Happy New Comic Book Day! It is another packed week of comic book releases. We saw some major releases with Nightwing #300 and Fall of the House of X #4, both comics we have standalone reviews for. Those aren’t the only notable comic books that came out this week. With that in mind our latest comic book reviews round-up is going to be spotlighting Avengers: Twilight #5, Cobra Commander #4, I Heart Skull Crushers! #2, The Spectacular Spider-Men #2, Titans #10, and Ultimate Black Panther #3. Find out how these turned out with our latest comic book reviews round-up for 4/17/24.
AVENGERS: TWILIGHT #5
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Daniel Acuña
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
REVIEW
By the end of Avengers: Twilight #5 all the cards are on the board. That is an extremely dangerous board for the Captain America-led Defenders as the truth about what H-Day was is shown. The revelation of the truth of what H-Day means further drives home how this entire alternate Marvel Universe has been shaped by Red Skull. It certainly drives home that Red Skull is the ultimate evil. Which is on top of the power Red Skull shows when we see him fight Captain America and Thor while manipulating Tony Stark’s son to fight his father. The results of Avengers: Twilight #5 is a compelling penultimate chapter to drive interest in the finale for Chip Zdarsky and Daniel Acuña’s mini-series as high as it can be.
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
BLOW AWAY #1
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Zac Thompson
Artist: Nicola Izzo
Colorists: Francesco Segala and Gloria Martinelli
Letterer: DC Hopkins
REVIEW
Blow Away #1 absolutely nails how to use the setting to get the reader invested in the main character and story. The chemistry Zac Thompson and Nicola Izzo showed as a creative was top notch. If you are looking for an intense mystery thriller, make sure to check out Blow Away #1. Click her to read full review.
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
COBRA COMMANDER #4
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Andrea Milana
Colorist: Annalisa Leoni
Letterer: Rus Wooton
REVIEW
Cobra Commander #4 is a bit of a victim of its own success. There is no doubt that this issue continues the momentum from the previous three issues. The battle between Cobra Commander and Nemesis Enforcers is appropriately brutal. We see why Cobra Commander is to be respected not just for his fearful leadership and strategy but also how he fights. Nemesis Enforcer was the perfect opponent to showcase this side of Cobra Commander. That said, the big reveal moments just don’t hit like ones made in previous issues. Maybe if the moment in this issue was switched with the reveal at the end of the first issue it would be more impactful. Even then Cobra Commander #4 is still a very good comic book that adds to what is going on in the Energon Universe.
Overall Rating: 7.5 Night Girls out of 10
FALL OF THE HOUSE OF X #4
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Gerry Duggan
Artists: Lucas Werneck and Jethro Morales
Colorist: Bryan Valenza
Letterer: Travis Lanham
REVIEW
Fall of the House of X #4 is a strong penultimate issue to this mini-series. There were plenty of moments of payoff, especially with Apocalypse actions. The surprise turn by Charles Xavier elevates the stakes even more as we are at the endgame of the Krakoa Era. Click here to read full review.
Overall Rating: 7.5 Night Girls out of 10
I HEART SKULL CRUSHERS! #2
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Josie Campbell
Artist: Alessio Zonno
Colorist: Angel De Santiago
Letterer: Jim Campbell
REVIEW
I Heart Skull-Crusher #2 carries forward the energetic momentum from the debut issue. Josie Campbell nails telling the story of this world through the various interactions Trini has. Trini both stands out on her own as a character you’re invested in and our guide to find other characters to also enjoy, either as good and antagonist side. Alessio Zonno artwork adds to all of this with how they mix in elements you see in manga, anime, and webtoons. It creates a unique energy to both the character interactions and action sequences we don’t see from comic books. If you have already, make sure to pick up I Heart Skull Crushers! #2 along with the first issue. This is a ready experience not to be missed out on.
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
NIGHTWING #113
CREATIVE TEAM
Writers: Tom Taylor, Marv Wolfman, and Michael W. Conrad
Artists: Daniele Di Nicuolo, Bruno Redondo, and Howard Porter
Colorists: Adriano Lucas and Hi-Fi
Letterers: Wes Abbott
REVIEW
Nightwing #113 is a phenomenal comic book to celebrate the character’s 300th comic book issue. The chemistry Nightwing has with his cast is on full display. A touching scene between Dick Grayson and Marv Wolfman took this comic book to the next level. This is a must have for every Nightwing fan. Click here to read full review.
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
THE SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MEN #2
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Greg Weisman
Artist: Humberto Ramos
Inker: Victor Olazaba
Colorist: Edgar Delgado
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
REVIEW
The Spectacular Spider-Men #2 solidifies that this title will be about fun. Sure, there are some of the typical Spider-Man drama we are used to but at the end of the day this comic book highlights the fun Peter Parker and Miles Morales chemistry. That chemistry continues to shine through every time Peter and Miles share screen time together. Even a fight with Vermin has a different energy than previous fights with the villain(s) because of the banter Peter and Miles share as Spider-Men. The utilization of the rest of the Spider-Man supporting cast not seen in Amazing Spider-Man or other Spider-Man titles adds to how refreshing this series is. For Spider-Man fans simply looking for a fun title to check out The Spectacular Spider-Men #2 delivers just that.
Overall Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
TITANS #10
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Lucas Meyer
Colorist: Adriano Lucas
Letterer: Wes Abbott
REVIEW
There is an art to one-shot style storytelling. That is especially the case when using the one-shot method in an ongoing series. Titans #10 by Tom Taylor and Lucas Meyer is an example of how this style of storytelling can enhance the bigger narrative that is being told in a series. That is what we get here with Trigon manipulating the current state of the DC Universe push Raven to become his successor as the “Dark-Winged Queen.” Tapping into the developments we saw in Raven’s story in Tales of the Titans #2 with the rivalry she has with her brother, Trilogy, was a great way to push this story forward. How the rest of the Titans continue to deal with all the things going on with Raven at the center, whether they notice it or not, makes the entire story even more engaging.
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
ULTIMATE BLACK PANTHER #3
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Bryan Hill
Artist: Stefano Caselli
Colorist: David Curiel
Letterer: Cory Petit
REVIEW
With each passing issue Ultimate Black Panther continues to get better. The first two issues were focused on building out the Ultimate Universe version of Wakanda. Now with Ultimate Black Panther #3 Bryan Hill and Stefano Caselli are able to dig deeper into the character side of things. We get this focus through three different combinations of Shuri and Okoye, T’Challa and Killmonger, and T’Challa, Killmonger, and Storm. Each of these interactions have their own level of intensity that is distinct to who is sharing screen time in the scenes. This creates a greater investment in the character arcs for the five focus characters. In turn it makes the major discoveries made to hit as intended. The results is Ultimate Black Panther #3 driving home this being the Black Panther series to read and helping make the Ultimate Universe the best publishing line from Marvel.
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
WONDER WOMAN #8
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Tom King
Artists: Daniel Sampere and Belen Ortega
Colorists: Tomeu Morey and Alejandro Sanchez
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
REVIEW
If Wonder Woman #8 was a standalone issue without any sort of history behind it the creativity would’ve made it a winner. Unfortunately, Tom King has dropped the ball so hard with making Sovereign a credible threat that the story in this issue falls apart almost immediately. The saving grace is the continued excellent artwork by Daniel Sampere that carries the entire story to at least be a visual showcase. Click here to read full review.
Overall Rating: 5.5 Night Girls out of 10
