients pay the right price. The upcoming storyline will center around his being hired to steal a fighter jet from the Russians. 

    In the Issue #0 story, Cole infiltrates the cruise ship of an a-hole billionaire influencer to repossess the high tech motor bike that he had custom built and reneged on the payments. 

     Good visuals, and fast-paced. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.

    The 0-numbered issues from Bad Idea remind me of what Ignition Press does with their Cold Open issues for new series. Both give you a preview of a series so you can decide whether you want to invest in it The biggest difference between the two is that Bad Idea issues these on cheaper newsprint for only $1.99 - so it cost even less for the tryout. 

#302 =  QUEEN IN BLACK: THOR #1 by Al Ewing and Sergio Davila (Marvel Comics, October 2026)  I’m not following the big summer Queen In Black cross-over event but there are some interesting side stories that can be picked up and understood without reading the whole mountain of related issues. You just need to scan the book and make sure it’s not a continuation from another title or something that requires you to read more to finish the story.  I believe this is a one-shot. It certainly reads that way.

   I picked it up because the irregular issues of MORTAL THOR by Ewing that I’ve read have been really good - - a different spin on the Thor, and more importantly the hammer, mythos. The classic iconic Thor that we know is not present here.

    This is the set-up, as outlined on the first page: 

“This is a tale of two mortals . . . Neither like the other, but both brothers in a strange and mysterious way . . . Neither truly born on Earth, but both willing to fight and die for all those who were. . . . Both had played the role of Thor . . . but neither was Thor in truth . . . And neither could have been — for Thor was dead, in a far-off place beyond the reach of mortals . . . and now the Goddess of Death held dominion over the Earth.”

   In alternating pages, and linked by clever segues with word clues, Ewing details two separate scenes following the incursion of the Queen In Black upon Earth as experienced by Beta Ray Bill and Sigurd Jarlson (from MORTAL THOR). 

    Beta Ray Bill intends to take the fight directly to Hela, and is confronted by her general - Tyr Odinson, the God of War. Sigurd Jarlson reacts to the carnage on the streets, as buildings collapse or catch fire, and just wants to do what he can to help rescue survivors. 

   Both heroes respond in ways that Thor would, but in completely different ways. Ewing mixes in a little philosophical debate and provides food for thought in this short, compact story.

   My favorite scene is where Hela questions Jarlson, who seems overly concerned (in her opinion) with a young child’s fate. She questions him: “You’re crying. . . Is death so hard for you to bear, Sigurd? . . . Is it such a monstrous enemy to you? . . . Answer the question! . .  Answer me! . . . Is Death so hard?

 Sigurd’s response is my favorite line: “. . . Life . . . It is life that is hard.”

    Some exceptionally good art and colors. FOUR STARS.

#303 =  MIDNIGHT UNIVERSE BLACK & WHITE ASHCAN EDITION (Marvel Comics, October 2026)   

 I’m guessing Marvel is hoping some of that DC Absolute Universe magic will happen for them.  I actually hope it does - - while I’m not all gung-ho for super-hero comics anymore . . . I recognize that this is the engine that keeps comic shops in business - - and I’m all for that.

   MIDNIGHT will usher in the “new nightmare-driven universe” to Marvel, with three debut issues on October 7 - - - the only titles Marvel will release to shops that day.  This ashcan edition contains some teaser information about the titles, and black & white art that is text and dialogue free.  I’d like to say that these will be exciting books but I just can’t tell from the brief samples. I can definitely say that the art will be appealing. (Attached is art from MIDNIGHT FANTASTIC FOUR #1). 

    It sure appears to be a mix of super-hero and horror. 

Check out MIDNIGHT SPIDER-MAN by Phillip Kennedy Johnson  & ScieTronc (??? - sounds like an A.I. app), as “great power makes monsters.” Looks like Peter Parker bonds with H.R. Giger’s Alien.

  In MIDNIGHT FANTASTIC FOUR by Benjamin Percy & Kev Walker - - “a scientist’s curiosity accidentally unleashes ancient terrors upon the world while also transforming him and three others in strange and horrifying ways.” Looks like the FF bond with Lovecraftian cosmic horror monsters.

  In MIDNIGHT X-MEN by Jonathan Hickman and Matteo Dllla Fonte, “the X-Men’s battle is no longer one of acceptance but of survival . . . and blood.”  Looks like the X-Men bond with vampires.

    There you have it.  Did I pre-order any of these?  Guess I should have. Will I pick them up anyway? Not sure, but thinking the FOMO bug will be riding my shoulder if I happen to see these still on comic shop shelves when I get there.

     Hoping for something good, but not able to rate anything just yet.

#304 - #308 =  THE THING ON THE DOORSTEP #1 - #5 of 5 by Simon Birks and Willi Roberts  (Image Comics/Top Cow, February-June 2026)  The synopsis:

"It is true that I have sent six bullets through the head of my best friend, and yet I hope to show by this statement that I am not his murderer." The year is 1933, and Edward Derby's best friend, Daniel Upton, visits him in Arkham Sanitorium and shoots him dead to the horror of the guards. 

