Superman 2026 Annual: Year One Thousand #1 Review

 

Superman 2026 Annual: Year One Thousand #1 Review

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artists: Eddy Barrows & Yasmine Putri

Colorist: Adriano Lucas & Yasmine Putri

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Cover Artist: Eddy Barrows & Alejandro Sánchez

Variant Cover Artists: Mark Spears; Ariel Olivetti; Mario Foccillo & Pressy; Alex Eckman-Lawn

Editors: Jillian Grant & Paul Kaminski

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $5.99 US/Variant $6.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: July 29, 2026

 

Superman's friends miss him. His Justice League teammates scour the timestream for him. Yet no one misses Clark Kent as much as Lois Lane. She misses her husband, co-worker, and confidant.

 

As the dangers to Earth multiply, so do the threats to her family. Lois Lane is a hardworking reporter. She oversees a global news outlet. But how does Clark Kent's absence affect his wife? And when Clark returns, how will wielding divine powers and his journey through time have altered him? Let's leap into Superman 2026 Annual: Year One Thousand #1 and see what happens!

 

The Return of Superman: Story

While apart, Lois dreams they are together. Arising from their bed, she finds him on the couch, pouring his thoughts onto his laptop. Like her, Clark expresses who he is through his writing. Yet despite their dedication to spending their lives together, Clark envisions a different future than Lois.

 

Unlike his adversary Lex Luthor, or even his friend Batman, Superman never sought to transform his reality. Forging a perfect future where his Kryptonian family still lives is anathema to him. Instead, Superman seeks to heal the damage Darkseid had wreaked on reality. After correcting the damage to the past and present, Superman sensed further damage in the future. So, he sets off to correct those wounds.

 

In Superman 2026 Annual: Year One Thousand #1, Clark has an investment in the future. After Time Trapper's revelation, he should protect the timestream to safeguard himself. Instead, Superman risks imprisonment and amnesia. Like people in his present, even his adversaries in the future deserve a second chance.

 

The Return of Superman: Art

When Lois Lane rises from bed, she finds Clark sitting on the couch. As they talk, a robed figure surrounded by chains and fire burns in Clark’s mind. Eddy Barrows replays Superman's memories of the Omega tournament across the top of a double-page spread, while Superman’s efforts to repair reality line the bottom. More glimpses from his odyssey spill around him as he flies onward. Superman discovers a vessel navigating the timestream that differs greatly from Booster Gold's. Yet as Superman remembers all he has lost, lightning crackles through the air, emanating from a giant white silhouette.

 

As Adriano Lucas lavishes luminous colors on Superman 2026 Annual: Year One Thousand #1, Lois Lane rises from a dark bedroom bathed in indigo and violet. She finds Clark in a lighter room surrounded by shades of orange, violet, and red. But as he travels through time, yellow and orange dominate Superman's appearance. The blue of his costume fades as the red S symbol on his chest glows yellow and orange. His cape turns yellow, as does the headdress denoting the power he wields. Yet as Superman forms a streak of yellow and orange across a sea of red, blue, and yellow, he encounters a region surrounded by an entire spectrum of colors, with white at its center.

 

Legion Found: Story

As Superman navigated the future, he encountered some moments in time that were fixed, while others were more malleable. Yet when he discovered people who had turned their backs on villainy, Superman realized that he could break down the barriers to protect them and give others a similar chance to turn their lives around. But after he uses his power to help them and vanishes into the timestream, Superman creates an absence.

 

Everyone realizes that Darkseid is returning. In Legion Found, heroes and villains scramble to gain a foothold before the war for reality resumes. Joshua Williamson’s story evokes how Lois Lane sought to emulate her husband during her brief tenure as Superwoman, and why she prefers to report the news rather than make it.

 

Legion Found: Art

Two children in a playpen bring a smile to a man’s face. As he picks them up and carries them outside, his wife lingers in the doorway. Hovering among the broken buildings and ruined towers, someone watches the happy family who live in the shack surrounded by sandbags. Then a sudden arrival, trailing yellow and orange, casts smoke into the air, creating more rubble for the survivors to clear away.

 

As Yasmine Putri adorns her artwork with vibrant colors in Superman 2026 Annual: Year One Thousand #1, red-and-brown roofs cover gray shacks. The blue, red, and yellow visitor watches as lightly colored people and colorful bubbles surround the family. At first sight, the object at the crash site seems little different from the dark gray ruins of the nearby city. Yet when silver appears, green represents the opposite of willpower.

