ShawnFoles Comic Reviews

For me, I loved the combination of modern and historical. The artists really got a chance to show their range through the vibrant "modern colors and the limited and subdued palette of the historical flashback.

What a great way to celebrate 800 issues of Avengers. MacKay and Bendis both craft stories worth reading with each author's partners on the visual side bringing life to their words. That said, the story may not be for everyone. MacKay's story in issue #34 feels like a reminiscence on his time as Avengers writer, and for readers hoping for huge action sequences to drive the story forward, they may not be satisfied with this issue. I, however, loved it.

MacKay is on a generational run when it comes to writing. Every single series MacKay has touched has been an absolute pleasure to read and Avengers is no exception. These final few issues feel like a reflection on not only MacKay's Avengers run but the entire 800+ issue history of the Avengers and what they have meant to comic book fans around the globe. With MacKay's writing you get what you expect and always so much more.

Overall I’ve enjoyed this run. MacKay’s Avengers run will go down as a modern classic in Avengers lore. The battles felt meaningful. In typical MacKay fashion every conversation felt meaningful. Ultimately this issue offers a satisfying conclusion. I can appreciate the creativity MacKay, Karami, Blee, and Petit showed in wrapping up this run while also preparing to leave the Avengers in new hands. Oftentimes in my comic experience, handovers can be disjointed or clunky. This however feels both satisfying and well planned.

This was a great way to close out the Battleworld arc for Marvel. The entire creative team hit it out of the park crafting an arc that is both satisfying and unexpected. With the Battleworld story, I got what I was expecting and so much more.

This is such an enjoyable Black Cat issue. I really like the growth I've seen in Felicia Hardy as a character in the last few solo series she's had, and this creative team is continuing that great work. Wilson and team really do a fantastic job of exploring the "no good deed goes unpunished concept in fresh, creative ways, using Felicia Hardy and Matt Murdock. The art has crisp lines and beautiful colors, and the lettering helps maintain the writer's vision through careful control of the dialogue flow

Black Cat, as a character, has really come alive for Marvel thanks to having back-to-back writers on her solo run who really grow the character. If MacKay is the one who showed us Black Cat has main character energy, G. Willow Wilson has shown us that Felicia Hardy can be just as complex and interesting a character as anyone else in Marvel Comics. Black Cat's growth as an interesting character with real relatable feelings is a credit to the marvelous work that G. Willow Wilson and the other members of this creative team have done on this Black Cat run.

Black Cat may be the best series coming out of the Spider-Man department right now. Wilson is a masterful storyteller. The story is not only enjoyable but continues to ask the reader to think on a deeper level through seemingly innocuous conversations between Felicia and those she encounters, such as MJ.

This was such a satisfying series. I really enjoyed the work that LaValle put into crafting this series. With the series ending, Black Panther: Intergalactic becomes a must for the collection of anyone who loves Black Panther. The story is unique, suspenseful, and high-stakes.

Zdarksy is really on to something with this Captain America run. This run of Captain America is setting the trajectory for the future of the Marvel Universe, and it couldn't have a better creative team at the helm. Through Steve Rogers, Zdarsky shows us that even heroes have to dance with the darkness of past decisions creeping up. We've gotten some new and exciting characters, and I can't wait to see how One World Under Doom is tied up and the stage set for Armageddon.

I’ve always loved Captain America but man, do I love what this creative team has done with Captain America. While there is plenty of action in this story, I love the world-building we get in this issue. Chip is building a Captain America that feels battle-tested. As much as I love Captain America, a lot of early Captain America felt naive and unrealistic. Chip Zdarksy’s Captain America feels more grounded.

I loved this issue. As a resident Doctor Strange nerd, I love that Landy is adding to the lore, but doing so in a way that future writers of the title may not be bound to. The introduction of scythe magic feels new and fresh, but the new setting provides a way for future writers to easily move on from it if it doesn't fit their vision. I can't wait to see where this story goes

This issue marks another satisfying entry into the story of Doctor Strange. Landy does a masterful job of taking advantage of the setting offered by the story to explore new magics, spells, and items in the lore and world of Doctor Strange. The buddy cop story vibe that is created between Angela and Strange has been a joy to read and watch. Landy has crafted my favorite version of Angela I have encountered in a comic book.

