Gregory Ellner Comic Reviews

With a slow buildup, Niles, Kowalski, and Simpson continue to add tension to their horror story before it is ready to go into full swing.

Entertaining but a bit opaque, this beginning may be a bit hard to dive into directly.

Horror blends into black comedy in this first installment to an awaited showdown between maniacs.

An intriguing, succinct look into Superman's history that provides an emotional jumping-off point both for established fans and for new readers.

Dan Jurgens's run on "Action Comics" closes with a feeling of hope for the future.

Krypton meets the infernal realms in this intriguing look at things to come.

erhaps this annual is good for those who were already following the story of Future State's Midnighter, but for others, it is not particularly inviting.

A collection of different tones for three different stories help to encompass all of what Superman can really be and bring a big smile to readers' faces, whether from sheer heroism, comedy, or pure compassion in and of itself.

Despite being derived from an ongoing run, this finale works well for new readers to drive them into the next stage of Supermans story.

From fans of the various literary properties to those who have only minimal information on any of them, "Adler" #1 is both educational and entertaining.

From excitement in the past to mystery in the present, "Adventureman!" #1 leaves readers aching for more!

Ending with small moments rather than a grand battle, Jon Kents stay in the world of Injustice ends with an appropriate use of what it means to be Superman.

A pretty fun set of tales about a manga-esque superheroine in the Marvel Universe.

Though well written, "Age of Conan: Blit" #4's artwork may be a bit too heavy for its own good.

A fun story with phenomenal coloring is only held back a small amount by some less detailed distance shots on the illustration.

An interesting story reaches its emotional conclusion in very good form.

A decent video game tie-in comic, albeit not much to write home about except for the relatively original Diana Burnwood story.

An intriguing take on a familiar tale begins with this latest trip down the rabbit hole (in multiple senses of the words).

Alice has an intriguing start to a look at a trip to Wonderland in this new story.

While the artwork is good and the colors complement it well, this story is a bit too focused on returning viewers to be easily accessible for new potential fans to Alien as a whole.

The follow-up to "Aliens: Resistance" is shaping up rather nicely, leaving enough to have readers wanting more.

Final Verdict: 7.0" Though the slower pacing helps to acclimate new readers to the world of "Alien," some awkward lettering choices leave much to be desired in terms of clarity.

Very interesting take on Mad Hatter, but with a very confusingly organized backup story.

An interesting pair of stories that contrast the perspective of Alfred with that of Batman.

An interesting introduction brings Canada into the 'Fall of X.'

Three different stories with distinct art styles and tones merge together into a cohesive whole that may entice returning fans of Marvel as well as those just joining in on the franchise.

There are ways to handle character death and climaxes in a plot. This decidedly not "amazing story is one to avoid, with the colors and perhaps lettering being the closest we could have to something of a saving grace.

Despite a worrisome entry point on several levels, this series is off to a good start.

A well-drawn and well-written adaptation of a portion of the eponymous novel that captures the growing intrigue of the Old God/New God war well.

Intense moments work together with seamless recaps to continue this story forward.

Final Verdict: 7.0" Despite a valiant effort, "Angel" #0 isn't particularly good of an approach for newcomers, requiring some incoming knowledge, and perhaps works best as a companion piece to the core "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" series.

With a very fun story, great artwork, and beautiful colors, "Ant-Man and the Wasp" #3 does a good job of telling a weird science quantum physics tale that is complex, yet easy to understand, and even teaches readers a bit about quantum mechanics along the way.

An interesting look in on the start of a new take on "Aphrodite V," appealing to modern cyberpunk fans on some level.

While the story of "Aquaman" #28 is well written on its own, the artwork makes it all the greater.

A well established continuation of the rebellion against King Rath with phenomenal artwork.

Despite some issues with pacing and structure, the overall feeling of "Artemis: Wanted" #1 shines through.

Fantastic spy drama comes to its conclusion, leaving wonder of what will come next.

Excellent primer for the "Assassin's Creed" franchise's various factions, while delving deeper into the modern-day mythos.

A compelling story that gives a hefty dose of suspense on every turn, with a few bonuses thrown in for franchise fans.

Howard's writing, though well thought out, might not be enough to win some people over with Hernandez's art style, but the whole package does seem to come together rather nicely.

A satisfactory conclusion, but with some weird linework.

An odd coda still works decently well in this one-shot conclusion.

Oddly written but well-illustrated and colored, "Basketful of Heads" #1 starts 'Hill House Comics' in a weird place.

A well-written and well-illustrated short tale about a team up between Swamp Thing and Batman that sheds light on them both.

Although the idea of a dark take on Bruce Wayne is not entirely unique, 'The Origin of Bruce Wayne' manages to put a warped, dark spin on the tale through a clever writer and well handled color palettes.