 

Lettering

Ariana Maher fills white dialogue balloons with black uppercase letters. Clark's white uppercase thoughts fill blue boxes, while in his transformed state, Clark's blue thoughts fill white boxes. Other characters' offscreen dialogue appears in colored boxes. Color-coded balloon borders further identify speakers. As sound effects accompany the dangers threatening the timestream, Superman's blue dialogue swells as he seeks to correct the imbalance. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Everyone wishes they had the power to improve the world around them. But when Superman's already formidable powers get upgraded, he risks his life to preserve everyone's ability to make their own choices. Still, villains lurk everywhere, evoking Batman's unhappiness over Superman's decision to divest himself of godhood in Superman 2026 Annual: Year One Thousand #1. As Joshua Williamson's stories look back at Action Comics #1100, they also pave the way toward the Kingdom of Zod crossover and the Legion of Super-Heroes series.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside, see my preview of Superman 2026 Annual: Year One Thousand #1.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Action Comics #1100: Mission Failure.

 

For what happened after that, see my review of Action Comics #1100: Superman Meets Superboy.

 

For how Superman obtained divine powers, see my review of DC K.O. #5.

 

For how Lois helped her husband during DC K.O., see my review of Superman #35. 

 

 

Zatanna #3 Review

 

Zatanna #3 Review

Writer, Artist, Colorist & Cover Artist: Jamal Campbell

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Variant Cover Artists: Carla Cohen, David Talaski & Chrissie Zullo-Uminga

Editors: Marquis Draper & Brittany Holzherr

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: June 24, 2026

 

Like any other territory, the magical realm needs people to safeguard it. So, while Wonder Woman initiates an overhaul of the Justice League, and Emperor Aquaman extends Atlantis' influence to distant stars, Zatanna vows to strengthen the magical realm before Darkseid's return. Instead, she finds an enraged plague spirit ravaging the musical community. And as she attempts to protect people from its predations, Zatanna prevents government agents from capturing the maddened spirit.

 

Director Bones of the Department of Extranormal Operations has opened a new Occult Office. With Agents Di Manes and Rhodes at his disposal, he intends to police the magical realm. And Director Bones isn't interested in sharing power with Zatanna. Will the Occult Office's agents capture the murderous plague spirit? And after Di Manes and Rhodes interrupt her ceremony, can Zatanna recover from their attack? Let's grab our spell books, leap into Zatanna #3, and see!

 

Story

Like the Blue, the Magical Realm unites distant places and worlds. So when Elodie sang to awaken the memories of a plague spirit, Agent Di Manes hijacked her healing ceremony. After the plague spirit attacked Elodie, Zatanna knew she had to act fast. But in the process, the magic backfired. And amid the explosion, Zatanna fell.

 

When Papa Midnite hastily initiates a Voodoo ceremony, Zatanna's spirit visits Guede Nibo. While helping Zatanna recover her memory and her spirit form, the Loa offers suggestions on what she should do next. But in magic, everything has a cost, and Zatanna knows she must pay the price for his assistance.

 

In Zatanna #3, Papa Midnite's condemnation comes back to haunt the self-appointed Prime Magus. His Voodoo ceremonies protect the host. Zatanna may not be as reckless as the magicians at the Serpentes Shrine. Yet, confident in her abilities, Zatanna improvised a bespoke spell that endangered Elodie and damaged the club where her spirit resides.

 

After Zatanna's meeting with Guede Nibo, Jamal Campbell's story follows her quest to discover what transformed a grieving muse into a plague spirit. Papa Midnite may frown on Zatanna's decision to become Prime Magus. Yet others applaud her determination to safeguard the Magical Realms in Zatanna #3. As she seeks to recapture and aid the plague spirit, Zatanna learns more about the Department of Extranormal Operations’ new Occult Office and how Director Bones intends to police the Magical Realms.

 

Art

Paint adorns Papa Midnight’s face and body as he initiates his ceremony in Zatanna #3. After Elodie ministers to Zatanna, her attendants carry the magician before hurling her into a fabric-draped realm. Zatanna hovers like Alice amid pillar-like candles and ceremonial objects as she beholds a giant. Then the Loa picks her up. As he holds her in his hand, his features fade as he reveals where she must travel for the answers she seeks.

 

Jamal Campbell adorns his detailed art with bright colors in Zatanna #3. Yet blue defines Elodie’s musical realm. As he sits before a red-framed window, Zatanna hovers in an indigo room. While her red arm evokes a hero in another universe, Guede Nibo smiles as new skin wraps around her arm like a compression bandage.

 

After leaving the gray-and-brown club, Zatanna visits another blue realm, where she transforms into her iridescent glorified form. Red accompanies Agent Di Manes’ efforts to secure power over the magical realm and shows how the plague spirit affects its victims. Yet just as violet flowers blossom from the troubled muse, violet fills the air as Zatanna combats the Occult Office agent. 

 

As Zatanna addresses the reader, she explains how she created the compass adorning the orange location banners. Ariana Maher's black uppercase dialogue inhabits white balloons. Elodie’s speech fills blue balloons, and Guede Nibo’s off-camera dialogue inhabits orange boxes. Zatanna's spells appear as backward dark-pink letters in light-pink balloons. Laughter follows the reverberating sounds of a Voodoo ceremony, while white music notes swoop through a deadly confrontation. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Papa Midnite accuses Zatanna of wanting to rule the Magical Realms. While Zatanna asserts the purity of her desire to serve as the Prime Magus, others’ motives are less so. And as Zatanna gains insight into the dangers threatening the Magical Realm, she navigates a path between gods and monsters in Zatanna #3.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Zatanna #3.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Zatanna #2. 

