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Explosive Revelations in Your First Look at Underheist #3

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BOOM! Studios has revealed a first look at Underheist #3. The hit Stray Bullets creative team of David and Maria Lapham, along with colorist Hilary Jenkins, continue a hellish new hardboiled heist series in Underheist, available April 17, 2024.

David’s long night is far from over, as a terrible discovery forces him into a new level of desperation. Pentagrams, melted candles, and blood… so much blood… What does it all mean? As David & Maria Lapham’s dark crime thriller heats up, explosive revelations set up an ending that fans are not going to want to miss.

Underheist #3 features a main cover by David Lapham with Hilary Jenkins, with variants by Andrei Bressan with Alex Guimarães, and Tim Bradstreet.

Underheist #3

Beware the Planet of the Apes #2 expands the mythology

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Beware the Planet of the Apes #2

As a diehard Mets fan, growing up in New York, we had to contend with Yankees fans. As that is as good a rivalry within a city I have ever seen. Even when I lived in Chicago, Cubs fans and White Sox fans got along no matter how many times they played each other. Meanwhile, in New York, those teams have even divided families.

As I always cringed whenever I had to pass Yankee Stadium on my way to see my cousins in the Bronx. It is always was funny how they used that stadium in television and movies as representative of New York. As the ones I know hate the Yankees. In the second issue of Beware the Planet of the Apes, Zira, Conelius and Nova have entered the Forbidden Zone, which just so happens to be where Yankees Stadium is.

We open on a woman named Ivana awakening from a dream of the past, one where a human colony existed, and humans were enslaved. As we catch up with Cornelius, Zira and Nova right when the first watch catches sight of the three getting near Yankee Stadium. As the three approach Zira marvels at the stadium. This when shots get fired, and Ivana puts Zira and Cornleius to sleep, while she believes Nova is somewhat of a godsend. This is where we find out that some humans were mutated by a post apocalyptic event, while others remain untouched. By the issue’s end, we find out Lucius has been taken by the Homindae Empire, a colony ruled by Gorillas.

Overall, Beware the Planet of the Apes #2‘s story defines the mythology better than the movies. The story by Guggenheim is excellent. The art by the creative team is stunning. Altogether, a story that makes this franchise even more visceral.

Story: Marc Guggenheim Art: Álvaro López
Color: Alex Guimarães Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Kindle

Beware the Planet of the Apes #1 delves deeper into Planet of the Apes mythology

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Beware the Planet of the Apes #1

As a Child born in the late 1970s and growing up in the early 1980s, we were exposed to a lot of movies form the 1970s. Many of those films are now considered classics. Some have even been inducted into the Library Of Congress. Growing up in New York, some of those films were filmed in my city I knew. Some of the more famous movies from that decade being The French Connection and Mean Streets.

One of my favorite movies from that time were the Planet Of the Apes movies. I also grew up in a time when they had re-runs of the television show that was inspired by it. That franchise has always been a commentary on society’s dynamic with race and class. In the debut issue of Beware the Planet of the Apes, two ape scientists seek the help of a human to save a family member.

Beware the Planet of the Apes #1 takes us directly to the Planet of the Apes, where a human settlement is under attack by a brigade of Gorillas and the nephew of a prominent scientist goes missing. A day later in Ape City, his aunt Zira and her fiancée Cornelius look for him. Their trail leads them to Forbidden Zone, where the human he tried to help, Nova, is hiding. They reach out to the local municipal leader, Dr. Zaius, who  denies them entry to the Forbidden Zone, but Zira’s pull to bring her nephew back, forces her to break the rules. By the issue’s end, Zira, Cornelius and Nova go in search of Lucius, arriving at a place familiar to many but may be a vipers pit for our protagonists.

Overall, Beware the Planet of the Apes #1 is a story that delves deeper into Planet of the Apes mythology. The story by Guggenheim is steeped in mystery and revisionist history. The art by the creative team is gorgeous. Altogether, a story that fans of the franchise will immediately jump on.

Story: Marc Guggenheim Art: Álvaro López
Color: Alex Guimarães Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle

Beware the Planet of the Apes #1 is a fun mix of old and new

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Beware the Planet of the Apes #1

In a hostile world run by aggressive gorillas, scientists Cornelius and Zira are the only apes alive who see value in the mute, dumb human race – but even they know human capabilities have severe limits. So when their nephew Lucius goes missing, it is with great trepidation that they turn to a human ally, a young woman who will someday earn the moniker “Nova.” Beware the Planet of the Apes #1 is a fantastic mix of old and new fans of the series will enjoy.