While the artwork on the two stories is interesting, it is hard to ignore that the primary tale feels a bit disjointed or at least too slow.

How much is a Pennyworth? As can be shown from this one-shot, quite a lot indeed.

Whether or not you care for the holiday, Silent Knight seems worth checking out for a fun winter tale.

Fun artwork and an intriguing story lead to a highly entertaining first issue.

Aside from some annoyances toward the start of the anthology, there is a lot to love for many different fans.

A somewhat interesting story and phenomenal artwork help breathe new life into an old dynamic.

A family dynamic both in and out of costume helps this story feel different and fun.

With quieter moments and combat both, "Batman and the Outsiders" #2 continues to show why Hill, Soy, and Gandini are perfect for this book.

While the artwork and colors are lively, "Batman and the Signal" #3 hinges on a particular clich that drags the whole issue down and was largely unnecessary.

Despite the interesting artwork, this group seems to lack both Batman and incorporation, with little to easily draw newcomers in.

Despite some issues with understanding the underlying plot elements, this introduction is an interesting enough start to the battle between father and son.

Bermejo does his best to redeem this final installment, but much like its title, this comic is damned by its own pointlessness.

A classic story is turned on its head to great effect in this debut.

Artwork, colors, and writing work together expertly to tell a fascinating, heartwrenching tale about one of Batman's primary villains.

Two-Face and Harvey Dent both get a good showing across much of their extensive history in this excellent one-shot.

An interesting look at the past and present of a relatively recent Batman rogue, well-drawn and colored alongside a good script.

Sam Humphries, Ethan van Sciver, and Jason Wright craft an excellent, disturbing take on a variation of "Batman: In Darkest Knight" gone horribly wrong.

Even with the slightly weaker premise in terms of an alternate Batman, the rise of the Devastator shines nonetheless thanks to fantastic artwork and a terrifying present day story.

If one can get past the fact that this story is very much of a different era and connected to elements long-since abandoned, there is an interesting, relatively fast-paced tale to be told.

Well-drawn, but perhaps a bit by-the-numbers in narrative execution.

Beautifully illustrated and colored while depressingly written, "Berserker Unbound" is not for the faint of heart.

Fast paced and fun, this one-shot is definitely one to look into.

A lackluster, trying-too-hard script is partially made up for with excellent artwork and colors.

No matter how good the artwork may be, this debut issue cannot get around the fact that it feels completely unnatural.

The cross-company superhero crossover 'Hammer of Justice!' is off to a fun, interesting start.

While the story of this take on the Black Knight has some degrees of implausibility, the artwork and colors help to make up for what it lacks.

A relatively slow issue, but with good emotional scenes and fantastic artwork.

While this story does not give much room for newcomers, returning fans will be likely very interested in the developments as they go along with the famed extreme detail in illustrations and color usage.

Interesting for incoming readers, but perhaps a bit odd on artwork at times, "Black Manta" #1 is worth checking out.

repetition of dialogue.

Fear of the unknown continues unabated in yet another winner at Vault Comics.

Intriguing storytelling combines with an excellent look into a familiar world to tell a new tale in the Blade Runner franchise.

Though not a particularly good place to jump in for newcomers, "Bleed Them Dry" #5 is still a rather interesting story for a penultimate issue.

Creepy artwork and a fast-paced story help the tour of the world of Bloodborne feel fun, rather than daunting or excluding non-players.

"Bloodborne" continues to present itself very well through its new focus on non-hunters.

The story of Eileen the Crow ends not in revelations, but in further confusion, making it all appear to signify nearly nothing at all beyond its own madness, even with its continued well-done artwork and colors.

Existing lore merges well with an interesting new story and recurrent amazing artwork for this newest look into the world of Bloodborne.

Blades daughter comes to the fore with some intriguing concepts, but not enough to really stand out in a big way just yet.

A very solid debut that has a lot of potential.

A fascinating origin sets itself apart from many other dark takes on famous fairy tales.

Excellent writing, animated artwork, and mood-changing colors work together to create another winner in Boom Studios's "Buffy" re-Vamp.

A well-lain script and excellent colors continue through this event prelude, but some of the artwork just doesn't quite fit.

Despite the creepier underlying elements of the story and the hints toward possible malicious influence, on the whole Willow's tale, seems to be very relaxing and comforting, while not leaving new readers too far in the dust.

esque story of crime, redemption, and mysticism begins in this video game prequel.

A heartwarming anthology rings in Independence Day 2023 for both Captains America!

Despite some problems with balancing characters, Cold War seems to be heating up rather nicely.

While a very good issue with well done artwork, "Captain America" #25 is held back by the fact that it is in fact a part of the Secret Empire event in all but name, and essential to its development.

While disturbing on the surface, what exactly was meant to be achieved in this prelude one-shot to an upcoming series remains unclear by its end.

