Absolute Batman #8 Review

• Written by: Scott Snyder

• Art by: Marcos Martín (guest artist)

• Colors by: Muntsa Vincente

• Letters by: Clayton Cowles

• Cover art by: Nick Dragotta, Frank Martin (cover A)

• Cover price: $4.99

• Release date: May 14, 2025

Absolute Batman #8, by DC Comics on 5/14/25, finds Bruce Wayne learning that the cold sting of death is nothing compared to the icy touch of Mr. Freeze.

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Is Absolute Batman #8 Good?

Recap

When we last left the Caped Crusader from the Darkseid Universe in Absolute Batman #7, Bruce Wayne sought the help of Matches Malone to get fake credentials. Why? So Bruce could infiltrate the sinister Ark-M prison facility. Matches agreed, but the low-level fraudster died after he was exposed to a deadly infection. Bruce's investigation led him to a research business specializing in cryogenic solutions. When Bruce observed the presence of the same infectious material that killed Matches, he was attacked by the son of Victor and Nora Fries and an early benefactor of the life-saving cryo-freezing process - Victor Fries Jr.

Plot Synopsis

In Absolute Batman #8, Bruce wakes up to find himself strapped inside a cryo-stasis chamber by Victor Fries Jr. The villain explains that Bruce's icy prison will torture him with endless pain as every cell in his body screams for the cold to end. Fries activates the chamber and leaves while the chamber slowly fills with the skin-searing freezing solution. Bruce's only chance of escape is to use the mini-Batarang launcher hidden inside his arm cast. 

As the tank fills and the freezing pain increases, Bruce recalls the informal memorial he and his friends held for Matches Malone. We learn Thomas Wayne died in a mass shooting because he stayed outside to save Matches, who fell behind. Matches carried the burden of guilt all his life, motivating his daring behavior. Waylon sees that self-destructive daring in Bruce when he becomes Batman, so he challenges him to live instead of taking risks that will lead to his death.

While Bruce struggles to escape, Fries contacts his benefactor from his lab. Fries created the unseasonable snowfall blanketing the city because the snow contains a type of marker that infects everyone in the city whose skin makes contact with the snow. Why? Unknown, but Fries's benefactor considers the effort a job well done.

Suddenly, Batman breaks down the door to confront Fries. In response, Fries activates a small army of previously frozen individuals to emerge from their cryo-chambers and attack Batman as a zombified mob. Remembering Waylon's challenge, Batman chooses to flee and live rather than fight to the death. The issue ends when Waylon receives an unexpected visitor (not Batman).

First Impressions

Writer Scott Snyder takes a break from the bombastic, over-the-top theatrics to deliver an issue that's smart, emotionally gripping, and meaningful, with a twist of horror for good measure. I'm not sold on the guest artist, but the writing is excellent.

How’s the Art?

Marcos Martín's movements and anatomy for Fries and his frozen zombies add a creep factor to the issue, which elevates Fries well beyond a weird guy with a medical condition and an ice gun. Fries is spindly, deceptively strong, and monstrous-looking enough to put anyone on edge. To be fair, Martin's style is flat and squiggly in too many places, especially during the fights, to maintain the hard-hitting edge Dragotta brings to the title, but Fries looks great, so the art is a mixed bag of positives and negatives.

What’s great about Absolute Batman #8?

Scott Snyder succeeds on multiple levels by creating a Class-A villain introduction, filling in a hidden piece of Bruce's backstory that enriches his motivations, and setting the hero back in such a way that moves him forward in his mission. Absolute Batman #8 is a surprisingly dramatic and emotional issue that far exceeds the typical Batman stories we've received over the last few years.

What’s not great about Absolute Batman #8?

Putting aside the misgivings about the art, Scott Snyder may have started too many open mysteries to keep track of what's happening, and it's starting to get cumbersome. Where did Alfred go? Who or what is in control of Ark-M? What's up with that gross, tentacled guy at the end of issue #6? Who hired Fries to infect the citizens of Gotham City and why? Who does Alfred work for, and what is their secret agenda? What's the Joker up to? 

The list goes on and on. A handful of mysteries is perfectly fine. Here, the list is becoming unwieldy.

