Marvel Zombies: Red Band #1 Review

 

Writers: Ethan S Parker & Griffin Sheridan

Artist: Jan Bazaldua

Colorist: Erick Arciniega

Letterer: Travis Lanham

Cover Artists: Greg Land & Rachelle Rosenberg; Scott Koblish & Val Staples; Clayton Crain; Ryan Brown; Juan Shavrin; Ryan Meinerding, Amelia Vidal & Sung Choi

Design: Sarah Spadaccini

Editors: Emerald Bensadoun, Jordan D White & EB Cebulski

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Price: $4.99

Release Date: September 17, 2025

 

Aunt May worries about her nephew. He's an impressionable young man, and the TV shows such dreadful things these days. Uncle Ben also frets about how TV will hurt his young nephew. But Peter Parker can't help it. He wants to see the return of Reed Richards, Sue Storm, Jonathan Storm, and Benjamin Grimm. And there's another TV show he's not sure he wants his aunt and uncle to see. How will pop culture's penchant for sensationalism transform Peter? Let's thwip into Marvel Zombies: Red Band #1 and see.

 

Story

While Uncle Ben and Aunt May want to shelter their nephew from the world, Peter yearns to be a part of it. He's already taken steps to become someone noteworthy. But while he has garnered notoriety, someone else has grabbed the spotlight. Four people have stolen a NASA spaceship and launched it into space. Mission Control communicated with the rocket for a while. But as it returns to Earth, the astronauts’ status is a mystery in Marvel Zombies: Red Band #1.

 

Ethan S Parker & Griffin Sheridan’s story returns readers to the origins of the modern Marvel universe. It honors the evolving relationships between heroes like the Fantastic Four, Spider-Man, Daredevil, and their friends and families. But while Peter Parker dreams of attaining popularity and wealth, the Fantastic Four are thieves.

 

 

 

 

 

Marvel Zombies: Red Band #1 reminds us that it's vital to do things for the right reasons. Reed Richards may be brilliant. But his interests outweigh those of others. The Fantastic Four recognize they have changed. Still, they have attained power by breaking the rules and defying the system. And that will cause a lot of people a lot of pain, as the Fantastic Four raise a zombie army to overtake the world.

 

 

 

 

Art

Glowing windows defy the darkness descending on the Parker home as Peter, May, and Ben gather to watch TV together. After the Spider-Mask covers half his face, Peter rises to obscure the TV set and a framed print of Vincent Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night.” But Peter makes way when a broadcaster appears before the NASA logo. The Parker family watches as technicians in blue overalls work on equipment, while armed men in black uniforms and armor await the VTOL rocket’s return. 

 

 

 

 

As Jan Bazaldua fills Marvel Zombies: Red Band #1 with art that harkens back to an earlier era, Erick Arciniega imbues it with all the vibrance, nuance, and texture of modern coloring. Iron Man gleams in his golden armor, while Hulk radiates green. Joined by black, silver, and gold Thor in his red cape, the trio shines amid the glowing yellow buildings. Daredevil shows he belongs with the heroes when he arrives in black, red, and gold. But they must face off against the Frightful Four. Reed and Sue’s blue suits link them together, while Johnny’s flaming skin and Ben’s orange hide likewise bind the friends. All four demonstrate the decay afflicting them, as red fills areas formerly covered by skin.

 

 

 

 

 

Travis Lanham fills white dialogue balloons with black uppercase letters that grow bold for intonation. Yells enlarge words until they threaten to burst balloons, while zombies’ utterances fill cloudy balloons. The narrator speaks into yellow narrative boxes and often enlarges and colors the first letter of a sentence. Iron Man’s words fill yellow hexagons with red borders. Sound effects help readers feel the urgency of the rampaging horde. They also enhance the electrifying action as heroes and villains chart a course that will profoundly affect their world. Thanks to Marvel Comics for providing a review copy.

 

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

It's not just life-changing events that empower us. It's also what we do each day that determines if we are heroes or villains. Fueled by humorous dialogue and an insatiable hunger for Human flesh, Marvel Zombies #1 revisits the origins of the Marvel Universe and asks, "What if the Fantastic Four were villains?"

