Books of 2024: Quarter 4

Finishing up the last of this year's reading list. A lot of graphic novels/trade paperbacks were read these last three months. I stocked up on ACTUAL books at the end of the year, but I also have more graphic novels in my "To Read" pile, so even I'm curious to see what 2025's reading list will look like.

Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees by Patrick Horvath

Woodbrook is your typical quaint little town where everyone knows everyone, the entire town shuts down on holidays, and nothing too exciting ever happens. It's the reason why Samantha abides by one, single rule when it comes to her "hobby" - "Don't kill the locals". For years, this rule has kept her secret safe from the other good people of the Woodbrook community. When another killer arrives in town and starts brutally murdering her neighbors, she'll need to act fast to put a stop the the killings not only to put the town at ease, but also before her own killings are uncovered.

A murder-mystery populated with cute-humanized forest creatures, the art work reminds me of something out of a Disney or Pixar cartoon, but, you know, with murder and blood and violence. Placing a serial killer as the protagonist of a story hunting down another isn't really something new, but using cute animals to do so is what makes this story stand-out to me while the individual issues were being printed (I only managed to read the first issue when the released the THIRD printing). The murders are violent and grizzly (lol, get it, because Samantha is a bear ... it's funny). Right from the start, we're introduced to Samantha's "hobby" as she randomly targets a victim and satisfies her "urge". The tension jumps right at the end of the first issue when Samantha and the rest of the town see the slaughtered body of one of their own put on display. What follows is a murder-mystery as Samantha tries to deduce who the other killer in town is without being caught herself as the bodies start to pile up. The story moves at a good pace as Samantha spies on neighbors and hunts down clues until (of course) she's "framed" and must go on the run herself while the other killer remains free to stalk her neighbors. It's a great and quick story which wraps-up nice and neat after the two killers confront each other in a final showdown.

I Hate Fairyland Vol. 7: In the Mean Time by Skottie Young

Her plan to escape again foiled, Gert's misadventures in Fairyland continue. But first, a few short stories . We'll check-in with Cloudia's life (and many, many bloody deaths) on Earth after her brazen theft of Duncan's door back home. Larry recites the Fairyland version of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" where a mysterious fourth goat satisfies the bridge troll's hunger. Gert and Larry are approached by Fairyland movie directors to create a movie about her life - which, of course, doesn't turn out as expected (and, surprisingly, no blood is spilled although another bodily fluid is spilled in buckets). Back to the main storyline, the Gertlin infestation arises once more and this time spreading its chaos and death across not only Fairyland but The Inferno as well. To combat the horde of monsters, drastic measures are taken and Gert is transformed into a bigger, meaner monster than she has ever been (literally and figuratively).

Collecting issues 11-15 of the second "I Hate Fairyland" series, Gert's time in Fairyland is further chronicled along with a few amusing short stories. Of course, the main draw of the outlandish cartoon violence and gore is still found throughout the entire volume. Though the three short stories weren't as great, it was a good time (plot-wise) to put them here thanks to a noticeable shift in the plot line as Gert had once again failed to escape back to Earth in the last volume. As played out as it might be, it's still funny to keep seeing her fail to return home and continue to terrorize the inhabitants of Fairyland. Yes, it is adolescent humor and over-the-top cartoon violence, but really, what more could you want in a comic book.

Honestly, the most shocking joke in this volume (which I still don't know how Young got away with writing) were the obvious Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce jokes. I definitely understand the need to insert pop-culture references, but to use such high-profile stars for fart jokes is just really ballsy.

We Called Them Giants by Kieron Gillen

Lori awakens one day to find most of the world has simply vanished, nowhere to be found. In this new world, she'll scavenge to survive while avoiding roving gangs who kill anyone they find, or worse. That's when she'll see THEM. The towering giants appear mostly unconcerned with the remnants of humanity - until one captures a member of Lori's group. Can Lori find a way to communicate with the behemoth despite their differences in order to survive this new world?

From the creators of DIE (a completed comic series I will eventually finish, literally the four volumes are sitting on my bedroom floor in my "To Read" pile) comes We Called Them Giants, a short tale focusing on the power and importance of human connection and communication. Starting with the artwork (because I'm shit at drawing and have no business critiquing it), it looks really good. The scenes depicting action look dynamic, the Giants appear otherworldly despite their familiar form. After I first heard about this story, I was surprised it was released as a single graphic novel rather than as individual issues first, but that actually works to its advantage as it is a pretty short read and the pacing makes you want to keep reading until the story's conclusion rather than waiting on monthly issues. The story focuses on Lori, an orphan shuffled from foster family to foster family. Naturally, she mistrusts those around her and while that might keep her safe from The Dogs, it unfortunately causes her to mistrust those who are genuinely looking to care for her. It's when she finally lowers her guard and begins to accept the love and care of those around her, not just from the other humans Lori forms a group with, but The Giant who seeks to simply care for these "strays", that she truly seems happy and is able to care for others as well.

The story is marketed as a tale about the power of communication amongst those who are unable to communicate with a common language - and it absolutely does this. Reading the way the giant interacts with Lori and the other humans reminds me of the way we communicate with our pets - protecting them from harm, caring for them - despite not sharing a common language. Maybe my dog does understand commands like "Sit" and "Stay", but she definitely doesn't understand why except that sometimes she'll get food or treats, not that I'm trying to keep her safe. The giant acts in the same manner once it gets the humans within its domain, providing them with shelter and food despite Lori's obvious mistrust of the creature - sort of like adopting a stray or mistreated animal.

