Comical Opinions: Comic Reviews for Indie & Alt Comics

Read the Full Weekly Review Roundup on ComicalOpinions.com

Top Review Spotlight

Absolute Batman #21 Review - Equal Parts Cool, Dramatic, and Random
Writer Scott Snyder and artist Nick Dragotta conclude Absolute Batman's first battle with the Robins, present the funeral for Jim Gordon, and set up the first meeting with the Joker. A lot of things happen, but it's not as gripping as it sounds.

Key Takeaway: “Still one of DC's best, but the cracks are showing.”

Amazing Spider-Man #31 Review - Aunt May's Secret Is Revealed
Writer Joe Kelly and artist Patrick Gleason unveil the circumstances of Aunt May's long-lost child. Meanwhile, Spidey enters an unusual auction. The issue tackles the pressing question, but readers may not like Kelly's explanation.

Key Takeaway: “Not all answers are good answers.”

Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #10 Review - Let The Viltrumite Battle Begin
Writer Robert Kirkman and Artist Ryan Ottley begin the next battle of the ages when a sit-down dinner breaks out into an all-out brawl between Battle Beast and Conquest. Fans of the series will appreciate the no-holds-barred action.

Key Takeaway: “All battle, all the time.”

Kneel Before Doomface #1 Review - A High Bar For Comedic Send-Ups of Superheroes
Writer Aaron Sparrow and artist Renzo Rodriguez resurrect the long-imprisoned Doomface after decades, but the world is not as he left it. Superhero comics with a comedic twist have always been a tough sell, but Sparrow and company make it look easy.

Key Takeaway: “Wholly entertaining.”

The Golem Review - Creepy Throwback Tale That Drips With Chills
Writers Dolan Waddick and Aaron Sparrow and artist Vu Danh recount a twisted tale of revenge when a grieving father trapped in a concentration camp during WWII makes an unholy pact. Fans of classic horror tales in Creepy and Eerie will love this throwback story.

Key Takeaway: “An excellent tale of terror.”

Mystic Streets Update - Episode 5 Is LIVE!

If you’re into stories with urban grit, plenty of action, breakneck pacing, and a twist of magic, subscribe to the Mystic Streets Substack.

Episode 5 of the latest adventure - The Invisible Man: Shadow Contract - released yesterday, so it’s not too late to catch up.

Paid subscribers get the full episode on release day, plus bonus short stories and other perks.

Free subscribers get the first two scenes on release day, but you’ll have to wait two weeks to get the rest.

Check it out. You won’t be sorry

Podcast Links

If you’re a subscriber to our podcast, the audio version of this review is already live. If you’re not a subscriber, we host our feed on multiple podcast platforms for your convenience.

Also, if you’d rather listen right here on Substack, make sure to subscribe to this newsletter to get the notification for the next episode.

It’s Time For Summer Reading, So Get The Revelation Cycle

I’m still looking for ARC Readers. Get a free copy in exchange for honest feedback (no mandatory review link required):
https://forms.gle/g1heTKg5L3WShq8F7

For everyone else, The Revelation Cycle - is ON SALE on Amazon right here: https://amzn.to/4sScyus

The book is FREE for Kindle Unlimited Readers

Absolute Wonder Woman #21 (DC Comics)
Ultimate Endgame #5 (Marvel Comics)
Ultimate Universe Finale #1 (Marvel Comics)
Void Rivals #31 (Image Comics)
Calico: Unwanted Men (Sigma Comics)
Marvel Viewers’ Choice (Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to vote)
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Direct-to-Reader Will Crush Marvel & DC Comics

Gabriel Hernandez — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:45:54 GMT

Variant Covers: The Comic Industry's Most Dangerous Pattern

Gabriel Hernandez — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 15:45:38 GMT

The Damaging Cost Of Quick Cash

Sat, 13 Jun 2026 13:31:24 GMT

Good morning, my friend,

Money, money, money. Comic Publishers need it. You have it. And as long as “everyone” gets what they want, all is right with the world.

Right?

Wrong.

