Rafael García: Henchman #2 Review

 

Rafael García: Henchman #2 Review

Story: Peter Murrieta

Writers: Peter Murrieta & D.E. Schrader

Artist: Ben Herrera

Colorist: Emmanuel Torres

Letterer: Clay Adams

Cover Artists: Flops, Ben Herrera & Ramon Villalobos

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $4.99

Release Date: April 22, 2026

 

Lita said he'd be a good squad leader. Or at least, that's what Rafael heard. It's been two years since she kicked him out. Still, with his squad leader’s retirement, perhaps Rafael has a shot at impressing the love of his life. But can Rafael be a cool boss like Danny and handle the demands of leadership? And can he resist the call of cannabis when his former girlfriend sells stems and seeds? Let’s strap on our combat armor, leap into Rafael García: Henchman #2, and see!

 

Story

Once Rafael secures his promotion, he makes a beeline for Medical Organix. His former girlfriend is happy to see him. Still, she's on guard. She's worked hard to get where she is in life, while Rafael has just coasted along. Lita also objects to Rafael’s assumption that they can pick up where they left off. Two years have passed since she kicked him out. Even if he has changed, that period of separation is hard to ignore.

 

Rafael García: Henchman #2 sparkles with characters who love each other even if they don't know how to get along. Peter Murrieta and D.E. Schrader also take time to show how Rafael performs on a new mission. Unlike before, when he could ignore the rules and goof around with Kyle while others loaded planes, now people are looking to Rafael for direction. And while Kyle encouraged him to try out for squad leader, it’s another thing entirely for him to take orders from Rafael.

 

Amid the action and drama, Rafael García: Henchman #2 peels back the curtain to reveal more of what happens at Maverick Inc. As his new boss said, they like promoting from within. Maverick may be a shadowy figure no one sees. Still, the supervillain tries to move with the times. So instead of hanging out in a castle, their company headquarters is called FlexWorx. Ongoing training helps employees learn new skills and keep up to date on modern labor regulations. Regular meetings with their workers help maintain morale, as the Justice Battalion is always ready to squash Maverick's schemes.

 

Art

Rafael spreads his arms wide as he appeals to Lita. Then, his hands fall to the counter, before crossing his chest as he grows resigned to Lita's demands. When she turns away, Rafael's gaze falls. Yet after the heavyset squad leader addresses his past, his pierced and tattooed ex-girlfriend smiles when he finally relays his news in Rafael García: Henchman #2.

 

As Emmanuel Torres lavishes bright, cheery colors on Ben Herrera's endearing art, Lita's green T-shirt links with the teal Maverick symbol on Rafael's chest. His dark blue T-shirt matches his suit adorned with black armor as Rafael directs his squad on a night mission. A metal apparatus gleams against the blue sky as light glows from windows in nearby brown and black towers. But while their gold canisters link with a red, white, and blue hero, the emblem on his chest and shield form an uneasy association with Lita's T-shirt.

 

Clay Adams fills white balloons and boxes with black uppercase letters that grow bold for intonation. Rafael’s thoughts appear in puffy clouds. The balloons grow spiky when people communicate via radio. Enlarged letters dance in a joyful moment. Words swell and threaten to burst balloons when suffering distress. Giant yellow letters link with his new boss’s hair and earrings as Rafael strives to tag onto this rising star at the company he loves. Thanks to Titan Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Rafael has advanced to Squad Leader. He has reconnected with his girlfriend. He thinks he’s finally arrived at where he needs to be. Rafael may love Lita and admire his supervillain leader. Still, he must work on improving his skills and abilities to forge a secure relationship with Lita and gain the respect of his squad in Rafael García: Henchman #2.

 

Rating: 9/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Rafael García: Henchman #2.

 

For how this series began, see my review of Rafael García: Henchman #1.

 

Rafael García: Henchman #2 Preview

 

COVER A: FLOPS

Lita said he'd be a good squad leader. Or at least, that's what Rafael heard. It's been two years since she threw him out. Still, with Danny's retirement, perhaps he has a shot at impressing the love of his life. But can Rafael be a cool boss like Danny and handle the demands of leadership? And can he resist the call of cannabis when his former girlfriend sells stems and seeds at Medical Organix?

