THANOS #1 hits your local comic book store this week, and Matt Sardo, the founder of Monkeys Fighting Robots takes a stroll through the pages of the issue and reflects on the reading material in the aftermath of AVENGERS: ENDGAME.
Listen to the podcast below:
About THANOS #1 of 6: THANOS IS DEAD! Executed by the deadliest assassin in the galaxy…his daughter, Gamora. But before their relationship came to a bloody end, how did it begin? Find out in this all-new miniseries by Tini Howard (MARVEL KNIGHTS 20TH and AGE OF CONAN: BELIT) and Ariel Olivetti (DEATH OF THE INHUMANS)!
Writer – Tini Howard
Artist – Ariel Olivetti
Color Artist – Antonio Fabela
Letterer – Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist – Jeff Dekal
Did you read THANOS #1 this week, what did you think? Comment below with your thoughts.
About the Monkeys Fighting Robots Podcast
Never heard of Matt Sardo? For starters, he made the Kessel Run in less than 11 parsecs. Prior to that, he gave Doc Brown the idea for the flux capacitor and led the Resistance to victory over SkyNet – all while sipping a finely crafted IPA. As a radio host, he’s interviewed celebrities, athletes and everyone in between. He’s covered everything from the Super Bowl to Comic-Con.
The Trickster has been a bit of a background character for a long time. While the Flash sees him as a threat, many readers see him as a discount Joker. In this storyline, however, he’s grown into his own being. As all of Central City is under his happiness mind control, Trickster prepares for his greatest trick. He takes revenge on the brutal Warden Wolfe and even gains the upper hand on the Flash. Barry teams up with Commander Cold to try and beat the colorful Rogue, but even then James Jesse defeated him. Trickster ended the last issue with his darkest trick: cutting off the Flash’s legs. How can the fastest man alive save the city without his legs?!
**Some Spoilers Below**
Story:
While Central City is distracted by their happiness, The Trickster orders the Rogues to rob every bank. While they get to work, James begins recording a video confession from Warden Wolfe about him erasing his files. In the holding area, Flash tries to get a grasp around his missing legs. Commander Cold, still under Trickster’s happiness mind control, deduces that all of his tricks are tied to the Sage Force. He then suggests they use their minds to break through the control. Cold is able to use his anger to break through the happiness and Flash uses his happiness to see through his trick of losing his legs. With the tricks undone, the pair get to work to stop the Trickster.
It’s nice to have a storyline that isn’t tied to a bigger story from time to time. While the Sage Force is involved, this story as a whole can be read without any real connection to the rest of the series. The finale here proved that perfectly. With little regard to the Force Quest storyline, we get a finale with great action and character moments. The best comes when Flash sees through his Leg trick. As he mentioned throughout the arc, he’s been carrying a lot recently. With his acceptance, Barry had regained his hope and happiness. It was a nice change from what he had been, and I can’t wait for the next present-day arc.
Art:
While I did compliment Kolins’ style last issue for fitting the dark turn of the Trickster, I’m still not a huge fan of it. Some parts stand out, such as Trickster attempting to murder his parents, but most of the comic look silly. A prime example of this was Flash using Cold’s tech, where he had these random blue disks covering his body. The only tech we’ve seen Cold use for the safe force was his glasses, which Barry has. So what were the disks for? We never get an answer. I will say that the colorwork is well done, with bright colors complimenting the style. This art might be some readers’ cup of tea, but it’s certainly not this one’s.
Conclusion:
Despite my gripes with the art, this is still a great conclusion to an excellent Flash arc. There are great action and character moments, as well as pay off for arcs that have been building for a while. We’ll need to wait for a while to see the ramifications in the present, but this issue sends off this arc on the highest note.
Criminal #4 by Ed Brubaker, Sean Phillips and Jacob Phillips returns to a ‘done in one’ single issue format with an excellent character study on re-occurring lowlife Ricky Lawless.
Criminal#4 Written by: Ed Brubaker Art by: Sean Phillips Colors by: Jacob Phillips
Story
Criminal #4, like the first issue, tells one single story between its covers. And like that excellent debut, the focus on character over crime makes it a standout. This tale is all about Ricky Lawless. Ricky is having a rough few days. He has been up for days, binging on speed given to him as payment for stealing cars. He is also looking to plan a robbery…or is he? And why is he calling his ex-girlfriend?
Brubaker uses first-person narration to get us into Ricky’s drug-addled brain and it works beautifully. Writing drug trips and druggy narration can easily fall into cliche and stereotype, but Brubaker avoids that by being subtle and by how well he knows how to write Ricky as a character by now. It’s also that love for the character that makes us care for him, despite what a piece of shit he usually is.
