G I Joe: A Real American Hero: Spirit #1 Review

 

Writer & Artist: Leonardo Romero

Colorist: Cris Peter

Cover Artists: Leonardo Romero, Jorge Fornés, Jimbo Salgado, Peter Smith, Marat Mychaels, Tiago Da Silva & Karen S Darboe

Editor: Alex Antone

Publication Design: Jillian Crab

Production: Ashby Florence

Creative Consultant: Diana Davis

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: April 16, 2025

 

When a fox leaps into the forest road, the approaching truck breaks. The park ranger leaves her vehicle as an eagle alights atop the cab. The bird watches as the Native American man wraps the wounded animal in a blanket. They put the animal in a crate in the bed. Spirit studies his surroundings and signals his partner. Then he lifts his arm, Freedom flies to him, and Spirit signs his intentions.

 

As his partner drives away, Freedom flies off above the evergreens. Clutching his rifle, Spirit follows the eagle into the forest. What will Spirit discover as he follows the fox’s tracks? And who has been harming the animals? Let's pull on our hiking boots, leap into G I Joe: A Real American Hero: Spirit #1, and find out!

 

Story

Claw marks on wood, severed limbs, downed trees, and blood litter the forest floor. Among the animal prints, Spirit finds a sizeable depression. His trek leads past an abandoned jeep. Then Freedom swoops in and leads Spirit to a clearing. In Leonardo Romero's story, the Native American tracker gazes into the valley. Tree trunks surround a parking lot dotted with vehicles. As the sunlight wanes, Freedom flies toward an immense dome bearing the same symbol as the abandoned jeep.

 

Inside, Spirit and Freedom find an animal-shaped robot. They discover an abandoned room filled with control terminals. A file, screwdriver, and screws rest on a tray attached to a central worktable. In the darkness, a robot assembly arm hovers over another animal robot on a rectangular surface. But this mechanical beast wears an animal’s skull in G I Joe: A Real American Hero: Spirit #1.

 

As a Native American shaman or medicine man, Spirit is attuned to nature. Tracking people and animals comes naturally to him. The bears wandering through the abandoned facility investigating the spilled liquids and animal bones do not frighten him. Spirit clutches a handgun and a flashlight. With the generators down, Spirit can see little beyond the circle of light from his flashlight.

 

Then, the claws jutting from an enormous hand rip through the wall. Freedom flies from his shoulder as Spirit falls to the cement floor. He gazes up at the strange being who injured and killed so many forest animals in G I Joe: A Real American Hero: Spirit #1.

 

Art

Spirit wears the same beige pants as his partner. Yet he wears a blue shirt with rolled-up sleeves, and a red bandana circles his dark, braided hair. Spirit bears a serious but not severe countenance as he studies his surroundings and favors gestures over words. A leather strap helps him direct his rifle with one gloved hand while he brushes aside branches with the other. Cris Peter fills Spirit's view of the research base with pink, mauve, beige, and tan as Billy flies off toward the lavender dome.

 

Leonardo Romero rapid-fires panels onto pages that communicate each moment of the fox's flight, Spirit's investigation, and a battle amid the darkness. More panels creep into scenes that help us feel Spirit's reverence for nature. The still metal beast he discovers lays like a fallen animal. Smoke rises as a metal monstrosity tears through walls. Circles divided into four quadrants reveal what Spirit sees when he peers into the scope of his rifle.

 

Signs in a control room highlight the base's fate. Descriptions beside a schematic give insights into what Spirit fights. A researcher's notes detail an endeavor to bolster the organization's combat forces in G I Joe: A Real American Hero: Spirit #1. Two pages display twenty layouts accompanied by Leonardo Romero's notes. Thanks to Image Comics, Skybound, and Hasbro for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Animal experimentation is nothing new. Nor do outsiders invading tribal lands surprise anyone. But when Spirit tracks a strange creature to its home, the Native American tracker discovers an abomination of unrivaled strength in G I Joe: A Real American Hero: Spirit #1.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

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

Bloodline: Daughter of Blade #5 Review

 

Writer: Danny Lore

Artist: Karen S. Darboe

Colorist: Cris Peter

Letterer: Joe Sabino

Cover Artists: Karen S. Darboe & Cris Peter

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $3.99

Release Date: June 21, 2023

 

Deacon Frost wanted Blade's blood to empower his followers. When that didn't work, he let Brielle's mom escape, then sent his posse in pursuit. Will Saffron lead Deacon's vampires directly to Brielle? Let's Hack And Slash into Bloodline: Daughter of Blade #5 and find out!

