This comic has gotten a lot of hype for being “sold out” and is currently commanding above retail prices on eBay. And, for once, that hype is justified. This is a really good and unique comic book. I can't wait to see how this story unfolds and will be keeping an eye out for future stuff from these creators.

Still going strong 75% of the way to the finish. This comic has been weird-fun and shows no signs of letting up.

A rare thing: A great ending to a fun series! If you didn't catch this in single issues, make sure to catch the collected edition. This is one of the early leaders for “best mini series of 2011″.

Not as funky as the first miniseries, but still a very human story of a guy trying to get his mojo back.

If you like The Walking Dead, this is definitely something to add to your pull list.

A fun and enjoyable series, that is starting to strain credulity.

Not quite as riveting as the last few issues, but it is a bit of a transitional story as Nelson get's out a few new toys to play with. One does wonder how long this series will remain at its current status quo before Selina and “the journalist” try to get out of infected Britain. Still, even with a few parts of this issue that weren't flat out awesome, this is a great series and a highly recommended issue.

A rare “take time to breathe” issue of 28 Days. Of course, we're going right back into the meat grinder, but it was fun to see the characters kick back a little bit. Nice art change. I wouldn't mind Salas being the permanent artist on this title.

Bad stakeout techniques aside, this is another strong issue of one of my favorite series. I can't wait to see what happens next month and find out why this guy has a grudge against Selina.

A really good change of pace issue for this series that makes me feel really good about its long-term prospects. It is also a nice jumping on point for fans of the film.

A bit of a depressurized issue that shows our main characters getting a much deserved break. I'm sure it is only temporary and they'll be back into the frying pan asap.

A really great series is wrapping up in a way that is still new-reader friendly. Just buy issue #21 and this one and consider it like a 4-5 issue miniseries. The writing and storytelling have both been top notch throughout!

A really strongly plotted story is coming to an end. Even if you don't hop on now, the two films and the series this comic series that bridges the gaps are well worth your time.

Bravo to Boom! and Michael Alan Nelson. Not only did they bring us 2 years of great stories in a compelling world, but they nailed the ending. Now that it's finished, this would be a great read in collected form.

A nice blend of cheesecake and space opera. Two of my favorites"

A nice combination of fun stories and attractive women. If you missed the single issues, keep an eye out for the collected edition or buy it digitally. Hopefully we'll get more 50 Girls 50 in the future.

An interesting concept that needs to pick up the pace.

If you're a fan of the novel, this will be a fun graphic adaptation with nice linework. It isn't going to set the world on fire, but you could find much worse things to read.

This remains to be a good series to pick up for a non-comic fan who enjoys Game of Thrones. By playing the material and the art very straight, it will give new readers what they expect and perhaps make them fall in love with comics.

Nice, but hardly required reading. This is mostly a reminder by Marvel that Young Allies #1 and American Son #1 are coming out.

This just wasn't very good. There are some interesting things here, but this feels really tacked onto the Age of X crossover. On the plus side, there is nothing here that is vital to Age of X, so you can skip it if you're just following the main story.

If you contain your expectations, this is a very good horror/crime comic. Just cover up the place where it says Alan Moore on the cover and you'll probably have lower expectations and enjoy it more.

Outstanding, even if you will feel like you need a Silkwood shower after reading it.

If you think you're too desensitized to get emotionally worked up or bothered by a comic book, just take this series for a spin. I dare you. Just please don't leave it where kids can find it, okay?

An ending of the chapter, but not the whole story. Hopefully in a few years, Moore comes back to this story because there is more to tell and when he gets there, I'll have my money out. This was a very good ending to a well done and disturbing series.

A potentially great series. We'll have to see what the creators do with future issues, but this has potential to fill that void of thought-provoking comics that has been vacant since Fashion Beast and Punk Rock Jesus ended and since The Unwritten kinda went awry. Definitely check it out.

A very solid second issue. This is a series to keep an eye on if you like comics that make you think.

Not the most eventful issue, but still very strong. If you're interested in thought-provoking comics, this is one to keep at eye on because the creators are interested in the right sorts of questions.

A nice issue that doesn't necessarily bend your mind, but effectively pivots from Act I to Act II of the story.

A strong issue that is still in Act II of the overall story.

This will stay on my pull list because it hits a couple of spots that just aren't well represented in today's comic industry. First, it's a slice of life comic and we need more of those (just like we all need to eat more vegetables). Second, it is black-and-white and I love comics that will tell their stories with nothing but words and lines. And, even though this issue didn't blow my socks off, Hahn is telling an interesting story of losers trying to find their way in life.

A really strong first issue of Alpha Flight. It isn't without a few problems (few comics are), but it succeeded very well in (a) not sucking and (b) recapturing that early 80"s Alpha Flight feel.

A funny comic with some nice cartoony art. The humor isn't really my style, but I know a lot of people will problem enjoy it. The more problematic issue was that the story spent more time on less interesting things instead of showing us the protagonist (who has potential). That's the type of thing that can be address in later issues if folks stick with it. I'm dropping this for now, but could be talked into reading future issues if the story-telling structure improves. Not a bad comic, but (as I said) this comics landscape is SOOOO crowded that there is no call for reading books that don't have a spark of excellence or that stumble in certain areas.

This title has been like a rock for the last year where I just expect it to be good every issue. I can't wait until next week to see the conclusion!

This could have been a lot better. At least we only have to wait a week or so to rinse the bad taste of this one away.

This was a really good Spidey issue. We get to see Peter happy right about the time that Lizard is going to screw thing up for him.

One of the best superhero comics I've read in a LONG time. It will be hard for the finale to this Lizard arc to live up to this issue, but we can hope!

Really, really good! A great harmony of storytelling and art.

Amazing Spider-Man has been really strong recently and this issue sets a new high-water mark.

Not terrible, but a bit of a let-down from the last few issues.

I don't like the general premise of this story-arc and think it is unnecessary, but I do think I understand where they are going and it opens some interesting possibilities.

Who is supervising Joe Quesada? This arc should have never gotten off the drawing board. OMIT is a big turd so far and that's a shame considering that ASM had been good/great for ~40 issues beforehand.

First “good” issue of Amazing Spider-Man in a couple months. Thank goodness! The world is just better when the Spider-Man comics are good.

The world is better when Spider-Man comics are good. This is the final issue before Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos take over ASM for the “Big Time” story line. Let's have a round of applause for the creators and editors who made the thrice-monthly ASM (mostly) a huge success.

Perfect comic book. For those bitching about $3.99 comics, you won't mind if they are all this good.

There are a few Spidey-fans out there who have sworn off ASM since Brand New Day, but I strongly encourage you to come back. You're only hurting yourself and are missing out on a really good story line by Slott and Ramos.

Not as good as the last three issues, but still a damn fine comic book. Amazing Spider-Man is in outstanding hands because Dan Slott really get's what Spider-Man is about and what kinds of stories show off this character and his supporting cast. Incredible art throughout this arc by Humberto Ramos. I kinda feel sorry for the next artist. I wouldn't want to follow this art.

Dan Slott is off to a really good start to another story arc on ASM. Life is just happier when ASM is snappy and good. And what a battery of artists they've had on this title?!? Talk about not missing a beat!

Great use of the Avengers backing Spidey up. I love seeing a Spidey who is a more important (and powerful) member of the Marvel Universe. Fun story and writing by the Slott/Van Lente team. ASM continues to impress!

This arc isn't as strong as the initial Hobgoblin story, but it is still a very solid Spidey-story with good action and a very cool twist on Spidey's secret identity problems.

Stick this issue off to the side because it should be on a LOT of “Best Single Issue of 2011″ lists and it is going to highly piss me off when those lists are all comprised of issues that came out in November that can't carry this issue's jock strap just because people have short memories and don't keep notes. Slott and Martin have collaborated to make an issue that is emotionally touching and drills right to the center of who Peter Parker is.

Even with a few quibbles on the story, this is another strong performance on Slott's run on ASM. If you aren't reading ASM, you really need to stop what you're doing and go pick up these issues NOW and catch up because, 9 issues in, it is shaping up to be a historic run on the title.

Great issue. If you can believe it, this is a better Human Torch send off than we got in Fantastic Four. Slott has a pretty mean streak going on ASM so far too as the “worst” issue has still been B+ material.

