Tag Archives: kj diaz

X-Men Wedding Special #1 Serves as a Great Wedding Story but Not a Strong Marvel Pride Issue

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X-Men Wedding Special

Mystique and Destiny, one of the oldest gay couples in Marvel comics, decide to renew their vows in X-Men Wedding Special #1 by an ensemble of various creatives. Serving as this year’s Marvel’s Voices Pride, read about the wedding of the millennium with one of the comics’ most significant relationships, Betsy and Rachel, facing a dangerous threat by an old foe, a group of young mutants trying to find the perfect wedding gift and more. Although it works better to celebrate Irene’s and Raven’s relationship, X-Men Wedding Special #1 feels like a weaker substitute for the Marvel Voices Pride specials from the past years.

The best aspect lies in the overarching story “Something Borrowed, Something Blue” by Kieron Gillen, Rachael Stott, and Michael Bartolo, which focuses on the wedding of Irene and Raven as the pair have a secret scheme that the guests and their kids Rogue and Nightcrawler do not know about. Aside from the historical nature of the wedding, it also serves as a capstone for Gillen’s work with the pair during the Krakoan era. I enjoy how Gillen characterizes the chaotic and villainous sapphic couple whose love is immortal. Stott’s beautiful art, paired with Bartolo’s colors, conveyed the majestic and gorgeous nature of the wedding. The other stories by Tini Howard, Phillip Sevy, KJ Díaz, Wyatt Kennedy, Jenn St-Onge, Brittany Peer, and more are primarily good but range in quality. 

Outside of the original stories, the issue includes a history of Irene’s and Raven’s relationship, an interview with Chris Claremont, and reprints of two LGBTQ+ X-Men-focused Marvel issues. X-Men Wedding Special #1 does not justify its price tag, even with the included supplementary materials. Granted, it is a super-sized issue, but I wish the special contained more original materials and a more substantial publishing and presentation for the physical printed issue. Considering how last year’s Pride special included more stories, interviews, and other elements, X-Men Wedding Special #1 feels less impressive and a step down in quality and execution. 

Lastly, X-Men Wedding Special #1 serves as this year’s Marvel’s Voices Pride, which does not showcase a large variety of LGBTQ+ representation. By solely focusing on Irene, Raven, and some of the X-Men exclusively, it cuts out the other LGBTQ+ mutant and non-mutant characters teased on the variant covers. Similarly, what should be a meaningful celebration for two beloved queer characters becomes saddled with being the big LGBTQ+ special by Marvel comics. This decision cuts out queer and trans-non-mutant characters, along with not highlighting other spaces of the universe. The representation is more limited and does not portray the breadth of queer and trans characters in the comics. As a result, if Marvel released a 2024 issue of Marvel’s Voices Pride in addition to X-Men Wedding Special #1, my opinions would be more favorable due to the latter not being the sole major queer tentpole special for the year. Outside of being the monumental wedding issue of Irene and Raven, it is also their yearly Pride issue, which comes across as more corporate synergy than a stand-alone celebration.

Overall, X-Men Wedding Special #1 bolsters a talented team of creatives who celebrate a wedding centuries in the making, which conflicts with being 2024’s Marvel’s Voices Pride. I loved the wedding aspect, but I wish it had more stories and materials representing more queer and trans characters outside of solely X-Men ones. With Irene and Raven having Marvel’s first sapphic wedding, its memorability and impact get slightly lessened with the other aspects the issue needs to juggle. As a result, X-Men Wedding Special #1 cannot solely be about their wedding but also has to carry the weight of being this year’s Marvel’s Voices Pride. I prefer if this served as a stand-alone special issue along with having a Marvel’s Voices Pride 2024 issue. X-Men Wedding Special #1 celebrates the immortal love of Irene and Raven while struggling to showcase the diverse LGBTQ+ community in Marvel comics.

