Army Of Darkness Forever #4 Review

 

Writer: Tony Fleecs

Artist: Justin Greenwood

Colorist: Brad Simpson

Letterer: Troy Peteri

Cover Artists: Francesco Mattina, Arthur Suydam, Tony Fleecs & Nick Dragotta

Publisher: Dynamite Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: January 17, 2023

 

Trapped in 2093, Ash must track down the scattered pages of the Necronomicon Ex Mortis. In 1993, Evil Ash must confront his thirst for violence and the complexities of the internet. In 1300, Lady Shiela must warn her people of another Deadite uprising. What unites all three time zones, and will heroes in any of them win a happy ending? Let's leap into Army Of Darkness Forever #4 and find out!

 

Story

In the Army Of Darkness Movie Adaptation (written by Sam and Ivan Raimi and published by Dynamite Comics), Ash drank a potion and awoke in 2093. Civilization lies in ruins. In Army Of Darkness Forever #4, Ash’s only hope of returning to 1993 is the Necronomicon Ex Mortis. But before he can recite the incantation, Ash must reassemble the book! Finding the scattered pages may prove more difficult than locating an item wrongly cataloged in the S-Mart storeroom! Thankfully, Ash has handy robots and Lord Arthur’s holographic wizard to aid him on his quest.

 

The wizard proves far more than a recording. He guides Ash on his quest, helps upgrade his firepower, and even compliments Ash on his stylish new haircut. Tony Fleecs pays homage to the patron saint of Time Travel stories with Ash's mention of Morlocks. In keeping with the film's zany mix of horror, comedy, and romance, he puts a humorous spin on H. G. Wells's classic tale.

 

After devoting half of Army Of Darkness Forever #4 to the future, Fleecs splits the remainder between 1993 and 1300. Before Evil Ash can pave the way for a robot apocalypse, he must master the complexities of newsgroups, Netscape Navigator, and electronic mail. Couldn't he just go on a murder rampage instead? It's interesting to think of evil people battling their natures to achieve a goal. But then, focusing on one's goals doesn't make a person virtuous.

 

In 1300, Lady Shiela failed to convince Lord Arthur she knew what she was talking about. His wizard proves more amenable. But as they ride out to the woods, he suggests she imagined the Deadites and reminds her that she's not their champion. They've survived an extraordinary, supernatural battle. Why would Arthur’s wiseman doubt her veracity?

 

 

 

 

 

Art

Instead of Deadites, future Ash battles Droidites. They resemble the dead that rose from their graves in 1300. Yet they're made of metal and circuitry. The robots assisting Ash evoke insects or his metal hand. Yet one projects a beam of light the holographic wiseman inhabits. Ash may be missing his Remington, but a quick buzz cut from his chainsaw helps differentiate him from the wizard. In Army Of Darkness Forever #4, Justin Greenwood delivers a cracking underworld adventure that protects the Morlocks’ decency, highlights 90s posters of videotape aerobic stars and a trilling Trout, and suggests that the wise man has lost his respect for Lady Shiela.

 

Ash fights against purple skies at night, while day turns the air blood-orange. Brad Simpson applies a different palette to each section and varies coloring by day and night. He shows highlighting and shading and applies texturing to his colors. He even captures streaks of light reflected off opaque glass and a mirror. Better be careful, Evil Ash! You remember what Agatha Christie said about mirrors that get cracked from side to side!

