Jonathan Mullen's Comic Reviews

Reviewer For: Big Comic Page Reviews: 56
8.4Avg. Review Rating

This little side story to Cantwell's ongoing Iron Man run has once again highlighted the positives of this series. Character is key, and it informs each and every decision in the book. This series ultimately is about one man and his complicated relationship with his friends and his world around him, and ultimately thats why the book will end up talked about for years to come. This book has become the modern standard on Tony Stark and has absolutely brought him into this new Golden Age of comic book storytelling. Its nothing short of spectacular.

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With this being the 10th issue, Im going to say what Ive been thinking for the past few issues. This is the modern classic run on Iron Man. Its unique, tackles Tony Stark and all his complexities in a new way, and does it while keeping a sense of fun and hope even when this book deals with sensitive subject matter. All with one of the best art teams curently working at either of the “Big Two”. This may be no, this will be a run that I expect to become considered as an all-time classic.

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The fact that this series is still going strong after two issues with the title character not even present shows just how great it is. With a lesser creative team, this book would have potentially collapsed trying to deal with such raw emotional themes, but this series always manages to find some glimmer of hope along the way. For its depiction of mental health alone I think this book will go down as something truly important, and as an Iron Man series it continues to become the gold standard with each passing issue. Its raw, emotional, beautiful and painful, and every issue is nothing short of a delight to read.

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This is just a phenomenal single issue and I honestly recommend those who have struggled with some of the issues Ive mentioned above read this. This issue tackles a difficult subject matter, but does so in a way that keeps a sense of hope, and thats one of this books true strengths. Pick this one up. Its something special.

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If you like Iron Man, Marvel cosmic, and if you love Star Trek (given some of the ideas and imagery this book is playing with) then you should be reading this. Its brilliantly written, amazingly drawn, and nothing suggests that this book can be anything less moving forwards.

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If you like Iron Man, you should have been reading this already, but if youre a War Machine fan you need to get into this series right now. Cantwell clearly has big plans for War Machine, and given the work he has already done on Iron Man, were looking at the potential of some character-defining work on here. Combine that with the always phenomenal artwork from CAFU and Frank DArmata and you have one of the best things being currently published by Marvel. Were 6 issues in, and its quality remains at an all-time high.

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This is a nice one-off combining half of each of the greatest Iron Man creative teams of the 21st century for something really fun. It might have little in the way of impact on The King In Black event as a whole, but who really cares when you have Doctor Doom and Iron Man saving Christmas in what can be considered the purest and best form of comic book nonsense. It is a fun read if you love either character, and gives two people who have shown the best of what Iron Man can be a chance to collaborate.

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Okay, so this is the end of the first arc, and in the world of trade-waiting, some people wait until this point to check out a series. If you are one of these people, you need to read this book. This is a creative team working at the highest level to create a run on a character that we will be talking about for years to come. And thats not an if, anymore. Its a fact. This is easily the best the character has been since Matt Fractions character-defining stint, and Cantwell is already reaching the highs of that run. If this book keeps on at its current level, we might be looking at one of the best Iron Man series of all time.

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This is another really good issue which focuses on this books two key strengths, character and mood. Cantwell has spent the last three issues making us care about Tony and Patsy, and now as we start to reach the end of this act of the story, the characters themselves, rather than the action, take focus for an issue which is something I absolutely applaud. You dont need massive fights to make a comic worth reading and this book is absolutely worth reading. With Cantwell, CAFU and DArmata bringing their usual A game for this issue, its another easy recommendation. This series consistently breaks the high standards it sets for itself, and this latest issue is no exception.

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I wont lie though, Im frustrated. People who look at this and say the team dont understand Iron Man really annoy me. So let me be clear – Cantwell has taken Tony in a bold new direction, and it is exactly what this character has needed. Regardless of whether you want to blame the MCU or just Marvel not knowing what to do with him, this book in just three issues has lifted Iron Man from a decade of mediocrity. Tony as a character hasnt changed in almost a ten years, and in an industry that worships the status quo, Cantwell has taken a risk to change that. He gets Tony in a way that I think most fans dont. Tony is a man trying to be better but constantly fighting against his worst instincts, all while his background and intellect tell him that hes better than everyone else. That alone is why this book works as well as it does, and why this series is currently one of the best comics being published right now.

