Gamma Flight #1 - Marvel Comics

GAMMA FLIGHT No. 1, August 2021

Enthusiastically described by writer Al Ewing as being a series which will both "explore some of the concepts and plant some of the seeds from Immortal Hulk in their own space”, as well as “tickle Hulk fans old and new.”, this twenty-two page periodical probably disappointed many of the Eisner Award-nominee’s fans upon its release. For whilst the British author’s script undoubtedly deals with Puck, Absorbing Man, Titania, Doc Sasquatch, Doctor Charlene McGowan “and a horribly changed Rick Jones” suddenly becoming “fugitives from every known authority”, the comic’s plot focuses far more upon the considerable cast’s social life as uncomfortable ‘roomies’ as opposed to depicting any significant pulse-pounding action.

True, this opening instalment to a five-part story co-penned by Crystal Frasier, certainly starts off well enough with Carl Creel and Leonard Samson being caught red-handed by some badly out-gunned soldiers whilst the super-strong duo are busy pillaging the decommissioned Shadow Base Remote Facility FNJ4 for essential supplies. But this bullet-riddled sequence is cut all-too short by the abrupt departure of Sasquatch to “somewhere in New Mexico” via his team’s cantankerous translocator, and the creative crew’s disappointing decision to skip depicting Absorbing Man’s subsequent minute alone with the military; “I need sixty-five seconds to recharge the capacitors, Carl --”

Instead, Ewing decides to concentrate upon how well Samson can give McGowan a shoulder massage, Mary MacPherran going down on one bended knee so as to propose to an already-married Creel, and the physically malformed Jones unsuccessfully trying to play a car racing video game using Del Frye’s fluorescent green hands. Such long-winded insights into Gamma Flight’s relationships with one another badly slows down the pacing of this publication, to the point where it isn’t until its final third that the ‘outlaws’ actually begin investigating news of a gamma-mutant attack in Austin, and even then the sense-shattering shenanigans only last seven panels before the normally violent Absorbing Man supposedly talks their huge opponent down into peacefully conversing with them...?

Equally as unimposing as this comic’s narrative are Lan Medina’s layouts, which are arguably so inconsistent that some Hulk-heads were probably fooled into initially thinking more than one artist was behind the book’s pencilling. The Filipino illustrator does a pretty proficient job when tasked to sketch the likes of an angry Titania crunching a hapless Police car or two. Yet, the aforementioned scenes involving ‘domestic bliss’ in the Creel household seemingly lack any real animation or dynamic life.

The regular cover art of "GAMMA FLIGHT" #1 by Leinil Francis Yu & Sunny Gho

The Edge #1 - Second Sight Publishing

THE EDGE No. 1, March 2021

Splitting its action into three distinctly discernible subdivisions, Marvin Wynn’s narrative for Issue One of “The Edge” certainly supplies it audience with a cavalcade of conflict, both physical and emotional. For whilst the super-sized thirty-two page periodical contains plenty of the brutal pulse-pounding batterings a bibliophile might expect from a publication “about super-humans who use a drug which gives them amazing powers”, it also seemingly touches upon the regrets held by the team’s commander, Mister Tartabull, when it comes to his past failings as their leader; “Somehow, our control over the experiment slipped away from us becoming something none of us even imagined. It’s something I’ve had to live with to this very day.”

These self-doubts immediately help create an extra element of vulnerability to the man’s latest mission to safely resolve a hostage situation in San Diego, as well as increase the tension generated by Interim as she stealthily infiltrates the dilapidated block of flats being utilised by a group of 'psycho terrorists'. Having previously failed in developing the somewhat homicidal Revenant into a ‘force for good’, it is clear that Tartabull is fallible, so there is always a chance that one (or more) of his current team of heroes might also prove unreliable when faced with a particular crisis. 

Similarly as intriguing is Wynn’s well-penned introduction of this comic’s large cast of characters. The author wastes little time by literally throwing the reader straight into the deep-end of the action with Interim’s aforementioned penetration of a multi-tenant building, and subsequently utilises the support the purple-clad, portal-manipulator enjoys from her squad-mates to bring each member’s unique skills to the fore.

