Exquisite Corpses TP Vol 1 Review

 

Creators: James Tynion IV & Michael Walsh

Writers: James Tynion IV, Michael Walsh & Pornsak Pichetshote

Artists: Michael Walsh, Marianna Ignazzi & Valentine De Landro

Colorist: Jordie Bellaire

Letterer: Becca Carey

Cover Artist: Michael Walsh

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $9.99

Release Date: September 17, 2025

 

As his town prepares for Halloween, Sheriff Scott Hill bids goodbye to Oak Valley. He's not supposed to tell anyone he's leaving or warn them about the night of violence awaiting them. Still, when he hands over the keys to the Police Department for money and a new identity, the Sheriff warns him about Big Bruce and the teenagers' traditional party in the Pit.

 

The Groundskeeper seems unbothered by the Sheriff's concerns. As he unleashes his drones, he knows no one is safe from the families' handpicked assassins, soldiers, and serial killers. What mysterious organization has made Oak Valley its killing field? And why are they turning murder into a game? Let's pick a card, leap into Exquisite Corpses TP Vol 1, and see!

 

Story

While politicians entertain the populace with a façade of democracy, the thirteen families who rule the United States gather. A year has passed since they drew their cards identifying their means of murder. Now, as they name their players, the descendant of the family that once governed Massachusetts makes a final attempt to hire Captain Eduardo Torres, a disgraced Navy SEAL. While the writers share the Point of View among combatants, victims, and those caught in between, "Massachusetts" explains how the game works, and why the killers agree to a probable death sentence in Exquisite Corpses TP Vol 1.

 

As the most affluent Americans watch video relayed by the Groundskeepers' drones, some bully their competitors. Others mourn their losses or celebrate their kill counts. In Oak Valley, car lot owner Big Bruce Nguyen forces his secretary to badger the local media for free advertising. Xavi looks forward to joining the party in The Pit after his shift at the Haunted House. His friend Craig agrees to take Jason trick-or-treating when Big Bruce forces his mom to work late on her day off. Mike notices all the vehicles passing Pump King. When the internet goes down, and he can’t listen to his podcasts, the convenience store clerk sees this as confirmation of his conspiracy theories.

 

Massachusetts sits apart from the other families as they party. She disdains her contemporaries who bet on how many combatants or citizens die. She's tired of the lunatics running the asylum. But in the killing fields, Laura wonders about the letter her uncle Scott left with Mike before he abandoned Oak Valley. She and her partner drive an ambulance. When they arrive at a murder scene, neither she nor Ian realizes how many deaths await them in Exquisite Corpses TP Vol 1.

 

Art

The Sheriff and Groundskeeper seem somber as they meet. Each knows others dictate their options. Despite the pain and distress they attend, Laura and Ian seem content in their roles. They lack “Meth Head” Mike’s buoyant smile as they smoke cigarettes between calls. But the EMTs don’t quiver in a corner when they are frightened. Michael Walsh, Marianna Ignazzi, and Valentine De Landro reveal the highs and lows of Human nature in Exquisite Corpses TP Vol 1. While most of the combatants and families smile, the mask Captain Eduardo Torres wears fits his dour demeanor.

 

Jordie Bellaire adorns the drama and action with a limited color palette. Once the game gets underway, the ruling families appear in a red and green color scheme, as if Christmas has come early for people who can buy anything they want. Each killer receives a flamboyant rockstar introduction. While some of the graphic murders occur onscreen, the Gamemaster’s staff record them all on the scoreboard.

 

Becca Carey welcomes readers with a title page produced by an old typewriter on carbon paper. Uppercase black letters fill white dialogue balloons and boxes. The words grow bold for intonation, swell for raised voices, and rarely shrink. A utensil against a champagne flute gets the families' attention. Cellphone beeps frustrate people when their texts don’t go through. Gunshots and alarms merge with screams and laughter as a dog howls when Humans stop making sense. Thanks to Image Comics and Tiny Onion for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

As families embark on a game of death to decide the future of America, Exquisite Corpses TP Vol 1 ponders the divide between the rich and the poor, our hunger for entertainment, and how childhood traumas shape our identities.

 

Rating 9/10

 

Read the first issue for free at the Image Comics website. 

