Welcome back to a new comic book reviews round-up! We are in the early days of 2025 as publisher get into the grove of what they will be delivering in the new year. For this edition of the comic book reviews round-up we are looking at Absolute Batman #4, Amazing Spider-Man #65, Aquaman #1, Transformers #16, Ultimate Black Panther #12, and Uncanny X-Men 8. Find out how these turned out with our comic book reviews round-up for January 8th.
ABSOLUTE BATMAN #4
CREATIVE TEAM
Plot: Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Gabriel Hernandez Walta
Colorist: Frank Martin
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Absolute Batman #4 does an excellent job condensing the Year Zero/Year One origin story of the character. In the process Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta pay homage to all the variations to stories about Batman’s early days, from comics to movies, in way that both honors and makes this its own take. The way the origin is told provides greater insight on why Bruce Wayne took the direction he did as Batman in the Absolute Universe. Gabriel Hernandez Walta artwork adds so much to this tale. Walta’s artwork gives this entire Year One origin an urban legend feel that is so fitting.
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #65
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Joe Kelly
Artist: Cafu
Colorist: Frank D’Armata
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
The deeper we have gotten into “The 8 Deaths of Spider-Man” storyline the better it has gotten. Amazing Spider-Man #65 is proof of that as this is easily the best chapter Joe Kelly has written of the issues he’s done in this storyline. Having the focus of what death means to Peter Parker when it is not him but those around him is a great way to show the mental toll of this storyline. Even though he is ultimately able to overcome the latest challenge Peter has been changed by the experience he’s had in Amazing Spider-Man #65. What that means for this storyline will be interesting to see.
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
AQUAMAN #1
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jeremy Adams
Artist: John Timms
Colorist: Rex Lokus
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Aquaman #1 delivers everything a reader could want from picking up a new series. Aquaman and his world are presented as important parts of the DC Universe. The way things quickly escalate with ties to the ending of Absolute Power and beginning of DC All In make Aquaman one of the company’s key titles. Having that level of importance makes this one of DC Comics most exciting series to read moving forward. Click here to read full review.
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
TRANSFORMERS #16
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson
Artist: Jorge Corona
Colorist: Sara Stern
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Transformers #16 is exactly how you set the tone for a new year. From beginning to end everything that happens has a sense of importance. That importance is built on what happened in the previous fifteen issues of this series. Click here to read full review.
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
ULTIMATE BLACK PANTHER #12
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Bryan Hill
Artist: Stefano Caselli
Colorist: David Curiel
Letterer: Cory Petit
Ultimate Black Panther #12 is the chapter that this Moon Knight saga has certainly needed. The length of this story certainly continues to be felt but at least now we know we are close to the end. There is still the feeling that Bryan Hill has stretched this story far longer than it should have. But even then how this issue explores the toll this war against the Moon Knights has taken continues to make T’Challa’s development something you want to keep watching. That is enough to find out how this Moon Knight saga will end, hopefully in the next issue of Ultimate Black Panther.
Overall Rating: 6.5 Night Girls out of 10
UNCANNY X-MEN #8
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Gail Simone
Artist: Javier Garron
Colorist: Matthew Wilson
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Uncanny X-Men #8 is a strong conclusion to the “Raid on Graymalkin” that sets up a lot of interesting things for the franchise to tackle in 2025. The interest in what comes after is a credit to what is accomplished with the complexities behind the choices Cyclops and Rogue as X-Men leaders have to make. The fallout of those choices provide plenty of opportunity for exploration in different, exciting ways. Click here to read full review.
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
For more opinions on anime, comic book, movies, and sports you can follow Kevin on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, and Twitter/X.