Listen … nobody here is bad at their job. Chip Zdarsky, Phil Hester, Ande Parks, Dee Cunniffe, John J. Hill … these are all rightly working professionals who know how to do their job. Bad decisions were made, frankly, some time ago in the underlying conception of this series, and there's almost nowhere to go but down with such foundational flaws in the evidence. Suffice it to say; this comic book is not good unless you're enormously invested in the very small community near the top of the comic book industry.

This "story" will be a minor footnote in this era of mutant history, a tedious attempt at a mystery that ended up as a horrible mistake.

As "Black Lives Matter" is being chanted around the world, come see Marvel publish a comic book where a chained Black Panther gets whipped!

It's hard to tell what Gene Luen Yang intended to happen with this script, which is, in turn, baffling and exhausting. The conclusion — which has creates the duties of Marvel's First Race with none of the gravitas or clarity of Jeffrey Wright — smacks of "ooh, I can do that too"-ism with the culture checking Disney+ every Wednesday morning. Everyone here had the tools to make a good comic book … but somehow, it didn't happen.

Throg versus Donald Blake, smashing through the ten realms and ... well, honestly, no, that doesn't make a lick of doggone sense, and it's downhill from here.

This trial is more Salem than Krakoa, and a plea bargain won't save this book from the verdict that it should not be purchased under any circumstances.

The escalation of Moon Knight — yes, that Moon Knight -- into some kind of world-ending power continues in its baffling inexorability

The silver-aged aspirations of this current run are apparent. Still, without the contextual landscape of that kind of vibe being de rigueur (which would be the wheelhouse of characters like Ambush Bug, for example, as seen in the current Suicide Squad run) or at least the visual indicators of this being a "kids" book, the final product ends up coming off tone-deaf.

Earth's Mightiest Mortal may also be its grandest fool as the golden age hero falls to a disappointing modern conspiracy.

There's one good thing to say about this story: it brings the exhausting "Books of Korvac" to an end, and that at least opens the door for something else to happen. The cover tells the tale — the greatest threat to Tony Stark, if not the Marvel universe as a whole, just might be Tony Stark.

The biggest names in superheroism stumble into fascism and cultural insensitivity with a world full of lives in the balance.

Two billionaire geniuses take on the spirit of Christmas. No, it's not the true life story of the Koch brothers, it's somehow worse.

All of this is without getting to the just plain upsetting ending. This Leah Williams script is wildly problematic here, and while there was a great showing of craft by Lucas Werneck, Edgar Delgado, and Clayton Cowles, the pretty pictures can only do so much. This is not going well.

More disturbing is that there are (checks notes) two more issues of this to get through. In that 60% of the story has been bad thus far, that's more like a threat than anything else. This train isn't stopping, and we're all just being dragged along the tracks.

Are you ready to read yet another absolutely final, no holds barred, everything will change (not really) battle between Batman and the Joker? Whatever. #Batman #100 #DC #DCComics

Making less sense than when it started, Ghost-Maker is here to poke gigantic holes in the myth of the Bat's competence.

With a huge cast and very little actual plot development, the world's fastest serial killer takes on the title.

Hunt for the glaive! When a mysterious glaive crash-lands in the middle of Central City, the Flash must race against time to stop its ill effects, all while keeping an army of super-villains from obtaining this unknown and sinister cosmic prize.

A potentially tone-deaf, bland take on vengeance and betrayal from a wildly talented cartoonist makes its debut. 

Stop hitting yourself. Stop hitting yourself. Thor, really, stop hitting yourself and all your friends. Wait, that's Donald Blake? That doesn't make any sense.

Derivatives played in a major key, this is less jazz and more muzak as the interminable crossover rumbles onward without finding new ground.

Everything old is exactly as you remember it, and that's not worth the price of admission.

The Joker has a plan ... and it's stupid. You also have to sit through him monologuing ridiculously. Guh.

Batgirl takes the stand to face damning evidence that her legacy is held in contempt.

The end of the world should elicit much more emotion, but here only a personal tragedy manages to elicit emotion: sadness.

Superman is missing and the galaxy is a mess, but elements are at play that could set everything right ... if only Mongul doesn't find out!

Getting inside the ethical struggle of a fascist does less to humanize the rare ones who do right but instead demonizes the support structure that lets so many do wrong.

A singular talent does everything on page, Dave Sim-style, but may need a few more cooks to make this meal nutritional.

A bad use of fantastic talents, get ready to hop in the wayback machine and party like you never did any of this in the first place. 

Diving deep into minds that have traveled over the edge, does this book entertain and help us converse, or is it part of the problem?

Like a mess of symbiotes slithering over each other, this is far too many moving pieces trying to work in synchronicity without learning the choreography.

Like a world champion stuck wrestling against jobbers, the Dark Lord of the Sith again struggles when he should shatter.

Will the Son of the Bat break bad, or can his little spandex-clad friends bring him back from the brink?

Can Riri Williams win against the worst thing a teenaged genius can face: old ideas?

Ghost-Maker makes a little more sense but the comedy stylings of Dr. Harleen Quinzel save this issue from ridiculousness. 

No, this isn't a bad comic by any stretch, but it's just far enough off of center to feel wrong, especially now.

Catwoman's on the way to being a mob boss ... again. Back on the block, don't be fooled by the rocks that she got through illicit means.

When you already know how things are going to turn out, is it really worth following along to watch the train wreck happen? 

Quiet moments and magic intertwine on the battle-scarred streets of Genosha for a crossover battle of zero consequence.

The death of the multiverse comes at you kinda fast, but Barry West knows how to keep making the almost identical right moves.

If you're looking for pulse-pounding thrills, fast-moving action, and deep revelations about the Endless Winter crossover ... well, you're gonna be disappointed, pal.

