WESLEY DODDS: THE SANDMAN #2
“What I do know is, during my efforts to invent the gas, I created concoctions biblical in their lethality.”
DC Comics has been producing some heavy-hitter series under the “Dawn of DC” banner which launched back in January this year. Wesley Dodds Sandman is no exception. This series feels particularly grounded for a DC comic. Taking place in Manhattan in the 1940s, Wesley Dodds must hunt down the perp who stole his recipe book of lethal gases before they use it for nefarious ends. The Sandman is a cautionary tale about good intentions and misadventures. While Wesley Dodds is committed to using his gaseous discoveries for good, what happens when scientific breakthroughs fall into the wrong hands?
Robert Venditti writes inquisitive yet brooding narration that would feel heavy if it weren’t shared by beautiful pages of standalone art. Readers are treated to a feast of panels filled with horrific dream sequences and adrenaline-soaked fight scenes. Artists Riley Rossmo and Ivan Plascencia give a loose and modern feel to a crime-noir classic that keeps readers at the edge of their seats.
THE IMMORTAL THOR #4
“We are not measured by strength, nor by raw power. The measure of us is what we do when the need for action lies with us… and the hammer is in our hand.”
This comic isn’t for the faint of heart as Ewing’s prose reads like an Icelandic saga. As the series’ villain Toranos approaches, Thor must summon his allies to battle. Storm, Beta Ray Bill, Jane Foster, and Loki all make appearances in this issue, and the exchanges that follow are what comic book fans live for. From Storm crushing Thor with the atmospheric pressure of Jupiter to Thor’s discourse on power scaling, Ewing packs this issue with intelligent fan service up to the very last cliffhanger.
Artists Martin Coccolo and Matt Wilson provide some of the most grandiose artwork in Marvel comics this year. The two-page spreads are epic enough to make even mighty Thor look small. And don’t even get me started on those covers by Alex Ross! Immortal Thor #3 is a commentary on power; what it means to have power and more importantly, what it takes to use it. It’s also a parable about how one should share power, and the destructive consequences of power left unregulated.
GREEN LANTERN: WAR JOURNAL #3
“Watching this disease make you smaller… it’s the hardest thing I've ever been through. I promised you I wouldn’t leave you, and now you’re gonna wake up and I won’t be here.”
Green Lantern: War Journal is one of those books that doesn’t fit neatly into one genre. It’s equal parts body horror, action-adventure, and space opera. Writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson experiments with unique concepts like “The space between moments,” an energy realm outside spacetime where green lanterns can communicate with those who have died, not unlike the Jedi’s “World Between Worlds,” in Star Wars shows like Rebels and Ashoka.
While there’s a lot of fun stuff going on in this issue, including another cameo from Steel and a ghost of Kyle Rayner from another universe, the story ends in heartbreak as John Stewart must leave his dying mother struggling with dementia. Readers experience a share of John’s anguish as he laments the disease that has taken so much of his mother’s personality. But this is what ultimately motivates John to take on his new battle, to protect the ones he loves. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the vibrant art from Montos and Adriano Lucas which practically pops off the page. The colors have a particular radiant quality that brings the characters to life, both the good and the bad. And time is ticking for John Stewart. Will he remain the hero his mother raised him to be, or be consumed by the Radiant Dead?
AVENGERS INC. #3
“This was our kind of case - a murder nobody cared about - but this victim wasn’t from the wrong side of the tracks. He was from the wrong side of the grave.”
How do you murder someone who is already dead? Janet Van Dyne and some mysterious iteration of the Vision named “Vic Shade” find out in this issue of Avengers Inc. as they explore the underbelly of the Asgardian’s heavenly hall. While technically an Avengers title, Al Ewing puts a unique detective spin on one of Marvel’s best team books. Each issue has been a self-contained mystery with occasional panels of subplot foreshadowing something larger at work behind the scenes.
Readers get to experience the mighty Jane Foster as Valkyrie, the villain “Grim” who has somehow found his way into the halls of Valhalla, and All-Father Odin himself who holds more than one deadly secret. Sadly, Marvel canceled this series after just two issues of poor sales, bringing the sleuthing Avengers to an end after issue #5 this upcoming February. This is the first ongoing series I’ve read that’s been canceled prematurely, and I’m sure it won’t be the last. Comic book readers often face discouragement over canceled books and unresolved storylines. Nothing lasts forever, and comic books are not immune to the uncertainties of life. So like all things I’ll cherish these stories while I still can, and who knows what might come of our beloved characters in the future.
TRANFORMERS #2
“I had no idea. Your home is so fragile. Where I am from, everything is metal. The ground doesn’t sway when I walk. I don’t leave marks where my feet tread. I should have known better.”
I try to spread out my reviews month to month, avoiding talking about the same few books all the time. But with issue #2 of Transformers, I was struggling to find something negative to say. Once again Daniel Warren Johnson and Mike Spicer give us a near-perfect story that’s packed to the brim with meaningful dialogue and fast-paced action. While the artwork has a simplicity reminiscent of the original 80’s cartoon, Johnson still manages to fill every nook and cranny of each panel with intricate details and fun easter eggs.
The highlight of this book for me was listening to Optimus Prime as he processes life on our planet. The story opens somewhat absurdly with Optimus accidentally stepping on a deer, crushing it to death. The human character Sam doesn’t seem to mind, but Optimus is clearly bothered by his oversight. Despite his massive size and hard exterior, Optimus has a soft heart and reveres all life as sacred. This heartfelt scene is contrasted perfectly by the brutal Decepticons who take advantage of human frailty and often “splat” people to death who get in their way. Readers also get an “Energon Universe” cameo in this issue that you won’t want to miss. While on the surface Transformers may seem like a campy book about robots, deep down this is a story about the heart of humanity and what makes us so special among all the stars.
Most Anticipated New Releases for December
Animal Pound #1 - Dec. 20, 2023
Duke #1 - Dec. 27, 2023
Moon Knight #30, Series Finale - Dec. 13, 2023
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