Tag Archives: matt herms

Archie unleashes horror in Archie Comics: Judgement Day, launching from Archie Horror in May

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Archie Premium Event

Prepare for a spine-tingling journey into the heart of Riverdale with Archie Comics: Judgement Day, an epic three-issue event set to captivate readers with a tale of demonic forces, moral quandaries, and the relentless quest for righteousness. Hitting shelves on May 22 from the Archie Horror imprint, this miniseries reimagines the iconic Archie Comics characters in a dark, supernatural setting and promises to take readers on one hell of a ride in the first Archie Premium Event.

Written by Aubrey Sitterson with art by Megan Hutchison, colors by Matt Herms, and letters by Jack Morelli, Judgement Day sets Archie Andrews on a daring quest to cleanse an alternate version of Riverdale overrun by demons. After claiming some destructive powers of his own, Archie is forced to destroy corrupted versions of the people closest to him, ostensibly in the name of the greater good. As questions about his own morality and the sacrifices he’s made start to pile up, Archie must confront if his efforts are truly good, or in fact the work or pure evil?

In a world overrun with demons, Archie Andrews is on a quest to cleanse Riverdale of all wicked-kind. Harnessing the destructive power of a captive fiend, he will have to destroy corrupted and possessed versions of the people closest to him. Questioning his own morality and forced to make difficult sacrifices, are Archie’s efforts truly good, or the work of pure evil? Traverse the most horrifying version of Riverdale yet in the first Archie Premium Event.

On top of bringing readers to the most horrifying version of Riverdale yet, Judgement Day also introduces the new Archie Premium Event branding, which will designate upcoming Archie stories that are simply too grand for a single one-shot release. With their extended length and scale, these cinematic miniseries will take Archie Comics in epic new narrative directions, paired with upgraded collector-quality issues featuring cardstock covers, improved interior paper stock, and specialized print finishes.

Archie Comics: Judgement Day #1, with a main cardstock cover by Hutchison and variant cardstock covers by Francesco Francavilla, Jae Lee, and Reiko Murakami, releases on May 22 in comic shops nationwide and will be available for pre-order starting February 23 (FOC: April 29).

Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #3 delivers theology along with a murder mystery

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Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #3

As the trail of the person murdering people from Alan’s past goes cold, the Green Lantern finds himself teamed up with an unlikely ally: the Spectre. But will the Spectre uncover the secret Alan was hoping would stay hidden in the process? Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #3 is an interesting comic that delivers a nice murder mystery but also packed with some theology and philosophy.

Written by Tim Sheridan, Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #3 has the Green Lantern teaming up with the Spectre. Each are on the case to figure out who’s murdering men and if someone is trying to cover it up. The issue continues the tease that what’s going on is tied to Alan’s past. But, it’s Alan’s struggle with his past, and present, that’s the most interesting.

The Spectre knows the Alan is gay and though it’s never really spoken, the two have a touching conversation that maybe helps Scott come to accepting who he is. The Spectre brings a perspective of one who speaks to a higher power and brings the message that love is love and that’s what matters. It’s one’s actions that matter, not who they have in their heart. It’s a message that’s needed and hopefully is a turning part in Scott’s journey to becoming whole.

But, at its core, the story is a murder mystery and Sheridan keeps that front and center. It’s helped by the art of Cian Tormey who keeps a rather ominous tone to the comic while also not making it dark and brooding. The comic continues to have a bright tone about it and that’s helped by the color of Matt Herms and Chris Sotomayor. Along with Lucas Gattoni on lettering, the comic looks great. Gattoni’s dialogue for the Spectre stands out, really making the character stand out and emphasizing his otherworldly nature.

Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #3 is a solid piece to the puzzle teasing out the mystery while folding in so much. We have a solid one-on-one discussion with the Spectre along with some real world history, and the comic really blends fantasy and reality. It’s another solid entry for a series that adds to the history of a classic character.

Story: Tim Sheridan Art: Cian Tormey
Color: Matt Herms, Chris Sotomayor Letterer: Lucas Gattoni
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.15 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle

Godzilla vs. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers… Round 2!

