I understand that Assassin's Apprentice is a decades-old, multi-book saga with more than enough of a fanbase to warrant this impressive comic adaptation. That being said, the overwhelming bulk of the second volume's fifth issue is a man incessantly abusing pre-teens as a form of "training."

The character dive into Cobra Commander has been a welcomed surprise, giving depth to one of the most paper-thin villains of the 1980s toy-based cartoon empire.

Between the time skip and the final climactic battle, so much of this story called for it to be told as an epic saga on a grand scale, something that spans years rather than a mere eight issues. Yet what we have is excellent, and a surprisingly happy ending given how twisted the tale began.

There's no inner turmoil, Stephen's "Venomized" version is gone almost as quickly as it arrives and the book doesn't try to do much exploring into what a symbiote version of Strange's magic would look like beyond giving his cape an upgrade. But just like the other issues, it's more concerned with sprinting towards a big crossover finale with Moon Knight than it is exploring any of these combinations. And for that I remain slightly disappointed.

Dark Spaces: Dungeon's ending is challenging. What first seems like the climactic showdown is satisfying, but the reader can't shake the feeling that it's over too quickly.

I know the new X-Men status quo is on the horizon, but can't shake the feeling Marvel is trying to get in as much as it can before the big relaunch. Hence while Wolverine's ongoing "Sabretooth War" is still a lot of fun, it's become more of an Exiles book with each issue (and X-Force, since Laura is still in the fight).

Deadpool #1 didn't grab me. But the comics world is better off with an ongoing series centered around the Merc with a Mouth. This may not have broken any new ground, but it delivers on what it's aiming for and readers will certainly receive a few laughs. Sometimes that's enough.

It's a letdown, buoyed only by the fact that the fight between the two is pretty solid.

Duke, Baroness and company make their triumphant escape in spectacular fashion, but the story feels not closer to getting back to the big Transformers crossover storyline that keeps getting teased out.

After a strong opening issue, Predator: The Last Hunt #2 is mostly table-setting for a much bigger fight between Theta and the Nightmare Hunter.

After a slow couple of issues, Wolverine #46 kicks the "Sabretooth War" back into high gear.

Cobra Commander #3 is particularly twisted, showing our titular villain endure various forms of torture before expertly manipulating a group of backwoods killers into fighting each other all while tied to a chair.

Dutch wants to be so much more interesting than it actually is.

And yet between the haunting visuals and the stage being set for a satisfying conclusion, the letdown was outweighed by the writing still being genuinely excellent otherwise.

It's by no means a must-read, but I imagine this would be fun if you were keeping up with Marvel back then.

Our hero is on his way to a training arc, which feels like it will open the door to The Assassin's Apprentice actually living up to its title.

Scott Snyder has managed to capture that masterfully with Dark Spaces: Dungeon, as even as we see characters finally make progress in finding their serial killer in the penultimate issue we never escape the feeling that this will end horrifically.

Fishflies' mood and atmosphere continue to make it a standout title month after month. But with its fifth issue it's becoming clear that this thing needs to wrap up.

There's not much to the issue itself, but it's a win just to know more is on the way.

I know these are meant to be just fun crossover ideas, but it's the non-canon stories where writers can ask and answer interesting questions. No such luck here.

After the first two issues, a big question regarding the "Sabretooth War" event was whether or not it could keep up its hyper-violent tone and quick pace. That answer turned out to be a resounding "no" as the cast has not only ballooned over the last two issues to include the Exiles but it has pulled back almost completely on its claim of being Wolverine's "most violent event."

Duke #3 is straightforward and solid

What If: Venom #1 merges Venom with with She-Hulk rather than Eddie Brock, and but instead of keeping the story squarely in the 80s during Venom's initial arrival we quickly see a time jump where Venom's ability to overtake Jennifer Walter's body at night derails her life, eventually leaving her homeless. Unfortunately, the book never wants to dig any deeper than that.

Wolverine #44 finally gives us something of a break from the gorefest that has been the "Sabretooth War."

The book immediately reminds us that despite the characters involved this is extremely not children-friendly, and while making Cobra Commander the butt of a few jokes is fun it feels like padding for the much bigger story of Megatron being imprisoned by COBRA.

We get the return of the White Daredevil suit and a fun surprise at the end (though how they'll explain what *he's* doing in New York given everything happening in his current comic and the rest of the X-Men is quite beyond me), but this run as a whole still feels like it hasn't quite made it out of first gear and is becoming a little too reliant on cameo appearances.

And while Predator: The Last Hunt #1 is mostly table-setting, this could be a blast.

We're merely at a slow point in a much grander tale. Still, a slow read is a slow read.

Overall, the opening issue isn't groundbreaking, but its execution of familiar tropes is solid.

Dive in if you haven't already.

Every panel is loaded with a distinct style post-apocalyptic robotic futurism and the hints at humanities downfall through pollution and over-reliance on A.I. hit like a sledgehammer to the face. Yet it never manages to lose its sense of humor.

It's the weakest of the event so far, but after last issue I'll gladly a break from the splatterfest.

It's dark, but it's some of Scott Snyder's best work in years

I'd be lying if I didn't say the dialogue feels a little wooden, but compared to the blood-soaked modern alternative, sometimes retro cheesiness does the trick.

While the government conspiracy intrigue might not be as flashy as readers might expect, it's still infinitely better than previous G.I. Joe I've read in the past.

Quest #5's first half reads like a D&D boss fight, complete with dramatic character deaths and new item acquisitions.

Wolverine #42 is a gorefest, plain and simple. I won't dare go into all of the bloody details, but two issues in the "Sabretooth War" is living up to the hype of being Wolverine's most violent event to date.

. If these new books live up to the hype, 2024 could be a wild year for Image Comics.

If you're invested in the Energon Universe and its various books, Cobra Commander #1 won't waste your time. But of all the miniseries involved in the Energon Universe, it's the weakest start by far.

Like with Envy, the reader will likely figure out what's going on long before Matt does, but what little we get of the fight between the two is fun.

Still, it's the same tragic, heart-wrenching writing that has made this series so emotionally impactful.

The second chapter in the ongoing Assassin's Apprentice adaptation actually feels easier to pick up than the first issue for the uninitiated.

Fishflies #4 proves this series is something special.

Lord, Petrol Head is fun.

Subgenre attempts to put all its cards on the table with its third issue. Not only does it continue to play with the themes of A.I., intellectual property and repeated story structure across various genres, but it places its protagonist V as a member of a particular group responsible for repeated character tropes seen throughout history across various cultures.

