Action Comics #1029 on its own is a serviceable issue, but when considered within the context of the previous issue, it comes off as redundant. The emotional core that Johnson brings to the characters remains, but loses some of its punch here. For concurrent Superman readers, this entry will fall short, but if one were to pick up this issue standalone it would read much better.

Amazing Spider-Man #55 delivers a startling conclusion to this current arc. Spencer and Gleason are truly doing some of their best work of late and do not disappoint. Taken as a whole, this issue leaves little to complain about other than a rather abrupt ending. Despite this, issue #55 primes readers for the next arc and will leave you on the edge of your seat grasping for more.

Regrettably, thisfollow-upto "Last Remains"' exciting setup comes off asflawed more than anything else. Itundermines the buildup of the preceding issues in favor of narrative contrivance. While the artistic talent behind the book continues to shine, particularly when it comes to emotionality, it cannot totally make up for the narrative choices. Overall, an unfortunately disappointingaddendumthat that hopefully is not indicative of future issues' quality.

Barbalien: Red Planetworks exceptionally well on every level at delivering an engaging debut. It lays out its narrative and thematic thrusts through every aspect. From Brombal and Lemire's story to Walta and Jordie Bellaire's art, it all comes together in a unified creative vision. Barbalien takes the setup of what what could be perceived as a needless Black Hammer spin-off and instead takes the story in an intimate and relevant direction.

Batman #101 really struggles to become an issue worth paying cover price for due to its narrative pitfalls. It seems more concerned with setting up future plots than actually providing an engaging one itself. Especially coming off Joker War's clean conclusion, this issue comes off as redundant.

Fans of James Tynion's run thus far will find a lot of enjoyment here. All of the new characters and seeds he's planted are slowly coming to fruition. Fear State holds a lot of promise for the Bat-titles, but the jury is still out on how game-changing this event will turn out to be. As it stands,Fear State is off to a steady start backed by brilliant art.

Batman #113 rectifies some past problems while continuing others. The action beats are the high points here especially with the artwork. Yet at the same time, the issue continues to feel the need to over-explain/re-explain the plot and somehow still leave the end goal ambiguous. This issue is a step in the right direction for the arc and continues to be one of the best illustrated books on the comic rack.

Though this issue packs the visual punch we've come to expect, it continues to focus on the strangest portions of Fear State. It's just disappointing to see a book with such fantastic artwork be so hindered by its storytelling.

This issue very much feels like a return to form for the main Bat-title. It keeps its focus on Batman, gives us some classic action beats, and sets up the next direction. For me, this serves as a promising jumping on point. It's direct, engaging, and recaptures what a Batman title should be.

Fear State Alpha #1 is an issue fighting against itself. On the one hand, it wants to prep readers for Fear State, but at the same time it assumes you are familiar with all the moving pieces. This recap also comes at the expense of long exposition dumps, further working against the issue. If you are looking to get caught up before Fear State starts next week and have no prior knowledge, this might be for you. If you are a current reader, Fear State Alpha #1 is not worth the price of admission.

One third of the way through the story, one would hope for more development at this point. The mystery continues to deepen, but the lack of reveals or any reptiles thus far may leave some wanting. Despite the pacing issues, the pairing of Ennis' grim dialogue and storytelling with Sharp's unorthodox art style continues to make it one of the most unique offerings from DC Comics.

This is just the first issue, but Batman: The Knight has yet to solidify why this origin redux is necessary or what it will contribute to the character. Unfortunately, there's too little new here for Bat-fans and not enough promise to recommend to new readers over other time-tested origins.

'Blue in Green' is a book you will not want to miss. It's bold, stylish, and terrifying all at once. One can easily sense the level of care put into this work on every level. Definitely do yourself a favor and pick this one up. Sit down, put on some Miles Davis, and lose yourself in this exceptional book.