Wrestle Heist #1 Review

 

Writer & Artist: Kyle Starks

Colorist: Vlad Popov

Designer: Dylan Todd

Cover Artists: Kyle Starks & Jesse Lonergan

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: December 17, 2025

 

Sterling Steele loves professional wrestling. But after seven years on the circuit and a costly divorce, Sterling accepts an offer from a rival promoter. Buddy Hansen isn’t happy to see Sterling leave. But he refuses to increase his income and insists Sterling isn't worth it. Buddy also makes clear that, despite Sterling's abilities, he'll never win the world championship. Still, Sterling wants to close out his era with Buddy on a high note. How will his final outing as that "Millionaire Jerk", Sterling Steele, go? And what does the future have in store for Sterling? Let's leap into Wrestle Heist #1 and see!

 

Story

The crowd boos when Sterling enters the ring. They cheer when "The Alpha Male" Guy Grudges makes his appearance. Sterling confers with the referee before the fight gets underway, and coaches Guy through the fight after the bell rings. But even though Guy doesn't wear a long-sleeve shirt, the champ has a few surprises for his competitor.

 

While Sterling becomes the focus of Wrestle Heist #1, Buddy Hansen makes his presence felt. Another of Sterling's competitors, Grave Digger, takes over part of the narrative. Kyle Starks reveals the interpersonal dynamics of professional wrestlers. For some, it's all about the show. Others, like Sterling, tried to make a go of a less showy form of wrestling that emphasized strength and skills. Some use the ring as a means of unleashing their anger. A few wrestlers believe the hype about them, letting the role they portray in the ring overtake their private lives.

 

Agents help wrestlers and harm them. Promoters punish their clients by molding personalities the crowd hates. As in many areas of life, talent matters less than how much money a wrestler can generate. Nor does the story shy away from what happens when a performer's career reaches its end. Still, Wrestle Heist #1 peels back the curtains to portray a beloved sport that performers and the audience adore.

 

Art

Buddy Hansen reigns supreme in his control room, as he watches monitors and directs his technicians. Despite his ready smile, anger overtakes his features at the slightest noncompliance. Fetu Savea, Buddy's head of security and personal bodyguard, hovers behind him as Sterling makes his final pre-fight check-in. Like Sterling, Guy Grudges has pencil legs and a muscle-bound upper body. But while Sterling wears a jacket with dollar signs, Guy wears the champion’s belt. Kyle Starks's cartoon-style art emphasizes the spectacle, showmanship, and the characters' reactions when things don't go their way. 

 

Orange and yellow flames arise as Guy Grudges takes the stage. Dollars float from the ceiling as Sterling enters. But while Sterling yearns for more money to maintain his lifestyle, the greenbacks all bear his likeness. A panel on the first page, featuring Sterling in his green finery surrounded by purple-outlined silhouettes, symbolizes Sterling’s dilemma. After painting Sterling’s confrontation with Guy in bright colors, Vlad Popov colors Sterling’s story in more subdued tones.

 

As Wrestle Heist #1 provides insights into professional wrestling, uppercase black letters fill white dialogue balloons. The same tall, thin font fills colored narrative boxes. Sound effects help readers hear the cheering, boos, bells, and dramatic takedowns. As the cover evokes a magazine-style format, an article charting Sterling’s wrestling career follows his comic adventures. Thanks to Image Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Everyone has a story to tell. Professional wrestlers have many. Wrestle Heist #1 is packed with wild personalities, brutal betrayals, hilarious antics, and the cost that fandom, evening performances, and constant travel take on relationships.

 

Rating 9/10

 

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

The Rocketfellers TP Vol 1 Review

 

Writer: Peter J Tomasi

Artist: Francis Manapul

Colorists: Francis Manapul, John Kalisz & Ian Herring

Letterer: Rob Leigh

Cover Artist: Francis Manapul

Designer: Steve Blackwell

Editor: Brian Cunningham

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $14.99

Release Date: September 10, 2025

 

When does your life begin? With your birth, your first big job, marriage, or a singular achievement? The Rocketfellers' story starts in the 25^th Century, as they race to evade their pursuers. Yet their lives begin anew when they travel back in time. How will this future family find life in the 21^st Century? And why did they have to flee the era of their birth? Let’s leap into The Rocketfellers TP Vol 1 and see!

 

Story

After remaking their lives in Olympia, Washington, the Rocketfellers invite the neighbors over for a meet-and-greet. A BBQ on Thanksgiving may be unusual, but Roland recognizes the need to get to know his neighbors as he flips the burgers. The wives and mothers gather around Rachel. They pepper her with questions about handsome Harry Helicopter, who Rachel flies above the city each morning for his traffic reports.

 

Rodney is getting up in years, but he intrigues the older ladies by mentioning his age and his military service. Richie makes new friends in the pool. His little sister, Rae, offers umbrellas in case it rains. The Rocketfellers TP Vol 1 introduces readers to a loving, supportive family. Yet Peter J Tomasi’s story reveals how they are suffering.

