The Ultimate universe’s Origin Boxes have ended up in our universe. In Ultimate Impact: Reborn #5, Wonder Man and Sightseer begin to experience the full power of their newly found abilities. Will it be enough to save the universe from the destruction of Hostilicus?
This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Shawn!
Creative Team
Writer: Chris Condon Artist: Stefano Caselli Color Artist: David Curiel Letterer: Joe Sabino Cover Artist: Leinil Francis Yu Cover Color Artist: Dean White
Writing
Chris Condon has done such an amazing job with this series. It feels like this series should have gotten so much more publicity than it did. In Ultimate Impact: Reborn #5, Condon does a beautiful job wrapping up the origin boxes’ story as they enter the main Marvel continuity. In doing so, He effectively introduces the potential for new characters as well as new versions of legacy characters that could both help and hurt the universe in the future. While a new Wonder Man isn’t necessarily unique, it’s the background that Condon gives this version of Wonder Man that makes him so unique.
That uniqueness has come to the surface throughout this series, both with Wonder Man and the Sightseer, the person given the powers of Doctor Strange. Condon masterfully uses the Nega-Bands to remind us of how finicky the power that is given by the Origin Boxes is. I really loved how this issue wrapped up with a nice mix of classic Marvel heroes teaming up with these heroes and their newly acquired powers. Condon’s outstanding work leaves me wanting to see more from these heroes and villains within the main Marvel Universe.
Art
Ultimate Impact: Reborn #5 cover by Leinil Francis Yu and Dean White. Image from Marvel Comics
Stefano Caselli, David Curiel, and Joe Sabino finished out this series strong. Caselli really shines in this issue as we get to see our new heroes really lean into their new powers. While there is plenty of action going on in this issue, Caselli is at his best when we see Wonder Man or the Sightseer using their powers. With the Sightseer being given the Orb of Agamotto Origin Box, Caselli beautifully handles the runes and symbols we are so familiar with seeing on the mystical side of Marvel.
David Curiel takes the work of Caselli and brings it to life with beautiful colors. The combination of Caselli and Curiel leads to what is simply a stunning outfit for the Sightseer. The colors both of the backgrounds and of the main characters in the panel are well done in the main knock down drag out fight of this event. Joe Sabino gets creative with some of the special effects in this issue as our new heroes lean into their power. He does a wonderful job with lettering that makes you feel the emotion of the characters. You feel the doubt of Vin as he’s experiencing his powers, you feel the revelation as the Sightseer begins to understand who the true villain is.
Final Thoughts
The biggest problem with Ultimate Impact: Reborn is that it’s ending. Chris Condon, Stefano Caselli, David Curiel, and Joe Sabino brought this beautiful series to life. From start to finish this story was amazing. It was and is filled with so much promise for what comes next in the future of the Marvel Universe. Here’s hoping Marvel leans into what this team has created.
Overall Grade: 8.5 / 10
Until next time, may your pulls be magical, and your multiverse remain stable
What did you think about this story? Let me know in the comments
The Asvald family is fractured and on the hunt after narrowly escaping the latest attempt on their lives. Frey must decide what is most important to her as she takes the helm as leader of her family. With enemies at every corner, it’s sink or swim for our Viking royalty.
Kill All Immortals III #1. Credit Dark Horse Comics. Cover by Oliver Barrett.
Creative Team: Zack Kaplan, Francesco Mortarino, Thiago Rocha, Hassan Otsmane Elhaou, Oliver Barrett, and Jenny Frison
The Story:
Frey has developed into a hardened bad ass as her journey brings her to being the head of the table for her family. It’s a stark contrast to how Zack introduced her to us in the very beginning as conflicted and softer. Now she has become a battle hardened warrior who will not shy away from a fight. I love how her character has developed and how we meet her in this first issue of the big final arc. Commanding her brothers whom all seem to now look up to her and follow her lead. Even her father has fallen in line, or has he? There are a few surprises showing that Zack is setting up something intense and this first issue continues the momentum of this incredible series.
The Art:
Immediately I was drawn to how fierce Francesco has drawn Frey with her leading her family on the hunt. There’s a sense of confidence and roughness that wasn’t there before and it’s a small detail that goes a long way showing just how far she has come. This issue may not feature as heavy of action as we have come to expect but, there are some bloody and violent moments. Thiago picks up where he left off splattering the scenery in blood and shadows of flames. The cover of darkness offers the team the chance to play with shadows and bring out the intensity at the same time. Even when there aren’t bright flames flying about, the way the night sky is light up and fading into pitch black shows how talented this art team is.
Final Thoughts:
Kill All Immortals III #1 shows us how far Frey and the Asvalds have come since we first met them, while still showcasing that their journey is far from over. We’re in for an action-packed final arc, and there are some twists and turns sure to come as well. It’s not too late to join Frey and her Viking family, who have a score to settle.
Overall Grade: 10/10
Zack will both be at NYCC as well as The Nerd Initiative crew! So if you see us say hello! Let us know how you feel about this issue and check out more reviews by Matt!
