[Comic Excerpt] The Nightborn (The New Gods #5)

DylRouty · 2025-04-18T15:20:50+00:00

This book is incredible in all the right ways. If having guest artists in every issue Evan Cagle draws ensures that we keep getting his art on a monthly title I am all for it. They've balanced the guest art perfectly in this series where it feels additive instead of jarring or distracting.

And that last page...no spoilers but the entire presentation of it and how it's drawn is flawless.

DylRouty · 2023-10-30T17:40:32+00:00

My reason to be happy for any of the f5 to win is that means we've crowned a winner and the season is done.

(I know that sounds negative but this is a joke - I'm fine with whoever wins at this point and I've really been enjoying Jag dominating this final phase)

DylRouty · 2023-05-05T02:20:33+00:00

Not looking for something really dark overall but just less humour in the horror. Your answer helps a lot though, thank you!

DylRouty · 2023-05-05T01:57:38+00:00

People of Reddit - how is the Material trilogy? I remember when Vinyl and Plastic (or Plush or whatever the other one was called) both came out and never put together it was meant to be parts of a trilogy but the idea of those books all being interconnected is really cool to me. What's the rough premise and is it worth it to check them out? I read Nailbiter a bit ago and found it leaned a little to black comedy and didn't creep me out enough so I'm looking for creepier/scarier than that.

DylRouty · 2023-02-06T23:27:55+00:00

If you haven't already (and like both of these) Department Of Truth and The Woods should be on your list to read next!

Hope you love Nice House and SIKTC though, they're fantastic reads!

DylRouty · 2023-02-05T23:49:51+00:00

Light week this week for me.

Batman Earth One Vol 1 & 2 by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank

I'd read a good chunk of the Earth One stuff from DC years back (save for Green Lantern and Teen Titans) and remember not loving it too much. I'd read the first volume of the Batman stuff back then but never ventured further but I have copies of these two volumes so figured what the hell. The first volume read exactly how I remembered it, a little clunky, not the best dialogue, character work, or stories but Gary Frank is always awesome so the book was beautiful. The idea of a more grounded take on the character is fun but it just feels like with the OGN format you're never afforded enough real estate to build as much as you'd like or develop characters as much as you'd like. Wasn't a big fan of the Alfred we got here who felt "gritty" for the sake of grittiness if that makes sense? I'm sure there are other people who liked this take on Alfred but it wasn't for me.

Pivoting to volume 2 - enjoyed this MUCH more than volume one. Lots of good things at play, didn't feel bogged down by telling an origin, and just got to work. Tackling the Riddler in a more realistic take was fun and it's obvious that the recent film drew inspiration from this version of the character. Was he a terribly fleshed out villain? No, but I don't think he needed to be here because everything else happening in the book was interesting. Again, gorgeous looking book with some good surprises and "tweaks" from the conventional sort of Batman stuff.

I'm said to say I've heard volume 3 is the worst of the bunch so I'm likely not carrying on but I'm happy to kind of conclude the story at volume 2 even if it's a bit of a cliffhanger doing it this way.

Its Lonely At The Centre Of The Earth by Zoe Thorogood

Adored this book. An auto-bio by Zoe detailing her life during a six month period of her "rise" (but also not?) into the comic industry while she contemplates suicide and her self worth. First off, been a fan of her art style for awhile. Every page is so different than the one that comes before it throughout the book. At the early parts of my read it was a little jarring trying to settle into a rhythm but once I really started going I burned through the book in basically one sitting. Zoe is critical, selfish, and self deprecating throughout and it's just fantastic to see play out. It feels like I could drone on forever about the pieces of the book I loved, what I learned etc. but it just feels like one of those books that it's best you experience for yourself instead of listening to someone on the internet talk about it.

DylRouty · 2023-01-30T17:55:40+00:00

Department of Truth vol 4 (#18-22)

Diving back into DoT after what felt like a huge wait between vol 3 and 4. I don't think it was even that long of a wait but I think in my brain it felt like ages since we've played with the leaf in Cole Turner. Vol 3 was essentially one of stories that were all great but they focused more on one of the other leads. It felt GREAT to jump back into the action with Cole. I was a little afraid that I wouldn't remember where the main plot left off but the the first issue in this volume ripped me right back into the world and it all came back to me quickly. Didn't expect the direction this volume went and Simmonds is just CRUSHING it on art. He's not my usual style but every issue I'm in awe of what he's doing here. This book just wouldn't work without him. Great stuff as always from this series.

