Blade Runner Tokyo Nexus: To Lose is to Win #1 Review

 

Blade Runner Tokyo Nexus: To Lose is to Win #1 Review

Writer: Nancy A Collins

Artist: Mariano Taibo

Colorist: Marco Lesko

Letterer: Jim Campbell

Editor: David Leach

Cover Artists: Junggeun Yoon; Dani & Brad Simpson; Piotr Kowalski

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $4.99

Release Date: May 6, 2026

 

After Mead and Stix fought side by side on Kalanthia, the ex-Marine and combat Replicant set up as private investigators in Japan. But while the two former soldiers remade their lives, other military Replicants broke the Tyrell Corporation’s cardinal rule. They illegally immigrated to Earth and established an underground community in Tokyo. After years of trusting each other, Stix doesn’t tell Mead about helping the Replicant community.

 

When a Blade Runner from Los Angeles visits Tokyo and confronts Mead with evidence of a super Replicant assassin who employs Stix’s methods, Mead struggles to stand by her friend. Can Mead and Stix's partnership withstand their recent alliance with the Yakuza? And can Replicants rise from the underground to live peacefully among their Human neighbors? Let’s leap into Blade Runner Tokyo Nexus: To Lose is to Win #1 and see!

 

Story

Mead and Stix forged their friendship on Kalantha, but that doesn't mean that others shared their views on Humans befriending Replicants. And while they knew the trust they shared was real, what the war on Kalantha was about was less clear. But when enemy helicopters attack just as they reach a hotly contested command bunker, it seems more than a coincidence.

 

Caught in an ambush, Mead and Stix activate the Aurora program in Blade Runner Tokyo Nexus: To Lose is to Win #1. Then Stix sets out with the other combat Replicants to protect Mead and Sergeant Major Lancaster. But while Mead watches and advises, the stressful encounter and Stix's actions on the battlefield are destined to haunt her long after the friends leave Kalantha.

 

In 2015, after forging their deal with the Yakuza, Mead awakens from sleep. Her wartime memories have become nightmares. She's in a bad mood and can't stay in their Tokyo home. As Mead stumbles outside to focus on what she can do, Nancy A Collins switches the story to Stix. Replicants have a limited life span, and combat models like Stix burn out more quickly than most. But Alura's Yakuza organization protects the ex-Tyrell scientists who founded Cheshire. She has promised to help him survive his expiration date. And while Stix would do anything for Mead, she also wishes to see her partner live a long and fruitful life.

 

As Blade Runner Tokyo Nexus: To Lose is to Win #1 forces Mead and Stix into another uncomfortable situation, Rumiko likewise faces a difficult task. Ostensibly, the Blade Runner still works for Tyrell. But instead of killing the ex-Tyrell scientists working for Cheshire, she’s hunting for Aurora. Tyrell constructed more Replicants in the Stix series. But Aurora can imbue combat Replicants with the carefully honed skills that made Mead's friend into such an effective killing machine. And like Mead and Stix, Rumiko doesn't want any more people, Replicant or Human, to end up in the garbage bin.

 

Art

As Mead and Stix push through the dense foliage, single-person choppers roar overhead. Sergeant Major Lancaster and his team provide cover fire as the Aurora team rushes inside the bunker. But when cracks race across the ceiling, the team hustles downstairs and exits a tunnel beneath the tree line. Yellow light pierces the leafy canopy like falling stars, as yellow light shines on the silhouette faces of the combat Replicants.

 

As Mariano Taibo gets Blade Runner Tokyo Nexus: To Lose is to Win #1 off to a running start, Marco Lesko adorns the art on Kalantha with a limited palette. Yellow and orange blossom amid the verdant greenery, while red soon follows as Mead watches through Stix's eyes. In her Tokyo apartment, plants surround Mead. As a memory of a wall of green and white evokes natural disasters that struck Japan, a yellow, orange, and red poster recalls the conflict in Kalantha. And a green poster that Mead passes highlights that the same corporations that profited from the war on Kalantha are also helping Japan rebuild.