Let me introduce you to a little-discussed concept in sales and marketing called Segmentation.

“In sales and marketing, segmentation is the process of dividing a broad, diverse target market or customer base into smaller, distinct sub-groups of consumers who share similar characteristics, needs, behavior, or priorities.”

Done right, Segmentation can be a powerful way to give more value to a specific customer with high efficiency. Done wrong, you get what Marvel and DC Comics laughably call “business.”

Speculators & Pundits Are Not Readers

This week, we had two pitch-perfect examples of Segmentation, whether intentional or not, for the purpose of getting quick cash via attention, praise, accolades, and more.

As a follow-up to last week’s DC Blackout boycott debacle (read more about that here), we took a look at the other side of the coin to explain why there are so few Black-led superhero comics from Marvel and DC Comics (the Big 2). The answer is a lack of commitment. You can’t build a passionate fanbase for any character, regardless of their diversity, if the comic doesn’t stick around long enough to catch on.

You can also watch the video we published on the topic for more insight.

Check it out.

There’s more to it, of course. You can’t have D-Tier writers retconning established lore for activist points and still expect the comic to sell well, even if you commit to a 3-year run. Quality is always important.

But assuming quality is part of the equation, the Big 2 has to let the run bake so that the fanbase takes root and grows. Without commitment, passion won’t blossom.

Instead, the Big 2 front-loads the effort for that so-called quick cash. They make a big announcement about Pride or Diversity or whatever social angle they choose, hoping the announcement of a new #1 on either a character you haven’t seen in a long time or an altogether new character will spike the Speculator and Activist sales. By issue #3 or more, all marketing push is gone. The launch was never about introducing the characters to get them to sustainable sales numbers. It was always about a quick cash injection.

The net result is an unintentional Segmentation of the comic market, a split between Speculators/Collectors and Readers who just want good stories.

“Aren't they the same thing?” you may ask. No, they are not.

Speculators/Collectors are uninterested in what happens past the cover, unless the story involves a character’s first appearance or some kind of first that can be banked for higher resale value in the future. Everything the writer and artists put on the pages to create an engaging, captivating story is irrelevant. In this case, the story doesn’t matter.

The Big 2 wants quick cash, so they do what makes them quick cash by catering to Speculators/Creators, at the cost of long-term sustainable cash that could come from developing a repeatable, loyal Reader fanbase.

Pundits Are (Also) Not Readers

Yes, the Big 2 is to blame for this problem, but the Pundits and “Analysts” deserve their share of blame for the mad dash for quick cash, too.

You’ll find no shortage of X accounts, TikTok reels, YouTube channels, Facebook posts, and more talking about comics in either uninformed or outright dishonest ways.

Why?

Because drama sells. It sells by creating a sense of Segmentation among the comic fanbase.

It’s “Us versus Them” or “They’re Trying To Trick You” or “They Hate You… And Here’s Why.” Don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing wrong with pointing out bad behavior or when something has gone awry, but it’s clear that some Pundits thrive on the quick cash that comes from ads, sponsorships, and super chats, so they “invent” problems that aren’t always there to escalate the Segmentation.

This week, we published a video talking about the misunderstandings surrounding the upcoming Supergirl movie because the people expressing confusion over the movie’s plot and tone have made it clear they didn’t read the source material. So far, the marketing is showing that the film is in tonal alignment with the comic.

You can learn more details about the source material in our deep dive into the comic and its creators in the video below.

Check it out.

The problem isn’t that people are expressing their opinions. I do it all the time. It’s in the name of this Substack/Website/Social Accounts/YouTube channel.

The problem is that too many people are expressing UNINFORMED opinions. It’s like complaining that a story about the Titanic has an iceberg in it.

To be fair, Supergirl’s marketing material does show some departures from the comic (which we’ve highlighted in the video above), but the bones are still there.

So, how can so many people complain about an adaptation that appears to be largely faithful? Drama sells, and drama that creates Segmentation among the fanbase creates a hot-button of division that can be pressed over and over again.

The more you push the hot-button, the more quick cash you generate through views, clicks, and advertising revenue.

