Bleeding Hearts #8 Review

 

Bleeding Hearts #8 Review

Writer: Deniz Camp

Artist & Cover Artist: Stipan Morian

Colorist: Štef Bartolić

Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Variant Cover Artist: Martín Morazzo

Editors: Chris Conroy & Mathew Levine

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99 US/Variant $4.99 US (cardstock)

Release Date: September 30, 2026

 

Poke didn’t ask for his heart to start beating. But when it did, the blood pumping through his cold, dead veins changed everything. He’s tried to walk a line between embracing the Live Ones while remaining in the dead community. Yet, keeping a foot in both camps has forced him to start killing his fellow Zombies. He’s lost his best friend, Mush. And for what? A Live One who’d prefer he vanished from their lives? And a Live One girl that he cannot understand?

 

A half-alive Zombie doesn't belong anywhere. At least, anywhere that he knows of. Can Poke help Rabbit and her mother reach safety? And can Poke make peace with his past and embrace this unique new form of existence? Let’s leap into Bleeding Hearts #8 and see!

 

Story

When Finds-Whole-Family found Rabbit, he could have taken her to the search parties. After Live Ones ruined their Out-Break celebration, a Horde might have accepted the shunned Zombie. Instead, his selfishness drove him to attack Rabbit. And after he killed the girl and her mother, Finds-Whole-Family once again intended to keep them for himself.

 

After Mama and Poke destroy Finds-Whole-Family, they carry Rabbit's broken body on a stretcher through the snow. When search parties find them, Mama and Poke defend Rabbit side by side in Bleeding Hearts #8. But Rabbit isn't always with them. She inhabits a world of visions, fueled by memories and her imagination.

 

While Rabbit shares her journey with us, Mama and Poke's thoughts reveal their concern. Neither the big Live One nor the “Flower Boy” can understand the other. Rabbit was always the bridge between them. Now that Rabbit is fading, Mama knows she needs his help to save her. Yet unlike Rabbit, her cynical outlook hampers her attempts to communicate with the “Brain Dead Kid.”

 

As Mama struggles to save her daughter’s life, she remembers all she has lost. The Zombie apocalypse destroyed her world. Although she had hoped to find another defended outpost of Human civilization, she has learned she cannot trust other people. If Rabbit dies, she loses her entire world, but Poke and Rabbit's social bonds will strengthen in Bleeding Hearts #8.

 

Art

As she runs through the snow, she chases Flip's many friends. Unlike the stuffed animal her father gave her, the white bunnies hop around her. Her left eye is swollen shut. The pupil of her right eye no longer focuses. Still, Rabbit dances with her new friends. Yet when both eyes close, and stitched scratches adorn her cheek, Rabbit clutches a symbol of transformation. As she returns to the present, the girl sees Mama, Flower Boy, and the bunnies regard her with concern. Yet instead of opening her eyes, Rabbit frowns down at them like the girl on the moon.

 

As Stipan Morian shows Mama and Poke’s desperate journey to save Rabbit, Štef Bartolić matches differing palettes with scenes in Bleeding Hearts #8. As the girl continues to forge her own path, her footsteps and shadow cast blue on the snow. Blue dominates Mama and Poke's night journeys, as they carry Rabbit on a stretcher between them. Her orange tongue matches her jacket as she prepares to join another community, while Rabbit's green pants link her with the Zombies' skin. Yet Poke turns gray when he slays his fellow Zombies to protect the Live Ones. Yellow flames may awaken painful memories. Yet, they also provide food and light as Mama attends her dying daughter.

 

Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou places Mama and Poke's black uppercase thoughts in white boxes. The letters in narrative boxes and dialogue balloons grow bold for intonation, and shift to lowercase for lowered voices. As she flits between two worlds, Rabbit speaks enlarged letters into distorted balloons. While yellow and red sound effects heighten moments of violence, Poke's heartbeat abandons its normal red to link the Zombie with the sounds of Rabbit’s name and her hopping friends. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Mama has sacrificed everything for Rabbit. Likewise, Poke defied his community to save the girl and her mother. Both want Rabbit to get better. But in a rapidly changing world, new values, morality, and outlook are redefining society for Mama and Poke. Saving Rabbit may necessitate radical steps that, like her half-dead, half-alive Zombie friend, prevent the girl from fitting in anywhere in Bleeding Hearts #8.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

To look inside, see Bleeding Hearts #8 Preview. 

For Poke, Rabbit, and Mama's art appreciation, see Bleeding Hearts #7 Review. 

For the Out-Break mall hunt that changed everything, see my preview of Bleeding Hearts #6.

For how Rabbit met Ms Ruby, see my review of Bleeding Hearts #5. 

For Rabbit's Tea Party, see my preview of Bleeding Hearts #4.

 

For the strange emotions that stress Poke out, see Bleeding Hearts Preview #3. 

 

For why Rabbit likes bunnies, see Bleeding Hearts #2 Preview. 

