Thursday, February 6, 2025

Justice League: The Atom Project #2 Review




  • Written by: Ryan Parrot, John Ridley

  • Art by: Mike Perkins

  • Colors by: Adriano Lucas

  • Letters by: Wes Abbott

  • Cover art by: Mike Perkins (cover A)

  • Cover price: $3.99

  • Release date: February 5, 2025


Justice League: The Atom Project #2, by DC Comics on 2/5/25, finds the Atoms developing a method to restore Captain Atom in the past while Captain Atom plays a dangerous game in the present.



Is Justice League: The Atom Project #2 Good?


Recap


When we last left the Atoms (Ray Palmer and Ryan Choi) in Justice League: The Atom Project #1, the diminutive duo engaged security forces to hunt down Captain Atom. Why? Because the good Captain volunteered to become a guinea pig in experiments designed to return swapped or missing powers after the Absolute Power event. Captain Atom got powers, but not the way anyone expected.

Plot Synopsis


In Justice League: The Atom Project #2, the past and present continue on their paths to convergence.

In the past, the Atoms believed their device that swaps powers would work better than ever. They figured out how to track where Captain Atom's powers went, so they teleport to a location in the woods to discover his powers were transferred to a grizzly bear (???). After a brief fight and a solid haymaker that temporarily stuns the bear, Nathaniel grabs the device and endures the painful transference. The gambit worked and Captain Atom was restored.

In the present, the Atoms investigate the train where Captain Atom was spotted in the last issue. They find a speck of Speed Force energy and call Wally West for help. The military is none too pleased that Captain Atom got away in the last issue, so the military leadership secretly puts plans in place to use extreme force as soon as Captain Atom is found.

Meanwhile, Captain Atom contacts a research assistant involved in his origin and asks for help to destroy his powers.

First Impressions


Boring, confusing, and jumbled. That's as good a description as any. Ryan Parrot and John Ridley attempt to make the story interesting using time jumps that flip-flop between the past and present, presumably with the goal of ending where the timelines meet in the middle. If the point was to make Captain Atom's present condition mysterious and intriguing, it's not working.

How’s the Art?


Mike Perkins does his level best to make the sci-fi aspects of the story look trippy and interesting, and in large part, it works. Perkins's style works better in B&W, but Adriano Lucas puts on a decent coat of paint in the brighter energy scenes. 

What’s great about Justice League: The Atom Project #2?


As a whole, this series has the potential of importance if what the Atoms are doing leads to the restoration of all the heroes (and villains). There's plenty of conflict to spread around, and the action is well done.

What’s not great about Justice League: The Atom Project #2?


Parrot and Ridley's political thriller motif appears to be aiming for a plot along the lines of a Jack Ryan adventure or The Fugitive, but it just doesn't work. The flip-flopping timeline is headache-inducing, and the mystery surrounding Captain Atom's downfall isn't particularly interesting.

It's as if Parrot and Ridley got together and said, "How can we make a serious, adult political thriller starring two superheroes who can shrink based on a super-basic conflict?" The result is a superhero comic that tries to take itself too seriously.



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


Justice League: The Atom Project #2 is a jumbled, boring, uninteresting mystery wrapped in the fallout of Absolute Power. Ryan Parrot and John Ridley try to turn a straightforward superhero story into a high-brow political thriller and fall well short. The central concept could be important in the grand scheme of the DC Universe, but the execution isn't interesting enough to hold your attention.

5/10



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Absolute Superman #4 Review




  • Written by: Jason Aaron

  • Art by: Rafa Sandoval

  • Colors by: Ulises Arreola

  • Letters by: Becca Carey

  • Cover art by: Rafa Sandoval, Ulises Arreola

  • Cover price: $4.99

  • Release date: February 5, 2025


Absolute Superman #4, by DC Comics on 2/5/25, follows Agent Lois Lane in her investigation to find the stranger from a strange land. Her travels reveal more about the world Kal-El now calls home.



Is Absolute Superman #4 Good?