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About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Final Thoughts

Absolute Batman #8 is a dramatic, emotional comic embedded in a harrowing tale of horror and escape. Scott Snyder's script well exceeds the level of depth you'd expect to see in a Batman comic as Bruce fights to live rather than fight to the death. I'm not sold on Marcos Martín's flat, squiggly art style, but he reimagines Mr. Freeze as a creepy, formidable threat.

8.5/10

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Aquaman #5 Review

• Written by: Jeremy Adams

• Art by: John Timms, Jefferson Sadzinski

• Colors by: Rex Lokus

• Letters by: Dave Sharpe

• Cover art by: John Timms (cover A)

• Cover price: $3.99

• Release date: May 14, 2025

Aquaman #5, by DC Comics on 5/14/25, finds King Arthur and his allies entering the City of the Blue for information, finding a lead and an ally in the fabled Captain of the Nautilus.

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Is Aquaman #5 Good?

Recap

When we left the King of Atlantis in Aquaman #4, Arthur was kidnapped and held in magical chains by Lori Lemoris. Her mission? Deliver Aquaman to Dagon, the keeper of the Blue. Arthur used a clever bit of hydrokinesis to escape Lori's ship just in time for his allies, Arion and Vivienne, to show up with his new sword - Thalassa the Trilance Saber. The issue ended with Aquaman kicking ass and taking names.

Plot Synopsis

In Aquaman #5, the adventurers arrive at the City of the Blue, a harsh place where anyone who shows the slightest dissent or disrespect for Dagon is immediately executed. The citizens of the city have lost hope under Dagon's oppressive rule.

Arthur, Arion, and Vivienne arrive at the City of the Blue, looking for information about Mera and the missing Atlanteans. As they scour the city, they see a pair of guards trying to arrest a man with a familiar appearance - Captain Nemo. Arthur is unable to turn a blind eye to injustice, so he intervenes in the arrest and spirits Nemo away before reinforcements arrive. In a dimly lit tavern, Nemo confirms he has seen a red-haired Atlantean many leagues below, and he'd be willing to take everyone there if they help him free his ship, the Nautilus, from the city's impound.

Arthur allows himself to be arrested by the city's head of security, Titanus, so that he can be brought before the magistrates. Arthur breaks free, knocks out the guards, and forces the magistrates to tell him the location of Nemo's ship. Lori arrives when she receives word that Arthur has been captured, so the heroes race to Nemo's ship before the numbers become too great to fight. Before the Nautilus pulls out of the dock, Arthur destroys the bubble that separates the holding dock from the sea to block their pursuers.

The issue ends with Dagon taunting Mera in chains, and we get a hint that Dagon has altered Mera's appearance for the worse.

First Impressions

Who knew the trials and travails of a wandering king could be so entertaining? Jeremy Adams expands the mythological adventure by incorporating shades of Tolkien, Jules Verne, and T.H. White for an epic tale.

How’s the Art?

John Timms is quickly becoming one of the best artists on tap for DC. Arthur is stoic, decisive, and intimidating when he gets his dander up. The action is large-scale, and Timms's sense of drama substantially elevates an already stellar script.

What’s great about Aquaman #5?

I mentioned those authors in the First Impression section above because that's what it feels like Jeremy Adams is doing with his arc. Arthur is on a kingly quest that echoes stories from classic literature, and it's turning out better than anyone probably expected.

As a plus, in our previous reviews of this series, we noted it was difficult to understand Arthur's place in the supposed prophecy as the Dark Tide without hearing the prophecy. Adams corrects that flaw by giving you the poetic prophecy on a preface page.

What’s not great about Aquaman #5?

During the climactic battle, Lori Lemoris and her Mer-cenaries just show up out of nowhere. Lori's arrival adds intensity to the fight, but it feels manufactured just to make the fight more chaotic. How could Lori possibly know the exact place and time to find Arthur?

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About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Final Thoughts

Aquaman #5 continues Arthur's mythological journey as the wandering king searching for his people. Jeremy Adams adds more familiar members to the fellowship, enhancing the vibe of a journey that echoes the best adventure tales from classic literature, and John Timms shows his worth as one of the best artists around. 

