Despite some issues in this debut, 'Ain't No Grave' is a truly promising and potent slice of highly emotional, semi-magical western storytelling.

'Ain't No Grave' tackles some of its early uncertainties and downsides for a more textured and exciting second chapter.

It took a little time, but 'Ain't No Grave' is really coming into its own as this wild, potent story about how we can be our own worst enemies and how life doesn't alway wait for us to live it.

You don't need to actually say much when the world is this robust, the emotions are big and clear, and the story has so much raw power.

Ryder's story may be over, but thanks to Ain't No Grave, I think we'll be singing her song for quite some time.

Drink the tea, eat the pastry just get to Wonderland pronto.

This story makes you want to tumble deeper and deeper into Wonderland.

Realities blur as we reach a vital turning point.

The two worlds coalesce for better and worse.

The fantasy is over and a mostly interesting reality awaits us.

Come for the visceral action, but stay for the heartwarming tale of family and anti-capitalism messaging.

Maybe you can beat Xenomorphs with the power of family?

Aliens, heartache, and stakes galore, oh my!

There's more horror to come, but for now a scary misstep.

Somehow the people and the politics are the most nasty and venomous.

Not everyone deserves to be hero, if I'm being honest.

The only bug here is maybe not enough time and space?

The research station isn't the only thing that'll leave you feeling cold.

Maybe not "so good, it's scary," but a seasonally appropriate mix of cheesiness, body horror, and nostalgia.

Matt Kindt's newest super-spy series has its obstacles, but he's once again broke new ground in an overused genre.

While this meta series is still forming, issue #2 helps shape the story and motifs in a major way.

A compelling little peek under the Hood.

Red Hood is a star, no matter what Batman says/does.

The duo of Hill and Soy have forged an Outsiders with equal parts potential and predictability.

While most video game tie-in titles are iffy, this one makes bold story and design choices to potentially set itself apart.

While not as well-rounded as other issues, 'Batman: Urban Legends' #17 does a solid job in providing stories that use Batman as a perfect lens to explore issues of friendship, power, collaboration, and how superheroes exist in our world.

In which our beloved Captain Britain makes some big moves and even bigger waves.

This ain't my beloved cartoon, but this comic adaptation still brings all the heart, humor, and motorcycle hijinks to both entertain and engage young and old fans alike.

Not everyone will click with the Mice, but there's a joy and dedication that celebrates the series' proper upsides.

Comics that make ya wanna do a cartwheel.

This is a superhero story without all the pompous mess; a thriller with ample heart; and an HBO-esque drama with some comic book-style silliness. It's a damn good story, and you'd be wise to join the fray before things truly take off.

The story that took off like a magically-empowered demigod settles into itself. But that change of pace opens up new ways to delve into these dynamic characters.

After three truly great issues, the book falters, wading through some issues while tentatively plotting a way back to the golden path.

This end may just have you feeling particularly overjoyed.

Universes collide and storytelling magic takes shape.

Multiversal madness goes both way, it seems.

Fewer multiverses means bigger action and intrigue.

All we need in the multiverse is family and years of trauma.

But we've finally reached the end, and I have to say I'm satisfied enough even if I still can't help but wonder what could have been.

This title promises big, thoughtful development it might not be totally invested in.

The new world of Black Panther grows ever more human and engaging.

Na na na na na, great issue!

One wedding and a rather fun time.

You're only as good as your villains, it would seem.

Sometimes you've got to go backwards to move forward.

An interesting chapter for this story's immersion as a generally vital series.

Black Panther's "vacation continues to pay off in some major ways.

This one's out there, for better and worse.

A solid, if slightly uneven finale for a solid, slightly uneven book.

This book slays.

Issue #4 is likely to be even more of a magically-oriented affair, but there's no denying that #3 cast its own spell with a solid chapter of big fights, robust intrigue, and poignant character developments.

Like the titular hero, this story cuts deep without you fully realizing it.

This brawl is only getting started, folks.

The story and hero evolve in bold and deliberate new directions.

Friendship is a blade that cuts both ways.

One hell of an issue.

The road from hell is less about intentions and more meaningful character work.

A grand enough finale for a more thoughtful Daywalker.

This commandment isn't quite as divine as it ought to be.

Blood and guts and the tedium of daily life make for exceptional comics.

Give me even more barbarian journal entries penned in gore!

