Tag Archives: lucas gattoni

Black Lightning co-creator Jenny Blake adds an autobiographical story to DC Pride 2025

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In an extraordinary collaboration between two celebrated voices in comics, DC has announced the addition of an original story, “Master Planner” by writer Jenny Blake and artist Sara Soler with lettering by Jodie Troutman, to DC Pride 2025. This new story, like Kevin Conroy’s personal story “Finding Batman” (art by J. Bone) in 2022 and Phil Jimenez’s autobiographical story “Spaces” (art by Giulio Macaione) in 2024, is a poignant exploration of Blake’s identity, authenticity, and the universal quest for self-understanding. Blake is a co-creator of Black Lightning, along with Trevor Von Eeden, among other accomplishments.

Jenny Blake, a trailblazing figure with over five decades of contributions to the comics industry, shared her heartfelt reflections on the project:

When I came out as transgender, the comics community was overwhelmingly loving and supportive. Being asked to contribute to this anthology was unexpected and so affirming. I’ve done a lot of cool things in my 50-plus years in comics, but this story is one of the things I’m most proud of. I see myself in this story and I hope readers see something of themselves in it. I had a wonderful time writing my story, and I hope the readers enjoy it as much as I did.

The story, brought vividly to life by the extraordinary artistry of Sara Soler, invites readers into a journey that is both deeply personal and widely relatable, bridging human experiences of transformation, resilience, and belonging. Soler’s style beautifully captures the essence of Blake’s narrative, creating a perfect harmony between words and visuals.

Additionally, DC’s editorial team has selected a handful of letters, cosplay, and fan art to be published in a letters column within the pages of DC Pride 2025. Originally shared on the DC Official Discord server, fan contributions to DC Pride 2025 reflect how the legacy of DC’s storytelling has impacted, or reflected, their LGBTQIA+ identity, journey, or experience.

DC Pride 2025 will publish on June 4, available wherever comic books are sold. Contributors include writers Vita Ayala, Jude Ellison S. Doyle, Maya Houston, Sam Maggs, Tim Sheridan, and Josh Trujillo; artists Don Aguillo, Vincent Cecil, Derek Charm, A.L. Kaplan, Giulio Macaione, Alex Moore, Skylar Patridge, Emilio Pilliu, Max Sarin, and Phillip Sevy; colorists Eren Angiolini, Jordie Bellaire, Tríona Farrell, and Marissa Louise; letterers Aditya Bidikar, Frank Cvetkovic, Lucas Gattoni, Ariana Maher, Morgan Martinez, and Jodie Troutman for main story “The Heart Wants”; along with Blake, Solar, and Troutman for “Master Planner.” The 96-page Prestige format comic will feature a main cover by Kris Anka and variant covers by Sozomaika, Julia Reck, and Jack Hughes (1:25), all priced at $9.99 US (card stock).

Absolute Green Lantern #1 is a hell of a start with a nice mix of sci-fi, horror, and mystery

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Without the Corps…without the ring…without the willpower, what’s left is the Absolute Green Lantern!

Story: Al Ewing
Art: Jahnoy Lindsay
Letterer: Lucas Gattoni

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Kindle

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

Absolute Green Lantern #1 Wills Sci-Fi Horror to the Absolute Universe

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Absolute Green Lantern #1

Without the Corps…without the ring…without the willpower, what’s left is the Absolute Green Lantern! A mysterious alien object lands in a small Nevada town, leaving only three survivors in its wake in Absolute Green Lantern #1. 

You must be without fear.

Presenting the story in a sci-fi horror lens, Al Ewing and Jahnoy Lindsay remove the traditional epic space odyssey scope and ground it in this unknowable terror. A mix of first contact and a religious experience, the appearance of the titular Green Lantern, a celestial symbol, appears in Evergreen and immediately kills a few bikers. Akin to the monolith in 2001 A Space Odyssey, Jo Mullein, Hal Jordan, and John Stewart inspect it in shock and awe. An alien named Abin Sur seemingly chose the trio for something while leaving only one still human. Although we do not get complete answers about what happened or the plan, there are plenty of breadcrumbs to feed your imagination of what might have happened.

You must be without fear.

Opening up on Hal Jordan in the desert, he convenes with a mysterious entity that tells him he “must be without fear.” Represented as a black hole, he haunts Jordan as he treks toward civilization until a cop stops him. Keeping his left hand hidden, the cop orders Hal to show, only for it to cut to a black panel and then reveal the cop missing. The issue being titled “The Black Hand” calls to mind the horrific cosmic energy infecting Hal and the potential of the reimagined Black Lantern Corps. The notion of needing to be without fear means he can control his powers. Much like the Ancient Mariner, his corrupted hand is very much the albatross tried around his neck.

