Tag: dc comics

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LAST GOD: SONGS OF LOST CHILDREN #1

Writer: Dan Watters
Artist: Steve Beach
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Tom Napolitino
Cover Artist: Kai Carpenter
Cartographer: Jared Blando

It’s been ten years since the last god fell, bringing peace to the realm of Cain Anuun. But now, as echoes of dissent and pain sound throughout the kingdom of men, their champion and queen, Cyanthe, has set out in secret to see the land for herself. Aided by her handmaiden, Nykeo, Cyanthe travels to a distant village at the foot of the marshlands. There she’s taken in by a kind couple with many children, none of them their own. Orphans are common in this place – as are the ghosts. Lost children, still searching for a home. And when a boy goes missing in the night and Cyanthe and Nykeo go looking for him, they must face the creature lurking beyond the village and the secret that brought them there.

A standalone one-shot expanding upon Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s The Last God universe, Songs of Lost Children is a tight, tense horror just right for the time of the year when the air takes a chill and the shadows grow long. Writer Dan Watters (Coffin Bound, Lucifer) pulls more out of a moody monster story than you might expect and manages some deft twists of character that hint at the larger world beyond without requiring prior knowledge of the mythos.

On the note of prior knowledge, it’s here I must confess my bias. The book is drawn by friend and collaborator Steve Beach (The Witching Hour, Lost Boys of the U.S. Bremen), and frankly I’ve been waiting to get my grubby paws on a copy ever since I heard he got the gig. Even so, I won’t recuse myself from saying the art is exquisite. Gothic and painstakingly precise, Steve’s devotion to detail and keen sense of storytelling are on full display –heightened further by the colors from Dave Stewart (Basketful of Heads, Gideon Falls). Adding hues to Steve’s pages, whereon he often makes a zen-like practice out of fitting as much black ink as inhumanly possible, is no easy task and has felled many a talented colorist. But Stewart more than rises to the occasion, and together they’ve crafted a visual style that makes me yearn for more from the duo.

Dark, rich, scary, and fun, Songs of Lost Children is just the right Halloween treat for your pull list’s sweet tooth. But be warned: this book bites back. Pick up a copy at an Ultimate Comics location near you.

Review by Cliff Bumgardner

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Rorschach #1

Writer: Tom King
Artist: Jorge Fornes
Colorist: Dave Stewart

Rorschach is dead — has been for 35 years. So what does it mean when a man dressed in the oh-so-familiar fedora and mask makes an attempt on a presidential candidate’s life? Therein lies a tale rife with conspiracy theories, high-stakes political intrigue and moral quandaries that are anything but black and white.

Tom King wisely chooses to move the world of Watchmen forward rather than back, showing us what it looks like in the present day. He makes no attempt to ape the structure and style of Alan Moore’s masterpiece. Instead, King borrows the world and builds on it, taking Moore’s ideas to their logical conclusions in an updated context.

Likewise, Jorge Fornes’ style is completely his own. He nails the pulp noir style with heavy shadows and elegant line work, setting the scene for what is sure to be a mystery full of twists and turns. Yes, Rorschach is dead. But in the hands of this talented and passionate team of creators, the world that produced him is alive and quite unwell. Just as it should be.

Review by Harrison Stewart

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Dark Nights: Death Metal #1

Writer: Scott Snyder
Artists: Greg Capullo
Inker: Jonathan Glapion
Colorist: FCO Plascencia
Letterer: Tom Napolitano

The world’s gone mad. Perpetua, the DCU’s creation goddess and big bad of Scott Snyder’s recent Justice League run, has chosen the Batman Who Laughs as her champion. And with her power, he has remade the entire universe in his image: a warped, bat-centric nightmare. This book is brimming with surprises, not the least of which being the fact that it actually works. A lesser writer may crumble under the weight of spinning one cogent narrative out of every major event from DC’s continuity. But not Snyder. He’s just here to rock our faces off.