A bloody good end to a truly brutal journey.

The debut of 'Blow Away' sets the stage for a deeply human journey into a cold, hard world of big emotions and equally giant mysteries.

With a slight shift in mood and trajectory, 'Blow Away' is building toward a deeply compelling mystery that we may not totally see coming.

Despite some minor (but still valid) issues, 'Blow Away' continues its thoughtful repurposing of noir, nature, and dramatic stories/structures.

The penultimate issue of 'Blow Away' uses emotion and violence alike to set up a tense and tantalizing finale.

The ice has thawed on this mystery, and I can genuinely say this case has been a terse but satisfying treat.

A truly dynamic lead helps establish this supernatural cop story.

More strategic magic and grittier noir is the optimal formula.

Despite a long-ish wait, 'Briar' roars back more funny, bloody, and motivated than ever before.

This book continues to reach into the beating heart of fantasy and pull out an increasingly textured and compelling story of life and its many (mis-) adventures.

In an issue with so much suffering and loss, 'Briar' continues to be this massively human story about finding strength in a cursed world.

The book's "finale" (right?) is one that gives us the big moods, feelings, and events that makes this ending truly and utterly worthwhile

This supernatural noir does a lot to lean into its influences, find new ways to stand out, and generally foster a charming, compelling experience.

Like actual cats, this title is playful, unpredictable, and never afraid to draw a little blood.

This cat wastes no time in occupying the most primo spots in pet daycare.

This book's gonna crack the safe around your emotions.

This book's teeth sink even deeper.

This City Boy's still under construction, but man oh man, does it have damn good bones.

We built this city on poignant human drama and superhero action.

More like, "The Man of Feels, amirite?!

New town, same Boy.

After a brief hiccup, our boy is finally building to something big.

What he really built was a poignant story of community and grief.

The story may be familiar enough already, but there's signs that 'Convert' is moving into dangerous and compelling territory.

Buck off the deja vu as this series is still doing wholly new, inventive things.

Get ready to wander into the great, wide emotional unknown.

Really good stories don't end so much as they alter your brain chemistry and values.

A comic that plays rope-a-dope with your own familial relationships.

The issue dances around you before pummeling your chest.

If you don't have a villain, you don't have story.

Pardon the cliche, but this finale is an emotional TKO.

If you like books involving cute animals, families, pirates, and dissections of sociopolitical structures, then jump aboard.

A tale of second chances and revenge begins with raw emotion and empathy.

Dark Horse's newest series combines 'Red Sonja' with a heaping helping of drama.

In this latest issue, the creative time aren't pulling any punches in telling a bloody, highly emotional tale of vengeance and second chances.

This is the issue that drives home the loss and anguish inherent in this fantasy series.

This dynamic fantasy series ends in all best ways possible (except for actually being over).

A bloody good, if not all-too-direct, tale of crusading action.

Crusader speaks to me not just because of all the dope sword fights but because those battles forge a path for this story. The fact that more is being done to ground and extend these characters and make us question who is doing what and why feels like a victory worthy of celebrating.

This issue cuts to the core of the book's interest in identity and the self.

Sure, I still think I prefer DC to Marvel's Halloween offerings. But there's no denying that this title had a solid mix of laughs, scares, and even a regular sprinkling of more poignant topics/ideas. (That last bit really sets it apart for better and worse, and it feels like a compelling enough bent.) If someone gave me this in my bag on Halloween night, I'd share it with some friends instead of chucking it at someone's house.

Despite my own hesitations, 'Cult of the Lamb' is both hugely faithful and a more thoughtful and impassioned take overall.

The second issue confirms that 'Cult of the Lamb' is both a profound continuation of the game and also something more robust and thoughtful in its own right.

They're clearly telling the story of the cutest and creepiest adventurer ever, and it's working on so many levels.

A mightily potent and hugely satisfying finale to a story that did great things for fantasy, social commentary, and nihilistic lambs.

Another tie-in where we get to delve into the splendid heart of a big-time DC hero, with mostly compelling results.

After some great tie-in issues, this one about the Emerald Archer focuses less on character insights and development and more on a trite love story.

Forget most tie-ins: this story feels like a powerful storytelling experience that doesn't so much extend Dark Crisis itself, but its core themes and ideas.

A deep dive into Batman amid some creative circumstances reveals huge truths and demonstrates the hero's value across the board.

