Tag Archives: Brittany Peer

Wiccan and Hulkling: Raid of Ultron #1 uses the utterly insane family background of Teddy Altman and Billy Kaplan to tell some heartstrings pulling stories

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Wiccan and Hulkling: Raid of Ultron #1

Even if they’re open and welcoming towards your gender and sexual identity, family gatherings can be difficult even during the best times. Especially if “grandpa” is a killer robot, and hubby is descended from two warring extraterrestrial races. Wiccan and Hulkling: Raid of Ultron #1 uses the utterly insane family background of Teddy Altman and Billy Kaplan to tell some heartstrings pulling stories about family and romantic relationships that happen to feature magic, robots, and lots and lots of punching. Wiccan solo series writer Wyatt Kennedy and artist Stephen Byrne handle the frame story “Family Matters” that introduces the comic’s kooky cast of characters at Wiccan and Hulkling’s anniversary party. They set up the conflict and seal it with a kiss, integrating seamlessly into the three short stories.

After the Ultrons attack, each of the party guests and hosts is thrown into portals that are different short stories written and drawn by a talented group of LGBTQ+ comics creators. Up first is Wiccan and Speed are trapped in Billy and Teddy’s favorite wind-down, sadly-on-hiatus reality TV show in “Mixed Signals” by Tegan Quin, Luciano Vecchio, and Brittany Peer. The stressful setting allows Wiccan to talk about the issues in his marriage with Speed and the ever-present Ultron, who has hacked Billy’s smart watch because, of course, he would. This story satirizes “smart” and optimization culture, where we can have physical items and feedback about mental health at the press of a button, but we’re not open about how we’re feeling. Quin writes zippy banter for Wiccan and Speed, definitely leaning into the gentle sibling ribbing, and Vecchio and Peer go big, loud, and high tech with their line art and colors. The comfort TV show setting makes everything a little bit more surreal, but there’s plenty of blasting, punching, and of course, speed lines. “Mixed Signals” gets this comic started off right with a shot of adrenaline and a chaser of reflection.

The sibling relationship through-line continues in “En Garde” by Zoe Tunnell and Rachael Stott, which features a duel between Hulkling, Phyla-Vell, and Ultron, plus a lot of relationship talk with a telepathic assist from Phyla’s partner, Moondragon. The contrast between Ultron being in their own little world and taunting the heroes while Billy and Phyla have a serious conversation about communication and complacency in relationships is the height of comedy. While slashing, flipping, and flying, this story’s protagonists burn through some important topics like being at different life stages than one’s friends or giving your partner space while still speaking about your needs. There’s also some great sibling bonding between Hulkling and Phyla-Vell as they seamlessly hack and slash their way through this story. Stott brings a real muscularity to her figure work that makes the combat feel like a real battle and not just cartoons jumping and blasting. It pairs nicely with Tunnell’s humorous and honest script. (I need a follow-up story where Wiccan and Hulkling and Phyla-Vell and Moondragon go to brunch.)

Vision and his daughter Viv star in the third Raid of Ultron short story, the cheekily named “Machine Learning,” where they face off against Ultron and his daughter Ultronica, who is basically robot Cher Horowitz. Josh Trujillo, Bradley Clayton, and Fabi Marques shift the dynamic from sibling to father/daughter. The emotional heart of this story is the difficulty of knowing when to introduce your parent to your partner, as Viv feels a little awkward bringing her new girlfriend to Wiccan and Hulkling’s party. This heartfelt emotion is counterbalanced by the hilarity of their opponents, who are pop culture tropes of father/daughter interactions turned up to eleven. Also, the Sanctum Sanctorum makes for a visually interesting environment and creates a natural contrast between science and magic. Vision and Viv definitely aren’t on their home turf. However, it’s nice to have yet another story in this comic that’s both introspective and action-packed. Marques’ bright, brash color palette truly ties everything together and gives both the fighting and conversations a heightened feel.

Wiccan and Hulkling: Raid of Ultron uses the superhero soap opera backdrop of the Marvel Universe to tell fiercely queer stories with big action and even bigger feelings. Also, as an added bonus and fitting the family theme of the comic, there’s an interview with Tegan and Sara discussing their sibling dynamic, relationship, and history with comic books, making this book a delight for both fans of LGBTQ+ comics creators and musicians.

Story: Wyatt Kennedy, Zoe Tunnell, Tegan Quin, Josh Trujillo
Art: Stephen Byrne, Rachael Stott, Luciano Vecchio, Bradley Clayton 
Colors: Brittany Peer, Fabi Marques Letters: Ariana Maher
Story: 8.6 Art: 8.8 Overall: 8.7 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Dark Regards #1 is the Metalest of Metal Debuts. Hail Satan.