This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Megan and Matt!
Matt – This is a classic Western tale, and I love it when DC dives into its creepier, supernatural stories. Jonah is a broken man and a shell of who he used to be. Michael does a great job using the surrounding characters to build up Jonah Hex’s mystique and legend. The background of this first issue leaves the reader with an unsettling feeling, as there is something lurking in the shadows and an unease about the town folk. I am hooked and excited to be delving back into the world of Jonah Hex as well as seeing where this will lead. The biggest question I was left with was is everyone aware of the evil lurking, or is there more at play?
Cover art by Michael Walsh. Published by DC Comics
Megan – Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death #1 started with a bang and never let up! Immediately, you’re pulled into the life of Jonah Hex and the ghosts of his past. Jonah lives just outside of Ashecott, a small town that shows everyone and isn’t afraid to ask about your past. It’s an innocent enough town, but there’s something dark that’s taking a hold and Jonah knows it. The build up of getting to know the town of Ashecott while the looming feeling of evil was brillianty handled by Michael Walsh, the writer of Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death #1. You get just enough of the inner turmoil that Jonah is going through that makes you want to know so much more. Jonah’s past is clearly coming back to him, all the while there’s something dark and evil that’s arrived in Ashecott. This first issue was fantastic all the way through and I’m very excited to see what happens next.
The Art
Matt – The art does an incredible job of capturing the dusty and barren feeling that a Western setting would often bring. The sand and lifeless architecture build up the scenery around Jonah, who is as lifeless as the town he frequents. The little aspect of coloring that we are given, whether it is Annie’s flowers or the clothing characters wear, pops out from the background and tells us a little something about each character. This is a rugged story and a rugged character, which the art and lettering depict perfectly.
Megan – The artwork of Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death #1 is simply sublime. Perfectly capturing the energy of Wild West, Michael Walsh brings bold linework that makes each page stunning. There’s also the horror aspect that will cause a shiver down your spine, with Walsh leaving a lot to the imagination and making the threat more looming. Toni-Marie Griffin does a fantastic job with contrasting vibrancy with the darker tones, giving each page its own energy. I particularly loved how Griffin handled the coloring in the bar, using the pinks and purples to contrast off the blues. Becca Carey handles the lettering and knocks it out of the park, which isn’t a surprise if you’re familiar with Carey’s work. Carey is able to capture the different tones of the characters through the dialogue, especially with Jonah. There’s a quiet darkness about him that comes with a huge intimidation, and that’s portrayed beautifully.
Final Thoughts
Matt – 1010. This first issue does a beautiful job of building up the mystique and lore of Jonah Hex and showing us that who he is now is a far cry from the man he once was. This is easily a run that people will need to pick up!
Megan – 10/10. This was an excellent way to start Jonah Hex and the Shadow of Death #1! The creative team captured my attention immediately and didn’t let it go until the very end. This needs to be on everyone’s pull lists!
Overall Grade –
Make sure to find Matt and Megan at NYCC this week and let us know what you thought of the comic in the comments below!
After a season that has been filled with a bevy of emotional ups and downs, ‘Lanterns’ finally drew to a close, bringing completion to the overarching narrative of season and the final answer to: Who killed Hal Jordan? The finale had quite the expectations set for it with the 6th and 7th entries this season being perfectly peak television. While ‘Lanterns’ was able to land the plane narratively this season, the finale struggled far more than previously seen with other episodes this season, not quite meeting expectations, but not falling far short of them either. At times the episode felt rushed, stripping back what made the series special in the first place. That, however, did not stop the finale from setting up what looks to be a very BRIGHT future for the Green Lantern. ‘Lanterns’ has been a masterclass in narrative storytelling over it’s innaugural season and, although the landing was bumpy, the series has set audiences up for a fruitful future moving forward.
Seeing daylight at the end of the tunnel, John Stewart is on the heels of Hal’s killer, a task that this episode does not dedicate a great deal of time to, wrapping up the culprit quite quickly after a bit of an okie doke. The true goal of this final episode, however, wasn’t to provide the answer to a question the audience calculated correctly a few episodes back, but to provide a level of closure for the premiere story arch of the fledgling series while setting up a future in the DCU for the Green Lantern. The episode simultaneously succeeds and fails at both. True, the future was established and it’s quite bright, but at the cost of a litany of plot holes and a semi-revisionist ending. Breaking out the old tried and true ‘Game of Thrones’ blueprint, ‘Lanterns’ settled for an action packed penultime episode with a soft landing finale. The approach worked, however, the landing was a bit more rough than showrunners as well as audience members would have liked.
Kyle Chandler and Kelly MacDonald in ‘Lanterns.’ Courtesy of Warner Brothers Discover.
