Blade Runner 2039 #5 Review

 

Writer: Mike Johnson

Artist: Andres Guinaldo

Colorist: Marco Lesko

Letterer: Jim Campbell

Cover Artists: Lesley Li; Clark Blint; Syd Mead; Nahuel Grego

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: July 19, 2023

 

Niander Wallace bought Tyrell Corp’s assets. His last three Replicant models have disappointed him. Then he learns that the wife and daughter of late Replicant researcher Alexander Selwyn have returned to Earth. What’s an ambitious and wealthy industrialist to do? Acquire Selwyn’s research into replicant physiology by any means necessary. Is this bad news for former Blade Runner Ash, who's taken Selwyn's daughter Cleo under her wing? Let's fly into Blade Runner 2039 #5 and find out!

 

Story

Humans are imperfect, and replicants bear the defects of their creators. Thus, Wallace gifts the police a new and better replicant. His latest creation, named Luv, will never disobey his creator. Unlike Ash, she will never kill humans and side with replicants. But no cops wanted a Skinjob for a partner and impeded her efforts. So Wallace gives her a perfect partner in Blade Runner 2039 #5: a replicant modeled on that renegade, disgraced Blade Runner, and replicant-lover Ash.

 

It's been twenty years since Ash helped Isobel and Cleo escape off-world. Now they’ve returned, or at least Cleo has. The young girl has grown into a woman. Still, she longs to find her mother. Cleo thinks Isobel may be in San Francisco. The best way to travel there—without alerting the authorities—is to travel offroad in a beat-up old truck. But traveling offroad entails certain risks.

 

Perhaps Ash contemplates these as she says her goodbyes to Freysa. There's no doubting her feelings for the former combat-grade replicant. To distract themselves from their parting and the dangers Ash will face, the two women discuss the implications of Selwyn's research.

 

Art

Ridley Scott, the director of Blade Runner, describes himself as more a worldbuilder than a storyteller. Titan Comics has expanded Scott's world with Blade Runner 2019, 2029, Origins, and Black Lotus. As writer Mike Johnson opens the next chapter of this expanded universe with Blade Runner 2039 #5, artist Andres Guinaldo returns us to an Earth that feels closer to director Denis Villeneuve's sequel Blade Runner 2049 than Scott's original film.

 

Niander Wallace meets with city authorities in a vast hall. Despite the grandeur of the setting, he often resides in shadow. Sometimes only his eyes, and part of his mouth, grow distinct. Yet there's no disguising the intensity of his feelings and his ruthless hunger for perfection. His replicant Ash, which he's named Rash, resembles the younger Blade Runner of the first series. Unlike her imperfect human model, the replicant strikes an impressive figure. Quietly elegant in a suit and green overcoat, her black hair falls to her shoulders and shrouds her emotionless face.

 

With her shaved head, Cleo looks like she’s had a hard life. Freysa also looks tired and worn out by all she's endured. At least her replacement eye allows her to view the world without an eyepatch in Blade Runner 2039 #5. Of the three, the years weigh the heaviest on Ash. But then, she was granted opportunities nature never gave her, thanks to an artificial spine in Blade Runner 2019 and a strange rejuvenation in 2029. Yet even though she hobbles around on a cane, she's still a force of nature, always thinking of what she must do next.

 

Sometimes Marco Lesko’s coloring shows a touch of gray in Blade Runner 2039 #5. Yet scenes reveal striking luminescence. A glowing moon Ash and Freysa's parting. The truck's headlights burn like stars as it rumbles across the dirt, casting a writhing, merging cloud in its wake. Green plants and a darker green sky contrast with the old red truck that defies obsolescence to obey Ash's commands.

 

When bullets fly, they resemble the tracer rounds of military combatants. Jim Campbell helps us hear their impacts with bold black letters outlined in white. He fills white balloons with uppercase black letters that could be a little larger for fans who saw Blade Runner during its original theatrical run. But our protagonists’ low-key utterances and movements shield a depth of feeling that makes Niander Wallace’s intensity resemble a childish tantrum.   

 

Final Thoughts

Blade Runner 2039 #5 burns with a creator's striving for perfection, a young woman's hunger to find her mother, and a woman who works tirelessly to help the people society so readily discards.