Earthdivers: Ice Age by Stephen Graham Jones

When her children mysteriously vanish, Tawny and her husband go out looking for them. Instead, they stumble across another group on a mission to save the world by stopping the creation of America using a time-traveling cave. As absurd as it sounds, Tawny soon finds that it does work when she is tricked into entering the cave and arriving in prehistoric Florida. Tawny sets off into this dangerous land in the hopes of finding her missing children, and instead ends up in the middle of a battle between a group of native Paleo-Indians and Solutreans who crossed the ice from Europe.

Following on "Earthdivers: Kill Columbus," this story focuses on Tawny who was tricked into entering the cave to find her children. Instead, she is sent to prehistoric Florida and immediately caught between a native group of Paleo-Indians and raiding Solutreans who had crossed the ice from Europe. Thanks to a theory of Europeans crossing the ice into North America during the Ice Age, the story continues its theme of invaders interfering, assaulting, destroying native peoples and cultures (I actually looked into if people really did cross the ice as the story depicts but so far the theory hasn't been accepted). Unlike the previous protagonist, Tawny isn't looking to save the world, just her missing children. Like the previous protagonists, however, she still carries that fire, the rage of knowing another group was responsible for the future/current state of her people, so when she sees a choice to help and give her ancestors a chance, she takes it. Ultimately, it is an interesting addition to the series but I'm really interested to see if the main protagonists can actually stop the creation of America, and if that will actually save the world.

The Ministry of Compliance Vol. 1 by John Ridley

Decades ago, the Devolution infiltrated Earth, the alien species seeking to steer humanity's growth until they can be brought under the Devolution's control. To guide their prize, the Devolution established thirteen ministries, each assigned to influence a particular part of human culture and civilization and industry. Overseeing the other ministries to ensure they stay on mission is the Ministry of Compliance led by Avigail Seena. When a conspiracy emerges from within the ministries which could derail the Devolution's mission, it will be up to Avigail and her small group to put them all back into compliance through a lot of limb-hacking and head-taking.

If you've been following my reading list (as always, why?), you'd know I started reading "The Ministry of Compliance" as individual issues, but then I missed out buying issue 4 so I decided to wait until the trade paperback collection got released, and here it is. At the part I left off (issue 3), my interest was starting to wane a bit, but it definitely rose again after reading the last half as the conspirators are revealed and A LOT of blood is spilled as Avigail sets to bring them "into compliance." Despite being an alien invasion story, "The Ministry of Compliance" doesn't follow the standard "invasion" plot as the Devolution acts much, much more subtly - guiding their targets toward self-destruction and eventual assimilation rather than simply conquering them through sheer might. That subtlety is what I liked most about this story - the way the Devolution moves behind the scenes to influence ALL aspects of human life through their Ministries. It makes for an interesting science-fiction plot that steers away from other common tropes stories of this nature might utilize. That all said, toward the last issue, I kinda realized the plot lines were getting a little stale as Seena simply investigated, then killed everyone in her way, investigated, killed, repeat. We sadly don't get much more than that, though I'm hoping with Seena's new revelation, we might see a change in the way she operates (if the series is allowed to continue).

Dying Inside by Pete Wentz and Hannah Klein

 Ash wants nothing more than to die. She's clinically-depressed, the musician she idolized also died by suicide, and she bought the perfect knife to kill herself with. However, as she watches the knife wound close before her very eyes, Ashe soon learns that thanks to a magical mishap she's now cursed to continue living. Along with Liv (a low-level witch), the two of them will search for a way to reverse Ash's curse so she can get on with her life - by killing herself.

It's a cute story about a depressed teenage-girl who wants to kill herself finding her reason to live after a suicide attempt is thwarted. Is it a story I normally would've picked-up? Probably not. But, they were offering a sneak peek on Free Comic Book Day, and I'm not one to pass on anything free. Plus, Pete Wentz. With all of the Names dipping their toes into comics these days (The Umbrella Academy by Gerard Way and Tear Us Apart by Jay Baruchel for example), I figured why not give this a try. After all, Fall Out Boy was one of the bands I listened to growing up that defined emo music (and what genre would be better to tackle the issue of suicidal depression). As already mentioned, it was a cute story, particularly easy to follow with enough foreshadowing thrown in that you could see just where the plot was going (surprise, Ash not only doesn't kill herself but also finds a reason to live). It's also a pretty quick read - I literally sprinted through it while cooking dinner one night. It's unfortunate to say, but I definitely feel Ash's suicidal ideation is extremely relatable to anyone who's been a teenager and this makes her a mirror for readers to see themselves as she undertakes this quest to die.

One of the more questionable aspects posed by this story is just how far are doctors allowed to go when treating their patients. The story, of course, takes an easy-out to the question when it is revealed that Ash's mom's boyfriend has been taking the free will from his patients but only to prevent them from harming themselves. If a person has a chemical-imbalance which already takes away their free will and prevents them from acting rationally, should a treatment provider also be allowed to do the same to keep the patient safe and alive? It's a pretty big question especially when it comes to simply prescribing medication vs forcing someone to take medication, which the story just scoots right passed probably because, as previously mentioned several times, it's a cute tale of suicide and a teenager finding a reason to live.

