Johnny "The Machine" Hughes Comic Reviews

Whilst the cynic in me balks at the inclusion of so many fan pleasing character and tropes, if you can't indulge yourself on your 40th birthday when can you? Just remember, it is said that life begins at 40!

Books like this are rare at times, hidden by the multi event hype from the Big Two's continual Back to Basics / Rebirth plans. Books like this transcend the medium, showing what the best creators can give the comic book world. Dark Horse is a company that is renowned putting out books of high qualities that are on show in this tome, which collects 3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man, the 3 Story: Secret Files of the Giant Man one shot, concept art and a wealth of bonus material. If excellent, emotional storytelling is your thing, then check this book out immediately.

In many ways, this book reminds me of Shirtless the Bear Hunter book in that it has a crazy off the wall hook. If you think that this issue is bonkers, then future issues will pretty much take it several notches higher.

As fun as Fearscape was, I think this book has the potential to deliver even more enjoyment as O'Sullivan walks the line between satire, savage introspection of the state of creative writing and endeavours and fantasy storytelling.

Despite the lack of words, this book needed a couple of read throughs. The storytelling is par excellence, with a character that you begin to feel for, much like the first John Wick movie. Additionally, the visuals are a treat adding to the tone and vibe of the pressures of trying to do the right thing in a world where many people just turn away.

This book was a complete surprise for me. Back in the day, I loved the Hawk novels and this book, talking vulture notwithstanding, brought back all those memories. I am very interested in this run; "ride 'em cowboy!

I was going to say it's a shame that books as good as this, aren't with a big publisher. Firstly, looking at the price point, $3.99 is lot to pay for a comic book and there are number of Big Two books at that price that don't have as much fun or quality in them. Secondly, independent books publish the types of books that the Big Two can't or won't publish. With this book, Aspen and the comic publisher she has inspired is definitelymaking a splash on the comic book racks.

The quality of the work is what you would expect from AfterShock and is available from all good virtual an actual comics shops on 20th September.

Readers of my reviews and listeners ofThe Definitive Crusade podcast,should know a few things about me by know. Fishnets rock, I am the DC Jeopardy king and I love both Batman and The Shadow. With a crossover like this,the temptation is to over critique as expectations are not normally met. Where this book is different, is that whilst my expectations were not met; they were surpassed. I would urge anyone who feels that current comic books rely on events too much to go and pick up this old school book, with two old school characters, created for the old school reader.

For. writer that can be divisive, King has taken a step back from huge epics, to smaller, almost inmate stories in comparison. It's change that I think will garner a lot of new fans, how had previously felt waylaid by his Batman run and the aforementioned Heroes and Bat Cat books. Let see what the next five books in this new limited series fare. As it is, King and co are off to a great start!

Lost amid the Fear State books, this is a little gem of a book, reminiscent of Fear State Alpha with its unusual designs. Tynion has gone a long way to ensuring that fans get what they have been calling for; no, make that what readers and Ivy and Harley themselves deserve. Recognition of how important they are to each other, and how important their love and relationship is to the DC Universe.

For me, a long time Bat-fan, this is the sort of book that I have been waiting for. This is absolute proof that Batman doesn't need to live in the superhero world. In fact, he is better suited to life away from the Justice League. I can only hope that his recent shenanigans in his main book and his actions in Metal will finally get him kicked out . DC should take note, there is room on the rack for a teen + bat book as well as their mainly crowd pleasing titular Batman book.

With the attention that The Batman will get over this weekend, it seems that serendipity that this book has recently hit the racks. Personally, I think comics should be more respected than just an advert for the movie, but I understand the logistics of such a plan from Warner Brothers. An interesting start to a three part series, I am very curious to see how it all plays out down the line.

I can not stress how much fun this book is. True, there are enough elements to make you think of other characters, but in Lemire, you have a writer who seems to be able to fasten onto the core elements and vibes of what characters and stories tick, adding in a very well done classic touch.

The art is provided by George Schall who has another book out this week in Made in Korea from the aforementioned Image Comics. On that book I compared Schall to Raymond Briggs. Here, with the benefit of historical context, there is a more Guy Davis feel to it which feels more substantial than the Image book. Some of the poses, the movements through the panels are similar, but with a lighter tone of story, Schall's works becomes more light-hearted. Schall also supplies the colors with a deft touch which further impresses me with its murky backgrounds and lavish settings rolling into a cohesive environment. AndWorld Design delivers a font that screams "of its time" that adds to overall feel of the book.

Being a huge fan of MacKay, Campbell and of course Felicia, with this creative team they would have to go some way to disappoint me. Safe to say that didn't happen. With Felicia's almost obsession with a certain red-head in her own, it's great to see the pair together. By continuing this theme, MacKay gets to build on Mary Jane and Felicia's relationship, although maybe not in the same way that Peter dreams. A fantastic book, that goes to show that dropping Black Cat from schedule is a huge mistake for Marvel.

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Comparisons abound, when made are purely metaphorical. The idea of a disliked police force and a multi tier society can be seen in any number of movies and books. By taking this road, Thompson is showing her writing mettle for those that may think she is just all about a certain Carol. I am massively impressed by the setup of this book and look forward to how things play out.

As mentioned, I have missed quite a bit of the Something is Killing the Children run, this book was a great read, seeing as it serves a number of aspects. Firstly, it provides history and context to toe ongoing series. Secondly, it moves the main character through their journey, and finally, looks to set up the wheels in motion for future issues and plot points. All in all, a reach that is firmly met by its grasp!

Originally I thought nothing more of this book than a vanity project, catering to fans of the movies. After reading this second issue, I am quite happy to have my assumptions changed.