The cost, of course, is a fanbase segmented in an “Us versus Them” arrangement and a Pundit ecosystem that thrives on finding the next hot-button that segments the fanbase even more. Trust in the established media has never been lower, in part, because they traded thoughtful, reasonable debate and conversation for ambulance-chasing attention.

The Solution: Choose Investment

The solution to Segmentation and the addiction to quick cash can’t be fixed with a band-aid to make this problem go away. The only solution is long, sustained, rigorous therapy.

For the Big 2, commitment to the characters and the readers is the only way forward because an addiction to #1 sales spikes that rely on Speculator interest is a downward spiral. Readers are the only segment that will come back month after month to deliver reliable revenue if the Big 2 gives them a reason to. Loyalty and passion are outcomes of commitment. There’s no way around it.

For the Pundits and established media, stick to the facts and INFORMED opinions. Relying on divisive drama for short-term cash, especially when it’s based on half-truths, only leads to more Segmentation, which leads to burnout, which eventually leads to apathy. If you want a loyal fanbase for your publication or YouTube channel, stick to the facts and honest opinions to build/rebuild trust. There’s no way around it.

For the Readers, those who are disillusioned by all the noise and nonsense, hang in there. Eventually, things will change. If the Big 2 stick to their downward spiral of Speculators, that cash will eventually run out and they’ll have no choice but to pivot. If Pundits continue pushing the hot-buttons to stir up controversy-for-clicks, eventually enough viewers will call them out or just tune out.

For us, we’re going to do our best to give you interesting topics and honest opinions. I hope and pray that’s enough.

These are my opinions, but what do you think? Is the Big 2’s fanbase Segmentation helping or hurting the Industry? Are the online Pundits who focus on exaggerated drama creating unnecessary Segmentation? Vote in the poll below, and leave your extended thoughts in the Comments.

-Gabe

Read the Full Weekly Review Roundup on ComicalOpinions.com

Top Review Spotlight

Avengers: Armageddon #1 Review - A New Team Assembles To Take Down A Tyrant... Again.
Writer Chip Zdarsky and Artists Delio Diaz and Frank Alpizar place the Avengers on the opposite side of International law when they form a new team to stop General Ross from taking over the world. Solid art and clean flow can't disguise the lack of wow moments and familiar setup.

Key Takeaway: “Fine but forgettable.”

Absolute Catwoman #1 Review - Just When She's Out, They Pull Her Back In
Writers Scott Snyder and Che Grayson, with artist Bengal, unveil the history of Selina Kyle on the eve of her retirement, but Fate has other plans. Curious readers will feel satisfied with the character development, if you can get past the uneven pacing.

Key Takeaway: “Absolute Catwoman #1 is good but not great.”

Transformers #33 Review - Catching Up On The New Status Quo
Writer Robert Kirkman and Artist Jason Howard take a walking tour of Earth and Cybertron to explain how every character is coping with the new paradigm. Filled with moments for at least a dozen characters, but at the cost of energy, momentum, and plot.

Key Takeaway: “For die-hard Transformers fans only.”

Mystic Streets Update - Episode 4 Is LIVE!

If you’re into stories with urban grit, plenty of action, breakneck pacing, and a twist of magic, subscribe to the Mystic Streets Substack.

Episode 4 of the latest adventure - The Invisible Man: Shadow Contract - released yesterday, so it’s not too late to catch up.

Paid subscribers get the full episode on release day, plus bonus short stories and other perks.

Free subscribers get the first two scenes on release day, but you’ll have to wait two weeks to get the rest.

Check it out. You won’t be sorry

Podcast Links

If you’re a subscriber to our podcast, the audio version of this review is already live. If you’re not a subscriber, we host our feed on multiple podcast platforms for your convenience.

Also, if you’d rather listen right here on Substack, make sure to subscribe to this newsletter to get the notification for the next episode.