There are a number of good ideas here that may have been hampered by enthusiasm or lack of oversight but end up with something that doesn't follow the inspirational energy of the Legion.

A tale of tenderness in the midst of agony, this doomed description of two people struggling with their circumstances might be right to bring you down, if you're so inclined. 

The Justice League is ill-suited for the challenge they face as they're deep in space and way out of their depth.

Get yourself all worked up ... for nothing to happen as the world's most recognizable heroes have a fight you won't remember.

In a story so large, the possible key to victory might have been easier to find if one were thinking small (historically speaking) as Knull finally gets slightly less uninteresting. 

Order! These proceedings demand order! The United Planets meets to judge the Legion, but the verdict is not entertaining.

Too much happening makes the future far too hectic to absorb in a periodical format.

Teddy Altman's going to space, but will love follow him or must he seek his new path all alone?

Commander Zahra can't stick the landing in an issue that repeats the unfortunate mistakes of the past.

The Dark Lord of the Sith takes a walk down memory lane, lightsaber clutched close, faced with ghosts of happier days.

Hey, wanna see Vader get played like a chump again? Boy howdy, is this the book for you!

Ironic that a tale about a man with a great memory would have so little worth remembering, but Taskmaster runs and tries not to die here.

Once again the god of thunder stands against the end of everything with only a hammer in his hand … but he doesn't know all the facts. #Thor #Marvel

The new X-Crossover makes a bold statement towards a mythic conflict but does so with the pacing of your high school history class.

It's time for the crossover to end. That's a good thing. The crossover itself? Not so much.

There's not much of old webhead as everyone around him leads much more interesting lives as he watches.

If this creative team gets signed up for a Spider-Man book, it's gonna be fun. However, Star — as in most of her previous appearances — is far too uneven in tone, going from the "nerd" and outcast who looks like a catwalk star to, well, murder. It's almost like Gwenpool, but less endearing. That cognitive dissonance was enough to take this from being a "must-have" to a "nice to have."

The punches pack a little less wallop as we discover America closer to her origins, making her confront the family she left behind.

From an execution standpoint, there are no defects in the script. Likewise, the visual storytelling from Javier Garron, Jason Keith, and Cory Petit all turned in a visual performance that hit all the right spots ("THE FIST OF KHONSHU" sequence, in particular). But Moon Knight?

Is Barbara Gordon the best equipped to take on the crown prince of crime now he has hundreds of millions of dollars, or will she be another statistic?

Directly from the bestselling, groundbreaking Batman/Fortnite: Zero Point miniseries, comes an oversized one-shot that brings the action from the island to Gotham City. If you thought the Batman/Fortnite saga was over, think again…it only gets bigger from here! Includes a bonus digital code for an outfit in Fortnite.

All around, this was a mixed bag that was strong on concept but stumbled in execution a few times. It's worth watching to see how this title, its creative team, and its ambitious young hero will develop as time passes.

Then, just when this issue has you all hot and heavy like stuff is about to happen, probably the height of a second act … it's over. Dry off, get dressed, go home; this book builds and builds and just stops, which is a pretty big letdown that might work better in a collected edition. There's also a bit with a space knight from Galador (and previous licensing agreements) that feels like it was supposed to be a thing but didn't pay off before the end of the issue. Not bad, but not doing what needed to be done.

Writer John Layman knows how to make a scoundrel character shine, and the art from Dan Boultwood is both cartoony (check the eyebrow through the hair gag) and action-packed (check the moment for "perfect timing") in a way that is very good for the storytelling. The only possible criticism that one could levy is that everything happened to pass a piece of paper, which is a bit of a long road to get there. This series will definitely shine more brightly in a collection, as the periodical pacing does its plot no favors.

This is a solid bit of work that will likely shine in a collected format. Despite some truly remarkable moments, the sum of the parts didn't quite make it. 

The artwork by Esad Ribic, Guiu Vilanova, Matthew Wilson, and Clayton Cowles maintains the "Renaissance paintings of superhero conflicts" level of quality you've come to know in this series (one close-up shot of Thanos seemed a little unfinished). Still, the story less moves like the arrow it uses to describe Ikaris and more like an overloaded cargo truck veering from lane to lane. There's good stuff here, but this chunk of it doesn't give you enough to make the ride enjoyable enough to buy.

A tale of belief and danger from the western coast of Africa, with a dash of Nightmask & a splash of Shadowman.

A Joe has complex feelings about a high ranking Cobra, struggling between honoring her emotions and completing the mission.

This won't sweep the Eisner Awards any time soon, but it's fun, goofy entertainment that will tickle the taint of nostalgia fans but good.

Cain Marko is determined to help a young woman with powers avoid the clutches of some mysterious evil.

Well … this is the end of the mini-series. We made it. Well … all right then.

Are you ready for four bright-faced kids to take on modern fascism? Spoiler: you're not. You really aren't.

This will be a section providing great nuance and tension when reading the entire story collected. Right now, alas, Reaver #8 is more of a tease than it needs to be.

All is revealed with the child kidnapping mystery here, and it's understandable, but not exactly what it should have been.

Once Jason Todd goes back to a Gotham neighborhood where even the Bat is cautious to tread, multiple timely elements combine to interest if you don't look at the numbers too closely.

While this may not work out for everyone, there is a solid entertainment value here and some creative, interesting ideas at play.

Get ready for some sword-swinging militaristic action courtesy of fan-favorite Rob Liefeld. Really!

Getting too close to basics made this plot more basic than one would like as the whimsy remains but the urgency falls by the wayside.