God Country by Donny Cates

Emmett Quinlan is slowly dying of Alzheimer's disease, while his son and his family struggle to decide how to handle the old man's more frequent confused violent outbursts. When a tornado not from this world rips through Emmett's Texas home, it leaves behind a treasure. From the rubble of his home, Emmett emerges holding a giant, twelve-foot sword known as Valofax - the sword of swords, and as long as Emmett holds Valofax, his Alzheimer's appears cured and he remembers everything once again. The sword's owner, though, is not happy with the sword being absent from his realm, and the living-god will not stop until Valofax is returned.

An epic tale told as a story passed down by a Texas family of the battle an old man undertook against not only a god coming to claim what he holds, but also his battle against himself as well. I first heard about this book at a collector's convention when I saw a second-printing of the first issue in a box for $5.00, and if it sounded interesting enough to pick-up. An intriguing first issue (which I sold recently a couple months back for $4.50), I put it on my "To Read" list, which I ended up finding the trade paperback at Book-Off for $2.00, which was a great deal. The story follows the Quinlan family and their encounter with a godly sword which cures Emmett of his Alzheimer's. Chosen by the sword to be its bearer and unwilling to let go, Emmett will fight off monsters and gods while increasingly putting his family at risk despite their requests and pleas for him to simply return the sword as asked.

A tale of man vs god, The Quinlan Family is beset upon by supernatural forces looking to reclaim Valofax from Emmett who, in turn, refuses to let it go. Despite it reading as an epic tale filled with great battles, what really stood out to me was the similarities between Emmett and Attum, the god of Always and Valofax's creator. Both are old men past their prime struggling to hold onto what is theirs and refusing to let go despite everything around them falling apart, and the burdens placed on their own families. Emmett, finally getting his memories back, refuses to relinquish Valofax despite knowing he is not using the sword for its intended purpose, and instead tries to carry-on as family watches on. Attum, a conqueror who forged Valofax by stealing a sun and dooming billions of lives, struggles every moment to keep his own doomed kingdom from crumbling further. This parallel between the two characters is what pits them against one another in a final confrontation.

The Agent by Mathieu Gabella

When a simple drug bust turns into a brush with the occult, Officer Rhym Bekhti is thrust into the world of espionage and magic. Teaming up with Agent Sebastien Ferrant, the two will need to find an untraceable courier and dodge bullets enchanted to always hit their target in order to stop a terrorist plot of a magnitude rarely seen.

I originally picked-up issue #1 a while back out of curiosity, but I guess it didn't sell well (honestly, most stuff from Ablaze Comics doesn't at my local comic shop) because they didn't bring in any subsequent issues. Then, I saw the trade paperback on sale at a different shop and thought, meh, "let's see what the rest of this story is about." The story itself doesn't quite wrap-up (if there isn't a body, is the person really dead?) and leaves the door open for future stories, if it's picked-up for future issues.

An urban fantasy comic blending magic and espionage, "The Agent" provides a gripping thriller as Rhym and Sebastien hunt down a group of terrorists across France. What I found most intriguing was the ritual witchcraft used in the series - magic requiring ritual and totems and ingredients and belief to affect the world rather than simply pointing a wand, saying some gibberish, and shooting deadly light at your enemies. It's a different type of magic requiring preparation and time not normally seen in these types of stories, probably due to story pacing as both protagonists and antagonists are always on the move. The characters are your standard urban fantasy characters: Rhym is the new "fish-out-of-water" character being dropped into this new world she doesn't understand; Sebastien is the gruff and grizzled veteran looking to stop the bad guys by any means necessary; and even the antagonist is the "I'm doing this for the greater good" type. The interesting change comes from the government-sanctioned aspect as, in most stories, these characters usually work outside the law to keep the public safe. Seeing magic not only utilized by various government agencies, but even expected (shown in the first issue when the CIA uses Native American magic to influence a French scientist) is pretty interesting and adds a new layer to the story.

Spider-Gwen: Gwenverse by Tim Seeley

In an alternate universe, it was Gwen Stacey who was bitten by a radioactive spider, gaining superpowers, and becoming The Ghost Spider, aka Spider-Gwen. Earth-65 is very different from Earth-616 as the villains aren't typically all that powerful. That changes when Gwen is accidentally split across time, resulting in her universe turning into a very different world than she remembers. Spider-Gwen will travel across time to gather these anomalies and set her world right. Except these other Gwens aren't just her, but versions of her which had taken-up different mantles, abilities, names - a Gwen who wields Mjolnir, a Gwen infused with super-soldier serum, and many more. Can The Ghost Spider gather these other versions of herself in time to put a stop to the evil plan of the villain who started this mess?

Spider-Gwen is a pretty interesting character (and I'm still hoping to pick-up an "Edge of the Spider-verse #2" one day... but cheaply), having seen her portrayed in Sony's Spiderverse movies and in a couple comic books I've read. I picked this one up though not for that reason but because David Nakayama was a guest at Amazing Con and I was hoping to get something signed by him. Looking up his resume, I saw I did the covers for this series, so I picked up the first issue as well as the trade paperback collecting all of the issues. Unfortunately, the comics didn't arrive until after the convention, so no autograph. Anyways, the story is pretty interesting, seeing Gwen Stacey taking on different superhero mantles and powers, as well as deal with her own personal insecurities. At first, I thought this would be more of a multiverse story but the other Gwens are just aspects of Spider-Gwen's personality, so not quite. This story did provide me with more insight into Gwen Stacey and her abilities and her history. A fun superhero read which goes surprisingly deep emotionally as Stacey learns to accept who she is compared to the other spider-people she has worked along side of.