 

Jim Campbell uses narrative boxes to locate readers in time and space, while also sharing Rumiko and Mead’s reminiscences. While black uppercase dialogue fills white balloons, Stix and Mead’s thoughts fill colored balloons sans arrows when connected via Aurora. Sound effects transmit all the danger and death on Kalantha, and an unwelcome surprise in Tokyo, while an homage to a Blade Runner author greets Mead upon her return. Thanks to Titan Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

As Japan recovers from natural disasters, it struggles to accept all members of society as equal contributors. Nor are Mead and Stix as close as they once were. Mead may regret taking Sayo’s case, even though Stix suspected Yakuza involvement. Still, the Private Investigators must pay the price for becoming embroiled in the struggle for Replicant equality in Blade Runner Tokyo Nexus: To Lose is to Win #1.

 

Rating 9/10

 

To look inside see my preview of Blade Runner Tokyo Nexus: To Lose is to Win #1.

 

For what happened last time, see my review of Blade Runner Tokyo Nextus: Die In Peace. 

 

Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus: To Lose is to Win #1 Preview

 

COVER A: JUNGGEUN YOON

 

After Mead and Stix fought side by side on Kalanthia, the ex-Marine and combat Replicant set up as private investigators in Japan. But while the soldiers remade their lives, Replicants fled Blade Runners to establish an underground community in Tokyo. An investigation into rumors of a super Replicant assassin, and a missing woman, led Mead and Stix to the Yakuza. Will more drama rock Mead and Stix's partnership? And can Replicants rise from the underground to live peacefully among their Human neighbors? 

Here's all the info from Titan Comics: 

BLADE RUNNER: TOKYO NEXUS: TO LOSE IS TO WIN #1 (OF 4)

Format: Comic book

(W) Nancy A. Collins

(A) Mariano Taibo

Publisher: Titan Comics

FC • 32pp • $4.99

On Sale May 6, 2026

 

BLADE RUNNER IS BACK!

 

Discovering that Mead and Stix are still alive, their old commanding officer, Uldren sets out to kill them before they can reveal his treachery. The data he stole from Tyrell has enabled the Cheshire Corporation to create bootleg Replicants with the same kill signature as Stix. Meanwhile, still dealing with the fallout from the Yakuza civil war Stix and Mead find themselves fighting for survival against Rumika, A Blade Runner sent by Tyrell to destroy Cheshire and all those connected with it.

 

 

 

Now, let's take a look inside:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are more cover options:

 

 

 

COVER B: DANI & BRAD SIMPSON

 

 

 

COVER C: PIOTR KOWALSKI

 

COVER D: MARIANO TAIBO

Also Available:

 

COVER E: JUNGGEUN YOON FOIL VARIANT

COVER F: DANI & BRAD SIMPSON VIRGIN VARIANT

 

 

Fans can order their copy of BLADE RUNNER: TOKYO NEXUS - TO LOSE IS TO WIN #1 from their local comic book store, and Forbidden Planet for UK & Europe.

 

BLADE RUNNER: TOKYO NEXUS VOL. 1 DIE IN PEACE is available to order at local comic shops, and bookshops now. 

 

 

Thanks to Titan Comics for sharing this preview with us.

 

 

For how this series began, see my review of Blade Runner: Tokyo Nexus #1. 

Bloodborne Vol 1: The Death of Sleep Deluxe Edition Review

 

Writer: Aleš Kot

Artist: Piotr Kowalski

Colorists: Brad Simpson & Kevin Enhart

Letterer: Aditya Bidikar

Publisher: Titan Comics

Hardcover Price: $24.99

Kindle: $18.99

Release Date: September 2, 2025

 

Their name is unimportant. Perhaps they never had one. Either that, or the fog of battle has stripped it from them. Now, all the Hunter has is the hunt. While they yearn for rest, Yharnam needs them. So, as they slay the beasts in the burning city, they head toward the cathedral. Can the Hunter help those trapped inside? And can they find a way to escape the endless hunt? Let's grab a weapon, leap into Bloodborne Vol 1: The Death of Sleep Deluxe Edition, and see!

 

Story

When they arrive to rescue those trapped inside the cathedral, the occupants usher the Hunter inside. Despite all the beasts they have slain, a man leads them through the ancient building. He claims that the laity of the Healing Church are the true beasts. The priests have trapped this world in an endless cycle where people become infected and transform into beasts. Instead of fleeing, the man shows the Hunter a child. His pale skin and milk-like blood recall a prophecy. The man proffers the Hunter the boy as a potential means of escaping the never-ending hunt.

