Congratulations Snyder and Lemire. Youve hit Neil Gaiman levels.

Jeff Lemire is a goddamned comic book treasure and we should be real happy he's alive and writing. Gideon Falls #1 is off to a great start, or for Lemire, just another Wednesday in a bibliography filled with amazing Wednesdays.

So yeah. HTTTGAP is really, really good, the exact kind of thing I look for in a Neil Gaiman story. Its got what I want, yet it changes just enough to make it stand apart from his other works. Its normal until it isnt, and really, isnt that what we want from any story?

Just remember, this is Adam West Batman and not Christian Bale Batman. If you go in hoping for the latter, youll be very disappointed.

Glitterbomb #1 is a great comic that I fully expect to be the start of a great series. The question now is: Do I collect this in single issues or in trades?

Glitterbomb is, as we speak, at a crossroads in its plot. It could go in about a thousand different directions, and all of them would be pretty awesome. I'm game for whatever Mr. Zub brings.

Ill be heading down to my local comic book store to buy this one. I need it.

If you passed on the first issue, you really, really should reconsider. I mean, assuming this kind of humor is your thing. But even if it is, theres still an interesting story to be found here. IHF twists a lot of what we know about fairytales on their head, and its not every day we get a story from the perspective of a sympathetic villain.

Ah hell, Im gonna trifecta this comic and give it another 9.5. It put me in an insanely good mood.

Guys, I LOVE this comic series.

Because these characters are deep, and not allowing them to breathe would be doing them a disservice.

Basically: this comic is back and that makes me stupid happy (I'm drinking to celebrate), so you should go read this one because it's just the best. And to toast in the new arc, let us continue our own running joke of almost-perfect review scores!

Around Issue 4 or 5 I worried that this comic would eventually get old, that the humor style would outstay its welcome. Thus far, that hasn't happened. Each issue has something new to it, some little slice of mystery or character development or world building that keeps me going forward. There's way more depth here than you might realize by just looking at the cover of this comic, and IHF is way more clever than it has any right to be.

As of now, Im going to hedge my bets that this is a good thing, that the darker Gertrude gets, the more interesting places this comic can go. But I am worried that Ill one day stop liking her as a character. Being funny can only cover up so many sins.

But damn, I do not want this to be the direction this comic goes in. A five-issue arc? Fine. Lets take some breathing room and just fluff about, but without agency, this comic loses a great deal of what makes it great.

Underwinter: Field of Feathers #5 is another exceptional installment in what is an exceptional series. It's strange and cold and spooky as hell, and I'm glad to be here.

I get that this review is kind of vague on the details, but I honestly dont know how else to talk about BMM. You kind of just have to read it. Which you should. Its great.

Black Monday Murders is my monthly highlight. I both dont want this comic to go on forever because thats a big commitment, yet Im also glad its showing the potential for a sprawling story with more intrigue and magic in the background. I want to stay in this world awhile longer.

The best part about BMM is that it has the page space to properly pace everything it needs to do. A conversation about black magic, blood money, and Judas can take six pages and feel natural. There's room for awkward looks away, room to stir a cup of coffee and think before answering, room to be bewildered but not show it at first, and room to finally agree because in this world, facts are as strange as fiction.

Okay, it's been ages since I've reviewed a Black Monday Murders issue, but really, everything I said about the first like five still applies here. This is a fantastic series with a fantastic world, characters, and throughline. That it might be going on for quite some times makes me stupid happy, even if that means buying lots of comic books. I just hope the release schedule evens out a bit during the third arc.

As to the plot of the thing, well, all you need to know is that the four players have been invited back, and the money is just a little too good to turn down. Everything else is, well, fractals. We are protected. For now.

That being said, the issue is great. Its got that skincrawling tension of the first two in spades, and the one action scene is wonderful in Fawkes art style. I hope we see more blood, because these water colors suit it well.

Underwinter isnt a book for everyone. There are times when Im not sure if its actual high art or pretentious and really good at pretending, but I love it either way. Its absolutely brilliant.

Underwinter: Field of Feathers #4 is basically everything I love about this series. It's scary, it's dark, it's twisted, and it makes me yearn for more. I still think this series will best be read in trades, but until then, I'm glad to be getting the distorted pieces.

Underwinter has been some of the best Lovecraftian horror Ive ever read. Ray Fawkes has truly added to the genre, and hes used every facet of the comic book medium to do so. Ill admit that this series comes with a learning curveit asks a lot of its readersbut for those up to the challenge, the reward is a comic unlike anything I've ever read yet.

I leave Issue #2 with a lot of questions, most of them involving the world and the ongoing plotline, but I'm far from unsatisfied. Yes, in a "normal" superhero comic we'd probably be much further along in our plot, but that's to the detriment of "normal" superhero comics. How these characters are reacting and dealing with being stuck is far more compelling than why and how. Its what makes this comic absolutely amazing.

Detective Comics #938 is everything I want from a superhero comic. Its got the crazy violence, the crazy characters, the humor, and the dark to balance it all out. Its good, and I want more.

Extremity is a great book that I hope people wind up noticing. It delivers violence with the best of them, never pulling away from blood or gore, but it's the between moments, the characters and world building that really shine. These are real people in real situations. They are asking real questions with real answers. Those answers are not easy to accept.

The first arc of Glitterbomb was fantastic, a gross, horrifying look at Hollywood and what that environment can do to a person. This second arc is off to a great start, ready to tackle similar themes but from a completely new angle. I am so, so happy this book is back.

If youre looking for a nice mix of holiday cheer and MLP:FiM, then this comic will more than fill that void. Its quite nice.

Troll Bridge is a wonderful piece of fiction thats not quite as fun or enthralling to read as it is to think about. Its one of those stories. That isnt so much a flaw as it is a fact, but the comic book lexiconand my bookshelfhas room for these types of stories. Theyre important. Theres a reason fables are remembered and passed down from generation to generation. This is one of those.

As far as shared universes go, this one is a bit too chaotic and messy as of right now. I really shouldnt know the end of this four-issue arc simply because I read the first issue of a different arc; however, the content here and in the first issue of P:FaS is entertaining. Im looking forward to more.

As I look at P:FaS Issue 3, I cant help but wonder which Fire and Stone miniseries has the best art. Its hard to tell, as each has its own style, and each style is executed near flawlessly. I believe Juan Ferreyra does the Xenomorphs the best though, at least in terms of detail. They look spectacular.

If you haven't gotten into this whole Dark Horse shared universe thing yet, you really aught to reconsider.

