Comics Guide for week of July 8, 2024

The Fourth of July holiday cut into my reading time, and therefore my review time. So no reviews this week.

MARVEL COMICS

Week 11 in "Blood Hunt"

HULK: BLOOD HUNT #1 continues the storyline from Incredible Hulk, but presumably runs in place while the Emerald Behemoth takes a detour to fight vampires.

Also:

AVENGERS #16: Captain America's ad hoc Avengers battle a vamped-up Hydra led by the vampire with the silliest mask, Baron Blood.
UNION JACK THE RIPPER: BLOOD HUNT #3 (OF 3): You'll believe one man can save Britain from vampires all by himself! Or not!
WOLVERINE: BLOOD HUNT #3 (of 4): Logan and Nightguard fight "Aqueous Vampires". It looks everyone has read Alan Moore's "American Gothic" in Swamp Thing!
BLACK PANTHER: BLOOD HUNT #1 (OF 3) 2ND PTG BLOOD SOAKED VARIANT
MIDNIGHT SONS: BLOOD HUNT #1 (OF 3) 2ND PTG BLOOD SOAKED VARIANT

This week in Spider-Man:

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #53 reveals that the new Green Goblin is Peter Parker, burdened with Norman Osborn's sins. Which we've known for three issues, because Marvel already spoiled it!
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN EPIC COLLECTION VOL 21: RETURN SINISTER SIX TP
SPIDER-BOY #9
SPIDER-GWEN: THE GHOST-SPIDER #1 2ND PTG 25 COPY INCV VIR VARIANT
SPIDER-GWEN THE GHOST-SPIDER #1 2ND PTG ERNANDA SOUZA VARIANT
SYMBIOTE SPIDER-MAN 2099 #5 (OF 5)

This week in Star Wars

STAR WARS: AHSOKA #1 begins an adaptation of the Disney+ series, which I've already seen. But this might give us more detail on what actually happened, which I'm still a little fuzzy about.

“It is truly an honor to be adapting Ahsoka,” writer Rodney Barnes told StarWars.com. “The character is the essence of classic Star Wars: layered, complex and fun! I hope the fans enjoy this adaptation as much as the series it’s adapted from.”

“We’re big fans here at Marvel, and we’ve been wanting to do something with Ahsoka for a long time,” Editor Mark Paniccia shared. “By the Force our dream finally came true!”

This week in X-Men:

X-MEN #1: Uncanny will always be the flagship X-book to me, but this one is making a good case for itself. It stars Cyclops, for one thing, who is "Mr. X-Man" to me. (Wolverine stans can make their argument in the comments.) The rest of the team includes Beast (a younger, funnier one), Magneto (in a wheelchair), Psylocke, Kid Omega, Tetmper, Magik and Juggernaut, and they operate out of Alaska. It's written by Jed MacKay, who seems to be all over Marvel these days.

Also:

DARK X-MEN: MERCY CROWN TP
X-MEN '97 #2 3RD PTG MARVEL ANIMATION VARIANT
X-MEN 97 #3 2ND PTG MARVEL ANIMATION VARIANT
X-MEN: HEIR OF APOCALYPSE #3 (OF 4)

This week in Ultimates:

ULTIMATES #2

This week in Venom:

KID VENOM #1 ( OF 4) stars a new character who debuted in Death of the Venomverse. He should team up with Spider-Boy., except that he lives in 10th century Japan.

“Kid Venom was based on a one shot that I sent for a manga contest Shonen Magazine and Marvel held in 2018. One of the rules for the contest was [to use a theme or a character from Marvel and write and draw a first episode for a new series], and the theme that I chose was symbiote," writer/artist Taigami said.

“The next thing that I thought was who would be the best host for a symbiote. There were already many Venoms and there were enough variations, so I thought it had be something totally new to be recognized. In Japan, there are several famous folklores such as ‘Momotaro’ and ‘Urashimataro.’ Among them, there is a story of ‘Kintaro.’ The legend is about a boy who was strong, living with his mother in Mount Ashigara. He later was hired by Minamoto Yorimitsu, a very high-ranked samurai and defeats many yokai. Later he becomes one of the four samurais of Minamoto Yorimitsu. This story is a mix of folklore and a historical story from the Heian Era of Japan. So when I mixed Symbiote to the legend of Kintaro, ‘Kid Venom’ was born.”

