There’s a lot to cover on Wednesdays. We should know, as collectively, we read an insane amount of comics. Even with a large review staff, it’s hard to get to everything. With that in mind, we’re back with Wrapping Wednesday, where we look at some of the books we missed in what was another great week of comics.
Let’s get this party started.
The Human Target #4
Written by Tom King
Illustrated and colored by Greg Smallwood
Lettered by VC’s Clayton Cowles
Reviewed by Henry Finn
In “The Human Target” #4, Tom King continues to do shine in his ability to turn superheroes into proxies for all-too-human existential struggles. In this issue, he touches upon many issues from corporate greed, the nature of good versus evil, and family matters. The action on page is minimal, but dispersed through the issue as we travel with Blue Beetle, Ice, and our hero across the country. When they stop to foil a bank robbery, we are treated to a comedic moment where Christopher Chance sits back and has a drink while we are treated to 1960s Batman TV-style sound effects and cursing off panel. In another panel, we witness Blue Beetle and Ice wrap up a rampaging bear, but only see the end of the battle.
King is at his best when he is plumbing the depths of his own soul, and that is on display in a poignant moment when Chance reminds himself that he should be spending time with his family and trying to seize the day. Instead, he is quietly driven by his mission of revenge. It’s hard not to read into the musings of a man who is married with kids, and it adds a lot of heart to the story.
Greg Smallwood continues his stellar work that truly accentuates King’s in many ways. The fact that he uses a soft color palette with low contrast and very few black lines creates a visual nostalgia that might also harken to the 60s. He renders the facial features in such detail that, even without wearing costumes, each character is easily recognizable and full of emotion. He also does clever things like devoting a page with 4 panels to Chance and Ice slowly intertwining fingers the way that new lovers do. It’s soft and sympathetic and a moment of expression that leaves your heart aching. Because there is very little action, Smallwood is able to thoughtfully lay out his pages that maximize not just the physical interactions of our heroes, but position them in a way that belies a deeper subtext that always reminds us that despite the cute words and light comedy, we are in the middle of a murder mystery.
Final Verdict 8.2 – A great development to the story that is hitting on all cylinders.
Marauders Annual #1
Written by Steve Orlando
Illustrated by Crees Lee
Colored by Rain Beredo
Lettered by Cory Petit
Reviewed by Quinn Tassin
With Steve Orlando’s debut, we’ve entered a new era for the Marauders and if “Marauders Annual” #1 is any indication, this team is the perfect fit for his sensibilities. Orlando likes heart and messiness and big fun and queerness. If there’s one team that’s gonna compliment those sensibilities, it’s these crazy mutant pirates.
“Marauders Annual” #1 takes on one of the most fun story structures out there- the assembly of a team- and really delivers. Here, though, the energy is a little more Pitch Perfect 2 than Avengers. We hop between characters in angsty situations they’d rather not be in as they’re recruited to save Daken from deep cut villain Brimstone Love. Orlando does great work at delivering quick, effective beats that solidly establish who all the various players are and why we should care about them. While the actual plot of the issue is relatively thin, these moments are so solid that they overcome that.
The art, by Crees Lee and Rain Beredo, is solid but not great. The layouts are simple but effective at moving the story at a good pace. The general staging of all the settings we’re thrown into is strong, making everything feel tangible and scenes easy to follow. The character work is relatively strong, especially the costumes and physicality. There’s just some of that oomph that’s not there. Some of it is in the colors which are fine but feel a bit muted. There’s also the fact that the characters faces are never quite expressive enough. It’s like they all got botox somewhat recently and can only sort of move their face muscles. The action, too, is decent but lacks the level of energy that was present in the book before now. None of it is bad but nothing really sings either.
Continued belowAll in all, “Marauders Annual” #1 is a solid start to the new chapter of one of Krakoa’s best teams. It’s fun and energetic and sets up a cool-seeming mystery. The cast is a good mix of new characters, X-staples, and deep cuts. As of now, there’s no reason to feel anything but hope.
Final Verdict: 7.6- “Marauders Annual” #1 is an energetic, confident start to Steve Orlando’s tenure with Krakoa’s messiest team
Mary Jane & Black Cat Beyond #1
Written by Jed MacKay
Illustrated by C.F. Villa
Colored by Erick Arciniega
Lettered by Travis Lanham
Reviewed by Gregory Ellner
The one-and-done nature of “Mary Jane & Black Cat Beyond” #1 lends itself to a fast pace of storytelling. However, for the sake of newcomers as much as returning fans, writer Jed MacKay does not skimp on details of who the principal heroines are, from the moral dilemmas of Felicia Hardy to the anxieties of Mary Jane Watson. Neither are too overwrought, working to push the story forward rather than set it back. On top of that, MacKay gives an overall dose of pure fun, playing up Watson’s abilities as an actress as well as Hardy’s as a master thief. Even beyond that, the fun leads straight into comedy in some instances with one-off gags, enough to leave readers laughing to the last page.