 

Troy Peteri conjures large black uppercase letters into white dialogue balloons. The placement of narrative boxes and dialogue balloons is always easy to follow. I especially enjoyed how the ballons arc around Evil Ash and his coworker Ted in 1993. The bug robots' smaller replies scurry inside green boxes. Numbers invade words, forcing the reader to translate the alphanumeric utterances. Sound effects help us hear Ash’s buzzcut, moaning Morlocks, and a squealing modem while a falling horse leaves Army Of Darkness Forever #4 on a chilling note. Thanks to Dynamite Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Ash rediscovers the joy of living, his evil self struggles to master his baser impulses, and Lady Shiela battles sexism in Army Of Darkness Forever #4.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

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

 

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #15 Review

 

Writer: Cody Ziglar

Artists: Federico Vicentini & Federica Mancin

Colorist: Bryan Valenza

Letterer: Cory Petit

Cover Artists: Federico Vicentini & Richard Isanove; Alan Quah; Ken Lashley & Juan Fernandez

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $3.99

Release Date: January 10, 2023

 

Hightail arrested Misty Knight and Colleen Wing. Bereft of his mentor and sword instructor, Spider-Man teamed up with the Cape Killers to take down the Enforcers and his uncle. Then reinforcements swelled Team Spidey's ranks. Can Gang War make Miles' life in Brooklyn any crazier? Let's thwip into Miles Morales: Spider-Man #15 and find out!

 

Story

Starling’s reinforcements include Ms. Marvel and Shift. They’re hungry for a punch-up with the Prowler. Or, to quote Miles’ clone, “Glurp.” After trading blows, Aaron Davis explains he was only pretending to work for Hobgoblin. He wants to use what he's learned to help Team Spidey!

 

One of his uncle’s revelations gives Miles a mini-meltdown in Miles Morales: Spider-Man #15. Rabble has teamed up with Hobgoblin! Raneem Rashad destroyed his home and tried to kill his family. The young woman with an affinity for technology wants him dead. Uncle Aaron wants to help Team Spidey take down the dangerous duo. But can Miles trust him? Or will they be walking into a trap? If they fail, Misty Knight won’t be rushing to their aid this time.

 

Hobgoblin hired more villains than just Prowler and the Enforcers. Rabble’s ability to control technology could compromise some Team Spidey members. Miles must strategize his assault on Hobgoblin’s fortress to put his teammates where they’re most effective and least vulnerable.

 

Cody Ziglar builds involving character dynamics into Miles Morales: Spider-Man #15. Rabble and Hobgoblin's past unites them. The young Cape Killers’ wind machine Gust is happy to swell Team Spidey’s ranks. Scorpion may be willing to work with Miles, but he’s doing this for Agent Gao, not Spidey! Starling wants a rematch with the woman who kidnapped her. Miles rejoices that Ms. Marvel is no longer dead. As for Shift, he’s equally eloquent whether in danger or repose.

 

Or, to put it another way, “Glurp!”

 

 

 

Art

Sunlight reflects off the windows of the abandoned Beyond Corporation. Inside, drones pursue a man. His feet race down a corridor, pursued by the shadow of a gloved hand. His back against a wall, he thrusts his chin up as the Hobgoblin and Rabble close in. Surrounded by hovering drones, Rabble’s glare reflects on his cracked glasses. The energy pulsating from her hands matches the glow in her eyes. Hobgoblin looks up at the hologram she projects, his sharp features in sympathy with the judgment he would dispense.

 

Ms. Marvel's arm launches like an anaconda, knocking the Prowler off his feet. His flowing cape flutters around him as he rolls to avoid Shift's attack. The muscular spider-clone pursues, pounding the rooftop with his mighty fists. Energy arcs and equipment break as Starling and Miles battle Aaron. Then, like Rabble, Miles forces his prey up against the wall.

 

Federico Vicentini and Federica Mancin deliver portraits of heroes and villains under duress. Scenes crackle with energy, and camera angles shift, pulling the reader effortlessly from one panel to the next. Action scenes impress, and emotional rapport drips off the page in Miles Morales: Spider-Man #15.