Elsewhere at Marvel:

ANNIHILATION 2099 #2 (OF 5) introduces Starlord 2099, from planet Wakanda, defending the solar systems from Quasar 2099, the living star. There's nothing new under any sun, is there? Jut put all the current stuff in a blender, and out pops 2099.
DEADPOOL #1 FACSIMILE EDITION features the first appearance of Blind Al.
GET FURY #3 (OF 6) takes place in the infamous "Hanoi Hilton."
GIANT-SIZE SILVER SURFER #1: Terrax the Tamer tries to trap the Surfer, and Marvel hints at a "turning point" for the earth-mover. Redemption, perhaps? Plus, a reprint of Silver Surfer #80, a throwdown with Terrax and Morg the Executioner from the past. Wait, I have a question: Why isn't THIS the 2024 Silver Surfer Annual? Actually, I don't know if there is a Silver Surfer Annual this year. But my point is: Why not make all the Giant-Size issues Annuals, since that's how they function, as solo stories about their leads? And why aren't the Annuals, which tell a serialized story where the title characters in a given issue function as part of an ensemble, given the Giant-Size label? That would make more sense.
MMW THE AVENGERS HC VOL 24 brings up up to Avengers #254.

DC COMICS

Week 3 in "Absolute Power":

ABSOLUTE POWER: TASK FORCE VII #1 (OF 7) begins after the events of Absolute Power #1, where many of Earth's mightiest have had their powers stolen. This series will highlight the seven Amazos (it's told from the perspective of the Evil Trinity) as they take on the remaining supers. This issue features the Superman-analog Amazo, Last Son, battling the Marvel Family. Which is a good idea, I think — these crossovers should highight the lesser-selling characters so thaty they will sell better.

GREEN LANTERN #13 features a de-powered Hal Jordan on the run from Thaaros, who is the head of the modern-day United Planets, which has worked in concert with Amanda Waller to isolate Earth's heroes from any outer space cavalry. Thaaros gets an origin story in the backup.

This week in Batman:

BATMAN '89: ECHOES #3
BATMAN AND ROBIN ADVENTURES OMNIBUS HC
BATMAN AND ROBIN #11
BATMAN: GOTHAM BY GASLIGHT -- THE KRYPTONIAN AGE #2 (OF 12)
FROM THE DC VAULT: DEATH IN THE FAMILY -- ROBIN LIVES #1

Elsewhere at DC:

ACTION COMICS #1067 has two things going for it: One, Gail Simone will be writing the lead feature. And two, a Lois Lane backup.

In the former, Simone has set her story at the beginning of the Man of Steel's career, battling what I'd guess to be his first alien invasion. It will last for three issues.

“I love the classic Superman cast, and this story is deliberately meant to echo my all-time favorite Superman time period,” said Simone. “We didn’t want to tell a quiet story of Superman in a diner; we wanted to have a massive threat, a war taking place all over the world, and only Superman could possibly protect his adopted planet. It is unapologetically huge in scope and fun as hell, with one of the best art teams I’ve ever worked with … Eddy Barrows, Danny Miki, and Rex Lokus on colors!

“For me talking about Action Comics is something that goes beyond the title itself,” artist Barrows said. “I remember when I was 7 years old, I was playing on the sidewalk, and suddenly I was run over by a truck, right there. I spent 3 days fighting for my life, and during that whole year that followed I remained in bed, doing lots of physiotherapy, lots of meds and exams. Going to the doctors was a very regular thing. And it was during that time that Superman came to my life, reading Action Comics. Kal-El became a good friend of mine, making my days better. His adventures and his behavior were things that stuck with me! Reading his stories were the highlight of my days, for a 7-year-old recovering from an accident like I was. Back then I wouldn’t have imagined that one day I would be helping to build his legacy: illustrating his stories. The stories of my all-time favorite superhero… SUPERMAN!”

