Moon Knight [2021] #21 - Marvel Comics

MOON KNIGHT No. 21, May 2023

Somewhat side-lining the titular character in favour of his vampire-turned-secretary Reese, Jed MacKay’s narrative for Issue Twenty-One of “Moon Knight” is initially a little slower-paced than some of its readers were probably expecting. Indeed, the twenty-page periodical’s plot is completely devoid of any action whatsoever for its opening half, as the audience are shown just how a principled blood-drinker likes to spend a night out with friends; “You’re going out dancing! Living life! And old Jake’s found you the hottest ticket in town!”

Happily however, that doesn’t mean that the comic’s start isn’t intriguing, as the Canadian author does a nice job in penning just how Marc Spector’s fanged confidant is coping with being an undead creature, and what life-style changes she has accepted so as to carry on ‘living’ as normal a life as possible. Considering just how violent her savage transition was, this development makes ‘Draculady’ even more admirable a cast member than before, especially when she ensures the less-experienced Soldier drinks up all his plasma before ‘hanging around humans’.

Furthermore, “Let’s Dance” provides Jake Lockley with some enjoyable spotlight as the taxi driver enthusiastically conveys his employee and her pals to their nocturnal destination. Humorous and witty, the moustache-wearing cabbie injects every panel in which he appears with plenty of energy, even when he’s just talking to one of his other personas as to where he’s stashed the Fist of Khonshu’s costume.

Ultimately though this publication lives or dies upon the success of Moon Knight’s battle against “a sinister pied piper [who] plays a deadly tune”, and despite being rather abruptly resolved, courtesy of Reese transforming into a cloud of mist and falling upon her attacker, there’s still enough fisticuffs on show to arguably please the majority of perusing bibliophiles. In fact, this book’s ending, with the vampire actually being gunned down by one of the deadly deejay’s shotgun-wielding minions, probably left most looking forward to a dramatic re-match.

Adding a distinctly disconcerting red gleam in the personal assistant’s eyes are artist Alessandro Cappuccio and colorist Rachelle Rosenberg, who together imbue even the most mundane, dialogue-driven scene, with lots of flashing lights and noise. Of particular note is the creative pair’s ability to have the loud music inside the disco literally pop off the page, and then replace it with the sound of shouts, screams and punches, as the dance floor descends in chaos.

Writer: Jed MacKay, Artist: Alessandro Cappuccio, and Color Artist: Rachelle Rosenberg

Terrorwar #7 - Image Comics

TERRORWAR No. 7, November 2023

Waiting until this comic’s very end before presenting its readers with any sort of noticeable action, Saladin Ahmed’s narrative for Issue Seven of “Terrorwar” is arguably something of a slog. Indeed, for those bibliophiles willing to wade through the cast’s consistent swearing and profanities, there’s still sadly not much storytelling to enjoy until Doctora Z casually allows Muhammad Cho’s team to waltz straight into Representative Ronali’s supposedly impregnable flying fortress in an attempt to sabotage Blue City’s power grid.

Before this cliff-hanger of a conclusion, all the American author pens is a strange row between the dishevelled contractors as to who is willing to sacrifice everything in order to save Humanity, and somewhat surprisingly, which of the Terrorfighters selfishly just want to return to their loved ones before civilisation's end. These arguments are debatably rather illogical considering that all of Cho’s comrades-in-arms now realise the psychic manifestations are actually helpless sentient lifeforms knowingly being turned into liquid fuel by the powers that be, and have seen first-hand the devastation the surviving creatures will cause in their desperate attempt to throw off their mass-murderer’s chains.

Furthermore, so much of Muhammad’s journey to Safehaven is made super-easy by Doctora Z’s sudden betrayal of Ronali, even though no mention has ever been made as to just why the planet’s greatest scientist has suddenly decided to switch sides. Admittedly, the green-haired inventor does unapologetically make mention of the “armoured, sealed, self-sustaining community” being built to protect the world’s children. But without the physicist inexplicably turning up out of the blue and repeatedly providing the slowly dwindling freelancers with top secret intelligence and conveniently superior technology, “the fancy part of town” would already have been destroyed with only the upper quadrant’s people presumably surviving the attack.