Im going to sound like a hypocrite right now, because I didnt like the open endings of the previous Fire and Stone comics, yet Im quite fine with the way FaS:O ended. I feel like theres more reasoning here for an open ending, one where happiness isnt escape but a revelation. I wont blame anyone for feeling different on the matter, though.

Royal City is…really, really good. It's so not the comic book norm–mostly in terms of quality–but man, wouldn't it be nice if it was?

And that in itself is as real as a ghost can be. Growing up. Getting older. Dying. Existential dread. Letting go. The first four are easy, but how on Earth do you do the last one?

Royal City will be going on a hiatus after this issue, and while this first arc isnt ending with a bang, Im still left satisfied and ready for more. For good or ill, Ive grown attached to these characters and this place, and I want to see them through this journey. I hope they find whatever it is theyre looking for.

This is a terrible review. I don't know how to make it good though, because reading The Hunt just puts me into a happy mood where I want to gush over it and not care that what I have to say is half-baked nonsense.

The Hunt has always been a hard comic to talk about. I look at Wayward or The Autumnlands and feel compelled to analyze them, to break them down into their respective parts and examine everything; for this comic, I have no such inclination. I just want to read it. It's a fantastic story with some fantastic characters, and while it doesn't force any extra mental gymnastics, I don't see that as a flaw. Good fiction is good fiction.

The last few pages of this comic are actually straight text. The writers have set Wayward in Japan, and they want their audience to know more about the culture and the mythologies present. At first I frowned, wanting more comic over a history lesson, but it didnt take long for me to enjoy the information given. Mythology is fun, and from the sounds of it, Japan has an amazing lexicon to work with. Once again, I look forward to more.

A new character is introduced this time around, a boy named Shirai. Im not quite sure what role he will ultimately play, though he has his own strange powers to him. Im sure they come with a turbulent past as well. My worry is that hell become some kind of love interest and Wayward will devolve into teen romance. That worry is probably unfounded, but it is there.

I also can't help but feel that Wayward is just genre savvy enough to pull all of this off too. There are little blips of internal dialogue from Rori that give me hope. There's also a nice little twist at the end that makes me think this comic series will veer into a direction I cannot predict, well-tread path or not.

And all of the action is great. Steve Cummings nails every aspect of the choreography, creating sequences that are both awesome to look at and easy to follow. Theres plenty of tension and spectacle, and I cannot find a fault with any of it.

The art too, is still fantastic. The battle at the end looks great, and some of the strange paranormal events that Ohara experiences are all great looking. In terms of quality, nothing has changed here.

I also want to give a quick mention to the essay at the end of the comic. Like the other six before it, Wayward features a small writeup about Japanese culture/mythology, but this one about Japan's Obon Festival is particularly compelling and well written. If you've skipped these in the past (for shame), make sure to not skip this one.

I love Wayward, and Issue 8 doesnt change my opinion of that. Bring on issue 9.

Despite its somewhat confusing beginning, Issue 9 of Wayward is fantastic. This is how you do a buildup comic. You make me love the characters more, and then you make me worried that they're all walking into danger.

That all being said, the comic is fantastic, made even better by the last couple of panels when Rori and Shirai show up. The speech Rori gives is perfect in both how it ends the arc and how it encapsulates Wayward as a whole. This is American Gods set in Japan.

Perhaps surprising no one, putting a good property in the hands of a good writer will yield a good story. Bloodborne is the first video game comic tie-in I'll recommend, which feels a little odd if I'm being honest. Yet, I'm glad it's good. The property deserves it because the property is awesome. Enjoy the hunt!

Mr. Miracle continues to be an exceptional book full of quirk, charm, and the surreal. I'm happy and unsurprised at the same time, which I guess is pretty cool.

Solid and fun. This went from a gung-ho marines vs. aliens story to a survival horror affair, and it did so pretty seamlessly. Thats cool.

P:LaD #3 brings back my favorite bits of Fire and Stone and keeps on chugging forward. Im really excited to see where this goes, because damn, theres a lot left in this story.

P:LaD #4 is awesome. It ends on a monster cliffhanger, but the next issue is right around the corner. I'm so very, very excited for it.

Aliens: Defiance #1 is a damn good start to what I'm hoping will be a damn good series. I trust Dark Horse with the Alien property though, because even with a few misses in their Fire and Stone series last year, they still managed to publish something worthwhile. They have a good track record.

It's always wonderful when a spinoff series knows its source material and does everything it can to keep things fresh while also paying homage to what worked

From the get-go, Aliens: Defiance was a strong, worthy entry into the Alien universe. Issue #3 continues that. Theres a lot to enjoy here, and its a shame well probably have to wait two or three months for the next issue.

All in all, Aliens: Defiance continues to deliver. After such a short turnaround from issue 3, Im really hoping this becomes the norm. Ill gladly read this every other week.

As an fan of Alien and Aliens (and the other two films really but thats a conversation for another day), I couldnt be happier. Were getting awesome stories set in this universe on a regular basis. Its so a good thing. Like, you dont even know how good it is. So good.

Listen, I really enjoyed the Fire and Stone run last year, and Im digging the hell out of Dan Abnetts Life and Death run this year, but Aliens Defiance is the best the bunch. Its a driving plot with big characters and tons of horror in between.

Aliens: Defiance #8 is one of those bridge issues, the kind where we take a break from action and mayhem to regroup, get our bearings, and maybe talk some back story. As far as global pacing"reading the entire series in one or two sittings"that's well and good, though as far as individual pacing, it runs a little slow.

Alien: Defiance is an amazing Alien series. Ive said this a bunch of times now. Ive purchased the first volume. Im out of things to say, so unless #10 and #11 really do something amazing or awful, Ill probably skip reviewing them. I can only gush so much before it feels like Im being a fanboy (which I am) or disingenuous (which Im not).

Basically, Aliens: Defiance is great. There are only two issues left now, and Im hitting that strange spot where Im sad its almost over, yet eager to see how it ends.

Ill end this review with reiterating the first sentence: Aliens: Defiance as a series will go down as one of the great Alien comics. Brian Wood has given us a great show of terror, tough choices, great characters, and enough subversion to keep me on my toes. Its been a joy to read and review.

This is an important book. I'm glad it's a good one, but man, does it really feel necessary too.

New Superman #4 is another great installment to a comic that I hope is getting the love it deserves. Its both fun and smart, which, you know, is what I want from a superhero comic. Fun first though! I have my priorities.

I started this review comparing Rat Queens to I Hate Fairyland, but won't end by picking sides because we live in a world where both exists. That's pretty rad, right? Two awesome, hilarious fantasy books ripe for the reading!