For how this series began, see my review of Zatanna #1. 

For Zatanna's fight against Harley Quinn, see my preview of DC K.O.: Zatanna Vs Harley Quinn #1: All Fight Month Round Five Preview  

Summer of Supergirl Special #1 Review

 

Summer of Supergirl Special #1 Review

Writers: Sophie Campbell, Gail Simone & Mark Waid

Artists: Belén Ortega & Cian Tormey

Penciller: Emma Kubert

Inker: Sandra Hope

Colorists: Tríona Farrell, Trish Mulvihill & Alex Guimarāes

Letterers: Becca Carey, Ariana Maher & Steve Wands

Cover Artist: Belén Ortega

Variant Cover Artists: Pablo Villalobos & Tula Lotay

Supergirl Movie Variant Cover Artist: Mahmud Asrar with Mike Spicer

Editors: Jillian Grant & Brittany Holzherr

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $5.99 US/Variant $6.99 US (cardstock)

Release Date: June 24, 2026

 

When the weather turned cold amid the holidays, Kara Zor-El started to feel down. How could Kara enjoy time with her new family and friends when all the people she knew in Argo City are dead? Yet, life has its rhythms. And even though Kara has taken a few beatings, when trouble shook the miniaturized Kryptonian city of Kandor, she arrived to save the day.

 

After Lesla-Lar offered Kara a means of regaining what she lost in Kandor, Kara also discovered something that could give her more power than before. But when she interrupts Lobo during his first job following his self-imposed isolation on Azzplaque Major, Supergirl's fate seems to intertwine with the newly reinstated bounty hunter. Will they frag each other into extinction? Or will Supergirl, Lobo, Krypto, and Dawg team up for an extraordinary mission together? Let’s leap into Summer of Supergirl Special #1 and see!

 

Main Man’s Best Friend: Story

After sitting in a jail cell, Lobo, Kara, Krypto, and Dawg attend a hearing. As they face the judge, Lobo pleads innocence, while Kara Zor-El contends they are both guilty.

 

When fate separates them, Dawg returns to Midvale with Kara and Krypto in Summer of Supergirl Special #1. Lobo’s best friend even helps as Kara uses her powers to aid others. But Dawg misses his master. And unlike Lobo, he doesn’t understand the reasons for their separation.

 

As Sophie Campbell examines the bond between a pet and its owner, she also illustrates how Kara’s attitude influences the people around her. Lobo remains the petulant child who didn't want to conform to rules on Czarnia. Yet a little love can go a long way in encouraging good behavior, turning enemies into friends, and helping make the world a better place.

 

Main Man’s Best Friend: Art

As a judge sits beneath an enormous seal, Lobo raises his chain-wrapped forearm. Beside him, Kara smiles at Lobo’s antics. As Kara’s counsel hovers before the judge, his dispassionate discourse infuriates Lobo. Yet as Krypto, Dawg, and Leegra follow Kara’s lead, Lobo’s counsel slumps and supports his head on the table.

 

As Tríona Farrell adorns Belén Ortega’s cheery art with a bright palette, blue creeps into the green courtroom as Kara makes her case. Red tinges Lobo’s retelling of events, and the evening sky on Plinko Astra. Yet as Crush’s red attire seems linked with her father’s antics, stars twinkle in the violet air when she meets Leegra in Summer of Supergirl Special #1.

 

Becca Carey fills white dialogue balloons with black uppercase letters, while Kara’s thoughts fill white clouds. White offscreen dialogue appears in colored boxes. Sound effects accompany more property damage than the night of Clarissa Giltedge’s No Beer New Year party, while enlarged yellow letters help Kara appeal to Lobo’s deeply buried good side.

 

Lost Girls: Story

Taking an exercise break is a great way to relieve stress. But when Brad uses the company mascot to make a statement, Supergirl worries that it will hurt others. Yet instead of getting a good workout, Kara discovers she may have bitten off more than she can chew. When another hero arrives to help, Supergirl still wants to blow off steam. But by sharing her struggles with a like-minded person, Kara’s tension lessens, helping her reconcile with her painful past and look toward the future in Gail Simone’s story.

 

Lost Girls: Art

When a futuristic female robot tears through a concrete wall and a chicken-wire fence, guards brace to fire, while a fireman warns people of danger. As they gaze through a window, Brad’s coworkers look concerned and aghast, while his expression makes an unintended comparison with a supervillain. After Supergirl’s face reflects off the robot’s smooth metal face, Emma Kubert and Sandra Hope combine a tilted silhouette scene with a close-up of the robot’s attack.

