DOMINO #6/ Written by GAIL SIMONE/ Art by DAVID BALDEON/ Colors by JESUS ABURTOV/ Letters by CLAYTON COWLES/ Published by MARVEL COMICS

Review by MATT MORRISON

Domino is going into battle against Topaz – a mutant who can turn her luck powers against her. Shang Chi has trained her well, but can Domino win this fight alone and without crossing a line?

The first story arc on this series is over and it ends as amazingly as the story which preceded it. I never thought I could really care about a character like Domino (90s gun-bunny heroines leave me cold) but Simone has crafted a cunning take that won me over. Throw in some brilliantly animated artwork by David Baldeon and Jesus Aburtov and this is one fantastic series that seems poised to do for the Marvel Universe what Birds of Prey did for DC.

 

THE FLASH #54/ Written by JOSHUA WILLIAMSON/ Art by CHRISTIAN DUCE/ Colors by LUIS GUERRERO/ Letters by STEVE WANDS/ Published by DC COMICS

Review by MATT MORRISON

The Trickster has tapped into The Strength Force and now The Flash has accidentally done the same. With a strange energy throwing off his usual powers, can Barry Allen save himself and The Trickster before The Strength Force rips them apart or the corrupt warden of Iron Heights puts them down as a “clear and present danger?”

I’m somewhat divided on Joshua Williamson’s story this month. On the one hand, there’s not much plot here beyond two big guys wrestling while a bunch of smaller guys try to shoot at them. It’s like a Hulk comic, but with two Hulks. It is redeemed, however, by a wonderful throwback to the Silver Age where Barry Allen tries to figure out the scientific logic behind his new powers and finds a wonderful way to twist them with Flash Facts. And then there’s the cliffhanger I can’t talk about, which excites me as an old-school Flash fan. Still, while the action may be nothing to write home about, Christian Duce and Luis Guerrero do a fantastic job of capturing the conflict and I want a poster of the final page.

Bottom Line: This is a respectful, if not fantastic, issue of The Flash with good artwork and a solid story.

 

HOUSE OF WHISPERS #1/ Written by NALO HOPKINSON/ Art by DOMINIKE “DOMO” STANTON/ Colors by JOHN RAUCH/ Letters by DERON BENNETT/ Published by VERTIGO COMICS

Review by MATT MORRISON

The second of the new series to spin out of The Sandman Universe, House of Whispers centers upon the House of Dahomey – the mystic houseboat of the Vodoun loa Erzulie.  Erzulie is a goddess of love and luxury, who holds wild parties in the realm of dreams where her followers can petition her for what they want. Erzulie often gives them what they ask for, which is not always what they truly want. Such is the peril of asking favors of a goddess.

The series does a fine job of setting up Erzulie and the supporting cast – most of whom were already seen in The Sandman Universe #1. Unfortunately, not much actually happens in this issue and we learn virtually nothing new of the cast beyond what we already learned in the first issue. Annoyingly, the synopsis on the Vertigo website also summarizes the action of the entire issue, so there’s barely any point in reading the book!

Despite this petty annoyance, Nalo Hopkinson’s godly characters are engaging, though it’s hard to know what to make of the quartet of mortal girls who discover a magic book best left untouched. The artwork by “Domo” and John Rauch is top-notch, however, and will do much to excuse the issue’s lack of action. Not much happens in this issue, but it looks fantastic enough to make me stick around a while longer to see what secrets and mysteries the House of Whispers may yet hold.

 

THE WEATHERMAN #4/ Written by JODY LEHEUP/ Art by NATHAN FOX/ Colors by DAVE STEWART/ Letters by STEVE WANDS/ Published by IMAGE COMICS

Review by ROY BUCKINGHAM

If, at the beginning of 2018, you had told me one of the best new comic book titles of the year would center around a cocky weatherman who is actually a terrorist who had his memory erased, I would probably have laughed at you. Yet it is The Weatherman creators Nathan Fox and Joey Leheup who are getting the last laugh on me.

The last issue ended on a cliffhanger, that appeared to kill off the lead female protagonist, Amy.  SPOILER –  she is still alive, but has lost Nathan the Weatherman. She seeks the help of a dangerous smuggler named Garden to find him. Alas, they may already be too late. This is a high-octane issue full of more of the amazing art and fast-paced storytelling that seems to be the benchmark of quality for this title. After only four issues, I think it is safe to say this is my favorite new title of 2018.