Landy, Fiorelli, and Sánchez-Almara are doing something really unique with Doctor Strange. Like any art, it won’t be for everyone, but the art, lore, and enjoyment added to the history that is Doctor Strange in Marvel Comics will reverberate far into the future. This series feels like the reins have been loosened and the entire creative team is free to play with ideas and push boundaries, and it’s worked so well!

I'm in. Marvel, you've got me hooked for the rest of the Dungeons of Doom series. I found myself getting to the big reveal on the last page and being honestly disappointed to come to the fan mail section.

I really enjoyed this issue. The Thing has long been my favorite member of the Fantastic Four, so I will always appreciate a story that shows us a little more about him. The fact this issue lets us see him as a husband, father, and friend gives us the best parts of Ben Grimm even as we brace for the impact of Galactus meeting with Sue Storm.

Overall, this is a satisfying read. It does make me want to see more of this team meeting up and getting up to hijinks, but with the fate of cosmic Marvel kinda in limbo, I’m not sure what’s going to happen. It’s a nice addition to your pull list that shows you a new team in a new way.

I really loved the horror feel of this comic. I love that we are seeing Magik and Colossus in mindsets and just existences that feel out of the norm for their characters. Allen's writing is top-notch, but the art team of Peralta, Hesli, and Maher do just a stunning job bringing the words to life. The story feels like a family history set against the backdrop of a modern horror story and I'm so here for it.

What can I say? I am a sucker for a good backstory. As I said before one of the things I have truly enjoyed about this series so far even though it has only been two issues is the story within a story that Allen tells.

As a Marvel Rivals player, I love this book. As a comic book fan, I love this book. The combination of art and writing works really well. The creative team created a comic that feels good if you're a fan of one, the other, or both when it comes to Marvel Comics and Marvel Rivals.

Ashley Allen gave Dani Moonstar an incredibly strong start and the proper introduction into her first and very overdue solo series. With a story as strong as Dani Moonstar herself, this was a slam dunk!

Overall, I loved this issue. The decision to start with the updated 1980's panels is, I think, a brilliant one. The only thing that keeps me from giving this issue a full 10/10 is the fact that it relies so heavily on prior knowledge of that Uncanny X-Men #251 issue. While Seeley does a great job of catching readers up, the "previously in and explanatory panels simply aren't enough for someone to jump right into the story without some prior reading.

Overall this is another strong issue from this creative team. Seeley continues to prove time and time again that even in the most familiar of stories, there is room to let the characters and the story breathe a little bit. The continued work of this creative team, crafts, a story that feels satisfying and fulfilling. Psylocke:Ninja mentally feels like when you’re seeing a puzzle that is almost completed mimicking the satisfaction you feel putting the last few pieces in place. Even though you could see the picture before with the new pieces in place, the picture is fuller, clearer, and more satisfying.

Boy oh boy WHAT … A … BOOK!! That ending is about as heart-pumping as it gets, and even after a bad a$$ issue, I'm even more hyped for the next one. War is coming, and it's going to be between some of the biggest players in the Marvel Universe!

Roots of Madness #5 is another slam dunk from this creative team. Williams, Cadonici, and Santoro give readers enough information to grow the narrative and tell more of Etta’s story without cutting the legs out from under issue #6. Issue #5 is satisfying in adding to the story we’ve been given, while giving you enough breadcrumbs to make you ready for issue #6 to drop tomorrow rather than having to wait. William’s ability to connect to a character regardless of genre is unmatched in the industry today and I can’t wait to see how this series winds down in issue #6.

Jenkins, Rosado, and Milla do an amazing opening issue with Sentry #1. You feel both the depth of the darkness within Bob but also sympathy for what he is dealing with. It’s rare to find a comic where the synchronization between the writing and the art is so perfect, but Sentry #1 is one of the best examples you’ll find out in the world now. This issue literally sent a chill down my spine as I read it, and I loved it.

Steve Orlando has planted his flag making his work the standard for Scarlet Witch going forward. This series is Wanda at her best. It’s been so impressive to see the written and visual creative teams match each other in both quality and content in every issue and I can’t wait to see how it ends.

This is another solid issue. Murewa Ayodele continues to craft a story befitting of Ororo Monroe’s character. I got a little bogged down in the discussion with the sisters during the heavy exposition, but it is nice to read some familiar locations and name drops, particularly those outside of the traditional X-Men lore. I can’t wait to see where this creative team takes this story from here as it continues to build upon the lore of one of the world’s favorite X-Men.

