Every inch of this issue is intriguing and a sign of good things for the future of the X-Men.

It feels like Pak is unsure of the Agents of Atlas team and uses the popular characters from the Champions to garner attention.

All in all, I'm disappointed that this tie-in it turned out to be so inconsistently developed, paced, and drawn, given the talent involved. Between the confusing story and the conflicted artwork, the final effect leaves one feeling like they were reading the comic while afflicted with vertigo.

Despite this, after only a single issue I'm already wishing that Simone and Balden's work here could run longer than five issues. Simone is so great at creating strong, smart characters who overcome crazy, impossible odds and Balden is excellent at capturing their characterizations. While I felt there were some issues with the visual consistency, I still want more.

If you want a book that marries perfectly-paced, well-written narrative and visually captivating art, check out Die.

The issue feels like a quick read, and then -BAM!- out of nowhere, there are parasitic worms, Carnage, and a soliloquy on Carnage's new philosophical life view.

There is not a single wasted panel in Shazam! #1. Johns doesn't get stuck in an origin story to open this series and Eaglesham brings life and energy to every panel. Naito's art in the back up brings a very different visual element to the issue, but it all fits perfectly together. This issue is a well-developed, enticing drama that's funny, suspenseful and visually engaging and I can't wait to see where it goes.

I feel like the overall intention of these DC/Looney Tunes crossovers are to be fun mash-ups for a younger audience, but Lobdell and Booth create a thinly developed, weirdly realistic imagined situation for the Joker and Daffy Duck that is nowhere close to appropriate for a younger audience.

Peterson's story does everything it should do in this opening issue ofKings of Fear.He allows Jones to create hauntingly absurd images that remindthe reader that Batman's greatest weapon is psychology. It might be easy totake the art in this book at face value and walk away from it, but there is a surprising subtlety at work here. Jones' hyperbolic art paired with a plot that doesn't try to be overtly special makes for a fantastic, visual journey that doesn't have to be great to be fun.

As a long time fan of anything dealing with the Infinity Stones, I had been skeptical of this event. I didn't want another reimaging of the past likeSecret Wars,or evenSecret Empire.Duggan and Deodato Jr. put all my fears to rest in this issue and have made sure I'm going to read every issue until the saga ends in December.

It's very clear that Tynion has plans for Wonder Woman and her team that will be terrifying and multiverse altering. Justice League Dark #1 is clear and convincing beginning to a horror story that the mainstream DC Universe has never seen. This series is going to be one hell of a crazy ride.

This is a bit of a rough start to the five-issue mini-series. Stohl, however, keeps things intriguing enough to make it worth continuing with the series. Even if the sloppy start turns some readers off, the combined artistic talents within the issue are well worth the price of admission. Stohl has proven shecan write Carol Danvers well in the past, so I'm willing to give the series more time to develop.

I didn't hold out much hope that there would be much consistency within and between crossover issues written and drawn by different creative teams. Houser, Templeton, and Smith do an excellent job of creating an issue that moves theMilk Wars story forward, while also promoting the uniqueness of the individual characters involved. This issue is a testament to how good the Young Animal imprint has been and can be moving forward.

Kindt is really nailing the Valiant universe right now between this and XO Manowar. There are so many questions built into this opening salvo that I can't wait for the rest of the trip.

In the end, Humphries' script and Van Sciver's art unite to form an amazing comic focused on a truly detestable villain, through the complete destruction of the fundamentals of Batman's character. If Humphries, Van Sciver, and Wright have any say in the matter, the DC Universe is going to be a dark, horrific place from now on.

Between Montclare'sability to draw readers back in the story without retracing the previous arc and Amy Reeder's deft handling of the different emotional situations, this issue is a solid return to theRocket Girlseries. There's no concern here with sluggishness or retracing of events.Rocket Girl #8 is an action-packed reminder that this series is a lot of fun.

There are no real answers to what Superman's future holds in this issue. Superman, arguably, has been a roller-coaster for the past several years. Issues with characterization and plot lines have mixed with solid attempts to revitalize the character. Action Comics #976gives us an action-filled, feel-good beginning, whilethe anticipation Jurgens builds through the unanswered questions at the end of the issue paint an exciting future for Superman.

The main problem here is that as a jumping on point for the character, this issue creates more questions than answers. With the numerous unknowns surrounding this entirely new world that Vampirella finds herself in and the graphic nature surrounding the sexual expression of this new world, new readers may quickly lose interest. I think the amount of potential in the story is enough, however, to warrant giving Cornell more time to develop what direction this series is actually going to take.

