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.

Books of 2026: March

After last month, I may have found a balance to get me through my stacks of reading material, I hope.

 

The Moon is Following Us Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 by Daniel Warren Johnson

"'I have no vision of the world where you're from. But when Penny played with me, I could feel ... warmth. Warmth from a girl well loved by the ones that brought her into this world. You're both doing an amazing job.'"

When their daughter falls into a mysterious and unwakeable sleep, Samantha and Duncan set out into her dreamscape to bring Penny back home. Together, with almost unrecognizable versions of their daughter's favorite toys, they'll put their lives on the line against evil forces of The Cascade, whatever it takes to bring their daughter home.

Betrayed, Samantha and Duncan will team-up with unlikely allies to continue their rescue mission. Armed with a new plan and weapons forged from Penny's own imagination, they'll again set out to save their daughter. This time though, they'll not only confront the forces of The Cascade, but their own fears and darkness.

After picking-up the first issue a while back, I decided to wait for the trade paperback collection. I ended up buying both Volume One and Two before cracking open the first book (I know, I gotta get back to reading timely instead of letting so many books sit). What initially drew me to this story was the idea of parents going into their child's imagination to rescue her from a magical sleep. Volume One presented an okay set-up: establishing characters and plot. I really liked seeing Penny's toys given their own personalities, but the rest was kinda just okay. Things really got better in Volume Two (so I'm pretty happy I waited until I got both books before reading) where the secret of The Cascade is revealed, and Samantha and Duncan arm themselves with weapons from Penny's imagination like the car seat shield, the shark hammer, and Penny's version of a unicorn. Seeing the parents confront manifestations of the darkest moments of their own lives they've passed down to Penny had me not only holding my breath, but even wondering about a possible twist that this was in fact Penny's rescue mission the entire time. It isn't something I see in a lot of those "Parent will do whatever it takes" stories. I expected the fighting and the sacrifice, but not many stories have parents confronting their own trauma, recognizing how it harms their own children, and fight to become better because of it. Overall, it was a good short story (10 issues collected in two volumes) and I like how neatly it wrapped up.

Arcana Royale by Cullen Bunn

"To some the cards bend fate. Bend reality. They bring pain and suffering and horror. You want to win, you unleash nightmares into the world. So .. really ... you're betting with your own humanity. And ... smug smile or not I don't know who much I've got left to lose."

The Arcanos Mysterinos exists as the most secretive card game in the world, attended by humans, monsters, and even other dimensional beings. Hired to infiltrate the game is Hudson Tremain, a legendary card shark famous among gamblers having hustled many out of their fortunes. This tournament will be like none she has entered before: cards with a mind of their own, wagers which could mean death and destruction for countless others, and the victor controlling Fate itself. Can Hudson survive long enough to win it all?

This one I missed out on picking-up the first issue when it was initially released, so I went into the trade paperback blind, not knowing anything except it featured a magical card tournament. The trade collects all four issues of the series which honestly should've been longer. Hudson puts on a great "devil may care" facade (like a John Constantine type) in her "win at all costs personality thanks to her upbringing, but ultimately shows her heart of gold as she weaponizes her pain and turns it against the true monsters of the Arcanos Mysterinos. I'm a sucker for any magical card game story (thus why I bought it without even reading the first issue) and this one didn't disappoint. Depicted as a mixture between Poker and Tarot, the players (from what I could gather) wager on how much misery and pain they'd be willing to release into the world based on the revealed card. It's an interesting game and I really wished we got more of it in the four issues, or perhaps if the story could've extended past the four issues. The only complaint that I have unfortunately is the ending which shoved Hudson into another, separate, high stakes tournament instead of going into how Hudson would use her tournament prize, or even simply defend her crown in another tournament.

Paranoid Gardens by Gerard Way

From aging monsters to injured space aliens to delusional superheroes, Paradise Gardens provides care to all manner of beings on the grounds of their hidden facility. Helping to care for its residents is Loo who just can't seem to remember anything about her life before arriving at the care home months ago. Seeking control of the healing grounds is a cult-like corporation willing to do whatever it takes to seize the property. As Loo's memories return, she'll find that the decision of whether Paradise Gardens lives or dies is in her hands.

