Marvel Comics (Wr) Jonathan Hickman (A/CA) R. B. Silva
While I left POWERS OF X #1 slightly perplexed, I feel committed to this series and am confident in Hickman’s storytelling.
I know I’ve said it before, but coming into this series being a neutral observer of previous X-Men stories, this one managed to hook me in and is holding tight. That being said, these comics are FILLED with information and can feel very dense while reading, but part of the challenge that came with reading these comics is what has made me even MORE invested into the story.
Marvel Comics (Wr) Leah Williams (A) David Baldeon (CA) Terry Dodson
Gwenpool is BACK IN ACTION! This fantastically funny, fourth-wall-breaking female wants to secure herself a permanent role in the Marvel Universe and attempts this by kidnapping none other than our favorite web-slinger! (?)
This issue seems like a light, fun comic that might be a good palate cleanser after the heaviness of Powers of X #2.
WHITE TREES #1 (OF 2) (MR)
Image Comics (Wr) Chip Zdarsky (A/CA) Kris Anka
This two-part mini series of high fantasy is about a group of three “unbending” warriors coming together for one last adventure after 20 years apart.
Zdarsky promises to highlight character dynamics and depth. Anka’s cover and interior artwork is reminiscent of Fiona Staple’s work in SAGA, and the cover of the first issue is pulling me in.
This comic is going to be very close to the top of my comics to read this week.
ONCE & FUTURE #1 (of 6)
BOOM! STUDIOS (Wr) Kieron Gillen (A/CA) Dan Mora
Indiana Jones meets Helsing meets Merlin? That is what I’m getting out of the synopsis of this first issue: a group of Nationalists use an ancient artifact to bring a villain back from Arthurian myth. Ex-monster hunter, Bridgette McGuire, recruits her unsuspecting grandson (a museum curator) to help her defeat this mystical threat.
This sounds like a magical roller-coaster that I am VERY excited to read!
DETECTIVE COMICS #1009 YOTV DARK GIFTS
DC Comics (Wr) Peter J. Tomasi (A) Christian Duce (CA) Doug Mahnke
“Take Your Shot” begins! Have you been looking to dive into a DC title, but are intimidated by all of the high issue numbers? This week we have NOT ONE, but TWO new story arcs starting in DC (Check out Flash #76 below in our weekly picks list!)
Deadshot, aka Flloyd Lawton, has come back to Gotham after a long stint with the Suicide Squad, but without Amanda Waller to monitor the newly returned sharpshooter, Batman fears that Floyd will go back to his old ways…Add Mr. Freeze into the mix, and we have one heck of an action-packed comic!
FLASH #76 YOTV DARK GIFTS
DC Comics (Wr) Joshua Williamson (A) Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona (CA) Howard Porter & Various
New DC Story Arc Alert! “Death of the Speed Force” begins!
Flash is back with a new mission, a new outlook, and a brand-new speedster HQ — sounds like an amazing and uplifting fresh start for our favorite speeders! Sound too good to be true? Well, the Fastest Man Alive is slowing down-and there’s only one explanation: the Speed Force is dying.
I’m not really sure about the legality or ethics of this, but here we are. I’m about to break down each individual page of the 60-page epic that Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman bestowed unto us yesterday.
I feel compelled to do this.
On Twitter, a lot of people are asking Cates to justify them having to pay $7.99 for this monumental, triple-sized issue. That’s partly why I wrote this, to show how ridiculous it is to demand that from the creators of a book which gives readers so much.
For those of you who have a digital copy of ABSOLUTE CARNAGE, or were unable to get one because of the ridiculous demand for Marvel’s big event book, know this: it feels satisfyingly weighty in your hands. (Yeah, OKAY, “That’s what she said”…but I’m serious.) This is just one of the many indicators that this book is a heavy hitter, and will have a massive impact on comics for years to come.
1:50 variant cover by Nick Bradshaw
If you haven’t read all of Stegman’s and Cates’ VENOM run, and are also unfamiliar with the million crossovers that give context to this story, don’t worry. Marvel’s blogger minions wrote this helpful primer to prepare you: “As Carnage, Cletus’ new goal is to set free Knull, the God of Symbiotes. All he needs to do is track down anyone who has ever worn a symbiote and steal the latent Knull codex from their bodies.” The thing is, a LOT of A-list characters in the Marvel universe have bonded with a Symbiote.
If you don’t make it past this introduction, there are two things I want you to know about this landmark piece of comics literature: Cates’ words and Stegman’s expressions set up really moving moments that tell you exactly who Eddie Brock is. The other thing? This is the coolest Spider-Man since Todd McFarlane, hands down. (And JP Mayer’s substantial inks are a huge part of that success.)
And there’s actually one last thing I want to tell you. This review? FULL OF SPOILERS. But if you’re picking up a book with Carnage in it, can you really be THAT afraid of anything, especially spoilers…?
Chapter One “The Bleeding King”
SUMMARY: Carnage is back, and he is on a mission to communicate directly with Knull, the god of darkness, death, and Symbiotes.Eddie Brock is going to need to become Venom, and ask for Spider-Man’s help, if he wants to survive this.