 

As we follow their journey, Aleš Kot shares the Hunter's thoughts with us in Bloodborne Vol 1: The Death of Sleep Deluxe Edition. The Hunter muses about their world and the nature of existence. They wonder how the world defines and limits them. The Healing Church has sacrificed its future and threatened everyone’s Humanity to preserve the present. Someone chose them to be a Hunter to cull the beasts. Despite their childhood memories, perhaps someone created them: neither man nor woman, but all Hunter. And a Hunter must hunt.

 

As the Hunter takes the pale blood child across the world, they wonder if a richer life awaits them. Protecting the child from danger is a new experience, but also an honor that the Hunter embraces. Along the way, the Hunter seeks counsel from others on how to escape the endless cycle of violence that traps them all. As in life, escaping the tyranny of long-held beliefs and patterns of behavior seems an impossible dream in Bloodborne Vol 1: The Death of Sleep Deluxe Edition.

 

Art

The Hunter carries a rifle and a collapsible serrated axe as they stride through the monster-filled streets. A bandana obscures their features, while a hat evokes the supercilium of a predatory bird. They extend the axe into a toothy scythe, cleaving bodies and severing heads with their right hand, while firing the rifle with their left. As a dog sinks its fangs into their vambraces, zombies, werewolves, and mummies leap from the flames. Yet the Hunter plows undaunted through the melee, approaching a carved wooden door in the towering expanse of brick.

 

Brad Simpson and Kevin Enhart lavish a nuanced palette on Bloodborne Vol 1: The Death of Sleep Deluxe Edition. Their colors brighten this dark world, in which a square centimeter rarely escapes Piotr Kowalski’s detailed penciling. Within Yharnam Cathedral, the fires outside fill the Gothic windows with a peach glow, while statues guard those within from alcoves lining the blue stone walls. The Hunter walks past an excavation pit, where brown coffins rest among boards and bricks in the dirt. Like the wooden floor and coffins, the pale child wears brown clothes and strips of cloth. Like the mottled skin on his bare head, gray sandals cover his pale feet.

 

Aditya Bidikar places the Hunter’s thoughts in yellow scraps of parchment with black lowercase words. Black uppercase words inhabit white balloons as the Hunter seeks aid and relief from life’s unending cycle. Sound effects heighten battles that, while fulfilling the Hunter’s purpose, can never bring them peace. Extras include the script for the first issue, illustrated with pencil sketches and inked art. The volume also boasts insights into creating the cover art and interviews with the writer and artist. Thanks to Titan Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Perhaps once, the Hunter enjoyed hunting. But that was long ago. To recapture the meaning of their existence, the Hunter protects a pale child. While guiding it in the ways of the world, all the Hunter knows is that opinions can be the greatest danger of them all in Bloodborne Vol 1: The Death of Sleep Deluxe Edition.

 

Raing 9.2/10

 

For more info and order information, see my announcement for Bloodborne Vol 1: The Deathof Sleep Deluxe Edition.

Christmas 365 #2 Review

 

Writers: Mikey Way & Jonathan Rivera

Artist: Piotr Kowalski

Colorist: Brad Simpson

Letterer: Joshua Reed

Cover Artists: Piotr Kowalski with Brad Simpson

Special Thanks: Ian Sattler

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: January 8, 2025

 

Peter Rockwell was depressed. Overworked and mourning his father, every day was a struggle to get by. Without Peter at the helm, his family started to mutiny. Peter's relationship with his eldest daughter grew frosty when he missed her play. But Santa Claus put him right. The Mall Santa (“A total pro”) suggested Peter “Live each day like it is Christmas.” Can Peter harness the joy of Christmas all year round? And how are the Rockwells celebrating Christmas on the 25^th of each month? Let's grab a glass of eggnog, leap into Christmas 365 #2, and find out!

 

Story

The Doctor isn't fond of Peter's plan. Burning down the Christmas tree was just the start. Peter's over-the-top celebrations bring unexpected dangers. The Doctor also worries about Peter's cholesterol due to all the holiday yummies. Nor is the Doctor alone. Red may look good on Santa, but the bank isn't happy with Peter's overspending. Still, after five months, Peter is achieving his goal of bringing his family together. So, Peter wonders how he can make his Christmas Year more feasible.

