TRASH IN MY EYE Reviews

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Comics Review: "VATICAN CITY #1" Breaks Hell Loose

VATICAN CITY #1 (OF 3)

DARK HORSE COMICS/Netflix

STORY: Mark Millar

ART: Per Berg

COLORS: Per Berg

LETTERS: Per Berg

EDITOR: Daniel Chabon

EDITORIAL: Sarah Unwin

COVER: Per Berg

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Per Berg; John McCrea

40pp, Color, $5.99 U.S. (April 2025)

Rating: 18+

Vatican City created by Mark Millar at Netflix

Vatican City is a new Millarworld miniseries from Dark Horse Comics. It is created and written by Mark Millar and drawn, colored, and lettered by Per Berg. Vatican City is set in a world overrun by vampires, except for Vatican City, which is the main target of the vampires.

Vatican City #1 opens in Princeton, New Jersey. There, Professor Derrida is about to discover that he is to play a key role in a vampire plot that is steadily taking over the world.

A few hours later, Guido Cavelti, recently of the Swiss Air Force, is in Vatican City, the independent city-state within Rome, Italy that is the government of the “Holy See” (the Pope and the Papacy). Cavelti is there to be interviewed about a position with the Swiss Guard, the security that protects the Pope and the Apostolic Palace.

Before he knows it, however, Cavelti is in the middle of a rescue operation, trying to save everyone inside Vatican City. There is an invasion of monsters just outside its borders.

THE LOWDOWN: This is the second time that I have been on any kind of list that provides PDF copies of titles published by Dark Horse Comics. The latest received is Vatican City #1.

While reading this, I thought of a few apocalyptic and vampire films to which Vatican City #1 has at least a passing resemblance – in one way or another. That includes 28 Days Later (2002), I Am Legend (2007), Daybreakers (2009), to name a few. Of course, Vatican City's writer, Mark Millar, has dealt with vampires before, as he has did when he launched his wonderful vampire-as-superheroes franchise with Night Club #1.

Millar throws the readers right into the action, and as always, Millar action is bracing action – filled with equal parts thrills and chills. I don't want to spoil anything, but, of course, there is a shocking surprise to close out this first issue.

The art, colors, and letters by Per Berg (also known as Per Darwin Berg or by the pen name, “Narwhal”) are both representational and impressionistic, possibly because Berg is depicting a world that is rapidly shifting from the natural to the supernatural. One thing that Berg's storytelling certainly does is create the sense of rapid breakdown and hopelessness, which are perfect modes for apocalyptic fiction. Berg wants the reader to guess at what is happening more than know what is happening.

Well, Millar and Berg have certainly given readers a reason to come back for the second issue. I suggest that you do so, dear readers.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Mark Millar, of vampire comic books, and of horror apocalypse will want to read Vatican City.

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

https://www.mrmarkmillar.com/

https://x.com/mrmarkmillar

https://x.com/netflix

http://www.millarworld.tv/

https://www.darkhorse.com/

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Comics Review: "ARCHIE & FRIENDS LEVEL UP! #1" Levels Up on "Minecraft"

ARCHIE & FRIENDS LEVEL UP! #1 (#19)

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS, INC.

STORY: Ian Flynn; Hal Smith; George Gladir; Bill Golliher

PENCILS: Steve Butler; Doug Crane; Dan DeCarlo; Sam Schwartz;

INKS: Lily Butler; Scott McRae; Mike Esposito; Rudy Lapick; Samm Schwartz; Dan DeCarlo

COLORS: Glenn Whitmore; Barry Grossman

LETTERS: Jack Morelli; Bill Yoshida

EDITORS: Jamie Lee Rotante; Vincent Lovallo; Stephen Oswald

EiC: Mike Pellerito

COVER: Dan Parent with Rosario “Tito” Peňa

VARIANT COVER: Dan DeCarlo

32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (June 2025); on sale in comic book shops April 2, 2025

Rating: All-Ages

“Servers You Right”

Eternal high school student and teenage boy, Archie Andrews, and his friends made their debut in M.L.J. Magazines' Pep Comics #22 (cover dated: December 1941), and before long, Archie was the publisher's headliner character. In 1946, the company changed its named to Archie Comic Publications, also known as “Archie Comics.”

