Review by Wes Gift
Writers: Gerard Way & Gabriel Ba
Artist: Gabriel Ba
Colorist: Dave Stewart
Letterer: Nate Piekos
Editors: Daniel Chabon & Chuck Howitt-Lease
Assistant Editor: Foster R. Kupbens
Designer: Hannah Noble
Digital Art: AJ Newell
Prepress: Jake Johnson
Thanks to Dark Horse Comics for the review copy!
Umbrella Academy is back with the launch of the new Plan B series which introduces readers to a world now dominated by the rival Sparrow Academy.
Right from the start, Gabriel Ba’s art is as sharp and stylistically distinctive as ever, creating a visual bridge to the previous Hotel Oblivion series. Combined with Dave Stewart’s muted yet moody colors, the visuals maintain that timeless Umbrella Academy aesthetic: slightly vintage, deeply weird, and always compelling. The lettering by Nate Piekos continues to complement the chaotic tone, marrying well to the visuals of the book.
Plan B #1 focuses a bit more on narrative than it does delivering big action–but there is still plenty to satisfy the reader. The tension between the core characters is palpable, especially between Rumor, Five, and Kraken, hinting at ideological divides and simmering conflicts. Mysterious threads involving Vanya and cryptic visions add a layer of suspense, giving readers just enough to theorize but not quite enough to feel grounded in the new arc yet.
This debut issue gives us a strong setup–the artwork is solid and mysteries are taking hold, so we should see a strong emotional payoff likely to come in future issues. Pick this one up and keep reading!
Review Score: 8.5/10
The Umbrella Academy: Plan B #1 is now available.
Are you going to pick up the comic? Have you already? Feel free to leave a comment below or chat with us on Threads at @theconventioncollective, or Bluesky at @theconcollective.bsky.social
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