Spider-man: Reign by Kaare Andrews

Visiting a future Manhattan where its citizens have traded freedom for the heavy-handed security provided by the Reign, we find an old, tired, and broken Peter Parker. As the mayor reveals his new plan to "protect" the city, a raving, rambling J. Jonah Jameson prophecies Spider-Man's return to once again save the city. Can a beaten Peter Parker find it in himself to once again don the suit and mask and take up his responsibility to protect the city?

Portraying an alternate universe in the similar way of "The Dark Knight Returns" and, more recently, "Avengers: Twilight", we meet an older, broken Peter Parker/Spider-man caught in a city he no longer recognizes and seemingly put away his mask for the last time. Written in the post-9/11 world, Manhattan is under the rule of the mayor and the Reign, who patrol the streets and crackdown on anyone caught breaking the law. It's a city that's managed to eliminate its supervillains and vigilantes through totalitarian rule. Parker has given up his costume (and, seemingly, his powers) after the greatest tragedy of his life. A mysterious villain hides in plain sight. Honestly, it's an okay read for four collected issues, though it doesn't really introduce any new insight or concepts or ideas I haven't read before.

The main reason I picked this up was because a second series set in this universe was released which continued the adventures of an aged Peter Parker. Having read other alternate versions of older superheroes, I was curious to see how this one was portrayed ... and I found it confusing. The spider which bit Peter gives him super-strength and super-agility. Despite being old, there's no reason those powers should vanish simply because Parker has given-up on the city, and then returns once he again dons his mask. It was weird. I kinda wished they explained a bit more about why Parker didn't have his powers anymore instead of skimming past it. As for the other themes and aspects of the story, umm, yeah, they kinda just fell flat for me having seen them played out before in other comic storylines.

Peter & Max: A Fables Novel by Bill Willingham

Living in hiding amongst the rest of Earth's population are a secret group of refugees known as The Fables. For centuries, they've hidden themselves from the eye of the Emperor who conquered their homelands one after another. But no one can hide forever, and the Emperor isn't the only villain hunting them. When Peter Piper is given the terrible news that his brother, Max, the Pied Piper, has been spotted on Earth, Peter will set out on his own to confront him and put a stop to his evil once and for all. What follows is a tale of two brothers, a falling out, and their diverging paths.

This one I'd read a long, long time ago way back when (I think) the Fables comics were still being written. Its was a great story, so I held onto the book for a long time. Then, having not re-read it for a while, I finally decided in 2023 to sell it off to Skull-Face Books. Then, wandering the shop in late 2024, I saw it on the shelf for $5.00 and said to myself, "Meh, why not give it another read," so I bought my own copy back from them. I'm still undecided if I'm going to sell it again yet or keep it with my Fables collection.

Despite being over 300 pages, the story moves along fairly quickly with most of the story detailing Peter and Max's history and how they became who they are in the present day. Like the Fables comic, the story uses known characters from fables and fairytales and gives them a twist. In this story, Peter Piper and Max Piper (later becoming the Pied Piper) are brothers and traveling musicians who have a falling out over a disagreement on who should inherit their family's prized instrument. Separated by war, the two brothers travel different paths - Peter becoming the "thief" his brother accused him of being, while Max turned into a monster he believed he needed to become to thrive. It's an interesting tale showing how two pipers set on different paths became the men we find them to be in the present day. Oh, and Bo Peep is revealed to be a trained assassin, so that's pretty cool. The story also includes a brief epilogue which fits nicely into the Fables comic series detailing Peter and Bo's contributions to the war efforts.

The Wicked and the Divine by Kieron Gillen

Every 90 years, twelve gods are reincarnated on Earth. In two years, they will die. In the time they have, they are loved and worshipped as pop-starts. Not everyone is in belief of this godhood, however, and a small group takes aim as the one know as Lucifer. The gods, however, are also gifted supernatural abilities, and the god easily defends herself with a literal snap of the fingers. When a similar display of her powers goes wrong, however, Laura will set out to prove the god's innocence. 

I kept seeing this book in comic shops and online review pages, and I knew it was written by the same writer as "Die" so I assumed I'd get around to giving it a look eventually. Then, luckily, I found it at Book-Off for a dollar and figured that was a good enough sign to give it a read. As for continuing it, the story didn't hook me too much, so I'm not in a hurry to pick-up the rest of the trade paperbacks, but maybe eventually.

The story follows Laura, guided by her adoration of The Pantheon, as she witnesses the gods' powers firsthand, first to simply defend themselves and then again to murder. Believing Lucifer's innocence, she'll set off to meet with the rest of this cycle's Pantheon of Gods to determine who may have framed her. It's a compelling premise with a lot of promise (12 people who mysteriously receive supernatural powers but are destined to die within 2 years), and I'm really interested in the "idol" nature/parallel of it. Seeing these reincarnated gods worshipped as pop-stars knowing they all have abilities outside what a human is capable of is particularly interesting to read as a parallel to the way we see "idols" today (I'm talking about the Korean boy/girl group scene of which I'm getting familiar with thanks to my music taste).

