The Amazing Spider-Man [2022] #5 - Marvel Comics

THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN No. 5, September 2022

Ending “the first arc of this historic new volume” of “The Amazing Spider-Man”, this twenty-page periodical arguably still proved something of a good jumping on issue for those Wall-crawling fans unsure of Zeb Wells’ pedigree writing “one of the most popular and iconic comic book superheroes of all time.” Indeed, courtesy of its narrative exclusively focusing upon the fall-out of Web-head single-handedly destroying the Rose’s criminal organisation, this particular edition actually makes quite an enjoyable stand-a-lone instalment of the ongoing series.

For openers, the American author rather enchantingly uses the green-skinned villain Vegas Thirteen as an intriguing, and somewhat tongue-in-cheek, bookend, who not only helps illustrate just how disastrously far Richard Fisk has fallen from power. But also suggests at the end that perhaps the Schemer’s sole-surviving henchman may still be in a position to win back some of his boss’ lost turf before he’s been released from police custody; “Digger found us! We got nothing that can stop him! We’re losing everything!”

Similarly as proficiently penned is arguably the “Robot Chicken” director’s depiction of the forimably-powerful criminal Maggia, with a victorious Tombstone still being unwilling to risk the wrath of his surviving peers if they ever get wind of his ‘close relationship’ with Peter Parker’s alter-ego. In fact, despite this sadly somewhat short-lived meeting of the marvel Universe's mafia almost being suffocated out amidst some much more action-packed sequences, the ‘sword of Damocles’ it creates above Alonzo Lincoln’s head remains in play for the rest of the comic - especially towards its end when Spider-man surprisingly appears at the albino’s home and threatens to reveal all to the likes of Madame Masque.

Definitely providing the brutally battered titular character with some disturbingly visible facial bruising is artist John Romita Junior, who manages to help sell a good deal of this book’s tension with just a look in each character’s eyes. Furthermore, the Eisner Award-winner does a very good job in illustrating both Digger’s pent-up anger and frustration, as well as the hoodlum’s concern that the Rose will “hunt me to the ends of the Earth when he gets out”, even when it’s done via the “Gamma-irritated being” humorously tossing a half-eaten ice cream cone out of a car before his employer sees him.

Writer: Zeb Wells, Penciler: John Romita JR., and Inker: Scott Hanna

Batman: The Adventures Continue Season Three #6 - DC Comics

BATMAN: THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE SEASON THREE No. 6, August 2023

Walking a somewhat slow, sedentary line with this twenty-page periodical’s plot, Alan Burnett and Paul Dini’s penmanship for Issue Six of “Batman: The Adventures Continue Season Three” probably struck its audience as being more in keeping with one of the animated television series’ films rather than its more fast-paced single episodes. But whilst the majority of the comic’s narrative focuses upon Bruce Wayne uncomfortably enduring a holiday on his own Caribbean retreat and then dining with the love of his life, Talia al Ghul, the writers still manage to inject some enjoyable action-packed moments into their script.

Indeed, the billionaire businessman’s night-time decision to windsurf near a suspiciously shady-looking family yacht absolutely smacks of something Ian Fleming would include in one of his James Bond novels, especially once the “wealthy American playboy” encounters some pistol-firing goons on water bikes and shocking gets swallowed up by a set of giant underwater claws; “Obviously that skirmish with the gunmen wasn’t intended to harm me, but to force me farther out to sea…”

Furthermore, this opening instalment to “The Offer” occasionally throws in a few pulse-pounding panels featuring a seemingly outnumbered Selina Kyle desperately attempting to shake-off an army of faceless pursuers who want her dead. Catwoman’s headlong dash through the sewers of Gotham City and all-too brief encounter with Detective Bullock on a rain-soaked road repeatedly reminds the reader that despite crime supposedly being “at an all-time low” in Batman’s metropolis, there’s clearly something sinister occurring which will doubtless draw the Dark Knight back to his usual stomping ground.