Story: Kieron Gillen, Tini Howard, Tate Brombal, Yoon Ha Lee, Wyatt Kennedy
Art: Rachael Stott, Phillip Sevy, Emilio Pilliu, Stephen Byrne, Jenn St-Onge
Color: Michael Bartolo, KJ Diaz, Irma Kniivila, Brittany Peer
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Story: 7.2 Art: 8.3 Overall: 7.3 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Exclusive Preview: Blood Hunters #2

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Blood Hunters #2

(W) Kaare Andrews, Ann Nocenti, Erica Schultz (A) Alex Lins, David Baldeon, Bernard Chang
(C) KJ Diaz, Java Tartaglia, Marcelo Maiolo (L) Joe Caramagna
(CA) Greg Land (VCA) Declan Shalvey
Rated T+
In Shops: Jun 05, 2024
SRP: $4.99

The bloody chaos continues as the events of BLOOD HUNT spill across the Marvel Universe! When the skies go dark, what will happen when a group of vampires gets a taste of the Hulk’s gamma-irradiated blood?! Kate Bishop takes aim against the creatures of the night with the help of a mysterious new vampire hunter. And Dagger and Elsa Bloodstone have teamed up to face down the vampiric hordes – but when a new combatant enters the field, will she prove friend or foe? Or both?! The formation of Marvel’s wildest new team yet, the BLOOD HUNTERS, continues!

Blood Hunters #2

Doctor Strange #12 Has Bats the Ghost Dog Investigating a Haunting

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Doctor Strange #12

Bats, the ghost basset hound of Doctor Strange and Clea, senses an unsavory force has invaded the Sanctum Sanctorum. Without the assistance of the sorcerer supreme, Bats must investigate this potential haunting to discover the root of it by himself. With no one believing him, it’s up to Bats to combat the threat potentially. 

Following a similar decompression issue, Doctor Strange #12 by Jed MacKay and Danilo S. Beyruth turns its focus from the titular doctor to his fan-favorite pet Bats for a one-off adventure inside the Sanctum Sanctorum. Even if the issue shifts viewpoints, MacKay still paces substantial character work and relationships at the crux of his writing. Considering how mystical and otherworldly the Sorcerer Supreme’s world can become, his focus on character grounds the emotional arc of the narrative as well. Even if you were not a significant fan of Bats before the issue, he finds the hooks in which you hook yourself to a character. And while you should not need more of a reason to love Bats, he gives you plenty in spades. 

This “smaller adventure” provides another viewpoint in which Strange’s hubris often leads to his recurring problems. Considering how it takes place in the well-guarded magical home of the couple, Bats’s recurring mentioning of a potential problem that Strange willingly ignores creates the conflict of the issue and a reoccurring theme in the run. While the plot may not exceed the most adventurous previous stories, MacKay has never turned Doctor Strange Issue #12 into an inconsequential narrative by tying it to overarching character exploration. Simply put, this first part of a two-part adventure fills a different niche from the previous issues in the run so far. 

Beyrith’s fantastical art suits this more intimate and smaller story while not losing the magical identity of the world. I adore his depiction of the Sanctum Sanctorum, which feels cozy, warm, and mystical so that the characters would call it home. Plus, Beyruth portrays Strange, Clea, and Bats in a more heightened and cartoony style combined with a modern classic Marvel look, which suits MacKay’s story. KJ Díaz steps in as guest colorist for the issue and makes Beyruth’s work a true treat for the eyes. Outside of the popping colors for the Strange and the Vishanti at the beginning, he nails the magical vibes of the world and is never afraid of moving beyond what is considered natural. VC’s Cory Petit provides the lettering and contributes to the visual success of the title. Outside of the unique narration boxes for Bats, I appreciated touches like the sharpened balloon for an icy Clea or reverse text with a flipped color scheme for the “ghost.” 

Doctor Strange continues a solid run with another successful issue as the team shifts the focus from the large-scale action of the previous arc while still exploring the main character. MacKay still strongly focuses on characters and their relationships, as Beyruth’s guest work aligns with the previous artwork. Doctor Strange #12 is the first part of a smaller-scale story filled with excellent writing and great art.

