Ryan Perry Comic Reviews

There's nothing else like this coming from the Big Two. Camp and Rodriguez seem to have asked themselves not simply how to tell a great story, but how to move the medium forward. This metamodern narrative engages with the way we as a reader engage with the world, and is distinctly in conversation with us.

Absolute Martian Manhunter is the barn burner book in all of comics right now. Nowhere else is a character being so brilliantly reinvented, both narratively and visually. Nowhere else are readers being offered such an insightful look at the humanity of the world they live in. Every week that this book is published will be a week in which it's the first thing I read.

By the end of it, readers can't escape the deep humanity of this work and its Superman-like desire for a better tomorrow.

In total, Johnson and Sampere have delivered a simple followup to Action Comics #1030, which better details the mystery at hand. It also does that with so much style and skill that simple developments feel like revelations, and decades-old characters feel brand new.

The Amazing Spider-Man #1is largely the successful, bombastic debut Marvel would've wanted from this team. Spider-Man is back and if you weren't a fan of Dan Slott's extended tenure then this is your time to get back with the web-head. This book mostly captures Peter's voice well and excellently shows off his supporting cast and relationships. It sets up several interesting plot threads that will be exciting to explore in the future. Ryan Ottley makes it all beautiful the whole way. He will be one of the definitive Spider-Man artists one day.

In what feels mostly like a transition story, Nick Spencer sets up an intriguing future for Peter Parker, while Marcelo Ferreira struggles as a Spider-Man artist.

Vazquez and Gomez struggle throughout to create an accurate portrait of the America Chavez that readers have fallen in love with.

While not every kink is rolled out, Tynion IV and Jimenez are putting in the work to be a defining creative team for Batman.

Tynion IV and Jiminez give readers every reason to come back to this series for Batman #108. The story is developing in interesting ways, the characters are becoming more interesting, and there's the promise of finally exploring the Unsanity Collective in a classic Batman way.

It isn't the same type of book that will guarantee readers come back again and again, but it also seems unlikely to convince anyone to jump off.

Tynion IV and Jimenez kick this book back into gear with one of its most exciting and important issues in months. Almost every element of this book is top notch, and it's a great advertisement for why readers should return this fall for Fear State.

King and Mann's contradictory depictions of Catwoman define this otherwise enjoyable step forward in the Batman/Catwoman mystery.

Batman: Black and White #4 is a fun collection of stories that offer small insights into the caped crusader, and definitely has the edge to satisfy that Batman itch if that's what readers are looking for. It doesn't hit every ball out of the park, but nothing is horrible, and the good stuff often leans into being great stuff.

There are innumerable reasons why readers should pick this book up. It succeeds valiantly in spite of its context and the occasional failings of its creators. Even if this wasn't the purely best book I read this week, it will stick in my thoughts the longest.

While the latest issue of Crossover shouldn't convince any diehard Cates fans to jump off, it doesn't seem to do much to convince new fans to stick with it. Maybe if there was promise of more Madman-like reveals it would be worth sticking around, but the book's final reveal seems to solidify that this is a work by Cates about Cates' body of work.

Crush & Lobo #1 is a fun introduction to DC's next big father/daughter adventure. It isn't perfect, but that's not what it promises. Its promise from the get-go is fun, wild adventure, and readers will find that in droves.

Jemisin and Campbell do almost everything right in this issue, and it's another great stepping stone to what might be an incredible conclusion.

More than anything, Jemisin and Campbell deliver an issue that feels bittersweet. They both have obvious talent on display, and it seems like all of the issues' flaws simply stem from there being too few pages. However, the flaws that exist are fairly significant, and can really water down what had been set up to be an extremely exciting conclusion.

Overall, Adams, Peterson, Santucci, and Lafuente launch a satisfying and intriguing start to the new Flash story. It isn't immediately lightning in a bottle, but it absolutely has the ability to get there. This is an issue that should bring readers back to the series.

The excellence of this issue is no small feat as Brandon Thomas, Daniel Sampere and Adriano Lucas make Andy Curry and her world one of the most fascinating of Future State.

The excellence of this issue is no small feat as Brandon Thomas, Daniel Sampere and Adriano Lucas make Andy Curry and her world one of the most fascinating of Future State.

Russell and Pugh aren't making a timeless work in Future State: Superman vs Imperious Lex #2, but they're making a work for this time.

Green Arrow 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular is as good of an anniversary issue as readers have seen in a while.

Hawkman #3 is a great example of two creators that elevate each other's work. Venditti and Hitch both make the other shine here and thanks to their partnership, Carter Hall is shining better than ever before. Carter has become one of the most easy-to-invest-in characters in all of DC here, and the mystery of the Hawkman character demands that reader come back to see it developed and concluded.