 

For Poke's full name, see my preview of Bleeding Hearts #1. 

 

Wonder Woman 2026 Annual: Wonder War—The Matriarch Special #1 Review

 

Wonder Woman 2026 Annual: Wonder War—The Matriarch Special #1 Review

Writers: Stephanie Williams & Leah Williams

Artists: Eduardo Pansica, Júlio Ferreira & Belén Ortega

Colorists: Romulo Fajardo Jr & Triona Farrell

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Cover Artist: Daniel Sampere & Tomeu Morey

Variant Cover Artists: Kyuyong Eom, Guillem March & Leirix

Editors: Marquis Draper & Brittaney Holzherr

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $5.99 US/Variant $6.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: September 30, 2026

 

Her mother, Emilie, battled Diana for the right to represent Themyscira on the world stage. Her father, the Sovereign, quietly ruled the United States behind the façade of democratic institutions. Lyssa succeeded her father as the Matriarch of the United States. And then she killed everyone who opposed her.

 

How did the girl Diana raised become such a brutal killer? And what happened after Diana defeated the Matriarch in the Temple of the Moirae? Let’s leap into Wonder Woman 2026 Annual: Wonder War—The Matriarch Special #1 and see!

 

Story

After Diana’s fist hurled her through a stone pillar, Lyssa awakens in a boat. Unlike Steve Trevor and Elizabeth, no Ferryman steers her course. And instead of gliding along the River Styx, her wooden vessel floats on the bloody currents of the Phlegethon.

 

While no one travels with her, Lyssa is far from alone in Wonder Woman 2026 Annual: Wonder War—The Matriarch Special #1. As the boat carries her toward Tartarus, shades of the heroes he killed rise to meet her. And as in life, Lyssa must decide how to confront them.

 

Stephanie Williams and Leah Williams intersperse Lyssa’s journey through the Underworld with key events from her past. These scenes chart Lyssa’s journey from her childhood on Themyscira to grasping for something that Hippolyta warned Diana she must avoid. But by the time she reaches adulthood, deviating from her Amazons’ code of conduct has become the rule of Lyssa’s life.

 

She may have lost her power ring. Still, Lyssa has someone who travels with her. It’s someone she has not listened to as much as she should have. Instead, this person has become a stranger to her. But after crashing through the barrier of death, this still small voice regains its strength. And unlike in life, Lyssa can no longer repress her conscience in Wonder Woman 2026 Annual: Wonder War—The Matriarch Special #1.

 

Art

When she awakens in the boat, no ring adorns her gloved hand. As she rises, Lyssa stands in the middle of the boat between two lamps to light her way. Like Diana in the Colosseum, Lyssa dodges projectiles. When her journey grows rough, Lyssa clings to the boat instead of a Kanga. As dark figures arise, red streams down their heads and backs. Yet when Lyssa meets this test of her strength and skills, no red trickles from her palm when she clenches her fist. Yet as Lyssa remembers how her path diverged from the Amazons, one person reaches out to help another when she falls.

 

As Eduardo Pansica, Júlio Ferreira, and Belén Ortega show Lyssa in black and white on a red river, Romulo Fajardo Jr. and Triona Farrell adorn the Matriarch’s past with a vibrant palette. Red mixes with violet and lavender when Lyssa and Elizabeth's paths diverged. The colors return later to convey how far apart they have grown. Blotchy red borders frame gray, brown, and green panels of love and loss. Yet, orange tinges more tragic memories of how Lyssa demonstrated her worth in Wonder Woman 2026 Annual: Wonder War—The Matriarch Special #1.

 

While Lyssa sees the Underworld as she viewed the Earth, her uppercase white thoughts appear in black narrative boxes. She cannot vanquish small, lowercase white letters in black boxes. Black uppercase dialogue in white balloons grows bold to convey inflection and shrinks when voices lower. While Clayton Cowles’ sound effects may be few, Lyssa’s dialogue grows progressively larger as the trials grow more difficult. Still, beige uppercase letters in blue boxes force Lyssa to remember the needless pain she has caused. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Every decision we make empowers us. Yet no matter how much they help us accomplish, our decisions also limit us. As Lyssa looks back on her life choices, she measures the narrative she has spun. But if she wishes to act "so that all that will be might not be again," Lyssa must cut the threads binding her to her former life in Wonder Woman 2026 Annual: Wonder War—The Matriarch Special #1.

 

Rating 9.4/10

To look inside see Wonder Woman 2026 Annual: Wonder War –The Matriarch Special#1 Preview.

For Steve Trevor and Elizabeth's return to Themyscira, see Wonder Woman #37 Review. 

For the second half of Steve's story about falling in love with Diana, see Wonder Woman #36 Review.

For the first part of Steve's tale, see Wonder Woman #35 Preview. 

For Diana's battle with Lyssa in the Temple of the Moirai, see my review of Wonder Woman #34.