 

Rose’s death plagues them most. But aside from leaving Rodney’s wife and Roland’s mother behind, they also miss the 25^th Century. Leaving the technology and superior resources of their time forces each member to adapt. Rae develops a close relationship with nature. Richie's technological abilities help him pursue his interests, but don't come without risks.

 

Rachel has put her career on hold for her family twice before. Now, her family's safety forces her to miss what might be her last opportunity to fulfill a dream. At least Roland can continue his bioengineering project in the basement. And after losing his wife, Rodney's dedication to fitness attracts disciples.

 

In The Rocketfellers TP Vol 1, trouble arises from the people they left behind. Roland’s former employers aren’t happy that he absconded with company property. Reggie covers his brother's tracks at the Time Zone Protection Agency. Yet while Reggie gets on with his life, the wheels of justice that would allow his family to return grind slowly.

 

Art

Francis Manapul begins his story with the Rocketfellers speeding across a snowy landscape. Yellow energy courses through a sleek copper structure that would give Anakin Skywalker’s podracer a run for Watto’s money. A missile sends the vessel tumbling through the snow. The family climbs from the fiery wreck clad in yellow and black, with orange insulation extending above their necks. Rose helps her husband hobble along as figures on hoverbikes race toward them. After she begs them to abandon her, a silver cyborg confronts Rose. White specks of snow dot the metal face as orange eyes reflect Rose's final moments.

 

After the desperate race for survival in the tundra, the family surrounds Roland as he greets neighbors on their backyard deck. Older women watch as Rodney does pullups with a free weight chained to his waist. When their neighbors aren’t watching, Rex, the family’s chihuahua, proves an able companion. The canine cyborg sprouts appendages handy around the house or piloting a vehicle. Yet this family from the future motors around town in an old Volkswagen bus. John Kalisz, Ian Herring, and Francis Manapul adorn Peter J Tomasi’s lighthearted tale with a bright, cheery palette.

 

Rob Leigh portals black uppercase letters into white dialogue balloons in The Rocketfellers TP Vol 1. The letters grow bold for inflection, enlarge for raised voices, and rarely shrink. Balloons grow spiky when characters undergo stress. Purple letters in lavender boxes denote time and space changes, while Reggie speaks with his brother across time using green boxes with lightning-bolt arrows. Sound effects enhance this story about losing loved ones, forming new traditions, and Roland’s bioengineering experiment floating in green liquid. Thanks to Image Comics and Ghost Machine for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Each member of the Rocketfellers has given up something to become exiles. Yet each also gains something to ease the pain of that loss. Every page of this reverse Buck Rogers saga resonates with the power of family to help, harm, and inspire in The Rocketfellers TP Vol 1.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

For covers from the series (including a Christmas one) see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

 

Merry Christmas, All! 

Escape #4 Review

 

Writer: Rick Remender

Artist & Colorist: Daniel Acuña

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Cover Artists: Daniel Acuña & Ryan Sook

Production Artist: Erika Schnatz

Editor: Gabe Dinger

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: November 26, 2025

 

Like other members of his crew, Flynn argued to abort bombing the Titan Cannon. But Milton believed the strike would end the war. So, even though he couldn't destroy the superweapon without inflicting significant collateral damage, Milton dropped 'Ol Sockeye's bombs anyway. Milton has fled Narenian soldiers since he abandoned his ailing plane. How long can he remain at large? And how does Milton feel about his actions? Let's leap into Escape #4 and see!

 

Story

Exhausted, bleeding, and his knee giving him gyp, Milton broke into a shop and hid in the basement. He awakens in a bed. Across the room, a child sits and reads. Milton's first thought is to complete his mission. Perhaps, if Flynn has survived his injuries and the parachute landing, Milton can reunite with his friend. Maybe they can even destroy the Titan Cannon and find a way home. But as Milton searches for his satchel with the maps and explosives, he frightens the boy.

 

In Escape #4, the boy isn’t the only one frightened. Milton never wanted to go to war. But when Ruth became pregnant, Milton knew he had to safeguard his wife and unborn child. His longing for home and his missing friend played through his mind while he slept. Now, as Milton awakens, memories feel like reality, while his present resembles a nightmare.

 

Rick Remender continues the dialogue Milton began with Flynn and his late crew before he made his fateful decision. Only this time, Milton can't dismiss the enemy soldiers by turning magazine photos into caricatures. Instead, he comes face-to-face with Narenians. His enemy's arguments threaten to undermine Milton’s justification for going to war. And his forgiving spirit shakes Milton’s assurance of the rightness of his actions in Escape #4.