Adding another element of ‘hurriedness’ to this twenty-two-page periodical is Dave Acosta’s artwork, which whilst being perfectly proficient in places, appears rather rushed and ill-disciplined in others – such as during the journey to Safehaven inside Doctora Z’s limousine when everyone is shouting at one another. However, for those bibliophiles able to find the illustrator’s original pencils for this publication on social media, a lot of the man’s linework appears to have been sacrificed by inker Jay Leisten in order to either allow colorist Walter Pereyra to provide some garish hue to the proceedings, or simply to help the book hit its deadline.

Written by: Saladin Ahmed, Pencils by: Dave Acosta, Inks by: Jay Leisten, and Colors by: Walter Pereyra

Blade #6 - Marvel Comics

BLADE No. 6, February 2024

For those readers able to ‘stomach’ the titular character’s alliance with his arch-nemesis, Dracula, Bryan Hill’s penmanship throughout Issue Six of “Blade” was probably perfectly palatably. Indeed, the American author’s pitch that the undead Transylvanian nobleman would help Eric Brooks “unlock new powers of vampirism” arguably makes for a pretty engrossing experience, especially when the pair later spar with one another, and Gerry Conway’s Marvel Comics version” of Vlad the Impaler demonstrates just how much more his special abilities exceed those of the supposedly formidable Daywalker; “I’ve seen what I needed to see. And I know why you failed.”

Sadly though, some bibliophiles will surely struggle to shake-off the belief that the shades-wearing Dhampir would never ally himself with “his sworn enemy”, no matter what the reason, and this deeply disconcerting contrivance debatably permeates every scene within the twenty-page-periodical. Sure, some within this comic’s audience might claim that the plot points at just how desperate the Midnight Sons member has become to defeat the Adana. But others may well be disappointed by the Chicago-born writer’s decision to suddenly ‘up-gun’ the Sheriff of Vampire Nation with the power of Dracula himself, courtesy of Brook shockingly drinking his eternal foe’s blood.

In fact, this particular instalment of “Mother Of Evil” could cynically be seen as Hill rather lazily shortcutting “generations” of tutelage under Vlad in order for Eric to instantly “awaken what you’ve hidden inside of you” simply so the vampire-killer is apparently 'more in tune with his imminent Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) reboot.' Such lackadaisical ‘modernisation’ genuinely grates upon the senses, and smacks of the New York-based publisher's unhappiness at having to work within the long-established limits of Blade’s reliance upon man-made weapons to overcome his supernatural enemies.

However, what this book possibly lacks in convincing commotion, it does make up for with the prodigious pencilling of artist Lee Ferguson. The illustrator does a terrific job in imbuing both this comic’s two leads with plenty of restrained dynamism whilst they fight against blood zombies, the walking undead, vampire bats and each other. Furthermore, despite the rather emaciated, sombre appearance of Dracula, the figure moves throughout his stronghold in Chernobyl with all the regal haughtiness one would expect from a Fifteenth-century Wallachian prince.

The regular cover art to "BLADE" #6 by Elena Casagrande & Jordie Bellaire

Conan The Barbarian #5 - Titan Comics

CONAN THE BARBARIAN No. 5, December 2023

Somewhat intriguingly setting this adventure shortly after Conan’s “adventures on the high seas” with the now dead Belit, Jim Zub’s narrative for “The Heist” paints an enthralling picture of the sorrowful Cimmerian desperately trying to drown his great grief in the alcoholic drafts of Shadizar the Wicked. Indeed, arguably one of this comic’s hardest-hitting hooks is witnessing the heartbroken barbarian desperately agreeing to even the foolhardiest of thefts simply so he has enough coin to “return to drunken oblivion.”

Happily however, the Canadian author’s twenty-two-page plot doesn’t just dwell on the adventurer’s anguish at losing the Queen of the Black Coast and his soul-mate. But instead strives to capture the tense atmosphere generated by Robert E. Howard’s 1933 tale “The Tower of the Elephant" by depicting the thickly-muscled burglar attempting to infiltrate another of the heavily-guarded citadels stood deep within “Zamora's gleaming capital.” This stressful sequence is extremely well-written, with the Eisner Award-nominee penning a quite logical penetration of the basilica’s formidable defences, as well as some rather tongue-in-cheek exchanges between the robbers working alongside Conan - something which genuinely helps endear them to the publication’s audience.

