Tom King's name is on this book, but with the exception of a referential line or two, this doesn't appear consequential to his "I Am Gotham" arc, so if you need to skip, don't feel too bad.

Like other "Rebirth" books, though, this arc is really stretching out a story that would have been two or three issues in the past. It's likable, but not after five issues and we're still not done.

Man Plus combines traditional elements of the genre " corporate corruption, advanced personal tech, government overreach " with police drama and crime procedural details that make the book feel fresh. It's not as philosophically heavy as Ghost in The Shell, nor is it as depressing as Law and Order: SVU (at least not in the first issue), but it has the potential to be something of a bridge between genres in way that's accessible, fun and anything but boring.

All told, this issue is one more nearly flawless work; it flows easily from one panel to the next and sets the stage for some more of the books signature violent conflict resolution. It also looks like we may get to see Sonja in a body dismembering team up before this arc is complete. I'm excited.

While I can't say that this is the best issue I've ever read, it does hold up well with the rest of the series (if you can muscle through those first few pages).

You should really already be reading this gem from Millar and Co., but if you aren't now's a great time to get on board.

If you're looking for something different in the current midst of saga and event saturation, you'll definitely enjoy the change of pace that "Stringers" has to offer.

Overall, We Stand on Guard is a solid read. Like I said, it's a story type that you're sure to be familiar with at this point, but it's the novel bits that make this book. The artwork is fantastic and even though the story is still in the early stages, there are a lot of elements present that should make for a captivating read for many issues to come.

Titan is the perfect home for it and now is the perfect time for a Tank Girl book. The character has always been unapologetically amoral, outspoken and brash. 21st Century TG isn't my favorite Tank Girl book, and admittedly I've only just begun to explore the Tank Girl Universe, but it is great at doing what it sets out to do " gives readers a compelling reason to get interested in the anti-heroine again and have some fun with the casual mayhem that undergirds her world.

This is definitely a must read issue.

McCrea does a good job of keeping the artwork lively but not too busy. The panels rarely have more than a character or two at a time, and no one seems overly concerned with striking vogue poses or anything. It's about as realistic a vibe as one can get from a book where ""the sky and the mountains haven't f*cked lately". Likewise, Spicer's colors are spot on for a book like this; at the beginning everything seems to be coming through a sort of earth tone green filter only to later switch to a warmer and yellow saturation. It creates an ever-expanding world effect in my opinion, that invites readers to sit back and enjoy the spectacle.

Later, you may forgive yourself for missing the first story arc in this series; there really wasn't an incredible amount of hype for the book and it was easy to overlook. I'm not sure you'll be able to make that same excuse this time around, so self-forgiveness probably won't come as easily. Besides, hype or no, it's still a great comic and deserves all the eyeballs it can get.

Three issues in and Descender is still pretty close to a perfect work of contemporary science fiction.

I've never read a comic quite like Death Sentence, in either of its manifestations, and I'm enjoying the wild ride thoroughly. If you haven't had the pleasure of reading the previous books, not to worry, Death Sentence: London #1 is an excellent place to get your first fix!

So, hey, quit mulling over whether or not to give this book a shot. You can start by grabbing this issue and working your way back if necessary, but don't, for the love of Slanjau, go another month without familiarizing yourself with "Rumble".

That's exactly what Kaptara reads like; a book that's been cobbled together from ideas that haven't been fully developed or explored. I enjoy experimentation, sometimes for the sake of the risk, but generally because the results of the experiment turn out well and make me wonder how I got along before. I understand the method, just not the madness here, and I hope Kaptara's second issue is better than the first.

If you aren't already reading this series, let me be the first (though certainly not the last) to tell you that you are missing out on one fantastic comic book.

Three issues into this four-part miniseries and I see that he's taking this book in a philosophical direction that's not usually attempted, let alone achieved. Where a great many writers tend toward nihilism, or it's less bleak cousin relativism, this story seems to push a theme of hope. That's not to say that the book isn't without its moments of dread, instances where the stark realization that existence may not have any redeeming value come to the fore.

