Joe Skonce Comic Reviews

"A Man Among Ye" #2 does an excellent job developing Anne Bonny's character and expanding the world of pirates through strong writing and character design.

"A Man Among 'Ye" #8 delivers on epic action and provides a satisfying conclusion to one of history's most fearsome pirates (for now.)

While "Adventureman" #3 might work better in a broader context, as a standalone it misses the mark.

The Amazing Mary Jane" #5 continues to be the kind of fun superhero romp you expect from Leah Williams.

"The Amazing Spider-Man #11 has some compelling moments, but too much focus on mystery makes the issue fall short.

Final Verdict: 7.8 While "Aquaman" #61 can be a bit overwhelming at times, Kelly Sue DeConnick creates a compelling story about leadership and making difficult, but necessary, changes.

Featuring an intriguing alternate universe and an art style that makes magic feel extraordinary, "Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines" #1 is an exciting reintroduction to a magical series.

"Atlantis Attacks" #3 is Pak at the top of his game, allowing him to build an exciting and messy conflict through top-notch visual storytelling.

"Avengers" #37 is a satisfying ending to a middling arc, but with some impressive superheroic visuals adding to some of the intense fun.

While "Avengers: Beyond #1 starts off strong, too much exposition and uninspired settings make the series premier feel like a chore.

"Batman" #101 creates an exciting new direction for Gotham's Dark Knight thanks to a strong script from James Tynion IV and Guillem March's expressive art.

Mike Norton's art is the star of "Battlepug" #5 by creating a visual story that is chaotic and very memorable.

"Birthright" #42 combines effective dark and moody art and a tragic story of found family to create a modern-day fantasy epic worth checking out.

"Bitter Roots" #6 is a complex adventure that still manages to have a lot of fun, with art that pays homage to the period in which the adventure is set.

on point for one of the consistently best books to come out in comics, establishing new themes and continuing exceptional art.

Zub's dialogue and Medina's art are quite good, it just feels like the adventure is too much of a retread from the last adventure.

"Blade #1 delivers an exciting premise with some incredible art. A fantastic kickoff to a new supernatural adventure.

Featuring strong themes, clever writing, and excellent character designs, Vita Ayala and Bernard Chang create a cant miss series in Children of the Atom #1.

"Chu" #3 is a compelling game of cat and mouse between two siblings but truly excels thanks to fun art design.

"Crossover" #4 makes some interesting artistic choices but lacks a clear message and leans too hard on tired tropes.

"Dark Nights: Death Metal" #1 sets up the stakes for an epic struggle, balancing DC mythology with bombastic metal action!

Final Verdict: 6.5 While "Dark Ride #8 features some exciting visual storytelling, the script leaves you wanting more.

Featuring groovy art, an intriguing team, and a compelling mystery, "Defenders" #1 adds to Ewing's impressive mythology building.

A strong entry into the continued evolution of one of Marvel's best characters, showing a haunted man behind all of the arrogance and bravado.

While the ending felt rushed, "Doctor Strange" #19 is an excellent jumping-on point for new readers, featuring a compelling personal conflict and some excellent art of the world of magic.

"Dune: Blood of the Sardaukar" #1 features some impressive art but ultimately tells a story that doesn't need to be told.

Jim Zub captures the unique energy of playing a tabletop RPG and at the end of the day, that's what you want from a Dungeons and Dragons comic.

If you're looking for a visually stunning dark fantasy, Edenwood #1 is the book for you!

"Eight Billion Genies #1 is the perfect blend of delightful and destructive, a magnificent start to magical mischief.

"Eve" #1 is the best kind of first issue, building a mystery through subtle and evocative art but making you care about the character first and foremost.

While the story of "Excalibur" #12 is not entirely clear, the art creates an engaging story.

Final Verdict: 9.0 "Fantastic Four: Grimm Noir" #1 creates a comic that takes full advantage of the storytelling conventions of film noir while telling a powerful story about fighting back against your inner demons.

"Fantastic Four #1 is a phenomenal first issue, a perfect blend of humor, heart, and fantastic art. North is a must-read!

While it's not breaking new grounds, "Flawed #1 is an exciting start that reminds you that being familiar doesn't mean boring.

"Folklords" #3 is a book that uses every aspect of the medium to tell a story about the true nature of a folk tale monster. While impressive, it does take some time to realize just what the creative team is up to.