It's an open and shut case - or is it? What happened to this lifelong friendship for it to end this way? Who exactly was Edward Derby at the end of his life? And, most importantly, will his murder be enough to stop him?  

While I have never read the original story by H.P. Lovecraft, this is a well-done adaptation. Moody and atmospheric, it serves as a slow burn and descent into madness with an appropriate mix of mind control, body swapping and possession triggering an ever-widening spiral into apparent insanity. The story is set against the backdrop of a life-long friendship between two men - - who bonded at a young age over their interest in the weirder images at an art gallery. 

Later in life, Edward Derby makes the mistake of falling in love with a strange woman as he later learns that she, along with her mage-like father, have a dangerous interest in occult and mystical matters and will use Edward as a vehicle to explore those discoveries. Edward makes many efforts to escape their influence on his mind and body and often relies on long-time friend Daniel Upton to rescue him from complete madness.

I read this in the original monthly issues as published. They may be difficult to hunt down, but the trade paperback is available to order. While the story intrigued me and held my attention, I don't see how anyone unfamiliar with the Lovecraft mythos may have patience with the slowly unraveling storyline, not to mention confusion over some of the well-known (to Lovecraft fans) references to Arkham, Miskatonic University, and the Necronomicon. However, fans of Lovecraft's work should give this work some attention.

Considering the absence of any of Lovecraft's cosmic monsters in this story (although they are hinted at) and any real action/fight scenes, the artist's expressionistic style does a remarkable job of conveying apprehension, dread, fear, and outright madness. 

I don't know how faithful to the original story Simon Birk's version is. Although, it's not hard to conclude that having the black Daniel Upton become a wealthy professional success and a dedicated family man is something that Birk amended. Lovecraft was a well-known racist and would never have included a black man or any person not white-skinned as a primary or secondary character.  FOUR STARS.

#309 - #317 =  UPGRADE SOUL graphic novel by Ezra Clayton Daniels (Lion Forge Press, September 2018) My Five-Star review was posted in a separate article on this blog on Sunday, August 30. See archives . . . . . . . . .

#318 =  BATMAN #5 by Matt Fraction and Jorge Jimenez (DC Comics, March 2026) While I wasn’t super convinced after reading BATMAN #1 by Fraction I still pick up an issue here and there at random. I’ve been lucky enough to select the right ones, and have enjoyed them. Fraction has kept to his promise of trying to self-contain the stories each issue instead of a longer arc. I would recommend BATMAN #7 (new version of The Joker) and Issue #5 was a lot of fun.

   Bruce Wayne is considering funding Dr, Zellar’s research and invites her to dinner. “It’s not a date”, they both say. He picks her up in his sports car, and they are soon followed by ninjas on motorcycles who are out to assassinate the doctor, What follows is an exciting car chase. 

   Wayne and Zellar manage to escape only to be confronted by a female ninja warrior seemingly made of birds and capable of flight. (I call her “manga-face, see cover for reference).

  It takes the intervention of Damien/Robin to end the conflicts as the story ends on a little twist that could effect future stories. As I mentioned, this was fresh and fun. THREE AND ONE-HALF STARS.

Book Review: WIDOW'S POINT by Richard Chizmar and W.H. Chizmar

WIDOW’S POINT: THE COMPLETE HAUNTING by Richard Chizmar and W.H. Chizmar (Gallery Books, September 30, 2025) Hardcover, 336 pages. ISBN # 9781668057704 

Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . . .

'This is a bad place. I don't think people are meant to live here.'

Longtime residents of Harper's Cove believe that something is wrong with the Widow's Point Lighthouse. Some say it's cursed. Others claim it's haunted.

Originally built in 1838, three workers were killed during the lighthouse's construction, including one who mysteriously plunged to his death from the catwalk. That tragic accident was never explained, and it was just the beginning of the terror. In the decades that followed, nearly two dozen additional deaths occurred in or around the lighthouse including cold-blooded murder, suicide, unexplained accidents and disappearances, the slaughter of an entire family, and the inexplicable death of a Hollywood starlet who was filming a movie on the grounds.

The lighthouse was finally shuttered tight in 1988 and a security fence was erected around the property. No one has been inside since. Until now.

Told across two harrowing incidents from 2017 and 2025, those who enter the Widow's Point Lighthouse searching for supernatural proof and the next big thing find themselves cut off from the outside world. And although no one has recently stepped foot inside the structure, they are not alone.

In this remarkable collaboration, father and son writing team, Richard and W.H. Chizmar combine forces to tell a terrifying ghost story that will make you think twice about what's waiting for you in the dark.

My FOUR-STAR Review on the Goodreads website . . . . .

After an initial episode in 2017 that begins the first part of this novel and is truly creepy - - things slow down a bit and this is only borderline scary until Page 220, and then - - - OMG! Horrifying. Shocking. Brutal. Definitely worth the wait. 

This is a fascinating and compelling read for several reasons:

1) The storytelling method - - just like a found footage horror movie, and in my opinion, better utilized here than what Paul Trembly was attempting in his HORROR MOVIE novel. 