As seconds scurry around in the shadows of the Sith, all trying to angle the avalanche away from themselves or towards their adversaries, this issue cleans house of several Imperial loyalists. How many of them were the competent minds that left room for the likes of Ozzel and Piett? In his quest to win, again, Vader shows himself trapped by the galaxy's structure, which seems to be a common trait for the Skywalker line. That's a bit grim to observe but has a certain Westworld-ish charm as well.

It's not as if you could say anything went wrong here. Bendix's impact is more felt than seen, as there is no direct antagonist in these pages. The flitting from disaster to crisis and back kept the attention focused on spectacle, hoping the emotional core of the latter pages would carry the day. It was a solid gambit and not a bad one, save for one would-be rescuee who paid the price, but it spotlights Jon's inexperience and his limitations to not even see the true problem despite the many people whose lives he improved. This is a solid book that can see greatness from here, but it hasn't quite made the jump just yet.

There are fantastic moments of characterization and dialogue here. Writer Tom Taylor has a fantastic sense of the players here, while the artwork from Cian Tormey, Raul Fernandez, Federico Blee, and Dave Sharpe delivers the bright, bigger-than-life adventure well enough. Unfortunately, the Son of Kal-El has not done enough to step out of his father's shadow, and with so many parallels, it makes him look like a placeholder wearing his daddy's clothes until the man of the house gets back.

The rise and fall of the Titans set against the backdrop of the 1970s and 1980s provides a lot of ground for this title to cover, but small foibles slow down the action. 

Heretech has led an entire community of Transformers into space, seeking religious purity and peace … except one member of the flock has questions.

Still, this is really good for fans of the franchise, and they'll dig in for more of this without hesitation.

Identity, however, does come to play. The ship's Black first mate walks around without any questions of her right to do so in a time when freedom of movement for African descendants was hard to acquire. Likewise, if Bonny's actions were performed by a person of the opposite gender, we would all rightly decry the patriarchal negative energies being proliferated. For a woman character to adopt similar behaviors with an all-woman crew, identity requires us to look at this through a more academic lens. These questions, combined with the derring-do adventure, make this book an intriguing choice for fans of tales of high seas historical fiction.

The Red Cloud thinks she has Lois and Jimmy on the ropes until two dimensions worth of Kents blow into town.

Who and where exactly is Adventureman? Let's hope you don't want an answer, because you're not getting it in this issue, buddy.

There is a lot to like about this book that makes checking out the next issue a solid choice, but it's a "B+" when it had all the ingredients for an "A."

The Designer finally shows his hand and all the best laid plans of Bats and Cats may come to nothing.

Dangling subplots war with powerful performances as it's Black Lightning vs. Ra's Al Ghul with the fate of the world in the balance!

The craft used in creating this book is breathtaking. If it were labeled as an Elseworlds, or better yet, told with analogies Watchmen style, this would be a bright star. As it is, it's good, but clearly, a cute detour before we turn back to the same circular road.

Felicia Hardy is gonna steal a sorcerer supreme from the god of symbiotes! While she even acknowledges the ridiculous nature of it, she maintains her determination to pull the heist!

Vengeance and grief wrestle for attention in an intriguing fantasy fable from Scout Comics. With new ideas and solid sword and sorcery vibes, this might make you roll for initiative. 

Carol and a crew take on an almost endless wave of plant based cannon fodder, but the real victory was the friendships made along the way.

A taste of 1980s action thrust into the modern day, this is one heck of a ride, but you are not at all in the driver's seat.

Guns and grub meet in low calorie noir with this new work from the mind of John Layman.

If there's an issue here, it's one of underlying conception, not execution. We've now seen "What If" scenarios played out with great impact on screen and even seen Stephen Strange's sloppiness leads to problems for everyone around him. This issue slides the perspective but leaves a lot of questions about its origins, and the questions that will nag at you while looking into the fridge are what kept this from greatness.

This issue just missed its saving throw with an ill-considered reference altering the tenor of the work.

Like an endless stream of notifications on your phone, this issue piles on the plot points to the detriment of nuance.

Great one-liners and solid visuals anchor a tale that truly didn't need telling against an enemy you won't remember.

All of this has happened before. All of this will happen again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again ...

Family fun and fisticuffs in a nostalgic setting that ends with everyone having a seat at the table.

Mal Reynolds is the smiling face of law enforcement across the frontier? It's a whole new 'verse, and of course: lots of people don't like it!

It gets deeper than this as Jackson Hyde accepts the mantle of Aquaman while fearing its cost him everything.

It's a new day in Gotham City ... and somehow it's worse than ever before, but has new defenders and new hope. Take a look at the Gotham of tomorrow, like it or not. 

A somewhat older Harley Quinn serves the new legal authority of Gotham City as a criminal profiler ... and that is clearly a wonderful idea with no room for it to go wrong.

Paul Allor is writing an almost literary approach to this, looking like a rebellion instead of the standardized tools of imperialism that the Joe team has been before. The problem with it, the one that keeps it scraping the sky instead of soaring, is that it takes out the most important part of the Joes " their individual excellence " and waters it down with neophyte identities and a lack of practical expertise.

To be the chosen MP for an elite group of counterterrorist experts, you've got to be pretty laced up yourself. Take a walk on the side of Law & Order.

As it stands, this is good, but it won't exactly stand alongside the series' most iconic moments.

Geoffrey Thorne's script shines when it pushes people to their limits and forces them to adapt. Likewise, the sequential art from Tom Raney, Marco Santucci, Michael Atiyeh, and Rob Leigh shines when it has a chance to show tension or action (although that Guardians first look was bracing). Green Lantern #4 is a good book that got a lot of things right but may have loaded its plate a little too high this month.

This is a thick body of work, but when things happen, it's less than spectacular, and when they don't, it seems very dramatic but accomplishes little. This book is still good, quite good … but not as good as it has been, nor as its story indicates it can become. Not this month, anyway.

