Category Archives: Comics

Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #2 has its moments but is for the Invincible fans

Posted on by
Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #2

Battle Beast has entered the Blood Games. This is bad news…but not for him. Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #2 continues more of the same from the first issue and it shows off the biggest flaw in the series.

Written by Robert Kirkman, Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #2‘s concept is simple, its main character wants to meet competition that will kill him. There’s something potentially fun with that concept but the series hasn’t really found its groove to deliver on that. Battle Beast is joined by a ship navigation system that wants to help him meet is fate his death, and a victim who’s still alive. Again, there’s potential and there’s moments where the trio are entertaining. But, the second issue never really delivers even a hint anyone is a challenge for Battle Beast. It focuses on setting up the quest further and also puts forward an obstacle in that quest. It feels like the first and second issue deliver an actual complete story if read together. On their own, it feels a bit empty with a good concept that’s doesn’t go to its comedic extremes.

Ryan Ottley‘s art is the highlight of the series so far. It revels in the absurdity of it all. There’s blood splattering all over as Battle Beast… well, battles. The battles are a bit crazy in the details with the gore and blood and it has fun with the concept. And, Ottley’s art hits a lot of the comedic aspects with a look, body language, or small detail. But, the comic overall feels like it should be leaning into the absurd even more and could be taking things to an even more extreme. The kinetic aspect of the visuals never pop as much as they could. Annalisa Leoni‘s color helps the visuals, especially the blood splattering all over. Rus Wooton‘s lettering is always great, though there’s one misspelling early on.

Kirkman and Ottley have crafted a comic that plays to the Invincible fandom. I don’t count myself among them, having only read some issues here and there. So there is surely interesting aspects I’m not aware of and details that don’t really click or excite. And, maybe that’s some of the fun I’m missing out on. Overall, the comic doesn’t feel like it goes far enough in its death quest and is dialed in at under 10 when it should be 11.

It’s not that Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #2 is a bad comic. It has really entertaining parts. Where the series suffers is that while the main characters wants to die, he can’t, or the series would end. It doesn’t feel like there’s a real chance that will happen as there’s a next issue. But also, here’s a need to continually ramp up the competition. Escalation is the name of the game here and this issue, while setting up a conflict, doesn’t really throw in anything that feels like Battle Beast might have a hard time. The thrill is in the battle and the chance the main character will die but at no times really delivers that or spectacle to distract.

Story: Robert Kirkman Art: Ryan Ottley
Color: Annalisa Leoni Letterer: Rus Wooton
Story: 7.0 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read

Skybound provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Star Trek: Omega ends one chapter of Star Trek… and doesn’t really set up what’s next

Posted on by
Star Trek: Omega

Two and a half years of comics spanning 60 years of Star Trek history, a fair few awards, and more than a few universe detonations, and it’s all been coming to this! Star Trek: Omega is the denouement of the critically acclaimed Star Trek and Star Trek: Defiant storylines, and the first glimpse at what comes after. The crews of the Theseus, Defiant, and Enterprise set to work restoring the universe to what it should be after the evil android Lore’s intervention.

Star Trek: Omega is an interesting finale, and let me make that clear it’s absolutely a finale. I haven’t followed IDW’s Star Trek comics religiously and haven’t read much of the recent “Lore War,” but I decided to check out Star Trek: Omega in hopes of seeing what happens next. And while the comic wraps things up nicely, it also does very little to clearly lay out what to expect. This isn’t the end of an event comic like we’ve grown accustomed to that acts as much as a final chapter as it does advertisement, instead it’s a rather muted send-off wrapping up what has come before.

Written by Christopher Cantwell, Collin Kelly, and Jackson Lanzing, Star Trek: Omega bounces around the Star Trek universe giving major characters their moments as their current storylines wrap up. It’s packed with touching moments and some interesting present situations but it really feels like it closes a lot of chapters. For fans who have read the current run of Star Trek and Star Trek: Defiant, Star Trek: Omega serves as a nice ending wrapping up those series and letting us know where the various characters stand. But, it’s for the fans. New readers won’t find much as far as what’s next in this issue. There’s some teases and hints, but that’s about it, nothing clear beyond one series (and we’ll get to that).

Still, the comic has touching moments and a lot of scenes where I want to know more. I want to see what happens next, so in that way, the comic succeeds. Where it falls short is that there’s not much highlighted to come. Star Trek: Redshirts, which is a great first issue and you can read our review, is all that’s teased. It’s an odd two page spread that doesn’t really excite and feels like it’s hiding what it’s for. Add in that Star Trek: Omega has a release date of June 18 and the final order cut-off date for Star Trek: Redshirts was June 9, and you have a teaser that falls really short of what its goal is.

