Michael Farris Jr. Comic Reviews

Moon Knight Annual #1 is a wild ride through time that is not only fun but also presents us with a moral what-would-you-do-in-this-situation quandary that makes this the perfect one-shot issue.

Big Girls blends a dash of Attack on Titan with stories likeMan-Eaters and Eve of Extinction while being wholly its own original concept. Fans of kaiju brawls and morally complicated stories alike can look up to Big Girls and know they're in good hands … probably.

Black Stars Above is grounded in themes that provoke empathy and familiarity while also managing to scare the bejesus out of you. It's only one issue in, but it already has so much that you can skin from multiple readings.

Bowie: Stardust, Rayguns & Moonage Daydreams is a triumph for Bowie fans and music history lovers everywhere. People who grew up watching Bowie take on the world will wax nostalgic and learn new bits of trivia, and people who latched onto Bowie after the prime of his career will learn all of the amazing ways he crossed paths with movers and shakers of the '70s and '80s and ultimately influenced generations of musicians to come.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Faithsets up some intriguing intersections for the comic Buffyverse down the road, but a bumpy narrative might make this one a bit difficult to have wide appeal.

Overall, Cloaked is sure to have its fans, and it is being released as a four-issue miniseries. I sense that passive comic book fans will enjoy the refreshed take on Batman mythology. However, comic readers with a pull list might feel they've seen this all before and hang up their cloaks after the first issue.

Compass #1 is a fast-paced introduction to a globe-trotting, Islamic-inspired adventure story that is sure to thrill fans of Indiana Jones, Tomb Raider, and Uncharted with its novel approach to a narrative involving a hero in search of an ancient artifact. While it's a little scant on narrative depth, there's enough direction and historical inspiration that it's sure to immediately win some loyal fans.

Count Crowley: Reluctant Midnight Monster Hunter might have a few bumps along the way, but the retro monster tale straight out of your VCR is a fantastic and original love-letter to classic horror that freaks and ghouls alike will enjoy.

Overall, its pretty enjoyable to watch this zombie takeover of the DC Universe. DCeased bites right into your fears and promises to be a fun seriesfor the living and the dead.

I'll say it again: I was not prepared for Echolands, and I hope you aren't either. This book refuses to be defined in an easy-to-label way, yet, despite the risks, it has an engaging story at its heart that could flit about in any direction that our heroine takes. This ambitious book has all the makings of being an industry-defining moment in time, and we're lucky to finally be here for this decades-long project.

Charles Soule and Ryan Browne are a match made in heaven, and Eight Billion Genies further solidifies that truth. Sadly, this miniseries comes in about 7,999,999,992 issues short of the titular number. If I had one wish, it would be Soule and Brown comics forever.

Eve is an unapologetic warning about a possible future but is presented as a story full of hope and heart. While there are certainly some hitches to this first issue, our hero and her button-eyed companion make this a hero's journey worth checking out.

All in all, this is a book that is well-deserving of the title Excellence. In this first issue, we are introduced to the complicated familial relationship that is sure to blow up around the powder-keg that is Thomass well-thought out world building. It may be a world where people can use magic, but the obstacles they face are all-too real.

Frankenstein Undone is a worthy successor to the classic book full of complicated philosophical questions, heartbreak, and great art that carry the story. It's a must-have for Hellboy fans and newcomers alike.

All in all, this first issue of Geiger is an efficient introduction to a post-apocalyptic landscape that doesn't get lost in the wasteland of other comics that run in a similar vein. The world-building sets us up for many intriguing conflicts that could turn into an explosively fun ride.

Ghost Cage packs a nuclear punch with a video-game style story, lovable characters, and retro-style art that make this double-sized issue feel like a wind-powered breeze. With only two more issues in store for this mini-series, it's time to crank up your pull list (and your '90s thrash metal) to 11 for plenty of “Ohm-my-gosh” surprises.

Ghost-Spider #1 sets up a lot of external and internal conflict for Gwen Stacy which might not be what she's looking for, but it's exactly what we as the readers are here for. It's a fun read for all ages, especially those of you returning to school or college.

All in all, this book is built on a familiar foundation and made Harley Quinn's backstory a lot stronger. While it easily could have been washed away into mediocrity by simply giving us more details about her backstory, eji wisely helps us get into her head and focuses on the nature and nurture side of Harleen to where we can see how she descends into her psychotic identity as Harley Quinn. It's a fascinating character study which I eagerly anticipate to continue, but don't get too close — you just might end up losing your sanity with her.

