This comic has every sign of being a terrific TPB. This first chapter whets the appetite but doesnt fill me up much. It does have the feeling of being the first course of a very filling meal, though.

3 New Stories will be in stores May 2013.

For more information on this comic, visit memoryisfiction.com.

This stealth graphic novel starts out feeling like a sweet, whimsical pastoral children's graphic novel and slowly morphs into a wonderfully moving adult story that kind of sneaks up on you with its craft, intelligence and interesting themes.  I'm going to remember this little bird for a while.

The problem is that whimsy is very, very hard to find these days. In these grim times, when the economy seems perpetually teetering on the brink of collapse oh my god the world is going to come to an end because the debt ceiling hasn't been raised soon freeways will collapse under the weight of the polar ice caps flooding and polar bears will be forced to walk into my back door looking for food and I'm not sure if they'll like the way I do my barbecuing.

Donner and Johns have me hooked with this plot. Everything seems to point to the boy being from Krypton, but what does that mean? Where will this story go? With its gorgeous Adam Kubert art and its involving story by Johns and Donner, I'm really looking forward to seeing how this story plays out.

We have one short month left to enjoy Morrison write the adventures of the Last Son of Krypton, one final month to watch one of the finest writers of super-hero comics of our era write the adventures of the greatest hero of any era. At least we'll have issues like this one to go back and reread to enjoy the glory once again.

Find out more about Babble at babblecomic.com.

So . . . I'm happy that Cassie and Conner are back together, but I don't care at all that the Ranzz family, who shoot lightning from their fingertips, are having troubles.

Johns and Manapul will be leaving this comic after this issue. It's a shame because they've made me like Conner much more--and hate Lex much more--than I ever have before. These past six issues were a promising start; it's too bad that's all we'll get.

By the time I looked at Jimmie Robinson's wonderful back cover, I was completely won over by this book. This book isn't just worth picking up as a literary anthology or ccollection of interesting African-American writing. It's worth picking up as a collection of outstanding comics art.

I still vividly remember the first time I encountered Moore in an American comic. It was soon after "The Anatomy Lesson" in Swamp Thing #21, one of the most galvanizing comic stories of the '80s. My friends in the late, lamented APA Galactus were all over Moore from the moment he appeared, shouting from rooftops and screaming on the printed page that Alan Moore was doing amazing work for DC Comics, that these were the sorts of comics that you would be talking about for the rest of your life.

The book is ambitious and heady content for comics, and its a testament to Guiberts skillful storytelling abilities that those changes are conveyed with foreshadowing, thoughtfulness, and a deep level of respect for both Cope and the reader.

Its not the greatest comic ever, but Miller has written some of the greatest comics ever. That means this book has the potential to reach those levels. So far it has potential.

Obviously a book like this is going to be basically the definition of a mixed bag. Some of the stories are crap and some of the art and storytelling is really rather terrible. But if you're a fan of Morrison, Gaiman, Kevin O'Neill, Alan Grant, Glenn Fabry or most any creator who worked for 2000 AD, there will be at least a few stories in All-Star Future Shocks that you'll enjoy. For me, this book was like a big bag of M&M's. The 50 quick little stories in this book gave me a nice bit of flavor but never made me feel filled up.

This is classic Superman with a modern twist. Great stuff.

This has all the makings of something really classic.

So, if you care, this is indispensable. If you don't care, you'd never think of buying this.

But it's hard to complain that we're getting too much comics history in each issue of this magazine. I'll happily take too much diverse content than get none at all, and Alter Ego is a real treat.

Michael Vance delivers a piece that will undoubtedly become a standard work of comics history. Even if you've never read an ACG comic, you'll probably find this issue very interesting.

Trust Roy Thomas to turn out a loving tribute to one of his oldest and dearest friends. The special Jerry Bails tribute issue of Alter Ego makes me wish I'd known the Professor. Jerry Bails seemed like a very unique and special person. This issue of the revived Alter Ego is must reading for any longtime comics fan. Without the Professor, comics might have been very, very different.

Alter Ego is a treasure every issue for longtime comics fans, the kinds of people who remember and love the work of Wrightson and Kaluta and Ralph Reese.

Just try your damndest to keep up or it might give you a headache. Sometimes it's hard to enjoy a concert when you can't quite figure out the melody of a song, and this comic might do that to some readers. I know I had to put it down a couple of times after feeling overwhelmed. But maybe I'm getting a little old for loud concerts.

ADVANCE REVIEW: Amazing Mysteries: the Bill Everett Archives Vol. 1 Writer: Bill EverettBlake BellPenciller: Bill EverettPublisher: FantagraphicsReviewer: Jason SacksReview Rating: 

I never get tired of reading Harvey celebrate the small moments.

This is one of those very unique first issues that give no indication of how the series might play out. This could become another Preacher, or it could become something very different and unique. I can't wait to see in what direction American Virgin goes.

I love the complex morality of this comic, and how it's very much grounded in the real world. The story feels realistic, though one would never wish for a real person to go through the torment that Adam goes through. Watching Adam's journey, though, has been fascinating.

The first issue of American Way had deeper and more complex themes flowing through it, and even a cameo from Bobby Kennedy, so maybe this second issue is just a breather before we get into the more complex world that the comic implies. When Jason Fisher puts on his costume, we're sure to get some of that. But this issue was a bit disappointing.

I give Ridley high marks for his ambitions, but the comic doesn't quite fulfill them.

Angelman is a superhero as only Fantagraphics and Nicolas Mahler could present. At turns viciously funny, terribly sad and wonderfully direct, this book burrowed itself into my brain and would not let go. It's no surprise that the hero whose powers include sensitivity would have made me really interested in his story. This is a subtle and terrific graphic novel.

Animosity is the story of a world where all the animals have human intelligence and the ability to speak. This is a plot concept that has all the makings of a painful, annoying satire if the wrong writer took it on. Thankfully Marguerite Bennett has the writing reins on this series. She invests Animosity with an intelligence and heart that leads to a strong sense of, yes, humanity among its characters (is there a word for being human-biased?).

Its hard to assess an epic on the basis of one chapter, but this is a nice, solid beginning for this one.

But in the end, the comic is summed up by the last half of the last page. After we've witnessed Ronan's struggles to clear his name, the last page cuts to a weird woman sitting on a throne made of skulls. "Next: Gamora," we're told, as if that's supposed to be intriguing or compelling instead of just confusing. Im sure for those who really know their Marvel history, Gamora really means something. But for me, Gamora, Ronan and the whole gang are just too obscure to care about.

Well, yeah, because all of these stories deserve some individual love

Well, yeah, because all of these stories deserve some individual love

John's story is a bit plothammery, a bit too laden with facts and loose with emotions, but we're talking about the damn fall of Atlantis here. That's no time for emotions other than "holy crap, this is a thing that's happening!"

There are quite a few small press super-hero comics out these days. Argonauts stands out from the crowd with its interesting backstory and really soulful characters.

This isnt the most cheerful comic youll ever read, but its extremely well done.

Overall though, this is an entertaining way to continue to get my fix of Ash.

Ashes 2 Ashes is a hell of a lot of fun.

I was completely excited to read this book. The selection of stories presented in Art In Time was perfectly chosen, and introduced me to many stories and creators that I otherwise would never have read. Any fan of classic comic book art would be delighted to read this book. I know I was.

That said, this is an interesting first couple of issues from some brand-new creators and is much better than most of the material by relatively unknown creators that's available on Comixol

However, this book brings Harvey Kurtzman's entire career together in one place, and it makes a tremendously compelling case for the man's genius. This is a book that any devoted Kurtzman, MAD or EC fan will find indispensable.

His comics still seem as filled with passion and energy and a love for the medium, and Todd Hignite's book does a great job of spotlighting Jaime Hernandez's long and outstanding career in comics.

If I wanted to hear people talk all day, Id spend more time at work. I want action from a comic like Astonishing X-Men. And I expect any comic associate edited by a guy who shares his name with the Jesus of Cool to understand that.

Giving us the script in the back of the book just shows how far Andrews went astray from Ellis's plans, unfortunately. He frequently draws something other than described. Overall, despite showing moments of promise, this fresh start is a bit of a mess. An interesting but frustrating one.