DC Comics truly seems to be drawing their line in the sand here, and have outlined a new direction fans haven't seen from the company in quite some time. It's fresh, and exciting.

Fans of DC Comics should be losing their minds at the things happening in Infinite Frontier and the quality it brings to the table. Williamson and Xermanico seem to be off to the races with a better sense of the DC Universe than many creators in recent years. Now it's only a question of how these situations might develop, and what exciting developments they might bring us with these characters.

This team goes above and beyond in that way, and as the whole team comes together they are delivering readers an exceptional experience. It's one of the most exciting times in the DC Universe in years, and it seems that there's still so much more to come.

Infinite Frontier #3 is another exciting issue in DC's best event in years. Williamson and the team of artists here deliver their best work, and continue to give the characters and universes an opportunity to shine.

It's a broken record at this point to say that every DC fan should be reading this book, and that Williamson and everyone else working on this book is absolutely killing it. They've proven at this point that no one will be able to predict what is next, but whatever it is will be awesome. Therefore readers should give themselves every opportunity to be a part of the ride.

Scott Snyder has been a great writer for a while, but Justice League is really just a credit to his growth as a creator. His ability to direct the entire DC Universe is, at this time, unparalleled. Jorge Jimenez is his perfect partner in this, so much so that I'll be sad to see Jim Cheung return. This is the Justice League book readers have been waiting for since Grant Morrison left JLA. Through these first three issues, this issue has in every way topped Geoff Johns' New 52 run. You're doing yourself a disservice not reading this book as it's everything the Justice League should be.

Brian Michael Bendis and David Marquez deliver readers an opening Justice League issue which is a 5, but is dragged up by Ram V and Xermanico's amazing Justice League Dark backup.

Justice League is not good enough to be DC's flagship book, but Justice League Dark is incredible and everyone should read it.

The future for Milestone is bright. With the world they've set up in this issue, the exciting new voices they're bringing on and the crystal clear direction they're taking, readers are in for a treat.

Norman is a breath of fresh air among some of DC's more classic titles right now, and sometimes that's the best thing a book can be.

Mister Miracle: The Source of Freedom #2 is a step up from an already exciting first issue. The trajectory for this series is strong, and if the solicits are anything to go by, there's an exciting trip to New Genesis in Norman's future.

This is a somewhat slow start for a character which has traditionally taken off with a bang and a clatter time and time again. However, the somewhat inconsistent tone and off-kilter handling of Spector's voice don't have the ability to overpower the strong story structure and really exciting art. MacKay and Cappuccio promise more than this singular issue would let on.

Parrott and Mortarino know how to depict teenage heroes, and know how to do it in a way that evokes the love you had for the original Power Rangers. Whichever ones were your originals!

Parrott and Mortarino deliver another fun entry in the Power Rangers series. It expands the world in exciting, if confusing ways. Somehow though the flaws of this issue seem to be just more of a reason to keep going and see what's happening. In that, it seems there might not be much of a flaw at all.

There's so much potential here for the series to take off now that it's introduced readers to all the concepts they need to know, and they've gotten past the shock of this not being McDuffie's Static.

I'm more hopeful for Bendis' Superman after Superman #1 than I was after the conclusion of The Man of Steel. The confirmation from interviews that the Kent family will be back very soon is so comforting. Bendis' grasp of Superman's core themes shines here and acts as a promise of things to come. The only problem is you could've said that about the first and last issues of The Man of Steel. If Bendis keeps delivering promises with no fulfillment he'll eventually wear out his welcome on this book.

Superman #2 is a slow tease with beautiful art. Readers are treated to a few moments of wonder and longer moments of plodding passive nothingness. Reis' art is enough to bring readers back by itself. In spite of itself though, Bendis' story also makes a solid case for a return to the next issue.

This is a book which, unlike Superman #29, truly feels like the start of a journey. It's teasing dynamics and conflicts for the future while deepening the relationships between its main characters in meaningful ways. This is all done against the backdrop of classic comic art, which should satisfy any comic fan.

Johnson, Godlewski and Rapmund deliver an interesting side-adventure which is integral to the re-development of Jon Kent as a prominent character in the DC Universe. They're pulling it off more successfully than most anyone could imagine following such a negative fan reaction to the character's initial aging up. It can only be imagined that it'll just get better from here.

This series feels akin to Taylor's Nightwing in that it could just be banger after banger each month.

This world is growing, becoming more complicated, and becoming more in need of Superman. Taylor and Timms' Superman: Son of Kal-El is the absolute answer to that, both in universe and in real life.

The big question this issue should answer for the reader is whether they should pick up Teen Titans 20. In spite of the flaws of this issue, it's convinced me that I should see what's coming next. I wonder if this book could grow on me, based on the proper motivation given to Kid Flash and the flash-in-the-pan compassion Damian was allowed to show.

