Welcome, everyone, to our first monthly edition of Talking Absolute âŠ, where weâll focus on the storylines, controversies and themes that have captured our imaginations in the Absolute DC titles each month. April was the first month to have releases from all six series, so what better time to start than this? So far, we…
What stalks the blood-soaked kill floor? A dizzying, heartbreaking, hallucinogenic trip through the endless slaughterhouse! Witness a man’s life cut up, ground down and packaged for easy consumption in Assorted Crisis Events #2, written by Deniz Camp, drawn by Eric Zawadzki, colored by Jordie Bellaire, lettered by Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou and designed by Tom Muller for…
Jake Murray: Let me start off with the coldest take since Dr. Victor Fries took up his nom de guerre: The first wave of titles in DCâs Absolute line have been pretty damn successful (thatâs Absolute Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman for the dozen or so uninitiated). Let me stun you with another ice-cold blast…
Time is having a crisis. Mingling in the red-light district, you can find actual cavemen, medieval knights and cyborg soldiers on leave from World War IV. Victorian debutantes amble their way into cellphone stores, confused and bewildered (what is a data plan?). On their way to work, bleary-eyed commuters get trapped in time-loops, assaulted by…
In a bid to broaden the number of comics we cover at ComicsXF, we give you, the reader, these mini reviews of some recent releases. The Ultimates #8 W: Deniz Camp | A: Juan Frigeri | C: Federico Blee | L: Travis Lanham | P: Marvel Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeri transport their extraordinary universe building through…
The entire roster of the Ultimates unites for the first time in this high-octane, climactic conclusion of the first arc. Iron Lad has a plan to defeat the Hulk, the most powerful and imposing member of the Makerâs Council. But has he gotten his team in over their heads? The Ultimates #6 is written by…
Headâs up: This essay includes spoilers for this weekâs Ultimates #4 by Deniz Camp, Phil Noto and Travis Lanham. The Ultimates is a future classic. If Marvelâs founding creative principle is depicting âthe world outside your window,â then Deniz Camp and Juan Frigeriâs run is observing this mission statement better than any other comic being…
Six months ago, Tony Stark sent Peter Parker a radioactive spider to set him back on the course to become Spider-Man. Since then, Iron Lad (Stark), Captain America, Doom, Thor and Sif have begun to do the same for other lost heroes, building a network of super-powered heroes hungry for change⊠Now they must band…
Marvel’s Children of the Vault combines the high-concept sci-fi of Deniz Camp’s Agent of W.O.R.L.D.E. and the global politics of his 20th Century Men, and throws in the I-hate-you-but-you-shoot-guns-good attitude of your better buddy action movies. But I do wonder why the events of this book aren’t being reflected elsewhere in the Marvel line. No…
Sealed in a dream-state by Krakoan technology, the fearsomely powerful Children of the Vault have been dormant in Chile while thinking theyâve taken over the world. Now Krakoa belongs to the past. Are the Children the future? Not if Cable and Bishop have much to say about it in Children of the Vault #1, written…
It’s all led to this, an all-out battle between the Iron Star, President Goode and the inhuman monster known as 6Bill. Can Azra save her people, or will they become more collateral damage in this war of super powers? 20th Century Men #6 is written by Deniz Camp, drawn by Stipan Morian and lettered by Aditya…
In the burning deserts of Afghanistan, Platonov confronts Azra about her secrets and discovers her grand plan. But what will he do with what he learns? Then, in the frigid tundra of Siberia, the Iron Star seeks out an old ally for help. But something is terribly wrong with the Collective Man. Image’s 20th Century…
The Battle of Beaux Arts has begun. The American super-force the Suicide Cowboys launches an all-out assault on the Iron Star, hoping to decapitate the Soviet forces in one decisive action. Meanwhile, back in the states, we learn about President Goode’s plans for the monster known as 6Bill. It’s all in Image’s 20th Century Men…
The war rages on! Krylov, now embedded with the Iron Star’s forces, sees the brutality of battle up close. Can he make it out alive with his sanity intact? 20th Century Men #3 takes us from the deserts of Afghanistan to the U.S. capital, and all the way to Mars, courtesy of writer Deniz Camp,…
After President Goode’s shocking decision last issue, the world has gone to war. Soviet and American forces clash all across Afghanistan as the Iron Star searches for his stolen heart, faces the British super-soldier known as The Lion and tries to hide it all from a dogged reporter working to uncover the truth. 20th Century…