Here's all the info from Titan Comics: 

RAFAEL GARCIA HENCHMAN #2

Writer: Peter Murrietta, David Schrader

Artist: Ben Herrera

Cover Artists: Flops, Ben Herrera & Ramon Villalobos 

Publisher: Titan Comics

Issue Length: 32 Pages (full color)

Price: $4.99 

Release Date: April 22 2026

 

The Future is Empty. Rafael endures a Maverick, Inc. team-building (and blaming) seminar before leading his squad on a dangerous mission that brings them a blast from the recent past

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are more cover options:

 

 

COVER B: BEN HERRERA

 

COVER C: RAMON VILLALOBOS

Thanks to Titan Comics for sharing this preview with us.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Rafael Garcia Henchman #1. 

 

More info: 

https://titan-comics.com/c/2427-rafael-garcia-henchman/

Doctor Who: The Prison Paradox #1 Preview

 

COVER A: JAY ANACLETO

Even when the Earth couldn't support them anymore, some Humans refused to leave their home planet. A shopping mall provided refuge until a malignant entity arrived to prey on them. After battling the Scream Sommelier and Cybermen, what foes will the Fifteenth Doctor face next? 

Here's all the info from Titan Comics: 

DOCTOR WHO: THE PRISON PARADOX #1 (OF 4)

Format: Comic book

(W) Dan Watters  

(A) Sami Kivelä

Publisher: Titan Comics

FC • 32pp • $4.99 • On Sale November 5, 2025

 

Experience a Doctor Who adventure like no other as the Doctor, Belinda, and an unlikely team of allies infiltrate a prison holding monsters and villains from across the cosmos.

 

With new friends and old foes, and some old foes who might just be new friends, it’s an adventure that will take you across the Whoniverse...and beyond! 

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are more cover options:

 

 

COVER B: PHOTO

 

 

COVER C: SAMI KIVELÄ HOMAGE COVER

 

COVER D: NIPUNI

 

 

COVER E: FLOPS

COVER G: FLOPS COLOR YOUR OWN COVER ($5.99)

COVER H: JAY ANACLETO VIRGIN VARIANT

Not Pictured:

COVER F: JAY ANACLETO VIRGIN FOIL ($14.99)

 

Issue #1 is available to pre-order from your local comic shop. For UK/Europe fans, visit Forbidden Planet. 

 

 

Thanks to Titan Comics for sharing this preview with us.

 

To revisit the previous volume, see my review for Doctor Who: Everyone Must Go TP. 

Rick and Morty vs the Universe #4 Review

 

Writer: Daniel Kibblesmith

Artist: Jarrett Williams

Colorist: Alessandro Santoro

Letterer: Crank!

Cover Artists: Dave Bardin, Troy Little, Flops, Tom Fowler with Bill Crabtree, Jarrett Williams with Alessandro Santoro & Phil Murphy

Publisher: Oni Press

Price: $4.99

Release Date: October 22, 2025

 

To escape his exile, Rick led his Rixpendables in an all-out assault on Bloodryck. His grandson faced worse odds. On Margin World, every hand was against Marty. But they were all different versions of Marty. Now, Rick and Morty are back together. And they’ve got pouches! How will they use all the weapons inside them? Let’s leap into Rick and Morty vs the Universe #4 and see!

 

Story

After starting amid a firefight at a funeral, the clock rewinds to Rick and Morty regrouping in a dead universe. As Rick tests out his weapons, he finds one that shoots pure meta energy, allowing him to overcome Parmesan's block on his ability to summon portals. Then the two travel to Prime Universe's funeral, where the shootout occurs.

 

Rick and Morty Vs the Universe #4 is a madcap romp. Daniel Kibblesmith's story features action, drama, and ethical discussions. At least, young Morty is interested in ethics. Rick strives to ground his grandson in the facts as he sees them. Morty ponders how things ought to be. The discussion grows uncomfortable as Rick gets a little too honest with Morty. But it’s a reminder that growing up is difficult, and family dynamics doubly so.

