Tag Archives: clayton cowles

DNX #4 reveals the horrors unleashed

DNX #4

The X-Men and the Fantastic Four must regroup and address the unexpected catastrophe, while the effects of 3K’s Chairman’s scheme have only begun to be felt! But the Chairman soon learns that even his plans have flaws… DNX #4 is the penultimate chapter that sets up the final confrontation while answering some questions.

The X-Virus has been released and the X-Men and Fantastic Four have a plan to stop the spread. But, DNX #4 is really focused on the Chairman as he looks at the results of his plan and… is disappointed. Written by Jed MacKay, DNX #4 is a decent chapter in the overall event that does a good job of balancing a few threads.

Where DNX #4 really succeeds is finally really explaining, well at least teasing, where things went so wrong with the future X-Men’s plans in swapping minds that helped lead to the current situation. The future version of Beast, who looks a lot like the current evil Beast, dances around and teases that in the future, there’s one Beast and they messed up forgetting there were two in our time. It gets around and answers an interesting question as to what went wrong and how things messed up. But the rather Beast focused issue shows off the results of the Chairman’s actions. Again, MacKay gives it a nice twist to ponder and allow readers to debate how far the Chairman has gone and how much further he may go. All of this leads to the final issue’s confrontation and who knows where it all goes.

The art by Federico Vicentini is good. With color by David Curiel and Clayton Cowles, it delivers a sort of “creature feature” when we see the results of the Chairman’s actions and there it succeeds in a fun B-movie sort of way that the overall event story has. And, the comic does pack a lot into it with quite a cast of X-Men and Fantastic Four and O.N.E. too. The comic’s visuals fit the comic well.

DNX #4 has a fun aspect about it. As said above, it delivers a sort of B-movie “creature feature” horror read and feels like it mines campy films with over the top concepts while also delivering some action and paying off over a year of build up. It’s not the strongest issue in the event but does a nice job of moving the story along and building towards the finale.

Story: Jed MacKay Art: Federico Vicentini
Color: David Curiel Letters: Clayton Cowles
Story: 7.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review


Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Showdown #5 nails the finale and delivers a really satisfying ending for a solid series

Time’s up! Let the rumble begin! Trish came back home and told Harvey to get his affairs in order, because the two of them were going to settle their grievances with violence. Two will enter, and as far as they are both concerned, they don’t care if neither of them leaves! Read the bloody and emotional conclusion to 2026’s best crime comic.

Story: Dave Wielgosz
Art: Tadd Calusha
Color: Triona Farrell
Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Get your copy now!

Zeus Comics


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Preview: Six of Us #2

Six of Us #2

Writer: Tom King
Artist: Gabriel Hernandez Walta
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Cover artist: Gabriel Hernandez Walta

Chapter 2: “The Thing About Killing That Guy”

Before the funeral, before the reunion, before the fall—there was a hit sitcom.

America loved The Six of Us. Six young stars. Endless laughs. Perfect chemistry. But behind the scenes, a different story was unfolding.

Told between the bright glow of a ‘90s laugh track and the darkness just off-camera, this issue reveals the moment the cast crossed a line they can’t undo.

Cover of the comic book 'Six of Us' issue 2, featuring a figure lying on the ground with a shadowy silhouette in the background.

Six of Us #2 puts the spotlight on the dirt of stardom

Cover of the comic book 'Six of Us' issue 2, featuring a stylized illustration of a person lying on the ground with shadowy figures in the background.

Chapter 2: “The Thing About Killing That Guy” Before the funeral, before the reunion, before the fall—there was a hit sitcom. America loved The Six of Us. Six young stars. Endless laughs. Perfect chemistry. But behind the scenes, a different story was unfolding. Told between the bright glow of a ‘90s laugh track and the darkness just off-camera, this issue reveals the moment the cast crossed a line they can’t undo. Six of Us #2 takes the series in unexpected directions as it builds motives for the death of a star.

Written by Tom King, Six of Us is a murder mystery but one that examines the tragedy that is stardom. King gives us a riff on Friends and the careers many of the individuals had once the popular show went off the air. It’s the type of story that leaves you guessing what’s real and what’s not and has readers attempting to remember what happened to each cast member.

