mysteriousmre's Reviews (1.22k)

Dick Grayson stories don't often show us extended looks at his life was like before Gotham so this was a fun treat. This iteration of Grayson did have a little bit of #teenangst, but showing some of his frustrations and his desire to get out of the family business helped flesh out who this character was before Robin and why he might be open to such a role in the first place. I really loved what they did with the colors here too. Using the warm palette to highlight the magical and intriguing things that seem to brighten up Grayson's life. It's a bit predictable for anyone familiar with romance stories, but Lost Carnival is a decent read for young fans of the Boy Wonder.

The slow pace after the City Fall arc from last volume might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I'm glad they took the time to show how everyone reacted and coped with the fallout of last volume. Prominent characters get fleshed out like Alopex, the Fugitoid, and Krang (which was surprisingly good). The annual issue is a slog to read through and the low point of the series so far, but the worldbuilding continues to be interesting and the introduction of Rat King promises big things to come.

An interesting take on the Spider-Man. T iteration of Peter isnt driven by guilt but by vengeance and desire for justice for the people suffering around him. It's a VERY different take on the character, but I really like it. I also enjoy Hines' iteration of Ben Urich as an old bitter reporter and how he affects Peter's life. This might not be for everyone, but for me it's got just the right amount of grit, gore, and pulp. Recommended.

A sequel to Spider-Man: Noir that focuses less on character and more on plot. Not a bad thing, but the new take on characters like the Parker family and Ben Urich are what really made Spidey: Noir shine. Without that, we just have a gory story about Nazi mobsters exploiting racial injustice in America. Not bad, but it's missing what made the first one so special.

Wow this book didn’t fill in all the gaps in Absolute Carnage, but it did fill a bunch. Especially story material still relevant to the ongoing story in Venom. This is pretty much a necessary read for anyone interested in the Absolute Carnage story (though I strongly recommend you read it afterwards since the last part of the book spoils the ending).

The first half of this books starts out REALLY strong, and does a great job showing what alzheimers does to people and how that affects a person's family/caretakers. The premise is really great too and leads to some heart warming moments throughout. The second half though felt very rushed. I wish we had more moments with Emmet and his family interacting and working through their relationships before the big conclusion. Would have made the ending feel a little more satisfying. Not Cates' best work, but still good read. I can see why this put him on the map.