Recap


When we last left tween Kal-El in Absolute Superman #3, the El family became aware that the Ministry of Science knew all along that Krypton was dying and had a plan in place to save just the elite members of society. Jor-El's attempts to warn the public landed him in prison, but Kal and His mother broke him out with the help of advanced weapons and tech. The issue ended with Kal-El's parents unveiling a large ship they built to save themselves and as many people as possible. The epilogue showed a woman in a hospital room on Earth with some unclear connection to the abandoned Kent farm.

Plot Synopsis


Absolute Superman #4 begins with Agent Lois Lane of Lazarus Corp beating and arresting Peacekeeper Crenshaw for firing on innocent civilians at the end of issue #2. We learn Agent Lane has spent several months questioning civilians near spots around the globe where this "Superman" stopped briefly to lend a hand. Her search thus far has come up empty.

Later, Agent Lane receives a call from her retired father warning her to take out Superman if she should find him and to beware of the terrorist group known as the Omega Men. It's clear Lois has a contentious relationship with her father, and in turn, Mr. Lane harbors resentment over losing his legs during a battle with the Omega Men.

Elsewhere, Agent Crenshaw appears to be taking his humiliation at the hands of Superman poorly. During a mandatory therapy session with Lazarus Corp's Brainiac A.I., the computer gaslights Crenshaw into believing that he didn't actually harm anyone and that his spiraling mental state is only temporary.

During another solo search patrol on the streets of Brazil, Agent Lane walks down an isolated alley and is confronted by a junior member of the masked Omega Men, Jimmy Olsen. Jimmy tries to convince Lois that the Omega Men aren't terrorists and that they're trying to free people from the oppressive Lazarus Corp's propaganda and lies. After a brief fight, Lois gets the better of Jimmy. Suddenly, an armored senior member of Omega Men joins the fight - Omega Prime, aka Primus.

Primus and Agent Lane are evenly matched during their fight. Superman flies in and stops the fight. Primus attempts to convince Superman to join the Omega Men, but he knocks her away. Agent Lane pleads with Superman for a talk, but before they can continue, a squad of Peacemakers arrives to take Superman into custody. Superman freezes the Peacemakers and flies away.

The issue ends with Peacemaker Crenshaw blacking out with rage for being made a fool of again. When he comes to his senses, he realizes his uncontrolled rage turned deadly. 

First Impressions


Let's make a bet. How long can a comic series called Absolute Superman go without actually telling you anything about Absolute Superman (as an adult) or focus an entire issue on the titular character? Jason Aaron is playing a dangerous game by wasting time telling you everything you need to know about the world and the characters around Superman instead of telling you about Superman, which is exactly the same problem Jonathan Hickman is having on Ultimate Spider-Man. On the whole, this issue isn't bad if it was a transition issue or cooldown issue, but you have to actually get at least one arc under your belt for a cooldown issue to make sense.

How’s the Art?


Rafa Sandoval's art looks fantastic. The moments of drama in a dialog-heavy issue come through loud and clear, and the little action there is looks super. There are no complaints about the art, so Sandoval earns top marks.

What’s great about Absolute Superman #4?


If you have a burning desire to get to know the spirit and personality of Agent Lois Lane, including the tense relationship with her father, this is the issue for you. Similar to the previous issues, Jason Aaron spends a healthy dose of time building out Superman's cast of supporting characters and the world they inhabit to give the Absolute Man of Steel a fully realized universe to inhabit.

What’s not great about Absolute Superman #4?


A fully fleshed-out universe to inhabit is pointless if the main character is nowhere to be found. Jason Aaron has spent nearly four issues teasing a blank slate of a character where the big superheroics and wow moments are performed by his technically advanced suit. Either Jason Aaron is holding back Superman for some unknown reason, or Aaron thinks his world-building is more interesting than it really is.

Regardless, beautifully written moments don't replace the foundational aspects of storytelling. 

Whose the PoV character? We don't know because the PoV character changes with every issue.

If you presume that Superman is the lead, what are his goals? What does he want? We don't know because we haven't spent any time with him.

If you presume Absolute Superman stands for Truth, Justice, and the American Way, who or what is standing in his way? Unknown. Sure, Lazarus Corp is doing evil, but they don't appear to be any match for Superman's overwhelming power.

In short, Jason Aaron isn't telling a story. He's wandering in his own imagination without a thought or concern for where he's headed, and you're footing the bill for it.