Paranoid Gardens collects all six issues of Gerard Way's story of an off-kilter nursing home filled with monsters and aliens and superheroes. The story follows two plot lines - one, focused on Loo and her quest to discover the truth about her tenure at Paradise Gardens, and, two, the planned takeover of the special grounds by The Church of the Unenlightened Light and its Cheeky Monkey Fan Club. Despite the comic's name, there really wasn't as much "paranoia" as I hoped. I figured out pretty quickly that Loo wasn't just a nurse but a patient at the facility, and the rest of the faculty was keeping that from her for her recovery. I guess, because of the title, I was expecting more twists to the story. What I really liked about Way's writing (similar to Umbrella Academy) is that he never gets bogged down in explanation - the reader is either on-board for the ride or gets left behind. Who are these cult members? Where did the superhero come from? Are the residents monsters from Earth or aliens from space? That's not important, just background noise, and if you focus too hard, you'll miss the main story.

Absolute Flash #7 - 12 by Jeff Lemire

"Everything I was ever scared of -- everything bad I always knew deep down would one day happen -- it's here. But I'm not scared anymore. I don't run away. I run toward it."

Wally West and Grood adjust to life on the run, stealing what they need to survive - at least, when Wally is able to use his new powers. When he is eventually apprehended by The Rogues, they present him a unique offer: team-up to rescue his father and their former commander. Dr. Elenore Thawne reveals her recruitment of Barry Allen and her personal connection to the Still Point - believed to be the center of all life. Stepping through the Still Point gateway is a transformed and monstrous Eobard Thawne set on destroying the young speedster. Wally's father sacrifices himself to seal the gateway and return the monster back to the Still Point. Wally sets off on a mission to rescue his father from a place few have ever returned.

The second story arc of DC's Absolute Flash sees a re-imagined Wally West teaming up with The Rogues hunting him in order to rescue his father. The story reveals more about the origin of Wally's powers and his usual nemesis, Eobard Thawne aka The Reverse Flash in the main storyline. Now, with a bit more control over his powers, the story loses some of the horror elements it originally carried in favor or the typical comic book action. I really liked seeing Wally team-up with the enemies previously hunting him, those also born out of the same experiments that gave Wally his powers - there's just something poetic about a team-up against a greater evil. Not knowing enough about "The Flash", I don't know much about the original version of his powers, but I'm definitely curious about the differences between the Speed Force and the Still Point, and especially how this "origin of all life" may tie into any of the other "Absolute" series. The reveal at the end of Grood's father telling Grood that ALL humans are evil has me excited for the next story arc possibly featuring a new, terrifying Gorilla Grood!

Cruel Kingdom by Various Writers

Cruel Kingdom collects all four issues of the series and their 13 short stories set in Sword-and-Sorcery medieval fantasy. As an anthology series, each short story features an element of cruelty and horror fitting to the title of the book which is usually done by or to the main character of the story. I guess I'll just go through a few of my favorite stories. In the sorcery meets science tale, "Friendly Visitors", a group of space-faring aliens offer to protect a medieval town as their advanced technology makes them untouchable to the planet's magic - for a price, of course. In "A Rare Immunity", a blood-lusted knight takes up a sword which grants its wielder immunity from harm, only to realize too late the gift's true curse. The horrible secret behind the throne's power is revealed in "Seat of Power". To prepare a legendary feast in "Just Desserts", a royal chef will go to extreme lengths to secure the ingredients she needs. A young warrior learns to be ruthless in order to protect the village in "Headmistress." Like with most anthology series, I resonated with some stories more than others, but they all provided a fun, entertaining read, especially since it had been a while since I've read any sort of High Fantasy stories.

Hello Darkness Vol. 1 by Various Writers

"I promise you, nothing else is going to happen."

"We're not peddling escapism or hero's journeys with happy endings or light at the end of the tunnel. So consider this series an invitation to come step into the darkness."

Bringing the horror anthology into the modern era, Hello Darkness collects the first four issues of the series. Personally, I used to be really into horror films, especially the slasher genre when I was younger, and, now, with my comic reading consisting mostly of the superhero genre, I figured I'd give this a shot as a sort-of palette cleanser just to get something different. Plus, I just finished another anthology-style book, so why not another?

