I Love Comics (Blah, Blah, Blah…)

*All comics will be rated on a scale from 1 to 10*

Amazing Spider-Man # 32 (8.5/10)

Batman # 127 (Facsimile Edition) (8/10)

Batman # 11 (9.5/10)

Fantastic Four # 13 (9/10)

Iron Man # 7 (6.5/10)

JSA # 21 (7/10)

The Mortal Thor # 12 (6/10)

Wade Wilson: Deadpool # 6 (6.5/10)

What If…?: Secret Wars # 1 (8.5/10)

Batman # 11– The latest chapter of “Batman” brings Ojo back to Gotham, aiming to settle her unresolved business—she’s been hired to kill Bruce Wayne—placing her directly against the Caped Crusader. As chaos erupts, Vandal Savage’s corrupt GCPD pursues her. Meanwhile, the sinister Minotaur continues to dominate Gotham’s underworld, heading toward a showdown with the Penguin. Though the Vandal Savage storyline takes a brief pause, the focus shifts as Matt Fraction adds details to the upcoming “Bad Seeds” event, highlighting character development, especially the complex father/son dynamic between Bruce and Damian Wayne, with innovative dialogue that enriches their relationship. Meanwhile, Ojo is portrayed as a deadly and professional assassin, and her intense battle with Batman is thrilling. Fans will likely be shocked by the cliffhanger ending of this issue (despite being leaked online, **NO SPOILERS**), which promises significant changes for the Bat-Family. This issue effectively balances fierce action with sharp dialogue and emphasizes character depth, making Ojo arguably the most dangerous Bat-Villain yet, and demonstrating that this series is well-positioned to deliver the next exciting new developments for readers.

Fantastic Four #13– Johnny Storm, infamous for his wild mix of terrible and occasionally brilliant ideas, convinces his sister Sue to make his skull invisible. This allows him to “flame on” and impersonate Ghost Rider, seeking to settle old scores with enemies like Nicholas Scratch. Although this is another one-off story, what sets this issue apart is its high-spirited, entertaining tone. Johnny’s use of the Ghost Rider persona to frighten villains (using his Penance Stare)—beyond just Nicholas Scratch—adds to the fun, especially when he and Susan encounter The Wizard. The scheme, primarily Johnny’s idea, sees both Human Torch and Invisible Woman leveraging Ghost Rider’s reputation for comedic effect, edging into situation comedy without becoming too silly. Writer Ryan North leans into the story’s lightheartedness, delivering witty dialogue that keeps things bright and enjoyable, never outright goofy. Andrea Sorrentino’s artwork, on the other hand, brilliantly captures the eerie, bizarre qualities of “Ghost Rider,” enhancing the issue’s atmosphere. Overall, this story offers a refreshing break from the series’ usual sci-fi fare, making the most of its hilarious premise—especially with moments like the Mad Thinker joining via livestream chat or the real Ghost Rider making an appearance. This issue of “FF” is an exceptionally fun ride that shouldn’t be missed.

What If…?: Secret Wars # 1– The latest “What If…?” One-shot poses a fascinating alternate history: What if the original Ultimate Universe (Earth-1610) had survived the 2015 Secret Wars instead of the main Marvel Universe (Earth-616)? In Jonathan Hickman’s original Secret Wars, Miles Morales survives by offering a “starving” Molecule Man a burger from his pocket. In this new story, Peter Parker is the one who offers food—a pineapple roast pork bun—but his gesture leads to a darker twist, as he awakens in the Ultimate Universe and assumes a new role with S.H.I.E.L.D. under the Scarlet Spider identity. A profound change in his biology upends everything for him. The creative team—Alex Paknadel, CAFU, and David Curiel—expertly channels the best elements of the original Ultimate Universe, using them to highlight Peter Parker’s hopefulness in stark contrast to the Ultimate Universe’s more cynical, somber tone. The “What If” format is leveraged with intrigue and nostalgia, although the “lone survivor in a new world” concept feels somewhat compressed. The story’s density suggests it could have easily supported three or four issues, especially given Paknadel’s vigorous approach to world-building, which would have benefitted from more space to breathe. CAFU’s art perfectly captures the subdued energy that defined the Ultimate Universe, and David Curiel’s coloring adds a vibrant touch to every scene. Despite the constraints of limited pacing and an open-ended conclusion, the creative team delivers a compelling return to the Ultimate Universe. “What If…?: Secret Wars” reintroduces this beloved setting with energy and vision, but ultimately, its biggest flaw is that it leaves readers eager for more. If given room to expand, this concept could have reached its fullest potential, making the case for a longer series that does justice to its ambitious premise.