Thursday, April 10, 2025

Green Lantern Corps #3 Review




  • Written by: Morgan Hampton, Jeremy Adams

  • Art by: Fernando Pasarín, Oclair Albert, Jason Paz

  • Colors by: Arif Prianto, Rain Beredo

  • Letters by: Dave Sharpe

  • Cover art by: Fernando Pasarín, Oclair Albert (cover A)

  • Cover price: $3.99

  • Release date: April 9, 2025


Green Lantern Corps #3, by DC Comics on 4/9/25, recounts the tragic fate of the Red Lantern Corps after their Power Battery was destroyed. Meanwhile, the mysterious Nth metal egg hatches.



Is Green Lantern Corps #3 Good?


Recap


When we last left John Stewart and his team in Green Lantern Corps #2, a mission of mercy to the crumbling remains of Thanagar didn't go as planned. John's team crossed paths with Atrocitus and his crew of former Red Lanterns scavenging Thanagar's remains in search of Nth metal. The eventual fight ended in a stalemate when the remains of Thanagar fell apart, revealing a gigantic, egg-shaped object made of Nth metal.

Plot Synopsis


In Green Lantern Corps #3, the skirmish between John's Green Lanterns and Atrocitus's former Red Lanterns continues. Atrocitus vents his anger during the fight, blaming the Green Lanterns for the fate of his allies.

When the United Planets Lanterns destroyed the Red Power Battery, many Red Lanterns died because their hearts were tied to the Battery's energy. The few that survived did so with the help of the remaining charge on their rings. Thanks to the wild unpredictability of the fractured Emotional Spectrum, Zilius Zox's rage infused him with unstable Red Lantern energy. Seizing the opportunity, Atrocitus invented a method to siphon Zilius Zox's power into the surviving Red Lanterns using Nth metal, keeping the remaining Red Lanterns alive. Now, Atrocitus hunts for Nth Metal to build a permanent solution, rebuild the Red Lantern ranks, and seek revenge against the Green Lanterns.

Suddenly, the gigantic Nth metal egg at the heart of Thanagar hatches. The Thanagarian god Horus emerges and questions why he was forced to emerge centuries ahead of schedule. Atrocitus orders his ship to fire on the god, but the ship's weapons are no match for Horus, who rips the ship in half. John quickly holds the ship together with a construct while Shayera pleads for mercy from the god of her people. Horus agrees, impressed by Shayera's courage, and flies off with a mission to find a planet that will act as a new Thanagar.

The issue ends with the surviving Red Lanterns reluctantly choosing to co into cryo-freeze in the OA Sciencecells until their Power Battery can be restored or a cure for their hearts can be found. 

First Impressions


Morgan Hampton, co-writing Jeremy Adams, takes big swings in this issue, and I'm on board. In short order, you learn the fate of the Red Lanterns, the mystery behind the giant Nth metal egg, and plant interesting seeds for the future. 

How’s the Art?


Fernando Pasarín, Oclair Albert, and Jason Paz execute the script beautifully. You get a serviceable amount of ring-slinging action, the look of Horus is excellent as a massive, Phoenix-like, golden god, and the scene execution and transitions are smooth. As noted in the previous reviews, the closeup facial expressions look awkward, but everything else looks great.

What’s great about Green Lantern Corps #3?


Big ideas with consequences and seeds for the future are just what the doctor ordered. What started as a "side book" is quickly turning into a series that uses the fallout from the Civil Corps War as a springboard for interesting ideas to evolve the cosmic side of the DC universe.

What’s not great about Green Lantern Corps #3?


Aside from the art teams' awkward-looking faces, the weak point of the story is Atrocitus's reckless idea to attack a god with a small ship. What did he hope to accomplish? Yes. You could argue that Atrocitus isn't acting clearly because he's desperate, but it comes across as foolish posturing.



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


Green Lantern Corps #3
 is a fun, thrilling, meaningful entry in the series that shakes up the status quo of the Red Lanterns and the Thanagarians in one fell swoop. Morgan Hampton and Jeremy Adams's script takes big swings that largely pay off, and the art teams' battle visuals look great.

8.5/10



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Absolute Batman #7 Review




  • Written by: Scott Snyder

  • Art by: Marcos Martín

  • Colors by: Muntsa Vicente

  • Letters by: Clayton Cowles

  • Cover art by: Nick Dragotta (cover A)

  • Cover price: $4.99

  • Release date: April 9, 2025


Absolute Batman #7, by DC Comics on 4/9/25, begins a chilling new arc when Bruce Wayne investigates the death of an old friend and the construction of the new Ark-M black site prison.



Is Absolute Batman #7 Good?


Recap


When we last left Bruce Wayne in Absolute Batman #6, the battle for Gotham City concluded when Absolute Batman infiltrated Black Mask's yacht and shut down the social media bounty system. Gotham's citizens ran wild in the streets, earning cash for Grand Theft Auto-styled crimes. When the system shut down, everyone returned to normal, and Black Mask lost his eyes in the battle. 

