Christa Harader Comic Reviews

Age of Conan: Belit, Queen of the Black Coast #1 packs in too much narrative and not enough unique visual style to dazzle, but Blits origins deserve a bit of readerly patience to see whats to come.

What's cool in concept falls flat in execution, and the book's too eager to draw from a sci-fi smorgasbord to find its footing.

Archie vs. Predator 2 #1 turns the volume down on the absurdity and has a few art issues, but achieves its goal of opening what should be an entertaining second arc.

"Archie vs. Predator II" #2 continues what's shaping up to be a bit of a rudderless, disappointing look at multiple Predators on the Riverdale stage.

"Army of Darkness Bubba Ho-Tep" #3 is an enjoyable entry into this fun and cheesy mini, with expressive art, explosive colors and raucously fun lettering.

A key feature of the franchise for me is that Ash is only really cool in his own mind, and I'm pleased to see that the story team preserves the goofiness of the character without really knocking him down. It's clear Ash vs. The Army of Darkness is crafted by fans of the Evil Dead universe, for fans of the Evil Dead universe, while keeping the story accessible enough for the uninitiated to have a good time " and maybe take a trip to a tranquil cabin sometime soon to do a little, uh, light reading?

I'm particularly thrilled to see Ash get the crap beat out of him" it's always important that Ash not actually be a real cool dude, and what I was missing just a little in issue 1 is definitely present here. He gets his licks in, but he also spends enough time getting licked to preserve the satirical "hero" elements we all know and love from the film universe. The kids have vignette moments that're true to their established characters so far, and the cliffhanger leaves me excited for the next installment. A fun romp, to be sure, and I'm on board enough to keep with it. How Sims, Bowers and co. will pace the rest of the run remains to be seen, because I'd like a few slower moments that maintain good character development sometime soon now that we've gotten a dose of excitement. Pick up a copy, or the aggro dumpster cannibal'll getcha.

"Assassin Nation" #2 delights with more of the cool character details and engaging art that grabbed our attention in the action-packed first issue.

Astro Hustle #1 is off to a fine start, with enough grit and humor to help elevate what might turn out to be a very fun book.

Overall, you're left with the good effect that a light narrative and artistic touch can evoke, with just enough portents of chaotic and dark things to come for Sadie and Clark that make for a solid first issue of an original series. Cates' authentic teenage dialogue pairs well with Brown's expressionistic art style to introduce you to a grieving girl who is almost lost " but not quite. At once dreamy and disturbing, Babyteeth promises a new take on the anti-Christ narrative with fine craft that will need to be maintained as the narrative unfolds. If this first issue is any indication, a great story will be sure to follow.

This issue's a fine entry into the newest "Babyteeth" arc, and does some quick but effective character scaffolding to help us swing into the next high spot.

"Babyteeth" #14 delights by reminding us that the apocalypse is, above all, weird and that you can't trust anything when dealing with the Devil.

"Babyteeth" #15 pushes the plot forward with some good, weird and unholy action, with a few art stumbles along the way.

"Bang!" #5 ends an enjoyable meta-mini with good homages to pulp archetypes and solid execution.

Barbalien: Red Planet #1 is a good trip back into Markzs fraught identity, and his struggle to find a place anywhere in the universe.

"Barbarella Dejah Thoris" #3 delights with more underseas intrigue, effortless banter, gorgeous art and top-notch pacing.

"Barbarella Dejah Thoris" #4 wraps our short and high-action adventure with just the right notes of humor, sadness, and fun.

"Battlepug" #1 sets up a good antagonist and dives right back into the world of the last Kimmerian with enough gravity and humor to succeed as a first issue.

"Bedtime Games" tries for depth but ends up with bland breadth, and by the time we hit the last issue, we're left with very little to wrap up a disappointing miniseries.

Bettie Page #5 settles more fully into the surreal after our alien epic in previous issues, with a wild enough plot and excellent creature feature to balance a few art inconsistencies.

Bettie Page: Unbound #9 continues the wild adventures of everyones favorite Model Spy with a solid installment.

"Bettie Page: Unbound" #10 wraps this entertaining series with some good action, good vibes and good storytelling.

Bitter Root #3 continues the books deep dive into racism in America, with compelling character development, beautiful art and a great concept on display in its best issue to date.

Overall, Black Badge is an engaging read that's delivering good craft in measured doses. I'm definitely on board for the next issue.

