Matt Kindt’s Mind MGMT is one of the most mind-bending, paranoia-inducing, and brilliant comic series out there. It’s a story about a secret orga4.5/5
Matt Kindt’s Mind MGMT is one of the most mind-bending, paranoia-inducing, and brilliant comic series out there. It’s a story about a secret organization that has spent decades manipulating reality, controlling minds, and shaping history from the shadows. That’s right-every conspiracy theory you’ve ever dismissed? Turns out, they were all true.
I'll write a longer review once I finish the series. ...more
I expected to love this. The idea is more than cool - a Carmilla reimagining set in 90s NYC Chinatown with a noir crime story, vampire lore, and sociaI expected to love this. The idea is more than cool - a Carmilla reimagining set in 90s NYC Chinatown with a noir crime story, vampire lore, and social commentary. That should be incredible. Instead, it’s a mess.
The biggest issue is the pacing. Plot twists appear out of nowhere - like, suddenly the protagonist's family hunts demons? Sure, why not. She's in love now? If she says so. Important characters die, but it barely registers emotionally. Oh, and the protagonist reads Carmilla but fails to connect the dots.
That said, the atmosphere is fantastic and the art is gorgeous. The mix of Chinese folklore with vampire mythology intrigued me. I just wish the story didn’t feel like a few separate ideas awkwardly stitched together.
Detective Ari Nassar is ready to retire, but the “One Hand Killer” strikes again - even though Ari caught him (and jailed) twiceIt's dark and gritty.
Detective Ari Nassar is ready to retire, but the “One Hand Killer” strikes again - even though Ari caught him (and jailed) twice. Meanwhile, grad student Johannes Vale commits a brutal murder using the killer’s exact methods but can’t remember doing it.
I would describe it as part gritty noir, part philosophical sci-fi, and part dystopia. I especially enjoyed how both stories connected. Interestingly, each has a different artist - Laurence Campbell’s shadow-drenched panels fit well Ari’s investigation, and Sumit Kumar’s frenetic, unrestrained art nails Johannes’ descent into madness.
The ending doesn’t hit as hard as the setup, but I liked the intense ride. Cryptic symbols, moral dilemmas, and a crumbling future city kept me hooked. Fans of Blade Runner or Black Mirror should enjoy this bleak, thought-provoking story....more
A nostalgia trip gone awry. It tries hard to channel the spirit of classic horror anthologies but fails. It's familiar in style (I love the retro vibeA nostalgia trip gone awry. It tries hard to channel the spirit of classic horror anthologies but fails. It's familiar in style (I love the retro vibe) but lacks the bite. The art is striking, and some stories are creative(shoutout to "Gray Green Memories"), but the collection as a whole is uneven, with most stories disappointing.
Now, these stories are all horror bites - extremely short and I know it makes doing the horror right difficult. Still, to me, they lacked the darkly ironic justice or clever twists known for example from Tales From The Crypt. Instead, we get endings that feel either rushed, unsatisfying, or grim for the sake of being grim.
That was bleak. El Fuego tells the story of Alexander Yorba, a celebrated architect tasked with designing a lunar refuge for humanity’s elite as 4.5/5
That was bleak. El Fuego tells the story of Alexander Yorba, a celebrated architect tasked with designing a lunar refuge for humanity’s elite as a massive asteroid barrels toward Earth. But after being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, Alexander decides that saving the wealthy feels meaningless and abandons the mission to return to Earth.
The problem? His family doesn’t want him back. As the world falls apart, Alexander drifts across a crumbling Europe, questioning everything he once believed. This isn’t a story of redemption. Instead, Rubín digs into heavy themes (ego, privilege, and humanity’s moral failings) without offering tidy resolutions. Alexander is dying, society is unraveling, and any semblance of control is gone.
As the asteroid looms ever closer, Rubín forces his protagonist and readers to confront harsh truths: in the grand scheme of things, we are meaningless and no one is indispensable. Despite its heavy subject matter, El Fuego never feels overwrought or preachy. It’s introspective but not preachy.
