A great many exciting things are happening in DC during the current Infinite Frontier initiative but Johnsons Action run (and the shorter Superman run before it) have been standouts in a field of standouts for me even more now that the story has the space and time to really get going. The 2021 Annual is no exception. It manages to bridge the past and the future yet remain relevant to the present... all while telling a strong standalone story featuring characters that I really hope to see again.

But theres no denying that Batman is the spine of the current Bat-office the context in which all else takes place and for that reason alone it would be worth following even if it werent so darn fun to read.

Meanwhile, Midnighter begins to draw close to the end of his adventure... just in time for a new player to arrive on the proverbial field. I'm looking forward to seeing how this all comes together next month and in the Midnighter annual!

I rarely come across a work so thought provoking, heartbreaking and unique. Poignant without being ponderous or heavy, drawn and colored like a dream, Laila Starr is a meditation on life, death, humanity and loss and how these things interact with and influence one another that sticks with you long after you turn the final page.

Cheer Part Four brings the anger, pain and insecurities stewing between Bruce and Jason for all these years to the surface and confronts them with the demand at the heart of the best fiction: Change or die. While change is notoriously difficult for both characters, hopefully they do take that step, because theyve already tried death.

One day, the Joker and Punchline will meet again and then Gotham will really bleed. But for the moment Ill just be here with my popcorn, watching the show.

Ghost-Makers backup is high octane action, but it still manages to illuminate and interrogate Ghost-Makers character, revealing more of the way he organizes his non-morality, which is exactly the kind of thing I love in a backup story.

These issues feel like the first winds of an incoming storm growing in intensity, gathering force as the thunder begins to roll in and the clouds gather above. It is riveting work with the promise of even more compelling storytelling to come, and I cant stress enough how here for it I am.

The second issue of The Many Deaths of Laila Starr is just as good as the first, and the first was pretty close to perfect. Everyone involved with Laila Starr is operating in full command of their powers, and those powers are substantial. If you havent already gotten hooked on this book what are you even doing with your life?

For years, Jason has been the center of action stories and epic moments but not many grounded stories or human moments. "Cheer" is exactly what he needs to flesh him out and define exactly who he is and what he stands for going forward. You cant give a final score before the finale but for my money, "Cheer" is en route to being among the best Jason Todd stories ever told.

The Joker is a series that started strong and keeps getting stronger.

Long story short: still loving this run with all the power I can muster. Cant wait to see where it goes, or to see how the little connections spreading outward from Batman to all of the other Batgroup books will ultimately come together. It should be a hell of a ride.

In the lead story, Phillip Kennedy Johnson and Daniel Sampere bring a grace and power to Clark that really exemplifies the best versions of him" all while fleshing out his long time enemy Mongul and his miserable planetsized kingdom, Warworld.

Wake up, don't sleep, you do not want to miss out on this one!

This run has been quite a ride so far, so strap in! This is a really exciting time to be a Batman fan!

Cheer is one of the best stories DC has going right now. It presents both central characters as complicated, flawed, and at odds because of their disparate approaches yet still struggling with the inevitability of it. Truly one of the best takes on Jason weve gotten so far.

The Golden Age and The Passenger together form a one-two punch of different themes and moods that form an incredibly satisfying whole. If you have children (or parents honestly) consider bringing tissues.

The excellent The Joker #1 draws on the crime and suspense genres in its examination of Gordon as a character, and the impact the Joker has had on both Gordon himself and the people around him not to mention Gotham as a whole. Highly recommended for fans of the crime genre especially.

Dark energy runs through this one, my friends, and it is beautiful. A strong and sometimes unsettling opening to a new chapter in Batmans life and adventures with a corresponding new beginning for Damian in the backup.

An epic scale finale for Clark's lineage... or perhaps the beginning of a new era? House of El delivers superheroics meshed with a science fiction war narrative featuring interesting characters and history both, with the potential for more pulsing under its surface. It will leave you satisfied, yet with your appetite whetted for more.

As is the case with many of the other Future State titles, it provides only partial answers to the questions it raises and leaves the characters in the midst of unfinished business... thus working to raise the appetite for answers and adventures yet to come. I admittedly have no real idea how those answers will come, considering we're back in the past (present!) as of March, but I'm more than willing to give the story a chance to develop and watch all of these plot threads and questions pay off.

A goodbye that feels like a promise for more, and I'm here for it. Future State has been pretty interesting all around - I've enjoyed nearly everything I've read across the entire line so far, and I'm glad that many these characters and storylines will be continue in some form.

One of the best Future State titles, without a doubt. FS: Catwoman #2 is grand in its movements and intimate in its moments. Just a beautiful book.

Stunning visuals and fascinating characters come together for a fantastic third issue with an excellent lead story starring Jace Fox and two backups that I would honestly buy even if they were titles to themselves. Next Batman Chapter 3 demonstrates Jace's quick wits and limitations both moral and physical. The Outsiders finale establishes Duke Thomas as an up and coming major player in the DCU, and Arkham Knights explores the human side of human monsters. Altogether an excellent issue.

One of the strongest in the Future State line so far, this issue feels like a tapestry of many kinds of thread, slowly coming together to slowly form a single image that, so far, remains just out of reach. I can't wait to keep following those leads.

Another excellent Next Batman adventure, paired with two intriguing backup stories. The character, motivations and methods of the man behind the cowl continues to evolve and reveal itself.

A great issue full of twists, turns, and even a few surprises. Future State: Catwoman builds on the events of Vs ongoing Catwoman run and gives us a tantalizing glimpse of a future built on the bones of the present. Selina is perfectly characterized... and the issue itself closes at the most intriguing part, leaving many parts in motion and plenty of places to go. Its the wait for it cats meow.

W. Maxwell Prince and today's collaborators Vanessa Del Rey, Chris O'Halloran and Good Old Neon spin a tale about a down on his luck clown, and how much you can lose before you aren't lucky anymore. Or maybe it's about how little you need to keep in order to continue seeing yourself as lucky? Well, what's important is, a story about a slightly pathetic clown has no right to be this good.

A fantastic start to the Batman corner of 2025, Future State: The Next Batman #1 wastes no time in establishing the dynamics of this new world and its characters. Each story addresses a different aspect of life in and around Gotham City, painting a fascinating picture of life in what amounts to a fascist city-state. An excellent opening to a series that I expect will feel too short by its closing.

A haunting and profoundly emotional look at a young girl's life as she struggles with secrets and fears during the holiday season, "Advent Calendar" is yet another excellent entry in the impeccable Ice Cream Man record.

Gideon Falls #27 is the perfect ending for a perfectly entrancing series. If you've enjoyed the ride to date, you can expect to enjoy this wrap up in much the same way: in a well-lit room and followed by a long night pretending you don't hear that skritch, skritch, skritch!

Batman Beyond #50 leaves Terry McGuinness in an excellent position to continue onto new adventures, while also serving as an excellent end cap for one of DC Rebirth's longest running and most consistent series.

A promising beginning to a fantastic team that plays beautifully off of one another's strengths, Sam takes a familiar premise and mixes it up with enough unique elements to keep it fresh. A great first issue, and I look forward to learning more about this world, these characters. And that gun.