Arcbound #6
Writer: Scott Snyder, Frank Tieri
Contributor: Tom Hardy
Artist: Ryan Smallman
Colorist: Frank William
Cover Artist: Ryan Smallman
Separated from his team and faced with a terrible bargain, Kai must choose a side, but not before he learns the horrible truth about his betrayal.
In a future where Earth has become a barren wasteland, Zynitec harnesses the unmatched energy of Kronium to assert its dominion across the stars. When Kai, a rising star Mediator in Zynitec’s army, gets an unexplained message from a mysterious entity, everything he thinks he believes is thrown into question-and leaves him to explore what it truly means to be human in a world where the boundaries of technology and identity blur. Arcbound #1 is packed with action, conspiracy and betrayal.
When I first heard about Arcbound, it was the fact Tom Hardy was involved. Back in the day, I’d bristle when a celebrity was involved in a comic. They rarely were good and very much a cash grab. Today, things have changed and that is very much not the case. While there are stinkers, many are solid and some are great reads.
With Arcbound, Hard is listed as “character development,” and the story is in the hands of Scott Snyder and Frank Tieri, two very capable writers. Arcbound #1 does a good job of introducing readers to the world but overall, it’s rather predictable.
There’s nothing bad about Arcbound #1, but its story is one we’ve seen so many times before. A soldier is sent to fight in battles to benefit their superiors/ruler. They commit horrible acts and become disillusioned before finding some conspiracy/the reason they’re fighting is a lie and then turn on their rulers. This comic does that and doesn’t change it up too much beyond some details and the setting. Still, it’s an interesting start.
Art is provided by Ryan Smallman. Arcbound #1 looks nice with color by Frank William and lettering by Buddy Beaudoin. The designs are cool and the battle is pretty brutal, Arcbound #1 visually is much like its story, entertaining but not groundbreaking. The battles deliver some blood and guts and the technology design feels like a spin on other sci-fi. Overall, it looks good but doesn’t jump out.
Arcbound #1 isn’t a bad start but it also doesn’t feel original enough to really stand out. It’ll be interesting to see where it goes in the second issue as there’s a few directions but overall, it’s a debut that feels a bit too derivative.
Story: Scott Snyder, Frank Tieri Character Development: Tom Hardy Art: Ryan Smallman
Color: Frank William Letterer: Buddy Beaudoin
Story: 7.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read
Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle
Scarlet Witch #6
(W) Steve Orlando (A) Lorenzo Tammetta, Sara Pichelli
(C) Frank William (L) Joe Sabino
(CA) Russell Dauterman (VCA) Lucas Werneck, Peach Momoko
Rated T+
In Shops: Jul 12, 2023
SRP: $3.99
FAMILY MATTERS! Wanda’s loyalties are tested when an enemy of the Kree/Skrull Empire falls through the Last Door desperate for help avenging their fallen comrades. Will Wanda honor the commitment she made to helping those in need – whoever they are – or will her love for her son Wiccan and his husband, Hulkling, triumph over all? PLUS: A familiar figure appears at Wanda’s shop…and it seems rumors of his death have been greatly exaggerated. But does he come as friend or foe?
The small town of Milford, New Hampshire, is rocked by a deadly supposed Mutant attack! How will the Mutants of Krakoa respond to such a devastating strike? With mutual aid of course!
In preparation for the upcoming Fall Of X event, Marvel has been doing a series of Before the Fall one-shots. But what is the purpose of these one-shots? What are they setting up, and how will that affect the Fall Of X? X-Men: Before the Fall – Mutant First Strike #1 by Steve Orlando and Valentina Pinti is about showing the Mutants using their immense power for good, all the while the threats loom on the horizon.
Through his work on various X-books, Steve Orlando has demonstrated an affinity for bringing back long-forgotten and underserved characters like Wicked, Nemesis, Brimstone Love, and even 90s Spider-Man villain Judas Traveler. Here is no different. This issue gives lots of forgotten characters moments of heroism during the humanitarian crisis. A lot of thought is given to the creative use of various powers. It’s interesting to see how the X-Men use their powers for aid instead of fighting some foe.
The art by Valentina Pinti and the colors by Frank William is serviceable. The expression work is good and the visualization of powers is creative. It doesn’t exactly blow me away, but everyone on the art side is doing a good job. I’m probably underselling it a little bit, but the fact of the matter is that the issue doesn’t have a lot of action. However, in those brief moments of action, I do think Pinti’s work shines. Overall it’s lively and expressive art and does everything it needs to do.
X-Men: Before the Fall – Mutant First Strike #1 isn’t an essential issue. That being said, it’s still a solid one. The issue doesn’t reveal much but it does give the Mutants one big heroic hurrah before the Fall Of X.
Story: Steve Orlando Art: Valentina Pinti
Color: Frank William Letterer: Travis Lanham Design: Tom Muller w/ Jay Bowen
Story: 8.0 Art: 7.5 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Read
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
This year’s Free Comic Book Day will be packed with new beginnings including a prelude to the X-Men’s next era, Fall ofF X; an introduction to Jonathan Hickman’s bold upcoming projects, G.O.D.S. with Valerio Schiti and Ultimate Invasion with Bryan Hitch; the debut of a new Venom villain, and so much more. In addition to these exciting lead-in stories for fans and newcomers alike, Marvel Comics will also spotlight creators and characters from different cultures and communities in a special installment of the Marvel’s Voices program, Free Comic Book Day: Marvel’s Voices, and deliver all-ages Spider-Man adventures in Free Comic Book Day 2023: Spidey & His Amazing Friends #1 so that even the youngest readers won’t go home empty handed!