Furthermore, the book projects an almost palpable passage of time as the quartet stealthily make their way down countless winding stairwells and past innumerable chambers packed full of devoted cultists. So tangible an atmosphere really helps sell the ever-present danger the Gloryhounds are in, and doubtless Greff’s painfully long attempt to disarm the traps protecting their highly-sought after prize will cause the odd reader to nervously look over their own shoulders for any approaching temple guards out of sympathy for the safe-cracker’s patient work; “Here, under lantern light with time running short, it pushes his abilities to their absolute limit.”

Ably aiding the story-telling within Issue Five of “Conan The Barbarian” is “the diabolical Doug Braithwaite”, whose pencils do a sterling job in portraying the squalor of Shadizar and the grotesque grimness of the Cimmerian’s route to the fortress’ Moratorium. In addition, “the master of visual sorcery” does an excellent job of showing just how merciless this current incarnation of the titular character is – a cold-blooded killer whose overwhelming unhappiness causes him to care not for the people he savagely slays with his sword.

The regular cover art of "CONAN THE BARBARIAN" #5 by Mike Deodato

Terrorwar #6 - Image Comics

TERRORWAR No. 6, September 2023

Described by “Image Comics” as “the strangest chapter yet in the sci-fi horror saga”, Saladin Ahmed’s script for Issue Six of “Terrorwar” probably came as a bitter disappointment to its audience in September 2023, as it mainly consists of just one long expletive laden discourse between the mysterious Doctora Z and Blue City’s sole-surviving freelance Terrorfighters. True, Muhammad Cho and his underpaid crew do momentarily battle a giant Pteranodon-shaped monstrosity whilst riding high aboard a flying luxurious limousine. But this action sequence is cut incredibly short thanks to a single, well-aimed shot at the creature.

Instead, this comic’s American author decides to painfully pad out his twenty-two-page plot with the off-screen deaths of Paulo’s entire squad, the total destruction of Central Command and more swear words than you’ll find at a hospital’s overbooked midwifery unit. Such a technique genuinely proves incredibly frustrating and arguably lazy, especially when Cho’s homicidal rivals were at the forefront of this book’s narrative until an edition or two ago. Indeed, such an almost casual offloading of the thieving, scheming government contractors strongly suggests that the creative team suddenly found themselves with far less time to tell their story than they originally thought – something which also ties in with the publisher's shock announcement that this title was now just going to be an eight-part mini-series.

Just as peculiar though is the unexpected release of Muhammad by the Terrors themselves. The “mind-bending monsters” have clearly established some sort of psychic rapport with humanity’s apparent last hope, as seen by the man’s physical pain when he later witnesses one of his colleagues blast a phantasm to pieces. Yet just why the multitude of manifestations initially withdraw their pink-hued tentacles from his brain is never explained, and instead his escape is simply used by the secondary cast as an excuse to remind the reader that “Paulo’s people are dead”.

Sadly, there debatably isn’t a great deal to celebrate with the look of this comic’s interior layouts either, courtesy of some inconsistent pencilling by Dave Acosta and disconcerting colour choices by Walter Pereyra. In fact, the scene set aboard Doctora Z’s ‘chariot’ so starkly contrasts with the visuals before it that many a reader may well initially believe it to have been crafted by a different artistic line-up.

Written by: Saladin Ahmed, Pencils by: Dave Acosta, Inks by: Jay Leisten, and Colors by: Walter Pereyra

Moon Knight [2021] #20 - Marvel Comics

MOON KNIGHT No. 20, April 2023

Featuring one of Speedball’s less formidable foes from the Late Eighties, it’s difficult not to imagine a fair share of this comic’s readers feeling rather disenchanted with Jed MacKay’s conclusion to Issue Twenty of “Moon Knight”. True, the Canadian author’s build-up is enjoyably intriguing as numerous informants from the titular character’s past start falling like dominoes during the course of a single, crimson-splattered night. Yet, this momentum is arguably soon lost once Marc Spector determines his opponents are just the badly brainwashed Harlequin Hit-Men; “8-Ball called you a couple of jokes. 8-Ball.”