The gators ain't the worst part of this hellish hamlet.

As writer Scott Snyder tries his hand at the heist genre, the first issue feels a little lukewarm in its character development and overall commitment -- even as the artwork sizzles.

After a lukewarm start, this second issue turns up the heat in character development, overall pace and intensity, and the general stakes at play here.

This story continues to crackle with life and energy, even as the potential for a backdraft rears its ugly head.

This early V-Day present offers up superhero love through uplifting tales of humanity and needlessly hokey, overly gimmicky jokes.

Despite a tendency for the cheesy and the heavy-handed, this giant-sized collection showcases some of the robust humanity that defines DC's catalog of characters.

This sequel both leans into and against certain ideas and expectations to offer a well-developed follow-up.

If you want to do a sequel right, turn up the blood and the heartfelt displays.

A rather intimate issue (in ways both beautiful and stomach-churning).

While this new series nails the Merc with a Mouth, it could set itself up for a future tumble.

Shintaro Kago deftly combines realism and absurdity for a manga title that's equal parts joyful, evocative, and jarring.

This debut issue shows a well-crafted universe of horror and humanity, a realm we can explore as the book slowly unveils the world in front of us.

As this universe gains new layers, the story never once falters as a top-notch piece of horror-fantasy.

The third chapter of 'Edenwood' may be decidedly more robust, but that beating heart of fantasy heroism remains as approachable as ever.

The penultimate issue of 'Edenwood' is full of big reveals, big emotionality, and big stakes.

With its first arc over, there's still plenty of mystery, adventures, and humanity left to explore for this increasingly compelling book.

In a career of telling these stories, Jeff Lemire arrives at something truly terrifying.

Family Tree has become a huge favorite in just two issues, which is amazing because it took me Greg Rucka's entire run on Wolverine to be quite as certain. It's the emotional weight, the unsettling imagery (that's also deeply touching), the exploration of family and fatherhood, and the way this tree-based mystery flourishes inch by painful and exciting inch. It doesn't so much grow on you as it bursts fully in bloom from your chest cavity.

We get to see a lot but not nearly enough actually happens.

After a misstep in #3, this issue grabs you by the roots and wrenches out every drop of beauty and heartache.

As the first full arc effectively ends, this series readies to branch into exciting new directions.

It's an exciting time for Humanoids. This could be the start of an exciting new universe of impactful and relatable heroes " or it could totally be another Wildstorm (fraught with delays, bad politics, underwhelmed fans, etc.). While this preview lacks definitive proof, I nonetheless remain hopeful. Even if these new heroes can't save the world, they just may save us from more of the same.

Come for the expert sportsmanship, stay for the dreamy, dreamy boys and girls.

You can't duel your way out of loving this little tale.

'Feral' uses cats both as a novel device to stoke nostalgia while clawing away at our sensibilities to tell a deeply brutal horror story.

'Feral' may be a little gimmicky, but that doesn't stop it from being hugely effective in its layered approach to horror.

Jeff Lemire is working at a career high with this weird and enchanting tale.

Cute and creepy, this book is finding itself more and more.

More horror could mean vital things or a loss of humanity.

With a new film (sort of) looming, now seems the perfect time to launch a most entertaining, canon-free tale of the Scarlet Speedster.

Is this entertaining? Sure, and that's the problem. The issue traded true subtext and layers for a flashy approach to cheap storytelling.

Despite some good and bad, ups and downs, this debut issue cements 'Free Agents' as yet more superhero nostalgia worthy of our attention.

Despite some really great threads and ideas here, this book suffers from a rush of '90s nostalgia that stymies ideas and momentum.

This comic "sitcom" brings the tropes while still delivering great emotions and character development.

With heart and humor galore, this modern 'Friends' continues to engage and entertain.

The dead do tell tales, and you'd be wise to listen.

The real ghosts are the sentiments we try to bury under the surface.

This is one of the best Kindt offerings in some time, and a powerful exploration of family, history, and art.

A rather abrupt drop-off for this second issue as the slower pace and uneven humanity/personality really impacted the overarching experience.

Despite some tension, unease, and inefficient techniques, the final reveal for 'Gilt Frame' paints a powerful portrait of family as filtered through a classic whodunit.

In which Godzilla makes pirates truly cool againfor now.

A story about family, aliens, and transcendence will romance and disarm readers in one fell swoop.

