X-23 is part of Marvel’s Fresh Start initiative and the best relaunch issue thus far. This features a new creative team: Mariko Tamaki, Juann Cabal and Nolan Woodard. Tamaki is also writing Hunt for Wolverine: The Claws of a Killer.

This could have been a simple plot. Laura and Gabby are trying to keep what happened to them from happening to anyone else. The first part of the comic focuses on a fight with some baddies that possess mutant DNA. Luckily the comic gets more complex and unsettling. A plot involving the Stepford Cuckoos unfolds, weaving through narratives of birthdays.

Tamaki writes both Laura and Gabby true to the characters we saw in All-New Wolverine. Their sisterly love and interactions are evident. Gabby is annoying as always, eager and childlike while Laura is firm, but warm-hearted. The two share lunch together or a bed before Gabby falls asleep.

X-23 kicks off with a 18 page panel of Laura reflecting on her origins. The fragmented layout reflects the way she narrates her story in segments of births and deaths, a central theme of this issue. Next is a full page spread of Laura and Gabby soaring through the sky, broken glass and bullets hitting them. It’s clear from the first two pages that the art and coloring of this book is going to be amazing. And it is throughout. Artist Jaunn Cabal pays excellent attention to the details. Strands of hair, soles of shoes, the movement of broken glass, and blood are all illustrated. The details don't miss the server wearing a branded t-shirt that says XXIII.

Norwood’s coloring is fantastic AF as well. He does a fantastic job with the Stepford Cuckoos. They have a porcelain and glassy appearance that makes them look creepy in school. Also it’s dope that you can tell they’re wearing leather pants for their uniform. There’s enough cool little details to play I SPY: try and find a copy of Tamaki’s novel or a Wolverine phone! Cabal draws the more disturbing scenes with the Cuckoos in a creepy way.

There’s humor in the issue that isn’t overdone. This is a well rounded comic. The different narratives balance a type of body horror, action, and slice-of-life scenes.

The only thing lacking is the length of the initial fight scene. It it felt =a little too long, but the art was great so it didn't feel too burdensome. X-23 is a great start to this new series.

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Amazing Spider-Man #1 shows immense promise for Nick Spencer’s run on the title. Peter is cast out yet again. Through this fall he learns more about himself and who he wants to be. The backdrop of the story is an alien invasion. Peter has a cursory role in this. But, this is a chance for Ryan Ottly to draw a massive amount of characters and an awesome full page splash. One negative to note is that Peter looks like he should still be in high school.

The issue comes in at 46 pages and does feel long. There’s a lot of dialogue that feels slow or unnecessary. But it’s well written, and the characters feel true to themselves.

The character designs took some getting used to, in part due to the expressions. MJ at one point has such an ugly expression, it made me not want to look at her. But in general, Ottly's art is amazing, and I’m so glad it has so much room to shine.

If this is what’s coming up for Spider-Man, this run won't disappoint fans.

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Incredible start. Spencer and Ottley delivered a Spider-Man book that I wanted for such a long time. The writing is strong, the humour, as expected from Spencer, is incredible, and the artwork is great as well - Ottley has a very distinct style which works very well with superhero stories. And that twist at the end of the first story? This is something I've been waiting for such a long long time, that I just cannot explain how happy I am to finally see it again. more

Renew Your Vows is a fun comic that deals with non-complex clones. It’s a breath of fresh air after all the clone sagas Spider-Man has faced. This issue continues the plot of Spiderling confronting her clone. The whole family confronts her and a new clone shows up. The dialogue is smooth and the plot makes sense. The art isn’t outstanding , but the characters are expressive. But, there are so many panels with nondescript backgrounds that it can be hard to keep track of the action. But the characters are simple and cute, and the art serves its purpose. Mr. Sinister looks great due to the heavy line work of the comic and bright bold colors. If you're a fan, this is a solid issue that will keep you that way.

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The Kree have issued a demand, “join or die.” It’s less of a choice than an order that presents one possibility. The Kree have devastated the Inhumans. Meanwhile, Cates casts Black Bolt as a silent, ruminating King. Black Bolt is emotional and wounded, but resolute on action. The King is broken by the end of the comic.

The Silent King spends a lot of time thinking about Rome as Inhumans die and cities fall around him. This seems a bit disingenuous to me. It feels like Cates wants to draw a clever comparison between the fall of Rome and the fall of the Inhumans. It’s not clever. Cates spends so much time on this an extended metaphor.

There is a partial truth in the metaphor, the Inhumans are falling quick . The Kree have engineered Super Inhumans with murder as their only mandate. There’s little time spent on anything else. What both Cates and Ariel Olivetti do very well in this book is make the Kree scary. There’s an ominous tone to the book that works to make readers take these deaths seriously. The colors by Jordie Bellaire vary: muted and washed out. They work well with a book that focuses on narration.

I’m not a huge fan of the way Olivetti draws the Royal family. I find them ugly in a way that takes me out of the story a bit. But his designs for the other Inhumans are fantastic. Each looks unique, so we get more of a sense of what we lose in their deaths.

The big bad, Vox, also looks scary AF. His uniform is minimal with the same bolts on his chest as Black Bolt. He’s adorned in devilish black and red. For the most part he doesn’t speak, which allows him to be what he is: a killing machine.


Where the book fails for me is page after page of a solemn Black Bolt. The rest of the royal family fades into the background, save for a couple members. Death happens quick. So quick that it might hurt for fans of the family. There is no time to mourn, no time to make death feel noble. Combine that with the fact that this is as of now a five issue miniseries… that’s not a long time to say goodbye. If the Inhumans are dying, and staying dead, I hope we have time to say goodbye to these amazing characters and creations. more