Just in time for Halloween, we’re back with a new batch of terrifying tales to astonish! Here we slave owners getting their just desserts and cell block inmates getting life sentences. So strap in with me as I take a good hard look at “Creepshow #2”!
Writers: Tyler Crook, Chris Killian, Andrew Sanders Artists: Tyler Crook, Baldemar Rivas Letterers: Tyler Crook, Pat Brosseau
Source: Kyle Hotz, Dan Brown, Image Comics
“What The Water Provides”
Boy oh boy did this issue start with a great tale. While Crook kept the story itself rather simple, just reading it lets you know he put his heart and soul into it. The tale focuses on a group of migrant farm workers as they magically receive the things stolen from them by their abusive boss. Given the times we’re currently in, the story feels very cathartic and needed. Crook expertly makes sure his voice is heard and understood from the get-go and it rings amazingly.
As for the art, I’m in love with the pastel look to it. It’s so different and refreshing from other comic book art out there that it me a second to adjust. From top to bottom, he absolutely crushed it!
”The Storm”
Right off the bat, I love what Killian and Sanders did with this story! They take an ingenious route and make us follow the unreliable narrator before flipping everything on its head. Not only was this aspect of the story great, but so is how the main character of this story is written. He’s so incredibly detestable and reprehensible that you can’t help but love to hate him.
When it comes to the illustrations and colors, everything here is properly eerie. The inking and shadow work are expertly done while the lighting of the storm uniquely lights every scene. Each panel has this unique glow that gives everything this nightmarish atmosphere, I love it.
Source: Baldemar Rivas, Image Comics
Final Thoughts
”Creepshow” strikes hard once again in this new second issue. Both stories have deep meaning and relate heavy to things going on right now, so I highly recommend giving this a read. The creeps are creeping in a very showy way.
Overall Grade: 9/10
Comments
Are you a fan of “Creepshow”? Are you looking forward to picking this up? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
Hell has come to the world. Russia turned Ross into a superpowered bomb. Now thousands are dead. Avengers Armageddon #5 picks up the pieces from the terrible explosion as a new way of viewing the world comes into focus.
This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Shawn!
Creative Team
Writer: Chip Zdarsky Artists: Delio Diaz, Frank Alpizar, and Ario Anindito Color Artist: Jesus Aburtov Letterer: Cory Petit Cover Artist: Dike Ruan Cover Color Artist: Moreno DiNisio
Writing
What a satisfying end to the story. Avengers: Armageddon was a satisfying story. Chip Zdarsky reset the Avengers in an all new way as we head out of this event. After picking up where the last issue left off, we see just how much global politics have been affected by the incident involving Ross. Zdarsky doesn’t pull punches. It’s going to get messy, and there’s going to be moments where the world feels like it’s on the brink of war between humans and superhumans.
Zdarsky not only does a really good job of tying up this series, but also leaves plenty of toys in the sandbox for Marvel writers to pull from as we move forward. There were a variety of surprises throughout the book, but I really love the final panel of this issue. It sets up a super intriguing story arc and questions about where the Avengers and the Marvel Universe goes from here.
Art
Avengers Armageddon #5 by Dike Ruan and Moreno DiNisio. Image from Marvel Comics
Delio Diaz, Frank Alpizar, Ario Anindito, Jesus Aburtov, and Cory Petit close out strong. Even in issues where the narrative wasn’t as satisfying as it could have been, the art has been stellar throughout this series. Avengers: Armageddon #5 is no exception to that rule. Right out of the gate, Delio Diaz, Frank Alpizar, and Ario Anindito give us some absolutely stunning line work. The art is both breathtaking and clean.
Jesus Aburtov killed this issue with colors. Everything popped off the pages. Each character felt like they had their own tone and palette that perfectly matched their character. This issue shows why Aburtov continues to be considered one of the best in the business. Cory Petit really helps you feel the emotion of each character as you move through the story.
Final Thoughts
Avengers: Armageddon #5 was a satisfying end to this story arc. It lays the foundation for bigger things to come.