Comics are meant to be entertaining. The fact that top notch creators such as Matteo Pizzolo and Amancay Nahuelpan, along with Briggs Land creators Brian Wood and Mack Chater, can weave the political fallout of secession and present a different version of the United States into engaging books that can challenge a readers perception, is one of the great flexibilities of comic books. Not everything has to revolve around the cape and cowl crowd.

When it comes to comic creators, there are only a few that can change their style of story and still deliver the goods. Warren Ellis is definitely one of those, having written superhero books across the aisle as well as a host of indie and alternative books. Coupled with Jason Howard, the pair have created a world that bears some investigating. Luckily for us, we have Michael Blackburn and his violent tour guide to going exploring with.

I could debate whether the monsters that Cindy faces are part of a mental health condition or an extrapolation. of real life issues or even if they are real at all. Instead I am going to leave that up to you to decide, preferring to enjoy the trials and tribulations of a young girl disillusioned by life, with the love of her dog and best friend her only tangible joy.

Dark Horse, kings of the mini-series format, have allowed Snyder and Manapul to produce a giant sized issue. which allows Snyder's script to breath without the confines of 22 pages. This gives book a more fuller, grander, more epic feel to proceedings. It also means that you will be done in three issues, albeit at a higher price point. For the swathes of Snyder fans out there, this is another great example of the world outside of Batman!

Over the last year there have been a number of specials, be it Joker, Catwoman, Robin and Detective #1027, not forgetting the 80 Years of Marvel special. This has certainly been my favourite which surprises me as the last Conan book I bought was the Conan Wonder Woman book from DC/Dark Horse.

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This was a fun read, given the history of the comic book industry; there are Fredric Wertham quotes and the influences of the Seduction of the Innocent are plain to see. Part of this may be the influences of Mark Waid who is helping out with story edits and putting it all together. It is going to be a fun ride.

This book continues to build on Daredevil's and Elektra's return to grace, demonstrating excellent storytelling through effective monologues and art that radiates quality in a variety of environs. Hands down a great book!

This event has me intrigued to say the least. Without the pressures of what comes next, readers can enjoy the the journey not focus so much on the destination.

The book may well be a preview of future events, but it is done with style, strong characters and a massive amount of heart. Well done DC and well done Geoff Johns.

If I ma honest, I am a tad sick of alternative universe stories that are out of continuity. With that said, this series has been fun from the get go and I am really looking to see how it plays out over the remaining issues and thanks to the quality of the work from Messrs Tynion IV, Rosenberg and Schmidt, this book has a real bite to it! #sorrynotsorry

This book is great read that instantly makes me want to back track and find the first issue before next months conclusion. Hopefully Mr Lindsay remembers that he owes me a happy ending!

I love noir detective books, I love the setups in this book and look forward to the many twists and turns that the reader and Tate will undoubtedly take as we both follow Vera into this very kink friendly series.

Jeff Lemire is certainly starting to show his versatility of late, working on a range of books from a range of publishers. Here, his "JSA wannabes" and Doctor Star himself, have an opportunity to shine some light on the long forgotten Golden Age and quite possibly by doing so, go someway to show that not every great story needs to be centred around an event.

After months of Dark Nights and crazy continuity problems, it is a welcome relief to read such a fun book. In some ways, this book has been a palate cleanser. It is also a bit of a boost for Simone, whose early work on Birds could be seen as her best superhero work, and had failed to hit the high notes on subsequent Birds series and, despite her well known affection for, the Barbara Batgirl book.

Oni Press have an eclectic range of books to be sure. Give them their credit; whilst fans of the game will no doubt have their expectations, the dialogue, the setup and the covers go some way to more than hint at what is in the inside. If same-sex love between two men isn't your thing, then simply don't pick up the book. Don't buy it then complain about the content, as by doing so, you may miss that fact that really is a sweet love story between two people who are happy to be in each others life.

Dying is Easy #1 is out in shops on December 11th.Dyingiseasywill be available for purchasehereat IDW Publishing and wherever print and digital comics are sold. Or, support your local comic shops usingwww.comicshoplocator.com.

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For a book essentially about gods you want the art to look epic and grandiose. In that regard, Esad Ribic rises to the task brilliantly with powerful characters existing in grand halls, machines and environments.

Don't be put off by the title of the book. Euthanasia is a serious topic that other than the wordplay that gives the book its title, doesn't really feature. In fact, it's the topic is exploring the realms beyond death, regardless how the person in question got there, that is the focus. As a first issue, the premise of the book is intriguing, with the quality of the reading experience exemplary.

I am a huge fan of both Lindsay and Kivela; I love how neither are just settling as creators. Instead they continue to push their talent forward with stories that feel as diverse as any of the big indie publishers output. For a book that mixes scope of environment with the scope of human emotions, Everfrost, through Lindsay and Kivela, surely delivers.

I am not a huge fan of the mystical elements that pervade this book. That said, in Sejic I trust, and when every page is gorgeous, I couldn't help but be drawn in.

This book feels like a nostalgia trip; there are challenges for Owen to overcome, challenges of body, mind and spirit. Even though his journey may not be the most original one, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, told by two master creators, and look forward to volume two.

There will be a groups of people who will say that this book is either too patriotic or it is stating a political agenda. Of course, everyone is entitled to an opinion, but before everyone gets their unfurled flag, well…..furled; comic books are entertainment and this book is definitely high-class entertainment.

Watching Vault Comics grow and come into their own in delivering a consistently high quality has been one of the best stories in the comic industry, for me, over the last year or so. With books like this, being created by writers, artists et al at the top of their game, Vault are creating high expectation levels, of which I am sure they can not only match, but surpass in time.

This is a great read on many levels; a stand in part against the idea of blindly following something, entwined through the life of Ethan and his continued railing against the establishment.

