Join us for our weekly review roundup. This is where we have assembled to give our thoughts on various issues that are released each week. This week we have Jay, Louis, & Marcus giving reviews for books from BOOM! Studios, DC Comics, IDW Publishing, Marvel Comics, and Zenescope Entertainment! Check out the reviews below and let us know what you think in the comments below or on Twitter. Welcome to the PHANATIC REVIEWS, hope you enjoy the experience!
HELLMOUTH #1
Created By: Joss Whedon
Written By: Jordie Bellaire and Jeremy Lambert
Art By: Eleonora Carlini
Colors By: Cris Peter
Letters By: Ed Dukeshire
Main Cover By: Jenny Frison
Variant Cover By: Kyle Lambert
Connecting Cover By: Kelly and Nichole Matthews
Unlocked Foil Variant Cover By: Kyle Lambert
Black and White Variant Cover By: Jenny Frison
Price: $3.99
Drusilla has opened the Hellmouth and now it is up to Buffy and the mysterious Angel to shut it before all hell breaks loose on Earth, literally. This is what I have been waiting for that big all-out season finale battle that Buffy made famous. Bellaire and Lambert do a great job keeping the plot brisk and brings the same level of witty banter we loved from the show. The action never stops, but it doesn't detract from character development or plot advancement. Carlini bought her sharp eye for detail with her which really helps drives home the emotions and urgency of this world-ending event. Overall, I really enjoyed this issue and the only thing missing was a peek at what Willow was up to. ~ Jay @ComicBookTheate
SABAN’S GO GO POWER RANGERS #24
Written By: Ryan Parrott & Sina Grace
Art By: Francesco Mortarino
Colors By: Raúl Angulo
Letters By: Ed Dukeshire
Main Cover By: Ivan Shavrin
Yearbook Variant Cover: Miguel Mercado
'90s Album Variant Cover: Amelia Vidal
Social Feed Variant Cover: Johanna The Mad
Price: $3.99
Written By: Ryan Parrott & Sina Grace
Art By: Francesco Mortarino
Colors By: Raúl Angulo
Letters By: Ed Dukeshire
Main Cover By: Ivan Shavrin
Yearbook Variant Cover: Miguel Mercado
'90s Album Variant Cover: Amelia Vidal
Social Feed Variant Cover: Johanna The Mad
Price: $3.99
The Power Rangers have become news and Bulk and Skull is right there getting the story. Parrott and Grace do an amazing job with Bulk and Skull in this issue, making this my second favorite moment with them, second only to their role in Countdown To Destruction. I always loved when these two defied the stereotypes they were designed to represent and they show under it all, anyone can be a Ranger. The art by Mortarino continues to amaze me with pages so well done that you really have to look at them fully to take it all in with both a foreground and background story being told. Overall, this is how a filler issue should be done, something that brings great depth to beloved characters. ~ Jay @ComicBookTheate
SABAN’S POWER RANGERS: THE PSYCHO PATH OGN
Writer: Paul Allor
Artist: Giuseppe Cafaro
Colorist: Marcelo Costa
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Cover By: Diego Galindo
Price: $19.99
The Psycho Rangers are back and looking for Astronema, but find Karone, who hopes she can undo one of her greatest misdeeds. Paul Allor does a nice job evolving the Psychos from simple murderers to an unpredictable force, which makes them all the more dangerous. The one downside though was Psycho Green, I wish he would have been more like he was previously and not obsessive with this need for some twisted family. The art is solid and does a great job with the action scenes. Overall, this wasn't exactly the book I was expecting but I did enjoy it thoroughly and can't wait to see where they stand the next time we see them. ~ Jay @ComicBookTheate
Verdict: 4 Power Bolts
DETECTIVE COMICS #1013
Written By: Peter J. Tomasi
Art By: Doug Mahnke
Colors By: David Baron
Letters By: Rob Leigh
Cover By: Doug Mahnke and David Baron
Variant Cover By: Tyler Kirkham
Price: $3.99
Batman figures out Mr. Freeze is behind several disappearances in Gotham City. However just as Batman saves the victims, Mr. Freeze gets away and revives his wife Nora. Peter Tomasi's dialogue for this issue is pretty entertaining especially the scenes between Batman and Alfred. However, when Batman's fighting reanimated versions of Freeze's victims, he's delivering a monologue that weighs down the scene and makes it a little dull.