As for Lois, her story will also run for three issues, written by Rainbow Rowell, who apparently has a bit a rep. I appreciate Lois stories more and more these days, as she has transformed from the irritating character of my youth into one where you're not always asking, "What does Superman see in this loser?" The more stories cementing her as a formidable force on her own — and in my chosen profession, no less — the better.

“As a former newspaper reporter, I’ve always had a soft spot for Daily Planet stories,” Rowell said. “I love that Clark Kent is Superman and also a working journalist — and that it isn’t just dusty backstory. It’s a real facet of his character. I love that Clark met Lois in the newsroom, and that they still work there together. (This is so realistic, I swear.) I really like it when comic book romances last. …There’s a lot of story to tell after two people say yes to each other. So — even though I was a little nervous about diving into the DC Universe — I couldn’t resist the chance to write a love story that is also a newsroom story, and still a superhero story.”

“The story that Rainbow and I are telling is about Lois finding her strength, with Clark supporting her as she becomes stronger in her convictions,” said artist Cian Tormey. “He sees her finding her courage in a new role, her sense of responsibility for everyone — a gentle reminder for Clark of how far he has come, and how far all of us who are not blessed with superpowers can go when faced with adversity.”

Also:

JUSTICE LEAGUE VS. GODZILLA VS. KONG HC, which I will be getting. I have waited long enow!
TALES OF THE TEEN TITANS #44 FACSIMILE EDITION features the first appearance of Nightwing. And I still hate that costume.

IMAGE COMICS

This week in Energon Universe:

TRANSFORMERS #10 reveals Shockwave's master plan.

Also:

DUKE #3 (OF 5) 3RD PTG
TRANSFORMERS #1 7TH PTG CVR A BRATUKHIN
TRANSFORMERS #1 7TH PTG CVR B BRATUKHIN
VOID RIVALS #1 9TH PTG CVR A BRATUKHIN

This week in Unnamed Universe

GEIGER #4

REVIEW: I'm cheating. This isn't a review of Geiger #4. It's a review of the Geiger HC collecting the first six-issue run of the series, so technically there's *a* Geiger #4 in it, just not the current one. Also the Geiger 80-Page Giant.

And I enjoyed it fine. It's straight, old-fashioned comic book storytelling, nothing fancy. Very solid, with the Gary Frank artwork elevating it to a higher plane.

Geiger takes place after a nuclear war, with Geiger as, essentially, a good-guy version of Marvel's Radioactive Man. His opponents come from the Las Vegas Strip, which mysteriously survived. The casinos and the walkways between them are all shielded from the fallout somehow. (I'd like to meet the construction crew who managed that, and to ask where their uncontaminated water comes from.) To my disappointment, the various casino owners and employees reflect the themes of their respective establishments. Disappointment, I say, because that is VERY Silver Age comic book concept and as much as I loved the Silver Age, I was 12 at the time. Today, seeing henchmen dress up like they're at a Ren Faire and serve a guy who fancies himself a king because they work at a casino called The Camelot inspires eye rolls, not sensawunda.

Of course, it's a pretty good way to get men to dress in medieval armor in a post-nuke wasteland, which was needful because this is Johns' spin on Atomic Knights, which he re-imagined for a proposed new line at DC Comics called "The Killing Zone" before he dropped the project and buggered off to Image. Geiger, as you can probably guess, started life as a Captain Atom reboot. And Junkyard Joe is a new version of G.I. Robot. I'm sure I'll see more echoes of forgotten DC heroes in the Ghost Machine comics to come.

Anyway, the ending of this run of Geiger changed the status quo sufficiently that I don't know where the next run will be set. (Although Johns has created casino gangs reflecting the Roaring '20s, Universal monster movies, pirate ships and more, which is work I doubt he'll want to waste, so a return to Las Vegas seems inevitable.) I enjoyed Geiger well enough to continue, and I think up next is Ghost Machine Special #1, then the Geiger re-launch, Redcoat and Rook: The Exodus. I had hoped to be caught up by now, but perhaps I will be by the time of the next Ghost Machine release.

