Conan The Barbarian #30 - Titan Comics

CONAN THE BARBARIAN No. 30, April 2026

Arguably dripping in plenty of exasperating plot armour, Jim Zub’s narrative for Issue Thirty of “Conan The Barbarian” will probably quickly frustrate many of its readers by having its central antagonist repeatedly put off his assassination attempt of the titular character because the cold-blooded killer has surprisingly taken an interest in the Cimmerian’s view of life.?! Sure, the Canadian writer attempts to assure his audience at this comic’s end, that the black-maned adventurer supposedly knew all about his would-be murderer’s presence since the oily cloaked outsider first ‘stuck to the shadows’ inside the trade city of Khoraja. But such omnipotence on behalf of Robert E. Howard’s character isn’t particularly convincing – especially when he’s busy either repeatedly fighting for his life on the streets, or making love to a woman throughout the night.

Indeed, this book seems to be rather irritatingly happy just depicting The Son of the Tooth repeatedly passing up a series of ideal opportunities to slay his target and rid the Hyborian Age of “the man who slew Thulsa Doom” just because this “deadly new foe” can’t believe the drunken oaf before him so badly vexes the Cult of the Black Stone. As the author points out himself such behaviour is entirely unprofessional on the part of one who has successfully slaughtered so many in the past. Yet this amateurish conduct is precisely what all bibliophiles are supposed to believe in order for an otherwise rather mundane tale about a local petty thief’s bruised ego populating a twenty-two-page periodical; “So he will take what he has learned and wait a spell longer.”

Far more believable is this publication’s conclusion as it shows Conan confronting his hunter down a dark alleyway sword in hand. This face-to-face conflict is far more plausible than anything else in the comic, even if Zub does fruitlessly attempt to fool any onlookers that the Cimmerian waited so long to tackle his adversary because he was curious if the man meant to “simply walk away.”

What does work well for “Trail Warrior” though are the layouts of Doug Braithwaite. The British artist somehow manages to make even his well-pencilled panels showing the Son of the Tooth’s scratchy searches amongst his prey’s deserted campfires rather intriguing, as well as clearly depicting just how busy the market area in Khoraja is. Furthermore, when the future king of Aquilonia does finally make his stand, his defiance is entirely palpable, and surely caused many a fan to quickly ensure that they had this ongoing title’s next instalment pre-ordered at their neighbourhood bookstore.

The regular cover art of "CONAN THE BARBARIAN" #30 by Ivan Gil

Nightwing #123 - DC Comics

NIGHTWING No. 123, April 2025

Despite Issue One Hundred and Twenty Three of “Nightwing” not containing many of the fanciful, acrobatic assaults fans of Dick Grayson’s alter-ego are most likely used to, Dan Watters’ script for “Dropping Like Flies” should still have kept the majority of its readers absolutely hooked upon the titular character’s “plan to save Blüdhaven’s streets from a bloody war.” Indeed, the Teen Titan’s claustrophobic encroachment of the Flyboiz new underground lair provides plenty of pulse-pounding moments, even when the former Boy Wonder is simply rifling through some long-forgotten, heavily eradiated caskets; “I think the city secretly put them here. Under ten feet of concrete so they wouldn’t soak into the earth.”

Naturally, this sequence does ultimately lead to the original Robin facing off against a heavily mutated monster which is both physically unimpressed by the super-hero’s feisty kick to its neck area, as well as subsequently joined by a disconcerting horde of equally formidable-looking creatures. But the actual build-up to this terrifying confrontation is incredibly well-penned by the English author, and would arguably be no less enthralling if the central protagonist didn’t encounter anything more deadly than the surprisingly cute Bugdog – “One of Dr. Probozzcizz’z early experimentzz.”

Similarly as scintillating as these subterranean spectacles though is the palpable energy generated by Spheric Solutions overt squeezing of Mayor Grayson-Lin in view of the politician’s decreasing popularity with her municipal’s voters. Obviously the company’s insanely advanced technology appears to be the simple answer to the mayor's problems. However, considering that Dick’s sister somewhat suspects that Olivia Pearce is as untrustworthy as they come, it’s still entirely plausible that Melinda will take some disagreeable steps in order to “protect those in my care”; especially with an election just around the corner.