It’s Time For Summer Reading, So Get The Revelation Cycle

I’m still looking for ARC Readers. Get a free copy in exchange for honest feedback (no mandatory review link required):
https://forms.gle/g1heTKg5L3WShq8F7

For everyone else, The Revelation Cycle - is ON SALE on Amazon right here: https://amzn.to/4sScyus

The book is FREE for Kindle Unlimited Readers

Absolute Batman #21 (DC Comics)
Amazing Spider-Man #31 (Marvel Comics)
Invincible Universe: Battle Beast #10 (Image Comics)
Marvel Viewers’ Choice (Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to vote)
DC Viewers’ Choice (Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to vote)

Did you see a comic review for a title you didn’t know existed?
Did you see a comic review for a title a friend should hear about?
Tell your friends by clicking on the ‘Share’ button below!

Finally…

What’s the best comic you read this week? Hit reply - I read every one.

Loved this? Dive deeper into every review + comment with fellow collectors → ComicalOpinions.com

Why Everyone Is Misreading DC's Supergirl Movie

Gabriel Hernandez — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:45:56 GMT

Conde Nast Taught Me Why DC's Black Comics Never Stick

Gabriel Hernandez — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:45:07 GMT

DC Blackout Boycott Failed. Now What?

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 13:21:03 GMT

Good morning, my friend,

A (small?) collective of activists tried to stage a boycott of DC Comics to protest the lack of Black-led ongoing titles. The boycott lasted four days. Does that mean nobody really cares? Well…

What is DC Blackout?

Before I get to the “why,” let’s talk about the “what” if if you’ve never heard about this boycott.

DC Blackout spawned out of the #DCSoWhite movement. In it, a number of advocates and activists lamented the fact that DC Comics hasn’t put out a Black-led ongoing (miniseries and one-shots don’t count) in 1,200 days. The exact number of days is up for debate, but it’s been a while, for sure.

These advocates and activists believed the lack of Black-led titles was due to a lack of attention and effort on DC Comics’ part in the name of representation. When the drum beats got louder, and DC chose not to respond, the DC Blackout boycott was born.

So why did the boycott fail?

Because failure is inevitable when you don’t think things through. As soon as the boycott was announced, the criticisms from within the advocacy group began.

“If you boycott all of DC, you stop supporting Black creators. They’re more important.”

“You’re starting the boycott at the beginning of Pride month, which means Pride books will suffer.”

“Ongoing titles that contain prominent, Black characters (even if they’re supporting characters) will get shelved, and we’ll hurt the cause even more.”

In other words, a complex “problem” was addressed with an overly-simplistic solution that ignored all the interconnected consequences, and the whole thing quickly unraveled.

Coincidentally, a similar problem took place in the last week within the Animation Industry. A group of advocates dogpiled a respected creator who announced his involvement in an AI project. The advocates eventually bullied him out of the project, which consequently keeps an Artist-first creator from guiding the project to create tools that help artists instead of replacing them. Advocates are a special breed.

Check out the story to learn more.

Why Are Their No Black-Led Ongoings At DC Comics?

The short answer is simple: Readers don’t buy them.

The long answer is… the same as the short answer.

I’ll be explicitly clear about this point. The natural follow-up question is “why not?,” but the answer absolutely, categorically is NOT “Because their Black.”

There are dozens upon dozens of characters who are Black, White, Asian, and everything in between at both Marvel and DC Comics that do not have ongoing titles. To call this “problem” out specifically as a racial issue is not only toxic, it’s patently false.

It has very little to do with representation and more to do with the broken connection between what the Publishers produce and what the Readers buy.

Ultimately, DC Comics isn’t going to put out an ongoing title it believes it can’t sustain. That’s asking a company to waste money, and given the current state of comics, every dollar counts.

If you want the details about this specific point, check out the deeper dive video we posted talking more about DC’s efforts and the lack of reader response.

In effect, #DCSoWhite and DC Blackout sound like clever slogans that can rally support, but when you peel back the layers. those efforts are little more than clout chasing nonsense.

What Happens Now?

For the advocates and activists, they’ll go on complaining about the wrong thing. They’ll keep applying pressure in the wrong places. And their efforts will keep failing because they’re attacking the symptom and not addressing the root of the problem.