For how Diana, Steve, and Elizabeth enter the Underworld, see my preview of Wonder Woman #33. 

For Tammy's interview with the Matriarch, see my review of Wonder Woman #32. 

For how The Wonder War began, see my preview of Wonder Woman #31. 

 

Quiet GN Review

 

Quiet GN Review

Writer: Kim-Joy

Artist: Alti Firmansyah

Letterer: Sara Linsley

Editor: Allison O’Toole

Graphic Designer: Cindy Leong

Publisher: Comixology

Kindle Price: $6.99 US

Release Date: September 22, 2026

 

Mary Odette Casper likes Ms Emuka. She seems to care about her. And while she has sparkle and personality, she doesn’t overwhelm Mary. Still, some of her fellow students make Mary uncomfortable. So, as her math teacher explains how to solve the day’s problem, Mary keeps an eye on the clock. Why does Mary struggle at school? And can anyone make her school days easier? Let’s leap into Quiet and see!

 

Story

Mary dislikes all the noise of public places. She cringes when people talk excessively. Multiple voices fill the air with a sonic storm. But worse is when people pay attention to her. Mary tries to turn away from her classmates. She seeks to escape people who annoy her. But Toby, Shivan, and Jessie sense weakness. So, when they see Mary, they attempt to make her miserable.

 

Mary lives in Manchester, United Kingdom, 34 years from now, in Quiet. As Mary navigates her difficult school days, plagued by noise and bullied by classmates, Ms Emuka notices her distress. Her mother thinks Mary is shy. But her math teacher believes there is more to it than that. So, as she keeps an eye on her troubled student, Ms Emuka suggests a way to help Mary adjust to the world around her.

 

As Kim-Joy's graphic novel focuses on Mary's anxieties and what brings her peace, Ms Emuka gives her silent student a friend. A prototype robot, or Serenibot, looks for ways to help Mary be more social. At first, Mary finds the robot’s intended helpfulness annoying. But then she realizes that the robot, not governed by a sense of morality, can make her life easier in Quiet.

 

Art

Large circular glasses hint at the big personality hiding behind Mary’s demure features. While she wears her school uniform and braids her hair, Mary watches as Ms Emuka teaches using holograms instead of a whiteboard. Mary also enjoys generating holograms on her personal computer. But when she tries to resolve her problems, Mary pens a letter on ruled paper.

 

Alti Firmansyah enhances today’s recognizable world with futuristic technology, such as Mary’s sleek, hovering Serenibot. While Mrs Redfern, the school’s head teacher, and Mr Bell, the baking instructor, have conventional appearances, Ms Emuka showcases youthful energy and diversity. Yet as Mary gets to know her, she realizes that her math teacher also reveres technological marvels of past eras.

 

While Alti Firmansyah shades her Black-and-White art with gray, color occasionally creeps into Quiet. Mary’s features turn green as she compares herself to her contemporaries. Her robot also produces a rainbow of colors to protect Mary and signify that no member of society should be singled out for their differences.

 

Sara Linsley places uppercase letters in white balloons. Dotted balloon borders accompany lowered voices. Sounds like a sigh, or the conversations filling a room appear in panel backgrounds. “Sid,” Mary’s Serenibot companion, asks questions using white letters in black fields or black letters in rectangular balloons. Yet sound effects highlight Mary’s discomfort with a world that demands she speak, when she’d much prefer to be Quiet. Thanks to Comixology and Superfan Promotions for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Mary has a good heart. She wants to take part in the world around her. Still, the noise and the bustle of society push her away. So, when a robot designed to help her integrate into society attempts to alleviate her discomfort, Mary struggles with the sense of empowerment it gives her in Quiet.

 

Rating 9.5/10

 

To look inside see Quiet GN Preview. 

For more from Kim-Joy and Alti Firmansyah, see Turtle Bread Review.

Superman #42: Kingdom Of Zod Part Eight Review

 

Superman #42: Kingdom Of Zod Part Eight Review

Writer: Joshua Williamson

Pencillers: Eddy Barrows & Eduardo Pansica

Inkers: Eber Ferreira & Júlio Ferreira

Colorist: Ulises Arreola

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Cover Artist: Lucas Meyer & Giuliano Peratelli

Variant Cover Artists: Mark Spears; Daniel Sampere & Tomeu Morey; Marcio Takara; Christian Ward

Editors: Jillian Grant & Paul Kaminski

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $4.99/$5.99 Card Stock

Release Date: September 23, 2026

 

After traveling through time to repair the damage Darkseid did to the future, Superman returned to find Earth drastically changed. Saving the Earth necessitated further changes. His son, Jon, now calls himself Tomorrow Man. Clark Kent's childhood friend, Lana Lang, no longer wields superpowers. As for Presidente Eduardo Castilho, his beloved kingdom of El Caldero is no longer an economic powerhouse.