Not that there is no plot at all, as there are a few twists and turns that keep the narrative flowing, not to mention the usual easter eggs and call-backs for longterm Criminal fans.
Art
Sean Phillips and Jacob Phillips are in the top tier of comic art teams. The synergy and synchronicity the line work and colors have are unparalleled. Sean can capture emotion on faces like no one else, he is master at ‘reaction shots’. Jacob continues to experiment more and more with colors every issue; the use of full-color backgrounds in this chapter being a great example.
There is some fun lettering work too, especially with the occasional old-school word balloon that pops up frequently (helping to reminds us this is a comic book that loves being a comic book).
Conclusion
This series continues to be outstanding. If you’re not pulling this book weekly, then you are the criminal.
The Arkham Knight ramps-up the crusade against Batman in Detective Comics #1002. After a showdown in the park, the Knight manages to get his hands on someone very close to Bruce, attempting to turn a member of the Bat Family against him.
The Writing
Of course, the big questions are the Arkham Knight’s identity, and why he wants to dispose of Batman. While we don’t get the answers to those questions, there’s plenty of intrigue to be had in Detective Comics #1002.
The knights’ arrows are made of the same material as Batman’s armor, enabling them to pierce his suit. Plus, when one member of Bruce’s circle learns Arkham Knight’s identity, their exchange suggests the two are familiar. Tomasi does an excellent job of building tension throughout the book, clearly implying the Arkham Knight is someone well-known to Bruce, thus promising some great conflict in future issues.
Speaking of tension, the storytelling in Detective Comics #1002 has a great sense of dynamism. We build to multiple standoffs, but never lose momentum after one resolves. Instead, the tension lingers, adding additional layers to the story.
What makes the Arkham Knight a great antagonist is that the character is a physical embodiment of questions that have haunted Batman’s legacy for decades. Is what he does moral? Is his war on crime doing more harm than good? Readers can form an opinion, but it’s difficult to form an objective impression.
The Artwork
Bradley Walker provides some incredibly vibrant, dynamic pencil work in Detective Comics #1002. The character designs feel a bit cartoonish compared to the grittier, illustrated looks we’ve seen on recent Bat titles. However, the poised manner with which Walker composes panels makes it feel just as substantive.
The action is well-paced throughout, but it’s in the book’s first half where we can really appreciate the choreographed look. Andrew Hennessy provides the inks, which mesh well with Walker’s art style.
Nathan Fairbairn is on color duty again, offering an unusually-light palette for a Batman title. It’s an unconventional look, but it works well alongside the lines.
Final Thoughts
Detective Comics #1002 deepens an intriguing story, with quality artwork to bring the words to life. Great stuff.
It’s hard to follow up on the successful sci-fi story that was Image Comics’ DESCENDER series. But Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen are moving forward with a fantastic sequel. ASCENDER, set 10 years after the original series’ events, reveals a world where technology has been all but extinguished by the Harvesters. Now the supreme wizard known as Mother commands the civilizations throughout the former United Galactic Council. She proclaims liberation, but are her subjects really free?
Story
The story places its initial focus on Mother and inhabitants of the planet Knossos. After arriving in her dragonlike transport, which doubles as a spaceship to compensate for the lack of technology, Mother asks to see the Knossosian’s prisoner of war.
Though the captive has since died, Mother shows off her powerful magical abilities by bringing him back to life for the purpose of interrogation. One can almost feel the Mother’s horrific breath as it emanates from her mouth, infusing the corpse with life once again.
Mother’s interrogation focuses on the man’s service in the USG military and whether he knows about a supposed magic wielder protecting what’s left of it. A sense of intrigue builds as we learn of this unknown being who may hold the power to topple Mother’s forces.
The story shifts its setting to the planet Sampson where we meet Mila, the daughter of Andy from DESCENDER. Mila and her father live in seclusion to avoid confrontation with Mother and her forces. The young girl is aware of the ever-present danger, but implores her father to let them experience human society less them remain hermits forever.
Mila yearns for the freedom to interact with the world as she sees fit. But with Mother running the show, will she be able to find it?
Art
Dustin Nguyen’s breathtaking artwork for the cover and inner story brings life to Lemiere’s narrative. His penciling combines light sketch marks to add layers of texture to each character. And the colors help readers distinguish the transitioning environments, such as the dull grays on the icy Knossos and the bright hues of the lush Sampson.
Steve Wands’ lettering is particularly helpful in allowing readers to grasp the story’s themes. He uses a robot-like font for the winged servants of Mother, showing how they function just like the machines she so despises. But the scribbled style of Mila’s internal dialogue is even more effective, fostering a sense of imagination and childlike wonder in the reader. It looks as if these sentences were taken straight from her diary.