This was such a great series. I'm sad to see it end. Strange Tales has been setup as a great gateway for getting people into comics. It tells a satisfying story that requires little background knowledge of the characters and showcases how unique and interesting characters can be even when they're working in groups you don't expect.

With Street Sharks, Stephanie Williams and the rest of the creative team crafted a story that feels like a love letter to 90’s kids. This feels like one for the kids who grew up reading the comics and watching the shows and wanted to taste that nostalgia with a fresh look. If ever there was a candidate for a series moving from a limited to an ongoing series, this would be it. What do you say, IDW? Can we get this creative team on board for more Street Sharks?

Temporal #3 isn't the most action packed comic you will read, but it does such a great job in establishing emotions, relationships, and background that will likely play out in future issues. We get to see more of Marcus, Savannah, and Harper's family dynamic in a way that is relatable and fresh. I can't wait to see where this dynamic creative team takes the story from here.

With Temporal #5, Stephanie Williams book ends another incredible limited series run. It is stories like Temporal, that show it is only a matter of time before some publisher locks Stephanie Williams into an ongoing series and really gives her a chance to expand and world build. Temporal was a family first character driven sci-fi story and I could not get enough of it.

This is a really enjoyable issue of The Mortal Thor. I really enjoy the way Ewing writes Magni and Enchantress. This feels like a solid story while also building towards some bigger revelations and a larger part of the overarching story. The ability of Ewing, Cabal, Aburtov, and Sabino to craft such a compelling story was phenomenal.

This was a really solid entry in The Witcher: Blood Stone Series. I can’t wait to see where the story goes, but even with its page length, this issue felt a bit short to me. I finished the final page and saw the “to be continued” and said, “Oh man, that’s it.” Don’t get me wrong, this issue is outstanding and deserves a spot on your pull list, but I felt like I could have used 1-2 more pages in this issue headed into the penultimate issue.

L. Marlow and Francesco Francavilla crafted another successful entry into The Twilight Zone series. My only critique with this issue that kept it from being a 10 was that the pacing felt a little off. I may reread it later and change my mind, but on my initial impression was that the payoff occurred rather quickly after so much buildup and anticipation.

Hickman and Checchetto reminded everyone the reason that Spider-Man was the keystone arc of the entire Ultimate universe. This is not to subtract from any of the other amazing teams that have worked on this iteration of the Ultimate universe, but Ultimate Spider-Man from beginning to end is one of the most unique, satisfying, and ultimately gratifying stories of Spider-Man that Marvel has released in a generation. I genuinely want more from this team and feel sad that it’s over

The story has been really fun to read throughout this series. I've liked watching Marvel cut Peach Momoko loose to see what she can do with full control. It's been fun to watch someone whose primary medium is visual art continue to grow as a writer throughout the series.

I think Frigeri and Camp make such a great team and set up the tail end of this run so well. Anyone who has been paying attention knows that Ultimate Endgame beckons the end of the Ultimate run but Camp and Frigeri manage to create a comic that is insanely enjoyable to read, contributes to the overall story arc, and stands on its own even when it's not the biggest Ultimate release of the week.

Ultimately, the creative team crafted an outstanding opening first issue for a brand new comic. Harms, Mavinga, Loughridge, and Dukeshire are crafting a post apocalyptic world that contains the elements you are familiar with while bringing something new to the table. The big reveal of the main antagonists and their interaction with Violet shows the power of synergy between great writing and great art. I can’t wait to pickup up the next issue and see where the team takes it from here.

I said it earlier, but I'm enjoying this series. Even if you haven't considered Billy a full-fledged "hero, he's certainly one now after experiencing the all too familiar humbling of heroes. The last panel sets up significant intrigue headed into the next issue, and I can't wait to see what happens as Wiccan continues down the Witches Road.

I really enjoyed this issue. The action and the reveal of Nameless will obviously be the big story, but it feels like Wyatt Kennedy is weaving together several stories at once, and doing so beautifully. Yes, readers are getting the main story of Billy, but are also learning more about Baba Yaga, about nameless, and most importantly, they are getting a glimpse into the story of Billy and Teddy. I can’t wait to see how they bring this one in for the landing in the final two issues.

Overall this is a really good start to the story as we march towards Armageddon. It feels different than a general X-Men comic that features Wolverine. It feels more Logan than Wolverine even and honestly, I love that. There’s a lot of room to grow into Armageddon and what is coming but if this book is setting the tone of what we may see, I like where the art and narrative is headed