There were some damn good books these last few weeks, so we’re not gonna waste much time. This week’s Substack is a day later than usual because I just got back from a vacation/4th of July Party/20th Wedding Anniversary and needed a day to recover from all that, as amazing as it was. Apologies in advance for any typos. I didn’t have the energy for my usual level of copy editing.
I’m going to touch on a couple things very briefly and then dive straight into the reviews. Next week I’ll have more hot takes, reading suggestions and news to cover. I promise.
The early reviews weren’t super kind to Supergirl, so I was a bit worried. But I actually enjoyed the flick. Was it perfect? No. But I also think the source material has been a bit overhyped. Woman of Tomorrow as a comic series was good, but I don’t think it was as great as people were building it up to be.
That being said, if it’s your absolute favorite story of all time, more power to you. If you loved the Supergirl movie, great. If you didn’t, that’s cool, too. But ignore the review-bombing, see it for yourself and judge it on its own merits. If you don’t like James Gunn, try to check that at the door, because he didn’t write or direct this flick. That doesn’t mean you’ll like it or dislike it. Just make sure you’re evaluating it based on the film itself and not all the noise surrounding it.
I had a good time. I was entertained. That was enough for me. Happy to have a more in-depth discussion on it if people want to.
One of the most highly requested reprints in the Marvel Omnibus library is finally coming. The entire Daredevil by Charles Soule run is being reprinted in omnibus format and hitting store shelves in March of 2027. This is a great run that predominantly, though not exclusively, features art by Ron Garney. It also features the first appearance of characters like Blindspot and the villainous Muse.
This run takes place immediately after Mark Waid’s and leads directly into Chip Zdarsky’s era. I can’t stress enough how good this Daredevil era was. And if you read last year’s Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell — the one that was praised by critics and fans alike — that was written by the very same Charles Soule. So don’t miss out on this one if you love collected editions. It’s fan-fucking-tastic.
The 14th Substack missive brings with it my favorite Daredevil #14 covers. First up is issue 14 from the Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto 2022 run, with Checchetto on cover art. Not only is it a gorgeous cover, but when you understand the context of how that run ended, it fits perfectly.
Then we have the first cover appearance of the villain Muse from the 2015 Charles Soule and Ron Garney run. This cover is from killer artist Dan Panosian and is such a striking image of a captivating character. I particularly love how he treated the trade dress as a piece of Muse’s art with the blood dripping down the cover. Both books are great reads in addition to having phenomenal covers.
And now, for the …
I fucking love this book! Pick of the week, hands down. Palmiotti and Reynolds are one of the best creative teams in comics today. Period. The writing is so good, the art so captivating, I literally went back and reread it just because I wasn’t ready for it to end. If you’re a fan of Westerns, you HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK. If you’re a fan of supernatural stories, you’ll enjoy this even more. Honestly, it’s the best title in the entire Spawn line-up, for my money.
It’s not about right vs wrong, it’s about different perspectives in a hellish landscape. That’s what I love so much about Escape. Milton is a compelling central character because he’s not the white knight and doesn’t always occupy the moral high ground, nor does he claim to. And while he does what he feels he has to and sees his enemies as true villains, he never sees himself as heroic. Milton is just doing what has to be done to defeat evil. He accepts collateral damage in that mission in a way that makes his actions hard to swallow, not because he shouldn’t do what he’s doing, but because it exacts a toll. Rick Remender and Daniel Acuna are doing something really powerful and special with this book and everyone should be reading it.
“If you politicians don’t like the taste of war in your mouth, drink from a different cup.” Rogue One is my favorite Star Wars film — and yes, I grew up with the OG trilogy. So when I heard Marc Bernardin was writing a Saw Gerrera one-shot, I was all over it like a Bantha in heat. And it did not disappoint. The writing was so pitch-perfect I swear I could hear Forrest Whitaker’s voice reading the entire issue to me. And goddamn, the art from Gabriel Guzman and Federico Blee? Just looking at Saw’s face in these pages, you could see every scar from the war in his haunted eyes. I fucking loved this book.
Excellent read. Frank doesn’t utter a single word. Doesn’t even have the highest body count of anyone in this issue. But there’s constant motion and momentum as he moves from page to page while someone else does the killing. It builds anticipation for the eventual showdown because it’s rare when we see a villain rack up a higher body count in any one issue than the Punisher himself. Ben Percy has a great sense for how to write Frank Castle and fans of the classic Punisher books should feel right at home with this new run. And I can’t get enough of this killer cover by David Marquez.
How we deal with stress, anger and emotional trauma. Why we hurt others and why we hurt ourselves. Guilt for things we cannot control. These are all the things we get in this jam-packed issue. Plus tons of action and solid art from Patrick Gleason. Tombstone is still very different from the current Punisher books — which are my favorite representation of his character to date — but there’s still a cool moment with him and Spidey that I really dug. Overall, this issue really captures the core of what it means to be Peter Parker/Spider-Man. I’ve said it before, Joe Kelly is not getting enough credit for what he’s doing here. So many people have just become used to hating current Spidey books because we had a rough stretch that I don’t think they’re giving this one a chance.
