The Amazing Spider-Man (2022) (Collected Editions) #1
World Without Love
The Synopsis
Peter Parker is on the outs with the Avengers. He’s on the outs with the Fantastic Four. He’s on the outs with Aunt May! No one wants to see Spider-Man — except for Doctor Octopus. Doc Ock is on Spidey’s tail, and the Master Planner has something truly terrible planned for when he gets his tentacles on Spidey. But what did Spider-Man do that has alienated him from everyone? And what moves is the gangster called Tombstone making? Just in time for Spider-Man’s 60th Anniversary, a new era of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN begins, blockbuster artist John Romita Jr. returns — and 2022 is going to be the biggest year for the wallcrawler ever!
COLLECTING: Amazing Spider-Man (2022) 1-5
The Verdict
This collection really brings the web slinger into a whole new era, bringing him to his lowest point emotionally and mentally and adding an air of mystery around what events drove him to this isolated place in his life. The impact of this story on not only Spider-Man but everyone in the Marvel universe comes into play here, and yet the writers found a way to introduce Spidey back into the more grounded, street-level storylines that he is best known for outside of his cosmic, multiversal adventures. A definite must-read.
Immortal X-Men, Vol. 1
The Synopsis
Kieron Gillen returns to the world of X! The Quiet Council are the rulers of the Krakoan age, for better…or worse. But now, shaken by INFERNO, they strive to hold their nation together — no matter how much they want to tear each other apart! At last, IMMORTAL X-MEN welcomes you into the room where it all happens! Magneto has left the Council, and his big shoes need to be filled. Selene demonstrating her foot size by crushing the whole island beneath it is unorthodox, yet compelling. Can the Quiet Council resist? Meanwhile, the resurrected mutant seer called Destiny wrote her books of prophecy over one hundred years ago…and a sequel is long overdue! As the Council’s machinations grow increasingly desperate, sinister secrets about Krakoa will be laid bare…but some secrets are more sinister than others.
COLLECTING: Immortal X-Men (2021) 1-6
The Verdict
In the new era of X-Men, the question of immortality and what it means to live life has come to be quite a loaded discussion, and this comic delves both into the activities related to this discussion and the politics surrounding it. The intricacies of the ruling council and those with experience in immortality already were fascinating to see come to play in this series, and the boilerplate political situation with those on the ruling council, as well as the hidden agendas of some of the more nefarious members, made this a must-read entry into the new X-Men era.
Iron Man by Christopher Cantwell, Vol. 1: Books of Korvac I – Big Iron
The Synopsis
Tony Stark is looking to restart his engine. He’s going back to basics, putting away his high-tech toys and high-profile image so he can get his hands dirty again. It’s time to put on some old-fashioned metal – and fly! But can Tony really lay that Stark-sized ego down? Life just isn’t that simple, something that old friends and frustrating foes are quick to point out. So Iron Man takes the fight back to basics, and back to the streets – facing down old-school villains like Arcade and the Absorbing Man. But what’s really going on in Tony Stark’s head? As old friends like Hellcat try to help him find peace of mind, lurking on the horizon is a threat that Tony – and the entire cosmos – hasn’t seen in years. Prepare for the new saga of Korvac!
Iron Man (2020) 1-5
The Verdict
This is Tony Stark as longtime fans of the comics can attest is him at both his best and his worst. The mental, emotional, and at times seemingly spiritual journey Tony goes on in this new volume will see him testing new romances, rebuilding friendships and his reputation, and battling old foes as a former cosmic threat returns to wreak havoc on his life. The threat tests Tony to accept both his failures and his limitations, and push past them in new ways he could never have imagined. The action and visceral storytelling made this quite a compelling entry into the Iron Man lore.
Recursion
The Synopsis
Following a blockbuster turn by Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman, Marvel’s resident master of horror, Al Ewing, takes over the adventures of Venom — bringing the same style and sensibilities that made IMMORTAL HULK a smash to the symbiote hivemind! But like Eddie Brock himself, Al needs a partner in crime — and Marvel has enlisted Ram V, a titan of terror in his own right, to lend a dramatic and dangerous air to this new vision of Venom! And why stop there?! Every book needs an artist, and we’ve enlisted one of the best: the ultimate illustrator, Bryan Hitch! An industry superstar who’s drawn scores of fan-favorite books, Bryan brings his rich and detailed style to the Venomverse! One superstar era gives way to another — and you won’t believe what lies ahead!