'Golgotha Motor Mountain' is a mystery you don't so much solve as let it unravel its many layers and nooks/crannies in a brilliant symphony.

The third issue of 'Golgotha Motor Mountain' proves to be an intellectual and visual feast that will disarm you entirely and let this powerful story of family and politics consume your whole being.

The finale proves what I've thought all along: we are not worthy of 'Golgotha Motor Mountain' and its singular, one-of-a-kind tale about family, fate, change, and the real monsters of the world.

A horror story where the humanity is just as vital and integral as the jump scares and gory bug monsters.

PKJ's a massive fan of John Stewart, and this book is a poignant exploration of the person beyond those green constructs. And while #1 was a truly solid start, I think PKJ and company hit the veritable second gear with issue #2.

The journey of John Stewart grows ever more robust and compelling.

We're building up John Stewart in a thoughtful, impactful manner.

The construct you'll need most is a pack of tissues.

The legend of John Stewart grows ever greater.

In space, everyone can hear you become a better person.

'Grommets' tackles a weird time in music and culture with the utmost integrity, hilarity, and passion to spare.

The book lures you in with its playfulness, bright colors, and sick jokes before hooking you with an increasingly potent story of true growing pains.

This book knows itself well enough to continue to add new ideas and characters to extend this intriguing exploration of nostalgia.

Friend is a four letter word, indeed.

I'm not crying, that's just space dust in my eye.

I think flashbacks get a bad rap sometimes as they're sometimes just a cheap device to draw out stories. But here, this was treated with the subtle care and intention of any other moment in this book, and it lent a lot of heft and power. It wasn't so much a quiet moment before the action picks up with the recently-swallowed (gross, sorry) Guardians but a maelstrom of emotion and history colliding together.

New members, big reveals, and oversized drama await you in Grootspace.

In which peace and joy are the mightiest of storytelling weapons.

To quote Mischief Makers, "Through fire, justice is served!

You're the sofa, and this story is the cute, slightly angry Calico cat.

Bring the popcorn and the Kleenex, 'cause you're going to need both to tackle this giant-sized drama.

Coming clean can be both a beautiful and horrific prospect.

A life-affirming, physics-smashing family story.

This book is interesting for managing to do so much world- and character-building in such an array of sizes and scopes. And even if that architecture is wildly compelling, it doesn't quite add up to the inner workings of the people in these spaces, who explore ideas both emotional and existential in really novel ways.

In which the world opens in even more glorious light and detail.

A busy issue proves just as heartfelt and essential as ever.

A solid ending brimming with light and intellectual joy.

When you're not learning, you're busy feeling all of the things.

I get that trying to have this book's more fantastical stuff become divorced from the grounded reality isn't a likely prospect; it's the two halves that really shape and inform one another. But as it is right now, it's that heft of our world that's preventing this book's upsides (the family drama, the brain-melting body horror, and the alien "magic) from truly excelling and engaging readers in some vital ways.

Is there room for bureaucracy in an alien invasion?

This alien invasion mostly landed as a disappointing dud.

Home is where the heart (and dead bodies) is.

With its debut issue, the new H1 imprint from Humanoids lays the groundwork for more grounded, engaging heroes.

There's a reason Ignited is leading the H1 charge: even with more tantalizing premises in books like OMNI, this series feels like it'll hit the hardest. If anything, as they build the world around it, Ignited may only open up further with new insights and understandings of Phoenix and the world it occupies. And whatever kind of place that is, it'll be worth the deep dive.

It's an exploration of how you might not be able to meet your heroes but you can interact with them in the great abstract that is creative expression. And it's a solid reminder that the best stories can and will live forever, even if they're about the one-millionth spacefaring hero.

I think this series raises some big questions, but mostly it just sort of lays out a thing for us to explore of our own accord. Even without big trucks and explosions so far, this Baker has the potential to be just righteous enough.

A bit more mass and gravity to this wildly psychedelic tale.

Forget the marketing and the gimmicks; 'Kid Maroon' is a fun slice of pulp that'll charm your bowtie off and have you eyeing a move to Crimeville.

Turns out, there's heaps and heaps to admire when the corporate drama and viking mayhem come crashing together with heart and purpose galore.

It's the pacing, mixed with the emotional potency and massive battle scenes, that make this second issue a mighty continuation.

Turns out having a formula opens you up to storytelling wonders.