The first installment in the new "Sabretooth War" event claims it'll be "the most violent Wolverine story ever told!" That's a hell of a claim considering just how gruesome Benjamin Percy's run has been by itself. But it turns out he (and former Sabretooth writer Victor LaValle, who also gets a writing credit) weren't bluffing.

Since the canonicity of these stories relative to the actual Marvel Zombies series seems to be tenuous at best, the fact that these two feel like legitimate endgames for the Marvel Zombies concept is a testament to their quality.

A literal killer film mixed with classic monster movies is a great concept and the first three issues did a solid job of executing that premise. It just stumbled at the finish line.

Duke #1 might not pack the same wallop as the early issues of the new Transformers run, but after enduring the incoherent mess of IDW's run on G.I. Joe in the late 2010s, I'll happily take a more streamlined version of the property rather than the endless parade of goofily-named characters mowing down enemies with extravagant military equipment.

Kill Your Darlings tosses in a few more narrative twists with Issue #4, though the jury is out this time on whether or not they'll work.

Wolverine's latest team-up is with Spider-Man for Wolverine #40. And while that's usually a fun dynamic, the bulk of the comic is spent in a dog fight in Earth's upper atmosphere.

To say the comic is dense is putting it mildly, though if you're neither a fan of the original books or didn't pick up the adaptation when you first started you're already behind the eight ball.

This is making a late push for one of the best horror comics of the year.

Three issues in, Marvel Zombie: Black, White & Blood still hasn't proven the need for more Marvel Zombies content. But once again it still manages to knock the reader off their feet with at least one excellent zombified short story.

Unfortunately, after a visually gripping debut in the series' opening issue, the latest demon gets wiped out almost surprisingly easy. Hopefully that doesn't become the trend.

Most of Petrol Head #2 is one long chase scene, but it's paced well and still manages to drop in a few key character moments.

R.L. Stine's latest Stuff of Nightmares installment Slay Ride is unfortunately all over the place.

The comic book finally jumps back to the original story in its final pages, indicating that while it wants to deal in some heavy topics, it also wants to have fun diving into different subgenres (hence the title). Whether or not it can balance those two goals remains to be seen.

The Mummy vs. Frankenstein's monster winds up making more sense than initially realized and The Creature From The Black Lagoon gets to look more threatening than he ever did on the big screen before locking horns with The Wolfman.

If Marvel Zombies is your bag, this series continues to provide.

On the one hand, Quest's sudden expansion of its main party has transformed the story from an Avatar: The Last Airbender style of quest into something more akin to a D&D campaign (complete with a mage who doubles as a bard).

Kill Your Darlings pours on the exposition with its third issue.

Overall I'd rank this below the recent issues with Hulk and Captain America but it's still decent.

Arcade Kings #5 once again delivers all the melodrama of pro wrestling and anime mixed with the visuals and visceral action of classic arcade fighting games.

A familiar face pops back up at the end that all but guarantees some in the near future, but it also feels like the book is taking its sweet time getting back to that demon idea first introduced in the new #1 issue.

Dutch #0 feels like the "Old Man Logan" equivalent to so many of the comics that flooded Image throughout the 90s. Over-the-top machines of death and destruction, guns that would snap a man's shoulder after firing a single shot and endless black-op, top secret teams with names that produce an eye roll as a reflex.

The nagging discomfort of the world Jeff Lemire has created never ceases, whether it be a scene of a police officer interrogating a drunken, abusive father or when that same officer calls home to his loving wife.

It's Transformers meets Death Race, what's not to love?

The series is still worth a look for fans of either franchise, but the best fights were clearly in the first half of the book.

Regardless of how you feel about current X-Men books, the four-issue Magneto run comes highly recommended.

It's a fun ride given the time of year.

This is a strong recommendation from someone who usually doesn't click with Snyder's work.

Did the world need any more Marvel Zombies? Probably not, but the latest spin on the Black, White & Red (now Black, White & Blood) gives it a good try.

Ever wanted to see a sword-wielding wolf slash its way through a group of hunters with gooey depictions straight out of a splatter film? Then you're in luck with The Wolf Child #4!

After a bonkers start to brand new run, Daredevil #2 feels like a surprisingly standard issue.

It may lack the emotional gut punch the original series had with Thumper's origin, but its worlds better than the Millville subplot that took up most of the miniseries.

It only takes a few pages of mostly wordless dialogue to see how the initial tragedy affected her. But it wasn't until one of her imaginary friends (a pink elephant crossed with Crocodile Dundee) arrives that I knew this book was working.

Its opening issue doesn't hit the level of "must read," but it's memorable.

Magneto #3 deals with some heavy subjects. Not only does it tackle the toxicity of parasocial hero worship, but it tackles Eric's background as a Holocaust survivor head-on and questions how he could ever side with humanity after being on the receiving end of the very worst of it.

Say what you will about Quest's art direction (and I have), but the series continues to impress with its ability to drip-feed its world building outside of mere exposition dumps.

It felt like the book really wanted to do something interesting with Raph having the same "Psycho Energy" as Bison and Chun Li but outside of the villains using it to power their bomb it seems like that's been dropped.

Wolverine #38 pairs the two up again, this time to bring down an auction (a framing device Percy's run seems to love) of stolen Krakoan artifacts. Some of the panels are great throwbacks to the entirety of X-Men's Krakoan era, but for the casual reader it's always fun to see these two mow their way through a legion of goons.

Admittedly, turning the Enterprise into a haunted house flooded with Holodeck creations could be fun, but this opening issue spends so much time having Deanna Troi drone on about the concept of fear that it forgets to be frightening or psychologically stimulating.

The Midnite Show is a clear love letter to classic monster films and the horror genre as a whole.

The ending twist might lead to something interesting down the road but you likely won't have to read any of this in order to understand what happens then.

If Maskerade's ultra-violence was able to win you over through it's first seven issues you'll be more that satiated with its ending. If not, get ready to look away.

If you arew up with Goosebumps or liked certain horror anthologies like Tales From The Crypt you'll feel right at home.

While the latest band of rogues is starting to resemble a Youngblood comic (I'm fairly certain the leader of the group was from the original Youngblood #1), I'm just glad we're out of that virtual world subplot.

Fishflies #2 isn't quite as gripping as the miniseries' opener, but it's still every bit as unnerving.

This comic was simply outstanding at times but felt like it was just starting a much bigger story.

The Lonesome Hunters: The Wolf Child #3 flies by.

It's a fun ride, but don't let The Hulk's billing on the cover distract you, he's not much more than a distraction.

Ahmed manages to make this feel like a bona fide Daredevil story. He may have swapped legal proceedings for sheltering orphans, but he still nails Murdock's internal struggle between his moral code and his ceaseless desire to combat evil.