Can Charles resist temptation? Can the heroes of Astro City attend to the real world outside their windows without destroying it? I'm looking forward to spending more time in the Dark Age.

If you're curious about the chaos Bendis will create in the Marvel universe, no review will turn you away. But if you want to read a well-done comic, stay way away from this one.

At least the last two-page spread provides a nice fanboy jolt. It's just the sort of thing that promises more fun next month. I just hope Bendis can deliver next time.

Brian Bendis built his reputation on creating interesting and believable characters. Jessica Jones, the ultimate Peter Parker and the detectives in Powers are fully-fleshed out and thoughtful. Here, however, he does just the opposite. The characters are as shallow as can be. Far from being fleshed out, these characters are complete ciphers. This might be the worst series Bendis has ever written.

But in the long term, who really cares? I'm sure we'll see the old school Avengers return in two or three years.

But add in articles about the de-powered Wonder Woman, a look at female characters in animation, and a wonderful cover and portfolio by Bruce Timm, and all the sins of Back Issue are easily forgiven. This is a really fun magazine for those of us who care about the comics minutia explored in it.

Back Issue #19 is another mixed bag issue, which is sort of the point of a magazine like Back Issue. Every reader comes to the magazine with their own interests, and Back Issue accommodates people with lots of different interests in comics of the '70s and '80s. It's fun to have such a diverse magazine out there.

Back Issue #28 is another solid issues of one of the more pleasant "prozines" around.

Michael Eury delivers another very solid issue of Back Issue!, full of tantalizing stories and entertaining art. For those of us who live for those stories, this is a magazine not to be missed.

But to me the art didn't really detract from the story too much. It's great seeing the Badger back, and Mike Baron is back to his classic, vintage ways all over again.

Not very comics leave me with a combination of euphoria and depression at the same time, but the brilliantly dystopian world that Adam Egypt Mortimer and Darick Robertson create with Ballistic put me in a thoroughly alien state of mind.

Full disclosure time: Im the webmaster of davecockrum.net, a new website meant to celebrate the life and career of Dave Cockrum. But I would recommend this book even if I wasnt involved with the site. Dave Cockrum is a terrific artist who has devoted most of his adult life to providing joy to comic readers. This book is a celebration of his wonderful career, and well worth picking up for any fan of classic bronze age comics.

Maybe if I knew Igort's work better, I might have anticipated the odd twists this issue takes. Or maybe if I could read Italian, there would have been a clue that would have helped me understand the story better. But without that, I can't help but feel that there is something lost in translation here.

I wanted to absolutely love this comic book. Instead I got something with gorgeous artwork and a mediocre story. Still, any time I get to savor Darwyn Cookes gorgeous line work, Im a happy guy.

I guess my lack of passion is a sort of passion after all. I wanted to love the old girl, but in the end all I could muster was a pleasant enjoyment for sharing her company.

It's hard to remember a book that's more frustrating than this one. There are so many moments in this book that seem to show the potential for this story to be great. But when the moments are put together, readers get a story that never quite falls together. With this and "Metamorpho," it's become obvious that it's time for me to give up on Neil Gaiman's comics work. Wake me up when he gets paid to really spend time on a comics story.

In other words, this is a pretty rotten comic book. But heck, it's only a quarter, so don't let me stop you from picking it up. The photo cover of Six is nice, though she appears nowhere in the issue, and you may think that's worth two bits. As a teaser for a series that will cost $2.99, though, this comic is a miserable failure.

It seems that Andreyko and his team may be making a statement in this issue's transition from the comfort of Bruce Wayne to the rough-and-tumble world of crime-fighting. Kate Kane is willing to throw herself through a glass roof to fight crime. That's a woman whose comic I want to keep reading.

BB Wolf and the Three LPs was an interesting and entertaining book thats a unique take on racism, music, family, and legend.

You can read more about Behind the Hero at Searnold's MySpace page.

I really loved Bela Lugosi's Tales from the Grave. It's rare for anthologies to stay consistent from issue to issue and story to story. But based on the great package presented in this first issue, I think Park and Gammill will deliver in future issues.

Issue #4 of Bela wasn't the best issue of this wonderful horror book, but "The Evil Eye" is worth the price of admission all by itself.

Its nice to read a modern comic that places morality at its center, and especially nice to read a comic with such interesting storytelling. But I had too much trouble with the writing of this comic to be able to give it a high rating.

Yeah, he's done it again. Just as he's done with the awesome Five Ghosts, Barbiere takes familiar tropes and then zigs and zags all over the tropes in a way that makes ordinary comics seems a little too quiet after reading all the dense thrilling adventure of this tale. By squeezing all these ideas together in one story, he makes them all fresh and new, thereby showing us why we liked this stuff in the first place. Santos' art doesn't quite work for me in this story " some pages are confusing and the lack of background detail is frustrating " but Barbiere's ideas come tumbling out at such a breakneck pace that the reader either has to hold on or get out of the way.

Hudlin and Romita keep the story interesting - its written and drawn in a way that makes me want to come back for more. Thats good, because we get precious little in this first issue beyond set-up. In a way this made me long for the first issue of Panthers Rage, where Don McGregor was so excited about his plot that the speech and caption balloons sometimes overwhelmed the art. I wanted the book to move on a little more quickly, but the same could be said of most current Marvel series. Still, Hudlin and Romita do such a good job that the book is intriguing. This might be a good series to wait for the trade, but you also might be hooked after you read the first issue. I know Im hooked.

Based on this issue, I want to read more from the House of M.

It's nice to read a Marvel book that's fun and not bogged down in one crisis after the next. This isnt a great comic book, but it definitely is a breath of fresh air.

Black Science #1 left me breathless with its headlong intensity, its spectacular artwork and its compelling characters. I've been a fan of Rick Remender's writing for years, but he's outdone himself here, in part because Scalera's visuals are so breathtaking. Dammit, it's 10:30 at night and I have work tomorrow, but it's going to take me a while to come down from the thrill of reading Black Science.

Blackest Night #6 is another crowd-pleaser from the now tried-and-true team of Reis and Johns.

The guns may all be in the flashbacks, but this comic is a kill shot.

I never thought it would happen, but this book made me want to buy The New Yorker for the cartoons!

With a fantastic Ryan Sook cover and with the usual outstanding production values for which Com.X is known, the whole package here is really entertaining. This is Japanese superheroes done differently from all other Japanese superheroes. Cosmo White's fantastic art and coloring make sure of that.

This is not a comic for the morality police to find. It's pretty depraved from cover to cover. But for comic readers who've craved to see the effects of a villain's immorality writ large, and a clever satire of comics clichs. If you're not sensitive, Jimmie Robinson's Bomb Girl is a real treat.

This is really fun stuff, full of subtle background jokes (take a look at the notes in the classroom in the first scene) and a clever approach to traditional material. I can't wait to see how this whole crazy story works out.

But overall this is a slightly disappointing final issue. I still enjoyed this mini-series to pieces, but the last issue just didn't explode for me like the previous three issues did.

I had a fantastic time spending time with Bomb Queen in her crazy town of New Port City. She's a nasty piece of work, but that just makes her even more charming to me. Maybe Bomb Queen is a real bad girl, but heck, who can resist a bad girl when she's presented in such a charming way?

Jason Sacks has been obsessed with comics for longer than he'd like to remember. He considers himself a student of comics history and loves delving into obscure corners of this crazy artform. Jason has been writing for this site for about seven years and has also been published in a number of fan publications, including the late, lamented Amazing Heroes and The Flash Companion. He lives in north Seattle with his wife and three kids.

It all adds up to one of the craziest, nastiest and funniest sitcoms you can ever expect to find. I love my monthly visits to Jimmie Robinson's crazy community.

Bomb Queen is one of the happiest, cheeriest and funniest adults-only comics Ive ever read. Im so glad Jimmie lets the darker side of his personality come out every once in awhile.

I can't wait to see where all of this goes.

The issue ends with Queenie moving towards Littleville dressed in a giant robot suit. I can't wait to see the kinds of death and destruction she'll bring to that town, and what will happen when Queenie and Dee get together. Month after month, Jimmie Robinson delivers an amazing manic energy to this comic.

