Escape #4 Review

 

Writer: Rick Remender

Artist & Colorist: Daniel Acuña

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Cover Artists: Daniel Acuña & Ryan Sook

Production Artist: Erika Schnatz

Editor: Gabe Dinger

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: November 26, 2025

 

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

 

Story

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

 

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

 

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

 

Art

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

 

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

 

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

 

Final Thoughts

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

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

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

Universal Monsters: Dracula Black & White Special #1 Review

 

Writer: James Tynion IV

Artist: Martin Simmonds

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Cover Artists: Martin Simmonds & Mark Chiarello

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $6.99

Page Count: 56

Release Date: October 29, 2025

 

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

 

Story

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

 

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

 

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

 

Art

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Final Thoughts

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

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

 

For another cover see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

Escape #3 Review

 

Writer: Rick Remender

Artist & Colorist: Daniel Acuña

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Cover Artists: Daniel Acuña & Greg Tocchini

Production Artist: Erika Schnatz

Editors: Gabe Diner & Iván Brandon

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: October 22, 2025

 

Milton never imagined going to war. Despite his rough childhood, he fulfilled his dream of buying a plane. But when Ruth and her father stumped for Walter Donovan in the same wheatfield where he ran his flight business, Milton offered her a ride. Years later, Milton is deep in Narenian territory. He lost his plane and his crew, and the bombs he dropped didn’t reach their target.

 

Milton knows he can't return home to Ruth. Still, he wants to safeguard his child's future and prevent the spread of fascism across the free world. Can Milton slip through the Narenian soldiers and reach his objective? Or did he sacrifice his crew and blacken his soul for nothing? Let’s put on our flight jackets, leap into Escape #3, and see!

 

Story

Milton prepped for this mission by defacing photos of Narenian soldiers. His best friend, Lieutenant Flynn, argued that most Narenian soldiers were like themselves: good people caught in a bad situation. But Milton sacrificed to be here because President Donovan described the Bats as an unstoppable force marching across their allies' homelands. Milton insisted no one could pressure him into something he didn't want to do. People who commit atrocities are monsters, full stop.

 

But when the Bats damaged his plane, Milton pressed on. And when Billy told him the Titan Cannon was in a heavily populated quarter, Milton dropped 'Ol Sockeye's bombs anyway. The bombs didn’t destroy the Narenian super weapon. But they leveled residential areas. In Escape #3, Milton slips through the ruined buildings and rubble-strewn streets. He tells himself that his opponents, even enlisted teens, are just animals. The Narenian soldiers are hungry for revenge. And they shout after him, "Child-killer!" But Milton doesn't understand their language.

 

Rick Remender's story is a desperate race through the night. It's pitch-black, with the buildings and street lamps under blackout conditions. Despite his promise to find Flynn, Milton's thoughts center on Ruth and their unborn child. Amid his desperate search for the Titan Cannon, Milton clings to the hope that his actions will protect his homeland.

 

In Escape #3, Milton inhabits a nightmare. He's done something he claimed he would never do if he were in the Narenians' shoes. But the soldier who once sought to find beauty in every moment can't focus on that. Instead, Milton focuses on killing everyone in his way until he can commit another act of violence that may secure peace.

 

Art

A Bat carrying a rifle appears in an opening in a wall. Instead of his captain's hat, a bloody bandage winds around Milton's head as he crouches behind the brickwork. While the Narenian's flashlight limits the Bat's vision, Milton sneaks up behind him. Out in the street, an officer’s head whirls when Milton and the soldier scuffle. Automatic gunfire illuminates a window in the darkened building.

 

Limited tones lend visibility to Daniel Acuña’s detailed penciling as Milton fights for his life. He scrambles and falls over piles of rubble. Bat ears poke through the helmets of Narenian soldiers clad in uniforms and capes. Officers wear long coats, carry larger rifles, and leave their heads uncovered. Blues, grays, and purples reveal characters amid the darkness, while guns blossom yellow, orange, and white. A trail of red alerts a guard, and later clouds the water, as Milton fights to reach his objective in Escape #3.