Visually, this book is a stunner. Rubín’s bold, dreamlike illustrations and excellent use of color make the story more impactful, especially in the final act, where the visuals reach a level of haunting beauty. The fiery, disintegrating world becomes an extension of Alexander’s fractured psyche, and the effect is stunning.
Ultimately, El Fuego is an ambitious piece of storytelling. It’s raw, daring, and brutally honest. A must-read for fans of apocalyptic tales with a soul.
On paper, Akogun promises an epic and brutal journey. In reality, it’s more like a chaotic fever dream where swords clash, gods fall, and logic takes On paper, Akogun promises an epic and brutal journey. In reality, it’s more like a chaotic fever dream where swords clash, gods fall, and logic takes a long vacation.
The setup is intriguing - gods warring, monsters rising, and a lone warrior with a thirst for divine vengeance. But from there, it spirals into a disjointed mess. Flashbacks jolt you out of the narrative just as you’re trying to get your bearings, and the plot feels like it’s trying to juggle too many ideas at once, dropping most of them along the way.
Character development? Forget about it. Akogun might as well be a cardboard cutout swinging a sword, while the gods he faces are about as memorable as generic video game bosses. And while the art is occasionally striking, it lacks the texture needed to make this violent, mythic world feel alive.
Then there’s all the violence and soft-porn moments, which come off as, I dunno, juvenile rather than edgy.
For me, and it's deeply subjective, Akogun is all flash and no substance. It’s not the worst read, but it’s far from the epic it promised to be.
Ryan North’s Fantastic Four Vol. 2 keeps up the self-contained, sci-fi-style storytelling from the first volume, but the results this time are a bit mRyan North’s Fantastic Four Vol. 2 keeps up the self-contained, sci-fi-style storytelling from the first volume, but the results this time are a bit more uneven. The character work remains solid and ideas intriguing. The anthology-style mysteries have a Silver Age vibe, which is nice, but the stories sometimes struggle to stick the landing.
The opening story with Doctor Doom is a highlight. He flexes his genius and shows a surprisingly softer side (who knew he cared so much about Valeria?), but the ending feels unresolved. Basically, it left me with a “wait, that’s it?” question.
The Sue and Alicia storyline has a cool, creepy vibe, but it drags a bit. And while Ben freefalling to the Earth’s core with a dog is definitely cool, it’s not ultra exciting. The alien spaceship story is fine, but forgettable.
It’s still fun, with some Silver Age nostalgia and Coello’s solid art, but this volume feels more like filler. ...more
It was fun and quick to read. Vol. 1 kicks off with team separated and scattered around USA. Ben and Alicia’s time-loop adventure is quirky and touchiIt was fun and quick to read. Vol. 1 kicks off with team separated and scattered around USA. Ben and Alicia’s time-loop adventure is quirky and touching, Reed and Sue’s Doombot town escapade brings a dose of eerie sci-fi, and Johnny... well, Johnny’s doing his chaotic best as usual.
I like Ryan North's approach to the series. Instead of rehashing the rogues gallery, he leans into self-contained stories and then connects the dots. The reveal about why the team broke up sets up a larger arc I expect to see explored in the following stories.
While the second half of the volume isn’t quite as gripping as the standalone tales, it’s still solid. All told, I'm going to binge the run in the upcoming days....more
Hexagon Bridge is a total visual stunner. Richard Blake’s art is beautifully weird, full of floating buildings, impossible geometry, and a cool vibe (Hexagon Bridge is a total visual stunner. Richard Blake’s art is beautifully weird, full of floating buildings, impossible geometry, and a cool vibe (a mix of futuristic and Victorian). It’s the kind of comic book that makes it easy to lose yourself just flipping through the pages.
How about the story? Eh, not so much. The whole “rescue mission through a parallel dimension” setup is cool in theory, but it doesn’t go deep enough. The characters don’t really evolve, and the plot feels kind of thin.