With the grand ideas on religion and its place in this worlds society, and the complexities that involves, this book may be better suited to being read in trade form rather than single issues. This is by no means a sleight on any of the creators involved; Paknadel and crew have created a story that has impact on different levels. Of course, part of this idea of a trade could be seen as purely selfish as after this issue, I wanted to read more.

There is a risk that when you nail your success to an idea or trope, that you can be judged by that which has gone before. Thankfully, Gunn, Blanch and Wallis have taken their inspiration. and ran in a completely bonkers yet fun direction.

With the recent announcements regarding the Justice League books, there may well be an impact on this book. Don't get me wrong, I am looking forward to seeing a Stjepan Sejic drawn Jess as much as the next person, but I am a tad concerned what her inclusion in Justice League Odyssey will have on this book. Still, that is a worry for another day, especially with Seeley and Cliquet delivering a book worthy of the Emerald light.

This is a great, fun read that takes a bunch of well known ideas and thoughts of death and the reaper, mixes them around to produce something new. Under the clever writing of Phillips and the gorgeous art of Flaviano, death and dying has never been as fun or looked as good.

This book may not seem to have relevance to a lot of readers; after all I am a white guy in the UK. However, the book stands well as a snapshot of a life that was a battle. Societal elements may have changed, though I would imagine that there is a lot of parallels from Happiness Will Follow to the situations that a lot of people are dealing with today. Therefore, this is an important book to read to help those who may be losing their faith, their belief that their own Happiness Will Follow.

For those looking for an alternative to the sentimentality of Christmas, pop down to the local comic book shop where this book joins a private detective by the name of Santa Claus. Despite the simplicity of this book, Hellboy, looking to right the wrongs of his demon kin, delivers the kind of book you would have to have been very good all year to receive in your Christmas stocking.

This mini series is a re=telling of Dante's Inferno and for those who read this esteemed tome, will no doubt see the very obvious similarities. This fact should byno means cast any doubtsof the calibre of all involved, who delivera first issue that packs a punch, asany fan of Nadler and Thompsonhas now come to expect.

Looking at this book, I dreaded reading it. Its chirpy, happy, in a kind of cheesy way that would normally send me running for the dark streets of Gotham. Yet, by gritting my teeth, I found that I really enjoyed the book for the slice of almost whimsy it is, bringing smiles of recognition of my early jobs and the friends I made, now long gone.

Taking a step backward may seem like an odd move for DC, especially as they are powering up for the Future State event. This is the first book of a planned three part arc; the second book due out in Fall of 2021. Whilst this may mean quite a delay in the minds of some fans, you certainly can't complain about the quality of this project. House of El is a great way to see more of the world of Krypton, lost when a baby Kal-El was rocketed away from it.

The collaboration of the trio of creators provides a story that covers all the frailties of human interaction. There is a certain sadness prevalent in the book; the sadness of experiences long gone for the girls, the sadness that maybe Vic is pretyy much how Vic will be for the rest of his life. Then there is Enn, who hears poetry, who listens and despite his best intentions, remains alone. Still having been where Enn is, I think he will be fine.

Rian Hughes is a British graphic designer whose worked has appeared in numerous avenues, including the UK small press and of course 2000AD. His design skills are clearly abundant throughout this book. The one page "in-jokes" are a fine example of the delineation of the premise. The art is simple but effective, again demonstrating the virtues of its comic strip origins. The only problem I have with the book, and this is a small quibble, is that at 128 pages, the joke may for some feel a little flat towards the end. Still, if you want to take a break from the superhero world, with a book that cancause an instant smile before delivering a stronger message upon reflection, then this book is more than worth a look.

Horror books can be a tricky proposition to attempt, especially as the genre is going through a bit of a lull in the most accessible media at the moment. Coupled with thecontrasts of belief, religion in any already fractious world, gives all involved a bit a ofminefield to cover. Still, I am pleased to say that the creators involved in Infidel, have made a believer of me.

I would have thought that I would be bored by this type of story by now. Examination of heroes, either through their own eyes or a "Jane" character, has been done before. At the moment, Mark Millar himself is taking a slightly different tack on his other Image book Huck. Whilst the method of this dissection is different, the result is similar, the humanizing of this bigger than life characters, which becomes a fascinating and hugely enjoyable read.

Written & Art by; Guillem MarchColors by; Guillem March & Tony LpezPublished by; Image Comics via Europe Comics

Kick Ass was a great read the first time it came out. The polish of the story may have been tarnished with the sequels and as such, the two co-creators, Millar and Romita JR have taken the wise step of starting over. Does this mean that others from the shared universe will make an appearance? The answer is probably. Still, this book with its reimagined hero turned heroine may well continue to thrive.

For more information on Fabled Four, registerherefor all the latest updates and news on this project.

Timing is everything in comedy and at times, comic books, With the public psyche all geared to the end (?) of a super spy, Millar has delivered an alternative viewpoint and raison d'etre. A fabulous read with a character you will hate to love!

If you are sat at home, daydreaming of the way that life used to be, maybe this slice of "what could almost be" in the endless search of love, should help you distance yourself from that feeling as you sit comfortably on the couch reading comics that are N2YCB's.

A large part of Lady Killers success was the fact that it was fun eclectic mix of humour, satire and dark violence. The challenge ahead for Joelle is to keep the book fresh. Too much of a good thing can be bad for you. Here, the format of publisher Dark Horse Comics predilection for mini series should help maintain story focus without meandering into repetitiveness.

Despite this being the second issue of the second mini series, the credit page states that this is actually issue 7 in a series. I am a big fan of this type of publishing, of which Dark Horse are particularly adept, as it allows for the readers tongue to be wet without overwhelming thewallet or allowing a book to outlast its welcome. This alsoimplies that Jones is plotting for the long haul with each mini series feeding into the next and togethermaking a whole. With such a simple strategy in place, this book shows that to say that Joelle Jones is at the top of her creativegame is an understatement.