 

Story

Jay and Rebecca realize Brielle's in trouble. So her friends stick by her side. Saffron finds them where Blade trained Brielle. With the high stakes, our pink-haired dhampir spills what she's been going through as Whitney and her clone daddy's vampires arrive.

 

Saffron doesn't want her daughter to fight. Rebecca knows better. With her help, Brielle subdues Whitney and hacks and slashes vampires. Now she's got to rescue Blade from Whitney's foster daddy before he succumbs to a bestial rage.

 

Sadly, I learned no more about vampire cloning in Bloodline: Daughter of Blade #5. Might another Frosty Clone appear in Marvel's upcoming Blade series? As a newbie, I wondered why Blade struggled to prevent transforming into The Incredible Dhampir. If there was an explanation in earlier issues, I missed it. My biggest question about the series regards Brielle's pink hair. In issue #3, black cornrows surround her head. Yet when she goes outside, she's got straight pink hair. When a vampire grabs her by the hair, she yells, "Yeow!" No wig flies off. Am I just clueless about wig attachments and quick-acting dyes?

 

Despite my insatiable curiosity Danny Lore fulfilled all the individual character arcs in Bloodline: Daughter of Blade #5. Now I don't need to rush to the vitamin cupboard for a handful of iron pills!

 

Art

In the first panel of the first page, Jay, Rebecca, and Brielle look like they've emulated the fan who wanted to look more like Red Skull. Later profile depictions reveal the characters didn't visit Dr. Schlotkin. Citizens of Druidia: relax. You're in no danger of losing your oxygen.

 

In the last panel of the first page—a profile shot of Brielle and her mother—Saffron looks angry at Brielle. She's probably just upset that Deacon endangered Blade and her daughter. Still, I thought, "'Don't tell Bri off! She's doing her best!"

 

There were a few other irritants in Bloodline: Daughter of Blade #5. Saffron's car looked like a sedan in one panel and a crossover SUV in others. (It's probably the tilted camera views). The Incredible Transforming Blade resembles a Claymation figure. But by and large, Karen S. Darboe's art depicts action well, and the characters' emotions shine like beacons in Deacon's mausoleum hideout. While she probably draws digitally, her signature splatter gives the comic a hand-inked look.

 

When Darboe's noseless panel made me stumble, Cris Peters’ coloring helped me keep my feet. The headlights from Saffron’s car/SUV reflect off the front edge of Jay's headphones and one lens of his glasses. The harsh lighting makes the trio's teeth glow and overexposes their faces. I like how she brushes pink shadows around Jay and Rebecca's eyes and across the trio's neck. A reflection slashes across the vehicle windscreen. A brush streaks purple above Saffron as she hugs her daughter. The moonlight plays across the fabric of Whitney's black Emma Peel catsuit, dapples Brielle's hair, and washes out the vampires' stark features. Need I go on about the coloring in Bloodline: Daughter of Blade #5?

 

Joe Sabino’s uppercase black lettering in white dialogue balloons is easy to read and follow. Sound effects were balanced and effective in style, spelling, and frequency. I wasn't sure the few times characters used small font merited lowered voices. Still, his efforts helped bring this series to a satisfying conclusion.

 

Final Thoughts

Bloodline: Daughter of Blade #5 sinks its claws into your heart and doesn't let go until the final page. Fueled by devotion to family and responsibility for others, readers depart enamored by Brielle and thirsting for more pint-sized dhampir adventures.

 

Rating 8.3/10

 

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

Bloodline: Daughter of Blade #4 Review

 

Writer: Danny Lore

Artist: Karen S. Darboe

Colorist: Cris Peter

Letterer: Joe Sabino

Cover Artists: Karen S. Darboe & Cris Peter; Betsy Cola; David Mack; Joshua “Sway” Swaby

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $3.99

Release Date: May 17, 2023

 

The teen years can be rough. But no one's life has changed more radically than Brielle's. Thankfully, her father has entered her life and explained her dhampir heritage. Can Blade help her hone her newfound powers to become a legendary monster hunter like him? Grab your wooden stakes, leap into Bloodline: Daughter of Blade #4 with me, and let’s find out!

