This has been a jammed pack week of comic book releases. As you can find on our website we have posted individual reviews for Creed: The Next Round #3, Dark Knights of Steel #12, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #111, No/One #5, and The Immortal Thor #1. With more comics to cover this week’s comic book review round-up will include Black Panther #3, Jean Grey #1, and Klik Klik Boom #3. Find out how these comic books turned out by scrolling down.
BLACK PANTHER #3
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Eve L. Ewing
Artists: Chris Allen and Mack Chater
Inkers: Craig Yeung and Mack Chater
Colorist: Jesus Aburtov
Letterer: Joe Sabino
REVIEW
Black Panther #3 is a comic book that delivers more on world building then full plot progression. The world building is important for the bigger picture of Black Panther’s direction. That may not be what everyone wants but when you have T’Challa as an exiled King we need to see more of how Wakanda is because of this.
This issue is especially important to further establishing Birnin T’Chaka as its own distinct city. Most importantly we see how the city operates through the eyes of the other people that live there. Up to this point we’ve been experiencing Birnin T’Chaka through T’Challa’s eyes. Getting more of the day-to-day look through the residents makes Birnin T’Chaka a city that is a setting that feels alive.
This in turn makes the journey of T’Challa as an exiled King still operating as Black Panther a bigger deal. There is more of a connection that is created for the reader similar to why Gotham City is so important as a character itself to the Batman franchise. While Black Panther still has a ways to go we see how Deathlok’s appearance at the end had a bigger impact because he was a threat to the entire gala he attacked rather than the focus being on a rematch with Black Panther.
Chris Allen and Mack Chater worked well together as an art duo. They made sure their styles matched so you didn’t notice the changes in artists. This maintained a consistency for the story to keep the momentum moving forward. And they did a great job at helping with the development of Birnin T’Chaka as a city.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Black Panther #3 is a solid world building issue. The plot isn’t moved forward too much but that wasn’t the point of this issue. Eve Ewing, Chris Allen, and Mack Chater did a great job at developing Birnin T’Chaka and its residents. This in turn created a stronger long-term investment in Black Panther’s current journey.
Story Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
JEAN GREY #1
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Louise Simonson
Artist: Bernard Chang
Colorist: Marcelo Maiolo
Letterer: Ariana Maher
REVIEW
There were many shocking things that went down during this year’s Hellfire Gala that set the Fall of X storyline into motion. One of those was the death of Jean Grey. While she has died and come back to life many times, during the Krakoa era Jean has been established as a core member for the franchise from her position on the Quiet Council to co-leading the X-Men to her other involvement with Krakoa’s dealing. Which is where we see this new solo Jean Grey series by Louise Simonson and Bernard Chang step in. This series is showing us what Jean is up post-death and it doesn’t always hit.
Right away Jean Grey #1 runs into the problem of being all over the place with its narrative. While trying to give a modern take on the original X-Men team we see that the continuity from Brian Bendis run continues. But rather than the original five X-Men’s lives forgetting their trip to the future the young Jean decides to not go with that route. This does create an interesting take on what would happen with the X-Men if this future knowledge was had. Especially when it comes to the teenage Jean, who by far had the biggest growth during Bendis’ run.
As intriguing as this take is Simonson doesn’t fully commit to presenting this “What If…?” scenario as what really took place in the post-House of X and Powers of X continuity. One of the things that could’ve helped fix this problem is maybe have what Jean is experiencing is part of the Lives of Moira X and the Multiverse continuity that was caused by that direction. Because of this commitment issue it does make this story come across as something that is to keep Jean in the minds of X-Men readers while she isn’t dealing with the Fall of X. That is hopefully not the purpose of this series and we see more of a focus given to Jean and her relationship with many of the X-Men when know she is close with, not just Cyclops and Wolverine.
On the artwork side of things Bernard Chang does a good job at shifting from the classic design of the original X-Men to how things changed with their narrative based on Jean’s decisions. They are properly showed how they age. There is also an impact felt when we see Jean go to far and how others react to her action. That all helps further show how Jean is the lead of this story even with other big names in this series.
FINAL THOUGHTS
From a concept standpoint Jean Grey #1 has an interesting idea for what Jean is doing during the Fall of X storyline. There is a lot of room to explore her history in the post-House of X and Powers of X continuity. While its not fully executed in this first issue as well as you hope the potential is shown and it is hopefully something that is fully tapped into starting the next issue.
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
KLIK KLIK BOOM #3
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Doug Wagner
Artist: Doug Dabbs
Colorist: Matt Wilson
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
REVIEW
Klik Klik Boom #3 once again hits the mark on feeling like we are experiencing an action movie rather than just a normal comic book. Everything about how the story is framed gives the type of vibe you get from an action movie you are engaged with how everything feeds into the big action set pieces and dramatic moments.
It’s the dramatic moments that speaks to how well Doug Wagner and Dabbs are telling this story. Because every moment Sprout or other characters have help feed how much of an impact the drama hits. And its how those dramatic moments are mixed in with the action rather than around is what makes them hit the way they do. It all leads to an ending that further pushes Sprouts journey as the risks she has been taking finally catch up in ways that are shocking to her. In the process the story moves to the next stage with greater emotional investment in how things are unfolding.
All of this goes back to how strong of a lead character Sprout continues to be. From the unique way she communicates to polaroids to being a badass fighter. On the communication side we get a lot out of how Dabbs not only works in the polaroids but the reactions Sprout has that enhances what she is communicating. Then there are all of the action set pieces that are some of the best around. It really gets over how Sprout is a pure badass. Because of this the ending is all made even more impactful because of how everything comes together.
FINAL THOUGHTS
From its intense action sequence to incredible character work Klik Klik Boom is one of the best comic books on the market right now. Klik Klik Boom #3 further showcases this fact as the fight choreography and dramatic character moments progress Sprout’s story in ways that get you even more invested. This is definitely a comic book you should not miss out on reading.
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10