This book is tricky and complex and frustrating at times but it works if you just let yourself get lost in this amazing world Bertrand has created.

Crime Destroyer is a weird book. It's got a great look and feel to it, but it's also one I can't really figure out. I'm not sure if it's a serious book or if it's all a joke. But I also don't know if it matters. I had fun while reading it, even while I was shaking my head at the over-the-top ridiculous parts. It's silly and strange and I know that there's nothing ground-breaking over even original happening here, but that also doesn't matter.

I thoroughly enjoyed Atomahawk. The story is solid and well written. But it's the art that got me. It's some of the most original and perfectly fitting comic book art I've seen in a long time. The only upsetting thing to me about this book is that it appears Cates and Bederman are not going to be creating any more of it. The story itself is fully told here, with a definitive ending. But I would very much like to see more stories come out of this universe. Or at least with this creative team working together again.

And for the art: I'm not familiar with Mitch Gerads. But the art was more bad than good. It was inconsistent at best.I didn't hate this issue. Like I said, there were maybe three to four pages of actual story here and those were decent, but overall, this issue missed the mark for me.

I stand by my review of Batman #15, but this issue really did bring it back around for me. I'm excited to see where the story goes with the rest of the I Am Bane story arc.

I'm really excited to see where King takes this book next issue. I'm digging the psychological thriller vibe of it. The darkness of it. Don't get me wrong, Batman's usually pretty dark and brooding, but it's nice to get a little bit of his human side too. To remind us that he's just a man under that cape and cowl.

I would imagine that there are still two issues left in this story line and I have no idea where they are going to take us. But I imagine that they will be action-packed and psychologically draining and a wild ride. I'm excited (as I always say) to see where King and Finch go with this.

Listen, I understand this is a Batman book. And there are two types of people when it comes to Batman books. Some people are going to love it and some are going to hate it. that's just how it is with a book like this. And I get that. I can see it from both sides. Because if you've been reading Batman for any length of time you know how these things usually turn out. They fight, they fight, they fight and then Batman inevitably saves the day, locks the bad guy up, and then it's only a matter of time before they either escape or are released for whatever reason and the whole thing starts over again. I know that going into books like this. I know things will happen but very few of them will have a lasting effect on anything. But sometimes it's just about the ride. That's fine too.

I know I rag on superhero books often. But I do like them. I really do. I think it's just the nature of a comic book fan. To talk shit. To break down every little piece of something I had nothing to do with. Batman's always been a favorite of mine, but it's one that I had started to grow bored with. Again, until Tom King. He might not be telling the best stories, but he's telling them in interesting ways. He's getting below the surface of all the shit. He's breaking overdone characters down and making them interesting again. And that's perfectly okay with me.

I am excited to check out the rest of Batwoman's series (and I'll probably even go back, now, and read some of her past stuff), but I would say that if you're super caught up on what she's been up to, you could probably skip this issue and be totally fine when the next one comes out.

Usually, I don't get down with fantasy books. But like I said before, I think Black Cloud is something really special. It is like nothing else I've ever read before. It's a book that expects things from the reader. There will be no hand-holding here. Which is something I think can turn a few readers off; having to do some of the work themselves when it comes to figuring out the story. I think this was a really smart first issue that focused more on establishing an emotional connection between the reader and the protagonist. It was very much more interested in the "who" and less so the "what," "why," and "how."

Overall Black Hammer has consistently been one of the better books coming out each month. And with this issue, I feel like it's taken that up a notch. I'm not sure what's in store for the characters in this book in the coming issues but there was some heavy foreshadowing in this issue, with Colonel Weird and the Para-Zone, with his being able to see past, present, and future all at once. I love this book and I hope David Rubin comes back to its pages to do the art more and more.

I know there are going to be some people who never give this book a chance because of the political undertones " because of their own political beliefs. These are people that are happy to read the same stories over and over again and never be challenged. But fuck that. That's boring. Give me new ideas and new stories any day over the same old superhero shit. Give me a book the presents different ideas. Black Mask Studios has been a hit or miss publisher for me in the past. But this seems to be the year they turn that around. With first The Dregs and now Calexit, they have my full an undivided attention.