Archie Comics published the series, Archie & Friends, from 1992 to 2012 for 159 issues. Since 2019, Archie has been publishing a new iteration of Archie & Friends as a series of themed one-shot comic books. The latest is Archie & Friends (Level Up!) No.1, the nineteenth issue in the series. It features one new five-page story and five reprint stories. Entitled “Servers You Right,” the new story is written by Ian Flynn; drawn by Steve Butler (pencils) and Lily Butler (inks); colored by Glenn Whitmore; and lettered by the great Jack Morelli.

Archie and Friends in Level Up! in “Servers You Right”:

Archie and the Gang (Betty, Veronica, and Jughead) come together to play the video game, “Crafty Miners,” an open world video game where you can do anything. The fun and games turn a little edgier when Veronica decides to be her normal self, and Reggie shows up to do some damage. Can Dilton, the server administrator, save the day?

THE LOWDOWN: For several years, Archie's marketing department has been sending me PDF copies of some of their titles for review. One of the most recent is Archie & Friends Level Up! (which is titled Archie and Friends, No. 1 (#19), in the indicia).

The Archie & Friends series has previously offered movie-themed editions in the past, such as Archie and Friends Hot Summer Movies (cover dated: July 2023), which included the story, “Riverdale Jones and the Burger of Destiny,” a parody of the then upcoming film, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023). The target for parody this time is the recent smash hit, Warner Bros. film, A Minecraft Movie, which is based on the video game, Minecraft, which debuted in 2011.

I don't have much interest in the movie, but I will likely watch it when it arrives on the Warner Bros. Discovery streaming service, Max, in a few months. Surprisingly, the script by Ian Flynn offers a rather nice scenario, which could have become a rather nice full-size, standalone story instead of this good five-page story. I wish Archie would have let Flynn fly on this one.

The art team of Steve Butler (pencils) and Lily Butler (inks) deliver some standout work. As far as my experience with their Archie Comics work, this is the best looking that I have seen in terms of composition and aesthetics. And I say this as a fan of their Archie work. “Servers You Right” has captured my imagination in a way I did not expect. Glenn Whitmore's colors really serve the art quite well, and, as always, Jack Morelli's lettering hits it hard.

In addition to the main stories, there are five reprint stories. Two with Archie as the star, and one each with Betty, Jughead, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch as the star. I grew up on classic-style Archie Comics. So, there is something comforting about seeing Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead in both all-new and classic adventures. I will always recommend classic-style Archie titles, so I am giving Archie and Friends Level Up! a heartier recommendation than usual because of the Butlers' art.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of classic-style Archie Comics will want to find a copy of Archie & Friends Level Up!.

B+

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

https://archiecomics.com/

https://twitter.com/archiecomics

https://www.instagram.com/archiecomics/

https://www.facebook.com/ArchieComicsOfficial?ref=tn_tnmn

https://www.youtube.com/user/ArchieComicsOfficial

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8914136-archie-comics

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Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Comics Review: "ARCHIE IS MR.JUSTICE #3" vs. Betty Cooper?!

ARCHIE IS MR. JUSTICE, NO. 3 (OF 4)

ARCHIE COMIC PUBLICATIONS, INC.

STORY: Kenny Porter

ART: Maria Sanapo

COLORS: Glenn Whitmore

LETTERS: Jack Morelli

EDITOR: Jamie Lee Rotante

EiC: Mike Pellerito

COVER: Reiko Murakami

VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Soo Lee; Matt Talbot

32pp, Color, $4.99 U.S. (May 2025); on sale in comic book shops March 19, 2025

Rating: Teen+

Archie Comics has also published superhero comic books featuring offbeat characters. The latest is a new four-issue comic book series, entitled Archie is Mr. Justice. The third issue is written by Kenny Porter; drawn by Maria Sanapo; colored by Glenn Whitmore; and lettered by the great Jack Morelli. Archie is Mr. Justice focuses on teenager Archie Andrews and his superhero persona, “Mr. Justice.” Now, Archie has to choose between two loves – Betty Cooper and Riverdale.