 

When the gold robot induces fear, the guards respond with yellow-and-orange gunfire. While the red in her costume links Supergirl with the emergency responders, her gold belt suggests empathy for the robot’s plight. As Trish Mulvihill adorns this ten-page story in vibrant colors, Supergirl shares two colors of her costume with the hero who comes to her aid.

 

As Ariana Maher fills white balloons with black uppercase letters, the robot speaks in a machine font. Small black letters in a yellow banner locate the reader in time and space. Kara begins her tale by sharing her white thoughts in blue boxes. But her narration gradually disappears as Kara interacts with the similarly minded hero.

 

Who Is Supergirl: Story

Having regained a physical form, Red Tornado’s consciousness no longer inhabits the Justice League Watchtower’s computer systems. So, when he needs to recheck the data in the personnel files, Red Tornado asks Conner Kent to review the Super-Family archives. In Mark Waid’s story, Jon Kent finds Steel helping Conner with his assignment. Yet while both belong to the Super-Family, they are puzzled by contrasting entries. Jon may enjoy teasing Conner about living in the past. Yet as he recognizes Conner and Steel's concerns, Jon realizes he can help them understand Kara's place in the Super-Family.

 

Who is Supergirl: Art

As Jon enters the immense room, Kara's numerous costume changes fill a wall monitor in Summer of Supergirl Special #1. A white-and-indigo hologram showcases her origins, while a color photo displays Kara's arrival on Earth. Alex Guimarāes adorns Kara’s early choices with yellow, orange, and brown. But as Kara takes on more color, Cian Tormey’s blue line drawing of all the people who helped Kara appears behind her. 

 

Steve Wands introduces characters and the location with black uppercase letters in yellow boxes. Black uppercase dialogue fills white balloons as they debate Kara’s position in the Super-Family. Offscreen dialogue in white and colored boxes helps the trio realize the breadth and depth of Kara’s contributions to the people around her. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Kara Zor-El may always feel like an outsider. Yet her vibrant spirit and positivity help her make friends wherever she goes. Lesla-Lar’s memory lingers as Kara protects Midvale while advocating criminal reform. And as friends bond over similar interests, histories, and food, Superman's son helps encapsulate Kara's rich history in Summer of Supergirl Special #1.

 

Rating 9.7/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Summer of Supergirl Special #1.

 

For how Lesla-Lar offers to help Supergirl power-up, see my review of Supergirl #14.

For Supergirl's encounter with Lobo, see my preview of Lobo #4. 

For Clarissa's No Beer New Year party, see my review of Supergirl #9. 

For the latest entry in DC's Elseworlds Universe, see my review of Supergirl: Survive #1. 

 

Zatanna #2 Review

 

Zatanna #2 Review

Writer, Artist, Colorist & Cover Artist: Jamal Campbell

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Variant Cover Artists: Adam Hughes, David Talaski & Guillem March

Editors: Marquis Draper & Brittany Holzherr

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: May 27, 2026

 

When a plague spirit leaves a trail of flower-covered corpses in its wake, the Department of Extranormal Operations mobilizes. As the plague spirit tears through DEO combat teams, Zatanna and her familiar, Allura, appear. While Zatanna seeks to pacify the marauding entity, Agent Rhoades follows her progress through a rifle sight.

 

As the magical realms change in response to people's emotions and actions, Zatanna vows to protect everyone, everywhere. Yet as Zatanna patrols the realms from her Shadowcrest Theater, the DEO remains on alert. What dangers will threaten people next? And will the DEO's new Occult Affairs division help or impede Zatanna's efforts to protect them? Let’s grab our spell books, leap into Zatanna #2, and see!

 

Story

Between her missions to protect the magical realms, Zatanna ministers to the plague spirit in her Shadowcrest Theater. While she thinks her singing is fine, Zatanna recognizes that the plague spirit sought out exceptional music artists. So, Zatanna decides to consult with an expert on how to assuage the maddened spirit. Leaving her familiar at home in the Shadowcrest Theater, Zatanna travels to Memphis, Tennessee.

 

While Zatanna consults a musician she respects, Zatanna #2 also peers behind the cloak of secrecy in Washington, DC. On their first operation together, Agent Di Manes and Agent Rhoades returned empty-handed. Considering all the lives the plague spirit took, and the DEO agents who returned in body bags, Director Bones has mud on his face. He's second-guessing his decision to open the Office of Occult Affairs. To reassure his superiors that he’s not taking on more than he can chew, Director Bones needs Agent Di Manes’ second operation to go off without a hitch.  

 

In Jamal Campbell’s story, Zatanna yearns to alleviate the plague spirit’s suffering. Yet, she also recognizes the danger it represents. The plague spirit has killed 22 civilians in the United States, more DEO agents, and hundreds of people in other countries. And that's only on Earth. Should it escape her containment, the angry spirit will kill again. And with the magical realms intertwined, the inhabitants of innumerable worlds remain at risk.