The rest of the book is a mix of PG-13 rated sexual innuendo and more of those same sort of non-sequiturs-that-aren't-but-could-be-and-probably-are scenes. I never seemed to be able to get my bearings enough to care about what was or wasn't actually happening in this book.

Oh, and McFarlane probably couldn't have picked a better successor to take over the drawing duties than Jonboy Meyers. His work is bold and contemporary, exaggerated in ways that fit what is essentially a horror comic perfectly. If nothing else, there's always the great pictures to look at.

In the premier issue, Quinn's planned trip to the year 1492 for a meet and greet with Columbus is derailed by an anomalous time distortion, and he instead lands in Samarkand in 1504. Apparently stranded in the past, his good buddy Reilly, being uniquely qualified, makes the trip back to rescue his friend; Reilly soon discovers that Quinn is definitely not stranded, but is in fact, living like a king. Literally.

Now that I've read a few issues, the rounded faces of the characters seem to make things more enjoyable, perhaps a bit more believable; as believable as anything can be in a fantasy book, I suppose. Their buoyancy, their generally optimistic demeanor, along with a subtle but very definite hardiness, lends credence to the idea that maybe the quest that's shaping up here has more to sustain it than just hope.

If you plan on continuing on with this book I'd suggest a bit of patience, as things seem to be developing at a slow and deliberate pace. Even with my concerns about character flatness, I still want to see where this thing goes, and I'll be hanging around for at least a little while longer.

This is a dark story, but to paraphrase a line from Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises", it is a necessary darkness. The story forces readers to confront concepts that tend to remain abstract in the real world; things like justice and morality, the ever-thinning line between human and machine consciousness " notions that carry huge emotional implications but that are rarely properly articulated. All great fiction does that, or so I'm told, and if that is the case, then Imperium succeeds in not only being a great comic book, but indeed a great work of artistic expression.

I'm sure things will pick up again in short order and this was just a necessary break in what has been almost non-stop action in one of Marvel's better books. So, even though I expected more, I'm not overly disappointed. Only slightly.

Black Mask makes its mark by publishing stories that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else, and Space Riders fits with that modus operandi like a well-placed LEGO block. Don't miss this one.

Miami Vice: Remix #1 is a great lead-off for what looks like a good-old fashioned cops and robbers ( or drug dealers) story. Despite that somewhat heavy theme, this is still an exciting book that revisits a franchise that's remembered fondly by some of us.

If you're in the market for an action-packed comic that requires no serious commitment, grab this book, take a seat and savor the moment.

This is a mature story, so keep the kids away until at least their late teens, but enjoy yourself otherwise as Aquila continues his quest to sate the hunger of the Devourer.

Maybe you've already read Monkeybrain's version of D4VE; that's cool. Still, if you're a fan of the digital comic, you're going to want to pick this one up, literally, because this is the first time anyone has been able to do it; outside of reading on your Kindle of course.

Fans of not only good science fiction, but great storytelling, well-rounded main characters and strong support characters would do well not to pass up Mister X. You never know when an opportunity to own a true classic, even a reissue, will present itself again.

Despite those earlier complaints, I'm in on this one; I want to see what persuaded Joshua to risk this extraordinary predicament in the first place. Given the style of this story, that may or may not be possible, which really is just one more reason to stick around and find out.

Alessio does a great job of capturing the epic scale of the story with his art and was a fine choice for the finale. His work is detailed but has something of a dream, or nightmare, quality to it, reminiscent of the legend himself, H.R. Giger. You don't really need to know much canon to enjoy this book, as it is a one-shot, but it will definitely prompt you to investigate further if you don't. I definitely recommend this book, and series, to any fans of not only the Alien/Predator/Prometheus films, but fans of good sci-fi in general.