Act One, Chapter 1: Pages 1 – 5
1: Eddie is talking to Dylan, his nine-year-old “half brother”…who is actually his son. This provides a seamless backstory for Knull’s history and plan to doom all things “living and bright.” This is really just Cates talking to his readers, catching them up on what’s happened, and telling them what’s to come. Knull is the god of Symbiotes and ruler of the abyss. Before the beginning of life, he controlled symbiotes with his mind to kill encroaching life — until the symbiotes rose up against him and imprisoned him.
2-3: When symbiotes bond with their host, they leave behind a little piece of themselves in their host’ DNA. This isthe codex. Symbiotes use it to communicate with each other about their host and reconnect to the hive, which is controlled by Knull. Eddie Brock tells Dylan that whomever controls all the codices can talk to Knull.
As we get all this critical backstory, rain falls from the sky as Eddie and Dylan move through the streets of New York. The way Stegman renders rain is better than life. The disorienting downpour creates reflections in the pavement that establish a hazy, ominous atmosphere.
4-5: Cletus Kasady was the world’s most notorious serial killer who rose from the dead to become Carnage. He was resurrected by Church of the New Darkness, a cult that worships Knull. (The cult name is so metal, SO Cates!) With a new purpose, Carnage is trying to collect all these pieces of Symbiotes.
Act Two, Chapter 1: Pages 6 – 13
6-7: Eddie Brock senses that they’re being followed in Times Square. We see a mysterious figure wearing a hat and coat trailing them. As they descend into the subway, we see the faces of miserable New Yorkers getting rained on. (From experience, I can say the way Stegman conveys this is VERY accurate…)
Page 6 of ABSOLUTE CARNAGE, courtesy of a Marvel preview published on AiPT!
8-9: Disguised and hidden in human form as Cletus Kasady, Carnage pushes Eddie and Dylan onto the tracks.
10-11: We discover that Eddie’s Symbiote was actually the one following them. He saves them by smashing into the train, preventing it from running them over. He also derails and crunches a subway car full of people, which doesn’t really help the already terrible public opinion of Eddie Brock.
Stegman’s pencils show the subway train getting derailed by Venom.
12-13: Eddie is now Venom. His “Other” — which is how Eddie refers to his Symbiote — warns him Cletus/Carnage is here.
Act Three, Chapter 1: Pages 7 – 22
14-15: The first thing Carnage says to Venom: “WELL HELLO, DADDY!” This reveals that Carnage knows about the real relationship between Eddie and Dylan, and will use this knowledge to make Venom weak. Carnage and Venom battle underground. Eddie’s Symbiote knows that Cletus is wearing the Grendel Symbiote — which belonged to the lethal dragon they fought with Rex.
“WE’RE A GOD NOW!”
– Carnage
16-17: Eddie’s Other seems more self-aware than Eddie himself amid all the chaos. It recognizes that Carnage is too powerful, and that Eddie needs to put Dylan first. As Carnage towers over Eddie, he snarls: “There is no fighting this. This is the end of the light. He is coming! God is —” To shut Carnage up, Eddie grabs the third subway rail — the one charged with electricity.
18-19: In an imaginatively drawn, dynamic splash page shot from bird’s eye view, Eddie shocks Carnage (and himself). We see the hyper-sensitive Symbiotes briefly split from their hosts, becoming wispy, etherial tendrils. Carnage is reduced to nothing more than a splatter of blood and guts — and yet he’s not dead. The electric shock separated Eddie from his Other. The Symbiote now looks like a lost, vulnerable child. It reattaches to Eddie.
20-21: As Dylan and Eddie flee the scene, Venom places Eddie in a brief coma as he heals. The Symbiote autopilots them to their destination so they can ask for help in this crisis. Peter Parker’s roommate answers the door.
22: *clap* COMICS *clap* ARE *clap* BUILT *clap* ON *clap* CLIFFHANGERS. Cates sticks to this golden rule with a full-page reveal of the SEXIEST and MOST JACKED Spider-Man ever. Seriously, ya’ll, this man is the pinnacle of masculinity.
Stegman’s pencils for page 22.
Chapter Two: “The God Son”
Yes, the title sounds metal as hell, but it’s actually a pun (and potentially, some foreshadowing). In this issue, we meet Peter Parker/Spider-Man’s godson, who — like Eddie Brock — has the latent codex inside him.
SUMMARY: Spidey, Eddie, and Dylan meet in a diner to discuss the situation at hand, and how they’ll handle it. They’ll find a potential solution to Eddie’s Carnage/Symbiote problem at the end of the chapter— but is it worth it??
Act One, Chapter 2: Pages 23 – 27
23: As the heroes sit in a diner, casually mulling over the situation, I just couldn’t help but relish in the fact that Spidey is in public wearing his costume, classically deflecting the gravity of the situation with humor.
24-25: There is clearly some awkwardness between Eddie, Spiderman, and Dylan. The boy leaves the table so that Eddie and Spider-Man can speak in private — about Dylan.
26-27: The emotionally intelligent and vulnerable Spidey implores Eddie to tell Dylan the truth about their relationship. He knows a thing or two about growing up without knowing who your father was, which is a hard reality for boys in need of a role model who looks like them.
