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DC Pride + Mystique and Destiny Get Married - May 29 Comic Reviews

It's a good week for comics!

This week’s comic book reviews. While I try to read everything, I can’t review everything. So, if you’re a publisher who wants me to check out their upcoming releases, email me at [email protected]!

DC Comics

Kevin Wada

Batman: The Brave and the Bold #13 ★★★½

Favorite stories: Nightwing & Deadman: Down The Road - Tim Seeley, Kelley Jones, Michael Madsen, and Rob Leigh - It makes so much sense pairing Deadman and Nightwing here, leading to a very tense and spooky story. I can’t wait to see where it goes next. Plus, Constantine calls Dick “Tights-Wing” so, yeah.

Time Jerks - Mark Russell, Jon Mikel, Mike Spicer, Ferran Delgado - Mark Russell's writing Boost Gold is exactly what the hero deserves. This is a hilarious time-travel adventure co-starring the Jurassic League. Jon Mikel and Mike Spicer make for a solid team.

Perp Walk - Jason Shawn Alexander, Rodney Barnes, Tom Napolitano - Alexander’s black and white artwork shines in this dark and bizarre Batman story, exploring his relationship with the Joker and what losing him would mean for The Dark Knight.

DC Pride 2024 ★★★★

Spaces - Phil Jimenez, Giulio Macaione, Frank Cvetkovic - Much like the late Kevin Conroy’s story in last year’s DC Pride, Phil Jimenez writes a deeply personal tale about belonging and the journey he’s taken as a human and artist — all beautifully illustrated by Macaione.

The Rivers and the Lakers You’re Used To - Ngozi Ukazu, Lucas Gattoni, Andrea Shea - What does it mean to truly belong? As Jackson Hyde questions his true purpose, he’s taken to New Genesis thanks to a portal-creating underwater villain. On the paradise planet, he encounters Orion, who knows a thing or two about trying to belong. The result? An unexpectedly delightful team-up. Ukazu needs to be put on a New Gods in-continuity title ASAP.

Lessons in Astral Projection - Nicole Maines, Jordan Gibson, Ariana Maher, Arianna Turturro - Maines, once again, writes a fantastic story diving deeper into Dreamer’s powers and past as we learn more about the character. Jordan Gibson draws the heck out of this book, with the spellbinding and vibrant first page of the story being among one of my favorite single pages of the year so far.

Phantom Romeo - Calvin Kasulke, Len Gogou, Marissa Louise, Morgan Martinez & Andworld Design - Circuit Breaker and Jay Garrick might seem like an odd pairing at first glance, but this book showcases the new and old characters in a fun story that Flash (and CB) fans will enjoy immensely.

Marvel Comics

Jan Bazaldua

X-Men: The Wedding Special #1 ★★★★ - by Kieron Gillen, Rachael Stott, Michael Bartolo, Tini Howard, Phillip Sevy, KJ Diaz, Tate Bombral, Emilio Pilliu, Irma Kniivila, Yoon Ha Lee, Stephen Byrne, Wyatt Kennedy, Jenn St-Onge, Brittany Peer) - This is how you do a wedding special! This book showcases the complicated relationships and history surrounding Mystique and Destiny while being a worthy spotlight on those impacted by their mischievous actions. The issue is both funny and touching. Nobody does “be gay, do crime” better.

Avengers Twilight #6 ★★★★- Chip Zdarsky, Daniel Acuna, and VC’s Joe Caramagna - Avengers Twilight will be remembered as one of the best alternate Marvel Universe stories ever told. Acuna’s work is a stark reminder he’s one of the top artists working today, with Zdarsky’s writing giving each character a moment to shine. Hopefully, it’s not the last time readers see this world. But, if it is, what a sendoff.

Valiant Comics

Rai: The Book of the Darque #1 ★★★½ - Dan Abnett, Emilio Utrera, Exequiel F. Roel, Mariano Morales, Ludwig Olimba, Marina Leon, and Ezequiel Inverni - A surprisingly funny, action-filled story with plenty of body horror. Abnett is one of the best writers of sci-fi comics and his writing fits this world quite well. It feels like Tom King and Gabriel Hernandez Walta’s Vision, but with RAI characters… and that’s not a bad thing.

Dark Horse Comics

William of Newbury #1 ★★★★ - Michael Avon Oeming - The solicit for the first issue calls this book Hellboy meets Red Wall and it’s hard to find a better comparison. A gorgeously illustrated supernatural fantasy tale about a monk raccoon fighting the dead to bring peace to the world, William of Newbury is an incredibly captivating start to this story.

IDW Publishing

Godzilla: Mechagodzilla 50th Anniversary #1 ★★★★ - Rich Douek, Andrew Griffith, Priscilla Tramontano, and Rus Wooton - This feels like a fresh take on the franchise, bringing a unique narrative to the table with intertwining timelines. There’s plenty of action and intrigue, plus a Kaiju with atomic breath taking on an advanced robot version of himself. What more could you want?

BOOM! STUDIOS

Miguel Mercado

Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers - The Return #4 - ★★★★½ Amy Jo Johnson, Matt Hotson, Nico Leon, Dono Sanchez-Almara, and Ed Dukeshire - Holy moly, what a finish to an excellent miniseries. For fans of the earliest iterations of the Power Rangers, this comic is everything they could ever want. Nico Leon’s art is superb, and Sanchez-Almara’s colors match them wonderfully. Yes, the story leans into fan service, but not at the cost of a damn good story. Hopefully, this is the first of many MMPR stories from this team.