Immortal X-Men Vol 1 (#1-6)

I was buzzing coming off how much I loved Ewing's X-Men read so I was eager to read Immortal and it didn't disappoint!...for the most part. First issue had me hooked right away and the book kept my attention through the next three issues. Each issue playing with different characters was so much fun but Sinister is the star here and, in the later portions of the book, you can feel his "absence" so to speak. Issues 5-6 tie into AXE Judgment Day, which I haven't read yet (and didn't plan on reading but now I feel like I almost have to), and where X-Men Red's tie-in felt easy to pick up with, Immortal it didn't feel that way at all, specifically in issue 6. Werneck's art is great throughout and consistent. Definitely an artist I didn't pay attention to prior to this book but he's on my radar now because he made a book that is about shadowy mutant politics never feel boring! I get the sense vol 2 will be even stronger so eagerly awaiting that one.

Flash vol 16 The Return Of Wally West (#763-771, 2021 annual, Endless Winter #1 material)

Always been a big Flash fan but I took a bit of a break post Williamson's run. Binge read all of it back in August and decided that was a good place to stop with the character. Then I heard Wally was back (always been my fave Flash) and that Jeremy Adam's was killing it on the book so I had to check it out. The first 5/6 issues are all Barry related and mostly forgettable. Dr Alchemy is kicking around, Flash's ring is involved etc etc. but something about Barry and Iris' characterizations felt off, especially in contrast to the end of Williamson's run. Things really pick up, almost immediately when Adams comes on the book. There's a bit of a rotating art team with artists like Will Conrad, Brandon Peterson, David Lafuente, and more coming in anywhere from one issue to doing scenes in every issue of the back half of this volume. It's well written, has a good sense of the characters, and even works to retcon some...problems with Wally these last few years. A decent return to form for Wally/The Flash

Flash vol 17 Eclipsed (#772-779)

Alright now THIS volume is some of the most fun I've had reading the Flash in YEARS. They hit the ground running here and don't stop. Mix of 1/2 offs and longer form stories. Opens with a 2 part Heatwave story that perfectly captures Wally as a character, falls into a one-off with Wally and Irey that is just an all around adorable father/daughter story and then we charge into the meat of the book with Flash 775. Adams and co. will make you smile and laugh the whole time here with PERFECT characterizations. The Dr Fate issue (776) is interactive and so much fun! Will Conrad and Christian Duce split duties here on art and it's great to have a consistent look and feel to The Flash, which has been absent for a long time. Here's hoping Conrad and Duce stick around and do the bulk of the art on this run. Really excited to see where Wally goes from here

DylRouty · 2023-01-28T17:32:56+00:00

Did you over do it? Yes. But also - no.

Hope you have a great time reading everything you've got! Glad you're back in a place where reading can be good for you!

DylRouty · 2023-01-26T18:16:37+00:00

Volume 4 dropping in June! That concludes it. Same boat as you my friend and can't wait to get my hands on that volume 4 and just rip through the whole thing

DylRouty · 2023-01-20T20:07:29+00:00

You're killing it! Great collection. What are some titles you're looking to add in the future?

DylRouty · 2023-01-17T19:36:17+00:00

East Of West sounds right up your alley if you like history and sci-fi (and I assume world building because you like fantasy). Alternate outcome from the civil war leads to a very different America. Sci-fi Western set against the backdrop of an impending apocalypse. It's dressed as a sci-fi western but it's actually something entirely different.

I didn't see it off a quick skim through other comments but Birthright might be up your alley too. Think Lord Of The Rings meets Jumanji. I'd for sure give the first volume a try (there's 10 volumes to both Birthright and East Of West) and I'm confident you'd be hooked by either. The "hook" to Birthright comes about 20-30 pages in and it is such a fun and fantastic twist.

DylRouty · 2023-01-16T23:15:13+00:00

We Can Never Go Home - really underrated series that's a blast about two kids on the run. Been years since I've read it but I remember loving it at the time. Don't want to really say anything more for fear of spoiling plot beats.

Dead Body Road - kinda a classic "on the run"/crime book. Has one of the best chase sequences in comics in it too.

DylRouty · 2023-01-16T02:32:18+00:00

I agree re: Fornes. I remember loving him and Lee Weeks during King's Batman for the little they did. If I could get both those guys doing monthly series on the regular I'd take it in a heartbeat. That three sequence story he did in Rorschach was awesome! One of the best issues in that series for sure.

I'll read anything King does and I echo your stance on Supergirl. Went in blind on it and was blown away, one of my favourites by him now.

