Books of 2026: July

 

I think I'm starting to make a dent in clearing up all the comic books sitting on my bedroom floor. Hopefully I can continue this reading momentum.
 

DC/Marvel Superman/Spider-Man and Marvel/DC Spider-Man/Superman by various writers

"'You do it because great people -- kind people -- they taught you it's the right thing to do.'"

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of their first crossover, DC and Marvel put together another crossover event featuring their iconic characters. In DC/Marvel Superman/Spider-Man issue, the two title characters team-up against the duo of Brainiac and Doc Ock as the evil pair broadcast a kryptonite-laden data code into the minds of the people of Metropolis in "Truth, Justice, and Great Responsibility" by Mark Waid. The issue also includes seven other fun crossover stories. Some of my favorites include: Lois Lane and Mary Jane Watson seek out the reason for a Sentinel attack while Superman and Spider-Man keep the giant robot at bay in "The World's Finest." A humorous case of mistaken identity in "Jimmy Con Carnage" leads to a fatal meeting between Jimmy Olsen and Carnage as the photographer attempts to snap a picture of Spider-Man. In "The Bridge," a chance encounter between Johnathan Kent and Ben Parker saves the lives of two kids caught in a storm while Superman and Spider-Man sing the praises of the two men who raised them.

In the following one-shot Marvel/DC Spider-Man/Superman, Spider-Man and Superman find themselves trapped in a plot to take control of The Man of Steel by their combined rogue's gallery led by their arch-nemeses, The Green Goblin and Lex Luthor in "Our Kryptonite" by Brad Meltzer. Similar to the DC/Marvel issue, this one also featured a few crossover stories. In "Sweethearts," Gwen Stacy and Lana Lang compare their lives - including the men they're in love with. Mysterio, utilizing a Red Lantern, causes the world to be consumed in rage in "Identity War," leaving only a select few, including Superman, to talk down The Hulk and cease the Red Lantern's curse. Ghost Spider and Supergirl, both disappointed they're not meeting each others' titular counterpart, reluctantly team-up to stop a supervillain only to find each other worth of their admiration in "Remarkable."

When I first heard about the two crossover books, I wasn't aware there had been a previous one done 50 years ago - I simply pre-ordered them because I really liked the Batman and Deadpool crossover books the two companies released last year. Since I don't talk about artwork enough, I want to make sure I mention just how good all the covers were for those two books (yeah, so, so many fucking variants). Though I typically buy the standard Cover A for most books, I was really happy I opted to buy both comics featuring Ghost Spider and Supergirl on their variant cover especially since I really enjoyed their fun crossover story ("Sorry, I was hoping to meet the other Super-person/Spider-person," hahaha!). Overall, both books provided a good mix of fun, inspiring, and humorous stories. I also appreciated that both companies tapped into the creativity of established writers and artists (I recognized quite a few names just from the current books I'm reading). I think that's my biggest take away from these books: that despite having access to the same characters, all the writers made the stories their own with different plots for the same characters.

The Ultimates #14 - 18 by Deniz Camp and Ultimate Universe: 2 Years In by Deniz Camp and Alex Paknadel

"'Our future is gone -- forever -- but we are not the first generation to see their stars go out. This is not our sky. These are not our stars. But we will fight for them all the same. And for each other.'"

The revolution continues! The Ultimates continue their revolt against The Maker and his Council by striking their facilities and resources, and building their team of superheroes. More importantly, by teaching the masses the truth of their universe, they'll inspire the everyday people to join their ranks and rise up against their oppressors.

And, in a special issue, The Guardians of the Galaxy of the 61st century, having had their team scattered and destroyed by The Maker's changes, jump through space and time in order to reclaim their utopia. As hope dwindles, they'll make a startling discovery about their past, present, and future.

It's the lead-up to the finale the new Ultimate Universe has been building to as "The Ultimates" close out the first two years of this new universe built in The Maker's image. First off, yeah, I know the entire series has been released already. I just fell far behind in the series, and, right now, I just don't feel like binging my way through the rest of the series, so I'll stop here for now right before the big finale arc. Besides, I've got a bunch of other superhero stories to read as you'll see if you continue this list (huh, maybe "superhero fatigue" is real?). Despite the title of the series being taken from the superhero team, the issues are focuses on The Ultimates operating as smaller teams of two or three characters rather than the group bringing the full-force of their team against a single target likely due to the Hit and Run tactics required in guerilla warfare. I especially enjoyed the issue focused on Wren, just a normal girl who, inspired by The Ultimates, decided to stand up against the atrocities she witnessed under The Maker's rule. The entire issue gave a "First They Came"-vibe The growth of the revolution, including bringing regular people into their fold, definitely has me excited for the war against The Maker and the conclusion of the universe.

From its earliest iterations, Marvel's Ultimate universes have been meant to reflect our own society back to us. The previous Ultimate universe I recall reading showed us a world of superheroes in a post-9/11 world, where superhumans were used as tools of the government to protect US interests, at home and abroad. This universe, corrupted by The Maker's influence, shows us a world where the "correct" timeline has been twisted and corrupted, a world of stolen destinies, where truth is written by those in power while the masses live under the authoritarian rule of a secret cabal. It's unsettling at times, especially the scenes of "faceless men" (i.e. masked men) snatching people off the street for simply not fitting in with their idea of a perfect society. It's a world that should upset the reader, but also show that no "superhero" is coming to save them. Instead, The Ultimates rely upon the everyday person to also stand-up to their oppressors. Of course, comics books also make things easy. So far, they've only had to fight "bad guys," those who are directly linked to The Maker and his Council. But what happens when they have to confront ordinary citizens who have been tricked to believe The Council is right and The Ultimates are terrorists destroying their way of life? I'm definitely looking forward to reading the last few issues of the series to see how it all ends.

 

Absolute Batman #20 - 22 by Scott Snyder

"'See, Grimm and I, we thought it'd be funny. After all, what's the natural prey of an owl, Bruce? That's right ... a bat! That's the why of your life. Batman isn't a project. He's a joke.'"

The origin of The Batman is revealed! The Batman breaks into Blackgate Prison in search of answers where The Straw Man reveals Jack Grimm V and his associates were responsible for Thomas Wayne's death and for pushing the young Bruce Wayne to don the cowl - as a joke. Gotham City's newly-formed Robins confront the fleeing vigilante and a fight occurs with Batman barely escaping capture. Despite being broken by Bane, Bruce's Crime Alley friends come together once again, agreeing to save Bruce from himself and the path he is walking. While again evading the police and The Robins, Harley reveals her past to Bruce in an attempt to stop him from digging deeper into his own history and focus on the current mission, but ultimately fails.

The next story arc of Absolute Batman begins with Bruce's decent into madness and fear as he searches for answers to his past. I know, didn't I just talk about this book last month? Well, jokes on you, as being behind in my reading meant only finishing up to the last story arc last month and leaving the other issues for the next month - which is now. So many stand-out moments in just three issues - The Origin reveal, Batman vs The Robins, Bruce's first meeting with The Joker, Harley's past reveal - makes me excited to complete the rest of the story arc. After dealing with the powerhouse that was Bane, The Straw Man, this universe's Scarecrow, provides a whole new type of terror. Thanks to the dread and psychological torment brought about by this new villain, Bruce begins to question his own identity. It's a new type or horror, and I can't wait to see its conclusion.

Identity plays a big part in the first three issues of this new story arc. After the reveal that every decision he made was influenced and orchestrated as part of a joke by The Joker, Bruce plummets down the rabbit hole in search of the truth to his past. It's a psychological attack on The Batman, sidelining him while The Joker and his associates continue their assault on the city, which we can assume is happening "off-screen"while Bruce is distracted. Harley does try, unsuccessfully, to bring him back to the present by telling him her own story. Knowing what he knows now, will Bruce allow it to shape his present or will he continue to stay the course he set when he donned the cowl?

