Mini Reviews 15/03/2020

We may not have time to review every book on our pull-lists but we do aim to provide a snapshot of what's been released over the past week, encompassing the good, the not so good, and those that lie somewhere in between.

SUB-MARINER: MARVELS SNAPSHOTS #1

Writer: Alan Brennert

Art: Jerry Ordway & Espen Grundetjean

Marvel $4.99

Matt C: The first in a series of one-shots that employs the concept of Alex Ross and Kurt Busiek's legendary Marvels by giving us a regular person's perspective on an icon, here we focus on one of the House of Ideas' originals, Prince Namor, the Sub-Mariner. Set after the end of World War II, our way into the story is provided by Betty Dean, Namor's sometime girlfriend of the era. Never quite comfortable with his tempestuousness and aloofness, she watches him struggle with the trauma of the conflict he's just experienced, and if you're familiar with this particular Atlantean you'll know his likely method of dealing with things will inevitably involve some sort of violence and carnage. The artwork has a wonderfully retro feel - befitting of the period, but in a sophisticated fashion - and the script delivers some potent insights into a man who straddles two worlds (above and below the ocean's surface). It brought to mind Chip Zdarsky's recent Invaders series, and how that also delved into the emotional damage of war inflicted on someone who likes to present himself as above such things. It's an affecting read with some wonderfully old-fashioned action scenes (the All Winners Squad turn up and get involved, of course) and it sets a high standard which hopefully the rest of the series will meet. 8/10

Mini Reviews 08/03/2020

We may not have time to review every book on our pull-lists but we do aim to provide a snapshot of what's been released over the past week, encompassing the good, the not so good, and those that lie somewhere in between.

STRANGE ACADEMY #1

Writer: Skottie Young

Art: Humberto Ramos & Edgar Delgado

Marvel $4.99

Mike S: Skottie Young and Humberto Ramos present a not-quite original but nevertheless wholly enjoyable first issue set in Marvel Comics’ very own Hogwarts. Throw in a dash of Wolverine And The X-Men and you have Strange Academy, in which the next generation of magic wielders are gathered in New Orleans to learn the art of spell-casting from such faculty members as Doctor Voodoo, Magik and the Scarlet Witch (which might be an interesting mix if current X-Men continuity applies). The first issue introduces a diverse cast, an interesting premise and some stunningly rendered artwork. Young has a knack of writing young characters here while Ramos revels in the fantastical elements of the setting, with wondrous artwork juxtaposed with some creepy moments to provide a visually stunning book. Offering something a little different to the run of the mill Marvel Teen books, Strange Academy #1 is a promising debut with a huge amount of potential as we explore the magical mythos of Marvel, and is guaranteed to bring me back for #2. 9/10

Mini Reviews 01/03/2020

We may not have time to review every book on our pull-lists but we do aim to provide a snapshot of what's been released over the past week, encompassing the good, the not so good, and those that lie somewhere in between.

GIANT-SIZE X-MEN: JEAN GREY AND EMMA FROST #1

Writer: Jonathan Hickman

Art: Russell Dauterman & Matthew Wilson

Marvel $4.99

Matt C: We seem to be getting a bunch of these 'Giant-Size' issues from Jonathan Hickman to spotlight various integral characters to his 'Dawn of X' initiative, and if the rest are as good as this one, they'll all be essential purchases. Here we have Jean Grey and Emma Frost entering the mind of a fallen X-Man in an attempt to save them and, once inside, we get an almost entirely wordless extended sequence which serves as a tremendous example of the power of the artform. Russell Dauterman and Matthew Wilson pull out all the stops for a dazzling display of visual ingenuity to tell the story via pictures alone, conveying emotions through expression and action only, and it's beautiful, inventive and regularly breathtaking. Of course Hickman's presence is still felt throughout thanks to the pacing and intelligence of the narrative, which is tangible in every panel. An exceptional issue where you really get the opportunity to linger on the artistry of the medium at its best and just how adept it can be at sequencing static panels to create a moving and exciting experience. 9/10

Mini Reviews 23/02/2020

We may not have time to review every book on our pull-lists but we do aim to provide a snapshot of what's been released over the past week, encompassing the good, the not so good, and those that lie somewhere in between.

