5.0
|
100 Bullets: Brother Lono | 1 issues |
5
|
100 Bullets: Brother Lono #8
Mar 1, 2014 |
Just like the previous issues, the finale is gorgeous. Risso's art and layouts are very engaging. The action is brutal and reflects a nihilistic outlook on the world. The brutality of man, the horror of violence, the inability to change one's own nature: these are all rich themes, worth exploring, and potentially evident inBrother Lono. Yet the story does not engage any of them on a meaningful level. And that's just too bad. |
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6.0
|
2020 Force Works | 1 issues |
6
|
2020 Force Works #3
Jun 3, 2020 |
If it weren't for the issue's modern style, it wouldn't be difficult to think this was a relic of the 1980s pulled from a back issue bin. |
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4.0
|
2020 Ironheart | 2 issues |
4
|
2020 Ironheart #1
May 20, 2020 |
It's an awkwardly positioned issue with awkward delivery and, while not all of that is the fault of these creators, it all results in a read that never manages to find the gas pedal. |
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4
|
2020 Ironheart #2
Jun 17, 2020 |
There's potential present here, but it's not realized and what's left will only satisfy readers desperate to find more of Riri. They deserve better. |
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9.7
|
20th Century Men (2022) | 3 issues |
10
|
20th Century Men (2022) #4
Nov 30, 2022 |
20th Century Men is quickly becoming one of the 21st century's very best comic book series. |
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9
|
20th Century Men (2022) #5
Dec 28, 2022 |
Like every issue before it, 20th Century Men #5 will leave readers anxious to discover what comes next, but they will have plenty to contemplate in the interim given both the hope and despair evoked in this excellent issue |
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10
|
20th Century Men (2022) #6
Feb 22, 2023 |
20th Century Men is a brand new vision that draws readers to interrogate the globe and their own soul through a mastery of the form. A masterpiece. |
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3.0
|
4 Kids Walk Into A Bank | 1 issues |
3
|
4 Kids Walk Into A Bank #1
Apr 29, 2016 |
From the basic idea to the crisp visual notes, whatever you imagine based on that cover is bound to be better than what is inside. Boss is a real talent with great promise, one to be watched as he refines some of the skills and influences on display here. Yet the script squanders what he and the other visual collaborators bring to the table. There is no pushing back against the rigid grids and dense dialogue of the comic as it continues, and it collapses under its own weight. No matter how good 4 Kids Walk Into A Bank may sound, it's better to wait for the next thing. |
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8.2
|
6 Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton | 6 issues |
9
|
6 Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton #1
Jun 9, 2021 |
A bizarre premise stuffed with colorful characters, gut busting humor, a deep appreciation of American pop culture, and a surprising degree of depth amidst all the tawdry details. The uninitiated can rest assured they're in for one heckuva ride here. |
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9
|
6 Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton #2
Jul 14, 2021 |
Combine those laughs and thrills, and you have a must-read comic on your hands assuming one doesn't mind a bit of funny business. |
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8
|
6 Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton #3
Aug 11, 2021 |
This is an already impressive and consistently entertaining series that appears to only possess room for growth as it continues. |
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9
|
6 Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton #4
Sep 8, 2021 |
The Six Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton would be a must-read for its comedic merits alone, but it still insists on delivering outstanding examples of action, character work, and mystery plotting in each issue meaning even its middle chapters are a delight from start to finish - because the interview back matter in this issue is truly outstanding. |
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8
|
6 Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton #5
Oct 13, 2021 |
It's played with the same excellent action panels and sense of humor that has been present throughout The Six Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton, and it ensures the issue is still a joy to read even as it hesitates to find its conclusion. |
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6
|
6 Sidekicks of Trigger Keaton #6
Nov 10, 2021 |
The solution to this series' core mystery arrives with a thud. |
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6.0
|
A Walk Through Hell | 1 issues |
6
|
A Walk Through Hell #1
May 16, 2018 |
Whatever nuance this narrative lacks, it makes up with skillful horror storytelling. |
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6.0
|
A-Force | 1 issues |
6
|
A-Force #1
May 20, 2015 |
For readers excited about Secret Wars and the epic superhero tales promised, A-Force #1 is a mixed bag. The tone and story are consistent with big crossovers, but share some of their failings as well. Consistent presentation of those ideas is where the issue really has troubles though. If Molina and Cheung's work improves, then A-Force may be one of the most fondly remembered series of this entire event. |
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6.0
|
A.R.C. (2023) | 1 issues |
6
|
A.R.C. (2023) #1
Mar 8, 2023 |
A.R.C. provides readers a one-shot tale focused on the action and efforts of anti-poaching organizations on the continent of Africa, albeit with the pacing, plotting, and approach of a spy thriller. |
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8.0
|
A.X.E. One-Shots | 2 issues |
8
|
A.X.E. One-Shots: Starfox #1
Oct 5, 2022 |
A.X.E.: Starfox is a thesis statement for an apparently underrated Avenger that's bound to change a lot of minds and turn some heads. |
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8
|
A.X.E. One-Shots: Eternals #1
Oct 12, 2022 |
There's never a moment of doubt and the odyssey further down this divine rabbithole remains thrilling; A.X.E.: Eternals is another excellent offering from Marvel's best event in years. |
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8.0
|
A.X.E.: Eve of Judgment (2022) | 1 issues |
8
|
A.X.E.: Eve of Judgment (2022) #1
Jul 13, 2022 |
It provides both a great starting point and satisfies the yearning readers must feel to see more of this very inventive group as their actions encompass much of Marvel Comics. |
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8.0
|
A.X.E.: Judgment Day (2022) | 6 issues |
6
|
A.X.E.: Judgment Day (2022) #1
Jul 20, 2022 |
Schiti and Gracia's artwork, all thirty glorious pages of it, are a testament as to why I'm disinclined to assume too much about the overall project of A.X.E.: Judgment Day based upon an uninspiring first chapter; it is an event shaped by some of the insightful and deft creators plying their trade at Marvel Comics. |
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8
|
A.X.E.: Judgment Day (2022) #2
Aug 10, 2022 |
All of the tie-ins for Judgment Day have related to a very specific event in the first issue and the reason for this slow acceleration becomes abundantly clear this week when the real stakes of the event are revealed. The final few pages alone reignite any diminished interest caused by the first issue's familiar stakes; what happens here will leave readers with plenty to consider and opens the door for an event far different than what many of us have grown cynical over. |
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9
|
A.X.E.: Judgment Day (2022) #3
Aug 24, 2022 |
Judgment Day is quickly evolving into a very special event that delivers on the blockbuster promises of crossovers without forgetting to root its story in universal questions and character; A.X.E. is beginning to look like a best case scenario for superhero events. |
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9
|
A.X.E.: Judgment Day (2022) #4
Sep 14, 2022 |
You won't find a better event than Judgment Day in 2022. |
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8
|
A.X.E.: Judgment Day (2022) #5
Sep 21, 2022 |
It's a proper spectacle as rendered by Valerio Schiti and Marte Gracia who fill splashes with a resplendent array of costumes and ensure that even burning skylines possess a strange beauty. |
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8
|
A.X.E.: Judgment Day (2022) #6
Oct 26, 2022 |
It's an impressively ambitious affair, especially when one considers that it's using superheroes to contemplate the problem of evil and man's value in an era of decline. |
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6.7
|
Abbott | 3 issues |
8
|
Abbott #3
Mar 28, 2018 |
It's a promising climax that pushes this miniseries forward into its final couple of issues (and hopefully an ongoing series). |
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6
|
Abbott #4
Apr 25, 2018 |
It's a whole lot of filler for a good bit of killer at the end. |
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6
|
Abbott #5
May 30, 2018 |
The final moments of this miniseries exude anti-climax. All of the hallmarks of a big moment are there, but what actually occurs on the page has little to do with the events that came before. |
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8.0
|
Above Snakes | 5 issues |
8
|
Above Snakes #1
Jul 13, 2022 |
The entire issue delivers a brief and thrilling read that invites readers to return for more of the same as this cross between magical realism and Westerns trods down an increasingly bloody road to revenge. |
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7
|
Above Snakes #2
Aug 17, 2022 |
Above Snakes takes a second run at the formula introduced in its debut and proves that it possesses some real mileage. |
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8
|
Above Snakes #3
Sep 14, 2022 |
Above Snakes continues to deliver single issue reads that are quite satisfying in their own right, providing brief arcs, but issue #3 is an excellent reminder as to how those smaller pieces are adding up and building towards something even more compelling. |
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8
|
Above Snakes #4
Oct 19, 2022 |
Above Snakes has been such a delightthe apex of Sherman and Lewis' impressive collaborations thus farthat its penultimate chapter sneaks up on you; it's difficult to see this comic prepare to say goodbye. |
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9
|
Above Snakes #5
Nov 16, 2022 |
The finale of Above Snakes meets the immense promise of each step that led to it in Hayden and Sherman's immensely strange Western. Above Snakes #4 delivered on the copious bloodshed promised by a man riding against an entire gang of bastards for revenge and cleared the stage to focus on only a few characters: Dirt, Speck, and Tombs. |
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6.0
|
Absolute Carnage (2019) One Shot | 1 issues |
6
|
Absolute Carnage (2019): Immortal Hulk #1
Oct 2, 2019 |
While the final page of this issue is an absolute showstopper, it's ultimately one big reminder of what readers have been discovering across two series in the past year, albeit a well-written one. |
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6.8
|
Action Comics (2016) | 5 issues |
4
|
Action Comics (2016) #997
Feb 14, 2018 |
Character inconsistencies (Skeets doing the exact opposite of what he just advised between pages) and ample clichs (a villain explaining their plan in excruciating detail) make for a tedious issue of filler that leaves us looking for to Action Comics #1000 as a light at the end of this tunnel. |
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4
|
Action Comics (2016) #998
Feb 28, 2018 |
It's another disappointing chapter before the big shake up. |
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8
|
Action Comics (2016) #999
Mar 14, 2018 |
Action Comics #999 is an excellent end point as the torch is passed to a new team next month. |
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8
|
Action Comics (2016) #1003
Sep 26, 2018 |
Action Comics #1003 is yet another strong entry in this Superman renaissance. |
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10
|
Action Comics (2016) #1004
Oct 24, 2018 |
No issue has better defined why Brian Michael Bendis is the right writer to steer the Superman line of comics than Action Comics #1004. |
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9.0
|
Action Comics (2016) Annual | 1 issues |
9
|
Action Comics (2016) Annual: Midnighter 2021
Sep 1, 2021 |
Take a break from drawn out superhero sagas and remember what comics can deliver in a single package; you won't regret it. |
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6.8
|
Adventureman | 9 issues |
6
|
Adventureman #1
Jun 10, 2020 |
It's easy to imagine Adventureman becoming a hit when collected, but as a single issue reading experience it doesn't offer much to satisfy or hook readers"providing something that feels more like a lengthy sample than a rousing first chapter. |
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8
|
Adventureman #2
Jul 8, 2020 |
The second issue begins to lay the groundwork for how pulp fiction and the comic book reality will interact, and it offers a satisfying invitation to watch these worlds merge even without a cliffhanger. |
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6
|
Adventureman #3
Aug 12, 2020 |
There's no doubt that the Dodsons' artwork provides plenty for readers to enjoy, emphasizing the blend of pulp fiction and Claire's reality with stylish flair here. However, Adventureman is struggling to maintain momentum and offer a clear conceit to readers, and that poses a serious long term problem for a serialized story like this one. |
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6
|
Adventureman #4
Oct 7, 2020 |
The opening sequence of Adventureman #4 is astounding. It's a thesis on power as its heroine grapples with ever growing abilities and form, and it's delivered in the familiar grammar of superhero and pulp genre tales as summoned by the Dodsons. What follows is a mixed bag of events, exposition, and threads that never quite feel like they are part of the same story. |
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7
|
Adventureman #5
Sep 29, 2021 |
The series is as gorgeous as ever with both pulp-infused heroes and villains reminding readers of how much charm is built into the very bones of this story. |
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8
|
Adventureman #6
Oct 27, 2021 |
In Adventureman #6, the focus rests on the different sorts of classic, pulp tales that may lie ahead and it's apparent those will pay dividends with the series' style. |
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6
|
Adventureman #7
Dec 15, 2021 |
Adventureman remains an impressive aesthetic feat, but the slow crawl of its story is starting to remove the luster from its appearance. |
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8
|
Adventureman #8
Mar 2, 2022 |
While Adventureman debuted nearly 2 years ago, it seems to be finding a rhythm just now with a comfortable mix of characters and context that allow for the many soap opera-esque plots to play out across many issues. It's simply fun to watch it evolve here, even if the cliffhanger lands with a thud. |
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6
|
Adventureman #9
May 25, 2022 |
No matter how engaging and fun these settings remain, readers have already seen the Dodsons deliver these buoyant concepts repeatedly and, at this point, some novelty is needed. |
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3.7
|
Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent (2023) | 3 issues |
4
|
Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent (2023) #1
Mar 8, 2023 |
Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent #1 is a comic that does not require reading. Fans concerned about events in the Superman family of books can be sure they know all they need from the solicit, while the story inside this issue remains cold, uninflected, and generally uninteresting. |
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4
|
Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent (2023) #2
Apr 5, 2023 |
There's simply too little to the individual issues of Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent so far to make them read like a substantial development in a serialized narrative, which makes the connection to a story composed of brief, digital installments make more sense. |
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3
|
Adventures of Superman: Jon Kent (2023) #3
May 3, 2023 |
Told with more wide open panels, familiar, MCU-style humor, and an embrace of superheroes as enforcers of the world as it is, Superman: Adventures of Jon Kent remains an utterly lifeless affair. |
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5.0
|
Adventures of the Super Sons | 2 issues |
4
|
Adventures of the Super Sons #3
Oct 3, 2018 |
Rex Luthor's gang of childish supervillains prove to be an entertaining distraction for most of an issue that runs in circles. |
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6
|
Adventures of the Super Sons #4
Nov 7, 2018 |
While the story is competently told, there's little that will stick and that makes it difficult to recommend this story, even if it lacks obvious flaws. |
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5.0
|
Age of Conan: Belit | 2 issues |
6
|
Age of Conan: Belit #4
Jun 12, 2019 |
While there might be an epic tragedy bound up in the threads of this mini series, it's served as a buffet, rather than a feast. |
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4
|
Age of Conan: Belit #5
Jul 24, 2019 |
This was a strange, largely directionless series, one that will be quickly forgotten beneath the continuing onslaught to Conan spin-offs. |
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6.0
|
Age Of X-Man: Prisoner X | 1 issues |
6
|
Age Of X-Man: Prisoner X #4
Jun 5, 2019 |
While this miniseries is all set to go out with a bang, it's unfortunate how long it took in arriving at its destination with little else to add. |
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3.8
|
Alien (2021) | 12 issues |
4
|
Alien (2021) #1
Mar 24, 2021 |
Alien #1 is a serviceable introduction to a new era of Alien comics; setting itself clearly within the timeline of the early (and most popular) films, and providing readers with a new lead character and problem to address. |
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3
|
Alien (2021) #2
Apr 21, 2021 |
The result is a comic that is dull every moment spent away from devoted action and suspense sequences and those are further undermined by the final few pages in which Larroca's forms appear to be traced atop one another with no clear physicality or contact. |
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2
|
Alien (2021) #3
May 26, 2021 |
Xenomorphs are all over Alien #3 as the few survivors of a recovery team struggle to make their way deeper into an infested space station; the problem is that they appear to be a comedic element, rather than a horrifying one. |
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2
|
Alien (2021) #4
Jun 16, 2021 |
The flaws in Aliens are as noticeable as they are because of this series' profile"this is Marvel Comics' launch of a new franchise that it will most likely possess in perpetuity within the House of Mouse. Yet every part of this debut story continues to fall flat and what might have appeared a step below mediocre as yet another Dark Horse miniseries seems utterly disastrous here. |
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2
|
Alien (2021) #5
Jul 21, 2021 |
All of the problems that were evident in Aliens #1 have not only proven to be substantial flaws, but have continued to worsen throughout this story"it's difficult to find any elements to even deem salvageable in these pages. |
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5
|
Alien (2021) #6
Aug 25, 2021 |
Overwriting runs rampant like the first few sessions of an RPG and the impulse to explain undermines any metaphors intended to be shown. Yet when the script finally opts to simply show these characters under unimaginable pressure, a diamond of a good idea can be seen. It's enough to keep me reading because, despite how badly this franchise's core strengths are regularly mangled in endless sequels, the results are rarely dull. |
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7
|
Alien (2021) #7
Sep 22, 2021 |
Where the first arc of Alien sought to remix familiar elements from the franchise, "Revival" introduces a variety of new concepts to the series and offers a promising reset after that disappointing introduction. |
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4
|
Alien (2021) #8
Nov 10, 2021 |
It's competently told, but if all we ought to seek from Alien is what we've seen before then there are far better comics to consider. This is simply more and that's deeply disappointing. |
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2
|
Alien (2021) #9
Feb 2, 2022 |
With less-than-terrifying Xenomorphs rampaging through a story that's been told many times before, it's difficult to find a reason this hiatus shouldn't have been made permanent. |
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6
|
Alien (2021) #10
Mar 2, 2022 |
Alien #10 is the best issue of the series"and therefore the franchise's run at Marvel Comics"to date purely for the novelty it introduces. |
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5
|
Alien (2021) #11
Apr 27, 2022 |
Poorly rendered photographic forms and inconsistent geography continue to plague an Alien story that otherwise might be fun, if not memorable. |
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4
|
Alien (2021) #12
Jun 1, 2022 |
It's clear there are some ideas of interest embedded in Alien, but it remains uncertain whether they'll be worth following in a series that regularly relies on well-worn tropes and mediocre representations of forms that should be frightening. |
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2.0
|
Alien (2021) Annual | 1 issues |
2
|
Alien (2021) Annual #1
Jul 20, 2022 |
The alien itself never provides any sense of horror, only confusion, in appearances with strange perspectives and a lack of consistency. Simply viewing the text makes Alien Annual #1 an unbearable chore. |
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7.0
|
Alien vs. Predator: Fire and Stone | 1 issues |
7
|
Alien vs. Predator: Fire and Stone #1
Oct 8, 2014 |
*This grade is based on the quality of craftsmanship in this issue. I would not recommend it to anyone who has not read Prometheus: Fire and Stone, but do not want to judge the creators for what was most likely outside of their control. |
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8.0
|
Alienated | 6 issues |
8
|
Alienated #1
Feb 12, 2020 |
Wherever the mysteries of the plot and ambitions of the creators lie, Alienated #1 promises that the best is yet to come and earns more than sufficient credit to keep us reading throughout 2020. |
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6
|
Alienated #2
Mar 18, 2020 |
There's still an interesting story present in these pages, but many of the best features have been dialed back to the series' detriment. |
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8
|
Alienated #3
May 29, 2020 |
This nuanced, well-paced exploration outpaces a clunky introduction and some familiar tropes to make the issue read as something exceptional. |
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10
|
Alienated #4
Jul 8, 2020 |
Alienated #4 increases the stakes and demands of its story in a shocking fashion, and if it can pay off the trials of this issue, it will be one of 2020's most compelling new series. |
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8
|
Alienated #5
Aug 12, 2020 |
The penultimate issue of Alienated offers abundant visual spectacle accompanied by character arcs filled with tragedy, setting the stage for a riveting finale to one of 2020's best miniseries. |
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8
|
Alienated #6
Oct 2, 2020 |
After five stirring issues of mounting emotions and trauma, some temporary peace is found"that will have to be enough, as it so often is in life. |
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6.0
|
Aliens: Aftermath (2021) | 1 issues |
6
|
Aliens: Aftermath (2021) #1
Jul 14, 2021 |
Despite its lack of originality, Aliens: Aftermath at least delivers a story that understands its point of origin and that alone is an improvement at Marvel Comics. |
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10
|
Aliens: Dead Orbit | 1 issues |
10
|
Aliens: Dead Orbit #1
Apr 19, 2017 |
Stokoe is a cartoonist who both adores genre and studies his craft. This is what makes him the perfect artist to tackle an adaptation like Aliens: Dead Orbit. The chills and style of films are captured through Stokoe's own eyes. The gap between the thing and the thing itself is closed because Aliens: Dead Orbit #1 is not an imitation, it is its own work of art " and a thrilling piece of comics storytelling. |
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8.0
|
Aliens: Fire and Stone | 1 issues |
8
|
Aliens: Fire and Stone #1
Sep 24, 2014 |
The final panel makes for an almost perfect ending to this issue. Reynolds uses a silhouette to once again display the terrifying xenomorph anatomy, but to also emphasize the sharp terrain surrounding it. Broken rocks lie across the earth like broken glass jutting upwards. Everything about the panel indicates a sense of imminent danger and the colors of a setting sun reveal that the story will only grow darker. This issue serves only as an introduction to the story that Roberson and Reynolds are interested in telling. Yet it presents the imagery and ideas of that story in a manner that has left me entirely convinced I want more. There's no doubt in mind that this comic exists for a good reason. |
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9.0
|
All Against All | 2 issues |
8
|
All Against All #4
Mar 15, 2023 |
All Against All has provided readers a fascinating riff on apocalyptic sci-fi with a setting and species that reflect humanity with strange clarity, and it appears well staged to stick the landing in its finale. |
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10
|
All Against All #5
Apr 12, 2023 |
The violence in All Against All #5 is painful to witness and that speaks to the power of this stunning sci-fi series questioning the nature of humanity and our relationship with the natural world. |
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4.5
|
All-New All-Different Avengers | 2 issues |
4
|
All-New All-Different Avengers #1
Nov 14, 2015 |
All-New, All-Different Avengers is anything but what the title describes. It's bland, unimaginative, and poorly assembled. The best thing to be said about it is that it is a perfectly readable Avengers comics, but we already have five decades worth of those. |
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5
|
All-New All-Different Avengers #6
Mar 7, 2016 |
Excluding the potent combination of favorite characters, All-New, All-Different Avengers is a superhero comic that looks and tastes like the paste you were told not to eat in preschool. Consuming it won't hurt you, but it certainly isn't going to do you any good either. |
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8.4
|
All-New Hawkeye (2015) | 1 issues |
8.4
|
All-New Hawkeye (2015) #1
Nov 14, 2014 |
What gives Prez so much to play with on a small scale though is Lemire's script. He is exploring the consequences of surrendering three gifted, but traumatized children away. Lemire separates the story in two parts, showing what led to a split in the present and what brings the two heroes back together after 20 years. The result is something that reads like a breakup story, even if the romantic element was never there. Clint and Kate's codependence and partnership dissolves in a shockingly human manner that may strike close to home for some. As a result All-New Hawkeye is a comic that, much like its predecessors, sophisticatedly presents the problems we go home to after the day job is over (even if that day job is being a superhero). |
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6.5
|
All-New Inhumans | 2 issues |
7
|
All-New Inhumans #1
Dec 3, 2015 |
All-New Inhumans #1 is visually engaging in most panels though and finally gives readers a reason to care about this new team hitting the scene at Marvel Comics. |
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6
|
All-New Inhumans #5
Apr 4, 2016 |
