Batman: Dark Patterns #6 Review

Writer: Dan Watters
Artist: Hayden Sherman
Colorist: Tríona Farrell
Letterer: Frank Cvetkovic
Cover Artist: Hayden Sherman (Cover A)
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: May 14, 2025

Recap

"The Voice of the Tower" Part 3 - Scarface has taken control of Bledin Towers. His followers have kidnapped a cop and barricaded themselves inside. Batman is also inside and is fighting his way to the kidnapped officer. Can he get there in time to save her life? And why have Scarface and the Ventriloquist seemingly split up?

Plot Summary

After last issue's cliffhanger ending, we open on a grisly scene of blood and death in the tower block. Michelle's husband and the hostage cop are both lying dead in a large pool of blood. We saw Michelle stab her husband at the end of last issue, then approach the hostage cop brandishing the knife. It appears she killed the officer too. A couple of the residents are panicking because they know what this means. Without their hostage as a bargaining chip, the cops won't hesitate to light the place up.

Batman is with the Ventriloquist Wesker. They're taking an old service stairwell as Batman searches for the hostage cop, Officer Pryce. We get some Batman narration about Wesker's childhood. He surmises that Wesker grew up in this tower block because he knows his way around it so well. The scene shifts to the bathroom of another room where the two bodies have been dumped. It's Officer Pryce and Michelle's husband. Suddenly the cop wakes up coughing and grasping at her throat. She's not dead after all, but looks to be in severe pain. She is unable to call for help due to the injury to her throat. At least she's alive!

Absolute Batman #8 Review

• Written by: Scott Snyder

• Art by: Marcos Martín (guest artist)

• Colors by: Muntsa Vincente

• Letters by: Clayton Cowles

• Cover art by: Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin (cover A)

• Cover price: $4.99

• Release date: May 14, 2025

Absolute Batman #8, by DC Comics on 5/14/25, finds Bruce Wayne learning that the cold sting of death is nothing compared to the icy touch of Mr. Freeze.

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Is Absolute Batman #8 Good?

Recap

When we last left the Caped Crusader from the Darkseid Universe in Absolute Batman #7, Bruce Wayne sought the help of Matches Malone to get fake credentials. Why? So Bruce could infiltrate the sinister Ark-M prison facility. Matches agreed, but the low-level fraudster died after he was exposed to a deadly infection. Bruce's investigation led him to a research business specializing in cryogenic solutions. When Bruce observed the presence of the same infectious material that killed Matches, he was attacked by the son of Victor and Nora Fries and an early benefactor of the life-saving cryo-freezing process - Victor Fries Jr.

Plot Synopsis

In Absolute Batman #8, Bruce wakes up to find himself strapped inside a cryo-stasis chamber by Victor Fries Jr. The villain explains that Bruce's icy prison will torture him with endless pain as every cell in his body screams for the cold to end. Fries activates the chamber and leaves while the chamber slowly fills with the skin-searing freezing solution. Bruce's only chance of escape is to use the mini-Batarang launcher hidden inside his arm cast. 

As the tank fills and the freezing pain increases, Bruce recalls the informal memorial he and his friends held for Matches Malone. We learn Thomas Wayne died in a mass shooting because he stayed outside to save Matches, who fell behind. Matches carried the burden of guilt all his life, motivating his daring behavior. Waylon sees that self-destructive daring in Bruce when he becomes Batman, so he challenges him to live instead of taking risks that will lead to his death.

While Bruce struggles to escape, Fries contacts his benefactor from his lab. Fries created the unseasonable snowfall blanketing the city because the snow contains a type of marker that infects everyone in the city whose skin makes contact with the snow. Why? Unknown, but Fries's benefactor considers the effort a job well done.

Suddenly, Batman breaks down the door to confront Fries. In response, Fries activates a small army of previously frozen individuals to emerge from their cryo-chambers and attack Batman as a zombified mob. Remembering Waylon's challenge, Batman chooses to flee and live rather than fight to the death. The issue ends when Waylon receives an unexpected visitor (not Batman).

