Jacob Kent Comic Reviews

This issue offers everything one could possibly ask for in a superhero comic book: thrilling action, resonant characterization, superb art, and a profound sense of inspiration in its wake. Absolute Superman #14 delivers absolutely.

It is rare that a comic book series produces a perfect issue, let alone does so back to back. And yet, here we are. Absolute Superman #15 leans into the core premise of the entire Absolute Universe, which is a world where hope is smothered. It firmly cements Superman as the one person who can challenge that status quo as only he can. Between the moving emotional beats and the evocative art, this issue establishes the first steps of the new status quo of Kal-El as he embraces his role as champion of the oppressed. The never-ending battle officially begins here.

Jason Aaron has once again delivered a powerhouse entry in the reimagining of comics' most enduring superhero, proving exactly why the Absolute imprint is dominating the industry right now.

Absolute Superman #17 gives us arguably one of the most visually upsetting and disturbing entries yet in the series, but the darkness of the issue is countered by Superman’s inherent belief in doing the right thing even when the right thing is seemingly impossible. It feels as if every issue gently takes a step forward in making Kal-El embrace his role as this Earth’s champion and this latest one is no exception.

The future of Superman’s entire dynasty hangs in the balance - as does his very life - in issue #6 of Adventures of Superman: The Book of El. Continuing the time-spanning cosmic adventure that builds off both the Future State timeline as well as the epic Warworld Saga, a tight and concise, almost mythological story, paired with breathtaking art, spells certain success for fans of the Man of Steel.

Valiant heroes, colossal stakes, cosmic scope, and cinematic art to bring it all to life—and these guys aren’t even the titular characters?! The Twilight Court has truly earned its place among the heroes they emulate. Avengers #33 sets the stage for the biggest "Assembling" to date.

At the end of the day, even with my minor misgivings about whether or not the book lives up to the almost impossible hype surrounding it, it certainly is a book worth reading from a series that is very much worth your attention. Issue #800 of the Avengers draws us ever closer to what I hope is a titanic conclusion of everything MacKay has been building up to for the past three years.

Issue #35 of Avengers sustains the momentum Jed MacKay has enjoyed and manages to build upon it, offering a thrilling display of superheroic team-ups and power synergies between the titular characters and the Twilight Court. As we reach the end of this era of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, all signs point toward the conclusion of this well-regarded run becoming—as the classic adage goes—a day unlike any other.

Avengers #36 finally brings Jed MacKay’s several year run to a close and offers a satisfying and honestly almost slice of life ending to the Avengers. Whereas the last few issues were chock full of superheroic action and thrills, this issue is much more relaxed and feels a lot more personal as it focuses on the rapport team leader Captain Marvel has built with her peers, and by doing so, proves this was by far the right choice of tone and spirit for the finale of this run.

Ultimately, this arc manages to juggle superhero action, heart pounding espionage, and real world trauma in a way that’s exciting, tragic, poignant, and at the end of the day, gives you hope that while our institutions may fail us, that the ideals they’re founded upon are very much worth fighting for. I can’t recommend it enough.

Spiraling out of the wake of One World Under Doom, Captain America #6 takes the Sentinel of Liberty back to Latveria as the Marvel Universe races towards Armageddon in a thrilling new present day arc. Having to contend with various Latverian factions seeking to seize power after the disappearance of Doom, the brand new iteration of SHIELD from Nick Fury, and the sanctioned presence of the United States Government in the form of the Red Hulk, the newest adventure of Captain America starts off strongly with high promise.

Surrounded by soldiers of fortune, warring Latverian factions, and the machinations of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the United States Government, Steve Rogers reminds both himself and us who he is really fighting for in the pages of Captain America #7. Chip Zdarsky continues to deliver in a series that redefines modern Captain America stories without losing the timeless appeal of one of the oldest and greatest characters of Marvel.

As we march towards Armageddon, Captain America #8 puts Steve Rogers in the center of an ever increasingly desperate conflict for the future of Latveria in a thrilling and literally explosive entry in Chip Zdarsky’s ongoing series. This title sustains its high quality story telling and is a must read for fans keen to see how the next era of the Avengers and Marvel as a whole gets laid out before us.

D’Orc #1 is a great subversive take on classic high fantasy that injects humor in generous doses while subverting familiar tropes. This isn’t your typical fantasy story and D’Orc isn’t your typical chosen one hero archetype and that’s a large reason why this book has become a highly sought after first issue.

If you like wildly overpowered superhero throwdowns that still have substance to them and a focus on characters instead of just merely (insane) power sets, this issue is right up your alley.

All in all, this issue served as a prime example of what events revolving around fights should be: FUN. We can deal with pathos, long-term consequences, and character development in the main event series, but for a one-off one-shot featuring two of DC’s perennial powerhouses, this hit the spot.

