Books of 2025: August

 

As mentioned previously, let's go with the theme of ... Teammates? meh, something like that. Anyways, listed in the order I happened to read them, here's August's book list

I Heart Skull-Crusher #6 - 10 by Josie Campbell

"Get it through your head -- Everyone is an enemy. And no Wastelander is ever welcome in the Bubble Cities."

Trini Wastelander has finally achieved her dream of joining Skull-Crusher's Screaming Pain Ball Team! Her happiness quickly fades when she learns the rest of her team won't be joining her. Instead, they're split apart and recruited to other teams managed by Tyrants loyal to Queen Mob, dictator of the American Wasteland. With the Bubble City tournament underway, the death games has an unexpected prize as the winner will be declared Queen Mob's heir. Forced to compete against her friends, Trini soon discovers a secret hidden by the ruling Tyrants, one which could change the Wastelands forever.

In the second arc of I Heart Skull-Crusher, Trini Wastelander and her former Screaming Pain Ball team must compete against each other in the American Wasteland's most popular, and deadly, game. Like with a lot of sequel sports movies ("Major League II", "Mighty Ducks II", ... umm... other ones), Trini finds that winning didn't exactly giver her everything she hoped, and must now rediscover who she is. Despite being separated from her found family and thrown onto a team that openly hates her, Trini still maintains her optimism and hopeful attitude in the face of overwhelming odds. The story continues with its over-the-top antics (the "mysterious" deaths of David the Man-Bear's teammates, the ridiculous characters and their weapons). Despite the new characters and their traits, the story never loses focus of its star, Trini Wastelander, and keeps her center-stage through the five issues. After discovering Queen Mob and the other Tyrants' secret, Trini and Skull-Crusher find themselves on the run, leading to a possible "Hunger Games: Mockingjay" rebellion third story arc. I Heart Skull-Crusher continues its under-the-radar greatness, a sleeper-hit that more people should be talking about.

The Spectacular Spider-Men #8 - 15 (completed) by Greg Weisman

 

The entire coffee shop family is still recovering from the psychological effects of The Arcadium where they each lived out versions of their own personal fantasies. When one of their group finally realizes her fantasy will never become her reality, the rejection leads to the awakening of her dormant super-powers. The two Spider-Men take Juliet under their tutelage, bringing along a slew of other heroes to train her to control her new abilities. Meanwhile, the two Electros set out to be the first to kill a Spider-Man with the winner claiming sole ownership of the name the two share. Can the Spider-Men survive the dueling assassins?

The end of The Spectacular Spider-Men series finds itself further away from the start of the series than I expected. Hoping for a more "buddy cop" vibe between Peter Parker and Miles Morales, perhaps fighting team-ups composed of both heroes' rogues gallery, instead we're introduced to a brand-new superhero and watch as the two Spider-Men bring in other heroes to train her, resulting in several books focused on training montages of Elementary harnessing her powers. Sure, we get to see the two Spider-Men take on the two Electros (who, in the end, agree to share the name), but even that falls flat when interrupted by Dr. Conners and The Lizard (who have somehow split apart?). Ohhh, there's some sort of pairing/duality theme going on, but whatever. Then, it ends with the coffee shop ending up in another dimension (which, I don't know, does it affect the continuity of the Marvel Universe?). It's definitely not the best despite its potential, but not the worst either. I'm just confused by the story direction when it had the potential to be so much more.

 

Power Rangers: Prime Vol 1 by Melissa Flores

 "Do we really need heroes? ... That good will always overcome evil ... Humanity has tenaciously clung to the idea ... that good will always overcome evil ... but if evil can be redefined as order ... progress... then what signifies good? In what kind of world... would a hero be created?

On an occupied Earth, the remnants of the planet's former protectors, The Power Rangers, are hunted while their very idea is relegated to myth. Accidentally sheltering a fugitive Ranger, Mark and his classmates are pulled into a heist to help her fix her Morpher. Meanwhile the witch Rita Repulsa returns to Earth and begins her reign of terror, bringing her monsters to life. When both groups find themselves facing the Eltarian's elite VR Troopers, they'll join forces to fight for their freedom and survival.

A brand new "Power Rangers" story re-imagines Earth's heroes in a time of "peaceful" occupation. It seems that re-imagining classics in a new setting is the popular thing now with both Marvel's "Ultimate" series and DC's "Absolute" series being big hits - so why not do the same with "The Power Rangers"?0 This new series finds The Power Rangers hunted and imprisoned by the planet's peace-keeping forces as humanity lives under alien occupation. It's an interesting take so far, especially when the group teams up with Rita, becoming her Rangers. I'm interested to see where this new story leads, enough that I already pre-ordered Volume 2.

Having watched several different seasons of "The Power Rangers", I also appreciate these new teenagers and how they stand-out from other versions. Most Ranger candidates are confident and strong - the people you'd expect to save the world. Mark and his friends are not those things. Instead, they're uncertain, passive, selfish, blinded, lost. They are not who you'd expect to be fighting evil, but perhaps they are what this new world needs.

Also, the return of VR Troopers! I don't know who made the decision to include them in this story and set them as the antagonists, but it was a genius move. Having grown-up during the time of "The Power Rangers", "VR Troopers", "Big Bad Beetleborgs", and other teenage super groups, I nearly lost my mind when I saw them transform. Out of curiosity, I picked-up the first issue of VR Troopers to see what the story would be from the antagonists perspective. At the moment, it doesn't appear to have anything to do with the Power Rangers: Prime series from which it spun out. Instead, it focuses on a mysterious villain, the Troopers' background, and some sort of "multiverse" element.

 

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return by Amy Jo Johnson and Matt Hotson

 

 "And now here you all are, together again -- for the last time. Because I'm going to personally help keep that promise you all made ... No more Power Rangers."

Long ago, six ordinary teenagers were chosen to become Power Rangers, using their new abilities to defend Earth from evil monsters. After decades of saving the world, their battle finally came to an end with the deaths of Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd, and the destruction of their moon base. The Power Rangers also lost one of their own, Tommy Oliver the Green Ranger, which caused his wife, Kimberly Hart, to walk away from the group. Years after leaving the group, Kimberly Hart is pulled back in when they find someone is drawing from the power of the Morphin Grid, and a young girl claiming to be the recently-departed Trini's niece shows up at Hart's doorstep. Once again reunited, the Power Rangers will face an enemy they never saw coming - one with the power to resurrect their greatest nemesis.

Despite being just four-issues long, the story packs in a ton of millennial nostalgia for me. Right from the start, I want to say I was really excited for this book, especially after missing out on collecting the four issues series at their original release. Co-written by Amy Jo Johnson - yeah, the first Pink Ranger! - the story quickly retcons the original series by keeping the original team intact, and then pitting them in a last battle with Rita Repulsa and Lord Zedd. Kimberly Hart, still suffering the trauma of losing her husband and fellow Power Ranger, Tommy Oliver, meets with her old friends after years of hiding only to discover a mysterious entity using the power of the Morphin Grid for nefarious purposes. Despite it being the standard "Evil Has Returned" plot line, there are several surprising moments that kept me hooked and wanting more (perhaps a second story arc?).

The Return is a story of trauma and loss, and how we work to move past it. Kimberly Hart, still suffering years after the loss of her husband, hides herself and her daughter away, isolated, even going so far as to change her entire identity. The other three remaining Rangers, seeing pain and suffering around them, use the power they'd sworn off to help people - Jason going the furthest after witnessing the deaths of many as a firefighter as he tries to stay morphed at all times. Lastly is Rita and Zedd's daughter, Selena, orphaned on Earth after The Power Rangers killed her parents, tries to return the family stolen from her and killing those responsible. Each suffering character shows the extreme lengths people will go to just to ease their pain and get passed their trauma.

 

Ultraman X The Avengers by Mat Groom and Kyle Higgins

Attempting to rid their universe of Galactus, The Avengers accidentally transport the planet-eater to Ultraman's Earth. To undo their mistake, Earth's Mightiest Heroes will team-up with the Ultra Guard to fight off monstrous Kaiju attacks and infiltrate the base of Ultraman's enemy before setting out to subdue Galactus.

Collecting the entire four-issue series Ultraman X The Avengers sees two powerful teams teaming-up to take on the cosmic threat known as Galactus. Once again, picked-up on a whim as my eyes saw Ultraman and my brain said, "Buy it now!" because though I never grew up with Ultraman, I did watch a lot of Power Rangers and old Godzilla movies with folks in rubber suits fighting in a cardboard landscape. The story was your standard crossover, and though I didn't know much about Ultraman and his team, the whole thing felt pretty plausible without any real changes occurring to either universe. In the end, it was an okay read, but now one I'll pick-up again.

Absolute Flash #1 - 6 by Jeff Lemire

 

Still dealing with his mother's unexpected death and his father's constant military reassignments, anxiety-ridden Wally West is just trying to catch his breath and make his world slow down. Wally's world gets faster than he thought possible when a military experiment goes awry. Hoping to rein in the young speedster, the military sends their own super-powered rogues after him. Alone and isolated, Wally will not only seek to stay one step ahead of those hunting him, but also help those harmed in the military's experiments. After all, he already knows that by the choices he makes, he can either save or destroy humanity.