First Impressions

Writer Scott Snyder takes a break from the bombastic, over-the-top theatrics to deliver an issue that's smart, emotionally gripping, and meaningful, with a twist of horror for good measure. I'm not sold on the guest artist, but the writing is excellent.

How’s the Art?

Marcos Martín's movements and anatomy for Fries and his frozen zombies add a creep factor to the issue, which elevates Fries well beyond a weird guy with a medical condition and an ice gun. Fries is spindly, deceptively strong, and monstrous-looking enough to put anyone on edge. To be fair, Martin's style is flat and squiggly in too many places, especially during the fights, to maintain the hard-hitting edge Dragotta brings to the title, but Fries looks great, so the art is a mixed bag of positives and negatives.

What’s great about Absolute Batman #8?

Scott Snyder succeeds on multiple levels by creating a Class-A villain introduction, filling in a hidden piece of Bruce's backstory that enriches his motivations, and setting the hero back in such a way that moves him forward in his mission. Absolute Batman #8 is a surprisingly dramatic and emotional issue that far exceeds the typical Batman stories we've received over the last few years.

What’s not great about Absolute Batman #8?

Putting aside the misgivings about the art, Scott Snyder may have started too many open mysteries to keep track of what's happening, and it's starting to get cumbersome. Where did Alfred go? Who or what is in control of Ark-M? What's up with that gross, tentacled guy at the end of issue #6? Who hired Fries to infect the citizens of Gotham City and why? Who does Alfred work for, and what is their secret agenda? What's the Joker up to? 

The list goes on and on. A handful of mysteries is perfectly fine. Here, the list is becoming unwieldy.

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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

Absolute Batman #8 is a dramatic, emotional comic embedded in a harrowing tale of horror and escape. Scott Snyder's script well exceeds the level of depth you'd expect to see in a Batman comic as Bruce fights to live rather than fight to the death. I'm not sold on Marcos Martín's flat, squiggly art style, but he reimagines Mr. Freeze as a creepy, formidable threat.

8.5/10

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Aquaman #5 Review

• Written by: Jeremy Adams

• Art by: John Timms, Jefferson Sadzinski

• Colors by: Rex Lokus

• Letters by: Dave Sharpe

• Cover art by: John Timms (cover A)

• Cover price: $3.99

• Release date: May 14, 2025

Aquaman #5, by DC Comics on 5/14/25, finds King Arthur and his allies entering the City of the Blue for information, finding a lead and an ally in the fabled Captain of the Nautilus.

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Is Aquaman #5 Good?

Recap

When we left the King of Atlantis in Aquaman #4, Arthur was kidnapped and held in magical chains by Lori Lemoris. Her mission? Deliver Aquaman to Dagon, the keeper of the Blue. Arthur used a clever bit of hydrokinesis to escape Lori's ship just in time for his allies, Arion and Vivienne, to show up with his new sword - Thalassa the Trilance Saber. The issue ended with Aquaman kicking ass and taking names.

Plot Synopsis

In Aquaman #5, the adventurers arrive at the City of the Blue, a harsh place where anyone who shows the slightest dissent or disrespect for Dagon is immediately executed. The citizens of the city have lost hope under Dagon's oppressive rule.

Arthur, Arion, and Vivienne arrive at the City of the Blue, looking for information about Mera and the missing Atlanteans. As they scour the city, they see a pair of guards trying to arrest a man with a familiar appearance - Captain Nemo. Arthur is unable to turn a blind eye to injustice, so he intervenes in the arrest and spirits Nemo away before reinforcements arrive. In a dimly lit tavern, Nemo confirms he has seen a red-haired Atlantean many leagues below, and he'd be willing to take everyone there if they help him free his ship, the Nautilus, from the city's impound.