Joining him in the tried-and-true duet is fan-favorite Greg Capullo. Whatever insane, out-of-control, nobody’s-ever-done-this-before idea Snyder can throw at him, Capullo is able to capture with stunning detail. Whether depicting an army of Batmen or the depths of Hell itself, Capullo’s art boasts bravado few other artists could even dream of. And he’s tearing into this one like he’s got something to prove.

Dubbed as the “encore,” Dark Nights: Death Metal feels like the culmination of decades of storytelling. It touches upon enough story threads to make your head spin. But to the patient reader, this book serves as a much-needed explanation for events both past and ongoing. Slather on a healthy serving of pure comics fun and you have yourself a recipe for the ultimate DC event title. 

Review by Harrison Stewart

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Birds of Prey #1 (2020)

Writer: Brian Azzarello
Penciller: Emanuela Lupacchino
Inker: Ray McCarthy
Colorist: Trish Mulvihill and John Kalisz
Letterer: Steve Wands

This first issue of the new DC Black Label book, Birds of Prey, has violence, drugs cartel, old flames, and grudging new friendships. It’s a whirlwind story revolving around our three heroines, Black Canary, Huntress, and Harley Quinn. They each have a past, and some deeds catch up quicker than most.

Black Canary is out of the game for good, or is she? After a late night call from an unexpected source, she’s pulled back into the fray once again. Huntress and Detective Rene Montoya have a contentious relationship, both trying to protect Gotham from their own angle. Montoya is tired of doing things by the book, but Huntress has her reservations about Montoya’s intentions. Harley’s out of prison and looking to do some good for once; no more joking around. Trying to tread the righteous path, she stumbles headlong into something that might just work – a partnership with Huntress, Black Canary, and a Gotham City police officer. Together these unlikely allies have to follow the thread of violence back to its source and save Gotham any way they can.

With splashy action panels, bright colors, and clean line work, this issue really pops. It’s action packed, with danger seemingly around every corner. Buckle up for a wild ride from start to finish, and hang on tight!

Review by Megan Goble

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Strange Adventures #1 Review

Writer: Tom King
Artists: Mitch Gerads & Evan “Doc” Shaner
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Covers: Mitch Gerads & Evan “Doc” Shaner

Who is Adam Strange? A hero? War criminal? Neither? Both? These questions drive Tom King’s latest post-modern deconstruction of the superhero genre. In the midst of a promotional book tour for his new wartime memoir, Strange finds himself at the center of a murder mystery where he is the prime suspect. Has the savior of Rann finally cracked? Or are there more sinister forces at work? A surprise, last-minute addition to the cast may have the answers. King is in his element here, taking full advantage of the miniseries format to tell a tight, suspenseful story about a lesser-known member of DC’s cosmic cast.

As for the art, this is one of the most gorgeous books on the shelves. Mitch Gerads, of Mister Miracle acclaim, once again joins King for a deeply human experience. His facial work is second to none, elegantly capturing the nuance of each emotionally charged scene. There’s a grittiness in his work that makes every panel feel perfectly grounded, even as a man soars across the sky with a jetpack. 

While Gerads handles the earthbound scenes, Doc Shaner delivers all the color-popping, cosmic action you would expect from a Silver Age staple. Shaner’s lines are strikingly clean, presenting every scene in perfect detail. In many ways, Gerads and Shaner are the perfect foils, each playing to their respective strengths to build something that feels simultaneously steeped in both realism and fantasy. The result is a must-read comic that promises to be one of the year’s best.

Review by Harrison Stewart

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Detective 1000 Midnight Release Party!

Tuesday 3/26 11:30 pm – 1:00 am at Ultimate Comics

Detective Comics is reaching a landmark issue with Detective Comics 1000! Come celebrate this historic event with your friends at Ultimate Comics!

When Batman reaches a milestone like this you know Ultimate Comics is going to celebrate with a huge event. Come out to this midnight launch party and be one of the first people to buy and read one of the biggest comics of the year!