WOLVERINE #1

Writer: Benjamin Percy

Art: Adam Kubert, Frank Martin, Viktor Bogdanovic & Matthew Wilson

Marvel $7.99

Jo S: In these days of big Marvel events and multiple high quality Hickman-led X-books, a $7.99 cover price on a late-joining 'Dawn of X' title is going to make your local comic book store owner wince - especially when it's on a big standard like Wolverine - so is it worth the doubled price and should you fork over the cash to hop on this new addition to the Krakoa project? Let me try to convince you... Ben Percy has Wolverine chops: having penned the Wolverine: The Long Night and The Lost Trail podcasts, he followed up the former with a comic book version, and it's clear in this new outset already that he 'gets' our cross-Patch protagonist, opening with a scene of devastation in the Alaskan snow, where Logan is agonising over slaying his own friends and yet is still compelled to chase after the last survivor. A giant side effect of the 'Dawn of X' stories is that Krakoa's regeneration protocols have altered the concept of death for mutant-kind: we know as comics readers that death is rarely final but now it's explicit that 'they will come back' - and yet Percy still manages to give us the full sense of Logan's despair, something of an achievement in this new world. The (first) story is a 'here's the penultimate scene, let's look at how we got here' approach, and each additional piece of backstory we see twists the knife in Logan's heart a little further: Krakoan 'product' is going missing, diverted to feed a growing drugs trade managed by the Flower Cartel, and multiple parties are getting involved, for nefarious reasons or otherwise, in the growing spread of mutie drug Pollen. If that wasn't complex enough a storyline, add a cult of vampiric mutant-worshippers and you have yourself a festival of flower-related infamy. Kubert's art is magnificent - well, I would say that, the Alaskan snow scenes alone are worth it for me, but his fabulous page structure has me hooked throughout as well... But that's just the first story! This is a true double issue, with the staples neatly marking the delineation between 'The Flower Cartel' and 'Catacombs'. Both are issue #1, both penned by Percy, but Bogdanovic now picks up the pencils, as Omega Red, covered in blood which may or may not be his own, storms through a Krakoan portal requesting amnesty - having escaped a nightmarish Paris overrun with the aforementioned vampire cult - to a very mixed reception. Vampire stories are a bit so-so for me generally but Percy pitches this one perfectly, with vampire hunter of the 'nightguard' Louise making a welcome debut, and Bogdanovic and Wilson creating the ideal underground gloom with gory bat-fest atmosphere. So, yes, all in all, this is more than a double issue, the fat cover price may be a little gasp-inducing but the content is much more so, and for all the right reasons. 9/10

Mini Reviews 16/02/2020

We may not have time to review every book on our pull-lists but we do aim to provide a snapshot of what's been released over the past week, encompassing the good, the not so good, and those that lie somewhere in between.

THE MAN WHO F#&%ED UP TIME #1

Writer: John Layman

Art: Karl Mostert & Dee Cunniffe

AfterShock $4.99

Jo S: If you've followed my short career in comics reviewing so far, you may be aware that time travel is one of my little bugbears BUT, in my defence, my only real problem with it is where it is discovered at the eleventh hour and used to solve an otherwise unsolvable plot problem. Here, in John Layman and Karl Mostert's new outset, the time-scrambling shenanigans are in place from the start, with the opening page featuring the titular 'man', in trainers and a backpack, being chased through streets of folks wearing stovepipe hats by what appears to be a Mongol warrior riding an armoured stegosaurus. Which is not a sentence I expect to use twice in my life. To anyone who has read John Wyndham's short story collection The Seeds Of Time, especially, 'Chronoclasm', this story rings familiar: Sean Bennett, cruelly undervalued lab assistant, hops into the time machine created largely based on his own work, whizzes back in time a little way, and returns, having made only the tiniest of adjustments, to a world which is clearly very much more different than he intended. Mostert's art reminds me very strongly of Martín Morazzo's work, crisp and fine-lined, with lots of nice detail in historical costume but, combined with Cunniffe's bright daytime colours, it conspires to feel a bit flat and empty in places. Couple that with a distinct feeling of 'I know where this is going', I'm not totally sure this one hit home for me as fully as it might. I'll give it a second issue though - who knows what a small adjustment in the time stream will bring. 6/10

Mini Reviews 09/02/2020

We may not have time to review every book on our pull-lists but we do aim to provide a snapshot of what's been released over the past week, encompassing the good, the not so good, and those that lie somewhere in between.