 

Although he doesn't realize it, Superman's troubles are far from over. A younger version of Dru-Zod is traveling to Earth. He holds Superman's cousin and his younger self hostage. And this Zod is more ambitious and armed with Ursa's knowledge of the future. Can Kal-El and Kara Zor-El's Super Force defend Earth against Zod and Ursa? And, with the aid of Booster Gold's Time Bubble, can Superman find a way to preserve his homeworld? Let’s leap into Superman #42 and see what happens!

 

Story

Good news travels fast. While heroes in orbit realize that Zod’s weaponized Green-K has lost its sting, superheroes in El Caldero discover they can turn the tables on their oppressors. Amid the celebrations, those imprisoned or separated during the fighting enjoy reunions. Yet Martian Manhunter confirms Jon Kent’s assertion that young Clark and Kara are no longer in El Caldero.

 

Superman may not be the world's greatest detective. Still, Clark Kent must piece together what happened to Supergirl, his younger self, and General Zod in Superman #42. Lena Luthor's inventions failed to protect the Super Force as she had hoped. So, she's anxious to help. But while Superman investigates, Presidente Eduardo Castilho struggles to come to grips with his failure. He believed he had the stranglehold on the most valuable resource on Earth. Instead, Zod used his gift from the stars to attack the rest of the world. Then the man who gave Eduardo the means to protect El Caldero took it away.

 

As everyone adapts to the new normal, they must decide how to resume their lives in Joshua Williamson's story. But once again, the question of Krypton looms. While Dru-Zod uplifted El Caldero to transform Earth into a new Krypton, Booster Gold's Time Bubble gave Ursa and Zod the potential to save Krypton. No one wants Krypton to die. But Zod and Ursa are perfectly willing to destroy everything and everyone in their way to get what they want in Superman #42.

 

Art

While Red Tornado watches events on monitors in the Justice League Watchtower, the inert El Calderan Green-K continues to aerosolize. Rectangular panels portray the captives locked in their cells in the Kryptonite Castle. Yet when Princess Shark barrels through the translucent barrier, the panels resemble shards. A splash page of Superman confirms the prisoners' suspicions. But nothing heralds the return of normality like superheroes filling the skies above El Caldero.

 

As Eddy Barrows, Eduardo Pansica, Eber Ferreira, and Júlio Ferreira showcase Superman’s search for young Clark, Supergirl, and Zod, Ulises Arreola fills Superman #42 with a vibrant and nuanced palette. Green dominates backgrounds and tinges scenes as Zod's Green-K continues to lose color. The gold surrounding Superman's attempt to free the imprisoned evokes the streaks of light that filled the skies across the globe.

 

While the Krypto-Knights' armor foretells the violet and indigo of the time stream, Princess Shark’s attire remains violet as she frees captives, protects civilians, and assists with the cleanup. Conner Kent and Superboy-Prime have struggled to get along. Yet, their red, gold, and dark blue costumes underline their evolving relationship. Still, as Presidente Eduardo Castilho confronts the future dressed in red and yellow, his former source of wealth echoes Lois Lane’s blue slacks and white shirt.

 

White letters with blue outlines identify locations, while black and colored uppercase words fill white balloons. Uppercase letters in colored narrative boxes convey offscreen dialogue. Princess Shark and Zod speak forcefully with dark letters in white balloons outlined in red. Giant dialogue accompanies a cry for help. Still, sound effects enhance the fight to free the imprisoned, an arrival that forces Superman to make difficult choices, and a battle to save billions. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

Ursa has seen too many failures. Young Zod is ambitious and unused to failure. Superman wants everyone to be healthy and happy. Still, he must decide if he's willing to compromise for the good of all in Superman #42.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

To look inside see Superman #42 Preview. 

 

For more in the Kingdom Of Zod storyline:

For General Zod's rise to power, see Action Comics #1100: End Of Reign Review. 

For the mission to El Caldero, see Supergirl #16: Kingdom Of Zod Part 1 Review. 

For the battle in El Caldero, see Action Comics #1101: Kingdom of Zod Part 2 Review. 

For how Superman takes the fight to Zod, see Superman Unlimited #16 Review.

For Zod's revival of Ursa see Superman #41: Kingdom Of Zod Part Four Review 

For Ursa, Kara, and young Clark's arrival on Krypton, see Supergirl #17: Kingdom Of Zod Part 5 Preview 

For what happens when Ursa, Kara, and young Clark meet Zod on Krypton, see Action Comics #1102: Kingdom Of Zod Part 6 Preview. 

For how Superman saves the world, but perhaps made more enemies, see Superman Unlimited #17: Kingdom Of Zod Part 7 Review.  