Included in my list of favorites is the very first story, "Contagious" about a virus causing children to kill their parents in order to create a world in which they can grow. It's creepy, not overtly gore-y, short and to the point, and gives that quick wrap-up at the end that makes the story stick with you. "The Foster" gives the reader Body Horror as Benjamin implants a "foster hand" in the middle of his stomach. Realizing his new appendage is getting more attention than he is for the good deed, he decides to take drastic action. This was one of the creepier stories to me simply because of the Body Horror element, still finding it clever, treating a body part like a foster pet in the attention it can draw. In a more comedic tone, a first date turns deadly in "Stargazers" when Hal reveals himself to be a vampire ... only for Sarah to then reveal herself to be a werewolf. Despite the gruesome monster fight, this was more in line with a "Freddy vs Jason" horror flick - more comedic and campy than scary, and a welcome addition to the anthology. Set in the trenches of World War I, "Kampfgeist" tells of a plot to kill everyone in the German trenches only for the soldiers to discover a dormant giant dreaming of was and feeding on the deaths from above. When you imagine the horrors of war (and how often we've done it), sometimes you'd like to imagine it is something else driving us to commit the atrocities we've done. Depicting the modern horror of the uncertainty and immediate devastation of nuclear war, the first four chapters of "The War" follows the lives of six New Yorkers while war rages across the ocean ... until it arrives at their doorstep. It's very fitting to today's conflicts between nuclear-capable countries and captures the uncertainty and unease of the people watching it unfold. For this story alone, I'm willing to buy Vol 2 (if I can find it) simply to find out how the story ends.

Despite being very much into the horror genre when I was younger, I was still hesitant to jump into a horror anthology book as I'm not sure what today's horror looks like. For a period, horror became defined less by the monsters and more by the gore and disturbing imagery on-screen, and I'm not really into that. I really liked this set of stories focused on unsettling tales, ones that linger with the reader, which is the type of horror I like. I think (once I get my To Read pile under-control) I'll look into reading more of these books and writers.

Power Rangers Prime Vol. 2 by Melissa Flores

"'You are standing in a room of relics, Lauren. Something you and your team will also very quickly become if you do not take action now. The solution now is not to fight. You know all too well what you must do ... survive.'"

Having obtained the power of the Morphin Grid from Rita, the four teenagers can now transform into Power Rangers Prime! Untrained and outclassed, though, they are beaten back by the Eltarian's VR Troopers and forced to retreat. Split apart by force and choice, the newest Rangers will need to find what it is that can bring them together as a team.

Collecting issues 5 to 8, Volume 2 of Power Rangers Prime sees the team get into their first battle against the VR Troopers, and suffer their first loss. We learn more about Mark's backstory and the tragedy he suffered on his home planet, as well as what drove the other teens to take up their Coins from Rita. The volume concludes with the team bonding together, although the results are not quite what's expected. The volume also ends with the arrival of a mysterious Sixth Ranger (because there's ALWAYS a sixth)! As much as I'm enjoying this reboot, I do know that eventually it all is coming to a close relatively soon at around issue 20 but that's something I'm looking forward to reading.

Like the universe established in Marvel's "Ultimate Universe" and DC's "Absolute Universe", this new ... Prime Universe? ... twists the role of the Power Rangers. Now that the Eltarians have established peace and order through military might and oppression, society is taught Power Rangers are no longer needed and are, in fact, a threat to the establishment. Having Power Rangers team-up with Rita - THE Power Rangers' villain - brings into question if they are truly the "good guys" in their fight against the oppressive Eltarian regime. To get the answer, I guess we're just going to need to wait until we're given Rita's goals later in the series. From Volume One, I was curious to see how these new Power Rangers would perform, and Volume Two gives us the answer - not well. They're definitely not the same type of Rangers I grew up with, once that Zordon would've chosen. Though most Power Ranger teams have at least one "weak" member they still usually excel in other aspects. Mark, however, as the main protagonist, doesn't appear confident in any area, in fact, suffering from constant anxiety in all situations. Orion, as the Pink Ranger, isn't simply a lover interest for another Ranger, but instead is Mark's best friend. I also don't quite understand what his deal is yet, but I'm curious to find out why he took up the Power Coin. Despite being the Red Ranger, Lauren has yet to establish leadership over the team as the typical Red Ranger would've done. Valentina and Jun, the Yellow and Black Rangers respectively, are the most interesting to me being part of the establishment. Coming together briefly at the end of Volume Two, I'm looking forward to seeing what they can accomplish in future issues.