 

Avoiding holiday overeating is hard. Creation and innovation entail danger. So, in Christmas 365 #2, Peter focuses on making the holidays more affordable. People are noticing what the Rockwells are doing. When the family gathers around a plate of holiday cookies, Tina's suggestion inspires Peter. Building a Memorial Day Christmas Village necessitates a significant investment in their time and finances. If their online fans don’t support them, the Rockwells could go bankrupt. But like Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella, Peter suspects that if he builds it, people will come.

 

Amid all the fun and celebrations, Mikey Way and Jonathan Rivera’s story showcases Peter’s love for his family. As Alice said, Steven, Susan, and Tina are the gifts that matter. Steven no longer torments Susan with gory visions on his tablet. Tina is channeling her social media prowess and her set design skills to bolster her father's plans. As Peter's eldest daughter starts to feel the joy of Christmas, she realizes this year of celebrating won't go on forever. While his father's death still haunts him, Peter finds ways to close the distance with his eldest daughter in Christmas 365 #2.

 

Art

Peter's waist looks thicker without his shirt on. Peter covers his face when he wonders how to Make Christmas Great Always. Piotr Kowalski’s

flashbacks reveal Steven's mischievous nature, the Rockwells' first four monthly celebrations, and possibly how Tina sought revenge on her father. After Brad Simpson colors the April celebrations red and imbues the family with green eyes, gingerbread men with red and green buttons gather next to bills with red late payment stickers. “No, not the gumdrop buttons!”

 

As Peter and Alice study Tina's phone, bold colors fill the background, hinting at the Rockwells' online coverage. Spectators watch festive holiday displays as Tina and greenbacks fill the foreground. While Alice looks worried, Peter brainstorms colorful building projects in his red long-sleeve shirt. Then a gray shark threatens to swallow Peter's red-clothed Christmas totem, men gather beneath red palm fronds, and customers smile when yellow fries rise from a brown bun.

 

Amid Piotr Kowalski's detailed art and Brad Simpson's vibrant coloring, Joshua Reed conveys Mikey Way and Jonathan Rivera's heartwarming and energetic story. The black uppercase letters in balloons and red-bordered boxes grow bold and swell but never shrink. A stylized red, green, and white logo adorns online articles in Christmas 365 #2. Snapping and thwipping signal injury. Chugging eases Alice's tensions. Yet barely discernable clicking endangers Peter's dream. Thanks to Dark Horse Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Peter Rockwell's crusade to unite his family and celebrate their love for each other wins people over. But just as Peter discovers how to make Santa's suggestion profitable, someone threatens to steal his dream in Christmas 365 #2.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

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

Christmas 365 #1 Review

 

Writers: Mikey Way & Jonathan Rivera

Artist: Piotr Kowalski

Colorist: Brad Simpson

Letterer: Joshua Reed

Cover Artists: Piotr Kowalski with Brad Simpson

Special Thanks: Ian Sattler

Publisher: Dark Horse Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: December 4, 2024

 

Peter Rockwell is depressed. Overworked and mourning his father, every day is a struggle to get by. While he is losing touch with his family, Christmas looms. Can Peter get through the holidays and get back in touch with his family? Let's grab a glass of eggnog, leap into Christmas 365 #1, and find out!

 

Story

The kitchen in Peter's house is a hive of activity. Alice steers little Steven and Susan through breakfast while arguing with Tina about propriety in teenage relationships. Steven is more interested in terrorizing Susan than eating. Peter's oldest child is upset with her dad for missing her high school play. Alice reminds Peter that he's letting them down. Peter vows to be better. But her loving suggestion feels like another demand.

 

Before Peter enters the office, the assault begins in Christmas 365 #1. His manager insinuates Peter must step up. Victor increases the pressure by purchasing the boss a gift over the proposed spending limit for employees. Then Victor promises a proposal revision by day’s end, despite shorter holiday hours. Once again, Peter arrives late to be with his family.

 

In Mikey Way and Jonathan Rivera’s story, Peter and his father always made a big deal out of Christmas. But Peter couldn't face celebrating the holidays without his dad. Steven preys on Susan's fears that their dad will skip Christmas this year. So when they get to the mall, Peter lifts Susan onto his shoulders while they wait to see Santa. Walking alongside, Steven may be more interested in his tablet than Santa. But Peter notices the wonder in his youngest daughter's eyes.