Anyhow, Rat Queens is back, which is a great thing. The book remains funny, charming, and way smarter than it has any right to be. Also vibrating wands and masturbation.

On the whole though, Rock Candy Mountain is a swell comic that is, by and large, just really unique. The setting is rare–one thats probably been done before but not in anything Ive seen recently. I like the characters, I adore the artwork for its cartoon simplicity, and Im eager to see where it goes.

Rock Candy Mountain has been a truly special series, a Cartoon Network show put to page. I'm happy to have read it, and overall, I'm happy with how it ended. It's heartfelt, adorable, full of cursing, and three hobos get into a fistfight with the devil. What more could you want?

Black Road #1 is a beast of a comic, one that dives headfirst into the darker parts of Christianity while also treating the whole subject with a ton of respect. Complexity is everywhere, from the characters to the world to the artwork itself, and I'm damn excited to see where this goes.

I'm curious to see where this comic goes, because minor tropes notwithstanding, I really have no idea what to expect. Maybe that's why it's captured me like a Pokemon.

I wish Black Road would captivate me more, would make me adore it like so many other Image comics I read, but it has yet to do that. I will, however, keep chugging along with it. The quality is perhaps too high to miss out on.

Black Road is a fantastic comic that hasnt quite gripped me like it should, yet Im glad I get to read it anyways. Theres something just so amazing about its execution that I need to keep coming back. Plus, it makes all of those DC Rebirth issues look pretty bad (not that the bar was set all that high there).

I guess I really dont know what to make of this issue. Like the others, its doing what it wants to do very well, and as far as plot goes, Im game. I certainly dont know where this story is heading, and thats always a nice bonus. However, I cant shake the fact that this feels like a pretty big shift from the first five issues. I miss the silence and the cold.

In the end, Issue 4 is good and worth your time. Its really nice to see Dusty get some major screen time, especially since hes supposed to be the storys narrator, and the Goodfoot/Sandorst sublot is still amusing, even if it doesnt tread any new ground. There are a lot of places TA;TaC could go, and I honestly dont know which is the most likely. Its nice to know there are plenty of surprises in store for us yet.

I cant help but realize that all of this work is for something that, ultimately, is insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Goodfoot and the Buffalo Tribe are but minor problems in comparison to Learoyd being stranded in a place utterly foreign to him and a world thats rapidly losing magic. TA:TaC is looking like a series that will run for a long, long time, and if Kurt Busiek can keep the likes of a simple tribe of Bison interesting and threatening, then this comic is going to become an absolute masterpiece when something really devastating happens.

If my biggest problem is, I want to read more, then I know Im engrossed in a good series.

So, there you have it. Im elated that this series is now back in my life, and I cant wait to get off work tomorrow and go pick this issue up at the local comic book store. Slowly but surely, well be heading somewhere awesome; I can feel it!

Also, there are some Scottish speaking rams which is all sorts of fun. Come for the world building, stay for the Scottish speaking ramsthats my motto!

So while our main plot hasn't moved much, one of our main characters is seeing some development. Plus, there's a whole village of adorable, talking sheep who like beer. That's worth some time, I should think! Oh, and the artwork is really good. Cant forget to mention that.

When you get right down to it, TA:TaC #10 is really good just like all the others. The story is going forward, and in this case, faster than normal. Awesome. But like with Wayward, I can only imagine that if you've made it this far, you're going to keep reading. This means that I'm giving this comic my big ol' stamp of approval and not reviewing any more of them. There's no point in drunkenly repeating myself over and over.

I didnt know what to expect going into this comic, but I came away a fan. Theres a ton of fun here, and if you can stomach some low-brow humor and a handful of obvious jokes that youve seen before, then theres a lot to love. Theres a great cast of characters placed in a fun plot, and while I have a few inklings on where this will eventually head, Im excited to ride that ride.

One could argue that retreading old ground was a necessary evil for JS:CoE to officially move forward. I wont be making that argument, but Ill acknowledge that it exists. Regardless, this issue is still pretty funny and with it out of the way, well hopefully be diving into some very crazy, very uncharted territory next month.

My Little Pony: The Movie Prequel is a complicated piece of media. Its a prequel to a movie that isnt out yet that mostly works. I like the Storm King, though Im a bit worried about how dangerous he really is given some of the writing/framework that goes into this book. If MLP is going to get a full-blown movie, it needs a badguy to match. The Storm King? Well see. Thankfully the rest of the book is a lot of fun, and the artwork really sells everything it needs to.

MLP: TMP is starting to get its sea legs (yes pun intended), and its getting me excited for new world building and characters. Im still a bit worried about the movie itself, but the comic books? Smooth sailing ahead! (Ill stop now.)

I imagine the goal of these movie prequel comics is to get people to want to watch the movie. Mission successful there. But really, this is more than a glorified commercial. The character work on display is some of the best Ive seen from this property, and the artwork is a nice mix of endearing, expressive, and adorable. Its really just a solid comic from start to finish.

Theres a ton of action to be had here, though some fight scenes are a bit hard to follow. There are also a couple of bouts of very bad dialogue. Neither really hurt the comic, though the former slowed down the momentum some and the latter made me shake my head.

Like the previous P:FaS issue, the art is solid though sometimes hard to follow. I really like the jaggedness to everything. It feels dirty, yet in the best way possible.

The art remains as solid as ever, being gritty and grainy while also showing a lot of emotion. Theres one fight sequence thats a tad confusing, but much better than some of the previous sequences which really lost me.

I went into Issue 4 of P:FaS hoping for some kind of twist, but there arent any. Theres a fight sequence that plays a bit too heavily on some Predator tropes at points, and then the issue ends, somewhat happily but still open enough for the final installment in two weeks. I wanted a bit more substance, but Im happy with what I got regardless.

This book is truly special, the kind of scifi you don't even know can exist until it's staring right at you. I'm enchanted. I'm feeling like I went on a wild ride, too.

Prism Stalker #3 Review 0 Posted May 8, 2018 by Chad Waller in Comic Books Written By: Sloane LeongArt By: Sloane LeongPublished By: Image ComicsI came away from issue two of Prism Stalker completely enchanted. It's wonderful. I then went into an episode of Comics Dash to talk about how wonderf

The entire story is packed with an art style thats a gorgeous blend of watercolor and pastel. Everything looks so vibrant! The Xenomorphs are creepy, the crazy half-android named Elden is horrific looking, especially when he smiles, and watching them all kill and maim is absolutely fun.