And, as I mentioned reading Volume One, I love that they brought back the VR Troopers despite being antagonists. With the introduction of an underground society, maybe we'll get another team of protectors, like the Big Bad Beetleborgs, perhaps? The millennial in me just wants to bring back all those teenage transforming teams I grew up with (because I'm a nostalgic old man).

 

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

"I'd designed my avatar's face and body to look, more or less, like my own. My avatar had a slightly smaller nose than me, and he was taller. And thinner. And more muscular. And he didn't have any teenage acne. But aside from these minor details, we looked more or less identical."

"In real life, I was nothing but an antisocial hermit. ... I was just another sad, lost, lonely soul, wasting his life on a glorified videogame.
But not in the OASIS. In there, I was the great Parzival. ... I was a legend. Nay, a god."

"'I was afraid, for all of my life. Right up until I knew it was ending. That was when I realized, as terrifying and painful as reality can be, it's also the only place where you can find true happiness. Because reality is real. Do you understand?'"

In the year 2044, the real world is a horrible place. Poverty is widespread with even the average citizen struggling to survive on government welfare. A growing housing crisis led to dozens occupying single trailers, each housing unit stacked precariously upon the other. Crime and violence are rampant, no one batting an eye to the everyday sounds of gunfire. The only time most find joy is logging in to a virtual world known simply as the OASIS, where anyone can become anyone. While most utilize the OASIS as a means to conduct everyday activities or escaping the trials of the real world, others set forth to compete in the OASIS's biggest contest - The Hunt for James Halliday's Egg in order to gain control over the entire virtual world. Teenager Wade Watts is one of those hunters, devoting all his waking hours to studying everything know about the OASIS's reclusive creator in order to win the contest. Watt's life changes overnight when he becomes the first person in years to solve the first of Halliday's riddles, making his name know throughout the OASIS. His new fame, however, brings with it new troubles, attracting new rivals and even an entire corporation willing to do whatever it takes to claim Halliday's Egg. With the future of the OASIS on the line, Watts sets out not only on a quest within the virtual world, but also within the real world he so desperately wishes to escape.

So, I finally got around to reading this one! As a "former" gamer (I really need to buy a new gaming system), this book feels like one everyone who wished their life was more like a video game should read. Of course, I watched "Ready Player One" nearly a decade ago, and always meant to read the book, but  just never found the time. Finally, needing to use up the last of my store credit, I pulled the trigger and added it to my To Read pile of books. The book itself isn't necessarily long, and can move pretty quickly at times. However, reading it between my comic books meant it took me a couple weeks longer to finish than I expected (I read a lot this month). In the end, it was an entertaining story and one I'm pretty happy I finally read.

Of course, like all books with movie adaptations, the question has to be asked - which version is better? Both versions have their merits, but if I had to choose one version over the other, I'd have to say I do prefer the movie. The book definitely felt more in line with James Halliday's life - the riddles, the gates, the trials - all of these parts of the book felt closer to the version of The Hunt which the recluse would've created compared to the movie (Halliday doesn't seem the type to even think about racing games). The pitfall of the book, to me, is Cline's writing. Although likely meant to make the world more immersive to the reader, descriptions and details about the VR gear, entire sections of the OASIS, and Watts' ramblings about the details of Halliday's life felt long and unnecessary. I also had issues with Watts' "voice" at times, especially when he talked about the real world. I understand that he is a teenager, but it just comes off as a teenager's attempts to be "edgy" especially with his casual remarks about crime and violence and rape just being a part of daily life. The movie also made certain scenes from the book better, tighter, and focused, and there were definitely a few scenes in the book not found in the movie that could've benefited from another set of eyes looking over Cline's work. It's these reasons that though I enjoyed the book, I'm hesitant to read Cline's follow-up "Ready Player Two."