 

In Christmas 365 #1, Peter Rockwell struggles with the demands of parenthood. His daughter’s joy helps him remember how Christmas used to make him feel. So, Peter lets go of his inhibitions and notions of respectability. Instead, he does something to reawaken the child inside him and revive his love for the holiday season. Other adults won’t understand, but Peter wants to turn his life around for his family.

 

Art

Piotr Kowalski kicks off Christmas 365 #1 with a dream sequence. As Peter walks through a storybook town, trying to return home, a malicious snowman and other outdoor decorations pursue him. The inking captures details and shadows, whether caught in folds of fabric or shimmers on glass. The boss’s office evokes M’s in classic James Bond movies. Amid the fine woodwork, loaded bookshelves, and an upholstered door, a portrait of a frowning woman hangs behind the boss. Later, Peter pulls open a drawer in his cubicle, removes a framed childhood photo with his father, and replaces it on a bookshelf.

 

Brad Simpson contrasts muted colors with their brighter cousins to give Piotr Kowalkski’s art a lived-in quality. He intensifies Peter's nightmare by tinging the surrounding outdoor Christmas decorations in red. Simpson brightens the beige, brown, and gray home with plants and the undecorated Christmas tree. Tan, beige, and maroon warm the boss's office. Gray, lavender, and blue cool Peter’s cubicle. The same bright red, green, and yellow in the gold framed photo surround Santa at the mall, helping Peter associate Christmas with happiness and familial celebration.  

 

Joshua Reed decorates sugar cookie dialogue balloons with coal-colored uppercase letters. He adorns a radio news report with scalloped cookie-cutter edges. After crowning domestic chaos with a yellow sound effect, he outlines white narrative boxes with red and green to enhance Peter’s Yuletide eureka in Christmas 365 #1. Thanks to Dark Horse Comics for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

Christmas 365 #1 tackles the difficulties of navigating the depression accompanying the holiday season with sitcom humor and a reminder that the best gifts are the times we share with those we love.

 

Rating 9.4/10

 

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

All Eight Eyes #3 Review

 

Writer: Steve Fox

Artist: Piotr Kowalski

Colorist: Brad Simpson

Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Cover Artists: Piotr Kowalski and Brad Simpson; David Romero

Publisher: Dark Horse

Price: $3.99

Release Date: June 21, 2023

 

Play with spiders long enough, and you’re bound to get bitten. At least that’s what Dani Dominguez tells Vin when he awakens in the abandoned school. Meanwhile, Reynolds is fighting a giant spider and needs his help yesterday. What happens next? Grab an elvish dagger from a troll’s horde—or at least a baseball bat—as we brave a look inside All Eight Eyes #3 and find out!

 

Story

The previous issue ended with Reynolds and a giant spider playing tug-of-war, using Vin as a rope. Dani slaps Vin to banish his grogginess. The New York Parks & Recreation officer tells him they need to leave pronto. Reynolds also tells him to flee. But Vin's not having any of that. He's a man with a plan to get them out of a jam, and with Reynolds' help, he succeeds.

 

To the victors belong the spoils. At least Reynolds spoils the party with a temper tantrum. It shocks Vin into breaking up their dynamic duo. But can he resume everyday life, knowing the dangers that threaten New York? Dani certainly can’t. Her coworker Ernie found a spider corpse in the last issue, but their boss Mr. Godino ordered them to suppress the discovery. Maybe she could live with that then, but not anymore.

 

Sadly, All Eight Eyes #3 stumbles as it scurries across our New Comic Book Day haul. Dani says Vin got bit, but we never saw it happen. You can argue the final panel of issue #2 showed it, but if so, where's the result? Vin leaps into action to save Reynolds. Why isn't he treating his injury or suffering ill effects? An ordinary spider bite can be debilitating. Shouldn't a giant spider bite hospitalize Vin or kill him? Also, why does Dani call in sick, then sneak into work anyway? Her boss may be a jerk, but does he dominate every second of her working day? Hopefully, we'll learn the reason for her deception in the next issue.