Aside from trying to figure out who to root against, the six-dollar price tag is perhaps the biggest villain here. Without that, this is indeed an enjoyable work that maybe gives us something new to consider.

It's politics in space, but there are no drawn out senate proceedings, this time the motion … is murder!

John Constantine can't save everybody, but to save perhaps the first soul he damned, can he channel the magic of his own upbringing to stop a demon?

Mr. Sinister puts on a show, but it's not enough to elevate the crossover bait from being just one more brick in the wall.

The ideas are big and bold, but the execution doesn't give you quite enough plot, nor a number of plot points that are unlike what has been done before. The car's going in an interesting direction, but it hasn't gotten quite far enough to say it's going well.

Perhaps this will stick the landing and become legendary like Vision, or maybe it'll stumble along the way and become an ambitious but flawed experience like Omega Men. For now, this is an interesting trip, even though its title character doesn't really seem to be at the wheel.

Larry Hama brings the Immortal Weapons back with skill and panache as a threat from some of Marvel's best fighters goes interdimensional.

Tony Stark, Disassembled? The billionaire futurist approximates a mid-life crisis while never stepping away from the heavy metal smackdown he's perfected.

Pistol packin', wild west vibes with laser guns, magic and a surprise guest appearance and old business that needs settling.

If the last page is to be believed, and this is all set up a tour of various variants, it's less engaging. Likewise, if you're looking for Jonathan Majors, you will be sorely disappointed. However, the central character's struggle is very effective as a character study, which gives you an era-spanning yarn that keeps your attention.

Don't get too excited by the cover because for all the punching and blasting, there's not much to know about the future here.

The future is here … and it doesn't really have it together either, honestly, as a series of scenes reluctantly try to be a story.

Rage goeth before a fall as we finally take a look at the problems that made ol' Jade Jaws takes a much meaner look at the world.

Ororo heads back to Wakanda to get herself geared up for the crossover, but will the cost for this blade be too high?

Not to throw the baby out with the bathwater, this series remains intriguing and has tons of interesting points … but the show's not over, so there's no telling if it's working or not at this point.

Still, there is a lot of ambition and creativity on display here. This is clearly the work of people laying out a grand tapestry, perhaps trying to make too much happen in the periodical format.

If gritty procedurals with a soupçon of noir are your bag, you should buy Newburn #1 right now. If you've seen a million episodes of Law & Order, you'll feel like this is a ride along with a smarter, more morally flexible Lennie Briscoe. If the idea of that's not getting you pumped, you might not be on board for this.

Nightwing's got a brand new bag with some familiar contents as the team that revitalized Suicide Squad takes their show to Bludhaven.

If you wanted to see some of your favorite characters take on a largely anonymous and faceless horde of goons while causing truly impressive amounts of property damage, this could be your jam. The team here certainly knows how to put on a show. However, the whole Fear State gag is a lesser-than version of what's going on in the Titans TV series now with a much less coherent plan and less charismatic adversaries. That's not the fault of this creative team; it's just the hand they were dealt. Still, there's nothing wrong with seeing people play a less than inspiring song with great skill.

Let's be clear — Tom Taylor does some of the best character writing in the industry right now, and the team of Bruno Redondo, Adriano Lucas, and Wes Abbott are making luxury car-class comics art. However, the challenges with the momentum of "rich Dick Grayson" getting established keep popping up when he has to hang out with the bigger licensed icons. It's not a bad thing, but it'd be nice to see this just run in its own lane for a while.

The result here is an uneven experience — humorous moments ("Are you in a flashback?") are too heavily interlaced with brow furrowing ones ("so we suffer alone") — but there is clearly something going on here. Time will tell whether it's something worth coming back to or something closer to Minute Man's customer rating on an app.

That said, perhaps collected or with future issues, this will shine as brightly as its dialogue. For now, it's a swing and a miss.

There's a lot to like about this book, and when it's one day part of a collection, this may stand a little stronger. As for now, it's moving at high speeds, but the limp is noticeable.

Look ... up in the sky! The mutant space program has taken its place in the stars, and they've come to level up the whole solar system. 

The children of the atom take their hardest swing at the god of symbiotes. Will it be enough, or will Abigail Brand have to adopt more extreme measures. 

The ideas underneath have a lot of baggage to overcome, which can be done (like in the surprising Hyperion and the Imperial Guard book from the largely exhausting Heroes Reborn crossover), but it didn't happen here. If you love the X-Men or have enjoyed the Imperial Guard in the past, or like Gyrich's endless meddling, S.W.O.R.D. #9 might do the job for you.

Nonetheless, whether every nuance lands in your subconscious or washes over you, there's no denying this book has a plan. Whether or not you get it before it happens will be the question of how much impact it has.

Roll for initiative as the Juggernaut and the Black Knight join the party with Conan and Magik in a quest for ancient, magical treasure.

However, there are challenges here: watching Fireball and Bruiser show up and get, basically, smacked around while running through a ridiculous and increasingly labyrinthine set of challenges is cute, but not really the most engaging thing going because the stakes are fairly abstract — the data on the disk is one step removed from the fates of the people, and it's data, it can be copied. As such, watching these somewhat slapstick super-heroics is interesting but not wholly engaging. This is a solid comic book, with well-done applications of craft from everyone involved, but its confectionary tone belied the seriousness of its subject.

Gary Seven is back from the future … and this time it's personal! Wait, no, it's business. Still, it's rough out there!

If you eat up everything Star Wars, this has enough nostalgia points to earn you a reward, and you'll likely need this. If your benchmark for legendary Star Wars moments is set slightly higher, Star Wars #15 might just impact the surface.