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So bear with me, because I know that what I am about to say might seem hyperbolic but if youve been fortunate enough tyo read any of this series so far, I doubt you will disagree. If this book continues with its current level of quality, we will be talking about it for years to come. Its rare to see a creative team not only completely understanding a character the way they do Tony here, but also understanding superheroes in general. This is probably my favourite comic of the year so far, and it makes me trust Cantwell and CAFU completely to give us the best look at Tony since Matt Fraction. I honestly cannot recommend this book any higher. You should all be reading this.

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If you want to start reading Iron Man again, start here.

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Its beautiful, its emotionally charged, and it feels like the end of one era and the start of a new one. Who knows what comes after this, or what crises lies over the horizon? What we do know is that regardless of the time and place, with things looking grim and someone coming to the rescue, no matter if its 1938 or 2019, the story will keep going. Because as a wise god once said all the way back in 1987 nothing ever ends.

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This latest issue is a one-off story, not connected to any event crossover or internal long-running storyline, so you have absolutely no reason not to pick it up. For me, its the best Doctor Strange related comic in a long time and I simply cannot recommend it highly enough.

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Honestly its a great start, with plenty of callbacks and references, and a scene featuring Starscream that youll (probably) be talking about for the rest of time. A funny opening salvo then, and hopefully a sign of great things to come for this mini-series.

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In the end, youre probably already on board at this point. And, surprising absolutely no-one this is another really, really good issue of what I can easily say is my favourite Power Rangers comic run to date. The end is drawing near, and, knowing this teams track record, its going to be one hell of a finale.

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Ill definitely going to be sticking with it for now, but Im still waiting for that one moment to reach out and grab me like the show frequently did. This is definitely a series with a massive amount of potential, and its going to be interesting to see if it manages to reach it in the issues to come.

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Okay, at the risk of repeating myself, go read this. If youre not then youre making a huge mistake. Its an insane ride from start to finish with nothing less than the best writing, colours and artwork in the business today. Read it, love it and come back for something even better next month. That pretty sums up the experience of being a Green Lantern fan right now.

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With this new team of Rangers, we're getting to explore new characters and new ideas and thats precisely what this issue does so well. Were in unchartered territory here, and were all the better for it as the back story for the Dark Ranger sets him up as a unique and compelling member of this team. Hes almost a metaphor for this new creative team and new era. Unique, bold, and risk-taking in the best possible way.

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An impressively strong start then, and if youre a fan of Buffy Id highly recommend picking this one up. Youll find the same quality found in early episodes of the TV show here but its packaged in such a way as to make it feel remarkably fresh and exciting for all of us whove seen it before. So if youre new to Buffy or you just miss it being a part of your life, this gets an easy recommendation from me.

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If youve been reading this series so far, then this should be considered yet another issue of the same high quality as you've come to expect. The mystery deepens as everything looks hopeless, all while things look to get a lot worse. Basically, if youve been enjoying this classic heros return then theres absolutely no reason to stop reading now.

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Look, just read this whole series. Right now. Every issue so far has earned a perfect score from me, and for good reason. Its just that damn good. Read this because youre not going to be disappointed. This is a creative team working at their absolute best to bring you something that is without peer at DC right now. Its easily the best ongoing series of 2018/19 and, quite frankly, if you love good comics, good science fiction or just good storytelling then you owe it to yourself to read this. Its an 80s 2000AD-filtered masterpiece and an absolute triumphfor all involved.

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This year has been phenomenal for Power Rangers fans. Shattered Grid was a truly spectacular story and a complete love letter to the franchise. But somehow, for me, this new creative team has surpassed it. Bennett, Di Meo, Baiamonte and Mortarino have given us the Power Rangers comic of the year, and with this first arc over, I cannot wait to see where they take us next. Even if youre not a fan of Power Rangers at all, if you like good comics, you owe it to yourself to give this one a read. Its truly amazing.

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Yes, Im being really vague here but thats because I dont want to spoil the great story. This is the retcon to end all retcons for a character's origin, but one which definitely makes sense as part of the story thats being told here. And with these revelations out of the way, its time to battle The Deathbringers, and that means going to a place up in the sky, not with a bird or a plane… but well get there soon enough.

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Issue one was so good but this" this goes off the deep end for me. I love some of this book, mostly Constantine and Lee Bermejo's art, but the rest of it makes me uncomfortable recommending this.

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This book gives us all some much-needed breathing space before the titanic issue #400 and with an ending that I dare not spoil due to how shocking it is, well… lets just say if youre a fan of Doctor Strange youre going to want to read this. Its a well written story with some of the best artwork Marvel is currently producing. Pick it up and prepare yourselves because next month, Doctor Strange hits 400 issues and nothing will ever be the same again.