 

Colorist Bryan Valenza’s fully loaded palette brings a wealth of color to Miles’ Gang War teamup. Pink and lavender tinge the evening sky as our heroes punish and interrogate Miles’ untrustworthy uncle. Awash in red, Miles, Shift, and Starling form a powerful triad. Is it a coincidence that the Prowler’s hood evokes Hobgoblin’s, and his lavender cape matches Rabble’s coloring? Light pink streaks the mauve sky like contrails as Miles and his team attack Hobgoblin's headquarters. Yellow energy radiates from Miles as his Spider-Sense goes wild.

 

 

 

Uppercase black and colored letters fill white dialogue balloons in Miles Morales: Spider-Man #15. Off-panel utterances and character thoughts thwip white uppercase letters into colored narrative boxes. Uniform size, font style, and balloon placement make for a fun and easy reading experience. Sound effects help us hear drones pummel and break, the energy Rabble and the Shocker wield, and the Prowler receiving Team Spidey’s displeasure. Yet what sticks with you is the energy—and brotherhood—that Miles and Shift’s fist bump conveys.

 

Thanks to Marvel for providing a copy of this Gang War chapter for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Uneasy alliances, a moment of jealousy, and his double-agent uncle force Miles to up his game as Brooklyn’s Team Spidey takes on Hobgoblin and Rabble in Miles Morales: Spider-Man #15.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

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

Firefly: The Fall Guys #4 Review

 

Writer: Sam Humphries

Artist: Jordi Pérez

Colorist: Francesco Segala & Gloria Martinelli

Letterer: Jim Campbell

Cover Artists: Francesco Francavilla; Justine Florentino; Becca Carey

Publisher: Boom! Studios

Price: $4.99

Release Date: January 10, 2023

 

Prime Minister Hamner wants Zoë Washburne dead. The Archambeau gang wants all her friends in Beloved dead. Orbiting the planet, the commander of an Alliance Cruiser wants River, Simon, and Zoë’s daughter dead. Can Captain Kaylee and her crew escape this one-doctor town, reunite with River, Simon, and Emma, and get Back In The Saddle Again? Let's leap into Firefly: The Fall Guys #4 and find out!

 

 

Story

Captain Kaylee’s crew holds Amber Archambeau and her gang in a cemetery standoff. Kaylee knows Malcolm Reynolds is the better soldier, so she tips her hat to his battlefield experience. Mal’s Gene Autry maneuver surprises everyone and gains them an advantage. Still, Amber and her friends elude their grasp.

 

Until now, Marshall Gronk squeezed Beloved with his iron fist. Now, the Prime Minister pushes him aside. The former battlefield butcher vows to capture her old enemy. Hamner’s convinced that Zoë tried to assassinate her in Firefly: The Fall Guys #4. If the good citizens of Beloved are sheltering Zoë, they're all her enemies!

 

Haunted by ghosts, Zoë abandoned her friends. She wants to finish what Amber started. Among the Serenity crew, Malcolm knows best how Zoë thinks. (At least he does when she’s not seeing ghosts in Crazy Town). Can Mal find her before she does something that could brand a target on all their backs?

 

In Firefly: The Fall Guys #4, Amber Archambeau aims to finish what she started. Even if Mal finds Zoë and convinces her to desist, can Mal prevent Amber and her friends from pulling the trigger on the PM? And should he? While the Serenity crew operates in an ethical gray area, Sam Humphries couldn't paint Hamner blacker. How many deaths would result from Hamner’s assassination? Might her death ignite another interstellar war?

 

Or, regardless of repercussions, would whoever kills Hamner hold the moral high ground?

 

Art

Kaylee and Inara gaze around the cemetery as they ponder their untimely end. Hexicons rise above the angel atop the mausoleum and the barren tree branches, a reminder of the forcefield that prevents their departure. An overhead view of the battle heralds the arrival of unexpected assistance. Faces and dotted lines on a map suggest a board game. The mayor removes his hat while visiting the Prime Minister. Gronk's outstretched arm warns the mayor to choose his words carefully. The man refuses to meet Hamner's eyes as he converses with her. Soldiers surround a tank as it rolls along the snow-covered road. The fire issuing from the gun promises to rain down destruction upon Beloved's wooden buildings.