Conclusion
ASCENDER #1 is the thrilling sequel opener fans of DESCENDER have been waiting for. By flipping the script from technology to magic, the storytellers are finding a way to unpack their surprising similarities.
Do you think this story will live up to the fame of DESCENDER? Let us know in the comments below!
Timothy Hunter has had a lot on his mind lately. His journey through The Dreaming, while increasing his understanding of the magical realms, kept him away from home for a long time. But upon returning Timothy learned of Ellie’s disappearance, and the only person who can help him is Ms. Rose, his magical guide whose motives are quite questionable.
Story
Kat Howard is on a mission to make Timothy as confused as possible in this issue. And it makes for that much more of an exciting story. Upon his return to London, the poor boy has put his search for the Books of Magic on pause in order to search for Ellie. Fortunately, Rose agrees to assist Timothy in his search, but her shady relationship to his recently deceased teacher leaves him questioning her every move.
Howard’s Timothy comes with all the qualms one would expect from a teenager. Shifting realities, a teacher’s confusing instructions, and less time to see your friend — all the core aspects of a student’s high school experience. They may be exaggerated to fantastical proportions, but it’s clear young readers will resonate with Timothy’s journey.
The duo’s quest to find Ellie inadvertently sends them to Faerie, a mysterious land saturated with magic. They’ll have to find a way out of the realm and get back on track less they lose her forever.
Art
BOOKS OF MAGIC #7’s cover features the classic pastel art of Kai Carpenter. The illustration depicts Timothy and Rose in the midst of a forest in Faerie, complete with watchful eyes to emphasize the dangerous nature of the realm.
The issue’s inner story features fantastic artwork from Tom Fowler, Brian Churilla, Jordan Boyd, and Todd Klein. Fowler’s illustrations of Faerie’s environment captures the magic that suffuses it, and Churilla’s inks accentuate their details more so. Boyd uses earthy colors in the creatures of Faerie to highlight their dependence on the magical land. In addition, Klein employs cursive lettering for the Faerie inhabitants to help readers imagine Timothy’s journey is taking place within a child’s storybook.
Conclusion
Issue #7 dives deep into Timothy’s connections, both in regard to Rose and the land of Faerie itself. Readers will eagerly anticipate the reveal of these answers in the next issue.
What do you think is Timothy’s connection to Faerie? Let us know in the comments below!
Tom King and company has baited readers since September of 2018 with the clues and misdirection that fill the pages of Heroes in Crisis. Who had committed these heinous acts of murder, and why?
With the eighth of nine books that make up this story hitting shelves today, those questions have (most likely) been answered. A confession has been given, and its ramifications will be felt throughout the entire DC Universe.
** Major Spoilers Below **
Story
You’ve seen all the clues. You’ve heard the testimony and eavesdropped on the secret confessions of the World’s Greatest Super Heroes. Now, with the killer revealed, it’s time to find out why. What could have driven a hero to the brink, to turn a savior into a murderer? Rifts will form between old allies, and the trinity of Wonder Woman, Superman and Batman will have their leadership challenged and will question their own judgment. Sanctuary has become something they never imagined…and it’s still potentially carrying on without them!
Poor Wally West. Pushed aside as the prime Flash in The Flash: Rebirth in 2009. Erased from memory in the New 52 reboot. Forgotten of in a post-Rebirth world, including by his fellow Titans and wife. Also, his children were also wiped from existence, and he briefly died from running too much. It’s no wonder that he was in need of some serious superhero therapy.
Now, as revealed in the latest pages of Heroes in Crisis, Wally’s emotions and curiosity have gotten the better of him. Because of such, As a result, he has been revealed as the culprit of the killings at the Sanctuary.
Writing
This issue is all about the confession of Wally West, and it feels like it is one for Tom King as well. King has sprinkled clues throughout the previous issues of the series, and uses the entirety of this issue to divulge the who, how, and why.
King’s best work is in character studies. Just look at his takes on The Vision and Mister Miracle. Where Heroes in Crisis shines is in the confessionals. King takes a deep dive into the tortured and conflicted minds of the lesser known and unheard of DC Universe heroes. Those moments of tragedy and emotion are much more compelling than the murder mystery. Furthermore, though this book finally sheds light on the mystery, it’s Wally’s inner turmoil, and Tom King’s dialogue, that drives the story.
Perhaps, a focus on Wally West would have better suited this series, much like King’s work on Vision and Mister Miracle. A Flash who feels he doesn’t belong in this timeline, who is dealing with the emotional strife of living in a world where he is forgotten by his friends, his wife, and where his children have never existed.
