I’m somehow even further behind in my reading than before, even after skipping a week on this column and having a seven-issue Wednesday. Oh well, here’s what I think about stuff you maybe read a while ago.
Best Comic of the Fortnight:
Absolute Wonder Woman #1 – This book is off to a great start, as we are introduced to the Absolute version of Diana. She’s been raised in Hell, by Circe, but has now chosen to embrace her heritage and step up to protect the world. Kelly Thompson avoids the humour she usually fills her books with, giving us a bleak look at Diana who has still found a deep wellspring of love within her (adding to the nature over nurture argument), despite where she grew up. Hayden Sheridan’s art is gorgeous here, and I especially liked the double-page panels that show Diana’s childhood and young adulthood. I’m not sure I fully understand what the Absolute universe is all about, but I think I’m going to be sticking with this title if the quality stays this high.
Quick Takes:
Avengers Assemble #2 – I love the idea of this book, which features a flexible large grouping of Avengers who respond to smaller threats than the big league team. Writer Steve Orlando and artist Scot Eaton have even brought back the bomber jacket era, which excites me. My issue with this issue, though, is that Orlando’s constant banter feels so forced and awkward. I found it kind of distracting.
Batman and Robin: Year One #1 – I can’t imagine not wanting to read a new series by Chris Samnee, who is co-writing this miniseries with Mark Waid in addition to providing the amazing artwork. It’s the beginning of Dick’s time as Robin, and he and Batman get wrapped up in a strange case involving Two-Face, who has stolen a file from Commissioner Gordon. It’s the type of series where there’s no point in worrying about continuity, and where the art is front and centre. I’m a huge fan of Samnee, especially on the recent Fire Power series. Samnee and Waid have a good track record (Black Widow, Daredevil), so it’s nice to see them working together again. I like that they’ve chosen the classic looks for Batman and Robin, and hope to see a lot more acrobatics in the next issue.
Dazzler #2 – Thanks to writer Jason Loo, this continues to be a fun read. Dazzler embarks on her tour, knowing that there is someone hiring villains to ruin her reputation and her shows. An appearance on a London radio station takes a bad turn, and our hero learns that many of her human fans dislike her platforming mutant voices in songs that have always had pro-mutant lyrics. This is very much a series of this time.
Detective Comics #1090 – I was excited to see what Tom Taylor and Mikel Janín might have in store for this title, as Taylor has been doing incredible work lately, and Janín is always impressive. This was a solid first issue. We learn that there’s been a serial killer running around killing young criminals, and Batman is only starting to get on his trail. There’s a subplot about an old friend of the Waynes’ who is developing an anti-aging drug, and a retconned story about that friend and how she came to know the Waynes. There’s no supervillain, yet, which is a nice change of pace, and things look great. The last page made me groan, as certain past events can’t have anything more added to them before they collapse, but generally, I’m looking forward to this run.
The Domain #4 – Chip Zdarsky’s comic within a comic (this is the book that the characters of Public Domain are creating) is entertaining and stands on its own, if a little conventionally. I like it, but don’t see myself reading more than a miniseries. I do think the fact that the three main characters have to share their powers, with only one being able to access them at a time, makes the story different and interesting.
Iron Man #1 – I wasn’t sure what to expect from Spencer Ackerman and Julius Ohta’s first issue, and while it feels too familiar to other recent runs, I did like it. Tony’s got control of his company again, but it doesn’t look like he’ll have it for long, since AIM and Roxxon are working together to try to take it away from him and focus on building weapons again. It’s a little hard to believe that we have another corporate takeover story so soon after Gerry Duggan just did the same thing, but Ackerman’s take on Tony is working for me. Ohta’s art is nice, although it didn’t grab me from the first page. I’m starting to wonder if there’s much left to do with some Marvel characters, and the way this story is set up makes me think that after this run inevitably ends, they might want to let the character rest for a while.
Jenny Sparks #3 – I’m not entirely sure what Tom King is looking to accomplish with this series. The story is much more about Captain Atom, who seems to be having a psychotic episode, and is holding a bar and its patrons hostage, than it is about Jenny herself. This issue has the Justice League attempting to take Atom down, with little luck, while we also see a meeting some twenty years ago (our time) between Superman and Jenny. It’s not doing a lot for me, really.