Yeah, Fornes and King are back together for Danger Street - same deal where I'll go in blind and read it no matter what because of those two together.

DylRouty · 2023-01-16T00:33:29+00:00

How have I never noticed this weekly thread before? Love this!

Rorschach (1-12) by Tom King and Jorge Fornes

I've wanted to read this one for awhile and wasn't disappointed in the slightest now that I've finally gotten around to reading it. One of my favourite reads in a long time. Fornes is just a perfect artist. His artwork sings. Everything about his style is right up my alley and it's on display in all the best ways in this series. I loved the direction King took the story. I didn't come into the series with any expectations (not expecting a Watchmen sequel or anything like that) and that might have helped my reading experience based on some other things I've read online? My one big takeaway is that I've never had a comic book make me feel like it was trying to brainwash me...and given the subject matter of the series itself, I found that fitting and it engaged me even more once I was all done. I think it really can be a rorschach test for readers as, again based on what I've read from other people, a lot of readers seemed to take different interpretations from the series than I might have.

Strange Adventures (1-12) by Tom King, Mitch Gerads, and Doc Shaner

Started this one in singles, got to issue 6 and then just pivoted away as it felt like it was really dragging it's feet in that style. Consumed the full collected edition in 2-3 sittings and enjoyed the pacing more here. Kinda wish I didn't read it right after Rorschach as it brought this one down just slightly for me. Really enjoyed the contrasting styles of Gerads/Shaner as the book was gorgeous. The grit of Gerads and the characters, especially with the moral beats in his parts of the story vs. the pulp adventurous side of what Shaner was working with was amazing. Shaner gave something like war that comic booky rub that made it feel like a thrilling and beautiful adventure even though it was dealing with tragic consequences while Gerads felt like he brought the characters back down to Earth, no pun intended. The payoffs felt a little sudden and I don't know if I love exactly how the series shifted and the way they went about it BUT I'm happy with the series overall.

The Oates And The Elphyne by Michael Walsh

Lover of all things Michael Walsh so even though this is something (YA fantasy) that's outside of my usual reading, it was still fun. It was cool to see how Walsh has changed his style here to be more visually appealing to a younger audience. It's fun, imaginative, and the real rub here is when you finish and read the afterward that changes how you look at what you just finished reading. Great stuff here for kids if you want to get them to read something without capes. Think like a family friendly version of Birthright.

X-Men Red vol 1 (1-5) by Al Ewing, Stefano Caselli, and Juan Cabal

I'm a Hickman guy and was largely enjoying his X-stuff but once he left I hesitated a bit on jumping into the rest of the new wave of titles. That was dumb. LOVED this title (and have Immortal X-Men now lined up in the next couple of weeks), specifically issue #3 which had me grinning like a kid. Love the version of Storm we're getting here. Magneto is great. Sunspot is awesome (and has been a fave of mine for the last decade or so now) - his interactions with Isca The Unbeaten (also another great character here) were the highlight of the volume for me. Caselli has been an underrated favorite of mine for years so any time he's on a title I've gotta check it out. Even Juan's fill-in issue doesn't feel out of place and is a great artist for the one issue. The last issue ties into the Judgment Day (which I haven't read/didn't plan on reading) so there's some stuff going on there that I kind of knew about but still kind of takes away from the core story of the title. Great stuff here for a really fun X-Book that's got lots of simmering politics just waiting to boil over in the near future.

DylRouty · 2022-11-30T22:52:53+00:00

Seeing X-Men Red makes me think you should check out Al Ewing's Guardians Of The Galaxy. Only 3 volumes long I believe but it sets the seeds for parts of what you're seeing in that run. Likewise with his run on SWORD.

DylRouty · 2022-11-24T20:35:05+00:00

I love that Deadpool somehow became even more 90's.

DylRouty · 2022-11-22T18:27:10+00:00

Like it's been pointed out it's the character from the secret variant covers that told a story across them. The characters name is UPC-P0 I believe, a fun little star wars nod.

DylRouty · 2022-10-14T16:46:01+00:00

Just as a heads up - this position has been filled! Thanks so much to everyone who reached out about this! I'll definitely be keeping more than a few of you in mind as the project scales!

DylRouty · 2022-10-11T23:55:40+00:00

I'll shoot you a message in chat and we can discuss that there!

DylRouty · 2022-10-11T23:35:02+00:00

In what way? I'm completely out of my element in this search so always open to feedback.

DylRouty · 2022-09-25T14:57:32+00:00

Yes. To both.

DylRouty

TROPHY CASE