 

 

Art

I never had to flip back and forth in All Eight Eyes #3 because I wondered, "What just happened?" Whether depicting moments like Dani's slap, Vin throwing a brick, or a giant spider meeting its demise, Piotr Kowalski sets up action scenes well and follows through.

 

He shows emotions equally well. Vin dances with exultation. Dani's frown--and her raised hand as she turns away--conveys her feelings. Amy's expressions, hug, the steaming mug she brings him, and even her bunny slippers help Vin accept her concerned disbelief.

 

Vin's face didn't convey his uniqueness in the first few pages. But long before Reynolds finally shared what propelled him on his crusade against the Eight Legs, Vin recaptured his individuality.

 

In the first issue, Brad Simpson colored the spiders with wild abandon. By All Eight Eyes #3, he's settled down. He sells dark battle scenes in the abandoned school, Vin's dream, and Reynolds' recollections without obscuring the art. His shadows and highlights imbue scenes with the rich tapestry of life in the city that never sleeps. Likewise, Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou fills white dialogue balloons with easy-to-read lettering. Font size and the shapes of the linking arrows convey tonality and emotion. His sound effects help us hear impacts and the skittering of the arachnids who lurk in the darkness awaiting the opportunity to strike.

 

Final Thoughts

The past hangs heavy over Vin and Reynolds as another Human joins the fight against the spider menace. All Eight Eyes #3 asks: When can you give yourself a pass and give up on a cause you believe in? 

 

Rating 9.2/10

 

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

All Eight Eyes #2 Review

 

Writer: Steve Fox

Artist: Piotr Kowalski

Colorist: Brad Simpson

Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Cover Artists: Piotr Kowalski and Brad Simpson; Trevor Henderson

Publisher: Dark Horse

Price: $3.99

Release Date: May 24, 2023

 

Ten years ago, Reynolds saw something that radically changed his life. Recently, Vin joined his crusade battling New York’s giant spiders. What have their efforts cost both men? Let's brave a look inside All Eight Eyes #2 and find out!

 

Story

Reynolds lets others believe that's his name rather than just a name sewn on the jacket he now wears. While he's let relationships outside the homeless community lapse, Vin tries to maintain his. The young man’s efforts to alert others to the giant spider population prove no more successful than his mentor's. Saddened, he accompanies the man on another spider hunt. In the process, their lives will intersect with an official eyeing the greasy pole of politics and an openminded Parks & Recreation officer who's also discovered a giant spider.

 

I like how Steve Foxe plays against character types in All Eight Eyes #2. I also like how he uses this familiar science fiction premise to muse on homelessness, blindness to all we choose to ignore, and the cost of obsession. Set in the Alphabet City region of New York City in 2003--rather than today--we can assume that neighborhood and period call to him.

 

Perhaps—like Reynolds--he’s even obsessed about it. 

 

 

 

 

Art

Piotr Kowalski’s pencil goes crazy as he draws people and settings. Clothing and foliage receive additional attention as he inks in fabric creases and defines bushes and trees. Offices, shops, and the fading grandeur of a derelict school convey reality. Glimpses of the New York City skyline—often from Tompkins Square Park—invoke the romance of the megapolis.

 

In All Eight Eyes #2, Reynolds’ appearance makes a comparison with the Green Arrow unavoidable. Even without a red circle surrounding his eye, the English Bull Terrier named Possom seems as adorable as his corporate cousin. Vin's character may not align as closely with Butt-Head as that of Reynolds and Oliver Queen, but it might as well for all the respect others pay him. The trio may be unlikely heroes, but Parks & Rec. officer Dani Dominguez—a far more reputable character--could join their ranks in future issues.

 

Given Kowalski's attention to detail, All Eight Eyes #2 would enthrall readers as a Black & White comic. Thankfully, Brad Simpson pays equal attention to his coloring. Reynolds' green Army jacket never blends in with nearby foliage. Vin's red hair and boots reveal he's not ready to fade into obscurity. The cheering evening sky can't hide the haze hanging over the skyscrapers. I love how the blue and purple interiors of the abandoned, unillumined school never give way to gray.