 

The protagonists have suffered from their separate journeys. Rick had to harden himself to the death of his other selves to reach the spaceship and reunite with his grandson. All the carnage young Morty witnessed affects him more. So Morty hesitates to end everything, even if his grandfather insists that they'll all return in Rick and Morty Vs the Universe #4.

 

Art

Rick and Morty meet a group of gods adorned in blue, purple, orange, and yellow. Alessandro Santoro lavishes these colors on the funeral shootout, where Jarrett Williams shows starry silhouettes with blue lines to define their limbs. Crank fills the pages of Rick and Morty vs the Universe #4 with black uppercase letters in white balloons and white letters in black balloons. Sound effects enhance the action amid Deaths at a Funeral. Music notes arise from the universe singing and playing a small electronic keyboard. Thanks to Oni Press for providing a review copy.

 

Now, here are other cover options:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Torn between his instincts and loyalty to his grandfather, Morty must make decisions that will affect billions of people. Rick and Morty vs the Universe #4 reminds us that each of us must decide how we live. We can either follow our elders or make our own decisions. But as Rick points out, we can't have it both ways.

 

Rating 9/10

Rick And Morty: Last Mort Standing #1 Preview

 

COVER A BY DAVE BARDIN

 

The Universe really doesn't like Rick. So, she hurls him into the Metal-Lands, a Non-Dimensional Potentiality stratum where Rick joins the Non-Canonical Nine. Rick's other selves enjoy a carefree existence. Until he arrives, that is!

What does Morty get up to while Rick rallies the Ricksters into a army to help him escape and reboot the universe? Here's all the info from Oni Press: 

RICK AND MORTY VS. THE UNIVERSE: LAST MORT STANDING #1 (ONE-SHOT)

WRITTEN BY DANIEL KIBBLESMITH & ALEX FIRER ART BY FRED C. STRESING COVER A BY DAVE BARDIN COVER B BY TROY LITTLE PRIME VARIANT BY FRED C. STRESING INTERLOCKING (1:10) BY FLOPS EVENT VARIANT (1:20) BY TOM FOWLER A RICK AND MORTY VS. THE UNIVERSE TIE-IN EXTRAVAGANZA! Rollicking writers Daniel Kibblesmith (Loki) and Alex Firer (The Onion) and artist Fred C. Stresing (Adventure Time) run headlong toward RICK AND MORTY: THE END! as Rick and Morty’s galactically gargantuan summer event pits Morty against Morty against Morty for all the marbles! As Rick tries (and fails) to trigger a reboot of reality. . . where the hell has Morty been? Just fighting for survival in a teenage boy’s dream/nightmare—a real life battle royale for ultimate Morty supremacy against all the non-canonical Morties of this void in an eternal life-and-death game of Capture the Key—the key that will unlock the massive door in the massive wall that imprisons them all here while the Non-Canonical Ricks have their serious adventures.   Our Morty is smarter and more competent than these losers. He’s a REAL BOY. And he can be again . . . he just needs to get that key and escape! ON SALE OCTOBER 8th, 2025 | $4.99 | 32 PGS. | FC   Here are more cover options:     COVER B BY TROY LITTLE   PRIME VARIANT BY FRED C. STRESING INTERLOCKING (1:10) BY FLOPS EVENT VARIANT (1:20) BY TOM FOWLER

Kickstarter Cover

Thanks to Oni Press for sharing this cover preview with us.

Rick and Morty vs The Universe #3 Cover Preview

 

COVER A BY DAVE BARDIN

 

Have you been keeping up with Rick and Morty (and Jerry, and Beth, and Space Beth)? They've held epic parties. Unfortunately, sometimes the best parties have casualties. It happens. Still, why did one have to be a universe? Now, Rick and Morty are in a race against time to reboot the universe, before the grief-stricken universe ruins their lives! 

Confused? Don't be! Just order an oversized novelty margarita at Planet Pluto Casino, and see what happens next!