Han Solo and Chewbacca are doing one last job for the Rebellion after the Battle of Yavin (uh huh), but of course things get complicated in an effective classic trilogy era tale.

The main complaint one could make is that Vader is a supporting character in his own title. Even cowed, determined to fulfill his eventual note, "I must obey my master," he needs more agency and urgency to make his bluster and bravado work. Nothing bad here, and this came closer to the power and the glory, but only in passing.

Still, this is a very good, if not great, issue. You get a good sense of the terror and intrigue of the Empire at its height. Likewise, you get a sense of Vader's focus and efforts in this iconic era … but it might work better collected than in this format.

Michael Holt and Adam Strange are on a collision course to determine what is really true about the spacefaring superhero.

If you mess with Michael Holt, you're gonna get a taste of fair play that you might not like. Oh, Adam Strange is here, too.

With forceful characterization, dazzling visual choices, and real steel in its spine, there is a lot to like about the newly revitalized team's efforts here.

That's not to say there's not a lot of great elements to this work, but the challenges listed herein prevent this from flying that high into the sky.

The only criticism is that it may be an embarrassment of riches: the kaiju story gets short-sheeted by the intro to the Truth, and the Bendix-Luthor alliance also gets rushed through without any time for scenery-chewing or monologuing. This was either a thirty-page book jammed into two-thirds of the space or the work of two issues that needed more room so some elements could have room to breathe. That's not bad, but it's not quite firing on all cylinders. It does, however, fire on a lot of them.

If you'd like a pretty good Ben Reilly story, or a pretty good Black Cat story, or even if you're interested in some random minutiae of Stephen Strange's life, this is what you need. If you're interested in the larger story and where it's going, this won't quite fill your prescription.

If this were a story on its own, this would have been a winner. However, given how little effect this story has on what's going on with the Last Annihilation crossover, all these savvy choices get lost in the mix. It might be nice to see Oliveira on a book like Guardians of the Galaxy, but that's a quest for another day.

Perhaps this is another case for the Fiona Apple invocation, "slow like honey, heavy with mood," as the steadfast will inherit the conclusion. As of now, there's not enough of a portion size on this plate for this issue to be a meal.

Closely capturing the flavor of the very engaging Fox series, this unfortunately is constrained by its format to not lock on to its target.

The tipping point has finally come to set off millions of years of civil war, and you get a front row seat for its beginnings.

The gods must be silent in this "so close" issue that keeps the camera in tight focus on personal challenges instead of grander considerations. 

It all comes down to this as the mystery of the titanic dead beings called gods gets a huge new wrinkle as one space captain finally completes some old business.

If you've been dying for a look behind the iron curtain, this is a solid book that gets a number of things right. However, the issue falls short of greatness, but many have said that about the erstwhile Soviet regime, so perhaps it's on-brand.

The previous issues were good; this one is a bit above good, so from a momentum perspective, that bodes well for what's ahead.

The Shi'ar Empire is in trouble. Krakoa sends Storm, Marvel Girl and Cyclops. Trouble is about to mess around and find out. 

Taking a break to clean up after the big mess of the Justice/Doom War, the teens of the team find friendship and clarity together.

This book might sneak up on you with its cleverness and its engaging characterization, and you'll likely be happy that it does.

It's no mean feat, but this issue is better than the two that went before. Well worth your money, even if you will admit that after a page or so, you'll even hate Trigger Keaton and maybe even be glad he's dead.

This book is a punch in the face to Keaton's type of people, as their end is not one anyone should want. The fumbling of people who feel duty-bound to find answers is, however, well worth watching.

Usually, a project like this would be a vanity bit of fan service for aging readers desperate to rekindle their childhoods. On the contrary, this is some of the strongest, most effective Batman storytelling captured on-page in years and can stand the test of time, much like the films that created this tapestry.

For Batman fanatics, this may be just about perfect, and for even the casual fan, this is extremely excellent storytelling. Climb in; this Bat-bandwagon's got room.

We may be able to see Michael Keaton back on screen in a Bat-suit, but we will never be able to get this cinematic masterpiece in pre-pandemic multiplexes. That's a shame, but wow, to make that work as a comic book is no small accomplishment in and of itself.

While this bills itself as a "Beyond" book, with the exception of Peter's coma, this could have happened almost any time and been carried on the charm of its two leads. Their tension makes up for a more present antagonist, and Robbins does just enough to make his presence the proper motivation. It's also interesting that the solicitations for this book originally had it being written by Saladin Ahmed with a wildly different plot. Oh well. Regardless, this self-contained issue is a masterpiece of plotting and characterization that's fun for almost everybody " except Shocker and Parker Robbins.

Brace yourself for large scale creativity from Jason Howard, presenting a post-apocalypse where it's ladies first.

Third time's the charm as the new science fiction adventure series from Image Comics makes a strong showing.

Go big or go home with another stunning showing of craft and storytelling excellence from Jason Howard and Image Comics.

As with almost all of MacKay's scripts, this was certainly enjoyable and had it taken more time with its new friends and less time montage-ing, it could have been a bit better. The sheer entertainment value of Cat and Fox going back and forth, however, is worth having.

This is a very smart, very engaging continuation of the work done by Priest and Hudlin, creating a lane just for T'challa that's a perfect fit.

There are a number of moments here that are extremely delightful but would be spoilers to reveal. Suffice it to say that this is now the third fantastic presentation of the Wakandan monarch in a row, showcasing the grandiose backdrop that sets the stage for T'challa's tale. Let's get much, much more of this, please.

This script from Tochi Onyebuchi does such great things with these familiar plot elements, imbuing such humanity into the characters and presenting situations that flow logically into each other. The artwork from Setor Fiadzigbey, Fran Galan, Paris Alleyne, Ian Herring, and Joe Sabino brings these sparse, almost haunted environments to life effectively. This is a succinct, laser-focused telling of this tale that's perfectly packaged and well worth your time and money.