Lost It’s Charm
Hal and John have been the bread and butter of ‘Lanterns’ from the start. Their relationship and the chemistry that exists between Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre have been the rocket power that has propelled ‘Lanterns’ into must see, talk about it with coworkers TV. The finale ventures away from that formula in a more heavy handed manner than any previous episode has to this point. John and Hal share very little screentime and while there are a number of emotional beats that pay off in big ways in this episode, the Chandler/Pierre Connection is sorely missed throughout the episode. Pierre does the vast majority of the heavy lifting in an episode that feels more slow burn than heart racing. However, Chandler’s absence is felt the longer the episode continues.
This, of course, could be by design. John Stewart IS the Green Lantern moving forward, splitting the “dirt and stars” with Nathan Fillion’s Guy Gardner. Pierre needs to be able to hold his own and he does when he needs to. The stoicism that he brings to Stewart is incredible, but when a series is built on cast chemistry and that’s taken away, the missing element is sorely missed. With Stewart set to appear in the upcoming, ‘Man of Tomorrow,’ and the second season of ‘Lanterns’ in the works, there is plenty of time to build that foundation. That, however, does not make Chandler’s absence any less stark in this immediate moment.
Aaron Pierre and Nathan Fillion in ‘Lanterns.’ Courtesy of Warner Brothers Discovery.
Forgive & Forget?
Leading up to the finale, ‘Lanterns’ excelled at establishing the world that the characters lived in. The way that Hal and John interacted with and reacted to those around them, the why and the how of it all, was made apparent from the earliest of episodes. This dogged devotion to it’s storyline was mindbogglingly abandoned by the finale in a number of key ways that leaves audiences scratching their heads. One of the most notable, of course, being the lack of accountability when it comes to Hal’s murder. Yes, the killer is revealed. That’s about it. The logic is sound behind the decisionmaking in this moment with the unfortunate result being the writing presenting as sloppy. It felt like the writers just wanted to be done with the arch, so they were.
The cardinal sin of the writer’s room revisionism comes in the form of John and John’s family. Stewart’s feelings towards his mother, who he refers to by first name, and father were drilled into viewer’s psyche across the first 7 episodes. This was completely abandoned in the waning seconds of the finale as Stewart has seemingly chosen to forgive and forget the transgressions of his mother and father. The writing decision was jarring and out of character for something that the show was trying to beat into audience’s brains from the very beginning. It just didn’t make sense. Audiences will most assuredly have quite a few questions moving into next season.
Aaron Pierre in ‘Lanterns.’ Courtesy of Warner Brothers Discovery
Final Thoughts:
Despite the rather rough landing and whiplash that the finale’s writing choices gave to audiences, the season finale of ‘Lanterns’ provides the Green Lantern with the proper trajectory for a bright future in the DCU. In Brightest Day and Blackest Night, ‘Lanterns’ is here to stay.
On The Road to Doomsday: Endgame Still Hits 7 Years Later.
I put makeup on before seeing Avengers: Endgame Encore because I thought maybe, somehow, knowing exactly what was going to happen would deter me from sobbing my face off.
It did not help.
At all.
7 years later, Avengers: Endgame still hits.
Every beat. Every person we lost. Every fight we lost before we finally won one. Every sacrifice. Every callback. Every action sequence. Every impossible team up. Every time the entire squad comes back together.
I knew Natasha was going to say “See you in a minute.” I knew Morgan Stark was going to tell her dad, “I love you, 3000.” I knew Tony would say it back in the recorded message he left behind.
None of this information made any of it easier.
And maybe that’s the first thing Endgame Encore reminded me of: This movie was never powerful simply because we didn’t know what was going to happen. It was powerful because we cared about the people it was happening to.
Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Endgame originally arrived in theaters in 2019. Promo courtesy of Marvel Studios
Watching Endgame again in 2026 means watching it with 7 more years of context attached to almost every character.
That is something Marvel executed extraordinarily well throughout the Infinity saga. It grounded increasingly impossible stories in people whose lives, relationships, fears and victories mattered to us.
I was one of the Thursday-night Marvel premiere people. Midnight when midnight screenings were still the ritual. Friends assembled. Sleep sacrificed. Work the following morning became future Me’s problem. So, seeing everyone together again doesn’t just feel nostalgic, it feels like revisiting a part of my own life.
One of the reasons I think I actually appreciate Endgame more now than I did in 2019 is because we know what came after it. At the time, there were things that felt unanswered. Now we know that many of those endings were actually doors. Whether the Russos intentionally left those doors open is up for debate.
The Multiverse Saga didn’t erase the ending of the Infinity Saga. In some cases it made that ending more meaningful. And I think that is part of why this movie has aged better for me.
The eerily desolate landscape of NYC 5 years post Thanos snap, in Avengers: Endgame. Courtesy of Marvel Studios.
Endgame Feels Different After the World Changed
There is also another layer to watching Endgame now that simply did not exist in April of 2019. We have lived through a global pandemic. The emotional impact and story of Endgames five-years-later world feels much less abstract after living through our own period of worldwide loss, isolation and upheaval.
The survivors in Endgame are technically living in a world that has moved forward. There was a whole scene with Steve leading a group therapy session about it. That part feels different in 2026.
