Dark X-Men #5 (of 5)
(W) Steve Foxe (A) Jonas Scharf (CA) Stephen Segovia
Rated T+
In Shops: Dec 13, 2023
SRP: $3.99
INFERNO!
The Limbo Embassy falls as Orchis’ secret weapon against Madelyne Pryor ascends to the throne. When the flames die down, who will emerge as the one true Goblin Queen – and will any of the Dark X-Men survive to see the outcome?!
Wednesdays (and Tuesdays) are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in
Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!
Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this week.
Alien #1 (Marvel) – A world is infected by the universe’s greatest killers, Weyland-Yutani sees a payout even if it costs a few human lives.
Animal Pound Ashcan (BOOM! Studios) – Get a look at the new series from Tom King and Peter Gross that’s a new reimagining of George Orwell’s classic. How it’ll stand out from that other recent take, Animal Castle (which is amazing), will be intriguing.
Batman and Robin #3 (DC Comics) – The series has been fun so far as it balances the superheroics with Bruce and Damian attempting to be a normal father and son.
Dark X-Men #4 (Marvel) – The series has been fun so far remember the dysfunction within the X-Men that can be so entertaining.
G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero #301 (Skybound) – Larry Hama continues his epic run with artist Chris Mooneyham!
Lotus Land #1 (BOOM! Studios) – Something about technology that promises to end entropy itself and an attack on that program brings out a retired Detective. It sounds intriguing and the art looks great.
Outsiders #1 (DC Comics) – The Outsiders are back in this stealth launch of something bigger… something more… Planetary.
Rose Wolves Vol. 1 (IDW Publishing) – This wordless two-color graphic novel is an enthralling fable about disability, companionship, and transformation, set in the haunting beauty of the wild.
Speed Force #1 (DC Comics) – DC’s expanding the world of the Flash and we’re intrigued where this aspect of it all goes.
Star Wars: Visions #1 (Marvel) – Peach Momoko does Star Wars.
The Deviant #1 (Image Comics) – As snow falls over Milwaukee in 1972, a blood-stained Santa Claus commits unimaginable atrocities against young men. Fifty years later, a troubled young writer interviews this so-called “Deviant Killer,” who still maintains his innocence from behind bars.
The Ministry of Compliance #1 (IDW Publishing) – Writer John Ridley with artist Stefano Raffaele? Yes please! Thirty-seven years ago, Earth was secretly invaded by an alien force known as the Devolution, and they have been shaping the direction humanity has been going in ever since to prepare us to be assimilated into their empire.
Dark X-Men #4 (of 5)
(W) Steve Foxe (A) Jonas Scharf (CA) Stephen Segovia
Rated T+
In Shops: Nov 15, 2023
SRP: $3.99
HOSTILE TAKEOVER!
The fiend taunting the Dark X-Men from afar leaves a trail of bodies in her wake as terror falls over the Limbo Embassy. Will CHASM join the fight against Orchis…or become Madelyne Pryor’s ultimate downfall? And can the Devil ever truly be trusted?
Dark X-Men #3 (of 5)
(W) Steve Foxe (A) Jonas Scharf (CA) Stephen Segovia
Rated T+
In Shops: Oct 25, 2023
SRP: $3.99
FEAR THE FALLEN!
As Gambit tries to save his unruly half of the squad from a watery grave, Madelyne Pryor and Havok confront their nightmares on the other side of the world, leaving Carmen Cruz all alone…aside from the bloodthirsty beast stalking her in the shadows!
Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy read more comics than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling reviews of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full one for.
These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews and Recommendations.
