New Comics Reviews 4/30/25: Wolverine and Kitty Pryde, Planet Death, Lost Fantasy & The Slasher’s Apprentice!
New Comics Reviews for Wednesday 4/30!
Hello! Here are our new comics reviews for the week of 4/30/25, featuring Wolverine and Kitty Pryde, Planet Death, Lost Fantasy & The Slasher’s Apprentice!!
Be sure to check out the review show if you want to hear our full discussions!
Joe’s Reviews:
Cover by Giorello & Stewart
Planet Death #0
Bad Idea
Written by Derek Kolstad and Robert Venditti
Art by Tomás Giorello
Colors by Dave Stewart
Letters by Tom Napolitano
24 pages for $1.99
Solicit: Blockbuster screenwriter Derek Kolstad, creator and writer of the internationally acclaimed, box office dominating motion picture franchise JOHN WICK, New York Times best-selling writer Robert Venditti (Superman ’78, Green Lantern), with visionary artist Tomás Giorello (Star Wars, Conan) and ten-time Eisner Award-winner Dave Stewart (Star Wars, Hellboy) have combined forces to bring you this essential first chapter in a groundbreaking new sci-fi epic. Millions of miles from home, hundreds of ships descend into the stormy atmosphere of a hostile frozen world. On board, an army of resolute men and women brace for the coming assault. They are an invasion force, on an impossible mission – destroy the devastating enemy weapon garrisoned below. [Remainder of solicit redacted for spoiler reasons.]
Review: This is the first Bad Idea comic I’ve ever laid my eyes, so I did some research prior to reading.
- Planet Death is Bad Idea’s first ever wide-release title.
- Prior to this, their comics were only available at one of 250 “destination stores,” and only in print.
- Well, this print-only thing is still in effect. In fact, this comic is printed on newsprint, using a paper stock that’s no longer in production. Bad Idea bought out the entire supply just for this issue.
- The publisher offered this issue to retailers in bundles of 25 at just $7.50 a pop, making the cost individual issues on par with this year’s Free Comic Book Day titles.
- Retailers across the world responded BIG TIME, racking up a total of 655,000 copies sold, and making Planet Death #0 the highest-selling independent comic book since the dawn of Image Comics in 1992.
None of that means a damn thing if the comic isn’t any good. Thankfully, it’s FUCKING AWESOME. The solicit gives away the brutal hook of this issue, which I won’t spoil for you. Here’s what I’ll say: this issue features a tense confrontation between a human soldier and his alien interrogator (AKA his torturer). Each tells a story that paints a picture of their side’s brutal victory over the other, but only one of them can be right.
I’m guessing Venditti did the scripting here, with John Wick creator Derek Kolstad offering his creative muscle. Venditti’s dialogue between the soldier and his jailer is dripping with malice and contempt between the enemies. The soldier knows he has no chance of personally surviving this encounter, but he refuses to give an inch. The jailer is assured of what he thinks is the imminent domination of his side, and his absolute control over the soldier’s fate. It’s an incredible standoff that ends on the perfect cliffhanger.
The art by Tomás Giorello and Dave Stewart is absolutely stunning, delivering highly-detailed spreads full of massive armies wielding futuristic technology and the snarling alien creatures waiting to cut them down.
Like I said earlier, Planet Death #0 is the first Bad Idea comic I’ve ever laid my eyes on, and I really hope it isn’t the last. This issue might technically have a price tag, I wouldn’t be surprised if your local comic shop gives these away for free during their Free Comic Book Day event this Saturday. Don’t pass it up.
Rating: HUGE BUY IT
Cover by Alan Davis
Wolverine and Kitty Pryde #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Chris Claremont
Art by Damian Couceiro
Colors by Carlos Lopez
Letters by VC’s Ariana Maher
32 pages for $3.99
Solicit: When KITTY PRYDE nearly lost her soul to OGUN during her journey to Japan, LOGAN was there to keep the youngest X-MAN on the path to good. But as a mysterious force threatens their lives while staying with MARIKO YASHIDA, it’s going to take all of their combined mutant, ninja and fighting skills to protect those they love! An all-new adventure, set in the aftermath of Chris Claremont’s legendary KITTY PRYDE & WOLVERINE limited series, at last tells the full story of the duo’s journey in Japan before returning to the X-Men and the heartbreak, trials and tribulations that made the characters what they are today.