Hawkeye: Freefall #1 is a worthy return to Clint Barton as Hawkeye. It's got a quiverfull of humor to spare with a dash of identity crisis undertones, a beautiful mess of a situation, and art that will delight and surprise fans. It's worth multiple reads from one issue alone, which, for fans of recent Hawkeye comics, means it hits the bullseye.

Heart Attack has a lot of the right elements for an engaging sci-fi story about love and overcoming oppression, but unfortunately, the ingredients leave a bland taste. It ends up feeling like a variation on X-Men that fails to capture one of the greatest strengths of the X-Men: likeable characters.

I Breathed a Body delivers a modern-day parable that is relevant to our social media-saturated culture that injects all-too-believable horror into headlines of today. Also, once you've read this through once, do yourself a favor and read the first four pages again.

Karmen evokes the perfect mixture of child-like playfulness and bittersweet darkness la Guillermo del Toro and Image's Ice Cream Man. Fantastical artwork and complicated leads make this worth being a part of your universe.

For a story that includes fish-men and bartenders with upside-down heads (or is it our heads that are upside-down?), this book is overwhelmingly human. The existential struggle is masterfully paired with the all-too-common questions of why we get caught in a vicious cycle of harming ourselves and our loved ones. Through it all, there is a slight glimmer of hope peeking through — possible redemption for Denis's inner demons and escape from Nowhere itself.

Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen have been given their turn with the vampiric conch, and the resulting Little Monsters #1 is sure to be another classic. While the debut issue primarily spends its time introducing the large cast, the tension and surprises give readers more than enough to sink their teeth into.

Locke & Key/Sandman: Hell and Gone #1 is every bit the amazing crossover event that you'd expect from two of comics' finest universes. Hill and Rodriguez have set up a story that perfectly blends the worlds of many beloved characters. It's the stuff that dreams are made of.

Lucky Devil #1 certainly hits with a lot of the same punches we've grown to love from Fight Club, but the best is yet to come. With his newly-acquired powers–and enemies–Stanley's journey in Lucky Devil promises to be a hell of a ride.

The Mother of Dragons has traded in her fire-breathing lizards for Madness but, unfortunately, fails to take flight. While there were brief glimpses of meaningful storytelling, M.O.M.: Mother of Madness #1 leaves the madness behind in favor of blandness.

Mazebook #1 is a poignant exploration of the listless feelings of loss that, at the same time, sets us up for a harrowing journey in future issues. Lemire masterfully lures you into the corridors of emotional agony before stunning you with a twist that reminds you why you invested–and will continue to invest–in this series.

Overall, Moon Knight: Black, White, and Blood is an entertaining, sometimes frustrating, definitely maddening experience. I'm not sure how much appeal there is for anyone who's not particularly a fan of the character, but I wonder if that number has shrunk just a tad after the TV show. Regardless, you're not missing much if you pass on this book, but you'll find some rewards if you pick it up. Especially if you get a dope variant cover.

Nocterra goes up against a bevy of comics vying to satisfy our dystopian survival story itch. An intriguing Death Stranding-meets-The Mist-plunged-in-darkness premise, aided by empathetic characters on an epic quest, makes this comic a bright spot on the pull list.

Ordinary Gods #1 is an excellently-paced debut issue that blends ideas from The Wicked + The Divine and The Bourne Identity into a wholly unique adventure that is sure to be an instant fan-favorite. Our introduction to the world and the characters is near divinely-inspired, and I eagerly anticipate the following issues to see how this universe will expand and how our godlike prisoners decide the fate of humanity.

Parasomnia #1 feels like a good dream–only a dream that wasn't good enough that you can remember clearly. Perhaps introducing this as a “zero” instead of a “one” might have helped the hazy story this issue introduced, but I have faith the creative team can turn it around for the second issue. The pitfall there, of course, is that many readers might have already woken up and moved on with their day.

Protector sets its ambitions high with its detailed world-building and equally detailed art, but ultimately, it sacrifices character development and a compelling narrative along the way.

Zdarsky opts to go the one-man show route with Public Domain (even going so far as to write the solicit), obviously because when the movie gets made, he gets all the glory (and money). Until then, we readers are stuck with a brilliant debut issue that is grounded in character work that is equal parts hilarious and melancholy. Don't wait until this hits public domain; support the arts and the artist and add it to your pull list!

Punk Mambo promises to be a thrilling supernatural ride through Voodoo culture with a hard-living Londoner to guide us. Fans of series like Punk's Not Dead, Hellblazer, and Sandman will find a story that stands up on its own studded leather boots.