How long can Mr. Slott keep this up? He's now pumped out 11 issues of ASM without hitting a single “meh” issue. He is just killing it with Peter Parker and getting the most out of his highly talented art team. Slott has done such a good job that it is almost hard to grade because I end up comparing this issue to past issues that have received the “A” grade. ASM almost has it's own scale at this point.

There are so many good things in this issue that this review could have been a lot longer. But, this is a really good issue that has all of Dan Slott's fun plotting, combined with a typically erudite script from Fred Van Lente. Nice art from Stefano Caselli too. The only thing dragging this down were the kinda average back-ups that served to diminish the whole package. For my $3.99, I'd have rather just had the main story.

My personal issues with misdirection aside, it is still a pretty strong issue with clever dialog and lots of fun action. Nice art too. McKone would certainly fit in the rotating stable of Spidey-artists. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the bad guys get their asses handed to them for invading the Baxter Building and can't wait to see the neat traps that Slott and Van Lente come up with that'll be part of the FF's security system.

This is a pretty good issue and I'm glad to see the Avenger's Academy kids getting some play. Hopefully this issue gets them some more readers because I think that series is great. But, this was a classic “liked it, but didn't LOVE it” issue.

Not a bad story, but not up to par with what ASM has been giving us recently. It also is sapping some momentum from a really good story that Slott is working on. Mostly it is guilty of not being what I wanted it to be.

Another great issue of Spidey that showcases the essence of Peter's character with great art by an up-and-comer!

A pretty good start to this event with an interesting story and very nice art, but there are some mild warning signs of a bloated event.

Slott and Ramos nail it. With the excellence of this issue, I suddenly don't feel so upset about having all 28 issue of Spider-Island on my pull list. Fun story and great art. This is what I expected coming into the story and after a bit of a disappointing opening, we're back on track.

Another great issue. I wish all events had this blend of energetic art and cool story.

It's so nice to see an event that is humming along and not making you feel like you're wasting your money. Spider-Island has been really good and in this issue it takes a turn for the more ominous. The final few issues should be a lot of fun.

Good quality comic. It isn't without its flaws, but pulling off a 28-issue event over 2 months is really ambitious and the Spider-creators/editors have mostly kept all the plates in the air. Recommended.

We could use some more events of this quality. It featured an entertaining story with good integration of the tie-in material and wonderful art all around. This finale issue was all you could really ask of a ending.

A very worthwhile coda on Spider-Island.

Jumping on point?: Even though Slott makes every issue pretty accessible, this is a really good place to jump on. Not only is it a new arc, but it is the first arc coming out of an event. Surely this is where Slott will start building towards the next BIG thing he's got in mind. Maybe for #700?

Jumping on point? This is a GREAT jumping on point. Even without Spider-Man appearing, it does a great job of establishing where the Spidey-villains are going in 2012.

This was another pretty hot issue. Issue-for-issue, I don't think there are many things better than ASM on the stands right now, especially when you consider the number of issues they crank out. There's really nothing to find fault with in this issue: fun story, well executed team-up and splendid art.

Another great issue of Spider-Man. Slott started his Big Time – Spider Island mega-arc with a string of 3 or 4 “A” issues and he's doing it again here. Slott gets that Spider-Man is supposed to be FUN and Ramos' art is the perfect compliment.

This is another example of why Amazing Spider-Man was my pick for 'Best Ongoing Series' for 2011. It delivers great things to long-time readers, but is accessible to new readers and won't make them feel like they're left out. Dan Slott is clearly putting in this extra work to make this title complex, yes accessible, with every issue. Of course, it doesn't hurt to get art from one of the best in the business in Humberto Ramos. When he (and his team) are handling the art, it's almost hard to have a crappy issue.

A few, jaunty issue of ASM that has a few little teasers of events to come.

Hey, guess what? Another very strong issue of Amazing Spider-Man! Going back to #600 (including the two .1 issues), they've had 77/84 be really strong. That's quite a run!

This was a nice first issue to a story arc, but that's it. It's probably not as good as I'd hoped for, but that's to be expected when I'm not really digging on the art. But, that's a personal taste issue more than anything else.

There are nice moments in this issue. Al Gore getting punched in the face was sweet. But, those nice moments aren't enough to overcome the problems presented by a very stale set of villains. Can't Spidey fight against someone new instead of fighting these guys for the upteenth time? We know how this turns out so there is no drama.

The story makes a LOT more sense than the last several issues and the addition of Ramos on art turns a "meh" book into something that is very good.

Not an awesome issue, but still pretty strong, The path forward for Spidey and friends is very clear for the rest of this story arc.

Very good. Excited to see how this story ends after the plot twists herein.

A pretty strong issue that wraps most of the Ends of the Earth plotlines (nothing on the MJ thread though").

A few little flaws hold this back from the highest grades, but the overall story is interesting and I don't really know what'll happen next. That's always a good thing. Plus, there are some bonus points for not having a weepy wrap-up issue to Ends of the Earth.

Some good, some mediocre.

Dan Slott seems to have really enjoyed writing this issue. Lots of fun even if the art can't quite keep up.

A nice conclusion to a pretty good Lizard story. Drop out the hand-wringing about death and it would be a lot better.

Let's give Slott the benefit of the doubt and trust that the story of Alpha won't veer into predictable territories.

Ugh"not the best. Surely there is a point to this story beyond introducing a loathsome new character and having a bunch of morality plays for the slower readers? Thank goodness for Ramos and company on art".

Not very good. It's hard not to assume that Slott has bigger/better plans for the Alpha story just because weknowthat he is a better writer than this issue shows. However, even if this is a midpoint, it is a pretty flawed one.

This was a pretty solid issue. If anyone was wondering if this title had lost its juice after that mediocre Alpha story, this should put those minds at ease.

Competent. You decide for yourself if that is worth $3.99.

This issue has some basic Spidey fun as we watch the Hobgoblins taking turns fighting with each other and trying to kill Peter and Max. Of course, Peter is a little hamstrung because he doesn't want to divulge his secret identity to Max. But, since Max knows that Peter is designing tech for Spidey, Peter can use all the Spidey equipment as Peter. It isn't really clever, but it is kinda clever. However, this concept also shows some of the weakness of the issue: We've seen this sort of thing before, so no matter how well you do it, it'll have a hard time being GREAT.

I hate to pee on something that some people will doubtless find “very cool”, but this just wasn't very good.

Ramos' art saves the day. Slott's story is better, but still buggy as hell.

There are some good elements here, but the plot is smashed into your brain with a club. In case you didn't already know, “with great power comes great responsibility”. Demerits also for using non-essential back-matter to jump the price up to $7.99.

Can a really fun story with awesome art make up for a mediocre I-can't-finish-this second story? I say yes, but your mileage may vary.

Really strong linework and a fun story can't save me the thought that I wasted $3.99 on this issue. The story presented in this issue is neat enough if you just want a fun, unencumbered Spider-Man story, but you're going to have to buy the Deadpool and Incredible Hulks annuals to read the ending. Boooo!

A serviceable story, but a misfit in terms of tone with what is going on in Amazing Spider-Man proper. This is saved by good art and a great back-up story.

GREAT art and definitely worth picking up if you enjoy Black Cat.

This is nice. If you're looking for a unique superhero story with swell art, this might be for you. But, it doesn't look like there's any hint of greatness here and I could do without the attempt to make statements about society's tastes in entertainment.

If you're sick of how the douchebag Twilight fans have hijacked our vampires and made them all pasty-faced, angst-ridden teenagers, this is the comic for you.

This is a really strong offering from Vertigo. Pick it up now!

This is a really good series. Now that the novelty has worn off, it is clear that it has staying power and some story to tell!

One of the best comics on the stands. This issue really takes things to another level. Must read!

Outstanding. The story is interesting and well told and the art is spectacular.

If you aren't reading this comic, you should be. I think it's the best new comic of 2010 in a pretty crowded category. If you're reading it with me, I challenge you to find something at fault with this issue. That's what the comments section is for! If you're not reading it, catch up now before you get too far behind.

Another strong issue that emphasizes that Skinner Sweet and all the vampires are people out of time. Time moves on, but they stay they same. This is such a good series and every comic fan would be well served to squeeze this onto your pull list!

American Vampire trots out another great issue. This is also a wonderful jumping on point if you've been missing out on the fun. Secret missions in WWII involving vampires and secret societies! What could be more fun?