It’s one of the biggest days for the comic book industry, and this year promises to be the greatest one yet! Here’s what fans can looking forward to:
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2023: AVENGERS/X-MEN #1
Be the first to arrive at this year’s game-changing Hellfire Gala in a story by the current X-Men creative team: writer Gerry Duggan and artist Joshua Cassara. This year’s HELLFIRE GALA will be more dramatic than ever, and the tragic events of the night will lead mutantkind directly into FALL OF X.
Then join Duggan and superstar artist Javier Garrón as they reassemble the Avengers Unity Squad to navigate the dangers of FALL OF X and solve the mystery of the new Captain Krakoa in a prelude story to their upcoming run of UNCANNY AVENGERS. This action-packed story will also feature the debut of the STARK SENTINELS, a new line of mutant hunters who cause major havoc on the night of the Gala and in the pages of Duggan’s INVINCIBLE IRON MAN.
And score a sneak peek at one of the most talked about launches of the year, Jonathan Hickman and Valerio Schiti’s G.O.D.S., an extraordinary epic at the crossroads of magic and science where Marvel’s cosmic pantheon will be boldly reimagined.
Written by GERRY DUGGAN & JONATHAN HICKMAN
Art by JOSHUA CASSARA, JAVIER GARRÓN & VALERIO SCHITI
Colors by MARTE GRACIA & MORRY HOLLOWELL
Cover by JAVIER GARRÓN & MORRY HOLLOWELL
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2023: SPIDER-MAN/VENOM #1
Dive into the next story arc of Zeb Wells’ run of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN with a story that sees the return of two classic Spidey villains! Featuring incredible art by Patrick Gleason, this thrilling story also unleashes the full potential Spider-Man’s new suit!
Then, web-swing over to the symbiote side of things with current VENOM masterminds, Al Ewing and Cafu! The pair will pull back the curtain on a secret chapter in symbiote history where an experiment went horribly wrong…. Say hello to new Venom villain, FLEXO!
And get a glimpse into Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch’s ULTIMATE INVASION, a saga that begins with a daring mission to revive the Ultimate Universe but ends with the promise of something all-new and vastly different than anything that’s come before…
Written by ZEB WELLS, AL EWING & JONATHAN HICKMAN
Art by PATRICK GLEASON, CAFU, BRYAN HITCH & ANDREW CURRIE
Colors by MARCIO MENYZ, FRANK D’ARMATA & ALEX SINCLAIR
Cover by PATRICK GLEASON & BRYAN VALENZA
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2023: MARVEL’S VOICES #1
Spotlighting creators and characters across Marvel’s diverse and ever-evolving universe, this book will include a range of stories from previous Marvel’s Voices issues that star Ms. Marvel, Luke Cage, Wave, and more! Plus a brand-new Ironheart adventure by writer John Jennings and Paris Alleyne that debuts her deadly new nemesis, KHEM!
Written by JOHN JENNINGS, NYLA INNUKSUK, SABIR PIRZADA, ALYSSA WONG & CODY ZIGLAR
Art by PARIS ALLEYNE, NATASHA DONOVAN, ERIC KODA, STEPHEN BYRNE, DIÓGENES NEVES & EDER MESSIAS
Colors by ERICK ARCINIEGA, RACHELLE ROSENBERG, BRIAN REBER, FRANK WILLIAM & DIJJO LIMA
Cover by CHRIS ALLEN & PARIS ALLEYNE
FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2023: SPIDEY & HIS AMAZING FRIENDS #1
Swing into adventure with Spidey, Ghost-Spider, and Miles as they face off against Green Goblin, Doc Ock and more in this spectacular special. Filled with easy-to-read comic stories based on the hit Disney Junior show, this book is perfect for the youngest readers aged 5-7. Young fans will even be able to test their wall-crawling skills with thrilling interactive activity pages! Kids will love this not-to-be-missed comic: the perfect primer for the newest generation of Spider-Fans!
The idea of gods living among us isn’t a new concept but it seems like one that has found a new wave of popularity. New comics, books, and television shows seem to have multiplied in recent years and each takes on the concept in its own unique way. Ordinary Gods #1 kicks off the latest example of that delivering two worlds that feel like they’re on a crash course.
Kyle Higgins delivers an opening chapter with Ordinary Gods #1 that packs in a lot. Not only do we get the “here and now” but also the background of the story and characters. Some of the progression of each is a little odd but on the whole by the end of the first issue everything is clear and the story has been set.
Higgins allows us to get to know some of the characters a bit, mainly focusing on the center of it all. That results in a slight disconnect and almost Terminator “come with me if you want to live” aspect to the debut. Mix that with a fairytale recounting of an uprising and banishing and Ordinary Gods #1 feels like an interesting blend of genres.
As I said, it’s not all smooth. The issues jumps back and forth between the setup and the now. It makes for some awkward transitions and it might have been better to focus on the setup and then transition into the present like an almost dream. It’s not bad but makes for a slightly choppy reading at times.
Felipe Watanabe‘s art is fantastic. Along with Frank William on color and lettering by Clayton Cowles, Ordinary Gods #1 has the difficult task of taking three settings and making them all work together. There’s the fantasy setting of the gods with each region having its own distinct personality that still needs to feel like the same world. Then there’s some action elements that feel right out of John Wick. Finally, there’s the focus of a young boy and his family in suburbia. And, impressively, it all works together for a look that feels like one world.
Ordinary Gods #1 is a solid debut that has a bit of a Terminator quality about it. A mystery person shows up to protect an individual who’s needed to lead the rebellion. It’s a concept we’ve seen many times before but the settings and characters make it all feel new and unique. It’s a solid start for a potentially very intriguing series.
Story: Kyle Higgins Art: Felipe Watanabe
Color: Frank William Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.4 Overall: 8.3 Recommendation: Buy
Image Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: comiXology – Kindle – Zeus Comics – TFAW
