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.
Aliens #6
Written by Phillip Kennedy Johnson
Illustrated by Julius Ohta
Colored by Yen Nitro
Lettered by Clayton Cowles
Reviewed by Ryan Fitzmartin
“Aliens” #6 concludes Philly Kennedy Johnson’s saga of Xenomorphs, robots, and hybrid monsters with both a huge showdown, and a side of existential crisis. Johnson peppers in moral debates, and philosophical musings as the androids of Steel Team take on the Xenomorph Queen in order to save a child in danger. This leads to a bit of a tonal contrast, as it’s hard to process the deep thoughts Johnson is going for whilst also enjoying the aliens vs androids action. It works best at the end, when the action is over and the writer’s thoughts on space and the horrors within get a little more time to breathe.
The art is mostly pretty solid, although the action can sometimes get a little chaotic. Julius Ohta does a great job with the emotion and the close ups, allowing for some stark emotion, but there are a few times where the fighting feels a little jumpy. The backdrops look great and the designs are cool, but a little more clarity would be nice. The compositions are strong though, and taken on their own each individual panel is well done. Yen Nitro’s coloring is strong, and creates nice contrast within each panel.
Overall, “Aliens” #6 isn’t anything mind blowing, but it’s got energy and provocative thinking. It’s a strong stab at doing something interesting in a well-worn franchise, even if it doesn’t always work.
Final Verdict: 6.5 – A decently energetic final issue.
Harrower #1
Written by Justin Jordan
Illustrated & Colored by Brahm Revel
Lettered by Pat Brosseau
Reviewed by Alexander Manzo
Harrow #1 has a substantial opening issue that begins world-building in Barlowe, NY. Justin Jordan hooks the reader immediately with a cop on the edge of his own sake or sanity and gets brutally murdered by a ghost-looking spirit that he’d been hunting. This opening gives a Scream vibe mixed with the local lore of Nightmare On Elm Street. Jordan also does an excellent job of setting the different view of the Harrower through the generational gap. The teens view the story as an urban legend, while the adults have a more haunting idea of the Harrower. This mention of all the adults meeting up for a town hall type of meeting leaves the reader questioning if there’s an ulterior motive. This introductory issue reads quickly, but by the end of it, the reader has a series of different questions about where it could go. One big question is, who will be the main protagonist they’re supposed to be following? If Jordan is doing anything right in this first issue, it’s to make the reader go through the entire issue at least one more time.
There is something “pass/fail” when it comes to illustrators doing their own coloring, and Brahm Revel indeed passed. One key element about horror stories that sometimes gets forgotten is the kills themselves; it’s one thing to stumble upon a crime scene but another when you see it happen. Revel uses the Harrower’s hook at the end of the chain as brutally as possible. In the final scene, one of the characters gets their head popped off, and it’s as gnarly as you might think. There is also a solid appreciation for unique character designs, some stories can have characters that resemble one another too much and confuse specific panels, but Revel gives them each Scooby-Doo-like attributes to help with distinctions. One scene that did make it a bit confusing was the alternating point of view when the kids were all splitting up between the party and finding phone service. The significance of the scene didn’t get lost as it leads to the twist and final murder of the issue, but it does feel like it can take the reader out momentarily.
Continued belowFinal Verdict:8.8 – A wonderful ode to classic slasher flicks mixed in with the gruesome and blood of the modern day.
Joe Fixit #2
Written by Peter David
Illustrated by Yildiray Çinar
Colored by Dee Cunniffe
Lettered by Ariana Maher
Reviewed by Gregory Ellner
Peter David’s writing on “Joe Fixit” #2 leans into the styling of an earlier story in Marvel history. Rather than weighed down with later decades of trauma, the characters are relatively free to have a relatively simple, though dangerous time, with the conflict between the eponymous Hulk persona, Spider-Man, and the Kingpin, though seeming threatening on the surface, having an undercurrent that readers should not worry too much, and should have fun with what is being shown. The Kingpin is somewhat threatening, but not in a physical way, and the tricky, violent nature of the Hulk is treated, though serious, not so serious that it makes the time any darker overall.
Yildiray Çinar’s art style harkens back to an earlier time in comic book history, not unlike the story itself. He emphasizes harder lines and a cartoonish nature over any intense focus on realism, though there are some exceptions, such as Joe Fixit’s facial expressions in the later pages. Overall, there is a feeling of a fun time with little to worry about, inviting readers to enjoy the ride.
Similarly, Dee Cunniffe’s colors balance whimsy with action rather well. The night is a serious time, but much like time in a Vegas casino overall, there is little way to tell for most of the story due to the lights. Yes, there is action, but with it nearly all well-lit, readers are able to stay relaxed even in the thick of things.
Final Verdict: 7.0– “Joe Fixit” continues to be a fun story from the past.
Static: Shadows of Dakota #1
Written by Nikolas Draper-Ivey and Vita Ayala
Illustrated and colored by Nikolas Draper-Ivey
Lettered by Andworld Design
Reviewed by Quinn Tassin
“Static: Shadows of Dakota” #1 is one of the best comics about a young superhero that’s come out in years. With a structure reminiscent of a more simple era of “Spider-Man” comics, the issue tells a straightforward story- one about a kid doing his best by his friends, family, and community. The actual number of plot points in the issue is small: Virgil saves some Bang Babies from being kidnapped and helps out his Inventors of Tomorrow mentee, and Ebon kidnaps and kills one of the Bang Baby bounty hunters. But or all its simplicity, the issue feels incredibly full. That’s thanks in large part to the incredibly strong character work that Ayala and Draper-Ivey are doing here. Virgil has one of the clearest voices of any character in comics right now; it’s hard not to come away from reading a scene of him doing something nice without thinking “what a good head that kid’s got on his shoulders.” Where it’s not unusual for a superhero to seem like a good person, it’s a unique strength for this series that he feels so real and full. This is a high school kid who gets food for unhoused people and mentors kids when he’s just walking down the street and even after saving the day thinks of himself as just one component of a larger, necessary group taking care of the community. It’s a refreshingly optimistic point of view for a character to have and it’s a testament to the writing here that it feels sincere and not preachy.
The artwork is pitch-perfect, bringing a heavily anime influenced style that imbues incredible dynamism in the action and a fundamental sense of life and expressiveness to the more low key moments. The sequence where Static saves Bang Babies from being kidnapped is the easy highlight of ““Static: Shadows of Dakota” #1. The anime inspiration leads to lots of great touches like the way that electricity crackles off of Static and the framing of a whole slew of panels. Better yet, the way that Static’s abilities are illustrated feels innovative, particularly thanks to the coloring work that goes a couple of steps beyond just solid colors representing energy. The Ebon scenes, too, are incredible with creative visuals that bring a real sense of fear and dread in the midst of an otherwise exciting, fun issue.
“Static: Shadows of Dakota” #1 is a masterclass in superhero storytelling. It’s got clear, simple stakes and a deeply admirable but still human main character which makes investment the only natural step. The artwork is awesome and it’s hard not to want to be in that world. Ebon is a genuinely menacing villain whose motives are immediately clear. This is good stuff and if the rest of the series is as good as this issue, we’re in for a treat.
Final Verdict: 8.7 – Simple structure, strong characterization, and a whole lot of heart go a long way