 

Superman: Father of Tomorrow #5 Review

 

Superman: Father of Tomorrow #5 Review

Writer: Kenny Porter

Artist: Danny Earls

Colorist: Nick Filardi

Letterer: Lucas Gattoni

Cover Artists: Danny Earls & Nick Filardi

Variant Cover Artists: Gabriel Hardman & Matt Hollingsworth; Taurin Clarke

Editors: Michael McCalister & Andrew Marino

Publisher: DC Comics

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

Release Date: September 23, 2026

 

Seeing Jonathan Kent die, and knowing he could have saved him, propelled Jor-El on a crusade. Yet while he seeks to upgrade Earth's technology, villains adapt his Kryptonian tech to build even more powerful weapons. Even Batman believes Jor-El's attempt to help Humanity adversely altered his life.

 

Now, his former ally, General Sam Lane, wants to kill or control Jor-El. Will he receive help from another of Jor-El’s former friends? And can Lois Lane prevent her father from killing Humanity’s great benefactor? Let’s leap up, up, and away into Superman: Father of Tomorrow #5 and see!

 

Story

Lex Luthor's father wanted Lex to follow in his footsteps. Instead, he bought into Superman's vision of the world. But when he deviated from the plan, Superman cast him aside. So, Lex bolstered his scientific expertise by mastering magic. Then, in the time-honored manner of tyrants everywhere, Lex killed his teachers so they could never defy him. Now, he wields Nabu, Dr Fate's former helmet, as a sword. And he intends to impose his own order on the world.

 

In Superman: Father of Tomorrow #5, Lex Luthor is in good company. General Sam Lane has become Captain Atom to kill all metahumans he cannot control. Then there’s Jor-El. After failing to save his family and his planet, Jor-El intends to insulate Humanity against its weaknesses. Each man believes he’s smart enough to save the world. But as Martha counsels Jor-El, wielding too much power creates problems instead of solving them.

 

As Kenny Porter weaves his story about three perfectionists, he also gives other characters a chance to shine. But while people strive to give Lex Luthor, General Sam Lane, and Jor-El wake-up calls, each must recognize that they have become the dangers that they dedicated their lives to combating. Still, the revelation may come too late. All of them, in their own ways, have created a threat that may destroy the world, unless they can resolve it in Superman: Father of Tomorrow #5.

 

Art

The Spectre may have sympathized with John Constantine in Bobo’s bar. But when John confronts a Lex Luthor clothed in shimmering green armor and a green cape, Lex offers him disdain instead. While General Lane's skin now resembles a diamond, the red image on his chest reinforces his status as the hardest soldier to kill. But as forces battle in Metropolis, Jor-El sits in his farming clothes at the Kent Farm. Martha wants him to be open with her. So, she pours him a mug of coffee.

 

As Danny Earls contrasts Jor-El’s futuristic Metropolis with Martha’s little-changed Kent Farm, Nick Filardi adorns Superman: Father of Tomorrow #5 with a vibrant palette. Captain Atom’s red symbol and blue skin represent his hope for the world and his anger at metahumans. Lex Luthor’s armor links him with Krypton and Jor-El’s attempt to protect his world. Yet while the orange Kryptonite in the Fortress of Solitude shows what Lex Luthor desires, the destruction he unleashes hints at his love for the world. Jor-El feels as misguided as General Lane and Lex. Yet the costume beneath his shirt and overalls expresses his belief that doing right by others should be black-and-white.

 

Lucas Gattoni fills white balloons and boxes with black uppercase letters. The words grow bold for intonation and change color when casting spells. Black letters in beige boxes locate readers in time and space. Yet amid all the fighting, energy blasts, and explosions, the rumbling ground shows how Luthor views his place in the world. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

When people are struggling, it's natural to want to help them. But when Jor-El tries to make Earth more like the world he lost, he gives them new problems to contend with. Her friend from the stars may be feeling sorry for himself. Still, Martha isn't letting Jor-El bask in self-blame in Superman: Father of Tomorrow #5.

 

Rating 9.8/10 

 

Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this preview with us.

For a look inside see Superman: Father Of Tomorrow #5 Preview. 

For the battle at the United Nations, see Superman: Father Of Tomorrow #4 Preview. 

For Intergang's attack on upgraded public transportation, see my preview of Superman: Father of Tomorrow #3. 

For how Jor-El fares against Kryptonite, see my preview of Superman: Father Of Tomorrow #2.

For how this series started see my preview of Superman: Father Of Tomorrow #1.  

 

Fort Psycho #2 Review

 

Fort Psycho #2 Review

Writer: Matt Kindt

Artist: Brian Hurtt

Colorist: Bill Crabtree

Letterer: Becca Carey

Cover Artists: Brian Hurtt; Lewis LaRosa & Rico Renzi; Mike del Mundo; Joe Palmer

Publisher: Oni Press

Price: $5.99 US

Release Date: September 23, 2026

 

When the Seven Seals destroyed a sovereign nation, the United Nations responded with more than condemnation. They quietly raised an army to tackle the international terrorist organization. The Strategic Alliance Worldwide killed most of the Seven Seals’ operatives. SAW agents assassinated their leader, the Blue Bishop. Then, the United Nations rounded up Seven Seals and SAW agents with equal zeal and consigned them to separate prisons.