The story alone makes the comic deserve . It's very ordinary, standard fantasy stuff. But Hampton's art is wonderful, and gives this story much of its depth for me. This comic is worth seeking out for its wonderful artwork, not so much for its ordinary feeling story.

Book of Shadows is not a bad comic, but to me it's just lacking a certain spark that would make it wonderful.

This book is somewhat professionally done, but simply didn't shed much light on the very interesting life of the notorious John Wilkes Booth. Booth is a real disappointment.

That, combined with a character disappearing early in the book and some allusions in the middle of the issue to changes in the world and its reality, make me believe that Casey may be delivering something with The Bounce that may be both exactly what we expect and completely unlike what we expect. Isn't that why we want to read superhero comics?

It's a shame I was so confused because at its core this story has a lot to like about it. The question of how a person maintains his identity when he possesses someone else's identity is interesting and unique. Also, there are scenes in this comic where the dialogue crackles and the action flows along. Perhaps I need to seek out the recently-released first collection of this series so it will make more sense. As a stand-alone issue, however, this one was disappointing.

Bubbles & Gondola is an odd and cute graphic novel about a little mouse who's used to his solitude but who slowly learns how to emerge from his little hole and embrace the world around him.

This is one of those comics that seems good at first reading, but the more you think about it and reread the comic, the better it gets. Grist is an amazingly talented creator.

Jason Sacks has been obsessed with comics for longer than he'd like to remember. He considers himself a student of comics history and loves delving into obscure corners of this crazy artform. Jason has been writing for this site for about seven years and has also been published in a number of fan publications, including the late, lamented Amazing Heroes and The Flash Companion. He lives in north Seattle with his wife and three kids.

So: wonderful art, mediocre story. Hopefully the next arc will answer some questions.

This is a very bad comic book, perhaps the worst thing that Brubaker or Lark have worked on. I've liked a lot of work by both of them in the past. I hope this is just an aberration.

I'm dreading what will happen when this comic hits the Civil War storyline, but the current "Twenty-First Century Blitz" is great comics.

This is a really disappointing issue. We waited for Reborn to complete so we could get this junk?

It feels like I've said the same thing about four or times in a row in this review. In a word, the Captain America 65th Anniversary Special is disappointing.

In the end, Captain America: Reborn #4 provides a middle section of a tremendously fun blockbuster story. There's no sign that the ultimate conclusion of this story will disappoint.

Since any devoted reader of Marvel already knows how this story will come out, this comic had to be especially terrific in order to sustain that reader's interest. Instead, this issue is a letdown compared with previous issues. The widescreen blockbuster called Reborn has gotten kind of mindless.

This book is another instant comics-history classic from the good folks at TwoMorrows. They've set a high standard for themselves, and this book exceeds those standards. I thoroughly enjoyed this survey of Carmine Infantino's long and illustrious career.

But that means that my biggest complaint about this book is that I wanted more Little King strips. This is a joyful and charming strip, a pure distillation of Soglow's view of the world, and an infinitely pleasing way to spend a few hours. It's over 400 pages of pure ingenuity and happiness, a celebration of Otto Soglow's magisterial cartooning and his brilliant command of the comics page. Soglow deserved to be king of the comics page, right alongside such legends as Chester Gould and Harold Gray. Otto Soglow was a rock star cartoonist who deserved his fame by producing wonderful work day after day, month after month, and year after year.

But that means that my biggest complaint about this book is that I wanted more Little King strips. This is a joyful and charming strip, a pure distillation of Soglow's view of the world, and an infinitely pleasing way to spend a few hours. It's over 400 pages of pure ingenuity and happiness, a celebration of Otto Soglow's magisterial cartooning and his brilliant command of the comics page. Soglow deserved to be king of the comics page, right alongside such legends as Chester Gould and Harold Gray. Otto Soglow was a rock star cartoonist who deserved his fame by producing wonderful work day after day, month after month, and year after year.

Because this is really a terrific comic. It's full of chuckles but it's not a humor comic. It's an action comic that just happens to have a really clever wit to it. Kind of like the Venture Brothers if it was all about Brock and he was a tall thin spy guy. And if the Venture Brothers had some poignancy to it. Because the epilogue to this issue completely puts things in a new light. Not only is Casanova funny and clever, but this comic has soul, too.

It's decent character stuff; just what we expect from Brian Michael Bendis, for better or worse. I was just hoping to watch Galactus try to eat planets. Yum, planets.

For a zero issue from a brand new publisher, this has real promise.

Over the years Cerebus has been a consistently outstanding series. Dave and Ger are finishing the series with the same attention to quality that they showed 15 years ago. It's been an amazing ride. This comic will be sorely missed when it's gone.

Charlton Spotlight treads a unique middle ground. It's not as slick as something like Comic Book Artist and not amateurish, either. It is a devoted and professional fan effort that any fan of the medium will enjoy. Charlton Spotlight #3 is a bargain at $7.50 per issue from Argo Press, P.O. Box 4201, Austin, TX 78765-4201

I complain about this issue of Charlton Spotlight because I found it really interesting. I want very much to enjoy every word in every issue, so if I find something frustrating, I take it kind of personally. Despite my complaints, this is a terrific magazine and is worth checking out by any longtime comics fan.

Mike Ambrose set himself the mission of unearthing obscure and interesting Charlton comics; in this issue he's succeeded in spades. This is a real treasure for anyone with an interest in the Charlton line of comics.

The plot of Chicken with Plums is a bit of a downer. However, in the hands of Satrapi, it's difficult to not be caught up in the beauty of the art and storytelling techniques. This is an intriguing story that is very well told.

I want to go through this comic page by page to point out the atrocities and idiocies, but that wont serve any sort of purpose. Like the comic itself, fans are really of two minds on this book. Some love it while others despise it. I despise it. I hate the cynical and depressing world this comic presents. I hate the Steve McNiven art that never gives a reader a simple establishing shot. And most of all, I hate to see the Marvel Universe become a dark and depressing place where heroes become enemies for no good reason.

I suppose that any comic that quotes a shampoo ad cant be expected to be great. But this comic is just wretched. Mar-Vell cant go back to his grave soon enough for me.

There are two other short features in the 'zine: a clever one-page gag strip and a fun "science fiction bedtime story." This comic is a bargain at a dollar, and Jim will send future issues for that one thin buck.

Don't let this lukewarm review stop you from ordering this zine. Jim Pack is pouring his heart and soul into Comet Tales, and he wants to share. Isn't that worth a buck?

The zine is free just send an email to Jim and request a copy. It's a great free comic with lots of interesting material.

We've needed a book like Comic Art Propaganda: A Graphic History for a while. Its too bad it's not a perfect book, but it is a really fun collection of some of the most intriguing works in comics history.

Full disclosure: I sometimes contribute to Jim's fanzine and I consider him to be a friend, but I'm not part of this issue at all. And I would recommend it to anyone, no matter my involvement with the zine.

I go crazy for Jim's fanzine. It's always a real treat.

Jim's Comic Fan! is an absolute treat, and one of the most satisfying and interesting fanzines I've seen this side of the TwoMorrows zines. Ordering information can be found here.

Steve Ditko is a giant of the industry. Surely the editors of The Comics Journal should have been wiser and devoted more space and energy to discussing his life and career?

This has the promise of being a wonderful new series, taking a position somewhere on the less-serious side of Astro City. I can't wait to see what kind of crullers Hickman cooks up in the future.

Common Grounds is a special comic. Its not just about capes and tights, though it has capes and tights. Common Grounds is all about ordinary people. Some have costumes, but all of them are ordinary people just trying to do as best they can.

And there's why this comic is so wonderful: Hickman is one of us, a fan, someone who obviously has thought some of the same fanboy thoughts we all do. Unlike most of us, though, Hickman has thought his thoughts through. He has a fully developed world-view, and it's reflected through his passionate love for comic books and super heroes. Any fan of super-hero comics owes it to him or herself to check this series out. Each issue stands alone, so you can start with any issue. Once you do, you'll feel yourself swept away by Troy Hickman's wonderful comic.

