Donovan Kemp Comic Reviews

Dread The Hall H (2026) was an entertaining anthology comic full of meta references and commentary on fandom as a whole. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this entire book multiple times to scan through the different stories for any jokes, references, or cosplays I might have missed in previous readthroughs. That said, I must be honest in saying I have never attended a convention. Although I would love to see a writer, actor, comic artist, etc, that I am a fan of, it seems like such a huge commitment. It might be my anxiety about crowds and situations I can’t control. I think the bigger reason is that my passion or knowledge of my fandoms could seem fraudulent to some people. I consume what I like and am interested in, but I don’t like everything. I just like what I like. And I let others like what they like. I will say if you don’t like something, you can criticize it. However, criticism is not the same thing as hate; hateful behavior has no place in fandom.

Punisher vs The Amazing Spider-Man #2 continues to ramp up the banter between the titular characters as well as the ongoing discussion over superhero effectiveness. The action sequences are good for showcasing the differences between these characters, as well as anticipation for the next issue. That said, the book could benefit from letting the action breathe instead of starting or ending the book in the middle of a fight. The art is good too. López creates a very nice look at this world, and Rosenberg makes it beautiful with her colors.

Wade Wilson: Deadpool #7 is another issue where Percy shows he can write outrageous stories for Deadpool while also adding the emotional weight he is known for. Match that with awesome art from Lins and spectacular colors from Sinclair, and you get an entertaining issue of crazy antics with a little bit of heart. I'm really glad I got introduced to this book. It introduced me to Lins’s art, whom I will now look for in my weekly comics. I like the look of his art style.

What if…? Spider-Man (2026) shows Kraven surviving his last hunt. J.M. DeMatteis delivers another emotional story paired with art and colors that are a wonderful alternative to the original. This particular issue was not made with the intention to bait readers with nostalgia, but to deliver another character-driven story asking if there is more to Kraven’s Last Hunt. I think there is, and DeMatteis did well taking us down the same journey, but through a different path.

Punisher vs. The Amazing Spider-Man #1 is an enjoyable read with nice art. Personally, I still cannot get over how good the writing is, especially the narration. I love how Abnett writes Punisher in this.