Weekly Comic Reviews 7/17


Hey all. Welcome to another edition of UTF’S Weekly Comic Reviews, I’m your Godzilla-loving host, Daniel Alvarez. There’s plenty of diverse titles with the most notable being Dynamite’s relaunch of Red Sonja. Let’s begin.

Aphrodite IX #3

The art by Stjepan Sejic is once again spectacular.  His visualizations bring to life this post-apocalyptic world that’s simply full of frightful terrors and glorious wonders.  From the inclusion of suits featuring mechanized armor to dragons the talent is asked to bring in a plethora of styles but somehow manages to make it all work as the script demands.  There were maybe one or two panels where I felt that the facial expressions were a tad bit underdeveloped but overall I have very little complaints about the body of work on display.

For the full review, click here.

4.5/5

Artifacts #29

Phil Smith steps in for this release as the author does a wonderful job filling in this bit of history.  If people didn’t already know, in this shared universe when you die everyone goes to Hell, it doesn’t matter if you were a good person or a bad one we all just end up there.  So following his death way back in Witchblade #78, our hero has been left adrift in his own madness and the scribe perfectly captures that emotion as he emulates the core mechanics of the series to great success.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Elephantmen #50

For the 50th issue, Elephantmen #50 takes a break from the current plot and offers a refreshing, singular issue that highlights the many areas of Elephantmen that just works, celebrating the series so far. In short, I’m very happy with Elephantmen #50. Whilst it doesn’t highlight much of the current plot, it’s a great issue for regular readers and new readers alike.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Prophet #37

Prophet #37 is an unusual issue. It’s a one-shot that’s well written and crafted, yet it ties back into the larger, crazy plot of Prophet. Sometimes that’s a bit above my head, but it hasn’t stopped me enjoying it. Overall, I really like Prophet #37, although it’s difficult to say why. For a singular issue it offers satisfying value, despite some of its other flaws and faults.

For the full review, click here.

3.5/5

Revival #12

All in all, this isn’t a bad issue. It’s certainly not groundbreaking, nor the best the series can offer, but focusing on the main cast and keeping character development in focus is never a bad thing for a small-town setting such as Revival.

For the full review, click here.

3/5

BLOOD BROTHERS #1

Blood Brothers offers a slightly above average first issue with some beautiful artwork. Readers interested in a tale about Vampires skewing slightly more comical should take a look. Others should take a wait and see approach.

For the full review, click here.

3/5

B.P.R.D. Hell on Earth #109

Wasteland has been a very interesting read. It placed the characters in a ghost town while being chased by monstrous creatures. This issue concludes the story as the characters go deeper into Chicago. What they find isn’t a happy place, and the creatures are close behind. While you may wonder how this is really a ‘conclusion,’ it’s a pretty fun read.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Conan the Barbarian #18

The script by Brian Wood wastes little to no time getting right into the thick of it, as our hero goes through the final throws of a life that could very well be his own.  I have to admit this entire saga felt a bit off from the start, and I often found myself pondering the wisdom behind this interlude.  Well after this issue I’m proud to say I was wrong to question it.  The author uses the moment and context to yield depth to our barbarian while also giving him something he’s never had before: a home worth fighting for.

For the full review, click here.

4.5/5

STAR WARS: DARK TIMES – A SPARK REMAINS #1

The art by Douglas Wheatley is just about perfect.  I know that may sound like a bold claim but I can literally find nothing wrong with what I see here.  Whether the talent is asked to illustrate humans, aliens or droids he brings an air of authenticity with a style that echoes the type of hyper realism that dedicated followers of this franchise are more than aware of.  The level of detail that’s brought to bare is simply astonishing, as he offers an intricately designed experience that will draw readers in.

For the full review, click here.

4.5/5

Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Ninth Assassin #4

A very odd interlude occurs for our protagonist, and it even comes packaged with some shocking but not unpredictable results.  To the creative team’s credit they deliver a very engaging piece that’s sure to please fans that picked up this series looking for a dark lord of the Sith that’s more than ready to be all that he can be for his dear Emperor.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Damsels #8

For any comic fans out there I’m willing to bet that we all began our literary adventures with old school stories that centered around characters such as these.  Personally I’m glad they’re still around and that so many different creators have their own unique spin on their lives.  This latest burgeoning franchise is yet another example of that and trust me it’s worth your time.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

RED SONJA #1

Gail Simone pens the script and the renowned author does a spectacular job reinvigorating the world of the she-devil with a sword.  The scribe puts our heroine’s personality right in the center of an affair that might just see a kingdom fall because of actions of mercy that their leader took long ago.  I can’t say enough how impressed I was by the overall package, but there were a few instances where I felt that the pace was rushed along but trust me the payoff at the end did not feel cheapened by it.

