Written by Rob Williams
Art by Philip Tan
Published by DC Comics

You may have heard about this little summer movie out this week, Suicide Squad, based on a revered 80s book about supervillains forced by the government to take on dangerous missions in exchange for reduced sentences. The version on the big screens is going to include Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Jared Leto as the Joker, and Will Smith as Deadshot, and it’s primed to just print its own money. So DC wisely timed the Rebirth issues of Harley Quinn and Suicide Squad for today.

In this jumping-on issue, President Obama finds out about Task Force X and tells Amanda Waller to shut that down. So she recruits decent guy Colonel Rick Flag from his cell at Guantanamo to lead Harley Quinn, Boomerang, and Deadshot against a plot to send superpowered terrorists against the United States. The first mission takes some dark turns, but the team is able to complete the mission and set up for more adventures.

The book already won me over by the end of the third page. See, I didn’t read New 52 Suicide Squad. This was the book that put Harley Quinn in three square inches of fabric and turned Amanda Waller into Halle Berry. The book may have been great, but I couldn’t get past the female objectification on the cover. And this book has restored Amanda Waller to the imposing, powerful, large woman that we just can’t see anywhere else in comics despite the prevalence in our real lives. Harley gets to wear pants and a jacket. The felons of the Squad are bad guys, but they don’t spend too much time trying to make jokes like Deadpool and instead focus on just getting their mission done. It’s a grim tone but not overly so, and the violent twists in the mission are graphic but feel earned and set this book apart from the senseless gore of previous DC titles.

This book is setting up for a great series. Get a copy, and then join Ultimate At The Movies for Suicide Squad this weekend!

-MATT CONNER for Ultimate Comics

Written by Christos Gage and Chris Ryall
Art by David Messina
Ultimate Comics Exclusive Variant Cover by Tommy Lee Edwards
Published by IDW and Hasbro Entertainment

Ultimate Comics is excited to host writer Christos Gage at signing events this Saturday at both Raleigh and Chapel Hill locations, and we’re also excited about his new ROM book!

ROM The Spaceknight has been this funny little legal issue for decades. Based on a Hasbro action figure, ROM was published by Marvel, a space hero of the type that was popular in the 1970s and 80s, and he led a bunch of other Spaceknights against a collection of shapeshifting aliens called Dire Wraiths. Well, Marvel lost the rights to ROM himself but kept all the rest. So when Dire Wraiths killed a prominent New Warrior in the early 2000s, it had to say it was on Earth hiding out from… Somebody… And when Abnett and Lanning revitalized Marvel’s cosmic line and created the Guardians Of The Galaxy that eventually became one of the best-selling comic movies ever, there were some Spaceknights that would wistfully talk about… Their greatest member. That guy. He’s such a great guy. You know him.

Now IDW has the rights to publish ROM himself, and for those of us who couldn’t get ROM outside of diligient hours in the back issue bin, it’s a welcome return. It only helps that Christos Gage, writer of such great properties as the Daredevil Netflix show and the last few years of Amazing Spider-Man, is on board. And local hero Tommy Lee Edwards has dropped an amazing exclusive variant cover, so this book is a winner before you even open it.

And once you do open it, you get a great paranoid science fiction romp. A pair of cops investigate a disturbance and wander into a war between this shiny metal man and a bunch of monsters that can look just like people. Gage is great at getting the tension of the scene ramped up quickly, efficiently establishing an action tone before switching to ROM’s investigation of an infiltrated California town and the last human there, a woman recently back from deployment and struggling to manage her PTSD. His rescue attempt reveals a hideous evolution of the Dire Wraiths. And even if he makes it out of there alive, the final page reveal shows that he’s going to have his hands full with another popular Hasbro toy property in the next few issues.

This was a great comic, even for a reader who only knew ROM by his conspicuous absence. The character is noble and warm, and I’m excited for the rest of his adventures. The book is also an important foundation piece for next month’s Revolution crossover, integrating IDW properties like M.A.S.K., Micronauts, and ROM into a shared universe. You’re not going to want to miss this, and make sure to check the Ultimate Comics Facebook page for details on this Saturday’s signings with Christos Gage!

-MATT CONNER for Ultimate Comics

Writer: Tom King 
Artist: David Finch 
Publisher: DC 

Coming off the heels of one of the most iconic runs of Batman of all time, Tom King and David Finch are doing a stellar job of upholding the character’s legacy. This issue in particular pays homage to Scott Snyder without it feeling like a total retread of what we’ve already seen. Snyder always wrote great narrations that added to the story rather than distracted from it, and here King delivers some really engaging text as Batman describes the inexplicable effect Gotham City has on its residents. It fits given that this issue explores the origins of the new crime fighting duo of Gotham and Gotham Girl.

