Donovan Kemp Comic Reviews

Punisher #9 is a good issue. However, it loses a few points because Frank, in his own book, doesn’t move the story along. Lots of cool things happen around him that he only reacts to and/or has to catch up with. Plus, he does not say a word in this issue. It seems like characters come into his book and do more for the story than he does. The art is still really good. Soares keeps Frank looking like Romita Jr’s design, and it’s really nice. He also draws the other characters well. The action is energetic and makes for very cool panels. Trindade’s dynamic inks make the art much more expressive. Rosenberg’s colors are wonderfully bold. She always knows how to highlight the characters and make them pop off the page!

Punisher Vs. The Amazing Spider-Man #4 continues to be an exciting story set in these characters’ pasts. This issue replaces the blockbuster action with an interesting exchange between the titular characters. Abnett has incredible dialogue, great character voices, and very dynamic chemistry between them. The art team always makes this book so full of energy with the character designs and colors. I know Peter won’t let Frank punish him like he wants to, but I still hope Frank gets him some next issue. I will accept nobody dying if I can still have a shootout. I am very happy with how this book is turning out, and dare I say it is underrated!

Amazing Spider-Man: Halloween Special #1 is a great showcase of Spider-Man’s character. I like him in simple, character-driven stories that highlight his compassion for civilians and his adversaries. Ireland understands this well, and she is joined by a spectacular team of artists to tell a fun story that stands by itself. This one-shot is an awesome seasonal story that should remind fans why we read comics. At the end of the day, comics are supposed to entertain. What’s not entertaining about Spidey shooting candy and spiders out of his webshooters?

Wade Wilson: Deadpool #9 does a good job balancing the story with action. The penultimate issue of ‘Big Guns’ needed some fire under it, and it got it. Percy is keeping a strong, emotional story at the core of this frenzied crossover event. The art team always comes through within these pages, and they’re making this book one of my favorites. As a whole, I will say this book has the stronger issues in this crossover with Punisher. It surprises me to say that, considering, to me, I didn’t think Percy writing Wade would surpass him writing Frank.

Wolverine: Paradise #1 is a stylized story I wasn’t expecting. A Wolverine book set in Miami in the 80s gives Panosian the chance to put all of the energy/vibes/aesthetics of that time period into a superhero book. I really like that this book has a singular vision, so there’s complete synergy between the writing and the art. I am really glad I picked this up because it seems to be a tight story that’s told in the world of superheroes. And I cannot think of a flashier time than the 80s and a sweeter setting than Miami.

I'm really happy with The Demon #1. Harren has a distinct art style that serves the world of The Demon well. The protagonist’s conflict is very clear, though the antagonist’s conflict could be more explicit. The new line of books DC is putting out seems fairly friendly to new readers, and this book is no exception. This is a good showcase of what beings exist in the greater DC Universe. I can only speak for myself, but this makes me want to go back and read earlier books of the Demon, at least just for the art. I cannot wait to see what unfolds in this book.

I want to keep enjoying Alien vs. X-Men. I will continue reading this, but I hope my gaps in knowledge of the different members of the X-Men or X-adjacent characters in general won’t take me out of this story. As I said before, it is a huge blockbuster crossover that, at the very least, would just be pretty to look at. I do like how it is just a simple crossover that won’t seem to impact the Marvel universe as we know it.

Do A Powerbomb is a love letter to professional wrestling. It has all the pageantry, all the emotion, and all the action that people watch in arenas or on television around the world. This just happens to be in comic book form. I was already a wrestling fan before reading this, but I truly don’t think you have to be one to enjoy this story. Johnson creates a beautiful story around a spectacular atmosphere like pro wrestling. The black-and-white coloring is my only personal nitpick. I am an admirer of black-and-white comics, but I like colors because they give another artist the chance to showcase their talent. And they make things clearer on the pages. This book is amazing regardless. If you like black-and-white, that’s okay. If you like color, that’s still okay.