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If youre a long-term Power Rangers fan like I am then you really should be picking thing this one up. This is a great final piece of Tommys story and a fitting ending to a character who has become the Stan Lee of Power Rangers. Read this and see how the story of The Legendary Ranger comes to an end.

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Look, this is the easily most important book DC is publishing right now. Its relevant, its thought provoking and its challenging. This is a book that isnt afraid to challenge what the DC Universe and our world have become. Its unrelentingly dark but in a way that works magnificently. If you only pick up one book from DC then let it be this one. This is the end of the Rebirth and the start of something truly special.

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Bottom line, if youre a Green Lantern fan then you need to read this. If youre a fan of 80s sci-fi madness filtered through the best of 200AD then you need to read this. One of the best writers in the industry has teamed up with two of the best rising stars in the world of art and colours to bring you something that is definitely worth your time.

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Just pick this up. If you havent jumped on at issue #31 then do so immediately. The writing and the art are some of the best in the industry right now and its all going into a Power Rangers story that might even top Shattered Grid. Read it.

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In the end this is a pretty good ending to the run. It takes the character on one last epic journey, and while it never reaches the amazing heights of the Underworld arc, it still feels like a good note for Abnett to end his run with Aquaman on, with the main character once again put front-and-centre. And at the end of the day, thats exactly why this run, and issue, worked as well as it did.

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This is the beginning of Waids massive issue 400 story and he has certainly kicked things off with a bang. Strange is on top form here as hes pushed to his limits, finding himself left with very few options as a new and lethal enemy closes in. Pick this one up, folks. Its only going to get more and more epic and we inch towards issue #400 in January.

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This is a really fun read, and with the next issue finally promising us some answers this is an easy issue to recommend. If you havent picked this series up yet then youve still got a chance to start from the beginning. Hawkman is back in a big way and he has never soared higher. Pick this one up, folks. Its a blast from beginning to end.

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As an end to this mini-series, this issue really works. But its not just the end of the mini-series, its the conclusion to what feels like many years of plotting and different storylines, and in the end, it's immensely satisfying to see everything coming together as well as it does here. Its the joy of a long running creative team. The book can set stuff up way in advance to pay it off later down the line. As such if youve been reading these comics for as long as I have then its no surprise that you should pick this up. Its a brilliant showing by this creative team that reminds me why theyre the absolute best at writing the Ghostbusters.

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This latest arc has been pretty good so far, finally answering a long-standing question from Stranges history. However, without that prior knowledge, theres really not much here at the moment. The context from reading Strange: The Doctor is Out! is pretty much essential, and even Kannas backstory is only covered briefly. Read it if youre a long-term Strange fan or if youve started reading this run from issue 1. For every one else, issue 400 is coming in January, and Im sure thatll be a better jumping on point than right here.

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Look, if you knew this book was coming then you already have it. But for those who somehow still are wary then please take my advice and just go for it. Grant Morrison has returned with all of his masterful knowledge and skill in this particular medium, which combined with peerless art and colours from Liam Sharp and Steve Oliff make this an absolute must-read. Get it, read it and prepare for a Green Lantern run that well all be talking about for a long, long time to come.

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If you need something funny or youve got an appreciation of the film then you should enjoy this, its harmless black comedy and thats pretty refreshing from time to time. It's not going to set the world on fire, but definitely give it a read if you want something to laugh about.

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Despite the fact that this issue still is mostly set up, this is a truly brilliant read. If you care about Power Rangers or just good, character-focused Sci-Fi then you owe it to yourself to pick this one up. Its pretty dark for Power Rangers but it rewards fans with brilliant moments for new and established characters alike. Pick this one up. Its the best Power Ranger related content available right now.

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In the end theres not much more to say that I havent already said in my previous reviews. This is really damn good, and if you love Ghostbusters then you owe it to yourself to read this. I cant say much more without ruining the final page surprise, so all Ill say is youre definitely going to want to read the next issue. Its going to be an epic finale as all this dimension travel has caused no end of chaos and, as we all know, its in chaos that she walks

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In the end, it's sadly hard to recommend this one as it's a tie-in to an event I already hate. I wish Scott Snyder would just leave talented writers in peace to tell their own stories instead of taking all the toys for himself. There's a good Aquaman story here, it's just sadly buried underneath a disappointing Justice League one.