Arthur allows himself to be arrested by the city's head of security, Titanus, so that he can be brought before the magistrates. Arthur breaks free, knocks out the guards, and forces the magistrates to tell him the location of Nemo's ship. Lori arrives when she receives word that Arthur has been captured, so the heroes race to Nemo's ship before the numbers become too great to fight. Before the Nautilus pulls out of the dock, Arthur destroys the bubble that separates the holding dock from the sea to block their pursuers.

The issue ends with Dagon taunting Mera in chains, and we get a hint that Dagon has altered Mera's appearance for the worse.

First Impressions

Who knew the trials and travails of a wandering king could be so entertaining? Jeremy Adams expands the mythological adventure by incorporating shades of Tolkien, Jules Verne, and T.H. White for an epic tale.

How’s the Art?

John Timms is quickly becoming one of the best artists on tap for DC. Arthur is stoic, decisive, and intimidating when he gets his dander up. The action is large-scale, and Timms's sense of drama substantially elevates an already stellar script.

What’s great about Aquaman #5?

I mentioned those authors in the First Impression section above because that's what it feels like Jeremy Adams is doing with his arc. Arthur is on a kingly quest that echoes stories from classic literature, and it's turning out better than anyone probably expected.

As a plus, in our previous reviews of this series, we noted it was difficult to understand Arthur's place in the supposed prophecy as the Dark Tide without hearing the prophecy. Adams corrects that flaw by giving you the poetic prophecy on a preface page.

What’s not great about Aquaman #5?

During the climactic battle, Lori Lemoris and her Mer-cenaries just show up out of nowhere. Lori's arrival adds intensity to the fight, but it feels manufactured just to make the fight more chaotic. How could Lori possibly know the exact place and time to find Arthur?

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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

Aquaman #5 continues Arthur's mythological journey as the wandering king searching for his people. Jeremy Adams adds more familiar members to the fellowship, enhancing the vibe of a journey that echoes the best adventure tales from classic literature, and John Timms shows his worth as one of the best artists around. 

9/10

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Green Lantern Corps #4 Review

• Written by: Morgan Hampton, Jeremy Adams

• Art by: V. Ken Marion, Amancy Nahuelpan

• Colors by: Arif Prianto

• Letters by: Dave Sharpe

• Cover art by: Fernando Pasarin, Oclair Albert, Arif Prianto (cover A)

• Cover price: $3.99

• Release date: May 14, 2025

Green Lantern Corps #4, by DC Comics on 5/14/25, sends the Lanterns to an intergalactic trading post to look for parts and information. Sadly, the trip doesn't go as planned.

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Is Green Lantern Corps #4 Good?

Recap

When we last left the Corps in Green Lantern Corps #3, the Nth Metal egg at the heart of Thanagar cracked open, revealing a golden bird god calling itself Horus. Atrocitus made the mistake of attacking the god, but Hawkwoman persuaded the god to show mercy. Horus left to find a new Thanagar, while Atrocitus and the surviving Red Lanterns willingly let themselves be put into cryo-sleep in the OA Sciencecells until a cure for their condition could be found.

Plot Synopsis

In Green Lantern Corps #4, who knew going to a space mall could be so dangerous? The issue splits into two directions before converging in one seedy part of the galaxy.

First, Guy Gardner receives the unwanted task of taking a recruit, Narf, on a ride-along to show him the patrolling ropes. Narf is small and cowardly, but he was recruited because he has a special ability that Guy and Kilowog have yet to see. Guy takes Narf to Necrocopia, a dead Starro converted into a semi-illegal trading post. Why? Guy seeks out the diminished but still dangerous crime lord Evil Star for information on Starbreaker's whereabouts.

Meanwhile, Keli and Ellie interrupt Simon Baz's free time, looking for a special psionic battery. It's Keli's birthday, so he decides to take her and Ellie to someplace that might have the part - Necrocopia. When they arrive, Ellie stays behind in their construct vehicle to give Simon and Keli bonding time. Simon seeks out Enzo, a sleazy shop owner who deals in illegal contraband. Simon threatens to shut Enzo down if he doesn't cooperate in finding the part Keli needs. Enzo agrees, but when he returns from the backroom, he activates a sphere that traps Simon and Keli in a mind maze so he can steal Keli's gauntlet.