You are not going to know what happened to you after diving into the tale of an assassin elephant, but you will absolutely experience something new.

Pull up for a second helping as Tony Chu's morally flexible little sister sits down at the table and her secret ingredient is crime!

John Layman is back with a humor-tinged tale of crime and consequences, and the results are yummy!

Big ideas walk hand in hand with subtle character nuance for this engaging new Image Comics superhero book.

The clock is ticking as a metaphorical mystery gets very personal for one of the members of Crisis Command. In another stering issue, this new superhero team book changes the game yet again.

The crisis comes home as the heroes are reluctant to tell the truth to shame the devil and the spirit of inspiration packs quite a punch!

It's your turn to roll the dice as we return to the literary, deeply developed fantasy world where childhood friendships and betrayals run deep.

Still, this is a book that will likely freak you out, and if you like being freaked out, that's worth slapping down your greenbacks and grabbing a copy.

There's no telling where all of this is going, but getting there is gripping.

This is not to say you, specifically, should not buy this book. You should; it's fun, it's engaging, its characters work well, and its overall arc totally fulfills the promise put forth. In the sentiments of that great philosopher Basil Exposition, just try to have fun and don't worry about the pesky details.

At this point, as noted in the work, "anything can happen," so there's no telling if this is the beginning of a masterpiece or a single scene of brilliance. For the here and now, you won't be able to wish this haunting concept away.

When taken as a whole, this series Far Sector is perhaps the boldest, freshest set of ideas DC Comics has seen since Grant Morrison was on JLA or Vertigo was at its height.

Digging deep under the surface of an alien society, this is high-grade science fiction with an emerald tint. 

The light has gone out for the Green Lantern Corps, and who they become in the darkness, how brightly they remain determined to shine, is a surprise to everyone. 

When they throw the violent vixen in jail, they think she's trapped, when in reality, the key was always in Harley's hand. 

John Stewart goes to war, Teen Lantern goes into the dark and Hal Jordan looks for answers in possibly the best Future State take out so far.

Somehow, by taking away the very thing that gives the concept its luster, the work here has begun to shine even more brightly by making its stakes seem important. That's not easy, but it has ended up developing some of the most engaging superhero stories in the market.

This new run has been very engaging, and this issue is another gem in that run.

Is it easy to hang on for such a thrilling ride? Maybe not, but it's surely some of the most daring, "big idea" comics from the mainstream available today.

This issue culminates years of stories that likely didn't have this outcome in mind, which is amazing. It's even more thoroughly impressive that, as big as this issue went, this is at best a penultimate look at whatever finish line this story presents. Thrilling to a fault, this is fantastic work and a nearly definitive run that changes the game in big ways.

This book takes a big swing, but it's good to see it connect after the long road getting here. This is a big, fun comic with ambition, and that's great to see.

Can Ranger Rocket get his tiny prehensile hands around a murder mystery set to leave the galaxy aflame and at war?

All around, Guardians of the Galaxy #18 is a very engaging book that delivers a thrill ride performance. 

As before, this wonderful work frames the Milestone universe in its best possible light and does the impossible: presents a new direction from an older story, done with modern dynamism.

Get down and dirty with John Constantine and the devil himself, while even a ghost has reason to tag along and provide insights.

When you look at the beautiful development of the archenemy for the protagonists, the boogeyman nature of this threat tied into the origins, it's really a savvy choice that matches both the narrative needs of the story and the politics of the characters herein. There are lots to like here, and it's well worth your time and money.

All around, Activist Icon is a thrill ride well worth taking. It's not what happened before, but it's sure as heck something interesting happening for the future.

If you'd like one pulse-pounding installment of Marvel's merry mutants, this issue is ready to scratch the itch. The stakes are very immediate and palpable, and everything you really need to know is on the page. That's hard for an X-Men book, but it's great to see.

It's hard to watch people suffer so, but this work is presented so compellingly that it's just as hard to look away.

This work's close, personal stakes, and wonderful detail make every moment a private tragedy. This is great, literary content that's well worth your time.

Kate Pryde has to make a hard choice off the coast of New York as the nation of Krakoa shows its true colors. 

You will not receive a new pen with this issue, regardless of whatever lies that cover tells you. Don't listen, it's a charmer!

Take a trip back to the era of leg warmers and giant robots for a nostalgic, brilliant story that covers all the bases.

Shilo Norman is a more mature and well-prepared hero for having gone through this gauntlet. For the reader, this is a solid closing to a definitive storyline for the character.

Overall, you get a seriously enjoyable and well-crafted body of work with this issue. The backup isn't as self-contained, but it surely gives you some story meat to enjoy with your literary meal.

Nonetheless, the entire package presented here is entertaining, and the lead story surely has an absolutely jaw-dropping conclusion. Newburn #7 builds up another noirish smash hit that is 100% worth a read.

True, this done-in-one doesn't address the core about the threat to Nightwing's life, but it takes you on a self-contained thrill ride that will continue to engage you past the first loop de loop. This is as good of a mission statement for this overarching storyline as anything else, and you don't wanna miss one thrilling second.

The bigger picture — how Blüdhaven is changing with an active billionaire trying to fix things instead of, say, buying a social network — is on the back burner. While that's a shame, there's plenty of action and character work to keep readers intrigued.

There's not a lot to like about the situation, which is horrible for a lot of people, from the pill-popping Minuteman to Red Tornado trying to be all things to all people to the ruthless corporate raider formerly doing business as Power Girl. There is a lot to like about seeing it, like a fine cable drama where you watch messy lives stay messy, avoiding whatever is like that in our own existences.

