Ja-Quan Greene Comic Reviews

While The Amazing Spider-Man #1 isn't garbage, there's a lack of pace and energy that just muddles the excitement you might have felt when you found out John Romita Jr. was back for another season.

I'm interested in what Mark Millar has in store for the rest of this run. I love the use of a Hispanic young lady as the new incarnation of the Virgin Mary. I like that the characters fully understand the weight of this undertaking and still push to give this child a chance at taking his place as savior. Gross has ensured readers understand that the religious under and overtones will be prevalent throughout, and a look at most pages will feature some ideological images.

ThelongerIsatwithissue #2of American Jesus, the more I appreciated the realistic perspective of a child who grows up surrounded by religious fanatics who would stand in front of a train or take a bullet for the chosen one " she who is the Christ-Child. Despite the gritty, artistic style that doesn't quite whet my appetite, I absolutely adore Peter Gross' ability to create impeccable facial expressions and great scenery in most panels. I didn't think I'd take to this Volume 2, but I can't wait for Millar and Gross to keep them coming.

Moving In The Right Avenging DirectionLuca Maresca does a great job of showing the ever important facial expression of Blade and Black Panther as they debate the ramifications this would have, and the same goes for Dracula. The end of Jason Aaron's Phoenix centered run bestowed the deadly fire bird's power on Echo (albeit in a cheap and anti-climactic way). Bast only knows where that decision will take the Avengers, but I loved the immediate bond formed between her and fellow flame head Robbie Reyes. Avengers might be heading in the right direction after a topsy turvy 40+ issues, but I'll wait and see how the vampires and Phoenix drama all shake out before coming to any conclusions.

In the end, the She-Hulk reveal was worth it and certainly leaves readers with a laundry list of questions. What is Dracula and his army of the undead up to? How does Thor still have his hammer? Will this experience leave Jen with even more powers? Why does Captain Marvel keep getting taken out by lesser opponents? Here's to hoping we get answers to some of those questions, and good ol Jen Walters back in time for her Disney+ show!

The thing that does intrigue me is the mental chess match happening between Mephisto and Doom Supreme. The Orb will undoubtedly play a part in either side besting the other, so one of the upcoming issues of Avengers should shed more light on this cordial beef between devil and sorcerer. Juan Frigeri keeps me coming back to this Avengers book, so I hope he stays on board for a while.

His journey is the stuff of cinematic legend. He punches his hand through the sand so we can all be blessed with that iconic shot of him walking through the desert. His lone companion is the severed talking head of his greatest enemy. Speed Force storms threaten livelihoods on each given day. Former Justice League powers fall into the wrong hands. It's all so beautifully dark and awe inspiring.

Speaking of Batman, our boy is dealing with a lot. His nightmares are of the most chilling variety, and his conscience mind is always at war with this idea that he has caused this future that he inevitably inherited and has to rescue. I have a feeling the nightmares will come back around and mean a lot more. Love the allies that Bruce makes. Love the final page reveal. Omega is shaping up to be a serious force to be reckoned with, and I can't wait to see what else he has in store for the world. Capullo's incredible design gives the villain this menacing feel that feels right. Another stellar issue by him and Scott Snyder.Batman: Last Knight on Earthkeeps the high quality, jaw dropping panels coming.

This issue has a few superhero cameos trying to stop the Devastator but is filled with way more superhero death. As each of these tie-in issues drops, we get more and more nightmarish Batmen giving our heroes the 2 piece combo with biscuits and greens. And we're here for all of it! Superb writing and phenomenal art make this another proper take on Batman turned villain.

The psychological torment we're put through adds a layer of greatness that could garner its own issue. The artwork is phenomenal. That end of the issue plot twist tho?! Maaaaannnn, when the last time you found this much joy in Batman beatin' the brakes off your favorite superhero? Not near never.

On point writing by Josh Williamson and a beautifully drawn battlefield by Carmine Di Giandomenico has me eager to check out the other 6 tie-in issues for this Metal series. That ending?! This issue finally gave us some concrete answers to Barbatos' grand plans for the multiverse, so I'm deservedly going high on this score.

Let's get on thing straight; props to Daniel Warren Johnson for doing the writing and drawing on Beta Ray Bill #1, but there is certainly some room to grow. I don't love the artwork, but there are plenty of dope, gritty panels to keep your eyes entertained. Oh, and horse face jokes? Please dial it down a few notches.

Not gonna lie, I'd consider this prelude issue for Black Panther lacking. I don't know if the writing by Coates has spoiled me rotten, but I ain't ever compromising on a Black Panther title. Nope. Better come correct or get up out the kitchen! Maaaan, I ain't even bangin' with the artwork, and I love damn near everything with lines and some color. Here's hoping that issue 2 come harder with that Fire Nation flame bending vibranium crack to get new readers excited for the movie.

I truly have no idea what Martello is doing with this Black Panther artwork. It's childishly bad at points and moderately acceptable at best. If this was meant to get people excited about the upcoming movie in February, they misjudged everything, fam. Luckily, everyone and their mom knows Black Panther will be that Wakandan wildfire, so they'll make boatloads of Benjis either way.

This book was an incredible start to a new and exciting Black Widow story, and ranks quite high on my list of #1s of 2020. Kelly Thompson is off to the races, and it doesn't look like a dam thing will be slowing her down.Black Widow hits all the right notes in its inaugural issue and is setting up an enjoyable journey back to world of heroism for the Red Room survivor.

With bombs being dropped, wedding dresses copped and movement on the plot, Kelly Thompson and Black Widow #3 delivers the goods.

Did I mention that Elena Casagrande absolutely crushes every panel in this book? I'm her newest stan, and Black Widow continues to be one of the few books that don't feature mutants that I look forward to each month. Another excellent issue and amazing cliffhanger to keep us hungry for more!

Gotta give a big shout out to Gerry Duggan with that sword move. Not only does it help round out who Cable is, but it sets the stage for a wild, time romp, robotic showdown. Cable #1 is a book everyone should be checking out, even if you feel like you've hit your "Dawn of X" threshold. It's that good.

I found it a little naive of Duggan to have Cable prancing around the base on the moon like he didn't massacre an entire ancient civilization for a sword, albeit a dope ass one. Then he got Mr. Let Him Get His Child Snatched Summers behaving like he came straight out of Pleasantville! I love Cyclops and his family of Pharoah's blood descendants, but the ending of Cable #4 was a strangely twisted one.

In the end, Cable #5 accomplishes its task of summoning the young warrior to take his place within the circle of swordsmen and badass women. Phil Noto's panels are my favorite aspect of this book, in particular the "blurry" mind reading page. X of Swords is coming along nicely and this issue of Cable was a cool, quick read if you enjoy yourself a good Summers family tale.

Al Ewing is one of the best Marvel writers out here, so this was a guaranteed read for me; however, it's great when you watch it all unfold so beautifully.

8.5 "So we just dont knock in the future?" comments out of 10

Captain Marvel #23 is another great entry in this series. Garbett's artwork lends itself to a rugged future lacking much hope, while he is able to put a really nice touch on the action filled moments. After the wild storyline of the previous arc, I thought "The New World" would be a big of a filler bore, but it is anything but! With a titillating final page, I can't wait to see how Kelly Thompson explains how this one went down!

I really enjoyed the late issue unveilings and cant wait to check back in next month to see how this all shakes out. I hope Kelly Thompson enjoys a really lengthy run on this book because there has nary been a bad issue and Captain Marvel #24 is no different!

I'm a fan of Jacopo Camagni's artwork, in particular, when he gets to have some fun by creating an ancient Atlantean colosseum of wonders, magical mermen travel guides, and giant sea dragon keepers of the Heart of the Serpent. All in all, Captain Marvel #29 hits all the right notes and moves the plot of this arc forward in a good way.

I will say that the villainous angle in this one was top notch. I don't know where this story will go with a hyperbolic time chamber version of Captain Marvel, but I dig the threat level.