C.F. Villa is adept in the speedy and action-heavy illustrations of the piece, helping to keep the story at a rather fast pace for the comedic and serious elements both. His use of facial expressions enhances the comedy and overall emotion, especially as the artwork focuses in on said faces or any violent impacts. Furthermore, there is just enough distinction between the two heroines to make them appear somewhat similar, but also very much distinct, making an important moment of their similarities be all the more believable for the audience.
Erick Arciniega’s colors make Villa’s artwork truly pop out, from the darkness to the light. The bright colors of some of the more colorful members of Marvel’s New York City helps to set the relatively light tone of “Mary Jane & Black Cat Beyond” #1, though the dark shadows around its antagonist do keep things from being too carefree, and enable some amount of stakes in the process.
Final Verdict: 7.5- Fast paced and fun, this one-shot is definitely one to look into.
Star Wars: The High Republic: Trail of Shadows #4
Written by Daniel Jose Older
Illustrated by Dave Watcher
Colored by Giada Marchioso
Lettered by Joe Sabino
Reviewed by Ryan Fitzmartin
Aliens, intrigue, blasters, Lightsabers, starship battles, “Star Wars: The High Republic: Trail of Shadows” #4 has it all. Daniel Jose Older’s script provides drama and action while David Watcher and Giada Marchioso supply exciting visuals. Jedi and Republic forces clash with the violent Nihl and a rogue Chandra-Fan doctor in the depths of space. Everything you could ever want from a Star Wars comic is provided here, albeit none of it particularly fresh.
The characters are interesting enough, with a quiet moment allowing the reader to be moderately invested in the Jedi hero. The Chandra-Fan are rarely at the center of a Star Wars comic, so featuring them in “Star Wars: The High Republic: Trail of Shadows” #4 is a nice choice by Older. Watcher and Marchioso handle the action well, and the space battle in particular features a dazzling and chaotic clash of light and color. Everything looks and feels like Star Wars should.
Unfortunately, it’s all a little routine. “Star Wars: The High Republic, Trail of Shadows” #4 isn’t breaking much new Star Wars ground. It’s not lacking quality, but it doesn’t contain anything fans haven’t seen before. Nonetheless, readers who are enjoying ‘The High Republic’ line of books will likely find what they are looking for. This is a Star Wars issue that will meet expectations, no more or less.
Final Verdict: 6.8 – Standard Issue Slam-Bang Star Wars Action.
X-Men #7
Written by Gerry Dugan
Illustrated by Pepe Larraz
Colored by Marte Gracia
Lettered by VC’s Clayton Cowles
Continued below
Reviewed by Alexander Manzo
“X-Men” continues its attempt at a mystery genre, but ends up feeling closer to a procedural drama. Assuming the readers have read the previous issue and are aware that Captain Krakoa is Cyclops, they now see why he took on this new mantle. It was not simply time for a new name on the team and revamp of Cyclops’ uniform, but instead, it was a trap built by someone else. Gerry Dugan uses this issue as both a tribute to Cyclops’s “last day” in the public eye and reminding the reader how badass he can be by simply opening his eyes. The soldier/boy scout mentality that Cyclops carries with him in every interaction gets showcased with his ability to save innocents, even at the cost of his own life. While Dugan does a great job with his script, it feels like watching a movie where it starts with the hero inevitably getting captured and tortured, and the rest of the film leads to this event. The ending is part of the saving grace, as its emotional beats work and shows just how brutal a death Cyclops suffers.
The brutality of his death comes from the hands of Pepe Larraz; once Cyclops’s carotid artery is sliced all the way through, it’s like the reader can see the spirit of the fearless leader escape his body. Larraz then follows it with a faded background of Wolverine, and the hand on his lifeless body makes it truly heart-stopping. It’s one thing to read or hear about a famous general dying in a battle during a historical war, but getting to see it happen, play-by-play, is truly a sight to see. Marte Garcia makes an outstanding contribution by setting the mood and adding this layer of strength and destruction during the battle. When Sunfire attacks one of the beasts and is engulfed with the flames, it creates this shocking moment for the reader to wonder if they are going to make it out of this battle or have to be resurrected.
Final Verdict: 7.5 – While the issue feels a little misplaced for the order of the series, it does its job of paying homage to Cyclops and making new questions about the enemy orchestrating everything.