After a massive reveal at the end of issue #3, 'Kill All Immortals' digs deeper for an even more satisfying, harrowing, and wonderfully complex penultimate chapter.

An intriguing, deeply jarring meditation on fathers and sons -- with monsters.

This second issue is both an effective change in pacing and a doubling down on bad habits.

When this book emphasizes its primary father-son narrative, it'll leave you feel drained.

As the bloodshed is turned up to 11, this chapter of the father-son drama delivers both heart and gore.

In addition to poignant emotions and narrative threads, this bottle's packed with blood and gore.

Friends are fun (and so are booby-trapped warehouses and karate kicks).

The balance of power shifts as our interest grows ever wider.

And I really want this process to land with its full weight. Because it feels like we're trying to take a firmly old-school DC comic (over-the-top sci-fi with Swiss army knife powers and invading alien hordes) and trying to re-contextualize and/or update it for now.

A slice of what makes DC Comics so fun and charming (and totes weird).

A fun and important addition to this event's deluge of tie-ins.

Is someone still a hero when their suffering is either too deserved and/or unappealing?

Sometimes the real terror is getting exactly what you want.

Yarsky's debut creator-owned title has the family drama, fantasy magic, and inventive edge needed to be a proper success.

If you want to save the world, you've got to shatter a few hearts (and maybe some kneecaps?)

Let's hear it for the man-child for a job done well (enough).

Local Man feels like a perfect superhero story for our time. Not just because of the whole MAGA subplot, but also because it's both earnest and optimistic while never pulling punches in exploring what these stories really say about us as a people.

This issue is both a laugh riot and an existential cluster bomb.

Local Man is the hero for all modern stories about superpowered paladins.

A true hero for our weird, super dumb world.

Enough mystery and heart to make up for cliqued noir tropes.

The Thin White Devil returns to break hearts and burn his enemies asunder.

As Lucifer inches toward the truth, the past and future swirl together for an intriguing slice of theater.

Love can be a bloody, mostly wonderful slice of madness.

This end-of-life gangster adventure slowly unveils layers of nuance and history.

A flipped vampire story may still be just another vampire story.

The real terror is this book's continued inability to fully commit.

No one's eventual downfall has ever seemed so delicious.

The case (and our hero's mind?) may be about to crack wide open.

The "downfall of Easton Newburn continues in dazzling fashion.

Emily may shine but this remains the story of Newburn's downfall.

The life of Easton Newburn grows ever darker, compelling, complicated, etc.

There's just so many great decisions here, many of that seemingly small or innocuous, that take this great character work and push it to the upper stratosphere.

Solid noir like few others can truly muster.

A fitting enough ode to antiheroes and outsiders.

It'd be a real shanda if you missed out on this book.

A dazzling drama of big scares and bigger emotions.

Nights continues to be a profound book that you must experience firsthand.

Another issue down, and Nights grows ever more robust and life-affirming.

This book continues to scare, dazzle, and engage in decidedly massive ways.

I can't hide it: Nights is peak comics storytelling.

Let me say it again: Nights is truly amazing storytelling.

I won't shut up till you love this dang comic book.

If you love something, you must sometimes poke at its open wounds.

Truly, Nights is the gift that keeps on giving.

A very potent b-day celebration for us and the characters alike.

Another great "gimmick that dazzles as much as it builds toward the future.

This issue does a bang-up job in balancing a hint of nostalgic Nightwing storytelling and canon while furthering this run's vibrant spirit and mission statement.

This new fantasy series glides the line between grit and depth and fanciful fiction.

A wonky storyline and forced inconsistency in the narrative don't make for the best of times.

After some near misses, this issue finally peels back the magical world-building for emotional connections and meaningful storytelling.

After so much promise in issue #3, we're left again in the weirdest of places.

After a number of disappointments, my remaining patience may have finally up and vanished.

Fantagraphics unveils an exciting debut issue of its new anthology series built on a diverse group of creators, intriguing stories and art, and a whole heap of creative potential.

Another promising collection of weird and wacky comics from across the indie scene.

A compelling and cohesive collection celebrating indie comic goodness.

A year or so in, and this Fantagraphics series continues to deliver a mighty blast of cerebral, highly evocative comics.

Fantagraphics' crack editors continue the series with an entry that pushes all sorts of boundaries while providing plenty of chuckles and head scratches.