Black Stars Above #2 plunges Eulalie into peril with effective, tense storytelling.

"Blackwood: The Mourning After" #2 entertains as much as it overwhelms, with good world-building and engaging art.

Bodies is an audacious, unique and compelling story that holds together with four artists, good craft and a heck of a lot of imagination.

"Bone Parish" delves into family histories and crime complexities, and a second issue is the right time for it. This book is promising, but what unspools next will be critical to set it apart from the pack.

"Bone Parish" #4 continues a decent drawn-out story that I've seen before, but without adding anything revolutionary or unique to make the series stand out from the herd.

"Books of Magic" #2 doesn't drop the momentum of the first issue, with more on Tim's struggle with his powers and the curiously dark world that awaits him.

For a second issue, Burnouts #2 slows down its action just a little too much to suit its wacky concept, and the series is in peril of losing steam. The next issue needs to pick up the pace a bit to keep me reading.

"Wolves" tells of betrayal, "The Mire" of progeny, and "Demeter" of both " no happy endings here, folks, but enough genuine emotion and melancholy earned through good mood and lovely art to keep you centered in a nice, atmospheric journey. A big bonus in this "director's cut" is a ton of concept art. With Cloonan mentioning she'd like to come back and spend more time in this universe, it's fun to see what the possibilities are. This volume will delight longtime comic fans and first-timers, as well. If you have a friend who's not sure about the medium, this would be a wonderful place to start.

Canto #2 reaches for our heartstrings but stumbles over its own intricacy.

"Canto" #3 dials back some of the detail, but not enough to make this series pop.

One of the reasons I love Paknadel's work to date is that each project feels completely open to possibility.

Kino #14 balances the need for a nice arc wrap with excellent high notes.

"Kino" #16 offers Meath little relief and continues a tense, imaginative and superlatively paced run.

Catalyst Prime: Seven Days #3 slows the avalanche of the first two issues with some interesting story bits and better entertainment value.

"Catwoman" #9 is a fun heist one-shot with good writing, fun layouts, stylish art and interesting lettering.

blender ethos in a bleak landscape rendered by a very fine hand, with very cool style.

Cemetery Beach hits big notes in all the right ways, and now that the series is concluded it's high time to hop on for a non-stop ride, 'til the end of the line.

"Coffin Bound" #6 goes hard for narrative flavor but continues winding a self-conscious conceptual path.

A study in cerebral horror and shareable viscera, Come Into Me #1 delivers on story, art, style and a good amount of substance.

Thompson and Nadler do some interesting work on memory and connection in the digital age, bolstered by beautiful craft from the rest of the creative team.

A melancholy and isolating horror take on the perils of connectivity culture reaches its fitting conclusion inCome Into Me #4 " or does it?

Conan the Barbarian #3 showcases young Conan at his most stubborn, impetuous and brooding in a brush with death rife with divine implications most sinister.

Conan the Barbarian #6 delights with a look at the barbarian as he stands opposed to civilization, and a mean cliffhanger to boot.

Conan the Barbarian #9 delights with a trek through Conans rogues gallery and promises an explosive conclusion.

"Conan the Barbarian" #11 goes where no Conan story has dared go before, with great results.

"Conan the Barbarian" #17 is a good intro to this particular arc, with a magic sword that will, likely, give our muscled mate a run for his money.

"Criminal" #6 is another solid entry into the current storyline, with a moment of reprieve for Teeg as his death draws ever closer.

Clever world-building? Check. Current trends in our cluttered digital culture? Check. "Crowded" #3 continues the book's stand-out, unique charm.

Sebela and team are back with an action-packed cap issue to Crowded's first story arc that doesn't just fail to disappoint: it truly delights!

Crowded #7 keeps the action coming with its usual high standard of storytelling, art and visual design.

"Cult Classic Creature Feature" #3 entertains as the wrigglers slowly make their way into even more brains than before.

Dark Red #2 is a good second issue, with enough lore and action in balance to keep our interest and some solid visuals to boot.

"Dark Red" #5 is an action-packed and satisfying conclusion to a solid first arc.

"Dark Red" #8 entertains and deepens the mystery of some big city drama with good storytelling and visuals.

"Dead Eyes" #3 continues our adventure with some inventive violence and a lead on Dead Eyes's biggest score yet.

Whatever dream of a nice family life there was sours pretty quickly in this more sophisticated take on the gore and guts of zombie horror.

