Category: Books and Magazines

Review-Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent #1

The re-emergence of Jon’s secret identity has given him a chance to experience a normal teenage life once again. With a loving and supportive boyfriend, a joyful home environment, and a part-time job that involves saving the world, things seem to be going well for Jon. However, trouble arises when satellites start falling from the sky.

Thanks to Taylor’s masterful script, this latest Superman narrative begins with a bang, blending emotional weight with action and multiversal chaos. At the center of the story is Jon Kent, and Taylor fearlessly delves into the depths of his trauma caused by the villainous Ultraman. Rather than resorting to cheap thrills, Taylor’s skilled writing ensures that the story is a carefully crafted exploration of dark themes. We can expect a nuanced portrayal of Jon’s journey, set against the vivid backdrop of a superhero’s cape. The question remains: will Jon emerge from his ordeal as the same hero we know?

The narrative skillfully weaves together themes of loss, hope, and childhood traumas. To sweeten the pot, the minds behind the phenomenal Injustice series promise to take us on a journey through a multiverse. This story is sure to be a thrilling ride.

Clayton Henry’s art is stunning, packed with incredible detail and nuance. Bellaire’s colors perfectly capture the gamut of emotions, from the warm glow of a family kitchen to the terror of a burning planet.

In every sense, this story is beautiful, dark, and full of the twin lures of danger and desire. I eagerly anticipate what’s to come.

⭐⭐⭐

Review-Predator #1

A group of strangers awaken on an unfamiliar planet, with no recollection of how they got there, no agreement on the year, and no idea who to trust. Their only certainty is that something is picking them off one by one. Ed Brisson and Netho Diaz’s new series appears, at first glance, to be a homage to the 2010 film Predators, but this first issue proves to be much more than that. It cleverly incorporates the official Predator timeline and raises the stakes for action and horror.

The characters are quickly introduced, each with unique personality traits and skills that could prove useful in their fight for survival. The opening pages mix character introductions with expository action, allowing readers to get to know the characters as they flee for their lives. But this is a Predator story, and so blood and gore quickly become the norm. Diaz illustrates imaginative set pieces and inventive deaths that are astonishingly gruesome for a mainstream Marvel book.

Despite the frenzied action and chaos, the creative team keeps the story coherent and easy to follow. The use of blues and grays by colorist Erik Arciniega is effective in highlighting when the Predators are camouflaged or materializing into view, adding to the tension of the chase scenes.

Overall, this first issue promises an exciting and action-packed ride for fans of the Predator franchise, and it’s a must-read for those who enjoyed the previous miniseries. The final page leaves no doubt that this series is going to be a wild and thrilling ride.

⭐⭐⭐

Review-Miles Morales Spider-Man issue #1

Miles Morales: Spider-Man #1 marks the start of a new chapter in Miles’s personal, familial and friendly journeys, whilst he fights super-villains in New York City. Nonetheless, balancing his civilian life with his heroic responsibilities proves to be more complicated than he ever could have imagined.

Cody Zieglar’s opening installment of Miles Morales’ new series of escapades, Miles Morales: Spider-Man #1, is definitely worth a read. Though there are a few minor criticisms, it is generally a strong issue with an outstanding start.

Miles starts a new chapter in his life with a dawn battle with Scorpion, which leads to a civilian being saved, a good deal of destruction of property getting him in trouble with the NYPD, and tardiness that sets him back at school. Although he is great at taking on bad guys while in costume, he can’t help but be defiant with his teachers which brings on a suspension and a little bit of in-depth thinking concerning the direction of his life.

Zieglar deserves recognition for describing a teenager battling a twofold existence in a considered manner. Even when confronted with difficulty, Miles does not become jaded or miserable; this equilibrium enables the reader to form a link of sympathy with him, consequently forming a deep emotional attachment to his affliction.

Eventually, a new antagonist appears who has a strong grudge against Miles. Whether they are an interesting character or not is yet to be determined. Nevertheless, the story offers enough interest to motivate readers to continue the story with another issue.

What are the minor critiques cited in the discussion about Miles’s argument with his teacher, the schoolroom scene, and the villain’s monologue? Miles’s references to lotteries and privilege come off as buzzwords without much context, leaving the audience to question whether he won an actual lottery or is making a reference to a School Choice lottery or is using lottery as a metaphor.

⭐⭐⭐

Additionally, Ziegler tries too hard to use social buzzwords and local references rather than being clear, which takes away from the overall quality of the film. Though these are only small cons, they are hard to ignore.