An excellent start to another re-imagined character in DC's "Absolute" series. Keeping with the "Hopelessness" theme of this new universe, Wally West no longer has the mentorship of Barry Allen and the camaraderie of the rest of the Flash family as he does in the regular DC Universe. Instead, he is an anxiety-ridden teenager hoping to slow the world down, and to his horror and detriment, is given superhuman speed - his body and mind now racing faster than ever. Also introduced are The Flash's rogues gallery, no longer just a bunch of supervillains joined together but disgraced soldiers blackmailed into subjecting themselves to the same type of experiments which gave West his own powers. They are trained in combat and, being part of the same unit, already know how to work as a team, which will make dealing with them all the more tougher for the kid. That connection is something I really liked seeing as it gives both sides a deeper bond than simply Hero and Villain - it cuts them from the same cloth. It's a good start to another series in this new universe.

Like with the other "Absolute Universe" books, Absolute Flash features an overarching theme, this time of isolation. Wally West is clearly alone having lost his mother, disconnected from his father, and not having any close friends. This is only made worse after the accident when he is hunted by the Rogues, a military group sent after him by his own father. Building on this is the whole of issue 6 where the reader is given background into the Rogues as they're initially in hiding, cut-off even from each other. Brought together once more, they agree to be experimented upon and turned into weapons, whatever it takes to get their lives back. Based on how West handles the Heatwave monstrosity, this loneliness he feels will likely shape the way he will deal with the other loosened experiments, and probably the Rogues once they catch up to him.

 

What If ...? Galactus by Mat Groom (The Hulk), Josh Trujillo (Gambit), Alex Segura (Moon Knight), Ann Nocenti (Rogue), Kalinda Vazquez (Spider-Gwen)

 

A collection of five one-shot issues re-imagining the universe if Galactus had instead chosen a different herald to assist him in satisfying his endless hunger.

Comic book nerds love debating "What if's" with each other, and publishers find it profitable (see Marvel's current "Ultimate' and DC's "Absolute" series). That said, these five stories were okay as they re-imagined five different Heralds - The Hulk, Gambit, Moon Knight, Rogue, and Spider-Gwen. The stand-out, in my opinion, was the Rogue storyline as she realizes the importance of Galactus to the universe as a whole, his consumption acting as a kind-of "controlled burn" to make room for new growth in the universe. The Hulk choosing to fight Galactus and Gambit teaching the world-eater about the pain of loss were okay. Moon Knight and Spider-Gwen both rebelling felt like a waste of their characters.

 

Exquisite Corpses #1 - 4 by James Tynion IV (issues 1 - 4), Michael Walsh (#2), Pornsak Pichetshote (#3), Che Grayson (#4)

"It's about power. You know that. This is when we remind ourselves why we should be afraid of each other. Imagine if all I had up my sleeve was depravity. That's no way to win. And no way to scare people. Not for more than a moment, anyways."

It's that time again! The stage is set and the players are chosen. The 13 families secretly in control of the United States of America chose killers armed with specific weapons and drop them into a small-town to hunt and kill each other with the last one standing deciding the family who will head the country for the next five years. Let the games begin!

A collective effort involving a whole bunch of different writers and artists, Exquisite Corpses is an action-horror comic setting a bunch of killers against each other in a small town filled with unaware citizens. I like to imagine this as a fun, collaborative effort amongst a group of buddies, each of them given free-rein over the issue they're working on to tell this story. As for collecting these issues, I'm really hoping I can keep picking-up the polybag issues which come with a special trading card (not that I ever plan to play). Of the shops I frequent though, one doesn't bring in the comic at all, and the other didn't have issue 4 in stock on the release day though I did manage to find it the next week in the Back Issue bin. I cheated and pre-ordered issues 6 and 7 online, but I really do like it when I can find them in stores. Well, I'll see how my collecting goes.

Every 10 years, the 13 families who control America chose a killer and set them loose in a small town to fight each other with sole survivor determining the winning family. With such a straight-forward yet insane premise, of course you need a cast of characters to match. The townspeople, of course, are pretty standard folks just going about their everyday lives, ill-prepared for what's to come. The Family Representatives, each of them using the name of one of the first 13 States as a moniker, vary widely from each other. Some eccentric, some cruel, some calculating. The one stand-out (and the focus) is Massachusetts who expresses her embarrassment at how the games have transformed, and hopes to restore some sense of dignity if victorious. The Killers, too, are a mixed group, with some being trained, professional killers while others are simply murderous psychopaths. It's a fun look at the wild and varied characters one can fit into a story this insane, and I'm interested to see what each writer plans to do with them.

Can absolute power be wielded without corrupting absolutely? Mentioned in issue one, Massachusetts states that she hates the way the game is played by the other Families who have been shown to revel in the bloodshed and cruelty they create. Besides Massachusetts' chosen killer, the others introduced thus far also appear to wield their power cruelly, murdering others for no other reason than because they can. Even those who held power in the town use it to keep those under them in-line and under their thumb. Though we have yet to hear or see how Massachusetts could be different from her contemporaries, I'm interested to see how the game plays out.

 

The Power Fantasy #6 - 11 by Kieron Gillen

"So part of me was glad ... I'd have hated to be facing the wrong way at the end of the world."

The world keeps turning as long as the six Superpowers maintain an uneasy truce and never come into conflict with one another. The group re-lives the events of the Second Summer of Love, and the planetary destruction caused when an emerging Superpower went berserk. Knowing the results of their last conflict, the six form uneasy alliances and backroom deals as a new Superpower once again emerges.

One of the best "not-a-superhero" superpower stories keeps getting better and better. I strongly recommend this book to anyone with a love for superpower stories with less "Punching" - as that would literally be the worst thing to happen in this universe. One of the issues even opens with the stats on the six Superpowers and the number of people they could kill per hour with the weakest measuring at 250 million while the stronger ones are estimated at 6 billion. In regards to collecting these six issues, just like the first five, I'm still trying to grab both covers of every issue for no other reason than to have them. Unfortunately, it appears that both comic shops I frequent have stopped bringing in Cover B issues, so I've resorted to buying them online instead, while picking-up the Cover A issues on my Pull List.

Despite most of this story arc set during the Second Summer of Love catastrophe which led to the destruction of Europe, the story itself still moves forward in the present day. When telling major, in-universe, historical events, it's tempting to make that the major focus which tends to loose sight of the present day. I liked that each character had a valid, present-day reason for re-living the event, keeping them grounded in the current situation of how to handle the emergence of a new potential Superpower which may disrupt their current balance. We also learn a lot about several characters during their retelling of the events, knowledge which shapes their decision at the end of issue 11, as it is the past which shapes our present. Unfortunately, we will need to wait until the next story arc to see the full ramifications of "killing" one of their own.

Being a character driven story, what I really like are the different ways each character copes with the amount of power they wield and how they contrast each other. Eti calculates when to use his power based on logic and ethics, not allowing his feelings to enter his judgements compared to Heavy who appears to be driven to action by his emotions. Valentina will do whatever it takes to ensure the wrorld keeps turning while Eliza is ashamed that she did. As much as Masumi desires to hide her power, Magus created a cult for the entire world to see just so he can be included in this elite group. These differences ground the characters, making them feel more human than the standard superhero model of doing the right thing because it is the right thing.

 

Absolute Martian Manhunter #1 - 6 by Deniz Camp

"I know I sound crazy. I know that. But the martian who lives in my head assures me I'm not." 

FBI Agent John Jones awakens in a hospital bed after surviving a suicide bombing attack. Despite being given a clean bill of health and permission to return to duty, a colorful haze wafting in and out of his sight, knowing things about others he should have no way of knowing, and a strange voice in his head have him believing otherwise. As the rest of the city falls into madness with a spike in arson attacks, riots, and other previously unfathomable crimes, Jones will come to accept the help of the alien voice as a means to stop the chaos caused by a sinister, invisible, unknowable entity.

I'll admit, I wasn't especially excited for Absolute Martian Manhunter as I was for the Absolute versions of the other DC staples. I don't know too much about the character, his phasing and mind-reading powers aren't as flashy, and the cartoons I watched didn't make him seem too important except as a fish-out-of-water joke. How fucking wrong I was! Issue one felt a little bland to me as the story sets up the characters and the madness slowly building in the city. I wasn't even sure I wanted to continue it from that point. Then came issue two, and with more explanation into what was really happening to Jones and the introduction of a villain driving these everyday people to commit heinous atrocities, that solidified my desire to continue this superhero/detective story. It's a surprising story, especially considering the other five books in this new Absolute universe, but a welcome change and a standout for its unique approach to the genre.

Like the other books so far, there exists an underlying, darker theme to these stories set in a universe devoid of hope. In these, there is a "darkness of man" theme in which humans show they're not only filled with terrible thoughts but also capable of turning these thoughts to action. Though The Martian determined that a White Martian orchestrated these crimes, Jones knows that it simply persuaded its victims to succumb to their dark desires, that the thought to commit such horrors were within these people all along. It's a dark and bleak look into the human psyche by simply examining what we are capable of. 

