It’s time for another round of comic book reviews. There were a lot of major releases this week to talk about. With that in mind this week we’ll be covering Absolute Superman #21, Absolute Wonder Woman #22, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #300, Uncanny X-Men #32, and Zatanna #4. Find out how these comic books turned out with the latest comic book reviews round-up below.
ABSOLUTE SUPERMAN #21
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artists: Rafa Sandoval and Zander Cannon
Colorist: Ulises Arreola
Letterer: Becca Carey
Absolute Superman #21 captures the epic feeling of seeing two of the universe’s most powerful characters go all out. Through their fight, we get a stronger understanding of who Absolute Superman and Shazam are at their core. In their own ways, they show what can push someone toward becoming a hero or a villain. Their origins could’ve taken them in many different directions, but they each chose to use their incredible powers to represent the best versions of themselves to achieve their goals. The way the battle ends also helps solidify Shazam as a contender for Absolute Superman’s greatest rogues gallery member. Along with the other standout moments throughout the issue, Absolute Superman #21 a strong ending to the “Reign of the Superman” arc.
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN #22
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Dillon Snook
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Becca Carey
There is a cost to every choice. That is something Diana of the Wild Isle has been forced to learn. It is a point that is driven home by how this two-part “Friends & Neighbors” arc ends in Absolute Wonder Woman #22. Kelly Thompson and Dillon Snook do a great job at capturing how much all of Diana’s recent battles have caught up to her. While she is still able to fight off Scylla to save her mom, with some help from Circe herself, it is all while dealing with the weight of recent events. Where Diana is at by the end of Absolute Wonder Woman #22 is enhanced by where Barbara Minerva’s character arc goes during this time. It all leaves the series in a spot where Diana and her cast are placed on a path filled with many unknowns in their future.
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #300
CREATIVE TEAM
Writers: Gene Luen Yang, Kevin Eastman, and Tom Waltz
Artists: Freddie E. Williams II, Chris Allen, Ben Bates, Dan Duncan, Frank Fosco, Jim Lawson, and Eric Talbot
Colorists: Andrew Dalhouse, Luis Antonio Delgado, and Ronda Pattison
Letterers: Shawn Lee
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #300 is a phenomenal celebration of what has made the series special. The way “The City That Never Dies” kicks off drives home how the franchise can deliver big event level stories. It is done in a way that continues the narrative of this volume of the series and invites new readers to stay. The back-up story that follows is an excellent reminder of why the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been an iconic pop culture franchise for over 40 years. Click here for full review.
Overall Rating: 9.5 Night Girls out of 10
UNCANNY X-MEN #32
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Gail Simone
Artists: Roge Antonio, Jim Towe, and Federica Mancin
Colorist: Matthew Wilson
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Uncanny X-Men #32 reads like an end of the first saga for Gail Simone’s run on this series. From the beginning we’ve followed the Outliers set of mutants in their journey to understand what it means to have powers and be part of the X-Men. That all culminates with how they along with their X-Men teachers ultimately deal with the alien warriors known as the Nur. The culmination leading to the young mutants to graduate from being Outliers to New Mutants was a great way to symbolize their growth. At the same time, the way Rogue and Gambit make their, hopefully temporary, exit from the Uncanny X-Men team feels like the end of this period of Simone’s greater run that will now transition to a new saga.
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
ZATANNA #4
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jamal Campbell
Artists: Jamal Campbell and Edwin Galmon
Colorist: Andrew Dalhouse
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Zatanna #4 is our first look at how our title character takes on the role of Prime Magnus, a magical title that has not been seen in thousands of years. Through showing us how Zatanna takes on making the Prime Magnus title her own we see that she was made for this. It is an evolution of her character that pushes her to be an even bigger part of DC Universe. In the process we see how expansive the magical corner of the DC Universe is as we get glimpse of the different types of locations and characters we will get as the series progresses.
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
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