That said, if you’re in it for the great art, you won’t be disappointed. ...more
Parenting is hard. Parenting the Antichrist? That’s a whole new level of yikes. Welcome to Babyteeth, Donny Cates’ wilI'm reviewing the whole series:
Parenting is hard. Parenting the Antichrist? That’s a whole new level of yikes. Welcome to Babyteeth, Donny Cates’ wild, emotional, and darkly funny comic series that somehow makes apocalyptic doom feel... weirdly relatable. Above all, it’s about family-just with more cults, portals to hell, and demons.
Sadie Ritter, a 16-year-old single mom, is sweet and totally unprepared for what’s coming. Her baby, Clark, starts doing some very un-baby things, like causing earthquakes or preferring blood to milk. There’s no denying it-her adorable newborn is destined to bring about the end of the world.
Happily, Sadie’s got some backup. Her badass, foul-mouthed sister, Heather, is someone you want on your apocalypse survival team. She’s all heart and heavy weaponry, and honestly, every time she’s on the page, you know something cool is about to happen. She’s fiercely protective of Sadie and Clark (though her idea of “protective” involves shooting first and asking questions never).
Then there’s Sadie’s dad, the guy you’d trust to take down a demonic cult in the middle of the night. Since I mentioned cults, let’s just say Clark has some very enthusiastic fans-some who want to annihilate him, some who want to raise him and join the devil.
Sadie is determined to be the best mom she can be. Which is tricky because of all the above. And yet, she deals with everything with humor, resilience, and just the right amount of “WHAT IS HAPPENING?!”
I liked Donny Cates’ writing - it’s sharp, witty, and packed with emotional gut punches. He makes you laugh at Sadie’s internal monologue about being the world’s youngest apocalyptic mom and a moment later divers some truly heartbreaking moments. The artwork by Garry Brown is atmospheric, and it perfectly captures the chaotic demon-fueled action. The ending isn't perfect and could use more time to set things in motion, but it is what it is. I still enjoyed it.
I had a blast reading Babyteeth - it’s hilarious, horrifying, and heartfelt. It shows what it means to fight for your family-even if that family includes the spawn of hell. Fans of supernatural horror, dark comedy, or stories about strong women facing impossible odds - this one is for you.
James Tynion IV’s W0RLDTR33 keeps its digital nightmare alive in Volume 2. Exploring a secret “Undernet” was a spectacularly bad idea. After Gabriel WJames Tynion IV’s W0RLDTR33 keeps its digital nightmare alive in Volume 2. Exploring a secret “Undernet” was a spectacularly bad idea. After Gabriel Winters pulls the plug on the entire internet, you’d think humanity might breathe a sigh of relief. Nope. The government, you see, apparently missed the memo about the Undernet’s humanity-ending potential and are determined to flip the switch back on.
Meanwhile, PH3AR, the tattooed, homicidal force of the Undernet, is still out there, slashing her way through anyone in her path and trying to reconnect her creepy cult with their eldritch god.
I like how Tynion writes a dense web of mysteries while delivering just enough answers to keep you hooked. Flashbacks steal the spotlight, and the art team of Fernando Blanco and Jordie Bellaire makes every panel pop with unique character designs and a stunning color palette.
Sure, the story slows down a bit in the middle with some exposition-heavy scenes, but it’s all building toward a jaw-dropping finish. If you’re not reading W0RLDTR33, you’re missing one of the best horror comics around. ...more
I liked it. A lot. Where the Body Was looks into the messy lives of its characters and doesn’t care (much) about shocking twists or edge-of-your-seat I liked it. A lot. Where the Body Was looks into the messy lives of its characters and doesn’t care (much) about shocking twists or edge-of-your-seat suspense.
Yes, there’s a body (it’s right there in the title). And yes, you’ll eventually find out how it got there. But that’s not really the point. The point is (I believe) to follow characters and see how they function. At times, the story feels more like listening to a true-crime podcast than reading an actual thriller story. It jumps between multiple narrators, and through time. Near the end, everything ties together - maybe not as neatly as some might like, but I didn’t mind.
I also loved the art. Phillips nails the retro vibe, and Jacob’s colors make it pop. But beware: this isn’t for kids. Explicit scenes, some drug use, and enough F-bombs abound.
