Comic Corner Review Roundup – Best Comics From September 23

Another amazing week of comics has now arrived, and this week is stacked with books in a variety of genres and styles. Whether you’re looking for something science fiction that ventures into the final frontier, a post-apocalyptic Power Rangers story, thrilling superhero adventures, or one of the most delightful crossovers ever, there’s something for everyone. In this edition of the Comic Corner review roundup, we are looking at some of the best comics from September 23rd’s extensive lineup, so let’s get started with a trip to the Absolute Universe.

‘Absolute Batman’ #24 Review

Scarecrow has brought Batman to one of his lowest points ever, which is saying something when you consider how much Bruce has gone through in the pages of Absolute Batman. Thankfully, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, as Absolute Batman #24 not only delivers an outstanding payoff, but also delivers multiple hooks that have the potential to be as good as, if not better than, what’s come before, making it easily one of the best comics from September 23.

Scott Snyder has successfully crafted a truly menacing version of Scarecrow that has managed to get under Bruce’s skin and identity in a way few other villains have, but while Batman’s fall has been compelling, the rise is just as important, and Snyder crafts a bounce back that can’t help but get you off your feet. Not only is that return to form successful, but it’s well-earned, and Tom Napolitano’s immense lettering will have you wincing and feeling each and every hard-fought step toward the finish line. Right alongside it is the much-anticipated debut of The Bat, and while this is primarily an introduction, the way it’s executed is worthy of applause.

Nick Dragotta and Frank Martin have delivered no shortage of incredible moments since the start of the series, and while there are some stellar action sequences that embrace the edge and twisted nature the series is known for, some of the most powerful moments are the ones that display the very human people at the center of this story and the emotions that power them. Whether through a powerful monologue, a heartfelt embrace, or a mission statement, Absolute Batman #24 is stacked with these moments, and they are part of why this book remains so successful and maintains its can’t-miss status.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Published By: DC Comics
Written By: Scott Snyder
Art By: Nick Dragotta
Colors By: Frank Martin
Letters By: Tom Napolitano

‘Absolute Wonder Woman’ #24 Review

Absolute Wonder Woman has been one of the best books in the Absolute line since it debuted, and yet the series and its talented creative team still find ways to surpass the already established high bar. A perfect example is Absolute Wonder Woman #24, which begins with a God’s giant eye hovering over the city and somehow only gets more epic and imaginative from that point forward.

Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, Jordie Bellaire, and Becca Carey have discovered and harnessed a special kind of power in this series: no matter how powerful the threats become or how the stakes escalate, Diana’s compassionate, resolved, and ever-endearing being remains at the center. Diana’s exchanges with Steve and Barbara are just as captivating as her retorts and declarations to the Gods, and no matter what’s happening around her, you are forever vested in seeing how Wonder Woman adapts to and deals with these escalating challenges in any number of unorthodox ways.

While Absolute Wonder Woman has had a bevy of stunning set pieces over its run, this might just be one of my favorite issues ever in terms of sheer style and spectacle. So many pages within the issue are truly inventive and distinct in how they change up positioning and scale. As for the action sequences, Wonder Woman has rarely looked this cool, and even when taking on ancient Gods, she never seems out of her depth. As for the last page, it’s certainly haunting, and I can’t wait for more context moving forward. Suffice it to say, Absolute Wonder Woman #24 is easily one of the best comics from September 23.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Published By: DC Comics
Written By: Kelly Thompson
Art By: Hayden Sherman
Colors By: Jordie Bellaire
Letters By: Becca Carey

‘Gambit Gone’ #1 Review

Even all these years later, I have to admit that I’m always game for an Age of Apocalypse-inspired tale, even if some of those stories haven’t lived up to the bar set by the original. The latest trip to that world arrives in Gambit Gone #1, which picks up the thread from X-Men of Apocalypse Omega #1, where Gambit from that world swaps places with the Gambit of 616. It’s an intriguing scenario, and while the first issue takes a minute to pick up steam, it finds an inventive new angle on one of Marvel’s greatest alternate-universe stories.

Steve Orlando hits the ground running with contrasting back-to-back sequences that showcase the differences in personality and approach between the two Gambits. Seeing how both Gambits deal with the differences in their Rogues and the overall team dynamics provides some of the book’s best moments, and one of my favorite moments early on is how Orlando addresses the switch on the 616 side. It makes all the sense in the world, and I loved how that situation was treated so logically given who is part of the team.

Things get a bit more murky on the AoA side of things, as while Gambit’s reasoning for the switch is conveyed, something’s not quite clicking. With where things leave off here, that could well change in issue #2, so I’ll reserve full judgement for then. That said, what is clicking is the artwork, and the styles of Edoardo Audino and Gerardo Sandoval combined with the colors of Federico Blee work quite well together. There’s a Krakoa scene that is simply out of this world, and the action sequence toward the end of the book is stylish while using its close-quarters environment to deliver a hard-hitting, at times brutal brawl. As for the lettering, anytime you can have Ariana Maher craft a Sentinel fight, it’s going to be magic, and this certainly lives up to that.

It’s a solid start to a focused story, and despite the immense popularity of Age of Apocalypse in recent years, Gambit Gone offers an inventive and fresh angle that X-Men fans will likely really enjoy.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Published By: Marvel Comics
Written By: Steve Orlando
Art By: Edoardo Audino and Gerardo Sandoval
Colors By: Federico Blee
Letters By: Ariana Maher

‘Power Rangers Green’ #2 Review

Power Rangers Green #2 got things started with an unexpected introduction to a fragmented dystopian Power Rangers world, and somehow things only continue to get wilder. Power Rangers Green has a real sense of instability, and if you were looking for true clarity with the second issue, that’s not really in the cards. What is in the cards, though, is one of the most unique and uncharted Power Rangers stories to date, and as I try and figure out how everything adds up, I can’t help but be completely hooked on its offbeat charm.

