DC Comics reviews 7/23/25 – JLU 9, Batman 161, Superman 28
Absolute Wonder Woman 10
Writer: Kelly Thompson
Artist: Hayden Sherman
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Becca Carey
Absolute Wonder Woman continues the As My Mother Made Me arc, which has been like the rest of this run — fantastic. Wonder Woman is in The Maze Area 41 trying to keep Ferdinand and Petra safe from Queen Clea and her army of Fish-Men. Thompson’s take on Ferdinand is solid as he and Diana quickly make for a formidable duo. As usual, Thompson spends some time exploring Diana’s childhood where she was alone being taught valuable life lessons from Circe and the goddesses. This flashback showed young Diana’s heart in standing up to a powerful beast to save an innocent. These are the hallmark traits of Diana — Absolute or regular continuity — that Thompson understands to the core.
Sherman always provides strong storytelling in each issue. This time, Sherman might have gotten a tad too creative with the layouts as some pages were a little harder to make out what was happening than the norm. Despite some visual challenges, it’s better to see Sherman keep pushing boundaries than becoming complacent. Bellaire’s colors were mesmerizing even with the darker setting. Carey relished the challenge to experiment with some of the dialogue as well. Sherman and Carey’s efforts certainly mirrored what Diana was experiencing so the effect does deliver what Thompson intended.
This is always one of the titles that’s most satisfying every month. The creative team is confident in their direction and that comes through with every issue. As this arc nears its conclusion, it should be fun seeing how the subplots get resolved.
Rating: 9 out of 10
Batman 161
Writer: Jeph Loeb
Artist: Jim Lee (Scott Williams inker)
Colorist: Alex Sinclair
Letterer: Richard Starkings
Time for another chapter of Hush 2. Like the rest of this arc so far it’s another underwhelming installment. Loeb’s Batman waxes too poetic at all times as if he’s writing his autobiography. It still feels like Loeb is trying to recapture the magic of the original story peppering each chapter with as many characters as possible regardless if it makes sense. Damian breaks Bane out of prison to help him deal with Hush and his accomplishes. That doesn’t check when there are 50 members of the Bat Family not to mention Jon Kent that Damian would sooner call than the man who killed his “grandfather.”
MORE:
- The Old Guard 2 review (2025)
- X-Men Age of Revelation 0 review – Marvel Comics 7/16/25
- Superman repeats atop box office with $57M
- DC Multiverse Page Punchers Starman review (2025)
Batgirl needlessly fights Batman as she’s angry he saved The Joker’s life. The Bat Family has had too much infighting lately for this to have much emotional impact. Batman’s narration doesn’t help in that situation either. The saving grace continues to be Jim Lee’s artwork, which is fantastic. Lee is still delivering on a high-end level with strong panel composition and lively action sequences. As usual, Hush 2 is a solid showcase for Lee’s art diminished by a lackluster aimless story.
Rating: 6 out of 10
Green Arrow 26
Writer: Chris Condon
Artist: Montos
Colorist: Adriano Lucas
Letterer: Buddy Beaudoin
By the time they’re done on their run on Green Arrow, Condon, Montos, Lucas and Beaudoin are going to be celebrated like some of the other acclaimed creative teams that have handled Green Arrow. All they need is another year with this partnership and it’s a lock. In the second chapter of Crimson Sands, Ollie learns that Roy is in the hospital suffering from an apparent overdose.
Condon hasn’t put many of the large Green Arrow family onto the book, but he wisely adds them as the story demands. Naturally, this issue includes Dinah and Roy’s daughter, Lian.
The guilt over not being there for Roy continues to be a very sore spot for Ollie. He won’t fail his non-biological son again and goes on the hunt for clues. Condon is a smart writer and doesn’t drag out Ollie learning of The Crimson Archer, the assassin who’s killing people by making them overdose on a chemical laced in his arrows.
There’s no action sequence in this issue, but it doesn’t matter when the storytelling is this good. Montos is a master of creating dramatic panels that convey all the essential emotion. Lucas’ rich colors add to the mood and Beaudoin’s creative approach to lettering like having the sound effect for the IV drip actually be the words drip falling down is tremendous.
Green Arrow is one of those books where there’s no concern of an off issue or underwhelming story. This creative team is so locked in and this title has steadily become one of the best DC has to offer.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10
Green Lantern 25
Writer: Jeremy Adams
Artist: Xermanico
Colorist: Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Green Lantern celebrates another milestone for this volume in epic fashion with Hal and the Green Lantern Corps racing against Starbreaker and his emotional vampire lanterns to focus the emotional spectrum into batteries again. Adams can be counted on to deliver big time moments while infusing them with tremendous character bits few writers can incorporate so effortlessly.
There are some very funny exchanges featuring Guy Gardner this issue. Adams continues to weave in unexpected characters into the mix like Amethyst without making the issue feel too bloated with so many characters demanding “screen time.”
Xermanico is absolutely knocking out every issue with elaborate lantern constructs and dazzling action sequences. Adams hasn’t created a scenario that Xermanico hasn’t been able to deliver in larger than life (on paper) fashion. He’s crafting this era of Green Lantern in a way that would be largely impossible to replicate on the big or small screen. Fajardo Jr. and Sharpe more than hold up their end of creative as well with captivating colors and engaging sound effect and dialogue placement.
Green Lantern 25 delivers on its milestone with a intriguing new direction that will force the Corps to overcome odds they’ve never faced before.
Rating: 9.5 out of 10
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.