While there isn't much story to speak of, the artwork definitely carries "Catwoman" #7 to a good place.

Stepping away from Catwoman herself allows for a very intriguing origin story for one of her villains as an element of the Batman mythos is allowed room to expand without Batman himself.

Crime drama sits down for a family dinner as this meal gets a definite thumbs up.

From writing to artwork to colors to lettering, "Coffin Bound" #2 continues to be an enticing tale worth checking out and following going forward.

A highly intriguing entry point to a fully-fledged comic book world which readers have yet to fully experience.

It's the end of the world as we know it, and we feel slightly unimpressed.

"Crackdown" #1's artwork is dynamic but missing key elements to coexist with the story, which itself is rather lackluster, both elements held above others primarily by the colors.

Despite some interesting ideas, it takes unfamiliarity with Earth-3, familiarity with classic DC Comics stories, and a willingness to accept heavy-handed modern politics to really glean enjoyment from this limited series debut.

Though perhaps difficult to understand for newcomers to "Critical Role," this miniseries entry is good with its emotional beats.

A new heroine rises from a merger of various forces to intriguing effect in this tie-in to symbiote lore.

Not quite an Avengers story, the first part of 'Curse of the Man-Thing' does a very good job of introducing the threat alongside reintroducing eponymous character for a potentially new audience.

Confusing artwork and lettering combined with a lack of direct exposition on why readers should care about the events of a prior story leave this new arc of 'Cutting Edge' wanting.

A well-handled continuation of the family drama, albeit with a bit of an odd villain motivation that might fall apart on too much analysis.

With a mature look into the amorality of life-saving surgery without consent, "Cyber Force" #8 shows the series' strengths well.

An entertaining, action-focused issue to near the conclusion of this volume.

While a well-drawn and colored issue, "Cyborg" #13's stiff dialogue makes reading it fairly hard to see as natural conversations.

A possibly atypical approach to a superhero's new ongoing nonetheless remains intriguing.

Though nothing amazing to write home about, a difference in focus and decision to downplay the overall praise of the eponymous character helps "Damage" #7 to do better than its predecessors.

An intriguing story propped up by excellent artwork and colors, "Daphne Byrne" shows a lot of promise for a particular kind of haunting.

Muted colors, soft pencils, and an engrossing script keep the ball rolling in this second installment of the "Weapon Lost" miniseries.

Even without Daredevil himself appearing in costume, Zdarsky, Sharma, and Tartaglia tell a very good story revolving around his absence.

Though the story itself doesn't seem to move much, "Dark Ark" #10 is an entertaining enough issue, providing just enough information for newcomers to jump in.

Though not much happens up front in "Dark Ark: After the Flood" #3, tensions rise nonetheless through the efforts of the entire creative team.

Uneven characterization, coupled with odd changes in art style, are somewhat decently held together by good coloring in this one-shot.

An interesting one-shot that could easily fit outside of the event it branches from is sadly held back somewhat by a slightly more disjointed backup tale.

A good story and an even better backup make this installment to the 'Worlds Without a Justice League' one to watch out for.

Masterful as ever, Tom Taylor's work alongside Yasmine Putri is definitely worth checking out for fans of dark fantasy as much as fans of the DC Universe!

A story closes with a satisfactory ending in this final chapter of "Dark Knights of Steel.

A strong story continues forward without relying too heavily on the past, all while continuing to just have fun overall.

Horrific and at times ridiculous, this anthology gives a lot of story in a small package, though with perhaps an odd conclusion even for 'Death Metal.'

Despite being part of a far larger story, 'Speed Metal' shows the heart in the development of the Flash family's post-Rebirth status quo.

Despite being an intriguing journey into the DC Universe, this supposed "one-shot" feels more like a real fourth issue to the story from which it branches than a one-and-done tale for people to jump in.

Though there are some oddities in the artwork, "Dark Nights: Metal" #5 does a good job of following up the preceding issue while answering some lingering questions before the coming finale.

Though its premise may seem to be tiresome after years of hearing about that area of the United States, "Dark Red" #1 manages to trickle out some new blood from an old genre through its own self-awareness.

An interesting collection of stories in the Dark Souls world, though the collaboration does leave readers wanting more.

Less heavy on lore, but well-written with humor and danger both, the artwork again steals the show when it comes to this "Dark Souls" comic series.

A good mixture of emotions helps pull together the threads of an amusing, mostly self-contained piece that could almost be a one-shot in and of itself.

Although the artwork is good, as are the colors, the script of this debut is too focused on being an introduction and not enough on actually standing out in a way that is not out-of-character for participants who would attempt to do so.

Dynamic artwork, surprise appearances, and beautiful colors only further emphasize the sheer fun of this DC Comics/Hanna-Barbera crossover.