Lastly, artist Dexter Soy’s contribution to this twenty-two page periodical’s success cannot be overstated either. Along with Colorist Veronica Gandini, the illustrator provides a suitably dank and dire bunker for Nightwing to explore. In addition, the almost comatose, vegetating Flyboiz which litter the hideout are very well envisaged, and add a great deal to the almost profound stench of death which haunts all of the unholy facility’s nightmarish scenes.

The regular cover art of "NIGHTWING" #123 by Dexter Soy with Veronica Gandini

DC K.O. Knightfight #4 - DC Comics

DC K.O. KNIGHTFIGHT No. 4, April 2026

Whilst many a bibliophile may well get the impression from this comic’s rather lengthy foreword that writer Joshua Williamson was a bit worried the mini-series’ long-term readers might now be struggling as to what its overall narrative actually was, the American author doesn’t appear to dwell too much on the problem when it comes to Issue Four of “DC K.O. Knightfight” itself. Indeed, this particular twenty-two page periodical seems to spend no time at all in explaining just how Damian Wayne became Gotham City’s future Batman, and instead simply has its most pre-eminent members of the Bat-Family unconvincingly accept that they live in an alternate reality which will cease to exist when the all-powerful Heart of Apokolips decides to end it.

To make matters even more confusing though – especially for those fans who have somehow managed to stick with this spin-off title, the California-born writer also appears to have suddenly changed its goal posts by penning that the sentient machine disconcertingly now wants Bruce Wayne to return to its “deadly tournament” and become its victorious King Omega. Sure, the device still wants to punish the Caped Crusader for supposedly ‘cheating’ in its deadly contest. But its original plan now appears to have been side-lined in order to give the Dark Knight a greater purpose.

In addition, it may well strike some within this book’s audience that a clearly aged, costumed crime-fighter is given plenty of time with which to train both his brain and brawn before having to fight his son ‘to the death’. Everyone appears fairly causal about the World’s Greatest Detective shockingly coming back from the dead and being told that they’re not real, and this lack of haste badly affects Batman’s final bout of fisticuffs against Damian once it starts. Furthermore, the story doesn’t even end, as having shown Wayne admitting he can’t defeat a much younger, seasoned ‘keeper of the cowl’, this publication abruptly informs any onlookers to purchase another instalment of the “Crisis of Absolute Proportions” crossover event to find out what happens next.!?!

Disappointingly even artist Dan Mora appears utterly befuddled by this comic’s script, and appears desperate to finish the project as quickly as possible by utilising negative space for his backgrounds as much as he can. In fact, this sense of disinterest debatably even extends to the aforementioned highly-anticipated conclusion, where the Costa Rican illustrator desperately attempts to use lots of movement lines to cover over his rather basic-looking, poorly-detailed combatants.

The regular cover art of "DC K.O. KNIGHTFIGHT" #4 by Dan Mora

Deadly Hands Of K'un-Lun #2 - Marvel Comics

DEADLY HANDS OF K'UN-LUN No. 2, May 2026

Whilst there can surely be no doubt that Issue Two of “Deadly Hands Of K’un-Lun” is absolutely packed full of martial arts mayhem, Yifan Jiang’s script for the twenty-page periodical probably still serves as a good example of an author failing to provide his audience with any actual meaningful substance behind all the flash, bangs and wallops. In fact, despite many a fan inevitably enjoying the Inhuman Karnak giving General Davos a welcome beating at this comic’s very end, there isn’t debatably much else inside the book which will truly hook any perusing bibliophiles

By far this publication’s biggest problem is that the action takes place so fast that the narrative itself appears to repeatedly fail to inform any onlookers as to how or why the adrenalin-fuelled punch-ups are actually taking place – such as when Pei-Ya apparently decides to use Uncle Fooh’s Randall Gate 'off-screen' to transport herself and Ami to the City Outskirts of K’un-Lun. Admittedly, “one of the writers of the hit video game Marvel Rivals” does try to steer his ship by utilising the comic’s foreword to update any customers as to what supposedly occurred within this mini-series’ opening instalment. But such context is soon thrown aside once the dethroned ruler of K’un-Lun unsuccessfully attempts to assassinate her successor; “Did you really think it’d be that easy, Yu-Ti Sparrow..?”

