Christopher Mills Comic Reviews

Jeff Lemire, Nick Robles and Adriano Lucas continue to define Absolute Flash as one of the best titles at DC with this second issue. It's an entertaining and emotional read as we witness Wally struggle with everything going on around him. The issue ends on a cliffhanger that's sure to have readers, including myself, turning up for the next issue.

It's a solid start to Absolute Green Lantern, with roles being reversed and a mystery being brought into the fray of things, which seems to be a common factor with a few of these Absolute titles. If the next few issues can give us details on what took place in Evergreen, Nevada, then I believe this will easily be an Absolute title that stays a favourite.

Absolute Green Lantern #2 shows us more of the events that took place with Abin Sur, but the end of the issue only leaves us with more questions than we had when first reading this issue. Al Ewing manages to still create interest with this storyline, but at the same time, it almost feels like no progress has been made and that we are at the same place where the issue started. Depending on how #3 plays out, this will either be a well-executed buildup that will lead into something truly unexpected, or it will be a slow convoluted drag that is better read as a TPB.

The first half of this issue is filled with hopelessness before Kal-El enters the Kents lives, and that all changes for the short amount of time they have with each other. With the addition of the surprising reveal at the end, it makes for the best issue yet of Absolute Superman with its deepest story yet.

Action Comics #1070 delivers on not just one but two stories that involve mysterious journeys into the unknown. Mark Waid is able to create a tense situation, keeping readers on the edge of their seats, while Mariko Tamaki shows why she's the best modern writer for Supergirl. What will Superman find in the void? What will Supergirl's mission entail? We only have to wait a week to find out!

With Action Comics currently being a weekly release, it must be captivating each week, and Mark Waid and Mariko Tamaki nail that with #1071. Waid reveals more about what's really taking place in the Phantom Zone with an insane reveal, and Tamaki shows that she understands what makes a great Supergirl story.

Action Comics #1072 puts its foot on the brake as it slows the pace down to spend time providing exposition to explain to readers what's really taking place in the Phantom Zone and revealing who the real threats are in the story. Mariko Tamaki, on the other hand, still leaves us in the unknown about what's really going on with her mission but still manages to keep us hooked on the mystery of her prisoner and the Judge.

Batman #154 has some interesting elements surrounding it, but ultimately, it feels overstuffed with many storylines. It's starting to becoming worrisome if this arc will get a satisfying conclusion. It'll be rather impressive if Zdarsky does pull it off, but for now, I'd rather stay cautious. Another issue where Carmine Di Giandomenico and Tomeu Morey's combined efforts help provide the issue with the legs it needs.

Batman/Superman: World's Finest #32 feels slightly rushed as it nears the conclusion of the ‘Shadows Fall' storyline. Adrin Gutirrez provides a dynamic feel to the comic, and Mark Waid matches that with his storytelling and also sticks to the cartoonish style that Dan Mora brought to the series. Will #33 make up for middling second act?

This issue is overall a generic Aquaman story that we've seen plenty of times before and fails to really have Batman and Robin involved within the plot. Adrin Gutirrez is a great change of pace from Dan Mora, with colours from Tamra Bonvillain that really capture the world of Atlantis. The final reveal might make this story arc worth the read, or maybe Waid's time with World's Finest is beginning to wear out.

Batman & Robin: Year One feels like the perfect standalone sequel to Frank Miller's Year One story. Not only does Mark Waid honour it with his writing, but Chris Samnee's does so with his art, which takes inspiration from David Mazzucchelli's previous work. It's a story that understands that Batman has just as much learning to do as Robin does, building them up to be the dynamic duo we know and love today.

Birds of Prey #15 is a solid issue that steadily progresses the storyline, allowing Cassandra Cain to shine while also putting her in difficult situations. Sami Basri's art and Adriano Lucas colours help complement the personality that Kelly Thompson has already provided with her writing. For a DC All-In book, it feels the least new reader-friendly compared to other titles in the initiative, which might be a setback for some people.

DC X Sonic the Hedgehog #2 clearly feels more like a Sonic comic than it does a DC comic with Ian Flynn's writing, but he still manages to make these characters feel like the ones we love with interactions that are honestly laugh-out-loud. It's fast-paced, action-packed and colourful, and depending on how the next few issues play out, we could be in for the best crossover that DC has been involved in yet.

Destro #5 is a great conclusion to the miniseries with all-time writing from Dan Watters that provides the best miniseries yet within the entirety of the Energon Universe, setting up G.I. Joe #1 better than any of the books that came before. It's a fun read that, deep within it, feels like you're reading a Mission Impossible story.

New History of the DC Universe #1 is an informative, fun and engaging read for fans who aren't fully tapped into the history of the DC Universe. It's a basic book that follows an easy format to get through the timeline efficiently with artwork that could also be deemed quite basic, but none of that is bad, as it allows for the comic to be accessible to anyone. This is a comic that should be on the shelf of any DC fan.

Radiant Black #30 and #30.5 bring forth a satisfying conclusion to 'The Catalyst War', ending it all off with a grand-scale battle that's brought to life by visionary artists Marcelo Costa and Eduardo Ferigati and a decision that will change the future of Radiant Black.

Scarlett #5 leaves us off with a conclusion that greatly affects the future of the Energon Universe. Kelly Thompson still feels like the best writer for Scarlett and manages to deliver on this ending but still suffers from providing any personal stakes for the central characters, making the overall read for readers less engaging than it needs to be. 

Superman #19 provides a strong start to Dan Mora's tenure as an artist; he provides the flair and hope that should come with a Superman story, while Joshua Williamson brings back some old villains to cause trouble for Superman. While Lois Lane's status as a hero is not ideal and not the most creative choice, Williamson suggests a promising direction for the series.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3 continues to be a grand start to this new relaunch, with Cliff Chiang being brought on to bring this morbid and darker-toned story by Jason Aaron to life. Leonardo's story is the best one yet, bringing in real raw emotion and touching on very sensitive topics that Aaron handles with great care. The strongest issue yet, with a creative team that I'd love to see return in the future. Give Cliff Chiang a TMNT story!

Transformers #13 stirs away from our regular scheduled story to tell us the origins of Starscream and how he came to be the ruthless Transformer that he is. Daniel Warren Johnson manages to shift the tone of the story suddenly without any warning, but it's Jason Howard's art that helps tell the story with his perception of size and how he uses that for it to speak for itself. 

Void Rivals #13 has introduced Cobra-La into the fold of this story, with Pythona featuring on the cover. However, she doesn't have as much relevance compared to the rest of the issue. While it's nice to see a greater connection to the Energon Universe, I do wish Kirkman had focused more on Pythona in this issue. I'm sure we'll gradually learn more about her and the schemes she is involved in as the series progresses.