Logan
Hawkgirl #3 (DC Comics) – Kendra, Galaxy, and Argus hit the road and fight the Court of Owls in Gotham with the assistance of Batman and Chef Alysia Yeoh in Hawkgirl #3. Artist Amancay Nahuelpan‘s visual tricks and skill with layouts get a workout beginning with a hilarious, yet epic riff on “I’m Batman”. He and writer Jadzia Axelrod continue to have wonderful chemistry as she puts captions revealing Kendra’s inner thoughts, and he brings the fisticuffs and handles the shift in timelines with style and grace. Letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou also adds flavor to Axelrod’s dialogue with his bubbles, font choices, and timely capitalizations and underlining and highlights some big emotional beats like Galaxy’s insecurity around Batman or Kendra’s nigh-metafictional rage about how she’s been treated by different characters in the DC Universe over the year. Hawkgirl #3 is a fun team-up, adds depth to Galaxy and Kendra’s characters, and also progresses the Nth metal mystery plotline as the book continues to be one of the cutest, gayest, and most badass current comics on the stands. Overall: 8.8 Verdict: Buy
Brett
The Blackout Bombshell #1 (Sumerian) – Written by Louis Southard with art by Dean Kotz, color by Patrick Buermeyer, and lettering by Buddy Beaudoin, The Blackout Bombshell #1 nails everything you’d want in a PI/noir story. The private dick is a… dick, a blackout drunk who can’t remember why he wants to find a mysterious woman. She also just so happened to show up at his door and tried to kill him. Then there’s an attorney who himself has some ethical and personal issues. An ever growing pile of dead bodies are mixed in and it’s all set in a post Vietnam world, and you’ve got an intriguing start that’s full of individuals you want to slap. The art is solid, using a noir-ish style but a more modern setting. It all comes together for a start that fans of detective stories will want to get. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy
Avengers Inc. #1 (Marvel) – Writer Al Ewing, artist Leonard Kirk, colorist Alex Sinclair, and letterer Cory Petit deliver an intriguing Avengers team that mixes your typical spandex superheroes with a bit of a detective/crime spin. It all works well setting things up for what should be something a bit different from your regular Avengers title. The art by Kirk and the team is solid with colors popping to set up each scene. Overall: 8.25 Verdict: Buy
Catwoman #57 (DC Comics) – The third part of “The Gotham War,” writer Tini Howard, artist Nico Leon, colorist Veronica Gandini, and letterer Lucas Gattoni give us events from Catwoman’s perspective. It’s a decent entry in the crossover event as she must figure out how to proceed through Batman’s stubbornness. But, the comic also focuses a lot on the Red Hood, almost distracting from the title character. The end adds a bit of a wrinkle to the story but beyond that, the entry is rather forgettable. Overall: 7.25 Verdict: Read
Alpha Flight #2 (Marvel) – Overall, Alpha Flight’s entry in Fall of X has been entertaining by predictable. Written by Ed Brisson with art by Scott Godlewski, color by Matt Milla, and lettering by Travis Lanham, it hasn’t surprised too much. Still, it’s interesting to see this sort of resistance against Orchis and the government’s bending to their will. While the overall story follows the beats you’d expect, individual choices and moments stand out. The art is good and the characters all look like the Alpha Flight we love with some nice fights and dynamic moments. Still, the comic feels like it’s playing it a bit safe instead of pushing the underlying concepts and themes of Fall of X. Overall: 7.5 Verdict: Read
Dark X-Men #2 (Marvel) – Writer Steve Foxe, artist Jonas Scharf, colorist Frank Martin, and letterer Clayton Cowles continue to deliver what is the standout of Fall of X. The team is dysfunctional but on a mission that’s familiar, save mutants. But, it’s that dysfunction of this misfit team that really stands out and nails the spirit and classic feel of the X-Men. Add in solid art and some dynamic visual moments and you have a comic series you hope continues well after this storyline event ends. Overall: 8.0 Verdict: Buy
Uncanny Avengers #2 (Marvel) – Writer Gerry Duggan, artist Javier Garron, colorist Morry Hollowell, and letterer Travis Lanham take on the newest unity team as they fight Captain Krakoa and the new iteration of the Mutant Liberation Front. There’s a lot of interesting moments but really we just want to find out who is under the mask of Captain Krakoa, and we’re given a major hint here. Overall, the comic is entertaining enough with some decent action and good art but it feels like a piece of a puzzle rather than a comic that stands on its own. It’s only job is to get the plot from point A to point C, when it could be far more. Overall: 7.75 Verdict: Read
Krakoa will never not exist. Will never not be an aspiration and an option. — Spencer Ackerman
And do I have some news for Sebastian Shaw about civil forfeiture. — Kaetun Khlynne
A journalist and a physicist join me to talk about The Fall of X, the 2023 summer X-Men comics event about the fall of Krakoa, the mutant homeland. The first part of the episode is spoiler free. We are very clear when we go on to spoilers. We discuss series including: The Hellfire Gala, Immortal X-Men, X-Men, X-Men Red, Uncanny Avengers, Dark X-Men, Alpha Flight, Realm of X, and Jean Grey: Flames of Fear.
