Wednesday Spoilers

My initial thoughts on comics as they come out every week. Spoilers ahead.

= Pick of The Week = Pull List

Wednesday Spoilers 2025-06-04

Absolute Green Lantern #3, Batgirl (2024) #8, Birds of Prey (2023) #22, Secret Six (2025) #4, DC Pride 2025

Absolute Green Lantern #3

This was SUCH a strong contender for pick of the week. This week was very strong overall! Lots of cool stuff, but AGL is absolutely a highlight. I love how this story is going so far, I'm not much of a GL guy (YET) so I can't really comment on how this compares to regular GL stuff, but I love the horror spin, and I've alwasy been a sucker for stories where people are trapped somewhere. So. Also the cover is delightful!! I'm still not entirely sold on Hal's design here, but I LOVE the way the art conveys his emotions and I've been loving everyone elses designs. I also love the way this story is able to have teeth in a way a lot of big two series can't, since it's not main universe they can kill off whoever the hell they want whenever they want. I will say that I do struggle to accept death in the comic book medium, which has unfortunately made it more difficult for me to appreciate the impact of these moments. My initial reaction when someone dies in a comic is still "oh they'll come back", even though theoretically these guys could totally stay dead. I'm very excited to see what comes next from this series!

Batgirl (2024) #8

OUGH THIS WAS SO GOOD!!!! I loved this whole issue can we get a mini with these four... please... I would love that so much LOL I will be honest and say I am not much of a Shiva-head so IDK how people are feeling in regards to her backstory changes. Maybe I will come back with a new opinion once I'm more read up on Shiva, but I'm really enjoying it! I think the story is very interesting and the format of having her tell it to Cass after her death is really fun and interesting. This is a very strong issue and I'm glad this series is progressing so well.

Birds of Prey (2023) #22

This was good. Not really ground breaking and I found some things to be kinda dumb... Like seriously why is Babs getting knocked out by her OWN TECH she's smart enough to know you should include failsafes in that sort of thing, she shouldn't be getting shocked just because one of her drones was destroyed that makes no sense. Ough okay haterism over. I am enjoying the stuff with Barda and Cass and I look forward to seeing where things go. Overall not too exciting of an issue but still good.

Secret Six (2025) #4

AUGH!!!! I've been looking forward to this one ALL MONTH I wouldn't shut up about it LOL and it 1000% lived up to the hype I love this this is wonderful Nicole Maines GETS IT Jeannette my girl Jeannette is BACK and she's so her. My favorite drama queen with debilitating PTSD :] And the plot thickens with Jon and Jay! I can't wait to see when Jay finds out Jon saved Blake over him on Nia's word, it's going to be insane. Also Jay discovering the governments involvement in everything that happened to Gamorra is so. Yeah. Ough Jay's going to go ape-shit. Also glad Maines is being allowed to tell a story like this given the current political climate. And all of this is not even to mention the CatShot of it all!!!! OUGH those men are so obsessed with each other. Lawton's flirting feels SO blatant here but honestly it's just evidence Maines did her research because he HAS been like that with Blake since 2005. This was diabolical though. Blake talking about how he wants to see Lawton shoot Waller (for him), like girl I want to see it too (Sorry Waller I love you so much). AND JON THINKING THEY WERE A COUPLE LOL also Blake saying he felt like he'd found his pride with Lawton. SHUT UP. This issue was so good it lived up to ALL the hype, I'm so happy forever thank you Nicole Maines for being the author of all time.