Endgame opens with Tony fading in the quiet void of space — a lone spark slipping toward darkness as his oxygen runs out. Courtesy of Marvel Studios
I like Endgame More Now Than I Did in 2019
For the record Avengers: Infinity War is still my favorite of the two. (Save for Loki’s tragic demise)
Back then, I probably would have given it somewhere around a 7 out of 10. Now? I am closer to a 9 out of 10. Not because it suddenly became a perfect movie. It didn’t and it isn’t. But 7 years of additional storytelling changed the context around it.
Which brings us to the “Encore” part of Avengers: Endgame Encore. Because Marvel did not simply put the movie back in theaters and say “Remember when everybody cried?”
They changed how we see it by changing how it looks forward.
Seeing Avengers: Endgame Encore in Laser Ultra Made It Feel Like an Event Again.
I saw Avengers: Endgame Encore at my local MJR theater in Laser Ultra with Dolby Atmos on an Infinity-Vision certified screen.
And yes, it mattered. More than I thought.
The screen was enormous. The picture was incredibly clear. The sound made sequences I already knew, (almost frame by frame) feel physically immediate again. On a massive premium screen, every beat of the film feels bigger and more immersive. And maybe, that is part of the trick. Encore doesn’t convince me that I’ve never seen Endgame before; it reminds me what it felt like when seeing an Avengers movie was an event.
For a few hours, it felt like 2019 again.
Until the ending changed.
Avengers: Endgame Encore Makes Doomsday Feel Like A Continuation, Not A Reset
This is ultimately why the re-release works for me. I expected nostalgia. I got nostalgia. I expected to cry. Again. The makeup remains proof. What I DIDN’T expect was how effectively Endgame Encore itself would reconnect me to the emotional stakes heading into Doomsday.
The reason Avengers: Infinity War and Endgame worked is because we cared about and shared a connection with who was standing inside those worlds. The spectacle worked because the people mattered first. And that is the thing I hope Marvel remembers most heading into Doomsday.
You can give me Doom. You can give me mutants. You can give me Avengers, crossovers, call-backs, and enough information to theorize and study until I perish in an internet rabbit hole somewhere. But none of it means anything unless the people do. Avengers: Endgame Encore still works because underneath every giant action sequence is someone desperately trying not to lose someone else; and we’re included in that. 7 years later…. that may still be Marvel’s greatest special effect. Encore throws us right back into those emotional investments and carries them into Doomsday.
Should You See Avengers: Endgame Encore?
Yes.
Especially if you were part of that original Marvel era. Not because the movie has suddenly become something different.
But because YOU have. We have. And Marvel has, too. Marvel kept building after 2019; those later stories and worlds created new connective tissue, and those connections make Endgame more meaningful when you revisit it now.
The inspiring and sentimental moments still pull at your heart. Cap lifting Mjölnir still hits. The portals still give goosebumps and make you feel part of it. Vormir still hurts. Tony and Peter still hurt. Tony and Morgan STILL hurts. Apparently, everything hurts, but my birth year starts with 19.
But the thing that surprised me the most was realizing that the years and content since Endgame haven’t weakened it for me. They’ve added layers. Encore is telling us that the story we thought ended in 2019 was never quite finished.
And somewhere, in the dark, another man wearing Tony Stark’s face is hammering away a very different mask into shape; but the task never changed.
My rating did: Originally this was a 7. I am giving Avengers: Endgame Encore a:
How to See All Encore Footage
Avengers: Endgame Encore directed by the Russo brothers’/ AGBO films is in theaters now, including premium formats such as IMAX and Infinity Vision-certified auditoriums depending on your location. (Those are also the formats that show more post credits footage.)
Stay tuned for my follow up article on the new cut scene footage and what it could mean for Doomsday.
Because we’re not done connecting the pieces before Doom arrives.
He lost everything… then everything changed. Robert Downey Jr is: Victor Von Doom. Avengers: Doomsday 12/18/2026. Promo Image courtesy of Marvel Studios.
What Comes Next?
Avengers: Doomsday arrives December 18th, 2026. Between now and then, we’ll be continuing our Doomsday Prepping series at Nerd Initiative across all socials; summarizing the films, shows, characters, and lore leading into Marvel’s next Avengers event, so you don’t have to.
Because after all…
ALL ROADS LEAD TO DOOM.
The multiverse needs saving; unfortunately, he also thinks it needs ruling. Victor’s fear of further loss fuels his drive to create Battleworld. Credit: Josemaria Casanovas/Marvel Comics “Wastelanders” Cover Art.
