Green Lantern: Fractured Spectrum #1 Review

• Written by: Jeremy Adams

• Art by: V Ken Marion

• Colors by: Romulo Fajardo Jr.

• Letters by: Dave Sharpe

• Cover art by: Fernando Blanco (cover A)

• Cover price: $3.99

• Release date: January 15, 2025

Green Lantern: Fractured Spectrum #1, by DC Comics on 1/15/25, enters a new dawn for the Green Lantern Corps with a new status quo and a new sense of hope, but Sorrow has other plans.

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Is Green Lantern: Fractured Spectrum #1 Good?

Plot Synopsis

Green Lantern: Fractured Spectrum #1 begins with a brief prologue at the Library of Forever. A lowly librarian wiles away his days organizing books older than Earth when Nathan Broome, aka the Sorrow Lantern, arrives looking for a special piece of glass used for reading. 

Elsewhere, the Green Lantern Corps hustles and bustles as they work to get everything back in order. The Lanterns relocate the replacement Green Lantern Battery from Earth to Oa to restore power. Jadestone, the Amazo robot infected by the power of the Starheart, assumes a permanent role as protector of the Battery. The new Guardians, who look a lot like the old Guardians, are no longer in charge, but they remain on Oa as advisors to the Corps. Teen Lantern and Ellie, John Stewart's construct of his deceased sister, act as technical experts overseeing the new Battery's installation, and Jessica Cruz accepted the role as leader of the Council on Oa.

How's that for the lay of the land?

The story truly kicks in during Jessica Cruz's rally speech to the assembled Green Lanterns. When Jessica's words of encouragement reach a fever pitch, Guy Gardner crashes through the ceiling in a battle with Nathan Broome, aka Sorrow Lantern. Broome eventually gets away with a book embossed with the Green Lantern symbol.

Afterward, Guy sheepishly explains the book Sorrow Lantern stole was an older version of the Book of Oa the previous Guardians had since updated to the current volume. The book has a special set of instructions that, when viewed through a special glass, provides the plans to create a new Power Lantern. If the Sorrow Lantern gets the glass, reads the book, and gathers the components to build a Lantern, he would have the power to spread his fractured brand of Sorrow throughout the galaxy.

The issue ends with the quest to get the components before Sorrow Lantern or witness the end of all things.

First Impressions

Big, bold adventures are few and far between at DC, but Jeremy Adams aims to close that gap in Green Lantern: Fractured Spectrum #1. Leaning on everything that works in the mainline Green Lantern title, Adams sets up a strong premise with a clear goal, stakes, an interesting ensemble cast, and gobs of snappy personality in every scene.

How’s the Art?

V Ken Marion has the right eye to match the visual personality of each character with Adams's peppy script. The character acting captures that spirit of adventure the central quest calls for, the action looks great, and the overall visual experience is bold. That said, Romulo Fajardo Jr.'s color choices are first rate, but the blocky digital application lacks contour and smoothness.

What’s great about Green Lantern: Fractured Spectrum #1?

If you're looking for a big, adventure-focused story, Jeremy Adams ticks all the right boxes. You get a serious threat, a clear goal, an endearing cast of characters, and the promise of surprises. More comic writers at the Big 2 should take note of what Adams has done here and with last week's Aquaman #1.

What’s not great about Green Lantern: Fractured Spectrum #1?

There are two minor points that don't affect the story in a large way, but they stick out.

First, Guy's explanation for why he has an older copy of the Book of Oa makes sense to lay the foundation for the story but doesn't fit Guy as a character. He's the type of Lantern who'd mock you as a "nerd" for obsessing over an old book.

Second, Hal's explanation for relocating the Green Power Battery from Earth to Oa, away from the Green, feels like a return to status quo for its own sake rather than a good reason. Hal handwaves the rationale with an offhand comment about showing the galaxy the Lanterns are back in business, but that show could have easily come from Earth, where the Green could protect the Battery from future attacks.