What is the root of the problem?

DC Comics (and Marvel, too) either doesn’t know how, has forgotten, or refuses to build a sustained reader audience.

There’s an inflection point between a reader buying comics casually with a “take it or leave it” mentality and a passionate fan who buys a comic title or anything related to a specific character no matter what.

That’s the trick. Find that tipping point and push readers past it.

In other words, DC doesn’t have a representation problem. It’s forgotten how to make readers happy, which is much deeper problem.

We’ll probably publish a video next week exploring this idea further, so subscribe to the YouTube video to get notified when it’s published.

#DCSoWhite and DC Blackout sound like clever slogans that can rally support, but when you peel back the layers. those efforts are little more than clout chasing nonsense.

Look, the folks behind these hashtags and boycotts have valid opinions about what they want out of the Comics Industry. They’re customers (in theory), so their concerns, wants and needs should be respected. They’re just going about it the wrong way.

But these are just my opinions. What do you think? Did you participate in the brief DC Blackout boycott? Did you support the activists behind it? Answer the poll below to tell us your involvement, if any, and leave a Comment with your ideas about how the boycott should have been handled better.

-Gabe

Read the Full Weekly Review Roundup on ComicalOpinions.com

Mystic Streets Update - Episode 3 Is LIVE!

By the way, if you’re into stories with urban grit, plenty of action, breakneck pacing, and a twist of magic, subscribe to the Mystic Streets Substack.

Episode 3 of the latest adventure - The Invisible Man: Shadow Contract - released yesterday, so it’s not too late to catch up.

Paid subscribers get the full episode on release day, plus bonus short stories and other perks.

Free subscribers get the first two scenes on release day, but you’ll have to wait two weeks to get the rest.

Check it out. You won’t be sorry

Podcast Links

If you’re a subscriber to our podcast, the audio version of this review is already live. If you’re not a subscriber, we host our feed on multiple podcast platforms for your convenience.

Also, if you’d rather listen right here on Substack, make sure to subscribe to this newsletter to get the notification for the next episode.

The Winter Sale Is Over For The Revelation Cycle, But…

I’m still looking for ARC Readers. Get a free copy in exchange for honest feedback (no mandatory review link required):
https://forms.gle/g1heTKg5L3WShq8F7

For everyone else, The Revelation Cycle - is ON SALE on Amazon right here: https://amzn.to/4sScyus

The book is FREE for Kindle Unlimited Readers

Marvel Viewers’ Choice (Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to vote)
DC Viewers’ Choice (Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to vote)

Did you see a comic review for a title you didn’t know existed?
Did you see a comic review for a title a friend should hear about?
Tell your friends by clicking on the ‘Share’ button below!

Finally…

What’s the best comic you read this week? Hit reply - I read every one.

Loved this? Dive deeper into every review + comment with fellow collectors → ComicalOpinions.com

DC Blackout Exposes the Comic Industry's Demand Delusion

Gabriel Hernandez — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:45:57 GMT

The Anti-AI Mob Just Handed Amazon Exactly What It Wanted

Gabriel Hernandez — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 15:46:03 GMT

The Greatest Threat To Comics: No Empathy

Sat, 30 May 2026 14:06:29 GMT

Good morning, my friend,

Readers no longer trust Marvel and DC Comics (the Big 2) to do what made the publishers successful in the first place. The publishers will tell you that their business models have changed due to “economic pressures” or “changing consumer tastes.” That’s bull hockey.

The “Empathy” Problem

The word “empathy” gets bandied around a lot, so for the sake of this newsletter, I’ll give you my definition:

Empathy - the ability to see the world from another person’s perspective and understand the world through the lens of their life experiences.

That sounds like a tall order because it is. Empathy, as I’ve defined it, is a lifelong ambition and takes constant work. Some folks are born with a head start in the empathy department, due to the nature of their temperament or personality, but for most folks, it takes constant practice.

Why is a lack of empathy a problem for the Big 2?

Because you can trace back many of the problems the Big 2 have maintaining and growing their respective audiences to that lack.

