Norby Ela Comic Reviews

This issue is the last installment for Scott Snyder & Raphael Albuquerque's story arc " Ghost War. Let me spoil you now " Pearl Jones killed Skinner Sweet with a gold knife in a fang fight. Loved the art and story. Great art and words supplements each other in each panel. Dave McGraig did a wonderful job with the coloring. Dynamic characters with a kinda love triangle revealed: the synergy between Pearl and Skinner. Around the end, it seems like a good closing story for the lovely couple Hank & Pearl. I just hope that I'm wrong about it. I truly recommend this book to all of you kind folks. Overall, this series hasn't missed a beat with it's success. And I believe it will never will be.

Archie #2 continues the great writing and artistic pageantry of the reinterpretation of the beloved Archie comic series to the millennial generation. Though Fiona's leaving (hopefully temporarily) after the third one, Waid's consistent excellent writing is the main draw to further explore other characters in Riverdale. What makes me intriguing here is Waid's radical transformation of Archie's best friend, which just happens that Jughead will be the main focus in the next chapter. This is something worth waiting (and reading).

Batman '66 is now my number two of the Batman franchise (Batman being #1). This made me feel like a kid again. Go grab a copy now.

Civil War #5 fulfills in the greatest sense, most of our expectations as a worthy "What If?" scenario of the previous mega-event hit. True to form, everything comes with a price, one way or another.

Daredevil #18 is the culmination of Mark Waid's four-year revolutionary run on the character that is now enjoying some resurgence in popularity these days, like Marvel's Daredevil TV series on Netflix. He closes his Daredevil tale nicely so that Charles Soule can have a clean slate on this handicapped (but superbly enhanced) attorney. Matt's profile is done, as what Waid originally intended and delivered. Samnee and Wilson's respective illustrative executions are equally exquisite and undoubtedly consistent all throughout up to the ultimate splash page that will become their artistic signature (and a love letter as well) on the guardian of the night. Thus, Waid's Daredevil will surely elevate as one of the most essential Daredevil runs ever.

Unlike the two previous chapters, Tyson Hesse's Diesel #3 takes a back seat of optimism, light-heartedness, positivity, and many comedic storytelling tropes and resorts to a more serious and darker tone and cadence. Moreover, the pacing is definitely slower, dragging the flow significantly despite a brief a "fiery" entrance of the book's new cast. And, upon finishing this one, I think the DIESEL series would not end in the so-called fourth and ultimate chapter, but continue in the second volume to flesh out and expand more of the world-building set up illustrated in the premier chapter. Perhaps, I can be mistaken there, and I will patiently wait for the climatic and deciding (?) issue.

This third chapter holds my interest, which is commendable because many midway parts are basically the least interesting or downright boring of the entire story. But the creative team makes sure our interests remain high and keeping our momentum to the last two issues. However, I cannot say this one is the most memorable due to the fact that is storyline is a bit clich already (father-and-son rivalry, and a family curse are nothing novel actually). BUT, this is still a great read due to the team's near-flawless execution. Unless with some of those who familiar with; the Southern dialogue and accent used in this issue can be a nuisance for some readers that demands a couple of rereading to understand its context. Other than some minor flaws, the third issue is a great link to the previous introductory chapters and to the highly anticipated final moments of the cursed Rath brood. Highly recommended!

This series is highly consistent in every department, though some of us are still having a little difficulty picking up the Southern dialect and its nuisances if ever; but that is considered just a minor problem. Jason Aaron and Ron Garney (and the rest of this great creative team) fulfills those expectations. Thus, onwards to issue five!

The timeline of this issue is basically crammed though the pacing is quite good to compensate. There are some terminologies that may be unfamiliar to non-Mortal Kombat readers though this can be solved by utilizing, well, the Google since this fighting game genre is well-known and plenty of respectable MK sites for proper guidance. Again, Mortal Kombat X #1 starts with a decent moderate pace, but with the familiar trademark MK violence and intriguing plot to feast on. I'm already excited on the other combatants in succeeding issues to come. COME HERE!!!