I haven't read the original book, so it would seem that I may well be the perfect audience. That said, adaptations of popular books walk a fine line between gaining new fans whilst not alienating the existing fan-base. Fans of Lennon may well enjoy this book, with its almost alternative life, acting as a pseudo insight into one of the most unique musical geniuses.

I have missed a trick with this book and I am now in something of a dilemma; do I go looking for the back issues or wait for the ubiquitous trade? A rock and a hard place for sure. This problem is borne from the fantastic creative work of Lemire and Nguyen.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. I have fond memories of the show and this book has certainly hit mark for me. With such a great start to the series, I wonder if Russell and Bob Q have any intention of keeping things Wild West and will possibly take on Champion, the Wonder Horse next?

This book is as different from Shadmi's previous work as you can get. This is not a bad thing at all. In fact, with the subject matter being something that we should have had some sort of dealing with, the story is perhaps more accessible. "K" is an average guy with normal everyday needs, desires and problems. It's a little refreshing to see that other people go through the same sort of emotional roller coaster as us. As such, Shadmi has tapped into the very scary situation of a person, or persons, putting themselves out there to be attracted, repulsed and judged by a complete stranger in the hopes that a connection is made in effort to have a partner in this thing called life.

It is worth to mention, that ALL proceeds from this book will be going to the victims, survivors and their families via Equality Florida. I have read this book over. I don't think I have felt so much or wept so much at the bravery of the characters within.

This book is not for the faint hearted. With some topics of the books being easily identified, it is the idea of what does consent mean that actually powers the book. The smoke and mirrors aside, there's no real reason documented as to why Domino does what she does. It will be interesting to see these motivations, possibly hinted at in places, comes to light. With the terseness of the locales, art and script, I would hate for something supernatural to supplant the not-quite-real-world styling of this issue.

Not being a huge horror fan, I always get a tad nervous reading a book from the genre. As a non-fan, it would be easy for me to dismiss the book as trite or not particularly scary. The thing is, I think that the true horror in the book is the life that Stanley is leading before getting possessed. Bunn's comedic, albeit dark comedic touches works well giving the reader a chance to root for Stanley. How these elements will continue to intertwine will be the make or break for the book. Either way, this mini-series is off to a great start.

There will no doubt be naysayers regarding this book, the creators and their feminist agenda. For me, this is a fantastic book that has the potential to work as well as the Handmaidens Tale, with its believable characters and almost real world affectations. Overall a resounding return of one of the best creative team in the comics industry.

This first issue does a great job of re-starting Maude's story. With new environs and characters with which to mix, Cain has maintained traction for Maude's story, told as always with her tongue firmly in her cheek and smart and snappy dialogue.

If I am honest, I love a good vampire story. I enjoy the dark romance, the seduction and the time period; this book has all that in spades. The quality of the writing shows that Andolfo clearly has a plan in play and the quality of the art entices the reader into its horrific thrall almost without you noticing.

Some of the art for Paprikia has been doing the rounds on Twitter, stirring up interest in an all already fan favourite Mirka Andolfo. Now that the book has hit the stores, we get to see the whole show, and what a show it is!

"And I'm just calling one last time, just to say I'll miss you baby. Good luck. Good-bye, Bobbi Morse"*

When I first looked at this book, I assumed it was just a sex book. Certain critics will say the book is another "sexploitaton of women". Whilst , sex does play a part in this, it is used here for means of experessing intense emotions. The book has a strong female lead whose weakness, in this case the need to live as an expression ofher art, gives her the strength of character to achieve her goals.

Any interesting book, that maybe suffers from an odd release date; a somewhat Christmas themed book coming out after Easter? All things considered, this grump of Kris Kringle, a different type of bad Santa could offer a new insight on what you have to do to make the Naughty List.

I love this book, there is no getting away from that; Marini ticks all the boxes, great writing coupled with gorgeous art with seams and seams of thigh high stockings. What's not to love?

This collection shows just how fun comics can be, especially if you don't apply any rules regarding time travel; please take note Avengers: Endgame! In Paradox Girl, you have a character that is driven by impetus rather than any sort of social requirement to be a hero; let's be honest, would we all be a little like that with her powers. Through in the fact that despite any perceived flaws, she is her own woman, strong and confident in her abilities and in her self.

This book is a blast of fresh air in the face of all the darker event type nonsense that the Big Two seem happy to produce. Power Pack is the sort of book that makes you remember why you got into comics in the first place. Take some time to look at the Marvel Universe through the eyes of the Power kids; you might just be amazed all over again.

By now, fans of Millar will kind of know what to expect. Yes, there will be a classic character trope in play. Yes, it will get broken down and re-arranged. This may seem like a one trick pony, akin to Grant Morrison's continuing attempts to reunite years worth of history into one continuity, used across a range of heroes. But when the results are this good, you can't really complain!

At first glance, it's not for me. Upon second glance, it's a cowboy book. But then when I sat and read it, my expectations were blown away; I actually cared bout Max, his life and his dreams.

This book, and in fact the whole Black Hammer range, are books for a simpler time, where heroes were heroes and bad guys were bad guys. Men were muscly and women curvaceous and nobody cared if be being that way carried a social impact. Comics were fun escapism. The fact that Lemire and company have successfully bridged that gap with old school style tales for a more jaded time, just shows how talented he and his compatriots are and maybe how much the world gone by is actually missed.

Another fantastic chapter(s) of the life of Ethan Reckless, provided by a trio of creators who are clearly enjoying their time together, evident from how each aspect interacts and adds to the others creating the highest quality of story telling.

