CLOAK OR DAGGER #1 – Review – Weird Science Marvel Comics

Written by: Justina Ireland
Art by: Lorenzo Tammetta
Colors by: Andrew Dalhouse
Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover art by: Mike McKone, Rachelle Rosenberg (cover A)
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: October 29, 2025

Cloak Or Dagger #1, by Marvel on 10/29/25, drops Tandy and Tyrone straight into mutant-infested Missouri, where people are as desperate as the dialogue is dire in the face of Revelation’s spreading virus.

First Impressions

The setting is bleak and chaotic, oozing post-apocalyptic flavor from every panel. Characters launch headfirst into action, scrambling to rescue strangers with mutant powers on the fritz. From the jump, the issue feels energetic but hamstrung by lines that would make even the X-Virus cringe.

Plot Analysis

The story opens with a rapid-fire introduction to the Age of Revelation, a world reshaped by the X-Virus and ruled by Doug Ramsey, though he’s notably absent in this tale. Cloak and Dagger attempt to ferry civilians out of St. Louis, dodging mutant roadblocks and tossing banter that’s less witty repartee and more “Did you eat paste as a child?”. The rescue goes sideways when Captain Jensen and the evacuees are kidnapped by the Fenris Twins, who gleefully drag everyone to New Elysium, promising “positive change” and plenty of screaming.

Back at Haven, the military is in shambles, unable to locate the missing people due to fried comms and mutant sabotage. Cloak and Dagger heal the wounded while Flex and Scritch investigate, discovering that nobody has answers and everyone’s nerves are fried. A short-lived moment of character introspection tries to pass as deep, revealing how the X-Virus merged Cloak and Dagger’s powers; an idea far more interesting than the dialogue surrounding it.

The plot barrels into Belleville, a ghost town deep in Revelation territory. Here, the heroes find grisly evidence of mutation and destruction but precious little villainous presence from Revelation himself. The final pages promise more mutant drama and an even deeper agenda – still minus any Doug Ramsey screen time – setting up the Fenris Twins as antagonists while the titular dictator sits this one out.

Writing

Give credit for keeping things moving. This comic races ahead like a fleeing civilian, never dwelling too long on any scene. Unfortunately, the dialogue is groan-worthy, sometimes venturing into pure nonsense: “Tickle tickle” doesn’t exactly scream high drama. The characters sound like they’re improvising bad stand-up, and emotional beats get buried beneath awkward quips and over-explanation. Worst of all, despite the Age of Revelation setting, the antagonist, Doug Ramsey, might as well be a rumor for all the impact he has on the actual story.

Art

Lorenzo Tammetta’s artwork delivers exactly what the script needs: clean action, moody atmospheres, and panels that never feel crowded. Andrew Dalhouse’s colors add necessary gloom and tension, while facial expressions sometimes rescue weak dialog, just not often enough. Designs for New Elysium have plenty of dystopian bite, and mutant effects are consistently bold, if not groundbreaking.

Characters

Cloak and Dagger are present and accounted for, treating each other like telepathic roommates forced to share bunk beds. Supporting characters like Flex and Scritch wriggle into the action, but nobody gets enough time to feel fully developed. The Fenris Twins step up as perfectly cruel side-villains, doing more to carry the conflict than the absent Ramsey.

Positives

Pacing is relentless, in the best way. From one catastrophe to another, the plot never wastes a panel. The action scenes are clear and well-staged, with setting details fleshing out Age of Revelation’s grimy new world order. Even when dialogue sags, Tammetta’s artwork and Dalhouse’s colors keep energy flowing, making it easy to follow the chaos.

Negatives

The script treats “dialogue” like an afterthought, stalling momentum every time a character opens their mouth. Attempts at wit are painful, and emotional beats sink under so much clunky phrasing, it’s a miracle anything lands. Above all, the setting boasts the main villain, Revelation himself, but he never appears, leaving the whole story feeling like a side quest in Ramsey’s empire. To be fair, this comic is a tie-in issue, but Cloak and Dagger’s mission feels wholly disconnected as they serve as little more than evacuation defense.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Final Thoughts

Cloak Or Dagger #1 has the pacing of a speeding bullet, but trips on every line of dialog like a toddler chasing a soccer ball. The comic sets up a world dying for a showdown with Doug Ramsey but never delivers, serving up Fenris Twins mayhem as a consolation prize. At least the art sells the crisis, even when the writing insists on “tickle tickle” instead of tickling brains.

5.5/10

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