Overall Grade: 8/10
What did you think about the Avengers: Armageddon finale? Let me know in the comments
If you missed the last issue, Priest is putting Vampirella and her crew through some seriously tough stuff. Do you sacrifice your morals to keep a roof over your head? Do things always have to be light vs dark, or can things be grey? As the rabbit hole deepens, allow me to be your guide in Priest’s “Vampirella #7”!
Writer: Christopher Priest Artist: Davis Goetten, Ziyon Qiu (Page 20) Colorist: Giovanni Caputo Letterer: Willie Schubert
Source: Lucio Parillo, Dynamite Comics
The Writing
All throughout this issue, Priest continues to press into those philosophical questions further and further. As we go through the issue, Priest brings in callback after callback, bringing everything full circle. This is including bringing back a new version of an old character. I won’t spoil who or how, but they fit seamlessly into the meaning of the new story Priest is telling as we explore the religious themes.
Outside of strictly the story, the pacing feels very on point in this issue. As we cut back and forth between different characters, nothing feels lost or out of place in the narrative. This creates a narrative that consistently feels fresh, never lingering on a plot point for too little or too long. Priest is at the top of his game in this volume and it’s been fantastic to see.
The Art
When it comes to the art, it continues to be clear that Priest, Goetten and Caputo are in constant communication. Once again, there’s whole pages here where the art was allowed to tell the story. Goetten and Caputo both put their all in, making sure each of their pages is a masterpiece. If Priest ever wanted to do a completely wordless issue, they could easily handle it.
As for Ziyan Qiu with their work on page 20, they matched Goetten’s work almost perfectly in terms of the level of detail put in. I especially loved one specific panel of Vampirella and Mother Mary flying over the city. It made me feel reminiscent of seeing Superman fly in the original movie. Lastly, when it comes to the lettering done by Willie Schubert, he continued to do some incredible work here. I can’t imagine that it’s easy to put dialogue bubbles in when there’s as much dialogue as there is with as many panels as there are. That being said, he makes it look truly easy, all while never obstructing the phenomenal art work.
Source: Elias Chatzoudis, Dynamite Comics
Final Thoughts
Priest continues to push the boundaries as he goes deeper with his storytelling. He forces us to ask some tough questions not just of the characters, but of ourselves. Couple the deep themes he’s telling with “Vampirella” with the transcending artwork, and you have yourself a masterpiece in the making.
Overall Grade: 10/10
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Comments
What are your thoughts so far on Priest’s “Vampirella”? Are you a fan of what he’s doing? Let’s discuss in the comments below!
Thundercats #1 – Cover – Mark Spears (Credit Dynamite Entertainment)
Thundercats #1
Writer – Greg Pak
Artist – David Cousins
Colorist – Igor Monti
Letterer – Jeff Eckleberry
Cover – Mark Spears
The Story:
On Third Earth, the Thundercats face strange and dangerous new obstacles. Lion-O and his Thundercats have to find a way to push for diplomacy on this world now inhabited by the Silverhawks, as well as, the Mu’Tants. It’s going to be hard for him with the appearance of omen from the sky that unleashes a beast within him!
Thundercats #1 – Cover – David Cousins (Credit Dynamite Entertainment)
The Writing:
Greg Pak kicks this issue off with a bang as the reader gets introduced to Lion-O and the Thundercats as they navigate this new normal for them. The first thing I’ll say about Pak’s writing is that he easily brings the voice of the Thundercats to the page. As a fan of the original series and the 2000’s remake, this issue felt like I was slipping right back into my childhood. The dialogue and interactions between the characters are all well written and the story that is being told is an engaging one. Pak’s dialogue is so on point for this IP that I could hear the characters in my head as I was reading this and it felt wonderful to see these characters in a story again. That also brings me to my one big criticism to this book, I feel like this is a great reintroduction to the characters but not a great first introduction for new fans.
The Art:
David Cousins’ art and Igor Monti’s colors are exactly what this story needed to complete the nostalgic feel while also bringing an updated look to this long running franchise. The character design, panel layout, and set pieces are all engaging and exciting. The way this art team uses action and movement gives this book the feeling of a Saturday morning cartoon in the best way! When you add to that Jeff Eckleberry’s bombastic lettering, you get a cohesive whole that is absolutely what I am looking for from the Thundercats! The final page holds a special place in my heart, because that character… has always been one of my favorite cartoon character designs and he looks fantastic in this book!