 

What struggles do the world’s former heroes endure? And how will Jason, the newest inmate, fare among his fellow “war criminals?” Let’s leap into Fort Psycho #2 and see!

 

Story

Jason evaded capture for a year. But when he let his disguise slip for a moment, the authorities captured him and sent him to Fort Cyclone. Once, it was SAW's base of operations. Now, it's an all-inclusive resort. Jason has his own house. Boxes from IKEA await his assembly. And thanks to the regular airdrops, the mercenaries can get most anything they want in the commissary. For Jason, that's a comic he used to read to his nephews. But the myths retold in Legendary Action Stories also shaped Jason's life.

 

In Fort Psycho #2, the United Nations wants to keep its highly skilled assets available in case they need their services again. While it's taken steps to hide them from public scrutiny, the authorities also provide all the amenities in case they need them again. But while most of his fellow inmates enjoy their retirement, the people who captured Jason gave him a mission. The suits believe Blue Bishop is hiding among SAW personnel at Fort Cyclone. And if Jason doesn't find and kill him, they'll kill his brother and nephews.

 

After reconnecting with some of his former comrades, Jason begins his hunt in Matt Kindt’s story. One of his fellow inmates mentioned a possible connection on the day he arrived. When Jason tries to follow up, some help. Others warn him off or try to divert him. And all the while, his fellow prisoners show Jason how enjoyable life in Fort Cyclone can be.

 

The Blue Bishop may be hiding among them. Or the authorities got it wrong. Regardless of what the suits told Jason, the mercenaries’ jailors don’t have to treat them so nicely. And like the suits’ threat to kill his family, the authorities could decide to stop sending them the antidote pills to the poison they injected everyone with in Fort Psycho #2.

 

Art

When his team reaches the rotunda at the heart of the concentric defensive walls, Jason pulls a statuette from a smoking domed enclosure. After evading the guards who patrol the grounds, Jason’s team races beneath those watching from atop the wall. Colored gas rises. Arrows fly. A comrade atop a roof provides cover fire with a machine gun. A mushroom cloud rises from elsewhere in the city as Jason and his team reach the hang gliders. Then, they soar on artificial wings toward their escape vehicle.

 

While Brian Hurtt fills Fort Psycho #2 with memorable characters, Bill Crabtree clothes them in vibrant colors. Yet like the bird statuette Jason secured for SAW, Zeus has traded his pink mohawk for pink-and-orange shades. The inmates wear gray, white, and pale shades of green and blue as they walk the lush grounds beneath a bright blue sky. Still, the vibrant blue pool area provides amusement and community as the mercenaries seek to enjoy their retirement.

 

Becca Carey fills white dialogue balloons with lowercase black letters, while Jason's recollections inhabit beige narrative boxes. Giant uppercase black letters fill deformed balloons as people pay the price for their leader's decisions. Orange machine gun fire and block letters herald cause and effect. Then, a red boom connects with the stripes of their leader, and the uniform of a soldier amid gray rubble. A two-page extract from Legendary Action Stories and character files close out this second issue. Thanks to Oni Press and Superfan Promotions for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

While the people who defended the world against terrorism pay the price for their methods, the leader of the terrorists may lurk among them. Some of the former soldiers obey orders without question. Others have spent their lives deceiving comrades and foes alike. So, the jailers pick an idealist to investigate their suspicions. Amid his search for the truth, Jason studies the island's laccolithic butte and awaits opportunities to communicate with higher intelligences in Fort Psycho #2.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

For more cover art see Fort Psycho #2 Cover Preview. 

Conan: Tides of the Tyrant King #1 Review

 

Conan: Tides of the Tyrant King #1 Review

Writer: Jim Zub

Artist: Jésus Merino

Colorist: Jão Canola

Letterers: Richard Starkings & Tyler Smith

Cover Artists: Roberto De La Torre, Utsab Chatterjee, Gerardo Zaffino, Jésus Merino & Stuart Sayger

Editor: Chris Butera

Publisher: Titan Comics

Price: $4.99 US

Release Date: September 23, 2026

 

Conan has traveled the world. He has faced countless foes. So, when he defends a village along the border between Zingara and Argos, the tide of battle doesn’t faze him. Conan knows how to navigate the ebb and flow of battle and use momentum to achieve victory. Yet he senses a familiar presence casting its shadow over him once more. Conan does not know how Thulsa Doom’s forces will attack him next. Still, Conan senses a familiar darkness once again threatening the Hyborian World.

 

Yet wars are not fought alone. Who will join Conan in his next battle with Thulsa Doom? And after all of Conan's victories, will the powerful sorcerer gain the advantage over the Cimmerian this time? Let's raise our swords, leap into Conan: Tides of the Tyrant King #1, and see!

 

Story

In the Hyborian Age, Conan sits in a tavern, nursing a tankard of ale. After defending towns from raiders, he forsook his position and pay when the defenders became oppressors. But as he watches the revelry around him, Conan feels like an outsider. He wonders if his sacrifice was worth it.