It’s a one-off story that focuses on the Invisible Woman and unless this planted the seeds for Black Cat being a reserve member for the team, I don’t think we’ll revisit this as a key issue anytime soon, but it’s a fun not-quite-slice-of-life diversion.

The book opts to briefly recognize the biggest (and longest) Marvel crossover event in recent memory and double down on moving things along in a mostly self contained manner, which is a welcome reprieve from said event that seemed to drag on a bit too long anyway. It’s too early to tell and this first issue moving forward is a bit safe, but it has all the promise of an engaging adventure featuring Marvel’s First Family.

We still aren’t quite sure what Galactus needs from Susan Storm, but that doesn’t stop this issue from being entertaining and worth your time. Between the further development of the children of the Fantastic Four gradually growing as a team in their own right, a thrilling clash with the Mad Thinker to solidify him as a great mastermind villain for the F4 that isn’t named “Dr. Doom”, and some insight as to why Ben Grimm remains a benchmark for humanity and heroism, Fantastic Four #7 delivers on all fronts.

The Invincible Woman has finally made her presence felt and while the character itself has raised some questions that have yet to be answered, the pacing and story itself make up for any shortcomings as a result. Fantastic Four #8 finally gets to the heart of the Invincible Woman Arc and where it could go from here is anyone’s guess.

Imperial Guardians #1 trades the lovable rogue trappings of the most iconic iteration of the Guardians of the Galaxy in favor of a more serious and dour black ops team that is fighting for the galactic status quo instead of rebelling against it. The title is just as concerned with interstellar politics and schemes as it is about cosmic action which makes it a worthy addition to the long line of stories famed Marvel Cosmic architect Dan Abnett has given us over decades.

Iron Man #3 is practically perfectly paced and offers a masterful blend of action, intrigue, and character work that feels like we’re in the midst of what hopefully will go down as a modern classic. The theme of the issue is all about creation and Joshua Williamson, Carmen Carnero, and Nolan Woodard have certainly created a super entry in one of Marvel’s most enduring and beloved heroes.

There’s some satisfying comebacks in this final issue even if the whole series is asking readers to suspend their disbelief even more than they typically do in superhero fare. Visceral violent action on the page helps carry an okay story with an admittedly tired premise to deliver an ending that displays why Marvel Earth was worthy of being a hunting ground in the first place.

Superman #32 advances the plot for both the current ongoing as well as give us some great developments concerning DC K.O itself, effectively making it a must-read. Between Lois and Prime’s race to reach the Time Trapper with their newfound knowledge in the upcoming Superman #33 and Superman’s announced bout with Captain Atom in DC K.O: Superman vs Captain Atom #1, fans of the Last Son of Krypton will be eating good this holiday season.

Superman #33 checks off every box. It is a rare example of a book that continues a main series' momentum while simultaneously working as a solid tie-in for those only interested in the DC K.O. event. Lex Luthor may or may not have a soul, but he proves once more why his mind is something to be both respected and feared.

Superman #34 manages to hit multiple plot points and character arcs without missing a beat, which is always a challenge when your title needs to complement a big event without losing regular readers who may not be following said event. Even without following DC K.O., you can appreciate this book and then some. Between great characterization and dynamic art, Superman #34 once again reminds us: it is always Prime Time.

The odd couple of Lois Lane and Superboy-Prime deliver a satisfying conclusion to wrap up the Superman title’s DC K.O tie-in issues. Issue #35 of Superman has everything you can want in a Superman comic: thrilling action, dastardly villains, high stakes, and ultimately the hope that everyone can earn a second chance. Despite the Man of Steel not being featured prominently, his presence is everywhere in this title that reminds me what it means to actually be (a) Superman.

Superman #36 combines fourth wall breaking meta-humor, character depth and pathos, deep cuts from older DC comics and events, and a deeply compelling new, if not temporary, status quo for the title. Joshua Williamson’s portrayal of Superboy-Prime has stolen the spotlight since he re-introduced him in the series last year and for the foreseeable future, it is now officially Prime Time each month.

Arriving just in time for Valentine’s Day, Superman: Chains of Love is the perfect gift for that special someone in your life. Whether that someone happens to be a friend, a family member, a partner, or even yourself, it’s a gift worth giving—and certainly one worth getting. Packed with plenty of heart and even more humor, Chains of Love is a near-perfect momentary distraction from the heavy stakes and severity of DC’s mainline universe and the Absolute imprint.

The End 2099 #2 starts off strong, offering a proper blend of over-the-top action and enough character development to make up for the uneven first issue. While it suffers from having an absolutely wild number of characters competing for the spotlight, the book compensates with fan-service fights that actually serve a purpose beyond mere spectacle.