We’re barreling toward this arc’s conclusion. This is Donald Blake like you’ve never seen, set up way back in the first half of Ewing’s Thor run. There’s a soul in the balance and you can feel Sigurd/Thor’s fear — his struggle and what he wants for his life vs what his destiny might be. It touches on that fear of whether we actually have a say in how our life unfolds or if all the choices have already been made for us. Saiz art is pitch perfect, as always. I was a big fan of the first half of Ewing’s Immortal Thor, but then it fell off for me in the second half. Mortal Thor has felt closer to what I liked about his earlier work with the character and I’m excited to see where it goes.
Lately, I’ve found myself really itching for more in the magical corners of Marvel and DC, and this book definitely scratches that itch. Stephen Strange has given over control of his body to Lord Strange, essentially a less-scrupulous alter ego who will cross lines Stephen won’t and has access to darker magics Stephen doesn’t. He and Angela find out more about the origins of two threats they’re facing and that killing either one is more complicated than they thought. While it doesn’t rise to the level of Jed MacKay’s Doctor Strange run, IMO, I have really been enjoying what Derek Landy is doing with the title.
This might be my favorite issue so far in Williamson’s new run on Iron Man. We’re getting closer to understanding what has the other superheroes so worried about Tony Stark. At the same time, you can see Tony’s good intentions and it’s easy to be on his side and think Rhodey and the others aren’t giving him a fair shake. Meanwhile, in the background you have Madame Masque and Adam Ware building a new and more dangerous A.I.M. and bringing back a classic Iron Man villain in that pursuit. All this makes it feel like a classic Iron Man story, more so than what we’ve got in other Iron Man books in the last few years. You can tell how much Williamson likes the character and is having fun writing the book, and that’s exactly what Iron Man needs right now.
Very cool read. Continues the winning streak of the new What If books. There are no easy choices, no real innocents. Just difficult choices with dire consequences. The fun about What If is the debate about which version you’d prefer — what happened or what could have happened. Sometimes the alternate path leads to a better ending, but often times it’s a much darker one for at least some of the characters involved. This one is definitely the latter. If you’ve got room in your budget, this is a fun read. If funds are tight, since it’s not involved in a current main continuity storyline, you can always wait until it hits Marvel Unlimited or buy it when they eventually put out a trade paperback with all of these new What If books.
Fraction and Jimenez have given us a foil for Batman that genuinely excites me. Lady Ojo is a cold-blooded professional killer and I want to know more about who she is and where she comes from. I would like for the Vandal Savage plot to move at a faster clip, though. Feels like there are a lot of pauses in that story — issues where it nudges forward a little but not as much as I want. Still, I am really enjoying Matt Fraction’s take on Batman, Jimenez’s art is always great and like I said — I’ll take all the story about Lady Ojo that they’ll give us. Batman is pretty much always worth a spot on your Pull List, but Fraction and Jimenez are certainly doing the book justice in their own right.
I really like how Matthew Rosenberg paces out a story. He hooks you early not by jumping straight into action but by setting a scene and developing a good rhythm with dialogue. When he does bring the action, it’s in the right amounts for the right length, then punctuating it with more strong dialogue and character work. Then back to the action. In this issue, there’s a meeting of the city’s top crime bosses where they’re talking about what to do next now that Heaven and Hell have abandoned Earth and the police are being overrun. But what will Spawn have to say about that?
I’m a fan of Gail Simone and I liked the first two issues, and I liked this one. Just not as much. There are parts of it that are awesome. But the middle chunk gets super meta in its commentary about the comics industry and today’s music landscape, while the setting is 20+ years in the past. Not saying I necessarily disagree with anything being said, but it feels like a forced interruption in the main story rather than something that happens organically. Still, the last third of the issue is what I was hoping for and sets the stage for a strong next issue.
We’ve got a new lineup for The Scorched this issue and it’s full of badasses like She-Spawn, Gunslinger, Redeemer and Soul Crusher. They infiltrate a hostage situation in Belarus and things get very bloody. Vitti’s art is awesome — there’s a splash page with Gunslinger and Soul Crusher that you don’t want to miss. Great pacing and action. Being new to the whole Spawn Universe, though, I am a little confused about how a mission like this fits into the overall mission statement of The Scorched. It didn’t seem like there was anything tying it to the larger story throughout the universe, but that’s could be explained in future issues. Either way, I had a damn good time reading this issue.
Kind of light on the swordplay in this issue, which is always the biggest draw when it comes to Zorro. That being said, it was a decent issue. This iteration of the franchise is very surface level, at least in these first couple of issues. Fun enough. Nothing really juicy to sink your teeth into plot-wise yet, but it’s enjoyable enough. Especially when reading for free with the Global Comix Gold subscription. Don’t think it would make the cut if I had to pay cover price, though.