Tynion is thankfully able to pull the issue and this concept together at the end of The Immortal Men #4. The climax focuses on the Immortal Man and makes a very clear case as to why readers should like him. He just makes him do something cool. It's often overestimated what it takes to make characters likable. What Tynion does here was a masterclass in how to do that simply. The same can also be said, to a much lesser extent, about the treatment of Caden Park at the end of this issue. I wouldn't say he's completely gotten him over. But Tynion's finally realized he needed to explain what Park's powers are and why he's useful in this war if he wants readers to care.

With all that said, Jason Fabok draws this issue like his life depended on it. You could print out any page he drew and hang it up as a poster. He really makes this issue worth reading whether you like the story or not.

I can already feel the excitement of watching Ram and Cagle get up on the tightrope again for the next issue. I want to see every trick they can pull off and the ways they defy the gravity which pulls on and threatens every big swing like this one. Even as I write this, I'm constantly going back to the issue, finding new little questions I have and finding new things to look forward to. Ram and Cagle have thus pulled off my favorite type of comic experience: the kind which reminds me why comics were my first love.

More than anything, V and Cagle have given readers clarity for what their New Gods will be in this issue. So far, the book is more engaging, suspenseful and surprising because of this choice to imbue the gods with a deep level of humanity.

This possibility of discovering something new every issue will drive me back to this series over and over again as long as this creative team is on it.

This book is one which has been enjoyable, but more importantly it's rewarding to engage with and reread. The next issue simply can't come fast enough.

As long as this team is pushing the New Gods in exciting and deeply unexpected directions like this, I'll be coming back again and again.

Outside of a small lack of comfort in the issues as compared to the previous issues, and a slow start, Ridley still barrels forward with a complete re-envisioning of the DC Universe that is incredibly important for our time.

Now that the novelty of the premise and the new All-In status quo aren't enough to dominate one's reading experience, some of the writing comes more into focus for better and for worse.

The Unexpected is a concept that I desperately want to love. The first issue was really fun. I enjoy the main characters immensely, especially as we learn more about them in The Unexpected #2. The plot seems to be well paced. It feels as if it's careening towards a destination. The only issue is, the art can't carry this story. The things happening in this story are so big and exciting that anything other than the grandest art would weigh it down. It's hard to feel magic when what is drawn is mediocre.

In a mythos all about mothers and their relationships with their daughters and having not previously explored Diana and Trinity's relationship extensively, this feels like a really avoidable misfire.

It's an exciting first issue that seems to promise a huge impact on the DC world at large. It's tough to deny that Jones and Bellaire brought their A-game.

The second issue doesn't quite reach the heights of the first but continues full steam ahead on a very interesting mystery.

It's such a shame that when Wonder Woman is finally gifted with an All-Star creative team they're only here as a fill-in. Steve Orlando's love for and attention to Wonder Woman's history is the best we've seen from a writer in the past decade, if not longer. Readers haven't seen Orland executing at this level since his time on Midnighter and Apollo. It's a welcome return to form. ACO and Hugo Petros bring it all together though. As much as Wonder Woman fans appreciate Orlando's attention to continuity, it wouldn't mean anything if it didn't look cool. ACO and Petros make it look like the coolest book being published.

An intriguing mystery, likable characters, fantastic art and cute talking animals -- it's hard not to endorse this book.

The whole team brings out their A-game for the second issue of Infinite Frontier's Wonder Woman. While the issue is still hurt by small issues present in the script, it can't be denied that this is the most exciting Wonder Woman story in years. It's entirely possible that the next issue of this series could be perfect, and there are few series that can be consistently said about.

Wonder Woman: Afterworlds is the most exciting Diana story in a decade. It's incredibly telling that only small nitpicks can be made, and that the worst element of reading it is the worry that the payoff might not land correctly. Cloonan, Conrad, Moore and Bonvillain are crafting one of the best books DC is publishing right now, and it doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon.

There are so many exciting ideas present and developing in this series which could come to a fruitful end, and this could've been the first fruit the series bore. Sadly it didn't come across in quite the way it seems to have been intended.

Overall, if readers have kept up with this series thus far, it is exactly what it has shown itself to be. There's excellent pacing and fun characters, but it's bogged down a bit by confusing characterization at times. This issue in particular is a bit of a step down in the art department, but would seemingly make up for it in the strong revelations it presents.

What once seemed like it would be an inventive story that explored the Sphere of the Gods and found intriguing ways to incorporate Diana's rogues gallery, now feels like a story propped up by a gimmick.

Morrison and Paquette conclude a trilogy that is both hurt and uplifted by being a complete work. This volume is an excellent bit of storytelling to leave readers with.