Archie is Mr. Justice #3 opens in Pickens Park, Riverdale. There, Betty Cooper meets with Harper, a reporter. Betty has arranged this meeting in order to tell the story of how Mr. Justice changed her life, how he made her brave. This is also a story, however, of love and heartbreak.

With great powers comes great sacrifice, but when Archie is faced with having to choose between his responsibilities and his first love, Betty Cooper, will his duties to Riverdale win out over his heart? And what choices will Betty make? Plus, there are appearances by Kid Wicked, Mad Flame, and the rise of the “Defendo-Bots.”

THE LOWDOWN: I have been reading comic books, on and off, for decades. I have sporadically read Archie Comics titles over that time. For many years now, Archie's marketing department has been sending PDF copies of some of their titles for review. Archie is Mr. Justice No. 3 is the latest.

Archie Comics has been reviving some of the old M.L.J. “Golden Age” superheroes for several years now. The latest to rise from the grave is “Mr. Justice,” also known as “the Royal Wraith.” Created by writer Joe Blair and artist Sam Cooper, Mr. Justice was an 18th century English prince who was murdered by rebels. Chance and circumstance brought about his return to the mortal world in the 1940s in the form of Mr. Justice. Mr. Justice first appeared in Blue Ribbon Comics #9 (cover dated: February 1941; M.L.J. Magazines), which, in a bit of meta-fiction, is the comic book that appears in Archie is Mr. Justice #1 as one of Jughead's comic books. From this particular comic book, Archie takes inspiration for his “Mr. Justice” identity.

For this third issue, writer Kenny Porter and artist Maria Sanapo delve into the complications that come from having both a superhero identity and a personal life, which the prior issue also did. Porter's script captures the birth of young love – in full bloom – and then, it captures the arrival of complications. I can say that the emotions and romance that Porter depicts resonate in the story. The coming on of romantic troubles and later, the hope of reconciliation and maturation engaged me; I was surprised to find myself investing, as a reader, in Archie and Betty's relationship.

Sanapo's art and storytelling offer a feeling of nostalgia and a sense of now. Her line work is classic comics cool, but the storytelling is a storm of complications and subtle conflicts of interests that readers were unlikely to find in comic book romance six or seven decades ago. Sanapo's art is a blending of eye-pleasing graphics and rich storytelling. Honestly, I think Sanapo's work here makes an argument that this story should have been a graphic novel instead of only being a single issue.

Glenn Whitmore's colors capture the nuance and shifting moods of this story, and I think he is perfect for Sanapo's art. Jack Morelli's lettering provides a steady beat for a story that finds the messiness of relationships with each page and also the fun of the explosive destruction of superhero fight comics

I am surprised by Archie is Mr. Justice #3. It is as strong as prior issues, but is also different. It stands out in a way that will hopefully attract readers.

I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of Archie Comics' superhero titles will want to try Archie is Mr. Justice No. 3.

[This comic book includes a two-page section on the making of Archie is Mr. Justice No. 3. There is also a Q&A featuring Kenny Porter and Maria Sanapo.]

Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"

https://archiecomics.com/

https://x.com/archiecomics

https://www.instagram.com/archiecomics/

https://www.facebook.com/ArchieComicsOfficial?ref=tn_tnmn

https://www.youtube.com/user/ArchieComicsOfficial

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8914136-archie-comics

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Monday, April 7, 2025

BOOM! Studios Shipping for April 9, 2025

BOOM! STUDIOS

SEP240030 (USE JAN257305) RANGER ACADEMY TP VOL 03 (C: 1-1-2) $12.99

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DC Comics Shipping from Lunar Distributors for April 9, 2025

DC COMICS:

Absolute Batman #7 (Cover A Nick Dragotta), $4.99

Absolute Batman #7 (Cover B Mico Suayan Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Absolute Batman #7 (Cover C Bill Sienkiewicz Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Absolute Batman #7 (Cover D Amy Reeder Card Stock Variant), AR