While I didn't love the hero vs. villain smack talk in the beginning of this book, Ayala finished really strong. The cliffhanger you're hit with forces you to happily backtrack and think about everything you just read in a completely new way and that is impressive writing, no matter which way you slice it. 

Daredevil #20 was so well paced, written and drawn that I couldn't wait to go back and read it again. Hell, they even made Stilt Man look menacing for a hot second! I didn't know how they were going to top last issue's scene where Hell's Kitchen civilians pulled up dressed in Daredevil masks to defend their block. That moment damn near brought a tear to my eye, but Chip really showed me after this dopeness! Must read material right here.

The guest appearances are well done because they add a layer of drama or intrigue to the story, and not simply used for the surprise factor. Zdarsky hit us with another nice little cliffhanger this issue and I personally don't know much about this character so I'm excited to find out more. Chip Zdarsky really wants comic book fans to know that he's pouring his all into Daredevil and the quality shows each and every issue. Good to great artwork backs up his talented writing and having an admirable hero with Daredevil's level of grit and persona bodes well for Chip.

While I'm not sold on the costume just yet, I'm loving the plasma like talons that he can use during fights. I'm excited to find out if it will be the same advanced Shi'ar technology imbued with magic, like the OG Darkhawk, or if there'll be some tweaks to Conner's story. Juanan Ramirez does a pretty good job of bringing this tale to life and saves his best stuff for the action sequences and ball games, which I appreciate. Darkhawk #1 was a good first go with some room to get even better.

Kelly Thompson has the chance to write a memorable DP comic and she is not going to let this one slip. Deadpool #5 brings the action, at times bonkers visuals, and hilarious panels for days. This has always been a fun book to read, and now we might see some actual growth from the Merc with a Mouth!

This issue isn't going to blow any minds, but it does provide a nice end to the bone beast betrayal that Elsa pulled on Wade. The stakes are believable enough that you wonder how Deadpool will make it out of this one, but the payoff was worth it. Kelly Thompson is having some fun while writing Deadpool and issue #9 showcases why she's been excelling in that role.

This story is flowing beautifully, and the tie-in issues should expand on things little by little, while this book serves as the driving force behind it all. Marco Checchetto quietly doin' the Lawd's work while fans soak up every glorious panel of woodland, laboratory, prison, or skyline background is what you love to see, and reward with more work in the industry. Here's to more Marco in these comicbook streets and here's to Devil's Reign #2 with another good issue.

The results of the title match will divide fans on how a story like this should close out, and things were a tad too tidy by the turn of the last page; however, it was a fun ride to get there. Despite Marco Checchetto's gorgeous artwork all throughout this 6-issue run, we won't be calling Devil's Reign the book that erased the bad taste Civil War II left in fan's mouths like I once hoped, but it is one that will allow fans to keep saying Daredevil always has the best written stories in Marvel.

Lastly, purpose. Now that the Eternals have no clear cut celestial purpose, where do they go from here? In the 'Never Die, Never Win' edition of this book, Gillen says he wants to honor the past while pushing the Eternals into the 21st century. Safe to say he's off to one hell of a start with Eternals #1.

I came to get some knowledge on the Eternals before the movie premieres, but I'm staying for this exciting game of Carnage Clue.

It's really spectacular to witness a good writer and impeccable artist bring a fire comic with Thanos and his unfuckwittable one liners at the center of the story to life. Eternals #12, the final issue of this Hail Thanos story arc, was a good one, but it also set up the highly anticipated conflict between the Eternals and the X-Men and I am hypeeee for all that smoke! Judgement Day is coming!

I didn't love the issue, partly because it was very much the setup for a huge showdown in the next book. Cable's life is on the line and everything that Psylocke has left is driving her to this moment where God meets mother and machine meets man meets mutant.

What ever is coming, this is a strikingly strong way to kick off the Giant-Size line. With 4 more "essential" tales to come, you'd best believe I'm coppin' them all.

Hawkeye: Freefall #6 wraps up this miniseries in a complete way, while leaving an opening for some really compelling storytelling down the road.

Hellions #12 really was a fun side of mutants to dive into and enjoy for its theatrics and melodramatic moments. The Hellions are usually off on some Bast forsaken mission, so it's nice to see them interact with everyone for a change, albeit on their worst behavior. Stephen Segovia is putting in work on these panels! He takes Wells' violent yet tender script and makes magic out of the misfits of Krakoa. I've enjoyed a few issues of Hellions thus far, but there has been nothing like this bad boy right here! Guess that's what the Hellfire Gala will bring out of you.

Aaron, and artists Ed Mcguinness and Dale Keown, do make for an intriguing issue #2 overall. Diggin the artwork by Mcguiness and Keown. The fight sequences prominently feature characters tossin hands and the panels with city and landscapes contain enough detail. Aaron provides quite the backstory as to why major villains like Galactus haven't taken over the planet or epic threats like Wanda haven't destroyed the heroes of this world. Aaron also has a blast with the liberties he's able to take with turning some heroes or allies into villains.

We already know the adventure that Hit-Girl and Mano are gonna take us on will be a gut-splattering, epic journey. All that matters is how dope or formidable the bad guys will be in this 4-issue run. I'm so damn excited for these next 3 books for so many reasons. This Colombian location is going to provide so much for Millar and Ortiz to work with that. The power of the people seems to be a theme that may come to fruition and Bast knows how wild that would end up. Everyone reading Hit-Girl should be grateful that BOTH of these heroes murderers vengence filled professionals have hundreds countless lives on their hands, an unlimited supply of arms, and God tier body catching capabilities. Strap yourselves in, because Hit-Girl is about to get relentlessly savage.

Man, Mark Millar is having a blast with this Hit-Girl character and story. From start to finish, her levels of savagery are monumental. Yet you get these snapshots of geeky joy, nostalgia and humor that wash over you like a tidal wave of understanding and respect. The twists at the end of this issue were severely daunting.

I've gone in at length at how glorious the gory aspects of this Hit-Girl comic is, but I haven't really dug into some of the details that make Ricardo Lopez Ortiz's work so damn phenomenal. He gives us great depictions and rich textures of the hoods, streets and tunnels of Colombia. The scars and expressions on the faces that so many of these characters are exquisitely drawn, while Sunny Gho does a beast job of coloring in each shade of red, black and brown properly.

This was the wig snatchin, fade delivering, POC flooded, Geneva Convention banned, 007 gadget and tween rampage filled Hit-Girl comic book that Mark Millar fans deserved.

From the periodic breaks in the story that provide context and explanations to Charles and Magneto finally coming to terms with their differing ideological opinions, House of X holds back nothing and is the start of so much greatness to come.

House of X #2 is just as good, if not better than its predecessor, which is wild to think. After establishing the idea of Krakoa, then giving away the endgame centuries in the future, Hickman manages to keep things as interesting as they've ever been. Like many comic book characters and teams before, X-Men canon has been shredded and re-established. The big difference here; everyone that has given their blood, sweat, and time to the storytelling of mutants previously, have been honored in the most respectful and creative way possible.

But lest we forget the artists bringing his grand plan to life. Laraz and Gracia are finessing these pages like Dali and Picasso on the easel.The page of the X-Men leaving the Krakoa moon base and heading to their deadly mission is stunning. The look of every member of the X-Men is incredible and supremely detailed. Classic Wolverine,Marvel Girl and Sabertooth X-Fits are just perfect. Ms. Emma Frost rollin up to Achilles slaying it with the PETA disrespectin, all white mink? Don't get me started. P.S. I love it when Wolverine calls Cyclops, Slim.House of X #3 is out now and if you're not up on this and POX, what are you even doing with your life?

House of X Issue #4 brings the Nimrod eliminating mission to a close and does so in wildly dramatic fashion. Another phenomenal issue for Jonathan Hickman, with Powers of X up to bat next week.

The last thing I want to mention is a brief note at the end of 'The Mind' section of the 'Resurrection' data page. It states "NOTE: There has been no experimentation regarding what happens when you combine a mutant MIND with a HUSK that is not their own" and this just screams lies or foreshadowing to me. Can't wait til this one comes full circle.