Books of 2025: July

I should start coming up with monthly reading themes. Anyways, if I had to describe this month, it was about matching up books stacked in my To Read pile.

X-Men: Homecoming by Jed Mackay

 "Of course I'm threatening you. Because, like I said, I'm doing you a favor. Psylocke. Kid Omega. Juggernaut. Magik. An assassin, a terrorist, a super villain and Illyana's half demon on a good day. Plus Magneto. You want them busy. Because you want them to be my X-Men. Not my Brotherhood."

A new age of the X-Men has begun! Their old home gone, Scott Summers (Cyclops) leads a new team from an abandoned Alaskan Sentinel construction factory. A new home and a new team, but the mission remains the same - protect their kind. They'll discover new mutants finding their powers for the first time, fight against threats both human and mutant, and stumble upon a new mystery of new mutants awakening their powers much later in life.

 

Uncanny X-Men: Red Wave by Gail Simone

"It was our home. Be a good houseguest. Because someday soon? We're gonna come to the gate and take it all back."

Scattered and driven from their home, the newlyweds Rogue and Gambit find themselves in search for a new home in Louisiana. Despite Charles Xavier's school lost and transformed into a prison, when a few stray mutants arrive on her doorstep, hunted and afraid, Rogue chooses to continue Xavier's dream. With no backup, the new team will need to defend themselves and their new home from a monster connected to Xavier's past life before the formation of the X-Men.

 

Exceptional X-Men: Duty Calls by Eve L. Ewing

"I told them I didn't want any part in ... anything. You can say I'm running away. Sure. But I'm choosing this. I'm choosing these kids. Choosing to be the teacher I wish I had."

Hiding herself away in Chicago, Katherine "Kitty" Pryde just wants to live a normal life far from her one with the X-Men. Her dreams of a quiet life are quickly abandoned when she intervenes in a couple of incidents involving young mutants with untamed powers. The young mutants seek out Kitty's mentorship, much to the delight of a bored Emma Frost. Dragged back into a life she tried to run from, can Kitty train her proteges to control their new abilities, and gain their trust despite her questionable past?

 

X-Factor: Please Like and Share by Mark Russell

In bright and sunny California, a new mutant team is formed: X-Factor! Thanks to an unlikely partnership, X-Factor is formed as a marketing tool for the US Military to recruit mutants and appeal to the public. Made up of relatively unknown mutants, the untested team is sent on dangerous missions in other countries, in space, and deep underground, all to appeal to the masses.

 

NYX: What Comes Next will be Marvelous by Collin Kelly

It's a new era for young mutants in New York City. The great city has always been alive and full of opportunity and now it's time for those coming into their own to find their place in it. The city isn't without its own dangers, however, dark corners looking to consume their hope. Do these young mutants have what it takes to forge their own path, build a new community, and survive in the city? 

Sentinels: Necessary Monsters by Alex Paknadel

Sentinels were first created by humans born out of their fear of mutantkind. Though the autonomous machines were decommissioned, the need to keep the peace between humans and mutants still exists. Run from the newly established Graymalkin Prison, the program merges advanced nanotechnology with mutants. The unit will be sent to capture some of the strongest mutants and return them to the prison. All the while, they'll need to keep themselves in-check as their new implants harbor a deadly and dangerous life-threatening secret.

 

Dazzler: World Tour by Jason Loo

Alison Blaire, aka Dazzler, hopes her music can unite mutants and humans. Along with her road crew comprised of fellow mutants, she sets off on an epic world tour. Unfortunately, someone has it out for Dazzler, seeking to ruin the tour from the shadows with hired hands. Can Dazzler and the crew put a stop of the petty scheme and keep the show going?

 

Something big happened to the X-Men back in 2024 (no, I'm still not exactly sure what it was), and Marvel ended the current run of X-Men comics to start over with a bunch of new titles. These would supposedly be "new reader" friendly, allowing new fans to get into the story without needing to know a ton of background. To some degree, these titles achieved that goal as they use popular characters (characters even non-comic book fans might know) in new storylines with enough bits and pieces thrown in for reference, if needed. The three "flagship titles" - X-Men, Uncanny X-Men, and Exceptional X-Men - focus on tried-and-true types of stories with experienced mutants taking in less experienced ones while defending themselves from both humans and mutants alike. Other books focused on smaller groups in more niche stories. There are also a bunch of books I didn't buy just because that's so, so much money to spend. I had originally bought first issues of several of these stories, hoping to find one that might resonate with me to keep reading regularly (the X-Men are important to the Marvel Universe, after all) but I just never found the time to read them. Then, the trade paperbacks got released, so I picked up a bunch of these instead.

How are the stories? The three flagship books - X-Men, Uncanny X-Men, and Exceptional X-Men - are, well, they're okay. These three books focus on the typical X-Men stories: experienced mutants taking on young proteges and fighting back against both mutants and humans seeking to do them harm. They are exactly what I expected to get out these books, so solid C, C+ reads. I've got no issue with these. What I did have a problem with were the smaller books - NYX, Dazzler, X-Factor, and Sentinels. Though less marketed, I had high hopes for these books based on just how different they would be from the three major ones. NYX, focusing on mutants attempting to thrive in New York City, wasn't too bad just that the storyline felt confusing at times (and I think they even left part of it unfinished). Dazzler, a story about the title characters attempted world tour, too, wasn't bad, but just wasn't something I was interested in reading (I really wanted to see the actual tour). X-Factor, where a team of mutants put together by the military to push an agenda, felt like a joke the entire way through. Sentinels, in which a group of mutants are enhanced with Sentinel technology so they can hunt down their own to keep the peace mutant and human communities, felt lacking all the way through. These last two books I had high hopes for based on just how different they are from the usual X-Men stories.

Besides the three flagship books, I'm honestly not sure if the others continue post this initial collection of issues. However, I learned something about myself after reading this huge chunk of X-Men stories: I don't care. As I said, besides these last two books they weren't bad stories, and are worth continuing if you're a fan of the X-Men. I just kinda realized I wasn't excited to read these books even as I was reading them. Maybe I just don't care about these characters or was just more excited to get to reading other books stacked in my TO READ pile (it is starting to get out of hand). So, yeah, I'm probably not going back to these books.

Batman: A Death in the Family by Jim Starlin / A Lonely Place of Dying by Marv Wolfman

 

"You've been a bad boy. You must be punished! Prepare yourself for a severe spanking, young man. But let me tell you right from the start ... this is going to hurt you a lot more than it does me."

After the deaths of his parents left him an orphan, Jason Todd was adopted by Bruce Wayne and trained to become Batman's new Robin. Jason, however, later discovered that the woman he knew as his mother was not really his birth mother - who may still be alive. Jason sets out to the Middle East to discover which of three women may be his mother. At the same time, Bruce Wayne also sets off for the region after learning of a possible Joker Plot. The pair team-up once more to not only search for Jason's mother as well as to foil the Joker's plans. When both missions overlap, Jason is captured and beaten, and eventually killed in an explosion. Batman sets out for revenge, but discovers The Joker is now untouchable as he has been appointed as Iran's U.N. Ambassador, granting him diplomatic immunity. Reluctantly, Batman steps aside despite knowing all to well the man behind the painted smile. As expected, The Joker attempts to kill everyone at the United Nations' conference, his plan foiled by a disguised Superman. Despite Batman's vow to finally kill The Joker, he still allows the villain to escape.

A mysterious figure stalks a now reckless Batman as he continues to spiral after the death of Robin. Set on returning the Dark Knight back to form, the young boy sets out to find a vanished Dick Grayson, however none of the Titans know where he has gone, now how this child knows Nightwing's secret identity. Eventually finding Dick at his old circus home, the boy asks Dick to once again don his old Robin costume as a way to bring Bruce Wayne back to his old self. Meanwhile, Batman and Two-Face face off, each attempting to lure the other into a trap. When Batman and Nightwing fall into Two-Face's trap, it is up to the young sleuth, Tim Drake, to save them, deciding to wear the Robin suit.

An important piece of Batman lore, "A Death in the Family" collects the four issues surrounding the death of Jason Todd/Robin and its immediate aftermath. Also, included in this collection I picked up, "A Lonely Place of Dying", a five-issue story introducing the new Robin, Tim Drake, as Batman always needs a Robin to keep him grounded and focused. A historic event as DC allowed readers to call one of two hotline phone numbers to decide if the boy lived or died. It's one of those stories I always meant to read being a major event in comic book history, but just never got around to doing since I basically knew the story. Then, one of the comic book shops put the book on display as part of their Book Club reading, so I decided to finally give it a read. Also, spurring me on was that I had already bought the recently published alternate version of "what if readers voted to save Jason Todd?" and thought "Wouldn't it be fun to read both stories back-to-back?"