 

I Hate Fairyland Vol. 9 Back on my Bull Ship by Skottie Young

"'Why are we doing this again?'
'I was gonna ask you the same thing.'
'We always do this crazy ship because you tell me to.'
'One: not true. And two: This one was all you. I even said, 'They're not giving us a clue, a key, or even money.' And you were all like, 'But killing!'"

After saving the fantastical world Gert has earned another chance to to return home, if she can find her magic key ... which did not work out so well the first time. Join Gert and Larry as they once again set out on a violent quest across Fairyland. Returning to her old chaotic roots, Gert will stumble through a pub crawl, witness the quest of a grimdark unicorn in search of its missing horn, murder her way through a literal food war, confront a nemesis seeking revenge, and set sail with Popeye, the Sailor Man (welcome to the public domain) - all in her quest to once again return home.

If you're thinking it's been awhile since I talked about "I Hate Fairyland", well, you're right. In my own quest to clean up my backlog of To Read books, I kept putting his book off in favor of floppy issues I'd eventually board-and-bag and box, and other books I planned to read once and trade-in for more books (got about fifty bucks in store credit at last trade-in, if you're curious). Plus, I sort-of lost it in the stack. Despite my lapse, the "I Hate Fairyland" series has lost none of its charm - being the exact same kind of book I loved from its first issue (which I actually now do own, in a CGC 9.8, no less). Like I say every time I read these books, I love the over-the-top cartoon violence told in vibrant colors. One of the things I love about Young's writing is his irreverence, poking fun at established characters, and this volume is filled with his sense of humor: the Dungeon Pub Crawl feels like a nod to the increasingly popular "Dungeon Crawler Carl" series, the grim unicorn and mushroom-samurai being joke-versions of the characters "Hellboy" and "Usagi Yojimbo" respectively, the war between appetizers and desserts likely being a real argument Young either had or overheard, and, of course, the Popeye joke featuring the character himself. Young's writing is great at poking fun without being insulting, keeping everyone laughing.

 

Absolute Green Arrow #1 - 3 by Pornsak Pichetshote

"Are these our options now? Ignore the monsters we work for ... or throw watch parties for their executions?"

The wealthy and powerful thought they could protect themselves by killing a good man, but the death of Oliver Queen simply inspired someone far more deadly to take his place. When Queen's former business partners and associates are assassinated by a killer with green arrows, they'll hire his former lover Dinah "The Black Canary" Lance, a former cop turned MMA fighter turned down-on-her-luck bodyguard to not only protect themselves but find the assassin's identity. As the bodies pile up, as leads run low, as the mysteries get stranger, Lance will learn that perhaps she never knew Queen as well as she thought.

DC's newest Absolute series, Absolute Green Arrow picks up after the events of the Absolute Evil one-shot which ended with Oliver Queen's corpse tossed onto a table as an example of what happens when someone crosses The Justice League. With the standard Green Arrow hero dead, a new, deadlier vigilante dons his cowl. From the size of the Arrow family in DC's continuity, it's a great mystery to discover who it is that decided to take on Oliver Queen's alter ego in this new universe. The star of this series is Dinah "The Black Canary" Lance, a private security contractor, hunting for the killer preying on the elites who abuse their power and status while secretly investigating the mysterious death of her friend and former lover. It's a story drenched in blood as this new Green Arrow stabs and slashes their way through scores of bodies to the target.

With the targeting of corporate CEO's and those who abuse their wealth and status, readers can't not see the connection Absolute Green Arrow has to real-world events such as the Epstein scandal and the assassination of the UnitedHealthcare CEO. In just the first three issues we witness the killings of a corporate CEO who used his money and status to prey on young girls, a pharmaceutical CEO who used legal loopholes to not only avoid prison but also earn millions of dollars while people suffered. The main character, Dinah Lance, is even forced to work with these people as they're actively blackmailing her. Capturing the public's reaction to the Green Arrow killings are little social media snippets in which some condemn the murders while others not only praise the violence but encourage it. I think what separates the story from the real world is the public assassination of Oliver Queen, a good man who tried to do the right thing. His death made him a martyr and seemingly inspired this universe's Green Arrow to take a more lethal approach than their in-continuity counterpart. Who this killer is and whether their actions are justified will likely be explored in the following issues.

 

Absolute Superman #18 - 21 by Jason Aaron

"'Sure, he's a damn kid who still don't know how to throw a decent punch. But he's already done about the most impossible thing I could've ever imagined. Damn fool went and made me believe.'"

"After all ... this is the age of the Superman. And we're just living in it."

It's a battle of the Supermen! At the Lazarus' Corporation's last hidden cache, Black Adam is freed from his imprisonment. Once a slave to a pharaoh, he was granted superhuman powers by a collection of Brainiacs looking for a test subject for their recently discovered Father Box. Kal-El, The Justice League's Hawkman, and Steel, a man wielding a hammer with the power of a neutron star, will join forces in a fight against the superman's rage to prevent him from again conquering the planet as he did millennia ago. As their battle brings destruction across the planet, Kal-El still ensures no harm comes to the bystanders. In the end, Kal-El will stand alone against Black Adam, two men who arrived "wearing the dust of their home." Will Superman be able to pacify the conqueror's rage and inspire him to reform as he had inspired so many others to do?

Taken from DC's mainline universe's "Reign of the Super-man" event, in Absolute Superman we witness a planet-spanning battle between this universe's super-men Kal-El, Steel, Hawkman, and Black Adam. It's an epic battle between titans as the three super-men attempt to contain Black Adam. I love these callbacks to Superman's history and how they're twisted in this universe thanks to Darkseid's hand. Instead of the supermen attempting to fill a vacuum left by Superman's death and ending with Superman's rebirth, the three seek instead to usurp Kal-El's will and goals, and instead ends with Kal-El exiling himself. I also like the arc as it further establishes just how long this universe's Justice League has been quelling and suppressing any attempt to change the status quo they've established.

The best part of this story's arc isn't the epic battle, but learning how, despite his changed background, Superman still inspires those around him to be better people. Despite his godly abilities, the main universe Superman sees himself more as a symbol of hope, and I like that the Absolute Universe version is able to do the same. I really liked seeing Hawkman, despite years of serving as The Justice League's enforcer, siding with Kal-El after just meeting him once, and that, after he does what he believes had to be done to stop Black Adam, goes "on a bender" because he failed to live up to Kal-El's standard. Also, seeing Lois Lane attempting to reform Talia Al Ghul rather than continue to seek revenge for her father's death is another example of Kal-El's influence. Though this universe was created to give the villains the advantage and take away what Darkseid saw to be the heroes' greatest strengths, I love that the heroes still manage to overcome and be the heroes they're meant to be. I'm definitely curious to see, in Kal-El's absence, if the people will continue to strive to be better as he tried to inspire them to be.

 

Barbaric Vol. 1 Murderable Offenses and Vol. 2 Axe to Grind by Michael Moreci

"And now, I roam, cursed, of all things, to be good. Whatever the fuck that means. All I truly know is that I am nothing ... I'm no one."

"'No, Axe, it isn't. Because what's right for one person might be wrong for another. And when you solve every problem with killing, people don't tend to learn. But you wouldn't get that, because you're a fucking axe."'

"'Gods, I thought the problem I had with orcs is all the people you kill and eat ... but really it's the awful fucking sound of your voices.'"

Owen the Barbarian lived simply: drink, fuck, fight. After an encounter with a trio of witches, his life changed. Cursed to only do good and guided by a magical, sentient axe, he must now lend a hand - or fist, or blade - to those in need. When evil forces take over a monastery, he'll team-up with a tragic necromancer to save the town.

And, when an enemy from the past reemerges, Owen, Soren, and Axe will set-off on a new quest to put the villain back in the ground. Reunited with a old party member, the group will track through dangerous and deadly terrain to confront the growing evil. Will Owen kill the powerful Orc Lord for good this time? And what other aspects of the barbarian's curse will be revealed?

