Archie In Hell #1 Review

 

 

Archie In Hell #1 Review

Writer: Patrick Horvath

Artist: Tyler Crook

Colorist: Francesco Segala

Flatter: Sabrina del Grosso

Letterer: Tyler Crook

Cover Artists: Tyler Crook, Patrick Horvath, Paul Azaceta, Jessie Lonergan, Kano, Dan Parent, Mirka Andolfo & Mahmud Asrar

Publisher: Oni Press

Issue Description: 32 Pages, Full Color

Price: $4.99 US

Release Date: November 4, 2026

 

Archie Andrews loves life. He’s got the best girl in the world, Betty Cooper. But then, he also adores Veronica Lodge. When he's not dating the lovely ladies in his life, Archie hangs out with his friend Jughead. His life in Riverdale couldn't be better. Still, Archie will do his best to make it Heaven on Earth. What happens when Archie resolves to pack more into each day? Can Archie juggle his love life, schoolwork, sports, time with his friends, and still find time for charitable endeavors? Let’s leap into Archie In Hell #1 and see!

 

Story

It may be the weekend. Still, Archie rises at dawn. He has a date with Betty in the afternoon, then another with Veronica in the evening. But first, he wants to help the food drive. Archie grabs cans of food for Reach Out Riverdale and goes out to collect more. The people in Archie's life received the same appeals. Still, Archie is the one who mobilizes them to contribute.

 

Life has taught Sabrina to be careful. When she gained her magical abilities, Sabrina tried to shirk them. Yet in Archie In Hell #1, Sabrina no longer needs Salem to urge her to take her role as Greendale's protector seriously. Instead of rebuking her for not being cautious enough, her familiar thinks Sabrina is being too cautious. Yet when a spell alerts her to danger, the teenage witch needs her aunts' help to understand the stakes and who might be most endangered.

 

As Patrick Horvath splits the narrative between his two protagonists, Archie does good works, while Sabrina races to protect him. Along the way, Reggie seeks to discredit Archie to gain Veronica's favor. Yet even though he inadvertently helps his rival, Reggie and Sabrina are two steps behind the villains. In Archie In Hell #1, the Order of A’ldarax has planned its operation well. And whether they succeed or fail, Riverdale, Greendale, and the world will never be the same.  

 

Art

As the sun rises, Archie's mother carries a hamper of clothes to Archie's bedroom. Her jaw drops when she finds his room empty. Archie's father sits in the dining room, nursing a mug as Archie passes. Both parents lean out to watch their industrious son depart. A framed painting of a thatch-roof cottage links Fred and Mary Andrews’ conventional lifestyle with Hilda and Zelda Spellman’s old-world magic.

 

As Tyler Crook links Riverdale and Greendale, white space frames rectangular panels. Francesco Segala and Sabrina del Grosso adorn Archie In Hell #1 with limited and full palettes. Yellow sunlight streams into Archie’s bedroom as candles fill a dark room with yellow light. The teenage witch confers with her aunts amid yellow light while Reggie rides his yellow motorcycle. Archie's orange hair links him with Sabrina's top and Reggie's helmet. Archie's red car seems to herald bloodshed. Yet as panels adopt more diagonal angles, green conjures change in Archie's reality.

 

While Tyler Crook places black uppercase letters in white dialogue balloons and colored narrative boxes, Salem’s white uppercase letters appear in black balloons. Reggie’s words quickly shrink and swell as jealousy unbalances him. Yet when they recognize the danger threatening their world, Sabrina lowers her voice, Archie’s words grow bold and unbalanced, and both friends conjure large letters into spiky balloons. Sound effects link Archie's car with Reggie's motorcycle as Archie knocks on doors in Riverdale. Thanks to Oni Press for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

As each day brings new opportunities for Archie and his friends, Archie's innocence makes him a target of nefarious individuals. A sect needs someone like him to accomplish their goal. Yet, with Sabrina's help, Archie may surprise the Order of A’ldarax in Archie In Hell #1.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

For more collectible covers, see Archie In Hell #1 Cover Preview. 

 

For Sabrina's early struggles with witchcraft, see Sabrina the Teenage Witch #1 Review. 