The course of All-New Inhumans #5 isn't to provide so much of value that missteps like these contorted faces can be easily overlooked, but that they call into question why to read the comic in the first place. The appearance of Spider-Man and plot points on weaponization provide footholds to an ongoing plot with some merit and visual charm, but none of it distinguishes All-New Inhumans in any marked way. The most interesting concept in the entire comic, the Skyspears, is a lesser version of something currently being published at Image Comics. If there is really a call for Inhumans stories, then fans could expect worse than this, but that's assuming there was ever a call to begin with. |
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7.0
|
All-New Wolverine | 1 issues |
7
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All-New Wolverine #1
Nov 14, 2015 |
Despite some flaws in the art, All-New Wolverine #1 is a good start that delivers a clear direction for the character and shows just how much can be done with her in only a couple dozen pages. Whatever comes next should be a very fun adventure. |
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5.0
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All-New X-Men | 1 issues |
5
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All-New X-Men #32
Sep 18, 2014 |
The characterization of these young heroes is excellent still and it's enjoyable to watch them interact under Bendis' words and Asrar's images. However, the clunky introduction of a new character and fractured stories detract from that experience. All-New X-Men #32 is an uneven collection of beginnings ranging from the exciting to the confusing. |
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2.5
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All-New X-Men (2015) | 2 issues |
3
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All-New X-Men (2015) #1
Dec 3, 2015 |
The best part of All-New X-Men #1 is the solicit, once you open the comic itself the promise is quickly unraveled to leave only disappointment. |
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2
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All-New X-Men (2015) #4
Feb 23, 2016 |
All-New X-Men is a hastily assembled comic book on every level. Characters are sketches of teenagers and a single issue only manages to focus on a single, shrug worthy conflict between two of its characters, while the rest are banished to the background in one note appearances (e.g. Bobby is gay! Hank is smart!). The artwork passes the test of sufficiency, but provides no literal or metaphorical depth for readers to invest themselves in. It's certainly a comic, but there's not much more worth saying than that. |
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3.2
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All-Out Avengers (2022) | 5 issues |
4
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All-Out Avengers (2022) #1
Sep 7, 2022 |
Without the necessary style or skill to make the artwork its own draw, there's simply not enough here to guarantee any reader is compelled to wait for All-Out Avengers #2. |
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2
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All-Out Avengers (2022) #2
Oct 12, 2022 |
The entire affair is a bore one made interminable by Greg Land's rigid figures and mid-coitus-rigor-mortis faces inducing cringes from the page. Leave it. |
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2
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All-Out Avengers (2022) #3
Nov 23, 2022 |
It's a tedious battle that provokes little interest as neither the story at hand nor the story promised provide readers a cause to continue beyond seeing more of this and that reads like a threat. |
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4
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All-Out Avengers (2022) #4
Dec 28, 2022 |
Land's lifeless and sexually-frustrated work ensures that the best issue of All-Out Avengers to date remains difficult to recommend. |
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4
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All-Out Avengers (2022) #5
Jan 25, 2023 |
Beyond some excellent quipping and a final reveal that plays on Captain America's natural earnestness and directness, it's clear that All-Out Avengers was a vehicle for an artist incapable of supporting the action it provided. |
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9.0
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All-Star Batman | 1 issues |
9
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All-Star Batman #1
Aug 10, 2016 |
Plenty can be said about the thematic hooks and character pieces set up in All-Star Batman #1, but it is a comic that is at its best and most interested in its genre. Even the exploration of secret histories, redemption, and mentoring all are core themes to the genre itself. This is a comic filled with great costumes, thunderous fights and chases, and plenty of bigger-than-life concepts. It is a comic that even at its darkest revelation is still fun (at least in the lead story). It is a comic that looks every bit as cool as you want a Batman book to look. In that regard, it has the potential to be the best Batman comic any of these creators have ever worked on as it possesses a clear understanding of both the character and the world he operates in. It is far too early to make that sort of declaration, but it is exactly the right time to check out All-Star Batman. |
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3.3
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Almighty (2023) | 4 issues |
4
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Almighty (2023) #1
Feb 1, 2023 |
In an era filled with similar stories, there's nothing to be found in Almighty #1 that makes it stand out. |
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2
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Almighty (2023) #2
Mar 8, 2023 |
After two complete issues it's difficult to answer what Almighty is about, much less where it might be going or if it's worth following that journey; probably best to just leave it. |
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4
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Almighty (2023) #3
Apr 5, 2023 |
Almighty #3 is an improvement overall, but not much of one. |
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3
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Almighty (2023) #4
May 3, 2023 |
Almighty carries over its ongoing issues with pacing and generic antagonists that serve up a cliffhanger that serves just as well as a jumping-off point. |
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4.0
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Almost American | 5 issues |
4
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Almost American #1
Sep 1, 2021 |
For all of the terror and tension these real individuals may have experienced, it simply cannot be found in the pages of Almost American #1. |
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6
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Almost American #2
Oct 6, 2021 |
Almost American delivers a dramatic improvement in its second issue by establishing a clear foundation for the story ahead. |
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4
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Almost American #3
Nov 10, 2021 |
And so by the final page in which the thrilling news of another to Portland is announced, readers are left to wonder why they would want to continue reading this very realistic portrayal of surprisingly uncompelling international espionage. |
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4
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Almost American #4
Jan 19, 2022 |
Only the last page promises anything close to the excitement and intrigue Almost American promised readers and the tag of "To Be Concluded" suggests this twist, too, will be anti-climactic. |
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2
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Almost American #5
Mar 30, 2022 |
Cliched writing, anti-dramatic sequences, and the omission of any interesting aspects leaves Almost American dead on arrival. |
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2.0
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Amazing Mary Jane (2019) | 5 issues |
2
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Amazing Mary Jane (2019) #1
Oct 23, 2019 |
A dull premise and inability to live up to its own promises leave The Amazing Mary Jane dead on arrival. |
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2
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Amazing Mary Jane (2019) #2
Nov 20, 2019 |
After a dismal first issue, The Amazing Mary Jane continues to walk a path towards a new genre, something that might be described as "anti-comics." |
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2
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Amazing Mary Jane (2019) #3
Dec 11, 2019 |
Even an issue that is less dull than prior installments is so poorly assembled that it's impossible to ever accept the story it presents or be entertained by various elements of artifice that desperately seek to be entertaining. |
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2
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Amazing Mary Jane (2019) #4
Jan 8, 2020 |
The Amazing Mary Jane is a story that makes as little sense as the one being produced in its page. |
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2
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Amazing Mary Jane (2019) #5
Feb 19, 2020 |
The Amazing Mary Jane #5 delivers exactly the sort of ending readers would reliably have predicted at the end of #1: a supervillain smashup to save the successful endeavor of Mary Jane and her new friend Mysterio. |
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7.5
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Amazing Spider-Man (2014) | 2 issues |
7
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Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #7
Oct 8, 2014 |
Amazing Spider-Man #7 is a fun double feature. Both the A and the B-story should delight plenty of fans (although the B-story may horrify even more). This is a Spider-Man story at its least serious in direct juxtaposition to what seems to be the very dark tone of Spider-Verse. For now theres plenty of space for quips, smackdowns, and team ups though and Gage knows how to write a fun-loving webslinger with the best of them. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #9
Nov 7, 2014 |
Amazing Spider-Man #9 is a slow start to a still promising event. Slott has shown before that he has a great grasp of how to make overstuffed superhero stories function, and Coipel and Camuncoli are more than ready to put their best work on display. Assuming the series only gains momentum from here, there is a lot to look forward to in Spider-Verse. |
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7.5
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Amazing Spider-Man (2015) | 8 issues |
6
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Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #14
Jul 4, 2016 |
Amazing Spider-Man #14 is a comic that fits well within the parameters and expectations of its storytelling influences. It reads much like an issue of Amazing Spider-Man from decades ago with an excellent grasp on tone and pacing. However, it is dated in some regards and lacks the panache of many artists who told those stories. Those aspects prevent the best elements of this issue from setting a standard for serialized, corporate superhero comics. |
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6
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Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #795
Feb 7, 2018 |
Amazing Spider-Man #795 is a fine, but totally forgettable issue that doesn't build much anticipation for what comes next. |
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6
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Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #796
Feb 21, 2018 |
Slott and his collaborators have done a lot with this supporting cast over the years, and Amazing Spider-Man #796 reminds us that it has been for the best. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #797
Mar 7, 2018 |
Amazing Spider-Man #797 is a thrilling first chapter that sets the stage for Slott's big finale wonderfully. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #798
Apr 4, 2018 |
It functions as both a response to expectations for a Spider-Man comic and a reminder of why so many readers love this franchise in the first place. There's a promise at its core too: Dan Slott will go down as one of the greats. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #799
Apr 18, 2018 |
This is how you craft a penultimate issue. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #800
May 30, 2018 |
There is so much to unpack throughout the 80 pages of Amazing Spider-Man #800. Guest stars, tragic twists, epic battles, and a greatest hits collection of artists fill these pages. |
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10
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Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #801
Jun 20, 2018 |
Every page is in service to a concept of humanity's basic ability for good, one that it captures in a truly amazing fashion. |
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6.8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) | 31 issues |
6
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #1
Jul 11, 2018 |
It's in the last moments of the issue that promises are made about the relationships, villains, and themes that will populate what is still to come. There's no reason to believe that Amazing Spider-Man won't achieve them all given some time. |
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6
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #2
Jul 25, 2018 |
It's an unfortunate sophomore installment that is boosted largely by a choice of great C-list villains and Ottley's excellent work in two action sequences featuring those choices. |
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4
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #3
Aug 8, 2018 |
After three issues, there are fewer reasons than ever to hope this series will improve and it may soon be time for even diehard fans of the webhead to jump ship. |
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4
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #4
Aug 22, 2018 |
While there's an obvious love for Spider-Man lore and plenty of ideas simmering in subplots, they don't have much to offer in this issue and can't provide enough hope for the future of a relaunch that has already lost most of its luster. |
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4
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #5
Sep 12, 2018 |
This has been a deeply disappointing relaunch and the best thing to hope for is that #6 provides an opportunity for a fresh start in the wake of a story that served as more as a jumping off than a jumping on point. |
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6
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #6
Sep 26, 2018 |
After a very disappointing opening arc, hope springs eternal as Amazing Spider-Man begins to course correct. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #7
Oct 10, 2018 |
Gags, action, and a moment of genuine goodwill all land well and make for the first issue of this new volume to really click. If this keeps happening, then Amazing Spider-Man will be a series to watch. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #8
Oct 24, 2018 |
This is the best issue of the new Amazing Spider-Man so far and sets up even more good things to come. |
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6
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #25
Jul 10, 2019 |
While mileage will vary for different readers depending on their appreciation of the great artistic lineup, this issue turned what could have been a fun, minor celebration of all things Spidey into a mediocre cash grab. |
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4
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #26
Jul 24, 2019 |
Fred Myers is the best part of the current Amazing Spider-Man run. His charm is every bit as magnetic as it was in Superior Foes of Spider-Man providing some much-needed fun for this cardboard presentation of Peter Parker. |
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6
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #27
Aug 14, 2019 |
The spark of Superior Foes of Spider-Man is alive in Amazing #27. Not only is this incarnation of Boomerang recognizable, the non-stop banter and tonal fluctuations of his past series are on full display. |
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4
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #28
Aug 28, 2019 |
Even with many of the beloved Superior Foes in session, this is yet another storyline in The Amazing Spider-Man that deserves a pass. |
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7
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #75
Oct 6, 2021 |
The debut delivers a comfortable tone for fans of comics and movies alike while introducing a new wrinkle to Peter Parker's already complicated life in one of the best looking Spidey magazines published this year. |
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7
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #76
Oct 13, 2021 |
This sophomore outing maintains all of last week's strengths with clear character work and outstanding artistic contributions, but it also fails to provide a clear hook or provide more than half-steps forward for either of its leading heroes. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #77
Oct 27, 2021 |
The Amazing Spider-Man may not feature behind the mask, but it has recaptured the magic that made this series a stalwart companion for superhero readers of all stripes. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #78
Nov 10, 2021 |
Sara Pichelli's depiction of Morbius may be unmatched as she makes this awkward B-lister look lithe, powerful and often terrifying, even (or especially) as he's been mutilated in combat. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #79
Nov 24, 2021 |
Writer Cody Ziglar and artist Michael Dowling make an impressive debut on The Amazing Spider-Man as tension builds between Ben Reilly and his Beyond Corporation sponsors before Kraven the Hunter arrives on the scene. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #80
Dec 1, 2021 |
Beyond and simmering subplots, all of which bring Bronze Age charm with them, but this issue sells itself on a creative reconstruction of the classic Spider-Man vs. Kraven the Hunter mechanics with abundant flair. |
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5
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #81
Dec 15, 2021 |
It's stalling for time and while parts of this week's issue are stylish and fun, when I closed the cover I simply wondered why this was a necessary issue. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #82
Dec 22, 2021 |
It's an outstanding example of what a single issue of Amazing Spider-Man can deliver and an excellent showcase of an artistic star worth following wherever their name appears. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #83
Dec 29, 2021 |
It makes for a moving narrative about the struggles encountered in the wake of an injury and even though fans are already counting down Peter's return, it's clear that he's expected to earn it just like his Uncle taught him. |
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6
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #84
Jan 5, 2022 |
If asked what happens in these pages, it's difficult to say more than, "Doc Ock returns." That may be enough to provide some style points, but it doesn't make a $3.99 comic seem any more satisfying upon reflection. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #85
Jan 12, 2022 |
It's a great deal of fun to read the trials and tribulations of The Amazing Spider-Man reimagined with an original spin. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #86
Jan 19, 2022 |
Ben Reilly and the Beyond Corporation finally arrive at their breaking point and while the inevitable conflict was anticipated, its direction and consequences in The Amazing Spider-Man #86 will keep readers on the edge of their seats. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #87
Jan 26, 2022 |
With a big change on the horizon, Amazing Spider-Man still knows how to showcase this status quo while building lots of anticipation for whatever comes next. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #88
Feb 2, 2022 |
It's the final few pages that will leave fans talking for the next two weeks, though, and the build to them in this issue and across the story so far have been masterful. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #89
Feb 16, 2022 |
It's a big issue that promises only bigger things ahead; Spider-Man is quickly returning to his role as the leading man of Amazing Spider-Man in spectacular fashion. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #90
Feb 23, 2022 |
The Goblin Queen may not be a villain built to last, but her unique Goblin gaze summarizes a lot of strife into a brief, but powerful sequence. It's a useful mechanic before Peter and Ben eventually face this saga's real villain: Maxine Danger. If this issue is any indicator, it'll be a killer showdown. |
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9
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #91
Mar 2, 2022 |
This is the exact sort of action and intrigue many readers read Amazing Spider-Man for and it's proving an excellent end for a memorable era. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #92
Mar 9, 2022 |
While much of the issue is spent moving the story forward with the finale just weeks away, the chase to get there is plenty enjoyable, especially given how those battles and reunions are portrayed. |
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7
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #93
Mar 30, 2022 |
While The Amazing Spider-Man #93 isn't a highlight, it provides a fitting capstone for a consistently entertaining and interesting era of Spider-Man comics. |
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5.5
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) Annual | 2 issues |
6
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) Annual #1
Sep 19, 2018 |
An offering of action sequences, alien gaslighting, and a great splash page will give fans of these two characters something they will likely enjoy, but there's not much to lend this story depth or legs. |
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5
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Amazing Spider-Man (2018) Annual #2
Jul 7, 2021 |
There are some great opportunities for writer Karla Pacheco to express humor, including some excellent dog-oriented puns, and the positioning of a reformed gym teacher shows a real knack for memorable conflicts and quick character development, but Pacheco's panache can't resolve a story that by its very nature is designed to not be resolved. |
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8.2
|
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) | 24 issues |
9
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Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #1
Apr 27, 2022 |
Zeb Wells, John Romita Jr., and the rest of the creative team have made Marvel Comics' flagship title an exemplar of excellent superhero comics once again. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #2
May 25, 2022 |
It's another great step in the most promising new era for the series in many years. |
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9
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Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #4
Jun 22, 2022 |
The Amazing Spider-Man is delivering a version of Peter Parker that reads as essential while elevating his supporting cast and some of the most clearly underrated villains in a large roster Spidey comics don't get much better than this. |
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9
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Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #5
Jul 6, 2022 |
The first arc of Wells and Romita Jr.'s Amazing Spider-Man wraps just in time for issue #900 to drop, and it feels like there's never been a better time to be a reader. |
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9
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Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #6
Jul 27, 2022 |
All in all, The Amazing Spider-Man #6 (or #900) provides readers with a story that reminds readers why Spider-Man is such an iconic character, even as it celebrates their history, and should leave new and long-time fans alike anticipating the road to issue #1000. |
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9
|
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #7
Aug 10, 2022 |
It's another killer issue in what's gearing up to be a genuinely iconic run for the amazing Spider-Man. |
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9
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Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #8
Aug 24, 2022 |
The Amazing Spider-Man #8 reflects perhaps the most essential quality for any creators tackling the title in 2022: making the familiar feel fresh once again. |
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5
|
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #9
Sep 14, 2022 |
Ultimately, the issue reads like a holding pattern for a crossover that would have made more sense in July and already ready for Romita to return. |
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10
|
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #10
Sep 28, 2022 |
The Amazing Spider-Man continues its streak of excellence; don't miss this essential tie-in. |
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9
|
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #11
Oct 12, 2022 |
It's another home run from the creative team of The Amazing Spider-Man. |
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8
|
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #12
Oct 26, 2022 |
The Amazing Spider-Man #12 develops the newest Hobgoblin mystery in a deeply satisfying fashion that suggests Hobby may be prepared to re-enter Marvel's A-list in the not too distant future one can hope. |
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9
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Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #13
Nov 9, 2022 |
If there's more action like this coming, readers should be thrilled even if their favorite webslinger will be anything but. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #14
Nov 23, 2022 |
The Dodson's evoke a real sense of tragedy in "Fall" and Ryan Stegman makes clear that hell is coming for both Spider-Man and X-Men comics in "Winter." |
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8
|
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #15
Dec 14, 2022 |
The action possesses abundant energy as it pulls readers eyes across the page, and Venom is particularly fun to witness as the character thrills back to its mindless early days. The Amazing Spider-Man #15 promises a lot of fun ahead in the series' tie-ins and "Dark Web" as a complete event. |
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8
|
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #16
Dec 28, 2022 |
The Amazing Spider-Man #16 continues the Spidey event of the season with plenty of style and fun, as it builds upon decades of Marvel's best (and sometimes worst) stories to concoct something novel. |
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8
|
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #17
Jan 11, 2023 |
Parker, Jameson, and Robertson are trapped in an absurd simulacrum of New York City deep within the bowels of Limbo, and it makes for a simultaneously hilarious and unsettling issue of Amazing Spider-Man. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #18
Jan 25, 2023 |
Perhaps the single most impressive feat in this issue is how seamlessly it weaves the tones of over-the-top comedy and continuity-laden pathos into a single narrative that lands both its laughs and sighs. |
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8
|
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #19
Feb 8, 2023 |
This issue doesn't lack for action either and delivers a devilishly clever premise that lands exactly where any reader might expect after its introduction, and promises another great issue next month. |
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8
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Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #20
Feb 22, 2023 |
It's another classically styled issue of Amazing Spider-Man that manages to bring readers something fresh but recognizable. |
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6
|
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #21
Mar 8, 2023 |