Just as Spider-Man is at his most persuasive, and Eddie is about to seriously consider telling Dylan the truth, the mission at hand comes back into play. (Of course.) Eddie notices something interesting on the news, and stops listening to Spider-Man. This is a GREAT STORYTELLING AND CHARACTERIZATION MOMENT DONE BY CATES. It underscores how Eddie uses the crisis at hand as an excuse to protect Dylan from knowing about his real identity as Brock’s son.
Act Two, Chapter 2: Pages 28 – 34
28-29: The news broadcast shows a mass grave of bodies piled high, all without spines, found in Jersey. (As if we needed any more evidence that Jersey sucks…) **TAKE NOTE THAT THE BODIES ARE ARRANGED AT THE CENTER OF THE FAMILIAR SYMBOL THAT CARNAGE MADE IN THE EARTH.
30: We learn that the grave is full of people who’ve worn Symbiotes and died. This is a message to Brock from Carnage. As Eddie fights for control of the TV remote so that the cafe manager doesn’t change the channel, we see how unlikable Eddie can be on first impression.
31: This is “A message that says it doesn’t matter if you’re dead. You’re still a target.” As Eddie emphasizes this, Spider-Man’s spider-sense goes off. And let me just lay this on the table: STEGMAN DRAWS THIS BETTER THAN ANY OTHER ARTIST IN SPIDER-MAN’S HISTORY.
32: His spider-sense was triggered by average crooks trying to rob the diner. Compared to the end-times implications of Carnage’s return, this trivial robbery REALLY puts things into perspective.
Ryan Stegman’s iconic pencils for an action panel in Chapter Two of ABSOLUTE CARNAGE
33-34: After Spider-Man squashes these petty thieves in a stylized action sequence from Stegman the pencil god, Eddie seems jealous of Spidey’s relationship to the public, how they cheer for him. The scene changes to Rex Strickland’s safe house. We learn that Maker (a creepy/morally suspect Reed Richards from another dimension) has already created the machine that will extract the Knull codex without killing the hosts.
It seems that Maker and Eddie Brock have an aligned interest.
Act Three, Chapter 2: Pages 35 – 38
35-36: These panels are all the proof you need if you were ever wondering why you see Clayton Cowel‘s name all over your favorite comics. His letters are another important tool of characterization. You can hear how cold and technical Maker speaks by how orderly and stiff the font is when compared to the mildly italicized/all caps bold font of Eddie and Spider-Man.
Spidey’s gestures are another reason why Stegman’s Spider-Man is the coolest thing since Todd Farlane’s innovation with his character design. Preserving the thick musculature and expressive eyes of McFarlane’s Spider-Man, Stegman evolves the character design with a more flexible body, agile musculature, beefy neck, strong jaw, and attention to detail — you can see the outline of Peter Parker’s ears protruding from the mask. No one gets anatomy quite like Stegman these days.
37-38: The involvement of Parker’s godson and Eddie’s son, Dylan, connect the story to a younger audience, the next generation of comics-makers. This is a huge reason behind Marvel’s success. They don’t make any mature content — like DC with their Black Label (formerly Vertigo) — because their content effortlessly engages all ages. Younger readers are generally pulled in by the humor, imagination, and simple morality of the story while older readers are attracted to the intricate plots, choreographed violence, character wisdom, and tone/symbolism of the story.
Now that we’re done with that tangent on why Marvel consistently holds the dominant market share in the comics world, the Maker offers for Eddie to test the machine. This is a win-win-win, for Maker, Spidey’s godson , and Eddie.
Chapter Three “The Long Red Dark”
Summary: Spider-Man and Venom head to the Ravencroft Institute for the Criminally Insane to free “Red Goblin” Norman Osborn before Carnage can get to him first and taps into his codex.
Act One, Chapter 3: Pages 39 – 45
39: Norman Osborn sings a chilling song about squashing a spider that shows the state of his mental derangement. Stegman’s consistently moody rain continues to set the tone in an eerie establishing shot of the institute.
40-41: Bloody carnage drips down the pages, framing each panel. At the bottom of the page, we see the bloodshot, criminally insane eyes of Norman Osborn. Frank Martin’s colors really sell the intensity behind those eyes, as they bulge from Norman’s twisted visage. He also executes believable lighting in an upshot of the guard, John Jameson, discovering Spider-Man and Venom sneaking on the wall.
Stegman’s pencils for the best panel on page 41.
42-43: It’s established — for those who don’t know — that John also has powers as a werewolf. As they’re talking to each other about how to sedate Osborn before opening his containment cell, John is suddenly taken over by Carnage.
The final panel on page 43 is easily the most disturbing panel in the entire comic. It conveys the pain that Carnage can inflict on others. It shows how Cates has mastered the vocabulary of insane people — and shows how deep the author can go into the minds of his characters.
Act Two, Chapter 3: Pages 44 – 48
44-45: As Carnage enters, the color of the panels becomes decidedly evil, reds and blacks dominating the pages, Symbiote tendrils oozing from John’s eyes. Completely devoid of control over his own body, John shoots Osborn’s cell, triggering the alarm. “God is coming.” Venom is hypersensitive to loud sounds, and is briefly incapacitated.
