I had another busy week this week, but found time to sit and read a bunch of comics. I also found the time to catch up on some of my favorite current comics, so that was nice. And like we’ve seen a lot recently, it’s a bunch of bangers, like Superman and Ultimate Spider-Man.

Comic Book of the Week goes to Absolute Martian Manhunter because I am now on board for the weirdness, especially now that the story is developing.

Meanwhile, I continue to enjoy and take my time with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. If you’re on the fence about this one, I can promise you that it’s definitely like a classic Final Fantasy game, like the glory days of 7, 8, 9 and 10. So it’s good. I also just finished the TV Show The Studio this week with Seth Rogen on AppleTV+ and it was good! Definitely lives up to the hype it has received.

Also, it is with a heavy heart I announce the end of my half-hearted, blog-based campaign to get a comic book company to hire me to write a Street Sharks comic. Bleeding Cool says IDW has one in the works already. I truly put it no effort, but it woulda been neat. In the end, it’s my own fault for not becoming a successful enough comic book writer to make my mark in the age of 80s/90s cartoon adaptations.

Comic Reviews: Absolute Martian Manhunter #3, Absolute Wonder Woman #8, Batman #160, Superman #26 and Ultimate Spider-Man #17.

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Absolute Martian Manhunter #3
Writer: Deniz Camp
Artist: Javier Rodriguez
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Took me a few issues, but I’m fully on board Absolute Martian Manhunter now! Bring on the weirdness!

Also, after all the praise I hear for Deniz Camp, I’m currently reading his indie comic 20th Century Men. It’s probably exactly what I should have expected it to be, and is fine so far.

Two dozen random people set fire to two dozen other people all at once, and none of them seem to know why. John Jones and the Martian are on the case, mostly because it is caused by the White Martian, who wants to destroy the world. Later that night, after an awkward time at home, new possessed people start a bunch of massive fires and John rushes to the scene. The Martian tips him off about the next bombing, at a homeless shelter, and they head inside to save people, only to be confronted by the White Martian! And then the ending gets a little weird.

Comic Rating: 8/10 – Very Good.

As I mentioned in my review of the first issue, I’m not a fan of weird storytelling. Like drug trips or dream sequences or just esoteric nonsense; it’s just not for me. And while that is still a part of Absolute Martian Manhunter, I’ve definitely got a stronger handle on what it all means and why it’s being done, and the story is developing nicely. So with a strong story and strong characters and a more solidified concept, I’m fully on board, and this is a very strong issue. The initial villain act is definitely unique and creepy and creative, and then it expands to the bigger fire bombing later in the issue, all tied into the evil of the White Martian. That all comes across clearly and defiantly, so we know what our heroes are up against, and that goes a long way to helping understand the weirdness.

I am also fully on board with the conflicts in this series. John and the Martian are a great team so far and fun to read. I’m pretty confident I understand what they’re about, though obviously all sorts of rugs could be pulled or shoes could drop. And then the White Martian as a malevolent force/antagonist is a great choice, and I’m pretty sure I understand that as well. The heroic rescues inside the homeless shelter make for an awesome climactic scene, like a real superhero using his abilities to save the day. Though the ending is a little confusing as to what exactly happens…unless I’m fully understanding that John has become engulfed in flames and is possibly burning to death?

Also, as should always be said, Rodriguez is doing career-defining work here. The coloring choices for the mind-reading elements of the book remain the most interesting artwork in comics today.

TL;DR: A more solidified story and characters help to balance the weirdness, elevating all ships in this excellent comic.

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Absolute Wonder Woman #8
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Hayden Sherman
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Becca Carey

The new story begins now! And it’s already off to a very good start.

Wonder Woman sets up her own fortress in the woods outside Gateway City using god magic, and invites all of her friends to visit. But she’s pulled away when she hears a makeshift version of the Tetracide’s sound attacking the city, and it’s a swarm of little robot spiders! Wonder Woman fights them a bit before tracing them to who sent them: Absolute Doctor Poison, who me met earlier in the issue. She’s a cloud of sentient gas living in an old timey diving suit, controlled by the government, but she’s snuck out to deliver a message to Wonder Woman.

Comic Rating: 8/10 – Very Good.

This is a nice issue that takes care of some table-setting, while also setting up the next storyline and another classic villain. Dr. Poison is a longstanding Wonder Woman villain, and the Absolute version already seems really neat! The issue does an excellent job of introducing her, with a cool secret government facility scene, and then brings her into confrontation with Wonder Woman immediately, while adding that twist of delivering a message. That’s always fun, instead of just straight forward good guy vs. bad guy stuff. I’m very eager to see what Dr. Poison has up her sleeve and how it can be new and exciting in the Absolute Universe.

I’m also enjoying Wonder Woman’s friend squad. It’s nice that she has a growing crew to hang out with, and now a base of operations. All good table-setting, especially since I’m sure Kelly Thompson has something truly amazing in mind of Absolute Cheetah. All this build up between Diana and Barbara is fertile ground for some excellent comics down the line. I’m a comic fan who loves downtime stories, where the characters just hang out. So this issue was a really nice balance between superhero action and quiet, character-building moments.

TL;DR: This is an excellent issue setting up the new story and the new character developments. Everything is still firing on all cylinders with Absolute Wonder Woman, with seamless transitions.

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Batman #160
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Jim Lee
Inker: Scott Williams
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Letterer: Richard Starkings

Hush 2 continues probably as we all should have expected.