The most engaging elements of this story are Romita Jr.'s always energetic action sequences featuring a particularly creepy new(ish) antagonist and asterisks calling back more than a decade of Spider-Man history. These ties and an excellently depicted splash cliffhanger promise that the current storyline will have been worth the wait, but for now The Amazing Spider-Man #21 feels like a little bit more waiting. |
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6
|
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #22
Mar 22, 2023 |
As Marvel Comics' teases the big reveal of what really happened to Mary Jane and Peter Parker, the story itself continues to defy expectations at the very least. |
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8
|
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #23
Apr 5, 2023 |
Just as each issue of this long-awaited story has altered its form, The Amazing Spider-Man #23 promises a new spin on this strange saga as it nears its climax. |
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8
|
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #24
Apr 19, 2023 |
Readers already aware of Spidey's current status quo will see how each new appearance fits into the inevitable outcome, whether it's Norman Osborne and Ms. Marvel in New Jersey or the Fantastic Four in New York. As a result the story flies by and builds to Peter's risky rescue mission wonderfully depicted by Romita Jr. who twists forms and plays with depth to provide readers a sense of the stakes behind all of this pseudo-science. |
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9
|
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #25
May 10, 2023 |
With only one chapter remaining in this pivotal story, Amazing Spider-Man #25 does an excellent job of reframing the story and making it clear why these characters can never go home again. |
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5.0
|
Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows | 1 issues |
5
|
Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #1
Jun 3, 2015 |
Renew Your Vows #1 is an uneven issue from all creators involved. Slott capably embraces the fun and strangeness of this period in Marvel Comics history, but his pacing leaves something to be desired. Kubert and Dell, on the other hand, are at the top of their game as long as they are portraying characters in masks. The story's arrangement as a prologue leaves a lot of interesting ideas to be explored and time to iron out the flaws. It's an issue filled with potential, but it's fulfillment is far from certain. |
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6.0
|
American Gods | 2 issues |
6
|
American Gods: My Ainsel #1
Mar 14, 2018 |
The new chapter of American Gods remains a solid adaptation, but never transcends its roots when transferred into its new medium. |
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6
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American Gods: My Ainsel #2
Apr 11, 2018 |
The end result is an issue that is competent, but doesn't feature a plot well suited to the medium it's working in though. |
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6.0
|
American Ronin | 1 issues |
6
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American Ronin #1
Oct 7, 2020 |
It's indulgent to the extreme with characters occupying the highest echelons of wealth and engaging with related vices. What might normally seem lascivious is fun when framed with curious new layouts |
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6.8
|
American Vampire: 1976 | 10 issues |
6
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American Vampire: 1976 #1
Oct 7, 2020 |
American Vampire 1976 reestablishes the series and prepares for one final push, even if that effort delivers some tedium in its initial outing. |
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6
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American Vampire: 1976 #2
Nov 12, 2020 |
It's enough to keep this long-time fan of the series engaged, but doesn't provide any reassurances that this story was worth the wait. |
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6
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American Vampire: 1976 #3
Dec 9, 2020 |
Regular references to the past fail to charge the present moment with additional tension; it's time for this story to pick up the pace. |
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6
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American Vampire: 1976 #4
Jan 13, 2021 |
Combine that expository dump with hamfisted explanations of the series' metaphors from Gerald Ford and it's clear that American Vampire is struggling to bring itself in for a landing on the page as well as in this particular segment of the story. |
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8
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American Vampire: 1976 #5
Feb 10, 2021 |
American Vampire is prepared for a very big climax and now it's time to see whether or not it can deliver on so much promise. |
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8
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American Vampire: 1976 #6
Mar 10, 2021 |
There's no knowing where the story goes from here or who, if anyone, might make it to the end in one piece. Yet the excitement detonated in the final pages of American Vampire 1976 #6 calls back to the series' highest highs; it's time to wrap up this modern (and maybe final) Vertigo classic with a bang. |
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6
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American Vampire: 1976 #7
Apr 14, 2021 |
There's little substance to be found here, only reminders of who these characters were briefly before this final confrontation with the beast buried in American soil. While issue #7 does collect some excellent pages, it ultimately reads like it's stalling for time. |
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6
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American Vampire: 1976 #8
May 12, 2021 |
Now that everyone is in place, let's hope that longtime readers of American Vampire can discover a more satisfactory conclusion in the two issues remaining. |
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8
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American Vampire: 1976 #9
Jun 9, 2021 |
American Vampire 1976 #9 sets up an epic conclusion for the last great Vertigo series ever"I'm hoping it delivers the same sense of momentum and style shown here. |
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8
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American Vampire: 1976 #10
Aug 4, 2021 |
Longtime readers of American Vampire, like myself, will not find many, if any, surprises in the series finale. That's perfectly appropriate for the final 30 pages of a story that lasted for more than 1,000, though. |
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8.8
|
American Vampire: Second Cycle | 4 issues |
8
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American Vampire: Second Cycle #1
Mar 20, 2014 |
American Vampire is back and as good as ever. Snyder and Albuquerque have a clear grasp of what worked in the original series and have continued to build on those elements. Any pacing problems are an effect of creating an introduction to a series with such a large history, which should leave the reader with nothing but a sense of optimism about where this comic is going. The characters should be a bit more pessimistic though" |
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9
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American Vampire: Second Cycle #2
Apr 17, 2014 |
Second Cycle #2is a masterclass of tension and horror. It uses each scene to make the reader feel more trepidation, until it unleashes the monster that has been hidden the entire issue, then starts the process all over again.American Vampireis typically used as an example of how the horror genre can be effectively utilized in comics. Issues like this are the reason why. |
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9
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American Vampire: Second Cycle #3
May 22, 2014 |
There should be no doubts amongst readers concerning Snyder and Albuquerque's ability to craft an effective horror story with a human core. If there were,Second Cycle #3should dispel them. This is a great link in a great opening story toAmerican Vampire: Second Cycle, whetting appetites and building suspense at the same time. |
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9
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American Vampire: Second Cycle #4
Jul 10, 2014 |
American Vampire: Second Cycle #4 is an excellent conclusion to the first story arc of the new series. It presents the best aspects of the series in its well defined characters, striking visual sense of action and horror, and grand sense of mythos. It manages to bring all of these elements together to create a climax that is a satisfying pay off to the tension and stakes built over the first few issues. Furthermore, it serves as a thesis statement for American Vampire: Second Cycle as a series – presenting what it is about and showing that the creative team is fully capable of delivering on the series' promise. American Vampire has returned and, based on this story, its second act should be even better than the first. |
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4.0
|
American Way: Those Above and Those Below | 1 issues |
4
|
American Way: Those Above and Those Below #6
Feb 21, 2018 |
It is a story told, but not told well. |
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5.0
|
Analog | 6 issues |
4
|
Analog #1
Apr 4, 2018 |
No matter what you come looking for in Analog, there's guaranteed to be a better option somewhere else on the comics store shelves. |
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4
|
Analog #2
May 9, 2018 |
After two issues there's even less in this new series to be intrigued by than it seemed at first glance. It may be time to let this idea fade away instead of making copies. |
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4
|
Analog #4
Jul 18, 2018 |
This issue fails to be either a great single story or intriguing part of the ongoing narrative. Instead, it's just a reminder that there is potential within these pages, but also that it's bound to be wasted. |
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6
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Analog #5
Aug 15, 2018 |
It's the best installment in the series so far, but that's still not high praise. |
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6
|
Analog #9
Oct 16, 2019 |
Analog #9 may be an uneven outing, but the rush towards the finish line prevents it from ever being boring and that makes for an overall improvement in a series that never found its footing. |
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6
|
Analog #10
Mar 25, 2020 |
I suppose Analog #10 offers a perfectly adequate definition for "fine." |
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7.0
|
Angela: Queen Of Hel | 1 issues |
7
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Angela: Queen Of Hel #1
Oct 28, 2015 |
The present as presented by Kim Jacinto and Israel Silva is something mediocre though. Jacinto applies a heavily detailed linework inspired by artists of the 90s in order to create something that feels far less realistic than what she is aspiring towards. There's nothing confusing about the action or drama shown in the present, but it alludes any sense of the organic or natural. If it were not for Hans' work in this issue, it could be tossed away. Yet the rich colors and beautiful love story shown in the past makes the present feel like a narrative worth paying attention to. |
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5.0
|
Annihilation - Scourge | 2 issues |
6
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Annihilation - Scourge: Nova #1
Dec 4, 2019 |
It's still a plot machine that does little to distinguish itself from so many similar events across the past decade of Marvel comics, but at least it's good for a few moments of levity and doesn't overload the reader with excessive captions. |
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4
|
Annihilation - Scourge: Fantastic Four #1
Dec 4, 2019 |
This issue certainly connects the dots, but watching the creators draw that line doesn't leave much room for fun. |
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4.0
|
Ant-Man & The Wasp: Living Legends | 1 issues |
4
|
Ant-Man & The Wasp: Living Legends #1
Jun 6, 2018 |
As an introduction to who these characters are, the issue is serviceable, but it provides nothing beyond that. |
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9.0
|
Ant-Man (2015) | 1 issues |
9
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Ant-Man (2015) #1
Jan 5, 2015 |
Ant-Man #1 is that perfect debut that manages to both introduce the character to unfamiliar readers and tell a compelling story in the course of a single issue. It is a caper that transforms a comedy into an emotionally invested drama and a seemingly straightforward superhero story in New York City into something much more exciting and original. It starts by giving readers what they want, and then delivers something far better. Spencer and Rosanas have created a great start here made all the more exciting by how much the series has yet to grow. |
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9.0
|
Ant-Man (2022) | 4 issues |
9
|
Ant-Man (2022) #1
Jul 27, 2022 |
Together these creators are crafting a new Ant-Man tale that not only reflects the character's long history, but the history of Marvel Comics in a story already bound to astonish readers new and old. |
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9
|
Ant-Man (2022) #2
Aug 31, 2022 |
I've long been fond of the least-famed Ant-Man, Eric O'Grady, and his (ironically) short run of titles beginning with The Irredeemable Ant-Man. Ant-Man #2 captures the magic of that series brilliantly and in such a fashion that it continues the meta-narrative begun last month in deft fashion. |
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9
|
Ant-Man (2022) #3
Sep 28, 2022 |
It's a heart-warming tale and one that sets this increasingly ambitious series up for a truly grand finale. |
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9
|
Ant-Man (2022) #4
Oct 5, 2022 |
Ant-Man proved to be a colorful celebration of one of Marvel's underrated protagonists and a wonderful showcase of two top talents capable of constructing a miniseries unlike anything in comics today. |
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7.7
|
Apache Delivery Service | 3 issues |
7
|
Apache Delivery Service #1
Jan 5, 2022 |
Existing fans of Kindt and Jenkins are bound to stick around, already knowing how these two tend to deliver on every big idea they imagine, but it's more likely that new readers will opt for the collection if they stick around. |
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8
|
Apache Delivery Service #2
Feb 9, 2022 |
It's a tremendous sequence of exploration and survival that culminates in a suspenseful cliffhanger, even if Sobrat's first words only seek to oversell expectations for whatever may come next. |
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8
|
Apache Delivery Service #3
Mar 9, 2022 |
Apache Delivery Service #3 is the most thrilling and frightening issue yet, while promising far more (or far worse) for the final chapter which can't come soon enough. |
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8.4
|
Archer & Armstrong | 1 issues |
8.4
|
Archer & Armstrong #25
Oct 31, 2014 |
Theres a long history of anniversary issues in the world of superhero comics. Archer and Armstrong #25 shows the full potential in creators celebrating the series that fans love to read every month. |
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7.7
|
Archer & Armstrong Forever | 3 issues |
8
|
Archer & Armstrong Forever #1
May 4, 2022 |
Readers unfamiliar with Archer and Armstrongthe exquisitely-trained, recently-unbrainwashed young hero and his seemingly-immortal, perpetually-partying mentorwill find an excellent introduction in these pages. |
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7
|
Archer & Armstrong Forever #3
Jul 13, 2022 |
It's a middle-chapter with lots to showcase, but the best promises it makes are for what is coming next month. |
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8
|
Archer & Armstrong Forever #4
Aug 10, 2022 |
Archer & Armstrong Forever reaches the climax of its first arc and it is a splendid mess showcasing why this duo remains a potent force at Valiant and for more issues to come. |
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8.0
|
Archie (2015) | 1 issues |
8
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Archie (2015) #2
Aug 19, 2015 |
Archie #2 continues to deliver on all of the best elements of the first issue. It's accessible, fun, and an absolute visual delight. While the series is not delivering anything new, that's never its intent. It plays it safe and executes each page of high school tomfoolery and melodrama with grace, producing a comic that is enjoyable for all ages. |
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7.0
|
Archie Meets Batman '66 | 4 issues |
8
|
Archie Meets Batman '66 #1
Jul 18, 2018 |
This is a real treat of a first issue, one that encourages readers to just enjoy themselves for as long as it lasts. |
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6
|
Archie Meets Batman '66 #2
Aug 15, 2018 |
All of the right elements are still in place, but there's simply not enough of them to maintain momentum here, much less accelerate. |
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6
|
Archie Meets Batman '66 #3
Sep 26, 2018 |
There are still some fine moments, including a top-notch pairing of '66 riddles and fisticuffs, as well as some very well written jokes. Yet Archie Meets Batman '66 chooses to live and die by a style crafted over almost a century, and minor flaws in this installment add up in a big way. |
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8
|
Archie Meets Batman '66 #4
Oct 31, 2018 |
The scheme bringing the protagonists of Gotham City and Riverdale is finally unveiled and it's very bit as colorful and fun as what fans of the classic Batman '66 series might expect. |
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9.0
|
Archie vs. Predator | 1 issues |
9
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Archie vs. Predator #1
Apr 14, 2015 |
If you're still wondering whether the editors at Dark Horse and Archie Comics lost their minds teaming up for this series, stop. This is an idea that only seems crazy until you read the results. Archie Versus Predator #1 is a comic that only captures what makes these franchises great, b |
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8.0
|
Archie vs. Predator II | 5 issues |
8
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Archie vs. Predator II #1
Jul 24, 2019 |
Archie vs. Predator II #1 delivers what might have seemed impossible, a rewarding sequel to a story that slaughtered its core cast and setting. |
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6
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Archie vs. Predator II #2
Sep 18, 2019 |
A lot of page space in Archie Vs. Predator II #2 is devoted to working through the concepts laid out in the prior issue, which results in a lackluster follow up. |
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8
|
Archie vs. Predator II #3
Oct 23, 2019 |
As far as the mainstream of comics go, this issue at least feels fresh and that counts for a lot when discussing properties that are quickly approaching their centennial anniversaries. |
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10
|
Archie vs. Predator II #4
Dec 4, 2019 |
With so many highlights, this is a comic that is pure joy to read, embracing the superficial joys of genre fare. |
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8
|
Archie vs. Predator II #5
Jan 22, 2020 |
It's a finale that's a lot of fun and a little poignant, far more than we could have asked for from Archie vs. Predator II. |
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4.0
|
Archie: 1941 | 1 issues |
4
|
Archie: 1941 #2
Oct 17, 2018 |
A handful of striking visuals boost this otherwise bland experience, but a well framed silhouette isn't nearly enough to salvage this miniseries. |
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8.4
|
Arkham Manor | 1 issues |
8.4
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Arkham Manor #1
Oct 24, 2014 |
Arkham Manor #1 is an exciting start to a series that is packed with potential. Duggan and Crystal have created a scenario that gets at the very heart of this 75 year old character, touching upon ideas that are rarely recognized in Batman comics. Just as important, here they show the skills to tell that story in a way that is visually striking and always engaging. This could be the beginning of a beautiful series. |
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2.6
|
Army of Darkness: 1979 | 5 issues |
3
|
Army of Darkness: 1979 #1
Sep 8, 2021 |
Army of Darkness 1979 is never actively offensive, but it is certainly dull from start to finish with no redeeming qualities to be sussed out. |
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4
|
Army of Darkness: 1979 #2
Oct 13, 2021 |
The self-aware tone puts nearly all of these elements beyond effect as it's unclear who this joke is being played upon, perhaps the reader. |
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2
|
Army of Darkness: 1979 #3
Nov 17, 2021 |
The tonal whiplash present in Army of Darkness 1979 #3 is so severe as to leave your neck sore after reading it. |
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2
|
Army of Darkness: 1979 #4
Dec 22, 2021 |
In the space of a single issue, it's possible to imagine these ideas landing, but stretched across four months (and more) the concept is so thin that it's difficult to keep crawling through. |
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2
|
Army of Darkness: 1979 #5
Jan 26, 2022 |
After months spent searching for a redeeming quality in this series it's apparent that Army of Darkness 1979 has finally reached its appropriate destination " unsold copies forgotten altogether in back issue bins. |
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8.0
|
Assassin Nation | 1 issues |
8
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Assassin Nation #4
Jun 19, 2019 |
With only one issue left to go, there are still plenty of surprises and Assassination Nation #4 provides the bounce board to set up this miniseries as one of the absolute best comics of 2019. |
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8.3
|
Astro City (2013) | 7 issues |
8
|
Astro City (2013) #9
Feb 14, 2014 |
Astro City # 9 serves to continue this newest volumes first long-form arc nicely. Busiek draws out all four of the central character's conflicts setting the scene for a dramatic finale. Whether it will make a statement about the issues that continue to lie under the comic's surface is yet to be seen. |
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6
|
Astro City (2013) #10
Mar 14, 2014 |
It's difficult to fault Busiek for tackling a complicated and important issue in the pages ofAstro City. He has successfully handled a wide variety of thematic material in the comic before. But his attempt to discuss feminism here falls flat, adding nothing new to the conversation. The story is meant to feel positive and it does, but resembles an "after school special" type of message. With very few compelling visuals for Anderson to sink his teeth into, this issue is remarkably ordinary. |
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8
|
Astro City (2013) #11
Apr 10, 2014 |
Astro City #11 is a return to form for the series. It evokes empathy for normal people by setting them side-by-side with superheroes. When the comparison is made, it's hard to tell the difference between those with and without superpowers. |
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10
|
Astro City (2013) #13
Jun 12, 2014 |
Astro City #13 is an achievement to be celebrated. It not only tells a story worth reading, re-reading, and then reading once more, but it does so by taking full advantage of its chosen medium. Busiek and Anderson have always told stories about the small pleasures of life and what it means to be human, and they have told them very well. But here they take a message about the value of human relationships, not matter their form or brevity and tell it in a way that ensures readers will concentrate on that message. Art is all about relating, whether it be an emotion, an idea, or a very specific message. Astro City #13 relates an idea and uses every tool at its disposal to do so. It's a testament not only to the value of human contact, but of comics. |
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8
|
Astro City (2013) #14
Aug 14, 2014 |
Astro City #14works because it's a story focused on its characters. Its themes concerning greed, disability, or even something as specific as the 2008 financial crisis may function, yet the comic only truly succeeds by providing readers empathy for Ellie, her friends, and even her enemies. |
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8
|
Astro City (2013) #51
Apr 4, 2018 |
This is difficult material from start to finish, and the entire creative team handles it admirably. |
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10
|
Astro City (2013) #52
Jun 27, 2018 |
Astro City #52 is a tremendous conclusion both to Michael Tenicek's story and this volume of the series. It reminds us that superhero comics are not fantasy but a representation of the greatness that lies within us. |
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7.3
|
Astronaut Down | 4 issues |
9
|
Astronaut Down #1
Jun 1, 2022 |
Astronaut Down is a delightful genre riff that knows how to blend elements of sci-fi and horror while delivering plenty of original twists and nasty surprises. It proves to be an addictive read, perhaps especially when it's being heavy-handed. |
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6
|
Astronaut Down #2
Jul 6, 2022 |
There's still plenty to explore in this story, but striking a balance that allows readers to appreciate the high concept and its grounding in Douglas' life is proving troublesome. |
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8
|
Astronaut Down #3
Aug 10, 2022 |
It's a thrill to chase the story and its cataclysmic implications, especially as new twists build upon old turns to create a much more complex narrative. |
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6
|
Astronaut Down #4
Nov 9, 2022 |
While it's interesting at points to consider the ethics involved in saving individuals facets of a massive multiverse, there exact nature of the science (and the character at its center) lacks sufficient detail and depth to make this denouement seem significant. |
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7.0
|
Atlantis Wasn't Built For Tourists | 4 issues |
8
|
Atlantis Wasn't Built For Tourists #1
Aug 19, 2020 |
This is not simply a team and series I want to keep my eye on for future developments; I'm already on board for whatever comes in issue #2 because Atlantis Wasn't Built for Tourists is a confident debut that promises only greater thrills ahead. |
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6
|
Atlantis Wasn't Built For Tourists #2
Oct 14, 2020 |
Now that so much exposition has been dumped, let's just hope that issue #3 picks up the pace again. |
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6
|
Atlantis Wasn't Built For Tourists #3
Nov 18, 2020 |
The final few pages and introduction of a new ally makes it clear that the time for explanations has ended and the payoff readers have been waiting for since this series' excellent debut is just around the corner. |
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8
|
Atlantis Wasn't Built For Tourists #4
Dec 9, 2020 |
Whether or not the drifter returns, Atlantis Wasn't Built for Tourists will remain a thrilling detour for comic book readers. |
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3.0
|
Avatar (2019) | 3 issues |
2
|
Avatar (2019): Adapt or Die #4
Aug 3, 2022 |
Reading Adapt or Die is a genuinely draining experience lacking any of the charms of the source material and bringing nothing original to the miniseries. |
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3
|
Avatar (2019): Adapt or Die #5
Sep 7, 2022 |
There are a handful of elements that transcend this base banalitya confrontation with predators in the jungle, specificallybut it's never enough to justify the time spent reading this issue. |
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4
|
Avatar (2019): Adapt or Die #6
Oct 5, 2022 |
This is a story searching for its justification to exist, one that it never discovered. |
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3.0
|
Avengers & X-Men: Axis | 4 issues |
5
|
Avengers & X-Men: Axis #1
Oct 10, 2014 |