But maybe I'm complaining too much. This is a perfectly fine story aside from a few odd elements, and Rafael Kayanan's artwork is spectacular. Someone please find this man a steady gig. I'm craving more.

We're coming to the end of Dark Horse's first run on this series, after which it will rebooted with a new number one and a new creative team. Hopefully the staff of Dark Horse will pursue their vision of the new series with as much thoroughness and intelligence as they have this series.

The last four issues of the current Conan series promise to bring a spectacular action storyline that will tie up the series. It should be fun to see how this storyline plays out.

Once again my preconceptions are shown to be wrong. And I couldn't be happier about it.

The real problem with this issue is that the story feels very uneven. Writer Tim Truman doesn't successfully tie the Corben and Giorello stories together. Both are interesting, but there's no sense of why these two stories are juxtaposed next to each other, of why a reader should feel it important to consume these stories together rather as separate tales. Perhaps this will all tie together in a future issue, but here the stories just don't fit well together. I would buy this book just for the amazing Corben art and stories, but I wish the main story was just a bit more compelling.

New Joe Kubert work is always cool, but it's frustrating to see the art in service to such a desultory story.

Eclipso and Doctor Fate arent the ideal companions for a comic, but as long as were getting them both together, its nice to have both stories be interesting and quirky.

This is an odd Alan Moore comic, but it's a fun comic that promises many thrills in future issue.

In the end, that's the reason I recommend this comic. There may be better comics out on the stands, but few that show their creator's passion as much as this one does.

Of course, this review really is the equivalent of reviewing the first 20 minutes of a movie. All of the flaws that seem so evident at this point may end up being virtues in the end. I trust these terrific creators to deliver a good graphic novel based on their history. But the first chapter is a bit slow.

If you read this comic in its online serialization, you know how much fun it is and how wild this story gets. If you havent, you have a great treat in front of you, as the wonderful art and delightful story combine to deliver a great mix of humor, ennui and action that will alternately thrill you and make you laugh.

No wonder I didn't have the words to describe this book. Because it's a book that defies words. Writing about music is like dancing about architecture and all that. Great Art denies easy analysis. 

Its hard to judge the quality of this issue as a discrete comic because it so clearly is setting up future issues. But theres a lot of promise in this comic. When it all gets collected together, Dan Dare could be a real winner.

Alex Maleev is a terrific partner for Bendis. This issue contains two different flashbacks, and Maleev does a brilliant job of using different styles and color schemes for the present day, the recent past and the deep past. Hes really adept at faces and body language; really, Bendis couldnt ask for a better artist for his type of story.

I cant wait to see where this book goes next.

It's a real compliment to say that this issue feels like a really good episode of Law & Order. In Daredevil #83, people try to do good, try to fight for justice, but always seem to fall short. As everyone knows, Law & Order always has a twist somewhere in the plot. I can't wait to see what the twist is in this one.

In every aspect, this is a terrific comic book. The art is gorgeous, the writing is intelligent, characterization is spot-on, and the plot is intriguing. This is a damn good comic book.

Daredevil #100 is a great display of how a good creative team can use continuity. In the right hands, continuity isnt a straightjacket. Continuity is a set of memories and experiences that infuse the present with the stories of the past. Ed Brubaker expertly uses Matt Murdocks long and complex continuity to provide depth and complexity to his character. Thats why this series is continuing to be so outstanding.

Ed Brubaker delivers yet another great issue of Daredevil with this compelling and fascinating comic.

If you love the movie Dark Country, this book will be really indispensable for you. And if you'd like to read a really effective noir horror story for Halloween, you'll find a lot here to like. But if you don't care about the movie and just want to read the comic, you might find this book a bit bloated for your needs. But we can all ignore a few pages that we don't care about in a book to find something brilliantly bleak, right?

How to Fake a Moon Landing is a succinct and direct rebuttal to those who deny the realities of science and reason. It's a smart and intriguing book. Unfortunately, the book is a bit too concise for the author to make his points extremely well. If Cunningham had either addressed fewer topics in this book or created a longer book, I can't help but to think it would have been much more satisfying.

Huh, a comic about Hernan Cortez, What an interesting and cool comic it ended up being.

It's a shame because I've always dreamed of feeling like I was actually in the Library at Alexandria. As a student of the classics, I've dreamed of being surrounded by the vast knowledge of the classical Greeks, and feeling like I could experience a lost world. Hesters writing brings some of the atmosphere of the place to life. Unfortunately, the art in this comic didn't bring me any closer to that world.

I wish they still did old-school Superman books like this one, every once in awhile.

It's hard to feel ripped off by a comic that costs 50, but this comic succeeds at that task.

What else can I say? This comic is a goddamn masterpiece. It's a bargain at $6.99.

You can buy it now or you can buy it in trade paperback in 2005, but why not be one of the first at your comics shop to say hes read the next Dark Knight? This is the next comics classic.

New Frontier is a five star comic. Buy it. Okay? 'Nuff said.

I really like pirate comics, and I like pirate comics that are really well done even more. I really loved Dead Men Tell No Tales.

This isn't quite the greatest comic in history, but it's a lot of fun if you're looking for something as mindless as the creature at the center of this story.

I cant wait to see where this series goes. Niles and Wrightson are doing solidly wonderful work in this book.

I loved the Watkiss art, but there's just not enough in the story to make me come back. To me, the intense confusion of the plane crash in this issue completely detracts from any potential intriguing elements of this series.

Deadman #3 was as much an incoherent mess as issue #1. It may be that there's a thoughtful and intelligent comic in this story somewhere, but it's not clear to me after three re-readings.

This comic has soul and smarts, frightening creatures and frightening humans, and a premise that gets scarier the more time you spend in Death Sentences London. I enjoyed my trip to one of the worlds most terrifyingcities.

disappointing due to its seeming lack of editorial focus. But what an incredible cover!

I have to admit that I have trouble being objective about Detectives Inc. because I've loved these two stories since they first appeared almost 30 years ago. It's amazing how they became the precursors for some of the great graphic novels that have been released in recent years. There's a depth and thoughtfulness to this book that feels wonderfully contemporary--and that might be the highest recommendation I can give it.

Devil gives us awesome guns, cool cars, nice artwork, and a story with some pretty interesting depth. Not bad for a vampire comic.

Based on all this I'm pretty sure that this comic will end up rating more than three stars; take a look at the Wikipedia page for writer China Miville and tell me if this man has it in his bones to write a dull work. But I have to judge what is in front of me rather than what I hope it will be, and on that criteria this book just doesn't have quite enough on display to merit a higher rating.

This book is quite unique and quite fun. It's a mix between a short-story collection and a comics anthology. Whatever category the book goes into, it's a sweet, fun and interesting book.

I think this is the first Top Shelf original to come out exclusively on Comixology as a digital-only release, and the story is definitely optimized for display on iPads or similar devices. It looks fantastic on my iPad, with the images perfectly fitting the screen and with outstanding clarity. The effect is like picking up a great self-published mini for the ridiculously inexpensive price of $1.99. And how can you resist a terrific comic like this for that kind of price?

Every anthology will have its share of hits and misses, and this one has a slightly lower ratio of hits than many other anthology. But people who care about the subject matter will love this book anyway. I definitely enjoyed hearing lots of details I never knew about Washington, DC.

That's not a bad thing. A man has a right to his privacy. We should be thrilled that Ditko shares what he does with us while he's alive. He will never be the Steve Ditko that we want him to be. And he wouldn't have it any other way.

For many years it's seemed that Steve Ditko was living a life of isolation, where his best companion was the books he loved and his own unique philosophy. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, except that that approach has made Ditko isolated from his fellow man. Here we begin to see the affects of that isolation with a bizarre and incoherent comic that makes no compromises for reader comprehension or enjoyment. I wanted so very much to find Steve Ditko to still be a great thinker and amazing comics artist. Unfortunately, in this comic, he proves himself to be neither.

With the return of Ditkomania and a forthcoming biography of Ditko, he may yet be seen as a peer of the great Kirby. It cant hurt to have such a charming zine devoted to him, anyway.

