411’s Comic Reviews: Year of the Villain #1, The Walking Dead #191 More

Hello and welcome to 411mania’s weekly Comic Book Review! Each week we’ll be serving up a warm dish of reviews (and previews) from Marvel, DC, and anything else that captures our interest. What did you pick up this week? Let us know in the comments.Want to write a review? If you can write at least one review a week, consistently, email me at [email protected]!

Shades of Magic: The Night of Knives #5

Preview by Steve Gustafson

New York Times bestseller V. E. Schwab continues the acclaimed comic exploring the world of her fantasy novel series: Shades of Magic! Every thug and thief on the Blood Coast is out to get Maxim Maresh, but the exiled prince of Red London has a perfect plan: join the Night of Knives, an annual trial sure to prove his mettle! The only problem? Almost no-one survives the night…

The Last Space Race #4

Preview by Steve Gustafson

Sasha knew sabotage was inevitable. He expected it from the outside — from the other multi-national coalitions building ships — but when he discovers sabotage is coming from within, Sasha is on a mission. He and Roger must work together — something they’ve never been good at — to try to stop the mysterious saboteur before they destroy everything.

Written by Peter Calloway (TV’s Legion, Cloak & Dagger, American Gods) and drawn by Alex Shibao (Independence Day), THE LAST SPACE RACE is an imaginative investigation into wonder, hope and humankind’s grandest purpose — a truly original story AfterShock couldn’t be more fired up to tell.

Ronin Island #4

Preview by Steve Gustafson

BOOM! Studios revealed a first look at RONIN ISLAND #4, a heart-wrenching turn of events where terrible secrets are revealed and sacrifices are made in the exciting original series from acclaimed writer Greg Pak (Firefly, Star Wars, Mech Cadet Yu) and fan-favorite artist Giannis Milonogiannis (Old City Blues), available in June 2019.

When Hana and Kenichi come face-to-face at last with the great and mighty Shogun in his palace, Kenichi finds himself embraced and gifted a full set of golden armor while Hana is relegated to the servants’ corridors. But both of the islanders have a hidden agenda to find out exactly what the Shogun and his forces are up to in their enormous stronghold. What they discover will change everything they’ve ever known and end in someone making the ultimate sacrifice to save the lives of their people.

Year of the Villain #1

Review by Steve Gustafson

Here we go. You might have to pay a quarter for this issue or you might have been able to grab it free at Free Comic Book Day but no matter what, this issue is worth more than what you got it for.

The concept of villains changing things up or enhancing one another isn’t new. In fact, when I first heard DC was going this way, I immediately thought of Marvel’s underrated ‘Acts of Vengeance’ from 1989-90.

This is something different. And something that gives the DC supervillains a much need twist for the modern day. You get a few stories in this issue and each one leaves you wanting to know what’s next. Exactly what you want a one-shot to do.

Not only that, unlike other “free” or “discounted” issues, this one gives the reader some real meat and weight to the story. Easy issue to recommend and one that has me looking forward to DC’s next big event.

Rating: 8.8 out of 10

The Walking Dead #191

Review by John Pumpernickel

If you’ve been reading The Walking Dead then you’re used to the surprise, twists, and turns. You know not to get to attached to any one character because at any moment you could have your heart pulled out, stomped on, and burned, when that character meets a tragic end.

That’s the Walking Dead way.

Yet, you get complacent. You think you know better than Robert Kirkman and what’s best for the book. You know that certain characters are bound to die but there a few that a destined to live. To find new ways to entertain us, move the plot forward, and find a way to survive.

Then Kirkman laughs and gives us a book like #191.

Nothing is promised and no one is safe. No one.

I’m not spoiling this one but I marvel that this book still finds ways to make me gasp and tune in to see what happens next.

Rating: 9.0 out of 10

That’s all the time we have. Tell us what you’re reading below and see you back here next week! You can now find our reviews on ComicBookRoundUp.com! www.ComicBookRoundUp.com