 

For more of Archie's adventures, see Archie #1 Review and Archie #2 Review. 

Archie In Hell #1 Cover Preview

 

Cover A By Tyler Crook

Archie Andrews loves life. He’s got the best girl in the world in Betty Cooper. But then, he also adores Veronica Lodge. When he’s not dating the loves of his life, Archie’s hanging out with his friend Jughead. His life in Riverdale couldn’t be better. Still, Archie will do his best to make it Heaven on Earth. 

 

So, what happens when Archie resolves to pack more into each day? Can he juggle his love life, his scholastic endeavors, sports, time with his friends, and his charity work without everything falling through his hands?

 

Here's all the info from Oni Press:

Archie In Hell #1 Cover Preview

Writer: Patrick Horvath

Artist: Tyler Crook

Colorist: Francesco Segala

Flatter: Sabrina del Grosso

Letterer: Tyler Crook

Cover Artists: Tyler Crook, Patrick Horvath, Paul Azaceta, Jessie Lonergan, Kano, Dan Parent, Mirka Andolfo & Mahmud Asrar

Also Available: Blank Sketch Cover 

Publisher: Oni Press

Issue Description: 32 Pages, Full Color

Price: $4.99 US

Release Date: November 4, 2026

 

 

 

To Save Him . . .

They had to Damn Him! 

 

 

 

In the bloodstained tradition of Afterlife With Archie, something wicked this way comes to Riverdale in an infernal new ongoing series from multiple Eisner Award nominee Patrick Horvath (Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees) and Russ Manning Award winner Tyler Crook (Out of Alcatraz, Harrow County)!

 

They say that every small town has a secret. Well, in the case of Riverdale, it’s one heck of a humdinger: An ancient order of cultists has infiltrated its townspeople, bent on using human sacrifice to usher a demon lord into our mortal plane. And they’ve finally identified the final target they need to bring a century’s worth of planning to fruition: hometown football champion and all-around good guy Archie Andrews. 

 

But this secret cabal never dreamed that actual witches walk Riverdale’s streets . . . and when cult and coven clash in the final stages of Archie’s secret-ritual sacrifice, the consequences will be cosmic . . . and young Archie Andrews will find himself damned to something far worse than Hell’s inner circle.

 

Unstuck from time and space. Bound to a terrible curse. Late for school. Things are about to go from bad to downright diabolical as Horvath and Crook unleash the most malevolently merciless Archie Comics tale ever told . . . and, truly, you’ll never, ever expect what happens next.

 

 

Here are more collectible covers:

 

 

 

Cover B By Patrick Horvath

 

 

Cover C By Paul Azaceta

Cover D By Jesse Lonergan

Cover E Blank Sketch

Foil Variant ($8.99) By Tyler Crook

Foil Variant ($8.99) By Patrick Horvath

Teaser Variant (1:10) By Kano

Legacy Variant (1:20) By Dan Parent

Variant Cover (1:50) By Mirka Andolfo

B&W Variant (1:250) By Jesse Lonergan

Not Pictured:  

Variant Cover (1:100) By Mahmud Asrar

 

 

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

 

For more of Archie's adventures, see Archie #1 Review. 

 

For more of the magical realm of Archie's world, see Sabrina the Teenage Witch #1 Review. 

Nightwing #141 Review

 

Nightwing #141 Review

Writer: Dan Watters

Penciler: Denys Cowan

Inker: Norm Rapmund

Colorist: Francesco Segala

Letterer: Wes Abbott

Cover Artist: Jorge Fornés

Variant Cover Artists: Tim Bradstreet, Dustin Nguyen & Dan Mora

Editors: Jessica Berbey & Rob Levin

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99 US/$5.99 US Card Stock

Release Date: August 19, 2026

 

Some see it as a symbol of Blüdhaven's rejuvenation. Others, like Nightwing, believe Mayor Bisogni's Superhighway has awakened ancient terrors. Yet as intercity neighborhoods vanish, the suburbs also suffer.

 

As the media debate his culpability for the vehicular deaths in a multicar pileup, Dick Grayson learns the Mayor's intentions behind the new road that divides his city. But with the architect and his murderer dead, will anyone listen to Nightwing? And if Prosecutor Eastbourne takes him to court, will Dick Grayson end up in prison like Barbara Gordon? Let's leap into Nightwing #141 and see!

