Absolute Green Arrow #3 Review

 

Absolute Green Arrow #3 Review

Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote

Artist: Rafael Albuquerque

Colorist: Marcelo Maiolo

Letterer: Jeff Powell

Cover Artists: Rafael Albuquerque & Marcelo Maiolo

Variant Cover Artists: Gerald Parel, Dan Panosian & Kyuyong Eom

1:25 Variant Cover Artist: Becky Cloonan

Editors: Sabrina Futch, Katie Kubert & Chris Conroy

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99 US/Variant $5.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: July 15, 2026

 

Oliver Queen knew he was risking his soul. Yet as he built his empire, he ignored the detestable acts of the friend who tutored him through college. By the time he and Jubal Slade made Green Arrows Trading a success, Ollie had tarnished his soul. Still, Dinah Lance loved him. And when his body washed ashore, his ex-girlfriend mourned Ollie's passing.

 

Now, Dinah hunts a man who seems the opposite of Ollie. He hunts down billionaires and slays them without a shred of mercy. Who is the Green Arrow Killer? And why did he murder the one person Ollie sought to protect? Let’s grab our bows, leap into Absolute Green Arrow #3, and see!

 

Story

When Dinah got suspended for being too protective at a pop star's exclusive party, Hector Hammond canceled her father's health insurance to force her to work for him. But after the Green Arrow Killer murdered Reese Tyler, Dinah investigates suspects alongside Malcolm Merlyn. Even though Hammond hired Dinah because she used to be a Star City cop and knew Oliver Queen, Hammond and Merlyn don't share what they know with her. So, Dinah reaches out to a former friend still working as a Star City detective, only to discover she knows more than he does about the boy they found in Oliver’s Arrow Cave.

 

While Malcolm Merlyn quietly gathers facts, Dinah throws herself into the hunt for answers. After she shocked him by unleashing her MMA fighting skills on one of their suspects, Malcolm has let her investigate on her own. Although an employee told Malcolm that his boss had been out of the country for months, Dinah tracks down Roy Harper in Absolute Green Arrow #3. And once again, she’s not above threatening a suspect to get to the truth.

 

As readers follow Dinah’s investigation, Pornsak Pichetshote weaves another Green Arrow attack into his story. Once again, the serial killer survives to slay another day. Yet the attack reveals the mood in society. Dinah carries a lot of guilt over her inability to help her father. And people like Hector Hammond, who serve as the gatekeepers of the economic system, are targets for her wrath. When Dinah finds Roy Harper, he enhances her understanding of the relationship between Hector Hammond, Reese Tyler, and Oliver Queen. And Dinah Lance makes a discovery that explains the boy’s mutated body in Ollie’s Arrow Cave, and hints at the possible identity of the Green Arrow Killer in Absolute Green Arrow #3.

 

Art

As Dinah studies a headshot of Guillermo Garcia, she remembers her first MMA fight. The window above their booth fills with Dinah’s memory of finding the young boy in Ollie’s survival bunker, with eyes staring back at her from his neck and torso. Dinah may no longer be paid to fight. Yet a bandage adorns her cheek as she grabs her helmet. Outside the diner, the rebel with a cause mounts her motorcycle and roars through traffic, leaving a trail of smoke in her wake.

 

While Rafael Albuquerque portrays Dinah’s investigations and reveals memories, yellow light fills the daytime. Objects in sunlight thrive in orange, while green clings to the shade and tinges the night in Absolute Green Arrow #3. When Marcelo Maiolo reveals another Green Arrow Killer attack, the killer’s eyes glow red through his mask, along with the forces arrayed to halt his killing spree. Compared with Dinah’s MMA memory cast in blue and indigo, Roy’s memories are faded red, yellow, and green against yellow backgrounds.

 

As Jeff Powell fills white balloons and boxes with black uppercase letters, words grow bold with intonation and swell with raised voices. Red uppercase letters fill yellow balloons amid Roy’s yellow-tinged memories, while sound effects enhance the Green Arrow Killer’s attacks. But as a vigilante kills for justice in this upside-down world, his costume and weapons glow bright green. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Dinah Lance exists in a perpetual state of simmering rage. She's angry because she has no choices in her life. At every turn, economic factors determine her social status and limit her ability to help others. Yet as Dinah investigates millionaire Roy Harper and his relationship with billionaire Oliver Queen, she discovers that their wealth failed to bring them happiness and isolated them from the people they loved in Absolute Green Arrow #3.