Jupiter’s Legacy: Finale #1 – It’s been a long time since we last saw the Jupiter cast, so I felt a little behind during this first issue. It seems that Mark Millar is determined to kill off just about every character in this series, as the aliens who have tricked Earth’s heroes themselves face a threat from within, and then an even bigger threat. I guess Millar is wrapping up this series with this miniseries, and I’m fine with that. It’s not been bad, but there has been some diminishing returns taking place. Art wise, though, Tommy Lee Edwards’s art is just as entertaining as it’s ever been. It looks like he’s doing some new things with his style, but it’s still recognizably his work, and it is very nice. His art always pairs so well with letters by John Workman.
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #25 – I am continuing to struggle with this book. I don’t dislike it, but I find that the pacing and structure of Cody Ziglar’s story doesn’t really work for me. This issue has Black Panther fight Miles to try to suppress his vampire side, or something, and then give him a new costume that is definitely not an improvement. Honestly, I prefer the built-in hoodie and second face mask of the last run more than this new vibranium suit, which looks like it was thrown together in a hurry. I really want to enjoy this series, as I love Miles, but it keeps coming up short.
Nullhunter #1 – I grabbed this off the strength of writer Michael Walsh’s name, and don’t regret buying it, even if I don’t know that I’m fully invested in it yet. Walsh is joined by Gustaffo Vargas, an interesting artist whose work feels familiar. It’s a dark science fiction story about a man whose cybernetic parts were hacked, forcing him to murder some people. Now the corporation he worked for has freed and upgraded him to go and access a secret lab or something. I don’t care about any of the characters here yet, but I”m interested enough to want to read more.
Star Wars: The Battle of Jakku – Insurgency Rising #2 – I think there might be too much happening in this series, as writer Alex Segura rushes to connect a lot of dots over twelve issues, but doesn’t really have the space to develop the story organically. New characters and concepts just turn up, and I don’t really feel very connected to what’s happening. I think that a lot of stuff would have been happening in the galaxy after Return of the Jedi, and that it should have all been given the space that the period between the original movies have been given at Marvel. I also think that continuing to sideline Han Solo is a mistake, as he’s been absent from the Marvel comics for so long.
Storm #1 – Storm has long been my favourite X-Man, and a character who I think has influenced me more than any other. Of course, most of that love comes from the glory days of the X-Men, when she dressed as a punk and lost her powers. I was a little unsure of what to expect from this new series, with a writer, Murewa Ayodele, who is new to me, in an era where I’m not sure what Marvel wants to do with its mutant characters. I did like this issue, which establishes Storm as the self-proclaimed protector of the planet. Prior to the issue’s opening, Storm and Frenzy worked to stop a disaster in Oklahoma City, which was caused by the emergence of a new mutant (who just happened to be in the reactor room of an experimental power plant based on alien technology when his powers kicked in). Storm has to decide whether or not she should reveal the truth of what happened, after the public assumed the disaster was caused by the tech in the plant. It’s a good start to things, if a little too decompressed for me. Lucas Werneck’s art is great, but the lack of a supporting cast makes me worry that this book might not have enough going on. Ororo works best as a character when she is in the company of other people, so hopefully this is something we’ll see in future issues. I’m not sure how I feel about the suggestion of a cosmic connection to her; that’s what Phoenix’s book is for.
Titans #16 – I like that DC is keeping their numbering in the All In era, and making a rare creative team switch up without relaunching the title. John Layman is the new writer for Titans, joined by Pete Woods on art, and I think we’re off to a good start. The team is being folded into the new Justice League Unlimited, but as an independent squad who can now divide their time between the Watchtower satellite and Titans Tower. There are some lineup changes for the team though, a new leader (of sorts), and a surprise attack by an old villain. Layman’s writing is often incredible (Chew and Outer Darkness are personal favourites) but he hasn’t had a lot of opportunities to play in shared universes like this. Woods is always good, but his current style is maybe a little too slick for me. I hate the new costumes on Flash and Arsenal, but that’s probably not on Woods. I’m curious to see where Layman takes this book, and hope that whatever he does, he keeps Raven as a bit player.
Ultimate Spider-Man #10 – We get another largely talking heads issue of this series, as the focus shifts to Ben and Jonah, and their investigation into the ownership of Stark/Stane. They figure out that Oscorp is in charge of the company, and that leads the reader to think that maybe this is the point where Norman Osborn turns evil in this world. I like that Spider-Man doesn’t appear at all in this issue, and that Peter barely does. David Messina’s art works well, and in general, this series continues to intrigue me.