Spencer Ackerman is a Pulitzer Prize and National Magazine Award winning national security reporter and a new columnist for The Nation. His book, REIGN OF TERROR: HOW THE 9/11 ERA DESTABILIZED AMERICA AND PRODUCED TRUMP, won an American Book Award and was rated a 2021 book of the year by the Washington Post, the New York Times and the PBS NewsHour. Along with Evan Narcisse, he’s the co-writer of the new DC/Black Label miniseries WALLER VS WILDSTORM with artist Jesús Merino and color artist Michael Atiyeh. Spencer was on my show to talk about his comic.
Fan & Physicist out of Austrlia, Kaetun Khlynne was on Cerebro Podcast to talk about Gateway and Manifold, two of the Indigenous Australian X-Men. Kaetun leads an eyeopening explanation Aboriginal culture and resistance to genocide in Australia and Rwanda. Listen
Wednesdays (and Tuesdays) are new comic book day! Each week hundreds of comics are released, and that can be pretty daunting to go over and choose what to buy. That’s where we come in
Each week our contributors choose what they can’t wait to read this week or just sounds interesting. In other words, this is what we’re looking forward to and think you should be taking a look at!
Find out what folks think below, and what comics you should be looking out for this week.
Al Capone (Black Panel Press) – The history of the famous mobster is explored here! As fans of mob stories, we’re pumped to check this out.
The Blackout Bombshell #1 (Massive Publishing) – After a night of drinking turned into a blank slate, Jack must put together what exactly he’s gotten himself into before he ends up in a world of trouble. Sounds like the type of detective story we enjoy.
Captain America #1 (Marvel) – It’s a new volume for Cap and a new creative team and we’re always excited to see what a new crew brings to the classic character.
Dark X-Men #2 (Marvel) – The first issue was a lot of fun, as much fun as Fall of X can be, and we’re excited and hoping the second issue brings the same.
Disney Villains: Hades #2 (Dynamite Entertainment) – The first issue was solid with a great look and great feel as it focuses on the overlooked and under appreciated Disney villain.
Green Lantern: War Journal #1 (DC Comics) – John Stewart gets his own series the the debut issue is a hell of a start.
Hexagon Bridge #1 (Image Comics) – Explorers Jacob and Elena Armlen find themselves trapped in a strange parallel dimension of elusive landscapes and shifting architecture inhabited by mischievous entities.
Investigators Vol. 7 All Tide Up (First Second) – This series is so much fun with over the top action and cool gadgets. It’s great for kids and adults alike!
Jungle Juice Vol. 1 (Yen Press/IZE Press) – It’s pretty much the X-Men but insect/human hybrids instead of mutants. And, it still works and is a hell of a lot of fun.
Predator vs. Wolverine #1 (Marvel) – Let’s be honest, this is a comic store debate in comic form.
Rare Flavours #1 (BOOM! Studios) – Discover the tantalizing tale of Rubin Baksh, a demonic Rakshasa with a down-to-earth dream of becoming the next Anthony Bourdain. The comic sounds pretty unique and with Ram V. writing and Filipe Andrade on art, we’re excited to check it out.
Rumpus Room #1 (AWA Studios) – Meet Bob Schrunk, technocrat billionaire, collector of bad art, and victim of a hideous skin condition that can only be treated with a highly illicit and definitely not FDA-approved face cream that must be…harvested. From human beings. It’s Mark Russell… that alone has us reading this.