Quite possibly enjoying the opportunity to pencil and colour a decidedly restless Wayne for the vast majority of this publication are Ty Templeton and Monica Kubina, who between them do an excellent job of contrasting the brightly lit eye candy of this book’s tropical resort with that of the grim and decidedly much more deadly home of the Penguin, Black Mask and Esther Valestra. Furthermore, the emaciated appearance of the Demon's Head is decidedly disconcerting, with the leader of the League of Assassins looking suitably elderly and frail for someone who can no longer physically survive being submerged within a life-enhancing Lazarus Pit.

The regular cover of "BATMAN: THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE SEASON THREE" #6 by Evan "Doc" Shaner

The Batman And Scooby-Doo Mysteries #9 - DC Comics

THE BATMAN AND SCOOBY-DOO MYSTERIES No. 9, August 2023

Despite being a direct sequel to the classic November 1969 aired television episode of “Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!” entitled “Bedlam In The Big Top”, debatably the vast majority of this comic’s readers were probably soon wishing for the Ghost Clown to entrance them so they could easily forget Matthew Cody’s disinteresting script and bewildering reinterpretation of Mystery Incorporated’s characters. Furthermore, the twenty-page periodical’s portrayal of Batman is far from convincing, even for a book seemingly based upon the crime-fighter’s more tongue-in-cheek “Filmation” incarnation, as it depicts the World’s Greatest Detective becoming utterly fixated upon the Joker being behind a group of mind-controlled citizens attacking “some silly old award ceremony honouring a bunch of teenagers”, simply because the unsuccessful raid’s mastermind dressed them up as clowns.

These anomalies increasingly become frustrating, and lead to some truly implausible moments where the likes of Daphne Blake and Batgirl have to physically defeat Harry the Hypnotist and his ridiculous minions, whilst the ordinarily dependable Fred Jones unexpectedly cowers behind a chair and the Dark Knight inexplicably speeds off in the Batmobile for sources of Smilex Gas rather than “comb this crime scene for clues.” To make matters worse though the Missouri-born writer’s script also suddenly has Crystal Cove’s Madam Mayor and Sheriff Stone arrest “these meddling kids” for causing all of the town’s problems without a shred of evidence or arguably basic logic and throws them all straight in front of a clearly unimpartial courtroom so they can be later tossed “into the deepest, darkest cell you can find in Arkham.”

Similarly as disconcerting is debatably Scott Jeralds’ artwork, which appears to repeatedly encapsulate a handful of different drawing styles all within the same panel. This bizarre-looking technique, coupled with the illustrator persistently reusing identical drawings from one frame to another, has caused the likes of William Martin of “Batman-news.com” to believe that “there is a strong chance that most of this comic is traced” by the “Marvel Studios” animator. Whatever the explanation actually is though, it is probably safe to say that the contrast between Commissioner Gordon looking exactly as he does in the 1992 “Batman: The Animated Series” working alongside a slender-looking Batman, who is much more reminiscent of his 1977 Adam West-voiced cartoon portrayal, must have badly jarred with even the most devoted of Batfan bibliophiles.

Written by: Matthew Cody, Drawn by: Scott Jeralds and Colored by: Carrie Strachan

Thor [2020] #34 - Marvel Comics

THOR No. 34, July 2023

It’s hard to believe that many readers of Torunn Gronbekk’s convoluted script for Issue Thirty-Four of “Thor” will actually have much of a clue as to just what is going on within this twenty-page periodical. Indeed, the Norwegian author’s seemingly merciless obsession to cram as many Asgardian gods, kings, werewolves, warriors and super-villains as she can messily muster within this single comic may well have given the odd bibliophile a debilitating Marvel-flavoured migraine; “We need to get out of here! It’s… weird out there… like, bonkers weird.”

Foremost of these utterly puzzling bemusements is probably the unlikely meeting of this publication’s titular character with Doctor Doom, Thanos, Laussa Odinsdottir, Hela and Bor Burison in Nifflehein. “Blood Of The Fathers” clearly plays it fast and loose when it comes to converging timelines and personalities bumping into one another out of chronological order. But how the monarch of Latveria is able to calmly step across reality from his Earth-bound kingdom into Bor’s Vault just as the Mad Titan is about to stab an infant Goddess of Death is never explained, nor is the Thunder God’s ability to intercede on Victor’s behalf with Mjolnir when the armoured monarch is savagely wounded by “one of the last sons of A'Lars.”

