Fire Power Volume 1 Prelude Review

Written By: Robert Kirkman

Art By: Chris Samnee, Matt Wilson

Letters By: Rus Wooton

Cover Price: $9.99

Release Date: July 1, 2020

Review by: Jason Colby

Not many creators would introduce a brand new series, one set in a brand new world with brand new characters, in a 150-page “Prelude” OGN with a monthly series already loaded and ready to go.  But Robert Kirkman (THE WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE) isn’t most creators. He has his own Skybound imprint (under Image) and he’s not afraid to use it.  In fact, the #1 issue was originally going to be an FCBD offering.  Alas, that’s not happening now.  (Damn you 2020!)  But the Image OGN is available now at comic shops, Comixology, and even Hoopla in advance of the monthly starting up in August. 

The Green Lantern: Season Two #5 Review

Right in the Kisser!

Writer: Grant Morrison
Artist: Liam Sharp
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 7, 2020

I have struggled with Grant Morrison's The Green Lantern since it began, and this second season has been even tougher!  Morrison has gone high camp with a series of (almost) one-shots, and Liam Sharp has joined him in the lab to cook up a new art style with each issue.  While I understand that a lot of what we are getting will eventually weave into an overall narrative, it's not easier on my brain in the here and now.  As someone who is not well versed in Silver-Age (and earlier) Green Lantern lore, some of the issues have required a bit of homework to understand where Grant is coming from, and that's no fun for a lazy guy like me.  So, are we going to finally get the Season Two story rolling after the last issue's crazy cliffhanger?  Let's find out...

Harley Quinn #74 Review

Dead Mom Jokes are the Best

Writer: Sam Humphries
Artist: Sami Basri, Hi-Fi, and Dave Sharpe
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 7, 2020

I have not liked much of Sam Humphries run on Harley Quinn.  He is obsessed with making Harley a sad sack, and while Harley's mother's death was the best moment in this series, Humphries has hung his hat on it ever since.  Each story goes back to it and twists everything around Harley to reference it as well.  This latest (and thankfully last!) story is no exception, and I still can't get over the fact that Humphries used Suicide and death as a prop and a tool to try to squeeze some feels out of fans.  So, how does it all end (next issue is a "roast," oh goodie!), and am I at least left smiling a little?  Let's find out...

The Flash #757 Review and *SPOILERS*

Reheated Spaghetti

Written By: Joshua Williamson

Art By: Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona, Hi-Fi

Letters By: Steve Wands

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: July 7, 2020

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Much like the Batman book at this point, The Flash book is gearing up for a brand new story that holds a lot of promise. That said, while that is coming in the future we are instead stuck waiting around until the writer decides to start the story properly. Almost every comic has issues that serve solely to setup the overall story, however those issues aren’t usually known for being very exciting. The issues are important but it’s easy to get bored while reading them. However, we’ve just had one of these setup issues with the previous issue so we are hoping that things really pick up in this new issue. Let’s jump into the latest issue now and see where it takes us.

Batman #94 Review and *SPOILERS*

Shuffling Around

Written By: James Tynion IV

Art By: Guillem March, Rafael Albuquerque, David Baron

Letters By: Clayton Cowles

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: July 7, 2020

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Tynion’s run has been pretty entertaining up to this point. His first story has had several twists and turns that all seem to lead up to a new Joker War arc. Now, the previous issue was more of a setup issue for the new Joker War. Recently, Joker was able to steal Bruce Wayne’s fortune after revealing that he was the one behind The Designer’s plan. With Batman and Catwoman injured and Joker in the money, it’s only a matter of time before Joker’s plans come to fruition. I’m hoping that we move on from that setup issue and instead begin this story properly. Let’s jump into this newest issue and see where it takes us.

Justice League #48 Review

All Hail The Justice League

Written By: Si Spurrier 

Art By: Aaron Lopresti, Matt Ryan, David Baron, Tom Napolitano

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: July 7, 2020

It's time for Si Spurrier to through his Justice League stories into the ring as we wait for this book to finally catch up to what's going on in Dark Nights: Death Metal.  It's an odd situation though because of this weird limbo that we're in with this book where it's possible that we can get entertaining stories out of this run, but they're immediately downplayed a bit in my mind just because I know that they won't matter.  Maybe though, if you don't worry about the continuity or where these stories fit into the timeline, maybe you can grab ahold of these and see something bigger and I'm hoping that's the case as we dive into this issue to see what Si Spurrier brings to the party.  Let's check it out.

Superman #23 Review

Chaos Reigns

Written By: Brian Michael Bendis

Art By: Kevin Maguire, John Timms, Alex Sinclair, Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: July 7, 2020

The Truth is over and it's time to move on to those thousands of stories that Bendis has promised us could come from Superman revealing his identity to the world........ again.  With that, it seems like we're about to get magical as our Man of Steel is pitted against the Lord of the Lords of Chaos, Xanadoth.  Let's jump into this issue and see what the hub-bub is with this new threat and if the Superman is able to take it on, with everything that's going on in his life.  Let's check it out.