 

Story

It’s a cold morning in Blüdhaven. The chill factor comes from Prosecutor Emily Eastbourne’s ultimatum. Nightwing must surrender and face judgment for the deaths that occurred when his car plowed into others on the Bisogni Superhighway. The clock is ticking. And as Eastbourne’s deadline looms, Dick Grayson stands in the crowd gathered before the courthouse, unsure how a hero should react to these circumstances.

 

In Nightwing #141, Dick Grayson feels like he’s waging a losing battle to improve living conditions for the city's inhabitants. In his desperation to rescue abducted children from the Cirque du Sin, Nightwing and the Zanni toppled buildings like toy blocks. The Bisogni Superhighway has destroyed more neighborhoods. Nightwing cannot sleep. In Gotham, the police are gunning for his Bat-family. His girlfriend is in Supermax. And even if the cop killed a monstrous murderer, that didn’t give Nightwing the right to send him to the hospital.

 

While Dan Watters addresses the role that costumed vigilantes play in society, his story also gives Nightwing a chance to hear what people think about him. While the media have beaten Prosecutor Eastbourne's war drums, not everyone thinks Nightwing is a menace to society. They may only see a fraction of how he works on their behalf. Nightwing may not agree with their interpretation of his actions. Yet as he ponders how to respond to Eastbourne's challenge, Dick Grayson remains vigilant, wanting to protect all the inhabitants of Blüdhaven in Nightwing #141.

 

Art

Emily Eastbourne tells anyone who will listen that she is pursuing justice for the people of Blüdhaven. Yet as the readout on her smartwatch approaches zero hour, she stands atop the Courthouse steps, surrounded by her legal associates. As Dick Grayson stands amid the crowd gathered before the podium, he remembers his car plowing into two others. Then, another spectator forces people aside as he acts out his recollections. As the man makes his case, a smile spreads across his face. Dick closes his eyes and raises his hand to cover his face.

 

While Denys Cowan and Norm Rapmund portray Dick Grayson’s hesitancy, Francesco Segala adorns Blüdhaven with a limited palette in Nightwing #141. Dick Grayson wears blue and yellow as he unleashes his anger on a criminal. Prosecutor Eastbourne, Nightwing’s fan, and someone else who gives Nightwing food for thought seem united in indigo. People also project their emotions. As Billy-Boy glows yellow, his fright colors the nearby buildings and the air. And when a member of the crowd glows red, she tinges everyone around her.

 

Wes Abbott places black uppercase letters in white balloons. Narration, thoughts, and off-camera dialogue reside in colored boxes. Intonation emboldens words, while broken balloon borders indicate lowered voices. Yet as white represents shattered lives, a word in a framed photo feels like a broken promise. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

When you’re one of many, it’s easy to compare your contributions to those of your contemporaries. But operating alone, under the veil of anonymity, Dick Grayson lacks a basis for comparison. He believes he should hold himself to a higher standard. Yet recently, he’s failed to toe Prosecutor Eastbourne’s strict line in relation to two murderers. So, when she asks him to submit to a higher authority, Dick Grayson wonders if someone else should judge his actions in Nightwing #141.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

To look inside see Nightwing #141 Preview. 

 

For Dick Grayson's conversation with Cannibal Colm, see Nightwing #140 Preview. 

For Dick Grayson's team-up with Dr Benas Sereika see my review of Nightwing #139. 

For Dick Grayson's team-up with Starfire, see my review of Nightwing #138.

For Dick Grayson's team-up with Batman, see my preview of Nightwing #137.

For Dick Grayson's encounter with the witch of the crossroads, see my preview of Nightwing #136. 

For Batman's team-up with Dr Benas Sereika, see my review of Batman: Dark Patterns #1. 

 

Nightwing #139 Review

 

Nightwing #139 Review

Writer: Dan Watters

Penciler: Denys Cowan

Inker: Norm Rapmund

Colorist: Francesco Segala

Letterer: Wes Abbott

Cover Artist: Jorge Fornés

Variant Cover Artists: Ben Harvey & Gabriel Hardman

Editors: Jessica Berbey & Rob Levin

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Release Date: June 17, 2026

 

After the Zanni unleashes destruction on the city, Mayor Bisogni rebuilds Blüdhaven. But instead of uniting his community, his new superhighway divides the city into quadrants. As he destroys homes and communities, Bernard Bisogni awakens ancient terrors from their slumber.