46: Leaking his Symbiote into the prison cells, Carnage adds to his army. These Symbiote hosts break free form their prison cells and march behind Carnage.
47-48: Eddie fires John’s gun at the alarms to stop the noise. This is the most innovative display of motion I’ve ever seen in comics. With the gun in the foreground, we see the speed-lines, kickback, and smoke. Spider-Man webs John so they can prepare to meet Carnage.
Act Two, Chapter 3: Pages 49 – 60
49-50: This all-consuming double-page splash of Carnage and his converts charging toward Spider-Man and Venom would make the perfect T-shirt print. Hear that, Marvel? Yet another opportunity to make money!
51: It’s pretty clear that Carnage is here for Osborn’s codex, always watching and waiting to strike at the right time. Spider-Man and Venom must try to save Norman Osborn from being entirely consumed by Carnage. Spider-Man establishes the mood perfectly when he says, “UGH…” in the final moments before Carnage.
52-53: This is another important characterization moment for Venom. Eddie defines his relationship with the Symbiote and their long, complicated journey. His alien Other gives him pain, and pain is important part of growth.
54-55: As they battle Carnage and his army, Carnage grabs Spider-Man by his throat one of the most compellingly illustrated double-page panels in the history of comics.
Stegman’s original art for ABSOLUTE CARNAGE is being sold, and you better believe this will go for a lot of money.
56-57: Spider-Man and Venom need to break Venom out from his cell, while simultaneously holding back Carnage and his army of obedient Symbiotes. Venom poignantly says, “Don’t be clever, be strong!”
58-59: The layout of panels for page 58 is yet another demonstration of how expansive Stegman’s imagination is. Spiderman’s fist repeatedly hits into the steel door with blazing speed, as we get frontal perspective of him and Venom fighting to get the hell out of Ravencroft. Venom can’t hold the door much longer, and we see Carnage about to devour Norman Osborne.
60: At last, Carnage claims Osborn. Cates closes out this legendary issue with a playful, yet haunting quote from Carnage: “I came here to make friends“.
Norman is Carnage’s puppet.
Anyone who Carnage controls is his puppet, and it will be a terrifying journey to see how he abuses that power in the issues to come.
Marvel Comics (Wr) Donny Cates (A/CA) Ryan Stegman
This MUCH anticipated story, created by Cates and Stegman (an ABSOLUTE power-house team), has promised to break comic book sale records — and we are holding our breath waiting to get our grubby little mitts on this comic.
Branching out into five additional mini-series that will run along-side the main title of ABSOLUTE CARNAGE, I am sure that this series will rock Marvel sales for the next few months. Donny Cates notoriously creates insanely captivating stories and new characters that I think we will see within the first three issues of the main series. Buckle up, folks, because there will be CARNAGE!
House of X #2 (of 6)
Marvel Comics (Wr) Jonathan Hickman (A/CA) Pepe Larraz
The first issue of this series sucked me in like a fly to honey, which shocked me, especially because I have never really been interested in any other modern X-Men stories. This story is NEXT LEVEL. It definitely lives up to the mass-hype that was created prior to its release, which I think will also carry over for years to come.
This series is a MUST READ!
COFFIN BOUND #1
Image Comics (Wr) Dan Watters (A/CA) Dani
This comic has received nothing but RAVE reviews. Here a few of my favorites:
“Coffin Bound is a comic with a strong pulse that bleeds all over your hands while reading. You should give it a read.” – Declan Shalvey
“A gore-splattered-but poetic-road trip with one of the strangest stripper scenes in comics.” – John Harris Dunning
“Gorgeous and odd and very much its own unique monster. I am jealous at its filthy strangeness.” – Ivan Brandon
BERSERKER UNBOUND #1 (of 4) CVR A DEODATO
Dark Horse Publishing Jeff Lemire (A/CA) Mike Deodato
Jeff Lemire, swords, sorcery, and evil wizards?! TAKE MY MONEY!
LOIS LANE #2 (of 12)
DC Comics (Wr) Greg Rucka (A/CA) Mike Perkins Lois Lane’s investigation of an international conspiracy forces her to keep secrets from Clark, who, being completely in the dark, can not help her. Though she does find unexpected help from the streets of Gotham City…
DCEASED #4 (of 6)
DC Comics Tom Taylor (A) Trevor Hairsine, Stefano Guadiano (CA) Andy Kubert
It seems like this is the part of the story where hope is crushed by the reality that being hopeful might prove to be fruitless in a world overrun with zombies. The Daily Planet becomes a haven for those who are not infected with the virus, but can they stay safe in a city full of humans and super-humans infected with the Anti-Life Equation? Methinks not..
Geopolitics, genocide, drugs, religion, corporate entities, Magneto — House of X #1 has it all. This is the kind of story that requires you to pay attention.
That one promo image for HOUSE OF X that you’ve seen 5,000 times.
The Most Important Things from HOUSE OF X #1
Humans of the planet Earth. While you slept, the world changed.
Professor X, epigraph
What is Krakoa?
Krakoa is Charles Xavier’s perfect mutant habitat, a garden of Eden with no snake, no fruit of knowledge, no Eve, no Adam — and especially no God. The island is the seat of the sovereign mutant nation-state established two months ago.