 

Rus Wooton fills ivory dialogue balloons with narrow black uppercase letters. Milton’s stream of consciousness appears in beige narrative boxes. As the Narenians’ dialogue appears within greater than and less than symbols, Milton discerns but one word amid the shouting. But when his enemy's utterances swell, turn crimson, and threaten to burst their balloons, Milton understands them perfectly. Sound effects accompany Milton’s desperate flight amid hand-to-hand fighting, and the volleys of bullets that are anything but 21-gun salutes. Thanks to Image Comics and Giant Generator for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

A war film and newsreel footage of his president declaring war inspired Milton to join the military. But by then, he had already sacrificed the life he enjoyed for the woman he loved. Before he met Ruth, Milton was the king of the skies. Now, he’s a war criminal, hoping to toss his life away to achieve a military objective. Escape #3 is a fast-paced action thriller that reminds us of the power of rhetoric and the cost of war upon the Human soul. 

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

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

Transformers #25 Review

 

Writer: Robert Kirkman

Artist: Dan Mora & Jorge Corona

Colorist: Mike Spicer

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Cover Artists: David Nakayama & Many More!

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $4.99

Release Date: October 8, 2025

 

Megatron has lost his beloved Cybertron. He believes his Decepticons had control of their new world within their grasp. But like Governor Tarkin, they let it slip through their fingers. He rages at his inner circle, disgusted at their failure to secure the Earth. Can Megatron rebuild his Decepticons into an effective fighting force after this crushing defeat? Let’s leap into Transformers #25 and see!

 

Story

While Megatron takes out the trash, Optimus Prime and the Autobots clean up Chicago. Amid the battle-ravaged city, a meeting with a Human girl evokes an earlier misstep in the forest. But she gazes upon him with hope and wonder. Both leave their meeting with lighter hearts.

 

This seemingly unnoteworthy encounter isn't Optimus Prime's sole victory in Transformers #25. But like a match, it sparks a flame that illuminates a potential new relationship with Humanity. The Decepticons abandoned the battleground. People notice that some of the giant mechanical aliens stick around to assist in recovery efforts. Humans reacted with fear when the Transformers first appeared on Earth. But as Robert Kirkman takes over the writing duties, hope for a partnership between Humans and Autobots rises.

 

Megatron may be correct in that unassailable power can achieve a kind of peace. Yet before either side can become a truly effective fighting force, the Autobots and the Decepticons need new bases from which to deploy their forces. While Megatron blames his troops for defeat, Optimus Prime and the Autobots build upon their “victory” by investigating the options available to them in Transformers #25.

 

Art

Gray, purple, and green dominate the Decepticon's base at the bottom of the deep blue sea. A tear extending from Megatron's shoulder to his chest evokes a sailor aboard Davy Jones' Flying Dutchman. But the red in the Decepticon leader’s eyes recalls Syrena's more hostile mermaid sisters. Red also links Megatron with another Decepticon, and later conquers the background as a black and red wide shot portrays a sad end.

 

Vibrant colors glow as the Autobots help Humans clean up the wreckage in Chicago. The illustration is clean and precise, with highly detailed and impressive imagery. Pink links a girl approaching Optimus Prime with Arcee assisting her former mentor. As Optimus reaches down to the girl, Ultra Magnus reaches to lift a crushed vehicle onto a truck. Yet while green Decepticons provoke anger in Megatron, a Human wearing green gives Optimus Prime reason to hope.

 

As Dan Mora and Jorge Corona conjure impressive visions, and Mike Spicer lavishes a loaded palette on terra firma and the seabed, Rus Wooton's black uppercase dialogue opens a new era for the Transformers. Red and pink sound effects celebrate Megatron’s rage. But giant off-white and beige letters herald his dominance.