AvP:FaS Issue 2 sees the continued chase between Elden and Francis, and it is one hellova chase. It's a real shame that the dialogue just comes off so poorly. Still, the comic is worth the read. It's brutal, quick, and even manages to be creepy at parts. I have no idea how this is all going to end, and that's also a plus. There's nothing predictable here.

The aliens (Xenomorphs, predator, and super predator) are too alien to truly understand. I couldnt hope to place their motives.

But I also feel like its too little too late, not when the past issues have primarily focused on Elden being an insane entity and Francis being a sociopath. To see both switch gears and wax poetic about philosophy is just out of place, even if the conversation is a good one.

The Damned is a solid mobster book with plenty of charm and new ideas that set it apart from the genre it calls home. I'm happy to be reading it, and I'm hoping the rising supernatural elements allow it to keep me on my toes.

I feel like when it comes to this comic, I dont have all that much to say. Its a fun story with a fun world. Its a nice bit of optimism crossed with cynicism. It does things right. Good enough, as this guy I knew who ran a library would say.

Still, my few complaints here arent damning by any means, and I very much enjoyed my time with this comic. Its a great dose of action done up in some pretty artwork, and while the narrative isnt complicated, it makes up for that with stabbing and explosions. Sometimes thats all you need.

AvP:LaD #1 is starting off with a bang, and I mean that in a very literal sense. There are explosions aplenty. Its a good thing, and while the horror elements this comic had in its beginning pages have all but left, were now in for an action treat.

I guess the good news is that #3 is going into not one but two cliffhangers, and itll be pretty explosive because of it.

On the positive side, the world of Kaptara is off to a great start, being filled with some nice monsters and a race of aliens that combine sci-fi tech with fantasy weaponry. I really like that kind of stuff, and the art style sells it all very well. I like the look of this comic, and the coloring is really spot-on. When it comes to new technology and monsters, Ive a feeling the art team here will deliver.

Everything else though? Its all solid stuff. This one, I recommend. The first issue is a little rough, but Ive a feeling this ride will be totally worth it. Bring on Issue 3!

Perhaps the most interesting part of the whole comic is that the Prince of Kaptara is actually given some character development. The first two issues, he's seen as a self-entitled, momma's boy idiot, but here, he's got a bit more to him. I like that, and it turns him from the butt of jokes to"well, a sympathetic butt of jokes! That's an upgrade.

If you're cool with this kind of humor - vulgar, offensive, and immature - then you'll like this series. Issue 4 does nothing but deliver on that, and at present, it continues to work.

At the end of the day, Plastic #3 is another twisted chapter in this very twisted tale. Its gross and brutal, but its also unique as hell and charming to boot. If youre not laughing, youre horrified in a good way, and sometimes your face breaks because youre trying to do both. Bring on issue 4.

However, Im used to more than that from this comic. Its Edwyn killing bad guys that are way worse than him (and the author goes out of his way to make the bad guys really unlikable). Its nothing new. I feel like with only five issues to tell a story, each one should really strive to do something different, to make each chapter in the short journey memorable. This one doesnt do that.

There are 16 more issues in this story, meaning 2016 is going to be a good year.

Im still hopeful for a turnaround though. The characters and dialogue are too well written for this to turn into a boring plotline.

While P:LaD #3 has some slipups in the middle, it's still a very solid comic with some very solid ideas and artwork. I like that it's breaking some molds to the series, and I'm excited to see how it ends and what series comes next.

Red One is off to a fantastic start on every front imaginable. Here is a comic with something to say, and honestly, picturing our consumerist culture from the eyes of a poor communist is a shocking experience. We as a society need more works of art like this, because whether you agree or not isn't the point as long as you're prompted to step back and think about something more than vapid explosions and sex appeal.

But the worst of it all is the ending, which is a massive cliffhanger. As an Issue 2 goes, thats normally fine, but Issue 3 isnt going to be out until Spring of 2016. Thats an insane wait for a payoff that no longer seems to be worth the investment.

Starting off by comparing yourself to True Detective and Sandman is nothing short of ballsy. With only one issue under its belt,Wolf hasn't reached True Detective levels yet, and I certainly don't think it'll ever compare to Sandman, but that's okay. I don't think any other comics really will. So far, it's hitting Neverwhere levels though, and that should be high enough praise for anyone to go out and buy it.

Wolf is very much a comic that moves at its own pace and expects you to keep up. This has turned into one of its biggest strengths yet also one of its biggest weaknesses. Still, I look forward to Issue 4. Theres a lot of mystery left to unravel, and the new problems introduced in Issue 3 are only going to get worse.

As a comic series, Ive grown to like Wolf despite its strange story pace and its purposeful vagueness. The world the comic inhabits is still wonderful, and Wolfe is still an interesting protagonist. I do think, however, that this is a series best fit for a trade paperback, where you can have all the issues bound together in one book. Itll make it easier to flip around at your leisure if you get confused and need to cross-reference an older comic.

Issue 5 of Wolf is the best issue this comic has had to date. I think this arc will pull ahead of the last one, which is really cool.

But the big promise in Issue 7 could have realistically started in this issue, I think. Instead, we have to wait another month.

I missed out on a Wolf issue and somehow stumbled back into the comic with one of its strongest to date. Kind of funny, now that I think about it. Wonder when the trades come out

As a comic, I really like Wolf. Its strange and confusing and not always pretty, but it has been a good read so far, and Im really excited to see where it goes. If youre reading, then you should be happy with this one, even if whats going on is about as clear asI got nothin. Pretend I just said something clever.

The only real upside to the comic is Rainbowdash, who at least understands how silly the whole premise is. She spends plenty of time laughing, and Ill admit to laughing along with her.

MLP:FiM:FF #11 isn't perfect, and honestly, its generic plot hurts it quite a bit. But I'll be damned, the art style and execution here are both very charming. Art has always been a saving grace for MLP:FiM, and that continues here. Couple that with some fairly strong personalities, and yeah, I had fun.

On the art front, the comic looks good. It didnt strike me, but Ive become used to well-done ponies. Their designs just lend themselves so well to different interpretations. There are a few high-energy moments that I found hard to follow though, yet that almost added to the joke of it all. Pinkie Pie is crazy.

Aside from an overall solid story, MLP:FiM:FF #14 also introduces quite a nice cast of characters, and I hope a few return. By the Books and Hard Case are the two main police ponies, and they embody the roles of good cop/bad cop to a comical level. Mina, a pink dragon, rounds out our cast as the owner of a comic book shop. Shes fond of shipping reformed villains together, and in general, is a highlight.