For the full review, click here.

4.5/5

The Shadow: Year One #4

Matt Wagner pens the script and I have to say that I was impressed with the amount of wit and care that was attributed to each sequence. Whether he was bringing a conversation between criminals and our protagonist to life or implying the terrors of our antagonist the scribe knew exactly how far to push the pieces on his chess board. Looking back there were some problems with the pacing, as a lot of dialogue piled on so much so that by the climax that the title felt like it failed to cover new ground.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

The Spider #13

David Liss pens the script and the series scribe does an absolutely marvelous job bringing this confrontation to new heights as he allows the antagonist to evolve and become slightly more in tune with the hyper-real world surrounding him.  In the end what we get is some history, teases and ultimately a few revelations that make this latest outing an engrossing read.  There were however some problems with the dialogue as the text overburdened the panels with unnecessary exposition, in a way that felt like over compensation as words sullied an otherwise capable affair.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Warlord of Mars #26

In a lot of ways this latest entry touches upon some sensitive issues while delivering a more than competent adventure.  The creative team deserves a lot of recognition for doing that but there were several instances where a large amount of the material felt far too predictable as a by the numbers structure lead to a lackluster cliffhanger.

For the full review, click here.

3.5/5

The Colonized #4

If you just want a fun comic, The Colonized will treat you right. But don’t be surprised if makes you think a little about life and death, too.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

G.I. Joe: Special Missions #5

G.I Joe: Special Missions #5 kicks off the new story-arc for the series, and it’s clear it’s taking a different route from the first. A completely different setting, villains and joe’s. If variety is the spice of life, then G.I Joe: Special Missions is certainly very hot – but does it make for good reading? Overall, this is a good opener for the new story, if a little slow. Still, what it doesn’t deliver now, it is certainly teasing around the corner.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Villain Micro-Series #4: Alopex

The art by Ross Campbell perfectly suits the various layers involved in this complex narrative.  He captures the emotional core of our protagonist’s story as frustration, sadness and rage litter each and every page all the way toward a finish that sets up yet another obstacle for the Shredder to someday overcome or be trampled by.  There were some backgrounds that were too full of negative space, but the depictions of the primary cast were so top notch fans will pay little attention to such a minor detail.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Transformers: Regeneration One #93

Overall, another solid issue of Regeneration One. All of the plots (minus Earth’s) get some good page-time. With two unexpected and really fantastic ending points, the story looks to keep the pace up.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

X-Files: Season 10 #2

Overall issue X-Files #2  is an enjoyable read, but mostly for the memories it evokes, and not so much for the new story it’s developing. Now that the gang is back together, let’s hope IDW can shift towards what made X-Files spectacular in the first place: plot.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Michael Turner’s Fathom: The Elite Saga #5

When it comes to the underwater adventures of our plucky protagonist, Aspen Matthews, there have been ups and downs.  This outing proved to be a quality release so much so that by the end, despite it dipping on the negative side, the creative team delivered an ending that’s going to have people talking.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Grimm Fairy Tales #87

The art by Salvador Velazquez in this outing is absolutely exquisite.  I found that the delicate pencil strokes yielded some striking visualizations that were simply littered with subtle nuances that both complemented and emphasized the players therein.  I specifically viewed the depiction of our chief characters to be spot on as I was amazed at how easily the talent exaggerated their features while humanizing their emotions.  In short: the art was more than up to the task of bringing this tale to life.

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Archer & Armstrong #11

The Valiant Universe is better off for Archer & Armstrong and comic fans should be jumping on this title in droves. This book is a well rounded combo of action and fun that as a fan of comics must be on your pull-list. Van Lente captures the perfect tone of this book and this is a title you do not want to miss!

For the full review, click here.

4/5

Harbinger Wars #4

Valiant does it again! Harbinger Wars ends on a high note although still tragic and the repercussions will be felt across the Valiant Universe like no other. Harbinger Wars has real consequences and as a reader you can feel the satisfaction of solid storytelling. Valiant deserves the praise it’s received because it chooses great storytelling over empty promises. Readers are the real winners with Harbinger Wars and Valiant.

For the full review, click here.

4,5/5

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