Welcome back to another edition of our comic book reviews round-up! It’s a little later than usual but the holidays have been really keeping life busy. But that is just how it goes at this time of year. Now for this edition of the comic book reviews round-up we are looking at Absolute Batman #3, Batman & Robin: Year One #3, Daredevil #16, G.I. JOE #1, The Immortal Thor #18, New Gods #1, Nightwing #121, Power Rangers Prime #2, Psylocke #2, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5, Titans #18, and Ultimate Spider-Man #12. Find out how these turned out with our comic book reviews round-up for December 18th.
ABSOLUTE BATMAN #3
Creative Team
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Nick Dragotta
Colorist: Frank Marti
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Absolute Batman #3 is an excellent example of how to handle world building through the main character. Through presentation of Bruce Wayne’s past and present we see how it has shaped him as a person and Batman. There is vibe created because of Batman we are seeing Gotham City evolve into something new. Though whether that evolution is a good thing or not is up to the results of key decisions made by Bruce and various important characters in Absolute Batman. It all goes to show how strong of a handle Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta have on the direction for this series.
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
BATMAN & ROBIN: YEAR ONE #3
Creative Team
Co-Plot: Mark Waid and Chris Samnee
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Chris Samnee
Colorist: Matheus Lopes
Letterer: Clayton Cowles and Chris Samnee
The greatest compliment that can be paid to Mark Waid and Chris Samnee’s Batman & Robin: Year One is how they make you forget your reading a story you may have read numerous times. Waid and Samnee utilize the well-known chemistry of Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson as the Dynamic Duo to keep you involved in the story. More importantly the world of Gotham City is brimming with a life of its own. It creates a sense of immersion that makes you want to see how Batman and Robin respond to what is going on with Two-Face. This results in an ending where you wonder how the Dynamic Duo will get out of their situation, forgetting the time this story is set in.
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
DAREDEVIL #16
Creative Team
Writer: Saladin Ahmed
Artist: Aaron Kuder
Colorist: Jesus Aburtov
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
From a character standpoint there are a lot of intriguing character dynamics at play in Daredevil #16. The highlight being how Matt Murdock has to confront his best friend, Foggy Nelson. Though now sixteen chapters into this “Introductory Rites” story with the has become tiresome. The entire plot with the Seven Deadly Sins’ demons has outstayed its welcome that it has impacted the compelling the character dynamics at play. It is unfortunate but the faster this saga concludes the better it will be for what Saladin Ahmed and Aaron Kuder are trying to accomplish with these characters.
Overall Rating: 4 Night Girls out of 10
G.I. JOE #2
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Tom Reilly
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Rus Wooton
G.I. JOE #2 takes you on an intense thrill ride you don’t know where it will end up but are excited to find out. From the incredible action to the emotional fallout of the first JOEs vs Cobra battle, the investment in every character in this series is higher than when you first picked up this comic book. Click here to read the full review.
Overall Rating: 9.5 Night Girls out of 10
THE IMMORTAL THOR #18
Creative Team
Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Jan Bazaldua
Colorist: Matt Hollingsworth
Letterer: Joe Sabino
Bringing back Magni Thorson into the fold certainly helped show a side of Thor we don’t normally get to see: a parent. The ease of how Thor gets comfortable being a father, even throwing catch with Magni, was a nice change of pace. Though the father-son dynamic is cut short to what ultimately felt like the typical superhero vs super villain fight that dragged this issue down. It was a reminder that the progress with the Dario Agger side of things has been slowly progressing. Hopefully the ending of Immortal Thor #18 sparks a quicker pace for the development of this particular narrative.
Overall Rating: 5 Night Girls out of 10
NEW GODS #1
Creative Team
Writer: Ram V
Artists: Evan Cagle and Jorge Fornes
Colorist: Francesco Sagala
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
New Gods #1 is the reset this set of DC Universe characters have long needed. The events with Darkseid and other events have positioned the New Gods to have a new sense of importance in the DCU. That is seen well with the mission Orion is given and how he goes about understanding what he must do. This led to a great heart-to-heart with Mister Miracle. But more impressively is how Ram V wrote New Gods understanding when the dialogue needed to be the emphasis and when it was time for Evan Cagle and Jorge Fornes to cook visually with their artwork. It all creates a foundation for a comic book that fans will need to keep an eye on in 2025.
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
NIGHTWING #121
Creative Team
Writer: Dan Watters
Artist: Dextor Soy
Colorist: Veronica Gandini
Letterer: Wes Abbott
The deeper we get into the “On With The Show” story arc the more impressed I’ve been with Dan Watters and Dexter Soy’s work on Nightwing thus far. Keeping that sense of momentum going from the previous creative run going drives home how we are continuing to see Bludhaven develop from the city it once was to what it will be. That’s made what Spheric Solutions is doing in Bludhaven have a greater importance. Depending on how Dick Grayson deals with them in and out of his Nightwing identity can define where Bludhaven in the future.
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
POWER RANGERS PRIME #2
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Melissa Flores
Artist: Michael YG
Colorist: Fabi Marques
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Power Rangers Prime #2 delivers a strong follow-up to the debut chapter of this series. Melissa Flores and Michael YG are fully embracing the opportunity to craft a new universe filled with surprises. The continued world building with familiar characters in new forms makes the new additions even stronger. By the end of Power Rangers Prime #2 you’re left even more excited to learn more about this new Power Rangers universe. Click here to read the full review.
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
PSYLOCKE #2
Creative Team
Writer: Alyssa Wong
Artist: Vincenzo Carratu
Colorist: Fer Sifuentes-Sujo
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Psylocke #2 is exactly what was expected from a series starring Kwannon. Alyssa Wong and Vincenzo Carratu lean into how Psylocke is able to use her powers and abilities to take a super spy approach to her mission. This allows what Psylocke does best to shine. In the process there is a lot of quality character development mixed with action. Though the villain side of things is still lacking the punch to take things to the next level.
Overall Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES #5
Creative Team
Writer: Jason Aaron
Artist: Darick Robertson
Inker: Darick Robertson and Norm Rapmund
Colorist: Tony Avina
Letterer: Shawn Lee
Finally after four issues of establishing where Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello were at Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5. The consequences for how each of the turtles start off this new series is used well to tell a story that is not about them but the other characters of the franchise. Seeing the state of New York City without the turtles around creates an intriguing status quo that will have to be dealt with. The position with Karai and the Foot Clan creates a lot of questions while what happens to Casey Jones leaves you understanding the type of threat the turtles are returning to.
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
TITANS #18
Creative Team
Writer: John Layman
Artist: Pete Woods
Letterer: Wes Abbott
Titans #18 continues the team building as the new status quo in the DC All In era is still being dealt with. In this way, John Layman and Pete Woods make sure to emphasize Donna Troy is now the leader of the team. How that affects the dynamic of the team is something that will be interesting to see how the team operates. Bringing in Fearsome Five to face of against the Titans helped to highlight the team dynamic. This in turn allowed Deathstroke return story time to cook as a sub-plot. Hopefully we see Deathstroke’s story get more time than just the final page of each issue moving forward.
Overall Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #12
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Marco Checchetto
Colorist: Matthew Wilson
Letterer: Cory Petit
Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto have truly created something special with their run on Ultimate Spider-Man. Ultimate Spider-Man #12 is the greatest example of the magic they’ve created as they made a superhero comic book about a family Christmas party be something you are invested in from beginning to end. The results of how the party was handled led to big reveals that created an even greater investment into the second year of this series. Click here to read the full review.
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
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