Minor quibbles aside, this is another really strong issue of AV. This series hasn't slowed down a bit since it started over a year ago. How many series (creator-owned or superhero) put out 14 consecutive issues that all grade out at a B or better? That's why you should really be reading AV. It's right up there with The Walking Dead and Scalped as the most consistently outstanding series on the market right now.

Very strong issue that cranks up some of the action that Snyder and Albuquerque having been building towards for a few months. They also unveil some new mysteries and the reader has no clue what will happen next. And, you're not going to find better art anywhere.

Another outstanding issue of American Vampire. The creators are really starting to establish their own grading system because I'm really not comparing them to other comics anymore…..just to the excellence of last issue of AV. Buy it, read it…

If this is as bad as it gets, you can see why this series has won so many awards. Even though I was disappointed in a few aspects of this issue, typing them up makes me feel really petty and trite. Oh well… Can't wait for next issue. This is still the most consistently good series on the market right now.

Really, really good. Love the story and LOVE the art. Bernet is really a living legend and it is such a pleasure to enjoy contemporary work from him.

Middle chapters in stories have a hard time being "the best", but this one does pretty well by telling a compelling story of vampire origins in the USA and finishes with a big HOLY CRAP moment. Nicely done (again).

Nice ending to this 3-issue back-story for Sweet and Book. It told us a quality story about two friends choosing separate paths for their lives while adding to the AV mythos and giving us a chance to see sequential art from a living legend of the artform in Jordi Bernet. How can you lose with that?

Jumping on point?: Even though it'd be best to start AV at the beginning, this is the best jumping on point since the series began. There are some minor links to the past story arcs and more might pop up over the next few issues, but this is very new reader friendly. If you've been listening to the accolades, but were looking for a place to begin, this is it.

Lots of fun. We ease the pace of our story a little to give us some background, but it's all good: well written and wonderfully illustrated. Not only is the “present day” story interesting, but finding out how we got to this point will be fun as well.

Another very strong issue. Itisissue 3 out of 4 in this story arc, so it doesn't have any stunning revelations but that's to be expected. But, it is well-written, well-conceived and well-illustrated. If you aren't reading AV, you're doing it wrong.

The AV team brings this arc to a rousing conclusion that is fun and adds to the AV mythos. Nice job (again).

A wonderful issue that opens up some exciting new avenues for the AV story. The timing is great as well as we're about 2 years into the series. Just the right time to jiggle the status quo a little in case the readers were getting too comfortable.

A nice capstone on a 2-issue story that introduces some new critters to the AV universe.

A very comfortable issue that returns us to a familiar set of characters in a setting from the first AV story cycle.

Another one of those months where I could almost use a Control-V for my review: American Vampire is great and this is another example of why it's one of the best ongoing series on the market. It hasn't had an issue that was even "just okay" yet.

A few little quibbles hold this back a bit, but it's still a darn fine comic from an outstanding series.

A great issue. Several years of great character work with Skinner Sweet pays off in this issue.

A very fitting end to the first half of the AV story. I'm looking forward to the coda in issue #34.

A very strong issue. Snyder and Albuquerque could have made this a maudlin and reflective story, but instead they chose to look toward the future. I'm very much looking forward to what AV brings us when it returns.

A wonderful anthology without a weak story. Well worth the price tag and a great appetizer for those of us eager for AV to return to regular publication.

Great issue. There isn't a single flaw in the book. Great art. Great story concept. Great pacing. Great writing. Satisfying for new readers and established readers alike. Reviewing AV is like grading the homework of the gifted children at school: you expect more but they still impress.

In a very tight race, thismightbe pick of the week. I'll have to review my notes because there are so many good comics this week. What sets this issue apart are (a) Snyder's deft handling of "Dracula" and his powers and (b) Nguyen's diverse and excellent art.

Another great issue. The AV franchise is not showing any weakness as it chugs towards it's 3rd anniversary.

Very, very good issue. Action packed, creepy and full of splendid art.

Another wonderful issue. AV is really back with a purpose. It is so gratifying to pick up a comic and have zero doubts about the contents being excellent. There is never a clumsy sentence or unsteady panel and the story ideas and complex and interesting.

This second cycle is off to a really strong start. It's so nice to have a consistently strong comic like AV back in our lives.

It's June, so it isn't too early to start thinking about “issue of the year” and we have a new clubhouse leader! Sorry, Amazing Spider-Man #655! That's the one with the death of Jameson's wife with Marcos Martin art. That was good, but American Vampire: Survival of the Fittest #1 is even better. This will be very hard to knock off its perch because you'll rarely find such a harmony of art and story. Must read.

Another glorious issue of American Vampire goodness, but that's to be expected when you combine two “don't miss” creators. Neither Snyder or Murphy has ever done a bad issue as far as I can tell and they even have Dave Stewart doing the colors. What more could you want?

A great example of highly talented creators working their butts off. Neither Snyder nor Murphy ever takes the easy way out and we love them for it.

Rousing conclusion to a great miniseries. It tells a very engaging story and also creates a lot of new material to play with. My only regret is seeing Sean Murphy leave the AV universe.

A wonderful issue. Whether you are a longtime AV reader who needs to wet your whistle OR someone who hasn't ever read a page of AV, there is a lot to recommend this issue.

Although this is a must-buy for Spaceknight fans or Marvel Cosmic fans, it isn't without it's problems. This issue exists mostly on the promise of what is to come in the future issues.

Good art can't save a really talky issue where the story varies from disappointing to boring.

This poor title just can't get out of it's own way and seems cursed when it comes to release dates: 37 issues in SEVEN years. If this title had shipped monthly, we'd be on issue 80 something. For comparison's sake, Uncanny X-Men was on issue 444 the month that Astonishing launched (and it's up to 536 now). It just kills a title when you open it and can't remember the ongoing story because it has only released a couple of issues this year. If the X-editors could get Pichelli so stick around for art duties, this title has some promise, but otherwise, we probably have enough X-titles on the shelves right now.

A nice ending to a pretty good story. This gave us a lighter hearted X-Men story and there's certainly a place for that among the ~10 ongoing X-titles. Really sharp art from Bradshaw and Rosenberg too.

If you're not reading Atomic Robo, you're doing it wrong. Every comic fan should find a place in their pull list for this little gem because it brings you a sense of fun and amazement that is very rare in comics.

Note:One of the highest compliments I can give Robo is that I've gone 100% digital on this series and I still read it the week it comes out. My pull list get's pretty extensive and I've found that as I switch titles to the "digital" side, it's easy to defer them because I also have OGNs and back issues I'd like to read and those digital issues will never "sell out" and necessitate hunting on eBay. And once you defer a comic, it's amazing how few you truly miss. Atomic Robo is never in that category. I always download it and enjoy it shortly after it comes out". not because it's on my pull list at the comic shop and the owner will think I'm a dick if I don't buy it, but because it's good and I really enjoy it. A LOT of superhero comics are going to struggle in digital for this precise reason, but Robo will be fine.

An excellent non-Marvel/DC comic that we should all support. Like all issues of Atomic Robo, this issue has fun all over it. This is the classic example of, If you don't like this, you are allergic to fun.

Atomic Robo is always fun. This issue has a bit more character development for the metal guy without losing the trademark sense of humor that this series is known for.

Not the most exciting issue of Atomic Robo, but this is still a comic that folks interested in different sorts of comics should be trying out. It never fails to be fun and humorous and tells some very good stories.

Another nice tie-in by Bendis and Romita, but I'm really ready for Fear Itself to go away.

A pretty good issue. The art's better than the story, mostly because the story is moving too slowly. But, this is still a fairly high quality title month after month. Put some worse art on this and the story flaws would really start to show up.

Jumping on point?: This is a great jumping on point for new readers. Start here and enjoy the next story cycle. In fact, probably the reason why we have no action in this issue was so that Bendis could make it accessible to new readers.

Another very strong issue of Avengers Academy. Love the heavy focus on Finesse since she is the best character in this book.

Gage keeps the goodness coming in this issue that shows the Academy kids dealing with a villain who is WAY too powerful for them, but he comes up with a neat way to make the kids more competitive and give us additional reasons to care about the kids. The art is fine and give that this title is hitting its ship dates like clockwork.

Another strong issue of Avengers Academy. Considering that this is a B-list title and it is one year old, it says a lot that I've never once considered dropping it. It's been just that strong. Even though I think people make WAY too big of an issue of “jumping on points”, this is a pretty good issue for the uninitiated. Trust me, you'll like it.