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As Ive been saying since I started reviewing this book, you really need to pick this one up. But you especially need to pick up this latest issue. Its a glorious slice of Silver Age goodness, and with two classic heroes on board this arc looks set to tell a memorable tale for both heroes – regardless of what size they are.

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This issue to me feels like a mission statement, with a battle between Waids new Strange and the Strange of the Aaron/Cates run. What you knew before was great but its time to move on. Waid kills the old with the new in a way that solves longstanding questions from years ago and brings old characters back in new and very interesting ways. This arc is going to be good, so Id highly recommend picking it up.

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In the end you should be reading this. Its the spine of the current DC Universe and Its beyond amazing. Everything here is on top form and Im already waiting with giddy anticipation for the next issue as its pretty clear where the story is going to end up. Namely with a battle that will shake the universe to its core and provide a personal catharsis for five years of pain and suffering.

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Look, I give out praise like this very rarely, but even if you dont care about Power Rangers at all, pick this one up. Its a bleak masterpiece to set the stage for an emotional but hopefully rewarding arc. This is Power Rangers at its best and its truly spectacular. As a jumping-on point for new readers this is great, as a book for long-term fans this is great, as a great read for people who just like good superhero sci-fi comic this is great. Read this. Its going to be building on probably the best story in the franchises history to deliver something that truly earns the title Beyond the Grid

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This feels like the start of a very good and very special run for Doctor Strange: Sorcerer Supreme.

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In the end while this undoubtedly feels like a bit of a step down from the previous three arcs of Aquaman, it also feels like a necessary diversion after three long and dramatic arcs. This feels like a chance to catch our breaths before we embark on much bigger things much like Scott Snyder messing with as many books as he can so he can tell his Justice League stories. But thats a rant for other day. This is a good read, just one that unfortunately is overshadowed by the preceding three arcs.

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From the skilful writing to the truly award-worthy art this is masterful work. Give this a read because I have a feeling that we'll all be talking about this one for a long time to come.

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Ill say what Ive been saying since I started reviewing this series. If youre a fan of Hawkman then its amazing to see him soar once again, especially in a book written by someone who both cares and respects his mythos. I hope this book goes beyond this plot with the Deathbringers because this series is a truly good read and for any fans of the character in any of his forms. This is a delight to read, especially with this books future promising some classic Silver Age action.

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As I said previously, if you love Ghostbusters you need to be reading this. If you are a fan of Ghostbusters and you havent already started this series well, you have a lot of catching up to do. But either way, this is yet another solid issue by the IDW team, and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how this arc ends.

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If you enjoyed Doctor Strange in his solo movie or in Avengers: Infinity War, or if like me youre a long-term Doctor Strange fan, then read this. Were only on issue four so far so you shouldnt have too much trouble finding all the single issues still in comic book shops, which is something I would strongly suggest as this arc so far feels like a set up for much bigger events yet to come. Give this a read and see the true wonder of the Mystic Arts.

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With Aquaman about to become mainstream (pardon the pun) you should definitely get back into the comic books. This new arc, while not quite as great as Underworld, The Crown Comes Down or The Kingslayer, continues Dan Abnetts great run on Aquaman and gives the character the respect that the (former) King of the Atlantis truly deserves.

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I simply cant recommend this book more than I already have, and I absolutely cannot wait to see how this story ends.

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In the end well, just read this. You will feel emotionally drained after and youll wonder why you still go on in this messed up world. Its rare to find a book that understands the monster in us all and acknowledges that were not alone for having it. This book should be in your stack because in the end these books are important because these books should be celebrated, and these books should inspire us because we can all still fly.

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In the end its great to see Hawkman soaring again. If youve enjoyed Carters stories in the past then you should find plenty to love here. Plus, with what has already been teased for next issue it feels like its going to be something truly awesome to read. This new series is well worth a look, and would make a worthy addition to anyones weekly stack.

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At the end of the day, if youre following the Shattered Grid event then this should be considered required reading. If you arent already on board though, you should probably consider skipping this " or at least waiting for the trade that will collect the whole of Shattered Grid, because while this is definitely an improvement on the rest of the arc, its still sorely lacking when you compare it to the much better Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series coming out in between these issues.

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In the end this book is clearly aimed at those who are franchise die-hards. If you love the Ghostbusters and their history, then youll have already started reading this but if somehow you havent you really need to pick it up. Youll find what you always find with this team, plenty of imagination and an absolute love of the Ghostbusters.

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