Written by Marc Guggenheim, Beware the Planet of the Apes #1 is a great start to a new chapter in the Planet of the Apes series. The comic charts new territory while also honoring what has come before it. Guggenheim mines material from the classic films and the issue mines material from classic comics as well.

Beware the Planet of the Apes #1 takes place before Taylor’s arrival and the comic plays up on the history we know. Since it revolves around Cornelius, Zira, and Nova, the story plays up what has happened in the films, and comics, while charting new territory. That includes using excerpts from Adventures on the Planet of the Apes by Doug Mench, George Tuska, Mike Esposito, Tony Mortellaro, Dave Hunt, and George Roussos.

The art by Álvaro López, color by Alex Guimarães, and lettering by Joe Caramagna is solid. There’s something very cool seeing the modern style juxtaposed with the pages and panels of the classic comic peppered throughout the issue. Much like the films, the characters have distinct looks and is easy to recognize everyone and it perfectly captures the style of the films. It nails the adaptation aspect.

It’s that clear love of what has come before that really sinks in and is clear in Beware the Planet of the Apes #1. It honors what has come before which will get fans excited while also laying a new chapter for those who might not be as familiar. It’s a must for fans of Planet of the Apes.

Story: Marc Guggenheim Art: Álvaro López
Color: Alex Guimarães Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle

Green Lantern: War Journal #2 keeps up the drama with a lot more action

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Green Lantern: War Journal #2

As John Stewart travels to Metropolis to meet with Steelworks, the Radiant Dead have claimed their first victim on Earth-0 and are ravenously hunting for John. Stripped of his ring and unaware of the danger he’s in, John is caught completely unprepared to face this otherworldly horror…and to unravel the shocking identity of the Revenant Queen! Green Lantern: War Journal #2 delivers a story that feels rather grounded in family and emotional while also delivering superhero action.

I loved the debut issue of Green Lantern: War Journal. I honestly think it’s one of the best debuts of the year and delivered an emotional gut punch. Green Lantern: War Journal #2 would have to pull of a hell of a move to live up to that issue. And, not shockingly, it doesn’t. But, what it does is continue the beginnings focus on John Stewart the man as he attempts to figure out his path forward while balancing family.

Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson continues an impressive run so far. The issue nails what made the first work so well. As much as we want to see sci-fi adventure, the comic’s focus is more on Stewart’s homelife. Here he needs to figure out his employment as Steelworks comes calling. But, he also needs to take care of his mother who needs care and help. Johnson taps into an experience so many individuals experience every day and lays out the difficult decisions and choices that have to be made. But, what it also does is shows off the many sides of Stewart making him such an interesting character.

In the issue we get to see his creativity, his brilliance, his caring, and the soldier within. The comic delivers action as he’s hunted down by a mysterious foe with some past interactions with him. That aspect is interesting as it’s presented as much with horror vibes as it does superhero aspects. There’s something about the “stalking” that adds to the pressure and decisions John must make in his civilian life. Horror movies often have some underlying theme or something it’s trying to say and this issue feels like it’s doing much of the same.

That’s helped by the art of Montos whose style emphasizes the horror aspects of the comic without diving completely in. There’s a decay aspect to these villains that remind us of the decay of life and our loved ones around us. That’s helped by Alex Guimarães‘ colors that add an almost ghostlike ethereal aspect to everything. Dave Sharpe‘s lettering creates an emotional punch to it all. The visuals of the comic are interesting overall as it feels like they build throughout going from the clear danger of the start to the more benign middle and then the end. A rollercoaster where visually things feel safe in ways and you don’t quite know where evil will strike. All of that’s helped by Montos’ interactions between Stewart and his mother that come off as caring and playfull.

Green Lantern: War Journal #2 is a solid second issue. We got through the emotional hit of the first issue and this second does an excellent job of building off of what Johnson is focusing on. There’s some interesting underlying themes and concepts here that’ll hopefully get readers to think but the issue emphasizes experiences many comic readers are going through and can relate. It reminds us that these godlike heroes are just people in the end and despite their grand adventures, they do have to deal with life, much like us.

