Gareth Turner Comic Reviews

Chip Zdarsky continues his excellent geopolitical Riddler epic in stylish fashion as we see the beginning of what is sure to be an exciting climax.

Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jimnez, and Tony S. Daniel land the plane (literally) with a solid closer to a complex arc.

One of the most iconic teams in comics has returned, but this first issue doesn't feel like a story either was burning to tell. It feels tired, like they're going through the motions. Here's hoping it's just a slow start.

Batman H2SH remains a disappointing and confusing follow-up to the original 2002 storyline. The characters are reduced to their most primitive iterations, and even the art is unexceptional.

H2SH continues to be a disappointing followup to the original story from a narrative standpoint. However, this issue does have some decent art and the Macfarlane homage on the cover is fun.

Hush 2 does not hold a candle to the original visually or narratively. It's safe to say this has been a disappointment.

Batman #162 is a pretty terrible issue, maybe bordering on 'so bad it's good.' There's so much to laugh at and meme here, and Lee's art has a few highlights. Depending on what you want, you might want to pick up this issue just for morbid entertainment but I can't recommend it on its merits.

Batman #1 is a completely enjoyable story. Even if I wanted a little more, it's a great jumping on point for new fans. Just more Jim Gordon please.

With Batman #3, I still have this underlying feeling that Jimenez and especially Matt Fraction are playing it a little safer than what I would like in this run. This doesn't feel groundbreaking or exciting in the same way that Absolute Batman does, but it's solid Batman storytelling and I can't knock it for that.

Matt Fraction is exploring the same class commentary that Batman books seem to have been preoccupied with for the past several years. The new villain looks cool but doesn't have much else going for him and the story jumps around too much to be engaging. Jorge Jimnez turns in a solid looking issue but the story is lacking.

All in all, this is a brilliant opening issue that shows the creative team's skill in not only making an entertaining comic, but also intelligently exploring ideas about wealth, industry, and power. Not to mention some of the best art we've ever seen in an Elseworlds story. Do not miss this one.

If you're still holding out on this run, I strongly encourage you to give it a chance. While Andy Diggle is still unfolding the layers of this epic superhero mystery, he's clearly got more than a few twists and surprises in store, and I cannot wait to see where it goes. This is an issue so good, it reminds you what makes comics awesome in the first place.

As to be expected, the terrific team behind this book has delivered another excellent issue both expanding and fleshing out the world of the 19th century DC Universe. While some narrative choices raise concerns for where this story is headed and the Wonder Woman exposition dumb could've been handled better, you'd be hard pressed to find a more intelligent and well produced comic on store shelves today.

Batman: Gotham by Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #4 is still very much in table-setting mode four issues in. As long as your patience isn't starting to wear thin, there's still plenty to recommend this book on.

As long as you don't mind a densely packed narrative, Andy Diggle, Leandro Fernandez, and Matt Hollingsworth deliver on pretty much every level here and the titular Kryptonian's debut appearance is everything you would want it to be (and possibly more).

By this point, you know what you're in for with this run. Batman: Gotham by Gaslight - The Kryptonian Age #6 serves up more epic globe spanning storytelling and a heck of a climax in Smallville.

All around, Batman: The Brave and the Bold #8 is still struggling to justify its existence. Even with a couple half-decent stories, it overstays its welcome and fails to justify its inflated shelf price.

Anthology books are difficult because even one middling story can drag down the whole product. The stories in Batman: The Brave and the Bold #9 are mostly strong but a deeply frustrating opener makes the book hard to recommend wholeheartedly.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold #11 sees a fun continuation of last month's Man-Bat story and the return of two iconic DC legends, but still struggles to hold its consistency over all five stories. Maybe it's time to drop the second Batman story (which is rarely good) and re-orient the book as more of a DC showcase for lesser used characters like Bat-Lash, Sgt. Rock, and Wild Dog.

This is one of the strongest collections of stories yet. This issue shows exactly what the series can do at its best: provide a core thematic framework (such as dealing with regret and redemption) using a variety of eclectic DC comics characters. Or to put it another way: all killer, no filler.

This is a fairly enjoyable issue of The Brave and the Bold. While it doesn't hit any extreme highs, both Time Jerks and The Invader set up fun stories that I'm excited to keep reading, and there's still stuff to like in the weaker stories of this anthology. Just cut it out with the Batman-Joker obsessive trauma bonding stuff.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold #14 is bogged down by a convoluted opener and lackluster storytelling. But there's still some fun to be had with the continuation of Time Jerks, The Invader, and the innovative closer: The Evidence Remains.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold #16 is another mixed bag featuring two worthwhile segments highlighting the public servants of Gotham City and Metropolis, while finally closing out Nightwing and Deadman's confusing journey into Carney lore and offering a brief peek into Vox or Bumblebee's anniversary vacation. Just don't be fooled by Batman's appearance on the cover, he ain't here!

Batman: The Brave and the Bold #17 reinforces that uneven storytelling seems to be this book's brand. The opening Calendar Man story and the twist in Duality are just worth the cover price but the other stories are some of the least interesting yet.

This is officially the worst issue of this entire run. Beyond the art in the first story and some of the Robin's chemistry in the last story, there is almost nothing to recommend this issue on.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold #19 serves up a strong collection of team up stories as well as a frightening but familiar horror tale featuring Victor Zsasz. A major step up from last month on all fronts.