STAR WARS: DARTH VADER #1

Writer: Greg Pak

Art: Raffaele Ienco & Neeraj Menn

Marvel $4.99

James R: I will start with one of my semi-regular declarations: I love Star Wars. Virtually all of it (Caravan Of Courage and the infamous Holiday Special are the exceptions) but truth be told - I love anything to do with the tales from a long time ago and a galaxy far, far, away. I say this, as of late it seems the online Star Wars discourse has become incredibly negative and hate-filled, and I for one find it pretty distasteful stuff. The last few years as a Star Wars fan have been a delight for me, and I've loved both the continuation of the Skywalker Saga, and the vast majority of the expanded universe stories in both books and comics. This week, Greg Pak and Raffaele Ienco give us another example of why Disney-era Star Wars shouldn't be dismissed out-of-hand. Following on from Charles Soule's superb run on Darth Vader (and keeping with the new Marvel focus), this issue takes us inside Vader's head as he reacts to Luke's refusal of an alliance at the iconic climax to The Empire Strikes Back. The thing that I enjoyed most of all here was that Pak (like Soule before him) is using the comics both to enhance the Prequels and also to create new layers for the iconic characters. The stand-out sequence for me was Vader watching Luke fall through Cloud City, and seeing his figure replaced first by Padme, and then by Shimi, his mother. Pak and Ienco use the language of comics beautifully here, and it immediately sold me on the title. It's not an absolute smash by any means - I felt the action sequence at the end felt a little too 'by the numbers' and even though I like Ienco's work, I don't love it like I did Giuseppe Camuncoli's art in the last iteration of the book. However, it's definitely a strong start, and with Soule's run on the main Star Wars title, this makes for a compelling double-header, and will certainly give me my Star Wars fix until Disney+ (finally!) launches here next month. 7/10

Mini Reviews 02/02/2019

We may not have time to review every book on our pull-lists but we do aim to provide a snapshot of what's been released over the past week, encompassing the good, the not so good, and those that lie somewhere in between.

AVENGERS OF THE WASTELANDS #1

Writer: Ed Brisson

Art: Jonas Scharf

Marvel $3.99

Mike S: I was little sceptical approaching this title: I am not a fan of the over-saturation of a market but after enjoying both Old Man Logan and Old Man Hawkeye (but swerving Old Man Quill because – well, it’s Quill!) I was both looking forward to and, perhaps, a little wary. However, Ed Brisson provides a debut issue that introduces our key players well, albeit with some necessary exposition to fully establish the world we’re inhabiting. We have a new Thor, a thoughtful young Hulk, a new Ant-Man and a Doctor Doom to provide the necessary menace, along with a final page that promises even more shocking developments. The art from Jonas Scharf is expressive when focusing on characterisation and suitably epic when we’re immersed in the action scenes. It has a kind of raw grittiness in places, which is apt considering the title’s location. Particularly noteworthy, as a fan of Jane Foster’s tenure as Thor, is the treatment of Dani Cage as the new Thor, especially in the way Brisson seems to be clearly establishing the fundamental division between Dani’s opinions on the Doom situation and that of her Asgardian alter-ego: an interesting divide that might (or might not) foreshadow later development and conflict. An enjoyable read that certainly promises much moving forward. 8/10

Mini Reviews 26/01/2020

We may not have time to review every book on our pull-lists but we do aim to provide a snapshot of what's been released over the past week, encompassing the good, the not so good, and those that lie somewhere in between.