Honestly, Im surprised this one came so well, and of all the MLP comics Ive read, this is the one that should be transferred scene-for-scene to the show.

At the end of the day, MLP:FiM:FF #22 iswell, exactly what it wants to be. Its cute, its silly, but theres not much else going on. I dont mind that though, because the MLP series leaves itself room for this kind of story alongside the currently running arc of Sombras scary return. We can have our cake and evil too!

Award-winning? No. Fun? Yes. If you like your ponies extra cute, this one is worth picking up. Because oh my gosh, Jay Fosgitts rendition of Gilda is wonderful.

This is a good one. It isnt quite amazing like some of the other MLP:FiM:FF (someone please kill that acronym with fire) comics, but its a darn good character piece with a lot of sweetness thrown in on top. Like a cherry, I guess. Pretty sure thats a phrase. Probably.

The Friends Forever line of MLPcomics either work amazingly well as character pieces or are complete bombs. This one is a nice character piece on a princess that was in desperate need of some development.

Analog is a nice first issue to what could turn into a cool story. I'm not exactly blown away by anything here; however, I like the potential I'm seeing. Jack has a lot of charisma and just enough gruff to him to make him fun, so if nothing else, we're in for a cool action showcase. I'm curious to see where this goes.

Intelligence will not save you from a grizzly shark. Thankfully there are plenty of guns.

Hellblazer #1 is good but not great, but it's a first issue. It had an almost impossible-level of work to do, and the fact that it pulls most of it off makes me happy.

And she also has to realize that once high school ends, most friendshipsno matter how greatfizzle out as people move on to college. But then, she did try and mind control a bunch of students to take over the world in the first Equestria Girls movie, so Im not sure shes ever working with long-term goals. I just can't help but think she's in for a depressing dose of reality come graduation day, though that might be true of everyone. Friendship isn't actually magic in the realm of humans. What happens when Rainbowdash gets a soccer scholarship to one college while Rarity goes to a fashion university half the country away?

When it came to the Fire and Stone line, I found the Alien section to be the weakest. It started off strong but its setting and strange attempts at philosophy just didn't work, and I suppose I only cared for one character, if that. When it comes to Life and Death though, it's starting off strong as hell, and I care about every character. There's also no philosophy to be found in this issue.

Listen: Dan Abnett's Life and Death series has thus far been nothing short of awesome. He's taking some of my favorite properties and kicking all kinds of ass, and I'll sing the praises from here to LV223 if I have to. However, Aliens: Life and Death #2 is looking to be our first miss. It's not a large miss, more of a stubbed toe instead of a fall or a sprain or something equally bad that befits this metaphor, but it isn't great like the previous"what, nine issues? Still, its a bridge, and I think #3 will be where asses start getting kicked again.

Plot points happen, and the arc does end, but there's something missing. It's unfair to hold that against Abnett though as there are five issues left before this whole story is done, but I suppose I expected something more final seeing as this is a four of four.

At the end of the day, I do think theres something special here. Theres an important message and a neat world to be found. I even like the characters, kid-friendly though they may be. I just wish the speech patterns werent so annoying. They really hurt what should be a good time.

Angelic is a cute, smart, and poignant book. That "there might be something special here" vibe I was getting off of the second issue really blossomed into something nice. I'm glad I read it, and I hope other people gave it the chance it deserves. There really is a great story here.

Thankfully, this is only number two, so theres one more issue for me to enjoy this mindful indulgence of violence and depression. But if issue four is more of the same, Ill probably just be bored.

All in all, this and the last issue feel like necessary evils. KobK thinks it needs more characters, and now we have them. With that out of the way, they can start interacting, and hopefully, well be back to me adoring this series for the twisted, dark, edgy glory that I know it can be.

Genevieve was a bit too comedic for my liking though. She just seems too optimistic given everything that is happening, and I dont find her stance realistic.

Alien: Fire and Stone #2 is a step down, but the last panel gives me hope for better things to come. If nothing else, I feel compelled to read it just to see how Russell's story effects the other stories in Dark Horse's shared universe.

On the Russell front, he seems to have turned into a hermit. Hes still talking to someone, but Im starting to wonder if this whole ordeal is slowly driving him crazy and the only person listening to him is himself. Hes beginning to feel unhinged. My biggest complaint of this issue might be how little time we spend with Russell. he's clearly the star of this arc, but he didn't get much page space here.

Im a sucker for questions. Prometheus is my favorite movie because of that, and every story in this Fire and Stone shared universe has followed in footsteps that remind me of Prometheus. But while Im stuck waiting for an Engineer-knows-how-long amount of time for Ridley Scott to create the sequel to my favorite movie, I dont have long to wait for Dark Horse to finish what theyve started.

I'll stand by Genius Cartel though. I think this is a good book. Some of that might be based too much on comparisons to other Top Cow books which generally aren't, but the fact that this book can play with tropes I tend to dislike and come out ahead says a lot about the quality of the writing and artwork. I'm a fan.

I feel like I'm lowering my own personal barometer for quality by liking this book, but man, I'm having fun with it. I finish each issue thinking I'm too old for this shit, but I'm also really excited to see how the next one will wrap it all up. It's fun. Fun is what I want.

Its possible I read the book too fast, and its possible Ive simply forgotten plot points from previous issues. This once a month thing can do that, but man, going 4/5 good books and ending on a sour note is rough. I was really rooting for this one, too.

Issue 20 isnt bad by any means, and the darker tone would have worked much better had the jokes been placed further apart. Thankfully, most of the jokes do manage to land on the funny side despite it all, and the art style never stops being wonderful. Every character gets a chance at an amazing facial expression, and the obligatory final battle is quite pretty.

However, there are some good things to be had here. Trixie is back, and shes true to form. I also liked the reappearance of Babs Seed. Theres a police chief pony with a moustache that looks like he should be hidden somewhere in Gotham City, and Applejack does a fine job of looking unimpressed throughout the first few pages. I spent a fair share of the book smiling, despite my gripes.

I feel like the art is better in this issue than the last one, though there are a few images that dont look right. Rarity has some moments of not looking like herself yet, but its less of a problem this time around. They never brought me out of the experience.

My only complaint is the lack of dialogue, which is understandable given the cast. But no talking means the comic reads very quickly. Its a contained story, but theres less here to grasp than previous issues. However, the art is top notch all the way through (save some clumsy renditions of Twilight Sparkle), and its easily worth a reread.

Twilights endgame plan, which doesnt involve magic at all, was also terribly stupid and clearly wasnt going to work. I get that this is the first issue in an arc and that the first plan isnt supposed to work, but this was just too obvious.