Eventually you are going to get tired of me saying how great a streak Valiant is on currently, but until then, I'm going to keep saying it. Every time I think that this company has outdone itself, they manage to amaze me a little more. In addition to the more seasoned characters that have been reintroduced, Divinity offers us a new character and world to discover. If this opening issue is any indication, there's plenty to be on the look out for and even more to be optimistic about as regards Abram and his homecoming.

I have little doubt that this book won't appeal to everybody, and that's perfectly fine. Those that it does appeal to will absolutely be dedicated enough to decipher the cryptic symbolism and hang with the book through its run. So, if you found this issue a little hard to digest, have no fear; or have a healthy amount of fear. Whatever. I'm going to keep reading and I suggest you do likewise.

For the thinkers and students of the unorthodox, there probably isn't a better title than this to get the old brain juices flowing.

This is the best premier issue I've read in quite some time, and I expect that Imperium will be racking up a few awards in the near future. If you haven't already figured it out, you should definitely be reading this book, it has everything a comic book lover could want; Compelling story, interesting characters and, of course, Doug Braithwaite's amazing art. You won't find a better single issue in the opening quarter of 2015.

Bottomline, you could do worse with $3.50 than spend it on BPRD #127. Don't do that though; go pick this one up, and if you're anything like me, you'll most likely be engaged enough to hang around to see exactly how everything plays out.

If you're in the market or a feel good story, something light-hearted to take a break from the more intense subject matter, you won't find a better book.

I know you're already reading this one, so I won't tell you to add it to your pull list. Just keep it there and enjoy the ride.

That said, unless you were a fan of the original, or just crave continuity in the Anni-Padda family, you may want to steer clear of Ivar.

While I can't say that I was overly impressed with the artwork, that's not because it was poorly done. On it's own the work in Reyn is good, but in comparison to other books in the genre like BirthRight or Grimm's Tales of Terror , it just doesn't have the attention to detail and vitality that's needed to set it apart from the rest of the field. Regardless, it's still very much worth your time and hard earned cash, if for no other reason than to see just what Fate has in store.

The previous series and now this opening issue have set the bar pretty high and I'm eager to see how the story develops from here.

Unlike The Activity, the focus here isn't so much on technical expertise and realism, in terms of the operators, as it is on emotional attachment and action. That said, while I did enjoy the book overall, in future issues I wouldn't mind seeing a little more of a detailed approach regarding the team's tactics and procedures. Minor preferences aside, this was a good opening issue and promises to be another hit for Bunn and Oni Press.

I really can't recommend Wynter highly enough; this book along with Copperhead and Low, depict women in roles usually reserved for male leads, a refreshing break from the monotony that will hopefully invite a wider audience to the world of comics. While I wouldn't go so far as to call myself a male feminist, it is great to see so many well executed female protagonists in science fiction stories.

It's those subtle nuances that create attachment to the story and characters for the audience and are in turn a big part of BirthRight's success. While this issue didn't really expand the mythos of the BR universe very much, it was great at fleshing out the cast a bit more. You could probably skip it and still not really lose your place in the narrative overall, but for the dedicated amongst us, I wouldn't recommend doing that.

This book is fulfilling for those who remember watching that first film on VHS and being totally amazed by the brutality of that fictional future. Even though this is the seventh issue in the reboot, it's a good point to pick up the story and sets up what is sure to be a bloody and gruesome next issue.

The story of Falk the minstrel is, if nothing else, thought-provoking and explores an aspect of the messiah/martyr trope that is often ignored in comics.

The indications of a complex association between Josie and her "handler", the debonair and confident Peck, point toward some interesting conflicts in later issues. On the whole, this was a great first issue and Dark Horse probably couldn't have picked a better series to open the New Year with. Pick it up and if it's sold out, tell your comic shop to put in an order. You'll be glad that you did.

While I enjoyed this issue, I do wonder if the word gags will get a little worn as the series progresses. Almost every scene of dismemberment or impaling involves either a pun or some snarky wordplay. And there were plenty of those types of scenes.