The Midnight Line by Lee Child

Jack Reacher wanders into a pawn shop in a small town and spots a West Point class ring. It's a small ring, a woman's ring, with just three letters etched inside the band. Despite belonging to someone who graduated years after Reacher himself had, he understands the four years of hard work she would've put in to earn that ring, and sets out to discover what unlucky situation would force her to part with it - and return the ring. His journey will take him from a dingy biker diver bar in a small town to the rural backwoods in the middle of nowhere. Looking for an answer to a question he'll discover the ring is connected to a larger criminal enterprise dealing with a product which should be impossible to distribute in the entirety of the United States. 

It's been a while since I've gotten to reading a Jack Reacher book (not since the beginning of 2024, in fact). I used to use these as a "palette cleanser" between genre books but I guess because I haven't been reading as much that I haven't needed them for a bit. I really like that they're easy reads, proceeding along from point to point, and despite its page length, most books don't usually take me more than seven to ten days to get through. It's another Jack Reacher book following the same formula: Reacher stumbles upon a problem/mystery, he sets off in search of answers, he meets people, finds the answers and beats the bad guys (though those last two points aren't always in that order). If it ain't broke, don't fix it, right? If you're looking at the book and asking, "Wait, is that a hardcover book?", well, yes, it is. I found this particular one at a Bookoff for $5.00 which is not only way cheaper than the regular price of a hardcover, but also cheaper than the paperback copies, so of course I picked it up. How does the book compare to others? I really enjoyed the mystery of the book: trying to discover what could've happened to make a graduate give up their West Point class ring, and what products the criminals were distributing. These questions kept me turning the pages until the very end. Besides that though, I'd rank the story as just a "meh," definitely not the best, but not the worst, just okay. It did feel a little bogged-down in exposition when talking about the fentanyl drug trade and post-military service assistance provided to veterans, but honestly, a lot of the Reacher books I recently read have had opinions on current events.

And Then You're Dead by Cody Cassidy and Paul Doherty, PhD

 Most of you will die a very common death. Very, very, very few of you will not. In "And Then You're Dead," scientist Paul Doherty, PhD and writer Cody Cassidy pull together dozens of the most strangest deaths ever died (or, in some cases, as close as one can get to dying) and give a glimpse not only in the history, but even the science involved. It's a grisly look into how much the human body can tolerate when pushed to its limit, and what happens when that line is crossed.

I picked-up four or five books during 2024's McKinley Book Sale, but this was perhaps the only one I enjoyed enough to read from start to end. "What, you didn't finish a book?" you ask. I know, typically even if I dislike it, if I spent $10.00 or more on it (books are getting expensive), I'm still gonna get through it because, well, because I spent $10.00 on it. Luckily, I only wasted about a dollar or two per book, so I didn't feel too bad about not reading them through. For example, at the same time I'd bought a book describing deaths died by Darwin Award recipients though it turned out not all of them were recipients, not all of the stories were true, and the writing wasn't as fun as I'd hoped a book about Darwin Award deaths to be. In comparison, I really liked how this book goes into the science of the death - just exactly what happens to the body based on what was not only witnessed, but what we know through our understanding of physics ("What if you went over Niagra Falls in a barrel?"), anatomy ("What if you never slept?"), astronomy ("What if you went to the moon without a space suit?"), electricity ("What if you were struck by lightning?"), entomology ("What if you were swarmed by bees?"), and more. Some of my favorite entries include:
1. What if you were hit by a penny dropped from the Empire State Building? Actually, not much more than a sting, but apparently a ballpoint pen might kill you.
2. What would happen if your elevator cable broke? Thanks to the invention of the elevator brake, a modern elevator rarely plummets on its own if the cable is severed, and in the events that people died, it's usually due to human error
3. What happens if you were sacrificed to a volcano? Apparently, fucking no one did this (thanks Hollywood), but if you were thrown into one, the heat alone would flash boil all of the water in your body. I also forgot that since technically lava is melted rock, you wouldn't sink, you'd actually be buried.

Obviously, from the picture, I also read a bunch of comic books:

The Power Fantasy #1 - 5 by Kieron Gillen

In 1945, as the first atomic tests were underway, the very first person with extranormal abilities appeared. Today, six "superpowers" walk the Earth, each one with the destructive capability of the United States of America's entire nuclear arsenal - and the continued existence of humanity depends on none of them coming into conflict with another. When the United States fails to assassinate Brother Ray "Heavy" Harris atop his floating city, rather than allow Heavy to retaliate by decimating all of Texas, Etienne Lux psychically kills The President, his staff, the scientists, and anyone else with knowledge of the plot. Despite being split even amongst themselves, the six superpowers work together to maintain a very fragile truce to ensure the status quo. But any unsteady balance can easily be tipped, and new threats are emerging that could swing the scale one way or another and lead the world into another catastrophe.

I was really excited for this comic when I first heard about it - a story about people with such destructive superpowers bu the same writer as "Die" (you've gotta be sick of me praising Gillen's writing at this point). I even put in a "pull" request at the comic shop to ensure I got the first issue. After the first issue, I loved the concept and the story so much (the assassination of the President of the USA in the first issue?!) that I not only continued to pick-up the Cover A versions, but also the Cover B issues, too - except for issue 5 which had been sold out before I got to the shop, or perhaps was never brought in. Despite my desire to fucking stop spending money on individual issues and focus instead on buying trade paperbacks to read instead (yes, I also pre-ordered the trade version, too, which includes all the issues I fucking read), I do plan to continue buying ALL of the issues of this story. Since it is written by Kieron Gillen, I'm assuming there is planned storyline with an estimated number of issues needed to tell said story, and it won't spiral into some drawn-out cash-grab of filler issues that don't contribute to the overall plot of the story. At least, I (and my wallet) hope so.