Ultimately, the population the Big 2 should want to please the most is the reading audience. All benefits flow from a happy reader because happy readers spend money… lots of it.

When happy readers spend lots of money, the comics shops are happy, the distributors and printers are happy, the Publisher executives are happy, and on and on and on. The only reason Marvel and DC Comics exist is because they made readers happy, and in turn, the readers repaid that happiness with money.

It’s sounds simple. Doesn’t it?

Therein lies the problem. When the Big 2 (and everyone else involved in the comic production chain) stops understanding what makes readers happy, the money stops flowing.

Comic shop attendance and pull list volumes drop. Distributors scramble to augment their inventory with non-NCBD product. Publishers spiral into variant cover and blind bag gimmicks, constant #1 reboots, and endless events just to goose sales numbers.

Sound familiar.

What exactly do I mean by “make readers happy?”

When you understand the readers wants and desires AND you give it to them, that’s generally a good way to make the readers happy.

Unfortunately, too much of the opposite happens today.

When fans want consistency and authenticity in their characters, instead of turning the characters into the writers political mouthpiece, their called “toxic”. In reality, its the creator’s lack of empathy, both for the readers and for the established development of the character that’s at the root of a lot of bad storytelling.

We published a video about the “politics in comics” debate and the real root cause that connects directly to a lack of empathy. Check it out.

When you dig further into recent creator hires and creative choices made by editorial, you can see the lack of empathy amplified.

How many times has Nick Lowe (head editor of Marvel’s Spider-Man office) offered a snarky, condescending remark to a fan requesting the events of One More Day be undone. Well, I don’t know the number either, but it’s a lot… trust me.

How many times in recent years has Batman been caught performing an act or saying a bit of dialogue that’s completely out of character for Batman because the creators don’t or won’t put themselves in Batman’s shoes?

Remember this disgraceful gem from Daniel Warren Johnson that he used to boost interest for his work on the first Absolute Batman Annual?

On the other side of that coin, readers will look for their happiness fix elsewhere. Human nature being what it is, readers who would have been die-hards for Batman or Spider-Man now turn to Naruto, Ichigo, or Tanjiro Kamado for stories that matter.

Then, when the economics don’t make sense due to bloated cover prices and cheap paper quality, human nature follows the path of least resistance… Piracy.

We even did a video about the root causes of piracy this week. Check it out.

When you put it all together, the pattern is clear.

The Publisher executives, editors, and creators lack empathy for the characters they caretake and the readers their supposed make happy.

The system breaking down is a natural consequence.

How Do We Fix This?

As with any chronic, debilitating illness, the solution is medicine (that probably won’t taste good) and rehabilitation.

The following isn’t a comprehensive list of all solutions, not is the only set of options, but it’s a good start.

Develop a personality bible for every character - The Big 2 should already have character bibles for their big IP, but it’s very clear that either the personality aspects are missing or the creators are ignoring them. Write the bible and enforce it.
Give readers what they persistently ask for - If enough people are asking to restore Peter Parker and MJ Watson’s marriage, do it. One More Day was published 19 years ago. Undoing the outcome of that story is not a short-term trend, and resistance to the ask not only shows a lack of empathy for what the readers want but an embarrassing lack of business sense.
Reduce the barriers for new readers - As noted in the video above, piracy happens for multiple reasons that are fixable, including unfair pricing, no access to older titles, and more. Have empathy for the new reader experience, and change the business model to eliminate those barriers.
Weed the Garden - The Big 2 has a reputation for hiring…. let’s just say “malcontents.” People who are more interested in the prestige of working for the Big 2 with little or no regard for respecting the characters and worlds on which the Big 2 have built their universes. These people want to enact their vision, regardless of the potential damage. It’s time to show those people the door.

Let me ease your worries just a bit. Empathy isn’t an impossible trait to develop. Sure, it takes work and practice, but anyone can do it if they choose to.

The real question you have to ask yourself is whether or not there’s anyone left at the Big 2 willing to try.