 

As Conan: Tides of the Tyrant King #1 follows the Cimmerian’s struggle to find value in civilized society, it also checks in on Steve Costigan. Six years have passed since he fought for civilization in Montfaucon, France. After the Great War ended, Steve wandered. He sought meaning in all the death and destruction. The anguish he endured seeing his comrades die on the battlefield, and how they treated the people they fought to protect, refuses to fade. So, when his footsteps lead him into Chinatown in London, England, Steve accepts the manager's invitation and steps within the Temple of Dreams.

 

As Jim Zub's story ponders the role civilization plays in Human progress, he backtracks to the Thurian Era. Humans tend to think of time as a straight line. Yet for Gonar the Seeker, time is a circle. Sitting cross-legged before a fire in the Thurian Age, Gonar peers past the boundaries of time and space. He sees a cosmic being that Conan and Steve sense through their connection to Thulsa Doom.

 

Conan has triumphed in many wars between nations. Steve Costigan struggles to recover from serving in Humanity’s first World War. Yet a war for the cosmos, ignited by a stellar ravager and Thulsa Doom’s unquenchable thirst for power, awaits both men in Conan: Tides of the Tyrant King #1.

 

Art

As Gonar sits in contemplation, with horns crowning his head, a cosmic vision overtakes his eyes. A dead space appears amid a sea of stars. Yet a living Black Hole gathers stars with its tentacles to the vortex at its center. In the Hyborian Age, Conan frowns as he regards the crowded tavern. Some drink wildly. Intoxication drives others to rage. A tavern wench smiles as she delivers drinks to other customers. Yet still, Conan frowns.

 

Millennia later, Steve Costigan reclines on a wooden platform. Sweat drenches his features as a wisp of smoke escapes his pipe. Around him, smokers close their eyes and relax as they sink into oblivion. Yet Steve remains restless. Jésus Merino provides readers a glimpse inside Steve's mind. Amid decaying corpses, silhouettes of violence, and explosions, tears stream from Steve's eyes.

 

As a purple cosmic entity devours stars in a blue-and-black sky, the brown trees and ground surrounding Gonar match the interior of Conan's tavern. An orange-and-yellow vision signals Steve Costigan's connection with Thulsa Doom’s resurgence. Jão Canola uses gold to link Steve's pipe and Conan's medallions with a woman each meets. Yet like green, gold also links Steve, Conan, and the mysterious woman with Thulsa Doom in Conan: Tides of the Tyrant King #1.

 

Richard Starkings and Tyler Smith convey Jim Zub’s strong narrative voice with uppercase black letters in colored narrative boxes. Steve speaks in roughly shaped balloons as he struggles to put the past behind him, and spherical balloons when he recaptures what he lost. The rough balloons link Steve to Conan’s adversary, and a voice that speaks amid roughly shaped beige circles outlined with red. Thanks to Titan Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

Raiders killed her parents when she was a child. She grew up as a servant. As Steve Costigan fought to preserve civilization, Zuleika served beneath Thulsa Doom. While Conan and Steve can sense the sorcerer, Thulsa Doom seems ignorant of her extraordinary abilities. Yet like Gonar the Seeker, Zuleika recognizes that time and space are illusions. As Thulsa Doom arrays his forces for another bid to take over the world, Zuleika’s role seems inextricably linked with the sorcerer and the power of the Black Stone in Conan: Tides of the Tyrant King #1.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

To look inside see Conan: Tides of the Tyrant King #1 Preview. 

For more on Zuleika see The Savage Sword of Conan #16 Review. 

Read the Free Comic Book Day issue: Conan: Tides of the Tyrant King #0 at Titan Comics. 

 

For Titan's earlier Conan events, see:

Conan: Battle of the Black Stone #1 Review & 

Conan: Scourge of the Serpent Review.  

 

Justice League Unlimited #23 Review

 

Justice League Unlimited #23 Review

Writer: Mark Waid

Artist: Dan Mora

Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain

Letterer: Ariana Maher

Cover Artist: Dan Mora

Variant Cover Artists: Bruno Redondo, Nathan Szerdy, Cathy Kwan & Jessica Luna

Hispanic Heritage Month Variant Cover Artist: José Landrönn

Lanterns Variant Cover Artist: Dave Wilkins

Editors: Marquis Draper & Paul Kaminski

Publisher: DC Comics

Price: $3.99/$4.99 US (Card Stock)

Release Date: September 23, 2026

 

If you can't adapt to new situations, you risk falling out of touch with reality. When threats arise, the old ways of addressing problems may prove insufficient to defend what you hold dear. Yet there are some things you can count on. And one is that Bruce Wayne can never stop being Batman until criminals no longer threaten Gotham. Yet he works alongside criminals on the Justice League Watchtower. Bruce shares visions with them and accompanies them on missions.