Cyclops says that “New beginnings demand a wide berth.” In the opening pages, we see X-Men planting flowers around the world over a five month period. They’re planting roots in the natural world to grow the infrastructure of their sovereign mutant nation.
Only mutants can access Krakoa. Advantageous gateways allow mutants to travel all around the world via the Krakoan ecosystem, but only mutants can access those portals. If humans are present, the gateway grants or denies permission for them to enter — but only if a mutant asks on the human’s behalf.
Make no mistake: Charles Xavier is creating a distinct culture, with its own language, land, economy, environment, and drugs.
The Flowers of Krakoa
This chapter title refers to the flowers/drugs that allow mutants to access different environments and states of consciousness unavailable to humans.
We learn that Xavier acquired a pharmaceutical company to produce pills that enhance the immune system, lifespan, and mental health of humans exclusively.
This sets up an interesting contrast between humans and mutants. Mutants: natural (flowers), community-centered. Humans: synthetic (pills), self-centered.
Krakoa Pacific
The introductory pages provide a geography of Krakoa, with indicators to 12 key locations.
According to Dr. Gregor, who is a pretty foundational character in the series, humans only have 20 years left before extinction.
Pan to outer space, where we see The Forge — a space station shaped like a giant Sentinel head. This outpost will help humanity “survive the coming days” in accordance with the Orchis Protocol (explained below).
Orchis Protocol: Build for Doomsday
This protocol is a response to a unique scenario when human population is threatened with extinction, the moment when natural selection finally chooses mutantkind over mankind.
The word “Orchis” is derived from Greek for “testicle.”
Three triggers cause this doomsday scenario, and they’re distinctly political:
Population: mutant gene rates are escalating
Financial: Charles Xavier acquired the seventh-largest pharmaceutical company in the world to make cure-all pills, a move predicted to destabilize the industry and provide him a unique advantage
Territorial: the nation of Krakoa is established
After this context, we see mutants obtain a copy of the combined database from 2 smartest people in the world. They are confronted with the Fantastic Four upon their escape. The contents of the data are unknown, and it makes a solid cliffhanger.
Damage Control
There is a corporate entity weaponizing Iron Man’s and Mister Fantastic’s technology. They add this ownerless intellectual property to an archive of similar assets where there is no clear chain of custody over that intellectual property.
Scott Summers/Cyclops tries to diffuse the situation with the Fantastic Four. using it as an opportunity to state Xavier’s politics. This moment draws an interesting and deliberate line between Marvel’s heroes and their ideologies.
Omega Level
The book ends by suggesting Magneto finally has his chance to be a god.
HOUSE OF X variant covers
Omega Level mutants are an elite class of the world’s most powerful mutants, of whom the Krakoan state is especially protective. Magneto is one of these rare beings.
Charles Xavier has made you an offer — one full of grace and brotherly love — but one that is also written in stone. This is not a negotiation. Things will be different now, and the sooner you realize the finality of your situation — and the inevitability of ours — the sooner you will be grateful for the things we are so generously giving to you.
Magneto
Mutants are the new gods, so it’s fitting that the ever-dramatic Magneto needed to make this statement in Jerusalem, the birthplace of the three Abrahamic religions: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.
Time is a Flat Circle
The book, after starting with a quote from Charles Xavier, ends with a Magneto quote.
I have a new word for the lexicon of man: KRAKOA. And in the future, when you speak it, make sure you do so softly and with proper deference. For we will be listening.
Magneto
This speaks to the unity of mutants, and also makes the reader question just how aligned Xavier and Magneto really are. Would Xavier threaten humanity this blatantly? Is he already doing that?
HOUSE OF X & POWERS OF X Reading Order
“Two Series That Are One.”
House of X #1
July 24, 2019
Powers of X #1
July 31, 2019
House of X #2
August 7, 2019
Powers of X #2
August 14, 2019
Powers of X #3
August 21, 2019
House of X #3
August 28, 2019
House of X #4
September 4, 2019
Powers of X #4
September 11, 2019
House of X #5
September 18, 2019
Powers of X #5
September 25, 2019
House of X #6
October 2, 2019
Powers of X #6
October 9, 2019
Rating 9.5/10
Jonathan Hickman writes a unique premise that engages a lot of contemporary social and political issues.
Incredible graphic design from Tom Muller.
Bright and luscious colors from Marte Gracia softened the heaviness of Pepe Larraz’s lines, creating art that is on par for Marvel.
At roughly 55.5 million views, “Keyboard Cat” is one of the most popular videos on YouTube. Though it’s been over a decade since that glorious clip was uploaded, Keyboard Cat speaks to an enduring trait of American culture: we love to watch cute animals do cute things.
When cats are involved, people will pay attention. Just ask Lying Cat, from Brian K. Vaughan’s critically acclaimed Saga series. There is another promising addition to the “Cats in Comics” canon with Strayed, releasing on August 14 from Dark Horse Comics.
What’s STRAYED about?
(No spoilers.)
In the world of Strayed, a military-industrial complex fuels a relentless hunt for resources across the galaxy. This campaign is helmed by the “Infinite race,” who colonize planets and upend the lives of their native population in the process.