You must be without fear.

Jo, the series’s protagonist, takes a backseat due to the issue’s focus on Hal. As a former cop, she stands in a career limbo as she decides what to do next. With such an extensive focus on Hal, I wish we had more time with Jo. Like the central universe, her life will change because of a chance meeting with a Green Lantern. Similarly, John Stewart still works as an architect. However, Hal now sells collectibles, and Jo is now married to Guy Gardner. Tying the characters into such a personal web provides a standard connection for them without the existence of the Corps.  I also appreciate Ewing for indicting a much deeper shared personal history for the characters, making the divergence of Hal and Jo even more striking. 

You must be without fear.

Lindsay’s artistic talents diverge from those of a typical Green Lantern book as he delves into the traumatic experience of the alien invasion. He sells the contrast of normal everyday life with the horrific shift of an extraterrestrial being impacting said life. As well as serving as the colorist, Lindsay suits the book on the visuals and the emotional nature of the story, too. With letterer Lucas Gattoni, the book charts a new path for the Absolute Universe. 

You must be without fear.

Focusing more on the slow-building tone of dread and the questions that will be explored in the series, Absolute Green Lantern #1 provides a starkly different take on cosmic mythology. Hopefully, Jo’s character gets explored as much as Hal’s in the next issue. Overall, Absolute Green Lantern #1 forces us to look at the dark corners of space with a terrified expression as we await what terror might land on Earth.

Story: Al Ewing Art/Color: Jahnoy Lindsay Letterer: Lucas Gattoni
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Read

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Preview: Mugshots

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Mugshots

(W) Jordan Thomas (A/CA) Chris Matthews (L) Lucas Gattoni

Brighton, UK. 2008. The kidnapping of a young woman starts a chain of events that will set con artists, gangsters, killers, and corrupt police on a collision course of violence. Meet John Bannan, self-proclaimed bastard and loving uncle, in this tale of family trauma, betrayal, murder, and revenge that threatens to bring the city’s whole underworld down.

Mugshots

Hello Darkness… Hello Christmas this December

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BOOM! Studios has revealed a spooky first look at Hello Darkness #6, the horrifying continuation to the new ongoing anthology series featuring what BOOM! Studios is known for–the best in modern Horror, Fantasy, and Mystery, not to mention the darkest stories yet from a murderer’s row of world class creators! Everything from primal fears to modern political horrors will be explored, in the classic style of Creepy and Eerie and the contemporary chills of Black Mirror.

Ho-Ho-Horror for the holidays! Better hope your candles and bulbs all hold to keep the darkness at bay…  because you won’t like what goes bump in the cold winter’s night!

In this holiday season issue “The War” continues with part six of Garth Ennis and Becky Cloonan’s nuclear winter saga; a stomach-churning twist on the Tió de Nadal tradition in “The Christmas Log” by writer Steve Orlando, artist Adam Gorham, colorist Francesco Segala, and letterer Lucas Gattoni; take a trip “Into the Mines” by writer Justina Ireland, artist Valentine De Landro, colorist Marissa Louise, and letterer Taylor Esposito; and keep an ear out for “Aisling, Drowned” by Sas Milledge. Plus, horrible holiday fun in “I Can’t Take You Anywhere” by Robert Hack.

Hello Darkness #6 features a main cover by Paolo Rivera, and variant covers by Jenny Frison, Björn Barends, and a special Christmas variant by artist Mr. Oz. It’s out in shops on December 25, 2024.

Hello Darkness #6

Come Find Me: An Autumnal Offering is an interesting mix of stories in this horror anthology

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A coven of the most sinister, trailblazing storytellers in sequential art for a haunting collection destined to become a Halloween tradition.

By: HamletMachine, Joe Pavelka, Lucas Gattoni, Becky Cloonan, Lee Loughridge, Pat Brosseau, Molly Mendoza, Vanesa R. Del Rey, Andrew BEtsch, John Starr, Celine Loup, E.M. Carroll

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

TFAW
Zeus Comics

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

Preview: Mugshots #4

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Mugshots #4

(W) Jordan Thomas (A/CA) Chris Matthews (L) Lucas Gattoni

John is feeling the full weight of his mistakes as the people closest to him suffer the consequences. The war between the Woods and the Albanians is about the flip from cold to hot. And the shocking truth of what really happened to Grace is soon to be revealed. In the action-packed conclusion to Mugshots, no one is safe as the streets of Brighton fill with blood!

