Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum #1
The team behind Ice Cream Man made a Superman comic. That sounds fake, but Lex Luthor looks creepier than ever, and the gap in Superman’s teeth proves it’s real. Don’t worry, though — this Superman adventure is far from a horror story. Instead, it embraces a fantastical Silver Age tone heavy on sci-fi camp and Superman’s Boy Scout philosophy. The team’s creepy little fingerprints are all over this story, from their choice of villains to Martín Morazzo and Chris O’Halloran’s signature art style.
The creative team does a great job establishing the stakes. Each new kryptonite has an unknown effect, and that mystery fuels the sense of unease that sets this story apart. The dynamic between Clark and Bruce is extremely fun here as well — two old friends trading subtle jabs as they both engage in experiments that are probably a bad idea but necessary. Lex Luthor is extra despicable here, with a smile liable to make your skin crawl. The story seems poised to dive into melodrama as well, with Superman and Lois facing tough questions about their relationship. This was an unexpected but welcome direction for the story, one that I hope gets explored further in future issues. In the meantime, what kryptonite would you like to try? Personally, Rainbow K sounds like a fun time — but then again, maybe it’s best left to Superman and other professionals.
Predator Kills the Marvel Universe #1
The Predator has been on a tear since Mac got killed in ’87, and now the whole Marvel Universe is in the tri-sights of the Yautja. The fun of crossover comics is making ridiculous ideas work. How do you make an absurd premise make perfect, rational sense for the world and the characters? Basically, can you justify dumping out the entire toy box at once, or are you just making a mess because Disney owns the rights to Predator? I’m happy to say that this book transcends the trap of corporate synergy and delivers a fun, action-packed story that cleverly uses Marvel and Predator lore to set up a showdown of intergalactic proportions.
Benjamin Percy’s writing perfectly balances the comedy and the shock of seeing your favorite heroes brutally unalived. It’s not Predator KOs the Marvel Universe, after all, and the action starts from the jump with a fan-favorite character meeting a grisly end. It’s complemented by some great art from Marcelo Ferreira and Daniel Picciotto. The colors are a bit muted, but it gives the book a cinematic quality and sells the bleakness of the situation. I won’t say more, but trust the algorithm and check this book out.
Ultimate Incursion #3
Miles’ search for his baby sister — aka the most powerful toddler in the multiverse — continues. This time, Spider-Man is in Japan — squints — sorry, Hi no Kuni; it’s a different universe and all. Enter the X-Men, namely Nico Minoru and Maystorm. After a tense and funny first meeting, it’s back to the hunt for Billie, who has fallen into the clutches of Silver Samurai. Lucky for Billie, like all babies, she’s adorable — and that more or less grants her protection from even the most cold-hearted villains. Ziglar and Camp do a great job getting into Miles’ headspace. He’s alone in a strange universe, unsure of who he can trust, and above all, his little sister is lost. Needless to say, he’s a little emotional, and that’s conveyed well here.
Don’t get it twisted, though — it’s not a sob story, and Miles and his mutant comrades get plenty of hero moments in this issue. At the midpoint in this series, I’m excited to see where it goes next. It’s structured a bit like a video game, with Billie being ferried off to another castle just when Miles is closing in. I’m not complaining, though — it’s a lot of fun, and the next issue promises a showdown for the ages.
Space Ghost #1
Space Ghost coast to coast to coast. The icon returns in this new series from Dynamite spearheaded by writer David Pepose and artist Jonathan Lau. This is an exciting reintroduction for the character and a great jumping-on point for new fans. I knew nothing about Space Ghost outside of his Adult Swim show and references from the very talented underground rapper SpaceGhostPurrp (his album Nasa Gang is an American classic, but I digress — we’re here to talk about comics).
First, the art is impressive — it’s a far cry from those ’60s animation cels where Space Ghost first came to life. As for the story, it’s straightforward and exciting. The dialogue is snappy and appropriately campy without being ridiculous. At the heart of the story are Jan and Jace, who relay to a strange visitor just who Space Ghost is and what he stands for. The characters feel real, and their love for SG feels even realer. By the issue’s end, you’ll see why the galaxy needs Space Ghost.
There’s a goth party in Midvale, and you’re invited! With Lesla Lar defeated and Midvale safe once again, the only thing that remains is a court date on Kandor. Lesla has come a long way from the Silver Age-era hater she once was. Sophie Campbell does a great job making Lesla a sympathetic character. She’s extremely insecure and quite literally isolated in Kandor — add in overbearing parents and you’ve got great ingredients for a villain origin story. But there’s always hope for redemption, and Supergirl is all about hope.
So after some pleading with the Kandorian council, Lesla is now an official probationary member of Team Supergirl. What better way to build a team than a fun outing to Midvale’s local goth club? (Who says small towns don’t have culture?) Lena, Lesla and Kara have to dress accordingly — which means this is the first appearance of Goth Supergirl, with all the powers of Supergirl plus the powers of a goth. Truly an unstoppable force.
This issue really highlights Campbell’s art skills — from the dingy Masquerade party spot to the goopy monster Supergirl battles, it’s all great. Here’s hoping Lesla’s redemption arc continues. Kara, Lesla and Lena make for a fun trio, and I look forward to more adventures in Midvale.
I've worked at Dr No's for just 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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