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Pop culture icons collide in Godzilla vs Mighty Morphin Power Rangers II from IDW Publishing in partnership with Toho International, Inc and BOOM! Studios.

The evil Rita Repulsa joins forces with mysterious new allies Astronema and the Alliance of Evil to cause a whole new level of chaos. This action-packed cosmic crossover will also feature familiar foes like SpaceGodzilla, Clawhammer, Tentacreep, and more.

Eisner-nominated writer Cullen Bunn returns for round two of the fan-favorite crossover, and this time the author is joined by awesome artist Baldemar Rivas.

The fast-paced and fun pages of Godzilla vs Mighty Morphin Power Rangers II will have colors by Andrew Dalhouse and letters by Johanna Guzman. The debut issue will feature a Cover A by Freddie Williams and Dalhouse, Cover B by Alex Sanchez and Matt Herms, and a RI cover by Hendry Prasetya and Dalhouse.

Godzilla vs Mighty Morphin Power Rangers II goes on sale April 3, 2024.

Preview: Sabrina the Teenage Witch Holiday Special

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Sabrina the Teenage Witch Holiday Special

Script: Kelly Thompson, Danielle Paige
Art: Veronica Fish, Veronica Johnson
Colors: Matt Herms
Letters: Jack Morelli
Cover: Veronica Fish
Variant Cover: Laura Braga
On Sale Date: 12/13
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.

Celebrate the winter solstice with Sabrina Spellman in this special holiday one-shot that returns to the acclaimed world of the Sabrina the Teenage Witch series! First, in “The Longest Night,” at Sabrina’s magic boarding school, she and her friends work together on the longest night of the year to save their friend enthralled by a dark and clever Beast, impossible to kill in his own world, and difficult to kill in our own. Then, in “A Very Spellman Solstice,” a flash backstory shows young Zelda and Hilda breaking tradition to go to a school dance, but when Hilda joins forces with one of the ghosts of Solstice past, it curses their night out. Writer Kelly Thompson and artists Veronica and Andy Fish return for another bewitching Sabrina story, along with the team of writer Danielle Paige and artist Veronica Johnson for a festive flashback story!

Sabrina the Teenage Witch Holiday Special

Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #2 adds some interesting depth to the character’s history

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Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #2

Alan’s search for the killer framing him continues! But why are the murder victims people from Alan’s past, and how does this connect to his brief stint in Arkham Asylum?! Teased at the end of the debut issue, Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #2 delivers the tragic story of Scott’s time in Arkham!

1973, that was the year that the American Psychiatric Association voted to remove homosexuality from a list of mental disorders. It wasn’t until 1987 until homosexuality completely fell out by them. But even then, the World Health Organization didn’t remove homosexuality from its international classification of disease until 1992. Aversion therapy, like in the famous scene from A Clockwork Orange, was used through the 1950s and 1960s. We tortured a group of individuals because of who they loved. This torture isn’t from some distant past, it’s within many of our lives.

Writer Tim Sheridan uses that history as Alan Scott finds himself in Arkham Asylum surrounded by other members of the LGBT+ community delivering an issue that’s a reminder of the shame we all share in our past and continuing to tell the origin of a hero’s origin and rise. Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #2 is a tragic tale but also one of love and rising up against the forces of hate and eventually accepting who you are. Sheridan adds to Scott’s story delivering layers that make the character feature more depth, more nuance, and honestly a more heroic origin. Despite that hatred and torture he has faced, he still chooses to do what’s right.

The art by Cian Tormey is fantastic. With Matt Herms on color and Lucas Gattoni on lettering, Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #2 is beautiful and tragic to look at. There’s something about the art that’s both beautiful and hard to look at. It’s a style that the torture that Scott goes through feels emphasized in ways. Something beautiful with a horror underneath. Tormey and the team capture the sadness of it all but deliver a comic that pops in the traditional comic/superhero sense.

Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #2 is a fantastic issue that delivers a tragic origin while adding a dose of real history into it all. It takes Alan’s continued evolution as a character to the next level creating even more motivation to his actions and setting up what should be an intriguing villain to come.

Story: Tim Sheridan Art: Cian Tormey
Color: Matt Herms Letterer: Lucas Gattoni
Story: 8.35 Art: 8.4 Overall: 8.35 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle

Mini Reviews: It’s Giant Robot Hellboy and Alan Scott Green Lantern!

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Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #1

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

Giant Robot Hellboy #1 (Dark Horse) – Mike Mignola, Duncan Fegredo, and Dave Stewart reunite for the enticingly named Giant Robot Hellboy #1. Set in the 1960s, Hellboy is kidnapped off the streets of London by some secret organization, and his brainwaves are connected to a giant robot fighting a monster on a distant island while a stealthier spy does her thing. Pacing is this first issue’s strength with Mignola relying on Fegredo’s visual storytelling skills to show the trials and tribulations of connecting someone to a mecha against their will. The spy action is as sleek as the robot fight is clunky. The ending is a little abrupt, but it’s a good first foray and would probably make Guillermo Del Toro smile. Overall: 8.2 Verdict: Buy

Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #1 (DC Comics) – Alan Scott: The Green Lantern is another hit from DC’s new JSA line of books. Tim Sheridan and Cian Tormey spin a tale of Scott’s life as a closeted gay man and early superhero in 1941. There’s tension between him and the JSA, an extended scene with J. Edgar Hoover, and of course, pining for Alan Scott’s lost love Johnny Ladd who appeared in the DC Pride special. On the visual side, Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #1 is a modernization of a classic superhero/war comic with sharp lines from Tormey and bright colors from Matt Herms. Much of tension doesn’t come from the overarching threat, but if Scott will be caught with another man because being gay was a felony in the 1930s and 1940s when much of this comic took place. Alan Scott #1 is all about the struggles to live your truth and explores queerness and sexuality just like Wesley Dodds #1 explores class and privilege. It has light jokes, at times, but is miles away from a happy ending at this point in the story. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #1 blends fact and fiction for an intriguing start

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Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #1

I’ll admit, I know very little about Alan Scott and his run as Green Lantern. His history, and the Justice Society as a whole, aren’t comics I’ve ever really read or had an interest in. I’ve read some here and there but it’s never been a regular read. But, with the hyperbolic controversy surrounding Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #1, I made sure to see what the deal was all about and honestly, I’m glad I did.

Written by Tim Sheridan, Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #1 is an interesting comic. It’s part origin, it’s part fact-ish, it’s also fiction. The comic blends history with superheroics to create a story that explores the real and imaginary past. Taking place in 1941, the Justice Society of America is a relatively new team pushed by J. Edgar Hoover to fight crime. While Alan Scott, as Green Lantern, is supposed to be a part of it, he’s still flying solo, angering Hoover. And Hoover being Hoover, uses his resources to blackmail Scott into being a team player.

Sheridan’s take is an interesting one that dances around the reality of Hoover’s war against crime. Yes, he absolutely blackmailed individuals. Yes, Hoover regularly used propaganda in his battle, including writing comic book scripts to be published (yes, he seriously did it). And all this while Hoover himself was hiding his own secrets. Sheridan explores that all in his own ways while most importantly diving into Scott’s life.

Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #1 acts as an origin in a way as we learn about his mission in the army concerning something called “Project Crimson,” and his relationship while in the army. All of this at a time when homosexuality was not accepted and kept a secret. There’s an unease the Scott feels about it all that bleeds off the page. The tragedy is there in so many ways.

But, beyond that, Sheridan keeps the heroics coming. There’s lots of action and lots of dynamic moments whose visuals are engaging and interesting thanks to the art of Cian Tormey. Tormey is joined by Matt Herms on color and Lucas Gattoni on lettering, and it feels like a style that has a bit of a throwback look to it in some ways. There’s some great visual moments on the page such as the entire sequence of a ship being attacked that has a very cinematic feel to it all. There’s a bit of an exaggeration to it all that works really well and makes it all have a bit more of a fun vibe about it, when things could otherwise be rather gloomy.