Review: I normally don’t pay much attention to these flashback minis, but the final issue of Kitty Pryde & Wolverine was one of the first X-comics I ever read, and it was definitely my first exposure to Kitty Pryde, one of my all-time favorite mutant characters. Claremont presents an interesting story, with Wolverine and Yukio training Kitty in the use of the ninja skills Ogun forced on her. We get some insight into Kitty’s dad’s history with Professor X, which was something I didn’t know before now, so the story added something new to the mythos, at least for me. Claremont’s more infamous writing habits are under control for the most part, so this read like it could slide right into the release schedule in 1984. There’s an interesting exaggerated quality to Damian Couceiro’s art that reminds me of the great Rick Leonardi. His Wolverine is all sharp angles, which I thought looked pretty cool. However, his facial expressions tend to get a little manic and his action scene layouts are oddly framed. Wolverine and Kitty Pryde #1 isn’t going to set the comics scene on fire or anything, and it might have a pretty narrow, niche appeal, but I kind of liked it! A rarity when it comes to Marvel’s series of retro titles.
Rating: SKIM IT
Matt’s Reviews:
Cover by Luca Casalanguida
Lost Fantasy #1
Image Comics
Written by Curt Pires
Art by Luca Casalanguida
Colors by Mark Dale
Letters by Michah Meyers
48 pages for $4.99
Solicit: There is a world of magic, myth, and monsters that exists beneath the surface of our own. Since first contact was made over 100 years ago, The Great Hunters have kept us safe from the creatures that lurk in the shadows. But last night something broke through, and it’s up to rookie monster hunter Henry Blackheart to stop it… A fresh take on fantasy from creators CURT PIRES (Indigo Children) and LUCA CASALANGUIDA (James Bond)! East Of West meets Something is Killing the Children in this new ongoing series. Plus: The INDIGO CHILDREN return in INDIGO CHILDREN: EXODUS! A brand-new story serialized ONLY in the pages of LOST FANTASY!
Review: Lost Fantasy hits the ground running, setting up a sweeping, history-spanning story that mixes classic hollow earth mythology with the grit of modern police procedurals. Kurt Pires’ script fully embraces fantasy—trolls, werewolves, golems, and a hidden kingdom beneath our world—but there’s enough of a contemporary edge to hook readers who usually steer clear of fantasy (looking at you, Joe Patrick).
The cast of hunters is immediately engaging, each sporting distinctive powers, and Casalanguida’s chunky, detailed art brings them to life with style. His design for Henry—the Great Hunter investigating a string of grisly small-town murders—clearly channels Final Fantasy VII’s Cloud Strife, complete with a massive sword and wildly spiked blond hair. Henry’s powers also nod to classic Final Fantasy magic, but with a sharp, sarcastic twist.
Pires crafts an impressively fleshed-out world, combining the adventurous wonder of hollow earth stories with the noir sensibilities of True Detective. It’s an irresistible setup, and I wanted more the second the first chapter ended. While fans of Indigo Children will appreciate the return of that world later in the issue, for me, it broke the momentum—I was too invested in Lost Fantasy’s introduction to shift gears.
Rating: BUY IT
Cover by Val Halvorson
The Slasher’s Apprentice #1
Mad Cave
Written by Justin Richards
Art by Val Halvorson
Colors by Rebecca Nalty
Letters by Buddy Beaudoin
26 pages for $4.99
Solicit: Riley, a horror-obsessed podcaster with a slasher villain fixation, is seeking a new career path: Helping her favorite legendary slasher, The Hopton Valley Killer, regain their long-lost notoriety while learning the ropes herself.
Review: At first, The Slasher’s Apprentice reminded me of Kyle Starks’ Those Not Afraid and Tim Seeley’s Hack/Slash, but writer Justin Richards keeps the story twisting and turning enough that, by the end, he’s telling a unique and very dark tale. Both the title and the solicitation felt like spoilers, but maybe there are even bigger surprises to come beyond the last page.
Artist Val Halvorson’s almost pop-art style lends itself well to the brutality of the murderers, but the story takes its time before moving into full grindhouse horror. As violent as the story is, it does seem like the blood was dialed down a bit, which is an interesting choice when you have panels featuring eyes being gouged out.
The first issue of The Slasher’s Apprentice sets up a strong premise with a great origin for the main character, told by a creative team who clearly knows their slasher movie history and how to nail the pacing. This is a fun, under-the-radar find from Mad Cave, and I’m looking forward to more.
Rating: BUY IT
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