BIRDS OF PREY GIANT #1

Writers: Various

Art: Various

DC $4.99

Jo S: I've developed something of a soft spot for DC's compendium format books, they seem somehow to have captured the near impossible skill of drawing together a collection of mini-stories in a way that allows each the space to shine in its own right whilst also hanging together nicely on a theme. The six stories here are a neatly tessellated fit: there's variety between big name writers like Gail Simone and Robert Venditti and those perhaps less well-known, such as the Benson sisters, whose story 'Gotham City Limits' is a perfect blend of wholesomeness, heroing, heritage and campfire horror stories, and the artists for each story are clearly carefully chosen - Isaac Goodhart's facial expressions in 'Disguises' are exquisite, for example; Harley's cringing smile as she tries to deal with her old friend's humble-bragging made my toes curl. The upcoming Birds Of Prey (And The Fantabulous Emancipation Of One Harley Quinn) looks set to ensure that the aforementioned two-tone trickster will be absolutely everywhere again, having been one of the few good things about the Suicide Squad movie, but here she (and Poison Ivy too) demonstrates the complex attitude to good and evil that makes her appealing. In Simone's 'Fight or Flight', she talks about how everyone's a little bit grey, not fully in the light or fully in the dark (although her 'Mistah Jay' she accepts is "like, dark dark") and her behaviour throughout is complicated, caught between wanting to do right and her perpetual taste for mayhem. Huntress, Batgirl and Black Canary get to take leading roles in their own stories too - Layman gives a nice twist to Huntress' duel with Deathstroke - and I was especially pleased to see stories from my two favourite writers side by side, with Matt Rosenberg moonlighting on a Black Canary story which must surely draw on his music business experience, and Joëlle Jones helping Harley mastermind a breakout from Arkham - as she says: "Safe is boring. I'd rather have an ADVENTURE!" 7/10

Mini Reviews 19/01/2019

We may not have time to review every book on our pull-lists but we do aim to provide a snapshot of what's been released over the past week, encompassing the good, the not so good, and those that lie somewhere in between.

IRON MAN 2020 #1

Writers: Dan Slott & Christos Gage

Art: Pete Woods

Marvel $4.99

Matt C: A pure nostalgia purchase for me. I remember fondly the reprinted Barry Windsor-Smith Machine Man miniseries (appearing as a back-up in the UK Transformers comic in the 1980s), set in 2020, when 2020 was a not-too-distant sci-fi future rather than the comparatively humdrum present day. The links to that series and this one turn out to be pretty tenuous at best; Machine Man is involved and the Iron Man of 2020 - Arno Stark - is the lead character, but beyond that it's got nothing to do with his original appearance, instead spinning out of events in the current Tony Stark: Iron Man title. Having not followed that series there was some catching up required: current Tony Stark is an A.I. apparently, while Arno Stark is attempting to quell a robot rebellion. This isn't a new concept of course - the sci-fi genre is packed with tales of artificial lifeforms attempting to prove themselves sentient beings and free themselves from slave labour (a strong recent example was the short-lived Magnus reboot by Kyle Higgins and Jorge Fornes from Dynamite). There's not much going on here beyond the expected beats, and pretty much all the characters are unlikeable to some degree, so unless you're already invested in the current Iron Man status quo then this can be easily skipped. 5/10

Mini Reviews 12/01/2020

We may not have time to review every book on our pull-lists but we do aim to provide a snapshot of what's been released over the past week, encompassing the good, the not so good, and those that lie somewhere in between.

STAR #1

Writer: Kelly Thompson

Art: Javier Pina, Filipe Andrade & Jesus Aburtov

Marvel $3.99

Jo S: Anyone thinking "oh, new female Marvel superhero, she's called Star, that'll be cute, girly, inspiring, aimed at kids etc" has a whole new think coming with this opening issue, a spin-off from Thompson's Captain Marvel series. Ripley Ryan is the most damaged of damaged supers, deeply traumatised following her kidnapping by Nuclear Man, she is the repository of a Reality Stone and, before the start of this, her first solo story, has already used it, almost destroying the whole of New York - helluva debut! Captain Marvel stopped her (by punching a hole in her chest) but, as we begin this story, Ryan/Star is somewhere between powered dropout and evil supervillain; pretty much everyone has an axe to grind with her, and every time she is pushed to use her powers the result just makes the situation worse. Thompson's wisecracking monologues balance the utter desperation of Ripley's situation: getting to write Loki (loved his li'l horned baseball cap, very low-key Loki) must have been a treat and she 'gets' Jessica Jones' black sarcasm perfectly (using mind control on Ms Jones proves exactly as ill-advised as you might suspect knowing her history). As her pile of poor decisions grows, things are looking bleak for any possibility of Star's redemption, and it seems as if the slippery slope towards villainy is becoming yet further greased. Of course, hope appears at the final moment, in the form of a character who knows more than a little about redemption from villainy. A fascinating first issue for a genuinely new leading character, with lots of potential to break the mould: I'm truly excited to see where Thompson takes this. 8/10

Mini Reviews 05/01/2020

We may not have time to review every book on our pull-lists but we do aim to provide a snapshot of what's been released over the past week, encompassing the good, the not so good, and those that lie somewhere in between.