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 #4 is a perfectly decent character-building issue that gives readers a better picture of Agent Lois Lane. Jason Aaron puts considerable thought into fleshing out the Absolute Earth's rival groups and Agent Lane's relationship with her father. That said, readers expecting a comic titled Absolute Superman to have Absolute Superman show up for more than a couple of pages will be sorely disappointed... again.

5.5/10



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Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Batman #157 Review




  • Written by: Chip Zdarsky

  • Art by: Jorge Jiménez, Tony S. Daniel

  • Colors by: Tomeu Morey

  • Letters by: Clayton Cowles

  • Cover art by: Jorge Jiménez, Tomeu Morey (cover A)

  • Cover price: $4.99

  • Release date: February 5, 2024


Batman #157, by DC Comics on 2/5/25, brings the arc and Chip Zdarsky's tenure to a close when Batman races to stop the Court of Owls, KGBeast, and the Laws of Physics to prevent WWIII.



Is Batman #157 Good?


Recap


When we last left the Dark Knight in Batman #156, Batman turned over the evidence that proved Jim Gordon was innocent of murder. With one challenge down, Batman raced to Nygma's office building to rescue Mad Hatter and stop the Riddler from sowing chaos. Unfortunately, the Riddler figured out too late that he was played by the Court of Owls into turning over the encryption codes needed to launch WWIII to the Russians, enabled By Commander Star, aka KGBeast.

Plot Synopsis


Batman #157 begins with an all-out race to stop Leonid from leaving the country on a private jet with the nuclear encryption codes. Batman arrives at the airstrip in time to launch a grappling hook and catch a ride just as the jet takes off. As the plane ascends, Batman uses a small explosive charge to blast open the passenger door, leap into the hold, and fight Leonid's bodyguards.

Elsewhere, the small explosion set off in Nygma's skyscraper renders the building burning and unstable. Through the rubble, Nygma makes his way to Jim Gordon and begins to choke him for his part in spoiling Nygma's plans. Suddenly, the building shifts and sends part of its level collapsing sideways.

Commander Star continues to egg the crowd on with socio-political rhetoric. Batman eventually incapacitates Leonid and his men and takes control of the jet, but the jet begins to descend after the controls are damaged in the fight. Batman kills two birds with one stone by using controlled explosions to blow off the wings and crash the jet in the middle of the street, stopping immediately in front of Commander Star. Batman leaps out of the plane and beats KGBeast to a pulp.

The issue ends with Bullock being fired for disobeying Vandal Savage's orders, Bruce learning William is not his biological brother but still getting a lecture about his father's mistakes and Bruce's squandering of his life.

First Impressions


Well, you could argue that Chip Zdarsky's run went downhill as soon as he pulled the Bat God maneuver of "jumping" from the Moon to the Earth. Zdarsky ends his run with another Bat God maneuver by landing a private jet in the middle of the street and launching into a fistfight, ignoring all laws of energy, physics, and common sense. If Zdarsky is going to end his time on Batman, it makes sense to end by reminding readers how he went wrong.

How’s the Art?


The art looks great. Jorge Jiménez, Tony S. Daniel, and Tomeu Morey do their level best to make Chip Zdarsky's over-the-top, silly script look intense and visually exciting. Jiménez and Daniel make every leap, fall, kick, and punch look vibrant and pummeling.

What’s great about 
Batman #157?

It's over, Johnny. IT'S OVER! Chip Zdarsky wraps up all the major plot points reasonably well and injects more than a fair amount of double-sided social commentary to get his politics out on the page.

What’s not great about Batman #157?


The issue doesn't feel rushed, but the solutions to several problems are way too easy to take as plausible. 

There's no way Batman could precisely guide a private jet down the middle of a city street without wings. There's no way Batman could leap from the cockpit, with the plane still in motion, into a perfect fighting stance against KGBeast. There's no way Batman could beat KGBeast that easily.

And there's no way Bruce would sit still to be lectured about wasting his life by a guy who almost scammed him and his company out of millions.

Goodbye, Chip Zdarsky. You won't be missed.