Mystery and intrigue! Apocalyptic death cults! Cool motorcycles! Death Orb #1 sets high stakes - and meets them - in this fun first installment.

Death Orb #2 dresses up the familiar wasteland concept with fine art and cohesive styling. A visual feast for almost any comic lover to enjoy.

Death Orb #3 delivers fun, furious action and some calculated ragged edges that continue to highlight just how good this creative team really is.

Death Orb#4 is out today, so go grab a copy at your LCS. Now.

Final Verdict: 8.5 - "Death Orb" #5 delights in ways you won't expect while maintaining its gut-punching high action and high level of craft up to the very end.

"Descendent" #2 overshoots the mark on sinister and ends up deflating the work it's trying to do to drive its story.

"Die" #5 puts a bow on the book's first story arc, but as far as resolution goes we're in for the emotional long haul.

Die #6 is structured strangely but ultimately succeeds as a new arc intro, with the same level of artistic craft weve come to expect from Hans in particular.

"Die" #8 gives us a bit more of Sol's development and nudges the plot along in a satisfactory manner.

"Doctor Tomorrow" #2 is a solid, enjoyable second issue that sets up some good plot points for issue #3.

Dragon Age: Blue Wraith #2 slows down a bit to give us some more time with Fenris, but its not enough of a balm after the hectic pace of issue #1.

"Drawing Blood Spilled Ink" #1 draws back the curtain on the drama-filled world of comics in an enjoyable and innovative way.

Some conceptual wins and a few narrative execution misses for Eden #1

Engineward #4 continues an interesting story with enough depth and potential to propel the series forward.

Exorsisters #4 continues a fantastic run, with just the right balance of tight storytelling, accessible art and good craft to support all of Boothbys dark humor and sinister portents.

Family Tree #7 delights with more mystery, heartfelt connection and a gun fight, to boot.

Fearscape #1 asks what would happen if a hack plagiarist became the hero of our time, and begins forming an interesting answer.

Henry Henry's not entirely in control of the tale anymore, and easing back on the writer's voice lets this second issue out to play.

Henry Henry's future's never been brighter, and neither has the darkness within. Fearscape #3 raises the stakes for our irreverent narrator, and then some.

Fearscape #4 continues the endlessly convoluted journey of our utterly distasteful narrator, to great effect.

"Fearscape" #5 brings our story to a crashing conclusion in a way that only this creative team could pull off.

"Female Furies" #2 completely misses the mark with deadly serious storytelling in a fantastical milieu, and lacks the craft to back up its conceit.

Field Tripping #1 offers a compelling concept thats executed with far too much dialogue and intricacy in its art, as well as a bewilderingly muted color palette.

Friendo #1 runs fast, fun and slick - everything a not-too-distant L.A. future promises.

Sunshine, chaos and a very personal apocalypse abound in Friendo #2.

Friendo is why comics are cool, and why we come back to them again and again.

Friendo #4 proves that having a dream isn't dumb. It's thinking that yours is good enough to come true, is the problem.

Friendo #5 completes a phenomenal mini that pushes narrative boundaries with unique storytelling, excellent art, beautiful colors and top-notch lettering.

"Giant Days" #46 demonstrates that noir storytelling can have a sense of humor, and doesn't break from the comic's high standard of substance and craft.

"Giant Days" #50 is another great entry into the series, with a fun ensemble story that showcases everything that makes this book a must-read.

Giga #3 promises sinister developments from both godhead and grandiose humanity, with good craft and style from each creative team member.

Final Verdict: 8.5 - "GLOW" #1 is a delightful tie-in with authentic character voices, expressive art, fun colors and competent lettering.

Futuristing cyberpunk noir reimaginings of classic deities need a little more oomph than what's delivered, alas.

Overall, I'm not shocked, appalled or creeped out beyond belief " I'll need more from Miller and team to earn those high notes, but I'm seriously pleased by a juicy visual feast that promises some old-school nods and drug trip-goodness. Miller and team are fans, and they seem to know where they're stepping. Congratulations to Gravetrancers for busting down the door that society keeps trying to close on this side of our beloved pulp " now, you better deliver.

Grendel: Devils Odysssey #1 delights with skillful work from two Wagners and all of the chilling gravitas that made the franchise great.

"Grendel: Devil's Odyssey" #2 is a lesson in intergalactic colonialism, with plenty of weird, well-paced detail to entertain.

Grit #2 treats us to more Barrow, more hatchet fun, more witches and more effective humor than youd expect from a story this violent.

