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Preview: Sirens: Love Hurts #4

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Sirens: Love Hurts #4

(W) Tini Howard (A) Babs Tarr

WEDDING BELLS RING! As winter melts to spring and the marriage of power couple Black Canary and Green Arrow looms large in Gotham City, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy struggle to pick up the shattered pieces of their friendship-turned-situationship… and a shocking revelation turns Catwoman’s relationship with Batman upside down. Even the bride- and groom-to-be face their own rocky walk down the aisle on their wedding day… one that the killer Horoscope is determined to make a bloody affair!

Sirens: Love Hurts #4

Swamp Thing 1989 #1 is an interesting piece of comic history finally in print

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Over three decades since the controversy and cancellation, Rick Veitch’s legendary lost issues are completed! After a renowned two year run on the series, Veitch’s grand finale to Swamp Thing was cut short, and never to see print! Whispers and leaks hinted at the epic untold saga for years. Now, for the first time, that final story is told! As Swamp Thing is cast back through time, he will come to meet a carpenter who will change the trajectory of his life, and the DC Universe forever. The origin of Etrigan, and Swamp Thing’s journey to the beginning of time starts here!

Story: Rick Veitch
Art: Michael Zulli, Vince Locke
Color: Trish Mulvihill
Letterer: John Costanza, Todd Klein

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

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Preview: Swamp Thing 1989 #1

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Swamp Thing 1989 #1

(W) Rick Veitch (A) Michael Zulli

Over three decades since the controversy and cancellation, Rick Veitch’s legendary lost issues are completed! After a renowned two year run on the series, Veitch’s grand finale to Swamp Thing was cut short, and never to see print! Whispers and leaks hinted at the epic untold saga for years. Now, for the first time, that final story is told! As Swamp Thing is cast back through time, he will come to meet a carpenter who will change the trajectory of his life, and the DC Universe forever. The origin of Etrigan , and Swamp Thing’s journey to the beginning of time starts here!

Swamp Thing 1989 #1

Mini Reviews: The Fury of Firestorm #1, Sirens: Love Hurts #3, Die Loaded #6

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Sirens: Love Hurts #3

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

The Fury of Firestorm #1 (DC) – I don’t really know a lot about Firestorm beyond his/their appearances in the CW superhero shows, but Jeff Lemire is a solid writer and DC is kind of on a roll right now so I gave Fury of Firestorm #1 a shot. And I’m glad I did! Lemire, Rafael De LaTorre, and Marcelo Maiolo tap into Firestorm’s almost godlike power set to show the horrific nature of what would happen if he ever broke bad. Structured like the Hebrew Bible’s Genesis 1, the opening scene shows Firestorm devastating a small town in Colorado, and the rest of the comic picks up the pieces and establishes the herculean task that Ronnie Raymond’s girlfriend Firehawk face in stopping him. Fury of Firestorm also has two distinct visual styles: an almost brush and ink chilling rural horror style and a nostalgic early Bronze Age superhero style with Maiolo’s palette carrying the tone shift. I’m here for this almost True Detective take on superheroes that isn’t ashamed of the bright and shiny part of superheroes, which is par for the course for Jeff Lemire, who’s written both Gideon Falls and JSA. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

Sirens: Love Hurts #3 (DC/Black Label) – Tini Howard, Babs Tarr, and Miquel Muerto chronicle a key turning point in the Gotham City Sirens’ relationship as Dinah Lance truly becomes friends with Selina, Harley, and Poison Ivy. There’s still zodiac-themed femicide galore, but they seem like actual friends (Sometimes with benefits) and not just unlikely teammates. Howard and Tarr showcase this growth during a gorgeously messy New Year’s Eve/bachelorette party scene with some fierce fits and even bigger pitfalls. This comic really has it all: a dark mystery, fun friendship/romance vibes, and Babs Tarr continuing to fire on all cylinders visual. Overall: 9.1 Verdict: Buy

Die Loaded #6 (Image) – Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans wrap up Die Loaded’s first arc by assembling the full party and then blowing shit up. There’s a Tolkien riff, but it’s pure plot. Instead the emotional crux of the issue is a couple heart-to-hearts between Chuck and Angela’s kids and especially Sophie and Matt’s dead. Die Loaded loses the fantasy trappings and goes full exploration of family dynamics and grief in some of Gillen’s most vulnerable writing. It’s beautiful, but the series needs to continue. I love Die Loaded’s diverse and chaotic cast and look forward to seeing how they react as the “game” actually begins. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

Preview: Sirens: Love Hurts #3

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Sirens: Love Hurts #3

(w) Tini Howard (a) Babs Tarr

The holidays are here, but not every Siren’s feeling the cheer! Sure, Harley and Ivy’s friendship warms to a romance, but Catwoman and millionaire Bruce Wayne go ice cold when Bruce attempts to define the relationship— wasn’t he supposed to be a playboy? And then there’s the matter of Black Canary’s bachelorette party, where the Sirens and the police commissioner’s daughter, Barbara Gordon, are all on the guest list. Tensions ride high…and Gotham’s most elusive serial killer, Horoscope, is happy to cut right through them. Literally.