If you're not reading this series, you really should look deep within yourself and ask why? Houser exhibits some very complex, well-developed writing skills that make everything about this issue shine.Mother Panic is a slow-burn, full of angst and intrigue. With four issues on the stands, it's clear this is a series that demands attention.

With Lemire, Soule, and Yu at the helm, this should have been one of the best issues on the stand this week. Unfortunately, the numerous small problems with characterization and the lack of tension in the visuals force readers to question the directionResurrXionwill lead these two critically important teams.

It has to be incredibly hard to create a completely new, intriguing character and drop her into one of the most well-established superhero environments in comics. Houser and Edwards do just that. Three issues into this series and it's clear that this creative team is taking us on a marathon. We might get exhausted during the journey, but I have a feeling the ultimate reward is going to leave us feeling completely satisfied in our dedication to seeing it through to the intense end.

The visual structure completely derails the narrative drivingSuperwoman#7, but there is plenty of potential within these pages. Hopefully, Jimenez will grow as a writer and maybe take more steps away from the artistic duties. A clear separation between the two creative aspects could prove to bring this series into the upper echelon of Rebirth titles.

Simply put, Champions #5 has a clear purpose " one that Waid set forth in the very first issue when Ms. Marvel stated, "Help us win the hard way " the right way " not with hate, not with retribution, but with wisdom and hope." By creating a story pitting the extraordinary against intolerance and corruption, Waid and his artistic team triumph at providing a story that meets its purpose.

If you want some really cool moments (no pun intended, given Killer Frost's importance to the issue) with some legendary DC characters combined with a slowly developing underlying conflict, this is a book you really need to check out. I wasn't expecting much out of this event but after this issue I'm hooked for the duration of the event.

Really the only thing to enjoy about this story is Atwood's introduction, where she describes her love and interest in comics and animal conservation. In a time where authors are crossing over from prose to sequential art, Atwood shows that some authors should stick to their original craft.

Jones leaves readers on a cliffhanger that raises many questions about the interim period between the first series and the new. By presenting a solid continuation of the plot with keen artistic detail, Jolle Jones and Michelle Madsen create a visually stunning and thought-provoking start to Lady Killer 2.

There's no Rick, Maggie, Carl or Michonne in this issue. It's an issue of antagonists doing what they do best while surviving the zombie apocalypse. Kirkman knows exactly how to build tension and momentum in this issue of The Walking Dead and bring the story to a halt with exposition. Adlard, Gaudiano, and Rathburn know how to perfectly work in unison with Kirkman's aspects tocreate a perfect well paced, tension filled masterpiece.

It is very clear in this issue that the creative harmony that is shared between Mark Waid and Chris Samnee is not just reserved for their run on Daredevil. They have seamlessly transitioned to Black Widow to continue their creative excellence.

Taylor may employ plot lines from Laura's past, but he clearly finds a new path issue #6 for the character that will be both entertaining and impactful to the future. With Taylor as the architect of her new role as Wolverine, Laura Kinney is clearly still one of the best female characters in the Marvel Universe.

Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows takes the idea of Peter as a parent and a father that we were given, briefly, in One More Day and develops it to a satisfying conclusion in issue #5. The impact of Slott's story paired with Kubert and Hanna's art prove that Peter Parker will always be one of the most complex and interesting characters in the Marvel Universe.

TheAge of Apocalypseis a story focused on human and mutant suffering versus absolute tyranny. Nicieza and Sandoval perfectly tap into everything that was great about this series and extends the established canon by finding new ways to connect the reader to the characters.

Long Walk to Valhalla uses human suffering and intense imagination to show how an ordinary man faces the reality of all the battles he's fought to survive everyday life, and in the end, comes out stronger than ever. This message inspires strength and leaves the reader wanting more from this creative duo.

I have completely forgotten whatever reservations I titanically had about picking up this series. The twisting, unsettling path of the plot combined with artwork that highlightsall the outstanding components of the story help place The Beauty #1 above many other series that try to instill edgy, originality into a genre-bending storytelling.

All in all though, Hitch starts off a big story in a way that clearly adheres to DC's new standard of great stories that don't worry about continuity.

This final aspect may, however, allow Black Canary to develop into a stronger solo character. If any creative team can do that, it will be Fletcher and Wu. They've already shown what a captivating character Dinah can be throughout this issue. They just need to keep developing the story forward and deal with the past less.