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Dark Regards #1

Two decades ago, Dave Hill and his first band set out to rock their high school auditorium in a fury of heavy metal hellfire. They failed miserably. Years later, Dave has made a new life for himself as a rising star in the New York comedy scene—a career where getting laughed at on stage is the entire point and not just a tragic consequence. But when Dave’s metal ambitions are reawakened by the über self-serious “satanic” genre of Norwegian black metal, Dave creates a ridiculously hyperbolic alter ego and a band to match that, together, reignite the spark of his forgotten rock ’n’ roll fantasy. But when Dave’s internet-fueled rumors of Witch Taint—a metal band “so extreme that you must remove all sharp objects from the immediate area” when their music is played—spreads all the way to Europe, his story will spiral dangerously out of control as Norway’s most extreme black metal butchers come to reap their revenge . . . and put everything and everyone Dave holds dear in the crosshairs (of their axes, which, truth be told, don’t actually have crosshairs, but, hey, it’s a metaphor). Dark Regards #1 picks up the torch from rockumentaries like This is Spinal Tap to introduce the world to the most extreme metal band ever.

Dark Regards is by Dave Hill and stars Dave Hill in a story that’s sort of kind of based on a true story and not at all exaggerated in any way. The result is a comic that blends fact and fiction into a story that’s a send up of Black Metal much like This is Spinal Tap mocked metal bands. Dark Regards #1 introduces Hill who has had dreams of being a musician since he was a kid and as an adult is a comedian with mixed results. His social life is in the crapper and his roommates seem more interested in watching terrible television. Eventually Hill dives into being the King of Black Metal pissing off some Norwegian Black Metal bands who go on a mission to kill Dave. All of this is told as a radio interview and done in a way that keeps you guessing if this is a true story Dave is telling or completely made up.

And that’s part of what’s fun about the comic. Not only does it poke fun at Black Metal but also the story as a whole with an exaggerated delivery that makes it all come off as one long setup by a comedian and now we’re waiting for the punchline. It’s a comic built on extreme punctuating and emphasizing that at every chance it gets. The result is a comic that’s a comedic sendup but also a love letter to Black Metal and especially Norwegian Black Metal (we’re fully expecting a forest to come into play here).

Artyom Topilin‘s art helps emphasize the insanity of it all by delivering the art in extremes as well. There’s little done at normal levels here and instead everything feels like it’s delivered in a way that makes it all the more comedic. Birttany Peer‘s color and especially Troy Peteri‘s lettering adds to the insanity of it all in a good way keeping things bright but also kind of metal in a way too. Backgrounds are used to really highlight the characters “metal” aspects and overall, like the story itself, the visuals come off as both a bit of a wink and nod as well as loving the music genre.

Dark Regards #1 is a fun debut that is one for the fans of the music genre, or at least know a bit about it. It can absolutely be enjoyed just on its own. An annoying American pisses off some people who travel to kill him, it’s a simple concept that delivers humor. But, if you’re familiar with Black Metal, especially the sillier aspects and inside jokes, Dark Regards #1 is a worthy offering to the dark gods.

Story: Dave Hill Art: Artyom Topilin
Color: Brittany Peer Letterer: Troy Peteri
Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75 Recommendation: Read

Oni Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

EC Comics’ Epitaphs From the Abyss #1 kicks off some classic horror

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Epitaphs From the Abyss #1

From the publisher that drove Tales from the Crypt, Vault of Horror, Haunt of Fear, and many more into the depraved hearts of an unsuspecting world, the immortal EC Comics returns! Epitaphs From the Abyss #1 kicks off the first ALL-NEW series in nearly 70 years! But, in this age of gore-porn and brutal, scary, horror, does the classic still deliver chills and thrills? It’s a whole new era of terror!

Featuring four tales to keep you up at night, Epitaphs From the Abyss #1 is a fun return to classic horror. It’s twists and turns that’ll get you to think more than make you afraid of unknown noises, but it’s a hell of a lot of fun.

Kicking off with “Killer Spec” from J. Holtham, Jorge Fornes, and Dan Jackson, Epitaphs From the Abyss #1 is predictable at times, but still has more than enough to surprise readers. It’s pretty easy to see where the debut story goes but it’s the ending and twists and turns that entertain in an unexpected way. I have no fond memories of EC Comics and remember HBO’s Tales From the Crypt at times scaring the shit out of me as a kid, but I appreciated the “lessons” one would learn at the end. While The Twilight Zone delivered parables with a sci-fi twist, EC to me was the horror cousin of that. Here we get to see where jealousy takes a wannabe writer and makes readers wonder how meta this tale is…

“Senator, Senator” is perfect for this election year. Chris Condon, Peter Krause, and Michelle Madsen explore why an elected official flip-flops on a key issue. Again, like the opening story, it’s not hard to guess where the story is going but it’s the details that stand out. It delivers a nice jab at the current political climate.