A fun, albeit violent story in "Weird West" style, with interesting panel angles and an interestingly moral look at an aged Yosemite Sam.

An exceptionally fun take on both Wonder Woman and the Tasmanian Devil that brings a healthy dose of nostalgia for both while telling a great one-shot story.

Inviting for new readers while not disparaging those who already know the basic premise of either franchise, this debut is entertaining for readers new and old.

Though dragged down by a poorly done Superman interlude, the three previews in "DC Nation" #0 are worth the price of admission and then some.

Lacking scares but intriguing in its own way, this one-shot is a good way to bring in new readers to an ongoing Elseworld saga.

Emotional ups and downs, magnificent pacing, and a fantastic illustration-colors team lend themselves to one of the most horrifying stories DC Comics has put out in a long time.

Though the artwork can at times not be quite as stellar as the original "DCeased" miniseries, "DCeased: Unkillables" #1 nonetheless shows itself to be a worthy successor to its writer's previous foray into such a hellish world.

Despite some issues with art at a further distance, this latest installment to the "DCeased story definitely is worth the look.

While disorganized, "Deathstroke" #23 showcases the unraveling world of Project Defiance with its structure and use of color more than its explicit words.

Fantastic artwork is still held back by a story that drags for half of its length without much in the way of a discernible reason.

"Deep Beyond" proves somewhat interesting, but not really enough ot entice a new reader to continue forward.

Comprehensive reintroduction to Shiva to new Batman readers, albeit without much of an interesting motive.

Merging several different stories of this comic run together, "Detective Comics" #980 shapes up to be a fun, classic tale of colliding forces.

Combining creepy atmosphere with great pacing, "The Cursing of Gotham City" is a fantastic one-shot comic.

Final Verdict: 8.5" Batman is the night, but Peter Tomasi's take on the Arkham Knight brings the focus out into the light of day with a fresh new take on a character's introduction to the wider DC universe, aided in a great script with equally engrossing artwork, colors, and lettering.

By way of highly emotional storytelling merged with intriguing world building of the eponymous role-playing world itself, "Die" #4 shows continued depth of despair and heights of the possibilities brought about by its world.

lain, with the artwork and coloring meshing perfectly with the worlds existing artwork.

Mixing amoral relativism with the trappings of an "aliens among us" tale, "Dissonance" #2 continues to provide intrigue.

"Dissonance" continues to build toward a climax, but the overt focus on action leaves something to be desired on the front of the philosophical and intrigue-based fronts seen earlier.

Newcomers are welcome to take the psychedelic journey through the latest adventures of Doctor Mirage.

"Dragon Age: Blue Wraith" #1 may be intriguing for longtime fans of Dragon Age, but aside from the excellent colors, the narrative is better for returning fans than it is inviting for anyone coming into the world of BioWare's dark fantasy franchise fresh.

An interesting lead-in to a storyline, but relies far too heavily on previously written works, without making much new headway.

Interesting parallel structure and artwork create a variety of feelings in readers, but don't do much to create a story to go forward.

Despite good artwork and colors, the script of "Eternals Forever" is just too slow and overwrought to be interesting as a story, almost better served as a reference book.

Fun, ridiculous story in the post-Fables world, but might be hard to get into for new adopters.

"Excalibur" is fun, but this introductory arc has yet to unsheathe something to make it flesh out into the truly great as compared to other 'Dawn of X' titles.

Though a bit formulaic at times, "Exorsisters" #1 shows a lot of promise, and a very good balance of horror and comedy, and demonstrates why following a formula isn't necessarily a bad thing at all.

Boothby, Lagac, and Pantazis work together to forge a fitting conclusion to this arc of "Exorsisters."

Despite not really living up to the solicitation, this denouement is rather effective, provided you already know the rest of this saga (or in the very least this twelve-part revival).

A calm story and recap of the events around a major villain in a prior video game help to characterize a new villain for the upcoming Far Cry 6 very well for newcomers and veteran players alike.

Final Verdict: 8.5 " Using copious, exhaustive narration, Ryan O'Sullivan, Andrea Mutti, and Vladimir Popov begin to craft a story about fiction to remember.

"Fearscape" #5 brings the first arc to a close with intriguing, literally psychotic storytelling.

Chaotic story that makes even a relatively minor threat seem significant.

Even though it perhaps fails to live up to some of the promises of the solicitation, 'Bats Out of Hell' is starting off strong.

A character-focused issue helps to distinguish the different Flashes while giving only minimal attention to the villains.

Together, 'Flash War: Part 3' is a very good issue, fun and exciting, but maybe a little too much at once for some readers.

An interesting story that leaves fans wanting more out of both Commander Cold and the Strength Force.

Five different stories all give different perspectives on the Flash, to varying effectiveness, as another run on the Scarlet Speedster reaches the finish line.

