Welcome back to another edition of our comic book reviews round-up! September started off hot with a ton of great comic books released. For this edition of the comic book reviews round-up we are taking a look at Batman #152, Birds of Prey #13, The Boy Wonder #5, Scarlet Witch #4, and Scarlett #4. Find out how these turned out with our first comic book reviews round-up for the month of August
ABSOLUTE POWER #3
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Dan Mora
Colorist: Alejandro Sánchez
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Absolute Power #3 is an excellent penultimate chapter to the DC Universe latest big event. Whether it’s characters conversation with each other or action sequences, Mark Waid and Dan Mora keep finding ways to deliver one big moment after another. That leads to having the maximum level of hype to find out how Absolute Power will end and lead to even bigger things in the future. Click here to read full review.
Overall Rating: 9.5 Night Girls out of 10
BATMAN #152
CREATIVE TEAM
Writers: Chip Zdarsky and Kelly Thompson
Artists: Mike Hawthorne and Mattia De Iulis
Colorists: Adriano Di Benedetto and Mattia De Iulis
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Both the main and back-up stories maximize the setting created by the Absolute Power event. Batman and Catwoman doing everything they to survive against Task Force X spotlighted their ingenuity in any given situation. When against a wall they always find a way out. Though that led to a terrifying discovery by Batman that sets the stage for All In after Absolute Power. Meanwhile, the Birds of Prey back-up story did a good job of establishing the team status during this event and how its testing Black Canary in particular. All in all, Batman #152 is exactly what tie-in comic books should look to be by enhancing what is going on in Absolute Power.
Overall Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
BIRDS OF PREY #13
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Gavin Guidry
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Kelly Thompson and Gavin Guidry stick the landing for the finale of the “Worlds Without End” story arc. The entire Birds of Prey team showcase their abilities individually and together as a group. The team aspect is what gets this entire story over. It’s what was needed as it shows how far the team chemistry has gotten since the first issue of Birds of Prey. From here we will hopefully get shorter adventures. Because as fun as Multiverse stories it’ll be good to save this scale that is built up over the course of a few story arcs.
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
THE BOY WONDER #5
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer & Artist: Juni Ba
Colorist: Chris O’Halloran
Letterer: Aditya Bidikar
At the heart of Juni Ba’s The Boy Wonder series it was about Damian Wayne’s relationship with his family. Whether it was with his blood-related family in Bruce Wayne, Talia Al Ghul, and Ra’s Al Ghul or his extended family in the Batman Family. How all these familial relationships shape Damian as a young kid is where this mini-series has shined and it was at its brightest with the finale in The Boy Wonder #5. The final battle with Ra’s Al Ghul highlighted how far Damian has come as a person. The best example of that is how Damian helps his parents, Bruce and Talia, come to an understanding of how to ultimately handle his grandfather, Ra’s.
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
THE IMMORTAL THOR #15
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Jan Bazaldua
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Joe Sabino
Immortal Thor #15 is a strong conclusion to this story arc with Hercules, Nyx, and Loki. Al Ewing and Jan Bazaldua fully tap into the different dynamics Thor has with various characters. The breaking point reached with Thor and Loki in particular puts a lot into question for the direction of this series. Those questions generate strong momentum for what will be coming next in Immortal Thor #15. Click here to read full review.
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
MINOR ARCANA #1
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Jeff Lemire
Letterer: Steve Wands
Minor Arcana #1 delivers a fascinating character study as the lead character, Theresa St. Pierre, returns to her hometown. As the layers are peeled back about why she returned the world opens up in interesting ways. It all leads to a hook ending that leaves you wondering exactly what is going on in Theresa’s hometown. Click here to read full review.
Overall Rating: 7.5 Night Girls out of 10
SCARLET WITCH #4
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Steve Orlando
Artist: Jacopo Camagni
Colorist: Frank William
Letterer: Ariana Maher
When it comes to scale of a final battle Steve Orlando and Jacopo Camagni tap into the unlimited potential when magic is involved. That is immediately felt when you open Scarlet Witch #4 and see the amazing double page spread by Camagni of Scarlett Witch vs Griever at the End of All Things. That scale just continues to be elevated by how Scarlett Witch and Griever at the End of All Things utilize their mastery of magic. Scarlett Witch’s powered up design was a nice touch to make the battle feel even more epic. It all led to one of the best modern-day moments for Quicksilver. By the end of this story your left looking forward to what’s next for the latest Scarlett Witch series.
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
SCARLETT #4
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Marco Ferrari
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Kelly Thompson and Marco Ferrari knock it out of the park with how Scarlett #4 sets the stage for the finale of this mini-series. For as amazing as Ferrari’s action choreography is it is the body language of the characters that stand out the most. There is so much storytelling done with how the characters interact with each other, particularly Scarlett and Jinx. This enhanced the dialogue written by Thompson to be even better and as interesting as the action. The way things end with what Storm Shadow finds ensures the finale of this Scarlett mini-series will play a larger role in the G.I. JOE side of the Energon Universe.
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
THE ULTIMATES #4
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Deniz Camp
Artist: Phil Noto
Letterer: Travis Lanham
The Ultimates #4 is an excellent origin story for Ultimate Reed Richards. The tragic fate of the Ultimate Fantastic Four makes Reed Richards’ Doom one of the most fascinating characters in this Ultimate Universe. Unfortunately, that investment in Ultimate Doom is at the cost of the rest of the characters in this series take a backseat in a title that’s supposed to be about a team. Hopefully we see Deniz Camp find balance between telling personal stories that also develop the greater team. Click here to read full review.
Overall Rating: 7.5 Night Girls out of 10
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