“Family Values” by Stephanie Phillips, Phil Hester, Travis Hymel, and Marissa Louise feels like something we’d see in a modern day horror film. Hell, we might have. But, the ending is damn near perfect in multiple ways. A father must choose which family member to kill, or himself, while they’re taken hostage by unknown individuals. Why and for what purpose? You’ll need to read and find out!

Finally, “US vs. US” is another fantastic jab, pun intended, at the current state of the United States. Two individuals must take on a group of freaks and things aren’t what they appear. Brian Azzarello, Vlad Legostaev, and Brittany Peery deliver a story that is very unexpected in the direction it goes and what’s revealed.

Epitaphs From the Abyss #1 might feel tame compared to today’s horror, it’s much more comedic and less about scares, but it mines the classic concept of EC Comics perfectly delivering four tales that’ll entertain and get you to think. Each is varied in story, art, and tone, and each delivers unexpected moments that’ll keep readers guessing. It’s rare when there’s no weak stories in an anthology, and Epitaphs From the Abyss #1 has none. It’s a fantastic start to the classic brand that’ll hopefully breathe new life into this type of horror.

Story: J. Holtham, Chris Condon, Stephanie Phillips, Brian Azzarello
Art: Jorge Fornes, Peter Krause, Phil Hester, Vlad Legostaev
Ink: Travis Hymel Color: Dan Jackson, Michelle Madsen, Marissa Louise, Brittany Peer
Letterer: Richard Starkings, Tyler Smith
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Oni Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

X-Men Wedding Special #1 Serves as a Great Wedding Story but Not a Strong Marvel Pride Issue

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X-Men Wedding Special

Mystique and Destiny, one of the oldest gay couples in Marvel comics, decide to renew their vows in X-Men Wedding Special #1 by an ensemble of various creatives. Serving as this year’s Marvel’s Voices Pride, read about the wedding of the millennium with one of the comics’ most significant relationships, Betsy and Rachel, facing a dangerous threat by an old foe, a group of young mutants trying to find the perfect wedding gift and more. Although it works better to celebrate Irene’s and Raven’s relationship, X-Men Wedding Special #1 feels like a weaker substitute for the Marvel Voices Pride specials from the past years.

The best aspect lies in the overarching story “Something Borrowed, Something Blue” by Kieron Gillen, Rachael Stott, and Michael Bartolo, which focuses on the wedding of Irene and Raven as the pair have a secret scheme that the guests and their kids Rogue and Nightcrawler do not know about. Aside from the historical nature of the wedding, it also serves as a capstone for Gillen’s work with the pair during the Krakoan era. I enjoy how Gillen characterizes the chaotic and villainous sapphic couple whose love is immortal. Stott’s beautiful art, paired with Bartolo’s colors, conveyed the majestic and gorgeous nature of the wedding. The other stories by Tini Howard, Phillip Sevy, KJ Díaz, Wyatt Kennedy, Jenn St-Onge, Brittany Peer, and more are primarily good but range in quality. 

Outside of the original stories, the issue includes a history of Irene’s and Raven’s relationship, an interview with Chris Claremont, and reprints of two LGBTQ+ X-Men-focused Marvel issues. X-Men Wedding Special #1 does not justify its price tag, even with the included supplementary materials. Granted, it is a super-sized issue, but I wish the special contained more original materials and a more substantial publishing and presentation for the physical printed issue. Considering how last year’s Pride special included more stories, interviews, and other elements, X-Men Wedding Special #1 feels less impressive and a step down in quality and execution. 

Lastly, X-Men Wedding Special #1 serves as this year’s Marvel’s Voices Pride, which does not showcase a large variety of LGBTQ+ representation. By solely focusing on Irene, Raven, and some of the X-Men exclusively, it cuts out the other LGBTQ+ mutant and non-mutant characters teased on the variant covers. Similarly, what should be a meaningful celebration for two beloved queer characters becomes saddled with being the big LGBTQ+ special by Marvel comics. This decision cuts out queer and trans-non-mutant characters, along with not highlighting other spaces of the universe. The representation is more limited and does not portray the breadth of queer and trans characters in the comics. As a result, if Marvel released a 2024 issue of Marvel’s Voices Pride in addition to X-Men Wedding Special #1, my opinions would be more favorable due to the latter not being the sole major queer tentpole special for the year. Outside of being the monumental wedding issue of Irene and Raven, it is also their yearly Pride issue, which comes across as more corporate synergy than a stand-alone celebration.

