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 Deadliest Bouquet #1
Written & Lettered by Erica Schultz
Illustrated by Carola Borelli
Colored by Gab Contreras
Reviewed by Alexander Manzo
Erica Shultz starts “The Deadliest Bouquet” by reuniting three sisters to help solve their mother’s murder. From the jump, it feels like a mystery of who killed their mother, but Schultz shifts the storyline to how anyone could kill their mother. The reader isn’t provided with much information about the character’s past, other than the fact that they had some weapons training and fighting was encouraged. By the end of the story, it feels like somehow a Black Widow was killed, and now the girls are racing against the police to find out who did it.
Aside from the murder, in which the audience only sees the aftermath, there is no action sequence or significant splash page to hook the reader. Instead, Schultz uses the personalities of the sisters; Rose, Poppy, & Violet. While they are all different in their reactions to the death and tactics to find out who did it, it helps give off a TMNT-like vibe where once they all have the same goal, it only becomes a matter of time when it gets accomplished. The side characters seem a little goofy and dim-witted at times, from the police to Poppy’s husband, but for an introductory issue, it makes sense.
The art of the story was the derailing element of this introductory series. While Carola Borelli’s linework is clean, it feels inconsistent, which turns it into a distraction for the reader. There is often some awkward point of view that makes the reader pause to figure out what exactly is going on and what the actual size of the characters are. An example is when Violet is introduced and is half the size of the entire panel that takes up most of the page. Then in the following, she’s shown as smaller than the cops questioning her. There is also an awkward white background that feels like something is missing. Throughout the issue, some added texture to the backgrounds feels distracting about whether they are essential to the stories or just added for fun. The eyes of the characters are another element that feels off. While there are more details in the colors to add depth, they are often pointed at something else rather than the person talking.
Final Verdict: 7.0 – This murder mystery has some potential, but you might have to take a few breaks between pages to figure out what is happening
DCeased: War of the Undead Gods #1
Written by Tom Taylor
Illustrated by Trevor Hairsine
Inked by Andy Lanning
Colored by Rain Beredo
Lettered by Saida Temofonte
Reviewed by Gregory Ellner
From a purely emotional standpoint, Tom Taylor’s writing on “DCeased: War of the Undead Gods” #1 is a resounding success. Beats three installments in the making, from the original “DCeased” to its sequel “DCeased: Dead Planet,” are played out for all of the pathos they are worth, be it to warm or tear apart the readers’ collective hearts. Even beyond those angles, there is room for comedy from certain characters, and overwhelming horror from others. In the case of the latter, special mention goes to the ironic juxtaposition inherent in the opening pages, and the way in which a famous character’s origin story is turned on its head by the insertion of the further corrupted Anti-Life Equation.
If there is one fault in Taylor’s work, it is the lack of accessibility for new readers. ‘War of the Undead Gods’ seems to rely on readers to be coming back from prior miniseries, and does not give much explanation for how things are in this terrifying timeline.
Returning from other series, the illustrations of Trevor Hairsine work alongside the inks of Andy Lanning, giving gruesome close-ups and marvelous open shots. The violence feels much more visceral under their pencils and inks, emotion extremely potent as a result. Unfortunately, it seems that the main problem comes with characters whose actions are at a bit of a distance. The lack of detail really shows, and is an unfortunate contrast to the excellent closer shots.
Continued belowAlso returning is Rain Beredo on the colors. Much like his work on the likes of “Brimstone,” his colors on “DCeased: War of the Undead Gods” #1 are extremely emotive, using darkness extremely well to tell a tale of pain and fear as much as to tell one of calm joy. Sunlight can be seen as either a tool of hope as much as one of rage and evil, making even the daylight scenes come across as hostile or otherwise on edge.
Final Verdict: 7.5– Despite some issues with art at a further distance, this latest installment to the “DCeased” story definitely is worth the look.
Love Everlasting #1
Written by Tom King
Illustrated by Elsa Charretier
Colored by Matt Hollingsworth
Lettered by Clayton Cowles
Reviewed by Quinn Tassin
There’s a truly great debut issue in “Love Everlasting” #1. What appears to be a simplistic romance comic immediately subverts itself, becoming a disorienting trip through time. It’s filled with creative imagery, with each time jump receiving its own title page with creator credits and all. It’s fascinating and exciting to see our hero’s reality break as she moves from time period to time period, entering each one with a new love but memories of the ones she’s left behind.
The artwork is pitch perfect. The throwback designs and layouts make for an immersive experience, especially in the initial ‘50s-esque story. The coloring is especially strong, subtly and effectively controlling the tone of the issue as it becomes more and more unsettling. The team also does strong work at maintaining a consistent tone and visual language while still evoking all of the different periods it takes place in. The character design is especially strong, with Charretier clearly excited by the chance to portray so many types of characters in so many different periods.
For all those strengths, though, there’s something missing from “Love Everlasting” #1. Being immersed in a mystery is fine and good. It’s great to treat readers like adults who can handle some disorientation, especially in a story that takes big swings like this one does. Here, though, there’s very little to latch onto and it makes it hard to connect to the issue on an emotional level. Because Joan is defined by her all-consuming love for the men she’s paired with, she’s not easy to connect with. It’s not that the audience can’t care for her so much as she doesn’t make for a stellar window into this story. Given that the ground is constantly shifting under her and she’s meant to be readers’ entryway into this series, the ground is constantly shifting under readers, too. Without some kind of grounding energy, it makes for a comic that’s just a smidge too confusing. The murder and forced time-jump in the wild west is certainly a strong ending that makes this worth picking up again. Plus, big swings like this are worth rewarding. Still, it’s hard not to feel that with tiny tweaks, this could be a stronger issue.
Final Verdict: 7.2- Intriguing and clever but too vague for its own good
