Happy Monday! With many titles on my pull list releasing this past week I decided what better way to kick of a new week than by reviewing these titles. This week Monday Morning Reviews I will be reviewing Captain Marvel #31, I Am Batman #0, and Mighty Morphin #4. Each of these titles presented something different for the superheroes that star in these titles. Let’s take a look at how these latest releases turned out.
In case you missed it reviews with full spoiler synopsis for Batman: Urban Legends #6 and Daredevil #33 are also live on the website.
CAPTAIN MARVEL #31
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Takeshi Miyazawa
Colorist: Ian Herring
Story Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 6.5 Night Girls out of 10
The Good: The best issues of Captain Marvel has been when Kelly Thompson has written one-shot style stories. That is what we get with Captain Marvel #31 and it once again shows Thompson’s strength as a writer in telling fun stories in one issue. Carol Danvers and Rhodey’s vacation plans being changed by the arrival of Accuser Lauri-Ell, Carol’s Kree half-sister, did well in setting up the crisis of stolen DNA of their mother.
While the battle with Sludge, a Kree micro-organism designed to eat lab waste, that contained DNA of past Kree warriors like Mar-Vell and Mari-Ell was quick it set up the bigger picture story of Last Of The Marvels. We get the idea of how bad things will become if the DNA of past Kree warriors are placed in the wrong hands. Which is a good way of the upcoming Last Of The Marvels stories to use these plot threads to increase the danger of that story.
Takeshi Miyazawa artwork was solid throughout. Even though Miyazawa didn’t get a lot of action to draw he did get a chance to showcase how powerful Captain Marvel is when releasing a full power blast. Miyazawa artwork also fit the more character interaction heavy storytelling that Thompson employed for Captain Marvel #33.
The Bad: Captain Marvel #33 is a exposition heavy issue. This issue is more about setting up the Last Of The Marvels then just telling a one-and-done story. There are some fun bits between Carol, Rhodey, and Lauri-Ell but this issues focus was more on setting up that next big story for the series. Because of that Captain Marvel #33 didn’t live up to the fun we normally get from these type of one-shot stories.
Overall: Captain Marvel #31 is all about setting the stage for the upcoming Last Of The Marvels story. Kelly Thompson builds the necessary plot threads to make her latest major storyline the biggest of her run on Captain Marvel thus. Though that does turn this issue into an exposition heavy issue that is more set-up than telling a fun superhero story.
I AM BATMAN #0
Writer: John Ridley
Artist: Travel Foreman
Inker: Norm Rapmund
Colorist: Rex Lokus
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
The Good: John Ridley and Travel Foreman continue the journey of Jace Fox’s journey as the new Dark Knight that we saw begin in The Next Batman: Second Son. Ridley makes the right choice in starting I Am Batman #0 by showing us some of the training Jace Fox, who at the time was still going by Tim Fox, went through before returning to Gotham City. It is important that we get these building blocks that show Jace has more than just his military training to work off of as Batman. Like Bruce Wayne and the rest of the Batman Family Jace has a wide variety of fighting and technical ability that is showcased throughout I Am Batman #0.
At the same time, Jace isn’t going to be the perfect Batman right out of the gate. Even with the Batman tank armor that he wears for his first time out as the Dark Knight we do see him struggle in being the superhero he desires. How the current state of Gotham City with the Magistrate quickly taking over the city works well to show that Jace can’t simply jump into being Batman. To be the best Batman possible Jace needs to be prepared to take on everything Gotham City will throw at him. Ridly and Foreman do a very good job throughout I Am Batman #0 setting all that up for Jace to grow even more in the future.
The Bad: To get the maximum impact of I Am Batman #0 you should read The Next Batman: Second Son. This issue and series is a sequel to that comic book that set up where Jace Fox is at when this issue started. Without the context give in Second Son there are elements of I Am Batman #0 that won’t work as intended.
Overall: I Am Batman #0 is a good start to Jace Fox stepping into the mantle of Batman. This issue places Jace Fox right into the current status quo of Gotham City. It all sets the stage for Jace as Batman to become a key part of the future of Gotham City as we enter the Fear State event.
MIGHTY MORPHIN #10
Writer: Ryan Parrott
Artist: Dan Mora
Colorists: Raul Angulo and Jose Enrique Fernandez
Story Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
The Good: Mighty Morphin #10 is one of the most important comic books to the BOOM! Studios’ Power Rangers Universe. This issue works much more like the recent two Power Rangers Unlimited one-shots that highlighted the origins of Astronema, Rita Repulsa, and the Phantom Ranger. The origin we get here is for Lord Zedd as we learn that he has direct ties to Zordon’s origin as a Guardian. Tying things back to Zordon before he became who we know him to be once again highlights how the Power Rangers mentor is the key character of the franchise.
The entire issue shines light on how even before becoming the Lord Zedd we know the destined Power Rangers villain, unlike Astronema and Rita who were raised to be it after being kidnapped. Setting up that difference helps Lord Zedd further stand out from the pack. By doing so Parrott is able to build an even greater legend around Lord Zedd as now he has even greater ties to Zordon and the Morphin Grid.
Dan Mora returning to draw Mighty Morphin #10 drove home how important this issue is to the franchise. Mora does such a fantastic job in elevating the story so it hits all the dramatic impact you want an important point in the Power Rangers franchise to have. You are given a better grasp of how there is a big journey for Lord Zedd to become what we know him to be. And that is all thanks to Mora’s excellent artwork drawing all the emotion on characters faces to match what is being said or the action that characters are in the middle of.
The Bad: Nothing.
Overall: Mighty Morphin #10 does a fantastic job in telling the origin story of Lord Zedd. There are a lot of unexpected twists and turns that make this origin story such an engaging read. Zordon’s involvement in Lord Zedd’s origin will likely have many fans talking about this comic book for a long time to come. This is definitely a must-have comic book for Power Rangers’ fans.
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