I keep going back to the word fun in this review. And that's what I thought this book was. It was just fun. I like fun things. I like having fun. And even if this isn't something I'd normally read, who gives a shit? I enjoyed this book and have a feeling I will continue to do so in the next few issues.

Crosswind is an interesting book. I'm digging it. I am, however, slightly afraid that it won't hold up over subsequent issues. I'm not sure though. It just might. Hopefully. Another thing I'll keep my fingers crossed for is that they bring in someone different to color the book. Because that's a real buzzkill. I honestly would have rated this issue at a 4 or maybe ever a 5 if it weren't for the coloring. I don't know.

There's a lot going on in Curse Words. Good writing and great art. It's a fun book that I now look forward to with every new release. My one fear is that it won't be able to carry on this level of good-ness for too long. That what is so fresh and fun now will get old and tired after some time. I wonder how long it will be until the shtick wears off, if it ever does.

Listen, I know Curse Words isn't reinventing the wheel here or anything. There is nothing outright groundbreaking happening in this book. But it's a fun read and a needed bit of absurd escapism. I, for one, am excited to see where this thing goes in the next arc. I think it will be nice to be able to explore this world through other characters, which seems to be where the next arc is heading. Maybe. Hopefully. I like Wizord as a character but he's kind of a one trick pony. His story keeps recycling itself. He loses his powers, he finds more magic to absorb, he wins the fight. How long can this continue to carry the book. We shall see, I guess.

I wanted to like this book. I really did. I generally want to like everything I read or watch or listen to. I don't like not liking things. But Dante just wasn't doing it for me.

I know it's obvious that I geek-out hard about this book. I've never hidden the fact that it's my favorite comic book, maybe of all time. I think what initially got me was the angsty, punk rock feel of the earlier volumes. And now I'm just hooked. This is one book that I'm always just SUPER excited about. Seriously, though, if you haven't started to read it what the fuck are you waiting for!?

I wanted to like Eternal Empire more than I did. I didn't hate it, but I found my mind wandering while I was reading. I found myself not caring one way or the other what was happening on the page in front of me. But I will say that this was also a problem for me while reading the first issue of Vaughn and Luna's previous collaboration, Alex + Ada, which I ended up liking quite a bit. That book was slow and drawn-out, and I have a feeling that this may be the case for Eternal Empire as well. So, my score for this review might seem low, but I am simply reviewing this individual issue, not the series as a whole, or its potential to become something I actually end up enjoying. I'm going to go ahead and call this a wait and see book.

Like I said before, I think it's coming off like I'm being too hard on this book and that this is a bad review. It's not. Not really. I did like the book. I just think it could have been great instead of just good. First issues are tricky bitches though. Creators have to do a lot in them. They have to tell a good and compelling story so that readers will come back again for the next issues, but they also have to set up enough of the story so that the thing actually has momentum. I am hooked, though. The last few pages sealed it for me.

Grass Kings is a book that came out of nowhere for me. Maybe I missed the announcements or maybe I just don't pay enough attention. But I was totally caught off guard with this book. I am intrigued to see where this story is going to go. I predict that it will be a good one. There's a good mystery surrounding the story, what we are given in the last page of issue #1. There's a great creative team behind it. Grass Kings has a lot going for it. And I am ready to take it all in.

Grass Kings has a lot going for it: great, realistic characters, an interesting setting, mystery and conflict already built in, with more and more being added to it with every new page. And not to mention an excellent creative team. It's a powerful book. It's slow and dark and moody, like any good noir story. I've said this a lot this year, about a lot of the books I review, but I truly believe that this is one of the better comic books coming out right now. Maybe not the best, but pretty goddamn close.

Gravetrancers #1 is a decent book. There's nothing outright wrong with it. It's not terrible, and it's not great. But it's an okay first issue.

