Welcome back to another edition of comic book reviews round-up! This week we’ll be covering Absolute Flash #4, Amazing Spider-Man #6, Blood & Thunder #2, Detective Comics #1098, G.I. JOE #8, I Heart Skull Crusher! #10, Invincible Universe: Battle Beast, Nightwing #127, Titans #24, The Ultimates #13, and Zatanna #5. Find out how these comic books turned out with the latest comic book reviews round-up below.
ABSOLUTE FLASH #4
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: A.L. Kaplan
Colorist: Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Absolute Flash #4 is a big step back from the momentum created by the first story arc of this series. There is an intensity that is severely lacking with the story started up here. Jeff Lemire slows things down too much that goes against the sense of urgency that was created around Wally West’s journey as Flash. It does not help that A.L. Kaplan’s artwork does not hit on the level expected from the Absolute Universe. The artwork is more generic DC Universe artwork rather than the premiere level art that’s been expected from the Absolute Universe comics. This all leads Absolute Flash #4 to be a massive disappointment after the high of the series’ first story arc.
Overall Rating: 3 Night Girls out of 10
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #6
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Joe Kelly
Artist: John Romita Jr.
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colorist: Marcio Menyz
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Amazing Spider-Man #6 is a fantastic transition issue for this series. Joe Kelly and John Romita Jr. are able to spend quality time spotlighting Peter Parker’s new status quo. In the process we see multiple sub-plots develop for both the Peter Parker and Spider-Man side of this series. That all leads to an ending that works well to create a sense of unknown for what the ramifications of the second story arc for Kelly and Romita’s run will be. Read the full review by clicking here.
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
BLOOD & THUNDER #2
CREATIVE TEAM
Co-Creators: Robert Kirkman, Benito Cereno, and E.J. Su
Writer: Benito Cereno
Artist: E.J. Su
Colorist: Msassyk
Letterer: Rus Wooton
The balance between world building and creating high stakes made Blood & Thunder #2 a strong follow-up to the great debut of this series. The dynamic between Blood and her talkative gun Thunder is such a unique approach to the buddy-cop dynamic we see so often. There is a whole different tone that makes it so it doesn’t seem like we’ve see this partner dynamic 100s of times before. Spending an equal amount of time on the antagonist introduced in this series builds a much-needed strong threat for this series. The presentation for the antagonist introduced provides excitement for the reader to look forward to the action we will see in the next issue.
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
DETECTIVE COMICS #1098
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Lee Garbett
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Wes Abbott
Detective Comics #1098 really hammers home the level of consistency Tom Taylor is already having with his creative run on this series. Taylor just knows how to write a character focus story. Most importantly, his writing lives up to the first word in this title as the detective aspect of Batman. That is emphasized through Batman learning more about Elixir, a secret organization in Gotham City with past connections to Harvey Bullock. The story also works to Lee Garbett’s strengths as an artist, showing that he is an artist that DC Comics should give more work in the Batman world.
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
G.I. JOE #8
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Andrea Milana
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Rus Wooton
There is so much tough competition when it comes to which Energon Universe series is best. G.I. JOE #8 shows that Joshua Williamson and Andrea Milana have a strong case to that title. The connection that is drawn with Transformers is cool to see as a fan. The connection coming from both the G.I. JOE and Cobra sides is a nice way to emphasize the importance of the Energon Universe connection. That all going on during Baroness and Cover Girl getting the spotlight took the story to another level. Baroness and Cover Girl have a great chemistry, with the set-up to how they take the lead of this new story working well with the results of the series first story arc.
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
I HEART SKULL-CRUSHER! #10
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Josie Campbell
Artist: Alessio Zonno
Colorist: Angel De Santiago
Letterer: Jim Campbell
I Heart Skull-Crusher! #10 is a satisfying conclusion to everything that Josie Campbell and Alessio Zonno have built thus far. They were able to find a tone where everything that went down between Trini and others felt like a finale. Everything culminated in the intense action and words thrown throughout this issue. That makes the result have some surprising choices that leaves you hoping we get more, especially with the framing of the last page of this finale.
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
INVINCIBLE UNIVERSE: BATTLE BEAST #2
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Ryan Ottley
Colorist: Annalisa Leoni
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #2 taps into the hype of a fighting tournament. The tournament setting was perfect to carry Battle Beast drive to find a worthy opponent forward. This setting also provided an opportunity to see a greater view of the Invincible Universe. That all comes together for an exciting follow-up to the debut of the series. Read the full review by clicking here.
Overall Rating 9 Night Girls out of 10
NIGHTWING #127
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Dan Watters
Artist: Dexter Soy
Colorist: Veronica Gandini
Letterer: Wes Abbott
With each passing issue Dan Watters is getting more comfortable writing Nightwing in the DC All In status quo. That trend continues with Nightwing #127 as we see the status of Titans Tower located in Bludhaven being addressed. In doing so Watters is able to continue to show how much the changes that have gone on with DC All In has impacted Nightwing’s world. Going with the sci-fi route creates a sense of randomness that can happen with this new story arc while still utilizing the current situation in Bludhaven.
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
TITANS #24
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: John Layman
Artist: Pete Woods
Letterer: Wes Abbott
Titans #24 will be in contention for the best portrayal of Terra there has been. The confidence Terra shows as she helps Deathstroke lead the new Crime Syndicate carry this issue. Having such a convincing portrayal for Terra goes a long way to get over why the Titans got their asses kicked so hard here. It all worked with what was established with the Titans still finding their way in the DC All In direction. The twist ending nicely plays into how crucial the decisions the Titans have been making are having such a great impact on the series’ direction.
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
THE ULTIMATES #13
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Deniz Camp
Artist: Juan Frigeri
Colorist: Federico Blee
Letterer: Travis Lanham
There may be no comic book series that goes between the highest of highs to the lowest of lows with no in-between like The Ultimates. And after a great issue the previous month The Ultimates #13 gets us back to the low side of things. There are so many good elements in this issue. Unfortunately those elements don’t come together for a cohesive package. Placing Iron Lad as a narrator once again highlights the biggest problem with this series. The lack of focus on what The Ultimates are doing as a team creates a lack of focus that just further drives home why this team has failed often. It just drives home that The Maker’s return can’t come soon enough for this series to be more of a consistent success.
Overall Rating: 3 Night Girls out of 10
ZATANNA #5
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer and Artist: Jamal Campbell
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Zatanna #5 continues the spectacular imagination this mini-series has been filled with since the first page of the first issue. Through all the incredible imagination the story makes sure that Zatanna is always the focus. We are constantly seeing how she is meeting the challenge in front of her and not backing down. That leads to some incredible moments of how she uses her magic powers as the villain continues to challenge her at every turn. The emotional story beats with Zatanna’s family history add a greater connection to everything that is going on. It all drives home why this is one of the best comic books DC Comics is publishing this year.
Overall Rating: 9.5 Night Girls out of 10
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