This time next week I’ll be several days deep into Grand Theft Auto VI. Will I make time to do comic book reviews next week? I probably should. I probably should come up for air at some point, right? Until then, we’ve got new issues of The Demon and even The Fury of Firestorm!

Comic Book of the Week goes to Legion of Super-Heroes #3 for excellent world-building and a comic jam packed with story and character and excitement.

Meanwhile, it doesn’t even matter what little games I’m playing. They’re just eating up time until Thursday. I’ve started watching Dark Matter on AppleTV and it’s good, but the first few issues have been rather frustrating. I also watched Avatar: Seven Havens this past week and it was great! A fine new addition to the Avatar Universe that I definitely recommend. Beyond that, I dunno, just waiting for Thursday…

Comic Reviews: The Demon #2, The Fury of Firestorm #8, Legion of Super-Heroes #3, Daredevil #9 and Amazing Spider-Man #1003.

The Demon #2
Writer and Artist: James Harren
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Clayton Cowles

I loved the first issue and now we’re back for more!

In flashback, we see what became of Camelot and how its politics caused it to rot from the inside (possibly ushered along by demons). Jason Blood flees the city after all acolytes of Merlin are marked as enemies of the state, and it’s possible he then goes to his family with Morgaine? Not quite sure about that reveal. In the present day, Etrigan fights with his demon brothers until they are summoned away by one of the new bad guys.

Comic Rating: 7/10 – Good.

This issue wasn’t as strong as the first, in my opinion, for a couple of reasons. The ending was a bit confusing, unless I’m understanding it perfectly that Jason was in a relationship with Morgaine in the past and they have a child together. The only reason I think that is the flashback woman had green hair, and we briefly see Morgaine in this issue with green hair. And there’s a baby in a single panel in the present day, and it’s very confusing what’s happening with the baby. I dunno. It’s that artistic sort of confusing. Like it works in the creator’s head, what he’s showing, but I was a little confused by all that was swirling around those last few pages. We haven’t known Morgaine long enough to know for a fact that she’s got long green hair. So I’m half convinced I’ve interpreted it wrong .

Beyond that somewhat confusing ending, the rest of the issue is good, and the artwork is gorgeous, but not as much happens in this second issue to propel everything. The flashback was neat and delivered some quality backstory. But Etrigan fighting his demon brothers didn’t have much oomph as a story point, in my opinion. We finally see Etrigan in action after all that build-up in the first issue, and he really just wrassles with some odd-looking demons. It’s good, just not great. But the artwork cooks, like I said. Harren has got some great comedic timing and draws some fun weirdos.

TL;DR: Art remains a real selling point for this comic, though the second issue isn’t as strong or as joyfully weird as the first.

The Fury of Firestorm #8
Writer: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Rafael De Latorre
Colorist: Marcelo Maiolo
Letterer: Lucas Gattoni

While I’m still very much enjoying this series, this second storyline is starting to feel like the comic is scrambling a bit to go beyond what was initially thought out.

Mister Terrific gets a secret message to Firehawk leading her to Firestorm, who is now in government custody. Internally, this new Firestorm form is still trying to find himself with the help of a child version of Ronnie Raymond, complete with more retro-style artwork and some retro villain appearances. But it doesn’t go anywhere in this issue. And then the issue ends with Firehawk trying to storm the government compound and getting pushed back by Captain Atom.

Comic Rating: 8/10 – Very Good.

There’s not a lot of development with Firestorm this issue, and that’s what I mean by the story scrambling to fill pages. By this second issue of this new storyline, I’d like to have at least a little bit more understanding of what this new form is about. The sequence is fun. I’m very much enjoying these retro art pages. And it’s a hoot seeing all these classic Firestorm baddies show up in that style. Firestorm is not someone you think about when you consider classic comic book Rogues Galleries, but he’s got one for sure, with some interesting names. So that’s a bit of a fun thing. But there’s not enough traction yet for this new Firestorm to sink our teeths into.