Variant cover for issue one of Strayed by Dustin Nguyen.
In order to identify planets ripe for colonization, the Infinites enlist a cat named Lou for his powers of astral projection — which allows his mind to travel through space. He reports what he sees through a translation collar made by his loving owner, Dr. Kiara Rodriguez.
Both are working for the Infinites against their will, unable to leave until their mission is complete. For months, Lou and Kiara live in the confines of a top-secret military base somewhere in space as the Infinites pillage planets, kill innocents, and take what is not theirs. Unable to see each other freely, Kiara and Lou are essentially prisoners longing to be home where they can feel like family again.
The story climaxes when the Infinite leaders have found an alternate use for Kiara’s translation device. Will Lou and Kiara continue to work for the Infinites and be complicit in their crimes? Or will they risk their lives to break the chain?
The Writing in STRAYED
In issue one of Strayed, Carlos Giffoni’s writing gracefully balances violent depictions of colonialism with moving displays of love between a pet and his companion in life. There were so many tender, surprising, clever, frustrating moments that Giffoni wrote into issue one of Strayed.
Carlos Giffoni is a Venezuelan writer, musician, and video game creative director/producer currently living in LA.
Every debut comic needs to create an interesting world inhabited with compelling characters. Strayed does just that. Anyone who is passionate about their pet will attach themselves to Lou and identify with Kiara. Anyone who sees colonialism as a violent force of greed will want to rebel against the Infinites.
The Art in STRAYED
Artist and colorist Juan Doe’s unique style works perfectly in this outer space setting. (This was especially true during Lou’s vivid — and important — nightmare sequence in the middle of the book.) Lou’s face and eyes are highly emotive, expressing insight, fear, and love. The consistent palette of reds and greens make every gesture, feature, and detail pop, which enhances the reading experience.
Strayed Cover A.
My favorite show of artistry in Strayed is the non-traditional panel structure used throughout. Rather than favoring a traditional grid layout, Doe draws panels that use symmetry or hierarchy of size to convey the narrative. For example, the two-page spread for Lou’s nightmare shows his face in the middle, as the jarring events of his dream swarm around his head in organically-shaped panels.
Matt Krotzer’s lettering in Strayed is also worthy of praise. Always capitalized, the letters have variations in style, weight, and size. Krotzer uses a different lettering style for Lou to instantly convey that he uses a translation device to communicate, setting a pitch and tone for his dialogue.
Strayed Comic Rating
9.5/10
In STRAYED, Giffoni, Doe, and Krotzer create an emotionally and intellectually engaging world of characters, metaphors, and themes. The story is personal and political, cute and horrifying, strange and serious, all at once.
Some weeks are DC-heavy, some weeks there are several amazing independent titles, but HOLY SMOKES, Marvel is PACKING A PUNCH. We’ve got some serious heavy-hitter comics releasing this week! Hold onto your butts, folks, this is going to be an epic New-Release-Wednesday.
House of X #1 (OF 6)
Marvel Comics (Wr) Jonathan Hickman (A/CA) Pepe Larraz OF COURSE this has to be on my list this week: X-MEN (soft) REBOOT. Uncanny X-Men and X-Force have ended and the next chapter of X-Men begins with Hickman’s House of X and Powers of X, the mini series that will bring Mutants “out of the shadows and into the light.”
There has been an astronomical amount of hype around this mini-series and his additional series Powers of X, (which will allegedly change the way we see the past, present and future of mutants) and my hope is that this series can make itself worthy of all of this hype. House of X and Powers of X seem to be all anyone wants to talk about for the past two months and although I do not typically get excited over modern X-Men stories, I am SUPER intrigued about this — and if it will really be as revolutionary as the Marvel / Diamond descriptions and solicitations are making it seem!
Fearless #1 (of 4) Frison Connecting Variant
Marvel Comics (Wr) Seanan McGuire & Various (A) Claire Roe, Carmen Nunez Carnero (CA) Jenny Frison A celebration of the women of Marvel, this mini-series showcases an amazing collection of female characters who have fought, overcome, loved, and have been an inspiration to so many. From an all-female creative team, it’s so powerful to see women celebrating women and I am HERE for this series!
Valkyrie: Jane Foster #1
Marvel Comics (Wr) Jason Aaron, Al Ewing (A) CAFU (CA) Mahmud A. Asrar First, she was Dr. Jane Foster, then she became Thor, the Goddess of Thunder, and spinning from the pages of War of the Realms, she is now VALKYRIE. Jane Foster is one bad-B and I am so pumped to see Jason Aaron’s story of Jane Foster as Valkyrie, guide and ferry-woman to the dead.
Web of Venom: Funeral Pyre #1
Marvel Comics (Wr) Cullen Bunn (A) Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque, Joshua Cassara (CA) Declan Shalvey An “Absolute Carnage” tie-in/prequel, Carnage has been hunting all former symbiote hosts and killing them off. This one-shot story tells the tale of the hunting down of his next victim, Andi Benton, formerly Mania (living in Philadelphia) without a symbiote to save her from the destruction of Carnage.