Overall,Rangers of the Divide provides a fun, engaging universe that should appeal to fans of stories like Avatar and Attack on Titan. There may be a few bumps on our dragon-fueled ride, but the tension introduced in this first issue makes this worth checking out.

You may have a good idea for a story, but, if your characters aren't immediately accessible, it's a hard-sell to keep reading forthcoming issues of a comic. Resonant #1 builds on a firm foundation with strong characters attached to a haunting premise about what would happen if humanity finally lost all control. I'm absolutely sold on this series after one issue and can't wait to keep reading.

Shadow Service is a witch's brew that blends a little Jessica Jones, a dash of Charmed, a pinch of Ratatouille, and leaves us with a cauldron full of a dark, weird, and wild story that is sure to have readers awaiting to see what the creative team conjures up for the next issue.

Something is Killing the Children #1 has all the right elements of a perfect horror story. You'd be hard-pressed to find any fault with the characters, the premise, the narrative flow, and the artwork. It's got all the right ingredients to make you scared enough to want more.

All in all, it wasn't a bad book, but with the amount of positives, it felt like the story and the characters deserved a lot more than they were given. I'm hoping issue #2 provides a clearer divide of what makes this story unique as opposed to a story that has been rehashed a thousand times … but maybe with less beautiful skin.

Star Wars: TIE Fighter promises to be an engaging mini-series that makes us face the fact that maybe those TIE pilots aren't so different from us. This first issue presents a lot of high-stakes drama that I can't wait to see unfold in the next issue.

Starhenge #1 is nothing if not ambitious, and while there is much to digest in this first issue, there is much more promised that will bring this sci-fi, Arthurian epic into focus. While some readers might not have the patience to stick it out, there are sure to be spellbound fans eager to summon the following issues into their collection.

Image Comics gives us yet another powerful, emotive wordless comic filled with imaginative artwork and a hero's journey featuring two vastly different protagonists. Based on this first issue, I'm a little morose that we only get to suit up for three more.

Stillwater #1 is a gripping, mysterious start to what should be a fantastic series for horror fans. If that isn't enough to convince you to buy it, here's another thought: I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money, but what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you buy Stillwater now that'll be the end of it. (Buy the book; you'll get the joke when you do.)

Strange Skies Over East Berlin is a well-crafted, genre-blending story ripped right out of the history books and given a haunting sci-fi twist. It has all the makings of historical revisionism done right — I just hope I don't have to scale over an oppressive wall to get to the next issue.

Sword of Hyperborea is a treat for dedicated Hellboy fans and mythology nerds alike. While it may present some speed bumps for newer readers, it does a convincing job of whetting the appetite for more of what Mignola and team are creating.

There are way, way too many medical dramas on TV, but making a comicbooky medical drama with the Minotaur here and the two-headed man there feels fresh. The Ward #1 gives us a strong protagonist with a shrouded backstory that is sure to win the series a spot on pull lists. At the same time, the lack of compelling drama by the end of the book may leave some with the impression that this is a one-and-done.

White Trees is a very fantastical, and it presents a mature, new high-fantasy realm for us to dive into. While certain graphic scenes might turn some readers off, the themes of family and belonging are universally engaging.

This debut issue reminded me a lot of Abbott with historical fiction mixed with dark magic and fantastic art. Abbott ended way too soon, so I'm hopingTommy Gun Wizards goes on a lot longer than the former did. Ward, Kivel, and co. are on to something here that is as close to wizardry as it can get.

Overall, I feel that Vinyl is trying too hard. There's a certain point where storytellers are trying to wrap a tale in so much mystery that the ultimate product is frustrating and befuddling, akin to a thrifted vinyl record that skips and fuzzes and defeats the purpose of the music.

Wellington gave us a somewhat intriguing story with a promising start, but I found myself wanting more action by the end of the book. Hopefully, the next issue has less Wellington walking around and talking to himself and more character-driven monster hunts. I know this team is capable; I just didn't see it here in the debut issue.

While What If…Miles Morales #1 sparks a fun concept, it doesn't inspire any new ideas beyond insert-this-name-into-this-costume. You can only take an entertaining idea so far without an emotional core or dramatic tension, and this issue has neither.

What's the Furthest Place from Here is a wild, music-infused ride through a pubescent post-apocalypse that is sure to take a primary spot on your pull list. The band is back together with Boss and Rosenberg, and this twist-filled yarn ain't nothing but a good time.