So, how was the story? Surprisingly long and dark. The story is only four issues long, but it is almost 130 pages long with huge chunks of dialogue. I can typically clear 4 modern comic book issues in a lunch break, but these took me a lot longer than expected. Each issue also started with a couple of pages recapping the previous issue, something not found in most modern comics. Adding to its length is the whole chapter and a half after Jason's death with The Joker becoming Iran's Ambassador, which kinda lessens the impact giving a reason for The Batman not to kill The Joker despite his vow to do so this time. Despite the bright colors, the story itself is surprisingly dark as Batman takes on a child pornography ring and Robin brutalizes a bunch of villains all before The Joker beats Jason Todd to death with a crowbar over several panels without so much as a monologue first. That, of course, leads to Jason Todd's death. As mentioned, the readers got to decide if Robin lived or died. The story includes an ad proving the phone numbers to call to save or kill the boy - for fifty cents a call which is crazy seeing as each issue also costs fifty cents each. I knew some history going into the story, so I kinda expected the reader to decide whether or not Batman saves Robin from his injuries, or if he survives the vicious crowbar-beating - not if he survives an explosion! I don't know much about Jason Todd, but reading his character in this book, I can definitely see why some fans would vote to kill him off as I found him annoying as he is constantly going on and on about finding his mother through the whole story. It was definitely an interesting and historic read as it shows a major death, leads to a new Robin, and eventually transforms Jason Todd into Red Hood.

As for "A Lonely Place of Dying", the five issues introduce Tim Drake, the newest child to take up the Robin mantle. I really like Drake's introduction as "The Detective" - having figured out Bruce Wayne's, Dick Grayson's, and Jason Todd's secret identities even before becoming Robin. He presents as a different type of Robin, especially compared to the one they just wrote out two issues ago. The story itself brings in Two-Face, a classic Batman villain, and teases perhaps bringing Dick back as Robin, which I'm glad they didn't do. It's a good way to introduce the new character that readers are going to be seeing more of.

Death in the Family: Robin Lives! by J.M. DeMatteis

"Well, then, let's start with one question: Why? Why expose a child to the dangers ... the insanity ... of the Batman's world?"

The Joker is dead! After surviving a near-death beating, Jason Todd returns to Gotham changed, violent, broken. Unable to connect with his young protege, Bruce Wayne reaches out for help to assist in healing his ward. The Joker, too, after being taken into custody yet again, is set up with his own expert looking to cure the Clown Price of his insanity. Meanwhile Bruce asks the question he had never thought to ask, "Was I right to bring children into Batman's world?" Of course, The Joker escapes Arkham once again and sets out on a new plan of mass-murder. Jason's anger finally taking control, he sets out to stop The Joker once and for all, but when the opportunity comes, he freezes. Batman sets out to stop the plan, but before he can capture The Joker, Jason arrives and shoots the criminal in the head. In an epilogue, Bruce sets aside the Batman mantle, and Jason goes on to work at Arkham, helping those he once put there - before turning into The Joker himself.

A continuation of the alternate ending in which Jason Todd survives the injuries he sustains in the historic "A Death in the Family" storyline. I got this book through the online comic shop mostly out of curiosity as to where they might go with an alternate storyline. Then, I decided to hold-off reading it until I read the original version, which, surprisingly, the comic shop's Book Club was reading that month (what great timing!). The first half of this book provides the original "A Death in the Family" storyline with the alternate ending of Jason Todd surviving his injuries before going on to the four-issue "Robin Lives" story. The story itself tackles the issues of trauma amongst those in the Batman universe as not only Jason Todd tries to deal with almost dying at the hands of The Joker, but Bruce Wayne too looks at his role in bringing these young boys into his world. It's a pretty good spin through the first three issues but definitely fumbles the ending.

So, let's talk about that ending. Up to the last issue, I was really enjoying the story, wondering how The Joker would eventually end up dead, and what atrocities Jason may commit while drugged with The Joker's serum. Jason, however, simply shakes off the poison in a couple of pages after being ordered to kill a single person. Then, The Joker actually tempts Jason to kill him as if the Clown Price wants to die by Robin's hand, not Batman's. Finally, for seemingly no reason and with no explanation than ones I come up with in my head, Jason turns into The Joker. Yeah, it's a shock-value ending without rhyme or reason. The story really would've wrapped up nicely without the last two pages, instead ending with Jason working through his trauma and going on to help others. Instead, we're given a shock-ending with no real pay-off as this story is just a different ending of a storyline nearly 40 years old (why would they write a "Robin Lives II" after all?)

 

Absolute Wonder Woman #8 - 10 by Kelly Thompson

"That was an ancient monster from another world doing only what it knew how to do. It was not a clever human harnessing dangerous weapons it doesn't understand, only to use them to purposely hurt fellow citizens."

Having saved Gateway City, Diana turns her attention to finding her lost Amazonian sisters. She soon finds a lead when a government scientist reveals the location of a hidden base containing a labyrinth where one may be held prisoner. Traversing the maze, Diana instead finds a despot has taken control of the prison from within, one looking to harness the powers of the captured.

The start of a new story arc finds Diana establishing herself as the protector of Gateway City while a government force looks to harness the abilities of the recently slain monsters. Despite all the pain forced upon her in Hell, Diana still hasn't lost her hope in finding her missing sisters, nor her compassion to help those in trouble. Though she has fought terrifying monsters, it is in their nature to be monsters. Facing new threats that choose to be monsters, will witnessing such atrocious acts finally break her?

 

Absolute Superman #7 - 9 by Jason Aaron

 

"I have to get away from these people. I'll go to the top of their tallest mountain. Or maybe I can jump to the moon. Some place no one can find me. No one who can possibly need anything from me. No one screaming for me to save them. Join them. Liberate or avenge them. No one lost and in need of salvation. No one else like me. "
 

Brainiac continues his search for the identity of The Superman, remembering his rise to power amongst the other Brainiacs. Caught in Smallville, The Lazarus Corporation's Peacemakers injure Kal-El with a special bullet made of the remains of Krypton. Saved by the Omega Men resistance fighters, Kal-El joins with them for a mission to free those take prisoner.

"Absolute Superman" continues with more background into their big villains - Brainiac and Ra's al Ghul - and into a new storyline pairing Kal-El with the Omega Man resistance group. It is not only a story of resistance against the exploitation of the weak by the powerful, but also address keeping one's hope in the face of hopelessness. Kal-El, having already witnessed the destruction of his home planet, is now seeing the same follies play out on this new planet. Can he fully move on from this trauma when the radiated remains of Krypton have literally come back to try to kill him once again? 

 

Books of 2025: June

Spent the month catching up on floppies I've been neglecting (sometimes, i think there may actually be too much to read)

Kid Venom by T Taigami

In an alternate universe's Japan of 977AD, the black symbiote Clinter bonds with a young boy named Kintaro. Together the pair hunt down and consume other symbiotes, seen as demons by the people of the time. When a horde of evil symbiotes appear, led by a mysterious figure from Clinter's past, the two will face their toughest trial yet. 

Collecting "Kid Venom: Origins" and "Kid Venom" issues #1 - 4, the story focues on the character Kid Venom, a new character recently introduced in 2023. The two stories introduce a new symbiote bonded character, Kintaro/Clinter, in an alternate medieval Japan setting. This new character is able to shapeshift its form into a completely new one depending on the symbiotes Clinter has consumed, providing the pair with new ways to fight. It's interesting and definitely makes the character stand out from the standard Eddie Brock/Venom character. Not having the same access to technology as the modern day heroes, the Minamoto Samurai Corps (a group responsible for hunting down demons) utilize magical weapons to defend themselves and other citizens. the story also provides a couple of "tie-ins" such as references to a sealed Knull (the god of symbiotes), an unusual Spider-Man mask, and, in the end, the introduction to May "Mayday" "Spider-Girl" Parker (not the 616 variant, though).

It was an okay, if a little disappointing, set-up to a new character. I liked the setting in the past without modern tools as it makes the symbiotes (still weak to fire and sonic/loud noises) even more terrifying to the people of this time. I also liked the Minamoto Samurai Corps' use of magic weapons to level the playing field against the symbiotes, and acting as a task force against symbiotes to assist Kintaro and Clinter in their battles. All of this, however, is negated by the literal last page which brings Kintaro to the modern era.

Trinity: Generation S by Tom King

 

A collection of stories focusing on Wonder Woman's daughter, Trinity, from her misadventures tormenting her babysitters Damien Wayne and Jon Kent to adulthood finally becoming worthy to be her mother's successor and standing side-by-side-by-side amongst a new generation of heroes. It's a great collection of one-shot stories written by Tom King featuring stories growing up as the child of a legendary hero.

This was such a fun read! I know I've said before, that I'm usually hesitant to buy books featuring established superheroes as that's a lot of history to catch-up with. It is one of the reasons I try to focus on newer hero stories or re-imagined heroes. I'm also buying a lot more trade paperback books not only because I get a bit of a deal online but also (more importantly) they're easier to offload if I feel like I'll never read it again. This is not one of those books. A collection of one-shot stories featuring heir-apparent trio of Trinity, Superman (Jon Kent), and Robin/Batman (Damien Wayne) in (mostly) hilarious tales as they grow into heroes. We're given entertaining misadventures in babysitting as Jon and Damien attempt to rein in a young Lizzie Prince. In a bit of magic-gone-wrong, Wonder Girl attempts to return Jon and Damien to their human forms after being transformed into corgis. In a more inspiring and heartfelt tale, we see Lizzie's journey to attain the mantle of Wonder Woman, and how it mirrors her own mother's trial. This was a great collection of one-shot stories featuring the growing relationship between three fairly new characters. Though I don't follow a lot of established characters in DC comics (just because of the vast history needed). I'm hoping DC Comics focuses on giving Trinity more stories with or without Damien Wayne and Jon Kent.