Consider this a must-read.

I don't take too much stock in the "daughter" reveal and the New Mutants cast can't quite shed that 90s cheesiness at times, but everything involving Eric's mental struggle is gripping.

While the artwork still lacks a certain energy, Quest takes a noticeable step forward with issue #2 The story clearly wants to take its time with its rescue mission, so outside of a new member joining the party and reaching a riverside town there isn't much in the way of plot progression.

Arcade Kings takes a noticeable turn with Issue #4, stripping away most of the retro video game and anime concepts to leave the reader with a simple yet heart-wrenching argument between brothers that devolves into an intense fistfight.

It's not bad, but it feels so off-course compared to what Liefeld managed to do with the original Bad Blood miniseries.

Ken calling The Turtles "Under the Street Fighters" just made this whole series worth it. In all seriousness, issue #3 feels like the TMNT vs. Street Fighter crossover series has hit its stride.

Ultimate Invasion has revealed itself to not be a mystery box, but rather a multi-faceted vision of a radically different timeline in which a strange and unpredictable future may unfold. Besides a few panels with distractingly thick linework, Ultimate Invasion #3 puts the final pieces in place for a sprawling finale ready to set the stage for something utterly fantastic within Earth-1610. Bring on the finale.

Captain America: Sentinel of Liberty ends just as it begins with a rush to the finish.

If this is it for Alyssa Wong's run on Deadpool I'd say she nailed it.

If you're looking for a memorable Fantastic Four Annual, look elsewhere.

You can add The Science of Summer to the long list of Rick and Morty comics that just don't work.

Groo In The Wild has exactly two jokes Groo is an idiot and everyone is afraid of him. And those jokes are told over and over for the second of four issues and it has already stopped being funny.

The Lonesome Hunters: The Wolf Child's latest issue continues to set the mood for this isolated small town, but it takes a microscopic step forward in terms of plot progression.

Maskerade has reached its penultimate issue, but it's still unclear about how it feels about its titular character.

All of the mid-80s X-Men references might not click if you weren't reading back then, but this is a must-read for fans of the titular character.

The book clearly has some big narrative ambitions to the point that it might be able to work around its visual weaknesses, but it's a mighty hurdle to climb.

It's yet another skippable installment in this new What If? line.

Daredevil & Echo #3 certainly cranks up the action this issue, but it still struggles to find anything interesting for its modern day characters to do.

Deadpool #9 delivers one hell of a gut punch.

For a book that wants to touch on some pretty serious subjects its final issue has shockingly little to say.

Wolverine #35 finishes off the "Weapons of X" arc with a bang as the full X-Force team finally gets involved to tear its way through Beast's kaiju-esque fortress.

Overall, it feels like Steve Foxe was just scratching the surface on a much bigger concept, but if you're in the mood to dive into the surprisingly sparse "Giant Spider" sub-genre there's more than enough to enjoy across these four issues.

This remains a ton of fun and keeps building up a fully-realized word. My only hope is that the series is in it for the long haul.

This might be the weakest installment of the "Bad Blood" saga in quite some time but it's still got a few good lines sprinkled in there.

While the idea of both sides fighting their way through a tournament seemed promising, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles vs. Street Fighter abandons that premise midway through Issue #2 in favor of the two sides teaming up to try and stop M. Bison & Baxter Stockman.

It's a bizarre book but unquestionably memorable.

If you've ever been onboard with the character you'll likely enjoy this. If not, it's a slog to get through.

The Lonesome Hunters: The Wolf Child is very much a "hope you've been reading the series up until this point" kind of book.

Loki is a character that has evolved exponentially over the years, so to set the book in a time where he was void of all complexity makes for an incredibly boring read.

The miniseries likely won't have the same legacy as its iconic predecessor but it's unquestionably fun. Sometimes that's enough.

So far, the Daredevil & Echo series feels much less interested in reuniting the two titular heroes and more focussed on their 19th century ancestors.

After a relatively light-hearted first seven issue's, Alyssa Wong's Deadpool series takes an emotional turn with its eighth issue by finally reintroducing Wade's daughter Ellie to the picture. Well, sort of.

Call it a fun revival of classic Silver Surfer lore and very little else.

All Eight Eyes takes an interesting turn with its penultimate issue, taking a thorough dive into Reynolds' real backstory.

Arcade Kings' second issue can't quite match the same brilliance as its opener and it falls victim to repeating some of the same story beats (Joe comes to a new area, meets/fights some new characters, becomes friends with them, fights one of his dad's henchmen).

It's hard to tell if the series is nudging its way toward some sort of status quo or rush toward an ending (it still could honestly go either way) but the big emotional gut punches aren't hitting like they did back in the opening issue.

Doom's experiments with Venom give Eddie a chance to reflect on his relationship with the symbiotic, something later Venom comics will heavily dive into but it's fascinating to see that kind of introspection in the heavily stylized 90s setting.

The opening panels give the reader what they might think they want a massive battle between Wolverine, Maverick, Bannister, the US Military and Beast's massive underwater fortress. But the book once again proves it's much smarter than that, pulling away from the fight in favor of a sit-down conversation between Hank and Logan.

Breath of Shadows swung for the fences but couldn't make it to the warning track.

The book captures the right voice of each character and there's at least one interesting plot thread involving Bison trying to recruit Raph, but it won't blow you away as either a tournament arc miniseries or a major crossover

Deadpool #7 is built almost entirely out of a punchline-filled scene, so it's your standard Deadpool issue.

What started out as such a promising miniseries has devolved into a plodding mess over the past few issues.

If you like Venom but haven't kept up with what's currently going on with the character, this series is more than worth picking up.

All Eight Eyes #2 isn't much of an issue in its own right, but it does set the stage for bigger things down the road.

While many fans are thrilled to see these two working together again, Daredevil & Echo #1 is a bit of a mixed bag.

The best word I can use to describe Neighbors #3 is dreary.

Arcade Kings by Dylan Burnett is an absolute blast.

Maskerade #5 will start off by making you think this is the series' version of The Boys' "Herogasm."

Dragon Age: The Missing #4 takes a staggeringly large step back in terms of artwork.

I get wanting to crank up the tension and add in a human antagonist that makes the danger feel more personal. But compared to the rampaging cybernetic alien hoard blasting its way through Earth, a messed-up kid with a gun feels woefully out of place and a waste of time.

Despite how gory Wolverine has been lately, this issue suddenly decides to try its hand at comedy over the fact that instead of one power-hungry Beast, you're dealing with a whole group of them. Yet it surprisingly works, especially during a written conversation transcript.