"G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero" #270 is a fun romp that feels like watching an episode of the classic cartoon.

"Ghostbusters: Year One" #2 has its moments, but there isn't much to make this stand out as a Ghostbusters story.

"Glow vs. the Baby Face" #3 features some good writing, but the art diminishes the overall effect.

7.5 While "Godzilla: Here There Be Dragons #1 doesn't feature the titular kaiju, exceptional art and an intriguing premise promise for some exciting monster action.

Despite some well-executed fight sequences, "Godzilla War For Humanity #1 features lackluster characters and a bland story.

Final Verdict: 6.5 "Gotham City Monsters" #6 doesn't quite stick the landing, but strong character work and good art make for a solid issue.

"Gwenpool Strikes Back" #3 is a meta comic that felt fresh and original, and was a whole lot of fun to read. Highly recommended!

"Helm Greycastle" #3 continues the fun fantasy feel of a tabletop role-playing game, but inconsistencies in the setting detracted from the overall experience.

"Ice Cream Man" #17 is a familiar type of superhero satire, one that over the years has become boring.

"The Immortal Hulk" #34 features good writing and impressive art, but a muddled timeline prevents it from being truly outstanding.

"The Immortal She-Hulk" #1 continues Al Ewing's reshaping of Marvel's Gamma characters by creating a compelling study of contrasts as Jennifer deals with her ability to cheat death.

"Immortal X-Men #3 successfully avoids being a sterile investigation into world-ending events by putting the focus on a single relationship.

"Iron Man Annual" #1 has its moments, but lackluster villains and a shoehorned event set up ruined what could have been a great issue.

"Isola" #10 tells a story that effectively builds tension and conflict that takes a character's dream and slowly turns it into a nightmare.

"Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal Age of Resistance" #1 features impressive artwork that showcases the beauty and terror of Thra, while featuring a story compelling enough to continue reading.

"Jim Henson's The Dark Crystal: The Age of Resistance" #8 is a fun romp that adds dimension to Hup. If only the colors matched the show.

"Jughead's Time Police" #5 is a lighthearted take on the alternate timeline story that allows both the author and artist to have a lot of fun exploring all the different worlds of the Archie Universe.

"Justice League Dark" #25 takes advantage of the mythology of D.C. with some truly impressive visual storytelling.

If you love epic fantasy with some incredible artwork, "Knights of X #1 is a must-read!

Thanks to some impressive art and intriguing narration, "Loki #1 sets the stage for another adventure of everyone's favorite trickster.

"Magic The Gathering" #1 has its moments, mainly thanks to the strong art of Ig Guara and Ariana Consonni, but ultimately feels too unwieldy to new readers experiencing the world of Ravnica.

While Magneto #1 does reward a pre-established knowledge of mutant lore, intriguing art, and solid narration make this a rewarding first issue.

If you're looking for the right balance of high adventure and political intrigue, look no farther than "Marauders."

While the art of "Ms. Marvel & Moon Knight #1 is appropriately atmospheric, the team-up or Kamala Khan and Marc Spector leave something to be desired.

"On the Stump" #2 has some promise, but the story is unfocused and the art leaves something to be desired.

One Upon A Time At The End Of The World #1 has some occasional fun moments but lacks a strong voice to make it memorable.

"Orcs: The Curse #1 is a delightful return to a wonderfully chaotic fantasy series, raising the stakes without losing the fun.

Phantom Road #1 is an incredibly effective visual comic that masterfully creates tone and tension with color saturation and harsh lighting. Its a road you want to travel down.

"Phoenix Song: Echo" #1 has some effective moments of characterization for Maya Lopez and some effective art but ultimately doesn't do much to stand out.

"Quantum & Woody" #2 is a story about balance, which successfully balances humor, heart, and fun art.

Despite its quality art, "Radiant Black" #1 is a comic that treads familiar ground without a solid way to distinguish itself from the pack.

"Reaver" #8 tells a familiar story in a powerful, yet intimate way. Jordan and Henrichon are an excellent collaboration of visual storytelling.

"Reaver" #11 is a solid conclusion to the series second arc with strong character work and even stronger stylistic choices in the color and lighting used.

While "Seven Swords" #1 features some impressive art of swashbuckling fun, the issue feels muddled and aimless.

"Shang-Chi" #6 continues an action-packed run that shouldn't be missed and sets up some great stakes for the character moving forward.