Batman: Curse of the White Knight #1 (of 8)
DC Comics (Wr/A/CA) Sean Murphy In this sequel to Batman White Knight series (retroactively part of DC’s Black Label), Joker recruits Azreal to run Gotham into the ground by revealing a shocking secret about the Wayne family. While fighting to save his city, Bruce deals with how the secret begins to unravel and exposes the true history of his ancestry. This sequel series promises “new villains,” (which hooks me in), and the success of the first series is setting this series up to be a must-have!
Star Pig #1 (of 4) Cvr A Richard
IDW Publishing (Wr) Delilah S Dawson (A) Francesco Gaston (CA) Sara Richard “Perfect for fans of Saga and Guardians of the Galaxy,” this is the story of a 16-year-old girl, going to Space Camp (in space), who is rescued by a space-faring Water-Bear after a shuttle accident sets her flying through space. This trippy yet adorable story looks like it will be a lot of fun, and I’m excited for this adventure to begin!
Who would’ve thought that a Golden Age character would become the poster-boy for “pivot to video”? Well, in Matt Fraction and Steve Lieber’s newest maxi-series, anything’s possible. Superman’s Pal Jimmy Olsen #1 is a hilarious collection of four related short stories provide a “bizarre tour of the underbelly of the DC Universe.”
The series opens with a family history of the Luthor and Olsen families, focusing on their role in shaping Metropolis. In a hilarious death sequence, Jimmy’s “great-great-grand-something” falls to his death after getting whacked with a shovel while disputing over the land that would be Metropolis. After this brief history, we see a standard day in the life for Jimmy Olsen: falling from outer space with nothing to break his fall…while metamorphosing into a giant turtle, thanks to a biomedical experiment. Though Superman tries to save his life and prevent major damage to Metropolis, he shatters The Monarch of Metropolis — a massive lion monument/tourist attraction erected by the Luthor family.
These shenanigans are fun, but the story really hits its stride in the second half. Jimmy’s space turtle fiasco costs the city and the Daily Planet, but the video of his fall is the only thing bringing money in for the publication. He’s too much of a liability for Metropolis, but he’s good for business, so Daily Planet’s publisher relocates him to Gotham. After moving in to his crappy new digs, it’s revealed that the Daily Planet published a front-page fake news story about Jimmy Olsen getting murdered!
For me, this was a comical story about the “long, slow death spiral” of print media, as the comic puts it. The “pivot to video” and clickbait trends are central themes to this story filled with wacky plot points. Fraction uses puns, witty wordplay, and slick sarcasm in a measured way that complements the strange subject matter. Steve Lieber’s art is just cartoony enough to match the funny script, and the colors heighten the Golden Age nostalgia while remaining crisp.
Credit: DC Comics
Rating 9/10
I need to learn more about the DC Universe, and this comic seems like an amusing tour de force. As a writer, I’m delighted to see comic creators working in a print-based medium address the challenges of the twentieth century. Although comics have adapted to the digital medium (with Comixology), the silver screen (MCU movies), and smaller screens (YouTube reviewers), it’s nice to see a traditionally print-based medium address its own reckoning in such a lighthearted way.
Marvel Comics (Wr) Daniel Kibblesmith (CA) Ozgur Yildirim *Spoiler Alert* Loki died in War of the Realms, and now he is BACK. This mischievous, handsome troublemaker returns with a whole new set of responsibilities, and Thor is not letting him weasel his way out of them. This story looks like it is going to be — if not hilarious — at least strongly entertaining. I am very excited to scoop it up this week!
Silver Surfer Black #2 (OF 5)
Marvel Comics (Wr) Donny Cates (A/CA) Tradd Moore The first issue of this series was AMAZING. Though the artwork was a bit of a throw-off, the story trumped the awkwardness of some of the panels and spreads. I know there will be similar artwork in this second issue, but this story is a MUST HAVE in every comic fan’s collection.
Resonant #1
Vault Comics (Wr) David Andry (A/CA) Alejandro Aragon This is post-apocalyptic, dark, and suspenseful tale of a family being torn apart and desperately fighting to reunite against all odds. This looks like an emotional (and possibly pretty predictable) story about the importance of fighting for the ones we love.
Blade Runner 2019 #1
Titan Comics (Wr) Michael Green, Mike Johnson (A) Andres Guinaldo (CA) Artgerm, Stanley Lau Set in “present day” Neo-Noir Los Angeles, issue one tells the story of Ash, a veteran Blade Runner on a mission to find a billionaire’s wife and child who were kidnapped to be used for “dark purposes.” I have never taken the plunge into any Blade Runner story, so I’m picking up this canon story to dip my toes into this dark and mysterious world.
Collapser #1 (OF 6)
DC Comics (Wr) Mikey Way, Shaun Simon (A/CA) Ilias Kyriazis Our main character, Liam James gets sent a…black hole…in the mail…and he gets superpowers from it… totally normal. I have no idea what to say about this comic, but I am both bewildered and intrigued. I feel compelled to pick this comic up this week to figure out how in the HECK someone sends a black hole in the mail, but that’s the world of comics, folks! BUCKLE UP!