Breath of Shadows #4 makes it increasingly harder to tell what's "real" and what's "metaphor."

Skull and Bones: Savage Storm felt incredibly uneven out of the gate, but its third (and seemingly final, at least of this miniseries) issue goes out on an incredibly high note.

Deadpool #6 takes the book firmly back into the world of slapstick comedy.

Image wraps up its 30th Anniversary year-long anthology on a high note, loaded with fun little one-shots like "Dirty Deeds," "Mascots," "Chance Meeting" and "Science Dog." Geoff Johns' "Blizzard," the highlight of the anthology from its opening issue, manages to stick the landing even if I'm not quite familiar with the franchise referenced in the final panels.

The Neighbors #2 manages to add in quite a bit ore emotional depth but doesn't do much in the way of progressing the plot.

Two issues in, Lethal Protector II is feeling less like a Venom throwback book and more of an opportunity to dive back into the 90s Marvel aesthetic.

Written and beautifully drawn by Stan Sakai, there's much to enjoy here for fans of both franchises, although the swap does make it seem like we won't get the Turtles and Usagi together for at least another issue. The Turtles, will have to deal with Usagi's distrustful friends, setting up a classic hero vs. hero misunderstanding, while the rabbit ronin will need to find his way back to the past.

Having shed the trappings of the zombie apocalypse setting the series had embraced, all that was left was a confrontation with the primordial creature that caused so much death and loss. The creature itself is nothing particularly special, nor is the supposed "final battle," but it perfectly embodies the series as a whole.

It still feels like the story won't kick into high gear until Travon is reunited with his classmates, but the book does a good job of explaining why the rest of Travon's kind suddenly want him dead.

It all feels like classic Marvel comics with simple action scenes (faceless AIM soldiers are the predominant bad guys of the issue) and The Stranger is little more than a man with a fancy spacesuit and distinct facial hair ranting and raving to himself. Even the artwork is giving off a more simplistic, retro feel.

The Giant Kokj begins with a kaiju defecating on an entire city block before literally fornicating with a building.

Breath of Shadows #3 pushes the plot forward quite a bit after last issue's meandering.

Skull and Bones: Savage Storm #2 kicks things up a notch with its second issue by introducing a more defined villain and giving the reader a better sense of which characters to care about.

The book keeps teetering its way into outright horror and it's all the better for it.

As for the issue itself, it falls a bit flat outside of a few chuckle-worthy lines. But at least the book is finally moving on from Harrower & Doc Ock as the villains as their schtick was starting to get old.

It makes for some interesting if not well-trodded sequences (getting stuck in a mirror dimension, everything being upside down) and is a fun enough read if you're not familiar with the subject material and all the proper nouns fly right over your head.

This is definitely worth a look for long-time Venom fans, no matter how long it's been since you've picked up his book.

The issues calls all the way back to the very beginning of this saga with Cyborg getting a chance to shine, something it feels like we haven't seen since the end of the initial run.

The Neighbors begins like most horror comics' do in their first issue, intentionally withholding as much information as possible while sprinkling in supernatural elements on top of eye-catching imagery and unnerving situations. And while Letizia Cadonici's artwork shines with background details and depictions of the lifelessness in certain people's faces, there's not much else to talk about in this uneven opening issue.

Image's penultimate issue to its 30th-anniversary anthology is one of its best installments to date.

There's still plenty of ground to cover regarding Travon, but this was a solid follow-up issue.

I'm not particularly attached to Hank as a character so this heel turn has been a lot of fun, but there's also a note buried in the issue that could hint at them reversing course if all of this isn't well-received.

Silver Surfer: Ghost Light #2 spends a big chunk of its run time recapping what happened to Al Harper way back in the earliest days of the Silver Surfer comic back in the late 60s. You can't really blame writer John Jennings for wanting to go this route given so few readers will know Harper's backstory, but it does pull the focus away from the Toni & Josh angle that made the first issue such a standout.

It's still unclear how much of this is truly a horror comic rather than a vivid metaphor for heroine addiction, but I have a feeling they're going to keep toeing the line of ambiguity for as long as possible.

The book was never meant to be more than a fun romp, and in that sense Bruce Campbell (yes, that one) delivered as the author. And while it never did much to separate itself from the surprisingly large amount of Nazi zombie content that's already out there, it never necessarily dropped the ball either.

None of the characters are particularly memorable and the grimy artwork makes it hard to tell certain characters apart, but at least the action scenes look cool.

There may be only two issues left, but I know fully believe Taylor can pull off an all-time great ending.

It's also unclear how big of a deal that final-page reveal is given that Carnage (vol. 3) is ongoing, but it should still kick this series into a new gear.

Dragon Age: The Missing continues to be incredibly dense for readers who didn't play the games, but it still manages to hold its own with great artwork from Fernando Heinz Furukawa & Rocio Zucchi.

Spider-Men: Double Trouble closes out with what's easily its best issue.

If you haven't jumped back into Hulk since Immortal Hulk ended, now feels like a good time.

And while there are plenty of new additions and one-shots this time around, the best remains the story that started it all in Geoff Johns & Andrea Mutti's "The Blizzard."

It doesn't appear, at least right now, if the ongoing "Sins of Sinister" event will wind up playing any sort of role in this, but Beast is so threatening as a villain that I'm actually hoping it doesn't happen.

Monarch #1 is one gut punch after another, but the characters it manages to create amidst the devastating chaos are already captivating.

It's hard to tell if this story of a fictional rockstar will land, but the imagery will definitely haunt you.

Even if you don't know the Surfer outside of his iconic Fantastic Four/Galactus role, this is worth a look.

This won't be the thing that gets me to finally play one of the games, but I didn't hate it.

Batman fans who have been following since Bane's initial introduction in "Knightfall" are well aware of how unevenly he has been used and the story does a good job of trying to encapsulate all the different aspects of the character from his early days as a calculating behemoth in peak physical and mental condition to his addiction storylines with the fictional Venom drug.

Deadpool #3 has a few fun character moments and keeps gradually unveiling what Carnage Jr. (Wade Jr.? Jury is till out on that one) is and how it relates to Wade. There's not much else, and the issue is even surprisingly light on action scenes.

Cartoon logic and light-hearted humor bring out the big laughs in the latest issue of Spider-Men: Double Trouble.

Maskerade continues to be a tough read, bouncing back and forth between incredibly crude dialogue and stomach-turning imagery.

Logan manages to finally restore his mind, but as has been the case with the rest of this arc, it was through more stomach-churning body horror.