Six of Us #2 does a solid job of diving into that history and while doing so, giving readers a possible motive as far as who is the murderer. But, King does it in a way that it’s not obvious that’s what’s happening, the comic taking us through the careers and history, almost like an interview with a star reflecting on their career. It’s not until the end it’s clear that’s what’s been going on and even then, there’s so much revealed, it creates multiple motives from multiple suspects.

There’s a tragedy to it all. The story isn’t just another detective whodunnit. Six of Us #2 makes it clear this is also about the rot that is Hollywood and the struggles of the stars who the audiences adore. Friends, while successful during its run, also spun out disaster and struggles for many of its actors, much like the characters of Six of Us. There’s been a tragic death, a terrible spin-off, and uneven movie careers, and what feels like an unknown path to recapturing the stardom or what to even do with it.

Joining King is artist Gabriel Hernandez Walta who continues to give a style that feels like it’s part tragedy and part detective noir mystery. Joining Walta is Jordie Bellaire on color and Clayton Cowles on letters. The style is an interesting one giving a look of a comic that feels like it has fun with the sun of Hollywood but mixed with the more muted feel of a detective story. The look of the characters nails down the personalities and tells some of what we need to know about their careers.

Six of Us #2 is a solid second issue that builds the mystery and focusing on a few of the potential suspects. It lets the reader play detective to figure out who the killer is and why they did it. It also plays off of pop culture with a subtle jab at the ups and downs of fame and fortune.

Story: Tom King Art: Gabriel Hernandez Walta
Color: Jordie Bellaire Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review


Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Magic: The Gathering: Untold Stories – Liliana #1 is an interesting, but not exciting, start

Liliana Vess is the most powerful necromancer in the multiverse, but her power came at a cost. For her strength and her mastery of death, Liliana bargained her soul to four powerful demons: Kothophed, Razaketh, Belzenlok, and Griselbrand. But now, Liliana seeks to regain her freedom and destroy the pact she wears etched into her skin.

Liliana’s journey has brought her to Innistrad, the rumored location of Griselbrand, and a plane rife with corruption, chaos, and suffering. Determined to hunt the demon down and reclaim the piece of her soul he took, her task will not be an easy one—for Liliana Vess is not the only seeker of vengeance upon the plane of Innistrad.

Story: Torunn Grønbekk
Art: Nataliia Rerekina
Color: Lauren Affe
Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Get your copy now!

Zeus Comics
Kindle


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Batman & Robin: Year One – Dynamic Duos #3 focuses on the duo when they’re apart

While Batman foils the plans of the Mad Hatter, Robin has been sent in undercover to infiltrate the Wolf Pack and figure out who’s pulling their strings!

Story: Mark Waid
Art: Chris Samnee
Color: Mat Lopes
Letterer: Clayton Cowles with Chris Samnee

Get your copy now!

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

You’ll Never Leave This Place Alive #1 takes us in an unexpected direction by the end

Five friends. Four houses. One perfect life. Phoebe Joplin has never questioned the world her parents built: a secluded community where she and her friends were raised to be smarter, stronger, and better than anyone else. No distractions. No dangers. No secrets. Until the night of their graduation. When one of them dies under impossible circumstances, Phee starts to pull at the edges of her perfect life—and finds something far more terrifying than she ever imagined. Because this place isn’t a sanctuary. It’s a cage. And no one who discovers the truth ever leaves it alive.

Story: Jackson Lanzin, Collin Kelly
Art: Heather Vaughan
Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Get your copy now!

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

Captain Britain 50th Anniversary Special attempts to celebrate the character, and two of their main civilian identities: Brian Braddock and Betsy Braddock

Comic book cover for Captain Britain 50th Anniversary Special, featuring a stylized illustration of a woman with flowing hair surrounded by floral designs.