"Gryffen: Galaxy's Most Wanted" #1 is a fun new sci-fi series with good craft, an intriguing premise and a fine balance of humor and action to keep any comic enthusiast on board.

"Happy Hour" #4 throws Jerry and Kim together - at last? - with a bit of awkward plot shortcutting along the way.

"Breakneck" #2 deflates some of the first issue's potential with muddy dialogue, craft issues, and a lackluster tone in what should be taut, nail-biting action.

"Heavy" #1 delights with gallows humor and a fresh take on Purgatory and punishment.

"Heist" #1 dazzles with its hard-boiled crime concept but lacks a few points of polish along the way.

"Heist" #2 lets the reins slip a little for more Euro-style weirdness, but lacks a center to fully grip its audience.

Hex Wives #3 strikes an odd and unbalanced narrative note in an otherwise intriguing series.

"Hey Kids! Comics!" #5 rounds out a series that's impressive in its scope and tone, but falls on its face in the very craft it's documenting.

Despite good art and design, "High Level" #2 doesn't distinguish itself from its cyberpunk peers in plot or character development.

"I Breathed a Body" #1 posits an interesting and promisingly meaty future in this scaffolding-focused first issue.

I Can Sell You A Body #2 delights with sheer weirdness, humor and excellent craft.

Ice Cream Man #6 knocks it out of the park again with a unique, story-appropriate spin on silent horror.

Final Verdict: 9.5 "Ice Cream Man" #8 taps into the current zeitgeist by unearthing the not-so-deeply buried specters of post-War America and making us deal with them. Again, or maybe at last.

Ice Cream Man #10 shows us that love knows no borders, even if human beings insist upon them.

"Ice Cream Man" #11 is the first stumble the series has taken, with a flatter plot than we're used to in this tight anthology series.

Ice Cream Man #14 delivers another decent, episodic issue that treads a bit of water in our journey back toward the center.

"Ice Cream Man" #20 delights young and old alike with a bit of a new spin on some classic tales.

"Ice Cream Man" #23 tries for a prose/comics hybrid, with mixed results.

Incursion #1 sets up an intriguing and very dangerous conflict, with compelling art, storytelling and good craft.

Incursion #2 raises the stakes for Tama and Gilad with engaging storytelling, beautiful art and a lot of great action.

"Incursion" #3 proves that Gilad's story isn't all about smacking things with swords, even as he does, in fact, smack some stuff with swords.

"Incursion" #4 delivers a satisfying ending to an entertaining and heartfelt mini.

"Infinite Dark" #3 digs deeper into the mystery the series is trying to set up, with a nice cliffhanger to see us through.

"Inkblot" #2 is funny, cute and engaging in its world-building, style and execution.

"It Eats What Feeds It" #3 dumps a little too much info but otherwise succeeds in a quick, surreal horror jaunt.

"James Bond" #3 clears up some of the hubbub of previous issues but stumbles a bit in its execution.

"Jook Joint" #2 has a strong premise, but some craft issues keep it from really shining past the social significance of its subject matter.

Killer Groove #4 adds backstory to our mysterious characters but stumbles in narrative and artistic execution.

Knock Em Dead #1 takes its time with its story and craft in a solid first issue.

"Lightstep" #1 features beautiful art and some interesting layouts, with enough narrative push to merit further reading.

"Lightstep" #3 is a bit lopsided in terms of plot, but stunning artwork can really save the day when you've got a bit too much narrative to handle.

Little Bird #1 is a perfect first issue, with an intricate story supported by deeply impressive art, colors and lettering.

Little Bird #2 doesn't let up on the detail, brutality or feverish charm of the series, and sets up an epic conflict that'll play out in the issues to come.

"Little Bird" #3 dazzles us again with beautiful art, storytelling, colors and lettering that blend seamlessly into the perfect comics package.

Little Bird #4 dazzles as it edges us closer to potential doom, with exceptional visual storytelling and craft from the entire creative team.

Little Bird #5 brings an overwhelmingly sophisticated and nuanced tale to a close with a powerful final issue.

Lodger #2 slows the pace a little, but too much detail and some poor art choices mean what should be a tautly paced thriller instead confuses, overwhelms and, so far, disappoints.

"Lonely Receiver" #2 writes itself into a corner with a dialogue-heavy script.

"Lords of Empyre: Celestial Messiah" #1 gives us more nuance and backstory out of an event one-shot than we usually receive, and the emotional weight works.