I love when I find a book that comes out of nowhere, a book that I have no concept of before I start reading. I feel like I've been getting more and more of them recently, especially from Image. They are consistently putting out the kind of books I gravitate toward, and Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks is definitely another one of them. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will now seek out more of Mahfood's work.

Grrl Scouts: Magic Socks is an interesting book. It's very rare that there's a book that I can't find one thing wrong with. In all my reviews of this series there hasn't been anything that I criticized. I don't think. I have nothing bad to say about it. I think it's a refreshing and wacky and silly book that's exactly what's needed right about now. In my life and in the world around me (us). Everything's so serious and fuck that. Have a beer or a shot or smoke a J or do whatever it is you need to do to relax and just enjoy this book already. Okay?

This book blends some of my favorite things together. Science fiction and crime and drugs. I am so happy that Hadrian's Wall is back. I've really been enjoying it so far and I missed it while it wasn't coming out these past few months. I'm excited to see where the story goes now that we've been introduced to more characters and ideas and conflicts.

I had never even heard of Imaginary Fiends before I saw it on our review list. And honestly, based on the title alone I kind of assumed it would be a throw-away book " something to be read and then immediately forgotten. But I'm happy to say that's not the case. I'm happy because this book is fresh and exciting and I'm also happy because I'm always happy when I find a new horror book that I actually like.

I'll let it play out, though. I have faith in the creative team behind the book.

I'm excited to see where Brubaker takes this series in the coming issues. I know it's going to be good, but then again it's always good with this creative team. I just wish he'd maybe cool it a little bit with the heavy narration.

I want to say again that I love this book. And even though I might not have been super into this issue, I still though it was interesting to get more background on Kira. Although, I do have a fear that this was kind of a throwaway issue. I'm not really sure how all of that back and forth with Kira and her therapist is going to connect to the overall story. My thinking is that it probably isn't going to.

Kill Them All (like all of Kyle Starks' books) is just fun. It's funny and silly and wacky and blah blah blah. Kyle Starks consistently puts out the exact kind of comic books I seek out and like to read. His work wears its influences on its sleeves but that is fine, because he uses them to create his own, totally original, things. I loved every single page, every single panel, every single uttered one-liner in this thing. It's just a good fucking book.

I don't know. I know this is a first issue and it takes some time to build the story up. It takes some time for these things to get their legs, or whatever the saying is. But, for me at least, I've noticed lately that I have less and less time to read (comics, books, whatever) for entertainment and enjoyment only " having an eight-month-old at home will do that to you and your time. So, (again this is just me here, other people may feel differently about this, I guess) with such a limited amount of time to read FOR FUN why should I waste my time on something I'm not into all the way? If I'm not with it to 100, then what's the point? That's just how I feel about it.

Overall, I thought this was a solid first issue and the only downside that I can think of right now is that there are only going to be four issues.

I am really interested and excited to see where this story takes us in the next/final two issues. There's a lot of build-up, told across two or three storylines, that I'm sure it's going to bloody and violent and written and drawn beautifully. This book might have originally come out in 2011 but with this re-release it's high on my list for best of the year.

Loose Ends is a lot of things. It's a crime story. It's a junkie story. It's a love story. It's the story of friendships and double crosses and the rush of chasing a fast payday. It's a great book that feels destined for a dark and gritty film adaptation. It's quite possible the best book on the shelves right now and definitely worth checking out if you're tired of the same old stuff.

I hate to say that issue kind of missed the mark for me. It was just too hurried and rushed. And the end result was messy and confusing and slightly anti-climactic. I'm not sure why Latour and Brunner limited themselves to only four issues. Even if they gave themselves only two more issues I think Loose Ends could have been something great as opposed to just something okay or good enough. With another issue or two they could have spent more time developing the characters and setting the stage for the explosive and violent end. We could have spent some more time with Flynn to figure out what the fuck his deal was. We could have actually met Batista. We could have learned so much more, and in turn, maybe I would have enjoyed it a little more. The art definitely saved this book for me, but I'm sad to say that issue #4 of Loose Ends was one of the biggest let-downs for me this year"so far.