The awesome artwork of Vincentini and Valenza is easily recognizable. Their action slots present a dynamic and continuous movement in which punches land with strength.

The inspiring and sentimental scenes have been carried out brilliantly. In order to make future issues even better, Vincentini should attempt to incorporate more wider shots during physical encounters to help create a greater sensation of magnitude. The use of close-ups in this issue sometimes left the action feeling quite confined.

Review-Doctor Who: Origins #1

In DOCTOR WHO: ORIGINS #1, released on June 8th, 2022 by Titan Comics, we embark on a new mission with the Fugitive Doctor, who must stop a dangerous cult from destroying Gallifrey. But, as expected in the world of Doctor Who, things are not quite as they seem.

Whilst The Timeless Children storyline proved to be controversial, fans mostly agreed that Jo Martin’ was fantastic as The Fugitive Doctor. She made a huge impact when she first appeared on screen in the long-running series. Her unexpected and mysterious introduction left fans wondering who she really was and where she fit into the Doctor’s complicated timeline.

Martin’s portrayal of the Fugitive Doctor was intriguing and compelling, capturing the essence of the character in a fresh and unique way. Her performance garnered praise from both fans and critics alike, and it’s exciting to see her character explored further in DOCTOR WHO: ORIGINS #1.

As always, writer Jody Houser provides readers with an exciting opportunity to get to know the Fugitive Doctor during her time working for the Division. We see her personality traits that eventually lead her to become a Fugitive, making for an engaging introduction to this incarnation of the Doctor. However, the art by Roberta Ingranata has some issues, particularly with consistency in the Fugitive Doctor’s anatomy and overuse of copy/pasting.

The highlight of the issue is Houser’s portrayal of the Fugitive Doctor, who is wise, sharp, and headstrong. She assumes an authoritative role when paired up with a junior member of the Division, showcasing why she is held in high regard. The mission at hand seems suspicious from the start, and readers can see how it will eventually lead to a split with the Division, serving as an excellent motivation point for her future.

The issue starts with a thrilling scene featuring the Fugitive Doctor in a darkened hallway, followed by an encounter with a giant Nebula Spider and a rescue by a Weeping Angel. Later, she receives a new assignment from the Division and is paired with Taslo, a freshly-graduated agent. The mission takes them to various cult strongholds, and the issue ends with a surprising meeting and the discovery of a unique way to store weaponry.

Overall, DOCTOR WHO: ORIGINS #1 is an intriguing start to a series that explores one of the lesser-known Doctors in Time Lord history. Houser’s writing gives the Fugitive Doctor a strong and assertive personality, while the mission provides plenty of opportunities for further exploration. However, the inconsistent art detracts from the overall reading experience.

⭐⭐⭐

Book review-Before The Batman

Synopsis:

We all know that billionaire Bruce Wayne is secretly Gotham City’s vigilante detective and protector, The Batman—but what road led him there? Find out in Before The Batman: An Original Movie Novel, which includes an exciting original story of Bruce Wayne’s early adventures on his way to becoming The Batman!

Written by David Lewman, Before The Batman, is a young adult novel, which essentially acts as a prequel to The Batman. It follows a 17-year-old Bruce Wayne, about a decade and a half before he dons the cape and cowl.

Given the target audience, this isn’t a complex read. I blitzed through it in about 90 minutes. However, I had a lot more fun with this than I anticipated. It’s an intriguing look at Batman’s early years, laying the groundwork for the universe of the film, without rehashing what we’ve previously seen. We learn a bit more about Alfred and his military days, as well as The Riddler and the parallels between him and Bruce Wayne.

The book isn’t a required read before seeing the film, but it does a great job of expanding the mythology that’s established in the film.

The book includes a few behind-the-scenes images from the film, as well as a small poster.

New target books on the way

BBC Books has announced that it will be expanding the Doctor Who Target range with five new titles in Summer 2022, all published on 14th July 2021, each with newly commissioned cover artwork by Anthony Dry.

Penned by the original scriptwriter the late David Fisher and adapted from his 2011 and 2014 audio novelisations, The Stones of Blood, and The Androids of Tara are now being released as two glorious Target books for fans to add to their collections.

These will be accompanied by a Target edition of The Fires of Pompeii by James Moran, as well as The Eaters of Light by Rona Munro and The Zygon Invasion by Peter Harness.

For Doctor Who fans, the range of novelisations published by Target Books in the 1970s and 1980s holds a special place. There was a novel published for almost every Doctor Who serial between 1963 and 1989, with very few (five, actually) notable exceptions.