Furthermore, it is not made particularly clear just why Lin Feng’s search for the last of Chiyou’s Soul Orbs has led his forces to New York, nor how they first encountered both Elektra (Daredevil) and the White Tiger. Instead, everyone is simply expected to hop aboard the violent bandwagon careening through Hell’s Kitchen, and just enjoy all the combatants exchanging super-charged attacks like it was an early episode of the 1989 Japanese animated series “Dragon Ball Z”.

Luckily, far more engrossing than Jiang’s penmanship is Paco Medina and Alessandro Miracolo’s artwork, which manages to convincingly convey the sheer physical violence needed for this somewhat senseless storyline. Of particular note has to be the sheer suddenness of General Davos’ aforementioned defeat at the hands of Karnak, and Lin Feng’s palpable shock at discovering that the next kingdom he needs to conquer is none other than that owned by the mighty Inhumans.

Writer: Yifan Jiang, and Artists: Paco Medina & Alessandro Miracolo

Nightwing #122 - DC Comics

NIGHTWING No. 122, March 2025

There’s certainly a lot to enjoy when it comes to Dan Watters’ writing on Issue One Hundred And Twenty Two of “Nightwing”, including his well-penned flashback to a time when the titular character was just a youngster and learning the ropes alongside the World’s Greatest Detective. However, perhaps the biggest ‘hook’ to “Little Circus Boy” doesn’t lie with its nostalgic trip back into the past with the original Caped Crusaders, but in the present as Dick Grayson’s Bludhaven collapses about his ears into a full-on crime war despite the young man’s desperate protestations that Spheric Solutions are actually the ones behind all the bombs and damage.

Indeed, the surprise on the Teen Titan’s face when he discovers that a direct attack upon the Melville Police Precinct was unexpectedly perpetrated by a green-skinned flyboi, and not some nefarious agent of Olivia Pearce’s company is perfectly palpable. This shock is genuinely upsetting for both super-hero and reader alike, and makes the subsequent weight shown sitting upon the former acrobat’s shoulders as he gloomily surveys his conurbation from the abandoned Titan Tower all the more impactive and foreboding; “I thought I could do things different, Babs. The violence stalled for a bit. But… The bloodshed continues. Maybe everything’s just going to keep getting worse.”

Of course, the highlight of this twenty-two-page comic is its aforementioned return to the days when Grayson was the Boy Wonder, and together with Batman he tackled Colombina and the Cirque Du Sin. This skirmish is perhaps understandably brief and inconclusive, yet still manages to take the audience back to an arguably simpler (and perhaps better) time when the Dark Knight did far more punching than thinking, and Robin was perhaps something of an adolescent liability.

Also at the very top of his game is Dexter Soy, who along with colorist Veronica Gandini absolutely nails the grimy, old school feel of Dick’s world working alongside the Gotham City's protector. Possibly therefore this book’s sole disappointment comes in just how physically alike Commissioner Sawyer and Pearce appear, as for a long while it may seem to some bibliophiles that Nightwing is accusing Olivia straight to her face atop a high-rise building, as opposed to him merely discussing his theories with the head of Bludhaven’s police force.

The regular cover art of "NIGHTWING" #122 by Dexter Soy with Veronica Gandini

Deadly Hands Of K'un-Lun #1 - Marvel Comics

DEADLY HANDS OF K'UN-LUN No. 1, April 2026

Announced in November 2025 by “Marvel Worldwide” as a five-issue comic book limited series from “one of the creative minds behind the hit video game, Marvel Rivals”, this twenty-five page periodical probably appeared to be a bit of a mess when it finally landed in the hands of its customers some months later. Indeed, the publication’s opening, which contains numerous narrative word boxes in addition to all manner of fantastical fighters talking is genuinely hard to persevere through, as it is often hard to establish just which piece of dialogue (or narration) needs to be viewed next; “Their champion has fallen. The Chamber of Knowledge is ready for you.”

