Invincible Universe Presents:
Battle Beast #6
Battle Beast is nothing if not consistent. Every chapter delivers blistering, edge-of-your-seat action! This time around, Battle Beast faces the Juggernaut’s sister in a bloody showdown that only one of them can walk away from.
Ryan Ottley’s art never fails to impress, and Annalisa Leoni’s colors are so vibrant you’ll feel instantly immersed in the mayhem. The story is slow and favors fights over character development, but when we do get some character growth, it feels well-earned. Battle Beast and his misfit crew are by no means friends, but watching them grow to understand one another is a ray of light in a book characterized by its over-the-top violence.
Not much to say otherwise — Battle Beast is a simple, straightforward series full of fights and fun. Kirkman isn’t afraid to lean into the comedy, and that pays off well. I’m looking forward to next month’s issue. Maybe Battle Beast will find the glorious death he seeks (he won’t; it’s a prequel book, but hey, no sense in dashing his dreams).
P.S. Just wait until you see that last page — you’ll be stoked as well.
New Gods #11
The battle of the gods is underway in another stunning installment from writer Ram V and artist Evan Cagle. First, there’s a lot of different threads in this story so far. The main one is Kumal — a regular child aside from being a new god with untold power and the possible savior/destroyer of the gods. He’s been kidnapped by evil CEO Maxwell Lord and the henchmen of Darkseid, who have their own nefarious purposes for the boy. Not to fear, Mister Miracle and Orion are on the trail, and they’ll save Kumal even if it takes them to the edge of space. Meanwhile, humble country fella Otis Tennant (last seen in New Gods #6) is on a journey of self-discovery. There’s also the battle between Big Barda, Wonder Woman, Akala, and Granny Goodness and her Furies — not to mention the pending invasion of Earth by the aliens that laid waste to New Genesis.
Like I said, there’s a lot going on.
Which is why it’s impressive that the story still flows so well. Ram V’s epic tale of the gods is set to impact every aspect of the DC Universe, so the grand scale is fitting. Every conversation sounds like the bars of a ballad, and every fight feels like it was ripped from the pages of some ancient myth.
I can’t praise Evan Cagle’s work on this book enough. Every character is expressive and detailed. Fight scenes jump off the page! They’re equally elegant and brutal — the standout of this issue, and maybe the series, is the battle between Big Barda, Wonder Woman, Akala, and Granny Goodness and her Furies. It’s tense, fast-paced, and full of jarring panel breaks that’ll leave you disoriented in a good way. Mad Harriet steals the scene here, truly living up to her name and striking fear into the hearts of her enemies and readers alike, while Barda and Wonder Woman prove why they're the most fearsome warriors in DC Comics.
At the core of this story are Orion and Mister Miracle — two brothers who don’t always see eye to eye — on a quest to save an innocent kid from the same fate they had to endure: suffering under the thumb of Darkseid and his minions. This mission brings them together in a heartfelt way. They're bonded both by their trauma at the hands of Darkseid, the love they have for Highfather, and their duty to New Genesis and its people. They find themselves deep in space, and the battle to follow will no doubt push both to their limits.
There’s a ton of revelations in this issue and amazing moments that I think will be remembered for years to come. This is the best book DC is putting out that doesn’t have “Absolute” in front of it. The New Gods are redefining the superhero epic. I suggest you come along for the ride!
One spoiler incoming! Don’t keep reading if you want to be surprised!
Okay, are you still here? Here it goes.
DeSaad, Apokolips’ resident melty-faced uggo, has a face card — a face card that never declines! I know, I was shocked — the dude is downright handsome.
One World Under Doom #8
Doctor Doom’s rule over the world continues in the penultimate chapter of Ryan North’s phenomenal event series.
You know, I think Earth’s mightiest heroes might be wrong about this one. I’m not saying I support Doctor Doom’s dictatorship per se, but if Doom can get me affordable rent and easy-to-navigate healthcare, I might be willing to give up some rights. As for the Latverians suffering endlessly to fuel Doom’s magic, I offer them my thoughts and prayers.
You have to understand, Doom is building a brave new world, and some sacrifices have to be made — but even Doom has his limits. What will Doom do if and when things go too far?
Doom has one chink in his armor, and that is his goddaughter Valeria Richards. Which is why, when all is lost and the heroes of Earth find themselves outmatched, Valeria takes it upon herself to appeal to Doom’s better nature. What follows is a riveting debate in Doom’s mindscape. Will Doom hold onto control as the world turns against him, or will he relent, admit defeat, and restore the status quo of the Marvel Universe? I think we both know the answer to that.