Overall, X-Men Wedding Special #1 bolsters a talented team of creatives who celebrate a wedding centuries in the making, which conflicts with being 2024’s Marvel’s Voices Pride. I loved the wedding aspect, but I wish it had more stories and materials representing more queer and trans characters outside of solely X-Men ones. With Irene and Raven having Marvel’s first sapphic wedding, its memorability and impact get slightly lessened with the other aspects the issue needs to juggle. As a result, X-Men Wedding Special #1 cannot solely be about their wedding but also has to carry the weight of being this year’s Marvel’s Voices Pride. I prefer if this served as a stand-alone special issue along with having a Marvel’s Voices Pride 2024 issue. X-Men Wedding Special #1 celebrates the immortal love of Irene and Raven while struggling to showcase the diverse LGBTQ+ community in Marvel comics.

Story: Kieron Gillen, Tini Howard, Tate Brombal, Yoon Ha Lee, Wyatt Kennedy
Art: Rachael Stott, Phillip Sevy, Emilio Pilliu, Stephen Byrne, Jenn St-Onge
Color: Michael Bartolo, KJ Diaz, Irma Kniivila, Brittany Peer
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Story: 7.2 Art: 8.3 Overall: 7.3 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Cemetery Kids Don’t Die #1 Crafts an Engaging Horror Story and World

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Cemetery Kids Don't Die #1

The Dreamwave console offers the perfect escape from the mundanity of your lives in the modern age, all the while you play it as you sleep. Aside from the popular system is the game “Nightmare Cemetery,” which attracts all teens to it. One group of friends, The Cemetery Kids, have become obsessed with the game and spend every night exploring its various quests. However, when one of the teenagers does not wake up and finds their mind still connected to the machine, it’s up to his friends to rescue him and prevent what lurks inside from attaching. 

Zac Thompson and Daniel Irizarri’s Cemetery Kids Don’t Die #1 offers a fresh take on similar past narratives by delving into a more prominent horror direction. While calling to mind films like Jumanji, the series shares a much closer DNA to A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, focusing on a group of misfit friends who have to band together to battle horrors while asleep in another realm. Considering the amount of ground to cover for a first issue, Thompson and Irizarri do an excellent job of establishing the characters, the story, and the world of the video game. As an RPG fan, they did a solid job of capturing the stakes and emotions while playing those types of games and capturing the aesthetics of the genre. 

Thompson nails the ensemble nature of the story by providing enough information about the individual characters and crafting engaging relationships among them. Outside of working together as a party in the game, you see their dynamics and quirks in real life. I quickly became invested in Pik, his sister Birdie, and their friends, who come across as realistic teens with real problems who want to escape the mundanity of their lives by playing “Nightmare Cemetery.” As a result, when horror comes to the forefront of the story, it hits on a much more intricate level due to the attachment to the characters. 

Irizarri’s art superbly contrasts the boring reality the teenagers live in with the more fantastical horror of the video game setting. Aside from crafting visually unique designs for the players’ avatars, Izarri makes sure to have some familiarity with them to help differentiate each role they have in the party. Also, I love the fantasy horror aesthetic, which never comes across as cliched but is well-realized and designed. The design of the teenagers also feel appropriately angsty and moody. Brittany Peer’s spooky color palette of blues, pinkish purples, and green helps the world of “Nightmare Cemetery” come to life while calling to mind classic 80s horror movies. I also liked Andworld Design’s strong lettering, as it is cohesive with the comic book world. 

Combining fantasy horror with RPG flourishes, Cemetery Kids Don’t Die crafts a solid first issue as it sets up the overwhelming odds the teenagers must overcome to succeed. The series is perfect for not only horror fans but fans of fantasy and RPGs as well. Once you start reading, it’s hard to let go.

Story: Zac Thompson Art: Daniel Irizarri
Color: Brittany Peer Design Letterer: Andworld Design
Story: 8.3 Art: 8.3 Overall: 8.3 Recommendation: Read

Oni Press provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Marvel Unlimited gets two new X-Men Infinity Comics

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Announced during the X-Men: 60 Uncanny Years Live Virtual Event, two all-new Infinity Comics are coming to Marvel Unlimited!