STAR WARS #1

Writer: Charles Soule

Art: Jesus Saiz & Arif Prianto

Marvel $4.99

James R: I thought I was finished with Marvel's main Star Wars line when Jason Aaron stepped aside from the core title (personally, I felt it was the last time it captured the magic of George Lucas' universe) however, with this relaunch, it's clear that the right man now has the reins. Charles Soule is a terrific writer, full stop (I was an early advocate of his great OGN Strongman, illustrated by Allen Gladfelter), but he brings a tangible magic to his Star Wars work, managing to add to the rich tapestry of a Galaxy Far, Far Away while never being derivative. Soule is also one of the architects behind this year's 'Project Luminous', a series of interconnected books and comics that might signal the future of the Star Wars movies. This first issue wisely sees the focus moving from the adventures post-A New Hope and centring on the events immediately after The Empire Strikes Back. The narrative also introduces us to a new nemesis for the Rebels in the shape of Imperial Commander Zahra, along with the welcome return of Shara Bey and Kes Dameron (Poe's parents, first introduced in Greg Rucka's Shattered Empire in 2015). Soule also puts Luke front and centre here, and his doubt over what he should do following Darth Vader's revelation will clearly take up a lot of the narrative to come. Jesus Saiz does a fine job on the art, managing to capture the likenesses of actors associated with the characters while still imbuing them with his own style. All told, it's a fine first chapter, and I'm very much on board to see where Soule takes this story. 8/10

Mini Reviews 15/12/2019

We may not have time to review every book on our pull-lists but we do aim to provide a snapshot of what's been released over the past week, encompassing the good, the not so good, and those that lie somewhere in between.

THE RED MOTHER #1

Writer: Jeremy Haun

Art: Danny Luckert

BOOM! Studios $3.99

Mike S: While I usually stick to what I know, the one thing that can sometimes lure me away is the ever-growing horror genre. I have flirted with sci-fi comics, dabbled in the occasional steampunk along the way, but horror always provides me with my favourite non-mainstream/non-mutant titles. So it was with anticipation that I looked forward to BOOM! Studios’ new series, The Red Mother, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint! From the opening scene of the floating corpse to the genuinely spine chilling final page, this was a masterful first issue. Despite my aversion of anything in or near my eyes (you’d think I would have given this a wide berth then but no – far from it!) I loved the concept, found the character interactions to be both real and believable, and fully felt for Daisy in her trauma. There was a growing sense of dread that is so often missing from modern horror titles, as tension is allowed to simmer and build without explosions of movie-style gore littering the pages. Equally powerful is Luckert’s art, with lifelike characters contrasted with the more supernatural elements. The gradually increasing use of red in the latter half of the issue combined with the excellently paced script to crank up the tension and dread for the shocking and creepy ending. Like all good horror tales, the debut issue raises far more questions than it answers but that is what I loved about The Red Mother #1: a thrilling, chilling opener to what I hope will my newest horror comic hit! 9/10

Mini Reviews 08/12/2019

We may not have time to review every book on our pull-lists but we do aim to provide a snapshot of what's been released over the past week, encompassing the good, the not so good, and those that lie somewhere in between.