Volume One, Murderable Offenses was chosen for this month's Graphic Novel Book Club book, and I got really lucky that on my visit to Skull-Face trade-in so books, I just happened to find Volume Two, Axe to Grind on the shelves. These two Barbaric books were fun, bloody rides from beginning to end. I think I may have seen this title on the shelves or as a recommendation before, but I'd never looked into it until now. I'm really happy to have read a swords-and-sorcery fantasy story in the middle of all these superhero stories I'm currently trying to catch-up with just so it gives me something different to read. Not that I'm not enjoying reading about superheroes, I just like the difference a high fantasy story brings with it. Of course, one of the biggest differences is the setting: rather than a modern city-scape, we're put in a medieval feudal town. Further still, since Owen is a barbarian, we aren't shown the upper-echelon of society (i.e. palaces and kings), but what is likely considered the dregs (fighting pits and run-down bars). I really liked the premise of this violent beast of a man being forced to now only use his violent nature to do good deeds. You'd think "doing good" to perhaps mean using his words over his fists, but, really, the only time he talks is to consult with his sentient axe to determine if someone deserves to be cleaved. It's definitely a departure from the typical paladin character who would be this sort of main character. I also loved Owen's reluctance to do these good deeds because "doing good" isn't so simple, showing that he isn't just a brute, but intelligent, as well. The second book is even more straight-forward as the villain is shown to simply be evil, someone Owen has no issue with murdering. Both books were really fun reads and pretty straight-forward, so much so that we didn't really have too much to talk about at the club meeting. It was a fun read, overall, and I definitely want to read the rest of the series. 

Absolute Green Lantern Vol. 2 Sojourner by Al Ewing

"'I can feel it now. And it hurts. but it's mine. It's my pain. It's my life. The bad, the good, everything I am is in this ring ... and nobody takes that away."'

Mojo and it's Black Star enforcers continue to cleanse the quadrant of heretics who go against their teachings. Meanwhile, Jo Mullein and an unconscious Hal Jordan hide out at Jo's ex-wife's home. With what he gathered from the Evergreen scene, billionaire Hector Hammond creates a biological weapon to hunt down Jo and her ring. As the group is pushed into a corner by Hammond's seemingly unstoppable monster, both Jo and Hal unlock their abilities to destroy the creature.

I swear I read this book. Despite its interesting, cosmic horror vibes, Absolute Green Lantern still feels like the weakest series to me. Maybe it's the slower pace of the story. Maybe I'm just not that familiar with the Green Lantern mythos to pick-up the new subversions and cool twists found in the Absolute universe version. Honestly, maybe it's just too smart for me. After how slowly the first six issues played, I decided to wait it out and buy the collected trade paperback instead so that way I could A) see if the writing became more my speed, B) stay current with the overall happenings of this new universe, and C) more easily sell it off if I didn't like it. As I said, I swear I read this book, but, even so, I needed the Wikipedia article to fully understand it. There were definitely some stand-out moments, such as Mojo the living planet hunting down those that don't follow the Black Stars' teachings, Jo (sort-of) learning her powers, and Hal (with more understanding of Abin Sur's teachings) accessing a new power to counter the Black Stars'. For the most part though, it doesn't feel like Jo contributes much in this arc despite being the main character and I definitely do not like that. I can really only picture one or two stand-out scenes in these six collected issues. I like her flawed character backstory we get in issue 8, and how she is working through it, but that can't be all that makes her interesting. With Jo coming more into her own in the final pages, and the promise of a bigger fight, I'll still be picking-up Volume 3 to read more of this series.

 

Books of 2026: June

 

It kinda feels like I'm reading less and less, especially as I watch the books stack-up in my room, which wouldn't be too bad if I had other, completed writings to show for it. I'll try to get something done about that next month.

Predator Kills the Marvel Universe by Benjamin Percy

"'Let the GREAT HUNT begin, and let Kraven be the spearhead.'" 

The Predator has come for the Marvel Universe! An entire Yautja clan led by it's Predator King descends upon Earth for their most ambitious hunt yet. Armed with Kraven's knowledge of every single hero and villains' abilities and weaknesses, as well as an arsenal of Vibranium weaponry, the invasion appears unstoppable. As the body count rises, can the heroes mount a counterattack in time to prevent further casualties? And, what new weapon is the Weapon Plus program putting together, and will it be enough to turn the tides of the battle?

So, as easy as it would be to just look it up, I'm assuming Disney now owns both the Alien and Predator franchises as well as Marvel, so, yeah, why now set up a money grab with a crossover of your licenses? I know, I said I would stop buying every stupid book just because it is on sale, but, since this followed "Predator vs Spider-Man", I figured I'd take a look. Collecting the five issue series, Predator Kills the Marvel Universe tells a bloody tale as the Yautja rip through the Marvel heroes in a surprise assault until the heroes can mount a counterattack of their own. I really liked seeing The Predators use Kraven's knowledge to take advantage of their prey's weaknesses. I really would've liked an entire book written in this style as the Yautja systematically eliminate their targets using the element of surprise, their numbers, and their advanced weapons. Though, of course, the heroes need to win and save the day. What turned me off was how anti-climactic it felt to see them simply remove their three biggest threats with seemingly no resistance - no big stand-off or fight, it's just over once the heroes understand what they're up against. Meh, it was a good opening, but just a mediocre ending.

 

Everything Dead and Dying by Tate Brombal

"'So I do what I can to protect 'em, keep 'em fed like any other creature under my hand that moves and hungers and smiles. Because I am a good farmer. An' I can't quit. Not on this life. Not on these people I care for so much! Nobody'll take this away from me. I won't give the world that. I can't!'"

As a zombie apocalypse consumes the planet, Jack Chandler only wants to continue with the only life he knows. Immune to the virus, he farms his land and, by keeping the dead of Caverton regularly fed, they remain docile and behave almost as they did when they lived. When a band a survivors happen upon his town, it will be up to Jack to keep his dead town alive. But, as the group discovers his secrets and kills member after member of his community, a new question emerges - should he?

I picked up the first issue of Everything Dead and Dying and immediately loved the premise of a man trying to hold on to what he has at the end of the world. It didn't feel like a book I'd love to re-read over and over again, though, so I waited for the collected trade paperback release rather then continuing to pick-up the individual issues. From Jack's perspective, I was on his side at the beginning: if you found a way to live during the end of the world, why should you be forced to change when these outsiders show up? Plus, there are the obvious parallels to the prejudices he faced as a gay man in a hostile small town and as a living person living and caring for the dead. It honestly kinda reminded me of "Knock at the Cabin", at least what I read of the book summary where you can't tell if the family was targeted because they are gay or because the end of the world is upon them. In the end, Jack realizes he needs to let go of his own prejudices against those who once shunned him and see that he is clinging onto a past with no future and instead continue living his life.

 

Absolute Wonder Woman #15 - 20 and Absolute Wonder Woman Annual #1 by Kelly Thompson

     "'You must stay open and compassionate. You must love all. Everything we've done is for naught if you can't do that ... But that leaves you dangerously open, my darling girl. Vulnerable and exposed.'
     'But perhaps that's good? ... Then maybe this way I can better understand them and all they face. Without any vulnerabilities of my own, it might be hard for me to relate to them ... if I can't understand them, I won't be a very good champion for them.'"

Diana teams-up with The Batman to investigate a series of ritualistic murders in Gotham City possibly connected to her goddess. Back in Gateway City, though the people have embraced her as their guardian - the Wonder Woman - not everyone is as enamored with the demi-goddess. Director Cole unleashes her new Suicide Squard upon Diana and her friends, led by the witch Zatanna Zatara. Despite possessing a spell for every situation and unmatched strength, Diana still chooses to dispatch the villains compassionately rather than with overwhelming force. Seeing her team removed from the battle, Cole will unleash a powerful and adaptable tracker to capture Diana. Will she be able to escape GATE's grasp before they can learn her secrets?