Axis #1 is nothing special. It is not offensive, but also lacks any notable features. Kubert's art still provides plenty of spectacle for readers to enjoy with lots of characters engaged in a broad battle. The drama that is supposed to be in those panels is non-existent though. The Marvel universe may be briefly changed by some fallout of this issue, but Remender and Kubert never craft a reason for readers to invest in or care about this story. It reads like another event comic that does nothing to distinguish itself from all of those that have come before. |
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4
|
Avengers & X-Men: Axis #2
Oct 16, 2014 |
However, this issue carries the multiple problems of its predecessor and, refusing to alter its course, reads like a continuation of an already unimpressive comic. Change may never be permanent in superhero comics, but that doesnt mean it cannot occur within individual stories. Change is the lifeblood of drama and the quicker Axis focuses on altering the status quo, no matter how temporary it may be, the better the series will be. |
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2
|
Avengers & X-Men: Axis #3
Oct 21, 2014 |
Despite all of the cynicism and skepticism from readers about events, "The Red Supremacy" was not destined to be a bad comic. The fault for that lies with the storytelling. |
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1
|
Avengers & X-Men: Axis #6
Dec 1, 2014 |
Axis #6 isnt disappointing because it is such a singular disaster; there are plenty of other great comics to read. It isnt disappointing because it represents the death of superhero or event comics; that kind of fatalistic assertion is ridiculous. Its disappointing simply because even given the incredible talent and resources at Marvel Comics, no one even bothered to try. Comics deserve more than this mediocre effort. |
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8.0
|
Avengers (2012) | 1 issues |
8
|
Avengers (2012) #40
Jan 16, 2015 |
For those invested in Hickmans Avengers epic, this will be a significant issue bound to shock and awe readers as much as the heroes witnessing these events. Despite some flaws on the periphery, Avengers #40 is the story of two characters and the conclusion of that story is executed perfectly. It is tragic and raw and signals the beginning of the end for Earths Mightiest Heroes. |
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4.2
|
Avengers (2018) | 13 issues |
5
|
Avengers (2018) #54
Mar 16, 2022 |
"The Death Hunters" comes to a close with an issue that's primarily prologue. |
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6
|
Avengers (2018) #55
Apr 20, 2022 |
On its own The Avengers #55 simply keeps the train moving forward, but ought to offer plenty of elements of interest for those who have skipped the current volume altogether. |
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6
|
Avengers (2018) #56
May 25, 2022 |
While it's a perfectly fine one-shot, what's added to the series makes this singular installment seem largely trivial, especially given the scope and definition previously provided to this specific character. |
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4
|
Avengers (2018) #57
Jun 29, 2022 |
The Avengers #57 is a waystation on the path to something that may or may not earn this long-sustained build. |
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5
|
Avengers (2018) #58
Jul 20, 2022 |
The result is a series in a holding pattern where the best ideas in these roughly self-contained issues are buried beneath continuity maintenance. |
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3
|
Avengers (2018) #59
Aug 10, 2022 |
I'm a sucker for Westerns, but the slapdash pastiche-work being applied to Avengers of all eras in the current scattershot arc of stories does the genre no justice here. |
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3
|
Avengers (2018) #60
Sep 21, 2022 |
The Avengers drops its ongoing plot to check in on Hawkeye during the events of Judgment Day as the team's greatest marksman is judged by a Celestial. The initial set-up framed by guest creators on the series is fun as Hawkeye stumbles through a conversation with a god making small talk and chowing down on cheeseburgers. |
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5
|
Avengers (2018) #61
Oct 19, 2022 |
This comic asks readers not to think for a moment while reading it and it's likely most will continue not thinking about The Avengers after the final page is turned. |
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4
|
Avengers (2018) #62
Nov 9, 2022 |
The most promising element found in the issue is that it promises some sort of ending is finally in sight for a narrative grown far too large with too little purpose. |
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3
|
Avengers (2018) #63
Dec 7, 2022 |
At the end of the road, there's simply not much substance or interest to be found in The Avengers. |
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3
|
Avengers (2018) #64
Jan 4, 2023 |
If nothing else, The Avengers #64 previews what appears to be the saga's endgame as the Multiversal Masters of Evil are challenged on an ancient Earth; the final page suggests a conclusion is in sight. Beyond that sense of inevitability, there's little else in the issue to discern itself from the chaotic climax crossing over with Avengers Forever. |
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4
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Avengers (2018) #65
Feb 1, 2023 |
It will never cease to be a delight to watch Javier Garrn depict Celestials and grand scales of the Marvel mythos, but the framing in The Avengers #65 robs it of any significance while offering more narrative forgotten in the build to this climax. |
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4
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Avengers (2018) #66
Mar 8, 2023 |
For a comic so overstuffed with content, the cardinal sin is to be dull and that's exactly what The Avengers #66 is. |
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3.0
|
Avengers Assemble (2022) | 1 issues |
3
|
Avengers Assemble (2022): Alpha #1
Nov 30, 2022 |
The most cliche of superhero tropes weighs upon Avengers Assemble Alpha like gravity as two teams with excellent knowledge of the multiversal, Earth-killing threat that they face still fall into combat with one another over petty grievances and minor misunderstandings. |
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4.0
|
Avengers Forever (2021) | 4 issues |
3
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Avengers Forever (2021) #12
Dec 21, 2022 |
As a fan of Kuder's pencils, it's hard to look away, but there's simply too little to Avengers Forever to even make this issue or miniseries memorable. |
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6
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Avengers Forever (2021) #13
Jan 18, 2023 |
As a whole, "Avengers Assemble" hardly hangs together, but the highlights found in Avengers Forever #13 deliver some great panels and laughs along the way. |
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5
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Avengers Forever (2021) #14
Feb 15, 2023 |
While the emotional beats don't land and there's no substance to speak of, there remains a visceral degree of fun in seeing the toy chest dumped across the living room floor before it's swept away in a few months. |
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2
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Avengers Forever (2021) #15
Mar 15, 2023 |
The greatest triumph in Avengers Forever #15 is the promise that it will all end with the next installment. |
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4.0
|
Avengers of the Wastelands | 1 issues |
4
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Avengers of the Wastelands #5
Jun 3, 2020 |
It's a disappointment, to say the very least. |
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2.0
|
Avengers Standoff | 1 issues |
2
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Avengers Standoff: Assault on Pleasant Hill Alpha #1
Mar 11, 2016 |
This might just be a matter of luck with the two best Avengers books both being written by Al Ewing. Excluding Avengers Standoff #1 though, the entire set hits a much more consistent set of highs. Even with the generally lackluster and safe comic All-New, All-Different Avengers, there's something to be said for reliable entertainment. There appears to be greater attention and effort being paid to the Avengers right now. Well, it's that or Ewing just makes this group look good. |
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5.0
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Avengers Undercover | 1 issues |
5
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Avengers Undercover #10
Sep 12, 2014 |
Avengers Undercover and Avengers Arena have both been surprising highlights in Marvel's lineup - consistently good comics. Yet the conclusion to this story doesn't live up to what came before it. There are engaging characters and ideas present, but not enough space for most of them to do anything memorable. The series may have been forced to conclude earlier than planned, but that doesn't make this rushed finale any more satisfying. |
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4.0
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Avengers: Shards of Infinity | 1 issues |
4
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Avengers: Shards of Infinity #1
Apr 4, 2018 |
It's the sort of offering you might imagine giving to someone for a free first comic if they had never read a superhero story before. |
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9.2
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B.P.R.D.: The Devil You Know | 5 issues |
10
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B.P.R.D.: The Devil You Know #6
May 9, 2018 |
It's worth reading as saying anything more would be to spoil the experience and this issue is an experience, even as it attempts to return to normal. |
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8
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B.P.R.D.: The Devil You Know #7
Jun 13, 2018 |
Following the massive revelation of #6, this issue does a good job or reestablishing a status quo. Every moment reminds readers who the protagonists are and what roles they play. |
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8
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B.P.R.D.: The Devil You Know #8
Jul 11, 2018 |
While even greater things await on the horizon, but for now this issue provides a much needed breather. |
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10
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B.P.R.D.: The Devil You Know #9
Aug 8, 2018 |
This is one of the true turning points in the stories of the B.P.R.D. and it will have repercussions for years to come. |
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10
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B.P.R.D.: The Devil You Know #10
Sep 12, 2018 |
No recent issue in the Mignola line of comics has better captured the entropy of Hell coming to Earth than this one; you have been warned. |
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6.0
|
Back to the Future: Tales From The Time Train | 1 issues |
6
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Back to the Future: Tales From The Time Train #5
May 9, 2018 |
The addition of several canine companions and their own absurd rules makes this a perfectly tolerable licensed comic book. |
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8.0
|
Bad Karma | 3 issues |
8
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Bad Karma #1
May 13, 2020 |
Bad Karma #1 is a great read from start to finish because it's built on excellent character work. |
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8
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Bad Karma #4
Feb 24, 2021 |
The stakes continue to climb in Bad Karma and this is clearly a story with little in the way of happy endings, despite the clear love and affection that binds its core cast of characters together. |
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8
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Bad Karma #5
Oct 6, 2021 |
Wherever it goes from here is bound to hurt, but it will be impossible to quit reading at this point. |
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8.4
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Baltimore | 2 issues |
8.4
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Baltimore: The Cult Of The Red King #1
May 7, 2015 |
Issue one ends abruptly, almost as if it were cut off mid-sentence. The story appears to be written as a whole that was only broken into installments after being completed. However, this first chapter provides plenty to invest readers and drive the narrative forward. Baltimore: Cult of the Red King #1 doesn't rush to the action, but takes time to carefully describe its cast, as well as their world and mission. It is a tonal overture that promises a horrifying story to come. |
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8.4
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Baltimore: The Cult Of The Red King #3
Jul 1, 2015 |
Baltimore: Cult of the Red King #3 shows just how far the series has come in five years, and will leave readers stunned with its final sequence. The stakes are higher than ever, and Mignola and Golden have not lost track of the thematic core of the story. It is a comic about reflections and dualities: humanity and inhumanity, life and death, heat and cold. Even without this enormous cliffhanger, the issue gives readers every reason they might need to return for more. |
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7.6
|
Bang! | 5 issues |
8
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Bang! #1
Feb 19, 2020 |
It's a perfect example of how to hang a story on a conspiracy, withholding information yet still offering plenty of reasons to anxiously anticipate Bang! #2. |
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8
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Bang! #2
Mar 18, 2020 |
It's a great introduction to Thomas Shaw, but still feels small as a follow up. |
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8
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Bang! #3
Sep 2, 2020 |
With each issue so far adding a fully developed protagonist in the midst of their own drama and adventures to the cast, it's hard to wait for issue #4 to arrive. |
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8
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Bang! #4
Oct 7, 2020 |
Now that Bang! has finished with its introductions, readers can anticipate seeing just how far this modernized League of Extraordinary Gentlemen will go to celebrate and explore the films, novels, and shows that have infused it with meaning and so much fun. |
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6
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Bang! #5
Nov 4, 2020 |
It's more fun to imagine the lives of this quartet than to watch them play out and that's perfectly fine because the first four issues were outstanding. |
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9.0
|
Barbaric | 3 issues |
9
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Barbaric #1
Jun 30, 2021 |
Thankfully, Barbaric #1, from writer Michael Moreci and artist Nathan Gooden at publisher Vault Comics, recognizes that repeating the past is a surefire recipe for mediocrity and provides the first exciting new sword & sorcery series to hit comic book stores in many years. |
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8
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Barbaric #2
Jul 28, 2021 |
Barbaric #2 maintains everything excellent from its debut"the humor, the violence, the fast pacing"and builds upon that momentum. |
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10
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Barbaric #3
Aug 25, 2021 |
Barbaric #3 ends the new series' first arc on a high note, drawing all of its threads into a spectacularly bloody finale filled with satisfying connections"whether it's the literal meeting of Axe and enemies or a new bond between comrades. |
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8.0
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Barbaric One Shot | 1 issues |
8
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Barbaric: The Harvest Blades #1
Jul 13, 2022 |
Barbaric appears ready to continue for many miniseries and one-shots to come, and that's something to be excited about. |
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5.7
|
Basketful of Heads | 7 issues |
10
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Basketful of Heads #1
Oct 30, 2019 |
This issue is enough for now and will deliver quite the treat to any readers who save it for Halloween night. |
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8
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Basketful of Heads #2
Nov 27, 2019 |
If Leomacs builds out the remaining sequences of the series as well as he does in Basketful of Heads #2, then the collected story is bound to become a fall favorite for fans of horror comics. |
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6
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Basketful of Heads #3
Dec 18, 2019 |
Much of the comic is spent in conversation with June and her new companion. A few of the jokes land and the surreal nature of their relationship is amusing, but that initial appeal doesn't cover just how long this lasts. |
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4
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Basketful of Heads #4
Jan 22, 2020 |
It's time to keep moving forward or jump ship, because no matter how good Leomacs makes this comic look, it still needs to deliver a story possessing some points of interest. |
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4
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Basketful of Heads #5
Feb 26, 2020 |
The big twist of Basketful of Heads arrives in this issue and it lands with the same resounding thud as one of those heads. |
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4
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Basketful of Heads #6
Mar 25, 2020 |
In my review of the first issue of Basketful of Heads, I compared the series charitably to an 80s slasher flick. That comparison has been borne out by subsequent issues, but in a consistently less appealing fashion. |
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4
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Basketful of Heads #7
May 29, 2020 |
There may be a better form of this story to be told, but the story here explains most of its best elements without a moment for reflection and the result is a comic capable of luring readers in with style, but incapable of delivering much excitement. |
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5.5
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Batgirl (2011) | 2 issues |
4
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Batgirl (2011) #35
Oct 9, 2014 |
Batgirl #35 illustrates that comics function as a collaborative medium and have to be judged as such. Tarr and Wicks provide outstanding work, but the flaws in the script still ruin the experience. It's impossible to recommend this issue on the strength of the art alone when the dialogue, gender presentation, and plotting are this troubled. It's an unfortunate disappointment, but one that needs to be acknowledged. As much as I wanted to see this concept succeed, I cannot honestly say that it does. The problems inBatgirl #35 are too big to not discuss. |
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7
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Batgirl (2011) #36
Nov 13, 2014 |
Batgirl #36 reveals a learning curve, one that shows the promise of this title and creative team. The incredible strength of Stewarts layouts, Tarrs art, and Wicks colors are consistent and make for one of the most visually engaging comics released this month. Although there are still issues with the plotting and scripting of the series, they see marked improvements in this issue. Theres a lot of potential to be found in this series and evidence that is being more fully realized as it continues. |
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4.0
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Batgirl (2016) | 1 issues |
4
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Batgirl (2016) #1
Jul 30, 2016 |
I want Batgirl to be great. I want this series to continue being a "go to" recommendation for superhero comics. All of the wanting in the world doesn't stop Batgirl #1 from being what it is though, and what it is is an uninspired and dull superhero comic that fails to recognize the most interesting elements of its own existence. |
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8.5
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Batman (2011) | 11 issues |
7
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Batman (2011) #28
Feb 13, 2014 |
Batman #28 is still an enjoyable issue. It features a nicely told action sequence, introduces the boisterous Bluebird, and should stoke plenty of interest in Batman Eternal. Now let's get back to "Zero Year", already. |
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9
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Batman (2011) #29
Mar 14, 2014 |
Batman #29is a pleasant surprise. It takes a story that has been done dozens, if not hundreds, of times before by some of the most talented creators in comic history and finds a way to make it new. Snyder and Capullo have captured a new perspective on Batman's origin by juxtaposing it with a larger disaster, and it works very well. Capullo also captures a new visual sense with the help of FCO Plascencia on colors. "Zero Year" was announced almost one year ago, and the biggest question from fans was, "do we need another Batman origin story?" After readingBatman #29the answer is, clearly, "yes." |
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8
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Batman (2011) #30
Apr 17, 2014 |
Batman #30is not a perfect issue. The exposition and opening cipher slow the reading experience and don't work on multiple levels. But the parts of the issue that do work, work very well. From the beautiful establishing panels of Gotham to the Riddler's mad master plan to the tower-tumbling action sequence,Batman #30offers excellent moments that create clear stakes for "Savage City". Despite its unevenness, it's a great introduction to the final part of "Zero Year". |
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9
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Batman (2011) #31
May 29, 2014 |
At its heart, Batman #31 is an adventure story. It features death traps, vicious wildlife, a power mad dictator, and feats of derring do. It is bright, fun, and absolutely thrilling. This is Batman at his absolute best. |
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9
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Batman (2011) #32
Jun 26, 2014 |
This is how you prepare a great conclusion. |
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10
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Batman (2011) #33
Jul 23, 2014 |
Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, and the rest of their team have crafted a tale that not only distills what makes the character of Batman so beloved, but one that makes him feel brave and new after 75 years. Stunning. |
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8
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Batman (2011) #34
Aug 13, 2014 |
Batman #34 serves as a great return to the current timeline. It not only presents a well told, self-contained story, but mayintroduce Batmanreaders to three great comics talents as well. Whenever the regular Batman team decides it is time to move on, editors would be wise to consider the fine work here when seeking a new creative team. |
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8.4
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Batman (2011) #35
Oct 8, 2014 |
Batman #35 is a great package. From the first page of the feature to the last page of the backup it manages to be consistently engaging and is always well told. Theres no doubt that Batman would sell well no matter what creative talent was attached, but Im skeptical that it would garner this high of sales and this much acclaim without creators like Capullo, Snyder, Miki, Plascencia, Tynion, and Jones. Month after month, they bring their absolute best to these pages, making Batman one of the best superhero comics on the stands. |
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9
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Batman (2011) #40
Apr 29, 2015 |
But they still have more stories to tell. In that regard, Batman #40 serves as both a conclusion and a launching point for a brand new tale. Whatever comes next, theres every reason in the world to be excited. |
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8
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Batman (2011) #43
Aug 12, 2015 |
While Batman #43 is still laying down tracks for the rising action bound to follow, the promises made between and during the exposition are incredibly exciting. Mr. Bloom's reveal is the clear, standout moment of the issue, but there is a lot to love here. Capullo and Plascencia are still effortlessly delivering each action and emotion-oriented beat. Snyder continues to bring Batman to wilder places with enough death traps and introspection to satisfy all sorts of fans. It's the promise offered by both the talent of this team and the best moments of this issue, that ensures Batman's place as one of the best superhero comics coming out today. |
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8.4
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Batman (2011) #46
Nov 11, 2015 |
Batman #46 is a middle chapter, which is something many superhero comics struggle with. The task of moving 3-4 plots along, setting up future revelations and events, and continue to build tension and action is difficult to manage in a single comic that should be fun to read on its own as well. Yet Capullo and Snyder pull it off with aplomb. They understand how their story ought to function, which allows them to focus on the individual strengths of each scene. Action and romance alike are beautifully presented here, making the wait between each issue absolutely worth it. |
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6.0
|
Batman (2016) Annual | 1 issues |
6
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Batman (2016) Annual: 2022
Jun 1, 2022 |
There's certainly potential to be found in this prologue for a rebooted Batman Inc., but it's unclear whether there's depth to be explored beneath the plot-reliant twists of this annual. |
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5.0
|
Batman / Fortnite | 1 issues |
5
|
Batman / Fortnite: Zero Point #5
Jun 16, 2021 |
The novelty is the source of this story's attraction and this close to the end (and without Fishsticks) there isn't much novelty left to be wrung from the combination. |
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5.0
|
Batman / Superman (2013) | 1 issues |
5
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Batman / Superman (2013) #18
Jan 25, 2015 |
Batman/Superman #18 is an imperfect continuation upon an interesting concept. Pak is placing both of his leading characters under tremendous pressure, and detailing their emotional responses excellently. Lazy plotting and characterization like Batman's in this issue detract from the impact of that situation. Syaf's artwork tells the story well, but has begun to appear rushed under a monthly schedule with several inkers. This is an issue that would have been well served by one or two more weeks to iron out the wrinkles. |
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1.0
|
Batman And Robin Eternal | 1 issues |
1
|
Batman And Robin Eternal #1
Oct 13, 2015 |
The finished product does not communicate any of that potential though. Batman & Robin Eternal #1 is a finely tuned piece of marketing. There is at least one respectable name (i.e. Scott Snyder) attached under the title of "plotter", one fan favorite character returning, some art that makes for a fine advertisement (but fails to work sequentially), and loads of hype that sound fantastic on paper. This has all of the elements needed for DC Comics to sell it, but none of what is required to actually function as an enjoyable or even readable comic. The approach to a weekly comic here is comparable to that of factory farming, the gross production of a McRib. Get the meat from bone to table as quickly and cheaply as possible, and spend money to make it look good on the menu. |
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4.0
|
Batman and the Signal | 2 issues |
4
|
Batman and the Signal #2
Feb 21, 2018 |
There's real heart to Thomas as a character, but this mini-series provides no room for readers to find it, which is a real shame. |
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4