I think I've finally figured out what's not clicking about Sgt. Rock vs. The Army of the Dead. It has all the quips and fun action scenes you'd expected from a comic penned by Bruce Campbell, but the zombies never feel like an actual threat.

There are better vampire stories out there within the DC Universe, and for now this one feels mostly unfinished.

"Dead Eyes" produces the best of them, while "The Blizzard" and "Hack/Slash vs. Image" continue to be the best of the reoccurring installments. The rest ranges from boring to outright depressing.

Spider-Men: Double Trouble continues to be a ton of fun with its second issue.

War of the Undead Gods #5 goes the second route by having him to lose Darkseid in laughably quick fashion, causing this series to feel like it has been spinning its wheels for the past few issues.

Trve Kvlt's final issue winds up being as stale as the past few issues.

This puts plenty of current horror comics to absolute shame.

If you're on the side of fandom that feels an infinite multiverse within DC is the right call, this will likely be a fist-pumping one-shot as we move toward the finale of Dark Crisis and DC's next impending reboot. If not, it's at least cool to look at.

Issue #2 has some particularly graphic body horror imagery (and for a Deadpool comic, that's really saying something!), but this symbiotic angle continues to be intriguing.

It all ends on arguably the best cliffhanger the series has ever produced, making it easily the best issue of this particular miniseries.

Some are definitely better than others Iris West and Linda Park get a fun interaction, Jim Corrigan and The Spectre have reunited which feels like it will be a bigger deal later on and we get to see Red Canary finally meet Black Canary after following-up on what happened in The Dark Army one-shot.

Like most Smith productions, it's best appreciated if you have solid background knowledge on Smith's entire catalog of work.

You don't necessarily need to be following the latest ongoings with Thor to appreciate this comic as it's a must-read for any Thanos fans out there.

The creative team once again bring a light-hearted comedic tone and the addition of writer Vita Ayala helps bring a new voice to Miles, who is now in the main character role.

Some fun banter and solid action make for the best installment of Bruce Campbell's series so far.

The standouts from Image! #8 are a pair of Casanova entries, the continuation of the utterly bizarre "Closer" short story and the preview for James Tyrion IV's WorldTr33.

Dark Crisis' Young Justice six-issue tie-in lands with a bit of a thud thanks to what feels like incredibly rushed artwork and panel layout.

DCeased: War of the Undead Gods #4 feels like a bit of wheel-spinning, as what initially appears to be a civil war breaking out among the surviving heroes is quickly undercut by the revelation that a god is simply pulling a few strings.

Maskerade #3 reveals Felicia's equivalent to the "guy in the chair" in Frisky, someone with direct ties to her origin who actually wants to try and repent for her past mistakes.

Wynd: The Throne in the Sky #4 is surprisingly uneventful, mostly diving into a myth that feels like it would've benefited the plot much earlier in this tale.

If you've made it this far into Multiversity: Teen Justice, the sixth and final issue gives you a nice fist-pumping finale.

Writer Geoff John's The New Golden Age tries to straddle the line of being frustratingly impenetrable for casual reads and just compelling enough for people to check out the new Justice Society of America series, Stargirl and whatever big events are coming in the pipeline. But even if you've read all the required reading this comic connects toFlashpoint, Flashpoint Beyond, Doomsday Clock, a passing knowledge of Helena Wayne as Huntress, the JSA, various Doctor Fates and whatever the hell is going on with Watchmenyou're still going to need to draw out a chart to make sense of it all.

Definitely a step up from the past few installments.

It's easily the goriest issue in recent memory, but unlike so many Wolverine storylines you won't be cheering once the violence starts.

Deadpool's new solo run is off to a strong start under Alyssa Wong. Not only do they have a strong grasp of Wade's sense of humor, but they also grasp that his comedy works best when the characters around him are able to hit back with sarcastic retorts.

It's a fun little read if you enjoy the dynamic of the current MCU lineup.

Quick Stops is a fun little love letter to the View Askew-niverse, loaded with references to its various films. Definitely worth a read for any Jay & Silent Bob fans.

The artwork remains the book's highlight, but there's not much of speak of regarding character development.

The highlights this time around are "The Blizzard" (though its artwork somewhat betrays a few emotional moments), an excellent finale for "Dutch," "Hack/Slash" and "Closer."

Mech Strike: Monster Hunters with a fun final fight between Doom and what can best be described as a Groot Megazord.

Wolverine #26 picks up where the series had to leave off during the A.X.E. event and takes a shockingly gruesome turn in its latter half.

It's messy, but it's possible the next issues cleans things up.

It's quite a bold move for Tom Taylor to change things up now, but he has yet to lead this series astray. Also there's a great Lobo scene.

Once again, Trve Kvlt's good ideas get weighed down by an obscene amount of dialogue. And don't let that cover fool you, there's nothing as exciting as that in the issue.

Wynd's latest issue takes a bold turn with its ending, quite literally tossing away what looked to be the big bad of the series in favor of a new character. The jury is out on whether or not the choice will work, but it's a good issue, otherwise.

Most of the installments are admittedly skippable and a couple don't even really bother with the theme. But if you feel so inclined, read the Phantom Stranger's "The Longest Night," Super Sons' "Trick or Treat" and the Damian Wayne & Deadman team-up at the end.

Maskerade takes a few more dark turns with its second issue, and while its writing remains just as punchy it's starting to dip into the mean-spirited territory.

There's a dangling plot thread from the last issue that sticks around for a little bit, but don't get too excited. And while the writing is fine, Federico Vincentini's artwork is so cluttered that it's often hard to make out what's happening in each panel.

The highlights this time around include "The Blizzard" (back after a weak previous installment), "Dutch," "The Pro" and the latest Hack/Slash vs. Image.

If you've made it this far, it's an emotional gut punch.

So yes, it's another Nazi zombie story a trope so old it actually predates Sgt. Rock the comic book character by more than 10 years and since became something kids keep mowing down in video games.

Beware the Eye of Odin has a fist-pumping climactic battle, but it only ever felt like the first portion of a much larger story.

Jury is out on how well this will all tie back into the event, but if nothing else at least it's trying to say something about fan culture.

Tom Taylor also pulls out one of his favorite tricks by turning the series' top villain into a Yellow Lantern, which is a nice Injustice callback.

After shockingly little action in this series recently, this issue finally cranked up the fight scenes.

Where Starships Go to Die is trying very hard to wrap up all of the bizarre symbolism spread throughout the previous issues into one cohesive idea and it almost sticks the landing, but then the writing starts getting bogged down again in clunky dialogue and bad horror tropes.

Some excellent dialogue scenes and a solid introduction to a new villain. This is really getting good.