Batman: The Brave and the Bold #20 feels like they're just barely crawling past the finish line. This twenty issue series had a few diamonds in the rough, but sadly none of them are here.

Overall, Poison Ivy 2025 Annual #1 is an odd but welcomed detour to the main Poison Ivy arc. There's some classical storytelling and some really lovely old-timey art from Mark Buckingham. Definitely a fun issue.

The beats are undeniably familiar, and there are some major red flags that pop up in this re-telling of Poison Ivy's origin. Nevertheless, I have faith in G. Willow Wilson's writing, and I'm curious to see where the story goes. This, on top of it being one of the best looking comics on stands today, makes Poison Ivy #19 well worth picking up!

Wilson, Takara, and Prianto continue their strong run on the series even if the middle chapter can sometimes feel more like setting pieces in motion than telling an organic story.

The decision to split up Isley's origin into three parts and include recent elements such as Bella Garten indicated an exciting take on the story. Unfortunately what we got was unfocused, episodic, and full of repeated ideas and frustrating dead-ends. If you're unfamiliar with Ivy's origin or want to see a more in-depth blow-by-blow then this is a serviceable version. Otherwise, it's gonna be a no from me dog.

This issue moves the story forward in only the most incremental way possible. It's essentially a glorified plant zombie kaiju fight and not a particularly good one. I think this series is in need of a major overhaul.

A step up from last month, but how could it not be? If you're a Harley or Jason Todd fan, pick this up if you want to see them here. Otherwise, the plotting is still very much stuck in the mud.

The two biggest narrative threads we've been following for months: Ivy's struggle with her own mortality and her relationship with the impulsive and untrustworthy Quinn completely fizzle out.

Would Poison Ivy work as an anthology book going forward? Who knows, but this collection of stories is just what the series needed to get out of its creative rut. Plus, it's easily the best issue this book has had all year.

Poison Ivy #26 presents a solid start for this new arc with a few interesting avenues for G. Willow Wilson and Marcio Takara to explore. Here's hoping that it ends stronger than the last arc.

The central narrative with "The Order of the Green Knight is interesting enough and the art is strong enough to carry the issue.

Technically there's a lot of dumb stuff here but I loved the tree council scene so much that I'm recommending the issue on its merits. Marcio Takara, you are a master.

The Order of the Green Knight story is forging an interesting path forward for Poison Ivy. Here's hoping the payoff will be worth the investment.

Poison Ivy #31 comes back with a new artist and a backstory for Marshview in Slaughter Swamp. Unfortunately the backstory reads more like homework and the visuals suffer with the change-up.

G. Willow Wilson is stretching some of these plotlines out so thin, they can barely support the weight. But the action is slick and the art is fun, in other words: it's another issue of Poison Ivy.

Poison Ivy #33 is a return to form for the run, giving us a satisfying payoff of seeds planted in prior issues as well as an emotional exploration of Peter Undine.

Overall, Poison Ivy #36 has some interesting ideas but Ivy feels oddly out of character and the plot is moving at breakneck speed. This book remains on unstable ground.

All and all a very strong issue of Poison Ivy with Poison Ivy #38. The wonky character motivation still plagues some of the writing but there's some really complex ideas being expressed here and the art is absolutely second to none.

A decent status-altering issue that piques my interest for the future. I just wish Ivy’s motivations were a bit more clear and consistent issue to issue.

This comic is everything I wanted it to be. It's nostalgic and eye-meltingly gorgeous. Dustin Nguyen has done something truly inventive and unique with this art, and I can't wait to see more. A few narrative quibbles aside, this is a huge recommendation from me.

From a storytelling perspective this miniseries is a fairly rote and superfluous addition to Jason Todd's backstory, but Dustin Nguyen's wonderful art elevates it to one of the most enjoyable comic book reading experiences I've had this year.

Superman #18 is not a bad issue, but it's neither essential for the ongoing Absolute Power crossover nor is it accessible as a standalone story. As a result, while it avoids any offensive missteps, it also fails to rise to greatness.

Superman #19 is a beautiful issue filled with so much joy and fun. Superman is back, baby and you don't want to miss it!

This isn't the first or best Doomsday fight we've seen but there are enough interesting elements in the periphery to keep Superman #20 afloat.

Superman #21 is an incredibly uneventful issue with uninspired character writing but a single interesting breadcrumb in the Lex & Mercy scene.

There are roughly ten thousand plot lines going on in this book right now. Superman #23 is no different. The creative team needs to streamline the plot asap before the book becomes completely incomprehensible.

Superman #24 is a much better issue than last months, but it does ask you to suspend your disbelief quite a bit for the purposes of a classic comic-book-style reveal.

Hickman and Messina knock it out of the park here with another bold and unexpected issue with Ultimate Spider-Man #10. If you're at all a fan of the medium, ignore the detractors. This is something truly special.

Ultimate Spider-Man #11 is a solid if uneventful issue. I would like to see MJ be given some more depth and I'm eager to see the tension ratchet up as we approach the end of a year with this book. But overall, Ultimate Spider-Man continues to be a worthwhile investment.

Ultimate Spider-Man #12 is a brilliant Christmas present from Jonathan Hickman and Marco Checchetto, and a beautiful closer to one of the absolute best comics of 2024.

Jonathan Hickman takes Ultimate Spider-Man in a shocking new direction in Ultimate Spider-Man #14. Despite some narrative issues, this is not an issue you will want to miss.