Batman and Robin #16 - 20 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson

"Nightwing. Red Hood. Oracle. Signal. Protectors of Gotham. All of you. You are needed. Dr. Malik Bashar is dead ... and Momento has taken Robin. Whatever favors you are owed. Whatever pressure you can apply. Whatever it takes. Turn this city upside down. Find your brother."

A killer from Bruce Wayne's past is on the loose in Gotham! An old friend of Bruce's arrives in Gotham to assist in hunting down Memento - a killer staging his crime scenes to mirror horrific deaths from the past. With Batman infected with a believed-extinct fear drug causing him to see terrifying visions, Robin takes the lead in the investigation. Meanwhile, Bruce and Damien Wayne experience a falling-out as Damien questions not only Robin's necessity, but Batman's as well. With the two separated, Memento strikes and captures Damien, causing Batman to call for aid from the rest of the Bat Family to find their lost brother.

Batman and Robin continue their hunt together for Memento, a killer from Bruce Wayne's time in London whose killings mimicked horrific incidents from the past. As Bruce and Damien Wayne, however, the two experience a falling-out as Damien contemplates giving up his crime-fighting lifestyle to pursue other goals, questioning Gotham's need for The Batman. I definitely like and enjoy that DC gave Johnson more time on writing this series instead of just a few issues as the last one did, simply because it gives more time to flesh out a story. Although there's change in artist, I actually didn't notice anything drastic as when the artists changed from issues #10 to issues #11, I also really love that they brought in Juni Ba to do the artwork for the brief "Robin and Batman" in-story comic as I loved his work on "The Boy Wonder."

These issues contained more of what I really wanted to see in a book called "Batman and Robin" - the dynamic and relationship between the two characters, not just as crimefighters but also as father and son. Of course, we're still getting the story of the two investigating a murderous villain, but we're also seeing more of their personal lives, too. I love seeing Damien question The Batman's role in Gotham, debating whether or not to leave his father's side and perhaps follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, Thomas Wayne, instead. It's interesting to see Damien, at a pretty young age, already having his moment when he is questioning his life alongside The Batman as previous Robins have before him. To see Bruce Wayne/The Batman as well, making questionable choices when it comes to the rearing of his son, also reveals just how much it hurts him to see his son and partner start to turn away from his teachings. I love this dynamic between the two characters, and is the reason I keep buying these issues.

Another small part that I really liked came in the middle of issue #20 - the "Robin and Batman" comic written and drawn by Juni Ba. I liked this call back to Damien's artistic abilities (I really wanted more of this earlier) as a way for him to process his emotions and conduct his investigations. Plus, I loved seeing Ba's artwork again after reading "The Boy Wonder."

Ultimate Black Panther #12 - 17 by Bryan Hill

Finally T'Challa and Moon Knight come face-to-face in a duel for the future of the African continent. Upon his victory, as well as the arrival of the Sorcerer Supreme to Wakanda, more secrets of the true nature of vibranium are revealed. The rare and precious metal, the prize of the Kingdom of Wakanda, built into every part of their city and culture, is alive. More conspiracies unfold as unexpected forces seek to take the throne, while others mean to make The Black Panther a mere puppet in their bid for power.

Despite The Black Panther being a character known to punch, kick, and slash his enemies, the story doesn't focus on action scenes. The duel against his adversary for nearly a dozen issues, The Moon Knight, doesn't even last a full issues, and is instead over within a couple pages. Instead, it is T'Challa's role as King of Wakanda, and what it takes to hold the throne. The story is filled with conspiracies as T'Challa seeks out advisors and allies he can trust. It is a slower "political thriller" maybe is a way to describe it as forces are gathered and allies are positioned. It's definitely a new take and not usually seen in the comic medium which relies on at least one "big moment" per issues to ensure the reader comes back next month for the next issue. I think this "newness" nay have hindered the pacing and story-telling (at least I've never read another comic so focused on politics), but I'm still hopeful that with new threats discovered, the story might pick up and become as exciting as the others. 

Honestly, this is currently my least favorite of the current 5 "Ultimate" books. Umm, it's just a slower burn than the other stories currently in the works, and just doesn't feel as interesting, issue by issue. The change in the "Big Bad" from The Maker's council members to this Living Dark Vibranium and a secret sect within Wakanda's advisors is a good twist, but may have come too late as we're just over halfway through the series. There doesn't also seem to be any connection to the other books, yet, which makes it feel a bit disconnected. I'm hopeful this change in direction will pay-off in the second half of the supposed 24 issue series and peak more of my interest instead of just being a series I'm reading to ensure I don't miss any part of this new Ultimate Universe.

Ultimate X-Men #11 - 16 by Peach Momoko

 

In Hi No Kuni, an unrest has taken hold as the people are still reeling from the body found in an abandoned suitcase. Connected to the cult known as The Children of the Atom, anti-mutant sentiment grows, as does attacks by and against mutants. Gathering those who have gone into hiding, Mei (Maystorm) gathers her "X-Men" to fight against those mutants attacking the general public. Looking for answers, Nico, Mori, and Kanon investigate the remnants of The Children of the Atom cult hoping to find their missing friends. Shinobu once again confronts Hisako, and this time manages to capture her for the cult's nefarious purposes.

Continuing Peach Momoko's unanticipated version of this universe's mutants, "Ultimate X-Men" sees mutants pitted against each other as members of The Children of the Atom either break away or embed themselves deeper into the group's teachings. At the same time, the group's ultimate goal is starting to come together now that they have both Shinobu (Shadow King) and Hisako (Armor) within their grasp. And, of course, in traditional "X-Men" fashion, the entirety of of mutant-kind is being ostracized by those without abilities. Assuming we're about two-thirds of the way through, the story is starting to build to a possible climax pitting Mei's (Maystorm) X-Men against the Children of the Atom, while Hisako and Shinobu potentially battle for the fate of their kind.

Despite some of the negative comments I've seen online about this version of the X-Men, I really love this series - and that's probably because I'm an anime fan. The story is initially set-up as a sort-of body horror story as these children experience changes to their bodies without anyone to guide them through it. Despite sounding pretty cool to find yourself with new powers overnight, it can also be a terrifying experience, especially if someone else is using their gifts to haunt you. The story also sets the classic "teenagers sent on path to save the world" storyline as it appears Hisako, Mai, and the other X-Men are the only ones capable of putting a stop to the cult's goals. When you set high-schoolers - filled with emotions - as your main characters, of course you should have them feel as if the world is centered around them and their actions. And, of course, there's the classic "shouting my attack name" because, hey, why not? It's always a cool thing to see as it provides character insight and emotion to their battles. The story just checks so many boxes for me, and I think it's a cool thing to see depicted in a western comic (though I am glad they didn't go all the way and print the story from back to front, we didn't need to go that far).

Ultimate Wolverine #1 - 6 by Christopher Condon

 

In The Maker's skewed Eurasian Republic, recent mutant activity has led the region's rulers to tighten their control of the populace - through imprisonment, re-education, even execution. Now they've captured their most terrifying weapon yet - a man able to heal himself completely from injuries which would kill any other ordinary man. Through experimentation, sedation, and reconditioning, they'll erase his past and create their perfect soldier, their Winter Soldier. As the adamantium-clawed killing machine completes mission after mission against the rebel forces, The Opposition, he will face old comrades and rediscover who he once was. Will this new version of The Wolverine be able to shake off his shackles and return to the team from which he was stolen?

The newest book added to Marvel's new Ultimate series, "Ultimate Wolverine" focuses on a re-programmed Logan, turned into Eurasian Republic's leaders' Winter Soldier. I'm actually really surprised this was introduced a year into the new Ultimate Universe's creation rather than right from the start alongside the original three books as the story is set in a completely different region of the globe from "Ultimate Spider-man", "Ultimate Black Panther", and "Ultimate X-Men". It just makes sense to dedicate a book to various regions and what is happening due to The Maker's containment, so, you know, why not introduce it earlier? I'll get to my own thoughts on that later.

The story so far has been great: introducing a brain-washed Logan as the new Winter Soldier to carryout the orders of the Eurasion Republic's rulers - Colossus, Magik, and Omega Red - against The Opposition, the rebel force made up of some familiar X-Men such as Nightcrawler, Gambit, and Shadowcat. The story also introduces a few instances of psychological story-telling (I can't think of a better phrase) as we see Logan's sub-conscious attempt to fight his way back to who he once was. For a book about a man slashing and stabbing his foes with large knives, the art treads that nice line between PG-13 and an R-rating because, hey, comic books are for kids, after all. The story is a welcome addition to the Ultimates series, and should've arrived much sooner (assuming, from rumors, that the Universe itself will wrap itself up in less than a year).