And, in an extra story, Diana sets out to bargain with the goddess Athena in order to change the story and fate of Medusa and her gorgon sisters.

First off, I bet your wondering where this write-up has been all this time? Well, let's just get that out of the way. So, Absolute Wonder Woman #15 was the first crossover issue between DC's Absolute characters, and that made it sell very, very well. A downside to that, unfortunately, was that every comic shop I visited had run out of copies and, online, the secondary market was selling individual issues for upwards of $15 - three times the cover price! Eventually, a second printing was released, which I ordered online, and then spent two months waiting for it to ship - so, that's where I've been at with this series.

Well, enough of my personal problems. Absolute Wonder Woman continues with Director Veronica Cale (basically a mix of Lex Luthor's jealousy and Amanda Waller's ruthlessness) setting her version of the Suicide Squad upon Diana and the people of Gateway City in order to not only capture the Wonder Woman, but also destabilize her fan base. I really like the flashbacks we get into Diana's childhood in the Underworld and how it affects and informs her present day. I also like that even as the villains become stronger, Diana still doesn't rely solely on violence to stop them. From the beginning of this story arc (maybe even since the beginning of this series), Diana is shown to be in a class all to herself in terms of combat of abilities. She can outmatch any of her opponents in physical feats and, given enough time, able to best them in magical capabilities, too. It isn't that she defeats the Suicide Squad (or how effortlessly she does so) but that she does it without killing them, even freeing a few from their bondage in the process. It's what makes her escape at the end so heartbreaking, because she could've done so, but wasn't willing to pay the price. What will be the consequences for abandoning her friend to the machinations of Director Cale?

 

Absolute Batman: Ark-M and Absolute Batman #16 - 19 by Scott Snyder

"'I took Falcone's money, but I didn't just bet it on you. I bet it on all of us. Understand? One of us wins, we all win. I save you, you save me, we all keep saving each other until we all make it out. Crime Alley for life.'"

In a special issue, the secrets of The Asylum are revealed, along with a brief glimpse into Grimm's plans for The Batman.

Bruce Wayne created The Batman as a symbol to terrorize those who would prey upon Gotham and its people. After his public defeat of Bane, he has instead turned himself into the city's champion - a figure bigger than the already hulking bruiser imagined becoming. Seeing the pain The Batman caused to his Crime Alley friends, Bruce Wayne sets out to make things right, traversing The Underworld to do so. Meanwhile, with Bane defeated, Jack Grimm V lets loose the experiments of Ark-M upon Gotham, as well as starts a task force for the sole purpose of apprehending The Batman. Can Bruce survive these new threats as he is now, or will he need to evolve into something more?

You sung the praises of this book from its release, yet you haven't been talking about it. What's going on? Well, DC did its first Absolute Universe crossover with a two-part story split between "Absolute Wonder Woman #15" and Absolute Batman # 16. And, well, I missed picking-up "Absolute Wonder Woman #15", so I waited, and waited until I finally got my hands on the second printing. Meanwhile, all these issues of Absolute Batman piled up as I refused to read them until I got the full story.

In the aftermath of Bane's defeat, the people now see The Batman as their champion - a role Bruce is ill-prepared to play. Meanwhile, more Ark-M residents begin to sow havoc in Gotham while Jack Grimm V puts together a new plan to take down The Batman. As The Batman is knocked on his heels, more troubling news finds Bruce Wayne, all leading to one of the biggest Batman questions - What if there was ONLY The Batman? As twisted and unexpected as this arc has been, this chapter felt more like a set-up for something bigger coming to Gotham. The previous story arcs had established "Big Bads" in Black Mask and Bane. This one, though, focuses more on Jack Grimm V's hold on Gotham. I'm really hoping for something big in the next arc as it looks like The Batman may finally go head to head against The Joker. And, what do Martha Wayne and the Court of Owls have planned for Gotham? Will The Joker's team of orphans aka The Robins be able to capture The Batman? Can Bruce adopt his new persona full-time and abandon who he is? So many questions left unanswered makes me excited for the next chapter.

 

The Weatherman Vol. 1 by Jody LeHeup

On the 7th anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on Earth, weatherman Nathan Bright entertains the citizens of Mars with his over-the-top reporting and on-camera antics. It's nearly impossible to see Bright as anything more than a beloved, zany TV weatherman. Nearly impossible isn't the same as impossible, however. Caught between two factions attempting to capture him, Bright learns they believe him to be one of the masterminds behind the tragedy which claimed 18 billion lives. On the run from not only those looking to prevent or carry-out another attack, but even those seeking revenge and profit, Bright will need to decide quickly who he can trust - and what the truth of his past may be.

Chosen as this month's Graphic Novel Book Club book, The Weatherman was a fun and entertaining read, proving once again that Book Clubs don't need to be filled with pretentious texts and can be just fun stories. Looking back on all the books I've read for the Book Club, this is the first book which I wasn't already at least a little familiar with in some way or form (yeah, I consume a lot of media). Based on the blurb at the back of the book, I assumed it would be similar to either of the two "Total Recall" films - Hidden/ Manipulated memories, Man on the run, Identity Crisis, Terrorism. While the premise felt similar, the style was completely different with vibrant colors and a much less grounded approach to the characters - things done a lot better in comics vs film. I really liked the story and already added Volumes 2 and 3 to my "To Read" list since I couldn't find either at the comic shop nor at the website I've been ordering books from. The only gripe I have is the large cast of characters to keep track of over these five collected issues as I found myself flipping back to previous pages to remember who these characters are. Also, if you're wondering about the Book Club discussion, sorry, but I missed it this month.

 

Author Immortal by Frank Barbiere

"'Never forget young Mage -- magic awakens when you dare to believe in yourself. The brighter you shine, the more the world must change to meet you.'"

"'You only see your story.'"

Professor and struggling writer Hector Ramirez receives the opportunity of a lifetime when he is offered the chance to reboot his beloved childhood novels and bring them into the modern era. Traveling to the deceased author's home along with his teenager, Al, the two are pulled into the fictional world to find it no longer resembles the story they once knew. Inside a crumbling realm tainted from the outside survives a desperate king struggling to keep his kingdom alive and a transformed heroine who was never meant to live for as long as she has. Father and child will need to confront the truth of the fantasy world and the lies they've told themselves in order to escape.

I picked up the first issue on a whim based more off of the title (Author Immortal sounds pretty cool) and the promise of a critique on the stories we hold dear, than the plot (I mean, "Fictional Land is Actually Real" has been done countless times). The first issue held enough promise that I kept the title in mind for when the trade paperback was released. After reading a couple very action-oriented stories in a row, I figured I'd give a more character-driven story a read next. As promised, I did like the critique the story presented on the worship we have for the stories and people that changed our lives. Though I did read it for the characters, I also appreciated that the characters were also in several "fight for your life" situations as no childhood fantasy story would be complete without a bit of danger. At times, however, plot took a backseat to critique - an almost insulting amount of it. Overall though, maybe not one I'm willing to continue if Image Comics does decide to release more issues (so far, it appears to have stopped at Issue #5).

