This is the purest example of a bad tie-in. Lack of focus, little relation to overall story and rushed art all contribute to a poor issue featuring a character that is usually pretty interesting. If you want your Man-Bat fix just wait until he is featured properly in better Battle for the Cowl books.

4 stars out of 5

There is no reason not to try this book. It's telling a unique and gripping tale with fantastic art and social resonance. It's a nice change of pace from the current slate of comics on the shelf and it's a great way to get into indie comics.

Get this book now. Get this issue, get the first two issues and then get the rest of the series as it comes out. It's one of the most refreshing books on shelves and it reads like more than just another issue of a comic. This can be a great story for any person that is interested in the concept of celebrity, war and profits. This is an important book in a world where most comics shy away from social commentary.

Cyclops is easily one of the three best comic book series on shelves and is definitely the most socially aware. Matz and Jacamon are creating a disturbing, yet engaging masterpiece. In a time when most comic companies are more worried about which character to kill off next in an attempt to drive up sales, Matz and Jacamon are putting out a book that is better than anything the "big two" could ever dream about publishing. Buy this now and experience comics as they should be.

While this prequel never fails on a Jar Jar level, it never quite improves upon, or even rivals, the original either. There are some interesting ideas and thoughts about human emotion and life, but there just isn't enough to really make this work. The biggest complaint about this book is that it is a prequel that isn't required reading if you have already read the original. It just doesn't add enough to the original to really recommend it unless you are a ravenous Dick fan". boy I probably could have worded that better.

This is about as mediocre a book as you can find. If you have extra money this is a nice book to pick up. It is entertaining yet nothing noteworthy. Until DC or Kreisberg find a definitive direction for the character it may never be anything more than a decent read.

While Irredeemable could have careened off course with the apparent defeat of Plutonian, it has instead presented a brand new set of conflicts that helps energize the series. If you are an ardent follower of the series then there is absolutely no reason not to pick this up, and if you haven't even heard of Irredeemable then go out and pick up the trades or just pick things up from #21. Waid's sharp writing and the consistent artwork earn Irredeemable #21 a3.5 out of 5!

Proof: Endangered #1 is a great return to form for any longtime fan of Proof and a great place to hop on board for any comic book fan looking for something a little different than the usual cape and tights. While a little light on character work, Proof: Endangered #1 should feature enough great art and unique ideas to keep newcomers wanting more.

Mark Waid has crafted some of the best superhero stories of the past 20 years (Kingdom Come and Tower of Babel are getting buried with me) and Stan Lee is evidently immortal. When dealing with legends like this it is best to give them the benefit of the doubt. Sure the story is a little ambiguous and there are more questions than answers, but these two know what they're doing. If you have a little extra money, be sure to at least give this a try. It's a solid read that gives audiences a change of pace from the overly-gritty superhero tales that come out every month.

This is just a great book for anyone who wants to expand on their notions of what a typical comic book story is. For fans of spy flicks like The Bourne Identity and Casino Royale this is a must have because it adds so much psychological depth to the genre.