Jason and Hush are working together, with Hush apparently promising to cure Jason of some brain deterioration. They take the Joker to their lighthouse hideout, which is where Riddler sends Nightwing. Dick and Jason fight before Joker wakes up and pulls guns on them. Meanwhile, Batman’s investigation of a scalpel brings him into contact with some of Hush’s new allies, Armor and then Silence. They’re tough. Then Robin shows up with Bane, and then Hush shows up as well, though it’s all more involved than I’m summing up.

Comic Rating: 7/10 – Good.

With this third issue, I fear that Hush 2 is heading in a rather uninteresting direction, that of Tommy Elliott being the super smartest, bestest planner ever, you guys, we swear! So apparently Hush used a very specific type of scalpel to hurt the Joker, which he knew Bruce would recognize and being custom-made by Wayne Health, which would lead Batman into a trap set at Wayne Health involving one of the new villains, who may have been in placing work at Wayne Health for a long time just to set this up? And then Hush is also able to predict/set up everything that’s happening with Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin and Bane? And it’s all going according to plan? Ugh. Please. Is that really what we’re going with?

Butt-hurtedness aside, it’s still a fine issue full of strong character moments and solid writing and artwork. The story progresses built on solid character foundations, which I’m enjoying. The new villains are solid enough and should pose a challenge to Batman. And then Robin shows up with Bane as the cavalry?! That was weird but awesome. I have no memory of Bane in the original Hush, so I’m not sure why Damian calls on Bane for this moment? But I’ll take it because it’s neat. And Nightwing vs. Red Hood with Joker in the room should be a great scene going forward.

Now I’m curious if Tim Drake will be used at all…

TL;DR: I’m a little worried at the overall story being built and how it might railroad itself, but it’s still a fun Batman comic full of characters, action and great artwork.

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Superman #26
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artists: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira and Sean Izaakse
Colorist: Alejandro Sanchez
Letterer: Ariana Maher

I have this nasty habit of dropping comics I’m loving simply because there comes a week with too many comics to review, and I have to pick and choose. So this week, I caught all the way back up with Joshua Williamson’s Superman and I’m very glad for that!

Last issue was a big 25th celebration where a bunch of major storylines wrapped up, and this issue is all about the aftermath and setting things up for the future. To recap briefly: Supercorp was a Lex Luthor plot all along, but Luthor is still a good guy and is back in prison, so Mercy is along in trying to do evil. Lois has lost her powers and Jimmy is in the hospital. Superman goes to visit Luthor in prison and he’s overcome with the Red K poisoning inflicted on him by Pharm and Graft, so he goes wild in prison. Luthor then turns to the only people who can help him: fellow prisoners Pharm and Graft!

Comic Rating: 8/10 – Very Good.

I need to stick with this series because it’s so much fun! Williamson has not skipped a beat from when I fell in love with his run at issue #1. He’s woven such a wonderful story full of so many characters and storylines. This is what you can get when you let writers actually plan out and execute more than six issues for an ongoing series. Characters weave in and out of different stories, show up when you least suspect them, and are perfectly placed to play their next role in the story. I haven’t really liked Pharm and Graft, but even I got a little thrill when Luthor found them in prison and asked for their help.

There’s definitely a lot going on in this series at this point, and this issue has to touch a lot of bases to keep every plate spinning (sorry for the mixed metaphors), but Williamson and his art team handle all of that work just fine. I was never lost and never confused. I knew what was happening, why and to who, and all of it is compelling. From the major Superman vs. Luthor storyline to the smaller, Lois and her super-powers subplot. It’s all interesting, it’s all well drawn and it’s all compellingly told. I can’t wait to see the next big storyline really kick off.

TL;DR: This Superman comic is the real deal. This is what you can do when you let a creative team cook in an ongoing series, letting them weave plot and characters and story into a truly engaging and enjoyable superhero comic.

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Ultimate Spider-Man #17
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Artist: David Messina
Colorist: Matthew Wilson
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit

I should not have skipped last issue! That was a real banger that pulled all manner of rugs out from under us, in so many fun and exciting ways! This issue is a fine follow up.

Surprise: Gwen Stacy is a Mysterio! They’re an ancient order attempting to uncover the truth about the new Ultimate Universe, and they’ve not only learned about the Maker and what he did, but Gwen used her Mysterio powers to save Harry and he was never actually killed! So Harry is attempting to get back up to speed as a Green Goblin from the shadows, and he and his wife attack a Mr. Negative weapon factory, though Harry isn’t pleased with Gwen’s violent methods. In the end, he goes through Ben to ask Peter to come home.

Comic Rating: 8/10 – Very Good.

I really loved the previous issue. It revealed the secret history of the Mysterios, and that Gwen was one of them, and then she saved Harry from being shot by Kraven. It was awesome and cool and erased any and all doubt I had about Ultimate Spider-Man. What a cool twist! This issue isn’t as cool, because it doesn’t have that twist, but it has plenty of good action as Harry and Gwen start working together and more plans come together. I feel real momentum here, and I really dig it — even if it doesn’t involve Spider-Man at all, but clearly that’s about to change. This issue does good work with the reveals from the previous issue, with solid artwork and good forward progression. I can’t wait to see what else Hickman has up his sleeve, and how this new Mysterio stuff plays into all of it. This is how you rejuvenate a series 17 issues in.

TL;DR: Having to follow up the big twists and reveals of the previous issue is a tall order, and this one meets those expectations easily and puts those big story jumps to work.

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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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