Fans of the franchise will love this, and even if you're not partial to either Autobots or Decepticons, still give it a go for the art alone.

Rumble is shaping up to be one of, if not the, standout title of the coming New Year. Pick it up and enjoy.

The thing about this book is that it's fairly apparent, even without the credits, that both of these stories are adaptations. This comic would only appeal to those who are already fans of either Bradbury's ,or his eulogizer's, works. That's not to suggest that the book is poorly done, only that it is directed towards a very specific audience.

So, in sum, The Bigger Bang is a lofty undertaking that may not suit the appetites of everyone, but give it a try anyway. You just might like it.

Even if you haven't had the opportunity to get into the story up until now, I'd still suggest you go out and grab Issue #6, as it's a satisfying ending to a great mini-series.

Bottomline, you need to get a hold of this book, grip it tightly and let it take you for a ride.

Humans is a winner in every sense of the word and should be a must have for any true fan of comics.

If you haven't gotten your hands on Birthright already, go out immediately and pick this one up. And make sure to add it to your pull list from now on.

BOOM! Studios is on a roll lately with their reimagined licensed properties and Escape From New York is no exception. Go out and get this one before Snake has to come and pay you a visit.

That said, I can't in good conscious recommend this book to anyone who hasn't read issue one, as this is mostly filler. It's a little troubling to find that so early in the book's run, but I'm confident given Miller's storytelling pedigree that things will get back on track soon.

This comic is great for some relatively easy reading or as introduction for anyone looking to explore the genre without any real commitment.

The thing that really keeps you reading is the way Miner has mixed and mashed the chronology of the book. We jump around from present to past and back again without ever being told just what brought about the band's fortuitous curse.

Liz herself is more or less your average teenager; dejected, rebellious and searching for more meaning to her life than she feels is offered to her by her society. Like I said, typical teenager. It's this emotional familiarity that keeps Wynter from spiraling to far into left field and makes it not only readable, but enjoyable.

In spite of the books unorthodox feel, I'm inclined to keep reading this series, if only to get a better idea of just what the hell is happening. I'd recommend this to those more into experimental fiction than traditional comics; hardcore fanboys may find this horror story a little hard to swallow.

If you're in the mood for a good story, go ahead and give this book a shot. If you don't like it, well it's pretty obvious that you aren't punk.

Overall, this is a nice read and gets this Crusader's seal of approval.

Generally speaking, I'm a fan of the more esoterically focused and otherwise far-fetched sci-fi books as they tend to stretch acceptable creative limits, but I just can't get into this book. There's just too much flash and not enough substance. Maybe future issues will make me eat my words, but as for now, I don't see that happening.

Things are definitely looking up, no pun intended, for Low.

Image looks like they've picked a winner with Roche Limit, however bleak the fictional future in this comic might appear.

The ZooHunters #1 is a promising debut and let's hope that the rest of the series expands on this impressive first offering.

Memetic #1 is a solid beginning to what looks like an interesting and downright horrifying story. I suggest you give this book a chance and give yourself a fear-filled speculative treat this Halloween.

Despite the tendency for the characters to slip into the banal when it comes to human contact sans zombies, I'd still recommend giving this book a read. The story arc is still climbing, building conflict between those same characters and hopefully leading to some real answers about just what's happening in rural central Wisconsin.

Give this issue, and this series as whole, a look; I doubt you'll be disappointed by what you uncover.

Overall, Deadly Class is not a bad read. The premise is great, the character's are complex and the art is punk at it's best. My only real gripe is the overall sullen nature of the book. In a world where a secondary school with "Deadly Arts" in it's name is a real thing, it's kind of hard for me to take it's student body as seriously as they take themselves.