Almost as disconcerting is debatably this publication’s dialogue, which disappointingly may remind some bibliophiles of something penned in a fanzine. The second born daughter of All-Mother Freyja seems to particularly struggle with her words, nervously uttering “Eh, Hullo!” when as an adult she meets Thor at the lowest level of the universe and then later fangirling “Whaaaat?! Wolf-sword… Awesome!” over a possessed blade when she effortlessly hacks apart the supposedly great supernatural fighter Varg. 

Even this comic’s illustrations appear somewhat confusing with Juan Gedeon’s rudimentary pencils later being replaced by the much more stylish sketchings of Sergio Davila. The Buenos Aires-born professional’s panels disappointingly lack any real sense of movement, apart from when the Avenger is thwacking Thanos in the face with his hammer, and this lethargy sadly undermines any sense of tension during the “all-out war” which occurs. However, as soon as the sequential artist from Barcelona takes over the entire ensemble appear to jump into life, with a much younger Odinson clobbering a pack of unruly, blue-skinned trolls in an enthralling flashback sequence.

The regular cover art of "THOR" #34 by Nic Klein

Batman: The Adventures Continue Season Three #5 - DC Comics

BATMAN: THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE SEASON THREE No. 5, July 2023

Considering the sheer number of anti-heroes permeating this conclusion to Alan Burnett and Paul Dini’s “Crack-Up” narrative, many a bibliophile might find the twenty-page-periodical’s plot a little too rushed. Indeed, the entirety of Amanda Waller’s Suicide Squad are surprisingly easily taken out twice during this particular publication, despite the Wall’s team comprising of some significantly powerful combatants such as Deadshot, Katana, Captain Boomerang and King Shark; “Said he was gonna make his own gang of mindless mercs -- The J-Team!”

This somewhat frustratingly fast-paced storytelling sadly also surrounds the tale’s central character, Straightman, who despite being on the run from the authorities is all-too quickly located by Batman and Robin roasting a pair of rats for his supper down one of Gotham City’s lesser-frequented alleyways. The Joker’s former bodyguard is still depicted as having the strength of several normal men. But that doesn’t stop him somewhat shockingly being taken straight down by the Boy Wonder and a trusty bat-a-rang within moments of the Dynamic Duo trundling up to his location in the Batmobile.

Perhaps therefore this comic’s most impressive moment comes when General Joker launches a full-on frontal assault against the military hospital where Professor Hugo Strange is attempting to save Captain Finley’s “almost unsalvageable” mind. This set-piece initially appears to contain all the elements necessary for some truly memorable pulse-pounding panels, especially once the Clown Prince of Crime has the brain-washed Suicide Squad capture a formidably sized tank for him to use as a command vehicle. However, once again the action is cut frustratingly short by the Bat Family, in order to save plenty of sheet space for a ‘sickeningly sweet’ series of heavily narrated epilogues.

Of course, some within the audience may well argue that this publication is probably worth its cover price just for Ty Templeton’s dynamic pencilling and Monica Kubina’s eye-catching colours. The artists do a cracking job of imbuing the Joker with all the deadly zaniness a reader would expect of Jerry Robinson’s co-creation, as well as include the odd Easter egg within their artwork - not least of which is a spine-chilling Funtime Freddy look-a-like sat on a display shelf in the deserted Pizza Clown Family Restaurant at the start of the book.

The regular cover of "BATMAN: THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE SEASON THREE" #5 by Scott Godlewski

The Batman And Scooby-Doo Mysteries #8 - DC Comics

THE BATMAN AND SCOOBY-DOO MYSTERIES No. 8, July 2023

Arguably containing some of the corniest and contrived subplots imaginable, even for a narrative partially based upon one of Hanna-Barbera’s most successful animated franchises, many a bibliophile may well have been put off by Sholly Fisch’s storyline for Issue Eight of “The Batman And Scooby-Doo Mysteries". In fact, the comic’s opening featuring an utterly disagreeable Dark Knight and his second-rate Mystery Incorporated rip-offs is genuinely unappealing, particularly when it’s made crystal clear by the Caped Crusader that he no longer values the original “meddling kids” anymore; “No! This is our case, and we’ll handle it. Have a safe trip home.”