Story: Jed MacKay Art: Danilo S. Beyruth
Color: KJ Díaz Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Story: 8.7 Art: 8.7 Overall: 8.7 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Get the scoop on Kamala Khan with Who Is…? Ms. Marvel #1

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Who Is…? Ms. Marvel #1

Writer: Alex Segura
Artist: Noemi Vettori
Colorist: KJ Díaz
Editor: Annalise Bissa
One-shot launches Friday, November 10 on Marvel Unlimited

A Pakistani-American growing up in Jersey City, Kamala Khan idolized Super Heroes like Carol Danvers, AKA Captain Marvel, never dreaming she’d have the opportunity to join her role models in safeguarding the world from forces of evil. With an Inhuman-mutant ability to alter her shape and size, Ms. Marvel employs an idealistic attitude as much as any power to make Earth a better place. Grab a refresher on Kamala Khan’s complete comics history!

Who Is…? Ms. Marvel #1

Captain Marvel. Spectrum. Photon. Who is Monica Rambeau? Find out on Marvel Unlimited

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Who Is…? Monica Rambeau #1

Writer: Cheryl Lynn Eaton
Artist: Alan Robinson
Colorist: KJ Díaz
Editor: Annalise Bissa
One-shot launches Friday, November 10 on Marvel Unlimited

Captain Marvel. Spectrum. Photon. Monica Rambeau has used many names as a Super Hero, but her ability to lead has never wavered. Learn about the life of this extraordinary Avenger and see how her electromagnetic powers of living light have shaped her adventures.

Who Is…? Monica Rambeau #1

Ayo and Aneka get the spotlight in Marvel’s Voices on Marvel Unlimited

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Marvel’s Voices: Ayo & Aneka #57

Writer: Wyatt Kennedy
Artist: Sumeyye Kesgin
Colorist: KJ Diaz
Editor: Sarah Brunstad
One-shot launches on Wednesday, June 14

A love story for the ages! They met in training for the Dora Milaje, and together helped reshape the kingdom of Wakanda. Wyatt Kennedy and Sumeyye Kesgin tell an entrancing tale of love, fear, and the battles we fight against both.

Marvel's Voices: Ayo & Aneka #57

Wasp #1 shows why this legacy character has been a stalwart in the Marvel Universe

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Wasp #1

There is nothing more evil than family enemy. For one person or another family to hate another for no reason other than jealousy or misunderstanding. We often see this type of person within our extended family or people we call friends. This is even more insidious when it’s someone within our immediate family.

I have seen within my immediate and extended family, in the most toxic ways. As I got older and talked to my friends, I found out that it was not isolated to mine, everyone has a version of this within theirs. It is how we work through that, and sometimes it is coming together against a common enemy.  In Wasp #1, we find Janet Van Dyne coming together with her mother to fight an old family enemy.

We find Vernon Van Dyne as an otherworldly being decimates him and where Janet Van Dyne finds the crime scene where her father had been slayed, this is becomes her superhero origin this is when she becomes the Wasp. We fast forward to modern day where Janet is having a conversation with Jarvis, talking about how she is beginning to enjoy her peace, and just how proud of her stepdaughter, Nadia, she is. Meanwhile, back at her family’s lab, where we find her looking into her family history, as some of it had been hidden from her, leaving her yearning for more than what she has. As the mother and daughter try solacing each other, Whirlwind crashes into their lab, looking for revenge. By issue’s end. Phatasma is being used by someone to carry out revenge.

Overall, Wasp #1 is an excellent debut issue that shows why this legacy character has been a stalwart in the Marvel Universe. The story by Ewing is fun. The art by the creative team is gorgeous. Altogether, a story fans will love to get to know.

Story: Al Ewing Art: Kasia Nie
Color: KJ Diaz Letterer: Cory Petit
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – comiXology/Kindle