Apologies for the lack of updates on the site and thanks for sticking with me as I’ve been off on my honeymoon! I’ve been trying to keep up posting things on socials, but glad to be back in the routine of posting a bit more long form content here as well. I’ve got a bit of catching up to do on comics now that I’m back and this week is a bit light on reviews, but hopefully can have more next week.

As always, I hope you enjoy any book you picked up for this week’s NCBD! Let me know what you read and which ones were your favorites!

MARVEL COMICS

X-MEN #31

It’s starting to feel like Gerry Duggan is so ready to be done with X-Men with the way these scripts feel like they’re being mailed in to get to the end of Krakoa. I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt after the last issue in the hopes he wasn’t actually fridging Talon, but it confirmed here and done so in a way that somehow made it even more offensive to the character. Talon calling Synch darling? Really? Is that how Duggan thinks any female character would respond to their male love interest? It sounds like how he writes Emma in Invincible Iron Man. Sorry Gerry, but these are two VERY different women.

Why was any of this necessary if the end result was going to be the X-Men turning off the Orchis kill switch anyway? Synch didn’t even do anything special with his post-fridge emotions. And what the heck was with the random Kingpin/Typhoid Mary scene? They were shown back together (with no explanation on where Mary had been) in a recent Spider-Man issue, so it was strange to seemingly go back in time to this reunion with little explanation. This all just feels very messy and a haphazard attempt to tie up loose ends.

Phil Noto’s art isn’t for everyone but I enjoyed it again here. There’s a distinct subtlety to his art that limits the impact of action sequences and other panels which require motion to be conveyed, but I thought it was used effectively. I can’t blame Noto for the script, but he perfectly captured the kind of humor that Duggan was going for (even if I disagreed with the humor to begin with). Look no further than any panel involving Spider-Man and you’ll see how Noto can capture humor with his unique style. Noto’a style also shown brightest during the emotional scenes between Talon and Sync.

Overall, I didn’t enjoy how this issue played out and I’m starting to really worry how much Duggan is going to mail in his remaining X-MEN issues before this ends. He seems to only be enjoying writing non-mutant characters at this point (i.e. Tony Stark and Spider-Man) and forcing his brand of humor into each book. I don’t think Duggan is a bad writer per se, but these books don’t fit his style.

Rating: 5/10

DC COMICS

BATMAN #142

It’s going to be hard to judge this story as a whole until we see the entire plot unfold, but c’mon DC, what’s the need for this story? Let alone dropping it smack dab in the middle of another ongoing plot (Zur-En-Arrh aka Failsafe 2.0) that isn’t even that great itself. It’s a really jarring momentum killer that feels like a random event instead of part of a holistic story arc.

At least from this first part, the story isn’t even a true “Year One” story as the issue goes in and out of several timelines, including the present one with Batman’s POV. The parts that are told in the past come off more like half-handed retelling than thought-provoking or revelatory new beats.

The art in the issue was a big meh from me, especially considering we’re missing out on issues that could have been drawn by Jorge Jimenez. Hopefully things pick up some, but this initial entry in this now weekly narrative was a major bore.

Rating: 4/10

BIRDS OF PREY #6

First and foremost, I have to give major kudos and love to the art team of @leo_romero11 & #jordoebellaire who have defined this young series’ visual identity in such a unique and impressive way. It took an issue or two for me to get used to it, but my love for their style became apparent when they both received a break from the last issue and we had guest artists. The artwork in this issue is absolutely gorgeous and these two artists deserve so many accolades for how much a swing they took with this approach to the art.

The art does save this story in the issue which I felt was a mixed bag. On the one hand, I enjoyed seeing more of Barda, Zealot, and Cassie, but on the other hand I found the final battle with Megaera to be poorly paced and a rushed conclusion. I really loved what @1979semifinalist did in the scenes after the battle was finished, tying up many of the loose ends from the first issue which angry social media fans unfairly criticized her for before she even had a chance to tell her first arc. It ended with an intriguing cliffhanger that sets up the next arc in exciting fashion, though I’m sad this may mean the end for some of the Birds we’ve come to love in these first six issues (except Harley Quinn, who I hope gets some much needed time off 😉).

Rating: 7.5/10

FIRE & ICE: WELCOME TO SMALLVILLE #6

From the first page of Issue #1 this book wasn’t shy in being a campy best friend story which didn’t take itself too seriously. It never lost sight of that mentality over the course of its run and ends here staying true to that same mindset. Was this a deeply philosophical character study? Not in the least. Was it dripping with heart, offering tender character moments while putting its main duo in situations reminiscent of the best I Love Lucy episodes? You bet it did!