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Batman and the Signal #3
Apr 25, 2018 |
There's no real tension or drama to a story that insists on explaining itself, and that's what leaves this entire arc best left forgotten. |
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4.0
|
Batman Beyond (2015) | 1 issues |
4
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Batman Beyond (2015) #3
Aug 5, 2015 |
Batman Beyond #3 is functional. It delivers plot and action so for a basic understanding, but it never really matters. Rather than a tale written in the present about the future, it reads like a relic of the past. Overscripted and serviceably presented, Batman Beyond is part of a workmanlike tradition in comics that has no place in the future. |
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3.6
|
Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf In Gotham | 5 issues |
3
|
Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf In Gotham #2
Oct 20, 2021 |
With the Batman side of things looking no better than "War Games" and Fables failing to recapture its charm, it appears this miniseries missed its mark by many years. |
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4
|
Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf In Gotham #3
Nov 17, 2021 |
The only saving grace of this issue are Level's layouts which pay homage to Fables and are often as inventive and well executed as the work that made Buckingham so widely respected. |
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3
|
Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf In Gotham #4
Dec 22, 2021 |
The further this story goes, the fewer redeeming elements there are to be found and it's difficult to not think this is a concept that would have been better left for fans of both franchises to simply imagine. |
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4
|
Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf In Gotham #5
Jan 19, 2022 |
This entire crossover reads and appears overwrought, never quite managing to evoke the fun or seriousness from its sources that made it appealing as a concept. |
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4
|
Batman vs. Bigby! A Wolf In Gotham #6
Feb 23, 2022 |
There's simply too much clutter to appreciate the sense of style presenting this messy miniseries, though. |
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10
|
Batman: Creature of the Night | 1 issues |
10
|
Batman: Creature of the Night #4
Nov 27, 2019 |
The final installment of Batman: Creature of the Night completes a fine companion piece to Superman: Secret Identity, well-considered, brilliantly illustrated, and deeply humane, even if it might be wise to re-read the first three issues before returning to the finale. |
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5.0
|
Batman: Damned | 2 issues |
6
|
Batman: Damned #1
Sep 19, 2018 |
Batman: Damned is not so much read as relished, enjoyed for individual elements that do not add up to a stronger whole. That level of craftsmanship affords it the label of interesting, even if it would not ordinarily be categorized as good. |
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4
|
Batman: Damned #3
Jun 26, 2019 |
Despite its superficial appeal, Batman: Damned earns a big "keep it." |
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8.0
|
Batman: Kings of Fear | 3 issues |
8
|
Batman: Kings of Fear #1
Aug 22, 2018 |
Fast-paced action, iconic designs, and nightmare sequences all build into an unforgettable reading experience. This won't change how you think about Batman, but it will certainly raise your expectations for how the vigilante is depicted. |
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8
|
Batman: Kings of Fear #2
Sep 26, 2018 |
Using fear gas as the basis for a showcase of Kelley Jones' Batman artwork proves to be a great idea as the second issue of "Kings of Fear" tosses reality to the side in about half of its pages. |
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8
|
Batman: Kings of Fear #3
Oct 24, 2018 |
As this showcase continues, it is only increasing its capacity for fun while Jones remains the stylistic dynamo readers have come to know across so many years of great Batman stories. |
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4.0
|
Batman: Legends of Gotham (2023) | 1 issues |
4
|
Batman: Legends of Gotham (2023) #1
Feb 1, 2023 |
Batman: Legends of Gotham #1 offers nothing new and is ultimately best skipped by all but the most dedicated of completionists. |
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7.5
|
Batman: One Bad Day (2022) | 4 issues |
8
|
Batman: One Bad Day (2022): Two-Face #1
Sep 21, 2022 |
With Fernandez and Bellaire delivering dark notes in perfect style, this is one issue no fan of Two-Face or Gotham villainy should consider missing. |
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5
|
Batman: One Bad Day (2022): The Riddler #1
Aug 17, 2022 |
It's a potent comic book that continues to engage Batman readers after nearly thirty-five years, and a fine point of inspiration for that exact reason. Yet the first installment of One Bad Day is so devoted to crafting an homage to The Killing Joke that it never bothers to define the most significant portion of its title: The Riddler. |
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8
|
Batman: One Bad Day (2022): Clayface #1
Feb 22, 2023 |
Batman: One Bad Day Clayface is a testament to the power found even in the second tier of Batman's rogues, and calls for greater consideration of this daunting villain. |
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9
|
Batman: One Bad Day (2022): Ra's Al Ghul #1
Mar 22, 2023 |
Penciler Ivan Reis, inker Danny Miki, and colorist Brad Anderson light this spectacle of ecoterrorists battling against caped vigilantes for the planet's future in a familiar style appropriate for a grand event in the DC Comics tradition. |
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4.0
|
Batman: Secret Files (2018) | 1 issues |
4
|
Batman: Secret Files (2018): Secret Files #2
Jul 31, 2019 |
While this might be worth picking up to peruse for Risso's pages, the collection rates a big "keep it." |
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8.0
|
Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2023) | 1 issues |
8
|
Batman: The Brave and the Bold (2023) #1
May 17, 2023 |
Overall, The Brave and The Bold #1 makes a strong case for itself as an artistic showcase with room for the many mysteries inside to grow into something more compelling. |
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6.7
|
Batman: The Detective (2021) | 6 issues |
5
|
Batman: The Detective (2021) #1
Apr 14, 2021 |
The creative talent assembled to tell this superhero-mystery is top-notch, but the underlying conspiracy may prevent them from elevating this story above the tawdry and familiar. |
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8
|
Batman: The Detective (2021) #2
May 12, 2021 |
In an issue filled with interesting locales and travel companions, The Detective #2 promises readers that there is plenty to be discovered in this thrilling new conspiracy caper. |
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6
|
Batman: The Detective (2021) #3
Jun 9, 2021 |
It's a fine narrative in its own right and one that leaves me wanting to see more of Ducard in future Bat-books as a "frenemy" with both a useful skill set and justifiable counterpoint to Wayne's worldview. However, that digression adds very little of the ongoing mystery or many other characters present in Batman: The Detective. |
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7
|
Batman: The Detective (2021) #4
Jul 14, 2021 |
In overstating the threat, Batman: The Detective undermines its many, many strengths. |
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8
|
Batman: The Detective (2021) #5
Sep 22, 2021 |
Everything comes together in Batman: The Detective #5 in a thrilling fashion; just be certain not to think about the villain's motive for too long. |
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6
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Batman: The Detective (2021) #6
Dec 1, 2021 |
At its end Batman: The Detective threatens to interrogate some of the troubling premises beneath Batman's law-and-order modus operandi; it never quite goes there but gets close enough to give readers something to chew on. |
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9.0
|
Batman: Universe | 6 issues |
10
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Batman: Universe #1
Jul 10, 2019 |
Batman Universe isn't about some grandiose philosophy or intense personal statement here"although the character's history still holds meaning"this series is about telling the best Batman story imaginable, and that's exactly what it is doing. |
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8
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Batman: Universe #2
Aug 14, 2019 |
Batman: Universe serves as a love letter to both the DC universe and Batman's ability to adapt to any genre or setting. Superhero comics are rarely any more fun than this. |
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10
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Batman: Universe #3
Sep 11, 2019 |
Batman has not been this much fun to read in years, and Batman: Universe continues to be the perfect introduction to a character that is so much more than the darkness surrounding him in other modern stories. |
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10
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Batman: Universe #4
Oct 9, 2019 |
Each installment of Batman: Universe continues to thrill in a variety of ways marking it as the must-read Batman comic to read 2019. There's simply nothing better out there. |
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8
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Batman: Universe #5
Nov 6, 2019 |
Even with some notable flaws, Batman: Universe delivers one of this week's best pages in a spread that details a submarine's innards and the adventure occurring within. It's the sort of storytelling that reminds you why you love superhero comics. |
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8
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Batman: Universe #6
Dec 4, 2019 |
This is a Batman story that recognizes why the character can go anywhere and appeal to almost anyone; it's incredibly fun and a fitting conclusion to the best Batman comic of the Rebirth era. |
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2.0
|
Batman: White Knight Presents: Generation Joker | 1 issues |
2
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Batman: White Knight Presents: Generation Joker #1
May 10, 2023 |
Some comics are pure product, meaning they simply exist as more of a thing to be purchased without justifying their own existence. Such is the case with Batman: White Knight Presents Generation Joker #1, which continues to expand the moderately popular miniseries Batman: White Knight into an alternate vision of DC Comics that underwhelms at every turn. |
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8.7
|
Beasts of Burden | 7 issues |
8
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Beasts of Burden: Occupied Territory #1
Apr 7, 2021 |
Occupied Territory appears to be another outstanding entry from one of the best creator-owned franchises in comics today. |
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8
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Beasts of Burden: Wise Dogs and Eldritch Men #1
Aug 22, 2018 |
Whether or not you've ever heard of Beasts of Burden before, this introduction offers a great starting point, one that already appears to be leading to even greater thing. |
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9
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Beasts of Burden: Occupied Territory #2
May 5, 2021 |
Occupied Territory #2 makes it clear that there's plenty more to be discovered in this fictional world as two wayward canines open the door to wise dogs in both of Earth's semispheres. In character work, imagination, and presentation, there are few comics as rewarding to readers today as Beasts of Burden. |
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10
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Beasts of Burden: The Presence Of Others #2
Jun 5, 2019 |
There is a lot to unpack from this short story, both in how it examines relationships between human beings and their companions, as well as how it bodes for where Beasts of Burden goes next. This series has always been great, and yet it is somehow still getting better. |
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8
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Beasts of Burden: Wise Dogs and Eldritch Men #2
Sep 26, 2018 |
This issue feels like a genuine turning point for the entire story, one that is offering ample depth for its characters and setting, all while establishing much darker twists and turns to come. |
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8
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Beasts of Burden: Occupied Territory #3
Jun 2, 2021 |
Occupied Territory proves itself to be a consistently engaging new story in Beasts of Burden lore, even resting nearly 80 years before the current narrative. |
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10
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Beasts of Burden: Occupied Territory #4
Jul 7, 2021 |
Beasts of Burden serves as a love letter to supernatural stories, comic books, and canine companions, and it is an endearing testament to the power of all three. |
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6.2
|
Behold, Behemoth | 5 issues |
8
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Behold, Behemoth #1
Nov 2, 2022 |
Wherever Behold, Behemoth is leading readers, the first issue makes a compelling case for unpacking the many mysteries introduced here. |
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6
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Behold, Behemoth #2
Dec 7, 2022 |
Behold, Behemoth remains an astonishing comic to witness; the introductory sequence of issue #2 is filled with sprawling landscapes, clear emotions, and a gripping, tragic sequence bound to make some readers wince. |
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7
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Behold, Behemoth #3
Jan 25, 2023 |
Behold, Behemoth remains a tremendous comic in its aesthetics and composition, and it seems that the narrative may finally find stable grounding after taking three months to lay out a story that's far greater than a typical monthly comic book package can contain. |
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4
|
Behold, Behemoth #4
Mar 15, 2023 |
The splash pages still impress, especially one of Wren's Behemoth looming over her, but it's unclear why readers should be concerned about the fate of Wren, Grey, or their world beyond being told that they simply ought to. |
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6
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Behold, Behemoth #5
Apr 26, 2023 |
The connections between different timelines and definition of various antagonistic roles remains somewhat jumbled in a sprawling mythos rushing to tell a complete story, but the emotions and motives surrounding Greyson and his problematic ward are clear enough to provide them with a satisfying conclusion. |
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4.0
|
Berserker Unbound | 4 issues |
4
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Berserker Unbound #1
Aug 7, 2019 |
Luke's journey was the standout storyline in this issue, reminding us that, at this point in his story, he is still desperate to learn as much as he can about the Force, even if it means taking advice from possible criminals. |
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4
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Berserker Unbound #2
Sep 4, 2019 |
Considering the lack of originality found in this concept and how dedicated the series is to explaining such a simple idea, it's hard to appreciate even the bright spots in Berserker Unbound thus far. |
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4
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Berserker Unbound #3
Oct 2, 2019 |
It's a distracting jumble that would make it impossible to read a story with a bit of nuance, so it may be for the best that Berserker Unbound doesn't possess any. |
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4
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Berserker Unbound #4
Nov 6, 2019 |
Berserker Unbound #4 delivers a series of climactic moments"often delivered in attention-demanding splash panels"that are all entirely unearned by the story preceding them. |
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9.2
|
Beta Ray Bill (2021) | 5 issues |
8
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Beta Ray Bill (2021) #1
Mar 31, 2021 |
Beta Ray Bill #1 makes a clear statement that almost 40 years after the characters debut in The Mighty Thor #337, there are still many incredible tales left to tell. |
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10
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Beta Ray Bill (2021) #2
Apr 28, 2021 |
There's not a single page of this comic that is above note and so all I have left to say is: Do not sleep on Beta Ray Bill. Fun, furious, and fraught in equal measures, this comic book packs the power of Stormbreaker in every page; it simply cannot be missed. |
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10
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Beta Ray Bill (2021) #3
May 26, 2021 |
Beta Ray Bill #3 is a definitive middle chapter and it provides a perfect proof point as to why that is not an inherently bad thing. |
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9
|
Beta Ray Bill (2021) #4
Jun 30, 2021 |
Even as Johnson focuses on retelling and reworking Marvel Comics' continuity, he remains focused on the ideas, style, and story that have made Beta Ray Bill one of Marvel's best comics in years. |
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9
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Beta Ray Bill (2021) #5
Jul 28, 2021 |
If there is no more to come in this story, Beta Ray Bill will remain an outstanding piece of spectacle with some of the best pages produced at Marvel Comics in 2021. However, readers will likely be left hoping Johnson plans to continue Beta Ray's story as issue #5 ends with an interlude rather than a conclusion. |
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2.0
|
Betty & Veronica (2016) | 1 issues |
2
|
Betty & Veronica (2016) #1
Jul 20, 2016 |
Betty and Veronica #1 is a comic about young women that has absolutely no idea how they act, speak, think, or look. The titular characters are idealized versions of a girl next door bombshell designed for older men. They are defined by the gaze and ideas of someone outside of their world, and who appears to have no interest in understanding their experiences. At best it is a terrible misunderstanding of the subject matter. At worst it is an insult to anyone who might have found a rare form of kinship in a comic supposedly about young women. |
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6.0
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Birthright | 2 issues |
8
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Birthright #8
Jun 10, 2015 |
Birthright #8 may read like a middle chapter, but it still has plenty to offer. In its combination of five distinct plotlines, there are both excellent visual and character-based elements. The final page also lands on another thrilling cliffhanger. It's a fun twist on fantasy that continues to provide plenty of content in every 20 page package. |
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4
|
Birthright #32
Oct 10, 2018 |
There's not much to note beyond needless sacrifice and droning conversation in an issue that serves as a perfect jumping-off point. |
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7.0
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Bitch Planet | 1 issues |
7
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Bitch Planet #1
Dec 10, 2014 |
Its clear that Bitch Planet seeks to invert the exploitation genre in order to tell a story steeped in feminist ideals, but it falters in its first issue. Although its clear that women are being exploited by a patriarchal society, the women in this issue are never given an opportunity to define themselves outside of their victimhood. Furthermore, issues of race and body image have to be carefully considered as well. Intentional or not, this issue perpetuates stereotypes of race and weight through its imagery of the prison population. There is promise to be found in this premise, but the execution is lacking here. Bitch Planet #1 doesnt achieve its goal of being something fresh and bold, but only serves to reinforce the problems currently facing women in comics and society as a whole. |
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8.2
|
Black Adam (2022) | 11 issues |
9
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Black Adam (2022) #1
Jun 22, 2022 |
Black Adam #1 sets the stage to challenge readers' existing notions of the character and global and never fail to simultaneously entertain. |
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8
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Black Adam (2022) #2
Jul 20, 2022 |
Wherever Black Adam is heading, it's clear this story respects its' readers' intelligence and is well positioned to keep them thinking. |
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8
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Black Adam (2022) #3
Aug 17, 2022 |
As their relationship deepens and the mystery surrounding Adam's death grows, Black Adam proves to be an irresistible serialized read. |
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8
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Black Adam (2022) #4
Sep 21, 2022 |
Even in exploring the interstitial elements of this narrative, Black Adam never misses a beat and delivers one of the most engaging new takes on an old character at DC Comics in years. |
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8
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Black Adam (2022) #5
Oct 19, 2022 |
Black Adam continues to build and it's forming quite the monument to this Arabic anti-hero. |
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8
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Black Adam (2022) #6
Nov 16, 2022 |
Black Adam #6 delivers the tantalizing showdown between Black Adam and Batman promised last month, and anticipated by readers ever since Teth-Adam joined the Justice League. It's an event of appropriate scale consuming the entirety of this issue in a series that typically leaps between a half-dozen plots. |
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8
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Black Adam (2022) #7
Jan 18, 2023 |
Black Adam remains a highlight of DC Comics' ongoing superhero series. |
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8
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Black Adam (2022) #8
Feb 22, 2023 |
There's also an astounding action sequence that reads like something out of Superman in all but how Black Adam handles it. The power in those action-oriented pages is stunning, but it's the history filling most of the issue that will keep readers engaged (hopefully for years to come). |
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9
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Black Adam (2022) #9
Mar 22, 2023 |
Each new strand enhances the collective narrative of Black Adam as they reinforce themes of oppression, power, and perspective. Priest's answer to the origin of Black Adam's name reads in an entirely natural manner that provides it with a great sense of tragedy. |
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8
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Black Adam (2022) #10
Apr 19, 2023 |
Black Adam #10 is another fine installment in a story that promises at least two more great issues, but clearly has more road to travel beyond just that. |
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8
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Black Adam (2022) #11
May 17, 2023 |
However events shake out between the series' anti-hero and the expansive cast now surrounding him, Black Adam #12 is set to be an explosive issue (and hopefully one that will lead to more Black Adam stories from Priest). |
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4.0
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Black Adam: The Justice Society Files (2022) | 4 issues |
4
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Black Adam: The Justice Society Files (2022): Cyclone #1
Aug 3, 2022 |
It's another competent issue that seems entirely unnecessary to watch Dwayne Johnson team up with the JSA this fall. |
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4
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Black Adam: The Justice Society Files (2022): Hawkman #1
Jul 6, 2022 |
The plot is certainly functional and beyond mediocre pacing and design work, there's nothing offensive about The Justice Society Files, but it ultimately reads like a comic that should be given away with a children's meal before the movie. |
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6
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Black Adam: The Justice Society Files (2022): Atom Smasher #1
Sep 7, 2022 |
Atom Smasher provides the most promising installment of Black Adam: The Justice Society Files thus far in a straightforward adventure with competent craftsmanship presented throughout. |
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2
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Black Adam: The Justice Society Files (2022): Doctor Fate #1
Oct 5, 2022 |
Doctor Fate's story in the first 30 pages of the issue is a banal showdown between a sorcerer and demon using only cliched imagery and conflicts, which provide readers no cause to care for the heroes or root against the villains. |
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6.0
|
Black Badge | 3 issues |
6
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Black Badge #1
Aug 8, 2018 |
Black Badge is an example of a comic where the elevator pitch holds more promise than the executed premise. |
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6
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Black Badge #2
Sep 19, 2018 |
There's still potential in Black Badge, but the series doesn't move toward realizing it in its second outing. |
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6
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Black Badge #10
May 15, 2019 |
It is a well-told bit of comics, but one that does not offer many reasons to pick up Black Badge #11. |
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7.0
|
Black Canary (2015) | 1 issues |
7
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Black Canary (2015) #1
Jun 22, 2015 |
Black Canary #1 is a jumble of elements that fail to make a significant impression based on the story, but it moves so fast and looks so good that the failings in the script can easily be overlooked. None of the flaws present are fundamental to what comes next. Given some revision and a bit more thought, it's a series that could easily match the gorgeous layouts, artwork, and colors on display with a streamlined story of equal merit. As Black Canary continues, it could afford to take some advice from one of the greatest performers to ever hit the stage: "A little less conversation, a little more action, please." |
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8.0
|
Black Cloud | 3 issues |
8
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Black Cloud #8
Apr 4, 2018 |
This is some of the best, wild and weird storytelling you'll find at Image Comics right now. |
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8
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Black Cloud #9
May 9, 2018 |
Characters themselves, along with color work, continue to light up these pages and make each step forward worthwhile, especially as the series prepares itself for a leap. |
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8
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Black Cloud #10
Jun 27, 2018 |
Black Cloud has certainly been an interesting series and one that will likely be worth revisiting, for readers and creators alike. |
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4.0
|
Black Cotton | 1 issues |
4
|
Black Cotton #5
Sep 8, 2021 |
Marco Perugini's artwork delivers stylish sword and gun fights - minimalist backgrounds accentuate the action with broad motion lines and clearly defined shapes. This makes the opening pages of Black Cotton #2 quite the thrill ride, but that same style when applied to numerous discussions throughout the rest of the pages leaves much to be desired. |
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6.0
|
Black Hammer: Age of Doom | 1 issues |
6