 

When Dick Grayson followed reports of an attack on a truck driver, he found a woman walking amid the traffic on the superhighway. As she pressed a knife against his throat, Dick wondered if she had been released from a mental health hospital and returned to find her home had vanished. But then she wrenched the steering wheel from his hands.

 

As Dick's car veered across the lanes, vehicles piled into his car, and people died. Dick rescued the survivors from their smashed vehicles. But when he returned to his war, the lady had vanished. Did Dick Grayson dream up the witch of the crossroads? And will another woman haunt him as Dick searches for the truth? Let's leap into Nightwing #139 and see!

 

Story

Dick Grayson has battled insomnia since the multi-car collision. The victim’s deaths play on his soul. So, when Ms Eastbourne announces that she is building a case against Nightwing, he visits her. Cloaking his identity behind his costume, Dick explains what happened to him. Sadly, Nightwing cannot offer Ms Eastbourne any proof to back up his story. So, when she announces that she is moving forward with her case, Dick can only shrug and continue his efforts to safeguard Blüdhaven.

 

While Prosecutor Eastbourne seeks someone to blame, Detective Turpin makes an unwelcome discovery in Nightwing #139. When Commissioner Sawyer visits him by the river, she sees hands rising above the dark surface. Just as the superhighway has altered life in Blüdhaven and on outlying farms, Bisogni’s handiwork also affects the river currents. Once more, sleeping mysteries have awakened, and someone must investigate them.

 

Dan Watters’ story follows Dick Grayson’s search for justice. While people like Ms Eastbourne strive to do right by everyone, they also clock in and clock out. City employees place limits on their service to others and prioritize how they investigate mysteries. People like Ms Eastbourne make headlines by claiming that masked vigilantes lack accountability. Yet, Dick Grayson seeks justice for the footnotes in history in Nightwing #139.

 

Art

As reporters cluster before her, clutching microphones, phones, and cameras, Ms Eastbourne addresses Blüdhaven from a podium festooned with microphones. Yet even backed up by aides or officials, the Justice Center tilts behind her. Like a gargoyle, Nightwing perches on the corner of a building to watch. Then, he leaps over the street below, evoking his childhood training.

 

As Denys Cowan and Norm Rapmund chart Dick Grayson’s search for justice, Francesco Segala adorns Blüdhaven with muted colors in Nightwing #139. The blue in Dick’s costume shines as brightly as Ms Eastbourne’s indigo suit. Yet as Detective Turpin and Commissioner Sawyer make a discovery, resigned expressions accompany their drab green clothing. Orange and red adorn the bodies reclaimed by the watery depths. Yet their body language and dominant color bespeak how they fought for life.

 

As Wes Abbott places black uppercase dialogue in white balloons, intonation emboldens their words. Dick Grayson’s thoughts fill blue narrative boxes. A somber mood may have fallen upon Dick and his adoptive city. Yet after Starfire consigned her enemy to the flames, a figure cloaked in white, who survived another crucible of fire, comes to Dick Grayson’s aid. Thanks to DC Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

People work hard to make their lives matter. They pour their talents and energy into brightening other people's days. Yet even the best of us makes mistakes. By day, Ms Eastbourne argues that wrong and right are black-and-white and that Nightwing is guilty until proven innocent. Yet when the sun sets, Dick Grayson struggles with the shades of gray that seep into all our lives in Nightwing #139.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Nightwing #139.

 

For Dick Grayson's team-up with Starfire, see my review of Nightwing #138.

For Dick Grayson's team-up with Batman, see my preview of Nightwing #137.

For Dick Grayson's encounter with the witch of the crossroads, see my preview of Nightwing #136. 