The Verdict
As if the world of Venom couldn’t have gotten more complex, in the wake of the defeat of Knull and Eddie’s newfound title of King in Black, the mythos surrounding the King in Black and the Symbiotes themselves take a dramatic turn. I loved seeing the series exploring Eddie’s complex relationship with his son, his desire to be both a father and hero and seeing his son Dylan stepping up into his new role in the Marvel Universe itself. With shocking twists and an emotional undercurrent for both father and son, this new turn in the Venom mythos will keep fans wanting more.
X-Men: The Trial of Magneto #1-5
X-Men: The Trial of Magneto
The Synopsis
Magneto, the mutant master of magnetism — one of the founders of the mutant nation of Krakoa, a former villain who has never stopped fighting for the benefit of mutantkind — stars in the story that will shake Krakoa to its core! A horrific murder. A shocking revelation. And a trial that will divide the new mutant nation down the middle — and possibly shatter it forever! Leah Williams and Valerio Schiti bring you an epic mystery that threatens the Reign of X and upends the world that Magneto has worked so hard to build for his fellow mutants. The truth is deeply hidden, the danger is far from over, and the trial has begun…
COLLECTING: X-Men: The Trial of Magneto (2021) 1-5
The Verdict
Part murder mystery, part character introspection, the writers did an amazing job of building upon the work done in the individual X-Men series up to this point to bring to life a mystery that only the island of Krakoa could produce. The deep dive into the lore of Magneto as a character was great to see, as was both his relationship with his “daughter” Wanda and the relationship mutants themselves had with the Scarlet Witch for years. At the heart of this mystery lies a story of redemption as well, and not just for the character in question but for many X-Men-related characters who have had a debt to repay for a long time. This was a phenomenal story that I couldn’t put down.
The Lords of Earthly Vengeance
The Synopsis
Jason Aaron spreads the legend of the Avengers across the infinite worlds of the Multiverse! On a quest for cosmic vengeance, Ghost Rider finds himself roaring through the wasteland on a ruined Earth where the great Age of Heroes never came to be. Where “hope” is a four-letter word…and where his only ally in the coming battle against the greatest villains any universe has ever known is the world’s most wanted archaeologist: Tony Stark, the Invincible Ant-Man! Spinning out of the cataclysmic events of AVENGERS #750 comes the next great Avengers saga, as the mightiest heroes of every Earth assemble!
The Verdict
I am a sucker for a good multiversal story, and getting to see this deep dive into the Marvel multiverse was great to see come to life. Seeing Robbie Reyes stepping up and gaining more power as the Ghost Rider was very cool to see, as was the cast of characters across the multiverse. The terrifying power of the multiversal Masters of Evil was shocking yet engaging to read about, and the mythos behind the mysterious “First Avenger/Avenger Prime” was engaging enough to keep me invested throughout this story. A definite must-read!
Monkey Prince
The Synopsis
Meet the Monkey Prince, your new favorite DC character! (According to him, at least.) Gene Luen Yang and Bernard Chang introduce an all-new Chinese American superhero!
Introducing the newest hero in the DC Universe, the great sage, equal to the heavens, better than his predecessor the legendary Monkey King, even better than the Justice League—and definitely the Teen Titans—(actually, all the heroes combined), everyone put your hands together for…the Monkey Prince!
Marcus Sun moves around a lot because his adoptive parents are freelance henchpeople, so this month he finds himself as the new kid at Gotham City High School, where a mysterious man with pig features asks Marcus to walk through a water curtain to reveal his real self…someone who has adventured through The Journey to the West, can transform into 72 different formations, can clone himself using his hairs, and is called…the Monkey Prince!