Since 2012, BBC Books has been successfully reissuing these classic paperbacks and expanding the Target range to include all-new novelisations of modern-era Doctor Who episodes. The Stones of Blood by David Fisher – An ancient stone circle becomes a battleground as the Fourth Doctor must outwit the deadliest alien criminal this side of hyperspace.

The Androids of Tara by David Fisher – The Fourth Doctor and Romana’s search for the fourth segment of the all-powerful Key to Time leads them to the planet Tara.

The Fires of Pompeii by James Moran – It is AD 79, and the Tenth Doctor and Donna arrive in Pompeii on the eve of the town’s destruction. Mount Vesuvius is ready to erupt and bury its surroundings in molten lava, just as history dictates. Or is it?

The Eaters of Light by Rona Munro – The Twelfth Doctor takes Bill and Nardole back to 2nd century Scotland to learn the fate of the ‘lost’ Ninth Legion of the Imperial Roman Army. 5,000 soldiers vanished without explanation – how?

The Zygon Invasion by Peter Harness – It took three Doctors to broker a fragile peace between Zygons and Humans. Now the Twelfth Doctor must face the fallout alone. With his allies compromised and his companion believed dead, can he stop the world from plunging into war?

These latest additions to the collection, all by the original writers of the TV episodes, will help Target fans complete their classic and modern-era collections.

James Moran said:

“I’ve been watching Doctor Who and reading the Target books for as long as I can remember. The books were an essential part of my childhood, examining the amazing cover art, and “seeing” stories that aired before I was born. I loved learning new words from them, like “capacious”, and am beyond thrilled to become part of this publishing legend!”

Rona Munro said:

“It’s wonderful to have another chance to revisit the ideas of my last Doctor Who story, Eaters of Light, they are ideas that have been with me for a very long time and Doctor Who, as always, proved to be the largest and most exciting world in which to realise them.”

Peter Harness added:

“Like many, many others, I learnt to read and to love books by reading Target novelisations. The Saturday afternoon journey to Garland’s bookshop in Bridlington to see if any new Doctor Who stories had materialised on their shelves. Scouring markets and second-hand shops in hope of finding an old copy of Doctor Who and the Sea Devils. Desperately pester my poor cousin until he finally lent me his copy of Doctor Who and The Doomsday Weapon. Making my Grandad read me The Enemy of the World when he would’ve much preferred to fall asleep with the newspaper. There is a sense of magic and excitement about Target books which has stayed with me my whole life. And I can’t begin to tell you how wonderful it feels to be writing my own Target book of one of my own Doctor Who stories.”

The books are due for release during the summer of 2022.

Review-Ben Reilly issue 1

It’s weird being a Spider-Man fan, I’m old enough to remember the original reaction to ‘The clone saga’. People hated it, they hated there was a Spider-Man that wasn’t Peter Parker. Nowdays, the appeal of the character seems to be that there are thousands of variations.

Written by J.M. DeMatteis, Ben Reilly: Spider-Man #1, picks up shortly after Ben Reilly took over the mantle of Spider-Man from Peter Parker (before to the Beyond Saga), and he’s having identity issues.
The resurrection of Carrion, a living virus, as well as other villains from Peter’s past, doesn’t help matters.

DeMatteis transports the reader to the aftermath of the clone saga and tells a compelling story about a conflicted hero attempting to figure out who and what he truly is.

I adored the story’s complexities and Ben’s internal battle. His personality is intriguing, and the darkness within him makes the reader interested in his decisions. I’m really looking forward to seeing where this tale leads, and the conclusion of this issue has piqued my interest even more.

With its amazing attention to detail and unique, engaging style, David Baldeon’s art continues to excite and impress. His work manages to convey character feelings, as well as fantastic action and catches the 90s vibe.

Ben Reilly: Spider-Man #1 is a solid issue. It’s almost as if Ben Reilly has come full circle, since his first appearance so many decades ago, and this is a great example of how successfully the character can be handled.

There’s a lot to be explored, and this series feels like it might be the ultimate piece of proof that his long-ago creation was, in fact, a great idea.

Listen to our review of Spider-Man: No way home here.

⭐⭐⭐

Comic review-Spider-Man: Life Story

Spider-Man: Life Story, penned by Chip Zdarsky and illustrated by Mark Bagley, is a masterpiece that should grace the bookshelves of any Spidey aficionado. The new hardcover edition, released in August 2021, collects the entire six-issue series along with Spider-Man: Life Story Annual #1.