The issue ends with Evil Start making a mess while trying to break Guy's defenses and Keli being forced to confront a painful memory that may upend everything we know about the origin of Teen Lantern.

First Impressions

I like this issue, and I'm starting to think this is a better series than Hal's solo Green Lantern title. Green Lantern Corps #4 leans into the whimsical aspects of intergalactic adventure for an engaging, entertaining comic.

How’s the Art?

V. Ken Marion and Amancy Nahuelpan are largely responsible for the whimsical feeling of spacefaring adventure when the Lanterns travel to exotic places and meet strange aliens on their respective missions. Plus, the figure work and facial acting, particularly in Guy's snarky personality, are exactly on point. We want to see these characters express some personality, which you get in this issue.

What’s great about Green Lantern Corps #4?

Morgan Hampton and Jeremy Adams hit the nail on the head as the assorted Corps members travel to exotic locales, face strange but relatable dangers, and show some personality. As a plus, if Hampton and Adams can work out a way for Keli's origin to make sense and make her a tad less insufferable, they'll have earned all the kudos imaginable.

What’s not great about Green Lantern Corps #4?

The bigger picture is where this issue falls short. Yes, Guy confronts Evil Star to solicit information about Starbreaker, but that manhunt should be everyone's top priority. As a reminder, Starbreaker's plan could permanently fracture the Emotional Spectrum. Why isn't that mission an all-hands-on-deck scenario? Why isn't the search for Starbreaker and Sorrow Lantern being treated with immense urgency? If the comic doesn't treat the permanent fracture of the Emotional Spectrum like it's a big deal, why should the readers?

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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 Corps #4 brings fun, adventure, and excitement to the Corps when the Lanterns run into all kinds of trouble at an intergalactic trading post. Morgan Hampton and Jeremey Adams lean into the spirit of spacefaring whimsy to give the assortment of Lanterns meaningful missions, and the personality-rich art looks great. That said, it's increasingly odd that the hunt for Sorrow Lantern and Starbreaker isn't treated with more urgency.

8.5/10

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Supergirl #1 Review

• Written by: Sophie Campbell

• Art by: Sophie Campbell

• Colors by: Tamra Bonvillain

• Letters by: Becca Carey

• Cover art by: Sophie Campbell (cover A)

• Cover price: $3.99

• Release date: May 14, 2025

Supergirl #1, by DC Comics on 5/14/25, finds Kara Danvers returning to Midvale to visit her adoptive parents, but it turns out Supergirl is already in Midvale and has become its biggest celebrity.

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Is Supergirl #1 Good?

Plot Synopsis

Supergirl #1 begins a new day for Superman's cousin (and capitalizes on the in-production film) when Kara Danvers makes her rounds helping people around Earth, in Kandor, or wherever she's needed. She still wonders if she lives too much in Superman's shadow, but she's determined to step into the light through her choices.

One day, Kar receives a call from her adoptive parents. They returned from the D.O.E to their home in Midvale, and they're fixing it up. They want Kara to visit over the 4th of July holiday. Kara grudgingly agrees, but she doesn't look forward to returning to old haunts, old friends, and old memories.

When Kara arrives in Midvale, Supergirl signs, posters, and swag are everywhere, but the person in the promotional material looks a bit different than Kara. When a chance encounter with an old schoolmate turns into a potential car accident, Kara quickly changes into Supergirl to save the day. Supergirl enjoys the praise for her good deed, but the praise turns to boos when everyone suspects Supergirl is an imposter because she doesn't look like the Supergirl they know.

Suddenly, the "real" Supergirl arrives and attacks Kara as an imposter, dousing her with strange chemicals and zapping her with strange weapons. The imposter tells Kara to leave Midvale and flies away. After a quick change back into Kara, she heads to her old home to talk to her parents. The issue ends with her parents not recognizing her and the "real" Kara Danvers coming to the door to say "hello."