 

Story

Who hasn’t lost someone important to them and wanted them back? In Brielle’s case, it’s a father she’s never known. Suddenly he’s there for her when she needs him most. He trains her to use her new powers and gives her presents. (Well, warrior presents). She can even hug him, and he'll hug back. Now she's got a real family like everyone else. Only she hasn't. Someone abducted her mom!

 

Blade plays the responsible dad and sends her to school the next day. Her friends Jay and Rebecca are there for her, but New Girl Whitney provokes her. Catfight! Meanwhile, Blade’s got his knives out at a cemetery. He may have more experience than Brielle, but neither fight goes according to plan in Bloodline: Daughter of Blade #4.

 

I had trouble understanding the events following Brielle and Whitney's fight. One aspect concerns Whitney. The second is how the school enforces the principal's decision. There's also a mention of cloning. Huh? Tell me more about how that works, please! Still, the biggest mystery is why Blade—a dhampir or Daywalker—wears his Sunglasses At Night.

 

What’s that? So he can keep track of the visions in his eyes? Thanks for that, Corey Hart!

 

 

 

 

Art

Karen S. Darboe certainly likes her inks. Instead of drawing fully-realized backgrounds, she often delivers black splatter. Some panels remind me of watching an inker apply inks mixed with varying amounts of water to paper at a recent convention. The effect suggests shadows, dirt, and smoke. She often centers smaller panels on pages. I found this distracting on one page, as Brielle’s black boot frames the left side of the page, and Whitney’s yellow tennis shoe stands out on the right. Still, showcasing the latter allowed her to capitalize on it in the bathroom scene.

 

Jay and Rebecca are Brielle's friends and her primary support group. Yet their features always look a little blurry to me. Likewise, Blade and Brielle's battles often blur, as if vampires and monster hunters move too fast to capture. Still, I liked how Darboe shows Brielle's emotions in the opening scenes as twinkling stars, an ellipsis, and a dragonfly. I also enjoyed how she shows Brielle's reflection in Blade's sunglasses.

 

 

 

The coloring in Bloodline: Daughter of Blade #4 is fiery, feisty, and fun. You’ll see that immediately with Brielle’s purple and pink hair. Cris Peter paints scenes and characters in appealing colors and disguises all-too-many blank backgrounds with a textured color wash that seems like a colorist's response to an artist's love of ink blotting and spattering. Perhaps the white tears on Brielle's dark face aren't realistic, but they communicate.

 

Joe Sabino’s uppercase black lettering in white dialogue balloons is easy to read and follow. He displays Brielle's thoughts in pinky-purple narrative boxes that contrast with the black lettering. I particularly enjoyed how he expresses Brielle's shock at the damaged, blood-splattered kitchen.

 

As with the story, I didn't understand the art in a few panels in Bloodline: Daughter of Blade #4. These chiefly involved Blade. I don't want to throw out any spoilers, but twice he screams (or yells—sorry, Real Vampire Hunters don't scream). I'm not sure why. Was Blade in pain or merely trying to distract Deacon Frost?

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Bloodline: Daughter of Blade #4 delivers a teen-friendly story of family, empowerment, and the supernatural in an appealing, all-ages package. With a new Blade series hitting comic shops this July, there’s never been a better time to discover the world of Marvel’s night-stalking Daywalker.

 

Rating 8/10

 

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

The Deadliest Bouquet Trade Paperback Review

 

Writer & Letterer: Erica Schultz

Artist: Carola Borelli

Colorists: Gab Contreras & Tom Chu

Cover Artists: Adriana Melo & Cris Peter

Publisher: Image

Price: April 12, 2023

Release Date: $16.99

 

Poppy awakens early in the morning, the day after Valentine's Day. She picks up her ringing phone on her bedside table. Her sister Rose tells her that their mother died. She's just found Jasmine’s bloody body on the floor of her flower shop. What happens next? Let’s dig into The Deadliest Bouquet trade paperback and find out!