Young Justice #16 Review

What About Bart?

Written By: Brian Michael Bendis, David Walker

Art By: Scott Godlewski, Gabe Eltaeb, Wes Abbott

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: July 7, 2020

The last issue should have been the big issue of this series, where we found out what's up with Superboy, Connor Kent.  Like where he's been, why doesn't anyone remember him and in the most basic aspect..... we did.  The continuity shifted while he was in Gemworld and that's that.  It was a bit lackluster overall in my mind, but here we're going to get the lowdown on what Bart Allen has been up to before this series and hopefully find out if people remember him, if this ties into Flashpoint and what his return has to do with the Speed Force Barrier breaking way back in The Flash #50.  Let's jump into this issue and find out if the answers make any sense or not.  Let's check it out.

DCeased: Dead Planet #1 Review

Heads You Win...

Written by: Tom Taylor
Art by: Trevor Hairsine, Gigi Baldassini, Stefano Guaduano, Rain Beredo and Saida Temofonte
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: July 7, 2020

I gradually got more and more into the whole DCeased thing after not loving the first six-issue mini.  It's about the character moments for me, not just the over-the-top killing.  So, I am hoping we get more of the former and less of the latter.  Are my hopes fulfilled in this first issue, or are they dashed to pieces?  Let's find out...

Hawkman #25 Review

Gleaming The Void

Written By: Robert Venditti

Art By: Marco Castiello, Danny Miki, Jeremy Cox, Rob Leigh

Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 7, 2020

We're back with the Winged Warrior to find out how Shayera and he will get their feathered butts out of the void that they've found themselves in because if they don't do it soon, it seems like they'll become a snack for the Lord Beyond the Void, who still seems to be holding a grudge against Carter for banishing him away during his first life as Ktar Deathbringer.  Let's see what the Hawks have up their sleeves as they take on this dark god and along the way, maybe find out more about Carter and Shayera.  Let's check it out.

Detective Comics #1023 Review

Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Pencils: Brad Walker
Inks: Andrew Hennessy
Colorist: Brad Anderson
Letters: Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 7th, 2020

The last issue was outstanding overall and it left off with the realization that Harvey Dent was being played by the Joker, and the imagery of the Joker breaking into the ruins of the Court of the Owls. What the heck is he doing there?

Lois Lane #12 Review

Back Away, Nothing To See Here

Written By: Greg Rucka
Art By: Mike Perkins, Andy Troy, Simon Bowland

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: July 7, 2020

It's the finale to the Lois Lane Maxi-Series, where it felt like we essentially saw Renee Montoya doing more in this title than we actually saw Lois, besides for those weird issues that dealt with the fallout of the Superman title and Event Leviathan, where it was General Lane's funeral and Jon Kent being all grown up and saying goodbye to his mother before he went to the 31st Century.  At one point though, this scattered title seemed to take focus on the idea of the Multiverse or something similar to it was fracturing and bleeding through to our own Earth, causing people to not know who they really were........ even though there was no lead up before this or any idea that the characters involved were acting any different than usual........ besides for Lois, but I blame her character problems on how Bendis has decided her character now acts.  Hopefully though, with this final issue, we'll get the answers to everything that this series has decided to throw at us and then quickly forget about, but I'm not holding my breath.  Let's check it out.

Wonder Woman #758 Review

Stranger No More

Writer: Steve Orlando
Artist: Emanuela Lupacchino, Ray McCarthy, Romulo Fajardo Jr., and Pat Brosseau
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 7, 2020

Steve Orlando's time on Wonder Woman is coming to a close, and it's a shame because I believe in my heart that he respects and loves the character of Wonder Woman.  He centers on her compassion and love, and that is something I can get behind 100%, especially when other writers force so much death and misery on readers.  That said, something was off by the end of the last issue.  After a lengthy setup to the Four Horsewomen story, we got an out of nowhere Phantom Stranger as a cliffhanger that had my head spinning.  So, did Steve Orlando salvage something out of the craziness?  Let's find out...

Batman and the Outsiders #14 Review

Do It Again

Writer: Bryan Hill
Artist: Dexter Soy, Veronika Gandini, and Clayton Cowles
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 8, 2020

Batman and the Outsiders is a book that I keep pulling for in hopes that something big happens.  Bryan Hill has done some excellent character work with his characters, but the book lacks forward progression as far as the story goes.  It did seem like things were changing for the better once Hill was able to leave the (editorially mandated?) Year of the Villian stuff behind and finally get to the story he set up years ago in his Detective Comics run.  However, that story is starting to drag a bit as well.  Hopefully, things pick up in this issue with the promise of Black Lightning upping his powerset to take on Ra's al-Ghul and his alien tech.  Let's jump into this week's issue, shall we?