Like I said, great standalone story, great art, no disagreement there. Still, I can't help but ask myself "Why", as in why did I need to know that about Eternal Warrior? Or why is this important to the Unity mythos? Without knowing Valiant's marketing plan, I can only assume the rest of the current roster will get a similar treatment at some point in the series, and maybe this issue will make more sense in that larger framework. If not, well at least we've got a great single-issue story, even if it doesn't mean anything.

While Future Primitive may not convert any new fans for Gunstone, it should, as this book has the potential to be something great and well worth reading more than once. The faithful will find this book up to par with the seasoned writer's past work and in line with the varied offerings of his new publishing home.

This is only the first issue, but Miller does a great job of building anticipation for his readers, and you can't ask for much more in a debut series. Will Pirouette live up to expectations? Only time will tell.

Overall, this is a solid book and fans (like myself) of the property will be sated for a while, at least until the next issue comes out.

The draw of this issue isn't really the story per se, though it continues to expand in scope, but Tocchini's increasingly grand art. For the first time we get a chance to glimpse the aquatic world beyond Salus' dome and it is remarkable. The ocean life, some radically evolved, as well as the underwater environment, serve as immersive atmosphere pieces. You can almost taste the salt as Stel and Marik ride a pair of giant seahorse-like creatures through the sea.

All-in-all Copperhead #1 is a solid piece of story-telling. If you are a fan of Whedon's Firefly/Serenity projects, then this book is definitely for you.

You're not gonna come away from this second issue feeling very positive about the human condition and that's okay. Fairy tales are for kids, good science fiction is for the more discerning fictionalist.

Overall Godzilla: Rulers of the Earth #15 accomplishes its mission. It's a fun book with an outrageous premise. The story isn't hard to follow, despite the lack of fixed perspective and the artwork is top notch. When you pick up a Godzilla book, you expect to see wanton destruction and mayhem and not much else; on that front, this comic delivers

Unfortunately, great art and action alone doth not a great comic make. Borderlands suffers from the strangle hold of licensed material and the need to appeal to an established fan-base. I suggest you steer clear of this one unless you're some sort of masochist.

Titan comics has definitely hit a home-run with this action-packed and blood-soaked title. Be warned, Sally is not for the faint of heart or stomach, so the easily offended should be wary before cracking this one open. If you take issue with strong leading women who subjugate and decapitate men regularly, steer clear of this book. Otherwise, get ready for one of the most thrillingly chaotic stories of the year.

The rest, as they say, is history. As stated earlier, the book stays true to tradition in visual style, dialogue captions and most especially during action sequences. In between those heavy action sequences we get some comic relief from Jack's wizard ally, a welcome relief from what would otherwise be a hack and slash fest. It all comes together quite nicely though, as a simple adventure story, one of an infinitude in the life of the samurai.

Now, after all of that praise, I must warn you, some of the dialogue borders on stereotype, in conjunction with the obligatory threat of urban street gangs that Gavin has to avoid on a day to day basis. It's a tried and true method for delivering minority characters to the masses, so I can't fault Feenstra and Height for taking that approach. Hopefully,however, as the Tiger matures, so will the book and we'll get to see our hero move away from the clich into more adventurous territory.

The artwork definitely has a classic feel to it, lots of deep shadows and cross-hatching, which adds to the overall moodiness of the panels. Ruttgaizer and Sevy have a knack for depicting harrowing action sequences at a truly break-neck pace. All in all the book has potential, even if the first issue doesn't quite light the fire that it sets out to ignite.

The early emphasis on mythology and monster worship gives the impression that we may run into a cult or two in this universe devoted to a who-knows-what kind of horrible incarnation of chaos. The anticipation. The suspense.

Though the villain-as-protagonist theme has almost been done to death in recent years, most depictions have been done in a flippant manner, focused more on the humanity of the villain, as an attempt to make audiences more sympathetic toward them. Krekeler takes this notion and spins it on it's head, suggesting that the super-villain profession, like that of the tragic hero, is a calling, and that only a few are chosen to carry on the tradition. He may be on to something.