That said, this one does focus more on their past than it does on the present, which is fine as it provides good subtext for the rest of this arc. Just like Snyder introduced The Court of Owls back at the beginning of his run in 2011, King was smart to kick off the whole Rebirth title with new characters as well. I’m eager to see where Gotham and Gotham Girl’s stories will go and if they’ll remain as heroes. Given Batman’s tendency to develop ideological conflicts and his general reluctance toward working with others, I think this story could go in any direction.

Finch’s pencils offer that classically noir, stylish aesthetic appropriate for the story’s tone. The way in which the art embodies the spirit of Gotham, even in an issue with limited action, is plenty for fans who were disappointed to see Greg Capullo leave along with Snyder. Rest easy knowing that DC picked the right creative team to step into their shoes. Oh and did I mention that Hugo Strange as the villain of this series has me geeking out? So yeah, get on over to Ultimate and pick up this book.

-KEVIN SCHAEFER for Ultimate Comics

Written by Simon Oliver
Art by Moritat
Published by DC Comics

-MATT CONNER for Ultimate Comics

Various Creators
Publisher: Image

A year ago, Mark Millar launched a contest which was specifically designed to seek out new comic book creator talents. Thousands of writers and artists across the globe submitted stories set within the worlds of Millar’s creator-owned books like Kick-Ass, Chrononauts, Starlight, etc., and the winners would get theirs published in a special annual collection. The Millarworld Talent Search took the comic book world by storm, and now the book is finally here. And what a beauty it is to behold.

The annual contains six short stories, opening with a delightfully entertaining Chrononauts piece by writer Shaun Brill and artist Conor Hughes. Prom Night features Danny returning to the scene of his high school prom, and trying to get his younger self to hook up with a hot girl. This of course has ramifications which require more time-travel and correction, and Danny interacting with another version of himself. It’s a fun tale which effectively captures the tone of Millar and Sean Gordon-Murphy’s absurdist miniseries, while also exemplifying the uniqueness of the short comic format.

We then move on to a Batman and Robin-esque Kick-Ass story called Blindsided, in which Dave pairs up with a young street-level amateur. Writer Ricardo Mo sets up an interesting dynamic with these characters and keeps the plotting concise, while artist Ifesinachi Orjiekwe delivers exquisitely fluid pencils. It’s another fun, engaging story that fits in well with the Kick-Ass universe, while setting itself apart from John Romita Jr.’s distinctive designs.

Yet after two lighthearted stories, the book takes an ultra-gritty turn with Undeath, a story from Millar and Peter Gross’ seminal supernatural series American Jesus. Written by my buddy Cliff Bumgardner and with stellar visuals by artist Steve Beach, this one is a captivating display of psychological horror. Taking place during the iconic third issue of the series when Jodie saves the life of his priest’s dog, this event causes all death to cease for several moments. Bumgardner examines how this effects people across the globe, and how the horrors that stem from an unexplainable occurrence leave their mark. Beach’s pencils are equally grim and disturbing, and the way this story adds to Millar and Gross’ mythos makes it a must-read for fans of the cult comic.

Next, writer Philip Huxley and artist Myron Macklin give readers a fun Kingsman story with Mum’s The Word. Now, this is the only series on here I haven’t yet read, but I’ve seen the movie and am familiar with its James Bond-esque style. Huxley and Macklin capture the sheer adrenaline of this universe well with a tale about Eggsy visiting his Mom, but having to first take down a bad guy in the middle of their living room while his Mom is fixing dinner in the kitchen. It’s a simple, stylistic short which keeps its momentum going throughout. Huxley’s dialogue is particularly sharp and clever, while Macklin’s pencils are highly cinematic and coincide well with the fast-paced tone of the story.

With its ending beautifully capturing the sentimental nuances of Duke McQueen’s character, the Starlight story Duke McQueen’s Greatest Adventure is the most touching one here. Writer Deniz Camp and artist Pracheta Banerjee chronicle a conversation between Duke and his grandkids as he tells them stories of some of his most daring feats when he was an intergalactic guardian. There are saber fights and narrow escapes, all building up to an emotional climax which I’d rather not spoil. Camp nicely balances the present-day dialogue with the flashbacks, and likewise Banerjee’s gorgeous pencils pay homage to Goran Parlov’s blend of realism and pulpy escapism in the original series.