 

Rating 9.5/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Absolute Green Arrow #3.

 

For what happened last time, see my preview of Absolute Green Arrow #2. 

For how this series started, see my preview of Absolute Green Arrow #1.

For how Oliver Queen died, see my preview of Absolute Evil #1. 

For more on the series, see Pornsak Pichetshote on Absolute Green Arrow. 

 

 

 

Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa #1 Review

 

Writer: Matt Hotson

Artist: Juan Gedeon

Colorist: Carlos Cabrera

Letterer: Jeff Powell

Cover Artists: Juan Gedeon; Andrew Krahnke; Joe Palmer; Gavin Smith; Patrick Spaziante; Ryan Brown & Steve Lavigne

Editor: Karl Bollers

Designer: Winston Gambro

Publisher: Oni Press

Price: $4.99

Release Date: September 17, 2025

 

When a series of kidnappings rocks Cowtown, Cowpital City sends help. But as Marshall Moo Montana steps off the train, he finds more trouble than he was looking for. Mayor Bulloney’s announcement of a tax hike hasn’t gone down like a cold glass of Lily Bovine's Sarsaparilla. But the Mayor appeases the crowd by pointing out Moo and promising that the Marshall will capture the kidnapper. Can Marshall Moo Montana find the kidnapped populace? And what dirty swine is abducting the good folks of Cowtown? Let's pull on our boots, leap into Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa #1, and see!

 

Story

Mayor Bulloney may have greeted Marshall Moo Montana with a smile. But when they reach the Sheriff’s office, he confides that he didn’t request help. Instead, the authorities in Cowpital City imposed Moo on him. Nor does Deputy Terrorbull want Moo there. In the Sheriff’s absence, Terrorbull wants to take charge. Moo urges Bulloney and Terrorbull to remain calm while they investigate the mysterious disappearances.

 

Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa #1 reveals the history of Moo Mesa. Matt Hotson explains how some of the animals roaming wild and free in the Grand Cownyon gained intelligence, while others did not. Moreover, it reveals how Moo Montana became the calm, thoughtful Marshal he is today. The debut issue introduces a host of colorful characters, including Lily Bovine, Cody Calf, Jack Rabbit, and Buffalo Bill. It also portrays differing approaches to leadership and how those who seek power may wield it unwisely.

 

Marshall Moo Montana faces a difficult task in Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa #1. He will face a superior adversary. Yet perhaps the most onerous aspect of the case is how personal it is for him. Not only does he know one of the kidnapping victims, but she also helped him become the Marshall he is today. And as Moo investigates her disappearance, he must work alongside Deputy Terrorbull, who reminds him of a time when he was fueled by bluster and anxious for recognition of his importance.

 

Art

A giant bovine, carved by either the elements or by hooves, rises amid a red rock canyon. While Moo Montana sets cans atop a wooden beam, Sheriff Marey Quine leans against the fence. Moo looks sullen while Marey smiles. But her features grow stern as she whips out her golden gun and shoots. As Juan Gedeon reduces the pair to silhouettes, a ram drives his frightened donkey to the breaking point. But it's his wooden wagon that breaks after it somersaults. And the spinning objects that hurtled after it become rascally armadillos wielding red revolvers.

 

Moo Montana reclines in the plush, upholstered cabin as the train pulls into Cowtown. After debarking to collect his horse, Moo strides through the dirt street between brown, wood-frame buildings. The Marshal’s orange slacks and green shirt show off his muscles. His blonde hair peeks out from his brown hat as a mouse hands him a newspaper. Carlos Cabrera applies a loaded palette of vibrant colors to Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa #1. Yet the longhorn Deputy’s muscular hide glows like a red-hot poker, as Terrorbull stands atop a wooden platform. Beside him, the well-dressed Mayor clutches a megaphone.

 

Amid battles, high-speed pursuits, rabblerousing, and tense confrontations, Jeff Powell fills white balloons with black, uppercase dialogue. The words grow bold for intonation, and balloon shapes grow spiky with intensity. While sound effects accompany snoozing, train whistles blowing, and bovine escapades, a newspaper headline turns Moo’s first day in Cowtown into a rude awakening. Thanks to Oni Press for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Everyone needs rules to live by. For Marshall Moo Montana, it's the Code of the West. He understands the high spirits that drive people to take the law into their hands. A society that protects the downtrodden and fosters fairness requires a cool head and an adherence to the Code. That's what he'll try to communicate to the citizens of Cowtown, as Marshall Moo Montana searches for his missing mentor in Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa #1.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

For more covers and a look inside see my preview of Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa #1. 