Ordering information for this zine is available at the Ditkomania group site.

Doberman drops out of society, wanders to Canada and finds himself breaking up white slavery rings. Yeah, it's easy to see the fingerprints of a Hollywood action vehicle in this comic, some new Van Damme or Couture flick that's short on the irony and long on the action. It's also easy to see why it never got made. This dog does a lot of growling but it never quite bites.

This isn't the most intellectually stimulating comic out there, but it's tremendously outrageous fun. Any comic that starts with a character literally crapping bullets and ends with Frankenstein attacked by werewolves has to be wild, and the Wachowski Brothers and artist Skroce completely embrace that wildness. This is brilliantly, wildly, fun.

But for all my complaints about Len Wein's dated writing, I have no complaints about Gene Colan's artwork. His wonderfully moody artwork brings this story to deeply intense life, filling each page with a sort of gorgeous mystery that thoroughly transcends the story. I loved this book, and my colleague Paul Brian McCoy agrees in an extended essay on these comics as part of ComicsBulletin's "Mondo Marvel" column. I think Paul would agree with me: these aren't the greatest comics that Marvel released in the '70s, but they're satisfying and lots of fun.

Man, this is one fun adult comic book, with a definite emphasis on the word adult. While there's no nudity in this issue, in contrast with several eyepopping scenes in issue #1, but there are plenty of adult situations in this issue, as well as quite a bit of nasty language and such. In other words, this comic truly deserves its status as a MAX comic. That means that this comic gives us Howard Chaykin unfiltered and uncensored. And because we're getting pure Chaykin, we're also getting a sort of pure joy and fun in comics storytelling that we find all too rarely these days.

Add in some wonderful use of Photoshop for backgrounds and clothes, and some terrific storytelling by Chaykin, and you end up with a completely satisfying pulp adventure. This comic isn't as ambitious as some of the comics from Chaykin's past, but there's nothing wrong with that if he'll continue to deliver exhilarating comics like this one.

Sorry, Mr. Byrne and his ever-shrinking legion of fans. I gave this comic a real try. Doomsday.1 is really quite awful.

You may not think of Bluewater as producing comics like you might find from Image and the other publishers. But they do indeed -- and this self-published comic is a slick and fun entertainment.

Much of Seuss's work is strained and overly complicated--relying heavily on a kind of awkward symbolism that resists easy reading. Many of his cartoons are simply not graceful. However, when he produces a great political cartoon, it's amazingly moving. I defy you to look at this one and try not to feel moved:

Overall, this is a promising issue, but I personally would wait for the trade.

Meanwhile in Europe, a very different shared universe has been evolving over the last few years. Joann Sfar and Lewis Trondheim have been creating a unique and impressive shared universe, the Dungeon, since 1998. You can read a bit more about this universe on its Wikipedia page, but suffice it to say they've created an amazing imaginative shared fantasy universe full of wizards, strange anthropomorphic animals and some of the most wonderful and unpredictable plots you've ever read. The world is kind of like Lord of the Rings meets mid-Tom Baker Doctor Who meets nothing you've ever read before. If that gives you the impression that these are some awesomely weird and fun stories, you're absolutely right.

Still, despite its flaws, I did find myself carried away to this very strange and very imaginative world. It was fun to travel from my couch to a world that required some unexpected translation.

I also consider myself a liberal, and really appreciated Goodwin's take on the belief system that he and I share. Despite my obviously mixed feelings about the content in this book, I'd have absolutely no problem giving this book to my college-age kids to help them learn how the world has gotten into the state that it's in. But if you have differing views from me or from Goodwin, this book might infuriate rather than delight you.

Ei8ht is an awesome first issue (in every sense of the word), the kind of comic that makes me want to hit the comic shop every Wednesday to see how my latest episodes of my favorite series play out. This first issue, by Rafael Albuquerque and Mike Johnson, spills enough of its secrets to be intriguing, reveals enough of its fictional world to get the reader pondering what is happening, and delivers enough fascinating WTFness to make it stand out from the crowd.

Overall, though, Ellium: Principles of Chaos was a nicely-illustrated comic that just didn't really grab me. Your mileage may vary.

Jimmy goes through a physical and emotional journey throughout Empire State; in the end, he finally seems ready to face his life. As he says towards the conclusion of this graphic novel, "I've got the rest of my life to get through." Reading those words, we realize that Jimmy has finally decided to embrace his adult life. He's grown and changed in this book, and I really enjoyed watching his physical and emotional journeys.

I realize The Engineer plumbs a few clichs. If I see another comic with a giant crab creature, I swear I'll be sick. But I say give this book a try. It's a great comic for the money.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this graphic novel. My fears about the pretty boy actor creating comics were unfounded. Chad Murray has created an interesting world with a tremendously and wonderfully flawed lead character.

This is yet another solid issue of a consistently solid series.

For me, Ex Machina #38 is very much like many other issues of this series. It's well written and intriguing, containing some interesting themes, but I just wanted it to come together just a little bit more than it does.

So I came to this comic in kind of the opposite way of most readers. I don't know who the Exiles are (and don't much care, after this issue), but I loved seeing the NewU characters again.

I wanted to enjoy this more than I did. There was too much Exiles and not enough Squadron Supreme for my taste.

Exiles #78 is one that kind of snuck up on me. When I first read it, I enjoyed the book. On re-reading, and even more when writing this review, I was struck by how professional and fun this comic was. Its charms were subtle: what felt at first like a traditional super-hero comic turned into something with some real resonance.

You may not think of Bluewater as producing comics like you might find from Image and the other publishers. But they do indeed -- and this self-published Fair Trade comic is a slick and fun entertainment.

The masterful art of P. Craig Russell makes this book special. In his use of classical techniques and allusions, perfect use of camera angles, and a thoroughly intelligent approach to page design, Russell shows that he is still one of the greats of comics art -- fan favorite status be damned.

If youre a big-time fan of old Marvels, if youve enjoyed any of Stan & Jacks original FF comics, or if you just love Kirby, his legend and his art, you owe it to yourself to check out this comic. Fantastic Four #511 contains one of the most outrageous and wonderful plot twists youll ever find. It manages to be true to the heart and soul of the FF while also having a modern edge.

Still, a promising beginning. As long as no clones show up, this might end up being a nice run.

Hickman and Eaglesham have begun a clever and interesting storyline that shows the promise of becoming something quite special.

So far Hickman's run on FF has been note-perfect, and this issue is just another example of that.

You don't wish this any more than I do."

Kevin Cannon's Far Arden is a wonderfully quirky and unique solo debut graphic novel by an intriguing cartoonst.

Fatale really shows the promise of being part of a much larger tapestry with lots more stories to come. The only concern for me is that working on this series will take away from their work on Criminal, which I love.

This comic never quite lives up to the promise of its cover, but for anyone looking for a kind-hearted reminder of the importance of family, this is a nice read.

This series is already picking up steam. This issue has an intriguing ending, and I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes now.

Fear Agent is one thrill after another. It's a shame this comic comes out so slowly; every thrill-packed issue leaves the reader wanting another.

This is widescreen sci-fi action it its comic booky best. It's a thrill a page.

This series leaves Image on a high note, with an especially funny and entertaining issue.

This is yet another terrific issue of Fear Agent. Rick Remender and Jerome Opena are really cooking now.

Heath Huston is a survivor. I can't wait to see how he survives his travails on this desert planet.

Fear Agent is generally a high-adventure, high-intensity, balls-to-the-wall action comic. And there's tons of action and excitement in this particular issue. But at the heart of this issue is a searingly intense look at the banal depths of evil that people can blindly stumble into. Fear Agent: The Last Goodbye #4 is the rarest of the rare; pure action mixed with an intense look at humanity.

I didn't know what to expect from this comic when I picked it up, but I was thrilled and surprised to find this to be absolutely terrific.

I liked a lot of elements of Fiction Clemens the imagination of the scenes and setting, the uniqueness of the characters, and of course Joiton's gorgeous artwork. But I had trouble really following what was going on in this story, and I wish that weren't true.

