Erik Radvon Comic Reviews

Archie vs. Predator #1 is a fun teenage scary movie captured in comics form. The pages conjure the feeling of being at a drive-in on an August night. With crisp and cartoony artwork and a fast-paced script that successfully merges the elements from the worlds of both Archie and Predator, this unlikely matching is worth checking out for casual fans of either franchise.

In what seems to be their specialty, Valiant once again boils superhero comics down to their core elements and succeeds in telling a dynamic and engaging story. Armor Hunters #2 is an event issue that actually feels eventful from start to finish.

The end result of the oversized Black Kiss XXXmas in July Special is dark, dirty, and brilliant. To be sure, Chaykin's intense Black Kiss is not for everyone, certainly not for the faint of heart or sensitive of spirit. The word "enjoy" doesn't come to mind as something that should be held in tandem with this book. Experience is the better descriptor, and Howard Chaykin delivers that in a special rife with darkness, shocking violence, and a subversive street-level look at the reality of American society. Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals!

The diverse, original storytelling displayed in How i Made the World serves as a reminder of how much open territory remains unclaimed in the world of comics. With the substantial majority of monthly comic pages dedicated to slug fests between superpowered creatures, being able to read a story that entertains while speaking to real experiences is refreshing. We could use more books like this.

Low #1 packs a lot of world building and character into one issue. Rick Remender tackles some similar family-in-crisis territory as his other recent work, but his focus on mother Stel Caine and her unyielding vision of hope against all odds (and the odds are daunting) is a fresh spin for the writer. Tocchini's line and color art is some of his best work to date, cleaner and more refined than his Uncanny X-Force issues yet still maintaining his uniquely sketchy, swirling style. Dense in written and visual drama, the world of Low is worth taking a plunge into.

If you haven't visited Ultimate Spider-Man since the Bendis/Bagely heyday, this issue is worth picking up to retest the waters. The firecracker dialogue, taut drama, extensive supporting cast, and perfectly paced Spider-Man action make this a new/old take on the web-slinging world that's bound to please even the most casual Spidey reader. If there's any book that feels like the Spider-Man of today, this is it.

All told, Number #2 is like a Lorde song in comic form, except not played out. The towns have no names and the skylines consist only of White Castle restaurants. In moments clever and juvenile, poignant and meaningless, Box Brown shows us pockets of the world not likely to be found on any screen. The artwork and execution is as wonderfully entertaining to look at as a scrolling Twitter feed on a shiny new iPhone, but actually real.

The last several issues of Original Sin have felt more functional than entertaining, with the storytelling focus seemingly placed on ushering out legacy elements of the Marvel Universe while setting the stage for what's next. The post-Original Sin future may indeed be an exciting one, but watching this drab clean-up process has become tedious. Jason Aaron and Mike Deodato are both creators who inject a lot of heart into their work, but Original Sin is starting to feel like it has flat-lined.

Rocket Raccoon #1 is a fun kick-off to what just might be the comic series of the summer. While surprisingly risqu in parts, Scottie Young delivers the rare funny comic book that works. With gorgeous pages throughout and a unique energy that stands out from Marvel's other offerings, this is an enjoyable summertime comic book that dovetails nicely into the hype surrounding the Guardians of the Galaxy film. Don't hand this one off to your little brother or sister, but share it with any mature comics reader.

Southern Bastards #4 is a slam-bang end to an astonishingly powerful debut arc. Jason Aaron and Jason Latour deliver a story that hits on all cylinders, with character and drama of the highest order bleeding from every page. Craw County's a nasty place, but then again so's the world. Looking it head-on takes some intestinal fortitude, but the passage through this American heart of darkness is well worth the trip.

Warts aside, the book gives one of Marvel's most interesting and complex heroes a new platform and sets a series of conflicts in motion that make reading the endeavor worthwhile. Spider-Man 2099 #1 isn't a home run, but it's not a strikeout either.

All told, in the annals of crossover, fill-in issue history there have been much worse entries than Spider-Man 2099 #5. It's a passable chapter in the Edge of Spider-Verse story and David's obviously been to this rodeo before. While juggling the mandates of tying into a larger story and advancing the title's own ongoing plot, David manages to provide some clever turns and entertaining beats. It's a shame that founding 2099 artist Rick Leonardi isn't given moreroom to showcase his many talents, and also a shame that the rare reunion of Spider-Man 2099's creators wasn't arranged for something a bit more meaningful than this issue. Let's hope that the stars align and David and Leonardi get the chance to work together on a more in-depth Miguel story sometime soon.

Fans of sci-fi, post-apocalyptic fiction, and scary stories will find a lot to love in Spread #1. Creators Jordan, Strahm, and Sobreiro blend classic genre elements together to produce something new and exciting. It's an unnerving yet entertaining ride. Read this one late at night, and keep a few extra lights on.

Superman #33 is a fine issue that's strong on characterization and plot. Geoff Johns and John Romita Jr. continue to do right by the Man of Steel in their mission to reestablish the character after several years of New 52 ambivalence. This isn't the most exciting effort, unfortunately, and feels a bit too light on the action to qualify as a stellar Superman story. This chapter is just an average issue of Superman, but at this point that'll do just fine.

Supreme Blue Rose is a potent psychedelic noir that repurposes over 20 years of Supreme lore into a modern comic experience. Ellis taps the rich field of characters produced in those old Image comics and delivers a home run of a new take. Tula Lotay's art is incredible and she's sure to win over a bevy of new fans with this outing. Blue roses are rare, and comics as good as Supreme Blue Rose are rarer still. It's tough to want anything from these creators except more.

Do teenage superhero comics still make sense in the new world of the 21st century? Teen Titans #1 certainly makes as strong case for the genre's lasting appeal. It's a fun book packed with action, adventure and a surprisingly full slate of meaningful dialogue. Will Pfeifer and Ken Rocafort make the first issue feel like a complete experience, not merely the first chapter in an eventual trade paperback. Even without new in the title, this newTeen Titans is a welcome refresh by DC.

Signs of life are present in Terminal Hero, however more visits will be needed to make full sense out of all the pieces in its strange puzzle. Milligan fans and those drawn to Vertigo's sensibilities will love it, others might find it to be a bit too perplexing of a read. It's an original outing by two solid creators, and worth checking out for the Mature Readers crowd.

Fans of IDW's previous G.I. Joe and Transformers offerings won't find much of anything familiar here. This version of Transformers vs. G.I. Joe takes place firmly in the Scioli-verse, free of any continuity or ties to established precedents. It's a straight-up strange trip, fun in parts but rather hollow as well. The bombastic comic art is a without question special draw in this case and garners bonus points for the book. Transformers vs. G.I. Joe is a nutty ride that viewers of the old cartoons and previous toy owners will get a kick out of, but fans of the characters themselves may feel is lacking. It's a crazy comic book, and one that strays far from providing definitive takes on the characters it plays with, but freewheeling craziness is kind of what comics are all about.