Sebela and Olivetti do a stellar job kicking off a book that may confuse many due to the way that Dark Horse has designed the Fire and Stone event (and I've graded based on this specific book, not on the overall event planning). Since it takes place after the Prometheus book we're not sure if we should know who anyone is and how the events that Francis put in place happen. Maybe that's the way Dark Horse planned it (and maybe there are no answers) but time-jumping from book to book may just lead some readers to wait for the trades.

Aliens: Fire and Stone #1 isn't a swing and miss but I couldn't help but be a little disappointed as we get a pretty standard opening to a very exciting world that many of us already know. I'll admit that I did have fun mapping out dates and an overall timeline to place this bookwith the movies.

The story concept has been done before but Morrison's words and Irving's art combine so perfectly here that it feels new and different. This was a book that wasn't on my radar until I had it in my hand and didn't expect to love it as much as I did. Annihilator #1 is a strong start to what should be a dark, crazy ride.

Paul Tobin gets new readers up to speed quickly while those that keep their copy of the first Colder close at hand see how Declan powers have grown. The introduction of the new threat, Swivel, is even more unsettling than Nimble Jack and Juan Ferreyra's art will make you check under the bed before turning out the light. Colder: The Bad Seed is a near perfect start to this much-anticipated sequel.

Honestly the last page of this book snuck up on me " it just didn't seem like a complete first issue. Hopefully the next issue will put the readers on firmer ground. While I was looking forward to another miraculous book from Justin Jordan Dark Gods just leads me to wish for a conversion.

How much more gushing can I do? It continues to be in my top three comics of this year and one of the books I get the most excited about reading each month. The writing and art are very personal and that passion shows in these pages.

While the added information in East of West: The World one shot is useful for any East of West die-hard, the amount of info it contains was disappointing to this fan of the series.

George A. Romero works to keep the zombie genre he created fresh and interesting by creating "aware" undead and skillfully adding in a vampire element. It doesn't feel forced or contrived. I was let down that Alex Maleev didn't pick up the pencils for Act Two and feel the series suffers a bit for it though Dalibor Talajic's art does work well here.

Overall this was a good start to a series that is right at home in the insane world of Gotham City. Fawkes does a great job getting the team introduced to the reader and Templesmith's art sets the spectral analyzer off the charts. Gotham By Midnight definitely should be on your pull list this week.

James Tynion IV and Eryk Donovan delivered an ending to Memetic that I did not expect but one that was fitting and satisfying. Not every story needs to wrapped up in a happy little bow. They take Memetic not to where you think it's going but to whereit has to go " sad and tragic but with a glimmer of satisfaction from both lead characters. Boom has been publishing some challenging and excellent series of late and Memetic is a feather in their hat. And I for one welcome our new alien overlords.

Rasputin is a ripe subject for a comic ready to have facts poked, prodded and stretched to create a new legend and if this first issue is any indication, Alex Grecian and Riley Rossmo are up to the task.

Readers could spend hours discussing their understanding and interpretations of time in this book but I'll end my review here as I don't want to spoil any more of the surprises that made this such a great read. Backwards or forwards Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely's The Multiversity: Pax Americana is one of the most creative, innovative and gorgeous books of the year.

Though I was expecting to jump right back in to the action, Uncanny: Season 2 #1 takes a leapback to Weaver's past and it is hispast that has brought him to the attention of some unseemly characters looking to break the secret of human superpower activation. Overall it was a satisfying return with a strong story and great art and colors. We've waited over a year for Weaver's return and the creative team did not disappoint.

I'm always excited to read a new take on an old favorite and even more excited when that story ends up going in a promising new direction like Wolf Moon #1. Cullen Bunn has proved that he can write some crazy horror/blood and guts books and has dangled a meaty worm on a hook in front of readers to entice them to bite on this new Vertigo title. Jeremy Haun keeps up his end of the bargain with some very tense and graphic scenes to satisfy picky horror lovers. They've definitely got me waiting for the next cycle of the moon to pick up issue #2 and see if the team can keep this book leader of the pack.