Amazing Spider-Man #26 (Legacy #920) REVIEW

Writer: Zeb Wells
Artist: John Romita Jr.
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Released: May 31, 2023
Price: $4.99

Marvel were bigging this up as “the most shocking issue of Amazing Spider-Man in fifty years!” So, did it live up to the hype?

*SPOILER WARNING* I will keep the identity of the character who dies secret until the very end of this post. If you haven’t heard who it is, I won’t spoil it in my main review. (It will be below the video link at the end of this post.) Saying that, Marvel leaked it about two weeks before this issue was published. So it has been all over the interwebz.

My Review

Here it is, the conclusion to minor villain Benjamin Rabin’s revenge story arc, as well as the conclusion to the previous 25 issues’ “what did Peter do?” story. Does anyone even care anymore? I don’t know. The comic is still selling well but this run has been getting heavily criticized by a lot of Spidey fans.

King Spawn #22 (May 2023) REVIEW

Writer: Sean Lewis
Artist: Javi Fernandez
Publisher: Image Comics
Released: May 24, 2023
Price: $2.99

I’ve written about the current Spawn Universe comics before, so I wanted to give an update. There are four ongoing Spawn comics right now: Spawn, King Spawn, Gunslinger Spawn and The Scorched. The main Spawn title is up to issue #341, King Spawn is on issue #22, Gunslinger Spawn issue #20, and issue #18 of The Scorched is due out next week. I was buying all four titles but I’ve recently cut back to King Spawn and Gunslinger Spawn. Gunslinger is a lot of fun but King Spawn is my favourite.

I just dropped a video review of King Spawn #22 which released on May 24th 2023. Here is my written review of the comic.

Review

The Vigil #1 (May 2023) REVIEW

Writer: Ram V
Artist: Lalit Kumar Sharma
Publisher: DC Comics
Released: May 16th 2023
Price: $3.99

Publisher’s Synopsis

*This is one of the longest publisher’s synopses I’ve ever read!*

“/…/ /Who Are The Vigil?.. The shipping vessel Eastwind was taken captive by pirates off the coast of Thailand. 24 hours after the crew had been taken hostage, before communications had been established or any demands made, the crew reported an intervention by a group of unknown individuals. Amid other bizarre claims by the crew, are reports of an individual who changed his appearance at will and a woman who seemingly dodged bullets. Once the pirates were taken out, no attempts were made at rescuing the crew. There have long been rumors of rogue metahumans targeting weaponized illegal technology. With some hinting that they call themselves The Vigil. What were they after? Why did they intervene? Are there metas among us? Stay tuned for more./ /…/ /you are being watched./”

Short Review

The DC Comics synopsis above does a great job of summarizing The Vigil issue #1 and is worth a read if you skipped it.

The creative team use this first issue to set up a story about a clandestine team who get sent on covert missions to recover dangerous tech. This is a solid and intriguing opening issue with original characters and a nice spy theme to the story. It does enough to pull you in despite not giving very much character detail. I look forward to learning more about the characters in future issues. The world building is good and the action–when it comes–is memorable.

Amazing Spider-Man #25 (Legacy #919) REVIEW

Writer: Zeb Wells
Artists: Kaare Andrews & John Romita Jr.
Released: May 10th 2023
Price: $6.99

Publisher’s Synopsis

“The past and the present collide in this oversized and monumental 25th issue! Your heart isn’t ready for this one.”

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Since when was issue #25 of any series a Landmark issue? Any excuse for 20 variant covers and a $6.99 price tag. Soon Marvel will be celebrating issue #5 of every series.

Batman #135 (Legacy issue #900) REVIEW

Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artists: Mike Hawthorne, Mikel Janin, Jorge Jimenez & Adriano Di Bendetto
Released: May 2nd 2023
Price: $6.99

DC Comics Synopsis

“It’s Batman versus Red Mask in a brutal Gotham that’s never known hope! Can the Dark Knight overcome the terrifying infection that Red Mask has unleashed? Only one thing is certain: he won’t be able to do it alone. The conclusion to the bestselling “The Bat-Man of Gotham” is so big it could only be contained in an oversize #900 anniversary issue featuring the return of fan-favorite artist Jorge Jiménez and a wild collection of guest stars! Full of wild revelations and a new path for Batman, this is one issue you won’t want to miss!“

Review & Thoughts

Issue #900 eh? That is impressive. I remember buying a copy of issue #400 when I was a teenager. Typing that makes me feel old! I just did a quick Google and Batman #400 was published in September 1986 making me 13 years old at the time. But enough about me. Let me tell you about Batman #900, the conclusion to The Bat-Man of Gotham story arc.