9/10

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Green Lantern Corps #4 Review

• Written by: Morgan Hampton, Jeremy Adams

• Art by: V. Ken Marion, Amancy Nahuelpan

• Colors by: Arif Prianto

• Letters by: Dave Sharpe

• Cover art by: Fernando Pasarin, Oclair Albert, Arif Prianto (cover A)

• Cover price: $3.99

• Release date: May 14, 2025

Green Lantern Corps #4, by DC Comics on 5/14/25, sends the Lanterns to an intergalactic trading post to look for parts and information. Sadly, the trip doesn't go as planned.

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Is Green Lantern Corps #4 Good?

Recap

When we last left the Corps in Green Lantern Corps #3, the Nth Metal egg at the heart of Thanagar cracked open, revealing a golden bird god calling itself Horus. Atrocitus made the mistake of attacking the god, but Hawkwoman persuaded the god to show mercy. Horus left to find a new Thanagar, while Atrocitus and the surviving Red Lanterns willingly let themselves be put into cryo-sleep in the OA Sciencecells until a cure for their condition could be found.

Plot Synopsis

In Green Lantern Corps #4, who knew going to a space mall could be so dangerous? The issue splits into two directions before converging in one seedy part of the galaxy.

First, Guy Gardner receives the unwanted task of taking a recruit, Narf, on a ride-along to show him the patrolling ropes. Narf is small and cowardly, but he was recruited because he has a special ability that Guy and Kilowog have yet to see. Guy takes Narf to Necrocopia, a dead Starro converted into a semi-illegal trading post. Why? Guy seeks out the diminished but still dangerous crime lord Evil Star for information on Starbreaker's whereabouts.

Meanwhile, Keli and Ellie interrupt Simon Baz's free time, looking for a special psionic battery. It's Keli's birthday, so he decides to take her and Ellie to someplace that might have the part - Necrocopia. When they arrive, Ellie stays behind in their construct vehicle to give Simon and Keli bonding time. Simon seeks out Enzo, a sleazy shop owner who deals in illegal contraband. Simon threatens to shut Enzo down if he doesn't cooperate in finding the part Keli needs. Enzo agrees, but when he returns from the backroom, he activates a sphere that traps Simon and Keli in a mind maze so he can steal Keli's gauntlet.

The issue ends with Evil Start making a mess while trying to break Guy's defenses and Keli being forced to confront a painful memory that may upend everything we know about the origin of Teen Lantern.

First Impressions

I like this issue, and I'm starting to think this is a better series than Hal's solo Green Lantern title. Green Lantern Corps #4 leans into the whimsical aspects of intergalactic adventure for an engaging, entertaining comic.

How’s the Art?

V. Ken Marion and Amancy Nahuelpan are largely responsible for the whimsical feeling of spacefaring adventure when the Lanterns travel to exotic places and meet strange aliens on their respective missions. Plus, the figure work and facial acting, particularly in Guy's snarky personality, are exactly on point. We want to see these characters express some personality, which you get in this issue.

What’s great about Green Lantern Corps #4?

Morgan Hampton and Jeremy Adams hit the nail on the head as the assorted Corps members travel to exotic locales, face strange but relatable dangers, and show some personality. As a plus, if Hampton and Adams can work out a way for Keli's origin to make sense and make her a tad less insufferable, they'll have earned all the kudos imaginable.

What’s not great about Green Lantern Corps #4?

The bigger picture is where this issue falls short. Yes, Guy confronts Evil Star to solicit information about Starbreaker, but that manhunt should be everyone's top priority. As a reminder, Starbreaker's plan could permanently fracture the Emotional Spectrum. Why isn't that mission an all-hands-on-deck scenario? Why isn't the search for Starbreaker and Sorrow Lantern being treated with immense urgency? If the comic doesn't treat the permanent fracture of the Emotional Spectrum like it's a big deal, why should the readers?