 

When the dialogue and rectangular balloons grow colorful, sound effects reveal that peace on Earth remains but a faint hope in Transformers #25. But perhaps that’s a good thing: if not for Humanity, at least for readers. Thanks to Image Comics and Skybound for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

They could be giants. Still, anger reveals leaders with hearts three sizes too small. As people in Chicago honor Optimus as their Quinbus Flestrin, the shortest Autobot showcases the largest heart in Transformers #25.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

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

Escape #1 Review

 

Writer: Rick Remender

Artist & Colorist: Daniel Acuña

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Cover Artists: Daniel Acuña, Michael WM Kaluta, Steve Epting & Tradd Moore

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $4.99

Release Date: August 20, 2025

 

War is hell. At least, that's how Lieutenant Flynn sees it. All the narrow escapes and the people he has killed weigh on his soul. As they approach the target for his crew’s twenty-eighth mission together, the copilot wonders how much longer he can continue. But Captain Milton feels only disdain for the enemy. The Narenians started this war. He’s going to end it. Will the crew of Ol' Sockeye fulfill their mission? And what will victory or failure cost them? Let’s put on our flight jackets, leap into Escape #1, and see!

 

Story

Captain Milton has a routine. During each mission, Milton reminds himself of the enemy's cruelties and how bombing the Narenian targets avenges their victims. He paints the enemy with a thick brush, and the bristles cover everyone in their armed forces. But as the bombing crew embarks on their latest mission, Lieutenant Flynn gripes about Milton's mantra. He points out that the Narenian leadership is responsible for the deaths and atrocities. Draftees lack the luxury of selectively obeying orders.

 

In Escape #1, Flynn's boldness prompts a discussion. The crew knows that with every bomb they drop, people die. Of the soldiers, most are just patriots supporting their country’s leadership. Magoo, who occupies the greenhouse-style gun turret, reminds them that conditions are dire back home. Then, ground-to-air missiles curtail the discussion. Milton and his crew must set aside their moral musings and focus on achieving their objective.

 

While Escape #1 starts with a discussion, Rick Remender's story quickly escalates. But as the characters fight for their lives, the ethical considerations hang in the air. For Milton, the lines are clear. The Narenians’ atrocities make success imperative at any cost. Milton's crew knows they are bucking the odds by succeeding and surviving so many missions. Still, it’s important to them how they win the war.

 

Art

While Flynn pilots their craft, Milton applies a red pen to black and white photos in a glossy magazine. His markings emphasize the Narenians’ ears and eyes. Regardless of species, Milton gives them all incisors and slanted eyebrows. Flynn's dispassionate expression, long snout, upturned ears, and peaked hat link him with the Narenian bats. With the pipe clenched in his canines, Milton's ursine features are more expressive than his cigarette-smoking colleague's. But as Milton studies the photos of a cheering assembly, Daniel Acuña suggests how reverence for the flag amplifies patriotism.

 

Touches of yellow, orange, red, and blue enliven the gray military aircraft. Yellow, red, and blue nose art adorns the bomber, as does the fanciful name. Beige, gray, and orange form blotchy patterns in the blue sky like paint in a water tank. Then red splashes the sky and the bomber's interior in Escape #1. Blue and purple adorn Milton's face as he faces decisions that will define his future.

 

Rus Wooton fills ivory dialogue balloons with narrow black uppercase letters. Words in closely spaced rows grow bold for intonation, enlarge for increased volume, and rarely shrink. Larger colored letters herald gunfire, shearing metal, and explosions, while gray words written on bombs clarify the crew’s feelings about their enemies. Thanks to Image Comics and Giant Generator for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

When people attack you, it's easy to respond in kind. But in war, the choices become less clear, especially when your actions could prevent the death of millions. Escape #1 tackles the cost war takes on our souls, and how fighting for the people and causes we care about can turn us into the people we despise.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