You'll think about Mars and the well-intentionedbreeding pits that willinevitably descend into madness. You'll think about the Marauders and the Savage Lands and how these people and places will tell so many stories in the twilight of mutant supremacy. You may even think of Hickman's Avengers/New Avengers/Infinity/Time Runs Out/Secret Wars run and the glaring parallels between these distinctive tales. Ohhh House of X will make you think!

Overall, Inferno #2 accomplished its goal of filling in the gaps of how Destiny was resurrected. It also set the stage for the next phase of this Krakoan age. How will the three untouchables manage with a precog in their midst? How will their newly appointed ally take to all this deception? Leave it up to Destiny, I suppose"

Iron Hammer #1 was a fun issue that didn't require much any knowledge of the savage Gamora gauntlet move. Any reader could pick this one up and enjoy the ride without fear of missing out on any of the build up. Al Ewing comes through with a way to tell an origin story that doesn't feel forced and Rosanas crushes his amazing designs for the Asguardian x Iron suit look.

With a decent amount of action, good character development, and impressive storytelling, Iron Hammer was the treat I didn't know I needed right now.

Ushering in his new era of Iron Man is a very risky leap for Marvel and Dan Slott. I wasn't reading Tony Stark: Iron Man before checking out this #1 and it took me quite some time to get used to those clunky gear shoulder pads and this wild cybernetic world. Luckily, there aresome really redeemable qualities and interesting aspects of this book. Pete Woods is delivering on all futuristic fronts and Slott has already proven his ability to take a beloved character and create an exciting new platform for the hero. Prepare for a steep learning curve and buckle down for marvelous machinery as Iron Man 2020 blasts its way into this new decade.

These are the moments that help us fall in love with Kelly Thompson all over again. Make it real but make our women powerful and full of agency! Great action packed issue of Jessica Jones. I'm looking forward to the reveal of this dastardly fiend out here shooting women in the head. In the meantime, more ass kicking and curse words galore!

This is the late 50's we talkin' 'bout. No public figure in their right mind with a family of political influence would ever come out of the closet during 1959, son. Just straight up didn't happen. It's a sad thing too. Why can't the homie save the world and sleep with whoever he wants? Because, Hoover, that's why.

Unfortunately the issue feels ever so slightly incomplete. After Hoover hung Vanilla Iceover a balconyand threatens to bring down everyone around Richard, we flash forward to the gang mobbin at headquarters as Blue Bolt walks in flashin his pearly whites. They are surprised he is in such high spirits. He tells everyone that the head of the FBI relinquished his attack and sent him the negatives. Nobody asks any questions. Nobody explains a thing. All that happens is Fitz says some sly shit in response to Walter's digressive gay remark, then we get a flashback of Fitz gettin the dirt on Hoover and Tolsen in the bedroom. Turns out, Fitz may be a family man who's too paternal to have a long night of drinking, but don't count him out to handle his business if thehomies are in need.

Overall, good issue that dove into an problem that has been plaguing our country for decades centuries ever. Adultery is a bitch man. Even superheroes succumb to it. The weak ones at least. Here's to hoping someone can talk some sense into The Flare before his flame gets put out.

Sad and touching perspective on life and how even a superhero can make mistakes, lose his or her way and everything they've worked so hard for. Not even close to my favorite drawn and illustrated piece of Millar's work, but hey what can you expect when you change the illustrator midway through the series. I did however feel that the writing and morals in this issue greatly outweighed the inconsistent artwork and made for a good read.

We end this chapter of Jupiter's Circle with a shot of George in Nowheresville, America. Posted up at the diner straight chillin', sippin' some coffee, plottin'.

I'm looking forward to picking apart this world and sharing my first physical comic book obsession with y'all. With Millar and Quietly on the job, you know it's bound to be some amazing storytelling.

While revisiting this outstanding series, it's made clear that at its core, Jupiter's Legacy is a re-imagining of the imperfect superhero, or in this case, the super family. Miller does an amazing job of depicting what the real-world implications would be if history was graced with its first group of superheroes and what that would mean for future generations.

The Utopian is face to face with his son" and receives the most intense optical blast, at point blank range, that I've ever seen. The final image of The Utopian and his bone seared skull is chilling.

Solid issue that does a good job of connecting that insane climax in Issue 3 to the new world we are introduced to.

Mayhem ensues, and Chloe shows the entire world at home watching the news exactly what it mean to put in that overdue time and a half WORK! Major Barnabus Wolfe's whole crew got the fade and the familia was up in smoke before a soul could try and follow behind. With all 3 members of the fam on the same page rebuilding the meta-scanner and recruiting a new team, Millar and Quietly leave us on a sick cliffhanger as we await the next 5 issues.

Chloe and Hutch's offspring are ripe for a Millarworld production. Jason has grown up from his childhood superhero days to become the new Utopian. Sheldon is definitely smiling down from above like the proudest grandfather. Otto us clearly the woke one, as he left The Union for reasons. His hacking skills are top notch, he fights for the oppressed and is pissed off by Jason's goody 2 shoes act. Sophie and her Walter-like telepathy make for an interesting character. She also stepped away from the superhero life, but she seems to be holding personal resentment towards mom dukes. Considering how Millar likes to take advantage of family members feelings, I'm going to keep my eye on this one.

Welp, Brandon and Walter's theory proves correct cuz their plan is to send in the big guns first. To start the fight off with this world's version of The Mountain in the 3ft 4in, not a day over 8 years old Jason. Ohh what a time to be barely over 5 and the most powerful person in the Eastern Hemisphere!

Out in Wakanda Africa, the Anti-Asshole regime is continuously and tirelessly hunting and recruiting. Jason is not only one of the most powerful superheroes on the planet, but is also a technological mastodon who's meta gene scanner stumbles across the most major of keys. Hutch and the crew may have just located the creator of their hideout Headquarters. The original technology whizkid. The greatest supervillain of all time.George 'Skyfox' Hutchence himself.

Another banger from Millar and Quitely, not like you should expect anything less. For an issue that featured little to no combat, the dialogue and plot movement alone made it a hit.

This issue had a few big moments and left us with a pretty heavy cliffhanger. Quitely was solid but a little less stellar than usual, but Millar once again comes through with the 360 windmill tomahawk slam.

Brandon is still underestimating his sister's capabilities, so she shows him exactly what she's about and unleashes power he's never seen. Quitely must've done a backflip jumping for joy when he saw what Millar had planned for these final pages, because ya boy goes ALL THE WAY IN on these panels! About a mile away from Chloe and Brandon's brawl to end it all, Hutch and Walter stand toe to toe. Hutch is obviously at the disadvantage only possessing his power rod, but Hutch aint never been no softy. Walter hits him with the Shadow Clone jutsu finishing move and it's kill or be killed for Hutch.

Young Kang been ridin' dirty through time, attempting to avoid the mistakes of his "past" and succeeding at defying the lessons of his mentor. "Never love" is the only advice he needed to follow to stay in the win column for life, but Ravonna fam, Ravonna!

The eye-gouging, nut punching action is just the cherry on top of the excellent facial expressions we get from a black super heroine all throughout issue #1. These two artists are off to a marvelous start and I can't wait to see where they take us.

Meanwhile, Romita Jr. is doing the Lords work bringing these bloody, brutal and outright vicious panels of emotion to your front door. When this Kick-Ass run is over, I believe this will be the issue that showed how much courage Patience truly had. We're cooking up a masterpiece here, and I can't wait for the main course.

Outstanding issue. Mark Millar's head splitting pace is so rewarding and the attention to detail in his writing is superb. Artistically, there is so much satisfying action and gore. Not to mention, we're left with a hell of a nail biting cliffhanger. This new Kick-Ass is a bloody good time.