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

Wonder Woman #22 Review

 

Writer: Tom King

Artist: Caitlin Yarsky

Colorist: Alex Guimaráes

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Cover Artists: Daniel Sampere & Tomeu Morey; David Nakayama; Jeff Spokes; Homare; Serg Acuña; Kevin Wada; George Pérez & Trish Mulvihill

Editors: Marquis Draper & Brittany Holzherr

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99

Release Date: June 18, 2025

 

Steve Trevor awakens to find a letter on the adjacent pillow. Diana apologizes for having to leave before he awoke. His features glow after their first night together. Steve is amazed that Diana would help combat a mouse infestation. Still, he wants to see her again. What will he find when he arrives at the Capitol Building in Washington, DC? And does Diana share his hopes of transforming their date into a relationship? Let's leap into Wonder Woman #22 and see!

 

Story

Steve glides along, emotionally inhabiting cloud nine, as he walks across Washington, DC. A frightened stranger spurs Steve's pace. When he arrives, his training kicks in. Steve whips out his gun to defend Diana against a giant mouse in Wonder Woman #22. But Diana yells at Steve not to shoot.

 

Diana has endured terrible heartbreak. The news media turned the people of her adoptive country against immigrants from Themyscira. Sergeant Steel and AXE hunted down and killed her fellow Amazons. Steve's loss threatened to undo Diana completely. So, as she transitions from battling the Sovereign to forging a new normal, Tom King takes us back to the early days of Diana and Steve’s relationship.

 

In Wonder Woman #22, the Mouseman may not realize it, but he is paving the way for the Sovereign's war on the Amazons. The Mouseman's arguments evoke those of US citizens interviewed by reporters in the wake of Emelie’s deadly bar brawl. In this story that evokes Superman II and January 6, 2021, the Mouseman may seem off-balance. Yet he is all too familiar. We all want to protect our family’s interests. Who doesn’t want to ensure their community meets their needs? It's the way we pursue the causes we care about that defines whether we are heroes or villains.

 

Art

When Steve awakens, spears stand in a corner of the bedroom, while a shield bearing an eagle hangs above the headboard. A note leans against the pillow beside him, while his shirt and pants lie folded at his feet. After reading Diana's letter, he smiles and roleplays a conversation while dressing. When Steve walks outside, his relaxed gait contrasts with the man charging toward him in slacks, a long-sleeve shirt, and a tie. The man's satchel flies open. As the breeze carries the man’s papers away, Steve grasps him by the arms. The wide-eyed stranger wrenches Steve's T-shirt, points toward the US Capitol, and flees.

 

Caitlin Yarsky’s whimsical art in Wonder Woman #22 conveys the damage the mice have done to the Capitol building. Sections of the roof are missing, a column has snapped, and one mouse peers out of the broken dome. After casting a pleasing lavender shade in Diana’s bedroom, Alex Guimaráes paints Diana’s battle with the mice with a gentler hue. But there's nothing gentle about the mouse that threatens to devour Diana. Beneath light pink clouds, Diana grasps the mouse’s ivory teeth, braving splashes of bluish-white saliva while fending off the mouse’s mighty maw.

 

As Diana battles the mice, Steve's fright fades to awkwardness. Clayton Cowles fills white dialogue balloons with black uppercase text as Diana combats the mice in Wonder Woman #22. In contrast to his earlier roleplaying, Steve digs his hands into the pockets of his green camo pants. The letters in a balloon flowed like a gentle current when he awakened. Now, giant red squeaks resound through Washington, DC. Yet nothing frightens Steve more than Diana's reaction to the question burning inside him. Thanks to DC Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

While attraction draws people together, similar needs and interests forge lasting partnerships. As Steve and Diana enter the early fumbling stages of their relationship, Tom King, Caitlin Yarsky, Alex Guimaráes, and Clayton Cowles show how they must learn to trust each other and meet each other's needs in Wonder Woman #22.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

To look inside, see the Wonder Woman #22 Preview at Comic Book Dispatch. 

 

For more on Wonder Woman and DC, see the September 2025 DC Comics Solicitations at Comic Book Dispatch.