THE DOMAIN #1 (OF 5) is a comic book within a comic book, telling the origin of The Domains (now plural), nascent superheroes whose creation was detailed in Public Domain #6. Which explains why Public Domain chose this month to return after a two-year hiatus. I talked about Public Domain last week, and I'll try to catch up with Domains with issue #2.

“When I realized that my characters from Public Domain would be creating a new superhero comic, I just knew I had to actually make that comic! It was an opportunity to create a fun, classic superhero comic while also enhancing the narrative of Public Domain and those characters’ journeys," said writer Chip Zdarsky. "But to do it right I needed a great art team who could pull off a kinetic, explosive superhero style, and Rachael Stott and Eren Angiolini are the perfect fit for this story. The only problem has been that fact that they’re too good and have, in fact, made Public Domain look bad by comparison. I did this to myself!"

Artist Rachael Stott added: "Every single time I get to work with Chip Zdarsky I feel like the luckiest artist in comics — we've worked in his sexy Sex Criminals universe on the Sexual Gary Annual, and then an equally sexy Spider-Man one shot, but now we get to create a world and characters together for Domain. Every (sexy) page has been a joy and delight to draw. And sexy. Then add Eren Angiolini into that equation and you have a dream project. They are one of the most talented colourists working today, and I'm so lucky to get to collaborate with them again. I love being a part of this team, and we've made a really cool, beautiful book together and I'm so proud excited for people to read it. Chip, did I say sexy enough? How many times did you say it would take to get the book on Oprah's book club?"

SPACE-MULLET TP: I don't normally post collections. But Image sent a preview, so here it is.

DARK HORSE

CARMILLA VOL 2: LAST VAMPIRE HUNTER TP: This is a "re-imagining" of the 19th century novel, which I have somehow not read in all my years on Earth. (I haven't read Varney the Vampire, either.) I must address this oversight someday, and I kinda wish this series was a straight adaptation so I could get Carmilla under my belt with little effort. But it's not, and that's probably for the best, since it's not 1871 any more.

THE CHANGE HC is an OGN co-written by Whoopi Goldberg (The Color Purple, Sister Act, The View) and a TV writer/showrunner named Jaime Paglia (Eureka, The Flash). Like with most celebrity comic books, the lead character is an idealized wish-fulfillment version of that celebrity. So our protagonist is "a new kind of superhero — one who might be a little older, whose body might be a little thicker … and whose breasts may or may not be the same size. She is also smack in the middle of menopause which, along with chills and hot flashes, also gave her some unexpected superpowers."

Okey-dokie.

FROM THE WORLD OF MINOR THREATS: BARFLY #1: Once again, here's a book I'd have reviewed if I'd had the time. I actually haven't read any of the "Minor Threats" books, but any day is a good day to catch up on this concept. I've loved Patton Oswalt in everything he's done, and I imagine I'd love this universe, too.

KILL ALL IMMORTALS #1

Writer Zack Kaplan (Mindset, Break Out, Port of Earth), artist Fico Ossio (Action Comics, Star Wars, No One Left To Fight), multi-Eisner Award-winning colorist Jordie Bellaire, Eisner-nominated designer Tom Muller (X-Men, Hivemind), and Eisner-nominated letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou present this 26-page first issue described as "Succession meets John Wick ... with immortal Vikings."

See, the deal is that Eric the Red and his four adult children discovered something back around 1,000 CE that made them immortal. Now one of the kids, the only female, wants to break free of her family which, with their long life and innate rapaciousness, kinda own everything. I guess her only choice is the title of the book.

And I kinda want to read that. I do love me some Vikings.

LOUD STORIES TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD GN: "Big names in Italian comics gathered in a unique and powerful anthology to say enough to gender-based violence." I'd be interested to see what today's modern Italian comics art tradition looks like. I know what it looked like in the '70s and maybe '80s, but that was a long time ago — and pre-computer everything.