Are there contrivances and coincidences in play in the book? Yes at times. It seems that Reckless always know someone who can help him out at the right time. This though is a minor quibble in a book that is easily one of the most enjoyable, if odd at times, books that I have read this years.

Coming into the book blind, has served the experience of enjoying this book well. If I had this reaction, as a one of read, then fans of these characters and creators should be in seventh heaven. As for me, I am off to the LCBS to seeing they have trade for the first run.

If I am honest, I think that Alex Pakndel can pretty much do no wrong. Every book takes and idea, teases it around and delivers something quite different. With Vendrell moving into a more mature style; the pair have created another hit for TKO Studios adding to Paknadel's already impressive resum.

Santa Claus: Private Eye is a great read, with plenty of twist and turns and is a welcome addition to the ongoing quality over quantity stable of books that Darby Pop have published over the last year or so.

This book took, ironically, a couple of look for me to fully realise how enjoyable this book is. The black and white didn't help in the first instance. But after spending time with Leblanc, I don't think that this book would look or read as well as it does. Another hit for Image Comics.

At first glance, it would be easy to dismiss this books as another Sabrina type of affair. yet the relationships that form this book are the foundations on which Zadie will look to rise. With a charming, sometime self-deprecating character and a cast of people to interact with, Image comics, thanks to Henderson and Garbett, have another hit on the their hands,

For a first issue in an event, this book is off to a great start, especially impressive is the lack of any real need to read Robin or Deathstroke to get caught up. However, you must be at least partly familiar with City of Bane in order to recognise one particular stumbling block!

For quite a while, Image have been putting out books that eschews the original superhero ideals of the founders of the company. This is massive credit to Image, who have managed to carve out a niche for their books, most of which I recognise as high quality even if I don't always enjoy the stories. With Shirtless, Image have caught my attention with their pastiche of all that has gone before.

I am of an age where I remember a certain UK TV show called The Champions, which featured three agents who gain super abilities. With this in mind, I was very wary when I started reading this book. That concern quickly dispersed due to the sheer quality of book, with its clarity of purpose and clear strong storytelling.

Snap, Flash, Hustle #1 hits comic stores on November 28th. If you are interested in the book, please head over to the Outside the Panels podcast, byclicking here for and interview with Pat Shand and Emily Pearson.

Snap, Flash, Hustle is a great little story, that I think will cater to an audience that enjoys their stories down and dirty with a slice of genuine characters thrown in for good measure.

After reading a spate of horror book due to Halloween, I wasn't really looking to take yet another walk on the scary side. Booher, Shehan and company have delivered a first issue that intrigues, mystifies and carries the strength of the lead characters through that which they think they want.

With Marvel's recent decisions around some of their female heroes (yes, I am still bitter!), I am a tad surprised that they have kept the faith with Spider-Woman. The mix of life issues and superheroes is a staple of old school Spider-Man books and it is good to see that this element of storytelling has not fallen by the wayside. Talking of spider staples, anyone else get the "Gwen" vibe at the end of the book?

For a book that isn't my usual forte, I was pleasantly surprised at the who well done, how intricate in dealing with the Sophie's feelings and the ominous tones provided by knowing what has happened to not just Sophie's Lady Fleecs and Forstner have imbued in this book.

This book is spectacular because it works on so many different levels. The observational behaviour moments of dogs is still in plain sight, although probably in a less funny way than before. As the penultimate issue, the tension is most certainly ramped up!

This series caught me totally by surprise if I am honest. The mix of cute dogs and tense and scary situations wouldn't normally float my boat; Yet Fleecs, Forstner and crew have delivered a book that has made me laugh, gasp, smile and cry. Put simply, this has to be one of, if not the best series of this year!

This is a great little book, shipping as it does a month before the Stray Dogs trade paperback which is due in early January 2022. For both new and returning readers, this book is seamless addition to a number of shaggy, and not so shaggy, dog stories told with the now expected, but still surprising and emotive mix of fun dogs and human horror.

Vault Comics have been doing extremely well with a range of books that revel in quality storytelling from a stable of quality creators. This series is by no means an exception to that rule.

It is no secret that I am a Stjepan Sejic fan, after all I even read Aquaman and Sucide Squad when he was on those books and everyone knows how much I dislike Harley! This book goes to show that in Ally, Sejic has his focal point, a character so strong that no matter how hard you try, she will dominate any story, though in a very human way and I can not wait to see how this prequel expands to cover part of the original Sunstone to give us the ending that I and many fans are hoping for.

With my favourite characters being Ally and Lisa, I did worry that I wouldn't care that much about Alan and Anne. Sejic is using the Anne's relationship as a foil to contrast to Ally and Lisa's future one. It's a clever move that shows the confidence that Sejic has in his writing and his characters. This almost "calm before the storm" story is another fine addition to the Sunstone series.

The art is, as always, gorgeous.

With the aforementioned pacing issues of King's writing, I am hoping that with a smaller issue run that King will be able to keep on track, moving forward from a pretty impressive first issue. Of course, if anything bad happens to Krypto, then all bets are off!

I have been critical of Kings writing in the past, be it the meandering Heroes in. Crisis or the seemingly going noewhere of Batman Catwoman. Yet this book, purchased as a guilty pleasure has been, for me, his best work. Evley's art makes you want to plough through the book, yet Kings wordy script means you have to spend time on each page, which makes you appreciate the art even more; a true creative symbiotic relationship that allows the reader to fully immerse themselves into the this run.

This Clark isn't as likeable as the Clark we are used too, and here is the rub of the book; keep things the same and people complain about buying a retread of story; write something new and people will complain that the book isn't about "their" Superman.

Supers won the first ever Youth Award from ACBD (the French Association of Comics Critics) and reading this high quality almost all ages book, you can definitely see why.

