Brandon Masters's Comic Reviews

Reviewer For: You Don't Read Comics Reviews: 110
8.7Avg. Review Rating

Controversy and subsequent censorship aside, the team of Azzarello, Bermejo, and Fletcher have come up with what can honesty be called a work of art featuring Batman. If future new works under the DC Black Label are even half this good, this line has a good future.

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While far from the best issue to jump into Daredevils story, Soule has crafted a strong end to a very enjoyable story. While the deck may have been cleared for the next writer, Chip Zdarsky, to take the story wherever he pleases, Soule has also left several new toys in the toybox for Chip to play with when he takes the helm for Daredevil in the coming months. Go back through your local comic shops back issue bins (or grab some back-issues from Comixology) and dig up the start of this storyline if youve not read the opening issues yet. You wont be disappointed.

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Daredevil #1 is nothing short of an amazing launch-off point for Chip Zdarsky's run. The comic is an amazing ride, and the cliffhanger really brings up questions that have never really been brought up before. Buckle up, fans. The crazy train has a new conductor.

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Matt feels like a changed man, and Zdarsky has been planning this since the beginning. Any savvy reader knows that Murdock will become Daredevil once more. The actual trick is when, and how. Matt remains the king of bad decisions, and Zdarksys latest twist will come back to haunt Matt. The question, again, is when and how. Zdarskys crazy train isnt done yet.

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Dear Justice League, if you couldn't tell, was one of the best products DC put out in their YA Readers line last year. While it's not going to shake the very ground on which comics were built, not every story has to. Instead, Dear Justice League works with idealized versions of fan-favorite characters, takes moments to add to their character with charm and love, and does it wonderfully.

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While Die may have taken a brief aside to explain how horrifying the world can be, it only serves to act as character development for two of our main characters and draw the reader further inside the books world. If Die is a hundred issues, or only five, issues like this make the book worth at least checking out for anyone whos a fantasy fan.

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Its hard not to argue that this is one of the best comics out there, and easily the best fantasy comic around right now. If youve not picked up Die yet, and Fantasy is even remotely your bag, this comic needs to be in your collection. Or you could wait for the trade, though youll be waiting until June for that.

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If you like comics, this book needs to be in your collection.

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Books like this are why people need to read comics, and is a wonderful addition to the X-line. Go get this book yesterday.

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Conan 2099 is easily the best book on the comics rack this week coming from Marvel. Any Conan fan needs to stomach their concern for either the book being overly gimmick or being heavily tied in with the main 2099 storyline, and just buy this comic. Fans of a good adventure will also have a blast, and any fan of sword and sorcery just might love this cyberpunk take. You shouldnt sit on this book.

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Otto Octavious has returned, and all shall fear his wrath should any cross him. Fans of Octavious, though, should really consider picking up this entire series. It has been one of the most genuinely great comics to come out in 2019, and well worth your comic dollar. To see Otto rise, fall, and be reborn in a way that feels organic and not at all hamstrung by editorial wanting a villain restored is pure comics magic, and the entire comics crew should be awarded for this.

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In short, if you're an X-Men fan, or even just acquainted with the characters through cartoons or movies, you need to pick up this series. The Grand Design line has, so far, condensed over 20 years of X-Men comics into 4 issues of content, and it doesn't disappoint.

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Soule is in his element in this book, and the art crew he's picked are perfect for Daredevil. This was easily one of the better stories Marvel has published in years, and is one of those rare times where a big character story could have easily been expanded into an event comic.

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Fans who were expecting their own fan theory to be proven right may be disappointed by the revelation of who, or what, Mike is. However, Soule has set this up quite easily in the text, and the execution is a mind-blowing example of great storytelling. With Noto as his cohort, Soule seems to have some real devious things planned out for Matt Murdock. Mayor Fisk will have to wait.

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While Soule is probably far off from the always-fated showdown between the Kingpin and Daredevil, issues like these show that DD doesn't need to always be fighting epic waves of Hand ninja or the machinations of Wilson Fisk. Sometimes, all it needs is some family drama.