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Black Hammer: Age of Doom #2
May 23, 2018 |
Mysteries and minor dramas among the primary cast continue to captivate, but take up too little of this issue for it not to feel distracted and wandering in its approach to the narrative. |
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2.0
|
Black Knight (2015) | 1 issues |
2
|
Black Knight (2015) #1
Nov 19, 2015 |
Much like Pizarri and Tieri, readers who decided to pick up this issue will be inclined to get through it quickly. There are no rewards to be found here and the more quickly it is set aside, the better. |
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2.0
|
Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands | 1 issues |
2
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Black Lightning: Cold Dead Hands #6
Apr 4, 2018 |
This is a textbook example of how not to tell a superhero story at almost any level. When you throw hamfisted social commentary on top, it becomes an undeniable disaster. Keep it. |
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9.0
|
Black Magick | 1 issues |
9
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Black Magick #1
Oct 27, 2015 |
Black Magick #1 is a top-notch debut from Image, the most inventive publisher in comics today. It delivers on character, premise, artwork, and ideas, a comic that can satisfy any reader looking for a great crime or horror story. Wherever the mysteries of this debut lead Detective Rowan Black, it's bound to be a satisfying read. |
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7.0
|
Black Panther (2016) | 4 issues |
6
|
Black Panther (2016) #1
Apr 6, 2016 |
Whether that is enough is difficult to say. This is a debut issue with charm and style, but it also falters in its telling. Stelfreeze's envisionment of the world of Wakanda is captivating, while what is happening within the country's borders often leaves much to be desired. The stories of the Dora Milaje provide interest, while Black Panther's narrative and self border upon being tedious. The elements of a powerful story are present, yet the Silver Age influence without top-notch Silver Age style may put those elements to waste. |
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8
|
Black Panther (2016) #170
Feb 28, 2018 |
Black Panther stays on top as one of Marvel's best series, delivering plenty of action and suspense in an issue worth reading twice. |
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8
|
Black Panther (2016) #171
Mar 28, 2018 |
It's a great climax before the final issue of this arc. |
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6
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Black Panther (2016) #172
Apr 18, 2018 |
All of the essential elements of a superhero comic are in place and executed well enough, but this has proven to be a superhero comic capable of far more than monthly updates. |
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8.0
|
Black Panther (2016) Annual | 1 issues |
8
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Black Panther (2016) Annual #1
Feb 21, 2018 |
This Black Panther Annual collects three stories from three of the most significant writers to ever address the character, and each reads perfectly as being a piece of their substantial runs. |
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6.9
|
Black Panther (2018) | 19 issues |
8
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Black Panther (2018) #1
May 23, 2018 |
Even larger thematic issues loom. Coates and Acua are addressing slavery, a slavery perpetrated by T'Challa's own people, that will require a deft touch and raise far more difficult questions than those in the plot itself. |
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8
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Black Panther (2018) #2
Jun 27, 2018 |
Each element of this series is building a new monument and legacy to an already celebrated character, and it's clear this new series is something special. |
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8
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Black Panther (2018) #3
Aug 22, 2018 |
Whether you're coming to Black Panther for a meditation of colonialism, superhero spectacle, or T'Challa at his absolute best, you're bound to be satisfied by this new installment. |
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6
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Black Panther (2018) #4
Sep 26, 2018 |
There is plenty that occurs in Black Panther #4, including an action-packed escape sequence featuring some surprising changes to the status quo, but none of it feels like a distinct issue. |
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8
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Black Panther (2018) #5
Oct 31, 2018 |
For any readers who have been on the fence, these pages make it clear Black Panther is a comic to watch closely as it continues. |
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6
|
Black Panther (2018) #12
May 29, 2019 |
This is another example from the current Black Panther run of a chapter that might function well as part of a collection, but lags as a single installment. |
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8
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Black Panther (2018) #13
Jun 26, 2019 |
While the overall scope of the issue is limited, each page pays dividends. |
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8
|
Black Panther (2018) #14
Jul 31, 2019 |
For those who have been with Black Panther since Coates first arrived, this is likely one of the series most rewarding issues and one that promises even more with its next installment. |
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8
|
Black Panther (2018) #15
Aug 28, 2019 |
Daniel Acua's depiction of travel through time and space is every bit as dazzling as readers would hope, though, and open doorways to a future where Wakanda's adventures span across both. |
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8
|
Black Panther (2018) #16
Sep 25, 2019 |
After more than a year of carefully laying groundwork, the master plan behind this current volume of Black Panther is revealing how well this epic is prepared to deliver. |
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6
|
Black Panther (2018) #17
Oct 30, 2019 |
With few visual hooks and little connection between the scattered moments of this issue, the only call to continue rests in the last few pages. It's likely not enough for some readers to return. |
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4
|
Black Panther (2018) #18
Nov 27, 2019 |
We would be much better off reading an essay covering this same material than a superhero comic that fails to excite or stimulate even once at a cover price of $3.99. |
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6
|
Black Panther (2018) #19
Dec 18, 2019 |
Black Panther is a competently created comic book and delivers familiar beats, but it still struggles to rise above an overwhelmingly large herd of similar material at the end of 2019. |
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4
|
Black Panther (2018) #20
Jan 22, 2020 |
Good ideas stretched across far too many issues and lacking a strong visual component is making it difficult to stick with this series. |
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6
|
Black Panther (2018) #21
Feb 26, 2020 |
Aerial battles (and, similarly, space-bound ones) can be difficult to illustrate in comics, and that's the core issue with Black Panther #21. |
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8
|
Black Panther (2018) #22
Mar 25, 2020 |
While Black Panther has been meandering around its point for some time now, it has refocused itself in these pages and reset expectations for a showdown between King T'Challa and Emperor N'Jadaka by clarifying what that conflict is really about. |
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6
|
Black Panther (2018) #23
Feb 24, 2021 |
For now readers can receive reminders as to what was happening before a long, unplanned hiatus and prepare for the finale to Coates' run. |
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8
|
Black Panther (2018) #24
Mar 24, 2021 |
While Coates hasn't clearly threaded the needle connecting race and nationality in this coalition, it's easy enough to simply enjoy the spectacle of this battle and the incredible collection of characters on display. |
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8
|
Black Panther (2018) #25
May 26, 2021 |
The conclusion of Ta-Nehisi Coates' more than 50 issue run on Black Panther arrives this week and fans of the recent series will not be disappointed. |
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6.0
|
Black Science | 9 issues |
8
|
Black Science #9
Oct 7, 2014 |
Although Black Science #9 is a somewhat uneven issue that jumps between a variety of threads working to move each forward just a little, it still manages to be an exciting new chapter in the series. Remender and Scalera continue to bring their best work to each page of this comic, providing a deeply human cast of characters set in a thrilling adventure. Taken individually, each segment of this issue can be read as a showcase for what makes Black Science a great comic. |
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8
|
Black Science #9
Oct 7, 2014 |
Although Black Science #9 is a somewhat uneven issue that jumps between a variety of threads working to move each forward just a little, it still manages to be an exciting new chapter in the series. Remender and Scalera continue to bring their best work to each page of this comic, providing a deeply human cast of characters set in a thrilling adventure. Taken individually, each segment of this issue can be read as a showcase for what makes Black Science a great comic. |
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8
|
Black Science #36
Jun 6, 2018 |
With the end for Black Science in sight, the series still has plenty of tricks up its sleeve, even in a quiet issue like this one. |
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6
|
Black Science #37
Jul 11, 2018 |
It will be interesting to see how this story is finally resolved, but that doesn't make the beginning of the end any more satisfactory. |
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6
|
Black Science #38
Sep 5, 2018 |
Black Science is at its best in moments of sturm und drang and high adventure, and there's enough present here for the issue to get by. Yet so much of the page is spent in captions and monologues that stretch points with minimal depth too far. |
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4
|
Black Science #40
May 29, 2019 |
This is one series that should have ended while the getting was still good, quite some time ago. |
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4
|
Black Science #41
Jul 17, 2019 |
The notion of "order vs. chaos" is simplified to the stuff of metal posters here, dragging out the ending of the series just a bit longer with nothing of value to be added. |
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4
|
Black Science #42
Aug 28, 2019 |
Disappointment is largely developed by expectation, and the combination of 6 years and 41 issues makes this a notable disappointment from Image Comics. |
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6
|
Black Science #43
Sep 25, 2019 |
The over-sized finale of Black Science arrives far too late in the series' run to have much impact. |
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8.0
|
Blade: Vampire Nation (2022) | 1 issues |
8
|
Blade: Vampire Nation (2022) #1
Nov 16, 2022 |
Blade: Vampire Nation #1 is bound to appeal to any fan of its titular character or Marvel vampires as it fleshes out the concept of Vampyrsk to hopefully become a new Marvel mainstay. |
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4.0
|
Bloodshot (2019) | 1 issues |
4
|
Bloodshot (2019) #3
Nov 20, 2019 |
Bloodshot #3 creates an effect similar to a traveling rollercoaster, providing a predetermined set of thrills with no encouragement to look around or remember once the ride ends. |
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8.4
|
Bloodshot: Reborn | 1 issues |
8.4
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Bloodshot: Reborn #1
Apr 16, 2015 |
Bloodshot Reborn #1 isn't a typical spin-off series. It's a story that thoughtfully follows up on what has come before. Lemire and Suayan are clearly invested in this story, addressing trauma and responsibility in a meaningful way. It's the perfect combination of compelling and challenging for a fresh take on this bloody character. |
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10
|
Bloodstrike (2018) | 2 issues |
10
|
Bloodstrike (2018) #23
Jun 27, 2018 |
This brief run on Bloodstrike is unlike anything in comics, and we're lucky to have this retroactive history. |
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10
|
Bloodstrike (2018) #24
Aug 1, 2018 |
The action sequences are simply unbeatable in comics today and Fiffe manages to reimagine at least one common trope in a manner that will leave jaws on the ground. |
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8.0
|
Bodies | 1 issues |
8
|
Bodies #1
Aug 6, 2014 |
With such a great range of storytelling styles, Bodies #1 is an excellent showcase for artists. Spurrier has written a comic that has very little room to set up four interesting stories. So the artists involved are tasked with carrying the story forward and hook readers on this high concept. The assembled artistic team does so admirably and no one contribution is greater than that of Lee Loughridge. He is capable of discerning the unique needs of the story and art in each plot, enhancing the work and drawing forth the most important elements. In doing this he not only proves his importance to this one endeavor, but the incredible value colorists can add to every comics page. |
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8.0
|
Bog Bodies | 1 issues |
8
|
Bog Bodies OGN
May 29, 2020 |
It's the surprising depth of this slim volume that makes it easy to recommend. Readers seeking out crime comics will certainly find plenty to love in this story's sudden violence and relatively realistic approach to terrible acts. |
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4.0
|
Book Of Death One Shot | 1 issues |
4
|
Book Of Death: The Fall Of Bloodshot #1
Jul 22, 2015 |
Fall of Bloodshot #1 is a bold pitch for future Bloodshot series, but it's something that should have only been shown to Valiant editors. A great deal of effort is put into thinking of interesting new spins on the assassin, but there's not nearly enough space to show any of them. This is a well drawn bird's eye view of a potentially great comics. |
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6.0
|
Books of Magic (2018) | 1 issues |
6
|
Books of Magic (2018) #9
Jun 26, 2019 |
This issue offers current and possible new readers an excellent jumping-on point with a tale that stands alone, while still building out The Books of Magic's mythology. |
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10
|
Border Town | 3 issues |
10
|
Border Town #1
Sep 5, 2018 |
Border Town #1 declares itself one of the best new comics of 2018 with an entirely earned sense of bravado. |
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10
|
Border Town #2
Oct 3, 2018 |
From the slightest character notes to the boldest monsters, Border Town remains an absolute winner. |
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10
|
Border Town #3
Nov 7, 2018 |
Border Town continues to astonish on every page and shows no sign of stopping. |
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4.0
|
Breathless | 1 issues |
4
|
Breathless #2
May 2, 2018 |
Issues of health insurance and freelancing feel separate from everything else in the story, tacked on to remind readers that reality isn't great either, as if that was a truly necessary reminder. |
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5.0
|
Britannia: Lost Eagles of Rome | 4 issues |
6
|
Britannia: Lost Eagles of Rome #1
Jul 25, 2018 |
While it takes plenty of time in doing so, the newest Britannia series sets up a great mystery that will compel fans further into the series. |
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4
|
Britannia: Lost Eagles of Rome #2
Aug 22, 2018 |
It's a disappointing second chapter, one that does little to play on its premise or move the story along. |
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6
|
Britannia: Lost Eagles of Rome #3
Sep 19, 2018 |
As a mystery there is still plenty to pick apart and enjoy, but there's little else to be savored beyond the historical presentation by this chapter. |
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4
|
Britannia: Lost Eagles of Rome #4
Oct 31, 2018 |
While it's possible to see the individual elements that make this story engaging, including another impressive set of backdrops for this era, the overall construction of the story is lacking in its climax. |
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9.0
|
Bucky Barnes: The Winter Soldier | 1 issues |
9
|
Bucky Barnes: The Winter Soldier #1
Sep 30, 2014 |
Theres a lot to like in the debut of Bucky Barnes: The Winter Soldier. Every collaborator involved is bringing their best work to the comic and it shows. Together, they are telling a story that is unlike anything else on the stands. |
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6.0
|
Byte Sized | 1 issues |
6
|
Byte Sized #1
Dec 9, 2020 |
As a first chapter there's no reason to stop, but with a whole month between this and Byte-Sized #2, it's questionable how many readers will think to continue the story in 2021. |
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8.5
|
C.O.W.L. | 3 issues |
8
|
C.O.W.L. #4
Aug 25, 2014 |
C.O.W.L. #4 represents what this series is all about. Much of the first three issues was used to set up characters and conflicts. The drama thus far has been a slow burn, but here it begins to ignite (sometimes literally). Higgins and Reis have carefully laid the groundwork to tell a complicated and nuanced story, and reader's patience is going to be rewarded starting here. There are plenty of good superhero comics being published today, but very few great comics about the systems we create and operate within. That is what makes C.O.W.L. a unique comic and one worth reading. |
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8.4
|
C.O.W.L. #5
Sep 23, 2014 |
With Reis excellent eye for juxtaposition capably framing the characters and ideas behind C.O.W.L., there's a lot to be excited about moving forward. Although it may still lack some of the depth and realism of The Wire, it is beginning to capably address the same complex themes as that episodic masterpiece. It will certainly not be an easy task, but Higgins, Siegel, and Reis seem up to it. |
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9
|
C.O.W.L. #10
May 14, 2015 |
The most disappointing element of C.O.W.L. #10 comes in the letters column, with the announcement that the series will not continue past #11. Yet this issue feels like the set up to a proper conclusion. It arranges all of its characters into significant positions, and then leaves them teetering on a precipice, ready to define themselves and readers' perceptions of this comic. |
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7.6
|
Canary | 5 issues |
8
|
Canary #1
Jul 20, 2022 |
Canary #1 is a story about perceiving the possibilities of the future by understanding the past, and it promises no easy bromides or cheap forms of hope. As familiar as this approach and the characters involved may be to devoted Snyder readers, his approach and focus proves very well suited to a dark Western tale considering its fascination with the nature of the United States. |
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8
|
Canary #2
Aug 24, 2022 |
Panosian and Snyder are both clearly in their element when depicting a haunted Western; even as Canary is bound for a clear destination, it's difficult not to desire more campfire stories like this from a creative that clearly grasps both genres at play. |
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8
|
Canary #3
Oct 26, 2022 |
It's the sort of final page that makes you instantly pull up a calendar to see when Canary #4 will be released because the turn in issue #3 is all readers need to know their anticipation was well earned. |
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8
|
Canary #4
Dec 7, 2022 |
Even if the forms of this plot are apparent, it's a great deal of fun to watch how events escalate in Canary especially when they're set against Dan Panosian's sweeping views of the American west and the nightmares he summons from deep within its soil. |
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6
|
Canary #5
Feb 22, 2023 |
It's not that Canary is dullPanosian's designs for the characters and ability to deliver familiar heroic and horrific beats in a splash makes the familiar sort of story funbut Canary is playing to type and doesn't succeed in offering the novelty that made early issues such fun to explore. There's still one issue left and plenty of potential secrets still buried in the earth, however. |
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6.0
|
Captain America & The Invaders | 1 issues |
6
|
Captain America & The Invaders: The Bahamas Triangle #1
Jul 3, 2019 |
This is an issue whose mileage will vary wildly based upon one's nostalgia and knowledge of the past. |
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4.0
|
Captain America (2012) | 1 issues |
4
|
Captain America (2012) #25
Oct 5, 2014 |
Captain America #25 is very similar to last weeks Thor: God of Thunder #25 in that it works so hard to set up the next big thing that it fails to be its own thing. Remender is so interested in pitching All-New Captain America #1 that he fails to effectively conclude the story hes written so far. Both of these issues mark the end of highly successful and much lauded runs, but fail to live up to the standards they established for themselves. |
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8.0
|
Captain America (2018) | 4 issues |
8
|
Captain America (2018) #1
Jul 4, 2018 |
It tactfully addresses the greatest anxieties of the United States today and blends them into the zeitgeist of Marvel Comics. |
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8
|
Captain America (2018) #2
Aug 1, 2018 |
It's a smart take that utilizes the history of Captain America well, carefully raising complexity and resisting any urge to deliver trite answers or resolutions. |
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8
|
Captain America (2018) #3
Sep 5, 2018 |
The result is the best issue of this new volume, one that skillfully blends Coates' rhetoric with the most stirring bits of superhero and spy action so far. |
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8
|
Captain America (2018) #4
Oct 10, 2018 |
As Captain America zeroes in on some very specific action, the series delivers its most limited and most exciting issue so far. |
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10
|
Captain America (2018) Annual | 1 issues |
10
|
Captain America (2018) Annual #1
Sep 19, 2018 |
This Annual takes a classic superhero story and executes upon it with great purpose in a manner that makes it feel both timeless and exactly like what readers might need in 2018. |
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2.0
|
Captain America: Steve Rogers | 1 issues |
2
|
Captain America: Steve Rogers #1
May 27, 2016 |
If there's one bit of hope to be found in Captain America: Steve Rogers #1, it's this: Even though the last page has set so many people at one another's throats, the comic should also stand a chance of bringing them together. This comic presents a reading experience so lacking in any notable form of quality that anyone who bothers to pick it up ought to be able to put it down and say "That was fucking garbage." Whatever your specific reason for stating it, it's a clear conclusion. There's no need to fight about why this comic is garbage when we can all just acknowledge this tire fire together and move on. |
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10
|
Casanova: Acedia | 1 issues |
10
|
Casanova: Acedia #1
Jan 20, 2015 |
Casanova is back and its so damn good. |
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2.5
|
Casual Fling | 2 issues |
3
|
Casual Fling #1
Feb 10, 2021 |
It's hardly for mature readers because there's nothing mature in the content or conception of Casual Fling. Rather, it's half an idea produced before finding a purpose. |
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2
|
Casual Fling #2
Mar 3, 2021 |
It's unclear what Casual Fling expects to deliver as all it can seem to provide is disappointment. |
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8.0
|
Cave Carson Has An Interstellar Eye | 6 issues |
8
|
Cave Carson Has An Interstellar Eye #1
Mar 21, 2018 |
This comic is not strange for the sake of being strange, it provides a world that could only be imagined in comics and readers should be prepared for quite the trip. |
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8
|
Cave Carson Has An Interstellar Eye #2
Apr 18, 2018 |
It's difficult to know where it's going or whether there's a pay off, but the ride is worth taking for its own pleasures. |
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8
|
Cave Carson Has An Interstellar Eye #3
May 16, 2018 |
With only a few issues left, Cave Carson is still promising great things ahead. |
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8
|
Cave Carson Has An Interstellar Eye #4
Jun 20, 2018 |
Cave Carson Has An Interstellar Eye is one far out comic that never loses touch with reality. |
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8
|
Cave Carson Has An Interstellar Eye #5
Jul 18, 2018 |
As the end approaches, the big picture keeps getting bigger for this series. |
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8
|
Cave Carson Has An Interstellar Eye #6
Aug 15, 2018 |
As Young Animal enters the rearview mirror, Cave Carson Has An Interstellar Eye holds a proud place in its history. |
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7.0
|
Cemetery Beach | 2 issues |
8
|
Cemetery Beach #1
Sep 12, 2018 |
There is no doubt that individual elements of Cemetery Road are great; Howard produces some of the best action sequences of 2018 and Ellis' dialogue is in top form. Yet the narrative lacks clear form and there seems to be little call for reading the story in monthly installments rather than waiting for it to cohere in a more fitting form. |
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6
|
Cemetery Beach #2
Oct 17, 2018 |
There is a great deal of craft on display here, but it still feels decidedly part of the wrong format. |
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5.8
|
Chained to the Grave | 5 issues |
7
|
Chained to the Grave #1
Feb 3, 2021 |
Chained to the Grave offers an entrancing walk away from the standards of horror and Western comics alike summoning something largely original with a lot of potential to be explored as this twisted adventure continues. |
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6
|
Chained to the Grave #2
Apr 7, 2021 |
Chained to the Grave is one of the most inventive new series on shelves in 2021; every few pages adds something new to this sprawling horror saga from the Old West. |
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6
|
Chained to the Grave #3
May 5, 2021 |
There's a lack of polish that doesn't serve this fast-paced and consistently strange story, but there's sufficient creativity on display in the turn of each page to keep me intrigued. |
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6
|
Chained to the Grave #4
Jun 30, 2021 |
While those riders may bear some clear danger based purely on the symbolism of their form and number, it's ineffectively communicated on the page. |
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4
|
Chained to the Grave #5
Jul 7, 2021 |
There is a compelling version of Chained to the Grave to be imagined, but it's simply not what appeared on the page. |
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9.2
|
Chew | 2 issues |
8.4
|
Chew #45
Dec 2, 2014 |
Despite that misstep, Chew #45 is another great installment in the series. It provides all of the twists and heartbreak of a great tragedy, without losing the wacky, comedic tone that defines the series. Layman and Guillory walk a tightrope to craft what is the best written funny book currently on the stands. |
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10
|
Chew #50
Jul 1, 2015 |
Chew #50 is a lot of things. It's funny, action-packed, surprising, and a joy to read. But above all else, it's just really bad ass. |
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5.7
|
Children of the Atom (2021) | 6 issues |
6
|
Children of the Atom (2021) #1
Mar 10, 2021 |
Only at the end of the issue do readers even understand what story is being told, which raises a lot of questions, but no more compelling reasons to continue reading. |
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4
|
Children of the Atom (2021) #2
Apr 14, 2021 |
