Joseph Pines Comic Reviews

Snyder and Dragotta continue to show why their series is the biggest driving force behind this universe. Is Absolute Batman #16 the perfect follow-up to the team-up in last month's Absolute Wonder Woman? No, definitely not. It's not a story really concerned with Diana and Bruce's dynamic, but what the issue does for Bruce and how it slots into the overarching narrative is a strength that cannot be ignored.

Absolute Wonder Woman #15 isn't just a testament to Kelly Thompson's phenomenal writing or Hayden Sherman's jaw-dropping artwork, but to the Absolute line as a whole. Each individual series has had time to breathe and establish itself, and these iterations of characters before bringing them together.

Assorted Crisis Events #7 continues the career-defining independent series with a heartbreaking story about a man giving in to a world that wants nothing to do with him. It's not an easy read, but it is one of the best of the year.

Batman #6 is an excellent continuation of Fraction's run as it starts to pull in even more elements from prior issues to help the run feel more connected than it had in the past. It does a lot of the dirty work that was necessary for the series, and though it doesn't make for a thrilling single issue, the work it does to prop up what came before and what's to come after is more than enough to keep the momentum going forward.

Batman and Robin #27 is an excellent example of what makes these characters shine, even amid the sea of oversaturation.

Batman and Robin #29 has a lot working against it. It's a fairly small-scale story in a series that is rapidly approaching its final issue, and yet in spite of that, it's the best the dynamic duo has been in a while. With fantastic art and great character work, it'll be a shame to see the series go.

Overall, the final package of Captain America #6 makes for a weird middle point in Zdarsky's run. It feels like the start to a story that will suffer from being sandwiched in between two major events, and unfortunately, it seems like one that will be forgotten compared to what came before and what is sure to come after.

DC K.O.: Harley Quinn vs. Zatanna is a mixed bag. As a tie-in, it justifies itself by echoing the main series' core conflict, yet it's hindered by character work that feels thin compared to contemporary iterations.

While DC K.O.: Wonder Woman v.s. Lobo may not be the main dish, it makes for a half-decent garnish.

DC K.O.: Knightfight #3 is a masterclass in clickbait. A series that promises an all-out brawl between father and sons turns into a tasteful character study of what makes each Robin unique and how Bruce views each one.

Though DC K.O. at large has been hit or miss, Knightfight shows the character-focused brilliance that can emerge from its premise. It is a brilliant exercise in subversion. It lures you in with promises of big exciting fights and powerscaling but delivers a heart-wrenching meditation on family and the power of a strong and loving parental figure.

Die: Loaded #3 truly shows off the strengths of this world. This universe is far more expansive than just a single series; it lends itself to the exploration of many characters. In that way, it really embodies its TTRPG roots, embracing a party of diverse individuals and proving that this world is more of a format than a singular narrative.

Superman #34 is about as good as it gets with tie-ins. While it's not going to be new-reader-friendly with too much going on at any given time, it still manages to stay focused on Superboy Prime and his emotional journey. This more singular focus is enough to elevate this story to more than just another addition to an already huge event.

If you aren't reading The Power Fantasy, you're missing out. The writing presents a new take on an X-Men-like superhero family and amps up the personal drama and human side to 10.

While it would be a loss to no longer have the series to look forward to, the brilliant tragedy that Gillen and Wijngaard have weaved together here is already making it one of the best books of the decade. So even with the future unclear, after reading issue 15, you can absolutely count on a finale that fires on all cylinders.