 

Francesco Segala and Gloria Martinelli lavish a limited palette on Jordi Pérez’s art in Firefly: The Fall Guys #4. Guns fire yellow streaks across characters in closeups, while an overhead view shows white streaks linking silhouettes across the greenish ground. The pink forcefield contrasts with the Alliance soldiers' green uniforms and helmets. Light shades of pink, purple, blue, and green illuminate the Serenity crew on this night. An orange monitor casts light into the dim control center. Blue space fills with tan, yellow, and orange when the Alliance cruiser fires upon the fleeing Firefly-class vessel.

 

Jim Campbell’s black, uppercase letters in white dialogue balloons are easy to read. Words grow large and bold for raised voices. They shrink and turn gray for lowered utterances. Colored narrative boxes cluster next to the faces of each player on the game board, identifying crewmates' responses as Malcolm organizes his Archambeau ambush.

 

Thanks to the rootin'-tootin' folks at Boom! Studios for providing a copy of Firefly: The Fall Guys #4 for review.

 

Final Thoughts

As Zoë Washburn and Amber Archambeau race to assassinate the Alliance Prime Minister, Captain Kaylee gives Malcolm Reynolds a new rank, and graveyards become redoubts on land and in space in Firefly: The Fall Guys #4.

 

Rating 8.6/10

 

For more cover art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #9 Review

 

Writer: Erik Burnham

Artist: Dan Schoening

Colorist: Luis Antonio Delgado

Letterer: Ed Dukeshire

Cover Artists: Jack Lawrence & Gigi Dutreix; Dan Schoening & Luis Antonio Delgado; Tim Levins & Gigi Dutreix

Publisher: IDW

Price: $3.99

Release Date: January 10, 2024

 

Artist Kai Eddiku used his family’s secret sword-making techniques and Shredder’s stolen alien ore to reforge the Forever Blade. Can Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo prevent Shredder from wreaking mayhem through time and space? Let's order a pizza, tune into Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #9, and find out!

 

Story

Kai rarely delivers his creations, but Shredder's lair provides unexpected inspiration. The artist wants to paint Krang, but Bebop and Rocksteady throw Kai out before the walking brain can commission a portrait. Still, Krang’s got enough to do. He wants to imbue the alien ore with psychoreactive properties. Then all Shredder must do is focus, and the Foot Clan leader can travel anywhere in time and space.

 

Travel drains the Forever Blade. Battle energizes it. Shredder isn’t interested in exploring the universe with a companion or convincing famous historical personalities to help him pass an exam. The evil Ninja Master wants cash. Why not sidestep into a neighborhood bank and make plans for world domination later?

 

The Turtles detect Shredder, Bebop, and Rocksteady’s heist. Leonardo wants to prevent Shredder from escaping before the police arrive, but an army of robot fighters proves a time-consuming distraction. Has Leonardo learned enough from Splinter to constrain a Ninja Master wielding a sword of power?

 

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #9 brings back the Footbots from the original animated series and serves as a sequel to the third season episode “The Ninja Sword of Nowhere.” Erik Burnham’s tale demonstrates Donatello’s scientific mindset, Raffael’s love of pop culture, and Leonardo’s reverence for their sensei Splinter. Plus, Michelangelo gets to fight and cry, “Cowabunga!” The issue ends on a cliffhanger that promises more than contemporary conflicts in the next issue of this three-part story. 

 

 

 

Art

Michelangelo needs a helmet and padding to protect against Splinter's swordplay. A glowing figure materializes in the turtles' training room. Hovering in her superhero suit and cape, the time traveler wears a helmet that sprouts fins and equipment. She clutches a staff adorned with alien fingers and claws. Krang extends tentacles from his mechanical walker to fire a gun. Bebop adopts a bodybuilder pose as he wields Shredder’s glowing sword. Ignoring shelves laden with gold bricks, Bebop shares Rocksteady’s glee as the wily warthog and the riotous Rhino fill bags with cash in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #9.