 

Art

A red, blue, and gold flag hangs from the porch of Milton’s home. Flynn awaits him amid the swooping elegance of his red convertible. As Milton hesitates on the front steps, Ruth stands behind him, adorned in a blue maternity dress. Her face and hair take on a reddish hue as Milton realizes what he is giving up. Lush greenery surrounds the homes with spacious yards as Flynn drives him off to war.

 

Compared with the suburban paradise he left behind, Daniel Acuña fills Milton’s present with darkness in Escape #4. He awakens in a room with cracked plaster, boarded-up windows, and laundry hanging across the room. Yellow-white light pierces the gray and green gloom. Paintings adorn the living room walls, while a metal bowl on the floor contains the red proof of its occupant’s ministrations. Brown wooden floors, a radio, and a grandfather clock link the make-do domesticity with Milton's fur. But a glance outside reveals a busy gray street, adorned with red accents, hints of blue, and purple-white flags.

 

Rus Wooton fills ivory dialogue balloons and beige narrative boxes with narrow black uppercase letters. Words grow bold for intonation, and arrows zigzag between speakers and balloons. Sound effects attend Narenian hospitality, while giant red punctuation marks in a gray balloon accompany Milton’s attempt to mend fences. Thanks to Image Comics and Giant Generator for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

When Milton takes refuge in a shop cellar, a family helps him recover. Milton is confused and unwilling to admit that his leaders duped him with rhetoric. But while Milton refuses to budge from his preconceptions, the Narenian who risks his life to help him echoes the views of Milton’s late crew in Escape #4.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

For another cover option see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

Geiger TP Vol 4 Review

 

Creators: Geoff Johns & Gary Frank

Writer: Geoff Johns

Artist: Gary Frank

Colorist: Brad Anderson

Letterer: Rob Leigh

Editor: Brian Cunningham

Designer: Steve Blackwell

Publisher: Image Comics

Page Count: 152

Price: $16.99

Release Date: November 19, 2025

 

Tariq Geiger has a history of suffering. Cancer threatened to devour him. His experimental treatments and the radiation from bombs that destroyed his country turned Tariq into a living nuclear reactor. And he has killed people. Oh, so many people.

 

But Tariq has a lot to live for. Barney, the two-headed wolf, has proven a loyal companion. Nate, the Nuclear Knight, always seeks to cheer him. And then there is Zigzag, a three-eyed zebra foal, the latest addition to their little family. As they travel through the new American frontier, can Tariq find peace and fulfillment? Or will the living nuclear reactor always be consumed by anger? Let's grab some Boron dust, leap into Geiger TP Vol 4, and find out!

 

Story

Once, he helped charities build homes for the less affluent in his community. Now, Tariq Geiger has no home. For a moment, Tariq found a place he thought he could belong. But after the new King of Vegas tracked him there and threatened the community, Grover's Corners kicked Tariq out.

 

As they travel toward Lewistown, Montana, Tariq and Nate defend a couple from a gang. With their home destroyed, Nate suggests they seek sanctuary in Grover's Corners. Before they embark on their journey, the man and woman give Nate a bag filled with books. For years, Tariq sought solace in libraries. Now, these stories only remind him of the family he lost. And then there was Principal William Webb, who burned books because they reminded the inhabitants of Grover’s Corners of a world they could never reclaim.

 

In Geiger TP Vol 4, the pain and longing for what Tariq can never have become too much. Overcome by rage and sorrow, not even the boron rods Dr Molotov designed can prevent the radiation from escaping Tariq's body. The outburst of energy alerts a pursuer to their location. And like Tariq, he doesn't know who he is or where he belongs.

 

It's been a long time since Tariq and Nate bartered with the Sheriff of Silverton for Ash Arden’s location. But when they reach Lewistown in Geoff Johns’ story, Tariq realizes he doesn't want to be there. Pain has become so much a part of him that he cannot imagine a life without it. Nor does Tariq believe he deserves redemption. It doesn’t help that Ashley Arden is a puzzle Tariq needs to figure out in Geiger TP Vol 4. But what he thinks of himself or how many people he believes he failed don't matter. When trouble arises, Tariq protects people in danger, regardless of the circumstances.

 

Art

It’s been a long road, but they’ve finally made it. A robot in Army fatigues, a knight in plate armor, a two-headed wolf, and a three-eyed Zebra foal stand before tall wooden gates. Around them stretches a city wall composed of stone, wood, metal, and Wall-E's compressed cubes of salvage. The Nuclear Knight bangs on the tall wooden gate with his sword, while Junkyard Joe cradles Tariq in his metal arms. A woman gazes down from atop the wall, clad in a cloak and hood, an armored vest, shorts, and boots. Two boron rods rise from her back.