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

The Seasons #5 Review

 

Writer: Rick Remender

Artist: Paul Azaceta

Colorist: Matheus Lopes

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Cover Artists: Paul Azaceta & Bengal

Designers: Harper Jaten & Erika Schnatz

Production Artist: Erika Schnatz

Editors: Gabe Dinger & Iván Brandon

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: June 25, 2025

 

Autumn sent Spring a letter, urging her youngest sister and Winter to flee New Gaulia. But Winter believes Spring is inventing stories about an evil carnival to amuse herself. Then she finds Spring cleaning up broken glass near the front door. All the letters and packages Spring should have delivered lay scattered across the floor. Winter worries that Spring’s fantasizing has taken a destructive turn. She appeals to the 14-year-old to stop inventing stories. But after securing Spring’s promise, Winter finds Spring with Autumn's broken hope chest. Her world-traveling sister's keepsakes are in disarray.

 

Winter decides Spring needs a firmer hand and resolves to send her to a boarding school. Besides, Winter needs to devote herself to her art. Will Winter carry out her threat? Or can Spring convince Winter to let her remain at home? Let's leap onto our scooters, ride into The Seasons #5, and find out!

 

Story

While Autumn traveled the world searching for their parents, Summer sailed to photo shoots and celebrity events on her yacht. Spring has every reason to be angry with Summer. The supermodel could have sent them money instead of forcing her younger sister to work to pay the mortgage and buy groceries. Yet when Spring hears on the radio that Summer is attending tonight's show, she leaps on her scooter and races down to the carnival. But Spring can't push through the crowd and can only watch as Winter enters the tent.

 

In The Seasons #5, one more pillar of Spring’s life crumbles when Summer leaves the tent holding a mirror before her eyes. Then Winter arrives on her motorcycle in one final attempt to convince Spring to see things from her perspective. Winter's unwillingness to embrace Spring's views forces the girl to a desperate act. Spring must brave the evil of the carnival alone. But then, as her parents once told her, “The only thing you can count on in this world is yourself.”

 

After Summer grabbed the spotlight in the last issue, Spring retakes command of Rick Remender’s story in The Seasons #5. Everyone in Spring’s life has let her down. No one in her family or New Gaulia wants her. The 14-year-old might have an easier journey if she acquiesced to Winter's decision and left to attend boarding school. But Spring braves the danger because, even if they don't care about her, she wants her family back. After seeing proof of how the carnival gains power by mesmerizing others, Spring wants to learn how to prevent this great evil from spreading across the world.

 

Art

Matheus Lopes shows yellow, green, purple, red, and blue streamers emerge from beneath the pink drapes hanging before the tent entrance. Spring raises her hands as they rise like levitating snakes. The 14-year-old girl leaps back, covering her face as they whirl around and snap at her. The pennants lining the entrance also shake. Searchlights surrounding the colorful tents project yellow beams into the green, blue, and black sky. 

 

In The Seasons #5, Paul Azeceta shows the sea surrounding New Gaulia. Boats rock in the bay and anchor by the pier. Shops and homes climb the steep hills facing the ocean. Summer may only have eyes for the cheering fans and the advertisements and theater marquee shouting her greatness. But when Winter roars up on her motorcycle, Spring grabs her fishbowl and stares down at Gilbert. Paul Azeceta hints at another reason for Winter's unhappiness as she rests a hand on Spring's shoulder. But Spring shrugs off her sister's gesture and runs into the darkness inside the tent.