 

Nightwing #138 Review

 

Nightwing #138 Review

Writer: Dan Watters

Penciler: Denys Cowan

Inker: Norm Rapmund

Colorist: Francesco Segala

Letterer: Wes Abbott

Cover Artists: Jorge Fornés, Dani & Philip Tan

Editors: Jessica Berbey & Rob Levin

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Release Date: May 20, 2026

 

When Nightwing ventured into the Cirque Du Sin, the Zanni forced him to play a game to rescue the abducted children. But his game had consequences for the outside world. When Nightwing returned to his city, he found buildings lying in ruins thanks to the Zanni's otherworldly contest.

 

Now, his sister is gone, and Bernard Bisogni has taken over the mayor’s office. Like Nero's plan to rebuild Rome, Biscogni's determination to reshape Blüdhaven unleashes chaos. Traffic jams proliferate. While the well-to-do relocate, poorer residents linger in the construction zones. And when the workers find skeletons amid the broken foundations, spirits arise to haunt the living. Can Dick Grayson sleep without suffering from constant nightmares amid these occult manifestations? And can he protect the city he loves amid rising outrage over his actions? Let's leap into Nightwing #135 and see!

 

Story

Once again, the media is baying for Nightwing’s blood. But this time, Ms Eastbourne is rallying public support to indict Nightwing on eight counts of manslaughter. As she did when the Zanni abducted children, Barbara Gordon tells him that accidents happen. But Dick Gordon is used to being a leader, and he has taken Blüdhaven under his protection.

 

Just like a captain is responsible for everything that occurs on his vessel, Dick holds himself accountable for the madness afflicting his city. And then, there is the disturbing symmetry. Dick rescued nine children from the Cirque Du Sin. Now, Ms Eastbourne has laid nine deaths (presumably including Olivia Pearce) at Nightwing's door.

 

Nightwing #138 follows Dick's investigation of cattle mutilation. When he interviews a farmer, Dick learns of similar attacks on nearby farms. At first, the farmer blamed troublesome kids from Blüdhaven for the attacks. Now, like Dick Grayson, Mr Jones suspects a supernatural attack.

 

In Dan Watters’ story, Dick Grayson is struggling. He can’t sleep. Dick knows that somewhere out there is the 300-year-old witch who caused the pileup. But his city is also changing. The new superhighway is a symbol that the Blüdhaven he knew is transforming. Dick Grayson is no stranger to death and rebirth. He knows that partnerships and team-ups aren't forever. No matter how well-intentioned, Dick disliked Batman venturing into his territory and telling him how to protect his city. But even if it makes him uncomfortable, Dick Grayson puts Blüdhaven and its surroundings above opening old wounds to protect others in Nightwing #138.

 

 

Art

Holding his rifle before him, a farmer descends a slope toward his barn. The expression on his face and the size of his barn reinforce his daily struggle to maintain his farm. Yet when Nightwing visits his stone house the next day, the muntin separating the window panes evokes the barred cells that Barbara Gordon now calls home. The farmer’s disfigured face reminds Dick what, for all her brave talk, might happen to Babs in Vandal Savage's new Supermax Penitentiary.

 

As Denys Cowan and Norm Rapmund enlarge the black-and-white image captured on Dick's phone, Francesco Segala enlivens it with a hint of Barbara's red hair. Interior lighting tinges the garage blue as Dick works on his black-and-blue car. When he turns on a monitor, streaks of green, purple, and orange obscure Ms Eastborne’s natural coloring. Yet, worn over her white blouse, the prosecutor’s blue vest suggests a potential link with Nightwing. At the farm, Dick conducts his investigation throughout the day in Nightwing #138. Then, after the blazing orange sky fades, someone arrives to aid Dick, glowing with radiant and regal colors.

 

While characters speak black uppercase letters into white dialogue balloons, Wes Abbott portrays Dick’s thoughts and off-camera dialogue with black letters in blue narrative boxes. Barbara’s (or Oracle’s) black dialogue appears in green boxes. Faces on monitors speak into serrated balloons with lightning bolt arrows. The letters grow bold for intonation, swell for raised voices, and shrink for lowered voices. Yet as an enlarged cry provokes fright, a response in a star suggests the difficulties of overcoming trauma. Thanks to DC Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

People like Bruce Wayne and Barbara Gordon keep telling Dick Grayson that what happens to him isn’t his fault. Yet Batman has lost his Batcaves, and Barbara Gordon is in Supermax Penitentiary for being Oracle. Still, something Dick can’t rationally explain has awakened in Blüdhaven. And until he can put it to rest, Dick Grayson can’t sleep in Nightwing #138.