So, I know one of the biggest problems people have with today's media is being "too woke" and focused more on heavy-handed preaching rather than story-telling, and, honestly, I haven't really understood that. Maybe it's because, as an English major, I'm always looking for some sort of meaning or message in stories. Maybe I'm just not consuming these particular stories folks are complaining about so loudly. Maybe I'm just so fucking dense that I don't see what everyone is complaining about. With Author Immortal, that was not the case. I definitely picked-up on it from the very first issue. The tainted and twisted fantasy world Hector and Al wake in shows how we, as readers, pervert these realms from the outside with our own agendas and opinions rather than simply letting them be. Holding tightly onto this beloved world is Hector who also appears slow to adapt to the changing reality. Sheila's love and adoration for the famous yet clearly problematic Luckwell represents how we worship celebrities while dismissing their negative traits. What I really found insulting though was the very obvious J.K. Rowling stand-in of Luckwell, who Barbiere didn't even try to hide or be subtle about. I can understand making her a horrific character because you don't agree with her views, but I do take offense to depicting her as a hack writer who only became great thanks to a Deal with the Devil. Though you may not agree with her opinions, you can still acknowledge her talent as a writer. With every single other character having clearly negative traits, that Al simply represents the outcast minority righteously lashing out at a society that bullies their people reeks of an agenda. As I mentioned, when studying for my English degree, I was used to looking for meaning in texts, and I do try to include some of that in these write-ups to prove (mostly to myself) that I actually read the books and earned that piece of paper, but this was just too much.

 

Books of 2026: May

A short list this month as I've been busy with work and actually working on some other writing projects.

The Sacrificers by Rick Remender

"For the good of those we love, some of us must suffer. Some of us must hold on in that darkness ... some of us must sacrifice.

Pigeon's rebellion against the gods who demanded his life and countless others comes to an end. Freed from their tyranny, Pigeon and Soluna try to forge a new path forward for the people of Harlos - one that doesn't demand the lives of children every year to sustain it. While Pigeon and Soluna tirelessly struggle to create their new future, the people suffer under the insufficient light of a single god when accustomed to the rule of a pantheon. The people stage another revolution to overthrow Pigeon and Soluna's new rule, burning their temples and bringing war to their doorstep. Can Pigeon bring about the better world he and Soluna dreamed of for his children and his people, or will this new revolution end with his death to appease the people's rage, his fate sealed ever since he was chosen as a sacrifice all those years ago?

A story of revolution against a false paradise in the hopes of establishing a better world, Rick Remender's The Sacrificers comes to an end after 21 issues. In the final arc, Pigeon and Soluna finally overthrow the gods and free Harlos from their tyranny only to find creating a new order much more difficult and taxing than they originally planned. A new revolution seeks to oust the two from their rule as Pigeon tries desperately to heal a broken world without giving it anymore lives, especially those close to him. As much as we see revolutions as overthrowing a system, the final issue reminds the reader that, at it's heart, revolutions are still about the people within the system, which I really enjoyed as it made the story feel personal and connected and relatable. Though the middle issues felt like it meandered a bit (enough so that I'm happy issue 16 opened with a lore-dump to get the reader not only up-to-speed, but on the same track), I felt really satisfied with the ending in a way that I did not with some of his other work (Yeah, I'm looking at you Napalm Lullaby). All in all, I'm actually pretty happy I got these issues on my pull-list, or else I might've stopped reading somewhere toward the middle chapters. It was this last, six-part story arc that made the story worthwhile.

Despite the last 15 chapters being focused on Pigeon's revolution against the gods, these last six issues posed a different question: In order to thrive, who should be required to sacrifice? Having succeeded in their revolution, Pigeon and Soluna attempt to change Harlos so that families no longer need to surrender a single child in order for the people to survive. Change takes time, however, and while Pigeon and Soluna sacrifice their lives to their goal, the people of Harlos suffer waiting for the fruits of the labor. Going from giving up the life of a single child to watching all of their family members die, the people revolt against Pigeon's new order, ironically right at the moment he has completed his life's work. From Pigeon's perspective, the people simply needed to be more patient and willing to suffer a bit longer in order for their better world to come to fruition. The people, however, feel they've suffered long enough, and it is time for Pigeon and his family to sacrifice. With the god-like powers Pigeon's family posses, should they have been the ones to give-up more to ensure the people's survival and quality of life? Should the people be required to sacrifice while those with power work to better everyone's lives? In the end, both sides see each other suffering, sacrificing, and while people shouldn't be forced, they should be at least allowed to choose how much to sacrifice for a better world.

 

Assorted Crisis Events by Deniz Camp

"'Please, someone tell me! Is this how it really ends? I can't keep track."'

"'No, son. We could never be like them.'"

Collecting the first five issues of the Assorted Crisis Events series, the anthology presents five one-shot stories of people in crisis in a world where time itself is in flux and the world collapses around them. From the original blurb, I thought these would simply be a set of fun, multiverse stories from the way the book is described - and, holy shit, was I wrong. Instead, each story presents an interesting thought-experiment and gives a deep, meaningful story about people just trying to get by. Each one-shot story was such a good read, in fact, that I couldn't read two back-to-back, needing time instead to digest what I just read.

The first issue, Apocalypse Wow, which I first read as a single issue, I originally thought was just a fun story about the end of the world. Reading it again in this collection, I felt much different this time, and instead having a much more "Oh shit!" reaction. Ashley constantly experiences a different outside her home thanks to the movie filming outside her building while she just tries to live her ordinary life. But, if everyday is the end of the world, how do you react when it actually arrives? And how do you know if it really is the end? It's this desensitization to the chaos after being confronted with one horrible event after another, day after day, that really hit me reading this story the second time around, especially in today's times when, honestly, who knows which major event will actually cause the end of the world.

The other story I really want to talk about was Crisis on Hearth-II, a story of two nearly identical towns and residents. When Hearth-II experiences an apocalyptic event, the residents escape to Heath-I. Initially welcomed by their counterparts, the tragedies which shaped the lives of the people of Hearth-II soon lead to their ostracization by Hearth-I residents. Fear and misunderstanding take hold of both communities, leading to what could've been a peaceful merger turning instead into catastrophe. It's a powerful message in our current climate of fear and persecution of immigrants, especially those who are just trying to live better lives in a foreign place.

 

Batwoman: Elegy by Greg Rucka

"'That bat they shine in the sky ... civilians think it's a call for help. The bad guys think it's a warning ... but it's more than that. It's something higher. It's a call to arms ... I've found my way to serve. I finally found a way to serve.'"

The covens of Gotham's Religion of Crime have chosen a new leader, and Batwoman is determined to meet her before she can get to work in Gotham. Her military career cut short, Kate Kane chooses to serve by donning the cowl and fiery red wig of The Batwoman. But is Alice truly as mad as they say, or is something else hiding beneath the surface?

In back-up story, Cutter, Batman and Batwoman investigate an abduction, side-by-side, with eerie similarities.

Chosen as this month's Book Club title, I was interested to read this mostly because I did watch a season of the CW's "Batwoman" show with the titular character portrayed by Ruby Rose (whatever happened to her?). Based on the blurb on the back of the book, it appeared this story influenced the show, and I like seeing how things are adapted from one media to another. This would also be the first time reading a graphic novel printed in DC's new "compact" book format. Not gonna lie, I really like the price point of about $10 vs the nearly $20 I'd usually pay for a collected trade paperback. I also like the size of the book being less than half the length of the typical trade paperback, making it easier to transport.

Published originally in 2009-2010 (I thought it was older), "Batman: Elegy" provides a clear origin story to the character introduced years earlier, as well as introduced an important antagonist - Alice aka Beth Kane, her sister. Knowing who Alice is to Batwoman, the end felt a bit anti-climactic (plus, you know the rule about comic book characters: If you don't see a body, they're not really dead). Also, I knew Gotham is a weird place, but now learning about the Religion of Crime secret society as well as a whole bunch of shapeshifters living in secret, it just makes the place even weirder. I do like that Kate Kane feels a bit more grounded and realistic as a character when compared to how Bruce Wayne operates as Batman: her training comes from her military background, her gear from stolen military tech.

In the back-up story, Cutter, Batman and Batwoman conduct seemingly simultaneous investigations involving kidnappings. I really liked that both were presented concurrently rather than back-to-back as it leads into the surprising reveal that they are actually years apart involving the same people. One point that stood out to me was the irony of Kate's cousin, Bette, asking her how to "let go" of her past when the whole point of anyone from the Bat Family taking on the mantle is because they can't "let go". The culprits, as well, are revealed to be unable to let go of their past, causing them to kidnap and mutilate young women in the hopes of recapturing that past.