 

Rus Wooton fills white and ivory balloons with uppercase black letters. The dialogue swells, grows bold, and rarely shrinks as Spring braves her beautiful nightmare in The Seasons #5. Sound effects help us hear Summer nearly get killed along the seawall and Spring have a great fall as the 14-year-old tries to put her family together again. Thanks to Image Comics and Giant Generator for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

The Seasons are a successful and talented family. Yet, their ambitions drive them apart. In their parents' absence, the sisters drift away from each other. As Spring strives to reclaim her family, The Seasons #5 evokes Albus Dumbledore's words about the Mirror of Erised.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

For another cover see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

The Seasons TP Vol 1 Review

 

Writer: Rick Remender

Artist: Paul Azaceta

Colorist: Matheus Lopes

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $12.99

Release Date: June 18, 2025

 

As Spring Seasons speeds through the streets of New Gaulia, Gilbert sloshes in his fishbowl strapped to the back of her scooter. Today, the young postal carrier passes the shops and businesses she should stop at. Spring pursues Autumn's letter, which got lost in the mail. But each time the girl reaches for it, the wind whisks away the envelope covered in stamps.

 

Can Spring reclaim her sister's errant letter? And what news might it convey about her fractured family? Let’s leap on our scooters, race into The Seasons TP Vol 1, and find out!

 

Story

Spring’s parents are missing and presumed dead. While her sisters Summer and Autumn travel the world, Spring holds down a job and attends school. The girl makes her meals, cleans her parents' house, and pays the bills. She tries not to bother Winter, who locks herself away to paint her next masterpiece. But Autumn's letter changes everything for Spring and Winter. Or at least it should.

 

In The Seasons TP Vol 1, Autumn travels to Neocairo. The reporter finds people have abandoned their daily pursuits. The city slows to a standstill as people stare into mirrors. Autumn writes Spring that she believes she knows what happened to their parents. She also warns Spring about the magical carnival that recently left Neocairo. But when the carnival arrives in New Gaulia, Winter refuses to believe anything her younger sister says.

 

Rick Remender's story portrays how adults often overlook children's capabilities. It also highlights how we can lose touch with those around us. Spring Seasons has discussions with her goldfish. Still, the imaginative schoolgirl may be the most centered person in New Gaulia.

 

Art

Paul Azaceta jumpstarts The Seasons TP Vol 1 as Spring flies over the crest of a hill like a motocross star. The pigtailed girl hurtles down the cobblestone street on her scooter. She passes ladies burdened down with their shopping and a shop owner reading a book with his coffee. As Spring sends packages, coffee, cakes, and her goldfish flying, the breeze keeps her sister's letter just out of reach.

 

Matheus Lopes fills Spring’s adventures with a soft palette of soothing colors suited to this Old-World town. Like her sister Autumn, Spring has red hair that contrasts with her blue courier uniform. Her sister Winter has short black hair and blue lips, while a snowflake adorns her black choker. As for her blonde sister, Summer gazes down on roofs where a chimney sweep carries out his duties with a jetpack. But while her face adorns the billboard, Summer travels the world on a yacht. When the magical carnival arrives, the clowns and steam-powered machines fill the streets bordered by gray and green rowhouses with vibrant, eye-catching colors.

 

Rus Wooton begins The Seasons TP Vol 1 with small, tightly spaced lowercase black letters in ivory newspaper clippings. Autumn's writing appears as italicized lowercase letters in beige paper scraps. People, clowns, and other creatures speak larger uppercase black letters into white dialogue balloons. The letters swell, shrink, and change colors. Sound effects enhance Spring’s struggle to provide for her family, Autumn’s search for her parents, and the excitement the magical carnival brings to Gaulia. Thanks to Image Comics for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

In an alternative 1920s, Spring Seasons yearns to learn what happened to her mother and father. A traveling carnival could provide hints as to where they went. But before she also went missing, Autumn warned Spring against the entertainers who have left millions mesmerized.

 

Pursuing this mystery could cost the schoolgirl everything. Or it could free Spring to pursue her fondest desires. Filled with folklore, magic, and entrancing characters, The Seasons TP Vol 1 combines Pippi Longstocking, Tintin, and Indiana Jones in a fun, frantic, and fascinating adventure.

 

Rating: 9.8/10

 

For more covers see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

 

To look inside my preview for The Seasons #1. 