Overall Grade: 8.5/10
This is a great book for fans of Thundercats that are looking for more in that world. The art and story combined lead to a feeling of watching these characters in front of the tv as a kid. However, even though this is a first issue, this may not be the best entry point into the world for someone who has never been introduced to Thundercats before.
The Amazon is in peril and that trouble doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. The Titans are trying to help any way they can, and although their help is accepted, there’s still resistance from the people of Akahim. While there’s no trust from the Amazon people, they don’t have a choice but to trust the Titans when there’s another attack by Yaguara. Eva and Yara see something in Yaguara that no one else sees that may explain what’s going on, but that doesn’t help stop the attack. Meanwhile, Commodore Murphy is causing problems left and right all in the name of money. The energy was high throughout the comic but the stakes were even higher. The Titans do what they do best and try to save the day, but with spirits angry, there’s only so far they can go.
Cover art by Taurin Clarke. Published by DC Comics
New Titans #40 has a very interesting juxtaposition between the world of the ancient spirits of the Amazon and the flashy influencer lifestyle that we’ve all come to know. There’s a desperate need to keep the mystical city of Akahim safe while the need to publicize it and monetize the opportunity rides in the front seat. I love how Tate Brombal was able to capture the energy of these two very different lifestyles and have them play off each other very well. New Titans #40 was an excellent continuation of the chaos the Titans are experiencing in the Amazon, and kept you on the edge of your seat with the excitement of the situations.
The Art
Sami Basri, Adriano Lucas, Steve Wands showed up and showed out in this issue, perfectly capturing the energy of the very different lifestyles at play. Basri brings excellent linework that shows off the details of the magnificent Amazon and its people. I loved how Basri was able to make Yaguara feel like a true threat being larger than life and something that feels impossible to sway. Adriano Lucas brings a ton of beautiful vibrancy, especially with the characters. The women of Akahim practically pop off the page with their bold and striking looks against the tropic background of the Amazon. Steve Wands perfectly portrays the dialogue of each character and lets you feel their emotions through their words. Whether it’s the struggling Yara, or the worry and anxiety of Static, Wands allows the characters to wear their emotions on their sleeves through their words.
Final Thoughts
New Titans gets better and better and that’s made clear in New Titans #40. This issue was intense, it was drenched in heightened emotions, and it kept your eyes glued to the pages. Excellent job by the creative team!
Overall Grade – 9/10
Let us know in the comments what you thought of New Titans #40!
This review was written by Megan from the Vigilante Vibes Podcast. If you liked my review, be sure to check out my other reviews! Let me know what you think of New Titans #40, or tell me what comics you’d recommend me trying out! Find me on my socials, and check out my Marvel podcast, Vigilante Vibes, by clicking here!
After rescuing his friends through apparent betrayal, the Midnight Sons now team up with all of the New Yorkers previously consumed by the Mansion Ravenous. Together, they take on the Mansion Ravenous as the new Midnight Militia.
This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Megan and Shawn!
Creative Team
Writer: Jed MacKay Artist: Dev Pramanik Color Artist: Rachelle Rosenberg Letterer: Cory Petit Cover Penciller: José Luis Soares Pinto Cover Inker: Jonas Trindade Cover Color Artist: Rachelle Rosenberg
Writing
Megan: With everyone rightfully angry at Moon Knight for his questionable plan that put their lives in danger, the emotions are high but the stakes are still higher. In Marc Spector: Moon Knight #9, Marc got his family back but the job was far from over. Now they have to find a way to escape the haunted house and destroy it once and for all. The team goes at it, beating the house like it owes them money and holding nothing back. However, no matter how hard they hit, it’s just not enough. Of course, that’s until Clea does what she does best and uses her magic to find the vulnerable spot to hit. You’d think that would bring the house down, but it doesn’t. What it does is bring Moon Knight to come face to face with the capturer of his family. And now, the real fight is on.
