Every week, comic fandom is gifted with a slew of fantastic stories from a slew of fantastic creators. These days there’s just so much good stuff out there that it can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re new to comics. Thus AIPT presents to you, Fantastic Five! A weekly column where we pick five fantastic books released during the week and tell you why you should take a chance on them via a snippet from our reviews.
Enjoy, and happy reading!
Power Pack #2
Words by Ryan North. Art by Nico Leon.
Power Pack is easily one of the most enjoyable books out there right now. North’s writing is fun and self-aware while Leon’s art is wonderfully cartoony. For a lighthearted good time, Power Pack is a can’t-miss book. (10/10)
–Lia Galanis
King in Black: Iron Man/Doom #1
Words by Christopher Cantwell. Art by Salvador Larroca.
King In Black: Iron Man/Doom #1 is a great holiday-themed one-shot. For better or worse it doesn’t tie into King in Black too deeply so anyone can enjoy this. Come for the well-written dialogue and great personalities of Iron Man and Dr. Doom, but stay for the wacky adventure that only comics can deliver. (9/10)
–David Brooke
Jinny Hex Special #1
Words by Magdalene Visaggio. Art by Gleb Melnikov.
Jinny Hex Special #1 is a much-needed insight into a new character that provides a thought-provoking narrative about the family we are born into and the families we choose. Visaggio’s story is nuanced, proving that she was the perfect choice for this book. Melnikov’s pencils have a neat yet unpolished sheen that is perfectly fitting for this old-west inspired aesthetic, breathing life onto every page. It’s certainly worth the read and is the kind of title that sticks with you afterward, bringing a moment of reflection. (9/10)
–Lia Galanis
Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Dark Nights Metal #1
Words by Scott Snyder, Jackson Lanzing, & Collin Kelly. Art by Karl Mostert.
Overall this is an exciting twist on the Dark Nights Metal concept taking the idea of a total loss by its heroes to a cataclysmic and entertaining end. A must-read for Dark Nights Metal fans, but also those who want a lot of story and great art in one single issue. Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Dark Nights Metal extends the greatness of the original series and puts a monstrous and epic turn on a new darker ending. (9/10)
–David Brooke
The Witcher: Fading Memories #2
Words by Bartosz Sztybor. Art by Amad Mir.
But the big saving grace of the book remains Amad Mir’s art and Hamidreza Sheykh’s colors, which I just adore. They sit somewhere between an Evan Shaner and a Mike Mignola – clean lines and clear penciling, but with heavy, heavy inking and a lot of darks in the coloring. In a different story, it could be overwhelming or confusing, but in this story – something that is both thematically dark and tells a story that involves venturing into shadowy places – it reinforces this sense of almost claustrophobic closeness. Geralt of Rivia is hemmed in, he’s got few options, and he’s in a dark moral place – you see this from the visuals and you understand the themes from the art before you even get to reading the words. (8.5/10)
–Sam Rutzick
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