Maestros #1 was not what I was expecting it to be before I started reading. It's a great story filled with great art. The characters might be a little lacking as of yet, but it's only the first issue and I'm into it already so I'm down with wherever this thing's going. I am hooked. I loved this book.

Maestros #2 is some good shit. Strong writing and beautiful art make this book a thoroughly enjoyable read. Like with the first issue I did not know what to expect going into this book. All I do know is that I was not expecting to like it as much as I did.

All in all, I'm surprised to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this issue. I did not expect to. I think this was a good set-up issue and that the story has enough things to offer to readers who are already fans of the genre as well as ones who are not, like myself. Mech Cadet Yu is a light-hearted story but it has the potential to become a solid and powerful series.

Mech Cadet Yu employs all the workings of a "feel-good" book. It's an underdog story. And I'm a fan of this type of story. The characters are strong and great and I feel a connection with them. Which is how it is supposed to be with characters.

All in all, Misbegotten Runaway Nun is a hard pass for me. I won't be reading anymore and I can't imagine there's much of a reason for anyone else to either. I was recently discussing something with a friend of mine and feel it is fitting to add to the end of this review. There are so many good books out there in the world (we were talking about novels - but the same thought can be applied to comics as well) that there is no reason to waste time reading bad things. And again, the idea of "bad things" is entirely subjective. Maybe this book worked for you, or for some other people, I don't know. I can't see it, but if it did, that's awesome. Continue enjoying this book then. I just won't be there with you to take the ride.

Yes, I had a few things I wasn't super down with about issue #1 of Ninja-K but does that mean that it's bad and that I didn't enjoy it? I actually think that I liked it quite a bit. I had fun reading it, even if I was picking out a few things I didn't like as I was going. But it's a solid story with a huge and tumultuous history. I am sure there are things I overlooked or just completely missed that long-time fans of the character will have caught. I don't know. There's a lot to work with here and I'm actually pretty excited to see where it goes. I think I'm also going to take some time to dig into other Ninjak stories. And probably other Valiant titles too.

This is by no means a perfect book. But if you're a crime fiction fan or a lover of gritty noir/revenge/exploitation movies I think you'll find at least a few things to enjoy here. I'm excited to follow Normandy's story and have to say that this one feels like it's going to be the better of the Hard Case Crime/Titan books. And that's saying a lot because I enjoy the others as well.

This book has a solid idea and I'll be interested in seeing how it plays out over the next few issues. I'll assume that the second issue will have some more explanations on what's going on with these characters and their immortality. I sure hope that it does because this first issue left me wanting more. More from the story as well as more from the art.

But yeah, I loved this issue. I think it does a great job of setting the tone for the third volume. Brian K. Vaughan is one of my favorites, and with Cliff Chiang and Matt Wilson backing him it's safe to say that this might be one of the best overall books coming out now. And it's kind of comforting to know that I never know what the hell I am getting into when I crack open an issue of Paper Girls.

Like I said before, Valiant is kind of killing it right now. This new revamp or whatever you want to call it is really doing a great job of telling fun and interesting stories, with great creative teams. I think one thing that always turned me off a bit about Valiant was that everything seemed to revolve around their small stable of characters. I don't know why that bothered me. It's literally the same thing with Marvel or DC. Maybe it's just because I didn't give any of these characters a chance. Quantum and Woody might have seemed kind of annoying to me before, but with this new series, I am really enjoying them. Kibblesmith and Kano are a great team, and I look forward to following them along for this ride.

I get what this book is trying to be. I do. But it just fell short a little short of that for me. There's some potential here and I think it's possible to turn the story around. I just think this was a weak first issue. I needed something to keep my mind from wandering while reading. I needed something to latch onto. I needed a character to relate to and root for. But I didn't find any of that here.