Captain Britain is one of Marvel’s most underrated heroes. He, she, or they is an exploration of British identity through the lens of the occult, Arthurian legends, various signs and symbols, the multiverse, and yes, superheroes. Depending on the creative team, these stories can be memorable or just palette swapped Captain America. Captain Britain 50th Anniversary Special attempts to celebrate the character, and two of their main civilian identities: Brian Braddock and Betsy Braddock. It succeeds as a showcase of visually powerful comics art, but for the most part, the scripts are retreads of Captain Britain lore or lack ending in the case of the final story in the book. However, Chris Claremont comes to life writing one of his earliest co-creations, and Alan Davis continues to be one of the great comics storytellers. Sadly, the modern day story from Dan Abnett and Kelsey Ramsay is this book’s weak link.

The Captain Britain 50th Anniversary Special kicks things off in a majorly old school way in “Braddock Business” courtesy of Cap’s co-creator Chris Claremont, artist Paul Davidson, and colorist Carlos Lopez. Set between the panels of a classic Captain Britain issue, the story pits Brian Braddock, and for the first time ever, his sister Betsy Braddock against the villainous Dr. Synne. This is mostly a beat ’em up story with Davidson evoking the power and glory of Alan Davis’ work while Lopez puts a digital sheen on the 1970s flat color palette. Synne is definitely one-dimensional, but this story succeeds by leaning on a Claremont trademark: focus on character’s interpersonal relationships. Betsy learns that Brian is Captain Britain, and that she has special abilities too leading to equal parts empowerment and anxiety on her part. She gets a classic Chris Claremont powerful woman moment too.

However, “Braddock Business” ends up commenting on the dark side of violence and revenge as Brian ends up in a physical confrontation with Dr. Synne that is more 1986 than 1976. Alan Moore is probably the most famous Captain Britain (Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant did edit the mag though.) writer and cut his teeth writing his stories before he deconstructed the superhero genre in Miracleman and Watchmen. So, Brian basically blacking out, and the fight against Synne having a more open-ended, less triumphant conclusion is in line with that kind of story. It’s cool to have superpowers, but there are also costs and responsibilities. Not everything is sunshine and roses, but Betsy and Brian still have a great sibling bond. Jamie, not so much ; he’s probably scamming folks on Kalshi right now.

“Chains of Command” fittingly pokes fun at the bureaucracy of the Captain Britain Corps and the labyrinthine web that is Merlyn, Saturnyne, and all the various players in their corner of the Marvel Universe. It’s also a showcase for Alan Davis ‘ considerable talents warping and wefting comics pages together that is matched by the bright, old school colors of Matt Hollingsworth. In the story, Brian Braddock is all action, especially when he fights his classic enemy The Fury while Archibald Payne just sits and pontificates with his big scepter. (He’s definitely compensating or something.) A lot of the story summarizes different elements of the convoluted Captain Britain Corps lore, but Davis’ sarcastic wit and powerful pencil get enough time to shine. If he was the artist or writer/artist on a Captain Britain mini or ongoing series, I would immediately put it on my hold list, especially with Hollingsworth’s colors accentuating the scenes with mystical energy.

The Captain Britain 50th Anniversary Special concludes with a story set in the present day starring the current Captain Britain, Betsy Braddock, from Dan Abnett, Kelsey Ramsay, and Brittany Peer. Unfortunately, “Another Day, An Otherworld” is the weak link is this otherwise above average collection of Captain Britain stories. The first two stories explored the themes of family and multiverse, and this one explores the cyclical nature of the omniverse and the Captain Britain Corps. However, it has no conclusion just a half-hearted mention that Opal Saturnyne is going to continue to be devious and scheme and then an advertising for an upcoming comic where we can read more about Betsy Braddock’s adventures. This is definitely a comic where the visuals supersede the text. Ramsay has a scratchy art style with heavy black inks that grounds the magical world of Captain Britain into something human, vulnerable, and even monstrous. She and Peer make sparks fly as Captain Britain fights her opponent, but the story is just a stalemate. As a reader of Excalibur and Betsy Braddock, “Another Day, An Otherworld” touched on some of the lore I knew from those books, but doesn’t continue Betsy’s story in any kind of meaningful way or mention her queerness.

Captain Britain 50th Anniversary Special may spark some feelings in folks who have read Captain Britain stories before whether that’s the early Chris Claremont/Herb Trimpe stuff or the Krakoa-era Tini Howard comics, but it won’t create any new fans of the Union Jack clad defenders of the multiverse. Any new Alan Davis interior art is always a blessing though.