Joanne Starer’s finale ties up the plot nicely (which had gone off the rails in spectacular fashion), bringing the two best friends back together and giving the rest of the background characters, including Martha Kent, a great sendoff. Starer’s ability to create fully fleshed out characters in a story that could easily have evolved into a cast of one-note caricatures has been one of the most impressive feats across this whole series.

Natacha Bustos and Tamra Bonvillain have given this series an equally joyful book to read with vibrantly bright palettes reminding readers that this was never meant to be a dark and brooding story. The designs and colors always bordered on Saturday morning cartoonery, but never crossing the line into outlandishness. It fit the tone of Starer’s script perfectly and made for such an enjoyable experience.

I’m so sad to see this book end, but so glad that DC let it see the light of day. We need more minis like this as part of larger, publisher-wide narratives. Hopefully we get to see Fire & Ice on some fun adventures again soon!

Rating: 8/10

IMAGE COMICS

THE CULL #5

The first issue of this mini really drew me in with the promise of a Stranger Things meets Annihilation meets Cloverfield sci-fi horror story, but by the end of this week's finale issue I was left with a feeling of an unfulfilled promise. 5 issues IS NOT a lot of time to tell a story and I give Kelly Thompson a lot of credit for introducing some really fascinating concepts within this short frame of time, I just wish she had more space to flesh some of these ideas out and give them space to breath. I feel like we never really got a chance to live with this new world the main characters discovered or time to see how their new powers not only impacted their individual character developments, but the group dynamic as whole.

This final issue sees our crew in final battle with the monster teased in Issue #1. The fight looks beautiful thanks to De Iulis (whose art in this series has been a revelation), but it all feels a tad too rushed. Powers are kind of just summoned and shared between characters without much context.

The cliffhanger ending was frustrating and it will be made even more so if there is truly the last time we spend in this universe. Why we can't have straightforward, hard endings to some miniseries is beyond me, but I blame the publisher for that decision more than I do the creative team.

Rating: 6/10

THE ONE HAND #1

Detective Ari Nasser is on the cusp of retirement when a brutal murder rocks Neo Novena. The victim bears the chilling signature of the "One Hand Killer," a notorious criminal Ari put away twice before. But the killer shouldn't be possible. This throws Ari back into the shadows, determined to unravel the truth and confront the demons of his past.

Ram V's plot is intriguing, leaving you guessing what's happening and wanting to find out more — about the current crime, the past crimes, and Ari himself. It's a really wonderful set up for a debut issue by Ram V. The glimpses of Neo Novena's dystopian society are intriguing, with hints of social unrest and a looming sense of unease. The world feels lived-in and ripe for further exploration. The art style perfectly complements this, with stark contrasts and expressive character designs. The rain-soaked streets, neon lights, and oppressive cityscape create a truly immersive and evocative neo-noir atmosphere.

This was a very strong #1 that sets the tone for a suspenseful and thought-provoking story, which is actually told via two minis, this & THE SIX FINGERS by Dan Watters. While the pacing Ram employs may be slow for some, the world-building and character potential are undeniable. I'm very interested to see how these two stories play out separately and then looked at together.

Rating: 9/10

DSTLRY

GONE #2

Jock wasted no time jumping into the action, leaving readers little room to reacquaint themselves with where things left off in the previous issue. This was a questionable decision given that it's been nearly 3.5 months since the previous issue (which was DSTLRY's inaugural ongoing issue at the time) released. Quite the long stretch between issues and it was felt.

Abi emerges as a more complex and relatable protagonist, grappling with the trauma of her past while showcasing newfound strength and resilience. However, the rest of the cast (and the plot) feels severely underdeveloped for where we are. I think Jock could make better use of some exposition throughout the book. He predominately relies on dialogue to advance the story, but the reader is missing a lot of background information that would make these conversations land better. Since this is Jock's first major foray into writing, I'll cut him slack.

However, his signature art style shines through in DSTLRY's double-sized issue format. The gritty realism mixed with dynamic action sequences and expressive character close-ups create a truly immersive and visually stunning experience, especially given the out-of-this-world setting. Film visionaries like Denis Villeneuve and Alfonso Cuarón would be proud.

Overall, this second issue has scattered moments which hint at a deeper, more emotionally resonant story waiting to be told. The reveals show the potential for genuine pathos, if Jock can begin to couple it with more/stronger exploration and world-building.

Rating: 6/10