The story itself touches on a whole mess of issues found in modern society, such as the housing crisis, the rise of poverty, and the normalization of violence in America. The biggest issue, obviously, is the rising use of technology to escape reality. With how horrible the world is, as described by Watts, it's obvious why so many people escape the real world into the OASIS. Although you could make the argument Watts is simply going into the OASIS to participate in The Hunt, he does make it clear that not only would he be going into the OASIS even if The Hunt didn't exist, but that he also prefers his virtual life to his real one. One scene which I wished was included in the movie is a small bit where Watts realizes just how badly being in the OASIS for hours on end is ruining his life in the real world when he finally takes a look at himself in a mirror. The book also doesn't confirm Watts learned the lesson Halliday tries to teach him at the end of the books as clearly as the movie version depicts. Perhaps it is enough that Watts agress with Art3mis about how to use their newfound riches to show that he finally accepts the real world, but the movie version definitely made the point clear.

Batman and Robin # 28 - 30 by Phillip Kennedy Johnson

"Because Mercer is Us! Can you really not see it? What if Crime Alley had happened to someone else? Someone without the mind or resources to learn every language and martial art, or the means to engineer jets and batarangs and grappling hooks? What if you had been a poor man from the mountains, with only a car and a rifle? ... His obsession with revenge has doomed him and others. In that, you are right. But you are not so different."

With the Quiet Man closing in on his target, Batman and Robin make a shocking discovery that will bring Gotham's crime factions to each other's throat. In order to prevent a crime war from claiming innocent lives, they'll need to subdue a man skilled enough to have the crime syndicates running scared as well as a newly-awakened but still volatile Scarface.

The end to the Quiet Man arc also brings to a close Johnson's time on Batman and Robin as the storyline comes to a close. It was a fun couple of years reading the exploits of Bruce Wayne/Batman and Damien Wayne/Robin as they not only fought crime but learned to live as father and son. I really enjoyed this story arc as it pitted the Dynamic Duo against a mirror of what could be - a man whose loved one was killed and sets out on a path of revenge. Of course it also features some great action scenes as Batman and Robin take down Scarface's gang. The story also concludes with a brief sort-of farewell by Damien as he talks about his hopes for the future, not only as Batman and Robin but as Bruce and Damien - the sole reason I originally chose to pick-up this comic. I'm definitely sad to see it go, but everything must come to an end eventually.

 

Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees by Patrick Horvath

"Let's say you did have someone who didn't play by the rules... Just started murdering folks right here in Woodbrook. ... if someone were stupid enough to do that, then we'd have a problem. A major fucking problem."

Sorry, no, I don't feel like doing another book report on a story I read quite recently. Just as with my review of "Absolute Superman #1-6" last month, Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees was chosen by the Graphic Novel Book Club. Unfortunately for me, I'd already sold off my original copy, so I needed to spend the full amount to buy the book again.

Did anything change between the first time I read this book and this time? I actually enjoyed the book more this time now that I was reading it not as just a story but as a text to be discussed. There's a lot of these little things I either didn't pick-up on the first read through or I simply glossed over rather than giving it more attention. Of course, we discussed the use of Samantha Strong as the story's protagonist, as remorseless serial killer. Though I haven't seen the TV show "Dexter" I have read the Nemesis comic series about a supervillain. Unlike Dexter, however, Strong doesn't target other killers to satisfy her urges, she simply chooses her victims at random. Though we're rooting for Strong over Nigel, there really is nothing that makes her better than him as a person. In fact, Strong even thinks Nigel might be better than her for at least giving his victims' families closure by leaving the bodies to be found rather than disappearing them. Is it simply just a fascination, then, that we have with these "other" people that make us interested? And, there's that scene at the end between Strong and her best friend, or someone we thought was her best friend - and it solidified that Strong stops Nigel not out of compassion for her neighbors but to avoid being caught.

Another topic brought up at the Book Club that really stuck with me was on the art style and how all the characters were drawn with big heads resembling mascot costumes. From the start, Strong gives the reader this idea that she wears a social mask to blend in with the other townsfolk. Are the other townsfolk the same? Just animals wearing a mask and playing at the idea of civility while an animal hides beneath? It's an interesting point and one that I didn't pick-up on in neither my first nor second reading (I really need to pay more attention to art style).

 

Absolute Martian Manhunter #7 -9 by Deniz Camp

"I get it. What's more scary than being seen?"

