THIS WEEK: Our main review looks at the Black Label imprint’s latest finale with Batman/Green Arrow/The Question – Arcadia #4. Plus, Absolute Martian Manhunter #12 and the return of 100 Bullets!
Batman/Green Arrow/The Question – Arcadia #4
Writer/Artist: Gabriel Hardman
Colorist: Romulo Fajardo, Jr.
Letterer: Simon Bowland
I have enjoyed Batman/Green Arrow/The Question – Arcadia quite a bit throughout its run, even if the end product turned out a bit different from my expectations after reviewing the first issue. It’s a tricky exercise to prescribe intent to a four-part story after consuming 25 percent of it, yet as reviewers, we often try to do just that. And my impression of Arcadia was that its primary interest was unpacking the ideological contrasts between its title characters.
Now that I’ve read the whole thing, I think it did intend to do that, but in a less direct way that I initially expected. Instead, what the finale serves up is one big action set piece that guesses at the natural fates for these well-tread superhero characters and their famous ideologies. But first and foremost, it’s mostly a badass high-stakes escape/shoot out in the pounding snow. And this being a Black Label book, none of the characters have their usual plot armor, which ratchets up the tension.
The least surprising thing about this entire series, however, is that writer/artist Gabriel Hardman tells an engaging superhero comic story that looks fantastic. Hardman is one of the true must-read storytellers, especially when it comes to standalone DC epics (see also Green Lantern: Earth One). And this book is no exception. Hardman also works with one of the best rhythm sections a comic creator could ask for in colorist Romulo Fajardo, Jr., and letterer Simon Bowland, two of the most reliable creators within their roles in all of comics. I mean, just look at the work on the preview pages we have here.
All that said, the book does struggle under the weight of its ambitions a bit. With three lead characters as distinct as these, it was always going to be a difficult challenge to give them equal billing. This last issue opens with The Question narrating, and it’s very well-written. But by the end of the story, it does feel like The Question has a little less vital to these proceedings than Batman and maybe Green Arrow as well, both of whom had clearer arcs.
But that is a minor gripe in an engaging piece of work. And it’s wiped away pretty thoroughly by the end of the Batman and Green Arrow storylines in this book, which both do a great, well-realized job at guessing at the natural endings for their characters. Overall, this is the type of comic that works really well as an entry in the Black Label imprint. Smart, complicated, and driven by the ample talents of great creators.
The Round-Up
- The other high profile ending this week is Absolute Martian Manhunter #12 from the team of writer Deniz Camp, artist Javier Rodriguez, and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou. The first arc of this book was universally beloved, and a very different flavor than the rest of its shared Absolute Universe, as well as just superhero comics more broadly. The second arc was a bit slower for me, a bit more inward facing, but this final issue is a strong one, giving it all a worthy, satisfying ending.
- Getting away from endings, this week also brings us a marquee new beginning with 100 Bullets – US of Anger by writer Brian Azzarello, artist Eduardo Risso, and letterer Clem Robins. Of DC Comics’ ongoing 2026 Vertigo revival, 100 Bullets is the only returning title from the imprints heyday. And while it returns its creative team, the book feels interested in doing something very different than its predecessor, living within some of the country’s recent turmoil. The first issue feels very much like the start of an arc, rather than something that stands alone well on its own merits. But the tone is essentially the same as the first volume, which felt like a nice and familiar return for me, a person who grew up on these old Vertigo comics.
- Finally, I am once again telling you that while Absolute Batman commands the bulk of reader attention, the mainline Batman comic is as great as its been in ages. This week’s issue is from the regular creative team of writer Matt Fraction, artist Jorge Jimenez, colorist Tomeu Morey, and letterer Clayton Cowles. This book is doing a similar thing to Superman Unlimited (which I’m also loving) in that every issue feels standalone, while moving ahead plot points and also delivering surprising status quo altering twists. It’s great. You should read it. We’re lucky to have creators as talented as Fraction and Jimenez doing this kind of superhero storytelling in 2026.
Miss any of our earlier reviews? Check out our full archive
And check out the Beat’s most recent comics reviews
