New Comics Reviews 7/2/25: Captain America, X-Men Hellfire Vigil, Immortal Thor & Gotham City Sirens!
New Comics Reviews for Wednesday 7/2!
Hello! Here are our new comics reviews for the week of 7/2/25, featuring Captain America, X-Men: Hellfire Vigil, Immortal Thor & Gotham City Sirens: Unfit for Orbit!
Be sure to check out the review show if you want to hear our full discussions!
Joe’s Reviews:
Cover by Alex Ross
The Immortal Thor #25
Marvel Comics
Written by Al Ewing
Art by Jan Bazaldua, Justin Greenwood, and Pasqual Ferry
Colors by Matt Hollingsworth and Romula Fajardo Jr.
Letters by VC’s Joe Sabino
Cover by Alex Ross
40 pages for $5.99
Solicit: THE STORY ENDS…At the end of his tale, Thor strode into Vidblainn, third land of the dead, whence nothing could return. And there, beyond all battles, beyond all cares, he stood and fought for justice one last time – against the great Serpent who wore his own face and held his own hammer. This was the story of the IMMORTAL THOR…and the deciding of his fate.
Review: Full disclosure: the only other issue of this series that I’ve read is the first one. Despite my failing, I had to see how Ewing brought this chapter of Thor’s story to an end. Ewing writes in such a way that references to past events flow seamlessly into the advancing narrative, rather than feeling like a checklist of plot points you may or may not have missed. Even without detailed knowledge of the series, I found the major developments in the lives of the Asgardians to be very compelling, and they have me wondering about the implications for the wider Marvel Universe. The setup for Thor’s relaunch, now confirmed to be called The MORTAL Thor, is exciting and full of potential. All of this is because Ewing writes this comic like it’s a legend being passed down through the ages, not a serialized comic full of plot minutiae.
The art in this issue is a bit mixed, but the more I stared at it, the more I liked it. There are three distinct arcs within the issue, each drawn by a different artist. Jan Bazaldua deals with the fate of the Asgardians, Justin Greenwood takes us to the land of the dead with Thor himself, and Pasqual Ferry sets up the story to come. Bazaldua’s work is a bit inconsistent but not bad. Greenwood’s hyper-exaggerated figures and explosive action scenes reminded me of something out of Dan McDaid’s Jersey Gods. Ferry is an old favorite and his work is as great as ever.
The Immortal Thor #25 is a very satisfying conclusion to the first part of Al Ewing’s saga. I wasn’t punished for coming in cold, and the dynamic artwork suits the epic plot. There’s no doubt that I’ll go back and fill in the gaps that I missed. The only question is whether or not I can finish in time for The Mortal Thor #1.
Rating: BUY IT
Cover by Luciano Vecchio & Nolan Woodard
X-Men: Hellfire Vigil #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Jed MacKay & Various
Art by Netho Diaz & Various
Colors by Fer Sifuentes-Sujo
Letters by VC’s Travis Lanham
Cover by Luciano Vecchio & Nolan Woodard
64 pages for $7.99
Solicit: One year ago, at the final Hellfire Gala, the dream of a unified mutant nation was forever shattered by a cowardly sneak attack by anti-mutant forces. To mark the moment and to proclaim loudly and strongly to all concerned that mutantkind still stands, the time has come for X-Men of all stripes to come together in solidarity and celebration. Written and drawn by the creators of the entire X-line, and featuring the meetings and moments that fans have been asking for since FROM THE ASHES began! A keystone moment marking the movement of one era into the next and setting up story threads that will play out across the X-line across the next year!
Review: This anthology issue serves several purposes, providing closure to the From the Ashes series that got the axe, setting up the year to come in the remaining titles, and providing some much needed catharsis that’s been missing since the mutants fled Krakoa.
The writers successfully bring the various chapters together into a single narrative in a satisfying enough way, but your enjoyment is going to vary wildly depending on your opinions of the individual series. For example, you might be super-invested in the bit where Axo from the Exceptional X-Men meets his online girlfriend for the first time. I, however, am not. It’s sweet and everything, but I have no connection to many of these newer characters. On the other hand, I think the budding, long-distance romance between Ransom from Uncanny X-Men’s Outliers and Idie (AKA Temper) from Jed MacKay’s X-Men is great stuff.
Nearly every series that is or was part of the From the Ashes line gets a sendoff or a set up, for better or for worse. It’s weird that X-Factor is nowhere to be found here, but the Astonishing X-Men online-exclusive gets a big scene, but hey – I love Banshee so I ain’t mad. Kamala Khan continues to stick out like a sore thumb among Marvel’s mutants. Maybe someday it’ll feel like she belongs there instead of being tacked on, but the issue still delivers several nice moments.