"Lords of Empyre: Swordsman" #1 details the sins and sorrows of the father with honesty and heart.

"Lucifer" #2 resolves the bizarre confusion of issue #1 nicely while maintaining the mad, unsettling and nightmarish vibe that befits a new story of everyone's favorite Light-bringer.

"Lucifer" #5 starts putting the narrative pieces together that've been somewhat lacking, with engaging art, colors and good lettering.

Luna #1 dazzles with lush art and narrative promise, but some dialogue and narration is inconsistent enough to detract from a seamless, trippy experience.

A hallmark of comics success is when your story can't be told any other way " Magnus is a brilliant comic creation that utilizes the full creativity and flexibility of the medium to deliver a tense and personal reimagining of a very well-known character. I can't wait to see where we're going next.

Mall #4 draws the series to the precipice of an explosive finale with a good balance of plotting, art, colors and lettering.

"Manor Black" #3 slows the book's pace but doesn't give us the depth we need in Ari's character development to truly dazzle

"Martian Manhunter" #2 aims for shock value and tenderness and only partially gets there thanks to dissonant art and overwrought storytelling.

The team puts together a stellar first issue in what they promised would be a fresh take on the classic escape artist, and they sure did deliver a boatload of mystery and reverence for the comics scripture that's come before. I look forward to untangling the plot, wriggling deeper into the heart of the beast, and emerging almost unscathed, just in the nick of time, once this promising run comes to an all-too-quick end.

The team puts together a stellar first issue in what they promised would be a fresh take on the classic escape artist. They sure did deliver a boatload of mystery and reverence for the comics scripture that's come before. I look forward to untangling the plot, wriggling deeper into the heart of the beast, and emerging almost unscathed just in the nick of time once this promising run comes to an all-too-quick end.

"Money Shot" #2 aims to entertain and does it well, with just a bit of density along the way.

"Money Shot" #4 digs into dialogue but maintains its emotional core.

A solid first issue and a good dose of intrigue to set up what promises to be a cool all-ages spy thriller.

Mycelium Seep" dazzles with intricate and imaginative art but buries its narrative deep below the surface, to the detriment of the overall story.

Naomi #3 continues whats been an excellent introduction to a unique new character in the DCU, with heartfelt storytelling, beautiful art and colors and excellent lettering.

Night Moves #2 delivers some nice shock value but, unfortunately, doesnt stop to let its hard work sink in.

Ninja Nuns: Back in the Habit #1 nails the humor and grotesque violence weve come to expect from the world of Metalshark Bro, and each short delights in both style and execution.

Nocterra #1 stutters under its narrative load and a somewhat inconsistent visual experience.

North Bend #4 takes us on a bit of a trip as Brendan mires himself deeper in the darkness of the project.

"Nuclear Family" #1 is a clever short-story adaptation that sets up good tension, mystery and even a bit of pathos to keep us hooked for the next issue.

"Nuclear Family" #3 keeps the story moving with decent, if irregular, craft from the whole team.

"Obey Me" #1 suffers from significant plot and craft issues that give the book an amateur vibe.

Outer Darkness #4 boasts even more of Laymans humor and tight storytelling, with superb art from Chan and fine lettering from Brosseau to elevate another great entry in this outstanding series.

Intriguing story, bold characters and some art that make you sit up and pay attention.

Stick around for this one, folks, and I have a feeling you're going to learn to expand your definition of how to tell great stories in this medium.

Guns, bridges, dreams and nightmares - Paradiso's got the goods, and wraps its first story arc in fine style with some high action and story payoffs you don't want to miss.

Paradiso's new arc promises some weird #%$! - robots, trees, dreams, nightmares and a continuously high-quality comic experience.

Paradiso #6 delivers the high quality and storytelling we've come to expect from this innovative, sci-fi gem.

Paradiso #7 tackles dreams, urban uncertainties, metamorphosis, and some cool as hell motorcycles.

"Proctor Valley Road" #4 delights with more spiritual scramble, but could use a narrative pause before we swing into another action-packed issue.

"Radically Rearranged Ronin Ragdolls" #1 isn't just a successful gimmick - it's a completely realized tie-in comic with a compelling story and joyous homages to its origins.

"The Red Mother" #2 deepens the mystery and adds necessary depth to Daisy's character.

"Red Mother" #3 solves a mysterious puzzle and plunges Pari deeper into her nightmares, to good effect.