So What’s Wrong Getting Reborn as a Goblin Vol. 3 (Yen Press) – The series has been a nice twist on the reincarnation story focused on how to build and organize a society.
Tomb Raider King Vol. 4 (Yen Press) – The volume wraps up one story line and kicks off a hell of a lot more. Fans of the series won’t want to miss this!
Traveling to Mars #8 (Ablaze) – Mark Russell and Roberto Meli’s series has been filled with emotion and heart… and some laughs and satire.
Wonder Woman #1 (DC Comics) – We’ve read the first issue and this is a game changer for status quo… it helps it’s really good too.
Dark X-Men #2 (of 5)
(W) Steve Foxe (A) Jonas Scharf (CA) Stephen Segovia
Rated T+
In Shops: Sep 20, 2023
SRP: $3.99
SAVE THEM ALL OR DIE TRYING! The Dark X-Men’s first “rescue mission” ended in blood and flame, the team is already at each other’s throats, and the fallen now rise against them. Plus, Madelyne Pryor makes the worst mistake possible in a horror story: Never. Ever. Split up.
Dark X-Men #1 (of 5)
(W) Steve Foxe (A) Jonas Scharf (CA) Stephen Segovia (VCA) Adam Hughes, Alex Ross
Rated T+
In Shops: Aug 16, 2023
SRP: $4.99
WELCOME TO THE DARK X-MEN? HOPE THE WORLD SURVIVES THE EXPERIENCE! Following the explosive events of the Hellfire Gala, MADELYNE PRYOR realizes the world needs the X-Men now more than ever. HAVOK and GAMBIT have served on the team before… but never one that looks like this! And how does GIMMICK, breakout star of MARVEL’S VOICES: PRIDE, fall under the Goblin Queen’s sway? Find out in the most horrific installment of the X-Men saga yet!
Welcome to the Dark X-Men? Hope everyone survives this experience! There’s a new team of Dark X-Men after the Hellfire Gala. Madelyne Pryor and Havok lead the team with Zero, Emplate, Azazel, and Archangel initially making up the team but the addition of Gambit, Maggott, Gimmick, and Albert to come. It’s a team that screams dysfunction but that seems to be part of the fun of Dark X-Men #1.
Written by Steve Foxe, Dark X-Men #1 takes the fun in X-Men dysfunction and ups it a few levels. Havok is attempting to keep things in check. Madelyne Pryor is balancing her new role and her penchant for killing. Then there’s all the rest of the team members who have no issues with giving into their desires. It’s all part of the fun of the series.
But, what’s truly great about Dark X-Men #1 is how it makes sure to fit in to Fall of X. This isn’t simply a team of screw-ups and villains stepping in, it deals with the fallout of the new status-quo. Madelyne is the ruler of Limbo and there’s diplomatic aspects to it all. There’s mutants looking for safety. There’s Havok dealing with his personal issues. It takes all of the basics of the X-Men and turns it all up to 11 and then some. It’s everything that makes the X-Men great but twisted around a bit. It’s villains doing good… or at least trying to.
The comic features art by Jonas Scharf and it’s generally really good. A backup story focused mostly on Havok stumbles a bit in the visuals, partially because the rest of the comic is so solid. Frank Martin provides the colors and Clayton Cowles handles the lettering. The art does a great job of balancing the insanity of the comic itself. There’s small demons and goblins running around, there might be a car eating an Orchis soldier, it’s the small details that adds to the already solid style of Scharf. What’s also great is the comic leans into its more demonic aspects without going overboard and making it a horror focused comic. Like the comic series Dark Ride, the horror aspect is part of the look but not the defining look, this is still a superhero comic.
Dark X-Men #1 is a lot of fun. Action. Humor. It’s exactly what you’d expect going into it and has me excited to read more.
Story: Steve Foxe Art: Jonas Scharf
Color: Frank Martin Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 8.5 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