 

Has Batman changed too much to defend the Justice League’s ideals? And how can Bruce Wayne continue working alongside Lex Luthor after he tried to kill Air Wave to ensure Brainiac Queen’s destruction? Let’s leap into Justice League Unlimited #23 and see!

 

Story

Mr Terrific, Guy Gardner, Metamorpho, and Hawkgirl raced across and beneath the surface of the planet Dronnda to prevent Despero from obtaining the Power Bank. When Mr Terrific retrieved it, he channeled his fellow superheroes’ abilities to defeat Despero. Then Kanjar Ro appeared, leading a squad of Scavengers to steal the Power Bank from the weakened and battle-weary Justice League teammates. Yet Guy Gardner, Metamorpho, and Hawkgirl's biggest worry is how the Justice League members' stored powers are affecting Mr Terrific.

 

As Justice League Unlimited #23 follows the battle for the Power Bank on the planet Dronnda, it also follows the battle for equality among the league’s membership. Blue Beetle has assured his fellow superheroes that they have installed safeguards to ensure ethical behavior that preserves life. Yet, like Mr Terrific’s teammates, Atom worries about how the villains are affecting his fellow heroes. As he assembles a team to investigate his suspicions that Darkseid sent visions to the Omega Tournament competitors, Giganta holds her own meeting. Like Batman, Giganta suspects that all these visions deserve further study. Yet, it’s difficult to be open with people who don’t trust you.

 

Amid all the action on two planets, Mark Waid's story addresses the difficulty of rebuilding trust once it has been fractured. The Justice League has struggled to accept repentant villains. But the new members aren't trying to clean their slates. They’ll still opt to kill their opponents if they judge it the smart option. Some look for opportunities to start fights with their teammates and wouldn’t shed a tear if someone died. And while Batman feels this most keenly of all the Justice League heroes, Atom cannot forget that members of the Quantum Quorum helped the villains escape the Phantom Zone to enter the Omega Tournament. Nor can Atom forget that Darkseid fooled everyone by possessing one of the Quantum Quorum in Justice League Unlimited #23.

 

Art

After the Scavengers capture a splash page, Dan Mora employs irregularly shaped panels amid the fighting. As Guy Gardner, Mr Terrific, Hawkgirl, and Metamorpho trade blows with their adversaries, panels compete for page space, jamming against each other or overlaying their fellows. Hawkgirl's tortured features rise to the forefront on one page. Guy Gardner's ferocity opens another page, while the Dominator's determined expression grounds it. Yet on Earth, an alligator beckons readers toward a dome in a swamp. Inside, Giganta towers above her teammates. Yet as she gazes down at them, her expression communicates openness and concern.

 

As Tamra Bonvillain’s bright colors energize the action on the planet Dronnda, green links Guy Gardner and Hawkgirl with a Durlan and a Dominator. Guy’s hard light constructs also link with Metamorpho’s attack. Yet yellow and orange dominate the fighting as Hawkgirl confronts a fellow Thanagarian, and Mr Terrific wields the power to destroy his adversaries. While the Scavengers opened Justice League Unlimited #23, Mr Terrific dominates another page, with an inset panel showing the red energy trying to explode from his eyes. Yet as the Atom and his fellow heroes observe Giganta’s meeting, violet and indigo surround the villains who want full membership in the league.

 

White letters with blue outlines introduce characters and locations. Black uppercase letters fill white dialogue balloons, while offscreen dialogue appears in colored narrative boxes. Letters grow bold with intonation, and enlarge with pain, anger, and a love for chaos. Ariana Maher’s sound effects accompany battles, shock arrivals, and Mr Terrific’s growing familiarity with his new powers. Yet a yellow glow surrounds dialogue balloons as a smart man contemplates wielding absolute power. Thanks to DC Comics for sharing this story with us.

 

Final Thoughts

It's hard to work with others if you don't trust them. The Justice League heroes are predisposed to distrust the villains. But the villains remember how the heroes tried to shut them out of the battle for reality. As distrust creates a toxic atmosphere, heroes who risk their lives in the search for truth begin to lose interest in the facts in Justice League Unlimited #23.

 

Rating 9.7/10

 

To look inside see Justice League Unlimited #23 Preview.

 

For Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, Metamorpho, and Mr Terrific's battle with Despero, see Justice League Unlimited #22 Preview. 

For Batman & Lex Luthor's mission to Slaughter Swamp, see Justice League Knight Vision Special #1 Review. 

For Batman & Lex Luthor's shared vision, see my preview of Justice League Unlimited #21. 

For Brainiac Queen's return, see my preview of Justice League Unlimited #20. 

For how the Justice League's gets a surprising new spokesperson, see my review of Justice League Unlimited #19. 

For Mary Marvel, Martian Manhunter, and Booster Gold's mission into the timestream, see my preview of Justice League Unlimited #18.

 

For how Justice League opened its doors to villains, see my preview of Justice League Unlimited #17.