"The Red Mother" #6 maintains a bit too much obscurity, but the book still takes its time in an organic way.

Cates & Estherren are working on what feels more and more like a slow burn, though we're coming to bear on a wrap point for this establishing story in the next issue. Where we go next is hard to say " with Slap dead, Granpa on the loose and nearly the whole town pushing up daisies, it's not easy to predict what'll happen to the good country folk. S'pose we'll just wait and see.

Another near-flawless installment in the "Redneck" storyline, issue 16 proves that coming out doesn't have to be a thing " and neither does prison murder, casual sex or getting back together with your long-estranged ex. It takes all kinds to make a world.

"Redneck" #20 ups the stakes in a major way for JV and the clan, with excellent visuals, colors, and lettering.

Relics of Youth #1 tempers its intriguing concept with a generic main character, rushed plotting and a few art issues to keep it from dazzling as a first issue.

"Resonant" #1 combines an effective premise with good character development, excellent art, vibrant colors and good lettering.

"Resonant" #9 explores the secular side of dark collectivism with some good action and nice set-up for a final issue.

"Road of Bones" #1 impresses with its bleak locale, sympathetic characters and bold dose of horror and gore.

Road of Bones #4 nails its final note with brutal efficiency, craft and grim humor.

Ronin Island #4 serves up some good plot progression and action with great art, but suffers a bit on character development.

Overall, Sacred Creatures suffers from too much structure and not enough content " be it character development, focused dialogue or an art style that can support an intricate plot, there needs to be a focal point to draw from as bedrock to your concept. And the divinity narrative has been done so often, and so well, you need to find an "in" that's unique enough to hang your story on. The punch of the last page doesn't fly when you've taken this long to set up " what, exactly?

The art is the real star here, and it shines rather brightly.

"Savage Sword of Conan" #10 demonstrates that Conan's often better off with a sword in his hand than a clever word on his tongue.

Scouts Honor #3 packs in a bit too much plot to let us linger, but focuses on character growth when it matters most.

Second Coming #3 continues an entertaining and educational look at Christianity and all its facets with good humor and surprising subtlety.

"Sera and the Royal Stars" #4 slows down to try to go deep, with mixed results.

"SFSX" #2 would do well to slow down on its plot and go for internal growth for its characters if it wants to succeed beyond its message.

She Said Destroy #1 features a nice visual style, but cant penetrate its characters or its plot enough to deliver a compelling story.

Sheets will change the way you feel about your laundry. Forever.

Shoplifters Will Be Liquidated #1 goes for edgy too soon and stumbles a bit because of its zeal.

Sleeping Beauties #2 continues a literary adaptation thats a jumble of harsh lines, overzealous weirdness and intricate dialogue.

"Snap Flash Hustle" #1 is a neat take on the broke Millennial situation, with enough heart and promise to lift it above its minor technical flaws.

Something is Killing the Children #5 gives us the action break we need and builds enough intrigue to keep our attention.

"Spencer & Locke" #2 ups the stakes for Locke while preserving the mystery, and heart, of previous issues.

Spencer & Locke volume 2 is off to an imaginative and heartfelt start with some new comic strip and genre stylings and top-notch storytelling.

Spencer & Locke 2 #3 sets a frantic pace but tempers the action with the emotional resonance weve come to expect from the series thus far.

"Stake" #1 misses the mark with confusing layouts, a disjointed plot and forced humor.

Stargazer #1 is a solid first issue that goes hard on style and plot to make for an enjoyable read.

Steel Cage #1 pits three decent shorts against each other and leaves it up to the reader to decide which merits a full issue.

"Strange Skies Over East Berlin" #4 is a satisfying emotional conclusion to an esoteric, well-produced mini.

Supermans Pal Jimmy Olsen #1 nails the fun, fearless and feckless sidekick of legend with great storytelling, fine art, sophisticated colors and pro lettering.

"Sweet Heart" #2 makes a successful jump in time with a compelling lead but features too much narration to let its story take off.

Tartarus #2 adds richness to its world through tight plot control and intricate, highly engaging art.

The penultimate "Terminal Punks," issue #4, is out this week wherever fine comics are sold. You can pick up a copy on Mad Cave's website, and on Comixology.

"Test" #1 delivers an info overload that's well-crafted, controlled and deployed with ruthless precision.

"Test" #3 piles more symbols, narrative and longing into Aleph's story without the fine control needed to elicit pure chaos.

