Image Comics: S-Z – Collected Editions Reviews

SAVAGE DRAGON ARCHIVES vol.1

by Erik Larsen

The earliest adventures of fandom’s favorite fin-head are collected for the first time in one volume as Savage Dragon defends Chicago from Overlord and the Vicious Circle! Considered by many to be the definitive Savage Dragon saga, this is the complete Overlord epic from start to finish, culminating in a battle that only end one way! Guest-starring WildC.A.T.s and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Collects Savage Dragon #1-3 (Mini-series), Savage Dragon #1-21
593 pages

“In pure 90s comics style Erik Larsen takes the action up a notch with always more sex (a lot more!) and violence. Dragon is the typical action-flick hero: muscular, almost invincible, street smart, with a strong sense of justice, and a killer with the ladies. Despite all that, he does feel really bound-to-earth, making him an endearing character that we care about.

New characters are being introduced in almost each issue, sometimes too many at once and often without much background, which can make it hard to keep up with what’s going on. It’s supposed to be an original indie comic, but a few issues in and it already feels like a single part of a larger universe. There’s a lot of guest appearances from other Image comics characters, and references are made to what’s happening in other books. To make it even more confusing, there’s no cover or separation between each issue, so unless you read the whole book in one sitting, you’ll have to take a guess of where to take a break. Other than that, the main story, while not really original, is correct and sort of concludes at the end of this volume.

Larsen has a really distinct art style, which perfectly fits the time period and the story. This black & white collected edition may not be the best option though, as some characters kind of look similar to each other so it’s sometimes difficult to guess who’s who. His also doing the inking, so large panels and splash pages look great.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5

—Raphael C. @raph_reads


SAVAGE DRAGON ARCHIVES vol.2

by Erik Larsen

This volume kicks off with an all-out gang war in the streets of Chicago and builds to the destruction of the planet Earth itself! Dragon goes from cop to corpse and to hell and back. Featuring the birth of Dragon’s son. The death and rebirth of Darklord and Dragon’s ascension to the head of Special Operations Strikeforce. Guest-starring Spawn, Hellboy, the Maxx, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and God.

Collects Savage Dragon #22-50
646 pages 

“This was a tough one to go through. All the negative points of the first volume seem to be amplified in this one. The story goes everywhere and nowhere at once, there are too many characters featured in each issue, the crossovers seem forced, and OK we get it Dragon likes to have sex, but is it really necessary to always cut in on him having fun in bed with a different woman?

I definitely felt like a lot was going on between issues, to the point that I sometimes wondered if my book wasn’t missing some pages. Notably, there was an issue related to the crossover Mars Attack Attacks Image which didn’t make any sense while being a pivotal point in the series. Some plots come out of nowhere and others tend to be forgotten in the mess. There’s more focus on secondary characters, but since there are so many the space allowed for each is limited, making it difficult to feel involved in their storylines. At this point the art was the only thing keeping me here…”

⭐️ out of 5

—Raphael C. @raph_reads


SAVAGE DRAGON ARCHIVES vol.3

by Erik Larsen

Savage Dragon was dead, to begin with and by the end of this earth-shattering epic, the world as we knew was dead as well. Featuring the resurrection of the Savage Dragon, the return of OverLord, the resurgence of the Vicious Circle and the revenge of Darklord. All this, and Dragon get married, gets widowed, and gets small. It’s 25 action-packed issues of fandom’s favorite fin-head! A thrill on every page!

Collects Savage Dragon #51-75
546 pages 

“This volume is slightly better than the previous one, but not by far. Erik Larsen starts to clean up the mess, tying up some loose ends, reducing the number of characters appearing and keeping most of the action focused on the main story, and ending this volume with a big finale.

Dragon is still the main attraction of the series, but some support characters finally start to stand out a bit more, and I even surprised myself caring about them at times. Unfortunately, Dragon’s girlfriend list keeps getting longer, and the same plot twist is happening to a lot of them… which is getting a bit annoying.

A new feature compared to the previous volumes is a cover gallery at the end of the book. Too bad it’s also in black and white, but I guess it’s better than nothing.”

⭐️⭐️ out of 5

—Raphael C. @raph_reads


SAVAGE DRAGON ARCHIVES vol.4

by Erik Larsen

THIS SAVAGE WORLD! After taking the life of a deadly time-traveling foe, the world as Savage Dragon knew it is changed forever! Enter this vicious new universe and the strange and startling new world. Savage Dragon is a hunted fugitive with a world out to get him! The greatest comic book in the history of mankind takes things to the next level! It’s like nothing you’ve ever encountered before! 