Well, these are my opinions, but what do you think? Do you see the pervasive self-centeredness and lack of empathy as I do? Are the Big 2 struggling with the simple concept of making readers happy? Vote in the poll below and leave a comment telling me which Publisher is better at “getting” the reader?

-Gabe

Read the Full Weekly Review Roundup on ComicalOpinions.com

Mystic Streets Update

By the way, if you’re into stories with urban grit, plenty of action, breakneck pacing, and a twist of magic, subscribe to the Mystic Streets Substack.

Episode 2 of the latest adventure - The Invisible Man: Shadow Contract - released yesterday, so it’s not too late to catch up.

Paid subscribers get the full episode on release day, plus bonus short stories and other perks.

Free subscribers get the first two scenes on release day, but you’ll have to wait two weeks to get the rest.

Check it out. You won’t be sorry

Podcast Links

If you’re a subscriber to our podcast, the audio version of this review is already live. If you’re not a subscriber, we host our feed on multiple podcast platforms for your convenience.

Also, if you’d rather listen right here on Substack, make sure to subscribe to this newsletter to get the notification for the next episode.

The Winter Sale Is Over For The Revelation Cycle, But…

I’m still looking for ARC Readers. Get a free copy in exchange for honest feedback (no mandatory review link required):
https://forms.gle/g1heTKg5L3WShq8F7

For everyone else, The Revelation Cycle - is ON SALE on Amazon right here: https://amzn.to/4sScyus

The book is FREE for Kindle Unlimited Readers

Marvel Viewers’ Choice (Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to vote)
DC Viewers’ Choice (Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to vote)

Did you see a comic review for a title you didn’t know existed?
Did you see a comic review for a title a friend should hear about?
Tell your friends by clicking on the ‘Share’ button below!

Finally…

What’s the best comic you read this week? Hit reply - I read every one.

Loved this? Dive deeper into every review + comment with fellow collectors → ComicalOpinions.com

Modern Comics Didn’t Get Too Political

Gabriel Hernandez — Thu, 28 May 2026 15:46:01 GMT

The 4 Reasons Readers Pirate Comics

Gabriel Hernandez — Tue, 26 May 2026 15:45:57 GMT

Marvel Firings Reveal Comics' Future

Sat, 23 May 2026 14:05:03 GMT

Good morning, my friend,

Dan Buckley is out as head of Marvel Comics, but his departure is less interesting than the person replacing him. If you thought MCU synergy was bad now, wait until you hear this.

The MCU Is In Charge Of Comics Now

Yes, the shakeup that started last month with the departure of several key Marvel Comics staff members, including David Gabriel, isn’t over yet.

Dan Buckley, a 30-year veteran at Marvel Comics, was given his (slow) marching papers. I say “slow” because he isn’t technically leaving until mid-2027. There will be all kinds of slicing and dicing analysis about Dan Buckley’s performance, especially over the last decade, but Dan’s past appears to have almost no bearing on Marvel Comics’ future.

Dan’s replacement - Brad Winderbaum - is a Marvel Studios veteran who oversees most of the Disney_ streaming shows. That should give you the biggest clue because Winderbaum isn’t giving up his old job. Instead, comics will now fall under his leadership along with streaming, merchandising, and the franchise opportunities that go along with it.

In other words, Marvel Comics isn’t just getting a new boss.

Marvel Comics is getting absorbed into the Disney/MCU machine.

How Will Marvel Comics Change?

In the near term, they won’t, or at least, they won’t change in any significant ways that stick out like a sore thumb.

Executive changes like this one don’t pop up suddenly. Dan Buckley knew he was getting let go, and Brad Winderbaum knew he’d be taking on the comics months ago, so if Winderbaum had strong ideas he wanted to push, you’re already seeing them without realizing who they came from.

Avengers Armageddon is still happening.

The Midnight Universe is still happening.

All the information from the recent solicitations that were just released this week is on time and on course.

When late 2027 rolls around, that’s where you might notice some changes on two fronts: Digital and Synergy.