These are minor quibbles that deserve a quick side-eye, but you could dismiss them without too much trouble.

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About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Final Thoughts

Green Lantern: Fractured Spectrum #1 is a bright, bold start to a new quest for the recently reassembled Green Lantern Corps. Jeremy Adams efficiently establishes the new status quo before sending the Lanterns off to save the galaxy with a spirit of high adventure, and V Ken Marion's inspired artwork looks great. That said, there are a few, minor quibbles in the story and art that prevent this issue from earning top marks.

8.8/10

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New Gods #2 Review

• Written by: Ram V

• Art by: Evan Cagle, Jesse Lonergan

• Colors by: Francesco Segala, Jesse Lonergan

• Letters by: Tom Napolitano

• Cover art by: Nimit Malavia (cover A)

• Cover price: $3.99

• Release date: January 15, 2025

New Gods #2, by DC Comics on 1/15/25, unveils the importance of the god-child hiding on Earth, prodding an assortment of forces to take action on Earth, Apokalips, and beyond.

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Is New Gods #2 Good?

Recap

When last we left High-Father and his kin in New Gods #1, the recent death of Darkseid led to a prophecy about a child recently born who would bring calamity. High-Father's solution? Send Orion to find and kill the child. The issue ended with Orion seeking Mister Miracle's help to prevent him from completing the mission orders he's compelled to obey. 

Plot Synopsis

In New Gods #2, a myriad of forces are introduced and take steps toward their respective goals.

Karak the Scavenger is made aware of the Darkseid's death and the hubris of so-called gods who seek to maintain their positions of power. Karak embarks on a mission to wipe out their hubris, starting with the destruction of Apokalips.

On Earth, Mister Miracle writes a heartfelt letter to his wife explaining why he must leave them to undertake Orion's request to save a special child. Big Barda surprises her husband by preparing to accompany him, whether he likes it or not.

Meanwhile, the adoptive parents of the god-child move from town to town in India to avoid capture by Mr. (Maxwell?) Lord's forces. The child is feverish after the explosion of power he used to save his parents at the end of the last issue. Through a flashback, we learn that Mr. Lord was mandated by Metron to find the child, and his work is currently overseen by Serifan.

The issue ends with Desaad learning the god-child may be fated to restore order to Apokalips as Darkseid's heir. To retrieve the child, Desaad must abandon Apokalips to the imminent arrival of Karak.

First Impressions

New Gods #2, from writer Ram V, is the point where you'll either get hooked on what Ram V is trying to do or be prompted to drop it entirely. Ram V's attempt to weave a grand tapestry of mythology waffles between intricate and convoluted, bogged down by Ram V's obsessive need to narrate the issue through flowery, pretentious language. If that sounds like a hoot to you, you're in for a treat.

How’s the Art?

The art, as with the writing, is a contradiction you'll either love or hate. The prologue and epilogue are presented through the Euro-futuristic lens of Jesse Lonergan to present a weirdly asymmetric creation in Karak the Scavenger. Thankfully, Evan Cagle's cleaner, more polished (cleaner than Lonergan's) art presents an ethereal view of the assorted conflicts in motion. Does that sound like gobbledygook? That's because that's what you get in the art, a mishmash of everything that tries to be fancy in multiple ways without achieving cohesion.

What’s great about New Gods #2?

If you peel back the layers of plodding pretentiousness, there is a strong idea at the heart of this issue - the universe is experiencing increasing chaos due to Darkseid's absence, so a child has come to take his place... maybe.

I like that idea. It feels important and could have big ramifications for the future of DC. If Ram V can pay off the setup, New Gods could turn into the must-have series for years to come.

What’s not great about New Gods #2?

Unfortunately, consistent with Ram V's writing style, you have to do more work than should be necessary to dig through the layers of plodding pace, convoluted focus, and pretentious language to get to that cool idea. Good ideas are king, but clarity is god, which is a truism Ram V has never adhered to.