The focus of the Book Club discussion was on the artwork (I know, something I'm notoriously bad at discussing). What was pointed out wasn't necessarily the artwork dedicated to the characters, but the care given to the panel layout and even to the panels themselves. Most comics focus on a standard grid-layout, white or black margins to show a clear separation between panels - and that's it. In Batwoman: Elegy, not only was care given to the panels themselves, but even to the layout of the panel. Rather than just your standard rectangles, we found some panels in triangles, circles, and even some which don't fit traditional shapes as they sliced into other panels to form something new. Rather than simple borders, some of panels were drawn with a sort-of filigree around their edges. The panel layout itself wasn't always your typical grid, but sometimes flowing like a river or snake across pages or even circling in on itself as a spiral, the flow adding to the storytelling itself. It's really cool, and not something seen often even in today's comic book despite this story being published over a decade ago.

 

Absolute Flash #13 - 15 by Jeff Lemire

Wally West and fellow youth mission resident, Linda, set out for clues on returning Wally's father from the Still Point zone. While searching Fort Fox, the pair are pulled into a mirror dimension swarming with evil clones hunting their original, and are more than willing to kill anyone in their way. The two are eventually pulled back into their own reality and given a hunt to locating Dr. Thawne, but first he'll need to seek out one of Barry Allen's former colleagues. Meanwhile, The Rogues are given a mission that could clear their names: hunt down an escaped Grood!

The next three issues find Wally on a new mission to rescue his father from the Still Point zone. With the mysterious zone being the focus, it seems, of the new story arc, I'm curious to see where it goes and what's revealed, and, especially, how it differs from the traditional "Speed Force" typically associated with The Flash and his powers. I'm also excited to see how The Rogues fare against not just Grood, but his father whom he recently reunited.

 

The Toll by Neal Schusterman

"Still, I wonder which is worse: to mimic nature in its cruel brutality, or to take it upon ourselves, imperfect as we are, to insert into death the kindness and compassion that nature lacks."

Three years pass eventfully as Citra and Rowan lie lifeless at the bottom of the ocean. Grayson Toller finds himself a prophet of sorts as the lone person still able to communicate with Thunderhead. Scythe Goddard, taking advantage of the turmoil and uncertainty following the sinking of Endura, crowns himself Overblade of all of the Murican scythes while seeking influence over the rest of the territories. Seeing the fall of his once reputable scythedom, Scythe Faraday and Munira seek out the hidden failsafe created by the world's first scythes. Upon returning to the world of the living, Citra once again dons her cloak as Scythe Anastasia to discover the buried truth that made the world what it is today. Meanwhile, Thunderhead reveals plans of its own in order to guarantee the survival of the human race. As all sides race to their conflicting salvation, what will become of the human race in the end?

The Arc of the Scythe trilogy comes to an end with The Toll. As mentioned previously regarding Book Two, Thunderhead, I was really hoping to find this in paperback, for reasons. I settled for the hardcover version after picking-up Thunderhead at a huge discount. Honestly, I'd actually been eyeing this exact book as it had been sitting on a shelf at Skullface for a while. As also mentioned regarding the previous two books, "How are these books in the Young Adult section?" I understand the characters are kids and it's set in a version of Earth that couldn't exist, but by simply dealing with themes of death and morality should put it into the Adult category. Definitely a book everyone should read (and a series that, if I ever invest in a proper bookshelf, I'd gladly go out of my way to repurchase in paperback).

One aspect of this book series I want to talk about is the practical effects of immortality. [Author's note: Could you imagine how long this fucking book report might've been if I presented the entire trilogy at once? Now that humanity has become essentially immortal, there will, of course, be those that pervert their unnaturally long lifespans to become shadows of their former selves. Upon meeting Scythe Dante, they find a man who has turned back the clock on his body so many times that his features no longer appear real, his flesh more like a poorly constructed mask. The body isn't the only victim as Thunderhead's nanites also allow backing-up of memories as well. While we saw this used horrifically in Thunderhead to restore Scythe Goddard into Tiger's body, it's also shown to make it harder for the living to let go of their deceased. After all, if Thunderhead can restore a person's memories up until the moment they are gleaned for the living to communicate with, is that person really gone? Knowing it would be impossible to fully grieve as long as one is able to visit the deceased's stored consciousness, Thunder head had to devise a near-impossible journey to access sites where these memories are stored. With the corruption of the scythedom into a gang of petty killers, Scythe Faraday sets out to find the alternative to humanity's current way of dealing with their immortality. Though I expected him to find a way to disable the nanites which grant humanity's immortality (spoiler - it wasn't), I guess you can't put the genie back into the bottle. So much of their society functions around humans no longer dying of natural causes that taking away their immortality would plunge the world into chaos. I do like the scraps of journal entries explaining why the First Scythes decided to keep death in the hands of humans, adding a personal, "human" touch to the action. It also appears they knew humanity's greatest weakness in their experiment were humans themselves as their contingency plan in case of failure was the opposite and deeply impersonal, based solely on chance and numbers.

Kill All Immortals by Zack Kaplan

"'Then let's go tear that tree down. And save father. And good luck to any gods who get in our way.'"

Frey simply wanted control over her own life when she cut down her family's eternal-life granting tree and drove her father, Viking Erik the Red, into exile. What she didn't expect was that they weren't the only family gifted with immortality. The Khans, headed by the Mongol conqueror Genghis Khan, strike at the Asvald family as the vikings are still learning to navigate life as mortals. Can Frey put together a plan to end the conflict before The Khans take her family's now-mortal lives, or worse, her father takes her brothers back under his rule?

I'd completely forgotten I'd put this title on my pull-list at the comic shop until they handed me the first issue of this new story arc. Despite not being impressed with the first story arc, I decided to give this one a chance and left it on my list (besides, cancelling it would mean talking to someone), and I'm glad I did. I liked this story arc so much more than it's predecessor, so much so that I was actually looking forward to reading the next issue the following month. I know I don't talk about art too much (if you've seen my drawings, you know why) but I really liked the use of double-page spreads as the panels allow the artist to construct a bigger scene - important for these big action scenes this book is filled with. Despite ripping away her family's immortality, Frey realizes she doesn't need to rebel against everything her family had to keep her independence, which I think shows growth in the character. She manages to take control of the family despite her father's attempts to once again take charge. I don't know if it is a retcon or not, but we also get scenes from Frey's past depicting a softer side of her father - not the ruthless tyrant shown in the first arc but more of a teacher or mentor. I really liked the expansion of the world by introducing other immortals and how they all appear pitted against each other, making me really excited for another story arc (Vlad the Impaler! Vampires, maybe?).

 

Books of 2026: April

  

Yeah, a whole lot of Marvel was read this month as I didn't realize how far behind I was on a bunch of my books.
 

Ultimate Spider-Man #19 - 24 by Jonathan Hickman

"'You know, a good friend of mine once told me that with great power comes great responsibility. And I get it. I do. But I'm just not sure it's an ethos that works in the world we're living in. Yeah. I think each of us -- everyone -- has the great responsibility of fighting for what we believe in. Great power or not."

Spider-Man takes the fight to The Kingpin! After Richard Parker is lured into The Kingpin's trap, the Picotech suit reveals it's full, terrifying capabilities. Her family in more danger than she thought, Mary-Jane Parker demands answers during her double-date with her husband, Peter, and Harry Osborn and Gwen Stacey. Meanwhile, Mr. Negative plots an overthrow to seize The Kingpin's empire, striking at all of his enemies in one swoop. With their family and friends in danger, The Parkers strike at the heart of The Kingpin's empire in a desperate gambit to protect not only themselves, but to save the people of New York. Will they finally loosen Fisk's iron grasp on the city and free it's citizens from his tyranny?