The concept is pretty solida vigilante in a crime-riddled town with a nifty face-changing gimmickand the writing flows so smoothly that it could've been lifted from one of Smith's movies.

Trve Kvlt #2 doesn't quite hit the same highs as issue #1.

Image! #5 has the start of what looks like a fun Hack/Slash short story and a couple of previews for some upcoming graphic novels. The rest is skippable, and even the usually-great "Blizzard" story has no real progression.

Teen Justice continues to present some interesting ideas with its gender-flipped concept, but even an action-filled issue like this seems to move at a crawl.

Wolverine's tie-in to the ongoing Judgment Day series sees callbacks to his previous trip to hell and the attempt to kill the Progenitor.

Deadpool: Bad Blood sticks the landing on the emotional climax it had been building towards.

This issues shows off a handful of new mechs including an awesome bestial design for Thanos, but they're all limited to one page apiece.

Transformers: Last Bot Standing closes on a touching, bittersweet finale.

Beware The Eye of Odin #3 continues this book's streak of outstanding action mixed with fascinatingly bizarre artwork.

Nyx #9 is yet another issue that proves this series' writing deserves better.

Tynion has done an excellent job building up a fully-realized fantasy world, and the first issue of the latest Wynd series is evidence of that.

It's still unclear if this is directly connected to what's happening with the Justice League over in the central Dark Crisis series, but at least there's some forward momentum.

This could be a fun one.

At the very least, it looks like this next issue might break that cycle. But I've been wrong before.

DCeased: War of the Undead Gods #1doesn't quite justify why DCeased required another series.

For a book about the Avengers dressing up in giant metal armor suits to fight monsters, there is a shocking amount of dialogue crammed into this issue with very little robot action.

This series is starting to feel like it would've been best served as one long graphic novel rather than get spaced out over monthly issues.

Between the trolls and the Earthen Smiths, the best part of this book continues to be its outstanding creature designs.

Image! #4 wraps up a few of the longer-running stories in the series, but unfortunately only "Hopeless" seems to stick the landing.

. The commentary is by no means subtle, but sometimes anvils need to be dropped. But why all of this is happening in a Dark Crisis tie-in series remains to be seen.

The flashbacks to their friendship has some surprisingly emotional moments and Liefeld shows he can still balance Wade's humor with the more serious moments.

Fire in the Blood #4 has a big reveal and a fun creature design, but it's a twist you probably saw coming if you correctly guessed what the metaphor surrounding the two families has been about.

Once again, the strongest part of the book is the family drama and the climax of this issue delivers.

Transformers: Last Bot Standing kicks things up a notch in issue #3, adding Energon back into the equation while further explaining the connection between Shib's family and Radium's Prime.

In theory, a sequel miniseries could go off in some interesting directions for this version of Rick. But as it is now, it's an average Rick and Morty comic.

It remains utterly fantastic, even if it's still not clear what the final reveal means.

The repeating plot beat of evil empires making it to space and the moon is an odd choice and seems irrelevant by the time the second reveal emerges. At least the action is inventive.

It's not a great book by any means, but it feels like a necessary one.

The only downside with the series so far has been the mountain of dialogue the reader is asked to get through, though that can be excused given how many characters have been introduced.

Sonja's story has the most interesting concept and Will Rios' art helps the Qutermain story stand out, but none of it feels like a must-read.

Three issues into Image's 30th Anniversary anthology and certain series have continued to stand out among the rest. "Hopeless" and "Shift" continue to be the best parts of each issue and sincerely deserve to be expanded into their own series.

Sadly, there's not nearly enough fighting.

Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines feels less like any sort of finale and more like the next chapter in a much longer story.

Aside from aforementioned close-ups on human faces, there's nothing offensively bad about Beware The Eye of Odin #1. And it's possible the story picks up steam in the next three installments. But as an introduction, it struggles to find its footing.

Dark Crisis: Young Justice gets one of the more interesting angles of the ongoing event, showing how the members of Young Justice are dealing with the sudden demise of their mentors.

While the flipping back and forth between time periods brings the pacing to a crawl, Manor Black #3 has some solid visuals and some surprisingly quiet moments that bring real weight to the family drama.

This continues to be one of the best runs I've ever read.

There's quite a bit of mean-spirited violence at Deadpool's expense throughout the issue and the big mystery involving Danger doesn't deliver any answers, but the final panel makes the rest of this arc look very promising.

Multiversity: Teen Justice #1 shows Earth-11's version of Young Justice/Teen Titans, and while it's not the first time readers have encountered the gender-swapped group, it's fun seeing the new set of characters interact.

If dark, twisted humor is you're thing you'll get a few laughs out of this. If not, it's a long read.

The issue does a decent job of balancing classic Transformers storytelling with a Logan-esque plot and it'll be interesting to see if it goes into full horror in the next issue.

It's all over the place, but at least it's somewhat entertaining and the art style is solid.

Hardware: Season One's final confrontation wraps up fairly quickly, but if you've been along for the ride so far you'll enjoy the finish.

Each issue of Rick and Morty: Infinity Hour winds up getting sidetracked by awkwardly-written comedic detours, but when it's actually trying to do its own take on Star Wars it's not half bad. Issue #3 is no exception.

Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines #5 is stuffed with world-building exposition that hinders the book's pacing compared to previous issues. But, like just about everything else involved in the story, the writing is solid.

The second Image! anthology is once again a mixed bag.

A good read from start to finish.

Wolverine #21 leans more into the annoying side of any Deadpool crossover with way too much of the book being dedicated to him (and this is coming from a Deadpool fan).

Every panel that includes a Wraith is simply magnetic, though the Resolve Class and Lurk continue to impress as new additions.

The book is definitely going for a "Transformers meets Logan" vibe, but your mileage will vary based on how well you like the non-robotic characters.

Hardware: Season One continues to entertain and the writing surrounding Curtis is excellent, but the latest issue is a bit hard to follow (especially during action sequences) because of some clunky artwork.

It's easy to see what Bylines in Blood was trying to do as a seriesmash together the trappings of the hardboiled detective noir genre with a futuristic sci-fi setting. And while the design of that future is an interesting one, it can't overcome how bland the mystery winds up being nor how thoroughly unlikable the protagonist is.

Unfortunately the comic barely advances the plot and Rick does little of substance besides get drunk and kill a group of alien bugs in quick fashion.

It's a ton of exposition to get through but I can never accuse it of being boring.

There's not much Wolverine, but their team-ups are always fun.

IMAGE!, the first of 12 Image 30th Anniversary anthologies, features the first of 10 stories from a wide variety of creators. The quality of each varies, but given how many people are involved that comes as no surprise.