Transformers #21 Review

 

Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson

Artist: Jorge Corona

Colorist: Mike Spicer

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Cover Artists: Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer; Jorge Corona & Mike Spicer; David Nakayama; Derek Chew; Pye Parr; Jason Howard & Annalisa Leoni; Jason Howard; Jimbo Salgado; Tiago Da Silva; Freely Abrigo; Mico Suayan; Len Nicholas

Editor: Ben Abernathy

Publication Design: Andres Juarez

Production: Ashby Florence

Publisher: Image

Price: $3.99

Release Date: June 11, 2025

 

While Soundwave welcomes the return of the king, Megatron’s return displeases Starscream, and Astrotrain finally gets his shot at revenge. As Megatron consolidates his forces, Wheeljack revives more Autobots. Conscientious objector Beachcomber helps by rescuing a lost but not forgotten comrade. Which side can win the Energon race and rebuild a superior force first? Where did the US military take Ultra Magnus and Carly? And how is Cliffjumper enjoying life on Cybertron? Let's recharge our Energon batteries, leap into Transformers #21, and find out!

 

Story

When the US military traps Ultra Magnus like Cobra Commander trapped Megatron, a shellshocked chaplain may wonder if something in Saint John’s Revelations refers to the Autobot. But his superiors have plans for their alien visitor. Megatron and his lieutenants Soundwave and Starscream want the Ark for themselves, but Optimus Prime is determined to stop them. Still, Optimus' history of violence worries him. And while Wheeljack rebuilds their forces, others beside Megatron and Optimus hunger to make their Ark their home.

 

Transformers #21 is an immersive read. The fast-paced plot is rich in drama. Points of view switch between Ultra Magnus, Megatron, Optimus Prime, and Elita One. Daniel Warren Johnson's story primarily concerns Megatron's renewed assault on the Ark. While Megatron, Elita One, and General Flagg demonstrate their hunger for power, Optimus suffers from its corrupting influence.

 

Art

A Human chaplain clutches his Bible as he beholds an enormous alien robot. As Blue Streak studies the computer monitor, he seems afraid to turn and face Elita-One. Cliffjumper shows Shredhead a hologram in a teaching moment evoking Bumblebee and Rubble. While navigating switchbacks along a sheer face, Megatron transforms into a gun for Starscream to wield. Jorge Corona's portraits of the Autobots and Decepticons' dilemmas recall the history of the fan-favorite franchise.

 

Mike Spicer contributes a series of limited color schemes that enhance the energy and drama surging through Transformers #21. One striking contrast is between the purple and gray Cybertronian night and the green and blue of a sunny day in Washington. Yet red, blue, and purple surround Optimus Prime when Wheeljack studies his leader. The nonviolent but no less invasive moment evokes Starscream attacking Soundwave at Megatron's feet.

 

Rus Wooton fills the Transformers' rectangular white balloons with italicized black words, while General Flagg speaks words of indifference into round dialogue balloons. The letters' size and spacing enlarge or reduce to convey loud and soft voices. While sound effects help us hear Megatron shift into dominating gun mode, immense words dominate panels as the war for Earth continues in Transformers #21. Thanks to Image Comics, Skybound Entertainment, and Hasbro for providing a review copy.

 

Final Thoughts

The fight to increase one's strength may seem a worthy goal. But an abundance of power can prevent us from attaining our ambitions. As Humans and Cybertronians seek power for its own sake, a US chaplain and Optimus Prime experience its corrupting influence. And then there’s the smallest Autobot, who, like a diminutive Jedi, reminds us that big things can come in small packages in Transformers #21.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

To look inside see my review at Comic Book Dispatch. 