Furthermore, writer Yifan Jiang appears to almost ‘double-down’ on this multiple-voice technique by having the title’s hero, Lin Lie, not only talk to his fellow costumed crime-fighter White Fox whilst they’re battling some giant octopus at a local Seaside Aquarium. But also Pei, the former Iron Fist, via some covert communications network and directly to the readers too. Such a technique debatably makes it really difficult for any perusing bibliophile to focus upon any action taking place, and may well cause a fair few re-reads as well – especially when Ami Han is inexplicably replaced by a giant three-tailed animal which simply barrels the aforementioned eight-tentacled sea monster back into the ocean.

Unfortunately this ‘battle’ to understand just what is actually taking place even continues into this comic’s final act, when the author suddenly seems to throw the likes of Elektra (Daredevil) and White Tiger into the mix upon a Hell’s Kitchen rooftop. Supposedly also drawn to Neon Dragon’s “dark energy”, these street-level super-heroes add even more word-heavy speech balloons to the proceedings, and seem to have little purpose except to distract any onlooker from the momentous confrontation between the current Iron Fist and one of his evil brother’s top minions.

What does work absolute wonders though are Paco Medina’s layouts, which are crammed full of adrenalin-fuelled action and martial art manoeuvres. In fact, the illustrator is clearly at the very top of their game with this book’s pencilling, as they manage to repeatedly provide all the cast members with plenty of animated life – as well as the odd death, such as in the case of the brave yet doomed Fat Cobra.

The regular cover art of "DEADLY HANDS OF K'UN-LUN" #1 by Leinil Francis Yu & Federico Blee

Star Wars: Jedi Knights #3 - Marvel Comics

STAR WARS: JEDI KNIGHTS No. 3, July 2025

It’s probably fair to say that penning a twenty-page periodical which simply consists of endless splash pages featuring Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi Wan Kenobi battling “giant monsters” may well have looked good on paper. But in reality the idea arguably falls flat fairly quickly as there’s little room for the narrator to provide much detail as to why Senator Bail Organa has crash-landed “on a planet full of skyscraper-sized monsters”, or just how Count Dooku’s former apprentice is able to locate the politician’s CR70 Corvette on foot whilst in the middle of a truly ginormous jungle.

Instead, Marc Guggenheim rather disappointingly expects his audience to simply take him at his word that these events have somehow occurred, and move on with the American author’s next preposterous proposition that a massive 120 meter-long significantly damaged spaceship can still be flown off of a planet’s surface just because it has a powerful Jedi Master on board. Now admittedly, Ginn is clearly “a student of the living Force”. But if he could single-handedly raise an enormous spaceship up into the air using his abilities, many a bibliophile will surely be wondering why he doesn’t at least attempt to do something similar to the significantly smaller royal starship of Queen Padmé Amidala when it is stranded on Tatooine..?

Perhaps this comic’s biggest weakness though is that it has very little plot with which to keep its audience hooked. Poor Kenobi is flattened at its very start so spends the majority of the storyline unconscious, and all his teacher needs to do is lift Organa’s vessel back into the sky for the tale to end. That is it. Such a lack-lustre narrative arguably smacks of a writer trying to do something new with an edition of a long-running title, whose loyal fans will most likely return to buy the next instalment regardless of whether the experiment succeeded or not. However, this is only Issue Three of “Star Wars: Jedi Knights” and therefore needs to do a lot more to keep people picking it up off of the spinner racks.

Sadly even Madibek Musabekov’s artwork doesn’t manage to maintain the eye throughout this book, with the Central Asian illustrator’s repeated sketches of Planet WG4587’s lush plant-life and monstrous Kaijura frustratingly all rolling into one. Indeed, one of the earliest problems with this comic is its opening where its debatably not clear exactly which Jedi is using their light-sabre to slow down their descent by burying it deep within the flesh of a towering alien lifeform; “I was rendered unconscious upon making a somewhat violent landing on the planet’s surface…”

The regular cover art of "STAR WARS: JEDI KNIGHTS" #3 by Rahzzah