Weekly Reader, November 10, 2025

[Jeff]

Feeling good about getting through these!

Puppet Master (Perry's Pick)
Action Comics #590

Marvel Unlimited
Captain America #2
DAREDEVIL: COLD DAY IN HELL #3 (OF 3)
ULTIMATE WOLVERINE #8

DC Universe Ultra
Legion of Super-Heroes #9
Legion of Super-Heroes #10
ABSOLUTE FLASH #8
THE NEW GODS #11 (OF 12)

Hoopla
The Sacrificers Vol 3 (Collects issues 12-15)
Phantom Road vol 3 (Collects issues 11-15)

Crossgen
Scion 9
Meridian 9

ComiXology
Byte-Sized   #1 Written by: Cullen Bunn
Byte-Sized   #2
Byte-Sized   #3
Byte-Sized   #4

———————————————————————————————

[Perry]

Okay, slowly going to play catch-up, though it may take me a couple weeks, ha.

As for my Puppet Master pick, I'm kind of mad because DCU doesn't have classic war comics uploaded. I wanted a classic Sgt. Rock story and... nope. No Rock, no Our Army at War, No G.I. Combat, hell not even the 80's run of Blackhawks. Nothing but newer shit. I image it is due to the (probable) massive amounts of racial insensitive talk that was so prevalent back then in those comics, so they are playing it safe and just keeping all that off the site. I get it, but I don't like it.

Marvel Unlimited
Ultimates #14
Captain America #2
Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #2
Ultimate Wolverine #8

DC Universe Ultra
Absolute Evil #1
Absolute Superman #12
Batman #2
JL Omega Act Special #1
Zatannic Panic #1
Absolute Batman #13
Batman: Dark Patterns #11
New Gods #11
Hellblazer #80
Legion of Super-Heroes #10

Hoopla/Other
Old Haunts #4
Old Haunts #5
Savage Sword #11
Solomon Kane: Serpent Ring #4 (via the trade as the single isn't up yet)

Crossgen
First #3
First #4

Puppet Master (Jimmy/Jeff/Perry)
Fantastic Four (1997) #39
Fantastic Four #511
Action Comics #590



*****************************************************

[Jeff]

Oooo. I love me some good Metal Men!

[Perry]

Marvel Unlimited
Ultimates #14
Captain America #2
Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #2
Ultimate Wolverine #8

DC Universe Ultra
Absolute Evil #1
Absolute Superman #12
Batman #2
JL Omega Act Special #1
Zatannic Panic #1
Absolute Batman #13
Batman: Dark Patterns #11
New Gods #11
Hellblazer #80
Legion of Super-Heroes #10

Hoopla/Other
Old Haunts #4
Old Haunts #5
Savage Sword #11
Solomon Kane: Serpent Ring #4 (via the trade as the single isn't up yet)

Crossgen
First #3
First #4

Puppet Master (Jimmy/Jeff/Perry)
Fantastic Four (1997) #39
Fantastic Four #511
Action Comics #590

*****************************************************

Action - Pretty fun reread. I was actually buying the Byrne Superman stuff around this time. Of course just after Crisis I was reading almost everything DC put out, but with Supes I remember this issue more than almost any other (covers with Lex in-front of a huge monitor and the Banshee's first appearance are still the main two stuck in my head)   

FF #511 - Loved this back in the day and enjoyed it still this time around. Kirby is king!!

FF#39 - You give me an issue with the Grey Gargoyle and I'm not gonna love it? I don't think so!   Also loved Pacheco's time on this title. Damn it looks good.

Old Haunts - A Jeff recommendation that paid out pretty damn well. I enjoy crime books. I enjoy all things horror. Check and check!! 

Batman - As I said, this feels like Zdarsky writing and not Fraction. I am still here because I know at some point, at some time, Matt Fraction will appear and start writing this book and give a break to... I don't know... whoever is writing this... Charles Soule, maybe    No offense to either Soule or Zdarsky, but you guys aren't Fraction (and unlike my stance that the Wolverine: Revenge book was NOT written by Hickman, but by someone else, something I still believe  , I am only joking about this not being written by Fraction. But damn does it not feel like Fraction)

Ultimate Wolverine - Ugh. I hate the art and the writing is starting to rapidly go down hill as well.

Spoiler

No discussion about or fallen heroes? NONE?

[close]

. I think I may finally be ready to throw my hands up and walk away... in another issue or two. I can't keep going with this title as it is.