Jed MacKay has done it again and given us a Moon Knight story that keeps you on the edge of your seat and by the end of it, you want more. I have loved everything he’s done with the Midnight Sons has been fantastic and I hate to see that time over with. MacKay has brought together a ragtag team of misfits together that doesn’t usually work well with others, and made them work brilliantly together. I could not be more happy with how this arc has turned out!
Shawn: Moon Knight is nothing if not dependably wild. Marc Spector: Moon Knight #9 puts the crazy front and center, with Marc having to put up the fight of his life. While the Midnight Sons and the new Midnight Militia may be free from the Mansion Ravenous control, MacKay makes it clear that Marc understands it can’t be allowed to just flee to another world. I love the pure righteous anger that MacKay gives us from Marc in this issue. We know that Marc has been through the wringer and that he gets mad, but I love seeing the fight come out of him as it does in this issue.
MacKay handled the Midnight Sons perfectly. It wasn’t just some kumbaya team-up moment where they get together and everything is okay. There were actual stakes for this team. There was betrayal, anger, and frustration. MacKay wrote this series of characters together well. They functioned as a team while keeping Blade, Clea, Ghost Rider, Daredevil, and of course, Moon Knight true to their characters. We were then rewarded with a satisfying conclusion to the arc in the best way possible.
Art
Marc Spector: Moon Knight #9 cover by José Luis Soares Pinto, Jonas Trindade, and Rachelle Rosenberg. Image from Marvel Comics
Megan: I don’t know what else can be said about the work that Dev Pramanik, Rachelle Rosenberg, and Cory Petit that hasn’t been said before. Pramanik and his incredible line work? The fact that he’s able to draw these characters in a way that makes them feel like they’re popping off the panels? That still rings true and somehow ever truer in this issue. Moon Knight and Daredevil are two standouts that easily become the automatic focal points of every page they’re not.
How about Rachelle Rosenberg? The fact that her colors bring so much life to the pages of Marc Spector: Moon Knight #9 that you forget the team is stuck inside a haunted house that’s trying to eat them. Cory Petit and his ability to capture the different personalities in the story and provide a perfect flow of dialogue throughout the issue? These artists prove how talented they are issue after issue and I’ll die on the hill of this run being the most beautiful comic run out there right now.
Shawn: I’m just running out of superlatives for this visual team at the moment. Dev Pramanik’s line work has been spectacular and the closeup face shot in this issue that makes up a panel is one of the most creative uses of panel work that we’ve seen from him yet. Despite the darkness of the setting for this issue, Pramanik makes the characters pop of the cage with crisp clean line work.
Rachelle Rosenberg just makes every single page pop. Whether it’s Clea using her magic or members of the Midnight Militia fighting back, Rosenberg’s colors add so much weight to these pages. Her work literally makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up as you’re seeing it. Cory Petit guides everyone through the story smoothly. That’s no easy task as this creative team continuously moves beyond the boundary of traditional panel shapes and organization.
Final Thoughts
Megan: 10/10 – Marc Spector: Moon Knight #9 kept me on the edge of my seat, not knowing what’ll happen next. This has been another excellent issue by the creative team and I am sat and excited for the next one!
Shawn: /10 – Marc Spector: Moon Knight #9 brings the most satisfying end possible to what may be the best story arc we’ve gotten out of a Moon Knight comic in a generation. This creative team is untouchable. From cover to cover the fire, energy, and connection from this team is palpable.
Overall Grade: 10/10
Are you enjoying seeing this version of Midnight Sons? Let us know in the comments below.
Mimi is trapped. Trapped in a world that may be of her own making. Did You Hear About Mimi Green takes a look at the dark side of fame and trying to impress others. As the Sour Creature reveals who it really is, can Mimi figure out how to turn it all around before it’s too late? Come along for the explosive finale of Did You Hear About Mimi Green?.
This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Eda and Shawn!
Eda: Well oh well, what a way to wrap up this absolutely incredible story! While the run had a rocky start, Goldsmith made sure every issue was better and more interesting than the last. He didn’t let up off the gas here, as the action and horror both run high while character arcs wrap up in a neat bow. Specifically, I was impressed by how intimidating Goldsmith made Tyler feel. He felt both cold and callous, wanting desperately to put Mimi and Ashley through absolute hell. Overall though, both Mimi and this series went through one hell of a redemption arc.
