Comic Book Reviews for This Week: 12/11/2024

Comic Book Reviews for This Week: 12/11/2024

As a longtime comic book enthusiast who has witnessed countless reboots and revamps over the years, I must say that the current crop of comics is truly impressive. The diversity and depth of stories being told are simply astounding.

Enjoy your comics-filled Wednesday! This week is jam-packed with exciting comic book releases, and our team at ComicBook has pooled their expertise to analyze and review a multitude of the major comics hitting shelves today. While we can’t cover every single title, you can expect in-depth looks at new issues from Marvel, DC, Image Comics, BOOM! Studios, Dark Horse, Dynamite, Oni Press, IDW, Mad Cave Studios, DSTLRY, and many others!

We’ve reserved extra room for an in-depth review of the highly anticipated Laura Kinney: Wolverine #1, so if our brief overview sparks your curiosity, don’t forget to read the full review for a more detailed evaluation of the issue. As for our rating system, we keep things straightforward with scores ranging from whole to half numbers out of five. For examples of our past reviews, feel free to take a look here. Now, let’s dive into this week’s fresh comics!

DC

Comic Book Reviews for This Week: 12/11/2024

In Action Comics #1079, Superman faces escalating troubles following his Earth-saving act from the previous issue. This unexpected twist proves exhilarating as the Kryptonians released from the Phantom Zone, now empowered by the yellow sun, bring chaos to our planet. Nearly meeting his demise, Superman finds hope in the arrival of his allies, engaging in inventive combat strategies. The comic is filled with non-stop action, emotional undertones, and another gripping plot twist at the climax. This run has been exceptional, and issue #1079 certainly stands as a standout moment – 4.5 out of 5 stars.

In Batman & Robin #16, the narrative gets tangled in multiple layers as Batman pursues Memento, leading to a fresh series of murders and an intrusion from a foreign detective with contrasting beliefs. Meanwhile, Damian is grappling with the aftermath of the little girl’s death, creating tension between him and his father. Despite the complexity, the issue is skillfully written, offering a self-contained story that also builds anticipation for what’s next – earning a rating of 4 out of 5. – Nicole Drum

Batman: Dark Patterns #1

In the second issue of Black Lightning, there’s an X-Men-like vibe as the narrative revolves around the theme of anti-metahuman sentiment and strained relationships among characters. Anissa harbors resentment towards her father, the citizens harbor resentment towards the heroes, and a fresh meta character is introduced in a developing subplot. The storyline is complex and it can be a bit confusing to pinpoint the main conflict. However, it’s an engaging tale that showcases DC’s knack for exploring the human aspects of its characters. – Nicole Drum

Green Lantern #18 Review

Exploring the Enigma: Superwoman Special #1

Marvel

Comic Book Reviews for This Week: 12/11/2024

Alien: Paradiso #1 Review

Laura Kinney – Wolverine #1 Review

As a gamer, I’ve just finished diving into the latest issue of Phoenix. Stephanie Phillips, the game scribe, has crafted this one to set Jean up for what looks like an epic climax, but it’s the deep dive into Thanos and the introduction of Adani that truly make this issue shine. Marco Renna, working alongside color artist David Curiel, brings a unique, fluid movement to the panels that often gets lost in other games. And let me tell you, Renna’s renditions of Marvel villains are almost reminiscent of Kirby’s iconic style.

Review of Scarlet Witch #7

Spirits of Vengeance #4

Title Event: The Battle of Jakku – Republic Under Siege #4

The progression in Storm’s storyline is becoming increasingly distracting from the main plot. Each problem that arises seems to be quickly resolved without much significance, such as her illness being miraculously cured, her encounter with Doctor Voodoo being underwhelming, and her reunion with the X-Men merely emphasizing her strange separation from them while aligning with the Avengers instead. Her next destination is Doom, adding more distance to her journey without any significant rewards so far. The artwork is also becoming overly realistic, which feels uncomfortable at times. The series has lost its initial charm and has resorted to melodrama as a means to prop up the narrative, indicating a lack of clarity and focus in its development. I would rate it 2.5 out of 5 stars.

In Spider-Man #63, the storytelling responsibility is passed to the creative duo of Justina Ireland and Gleb Melnikov. They skillfully interweave the extended battle structure with themes from the comic’s early issues, as Spider-Man faces off against the newest member of Cytorrak’s brood. Melnikov artistically emphasizes significant moments in Spidey’s history throughout this confrontation. The rest of the issue focuses on Peter Parker, who utilizes the wisdom gained by Spider-Man about time’s unavoidable nature and embraces some well-intentioned advice to find happiness. While some dialogues lean towards therapeutic language, which can feel a bit contrived, it’s a minor inconvenience in an otherwise strong issue.

In the comic book “The Incredible Hulk #20”, werewolves add an exciting element to a story that already teems with fierce monsters and frightening creatures. The mythology of Lycana serves as an intriguing addition to the adventures of Hulk and Charlie, even though this new tale seems not quite as potent as previous narratives so far. This series has established an exceptionally high standard, however.

In this review, Evan Valentine expresses his ongoing dissatisfaction with Ultimate X-Men issue #10, stating that it fails to live up to expectations as the flagship mutant book in the new Ultimate universe. However, he praises the terrifying storyline of Natsu’s powers spiraling out of control and acknowledges that Peach Momoko’s artwork can sometimes be inconsistent. Despite these positives, the series still appears disjointed to him, especially considering it is marketed as a “team book.” After ten issues, he would expect more cohesion among the elements. He rates this issue 2.5 out of 5 stars.

The storyline in Uncanny X-Men #7 persists with the ongoing operation “Raid on Graymalken”, as Gail Simone and her creative crew guide this mutant-focused crossover event. Although Scott Summers’ reluctance to integrate Rogue’s squad into the fray seems slightly unconvincing, it adds an exciting element of tension when the mutant conflict erupts. Simone skillfully manages both established X-Men characters and the new recruits added to their ranks. Artists David Marquez and Edgar Salazar collaborate on this issue, with Salazar’s art style mirroring Marquez effectively, ensuring smooth transitions between pages. While this crossover event is impressive, it doesn’t quite reach the heights of what has previously been presented in the Uncanny X-Men series – Rating: 4 out of 5 (Evan Valentine)

Image Comics

Comic Book Reviews for This Week: 12/11/2024

After delving into the broader aspects of the revamped Witchblade origin in earlier issues, writer Marguerite Bennett now has room to further delve into the character and her new persona. The series effectively blends internal and external storylines, keeping readers on their toes without any predictability. One standout aspect is the artwork by Giuseppe Cafaro (with Arif Prianto handling colors), particularly due to his innovative paneling and spectacular splash pages. Once again, this reboot of a classic character remains engaging and relevant. – Spencer Perry

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2024-12-12 04:10