I wont spoil it, but Im impressed on how well its handled thus far. Every side has been given a fair look, and it seems like Twilight Sparkle has found herself in a predicament with no easy answers.

All of my praise of Issue #27 still stands here: The art is fantastic, and the writers have managed to juggle multiple characters flawlessly, giving everyone the right amount of personality without slowing the story down. There are also plenty of background gags to be uncovered. Spike and Rainbowdash also deserve a nod for being awesome.

MLP:FiM # 30 is alright. I had some fun, and the ending is a good mix of cliffhanger and amusing, but its far from the best this series has offered. Worth a buy if youre desperate for a pony fix.

Like Issue 30, the artwork is serviceable, though unlike Issue 30, the writing this time isnt.

However, if you can buy into the premise, the spotty artwork is the only problem here. Everything else is just damn funny. It treads the line into stupidity a good handful of times, but always in the best way, and Im really, really glad I read this one.

The issue really is a quick setup and then a battle that spans the rest of it, and going into further detail would spoil the end. I can say that the first two pages of spooky exposition aren't well written, which is a shame, but that's the only real fault here. Everything else is fairly solid (though perhaps a little standard if I'm being honest) with some quality gags, a great Dirty Harry reference, and top-notch visuals.

And in true four-issue arc fashion, this one ends on quite the cliffhanger!

The good news is theres one more to go, and given the cliffhanger ending to this one, were in for an explosive treat.

The comics are the one place where the norm can be brokenbecause Hasbro knows it hasbut its never broken enough. Its always safe and easy and in some cases, lazy.

We're starting these comics off on a high note, which is good because the show is on a hiatus and I'll need my fix somehow.

Regardless, the comic is good. Really good, even. Its one of the more mature issues Ive seen of MLP:FiM , but it works with its content in a way that melds itself well with its cute art style and world.

This ones worth grabbing if youre into these comics. I had a good deal of fun.

As someone who has been reading these MLP:FiM comics for a strangely long time now, this is the best they have to offer. Easily in my top three, if not my all out favorite of them.

I do think that this little arc has potential to grow into something quite fun though. The last three or so pages cliffhanger the story in the perfect way, so Im looking forward to seeing where it goes. As an entry point though, its flawed. Heres to hoping things improve.

This comic is not deeply cynical, and Twilight Sparkle isn't an alcoholic, but it's still fun and worth a look if you like this property. #52 is also a fine jumping on point to this trilogy, as I had no problems getting into the groove of the story at all. It's Ponies. This isn't rocket science. Its probably more fun than rocket science though.

This is a fairly solid MLP comic. It's not perfect, but it works with the new lore fairly well, and the artwork is solid throughout. No surprises there as Agnes Garbowska knows how to draw ponies.

To end where we began, in typical MLP:FiM fashion, weve ended on a sour note, and in typical MLP:FiM fashion, that neednt be the case were this a three or four issue arc instead of two. Nuance and logic go out the window when you only have 22 pages to solve a war.

2017 has been a rough year for My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. The shows writing has fallen, and the comics continue to be hit/miss. This is another one thats a miss.

MLP:FiM #60 is pretty good. I had a lot of fun, and behind the silly story is something way more compelling than it has any right to be. Also there's some cute stuff what does things. It's ponies. Enjoy or don't; I don't care.

This isn't the first issue of MLP that I'll half recommend: The artwork is great and certainly sells the show, though the plotting itself is by and large kind of boring. You can do worse with this series. I dunno if I'd call that a high bar to set though.

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic #62 is a fine issue with some problems. I like that it does something a bit different with its plot, but I dislike how it resolves itself. Thankfully, it looks cute from start to finish. Like the last one, its a eh its not horrible. Its better than The Phantom Menace though, which is cool.

I think my biggest problem with this issue is it's lack of conflict. Both characters have these points of interest that should be problems, but the book treats neither with any real severity. It's a series of cute character moments and that's about it. I did like the references and a few of the jokes, and Rarity is written well, but otherwise there isn't much here. It's not empty, but almost.

It's been awhile, but we've finally got another really solid entry into the MLP:FiM comic scene. This one has a simple premise but a lot of fun, and while I'd have liked some of the conflict to be spread out over two issues to give the characters more room to breathe, I enjoyed the topic and the jokes. It's worth a look if you're a fan of the property.

And that's basically it. I may have tread into spoilers here, but there's so little to be found other than a plot riddled with holes and nonsense that I don't see a point in reading this one. Yeah the artwork is cute, but after 66 issues, I want more than that. I can get cute art rereading the old comics or looking at fanart. I'm disappointed too, because the idea here really is ripe for loony-toons fun. We'd just need four issues to do it proper, not one.

The sales pitch for Aliens: Deadly Orbit reminds me of the gameplay to Alien: Isolation, and the thing about horror is that it doesn't work unless the reader cares about the main character. If that's what the first issue is going to do, then I guess I'm willing to wait this out in the long term. I don't know James Stokoe, but I do know Dark Horse. I trust them.

Atlas & Axis #1 is a fun little romp through a fantasy world I'm hoping I'll be interested in returning to next month. I want to say I'm ready for more, but while I like what's here and think there's some cool world building going on, this one feels a bit more "kids property" than what I'd like. It's a fine cartoon, but I don't have the nostalgic connection to it like I do with Redwall. Worth a look if you got kids; worth a look if you want something fun but not all that intellectually stimulating.

I don't know what to give Days of Hate #1 as a score. The book hits too close to home. I'm going "yeah this is right!" and "they know someone like me will eat this up! How sheeply I am!" I imagine both of those viewpoints are wrong. Sometimes a story is just a story. This story is"well, fine so far. If we drop all the socio-political stuff, it's fine. It's a depressing world with depressing characters, but it's executed well. It's a story with a lot of promise.

It is a charming idea, and the Punisher is at least fun to be around. Give him some demons to shoot and I'm game for more.

Listen, thus far Ive had some fun with Hawkeye. Its laid back and silly, which is nice, but we all know that my head canon is just that: non canon. Eventually shell super hero her way in an exceptionally super hero way, and Ill hate it. Itll be boring and derivative because thats just how this rolls. Right now though, Im having fun pretending Kates incompetent as hell, and Ill keep reading until that stops being a thing.

I'm not quite sure where this puts me. On the one hand, I'm disappointed; on the other, the first five issues are exceptional and this one isn't bad by any means. It takes an idea, runs with it, and trips a bit at the end. It doesn't do something truly special. That I'm demanding it to might say more about me than the book, though.