First Impressions

There seems to be a tonal shift in the Super Office, and I'm not sure it's the right one. Between G. Willow Wilson's elementary school take on Superman in Action Comics and Sophie Campbell's CW tween show antics here in Supergirl #1, DC appears to be experimenting with hitting different audiences at the expense of the audience that already exists. Could it work? We shall see.

How’s the Art?

Sophie Campbell pulls double duty as the writer and artist, so hats off to Campbell for the extra work. Artistically, this comic looks great. The lines are clean and sharp, and Campbell's panel layouts are visually striking. The visual style is bright and cheery, buoyed by Tamra Bonvillain's vibrant coloring. That said, Campbell makes a bizarre choice to give almost every character a severe overbite ala Jervis Tetch, aka Mad Hatter. Once you see it, you can't unsee it.

What’s great about Supergirl #1?

If you're tired of the dour, mature, serious, adult deluge of comics coming out of the Big 2 in recent years, Sophie Campbell has you covered. There isn't a mature or super-serious moment in this entire comic. It's light and airy, with just enough drama to appeal to adolescent and tween girls who love CW levels of character development and drama.

What’s not great about Supergirl #1?

Holy Wall Of Thought Balloons and Dialog, Batman! I suppose Sophie Campbell thought the way to get you inside the head of Kara Danvers was to literally hear every thought, every moment of insecurity, and every exclaim of confusion as if the comic were narrating a young teenager's diary. Plus, Kara's manner of speaking and slang is horribly outdated. In fairness, the mystery and hook about an imposter Supergirl is reasonably well done, but you have to endure loads of tedious, stiff, outdated language to get to it.

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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

Supergirl #1 looks, reads, and resonates like a CW soap opera squarely targeted at tween girls who talk like Valley Girls from the 1990s. Sophie Campbell's mystery about an imposter Supergirl is intriguing, and Campbell's bright art is super-solid (barring the weird choice to give everyone an overbite). However, this comic reads like it was meant for a very specific audience, and that audience probably doesn't include you.

6/10

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Batgirl #7 Review

Writer: Tate Brombal
Artist: Isaac Goodheart
Colorist: Mike Spicer
Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Cover Artist: Reiko Murakami
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 7, 2025

Brief Summary

The Book of Shiva, Chapter One - As Cassandra Cain journeys home to the Bat-Family, she listens to her mother Lady Shiva's life story.

Plot Summary

We open with Cassandra Cain getting on a train. She's on a call with Stephanie telling her not to worry and that she'll be home soon. Cass has received a mysterious package in the mail and as she takes her seat, she opens the envelope. A small walkman and a book drop out. Cass puts on the earphones and presses play. For a second I thought she was listening to the Weird Science DC Podcast, but no, it's a recorded message from her mother Lady Shiva. The recording accompanies the beautiful-looking book that Cass picks up. It's Lady Shiva's life story and she wants her daughter to both read and listen to it. Are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin.

Absolute Superman #7 Review

• Written by: Jason Aaron

• Art by: Carmine Di Giandomenico

• Colors by: Ulises Arreola

• Letters by: Becca Carey

• Cover art by: Rafa Sandoval, Ulises Arreola (cover A)

• Cover price: $4.99

• Release date: May 7, 2025

Absolute Superman #7, by DC Comics on 5/7/25, takes a peek at the android behind the screen when we learn the disturbing path Brainiac took to become Earth's greatest thinker.

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Is Absolute Superman #7 Good?

Recap

When we last left the last Son of Krypton in Absolute Superman #6, 18 months of isolated travel in space drove the boy to thoughts of ending his life. Fortunately, Sol found Earth and brought Kal to a safe landing spot right at the time the super-advanced A.I. ran out of power. Fortunately again, Kal was taken in by a kindly couple of farmers, the Kents, to look after him for a few weeks while Sol recharged. During that time, the Kents endured sudden onsets of superpowered destruction as Kal's exposure to Earth's Sun brought out peculiar abilities. The issue ended when a nosy neighbor called Lazarus Corporation about an illegal alien on the Kent Farm, resulting in an arrest and big trouble for the Kent farm.