To celebrate this big event, we’re going having a big Batman sale Tuesday night and all day Wednesday! Get 25% off all Batfamily trades, statues, action figures, and back issues! Grab some classic Batman stories to go with your new issue of Detective 1000!

We’ll have all the orderable covers! Find your favorite and preorder it today or preorder the whole set! We’ll have some more Batman shennanigans themed for the party so stay tuned for more info. Expect us to be showing Batman movies behind the register!

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Mysteries of Love in Space Review

Space is a common theme in the DC Universe with adventures stretching from Sector 2814 to the Phantom Zone. But the beloved heroes are no stranger to love with iconic couples such as Clark and Lois, Bruce and Selina, and Diana and Steve.

 

Just a few weeks shy of Valentine’s Day, DC has released an eight story one shot anthology, Mysteries of Love in Space. Seven of the tales are new features, but the final entry is an encore printing of a classic Adam Strange story.

 

Despite the brevity of the featured stories, each one is familiar in a way that speaks to anyone who has ever been in love. Featuring both new and well-known characters that are staples to the DC universe, some of the tales are tender and heartwarming, others doleful accounts of manipulation and heartbreak. Reading through the narratives will draw a smirk and then a sigh as you sympathize with godlike and extraterrestrial beings struggling to cope with very human emotions.

 

The art for the volume is a more realistic style with the characters drawn in a way that feels natural for conveying expressions and body language. The Adam Strange encore story features the art styles that is typical to early silver age comics.

This issue is an enjoyable read showcasing out of this world adventures with relationships and connections that are down to earth.

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The Green Lantern #3 Review

Writer: Grant Morrison

Artist: Liam Sharp

Colorist: Steve Oliff

Letterer: Tom Ozrechowski

Variant Cover: Jae Lee and June Chung

 

When DC’s The Green Lantern series was announced, writer Grant Morrison described his pitch as a more grounded take on the character. Hal Jordan is a space cop and this 12 issue series would be treated as a police procedural, one that focused on the day to day rather than the apocalyptic storylines that the corps has been known to deal with. Naturally that means the third issue features Hal Jordan trying to arrest God.

 

No, not that God. Just an alien that happens to look like the God from the Old Testament. The Earth has been put on the black market and along with characters like Steppenwolf from the planet Apokolips, this Shephard is an interested buyer. No one is buying the Earth if Hal has anything to say about it.

 

This issue is another fantastic entry in this must-read series. Morrison continues to buck against the decompressed storytelling that has become the norm in comics. Each issue is meant to serve as a near self-contained story that adds to an overarching storyline told throughout the 12 issue series. Meaning that any reader can grab any issue off the shelf and hop in without feeling lost or feeling like they were cheated out of a full story.

 

While facing off with God may not sound like typical police procedural fare, Morrison has done a great job making the series feel like a grounded take on the character while keeping the surroundings and plot lines as strange as one would expect from a Morrison sci-fi comic. It strays far from feeling like a typical superhero comic. This is classic British science fiction comic book storytelling. Think old school 2000 AD rather than DC Comics.

 

Issue 3 is filled with high concept science-fiction goodness. It somehow manages to be politically relevant without issues feeling forced or out of place. The creatures from Dhor that play a prominent role in the issue are Randian caricatures, showing the result of an amoral society built around a rampant free market. There’s a ncie allusion to our society’s apathy towards an increasingly dismal looking future on planet Earth. And the ending and next issue might promise some comment on police brutality.

Liam Sharp is the perfect artist for this book. His work is again something out of 2000 AD mag. Every panel is so intricately detailed that one can spend chunks of time picking out new favorite details. Sharp’s work on this series has been some of the best in comics right now. You can tell he is leaving everything on the page.

 

Green Lantern #3 is a stand out issue of an excellent comic series and is a must read for any fan of the medium. Check it out and grab issues #1 and 2 to catch up on one of the most rewarding series in comics coming out right now!

