Quite a few big-time books hit shelves this week. A few delayed Image titles, like Gunslinger Spawn, lived up to the hype (some of which, we covered last week), and there were some new DC titles that had everyone’s attention. Here’s what GWW’s writers thought about the big books from this week:
Gunslinger Spawn #1
Image Comics
WRITTEN BY: TODD MCFARLANE WITH ALES KOT
ART BY: BRETT BOOTH, THOMAS NACHLIK, PHILIP TAN AND KEVIN KEANE
COLORS BY: ANDREW DALHOUSE, NIKOS KOUTSIS, MARCELLO IOZZOLI, MARCELO MAIOLO AND FCO PLASCENCIA
LETTERS BY: TOM ORZECHOWSK
Gunslinger Spawn #1 is everything you’d expect from a visual standpoint. Brett Booth is among the best of the best in the business, and he reminds you of that quickly in this series-opening issue. As much as the character of Gunslinger Spawn instantly gives this story a western vibe, Booth’s interpretation of the character provides great urgency to the story. — Nick Friar … CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW
Score: 9
Second Chances #3
Image Comics
Written by: Ricky Mammone
Art by: Max Bertolini
Letters by: DC Hopkins
There may be “No such thing as third chances,” but there IS a Second Chances #3, out this week from Image Comics. I’m going to try this with no spoilers. Please know that if you haven’t already found this series compelling, you must read this issue to make an informed decision. Ricky Mammone definitely doesn’t telegraph its surprises. By now, we know our main player, Leblanc, is in an unusual business that frequently causes him to think and act fast. In this issue, we learn much more about some of his personal experiences with a major character who entered in Second Chances #2, along with his current clients’ stories. More Seconds please.
SCORE: 8.5
DC vs. Vampires
DC Comics
WORDS BY JAMES TYNION IV & MATTHEW ROSENBERG
ART & COLOR BY OTTO SCHMIDT
LETTERS BY TOM NAPOLITANO
The DC universe has faced many otherworldly and mystical beings, but how would they fare against Vampires? In the new series from James Tynion IV, Matthew Rosenberg and Otto Schmidt team up and answer that question in the new series DC VS. Vampires. — Brian Villar … CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW
Score: 8
TASK FORCE Z #1
DC Comics
WRITTEN BY: MATTHEW ROSENBERG
PENCILS BY: EDDY BARROWS
INKS BY: EBER FERREIRA
COLORS BY: ADRIANO LUCAS
LETTERS BY: ROB LEIGH
This is a big week for DC, with both Task Force Z and DC vs. Vampires kicking off. The latter started off well. But the same cannot be said for Task Force Z #1.
It’s one thing to make Red Hood the leader of a group. That’s been done successfully before. But to make him the morally superior one of his team is a roll of the dice. . . — Nick Friar … CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW
Score: 6.7
AQUAMAN GREEN ARROW: DEEP TARGET #1
DC Comics
WRITTEN BY: BRANDON THOMAS
ART BY: RONAN CLIQUET
COLORS BY: ULISES ARREOLA
LETTERS BY: JOSH REED
When I first saw the announcement of this title, I was both confused and excited. I’m always ready for a Green Arrow story, but pairing him with Aquaman seemed odd. And as much as I like Jason Momoa’s take on Arthur Curry, I’m not exactly big on the character — which is probably why I like Jason Momoa’s take on the character. The pairing still feels strange after reading the Aquaman Green Arrow: Deep Target #1, but it totally works. — Nick Friar … CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW
Score: 8.8
HOUSE OF SLAUGHTER #1
BOOM! Studios
Written by: James Tynion IV & Tate Brombal
Art: Chris Shehan
Colors by: Miquel Muerto
Letters by: AndWorld Design
Simply put , Something Is Killing The Children has become a comic book force to be reckoned with. This world created by James Tynion IV has blossomed into something truly terrifying. Now with the addition of Tate Brombal to the team, it continues to be as riveting as ever. House of Slaughter #1 does a great job at both picking up where Something Is Killing The Children left off and setting a course down a new path of dynamic storytelling. While we are accustomed to facing the physical demons, House of Slaughter #1 focuses mostly on the demons you can’t see, the ones buried deep inside all of us. — Joseph Gilmore … CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL REVIEW
Score: 9.0
Moths #6
AWA Studios
Written by: J. Michael Straczynski
Art by: Mike choi
Letters by: Sal Cipriano
With just one issue to go, Moths #5 might just be the most emotional issue yet. That is no small task given the tone of this story. While empathy has been the main focus of Moths to date, it was malice and anger that drove Moths #5 to its most impactful moment yet. Once again, J. Michael Straczynski knocks it out of the park, setting up what should be an explosive final issue. — Joseph Gilmore
Score: 9.0
Marjorie Finnegan Temporal Criminal #6
AWA/UPSHOT STUDIOS
WRITTEN BY: Garth Ennis
ART BY: Goran Sudzuka
COLORS BY: Andy Clarke
Marjorie and company go through quite the experience this issue. But given the result, it feels like too much time was wasted this issue. Normally, I wouldn’t mind a fun thing happening off to the side. In this instance though, Garth Ennis has Marjorie and company facing worse than an “end of the world” scenario. It’s going to take a lot to wrap this all up in two issues. — Nick Friar
Score: 7
FOR MORE ON AWA STUDIOS, CHECK OUT THE CONVERSATION GWW RADIO’S TLDR HAD WITH AWA CCO, AXEL ALONSO.
Looking for more comic book content? Go check out the latest episode of Geeks WorldWide Radio‘s TLDR podcast, where Joseph Gilmore and Nick Friar discuss comics weekly and talk to creators from the industry — available onSoundCloud, Apple Podcasts and Spotify!