 

Perhaps Elodie Arnette, an artist unbound by time, can defuse the plague spirit. Yet Zatanna wonders if she can trust the person Elodie works with. Zatanna may have appointed herself Prime Magus of the magical realms. But like Agent Rhoades, when he observed Zatanna’s efforts in LlaTiren Na Sio, the Verdant City of Elves, Zatanna must let Elodie grab the spotlight in Zatanna #2.

 

Art

As inky tendrils invade a circular room, Zatanna hovers above the central dais. When she bites her lip, the drops of blood banish the sea of darkness. As light returns, a giant orange flower blossoms atop the temple. Then, a white-and-gold snake dragon arises among the pinnacles to investigate the temple set atop one natural stone pillar. Zatanna’s glorified form shines with a rainbow of radiant colors, as Allura resembles a hovering child dancing with delight.

 

In Zatanna #2, the Prime Magus addresses the reader. Surrounded by the intricate scrollwork of her Shadowcrest Theater, she dresses in formal attire and a tophat. Black links the unintended consequences of ambitious magicians with Allura, Zatanna, and DEO agents. Yet the shape and color of Agent Di Manes' face link him with Zatanna, as she pays the price for wielding her spectacular magic. While pink links Zatanna with the plague spirit, orange surrounds the Prime Magus when on her own. Yet blue links Elodie with her partner in their endeavor.

 

A blue compass and black letters in yellow-and-orange banners locate readers in time and place. Black uppercase dialogue inhabits white balloons. Zatanna's thoughts fill pink boxes, while her spells appear as backward dark-pink letters in light-pink balloons. Her familiar speaks white letters into purple balloons in its natural state, and black balloons when transformed. After blue music notes wind through the air, Elodie speaks into blue balloons. Yet Ariana Maher uses colored lines to scrub away letters when unforeseen trouble threatens to curtail Zatanna’s plans. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Performing magic necessitates solving puzzles. And Zatanna admits that one reason people become magicians is that they love puzzles. But while Zatanna seeks aid in completing one, other parties seek to solve it first in Zatanna #2.

 

Rating 9.7/10

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Zatanna #1. 

 

For another story featuring a different version of Zatanna, see my preview of Absolute Wonder Woman #16. 

Justice League Unlimited #19 Review

 

Justice League Unlimited #19 Review

Writer: Mark Waid

Artist: Dan Mora

Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Cover Artist: Dan Mora

Variant Cover Artists: Bruno Redondo; Nathan Szerdy; Mario “Fox” Foccillo & Prasad Rao; Kevin Wada

DC x Sonic Variant Cover Artist: Carlos D’Anda

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: May 27, 2026

 

Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel are two of the wisest people Batman knows. So, if they say it's necessary, he will go along with their plan. Still, Batman remains unsold on the idea of superhero amnesty. As The Boom asks, aren't the bad guys still bad?

 

Blue Beetle assures his fellow heroes that they have installed safeguards to ensure ethical behavior that preserves life. Yet with the combatants in the Omega Tournament undertaking missions to ensure they are ready for Darkseid's next appearance, will enough heroes remain to guide villains on the path to redemption? And once the supervillain community learns of their pilot program, will the Justice League's leaders be flooded with applicants? Let’s leap into Justice League Unlimited #19 and see!

 

Story

Jim Gordon is not a fan of the Supervillain amnesty, and he’s not alone. While pundits ponder the merits of forgiving the many-times guilty, the younger members of the League feel slighted by older villains assuming roles of greater importance. Wonder Woman led the drive to tarnish the Justice League's image. Now, she addresses the concerns of world leaders. But after his years of public service and standing by Batman through thick and thin, Jim Gordon has been demoted to beat cop. Once again, this stalwart supporter of costumed superheroes sees his world turned upside down.

 

After Booster Gold, Mary Marvel, and Martian Manhunter follow Superman’s time tracks, two more teams pursue missions in Justice League Unlimited #19. Batman admitted to Jim Gordon that the JLU had lost control of the narrative. Now he watches as a team featuring Lex Luthor and Starro tackles another team of villains. And while Guy Gardner ferries the Power Bank back to Oa, Metamorpho’s concern about the Justice League Watchtower's security seems ironic.

 

But then, Mark Waid packs his story with ironies. Lex Luthor is one of the most capable people on the planet. He triumphed in the Omega Tournament until Time Trapper dealt Superman a wild card. So, even though he’s on probation, when Lex Luthor hits the field, he navigates changing circumstances more ably than others. Like Starro, Lex Luthor may be a villain. Yet he wants Earth to survive as much as anyone.

 

As Wonder Woman said, the rules have changed. After the Omega Tournament, Humanity can't afford to differentiate between heroes and villains. Now, Wonder Woman and the other leaders must consider what costs Humanity must pay to survive in Justice League Unlimited #19.