You think it's about to be curtains for our girl. You ready to pour out one for the homie when BAM: "Night Stalkers never quit!!" That motto hit, and it's like she transforms into an incomparable beast. Of course, it takes a hell of a lot more than a motto to overcome a room full of6 trained killas and1 homicidal, unrelenting, raw, prison-loving, certifiably insane killing machine named Violencia!! Kick-Ass has stuck her neck out trying to save a cop who was simply doing his job. She has lost pints of blood, broken a bevy of bones and is being circled by sharks.

Issue #5 of Kick-Ass really takes a turn in pace and direction. Things slow down a bit, but Romita Jr. picks up the slack by delivering some top-notch artwork. The ending leaves our hero in the most dire situation she's encountered thus far. This next book is the final one of Millar and Romita's run, so you know we're about to see Patience Lee exhibit some of the most savage tactics she has up her sleeve.

This ghetto Robin Hood tale was one that has been missing from big-name authors and comic book companies. There isn't another non-POC writer I would've chosen for the job. Kick-Ass has featured excellent storytelling and a good amount of drama on Patience's road to victory. As expected with Millar, all of it was based in real-world problems that people are dealing with right now.

As expected, the artwork takes a bit of a step down compared to the Lawds work put in by Romita Jr. Luckily, Frusin brings a certain level of grit and grime to the table that helps you appreciate this Pablo Escobar-ish side of the story. We're building toward a big showdown between Kick-Ass and the soon-to-be-released prison prom king, Violencia. Enjoy the carnage until then.

This looks to be an exciting Kingsman run. Love the shots at the movie version of Kingsman. Love the nerdy easter eggs sprinkled all throughout the issue. I really appreciate Williams giving all characters (good guys and bad) a geeky human side. It's the tried and true method of making any story you create relatable. Can't wait to see some of these Millarworld properties get the cartoon or live-action Netflix treatment.

The bulk of issue #2 revolves around this mystery figure and the hunt to reach him before Red Diamond's henchman can get his gorilla paws on him. Simon Fraser does workkk in the few areas he has room have some fun. Those Mach 7 Ramjet engine panels were straight flames and Rob Williams excels as he writes in that patented, crude Kingsman humor. Unexpectedly impressive writing and a roller coaster of fun all throughout this issue make this another step forward for the Red Diamond run.

As long as the impressive storyline continues, I'll keep looking forward to the next issue's details and handful of panels, where Fraser is given the room to put in that Frank Miller work.

A good amount of this issue featured aerial scenes and Fraser does his dam thing with each panel. Drawing airborne movement is no easy task, but he really captivates you while the head-smashing, life-saving action happens in the sky. As the cover alludes to, this issue features the most violent sexy scene I've seen since Clive Owen and Monica Bellucci got their penetration game on mid-bullet hurling gunfight in Shoot Em Up.

The issue picks up with Eggsy demanding MI6 to go check on his mum. We quickly pivot to the main focus of locating Red Diamond and the gum-reppin, movie-loving Henchman of Diamond Dame. The map Eggsy and Kwaito nearly died over, fought over, and f**ked over is the key to finding this precious gem-coveting psychopath. But you already knew it wasn't going to be that easy! Kwaito and Eggsy really have to get their hands dirty on this mission, so it's reckless explosives being set off after brrrrappppp uzi shots fired after another!

This culminating issue was a nice finale in the high stakes world of MI6. Did Rob Williams and Simon Fraser break much new ground or blow minds at every pages turn? Nah, but it was a hell of a fun ride. Eggsy is still a master of that crude humor that'll have you rolling your eyes, and charm that draws you right back into his antics. The supporting characters in this Kingsman run are arguably more engrossing than our MI6 agent. Red Diamond is a phenomenal villain and one that keeps you guessing what society shattering maneuver he'll pull next. Williams and Fraser did a nice job bringing this comic back to life.

Now Betsy has her storied team of 10 and an incredible cause. With that big end of issue cliffhanger, who knows what other surprises are in store, but I for one will be back to check out the future of the Knights of X.

Marauders #14 aka X of Swords 13 of 22 delivers on many fronts from start to finish. Magik and Gorgon are a scene stealing duo that induce grins every panel they grace. Comedy flows on numerous pages, an aquatic dance with death mesmerizes and Duggan sticks the cliffhanger landing.

I really hope there is more of a plan to show the incredible ways mutants are using their powers for good in this age of Krakoa, now that they don't have to hide their gifts from the world as much as in the past. They've blessed man with cures to diseases, prolonged life expectancy and more, but now is the time to showcase the skills and abilities on a small scale, so humans of all nations can begin to appreciate what these heroes can do.

In her meeting with the Hellfire Gala inner circle, she announces one of the real reasons they're doing this thing in the first place. After this night, there will no longer need to be a black market for Krakoan medicine. The Shi'ar space ships hovering in the air and various crafts waiting on the surface mean this Gala has alllll the implications on Earth and beyond! The ramifications of Marauders #21 will be wild to see.

The last couple issues of Marauders have felt like filler episodes, but I was happy to see some good action and real stakes this time around. Lourdes Chantel got the teaser trailer in issue #22 and that cliffhanger Duggan just dropped on us leaves no doubt that it's about to go down!

Everything about Marvel Team Up: Spiderman and Ms. Marvel exudes lighthearted, wacky fun, and I'm excited to see Ewing and Vazquez take the training wheels off as this body swapping book continues.

Eve Ewing is having a blast writing these two characters. Readers should be enjoying every panel of hilarity, because you never know how long this team up will last.

By the end if this issue, Peter and Kamala go full on handicap match with Jackal while Dr. Yesenia is tied up and begging for help. The one liners and webs fly as Joey Vazquez and Moy R do a marvelous job of bringing the rich, detailed city and laboratories to life before our eyes. Ewing continues to carve out her impact on Marvel comics and I hope her next outing is even more ambitious and well written than the last.

The rest of My Brother, Teddy is filled with dope action and adventure that is giving Monstress vibes, with some Chronicles of Narnia in the mix and a splash of Saga. High praise, I know. It's a good thing the pacing of this story, character arc, and visuals are all top-notch. Oh, and did I mention, there's a soundtrack that accompanies the book? Yeah, Jaromir Franois is off to a real good start.

The New Mutants keep making the same old rookie mistakes, whether it's on Earth or out in the cosmos. This most recent one results in a violent show of force. We witness the severity of the man vs. mutant war, and no matter the outcome, this will serve as the prime example of why you shouldn't leave the greatest and safest island home a mutant could ever ask for.

After the wild adventures and mostly unfortunate outcomes of this New Mutants comic run, I think it's a smart move to reel the crew in a bit and shift focuses to something a little less explosive. Going after those behind the DOX, mutant-hating website, aka the media, couldn't possibly have any ramifications! As a standalone, this book was a nice cap on this little Carnelian Carnage tale. Carlos Lopez worked color wonders with the panels that Flaviano Armentaro produced. Issue #11 of New Mutants reminds us of the troublesome nature of the young mutants, while inspiring the inner hero in us all to always do the right thing.

I enjoyed the balance of mutant and human locations in issue #12 of New Mutants. Failla has been my favorite New Mutant artist of this run and he shines again with Glob as the unexpected MVP. Ed Brisson has been delivering an at times ambitious book, but certainly one that does the New Mutants justice. Which is a lot more than we can say for the movie that should've come out years ago.

While Marco Failla has been my favorite artist to draw some of these New Mutants books, Rod Reis does a great job on these pages as he prepares to take over full time duties. Ed Brisson has had a wonderful run so it's tough to come to terms with this being his last issue, but hopefully Vita Ayala comes through to inject some black girl magic into the veins of the young heroes. New Mutants #13 aka the 7th X of Swords book does the ongoing series a favor instead of the frequent disservice that tie-ins often do to the comics they invade.

Ayala and Reis are shaping up to be a good comic book duo. I'm a big fan of Rob Reis' ability to produce these watercolor-like images in addition to the super clean and defined panels you see here and there. New Mutants #14 is great setup for the adventures that are in store for these youngins. This comic also lays the groundwork for the impending traitorous ways of some mutants in the mists.