The art of Star Trek: Omega is interesting with a long list of artists from the years of Star Trek comics. Oleg Chudakov, Joe Eisma, Mike Feehan, Tess Fowler, Angel Hernandez, Liana Kangas, Megan Levens, Travis Mercer, Ramon Rosanas, Rachael Stott, Erik Tamayo, Davide Tinto, and Marcus To each take a bit of the story as it highlights each of the characters in their individual scenes. Lee Loughridge and Marissa Louise provide colors and Clayton Cowles handles the lettering. For the most part, the art doesn’t vary much from scene to scene except one, which is particularly jarring it’s so different than what has come before. But, with my knowledge of Star Trek I could tell who all of the characters that I know were and the art does a solid job of nailing down the emotional moments of the issue.

Overall, Star Trek: Omega feels a bit muted in some ways. It has touching moments and really does feel like a “series finale” in many ways. It doesn’t have lots of action and excitement. It wraps up storylines and teases adventures to come. Even with some neat teases that this casual fan can appreciate, it’s one for the fans who have read the comics through the recent years. But, it falls short getting readers excited for what comes next. It almost feels like it’s teasing possibilities to see the fan reaction and then go from there. It closes one chapter but doesn’t really open the next one.

Story: Christopher Cantwell, Collin Kelly, Jackson Lanzing
Oleg Chudakov, Joe Eisma, Mike Feehan, Tess Fowler, Angel Hernandez, Liana Kangas, Megan Levens, Travis Mercer, Ramon Rosanas, Rachael Stott, Erik Tamayo, Davide Tinto, and Marcus To
Color: Lee Loughridge, Marissa Louise Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 7.0 Art: 7.0 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read

IDW Publishing provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Emma Frost: White Queen #1 sets up some intrigue and tension within the Hellfire Club

Posted on by
Emma Frost: White Queen #1

Before she became a mainstay of the heroic X-Men, Emma Frost had another role: White Queen of the Hellfire Club! As she grapples for power with the rest of the Inner Circle, witness Emma’s ruthless ascent to the top! And when she discovers there is a mole within the Hellfire Club leaking secrets to their sworn enemies, the X-Men, Emma will stop at nothing to uncover the truth! Take a deep dive into Emma’s past, learn shocking secrets and be prepared to bow down to the White Queen! Emma Frost: White Queen #1 is an intriguing start that shows the politics, tension, and betrayal within the Hellfire Club.

When it comes to X-Men villains, I always enjoyed the Hellfire Club. The idea of a secret society like them that mixed danger, political machinations, schisms within, and sex appeal, was a combination that should have been far greater than it ever truly was. They’re classic villains but compared to others, they always felt a bit second tier, but top second tier. Still, I loved them and wished we got to see more, an evil counterpart (other than the Brotherhood) to the X-Men’s vision of hope. So, Emma Frost: White Queen #1 is a nice and fun start showing us more of the society as a celebration is had, the X-Men attack, and Emma Frost suspects a traitor amongst their number.

Written by Amy Chu, Emma Frost: White Queen #1 is an entertaining start that feels like a mix of throwback and modern comic. There’s some moments, like the X-Men attacking, that is right at home in the 80s while other aspects, not so much. And that makes an interesting mix of tone of the comic, one that works and works well. This isn’t a continuation of recent Marvel releases that has writers returning to earlier time periods in their run for “hidden stories.” It feels like the beginning of a story that really stands on its own, without the need to know of continuity or even care when it takes place. Chu builds up Emma in an interesting way as both a loner and a leader, someone who is clashing with others in high positions but also commanding respect and can get them to bow to her.

Andrea Di Vito‘s art is good. There’s a lot packed into the pages with a party present and the art teases the decadence of the attendees. With color by Antonio Fabela and lettering by Ariana Maher, the visuals look both modern and a bit of a throwback, much like the story itself. There’s one particular page of Storm’s wrath that’s awesome and well worth checking out.

Emma Frost: White Queen #1 is a solid start that shows off a lot of potential for what’s to come. The story is a good setup for the main event and art looks good. If this goes in the direction I think it’s going, it should be a really entertaining series that fans of the X-Men won’t want to miss.

Story: Amy Chu Art: Andrea Di Vito
Color: Antonio Fabela Letterer: Ariana Maher
Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Review: Bytchcraft #1

Posted on by
Bytchcraft #1

To preface this review, I’d like to say that I used to hang out with Bytchcraft‘s writer Aaron Reese at various cons before the COVID pandemic, such as C2E2 and Brooklyn’s Flame Con. They were a beautiful, creative soul with an amazing sense of humor and the fiercest sense of fashion. Aaron’s work for Comics Alliance inspired me in my early days as a comic critic, and even though we lost touch in recent years, I loved seeing them share art and images from Bytchcraft on Instagram and was incredibly sad to hear about their passing earlier this year. Reading Bytchcraft #1 was like having one last conversation with Aaron, and I’m glad that the whole comic book reading public can experience their literal magical vision.