The sixth installment of Fantagraphics' spotlight anthology keeps the hits (and slight misses) rolling.

While this volume has some issues, the series as a while continues its weird and wonderful ways.

An anthology just as you'd expect: just enough upsides with a few accompanying shortfalls.

You are not ready or prepared enough for what Lynch is about to cram down your gullet.

An ending, for sure, but hopefully the start of something else entirely.

Dr. Cecelia Cobbina is the cure for bland superhero comics.

A transformative and entertaining spin on the same old vampire story.

A new title, but same old wonderful vampire hijinks.

This caper is more robust and compelling than ever before.

Life sucks and maybe that's a good thing?

This vampire story goes for the heart and jugular at every turn.

Welcome to the weird, bloody, and silly endgame, folks.

An uneven ending for a promising but mostly uneven story.

The heisting grows ever bigger and more rich.

Marvel's teen heroes prepare for a truly gripping tale of power and control.

For fans of life lessons told in the most horrific way imaginable.

The debut sets the stage for an inventive slasher story even as there's some clear issues already surfacing.

The real crime is this half-cocked story with just enough potential.

The series you think is about robot racers is a more vivid and thoughtful exploration of our complicated humanity.

While less frenetic in its pace, this second issue lands with heaps more story depth and humanity galore.

After two great first laps, 'Petrol Head' has to make a slightly underwhelming pit stop before the journey ahead.

Petrol Head and co. continue down a bath that expertly rides the line between action, comedy, and drama toward compelling new paths.

This last lap of book one is packed with quick, lean storytelling, powerful character work, and even more visual magic.

This debut is a testament to the power of effective character work.

No mystery here: this book continues to demand our energy/attention.

Because this book's started with a mostly lofty idea, and through key creative decisions, robust collaboration/teamwork, and an overt passion, it's executed that vision in a way that remains approachable even as it's all the more intellectually "involved. To put it more simply, you + this book = a great time.

Get ready for some big laughs and bigger heartache.

Love is a many brutal and wonderful things.

A great lead up to what should be a bloody, dramatic finale.

As finales go, this one gets all sorts of bloody and thoughtful as the creators tell this deeply human story about love, friendship, and beheadings.

The debut issue sets the stage for a bloody, insightful exploration of a humanity that we'd rather ignore outright.

The latest issue of 'Plastic' continues this uncomfortable but undeniable character study of a man we can all grapple with whether we like it or not.

Maybe it ain't the best issue thus far, but #3 really does crystallize some big ideas within the overarching 'Plastic' story.

The debut does quick work to both connect to the beloved original series while innovating both visually and thematically.

The second issue grows the world, people, lore, and conceptual gold into something that'll grab you by the whole of your body.

Apply whatever archetypes and other ideas you have to this book, but 'Precious Metal' is this grand, swirling adventure that utterly consumes readers.

'Precious Metal' may have reached its peak with an issue of robust action, brilliant character work, and expert worldbuilding.

The penultimate chapter smashes down walls and perceptions for perhaps the most poignant and thrilling chapter yet.

The finale cuts through a lot of the complexity and robustness for a powerful message about memory and hope.

The Rat could prove to be the nougat-like core of raw power in a truly spellbinding series.

The series hits yet another high mark with a tale of friendship and obsession.

Because sometimes closure can be a truly beautiful adventure.

Whether you like or love meta stories, 'Profane' does it with a depth and sincerity that'll have you on board regardless.

This book isn't meta like some other recent titles, and it tries to celebrate and dissect storytelling and our connection with fiction with true prowess and intent.

This story continues to grow and develop in such a way that we're getting something warm and enjoyable that's also quite inventive and exciting.

While it feels like a slightly slower issue, lots of big things still happen to get 'Profane' toward the end of its biggest case.

While the ending seems a tad trite, it hums with a deep humanity that's been central to this case the entire time.

I can't explain it and you wouldn't want to me to just read it.

Gen Z culture, assassins, and demons what more do you need?

I continue to fall deeper and deeper for this wacky little tale.

A powerful exploration of youth's splendid highs and gut-wrenching lows.

You wish this quest's worst feature were just giant monsters and gnarly volcanoes.

A solid improvement as things start to build and coalesce.

This quest is becoming all the more compelling and rewarding.

The more the merrier (in every possible way, it seems).