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With one hell of a cliffhanger at the final page, Soule and Noto have set up a fantastic showdown between Wilson Fisk and Ol Hornhead. At this rate, Soule will have presided over one of the best runs of Daredevil since Frank Miller. Obviously, you should be picking this one up.

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Zdarsky promised he would take Daredevil in some exciting ways, and he certainly has. As with his other works, there's a ton of heart in this book, and seeing how the world tries to cope without Daredevil is fascinating. This is one of those books that deserves a place on your pull list if you haven't picked it up already.

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Action fans may feel left a little cold, but Daredevil fans are being delivered some of the best stories the character has ever had. Knowing Zdarsky, Matt will wear the mask again. However, its going to be a bit longer before Daredevil once more swings over the streets of New York.

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While the story is only beginning, the opening of the book examining how much a normal person can become messed up from such an adventure is amazing. Great writing and beautiful art, this is worth checking out without waiting for issue two.

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With a compelling story, beautiful art, and some seriously interesting twists on cliche, Die is a great book. If youre into fantasy, or Japanese isekai stories, you need to check it out.

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Die has once more proven that this is a book that deserves to be in your long box or on your shelf. Compelling characters, twisted motives, and beautiful art make for an utterly fantastic package. If youve not checked this book out yet, you need to.

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As usual, DC has provided a ton of classic and new content for just $5.00. However, by dipping into their archives further back than usual, and using some real top-notch talent for their new stories, DC has easily made one of the best collections in their Giant-Size line yet. Its just an honest shame that this seems to be a one-shot like Birds of Prey because a monthly book of the best of DC Sci-Fi would be incredible.

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Darkhawk is back once more, and it seems Sims and Bowers have one heck of an adventure in store. Even if youve never heard of the guy, this is a comic worth picking up.

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This was a fantastic series. It's refreshing to see a miniseries tie-in with a major event like this be so downright enjoyable, and it's hard to see this book go.

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With one issue to go, Matt becoming Daredevil again seems a foregone conclusion with Fisk taking an interest in him. Time will tell if MacKay and his katamari of revolving artists can land the final issue. However, its hard not to argue its been a real treat for Daredevil fans so far.

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While 2099 has become a mixed bag of re-creations, Doom 2099 could become an entire storyline of its own, worthy of Victor Von Doom himself. Fantastic Four fans may not have liked the 2099 book with their name on it, but they should grab Doom 2099 now.

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Each Holiday has some form of representation here, and there are enough character moments and X-Men in-jokes to please even the most jaded comic fan. This could be an awesome stocking stuffer for the X-Men fan in your life, or something to break out each year for a re-read. Take some of that extra Christmas cash, if you have it, and make sure to check this book out. You wont regret it.

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In short, Savage Avengers is the best comic you can find on the shelves that explores what happens if you slam a bunch of Marvel characters together like action figures. The ideas can sound insane, but the execution of those ideas is nothing short of magic.

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Its sad to see a good comic go, but Savage Avengers is one of those books that will stick in the minds of readers for a long while. Thanks for the ride, guys.

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If youre a Sonic fan, you need this in your collection yesterday. If youre a fan of fun comics, and fondly remember the Sonic heyday of the 90s, this is also a great book to check out. While it is higher priced, the increased page count and great stories within more than make up for that. While his games may be of varying quality, Sonics comic future is looking great.

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Spider-Geddon has been one hell of a ride. While there were some rough spots with side stories being spoiled by releasing part of the story early, the event never dragged and rarely left readers confused or disillusioned over the story itself. As said above, landing even a satisfactory ending in an event is a great thing, and this entire team just nailed a 9.0 out of 10. Pick this comic up, or wait for the completed trade. Either way, this ones worth your time.

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Ottos fight with Norman has only just begun, but there is one devil of a left turn with how the story seems to be unfolding. It remains to be seen what Gage has planned, but this could be the turning point that makes Otto into a true hero or drags him back into the depths of villainy. With the next issue looking like the final issue, one thing is for sure: Otto likely wont be the same again.

