CAPTAIN MARVEL #2/ Script by KELLY THOMPSON/ Art by CARMEN CARNERO/ Colors by TAMRA BONVILLAIN/ Letters by VC’S CLAYTON COWLES/ Published by MARVEL COMICS

Review by MATT MORRISON

Carol Danvers finds herself in a post-apocalyptic pocket dimension, where the Nuclear Man has trapped several people for unknown (but likely creepy) reasons. The villain may have designs of turning Captain Marvel into his wasteland queen, but he doesn’t realize that she’s not trapped in his world – he’s trapped with her!

The new creative team continues to impress, with Kelly Thompson writing Carol true to form and Carmen Carnero’s art looking astounding throughout. Attention must also be paid to the vivid color job by Tamra Bonvillain and the letters of Clayton Cowles, which relate the dialogue without obscuring the art. One of the best new offerings from Marvel comics this year and hopefully one that will find an audience with the upcoming fans sure to come to the comic shops after the movie is out.

 

THE FLASH #64/ Script by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON/ Pencils by RAFA SANDOVAL/ Inks by JORDI TARRAGONA /Colors by TOMEU MOREY/ Letters by STEVE WANDS/ Published by DC COMICS

Review by MATT MORRISON

Following the trail from the ruins of The Flash Museum, Barry Allen and Bruce Wayne find an island stronghold, an army of Venom-enhanced metahuman clones and a crazed Gotham Girl!

The story with Gotham Girl is a dud, with Williamson barely explaining who she is and giving those readers not reading Batman little reason to care. Thankfully, his script gives us enough amusing interactions between Bruce and Barry to make it work reading. The artwork is a step-up from the first chapter of The Price, but there’s still little connection to Heroes In Crisis and almost nothing to keep Flash fans enthralled. A serviceable issue, but sadly soulless, like most of DC Comics’ forced tie-ins.

 

UNBEATABLE SQUIRREL GIRL #41/ Script by RYAN NORTH/ Art by NAOMI FRANQUIZ & RICO RENZI/ Colors by RICO RENZI/ Letters by TRAVIS LANHAM/ Published by MARVEL COMICS

Review by MATT MORRISON

Ms. Quizzler is a question-themed villain determined to prove that she’s the smartest person in the world. This proof takes the form of her taking hostages and demanding The Avengers pass the ultimate pop quiz! Of course if they fail to appease the mad woman, it will be Squirrel Girl’s roommate Nancy and Peter Parker who get “popped!”

There’s no small irony that the best Riddler story in recent memory should be written as a parody in an issue of Squirrel Girl’s comic. Ryan North doesn’t bother to hide his sources and runs riot with the absurdity of Thor and She-Hulk taking a written exam to best evil. Naomi Franquiz and Rico Renzi illustrate this with the epic silliness it deserves and it is wonderful. Unbeatable Squirrel Girl may not be everyone’s can of cashews, but as far as comedy comics go, you’d have to be nuts not to like it!

 

WONDER WOMAN #64/ Script by G. WILLOW WILSON/ Pencils by JESUS MERINO/ Inks by ANDY OWENS/Colors by ROMULO FAJARDO JR./ Letters by PAT BROSSEAU/ Published by DC COMICS

Review by MATT MORRISON

The gods of Olympus are being reborn on Earth. Confused and weakened, they could become dangerous weapons in the wrong hands. And now Nemesis – the goddess of grudges – has been captured by the business magnate Veronica Cale, who has her own score to settle with Wonder Woman!

The only fault in G. Willow Wilson’s script is that she doesn’t do much to explain who Veronica Cale is to new reader or the details of her reasons for hating Wonder Woman. We learn enough, but it still feels like more could have been done given Cale’s relative obscurity as an enemy compared to the likes of The Cheetah. Still, the humor and action of the issue is fantastic and well depicted by Jesus Merino, Andy Owens and Romulo Fajardo Jr. A serviceable issue with a powerful ending that will hit you in the gut like a wayward truck.