 

Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou uses uppercase letters in spherical white dialogue balloons. Inflection makes words grow bold. Lowered voices and guttural sounds receive lowercase letters. Rectangular narrative boxes overlay scenes showing what Reynolds talks about. Sound effects are as rough as homeless life. While Kowalski and Simpson make Foxe’s story compelling, Otsmane-Elhaou ensures it’s easy on the eye.

 

Final Thoughts

Movies like Mimic, Cloverfield, and Spiders 3D testify to New York City's constant battle with monsters. While All Eight Eyes #2 covers Reynolds, Vin, and Possom’s efforts to protect the Alphabet City neighborhood in 2003, the real monsters in this lavishly illustrated comic--greed and a lack of concern for others--remain constant threats to people everywhere.

 

Rating 9.8/10  

 

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

All Eight Eyes #1 Review

 

Writer: Steve Fox

Artist: Piotr Kowalski

Colorist: Brad Simpson

Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Cover Artists: Piotr Kowalski and Brad Simpson

Publisher: Dark Horse

Price: $3.99

Release Date: April 19, 2023

 

When his roomie throws him out after four months of nonpayment of rent, Vin wanders through the park in the early morning hours. He spies a homeless man hammering another man in the head. The homeless man grabs him and pulls him over. Vin sees a giant spider lying beside the corpse. What happens next? Let's brave a look inside All Eight Eyes #1 and find out!

 

Story

Vin had thought to report the man. Now all he wants to do is get away. But the homeless man chases him and bashes him with his hammer. The dog licks him. He jerks awake. The dog backs off and growls. The man crouches before him and thrusts his hammer in his face. "Don't scare my dog," he says.

 

A patch on the man's jacket reads Reynolds. Once again, he shows Vin the spider. He shares how his discovery has changed his life. He shows Vin his journal, in which he's recorded his adventures. Most people never see this menace, he claims. If Vin sticks to well-trodden areas, he'll likely never see one again. He advises Vin to forget about the spiders if he can.

 

All Eight Eyes #1 shines a light on the homeless community in the United States. As Kim Stanley Robinson does in his novel Green Earth, Steve Foxe posits that some vagrants might contribute more to the public good than their more socially acceptable neighbors. He also reminds us how easy it is to merely see what we expect to find. His story asks: How much more might we discover if we broadened our vision and explored more of our world?

 

 

Art

Piotr Kowalski draws interiors with incredible detail, imbues his characters with personality, and packs outdoor scenery with realism. Brick walls reveal cracks and surface imperfections. Clothing show texture, creases, and shadows. Like Vin and Reynolds, the spider-warrior’s dog overcomes his breed’s bad rep to become a sympathetic character.

 

Kowalski limits panels to individual pages rather than working across pages horizontally. Even pages with big reveals sport several panels. My only quibble was Reynolds’ journal. He shows it to Vin, who holds it while they talk. Then we never see it again. Did Vin take Reynolds' journal or not? At least we can read two pages of his adventures at the end of All Eight Eyes #1.

 

The hall of Vin's former apartment reveals color differences in peeling wallpaper and shadows cast on walls and floor by an inadequate overhead light. Vehicle headlights illumine darkened streets beneath the violet sky. The green of grass, shrubs, and foliage contrasts with Reynolds and Vin's earth tones in the early morning light. When Reynolds' dog licks Vin awake, he sees brown brick walls that show color differences, highlights, and shadows. While Kowalski draws lines beneath each character, Brad Simpson shades the area to deepen shadows. His coloring is never harsh or garish, and he uses gray sparingly. Intriguingly, he colors the spiders purple, blue, green, and yellow. It's not as psychedelic as James Stokoe’s coloring in Orphan and Five Beasts, but it reminds me that Vin’s seeing something that shocks him.

 

Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou uses uppercase letters in spherical white dialogue balloons. Inflection makes words grow bold. Rectangular narrative boxes overlay scenes of spider infestation as Reynolds relates his adventures. Sound effects include the dog's growls, the giant spider landing on a brick floor, and the Whoosh of erupting fire. Words combine with art to help us see sound in All Eight Eyes #1.

 

Final Thoughts

Grounded in cultural relevance and monster lore, All Eight Eyes #1 is a fast-paced, thought-provoking read that may make you look at the world differently. The beautiful art, additional story pages, and journal entries make this lovingly detailed comic a must-buy for all but the most ardent arachnophiles.

 

Rating 9/10

 

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