 

From the blue-white glow accompanying the time traveler's materialization to the yellow-orange blade that creates similarly colored fissures, Luis Antonio Delgado’s vibrant colors breathe energy into Dan Schoening’s art. Delgado contrasts an ample use of gray with vibrant colors like pink, purple, and orange in Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #9. Shadows fall upon characters, swords reflect light, and gray smoke evokes storm clouds. Buildings blaze with light as the turtles attack Shredder under a moonlit purple sky. Green figures leap above and wade through a sea of black and purple as they battle the evil Ninja Master’s robotic reinforcements.

 

Aside from the odd murmur, Ed Dukeshire’s black and colored dialogue in white balloons is easy to read. His sound effects help us hear Shredder rip rents in reality, Bebop and Rocksteady break down a barrier, and the turtles sever Footbot circuitry. Thanks to my compadres at IDW for providing a copy of this cowabunga issue for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

A time-traveling maiden, a bank job gone wrong, and a magical sword threaten to unleash paradoxes on the multiverse in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Saturday Morning Adventures #9.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

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

 

 

James Bond 007 #1 Review

 

Writer: Garth Ennis

Artist: Rapha Lobosco

Colorist: Jorge Sutil

Letterer: Rob Steen

Cover Artist: Dave Johnson

Publisher: Dynamite

Price: $4.99

Release Date: January 17, 2024

 

Sebastian, the heir to the Costanza empire, lies in his grave. His family, infamous for their brutality, mourns his passing. Can anyone—even Britain's preeminent espionage agent--survive the Constanzas’ relentless hunt for vengeance? Let’s leap into James Bond 007 #1 and find out!

 

Story

Bond’s boss is unhappy. Bond should have avoided identification while dispatching Sebastian. Thanks to 007's negligence, the region will be in chaos as factions battle over the mighty narcotics empire.

 

But M has more weighty matters on his mind. Fifty years ago, 00 agent Archibald Tryon stole a secret project from the Russians. He destroyed everything that Soviet researchers could use to reconstruct their experiments. Ministry Of Defence scientists recently perfected the weapon at the Porton Down facilities. Within days, someone stole the project and all associated records.

 

Archibald lives in Bournemouth. Bond isn’t impressed that the 00 agent reached retirement age. Nor does he view Britain as a civilizing force in a chaotic world. James Bond protects his King and Country. Whether that means attacking a crime family or recovering a weapon that kills people without harming property or the environment, James Bond won’t stop until he secures his country’s safety.

 

In James Bond 007 #1, M wishes Bond were a scalpel, not a club. Moneypenny often sees Bond as coarse. Q views 007 as juvenile and wasteful. Writer Garth Ennis paints James Bond as a man who does his best and doesn't sweat others’ expectations. His story unreels quickly, ends explosively, and leaves you wanting more.

 

But then, can you ever get enough of James Bond?

 

Art

Sebastian’s family resides in a lavish mansion. Pablo Costanza stands on the terrace and gazes at the setting sun. His family gathers in the living room and listens to their patriarch's rage. Sebastian's brothers look as cool as Bond. His sisters pose like supermodels. Despite his grandmother's failing health, fire still burns in her eyes.

 

Jorge Sutil applies a loaded palette to Rapha Lobosco’s artwork. He bathes panels in browns in James Bond 007 #1, yet brings an unexpected sparkle to even mostly monotone panels. Jorge also shows a preference for blue. Such panels emphasize Bond's cold determination, MI-6's importance to the world, and Stalvoda’s clinical effectiveness. Jorge adds drama to the Costanza family through his choice of background colors. He helps us feel the loneliness of the offseason Bournemouth coast and the cold necessity that drives 00 agents.  