Another quality entry in what has been a very solid series since the beginning. If you're missing “new characters” in your superhero comics, you should check this one out.

It's a shame this series doesn't have higher sales because it was been consistent quality since issue #1. This is a pretty decent place to hop on as the Academy is starting a new direction and I'm sure it'll be awesome.

Wow! A BIG event happens in this comic that is out of left field. What happens in this issue is bigger than anything that has happened in Fear Itself so far. Don't be a dope and wait for the trade on this because it could be 6-9 months before that happens and people will be talking about this series before then.

It's a shame that this series couldn't quite continue the upward trajectory of last issue, but it still seems like big things are happening in this series. Make sure to tune in and see what becomes of the Scarlet Witch.

A very nice miniseries comes to an end. It turned out to be a very good and beautiful Young Avengers story. I'm a little disappointed that it didn't become a great Marvel Universe story, but I probably got my expectations too high. Well worth checking out!

Buy this comic and read the webcomic. If you don't like this, you must have had your soul sucked out somewhere along the way and I feel very sorry for you. Enjoy this wonderful blend of zany story and great art before young Malachai gets old enough to be self-conscious.

I think this might now be my new favorite comic. Edgy, provocative and unafraid. Check it out.

A nice issue that could probably be skipped for longtime Bat-fans, but is very worthwhile for anyone new.

This is the best of the new 52 issues I've read so far. With a creative team like this title has, we should be in for an outstanding run on this new Batman. I can't wait!

A little confusing in places, but Snyder and Capullo are so good that they can just push through those weaker parts and still make you want to read more. Love watching Batman taking on a new villain rather than these dusty old rogues that he's fought a million times before.

A cool and kinda creepy story about what Bruce Waynedoesn't know about Gotham! Great art.

Jumping on point?: Nope. You could read this issue alone, but you'd be a little confused. Best to start with issue #1.

A real masterpiece of a comic. Most comics you read and just kinda toss them to the side. This issue is full of visual moments that will stick with you for a long time. Wonderful storytelling by the whole creative team. But, let's not make digital readers leave the comic and go into the iPad's settings to be able to continue the experience.

Batman is almost defining it's own grading scale for me. I actually think this isbetterthan Batman #5 because it lacks gimmicks and succeeds purely on its comic brilliance. This is the best superhero comics I'm reading right now.

Another very strong issue. Probably not as powerful as issues 5 and 6, but for the sake of drama we needed a calm moment before whatever crazy finale the guys have in store for us this summer. Isn't it splendid to justknowthat it'll be awesome?!?

A great kick-off to the event that plays “Aliens” to the previous arc's “Alien”. Incredible art (again).

A few hiccups, but still a pretty fine issue.

Another great issue. Not sure how this twist on the Wayne family will play out in the future though. Of course, there's always a chance that Snyder is pulling our chain.

A great capstone toan all-time classic Batman story.

A very solid first half that has great art and introduces a cool new character. Unfortunately, the execution on the last few pages kinda drops the ball.

The story aspects of this issue are crackling good, but it gets a few demerits for the lesser back-up an the awkwardness of the forced crossover. The Director's Cut of this issue would be an “A”, but until we get that issue…

What a surprise! Another strong and disturbing issue of Batman!

An outstanding and scary Joker story with fabulous art that is sandwiched around adysfunctionalfamily bickering about secrets.

Another excellent Batman issue by the Snyder/Capullo/Glapion/Plascencia team. Just appreciate the excellence.

A very fitting end to the Death of the Family story. The only flaws are those inherent in working within the confines of classic villains who must live to fight another day.

By the standards of this series…..not the best. All should be fine when the regular artists return.

From any other creative team, this issue would be cause to clap maniacally and toss the creators a fish treat! Unfortunately, Snyder and Capullo have spoiled us rotten with mindbending Bat-stories and this isn't quiteup to their lofty standards. It's still good, but it doesn't have thatsnap to it. Keep an eye on the back-up though!

Really, really good. This is how a “hero vs. villain” story should be: Get in, do your business for 2 issues and move on. GLORIOUS artwork by Capullo.

A really good opening issue. Just don't make my mistake and try to slot the story into all the other Bat-stories that you've read.

A very technically strong comic that isn'tquitelighting my socks on fire the way I want it to.

A pretty good issue. I think this story is going to be challenging for long-time Batman readers just because we've read too much and it's hard to lever this story into what we already know. New 52 be damned" On the other hand, if you can shrug off that baggage, it is a pretty good issue. And the back-up is aces (how often can you say THAT about a back-up story?).

This is a must read if you are someone who had to readeverythingwith the word Batman on the cover. For the rest of us, it isn't a poor comic, but it is extremely skippable. This is precisely the type of comics I wish Marvel and DC would stop shoveling at us.

Not bad. This is a comic that will appeal a little bit to people reading Zero Year and it does feature a different spin on The Riddler. Villains' Month is still kinda silly though.

Save your money. Completely unnecessary.

A STRONG return to top-of-the-stack status for Batman. Do more of THIS.

Another great issue of Batman. You won't find better art in a comic book and it's amazing to think that Capullo has been grinding at this series for 2 years now. He's kinda lapping the field at this point.

A textbook example of how to avoid the transitional issue. Snyder and Capullo… Powering through quicksand that would swallow lesser creators"

In the end, I don't think it's possible for Batman stories to get much better than this. Simply glorious…

Holy sidekicks! A really sharp issue that injects some new possibilities into the Batman story. Great guest art from Dustin Nguyen and team.

A great Batman story keeps getting better. The creative talent on this comic is as good as it gets.

Zero Year is powering to an excellent ending. The story is entertaining, beautiful and even touches on some real-world problems. Bravo!

Zero Year is still going very strong. But it is still going.

Hey look! It's an annual that is (a) self-contained, (b) introduces an interesting new character and (c) shines new light on a familiar Gotham landmark. That's really all you can ask from an annual (especially considering how lousy annuals sometimes are). The art is fine even if it isn't excellent enough to merit a higher grade.

Foibles aside, this was a fun issue because they let Damien loose. Just wish they would have let Damien do a little more to Zsasz.

A pretty good issue that has a few flaws on the production side. If you're interested in checking out what is going on in Gotham besides Batman, this is the title for you. Just don't expect a consistent narrative month to month.

An enjoyable, but unspectacular story about a Gotham B-lister.

There is nothing in this book that screams “good” or “bad”. It is thoroughly “blah”.

I knew I'd enjoy Ivan Brandon's work, but was surprised how much I enjoyed this tale of Two-Face with art by Bachs. Still, this isn't must read material, by any stretch.

After a really good first two issues, RoBW has really gone into a tailspin. This issue stinks. Unless you're committed to reading the entire series in issues, you might want to lay off and see if things improve.

This was a smoking first issue. It's twisted and unsettling and completely unpredictable. LOVE the art.

A little frustrating after a gangbusters first issue, but this series still has a lot of good karma because that first issue was SO good.

This comic has moments of brilliance, but it also trips itself up sometimes. This is a great example of how there are two different types of "B" comic books. There are those where the A-level elements average out with the C-level elements. Then there are those that are good, but unremarkable. I'd much rather consume comics that have an chance to be extraordinary and Bedlam still fits that bill.

If you like your Blaxploitation to be 100% silly and 0% serious, this is the comic for you. I'm just not sure I understand the point of spoofing a genre about social misfortune if you don't bother to remind what that social misfortune was.

I think your enjoyment of this issue is going to come down to how much you like T'Challa as a character. I've never been a huge fan and this story isn't causing me to frantically go on eBay looking for back-issues. But, your mileage may vary. I'm basically an optimist and think this story has a number of things going for it. One, Francavilla's art is not to be missed. The last Francavilla sketchbook I purchased cost over 10 dollars, so I could be happy with this even without words. Two, I love watching newer writers break into mainstream comics as they learn to adapt to the unique medium. Three, if you're a Daredevil fan, you know he will eventually be back in Hell's Kitchen and dealing with whatever happens in these Black Panther stories. So, for all those reasons, I'll be keeping this on my pull list.

The most exciting new #1 issue in quite some time. Incredible art. Really….. And the story is imaginative and shows some maturity if you're willing to scratch beyond the surface layer.