Collects Savage Dragon #76-100
635 pages

“Yes, yes, yes! This volume feels like what Savage Dragon should have been from the beginning. Erik Larsen finally lets go of the 90s style of big guns and big cleavages for a more old-school approach. It starts with Dragon waking up in an alternate universe, making for sort of a soft reboot. The narration is different – each issue featuring a single plot that works towards the progression of the main storyline – as well as the art style, with more traditional 6 panels pages, and some layouts & designs very reminiscent of Jack Kirby. There also seem to be some changes in Larsen’s inking, and I could swear some issues were conceived to be read without the colors. And each issue starts with a title on the first page, so it’s finally possible to clearly know what issue you’re reading.

For many issues the cast is reduced to just Dragon and a couple of support characters, but most of those still featured in this volume are the most interesting ones. Even though the last third of the book gets closer to the style of the previous volumes, the massive issue #100 at the end concludes all the storylines started since issue #1, letting the door open for a new beginning. And for the first time I’m really looking forward to what’s next!”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5

—Raphael C. @raph_reads


SKYWARD vol.1: MY LOW-G LIFE

by Joe Henderson, Antonio Fabela

One day, gravity on Earth suddenly became a fraction of what it is now. Twenty years later, humanity has adapted to its new low-gravity reality. And to Willa Fowler, who was born just after G-day, it’s pretty awesome. You can fly through the air! I mean, sure, you can also die if you jump too high. So you just don’t jump too high. And maybe don’t get mixed up in your dad’s secret plan to bring gravity back that could get you killed…

Collects Skyward #1-5

“There was a fair amount of hype around Skyward when it first showed up back in 2018. The series was even up for an Eisner! But forget the hype. Instead, just suspend your disbelief and don’t overthink this tale of an alternate Earth without gravity. Henderson writes a cheerful script and Fabela’s art is pretty, but don’t expect Skyward to be groundbreaking. It’s a fun (but fast) read!”

⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5

—Dave Molyneaux, Omniverse Comics Guide


SKYWARD vol.2: HERE THERE BE DRAGONFLIES

by Joe Henderson, Antonio Fabela

Now that she’s a fugitive, Willa leaves Chicago and goes on the run. But when she takes refuge with some low-G farmers, she stumbles across a plot to attack the city. Oh, and on top of all that: giant, man-eating bugs! Maybe we should have led with that.

Collects Skyward #6-10

“Book one asked you to forget physics, book two asks you to forget evolution. Skyward is still a fun book, but it’s getting harder to fight its case. And it just barely gets…”

⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5

—Dave Molyneaux, Omniverse Comics Guide


SKYWARD vol.3: FIX THE WORLD

by Joe Henderson, Antonio Fabela

Willa’s faced terrifying storms, giant man-eating bugs, a deadly rebellion and a whole lot of heartbreak… but nothing can prepare her for this. It’s time for Willa to fulfill her father’s last request. Time to fix the world. The conclusion of the hit series.

Collects Skyward #11-15



“It feels like we should’ve had more chapters! Equal parts surprises and cliché. Largely decent, but a little jumbled. It’s a nice, easy book to read and the threads come together, but it does feel a little unfinished.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5

—Dave Molyneaux, Omniverse Comics Guide


UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY vol.1: DESTINY

by Scott Snyder, Charles Soule, Giuseppe Camuncoli

Readers will journey into an unknown region that was once the United States of America-a mysterious land that has been literally walled off from the rest of the world for well over a century. Two small expeditions enter the former US simultaneously-one from the east, one from the west-and journey inward, each seeking their own form of truth as they struggle to survive in this strange and deadly lost country!

Collects Undiscovered Country #1-6



“Two respected writers join forces to tell a surreal sci-fi mystery about an America that no one’s been able to get into for decades. With a virus spreading across the rest of the world, whatever’s on the other side could be the only thing that’ll save the dwindling population. Only problem is, I couldn’t get past the halfway point of volume 1. I picked this up more for Camuncoli’s art than anything else, but the story couldn’t keep me in. The book is more focused on how cool the ideas are and forgets to give us any likeable characters. I was rooting for no one.”

⭐️ out of 5

—Dave Molyneaux, Omniverse Comics Guide


UNIVERSE!

by Albert Monteys

The Eisner nominee series of self-contained and yet, somehow connected sci-fi tales that range from alien life to robot love, corporate greed and travels through time, space and perception. 