But for those readers who manage to clamber over this hurtful hurdle and dig deeper into the twenty-page periodical, the desire to discover just what on earth is going on in Gotham City to cause such a notable change in its cowled vigilante actually becomes enjoyably palpable.

Foremost of these ‘hooks’ is debatably just how unconvincing the thieving Bat Spirit is which is behind all the book’s supposedly spooky shenanigans. It seems reasonably clear straight from the start that ‘Batman’s most fearsome foe’ is an utter fraud, notably once the giant flying mammal starts waxing lyrical about “ridding the world of these pretender bats” and subsequently steals “Rube Bluth’s historic baseball bat!” However, the revelation that it’s actually “one of the greatest and deadliest assassins in the DC Universe” comes as a complete, jaw-droppingly genuine surprise, as does the cold-hearted criminal’s main mission to mercilessly murder Fred, Shaggy, Daphne, Velma and Scooby Doo if given half the chance.

Similarly as surreal are the American author’s Wraith Wranglers, who bear such a striking resemblance to the real Mystery Machine’s crew, that it’s difficult to take any of the “paranormal investigators who recently came to Gotham” seriously in any shape or form. Erich Owen’s pencils admittedly imbue the quintet with a modicum of interest, courtesy of some different hairstyles, clothing and skin colour swaps. Yet, it is the burning question as to just why Batman has teamed-up with the implausible party to fight the metropolis’ supernatural menace which remains at the forefront of the audience’s mind throughout, with Duke, Sensei, Specs, Bongo and Ranger’s origin never being explained until the publication’s very end.

Written by: Sholly Fisch, Drawn and Colored by: Erich Owen

Ultimate Invasion #1 - Marvel Comics

ULTIMATE INVASION No. 1, August 2023

Apparently penned “in the bold tradition of the Ultimate Comics line,” Jonathan Hickman’s “new vision of the Marvel Universe” certainly should have caught the imagination of its readers with its pulse-pounding opening and the sensational gunplay which it entails. In fact, the four-person team’s outrageously upfront attempt to simply walk into the heavily fortified Damage Control Remote Prison 42 and brazenly wipe out its hapless inhabitants is wonderfully written, especially as the South Carolina-born author uses mercenary replacement Jackson to ask all the questions which are doubtless occurring to the audience as the murderous action ensues.

Perhaps somewhat disappointingly however, this enthralling narrative slows down quite considerably once Dominic Green, Mischa Slope and Randall West remove their masks at the behest of their one-billion-dollar prize. The Maker has always arguably been a bit of a dialogue-driven super-villain, even before the terrorist’s Earth-1610 was destroyed when the Multiverse perished. Yet in this oversized forty-page-periodical, the “Human Mutate altered by the N-Zone” simply doesn’t stop waxing lyrical about his grand scheme, even towards the end of the book when he faces the combined might of the Illuminati; “How can you stop me when you know neither where I’m going nor what I’m going to do.?”

Frustratingly, the 'real' Reed Richards isn’t shy of ratcheting up the word count either, most notably when he briefs the rest of the planet’s disconcertingly impotent “covert think-tank” as to what his devious interdimensional duplicate has been up to since escaping custody. The Fantastic Four founder’s summary of the criminal’s various thefts from Wakanda, New Arctilan, the Sanctum Sanctorum and the ruins of Atlantis is probably this publication’s biggest missed opportunity as Hickman simply has Mister Fantastic gloss over these cataclysmic events with a few well-populated text balloons, rather than providing the book’s bibliophiles with some much needed frantic fighting and high-octane battle sequences.

Ultimately therefore, the success of this comic rests upon the shoulders of Bryan Hitch, whose layouts, especially during the aforementioned jail break, are top notch. Indeed, perhaps the biggest motivation for purchasing this publication lies in its behind-the-scenes article featuring the British artist’s raw pencils, which provide a terrific insight into just how much detail the illustrator crams into each and every one of his prodigious panels.

Writer: Jonathan Hickman, Penciler: Bryan Hitch, and Inker: Andrew Currie