Christa Harader Comic Reviews

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

"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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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.

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.

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

"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.

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

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

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

"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

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.

"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.

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

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.

"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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

"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.

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

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

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

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.

"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.

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

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

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.

"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.

"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.

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

"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.

"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.

"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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

"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.

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

"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.

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.

"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.

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

"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.

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

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

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

"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.

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!

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

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

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

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

"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.

"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.

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.

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

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.

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

"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.

"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.

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

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

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

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

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.

"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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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

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

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

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.

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

"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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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?

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?

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.

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.