 

Large, uppercase black letters inhabit white dialogue balloons in James Bond 007 #1. Stressed words and shouts are bold and italicized. Rob Steen’s sedate lettering and lack of sound effects enhance the cinematic feeling of Garth Ennis' story and remind us of the dispassionate way Bond dispatches enemies. It's more Daniel Craig than Roger Moore. But then, this is 2024, not 1973.

 

Thanks to Dynamite Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Chimpanzees get flash-frozen, hit men pursue Bond, and a Weapon Of Mass Destruction goes missing in James Bond 007 #1.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

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

 

Transformers #4 Review

 

Writer & Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson

Colorist: Mike Spicer

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Cover Artists: Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer; Jonboy Meyers; Orlando Arocena; Sanford Greene; Andrea Milana & Annalisa Leoni

Publisher: Image

Price: $3.99

Release Date: January 10, 2023

 

Humans destroyed his arm. They shot his friend when the boy rushed to aid him. Can Optimus Prime save Spike Witwicky? Let’s leap into Transformers #4 and find out!

 

Story

Starscream comes in smoke. His eyes blaze at his fallen subordinate. Skywarp was supposed to kill Optimus Prime. Must he do everything? Starscream pursues Optimus as he carries Sparky Witwicky and his injured son to the hospital. Carly and Cliffjumper rush to aid the Autobot leader. They reach the hospital, and the staff carry Spike inside. Now, the Autobots must defend the hospital against Starscream and Soundwave.

 

Starscream values power and detests pity. The Decepticon leader demands loyalty yet offers little in reward. Nothing is his fault. Everyone owes him. He revels in hurting others, even the injured and the sick. When the odds turn against him, Starscream retreats. Anyone who dares compare him to Megatron should reconsider!

 

 

 

By contrast, Optimus puts others first. He allows his followers to question his wisdom. In Transformers #4, Optimus Prime repeatedly endangers his life for tiny, squishy Humans. Should he take a longer view? The Autobots need their leader. If Optimus Prime dies, the Decepticons win. What happens to the tiny, fragile Humans then?

 

War devoured part of Sparky Witwicky’s soul. His eldest son's death in the space program consumed more. Then he watched Starscream kill his friend Davy. Consumed by hate, his actions led to Optimus Prime and Spike’s injuries. For too long now, Sparky’s traveled a dark path. Is it too late to chart a new—and better—course?

 

Daniel Warren Johnson packs Transformers #4 with action and heartbreak. Yet, characters never give into despair. There's always hope if they can find it. At least there is for the Humans and the Autobots. The Decepticons' ranks are dwindling, and Starscream’s not helping. If the Humans and the Autobots can aid each other, perhaps they can exploit the Decepticons’ current weakness and live to fight another day.

 

 

 

 

Art

Daniel Warren Johnson delivers the heat of the moment in Transformers #4. Panels focus on characters in action or close in on characters’ eyes. Robot and Human faces express emotion, and gestures speak as loud as words. Autobots and Decepticons never stand around and talk. They fall, crouch, transform, fly, fight, and destroy, enlivening scenes with gestures and motion. Whether Transformers kneel to talk or race toward an opponent with guns blazing, Johnson imbues each page with life and energy.

 

No matter how fiercely Daniel Warren Johnson attacks panels, Mike Spicer's vibrant coloring enriches scenes. You feel like you’re inside a speeding car with Carly or holding Spike in your lap as Optimus Prime races toward the hospital. Laser blasts brighten the night sky and radiate light onto nearby robots and buildings. People may fall into shadow but never sink into a sea of gray. Background colors showcase foreground action and enhance the energy propelling the characters through Transformers #4.