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This is a rather interesting experiment from Marvel and one thats been a long time in coming. Its great to see new talent from other countries work on a Marvel canonical book, and not turn out to be a future EiC pretending to be from Japan. Time will tell if Sword Master and Aero stick around outside of Greg Paks corner of the Marvel Universe. However, its a great setup for some drastically different comics in a superhero universe.

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Issue 100 is next month, and it promises to be completely fantastic. While new readers should go back to at least the start of City At War with issue 93, people whove been keeping up with this storyline are in for a fantastic treat. Its going to be a hard wait for issue 100, folks.

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Despite the fact that this is solidly set in the future of the current run of IDW comics, you dont need to have read a single issue to understand The Last Ronin. Frankly, any fan of the recent Old Person ___ comics need to check out this comic, as does any Turtle fan. The fact that Eastman and Laird have come back to work on this together alone is a great reason to read this book, honestly. The fact that it has delivered so far is icing on the cake.

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In all, fans whove been with this franchise forever are going to adore this comic. Its got brutal fighting, themes of family and regret, and works as the perfect end cap to the story. Those who are on the fence should pick up the inevitable collection when it comes out, but you whove been following the story all along should not hesitate before grabbing this last issue.

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All three of these stories are worth reading, but only the last one could really benefit from a full issue expansion. That puts this issue well and above over the first Vault of Spiders issue, and well worth your reading dollar.

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While the scope of the comic is obviously as far from the cosmic stakes the Avengers have taken in recent years, Marvel potentially has a AAA comic crafted from some of the more bizarre characters available.

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West Coast Avengers is a rare breed right now. Not only is it a team book, but its a team book that actually invests in its characters and has personal drama. That already makes WCA worth looking into, but Thompson has some real magic in her dialogue and a knack for personal drama without dragging the book down. This is one of the few comics that is always worth your purchasing dollar, and this is a great issue to check out if youve not read the book before.

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In short, Spider-Man fans should pick up this book just for JJJs presence alone. Punisher fans have already bought this book, and fans of Marvels more bizarre aliens should also check this one out. Its one of the better books featuring Frank Castle in quite some time, and the one-shot nature of the story makes it incredibly easy to pick up and read.

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With one more issue planned for Batman: Damned, its hard to predict where this book will go next. The cliffhanger at the end of this book, controversial as it is, also questions if Batmans sanity is slipping away. Unfortunately, well have to wait until sometime in 2019 to find out the answer. At this rate, though, the finale just may be one worth waiting for.

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If short, this issue has Sauron, which instantly gives it a cheesy goodness that Peter David thrives on. If Spider-Mans clone fighting a were-Pterodactyl in tiny shorts isnt enough for you to at least leaf through it at the local comic shop, you just dont like comics.

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Horror fans should check this book out, and anyone whos a fan of Ben Grimm should also be looking this way. Fans of both are in for a real treat, and its a rare event comic that seems to be delivering on the promise.

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While Daredevil isnt always a book for everyone, Soule and his crew have built up a story that is a must-read for everyone.

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Easily one of Marvel's best books right now, the only reason not to pick up Daredevil is if you don't like comics.

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The real gem is the cliffhanger, however. With such a mind-bending conclusion staring the reader in the face, long-standing readers of Daredevil are left with many questions as to what the devil Soule has planned. Buckle up, the crazy coaster is going uphill for another run.

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Soule has actually gone on record that he feels it is his job to make it hard for his successor to continue. While Matt isnt dead yet, he looks to be building up to one heck of a climax. Buckle up, readers, because the Soule crazy train is starting up for one last run.

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A solidly fun story, great art, and a rare perfect execution to both make this a great one-shot annual that everyone should check out at some point. If you like Daredevil's runs on Netflix, this is a great book to start on Hornhead's comic adventures, but it's also a fantastic introduction to Misty Knight as well. Fans of both characters have something to enjoy here.

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Chip Zdarsky seems to have upped the ante from where Charles Soule left the book, and he seems to have an entirely new course set up for the Murdock Crazy Train in mind. One of the best books at Marvel is as good as ever, and its hard to find a reason not to recommend it to EVERYONE.