I generally pride myself on being on top of the good shit that's coming out in the comics world. But I'll admit I fucked up here on not reading Redlands from the beginning. It's a great book " both in story and in the art. It's one of those books where once a month just isn't enough. It's a book that I want to binge. It's a book where I want to know every fucking thing right now and I can't wait and it's killing me to wait.

Even though I don't tend to like vampire stories, I enjoyed the modern twist on this one. I liked seeing the monsters hiding out from the humans, instead of the other way around. I liked that the vampires were Texans with deep southern roots and history. I like Donny Cates as a storyteller. There's a lot to like in Redneck, and I am just glad I gave the book a chance to win me over. So, go ahead, crack open a frosty Bloodweiser and learn a thing or two about them good ol' Bowman boys and that time they got on the wrong side of mean old Father Landry.

It's pretty obvious that I'm really digging this book. It's refreshing. Especially in the tired vampire subgenre. I like violence as much as the next guy. But it can't just be violence for the sake of violence. It has to mean something. There has to be something at stake, something gained or lost in the violence. And Redneck has all of that, the perfect blend of it. Donny Cates is a killing it right now, and he's got a solid creative team backing him on Redneck. This book is the perfect cross between Southern Bastards and horror. It's kind of weird to me that I'm always finding myself drawn to these southern crime/fantasy/horror stories when I've never been to the south, don't know anyone that hails from those parts, and really have no desire to ever go to Texas. I don't really know what that has to do with anything. But it's true.

Redneck is a great book. I'm really enjoying it. I'm all in, officially won-over. Reading in the letters section of the last issue, I know that Cates has written it to at least issue #14, and I'm sure more now, so that is exciting. At least there will be more time to experience this family and all the fucked-up shit I just know they're going to get up to. Plus, I'm really curious to know more about what the hell was going on with the last page of this issue.

Regression came out of nowhere for me. I remember seeing all the previews and thinking it was just another throw-away horror book. I remember joking with the guys I used to work with at the comic book store about how it's just another Cullen Bunn book, and at that time it seemed like Cullen Bunn was writing just about every other book we had on the shelves. But I'll admit that I was wrong, that Regression is more than just a simple throw-away horror comic. I think this book will go places and some of them will not be pretty. They'll look nice, because of the great art and colors, but they'll be dark and fucked up and full of death and blood and bugs. So fucking many bugs.

I like a good horror book as much as the next guy. But I like when my horror feels fresh and digs deep into the mind and body. I like it messy and kind of gross and weird. And Regression has all of this. As long as Bunn stays away from the clichs this book can really become a unique and interesting thing. I have high hopes after reading these first two issues.

The best way I can describe Regression right now is that it's a quiet horror book. That to me just means it's more of a slow burn. It's not worried about scaring you right here and now with cheap thrills and cheesy gore. It wants to burrow deep into your brain and live there for a while, create its hive there. This is the kind of book that stays with you long after you finish it. I can tell. Things seem to be ramping up with how issue #3 ends and I am stoked to see where Bunn and crew take us. Seriously, it's been a long time since I was this into a horror comic, or anything horror for that matter.

This book initially came off as a book for wrestling fans. But as the issues wore on it has become more of a straight crime book. There're still wrestling sub-plots but they're more subdued. This is a story of heartbreak and hardships. This is a story of what happens when your dreams don't come true. This is a story of life and how hard that shit can be at times.

I am interested in seeing where Sparks takes us with this book. I really enjoyed this first issue and have high hopes for the rest of the series. I love over-the-top silly/stupid/ridiculous stories. And also stories that have a history, like there is more going on than just what we're seeing right there on the page. That these characters exist outside of the book. That there's more life to this world. And Rock Candy Mountain has all that. And so much more.

Seriously though, Rock Candy Mountain is just great. I was so excited to see it coming out this week and I already can't wait for the next issue. If you enjoyed the first issue, which I'm sure you did, then you know what you're getting into here. I read a lot of comics, like an insane amount, really, and this one might just be one of the most fun books right now. And let's be honest here, part of me is hoping that Hundred Cat is the best damn cat burglar in the county because he secretly works with an army of one hundred cats to pulls off his heists.