Here's all the info from Oni Press: 

RICK AND MORTY VS. THE UNIVERSE #3

WRITTEN BY DANIEL KIBBLESMITH  ART BY JARRETT WILLIAMS COVER A BY DAVE BARDIN COVER B BY TROY LITTLE INTERLOCKING VARIANT (1:10) BY FLOPS EVENT VARIANT (1:20) BY TOM FOWLER PRIME VARIANT (1:50) BY JARRETT WILLIAMS   ENTER: BLOODRYCK! Rick and Morty’s infinite secret crisis across many, many (and then some) Earths is about to get REALLY crazy as chaos-incarnate creators Daniel Kibblesmith (Loki) and Jarrett Williams (Speed Force) launch an overmuscled, overpowered, self-aware, power-fantasy version of Rick hell-bent on killing every other copy of himself into the midst of Rick and Morty’s first-ever summer event!   In order to escape, he’ll have to recruit an expendable squad of NON-CANONICAL RICKS all from outside of continuity. You’ve heard of the DIRTY DOZEN, now meet the NON-CANONICAL NINE! For those of you in the back: Yes, that’s nine—count ’em—nine obscure Ricks from outside any continuity we’ve ever encountered before. And all of them are on the run from Bloodryck!   Wait, this is the first appearance of BLOODRYCK and THE NON-CANONICAL NINE, too? If you’re thinking what we’re thinking, surely this comic will be worth one billion dollars one day. Buy three (and thank us later)!   ON SALE SEPTEMBER 24TH, 2025 | $4.99 | 32 PGS | FC   Here are more cover options:   COVER B BY TROY LITTLE   INTERLOCKING VARIANT (1:10) BY FLOPS   EVENT VARIANT (1:20) BY TOM FOWLER PRIME VARIANT (1:50) BY JARRETT WILLIAMS Thanks to Oni Press for sharing this cover preview with us.

Rick and Morty vs the Universe: Beth 'Til Death #1 Preview

 

COVER A BY DAVE BARDIN

Life can get confusing at times. Especially when your wife gets cloned. Still, Jerry wants to prove his undying affection to his wife. Or should that be wives? Either way, he taking a page out of Buck Rogers' book, and hitching a ride to Vegas in Space. Only the casino isn't on Sinaloa, and Jerry won't have Marla Landers or Twiki to help him if the 10 and 11 table proves more difficult than building towers with Jenga.

Here's all the info:

RICK AND MORTY VS. THE UNIVERSE: BETH 'TIL DEATH #1

WRITTEN BY DANIEL KIBBLESMITH & JAKE BLACK  ART BY SUZI BLAKE  COVER A BY DAVE BARDIN  COVER B BY TROY LITTLE  INTERLOCKING VARIANT (1:10) BY FLOPS  EVENT VARIANT (1:20) BY TOM FOWLER  PRIME VARIANT (1:50) BY SUZI BLAKE  A RICK AND MORTY VS. THE UNIVERSE TIE-IN EXTRAVAGANZA! Mad-with-power co-writers Daniel Kibblesmith (Loki) and Jake Black (Sonic the Hedgehog) join totally-run-amok artist Suzi Blake (Aggretsuko) for the next seismic special tying together Rick and Morty’s first-ever summer event! With the impending nuptials of Prime and Parm Universe, love is in the air, and Jerry, being Jerry, has a stupid idea. Things have been rocky with Beth lately, what with separating and getting back together and then the arrival of Space Beth. So to return to solid ground with their marriage, Jerry is going to re-propose and ask Beth to renew their vows. One problem: Jerry doesn’t know which Beth is the one he married. Actually, no one does! ON SALE SEPTEMBER 17TH, 2025 | $4.99 | 32 PGS | FC Here are more cover options:  COVER B BY TROY LITTLE INTERLOCKING VARIANT (1:10) BY FLOPS EVENT VARIANT (1:20) BY TOM FOWLER PRIME VARIANT (1:50) BY SUZI BLAKE  Thanks to Oni Press for sharing this preview with us.