 

 

 

 

Italicized uppercase dialogue appears in white and colored balloons and boxes. The font is delicate but large. Rus Wooton’s sound effects continue to wow, enhancing scenes with blows, impacts, gunfire, racing cars, screaming planes, and explosions. Yet a moment of sacrifice proves the heart of this pulse-pounding issue. Thanks to Skybound and Image Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

While Humans and Autobots join forces to save Spike Witwicky's life, Carly and Cliffjumper discover a surprising kinship in Transformers #4.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

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

Amazing Spider-Man #41 Review

 

Writer: Zeb Wells

Penciler: John Romita Jr.

Inker: Scott Hanna

Colorist: Marcio Menyz

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Cover Artists: John Romita Jr, Scott Hanna & Marcio Menyz; Simone Bianchi; Lorenzo Pastrovicchio; Ryan Stegman, JP Mayer & Dave McCaig; Pete Woods

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $4.99

Release Date: January 3, 2024

 

The Beetle is on the Rose. Spider-Man and She-Hulk back Tombstone, but will they clash with Kingpin? And who does Typhoid Mary have the hots for? Let’s thwip into Amazing Spider-Man #41 and find out!

 

Story

Janice Lincoln (The Beetle) clung to her father's bedside. Yet when Gang War erupted, she left the hospital to protect his territory. Janice disregarded his pleas and went after Diamondback to discover Richard Fisk (The Rose) got there first. The Rose wants to hurt Tombstone to redress his loss in their last battle. With gamma-mutated Digger by his side, can the Beetle take him down instead?

 

Amid this story of avarice and revenge, Amazing Spider-Man #41 also grapples with the changing of the guard. Old regimes inevitably give way to the next generation. The question isn't if youth will take over, but how. Richard Fisk tried to usurp his father before. Madame Masque ordered Shotgun to toss her father out an upper-story window. Janice treated her father kindly but took over his organization.

 

 

 

Tombstone seems resigned to his fate. He heard Wilson Fisk was coming, so Lonnie Lincoln waited in his apartment. Kingpin brings Typhoid Mary and Hellfire Club troopers. Tombstone wants the Rose to attack him, not his daughter. But Kingpin knows Richard will hurt Lonnie more by killing Janice. Kingpin supports his son's move by taking on Tombstone. But will Kingpin step aside and let Richard dominate the criminal underworld? And will other crime bosses respect the Rose if Kingpin kills his son's rival?

 

Art

Forced to support a villain, Peter Parker looks smaller than everyone surrounding him in Amazing Spider-Man #41. Typhoid Mary's amorous acts distract him. Like his friend Randy Robertson, Peter tried having a relationship with someone who didn’t share his values. He savored the thrill their opposing energies sparked. In Black Cat’s absence, does Kingpin’s gal hold any attraction for Peter? Sure, it’d be weird. But Peter's vulnerable.

 

 

 

Spider-Man prefers to capture villains rather than pound them. But there’s not enough room for Spidey to swing from the ceiling and thwip opponents amid a score of brawlers in Tombstone’s high-rise apartment. So, he concedes and pummels them instead.

 

John Romita Jr. and Scott Hanna contrast fighting modes in this Gang War chapter. Madame Masque--a master strategist--waits to make her play. Spidey, She-Hulk, and even the Beetle fight but show restraint. Digger, Kingpin, and Tombstone go nuclear. There's a strange intimacy in Kingpin and Tombstone's confrontation. The aging crime bosses reveal a bond of respect in their expressions, actions, and words.

 

 

 

Marcio Menyz’s loaded palette adds a vibrant richness to each scene. The symmetry of the coloring also communicates. Black and purple adorn The Rose and The Beetle. Green dominates Digger and The Beetle's backups. Spidey's red-and-blue merges with a scrum of similarly colored Hellfire Club Troops. The troopers’ gold masks mirror that of Madame Masque. The yellow and orange haze surrounding Tombstone and Kingpin's double-page clash compliments the fires Typhoid Mary's swords ignite in Amazing Spider-Man #41.