I really love this concept and these first five issues did not disappoint. It's very different from the superhero vs supervillain stories I'm used to reading when it comes to people with superpowers. This idea that these six people people CANNOT be brought to trade blows with each other or it could cause severe destruction just isn't something that's addressed in other superhero comics lest it kill any of the action. If you think about it, there are a bunch of superheroes considered top-tier, S-class, omega level, whatever, and we still debate on who would win in a fight without realizing that EVERYONE around the battlefield would lose. The end of the last issue even depicts the fallout of one of their "failures" to maintain balance amongst themselves with the erasure of Great Britain.

These first five issues serve as an introduction to the world and the defining incident in the present-day (the attempted assassination of Heavy and Eti's response) that could trigger another disaster. It provides a back story to most of the six "superpowers" that will be the focus of the story. I also like these powers don't originate from just one "source" but several different ones as not only is magic referenced but even Heaven and Hell - expanding abilities beyond just what a human might be capable of with a genetic mutation. The current split amongst the group is also examined, revealing how each side may act to counter the other, though I'm still hoping for more information on "how" they chose the sides they are on and why.

The Ultimates #1 - 7 by Deniz Camp

To escape an attack by The Maker's Council, Tony Stark (Iron Lad) and his group jump six months into the future. With just 18 months left to prepare for The Maker's return, Stark and mentally-broken Reed Richards (Doom) go about putting together a new Ultimates team. Recruiting such a team, however, isn't as simple as sending super gifts in the mail as Stark and Richards will quickly learn, and the team will need to put boots on the ground to get their revolution going. With a team formed, they'll strike at The Maker's council, only to discover just how powerful and dangerous their foes really are.

The fourth series coming out of Marvel's new "Ultimate" universe, "The Ultimates" focuses upon the team set on combating The Maker's Council, returning the world to the way it should've been before The Maker's influence, and, eventually, preparing for The Maker's return. Now (just for a little bit), I'm going to have to get political because, honestly, how could you tell this story without understanding the current state of the world. The previous "Ultimates" universe focused upon a post-9/11 world obsessed with security and government control. This new iteration focuses upon "Truth," especially in the modern era where facts can be manipulated as The Maker literally re-writes the history of the universe so no one can oppose his rule while he and his Council regularly feed the masses lies to keep them afraid and docile. Okay, that's enough of that.

As mentioned, this reality was skewed from the main Marvel Universe by The Maker (a version of Reed Richards) who infiltrated this universe with the intent of shaping it to his desires by eliminating many of the world's superheroes while converting those he could bring over to his side to rule from the shadows. Though The Maker remains trapped within his own city, his council still rules over Earth. Labelled as terrorists and framed for a devastating attack on New York, Tony Stark and his group attempt to assemble a new team while in hiding - which goes horribly (funny, but still horrible). These first several issues focuses on the backstories and histories of the members of the team while they attack The Maker's assets until the full team is gathered for an assault which does not go as planned.

What is really fun about this series is seeing these characters everyone knows re-imagined in this new universe - how one man and his lies can change the course of history. How would Captain America react to seeing the United States of America he once fought for before being frozen dissolved? Who might pick-up Hawkeye's bow if the original turned down the offer? Could a broken Reed Richards, tortured into believing he was the "doom" of everyone he came into contact with, be brought back to himself? And how powerful could The Hulk become if he instead discovered inner peace - and took up the mantle of the Iron Fist?

Ultimate Spider-man #7 - 12 by Jonathan Hickman

Kingpin Wilson Fisk takes matters into his own hands to deal with the Green Goblin and Spider-man by pulling together his strongest lieutenants to form The Sinister Six. Peter Parker and Harry Osborn strengthen their bond as friends and partners, and learn what makes them stand apart from the other. Tony Stark appears to prepare the two heroes for The Maker's return. Disappointed in the sensational stories and pictures they're running in their newly formed newspaper, J.J. Jameson and Ben Parker receive an interesting tip which leads them right to not only Oscorp and Harry Osborn, but also to Peter's secret identity. Finally, an unforgettable Christmas Party with unexpected visitors and a shocking reveal as one party-goer isn't who they appear to be.

The stakes escalate in these six issues as not only are new villains introduced in the form of The Sinister Six, but also connecting this series to "The Ultimates" series and thus The Maker. Plus, the shocking twist at the end of issue 12 revealing Parker and Osborn kidnapped and Parker's Picotech suit having replaced him.

Honestly, still my favorite series within this new Marvel Ultimate Universe. I love this new version of Peter Parker - I like his maturity, the new family life, his relationship with Harry Osborn - and what that all brings to his version of Spider-man. I especially love that we got scenes of this older Park balancing his new life (one that is never seen in the main universe) with his very new Spider-man responsibilities. To me, this is the best way to write this story and character showing Marvel made a good choice in choosing Hickman as the writer. One quote in regards to superheroes that has stuck with me for years is that "everyone wants to be Batman, but everyone can relate to Spider-man," and that's because we get just as much of Spider-man saving the day as Peter Parker's everyday life. By including just as much of Parker's life in this story as he tries to find his footing as the new Spider-man is a great way to maintain this tradition.

