Welcome back to another edition of comic book reviews round-up! This is a bit later than usual as I took a much needed vacation last week. Now that I’m back I was able to catch-up on last week’s releases. With that said, here I’ll be covering Absolute Batman #7, Amazing Spider-Man #1, Green Lantern Corps #3, Phoenix #10, Storm #7, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher #7, Transformers #19, The Ultimates #11, and Uncanny X-Men #13. Find out how these comic books turned out with the latest comic book reviews round-up below.
ABSOLUTE BATMAN #7
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Marcos Martin
Colorist: Muntsa Vicente
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
There is so much that can be said about what Absolute Batman #7 accomplished. The world building by Scott Snyder continues to impress. The focus on Bruce Wayne’s inner circle creates a unique hook to this series that isn’t present in other Batman titles. The appearance by Matches Malone and his role in pushing the developments in Gotham City forward is a great example of this. Add in the excellent artwork by Marcos Martin, highlighted by how he handles the debut of Absolute Mr. Freeze, and this is yet another must-read comic book in a series quickly known for consistently delivering those experiences.
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #1
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Joe Kelly
Artists: Pepe Larraz and John Romita Jr.
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colorist: Marte Gracia and Marcio Menyz
Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Amazing Spider-Man #1 is what exactly what this series has needed for a long time. A focus on the fun that comes when reading a Spider-Man comic book. Joe Kelly and Pepe Larraz find a way to balance this being a reset for this series while still continuing certain elements left behind by the previous creative team. Going with a back-to-basics approach of focusing on Peter Parker’s life with his supporting cast and balancing that with work and being Spider-Man made for a great debut. Starting this way gives way for this volume of the series to build up its momentum rather than force a big storyline that may not connect with fans.
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
GREEN LANTERN CORPS #3
CREATIVE TEAM
Writers: Morgan Hampton and Jeremy Adams
Artist: Fernando Pasarin
Inkers: Oclair Albert and Jason Paz
Colorists: Arif Prianto and Rain Beredo
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
If you needed to understand what the impact of the Fractured Spectrum era has on the DC Universe, Green Lantern Corps #3 delivers exactly that. This isn’t a direction that simply shaped the future of the Green Lantern Corps. It shaped the status quo for all users of different parts of the Emotional Spectrum. The former Red Lanterns positioned as the antagonist for the story in this issue showed that impact. The results is something that leaves you conflicted and even more invested in what the Green Lantern Corps have to do to navigate this new status quo.
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
PHOENIX #10
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Stephanie Phillips
Artist: Alessandro Miracolo
Colorist: David Curiel
Letterer: Cory Petit
Phoenix #10 is by far the best issue of this series thus far. Stephanie Phillips and Alessandro Miracolo were at the top of their game delivering an epic finale in the Nexus of All Realities. What made this standout so much was how through the display of Jean Grey’s God-level powers as the Phoenix her humanity was never forgotten. Everything she did to overcome the odds was because she has become a balanced character. Because of that the final page that transitions us to the next story arc is even more impactful. What it means for Jean’s life has a lot of potential for even greater storytelling.
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
STORM #7
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Murewa Ayodele
Artist: Luciano Vecchio
Colorist: Alex Guimaraes and Fer Sifuentes-Sujo
Letterer: Travis Lanham
Storm #7 delivers on showing why the Goddess title is something that Ororo Munroe more than exemplifies. Murewa Ayodele and Luciano Vecchio really test the limits of Storm’s Omega-level mutant powers by putting her to the test against God-level threats Thor normally takes on. This test turns out to not just be about how powerful Storm is but how she also uses her fighting skills to reach that next level. It leads to a great display of force that Vecchio does an excellent job at showcasing through the artwork.
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: NIGHTWATCHER #7
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Juni Ba
Artist: Fero Pe
Colorist: Luis Antonio
Letterer: Nathan Widick
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Nightwatcher #7 was a strong conclusion to this chapter of Jennika’s life. The battle with the mystic Nightwatcher armor was as emotional as it was physical. The fallout from the resolution gave the opportunity for even greater world building that shows how IDW’s TMNT Universe is continuing to evolve. Hopefully we won’t have to wait to long for Jennika to appear again as a lead character, maybe in the main TMNT series. Click here to read the full review.
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
TRANSFORMERS #19
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson
Artist: Ludo Lullabi
Colorist: Adriano Lucas
Letterer: Rus Wooton
Transformers #19 delivers on the promise with a compelling look at Megatron’s history before the present-day of the Energon Universe. What is shown here focuses well on Megatron as a character rather than just the Decepticon leader. This approach led to some intriguing insight to who the Energon Universe’s Megatron is and the role he will serve moving forward. Click here to read the full review.
Overall Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
THE ULTIMATES #11
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Deniz Camp
Artist: Juan Frigeri
Colorist: Federico Blee
Letterer: Travis Lanham
The Ultimates #11 starts off with strong with Thor and Lady Sif going on a mission to take down Loki. This mission could prove key to helping give the Ultimates an advantage by taking down a key ally for The Maker’s Council. Unfortunately, the direction of the story being told through splash pages just does not work. There is no flow to the pacing of the story no matter how hard Deniz Camp and Juan Friegeri try. The narrative choice ends up taking you out of feeling connected to this story. It is just a reminder of how The Ultimates continues fall far behind other titles in the Ultimate Universe publishing line.
Overall Rating: 4 Night Girls out of 10
UNCANNY X-MEN #13
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Gail Simone
Artist: David Marquez
Colorist: Matthew Wilson
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Uncanny X-Men #13 is a solid set-up issue for the new four part “Dark Artery” story arc that begins here. The choice of splitting up the narrative into three distinct story directions does create an intriguing mystery. The new class of X-Men in particular continue to carry as they continue to add a new energy to the franchise. The Gambit side of the story is a bit weaker as you do wish at least one or two other X-Men joined him in his part of the story. Hopefully once the next part of this story gets the three give us a better idea of the purpose and direction for the ideas presented here.
Overall Rating: 6.5 Night Girls out of 10
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