With some sort of fight or action displayed on almost every single page, The End 2099 #3 delivers the goods to people invested in superhero battles while still remembering to tell a story beyond superheroes from across time and space punching and blasting one another. The large cast of characters from numerous realities and timelines can be a lot to keep track of but the quality of the art and fun factor of the battles ensure the book is worth checking out.

As fun as it is seeing a bunch of characters who would otherwise never interact with one another fighting each other to the death, there’s only so much you can do with a story where the central plot revolves around a fight to the death. We finally move beyond that here in issue #4 of The End 2099 and start to zero in on how this event can likely be wrapped up, but with only one more issue to go, it’s hard to tell if The End 2099 can conclude on a high note.

This issue manages to not only stand alone as a well timed holiday appropriate comic book but also sets the pieces for one of the most interesting plot threads in the Immortal/Mortal Thor journey to date. What will happen with Magni inheriting the All-Power, effectively making him the Lord of Asgard in all but title as he turns down the throne (for now)? And what developments await Sigurd as he confronts the Serpent known only as Blake? That’s one journey into mystery I can’t wait for.

Beyond that, we are seeing essential supporting characters thrust into unexpected roles, particularly Odin and Loki. Meanwhile, Donald Blake—who has been a villain for some time—is receiving the crucial page time necessary to elevate him into the upper echelon of Thor's rogues' gallery. All in all, it’s a stellar issue from Al Ewing and company, who continue to weave a tale that the skalds of old would be proud of.

Sigurd Jarlson continues carving out his legend in the pages of The Mortal Thor #6. He faces off against one of the older and unassuming (see: goofy) villains of Thor that is actually incredibly frightening and lethal under this context. The issue is pretty direct and does not really move ahead in terms of big-picture lore drops or startling revelations. However, it has tense action and reaffirms the core theme of this book: you do not have to be a god or a son of Odin in order to be a hero.

With another classic Thor villain appearing (and another on the way) The Mortal Thor #7 continues the tale of a “street level Thor” and delivers intense action across the backdrop of a grand epic truly worthy of the gods. Al Ewing’s Thor saga that began with the Immortal Thor is still going strong and provides another entry in the current series that is, dare I say, worthy.

The Mortal Thor #8 tells an excellent and heart breaking story with massive ramifications to come. Al Ewing masterfully takes classic Thor villain, the Enchantress, and somehow makes her even worse than she’s even been in what is the most emotional issue yet in the series to date.

This issue doesn’t waste any time in advancing the plot, doing so about as quickly as Diana is hurling this rodent-themed supervillain through walls. That said, I think it is safe to say we’re about finished with “Mouse Man knows!” and “Mice have ears!” because I don’t know how much more of that the series can handle. I’m hoping we’ll finally get to see the story veer towards baby Lyssa’s transformation into the Matriarch and all that entails for not just Wonder Woman but her entire cast of characters.

It is for the best that we leave Moray Island and Mouse Man behind to look toward the future—however grim it may be for Diana, her friends, and her family.

The main creative team and their star take a momentary reprieve, which gives the book a nice moment to decompress alongside its heroine. Donna Troy, Cassie Sandsmark, and Yara Flor return to the title to carry the load away from their sister, which ultimately pays off for everyone involved. Wonder Woman #29 shows us that babysitting the child of the greatest heroine in the world is anything but simple in a surprisingly tender yet exciting issue.

With universally relevant themes such as the strength and value of family, coupled with the affirmation that having self-doubts is not a sign of weakness, issue #30 of Wonder Woman is a great and refreshing positive change of pace. It serves as a departure from the heaviness of the ongoing title as of late and honestly works as a sort of preemptive salve heading into the Wonder War itself. That conflict will no doubt put the greatest heroine of comics through the wringer once more.

Much like the entire run to date, Wonder Woman #31 will likely prove to be divisive among fans of the character as it doubles down on giving Diana a definitive archenemy going forward, not just for this run but for the mythos as a whole. It’s a tall order and the issue has some questionable plot choices, but the striking art and overall design of the Matriarch carry the book when it stumbles.

This book is a great addition to the tapestry of the storied history of Wonder Woman. Perhaps its strongest facet is the fact that it is extremely accessible to literally everyone. Whether you are just now getting into Wonder Woman through the Absolute DC imprint, have been a fan since the days of the ground-breaking work of George Pérez in the wake of Crisis on Infinite Earths, or this happens to be your very first Wonder Woman comic period, you cannot go wrong here. Wonder Woman: Black and Gold 2026 Special is a great anthology of the greatest superheroine in comics. It will likely be a strong contender for what single book I would recommend to anyone who wants to read more about Diana of Themyscira.