Blood And Thunder #1 Review

 

Writer: Benito Cereno

Artist: E J Su

Colorist: Msassyk

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Cover Artists: E J Su & Msassyk; David Lopez; Andie Tong & Rex Lokus; Bernard Chang; J Scott Campbell & Tanya Lehoux; Erik Elizarrez

Editor: Nachie Marsham

Logo Design: Andres Juarez

Publication Design: Jillian Crab

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: May 7, 2025

 

The Interplanetary Peacekeeping and Penitentiary Force protects everyone regardless of status, income, or species. The IPPF keeps you safe from anyone who means you harm or dispenses lies. But who protects you when the IPPF falters in their duties? Let’s grab our AI guns, leap into Blood And Thunder #1, and see!

 

Story

Bounty hunters tackle the IPPF's more elusive troublemakers in the satellite city of Metro 1. Blood Bledsoe washed out of the Academy. She honors her father's memory by apprehending wanted perpetrators as a bounty hunter.

 

In Blood And Thunder #1, we see Blood tracking down Herp. She doesn't know what Herp did. Most likely, he was involved in trading illegal goods. Still, a job's a job, so she's bringing him in. The person who helps her hunt down Herp The Perp is Thunder. But her partner also hamstrings her efforts. Thunder generally follows Blood’s suggestions. Still, that doesn’t mean Thunder will let her end Herp’s life.

 

Blood And Thunder #1 follows the hunt for a fugitive in a densely populated, multicultural city. Benito Cereno's story also puts Blood's past under the microscope. Although she wanted to join IPPF, she didn't follow in her father's footsteps. Blood keeps everyone at an arm's distance. People on the streets know better than to get in her way when she's chasing down a perp. Not even her father's best friend calls her Akeldama. Only her partner calls her by her name. To everyone else, she is Blood Bledsoe, a licensed bounty hunter. And she likely knows more about you than you do about the person next to you.

 

Art

Metro 1 bulges from a chunk of rock orbiting its nearest planet or star, transforming the disk-shaped asteroid into an enormous diamond. Within, vehicles roll along roads or fly above them. While Humans stroll along the pristine streets of Tier 1, less-well-dressed people and other species occupy the sidewalks and streets of the lower levels. Some areas lack sidewalks and paving. Residents shelter in tents and store their valuables in stolen shopping carts. But clean streets and sidewalks, neon lights, and smiling, multi-faced prostitutes await visitors to the red-light district on the Floor.

 

Even with Msassyk’s rich colors adorning E J Su's detailed art, Blood Bledsoe stands out. Despite her high forehead, Blood's abundant hair hovers like a storm that rages inside her in Blood And Thunder #1. It's easy to see why people step aside when the blue-and-purple-suited bounty hunter tears down the street. Herp's green skin makes him stand out when the reptilian with upside-down features flees Blood's wrath. But then, who wants to get cuffed and tossed onto the back of her hoverbike?

 

Rus Wooton fires uppercase words into white dialogue balloons. The words grow bold for intonation, rarely shrink, and change to symbols for alien chatter. Thunder speaks mauve words into rounded ivory boxes surrounded by smaller mauve, green, blue, and purple rounded rectangles. The Fulminator 2.0 speaks lavender words into white balloons surrounded by purple circles. Sound effects help us hear Blood kick obstacles out of her path, different types of firepower from Thunder's four muzzles, and the dining habits of a prisoner some of the most seasoned IPPF officers fear to feed. Thanks to Image Comics and Skybound for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

The only person Blood Bledsoe trusts is Thunder. The bounty hunter refuses to trade her AI gun for a newer model. But then, Thunder may be the only thing preventing Blood from spending the rest of her life in a maximum-security prison cell. That would be a shame, as the IPPF needs her assistance in protecting the streets of Metro 1 in Blood And Thunder #1.