Beautifully written issue by Vita Ayala. Rod Reis does his dope watercolor like artistic thing, as expected. I'm a particularly big fan of the nearly devoid of color white that Reis bestows on Shadow King and can't wait to see more of this potential threat. This was another good go with the New Mutants, and I'm intrigued where all of these threads are leading.

I've got to show wild love to Rod Reis for his artwork in New Mutants #22. So many pages feature incredibly layered scenes that create a sense of excitement, confusion, and chaos at one point or another.

Jean-Francois Beaulieu and Alexandre Tefenkgi have created quite a gorgeous world for us to dive into, while Sean Kelley McKeever has written a smart, captivating tale about a conceivable future with plenty of intriguing storylines that beg to weaved. The cliffhanger we're left with is a doozy. Outpost Zero is one comic you shouldn't forget to pick when it drops on July 11th.

Rafael Albuquerque is a monster, and I'm so glad he's the one who gets to depict the characters in this comic. The one test I always remain true to with my reviews, is an artist's ability to draw the hair of POC, and Black people in particular. Obviously, this comic features a Black man, so Albuquerque had to be extremely confident in his capabilities. Aided by the fire coloring skills ofMarcelo Maiolo, the hair textures are on point. Edison's fresh-cut game progresses and changes as he grows. When we get to the meat and potatoes of this story, we witness a couple different looks from the foreign governments he works for and the assistants that help him throughout the day. Candice seems to be his PR/social media guru, and his Alfred-type homie keeps Edison fresh while maintaining a cool hipster look.

After the global invasion information meet-up, they get to work on saving the world, starting with an insanely expensive visit to The Kremlin and ending with a trip to one of the most desolate, oxygen deprived terrains on Earth.

Prodigy #3 sets the world traveling tone of this series and explores the man Edison Crane has become. Strip away the publicity stunts, simultaneous world class chess opponents and his rockstar reputation, you find out how real Prodigy is. It's hard to make a suave, wealthy, genius feel so genuine but Millar is the one of the best to ever make a complex character completely relatable and endearing.

In the end, we see things get sticky for the suave gentleman with a huge heart. Of course, this is just another cool moment to tell Rachel and his driver to be in a certain location in 90 seconds, after he takes care of a hundred career killers. While we didn't get much in the plot department, the action and suspense were certainly cranked up in issue #4 of Prodigy. With only 2 issues to go, we're sure to get more wild travels from Edison Crane and much more bloodshed from the 2nd Earth worshipers, while Rafael Albuquerque does an incredible job of giving life to it all.

As expected, Rafael Albuquerque has been nothing short of excellent in his depiction of these Middle Eastern sites and characters. The colors remain true and the scale is always right. The action feels like a movie, and many panels are gripping. Millar is once again finding that balance of insanely proficient hero that is dam near untouchable, and just another human at the end of the day. The Prodigy finale is right around the corner, and it's looking like another superb ending for this planet conquering arc.

Prodigy has been filled with globetrotting adventures, high stakes poker games, seemingly impossible missions, near death escape plans, and Prodigy has come out on top of it all. Check out this final issue to see Albuquerque deliver some outstanding art and watch how it all comes together in grand Mark Millar fashion.

There we have it! The first issue of Reborn. Great start to this series. Excellent place to leave a little cliffhanger. Already, I love the range of characters rich with personality, bravado, innocence, and naivety. So hype to see the various settings as intriguing as every new planet in the Star Wars franchise. Proper pacing and action. Let me just shut up and get to the next issue.

But if I'm keepin it a buck, General Frost is the character that gives me the most insight into this world. This cat is another one of Bonnie's old pets, but this feline is bathed in Dark Lands gloom. Ya see, General Frost didn't have the warm, loving life of eating ice cream in the park with Bonnie that Roy-Boy got. She didn't hold her cat through the night as he passed away. He got cat food and his balls clipped at the tender age of 9 months! My cats and dem don't forget!! Those memories have spawned a cold blooded killer in this life. A fur ball with a vendetta, and Golgotha is here for all of it. General Frost showcases his particular set of skills and capabilities by launching six ice daggers through the bodies of Golgotha's servants! Ice skewers. And with that, our issue ends with Lord Golgotha basically saying, "It's lit! Prepare a team of hitters."

Great return to Runaways glory with immaculate backstory on Nico, Chase and Gert… despite Gert's dead incapacitated state. Rowell did an excellent job of setting the stage for whats to come. She got me excited to find out who this new villain is. Did one of the Pride parents make it out of that underwater catastrophe?! Will it be a new player alert? We'll find out when issue #2 drops next month.

Great, great, great dialogue in issue #2. With absolutely no action, besides Old Lace returning, this book proves that Rowell is a force to be reckoned with. After Chase reads Gert the time machine riot act, things immediately become sober and somber. It hits Nico and Chase that they really have lost every member of the team they called blood. This is the moment that I realized Rainbow Rowell shines brighter than a supernova. Her dialogue game is insanely proficient. Her prowess with the pen knows no bounds and I don't think anyone could've done The Runaways return any better.

The colors of Karolina's true form are spectacular. The posters on the dorm walls were a nod to the true college experience. Love the subtle Easter Eggs too. The anger, the shock, the angst and all the other expressions on our heroes faces say everything. When you need zero words to understand what's happening in each panel, it's proof that Anka is a true beast to be reckoned with.

Rowell caught me completely off guard by making this "getting the band back together" business a lot more difficult than expected. It's a testament to her literary strengths of building relationships between her characters. She seamlessly made us remember how much we loved this group of dysfunctional kids. You give a fuck about them. You're invested in seeing them back together. After the first 2 issues, my hype levels went from 0 to 100 and all I could think about was which villainous bastard was about to show up to give our squad problems. You don't hear me doe. It's deeper than that. Some of these kids have found their niche. They've become soccer teammates with new friends, enrolled in sunny colleges, and are just happy to have a steady home. You don't throw that type of security away, even for your old best friends.

It's happening, y'all. Rainbow Rowell is writing her ass off and the gang is getting back together! We're so close!!! Kris Anka is on a vivid rampage. Every single page of this new series is beautifully drawn and all of our heroes look better than ever. While the TV adaptation does work in many ways, Anka and Rowell are performing a remarkable feat with this Runaways revival and every comic book fan needs to understand how great these first five issues have been.

After months of setup, creepy grandmas, teary eyed reunions, robot head revivals, heartbreaking setbacks and telepathic cats, we finally have The Runaways back in full fighting force!! Issue #6 finally lets a few powers loose and gets over that "getting the band back together" arc that we've been watching unfold. I'm excited for what Kris Anka and Rainbow Rowell have in store for the future if this run. They both have blank canvases to work with, which makes this a phenomenal time to be reading Runaways.

Issue #7 of Runaways steers clear of the dazzling array of powers and action that our heroes are always flexing and involved in. Instead, Rowell opts for the superb relationship building she's known for as our Runaways family dynamic gets that 2018 update.

Anka and Rowell are a stellar tag team that is firing on all cylinders. Runaways is hitting their strideso all comic book readers and fans of the new Hulu show should dive into this run before they get left in the telepathic dinosaur dust.

Runaways #9 was an issue that I straight up prioritized over my day job. Once the first laugh hit, I was hooked and never looked back.

This was a really entertaining issue of Runaways and Kris "The Facial Expression Gawd' Anka is such a huge reason for that! No matter what the topic is, or how ridiculous the conversation gets, the man knows precisely how each and every character should be reacting. The eyebrow raises, contorted mouths, pride filled triumphs and feelings of sheer heartbreak are evident in all of his work. It's quite remarkable. Of course, he is working off the incredible story that Rainbow Rowell has bestowed upon us. Where can Runaways go wrong right now?

Runaways continues to bear the fruit of Kris Anka and Rainbow Rowell's labor. You can tell each runaway and every panel is genuinely appreciated and worked on until just right.