Sex sells, it is a fact; this book isn't just about sex. Sure, it's in there and sure, there is a lot of it. But there is more to the story than that. At the basest level, it's a book about two people in love striving to get through live, realising that there is more to living than being Mom, Dad, business woman and lecturer. No doubt people will buy the book for the sex and I don't have a problem with that as it will give them a change to read an honest to goodness love story.

Matt Hawkins has clearly recognised that sex alone will carry this book only so far. By adding in more "real life" elements, Hawkins sows greater problems than insecurities and jealousies, adding a nuance to this sexy, sweet and emotional series.

Sword Daughter #1 is out on June 6th and foran interview with both Brian Wood and Mack Chater, please click here

I am not going to lie; I saw the title of the book and it piqued my curiosity. I did not expect to find such a grandiose mix of Victorian horror and almost abstract figures. To say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. Anyone else fancy a Tart for New Year?

Regardless of if you are a fan of Sonja or not, as comic book readers we can all appreciate excellent art and this book is jammed packed with excellent covers from her many many tales.

The Black Hoodhas been a consistently impressive comic from Dark Circle Comics. Regardless of the seemingly repetitive trope of the darkness threatening the hero, Swierczynski and co. do well to keep things interesting, even if the last page possibly has an element of "jumping the shark".

If you love Indie books, you should have by now checked out Vault Comics. I don't think I have ever read a poor comic or been disappointed by their product. Clever, well observed with a focus on the frailties of the human spirit, Vault encourage writers and artist to develop their idea whilst not mandating any one particular editorial model. The freshness of their books are as refreshing as they are entertaining.

Sharp also provides the story for this mini series, and I have to say, despite my initial worries, I was more than pleasantly surprised.

True stories are a bit of a mixed bag for me. I haven't seen the movie Titanic. Do I really need to? After all, I know what happens; it hits an iceberg and sinks. Surely I don't need to sit through three hours for that ending? Fans of the film will say that I should see it because its about the fledgling romance between the classes and how love is defined by sacrifice. Its all in the details and that is a great way to think of this book. The events may be true, but it's the details that are important and it is these details that Phillips and Kotz superbly fill in.

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Be warned, the book features language that some would find offensive; being locked in prison has given the alleged Deviant Killer something of a closed mind when it comes to looking at his own place within the world of 1973 and the following years. Tynion's holiday of horror provides much thought provoking and unease. The most wonderful tine of the year? Humbug!

Recently we have had the "Life of Captain Marvel" mini which shaped the current book, the book that features the current adventures, and so it makes sense that the powers that be get round to Carol's demise. Experienced comic fans will no doubt see the All-Star Superman or The Justice League Fatal Five animated movie touches. Influences are one thing; ideas may be even imitated, but style remains and it is this style that goes to show how great a writer Kelly Thompson can be, especially with this character.

Looking at the book, I immediately thought of The Jetsons.Both have a George, both are set in the future and both feature a family. All that's missing is Astro. However, the vaguest comparisons aside,catching the last issue of a run can be eye-opening and with a book of this quality, it is well worth hitting the back issue rack of your LCS.

The idea of the book seems quite simple, however, there may actually be more to it than you think. Sure, James' wife may not be where he is, but could it be that he himself has been misplaced? Could it be that doing the same things over and over could actually be hell? Only time will tell. As it stands, Callahan has set himself an ambitious task, both in writing and art, where the reader's perceptions are challenged almost as much at the lead characters.

The book tackles some mature stuff, and deserves to be enjoyed by a readership that can go with the ebb and flow of the lead characters journey, some of which is funny, sad, touching and, at times, a little heart-breaking.

This is a book for fans of The Shadow. Whilst The Twilight Zone book may serve as a curiosity and is fun when showing the character living through his own media history, this book serves to show us what The Shadow's world is all about, from different locations across the world to the weed of crime that grows in the garden of New York.

The book's title pretty much gives the game away to some extent. Story wise, there are enough hints that all is not what is seems to give even the newest comic book reader a sense that there may be a switcheroo in the very near future. Still, when the book reads this well and looks this good, you just sit back and enjoy taxi ride.

If I am honest, I am not a huge The Spirit fan, preferring darkness of The Shadow and his knowing of evil minds. That said, this book has a charm that impresses. It's odd that Dynamite can put out such a high quality book, both in dialogue and art, based on the previous standards set, yet seem to have made a complete mess of some recent reboots.

Tommy Gun Wizards is an interesting read, especially for those who may be a bit tired of either genre, as Ward, Kivela and company break down each separate element, before putting them together to create a new and unique new picture.

Tommy Gun Wiazrds #2 continues the style of the first book, building on an interesting mix of genres. With the Untouchable vibe, it will be interesting to see how and if those involved will look to take the book past the four issues of the mini series; still, that is a different kind of trick altogether.

This book has a disturbing theme intertwined throughout, which may not be obvious from the Preview World description. To enjoy the book you are going to have be ready for mature content, which you may find disturbing; disturbing demonstrates the excellent world creating wiring of Daniel Kraus.

An engaging read for the YA crowd that successfully shows how two of the most popular comic book characters can be written for a different audience without them losing their core components.

Horror is hard to do in comics books, I have said that previously. As good as the writing can be, and it is excellent here, with no music to add to the tension or jump scares, that shock factor can be missing. I think, looking a this book, Jordie Bellaire is, to all intents and purposes, the maestro conducting the timbre and tone of the book that, under the work of Tynion and Blanco, will provide even bigger shocks down the line.

As stated, I have gone through a loss akin to the one in this story. This gives the book a deeper relevance to me, I guess, a relevance that will be shared by those with a similar history. As on certain cold,wet days, when you think of what could of been, you can lose sight of what you have. I am glad that Ingrid Chabbert had the courage to share her story and with the help of Carole Maurel, has produced a book to honour the memory of one little baby.