Like all good first issues, Bytchcraft #1 establishes its three key characters, chief conflict, and offers an initial look at a world full of danger, magic, and badass queer witches. Aaron Reese and Lema Carril go beyond a simple light/dark magic dichotomy and take a nuanced look at the occult through the perspectives of the series’ three leads, Adriyel, Michele, and Em. Reese gives each lead a completely unique personality and voice as well as a complex web of relationships that’s only hinted at in this first issue. “Emo boi” necromancer Em is my favorite character so far, and some of their dialogue makes me laugh out loud like a line where they mention their dancing style. Bytchcraft deals with apocalypses, creepy cults, and eclipses, but there is still time for fun like an extended night club sequence, which is an opportunity for Carril to show off their flair for fashion and reveal more about the protagonists through their clothing choices.

Speaking of Lema Carril, their line art and Bex Glendining’s majestic color palettes make Bytchcraft #1 a memorable first issue. Carril’s character designs are iconic, but they have storytelling chops as well. For example, they and Aaron Reese use a lot of three panel layouts to play off Wicca’s Rule of Three and reveal the separate, yet unified nature of the book’s main coven. Triangles, and sacred geometry in general, also play a key role in the world of Bytchcraft so this all connects to the creators’ triplicate approach to layouts. To top things off, Glendining adds an extra sheen to sequences with magical energy and a complexity to the dark background colors that play off the characters’ approach to magic. They also make sure the characters are well lit so Reese’s dialogue and Lema Carril’s facial expressions can stand out.

If you enjoyed Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Charmed, but wished that the cast didn’t resemble the contents of a Duke’s mayo bottle so much or had a more in-depth and respectful view of the occult, then Bytchcraft #1 is the comic for you. Aaron Reese and Carril take some massive worldbuilding swings in this first issue while not neglecting the best part of the book, the interactions between Adril, Michele, and Em as well as their guardian, the ethereal Mthr. I can’t to dive into this world that Aaron left behind for all us queer comics reading kids trying to find connection in an uncertain, oppressive world.

Story: Aaron Reese Art: Lema Carril
Colors: Bex Glendining Letters: Morgan Martinez
Story: 8.8 Art: 9.2 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Mad Cave provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics

Superman Unlimited #2 is much like the first, entertaining but not exciting

Posted on by
Superman Unlimited #2

Superman faces a brave new world–radical change sweeps the globe, and the ramifications of the Kryptonite asteroid reach a fever pitch! The epicenter of this new Kryptonite power reverberates from the Emerald City–a nation-state positioned atop a massive stockpile of this incredible natural resource and ruled with an iron fist by the Kryptonite King and his dreaded Krypto-Knights! Can Superman hope to continue his fight for truth and justice with Kryptonite flooding the streets with danger? Plus: the Daily Planet’s expansion continues, and Gorilla City’s representative joins the team! Superman Unlimited #2 is a perfectly fine comic with some interesting aspects but just doesn’t stand out from so much out there.

Written by Dan Slott, I’ve been looking forward to this series since it was announced. But, two issues in, it doesn’t really stand out from all of the other Superman comics out there. Slott has shaken things up a bit have a Kryptonite asteroid’s crashing on Earth cause the rock to be plentiful. An entire nation has built itself up due to it this using Kryptonite much like Wakanda uses Vibranium. In that sense the story isn’t original, but the fact that the material is such an impact on Superman opens up potential and opportunity of where it all might be going. Slott has a solid attention for detail and what’s teased throughout the issue opens up what will hopefully be a strong showing down the road.

The art by Rafael Albuquerque is solid. With color by Marcel Maiolo and lettering by Dave Sharpe, there’s are times the comic has a classic feel about it. Albuquerque’s style has hints of classic adventures with poses and an overall look that has a hint of what was. There’s a cheeriness to it all with the colors keeping the comic bright and full of energy, a positive vibe that matches the core of its main character.

Superman Unlimited #2 is that comic that’s a fine edition to the read pile but it’s not one you’ll be going back to over and over. It’s entertaining but not exciting. It’s a perfectly fine Superman story so far, but one that feels like it’s a story arc in-between the major storylines and events. Superman Unlimited #2 is good but its slow start doesn’t quite hook readers.

