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 INVISIBLES #1 (Sep. 1994) by Grant Morrison & Steve Yeowell

I’ve been revisiting Grant Morrison’s The INVISIBLES comics recently with Jim from Weird Science Comics. We have recorded deep-dive review-discussions of the first four issues so far. Do you remember Dane McGowan, Mad Tom O’Bedlam, Ragged Robin or King Mob? They seem worlds ahead of most new modern comic book characters.

As a huge fan of the original MATRIX movie, I can now see how much Morrison’s comic book series influenced that movie. It’s a shame the Scottish writer isn’t mentioned in the film’s credits. “Big Brother is watching you. Learn to become invisible!”

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.”

---

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.

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.

Spawn #339 (March 2023) by Rory McConville & Carlo Barberi

The flagship Spawn comic has been consistently good for a while now. Writer Rory McConville has pulled me in and I’m enjoying the exploration of Heaven and Hell in this current story arc. Barberi’s art is really good. I like his fantasy-esque style when he draws the scenes set in Heaven and Hell. I wish this title was getting a bit more coverage. It’s hard to find reviews of Spawn comics on the internet at the moment. ComicBook Round Up has stopped showing reviews for most of the four current Spawn titles. I’m not sure why because as far as I know the sales have been good, especially for Gunslinger Spawn and King Spawn.

Story Summary

The issue opens with more detail on what the Dead Zones are. We are told that both Heaven and Hell were using them to move their minions around Earth. That was until just over a year ago when Spawn sealed them all. After Nyx invaded Spawn’s mind, she gained access to half the Dead Zones. How long can Spawn keep control of the rest?

The Amazing Spider-Man | Penguin Classics Marvel Collection (2022)

I found this new collection of classic Stan Lee & Steve Ditko Spider-Man tales by chance when I was browsing on Amazon. I have always liked this design of the Penguin Classics books, and when I checked what was reprinted I had to order a copy. (Content details below.) I bought the paperback edition for $28. There is a gorgeous looking hardcover edition as well, but it was too pricey for me. I actually prefer paperback volumes to hardbacks. I find them easier to handle as well as read .

Content Details

Penguin Classics Marvel Collection: The Amazing Spider-Man (2022) by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko, Foreword by Jason Reynolds, Introduction by Ben Saunders. It Collects “Spider-Man!” from Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962); The Amazing Spider-Man #1-4, #9, #10, #13, #14, #17-19 (1963-1964); “Goodbye to Linda Brown” from Strange Tales #97 (1962); “How Stan Lee and Steve Ditko Create Spider-Man!” from The Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 (1964).

---

King Spawn #19 (Feb 2023) | REVIEW

Writer: Sean Lewis
Artists: Thomas Nachlik & Von Randal
Publisher: Image Comics
Release Date: February 1, 2023
Cover Price: $2.99

I bought the latest issue of King Spawn on Wednesday. Here is my short review.

---

My Thoughts

This issue begins a new story arc. It also features the return of two beloved characters who first appeared in Spawn #1 back in May 1992. That’s right, Detectives Sam Burke and Maximilian “Twitch” Williams are back and it is a very welcome return.

People are going missing in New York City. There have been some grisly deaths where the victim’s body is found missing its brain. Has Victor Frankenstein made the long journey over the Atlantic Ocean, or is it an animated Herbert West returning from the dead? Sam and Twitch are on the case and their initial investigation leads them to the Exodus Foundation whose business card was found at the latest crime scene.