Reboots of characters that have a huge fan base are difficult; just look how the mazing Spider-Man has floundered yet Ultimate Spider-Man is working as an example. This is harder this time around as we have already had a second volume for this character, that some may not have enjoyed (based on the low issues in the run). For me, having an original Witchblade creator helps keep that original vibe alive. With this book, Image and everyone involved have a damn good opportunity to soar to the 90's heyday that this book looks to mine.

This second volume continues the excellent work from its predecessor, excelling at the things it that the creative team do well. If you are an open-minded sort of person, that likes having conformity challenged and are comfortable with perception challenges, then this book is definitely right up your street. If on the other hand, comics with a clear-cut good and bad guy are more your thing, then maybe it's time to have your perceptions challenged.

The cynical comic book fan will no doubt raise a couple of points. The past and present style is currently getting an exaggerated airing on Arrow, which in turn will lead to comparisons between Young Lullaby and Hit Girl moving towards similarities to Jennifer Blood. Still, these facets do not take anything away from this issue and the run as a whole.

If you are interested to learn more about Sweet Lullaby and the people behind the book, head over to the Interview section for an interview with writer AJ Scherkenbach and artist J. Briscoe Allison.

I haven't read every issue of this last (for now?) run. Surprisingly, supernatural books aren't really my cup of tea. For me, it's the quality of the work that I look for. With this in mind, it's easy to realize that Mike Mignola is a creator on top of his game and whilst I am by no means a huge Hellboy fan, this issue carries with it a resonance that makes the conclusion that much more satisfying.

Oblivion Song offers Kirkman fans a chance to start something new, just in case they are getting a little worn out by the constant "everyone versus us" element of The Dead, with a book that hides it complexity behind a veil of a cartoon style art.

DC are looking to make some traction with this book. For some it will be a great celebration of a classic character and his family, for others it will be seen as practice run for Detective Comics #1000, although the real party should be Detective #1027, and for others this will be seen as cheese on toast, that doesn't meet the requirement to spend so much on one issue. I am going to side with aspirational elements, the inspirational elements that Superman, no Clark Kent stands for.

Action Comics #1001 goes someway to show that Bendis is planning a long game that should please some of the doubters, following the MoS mini-series. Recent Tweets advising that Lois and Jon will be coming back, should also alleviate fears that Bendis is out to destroy some of the better additions to the Superman mythos. All in all, this is a great start to the next 1000 issues.

So there you have it. Another version of the DC Universe is coming to a close. Next month sees the start of the Dawn of DC and with it more changes for a range of characters. Who better than Big Blue to kick things off?

Reading this book, I couldn't shake the feeling that this book is effectively Selina's Dark Knight Return. Look at the similarities; its a four book affair, Two-Face is in the first book and her action are driven by a loss. Oh and there is the ten year element. With all that said, Catwoman Lonely City is a great addition to the Black Label stable.

Written, Art, Colors & Letters by; Cliff Chiang Published by; DC Comics / Black Label

The publishing schedule may mean that we have to wait a while for each book, but all told, Catwoman Lonely City is well worth the wait.

Regular readers will know that I am not a big fan of horror books. That said, there is no escaping the excellent storytelling on show in this book. I am intrigued with Ro's situation and I am curious as to how the almost infatuation from Ro and her ghost will play out.

The title of this book lends itself to an idea that Ro may only love the "ghost" in the dark, though with his need for the room to be dark for him to move and interact in the real world maybe the title reflects Ro's place in his world. With three issues to go, we are in for an interesting read.

I loved the early issues of this book ; the setup was brilliant as was the slow paced love story. Thing is, at some point the horror part was going to come crashing in. It's a shame that once the full force and view of the creature is shown, the book loses some of its nuance. It is kin of like the Batman Arkham Asylum game in that you complete loads of tasks and clever subplots only for the game to end on a button bashing giant Joker, which doesn't quit leave up to the various other aspects of the game. Thankfully, vagian like the game, this final aspect does not detract from a larger whole.

This book features a lot of -isms , which under less skillful hands could have come across as preachy. Ahmed treats the subjects as a piece of the life of Elena and therefore treats the reader with intelligence, letting the reader make up their own mind about the the more personal aspects of the story. Ahmed takes this skill one step further with the political edge, ensuring that there is a genuine investigation to go hand in hand with the spooky goings on, and with Kivel on pencils, the book has a dark, gritty tarnished feel to it that makes no excuses for the 70's.

By having the book set in the 70's those -ism elements may feel like an easier sell, with a more closed worldview than we reportedly living in. Bearing in mind that this book has a lot of issues to work into the story, Ahmed juggles them well without coming across as preachy.

As much as I enjoyed this book, this genre always frustrates me. Whenever something bad happens to the family question, the remaining members become super great at stuff. Take this example; April is a downtrodden, sick of like, world weary type of character. This is established in book one and is carried over well here. But she turns into some sort of super sleuth to get on her missing daughters trail. This isn't the fault of anyone involved in the book; this is a great example of the crime / mystery genre; but this quirk is bothersome to me.

This has been a fun read; watching April come into her own to protect her brood, despite the given quirks in that type of story has been an interesting to see. AWA, with their range of distinct and diverse books are certainly making a strong start to their relatively short publishing history.

The Black Cat series is showing how strong a character Felicia is, in both attitude, competence and lifestyle. Her regular book is a fun read from the get go. I am at a loss as to how Marvel can produce such an enjoyable book and yet fail so miserably with Black Widow. To be honest, that's Marvel's conundrum to solve. For me, Black Cat is one of the books that I look forward to most every month.

In a lot ways, this is the book that I feel DC wishes their Catwoman book was; a character based on the thrill of the chase, out for fun instead of a character mourning the loss of a fiance that she herself left. Reading this book, I am reminded how well Marvel can create strong female led books, when they put their minds to it.