 

Rating 8.6/10

 

To view covers from artists Clark Blint, Nahuel Grego, and Blade Runner production designer Syd Mead see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

View preview art at Comiclist.com

 

Radiant Black #25 Review

 

Radiant Black #25 Review

Writers: Kyle Higgins & Joe Clark

Pencillers: Marcelo Costa & Eduardo Ferigato

Inkers: Marcelo Costa & Paulo Daniel Santos

Colorist: Rod Fernandes & Raúl Angulo

Letterer: Becca Carey

Covers: Marcelo Costa

Publisher: Image

Price: $3.99

Release Date: July 19, 2023

 

Stopping the giant robots from space came with a price: Nathan and Marshall broke Radiant Black. Recovering their superpowers meant jumping into a black hole, enduring more threats to their existence, and facing one terrible fact: Radiant Black isn't a timeshare. Which man will take sole ownership of Radiant Black, and how will it impact their lifelong friendship? Let's leap into Radiant Black #25 and find out!

 

Story

Nathan and Marshall are closer than many married couples. After the robots destroyed Marshall's home, Nathan left Illinois to keep his friend company at Marshall's uncle's house in Wisconsin. Their friend Wendall uses his powers as Radiant Yellow to perceive potential futures but struggles to see the best—or only—way forward. Thus, the dilemma remains: the friends must choose. One will become Radiant Black, and the other must become The Man In The Chair. Either that or these lifelong friends must split up.

 

Okay, well and good. Up to that, I understand. In preparing for this review, I read Radiant Black #1 online, available for free on the Image website. I also read the previous six issues collected in the thoroughly enjoyable Radiant Black Volume 4 trade paperback, which also comes out today. I figured I was good to go with Radiant Black #25.

 

Then the alien called .001 whisks Wendall, Nathan, and Marshall off to a corporate dreamscape: likely the one the guys visited in the previous issue. Their colleagues Radiant Pink and Red are there, and .001 tells them the history of the Radiant suits. Suddenly he’s using terminology I don’t understand, and much of what he says goes over my head. It likely speaks to long-time readers, but he lost me.

 

I'm uncertain if Red and Pink participated in dreamscape events, and fuzzy on what happened to Wendall later. Perhaps I shouldn’t have reviewed Radiant Black #25, but I was curious about the Massive universe and thought I'd done my homework. Still, I enjoyed the story and look forward to seeing what happens next.

 

Art

The font style is pleasing and easy to read. I like the way different speakers get colored lettering. I love the energizing sound effects. As neither Nathan nor Marshall is good at making important decisions or sharing their feelings, the font shrinks when either makes a difficult admonition.

 

The coloring reflects all the nuance and variety of our world. Characters have depth and vitality. Panels shine when the Radiants use their powers. When the characters visit the cosmic dreamscape, the bright hues invoke awe.

 

Characters inhabit lifelike scenes in Radiant Black #25. You relate to them and feel as if they belong. People and objects never feel superimposed or pasted in. Even if you don't understand what's happening, you'll believe in what you see.

 

 

 

CRUCIAL INFORMATION but also a SPOILER ALERT

 

Radiant Black #25 comes with two cover options. Events play out identically in each until the friends make a decision. Then their paths diverge. In Cover A, Marshall takes ownership of Radiant Black. In Cover B, Nathan assumes the role. As with Marshall and Nathan, you must choose which cover to buy and which path to follow. Either that or buy both. The two covers look like they form an interlocking scene. Just don't get into debt like Nathan, okay?

 

Curious? Reach the first issue on the Image website. It's free!

 

Final Thoughts

Dilemmas and revelations dominate Radiant Black #25, an exhilarating cosmic romp grounded in human foibles.

 

Rating 9/10

 

To preview interior art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

 

Read Radiant Black #1 free on the Image website.

Royal City: Compendium One Review

 

Writer, Artist, & Colorist: Jeff Lemire

Letterer: Steve Wands

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $29.99

Release Date: July 12, 2023

 

Patrick Pike's marriage is imploding. His manuscript was due a year ago, but he's yet to start writing. When his father has a stroke, a family visit seems like an easy escape. Will a trip home help him get his life back on track? Let's dive into Royal City: Compendium One and find out!

 

Story

Peter's not the only one who needs to turn his life around. His sister, realtor Tara Pike hopes to find renewal and purpose by converting Royal City Manufacturing into luxury condominiums and a golf course. She's separated from her husband and rarely sees her alcoholic brother Richard. Her bickering parents find meaning in separate pursuits: Peter tinkers with vintage radios in his shed, while Patty immerses herself in religion. It's not just Patrick who's hurting: each family member is struggling.

 

While steeped in loss--and feeling lost--Royal City: Compendium One is also a generational saga. It explores how people cope with change and view the world. Tara says the new project will absorb the factory’s 1,400 employees by creating as many jobs. Her mother claims it'll put half the town out of work. Yet the sign outside Royal City lists the population at 45,300. The owner's son—who supports Tara's proposal--says the factory's been bleeding money for years. Yet his father claims it's still profitable. Each person latches onto facts that support the view they’ve embraced.

