Absolute Green Lantern #5
7.5/10
Alright, it’s been a long road, but we seem to have a destination. Jo and Hal face off in this new chapter of the Absolute Green Lantern saga. The slow-burn story is heating up, and the Green Lantern lore of the Absolute Universe is unfolding in unquantifiable ways. This book trades an epic space odyssey for a small-town thriller, setting up a new, unsettling dynamic for the Lanterns.
This series' biggest strength—aside from Jahoy Lindsay’s incredible art—is infusing Green Lantern lore with cosmic horror. The effect is great. A Green Lantern ring is no longer an honor but more akin to a curse, one that promises forbidden knowledge and the strife that inevitably comes with it.
Like the rest of the series so far, this book moves slowly, but when the revelations come, it’s at 100 miles an hour. Were I a betting man, I’d put $20 on the next issue changing our understanding of the entire Absolute Universe.
Uncanny X-Men #19
8/10
First a friendship festival, and now a meeting with the mayor! The Uncanny X-Men are turning into New Orleans' premier superteam faster than they bargained for. Jubilee takes the lead in this issue, narrating a rather awkward meeting with Mayor Sappora. Sappora is more than eager to make the X-Men feel welcome, but her attempts are more than a little ham-fisted.
The X-Men are wary, to say the least—and can you blame them? Historically, things go wrong for mutants just when they start getting good. Commodification always leads to genuine respect and acceptance though. Right?
Back at home base, new young mutants—the Outliers—have only one mission: make breakfast. Simple enough until the “Merc with a Mouth” shows up. Luckily, Deadpool and Outlaw have poor communication skills, so we get to see a fun face-off between the new new mutants and Deadpool.
Gail Simone’s Deadpool is the perfect amount of annoying and scatterbrained. He and Outlaw play well off one another, and their interactions with the Outliers make for great comedic moments. David Marquez’s art is excellent—especially the pages with Deathdream fully powered up in a nightmarish rage. Of course, this is all elevated by Matthew Wilson’s vibrant colors.
The dynamic between the Outliers is a highlight of the issue, which sees the young team settling into their own found-family dynamic. Nowhere is this more evident than with Deathdream. The team’s resident emo is finally starting to open up and show a lighter side. He’s definitely one of the most interesting new mutants I've seen, and he and Ransom are a fun contrast to one another. Jitter and Calico are a lot of fun as well, and Calico gets some awesome action moments that prove she’s not to be taken lightly.
Lastly, this issue starts with a tense encounter between the sinister Doctor Ellis and totally-not-a-mutant waitress Uva (she was in Blood Hunt/X-Men 2024). It’s a chilling meeting—one that is more than it seems—and builds to a finale that shows why Jubilation Lee is more than just a few fireworks.
Captain America #2
9.5/10
The tale of two Captains continues in another impressive installment in Chip Zdarsky’s new run. The story is focused on time and the very different America Cap wakes up in. The wars of the 21st century are a bit more complicated than punching Hitler in the face, after all.
It was the messy wars of today that shaped David Colton, aka the modern Captain America. He and Steve Rogers are the same men in different eras—one embodies optimism, the other cynicism. That clash of worldviews is at the center of this story.
This freshly thawed Steve Rogers is unsure of himself, the world he’s awoken to, and America’s place in it. He’s a far cry from the hardened, rather jingoistic new “Captain America.” Colton is a true believer in the mission, and he trusts himself—maybe to a fault. Zdarsky writes the two soldiers with nuance: Rogers never comes across as naive, and Colton never without sympathy.
The two Caps will undoubtedly come to a head as the story continues, but for now, it’s a tense cold war between two very different patriots. They’ll both have bigger things to worry about—black ops missions in authoritarian states tend to have complications, especially in Latveria. When Doom catches wind, all bets are off, and there’s no telling how the next chapter will play out.
Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #3
10/10
The finale to the grimiest Marvel comic on the market is finally here. Equal parts gross, bloody and hopeful, it’s the epic final battle Matt Murdock deserves.
Charles Soule has outdone himself. Matt Murdock is at his breaking point, racing against time to save the city before his powers fade. Things only get worse when Daredevil comes face to face with his most sadistic enemy—a bitter, shakes-riddled Bullseye seeking to relive the glory days. Nostalgia kills, though usually not literally.
Bullseye is so much fun in this series. Yes, he’s evil beyond measure, but he’s the only one in the story who’s enjoying himself—and frankly, that joy is contagious.
Steve McNiven’s art on this series is phenomenal. Everything in this book feels dirty and corroded by time. The action is brutal and unrelenting; you can feel the years of rage behind every kick, punch and bite.
Beyond that, the story is well done—a classic struggle between chaos and order, good and evil. Matt Murdock is a character who remains faithful and good in the face of unquantifiable evil. He has doubt, but he’s unwavering in his commitment to doing the right thing. This is a story that understands that—and a must-read for Daredevil fans.
Blink and You’ll Miss It #1
9/10
Weird Lovecraftian towns, hardcore senior citizens, and a mystery that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
I’d say Blink and You’ll Miss It is something special, but frankly I don’t really know what it is yet—and that’s part of what makes this first issue fun.
The air of mystery as our protagonist returns home to an empty city. The vibes are immaculate as twilight washes over the town. Artist Keith Browning and colorist Brad Simpson do fantastic work here. The city feels both intimate and grand, with a dash of the surreal for good measure.
It truly feels like a place outside of time and space, which only adds to the mystery of the story. The characters are believable, and it’s easy to guess at what their rocky history might look like.
Lastly, like any good first issue, sticking the landing is crucial—and this book succeeds spectacularly with a page that’s sure to be etched in many a nightmare.
Check this book out if you need a good fix of something dark and strange.
I've worked at Dr No's for about less than a year and I've been patronizing them for half my life. I like comics, video games, music and sometimes sports.
I’m a GSU graduate, veteran sandwich artist, and aspiring writer. Ask me about the X-Men or my anime car sometime.
I think all comics are good they're human expression, dreams put to a page through days, months and years of dedication. They're windows into other worlds, aspirations of all we can be, warnings of what we may become and everything in between. Above all I think comics can help us understand the things we often don't consider.
That's what I want these reviews to do, help folks understand maybe even appreciate something they haven't seen before, but yea lemme wrap this up I got books to file. Happy reading!
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