 

Story

Poppy flies from California to New Jersey to comfort her sister. That evening, their remaining sister Violet arrives from Europe. While the police discuss the evidence—and a tattoo on Jasmine Hawthorne's hand—the sisters try to cope with their loss. Instead, childhood issues arise. They nearly come to blows, and Rose throws a knife to prevent Violent Vi from storming out. Poppy's husband arrives, accompanied by children Aster and Holly. As an attorney, Derek Winterberry wants to help. But Poppy wants him and the children to stay at the hotel. Her mother's death brings back memories of her abusive father and how he died.

 

Their obsessive mother trained them in self-defense. Like Gamora and Nebula, competition and family dynamics drove them apart. Poppy tried to remake her life by marrying Derek and moving across the United States. While she’s raising two fun-loving children, Poppy’s secretive nature leads to constant arguments with Derek. Violet left home even earlier, and her violent life remains a secret. As in the parable of the Prodigal Son, Rose remained at home to assist her mother in the Hawthorne flower shop. She blames Poppy and Violet for abandoning her, forcing her to play caregiver to their troubled mother.

 

The Deadliest Bouquet trade paperback also introduces us to Police Detective Bayani and Officer Gutierrez. Their investigation into Jasmine’s death will raise questions about an unresolved murder twenty years ago, as both bullets came from a Nazi pistol. While I wish I'd seen more of these two, Erica Schultz keeps her sights on Poppy, Rose, and Violet. She interweaves present-day discussions and fights with poignant and painful flashbacks that show why the girls grew up as damaged--and yet as strong--as they've become. It's a talky book, but the drama never seemed overdone. The story speaks to essential truths regarding family dynamics and behaviors that lead to dysfunctional ones. Plus, while these three little girls never went to the Police Academy, they've mastered enough self-defense techniques to work for Charles Townsend. They display those many times in The Deadliest Bouquet Paperback.

 

Art

While the story is set in 1992--during the years in which the British comedy Keeping Up Appearances aired--Rose and Violet look nothing like Hyacinth Bucket's sisters. They may have the same names, but Violet's slim features and flowing hair resemble a supermodel. She's also got a supermodel's prima donna temperament and outlook. Rose's hairstyle kept reminding me of Wilma Flintstone, the woman Lister and Cat (aboard the Jupiter Mining Corporation’s Red Dwarf) called The Most Desirable Woman Who Ever Lived. Poppy resembles your typical Got It Together mom, even if that gradually proves untrue.

 

The rest of Carola Borelli's characters are attractive if drawn with less verve and personality. The exception is Jasmine Hawthorn, who often appears slightly unhinged and appears in flashbacks. The family house reminded me of the Halliwell sisters' Victorian San Francisco home on TV's Charmed. The home's interiors--and glimpses of New Jersey--always appealed. Overall, the art suggests an Archie comic or a daily newspaper strip.

 

Gab Contreras & Tom Chu paint The Deadliest Bouquet Trade Paperback with bright and bold colors. Their broad palettes combine well, and the characters stand out. Shadows and highlights lend realism. Indoor lights glow. Numerous flashbacks, while faded, are equally attractive. One could argue the differences between Contreras' first three issues and Chu's #4 and 5, but they're minor.

 

Apart from an abandoned subplot and an abrupt ending, my main complaint is with Erica Schultz's lettering. Her uppercase lettering may be too small for easy reading in print. I like how she embeds sound effects like Sniff and Koff into her dialogue balloons and how she suggests intonation with bold letters. Still, I wish she had not frequently faded the already-small lettering for lowered voices. What should have proven a triumph--matching offscreen dialogue with a flower and matching border color in rectangular dialogue balloons—kept confusing me. The yellow flowers belonged to Rose, yet I kept linking them with Violet's hair. I also wished she had made the red poppy orange, symbolic of Poppy’s adoptive state. (I kept confusing flowers with sisters as I wrote this. Hopefully, I stated all this correctly). Still, I had no trouble linking the orange shield with Detective Bayani, and Shultz’s frequent sound effects enhanced her story.

 

Final Thoughts

Family secrets and dysfunctional relationships lead to tragedy for the three sisters in The Deadliest Bouquet Trade Paperback. Erica Schultz and company deliver a buoyant story filled with likable and relatable characters that—while probing and truthful—never loses momentum to sink into a pool of misery.

 

Rating 8/10

 

To view more cover art from the series see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.