Plot Synopsis


In Absolute Batman #7, Bruce Wayne's childhood friends gather to remember the death of one of their own - Mitchell "Matches" Malone. The issue begins with an informal memorial to remember Matches Malone as a friend who always stuck his neck out on a dare but who sometimes didn't know when to quit.

A few days earlier, Bruce Wayne, still recovering from his fight with Black Mask, asks Matches Malone for help forging identification that will get him onto the work site of the new Ark-M prison. When Bruce receives word later from Matches that the task is complete, they meet in the open to make the exchange. Before turning over the goods, Matches tells Bruce he snuck into Ark-M to see for himself what's happening, and he learns the prison is already accepting prisoners. Most of the names Matches notes in a list - including Isley, Strange, and Langstrom - are specialized scientists from around the world. Suddenly, Matches erupts in exploding blood vessels, and he dies on the spot.

During the memorial, Bruce arrives to tell his friends he won't stop until he finds out why Matches died. His friends are still processing the revelation that Bruce is Batman, so they refuse to help him because they believe his exploits will get him killed.

One of the names in the information Matches compiled belongs to the owner of a Gotham company called V-Core, a leader in cryo-tech. Bruce infiltrates V-Tech as a city engineer arriving for an inspection. Within V-Tech, he meets Victor Fries Jr., who keeps the business running with rare fauna and medically incurable patients encased in ice, including his parents. When Bruce spots bacteria samples that appear connected to Matches's death, Victor Jr. shows the monstrous side effects of being one of V-Tech's earliest success stories.

First Impressions


Barring one or two soft spots, Absolute Batman #7 is the kind of storytelling that significantly elevates the series. Why? Because you get creatively original variations on characters, an intriguing mystery, and entertaining surprises without over-the-top theatrics that take you out of the story.

How’s the Art?


Marcos Martín steps in as guest artist for Nick Dragotta to kick off the arc and begin the next phase of Absolute Batman's development. Martín's sense of anatomy is much less exaggerated than Dragotta's, which is a negative because Dragotta's wild proportions are part of this series' unique charm. Martín's art isn't necessarily bad, but it doesn't fit the vision the first arc established, and it seems odd to have two guest artists on the title when we're only on issue #7.

What’s great about Absolute Batman #7?


Writer Scott Snyder pulls back on the wild theatrics and concentrates on a story with mystery, discovery, and surprises. Bruce Wayne shows off the talents that will eventually make him the world's greatest detective and the horror-centric twist on Mr. Freeze is the stuff of nightmares.

What’s not great about Absolute Batman #7?


Snyder drops several breadcrumbs that eventually lead Bruce Wayne to V-Tech, but one of the crucial breadcrumbs comes across as slightly underbaked. Why would the Fries name be associated with the data from Matches's phone? How and why is V-Tech connected to Ark-M? Once Bruce has the name Fries, the investigation path becomes clear, but there's no rhyme or reason for that name to come up.



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 #7 is one of the strongest issues in the series showcasing Bruce's investigation skills and presenting a horrific twist on a familiar Batman villain. Scott Snyder's script tones down the over-the-top theatrics to present a gritty detective story, and Marcos Martín's art is solid, albeit not complimentary to the series' main artist, Nick Dragotta.

8.5/10



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Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Aquaman #4 Review




  • Written by: Jeremy Adams

  • Art by: John Timms

  • Colors by: Rex Lokus

  • Letters by: Dave Sharpe

  • Cover art by: John Timms

  • Cover price: $3.99

  • Release date: April 9, 2025


Aquaman #4, by DC Comics on 4/9/25, finds Arthur at the mercy of Lori Lemoris and her mercenaries in service to Dagon when Arion and Vivienne arrive with the ultimate weapon. 



Is Aquaman #4 Good?


Recap


When we last left the King of Atlantis in Aquaman #3, Arthur partnered with Arion and Vivienne to reach a magical plateau where the magic wielders could forge a weapon for Arthur to defeat Dagon. During the ceremony, Lori Lemoris arrived through a portal and kidnapped Arthur for her master - Dagon.

Plot Synopsis


In Aquaman #4, King Arthur receives his "Excalibur." The issue begins with a brief prologue depicting the moment Arthur first encountered Mera. It was love at first sight. Now, Arthur wakes up, bound in magical chains, aboard Dagon's ship. Lori Lemoris explains they are sailing through Dagon's domain and headed to their master. Try as he might, Arthur can't break Lori's chains, so she leaves him to make peace with his destiny.

Arthur uses his hydrokinetic powers to draw the moisture from the decking below his feet, making it dry and brittle. He crashes through the weakened wood, pulling his chains with him into the open ocean. Lori and her mercenaries give chase.

Elsewhere, Arion and Vivienne realize Arthur was taken through the Alpha portal, so they reactivate the portal and step through with the new weapon bound to Arhtur's soul - Thalassa the Trilance Saber. The magic wielders arrive in time to stop Arthur's re-capture. They break his chains and bestow the blade to Arthur.