Despite well-approached artwork and colors, the storytelling of "Flashpoint Beyond #0 leaves much to be desired.

Delving into deep black comedy even in the most dire of circumstances coupled with very good artwork and magnificent colors, "Friendo" keeps the ball rolling without missing a beat, keeping a laugh track running in the back of reader's minds the whole way through.

Different eras come together into a story that is fun for various eras of Nick Fury.

Although elements of this first half of "Future State: Aquaman" are intriguing, the art alone is not enough to bring together this first half of 'The Confluence.'

Drawing on a breadth of "Teen Titans" lore within and without the comics, the 'Future State' version of the team is definitely interesting for readers of the comics as well as viewers of the 2000s animated series.

With three intriguing stories, the only real downside to this new take on Batman, his supporting cast, and numerous villains is the fact that two of the stories won't continue for another two issues.

A more mundane approach to Gotham City policing is very much welcome.

Beautifully illustrated, marvelously colored, and tragically written, "Gears of War: Hivebusters" #4 serves as an excellent look into the rising Swarm War for newcomers and veterans alike.

An accessible story that still invites new ideas to the franchise, "Gears of War: The Rise of RAAM" #1 is a promising new addition to the world of Sera.

All of the plotting and planning comes to a head in this climactic issue of the miniseries, without bringing in too much that non-players would feel lost by, albeit perhaps at the expense of any incoming readers.

The artwork and writing are fairly well done, but too-perfect representation of people through the coloring techniques hold back "gen:LOCK" #2 a significant amount.

A horror story starts with a bang for two brutal heroes.

Final Verdict: 8.5" A wealth of new information on the cybernetic Rulers coupled with brilliant artistry makes "God Complex" #4 step above the relative mundane of the previous issue.

Final Verdict: 8.0" Good for newcomers and perfect for returning fans, "God of War" is shaping up to be a treat.

Even though it does not give much exposition, this start of a new crossover is rather exciting for newcomers.

A very good introduction to the monstrous side of the DC universe and how it is a relatively different issue from the mundane and mystical elements that permeate much of the comics otherwise.

Excellent case study of the fall and rise of the Oliver Queen-Roy Harper relationship.

Though it has some problems with using certain villains, "Green Arrow" #32 provides a well-drawn, rather well written finale to the 'Gotham Resistance' sidestory to 'Dark Nights: Metal.'

Though there is some dread for what is to come from an out-of-story perspective, the approach brought here for a story arc start, as well as for a "fall out from a previous event, works well enough.

A beautifully drawn and colored issue, albeit perhaps a bit too fast paced for its own good.

With all of its myriad pieces, "Green Lanterns" #47 acts as a great way to pull together the 'Ghosts of the Past' arc in a fun, interesting way.

Despite engaging artwork, the script and pacing of "Gunslinger Spawn" #2 leave much to be desired.

Cassie Hack's team-up with Vampirella continues with a fun vampire slaying story that has Hack/Slash's trademark, yet welcome, crass attitude, with an extra helping of humor and horror both.

Moving away from necessary information from previous trips to Haverhill and more toward a general, fun vampire hunting tale in a modern day Weird West setting, 'Return to Haverhill' closes with excellent work by Howard, Celor, and Russell.

Tim Seeley's return to "Hack/Slash" meshes very well with the Chaos! universe, aided by dynamic, detailed artwork and colors as it delves into comedy, friendship, betrayal, manipulation, and supernatural horror yet again in relatively equal measure, simultaneously acting as a good jumping-on point for newcomers.

Though perhaps not quite as friendly to newcomers for fairly obvious reasons, the penultimate issue of "Hack/Slash vs. Chaos!" has a lot to offer with a plethora of different emotional beats.

Though lacking in some story consistency, the artwork of "Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps" #32 helps to keep it up to par with many of the other issues in the 'Dark Nights: Metal' event.

Although the artwork is well done and the colors are appropriate, "Halo: Collateral Damage" #1 is definitely written for established fans, leaving little room for people to join in on the franchise.

A good look at the post-war Halo universe that is welcoming for newcomers and utilizes a more patient pacing, "Halo: Lone Wolf" #1 is a good jumping on point for the franchise's comics.

Final Verdict: 7.0 " A gritty monster story told through the lens of a war, "Halo: Rise of Atriox" is an interesting introduction to the eponymous character, though with an odd perspective for an origin that does not provide much in the way of new information.

This new approach to Kendra Saunders seems off to a good start.

Get a crash course in John Constantine's history as we delve into a newcomer-friendly occult tale.

Files and tales of imaginary friends or urban legends into a very compelling supernatural police procedural.

"Immortal Hulk" #14 noticeably struggles with current events in the Marvel Universe, but the pacing keeps up on the whole, leading to an enjoyable, though perhaps slightly less overwhelmingly amazing, start to its latest arc.