Moon Dogs #1 Review

 

Writer: Tananarive Due

Artist: Kelsey Ramsay

Colorist: José Villarrubia

Letterer & Designer: Jeff Powell

Editor: Will Dennis

Cover Artists: Kelsey Ramsay & José Villarrubia; Tula Lotay

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: November 20, 2024

 

Carlos is ready to commit. But Nala isn’t sure. Her heritage complicates any relationship. And once you’ve told people your secrets, they can use them against you. Carlos knows she is a Moon Dog. But is he ready to join Nala’s family? Let's brew some tea, leap into Moon Dogs #1, and see!

 

Story

Nala and Carlos are reporters in Miami, Florida. While riding toward her parents’ house, a tip diverts them to Little Havana. Despite her upbringing and heritage, Nala is appalled by the dismembered body in front of the Carniceria. But they don’t have time to linger. The police are coming. Nala wipes away a paw print and removes a familiar necklace before Luis arrives.

 

In Moon Dogs #1, Nala is like anyone else. When she grows close to someone, she shares her secrets. While attending the University of Miami, she shared her family heritage with Luis. But their relationship didn't lead to marriage, and now Luis works for the police. Despite his faith in Nala, he knows one of "her people" brutally killed someone. Maybe he can work with a reporter to find the killer, but not Nala.

 

While the slaying severs Nala professionally from the police, it also drives a wedge between herself and her brother. Kai is growing up. He seeks empowerment and belonging. A group of young and successful people promises him both. So, Kai shares some of his mother's tea with them. Her ancestral blend helps were-hyenas control their urges and shapeshifting abilities. But in the wrong hands, that tea can empower people and propel them to savagery.

 

Tananarive Due’s story introduces readers to a diverse lycanthrope community. Nala's family successfully blended their werewolf and were-hyena ancestry in Moon Dogs #1. Nala wonders if she and Carlos can overcome the hurdles facing a Human/Lycanthrope marriage. But before considering that, Nala must steer Kai away from people who would unleash chaos in the name of social change. Why? Because the necklace Nala found at the crime scene belonged to her younger brother. And because, like all too many people today, Kai argues that it’s okay for “good” leaders to say or do bad things for “the right reasons.”

 

 

 

Art

Kelsey Ramsay shows a man’s scattered body parts on the sidewalk next to a trash bag awaiting pickup. A selection of prime cuts separates Carlos and Nala as they recognize the necklace in her hand. She raises it to show him the pendant matches the one around her neck. As Luis raises a hand to ward them off, three patrol cars in the street flash their roof lights. After the shocking street scene, Nala and Carlos dine with her parents and Kai. The crossed wooden canes of her ancestors hang on the wall and adorn table linen like a religious symbol.

 

José Villarrubia lavishes bright colors on the vibrant city of Miami in Moon Dogs #1. Houseplants in her parent's dining room echo the palm trees and tropical plants outside. While Nala wears a green shirt, she rides a red motorcycle, matching the red meat and the crime scene. The blue on Carlos’ shirt matches her father’s, the seat cushions, and the dark blue moonlit night. While Kai wears pink like his mother, he recalls a brown and red-colored meeting with the alpha males. And when the full moon rises, Carlos is not invited to dinner when the family wears white.

 

Jeff Powell slashes black uppercase letters into white dialogue balloons and white letters into black narrative boxes. The font emboldens for inflection and rarely shrinks. Nala pours out her heart and hesitation on a yellow legal pad, and drawings accompany an essay on the Were-Hyenas of East Africa. Elegant blue letters adorn a boat hull, while red music notes dance above Nala’s head. Sound effects enliven this story about power and responsibility with gunfire and a ferocious feast. Thanks to Image Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

While Moon Dogs #1 ponders what we owe to the past and future, this story of heritage and lycanthropy also addresses those who feel marginalized within an oppressed community.

