Tag Archives: zack davisson

Ultimate X-Men #9 is interesting but generally things feel like it’s dragging at this point

Ultimate X-Men #9 adds a little bit to the plot but things feel like they’re repeating and dragging out at this point.

Story/Art Peach Momoko
Script Adaptation: Zack Davisson
Letterer: Travis Lanham

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
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

Exclusive Preview: Ultimate X-Men #4

Ultimate X-Men #4

(W) Peach Momoko (A) Peach Momoko
(Script Adaptation) Zack Davisson (L) Travis Lanham
(CA) Peach Momoko (VCA) Lucas Werneck, Meghan Hetrick, Peach Momoko
Rated T+
In Shops: Jun 12, 2024
SRP: $4.99

NEW MUTANTS!
Hisako and Mei’s classmate, Nico Minoru, has figured out that these two girls possess unusual abilities… But they’re not the only ones! Hisako’s world gets a whole lot bigger in ULTIMATE X-MEN #4!

Ultimate X-Men #4

Ultimate X-Men #3 Balances Mutants with Slice-of-Life and Horror

Ultimate X-Men #3

After Maystorm showcases her wind and electric powers against the Shadow, she and Hisako continue investigating the mysterious plague of teenage deaths orchestrated by that dark being. But they might not be the only mutants they know at school. And how did Mei go from being an average high school student and a fan of a storm power mutant into the confident and rebellious Maystorm? Peach Momoko’s Ultimate X-Men #3 unveils Maystorm’s past and potential mutants for the pair to recruit for their investigation.

Momoko’s distinct visuals and voice continue to make Ultimate X-Men an impressive and stand-out title from the other X-Men and Ultimate comics and the big two titles. Much like Hisako’s first appearance of her powers, Maystorm exhibits her powers after a supernatural event and in response to a traumatic incident. Showcasing Maystorm as a fan of Storm connects the title to the more expansive Ultimate universe, specifically Ultimate Black Panther. Aside from the intelligent world-building, I also appreciate the teen-centered focus of the issue as we better understand Hisako’s and Maystorm’s friendship along with their other school relationships. With each issue following a day in the life of the characters, I enjoy this slice-of-life approach, which focuses on character building and crafting solid relationships. Momoko’s regular script adapter, Zack Davisson, continues to adapt the original comic for English comic book fans, where he keeps her vision and image intact. 

The presence of supernatural events causing mutants continues to help Ultimate X-Men #3 be distinct from the Earth 616 mutants. It presents mutation as still otherworldly and different but deriving from a potentially different origin. Due to the Maker’s influence, the X-Men never existed, and only a few mutants survived. Maystorm’s awakening of her mutant powers is framed within a body horror lens as a mysterious force infects her following a cat scratch. With an eye appearing within the scratch wound, her powers emerged. Now, a mysterious high schooler and the Shadow are wreaking havoc while a resurgence of mutants appears through supernatural means. Including Nico as a mutant ties these characters more to this supernatural background. It presents a different type of X-Men from the horror angle and a mix of new and reinvented Marvel characters.

Momoko’s art continues to give the series its distinct and engaging art by balancing the slice-of-life elements with the different types of horror. Momoko’s artistic direction expertly balances the varied tones and moods of the issue and nails the emotional nature. Especially with her incredible facial expressions and stylized emotions, it all comes together wonderfully. And having letterer VC’s Travis Lanham work on the issue makes it even more impressive.

Ultimate X-Men #3 is another delightful issue by Momoko as she builds upon more of the Ultimate universe and its mutant lore. With a strong focus on characters, relationships, and a distinct direction, she makes Ultimate X-Men a can’t-miss series among the other releases. Ultimate X-Men #3 finds new ways to explore the ideas of mutants and bring in unexpected but welcome choices to significant effect.

Story/Art: Peach Momoko
Script Adapter: Zack Davisson Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Story: 9.5 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review


Purchase: TFAWZeus ComicsKindle

Ultimate X-Men #2 continues the intriguing X-Men meets horror vibe

Still haunted by the mysterious Shadow and her powers appearing, Hisako Ichiki investigates a mysterious message given to her in a dream. Hisako is not the only teenager with powers when she meets the mysterious Maystorm. The pair investigate a supposedly haunted abandoned school to learn more about the Shadow and why they are haunted. Peach Momoko follows up her excellent first issue with Ultimate X-Men #2, which furthers her distinct vision of mutant kind on Earth 6160.