Collects Universe! (digital edition) #1-5

“Image Comics’ print collection of Monteys’ Panel Syndicate series. The landscape book features five unconnected (or are they?) stories that warn just how badly we could screw up our future. Imagine Black Mirror but weirder. It’s entertaining stuff, but the final issue turns into a heart-breaking kick to the head that earned Universe a place on my shelf.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5

—Dave Molyneaux, Omniverse Comics Guide


Enjoy the Omniverse? SUPPORT US & get access to bonus features, as well as the latest podcasts, videos, & reading orders sent direct to you subscribe now! Use the button below to SUSCRIBE or head over to Patreon to support that way!


VELVET vol.1: BEFORE THE LIVING END

by Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting

When the world’s greatest secret agent is killed, all evidence points to Velvet Templeton, the personal secretary to the Director of the Agency. But Velvet’s got a dark secret buried in her past…because she’s also the most dangerous woman alive.

Collects Velvet #1-5

“The creative team behind the ‘Winter Soldier’ and ‘Death of Captain America’ bring us a tale of a middle-aged female spy in the ‘70s that’s riddled with shadows, mystery, double-crosses and double-agents. Having two daughters has steered my comic purchasing choices toward books with strong female leads. Now, this isn’t something I’ll be letting my five and eight year old girls read for some time yet, but it’s great to see a strong female character in a tale set in an era when the men were the cool spy guys. And it’s also one who’s in her… late 40s, early 50s? And still kicking spy ass. Velvet defies the clichés and shows a lot of promise.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5

—Dave Molyneaux, Omniverse Comics Guide


VELVET vol.2: THE SECRET LIVES OF DEAD MEN

by Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting

The white-hot spy series from the creators of Captain America: The Winter Soldier is back! Everything Velvet Templeton ever believed about the worst night of her life has turned out to be a lie, and now she’s coming back to London, taking the hunt back to the hunters, to find the truth or die trying. Don’t miss the second volume in the adventures of comics’ favourite new super-spy!

Collects Velvet #6-10

“As we find out more about Velvet’s past, she discovers the secrets of the previous ARC-7 agents. It’s important to pay attention to this incredibly layered story. It’s far from a throwaway read and you’ll benefit from going back for a second run through when it’s all over.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5

—Dave Molyneaux, Omniverse Comics Guide


VELVET vol.3: THE MAN WHO STOLE THE WORLD

by Ed Brubaker, Steve Epting

The strands of the mystery finally bring Velvet back home to the US, and to Washington, D.C. no less, for an explosive finale.

Collects Velvet #11-15

“A satisfying ending to a tense spy series. To give you any more than that would spoil the surprises. Aim to read all fifteen issues in one sitting, if you can.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5

—Dave Molyneaux, Omniverse Comics Guide


WALKING DEAD: THE ALIEN

by Brian K Vaughan, Marcos Martin

Originally only available on PanelSyndicate.com, this oversized hardcover features a story firmly set in THE WALKING DEAD comic book continuity.

“Well, how did I not see that coming? Vaughn & Martin get their shot at the Walking Dead and make it count! You can get this for whatever you want to pay on Panel Syndicate, but I like a book in my hands and this was worth every penny. Great standalone story.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5

—Dave Molyneaux, Omniverse Comics Guide


What’s The Furthest Place From Here Vol.1

When 16 year-old Sid goes missing in the wastelands, it’s up to the members of her gang to try to discover what happened. But what they find is a whole world beyond anything they could imagine. This series smashes together sci-fi and fantasy with elements of comedy, horror, and mystery for an emotional coming-of-age story unlike anything you’ve read before.

Collects What’s The Furthest Place From here #1-6

“WHAT’S THE FURTHEST PLACE FROM HERE is a post-apocalyptic setting where we don’t know what happened but there are children who all formed families / houses and there are “strangers” who provide food and new children to the families. It isn’t known what happens when you’re an adult and there are a lot of mysteries being set up but no context or pay-off given so far.

There are some interesting parts but it’s easy to start mysteries, the difficulty lies in resolving it somewhat. Eventually the only thing that i did like was Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou’s lettering (though to be fair, the man is really good!)

I do like how both writer Matthew Rosenberg and artist Tyler Boss are both credited as the storytellers but the comic tends to get a bit snobbish at times as well. For example, they work with “chapters” but sometimes you only get a page or 2 in before they spam the fact that it’s a new chapter and so forth, it completely disengages you with the story!

Overall, the set-up and idea of the comic was interesting, but the execution was really not my cup of tea.

⭐️⭐️ out of 5

—Lav, @lav_and_leia

Leave a Reply

Powered by WordPress.com.

Up ↑

%d