SUPERMAN: UP IN THE SKY #6

Writer: Tom King

Art: Andy Kubert, Sandra Hope & Brad Anderson

DC $4.99

Matt C: There's been a lot of chatter across social media during the last couple of weeks following the appearance of an article that suggested DC Films were struggling to find a way to make Superman relevant in the modern world. Plenty of people quickly came out with their own thoughts and ideas, enough to prove that the Man of Steel is as relevant as he's ever been, but if only there was a way to encapsulate all those positive ideas in one single, easily digestible package? Well, luckily for DC Films, Superman: Up In The Sky is a prime example of exactly why the original superhero is still the best. Over the course of six issues (originally published in the Walmart-exclusive Superman Giant) writer Tom King has coalesced all the traits that make Clark Kent and his alter-ego so inspiring, so uplifting and so necessary.  In what is ostensibly a mission across the universe to free a kidnapped girl, King has explored various aspects of Clark's personality, from both external and internal perspectives, highlighting his resilience, his tenacity and his implicit need to do the right thing, no matter the cost. Andy Kubert and co provide images that not only soar when required but also focus on the 'humanity' of Clark and those around him. It's one of the best Superman tales in years (ever?) and if DC Films took a look at this and still couldn't figure out how to make the character relevant again, perhaps they should pass on creative control to those who do, because fortunately, some people get it in such a way that they can build a unifying belief in an audience that a man can still fly. 10/10

Mini Reviews 01/12/2019

We may not have time to review every book on our pull-lists but we do aim to provide a snapshot of what's been released over the past week, encompassing the good, the not so good, and those that lie somewhere in between.

JOHN CONSTANTINE: HELLBLAZER #1

Writer: Simon Spurrier

Art: Aaron Campbell & Jordie Bellaire

DC $3.99

Mike S: Being a latecomer to the Constantine phenomenon, I was a little torn over this title. I loved the earlier stuff from Vertigo when I picked up the trades but felt that Justice League Dark watered him down a little too much, possibly based on his CW representation from Legends Of Tomorrow, so I was thrilled to see that Spurrier is definitely returning the character to his Vertigo roots. He perfectly captures the cynical, dark humour of Constantine and the moral ambiguity in shades of grey - not black and white - is abundantly clear to see. Also, while many books have settings that are generic and nondescript, making them instantly transferable, this one simply oozes London, even down to the vaping trend, as well as the range of accents. Contrary to the current trend, this is a first issue that is less about setting up stories than throwing us straight in at the deep end! Campbell and Bellaire on art duties really elevate the story to a whole new dark and gritty level, as befits such a character and the Black Label format. It is creepy, horror-tinged and so reminiscent of the artwork of the original series that it provokes a real sense of nostalgia in me, prompting me to dig out my old trades. Bellaire deserves particular praise for the use of colour both in terms of shadow and light: it really is stunning! Hopefully the team remain with the book for a long time and this is just a taste of what they have in store for John under the Black Label banner: if it is, it’ll be a treat! 9/10

Mini Reviews 24/11/2019

We may not have time to review every book on our pull-lists but we do aim to provide a snapshot of what's been released over the past week, encompassing the good, the not so good, and those that lie somewhere in between.

DEADPOOL #1

Writer: Kelly Thompson

Art: Chris Bachalo, Wayne Faucher, Tim Townsend, Al Vey, Jaime Mendoza, Livesay, Victor Olazaba & David Curiel

Marvel $4.99

Jo S: Damn, I love Deadpool! I just love him. I think I'm probably not supposed to, and maybe I'm falling for a genius marketing strategy etc etc but I cannot help it, that craggy-faced rogue steals my heart, so I wondered, going into this new start, whether Thompson would tune into the character, whether she could match the enjoyment I'd got out of previous DP series. I can report that, in all honesty, no, there is no matching here: instead this is a whole new realm of awesomeness for the 'Pool. Reading this on a busy early train, I had to grab a tissue as I was laughing so hard it made my eyes stream, to the consternation of fellow passengers. Thompson picks up our Merc with a Mouth and throws him head first into battle with a giant King of Monsters and then threads the backstory to his (currently bisected) situation around the fight and the ensuing ceremonial outcome. Wade's new Chamberlain is a work of genius (think giant shoebill stork/secretary bird crossed with C-3PO); the arrival a certain filthy mouthed Brit monster hunter and her effect on Wade (incapable as he is of leaving a thought unexpressed) is timed to perfection and the means of bringing fan-favourite Jeff the Landshark into the story manages to out-Deadpool even Deadpool himself: Thompson is utterly brilliant and I would be the first to my feet with a standing ovation. Reflecting, amplifying and animating Thompson's skills, Bachalo's art is superb as well: he masters the kind of close-up that takes the reader right into the centre of the action, giving you the feeling that there must be things going on over your own shoulder, and then stretches out to give a wide shot of Wade's... apartment? Lair?... which is so rich in detail and in-jokes that I pored over it for some time. No wonder this took a small army of inkers! I can't recommend this enough: the days are dull and gloomy at this time of year - get yourself some festive Deadpool, it'll perk you right up. 10/10

Mini Reviews 17/11/2019

We may not have time to review every book on our pull-lists but we do aim to provide a snapshot of what's been released over the past week, encompassing the good, the not so good, and those that lie somewhere in between.