And, with issue# 24, Marvel's Ultimate Spider-Man comes to an end. Well, at least in this series, as I'm sure Spider-Man's story will continue in "Ultimate Endgame" (which I've yet to open). One of the better series to come out of Marvel's new Ultimate universe, I loved every moment of this book - the new "Venom" being the Picotech suit, the "Mysterio" congregation actually having mystic powers, all the call backs to little bits of Spider-Man trivia. I especially loved just how ambitious the writing was in deciding that a month should pass between individual issues, mimicking real time release dates. You've gotta have a lot of confidence to think one major incident is going to be enough to tide the reader over for a month, but they did it! I'm really happy he was chosen as the hero to open up the new Ultimate series.

How would Peter Parker's life be different if the radioactive spider didn't bite him as a teenager? As the first series in Marvel's new Ultimate universe, Ultimate Spider-Man looks at a life altered by The Maker and set on a different trajectory. Instead of accidentally becoming a superhero in his teenage years, Peter Parker chooses to take up the mantle at an older, more mature age. It's a stark change from his usual origin as Parker doesn't stumble into this life but makes the conscious decision to risk his and his family's lives in order to help people he has never met. Despite the change to his origin, Parker is still Parker, and immediately sets out to use his new powers to help others and go after the villains of the city. The final issue truly defined this new Peter Parker in two ways. The first is the change to his "With great power ..." quote to one that gives everyone, super-powered or not, the responsibility to stand-up for the greater good. The second, when recounting the past two years of his life as a superhero, he realizes it was his family, not the suit, that made him realize who he is supposed to be and what he is meant to do.

Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman

"This is what the scythedom was incapable of understanding. They were so focused on the act of killing, they couldn't comprehend what went into the act of dying."

As the new Scythe Anastasia, Citra Terranova works to glean with compassion and set a new standard for her peers who take human life with pleasure. Rowan Damisch hunts down and gleans corrupt Scythes under the name Scythe Lucifer, attempting to rid the world of those who abuse the power and responsibility entrusted to them. Meanwhile, The Thunderhead watches, unable to directly interfere with the affairs of The Scythedom, but is far from impotent. Believing in the goodness of The Thunderhead, Greyson Tolliver accepts a secret request by the world's governing super-computer that will change his life forever. As Thunderhead watches its perfect world transform, it continues to come to the same conclusion - it does not like what it sees.

I'm going to say this for each of the books in this trilogy, but how are these books in the Young Adult section?! So, I read the first book, "Scythe" a while back and I kept hoping to find the subsequent books in thrift shops, too, but never did until last year when I finally go the chance to buy Thunderhead at the library book sale (a bargain at $2 for a hardcover version, but that's likely because of the mold growing on the book jacket). If you're curious, I do have book three, The Toll, and the only reason it doesn't appear on this month's list is because it is a 600 page hardcover book which limits where I'm willing to carry it (typically only as far as the couch). 

Sorry, I had really hoped to finish both Thunderhead and The Toll the same month, and thus, was planning to do a longer, combined write-up but obviously that didn't happen. This being a middle book and having already started the next one, it was a bit more difficult to the kind of write-up I like doing for books. After thinking about it for a while, I finally got a topic to write about. From this entry into the series, the big topic I want to talk about are the method and tactics the characters use to achieve their goals, and the idea of "The End Justifying The Means." Scythes are charged with culling, or "gleaning", the now functionally immortal human population, which, through the eyes of a present-day reader is simply "justified murder". What differentiates these characters from each other is HOW they choose to glean their victims. As Scythe Anastasia, Citra is seen as naive by allowing her victims to choose the time and manner of their deaths, which adds a measure of dignity and independence to her method. Her method also seeks to show her peers who take pleasure in taking human life a better way to do their jobs. Rowan, under the name Scythe Lucifer, attempts to change The Scythedom by eliminating the Scythes he determines (after extensive research) too corrupted by their power to be redeemed. Both take unprecedented measures against the new batch of Scythes who glean with and for pleasure in an attempt to change the Scythedom from the path the see it going.

Doom Academy by MacKenzie Cadenhead

"'You belong to Doom! ... For the semester."

Due to the closure of their school by the new Sorcerer Supreme Dr. Doom, Zoe and a few of her Strange Academy classmates transfer to Latveria's Doom Academy to continue their magical studies. Between navigating her new school and new classmates, Zoe is pulled into a school mystery involving a missing student. The Strange Academy students will need to work together with their new classmates to rescue Zoe's new friend.

Part of Marvel's "One World Under Doom" overarching plot line, Doom Academy features a few of the Strange Academy kids as they transfer to a new school. Though I normally don't pay much attention to Marvel's main continuity, I'm a big fan of the original "Strange Academy" comics. I really liked seeing the kids participate in the "Blood Hunt" event, so I figured I'd also check this one out. I enjoyed Zoe being the protagonist of the story as she typically feels relegated to being a side character despite having a very cool zombie ability. Due to the school mystery being the big focus, we didn't get as much of the school as I hoped, but I did find some interest in the new magic user who hates magic. Overall, it was a fun book and I'm happy to see that the kids haven't been completely forgotten about.

 

Uncanny X-Men Vol 1 Red Wave by Gail Simone

Another book I've read once before, this month's pick for the Graphic Novel Book Club was Uncanny X-Men, one of the three flagship series in Marvel's 2025 "From the Ashes" X-Men reboot. Honestly, I've got no idea if any of these series are still ongoing since premiering last year. Of all the books I've read for the book club, this one reads the most like a superhero comic book in that it is bunch of heroes punching some bad guys which makes me feel a little surprised it was chosen. And, as much as I wanted to put aside these books, after re-reading this one, I'm at least a little curious about continuing these stories.

One thing I do find myself confused about is how the book starts with the X-Men being scattered and Charles Xavier missing, as if they will now need to figure out their own lives rather than deferring to Professor X. Yet the Big Bad of the first five issues is a monster from Xavier's past. It's almost as if they'll never be able to escape Xavier's influence. This was actually brought up in the book club as the trope: Here's something from a character's past that you never knew and is only now coming back to haunt the characters. Charles Xavier's past has been so thoroughly documented over the years, how is it only now we are learning about this new monster? Sarah harbors a hatred of Xavier and mutants spanning decades (so why did it take her so long to act?) and is apparently so powerful that they require a one-time McGuffin to write their way out of the scenario. I can only guess she was introduced as a way to force Rogue and her team to take on the challenge of fostering these new kids.

One definite positive of this book is character growth. We see not only a more powerful, but more mature Jubilee than we typically get when she is portrayed as a simple mall-rat teenager. I also like giving the spotlight to Rogue as the team's leader, the only one of the group who could command respect from these varying personalities. Plus, the union of her and Gambit we've been waiting on (why keep them apart for so long when it seems inevitable?). Though we agreed it is weird for the team to be surprised by Wolverine's PTSD diagnosis, I am hoping they can focus on his trauma more in the later issues. I mean, he has had it for years having lived a life of violence for centuries, but it would be nice for it to be front and center of his life going forward It's cool that we got to see changes to some characters who have been around forever rather than their personalities remaining stagnant.

 

One World Under Doom by Ryan North

"'Doom is Widsom. Doom is Power. Doom is Prosperity. ... And only Doom can save us."'

After Dr. Doom saved the world from the vampire threat, he disappeared behind Latveria's walls. Now, the new Sorcerer Supreme steps onto the global stage to unify the planet under the rule of Emperor Doom with promises of prosperity for all. The Avengers, however, aren't convinced of Doom's newfound benevolence and set out to expose him for the villain they believe him to be. While Doom remains a step ahead of every one of the heroes' plans, he brings about changes that allow everyone to flourish and still protecting them from harm. Has Dr. Doom really become the savior the world needed, or is there a dark secret the villain has hidden away waiting to be exposed?