Dark Nights: Death Metal Multiverse's End brings another solid one-shot that delves deeper into the event's stakes for the DC universe. Epic action set pieces for the fate of the universe abound, all delivered through a killer art style.

Detective Comics #1062 as a whole really worked for me. I like the arc's premise and though demonic cults arriving in Gotham can be very familiar, the operatic twist makes it feel fresh. I'm invested in finding out what's wrong with Bruce, the mysterious artifact's purpose, and unknown motives of the new characters. It's nice to have a Bat-title that's more of a grounded, slow burn.

Detective Comics #1063 makes for a fine follow-up. For me, the musical angle alongside the fantastic artwork are enough to bring me back next time, but some of my initial excitement has waned with the unsurprising developments here.

The artwork alone puts Detective Comics#1064 in its own class and makes it well worth picking up this week.

Detective Comics #1065 rolls out the gate from the momentum of last issue and progressively loses steam. The inconsistent voice for Batman and strange pacing choices bog this issue down. If you're bought into this story arc, this issue might make you question continuing on. If you're not already reading, I can't recommend this as a Batman comic.

Altogether, Doctor Doom #7 serves as a great jumping on point for new readers while also paying off the fantastic build up of previous issues. This is an issue wrought with tension from the very beginning and delivers an exceptional entry in this series.

Altogether, 'The Flash' #763 delivers a solid start for the new team of Shinick and Henry. While largely a skippable issue, the art team, cohesive narrative, and fresh voice make it worthwhile for Flash fans both old and new.

Altogether, Future State: Green Lantern delivers a satisfactory look at the Green Lantern Corps' future. Each writer does well at capturing their Lantern's voice and tone, and the accompanying artists suit each narrative. While the anthology format definitely lends itself to this portion of the DC Universe, there remains room to improve the balancing of the narrative threads. Despite this, Green Lantern fans new and old should not miss out on this fun and entertaining collection of stories.

As a standalone Flash story, this debut works well, especially in the art department. Vietti's story, while ordinary, captures the characters' voices and tone. Eaglesham's art paired with Mike Aityeh's colors remains the strongest aspect of the issue. They give the book its own pop-sci-fi sensibility that lends itself to the narrative. However, when one places the issue within the broader scope of the DC Universe, it unfortunately falls short.

On the whole, Superman: Worlds of War delivers a strangely cohesive collection of stories spanning the broader ends of the DC universe. Johnson's Superman debut serves as an indicator of the direction he will bring to the character, while also providing an engaging look at a world without Superman. The accompanying backups each bear their own merits and serve to further expand the looming backdrop of Warworld. This is a solid Future State entry that provides something for everyone.

At the end of the day, this begs the question of, "who were these stories for?" While they do show the resolve and will the various Lantern's possess, they rarely offer anything new to the mythos. Reserving any use of the Green Lantern rings until the very end of the second issue becomes even more confusing, especially for new readers who might pick up these collections and wonder why the series is even called "Green Lantern." Unfortunately, these tales do little to engage with new fans and will only confuse and dishearten current Green Lantern readers.

All in all, Gamma Flight #1 delivers a middle-of-the-road debut. The character work is fun, but the plot direction is something we've all seen by this point. This paired with a solid art style marred by distracting coloring choices makes it all the more middling. This series might be worth picking up for current Immortal Hulk fans who can't get enough of the series before it ends; however, for the average comic fan this debut will not do much to attract interest.

This debut delivers a great coalescing of the lanterns for the beginning of a new era that respects what has come before while pointing towards the changes to come.

Experts of their respective crafts, Mignola, Hughes, and Robins have truly delivered a fantastic one-shot. From the gruesome mystery that lays at the story's core to the exemplary artwork, everything in this book works together beautifully. Though an over-sized one-shot could have given the story a bit more breathing room, the issue works well regardless. Do not miss out on this terrific entry into the Hellboy mythos.