Shawn: What a beautiful final issue from Connor Goldsmith. Everything about the writing was perfect. Goldsmith not only did an amazing job wrapping up the series, but also included an extra story for readers to take in. One thing that I’ve enjoyed about Did You Hear About Mimi Green? is that each issue, and really the entire overall story, has felt like a modern-day version of Aesop’s fables. While the story has been a body horror story, there’s been an underlying fable that has been building around a conversation about giving up what you had for what you thought you wanted.
Goldsmith crafted a story that is not just a body-horror psychological thriller; it’s a conversation about the lengths someone will go to in order to become who they think they need to be to be successful. It’s a story about the path to “success” costing you everything that made you, well, you. Goldsmith fit action, love, and even friendship into this complex final issue.
Art
Did You Hear About Mimi Green? #4 cover by Josh Cornillon. Image from Dark Horse Comics
Eda: As with previous issues, artist Josh Cornillon absolutely killed it. His facial and body posture work feel so unique and truly brought these characters to life. Not only that, but there were several instances that made me feel sick to my stomach. I mean that as a very high compliment.
Lastly, the lettering from Maher was on a whole other level. I always love good onomatopoeia and she had it in abundance here! Every rip and tear made my stomach churn. I loved the decision too to make even slams and punches sound like hitting jelly.
Shawn: What else can I say about the work of Josh Cornillon? Cornillon really saved his best work for last with this issue. The creative use of art to create unique panels, the line work, and the colors were just spectacular. One thing I’ve appreciated about this series and that comes through particularly strong with issue #4, is that Cornillon always knows how to take the art to the edge. The grotesque moments are taking right to the edge to make you feel that shiver on your spine but never make it to the point of being gross for the sake of shock value which would pull you out of the story. Ariana Maher does a beautiful job keeping you engaged during the story. Maher hits all the right points in her speech bubbles bringing the emphasis exactly where it needs to happen. The flashback scenes work as well as they do in part because of how great a job Maher does in supporting the art in helping to establish these are scenes from previous times. Even though a character from a present is part of the flashback story, there are different shapes of word bubbles showing while they are the same person, they’ve definitely changed.
Final Thoughts
Eda: 10/10. I’ll admit, I’m beyond sad to see this series end. “Mimi Green” is an incredible, horrifying ride from start to finish. If you’re looking for body horror with heart and meaning, look no further.
Shawn: 10/10. I’m sad to see this series end. Four issues feel like it just wasn’t enough. This entire team put together a story that got better and better with every issue. Whew, what a ride.
Overall Grade: 10/10
Are you enjoying Did You Hear About Mimi Green? Let us know in the comments.
This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Megan and Shawn!
Shawn – What an awesome story. I simply can’t get enough of Bloodline. After her five-issue limited series, she quickly became one of my favorite characters at Marvel, so I’m really excited to see Eve L. Ewing utilizing her in the X-Men United series. Together with Evan Narcisse, Ewing crafts a story that is so perfectly intriguing. While it’s an X-Men story and they remain front and center, Ewing and Narcisse treat us to an exploration of the relationship between Blade and his family. We get a little taste of the Blade that we came to know and love from the movies with a fun nightclub appearance in the issue. The search for Brielle continues and the turns sneak up on you.
While we already knew Lucas Cross was involved, Ewing and Narcisse deliver a great backstory to explain what led to Brielle being brought to him. We are also treated to some “proud papa” moments shared between the unlikeliest of sources in Logan and Blade. While I love the story, I love the decision by this writing team to include the lineup of mutants in this story arc that they have. Dani Moonstar deserves all the love and praise she gets as a character and it’s been so nice to see her get a little more shine in X-Men United.