 

Rating 9.4/10

 

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

The Manchurian #1 Review

 

Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote

Penciler & Colorist: Terry Dodson

Inker: Rachel Dodson

Letterer & Designer: Jeff Powell

Color Flats: John Ercek

Editor: Will Dennis

Cover Artist: Terry Dodson

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: September 25, 2024

 

China has risen from poverty to become a global superpower in a generation. What form does their espionage take in the USA? And what toll does it take on their agents? Let’s leap into The Manchurian #1 and find out!

 

Story

Chinese spycraft is corporate espionage. Chinese agents don't pay their informants. Instead, they look for stable but indiscreet employees. In World War II, the US government warned its citizens that Loose Lips Might Sink Ships. In the 21^st Century, instead of warships bringing troops to the frontlines or cargo vessels transporting food to bombed cities, the idiom applies to ships of commerce that provide essential goods and services to people across the globe.

 

In The Manchurian #1, Jillian Ames-Xu is one of the good people. When she learned her husband was passing corporate secrets to his homeland, she wanted to help. She continues after his death. But without his guiding hand, Jillian grows careless. Calvin Low, her guardian angel, pleads with her to stop. Calvin worries that Security will notice her accessing restricted files. But Jillian's love for her husband knows no bounds. Even after his death, she goes above and beyond to further his causes.

 

Like Calvin Low, Virginia is a Guardian Angel. She protects the American agents who pass along corporate secrets to China. But their superiors worry about Calvin. They send Virginia to warn him against growing too close to Jillian. Virginia reminds him that he should eliminate dangers to their operation, not protect them.

 

Luna Garcia and Calvin Low have a good life together. But despite her love for him, Luna knows Calvin lies to her. She doesn’t understand why. Luna’s concern grows when she finds an empty container of prescription drugs in the bathroom trash. Luna wants to help Calvin with whatever he is going through. Calvin would like to be honest with her, but he can't. Calvin vows to break up with her and let her find someone better, but not yet.

 

While Calvin struggles to protect Jillian, forces close in on him. In addition to his superiors, the multinational corporations are losing billions to Chinese espionage. Their pockets are deep. For some of their agents, Calvin’s actions cross the line. It’s not just business anymore. It’s personal.

 

The Manchurian #1 scoops secondary players into its net and intersperses Calvin’s scenes with reports on Chinese espionage. As the tension mounts, Calvin struggles to carry a load his superiors wish he would abandon. Pornsak Pichetshote weaves all the plot strands into a compelling tapestry that should satisfy readers while leaving them wanting to know more about Jillian, Luna, Virginia, and Calvin.

 

Art

As Calvin rises from the ocean in his swim trunks, a blonde regards him from a chaise lounge. Calvin helps her out of her bikini as they trade the patio for her bedroom while her brother smokes a cigarette outside. People chat about their research in restaurants, bars, and at home. Jillian wears protective goggles as she sits before a workstation with three monitors and a microscope. She glances behind her and frowns.

 

Terry Dodson adorns his pencils and Rachel Dodson’s inks with scene-specific limited palettes. Interiors and evenings often feature grayed pinks and purples, such as when Calvin meets Jillian at a modern art exhibit, hovers above a target like James Bond in Goldfinger, or meets her in a dark alley. Dodson favors green, brown, and blue for daytime scenes, such as when Calvin meets the blonde and Virginia. But the pinks and purples dominate The Manchurian #1, as Calvin spends more time in the shadows and darkness than in the light of day.

 

Jeff Powell shares Calvin’s thoughts as white uppercase letters in red narrative boxes and a security analyst’s reports as white lowercase words in black narrative boxes. Font size ranges from generous to small amid black and gray words in white dialogue balloons. Giant white letters introduce the locations and players in Calvin’s struggle to protect Jillian and claim the ultimate prize of 21^st-century espionage. Sound effects suggest a caring side to Virginia's nature and punctuate an event that could shatter Jillian's fragmenting perspective in The Manchurian #1. Thanks to Image Comics and The Horizon Experiment for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

A conscientious Chinese spy struggles to knit together his fraying personal life while protecting a grieving widow from her corporate masters and his superiors in The Manchurian #1.

 

Rating 9/10 

 

For another cover see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

Preview interior art at the Image Comics website.

Man’s Best #1 Review

 

Writer: Pornsak Pichetshote

Artist & Colorist: Jesse Lonergan

Letterer: Jeff Powell

Cover Artists: Jesse Lonergan; Trish Forstner; Frany; Jae Lee & June Chung; Dustin Nguyen; Ivan Tao

Publisher: Boom!