DD: Cold Day - A decent end to the story. I think I enjoyed the journey more than the destination, but a cool ending that gives hope... something Matt would enjoy.

Cap America - Hate to say this so close to Veterans Day (Cap being a soldier and all), but I think I am already off this title. I may give it one more, just one, but as much as I enjoyed the first issue... I hated this one!!! 

Ultimates - Ha, loved the Pietro stuff and how they handled him. Good Stuff.

[Gay Titan]

Absolute Superman #13
Batman and Robin #27
Batman #162...H2SH !!!
Blue Falcon and Dynomutt #3

[Perry]

Marvel Unlimited
Ultimates #14
Captain America #2
Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #2
Ultimate Wolverine #8

DC Universe Ultra
Absolute Evil #1
Absolute Superman #12
Batman #2
JL Omega Act Special #1
Zatannic Panic #1
Absolute Batman #13
Batman: Dark Patterns #11
New Gods #11
Hellblazer #80
Legion of Super-Heroes #10

Hoopla/Other
Old Haunts #4
Old Haunts #5
Savage Sword #11
Solomon Kane: Serpent Ring #4 (via the trade as the single isn't up yet)

Crossgen
First #3
First #4

Puppet Master (Jimmy/Jeff/Perry)
Fantastic Four (1997) #39
Fantastic Four #511
Action Comics #590

*****************************************************

Batman: Dark Patterns - The look of this book is just so damn exciting. Story, based on fire, is also intense... but maybe because I have actually been on fire, so maybe it's hitting me stronger than most? 

Zatannic Panic - Some decent to middling stories in this massive 90 plus page, anthology. Zatanna opens the book with another daddy Zatara story, which was fine, but after her "Bring Down the House" mini (with AMAZING art by the AMAZING Javier Rodriquez) which had the perfect story to wrap up (in my mind) most of all her 'daddy issues', this story seemed trivial. The Batman story, honestly, I didn't quite get, mostly a silent issue but... meh. The Demon story (Etrigan) was too bright for my liking while The Warlord story was... okay... the art didn't really fit. Hell, in-fact, I think all the others; Plastic Man, Ambush Bug, Swamp Thing/Constantine and Titans had stories that were well enough, I guess, but most of them had some art that... yeah, just didn't truly meld.

JL Omega - This was enjoyable, but it got me to realize that I am getting a little tired of Darkseid. Not overly, and I am still interested in this story, but yeah, there is a hint of me reaching the edge. 

Absolute Evil - So of course, love their building. 

Absolute Superman - And once again the award for best Absolute of the month, so far, goes to this title. Really enjoyed getting/seeing more Sol info.

Absolute Batman - Has me very excited for the next issue

Spoiler

(also love how Bruce is feeding Waylon. Just a cooler full of red meat)

[close]

[Jeff]

Puppet Master (Perry's Pick)
Action Comics #590

Marvel Unlimited
Captain America #2
DAREDEVIL: COLD DAY IN HELL #3 (OF 3)
ULTIMATE WOLVERINE #8

DC Universe Ultra
Legion of Super-Heroes #9
Legion of Super-Heroes #10
ABSOLUTE FLASH #8
THE NEW GODS #11 (OF 12)

Hoopla
The Sacrificers Vol 3 (Collects issues 12-15)
Phantom Road vol 3 (Collects issues 11-15)

Crossgen
Scion 9
Meridian 9

ComiXology
Byte-Sized  #1 Written by: Cullen Bunn
Byte-Sized  #2
Byte-Sized  #3
Byte-Sized  #4

———————————————————————————————

Another incredibly busy week.  I got through these and doubt I'll get anymore done tonight.

Action Comics #590 - Love seeing Byrne art on Superman and the Metal Men! Fun one issue story too. Makes me want to see a new Metal Men series or mini. Maybe done by Tom King! How cool would that be?

Legion of Super-Heroes #9 - not a bad interlude story. Levitz's dialogue is pretty bad but I liked seeing the Legion in a less cataclysmic story. The art being so good helped too.

Legion of Super-Heroes #10 - Kind of a boring issue revolving around Earths election for a new President. Yawn.

ABSOLUTE FLASH #8 - Excellent Barry Allen origin story! These past two issues have been very good. Perhaps this series had finally made the right turns.

THE NEW GODS #11 (OF 12) - Good issue. I much prefer reading the battles this issue. The series as a whole has confused me. And yet, I still like it!

