Welcome back to another edition of comic book reviews round-up! This packed week of comic book releases. With that in mind for this week’s comic book reviews round-up we are spotlighting Absolute Batman #5, Absolute Flash #1, Detective Comics #1095, G.I. JOE #5, The Last Boy #1, Nightwing #124, One World Under Doom #2, Titans #21, Ultimate X-Men #13, and Zatanna #2. Find out how these turned out with our comic book reviews round-up for March 19th.
ABSOLUTE BATMAN #6
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Nick Dragotta
Colorist: Frank Martin
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Throughout “The Zoo” story arc Scott Snyder and Nick Dragotta have defined the tone and design of the Absolute Universe’s Gotham City. It is a Gotham City that has both felt familiar and distinct to the Absolute Universe. That direction is firmly defined by how Absolute Batman #6 concludes the series first story arc. It’s not just Batman or Black Mask that define what Gotham City is as a location. Every citizen has a story, whether they are named characters like Martha Wayne and Jim Gordon or nameless members of the Party Animals. Taking such an approach gives the reader a sense of how the world is built around this version of Bruce Wayne and Batman. It all leads to a conclusion that leaves you wanting to see where the world goes next, especially with what’s implied by the story’s epilogue.
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
ABSOLUTE FLASH #1
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Nick Robles
Colorist: Adriano Lucas
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Absolute Flash #1 gives you everything you could want from the start of Wally West superhero journey. Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles craft a story that is dense with content of several comic book issues. That does lead to certain elements of Wally’s origin being rushed. But there is no denying that all the many positives by far outweigh any nitpicks that may be had. With the impactful final three pages Lemire and Robles end this first issue with, this is certainly another big win for the Absolute Universe. Click here to read full review.
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
DETECTIVE COMICS #1095
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Tom Taylor
Artist: Mikel Janin
Inker: Norm Rapmund
Colorist: Mike Janin and Alex Guimaraes
Letterer: Wes Abbott
The consistency that Tom Taylor and Mikel Janin have been able to create has become the magic of their creative run thus far. Detective Comics #1095 is a great example of consistency being the key as we see payoffs to various narrative points. The big one is what goes down between Bruce Wayne and Scarlett Scott. Taylor does a great job while Batman is the one doing his thing in solving the mystery, this is a Bruce Wayne story. Bruce’s voice is what comes through even when he is wearing the cape and cowl, especially with how his origin story continues to play a role in this story. That all made the note Detective Comics #1095 end on rise above being the usual hook ending we’ve seen plenty of times in a Batman comic.
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
G.I. JOE #5
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Tom Reilly
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Rus Wooton
G.I. JOE #5 is a thrilling roller coaster ride that pays off many of the things that have been in development since this series began. The intensity from both the JOEs and Cobra shines brightly in their own distinct way. That all leads to rewarding moments that further elevate each side as the heroes and villains of this story. By the end you’re left excited about what is possible with the final page Joshua Williamson, Tom Reilly, and Jordie Bellaire end this chapter of the story on. Click here to read full review.
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
THE LAST BOY #1
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Dan Panosian
Artist: Alessio Avallone
Colorist: Valentina Pinto, Agnese Pozza, and Rik Mack
Letterer: Jeff Eckleberry
As with Dan Panosian’s previous work with his own take on Alice In Wonderland, The Last Boy’s approach to Peter Pan will take time to see if this will be a home run. This first issue is a lot of set-up does get across the expectation that the story will give a new take on the Peter Pan tale. The uncertainty of the directions comes with finding out exactly what is this take on Peter Pan and Wendy Darling’s respective narratives. Creating a mystery around Peter and Wendy having separate stories, each in their own world, is enough to come back for the next issue. That also adds to how important the second issue will be to fully sell the concept of The Last Boy that we have been introduced to.
Overall Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
NIGHTWING #124
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Dan Watters
Artist: Dexter Soy
Colorist: Veronica Gandini
Letterer: Wes Abbott
While Nightwing #124 acts as the finale to Dan Watters and Dexter Soy’s first story arc, “On With The Show,” on this series this is really just the first phase of a bigger storyline. The things you expected end up happening with Nightwing’s actions forcing the villain to reveal their true self to his sister, Melinda Grayson. To Watters and Soy’s credit they’ve never tried to create a giant swerve that this isn’t what was going to happen. It has been obvious the direction of Melinda’s desperate decision to remain in power. Taking that obvious route to lead us down a path that is now filled with so many unknowns creates excitement for what is planned next for Nightwing and his world.
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
ONE WORLD UNDER DOOM #2
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Ryan North
Artist: R.B. Silva
Colorist: David Curiel
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Where the first issue was the loud start of Marvel’s latest event, One World Under Doom #2 was the calmer explanation behind Doctor Doom’s takeover. With that Ryan North makes the logical choice of having Valeria Richards acting as an anchor of sorts to make Doctor Doom almost sound normal. This calm ends up leading to more loud moments with Doctor Doom and Fantastic Four having a game-changing moment. That leads to what will no doubt be the biggest question asked for the direction for the Marvel heroes as the Avengers make an unexpected decision. How this decision turns out could very well alter the way readers see the direction of this event as it could provide great excitement or be an epic dud.
Overall Rating: 6.5 Night Girls out of 10
TITANS #21
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: John Layman
Artist: Pete Woods
Letterer: Wes Abbott
Titans #21 is a great example of how to maintain momentum for a story by not forcing the big developing plot to be extended. Though we know he is back, Deathstroke has been sticking to manipulating the events in this series DC All In direction from the shadows. But now with Psycho Pirate making such a direct attack on the Titans by trying to use Raven against the team Deathstroke’s return has been revealed. This development helps payoff not just what Deathstroke has done thus far but also highlights why Raven’s character arc played such a big role in the launch for the Titans’ DC All In direction. Because of the ultimate payoff of the story Arsenal being the point-of-view character in Titans #21 does end up falling flat. It doesn’t take away from the greater things accomplished but may be a disappointment for Arsenal fans.
Overall Rating: 7.5 Night Girls out of 10
ULTIMATE X-MEN #13
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer and Artist: Peach Momoko
Script Adaptation: Zack Davisson
Letterer: Travis Lanham
The battle within Shadow King’s realm may never have looked better than it does in Ultimate X-Men #13. Peach Momoko does such as spectacular job with the art design of the X-Men vs. Shadow King that is just so cool. The black-and-white character designs against the red background makes everything from character reactions to action sequences pop. Having the artwork be at the forefront also makes the words spoken by the various characters involved have a greater impact. This is easily the best issue of Ultimate X-Men thus far.
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
ZATANNA #2
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jamal Campbell
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Zatanna #2 is one of the most beautiful comic books you’ll pick up this week. Jamal Campbell does an incredible job showing a character going through pain with such imaginative artwork. The suffering Zatanna goes through as she deals with being unable to dispel a magic sword she was stabbed with creates an adversity that you want to see how she overcomes things. This allows the bigger things going on with the main villain, the Lady in White, to develop in the background naturally as our main focus is Zatanna’s serious immediate problem. It all makes for a compelling second entry in Zatanna’s latest comic book.
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
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