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Nightwing #138.

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of Nightwing #137. 

Godzilla (Kai-Sei Era) #3 Review

 

Writer: Tim Seeley

Artist: Nikola Čižmešija

Colorists: Francesco Segala & Gloria Martinelli

Letterer: Nathan Widick

Editor: Jake Williams

Cover Artists: Nikola Čižmešija, Kade Byrand, Arthur Adams & Martin Simmonds

Publisher: IDW

Price: $4.99

Release Date: October 8, 2025

 

Dr Rumi Chiba sensed Anguirus' anger at being drained of its Kai-Sei energy. She rescued Jacen Braid when hungry mouths rose from the seabed to drag the Kai-Sei wielder beneath the surface. But Dr Chiba couldn’t protect Jacen from the Human pirates that attacked Team G-Force USA off the coast of Bermuda. Can she shield him against the sea leeches attacking their captured vessel? And where will Godzilla strike next? Let’s armor up, leap into Godzilla (Kai-Sei Era) #3, and see!

 

Story

Nadine Nuki has a dour look on life. She pushes away others and warns Jacen that most new members on Team G-Force USA don't last long. Despite Incense's interest, Nuki also keeps the glamorous pyrotechnics influencer at arm’s length. But the past binds Nuki to Jacen. While the heavy munitions expert helped protect the Deadzone, Jacen lost his mother there. After the government transported Jacen across the country to New York, Godzilla plowed through the city walls to attack him at Gravesend Charter Academy. When the sea leeches attack, and Jacen can’t use his power to save them, Nuki risks her life to protect the newcomer.

 

But Commander Riviera has more to worry about than his team, let alone his latest recruit, in Godzilla (Kai-Sei Era) #3. The leader of Team G-Force USA wears his patriotism on his armored shoulder. He knows that America awakened Godzilla by testing nuclear weapons. Still, after empowering the kaiju with "weird energy," Riviera wants to kill them or trap them below the surface. But the kaiju keep rising from the sea and attacking the good old USA. So when Riviera finds a target, he doesn't want anyone getting in his way of taking down the kaiju. And that includes voices of reason like Dr Rumi Chiba.

 

Tim Seeley's story hurtles along, powered by the clash of personalities, loyalties, and ideas. Yet it takes time to ponder how our actions affect others. American cities have barricaded themselves behind walls, and the country has retreated from the international community. Yet whether people like Richard Riviera want to admit it or not, America needs help resolving the kaiju crisis. Not just to target the aggressive monsters, but to forge a more peaceful relationship with them.

 

Art

As a woman eats a pink donut while navigating a traffic-choked freeway, the car's green interior glows. The vehicles momentarily lose color as gray fills the air. Then green tongues of fire leap off a gray beast with glowing yellow eyes, as it erupts through the concrete lanes in Godzilla (Kai-Sei Era) #3. Francesco Segala & Gloria Martinelli paint Godzilla's rampage through Chicago in grays, greens, and blues. Orange, yellow, and red surround Riviera's team and Captain Corroñero's pirates as they battle the sea leeches in Bermudan waters. Colors shift slowly amid frenetic action, creating auras around battling giants.

 

Nikola Čižmešija conveys Nuki’s concern for Jacen as she blasts the leeches leaping toward them. Dr Rumi Chiba cuts a graceful swath through the melee with her sword. Incense displays his confidence as he summons fire and pauses for a selfie to share with his followers. Commander Riviera moves like a bull, creating carnage and destruction wherever he goes. Captain Corroñero resembles a broken man, even while wearing a monstrous jaw with long, sharp incisors on his shoulders. Jet Jaguar may not feel emotions. But the smile fixed upon his metal face suggests otherwise.