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Even if the reader only knows Baldurs Gate as a video game people played years ago, this book plays well to both new readers and old fans alike. It doesnt take an encyclopedic knowledge of a monster manual to enjoy this book, and is certainly worth flipping through for the miniature giant space hamster alone.

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This is not going to be some deep introspection, or examination of the nature of power and the metaphor of nuclear power. Its Godzilla vs Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Youre going to get giant kaiju and robots beating up each other.

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Punisher 2099 is a rare breed: a Punisher comic that wants to make you think. With that alone, this book deserves to be read, but it helps that the story and artwork perfectly together to relate.

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With an interesting take on the Lethal Protector concept, Venom 2099 is an excellent book for someone looking for a different lead character, or for anyone looking for a fix for their Venom addiction. The open-ended conclusion feels like there should be more, and we can only hope Marvel continues Alea Bells adventures as the new host of Venom.

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If you like superheroes, this book really should be something you look into. 'It's a different flavor with a decidedly Japanese bend (it is manga, after all), but the Vigilantes side story even feels like a full story without needing full knowledge about the series it's spinning off from. I would recommend picking up the first three volumes first, as jumping in without reading them will undoubtedly cause confusion.

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This is a book most Punisher fans should look into, but anyone wanting to see military hardware going up against fantasy monsters would greatly enjoy it as well. Easily the best Punisher book on the market, Kill Krew looks to be making a motley revenge group that will be awesome to read.

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While the main conflict has only just begun, the different factions that show up in the Spider teams actually help keep things fresh and feeling new. Further, introducing new characters as even more bizarre twists on the classic Spidey formula has begun to make this event feel worthy of being a separate book, as well as a worthy successor to the previous Spider-Verse storyline. Time will tell if Spider-Geddon is superior, but if the quality of the book keeps up, it will.

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With Spider-Geddon two-thirds over, the story is really beginning to rev up on what looks like it could be a fantastic climax. Events these days tend to sputter out around this time or are often hit with delays that kill momentum. However, Spider-Geddon seems to be avoiding this so far, and the execution of this story so far gives hope that it finishes as strong as it began.

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In short, while you really should go back and grab issues 113 and 114 to see where this story started, this storyline is looking to be a fantastic romp for any fans of the TMNT. You need to pick up this issue, and the price tag is well worth the adventure inside.

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You still dont need to have read the current IDW run to understand The Last Ronin, but we highly recommend picking up the first issue before getting this one. This issue features enough story that you can get whats happening, but this is a story that deserves to be read from start to finish. Its still an amazing book and deserves to be read by anyone whos been a fan of the Turtles in their life.

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If youre picking up this issue on a whim, you wont be horribly lost. However, we still strongly urge you to pick up the previous issues before reading this one. While the main story is still waiting for the major action to start, the flashbacks are more than enough to satisfy the fans who love their TMNT to be action-packed. And for those who want a little more thought and world-building in their Old Man stories, this one is sure to please.

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The first issue showed a lot of promise, and was a pretty strong showing. This issue keeps up that steam, and, if Kelly Thompson doesn't have a great plot already thought out, she's fantastic at winging it. If you're into lighthearted fare and want some more Hawkeyes in your life, or want some escape from the Infinity Wars going on, this is easily the best comic on the market for you.

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West Coast Avengers still remains an incredibly enjoyable book, and the plot seems to be moving forward between the antics and character development. While the stakes are nowhere near as high as the main line Avengers, the book feels incredibly more personal, which can make for a more intense drama than the universe being in danger once more. Even if youre not a fan of either Hawkeye, theres still something here for every Marvel fan.

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The Avengers of the West Coast may be a team of utter goofballs, but theyre a team with heart. Its a beautiful rush not to have to read about the end of the world each week and to have characters grow in ways that wont be ignored by a solo book coming out that same week. Once again, WCA remains one of the best books in Marvels library. You need to check it out, and this would be a great place to start for a new reader.

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Yondu is a great book that tries to justify both the new Yondu in comics while also introducing newer comic fans to the classic flavor of Yondu. Theres a lot of potential here, and everyone who likes the Guardians of the Galaxy should be picking up this book yesterday.