Issue #2 of the second Kill Lock series is just as great as its return.

The book tries to keep much of the fourth-wall-breaking meta humor that made Deadpool comics great in the 2010s, but it often shifts back into 90s cheese with over-the-top violence, cringe-inducing one-liners and insane character designs.

All the while the book keeps tipping its hand at Beast having some nefarious plot while leading the group from Krakoa. That winds up being more interesting than the action of the book, which is just okay.

This story keeps on getting better.

There's not much of a satisfying ending and the book pulls its punches on just how ugly things can get when you're a strike team working for The Kingpin (something it wasn't afraid to do with its first issue), but it still shows just how cruel Fisk can be.

Bylines in Blood continues to be a tough read due to a thoroughly unlikeable main character, but at least issue #3 has an interesting twist and a soldi cliffhanger.

Much like Nyx #2, the latest issue gets back to hitting its stride by mixing the fantastical (demons, god kings, the hierarchy of Hell) with painful realities (abusive relationships between parents and their children).

It's not quite clear yet if this is Rick C-137 from the show, but it's nice to spend some time with a Rick who hasn't been beaten down by his signature nihilism or affected by Diane's death.

It's far too early to say where The Kill Lock will go from here, but The Artisan Wraith was able to produce an excellent issue without its titular (and best) character present for 98% of the story. One issue in and this series is every bit as excellent as its predecessor. -

Overall the miniseries is worth a read if you're keeping up with DC's major events, but most of these cliff notes will likely get covered in the upcoming events.

Manor Black: Fire in the Blood continues to be increasingly more interested in the flashback storyline than what's happening in the present day.

Arrowsmith picks up in quality significantly with issue #2.

John Walker is the worst, and unfortunately, the second issue of Villains for Hire centers around him. Your enjoyment will depend entirely on how much you can stand U.S. Agent.

Hardware: Season One #4 plays out like one long chess game between Curtis and Alva, and each tactical move is brilliantly revealed.

Nyx #4 introduces what might be the best character of this series.

It's still hard to tell where Bylines in Blood is going two issues in.

It's fine if you don't mind the massive exposition dump.

Some interesting visuals are sprinkled throughout, but it still seems more interested in teasing out different mysteries.

Seven Swords wraps up with a fun, climactic battle, forcing all of the main characters to battle Satan himself inside the Roman Coliseum.

Pages of droning dialogue combined with very little action make for yet another uninspiring issue.

There's not much in terms of story, but going full-speed after well over a decade away would've likely left most readers puzzled.

Having the Thunderbolts work as Mayor Kingpin's hired muscle is a great call and while the lineup (Rhino, Agony, Electro, Taskmaster, Whiplash, a surprise sixth member) seems like it would make for a good Suicide Squad-esque romp, this first issue pulls the rug out from under you by reminding you just how lethal and merciless each of these villains can get.

Nyx #3 has a fun little crossover with Vampirella but seems to brush off all of the serious subject matter that had been in the first two issues.

Don't let the flashy cover fool you, Wasterlanders: Black Widow is just as grim and dark as the rest of this post-apocalyptic pocket of the Marvel universe.

Bylines in Blood makes for a decent hardboiled murder mystery.

There are still some fun bits as the story jumps between universes but your milage will vary wildly based on how well you can stomach that aforementioned plot.

Impossible Jones #2 still can't quite find its footing.

Justice League Incarnate #2 starts off with a visual feast as the titular group spends some time in the horror-filled Earth-13.

Wolverine #19 is a fun little one-shot, focussing on Logan battling a Leviathan off the coast of Krakoa.

Rick and Morty: Corporate Assets still feels like a weak episode of the TV through its first two issues.

The issue wastes no time confirming there's a greater mystery behind the situation but is obviously in no rush to reveal any more information.

Taking concepts as big as demons and the hierarchy of Hell and mashing it together with grounded sensibilities (making a role like the God of Chaos feel like an unfortunate day job) is always a fun combination, but the artwork doesn't go far enough to match the overly-dramatized scale the rest of the book is going for.

Campisi: The Dragon Incident certainly ends on a high note with its fourth and final issue.

After the somewhat incomprehensible nature of Infinite Frontier from earlier this year, Justice League Incarnate #1 mercifully simplifies DC's massive multiverse plans by narrowing its focus.

Wolverine #18 provides some solid action and a satisfying ending.

If you enjoy Liefeld's work you'll feel right at home here.

Your mileage may vary on the artwork as its decent enough but the aggressive titillation may come off as distracting.

Rick & Morty: Corporate Assets takes some well-deserved shots at online influencers and certain toxic fandoms, but it's lacking in jokes and its hook comes off more as annoying than creative.

Campisi continues to be a bizarre series.

Well, this was underwhelming.

Some solid artwork and brief jungle-based action, but this opening issue for volume 2 of Sheena is rather dialogue-heavy.

There's very little story, we don't know what the plot is actually about until the final panel (Bayou zombies!) and the book feels like it's trying to compensate with as much blood, sex and toilet humor as possible to stop the reader from getting bored.

Wolverine #17 is just about everything you could ask for from a solo issue about Logan.

There's not much character development to speak of, Nubia gets little to do despite being on the title and cover, but if you love this corner of DC you'll feel right at home.

Batson's humor and optimism finally get the chance to shine through and what gets teased for Teen Titans Academy sounds like it could be a lot of fun.

Remember that gross-out scene in the first Iron Man where Pepper freaks out about the puss in Tony's chest hole as she's pulling out the electromagnet? Imagine an entire comic dedicated to that feeling of discomfort.

Lucky Devil #3 assures its readers that, despite the last issue being fairly bloodless, this series is far from finished with its ultraviolent gorefest sequences.

A group of literary heroes executes a heist mission on The Vatican. It's exactly as much fun as you'd think!

The Worst Dudes continues its Greek God Pantheon by way of Aqua Teen Hunger Force theme for its final issue.

The ultimate confrontation of the book feels like it was cut down due to time/space and, as a result, it feels like a few punches were pulled. But the final image is fantastic and it's a decent character piece for Starscream.

Solem presents himself as an interesting potential foe for Wolverine and the rest of the X-Man, but a Deux Ex-Emma-Frost stops whatever threat he potentially poses dead in its tracks.

The first issue isn't the easiest of reads"Jones' powers make for some very odd panels and the story is told completely out of our"but there might be something fun here.

Shazam #3 is fun but frustrating.

. Issue #2 also seems to acknowledge that its titular character is a bit insufferable and knocks him down a few pegs by the end. One could call the book self-aware for that, but having him still be the narrator continues to be grating.