A strong second issue and another interesting world to explore. Just be careful with the stereotype characters that are all pulled from the Nerd Fantasy textbook.

This series is off the road and stuck in the ditch. Why you would create a comic series about a crew that hops between realities and then spend more time on the love-lives of the characters and pre-adventure back-story is beyond me. Still salvageable because the art is strong and the basic ingredients are in place, but I think the Remender is just interested in different things than I am.

Great issue. This series seems to be a little inconsistent, but it has the potential to hit a 10/10 issue and you can't say that about every series.

A strong issue that advances the plot quite a bit. Not as much fantastic action as other issues, but I guess we can't always eat ice cream.

A very strong issue to wrap up the first arc of the series. The characters have all moved away from their initial stereotypes and some interesting storytelling possibilities lie ahead. The art is tremendous.

Not a bad comic and if you're really into possible apocalyptic settings, this might be worth a look. But it isn't a great comic either.

A very cool, hip and fun entry in into the detective/crime/mob genre with very stylish art. Worth a read!

I've lost the story thread, but this comic features strong enough storytelling and the art is stylish enough that I don't care very much.

Hip, fun and fresh. A very different look at a Russian crime story with great art.

Jumping on point?: Sure, why not. Of course, you're missing out if you don't start at #1, but this issue kinda starts a new phase of the story and the overall story is secondary to the spectacle anyway.

This is a really hard comic to review every month because the story kinda defies description; there aren't "major events" to discuss or worry about spoiling. The art is tough to review too. While all the art is wonderful, it's hard to drill down on an artist when each guy is only doing 2-3 pages. But". if you're not reading this, you're missing out. Just the craft in this comic is incredible and it makes you angry that more comics can't exhibit this type of professionalism. I can't decide if Kalvachev is the next great cover artist or the next great managing editor.

A fun, humorous and fast-paced crime story with art direction that demonstrates that "multiple artists isn't" something to be afraid of.

Jumping on point?: Definitely! There's enough info in there to get a newbie acquainted with either Bomb Queen or Shadowhawk. The only caveat might be that it isn't a very traditional BQ story, so someone wanting to "check this out" might not get what they're expecting. For those folks, go check out any of the previous BQ minis.

Succeeds wonderfully it what it sets out to do: providing a primer on both the Hack/Slash and Bomb Queen universes. Honestly, there should be a lot of cross-pollination between the two anyway, but this should help to sell fans of one series on the other. Take the “Mature Readers” tag seriously because this is one comic that you'll find yourself stashing in the bottom of your reading pile so no one sees it. Very naughty.

One of the most in-your-face openings to a comic in the last couple of years. I LOVE comics that aren't pulling any punches and that clearly have nobody suggesting that something be toned down a little bit. Great art.

Hey look! There is an actual story under all that shocking stuff from issue #1. It isn't a hugely deep story so far, but there is something there. The big attraction to this issue is Mike Huddleston's art because this issue looks like nothing else on the shelves right now.

Crazy and willing to offend. Bravo! This comic also has some of the best and most unique art I've seen in a while.

This title has successfully turned the corner from “shocking and fresh” to “quality story”. I plan on staying tuned as long as Casey and Huddlestone plan to publish this title.

Visually very appealing, but not a whole lot going on in this issue. However, this is in no danger of being dropped from my pull list.

A little rushed feeling, but at least we got an ending and the art is glorious.

Jumping on point?: It's actually a pretty good spot to hop on. The last story cycle was all about Bucky and the Invaders, so this is the first issue of Bucky as Cold War Winter Solder. Hope on and revel in the art.

Nice Spidey-Shellhead team-up. Disappointing if you expected to see Carnage though.

If you like stories that are made impenetrable just for the hell of it, be my guest. The art is quite good and could be in a much better comic, but isn't enough to save the day.

If you didn't like issue #1, but do generally like the godly characters of the Marvel U. or enjoy cosmic-scale action, this might be worth another look (at least the main event series). This wasn't “awesome”, but it was good enough to warrant picking up the third issue. The tie-ins are probably a no-can-do at this point unless you really like a particular creator who works on one of those projects.

I'm still very optimistic about the finale of this event. This issue just can't be all that exciting because it is a penultimate chapter, but Marvel could have paced this event better because the abundance of tie-ins is making me lose the narrative a little.

A really good Herc story comes to a close. This might have been miscast as an event, but some big things did happen including some changes for Herc and the return of some lost heroes. I'll be curious to see how things continue in the new Herc ongoing this spring.

Tantalizing. Not a great comic on its own, but Marvel could easily bring Alpha Flight back from this point (especially considering that Puck is featuring in Wolverine's current story arc). I'm sure Marvel is watching sales on this title, so go pick it up.

Any time you get a chance to buy a 30-page comic drawn by Mr. Kaluta you should jump on it. I always scoff at folks who grade the "story" and the "art" separately, but Kaluta is one of the very, very few artists who can single-handedly make the story almost irrelevant. We also should be rewarding Marvel for hiring the guy and voting with our money that we want more of this in the future. It would be supercool if we could get one Kaluta event tie-in for each event. This comic can't get an A, but with average comic art we'd be looking at a below average comic.

Most event tie-ins make you feel like a chump for plunking down $3.99. Not this one. This was worth reading (and seeing) even if it does have some limitations in story-telling placed upon it being a tie-in. Well worth tracking down at your LCS or in back-issue bins in the future.

Fun for me, but I love the character of Venus. It also explores some interesting ground in the Chaos War itself making a rarely meaningful event tie-in. But it those good parts don't outweigh the boringness brought on by Wakanda & pantheons of gods I don't care about.

It is a shame that some of the Chaos War tie-ins are weak because the event itself is quite good. But, of all the tie-ins so far, this is the worst.

When you go “all-in” on an event like I have with Chaos War, you know that some tie-ins will be gems (Dead Avengers) and some will stink. Unfortunately, this is one of the stories that stinks. Doug Braithwaite does do a very nice job with the art, but when the story is this lacking good art isn't enough.

Chew is one of those comics where the overall story doesn't really matter. It's more like watching a good stand-up comedian than reading a comic book.

Confusion aside, I couldn't be happier with this issue. Pretty rare to find a laugh-out-loud comic.

One of the best ongoing comics being published turns away from the darkness for a fun and black-humored new storyline.

An issue that perfectly illustrates why I love Chew so much. These guys know right where the line between funny and offensive exists. They are unflinching in their approach to the line, but they never cross it.

Not as funny as normal, but the plot is advanced quite a bit.

Another great issue. This story arc started building Chew from more than just a bundle of laughs into a real story. Still the funniest comic on the market.

Love how the funniest comic in production is developing a great story too.

Not the hottest issue of Chew, but as this series develops more of an ongoing story, transitional issues will happen sometimes.

Enjoyment of this issue may be hampered by not remembering the story. I'm probably not the only one.

A good issue. I'm just hoping that the small amount of humor that we're sacrificing for the sake of story is worth it in the end.

A really strong issue that hits both the funny and touching notes that this series is known for while also re-calibrating the “big story”.

The art is off-the-charts; the story is almost non-existent.

If you're a Templesmith fan, it's probably worth checking out this series in trade since he doesn't do a lot of comic work anymore and the dude has a very unique style. But, for a single issues reader, it's really hard not to give this issue massive demerits due to the delays that sapped any emotional resonance that might have been there.

A capable issue and if you're a fan of clones or Juan Jose Ryp, you might want to check it out.

This is a really good story that is being let down by below-average art. It's a shame, but it shows how hard it is to do a high quality comic book.

Every time the GI Joe books cycle back around to Cobra is a high point for the overall story. The bad guys are just more interesting than the good guys. Honestly, I wouldn't mind just reading about Cobra a la Secret Six.

This wasn't a bad book, but it was a little unremarkable. I'll tune in next month and see how the story has progressed.

Not bad, but average. There's nothing here that would make you hand it to a buddy and say “Hey! You have to read this!”

A nice gritty, time-jumping story. This issue does a nice job of laying out the basics of the story and there will surely be twists and complications in future issues.

This issue (and series) were a real joy. The original concept comes to a nice resting point by the end of this issue and the art is to die for.

Darn it! My bloated pull list has grown! But, that is a good thing because Creepy is pure goodness with unsettling stories and top-notch art!

Four very strongstories should satisfy any B&W horror fan, but missing that single awesome story.