Story/Art Peach Momoko
Script Adaptation: Zack Davisson
Letterer: Travis Lanham

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
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

Ultimate X-Men #2 Continues Peach Momoko’s Distinct Vision

Ultimate X-Men #2

Still haunted by the mysterious Shadow and her powers appearing, Hisako Ichiki investigates a mysterious message given to her in a dream. Hisako is not the only teenager with powers when she meets the mysterious Maystorm. The pair investigate a supposedly haunted abandoned school to learn more about the Shadow and why they are haunted. Peach Momoko follows up her excellent first issue with Ultimate X-Men #2, which furthers her distinct vision of mutant kind on Earth 6160.

Once again, the fundamental strength of the series lies in Momoko’s unique reimagining and take on the X-Men mythos. Ultimate X-Men feels like the pure creative extension of Momoko, where she is not limited by editorial mandates to make the material replicate the public consciousness’s understanding of the franchise but to make it distinct with selective familiar elements such as the inclusion of Hisako. It simultaneously feels like X-Men but not the traditional version in the best way possible. Considering how unencumbered Earth 6160 is, I favor Momoko taking these big swings of reimaging decades of canon and history and seeing what interests her in the X-Men series. She has a new playground to explore, and I appreciate her slowly building the ultimate X-Men universe. Much like how heroes are now appearing, it makes sense to gradually reveal another teenage mutant like Maystorm to develop Hisako’s character more and help her not feel so alone with her powers. Much like the readers, Hisako is learning more about mutants in the universe. 

Momoko also further ties in mutant identity, growing up, and horror with the presence of the Shadow. Although their identity is not explicitly stated, long-time X-Men fans will be keen to recognize who it might be based on familiar imagery and actions. Outside of her horror writing, her art nails the horrifying and creeping dread experienced by Hisako and Maystorm in the abandoned school before revealing the decomposed face of the ghostly security guard. Similar decisions craft a different and unique tone to Ultimate X-Men. By blending Japanese folklore and horror, it makes her version of X-Men distinct from not only the previous title but the mainline titles as well. It feels like X-Men by Peach Momoko and Peach Momoko’s X-Men. Script adapter Zack Davisson deserves praise for translating and adapting the comic for English readers, where it still reflects her vision.

Outside of her strong writing, Momoko’s stunning illustrations and colors contribute to the title’s unique identity. It truly looks like no other book is coming out from Marvel at the moment. Her art also separates Ultimate X-Men from the other Ultimate titles by not needing to follow the visual styles of those books. VC’s Travis Lanham lettering elevates Momoko’s already strong writing and art. 

As the Ultimate universe slowly expands, Peach Momoko’s Ultimate X-Men is one of the boldest and most visually gorgeous comics distributed by one of the big two publishers. I am highly invested in the series and need to know how she will translate beloved stories, characters, and story elements through her distinct lens. I cannot wait to see in what new directions she goes next.

Story/Art Peach Momoko
Script Adaptation: Zack Davisson Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Story: 9.8 Art: 9.8 Overall: 9.8 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review


Purchase: TFAWZeus ComicsKindle

Ultimate X-Men #1 feels like Junji Ito meets the X-Men

After the Maker erased all presence of superheroes from the new Ultimate Universe and then got trapped in the City, heroes have begun to pop up again across the globe. Teenager Hisako Ichiki, wanting an everyday life, finds it ripped from her fingers as she gains mysterious new powers by a shadowy figure. Rising superstar writer and artist Peach Momoko crafts a new iteration of the X-Men in Ultimate X-Men #1 for this new universe.

Story/Art: Peach Momoko
Script Adaptation: Zack Davisson
Letterer: Travis Lanham

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
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

Ultimate X-Men #1 showcases Peach Momoko’s bold artistic direction for Mutants

Ultimate X-Men #1

After the Maker erased all presence of superheroes from the new Ultimate Universe and then got trapped in the City, heroes have begun to pop up again across the globe. Teenager Hisako Ichiki, wanting an everyday life, finds it ripped from her fingers as she gains mysterious new powers by a shadowy figure. Rising superstar writer and artist Peach Momoko crafts a new iteration of the X-Men in Ultimate X-Men #1 for this new universe. 