If these 3 can continue to string together jaw-dropping books like issue #12, they're going to elevate Runaways from a book you probably should be reading to absolutely necessary literature for fans of any genre.

David Lafuente's artistic style is quite a departure from Kris Anka's work, that he's been crushing. I'm not a huge fan of drawing more cartoon like characters, and his depiction of our Runaway ladies could've been finessed way more, but Lafuente does a dam good job with pretty much everything else. The truest test is drawing Karolina, and she's as bright and gorgeous as ever. The action scenes are vibrant and exciting. The baddies are decently menacing and Lafuente really goes hard on the few panels where he can flex. Maaannnn all I know is that Rainbow Rowell has blessed us with the original Runaways squad + Victor and everything is better when the gang's all back together.

Bast praise the return of Kris Anka! There's just something about the way he draws life into our team of misfits and reluctant heroes. That shadowy closing panel alone says so dam much! Matt Wilson has been the epitome of Anka's match made in heaven, because the vibrance of his coloring bodes so well for the art. I love myself a good origin story, and when done properly I like the expansion of said origin even more. Rainbow Rowell did that for the Runaways leader. She keeps finding new, inventive ways to keep this comic fresh and exciting. I don't know where they're going with this updated Staff Of One backstory, but I can't wait to find out. The possibilities are endless! Issue #16 drops next week, so check back in to see where we're heading. From the looks of the cover, it should be a Christmas spectacle!

This was a well-paced Christmas issue of fun that spread lots of holiday cheer and romance. That's right, I said romance!

In the end of it all, everyone's true character is revealed and the team is left in another painful predicament, thanks to you-know-who. Rainbow Rowell certainly knows how to finesse the comic book cliffhanger because I find myself itching for the next Runaways issue to drop every time I finish the one in my hands. Check back in February to see how the gang makes it out of this one alive.

Smart, concise wrap up on this Runaways arc. Rowell leaves us with plenty to get excited, anxious, and skeptical about. Gib being left behind with the team could spell disaster, or he could become the newest member of the villain turned hero club. Will he be replacing the member of the team that bounces with Alex? Will Doombot be revived? Runaways continues to be a fun, beautiful and satisfying comic to look for each month.

On the visual side of things, we have seen our last panel from the wonderfully creative mind of Kris Anka, but low and behold, we have ourselves an unbelievable heir apparent, because Andres Genolet has provided us with one of the most seamless takeovers I've ever seen. Every Runaway has kept that shimmering glow about them and the hairstyles are still in full slay mode. Triona Farrell is also doing a phenomenal job on the coloring, taking over for Matt Wilson. Obviously, Marvel knew what they were doing when they looked for Anka's replacement because Genelot is crushing this gig like Thanos smacking around Hulk.

Genolet is here and ready to flex! I don't know much about the talented young artist, but with his skills and Rainbow at the helm, I can see them continuing to bring Runaways stories to life long into the future. WhileRunaways #20 is more setup than action-packed, I'll take these simple building issues over unnecessarily violent comic books with no substance any day.

Chase gets deaded on the regular bathroom, forcing him to resort to the creepy bathroom where he happens upon that tragic ending from last issue. What he ultimately discovers is something far worse, and very well may drive a wedge between the family he just swore to protect. Genolet has added a slick new look to this comic, while Rowell keeps the Eisner Award-nominated hits coming.

It isn't until Victor goes to try and alleviate the tension that things get real dicey in this issue. I love Rowell's use of your typical teenage dramatics to push this story forward. It's not often you enjoy CW teen angst in a comic, but Rowell makes it works, and does so each and every issue! Victor has so many layers, and I'm excited to see where this methodical issue ending goes next.

Perhaps I'm a sucker for touching queer moments, but I'd have to say that Nico and Karolina stole the show for me. Nico clapping back at Gert for taking offense to her advice about what to do with Victor was God-tier shade. Their progression from discussing Karolina's extra-curricular activities, to their joint decision to become one in this venture, was beautiful and makes me so excited to devour the next issue. Runaways #23 provided some outstanding jokes and funny shots you take at close friends and family. Despite the heavy nature of some conversations between our Runaways team, leveling things out with genuine comedy has been a constant for Rainbow Rowell. If the next issue's cover image is any indication, I'm very excited to see what Andres Genolet has in store for us.

While I thought the girl's superhero suits were a bit lackluster, Andres Genolet and Matthew Wilson are an incredible pair to give life to Rainbow Rowell's vision, and I'm excited to see the big reveal get some action next issue.

A move opens up a lot of possibilities, like running into some cool Marvel characters. Love Rowell's use of Doombot but I could stand for a few more wild encounters. The crew could get into some high stakes battles, perhaps against an established villain? Can my guy Andres Genolet get the chance to draw some of these wild name drops that have been peppered into various issues? Runaways #25 is another good one but it works as more of a setup issue than a great standalone book. Regardless, it leaves you excited to read next issue.

Andres Genolet continued to work wonders on the panels. He even manages to give Doc Justice in civilian form a suave look I'm sure people will go nuts for. Victor dons a new monicker for the time being, starts the rallying cry and we're ready for some action in the next issue!

Although my heart broke for Gert, the one member of the team who had her cool power/piece of tech taken away from her and lacks fighting skills, I think this will be a huge learning moment for her. I have no clue where Rowell will go with her character, but she has talked about how she has big things in store for Gert. First was her updated look and I believe the next will be her ability to provide support for the team outside of getting killed or feeding Old Lace. Runaways #27 is one of the best issues in months! It's flooded with humor, action, pain and all sorts of joy that is sure to please most readers.

Although I didn't care for much of this issue, it certainly sets up the backstory of the J-Team as they draw closer to more appearances across the Marvel universe. Andres Genolet is still doin the Lawds work, depicting our Runaways in old J-Team gear, flexxing in their gym and spar sessions, as well as showing us a beautiful look at Gert's fears manifesting in real time. I did appreciate Rowell's subtle hint at a less-than-perfect Doc Justice. We shall see what this need for a Reality Show and his Karolina comments amount to, but it aint looking good!

With all that said, I must praise Ewing for the genuinely funny moments that are consistent in S.W.O.R.D. issue #1. Not only does he keep the comedy at an enjoyable level, but he understand these characters. This is most evident when Magneto explains his reason for not allowing a teleporter to beam him up the the Peak. Magneto states, "Its good to travel the harder road sometimes, Abigail. After all, if we never tested our limits…we might assume we had some." And that's about as perfect as is gets to summing up what this issue is all about.

Honestly, this issue was fantastic. Valerio Schiti draws the Zn'rx as well as the mutants. He does the Lawd's work when drawing all of his landscapes, space, Hatchery and Krakoan Quiet Council meeting panels. The waterfalls in the background had me singing TLC while I soaked up Marte Gracia's colors painted beautifully on each page. Don't get me started on Al Ewing's writing! Balancing the instances of cold blooded murder happening in unknown regions of deep space, with the ideology of murder as a guiding principal for mutants debate was masterful considering the one behind the Snarkwar assassinations, or the one delivering the fades for that matter.

The remainder of S.W.O.R.D #6 serves as a political game of chess, and the mutants of Krakoa have full control of the board. While some take cheap shots at what this island nation has achieved, others recognize the impressive speed and efficiency that changed a world in a flash. But it's the entry of Mysterium or "Sol" as they're marketing it to the galaxy, that is life changing for every species out there. From its durability to it's impressive electric properties, "this is what comes next" and everyone present is fully aware of it, whether they accept this offer bribe or not.

S.W.O.R.D. #10 got me thinking and kept me excited, so I have no complaints. Jacopo Camagni has been a real gem creating these dope, tech filled panels and spacey landscapes. Hopefully S.W.O.R.D. Ewing and Camagni keep up the momentum.

Issue #1 of Shazam is a comedic romp around Philadelphia as The Lightning League The Sparkly Friends The Thunder Squad they defend their home and win the hearts of Philly residents and world readers in the process. With the appropriate villain to spice things up, Shazam is looking like a comic on the rise.