Story: Phillip Kennedy Johnson Art: Montos
Color: Alex Guimarães Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle

Preview: Knight Terrors: Action Comics #1

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Knight Terrors: Action Comics #1

(W) Leah Williams (A) Vasco Georgiev, Alex Guimarães
Price: $4.99

Slipping into the world of nightmares is only the beginning as Power Girl faces off with the scariest dream of all…herself! Paige may have narrowly escaped the grasp of the devious Johnny Sorrow, but all of that was just a warm-up for the real villain inside. Meanwhile, the Super-Twins are lost in a terrifying dreamscape and being hunted by a nightmare version of their own adopted father, the murderous Cyborg Superman. Can Superboy, Kong Kenan, and the Steel family find the twins in time to save them, or will they join his bloody list of victims?

Knight Terrors: Action Comics #1

Review: Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #7

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Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #7

For quite some time, it’s felt like the DC Universe has just barreled from one event to the next and at times multiple events going at the same time. Resolution is short with an almost immediate build to the next Crisis. It’s an endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth… but on a multiverse scale. Dark Nights lead to Dark Nights: Death Metal, which eventually lead into Dark Crisis which was really Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths. But, with so many events, things have unfortunately blended together. Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 wraps up the latest leaving us pretty much where we began.

Written by Joshua Williamson, Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 wraps things up and delivers teases and story lines yet to come. It shakes up some characters and teams but overall doesn’t feel like the world of possibilities like previous recent events. Where Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 succeeds is its focus on a few characters, Nightwing becomes much more of the center for the DC Universe that’s to come and Black Adam gets much more depth. It’s in a way a passing of a baton to the next generation of heroes and in that way succeeds in elevating some of the characters. But, as a story, it suffers from some of DC’s past mistakes. A mumbled story where things are sort of explained away, others you just go with, and in the end a status quo that’s a bit head scratching. Mostly because it doesn’t seem all that different from where things began. It was a lot of action and drama that didn’t change a whole lot. Two armies go to battle for the end result to be the same borders.

Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 doesn’t so much feel like it charts its own path going forward by shaking things up. Instead, it feels like an attempt to make sense of a bunch of threads that have been weaved in the year since Death Metal ended. An attempt to get things more focused going forward. It’s not a follow up to the original Crisis on Infinite Earths, so much another sequel to recent events to get things settled that were left unanswered.

The art by Daniel Sampere, Jack Herbert, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Cam Smith, and Rafa Sandoval is really good. They’re joined by Alejandro Sanchez, Alex Guimaraes, Romulo Fajardo Jr., and Matt Herms on color, and Tom Napolitano on lettering. The main story art has some solid switches between the battle raging in the real world and the battle in the mind between Nightwing and Deathstroke. Black Adam also gets his spotlight with a single page that makes the anti-hero a much more complicated hero. Overall, there’s moments that pop but few that will live on as iconic. The teases at the end too vary with the final one really delivering a punch.

At the end of Dark Nights: Death Metal, a multiverse was born of infinite possibilities. At the end of Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 a new multiverse is born of infinite possibilities. The difference? I couldn’t really say. Beyond the small details, a lot of the two events feels exactly the same. While the event sends some characters and teams in new directions, overall, it was a lot of show to get us to a spot not much further than where we began.

Story: Joshua Williamson Art: Daniel Sampere, Jack Herbert, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Cam Smith, Rafa Sandoval
Color: Alejandro Sanchez, Alex Guimaraes, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Matt Herms Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Story: 6.75 Art: 7.5 Overall: 6.75 Recommendation: Read

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle

Prepare for the final showdown in Basilisk #12

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BOOM! Studios has revealed a first look at Basilisk #12, the final issue of the acclaimed supernatural horror series from New York Times bestselling horror writer Cullen Bunn, acclaimed artist Jonas Scharf, colorist Alex Guimarães, and letterer Ed Dukeshire, unleashing an epic tale of vengeance and survival as a monstrous threat ravages the countryside and the only ones who can stop it are mortal enemies, available on October 5, 2022.

This is it—not only the final confrontation between Hannah and Vanessa, but the Chimera’s origins revealed! But who will make it out alive, and more importantly, what kind of monster will they become?

