Ryne Wiley's Comic Reviews

Reviewer For: Comic Watch Reviews: 31
8.1Avg. Review Rating

9.5
The Wicked + The Divine #33

Nov 17, 2017

The end of this arc proves, once again, while new questions are constantly raised and never answered, Kieron Gillen, has a masterful plan that will take turns never imagined. Beginning the issue with a twist that defies expectations, an even bigger reveal in its final pages inspires a dumbfounded awe. The execution through McKelvies art is breathtaking. The book is never boring, and always sexy. This time is no different.

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8.5
The Wicked + The Divine #34

Mar 19, 2018

In the dawn of the final year of WicDiv, the truth is about to come out. Revealing how it all started, while also giving the modern day Pantheon a new clarity, helps readers feel what each of the characters we are following feel. The beginning of this arc reveals just enough to keep issues flying off the shelf.

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9.5
The Wicked + The Divine #37

Jul 9, 2018

McKelvie's art shines brightly in this issue, and Gillen's tact for timing and pacing gets time to shimmer for a majority of the issue. Several huge risks pay off making this the best issue of the arc so far. Teasing only what they want you to know up until the big reveal it's hard to wait another month for the next issue.

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9
The Wicked + The Divine: 1923 #1

Feb 14, 2018

A playful mystery style novel plays out as the gods of the 1923 Pantheon uncover a conspiracy. The arrogance of the gods is overshadowed by the overarching head of the chaos, Ananke, as she manipulates the gods like puppets to enact one of her masterful plans. Still leaving plenty of questions, the one-shot feels as fun and sexy as its main series counterpart.

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9
No. 1 With A Bullet #1

Nov 15, 2017

The more you read No 1. With a Bullet, the denser it feels. There is clearly a grand scheme at play that includes social media, anonymity, internet scandal and online bullying. Nash is a character with a fully developed life and inner monologue that will make her an exciting character to explore these topics. The book feels so grounded in reality, the themes hit harder than many other Sci-Fi books on the shelf.

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9.2
No. 1 With A Bullet #2

Dec 11, 2017

The second issue of No 1 With a Bullet gets a little more personal. Introducing a culture that is a funhouse mirror to our own, we are given an in-depth look at how media and gossip can affect the individual. More importantly, we see the dehumanization of a woman. A subject all too many people are apt to ignore, Semahn pulls the ugly culture into the light and has no qualms about reflecting that mirror back on us.

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8.9
No. 1 With A Bullet #3

Jan 4, 2018

Shaping into a David and Goliath story, No 1 With a Bullet puts a woman against a culture. Our hero even internalizes the culture that snubs her but shows growth in rectifying her feelings and standing up for herself. In contrast, the men show their true colors in this issue. And its not pretty for anyone involved.

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8.5
No. 1 With A Bullet #4

Feb 13, 2018

No 1 With a Bullet never disappoints on its social commentaries. Acknowledging that much of the abuse in the book's plot is related to influence is a poignant aspect of the books themes. The constant descent of our hero Nash while her former boss seems to be on the rise becomes even more harrowing as we inch forward to an explosive climax.

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9
No. 1 With A Bullet #5

Mar 22, 2018

A shocking twist along with some of Corona's best and creepiest work on the title to date bring this one to the top of the pack. Defying a mystery that has been building since its inception, the issue reveals that things are not at all what they seemed. Especially if you think you have everything figured out.

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8
Jessica Jones #14

Nov 18, 2017

Bendis is finishing up what might be his last arc of Jessica Jones. It would seem he is attempting to go out exploiting the most interesting relationship in Jessicas history. The manipulation is authentic and intimate as a result of the last 17 years of character development with each character. They truly bring out the best and worst in each other.

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8.3
Jessica Jones #15

Dec 31, 2017

Jessica gets put under the twisted Purple microscope for a majority of the issue, but the cat and mouse game is far from over. The balance of power changes hands several times and the dizzying effects bring the reader into the psychological torment. Combined with some beautiful layouts that escalate the action, this issue is anxiety-inducing, to say the least.

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9
Jessica Jones #16

Feb 7, 2018

Digging deep, we are treated to a look inside Jessicas head. Always one to blame herself, she is put in circumstances beyond her control, and she resents it. Conversely, The Purple Mans ego is put on display. A character developing issue, its the strongest in the arc so far.

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7.5
Jessica Jones #17

Mar 8, 2018

The solicitation for this comic seems to give the idea that the storyline would be a bit different. While it feels like there was a master plan initially at play, it would seem Bendis' departure from Marvel may have cut this story short of its full potential. While the dialogue is still riveting and the confrontation between Jessica and The Purple Man exciting, the issue falls a little flat due to its ending.

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7.2
Redlands #5

Dec 28, 2017

Ever dark and sexy, Redlands is intriguing in its captivating storyline. Revealing our witchy heroes may not be on the right side of the law is starting to bring into question their true intentions for their little town. As the story arc ends, hopefully, we get a bombshell answer that brings us a little closer to understanding how all these pieces fit together.