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About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Final Thoughts

Green Lantern Corps #4 brings fun, adventure, and excitement to the Corps when the Lanterns run into all kinds of trouble at an intergalactic trading post. Morgan Hampton and Jeremey Adams lean into the spirit of spacefaring whimsy to give the assortment of Lanterns meaningful missions, and the personality-rich art looks great. That said, it's increasingly odd that the hunt for Sorrow Lantern and Starbreaker isn't treated with more urgency.

8.5/10

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Supergirl #1 Review

• Written by: Sophie Campbell

• Art by: Sophie Campbell

• Colors by: Tamra Bonvillain

• Letters by: Becca Carey

• Cover art by: Sophie Campbell (cover A)

• Cover price: $3.99

• Release date: May 14, 2025

Supergirl #1, by DC Comics on 5/14/25, finds Kara Danvers returning to Midvale to visit her adoptive parents, but it turns out Supergirl is already in Midvale and has become its biggest celebrity.

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Is Supergirl #1 Good?

Plot Synopsis

Supergirl #1 begins a new day for Superman's cousin (and capitalizes on the in-production film) when Kara Danvers makes her rounds helping people around Earth, in Kandor, or wherever she's needed. She still wonders if she lives too much in Superman's shadow, but she's determined to step into the light through her choices.

One day, Kar receives a call from her adoptive parents. They returned from the D.O.E to their home in Midvale, and they're fixing it up. They want Kara to visit over the 4th of July holiday. Kara grudgingly agrees, but she doesn't look forward to returning to old haunts, old friends, and old memories.

When Kara arrives in Midvale, Supergirl signs, posters, and swag are everywhere, but the person in the promotional material looks a bit different than Kara. When a chance encounter with an old schoolmate turns into a potential car accident, Kara quickly changes into Supergirl to save the day. Supergirl enjoys the praise for her good deed, but the praise turns to boos when everyone suspects Supergirl is an imposter because she doesn't look like the Supergirl they know.

Suddenly, the "real" Supergirl arrives and attacks Kara as an imposter, dousing her with strange chemicals and zapping her with strange weapons. The imposter tells Kara to leave Midvale and flies away. After a quick change back into Kara, she heads to her old home to talk to her parents. The issue ends with her parents not recognizing her and the "real" Kara Danvers coming to the door to say "hello."

First Impressions

There seems to be a tonal shift in the Super Office, and I'm not sure it's the right one. Between G. Willow Wilson's elementary school take on Superman in Action Comics and Sophie Campbell's CW tween show antics here in Supergirl #1, DC appears to be experimenting with hitting different audiences at the expense of the audience that already exists. Could it work? We shall see.

How’s the Art?

Sophie Campbell pulls double duty as the writer and artist, so hats off to Campbell for the extra work. Artistically, this comic looks great. The lines are clean and sharp, and Campbell's panel layouts are visually striking. The visual style is bright and cheery, buoyed by Tamra Bonvillain's vibrant coloring. That said, Campbell makes a bizarre choice to give almost every character a severe overbite ala Jervis Tetch, aka Mad Hatter. Once you see it, you can't unsee it.

What’s great about Supergirl #1?

If you're tired of the dour, mature, serious, adult deluge of comics coming out of the Big 2 in recent years, Sophie Campbell has you covered. There isn't a mature or super-serious moment in this entire comic. It's light and airy, with just enough drama to appeal to adolescent and tween girls who love CW levels of character development and drama.

What’s not great about Supergirl #1?

Holy Wall Of Thought Balloons and Dialog, Batman! I suppose Sophie Campbell thought the way to get you inside the head of Kara Danvers was to literally hear every thought, every moment of insecurity, and every exclaim of confusion as if the comic were narrating a young teenager's diary. Plus, Kara's manner of speaking and slang is horribly outdated. In fairness, the mystery and hook about an imposter Supergirl is reasonably well done, but you have to endure loads of tedious, stiff, outdated language to get to it.

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About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Final Thoughts

Supergirl #1 looks, reads, and resonates like a CW soap opera squarely targeted at tween girls who talk like Valley Girls from the 1990s. Sophie Campbell's mystery about an imposter Supergirl is intriguing, and Campbell's bright art is super-solid (barring the weird choice to give everyone an overbite). However, this comic reads like it was meant for a very specific audience, and that audience probably doesn't include you.

6/10

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