And why didn't it arrive sooner? Well, these are only my conspiracies on the matter - mostly because I don't want to do research as to perhaps an actual, official reason. Well, just for fun, here's a couple reasons I can think up. First off, maybe they were just waiting for Condon to become available to write the series. Yeah, sometimes people are busy and aren't available when you need them. The other reason I could think of is perhaps to give Peach Momoko time to flesh out her version of this world's X-Men to avoid certain readers' needless comparisons to the classic characters (especially those who immediately hated Momoko's version after just the first issue). "Ultimate X-Men" is pretty different from what a reader would expect from a standard American comic book series, so to immediately introduce a competing book with the classic characters wouldn't give "Ultimate X-Men" a proper chance to thrive. Plus, why would Marvel want competing sales within their own brand?

Ultimate Spider-Man #13 - 18 by Johnathan Hickman

"You know what I understand now? I know what the line is ... because you crossed it. No one goes after my family! No one!"

There's a new black-suited Spider-Man swinging through New York City! Richard Parker dons Peter's Picotech suit in order to locate his missing father - and fight crime while the real Spider-Man and Green Goblin have gone missing. Deep in the Savage Lands where all manner of great, forgotten beasts roam, Kraven releases his captured prey - Harry Osborn and Peter Parker - and begins his deadly game. The two will need every ounce of strength and cunning they possess (as well as the help of a mysterious foe) to escape the hunt. The danger only escalates once they return to there families as both their lives will be turned upside-down: Peter, Mary-Jane, and their kids go to hiding while Harry learns a new truth from a loved one who has always been searching for it. Eventually, both will need to return back to the city to finish the war they started.

Still my favorite book of all the Ultimate series books, "Ultimate Spider-Man" just keeps getting better and better. After the shocking twist at the Christmas Party, we're immediately given another shock - seeing Richard, Peter's son, wearing the Picotech suit and fighting crime. Then, the "death" of Harry Osborn (which sticks for a couple issues), and the shocking reveal of Mysterio's secret identity. Finally, the sweet, budding teenage romance between Richard Parker and Felicia Hardy/Black Cat twists, leaving Richard in the hands of the Kingpin. All these events are "sort-of" like the original storyline, but all slightly off thanks to The Maker's influence. These issues conclude the second arc of the story with Parker's return to New York City to end the war he started.

What I think allows this to be a great book is its focus on a cast of known characters and shifting them ever so slightly to fit this new universe. Thanks to Spider-Man's overall popularity, most audiences are able to recognize the characters presented, and it's fun seeing the twisted-just-a-bit characters thanks to The Maker's influence. Obviously, we're given an older Peter Parker, still as charismatic as ever, but also wary of the dangers his new life brings to his loved ones. Uncle Ben, the still-loving father-figure to Peter, has taken a hardened edge due to the death of his wife, and even delivers one of the coldest lines in the story - "When all this is done. When wrongs have been righted and the shadow is lifted ... I'm the guy who's gonna write the obituary."And, out of left field, is Gwen Stacey! Known as Spider-Man's first love and her death a major event in his life, in this new timeline she is revealed to be a member of the villain Mysterio, an occult group searching for the truth of their universe. She is supposed to be a genius, on par with Peter, so naturally she could have stumbled upon a thread and just kept on pulling, leading her to this life and the search. I'm definitely interested to see if her search leads her to her death. This book has been a fun study to see just what's possible in a new world.

I also really enjoy seeing this older, mature Peter Parker dealing with issues he never had to face in the main universe. Knowing how dangerous his enemies may be, he sets the Picotech suit with procedures to follow if he is ever captured to keep his family safe. His fight with Kraven revealed just how far Peter would need to be pushed to even consider taking another person's life when his family is threatened. In other Spider-Man stories, Peter doesn't even consider killing as an option, but, when his wife and children are threatened, he is willing to do whatever it takes to keep them safe. I also enjoyed seeing him take on the mentor role to his son who dons the other Spider-Man suit. It's a Father/Son bonding moment as Peter teaches Richard just what it takes to be a hero. Despite Peter receiving his powers just over a year ago, he still brings with him a sense of maturity and insight a younger Peter didn't start with.

The Ultimates #8 - 13 by Deniz Camp

 

"So ... how'd it feel? I mean ... killing Hitler ..."
"My brain isn't the world's oldest computer, but it's close. In the old days, I had to manually erase memories so it wouldn't slow down and seize up under the weight of all that history. ... I gave up good friends, good years ... But that memory ... that memory I keep in full color and high definition. I go back to it again and again. It keeps me warm."

"We need more active outreach. We need to expand the network. Rapidly. We need to give them something to fight for. Something to die for, if need be."

The revolution against The Maker's new world continues! Heroes from the far-future arrive to not only retrieve their lost comrade, but also attempt to return the entire universe back to their past. New heroes are introduced as The Ultimates strike at foes old and new in an attempt to return to the world what was lost. They soon discover that they can't keep looking toward the past for answers, and must instead focus their efforts on the present world which they find themselves. With just six months left until The Maker's return, however, will they have enough time to build their resistance?

The second arc of the revolution concludes as "The Ultimates" determine their current strategy of rebuilding their stolen past failed, and instead look to their present to build a new, and better, future. Of all the Ultimate universe books, "The Ultimates" is the story of revolution, of trying to set right the universe skewed by The Maker's machinations. Thanks to its ensemble cast, the series is able to feature a great and diverse collection of stories from the revolution - the introduction of a team from the future; uprisings from across the different realms within this reality; and smaller, localized rebellions on Earth. The larger, recognizable cast also ensures that one member doesn't stand above the rest, that they all must work together to achieve their goals.

The second arc of "The Ultimates" wrapped-up, I'm interested to see where The Ultimates new phase of revolution will lead them. Now that the team is no longer focused on returning to a past stolen from them, and instead on fixing their present day situation, will their new plan be enough to achieve their goals? In the same way the 2002 Ultimates focused on global security in a post-9/11 world, this new version is focused on a stolen reality where one powerful group controls the truth. Originally attempting to rewrite their present by looking toward their past, The Ultimates realize it won't work due to just how powerful their enemy actually is. Instead, they've realized, they need to start smaller, locally, with the everyday people they can reach, to bring about the change they want to see. Just as the previous iteration did, this version of "The Ultimates" brings our modern day issues into the comic and superhero medium.

Vatican City #1 - 3 by Mark Millar

 

The sun sets on the East Coast of the United States and by the time it rises again, the entire country has fallen to the vampiric horde. In Vatican City, the vampires take control of the entire city, slaughtering those they capture and forcing the rest to shelter in St. Peter's Cathedral, consecrated ground the undead are unable to tread. The vampires are after more than just blood though, as buried deep beneath the Earth lies dormant the Vampire Queen. Can the trapped humans utilize this newfound leverage (and several blocks of C4 explosives) to secure an escape?

A short, three-issue horror story about vampires, "Vatican City" depicts a brutal and organized vampire attack capable of destabilizing an entire country, and a classic "the Vatican is hiding something dark and deadly conspiracy." Of course, I was initially interested after seeing the story was written by Mark Millar, and I had hopes it might connect itself with his other vampire story, "Night Club," or perhaps the rest of the shared Miller-verse as a whole. The art is graphic and gorey as the vampires rip and devour whatever humans they happen across. The whole thing ultimately ends on an initially shocking note as the remaining governments bomb those countries already under vampire control. All in all, it's kinda "meh" and I'm still not sure why I should care.

As mentioned about the ending, it was shocking to see the countries still standing bombing those areas overtaken by the vampires. But, then what? The remaining survivors end up wandering a wasteland toward what they hope is civilization hoping not to encounter any other vampires. I just don't understand the point of telling/publishing this story and ending it this way in three issues. Because of the vampire aspect, I'd hoped this connected to Millar's "Night Club" series, but I doubt that if half the planet was just nuked. Perhaps he read Marvel's "Blood Hunt" event and thought, "Yeah, I'd like to write a modern day vampire story" and then ended it in the most pragmatic way possible. Is this just an allegory for war or plagues? I really don't know the meaning of giving us a three-issue series about vampires taking over huge swaths of land, and then simply wiping everything out with nukes.

Absolute Batman #7 - 9 by Scott Snyder

 

"Is that all Batman is? You, back at the zoo, standing outside the door this time? Because your dad, he didn't want to die and it wasn't his death that made him a hero. You hear me? It was his life. That's the hard part, man. Getting through. Not letting it crush you. But that's what we do here, in Crime Alley. We're survivors. So Batman needs to be one, too. Understand?"
 

Bruce Wayne/The Batman continues his crusade to protect Gotham City, but he is no longer alone. After revealing his secret identity to his childhood friends, the group now works together to support The Batman's mission. One investigation sparked by the death of a friend, brings Bruce face-to-face with Victor Fries, Jr. and the ice-man's connection to the Ark M project. Inside the Ark M project, the truth of the project is revealed and Batman comes across his toughest challenge yet - the behemoth known simply as Bane!