Sirens: Love Hurts #3

Mini Reviews: Alias: Red Band #1, Die Loaded #5, Bleeding Hearts #2, Sirens: Love Hurts #2

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Bleeding Hearts #2

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

Alias: Red Band #1 (Marvel) – Sam Humphries and Gerardo Borges‘ Alias: Red Band #1 is like the warm embrace of an old friend. It all starts with the visuals as Borges channels Michael Gaydos in his faded out, noir approach with the assistance of colorist Arthur Hesli. His double page layouts where conversations become fights that look like the newspaper columns of the paparazzi photographer that has it out for “the mayor’s wife” aka Jessica Jones. Alias definitely lives up to its “red band” billing with a grisly murder almost on page one, but the conflict is through debates between following the law and doing what’s right and trusting your gut not fisticuffs. A particularly heated argument between Luke Cage and Jessica particularly shows the powerless of power. Alias: Red Band #1 definitely doesn’t have any new tricks, but it brings the aesthetic of Alias to the current Marvel Universe where Jessica, Luke, and engaging third lead Typhoid Mary are worlds away from who they were in 2001. Overall: 7.9 Verdict: Buy

Die Loaded #5 (Image) – Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans expand the world of Die in this consequential, reveal-filled installment of the series. Sophie is still the POV character, but Chuck’s gaming-obsessed daughter Violet takes center stage as the new Master. Die Loaded #5 heads back into the trauma side of Die with Violet dealing with her father’s death through a gorgeous, yet dark island fantasy world. Also, Sophie continues to improve at Die’s mechanics with a side of her maternality as she tries to collect the party and go home. But this is hindered by the aforementioned complex trauma and bleed of Violet, who quickly becomes one of Die Loaded‘s most compelling characters. Throw in a mystery reveal, an Ursula K. LeGuin riff on par with the Tolkien one in Die, and some splendid colors, character designs, and high energy layouts from Hans, and I’m even more hooked on this series. Overall: 8.7 Verdict: Buy

Bleeding Hearts #2 (Vertigo) – Mmm, I love how Deniz Camp and Stipan Morian structure the sophomore issue of Bleeding Hearts. Our lovable zombie protagonist Poke appears in the beginning and the end and has a key moment. However, Bleeding Hearts #2 zeroes in on the potential victims from the end of the previous issue: a mother and her precious daughter named Rabbit. It lays out the difficulty of surviving in this zombified world with unrelenting narration from the mom, who focuses all her energy to giving Rabbit as normal a childhood as possible, including a stuffed animal. However, there are some super disturbing scenes, and Morian captures the trauma seared in Rabbit’s eyes. There’s an old school Frank Miller/John Romita Jr. quality to his figure work that lends the visuals darkness, but also unwavering humanity. By the time Bleeding Hearts #2 wrapped up, I cared deeply about three individuals in this comic and hope against hope for a bond of survival between them. Kudos to Camp and Stipan Morian doing something a little different and switching POVs to give a fuller picture of what this series could be. For old school Vertigo heads, this has Invisibles “Best Man Fall” energy, but with a happier ending. Overall: 9.3 Verdict: Buy

Sirens: Love Hurts #2 (DC/Black Label) – Sirens: Love Hurts continues to be one of the most fun current comics as Black Canary, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and Poison Ivy encounter a red herring and uncover more evidence about Gotham’s newest killer of women. Tini Howard‘s script is laugh out loud funny (I’m not over “dick dizzy”), and Babs Tarr brings some fierce fits and even fiercer facial expression accentuated by Miquel Muerto’s dynamic color palette. I love seeing how comfortable Dinah is with her new villain/anti-hero friends especially compared with the boredom of pre-wedding activities. (I could read a whole comic where Dick Grayson plays a wedding planner though.) Astrology ends up playing a key role in the plot, but let’s say Sirens: Love Hurts brings more of a girl’s girl approach to the zodiac killer than David Fincher and company. Overall: 9.1 Verdict: Buy