As a major fan of the X-Men, I was thoroughly impressed and invested in Momoko’s approach to creating a different take on the beloved franchise. Like many great X-Men stories, she places the point of view on a young female character who is “normal” before discovering that they are different. However, she sets the issue in Japan, which immediately sets it apart from the past iterations in America. She does an excellent job placing us in Hisako’s shoes as she navigates her day before her powers awaken. Using the coming-of-age framework, Momoko frames the destructive impact when her mutant identity arises. As she graduates middle school and matures, she immediately comes face to face with being a mutant and realizes that something is off with her.

I also loved Momoko utilizing horror to signal her emerging mutation and differentiate her old life from her new life. Akin to classic New Mutants, Hisako experiences dark supernatural forces where her mutation is akin to more of a curse than a gift. She is literally and figuratively haunted by Tsubasa’s death, which causes her mutation to appear. Instead of presenting this transformation through the traditional X-Gene, it utilizes a charm that represents the powers that she gains. This decision ties further into the more supernatural angle that Momoko presents in the narrative. Her more supernatural horror approach and ties to Japanese mythology feels extraordinarily refreshing and unique, and it is a perfect way to launch Ultimate X-Men

Yet she never loses sight of the teenager-focused elements of the story as she touches upon topics such as trauma, bullying, and suicide. A vital aspect of the X-Men lies in focusing on younger outsiders navigating the world, and Momoko delivers on that. She treats these delicate subjects with respect while not shying away from reality. It further grounds the world by having the characters deal with relatable and real problems which allows the more fantastical elements to pop more.

Momoko’s excellent artwork shines here as she creates a unique world vision. With a lush Japanese mountain temple, a sleepy town, and horrific supernatural elements, all of them presented with her gorgeous illustrations. Especially with her watercolors, Ultimate X-Men combines beauty with plenty of creepy imagery. Because of this, you can feel her DNA within the comic as Momoko truly leaves her stamp on iconic characters and an iconic franchise. VC’s Travis Lanham utilizes the lettering to portray the heightened emotions and expressions of the characters. And Zack Davisson does a great job of adapting the original script of Ultimate X-Men #1 as well.

Momoko’s Ultimate X-Men #1 provides a fresh twist on the mutant mythology within the new Ultimate Universe. The series will please not only long-time fans but fans of her previous Marvel work as well. With a bold visionary approach to the long-running mythology, the upcoming story possibilities are limitless. Ultimate X-Men is truly ultimate.

Story/Art: Peach Momoko
Script Adaptation: Zack Davisson Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham
Story: 9.6 Art: 9.6 Overall: 9.6 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review


Purchase: Zeus ComicsKindle

It’s new manga from Dark Horse this Monday!

Dark Horse Manga heats up the winter months with some sure-fire hits arriving soon. Check out the latest list of titles available for pre-order from local bookstores and comic shops now!

Cthulhu Cat

Dark Horse invites cat lovers across the cosmos to experience a new take on the eldritch horrors of Lovecraftian lore with Cthulhu Cat, a one-shot, full-color gag manga from Pandania. This volume is a charming tribute both to Lovecraft’s stories and Lovecraft the cat lover, translated by Zack Davisson, with lettering by Steve Dutro.

An ordinary Japanese high school student takes home an abandoned supernatural cat left in a cardboard box. Maybe he shouldn’t have meddled with kitties beyond human comprehension—after all, it had tentacles where its whiskers should have been! But it’s too late now. With no Elder Sign on the cat door, soon the pick of the Mythos litter starts to invade his house, as furry and feline versions of Hastur, Yog-Sothoth, Nyarlathotep, and other adorable Lovecraftian horrors blast his mind, whisper impossible secrets, and generally get underfoot!

Ph’nglui mglw’nfah Cthulhu Cat R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagnya!

(“In his house in R’lyeh dead Cthulhu Cat waits dreaming, meow!”)

