Hi everyone. I’m Taylor. Welcome to my Substack. This is the first in a weekly series where I”ll be going over the top comic books I read each week. I’m hoping I’ll look back at this first week and cringe a little. We’ll see. Anyway, without further ado, let’s dive into things, starting with number 5.
Number 5.
A Righteous Thirst for Vengeance #9. Image Comics. Written by Rick Remender. Art by André Lima Araújo. Colors by Chris O’Halloran. Letters by Bus Wooten.
Even by this book’s standards, this is a sparse issue as far as dialogue and action go. There is a time jump from the last issue. It looks as though several months or perhaps years have passed since issue number 8. André does a great job conveying this through the artwork. As with most things in this book, Remender trusts in the visuals, letting them shine. There is a sense that the unnamed protagonist and the child have grown a bit more comfortable and accustomed to each other. Visually, as always, it’s a gorgeous book. It won’t please everyone. Folks looking for action or anything to really move the plot forward will likely be disappointed. This is one of those titles that one can read in 3-4 minutes is so desired. However, if people take the time to linger and enjoy the artwork, it’s a pretty rewarding experience. Oh, and there are shrimp tacos.
When I first began reading this book I was under the assumption that it was a limited series. Apparently, it’s an ongoing title. That does worry me a little. I hope they have a solid plan in place and don’t just let the book meander about for too long. That said, it’s been a solid book from the get-go and I trust the creators to push things forward in an interesting direction.
Number 4.
Mindset #1 Vault Comics. Written by Zack Kaplan. Art by John Pearson. Letters by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou.
Set in the very near future or possibly an alternate present, this tells the tale of a social media startup company and its repercussions on the creator. This first issue tells the story through a series of flashbacks that explain the initial creation of the company and the product. It’s mainly a setup issue. The artwork by Pearson is, mostly, very strong. There are some breathtaking pages in here. There are a few panels where the characters seem stiff or overly based on posed models, but that’s a nitpicky complaint. Writing-wise, it’s internal monologue-heavy and rather verbose. Given the nature of the story that makes a fair amount of sense, although I do think that said monologuing could have been trimmed down a little. The premise of the book is pretty damned interesting and terrifying. I don’t want to give away what that exactly is as that would be a pretty big spoiler.
I’m looking forward to seeing where this book goes. It’s a strong first issue, but a whole lot will depend upon what happens in issue number 2. If it keeps the fairly slow pace then it might be a book that gets pushed to my ‘trade-wait’ pile.
Number 3.
Swamp Thing #14. Written by Ram V. Art by Mike Perkins. Colors by Mike Spicer. Letters by Aditya Bidikar.
Ram V’s Swamp Thing has been a standout from the first issue. Moody, gothic, intriguing. It’s everything you want in a horror title. The main character of Levi Kamei began as a bit of a blank slate and still is, to some extent. He reacts rather than acts. That changes a bit in this issue, as he takes the initiative for what feels like the first time. Ram has added some intriguing elements to the Swamp Thing mythos. One of these, the Parliament of Gears, takes center stage. It’s an essay on humanity wrapped up neatly in a horrific bow. Perkin’s art is at time somber and quiet and at times grandiose and terrifying.
There are only 2 issues left to this title. It seems like it’s racing towards a climactic ending. If Ram V and Perkins can stick the landing this could go down as one of the great Swamp Thing runs. If I had any complaints it’s that it seems like DC feels the need to shoehorn mainstream characters into this title. There’s a Green Lantern appearance that feels unnecessary.
Number 2.
Agent of W.O.R.L.D.E. #1. Scout Comics. Written by Deniz Camp. Art by Filya Bratukhin. Letters by Hassan Otsame-Elhaou.
This book feels like it would be at home in the pages of 2000AD or Heavy Metal magazine. I mean that mostly as a compliment. Deniz fills the world with a whole lot of technobabble and acronyms that feel a bit forced at times. There’s something about the tone of the writing that feels just a little bit off. That said, the visuals by Filya carry the issue and elevate it to its number 2 position on this list. Full of intricate lifework and an insane amount of detail, it’s a gorgeously drawn book. The style reminds me of Morbius and Geof Darrow. While it’s a little light on any sensible plot, I think that folks that are fans of either of those artists will love this book.
Issue two is listed as “coming soon” according to the back cover. Personally, I’ll most likely wait until a trade paperback comes out. I think this book has a lot of potential and I have a feeling the writing will solidify as things advance, but I feel it’ll probably be a better read as a collected volume.
Number 1.
Public Domain #1. Image Comics. Written and drawn by Chip Zdarsky. Letters (I think) by Zdarsky as well.
This book took me by surprise. I didn’t read any of the previews for it. I bought it purely because I knew Zdarsky was writing and drawing it. It’s a tale of dualities. Two comic creators with different ideas about who owns what. The comic book creators vs the movie studio. Two brothers at odds with each other and their father. It’s an intriguing study about the nature of comic creation. There are some pointed and probably well-deserved jabs at Marvel that take place in the pages. Chip’s art is solid if not dynamic. His line work is fairly sparse. Given the nature of the story, it’s effective.
I’m honestly not sure if this is a limited series or an ongoing title. Chip has yet another solid start with this book. If it keeps up this level of quality it could be something special.
Those are my top five comic books I read this week. I also do weekly comic book reviews on my Youtube channel, where I go over every book I read each week.
Thank you and I’ll see you all back here next week.
Taylor