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About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Final Thoughts

New Gods #2 builds on the good idea of issue #1 but falls victim to bad writing habits. At the heart of the issue, Ram V is constructing a tale that could create a new balance of power in the DC universe, but you have to wade through a convoluted, poorly paced plot to find it. Further, using two artists with weirdly dissonant styles imbalances rather than corrects for Ram V's plodding story.

5.8/10

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Nightwing #122 Review

• Written by: Dan Watters

• Art by: Dexter Soy

• Colors by: Veronica Gandini

• Letters by: Wes Abbott

• Cover art by: Dexter Soy (cover A)

• Cover price: $4.99

• Release date: January 15, 2025

Nightwing #122, by DC Comics on 1/15/25, continues Nightwing's fight to find the balance between knocking heads and keeping the peace. Meanwhile, Olivia Pearce's backstory is revealed.

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Is Nightwing #122 Good?

Recap

When last we left the world's greatest Robin in Nightwing #121, Dick played nice with Olivia Pearce of Spheric Solutions to steal her digital files for Oracle. Meanwhile, Dick laid the smackdown on the Teddies for recruiting minors. The issue ended with Nightwing giving the Teddies temporary refuge in one of his safehouses until he could figure out a better solution than knocking heads.

Plot Synopsis

In Nightwing #122, the story begins with Nightwing meeting the city officials on a rooftop to explain what he found (stealing Olivia Pearce's files). Crime is dropping at a rapid rate, but Nightwing angrily criticizes the heavy-handed tactics that resulted in the death of a 14-year-old boy who was a member of the Teddy Gang.

He believes the GCPD and Mayor are being duped because Olivia Pearce is not who she says she is. Nightwing recounted a mission with Batman when he was still the Boy Wonder, wherein they confronted the Cirque du Sin. The circus was a front for a gang of circus-themed criminals, who made quick cash by robbing and killing wealthy attendees. One of the circus's unique members was a young acrobat calling herself Colombina. Nightwing believes Olivia Pearce is Colombina, all grown up.

The Mayor rightly concludes that hearsay is not proof. If Nightwing wants to level accusations, he needs something more concrete. Suddenly, an explosion rips through one of the GCPD offices, prompting Nightwing to race after the bomber to get the proof he needs. Unfortunately, the bomber, a member of the Flyboiz, isn't talking.

The issue ends with Nightwing getting broody and a planted seed taking root. 

First Impressions

Readers will either love or be put off by Nightwing #122 because it gets into more social analysis and philosophical debates that never get answered. If you're into Nightwing stories that dig deep into finding the line between appropriate force and brutality, on every side of the fight, this issue and arc is for you.

How’s the Art?

Dexter Soy is a welcome addition to the series, casting the largely nighttime drama and action in scenes that carry the stark shadows of the night. Nightwing #122 looks and feels like it's part of the Batman ecosystem, helping to moor Nightwing in the origin of his character. Nightwing doesn't make sense in a city where everything is bright and sunny, so Soy is nailing the visual atmosphere.

What’s great about Nightwing #122?

To Dan Watters's credit, Nightwing is trying to find a balance between too much force and becoming a doormat in the best way you could hope for. The best stories centered on a philosophical question stay away from answering the questions for you, and Watters is doing just that.

What’s not great about Nightwing #122?

Olivia Pearce's origin story as a female equivalent of a Flying Dick Grayson comes out of nowhere, is not something anyone should easily forget, and comes off as forced. The saving grace of her backstory is the inclusion of the mysterious Zanni character working with Olivia, who may or may not be a demonic force.

Further, Watters does what he can with the philosophical debate of force in the name of security, but the story setup isn't constructed as well as it should be. Did a 14-year-old Teddy Gang member deserve to die? No, but shooting at cops during a raid is a surefire way to shorten your lifespan, whether the cops have advanced weapons or not.