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With modern comics being filled with serious plotlines, over the top parodies of characters who demand to be taken seriously, and Batmen who do things that arent entertaining, sometimes all you need is just a bit of enjoyable fluff and eye candy. If you have some spare money in this day and age, this is a comic you should pick up.

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If you've ever wanted to see a grim and dark hero become the butt of life's jokes, this is the issue for you. It doesn't hurt that it's also a pretty enjoyable tale with a solid setup for next issue.

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While this could have been a filler issue, Champions issue 5 is filled with a bunch of nods to the earlier run, has some great character moments, and even some closure for Teen Cyclops. If youre a fan of either version of Cyclops, this should be added to your pull list this week. If youre a Champions fan, it should definitely be in your collection.

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Daredevil is arguably the best its been in years, and this is definitely a story to check out.

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While the book isnt for everyone, Dick Tracy: Dead of Alive #1 seems to be a great start into a thrilling tale of suspense and explosions. If crime books are your thing, or if you cant get enough of characters like Judge Dredd being true to themselves and justice itself, then this is a book that you should really look into. At the very least, its great to see a hero being the unstoppable force for once.

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In short, this is a wonderful opening story for a new Spider-Man book. Continuity demands are light, and both the main story and backup story that can easily go places. Fans looking to pick up a new comic should check this one out if theyve liked Spidey in the past. Super-fans? Its a safe bet youve already gotten this one.

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Coloring issues aside, this is still a wonderful issue. However, the recurring ignorance of flesh tones in different environments really drags the book down a few points. Heres hoping someone notices next time.

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While only a one-shot, this book does more to flesh out the current dystopia of 2099 than Alpha attempted, and its worth reading for that alone. Fans of the FF will find a decent read here as well, but the real treat is re-reading the book again to look for hints to the ending.

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2099 was reintroduced as a glimpse into the future. As it turns out, that is all this is, a glimpse. While books like Punisher and Conan were fantastic, it turns out the core of the concept was just another look at a Spider-Man origin story. If this had been the intro for an ongoing, it could have been something more. As such, the ending is somewhat dissatisfying and leaves the reader wanting more.

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While the Punisher can tend to be a troubling and problematic character in this day and age, books like Punisher Kill Krew show that Frank can still be an enjoyable experience. While the book will likely become another footnote like Frankencastle, it's a fantastic romp for anyone wanting sword and sorcery flavored Frank.

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High drama is a rarity for the IDW series, but it plays heavily to Flynn's strengths from his Archie Sonic days. A serious plus is also watching Sonic slowly run himself to exhaustion, as his speed is the only thing keeping himself from becoming infected by the virus. It feels that, while Sega's watchful eye may be on the franchise again, that Flynn and his friends are trusted with taking some real interesting leaps with the franchise.

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If youre a Spider-fan, youve already picked this book up. While Spidergeddon #1 isnt the best Spider-Man single issue ever printed, it opens up the door for what looks to be an interesting and solid event story. Indeed, if its half as entertaining as Spider-Verse was, then itll be better than any main Marvel event released in the last few years.

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It is still hard to say if this book will surpass the original Spider-Verse, as it is playing for lower stakes and a smaller cast. However, by not going for spectacle, there is a tighter crew who feel more like characters than fodder. At the very least, this alone makes the issue worth reading. If youre a Spider-fan, its easily the best book of his on the rack this week.

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While only the start, there's a real fascinating storyline here that would have been a blast to see on the small screen. As a Star Trek comic, there usually isn't any higher praise, but there are some minor flaws that keep it from being as great as the premise.

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This remains a delightful book, with clever writing and a relentlessly grim setting spiked with touches of hope. Once more, the $8.99 price tag raises eyebrows, but die-hard fans should certainly pick this comic up as soon as possible. Those who are simply more interested in reading the complete story eventually, or love dark futures, might want to wait for the trade that will collect all 5 issues. The choice is yours, but this is something all TMNT fans will enjoy.