Finally the Hit-Girl story Mindy’s ABCs executes a humorous, inexplicably clever concept. As Mindy goes through the alphabet, you can imagine that the words she picks to match with each letter are a little different and darker than “A is for Apple.” As she uses words associated with the dismemberment of her enemies, we see the action play out in the same kind of Kill Bill style that you’d expect from any Hit-Girl story. Writer Mark Abnett and artist Ozgur Yildirim give it their own weirdly Disney-esque style, while injecting it with plenty of graphic violence and quippy narration from the titular protagonist.

This is a book you really don’t want to miss, and you can get yours signed at the Ultimate Comics in Raleigh on Saturday by the creators of the American Jesus story.

-kevin Schaefer for Ultimate Comics

Written by Tim Seeley
Art by Yanick Paquette
Published by DC Comics

DC Rebirth has been great so far. Ask anyone at the Ultimate Comics register, or read some of my previous reviews. The idea is that DC is going back to the mythology of its legendary characters and making approachable stories about what makes them so remarkable. Batman solved an exciting mystery. The Justice League teamed up to punch a giant bug monster. Aquaman managed not to embarrass himself. But what do people want out of a Nightwing story?

Nightwing is a character in a uniquely DC place. This is a publisher that trades in legacy and sidekicks, and Dick Grayson has done this in inimitable style. The shortest summary I can give is that he’s a circus trapeeze artist who became Batman’s first Robin after her parents were killed. Decades later, he struck out on his own under the Nightwing identity, but he came back to be Batman when Bruce Wayne was unavailable. When he was presumed dead, he hid his identity and became superspy Agent 37. And most recently, he has joined the villainous Parliament Of Owls to save his own former Robin. So his story has been about learning from the best, then incorporating that into your own identity, and maintaining a healthy connection to your past.

So instead of getting the straightforward jumping-on point treatment we saw in Batman Rebirth, Tim Seeley’s Nightwing issue is all about putting the toys back in the box. Spoiler, Nightwing isn’t going to put his costume on until the final page. Instead, we get an issue of him saying goodbye to old continuity. He touches base with beloved supporting characters like Huntress and Midnighter to make sure everything is cool in the spy world before he launches his next adventure, trying to do some good within the organization of the Owls. He has some warm character beats with Bruce and Damian Wayne that pay off open stories there, too.

While the other Rebirth issues have been prologues, this one is an epilogue, and it might be hard to follow for people who haven’t been reading Dick Grayson’s recent appearances. But it’s a thoughtful exploration of what change means to this character, to the way we stay true to our core despite changes in life situations, and it’s a stellar book. Come pick this up, and ask the staff at Ultimate Comics to help you catch up on Dick Grayson. Three quarters of his Grayson title (where he is a spy) have been collected in trade paperback, and if you liked this issue, you’re sure to love them, too.

-Matt Connor for Ultimate Comics

Written and Drawn by Bryan Hitch
Published by DC Comics

The Justice League punches big monsters. It’s just what they do. And under Bryan Hitch, the Reborn version of the League gets to keep doing what they do best.

The main story of the book is straightforward and classic, holding the main ideas of DC’s Rebirth approach of showcasing what makes their characters so legendary. A giant bug monster descends on New York City and wreaks havoc among a frightened populace, playing to Hitch’s blockbuster reputation. Batman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, Aquaman, and Flash fight it as a team, but they’re not sure if they can trust the new Superman (a transplant from another universe, taking a spot after the death of the New 52 Superman) or either of the new Green Lanterns (the former villain Power Ring and the Middle Eastern Green Lantern).

Justice League is the tentpole of the DC Universe, bringing all the icons to the shared table. It needs to be able to tell stories to the people who are only reading that title, but it also has to respect people who are in because they’re already reading the Superman books. Bryan Hitch has a tough time balancing this, even with a decent structure of flashbacks and cutaways from the monster fight to show Diana mourning her boyfriend or Lois Lane encouraging her Superman to take his place on the League and stop trying to get them back to their home reality. The more familiar reader of DC Rebirth will get more out of this book, but a casual fan like me can still follow along and just focus on the punching and zapping.

DC Rebirth has been a great endeavor so far, highlighting the joy and courage of the DC line and shaking off the gloomy muck of the past decade of publishing. If you haven’t dipped a toe in yet, this book is a great start. When you come to Ultimate Comics to get your copy, talk to the staff about where else you can get your favorite characters, as they probably already have their own Rebirth issue on the stands by now. Enjoy this bright new day, DC fans.

-Matt Conner for Ultimate Comics

Writer: Brockton McKinney
Artist: Andrew Herman
Publisher: Action Lab Entertainment

I have to say, when I heard that my friend Brockton McKinney was writing an all-ages book, I was a bit taken aback. After all, this is the same man who brought us the wildly irreverent and blood-soaked sci-fi/horror series Ehmm Theory, as well as the new and equally violent Gingerdead Man comic. Could this master of horror and obscure B-movies deliver a story that kids could enjoy as well as adults? Fortunately, it’s a testament to McKinney’s versatility as a writer that he’s able to do this so flawlessly.