This was a fun issue that displayed plenty of action in panels all throughout, and showcased more of those rich, kinetic colors we saw in issue #1. Johns moves the story along nicely, while peppering in bits of information necessary to understand this family, their magic, and the growing threats. With these mysterious new lands, the possibilities are endless, and the intrigue is helping to make Shazam one of 2019's DC titles to remain excited about.

We don't know how true King Kid's child abuse story is, but we'll have to take his word for it until we get more details. He clearly has some ulterior motives, though, being that he sicked his demented Mario-clown-janitors on the fam and jettisoned everyone to different Magiclands as soon as they made the decision to go home. Guess it's survival of the fittest time for the homies who just popped up in the Gamelands and Wildlands. Solid issue, but I think the artwork is carrying this book now that Johns has laid down the framework. I'm ok with that. This is a visual feast that should pull readers back as long as the creative team keeps their balance.

The progression felt somewhat slow this time around, yet I was still happy that Johns spread the love so every separated duo got a healthy chunk of action in this one. The artist collective puts in work by filling each panel with an appreciable vibrance. If the Shazam movie has you the slightest bit intrigued, dive into this comic. These creators are cooking up some geeky treats for readers of all backgrounds.

While we don't get to see much of the Freddy and Darla in their death sentence predicament, Johns does an outstanding job of spreading the love and touching on everyone else this issue. Our artists do an excellent job of making you feel like the entire world is crumbling around our heroes. Issue #6 definitely moves our plot along in so many ways and I'm excited to see how it all goes down next month.

Although the future of this book is up in the air, Geoff Johns continues to write a tantalizing tale while Eaglesham and Kolins work their magic on the page. If Johns doesn't get to close out this arc, it would be a shame.

My least favorite issue of this new Shazam run was saved by the final page's big reveal, but I'm honestly just hoping that the Black Adam storyline pans out or we're in trouble. The villain game has been weak so we could use something menacing to keep things spicy. With all that said, Billy, Mary, Darla, andmostof the crew make it where they need to go for the Shazam family to finally come full circle. But who will this mysterious 7th champion be to combat these evil new forces?

I'm not sure what Spencer is thinking after blowing 1/3 of his sinister ammunition, but Sinister War can only go up from here.

Of course, we have our featured protagonist, Miguel O'Hara who's a rising star at Alchemax where they are helping to rid the world of disease and poverty. But as most of these allegedly forward thinking companies go, they're into some cruel and grueling stuff, and after seeing some mutations in the part of the world no one cares for anymore, things are about to change for Miguel, very drastically and very swiftly.

Strange Academy #15 another exceptional issue, and I expect nothing to change moving forward. If you haven't been regularly reading this book, it's time to add this to your monthly list!

The issue does a lot to set up this Superwoman run, but also goes a tad too far into the realm of indulgence. I can get down with a lot being thrown at me, but the panels felt a bit crowded in my opinion. The saving grace for me was the actual art on the panels. Jimenez, Santorelli and Cox really did wonders with their illustration of the heroes in this issue. They did a great job highlighting how Superwoman gained her abilities and brought to life the powers that each hero possesses with impressive vibrancy. All of this gave me hope that this was a comic reviewing decision that I will be happy I made.

Chip Zdarsky is the brains behind this story that features some lofty ideas spanning vast seas, and Carlos Magno is the artist drawing this classic Marvel looking book, in a super stimulating era of comics. Zdarsky does a great job of capturing the internal battle that Namor is forced him to endure. Life isn't east as a half human Atlantean King and that thought process is explored in depth.Magno helps Namor: The Best Defense #1 separate itself from DC's King of Atlantis, for this take is unique in many ways. The ending really changes everything about Namor and his crusade to unite two kingdoms. More importantly, this ending means the Defenders are that much closer to uniting like Voltron, and I cannot wait until that goes down!

We've only gotten looks at 2 of our heroes and while Namor was a grand exploration of Atlantean lore, The Immortal Hulk hits all the right notes and is leading the pack by shining in tone and writing.

As stated at the top, who killed Stephen Strange is much less important than the tie-in books and events that result from his death. I'm quite excited to see where the story of the Three Mothers goes, because these are some new characters to fear and be excited about all at the same time.

If you ever wanted an R rated version of the world outside Hogwarts, you'd be hard pressed to find a better story than this one. Every page contains details as juicy as a Kardashian rumor mill. The writing is ripe with tantalizing new ideas and concepts. The art is dark and wondrous.

What I find absolutely astounding though is that Mark Millar does not simply import and insert powers and spells that he's seen in movies, shows, and comics. He introduces us to completely unheard of possibilities and includes the most enticing new aspects to powers that we are somewhat familiar with. Then, you got Olivier Coipel aka Mr. Stay Low and Keep Firing, who is bringing all of these astounding new tricks, grand scale spells, and marvelous magic to life. It was widely believed that this comic would blow critics and fans away, and here we are picking our jaws up off the floor with every turn of the page.

Another great entry for Mark Millar and Olivier Coipel here. I really appreciate that there's always so many new aspects of this magical world to dissect and devour. We're getting outstanding battles, and impressive character building. The Magic Order should be on everyone's must-read list, because there aren't any signs of its momentum slowing down!

Back To The FutureOne of the coolest low-key things that Millar and Copiel have done is give us a glimpse at the Magic Order from generations past. Not only did we get to see Grandpapi Moonstone in all his regal glory, but we got to see it through the eyes of everyone's favorite misfit. I loved the overlap of the World War and what was going on in the magical community. Time travel is a hard concept to get right, but it's done so well here that you can just enjoy the panels and keep it moving.

He isn't scared to let a girl defy the odds and combat evil, but after this issue my G?! She's going to have to show a hell of a lot more tenacity if she wants to defeat Albany and the man behind The Venetian mask. Olivier Coipel's art continues to burst from the page. Bright panels are vibrant, dark panels are harrowing, and it all flows so beautifully. The Magic Order is hitting all the right notes at the perfect time, and the final issue can't come soon enough!

Mannnnn, all of this dope action, and I haven't even gotten to Olivier Coipel's phenomenal job on the artwork. Him and Dave Stewart combine to score big in this finale. When there are so many awe inspiring moments of mayhem and destruction deserved of praise, I like to highlight the subtle panels that wow. The first example popped out to me early in the issue, as Cordelia reveals her trump card. Madame Albany blurts out an absolutely stunned, "Oh no," and Cordelia responds with a sly, "Oh YES" that was so minimal, yet so powerful. The panel features nothing but Cordelia's vibrant red lips replying with a wry, confident smile that made for a phenomenal tone setter.

Nic Klein has been putting in workkkkk from the jump. Like the 2 issues before it, the opening pages of this book are absolutely breathtaking and sport some of the coolest pages I've ever set my eyes on. Cates has created a version of Thor that breathes life into the God of Thunder and creates some actual urgency for a God so strong he has bested Galactus twice now.

While this was the first issue of Cates run that didn't feature a jaw dropping, hall of fame worthy opening page or 2, he really came hard in the emotional moments of Thor #4. Seeing Sif stand up to her King was so powerful. Seeing Thor blind himself in preparation of Winter's arrival and crying at the loss of life before him was humbling. Sure, this issue wasn't as great as the first three, but Thor keeps coming hard each month and #4 is no different.

Mjolnir's issues, it landing in Broxton and the subsequent suitors of the hammer will be next issue's focus, and I'm excited to see that. "The Devourer King" arc was some of the most epic storytelling I've ever seen, so Cates is dialing it back a bit and bringing us some homegrown fun with "Hammerfall". This issue wasn't meant to blow your socks off, but Thor is certainly headed in a good direction.

While I don't love Nic Klein's line work in this issue, it's easy to create a book that still looks great when you have the best colorist in the game, Matt Wilson, on the team. Donny Cates has been putting work in on this Thor run, and managed to turn Thor's old alter-ego into a bonafide threat that one can actually sympathize with! If that doesn't scream Asgardian magic, I don't know what does.