 

When darkness falls, Brad Anderson paints Gary Frank's art with a subdued palette. Yet when the sun rises, this new world comes alive with color. The bright sunlight seems a reminder of Dr Andrei Molotov's nuclear bombs that cast their fallout far beyond where they fell. Junkyard Joe and Ash Arden’s green attire proves a constant reminder of Tariq’s condition. Ashley's memories share the same hatred of the yellow-green radiance that burns inside Tariq. As she tries to help him, Tariq explodes with the all-too-familiar green energy. Yet, the two glowing people are not the only source of green that threatens Lewistown in Geiger TP Vol 4.

 

Rob Leigh places uppercase black letters in dialogue balloons that grow bold for intonation, enlarge for volume, and shrink for lowered voices. Intense emotions distort balloons, while white letters in colored boxes share Junkyard Joe’s memories, off-panel dialogue, and dire warnings. Sound effects enhance Tariq’s outbursts of anger, Junkyard Joe’s struggle with his inner demons, and attackers who, like the King of Vegas, believe that whoever controls Geiger controls the world. Thanks to Image Comics and Ghost Machine for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

The former United States is an apocalyptic wasteland. While pockets of civilization survive, it is also home to the deformed organ people, gangs, Human traffickers, and religious extremists. In this lawless land, the warlords of Vegas and US President Griffin vie for power. Unlike them, Tariq Geiger wants a release from the power he wields. Instead, Tariq encounters treachery, betrayal, and more people he must sacrifice to save in Geiger TP Vol 4.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

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

 

 

 For more on this series, see my review of Geiger TP Vol 2

 

 

 

 and my review of Geiger TP Vol 3.

Gehenna: Naked Aggression TP Vol 1 Review

 

Creators: Patrick Kindlon & Marco Ferrari

Writer: Patrick Kindlon

Artist: Maurizio Rosenzweig

Colorist: Matteo Vattani

Letterer: Jim Campbell

Designer: Matt Battaglia

Cover Artist: Maurizio Rosenzweig

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $16.99

Release Date: November 12, 2025

 

Once, she embraced life. Gehenna enjoyed love, belonged to someone, and looked forward to the future. Now, she dispenses judgment. What sent Gehenna on the road to death and destruction? And what is she fighting for? Let's grab our guns, leap into Gehenna: Naked Aggression TP Vol 1, and find out!

 

Story

Gehenna intended to kill a mob boss. Instead, she fights for her life. Gehenna scrambles with killers in the street, fighting hand-to-hand and shooting the gangsters trying to kill her. Looking for a way out, she grabs her target's son and heads inside. Gehenna needs help. Stephen doesn't seem surprised to get pulled into the eye of the storm. He has but one question. Why?

 

Patrick Kindlon divides each of the four issues into three chapters, leaving no time for the plot to slow down. When Gehenna shrugs off one opponent, another takes their place. Gehenna narrates most of the acts, while the rest follow her pursuers. Patrick Kindlon’s story is about a plan gone wrong. But it’s also about a life gone wrong. In Gehenna: Naked Aggression TP Vol 1, life is a machine that grinds the little people down, and Gehenna got stuck in the gears.

 

As in Mario Puzo’s famous novel, not all the people working for criminal families are bad. Or perhaps there are levels of evil. Some, like Kamiisa and Linira, treat people like assets and debts. Others, like Isa, are more discerning in who has a right to live. Gehenna plays by rules she won't readily break. Those include not killing children and superheroes.

 

Perhaps that's why young Stephen sticks by her side throughout Gehenna: Naked Aggression TP Vol 1. While she trades in violence like his father, Gehenna's life has a purpose. Gehenna may be bent on killing those she views as evildoers. But unlike his father and those who prop up his criminal empire, Gehenna believes in right and wrong. 

 

Art

Maurizio Rosenzweig introduces each act with two widescreen scenes on double-page spreads separated by a title. Clad in leather, a utility belt, arm wrappings, and boots, Gehenna charges through panels. Muscles and hair are clearly defined, thanks to detailed penciling. Tiny dust clouds indicate rapid movement, while close-ups of weapons and gunfire enhance this die-hard thriller.