"That Texas Blood" #1 gets a little wordy a little quick, but offers enough intrigue to keep reading.

"The After Realm" #3 is another fun and well-wrought entry into Oeming, Soma and Lee's larger story.

The Blue Flame #1 spotlights an interesting superhero with character potential, but stutters just a little under its own narrative ambitions.

"The Butcher of Paris" #1 attempts to nestle the horror of a serial killer within the brutal landscape of Nazi-occupied France, but fails to build the mood and tension it needs to succeed.

The Clock #2 stumbles a bit in its balance of expository dialogue and artistic flair, but rights the ship with a few good moments.

"Empty Man" #1 talks too much and fails to build enough tension or sustain the dire mood a good horror concept needs to succeed.

"Forgotten Queen" #3 struggles with art issues and fast-paced plotting that ultimately leaves readers behind.

"The Girl in the Bay" #3 is a solid, compelling entry in this 4-issue story, with good storytelling by a competent creative team, and just enough mystery to keep us reading.

"The Impure" #1 drops us into a somewhat confusing but compelling sci-fi future, with familial strife and fascist revelations on the horizon.

The Marked #4 stops the momentum of the previous two issues with too much narrative, too quickly, and the book suffers as a result.

"The Plot" #4 doesn't rein in its storytelling enough to dazzle, but keeps the pace measured and the craft consistent.

The Plot #5 gives us some concrete story backed up by good visual craft, but it might come too late.

The Question: The Deaths of Vic Sage #1 pays tribute to an underrated classic and primes the pump for a trippy new adventure.

"The Resistance: Reborns" #1 rounds out some quick character building with good craft and a tight finished product.

Hellblazer #1 features Spurrier at his sharpest, dazzling visuals from Takara and Peter and excellent lettering from Bidikar.

Hellblazer #1 features Spurrier at his sharpest, dazzling visuals from Takara and Peter and excellent lettering from Bidikar.

"The Scumbag" #2 tries a little too hard to be clever in its writing and ends up missing the mark.

The Seeds #1 is a prime example of intentional narrative overload rooted in superb art.

The Silver Coin #1 delivers a solid first entry in this anthology horror series, with just a few rough edges.

A workhorse issue that sets up a concept with well-conceived pieces that don't quite add up to a unique or very compelling whole.

"These Savage Shores" #4 delights with confrontation, heartbreak and some vampire-clockin' vindication.

"This Love So Brief" is entertaining and expansive, with good art and solid craft in its storytelling.

"Thumbs" #1 packs a major punch for a first issue, with fine art and an intriguing concept.

Triage #3 hops ahead in the action a little too fast to support its character revelations and dramatic tension.

Unearth #1 is a clumsy foray into familiar storytelling territory that lacks visual cohesion and some finer craft points that make a compelling first issue.

You make a bit of a messy landing into the doctor's story, but from her appearance on, things change for the better. The last few pages demonstrate a leaner and dynamic touch that builds her relationship with her son deftly and organically, and makes the emotional final reveal pop. From here, the story most definitely leaves you wanting more. Overall, Destroyer is not just an update on a classic " this comic promises a unique lens into a fictional world that's both timely and engaging, and will most likely deliver.

"Vindication" #1 has conceptual promise but doesn't deliver enough skill in its story, artwork or colors to support its procedural realism.

"Wailing Blade" #1 is a fun story with too much visual detail on the page to initially pull off the tension it seeks.

Wasted Space#6 continues the hilarious, dark and weird saga of Billy, Dust and Molly as they try to … kill a god? Seems doable.

We take an emotional gut-punch of a breather this week in Wasted Space #8, with mournful and unsettling results.

"Wasted Space" #10 wraps an explosive arc with good plot movement, excellent art, gorgeous colors and fine lettering.

"Wasted Space" #13 changes the script right when we need a little more depth in the story to keep going.

Final Verdict: 8 - "White Ash" #4 does its world-building and plotting in equal measure without forgetting its emotional core.

"Wyrd" #1 tries to be too cool too fast, and with inconsistent layouts, scratchy art and trope-laden storytelling, the tension and atmosphere the book aims for evaporate under self-imposed chaos.

"X-O Manowar" #1 is an engaging reboot with a solid creative team behind it, and the book accomplishes everything a first issue should.

"Yasmeen" #6 balances true emotional growth and hope with a bit of stilted writing in this mini finale.