I don’t know about you, but weeks have started to feel very long these days. Thankfully, this week still managed to come to an end, so we’ve got that going for us. Solid week for comics, though I didn’t read too many. At least we’ve got new Absolute Batman, eh?

Comic Book of the Week goes to Amazing Spider-Man #1 for a solid, enjoyable relaunch of the main Spider-Man series, which I am again willing to check out.

Meanwhile, I’ve got a short comic story in a new anthology that’s on Kickstarter right now! Museum of the Uncanny is a collection of short stories about weird and quirky artifacts, and my story is called “The Normal Quesadilla Maker That Definitely Can’t Talk.” So if you enjoy reading my comic reviews, I invite you to check out the Kickstarter and perhaps support my comic writing as well! You can also order physical copies of both Gamer Girl & Vixen books as add-ons in this campaign.

Also, I watched the fifth season of the Harley Quinn cartoon and am super pleased to say that it is back on form! Really entertaining season that felt like the early seasons again.

Comic Reviews: Absolute Batman #7 and Amazing Spider-Man #1.

Absolute Batman #7
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Marcos Martin
Colorist: Muntsa Vincente
Letterer: Clayton Cowles

The first storyline is over and now we’re settling into Absolute Batman as an ongoing. Solid settling.

In his attempts to investigate the Ark M black site under construction in Gotham Bay, Bruce gets in touch with Matches Malone, a former member of the best friends gang who became a petty criminal. But he’s real good about getting fake paperwork, and Bruce wants to get on the construction crew. No sooner does Matches start to fill Bruce in than he dies from a mysterious bacterium that literally melts his face. It’s wild, yo.

Anyway, Bruce’s investigation leads him to Dr. Victor Fries, founder of V-Core. Bruce goes in under cover as a city employee checking the power and he meets Victor Jr., who reveals that it’s a cryogenic company that freezes people with illnesses, including his parents, and him as a child. Bruce is about to uncover more when Victor Jr. transforms into a scary ice ghoul!

Comic Rating: 8/10 – Very Good.

There’s no time wasted as we move on to the next story and it’s a strong one. We’re definitely getting into Ultimate territory here, with a new take on a classic villain, inserted into this new continuity. Snyder does a solid job reinventing Mr. Freeze as a whole and introducing the ghoulish new villain into Batman’s world. The backstory and mystery build nicely to a shocking reveal at the end of the issue. The success of this comic in the long run will depend on the normal, ordinary stories, and this issue proves it can be done well. I also enjoyed the new take on Matches Malone, even if we lose the character immediately. This issue easily and effortlessly continues the idea of reinvention for Batman’s supporting cast/villains.

I’ve always enjoyed the artwork of Marco Martin and it works well following Nick Dragotta, even if Bruce looks a little baby-faced at times. Martin does a great job with the death of Matches — watch out for Trypophobia! Personally, I think Matches could have been an ongoing character for a bit before killing him, because he seems like a really interesting fella. But this works as well. Martin also does a fine job with the Batman action, so he’s a solid choice for fill-in whenever Dragotta is needed elsewhere.

TL;DR: Absolute Batman settles nicely into its second story and ongoing status with new takes on classic characters and a fill-in artist that is more than up to the job.

Amazing Spider-Man #1
Writer: Joe Kelly
Artist: Pepe Larraz
Colorist: Marte Gracia
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna

I’m always open to trying out a new Amazing Spider-Man #1, even if I haven’t stuck with the last few new creator relaunches. I’m pretty sure I like Spider-Man…

Peter Parker is trying to get a job, but he keeps failing job interviews for the usual Parker Luck reasons. But then an old buddy from middle school, Brian Nehring, vouches for him and Peter gets hired as Rand Enterprises. But he also gets dragged away from his first day by a rampaging Rhino, who seems really out of control and unwilling to talk. Spidey even has to revive Rhino from a heart attack in the middle of the fight! Something is going on with Rhino and Peter investigates, encountering the very same problem for himself!

Meanwhile, Roderick Kingsley has a company and both he and a mysterious, shadowy figure are probably behind what has happened to Rhino. Aunt May is doing well. Norman Osborn is working on redemption. And Peter is dating a nice girl named Shay.

Comic Rating: 8/10 – Very Good.

This is a fun, back-to-basics relaunch for our Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and that’s perfectly fine by me. Not every relaunch needs some mind-blowing and shocking reveal. The last one tried that, with everybody mad at Peter Parker after some big mysterious event, and that blew up in the comic’s face. So I’m perfectly content with this relaunch starting small and building from there. We’ve got Peter Parker struggling in his personal life, while also being given a sudden leg up. We’ve got a classic villain with a new problem. We’ve got mysterious bad guys in the background, one of whom is also a classic villain. We’ve got some personal life stuff. All the ingredients for a fine story right here in the first issue.

Pepe Larraz is, of course, a master artist, and he does a great job with this issue. No complaints. Spider-Man looks great. Rhino looks great. Peter Parker and friends look great. This issue is everything one could want from a Spider-Man comic, especially a relaunch. Classic Spider-Man everything, while kicking off what will hopefully be a fun new story.

TL;DR: Solid and entertaining start to a new Amazing Spider-Man relaunch, featuring all the enjoyable elements of a Spider-Man comic.

The comics I review in my Hench-Sized reviews are just the usual comics I grab from Comixology any given week, along with a few impulse buys I might try on a whim. So if there are any comics or series you’d like me to review each week, let me know in the comments.

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