Though not quite a comedy, this horror book does show a sizable amount of humor.

A bit typical, but still interesting, 'Flatline' is definitely a worthwhile one-shot.

It may be a one-off, but "Immortal Hulk: Great Power" #1 is still a must-read for fans of Spider-Man and of the Immortal Hulk.

Some interesting plot developments and good artwork at the expense of character consistency.

The mystery deepens as the thriller aspects of "Infinite Dark" rise up in its second issue.

Though the real-life parallels may disturb some readers, "Infinite Dark" continues to be an interesting read with a new, more personal focus to its science fiction horror setting.

Interesting storytelling and intricate artwork merge with well-lain colors to make an intriguing story of the Spider-Man/Moon Knight merger for "Infinity Wars."

Even the decent story provided by Jed MacKay cannot make up for the disjointed, bizarre artwork and colors in this first tale of the Ghost Panther.

"Infinity Wars: Infinity Warps" #2 has its ups and downs, but on the whole seems to be a pretty good look at a variety of the Infinity Wars mash-ups.

Very well done, new take on an origin story, with a fun side story afterwards as a palette cleanser for those who may find the former too dark.

Final Verdict: 8.5" Tom Taylor's writing, combined with the expert artwork, colors, and lettering, creates a truly tragic tale to close out the "Injustice 2" comics.

Together, this creative team seems to be doing very well. While the battles could probably be held up a bit less and/or be overlooked in some cases instead of just showing a small portion, the overall effect of a fun crossover still works wondrously.

A nice recap blends into an emergent story as newcomers and fans alike of the new Iron Fist can come together for this debut!

A relaxing story combined with beautiful artistry really helps draw in a new potential audience to whatever is next for Tony Stark's journey forward.

The penultimate issue of "Jeepers Creepers" may provide a lot of information for dedicated readers, but a lack of much context for why certain things are important understandably makes new readership very difficult as it leads into its conclusion.

An immaturely-written story that nonetheless has interesting artwork.

The overall story may not be too original, but artwork and colors help raise this chilly ghost story up in the end of winter.

"Joe Fixit continues to be a fun story from the past.

Far from the typical take on the mad love relationship, "Criminal Sanity" promises quite a lot of terror for crime show fans.

Well drawn, 'Bats out of Hell' comes to its conclusion with a bit of a bumpy, yet markedly improved final issue.

Final Verdict: 8.0" Wacky and intense, but capable of explaining itself admirably well, "Justice League" #3 continues to show the best of this creative team.

Though flawed in how it perhaps puts too much of the onus on other books for a final issue, the finale of this truly epic (in every sense of the term) saga is constructed very well overall, albeit with a lot of that carried by the first half.

Final Verdict: 8.0" With a well-done introduction to the latest incarnation of a mystical Justice League, "Justice League Dark" #1 definitely carries on from the well-done introduction to the new League since "Dark Nights: Metal" and "Justice League: No Justice."

A dual narrative merges with continually well-done artwork and colors to make for a very good showing in the latest part of 'The Lords of Order.'

A simple introduction draws people into a fun new story.

Good artwork and colors combine with a story that is a little rushed, but still fun, in this miniseries conclusion.

Highly entertaining with brain over brawn, though some conflicts are problematic.

While well illustrated, the story of 'Last Ride' feels a bit too much like a sequel to a nonexistent tale than one that provides a good jumping-on point.

A perhaps too-fast story with beautiful artwork and even better coloring.

Mostly decent artwork fails to save a by-the-numbers, out of character tale in "Justice League Odyssey" #7.

Darkseid is, and the story of the Justice League Odyssey has truly hit its stride for moving forward.

While somewhat interesting on the surface, there isn't really much to explain why readers should care about the eponymous characters of the "Killers" miniseries.

Bryan Hill's shift from peaceful times to brutal, horrific action plays perfectly off of Juan and Eduardo Ferreyra's artwork in this penultimate issue to the story of the rise of Erik Killmonger.

Even aside from being a crossover tie-in, the Valkyries ride again in a fun return to form through the afterlives in the midst of a horrific storyline on Earth.

An utterly bizarre introduction is lifted beyond even its well-written script with excellent artwork and even better colors.

The final pieces of this tale of gods and men are coming to fruition, but newcomers are likely to be left behind with at least some confusion.

Interesting jumping-on point for those wishing to see into the complexities of a criminal boss in the Marvel universe.

Final Verdict: 6.5" While the story and artwork of "Last Stop on the Red Line" #2 are interesting in theory, a lack of any real context for what is going on hinders any attempts by new readers to jump in.

Final Verdict: 8.0" Serving as both a recap of important events and a way to develop an important character and faction, "Lazarus" #27 is a good way to reenter this series.

Final Verdict: 9.0" With a myriad representation of various forms of media and a good use of summary, "Lazarus: Risen" #1 flourishes in its new prestige format.