"Shazam!" #9 is a comic with a fun artistic design that puts a difficult choice at the forefront. Geoff Johns does a good job of making that choice have some serious weight.

"Silver Surfer: Ghost Light #1 is a solid execution of the slow-burn premier issue, featuring solid characters and art, but it takes too long to set the hook for future issues.

Slumber #1 takes full advantage of the medium to create an exciting and surreal adventure where you don't want to wake up.

Featuring a psychedelic 60s inspired art style, "Spy Island" #1 creates a mystery worth revisiting.

"Star Trek #1 is a thrilling start to an intriguing premise while taking advantage of established lore to build out their world.

While Star Trek: Holo-ween #2 features some spooky Victorian horror art, the story doesn't live up to the promise of the premise.

"Picard: Countdown" #1 showcases a script and art that reflects the strengths of both Picard and Star Trek: The Next Generation.

While the art and characters of "Star Trek: The Mirror Wars" #0 is good, the story leaves something to be desired when setting up an event of this scale.

"Star Trek Year Five" #6 delivers an issue that feels like classic Trek, featuring a decent mystery and a solid Klingon standoff.

"Star Trek: Year Five" #12 features moodier art and an intense no-win situation that pushes Kirk and the crew to their limits, creating a satisfying Star Trek story.

year mission and reminds up what made Kirk and his crew so extraordinary.

"Star Trek: Year Five: Valentine's Day Special" #1 is a fun love story that shows the benefits (and struggles) of falling in love with someone as ambitious as you are.

"Star Wars" #2 is an engaging adventure that understands and enhances the characters of the original trilogy.

Star Wars: Bounty Hunters #1 attempts to do too much in a single issue, it is too spread out to be really satisfying.

"Darth Vader: Black, White & Red #1 is an excellent kickoff to an anthology series of one of the media's most iconic villains, exploring what makes this character stand out.

Final Verdict: 8.0 "Star Wars: Darth Vader" #3 is an exciting look into Vader's past by bringing in characters from his past to show how the universe not only views him but the man he used to be

While "Starhenge: The Dragon and The Boar #1 is a visual masterpiece, the execution of the comic leaves something to be desired.

While the art of "Starship Down" #1 is good, the characters leave something to be desired.

While "Starsigns #6 features some interesting visual storytelling devices, it's a lackluster story of the calm before the storm.

"Strange" #1 is a masterful introduction of the newest Sorcerer Supreme, combining fun dialogue and truly magical art.

"Strange Academy" #2 attempts to do too much, without enticing you to return with a good hook.

"Stranger Things Winter Special" #1 is a light, fun homage to holiday specials, featuring fun character moments and art shifts that feel inspired by the specials they are parodying.

Fraction and Company tell a convincing story of a man slowly losing grip on reality while capturing the art and tone of a silver age comic.

"Survival Street #1 is full of ideas but is trying to do too much and not taking advantage of the potential of its central premise.

With a perfect blend of art and storytelling that makes you question your reality and the power of belief, "Department of Truth" #14 is a fantastic entry in an exceptional series.

Featuring strong writing and impressive visuals, The Expanse: Dragon Tooth #2 tests the bonds of familiar allies and serves as a reminder that the universe has changed in a significant way.

building make it an adventure you want to go on.

"Thunderbolts #1 is superhero storytelling at its finest, exciting, bombastic, and funny all at once.

An exciting story that is elevated by the artistic team's amazing depiction of dark magic.

Snyder and Soule do a great job of baiting the hook in "Undiscovered Country" #2. Combine that with a Mad Max America, and you have a special book on your hands.

"Undiscovered Country" #7 presents some big mysteries but has a difficult time balancing them in a satisfying way.

Thanks to bold coloring and an intriguing script, "We Only Find Them When They're Dead" #2 creates a bold team of explorers in the face of a cold daunting universe.

We Ride Titans #3 features some impressive art from Sebastian Piriz, but sufferers from a script that seems to be spinning its wheels as it looks for the next family fight.

A decent, if ultimately forgettable, comic that invokes the nostalgia of a Saturday morning cartoon.

"X-Men/Fantastic Four" #4 provides a strong ending to good crossover, adding a nice subversion to the traditional ending of putting aside differences for the greater good.

X-Men: Red #11 continues to tell engaging and impactful stories while shifting the power of the Mutant nation.