Price: $4.99

Release Date: March 20, 2024

 

After wars and environmental crises devastated Earth, the Tomorrow Corporation charged Captain Patel with preparing a new home for Humanity. Captain Patel brought along Dr. Winters, an inventor overseeing the terraforming equipment. Can Captain Patel and Dr. Winters reach Epsilon 32 and convert its ecosystem to save Humanity from extinction? Let's climb aboard Starship Horizon, take a giant leap into Man's Best #1, and find out!

 

Story

Dr. Winters' devotion to her education and career led to awkwardness with others. She brought her pets along to keep her company on the voyage. They guard her terraforming equipment from curious crewmembers during the day and keep her company at night. Dr. Winters also directs them through simulated battles in the holo-chamber. We don't learn why Dr. Winters feels her pets might need to defend their new home. Still, it makes sense to have people—or pets—prepare for the unexpected on an alien planet.

 

Captain Patel regards Dr. Winters’ experiments as little more than entertainment in Man’s Best #1. But then, Captain Patel doesn’t believe in his mission. Humanity’s cruelty and rapaciousness seem incurable. A family death further isolates him. He allows Dr. Winters to conduct her experiments, even if they drain the ship’s resources and detract from her duties. Still, Captain Patel has a more pressing concern. The ship's sensors no longer detect Epsilon 32.

 

Athos wasn’t Dr. Winters’ first pet, but the longhaired white cat leads her pack. At least, he tries. Porthos—an affable Golden Retriever--is his enthusiastic right-paw dog. Or should I say, his bionic right-paw dog? The problem pet in the pack is Lovey. The jowly terrier does what he pleases when he pleases, which inevitably dooms their simulated missions.

 

Pornsak Pichetshote fuels Man’s Best #1 with interesting character dynamics. Dr. Winters wishes Captain Patel would return her affection. Some crewmembers share Captain Patel’s disbelief in their mission. Yet Prichetshote primarily focuses on Dr. Winters’ pets. Lovey distrusts his owner and feels disinclined to follow orders. Porthos' exuberance diminishes her focus. Athos wishes he were a decisive leader who inspired his team to greatness.

 

Dysfunctional relationships are the least of their worries when Epsilon 32 suddenly reappears in their path. Captain Patel and his crew struggle to slow the ship’s momentum. After a turbulent blackout, the pets awaken in a wrecked spaceship. Where did the crew and Dr. Winters go? What happened to the terraforming equipment? The Incredible Journey has just begun!

 

Art

Starship Horizon propels an immense storage container between the stars. Captain Patel’s black eyepatch evokes the pirates of yore, while Dr. Winters' immense round glasses compliment her bouffant blonde hair. Jesse Lonergan’s loosely drawn characters give Man’s Best #1 a low-key appearance that lulls readers into this epic tale.

 

Lonergan packs pages with panels that provide insights into the characters without slowing the pace. From the simulated southwest landscape to the grid-like holo room, Starship Horizon’s crowded control room, and finally to Epsilon 32, Athos, Porthos, and Lovey travel through interest-provoking settings. Surgical implants allow Athos to control an exoskeleton, Porthos to generate a forcefield, and Lovey to fire weapons while hurtling about with his jetpack. Or at least when the well-fed terrier feels like it. Then there’s their simulated foe, a Klanker that punches projectile fists and fires lasers from its neck at our canine and feline heroes.

 

Man's Best #1's limited color palette provides contrast in small and large panels. Lonergan imbues characters and backgrounds with a sponged or speckled appearance. The weathering and patinas lend the story a distressed, lived-in appearance that evokes how George Lucas differentiated Star Wars from the idealized futures of earlier sci-fi films.

 

Jeff Powell places large, uppercase letters in colored backgrounds and white dialogue balloons. Words grow bold for inflection and occasionally enlarge or shrink. Sound effects help readers hear the animals purr, howl, hiss, and bark while the Klanger pops its top. Powell shakes the reader when the klaxons blare and the crew of Starship Horizon brave the perils of bashful Epsilon 32.

 

Thanks to Boom! Studios for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

When a terraforming mission goes awry, a bionic Golden Retriever, a flying terrier, and a cat clad in exoskeletal armor must brave the dangers of an alien planet to save their Human masters in Man's Best #1.

 

Rating 8.8/10

 

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