Cover art for X-Men United #8, by Stefano Caselli and Federico Blee. Published by Marvel Comics
Megan – Just in time for the spookiest time of the year, Eve Ewing and Evan Narcisse deliver a story that’s wrapped in vampiric chaos and some very exciting action from some of our favorite characters.The vampires have gotten too cocky and have made the public their own hunting ground. While they’re looking for their latest victims in popular dance clubs, there’s a much more sinister plan at action amongst the vampires. Brielle, AKA Bloodline, has been taken and her grandfather, Lucas Cross, seems to be the one behind it. X-Men United #8 continues the search for Blade’s daughter, Brielle, with a couple of powerful mutants by his side like Wolverine, Jubilee, Chamber, Wither, and Dani Moonstar. While the mutants have established a plan on how to take on the vampires, Blade is going rogue and working on his own plan. Nothing will stop him from saving his daughter, even if that means coming face to face with his father.
This was SUCH a fun issue! Ewing and Narcisse put together an all-star team that was perfect to head into the vampire chaos. With some excellent dynamics on display such as Wolverine and Blade, there’s not a moment in this issue that wasn’t a good time. I’m bummed to see this team with Balde and the mutants finished, but I’m very excited to see where we go from here, especially with a new villain on the loose.
The Art
Shawn – Tiago Palma, Fer Sifuentes-Sujo, and Joe Sabino didn’t just stroll through the door, they kicked it all the way down like they themselves were Blade. First of all, I can not find enough words to express how much I love what Tiago Palma did with Brielle in this issue. This version of Brielle is a little aged up from what we are used to seeing but not in a drastic way. There’s a particular close up panel where Palma gives us a beautiful closeup of Brielle and we see just how powerful she’s become. The line work from Palma is spectacular.
Fer Sifuentes-Sujo, not to be outdone, matches Palma stride for stride. Whether it’s capturing the club or the perfect tint for Brielle’s hair, Sifuentes-Sujo perfectly picks each color palette in this issue. The colors pop off the page. Whether it’s big-ticket items like Dani’s conjured nightmares or something smaller like Brielle’s fingernail color or Jubilee’s energy, every color seems to fit just right. Joe Sabino brings it all together and wraps it in a nice bow as you move through the story.
Megan – There was so much to love about the artwork! Tiago Palma, Fer Sifuentes-Sujo, and Joe Sabino bring all the spooky vibes to the story while capturing the chaotic goodness of the action. Palma creates truly beautiful panels that put a spotlight equally on the excitement of the story and the action that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Putting the powersets on full display, there were pages that were nothing short of stunning. Dani Moonstar and Chamber come to mind as they were given absolutely gorgeous panels that made them feel powerful and larger than life. Fer Sifuentes-Sujo played off of Palma’s drawings excellently by adding just the right vibrancy that juxtaposed the darker tones, making this issue really capture the dangerous nightlife energy of the vampires. Together, Palma and Sifuentes-Sujo made this issue very memorable and a wonderfully fun time!
Final Thoughts
Shawn – 9/10. X-Men United #8 was a satisfying end to the arc with Blade and Brielle. I’d love to see more of both of them in future series, but this was a nice taste. The story was fun and the art was spectacular.
Megan – 9/10. X-Men United #8 is the exact right comic to put you in spooky season mood with the help of Blade, Chamber, Wither, and the other mutants that are along for the ride.
Overall Grade – 9/10
Let us know what you thought of this issue in the comments!
Yet another installment arrives in the excellent “Three Worlds/Three Moons”. This time, we see multiple unique perspectives with seemingly their own stories. Together, writers Jonathan Hickman and Nick Spencer continue delivering a space epic for the ages. Like them, Shawn and I will continue our streak in delivering yet another review!
Writers: Jonathan Hickman, Nick Spencer Artists/Colorists: Mike Huddleston, James Stokoe, Christian Ward Letterers: James Stokoe, Amal Dasai
The Writing
Shawn: Arrivals must be approached from a world-building standpoint. I actually love that aspect of the story. While there is some character building, Hickman and Spencer prioritize building the world through a series of vignettes. We see a time after the explorer Tajo Vallar’s disappearance and the story shifts to his children. On top of that, Hickman and Spencer start to unravel some of the vast mysteries across the universe. Despite all this, the story never feels disjointed. The episodic nature of the stories really let Hickman and Spencer shine.