Eight issues in, and this series continues to be one of Marvel's strongest event comics in recent years. The battles are massive! The who’s who of Marvel face off against Doom. R.B. Silva’s art shines in the fight scenes. Every punch thrown lands with staggering weight, and the energy beams are so vibrant the book will feel like it’s buzzing in your hands. The best part of it all is watching Doom humble every hero who opposes his reign. All the clever plans and teamwork in the world amount to mere inconveniences for Doom. As Sorcerer Supreme, Doom is at the absolute peak of his powers, and Ryan North takes full advantage, crafting some of the most awe-inspiring and terrifying Doom moments in the character’s 60-year history.
With one issue left, there’s no telling how this will shake out — and the fate of the world lies with Doom and Doom alone.
Suggested Reading:
Doom One-Shot (2024) by Jonathan Hickman
Rogue Storm #1
Oooh, this book is weird! Two Rogues, a ragtag team of X-Men, and a mad god formerly known as Ororo Munroe, aka Storm, the Earth’s mightiest mutant.
The world’s climate is in as much chaos as Storm’s mind. Wild weather runs rampant — deserts freeze over, the Amazon burns, and worst of all, Atlanta lies in ruins (I had concerts to go to!) Such is the result of Storm’s descent into madness. Which is why Rogue and her team have one desperate and tragic mission: kill Storm by any means necessary.
Enter Rogue, Iceman, Warpath, Gateway, Fantomex, and Akijin. They’ve been trekking through the frozen tundra of the Sahara, and their quarry is closer than ever. The only thing standing in the team’s way is a few cosmic (not the Silver Surfer kind) guardians. What follows is a battle for the ages and classic over-the-top comic book fun.
Murewa Ayodele’s prose elevates this book from superhero adventure to a tale of legend. He lends the story all the gravitas deserving of a god. There’s still plenty of human drama, and Rogue is at the center of it. Contending with an identity crisis of sorts, her mission isn’t just about saving the world — it’s about saving her friend and proving herself. There’s a lot of love for both characters in this book, and seeing them interact in flashbacks might bring longtime fans to tears. It’s all incredibly drawn by Roland Boschi and colored to perfection by Neeraj Menon.
Aside from all that emotion, the action is intense. There are giant, sentient war rhinos, after all! Iceman gets some fantastic moments as well, proving why he’s an omega-level mutant. The ending will leave you clamoring for more and wondering if things are about to get a whole lot worse.
Definitely check this one out if you’re a fan of Storm, Rogue, or deicide!
Suggested Reading:
Storm Vol. 1: Earth’s Mightiest Mutant
Storm Vol. 2: Thunder War
Unbreakable X-Men #1
Uncanny, Astonishing, Extraordinary — of the adjectives that have prefaced the X-Men, Unbreakable is the one that rings most true. Ten years into the future, Haven’s X-Men have seen better days. In Revelation’s new world, they’re adrift and few remain. Regardless, they saved the world, but the cost was steep — especially for one Remy LeBeau.
What comes next may be their most important mission yet. Deep beneath the Earth lies the underground city of Penumbra, a hellish place where the traitorous relatives of mutants are tortured in perpetuity. The god of this realm is waking up, and it’s up to the Unbreakable X-Men to stop it.
Gail Simone continues her excellent mutant saga, this time teamed with the spectacular Lucas Werneck. From the first page, you can tell that this is going to be a story of epic proportions. We find our X-Men in the midst of a stormy night with catastrophe on the horizon. Werneck’s art is superb — he throws the X-Men into a torrent of purples and blues. Every character is rendered perfectly, the colors and details of their costumes popping out against the rageful night. The action is top-notch, and Gambit steals the show here, fending off haints with all the style and ease you’d expect from the Uncanny Cajun.
Storywise, Simone delivers as always, laying out a heartfelt tale marked by tragedy and perseverance. It’s a story of love, loss, and just how low it can bring even the strongest of us. It’s not all sorrow — after all, new futures mean new possibilities, and the X-Men are still a family, one that’s grown in the years since we last saw them. New characters and new beginnings serve as a reminder that there’s always hope, even in the worst futures we imagine.
This is just the beginning of a story that cuts to the heart of what it means to be an X-Man and a must-read for X-fans everywhere!
Suggested Reading:
Uncanny X-Men #15 and #16 by Gail Simone
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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