Another great issue of horror anthology goodness. You'll never view clowns at a kid's party the same way again!

And, that is part of the problem with this new Creepy series. Jennifer was first published in 1974 in Creepy #63. Dark Horse has been consistently plucking gems from the old Warren Publishing Creepy Magazine and I can't fault them for that too much. I DO have the issues, but most people don't and it probably encourages people to buy the collected editions. But if you cherry-pick masterpieces like "Jennifer", they make the modern stories look "meh" in comparison. In some ways, it isn't really a fair comparison because "Jennifer" was better than most of the contents of Creepy back in 1974 too. An interesting issue. The new material has some bright spots, but the hands-down star is an almost 40-year-old work. I'm not sure publishing current stories with all-star material from day's past is the best publishing move.

Even if you aren't a card-carrying member of a Cthulha cult, you can enjoy this issue that pays tribute to Lovecraft. The art is sublime for the most part even if they stories aren't going to light your socks on fire.

A very strong issue of Creepy. Because this series only comes out quarterly, a couple of mediocre issues will leave a pretty bad taste in our mouths. THIS issue really hit the ball out of the park. It kinda refilled the heath bar for the series. The stories were all in that A- range and it's rare for an anthology to avoid having a single stinker.

Another slightly troubling issue of Creepy where the reprinted classic story puts the modern stories to shame.

A great first issue. Series like Criminal are what the comic industry needs. You could hand this to your dad or your boss and they'd enjoy it because this is proper adult fiction, not something for overgrown fanboys with nostalgia issues (of which I'm one).

Another very strong issue of one of the best series on the stands.

A very strong first issue. If you're looking for some modern-day espionage fun, this is a book to check out.

Jumping on point?: Even though this is not the beginning of a story arc, you could totally hop on here if you wanted to. The story is managed in that classic way that “each issue can be a jumping on point”.

Not bad, but not great either. This issue was just kinda "blah".

Another really strong and emotional story. A bit sad and I just hope that this issue has a bigger purpose in the series.

Even though I now have a theory, I'm still not entirely sure where this series is going, but you cannot deny the craft going on here. This is a definite “buy.”

It is really hard to find better storytelling than Daytripper and this is one of the best issues to date.

“Along for the ride” is a very overdone phrase in reviewing periodical stories, but it is very true in this case. Ba & Moon are spinning a wonderful tale that allows us to not only sit and watch, but also think about how it connects to our own life.

A perfect topper to an excellent series. If you haven't read this in issues, I strongly urge you to find the collected edition when it comes out. You'll treasure it, read it over and over and be able to share it with non-comic fans for years.

Not bad, but nothing great either. Rossmo's art is kinda neutered by the coloring. The story will serve some people just fine, but I didn't find anything wonderful enough to come back for issue #2.

Pretty good, but the art is doing a LOT of the heavy lifting on this issue and there are some worrying problems with inconsistent characterizations. Fraction has had a tendency to write characters however he pleases in the past, so if you like consistent characterization".well".this might not be the book for you. But if you just want jaunty fun, it looks like that might be possible. And again, great art.

Like movie popcorn: Fun, but not filling.

A very well told and illustrated Bruce Wayne detective story.

A very satisfying Bruce Wayne story for those who want a break from what Morrison is doing. Not without flaws, but Hine has created a very cool new villain in Winslow Heath. Hopefully, he'll be back sooner rather than later.

Snyder “get's it” and is writing a uniquely Dick Grayson detective story. Jock and Francavilla are delivering awesome art. Must read!

A really good middle issue of Snyder's debut story arc on Detective Comics. Middle issues are hard, but he keeps the action moving along and plays to the strengths of the embarrassment of riches he has in the art department. Can't wait to see how this wraps up.

Just AWESOME. This is so the best Bat book out there right now. It is smartly written, has great art and because it is focusing on Dick (and not Bruce) it can explore and do more experimental stuff. Bonus for telling a story in 3 issues and not dragging things out to make a better trade paperback.

Grim and moody. For my money this is the best Batman title out there right now. I love that Snyder is bringing a psychological-horror vibe to Gotham city and the art is fantastic.

About as perfect of a done-in-one Jim Gordon story as you'll ever see. Snyder and Francavilla cover so much ground, tell a great story AND set up future material. Even if you don't follow Batman, you should read this issue.

Snyder and Jock have another great beginning to a Batman story. This is easily the best Batman book out there right now and also one of the best superhero comics period.

If DC doesn't find some way to keep the Snyder/Jock/Francavilla team together doing Bat-books for awhile, they are morons. When you find a creative team that is this tight and cranking out A-level books month after month you need to find a way to keep them together until the readers start to say that they're bored with it. This is another issue of great street-level Batman with awesome art.

Another really strong issue of creepy, Batman detective action. Wait until you see the final page! I honestly didn't know they could get away with that in a mainstream DCU title.

Another really strong issue. We'll have to see how the story ends over the next month or so, but so far the Snyder/Jock/Francavilla run on Detective has all the makings of something that DC will be able to sell as a hardcover collected edition for years and years to come. That's a pretty rare thing in the world of utterly disposable superhero stories.

Wow. Endings are so hard to pull off. For every cool concept we see in comics, probably only about 10% end up with a really solid ending. This run by Snyder, Jock and Francavilla is a modern classic and better than any Bat story I'm familiar with in the last 20 years (inclusive of Long Halloween). If DC isn't selling hardcovers of this story for years, there is something wrong with their marketing department. This really sends Detective Comics off with a bang! Everyone should be sure to catch these creators on whatever they're doing next: Snyder on the new Batman & Swamp Thing (and American Vampire, of course), Francavilla on Black Panther and Jock on whatever he does next.

Just stay away. It's not good. Watch the TV show.

I've heard other internet commentators appreciate different aspects of this issue, but for me the star was the finale which features a touching story and stunning art.

If you're a fan of monster movies, this is a “must buy” whenever IDW collects this. I love Bernie Wrightson's art, but credit is deserved all around in this issue/series as Niles has written a fun monster story and served up a few softball-pages for Wrightson to just crush. Check it out. Well worth the pricetag.

It makes me sad that I don't like this more and can't say nicer things about it. I wanted to, but the comic just didn't give me much to work with. The art of Denys Cowan will keep me around for a few issues to see if the story starts to click, although lovers of New Orleans voodoo culture may love this.

The comic is trippy and weird and very pretty to look at. Not sure there is enough story to keep me interested in the long term.

It looks like IDW is doing a nice job with yet another licensed property. Probably worth checking out if you're an old-time D&D fan who doesn't have 6 geeky friends and hours of idle time to actually play.

Really good. I didn't understand everything in this first issue, but I don't think I was supposed to. Hickman has created a fabulous world and teased several things I really want to know the answers to. Dragotta's art isfantastic.

A strong second issue. A few things start to make sense, but there is a lot more to wonder about. It's rare to see a comic book with this much charisma.

Creepy and disturbing. Definitely one to check out if you're into surreal, psychological horror.

Make sure to check this out. Even if the story is vaguely familiar, Corben gives it a few twists. Plus, its amazing to see how a masterfully Corben is able to perfectly calibrate the emotional reaction between horrifying and merely unsettling.

I wanted to love this, but it's a big, fat "meh". This blending of old and new is foolish detracts from both. I'd really rather see Dark Horse consolidate their new material in one publication, rather than smearing it across two series and including old material to fill out the issue.

This is almost the perfect Elephantmen issue for me because it emphasizes what I want this series to be about: the relationships between these huge brutes and the people they care about. Medellin really settles into the art and pulls off a killer issue.

The middle of a 3-issue “recap” to allow new readers to hop on is also enjoyable for existing readers because of the thoughtful storytelling and wonderful art. Everyone should find a place for Elephantmen on their pull lists because it is one of the most consistently good titles on the market.

A fun homage to Conan with great art by Axel Medellin.

Great choice of guest artist and a great choice of story. Elephantmen continues to be a really good read.

Refresher information for newer readers and very intriguing fresh meat for long-time fans. And, of course, we have the wonderful art and design that we expect from the series.

Typically great art and the story is an engaging addition to the Elephantmen back-story that will doubtless ripple through to the series' present day.

A really strong issue of Elephantmen that ties together two eras of storytelling and opens a lot of exciting possibilities for the future.

Outstanding production values and pretty art, but it still feels a little disjointed from what's been going on in recent issues.