I love the inclusion of the data pages. They were one of my favorite parts of Krakoa. In this issue, they serve as essential reading for this complex dynamic of planets. The short vignette style of stories collected into Arrivals #1 allows a single issue to show off diverse corners of this world in a satisfying way.
Eda: As previously stated, this particular installment of 3W/3M is told from multiple perspectives, each with seemingly their own story. Despite this, Hickman and Spencer never once make the reader feel lost or confused. All the while, each perspective feels highly unique and interesting, enriching the universe in more ways than one.
While one may think this would be a detriment to the pacing, it’s the exact opposite! Surprisingly, everything flowed rather smoothly. What helped a lot in this was the depth of the storytelling and writing. The duo continue to make these characters and their surroundings feel real, exciting and lived in.
The Art
Three Worlds/Three Moons: Arrivals #1 cover by Mike Huddleston. Image from Dark Horse Comics.
Shawn: While the narrative is satisfying, Arrivals #1 is a visual feast. Huddleston, Stokoe, and Ward create a visual masterpiece throughout the series. The dark colors feel darker, and the bright colors feel like they pop even more. There are several poster-worthy panels in this issue alone. You can pick up on the subtle differences in art but they all flow so well together.
I’m with Eda on this one when it comes to the Vojo. That may be some of the most visually pleasing work I’ve seen in a comic this year. There’s so much going on in every panel and so much detail but you never get lost in it, you just appreciate it. Stokoe and Dasai manage to lead you through the story perfectly.
Eda: Simply just wow! That’s all that needs said, really. The team of Huddleston, Stokoe and Ward is an absolute force to be reckoned with as my jaw was agape at every page turn. In everything from the detailing to the style differences to the color, they truly made this universe feel alive. I’d even argue that several pages should be framed and put in a museum.
One such page was where we go to see vojo. For those who don’t know, vojo are essentially space whales. The absolute level of detail and line work that went into that single piece made it easily the most gorgeous of the entire issue. Lastly, the lettering work here was truly spectacular from both Stokoe and Dasai. I especially love how they manage to make boxes feel distinct depending on who’s talking and how.
Final Thoughts
Shawn: Everything about this issue scratched the itch just right. The art was literally breathtaking and the narrative brought me to the edge of this new galaxy I want to explore more. After living on substack, I’m so excited to see 3W3M making it out to the print world.
Eda: “Three Worlds/Three Moons: Arrival” is an absolute must read for any sci-fi fan looking for a taste of something unique and magical. Writers Hickman and Spencer are at the top of their game while the art team fails to be outclassed. This is absolutely something else and I’m so excited to continue delving deep into this universe!
Doom’s time travel continues. After surviving the sinking of the Titanic, reliving his life with his first true love, and becoming George Washington, Doom now finds himself in the body of his most powerful figure yet: the one and only Invisible Woman. Doom’s intelligence and magic, combined with Susan’s powers, will allow Doom to reach a level of power not yet experienced before. What will Doom do?
This review is brought to you by Nerd Initiative’s Megan and Shawn!
Creative Team
Writer: Ryan North Artist: Francesco Mobili Color Artist: Frank D’Armata Letterer: Travis Lanham Cover Artist: Alex Ross
Writing
Megan: I don’t know how many times I have to say it but if you’re not reading Doomquest, you are missing out! Each issue is so wildly different from the others but still has the same theme; Doom. Doctor Doom is stuck in the timestream and each issue spits him out in a different time period. In this issue, Doom ends up in one of the most iconic scenes of the Marvel Universe, the time Galactus first fought the Fantastic Four. To make it even more exciting, Doom is in the body of Sue Storm, AKA the Invisible Girl. Doom is in full control of Sue’s body and all the powers she and the Fantastic Four aren’t aware of and he plans to use this to his full advantage.
Time and time again, I’m reminded why Ryan North is my favorite person to write Doctor Doom. There’s something about how he’s able to show that Doom’s greatest power is his mind that I love so much. In each issue of Doomquest, Doom faces every obstacle that life has to throw at him and he takes control of the situation and makes it his own. Doomquest #5 is no different! Doom uses what’s given to him in that time period and uses it to its full extent. In this case it was the powersets of Sue Storm. At this point in time in the Marvel Universe, the only person that knew the full extent of Sue’s powers is Doctor Doom and he’s more than ready to put them on full display.