Absolute Batman #7 (Cover E Charlie Adlard Card Stock Variant), AR

Absolute Green Lantern The Sinestro Corps War HC (2025 Edition), $125.00

Action Comics #1085 (Cover A Brad Walker), $4.99

Action Comics #1085 (Cover B Davide Paratore Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Action Comics #1085 (Cover C Cully Hamner Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Action Comics #1085 (Cover D Danny Earls Card Stock Variant), AR

Aquaman #4 (Cover A John Timms), $3.99

Aquaman #4 (Cover B David Nakayama Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Aquaman #4 (Cover C Marcio Takara Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Aquaman #4 (Cover D Tyler Kirkham Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Aquaman #4 (Cover E Salvador Larroca Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman '89 Echoes #6 (Of 6) Cover A Joe Quinones & Paolo Rivera), $3.99

Batman '89 Echoes #6 (Of 6)(Cover B Joe Quinones Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Batman And Robin #20 (Cover A Javi Fernandez), $4.99

Batman And Robin #20 (Cover B Juan Ferreyra Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Batman And Robin #20 (Cover C Chris Stevens Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Batman And Robin #20 (Cover D Christian Ward Card Stock Variant), AR

Batman Dark Patterns #5 (Of 12)(Cover A Hayden Sherman), $4.99

Batman Dark Patterns #5 (Of 12)(Cover B Martin Simmonds Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Batman Elmer Fudd The Deluxe Edition HC, $19.99

Booster Gold The Complete 2007 Series Volume 2 TP, $29.99

DC Finest Batgirl Nobody Dies Tonight TP, $39.99

DC Horror Presents Creature Commandos #6 (Of 6)(Cover A Tirso), $4.99

DC Horror Presents Creature Commandos #6 (Of 6)(Cover B Michael Walsh Card Stock Variant), $5.99

DC Vs. Vampires World War V #8 (Of 12)(Cover A Otto Schmidt), $4.99

DC Vs. Vampires World War V #8 (Of 12)(Cover B Fabrizio De Tommaso Card Stock Variant), $5.99

DC Vs. Vampires World War V #8 (Of 12)(Cover C Puppeteer Lee Card Stock Variant), $5.99

Fire And Ice When Hell Freezes Over #1 (Of 6)(Cover A Terry Dodson), $3.99

Fire And Ice When Hell Freezes Over #1 (Of 6)(Cover B David Nakayama Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Fire And Ice When Hell Freezes Over #1 (Of 6)(Cover C Jeff Dekal Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Fire And Ice When Hell Freezes Over #1 (Of 6)(Cover D Kevin Wada Card Stock Variant), AR

Fire And Ice When Hell Freezes Over #1 (Of 6)(Cover E David Nakayama Foil Variant), $6.99

Green Lantern Corps #3 (Cover A Fernando Pasarin & Oclair Albert), $3.99

Green Lantern Corps #3 (Cover B Dave Wilkins Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Green Lantern Corps #3 (Cover C Lucas Meyer Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Green Lantern Corps #3 (Cover D Nathan Szerdy Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Green Lantern Corps #3 (Cover E Afu Chan Card Stock Variant), AR

Green Lantern Corps #3 (Cover F Yasmin Flores Montanez Card Stock Variant), AR

Justice League By Scott Snyder And James Tynion IV Omnibus Volume 1 HC, $125.00

MAD Magazine #43, $5.99

Superman #233 Facsimile Edition (Cover A Neal Adams), $3.99

Superman #233 Facsimile Edition (Cover B Jason Geyer & Alex Saviuk Super Powers Card Stock Variant), $4.99

Superman #233 Facsimile Edition (Cover C Neal Adams Foil Variant), $5.99

Superman #233 Facsimile Edition (Cover D Blank Variant), $4.99

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Dynamite Entertainment Shipping from Diamond Distributors for April 9, 2025