Avatar: The Last Airbender- Enter The Blue Spirit Graphic Novel Cover By Peter Wartman (Credit: Dark Horse Comics)
Enter The Blue Spirit is the newest ATLA graphic novel to be released, and it’s creative team includes:
Writer: Faith Erin Hicks(Buffy: The High School Years, The Last Of Us: American Dream & Avatar: The Last Airbender- The Lost Adventures And Team Avatar Tales)
Artist: Peter Wartman(Avatar: The Last Airbender- Ashes Of The Academy, Avatar: The Last Airbender- Jet- Rebels And Rhinos & Avatar: The Last Airbender- The Bounty Hunter And The Tea Brewer)
Colorist: Adele Matera(Avatar: The Last Airbender- Katara And The Pirate’s Silver, Avatar: The Last Airbender- Suki, Alone & Avatar: The Last Airbender: Azula In The Spirit Temple)
Letterer: Comicraft(Avatar Legends: Masters Of The Elements Volume 1, Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories- Tides Of Terror & Star Wars: Tales From The Nightlands)
The book’s official description reads:
“In the early months of Prince Zuko’s exile, he and Iroh discover a long-forgotten Fire Nation colony along the coast of the Earth Kingdom. But when the Fire Nation demands larger quantities of the valuable ore the village produces for the war effort, the colonists’ lives are suddenly at risk. Desperate to defend his people, even against his own homeland, Zuko becomes the Blue Spirit for the very first time. But if he’s discovered thwarting the will of the Fire Lord, he’ll lose any chance at regaining his honor and returning home.”
Avatar: The Last Airbender- Enter The Blue Spirit releases February 23rd.
Jack and Nessa thought the other was dead. In Bad Thoughts #4, they begin to reckon with the history of working for a man like Bishop. Reunited by the same man who tore them apart, it’s time for Jack and Nessa to begin turning the tables. With an appetite for vengeance, they prepare to take the fight to Bishop and take him down no matter the cost.
This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Shawn!
Creative Team
Writer: Ande Parks Artist: Dave Wachter Color Artist: Brad Simpson Letterer: AndWorld Design Cover Artist: Dave Wachter
Writing
Ande Parks pulled out all the stops in this penultimate issue of Bad Thoughts. Picking up right where the last issue left off, Parks still shows us new wrinkles in Jack’s life and his abilities this deep into the story’s run, and it’s impressive. The thing that I most liked about this issue is that even when you knew what was going on, Parks managed to reveal that the depth of depravity that Bishop Security has been involved in goes deeper than even the most astute reader would capture. Parks makes it feel like a blindfold being slowly peeled off as you begin to realize Bill is a master manipulator and an all around despicable person.
Parks has done a beautiful job showing you who Bishop is throughout the series, but Bad Thoughts #4 pulls back the curtain and reveals the depth of his sociopathy through those in close relationships with him. That twist of the issue is not one that you would suspect. It’s not that there’s some big reveal of a new character or something of that nature, but Parks’ twist lies in seeing the depth of depravity for a man who began the story in your mind as a good guy. Of course there is a genuine cliffhanger that the story ends on setting up the final issue beautifully, but this issue is less about Jack and more about Bill and the depths of his darkness.
Art
Bad Thoughts #4 cover by Dave Wachter. Image from Ignition Press
I love everything about what Dave Wachter and Brad Simpson did in this issue. Wachter continues to perfectly capture the feel of this story through art. The line work on this issue was top notch. Emily was so well drawn by Wachter that you couldn’t look upon her without feeling pain yourself. I also loved the close ups we got in this issue. Wachter really shined in those panels whether it was simply getting a helping hand to get up or a close up of a face crying, the line work, the hatching and shading, it all felt perfect.
Brad Simpson does a beautiful job with the colors on this issue. One thing Simpson does amazingly well in this series is the way he lights a scene. There’s a particular series of panels in this issue where Jack and Nessa are sharing a pretty painful experience and the way Simpson colors the panels to show the lighting is just superb. The characters are colored well but its the backgrounds that Simpson shines.
Final Thoughts
Bad Thoughts #4 beautifully sets up the finale of this series while moving the story forward. While the story is still solidly Jack’s, Parks, Wachter, and Simpson give us a dive into the mind and depravity of Bill Bishop raising the stakes for why Jack trying to stop him wont be enough. The stakes have never been higher and Jack has no choice but to succeed.
Overall Grade: 10/10
What do you think about Bad Thoughts so far? Let me know in the comments
Jubilee and Logan have been trapped in Apocalypse’s tomb along with some mercenaries. Seeing visions of Apocalypse, Jubilee tries to take action. What happens, though, when Jubilee finds out she’s not the only one being tested by Apocalypse? The Tomb is full of secrets, and some of them just may kill you.
This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Megan and Shawn!
Creative Team
Writer: Ashley Allen Artist: Domenico Carbone Color Artist: Fernando Sifuentes-Sujo Letterer: Joe Sabino Cover Artist: Fabrizio De Tommaso
Writing
Megan: Tomb of Apocalypse #2 continues with Jubilee on the search for Wolverine, who’s nowhere to be found. Jubilee isn’t alone as she happens upon two familiar mutants, Rictor and Shatterstar. The two mutants have been trapped in Apocalypse’s tomb by their own doing and have seen every trap in the book, to the point of thinking Jubilee was just another test. The tensions are higher than ever between Rictor, Jubilee, and Shatterstar, but they have to learn to work together in order for them to get to safety.