2) A unique and totally different haunted house story. It's better that I don't say too much here. Reminds me a little bit of the classic THE HAUNTING black-and-white film from the 1960's. 

3) The build-up to the core events may catch you off-guard, just after your expectations are somewhat diminished and you are no longer prepared. Not as immediate as a jump-scare, but just as effective. 

4) Characters that I did not like but kept reading anyway - because everything else held my attention.. I wasn't wishing for bad things for them and only wanted one of them to have a favorable outcome. I won't say that was exactly what happened, but it was satisfactory. Usually, if I can't find a character in a novel that I can empathize or have any feelings for I will stop reading. This was the exception.

Book Review: UPGRADE SOUL by Ezra Clayton Daniels

UPGRADE SOUL graphic novel by Ezra Clayton Daniels (Lion Forge Press, September 2018) Trade paperback 272 pages.

Synopsis on the Goodreads website . . . . .

For their 45th anniversary, Hank and Molly Nonnar decide to undergo an experimental rejuvenation procedure, but their hopes for youth are dashed when the couple is faced with the results: severely disfigured yet intellectually and physically superior duplicates of themselves. Can the original Hank and Molly coexist in the same world as their clones? 

In Upgrade Soul, McDuffie Award-winning creator Ezra Claytan Daniels asks probing questions about what shapes our identity-Is it the capability of our minds or the physicality of our bodies? Is a newer, better version of yourself still you? This page-turning graphic novel follows the lives of Hank and Molly as they discover the harsh truths.

My FIVE-STAR Review on the Goodreads website . . . . .

Add UPGRADE SOUL to the list of graphic novels to recommend to friends who are skeptical of the ability of comics to tell compelling and complex stories. This is a fine example, and I can't imagine the story having as much power had it been presented as a print novel without the visuals. The illustrations, including the clever use of colors and shading, enhance the story in way that I don't believe could be as effective without it. This novel is a great candidate for a film version or an animated feature.

This was the monthly selection of a book club that I belong to, and I read the graphic novel quickly over two days. UPGRADE SOUL happened to be one of the few choices that generated a lot of thoughtful discussion in the book club, including wandering off into tangents on related subjects like eugenics, cloning, and what defines a person and their soul. 

The story takes place in the 1990's, before the advent of advances in artificial intelligence when experimentation (human or otherwise) was being conducted on the fringes. There are many heart-warming moments, but overall this a sad and tragic storyline. At least it conludes with a ray of hope.

I want to return to this novel at a future date, and read it much slower - - which it truly deserves. I'm sure I will derive even more of significance in doing so and will be adding to this review then.

This one requires a lot of thought and reflection.

Book Review: FLESH OF ALL SORROWS by Jeffrey J. Mariotte

FLESH OF ALL SORROWS by Jeffrey J. Mariotte (Crystal Lake Publishing, August 28, 2026 release date) Kindle Edition, 397 pages. ASIN # B0HBNRY7CZ 

The publisher’s synopsis:

Daniel Mansfield Jr. has spent his life in the shadow of a legend. His father—the celebrated police chief who ended the reign of The Bookbinder, a serial killer who used the flesh of his victims to bind his books—left Daniel a name to live up to and a department to inherit. Now Daniel sits in that same chair, in that same town of Sossaman, Arizona, carrying that same weight.

Then a young woman turns up dead bearing The Bookbinder's unmistakable signature.

The problem is Brian Quintana, the man Daniel's father arrested, has been behind bars for nearly forty years. Which means either an imitator is at work, or Daniel's father put the wrong man away.

As clues pile up and another victim disappears, Daniel must confront the most dangerous question of his career: what if the legacy he has dedicated his life to protecting was built on a lie?

Meanwhile, Johnathan Ottilie is unraveling a secret of his own, one that connects his family directly to The Bookbinder's dark history in ways he never imagined and cannot outrun.

Two families. Two inherited sins. One small Arizona community that will never be the same.

Fast-paced, propulsive, and relentlessly suspenseful, this is a crime thriller for fans of Thomas Harris, Michael Connelly, and Jeffery Deaver, where the hunt for a serial killer forces a son to choose between protecting his father's name and serving the truth that could destroy everything.

The roots of evil run deep. Only blood can tear them out.

MY FOUR-STAR REVIEW on the Goodreads website . . . . .

What makes this book stand out from the pack is what happens beyond the fast-paced police procedural thriller. In addition to a serial killer, there are subplots involving a family legacy, politics, corruption and dissent within a police force, and small town social life.

The story is told in alternating first-person and third-person narration from two main points-of-view. What impressed me the most was the way that two different individuals tried to live up to their family legacy - - - and either succeeded or failed, or managed to do both. One had a famous father; the other an infamous father. 

What impressed me the most was Mariotte's story-telling ability and the way he juggles all these elements and brings them together to form a captivating story. The action scenes are seat-of-your-pants, hold-your-breath until it's over. It's easy to empathize with many of theses characters and also not difficult to understand the less savory ones. That's a great writing skill.