What I like most about Rock Candy Mountain is that it's fun and breezy and light-hearted but also kind of deep and a weird character study. Plus, it's got great art and colors. So, basically what I'm saying is that my favorite thing about this series is literally everything.

All things considered, this is a great issue. I feel the art and color work outshine the story by a great deal but the story is still everything I've come to expect from Kyle Starks and Rock Candy Mountain. But I do still feel it was a bit of a letdown. The first arc didn't end as strong as I thought it was going to. I'll still be eagerly waiting for the book to return, though. I realy, really, really, just want my boy Jackson to find his dang mountain.

Rock Candy Mountain is just a fun book. It has been from the beginning. Things got a bit more serious and heavy in issue #5, sure, but it works because now there's an emotional connection. Jackson's not just this super-human kung-fu hobo warrior. He's a real man that adapted to his current life. He's anybody who's ever loved and lost. He's me if just a few more things go wrong in my life. He's you if " you get the point. The first arc won me over by its over-the-top ridiculousness, and I have a feeling that some of that is going to carry over into this arc but also I'm thinking this go-round is also going to be a bit more emotional and humbling. I've been a fan of Kyle Starks for a while now. He does crazy, wackiness better than anyone else, but I'm glad to see him adding some new elements to his work.

Savage Town met my expectations fully. And probably bypassed them, too. It's among my top books for the year. (And, yes, I'm aware I've already said that countless times this year " but I'm just saying that if I were to try to come up with a list of, like, say my top five books it would be really fucking hard to narrow it down). This is the perfect book to read on a dreary, rainy afternoon. I wouldn't call this a depressing book, kind of but not really. Just that it's true to life. I'm left with the strong feeling that there's no way in fuck things work out for any of these characters in the long run. And that's okay. Because that's life. It doesn't work out all that good for any of us at the end.

I'll admit I was skeptical for about a half a second when I learned this was a spin-off. I should have known better. I should have just kept that bullshit to myself and trusted Jeff Lemire and David Rubin and also Black Hammer, which has easily become one of my favorite on-going books, one of the books I am most excited to see on the new release list. Sherlock Frankenstein can work as a stand-alone, meaning if you're not reading Black Hammer I think you'll still be able to enjoy this book. But if that's the case I only have one question for you: what the fuck's wrong with you? Start reading fucking Black Hammer already, and then read this. And then read everything else you can find by either of these dudes. They're two of the best creators working today.

Listen, Shirtless Bear-Fighter isn't going to be for everybody. Some of you will hate it because it's "stupid" and doesn't take itself seriously enough. While others will think the same things but come out with a different outcome. I liked the book a lot. I like things that are fun and light and funny and weird and stupid. I like dumbass action movies with ridiculous main characters and complex storylines and character interactions. Again, though, I feel I need to say that this book isn't reinventing any wheels or anything like that. It's just a fun book and I think if you give it a chance and just breathe you'll see that too.

Slots #1 is an interesting character study. Overall, though, I felt the story could have used more punch. It's a lot of set-up and what it's setting up seems to be right up my alley. The only problem I foresee is that book turning into more of a family drama than a crime drama. If those are even two distinctive things. I don't even know. It's just that the end reveal has me a little worried about the path the story is going to follow.

This issue read like a great piece of violent crime fiction, quick and sharp with no added fluff. It probably only took me about 15 minutes to read the entire issue. But even though it's a fast read, it still feels like a BIG issue. Like it's a turning point for Coach Boss. But with his reputation and the reputation of his team on the line, we all know there's only one way this thing is going to play out.