DC Pride 2025

So. DC Pride 2025. Came out. Honestly other than the Jenny Blake story I would say that the best thing about this book is that it came out (and I don't necessarily mean that as like a terrible statement about the contents of the book), like honestly while I would have been happy if I liked this more than I did, it was never going to matter that much to me how good I found this comic to be. Considering how many companies have completely dropped their support of LGBTQ people or have tried to make their show of pride as muted as possible since the beginning of the Trump administration, I am just glad that DC is still giving its LGBTQ writers and artists the space to make art about being LGBTQ. Yes it's sad that this is the point we're at, but it's the point we're at. The actual book itself though was... Fine? I think the inter-connected stories approach is interesting and I can't decide if I like it more or less than the set-up of previous DC Pride comics. While it did lead to more depth and a more complex story overall, I felt like the individual stories suffered a lot because of this. In a regular anthology a 3-10 page story is able to focus entirely on itself to tell the story it wants to and that is generally enough space to get an idea across. Where as in this format I felt like the individual stories struggled to balance their own content with the over-arching narrative. Many of them felt rushed and hollow, and by the end I kind of felt like I'd read the same thing five times. In terms of the individual stories, the highlights for me were the Bunker story and the Alan Scott story at the end, they were the most fleshed out and emotionally impactful IMO. My least favorite were the Blue Snowman story and the MidPollo story, the Blue Snowman story felt very out of place. I understand the premise of the story and that we're not supposed to take it seriously, but I didn't like that the only depiction of a transgender person with a non-binary and less common gender identity had them playing the role of the "you're transphobic!!!!" sort of stereotype. I get what the author was going for and think the story could have worked somewhere smaller and more self contained like an indie comic or a personal blog, but I don't think it fits well in a DC Pride anthology, it also would have been nice to have a non-binary focused story that actually felt... Proud to be non-binary...? If that makes sense? I don't want to be too harsh because the author is non-binary themselves and I'm sure he was writing from a personal place rather than any place of malice (and I did even like some aspects of the story, and even found it quite relatable in some ways), it just felt... out of place and kind of tone deaf. ALSO WHY IS DIANA THE TRANSPHOBE HERE!!! I saw her and I was like! OMG! Diana! In a pride special? Finally? Nope. Uh and then the MidPollo (this ship name makes me laugh so hard I keep getting distracted) just felt kinda eh and weird IDK. OH ALSO! Why was Connor Hawke featured so heavily when he's there for like five seconds. Bleh. Anyways I know I complained a lot but I'm glad DC is still doing this and I'm glad all of these LGBTQ creatives are getting their chance to make something. OH and the Jenny Blake story rocked and I'm going to buy her autobio as soon as she releases it AUGH.

Wednesday Spoilers 2025-05-21

Nightwing (2016) #126, Absolute Flash #3, Batman & Robin: Year One #7

Nightwing (2016) #126

This was pretty good!! I'm not as into this so far as I was On With The Show, and it felt like On With The Show was... kind of poorly resolved? Is this an interlude? Maybe this is an interlude and they'll pick that plot thread back up after... IDK it's just kind of weird. Enjoyable though. Looking forward to seeing what will happen next.

Absolute Flash #3

The art here was beautiful as always thank you Robles T_T the story also continued and was very interesting and fun so far. This series is so fast paced I was almost surprised when I got to the end lolol. One thing I will say is that with how fast paced this series has been so far... It almost feels like nothing has happened? I know that isn't true but IDK. However, the stuff that does happen in the moment is really incredible to read. The movement feels so dynamic and I can't wait for the next issue :]

Batman & Robin: Year One #7

Another solid issue! The detective stuff is pretty interesting, but I'm really here for the more human aspect regarding the relationship between Dick and Bruce, as well as how things have been going with the CPS worker. Dick taking a punch to protect their cover and Bruce saying he was proud of him is so crunchy. You sir are unwell. I am indeed a sucker for when comics bring up how Bruce would look to Gotham at large. It came up a fair bit while Tim was Robin, with his principal thinking Bruce was abusing him because of his constant bruises, and there was mention of Dick's adoption case and how Bruce was seen as unfit to care for a child in Devin Grayson's run. I am excited to see where this goes from here.

Wednesday Spoilers 2025-04-16

Nightwing (2016) #125, Absolute Flash #2, DC x Sonic the Hedgehog #2

Nightwing (2016) #125

I'm excited to see where this next arc will go! It kind of felt like a bit of a jarring transition, but I trust Watters' ability as a writer and am looking forward to the next issue. The new art style is nice as well! Although I like the old one too.

