Before we get to the reviews, please read this important note from the editor of IGN Comics, Joshua Yehl.
Hello friends,
Since before I was hired by IGN four years ago, IGN Comics has published dozens of comic book reviews every week. We've weighed in on everything from the big events at Marvel and DC to exciting indie projects, utilizing a variety of reviewer voices who helped readers decide what to put on their pull lists. I am proud of all the work that we have done and the role we've played in the larger comics community, which is why it's bittersweet to announce that IGN Comics will be bringing our current comic review format to an end.
Moving forward, we'll be reviewing a handful of comics each week, selected based on what our audience likes to read and what intriguing books we want to spotlight. In addition, we'll be running more analytical pieces that explore ongoing themes, artistic styles, and character arcs. The big advantage here is that we are now free to analyze a whole story arc or an entire comic run as opposed to just a single issue, all in order to help you, the reader, better find the comics you want to buy for your bookshelf.
I personally want to thank all of the reviewers who have contributed to IGN Comics over the years. In particular, Jesse Schedeen has written over 5,000 reviews during his time writing for the site, which is a truly superheroic feat. I also want to thank everyone in the IGN Comics community who have come each week to check out our reviews and share their thoughts. I read all of your comments and have always appreciated your honesty and enthusiasm, even when you're telling me how dead wrong I am about how great Doop is.
Marvel and DC love to do relaunches, so we thought we'd give it a whirl. We'll be keeping an eye on your feedback and will continue to mold our comics coverage to be the kind of awesome content you love to read.
Best,
Joshua Yehl, Editor of IGN Comics
Written by Dan Jurgens | Drawn by Will Conrad
It’s amazing that Action Comics keeps playing up the consequences of Booster Gold’s time travel decisions and yet feels completely inconsequential. That’s why it doesn’t seem meaningful when Booster actually does something selfless for the Man of Steel, because it’s hard to believe that he’s really going to pay a price for it. The dialogue is also very stilted in this issue, and it makes Booster and Superman sound out of character. On the plus side, Will Conrad’s art is an immediate upgrade for this arc, and just what the book needed. That said, I’m not sure if the return to Krypton was meant to be as gruesome as it plays out on the page. Superman has his answer about Mr. Oz, but that mystery feels a lot less urgent after this tale is finished. Now we’ll just have to see if Mr. Oz is going to become a more permanent part of the book. -Blair
Final Score:
Written by Hope Larson | Drawn by Sami Basri
Penguin and his son return in an unsatisfying story about Barbara fighting the cold. Ethan Cobblepot overstayed his welcome in his initial introductory story arc. I was underwhelmed by his return, but I enjoyed the self-analysis Barbara has after her encounter with Cobblepot. Sami Basri’s pencils are solid throughout the issue, and brings a unique perspective to Barbara’s eidetic-memories. The plot is weak, but Hope Larson’s examination of Batgirl’s connection to Burnside and further exploration of her eidetic-memory makes for an entertaining read. -Kat
Final Score:
Written by James Tynion IV | Drawn by Alvaro Martinez
The best thing that can be said about this issue is that Alvaro Martinez is clearly ready for the big league comic books. His renditions of the extended Batman family are terrific, and he really did the best he could with an issue filled with talking heads. It's a good opportunity to let Martinez draw characters like Batgirl, Nightwing and Red Hood who rarely appear in this book, but the issue’s script is a little too talky for my taste. We’re told over and over again why Batman had a problem with Batwoman’s actions in the previous arc, and it all ends with another lengthy analysis about why this is so important to Bruce. Too much telling, and not enough showing. The opening flashback with Bruce and Kate was far more effective than everything that came after. This issue takes its time getting us to the spoiler from Batwoman #1 last year, and it wasn’t worth the ride. -Blair
Final Score:
Written by Steve Orlando & Gerard Way | Drawn by Dale Eaglesham w/ Nick Derington
The "Milk Wars" crossover comes full circle as the Doom Patrol and Justice League join forces to take down RetCon once and for all. Those two disparate flavors don't go quite as well together as they did in the first JLA/Doom Patrol Special. Too much of this issue unfolds like a standard superhero slug-fest. It's only later on that the emphasis shifts back to the bizarre plot twists and self-aware moments that have made the crossover so entertaining. Part of the problem seems to be the choice of Dale Eaglesham as lead artist. Eaglesham's powerful, detailed figures are great for traditional superhero storytelling, but his art lacks that crucial quirk factor. Only when Nick Derington steps in for the climax do the story and art feel truly aligned. Still, the latter half of this issue packs an emotional punch, enough to prove that there are worthwhile stories to be told in uniting these two halves of the DCU. -Jesse
Final Score:
Written by Joshua Williamson | Drawn by Carlos D'Anda
This series often tests whether it's possible to cram too many speedsters into one book. In this case, I can't help but feel that the notion of Barry having his speed stolen by Gorilla Grodd would carry more weight if he didn't have three different speedster partners ready and waiting to pick up the slack. Not to mention that Barry's refusal to accept help in this issue feels like a forced attempt to hold the character back and limit the personal growth he's been experiencing of late. On the plus side, Joshua Williamson is making the most of the elder Wally West's renewed presence in this series. This issue includes a terrific sequence where Wally calls on his memories of Central City to save time-frozen civilians. Carlos D'Anda mostly proves himself to be a capable fill-in for Carmine Di Giandomenico, though his bulkier character designs tend to make all characters, even the younger Wally, appear similar in age and stature. Were this series to narrow its focus to the core Barry/Wally dynamic, it would really be something. Hopefully that's exactly what will happen with "Flash War." -Jesse