Of course, the real selling point of this comic has been Firehawk. I’ve loved her design since first meeting her in Identity Crisis, of all places. And she’s been a strong, mostly compelling protagonist. If Lemire was a Firestorm and Firehawk fan in his youth, and is now single-handedly reviving both characters, he’s doing the lord’s work. She’s cool, she’s badass, and now she’ll get to duke it out with Captain Atom. That should be a great fight! And it’s makes for a great final page cliffhanger to this issue. So let’s push this comic full speed ahead, baby!

TL;DR: Not a whole lot feels like it happened in this issue, but the strong character work and forward story momentum keep everything flowing nicely.

Legion of Super-Heroes #3
Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Hayden Sherman
Colorist: Tamra Bonvillain
Letterer: Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Williamson is providing a masterclass in franchise revival with this Legion reboot.

Garth brings Mekt back to see the family, but Ayla has not only ratted them out, but she’s joined the Purifiers! The family is not welcoming, like Garth assumed, and Mekt doesn’t take it well. The pair are rescued by Brainiac and Matty (Matter-Eater-Lad), who teleport to a safe distance. Brainiac wants answers on the murder of R.J. Brande and Mekt says that Superman told him to do it, that he’s all-in on this Superman. Garth is having a hard time accepting his brother’s actions and Mekt turns on him, and there’s a fight, and the Purifiers show up and get Mekt, while Brainy and Matty escape with Garth.

We also check in on Saturn Girl and Cosmic Boy a bit, and get a bunch of other Legion cameos.

Comic Rating: 9/10 – Great.

I have never been the biggest Legion of Super-Heroes guy but I am having a blast with this new series. It’s jam-packed with story, which I love, and it’s all moving along rather nicely. Williamson has clearly done his homework, because we get deep cuts like Mano and Grimbor, while also sprinkling in Legion members like Timberwolf and Quantum Kid. They just pop up in the story and it’s super fun world-building. I like seeing these characters show up and then Googling them to make sure they are who I think they are, or that the name-drop does mean something. It’s super fun, and this new reboot is building so quickly and in such interesting directions. The Green Lantern Corporation is such a fun phrase.

Of course, world-building is nothing without a great story, and this one is a real banger! The confrontation with the Lighting family is fraught and full of emotion. Garth is really put through the wringer, unlike his other co-founders. Mekt is also making for a great early villain, and this Superman/Superboy mystery remains a nice part of everything. And then Williamson levels up the Purifier threat in ways I didn’t see coming. It’s all just humming along so nicely, with great twists and turns and some truly fascinating and fun characters. Brainy and Matty are the best duo. And I enjoy having these B-plots moving along, because it’s going to be super fun when everything comes together.

TL;DR: Everything is working in this series, especially in this issue. From the world-building to the characters to the storytelling to the twists and turns, this new Legion is quite the ride.

Shorter Reviews

Amazing Spider-Man #1003 by Joe Kelly, Simone Di Meo, Edgar Delgado and Joe Caramanga

Comic Rating: 7/10 – Good.

This issue is about pushing J. Jonah Jameson back to the forefront and having him rail against the Avengers Armageddon stuff. Did Amazing Spider-Man need an Armageddon tie-in in the middle of its Ravage storyline? Is that his name, Ravage? I can’t be bothered to look it up. I don’t know that it needed a tie-in, but I still really liked the storytelling of having Jonah rant against superheroes and Spidey, while paralleling that with a scene of Spider-Man being a good person and helping to quell tensions on the streets. Also, this issue features Rae in a big way, finally. I love that Spider-Man has this cool, alien girlfriend, but Kelly never uses her for anything!

Daredevil #9 by Stephanie Phillips, Lee Garbett, Frank Martin and VC’s Ariana Maher

Comic Rating: 7/10 – Good.

This is one of those stories where the protagonist goes on a weird drug trip — and it’s simply one of my least favorite tropes in fiction. The art gets all weird — while still being awesome artwork — and Daredevil is confronted with various memories and thoughts and emotions, but it’s all just in his head from fear drugs. And then the issue ends and he’s pretty much still where he started. I just don’t care for these types of stories, which is why I’m only doing a Shorter Review for this issue. The artwork readily handles all the weird drug imagery, and the writing is still strong, and we get some good non-drug scenes. So it’s still a fine issue establishing the dangers of Mr. Fear’s new world, just not my cup of tea.

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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