Plot Synopsis

In Absolute Superman #7, readers learn the mentally damaged origin of Earth's Brainiac. We begin with the group calling themselves the Omega Men infiltrating a compound in Nevada where they believe the Brainiac server farm that powers the Lazarus Corporation's A.I. is located. The Omegas believe they can shut down the Brainiac A.I. if they destroy the data center. Suddenly, the group is decimated by advanced weaponry that shrinks their skin, turns bones to mush, and balloons up limbs. Brainiac is a being, and he killed three of the four Omegas, taking one hostage for questioning.

In a flashback, we see that Brainiac started as Brainiac 419,732 as part of the Brainiac collective. His purpose? Shovel the piles of discarded Brainiac bodies into an incinerator. One-hundred thirty-seven years later, the discarded bodies stopped falling from the disposal chute. Brainiac 419,732 leaves the incinerator room for the first time, finds all fellow Brainiacs, including the captain, dead from self-inflicted wounds, and decides to take over the ship.

Now, the time-ravaged and wholly unstable Brainiac puzzles over the existence of a human with superpowers. It tortures the captured humans and Brainiac clones to find a measure of peace. It even resorts to smashing and stomping on shrunken alien cities stored in its lab. Finally, Brainiac 419,732 sends a signal to the ruling Brainiac Collective Council, asking for help identifying the superbeing based on a particle of red sand from his cape. One of the Council members identified the sand as Kryptonian, matching the red sand to a sample of meteorite one of the Brainiacs discovered during a survey mission to the exploded remnants.

The issue ends with Brainiac completing cybernetic enhancements to Peacemaker Smith in preparation for a trip to Kansas.

First Impressions

This is a bad week for DC. Jason Aaron has a concept here, and his reimagining of Brainiac as a sadistic, disturbed being has a lot of (good) creep factor. Sadly, this story isn't going anywhere because nearly half of this series tells you nothing about Superman.

How’s the Art?

Rafa Sandoval is on the hook for delivering creepy, disturbing body horror, and he pulls it off. Brainiac isn't the pristine, ultra-clean, and disciplined machine we're used to. He's a collection of flesh, prosthetics, and programming that isn't socialized very well to work with others. Sandoval leans on a zombie-like aesthetic to make Brainiac gross and creepy, so it works out well.

What’s great about Absolute Superman #7?

If you wanted a different kind of Brainiac that's still intimidating and dangerous, Jason Aaron's reimagined concept is a worthy approach to the villain, making him simultaneously familiar and new.  You could imagine this Brainiac engaging in the most horrific forms of abuse and torture to get his way, which makes him a significant threat to the Man of Steel.

What’s not great about Absolute Superman #7?

Well, Brainiac would be a significant threat to the Man of Steel if we knew anything about the Man of Steel. Jason Arron wasted too much time at the beginning of the run to build out Krypton. Now, he's spending too much time building out villains and side characters. Readers want to get to know the Man of Steel through his decisions and actions. How can they do that if Aaron focuses on everyone and everything else but the one character who matters - Superman?

Of all the Absolute titles, this one is taking the biggest hit in terms of sales, falling outside the Top 25 for April 2025. If Aaron doesn't correct his focus, Absolute Superman may be the first Absolute title to hit the chopping block.

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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 Superman #7 turns in the secret origin of the Absolute Brainiac as a sadistic, disturbed cyborg hell-bent on learning Superman's secret. Rafa Sandoval's body horror artwork is great, as usual, and Jason Aaron's twist on a classic Superman villain crafts him as a dangerous threat. That said, the series is still spending too much time on world-building and backstory, putting the main character on the back burner...again.

6/10

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