Welcome back to another edition of comic book reviews round-up! This was possibly the most packed week of comic book releases there’s been in a long time. With such a big week I’ve done my best to cover as many comic books as possible.
With that said, for this week’s comic book reviews round-up it will include Absolute Martian Manhunter #1, Absolute Wonder Woman #9, Amazing Spider-Man #70, Batman #158, Green Lantern #21, I Heart Skull Crusher! #8, Justice League Unlimited #5, Universal Monsters: The Mummy #1, Power Rangers Prime #5, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto #3, Ultimate Spider-Man #15, Ultimate Wolverine #3, Uncanny X-Men #12, and Wolverine: Revenge #5. Find out how these turned out with our comic book reviews round-up for March 26th.
ABSOLUTE MARTIAN MANHUNTER #1
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Deniz Camp
Artist: Javier Rodriguez
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Absolute Martian Manhunter #1 is a comic book that I completely understand why it will have a lot of fans excited about this new series. Unfortunately, the comic book just does not click for me. The unique style that Javier Rodriguez gives this comic book is so unique that it stands above so many comic books on the market. Deniz Camp also nails having you as a reader wonder what exactly is going on as you never feel like you have a full grasp of what is exactly going on in this world. That said, the entire approach goes a bit too much with the trippy nature of the experience created. So while this comic book is not for me it is a comic you should at least check out to see if it clicks with you.
Overall Rating: 6.5 Night Girls out of 10
ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN #6
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Mattia De Iulis
Letterer: Becca Carey
The opening pages of Absolute Wonder Woman #6 does some of the best work to put over how badass a superhero can be. And if it is someone like Hades that is saying every that Diana is wearing is a weapon in her hands and her response to this is such a badass way to position Wonder Woman. This leads in well to further dive into how Diana built herself to become Wonder Woman as Hades questions what she did to escape Hell. The entire journey we see that Diana went on is Kelly Thompson at her best when crafting a narrative. Having Mattia De Iulis here for the artwork adds to how epic the journey told is. That journey we see that Diana took made the left turn that the final page takes effectively build Hades as a big bad.
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #70
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Joe Kelly
Artist: Ed McGuinness
Inkers: Mark Farmer and Cliff Rathburn
Colorists: Alex Sinclair and Marcio Menyz
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
The journey that “The 8 Deaths of Spider-Man” was not always fun or exciting but when it hit, it hit. Which makes it that more appropriate that Amazing Spider-Man #70 ends things the way it does. The way the conflict with the Cyttorak’s is resolve is very generic that still does not escape how forced the X-Men’s part in the story is. Though credit to Joe Kelly for making sure that the resolution leads to a final set of five pages that is some of the best Earth-616 Peter Parker scenes there’s been in quite a while These final few pages really sets the right tone for what to expect from Kelly’s ongoing run on Amazing Spider-Man.
Overall Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10
BATMAN #158
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Jim Lee
Inker: Scott Williams
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Letterer: Richard Starkings
Batman #158 is not the exciting kickoff to the Hush sequel that was expected. Jeph Loeb’s writing is so stuck in the past that he goes with the most basic approach with how characters are presented. This comic book reads like Loeb is letting his name and the fact this is a sequel to a iconic story to carry narrative. This lack of refinement in the writing impacts even Jim Lee’s artwork that is not as detailed or dynamic as it has been. With so many quality comics right now, both within the DC Universe and Absolute Universe, this Hush sequel fails to present itself as the premiere story all Batman fans should be reading. Click here to read the full review.
Overall Rating: 4.5 Night Girls out of 10
GREEN LANTERN #21
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jeremy Adams
Artist: Jack Herbert
Colorist: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Green Lantern #21 is jammed packed comic book experience. There is so much that goes on in this one comic book that could’ve filled at least three comic books. Which makes you appreciate how even with how much goes on that Jeremy Adams and Jack Herbert are able to create such a tight reading experience. There is no wasted moment as everything feeds into how chaotic things are in this Fractured Spectrum era. Showing that Hal Jordan, Kyle Rayner, Carol Ferris, and others have to deal with various threats shows how this conflict is impacting the entire DC Universe. There is no corner of the DCU that’s safe. That leads to even greater interest to see what that will mean for classic and new threats the Green Lanterns will be facing.
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
I HEART SKULL CRUSHER! #8
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Josie Campbell
Artist: Alessio Zonno
Colorist: Angel De Santiago
Letterer: Jim Campbell
I Heart Skull Crusher! #8 is one of the best looking comic books publishes this week. Alessio Zonno is at the top of their game with incredible artwork that pops off the screen. Everything matches the high energy of everything that unfolds, including a very cool page that has a completely different style that works for the story direction at that point. The artwork makes the writing by Josie Campbell as things escalate around Trini so great to see explored. Trini maintaining her high energy personality even when she is constantly thrown into a corner compliments the vibrant art style.
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
JUSTICE LEAGUE UNLIMITED #5
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Mark Waid
Artist: Dan Mora
Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
It is so refreshing to see how Mark Waid and Dan Mora are taking full advantage of the Justice League Unlimited concept. They are continuing to show they will use all sorts of superhero roster combinations to make the most of the story they are crafting. The choice for the lead roster in Justice League Unlimited #7 is an excellent example of how they tap into this potential. This is by far the best use of Impulse that shows how JLU can help so many unused heroes. The result of this issue does a great job at acting as a prelude for the upcoming “We Are Yesterday” crossover.