MORBIUS #1

Writer: Vita Ayala

Art: Marcelo Ferreira, Roberto Poggi & Dono Sánchez-Almara

Marvel $3.99

Mike S: So right off the bat, I have to confess to never having been a huge Spider-Man fan (shocking I know!) so my experience of Morbius is limited to random appearances in other books, an occasional miniseries along the way or a one shot. Looking for something new, and enjoying my forays into the more horror-tinged elements of comicdom, I decided to give Morbius a chance and I am glad to say that, so far, I am pleased that I did. While this issue is set in only two locations, it is a solid introduction to both the character and the concept of the vampiric anti-hero with a moral compass. In a throwback to his origins, we get a debut issue that is almost '70s in its sensibilities: a very straightforward story based in action which is then elevated by a nostalgic Marvelesque dose of thought-provoking philosophy - this time on the moral turpitude and fibre of humanity in the form of some Aristotelian ethics and a belief in the ‘greatest good’. The action sequences involving an attack on the Melter and his cronies is scripted simply but effectively and drawn well, with dynamic use of colour, shadow and movement. There is a real sense of horror to the artwork that, while it cannot match the work of the legendary master of horror books (Gene Colan if you’re wondering), it is nevertheless strong and powerful in its own right. Morbius #1 delivers a '70s inspired mix of horror, bloodshed and angst, juxtaposed with smart philosophy in an issue that is well balanced enough to appeal to most readers. 8/10

Mini Reviews 10/11/2019

We may not have time to review every book on our pull-lists but we do aim to provide a snapshot of what's been released over the past week, encompassing the good, the not so good, and those that lie somewhere in between.

LEGION OF SUPERHEROES #1

Writer: Brian Michael Bendis

Art: Ryan Sook & Jordie Bellaire

DC $3.99

Mike S: Welcome to the 31st century! After many revamps and relaunches, Bendis and Sook certainly have their work cut out for them. And, by and large, this title doesn’t disappoint. Is it perfect? No. However, does it have enough potential to bring the reader back? It certainly does. Unlike previous incarnations, Bendis has rooted the initial mystery in the established DC Universe with the inclusion of Aquaman’s trident. Sook’s artwork is stunning, with some highly imaginative designs and some much needed updating of classic characters which, as a long standing fan, I didn’t find jarring at all. The sci-fi concepts are beautifully presented, with some interesting new developments - including New Gotham - that are destined to expand the Legion’s world. Bendis, to me, has long underwhelmed with his dialogue and lack of distinctive voices for his large cast books and, while this is a concern here due to the number of characters, so far it is not jarring enough to prevent me returning to the book. Not being a follower of the Superman titles, the inclusion of Jon Kent is interesting, with echoes of the early Legion tales but with a more modern, diverse sensibility that is refreshing. There’s a real sense of teen wonder as the assembled Legion release their inner fanboy over Superboy’s inclusion. The various costumes are familiar, based on the classic outfits but with modern twists and the designs, especially of characters such as Princess Projectra, Dream Girl and Element Lad which really emphasise their alien nature. Added to this we have several new Legionnaires, including Dr Fate and a Gold Lantern, neither of whom have been on a Legion team in the past. While it is a little light on narrative beyond the introduction of both the huge ensemble cast and new worlds, tt's a well-structured, well written and beautifully presented debut issue. 7/10

Mini Reviews 03/11/2019

We may not have time to review every book on our pull-lists but we do aim to provide a snapshot of what's been released over the past week, encompassing the good, the not so good, and those that lie somewhere in between.

