Although there are some exciting moments and Niemcyk's art is on the whole pretty effective, an overlong opening dream sequence, some odd dialogue choices and a protagonist that at times borders on the unlikeable mean that I can't recommend this issue unreservedly. Belit's past is probably worth exploring but choosing to use a whole five-issue mini-series to do so was, I think, a mistake. Hopefully, the character will be better served at some point in the future.

Fans of teen girl fantasy might find something for them here, but there are much better told examples of the genre elsewhere. Fans of the character whose name the comic bears would be best to avoid this anemic travesty and save themselves some money and heartache in the process.

Together Zub and Cummings elevate what could have been a fairly pedestrian fight and, through careful plotting, attention to detail and deft characterization, make it into something genuinely exhilarating. Sam Alexander gets some hard-earned character development, and the final page alone provides a compelling reason to pick up the next issue. In short, this issue is well worth your time.

In Conan: Exodus, Ribic has given us not only a compelling story of Conan's journey from his homeland to ‘civilization', but also a masterclass in how comic book storytelling is a visual art. The sense of Conan's character being shaped and honed by his experiences in these pages is palpable; Ribic's painted art is variously dynamic, atmospheric, brooding and thoughtful. His depiction of the landscape as almost a separate character or entity in the first half of the story is extremely impressive, and he conveys Conan's determination, strength and relentless self-sufficiency with similarly impressive skill throughout. Put bluntly, this is an extraordinary comic book and well worth your time.

Howard does a great job of introducing the titular character to a new audience and ensnaring a decidedly hapless Hulkling and Wiccan into a story that promises to get even stranger. Zama's art is bold and mostly impressive, and the issue ends with the kind of revelation that throws open all sorts of possibilities for this series. All in all, this is a very engaging, cleverly-written start to the series. Recommended.

There is fun to be had here, but the sense of the story dragging its feet is reinforced by some in-fighting and overly verbose dialogue. The introduction of Kate Bishop is welcome, but the story doesn't really get going until the last few pages. A little disappointing.

I like Kid Kaiju and his menagerie of monsters, but this is thin fare. While I appreciate the effort put in by the various artists (Stephanie Hans' stuff is just gorgeous), the decision by Marvel to sell a cut-price art book and wrap it up in an almost insultingly superficial story is a poor one. Everyone writer, artists, but most importantly the reader gets short-changed by that approach.

Although there is some heart in this issue, the story as a whole feels flimsy and lightweight; as a result, the final page reveal falls a bit flat. The relationship between Kamala and Carol is easily the best thing about this comic book, but it is not enough to make it more than just ‘okay' as a reading experience.

Carol and Kamala have been tracking down a gang of thieves who have been stealing Kree technology from various Damage Control warehouses up and down the east coast. At the end of last issue, they finally confronted the gang only to find out that its leader is none other than Mar-Vell the long-presumed dead Kree supersoldier whose name Carol now bears. Or is he? Let's find out

Although its middle section does sag a little,NextWave#1 is an exceptionally fine and funny comic book. If you havent read it, theres no reason not to. Its on the Marvel Unlimited app and, if youre not already a member, I believe the House of Ideas offers a free trial period. And joining Boom-Boom, Elsa Bloodstone, Machine Man, Photon and The Captain on their adventures is not something youll regret.

Moody, atmospheric, violent and surprisingly funny in places, this is an intriguing start to a new story arc for Frank Castle. Rosenberg crams a fair amount into this issue and the sense of things already beginning to escalate is palpable by the book's end. That ending, borderline bonkers in its boldness, might not be to everyone's taste, but this book is not going to be boring anytime soon.

This was a fun issue: the action sequences are exciting; the plot zips along at a brisk pace; the dialogue crackles with tension, drama and the kind of dry situational humor that this reviewer always appreciates. The cliffhanger is, probably quite deliberately, a mirror image of last issue's and that's all to the good. Put bluntly, this issue provides plenty of reasons to look forward to next month's. Good stuff.

A well-crafted middle issue that provides the right amounts of intrigue, drama, suspense, and action, this is an enjoyable Conan book. Zub's narration is good and his plotting excellent; Zircher's art is always clear and conveys suspense and violence with equal confidence and no little skill. All in all, a very good read.