There's a lot to like here, and it's powerful storytelling that builds this penultimate chapter of this unexpected treasure into something great.

There's quite a lot to like here and a fully realized world established in just this first issue. This issue is a lot of fun and a great choice, even if you're not ready to bring out a big bag of dice.

Two characters with bad streaks fight the law … and the outcome is clear even before it starts, but why is a pleasant surprise.

Essen Breaker came to bring the pain on child traffickers in the medieval city of Haas Haaden.

The shadow of the Bat doesn't fall on the Hill, but Jason Todd may be able to add some flavor to the oft-ignored Gotham neighborhood without gentrifying it.

The end of the world doesn't mean there's any time to let go of your values, and this new indie series asks questions that many might find hard to answer.

This postapocalyptic Mulan has much more complications enter life with an unwelcome surprise from a friend, a tragedy hitting home and political maneuverings. 

This book is greatly entertaining and offers a kind of YA Mad Max vibe that's well worth your time.

Another crowning achievement from Tom Taylor introduces a wonderful clandestine order and the cost of keeping secrets.

Hidden organizations clash over secrets the world can never know in another hot issue from Boom! Studios.

This series has yet to make a serious misstep, and it's not getting started now.

Is this your champion? With swinging fists and limited intellect, it appears that it is … and you'll like it!

Nothing about dancing between the raindrops of the original series and the motion picture could possibly be easy. Still, this issue does a great job of telling a compelling story that reveals everything you need to know about these characters. This is a fantastic piece of work that's well worth your time and money.

All around, this book explains exactly what it is upfront and never wavers from possibly the grandest swing since Bail and Mon Mothma got an idea to take up arms.

Everybody in this book is good at what they do, and everybody making this book is good at what they do. Watching that kind of combination come together will convince you that the Force is indeed with you.

Giving the iconic character so little panel time often turns into mush. Greg Pak's script maintains the threat of Vader in every moment (especially with the fantastic "what'd you expect" callback), and that's very effective. The visual storytelling presented by Guiu Vilanova does its requisite action scenes, moments of quiet terror in Vader's presence, and even the almost-but-not-quite heavy-handed crimson-tinted flashback scenes very well. Vader's path is much like the name of a star destroyer — inexorable — and it's very engaging to see people considered threatening by most scatter-like leaves in his wake.

This is fun and surprising as Vader plays chess instead of barreling in with a lightsaber, actually fulfilling his Sith mandate to learn and crave. Lots to like in this issue, and no matter your Star Wars experience, this will satisfy your interest in the Imperial era. 

This is a fantastic look at a different universe of heroes and villains that shows great respect for what came before and offers wholly new experiences for people just joining the party.

Like a carefully folded piece of origami, another fascinating character piece showcases a powerful new love story while revealing the plot behind the narrative.

With twists, turns, gunfire and a pinkie promise, this brilliant series continues to astonish and astound.

Closing down the twists and turns of this big idea with huge guest stars, big surprises, and a satisfying conclusion.

This digital exclusive done-in-one gives you a sense of wonder and adventure while truly testing the Last Son of Krypton.

This is an enjoyable, personable work that delivers effective character moments (you may have seen the Batman/Pa Kent bit floating around the social media circles). While the genre tropes may demand certain outcomes, the ride getting there is enormously enjoyable.

The gods must be crazy and so is Tony Masters, taking on Hyperion as part of a three part mission to clear his name.

While Taskmaster is an unlikely choice to go undercover in South Korea, he pulls it off in a very entertaining fashion while secretly stealing something from another world class spy.

You can call Taskmaster many things. Villain. Mercenary. Jerk. Even "coward" is fine. Find out the one thing he won't answer to.

Exploring the really wonderful twist in this plot and how it's discovered would be a spoiler. Suffice it to say, readers of all stripes can find a valuable lesson here about how heroism has to find the right way. That's a quest worthy of Earth's Mightiest Heroes.

There is a literary level of quality here that should have all the awards hurling statues at this series. If you want a seat on the bandwagon, there's still room.

While his work on another robot-helped franchise may be what got Ramondelli on the map, this series is what helped him transform into one of the most intriguing science fiction creators on the market.

There's not much track left for this train, but the trip has been fantastic thus far, and — if we are going by the previous mini-series — this one will be just as good.

With one issue to go, it's time for somebody to die ... but doesn't that mean EVERYBODY has to die?

This comic book is engaging and sweeps upwards narratively towards a satisfying conclusion. Get this team on a big-ticket, stakes-changing ongoing series stat!

There are vital developments here that were done splendidly, but to speak too much about them would spoil the work itself. The horror that closes in on the reader is palpable and is well worth your time and money.

Things had to go this way, and it's tragic to end. It is, however, a truly engaging tale of twisted love that's well worth the time and money.

When you look at books that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page of the issue, The Nice House On The Lake fits the bill with a truly literary standard of excellence.

This series has been messing with your mind from its first page, and it hasn't slowed down once. There's no telling where this is all going in the best possible way.

A mystery in space, two clandestine missions and an armed standoff come together to make one heck of a sci-fi adventure.

Like the show itself, this is some super enjoyable science fiction cloaked in the clothes of facetiousness. This small but efficient mini-series nails everything it needs to do, and that's a delight.

If you like noir and you like science fiction, this book will be right up your alley and shows a great deal of solid thinking from a talented crew of creatives.

This issue is excellent, and with the collected edition out last week, fans can get a huge chunk of this frightening look ahead in one sitting if they choose.

This series continues to enthrall and flips the concept of time travel into a commodity that causes tension in the lives of the characters in play.

To say much more about the plot would ruin some of the fantastic surprises, but this haunting work is an unexpected pleasure that is wholly true to the characters herein.