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


Batman #157 ends Chip Zdarsky's troubled run with more Bat God shenanigans. The art is great, and the bigger plot points get resolved, but the ending strains plausibility on multiple levels, so it's a mess.

5/10



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JSA #4 Review




  • Written by: Jeff Lemire

  • Art by: Joey Vazquez

  • Colors by: Luis Guerrero

  • Letters by: Steve Wands

  • Cover art by: Cully Hamner

  • Cover price: $3.99

  • Release date: February 5, 2025


JSA #4, by DC Comics on 2/5/25, finds Dr. Mid-Nite loose inside the Injustice Society's underground lair. What secrets will she uncover before she's caught?



Is JSA #4 Good?


Recap


When last we left the fractured first team of superheroes in JSA #3, Hawkman survived his lethal stabbing after he was captured by a trio of demons who intended to offer the Thanagarian as a sacrifice to free their master, Surtur. Meanwhile, Dr. Mid-Nite discovered the turncoat behind Jakeem's coma, Dr. Fate received a pep talk from WildCat to help the team, and Carter Hall may receive a helping hand from Kid Eternity.

Plot Synopsis


In JSA #4, the battle between the light and the dark continues, but not in the way you think. Dr. Mid-Nite wakes up in the underground base of the Injustice Society, guarded by Solomon Grundy. She uses a few escape tricks she learned from Mister Miracle to uno her ropes and hit Grundy with a secretly stashed blackout bomb, giving her a chance to escape through the underground tunnels.

After a quick tussle with guards and several twists and turns, Dr. Mid-Nite stumbles upon the meeting room of the Injustice Society. She overhears the members talking about the artifacts they need to enact their plan, including the Helm of Fate and the Spear of Destiny. Hawkman is crucial because he's the only one who knows where to find the Spear. Unfortunately, Hawkman escaped Wotan and the Demons Three in the last issue (the escape occurred off-panel, apparently).

Meanwhile, Obsidian wakes up in a sunny hospital room., The attendant tells him he's been in a terrible car accident and needs rest. Obsidian tries to leave, but every time he comes close, the attendant injects him with drugs and knocks him out. One morning, Obsidian manages to gather enough power from a shadow in the room to escape. He runs down the hospital corridors and finds Jakeem in a locked room. When Obsidian frees Jakeem, the latter summons Thunderbolt, but nothing happens.

The issue concludes with Dr. Mid-Nit finding an unconscious Obsidian hooked up to a machine in the Injustice Society's lair, but she's attacked by Scandal before she can do anything about it.

First Impressions


Overall, JSA #4 is pretty okay. That sounds like faint praise for Jeff Lemire, but you can't fault the guy for keeping the JSA front and center. Sure, the plot is a bit frazzled, and Scandal's depiction is less than ideal, but it's a decent enough issue.

How’s the Art?


Joey Vazquez steps in as guest artist for Diego Olortegui, and the results are... better. Vazquez's style is cleaner, sharper, and more refined than Olortegui's work on the first three issues, so the overall visual aesthetic is an improvement.

What’s great about JSA #4?


More JSA is a good thing. Jeff Lemire's tale combines mystery, suspense, action, and a few surprises. If you enjoyed what Geoff Johns did with the Star Girl television show (guilty as charged), you'll like what's happening here, even if the character work is not the same.

What’s not great about JSA #4?


The plot feels scattered. To give the major plot threads their due, Lemire gets tripped up on the continuity from one issue to the next.

How, why, and when did Hawkman escape? A version of Kid Eternity approached him at the end of the last issue, but the actual escape, and anything connected to it, happens between issues.

What's happening with Dr. Fate and the team members trapped in a demon dimension?

What happened to Hawkgirl after she flew off to rescue Hawkman?

The danger of having too many characters and giving them too much to do is what you get here - whole chunks of the story get dropped or placed on the back burner, so the continuity from one issue to the next feels disjointed.



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


JSA #4 is a serviceable issue that showcases Dr. Mid-Nite's talents as a hero. Jeff Lemire's script gives Mid-Nite plenty to do while explaining (sort of) what happened to Obsidian and Jakeem, which is a positive. However, cliffhangers and twists from the last issue get placed on the back burner, so the story's flow comes off as disjointed and clunky.

6/10



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