Though you don't need to know anything about the main Marvel Universe, it is a lot of fun when you do recognize the little Easter Eggs Hickman throws into the story: the fake reporter "Ben Reilly" alludes to the Parker clone Ben Reilly in the main universe; mentioning "The Brocks" in the issue featuring a new, scarier version of the Venom character; and Harry Osborn's choice to utilize an AI version of his father, Norman Osborn, in his suit making him even more like his Green Goblin counterpart in the 616 universe. This character was such a good choice to start the new Ultimate Universe thanks to not only his mainstream popularity but also the long history Hickman has to draw inspiration from while still writing his own unique take on the character.

Ultimate X-Men #5 - 10 by Peach Momoko

Haunted by the Shadow and her secret mutant powers exposed, Hisako Ichiki along with her classmates Mai Igarashi and psychic Nico Minoru look for answers in the mysterious omamori amulet Hisako received. Shinobu Kageyama, the Shadow King and follower of Children of the Atom, makes himself known when he confronts Hisako and her classmates. Utilizing her Armor ability, Hisako injures Shinobu to her friends' surprise. Shinobu is taken to Maester, leader of the Children of the Atom cult - a group believing those with abilities are the next evolution of mankind - homo-superior - to recover. Mei (Maystorm) challenges Noriko Ashida (Surge), both of them utilizing their mutant abilities, and wins but not before Noriko reveals the experiments Children of the Atom conducts on its followers. Further proof of these experiments are revealed to the public when a body baring the symbol of the cult is found in a suitcase. As public unrest ignites in the Eastern Region and mutants are attacked, followers of the cult step out of the shadows to fight back.

Continuing the story of a new generation of teenage mutants growing up in The Maker - controlled Eastern region, more mutants are revealed amongst Hisako's group and the Shadow is revealed. Within them are some of the classic X-men abilities such as weather manipulation and optic blasts but also those which mutate the host's body to appear inhuman. These abilities and the cult which seeks to draw together those possessing them is finally brought to the public eye with a horrific scene. A battle between humans and mutantkind may be brewing in future issues.

Regarding the art, Peach Momoko's watercolor paint art style is really unique, at least in the comics I'm reading (especially superhero comics), and there's something about it that adds to this comic in particular. It isn't the clean, solid colors I'm uses to seeing in these stories, and I think that helps to convey the uncertainty of youth these teens face growing up with unguided mutant abilities.

I'm really liking this new version of the X-men as they really are just teenagers without any sort of adult guidance in regards to their emerging powers - no established X-men team, no Professor Charles Xavier to lead them. They even joke about the name "X-men" not because of the x-gene or Charles Xavier but because of their bad grades. The one thing that I would like more of is more "slice-of-life" moments showing the kids simply being kids. "Ultimate Spider-man" includes a birthday party for one of Parker's kids and a dinner date with the Parker's and the Osborn's. Even the last issue was about the Parkers' Christmas dinner! I think "Ultimate X-men" would benefit from the same.

Ultimate Black Panther #6 - 11 by Bryan Hill

Khonshu and Ra finally come out from the shadows to make their presence known and immediately draw a following amongst the people of Africa. With his new army, Khonshu, using the name Moon Knight, strikes out across the continent, attacking foreign-backed infrastructures and gathering new followers. King T'Challa responds, fighting against Khonshu's zealots as the Black Panther but is torn as he also fights against the very people the Black Panther is supposed to protect. At the same time, he sends Killmonger and Ororo out into the world to find one who understands the new element the two gods are using to build their power, and they discover the current Sorcerer Supreme.

The Maker's lieutenants Khonshu and Ra strike out against the Black Panther by coming out of the shadows and creating their own army of followers. King T'Challa, of course, has to respond with force against this new threat, but struggles with harming the people he is supposed to protect. This struggle, I think, is the heart of the "Ultimate Black Panther" series as it is something not seen in the other current Ultimate Universe series, and makes the story so much more than the standard "superhero" story. T'Challa has not only a responsibility to use his power to stop Khonshu and Ra, but also to protect his people and all that the Black Panther is sworn to protect.

This being the new Ultimate Universe, of course there's some interesting changes which makes this universe different from the main Marvel Universe. It was already interesting to see the new relationship dynamic between the characters but now we learn about a change to something even more constant in the Black Panther world - Vibranium. With Khonshu and Ra coveting a new element depicted as Vibranium's counterpart, we're new seeing Vibranium in a new light as well. The idea of the metal as possibly a living organism (like Venom ... or Flubber) adds a new twist to the story and I'm interested to see where it goes. Plus, the introduction of a new, twisted, possibly sadistic, Sorcerer Supreme!

The Ultimate Universe

Just to talk about these four series as a whole for a minute, the best part of this new universe so far is just how easy they are to read. Sure, it's fun to see references to established characters and groups and events from the main universe, but honestly, you don't need to know any of that to read these books (and, likely, the upcoming "Ultimate Wolverine" title). At the moment, an end point has sort-of been established as The Ultimates (and likely the rest of the new heroes) prepare for The Maker's return as he is currently locked away within his city for the next two years, but all of these series could possibly continue past a war against The Maker and his forces. If you were thinking about jumping into Marvel comics but feel intimidated by all the lore you need to know, this series is a great one to pick up.