There’s no one who can leave you on the edge of your seat like Ashley Allen. Her ability to write tension that can be cut with a knife is unparalleled. In Tomb of Apocalypse #2, you can feel that tension clearly. You can also feel Jubilee’s personality shine through with her jokes and trying to ease the tension. So far, Tomb of Apocalypse does a fantastic job of putting a spotlight on Jubilee, putting her in a leadership role. There’s also the fantastic dynamic between Wolverine and Jubilee that we rarely get to see these days. Another excellent issue that’ll have me very excited to see what happens next.
Shawn: Tomb of Apocalypse #2 continues the very Jubilee-focused attitude of the first issue, which I absolutely love. Ashley Allen continues to show why she is the perfect person at Marvel Comics to take female characters and give them the shine they deserve. Rictor and Shatterstar making an appearance helps move the plot along, but Allen never loses the point that this is Jubilee’s story.
And what a story it is. Tomb of Apocalypse #2 continues to ramp up the stakes and energy. Allen gives us a Jubilee who is still learning and growing but also desperate to be seen as more than just a sidekick. The story features plenty of action and a surprising cerebral type of story as Allen takes us into the depths of Jubilee’s desire to prove herself even in the shadow of Wolverine. This series has been fun through two issues, and I can’t wait to see where we go next.
Art
Tomb of Apocalypse #1 cover by Rod Reis. Image from Marvel Comics
Megan: Domenico Carbone, Fernando Sifuentes-Sujo, and Joe Sabino bring their artistic talents front and center in Tomb of Apocalypse #2. The linework really pushed through the high energy of the comic, which had a great bit of excellent action-filled pages. The characters using their powers were drawn making them feel larger than life. You could feel the power behind their attacks with the use of bold details and striking colors. Sifuentes-Sujo ensures that while you’re in the darkness of Apocalypse’s tomb, the vibrant powersets are there to light the way. Joe Sabino captures the intensity of the dynamics between the characters flawlessly through their words, while keeping a stable and calm inner dialogue of Jubilee present. Together, the artists were able to bring the fantastic writing to life in a beautiful way.
Shawn: Domenico Carbone perfectly captures this issue. It’s a very action-packed issue, and Carbone has to put in his best work to maintain a clean, crisp look. Carbone nails it. The line work feels so deliberate and makes it so you can really capture how powerful Jubilee is becoming as she begins to step out of the shadow of her mentors and into her own. The lines lay out clean paths and design that, when combined with Fernando Sifuentes-Sujo’s colors, make this an issue you can’t miss.
Fernando Sifuentes-Sujo does a really great job capturing the dark and dense world of Apocalypse’s tomb through the coloring and shading. Jubilee getting a chance to use her powers works so well narratively, in part because of Fernando Sifuentes-Sujo’s ability to perfectly color her energy. It’s not just Jubilee that gets the star treatment. There’s also some beautiful coloring that allows both Rictor and Shatterstar a chance to shine. Joe Sabino does some creative work with word bubble placement, ensuring you can really enjoy the story and keep pace.
Final Thoughts
Megan: 9/10. Tomb of Apocalypse #2 keeps your eyes glued to each page and never lets go until you’re at the very end. The story feels like there’s so much mystery that we aren’t privy to yet, and I’m anxious to find out more.
Shawn: 9/10. Tomb of Apocalypse #2 continues to feel like another slam dunk from Ashley Allen. It feels as if, in only two issues, Jubilee has experienced the kind of character development that a comic writer could only hope for from their character. The colors are well chosen, the lines perfect, and the lettering immaculate.
Overall Grade: 9/10
What did you think of the issue? Let us know in the comments
The Amazing Spider-Man has reached its millennium issue! This monumental book brings together new and old Spider-Man writers and artists for eight individual stories. All of which are emotional journeys through Spider-Man’s life.
Creative Teams
“Ravaged” Joe Kelly (Writer), Pepe Larraz (Artist), Federico Blee (Colorist)
Issue one thousand of The Amazing Spider-Man (ASM) has been an issue that fans have been waiting for! Talks of this release started one to two months ago with the release of the various variant covers (which you can see all of the “open order” variant covers below). Seeing all of these amazing artists from prior Spider-Man arcs really got me excited for this release. Not to mention the list of writers that made their return to Spider-Man! This is one of the stacked writer rosters I have seen for a milestone issue!
The Amazing Spider-Man #1000! Credit Marvel Comics. Cover by Pepe Larraz & Marte Gracia
As I stated in my introduction, this issue consists of eight different Spider-Man stories. All of which tell a different story about our star main character. There are a couple stories within this collection that will tug at your heartstrings. That is what makes Spider-Man one of the most relatable hero characters within comic books. The amazing writers of this character capture the full lore of Peter being a regular kid turned adult who deals with similar life struggles as the people who read this material. And when you can personally relate to something as creative as a comic book, it goes to show that somewhere out there you’re not the only one struggling. That even in a fictional realm, a kid from New York faces some of the same situations that you do within your real life.
