Jenny Ignites

Jenny Sparks (2024–2025)
DC Black Label Series Review
Written by Tom King 
Art by Jeff Spokes. 
7 issues.

Jenny Sparks, the self-proclaimed “Spirit of the 20th Century,” returned in a seven-issue DC Black Label series that’s as gutsy, brutal, and philosophically charged as the character herself. I didn’t think that anyone could write Jenny as well as Warren Ellis but this Tom King revival resurrects Jenny really well.
Jenny Sparks first issue kicks off with Jenny taking down Captain Atom, putting Batman in his place, and reminding Earth’s heroes that she’s not here to play nice girl. Her entrance is electric and sets the tone for a series that challenges superhero norms as the Authority always did.
Each issue tackles a 21st-century tragedy, from pandemics to political unrest, through Jenny’s sarcastic lens. The series blends metaphysical musings and superhero spectacle, often questioning the very nature of power, godhood & responsibility. Tom Kings writing works here.
Jeff Spokes’s artwork is standout. His splash pages are charged, gritty, and cinematic, theres tones of Bryan Hitch in there, capturing both the chaos of battles and the devastation of trauma.
The final issue closes with Jenny recounting Virginia Woolf’s life to Captain Atom, poignant metaphor for resilience in the face of catastrophe It’s a bold choice that elevates the series beyond just capes and punching.
I feel fabs of The Authority may not be fully won over but will find familiar echoes here. Jenny’s disdain for traditional heroism, her unapologetic lifestyle, and her willingness to confront traditional heroes head on.
This Jenny Sparks series is a daring, if uneven, meditation on heroism in an age of disillusionment. Tom King’s writing leans into this & after some great mini series from King recently doesn’t disappoint. It’s a pretty punk comics series.

Tony Amis

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