Indeed, the Fist of Khonshu defeats Herb Hollister and his wife Sheila single-handedly without even breaking a sweat, before begrudgingly handing them over to Doctor Andrea Sterman and the appropriate authorities. This all-too abrupt ending is clearly penned to provide the Gemini Award-nominee’s mysteriously manipulative “Ghost In The Telephone” with some extra awe and murderous menace – presumably for a future narrative featuring them. However, it also disappointingly shuts down any meaningful sense of dramatic closure for this particular twenty-page-periodical, as the crescent crusader simply walks away despite the brainwashed assassins having cold-bloodedly gunned down, garrotted, and blown up several members of the Shadow Cabinet.

Luckily, Alessandro Cappuccio does provide some rather theatrical layouts for this publication, which readily draw any perusing bibliophile into Moon Knight’s desperate attempt to rescue his former ‘friends’. Of particular note is the Italian illustrator’s marvellous splash-page showing the route through Manhattan Island cab driver Jake Lockley mentally envisages whilst trying to determine who will be the Harlequin Hit-Men’s next victim. Many of these panels genuinely help drive home the increasing sense of helpless loss the ex-West Coast Avenger is feeling as the corpses mount up, and additionally imbues the search for survivors by Tigra and Hunter’s Moon with some vibrant pace.

Much more action-packed and debatably entertaining though, is this publication’s celebration of Black History Month, “Moon Debt” by Danny Lore and prodigiously energetic penciller Ray-Anthony Height. Featuring “the Sheriff of the Vampire Nation”, Blade, with one of Marc’s cowled predecessors from the Mid-Seventies, this ‘secondary short’ provides a thrillingly violent insight into the Egyptian Moon God’s eternal battle against fanged blood-drinkers who stalk “the innocents walking the night.”

Writer: Jed MacKay, Artist: Alessandro Cappuccio, and Color Artist: Rachelle Rosenberg

Ghost Rider/Wolverine: Weapons Of Vengeance Alpha #1 - Marvel Comics

GHOST RIDER/WOLVERINE: WEAPONS OF VENGEANCE ALPHA No. 1, October 2023

Packed full of spine-chilling supernatural shenanigans, and some truly disconcerting physical horror, most bibliophiles perusing Issue One of “Ghost Rider/Wolverine: Weapons Of Vengeance Alpha” probably agreed with its New York City-based publisher that its “hotshot writer” Benjamin Percy was indeed “a master at crafting hair-raising sagas for Marvel’s most hardcore anti-heroes.” In fact, those readers caught up with its narrative about “a demonic serial killer [who] is murdering innocent mutants” would be hard-pressed to find any faults with this thirty-one-page periodical.

To begin with, the American author decides to depict the titular characters’ “(never before seen!) first meeting” via a well-penned flashback, and in doing so transports this comic’s audience back to a classic era of the Uncanny X-Men, when Professor Charles Xavier was busy mentoring the likes of Colossus, Storm, Angel, Nightcrawler and Shadowcat. These scenes set “many years ago” genuinely tap into an ultra-nostalgic vein, and also help sell a significant plot twist when it at first appears that super-powered little Bram Straub will swiftly receive safety inside the School for Gifted Youngsters; “Nobody wants him… including the Orphanage he keeps returning to.”

Just as enthralling though is the terrifying creature which lurks within the poor boy’s soul and seemingly comes out whenever the youngster is disappointed or upset. Somehow able to readily defeat the most formidable of Logan’s team-mates within a matter of minutes, this giant, flame-headed entity readily grabs all the attention whenever it manifests itself – especially when his appearance results in the formation of a stomach-churning flesh column which consists of various hapless children’s twisted corpses.

Readily willing and able to assist Percy in this book’s storytelling is “acclaimed artist Geoff Shaw” of “Thanos” and “Guardians Of The Galaxy” fame. The illustrator does a first-rate job of making the ordinarily warm and welcoming X-Mansion as creepy as possible once tiny Straub crosses its threshold during an electrical storm. Whilst simultaneously prodigiously pencilling Johnny Blaze’s jaw-dropping attempt to break the record of jumping eighteen burning buses on a motorbike. In addition, the University of New Mexico graduate wonderfully captures both the fiery menace of the Ghost Rider and dangerous, quick-moving mannerisms of Wolverine, once the pair clash heads towards this publication’s end.

The regular cover of "GHOST RIDER/WOLVERINE: WEAPONS OF VENGEANCE ALPHA" #1 by Ryan Stegman