 

Nathan Widick places black uppercase letters in dialogue balloons that are anything but oval. Yet they link together in a pleasing, organic manner in Godzilla (Kai-Sei Era) #3. An Atlanta DJ and Marco Petithomme, Jacen’s new roommate, fill beige balloons with off-camera dialogue. Jet Jaguar's beige balloons include music notes. Balloons adopt a hallucinatory feel as a newcomer makes a bold entrance. Sound effects make the ground shake with gunfire, jet flybys, kaiju screams, and the power of advertising. Thanks to IDW for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

While Dr Rumi Chiba may dislike Commander Riviera's American term, Kai-Sei energy links Jacen with the kaiju and those anxious to exploit the new power source. Godzilla’s attack on Atlanta opens a new era for Humanity in Godzilla (Kai-Sei Era) #3. The kaiju are no longer limited to coastal cities. Now, they can tunnel underground and emerge hundreds of miles inside the continental United States.

 

Rating 9/10

 

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

Be Not Afraid #2 Review

 

Writer: Jude Ellison S Doyle

Illustrator: Lisandro Estherren

Colorists: Francesco Segala & Gloria Martinelli

Letterer: Simon Bowland

Cover Artists: Reiko Murakami, Tyler Boss & Jenna Cha

Designer: Madison Goyette

Editors: Caroline Butler, Allyson Gronowitz, Elizabeth Brei & Andy Schmidt

Publisher: Boom! Studios

Price: $4.99

Release Date: July 16, 2025

 

On his 17^th birthday, Jordy Rehms makes a man claw out his eyes. Then he watches as the man chews his hand off. Jordy knows he's not Human. Still, he enjoys terrorizing the people in Enoch.

 

His mother once imagined a glorious future. Now, she cannot bear to face tomorrow. When Cora prays for deliverance, a man appears in her kitchen. Is Mr Phim the answer to her prayers? Or will he bring Cora more suffering? Let's grab a Bible, leap into Be Not Afraid #2, and find out!

 

Story

Seventeen years ago, Cora mourned her father. Her friend Cindy grieved for her mother. While Cora's mother grew bitter, Cindy introduced Cora to church. Cora found meaning in religion. But then she went too far. Cora dared to believe that she could speak with God, and he replied.

 

In Be Not Afraid #2, Cora envisions the world as it ought to be. Cora wants to share her vision of divine harmony with others. Instead, her mother locks her inside the house. Anyone who claims God speaks to them is crazy and a menace to society.

 

Jude Ellison S. Doyle intersperses Cora's discussion with her mysterious visitor with glimpses from her past. We discover why Cora found her unnatural pregnancy difficult instead of a blessing. Be Not Afraid #2 tackles the divide between the laity and the clergy. It also reminds us that the Christian Church closed the canon of the Word of God, then zealously rooted out “heretics” who disagreed with the establishment’s decisions. While addressing the way tragedy can tear families apart, the story reminds us of our daily struggles to spread kindness, even if love demands that we punish those who do wrong.

 

Art

Lisandro Estherren provides a window into Cora’s past, revealing the pain that divides mother and daughter. Mr Phim may reason with her. Yet his features seem harsh, and his movements suggest impatience. A vision from Biblical prophecy merges with a glimpse of Cora's home in the valley. Yet, as Cora mentions to Mr Phim, her town seems removed from time in Be Not Afraid #2.

 

Francesco Segala and Gloria Martinelli adorn scenes of rural life in toned pages. Red adorns the opening scenes with her mother, and Cora's search for a new worldview. Green fills the valley, Cora's initial scene with Mr Phim, and her interview with a priest. While enhancing the mood of these pivotal moments, radiant yellow and white hail warmth, affection, belonging, and divine providence. Yet the visions seem slanted or skewed in Be Not Afraid #2 as if glimpsed not through a window but a funhouse mirror.

 

Simon Bowland places uppercase black letters in white boxes and balloons. The uppercase letters in boxes are more stylized than their cousins, but both are easy to read. Words grow bold for emphasis, while lowered voices receive smaller, lowercase letters. But white words appear in black boxes when everything right in Cora's world suddenly goes wrong. Thanks to Boom! Studios for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Cora Rehms faces a difficult decision. The mysterious Mr Phim promises her deliverance from her suffering. But he appeared as miraculously as her son. And he advises actions that clash with Cora’s ethics and belief in Be Not Afraid #2.

 

Rating 9/10

 

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

To refresh your mind of previous events, see my review of Be Not Afraid #1.