Legion of 3 Worlds is the apotheosis of its very peculiar sort of story. It's pointless to expect anything other than what Perez delivers here. This comic may be the purest expression of George Perez's insanely intense storytelling since the grander moments of the original Crisis.

I have the beginning class in DC history necessary to get a good grade from the cosmically aware floating head Professor, but not the advanced class. The cover and first few pages are great, but the comic loses steam quickly.

The bottom line: Lots happened One Year Later, but I'm still not clear why I should care a lot about it.

This is a tremendously solid super-hero comic, well worth reading.

For more information about this comic, click here

This is a really fun and oddly satirical seeming book that really makes me smile.

This comic kind of sneaks up on you as a reader. At first the reader is lulled into a nice sense of security with a feeling that everything is safe. Then Robinson starts introducing one thing after another that gives the comic a whole different energy than what came before.

I have to give credit to Mallonee and his creators for their passion and energy. I have fond memory of the books that Heroic put out twenty years ago (has it been that long?). The only problem is that this comic is kind of out of step for our time.

Flesh and Blood took me back to the classic 19th century setting of its story and the classic 1960s Hammer horror elements. But it does both in a thoroughly 2011 way that was tremendously satisfying.

As usual, the folks at Monsterverse have produced a monster book that will excite anyone who loves classic horror. And even for people who only sort of like that stuff, the energy of this title might just move you into the group of people who love this stuff.

Be warned that this is a small black-and-white mini-comic with a cardboard cover, more zine than full-sized comic. But at a mere $2 for this labor of love (there's a paypal link at the above URL), it's well worth checking out.

For more information on this magazine, see hippycomix.com

So in the end, Following Cerebus #9 is many things. It's a travelogue and a conversation, a visit between two friends and a scientific treatise. More than anything, it's an exploration of two very interesting men, Dave Sim and Neal Adams, and any fan of either man shouldn't miss this issue.

I realize Im praising this new comic for something thats not on the page, but that seems true to the nature of this very bizarre and troubling character.

Faulkner discusses the subjective/objective dilemma thusly:It was . . . thirteen ways of looking at a blackbird--but the truth, I would like to think, comes out, that when the reader has read all these thirteen different ways of looking at the blackbird, the reader has his own fourteenth image of that blackbird which I would like to think is the truth.Sacco expresses regret that his book may have distanced the reader from what Faulkner would express as truth. It's a fitting end to an extraordinary book--giving readers one last touch of uncertainty and intense emotionalism brings to a close this ambiguous and intense work of art.

The art by Zircher and Hepburn is exciting. The opening scenes in the devastating city are detailed and intriguing, full of menace and confusion, but always with the villains front and center. He does a nice job of making the villains look distinctive from each other, with different facial gestures and attitudes. Some of the scenes in a hospital don't give as much a strong sense of setting than the scenes outside, but the unique-looking characters win out.

One day, when Nick Spencer has as many graphic novels on the shelf as Ed Brubaker, and you feel like you know his unique writing quirks inside-out--you may look back on this book as a bit of crazy youthful indiscretion. You will remember it as one last bit of Spencers out-and-out youthful rebellion before he settled down a bit. For right now, though, as we prepare for the arrival of 2011, it's an awesome ride from the industrys Next Big Thing.

I understand from Anthony Johnston's column that this book is already cancelled, two issues into its run. Boom, just like that, done. I had heard that DC had the Focus line of comics on a longer leash, that they would allow them to build up sales over time. Of course, the recent history of comics mostly goes against that theory. Very few comics actually go up in sales over time, even the ones that are highly acclaimed or extremely popular. Usually just the opposite happens, and books slide downhill month after month. So my assumption is that DC sale the low sales figures for Fraction #1, even more anaemic sales for #2, and decided to cut their losses while they could. Fraction and its partner title Touch are gone according to Johnston, while the more critically acclaimed Hard Time and Kinetic are still ongoing, at least for now.

It's a tribute to the great editing by Jim Valentino and Kristin Simon that this book works so well. It's definitely worth the cover price, and it is an ideal book to share with your kids, young or old.

Jason Sacks has been obsessed with comics for longer than he'd like to remember. He considers himself a student of comics history and loves delving into obscure corners of this crazy artform. Jason has been writing for this site for about seven years and has also been published in a number of fan publications, including the late, lamented Amazing Heroes and The Flash Companion. He lives in north Seattle with his wife and three kids.

If a DVD isn't entertaining, it doesn't matter how nice its supplemental features are. I wish Fusion Anthology was worth the asking price, but it's not.

The new Dynamite Galactica 1980 is an exciting series. It's a bit bold and dark and has its weak moments, but the drama is unrelenting, and the series is fun for any long-term Galactica fan.

Don't be put off by the quiet, domestic themes of this book. Ganges is subtle and complex, thoughtful and insightful. Huizenga is a master at taking ordinary situations and bringing profundity to them. I know it's only February, but the conventional wisdom is right: this is the comic of the year so far.

This is world class cartooning on nearly every possible level. Huizenga never fails to present thoughtful and provocative comics art, and this book is no exception.

Ganges #3 is really nothing but an extended interior monologue. And at that, it's an interior monologue with little grounding in reality. As such, it could have been deadly dull. But Huizenga, one of the finest cartoonists working today, brilliantly delivers a fascinating and deeply involving book. While it's not up to the transcendent levels of the first two issues of Ganges, Ganges #3 is a brilliantly conceived and delivered comic that provides a virtual clinic on great comics storytelling.

Ganges is so playful and thoughtful and nonrepresentational and so much of its own piece that it's one of the most amazing comic book experiences that I've ever had.

n reactions, and it felt a bit like the artists were straining to show some melodrama. But they do a nice job on the book, and help make the story work well.

Under the hands of Bruce Canwell and Dean Mullaney, Genius Illustrated sets the absolute gold standard for deluxe artist biographies. There have been some wonderful comics history books released in the last few years, but this book surpasses them all in terms of its production values, its comprehensiveness and the quality of the biographical information presented. Alex Toth was one of the greatest artists ever to work in the comic art medium. This book merits the highest possible compliment: it's a worthy tribute to Toth.

This book is a heck of a lot of fun. I loved seeing this movie in comics form.

I guess the summary of my review is obvious. I came into this comic not knowing anything about what to expect. I come out of reading this comic intrigued to read much more.

Girls is never really a fun comic book by any stretch of the imagination, but it's very well written and drawn.

There are only three issues left of Girls. At this point I cant wait to see what happens by the end of the series. Will the truth really come out, or will the series end as mysteriously as it began?

It's the fact that the Luna Brothers deliberately don't answer those or many other questions that makes this book really great. I finished this issue with a ton of questions in my head. There are so many questions left unanswered. But I think that's kind of the point, and part of why this was such a terrific series. The Luna Brothers present the events clearly without telling readers either why things happen or what we should think about them. It would have been a clich and a letdown to explain everything. That sort of ending wouldnt have fit the series. With Girls #24, the Lunas present something that will continue to fascinate for some time.

With a typical level of idiosyncrasy, the avatar of self-publishing continues his thoroughly independent ways with glamourpuss. If he's not the father, Dave Sim is at least the uncle of the indy comics movement. Whether he's the crazy uncle is up to you the man is well known for his less than typical comments about women and about religion in the past. This comic certainly encompasses all that makes Dave Sim so great and so maddening.

Part of the fun of self-published comics is that you never know what you're going to get in them. Self-published comics are places for unfettered creativity, places where creators can explore their imaginations without editorial control. The problem is that often these comics can be mixed bags. Glass Eye is a nice comic, but I wish it could have been better.

As I mentioned, the issue ends with a plot twist that leaves me breathless for the next issue. What in the world does this twist mean? I can't wait to find out. Especially if you listened to our recent Comics You Can Dance To podcast that featured Joe Keatinge. After last issue's "The Way It Was" and this issue's "The Way It Is", next issues "The Way It Will Be" should be amazing.

Like most tropes that Keatinge embraces, this story reads in an interesting way and builds well for the next few issues. The last page reveal is intriguing and implies that the resolution of this storyline might not quite be what I was expecting. And, oddly enough, that's exactly what I'm expecting from the resolution of this very cool, very unique series.