[Jeff]

Puppet Master (Perry's Pick)
Action Comics #590

Marvel Unlimited
Captain America #2
DAREDEVIL: COLD DAY IN HELL #3 (OF 3)
ULTIMATE WOLVERINE #8

DC Universe Ultra
Legion of Super-Heroes #9
Legion of Super-Heroes #10
ABSOLUTE FLASH #8
THE NEW GODS #11 (OF 12)

Hoopla
The Sacrificers Vol 3 (Collects issues 12-15)
Phantom Road vol 3 (Collects issues 11-15)

Crossgen
Scion 9
Meridian 9

ComiXology
Byte-Sized  #1 Written by: Cullen Bunn
Byte-Sized  #2
Byte-Sized  #3
Byte-Sized  #4

———————————————————————————————

Captain America #2 - Hmmm. Mixed on this one. This issue wasn't very good but the over all story is interesting.  Maybe give it one more chance next issue.

DAREDEVIL: COLD DAY IN HELL #3 (OF 3) - Fine enough ending to a hard core story. Rough moments in this one.

ULTIMATE WOLVERINE #8 - I enjoyed this issue.  Not sure why Perry and I are far apart on it but that's how it goes sometimes.

[Jeff]

Puppet Master (Perry's Pick)
Action Comics #590

Marvel Unlimited
Captain America #2
DAREDEVIL: COLD DAY IN HELL #3 (OF 3)
ULTIMATE WOLVERINE #8

DC Universe Ultra
Legion of Super-Heroes #9
Legion of Super-Heroes #10
ABSOLUTE FLASH #8
THE NEW GODS #11 (OF 12)

Hoopla
The Sacrificers Vol 3 (Collects issues 12-15)
Phantom Road vol 3 (Collects issues 11-15)

Crossgen
Scion 9
Meridian 9

ComiXology
Byte-Sized  #1 Written by: Cullen Bunn
Byte-Sized  #2
Byte-Sized  #3
Byte-Sized  #4

———————————————————————————————
Well, I got through more than I thought I would!  I'll roll over the rest.

The Sacrificers Vol 3 (Collects issues 12-15) - Hate and Revenge fill this volume and Pigeon I'd going to war with the gods.  Good volume and left with a cliffhanger of action!

Phantom Road vol 3 (Collects issues 11-15) - Excellent volume! This mystery just gets more crazy! Love the history here and this villain is pure evil!

[Perry]

ULTIMATE WOLVERINE #8 - I enjoyed this issue.  Not sure why Perry and I are far apart on it but that's how it goes sometimes.

I am starting to see little things that Condon does that I am not a fan of... very similar to Percy, actually (good plotting, but pacing, flow and story beat issues...

Spoiler

like having members of a team die in front of other members and as they stand over their fellow members bodies, they don't say a thing? They were part of your team yet...  nothing? That lack of personal expression makes an impact on the story, but the wrong kind of impact... for me)

[close]

, but principally, the main issue I have with this book is the art. Like 90% of Marvel artists working for them currently, the art is atrociously sloppy and even worse, lazy as hell.

It's like seeing Byrne in his later years. He (and every other artist) used to save time by leaving backgrounds out of panels (even the great John Buscema would do this), but the older Byrne got, the more bored he got, the less work he put in. But at least Byrne had a beautiful stroke and worked perspective into every panel, even when he did start to lose the drive. The "artist" on this book... ugh, the worst example of "pushing out crap"

But yes, 100% agree... we all can't like the same stuff   

[Perry]

Marvel Unlimited
Ultimates #14
Captain America #2
Daredevil: Cold Day in Hell #2
Ultimate Wolverine #8

DC Universe Ultra
Absolute Evil #1
Absolute Superman #12
Batman #2
JL Omega Act Special #1
Zatannic Panic #1
Absolute Batman #13
Batman: Dark Patterns #11
New Gods #11
Hellblazer #80
Legion of Super-Heroes #10

Hoopla/Other
Old Haunts #4
Old Haunts #5
Savage Sword #11
Solomon Kane: Serpent Ring #4 (via the trade as the single isn't up yet)

Crossgen
First #3
First #4

Puppet Master (Jimmy/Jeff/Perry)
Fantastic Four (1997) #39
Fantastic Four #511
Action Comics #590

*****************************************************

Legion - A perfect issue for me!!! Ha, no. Not really. Ugh

Hellblazer - This one however, very good issue.

Spoiler

The destruction of Gabriel's heart was... something I didn't expect 

[close]