 

Art

After a splash page showcasing Jim Gordon’s ire, Dan Mora shows Batman and his friend from a distance. While searchlights pierce the night sky, they don’t project a Bat-signal. In the Hardwired studio, Livewire’s bangs shield her features as she quietly supports the Justice League’s new program. Jack Ryder, with his hair styled above his forehead, believes in standing up for his rights. After Captain Atom addresses the Pentagon, Lex Luthor stands amid rubble beside a tattered United States flag. Yet Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman, who advocated for Lex Luthor’s inclusion, stand behind him.

 

As Tamra Bonvillain lavishes a loaded palette on Justice League Unlimited #19, superheroes in red assume supportive positions on the battlefield and in the Watchtower. Lex Luthor, Guy Gardner, and Air Wave share the same color and a recent rise in importance. Yet after Batman addresses Jim Gordon under a purple-pink sky, purple-clad Dr Polaris, a reformed villain, battles another purple-clad villain who projects purple-pink energy.  

 

Characters speak black and colored uppercase letters in white dialogue balloons, while offscreen dialogue often appears as white letters in black and green boxes. Lowered voices shrink letters, while intonation emboldens them. Ariana Maher introduces characters and scenes with white letters outlined in blue. Sound effects enhance boom tube travel, unexpected developments in space, and a fight for forgiveness. Yet amid all the action and drama, Starro urges calm, as it speaks pink letters into white clouds with pink borders. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

To prevent Darkseid from dominating reality, the Justice League traveled to the Earth's core to fight in the Omega Tournament. Yet after praising Superman for sharing his alpha energy among his combatants, Wonder Woman orchestrates a reorganization without representation. And while Batman doesn’t want Lex Luthor in the Justice League, he cannot argue with Lex’s public stance on superhero reform in Justice League Unlimited #19.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

For a look inside, see my preview of Justice League Unlimited #19. 

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of Justice League Unlimited #18.

 

For how this story arc started, see my preview of Justice League Unlimited #17. 

 

Zatanna #1 Review

 

Zatanna #1 Review

Writer, Artist, Colorist & Cover Artist: Jamal Campbell

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Variant Cover Artists: Kyuyong Eom; Adam Hughes; Jorge Corona & Sarah Stern; Julian Totino Tedesco

Editors: Marquis Draper & Brittany Holzherr

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 Card Stock

Release Date: April 29, 2026

 

She fought alongside heroes and villains to preserve reality from Darkseid's dominance. Now, as she returns to this reborn world, Zatanna receives a vision. The Omega Tournament was just the opening battle in Darkseid's war. She must prepare for Darkseid's next attempt to dominate reality.

 

Zatanna's combatant in the Omega Tournament, Harley Quinn, has undergone a radical change of identity. What threats will Zatanna face in her quest to become a greater hero? And how will her new mission transform Zatanna as she strives to safeguard all she holds dear? Let’s grab our magic kits, leap into Zatanna #1, and see!

 

Story

You don't know what you've got until you almost lose it. So, as Zatanna returns to life after the Omega Tournament, she asks, “Who am I? And what do I most care about?” While many heroes protect cities, countries, or planets, Zatanna inhabits the magic realm. Some people worship magic. Others exploit it. Zatanna concludes that the order protecting and preserving the magic realm has passed away. So, lacking anyone else to step up, Zatanna crowns herself the realm's protector. From her traveling Shadowcrest Theater, Zatanna can visit any place the magical realm intersects, and safeguard anyone who uses or is affected by magic.

 

After her theatrical declaration, Zatanna #1 leaps forward in time. The newly dubbed Prime Magus has been following a trail of destruction. A plague spirit controls its latest victim. Amid the blood and bodies, she tries to pacify the victim, a young elf possessed by the malevolent entity. Yet the plague spirit feeds on fear. And the girl, already frightened by being taken over, lashes out.

 

In Jamal Campbell’s action-packed story, Zatanna has help. A familiar named Allura leaps to Zatanna’s assistance to separate the girl from the plague spirit. Yet as Zatanna risks her life on behalf of the elf, others watch. They've already lost one assault team, perhaps more. They realize they're out of their depth. But if Zatanna fails, they hope they can overcome the incomprehensible entity that has taken so many lives.

 

This group may play by different rules. And like some of the new members of the Justice League, they may have checkered pasts. But like the Prime Magus, they've gotten their world back. And in Zatanna #1, they don't want to lose it again.

 

Art

Jamal Campbell surrounds the opening pages in gold fretwork and captures scenes inside ornate gold frames. Action spills across two pages when Zatanna pursues the plague spirit, and later when she commands its attention. Varying panel shapes enhance Zatanna's rescue effort, while inset panels occasionally tile atop one another for closeups and a 3D effect. Direction lines tear a pathway through places, as Zatanna pursues and fights the plague spirit.