DYNAMITE

JAN250342 THUNDERCATS #14 CVR A PARRILLO (C: 1-0-0) $4.99

JAN250343 THUNDERCATS #14 CVR B SHALVEY (C: 1-0-0) $4.99

JAN250344 THUNDERCATS #14 CVR C LEE & CHUNG (C: 1-0-0) $4.99

JAN250345 THUNDERCATS #14 CVR D MASSAFERA (C: 1-0-0) $4.99

JAN250346 THUNDERCATS #14 CVR E MANIX (C: 1-0-0) $4.99

JAN250347 THUNDERCATS #14 CVR F ACTION FIGURE (C: 1-0-0) $4.99

JAN250348 THUNDERCATS #14 CVR G PARRILLO FOIL (C: 1-0-0) $9.99

JAN250349 THUNDERCATS #14 CVR H PARRILLO FOIL VIRGIN (C: 1-0-0) $29.99

JAN250350 THUNDERCATS #14 CVR I MANIX FOIL (C: 1-0-0) $9.99

JAN250351 THUNDERCATS #14 CVR J MANIX FOIL VIRGIN (C: 1-0-0) $29.99

JAN257616 THUNDERCATS #14 CVR V FOC BONUS SPEARS ORIGINAL $4.99

JAN257617 THUNDERCATS #14 CVR W FOC BONUS SPEARS RED BKGR $4.99

JAN257618 THUNDERCATS #14 CVR X FOC BONUS SPEARS FOIL $9.99

JAN257619 THUNDERCATS #14 CVR Y FOC BONUS SPEARS FOIL VIRGIN $29.99

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Image Comics Publishing Shipping from Lunar Distributors for April 2, 2025

IMAGE COMICS:

Assorted Crisis Events #1 (2nd Printing Cover A Ilya Bratuhkin), $4.99

G.I. Joe #3 (2nd Printing Cover A Jason Howard G.I. Joe Variant), $3.99

G.I. Joe #3 (2nd Printing Cover B Jason Howard Cobra Variant), $3.99

G.I. Joe #4 (2nd Printing Cover A Jason Howard G.I. Joe Variant), $3.99

G.I. Joe #4 (2nd Printing Cover B Jason Howard Cobra Variant), $3.99

G.I. Joe A Real American Hero Jinx #1 (One Shot)(Cover A Dani & Brad Simpson), $3.99

G.I. Joe A Real American Hero Jinx #1 (One Shot)(Cover B Jorge Fornes Variant), $3.99

G.I. Joe A Real American Hero Jinx #1 (One Shot)(Cover C Dani Black & White Variant), AR

G.I. Joe A Real American Hero Jinx #1 (One Shot)(Cover D Jorges Fornes Foil Letter Variant), AR

Geiger #13 (Cover A Gary Frank & Brad Anderson), $3.99

Geiger #13 (Cover B Joe Prado & Wes Dzioba), $3.99

Geiger #13 (Cover C Sean Von Gorman), $3.99

Golden Rage Mother Knows Best #1 (Of 5)(Cover A Lauren Knight), $3.99

Golden Rage Mother Knows Best #1 (Of 5)(Cover B Tula Lotay), $3.99

Lady Mechanika Volume 6 HC, $29.99

Lore Remastered TP, $24.99

Moon Is Following Us #8 (Of 10)(Cover A Riley Rossmo), $3.99

Moon Is Following Us #8 (Of 10)(Cover B Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer), $3.99

Phantom Road #11 (Cover A Gabriel Hernandez Walta), $3.99

Phantom Road #11 (Cover B Teddy Kristiansen), $3.99

Spawn #363 (Cover A Bjorn Barends), $2.99

Spawn #363 (Cover B Von Randal), $2.99

Spawn #363 (Cover C Edward Delandre), $2.99

Spawn Godslayer TP, $16.99

Transformers #16 (2nd Printing Cover A Jason Howard Decepticon Variant, $3.99

Transformers #16 (2nd Printing Cover B Jason Howard Autobot Variant, $3.99

Transformers #17 (2nd Printing Cover A Jason Howard Decepticon Variant, $3.99

Transformers #17 (2nd Printing Cover B Jason Howard Autobot Variant, $3.99

Transformers #19 (Cover A Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer), $3.99

Transformers #19 (Cover B Jorge Corona & Mike Spicer), $3.99

Transformers #19 (Cover C David Nakayama Connecting Variant), AR

Transformers #19 (Cover D Steve Beach), AR

Transformers #19 (Cover E Frederic Pham Chuong), AR

Transformers #19 (Cover F Ludo Lullabi Foil Variant), AR

Transformers #19 (Cover G Blank Variant), $3.99

Violator TP, $9.9

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