First, Marvel’s Voices: Negasonic Teenage Warhead #44 is now available! Written by Andrew Wheeler with art by Carola Borelli and colorist Brittany Peer, the 6-issue arc joins the anthology series renowned for its fresh take on “the world outside your window.” In the new Infinity Comic, the breakout character beloved by fans of the Deadpool films gets her first-ever solo story! Negasonic Teenage Warhead has one hour to find a girl she’s never met, kiss her, and save the universe. Sounds like a job for—wait, no. This is NOT a job for Deadpool. Is anyone else available?!

And on Monday, March 27, X-Men Unlimited #80 launches in the exclusive Infinity Comics format. The new 6-issue arc is written by Grace Freud and has art by Alberto Alburquerque and colorist Yen Nitro. In the upcoming story, Grace Freud returns to pick up the latest generations of mutants introduced in her “LGBT-D” story in Marvel’s Voices: Pride and sends them through the wringer as Mojo sets his sights on them! With Jubilee’s help, hopefully this intrepid group can keep themselves alive long enough to escape and prove themselves capable of being the heroes they aspire to be. Welcome to the X-Men, kids—hope you survive the experience!

Civil War Brews to a Boil in Eve: Children of the Moon #5

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BOOM! Studios has released a first look at Eve: Children of the Moon #5, the final issue of the five-issue Eve sequel series by Hugo and Nebula Award-nominated author Victor LaValle, rising star artist Jo Mi-Gyeong, colorist Brittany Peer, and letterer AndWorld Design, a return to the world of the highly acclaimed sci-fi adventure series in February 15, 2023. 

As Eve comes to horrific realizations about her sister, she feels more conflicted than ever as her sister’s changes along with her mysterious companion may be part of what it takes to save the Earth! On the surface, civil war brews to a boil, with Selene and her faction of children pitted against Eve and her companions…

Eve: Children of the Moon #5 features main cover art by artist Ario Anindito with Febri Ferdian, and variant covers by acclaimed illustrators Jahnoy Lindsay and Veronica Fish.

Eve: Children of the Moon #5

A Hopeful Spirit Meets Vengeful Plotting in Eve: Children of the Moon #4

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BOOM! Studios has revealed a first look at Eve: Children of the Moon #4, the penultimate issue of the new five-issue Eve sequel series by Hugo and Nebula Award-nominated author Victor LaValle, rising star artist Jo Mi-Gyeong, colorist Brittany Peer, and letterer AndWorld Design, a return to the world of the highly acclaimed sci-fi adventure series on January 18, 2023. 

While a mysterious newcomer provides new revelations about his work to Endymion, it seems that the threats to humanity could also be from an unexpected source. Meanwhile Eve’s sister and Selene form a fellowship to rescue Eve–one that threatens to provoke civil war!

Eve: Children of the Moon #4 features main cover art by artist Ario Anindito with Febri Ferdian, and variant covers by acclaimed illustrators Jahnoy Lindsay and Natacha Bustos.

Eve: Children of the Moon #4

A Hopeful Spirit Meets Vengeful Plotting in Eve: Children of the Moon #3

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BOOM! Studios has revealeda first look at Eve: Children of the Moon #3, the next issue of the new five-issue Eve sequel series by Hugo and Nebula Award-nominated author Victor LaValle, rising star artist Jo Mi-Gyeong, colorist Brittany Peer, and letterer AndWorld Design, a return to the world of the highly acclaimed sci-fi adventure series on December 21, 2022. 

While Eve courts the people with her determined and hopeful spirit, Selene loses herself in vengeful plotting. Meanwhile, a recently activated A.I., long since separated from humanity with terrifying actions divergent from its intended purpose, brings apocalyptic tidings from a mysterious world at the very bottom of the sea…

Eve: Children of the Moon #3 features main cover art by artist Ario Anindito and variant covers by acclaimed illustrators Jahnoy Lindsay and Ashley A. Woods.

Eve: Children of the Moon #3

The Sci-Fi Afrofuturist Series Continues in EVE: Children of the Moon #2

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BOOM! Studios has revealed a first look at EVE: Children of the Moon #2, the next issue of the new five-issue EVE sequel series by Hugo and Nebula Award-nominated author Victor LaValle, rising star artist Jo Mi-Gyeong, colorist Brittany Peer, and letterer AndWorld Design, a return to the world of the highly acclaimed sci-fi adventure series on November 23, 2022. 

In the second thrilling issue of the follow-up to Eve, Selene divulges the details of her origins, and how she provided hope for the many children that have flocked to her rest stop. But most importantly, what will her resentment toward Eve, Eve’s sister, and Wexler mean when they arrive?

EVE: Children of the Moon #2 features main cover art by artist Ario Anindito and variant covers by acclaimed illustrators Jahnoy Lindsay and Sanford Greene.

EVE: Children of the Moon #2
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