 

All this serves as the background to delve into each character's life and relive their relationship with Tommy. He was the baby of the family, a gifted but troubled boy who died in 1993. His death cut the Pike family deeply. Impaled by grief, each member has struggled to escape guilt and pain rather than deal with his loss and move on.

 

I read the first two issues when the series debuted. Yet in 2017, I also struggled with family difficulties and found the story too painful to appreciate. In the intervening years, I've found my way forward and made peace with change and loss. With Royal City: Compendium One, I can take the characters' pain onboard and share their journey toward healing in days rather than over a year. 

 

 

 

 

Art

Scribbly art makes characters relatable. Watercolor washes give scenes a timeworn quality. Jeff Lemire’s style breathed life into writer Scott Snyder’s 2016 series A.D. After Death. His surreal imagery in Royal City: Compendium One evokes Wes Anderson films like The Royal Tenenbaums, Moonrise Kingdom, and The Grand Budapest Hotel. Pages reveal that each character sees Tommy differently. While relating the boy's life, we learn that Tommy's as much a prisoner of Royal City as his surviving family members.

 

Lemire leaned more heavily on art in the middle chapters than narrative and dialogue. Some issues took place almost entirely in the past. Events I thought followed Patrick related to his father's journey. But even if I got lost sometimes, discovering the truth in the final chapter didn't dampen my ardor for this series.

 

Sound effects punctuate action in Royal City: Compendium One, while easy-to-read uppercase dialogue appears hand drawn. Signs and facades suggest that almost every business has Royal in its name. Posters in Tommy's room, and his ongoing attempts to refine his top ten favorite rock albums, lead to song titles written on Maxell cassette tape cases. A Spotify link lets you listen to the boy's favorite songs while you read. Or should I say reread? Yes, it's that good.

 

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Real and surreal visions intertwine in Royal City: Compendium One, a story about family, loss, change, and finding your path forward by discovering the truth inside yourself.

 

9.5/10

 

To preview interior art see the Previewsworld website.

To see more covers see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

 

Read the first issue at the Image Comics website. It's free!

 

 

Antarctica #1 Review

 

Writer: Simon Birks

Artist, Colorist, & Cover A Artist: Willi Roberts

Letterer & Cover B Artist: Lyndon White

San Diego Comic-Con Cover Artist: Abigail Harding

Publisher: Image Comics (Top Cow)

Price: $3.99

Release Date: July 12, 2023

 

Each time her father's job took him away, Hannah looked forward to his return. At least until the day he didn't when her world fell apart. Lost in a bottle, she ended up on the street. Can she find a way to reclaim what she lost and become someone her father would have been proud of? Let’s dig into Antarctica #1 and find out!

 

Story

Homeless, Hannah steals and hurts people to get money for her next drink. One day, the owner of a coffee shop offers her a deal: if she takes a class at the local technical college, he'll give her a place to live. His concern prompts her to survey what's on offer. Once, she dreamed of becoming a scientist. Yet, she realizes that getting her hands greasy appeals to her. So she throws herself into the Mechanic Assistant course. In time this gives her the idea to search for her father. She’d heard him speak about Antarctica. Perhaps that was where he had worked before his employers declared him lost.

 

There's no mention of Hannah's mother or who cared for her when her father's work took him away. I also wondered why learning more technical skills held no appeal. Antarctica #1 left me pondering how she converted her Mechanic Assistant course into graduating with an Engineering degree.

 

 

 

 

Art

Hannah destroyed her childhood toys when she lost her father. Sinking into alcoholism made her hair turn white. Jim's caring cuts through her façade. Figuring out how to repair engines and coffee equipment gives her determination and a purpose.

 

Hannah grew up in the suburbs, lived on the streets, and often sat outside Jim's coffee shop. Her friend's café looks like your typical roastery or diner. The architecture, bridges, and vehicles in Antarctica #1 give scant clues that she lives anywhere other than the United States. Yet eagle-eyed readers will notice a red, double-decker bus drive past the technical college, and envelopes accompanying application forms read British Antarctic Research Company. While Willi Robert’s art doesn’t scream of England, writer Simon Birks lives in Scotland. Perhaps that’s where Hannah lives too.

 

When she accompanies her coworker Matteo out into the cold for the first time, Hannah wears an outfit—bearing a Union Jack--designed to protect her against Antarctica's harsh extremes. Yet when she returns to the blizzard-like conditions, she foregoes her hat and goggles and wears a black, monogrammed fleece jacket. The cover for Antarctica #2 shows her wearing this jacket and clutching a semiautomatic pistol. I'm guessing that exciting times lay ahead for Hannah.