Likewise, Mark Louie Vuycankiat does an excellent job with his pencils and inks of bringing this glimpse of the Freedomverse to sense-shattering life. The early, extremely violent death of Doctor Blas at the hands of a clearly ill-thinking Revenant sets a high standard for drama which continues throughout the entirety of the book, and such incidents as the artist’s attention to detail when Mystic saves Interim’s life from a gun-toting occultist, repeatedly help show just how deadly the world within which the protagonists inhabit, can be.

Writer/Creator: Marvin Wynn, and Pencils & Inks: Mark Louie Vuycankiat

Alien #4 - Marvel Comics

ALIEN No. 4, August 2021

Whilst there should be no doubting the enthralling entertainment this comic’s action-packed stroyline contains, Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s script for Issue Four of “Alien” still probably had a fair few within its audience shaking their heads at some of its supposed logic. Indeed, having seemingly survived being impregnated by a Facehugger in the past himself, Gabriel Cruz’s decision to kill his son for similarly falling victim to another fast-moving Stage 1 xenomorph appears extremely cold-hearted for a father who clearly loves his offspring with all his heart and soul; “I used to go into your room, sit on the floor and watch you sleep for a few minutes before I turned in… Very soon now, pal, we’re both gonna know that peace again.”

In addition, the somewhat irrational choice becomes even less persuasive when “Weyland-Yutani’s loyal security officer” subsequently changes his stance and agrees to take his son’s unconscious body back to Earth so his employer can decide what to do with him. If the ex-marine knows from first-hand experience that the Corporation have the medical knowledge to save Danny if he can get the young man into a Hypersleep Tube before his Chestburster fatally emerges, why isn’t that Cruz’s immediate response upon realising that his boy isn’t actually safely “holed up in the Staff Rez Wing, like Mitch was”..?

Fortunately, the rest of the “Eisner-nominated” writer’s narrative is debatably spot on, with the author’s handling of the perpetually-terrified company agent Hamilton proving particularly noteworthy. The gun-toting soldier has somehow managed to survive several alien encounters by the seat of his pants simply because he’s been ‘carried along’ by Gabriel’s significant fighting savvy, and actually appears destined to survive the ordeal when he reaches a seemingly deserted Docking Bay. But, Johnson then, in one of this ongoing title's most shocking moments so far, suddenly shows just why “in space no one can hear you scream.”

Similarly as well-penned is the reintroduction of Iris Humphries to the group, who potentially seems to actually care so much for her comatose boyfriend that she is actually willing to blow his father’s brains out when the military veteran attempts to permanently put his lad ‘out of his misery’. This friction conveys the couple through a number of close calls, and results in an enthralling exchange towards the end of the comic when the woman forces Cruz to promise not to kill his insensible son after he realises that “all the Alpha [alien] wants is Danny and the embryo he’s carrying.”

The regular cover art of "ALIEN" #4 by InHyuk Lee

Batman: The Adventures Continue #17 - DC Comics

BATMAN: THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE No. 17, December 2020

Throwing the utterly homicidal Joker together with the equally psychotic Scarface, this final instalment to the “Batman: The Adventures Continue” series of digital first comics definitely provides its audience with a fast-paced, thrill-a-minute journey through Gotham City’s underground rail network. In fact, apart from a brief visit to Harley Quinn’s shared apartment with Poison Ivy for a super-swift interrogation scene, the titular character is repeatedly portrayed simply kicking in as many doors as he can during a ferociously-fast investigation into both the location of some stolen CX explosions, as well as the Clown Prince of Crime’s diabolical plans for them; “I’ve had enough trouble tonight. And now Crazy’s with Insane. This could get a lot worse before it gets better.”

Intriguingly however, Alan Burnett and Paul Dini do add an extra element to their serious sleuthing narrative by depicting the Ventriloquist as literally being in two minds as to whether he wants to be partnered with his wooden puppet anymore. Such a noble hesitation by a reforming Arnold Wesker arguably creates some genuine sympathy for the ex-supervillain’s split-personality within the audience, especially when it is revealed the softly-spoken loner has risked his very life to aid the Dark Knight’s breakneck pursuit by leaving behind a few all-important clues as to Scarface’s secret whereabouts.