A great issue of Elephantmen that explains a lot of the action so far in the series.

Surprise! Another very strong issue of Elephantmen. This is probably my favorite science-fiction themed comic being published. Pretty amazing that this comic is still chugging towards it's 50th issue. How many series hit that milestone today?

A little overpriced and the extra material isn't much, but this issue showed me something new about the series and I didn't think that was possible after 50 issues.

Buy it. It's $3.99 and even ifyou don't love it".you can say your horizons were broadened.

Jumping on point?: Clearly this book is intended as a jumping on point and it mostly does a good job. New readers are likely to be confused by the Kree/Inhumans stuff, but I've been reading FF for a long time and I was confused by that too.

A very good first issue that feels very "Alan Moore" even if it isn't a traditional Moore comic book.

Not the most awesome comic ever (yet), but the craft that went into this issue is unmistakable. Percio's art is pretty incredible too.

The only negative for this issue is that I don't enjoy the subject matter all that much. But, it's a testament to the creators that they're making me mostly enjoy a comic about fashion and transvestites. In all seriousness, it's nice to read a comic that rewards you for thinking. With most stories, there is nothing more than a surface layer or a clumsily done subtext; with Alan Moore, you never reach the bottom.

One of the deeper comics being published right now. There's plenty here to think about if you set your mind to it.

Still quality, but not close to the stellar quality of the last two issues.

A thought-provoking ending to a very challenging series. I really look forward to a reread because I'm sure this is a story that will just get better and better.

Fans of the Hernandez brothers were probably already aware of this, but if you're looking for something a little different, you could do worse than sampling a 4-issue story from a modern master of indie-comics. Heck"even if you don't LOVE it, you'll get some street cred with the cool kids at the comic shop who won't touch an X-Men comic.

Very different from the usual fare. This is not only a major change of pace from superhero comics, it's also quite different than most material published by other "major indie" publishers like Image and Vertigo.

In a perfect world, Humberto Ramos could draw two complete issues of Spider-Man a month and he and Dan Slott could just do this title for a few years because they are a perfect combination for ASM: fun, funny, action based, etc. This is a great issue that I and many other people got for free that was good enough that (a) I reviewed it without really having any previous plans to do so and (b) was my “pick of the week”. See if you can track down a copy.

The art is still pretty good, but it can't make up for a story that is too lightweight to be called an “event” and some cringe-worthy dialog (“Man Down!”). On the positive side, it is almost over and you can be pretty sure that something will happen that is important to the Marvel Universe.

It's over. Marvel did a lot of damage in this one. Nothing happened in this event except for a couple of temporary deaths. Bad job.

Hardly essential reading unless you were dying to know what Deadpool did during Fear Itself, but it'll whet your whistle if that's what you're looking for.

There are bound to be a few crummy tie-ins for every event and this seems to be one. Not a bad premise, but the execution is kinda lacking. I have hope that it'll improve on the next issue when the art situation is a little more settled.

A rare event tie-in miniseries that was really good and had a purpose. The basic story of the vampires fighting the Hulk was very fun and the creators also introduced us to a new vampire super team: the Forgiven. How cool is that? Hopefully this isn't the last we've seen of them! Wonderful art by Stegman too.

A pretty good issue that sells the concept of FEAR ITSELF. The story has some macro issues (like FEAR ITSELF still seeming a little dorky as a concept and that hasn't fully been explained in the main event book) and micro issues (continuity issues), but it is still a decent Spider-Man story that shows off his sense of responsibility for people he doesn't even know. But, based on this reading, I'm probably not getting the final two issues in the miniseries.

If you're all-in on Fear Itself, this is a worthwhile seasoning for the main event. It's kinda like adding a dash of pepper. It isn't a strong seasoning though (like hot sauce). If you're just reading the main series, you'll be fine skipping this with feeling any regret.

Having McKeever write younger characters and having Norton drawing anything is a recipe for success. If you're having trouble picking between all the FEAR ITSELF tie-in series, this looks like it will be pretty good and add a lot of depth to the main series.

Another really tight issue featuring some kids and B-listers. I'm really enjoying a few of them (Thor Girl, Cloud 9 and Ultragirl) and hope they can stick around in the Marvel U after Fear Itself.

Unless you're a prude, you'll love this. If you haven't been following it, I'm pretty sure there is a hardcover coming out pronto, and you should definitely check it out.

A fitting end to a fantastical journal for a Marvel character who can get a little one-note. Bravo to Remender for going for it and doing something new. Even if you didn't personally love Franken-Castle, creators who aren't afraid to try new things should be rewarded and the fans should remember that even if not all character experiments work out to their liking, without experimentation characters get stale pretty fast.

No hyperbole needed as this is a very middle-of-the-road comic. If you're looking for a slightly sunny, female character comic, this might be worth checking out. If not, you can certainly skip it.

This story arc is almost over and it's time. It has some interesting ideas, but we when a publisher screws up the length of the arc, you DO have to work to see the positives. Why must everything be long? How many times in comics have we said, "Gosh! That ended too fast!" and even if that DOES happen, the publisher can always revisit the material later. Still, I think the Joe books are worth checking out. They're entertaining and have stakes and that's enough for me.

Snappy story that takes the Joes in a fresh direction, but this art is extremely borderline for a $3.99 book. How can the same company that publishes this line of “artist editions” that are homages to the best the comic industry has ever seen continue to be cheap on the art in a flagship book like GI Joe?

The story is great, the art is bad.

Jumping on point?: This really takes place after the climax of the Cobra Civil War and the new Cobra Commander is in place. This isn't a bad place to hop on to try the next story cycle.

This series is going to struggle if it looks like this. $3.99 for a decompressed story with poor art is not going to move many units of the second-tier GI Joe book.

If you want to turn a friend onto GI Joe comics, don't hand them this. This is decompression at its worst, combined with timid storytelling choices. Oh, and the art is lousy too. Yo Joe!

Avoid like the plague. This storyline didn't advance anything and the art was poop.

A strong restart for the title that has always been IDW's best GI Joe book. If you like murky espionage intrigue, you'll enjoy Cobra.

The best GI Joe book being published. It is totally devoid of fan-service and just tells a modern and mature espionage story.

This is easily the best of the GI Joe titles and this issue is an example of why.

Good art can't rescue a boring story.

This is a well-told story with very clean and straightforward art. I do have a couple of problems with the basic story set-up because I just can't imagine the Lights being sent on these missions.

A bright, shiny breath of fresh air. I'm really enjoying this comic after two issues and it'll be fun to see the creators continue to flesh out this universe. Perfect art for this type of story too!

The art is incredible. You won't find better realistic linework in comics today. If artists are going to draw in a realistic fashion, THIS is what is needs to look like (unfortunately, most artists aren't as talented as Mr. Sim). And the story is just the biggest pile of nutty that you're going to find. If you like comics to be a little different, you really should spend $3 every couple months when Glamourpuss comes out.

The art is stunning and Sim has some things to say too. It's not a comic story in the traditional sense, but spending $3 on something like this that will never be sucked into an "event" and gives you a glimpse into the mind of one of our greatest living drafts people is well worth it. This comic makes a lot of other comic art look like garbage. It's also an intensely person comic. You get the idea that Sim is just making this and doesn't give a damn if anyone even buys it.

Leaving value judgments aside, Dave Sim continues to show why the world is a more interesting place with him in it.

Overall, there is a lot of potential in the concept. This first issue just establishes the overall scenario, so I really have no idea (yet) whether this will be an edgy comic of just something that is derivative of a Big 2 superhero work that uses gods as bad guys (since they're in the public domain). It may turn out to be nothing, but at least the potential for boldness is present.

Meh….this series doesn't seem to want to address the really deep questions. It would rather show a Godly battle with tanks and other Gods. What's more, it doesn't seem to have that hard edge that I associate with a Hickman story. He usually has some point and he is going to poke you right in the eyes with that point…..but I'm not sure what he's trying to say here.

There's not much point to this issue or series. It isn't doing anything adventurous and isn't asking any deep questions. The art is average. Skip it.

I can see this being a polarizing issue. If you're just a Godzilla fan, I'm not sure it's going to do that much for you because the story is pretty routine (so far). But, if you're a fan of unique and incredible comic art, it's a "must buy" because Stokoe is just that cool and special.

A cute start to a story-arc, but nothing too impactful.

Very average story with challenging art.