A chapter of big enemies and even bigger revelations.

Relics has earned my attention as much as my caution. There's a lot to hope for this book to eventually display or achieve, but that could just as easily not be the case as we're left with more mid-tier Y.A. I'll keep reading regardless, but like dealing with actual teenagers, I only have so much time and patience.

Corporate sponsors may be icky, but good comics are good comics.

The kids are alright even if they're a tad derivative at times.

A slight shift in perspective makes this series practically sing.

Ultimately, we like horror tropes like this not cause they're groundbreaking but because they force us to empathize and engage with the people on screen before they may get shuffled off this mortal coil. We also like horror because it makes the most of these huge, over-the-top, hyper bloody scenes to foster a level of intimacy. And this book has done all of that thus far, including doubling down across issue #3.

The war may end but the glorious suffering persists.

Forget heaven, all dogs can be good and earnest superheroes.

Every dog has his day (when you give him the chance).

With weirdness and heart galore, this dog mostly has its day.

The cats really were this big force across the issue, and the reason why this book is humming now more than ever.

This pup knows what's up.

A winning finale for this cute and quirky (super) dog's tale.

The debut of 'Self Help' sets up a thoughtful, funny, and satisfying crime story that takes down the empowerment community with grace and skill.

This second chapter further refines and focuses the story in ways to make it feel all the more lively and potent.

This book continues to evolve in ways that retain its essence even as it's becoming something altogether more brutal and beguiling.

The story's showing us its true face, and things are coalescing brilliantly.

Like "The birds and the bees" but with actual insight. And fight scenes.

The sex-positive tale of revolution starts letting the characters shine bright.

A mid-series "flashback" provides new insights and emotions.

An issue as naughty as it is deeply compelling and emotionally nuanced.

An imperfect issue about opening up and expanding the world before all hell breaks loose.

While this issue had the makings of some huge emotional moments, things didn't deliver as intended.

With the finale of "Protection," the book once again demonstrates its power in telling a highly personal and deeply moving tale of sex and politics.

These sons may be sinister, but there's a lot of emotionality and potential in their pursuit of fate and legacy.

While mostly as strong as its debut, the second chapter of 'Sinister Sons' demonstrates that there's more growth necessary for this book to fully shine.

Despite looking great, 'Sinister Sons' can't really get on the same page long enough to make this core friendship a thing.

After some missteps in issue #3, 'Sinister Sons' roars back with a wild and fun issue with plenty of stakes and big-time feelings.

The penultimate issue of 'Sinister Sons' checks all the most important boxes on the way to a potent and exciting finale.

The sixth and final issue doesn't just open up new roads for the Sinister Sons, it also gives us a fun, charming, and resonant end to their first chapter together.

The magic here is real, but time will tell if this book breaks its own spell.

The story and art align as this book makes good on its magical potential.

Life is pain, but it sure is super interesting.

Prepare for a clash both deeply personal and wildly magical.

The world here grows all the more rich, nuanced, and spellbinding.

Growing up is the best worst mistake you could ever make.

A blazing start for a truly poignant and affecting bit of noir.

Slow Burn continues to set us ablaze with its deep mystery and wells of emotions.

You can't track this bad boy as it rips your heart out.

A story that grabs, shakes, and disarms readers in the very best ways.

As this flame burns out, it sets your very brain ablaze.

It's all in your head and that's what makes it so dang entertaining.

When fantasy and reality collide, there's true magic to be found.

The magic is real, but that don't mean it's perfect.

There's as much to love as sort of feel annoyed by at this point, and it's becoming increasingly hard to balance these takeaways and still give Kudraski the leeway needed to really push this story to where it might go. Because after five issues, it still feels too early on in the narrative arc, and his ceaseless world-building is really starting to feel more like arrested development.

A expert melding of ideas and mediums, 'Spectrum' is an experience for the ears, eyes, heart, and mind.

Any issues aside, 'Standstill' has the charm, premise, and vision to be a truly rip-roaring story of sci-fi revenge.

Complaints aside, the second chapter brings the heft with action and character work.

Somehow the car stuff isn't even the best part.

This slow burn time travel thriller continues to be shiny and full of substance.

In space, everyone knows that you're a giant loser.

The only thing cooler than freezing time is making new friends.

There's heart and charm galore but the pacing just feels annoyingly off.