I’m sure some will cry about forced corporate synergy with Lobo being in this book and there’s currently a Supergirl movie in theaters that features Lobo. I don’t give a shit. This was a fucking good read. Parker and Sheridan wrote a perfect take on this Elseworlds Lobo. He was badass, charismatic, scary — everything you want. Perfect thing to scare the shit out of Kara, on the run and trying to protect Kal. The Lantern Corps’ involvement makes total sense and so does the ending of this issue, even though I never thought that’s where this miniseries would go. And Rod Reis is turning in some fucking great artwork. Highly recommend this one.
Very strong start to a new arc. Batgirl is back in Gotham, solving a murder that triggers a buried, forgotten memory. There are strong links to Bronze Tiger but we don’t know exactly what just yet. That adds an interesting dynamic with her brother since he is Bronze Tiger’s son. For me, Batgirl as a book is at its finest when using Cassandra Cain’s detective and combat skills to really show how formidable she is. I feel like the character is constantly underestimated and underappreciated and she’s just waiting for that seminal run that elevates her to insane levels. I don’t think this run is necessarily that, but I think it’s a solid step in the right direction.
Waited for this one to hit DC Infinite. I am a fan of the Deadman character but wasn’t really feeling the art style, so waiting a month for it to hit the app’s Ultra Tier was fine with me. The art style does grown on you, as it fits the style of storytelling here. There’s a lot of text, which I’m certainly OK with, given how much I like writers like Kevin Smith and Brian Michael Bendis. But it may be a chore for some fans. The overall story is a little slow to start, but the final 1/3 picks up the pace. Hopefully issue 2 keeps that momentum from the end of 1. I enjoyed it, but not as much as I enjoy Boston Brand/Deadman in other titles like Justice League Dark.
Honestly, outside of Elektra (who I care about because of her long history and not anything related to this particular story) there wasn’t a single character in this non-stop action issue that I gave a shit about. If one — hell, if all of them died and the bad guys won — I wouldn’t have batted an eye. It wasn’t until the final page that they brought in a couple characters that I have any real interest in. But I doubt they’ll get any better treatment than Elektra has. I’m honestly only reading the next issue because of Elektra and those two characters. And next issue might be where I tap out.
This iteration of the New Avengers had its ups and downs. I was really intrigued by the lineup and there were issues that were really good and others that were really bad. The overall story concept was cool, but the Killuminati were too cheesy 99% of the time and that undercut the New Avengers team built to battle them. Made them feel like the B-team, at best. And while he had some strong moments in this series, I haven’t been a fan of how Bucky Barnes has been treated for a long time now. He was the freakin’ Winter Soldier and then Captain America for a time. He’s an absolute badass who gets treated like a B-list screw-up most days now and I’m not a fan of that. I’d love to see a Winter Soldier and Black Widow series more in the vein of Brubaker’s Cap run. Give both characters their due.
This is a mixed bag for me. I’ve been wanting more of a mystery-focused book, given that the whole purpose of this X-Force iteration is for Cable to find out which one of them assassinates Kamala Khan in the future in order to prevent it. I love that premise, but it feels like each issue is a random mission that is not super interesting and then the last 4 to 5 pages of each issue circles back to the bigger mystery and hooks my attention again. Same thing here. First 2/3rds were so-so. Last 1/3rd had my attention, full-stop. So I guess I’m onboard to read Issue 4. I’m just not counting the days until I can.
Rogue is still trying to find out what Project P.E.G.A.S.U.S. was all about and doesn’t know why her powers are on the fritz. Normally I’m not a big fan of the lost-their-powers trope, but in this case, I don’t mind it. It gives her vulnerabilities while at the same time shows how capable she can be without flight or super strength. Everything just hurts a lot more. This has been a fun miniseries so far. Perfect for catching up with on the Marvel Unlimited app.
This book continues to surprise me. As much as I love Psylocke, I thought this would be another throwaway X-Men adjacent miniseries. And while it hasn’t been earth-shattering, it has been fun. Elektra’s presence is a constant, building tension and anticipation throughout the book. Logan and Jubilee are used well in this issue, fitting things into the context of Uncanny X-Men lore/history we’re familiar with. Longtime X fans will appreciate those nods. And Psylocke has always had a compelling struggle — Betsy Braddock’s mind in Kwannon’s body — not even recognizing her own reflection in the mirror. Her movements feeling foreign in her own body. All of that is front and center here.
Until next time, here’s this week’s Pull List …
DAREDEVIL #4
UNCANNY X-MEN #31
ABSOLUTE BATMAN #22
ABSOLUTE CATWOMAN #2
EXQUISITE CORPSES: RASCAL RANDY #1
THE ROCKETEER: INFILITRATOR #1
WITNESS POINT #1
ZORRO’S LEGACY #1
OPERATION IRON COFFIN #1
BARBARA GORDON: BREAKOUT #2 (DC INFINITE ULTRA)
FURY OF FIRESTORM #3 (DC INFINITE ULTRA)
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #17 (DC INFINITE ULTRA)
WONDER MAN #1 (MARVEL UNLIMITED)
THE ETERNALS 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1 (MARVEL UNLIMITED)
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