Cthulhu Cat (136 pages, 5.75″ x 8.25″) arrives in trade paperback on bookstore shelves September 17, 2024 and comic shops September 18, 2024. Pre-order at your local comic shop, bookstore, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble for $14.99.

Cthulhu Cat

Danganronpa 2: Chiaki Nanami’s Goodbye Despair Quest Volume 2

Dark Horse Manga resumes the fan-favorite character Chiaki Nanami’s dedicated storyline in Danganronpa 2: Chiaki Nanami’s Goodbye Despair Quest Volume 2With over 800,000 copies in print, Dark Horse’s previous Danganronpa manga have become favorites of fans of the video game and anime franchise, and Chiaki’s story is shaping up to be no exception! Manga creator Suzuragi Karin and Spike Chunsoft bring the tech savvy high schooler’s perspective to light in this most dangerous game.

Nanami witnesses the unexpected power of Monomi against a fearsome guardian Monobeast, allowing students to access a new island at the tropical Jabberwock resort/prison! The island has a library, a diner, but strangest of all, it has Hope’s Peak Academy itself, mysteriously covered by a growth of trees and vines. Some believe video games cause violence, and Monokuma is out to prove it, as he challenges the class to play a game within their game—Twilight Syndrome, which he claims will reveal their next motive to commit murder. This is just the kind of dare that Chiaki Nanami, the Ultimate Gamer, can’t resist, but she vows that whatever the playthrough, she won’t allow another class killing to take place!

The 186-page Danganronpa 2: Chiaki Nanami’s Goodbye Despair Quest Volume 2 (of 3) spawns in trade paperback (5 1/8″ x 7 1/4″) on bookstore shelves July 23, 2024 and comic shops July 24, 2024. Pre-order at your local comic shop, bookstore, Amazon or Barnes and Noble for $13.99.

Danganronpa 2: Chiaki Nanami’s Goodbye Despair Quest Volume 2

Innocent Omnibus Volume 3

Explore historical drama like never before as Dark Horse Manga presents Innocent Omnibus Volume 3 collecting volumes 7-9 of the original Japanese manga, inspired by real historic figures and events. Shin’ichi Sakamoto’s series captures the beauty, romance, and brutality of 18th century France. Keep up with the dramatic, aesthetic saga and pre-order Innocent Omnibus Volume 3 before it hits store shelves in October 2024.

Change is on the horizon, as Marie-Joseph ascends the block. The rivalry between Charles-Henri and his sister has hit a peak. With Charles-Henri accepting his position as the head of House Sanson and Marie-Joseph rejecting all convention, the conflict threatens to shatter the family legacy. Meanwhile, Charles meets a young prince who invites him to the Palace of Versailles, but this is no place for an executioner.

Shin’ichi Sakamoto masterfully fictionalizes the true life of Charles-Henri Sanson, known as the Monsieur de Paris—“Gentleman of Paris,” who performed nearly 3,000 executions in 18th century France. Available in English for the first time and presented in a special omnibus edition collecting the final volumes 7-9 of the original Japanese manga series! 

Innocent Omnibus Volume 3 (664 pages) arrives in 5.75″ x 8.25″ trade paperback on bookstore shelves October 29, 2024 and comic shops October 30, 2024. Pre-order at your local comic shop, bookstore, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble for $29.99.

Innocent Omnibus Volume 3 

Mob Psycho 100 Volume 15

Dark Horse Manga continues to bring ONE’s popular manga to English audiences. Mob Psycho 100 Volume 15 continues the Harvey Award-nominated story from the creator of One-Punch Man. With the return of Mob Psycho 100 for a third anime season, and the live-action Mob Psycho 100 TV series on Netflix, there has never been a better time to jump into the wild world of Mob Psycho!

They say eighth grade is the time to have delusions, but Tome Kurata, president of the Telepathy Club, is now in the ninth, and she still hasn’t managed to make mental contact with aliens. With graduation from middle school coming fast, can the rest of the club put aside their goofing off long enough to help Tome achieve her dream? Maybe with the help of Reigen, Mob, and a mountain pilgrimage, they can! 