Let’s first address the book’s strongest element right out of the gate, and that’s Paul Allor’s dynamic duo of Tommy and Goldar. If you had said this would be one of my favorite team-ups of the year before the series started, I wouldn’t have believed you, but here we are, and that is most certainly the case. Goldar’s reactions to Tommy and his antics are priceless, and he provides ongoing comic relief without taking away from the stakes or serious nature of any given situation.

Tommy’s existence also carries a sadness that truly comes through by the end of the issue, and it grounds the lighthearted moments and bigger action spectacle. Another character in the mix that longtime fans will be curious about, coupled with Tommy’s statements at the end of this issue, makes it seem like we are headed towards some much-wanted answers.

Artist Gustaffo Vargas and letterer Ed Dukeshire bounce between the heavier moments and big action set pieces with ease, and there’s one particular action sequence that really showcases the book’s unique style and approach. That said, some of my favorite moments were just the moments between when the characters all just interact with each other, especially towards the end, and the team’s work on crafting that final location not only has you scouring the page for clues but also sets the stage for a very vulnerable and important moment for our lead character.

Power Rangers Green is tackling an old-man Tommy story in a very different way than we’ve seen before, and while I hope to get some concrete answers soon to move the bigger story forward, I’m locked in to see where the story goes from here.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Published By: BOOM! Studios
Written By: Paul Allor
Art By: Gustaffo Vargas
Lettered By: Ed Dukeshire

‘Star Trek’ #1 Review

With Star Trek #1, IDW launches a bold new era of the beloved cosmic franchise and creates a book that not only celebrates its legacy but kicks the door wide open for new fans to jump on board. It’s a home run in every sense of the word, and as someone who has a bit of a rollercoaster history with the franchise, I’m 100% hooked and invested in seeing what this talented team has planned.

Christopher Cantwell gets you up to speed on Captain Seven of Nine, then throws you into the fire with a thrilling mission that brings all of those trademark Star Trek elements front and center. In the midst of this, you also quickly get to know the crew and their various roles and relationships with each other, and the balancing act Cantwell pulls off with all this and the revelations of the latter half of the issue is rather impressive.

Then there’s the brilliant artwork of Dennis Menheere and lettering of Jodie Troutman, who paint a stunning, and at times insanely trippy portrait of exploring this ever-expanding frontier. The ships look incredible, and the action sequences pop with style, color, and movement. The lettering makes you feel as if the action is leaping out of the screen, and the same goes for the out-of-the-box panel layouts, including one of my favorites with Seven of Nine early in the issue.

The most impressive element, though, is how the book balances embracing the franchise’s legacy and history while still making it digestible and enticing for newer fans. Star Trek #1 is one of my most pleasant surprises of the week, and I can’t wait to see what the series has up its sleeve next.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Published By: IDW
Written By: Christopher Cantwell
Art By: Dennis Menheere
Lettered By: Jodie Troutman

‘The Muppets Take The Marvel Universe’ #1 Review

There have been some wonderfully delightful crossovers in recent years, including everything from Godzilla and Sonic to Marvel and DC. Still, even amongst those heavyweights, The Muppets Take The Marvel Universe is one of the best, hands down, and delivers a true celebration of the long-beloved Jim Henson creation and the Marvel Universe as a whole.

I’ll be very upfront: I’m a huge fan of The Muppets (Gonzo for life), and so there was always a good chance that I would find this crossover enjoyable. What I didn’t expect, however, was to be so consistently charmed over the course of the book’s six stories, and to be clear, there’s not a story I’d even remotely skip. The book’s main story from Chip Zdarsky and Pete Woods is everything you’d want from a multiversal crossover between the Muppets and Marvel’s iconic heroes, with delightful team-ups and exchanges between Fozzy and Spider-Man, Deadpool and Gonzo, and White Queen and Miss Piggy, a team-up, mind you, that results in one of my favorite pages of the year.

A Terrible Invention by Kyle Starks, Mike Henderson, and Yen Nitro delivers an unexpectedly hilarious pairing of Bunson and Beaker with Bruce Banner and Hank Pym, and you can’t help but laugh at every turn. The same is true of another favorite story in Just What The Chef Ordered by Ashley Allen, Chef Paul Carmichael, Paco Medina, and Yen Nitro, which pairs the amazing Swedish Chef with Doctor Strange and then even reveals a whole new world of Swedish Chefs we never knew existed.

Pigs of the Galaxy is the Miss Piggy and Rocket Raccoon pairing we didn’t know we needed, and the same is true of Bad Man’s Wolverine and Animal team-up. Then there’s Muppets Assemble by Adam F. Goldberg, E.J. Su, and Martin Biro, and not only do we get a Pepe appearance, but just about every panel of this is comedy gold. The Muppets Take the Marvel Universe is exactly what you hoped it would be and more.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Published By: Marvel Comics
Written By: Chip Zdarsky, Kyle Starks, Mackenzie Cadenhead, Phillip Kennedy Johnson, Ashley Allen, Chef Paul Carmichael, and Adam F. Goldberg
Art By: Pete Woods, Mike Henderson, David Baldeon, Athila Fabbio, Paco Medina, and E.J. Su.
Colors By: Yen Nitro, Mike Atiyeh, and Martin Biro
Letters By: Joe Caramagna

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