A very interesting take on the more overtly villainous faction of the two main families in conflict, the second "Lazarus" sourcebook seems that it would do well with a little more artwork, even in the form of portraits of important figures, to space out the writing, give a more comprehensive look at technologies, and make it easier on the eyes of comic readers.

Lopsided handling of information makes for a difficult book to read a rising faction.

Very interesting look into the rough and tumble world of the Carlyle special forces' training.

With a familiar, yet not unwelcome plot and interesting new additions to an existing art style, "Lazarus X+66" #4 shines through the focus characters' night mission.

Both very timely and written in a way to still be hypothetically understandable in later eras, the start of 'Enemy of the People' is doing great.

Good artwork and colors cannot save a comic debut that lacks any semblance of reader immersion in its setting.

Very well constructed reintroduction to the Magdalena for a new era.

Through intriguing characters, understandable plot, and amazing artwork made even better by phenomenal colors, "Magic" continues to cast a spell over readers new and old.

Despite a strong start, this debut feels more like an extension of a larger work than a story in and of itself.

Vault Comics' latest series is definitely a mall-bound hellscape worth checking out.

There is still a fair bit left to go, but with this debut, "Man-Bat" is a miniseries worth taking for a ride.

Kate Niemczyk and Rachelle Rosenberg's pencils and colors, while well done, cannot save "Man-Eaters" #3 from being utterly immersion-breaking on a wide variety of levels.

An old-fashioned ghost story mixed with action and mystery, "Man-Thing" provides a lot of fun but with a fairly predictable plot structure.

Despite a somewhat odd artistic style in calmer moments, this character piece on the Mighty Thor and his place in Marvel's Avengers is more than worthy of readers' attention.

There may be some odd characterizations along the way, but amongst fourteen different stories, "Marvel's Voices" #1 keeps true to one thing above all else: fun.

Intriguing introduction to the story, but nothing earth-shattering from the perspective of those knowledgeable about the Mass Effect franchise nor those without that information.

An intriguing world blooms forth through steel with this new science fiction dystopia.

An interesting story and amazing artwork are enticing, but might be weird for newcomers.

Final Verdict: 9.0" A fantastic continuation of the King/Gerads run that shows a story does not have to be cosmic in scope to be both mundane and divine.

Despite intriguing artwork, this prince has yet to step out of a knight's shadow beyond lip service.

"Monstress" finishes off its third arc with a bang as it falls to readers to wait until the coming winter for more.

A well-drawn, well-written conclusion to over this run of "Moon Knight."

With mystery and an interesting point of view, "Morbius" #1 brings this scientific vampire to life.

While the artwork is fun in a classic way, there isn't enough in this one-shot to really justify its existence as a truly new plot. On the contrary, readers may be left wondering why they should even care about what they just read.

Aside from not doing much to make the mortals feel too threatening just yet, this entry point is definitely worth sinking our teeth into.

A dark, gritty, engrossing look at a relatively simple catch-a-killer plot that demonstrates some of the protagonist's capabilities for new readers.

Strange storytelling leads in interesting new directions through the expert team of the original "Nailbiter."

A weird and fun book, "New Challengers" #2 keeps up the series mystery going thus far.

An interesting story with well-done artwork and colors, though perhaps held back a bit by the necessity to understand prior continuity.

Fun yet simple, "Nightwing" #29 helps to increase the threat level for the 'Gotham Resistance' crossover, but has some difficulties with actually physically portraying those events.

Interlocking stories work well together despite different tones as this story reaches toward its likely climax!

Though not particularly special, "Nocterra" #3 seems interesting enough for newcomers.

A fascinating story and gorgeous artwork await in this newest tale of a dark urban fantasy.

Educational and amusing, an interesting story straight from the eponymous legends greets readers for this first installment to the third volume of 'Norse Mythology'.

While the story maintains a high quality in theory and the art more than keeps pace, perhaps the second issue of "Force Multiplied" isn't the right place to get into "The Old Guard."

The artwork definitely holds up, but on the whole, these tales do not feel they are worth the reader's time beyond the basic desire to see these characters again.

As the night gathers, the knights also gather in yet another phenomenal installment to this Arthurian tale.

Not explaining much but being interesting in its own way, "Ordinary Gods" #1 is a solid debut.

Dynamic artwork and well-done colors can't save this script from being a retread of all-too-familiar ground.

An intriguing continuation of the supernatural gothic drama famous in Penny Dreadful for fans, but lacks significant information for newcomers to the series.

While "Penny Dreadful" seems to have finally given time to bring in a new audience, it suffers from significant pacing problems.

handled story that is nonetheless held back significantly by the weight of its own continuity across two different forms of media.