After the night of chaos caused by the White Martian, Agent John Jones finds himself untethered. Similarly, the people of Middleton, having revealed their deepest, darkest urges, find themselves distanced from one another, suspicious of their neighbors. Meanwhile, as the White Martian regains its strength, new enemies seek out Jones and his Green Martian companion to separate and destroy them.

The next three issues of DC's Absolute Martian Manhunter series continues to push the boundaries of what a superhero comic book can be. Due to the long delay between issues 6 and 7, I wasn't sure if there would be a second story arc. The rumors, I've heard, though, point to these next few issues being the end of the series as both the writer and artist have other obligations. These three issues continue the same reality-bending tone found in the first six issues, and I'm still trying to figure out if this comic falls in the "superhero" genre at all.

The new story arc has been really good so far as Jones tries to navigate his new reality with his Martian companion. This new arc introduces what I'm assuming are new and unique "Mindhunters" as another entity attaches itself to Jones. My favorite part of these three issues was the Martian's reference to the "Anti-Life" when describing Jones' isolation and despair, the "Anti-Life Equation" being what Darkseid (who created this new universe) is constantly in search of.

Though usually focused on one man punching his way through a bunch of villains, this "superhero" story instead focuses on people and their relationships. The Martians, Green and White, don't appear to have physical bodies and must act through others. Without a visible form, it makes people distrustful of each other, unsure where the enemy could be hiding. It's definitely different and more psychological than the traditional superhero story.

Absolute Superman #15 - 17 by Jason Aaron

"For this, they call me Superman. A name I've never much cared for. But it doesn't matter what anybody calls me. I know who I am."

With his fight against The Lazarus Corporation finished and Ra's al Ghul behind bars, Kal-El seeks to return to a quiet life on the Kent farm in Smallville. Unfortunately, the cries for help never stop, and The Superman is called to save the defenseless or punish the cruel. Attempting to reign in Kal-El's campaign to protect the downtrodden, The Justice League dispatches Hawkman to educate him on the ways of this world. But, what is this terrifying alien monster absorbing the people of Metropolis? And, does The Superman have the strength and will to stop it?

In the next three issues of Absolute Superman, Kal-El more and more resembles the superhero with which we're familiar - a man who rushes headfirst into danger in order to save those who cannot save themselves. Thanks to what he has seen on Earth, he also begins targeting those who profit off of the suffering of others - a stark contrast to The Superman who prefer to remain neutral in human affairs. What's got me really excited about the start to this new story arc is the introduction of this universe's Justice League with their fixer, Hawkman. Not only does it set up a bigger villain, but also foreshadows future crossover events with the other Absolute heroes and their books. Meanwhile, Brainiac sets out with otherworldly knowledge to transform Lex Luthor from a mild family man into a version more in line with his character in the main DC Universe (it's truly terrifying to witness). Meanwhile, by not only saving those in harm's way but also going after those who would put them there - including his quest to reform Ra's al Ghul when most would prefer to simply have him rot in prison - Kal-El shows the world that he is capable of changing it for the better. It's an excellent start to the new story arc, and perfectly sets up Kal-El to transform from simple superhero to a symbol of hope for people to rally behind.

Godzilla: Heist by Van Jensen

"Summon the beast. Set it loose upon a city of millions. Steal some mysterious gewgaw. Escape unseen. ... On paper, it sounds like the dumbest, most impossible damn heist in the history of crime."

Godzilla is the King of Monsters, a force of nature that leaves nothing but destruction in its wake. But what if you could predict where Godzilla might strike next? Jia has derived the way to do just that, using his knowledge to pull off elaborate heists from some of the world's most impenetrable fortresses. Secrets never stay secret for long, and when he is found out, he'll put all his knowledge, skills, and cunning to help a group of mercenaries pull off the most brazen heist yet for a score that could change the world.

A Godzilla book NOT starring Godzilla? Yeah, I was curious too, so when I saw this on the pre-order list, I immediately added it to my cart. I admit, I did feel a bit of buyer's remorse when it arrived (I kept saying I need to stop ordering every single book that peaks my interest). As I said, it's a Godzilla book not starring Godzilla. I do love a good heist story, though. Despite my skepticism, Godzilla: Heist did not disappoint. It's a fun read with a couple twists and double-crosses - like "Ocean's Eleven" with giant monsters. Though the story focuses on the heist, it's still a Godzilla story so of course there's the obligatory giant monster fight.