Doug Mahnke's artwork is awesome. He designs a really cool heat armor for Batman's fight with Mr. Freeze. The first shot of Batman in the new suit busting into Freeze's lab is dynamic and poster-worthy. The only criticism is it's similarity to the Hellbat armor but it's a minor one at best. Overall this issue was an average read, it wasn't bad but wasn't special either. ~ Luis @SpiderMan1991
JOKER/HARLEY: CRIMINAL SANITY #1 (OF 9)
Written By: Kami Garcia
Art By: Mico Suayan And Mike Mayhew
Letters By: Richard Starkings of ComiCraft
Cover By: Francesco Mattina
Joker Variant Cover By: Mico Suayan
Harley Variant Cover By: Mike Mayhew
Consultant: Edward Kurtz, MD
Price: $5.99
After someone close to Harley is killed she dives deep into the criminal mind becoming a profiler who is determined to bring the serial killer known as the Joker to justice. Garci does a phenomenal job in this true-crime origin of Harley Quinn. Right away we see a very different Harley then we previous knew in an equally different, yet familiar Gotham. Harley's romantic connection to Edie is felt through her passion and dedication to bring her murderer to justice, while she is only referred to as her "roommate" Garcia's narrative lets us know they are more than that. Gone is the timid Dr. Harleen Quinzell who almost romanticizes the Joker, and in her place is a strong woman who wants to bring a serial killer to justice. The art by Suayan and Mayhew really hits home with the uses of black and white and color transition that really engages the reader and immerses them further into this true-crime drama. Overall, I loved this gritty psychological drama and the only downside to it is that it is a shame it isn't on the big screen. Another hit for the Black Label! ~ Jay @ComicBookTheate
COBRA KAI: THE KARATE KID SAGA CONTINUES #1
"Johnny's Story Part 1"
Written By: Denton J. Tipton
Art By: Kagan McLeod
Colors By: Luis Antonio Delgado
Letters By: Neil Uyetake
Cover By: Kagan McLeod
Price: $3.99
The Karate Kid sequel from YouTube gets a comic that dives deeper into the characters. The story bounces back and forth between present-day where Johnny is a teacher and the past when he was a student at Cobra Kai. The flashbacks allow the reader to get a deeper look at who Johnny was and helps change the narrative of this one-time one-note villain one of the most beloved movies of the 80s. The art at times gives us a spot-on representation of the actors and then at other parts makes it hard to recognize them. Despite the inconsistency with the art, I found myself drawn to the book as much as I was to the movie. ~ Marcus Robinson
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #31
Written By: Nick Spencer
Art By: Ryan Ottley
Colors By: Nathan Fairbairn
Letters By: VC's Joe Caramagna
Cover By: Ryan Ottley and Nathan Fairbairn
Variant By: Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson; Greg Smallwood
Price: $3.99
Nick Spencer also uses this issue to deepen the mystery of Kindred. This issue also gives us several scenes with Kindred and Norman. Spencer's dialogue implies Kindred and Norman were close at some point. Now, this dialogue does give more evidence to the theory that Kindred is Harry Osborn. However, I wouldn't be surprised if Spencer went another direction.
While this issue ties into Absolute Carnage, the tie-in element does not ruin the story but at the same time, it doesn't improve it. Overall, this is still an impressive issue.~ Luis @SpiderMan1991
FUTURE FIGHT FIRSTS: WHITE FOX #1
Also Featuring A Story With The: FUTURE AVENGERS OF JAPAN
Written By: Alyssa Wong
Art By: Kevin Libranda & Geoffo
Colors By: Israel Silva
Letters By: VC's Joe Sabino
Cover By: Inhyuk Lee
Netmarble Variant Cover By: Yongjoon Cho
Future Avengers Connecting Variant Cover By: Sana Takeda
Price: $3.99
The origins of White Fox is revealed. YES! I LOVED this book! I have been loving the Agents of Atlas mini-series and the solo series of the individual members and this is no exception. I am a huge fan of mythology and folklore and Wong perfectly taps into that with this book using South Korean lore. We find out that Ami is a Kumiho (the Korean version of a Kitsune), and the last of her kind after she witnesses her mother being killed by a Samjoku (shape-shifter who turns into a 3-legged dog) which leaves her emotionally scarred. The way Wong subtly gives us this PTSD with Ami being unable to transform into a Kumiho without flashing back to that night. The back-up story was great as well and left me wanting more. The art is PERFECTION! Everything from the linework to the colors just makes this book stand out among others. Overall I loved this book and my only fault was that both stories deserved their own full book. ~ Jay @ComicBookTheate
MYSTERE #1
"Part 2 Of 5 Rumors"
Story By: Joe Brusha, Ralph Tedesco, Dave Franchini, & Ben Meares
Written By: Ben Meares
Art By: Sergio Arino
Colors By: Ceci De La Cruz
Letters By: Carlos M. Mangual
Cover By: Igor Victorino & Ivan Bunes
Variant Covers By: Martin Cocolo & Mohan Sivakami; Josh Burns; Harvey Tolibao & Ivan Nunes; And Leonardo Colapietro
Price: $3.99
"Part 2 Of 5 Rumors"
Story By: Joe Brusha, Ralph Tedesco, Dave Franchini, & Ben Meares
Written By: Ben Meares
Art By: Sergio Arino
Colors By: Ceci De La Cruz
Letters By: Carlos M. Mangual
Cover By: Igor Victorino & Ivan Bunes
Variant Covers By: Martin Cocolo & Mohan Sivakami; Josh Burns; Harvey Tolibao & Ivan Nunes; And Leonardo Colapietro
Price: $3.99
Mary is struggling with her decision to leave Mystere behind her after one of the men at the homeless shelter she works at shows up dead. Meares continues to make this supernatural story grounded and does this by making it more about the characters than the supernatural and I love that. Meares also does a great job utilizing the city of New Orleans as a character onto itself. Arino does an amazing job here with great attention to detail. Overall this is a great addition to the Mystere story and one everyone can get into. ~ Jay @ComicBookTheate
Verdict: 4 ¼ Stars
Find out where these books and more fall in the Phanatic Top 5 on this week's Comic Phanatic LIVE Monday, at 10:30 PM ET!
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