 

Final Thoughts

Gorgeous art envelopes you like Hannah's father's arms as you sink into Antarctica #1's warm embrace. Although dialogue balloons reveal select conversations, the diary-style narrative summarizes Hannah's lost years and how grit and determination—aided by a friend's kindness—propels Hannah to Earth’s least visited continent.

 

8.6/10

 

To preview interior art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Amazing Spider-Man #29 Review

 

Writer: Zeb Wells

Penciler: Ed McGuinness

Inker: Mark Farmer

Colorist: Marcio Menyz

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Cover Artists: Ed McGuinness & Marcio Menyz; Marco Checchetto & Richard Isanove; David Nakayama; Giada Perissinotto

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $3.99

Release Date: July 12, 2023

 

Peter Parker opens his eyes to find he’s flying the friendly skies. Only he’s not enjoying a United Airlines flight. J. Jonah Jameson's carrying him from a great height. Using Doc Ock’s old legs, J.J. scampers above the street while Ock’s got Osborn strapped to a seat. Will Amazing Spider-Man #29 make you jump and shout? Let’s peer inside. We might find out!

 

 

 

 

Story

The Beyond Corporation has a lot to answer for. Peter Parker ended up in a coma while their scientists messed with people’s minds. Like Ben Reilly, Doctor Octopus wants to reclaim his memories. As he can't, his anger drives him to hurt anyone who's ever opposed him. And now Norman Osborn's going around, telling people he's a reformed person—that he's better than his former supervillain buds? Angry Otto can't have that!

 

Thankfully, with great power comes great opportunities. Embracing those could change Peter Parker forever. But to achieve that gain, he must endure the pain.

 

Amazing Spider-Man #29 reminds us how destructive envy can be. I like J. Jonah Jameson's concern for the man, employee, and superhero he once ridiculed. I love that—for the second issue in a row, the story features a cameo of a fan-favorite character. But most of all, I love how smoothly this story flows. It seems like the natural evolution of events and is a ride worthy of those rare E-tickets.

 

No worries, Disney fans: Amazing Spider-Man #29 includes a Fastpass, so you need not wait to enjoy this rock and roll attraction.

 

 

 

 

 

Art

Packed with muscle and menace, Doc Ock never looked meaner. His new tentacles attack like enraged pythons. Yet when not following orders, this gestalt companion detaches into individual mini-legs that exhibit a childlike fascination with their creator. Each sports glowing eyes like Ock and four octopus-like mini-mini-legs that scurry across workstations to see whatever he's doing. Bubbling tanks, glowing square monitors, and pipes dominate Otto's new digs. His Mad Scientist hideout contrasts with Norman's seamless, ultramodern Oscorp labs.

 

While murderous Doc Ock seeks affirmation, Norman Osborn shows his newfound heroism. He reasons (and yes, pleads) with Ock while battling the cold, crippling tentacles of terror. Although powerless and scared, he remains dignified.

 

 

 

 

Situations may momentarily shock him, but once Peter finds his feet, he's thinking and determined. He's the Spider-Man I want to see and not the fear-driven wreck of Amazing Spider-Man #23.

 

Like Doc Ock’s new legs, a rich blend of individual colors weaves together, making each page of Amazing Spider-Man #29 a beauty to behold. Spider-Man's scream and the gwarbling mini-legs shout their presence, while red uppercase words enhance the dialogue, and a rooftop billboard honors a series luminary. Older readers shouldn't sweat the smaller-sized dialogue and Nick Lowe's editorial note: the larger-sized dialogue will carry you through, and the sound effects will delight you.

 

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Amazing Spider-Man #29 reminds us how uplifting and fulfilling partnership can be and that memories should be celebrated instead of mourned.

 

9.6/10

 

To preview interior art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Star Wars Dark Legends Spotlight

 

In his short story collection Dark Legends, George Mann peers into the hidden corners of the Star Wars universe. He pursues popular horror themes his young readers will enjoy. A ghostly presence haunts an orphanage. Sunlight on one planet provokes a strange--and dangerous--transformation. And perhaps the most intriguing of all, an Imperial officer receives a rapid promotion. But at what cost?

His stories range across all eras, from the High Republic to the First Order. Horrific events occur on spaceships and planets from the outer rim to the heart of Palpatine's empire. As promised on the cover, Darth Vader will appear.