Eight stories is a lot to get through within a review article. And I do not want to spoil or ruin anything for you potential readers. So I am going to break the rest of this review down to the individual stories and give a very brief description or “elevator pitch” in hopes that it peaks your interest to go out and get a copy of this once in a lifetime issue.
“Ravaged” The first story within this collection is the continuation issue for the main storyline by Joe Kelly. This story takes off right where issue thirty-five concluded. If you need to catch up, please check out my review of that issue via the link below! Peter is still coping with the emotional difficulties of a “new” family member interjecting themselves into Aunt May’s life. Peter is seriously questioning his relationship with Aunt May, and it’s placing a rather heavy weight on his shoulders. Readers will get introduced to a new villain character within this issue, and you will be somewhat surprised by who it turns out to be. This entire issue revolves around Peter and Aunt May’s relationship and the potential travesty that awaits the both of them.
“Still Standing” The next story comes from writer Noah Hawley. This story takes readers deep into the future of Peter Parker. This Peter is dealing with some very common health issues for an individual of his age. But things take a drastic turn when an old foe starts to meddle with Peter. This is a very emotion story from Noah. So much so that it makes me compare it to Spider-Man: Blue by Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. There is yet another twist within this story that takes place towards it’s conclusion involving the same foe that I mentioned earlier.
“Requiem for a Goblin” The third story of this collection comes from writer J.M. DeMatteis. This is yet another emotional Spider-Man story. Readers will follow along as Peter is dealing with nightmares revolving around a previous villain of his. During which Peter leaves an event and has an almost “Christmas Carol” type experience. Or think of it as a visit from a “force spirit” (Star Wars). Peter has dealt with a lot of loss in his life, not only as Spider-Man but as Peter Parker as well. This is an impactful story that just like “Still Standing,” will resonate with readers.
“Tears of the Spider-Queen” The next story is written by the legendary Frank Miller. This story deals with a scared child who gets involved in a sketchy situation. Spider-Man does his best to extinguish the situation to the extent that only the young child is left sobbing. One of the most impactful moments of this story comes at the very end. Which will make you really feel the emotion that is pouring out of those panels. This story isn’t a long one compared to some of the others within this collection, but the impact of the story is delivered so perfectly!
“The Big Night” The fifth story of this collection is written by WWE’s Triple H with assistance from Rob Fee. As you could guess, this story revolves around a wrestling event. Which pays homage to the first Spider-Man film featuring Toby Maguire. If you recall Spider-Man makes his debut within a wrestling ring with Macho Man Randy Savage. The only difference in comparing this story to the comics is the special guest that attends the event with a young Peter in the story. This story gives off the feeling that nice things can happen to Peter within a Spider-Man storyline.
“The Gesture” This story is by writer Brian Michael Bendis. This story matches the amount of action that you will see in the “Ravaged” story at the beginning of this collection. Spider-Man takes on a new villain trio in the heart of the city. The action is amazing within this story! But it is the conclusion that will bring readers back down from an action high. The ending of this story is a true “thank you” to the character of Spider-Man throughout the past one thousand issues. The title of this story speaks for itself when it comes to the end of this story!
“Of Webs and Six-Guns” Larry Lieber is the writer of this western themed story. Spider-Man is mysteriously taken back to the wild west and teams up with a ranger. Surprisingly they work very well together! This story hits on the fact that Spider-Man can adapt to any surrounding and make those conditions work for him and his abilities. There is some mild comedy thrown into this story, both in the wild west and in the present when Peter returns. Another shorter story, but the plot and development flowed so smooth amongst the limited pages.
“I Can Never Rest” The last story of this one thousand issue collection goes to an individual who is no stranger to Spider-Man, writer Dan Slott. This story takes readers back to the night that Uncle Ben was murdered. But this story is not told behind the eyes of Peter or Spider-Man. This story is through the scope of a soon to retire police officer who’s career ending goal is to bring Ben’s murderer to justice. The ending of this story provides readers with empathy, forgiveness and closure. This story is a perfect fit to close out this amazing eight story celebratory issue!
The Writing
Every story within this collection is so perfectly written! The trips down memory lane to deal with past travesties in the present are so well crafted by these writers. There isn’t a story in this collection that Spider-Man fans will not enjoy or find another Spider-Man story to compare it to. This stacked roster of creators brought their “A” game when it mattered most for this monumental release. One of the best things about the writing of these stories is how they combine various other Spider-Man storylines from comic books to movies. The raw emotion that flows from these pages in itself shows the true nature of the web-slinging character.
The Artwork
I know I keep giving praise to the writers of these amazing stories, but the artwork deserves its flowers as well! The art teams for these stories did a stunning job bringing the writing and main character to life on the pages. The best part of the art within this collection is the fact that each story has very distinct art! Yes, it’s the same star character, but the various art styles within this issue bring out different textures and tones to the writing. One of the most dynamic artworks within this issue is the art for “Tears of the Spider-Queen”. The art for this story is done completely by Peach Momoko! It is absolutely stunning and vastly different from the others, which makes it stand out even more. All of the artists and colorists deserve just as much recognition for this issue in making the visuals captivate the reader. Amazing job, all of you!