Absolute Flash #2

Oh man the hype over this is real I am so obsessed with how Robles draws Wally like oh my god he's so adorable and pretty T_T Things are getting so serious and I can't wait to see that continue.

DC x Sonic The Hedgehog #2

Cute but not that exciting TBH. Fun crossover though.

Wednesday Spoilers 2025-04-02

Absolute Batman #7, Batman: Dark Patterns #5, Fire & Ice: When Hell Freezes Over #1, Batman and Robin (2023) #20

Absolute Batman #7

Hm. You know? So... Nick Dragotta isn't on this book anymore? I guess? I'm sure Marcos Martín is an incredibly talented artist, and there were some very well drawn panels in here... It's just... Hm. I feel like I have to show what I'm talking about...?

The top image is a range of Martín's drawings of Bruce. The ones that felt off or not right to me on the left of the red line, and the ones I thought were better on the right of the red line. The second image is a range of Dragota's drawings. On the left are examples of Bruce where he seemed off or weirdly drawn, and on the right drawings of Bruce that I felt were well done. It isn't that Martín can't draw well, I'm not going to put it here since it is quite gorey, but the page where Matches dies is exceptionally well done, but his Bruce especially feels wildly inconsistent. Compared to Dragota, who's art felt very consistently well done (I really had to search for things that felt "wrong"), it's just kind of off-putting of a switch. Martín's art style is also a lot simpler than Dragota's (which is fine, I adore Juni Ba's art style which is also quite simple), which feels like kind of a jarring shift. I hope that we see more consistency from Martín in future issues, because I definitely want more of stuff like Matches' head exploding with blood lol, that page was great. As for the story. It seems fine. I trust Snyder. I'm excited to see where this goes.

Batman: Dark Patterns #5

Have not read this yet T_T

Fire & Ice: When Hell Freezes Over #1

Have also not read this yet T_T

Batman and Robin (2023) #1

OH this comic is so cute. Juni Ba the man that you are... He does such a fantastic job capturing the feel of what Damian's notebook would look like... UGH it's so cute. Juni Ba you are everything please DC hire Juni Ba for all of your projects. I know he's only really done Damian for DC so far and he's really good at Damian stuff but. I want to see him on maybe a Dick or Duke book so bad. I don't know how his style would mesh with either character, but I think it would work especially well for Dick (maybe a comic similar to The Boy Wonder with a focus on relationships, but maybe it follows Dick and his relationships with Bruce, Barbara, Tim, Jason, and Damian? One issue for each like TBW, but it starts with him being trained by Bruce, then working with Babs, then training Tim, fighting Jason [either NW:BiB or BftC], and training Damian? Ugh it's such a long shot, and it isn't like I just want TBW: Part Two, Dick Grayson Edition, but... hhh Juni Ba is just so good at writing and drawing...), and I'm mostly just biased about the Duke book idea. Of course I want one of my favorite artists and writers writing or drawing my favorite character LOL. Anyways I got off track, the book that I just read. It was good! I was very fond of Thomas Wayne's journal I thought that was a great touch. Damian you make me so sad T_T

Wednesday Spoilers 2025-04-02

Absolute Green Lantern #1, Batgirl (2024) #6, Secret Six (2025) #2 Teen Titans Go! (2025) #2

Absolute Green Lantern #1

THIS ROCKED oh my god. i can't wait for more it was so exciting from start to finish and i can't wait to find out what will happen next :] hal looks... very young? idk if he's supposed to be younger or what, but i was mostly distracted by how anxious he looked all the time. good stuff. i loved the page with the giant spaceship destroying everything with the billboards that say "the end is coming... have you been saved?" visiblle. very fun. i am a big fan. also loved the scene where hal just like? takes the bullet out? augh. really enjoyed this one 5/5

Batgirl (2024) #6

OH MAN. Okay best comic of the year I'm calling it now. Tate Brombal the man that you are. He just gets them he really does. I can't believe he managed to get DC to actually let him write a genuinely heartfelt beautiful Lady Shiva comic. He clearly loves Cass and Shiva so so dearly, he writes them with such an art to it. All of the details are just so perfect. Miyazawa's art is breathtaking too. Everything about this comic is just perfect. It's going to be actual hell not being able to read it all summer (I'm going home for the summer but I want to support my local shop where I live so I'm still ordering them to there and won't be able to pick them up until September).