Story: Dan Slott Art: Rafael Albuquerque
Color: Marcel Maiolo Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Story: 7.75 Art: 8.0 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation Read

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #1 shows what a good boy Krypto is while tugging at heart strings

Posted on by
Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #1

There will come a day when Krypto stands beside Superman, helping him fight off monsters, aliens, and supervillains–a day when this dog will save his adoptive world thanks to the incredible powers granted him by Earth’s strange yellow sun. But he’s not there yet. Today, Krypto is a normal puppy on Krypton, spending each happy, snoozy, endless day alongside his family: Jor-El, Lara, and baby Kal-El. But when a rocket test goes wrong, Krypto finds himself lost in space–and soon crash-landing, all alone, on a strange and alien world called Earth. Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #1 puts the star of the upcoming Superman film in the spotlight delivering an origin tale that’ll get you to choke up.

I’ve never been much of an animal person. I had a few pets growing up but no cats or dogs and only one I really got attached to. I hate to see animals suffer or when it’s clear they’re sad, but I’m not what I’d call an “animal lover” (though I did just get a cat who loves to snuggle with me). Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #1 though, hits me in the heart.

An origin of sorts, Ryan North kicks off the series following Krypto’s journey from Krypton to Earth. How did the dog get here? Well, all of that is answered as we see Kal-El’s parents scrambling as to what to do knowing Krypton is dying and its leaders are doing nothing about it. We see the process they go through which includes building the familiar rocket that eventually sends Kal to Earth but they had to test that right? Well, after some unmanned tests, Krypto is chosen to see what will happen.

North sets up Krypto as that loyal best friend, following commands, curling up with a baby Kal-El, generally being a loyal dog that would be a great addition to any family. It’s an adorable comic that does a great job of connecting the reader to care about Krypto, especially when things go wrong. North nails down his journey and those final moments before he’s swept away really nail down the emotion of it all. But, North also does an excellent job of getting to the point, Krypto getting to Earth. The comic doesn’t linger with a solid pace getting readers to care but also to the main story that’s to come.

Mike Norton‘s art is great making Krypto adorable while also capturing the heartache of the entire situation. While Krypto rockets through space, a few panels just hit the reader hard. It’s such a sad but sweet moment showing such trust between Krypto and his family but also such a betrayal in some ways too. Norton is able to convey so much through the art and it’s key seeing as Krypto has no dialogue to really tell us what he thinks. There is an intriguing thing at the end of the issue as far as the art as the Earth Krypto lands on feels like there’s sort of a mix of styles of time period. So we know where Krypto has landed but the “when” is a bit up in the air based on the art detail.

Krypto: The Last Dog of Krypton #1 hits hard in so many ways with a sweet story that shows off why this lovable canine has such a fandom. It’s a great debut that gives a great origin story that is sci-fi adventure mixed with an emotional center.

Story: Ryan North Art: Mike Norton
Color: Ian Herring Letterer: Lucas Gattoni
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Get your summer reading excitement with Humble Bundle’s The Rick Remender Collection Comic Bundle

Posted on by

Lose yourself in the renowned works of comic book writer and animator Rick Remender with the latest Humble Comics Bundle, The Rick Remender Collection Comic Bundle. Get 30+ volumes of amazing Image Comics titles like SEVEN TO ETERNITY, Vol. 1, DEADLY CLASS, Vol. 1, BLACK SCIENCE, Vol. 1, and more. Read the very best from this legendary creator and help support The BINC Foundation with your purchase. Style, story, and mystique—this bundle has it all! This bundle supports Book Industry Charitable Foundation.

The Rick Remender Collection Comic Bundle features 47 items with a $735 value for just $24.

Rick Remender Collection Comic Bundle

Preview: Usagi Yojimbo: Ten Thousand Plums #4

Posted on by

Usagi Yojimbo: Ten Thousand Plums #4

(W) Stan Sakai (A/CA) Stan Sakai
In Shops: Jun 18, 2025
SRP: $4.99

Usagi and Yukichi find themselves among a band of pilgrims in search of the miraculous goddess known as “The Mother.” The skeptical ronin’s doubts recede as the desperate plight of their new friends unfolds, revealing the obstacles that stand between them and salvation. Can the goddess Kannon come to Tabo’s rescue? Discover the answers in this captivating and highly-personal two-part tale!

Usagi Yojimbo: Ten Thousand Plums #4

Preview: Vatican City #3

Posted on by

Vatican City #3

(W) Mark Millar (A/CA) Per Berg
In Shops: Jun 18, 2025
SRP: $5.99

The stunning conclusion to the three-part vampire apocalypse saga as the last humans on Earth trapped inside Vatican City are whittled down to just a handful as they try to make their escape with a billion vampires waiting outside and the end of the world fast approaching.

Vatican City #3
« Older Entries Recent Entries »