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About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Final Thoughts

Nightwing #122 is a perfectly fine issue that falls into the "you either love it or hate it" category. Dan Watters runs with the debate concerning how much force is too much force, which may or may not be your cup of tea. However, Dexter Soy's moody art elevates the heavy themes.

6.5/10

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Action Comics #1082 Review

• Written by: John Ridley

• Art by: Inaki Miranda

• Colors by: Eva de la Cruz

• Letters by: Dave Sharpe

• Cover art by: Gleb Melnikov (cover A)

• Cover price: $4.99

• Release date: January 15, 2025

Action Comics #1082, by DC Comics on 1/15/25, finds Clark Kent reflecting on what makes a villain who tries to go straight return to being a villain.

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Is Action Comics #1082 Good?

Plot Synopsis

Action Comics #1082 begins with a typical day in Metropolis when a section of the city is rocked by an unnatural tremor. Superman rushes in to save the day, but he arrives too late to save one citizen from dying under an avalanche of rubble. Who could be behind this heinous act? Major Disaster has given up on his life as a reformed villain for a quick bank robbery to replenish his empty bank account, accidentally killing the citizen in the destruction.

Instead of attacking Superman with all he's got, Major Disaster immediately surrenders to Superman, demoralized over the accidental death of a bystander.

What follows is a series of scenes where Clark Kent interviews Major Disaster in prison, his known (reformed) associates, and the police to find some reason for Disaster's fall from supervillain recovery. Ultimately, Kent hears the same story repeated - Disaster wanted to do right, but he couldn't hack it.

The issue ends with Clark Kent getting jumped in an alley by an assailant with a baton, sustaining a lot more damage than he should.

First Impressions

Meh. Writer John Ridley has a controversial history with the Man of Steel, with good reason, so when DC passed the announcement that Ridley would step in for the next round of Action Comics, the reactions were mixed, and that's being generous. Does John Ridley give Superman the prison bitch treatment... again? No, but Ridley's penchant for using superhero comics as a heavy-handed platform for pontificating about social ills is front and center, which may be a positive or negative, depending on your tastes.

How’s the Art?

Inaki Miranda steps in for art duties with a thankless task. Except for the brief opener, there isn't a bit of superhero action to be found past the prologue. The entire issue centers on Clark Kent talking, thinking, and talking some more as he wrestles with the eternal question of what makes someone use their power to do evil instead of good. To Miranda's credit, the visuals are engaging enough to hold your attention, so that's as good as you could ask for.

What’s great about Action Comics #1082?

If you had to throw John Ridley a bone, his dialog and thought process in researching what makes a villain trying to go straight fall off is thoughtful. Clark doesn't find an easy answer, which gives the reader the option of deciding for themself. The story isn't done, but there's a potentially interesting philosophical question at the heart of the issue.

What’s not great about Action Comics #1082?

If you're not into answering one of the great philosophical questions of life, this issue is an absolute snooze fest. DC and Marvel have both demonstrated that superhero, action/adventure comics without superheroes or action/adventure are a losing proposition.

The burden is on Ridley to pay off this issue in the next, but if past performance is an indication of future performance, the chances of Ridley pulling off a banger in #1083 are pretty slim. If your immediate reaction to hearing John Ridley writing Superman again was "Oh, no," this issue may signal your concerns are warranted.

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About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Final Thoughts

Action Comics #1082 digs deep into the weighty philosophical question of what makes a superpowered person choose to be a villain over a hero. John Ridley's thoughtful exploration of that question through Clark Kent's reporting research is interesting fodder for philosophy students, but it's an utter snooze fest for somebody wanting to read a Superman comic with action. It's John Ridley. Are you really surprised?