From the team of New Super-Man and American Born Chinese writer Gene Luen Yang and Teen Titans and Green Lantern Corps artist Bernard Chang, meet an all-new Chinese American DC hero, with roots in centuries-old mythology and ties to the current DCU!
This volume collects The Monkey Prince #1-6, and a story from DC Festival of Heroes: The Asian Superhero Celebration
The Verdict
I love seeing new heroes brought to life in comics, and the humor and witty new Chinese American hero Marcus Sun is a great new addition to DC Comics. With the wit of heroes like Spider-Man and Booster Gold with the teen angst of Blue Beetle, the story not only delves into a unique new mythos surrounding magic and ancestry but also plays with the shocking dividing lines between a son and his parents, who work on opposing sides without realizing it. The connection between Marcus and his true father, as well as his run-ins with Batman and Damian Wayne’s Robin, were super engaging, and I think Monkey Prince will be a welcome addition to the new age of DC Comics.
Suicide Squad: Get Joker! #1-3
Suicide Squad: Get Joker!
The Synopsis
Two of comics’ most celebrated creators, Brian Azzarello and Alex Maleev, team up to pit Task Force X against their deadliest target yet—The Joker!
Critically acclaimed and bestselling author Brian Azzarello (100 Bullets, Batman: Damned) and Eisner Award-winning art legend Alex Maleev (Daredevil, Event Leviathan) collaborate for the first time in this DC Black Label series pitting Red Hood, Harley Quinn, Firefly, and more of DC’s most villainous criminals against The Joker!
When Task Force X’s Amanda Waller sets her sights on Batman’s greatest foe, she enlists the Dark Knight’s former partner Jason Todd to track down the Clown Prince of Crime and put an end to his mad reign of terror. But The Joker has plans of his own, and he takes control of the Squad, forcing them to do his bidding!
This volume collects Suicide Squad: Get Joker #1-3.
The Verdict
A gritty collision between the world of the Suicide Squad and the chaotic world of Gotham City, this was a brilliant hot mess that showcases why the squad works so well to add both the oddball humor and the visceral action that the comics have become known for. However, the heart of this narrative rests in the complex hatred between the Joker and Jason Todd, as well as Harley Quinn, both of whom have suffered greatly both physically and mentally at the hands of this madman. The twists and turns this narrative takes and the open-ended finale will keep readers hanging off of the writer’s every word.
Suicide Squad: Blaze
The Synopsis
To catch a monster, you have to become one—but some folks have a head start. The critically acclaimed John Constantine: Hellblazer team deploy Task Force X on their most brutal and bizarre mission yet!
The attacks begin without warning. Brutal, sudden…cannibalistic. A metahuman with all the power of Superman but none of his humanity. An unstoppable being ruled only by hunger and instinct, striking at random across the world. To stop this threat, Harley Quinn, Peacemaker, Captain Boomerang, and King Shark have been assigned to corral, nursemaid—and if necessary, execute—five deadly new recruits: the expendable products of a secret government procedure called BLAZE.
They’re ordinary prisoners, endowed with incredible power…and the certain knowledge that it’ll burn through them like wildfire. They have six months to live, maximum. If you’re staring down life in prison, maybe that’s a good deal—especially if you’re Michael Van Zandt, desperate to reunite with the mad lover who forsook you after your Bonnie-and-Clyde crime spree.
But that power? It’s surprisingly transferable. As each member of the Squad dies…the others get stronger. What would a hardened criminal do with that knowledge? Worse yet: What would a desperate, lovesick idiot do with it? One thing’s certain: this time the Suicide Squad’s bitten off more than it can chew. Win or lose-they all burn.
Simon Spurrier and Aaron Campbell, the creative team behind the critically acclaimed John Constantine: Hellblazer, are turned loose on the one DC title even more horrific and blackhearted than that one. Brace yourselves!
Collects Suicide Squad Blaze #1-3.
The Verdict
A truly brutal, twisted, yet compelling new entry into the world of DC Comics. Although technically a Suicide Squad title, the heart of this series rests in the unique characters that are introduced specifically for this story, and the compelling story they tell together as they are introduced into this madness. The brutality of the threat, as well as the almost mindless and animalistic nature of the entity, makes it both dangerous and unpredictable, and the way this average man comes into the fold to face such a threat is engaging to see come to life on the page. A definite must-read.