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9
Redlands #6

Mar 3, 2018

A criminally heartbreaking issue, the lives of Sparkletown's inhabitants, both voluntary and involuntary. Creating real depth in these characters, their pain becomes real on the page in ways that can be hard to see. Bellaire does a wonderful job to make sure these characters are not judged, and to create sympathy for their plight, removing the stigma so often associated with these topics in our culture.

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7.6
Ms. Marvel (2015) #25

Dec 28, 2017

An entire issue missing the main character is always a risky one. However, with the titular character missing from all scenes, we see just how much she is needed throughout different aspects of her life. A well-paced issue that is sure to build into a greater story arc showing the true importance of not only the hero but of the girl herself.

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6.8
Ms. Marvel (2015) #26

Jan 16, 2018

A transitional issue in an interesting study of what Jersey City would be like if there was no Kamala Khan moonlighting as Ms. Marvel. Pieces are falling into place to create the ultimate climax, but for now, the issue turns into a lot of talking heads that seem to whip about at lightspeed to get to the action.

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8
Ms. Marvel (2015) #27

Feb 22, 2018

Kamalas friends are learning the hard way that Ms. Marvel has a gift for protecting Jersey City. Illustrating that it takes more than a costume to save the city, the tension escalates as one of Ms. Marvels old foes enacts his new place to get revenge on the hero who spurned him the first time.

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9
Ms. Marvel (2015) #30

Jun 9, 2018

A touching, emotionally charged story, the issue brings Kamala closer to where she started. While nothing will be the same as it always was, Kamalas maturity will lead her into her spectacular 50th issue taking her back to her roots and what makes the character great.

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9.5
Ms. Marvel (2015) #31

Jul 9, 2018

Fifty full issues of Ms. Marvel come to a head here in this issue and it brings together everything that makes the Ms. Marvel comics so great! Kamala's antics, compassion, love for her friends and family, and her super heroics are all on display in one big story that leads up to one big reveal. Will Ms. Marvel comics ever be the same?

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7
Ms. Marvel (2015) #32

Jul 20, 2018

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8
Sex Criminals #21

Jan 31, 2018

A fun look into what our sex havin, bank robbin, heroes have been up to as of late, this issue sets up the entirety of the arc. Normalcy and routine are a theme to the issue that will hopefully set up the complete opposite for the next several issues. The realization that life has come to screeching halt will surely drive Jon and Suzie into some insane adventures.

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7.5
Sex Criminals #22

Mar 2, 2018

Exploring the complexities of falling into old habits and memories, both our heroes turn to their pasts to solve their current dilemmas. But as they look back, they have trouble moving forward with their lives. Fates are crossing once again as Badal and his sex police investigate Jon, and as Jon investigates the sex police.

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7
Descender #27

Mar 3, 2018

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8.5
Descender #30

Jun 11, 2018

The climax is near and the future is standing on a pin. The personal decisions and dissonances of many of these characters are what will ultimately lead to what the fate of the universe is. With only 2 issues left, the conclusion isn't far off, and uncertainty is all around.

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7.5
Descender #31

Jul 10, 2018

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7.6
The Wicked + The Divine Annual #1

Dec 14, 2017

The Wicked + The Divine Christmas Annual is pure fanservice. Giving a glimpse into the earliest day of The Occurrence, we dig a little deeper into the characters we love. Seeing a few other characters get a more central part in their own story is a nice treat. The stories we often hear and never saw are now no longer a mystery. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

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6
Wild Storm #9

Nov 21, 2017

Probably the slowest issue of an already slow-burn title. Eventually, we will reach a climax that will be exciting and explosive, but to say this issue is anything but transitionary would be a lie. When 10 pages are devoted to only a fight scene, its clear there is not enough story to fill out the 24 issue arc. But those 10 pages are beautifully rendered, so if youre looking for great art, youll find a lot of it here.

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6.5
Wild Storm #10

Dec 28, 2017

While this is another issue of talking heads, we are getting a greater sense of the bigger gears at play and getting more foreshadowing into the sense of doom that will lead to the Armageddon of the Wild Storm Universe. Each character is getting closer to understanding their place in the machine but has yet to discover what the plot truly is.

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7
Wild Storm #11

Feb 1, 2018

The Plot inches forward ever so slowly. Again we feel as though not much has happened while a million little things march their way to the finish line. A brief look into why the treaty is so important is probably the key take away from this issue.

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9
Wild Storm #12

Mar 19, 2018

The opening shots have truly been fired in the war that will lead to the rebirth of The Wild Storm universe. As the complicated web takes hold and makes fools of all characters, Ellis' mastery of plot comes through. The best issue of the series to date combines action set in motion from the previous eleven issues.

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