The Outsiders #9 - 11 (Completed) by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly

The Drummer leads Lucius and Lucas Fox into the Lost City of Cannon where the forces of Order and Chaos wage a never-ending battle for the city's prize - a giant cannon ("the first and last gun") capable of destroying this universe, or any other. Soon after, Jakita's true goal is revealed as she aims The Outsiders' newly acquired weapon at the very center of The Snowflake where every single universe and reality meet. Will the three remaining Outsiders be enough to stop Jakita from destroying every single reality?

If you're a Batman and meta-fiction fan, then this is the series written for you. The 11 issue series comes to an end as Jakita/The Drummer attempts to destroy all realities out of spite for it ripping her from her home and killing everyone she loved, and only Bat-Wing, Batwoman, and Lucius Fox stand in her way. Originally formed by Lucius and Lucas Fox as a team to explore the nature of their reality and to explain all the "Crisis" events the DC universe has experienced, the team now deals with a reality-ending crisis of their own.

This was such a fun ride from "The Authority" references to the multiverse-hopping, and these last three issues continue the trend. Issue #9 was especially fun with the introduction of The Cannon meant to destroy other realities and leaving behind only what is "canon." And the remark Jakita makes about "a gun controlling the universe" as it is not only a gun which is the foundation of Batman's origin but could also be a reference to "Chekov's Gun," the narrative principle for writers to ensure they cut wasted elements. In Issue #10, we get callbacks to a variety of different characters and story elements from the past nine issues to see how the story ended up at this point. Finally, in Issue #11, is the discussion of Narrator vs Reader, and (hopefully) teasers to a new "The Authority" story. It was a fun ride, a little confusing at times sure, as most stories of this nature tend to be, at least a little, but definitely worth the read. As I've always said, I'm not very versed in either DC or Marvel lore, so I couldn't tell you if Marvel has ever had these types of world/reality ending crises, but I would be curious to see if Marvel could put something like this together as that story would also be worth reading.

Batman and Robin #11 - 15 by Joshua Williamson (11 - 13) and Phillip Kennedy Johnson (14 - 15)

Through Issues #11 - 13, Batman and Robin arrive on Dinosaur Island to confront Bane and bring him to justice for the murder of Alfred Pennyworth. Arriving on the island however, they find Band and his clone/daughter, Vengeance, in a fight with Kobra Kult members over a new Venom formula. The tension grows as Damien confronts Bane alone, the boy having witnessed Bane snapping the butler's neck, and it is unclear if his former training with the League of Shadows will return, especially when he is injected with the new Venom formula which brings out one's inner rage. Thanks to his father's teaching and training, Damien controls his rage and chooses mercy for Bane, choosing to arrest him and return him to Gotham rather than acting as judge, jury and executioner. The group beats back Kobra Kult and then return home. Issue #14 starts a new story arc as a mysterious villain attacks a charity dinner attended by Bruce and Damien Wayne. Having failed to save a bystander, Damien begins to question his purpose as the mysterious Momento makes his presence in Gotham known.

I still really like this series not only because of the superhero Batman and Robin aspect, but because of the Bruce and Damien Wayne relationship. The focus on issues #11 - 13 was on Damien overcoming his past as a killer by Ra's al Ghul and how he was changed by his father's teachings. As for the rest of those three issues, meh, they were okay. I didn't really care about the other things going on with Kobra Kult or with Vengeance. Perhaps it was because the creative team only got three issues to tell the story they wanted. Also, I didn't care for the art style in those issues. Starting at Issue #14, a new creative team took over which got me excited thanks to a mysterious, shadowy villain and an art style I liked more. We also got a bit more of "artist" Damien which I really like seeing as it adds a bit more to his character and makes him feel more like a "real" person.

Zatanna: Bring Down the House #1 - 5 (Completed) by Mariko Tamaki

Zatanna Zatara spends her days performing card tricks and stage illusions for a Las Vegas audience - free admission with the purchase of a waterpark ticket - and her nights haunted by a tragic accident. A demon attack during one of her shows drags Zatanna back into the realm of magic, a world she barely knew of before her father's, the great sorcerer Zatara, disappearance. Meeting with new and old friends, Zatanna will regain her own forgotten magical abilities and remember the truth behind her father's vanishing act - all in time to confront an emerging threat.

Typically used as a side character, I picked this one up as it was a solo-Zatanna story. Until I started reading it, I didn't realize it would be an origin story of sorts, revealing how she overcame her reluctance to use magic and regained her powers. It provides a look into the hidden magic community, with a special cameo-appearance by John Constantine which is cool to see. No, I've got no idea if this is canon, but it was still a fun read. As great as I hoped? Meh, it had its moments but this is one I probably should've waited patiently for the trade paperback release.

One thing I liked doing regarding these five issues was buying the variant cover issues rather than the main cover. Why? Honestly, I don't know. I liked the variant of the first issue and the expected variant of issue 3, so I just figured I'd just buy variant covers for this short, 5-issue run. No, it doesn't mean they're more valuable or will sell better, just that I liked the cover art on these variants more than the main cover. Honestly, I think more people want to buy either the main cover (usually referred to as Cover A) or else the "Incentive Cover" - the rarer 1 in 25 or 1 in 50 or even 1 in 100 variant covers (yeah, that's real). These comics that I've got will likely simply sit in a box (yeah, I've got boxes now) or perhaps I'll find a way to sell them off as a set if I want to get rid of them (I really like the third cover!).