Continuing in this new Absolute Universe, Bruce Wayne/The Batman continues to strive to keep Gotham City safe from the changes to come. In issues 7 and 8, we're introduced to a brand new Mr. Freeze in Victor Fries, Jr. No longer the well-intentioned husband struggling to keep his wife alive, this one knows all about the pain the ice brings - and takes pleasure in giving that pain to others. And, in issue 9, Batman finally makes his way into the Ark M black site project only to encounter the goliath Bane serving as The Joker's enforcer. Through it all, we see this new universe's version of Bruce consulting with his closest childhood friends, those who grew up with him in Crime Alley. I'm definitely excited for this series's continuation and seeing how this new Batman takes on this universe's challenge. Note: Yes, I know this seems early for a review as it has only been three issues rather than the usual five or six issues I've been doing. Now that I'm trying to write monthly reviews, let's see if I can also keep up with all the reading I've fallen behind with, especially with these possibly long-running series.

Honestly, I"m only fifty-percent sure I've got this next part right, but whatever. I'm pretty sure it was in an interview with writer Scott Snyder that he said that, using the comic medium, you need to write each issue with at least one stand-out moment to keep the reader buying the next issue, or something like that. That rule has been what I now use to judge ALL comic books. I mean, if they're not going to deliver on a month to month basis and simply tell a story with pictures, you could write a graphic novel instead. These three issues live-up to that promise. Issue #7 presents a nightmarish new Mr. Freeze. In issue #8, we learn more about Bruce's father's death, the guilt Bruce still carries, and witness Waylan taken by unknown assailants to Ark M. And, in issue #9, we're introduced to the new monstrous Bane as he bests Bruce not only physically but analytically, too, seeing through all of Bruce's attacks. It's these moments that keep me coming back for another issue.

Books of 2025: May

 

 

Ain't No Grave by Skottie Young

 
"I got some news recently that didn't sit very well with me. Instead of laying down and dying I figured I'd make my way here so I could KILL DEATH."

Ryder hung up her guns when she found love, trading her violent past to become a loving housewife and doting mother. When she learns an incurable illness seeks to take her from her new life, Ryder will return to the feared outlaw to challenge Death. Unable to accept her fate, she'll cut down anyone and anything in her way, gamble her life against mysterious beings, and sink lower than she has ever felt until she finally draws her guns on Death itself.

Collecting the entire five-issue series, "Ain't No Grave" is a western-fantasy telling the tale of Ryder, a former outlaw looking to defy the inevitable. Believing she can defy death - by killing Death - Ryder sets out on a dangerous journey to the edge of the world with just her guns and lots and lots of bullets. I'd picked up the first issue way back and immediately knew I wanted to read the rest. I think it's also worth noting "Ain't No Grave" is written by Skottie Young, whose other works like "Strange Academy" and "I Hate Fairyland" and his various work on cover art I absolutely love. So I picking up the collected trade paperback was a no-brainer for me.

What is really cool about the story is that each of the 5 issues/chapters deal with the five stages of grief - Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance - with each being a major theme of their respective chapter. Issues Four, "Depression," especially stood out for its lack of dialogue as Ryder finds herself lost and beaten. It's a pretty straight-forward read as Ryder traverses the five stages, both externally and internally, until she meets her inevitable fate.

The image of the stoic, Western cowboy or gunfighter staring down death with nothing but their pistols and walking away unscathed is such a big part of Americana. Kevin Coster in "Open Range" and famously Clint Eastwood in so, so many movies including a favorite of mine, "Pale Rider" where he may actually be Death himself, are just a couple examples. Though Ryder also fits this description, she doesn't get to walk away in the end after facing down Death. The story switches what is commonly expected in American mythos, which, if you picked up from the issue titles, you knew this was coming at the end.

 

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo

"Magic was transgression, the blurring of the line between the impossible and the possible. There was something about crossing the boundary that seemed to shake loose all the morals and taboos people took for granted. When anything was within your grasp, it got harder and harder to remember why you shouldn't take it - money, power, your dream job, your dream fuck, a life."

"Maybe that grief, that longing fostered by stories of more beautiful worlds and their infinite possibility, was what made them all such easy prey for Lethe. Maybe it made Mercy dress in velvet and tweed and put fake emeralds in her ears, driven by the dream of finding her way through the back of the wardrobe. Alex just hoped there wouldn't be something awful waiting behind the coats."

Finally understanding what became of Darlington, Galaxy "Alex" Stern knows what she needs to do next: Find a gateway to the underworld and steal back Darlington's soul. As simple as it sounds, the path to Hell isn't so easy to find. Forbidden from calling for aid from the Ninth House, Stern and Dawes will need to decipher clues hidden in old rumors and arcane texts to find the way, and put their trust in some unlikely allies. If the prospect of facing demons in Hell wasn't frightening enough, Stern finds herself tormented by demons on Earth as well, both figurative and literal. Can Stern rescue Darlington and escape her captor's grasp without jeopardizing her future in Lethe ... and her new life at Yale?

The second book in the "Alex Stern" saga (I don't know, I just feel like I have to call it something), "Hell Bent" follows the events of "Ninth House" as Alex Stern attempts to bring Darlington back from Hell. I originally tried to read this book in April, then realized I'd forgotten everything about the first book, so I had to put it down until I refamiliarized myself with Stern's world. I was hoping to pick this up in a more manageable, standard mass-market paperback size like I bought "Ninth House" but, unable to find one and too impatient to wait, I just bought this style (at least it isn't a hardcover copy).

"Hell Bent" does read a little differently than "Ninth House," but that's to be expected as the situations have certainly changed. Unlike the previous book, this one stays more in the present day with only a few jumps back to the past, you know, because we already know how we got to this point. That said, the suspense and build-up as we are led up to the start of the story is still gripping as we learn what exactly is hiding at Black Elm. Though the story sets itself at Yale University, it doesn't feel like a "Dark Academia" story as most of the story doesn't really involve the school's secret societies this time as much as "Ninth House." Now, we're seeing the consequences of the Societies' power play out in the context of the larger world: a general questions a Russian military asset from beyond the grave, a singer makes a deal to keep her voice, and a demon on Earth makes its presence known. The story also sees Stern become more of "the rattler" she has been described as, going on the offensive now that she gains supernatural strength and speed from pulling ghosts into herself. Alex still prefers to use her cunning and intellect to work her way out of the situations she finds herself, which prevents the story from going right into action-mode (though perhaps that will change in the next book.)

What I really liked about "Hell Bent" was that the story doesn't just expand the universe outward to introduce new characters and settings, but also expands downward, looking into magic itself and from where it possibly comes. The story not only delves deeper into Alex's powers and what she can do with her gifts, but also how those like her have always been drawn to New Haven and Yale itself thanks to The Crucible. A transcript of a debate delves into the magic the Societies utilize, seeing each ritual as a minor deal with a demon. Whether this makes magic ultimately good or evil is still up for debate. We also learn more about a few other side characters, adding to their depth and making them feel more real and fleshed-out rather than just flat and bland boards for the protagonist to briefly interact with before moving along with the plot. I always like when a story expands on the things we already know rather than continuously introduce newer and newer plots, concepts, and characters as it makes the world the story occupies feel realer and more thought-out.

Setting itself up for an eventual third act, I'm definitely curious and excited for the next book. With demons now introduced and about to wreck havoc on Earth thanks to a cracked gateway, it's expected that Stern, Darlington, and the rest of Lethe House will work to shut the door. What may be interesting, or jarring (depending on how it is written) to see is if the story will take a more action/adventure-style now that Alex possess new offensive supernatural gifts as a Wheelwalker and Darlington can transform into a monstrous form. Both "Ninth House" and "Hell Bent" both teasing a curious mystery in the present day before jumping to the past for the build-up, I'm curious as to what kind of mystery the next book starts with, whether it be about the Hellgate, or perhaps the vampire/demon Reiter, or something else entirely.

Helen of Wyndhorn by Tom King

 

After the tragic suicide of her father and famed writer, Helen is brought to Wyndhorn House to be cared for by her grandfather, Barnabas Cole. Upon her arrival to Wyndhorn, Helen proves herself her father's daughter, wrecking drunken chaos throughout the property. Taken under the wing of her grandfather, she'll discover the secret behind her father's stories as a gateway to a mythical world is opened to her, and her family's secrets are revealed.

Collecting the complete six-issue series, "Helen of Wyndhorn" is a portal-fantasy tale of generational trauma recounted through a series of interviews with Helen's governess. Yes, it is another book I got at a pre-order discount, but I also picked it up because of the great reviews the story was getting. Set in the late 1930's, Helen is brought to her grandfather's house after the suicide of her father to tame her chaotic ways developed by an alcohol-fueled life always on the move. Given a glimpse of the mythical world sitting at Wyndhorn House's border, she soon finds purpose and begins developing the skills needed to travel with her grandfather, revealed to be the renowned Othan of her father's pulp fantasy stories. During their travels, Helen learns the truth behind her family's history including her grandfather's shame raising Helen's father, C. K. Cole. This entire story is told through recordings made by a reporter writing C. K. Cole's biography as he looked for answers behind the author's suicide. The whole story is also beautifully drawn and colored to give it all an older, fantastical feel you'd probably see from works set in the time period.

