Review: The Mighty Crusaders #1
“Back in the Saddle.” The mightiest team of superheroes are back! A throw-down with a prehistoric terror in the heart of Washington D.C. sets the stage for the dramatic return of a wayward hero! Meanwhile, half a world away, a sinister plan begins to awaken an ancient evil!
The Mighty Crusaders are back and with it Dark Circle Comics, the superhero line from Archie Comics. Written by Ian Flynn the issue is in a way a reboot, a continuation, and a fresh start. The Mighty Crusaders #1 has a tough task in that it needs to introduce this team to new readers, get them excited, and then honor what’s come before. It does an excellent job in balancing all of that and more so in a first issue that when it gets rolling is really good.
The issue kicks off with a battle that feels like most of the typical battles out there and actually stumbles a bit. But, when things get going after and things calm down, the series begins to get really interesting. Flynn focuses on the characters and their personalities and specifically how do you lead all of them. That is actually the fresh aspect of it all and if the series focuses on the personalities more than the action we’ve got a series that will stand out from the pack.
The art by Kelsey Shannon is good. There’s a kids aspect to it but as it gets going like the story, the art finds a groove and depicts everything in a way that’s again interesting. The characters each have a very distinct style and the way the settings are included, the package is entertaining.
The issue is a slow start. It takes a bit to get going, but when it does, it does so in a way that’s unexpected. Instead of using action to distract and entertain, we’re instead treated to the characters themselves and their struggle working together. Through the dialogue things are set up in a way that make them stand out and be intriguing. This will be an interesting one to watch going forward and see if it pays off in its promise.
Story: Ian Flynn Art: Kelsey Shannon
Story: 7.0 Art: 7.0 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read
Archie Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Her name is Valla. In life she was a fisherwoman. In death she is a vampire residing peacefully on the bottom of the ocean. When a mysterious dark plague descends upon her aquatic paradise, she must venture to the surface in search of answers.
With maybe a few too many guest stars, a couple giant mechas, and a truly heartfelt ending, Marguerite Bennett and Cameron DeOrdio’s Josie and the Pussycats run wraps with okay guest art by Kelsey Shannon and flawless colors from Kelly Fitzpatrick. Most of the issue is a giant chase sequence featuring Josie, the Pussycats, and basically every character who has appeared in this comic chasing DJ Quiplo and the Doc Charles Gang, who have kidnapped their opener/sales saving guest stars the Archies.
In the penultimate issue of Josie and the Pussycats #8, the band does Japan with the Archies in tow. Writers Marguerite Bennett and Cameron DeOrdio also bring a boatload of romantic angst to their script as Alexandra Cabot (who recently became friends with Josie again) becomes friends with benefits with the Pussycats’ manager Alan M, who broke Josie’s heart 
the band, namely, the Cabot siblings and Alan M. Alan M and Alexandra spend most of the issue eating tasty ramen and having cringeworthy banter about their relationship status. It’s the dark mirror of the Josie/Alan M adorableness in Josie #4 so Fitzpatrick and Herms’ palette is more restrained and not so romantic. They do pour on the intense blues and pinks when Josie finds out about their tryst in an extremely emotional sequence. Josie, Valerie, and Melody are a cool right now, but they should really find a new manager who isn’t a total player or supervillain-turned-sycophant, who makes random Sean Connery references. Those kind of people are great for drama purposes though.