Still, as far as Rebirth issues go, this is actually a good one. Its not quite Constantine or Wonder Woman levels, but it does what it needs to do competently enough. I had fun with it, at any rate.

Now, the book itself isnt what Id call bad. The premise is fairly spot-on Rick-and-Morty shenanigans, playing off sitcom tropes and ending in the only way Rick and Morty can end. There are even references to Aliens. I had some fun. But the magic just isnt here, and Im more than patient enough to wait for the show to start up again. I dont need a Rick and Morty supplement.

Scales and Scoundrels #1 is a perfectly fine first issue to a comic book I have no real interest in continuing. It's a kid's book, or at least masquerading as one, and while it has the art style and charm to draw older audiences in, it lacks the character work to make them stick. I don't expect to come back, but if you have kids who want a fun fantasy romp, this could be worth following. I'd say its a cut above the competition in that regard.

I'll be honest, I'm not quite sure how to judge Issue 1 of The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl because I don't entirely know where it's coming from. It's hard to tell where the joke ends and an actual story begins, especially given that Doreen is now a New Avenger. She clearly has a bigger part to play than a one-beat joke. But as a one-beat joke, the issue certainly has charm, and I'm willing to follow it a little further to see where it might go.

Vinegar Teeth #1 is a really, really strange debut. I don't know if it's horror, comedy, or both, and while that does create some tonal issues, the premise and artwork make this one just too interesting for me to not follow, at least for now. Stay weird, 2018.

I'm not sure reading this as a dark comedy is the way the author intended, but as long as this dynamic continues, I can dig it.

Batman #36 is what I want out of a Batman comic. It has some action, it has some serious, but most of all, it has some comedy. It has characters acting like real people and showing vulnerabilities in very interesting and subtle ways. It's fun. It's what I wish the first like 30 issues had been.

Batman #39 is a strong issue. Its got a rad premise, some rad artwork, and some rad character moments. It balances the quirky fun of the last few issues with the somber gravity of those earlier on in the run, and it does so well. Also Cat Woman is the best.

Still, if you want a comedy featuring Batman and Catwoman, there's fun to be had here. It's a quick read with a solid group of jokes, and the Flash gets beat up. God I hate that guy. Anything where he gets beat up gets a thumbs up in my book. Maybe not two, but one. One's better than nothing.

At the end of the day, Batman #43 is a poor execution to a narrative that promised fun and something kind of cool. The writing is spotty, made worse by the fact that the artwork is straight ugly almost all the way through, and the resolution doesn't hit quite as hard as the comic wishes it did.

All in all, Batman #44 feels like an odd filler issue between big moments. We're done with Ivy (thank god), and now we're stuck waiting for the wedding. I'd like it to just show up though, because other than some silent character work with Catwoman, there's no reason to read this one.

Batman #46 is a very strange book, because for all its muster at trying to do something with meaning, we all know it won't end with any. As a funny romp through a new idea, it's also starting to fail. I like some of its style, and I like some of Booster Gold's personality, but you cannot have a genre-savvy character miss the obvious. That defeats the purpose. Basically, I'm left wondering why we can't just have our damn wedding already.

I gotta say, this one let me down. It's better than the one before it–it has neat ideas and with the robot back to life, jokes that land–but this entire arc feels like filler. Though with a resolution that isn't really a resolution, I guess I should change “feels” to “is.”

Batman #48 is a great issue. It's dark and strange and funny as hell, and Tom King writes an excellent Joker. I'm stoked for #49.

Im certainly going to be checking out issue #2. Now that the world and characters are set up and out of the way, the only place left to go is up.

At least Sunburst is in it. Remember Sunburst?! I didnt until he showed up. I like him well enough though, so bonus points for Sunburst!

Ill end this thusly then: If my plot summary up above sounds intriguing, give Gasolina a shot. Theres a lot of promise here. Im hoping this is just an issue of setup blues and with our characters and world established, things can get monsterish and interesting. If not, well, it'll still be better than Batman Metal.

I cant speak for Dark Souls as a video game, but I bet its a lot better than the comic adaptation thus far. Maybe this will improve as it goes, but right now, this is only worth reading for the artwork.

Issue 2 hasn't changed my main stance on this series then: It's really only worth reading for the artwork, which is still jaw-dropping amazing. This might be the prettiest comic I've ever come across. As a story though, you can do better.

DC Metal has been a wild, wild mess of mostly bad storytelling with the occasional high spot. I dont think Batman: The Devastator #1 is a high spot, but its not a low one either. Its fine. The artwork is strong, there are some good moments with the two characters that matter, and the evil Batman is at least kind of fun. Also, theres plenty of action. If youve purchased the first few issues in this event, youve already done worse, so you know, theres that.

Now this all being said, Blackwood itself is fairly competent. Wren sucks but we'll come around to her around issue three when she vomits her backstory and saves a dude, and the rest will turn into likeable chaps that follow their respective tropes too closely to be memorable. It's got “mediocre” stamped all over it, which isn't a bad thing if you want a haunted university. It's not like we get too many of them. That being said, DC has Mystic U out right now, and you might find a better version of this there. I dunno. I stopped reading that too.

I guess I'm not 100% sure what this comic is missing, because it has a lot going for it. Yet I'll forget all of it two days from now. It's gorgeous to look at, a Disney cartoon in comic form, but everything else is flat. I look at the world and the characters and go, “that's sure interesting,” and then wonder what else is on.

At the end of the day, Quake: Champions isnt a bad story, and the art is monstrous in its execution. I had some fun. But like with all video game tie ins, it falls short on the writing front, with some poor choices, poor dialogue, and simply too many words per page. A little less talking and a little more violence, please. This is supposed to be an arena shooter. The most we say is “GG” at the end.

I dont know if Dark Knights: Metal is good. Id wager it isnt, but when I think of all my favorite bad anime, I really never want to call them bad. There is always something there, something fun and wonderful and wholesome that keeps my attention despite the nonsense. That is this comic. It is pure, pure nonsense and spectacle, and I guess thats pretty cool.

Dark Knights: Metal is a crazy big anime without the page space. It's trying to cram the big reveals and betrayals in the entirety of Hunter x Hunter into five or six issues, and it just doesn't work.

Dark Knights: Metal is six issues of very loud noise with no melody to it. There's a throughline here somewhere, but it diverges every other page so characters can say something stupid, and while it all ties together, it does so in a way that is also without melody. It really is what happens when someone has a cool idea and no editor.