 

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Batman #50 (SPOILERS)

Writer: Tom King
Artist: Mikel Janin and Other Special Guests
Colorist: June Chung
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Publisher: DC

Thanks to the New York Times, a reviewer spoiled the ending to one of the most anticipated
comic book issues of our time four days ahead of its release. The bleeping headline spoiled it!
Many fans, and Tom King, understandably expressed their anger on Twitter.
Alas though, here we are. The seminal issue of King’s Batman run is on stands today, with
many shops hosting special events to celebrate the much-anticipated wedding of Batman and
Catwoman. And since America’s finest news source already ruined the twist ending for
countless readers, I’ll also be diving deep into spoiler territory here. At least I have the decency
not to do so in the headline.
The wedding of the century didn’t happen.
After months of build-up and presenting the possibility that Batman might actually find
happiness once and for all, King crushed everyone’s hopes by having Cat leave him at the altar
(or in this case, the rooftop).
It was a sobering, gut-wrenching conclusion to one of the most fascinating storylines in the
character’s nearly 80-year history. Was it a bad move to destroy the hopes of many readers out
there? Maybe, but I would still argue that King, Mikel Janin and the long list of guest artists like
Mitch Gerads, Joëlle Jones, Tim Sale and even Frank Miller delivered a pretty remarkable comic
with this issue.
Coinciding with the more cerebral tone of King’s entire run, Batman #50 delivers plenty of great
emotional scenes, my favorite being when Bruce asks Alfred to be his witness at the wedding
and the two share a heartfelt father and son embrace. Likewise, King delivers some rather
poetic prose to coincide with splash pages by the various guest artists. There are just some
genuinely beautiful moments throughout this issue, which will move readers regardless of how
they feel about the ending.
Ultimately, it’s a very King ending. Part of me does wish he had committed to something so bold
and unconventional, but at the same time I am excited to see where the story will go from here.
The ending also paves the way for the new Joëlle Jones Catwoman series, which debuts today.
Perhaps the Bat will always be broken, as Bane puts it here. Yet if King’s run does go a hundred
issues as planned, then there are still plenty of possibilities and potential storylines.

If you’d like to continue this discussion, hit me up on Twitter at @kwschaef, and be sure to pick
up the Ultimate Comics Nick Derrington exclusive cover.

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Crime Wave Hits Ultimate Comics!

Last night, June 10th, all three Ultimate Comics physical store locations in North Carolina were broken into and burglarized. Over $20,000 worth of comic books, toys and merchandise were stolen, glass display cases smashed, and the store’s windows were broken for entry.

Luckily, no one was hurt, and the stores themselves are boarded up, being cleaned, and will be open today. Obviously if you have any information on the situation please contact owner Alan Gill at: alan@nccomicon.com.  All info will be considered confidential, but to anonymously report any information, please use the contact form at: https://www.ultimatecomics.com/contact/

So now, what? Now Ultimate Comics needs a little help from it’s friends. If you’re in the position to help we simply ask you to consider maybe picking up an extra book, trying a new title, or simply stopping in to show your support. If you can’t stop in or maybe live too far away, please consider pre-ordering our Batman #50 store exclusive by Nick Derington you can purchase here: https://www.ultimatecomics.com/batman-50-exclusive-covers/. This is a gorgeous collector’s item and great a way to help Ultimate Comics get back on our feet after this devastating hit.

And whether you’re a comic’s pro, news outlet, fellow store, or a fan like us, every re-tweet, share, or shout-out helps too! Let people know they can support Ultimate Comics by grabbing a copy of one of the year’s hottest comic books, stopping by or giving us a shout online!

And we would be remiss to say that even though this is a tragedy, one that we’re really only beginning to assess…how “comic book” is it that we were “struck by a crime wave?”

Thank you in advance, Ulti-friends!

More details and updates as soon as we have them, thank you for your ongoing support!

– Ultimate Comics Staff