I kind of feel like I've been a little hard on Spencer & Locke in this review. (But, I guess, isn't that what reviews are supposed to be?) What I mean to say is that I actually did like this it. I think it has a lot of things working for it, and if you've read my other reviews you'll know that my reading tastes usually lean toward the darker and grittier side. I just have serious concerns about this book being able to maintain itself. I feel like it's kind of kitschy, kind of like a joke that's taking itself a little too seriously. Like it's toeing the line between too many things. Does it stay on the dark and gritty side of the line, or does it stumble across the line into comedy territory? Does it matter? I don't know. I think issue #2 is going to really set the tone for Spencer and Locke as a series.

Listen, I just want to say that I don't like giving bad reviews. It's not what I'm all about. Check my previous reviews. I don't want to bag on something. I want to like everything. I want everything to be great and entertaining and amazing. And Spencer & Locke has bits of that sprinkled throughout. But it never comes together to make an even kind of okay thing. It's a weird combination of trying too hard to be hard and laziness, I think. That's the problem I have with this book. It's got a solid premise and the heart is there. But it just never gets there. Spencer & Locke, in my opinion, is the perfect example of a comic book giving me blue balls.

I like going into a comic book completely blind sometimes. It's refreshing to know next to nothing about a book or the characters within and just enjoy the ride. And that's what I did with Street Angel: After School Kung Fu Special. This isn't a deep story or a life-changing story, but it's fun and interesting and exciting.

Honestly, the art was almost good enough to save this one for me. But unfortunately, I just can't get fully behind this book. It was too lacking for me. I just wanted more. More story. More character development.

All in all, The Beautiful Death is not a bad book. There wasn't anything about it that I outright hated or anything like that. But it just didn't blow me away either. And it's also almost impossible to tell what kind of book it's going to become from this initial issue. If it's going to be good or bad. Issue #1 just kind of ends, leaving us hanging there. I'm not sure if it's enough to hold me until the second issue comes out. As I said, the one thing this book has going for it is the art, mainly the setting and backgrounds. Also, it's got a great fucking title. But there's the mystery of the insects that has me slightly intrigued. It's probably enough to get me to come back to it again. At least for another issue. Maybe this next one will make it easier to decide if it's worth it or not.

For now, I'll sit here eagerly awaiting issue 2 and just hope (like some of their other books) it's not all that super delayed.

Honestly, I can't say enough good things about this book. It's like nothing I've ever read before. I'd say it's a tour-de-force but that would make me a douchebag. So, I'll just say that reading The Dregs is an experience. And I will forever recommend this book to every single person in the history of the world.

The Dregs has always resonated strongly with me, as you'll know if you've read my reviews of the previous issues. And this issue is no different. It's just a solid story with a lot of layers. When I first read this issue, I was left wanting more, but as I sat here thinking about it for a while, I think it's great. I don't have any complaints about it, or The Dregs, at all. Except maybe the fact that there is only one issue left.

The Dregs is easily the best book of the year. I know I've said that a few times now. But seriously. All things considered, from start to finish, I can't imagine anything being better than The Dregs. One of my favorite things about reviewing is finding new books, connecting with creators and other fans, over-thinking things long after I finished reading. And this is a book that's going to stay with me for a long time. I know. This is one of those stories you return to frequently, where you pick up new things each time, see things differently. I can tell. Because there's no way you can get it all with one read-through. So please, please, please do yourself a favor and read this fucking book already. You won't regret it. Trust me.

The Gravediggers Union is a lot more than I was expecting. It's a solid opening issues and maybe one of my favorite first issues of the year. I feel like this book could have easily become something safe and boring and redundant. Monster hunters are kind of blah in my opinion. But I'm happy to say that this book is great and I fucking loved it. There are a lot of horror comics coming out right now. But I feel like this one is doing something a little different than all the rest, and I'm excited to continue reading it.

I'm super excited to continue to follow this book to all the unexpected places it's going. I'm enjoying the quirky weirdness of it. And yes, I know I bagged on the pacing a bit, but I think that's just because it's the second issue. I understand that a first issue is going to be super ramped up because it needs to hook readers. And then the subsequent issues need to pull way back to actually do the work of telling a story, setting everything up, getting all the pieces in place. I have faith in Craig and Cypress and I'm fully on board.