Final Score:
Written by Robert Venditti | Drawn by Ethan Van Sciver
You know, with fewer double page splashes and less internal bureaucracy, the General Zod story could have ended with this issue. But instead, we’ll have to wait another month for the actual Zod vs. Green Lanterns battle. If the only reason that the Guardians are around again is to make them seem ineffectual and pointless while the Earth Lanterns go rogue to get the job done... then why even bring back the Guardians at all? This run started out by taking the Corps to new places with innovative partnerships, and now it’s in a hurry to get back to the way things have always been. There are some fun touches in the issue, like Hal’s personality and cheesy pronouncements overwriting Kyle Rayner’s regular personality. Ethan Van Sciver’s art is solid, if not as spectacular as it usually is. But if there was ever an issue that simply treaded water for twenty pages, this is it. -Blair
Final Score:
Written by Tim Seeley | Drawn by Stephen Molnar
Imaginary Fiends has a lot of the qualities that made me a fan of Tim Seeley’s early work over a decade ago. In some ways, it even feels like it’s breaking new ground. Most of this issue is devoted to a fight between two “imaginary” creatures who hate and love each other, but they have only a minimal amount of influence on the real world. The deceptively named Polly Peachpit is still a monster, but there are actually a few moments where she's sympathetically on the ropes against a much bigger monster. The rest of the issue takes on a very Twin Peaks vibe with an extended conversation underwater and a direct look at the fiend behind the multiple abductions. Melba’s plot still feels disconnected from the one that her FBI partner is investigating, but the ongoing mayhem is entertaining. -Blair
Final Score:
Written by Dan Abnett | Drawn by Lan Medina
It’s a pleasure to see Lan Medina on his own book again, even if it’s just a limited series. Mera has also been deserving of her own solo book, but this story is going to need a little bit more urgency to make the case for a Mera ongoing series. Dan Abnett’s decision to express Mera’s feelings through third person captions creates a bit of distance between her and the reader. But this is the exact time that we need to be connecting with Mera’s conflict and her choices. Instead, Mera comes off as a remote figure, even though the pages are beautifully drawn and the flashback sequences are very enticing. I really want this book to succeed, and yet it’s not quite on the level that it should be. It feels like a B-story for a character who belongs on the A-list. Even great artwork can’t change that. -Blair
Final Score:
Written by Marv Wolfman | Drawn by Pop Mhan
Marv Wolfman’s previous Raven series focused on Raven creating connections with her family and school friends. Raven: Daughter of Darkness #2 is at its best when focusing on these newfound bonds and Raven’s deeper understanding of her empathy. Ironically, Raven’s relationship with her father is the weaker aspect of this issue. I hope to see both of Raven’s lives weave together better in the future. Pop Mhan’s pencils and Lovern Kindzierski’s colors bring a good tone to the issue, balancing the light and darkness in Raven’s life, but Mhan’s pencils don’t fully embrace the emotional moments in Wolfman’s script. The characters’ proportions are small, and it’s hard to feel connected to them because of this. Raven: Daughter of the Darkness has potential, but Wolfman needs to develop the villains as well as he has Raven’s other supporting cast members. -Kat
Final Score:
Written by Rob Williams | Drawn by Eduardo Pansica
This series has felt rather aimless of late, but this latest arc is helping to put things back on track. It certainly doesn't hurt that Eduardo Pansica gives the book a visual boost in this issue. Pansica's tightly rendered characters stand out, as does the generally foreboding tone he, inker Julio Ferreira and colorist Adriano Lucas create. This plays like a horror story as much as anything, which seems appropriate for a tale about a former ally returning from the dead with vengeance on her mind. Yes, the idea of Waller losing control of Belle Reve to an enemy she underestimated feels a bit played out at this point, but at least the resurrected Hack makes for a compelling, sympathetic villain. -Jesse
Final Score:
Written by Jeff Lemire | Drawn by Ivan Reis
"The New Age of DC Heroes was among my more anticipated comic book projects for 2018, but this new line has done nothing to live up to that promise in its first couple months. Instead of comics that introduce bold new characters and ideas into the DCU, we're getting a bunch of books that seem content to remix familiar archetypes and take a 'style over substance' approach to storytelling. The hope was that The Terrifics could at least break that cycle by introducing a new team comprised of old favorites. Unfortunately, the slow start in this first issue prevents the series from building much momentum out of the gate." -Jesse
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Final Score:
Written by James Robinson | Drawn by Stephen Segovia
Wonder Woman #41 continues the longwinded story arc with Darkseid and his daughter at the forefront. The issue’s strongest beats are the smaller moments between Steve and Diana as they reconnect after long missions. Stephen Segovia on pencils has a similar tone to previous artist, Emanuela Lupacchino, and having the same colorist allows for a smooth transition between pencillers. The artwork for the issue is solid. I especially enjoyed the new character design for Jason. Wonder Woman #41 has a few good character moments, but not enough to warrant Darkseid’s stay as the series’ villain. -Kat
Final Score:
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