The legend of Ultra Magnus starts here as the heroic, inspiring Autobot makes an impression.

With bravado and rhetorical skill, watch Ultra Magnus reign supreme over a diamond studded battlefield.

Answering the question of where Ultra Magnus and Alpha Trion were as the Cybertronian Civil War kicks off, this is deep space adventure to rattle your fillings.

One of the most prolific writers of our era has come out with a creator-owned property on one of the best leveraged imprints in the biz.

Not only the gods must be crazy as five people race into the dark with no idea what's on the other side and face surprises they never could have imagined.

The only criticism one might level at this is that if, say, you landed here from Alpha Centauri and didn't know what Batman's deal was, he gets the short end of the characterization stick. To be fair, if you're buying a Batman '89 book, you likely know what you're in for and surely know who felt yummier and where someone wonders if you danced with the devil. For Batman fans of all ages, this book is a treasure and superbly enjoyable.

In another stunning triumph, this issue brings a surprising but wholly factual indictment of the Dark Knight Detective's defects in an unusually effective way.

The Bat chases after the Cat, but there's much more in play than angry mobsters and a bag full of diamonds.

Go big or go home for this grandiose look at a future with a limit on its growth potential.

Big changes and a big battle change all the rules in this innovative issue, straight from the mind of Jason Howard.

It all comes down to this as gigantic bodies collide along the skyline and mastermind Jason Howard ties together all the loose ends.

Tony Stark thinks he's so smart, but here, Felicia Hardy takes him and his little company for a ride.

Felicia Hardy versus Tony Stark in the skies over New York City, but of course, everything isn't as it seems ...

"A king's business is getting things done," T'Challa says at one point. With a great espionage-tinted take, this issue takes that business very seriously.

This is a refreshing and wonderful look at the real-life of a powerful person who struggles with relatable issues.

A wildly ambitious new superhero book steps in and shows up in a big way.

Superheroes from multiple dimensions come together to fight against the impossible, but find they are in a wholly different battle than they expected. 

When the impossible gets too wild, the only thing to do is ... escalate and make things even wilder? That's the Commanders In Crisis way!

High concept and high grade science fiction is on display in the grandest possible way ever as a truly alien experience is illuminated in green.

Finally, a depiction of the legacy of Superman bracketed in triumph and excellence, one that can truly unite and inspire under the words, "truth and justice."

At the one-third mark for this story, we should now have all the players on the field and can spend the next four issues enjoying how they'll interact.

The King in Black has no idea who he's messing with when the ruler of Wakanda uses the lessons of the past to teach one in the present.

Distilled lunacy crafted with expert care into a delight of a periodical. Hurry up and get yourself some of this.

The Mouse House of Ideas assembles a fantastic cast of talent to bring stories, concepts and voices to the fore that you might not have seen otherwise.

In 1976, the Madbomb turned things upside down in the South Bronx, and Captain America needs a lesson in access to become a hero.

This issue is really, really good. Conceptually, it's either one of the best ideas in superhero comics in decades or possibly another red herring. Either way, there is a lot to like about this bold, "focused" book that really understands the assignment.

It's only a few issues in for this run, but (crossover notwithstanding), this is already turning into a definitive run for the erstwhile boy wonder. Strap in; it's one heck of a ride.

Secrets are revealed (oh no), sacrifices are made (not them) and the brilliant Boom! Studios story escalates to unexpected levels. 

The emotional resonance between these characters feels genuine, the action scenes feel organic in their development, the "giving you some Street Fighter" versus vibe is tight, and this book is a winner.

Jim Kirk is bringing the crew of the Enterprise back to the Federation, but there is trouble brewing on the home front.

Who is Commander Zahra and why is she so cool? You'll see her shine this month in a fitting tribute to Tarkin's ruthless legacy.

The Dark lord of the Sith is back, using only hits wits and will to fend off some of the most dangerous parties in the galaxy on his way to understanding.

When the escapees from Belle Reve come to Gotham City, there's nothing that can stop a run in with the Dark Knight Detective.

Deadshot goes home and finds everything he could have wanted … but what will he have to do to protect it?

Go for broke as this series nears its conclusion, telling an epic story of deception and betrayal

A white skull amongst dogs of war, the mercenary needs to observe Wakanda's fiercest warrior to get the Black Widow off his back.

Writer Skottie Young has struck gold with his tone and pacing here, reintroducing Ro's agent as a catalyst and managing the shift in this relationship so gradually it's almost imperceptible. The rich graphic tableau laid out by Jorge Corona, Jean-Francois Beaulieu, and Nate Piekos makes every turn of the page catch your breath in your throat with nervousness. This blend of a relationship going wrong with something that clearly should have been the reddest of red flags is like watching a train plummet off a bridge in slow motion. You feel like you should look away, but you won't be able to.

With enormously gripping energy fitting the lockdown zeitgeist of our time, this book is a winner in every panel.

There are no capes, no masks other than the lies we tell each other and ourselves, but public perception be damned; this is some of the best things that can be done with comics.

Wait, what? The series is going away until March of next year? What the worldwide heck?

The best part is that this is a complete story. You surely want to see what's next, but if you don't, you have a beginning, middle, and end of this story. That's a great accomplishment in and of itself, given how enjoyable that trip is. This is a great book.

There is a deeper world than this, tugging at the capes of some of the biggest names in superheroics. Finally, hear a side of the story not often told.

The single creative vision of Livio Ramondelli comes to a shocking and fitting conclusion that will satisfy.

Another masterpiece issue as Jo Muellin leaves it all on the floor — and in the code — with an issue that pulls out all the stops.

Better than the issue before it, which was better than the debut, this series is on an impossibly fantastic arc you've gotta see to believe.