 

 

 

Joe Caramagna thwips uppercase black letters into white balloons. Tombstone’s tiny words hover in clouds, suggesting his weakened state. Others grunt tiny words as they trade blows. Yet emotions embolden fonts and color words. Sound effects accompany vicious battles. Beyond storms of bullets and crashing bodies, a ringing cell phone captures everyone's attention in Amazing Spider-Man #41.

 

Thanks to Marvel for providing this essential chapter of the Gang War saga for review.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Crime lords battle for--and against--their ambitious offspring in Amazing Spider-Man #41.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

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

Savage Red Sonja #3 Review

 

Writer: Dan Panosian

Artist: Alessio Petillo

Colorists: Francesco Segala & Gloria Martinelli

Letterer: Dave Sharpe

Cover Artists: Dan Panosian, Frank Cho, Gary Frank & Cosplay

Publisher: Dynamite

Price: $3.99

Release Date: January 3, 2024

 

Red Sonja survived the tentacled beast that threatened her at the Keep of King Gresh. She left with his blood ruby but at the cost of Lucian and Celia's lives. What will Red Sonja do with the cursed stone upon her return? Let’s leap into Savage Red Sonja #3 and find out!

 

Story

The man who sold Red Sonja the map offers to buy King Gresh’s blood ruby. He claims he’ll pay more than anyone else. But wait, there's more! If she will procure its companion piece, he'll pay her far more than money.

 

Long ago, Red Sonja swore an oath that transformed her into a great warrior. Her brief time with Celia and the love Lucian bore for the red-haired maiden reminded Sonja of the life she might have lived. If she did as the map seller bids, could he free her from the lonely life of a death-dealing vagabond?

 

In Savage Red Sonja #3, the map seller claims he can. The blood ruby can wield great magic if reunited with King Gresh’s scepter. But if he's on the level, why didn't he mention its existence earlier? Dan Panosian's tale promises to grant the She-Devil With A Sword a second chance at happiness. Is the map seller more reliable than Queen Taramis of Shadizar, who promised Conan she would bring Valeria back to life in Conan The Destroyer? 

 

 

 

Art

The map seller finds Red Sonja sitting before a table heaped with food as Savage Red Sonja #3 begins. Despite her arduous journey through the wasteland, most dishes still look full. Unbidden, he sits across from her. He refills her tankard twice, then drinks from the bottle she ordered. Light from the fireplace illuminates his features. Yet darkness seeps into them when he asks if she killed the monster that haunted the wasteland and the Keep.

 

Red Sonja strides through the marketplace. Merchants drape fabric overhead and array walls with exotic goods. She follows Slayers from Shadizar into a building. A pig-shaped sign hangs over the door. While others dine, Sonja watches the slayers. Each lithe figure carries a spear. Capes flow around them, and lampshades adorn their heads. When Red Sonja takes a table, one slayer approaches her. Unlike the Three Storms that caused Big Trouble in Little China, a mask obscures the guard's features.

 

Francesco Segala & Gloria Martinelli employ a limited palette to achieve striking effects in Savage Red Sonja #3. Their colors breathe life into this small town perched at the edge of the wasteland and enhance the mood of Alessio Petillo’s scenes. The blood ruby shines brightly amid the map seller’s tale of King Gresh’s scepter. While red dominates scenes, is it significant that the guard who challenges Sonja also wears red?

 

 

 

Medium-sized uppercase black letters fill white dialogue balloons and colored narrative boxes. Dave Sharpe emboldens for intonation, while louder words are enlarged and colored. Sound effects accompany the battle. Yet Red Sonja's announcement, "Death is on the menu tonight," speaks most loudly. Take your best shot, Slayers of Shadizar! Red Sonja can take it!

 

Thanks to Dynamite Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Red Sonja mourns those she tried to save, offers to release someone from an oath, and investigates those who crave King Gresh’s blood ruby in Savage Red Sonja #3. 

 

Rating 8.8/10

 

For more covers and preview interior art see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.