Basilisk #12 features main cover art and an unlockable variant by series artist Jonas Scharf and variant covers by acclaimed illustrator Ryan Sook.

Basilisk #12

Review: A.X.E.: Death to Mutants #2

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A.X.E.: Death to Mutants #2

A.X.E.: Judgement Day has been an interesting event so far. It’s pivoted in some ways from its opening battle to become a far more interesting event story. Debates about roles, actions, judgment, and gods, have created a story that’s as much philosophy as it is action. It’s also a story that overflows. Often we get events with miniseries and one-shot tie ins that feel more like cash-ins than really enhancing the story. Here, we get something a bit different, as each tie-in so far feels more like an addendum, adding to the overall story. As if writer Kieron Gillen can’t fit everything into the main series and needs more notes to really flesh things out. A.X.E.: Death to Mutants #2 is an example of that delivering a mix of new and events we’ve seen before.

A.X.E.: Death to Mutants #2 continues the trend showing us the battle on Krakoa and the Deviants joining forces with the mutant nation. We’ve seen that asking for an alliance elsewhere, but here we get greater detail as to the motivation, adding depth and sympathy to Kro and his decisions. We also get to see how this decision impacts Kor’s judgement as well as the entire Deviant nation.

But beyond that, we see the struggle of so many to deal with the current situation. The Eternals themselves are torn in multiple ways as to what to do. They’re confronted by a new god who is here to judge them and some want to reason while others see the Eternals as a force that’s long past its use. There’s also the introduction of a new player on the board, one who should shake things up. It’s an event we’ve seen elsewhere but here we get more details about it all.

Guiu Vilanova‘s art is good. I’m not the biggest fan of the style overall but it looks generally good. With color by Alex Guimarães and lettering by Travis Lanham the team balances big battles with more subdued moments. There’s also a lot packed in with a lot of settings, dozens of characters, and just such varied situations. But, it all flows together nicely and even as different “segments,” it all works and works well.

A.X.E.: Death to Mutants #2 feels like the expanded version of A.X.E.: Judgement Day. It fleshes out characters and events giving us more depth as to what’s going on. It enhances the story, not working on its own but instead building on what’s elsewhere creating a greater tableau.

Story: Kieron Gillen Art: Guiu Vilanova
Color: Alex Guimarães Letterer: Travis Lanham
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.1 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology/Kindle

Review: Archer & Armstrong Forever #4

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Archer & Armstrong Forever #4

The Eccentric will stop at nothing to add Armstrong to his collection. Archer will stop at nothing to restore his best friend’s lost immortality. And who the heck is going to stop The Maw when he catches up with Archer and Armstrong? Only one thing is certain: Archer & Armstrong Forever #4 will change Archer & Armstrong…FOREVER!

I’ve been largely enjoying this series; the irreverent fun and pacing has often been a welcome distraction while reading the comic. Because Archer & Armstrong Forever hasn’t really picked up on the threads from the previous volumes, it has been the kind of series that new readers can use to introduce themselves to one of comics’ more unique duos. The fourth issue is the first one this series where you can’t really pick up and read without having read the previous one, as it picks up exactly where the Archer & Armstrong Forever #3 left off with the Maw having subdued Archer, Armstrong and Frig, which is exactly where we start this issue. I’ve really enjoyed how writer Steve Foxe has brought these characters to life, but this issue had a little less of the magic from the first three; the jokes didn’t quite hit the same way for me as in the past, and consequently the book fell a little flat for me. It’s still far from a bad book, and was still enjoyable, but hasn’t been as solid a comic as its predecessors.

Visually, the comic is still a triumph; Marcio Fiorito, Alex Guimaraes and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou (artist, colourist and letterer respectively) continue to deliver a top notch book – this is visually genuinely enjoyable from start to finish.

I ended the review last month with this: “you really can’t go wrong with any book featuring Archer and Armstrong together, but when they’re written well, holy shit, is that a comic that you should be reading. Archer & Armstrong Forever is a book where the characters are written really well – don’t miss this.” Ultimately that’s still entirely true even with the falter (and you know, there’s every chance that I read this on an off day – I’ll happily admit that), this is still a comic I’ll be adding to my physical collection.

Story: Steve Foxe Artist: Marcio Fiorito
Colorist Alex Guimaraes Letters Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Story: 8.5 Art: 9.1 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: comiXology/Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW

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