All of my expectations for this issue were exceeded. Both the story and art provide a perfect starting point for a controversial character. I look forward to seeing how this creative team continues to build on everything they got right in this issue and how Starfire will grow as a character.

Though Kubert's art is hit and miss throughout the issue, Slott's consistent connection to past continuity and excellent dialogue save this issue from becoming a Secret Wars tie-in that no one will remember.

King and Lobdell had plenty of opportunity to provide a satisfying conclusion to the Convergence event, yet the layers upon layers of dangling plot threads that get glossed over paired with some uneven artwork forces Convergence #8 to teeter towards the mediocre.

Overall, some may view this issue as a slow start to the second arc of Rocket Girl, but it's clear from the first arc that Monteclare and Reeder can weave an action-packed, meaningful story when given enough time. If this issue doesn't strike your fancy, hold on because there's a lot more to come. This creative duo has proven before they can create a cohesive story with complex characters, and I'm willing to travel a little farther with them to reach whatever destination they have planned.

At first I was unsure if I was going to allow myself to get dragged into another Marvel crossover after being disappointed with so many of the other, recent events/crossovers. Yet, Humphries superb story construction and the epic artwork in The Black Vortex Omega make it a a stellar concluding issue, and the overall crossover well worth the time and money.

5 O's, No Apologies.Welcome to Kabooooom, your hub for insightful opinions and amusing discourse on comics and the movies, television, and art they inspire. Search for:(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Read Our Webcomic - Next Gen!

It's not often a story can grab your attention so fiercely that time slows down and your environment begins to blend with the reality of the book. Scott McCloud easily achieves that level of writing transcendence with The Sculptor. McCloud's story fills its readers with a vast emptiness in their fiction-loving soul; an emptiness that McCloud's story-telling excavates and leaves you wishing there was more. - See more at: http://kabooooom.com/2015/02/book-review-sculptor/#sthash.BVjBOkRr.dpuf

Lady Killer #1 is both thought provoking and visually stunning. Josie's dual life presents a stark contrast between the submissiveness established by social norms and the animalistic enjoyment she shows for her work. This juxtaposition illuminates a repressed American culture in the 1960's on the verge of a slow and hard fought change.

Altogether, Cooke's dialogue and Souzamotta's art create an interesting, worthwhile issue that builds more than enough suspense to warrant checking out the next issue of Solitary.

Overall, Soule, McNiven, and the rest of the creative team of this issue do an excellent job of dispelling andiffidence people may have with this series by constructing a well written, beautifully constructed story.

Comic book readers should expect more from a weekly comic than just names on the cover. Lemire, Jurgens, Giffen, and Azzarello are hugely talented writers, yet Futures End #13 is a huge disappointment.

Snyder so carefully builds the conclusion to Zero Year into Batman's continuity that it feels like we are witnessing the birth of a superhero. Doing this with such a strong established history should be tricky, but Snyder makes it seem easy. The story and art together in Batman #33 make Batman more human, which is an amazing accomplishment for a superhero. Batman is all at once stronger and weaker, which makes him that much more entertaining to follow.

I've said it before in my reviews of Elektra, yet I'm going to reiterate it once again. This is one of the best comics available. Blackman and Del Mundo are a cohesive team that has proven three times now that they have a vision for Elektra. Elektra #3 excels at building that vision and demonstrates that the series will only get better as time passes.

Overall, the spectral artwork with its fluid organization and multi-faceted tone works so well with Blackman's writing that this issue is hard to forget. The series may only be two issues deep, but this issue proves that the most interesting stories can happen where a person least expects it.

Aside from the fact that Doomsday is super cool and has a lot development potential that will again go untapped, Lobdell, Pak, and Soule make a pretty cool opening issue to the Doomed crossover. It'll be interesting to see how Superman's latest run in with this destructive threat impacts the character's development in the future.

With Edmondson's deeply philosophical plot and the dream-like artwork, Genesis easily becomes one of the most thought provoking comics this year. With the level of critical thought required to grasp Adam's struggles and the surreal artwork, Genesis should challenge the reader to think about his or her life and the changes they wish to make.

Overall, Keatinge's excellent pacing and descriptive world building is enough to draw the reader into this new series. When coupled with Del Duca and Gieni's art and coloring, Shutter #1 becomes a science fiction/adventure drama that is both interesting and thought provoking.

Overall, the previous issues have been better. The Adventures of Apocalypse Al #3 may have some funny moments and act as a bridge into the final issue of the series, but it feels more like a filler issue that could be easily skipped in a short mini-series.