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Knowing what happens in advance doesnt ruin the enjoyment of this issue. Its still fast-paced, violent, and surprising as ever. While something just feels missing when compared to the Eastman and Laird books, Images run on the Turtles was pretty decent for what it was at the time. At the very least, this book is worth checking out if you want something different from IDWs current ongoing.

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While far from a done-in-one story, this is a fantastic tale for Fantastic Four and Ka-Zar fans. PrahDguls misadventures are amusing, and the next two issues look promising. Pick this comic up, and you wont be disappointed.

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In all, this is a great package of unique takes of Spider-Man and his mythos. The only real complaint is that some of these stories are just too short. However, the overall quality of these stories more than makes up for their length, a rarity in anthology publications from Marvel and DC these days.

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Wailing Blade is a cross of a lot of fresh ideas, excellent designs, and some charming writing. This book quickly shows that the people working on it love the world theyre setting up and that passion is pretty infectious. Pick it up, its worth a look.

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While this is a middle part of the story, issue 6 of West Coast Avengers is still incredibly strong and delivers a great comic. While its hard to recommend as someones first issue, the story does a solid enough job filling in people as it goes. Readers familiar with the story so far really shouldnt miss this one.

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With one hell of a cliffhanger, X-Force looks to be setting up a rampage of revenge with some of Marvels most violent and destructive mutants. While not the best of the relaunch books, it should be one heck of a ride.

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A great examination of an age-old time travel dilemma, but light on the actual Spider-ness, this comic was ultimately setting up what could be the finale of Ben Reilly: Scarlet Spider. It's worth reading, just to see where the future books are going.

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While its reasonable to assume that Matt Murdock will eventually wake from his coma, its very hard to predict how Matt will emerge from it. Another question left asked by the book is what his mental state will be like, which is certainly something that will keep hardcore Hornhead fans coming back for more. If youre into Daredevil, or want to know what happened after Charles Soule left Matt on the operating table, definitely check this book out.

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Still reflecting on a lifetime of regrets and pain, Man Without Fear leaves reader wondering if Matt can even recover from this life, or if this book is paving the way for a legacy character to take the role. Either way, the rest of this series should be fascinating.

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With the miniseries hitting the midway point, and Marvel now advertising that Matt Murdock is going to be Daredevil in the upcoming Chip Zdarskys run on the character, its fast becoming hard to see Matt not recovering. However, the journey on the road to recovery is honestly a refreshing and interesting one, and one that anyone who likes Daredevil should pick up.

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With the book ending with a to be continued in 2099 Omega rather than a The End, this is where the plot is found at for our 2099 experience rather than a one-shot tale about the hero. However, its not enough to make this book as enjoyable as a stand-alone experience like the other books. Unless youre heavily invested in this series, you may want to wait for the trade or pick up 2099 Omega with it.

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The only problem is, the book seems to alienate older readers at the same time. The art style shift feels like shifting gears without a clutch, and that alone can easily turn off readers who expect the more realistic style found in most Marvel books. Its entirely possible to work past it, and a fun, short story awaits those who do.

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The book feels short, but ends on an interesting cliffhanger, and it looks like readers wont need to wait long for a handshake between Captain Kirk and Optimus Prime. If youre looking for franchise-defining, revolutionary content, dont try here. However, what awaits the reader within is a great popcorn comic with a lot of love and care put into the product. If youre a fan of either franchise, youre in for a delight.

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As a stand-alone story, Star Wars: Age of Republic: Obi-Wan is a very solid presentation with some very cool character work that helps fill in the gaps between movies. However, it also doesnt feel overly necessary as a story, so it winds up being a comic that only major hardcore Star Wars fans should pick up immediately. Everyone else should wait until May, when the collected versions of Age of Republic will be coming out.

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Star Wars: Tie Fighter, also titled The Shadow Falls, is one part of a story. Obviously, this one focuses on the side of the Empire. The upcoming Star Wars: Alphabet Squadron, scheduled for a June 4th release, will cover the Rebellions half of the story. While the comic seems to stand alone on its own, Marvel and Disney did see fit to toss in a preview chapter for the reader. While the tale should make Star Wars fans happy with the other side of the conflict receiving focus, casual fans may want to wait for a collection to put on their bookshelf instead.