 

Rating 9.8/10

 

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

The Seasons #4 Review

 

Writer: Rick Remender

Artist: Paul Azaceta

Colorist: Matheus Lopes

Letterer: Rus Wooton

Cover Artists: Paul Azaceta; Max Fuimara & Dave McCaig

Editor/Designer: Harper Jaten

Designer/Production: Erika Schnatz

Assistant Editor: Gabe Dinger

Publisher: Image Comics

Price: $3.99

Release Date: April 30, 2025

 

Winter Seasons loves her younger sister. So when her parents disappear, and Summer and Autumn want to send Spring to boarding school, Winter agrees to be her sister’s guardian. But Spring continually interrupts her work. Her youngest sister craves attention and makes up fantasy diversions. When she hears Spring yelling and leaves her room to investigate, Winter finds the entry hall a mess. Mail lies scattered on the floor. Her youngest sister is cleaning up a broken window and blames it on the magical carnival.

 

Winter realizes that Spring needs an intervention. So she makes a nice dinner and asks her younger sister not to make up any more stories. That evening, she hears more shouting and crashing. Winter finds Spring amid more wreckage in Autumn’s room, and Spring blames it on the magical carnival. Will Winter carry out her threat? Or can Spring convince Winter to let her remain at home? Let's leap onto our scooters, ride into The Seasons #4, and find out!

 

Story

The same man who left Spring an invitation to the magical carnival tried to steal Autumn’s hope chest. But when the book spills out of the damaged wooden container, Spring believes what he wanted was Autumn’s diary. Her sister’s journal doesn’t just record Autumn’s thoughts and adventures. Autumn copied her parents’ research into its pages. Winter never believes anything Spring says, but Spring believes everything Autumn writes.

 

In The Seasons #4, Spring hopes that by reading her sister's book, she can find the proof to convince Winter the carnival is evil. Then perhaps Winter will follow Autumn's advice in the letter and flee New Gaulia. Or at least persuade Winter not to send her to boarding school. But as she reads, the radio announcer mentions that his sister Summer will attend the magical carnival tonight.

 

Her parents’ disappearance fractured Spring’s family. While Autumn searches the world to find them, Summer and Winter are miserable celebrities. Winter spends each day painting in her room. Summer graces photoshoots and gala events and cruises around on a yacht. As Winter exposes her misery in her paintings, Summer hides her misery behind a façade of glamour. Despite their differences, both sisters take out their misery on the people around them.

 

Art

Spring sits in a round chair stuffed with cushions while Gilbert swims in the fishbowl at her feet. As she reads Autumn's dairy and nibbles from a bag of Astro Knots, Spring envisions researchers exploring ancient burial sites. The young detective smiles as she gazes at Gilbert and announces she has discovered a clue. When Spring rises in The Seasons #4, her knees lock together as she hears the radio announcement.

 

Matheus Lopes adorns Paul Azeceta’s scenes of Spring's research and Summer's car ride in limited tones. But when Summer leaves the vehicle, pages explode with color. Red roses greet the beauty adorned in a pink dress, candy apple red nails, and blood orange shoes. Carnival workers surround the red-carpeted stairs while a costumed figure atop stilts expels a gout of yellow and orange. Inside the circus tent, cool tones embrace the enthusiastic audience. Yellow, orange, and red provoke rapturous applause. Yet Summer sits nonplussed, her arms hugging her chest, as orange and yellow confetti fall like leaves. 

 

Rus Wooton broadcasts this magical mystery using uppercase black letters in white dialogue balloons. The letters swell, grow bold, change color for emphasis, and rarely shrink as Spring seeks answers to her family’s dilemma in The Seasons #4. Sound effects help us hear fireworks erupting and the magical carnival demanding a toll for captivity. Thanks to Image Comics and Giant Generator for providing a copy for review.

 

Final Thoughts

As a celebrated model, Summer has spent her life gazing into mirrors. Yet mirrors hold their dangers. Far from exposing photographs, mirrors filter our perceptions through our fears, hopes, and expectations. The inhabitants of Neocairo found their reflections so fascinating that they gave up on the world around them. And they are not the only ones who let mirrors imprison them in The Seasons #4.

 

Rating 9.6/10

 

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