Uncanny X-Men #4 – I’m having a hard time with Sarah Gaunt as a villain. I don’t understand what her powers are, but the thought that she might have given birth to Charles Xavier’s child, before he fathered Legion, is kind of irritating. There are a few things that aren’t really working for me with Gail Simone’s approach here, the biggest being the way she’s trying to cutesy up the X-Men so artificially. Why are there cats all over the place now, for example, sitting in crates in the kitchen? Why does Logan keep calling Rogue ‘Moonbeam’? It feels forced to me, and outside of the way these characters have been established. David Marquez’s art doesn’t really look like his usual work in this issue, either, and it contributed to my sense of things just being a little off-kilter. I’m starting to miss Krakoa…
The Fortnight in Music:
Jembaa Groove – Ye Ankasa ⎸ We Ourselves – Jembaa Groove are an African band based in Germany that consistently provide infectious Afrobeat grooves. This is the second album of theirs (or, at least, the second that I’ve messed with), and it’s a rock solid example of how the music started by Fela Kuti and his contemporaries lives and thrives in the diaspora. I would love to see this band play live.
Asher Gamedze & Black Lungs – Constitution – This album by drummer Asher Gamedze, and his band, is pretty challenging. This is not a relaxing jazz album by any means – it’s discordant and strange. I can tell that this is about the Black Liberation movement, or something similar, but I’m not entirely sure what Gamedze is trying to say here. Some tracks are lovely, but others are maybe not good for people struggling with high blood pressure.
Ezra Collective – Dance, No One’s Watching – Ezra Collective have managed to create something truly remarkable, once again. This new album is one of the most feel-good pieces of music I’ve ever heard. This London jazz group suffuses each track with uplifting, hopeful horns, while keyboardist Joe Armon-Jones and drummer Femi Koleoso go wild, daring one another to ever greater heights. This is such a positive album, and listening to it makes me remarkably happy. The band is joined by some of the musicians in Kokoroko, and has a feature by Yazmin Lacey, all of which are extra reasons to check it out. I wouldn’t be surprised if they win another Mercury Prize for this one.
Hania Rani – Nostalgia – I’ve been a fan of Hania Rani since I first heard her first album, and have been lucky enough to see her perform live twice. This album, Nostalgia, contains live recordings from two dates in 2023, and reminds me a lot of the last time I caught her show. Her solo piano construction have a little more urgency to them when they’re live, and as I listened to this, I could visualize her hunched over her set up of two pianos and some keyboards, tapping her foot in time with the beat. Rani is a giant in the neo-classical/ambient world, and I’m thankful to have this example of her great work in my collection.
E L U C I D – Revelator – I think this is an easy contender for best album of the year. E L U C I D, best known for his work in Armand Hammer as well as for his long solo career (and for his Nostrum Grocers collaboration with RAP Ferreira), continues to push the boundaries of the indie rap scene. This album has him basically sharing his thoughts and feelings about a number of things, and his writing comes off as less abstract than it has on previous outings. The beats, however, are more abstract and strange, building on the sound he and billy woods utilized on their brilliant We Buy Diabetic Test Strips album. There’s a noisy component to this album that I enjoy, and I like that he had Luke Stewart, of both Silt Trio and Irreversible Entanglements, come on and play live bass over many of these beats. This is an album to be taken in from start to finish, and will need multiple plays to be completely absorbed. It’s special.
Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 – Heavier Yet (Lays the Crownless Head) – It’s great to see Seun Kuti, son of the legend Fela Kuti, putting out new music with Egypt 80, which was once Fela’s band, although I’m not sure how many original members remain. This album, which was executive produced by Lenny Kravitz, is a reminder that afrobeat music, as originated by Fela, is never going to die. As usual, Seun touches on political themes in a danceable, uplifting way, and the band sounds like it’s having a ball. I’m really happy to see this musical legacy continuing, and can see this being a regular part of my rotation, especially on tough days.
Ashley Henry – Who We Are – I loved Ashley Henry’s first album, so was excited to get this one. He’s a keyboard player and singer from the UK who has some impressive jazz chops. This album ranges a little, but has some really lovely playing and singing on it. It’s good.