The issue ends with Arthur giving his new weapon a test drive, laying waste to Dagon's ship, and sending a strong signal to Dagon that Aquaman is coming.

First Impressions


This is a superhero comic published by a Publisher known as one of the top two superhero comic publishers. Every comic should remind the reader, loud and clear, that the titular superhero is a certified badass. Jeremy Adams understands the homework assignment and goes for extra credit in Aquaman #4.

How’s the Art?


John Timms pulls out all the stops to show readers why Aquaman is a badass by putting his new hydrokinetic powers to clever use. Arthur puts up a heck of a fight once he escapes, and once he gets his new sword, Timms uses powerful, dramatic visuals, including a cool bit of silhouette work, to make the upgrade as impactful as possible. 

What’s great about Aquaman #4?


Every superhero comic should be exciting, powerful, and full of moments that elevate the hero whenever possible. As short and sweet as this issue is, Jeremey Adams uses the available page space wisely to showcase Aquaman with his smarts, strength, and speed to show he's nobody's chump.

What’s not great about Aquaman #4?


To be fair, this issue reads very quickly because the entire issue could be summed up in three moments. Arthur escapes, Arion and Vivienne show up to give him his new sword, and Arthur kicks ass. Plotwise, there's not much meat to the story. For most people, this issue will still be satisfying under the "Rule of Cool," but the story effectively pauses.



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


Aquaman #4 leans on the "Rule of Cool" to show Arthur kicking ass and taking names when he escapes the clutches of Dagon's mercenaries. Jeremey Adams's script elevates Aquaman's badassery score by fifty points, and John Timms's artwork looks amazing. That said, the issue is more action than story, so the plot takes a pause. 

8/10



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Action Comics #1085 Review




  • Written by: G. Willow Wilson

  • Art by: Gavin Guidry

  • Colors by: Trish Mulvihill

  • Letters by: Dave Sharpe

  • Cover art by: Brad Walker (cover A)

  • Cover price: $4.99

  • Release date: April 9, 2025


Action Comics #1085, by DC Comics on 4/9/25, begins the last Superstars arc when Clark Kent heads to the Antarctic for a research story, but technological terrors await him.



Is Action Comics #1085 Good?


Plot Synopsis


Action Comics #1085 begins with Perry White informing Lois Lane she can't go to the Antarctic to finish her research story on scientists researching a method to slow down greenhouse gas emissions. A sudden heat wave in Metropolis causes emergency government actions, and Lois is the only reporter with the skill to handle politicians. Who does Lois nominate to go in her place? Clark Kent.

Clark lands in Antarctica and soon finds the scientists are experiencing unusual problems with their computer equipment. The mysterious nature of the problems leads the scientists to believe someone is sabotaging their efforts. Suddenly, a pair of cybernetically enhanced polar bears break down the door to the research station. Clark slips away and changes into his "white" Superman suit before hauling the polar bears away. During the flight, the polar bears disintegrate into ice particles... or something.

Later, Superman scans the area but doesn't find any invaders or suspicious activity when he's attacked by a giant robot emerging from the ice. Superman defeats the robot and saves the research station from destruction. The issue ends with the mastermind of the attacks making his presence known - Kilg%re.

First Impressions


Writer G. Willow Wilson's Silver Age-inspired story is simplistic, a bit goofy, mildly flawed, but a good enough time waster. You get the impression Wilson dumbed down the material to make it suitable for kids.

How’s the Art?


Gavin Guidry steps up for art duties, and his style is a solid match for Wilson's grade school-level script. The character designs are decent enough, tipping just on the side of cartoonish, and the action is well done.

What’s great about Action Comics #1085?


If you've been hankering for a back-to-basics Superman story that tells a straight with a little bit of that Silver Age wackiness, you're in luck. Wilson's setup makes sense if you stretch believability just a tad, things happen out of nowhere without getting too nonsensical, and the villain's appearance feels like the arc has potential.

What’s not great about Action Comics #1085?


If you want Silver Age wackiness to stay in the Silver Age, you might have a tough time with this issue. The setup hand waves an excuse to get Clark to the Antarctic that feels mildly forced. Clark's "Nervous Nellie" theatrics go a little overboard. Superman's quick change into a "white" suit serves no purpose and runs counter to canon when history has shown that light-colored suits weaken Superman because they reflect sunlight. The list goes on and on.

In other words, Action Comics #1085 reads like a comic written for kids who don't have the critical thinking to notice the flaws in the plot or the historical knowledge of Superman to notice the flaws in the way his character is written.



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


Action Comics #1085 begins a wacky, Silver Age-inspired adventure when Clark Kent heads to Antarctica for a story and finds a deadly threat. G. Willow Wilson's script reads like a kid-friendly adventure you'd find at a Scholastic Book Fair, flaws and all, and Gavin Guidry's art is a decent match for Wilson's vibe.

5.5/10



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