Punisher Vs. The Amazing Spider-Man #3 is a book that needs more eyes on it. Abnett continues to prove he knows how to write Punisher and Spider-Man. The pairing makes this book full of talking points you can really sink your teeth into. López and Rosenberg are a good duo for the art. López has a great eye for character and emotion, and Rosenberg makes everything so clear and distinct with her use of color. Please read this book! It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it gives us an entertaining story with a bigger conversation around it about how superheroes are effective.

Punisher #8 is a decent read. It has a clear beginning, middle, and end. The art is good, and the story progresses. It’s just a little disappointing that the Punisher doesn’t take up much space in a Punisher book. Percy does a fine job of making Wade a thorn in the side of Frank, but it sours my reading knowing that Wade took over Frank’s book without a fight. It would’ve been fun to keep Wade in the narration, but only to have him cut off Frank or mess with him in another meta way. I just need Frank to show life in his own book.

I’ve been enjoying the thrill ride that is Wade Wilson: Deadpool, and issue 8 is no exception. I’ve said it before, but I’m seeing a different side of Percy’s writing in how he handles Wade, and I love it. I’ve only read his books with brooding characters like Ghost Rider, Wolverine, and Punisher. Deadpool is a nice addition while still keeping the frenzied action of his earlier work. I am excited to see how he handles the relationship between Wade and Frank, considering both of his characters he is currently writing are crossing over. This is looking into the future, but I am also very excited to see him write Bullseye in this arc.

Do A Powerbomb: Black & White #2 is even better than the first issue. The world that Johnson is creating is built on amazing character work, deeply personal storytelling, and exceptional art. Reading every issue that comes out makes me much more validated in my passion for wrestling. I still watch it monthly for every big event, which means I don’t get the full story of the program, but that means the wrestling can tell me the story instead. My only hangup is how much better this book can be in color. Johnson does well making the inks clear and solid, but I think color rounds out comic books so well. It would certainly make some big moments in this issue much bigger. This is great, but I think color could make it better.

Punisher vs The Amazing Spider-Man #2 continues to ramp up the banter between the titular characters as well as the ongoing discussion over superhero effectiveness. The action sequences are good for showcasing the differences between these characters, as well as anticipation for the next issue. That said, the book could benefit from letting the action breathe instead of starting or ending the book in the middle of a fight. The art is good too. López creates a very nice look at this world, and Rosenberg makes it beautiful with her colors.

Wade Wilson: Deadpool #7 is another issue where Percy shows he can write outrageous stories for Deadpool while also adding the emotional weight he is known for. Match that with awesome art from Lins and spectacular colors from Sinclair, and you get an entertaining issue of crazy antics with a little bit of heart. I'm really glad I got introduced to this book. It introduced me to Lins’s art, whom I will now look for in my weekly comics. I like the look of his art style.

What if…? Spider-Man (2026) shows Kraven surviving his last hunt. J.M. DeMatteis delivers another emotional story paired with art and colors that are a wonderful alternative to the original. This particular issue was not made with the intention to bait readers with nostalgia, but to deliver another character-driven story asking if there is more to Kraven’s Last Hunt. I think there is, and DeMatteis did well taking us down the same journey, but through a different path.

Dread The Hall H (2026) was an entertaining anthology comic full of meta references and commentary on fandom as a whole. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this entire book multiple times to scan through the different stories for any jokes, references, or cosplays I might have missed in previous readthroughs. That said, I must be honest in saying I have never attended a convention. Although I would love to see a writer, actor, comic artist, etc, that I am a fan of, it seems like such a huge commitment. It might be my anxiety about crowds and situations I can’t control. I think the bigger reason is that my passion or knowledge of my fandoms could seem fraudulent to some people. I consume what I like and am interested in, but I don’t like everything. I just like what I like. And I let others like what they like. I will say if you don’t like something, you can criticize it. However, criticism is not the same thing as hate; hateful behavior has no place in fandom.

Punisher vs. The Amazing Spider-Man #1 is an enjoyable read with nice art. Personally, I still cannot get over how good the writing is, especially the narration. I love how Abnett writes Punisher in this.