Justice League vs. The Legion of Super-Heroes #1-6
Justice League Vs. The Legion of Super-Heroes
The Synopsis
One thousand years in the future, a Legion of Super-Heroes comes together to dedicate their lives to recapturing the great Age of Heroes of the 21st century. When the heroes discover that reality is falling to a great darkness in both times simultaneously, the Justice League and the Legion of Super-Heroes must team up to stop it all. But what is the connection between the secrets of the new Gold Lanterns and the coming of the Great Darkness? A monumental DC epic event miniseries!
Collects Justice League vs. the Legion of Super-Heroes #1-6.
The Verdict
There have been many stories where some members of both teams have found themselves in a time-travel adventure that brings them to meet some of the others, but never have we seen such a grand-scale team-up of the past and future all in one go. The threat of the Great Darkness, a lead-up to the highly anticipated event “Dark Crisis”, made this a remarkable story to get lost in. The way the teams come to life, as well as the study of the futuristic Gold Lantern and the role they play in these events, was great to see on the page. A definite must-read!
Justice League Incarnate (single issues) #1-5
Justice League Incarnate
The Synopsis
The worlds outside your window! Following a devastating defeat at the hands of the one true Darkseid, the Superman of Earth-23 leads a team of superheroes from myriad worlds that includes Flashpoint Batman, China’s Flash from Earth-0, Captain Carrot from Earth-26, and the brand-new superhero Dr. Multiverse from Earth-8 in a last-ditch effort to stop the end of every possible universe as we know it! Written by Joshua Williamson and Dennis Culver with first-issue art by Brandon Peterson and Andrei Berssan and a rotating cast of artists exploring the many different worlds of the DC Multiverse, this can’t-miss series is the next thrilling chapter in the Infinite Frontier saga! Collects Justice League Incarnate #1-5
The Verdict
The threat of the most powerful and final form of Darkseid takes center stage on a multiversal scale. Between President Superman’s leadership and unique bond being formed with Flashpoint Batman, his connection to Dr. Multiverse, the desire to live up to the Flash family namesake for China’s Flash, and the threat of the great darkness looming over the DC Multiverse so soon after the events of Dark Nights: Death Metal, the action, and mythos the writers build upon in this series were remarkable to behold in the wake of Infinite Frontier. A definite must-read before reading Dark Crisis!
Sensational Wonder Woman #1-14
Sensational Wonder Woman
The Synopsis
The all-new Sensational Wonder Woman series celebrates Wonder Woman’s 80th anniversary and the legacy of Diana of Themyscira!
A combination of fan-favorite storytellers and trailblazing fresh voices and artists come together in this reader-friendly, high action series is poised to deliver dynamic, standalone stories that are free of continuity, giving hardcore fans even more Wonder Woman action to love and new fans a fun starting point to enjoy stories and provide a gateway to discovering more about Princess Diana.
During a battle with the villain, Wonder Woman sacrifices herself to stop him, the impact from his psychic blast trapping her in an alternate reality. With the help of guest-star Hawkgirl, Diana must remember who she is before it’s too late. Diana teams up with other allies from the Wonder Woman mythos, such as Cheetah, Steve Trevor, Hippolyta, Wonder Girl and others along the way.
This collection of Sensational Wonder Woman #1-14 features writers like Stephanie Phillips, Alyssa Wong, and more paired with great artists such as Meghan Hetrick, Bruno Redondo, Eleonora Carlini and writer/artist Colleen.
The Verdict
A memorable, remarkable anthology series that delves into the mythos of Wonder Woman outside of the main continuity we all know and love. The incredible power and heroism Diana displayed during the events of Dark Nights: Death Metal cemented herself into the fabric of DC Comics far more than ever before. The action, emotional beats, charm, and strength of Diana as a hero, a friend, and a love interest shine brightly through each issue and all the contributing writers of this anthology collection. A must-have for all fans of Wonder Woman.
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