Nic Klein is doing a really nice job of bringing the facial expressions needed for the level of distress and despair these characters have been under. Cates, please keep your foot on the high stakes pedal because this has been a positively unexpected high octane series of events since Blake went Thor hunting, and I'm here for it!

I've loved everything that Cates has done with his run, and this revelations arc could make for a really impactful entry into the Thor mythos. No matter what happens, the artwork is guaranteed to be on point as Alessandro Vitti and Michele Bandini been putting in work on Thor #15 is any indication! Bandini has solo duties next month, and I expect the excellence to continue.

Superman serves as the twins' mentor and adopted guardian. He shows them around the Hall of Justice and appoints them interns. The conversations he has with the Trinity are a great reflection of each of their personalities. Russell really captures the essence of Batman and all of his reactions or responses are knee slappingly hilarious.

Then, you pepper in the superhero's role in sending these small-time villains to the conveyor belt without even thinking of another option and you're officially making a splash and name for yourself in my book. Also, it looks like we're getting blessed with the introduction of Gleek! Can't wait to see how they handle him in today's comic world.

After Superman warns our unsuspecting twins that they're officially on the villain radar, they slack on being prepared and get captured by the Pee Wee Legion of Doom. Of course, this is all a part of the setup so that Gleek can show how useful a performance monkey can be. Does he wind up saving the day? Wind up being an undercover villain? You'll have to find out inWonder Twins#3 when it drops on Wednesday!

While out on the town, Zan and Jayna realize how horrible the teen date night scene is. Using the innocent minds of two aliens, Russell subtly dismantles so many stereotypes of men and women on dates, while at the same time reinforcing this sibling bond between our heroes.This comicis impressing on all fronts. Withback to back Eisner award nominations for Best Writer, Mark Russell is making a name for himself and it's only a matter of time before Wonder Twins gets the recognition it deserves. The writing is excellent, the artwork is consistent, and there's such a healthy balance of fun and depth that more people are bound to jump on this bandwagon soon.

By the end of this issue,thingshave changed drastically. You'll see another case of someone who deserved to be jailed, get off scot free. You'll find out how far a promising character will go to get justice for their broken heart. You'll remember that despite the heavy nature of the comic's content, Mark Russell never forgets to inject good doses of humor into many panels. You'll watch corporate America do what it does best and shake your head in disgust while it all goes down. Is it a perfect depiction of the injustices that happen across our nation? No, but it's another excellent outing by Russell and Byrne and I hope they continue to push the envelope every issue of Wonder Twins.

While I've been a bit critical of Byrne's portrayal of some classic heroes (like the big blue Boy Scout), something dawned on me this issue. Homie is extremely on point and a maven with the artistry when it comes to more detailed, up close images and characters. The long-distance shots fall a little flat for me, but the artwork and attributes that he is able to produce with large scale scenes and heroes are so aesthetically pleasing and well-done. Russell and Byrne have brought back the Wonder Twins and provided the ring slinging tag-team with a fitting ending to a wild and wacky story that parallels so many unfortunate aspects of today's society. And while this comic is definitely a vehicle used to tear apart so many ineffective policies and institutions the U.S. has in place, the jokes and comedic shots fired are never forgotten, and I truly appreciate that. The Wonder Twin powers will be activating again in September, let's hope they can keep this same energy.

The Wonder Twins may have a cool superpower catch phrase but at the end of the day they're just aliens trying to do right. There are times when they have no clue what that looks like, and I appreciate Mark Russell for giving us a fresh take on the "alien hero on a planet they now call home" angle. And we get to see this all played out by youngsters who aren't the strongest people in the world or shining light of all that is good on Earth. They're young dumb (well, one of them) high school kids still figuring out friendships, popularity, dating and knowing when you're doing the right thing as a hero. Great return for the Wonder Twins.

Issue #9 of Wonder Twins is also a deep dive into the mindset of those who struggle with the colloquial 'Sins of the father'. Jayna and Zan never knew their grandfather, but as they grasp for a connection to their hostile new housemate, we are enlightened to the exact reason why their bond with grandpa never formed. In the end, Polly has no other option but to see eye to eye with the twins, especially after they reveal how they can get Polly's father, Filo Math, back from his indefinite imprisonment.

The rest of the book is a love letter to the fans of guts and glory all over your page. The battle between the adamantium claws and carbonadium tentacles was one of the best 1v1 faceoffs in a long while. Can't wait to see how the final chapter comes to a close in X Deaths of Wolverine.

It'll be interesting to see if X-Corp can become like the 3rd corporation in human history to lead with their heart and a giving agenda for the entirety of this capitalistic step in mutant excellence. The grand Headquarters unveiling was a hell of a first step for X-Corp #1 and will have me checking back in when the next issue of X-Corp drops.

Hickman really has set up an incredibly intricate series of X-Men books that are damn near must reads if you want to keep up with this wildly ambitious story. The prime example is the fact that in last week's X-Force, Professor X was seemingly murdered by some badass mercenary type cats who infiltrated the island and sniped that boy clean of this Earthly realm. All it gets is a brief mention of how "drama filled" everything was yesterday. I know resurrection is very much on the table but this just proves how crazy each moment of the foreseeable future will be. It gives me hope that all the major scenes in this tall tale will be given the full issue treatment. Sometimes that means they'll happen in a different X-Book, and everyone should be ready for that.

Bytheendofthis issue,we find out the truth about the future Destiny foresees and tells her wife that she must pull off the ultimate betrayal if they continue to jerk her around. Can't wait to see how Hickman handles that already established as an anti-hero, heel turn. Oh, and lest we forget thatAlia Gregor just became the most important name in X-Men moving forward…

By the end of this issue, we know exactly where things are heading, and I'm very excited to see more from the Shi'ar empire in Hickman's world. This issue was cool but didn't really take us anywhere. With so much happening in the "Dawn of X," this was one of the few issues that felt a tad bit yawn worthy. Of course, I say this now and the Brood will have secretly laid an egg in some random mutants' body and they turn out to be bigger villains than Homines Verendi brats. Gotta love Hickman.

Sacrifice is etched into the fabric of X-Men #15, and Hickman does wonders with these multifaceted characters. Cyclops, the unwavering captain, puts the species on his back in his willingness to do whatever it takes to get Cable and crew out alive. Apocalypse, the ancient one, buries his desire for a millennia long awaited reunion. It's all so beautifully tragic and hooks you in for the 2nd to last issue of this X of Swords series.

9.5 'Debts Owed To Storm of Krakoa, Vanquisher of Rebellion' out of 10

All 3 of our heroes have incredibly tragic arcs during their hundreds of years of temporal imprisonment. In hindsight, Darwin's outcome was inevitable considering what we now know about the Children of the Vault's highly adaptable future. Synch's experience just makes you want to cry as you watch him experience such an ocean of emotions that we generational humans couldn't even fathom. Laura's arc is perhaps the most appalling, as her growth and maturation are stolen from her as quickly as Thanos' snap erased half of all life.

The X-Men may be back to basics in the superhero game, but this book is far from basic.

The X-Men have remained so righteous and steadfast in their conviction over the decades that you cant help but tip your hat to their commitment to provide mutants with the ideal of safety, kinship and home. The Fantastic Four are always pushing the limits of what is capable while staying grounded in family and friendship. The explorer in you wants to devour more of their adventures and your heart melts when a good writer nails their heartwarming side. X-Men/Fantastic Four #4 delivers another great issue.

There are so many intriguing storylines that are set up in X-Men: Red #1, but that classic X-Men theme of a web, group mentality, and interconnectivity kept coming back for me.

X-Men Red is certainly one of, if not the most exciting new X-Book on the market.

I really dig the art of this book, although there's work do be done in a few areas. Still can't wait to see more from Lucas Werneck in the future. The Avengers came to get the body of their fallen teammate, but they received something very different instead. The end of Trial of Magneto #2 left off on quite the cliffhanger, so it should be cool to see how they tie all these Wanda threads together.