 

As Jamal Campbell paints Zatanna #1 in black, white, and red, purple fills the air of the magical realm. The red plague spirit resembles a growth. Yet it can also form strands that entangle its victims and opponents. Pink accents this purple realm, touching even the soldiers waiting in readiness. Yet red links the Prime Magus with the plague spirit, suggesting that just as she wishes to command this realm, Zatanna must take some responsibility for its creation.

 

Like the images that introduce this malignant entity, black uppercase dialogue inhabits white balloons. The announcer introduces the star of the show with stylized white font in black balloons with a rainbow border. Zatanna's thoughts fill pink boxes, while her spells appear as backward dark-pink letters in light-pink balloons. Blue static obscures weak radio transmission, while Allura speaks white letters into purple balloons. Ariana Maher’s sound effects enhance Zatanna's first trial, while enlarged letters fill panels with the screams of a soul in torment. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

We’re all drawn to the things we love. And sometimes, it seems sufficient to live vicariously through the people we admire. As Zatanna follows a trail of destruction, dead bodies, and broken families, the Prime Magus sees what happens when love transforms into obsession in Zatanna #1.

 

Rating 9.6/10

To look inside see my preview of Zatanna #1.

Superman #35 Review

 

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Artists: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira & Julio Ferreira

Colorist: Alejandro Sánchez

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Cover Artists: Dan Mora, Guillem March, Rod Reis, Davide Paratore & Chris Stevens

Valentine’s Day Variant Cover Artist: Chrissie Zull-Uminga

Editors: Jillian Grant & Paul Kaminski

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Release Date: February 25, 2026

 

Sun Boy gifted Lois Lane with superpowers. Superboy-Prime possesses Kryptonian abilities like her husband. Lois has downloaded crucial information about Darkseid into a robot her husband created. But the person who can most benefit from the archives is Time Trapper, who killed her husband as Doomsday.

 

The Superman robot follows Lois's instructions. Yet as it travels with her and Superboy-Prime, the robot asks itself, "Who am I? And what would Clark do in this situation?" But two hours can fly by when you're trying to save the planet. When Lois reaches the Justice League Watchtower, they find Time Trapper near death. Then the Omega Legion arrives, and they’re not interested in furthering Time Trapper’s interests. Will Darkseid’s heroes destroy the Kryptonian archives inside the Superman robot? And will Superboy-Prime use his power to kill his enemies? Let’s find a phonebooth, leap into Superman #35, and see!

 

Story

Everywhere Time Trapper looks, he sees failure. He has tried to help the Justice League save the future. Instead, he watches as the Earth transforms into Apokolips. While ostensibly working alongside him to help one of Earth’s heroes become King Omega, the Quantum Quorum helped Earth’s villains sneak into the K.O. Tournament. Time Trapper didn’t even realize that Darkseid had possessed one of his teammates.

 

With his hopes betrayed, Time Trapper watches Superboy-Prime, Lois Lane, and Robo-Superman confront the Omega Legion in Superman #35. As the trio fights for their lives, they also battle over their identity. Superboy-Prime yearned to compete in the K.O. Tournament. Yet he realized that defending Lois and Robo-Superman was more important than the thrill of victory. Robo-Superman knows Superman created him with Kryptonian powers and abilities. Then Superman kept Robo-Superman in storage, fearing the robot would value its life over others.

 

Of all of them, perhaps Lois has seen the greatest transformation. Lois has traded the freedom of being a reporter for the responsibility of running a worldwide news organization. Now, Sun Boy has gifted Lois with Kryptonian powers, transforming her identity once again.

 

As Joshua Williamson covers the three-pronged battle on the Justice League Watchtower, he also reveals the combatants’ hearts. Each of the characters has something to prove in Superman #35. Whether they see themselves as heroes, villains, synthetic people, or echoes of people who died long ago, each of them must decide if they will yield to Darkseid’s dominance or cling to hope for a better future.

 

Art

As Time Trapper reflects on his past with Superman, a two-page spread shows Superboy-Prime and Robo-Superman fighting in Clark's stead. The Omega symbol looms large on the Legion's uniforms, while Saturn Girl's glowing irises echo part of the symbol on her chest. Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, and Julio Ferreira portray the fighting and death Saturn Girl envisions with a series of diagonal slashed panels. The artists counter a one-page montage of Lois and Saturn Girl fighting with a two-page collage portraying the battle taking place in their minds.

 

While Alejandro Sánchez paints Superman #35 with rich and powerful colors, red, pink, and orange convey the power Saturn Girl revels in. When she touches Lois’ forehead, Saturn Girl’s face appears on Lois’ purple eye. While white energy crackles from Lightning Lad’s eyes, the sheen of Superboy-Prime's pauldrons and vambraces enhances his warrior status. As they risk their lives to prove their worthiness, a red star forms in Superboy-Prime's right eye, and Robo-Superman's exposed metal eye glows red.