Fans of intense thriller may feel a bit disappointed. But if you love flawed characters, a nostalgic atmosphere, and a story that feels like eavesdropping on your neighbors’ juiciest secrets, Where the Body Was delivers all of those. Just don’t expect a tidy conclusion-life’s messy, and so is this book....more
Imagine Dexter set in a world where cutesy animals run hardware stores, sip coffee, and occasionally butcher people.
Samantha Bear is Woodbrook’s4.5/5
Imagine Dexter set in a world where cutesy animals run hardware stores, sip coffee, and occasionally butcher people.
Samantha Bear is Woodbrook’s friendly hardware store owner. She bakes pies, knows all her neighbors, and, oh yeah, drives out to the Big City to murder strangers in her spare time. She’s careful to follow her one rule: Don’t kill the locals.
In short, she’s living her best double life in the idyllic town. But then someone starts killing locals, and Sam’s life gets a lot more complicated. She’s furious and needs to play detective to identify the other psycho.
Horvath’s art is stunning, almost pastel-like. It also makes moments of visceral and gory horror effective. One moment, it’s all flowers and sunshine. The next, there’s blood everywhere. That contrast makes the violence hit harder.
The mystery itself is solid, but some readers will find the ending predictable. Still, the journey is what makes this book shine, and shocking moments and sly humor work well along the way. Sam is the kind of anti-hero you shouldn’t root for but somehow do anyway....more
What’s the truth about Medea? Monster, victim, or something in between? In Medea, Blandine Le Callet and Nancy Peña give the infamous sorceress t4.5/5
What’s the truth about Medea? Monster, victim, or something in between? In Medea, Blandine Le Callet and Nancy Peña give the infamous sorceress the mic to tell her side of the story, and trust me, it’s awesome.
We start in Colchis, where a young Medea grows up in the shadow of her terrifying father, King Aeëtes, and his obsession with saving her sickly little brother at any cost. Her childhood is relatively carefree except for men not allowing her to do archery instead of embroidery. There’s also a family drama and priestesses interested in her. As she learns the arts of healing and magic at the temple of Hecate, it’s clear her father sees her as less of a daughter and more of a tool. A mistake that leads straight to tragedy.
Le Callet’s take on Medea is bold - the story frames her as a strong, clever, and fiercely independent woman in a world hell-bent on controlling her. The book challenges the narrative of Medea as a bloodthirsty villain, instead showing her as a victim of circumstance who occasionally makes, well, very questionable choices. The writing is sharp, and the feminist undertones are unmistakable (and satisfying).
Nancy Peña’s artwork is stunning. I love how she uses color and light to shift between Medea’s bright beginnings and her darker adulthood. The pacing stumbles at times, but Medea’s journey is so gripping it’s easy to forgive a few slow moments.
If you’ve ever wondered why mythology painted Medea as a monster while her male peers got off scot-free, this retelling is for you. It’s bold, tragic, and, most importantly, finally Medea’s story....more
I like Junkyard Joe’s premise: Vietnam vet Muddy Davis, haunted by memories of a war and a robot soldier, is stunned when that very soldier, Joe, appeI like Junkyard Joe’s premise: Vietnam vet Muddy Davis, haunted by memories of a war and a robot soldier, is stunned when that very soldier, Joe, appears on his doorstep decades later. Muddy’s comic strip, inspired by Joe and his wartime experience, has gained massive popularity. Frankly, I don’t get its appeal based on the bland samples we see. Anyway, the author believed Joe was a product of his trauma and imagination, and not a real being.
As soon as Joe appears, shadowy figures with lethal intentions follow him. A solid premise. The art is stunning, too. Unfortunately, the writing lacks quality and any deeper insights, and the characterization of the villains is as one-dimensional as it could be. For that matter, the protagonists, too, feel flat. Muddy’s new neighbors, a grieving single father and his kids, feel plucked from any ’80s family drama.
Tonally, the story goes from sentimental Spielberg-style nostalgia and graphic violence, which I generally liked. In all, Junkyard Joe brings a solid premise and stunning visuals but uneven writing and thin character work make it feel empty....more