Alan Scott: The Green Lantern #1 leaves things in a bit of a shocker, and I was able to read the second issue which makes me even more confident in Sheridan’s direction. It’s a comic that feels like it’s a nice mix of what was and what is, using history to blend it all together for a new adventure. I never really cared about Scott and the JSA, but this debut has me intrigued to go back see what I might have missed.

Story: Tim Sheridan Art: Cian Tormey
Color: Matt Herms Letterer: Lucas Gattoni
Story: 8.15 Art: 8.15 Overall: 8.15 Recommendation: Buy

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle

Preview: Fear the Funhouse: Toybox of Terror

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Fear the Funhouse: Toybox of Terror

Script: Timmy Heague, Danielle Paige, Michael Northrop
Art: Ryan Caskey, Tango, Ryan Jampole
Colors: Matt Herms
Letters: Jack Morelli
Cover: Ryan Caskey
Variant Cover: Sweeney Boo
On Sale Date: 10/18
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.

In Riverdale, even the toys are terrifying in this anthology one-shot set in the universe of last year’s Fear the Funhouse comic. Three tales of dolls, robots, and puppets gone awry all thanks to the work of a shadowy toymaker and a young girl intent on revenge, in the vein of the widely successful M3GAN movie and Child’s Play franchise.

Fear the Funhouse: Toybox of Terror

Sabrina Spellman casts a spell in a new bewitching holiday special!

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Archie Comics invites you to come home to Greendale for the holidays with the release of an all-new Sabrina the Teenage Witch Holiday Special this December! The one-shot comic marks a long-awaited return to the world of the smash-hit 2019 SABRINA comic book series, including a new story by its creative team, writer Kelly Thompson and artists Veronica and Andy Fish, with a backup tale by writer Danielle Paige and artist Veronica Johnson.

The 2019 series by Thompson and Fish featured a modernized take on Archie’s classic witch characters, and put Sabrina in the lead as a magical girl learning to use her fantastic powers and protect her small town from the dangers of dark magic and those who wield it. The Sabrina Holiday Special picks up those threads, as Sabrina and her friends at boarding school have to stop an otherworldly monster on the Winter Solstice, one of the most important winter holidays, especially to witches!

And as a treat for longtime Sabrina fans, the special backup story by Paige and Johnson is a rare glimpse of Sabrina’s aunts Hilda and Zelda in their younger days, breaking the rules of their coven to go to a school dance on the longest night of the year.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch debuted in 1962’s Archie’s Mad House #22, in a story by George Gladir and Dan DeCarlo. She went on to captivate fans for decades with magical adventures in comics, TV animation, a hit sitcom, and the blockbuster Netflix streaming series, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, starring Kiernan Shipka. That series was inspired by an Archie Horror comic of the same name by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Robert Hack. The 2019 Thompson/Fish series served to update the character but with more fantasy elements than horror. 

Sabrina the Teenage Witch Holiday Special, with an open-to-order variant cover by Laura Braga, colors by Matt Herms and lettering by Jack Morelli, releases December 13 in comic shops nationwide.

Preview: Camp Pickens

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Camp Pickens (One-Shot)

Script: Tim Seeley, Jordan Morris, Blake Howard
Art: Mike Norton, Diana Camero, Carola Borelli
Colors: Matt Herms
Letters: Jack Morelli
Cover: Matt Talbot
Variant Cover: Francesco Francavilla
On Sale Date: 6/21
32-page, full color comic
$3.99 U.S.

Camp Pickens has always been the go-to summer destination for the younger residents of Riverdale. It’s a rite of passage for the teen residents to hold the coveted camp counselor positions. However, Camp Pickens’ mysterious past shrouds a deep, dark secret: it’s cursed, and this summer all of its campers are going to find out the hard way in this one-shot anthology that’s equal parts Sleepaway Camp and American Horror Story: 1984, reuniting the team behind the mega-hit comic series Revival.

Camp Pickens (One-Shot)
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