 

Time Trapper’s thoughts appear in orange boxes, while Saturn Girl’s off-camera dialogue appears in pink boxes. Ariana Maher places uppercase letters in colored narrative boxes and white dialogue balloons, while Robo-Superman speaks in bold block letters. Words grow bold for intonation and emotional intensity and shrink for lowered voices. Lois's lowercase reply inhabits a cloud with a slithering arrow when searching for the strength to carry on. While sound effects enhance the battle, the sound of sparking electronics hits the hardest. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

While some see hope as a character flaw, others equate it with freedom. But as heroes and villains fight for their reality, each realizes that hope is the key to getting a second shot at the life they want in Superman #35.

 

Rating 9.7/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Superman #35. 

All-New Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #5 Review

 

Writer: Stephanie Phillips

Artist: Von Randal

Colorist: Matt Milla

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Cover Artists: David Marquez & Marte Gracia; Meghan Hetrick; Guihiru; Francesco Manna & Mattia Iacono; Salvador Larroca & Edgar Delgado

Logo Designer: Stacie Zucker

Production Designer: Kat Walkington

Editors: Emerald Bensadoun, Martin Biro, Jordan D White & CB Cebulski

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $3.99

Release Date: December 10, 2025

 

Gwen Stacy is angry that swapping her symbiote for her former spider-powers led to Wes’ death. She’s upset that the symbiote sent Cindy Moon to the hospital. Gwen raged at her father when he tried to keep her from apprehending the symbiote. And she’s beyond vexed that the symbiote took over Fabian.

 

Gwen recognizes that, all too often, she’s relied on her anger like Linus clings to his blanket. She’s tired of acting first and thinking later (if it’s still necessary). But when her former symbiote takes over the inmates at Ryker's Island and makes the Army want to bomb the prison, should Gwen rethink her approach to problem-solving? Or, with so many lives on the line, is this the perfect time to forge a better way forward? Let’s thwip into All-New Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #5 and see!

 

Story

Carlos LaMuerto thought he could overturn the legal system and run New York City his way. Mayor Cage reacted by throwing him in Ryker’s Island and tossing away the key. Gwen’s former symbiote homed in on Fabian’s resentment over his father’s plight and empowered the new Black Tarantula to free his father. But the "alien goo" from outer space has grown in strength after Gwen wielded the powers of the Cosmic Cube. While it controls Fabian, the symbiote also infects the other angry prisoners in Ryker’s.

 

As her symbiote created this problem, Gwen feels responsible for resolving the crisis. But the symbiote knows how to combat her when she’s angry. So, when Spider-Man and Silk thwip by to help her, Gwen says, “I have a plan,” in All-New Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #5. When Spider-Man, Silk, and Agent Anti-Venom dismiss it as “barely a concept,” Gwen isn’t happy. 

 

 

 

Like Gwen and the inmates in Ryker’s Island, “Mr Military Man” is also unhappy. Agent Anti-Venom talked him into waiting to bomb the prison. But the clock is ticking, and he doesn't know these costumed "freaks." So, he's angry at himself for compromising his plan to protect the people of New York.

 

In Stephanie Phillips’ story, Gwen wants to be more proactive. She's tired of other people trying to run her life. Just as she made up flyers to form her own band, and then interviewed Cindy Moon before auditioning her, Gwen Stacy learns to be more like Hannibal Smith in All-New Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #5.

 

 

 

Art

A white glow surrounds scenes as Von Randal imbues Gwen’s idea with a Mission Impossible vibe. But the Spider-society and Anti-Venom’s current situation proves more frantic. After webbing the attacking symbiotes, Von Randal devotes one page to the teammates' initial distrust of her idea, and the next to Gwen sticking by it. Then the camera switches to Mr Military Man, as he confers with a subordinate. He gazes at a tablet and frowns.

 

Matt Milla injects backgrounds with an ever-changing palette of bright and energetic colors. The black fabric of the spider-suits shimmer amid their fast-paced thwipping. The black, gray, and green symbiotes with Rorschach-like faces evoke KISS fans from outer space learning of the band's retirement. The symbiotes' green tongues and glowing symbols form a link with the soldiers arrayed to exterminate them. Yet later, a figure adorned in black, pink, and purple offers Gwen hope for tomorrow in All-New Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #5.

 

 

 

Ariana Maher thwips uppercase black letters into white dialogue balloons and boxes. Gwen’s thoughts appear as red letters in turquoise-outlined boxes. A thick line of turquoise underlines the words that locate us in time and space. The text grows bold and swells for intonation, while a scream threatens to burst a balloon. Sound effects fill the air as symbiotes shriek, and heroes “send the cure” to Ryker’s Island. Thanks to Marvel for providing a review copy.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

The Cosmic Cube imbued Gwen Stacy with godlike powers. But it also destroyed her world. As she remakes her life on Earth-616, Gwen wants to make sure she’s in charge. So, Gwen addresses her father’s concern that donning her costume saps her joy by daring to believe she can change in All-New Spider-Gwen: Ghost-Spider #5.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.