The Hard Place is a decent little crime story. It's intense and action-packed and with this issue it has managed to subvert all the clichs that tend to come with the "wheelman" sub-genre of crime fiction. It has great pacing and an overall cinematic feel to it. This isn't a book that demands much of your time, in that it doesn't ask much of its readers. Which isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes you just need to blow off a little steam and follow along with a car full of criminals as they run for their lives from cops and other bad guys and all the bullets aimed in their direction. Listen, this isn't anything ground-breaking or wholly original. But it's a fun little book and that is totally okay with me.

This book is perfect for fans of noir and fast-paced, action-y stories. I had never read Ed Brisson before, but after reading The Last Contract I will definitely seek out more of his stuff. This is a story with enough heart and danger and some of the toughest tough guys around. I am really surprised that I never got into this book sooner, considering it checks off just about every single box on my list of perfect crime stories. I love a book full of flawed characters carting around their own baggage.

The Other Side is a human story that takes place in a hellish war-zone. Weirdly, I'm not a huge fan of war comics, although I did thoroughly enjoy this book. I enjoy comic books because of their ability to transport me (the reader) to a place I'd never want to or be able to go to. I think Jason Aaron has successfully captured what I imagine to be the human side of fighting in a war. I think on I enjoyed this book so much is because of that. Because this is not a book about the Vietnam war. It's a book about two soldiers fighting in that war. It's a smaller story set inside a bigger, even more fucked up story.

I think the $19.99 price tag is going to turn some people away. It's a lot of money for what is essentially a single issue of a comic. Maybe the price would have been slightly less if The Street Angel Gang wasn't a hardcover but that's not the case here and I think it might be hard for some comic buyers to drop twenty bucks on thirty pages of story and some back-up material.

I did enjoy The Unsound, but this is only the first issues and it's mostly set-up. I think Cullen Bunn has a good premise here to work with. But it's definitely a wait-and-see kind of book. I can see going either way. I'll probably check out the next issue but I will go in not expecting much. If nothing else, what I'm going to take away from The Unsound is being reminded of a really weird time in my life when I got to meet and work with some really interesting patients. And I can't help but wonder what's happened to some of them since we closed our doors. Hmm"

All-in-all I liked issue #3 of The Unsound. I think it's a book that still has some issues that need to be worked out but we're still early on in this thing. It's only the beginning and I think it can only get better. Cullen Bunn is a writer that I trust to deliver the goods in the long-run. Each issue of this book has been better than the one that came before it, and if it continues to follow this trend this story can only get better and better, and bigger and bigger as Bunn and Cole pull us deeper into their world of weird.

Like most people I don't like writing bad reviews. I get no joy out of not liking something. I wish everything I read was the best thing ever. And usually the stuff I chose to read is pretty good. But I fucked up here. Under: Scourge of the Sewer #1 is just a mess. I can't describe it any other way. It's just fifty pages of ugh. I know what you're thinking, too. I know it because I thought the same thing. You're thinking, Man, giant fucking sewer creatures, that's right up my alley or you're thinking about jumping into this book because of Stokoe's beautiful cover. I'm telling you, man, these are the two reasons I was excited to read this book. But I'm begging you, please, please, please don't waste your time or money on this mess. Or do, I guess. I don't know. You do you.

Violent Love is a solid story but it's not without its hiccups. It's a fun read and I enjoyed my binge session with it. But just know that there is nothing totally original or unique here.

Winnebago Graveyard is a book that, in my opinion, had a lot of potential (and a great fucking title). And I think it still might have some potential, although I can't imagine that I will ever come back to it again to find out. It's not a book for me. And that's fine. Maybe it is a book for you. And that's also fine. Actually that's great. I'm glad and happy and all that. For me, though, if I need a creepy satanic cult fix, I'll find it elsewhere.

All in all, Winnebago Graveyard is a mess. I don't have anything else to say.