Justice League Odyssey #22 Review

Writer: Dan Abnett
Art: Cliff Richards
Colors: Rain Beredo
Letters: Andworld Design
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 7th, 2020

Jessica Cruz, the Omega Mama, has been zapped back into time by Epoch because she was being Jessica Cruz and getting in his way. Where did she land in time, though? And was it even in the same timeline or multiverse?

PREVIEW: DCeased: Dead Planet #1

Written by: Tom Taylor
Art by: Trevor Hairsine, Gigi Baldassini, Stefano Guaduano, Rain Beredo and Saida Temofonte
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: July 7, 2020

After a corrupted Anti-Life Equation turned billions into monsters-including Earth’s Greatest Heroes-our planet was as good as dead. Years later, a distress call brings Damian Wayne, Jon Kent, and Cassie Sandsmark-the Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman of Earth 2-back to a dead planet...but what will this new Justice League find waiting for them? If life still exists on Earth, who-or what-is lying in wait for these heroes? The original creative team of Tom Taylor and Trevor Hairsine reunite for the sequel to the 2019 blockbuster series DCeased!

PREVIEW: Wonder Woman #758

Writer: Steve Orlando
Artist: Emanuela Lupacchino
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 8, 2020

Wonder Woman puts herself on the line to save Warmaster from an ancient power-the Phantom Stranger! But Diana is out of her depth, and the Stranger’s power knows no limit! Is our hero prepared to break eternal law to save her former friend? Or is the Circle of Eternity’s judgment exactly what Warmaster deserves?

PREVIEW: The Terrifics #28

Writer: Gene Luen Yang
Artist: Sergio Fernandez Davila
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 8, 2020

Simon Stagg is dead! After the cataclysmic events of last issue, the line of succession in the house of Stagg has fallen to the Terrifics’ ally Sapphire...or has it? Who is Sebastian Stagg, and what on Earth is he doing with the Parasite at his side? It’s science versus money as the Terrifics battle for the fate of the future!

PREVIEW: Justice League Odyssey #22

Writer: Dan Abnett
Artist: Cliff Richards
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: July 8, 2020

Darkseid seeks absolute control of time, and Epoch has all but handed him that godlike power. Can the JL Odyssey team  stop him in his tracks? If they fail, the Lordof Apokolips will rewrite universal history in his favor, and everything that could oppose him will cease to exist!

PREVIEW: Harley Quinn #74

Writer: Sam Humphries
Artist: Sami Basri
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 7, 2020

Harley Quinn’s sojourn in L.A. has been full of tragedy and heartbreak, from the death of her friend to uncovering a deep web of moral compromise that’d make even the most sadistic Batman villain’s stomach churn. In the epic finale to our story, Harley will come face to face with the person pulling the strings and learn who’s out to see her fail!

PREVIEW: The Flash #757

Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Rafa Sandoval
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 8, 2020

“Legion of Zoom” part one! As the Flash’s greatest enemies-Gorilla Grodd, the Turtle, Trickster, and Captain Cold-attack Central City at the same time, the Fastest Man Alive finds he’s not fast enough to stop them all or save everyone in danger!

PREVIEW: Detective Comics #1023

Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Artist: Brad Walker
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 7, 2020

Just when you thought it was safe to crack a smile, The Joker is back to crash the party! Hot on the heels of “Joker War,” the Clown Prince of Crime is revealed as the mastermind behind Two-Face’s turmoil-but to what end? Batman will need all the allies he can get, and what better ally than Harvey Dent? Can the Dark Knight cure his friend once and for all in time to fight the greatest battle of his life?

PREVIEW: Batman and the Outsiders #14

Writer: Bryan Hill
Artist: Dexter Soy
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 8, 2020


Batman is going to push the Outsiders to their absolute limits in order for them to stop Ra’s al Ghul once and for all. He’ll force them all to use their powers in ways they never imagined and possibly push them over the edge in the process! Batman and Black Lightning will need to decide who the true leader of the team is, or Ra’s’s victory will be assured!

PREVIEW: Young Justice #16

Written By: Brian Michael Bendis, David Walker

Art By: Scott Godlewski, Gabe Eltaeb, Wes Abbott

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: July 7, 2020

Impulse unleashed! Bartholomew Henry Allen II has traveled to the edges of space and time-and along the way, he’s discovered truths that he’s kept from even his closest friends. Until now. The truth behind the legacy of Young Justice is revealed! What does tomorrow hold for Young Justice?

PREVIEW: Superman #23

Written By: Brian Michael Bendis

Art By: Kevin Maguire, John Timms, Alex Sinclair, Dave Sharpe

Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 7, 2020

With Superman’s secret identity suddenly revealed to the world, many in his life are worried that he has been tricked or duped into destroying his own privacy! All the more worrisome is Superman has been very susceptible to mysticism. Could all this madness be magic related? It’s time to call the doctor…Dr. Fate!