But this one-off is much more interested in the twist hiding in its final splash page. Whether or not the twist works is TBD, let's see how the rest of the event plays out.

The arc's final fight isn't nearly as intense as Wynd's fight with the Bandaged Man (it's surprising just how easy the villains lose this time around), but it looks like the next arc will be more action-heavy and I'm all for it.

The Shepherd: Path of Souls presents a fascinating concept"soldiers of different eras combatting their own trauma in the afterlife, and there are a couple of fun twists playing on the ideas of Biblical angels and purgatory. But it does get held back somewhat by an art style where nearly everyone's faces are similar (which makes it all the harder to determine who is speaking during combat scenes) and wave after wave of narration over-explaining what's happening.

Personally, I think the ideas presented here are far more interesting than the last issue's splatter-fest but won't mind if the series tries to balance the two going forward.

Phantom On The Scan #5 takes a turn right back into the alien infection by way of body horror subgenera Cullen Bunn adores. It doesn't quite mesh with the dream-like vibe the rest of the story (and it's unique artwork) was going for but it at least ends well.

Taarna: The Cosmic Gardener lives up to Heavy Metal's reputation"unique artwork and fascinating visuals, but very little else.

The obnoxiousness of these characters isn't getting any less grating.

Seven Swords continues to swing back and forth between swashbuckling action and references to the literary characters that make up its cast. Issue #3 swings more towards the latter, so your mileage may vary.

The latest issues gives a bit more information about Solem's backstory, but little else.

It's fine for the Saturday morning cartoon aesthetic it's going for, but nothing more.

We get to learn about a few more characters and have some fun inside of a demonic casino, but are still in the dark about why Billy's powers aren't quite working.

The end result is a surprisingly nonchalant tone, and while the main character isn't very likable there might be something fun here.

The New Day: Power of Positivity still has the heart of why the WWE trio is so successful. Unfortunately, the book decides to diverge even further away from what really happened when the group rose to prominence, and what they've swapped in is just goofy.

By the end, you know why Cullen Bunn structured the issue this way, but this series could have started on a much higher note if the framing device had been ditched.

The mid-2000s Adult Swim aesthetic was fine at first, but with The Worst Dudes #3 being so slow The Worst Dudes is really starting to become a grind.

What starts off as a dialogue-heavy, character-driven issue turns into a blood-soaked disaster in its final few pages.

Phantom on the Scan #4 doesn't do much in the way of plot (it looks like that's being saved for next issue), but it does dive into the utter despair these characters find themselves in.

Shadow Doctor's end is just as solid as its beginning, but I'd be lying if I didn't say there's a feeling of "That's it?" when the final page states the story is over.

You've got a murder mystery, Wolverine is playing the detective In Madripoor alongside pirates jousting on speedboats. What's not to like?

Seven Swords has a few fun action scenes tied together with snappy dialogued the revelation of a villainous scheme that's positively bonkers. It's a ton of fun.

Shazam #1 is a fun little opening issue, even if you're not caught up on Teen Titans Academy or the bigger ongoing DC events.

Like every Rick and Morty comic the writing can't quite match the show's pacing or delivery, but there are more than a few lines that feel right at home with some of the funnier episodes.

It's still hard to see who this book is for.

But while it's lacking in originality, its execution in familiar zombie tropes is spot-on.

If you get past the first page without wincing you're right at home.

It's worth a read whether you're a WWE fan or not.

Wynd #8 turns out to be another lore-heavy issue, this time explaining the backstory behind the Faeries and Vampyres.

The Bequest manages to end on a satisfying high note, giving each of the characters at least one standout moment as the tale reaches its final climax.

Mark Torres' art is once again the undisputed highlight of Phantom on the Scan. But while the etherial imagery does some fantastic work displaying the sullen mood and the different ways each character's telekinesis works, it has comes with the downside of being difficult to decipher during action scenes.

Wolverine #13 is barely a Wolverine comic but does keep the story chugging along and gives Beast an interesting character beat.

Fans of the classic literature characters will undoubtedly get a kick out of this opening issue, but if you haven't read up on all of these characters you might be a little lost as the references to their previous adventures smack you right in the face.

Red Sonja 1982 is every bit as goofy as you might expect.

We're definitely hitting that mid-Two Towers/most-of-Game of Thrones period where the main characters are all splintering off into groups heading in various directions. If you don't mind that storytelling structure this is a pretty fun read.

Unfortunately neither the mystery nor the monster is all that interesting meaning there's not much to latch onto.

The three protagonists are pretty insufferable, so if you like the It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia approach then you might get a kick out of this.

Shadow Doctor #4 tackles two very different subjects but manages to juggle both incredibly well.

The Bequest feels like its finally picking up momentum with Issue #3, moving further away from the "D&D Campaign Turned Into a Comic" vibe and more into the social commentary it's clearly more interested in covering.

Godzilla: Monsters & Protectors still feels very much like a Saturday morning cartoon about Godzilla. There's just one problem"he's not it the issue at all.

Phantom On The Scan #2 can't quite keep up the momentum of that solid opening issue, but it does have one exceptional horror sequence.

Scout's Honor ends with a perfect climactic issue.

The interactions between Wynd, Yorik, Oakley and Thorn are all still great and the Vampyrium look like a fun new cast of villains (I love how their somewhat modern technology instantly clashes with the fantasy setting despite being over-the-top vampires), but don't let your expectations run wild heading in.

M.O.D.O.K.: Head Games ends on the highest of notes.

Shadow Doctor delivers another excellent installment with issue #3, this time combining a thought-provoking mediation on the nature of medicine with Nathniel's attempt at saving one of Al Capone's men.

Shadow Service #7 cranks back up the horror and unique creature designs after a slow couple of issues.

U.S.Agent's "American Zealot" ends as it began: Something of a mess.

The Bequest #2 is thankfully nowhere near as dense as that first issue, but it feels like it still hasn't hit its stride yet when it comes to D&D meets modern Chicago.

From its story structure to its characters to its art design, everything about Godzilla: Monster & Protectors #1 screams Saturday morning cartoon.

I have a feeling I already know where some of this is going, but Mark Torres art really hooks the ready in with a spooky atmosphere.

Even though Kit's realization midway through Issue #4 comes off as a bit hokey, Scout's Honor continues to be an underrated gem in its penultimate issue.

For the diehard Edgar Allen Poe fans out there who have enjoyed this series from the start, this is a fun send-off.

It's light on the creatures and horror this time around but keeps up a solid pace (even if the narrator for the issue is deliberately dour).

Why U.S.Agent continues to be told in such a deliberately obtuse way (constant flashbacks, multiple narrators) I'll never know.