As this comic fades into the sunset next issue, it's already provided a thoroughly enjoyable story. Now that we can see what Joe and Ross have been leading up to, everything falls into place in just the way it needed to be.

Man, I really need to chill out and just enjoy comics, don't I?

This is a weird review, because I keep referring to Godland by what it compares to and not what it is. I hope that doesn't seem too awkward, but I think part of Casey and Scioli's plan with this book is for it to feel familiar and exciting. Godland is like a lost issue of New Gods, done in true widescreen format. It's exciting and big and kind of overwhelming.

If you're of the right mindset to love this book, you will absolutely love it. It is full of wonderfully escapist comics. The very old-fashioned aspects of these characters and stories are exactly what many people will like about them. On the other hand, if you want a bit of depth in your characters, or if you're looking to pick up this book to find some long-lost hidden Western gems that fit our modern sensibilities, this is probably not the book for you. I liked this one well enough, but I did keep finding myself aching for a touch of Clint Eastwood in some of these stories.

I know Lark signed an exclusive contract with Marvel, but I hope they can find a more suitable artist for this series. Guy Davis, maybe?

This book is nearing three full years of high-quality material, and it's still a terrific read.

It's too bad theres only two more issues left of this series. This was perhaps the best issue of the series so far.

This is a nice send-off to a wonderful series. It's too bad the status quo for Montoya and Allen has changed, but at least we have this nice send-off for them.

Holy essays, Batman, this book is a BIFF! POW! hit!

I've been a fan of the Graphic Classics books for a long time, and this Poe volume is a real highlight of the series. There's a bunch of great stuff in here, including most of Poe's most famous stories. Anyone interested in the work of Edgar Allan Poe will find a lot to enjoy here.

No, Kurtzman delivered a deeply skeptical view of the world in this book. While he may have identified with both the beatnik Grasshopper and hardworking Ant, neither character represents the real Kurtzman. Harvey Kurtzmans emotional life was too complex to fit the narrow borders of a simple parable. Its a shame that this story is so short; with just a few more pages, Kurtzman might have delivered a work that delivered on all the vast potential of The Grasshopper and the Ant.

But the real star of this comic is Bill Messner-Loebs, back from his forced retirement and still doing interesting work. I hope he can find more work. He's a one-of-a-kind talent and a class act.

It's obvious that the impending cancellation of the series has spurred Judd Winnick to do his best work. It's a shame that it took so long for this change to happen. If Winnick had jumped into these sorts of storylines right away, he might have made Green Arrow's OYL transition into something really special. Instead, the current storyline acts as a nice final chapter that tantalizes a reader with the ultimate frustration: a longing for what might have been.

As I mentioned, this issue ends with a terrific cliffhanger that could invert the relationship between Grendel and Ottoman. I'm really curious to see where this leads. Will Hunter Rose finally face some weakness, or will he once again come out triumphant over all his foes? I can't wait to see what happens.

"Prison Ship Antares" ain't high art but it sure works great as low art.

All that moment did for me was take me out of the story and made me wonder if I wanted to stay with this series. I loved all the classic Groo stuff Groos mindless violence, the princes self-interest, the townspeoples angry frustrated cluelessness. And of course Sergio Aragoness artwork is as perfect as ever. But one moment of preachiness really ruined the issue for me.

I keep using the word "fascinating" in describing this book, which seems completely appropriate. This is a very fascinating book on most every level. Anyone with more than a passing interest in Bushido culture will likely feel the same.

Jesse Jones is no Mark Millar, but his amateurish style actually adds to the story rather than detracts from it. The loose and cartoony style gives the story a kind of energy that Unfunnies lacked. What Jones's art lacks in slickness, it gains in passion.

Hard Time is a challenging comic: intelligent, probing and intense. Its also intriguing as hell. If Gerber can build on the momentum he creates in this first issue, this could be one of the best comics of 2004. Its an auspicious beginning of an intriguing line of comics.

I understand that Hard Time and the other DC Focus books arent doing too well for DC, but this really is a special comic: intelligent, intense and questioning. Its not exactly a cheerful comic, but it is a real treat to read something as thoughtful as Hard Time.

But so far, so good. In the 30 years Gerber has been writing comics, he's rarely disappointed. The first four issues of Hard Time are among his very best work. Hard Time isn't fun, but it is unique and interesting and very thoughtful. It's also one hell of a ride.

These are deep questions. I trust Steve Gerber, along with co-writer Mary Skrenes, to not give definitive answers but rather let the reader decide what they think. Moral ambiguity has always been Gerber's great strength as a writer. I can't wait to see how Season Two plays out.

As usual Gerber and Skrenes deliver a complex and interesting story, and as usual Brian Hurtt's art brings the series to wonderful life.

Overall this is a nice, thoughtful issue. Cindy moves from being a cipher to a more fully-fleshed character, and Brian Hurtt's cover is terrific.

The issue of how to balance privacy and the drive to find truth is a complex question, one difficult to wrestle with. And, not surprisingly, the most provocative comic on the market brings it up. I will miss this comic terribly when it's gone.

It's a touch of genius for Gerber and Skrenes to take this series in a completely unexpected direction. Just as readers were getting used to Hard Time being about Ethan's life in prison, the writers take the book in a very different direction that hints at what might have been. No matter how well issue #7 wraps up this series, Hard Time still will be cut short just as the book was beginning to show its full potential.

For more on this comic, check out arielpress.com.

For more on Harker, visit the creators' website.

I keep giving rave reviews to Harker because each issue surprises and delights me more than the previous issue. I predict this series will really break out once it starts being collected into TPB form.

For more on Harker, visit the Ariel Press website.

I've been reviewing this comic since its first issue, and am wonderfully surprised by how the characters keep growing more and more interesting as the series goes on. These multifaceted men are thoroughly interesting.

I've come to really enjoy the few minutes I get to spend each month in the company of Harker and Critchley.

I'll miss this series while it goes on hiatus waiting for its new publisher to start running Harker. Every issue so far has delivered completely solid detective action, and that kind of thing gets addictive after awhile. Let's hope the hiatus is short.

But overall the issue is a disappointment. In fact, the funniest moment in the issue is an advertisement for the magazine Comic Book Artist, which has been missing in action for over two years. In the ad, they promise a new issue of CBG in spring 2008. Yeah, and maybe Big Number #3 or Ultimate Wolverine vs. Hulk #3 will come out that same month. If only Buddy Bradley's adventures had been as funny as this advertisement.

I'm looking forward to seeing what the bizarre speedboat crash on the last page means. That's gotta be a good sign for this book.

Only goofy critics like me care about applying credit to the correct creators, and really we shouldn't care either. We should just admire the wonderful way that this book sustains mood and builds complex, ambiguous characters. We should thrill in the wonderful way that images are created and storytelling builds. We should thrill in the brilliantly elegant linework by David Aja and the brilliantly elegant writing of Matt Fraction.

This is a fun little series, and I expect to read any day about Hollywood optioning it for a silly summer comedy.

I really wanted to support a new small press title, but, unfortunately, the decompressed style of this issue makes it a pretty uncompelling comic book.

This is a fun comic book, and shows touches of being something fun, but this second issue just didn't grab me very much. It has some nice scenes, but there's nothing that really jumped out at me.

This is hardly the greatest comic you'll read this month, but Howard the Duck #1 is a tremendously silly and entertaining comic book. In these grim days, silly is good.

Ty Templeton seems to have done the impossible; hes taken a comic that has been mainly associated with one creator, made his own unique take on the original series, and still has remained true to the original comic. This comic is lost on the stands at many comic shops because its not a mainstream hero book, but this is a surprisingly terrific comic book.

Ordinarily when a comic is promoted as having long-lasting consequences, that ends up being just so much empty hype. Usually that's because the events happen on the surface and don't affect who the heroes really are. But in the case of Identity Crisis, the characters change as people. What happens here will affect them forever. I can't wait to see where this story goes.

It's always hard to judge a comic based on its first issue, and many of the things I complain about will probably slip to the background in future issues. But I thought Idolized #1 had some nice art and scene setting along with some fairly ordinary writing. I hope we can move away from the awkwardness of this first issue and move into some interesting explorations of reality TV and superheroes, and that David Schwarts and Micah Gunnell can deliver a winning comic in future issues.