Children of the Atom #2 ends exactly where Children of the Atom #1 did with more pages added, but no progress made. |
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7
|
Children of the Atom (2021) #3
May 12, 2021 |
Many of the issues that affected this series' launch persist, but Children of the Atom #3 is a dramatic improvement and one that signals hope for wherever this odd addition to "Reign of X" is heading. |
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8
|
Children of the Atom (2021) #4
Jun 9, 2021 |
Children of the Atom continues to improve in the one X-comic from this month that doesn't focus on the Hellfire Gala. |
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6
|
Children of the Atom (2021) #5
Jul 7, 2021 |
It's a perfectly fine step forward and one that offers some entertaining spreads and useful information, but all of that is delivered in a fashion that still leaves me to wonder why exactly I need to pick up another issue next month. |
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3
|
Children of the Atom (2021) #6
Aug 11, 2021 |
The notion of five teens challenged by notions of identity and growth remains an alluring premise, especially within X-comics, but Children of the Atom failed to provide an effective focus for those characters and the finale shatters any illusion that they were much more than feel-good wish fulfillment. Alas. |
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4.0
|
Civil War II | 1 issues |
4
|
Civil War II #3
Jul 16, 2016 |
Civil War II #3 puts 5 pages of story in a 24 page comic, which leaves this "turning point" feeling just as weightless and inconsequential as you might expect. It's fine to look at, presenting the standard "superhero style" of the day with plenty of character dramatically posing. However, start to ponder on what you're actually looking at and you'll find it's a lot of refined filler covering a singular plot point. Try not to think about how much it cost after that realization. |
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8.5
|
Clobberin' Time (2023) | 2 issues |
9
|
Clobberin' Time (2023) #1
Mar 29, 2023 |
Clobberin' Time promises readers one thing: Steve Skroce drawing The Thing fight all sorts of strange stuff; Clobberin' Time #1 delivers upon that promise and exceeds it with a style that from the page layouts to the dialogue could only belong to Skroce. |
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8
|
Clobberin' Time (2023) #2
Apr 26, 2023 |
All of the most obvious qualities from the first issue remain in an irreverent team-up between Ben Grimm and Logan with plenty of gags and some of the most viscerally thrilling action sequences put to the pages of Marvel Comics this year. |
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9.3
|
Clue: Candlestick | 3 issues |
8
|
Clue: Candlestick #1
May 22, 2019 |
If the rest of Clue: Candlestick is as charming and challenging as its first issue, then it might be time to reassess the original game given the quality of adaptations it has continued to inspire. |
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10
|
Clue: Candlestick #2
Jun 19, 2019 |
With only one issue left to go, Shaw promises a satisfying conclusion, one that has he already laid out through his puzzles and careful attention to detail. If #3 meets the high bar set by this issue, then Clue: Candlestick may be the best mystery comic of 2019. |
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10
|
Clue: Candlestick #3
Jul 17, 2019 |
The conclusion of this enthralling mystery does not disappoint, fulfilling every promise offered by the incredible first issue. |
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8.0
|
Coda | 1 issues |
8
|
Coda #1
May 2, 2018 |
Matias Bergara brings it all together with a perfect balance of the fantastical and ugly, a sensibility revealed in a cursing, fighting Pentacorn that will likely have readers begging for more. |
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8.2
|
Compass | 5 issues |
9
|
Compass #1
Jun 16, 2021 |
Compass #1 provides readers with an immersive setting and propulsive start to a story unlike anything in comics today. |
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8
|
Compass #2
Jul 21, 2021 |
Compass is a thrilling adventure and, if what follows is as good as the start, could become one of the best new Image series in 2021. |
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8
|
Compass #3
Aug 18, 2021 |
With the setting and stakes already established, Compass #3 is able to lean into the fun and fear of this exploration phase and produces a compelling mid-point as answers (and possibly more mysteries) rest on the horizon. |
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8
|
Compass #4
Sep 15, 2021 |
Wherever Compass is leading and however events pan out between these companions, the story, setting, and genre have supported the narrative in tandem making Compass quite the discovery from Image Comics. |
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8
|
Compass #5
Oct 13, 2021 |
Compass' use of historical verisimilitude never strove for realism, but offered a rich and descriptive setting for this delightful adventure. A potential continuation suggested by the final page would be very welcome. |
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7.0
|
Conan / Red Sonja | 1 issues |
7
|
Conan / Red Sonja #4
Apr 30, 2015 |
This is by no means a bad comic. It's bound to appeal to fans of Conan, Red Sonja, and the genre which they're most comfortable in. It's written and drawn with admiration for the concepts, but fails to deliver anything beyond that admiration. The result is an entertaining diversion, but nothing memorable. |
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6.0
|
Conan The Barbarian (2019) | 1 issues |
6
|
Conan The Barbarian (2019) #7
Jun 26, 2019 |
A mixed-bag that rewards a quick read without too much consideration. |
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7.0
|
Constantine: The Hellblazer | 1 issues |
7
|
Constantine: The Hellblazer #1
Jun 10, 2015 |
John Constantine is back and in good form. Doyle, Tynion, and Rossmo capture the essence of Alan Moore's creation and spin him into a perfectly suitable corner of the DC Universe. Constantine: The Hellblazer is mean, funny, and beautiful to behold. It's just too bad that so much of the story is over-told when it is already being shown so well. |
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4.0
|
Convergence: Suicide Squad | 1 issues |
4
|
Convergence: Suicide Squad #1
Apr 16, 2015 |
Some pleasant surprises have emerged from "Convergence" in its first two weeks, but this is not one of them. The elevator pitch behind this story is a slam dunk that's rendered completely inert by excessive exposition and uneven art. It's readable, but not much more. |
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8.0
|
Convergence: The Question | 1 issues |
8
|
Convergence: The Question #2
May 7, 2015 |
Ultimately, Rucka and Hamner deliver one of Convergence's best stories, focusing on character over spectacle.Rucka restates his affection for both characters and allows them neat, peaceful, resolutions. The conclusion feels true to both characters, while also reflecting a nostalgic urge to provide a happy ending. |
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8.4
|
Copperhead | 1 issues |
8.4
|
Copperhead #1
Sep 9, 2014 |
Copperhead #1 opens a window to a desolate planet that is rich with history and ideas. There is a lot occurring in the background and details of this comic. It's a story I only expect to grow and improve as it delves further into the world created by Faerber and Godlewski. |
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9.7
|
Copra | 6 issues |
10
|
Copra #1
Oct 2, 2019 |
COPRA #1 is a masterclass in comics storytelling, a must-read issue whether it's your first or thirty second issue. |
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10
|
Copra #2
Nov 6, 2019 |
COPRA #2 is a roundhouse kick to the ocular nerve, increasing stakes without forgetting its sense of humor (and the unadulterated joy of action comics). It doesn't get much better than this. |
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8
|
Copra #3
Dec 4, 2019 |
Even an interstitial issue like this one can feel essential in COPRA where no page is ever without purpose. |
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10
|
Copra #4
Jan 1, 2020 |
This issue sets up a lot of what is to come in COPRA, but reminds us all that the reason we're reading is for this brilliantly illustrated set of characters who are at risk when the action returns. |
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10
|
Copra #5
Feb 5, 2020 |
With the promise of a long saga ahead, COPRA #5 delivers a perfect introduction to its next big story. |
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10
|
Copra #6
Jun 3, 2020 |
It is one of the most compelling comics I have read all year, carefully pacing the turns of pages so readers might believe they can catch a breath before coming upon another page so impactful that it alone could define an issue of another series. |
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4.0
|
Cosmic Ghost Rider (2023) | 1 issues |
4
|
Cosmic Ghost Rider (2023) #3
May 10, 2023 |
Although the plot is competently detailed, there's never a reason provided for readers to care about these events or characters leaving Cosmic Ghost Rider dead in the water for all but the most devoted fans of this Marvel Comics portmanteau. |
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6.0
|
Cosmo, The Mighty Martian | 1 issues |
6
|
Cosmo, The Mighty Martian #1
Nov 13, 2019 |
Tracy Yardley's cartooning is excellent, but it ultimately presents a fine surface to a largely hollow concept. |
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6.0
|
Cover (2018) | 2 issues |
4
|
Cover (2018) #1
Sep 5, 2018 |
There isn't enough to Cover #1 to provide much interest in the future and if this idea is to really take off, it will need to readjust its approach quickly. |
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8
|
Cover (2018) #2
Oct 17, 2018 |
As Cover shifts its focus from establishing connections to the comics industry to the work of spycraft, the premise clicks into place and every idiosyncrasy becomes much more interesting. |
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2.8
|
Crime Syndicate (2021) | 6 issues |
4
|
Crime Syndicate (2021) #1
Mar 3, 2021 |
Competence does not cover the lack of new ideas in this issue and so there's only one question left for readers to ask themselves: What's the point of reading issue #2? |
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3
|
Crime Syndicate (2021) #2
Apr 7, 2021 |
There's nothing of substance or interest to be found in these pages as readers are left to ask, once again, "Why does this comic exist?" |
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2
|
Crime Syndicate (2021) #3
May 5, 2021 |
This miniseries started out being dull and then doubled down on that approach for two additional issues. The only question I have left regarding Crime Syndicate is: If it were cancelled tomorrow, would anyone notice or care? |
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4
|
Crime Syndicate (2021) #4
Jun 2, 2021 |
Something new happens with all of the core characters, but these events unfold in a scattershot approach; it's possible to imagine rearranging almost every sequence in this issue to little effect. |
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2
|
Crime Syndicate (2021) #5
Jul 7, 2021 |
While it's possible to pick at nearly any choice or page in Crime Syndicate #5, it's not worth the time invested because there's clearly nothing more to be asked about this misstep than: Who was this even for? |
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2
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Crime Syndicate (2021) #6
Aug 4, 2021 |
An idea with barely enough mileage to create a one-shot then stretched into a six-issue miniseries. |
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8.5
|
Criminal (2019) | 8 issues |
10
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Criminal (2019) #5
Jun 5, 2019 |
Only one issue in to what is promised as the longest Criminal story yet, and "Cruel Summer" already reads as being truly special. |
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8
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Criminal (2019) #6
Jul 10, 2019 |
It serves to place this story more firmly within the shared mythos and timeline of the series' fractured narrative, and sets up additional tension for the three central characters involved thus far. However, it lacks the drive that made Criminal #5 such a compelling hook for what is intended to be the series' longest story to date. |
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8
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Criminal (2019) #7
Aug 21, 2019 |
Criminal #7 is yet another reminder that this genre-based series is not defined by its story, but by the immense imaginations and interests of two of the form's modern masters. |
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8
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Criminal (2019) #8
Sep 25, 2019 |
Criminal #8 is one long exercise in foreshadowing and constructing tension. While each issue of the current arc has focused on an individual connected to the upcoming heist, the time spent with Jane here is as much about what is to come as what is currently occuring. |
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8
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Criminal (2019) #9
Oct 23, 2019 |
With a small, but exciting story at its center, and two characters who continue to reveal their depth and complexity, Criminal #9 is bound to keep longtime readers satisfied before "Cruel Summer" pulls its many threads together next month. |
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8
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Criminal (2019) #10
Nov 27, 2019 |
Connecting both of the best halves of Criminal, #10 shows how the small and large moments of life are never too far apart and can build greater, and more affecting, stories together. |
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8
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Criminal (2019) #11
Dec 26, 2019 |
The final issue of this story will have the final say, but nothing can negate the visceral enjoyment of a well executed heist comic like this one. |
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10
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Criminal (2019) #12
Jan 29, 2020 |
This isn't just Criminal at its best, it's the best that crime stories can offer. |
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9.0
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Criminal Special Edition (One-Shot) | 1 issues |
9
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Criminal Special Edition (One-Shot) #1
Feb 25, 2015 |
That connection is an uncomfortable one, and it's intended to be. Brubaker and Phillips have never pulled any punches in Criminal. Their heroic figures are always destined for a tragic end, and the ugliest characters they present tend to enjoy success. The irony and cruelty contained in Criminal isn't just a play at classic EC crime comics though, it's a funhouse mirror reflection of humanity. Criminal Special Edition isn't a story that we are supposed to be able to view as pure fiction; that's Zangarr's tale. The world of Teeg Lawless is the same one we're trapped in, one filled with criminals and comics fans just like us. |
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4.0
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Crude | 1 issues |
4
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Crude #4
Jul 18, 2018 |
This comic is a bludgeon, but never in the way it seems to think of itself. |
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4.0
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Cult Classic: Creature Feature | 1 issues |
4
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Cult Classic: Creature Feature #1
Oct 16, 2019 |
It's clear that this comic is a love letter to genre, but its own rambling nature prevents it from evoking any strong reactions. |
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3.0
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Cult of Carnage: Misery (2023) | 1 issues |
3
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Cult of Carnage: Misery (2023) #1
May 3, 2023 |
The exposition and storytelling is certainly competent throughout, but without answering the question of "why" it's difficult to recommend Cult of Carnage: Misery even to readers who are all in on this corner of Marvel Comics. |
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8.4
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Curb Stomp | 1 issues |
8.4
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Curb Stomp #3
Apr 23, 2015 |
Curb Stomp #3 is a penultimate issue that leaves no doubt that this series is ending. It lands angry, hard, and fast. Ferrier and Neogi aren't interested in providing relief or escape. They're sprinting to the finish line, and when this comic ends, there is no doubt that it will end. The violence and unrefined nerve of the series may not appeal to anyone, but it's pure in a way that most comics will never be. |
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7.0
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Curse of the Man-Thing (2021) | 1 issues |
7
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Curse of the Man-Thing (2021): X-Men #1
May 5, 2021 |
The story is competently told and features just enough creative flair to be forgotten; this is a version of Ted Sallis and Man-Thing with a lot of potential beyond oddly-assembled events. |
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4.7
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Curse Words | 6 issues |
6
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Curse Words #13
Apr 18, 2018 |
Body horror runs rampant and a general lack of caring about even the most horrific circumstances provides the entire affair with some great (but not good) laughs. |
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6
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Curse Words #16
Sep 19, 2018 |
This far into the story the spectacle of Curse Words has begun to wear off as all of its extraordinary designs have become expected and the long-term plans at its center may not be enough to maintain momentum. |
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4
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Curse Words #22
Jun 19, 2019 |
In spite of so much happening on the page, this reads as a story that has wondered well past its period into an ellipsis. |
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4
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Curse Words #23
Jul 24, 2019 |
This issue reads like tidying up before the big finale and fans can only hope that this overstuffed issue of narration is worth what comes next. |
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2
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Curse Words #24
Sep 4, 2019 |
If these quick, ugly twists were part of a shorter, more gonzo effort, they might be easily overlooked, but Curse Words #24 does nothing to earn the years of story that led to these final moments. |
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6
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Curse Words #25
Nov 27, 2019 |
The final few pages are the best in Curse Words #25 as they're the only ones that don't look much like the past year of magical battles, and they allow the series to go out on a good note, if not a high one. |
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4.0
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Curse Words One Shot | 1 issues |
4
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Curse Words: Summer Special #1
Aug 22, 2018 |
This issue is only for fans who are already dedicated to the series and possess a completionist mentality. |
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8.0
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Damage (2018) | 1 issues |
8
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Damage (2018) #1
Jan 17, 2018 |
Damage #1 is a damn cool comic. It's the kind of book you want to cut out pages from and post to your door in middle school. That's not a slight either. This slam-bang beat-'em-up formula is played to perfection and is everything Metal advertised itself to be. It's all about wild-looking characters tearing about cities and foes. That concept works in these pages because it has artists capable of pulling it off. Damage is all about impact and it plants its big moments like a punch. It's a reminder of how this sort of comic is supposed to be done. |
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7.5
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Danger Street (2022) | 6 issues |
8
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Danger Street (2022) #1
Dec 14, 2022 |
Whatever comes next, Danger Street is bound to be one of 2023's most memorable comics. |
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8
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Danger Street (2022) #2
Jan 11, 2023 |
Perhaps the single most impressive element in Danger Street remains how dexterously it balances a set of 13 protagonists, with each character or small ensemble playing into the second issue in a manner that continues their own plots while weaving them more clearly into others. It's a striking feat of scripting. |
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8
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Danger Street (2022) #3
Feb 15, 2023 |
Artist Jorge Forns depictions of The Fourth World in this installment are nothing short of stunning capturing both iconic Kirby designs and embracing the wild settings and powerful imagery that made those stories so memorable. |
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7
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Danger Street (2022) #4
Mar 15, 2023 |
There's abundant incident with shocking new deaths and encounters, but these moments lack weight as the dead characters are more archetypes than people and the encounters primarily threaten to reveal what this story is really about. |
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8
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Danger Street (2022) #5
Apr 12, 2023 |
Even for a series that has already featured multiple child murders, Danger Street continues to find new depths to its darkness as entropy intrudes on many plot threads and parallels to modern American politics are evoked. |
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6
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Danger Street (2022) #6
May 10, 2023 |
Danger Street #6 makes it clear that this miniseries is designed to be read as a whole (and hopefully will only be published as a 12-issue collection) because the middle chapters are merely that. Characters and plot threads continue to be slowly woven together in a format that promises big revelations and conflicts to come, but they aren't found in these pages. |
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8.0
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Daphne Byrne | 5 issues |
8
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Daphne Byrne #1
Jan 8, 2020 |
Kelley Jones' exaggerated forms and atmospheric set pieces bring the world to life, providing a clear tone that fills the narration and dialogue with life as they exist in such a specific and clearly defined world. |
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8
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Daphne Byrne #2
Feb 5, 2020 |
Even when Daphne Byrne fails to deliver on elements of character, the world of the story is so rich as to ensure readers will want to return for another peek next month. |
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8
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Daphne Byrne #3
Mar 4, 2020 |
Daphne Byrne #3 ratchets up the tension. With its characters established and the nature of its supernatural encounters better defined, things go from fearful to downright terrifying in these pages. |
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8
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Daphne Byrne #5
Jun 17, 2020 |
Daphne Byrne #5 is bound to thrill readers who have been waiting to see how each facet of this psychological thriller would play out, while setting the stage for something truly macabre next month. |
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8
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Daphne Byrne #6
Jul 16, 2020 |
While it leaves the door open for a sequel it also makes the denouement to this particular story read in an abrupt fashion, but that's still only a minor hiccup in, perhaps, Hill House Comics' best original series so far. |
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8.9
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Daredevil (2014) | 4 issues |
8.4
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Daredevil (2014) #8
Sep 17, 2014 |
There's only so much space for fun given the start of this issue though. The actions of the Purple Man loom over every panel like Stilt-Man's shadow. When the story comes full circle, Waid and Samnee do not back away from the tone struck in the opening of the issue. Instead, they use the same tools that serve the first five pages so well in order to craft a second sequence that is every bit as chilling. Whatever comes next, it ought to fill readers with equal levels of excitement and apprehension. If there's a lesson to be found in Daredevil #8, it's that any villain can be very bad (in a good way) given the right circumstances. |
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9
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Daredevil (2014) #9
Oct 16, 2014 |
Its easy to be cynical about superhero comics, and that cynicism is often not wrongly felt. Yet in the case of Waid and Samnees Daredevil, nothing could be further from the truth. In every page and story beat, it is clear that this comic is being written with a completely genuine interest in the characters and the ideas they express. This is a story about dealing with pain and building a better future, and it is told with complete honesty. Its a big, bold metaphor for something many of us can relate to on a deeply personal level. Although its fun, its also incredibly human. Waid, Samnee, and Wilson are giving their all to this story and Daredevil #9 is an example of superhero comics at their absolute best. |
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9
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Daredevil (2014) #16
Jun 24, 2015 |
Daredevil continues to surprise and astound with each issue. All of the madness introduced in #16 would overwhelm lesser talents, but Samnee and Waid juggle these plots almost with ease. Each significant moment lands, and the impact of some are enough to take your breath away. This is the setup for what looks to be a finale every bit as good as the series preceding it. |
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9
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Daredevil (2014) #18
Sep 3, 2015 |
Waid, Samnee, Wilson, and all of their other collaborators have created a truly legendary version of Daredevil, and Daredevil #18 is an excellent capstone to their accomplishment. It manages to walk the fine line between spectacle and catharsis, providing a fine ending to this last adventure and, more importantly, addressing the thematic core of the series. In these final pages, Daredevil lands exactly on the point of why it has mattered so much for so many comic readers, and why it's likely to continue doing so for a long time. |
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6.0
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Daredevil (2015) | 1 issues |
6
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Daredevil (2015) #1
Dec 1, 2015 |
Daredevil #1 is a great start to a new series, and would have been even better if all of the story had been included. |
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8.5
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Daredevil (2019) | 32 issues |
10
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Daredevil (2019) #5
May 15, 2019 |
Daredevil #5 is the rare mainstream superhero comic that forces itself outside of mainstream conversation. It refuses to play by the rules of the game, removing the gloves and pretense of boxing in order to confront the real costs of violence. The result is not pleasant, but it demands readers' attention and engagement. |
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8
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Daredevil (2019) #6
May 29, 2019 |
This take on Daredevil is only getting more complex and every sign indicates that Zdarsky and co. have what it takes to construct an all-timer. |
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8
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Daredevil (2019) #7