Shawn: Another month, another outstanding issue of DoomQuest. Ryan North really is doing some of his best work on any series with DoomQuest. I love that this issue opens with an excerpt from Fantastic Four #48. Not only is it a beautiful reminder of a keystone moment in the history of the Fantastic Four (First appearance of the Silver Surfer and first cameo for Galactus), but it ties into the story beautifully. North takes us back to that 1966 story and the beginning of one of the single best story arcs in the history of comics, and then turns it all on its head. North shows us the visit from Galactus (which plays out across issues 48-52 in the original story), if Doom had been of control of Susan Storm’s body allowing her to understand powers she didn’t yet understand.
In DoomQuest #5, North not only shows us that despite all the magic and other skills, Doom’s mind is also his best asset. North also takes the opportunity to remind anyone who may have forgotten that Susan is the most powerful member of the Fantastic Four. It’s downright crazy to see essentially a “What If” episode in a comic showing us what could have happened if the variety of powers the Invisible Woman possesses now were understood by her the first time Galactus visited New York. North again shows why his work with Doom is untouched as he shows what true power Sue is capable of in the right hands and with the restraints off.
Art
DoomQuest #5 cover by Alex Ross. Image from Marvel Comics
Megan: There was so much to love about this issue’s artwork! Francesco Mobili, Frank D’Armata, and Travis Lanham are an absolute dream team and have shown just how hard-hitting their artwork is for Doomquest. In the fifth issue, the artwork captures many different tones of the story and even adding its own. The callback to the classic artwork of the Silver Age of comics was a very welcomed surprise and set the tone immediately for what was to come next. Mobili brings excellent linework that puts a spotlight on Sue’s and Galactus’ powers. Along with that, there’s a lot of action in this issue that’s drawn to make it feel larger than life and succeeds exponentially.
The showdown between Sue/Doom and Galactus is nothing short of stunning. Mobili and D’Armata work off each other perfectly with the excellent detailing work accompanied by the beautiful vibrancy of the colors. The colors throughout the comic have a juxtaposition of more natural tones with bright and vibrant colors that make every page with Galactus stand out. Travis Lanham brings the incredible artwork to a close with his work on the lettering, perfectly capturing the menacing tones of Doctor Doom and Galactus. Together, the artists made this issue really stand out from the rest!
Shawn: At this point in this series I really am speechless when it comes to the art. Francesco Mobili, Frank D’Armata, and Travis Lanham continue to up their game on every single issue of this series and I’m still not sure how they are doing it. Mobili isn’t just maintaining the status quo he’s reached, he’s continued to elevate beyond it and perhaps nowhere is that more apparent than the line work for not only Doctor Doom but Sue Storm. We get just some amazingly beautiful line work from Mobili as Victor studies and learns Susan’s powers.
Mobili’s work is complemented and enhanced by Frank D’Armata. With the story opening with FF #48, D’Armata does a great job capturing the vibe and colors of FF #48, even with this modern style. It’s obviously a modern rendition that artistically feels more One World Under Doom that Kirby era FF, but D’Armata beautifully makes the connection between the two eras with just a wonder palette choice in each and every panel. Travis Lanham continues to kill it on this series with lettering. I will always and forever be a fan of the black, green, and red speech bubbles for Doom that appeared during Krakoa, and Lanham uses them masterfully throughout this series but especially in this issue. He helps guide you through the story easily keeping track of who is who.
Final Thoughts
Megan: 10/10. This comic run gets better and better with each issue! Doctor Doom has proven himself as powerful as he says in each issue, working with whatever he has and taking complete control over each situation, and the fifth issue is no exception to that!
Shawn: 10/10. DoomQuest is easily one of the best series out today from any publisher. This creative team understands what makes Doom tick. Every issue is a new adventure that keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.
Overall Grade: 10/10
What did you think about DoomQuest #5? Let us know in the comments below.