Ignition City has some very intriguing elements to it, but Ellis gets to those elements slowly. One would expect a writer of his caliber to be skilled at grabbing the reader from page one. However, Ellis doesn't do that here--but he does eventually bring the reader to an interesting place.

Overall, though, I thoroughly enjoyed the first issue of Incorruptible on several levels. It's satisfying and fun to see Waid expand the world he's created by bringing in additional complex characters. This new series should be a fun and terrific companion to Irredeemable.

If you're feeling the Iron Man hype and want to read a bunch of stories about Tony, you have a lot more choices than this crappy book.

This is exactly what most fans were hoping for, 'nuff said.

But overall, this has exceeded my expectations. What a fun story.

Fun comic. I liked it. Now go read the other 326 reviews out there on the 'net.

Its a bit confusing around the edges, and I really do find it convenient that none of the big names were killed in the battle, but overall Johns does a nice job in this comic of combining the big with the small. And what an intriguiing ending!

Infinite Crisis is a big, giant, incoherent, wonderful, silly mess. I cant help myself, my fanboy passion kicks in whenever I look at this comic. It needed eleven artists because this comic would have killed only one. Infinite Crisis is truly the spectacle so large that even George Perez, the Hercules of crowd scenes, needs ten collaborators to illustrate this book. I love InC for that.

Inner Sanctum is a really fun graphic novel for anyone who loves classic stories and monsters with new twists. And Ernie Coln's storytelling chops are still a glory to behold.

Editor's Note: See today's Silver Soapbox for a column by Jason Neulander about the Intergalactic Nemesis stage play and comic.

Yeah, this is yet another solid issue of Invincible. Ho hum. It would be news if there were a bad issue.

It's a great tribute to the quality of Kirkman's writing that Mark is still likeable despite his selfishness. It's fun to see Robert Kirkman show off his chops on a series that obviously means a lot to him. He does a typically nice job on this issue.

The most interesting thing about this comic for me as a long-time reader is how the series kind of reaches its peaks and valleys for action in unexpected ways. The pacing of this series is interesting. Intense violence always seems to be under the surface, about to burst out, but it's well hidden. Still, even the quieter issues seem to have an undercurrent of violence to them, which sometimes, as in this issue, explodes on the page. Beneath its seemingly calm surface, Invincible is a strikingly interesting meditation on violence and superpowers. The plight of Angstrom Levy is a perfect example of that.

I especially enjoyed the "Capes" back-up that Kirkman does with artist Mark Englert. In that story, the Chronodile, who had previously killed dozens of heroes before being defeated, returns. The intense battle against the villain is exciting and compelling, and has a feeling of desperation that makes the story feel extra exciting. It's a lot of fun to read a story where you have absolutely no idea what will happen, and "Capes" really delivers that.

Just another solid issue of a very solid series.

I thought this issue was just a bit off from the highs of previous issues. Maybe Mark will learn from his mistakes - one might hope he'll learn something, anyway.

This series never disappoints. I cant wait to see what happens next.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Thomas Crawford also reviewed Invincible #77. Read his thoughts, too!

I really enjoyed my first look at Matt Fraction's Iron Man. This book presented a story that I found extremely satisfying on several levels. Stark's comatose state was far from a problem; rather, it was an intriguing hook to add depth and complexity to the characters and their stories. Both my inner geek and my critical adult sides were delighted by this book. Based on this issue, I'll be around for a lot more of Fraction's Invincible Iron Man.

I suppose by the end of the series, well find out where the Inevitable tag comes from, but at this point it doesnt make much sense yet. Overall this is an interesting first issue, competently done, but there's still not quite enough to make Iron Man especially compelling.

With Kirkman, Hester and Parks I knew this comic would be a winner. I'm happy to say after this first issue that I was right.

Jason Sacks has been obsessed with comics for longer than he'd like to remember. He considers himself a student of comics history and loves delving into obscure corners of this crazy artform. Jason has been writing for this site for about seven years and has also been published in a number of fan publications, including the late, lamented Amazing Heroes and The Flash Companion. He lives in north Seattle with his wife and three kids.

The cool thing about first efforts is that creators often improve. I can't wait to see how the rest of this miniseries works out; this first issue has enough potential to be pretty interesting.

I've stuck with this series since it was first out in black and white from Grist's own Dancing Elephant Press, and I've always loved the book. But I've always been struck by just how much better it could be if Grist just was able to make the comic flow just a wee bit better.

And of course Grist's art is impeccable. He's a master of the clean line style, with the ability (obviously influenced by Alex Toth) to use a minimum number of lines to produce work of startling depth and complexity. The bright coloring in the comic helps even more, as it adds to the feeling that this comic by a British cartoonist is a sort of merger of the best of British and American comics done right. This really is a special comic, one that rewards repeat readings on unexpected levels. Even for an all-out action comic, Jack Staff #12 gives a reader a lot to think about.

Every issue Paul Grist puts his heart and soul into creating his own unique comic book experience. Jack Staff never disappoints. Why aren't you reading it?

I'm really excited that this intense and tremendously entertaining Western is now back in print and available for fans at a very reasonable price. Though each chapter is only eight pages long, the energy and intensity, craftfulness and thoughtfulness of each chapter shines through. Jack Zero is now available as a digital download at a very reasonable price per issue.

Like the great Will Eisner, a friend of his, Robinson was a born cartoonist who ended up being a businessman as much as he did an artist. Also like Eisner, the business influence on his art always complemented his craft as much as anything. Robinson seems like a man who just never stops doing creative work. Even at the age of 88, he is a human dynamo. This wonderful book is a terrific tribute to his long and extraordinarily successful career.

Co-created with artist Russ Braun, Jimmy's Bastards is a classic Ennis adventure comic: a crazy quilt mix of satire, cold blooded action, mystery, romcom and gun porn.

For more on Jobnik, see Miriam Libicki's website.

This new issue of Jobnik continues the interesting and realistic feel of her previous issues. This is a terrific series.

I would happily follow Jesse Lonergan to other remote destinations.

And hey, the thing's just a buck! Isn't it worth a stinking dollar to read a really great Grant Morrison comic?

You can see below a great example of the way in which Kleist uses blacks and symbolism to present Cash's story. The singer's descent into alcoholism and despair are summed up wonderfully in this single image, and the book is full of moments like this.

It's great to see a retro series get such a first-class treatment.

I have no idea how many issues of Jonah Hex will boast the art of Tony DeZuiga, but this one, at least is a real treat.

But this issue was slightly less good than some of the other issues of this run. I loved the darkness and the energy of the story, but I can't escape the feeling it could have been even better than it was.

This has been a terrific series, and issue #9 was outstanding. Issue #10, however, might have been the weakest issue of the series so far.

So I found it very hard to get through this particular issue. It's professionally done, with nice artwork and colors, and the story is well done for what it is. But I found it to be too much over the edge to really get much enjoyment out of it.

More than anything, Journey by Starlight is also a perfect book to help spark middle- or high-school age kids with a love of science. I'm sure that's a big part of why Flitcroft and Spencer created this book. I hope this book will get more kids interested in science -- or at least help kids survive their difficult science classs. Journey by Starlight could be a cornerstone of the science section of smart school libraries to help spark an interest in science among the kids who don't have an affinity for these sometimes obscure ideas. I know I wish a book like this had been available when I was struggling through my high school physics class. 

I was lukewarm about the Infinite Crisis going into this issue of JSA, but coming out of it, I'm excited to see where it leads.

Overall, this three-part adventure written by series inker Keith Champagne has been wonderfully done. I hope he'll get more chance to write for DC in the future.

Michael Chabon is a fine writer and its nice to see him work in comics. He creates a nice back-up in a decent comic. Hopefully DC will commission a sequel to this series that features longer JSA stories by different creators. That could be very cool indeed.

Jules Verne's Twenty-Thousand Leagues Under the Sea delivers Verne, Gianni, Bradbury, and Wells. How can anyone ask for a more storied and wonderful group of creators? This book is a true treasure.