Story: Chris Claremont, Alan Davis, Dan Abnett
Art: Paul Davidson, Alan Davis, Kelsey Ramsay
Colors: Carlos Lopez, Matt Hollingsworth, Brittany Peer
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Story: 6.7 Art: 8.2 Overall: 7.4 Recommendation: Read

Marvel Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review


Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

DNX #3 features Big Moments but a Choppy Story

DNX #3

While 3K’s counterstroke has shocked the X-Men, Philadelphia is no less in the shadow of disaster as the Chairman’s spoilsport plan comes into effect! The X-Men must look to the least of their number, while the Fantastic Four fight against time to deliver the data that can save the day! DNX #3 ups the action as the X-Men must deal with multiple disasters.

I’ve generally enjoyed the DNX storyline as it feels lit gets a bit back to basics for the X-Men. The X-Men are protecting everyone while the opposing side wants to expand the mutant nation to rule over humans. With the Fantastic Four mixed in, the event has been an interesting one that while short, it does a good job of wrapping up recent storylines while delivering a big bombastic battle. DNX #3 is a good issue when it comes to that battle with it clearly over for the Chairman and the X-Virus set loose. That’s not all, a giant ship is bearing down on Philadelphia threatening a second disaster.

Written by Jed MacKay, the comic is interesting and feels like a nice chapter of the overall story, but that’s the thing, it’s a chapter. This is an event taking place in the DNX miniseries as well as X-Men and Fantastic Four. This issue shows, if you haven’t been reading those other series, you’re missing out and missing key information. This is one where the main series can’t be read and appreciate on its own, it relies on its tie-ins for the main story, not ancillary information. It also relies heavily on readers having kept up with the X-Men, making it an interesting one for Fantastic Four readers not interested. A key character in this issue has been around since the beginning of the latest X-Men volume and if you haven’t been reading that series, the moments don’t hit in any way special. Still, there’s something fun about the issue and series as a whole.

The art by Federico Vicentini captures the chaos. With color by David Curiel and lettering by Clayton Cowles, the comic swings big in visuals and nails the frantic nature of what’s going on. The characters look great and it has a lot of visually dramatic moments. But, with a virus loose and a city panicking, the comic doesn’t quite capture any of that well. It all feels like after thoughts for the bigger action going on.

DNX #3 is one with big moments for a few characters. But, their moments flounder without knowledge from other comics. It’s an event that’s not so much contained but playing off of multiple years worth of storytelling and where each issue is key. With all of that, DNX #3 comes off as a sliver of a greater picture instead of big moments to be appreciated on their own.

Story: Jed MacKay Art: Federico Vicentini
Color: David Curiel Letters: Clayton Cowles
Story: 7.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review


Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Preview: Magic: The Gathering: Untold Stories – Liliana #1

Magic: The Gathering: Untold Stories – Liliana #1

Writer: Torunn Grønbekk
Penciller: Natalia Rerekina
Colorist: Lauren Affe
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Cover artist: Natalia Rerekina

Liliana Vess is the most powerful necromancer in the multiverse, but her power came at a cost. For her strength and her mastery of death, Liliana bargained her soul to four powerful demons: Kothophed, Razaketh, Belzenlok, and Griselbrand. But now, Liliana seeks to regain her freedom and destroy the pact she wears etched into her skin.

Liliana’s journey has brought her to Innistrad, the rumored location of Griselbrand, and a plane rife with corruption, chaos, and suffering. Determined to hunt the demon down and reclaim the piece of her soul he took, her task will not be an easy one—for Liliana Vess is not the only seeker of vengeance upon the plane of Innistrad.

An all-new untold story from the world of Magic: The Gathering written by Torunn Grønbekk (Jane Foster: Valkyrie, Red Sonja, Catwoman) and illustrated by Nataliia Rerekina (The Witcher).

Cover of 'Magic: The Gathering - Untold Stories: Liliana' comic book featuring a prominent female character, mystical elements, and a fantasy landscape.
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