Variant Covers
Final Thoughts
This astronomical thousandth issue of ASM does not hold back any punches! The writing from all eight writers stays in line with the lore of Spider-Man and his entire backstory from prior runs. The art is absolutely astonishing! The different styles of art give the reader a gentle refresh from story to story. As important as this issue is to the character of Spider-Man, the team at Marvel Comics really did a fantastic job in how they put this issue together. Fans of Spider-ManNEED to get this issue for their collections! This is a historical issue with amazing variant covers from artists who previously worked on Spider-Man. Do not hesitate; get your copy of this amazing issue today!
Plan B it is! A chain of powerful teleporters brought Hela and Knull face to face. The plan was to let them battle to the death and defeat the one left standing. The problem is that the one left standing was a combination of both. Meanwhile, Reed Richards concocted a plan to allow MJ and Dylan Brock to bond with the Venom symbiote at the same time. Like most of Reed’s plans, it went off the rails, and the entire population was simultaneously bonded with Venom, becoming Venomworld. As Knull, the new King of All, approaches, will Venomworld be powerful enough to stand against him?
This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Eda and Shawn!
Creative Team
Writer: Al Ewing Artist: Paco Medina and Iban Coello Color Artist: Guru-eFX Letterer: Clayton Cowles Cover Artist: Ryan Stegman Cover Color Artist: Frank Martin
Writing
Eda: What an absolutely wild ride this event has been. From Hela becoming the titular Queen in Black to what transpires here, Al Ewing and the other writers delivered consistently. With how this ended, I was left with so many questions, the biggest one being how this will affect symbiotes going forward. However, that’s presumably for another writer to tackle at another time, as is the nature of comics.
As for the pacing in this final issue, I felt Ewing kept things fairly steady. While there wasn’t much in the way of action giving the comic momentum, the dialogue pushed things along nicely and gave everything this intense air of drama. I’m now very interested to see what the fallout of this event looks like, given everything that was set up.
Shawn: The Queen in Black has fallen. The Throne is restored, but to whom? Well, you will just have to pick up Queen in Black #5 to see. This was an outstanding final issue. With the final issue in hand, I have to say that I enjoyed Ewing’s work on this Queen in Black series more than I enjoyed the previous King in Black. While this event may not have Earth-shattering implications, Ewing clearly intends for it to have significant implications for the symbiotes moving forward. That task will be left by Ewing to Charles Soule beginning with Venom #1.
This issue felt a little more connected. With the Venomworld hivemind, there was no need for Ewing’s previous approach of jumping back and forth across the battlefronts. It allowed Ewing to tie up the story arc nicely, while also leaving a fresh sandbox for new writers to play in. This finale eschewed the traditional major battle that we often see in such events in favor of a more cerebral ending that works well.
Art
Queen In Black #5 cover by Ryan Stegman and Frank Martin. Image from Marvel Comics
Eda:With what they’re able to do in this issue, the team of Coello, Medina and Guru-eFX absolutely brought it. While half of the issue takes place in this almost grey void looking space, the other half takes place in, well, space! The space scenes continue to be some of the best I’ve ever seen drawn and colored, being this perfect blend of mystical and scientific. When it comes to the other half, I particularly love the character designs. The stand-out’s to me are the sheer scale of Knull and the overall flawless design of Emma Frost (I’m admittedly being a tad biased here but I digress). Lastly, when it comes to the lettering, Cowles really put in the work! The distinct dialogue bubbles not only make it easy to follow, but give each character their own unique voice. The description boxes also make it incredibly easy to differentiate both where and when the different parts of the story are taking place.
Shawn: Artistically, this was the best issue yet of the series. Paco Medina, Iban Coello, and Guru-eFX combined to create some really memorable art. I loved the visuals of some of our heroes stripped of their normal colors rendered down to a clean black, white, and gray palette. Of course thanks to the outstanding line work of Medina and Coello, you instantly recognize your favorite hero. With the limited action in this issue, it was really up to Medina and Coello to provide a steady hand on the line work and they nailed it.
Guru-eFX as mentioned earlier just did a killer job with the color stripped versions of our heroes. At the same time the shine of Knull was perfectly captured. The colors and definition made Venomworld feel like a living breathing character. Clayton Cowles masterfully moved everything through the issue. The variation in the character boxes made the issue move forward and easy to follow with such a heavy narrative focus.
Final Thoughts
Eda: 10/10.“Queen in Black #5” rounds out a fantastic, exciting event from Ewing and his team. From the first issue to the last, this was an absolutely wild ride that Marvel readers should experience for themselves. Congratulations to everyone involved for a stellar run!
Shawn: 10/10. Long May They Reign! Queen in Black #5 is everything you would want to wrap up an event like this. The creative team worked effortlessly, hand in hand, to deliver a perfect smaller-scale event for Marvel Comics.
Overall Grade: 10/10
What did you think of the issue? Let us know in the comments