The series is a realistic portrayal of Peter Parker’s life, exploring how he ages in real-time and how he experiences historical events such as the Vietnam War. Starting in 1966, a few years after Parker was bitten by the radioactive spider, the story progresses through the decades, offering a fresh take on classic Spider-Man tales.

The second issue, set in 1977, stands out as it introduces new revelations and twists on familiar characters. Peter Parker enjoys a happy life, working alongside another superhero under his real identity, and sharing a significant role with Gwen Stacy. However, Zdarsky’s masterful storytelling culminates in a devastating turn of events, leading to a gripping and emotional tale.

As the story unfolds, new characters like Miles Morales are introduced, and the Symbiote costume is explored in-depth, offering a unique take on the Spider-Man mythos. Bagley’s artwork, with inkers John Dell and Andrew Hennessy and color artist Frank D’Armata (and Matt Milla on the Annual), captures the classic look of Spider-Man comics, while adding a fresh touch to the story.

The Annual issue, focusing on J. Jonah Jameson, is a standout story that ties into Spider-Man’s narrative, creating a nuanced and layered narrative that elevates the main series. Zdarsky’s writing showcases Jameson’s journey of redemption and hope, resulting in a story that will resonate with readers on a deeper level.

Spider-Man: Life Story is a remarkable tale that celebrates Spider-Man in a new and inventive way. Zdarsky and Bagley have created a timeless work that will be remembered as one of the greatest Spider-Man stories of all time. While the extras in the hardcover, including variant covers and Zdarsky’s cover art process, are nice additions, the main series remains the heart of the book. In summary, Spider-Man: Life Story is a must-read for any fan of the friendly neighborhood web-slinger.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Review-Future State: Superman of Metropolis #1

The DC multiverse has been blown wide open, following the shocking events in ‘Death metal #7’. A new and exciting future begins in Future State: Superman of Metropolis #1.

Due to extenuating circumstances Clark Kent has left Earth and has in-trusted its protection to his son, Jon Kent. Who is far too young for such responsibility, Jon feels the best way to protect Metropolis is to seal it up in a bottle and lock it away. Earning him the ire of its citizens, the military, and Supergirl.

In the bottled city heroes like The Guardian and Shiloh Norman (Mister Miracle) protect it from within, all whilst trying to find a way to break out of their new prison.

The first issue is really interesting because we’re just dropped into the events. Metropolis has been bottled for six months and is on the brink of collapse. The story is fresh, with very vibrant art from Cully Hamner. This feels very different from anything I’ve read before, which I wasn’t expecting. We’re given a fantastic exploration of the bottled city, six months in. The city is full of hate, rage, anger and fear. Reading this through the lens of this past year certainly adds to its impact. There’s always a sense the city could explode, at any moment.

Writer Sean Lewis has crafted a compelling story, with a young Superman completely out of his depth. Jon is no longer the happy-go-lucky kid we once knew, he’s older, jaded and cynical. He’s been given a huge responsibility and it’s absolutely crushing him. Lewis explores the mistakes a human with the powers of a God can make.

⭐⭐⭐

Review-Wake Up: Why the world has gone nuts

Whether you love him or loathe him, agree or disagree with him. You can’t ignore Piers Morgan. He’s on your TV. He’s been debated in Parliament. Even if you’ve got him blocked or muted, he’s on your Twitter timeline.

Through years of influential roles in journalism and broadcasting, Piers Morgan has positioned himself as a high-profile cultural commentator. He’s a divisive figure, best-known for his abrasive and combative interview style. For the past few years, he’s been the co-host of Good Morning Britain, an ITV show that boasts impressive viewing figures. It’s his experiences co-hosting this show, that provides the backdrop for his book. ‘Wake Up’ deals with issues of gender, Hollywood hypocrisy, identity politics and, free speech.



The book was originally intended to be a series of short essays, where Morgan would give his opinion on modern life. But then Covid 19 happened so the focus shifted. It’s told in diary form written between January-July 2020. Morgan examines all of the hot topic subjects one by one, as they occur. 2020 has been such a crazy ride, that I’d forgotten half the events Morgan talks about at the start of the book.

He makes some compelling arguments and he makes them well – for example when calling out Hollywood hypocrisy, he cites Natalie Portman’s speech at an awards show. Portman decried Hollywood’s lack of female directors, despite owning a production company that has only hired one female director, Natalie Portman.

At times, the book can come across as tabloid sensationalism and, I disagree with Piers Morgan on a lot of issues. However, I found Wake Up to be an interesting, engaging and entertaining read. Morgan argues that cancelling people isn’t the answer, instead, we should listen and find common ground. On that, I agree with him.