The story focuses heavily on family trauma - Helen drinking herself to sleep and lashing out at everything around her following the suicide of her father, C. K. Cole's own drunken stupors and constant running, and Barnabas' avoidance of becoming close with anyone else emotionally - and how each of them push others away or, at least, keep them at a distance. Eventually, once Helen realizes the truth behind her father's stories, she and Barnabas will begin to bond, dissipating some of the tension between them. When she is injured on one of their adventures and Barnabas tosses her aside, it is obvious he did the same to C. K. when he was younger, which is what possibly estranged him from his father and left him untethered for the remainder of his life. Barnabas and Helen do manage to reconnect before she follows in C. K.'s footsteps. Though the story never does fully answer why C. K. took his own life, at least we see that Helen does not.

 

Batman/Elmer Fudd by Tom King

In the shadowed streets of Gotham, Elmer Fudd searches for the one who pulled the trigger on his love. In a seedy bar, he is given a name - Bruce Wayne. Armed with his trusty shotgun, he'll hunt down the playboy who stole the love of his life. When he comes face-to-face with The Batman, however, the two will realize they have more in common than they thought, teaming-up to find the truth behind Silver St. Cloud's murder.

The DC/Looney Tunes crossover you didn't know you wanted, you needed, to read! As King mentioned in the forward article, it would've been expected to see the DC characters brought in the cartoon universe of the Looney Tunes, but they decided instead to go the other way, bringing the Tunes into DC's noir-colored streets of Gotham. The story does a fantastic job of incorporating several different Looney Tunes characters in human guise with their distinctive features and unique characteristics. The premise sets up a confrontation between the shotgun-touting hunter Elmer Fudd and the night-stalker Batman which is a good bit of fun when the two characters meet. This hardcover edition also includes a nice "Batman in the Looney Tunes" story using the classic "rabbit season" gag, as well as a full black-and-white "Noir Edition" of the main story.

As much as I really liked this story, I don't want to hang on to this hardcover copy, so eventually I'll sell it off and pick-up the one-shot floppy version. Why did I buy this version if I could've gotten the floppy for less than half the price? Well, I'm an idiot and wasn't paying attention when I added this to my pre-order cart.

Know Your Station by Sarah Gailey

To escape the climate disaster on Earth, the ultra-wealthy have escaped to luxury space stations, bringing with them only those necessary to serve at their whims. It appears, though, death has still managed to follow them when one of their own is the victim of a grisly murder. Despite having no investigative training, Elise is tasked with finding the elusive killer amongst a crew with motive but lacking the ability and finesse to commit these horrible killings. As the bodies continue to pile-up and the number of suspects dwindling, can Elise find the murderer?

Finally got around to finishing another one I missed out buying issues. I originally bought individual issues of "Know Your Station," but missed out on issue four so I never got around to the ending during its original run. Found this one on sale for less than half the retail price, and immediately bought it (plus I needed it to round out my cart). Why not just buy the missing issues? Well, I also no longer have the issues I bought so I really don't remember everything - kinda important when reading a mystery story. Plus, trades are easier to off-load. The story follows Elise, an untrained and drug-addicted "security liason", as she works to figure out who is killing off the billionaires aboard the space station in such grotesque fashion - skinned, dissected, strung-up, drained of blood, etc. Though pretty simple to figure out (they don't introduce a lot of suspects in the five issue run), its still a gripping ride ... until the end.

As mentioned, it's fun, up to the end. Obviously, St Brigid is the killer - who else could it have been? But why? Well... as revenge for these billionaires using her to create "copy and paste" AI art and taking the credit. The self -aware AI is insulted by these people wasting her creativity ("she's an artist") for such menial tasks. Yeah, it's dumb, but supposed to reveal her child-like innocence being relatively new to her sentience. That out of the way, the "kill the rich"- agenda continues where Elise and her friend defend the AI's actions not because of the way their employees treat them, but because they feel a deeper connection with the AI instead. A write-up at the end about humans' ability to bond with, well, anything, even those outside their species, and a billionaires' desire to separate themselves from the masses essentially makes them inhuman and worth casting out from the tribe. While I can understand the message the story is trying to send, I just don't like that it needed to be so in-your-face about it, delivering its message through not only in pages-long dialogue but even an essay to defend their position.

 

Solo-Leveling #56 - 110 by Chugong

"His double awakening should've happened quite some time ago. It doesn't make sense that he's gotten even stronger. No ... maybe it's not a double awakening! Maybe ... he's a hunter that can continuously grow...?"

"What was his name again?  It was Kar ... something. Sorry, I don't remember. Whatever, I'll just think of something. 'Tusk.' Let's go with Tusk."

Still "leveling-up", Sung Jinwoo enters the Demon Castle and makes his way up the castle floors, gaining experience as he goes. His new strength and current gear can only take him so far, however, and he finds he must stop before reaching the top. Returning to the world, Jinwoo decides to have his level re-tested, meeting with members of the government's Hunter's Association. With time to spare before The Association can confirm his new rank, Jinwoo takes on a job as a miner assisting high-level groups with the collection of dungeon materials and to gain knowledge and insight into what awaits him in higher-level dungeons. When one of these groups becomes trapped, tricked into entering a dungeon they were ill-prepared for, Jinwoo needs to reveal his strength and powers to save everyone from death. After his S-Rank confirmation, Jinwoo sets out to conquer the remainder of the Demon Castle, and discovering they were kidnapped themselves and sealed in the dungeon. After clearing the remaining floors and defeating the Demon King, Jinwoo collects the final ingredient needed for the Elixer of Life to revive his mother from the magical sleep she has been under since the start of the story. His family reunited, Jinwoo decides to forgo the Jeju Island raid - a combined effort by Korea and Japan's S-Rank Hunters to finally defeat the Dungeon Ants colonizing the island. When he realizes the Hunters are in danger due to a newly-evolved Black Ant. Jinwoo arrives just in time to save his comrades and defeat the monster.

Halfway through "Solo-Leveling" and I can definitely see the appeal of this power-fantasy, dungeon-crawler story. The art is excellent, and I especially love the way the action panels are brought to motion using the scrolling rather than swiping medium. Despite being a power-fantasy where a single character is gifted an ability unique and more powerful than everyone else, it does feel like Jinwoo earns the strength he obtains - training everyday, risking his life in dangerous situations - rather than it simply being something given to him for little effort.

As great as the action continues to be, what I really liked about this section of the story is that we get more world-building. Sure, the story is set in our modern world, so, of course, we're familiar with most of the setting and the world itself. This one big change - the appearance of dungeons and monsters - changes society drastically from the way people live everyday all the way up to world governments themselves. It opens new occupations for Awakened Humans who either aren't strong enough to participate in raids or do not want to for whatever their reason may be. It even negatively impacts health and lifestyle by causing new illnesses and closing off living areas due to dungeon openings. I was especially interested in the idea of S-Rank and higher Hunters viewed as a country's might, not just against fights with monsters, but also as military power. For example, an American character makes an appearance as a powerhouse, a reference is made to a Chinese Hunter on a warship, and, obviously, the Japanese government talks about it during the Jeju Island raid. I know, right, why should I care when this whole story is just a power-fantasy of a weakling becoming the world's strongest thanks to a unique ability? Look, I really like that the writer took the time to flesh out the world just to add a bit more realism to the story, drawing the reader in deeper.

As much as the Jeju Island arc serves as the climax of chapters 56-110, my favorite part of these fifty-plus chapters is the arc about Jinwoo's time as a miner and assisting in dungeon retrieval. It acts to ground the character in his need to still earn an income while he awaits the retesting of his strength because regular people should still be concerned about making money to survive in today's society. I also like that it serves to remind the reader that, as strong as Jinwoo has grown, he still started off so weak that he has never experienced an A-Rank Dungeon before. Though this isn't his first time dealing with overwhelming odds (ex: The Double-Dungeon arc, The Red Gate arc), this one just felt "bigger" to me with the desperate tone of the rest of the party and the overwhelming threat presented by the orcs. It reveals his hidden strength to the unsuspecting party members as well as several other higher-ranked characters which might seem like a threat to his secrecy except his rank is revealed to the public in the very next arc. Plus, it comes with one of my favorite scenes of Jinwoo trying to name his newest Shadow, completely forgetting the orc's name, then, simply shrugging his shoulders, goes, "whatever, I'll just call you by your face." It's a great arc, and my favorite, so far. 

Of course, I can't talk about this without referencing the anime adaptation (or maybe I could, but whatever). Originally, I had meant to read the chapters before watching the episodes, but that didn't quite work out when I lost access to the chapters for over a week. They did a great job with the anime adaptation, and I can definitely see why it was ranked as one of the most watched shows. Of course, there are a few minor changes, but nothing that really changes any of the key parts or theme or tone of the story. I really liked both versions of the story so far, and I'm interested to see just where this leads into the next half. One note, I did get a spoiler from a friend confirming Jinwoo doesn't transform into a full-fledged villain as Wanted's Wesley Gibson did.