In Zoe Dare versus the Disasteroid, the titular protagonist is a world-renowned daredevil, whose talents lead to her being recruited for a top-secret, world-saving kind of mission. As an asteroid hurtles toward Earth, Agent Tarney Winfield (note: these are the last names of two of the gents who run Ultimate Comics) needs Zoe to alter its course. Eager to follow in the footsteps of her Jackie Chan-acolyte father, and working alongside her sister Danni and a pair of AI robots, Zoe accepts Winfield’s offer. Meanwhile, we also get a glimpse of the extraterrestrials looming in the background, who are the real threat here.

Story-wise, McKinney does a great job introducing us to Zoe and Danni in the first act. Both are characters who we can relate to, and whose interactions with each other feel organic and entertaining. Plus it’s an added bonus that the robots which Danni genetically engineered provide great comic relief; think Gabe’s pet cat Mr. Whispers in Ehmm Theory, but kid-friendly. Then in the second half Agent Winfield enters to set the stage for the rest of the series. Here, we also meet Zoe’s overtly cocky rival Race Thunderbuckler. All of this flows nicely, providing just the right amount of exposition for a first issue.

The art is also really interesting, as there’s a certain level of realism to it. While it’s still very much an adventurous story, with the opening pages even reminding me a bit of Speed Racer, Herman makes these characters more nuanced and detailed with his pencils, a contrast to the cartoonish aesthetic of McKinney’s other books. It’s almost like a cross between an 80s sci-fi movie and a modern one, which works great. If you love a good space adventure comic which combines aliens with Mad Max-esque action, get on over to Ultimate and buy this book.

-Kevin Schaefer for Ultimate Comics

Writing and art by Eric Powell
Published by Albatross Funnybooks
“There is but two facts of which I am sure. Today is Tuesday, and a witch is gonna die.”

Eric Powell is famous for long-running horror series The Goon, but this week, he’s expanding his publishing line with the dark Appalachian fairy tale, Hillbilly.

In this story, a blind mountain man named Rondel rescues a village boy from the local witch, and the guys swap stories on the way back to town. Young James has a pointedly generic story about a blessed child leading an army, but Rondel has a darker, more personal piece.

Powell’s story is a simple one, a young blind man wronged by witches and vowing revenge. The strength of this comic is in his mastery of the setting and tone. Each character in his book has a distinct voice, but almost all of them use the mountain cadence and word choice that lock this into place. “As sweet as those strawberries you done eat.” “Rondel freed the animal, but turned out, it were no animal. It were Mamie the witch who took the form of a crow.” It’s thoughtful and poetic rather than poking fun at the Hillbillies. It’s a celebration of an old American culture. But this realism is spun just a bit out of the borders as monsters and magic sneak into the panels. A wild hog is absurdly large, a bear can speak, and the townsfolk casually mention flying serpents as garden pests. Powell’s unmistakable art is amazing at normalizing the weird, and that pays off here.

Come over to Ultimate Comics in Chapel Hill and Raleigh, pick this up, and if you’ve enjoyed the style, check out the selection of The Goon comics, too. Let Eric Powell weird your normal day up a little bit.
-Matt Conner for Ultimate Comics

Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Publisher: DC

In terms of selecting the right creative team, DC could not have done a better job with the new Flash title. Between Williamson’s script and Giandomenico’s stellar visuals, this is the perfect modern Flash comic; one that builds on everything that’s come before, and provides readers with an exciting new story.

As Barry Allen wrestles with the idea of being in two places at once, he finds himself torn between saving a group of hostages from a burning building and responding to an armed assault on S.T.A.R. Labs. Meanwhile, he tries to spend more time with the Wally West from his universe, while also being preoccupied with the original Wally being back and the fractured timeline.

Williamson goes for a more classic, simplistic story that makes for an easy jumping-on point for new readers. The great thing about comics is that even with characters that are 75+ years old, creators can still find ways to make a story that’s not bogged-down in continuity. Whether you’re a recent Flash fan through the tv show or a lifelong reader, this comic has something for everyone and sets up a new villain. And as with the debut Rebirth issue, Giandomenico’s pencils are succinct, cinematic and are made all the more engaging by Ivan Plascencia’s gorgeous colors. I know that counting the Rebirth issue we’re only two issues into this series, but I have a feeling this will be one of the best runs on the Scarlet Speedster in years.
-Kevin Schaefer for Ultimate Comics