Equally as entertaining is the relationship between the Joker and his new smart-mouthed associate, which initially seems to unexpectedly be based upon a ‘healthy’ respect for the inanimate doll’s anti-social savvy. However, it soon becomes clear that the white-faced murderer was simply using his fellow felon to get his hands on a bomb, when he unflinchingly dispatches Wesker with a whiff of knock-out gas, and watches the figurine fall lifelessly upon some train tracks.

Enjoyably imbuing all this action with some considerable life and animation is Ty Templeton, who manages to generate oodles of compassion for poor lonely “Arnie” as the man desperately tries to enjoy his first Christmas going straight. Likewise, the Canadian artist does a great job pencilling the oft-times fraught interaction between this comic’s top two evil masterminds, with the panels showing Scarface threateningly pushing himself right into the Joker’s face so as to make a point doubtless providing the book’s audience with at least a few smiles.

Writers: Alan Burnett & Paul Dini, Artist: Ty Templeton, and Colorist Monica Kubina

Strange Academy #9 - Marvel Comics

STRANGE ACADEMY No. 9, May 2021

Pretty evenly splitting its focus between the disconcertingly dark exploits of Calvin Morse and Doyle Dormammu, with the infinitely more humorous tongue-in-cheek shenanigans of Emily Bright’s ultra-competitive mother, Skottie Young’s narrative for Issue Nine of “Strange Academy” certainly provided its readers with a pair of distinctly contrasting storylines. In fact, it’s difficult to imagine two more different sub-plots as Morse’s enchanted leather jacket throttles his foster father to death right in front of the astonished man’s understandably horrified wife, and Missus Bright entertainingly goes toe-to-toe with Loki during a parents race through the magical grounds of her daughter’s college; “Oh, I’m going to beat you with those dumb horns on your stupid tiara!”

Fortunately, both of these action-packed scenarios are extremely well-written, with Dormammu’s distinctly dark descent into the academy’s treasure room alongside an inquisitive Calvin arguably being ever so slightly the more impactive, courtesy of its longer-lasting influence upon the students’ future. The two boys’ battle against a gang of murderous Mindless Ones is enthrallingly intense, and simply goes to show that not all the staff under Doctor Voodoo’s leadership are particularly pleased with some of the magic-using apprentices under their charge.

In addition, despite Morse somehow managing to momentarily floor the “virtually unstoppable engines of destruction” with a formidable display of sorcerous super-powers, it seems pretty evident that the adolescents’ attackers have not forgiven Doyle’s Dad for erasing their minds and enslaving them down in the Dark Dimension. This resentment has clearly built up within the Dread One’s numerous minions to the point where they are now willing to kill those who they are supposedly ‘sworn to protect’, so simply being temporarily thwarted in that endeavour by one of their targets doesn’t look likely to satisfactorily resolve their ill intentions any time soon.

Much less deadly, though equally as exhausting, is Young’s whacky take on parents taking on the various obstacles found within Jericho Drumm’s mind-boggling obstacle course. Dynamically sketched by artist Humberto Ramos, the extended action-sequence clearly brings out the worst in Missus Bright’s sense of sportsmanship, but that doesn’t stop the American author imbuing it with a genuine sense of fun right up to the point where Emily’s parent purposely trips up Loki just before the finishing line in order for her to become the competition's overall winner.

The regular cover art of "STRANGE ACADEMY" #8 by Humberto Ramos & Edgar Delgado

Blowtorch #2 - Second Sight Publishing

BLOWTORCH No. 2, June 2021

Starting with a seriously insane punch-up inside a fast-falling helicopter, and concluding with a sense-shattering shoot-out between some of Avery Davis’ top operatives and a mechanical killing machine, there isn’t debatably much room for a bibliophile to breathe in Issue Two of “Blowtorch”. Fortunately however, that is far from a bad thing, with Paige Alfred and Alex De Gruchy’s collaborative penmanship crafting a highly engaging storyline concerning an assassin-turned-drug dealer quickly realising that his change of occupation doesn’t sit terribly well with his political masters; “I genuinely hoped this wouldn’t be necessary and you’d actually have a solution up your sleeve… But me handing Fitzgerald your head should go some way to fixing this mess.”

