Jack Richardson Comic Reviews

This comic book is definitely bittersweet and can be viewed as a fleeting “what could have been”, but the creative team make the best with what they've got to tell a deep and truly poignant tale full of surprises that are destined to make any fan of Marvel Comics smile.

Bleeding Hearts #1 is a really fun zombie satire that takes the overdone zombie genre and reheats it in fun and interesting ways. I feel that it's still too early to say whether this series will knock it out of the park, but, in my opinion, with Deniz Camp in the driving seat, we are in safe hands.

All in all, this is a brilliant comeback for arguably the most poetic and interesting comic currently being printed by one of the "Big Two." Comic fans owe it to themselves to jump on the Absolute Martian Manhunter train before it’s too late. With the first trade paperback—collecting the initial six-issue arc—having just been released, there is no better time to catch up on this psychic masterpiece.

Absolute Martian Manhunter #8 proves that the series has legs, and that those legs are strong. At this point all speculation about the series becoming an ongoing has gone, and I feel very confident about its future.

I think Redcoat issue 15 is probably tied as the best issue in the series so far, tied with the exceptional issue 7. Although a relatively relaxed and breezy issue, feeling more like a resting point to catch our breath and revel in the mundane for a short while, it also manages to deliver heavy emotional weight and payoff to readers who have followed the story so far, while also hinting at the future and not revealing too much of its deck.

Coming into this issue, I admit I wasn't a fan of Deadpool and largely found him quite annoying, but I really think Benjamin Percy struck the perfect tonal balance for the character and genuinely turned him into a complicated anti-hero in a thrilling setup.

Even though Geiger #18 is a more stripped-down entry in the series than past issues, it still manages to add enough emotional and narrative weight to drive a compelling story that really strips back who Tariq Geiger is as a character. Backed up by killer guest art that helps create great depth and atmosphere for the mythos of Geiger's world, readers are sure to have a lot of fun here.

I think Geiger #19 can feel a bit like a filler issue, and the absence of the series’ core cast is notable, but Ashley Arden’s story remains very entertaining and satisfying. I think it's possible to miss this issue, but in doing so, you'd definitely miss some solid post-apocalyptic fun.

Geiger issue 21 is another very solid and fun issue that is definitely designed for longtime readers of The Ghost Machine canon. That doesn't mean that new readers won't find something to enjoy, though, as I firmly believe they will.

While this is another issue where not a great deal happens, I think Jeff Lemire is definitely in it for the long game and is more concerned with grand storytelling than delivering an entire story in one issue, as this issue features some more hints and foreshadowing about what is to come. While I'm still unsure where it's leading, I'm hopeful it will pay off in the long term. This is either a single pull or wait for the trade paperback depending on how you view that statement.

I think Absolute Flash #10 is very easily the best issue yet, and I truly believe many of the seeds Lemire previously planted pay off to great effect. However, the series could still benefit from fleshing out more of the side characters to make the world feel lived-in. I cannot wait to see how this story continues, and I will be first in line to buy Issue #11.

In conclusion, I think Absolute Flash #11 could be the biggest and best yet, with readers finally getting a lot of answers and payoffs to plot points established early on. The issue also suggests that while the future may be very bright for Wally West, it may be much darker for Eleanor Thawne.

Is Spawn: The Dark Ages #1 going to set the world on fire? Probably not, but supported by fantastic, highly detailed art and set in a grimdark Europe filled with pagan myth and Hellspawn, this is a fun callback to pulp fantasy in line with Robert E. Howard and Michael Moorcock. Just don't expect any nuanced writing or characters that will blow your mind or surprise you.

I believe JSA #14 is a fine addition to the ongoing Year One storyline, although there isn't a whole lot to talk about regarding the greater story at play. Fun character moments and surprises keep the reader's attention for the most part, but you're probably better off waiting for the trade paperback.

In conclusion, JSA #16 is another fun entry in the "Year One" storyline. It continues to craft a fresh origin for the team, packed with Easter eggs and fan service that long-time readers owe it to themselves to experience. While the pacing remains a slow burn and the color palette can feel a bit stagnant, the character work and historical conspiracy make it a vital piece of the 2026 DC landscape.

In conclusion, I think Flash Issue 27 takes advantage of its tie-in nature to tell a fun Flash Family story that doesn't feel too encumbered by corporate synergy and more like it could be a regular issue. With the caution that readers who are new to The Flash may want to read up a little bit on his mythos, and some questionable artwork, this is a wacky adventure through time for Flash and Impulse

In conclusion, I think The Flash issue #28: Jay Garrick versus Guy Gardner is just fine. It is nothing groundbreaking or memorable, but it is also nothing outright bad either. Personally, I would not go out of my way to buy this unless you are a completionist who has to own all aspects and parts of a comic book event.

I think that this issue of The Flash is another fine issue of the comic, especially for fans of Impulse. However, I think that if you're new to the series and the characters within, you may find yourself a little bored with the entire storyline, which seems to cater exclusively to big Flash fans.

It's been hard for me to write this review as I don't really enjoy being negative, but I don't want to recommend something I don't enjoy. I'm hopeful this run will improve, as one issue feels way too soon to write something off. Here's hoping for a stronger issue 14.

I'm starting to warm up to this run of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles A little more now that character motivations have been explained a bit clearer. I still think it's a step down from the past Jason Aaron run, but it is starting to show signs of improvement.

All in all, this comic was pretty poor and easily the worst of DC K.O. yet. Maybe someone else will get a kick out of it, but I certainly didn't.

In conclusion, I believe Titans issue #31 is a pretty forgettable comic book, with the details of it already fading from my memory less than a day after reading it. Here's hoping the series' mediocrity is purely down to DC/K.O., and an interesting comic book run is on the horizon.