I was excited to read this series after Marvel's "Blood Hunt" event made Dr. Doom the new Sorcerer Supreme. One World Under Doom collects the entire 9 issue run chronicling Doom's takeover of Earth. Yeah, 9 issues, such an odd number as most series have a standard run of five or six issues. Being not well-versed in the Marvel continuity, I really only know Dr. Doom as the primary nemesis of the Fantastic Four who manage to thwart his evil schemes every time. Then, this book came out and the Doom fanboys flooded the online comments section, singing Doom's praises. And, honestly, from this book alone, yeah, I get it. There's just something about Dr. Doom that had me believing he truly was above the pettiness of humanity and would be able to save the world. Then, of course, the world discovers the truth and Doom's villainy is revealed. Of course, Dr. Doom was using underhanded tactics. What I really liked was Doom didn't simply slink away, but continued to fight under the belief that Doom truly is the only one who can save the world. It makes a compelling story, and I really liked that it managed to influence a bunch of other books being published by Marvel at the time.

So, I know I made the joke about all the Doom fanboys coming out of the woodwork to sing his praises, but after reading this book, you know, I get it. That Doom started his rule with just two simple decrees - an end to all wars and that all citizens be cared for with free healthcare and education - I started to believe in the villain's benevolence. Even when he allowed Dormammu's invasion because he didn't yet fully understand the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme, his will was enough to fight back from the verge of defeat. I honestly started to believe Doom could save us. A man willing to make the hard choices uniting the entire world? And, how interesting would it be to see the heroes forced to bend the knee to Emperor Doom? But, of course, the story does suffer from the trope of having the Bad Guy take his plan just a little too far for the reader to be onboard. If he had simply tempered his ambitions slightly, there's a chance he would've emerged victorious. Like many great villains, it is only Doom's hubris and pride that leads to his downfall.

 

The Runaways: Think of the Children by Rainbow Rowell

 

The Runaways are still trying to find their footing when Dr. Doom's takeover of the planet throws the found family into further turmoil. Unfortunately, their refusal to surrender their adopted Doombot does not sit well with Earth's new Emperor who proceeds to send wave after wave of his own Doombots to pursue the teenagers. Will The Runaways be able to set aside their own internal strife to again come together and protect one of their own?

Perhaps the most surprising of all the books to come out of Dr. Doom's takeover of the world is the return of The Runaways. I've only been reading comics for about 4 years, and I haven't once seen a Runaways book, almost as if Marvel had abandoned their storyline. This book itself feels like a sort-of retcon, bringing the family back together while giving just brief glimpses at what might've drove them apart. There's a couple lines about what the group was up to, including Nico's tenure at Strange Academy, but that all felt moot once the Doombots appeared. The book even starts with a brief recap of "Hey, did you forget what's going on with these characters? Well, so did we." Personally, I'm not too familiar with the comic-version of the group as I know them mainly from the season or two I've watched of the TV show. I really liked the concept and I do hope Marvel is encouraged to continue their story within the main Marvel continuity, although, honestly, I haven't been paying attention to their current stories (something about the future apocalypse, I guess, I don't know).

 

Ultimate X-Men #17 - 24 by Peach Momoko

Maystorm and the X-Men infiltrate the Children of the Atom's secret facility to rescue Hisako from the cultists' experimentation leading to a confrontation in the streets with several Children under Maester's control. The Emperor of Hi no Kuni proposes a Mutant Registration Act under the guise of protecting his peoples' safety. While protesting the new order, the X-Men are attacked by The Emperor's enhanced and mind-controlled mutants who are only stopped by the arrival of Kageyama. While Hisako and Kageyama's final showdown leads to mutual annihilation, Mei continues to roam the city believing her friend is still out there waiting to be found.

Marvel's twenty-four issue Ultimate X-Men comics run comes to an end. Though definitely not as satisfying as "Ultimate Spider-Man"'s conclusion, it was still better then "Ultimate Black Panther"'s. I was definitely on-board until the penultimate issue, but I'll get to that later. One thing I do want to mention from the start is that no matter what criticisms are placed on the series, this was a huge and lofty undertaking by Peach Momoko to not only write the story but provide the art, too, and she did an absolutely fantastic job! Even "Ultimate Spider-Man", the story Marvel likely invested the most into producing, used multiple artists to ensure there wouldn't be any publishing delays. While it is the end of the series, I'm certain these kids' stories will continue in the "Ultimate Endgame" series. *Edit: nevermind, I don't want to stretch this out so I'll just mention it now: No, I didn't like that this whole thing was revealed to be the plan of Tsubasa's bully as a way to get revenge against Kageyama. You drove a kid to suicide and if this is supposed be a redemption thing, go fuck yourself. Okay, that's it.

From the first issue, this has been a series focused on the youth and the issues they experience, and these final chapters are no different. From the initial, inciting incident of Tsubasa's bullying and suicide leading to Hisako's withdrawal all the way to the formation of the X-Men and the children's desire for a better world, a better future, this series has been about The Maker's world seen through the eyes of the youth. Although it still features people with powers fighting other people with powers, what makes it stand apart from the other Ultimate series are the characters. As I put that into words, I'm reminded again of an article explaining why so many mange and anime feature teenage protagonists and this story definitely falls in line with that theory (plus, Peach Momoko is Japanese, so, of course that influence would be there). They're immediately the underdogs in any fight against adults and those a person would typically look at as an authority figure. Puberty also brings out big emotions, making every single thing feel world-ending. With younger protagonists, the story doesn't always have to be about super-powers fighting each other, but friendships and heartbreak.

Ultimate Wolverine #7 - 16 by Chris Condon

"I feel somethin' changin' in me as I pull on the clothes 'a my enemy. It's like I'm peelin' skin away. It feels raw. I can feel the blood pumpin' hot in m' veins. Heart's thumpin'. I ain't what they said I was. Not anymore. Now ... I'm reborn. An' those sick ********* don't know what's comin' their way."

No longer the Eurasian Republic's Winter Soldier, Logan returns to The Opposition to free the region from The Maker's minions. Together, they'll dismantle The Republic's weapons and free their fellow mutants while Logan hunts those responsible for making him commit monstrous atrocities against his friends. The Republic's leaders however aren't ones to shy away from a fight and decide to unleash their most devastating weapon yet - a bomb powered by a powerful psychic's brain. With unrest brewing amongst the population, Logan and the remaining Opposition members strike directly at the leaders of The Republic, the Rasputins. But, will cutting the head from the snake be enough to free the people from its hold?

The most surprising release in Marvel's Ultimate series (why have two mutant books?), Ultimate Wolverine comes to an end in 16 issues. A slightly smaller series compared to the others but understandably so seeing as issue one wasn't released until the others had already established themselves. Despite a shorter length (an entire story arc shorter than the others), the series still manages to pack in a full story following Logan from brain-washed soldier to freedom fighter. And, as annoyed as I was when this story was originally introduced (the timing seemed to undermine Momoko's vision for the mutants and cater to those who were vocally opposed to it), I really liked how it had a completely different tone focus allowing it stand from the "Ultimate X-Men" series.

Despite being set in a brand-new universe, the theme of Ultimate Wolverine remains the same as other Wolverine stories: war and the trauma it causes to those involved. Though freed from the Eurasian Republic's control, Logan is still wracked with guilt from the horrors he committed as their Winter Soldier. He sees himself as a monster - a mere killing tool and questions if The Opposition should've rescued him at all, or simply killed him. Can he truly be cleared of the things he'd done? And, whether he can or cannot, what kind of life can he lead? What I really liked was how they related his journey with that of the Eurasian Republic leader Illyana Rasputin. In the last few issues, the story delves into her history and the demon she needed to become in order to survive and, eventually, rule Limbo. Though the story reframes Magik as one who became a monster our of necessity, it doesn't justify her actions on Earth as pointed out by Logan when he delivers the killing blow. Even in a new universe, Logan is still defined by violence and his desire to move pst it despite not being entirely sure how to do so.