Green Arrow issue #1 (2023) REVIEW | Dawn of DC Continues

Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Sean Izaaske
Released: April 25th 2023
Price: $3.99

Publisher’s Synopsis: “The Emerald Archer is lost, and it will take Oliver Queen’s whole family to find him! But dangerous forces are determined to keep them apart at any cost!”

Review & Thoughts

I’ve been looking forward to this first issue of a planned 6-issue Green Arrow mini series. I don’t know much about the character, so I was hoping it would be a good jumping-on point. Happily, it is. And even better, this opening issue is very very good.

After dropping the reader in with an exciting opening couple of pages showing Green Arrow washing up on a beach, we are given a brief recap of who Green Arrow is. Meet Oliver Queen. A wealthy and arrogant young man who turned misfortune into a chance to reinvent and better himself. After years of training in archery and hand-to-hand combat skills, he became the Green Arrow. If you’ve watched the Arrow TV Series, you probably know a lot more than me about the character. All I remember about the TV adaptation is the lack of blond hair and beard.

The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country: THE GLASS HOUSE #1 Review

Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Lisandro Estherren
Price: $3.99
Release: April 11th 2023

Publisher’s SYNOPSIS

The Corinthian has been turned loose on our realm once more, and this time he sets his sights on the very root of modern American capitalism–Silicon Valley. Writer James Tynion IV reunites with artist Lisandro Estherren to bring you the follow-up to last year’s acclaimed Sandman: Nightmare Country.

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REVIEW with Story Summary

The story opens in a night club. Main character Max is out with his workmates, but he’s drinking alone. He starts talking to one of the bar staff who asks him why he’s here. We learn that Max’s boss Ken is a big shot in Silicon Valley. Max is hoping Ken will ask him to join the select few who go to the second bar. The ones who do are “basically made for life.”

Batman issue #134 (April 4th 2023) REVIEW

Writer: Chip Zdarsky
Artist: Mike Hawthorne
Released: April 4th, 2023
Price: $4.99

“The Bat-Man of Gotham: Part Four.” Batman has been blasted into an alternate Gotham City by Failsafe. In this version of Gotham, Bruce Wayne is dead and there is no Batman. Our Bruce becomes the Bat-Man of this Gotham City and fights back against the mysterious Red Mask who plans to drive everyone in the city insane.

First off, I’m not a fan of this cover. It gives me Condorman vibes! Anyone remember that old Disney movie with Michael Crawford and Oliver Reed?

Unstoppable Doom Patrol issue #1 | REVIEW

Writer: Dennis Culver
Artist: Chris Burnham
Released: March 28, 2023
Price: $3.99

“Things are about to get weird.” That’s what we hear as the issue opens with a giant gorilla toting a big bad-ass-looking gun and what looks like a giant robot gorilla with its brain visible through a clear head casing. The giant gorilla is Monsieur Mallah and the robotic one is The Brain. They were both most recently seen in the Doom Patrol TV Series. Have you watched it? I’ve only seen some of Season 1.

We then get a double page spread title page introducing this version of Doom Patrol: Cliff Steele Robotman, Larry Trainor Negative Man, Rita Farr Elasti-Woman, The Chief (who I don’t recognize), and for the first time Beast Girl. After a quick Google, I’ve learned that this new-looking Chief is one of Crazy Jane’s alternate identities. CBR.com also reports that this new issue of Unstoppable Doom Patrol spins out of Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate #1‘s “Storm Damaged” story by Culver and Burnham, which revealed that Crazy Jane’s “The Chief now leads the Doom Patrol instead of Niles Caulder.”

Well, all I know is a LOT has changed since the days of Grant Morrison and Richard Case. Or has it? Let’s see what kind of story we get.

Superman issue #2 (2023) by Joshua Williamson & Jamal Campbell

Issue #2 of the relaunched series of Superman was released on Tuesday March 21st 2023. It’s written by Joshua Williamson with art and coloring by Jamal Campbell. Sadly, DC Comics have kept the $4.99 price point despite this issue containing fewer story pages than issue #1. I counted 22 pages of story plus a double page spread of credits. That’s a lot less bang for your buck, as they say. I am not happy about this and will probably drop the book after this issue. That’s a real shame because this is another enjoyable Superman comic continuing the entertaining story begun last issue. The quality is there, but they are asking readers to pay way too much for it.

Extract from my Story Summary

We open with Superman down on the ground. He’s being drained by not one but THREE Parasites who appear to be fighting over the Man of Steel. At the same time, Superman can hear Lex Luthor’s voice telling him, “You need me!”