Jun 19, 2019 |
A Daredevil comic focused on the absence of Daredevil is turning out to be far more exciting than even skeptics might have believed. |
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8
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Daredevil (2019) #8
Jul 17, 2019 |
This relaunch continues to interrogate all of the underlying issues that have made Daredevil a resonant character for decades, and it is only getting better. |
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8
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Daredevil (2019) #9
Aug 7, 2019 |
Daredevil #9 reads like an indie film, and that's a great thing in this instance. |
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10
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Daredevil (2019) #10
Aug 21, 2019 |
As a culmination of the story so far, a meditation on failure and sacrifice, and set of tension-ratcheting compositions, Daredevil #10 thrills. It secures the series place as one of the absolute best superhero comics of 2019. |
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6
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Daredevil (2019) #11
Sep 11, 2019 |
Many marks of quality are still there, but after so many dynamite issues one that's simply fine stands out like a lawyer wearing a devil mask. |
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8
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Daredevil (2019) #12
Oct 2, 2019 |
Daredevil #12 provides a satisfying resolution to #11's cliffhanger, one with multiple phases and great moments for all characters involved. |
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6
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Daredevil (2019) #13
Nov 6, 2019 |
The worst issue of Daredevil still packs more to critique than most comics contain for praise, but that doesn't make this misstep any less of a misstep. |
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8
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Daredevil (2019) #14
Dec 4, 2019 |
Daredevil #14 reminds readers why this is one of the smartest superhero series published today after a brief detour through melodrama. |
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8
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Daredevil (2019) #15
Dec 18, 2019 |
The two narratives slowly build together and deliver an excellent pair of fight sequences at the end. While the artwork and aesthetic may lack the clear identity of prior Daredevil runs, the ideas are as strong as they've ever been in this series' storied history. |
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8
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Daredevil (2019) #16
Jan 1, 2020 |
The addition of Jorge Fornes on art provides a much needed punch-up of style and presentation, one that readers should hope to see continue as every issue of this series should look as excellent as this one. |
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10
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Daredevil (2019) #17
Feb 5, 2020 |
This run on Daredevil continues to enhance and interrogate its moral and systemic subjects with each new issue, and that has developed one of the best superhero comics to be found. |
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10
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Daredevil (2019) #18
Feb 19, 2020 |
It's a masterful piece of superhero comics. |
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10
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Daredevil (2019) #19
Mar 4, 2020 |
Daredevil has been one of Marvel Comics' premiere series and the first half of this climax promises that there's still plenty for readers to anticipate. |
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10
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Daredevil (2019) #20
Jun 10, 2020 |
Daredevil is the rare superhero series capable of rising to meet a historic moment, and in doing so it might offer us a vision of genuine heroism. |
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8
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Daredevil (2019) #21
Jul 22, 2020 |
An explosive climax can easily lead to a messy denouement, which makes Daredevil #21 an essential turning point for one of Marvel's most impressive series given the choices it must address. |
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8
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Daredevil (2019) #22
Sep 23, 2020 |
Courtroom drama, discussion of land buys, and a visit to church are each sequences packed with drama, and that's what makes Daredevil a much more compelling superhero comic than most other series, even when nobody throws a punch. |
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10
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Daredevil (2019) #23
Oct 21, 2020 |
Daredevil #23 reveals some of the mystery and goodness wrapped up in that faith, and decides to reward it in a truly stunning sequence between two of Marvel's most recognizable characters. It makes for a divine read. |
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8
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Daredevil (2019) #24
Nov 25, 2020 |
Even as Daredevil #24 moves to repeat the best beats from "The Devil, Inside and Out," it still promises to explore new territory in the same satisfying, character-driven fashion that has made every issue of Daredevil so far a must-read. |
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10
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Daredevil (2019) #25
Dec 2, 2020 |
It's rare to find a Marvel superhero comics that can deliver a genuine epiphany, but that's exactly what Daredevil #25 does. Bravo. |
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8
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Daredevil (2019) #26
Jan 27, 2021 |
Issue #26 is another satisfying installment, especially considering its tie-in status. |
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8
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Daredevil (2019) #27
Feb 10, 2021 |
Even with so much chaos and unexpected symbiote storytelling, Daredevil remains one of the most compelling character studies in comics today, superhero or otherwise. |
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9
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Daredevil (2019) #28
Mar 10, 2021 |
Yet another stirring issue that embraces the superhero genre without denying the maturity of its own subjects. Well done. |
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9
|
Daredevil (2019) #29
Apr 14, 2021 |
Daredevil #29 is a brilliantly structured comic stringing key decisions and revelations for its entire cast across a brutal prison fight picking up directly where Daredevil #28 left off. |
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8
|
Daredevil (2019) #30
May 19, 2021 |
Daredevil #30 is another exciting issue featuring a rewarding balance of character moments and action beats as the series continues to set a consistent standard for mainstream superhero comics. |
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8
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Daredevil (2019) #31
Jun 30, 2021 |
Daredevil #31 is incredibly competent superhero comics delivering a middle chapter with style; I won't complain about any of that, even if I won't remember many specifics (beyond Daredevil making a prison warden scream) next month. |
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8
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Daredevil (2019) #32
Jul 28, 2021 |
What began as the terrifying return of Daredevil's most deadly foe is quickly becoming something much more twisty and it's equal parts excitement and anxiety imagining what is coming next in Daredevil. |
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8
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Daredevil (2019) #33
Aug 11, 2021 |
Even for an issue without more than a single glimpse of its leading man, it certainly sets expectations sky high with another intimidating final splash"one readers have every reason to believe will (once again) pay dividends in Daredevil #34. |
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8
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Daredevil (2019) #34
Sep 8, 2021 |
No matter how compelling it was to see these critical issues addressed in the pages of Daredevil at the end it seems this may be an outstanding series greatest weakness as it is ultimately unable to confront its own central conflicts in a meaningful manner. |
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8
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Daredevil (2019) #35
Oct 27, 2021 |
Daredevil #35 sets expectations high while delivering a well-constructed, but ultimately safe installment. |
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9
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Daredevil (2019) #36
Dec 1, 2021 |
The climax of Zdarsky's Daredevil sets the stage for the upcoming event series Devil's Reign, but that doesn't rob the issue of its individual poignancy acting as a capstone for a memorable collection of character arcs. |
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8.0
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Daredevil (2019) Annual | 1 issues |
8
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Daredevil (2019) Annual #1
Aug 26, 2020 |
It's another excellent installment in the most riveting character portrait of Matthew Murdock since Samnee's name was on the title. |
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8.5
|
Daredevil (2022) | 11 issues |
8
|
Daredevil (2022) #1
Jul 13, 2022 |
Wherever this new #1 is preparing to lead readers, it's bound to be a story unlike anything seen in the title before and that alone is plenty promising. |
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8
|
Daredevil (2022) #2
Aug 17, 2022 |
Even if it seems that Daredevil #2 is stalling its story, there's a lot of value to be found in the anniversary issue of Daredevil #650. |
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8
|
Daredevil (2022) #3
Sep 14, 2022 |
Daredevil #3 lays out a lot of exposition, but it also plays like a mission statement and what it has to say about the story to come is enough to hook any fan of Daredevil. |
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9
|
Daredevil (2022) #4
Oct 12, 2022 |
Daredevil #4 is a splendidly constructed issue that will leave readers wanting a lot more of Daredevil-does-epic-fantasy. |
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9
|
Daredevil (2022) #5
Nov 23, 2022 |
Wherever the series is building, Daredevil #5 makes clear just how sweeping and compelling its ambitions are. |
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8
|
Daredevil (2022) #6
Dec 7, 2022 |
Second-tier villains are confronted with therapy and care, yet their experiences expose the bars that still remain. It's an impressive series of sequences that challenge how hard any genuine reconstruction of the justice system will be given abundant time and resources, and the former is not forthcoming. |
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10
|
Daredevil (2022) #7
Jan 11, 2023 |
Daredevil delivers a riveting morality play of modern social movements set against an epic fantasy backdrop with some of Marvel Comics' greatest characters; it's a truly astounding superhero comic. |
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10
|
Daredevil (2022) #8
Feb 8, 2023 |
Regardless of how events unfold in the pages of Daredevil #8, this issue is an absolute triumph showcasing The Fist's first battle against The Hand as they face down The Punisher riding a dragon to save a father and his son. |
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7
|
Daredevil (2022) #9
Mar 29, 2023 |
A shift in artistic direction does the issue no favors either as Manuel Garcia's thicker lines fail to carry the momentum and finesse that have made much of this volume soar, although Matthew Wilson's colors may not provide the best fit. That's not to say Daredevil #9 is poor work; it's a fine continuation of the story that offers several thrilling moments. Yet contrasted with the rest of the series, the rushed pacing and less notable artistic achievements must certainly provide a minor disappointment. |
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9
|
Daredevil (2022) #10
Apr 26, 2023 |
Whether Zdarsky and Checchetto can stick the landing remains to be seen, but the promise of this Daredevil has never been clearer. |
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8
|
Daredevil (2022) #11
May 10, 2023 |
After the climactic events of the past several issues, it would be easy for Daredevil #11 to play like an epilogue as it winds down various character arcs and conflicts from across Zdarsky and Checchetto's titanic run. Yet even as Daredevil returns to New York City and goes about tying off loose ends, it's clear that the story is still cooking and building momentum. |
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4.2
|
Dark Ages (2021) | 6 issues |
4
|
Dark Ages (2021) #1
Sep 1, 2021 |
It introduces a new threat and a core cast of characters to trace this new status quo, but barely considers the question of why readers should concern themselves with all of it beyond the recognizable faces stuffed inside. |
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4
|
Dark Ages (2021) #2
Oct 6, 2021 |
Dark Ages is rushing past the most interesting ideas on the page to deliver something we have all read before and that is a dreadfully dull decision. |
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4
|
Dark Ages (2021) #3
Nov 17, 2021 |
Dark Ages seems to be designed like a dopamine-delivery system, capable of offering brief boosts for familiar Marvel fans before being forgotten altogether, although Coello does deliver some nice design work in Dark Ages #3. |
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5
|
Dark Ages (2021) #4
Jan 12, 2022 |
The rhythms of the story are bound to be familiar, but it's the setting and designs that make touring alternate-superhero-Earths fun, until you can sense the bumpers of the ride. |
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4
|
Dark Ages (2021) #5
Feb 23, 2022 |
Individual elements of the series work; Taylor has an excellent grasp on Deadpool's sense of humor and knows how to hit familiar high notes within the Marvel canon. Yet the juxtaposition of these dire stories against splashes with children leaping ahead (into battle) and jokes played out against supposedly terrifying threats undermine the entire ordeal |
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4
|
Dark Ages (2021) #6
Mar 30, 2022 |
When disassembled for sharing on social media, Dark Ages #6 is bound to provoke some reactions, but when reading the entire issue it simply seems shoddy. |
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4.0
|
Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths (2022) One Shot | 1 issues |
4
|
Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths (2022): The Deadly Green #1
Oct 5, 2022 |
Even three of the most skillful and creative writers working at DC Comics today prove incapable of infusing some interest into Dark Crisis with fan-favorite characters like Swamp Thing, John Constantine, and Jon Kent (a.k.a. Superman). |
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8.0
|
Dark Crisis: Worlds Without A Justice League (2022) | 1 issues |
8
|
Dark Crisis: Worlds Without A Justice League (2022): Batman #1
Nov 16, 2022 |
Even in the midst of an event I have little taste for, there are undeniable bright spots and Dark Crisis: Worlds Without a Justice League Batman is one of the brightest. |
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4.0
|
Dark Knight III: The Master Race | 1 issues |
4
|
Dark Knight III: The Master Race #1
Nov 25, 2015 |
The singular flaw underlying almost every other flaw in The Dark Knight III #1 is that it is dishonest. The Dark Knight III #1 is a comic constructed to safely imitate greater works. It bears the names of Andy Kubert and Brian Azzarello, but never takes advantage of their substantial strengths, trying to twist them to be something they are not. The result is perhaps the most negligible comic featuring Frank Miller's name to date. |
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8.0
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Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child | 1 issues |
8
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Dark Knight Returns: The Golden Child #1
Dec 11, 2019 |
This is The Dark Knight Returns updated for a new generation by conversion to a rollercoaster ride. It may not have much to say, but Gramp's approach ought to have you more concerned with who's getting punched and how hard. |
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8.0
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Dark Knights of Steel (2021) One Shot | 1 issues |
8
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Dark Knights of Steel (2021): Tales From The Three Kingdoms #1
Sep 7, 2022 |
Dark Knights of Steel has already lit up the imaginations of DC fans with a medieval take on characters that's proven to be irresistibly charming and brimming with intrigue. Tales from the Three Kingdoms offers three stories in the same vein, and each provides more of what readers are seeking. |
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2.0
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Dark Nights: Death Metal One Shot | 2 issues |
2
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Dark Nights: Death Metal: Rise of the New God #1
Oct 28, 2020 |
Rather than selling readers $6 to be told that superhero comics are very important, the creative team could have made an effort to tell a story that captures all of the power, creativity, and significance they speak to in dialogue balloons. They do not even try. |
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2
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Dark Nights: Death Metal: Trinity Crisis #1
Sep 9, 2020 |
There are some genuinely excellent panels in this comic book, but they don't offer enough to justify reading this headache. |
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8.0
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Dark Web (2022) | 2 issues |
7
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Dark Web (2022): Finale #1
Feb 1, 2023 |
Given the promise, fun, and scale on display throughout much of "Dark Web" that can't help but feel a little disappointing. |
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9
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Dark Web (2022) #1
Dec 7, 2022 |
With years of thrilling character work climaxing in a hellish vision of Christmas on Manhattan and many of the best creators at Marvel Comics involved in what's still to come, Dark Web #1 promises readers the gift of another spectacular crossover this holiday season. |
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5.5
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Dark Web: Ms. Marvel | 2 issues |
6
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Dark Web: Ms. Marvel #1
Dec 21, 2022 |
Dark Web: Ms. Marvel delivers readers a typical tie-in bound to please long-time readers of Ms. Marvel and fans of Marvel's current event "Dark Web" without leaving much of an impression otherwise. |
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5
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Dark Web: Ms. Marvel #2
Jan 11, 2023 |
This miniseries reminds readers of the ongoing potential of Ms. Marvel as a leading heroine, but fails to make the concept sing as it so often has. |
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6.4
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Darkhold (2021) | 5 issues |
8
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Darkhold (2021): Black Bolt #1
Dec 1, 2021 |
The Darkhold: Black Bolt emphasizes its own tale of horror and executes on its premise quite well, regardless of how this may factor into the larger event design. |
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6
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Darkhold (2021): Wasp #1
Nov 17, 2021 |
If there was an issue #2 coming, this would be a potent set-up, but it falls short of satisfying as a one-shot. |
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5
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Darkhold (2021): Omega #1
Jan 5, 2022 |
The Darkhold: Omega wraps up this string of connected one-shots by bringing all of the corrupted heroes back together for a final showdown with Chthon. This works well as a plot device in theory, but stumbles in execution. |
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5
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Darkhold (2021): Alpha #1
Sep 29, 2021 |
Perhaps there's opportunity in the various, forthcoming one-shots to play upon this potent premise, but The Darkhold: Alpha is simply another example of something we've all read before. |
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8
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Darkhold (2021): Spider-Man #1
Dec 22, 2021 |
Many installments of The Darkhold have struggled to find the best synopsis and structure for these "what if" type of tales, but The Darkhold: Spider-Man presents its concepts perfectly with a strong emphasis on one hero's decline into darkness. |
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7.5
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Days of Hate | 4 issues |
8
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Days of Hate #3
Mar 28, 2018 |
Following the fireworks of the first issue, Days of Hate has gone further and further down its philosophical rabbit hole. This is a good thing for the series though as it shines in dialogue. |
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10
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Days of Hate #4
Apr 25, 2018 |
As quiet and unhurried as this section of story is, it's simply astounding how it raises the stakes and builds tension for what comes next. |
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6
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Days of Hate #7
Aug 22, 2018 |
Days of Hate settles back into its narrative much like a fresh episode of television after a break, complete with a caption denoting how much time has passed. |
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6
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Days of Hate #8
Sep 19, 2018 |
Days Of Hate is paced in a novelistic manner, one that benefits a reading of the first collection, but can make the breakdown of its second half seem questionable at times. |
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6.0
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DC / Hanna-Barbera | 2 issues |
8
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DC / Hanna-Barbera: Super Sons/Dynomutt Special #1
May 30, 2018 |
If you can only read one of these Hanna-Barbera comics, make it this one. |
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4
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DC / Hanna-Barbera: Superman/Top Cat #1
Oct 31, 2018 |
This issue is the rare fifth week crossover that should simply be skipped altogether. |
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10
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DC / Looney Tunes | 1 issues |
10
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DC / Looney Tunes: Lex Luthor/Porky Pig #1
Aug 29, 2018 |
This is Russell at his absolute best, hammering on a wide range of issues through a lens that feels like it shouldn't work, but absolutely does. |
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2.0
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DC Universe: Rebirth | 1 issues |
2
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DC Universe: Rebirth #1
May 26, 2016 |
Calling DC Rebirth a superhero story is dismissive of superhero stories, and that's a category with a very low bar for entry. It's an advertisement that you're supposed to buy for $2.99 so you can get excited for a lot of other comics that will also cost $2.99. |
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6.0
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DC vs. Vampires (2021) | 1 issues |
6
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DC vs. Vampires (2021) #5
Feb 23, 2022 |
The lack of limits is still enjoyable, but the execution doesn't quite meet the promise in DC vs. Vampires #5. |
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5.3
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DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War (2022) | 6 issues |
5
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DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War (2022) #1
Jul 20, 2022 |
It's paced quickly enough that there's little tedium, but there's also little to invest in characters written as archetypes. There is simply more of the same, albeit with a bit less color, here. |
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6
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DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War (2022) #2
Aug 17, 2022 |
There's nothing new or notable added to that formula, however, and All-Out War reads like a comic playing every choice safe even as it showcases Wonder Woman murdering beloved DC icons. |
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4
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DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War (2022) #3
Sep 21, 2022 |
DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War require readers to squint at the loose lines and lack of definition robbing the quick thrills of their essential speed. The issue still possesses some flair and attempts to rush from this encounter onto the next, but frivolous humor and middling depictions of action make it difficult to appreciate what might work best. |
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5
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DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War (2022) #4
Oct 19, 2022 |
All-Out War has become a cause for cleverness in combining vampire lore with DC superheroes and, in this regard, it largely succeeds. |
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6
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DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War (2022) #5
Nov 16, 2022 |
Casting key turning points in flashback and immediately reversing new twists all make for a generally unsatisfying issue outside of Mary's two key interactions. |
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6
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DC vs. Vampires: All-Out War (2022) #6
Dec 21, 2022 |
The finale of All-Out War sets the stage for the upcoming conclusion of DC Vs. Vampires, while quickly concluding its own collection of remaining threads. |
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5.0
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DC's Saved By The Belle Reve (2022) | 1 issues |
5
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DC's Saved By The Belle Reve (2022) #1
Aug 31, 2022 |
Like every anthology, DC Saved By The Belle Reve is a mixed-bag, but the average skews towards the disappointing. |
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4.0
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Dead Body Road | 1 issues |
4
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Dead Body Road: Bad Blood #4
Sep 23, 2020 |
In the midst of this poorly paced mode of storytelling is a conversation about old flames that lacks enough personality to even land a joke. Keep it. |
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7.5
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Dead Dog's Bite | 4 issues |
8
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Dead Dog's Bite #1
Mar 3, 2021 |
It is unclear how the mystery or metatextual threads of this story are being woven, but Dead Dog's Bite #1 presents a very convincing case to chase this narrative wherever it may lead. |
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8
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Dead Dog's Bite #2
Apr 7, 2021 |
Dead Dog's Bite #2 proves that the idiosyncratic debut was no fluke. |
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8
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Dead Dog's Bite #3
May 5, 2021 |
Idiosyncrasies dominate Dead Dog's Bite #3. This isn't an inherently bad thing, however, as the idiosyncratic natures of this series' setting, mysteries, and characters serve a purpose beyond being simply strange. |
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6
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Dead Dog's Bite #4
Jun 2, 2021 |
Yet Dead Dog's Bite was something I anticipated before as it held my attention; I don't suspect I'll think of it again after this ending. |
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8.0
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Dead Eyes |