Immortal Hulk: Flatline is a triumph of an issue. Every aspect of it works perfectly in tandem with the rest for a totally engaging story. Shalvey has truly crafted an exceptional entry worthy of the prestige associated with this series. Flatlineoffers a breath of fresh air not only for the series for sequential storytelling as a whole.

'Saint Young Men' Vol. 12 makes for a fantastic read. The character's are endearing and Nakamura's style of humor makes for some genuine laugh-out-loud moments. Her art style doesn't push any boundaries but instead contributes a solid visual flow. If anyone is looking for a solid slice-of-life/comedy manga, I cannot recommend this series enough.

Starhenge Book One: The Dragon & The Boar #1 makes for an ambitious debut. The artwork and narrative blend together to make a one-of-a-kind experience. I cannot wait to see where this series goes next.

Suicide Squad: Blaze #1 is a comic that on paper should work for me but ended up a disappointment. I'm a huge fan of all the creatives involved here, but the end result did not work. The cynical edge could have worked to the narrative's benefit but instead just made for a dreary reading experience. The new characters boil down to cannon fodder for the actual Squad members and are not that interesting, and the art, while serviceable, can get a bit muddy. There's a lot of uncapitalized potential here that just makes for a "meh" comic. Hopefully this series will find its audience but it lacks the draw it could have had.

A gritty, action comic to its core, Get Joker! makes for a decent debut. Red Hood's role and relation to the mission make for the most engaging portions of the book, while Maleev and Hollingsworth's art brings it to life. However, the issue's conventional first 20 pages of set up paired with uneven dialogue do hold the it back. At the end of the day, the issue thankfully does not read like an overt cash grab and has potential moving forward.

I came away from this debut mildly amused. The story made for a light, breezy read, but the final page tease didn't grab me for next month. I wish I felt more attached to this series, but besides the nostalgia factor, I didn't find much to latch onto. For fans of Connor, I'm sure his return here will be a welcome addition to the ever-expanding Superman line. I think at this point, DC is aiming for a Superman book for everyone. This one just didn't happen to be for me.

Despite the distracting mischaracterization, the story is competently written and the art serves as the issue's saving grace. It's just disappointing to see such a strong debut for a character that is not Supergirl. Perhaps these character changes have been made in an effort to create a more accessible entry point, but mileage will vary for both fans of King and Supergirl alike.

It feels cliche to say an issue is a return to form, but in Superman #1's case it earns that expression. Both casual readers and Super-fans will feel right at home here with an issue that provides what readers want while also adding fresh twists. The quality artwork and clear collaboration between writer and artist on display makes this issue well worth checking out.

Is Superman vs. Lobo #1 worth the price of admission? For fans of Lobo or Andolfo's art it might be, but the issue doesn't offer much else. Despite its oversized length, it doesn't do much to deserve its prestige status or the accompanying higher price point. The story remains generic at best and the humor's mileage will vary by reader. At the end of the day, Superman vs. Lobo #1 is a fairly middling debut with great art that tries to make up for the lackluster story.

As a complete package, Superman: Red and Blue #1 sets up a promising anthology. Each entry bears its own merits from the moralizing initial stories to the more classic Superman tales in the latter half. While each story will come down to each reader's personal tastes, this series is off to an endearing start.

Taken as a whole, 'The Other History of the DC Universe' #1 delivers a spectacular debut. Ridley's writing is fresh and challenging alongside the inventive artistic talent of Camuncoli, Cucchi, and Villarrubia. This is a debut that earns its merit as a prestige series and sets the stage for a grand examination of DC's history.

Overall, the War For Earth-3event is off to an action-packed start. Set so far apart from the main continuity, it truly feels as if anything can happen here. The story also makes enough sense as a jumping on point for someone like me who's not caught up on the main Suicide Squad title. I do wish there could have been more art style consistency across the issue, especially before we get into the actual event that will span entirely different books helmed by even more creative teams. Despite this and the high cover price, I still enjoyed the issue and look forward to what's to come.