Though perhaps different from what some might expect, "Pennyworth" #1 is very good at drawing in new readers to its premise by indulging in both larger-than-life comic book adventurousness and down-to-earth spycraft.

Excellent introduction to a tale of medieval undead hunting that does well at introducing its principal characters.

Well-written and disturbingly illustrated, "Pestilence" #5 keeps up the pace to stay ahead of its shamblers.

A very disturbing reintroduction to the world of "Pestilence" shows that 'A Story of Satan' is definitely on the right track.

An interquel between Rise of the Planet of the Apes and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes comes together marvelously.

Intriguing, depressing, and terrifying, this take on Poison Ivy will definitely grow on you.

By and large, Williams does a remarkable job with the beginning of this ongoing, the first "Power Girl ongoing title since the end of its predecessor in the wake of the 2011 New 52 reboot.

Well-portrayed artwork of violence cannot make up for a lack of much in the way of story for this introduction to a new miniseries.

A fun story is held back by odd artwork in the majority of its pages.

Drawing from the original Predator film for a new story while simultaneously providing enough to bring in a new audience, "Predator: Hunters III" #2 is a treat.

While the focus on the Punisher himself does take a little bit away from the uniqueness of the series as a borderline horror, Matthew Rosenberg works together seamlessly with Szymon Kudranski and Antonio Fabela to continue the excellent storytelling on 'World War Frank.'

There may be some odd artistic choices, but the possibilities set forth in "Ravencroft" #1 definitely show it to be something worth watching.

This anthology may be going back a few months in history, but it is by no means "back to formula."

Aside from some awkward word choice, the 'Outlaw' arc is off to a great start, an interesting jumping-on point for fans of the classic Red Hood.

A slower pace forward helps to expand "Red Sonja" into its fourth issue.

Even if readers have no experience with the Hyborean Age of "Red Sonja" or the peoples of "Chaos! Comics," this debut is sure to interest quite a lot of people who enjoy crossovers of modernity with swords and sorcery.

Energetic and entertaining, there is a lot to look forward to in Robin's latest series.

The near-trademark well-written fight scenes continue, and the story ramps up, but some elements leave questions as to how the Ancient Order of Romulus actually works hierarchically.

A rather controversial, yet interesting look into the developing story of the Samaritan hacker, but could use a bit more nuance on the side of the antagonists.

While there is still much to learn, "Save Yourself!" #1 is off to a great start.

Two very entertaining tales about the Warp World come together for this journey into suspense.

Although perhaps not entirely unique, "Shadecraft" #3 is very newcomer friendly, and intriguing in its own right with its characters and setup.

While the artwork and colors are well put together, "Shadow Service" seems to be going a bit too slowly in getting to the premise it relies upon.

Pathos surprisingly comes for a horrific criminal due to fantastic writing and artwork.

Tim Seeley joins forces with two illustrators and a colorist to create a fascinating look in on the mind of a Mojoworld refugee's experience with relative normalcy.

A fun duo begins their journey in this almost mirror universe take on something similar to the Super Sons.

Horror begins with a smiling face in this opening to an apparent alternate timeline.

There may be something epic in this series, but the premiere does not seem to be it.

Showing heart in a mindless plague, "Sonic the Hedgehog" #17 continues to show what a creative team intimately familiar with a property can accomplish.

Expert characterization and overall storytelling works hand-in-hand with phenomenal artwork and colors to provide a satisfying climax that is likely to leave readers new and old wanting more.

Fun for everyone, and a treat for fans of the video game franchise, this special is a nice treat for Sonic fans new and old.

A fun story brings Team Chaotix to the October holiday season.

Perhaps a bit childish, but not in a bad way, this one-shot is a quite good showing for a sidekick's anniversary celebration.

Some one-note writing aside, this seems to be the start of a rather good miniseries.

While the storytelling, especially the dialogue, is rather clich for a noir tale, Juan Ferreyra's artwork and colors lift up and enhance the script of this new debut.

A very well done adaptation of the hit Insomniac Games video game that makes use of an alternative viewpoint to great effect.

A simple-yet-fun look at another Spider-Man follows common storytelling without feeling too rote.

The continuation of the adventures in Earth-1048 is off to an amazing start blessed with the spectacular.

Despite being billed as an origin story one-shot, "Spirits of Ghost Rider: Mother of Demons" #1 spends far too much time on continuing the "Ghost Rider" ongoing story and not enough time on establishing a unique history for the eponymous "mother," only saved by its artwork and colors.

An interesting ensemble piece that brings together the clashing personalities of the casts from both "Star Wars" and "Doctor Aphra" very well without showing too much preference toward either side.

"Flight of the Falcon" delivers a lighthearted story that simultaneously acts as a fitting tribute to Peter Mayhew's famous Wookie.

An interesting study of Darth Maul, mixing him up with a cadre of villains and a single heroine.