Winderbaum and David Abdo (who comes with Winderbaum from Disney music and will be Marvel Comics’ new GM) are all about the digital and Synergy. If you prefer, cross-pollination.

First, I suspect you’re going to see a stronger push for Marvel Unlimited (the digital comics platform) to do more and be advertised more broadly. It’s no secret that the Big 2 have an abysmal track record with their digital offerings, primarily due to archaic leadership inside and wrong-headed influences from outside (e.g., Brian Hibbs). Winderbaum and Abdo are primed to give digital a strong push.

Second, the tail will wag the dog. Up to this point, the MCU succeeded by adapting comics with a Hollywood spin. Sometimes to the MCU’s benefit, but sometimes to the MCU’s detriment. With Winderbaum and Abdo on board, I expect to see the comics written more like Netflix storyboards to support the MCU. In other words, the MCU is the center of the Marvel Universe now. The comics will now be a tool to support the films. Right or wrong, the future comic storylines will be adaptations of or continuations of the films/shows.

Final Thoughts… For Now

Honestly, I’m mixed on the whole thing.

Dan Buckley needed to go. He’s been a lame duck leader for years now, and the general reader’s apathy over the mediocre junk the Publisher has pumped out over the last decade is a clear sign of poor leadership. The shakeup was inevitable, regardless of the particulars.

That said, making the comics supplementary to the MCU feels like the worst possible form of corporate consumption. The MCU exists because dreamers like Jack Kirby and Joe Simon let their imaginations run wild, unrestrained by “budget considerations” or “adaptation synergy.” When every story arc is scrutinized through the lens of whether or not it’s suitable for translation into film, streaming, or animation, the result will always be less creative.

So, for now, we’ll have to wait and see what happens, but it’s a good bet that the Marvel Comics of today will look very different in 2027.

The MCU exists because dreamers like Jack Kirby and Joe Simon let their imaginations run wild; unrestrained by “budget considerations” or “adaptation synergy.”

If you’re interested in digging deeper into this announcement, including more information about the new head of Marvel Comics, I highly encourage you to watch the video below.

Now, these are my opinions, but what do you think? Marvel needed a shakeup, but change for change’s sake can lead to disaster.

Let me know your opinions on this topic in the poll below, and if you feel strongly leave a comment further down.

Read the Full Weekly Review Roundup on ComicalOpinions.com

Hey! What Happened To The Reviews?

Good question.

We’ve taken the last few weeks offer to re-tool our workflows, improve our YouTube videos since the channel is starting to take off, and give me a little space to get back to creative writing.

There are only so many hours in the day, so we have to sometimes pause and reassess how we do things so we can make them better.

The videos are improving and getting produced faster, which gives us more time to…

..Rethink how we do social media. One of the BIG lessons we learned from our YouTube growth is that good content is worthless if nobody sees it. You’re going to see updates to our social strategy and posts. Google pretty much screwed smaller creators when it comes to Search and Organic traffic, so we either adapt or fade away. I choose the former.

And that brings us to the more serious question - Is there still a place for written comic reviews in the world? Believe me when I say I’ve spent a lot of hours recently focusing on that one question.

In my heart, I’m convinced that honest reviews are the best antidote to a press ecosystem infested with access media corruption, bad actors, and insufferable shills.

That said, we’re really thinking about the purpose of writing a review for a comic when increasingly fewer people are reading comics. We’re not giving up on the Comic Industry, but it remains to be seen if the Comic Industry is giving up on itself.

Are we done with comic reviews? For now, the answer is ‘no’, but we’re taking a very hard look at how reviews provide value and what changes we need to make to provide that value.

Stay tuned.

Speaking of Creative Writing…

If you like hard-boiled, gritty thrillers with a magical twist, I just released the first episode of The Invisible Man: Shadow Contract.

Paid subscribers to the Mystic Streets Substack get each episodes for free on release day, plus perks like the character bible and bonus content.

Free subscribers get the first two scenes on release day and get the full Episode two weeks later.

This is the first time I’ve written a story involving a Public Domain character, so I think you’re going to love it. Check it out. (Link)

Podcast Links

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