5/10

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Absolute Batman #4 Review

• Written by: Scott Snyder

• Art by: Gabriel Hernández Walta

• Colors by: Frank Martin

• Letters by: Clayton Cowles

• Cover art by: Nick Dragotta (cover A)

• Cover price: $4.99

• Release date: January 8, 2025

Absolute Batman #4, by DC Comics on 1/8/25, presents the origin story of how young Bruce Wayne transitioned from an angry young man to the Absolute Dark Knight.

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Is Absolute Batman #4 Good?

Recap

When last we left Absolute Bruce Wayne in Absolute Batman #3, the Caped Crusader and Alfred escaped capture from the GCPD and the Party Animals Gang, but Alfred's plea to strike a deal with Black Mask struck home. When Absolute Batman's investigation uncovered Black Mask's participation in a global criminal network the vigilante had no chance of defeating, he decided the best course of action was to accept Black Mask's deal for a truce of compromise.

Plot Synopsis

In Absolute Batman #4, the narrative shifts to an all-flashback issue with a guest artist.

In one thread of events, we see young Bruce having a thoughtful, meaningful series of talks with his father as Bruce develops the engineering model that earned him an award at school. The model, based on the adaptability of bats, goes through one iteration after another, embodying the life lessons Thomas Wayne imparts to his son about focusing on what truly matters for the task at hand.

In a second thread, we see the hurt of young Bruce Wayne when he asks to speak first during the sentencing hearing of Joe Chill. young Bruce is overcome with hurt and hate for Joe Chill over the loss of a perfect moment on a day when he truly felt his father's pride.

In a third thread, we see older Bruce Wayne trying out techniques, gadgets, and tactics as the legend of Batman is born. At first, he uses fangs with paralytics, bladed claws, and guns to incapacitate criminals, but the bloody tactics don't feel right. We see his tactics and use of engineering smarts evolve in much the same way his science project evolved from his father's guidance.

The issue concludes with Absolute Batman coming into his own to combat the gangster families of Gotham City and adult Bruce Wayne choosing to listen to an old speech.

First Impressions

If not for two drawbacks, Absolute Batman#4 would be an unqualified winner. Scott Snyder impressively interweaves heart, smarts, and layers of meaning into a story that gives you a complete picture of Bruce Wayne's mental and emotional transition into Batman. Still, the drawbacks will impact the score.

How’s the Art?

Gabriel Hernández Walta's art style is the first and biggest drawback of the issue. By all accounts, bringing in a guest artist for a flashback issue was DC's intention, but it would have served the series to find an artist whose style is at least loosely complementary to regular artist Nick Dragotta. Walta's sketchy, scratchy, indie style is a jarringly drastic departure from the series and not a pleasant one. Art quality is subjective on many (not all) levels, so your mileage may vary. Personally, I do not like this art.

What’s great about Absolute Batman #4?

The heart of what makes Absolute Batman #4 great is the heart Scott Snyder puts into it. This issue delicately constructs a deep, loving bond between a father and his son that makes the grief of Bruce's loss hit like a sledgehammer. The creation and evolution of Batman becomes so much more believable when you see the echoes of creation in the final designs, motivated by the lessons Bruce learned from his father. DC often shows Bruce thinking about his father's memory or occasionally interacting with his father when he was a boy, but this issue is the best representation yet of their relationship.

What’s not great about Absolute Batman #4?

Aside from the art, already noted above, it would have been beneficial to see how the decision Bruce makes at the end of issue #3 reflected in this issue somehow. Yes. Transition/cooldown issues are sometimes just that, but a little dovetailing is in order so as not to lose momentum on the series. 

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About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Final Thoughts

Absolute Batman #4 is a qualified success for presenting the most heartfelt, authentic depiction yet of the relationship between young Bruce Wayne and his father, Thomas. Scott Snyder cleverly interweaves layers of meaning from Thomas's life lessons that eventually find their way into Batman's design. However, the sketchy, indie style from guest artist Gabriel Hernández Walta won't be everyone's cup of tea.

8/10

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