Aliens: Dust to Dust is off to a rote-as-hell start. It's one big chase with no real tension because no one has time for any character moments. We know the end as soon as it begins, and the end isn't scary anymore. I'll give it another issue to see if it does anything new now that our obligatory “Xenos are scary” bit is over, but I'm not all that hopeful.

Harley Quinn and Batman #1 is Saturday-morning cartoons at its most mediocre. I didnt find it funny, but I appreciate the artistic callback to the cartoons I did watch, and I appreciate DC trying a version of Batman that isnt dour as hell and a Harley Quinn that isnt obnoxious. Its fine. For a buck, I really cant say no, since thats a dollar. I pay more for a cup of coffee, and that takes less time to drink than this does to read.

Its a shame too, because I think there are some good ideas to this character. I wish her last name wasnt Snow because thats way too on the nose even for DC (plus it makes me think shes one of Ned Starks bastards), and I wish pretty much the entire plot were different, but I guess on the whole this book is no more offensive than any other bad DC Rebirth issue.

On the art front, the comic looks alright, though there's nothing here that'll blow you away. For being strange-looking creatures, the Sirens all look good, and as per Ponies, there are always some fun facial expressions to be found. But on the whole, I found the backgrounds to be fairly lifeless, and I certainly didn't feel the need to reread the comic to appreciate the art like I normally do.

There's your bookend for Venom #1. Everything in the middle is a big heaping pile of, "I don't care."

I feel like I have to reiterate that I dont mind strange or bad artwork. I adore Underwinter which is as distorted and surreal as you can get while still being coherent, and I do like Extremity. That book works well with its style. But at a certain point, distorted and vulgar stop working, and thats this book. Its unpleasant to look at. This makes it unpleasant to read.

The thing with being bland and generic is that its worse than being outright bad. Ill remember an awful book, and I might even read one just to marvel at the poor writing or character work. Ill never remember a bland book. Ill never grab Issue #3 to see if the quality gets worse because by the time its out, Ill have forgotten I read #2.

I'm starting to think the real secret to comic books isn't in the continuity or lore but the simple fact that event comics are terrible. I've never read a good one. This isn't a good one. They draw money like mad, but I don't know why and I'll probably never get an answer. If this is your jam, great, but we are on different wavelengths in what we want in both a story and a superhero comic.

Welp, I think this is enough words. This book is still bad. Event comics are still bad. Everything is bad. And maybe, just maybe, there's a little bit of bad inside of you too.

I'm less offended that Justice League: No Justice has been a bad series and more that it has fun ideas with zero execution. There's no room for execution. It is, as I said, a big Wikipedia article put to pictures. It's boring.

I am hoping that Hunters #1 just has a bad case of first-issue blues and the mini will really take off next time. Im not entirely sure it's capable of that, but Ill be around for the next issue just in case.

This Prometheus One Shot then, is just the falling action"a necessary evil"and one with no real emotional weight to speak of. That all happened last issue.

Were this book in on its own joke, it might work. It isn't, though, and there's no joy to be had because of that.

I guess the TL/DR is that this is less of a bad comic and more one that shouldn't have #1 anywhere near it. It's not a #1. It's also not a one-shot annual which is usually what that word means. Annual. Once a year. There's plenty of plot from last week, last month, and last year too. More plot will follow next week.

Reborn #3 is so entrenched in bad high fantasy that only a complete genre flip could save it at this point. I dont see that happening though, because that would require something interesting to happen.

And if I'm somehow wrong about that, well a big shift ten issues from now won't make issues two through four retroactively good. Bad writing is bad writing. This is bad writing

Reborn remains bad, and no one is surprised. So, let's continue the guessing game! #6 ends the series, and I predict these two things will happen: One, it will end on a dues ex machina; two, Bonnie's mother will be the evil chimera the big-bad is boning off screen.

I tip my stupid looking biker/space helmet to you, Reborn. I then take that helmet off my head because it looks stupid.

I dont know who this book is for, and I dont know why it exists. Im not even sure why I Im here. Snagglepuss, I guess, but I could have just skipped to the ending like an actual adult. God knows I dont like the Suicide Squad or care about the Banana Splits. Perhaps deep down I had hoped for something really strange, stupid, and fun, but Im far too cynical to think DC could actually deliver on that promise.

Going in, Elsewhere #1 has all the makings of a good comic. It starts off with a prison break, no one is vomiting text, and the artwork takes center stage. However, it doesnt take long for a lethargic flatness to settle in, with dialogue that doesnt feel real, boring characters, and artwork thats wholly serviceable. Its uninteresting to the point where Ill forget I read it by the time issue #2 comes out.

I wanted to like this. I wanted to appreciate the joke. But I can't. There's too much going on, too many people with too many jumping set pieces, and the jokes never vary. It goes vulgar => blood; vulgar => blood; fourth-wall break, and then vulgar => blood again. Once you've read the first three pages, you've basically read the next 20.

I guess hes just a bad character. Shame he has a full comic devoted to him.

Perhaps this would have worked better as a webcomic.

By that logic then, I owe Romulus one more chance. But lets be real here: The bar I mentioned before is buying a house in mole people city because it knows its going to be living there forever.

Thats our protagonist. Next issue shell do something plot-stupid and succeed because Mary Sues are gonna Mary Sue.

Honestly, I wish these schlocky Top Cow books were just a bit better so theyd be amusingly bad and not just a chore to get through. I almost stopped at page 8, then again at page 14, and then again at page 20. Its funny to see so much bad storytelling in one place in theory, but in practice its really just depressing.

The whole thing reads like some drunken fever dream of plot and dialogue that only casually matches up. It's a speed dating of two different books. Half of it is trying to be smart and witty, with children that live forever and some supernatural shit, and the other half is just bad DC writing with Trevor playing the straight man alongside awful villains.

But Nightworld is up to something, or at least I think it is. Both issues have been filled with almost clever wordplay, and both issues have been nothing but dichotomy after dichotomy. Night is treated like the day, Plenilunio and Hot Spot are clearly opposites, Plenilunios design counters his attempt at acting human, the death of monsters makes more monsters, etc. Alongside that, there's something new going on with how this comic depicts demons, Hell, and deals with the devil. I'm curious to see where that goes.

The only highlight of the issue is Hellena (I see what you did there Nightworld), who decides to exposition-vomit her life story for a distraction. Her motives are actually pretty cool, though Im not sure if thats an accident at this point. Nothing else about this comic is coolor good.

I am honestly baffled at how awful this whole thing has been.

Barry Allen is more earnest than Green Arrow, more annoying than Harley Quinn, and more up his own ass than Batman. Every word from his mouth is obnoxious or obvious, and he never stops talking. Ever.