 

As Gehenna barrels through the chaos in white and black, Matteo Vattani enlivens scenes with a loaded palette. Isa tracks Gehenna's flight on foot, wearing black and blue. When Gehenna and Stephen take to the road, Isa leaps onto a pink scooter. Her rival, sword-wielding Linira, snears at the "old timer" from her black limousine. Redhaired Kamiisa is all business in her three-piece orange suit. Yellow and orange explosions and red liquid flowing across a blue-gray tile floor reinforce the mob boss’s ruthlessness in Gehenna: Naked Aggression TP Vol 1.  

 

Black uppercase letters in white narrative boxes reveal the narrators' thoughts and off-camera conversations. Like the life Gehenna and her opponents lead, Jim Campbell places dialogue in jagged balloons with razor-sharp edges. White and colored sound effects enhance the action as Gehenna bulldozes through gangsters and superheroes. But then, no one said that erasing her debt to underworld society would be easy. Thanks to Image Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Gehenna tried to follow the rules. But when the other players ignored them, she dedicated her life to hurting the people who ruined hers. As Gehenna fights for what is right, the past intrudes on the present, reminding her of what she has lost.

 

Gehenna Naked Aggression TP Vol 1 is an over-the-top revenge tale, filled with whimsical echoes of her past, and lightened by would-be heroes, exotic animals, and salutes to pop culture. An extensive cover gallery concludes this fast-paced tale guaranteed to leave readers panting as they await Gehenna's next adventure.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

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

Spectators HC Vol 1 Review

 

Writer: Brian K Vaughan

Artist: Niko Henrichon

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $29.99

Release Date: September 10, 2025

 

Life during COVID-19 was tough. Along with all the business closures, cinemas shut their doors. So, when the restrictions lift, Val heads to New York City's Village VIII to watch a movie. She grabs a seat in the back row and puts her jacket on the recliner beside her. Val has met someone she wants to get to know better. But when Val texts her date, she learns he's not coming. Will Val enjoy the movie anyway? And might her return to the cinema change her life? Let’s grab our sodas and popcorn, leap into Spectators HC Vol 1, and see!

 

Story

Pandemic restrictions prevented people from attending community events. Fears of contracting the deadly virus inhibited people from coming into physical contact with others. Amid this era of isolation, Val attempts to banish her disappointment by inserting her earbuds and watching porn on her phone.

 

Distant booms prompt Val to pause the woman giving her boyfriend a charley horse during sex. The people scattered across the cinema wonder about the loud reports. Then, a man enters clad in body armor and a Mickey Mouse hat. He shoots everyone in the first few rows. Then, he climbs the stairs and showers Val with bullets from his rifle.

 

Despite appearances, this isn’t the end of Val’s life in Spectators HC Vol 1. Yet as she looks down on her bullet-riddled corpse, it feels like it is. When Val floats outside the cinema, she meets another hovering woman. Lita couldn't bear to watch the shooting. Still, she asks what it was like. Lita explains that she and her true crime friends have been following the shooter. Cody was obsessed with mass shootings and meme culture. He wrote a manifesto this morning. Then, Lita watched as Cody went out to see how many people he could kill.

 

In Brian K Vaughan's story, Val is one of the few who don't immediately travel to their eventual destination. Unlike Patrick Swayze in Ghost, spirits like Val and Lita don't contact their former lovers. Nor do they communicate through mediums like Whoopi Goldberg. Instead, they experience the most entertaining show of all. Val grew up with a love of cinema. She wrote summaries of TV shows for a living. Val enjoyed watching people's most intimate moments on her phone. Now, no doors are closed to her. Val cannot pick up a phone. But she can watch anyone doing anything, anywhere they live, at any time.

 

Art

Val entered the cinema as a 43-year-old woman. She adorned her straight, pale blonde hair with a pink streak and wore a long-sleeved shirt and jeans. Val leaves wearing a flannel shirt over a T-shirt, boots, and shorts with rolled-up cuffs over black leggings. Val has robust strawberry blonde hair and an unruly ponytail. Lita explains that each ghost’s appearance represents the midpoint of their lives. Despite erasing the signs of age from her features, Val isn’t happy about reclaiming her youth. Still, she could be like Lita, who wears jewelry, one fishnet stocking, and nothing else.

 

After the cinema filled with red upholstered seats, Val sees the world around her in black and white. As the decades pass in Spectators HC Vol 1, Val’s ghostly friends appear in living color. Each ghost radiates a colored aura. But the people she watches appear as shades of gray. The only exception is when people die. Most vanish in a streak of colored light. The remainder regain color and linger, like Lita and Val.