It's made this human story of heroes more gentle and slow moving than it needs to be, and having more visual razzle dazzle would go a long way to landing closer to the realm of genuine thriller.

There's plenty to like in issue #1. More than being well written and setting the proper pacing, it's something entirely new after Ignited.

Even if this story isn't as strong as others Bang! really nailed the rush and absurdity of this specific plot device there's evidence here that as these two worlds further blur, there could be a gritty slice of noir adventure awaiting readers. You've just got to hold on and wait for the walls to really start crumbling.

Subgenre is still building, and the end result could be a triumph or a meta letdown.

This issue brings it all together for a massive surge forward.

Because this book's started with a mostly lofty idea, and through key creative decisions, robust collaboration/teamwork, and an overt passion, it's executed that vision in a way that remains approachable even as it's all the more intellectually "involved. To put it more simply, you + this book = a great time.

This grounded, slightly deconstructed take on Superman's early days makes for a true crash course in exploring and appreciating Superman.

Even just two issues in, the story is a powerful meditation on superheroes, the 20th century, and our own place in building a better, more just world.

After months of waiting, the story's robust emotion and dynamic art isn't enough to really win the final battle.

Endings suck, but g-d can they also be life-affirming.

Love is weird, beautiful, and maybe a tad predictable.

A compelling new anthology gets it at least 75% right, and that's a win.

The real terror is having to work for a living.

There's nothing more terrifying than when a great book hits a stumble.

The '90s vibes may be too strong sometimes, yeah?

It's good to see more of the humanity amid all the monstrosities.

Nothing scarier than a good enough story.

Class warfare with heart and insanity to boot.

This B-squad has A+ potential.

You aren't ready for this psychedelic trip into the human condition.

A poignant, trippy ending for this compelling dissection of superhero comics.

To his benefit, Morrison has assembled a book that's fun, thoughtful, unabashedly whimsical, and clearly on the side of goodness and light. And that's more in line with The Beatles' general vibe and brand than 1,000 covers of "Hey Jude."

This revenge story already has the right setting, tone, vibes, and layers to make it something truly potent.

Maybe this book can't ever make you feel good about death (yours or someone near and dear). But then maybe that's not the point: it's a gross, soul-crushing process, and the best art makes you lean into that with your whole dang chest.

A huge issue visually, emotionally, and contextually for this deeply human noir.

'The Butcher's Boy' is for fans of blood and guts, old-school serial killers and folklore, and emotionality as sharp as a hunting knife.

With an inventive and brutal second issue, 'The Butcher's Boy' is among my new fave horror stories of 2024.

If you want horror that's smart, bloody, and unafraid to mess with its readers, 'The Butcher's Boy' will consume you entirely.

The finale may not have been a total horror bonanza, but it gets great marks for its emotional heft and impact.

From sci-fi to horror, this anthology expertly sets the stage for DSTLRY's true revolution: great comics.

A powerful start for a book that examines home, family, social structures, and the very nature of reality.

This second issue defines the slow but brutally effective path this book is taking to mess with our very equilibrium.

'The Displaced' continues to be a deeply powerful story about family, memory, community, trauma, grief, and what happens when that's all that remains.

If you want to see how a comic can snap your heart and muck with your sense of gravity, issue #4 will do that and then some.

You can't deny the sheer humanity and poignancy of this book even as it wasn't an entirely perfect ending.

A gold standard for telling deep, affective westerns in comics.

War is hell, but not nearly as hellacious as working for a spoiled space goddesses.

It's a bigger book now, even as some things remain undeveloped for the time being, and one that has real layers. In a big way, that connects it even further to other grand sci-fi franchises, and makes everything feel all the more important.

This slice of palace intrigue just got way more intriguing.

The second arc ends with weird allies, fresh enemies, heaps of tension, and the promise for even for madness.

Superstar co-writers mostly add to this book's multifaceted approach to exploring community, lineage, and the ups and downs of family.

After a generally solid first frame, this book cuts down on the humor and upps the heart (and violence) to gain proper momentum.

This third issue sees a balance struck between silly hijinks and an increasingly complicated take on family, memory, and legacy.

The fourth issue sees the humor and heart shine even as there's still some minor concerns with this book's fundamentals.

With a proper mix of humor, action, thematic gold, and humanity galore, 'The Holy Roller' is now on a proper roll.

Our hero continues bowling a game a touch closer to 280 than 300.