Spider-Man & Wolverine #1 Review

 

Writer: Marc Guggenheim

Artist: Kaare Andrews

Colorist: Brian Reber

Letterer: Travis Lanham

Cover Artists: Kaare Andrews; Mark Bagley & Richard Isanove; Nick Bradshaw & Jim Charalampidis; Clayton Crain; David Marquez & Matthew Wilson; Dike Ruan & Moreno Dinisio

Design: Adam Del Re

Editors: Cy Pedro Beltran, Mark Basso, Tom Brevoort, Nick Lowe & C B Cebulski

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $4.99

Release Date: May 21, 2025

 

Bill Branscome wants a meetup. So, Wolverine joins him in a HYDRA Safe House in Berlin. As with the fall of the USSR, SHIELD’s disbanding leaves lots of weapons up for grabs. Like James Bond, Bill doesn’t want a database of present and former undercover agents to become public knowledge. Can Wolverine prevent the Janus Directory from falling into the wrong hands? And where does Spider-Man fit into Wolverine’s mission? Let’s grab our Walther PPKs, leap into Spider-Man & Wolverine #1, and see!

 

Story

When Peter Parker arrives at the Coffee Bean, he’s late for another date with Shay. The couple are still trying to figure out if they’re compatible, and Peter’s constant tardiness isn't helping. Like Aunt May, Shay muses about why Peter can't hold a steady job and be a dependable boyfriend. Then Logan rolls in on his chopper and tells Peter to hop on the back. Once again, Peter leaves Shay wondering why she keeps coming back for more disappointment.

 

Marc Guggenheim spins his fast-paced story in a light-hearted, breezy style. Amid the battles he and Wolverine face, drama abounds in Spider-Man & Wolverine #1. Part of the drama comes from the weapons their foes deploy. More comes from the cliffhanger ending, which delves into both the protagonists' backstories. The spectacular foes of Spider-Man and Wolverine welcome the Janus Directory as bait to entrap their mutual nemeses.

 

While it forms a small part of the narrative, a key component of the drama in Spider-Man & Wolverine #1 occurs at the beginning. Peter Parker was working on becoming a better friend. Despite his duties as Spider-Man, Peter carved time out of his schedule for weekly meetings with Miles Morales and the other regulars at the ESU Coffee. Peter also made a commitment to Shay and himself on a pivotal date. Yet he keeps flaking out on subsequent dates with Shay. And each time, Peter assures Shay that the next time will be different.

 

 

 

Art

Kaare Andrews immediately impresses with Wolverine slashing apart HYDRA agents. Bill Branscome leans against brickwork in a tunnel, illuminated by his cigarette lighter. Images of Logan as a sniper and a secret agent overlay his profile. Spider-Man performs a midair costume change into civilian attire while somersaulting down to his date. Kaare Andrews overlays similar memories over Peter's profile. Then Logan rolls in on his Harley in a leather jacket, tosses Peter a helmet, and says, "Let's ride."

 

Brian Reber lavishes bright colors on scenes that rarely fill more than half a page. Yellow and orange fill panels as Omega Red and Kraven the Hunter unleash destruction on a SHIELD helicarrier. Black dominates a page of Spider-Man & Wolverine #1 as one character struggles with fear. Yet green and magenta remind us of Spider-Man's troubled past and perhaps hint at the reason he struggles to commit to Shay.

 

Travis Lanham fills white dialogue balloons and colored narrative boxes with black, uppercase letters. The words grow bold for intonation, swell for raised voices, and shrink for lowered voices. Stylish yellow and red banners introduce the locations in this fast-paced, dialogue-filled story. Sound effects accompany Logan greeting Bill, Kraven emulating Hawkeye’s attack on Nick Fury’s helicarrier, and Peter channeling his Computer Science lessons at ESU.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

While striving to do our best, sometimes what we do isn’t very nice. In Spider-Man & Wolverine #1, Logan’s past reminds us of the difficulties in keeping a group of like-minded people together, whether it's an organization like SHIELD, a team like the Avengers, or a relationship between two loving people.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.