 

Niko Henrichon’s detailed art shows people traveling through Manhattan in floating cubes. Spaceships fill the skies above New York City. Soldiers wearing jetpacks surround giant flying robots. While many of her ghostly contemporaries seek out violence, Val's hunger for intimacy remains. She grows frustrated with those addicted to the illusion of interpersonal fulfillment through technological means. Instead, Val seeks out people engaged in pleasuring others. Then, after two centuries in the afterlife, Val finds someone to watch the show with in Spectators HC Vol 1. Thanks to Image Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Why do parents buy their children shooter games but shield them from "inappropriate" depictions of intimacy? And why has Hollywood "cleaned up its act" by deluging cinemas with symphonies of violence? Spectators HC Vol 1 ponders our competitive natures, yearning for intimacy, infatuation with social media, and how current trends may influence our future.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

The Lucky Devils #5 Review

 

Writer: Charles Soule

Artist & Designer: Ryan Browne

Colorists: Ryan Browne & Kevin Knipstein

Letterer: Christopher Crank

Logo: Thomas Quinn

Production Design: Erika Schnatz

Cover Artists: Ryan Browne & Jonski

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: October 15, 2025

 

Hell is in an uproar. Good deeds on the surface are inflicting spike-lightning, lava boils, and shakequakes on the lower levels of Hell. While the hierarchy of Hell represses the lower classes, Wrench Fortune grows concerned about what is happening to his kingdom. So, he calls the other Nine-Zed devils to his Hell City office to find the fiendish do-gooders.

 

Sandpaper Pinch doesn't know Collar and Rake, the rising Four-Zed devils with their eyes on the Five-Zed prize. Still, Sandpaper Pinch promises to find which shoulder-demons are encouraging their Humans to do good instead of evil. Will Sandpaper Pinch discover how Collar and Rake have improved Cameron Stane and Starr Winslow's lives? And what will Sandpaper Pinch's investigation cost her? Let's hang onto our halos, leap into The Lucky Devils #5, and see!

 

Story

Collar was a nobody. Even Rake didn’t think much of the lowly, three-million-year-old devil when they met. But Rake’s poetry slam about changing the system got him thinking. What if he could change the way Hell worked? He was not alone in this. As Wrench Fortune told his fellow leaders, the devils at the lowest ranks of society take solace in a fable about good on Earth nearly destroying Hell. But Collar drew inspiration from this popular tale. And as he and Rake rise through the ranks, success boosts his confidence that he can fulfill prophecy and upend Hell again.

 

While The Lucky Devils #5 follows Rake and Collar’s story, it also looks in on Cameron Stane and Starr Winslow. Cam is a philosophy professor, a college dean, and a burgeoning author. Starr has risen through the nursing ranks to oversee the Lazarene Healthcare hospital network in Chicago. At first, Cam didn’t want to believe in Collar’s existence. But Starr, a preacher’s daughter, always knew Rake was real. Cam and Starr’s shared experience unites them. They wonder if it's right to retain the success they've achieved at their rivals' expense.

 

While Rake, Collar, Cameron, and Starr find themselves at turning points in their lives, Sandpaper Pinch has already passed through the crucible that could have torn her apart. Instead of fast-tracking her investigation, the bounty hunter tried to turn the short-term gig into a meal ticket. Then she came home one night to find it gone. Sandpaper Finch may be mourning. But in Charles Soule’s story, she’s determined to find the no-good, do-gooders who caused the lava boil that vaporized her family.

 

Art

She used to watch TV with her family. Now, Sandpaper Pinch perches on a barstool and stares up at the devil-framed flatscreen in a bar. Fen, the bartender who reluctantly serves her, belongs to the same devil-species as Wrench Fortune and Collar in The Lucky Devils #5.

 

As he throws balls at targets wearing fiendish faces, Cameron insists that Satan can go to Hell. When Starr pulls him away from the Down The Devil carnival game, Ryan Browne shows Cam waxing lyrical about eradicating evil at the Beer booth. After the philosophy professor purchases a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle popsicle, the preacher’s daughter clasps her soft serve ice cream cone, points her finger upward, and tells him the best way to defeat evil.

 

While Ryan Browne and Kevin Knipstein lavish a loaded palette on The Lucky Devils #5, colors prove significant in both domains. Collar's orange skin matches the nearby lava and explosions. Rake's pink skin matches the sky above her home. Like the inverted pentagram window looking out on their deck, the air grows red as Collar confesses. Yellow fire burns above Collar’s head as he justifies his actions, while yellow energy surrounds Cam’s face as he does likewise. Pink fire rises from Magenta’s head amid her wrath, while Starr, clad in a dark magenta suit, refuses to compromise.