Preview: Sirens: Love Hurts #2

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Sirens: Love Hurts #2

(W) Tini Howard (A) Babs Tarr

THE KILLER REVEALED! Things heat up in Gotham City as Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, and their reluctant new partner in crime — solving , that is — Black Canary hunt down leads in their serial killer case. Catwoman ropes Batman into some steamy surveillance work, Harley and Ivy pour out the wine as they pore over evidence, and Canary… well, the only thing keeping her sane amidst wedding dress shopping and her too-fancy engagement party is getting her knuckles a little bruised and bloody during suspect interrogations. But as the bodies pile up and Halloween looms large over Gotham, the Sirens realize working together across enemy lines proves harder than your average Justice League team-up. When the killer suddenly turns the sharp point of their knife from the city ‘ s most vulnerable women to the Sirens themselves, will the threat unite them at long last? Or tear their alliance apart for good?

Sirens: Love Hurts #2

Preview: The Bat-Man: Second Knight #3

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The Bat-Man: Second Knight #3

(W) Dan Jurgens (A) Mike Perkins

A cloud of fear has settled over the city, and the Scarecrow has the people of Gotham right where he wants them. Jim Gordon will take the fight right to Scarecrow’s seat of power… City Hall! But will Gordon have to challenge him on his own? Where’s the Bat-Man? The Dark Knight has found himself staring down a power unlike any he’s ever seen: a man of unlimited strength. A superman. And he has a lot of questions for the Caped Crusader. Will these two find common ground in time to thwart the Scarecrow and Hangman’s endgame?

The Bat-Man: Second Knight #3

Sirens: Love Hurts #1 is a grown person’s superhero comic that nails the complex dynamics of relationships in 2026

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Sirens: Love Hurts #1

Sirens: Love Hurts #1 is the triumphant return of Babs Tarr to drawing interior comics art as well as a perfect use of the Black Label imprint to tell a more mature as in complex relationship dynamics and not gratuitous violence, language, and sex, although Harley Quinn does call Bruce Wayne a “fuckboy” in a memorable panel. (He’s not, though.) Tarr, writer Tini Howard, breakdown artist Xanthe Bouma, colorist Miquel Muerto, and seriously snazzy letterer Becca Carey bring anti-heroes/villains Quinn, Poison Ivy, and Catwoman together with do-gooder/rockstar/billionaire fiancée Black Canary to solve the murders of women in Gotham that the police have neglected.

Sirens: Love Hurts #1 is truly a girl’s girl comic. From the immaculate fits designed by Babs Tarr to the fact that this story features both a brunch and a night out, Sirens exudes fun despite its dark subject material. These are four very different women with a wide range of moral compasses and approaches to fighting crime, relationships, and just life in general, and the story flows from this rather than just “Oh, I guess it’s been a lot of talking, let’s have an action sequence.” There’s also a true sense of symmetry in Sirens’ storytelling, one the whole creative team contributes to, like a five-panel page with a four-panel grid, where each cast member lays out their boundaries for their working relationship. The expressiveness of Tarr’s character portraits, combined with Howard’s witty dialogue and Muerto’s flat background colors, establishes the dynamic before they go their separate heist/superhero ways.

This symmetry threads its way throughout Sirens #1, keeping narrative momentum while indulging in plenty of chaos. (Seriously, I’m obsessed with Tini Howard and Babs Tarr’s take on Harley Quinn in this book and need Ashnikko to dress up as her at one of her gigs.) After finding the murder victim Julie in a state that is more true crime horror than superhero, each Siren does their own research in a way that’s true to their character whether (In a relatable moment for yours truly.) it’s Poison Ivy using her university/grad school credentials, Harley Quinn finding Julie’s therapist file and address, Catwoman flirting with Batman, and Black Canary juggling life as a rock star and crime fighter back stage at the Light. These solo moments apart contribute to the moments of banter and fun when the team unites towards the back end of the comic and debuts yet another glorious set of outfits/costumes from Tarr. (Her reimagining of the Uma Thurman Poison Ivy costume in Batman and Robin as a disguise is truly iconic.)

Sirens : Love Hurts #1 is a grown person’s superhero comic that nails the complex dynamics of relationships in 2026. (Seriously, the poly dynamic between Harley and Ivy has never been this well-done or hilarious.) I love that there are multiple discussions of boundaries in different aspects of the story whether that’s in relation to the law of Gotham City or whatever Harley/Ivy, Dinah/Oliver, and Bruce/Selina and various other wild cards are. However, above all, this is a be hot, do crime, and fight injustice towards women comic with style for days thanks to the visuals of Babs Tarr and Miquel Muerto.

Story: Tini Howard Art: Babs Tarr Breakdowns: Xanthe Bouma
Colors: Miquel Muerto Letters: Becca Carey
Story: 9 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.3 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

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