The art is all over the place. Between this issue and our Extra for this week, I’ve reached peak Netho Diaz exposure, and I’ve decided that I’m just not a fan. But Sara Pichelli and Luciano Vecchio are here doing some really nice work. The rest is serviceable, without any major storytelling problems that I could see.
X-Men: Hellfire Vigil #1 is perfectly fine. That said, I can’t imagine you’ll care too much about anything not directly related to a title you followed, and I hope I never see another extended sequence of word balloons full of song lyrics again.
Rating: SKIM IT
Matt’s Reviews:
Cover by Ben Harvey
Captain America #1 (2025)
Marvel Comics
Written by Chip Zdarsky
Art by Valerio Schiti
Colors by Frank Martin
Letters by VC’s Joe Caramanga
40 pages for $5.99
Solicit: While Captain America slumbered in ice, the world changed — for better and for worse. Steve Rogers awakens to a reality where battles are fought in the shadows through secrets and subterfuge, and villains aren’t so easy to identify. When a fledgling dictator named Victor Von Doom conquers Latveria, Steve faces a critical decision: adapt to a new kind of warfare, or forge his own path? And what will the choice he makes in the past mean for his future? Experience the untold tale of Captain America’s first encounter with Doctor Doom as Chip Zdarsky and Valerio Schiti team up for a game-changing new era of CAPTAIN AMERICA! LEGACY #772.
Review: Chip Zdarsky returns to Marvel fresh off his Batman run to tell an untold Cap tale that takes place after Steve was reawakened, post-9/11. (It’s a sliding timeline, or characters like the Punisher would have to be 90.) I get it, timelines in comics have to be updated to stick with the times. There’s even a mention of a new Stark Phone launch, which I assume is Marvel’s version of the first iPhone, placing this story around 2007—which doesn’t feel that long ago (says the ancient comic book nerd).
This new #1 introduces a character who may have massive effects on Cap’s mythos, but we’ll let the continuity wonks fight it out after the dust settles. The good news is Zdarsky’s character work here is pitch-perfect. His Steve is as sweet as he is brave, and there are some excellent character moments with Reed Richards and Thaddeus Ross that assure old Cap fans the character is in good hands.
Valerio Schiti has been doing superstar-level work for a while now, but this is truly outstanding. From the little things, like Steve noticing an “officer down” call on a police radio, to an incredible motorcycle chase and a panel featuring the Fantastic Four’s iconic first battle with the Mole Man, this comic couldn’t look better.
The creative team is taking us on a journey here that could get into some rocky continuity very quickly, but for now, I trust them. Captain America #1 feels like a reintroduction to the character that not only updates Steve Rogers’ timeline in the Marvel U but also looks to add to his origin story. It’s a big swing, but keep in mind, Zdarsky cut Batman’s hand off too (it got better).
Rating: BUY IT
Cover by Terry & Rachel Dodson
Gotham City Sirens: Unfit for Orbit #1
DC Comics
Written by Leah Williams
Art by Haining
Colors by Ivan Plascencia
Letters by Tom Napolitano
28 pages for $3.99
Solicit: MEN MAY BE FROM MARS, BUT BADDIES ARE FROM VENUS! There’s a hot new outer space-themed nightclub in Gotham City, and who better to rob it than Catwoman, Ivy, and Harley? But there’s more to this intergalactic discotheque than meets the eye(s), as the Sirens discover when they stumble headfirst into a plot to destroy the entire planet led by the club’s owner — the alien despot Despero! I hope you have good insurance, Gotham City, because you’re about to get wrecked. Special appearances by deadly DJs, hunky alien hotties, dancers dressed as aliens, mutant failures, one wild UFO, and lots and lots of fire!
Review: Gotham City Sirens has become synonymous with silly fun, starring your favorite Bat-adjacent heroines and villainesses-turned-antiheroes. You don’t pick up these miniseries for deep character development—but if you’re looking for manic-pixie comedy and fast-paced comic action, you could do much worse. Williams’ story is fairly predictable: the girls team up to rob a club shaped like a spaceship, which—surprise—turns out to be a real spaceship with a very recognizable DC alien onboard. If that’s all you need, then let the fun begin.
Haining’s art is loose but maintains just enough detail to keep the action clear and kinetic. Plascencia’s colors are incredible as usual, adding depth and explosive energy to the story—even if there isn’t much story to explode. Harley and Ivy’s “will they/won’t they” dynamic is still present, but Catwoman’s personality feels tweaked to suit the comedic tone. Personally, I’m more interested in Ivy’s growth in her own book, but if you’re in the mood for slick, slapstick comic fun with a touch of cheesecake, Gotham City Sirens remains the place to be.
Rating: SKIM IT
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