 

White uppercase letters in red banners introduce locations in Chicago and Hell City. Uppercase letters inhabit white dialogue balloons and narrative boxes. The letters grow bold for inflection, enlarge for volume, and never shrink. White letters in red balloons signify Hellish outrage, while sound effects arise as devils destroy the trophies marking their success. Thanks to Image Comics and Silent E Productions for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Cameron Stane and Starr Winslow reap the fruits of the status they've attained. Yet Collar and Rake discover the differences between them are as formidable as the streams of lava flowing past their suburban home. If all of them don't destroy their lives on their own, a bounty hunter discovers a key to bringing their dreams crashing down in The Lucky Devils #5.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

For another cover see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

Universal Monsters: Dracula Black & White Special #1 Review

 

Writer: James Tynion IV

Artist: Martin Simmonds

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Cover Artists: Martin Simmonds & Mark Chiarello

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $6.99

Page Count: 56

Release Date: October 29, 2025

 

When a ship arrives in port, the authorities find RM Renfield among the dead. He seems disturbed, and they don't know what happened on board. So, they place him under Dr Seward's care. Renfield causes a stir in London. But while he becomes the topic of conversation in Dr Seward’s house, another man further excites London society. How will these newcomers transform Dr Seward's life? And is Renfield a murderer, insane, or just unbalanced? Let's grab our crucifixes and garlic, leap into Universal Monsters: Dracula Black & White Special #1, and see!

 

Story

As Dr Seward speaks with Mr Renfield, the twitchy solicitor tells him he has been reborn. He sees the world differently now. Like any convert, his master has shown him the way. Or, as an evangelist would proclaim from the pulpit, there is power in the blood. Confined in his cell, Renfield captures any insects he finds and devours them. But when the doctor asks about animals or humans, Renfield insists he doesn't drink their blood. Those belong to his master.

 

While Renfield's conversation and circumstances are extraordinary, Dr Seward treats him like any other patient. Others cannot restrain their fascination. In Universal Monsters: Dracula Black & White Special #1, Londoners hunger for any scrap of news about the strange man. When another man capitalizes on local interest, John Harker, Dr Seward’s prospective son-in-law, invites him to entertain the members of his club. Mina, the doctor’s daughter, pilfers her father’s notes on Renfield. She shares what she learns with her companion. Like Mina’s fiancé, Lucy thrills to the mystery and romance associated with the strange solicitor.

 

James Tynion’s retelling of the 1931 film divides the point of view between each of the characters. Yet Universal Monsters: Dracula Black & White Special #1 is a contest between two combatants. Renfield brags that he has become something more than Human. Yet when Dr Seward leaves, Renfield bemoans his lowly status and pleads for his master to uplift him. While the doctor employs psychiatry in Renfield's case, the doctor retreats from the society he yearns to enlighten.

 

Art

After a close-up of a fly, Renfield's insects resemble dark spots akin to freckles, moles, or melanomas. While a halo of light adorns Dr Seward's head, Renfield's face shines like a beacon. Darkness surrounds his eyes. The radiant energy inside Renfield obscures his nose and emphasizes his teeth.

 

Dr Seward discusses Renfield's case while John Harker stands before a window in his three-piece suit, holding a teacup. As Lucy and Mina sit on a couch, shadows on the wall conjure Renfield aboard the doomed ship. In John's club, all eyes turn toward Professor Abraham Van Helsing. Pressing his fingertips together to form a church roof, his round glasses glow. Below his handlebar mustache, Van Helsing's lips form a wide smile.

 

Martin Simmonds’ brushstrokes suggest the spirits Van Helsing believes in are changing the air's density. The stippling surrounding the characters enhances the Black-And-White filmic quality of Universal Monsters: Dracula Black & White Special #1. People's thoughts merge with reality to conjure dreamy collages. These reveal how Dracula can assume any shape, including bats and wolves.

 

Rus Wooton fills white dialogue balloons with black uppercase letters that grow bold for intonation. The words swell for raised voices, and threaten to burst balloons when Renfield calls for his master. Words from a scientific text fill the background as Dr Seward takes notes of Renfield's raving. And after a rough night, a sound effect overtakes a panel when the occult power Dr Seward doesn't believe in invades his home. Thanks to Image Comics and Skybound for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Dr Seward believes that science can explain any mystery. But as the British doctor treats an unknown condition with scientific methods, an agent of the Catholic Church warns of the power of the occult. Like the ruined abbey next to his home, Professor Abraham Van Helsing's beliefs belong to the unenlightened past. Instead, the professor’s rising popularity threatens to usher back the dark ages of superstition in Universal Monsters: Dracula Black & White Special #1.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

 

For another cover see my review at Comic Book Dispatch.