EXCALIBUR #1

Writer: Tini Howard

Art: Marcus To & Erick Arciniega

Marvel $4.99

Matt C: The Brit-centric X-book is relaunched under the 'Dawn of X' banner and, as you'd expect from the huge shake-up of the franchise, this is a long way from the original incarnation of the team. It wouldn't be Excalibur without a Braddock front and centre, and while Brian Braddock aka Captain Britain is enjoying marital bliss with Meggan - and fatherhood! (When did that happen?!) - Betsy Braddock aka Psylocke is taking the lead (now back in her original body to boot - how long have I been away from the X-Men for?!). Krakoa has changed things dramatically for the mutant population of Earth, which means Apocalypse (now referring to himself as something unpronounceable in Krakoan language) finds himself on the same side as previous mortal enemies, and he's the one who first gets wind of something amiss in Otherworld, the fabled realm of Camelot and the Captain Britain Corps and - importantly - magic. Magic seems like it will be a heavy focus of this series, which distinguishes it from the other books under the 'Dawn Of X' umbrella, and the strong characterization that's always been a trademark of the best X-stories is firmly present in Howard's sharp script. To's excellent art combined with Arciniega's blooming colours fit nicely with the visual template set by House Of X/Powers Of X and, after originally expecting to follow the Hickman books only, I found myself enjoying both Marauders #1 and Excalibur #1 more than X-Men #1. And that's hugely promising for the future of the franchise. 8/10

Mini Reviews 20/10/2019

We may not have time to review every book on our pull-lists but we do aim to provide a snapshot of what's been released over the past week, encompassing the good, the not so good, and those that lie somewhere in between.

X-MEN #1

Writer: Jonathan Hickman

Art: Leinil Francis Yu, Gary Alanguilan & Sunny Gho

Marvel $4.99

Mike S: So the ‘brave new world’ of the X-Men launches in earnest with X-Men #1 and while it is a debut largely lacking in high octane action, bar an attack by four of the X-Men’s true powerhouses, it is refreshing to see the franchise return to a focus on character and interaction. Not only do we get a continuation of an element of HOX/POX with the inclusion of Orchis, but we also get to explore yet more of Krakoa: I have always loved Dr Reyes, so it’s nice that she hasn’t been forgotten. Hickman’s focus for issue #1 is firmly on the Summers clan, from a flashback to Cyclops receiving his ruby quartz lenses to an extended family barbeque in their new base on the moon, and this seems fitting. There are some interesting and refreshing character dynamics here and I liked Scott’s interactions with both Polaris (historically much under-utilised in core X titles) and Corsair. There is real engagement and conversation from characters who, while familiar, seem more energised than they have in years. Is it perfect? No. Although I loved Hickman’s writing and characterisation, the same cannot be said for Yu’s artwork. I guess he’s a marmite artist and for me it just doesn’t grab me: certainly not for a flagship title like X-Men. I am aware this might place me in the minority but while I liked the use of colour with a darker tone in the action scenes and a vibrant Krakoa with its endless possibilities, I just found Yu’s artwork disappointing and typically lacking dynamism. It’s not enough to stop me coming back but it certainly isn’t attracting me to the title. While this new world of mutants is different and new, Hickman’s writing reminds us that despite the fantastical, including living islands, endless clones and resurrections, the real core of the X-Men is family and it is this that will always draw me back to the World of X. 8/10

Mini Reviews 13/10/2019

We may not have time to review every book on our pull-lists but we do aim to provide a snapshot of what's been released over the past week, encompassing the good, the not so good, and those that lie somewhere in between.

STRANGE SKIES OVER EAST BERLIN #1

Writer: Jeff Loveness

Art: Lisandro Estherren & Patricio Depeche

BOOM! Studios $3.99

Jo S: Loveness is probably best known for screenwriting Rick And Morty, which may seem an unusual pedigree for a story about Stasi agents in 1973 East Berlin, but he clearly has the required chops. An agent identified only as Herring is aiding the violently foiled escape of a small group of East Berliners over the wall when he is witness to a dramatic incident also seen by thousands across the city on both sides. Shady contacts set him the mission of finding out more about the incident, which has been immediately shrouded in secrecy. While Loveness executes a clever mix of shadowy historical secretiveness and unnerving science fiction, in the proud tradition of Cold War storytelling, Estherren's artwork moves it into a whole new realm; dingy alleyway meetings, stark post-war architecture lit by searchlight, fresh horror further twisting faces lined by daily horrors; all contribute to an atmospheric piece which requires my further attention. 8/10