Admittedly, not every scene in this twenty-two page roller-coaster of a read is crammed full of high-octane shenanigans and ferocious fire-fights. But even the dialogue-heavy initial briefing by Richard Kinkaid’s boss as to C.H.E.S.S.’ latest mission is delivered in such a dramatic way, that it still provides plenty of excitement and intrigue. Indeed, one of this comic’s greatest assets is that it is clear straight from the pair’s opening exchange that Blowtorch and his team-mate Pinpoint don’t get along with one another all that well; especially when Davis puts the facially disfigured titular character in charge of abducting a highly rated professional assassin.

Heated exchanges and veiled threats aside however, the pair immediately realise they have a dangerous job to do, and their ability to work well together despite their differences of opinion leads to some of this book’s most memorable action sequences. Foremost of these set-pieces is arguably the image of a gun-toting James Washington literally dangling off one of Infrared’s robotic arms, whilst the android itself is clinging on to the side of a swooping helicopter. Albeit Pinpoint subsequently diving behind a variety of garden-based stone statues as large chunks of masonry are torn up into the air around him by a semi-automatic shotgun, probably comes a close second.

All of these marvellously visualised moments are wonderfully illustrated by Osvaldo Pestana Montpeller, whose gritty technical style of pencilling really suits the black and white colouring of this comic. In fact, the Cuban artist’s attention to detail whilst depicting the breakdown in relationship between middle man Gareth Davenport and Mexican-American former-Marine Michael Cabral is sublime, to the point where some in this publication’s audience can probably hear the older killer’s sigh of disappointment when he realises his only course of action following a semi-bungled hit-job is to shoot his cybernetically-enhanced employee dead in cold blood.

Authors: Alfred Paige & Alex De Gruchy, and Artist: Osvaldo Pestana Montpeller

Shang-Chi [2021] #1 - Marvel Comics

SHANG-CHI No. 1, July 2021

Reading like an instalment from the New York-based publisher’s beloved Seventies series “Marvel Team-Up”, Gene Luen Yang’s script for Issue One of “Shang-Chi Vs. The Marvel Universe” must surely have delighted both fans of the titular character, as well as those of “your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man” with its enthralling mixture of martial arts and web-throwing. Indeed, in many ways it’s a real shame that Peter Parker’s alter-ego is seemingly only destined to make an appearance in this particular publication, as his long-standing friendship with the Supreme Commander of the Five Weapons Society develops some intriguing friction once the wall-crawling super-hero realises his comrade-in-arms’ new allegiance and begins questioning whether “you still one of us?”

Of course, this nagging doubt as to Shang-Chi’s motivation for ‘confiscating’ the entire proceeds of a combined drugs/weapon ring for his own undisclosed ends doesn’t manifest itself until the conclusion of this twenty-page periodical. Before these reservations appear the duo are depicted as being as ‘thick as thieves’, and even briefly remind this comic’s audience, courtesy of some mid-action banter, that the Master of Kung Fu had once devised The Way Of The Spider fighting style for his colourfully-costumed fellow crime-fighter so as to ensure his “spider-sense will grow even stronger.”

Perhaps therefore this book’s only disappointment is the infuriating inclusion of Sister Dagger, who despite creating a few genuine ‘laugh out loud’ moments, increasingly starts to grind upon the senses with her persistent desire to slaughter everyone around her. In fact, in many ways Esme quite infuriatingly appears little more than a second-rate ‘knock-off’ version of “DC Comics” homicidal hero Damian Wayne, especially when she instantly decides to kill Spider-Man after he’s been unknowingly infected by the toxic properties of the Yeren root and has to be stopped from slitting the deformed vigilante’s throat by her older brother; "I've got a better plan! Grab his webbing!"

Happily however, this is only a minor quibble, and easily forgotten if not forgiven once the audience become immersed in Dike Ruan’s sumptuously-pencilled artwork. The Chinese illustrator does a fantastic job of imbuing every action-shot with some breath-taking speed and provides this book’s lead protagonists with all the acrobatic nuances a bibliophile would expect from two such physically dynamic athletes.

The regular cover art of "SHANG-CHI" #1 by Leinil Frances Yu & Sunny Gho