Mob Psycho 100 Volume 15 (200 pages, 5 1/8″ x 7 1/4″) arrives in trade paperback on bookstore shelves September 3, 2024 and comic shops September 4, 2024. Pre order at your local comic shop, bookstore, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble for $11.99.

Mob Psycho 100 Volume 15

Cat + Gamer Volume 6

Available for the first time in English, Wataru Nadatani’s Harvey Award-nominated manga series continues with Cat + Gamer Volume 6. Translated by Zack Davisson and lettered by Susie Lee at Studio Cutie, this manga has everything: cats, video games, and adventure! Fans can catch up or update their collections now with Cat + Gamer Volumes 1-5 before volume 6 finds its way into bookstores and comic book shops in Fall 2024.

Office worker Riko Kozakura has successfully expanded to a two-cat party at home, and she continues to level up in pet ownership! Living with cats Musubi and Soboro every day is an adventure, and in her daily quests, Riko couldn’t ask for a better team! “Leveling up” in skills, surprises, and adventures, Riko discovers what it’s like living with two cats!

The next volume of Wataru Nadatani’s hilarious manga series, Cat + Gamer Volume 6, arrives in bookstores on October 22, 2024 and in comic shops on October 23, 2024. Pre-order this (5.125″ x 7.25″, 168 pages) volume and the rest of the series at your local comic shop, bookstore, or on Amazon, and Barnes and Noble for $11.99.

Cat + Gamer Volume 6

Cthulhu Cat is an adorable slice of life manga with an eldritch twist!

Dark Horse Manga invites cat lovers across the cosmos to experience a new take on the eldritch horrors of Lovecraftian lore in Cthulhu Cat! A one-shot, full-color gag manga from Pandania, this collection is a charming tribute both to Lovecraft’s stories and love of cats. This new English edition is translated by Zack Davisson and lettered by Steve Dutro.

An ordinary Japanese high school student takes home an abandoned supernatural cat left in a cardboard box. Maybe he shouldn’t have meddled with kitties beyond human comprehension—after all, it had tentacles where its whiskers should have been! But it’s too late now. With no Elder Sign on the cat door, soon the pick of the Mythos litter starts to invade his house, as furry and feline versions of Hastur, Yog-Sothoth, Nyarlathotep, and other adorable Lovecraftian horrors blast his mind, whisper impossible secrets, and generally get underfoot!

Ph’nglui mglw’nfah Cthulhu Cat R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagnya!
(“In his house in R’lyeh dead Cthulhu Cat waits dreaming, meow!”)

Cthulhu Cat arrives in trade paperback (136 pages, 5.75” x 8.25”) on bookstore shelves September 17, 2024 and comic shops September 18, 2024. Pre order at your  local comic shop, bookstore, Amazon or Barnes and Noble for $14.99. 

Cthulhu Cat

The Call of Cthulhu’s insanity comes in manga form

Gou Tanabe, the artist of the Eisner-nominated H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness, returns to the chilling horror of H.P. Lovecraft’s published works with the manga H.P. Lovecraft’s The Call of Cthulhu, presented in paperback in summer 2024. Arguably the most famous of all of Lovecraft’s stories, this is now presented in one complete graphic novel, translated by Zack Davisson.

What links together two bands of worshippers, one deep in the Arctic snows, one hidden in the bayous of Louisiana, is more than their shared practice of blood sacrifice. It is the inhuman phrase they both chant: Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn—“In his house at R’lyeh dead Cthulhu waits dreaming.” Now these nightmares will disturb the sanity of Francis Thurston, a young man pursuing an investigation into the cult of Cthulhu that leads to the most forsaken spot in the vast Pacific…and to Earth’s supreme terror, the risen corpse-city of R’lyeh.

Mysteries that teeter on the edge of sanity come alive with the complete story in this single volume, containing eight full-color pages and a tip-in title page featuring silver ink. 

Explore 290 pages of eldritch horror in H.P. Lovecraft’s The Call of Cthulhu when it arrives in trade paperback (5 ⅛” x 7 ¼”) on bookstore shelves on July 31, 2024 and in comic shops on August 1, 2024. Pre-order at your local comic shop, bookstore, Amazon, or Barnes and Noble for $19.99. 

H.P. Lovecraft's The Call of Cthulhu
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