Mugshots #4

The first ever Brawlhalla graphic novel arrives in June 2025

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Dark Horse Comics and Ubisoft present the first ever Brawlhalla graphic novel, Brawlhalla Tales: Nix. With a community of more than 100 million players, a selection of more than 60 playable characters battling in the halls of Valhalla and the possibility to engage in casual or competitive matches, Brawlhalla has made a name for itself among free-to-play fighting games. Brawhalla Tales: Nix features writing and narrative guidance from Brawlhalla co-creator Matt Woomer, art by game Illustrator R.J. Jost, with colorist Roshan Kurichiyanil, and letterer Lucas Gattoni; this is a legendary story you won’t want to miss!

Nix, a freelance angel of death and the finest reaper of the Underworld, misses her mark at the hands of a rogue Valkyrie – and she never misses! She travels across the nine realms to Valhalla to reclaim her bounty, but the afterworld is not as she expected. Nix discovers strange enemies, stranger friends, and tougher fights than she ever imagined. Now begrudgingly teamed up with an unlikely partner, Nix will need to win Odin’s tournament of heroes if she wants to keep her job and, more importantly, her soul.

Brawlhalla Tales: Nix is an action-packed graphic novel that will delight both longtime fans and newcomers alike, immersing them in the vibrant world of Brawlhalla, uniquely brought to life in a comic book format for the first time by the creators of the game.

Join the fight-filled action adventure in Brawlhalla Tales: Nix. The 112-page (6.635” x 10.1875”) paperback will be available at bookstores and comic shops on June 17, 2025, for $19.99. Pre-order now directly from TFAW, Amazon, Barnes and Noble or your local bookstore, or visit Comic Shop Locator for more details and stores near you.

Brawlhalla Tales: Nix

The Big Burn #2 features some predictable heist tropes but it’s still really entertaining

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Owen’s assembled his crew of the damned to steal their souls back. One problem: first, they need to rescue Carlie from the insane asylum. But what if she doesn’t WANT to be rescued? And is there a traitor in their midst??

Story: Joe Henderson
Art: Lee Garbett
Color: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Lucas Gattoni

Get your copy now! To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.

Zeus Comics

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, we’ll receive a percentage of the sale. Graphic Policy does purchase items from this site. Making purchases through these links helps support the site

Black Lightning #1 fills a needed idea for the All In DCU

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Black Lightning #1

Jefferson Pierce leads the Justice League’s new metahuman outreach initiative, helping those with powers before they can cause harm to themselves or others–but everything changes when its his own daughter, Anissa Pierce, who comes to him for help. With Thunder’s dangerous new powers and the new Masters of Disaster jeopardizing the coexistence between humans and Metas, Black Lightning is on the front lines of a culture war brewing in the suburbs of Metropolis! Black Lightning #1 delivers a new status-quo and direction for the character in the “All In” phase of the DC Universe.

Written by Brandon Thomas, Black Lightning #1 is an interesting comic as it really focuses on an impact of the “Absolute Power” storyline that’s been teased elsewhere. At the end of that event, something has gone wrong in the metahuman population. Powers have been switched up for some heroes and there’s more metahumans emerging. Someone needs to deal and help those new individuals, and that’s up to Jefferson Pierce, Black Lightning!

The issue is a pretty solid start with a concept that’s easy to understand and a role that’s a natural fit for the character. He’s a teacher at heart and here he gets to do that while helping metahumans in need. It’s a concept that has been there in some previous comics but in the current “All In” era, it’s something that’s not really being seen elsewhere.

There is a bit of knowledge that’s needed with Pierce and his family. While most of it is explained well, there is some things with a daughter that doesn’t quite hit unless you really know the characters. Still, a father working with a daughter and caring for his family is an easy thing to connect with and the comic does that well.

The art by Fico Ossio is good. With color by Ulises Arrelo and lettering by Lucas Gattoni, it has its moments though there are some issues here and there where the art isn’t quite as sharp. Where it’s good, it’s really good, which makes the visual bumps stand out. Characters just don’t look all that good or that art doesn’t quite drive home the moment. But, there’s action that’s exciting and moments that really deliver a cinematic quality about them.

Black Lightning #1 is an entertaining start with a concept that needs to be filled in the “All In” storyline. It shows a lot of potential and picks up a plotline that has been mentioned but not really focused on. It has a lot going for it and should be interesting to see where it goes after the debut.

Story: Brandon Thomas Art: Fico Ossio
Color: Ulises Arreola Letterer: Lucas Gattoni
Story: 8.15 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.95 Recommendation: Read

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle

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