MADMAN LIBRARY EDITION VOL 6 HC: What? Another one?

IDW PUBLISHING

THE HUNGER AND THE DUSK: BOOK TWO #1 (OF 6): The human-orc alliance has collapsed! I didn't read Hunger and Dusk Book One, so I don't really know what that means, but it sounds important! Maybe by the time Book Three rolls around, I'll have caught up on this fantasy series written by G. Willow Wilson (Air, Ms. Marvel).

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: 40TH ANNIVERSARY COMICS CELEBRATION #1: Forty years? Impossible! I can't have gone out of my way to ignore this franchise for four decades! That's way too much effort!

MORE COMICS

A LAST GOODBYE (ONE-SHOT): This is a post-apocalyptic tale of a man and his dog who travels the wasteland to his childhood home, but runs across one of the last human enclaves and the mutant cannibals who want to eat them. Will he stay and help while having flashbacks that explore his mysterious, tragic past? Or will he continue to walk home and then sit on a rock for 40 pages waiting to die? What will he do?

ATOM: THE BEGINNING VOL 8 GN

BATTRON: THE EVIL EYE GN: My first thought was that "Battron" was some sort of French sports equipment, perhaps used in whatever their version of cricket is. But no! Battron is a person, a French Legionnaire battling Nazis in World War II. Here's a PREVIEW from Caliber Entertainment. The art's a little stiff, but I like the Moebius-like rendering.

BLONDIE AGAINST THE ODDS GN isn't about Miss Boopadoop. It's a biographical GN about the band of the same name.

BRABA TP: An anthology of Brazilian artists from Fantagraphics. I'm curious, but not curious enough to buy it sight unseen.

BRITTLE JOINTS GN: An autobiographical story of a woman with Bruck syndrome, a progressive condition where the bones are increasingly brittle, and how hard everything in life is for her. "A powerfully understated critique of our modern world." But the PR also mentions some pluses, like friendship and art, so maybe it's not entirely a dismal slog through pain and injustice.

DEADWEIGHTS #4 (OF 6): Ahoy Comics alert!

DIABLO LEGENDS OF THE NECROMANCER: RATHMA GN: Blizzard Entertainment gives us this story of a guy with power over life and death having to fight his mother, Lilith, to save something or other. I like the cover art, but can't find a preview, so I'm suspicious.

GUN HONEY: COLLISION COURSE #3

MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN COMPLET DAILIES VOL 1 1934-1936 HC: Comic-strip collectors alert! (Although I think mine's already been delivered.)

THE NANCY SHOW: CELEBRATING THE ART OF ERNIE BUSHMILLER: Comic-strip-adjacent collectors alert!

NEXUS NEWSPAPER STRIPS VOL 2 #4 (OF 5) BATTLE FOR THUNEWORLD: And again! Sort of!

PHANTOM COMPLETE DAILIES VOL 32 1986-1987 HC: And again, for real!

RICK AND MORTY 10TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1: Oni Press goes back to the well.

ROBONIC STOOGES: SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS #1: The Baron once said about the The Three Stooges cartoons that the appeal of the characters was that they were sort of live-action cartoons. So what was the point of making them actual cartoons? I think that applies to making them robots as well.

SAVAGE SWORD OF CONAN #3 (OF 6)

WHAT WE WISHED FOR GN: I thought this was an interesting premise from Humanoids: A comet passes overhead and a mysterious voice tells a bunch of kids that it will grant them a wish. They take to long deciding, though, and the comet leaves. Thirty-five years later it returns, and grants the wishes to the now-adult characters. Can you imagine what kind of dumb stuff we'd have wished for when we were children, and then for them to show up in our adult lives? "I want a skateboard!" "I want as much chocolate as I can eat!" "I want my bratty sister dead!" Ha ha! Oh, wait, that last one might not be so funny.

Well, I haven't read it, so I don't know what the kids wished for. Kinda curious to see if it's funny or tragic. Probably both.

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Comics Guide for week of July 8, 2024

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