I assume that bored moms let their minds wander to the past, a time when they were less bored. If a bored mom is unemployed now, she might think about former career highlights. If her children are young, and if there are a lot of them, she might fantasize about the days when all she had to worry about was herself. If she’s unhappy in their marriage, she might think about more emotionally and sexually attentive boyfriends and lovers from the past.
From what I can see in issue #1 of Invisible Woman, Susan Storm is a bored mom. This is very clear, and yet I think I’m the first one to come out and just say it already. The creative team connects the past and present in issue one to explore Susan’s determination to break free from matronly routines.
What happens in issue #1?
Writer Mark Waid opens the series with a flashback to back to more than a decade ago, during Susan’s espionage mission for S.H.I.E.L.D.. What happens in that mission doesn’t matter at all. The scene merely exists to establish her relationship to her handsome partner, Aidan Tintreach (whom she calls Squarejaw), and their differing approaches to their line of work. He is fine with killing if it means surviving a mission; she isn’t.
That’s not where their differences end. Aidan/Squarejaw wants to be with his beloved “Stormy” romantically. She denies him that honor because she’s busy with the Fantastic Four. She’s also engaged to Reed Richards.
Fast-forward several years later, during which Susan doesn’t age at all. There’s some internal monologuing about she’s fine with being stuck in a routine before she is summoned to the C.I.A. headquarters. There, she learns that Aidan has been captured by terrorists/spies and is being tortured for intel. As he was being captured, he left a coded message: Stormy. How romantic!
Naturally, the old, white C.I.A. man tells her that she is not to intervene whatsoever. Naturally, Susan flies to Moravia, the fictional Marvel country where Aidan is likely being held hostage. Once she’s there, she meets the Black Widow, who bears a freaky resemblance to Nicole Kidman. Marvel just can not resist a crossover.
Rating 5/10
Until the series concludes, I’ll tag along for the distinct pleasure of looking at Mattia de Iulis’s art. It’s as if he’s spent his whole life analyzing the way light bathes objects and people. The way he renders fabrics — cloth, suits, cotton, denim, and leather — is overwhelmingly satisfying, better than real life. If someone from 1910 saw the realism of his art, they would have died from shock.
Mark Waid, if left to his own devices, might make this a story about Aidan and Susan’s chemistry, which might boil over into something physical when they inevitably meet again. Marvel, if left to its own devices, will not let that happen. Marital infidelity is not part of Disney’s (and by extension, Marvel’s) brand. I expect some lukewarm compromise between these two possibilities, filled with mostly action scenes.
Ahoy Comics (Wr) Mark Russell (A) Richard Pace (CA) Amanda Connor After DC dropped this title for being too “controversial,” it was picked up by Ahoy Comics. This makes me wonder if the series is considered controversial simply because Jesus is involved? Whatever the reasoning is, I want to read this issue just to see why DC thought it unfit to print.
Earth’s most famous super-hero, Sunstar, is asked to accept Jesus as a roommate and teach him to use his powers. Jesus finds out how people have been misconstruing his teaching and vows to set the stories straight.
Black Hammer Justice League #1 (of 5) Cover A
Dark Horse Comics (Wr) Jeff Lemire (A/CA) Michael Walsh This first issue of the crossover between Image’s Black Hammer with DC’s Justice League does not look it will disappoint. I have loved everything that I have read from Jeff Lemire, so I am really excited to pick this issue up — especially to see how he depicts the Justice League being thrust into the world of Black Hammer.
Reaver #1
Image Comics (Wr) Justin Jordan (A) Rebekah Isaacs, Alex Guimaraes (CA) Becky Cloonan This story reminds me of a high-fantasy Suicide Squad, and is promised to keep us satiated in a post-Game of Thrones world. A team of six of the “most despicable prisoners” must band together to prevent the end of the new world.
Invisible Woman #1 (of 5)
Marvel Comics (Wr) Mark Waid (A) Mattia De Iulis (CA) Adam Hughes Susan Storm, or Invisible Woman, worked years ago for S.H.I.E.L.D. Years later, this story picks up when she has to save her former partner from death after being captured by international terrorists. Being that this is Invisible Woman’s first solo-series, I am absolutely going to pick this up and show support for this incredible female character, brought to life by a stellar creative team!
Amazing Spider-Man #25
Marvel Comics Nick Spencer (A) Ryan Ottley & Various (CA) Ryan Ottley Classic “CAN SPIDEY SAVE MJ” from Mysterio story…I’m not terribly interested in the story since we have so often seen Spidey saving MJ, but the possibility that MJ saves Spidey in this story piques my interest. This oversized issue marks the two-year run of this story by powerhouse team Nick Spencer and Ryan Ottley.
Batman Universe #1 (of 6)
DC Comics (Wr) Brian Michael Bendis (A/CA) Nick Derington Slim-pickings for DC Comics that are releasing this week. That’s because many DC comics this week are Year of the Villain tie-ins. This is the only comic that is a first issue, and looks like it will be an interesting story of cat and mouse between Batman and Riddler. Batman will be tracking down a Faberge egg and bringing it back to its rightful owner: Jinny Hex, descendant of Jonah Hex!
Jeff Lemire (A/CA) Mike Deodato
Secret Society Comics 