I read this on my cellphone, typically one story--or part of a story--at a time. I found the stories undemanding and entertaining. If you're a Star Wars fan and in the mood for a relaxing and mildly scary read, I recommend George Mann's collection Dark Legends.

Be warned: you don't know the power of the Dark Side!

Hellboy In Love #5 Spotlight

 

Hellboy In Love #5 concludes this series concerning Hellboy's growing attraction to archeologist Anastasia Bransfield. The two travel to West Bengal, India, to inspect a chamber unearthed by Professor Chadha. There the lovebirds will find artifacts relating to the Suaren Artea. Still, as you can imagine, things won't go without a hitch.

 

Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden's story features the return of a character from the first issue, an artifact that excites Anastasia, and miniature demons called Rakti. Matt Smith's art is attractive and energetic, and the temple scenes remind me of stories drawn by Hellboy creator Mignola. Chris O'Halloran's colors trend toward the grays, but the purple Rakti contrasts nicely with Hellboy's red skin. As always, Clem Robins's lettering is pleasing to the eye.

 

Hellboy In Love #5 takes place in 1979. Christopher Golden created Anastasia for his Hellboy novel The Lost Army, which takes place in 1986. So if you like seeing Hellboy and Anastasia together, you've got a prose novel to hunt down. This issue also leaves open the possibility of her return to Hellboy comics.

 

As I didn't cover this issue for Comic Book Dispatch, I'll refrain from rating it. But I enjoyed Hellboy In Love #5. I think you'll like it too.

Spider-Man #10 Review

 

Writers: Dan Slott & Christos Gage

Artists: Mark Bagley, John Dell & Andrew Hennessy

Colorist: Edgar Delgado

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Cover Artists: Mark Bagley & Edgar Delgado; Stephanie Hans

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $3.99

Release Date: July 5, 2023

 

Haunted by his failure to save a fire victim, Peter Parker tries to amplify his Spider-Sense. His experiments with Norman Osborn succeed, but all the danger signals overwhelm him. Can he protect New Yorkers from Electro’s latest attack while coping with his newfound abilities? Let's leap into Spider-Man #10 and find out!

 

Story

Electro's surges of power sizzle through the air. They hit Spider-Man, wreck vehicles, and set buildings aflame. As bystanders flee, their fright and pain give Spider-Man a nuclear migraine. Spider-Boy rushes to Peter's defense, startling Electro, who isn't used to fighting kids. Meanwhile, Norman blames himself for allowing Peter to talk him into upgrading his Peter Tingle. He races to find a way to reverse the process before Electro incinerates Peter.

 

As the firefighters helped kick off this storyline, their reappearance gives symmetry to its closure. As for Spider-Boy, we can all identify with loneliness and feeling like we don't belong. Dan Slott and Christos Gage's story reminds us how much Peter Parker cares for others. While this burden costs him personally, all that matters is protecting others.

 

 

 

 

Art

Aided by his inking sidekicks John Dell and Andrew Hennessy, penciler Mark Bagley gives Spider-Man #10 a classic appeal. Electro steps out of a Bronze Age Marvel comic. Yet Norman Osborn, wearing his new Gold Goblin costume, looks like he belongs. With his bright, animated TV-style costume, Spider-Boy serves as a bridge between the Past and Present. Aunt May's features show her concern for Peter, while her gestures demonstrate how fiercely she's fighting for her nephew. Crowd scenes communicate energy as flames leap from buildings and explosions rock the ground. The spiders in Norman's lab enhanced this dramatic story with humor. Yet Peter Parker, as the amazing Spider-Man, never gets relegated to the sidelines.

 

Edgar Delgado deepens the art with bold colors and rich shading, giving Spider-Man #10 three-dimensional realism. He paints streets and buildings with richness and nuance. The raging fires writhe like the Human Torch in pain, while gray smoke reveals hints of yellow, orange, blue, and purple. Spider costumes shine from fires, vehicle headlights, and lights on nearby buildings. Norman’s work lights, and the glowing spider tank, give the lab a moody nighttime appeal.

 

Joe Caramagna web shoots lots of uppercase black letters into white dialogue balloons. Font style, letter size, and spacing between lines make Spider-Man #10 a migraine-free read. Nick Lowe's footnotes—accompanied by a red spider—remind me of how characters and story elements relate to earlier issues. Sound effects help you feel explosions, lighting crashing into buildings, and the crackling hum as Electro charges his batteries between attacks. Red letters grip your heart as they escape a white dialogue balloon, and Spider-Man doubles up in pain.

 

Final Thoughts

While striving be our brother’s (and sister’s) keepers, Spider-Man #10 reminds us that we must also care for ourselves.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To preview interior art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.