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Needless to say, if the last few cinematic outings for Terminator left you cold, this comic is right up your alley.

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Hulkverines! Is a book where you pretty much get whats on the box: Hulk, Wolverine, and their combined knockoff coming to blows in a traditional Marvel Misunderstanding for the ages. While its not going to win any major awards, Hulkverines! is an absolutely delightful romp with dark humor and gamma-powered action. If youve got some spare change this week, think about picking it up.

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With a cliffhanger right out of one of Liefelds last books, its hard to say if nostalgia over Robs art is going to sell this book alone. His books still sell fantastically, but is Liefelds knack for fever dream storytelling and unusual body types enough to sell a book? The random montage of motorcycling aside, the book remains downright enjoyable. However, time will tell if Liefeld can keep up this pace.

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While it certainly isn't what anyone expected, this is a great first issue. You should really grab this if you're jonesing for some lighter Transformers fare than the excellent lore-heavy IDW books, or don't mind reading through the comic equivalent of popcorn: really enjoyable and tasty, but not that filling in the long run.

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If youre into the spectacle of a giant Hulk-Wolverine hacking into monsters equally as bizarre, this is easily a book for you. Otherwise, this may read better in trade format down the road.

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While the storyline of Cry Havok has been a chaotic mess, the end result has been incredibly entertaining so far. This new X-Team has some interesting histories and fantastic drama potential, though it remains to be seen if this team sticks around once the chaos is over. This is one of those comics that will probably read better collected, but, in a single issue, it reads like a big blockbuster movie trying to be clever: big, dumb action scenes with big, dumb plotting that actually leaves the reader wondering what might happen next.

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While it's not the ending some readers were hoping for, it's certainly an interesting look at two of the children of Wolverine, and the only book dealing with any potential fallout from Venomized. Check it out if you're looking for either.

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With an exciting start and a solid execution, it looks like Dark Red is leaning towards a slightly more traditional take on Vampires with the urban fantasy genre. The cliffhanger really hints at more that may take the book to strange and beautiful places, or crash and burn. Time and future issues will tell.

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If youre a fan of Rob Liefeld and Major X, this issue should be in your collection. It loosely fits with the rest of the storyline, and $5.00 for 60 pages actually is not that bad these days. However, the stories are flawed in a way that feels like they were created and saved in the 90s for a future era. As such, it is remarkably bizarre and tries to market itself off Liefelds name alone. And thats just not enough anymore.

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While the book acts like more of a teaser for things to come, its still a fantastic place for fans of 2099 to wet their whistle while they wait for other 2099 content to arrive. The future is here, and its going to be weird.

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If youre looking to own Deadpool and Dominos first appearance, look no more. This is the book for you. If youre curious to see how comics were presented in the grand Dark Age, this is also one for your collection.

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This issue had some great action, but really feels like a bundle of missed potential.

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While delivering much less action than before, Bunn seems to be revving up for a conclusion on the Cry Havok storyline. Its hard to tell where its going to end, but hopefully Bunn and his crew bring the story out of this stall before it ends.

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As mentioned above, the book isnt overly bad but feels like the wrong project for the title. Cosmic Ghost Rider Destroys Marvel History should, by all logic, be a much better book than this. Theres something here for the fans who want some silly stories with Cosmic Ghost Rider, but it really feels like Marvel may already be running low on ideas for Old Man Frank.

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In all, theres a real attempt to craft something out of a create-a-character open world game, and thats commendable. However, the result feels incredibly generic and seems to be struggling in finding an identity of its own. Its not a bad comic, and there are much worse comics out there by talent not even trying. However, this is one of those books that only dedicated Crackdown fans should be grabbing.

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As an opening chapter to a story, this isnt a bad one. It sets up the tale well, but when read as an indvidual issue rather than the first chapter of a trade, it falls short. Honestly, the story feels padded out to just hit the 20 pages it needs. However, it must be said the cliffhanger is certainly enough to make a lot of people come back for the next issue.

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