Art
Mitch Gerads takes over the artwork for the majority of this issue of Heroes in Crisis. Gerads showcases some major talent in each panel of this issue. As Wally speeds through, cleaning up his mess, Gerads evokes the hurriedness of the situation through chaotic bursts of speed and lightning. And readers are sure to feel just as charged to flip through the pages to the end.
What Gerads does best in this book is evoke the rage and despair that Wally West endures. His facial expressions and his posture make the character come to life on the page. The penciled scratches etched on Flash’s face and costume suggests a worn and battered hero. One who has reached a breaking point.
Conclusion
With the big answers revealed, it will be very interesting to see how Heroes in Crisis concludes, and how the revelations of this issue will affect the entire DC continuity from here on out. Perhaps The Flash will undo everything he has done with time travel, as Flashs’ tend to do. Regardless, the strongest aspects of this series have been the character studies. It’s the look at the flawed people under the masks, as opposed to the murder mystery, that sell the story.
Are you surprised at who the killer is in Heroes in Crisis? How do you think the series will conclude? Let us know in the comments!
Coming this summer, some of Marvel’s mightiest heroes will come face-to-face with villains they have yet to contend with in ‘Acts of Evil’.
Ms. Marvel, who will take on Super Skrull, Venom (Lady Hellbender) and Punisher, who will be tabbed against Brood Queen, will all celebrate their respective annual issues in pinning them against the unexpected.
“You know what everyone says is worse than the devil? The devil you don’t know,” said Kathleen Wisneski. “For ‘Acts of Evil’, Marvel is pitting our heroes against villains they’ll never see coming, and we’ve lined up creative teams with fresh takes on these characters to make sure our fans are just as blindsided.”
The creative team for Ms. Marvel Annual #1: Ms. Marvel vs. Super Skrull will be Magdalene Visaggio and Jon Lim, while Karla Pacheco and Adam Gorham will helm Punisher Annual #1: Punisher vs. Brood Queen and Venom Annual #1: Venom vs. Lady Hellbender will be spearheaded by both Ryan Cady and Simone di Meo.
The ‘Acts of Evil’ series, in sizing up Marvel’s heroes against new villains, will launch with these three in July and continue in August and September. Keep an eye out for more reveals as we cruise through the summer.
Click HERE for the official release from Marvel, including a look at all the covers.
What do you think, what epic Marvel matchup would you like to see? Let us know in the comments section below.
The original series originated in 2002, out of the pages of X-Force, which was also a Giant-Size issue, which brought together a group of mutant celebrities that were all camera-friendly and media savvy. The issue will introduce a new threat for the group to fight and will also introduce a brand new U-Go Girl. UGG was part of the original team that also consisted of Doop, Guy Smith, Anarchist, Veenus Dee Milo, Spike and Henrietta Hunter.
Giant-Sized X-Statix #1 is set for release in July. Keep an eye out for a release date as summer draws closer.
Click HERE for for the official press release from Marvel.
What do you think, does the world need more Mutants? Are you excited about the revival of this fan-favorite mutant squad? Let us know in the comments section below.
In practice, the loa are powerful spirits who command respect and service in humans. The titular character in Punk Mambo #1, the first chapter in the new five-part series from Valiant, offers them neither of these.
Punk Mambo uses her powers for profit on the streets of New Orleans. But, when one of the loa bonded to her is kidnapped, she heads off to track down the culprit.
The Writing
Cullen Bunn weaves a fun, fantastic tale in Punk Mambo #1. Readers will pick up on some similarities to characters like John Constantine, only with a less self-serious tone. The series is a supernatural detective story, but it leans heavily on black comedy with a lively, madcap zeal. Beneath the humor, though, are the bones of a solid story.
Punk Mambo (real name Victoria Greaves-Trott) appeared in several Valiant titles in recent years, but new readers will have no problem picking up what the character is about. We know she’s snide, cynical, and much older than she appears. She also has some pretty incredible Voodoo-inspired powers, which she employs in a mercenary fashion. We get all the information we need, while avoiding a prologue-style info-dump.
Punk Mambo #1 functions as an excellent Act One for the larger story. It introduces the character, and also opens the door to a larger narrative, suggesting there may be some price to pay for her flippant attitude toward the powers she wields.
The Artwork
Adam Gorham provides some excellent artwork for Punk Mambo #1. He employs a variety of close-cropped and wider images, giving us variety while remaining visually cohesive. His character designs are appealing, opting for a lot of heavier, shadowy lines, which are complemented by vibrant color work.
Gorham uses detail very selectively. He often allows backgrounds to fade out, focusing attention on the characters without detracting from the visual effect. However, the details that are present feel very deliberate, creating some eye-catching images throughout.
Final Thoughts
Punk Mambo #1 is a great start to the new series, providing an entertaining story and alluring artwork. Highly recommended.