A strong entry for a series that had been having trouble doing better than "average" for several months. Shame about the butch Selina Kyle.

This was a really strong first issue. It's hard to escape comparing this comic to 68 (Image's current miniseries focusing on zombies during the Vietnam War), but this is a superior comic to 68. The characterization is spot on and the art is really strong. I highly recommend this comic!

Not a whole lot to say. Career-best work from the uber-talented Riley Rossmo is more than enough to keep me reading this series, but I wish the story made more sense or was just a straight-up crime story.

A very strong first issue of the second volume of Hack/Slash. Friendly to new readers without making loyal readers feel dumped upon with the bloody/sexy art we've come to expect from the series.

Although it seems like I've harped on what's bad a lot, the good vastly outweighs any problems this series has. I just think it's only fair to be very specific about problems I'm having rather than giving vague criticism. You should still be picking this series up: It has zombie pets, murderous slashers returned from the "dead", scantily clad seductress slashers, plucky teen-female heroines, an intrepid demon dog that sniffs butts and talks and that's before we even get to the wonderful central characters of Cassie and Vlad.

A really bang up issue! All the action and sense of humor that we've come to expect from Hack/Slash. This is a comic that all fans should be finding a place for on their pull lists! The Hoax Hunters back-up story is very promising too. A little hard to get into at 2-pages a month, but it fits thematically with H/S and has pretty nice art.

A perfectly fine issue of Hack/Slash. Satisfying if you enjoy the series.

A good funny/scary issue of Hack/Slash that fills a very unique niche on the comic shelves.

Another solid issue of Hack/Slash. If you're an adventuresome reader who has an affinity for old horror movies and bodily function jokes, this is a series you shouldn't be missing. This issue is even is decent jumping on point.

I've been looking forward to this issue and even if it was a little slow, it didn't disappoint and I'm looking forward to reading this monthly.

An interesting concept that has a lot of promise, but the lack of excitement in this first issue placed it very much in the “average comics” category. Probably worth seeing how the next few issues are reviewed before jumping in.

The story is very solid and promising. It offers what I want in a non-Marvel/DC superhero comic: something different. The art will be fine with a little tightening.

A very nice issue".especially if you've been itching to see Morrison doing something a little more visceral.

Gosh"a crime story that isn't trying to mix in any cults or demons or ghosts! Mix that with good art and you have a winner.

This series has gotten light years better since its debut last fall where the nicest thing most reviewers would say about it was “disappointing” and some used words like “self-indulgent”. It's evolved into a really good read that I encourage you to pick up.

Worth buying for the art alone, but there is also a lot of set-up for the next 5-6 issues.

Outstanding art + disjointed story = average. I have high hopes this will bounce back next month.

Haunt is just fun comic books. Even in the few places where Kirkman has too many toys out at one time, the basic story is clear and easy to follow. It was also neat to see a story-arc kinda wrap up and I'm definitely interested to see this new story. And as always Capullo's art rocks!

The new story is very promising even if it didn't get fully fleshed out in this issue, but the art is (again) just beastly good. And, at $1.99 for this first issue, how can you justify not picking this up. This series has consistently been fun and has had wonderful art.

Another stellar art performance by Capullo. The story isn't pretty good too and it is fun to learn more about the rules of this universe, but the art is the major attraction here.

Jumping on point?:This should have been a jumping on point, but it really wasn't. On the other hand, it also isn't much of a continuation from the old material, so I can't really recommend any of the past issues as the “perfect” place to jump in either. You'll have to figure this out yourself.

Jumping on Point?: Sure, why not. You'd miss a little bit by not reading issue #19, but it wouldn't be a tragic blow and you could go find that issue if you enjoyed what you got in this #20.

Haunt has found it's second wind after the departure of Kirkman and Capullo. It isn't the "greatest comic on the stands" but it's enjoyable every month and Fox's art is just tremendous. If only the story would stick in my brain after I close the book"

Some good elements, but the delay has kinda killed the story momentum. Still, the series has enough built-up good will and the creators are talented enough that this series deserves some flexibility.

Every “jumping on point” is also a “jumping off point”. The art isn't bad, but it is a change for the worse from Nathan Fox and the idea of crossing this title over with Spawn doesn't excite me at all.

This is just the first issue, so we have a lot more story to go, but I'll be getting the remaining issues mostly on trust of the creators rather than the excellence of the first issue.

A nice ending to this chapter of the Kick-Ass universe. If you love watching Hit-Girl kill folks, this will be fun for you.

How to get it:It's probably too late for a comic shop to pre-order the issue from Diamond, but you can check with your comic shop and have them set aside any issues they've ordered for the shelf. Or you could be all modern about things and read it on a digital device where Image is doing same-day digital releases.

No need to catch up. Just dive back in. It's a great series.

Fun story (again) from Parker combined with draws-everything-well art from Hardman. These guys still have the right to gesture at their fellow-collaborators that they have the “championship belt” of best ongoing Marvel/DC superhero book right now. Love the writing and art on this issue and the creepy new Spider-MODOK.

Not a bad issue, but you could skip this one and not miss much. I'm very much looking forward to getting the regular art team back and returning to the main story.

Good things happen when you smear together the work of three must-read/see creators. Hulk is just a fun romp of a story and has been one of the most consistently good Marvel titles over the last 6 months (when this creative team came aboard).

This is one of the best titles Marvel is publishing right now. Parker is probably the most exciting storyteller in superhero comics right now and Hardman is probably the best artist cranking out a monthly book. Put those together and you're going to get a LOT of high marks.

The Planet Red Hulk part of this comic is great. Didn't love the transition back to Earth quite as much, but I'm willing to give Parker the benefit of the doubt. Really great linework in this issue too! This is a really great comic that everyone should be reading.

Another strong issue of Hulk for Parker and company. Folks really should be reading this. I know a lot of people think they don't like Hulk stories, but I haven't met a single person who has read Parker's Hulk run and been anything but really impressed.

Hulk is great again. Wonderful art and Jeff Parker showing that event tie-ins don't have to disrupt your ongoing storylines.

Jeff Parker shows how to use a line-wide event to serve his own storytelling goals. Bravo! And Elena Casagrade shows that Marvel is incredibly adept at finding excellent new(er) artists.

Kinda a quiet issue that allows the art to shine. You won't find better art anywhere in comics and that includes the “masters” like JH Williams and Darwyn Cooke who grace us with art once per year (whereas Hardman and Breitweiser are doing it monthly). Jeff Parker should get to teach a breakout session at the next Marvel retreat on how to introduce new characters.

It is so rare in today's comic market to know that a comic is going to be good before you open it, but Jeff Parker has taken Hulk to that level. He's been on this title since issue #25 and every issue has been between strong and outstanding and when Hardman is on the title too, it just goes to another level. Can't wait until next issue to see what happens with this interesting cast of characters.

I'm sure Jeff Parker has written stinkers in the past, but he's got his two Marvel books humming along now. He's transformed Rulk from a scorn worthy character (Really???? A red Hulk??? How creative….) into a fully fleshed out and very compelling character. Huge kudos to Hardman and Breitweiser for helping him to tell the story. The new artist has big shoes to fill!

Even though I miss Hardman & Breitweiser, this series just keeps chugging along. The new story we begin here is contemporary and fresh and the art's pretty good as well.

Another fun issue of Hulk. It feels fresh, has off-beat guest stars and pretty strong art. Check it out.

Very promising. The art is the big selling point, but it's also fun to have a comic with a useful female protagonist (even if she is kinda sexed up for a mostly male audience).

VERY snappy art and a clever main character. I'm still struggling to find a main story though.

A really good kick off to a new volume. I wish these guys could sell enough of this and Criminal that they could quit their Big 2 work and do nothing but this stuff.

A great transitional story in the middle of a great story. Make sure to check out Incognito. It's the best thing that Brubaker is writing right now and Phillips and Staples are doing incredible things with the art. .

I'm a little confused by a few plot elements, but the generally good writing and very good art pick this issue up. This is also very much an Act II story where nothing too huge will happen and I'm ready for Act III.

A nice ending to a strong Incognito story. It nicely sets up the next story and I'll be looking forward to seeing that in a year or so.

This is definitely a series to pick up. You really have no clue what will happen next as this series doesn't have many lines it won't cross.

A good issue. We know who Max Damage is now and it looks like he is going to start busting some heads.