Secret Six (2025) #2

haven't read #1 yet. i'll get on that lol

Teen Titans Go! (2025) #2

this will be my last read for this series i fear. solid comic but i'm not seven so i haven't really been digging this. well done comic for children imo, but not one of those things that can be enjoyed by all ages. hopefully this will get the new generation interested in the medium as well :] do kids still like teen titans go!? i'm pretty sure they do. when i was a camp leader a lot of my kids only knew robin from ttg. not my thing and i don't like pretty much any of these versions of the characters, but i can respect it if it gets kids interested in comics.

Wednesday Spoilers 2025-03-26

Absolute Wonder Woman #6, Batman (2016) #158, absolute martian manhunter #1, black canary: best of the best #5

Absolute Wonder Woman #6

Okay immediate first thought is "Hayden Sherman I miss you" because their art is sosososo beautiful. BUT De Luis does a great job too so. It's fine. This comic was so exciting and epic. I loved seeing Diana interact with gods that was fun. Also her kind and loving nature really showed through in this issue. I really loved her talking about how she had to use every part of the basalisk, or her promising not to use the weapon she was making for evil. She's just so kind and heartfelt and I love that about her, I'm glad it shows through and carries over into the Absolute universe. Not a whole lot else to say about this one. It's fun. I miss butch Steve Trevor. 4.5/5

Batman (2016) #158

I'm sorry but I'm just NOT HYPED. I want to be I want to be excited I want to enjoy this story I love Tommy I do I'm excited to see him... I just... I do not see this living up to Hush. Maybe I'm just full of hate, but... You build up all this excitement for H2sh and no matter how servicable the story it just won't be good enough if it doesn't live up to Hush. I'm trying to stay hyped I really am but. Hrm. Maybe maybe if they kill Joker in #159. Like not permanently I don't expect them to permanently kill him or anything I respect that that just isn't how the medium works. But I was so hype when I thought Tommy was going to actually for real kill him. If he dies in #159 I'll take back basically everything I've said here. Other than that though, the art is nice, the writing isn't too exciting, I'm tired of seeing Babsgirl free her, uh, Talia is here that's nice, Joker looks pretty when he's being tortured, uh. That's all I've got we will see what happens in #159. 3.5/5

Absolute Martian Manhunter #1

Before I begin I want to clarify I am not a Martian Manhunter guy. I know practically nothing about him like a shockingly little amount. All of this is coming from the perspective of a guy with absolutely no stakes in the game. I really like this comic so far. It's very visually interesting and I'm curious to find out what is going on. I liked the way the thoughts were communicated and I liked the smoke colouring. Very fun and interesting. I don't really have much to say about the story yet, but I'm excited to see where it goes.

Black Canary: Best of the Best #5 4/5

Regretfully I actually buy this one, I don't like it but by the time I gave up on it I already had half the series, so I didn't want to stop buying it. This means I can't read it until Saturday when I pick it up so I will update this then.

Okay I'm back hello. God I hate this series. It could be so good, but it just isn't. I love Lady Shiva, I love Dinah, I love competitive sports, so why is this bad? I keep reading each new issue hoping this will be the one that is good, and I'm always disappointed. That's on me though for putting my faith in Tom King though I guess. Shiva's writing is so unbelievably out of character. In no universe would she conduct herself in the way she does in this comic. It's just so frustrating. I also feel that this series has been rather drawn out. The last two issues haven't been as bad but it dragged for 1-3. The announcers also aren't as entertaining as they seem to think they are. At least it's almost over.