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
POWER RANGERS PRIME #5
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Melissa Flores
Artist: Michael YG
Colorist: Fabi Marques
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
With Power Rangers Prime #5 we finally get to see the Prime Rangers in action and to say it doesn’t go well would be an understatement. It is very much appreciated that Melissa Flores and Michael YG don’t go with the obvious approach of the Prime Rangers first battle being a success. Outside Lauren Shiba the team are all rookies and it very much shows as they get an the main cast gets a big reality check. It is a reality check that has many layers as each member of the Prime Rangers will have different takeaways from their new status quo and this experience. This now leaves readers wondering if the Prime Rangers can overcome the immense challenge of taking on the empire the Eltarians have built.
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES X NARUTO #3
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Caleb Goellner
Artist: Hendry Prasetya
Colorist: Raul Angulo
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Naruto #3 continues the absolute fun this crossover has been. There isn’t a deep story being told and there really doesn’t need to be. Caleb Goellner and Hendry Prasetya deliver a blockbuster action movie with plenty of moments for fans of both franchises to mark out. The action also helps to further emphasize how this is a story set in its own universe that combines both franchises that you don’t need to think of continuity. Just have fun with the Ninja Turtles and Narurto cast teaming up to fight Shredder and the Foot Clan.
Overall Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #15
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: David Messina
Colorist: Matthew Wilson
Letterer: Cory Petit
Ultimate Spider-Man #15 is a strong character focus chapter. This was very much needed after the game-changing experience Peter Parker went through against Kraven the Hunter. The family vacation angle Peter’s dynamic with MJ and his son, who is now also operating as the second Spider-Man, have a lot of great development. The ending with how Wilson Fisk factors back into the story is sure to drive what we will see happen in the future of this series. It’s a future with plenty of intriguing angles to be explored from various characters’ perspectives. Click here to read the full review.
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
ULTIMATE WOLVERINE #3
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Chris Condon
Artist: Alessandro Cappuccio
Colorist: Bryan Valenza
Letterer: Cory Petit
Chris Condon and Alessandro Cappuccio are hitting on all cylinders with Ultimate Wolverine #3. There is a great mix of continuing to showcase Wolverine as a badass killer in his Winter Soldier mode. At the same time, there is a lot of quality world building for the Ultimate Universe done. Particularly, when it comes to the Opposition group that has been one of the biggest thorns in the Maker’s Council side. The way Condon and Cappuccio build the Opposition’s history was effectively done to quickly give them a lot of credibility. It leads to the Rasputin’s sending Wolverine to take out the Opposition’s leaders, Shadowcat and Gambit, may be the biggest mistake they could’ve made. What the ramifications are by how Ultimate Wolverine #3 ends will be very intriguing to see.
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
UNCANNY X-MEN #12
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Gail Simone
Artist: Gavin Guidry
Colorist: Matthew Wilson
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
After everything that’s gone down in this series Uncanny X-Men #12 has a feeling of being a payoff to everything Gail Simone has been building. Specifically, when it comes to this series invoking the magic X-Men fans think of when remembering the stories at the Xavier Mansion. Rogue is benefiting from this direction the most as she continues to learn what it means to mentor a young class of teenage mutants. Gambit being our point-of-view character for this issue was also refreshing as we don’t get to see inside his mind very often in the X-Men team books. Gambit’s perspective is fresh with how he sees Rogue handling things. How that leads to diving deeper into Gambit’s history is a good set-up for the next big story being told in Uncanny X-Men.
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
UNIVERSAL MONSTERS: THE MUMMY #1
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer and Artist: Faith Erin Hicks
Colorist: Lee Loughridge
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou
Universal Monsters: The Mummy #1 is an example of why both the writing and artwork in comic book needs to match to nail the experience its going for. The greatest strength to Faith Erin Hicks approach with The Mummy is that she isn’t trying to make this something that the title character is not. Setting the story in Thebes during the 1920s creates a period piece vibe that permeates throughout the story. Though the story is let down by Hick’s art style. When the Mummy is on screen the artwork is at its best. But this instance of detailed artwork is not maintained for the entire issue as the cartoony art style does not work for the tone the writing is trying to strike. It’s an important reminder how the artwork needs to match the tone of the writing to get the full impact of the story a creator is going for.
Overall Rating: 6 Night Girls out of 10
WOLVERINE: REVENGE #5
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: Greg Capullo
Inker: Tim Townsend
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Letterer: Cory Petit
Wolverine: Revenge is a comic book that started off as hot as any comic possibly could. But ever since its debut the story has gone downhill in ways that are extremely surprising given the high quality comic books Jonathan Hickman and Greg Capullo have delivered in the past and present. This fifth and final issue you really feel how this entire mini-series should’ve been a three issue mini-series. The conclusion, including the big reveal, sums up this lackluster experience that should’ve been so much more
Overall Rating: 3 Night Girls out of 10
For more opinions on anime, comic book, movies, and sports you can follow Kevin on Bluesky, Instagram, Threads, and Twitter/X.