I have said it before, but this book for me has been the surprise hit of the last year. For all their problems, when Marvel get it right, boy do they get it right!

I can not say enough good things about this book. I love it! Every issue is like a throwback to when comics were enjoyable and not every story or character had to have some sort of societal impact! Entertainment can just be fun; and this book, thanks to Jed MacKay and his team, is pure entertainment.

Back when they started, I was a big fan of AfterShock. Unfortunately, at least for me, after a great start, the books tended to fall in to something of a holding pattern. As if once that initial pop, editors were happy to not push the envelope as much. I am glad to say that with Dark Ark, AfterShock is getting back to what they are possibly best known for; great twists on what readers think of as original stories. In the hands of Bunn and Doe, AfterShock may once again be riding the tide of success.

Dark Ark is a relatively simple tale, which will require all of Bunn's skills to retain reader interest.The monsters and demons do offer an interestingconfluence of intentions. Some may seem honourable, saving the humans in the hold when their own kind left them to drown; others just want to eat them I am sure thatBunn is up to the task, even if the threat teased at the end of book, may offer another conflict which hopefully will allow those subplots to come to fruition, with Doe's art capturing the action in all its demonic glory.

The whole book feels and reads like a dark fairy tale. Will Henry step up to the plate and be the hero that the Fearscape needs or will he live down to everyone's expectations. Whatever the outcome, this story is intriguing, with its flawed character who, through his own lens view of his life, may not even be aware that this is his journey or redemption, a chance to finally achieve everything that he feels he was destined to.

If I had one complaint about Vault Comics it would be that unless you get into the book at the ground floor, you may find yourself a bit lost as you pick up separate issues, a problem that also faces These Savage Shores, which may work for trade paperback sales. Still, that is a publishing problem and one that needn't worry O'Sullivan, Mutti and company as they continue their trek through the fears of Henry and quite possibly our fears also.

Created, Written & Art by; Frank ChoColors by; Sabine RichLetters by; Sal CiprianoPublished by; Artists, Writes & Artisans (AWA)

I love this series. It has been a fun and energetic ride so far. A man of simple tastes? Sometimes I am, and I have no problem with that at all. I buy comics to enjoy them, to enjoy the stories, to enjoy the art. With Fight Girl, Cho has ticked those three boxes.

So the X-Men are back, yet in all reality, they are not quite back, given that this book will lead to the start of a new wave of X-books. Fans will have to wait for yet another two mini-series to run their course before you get to see them in all their ZZAP, SNIKT and BAMF glory. At least with Hickman involved here and in future books, there feels likes there is some point in actually reading both House Power of X.

The question at the top of review, has Hickman's plan peaked? Looking at the series to date, the answer has to be a resounding no; Hickman has shown that he is certainly in this for the long haul, and so will countless readers.

I for one am pleased that Bond, James Bond is back on the rack. With a clever setup, Gage may have made it hard for himself to right the ship. It will certainly be an interesting ride. All we need now are some fancy gadgets, a cool car and a Bond girl to make things perfectly 007!

Story wise, there is no drop in the quality and even with the slightly more erratic scratchy art, the book delivers a fantastic Bond experience in a mature and action packed way.

For a book of many influences, Thompson manages to keep things fresh even going as far as to add hooks for future issues. A well written, observed slice of love from two distinct polar opposites.

Normally, the first issue is seen as the setup bool. With such a dramatic change to Catrin's life at the end of the last book, this feels like a second attempt to setup the story. This isn't a bad thing; at this stage there are two distinct Catrin's, with and without Rhion. There is still more to come from this book as we have yet to see more of the garden and the debate around A.I extending past its original purpose. It is going to be an interesting read for sure.

The format of this book may seem a bit more of a hard sell than the "present day" book, inclusions of the former notwithstanding. Between the two books, Hickman has crafted his own version of the X-universe that is waiting for us all to explore.

Despite no drop in overall quality, I find that I didn't enjoy this book as much as it's counterpart, House #2. I have always loved the Sentinels, but have never been a huge Master Mold fan. Apart from one kick ass Cyclops scene, there isn't any of the real powerful or all together world changing surprises in the book. That said, the scope and ideas within the pages still make this book head and shoulders above the majority of the Marvel line and shows the Distinguished Competition what can be achieved with careful planning.

Regardless of my ongoing dislike of the disregard that newer vampire stories seem to apply, Vault Comics have delivered a first issue that is full of character, full of vibrancy and imbues the reader with a level of intrigue that will make them want to read future issues.

It should come as no surprise that I love this book. Vault having been putting out quality books for a while now and this is no exception. The only downside I can see to this issue is that it is not really "jump on point" friendly, so to enjoy this book at it's best, you will need to check out those back issues bins, if there are any copies left of this brilliantly crafted tale.

The Dregs is a clever title for a book that offer so much from a seemingly simple story. Does the title reflect the characters, their part of the world or the viewpoint that society has of them? Either way, this book deserves to escape the dregs of the bargain bin, such is the quality of both the writing and the art.

For me, a self admitted superhero fan, this book is an odd experience. At first glance, it is easy to dismiss as just another mature book with less than explosive artwork. Yet, it is actually the comic book version of a good cup of coffee. It just needs time to percolate.So read this book; put it down; reflect and read again.

At times, this series has been a difficult read. In no part is this an indictment on any of the creative team. It's just that the superhero fan in me, expects good to always triumph over evil. Whilst this is obviously an unrealistic viewpoint, a large part of me wanted a happier ending for Arnold. Still, as in life, the best that you can expect is to have to make a decision tempered with the hope that you make the right one.

So, another Vampi book, another multiverse idea. Thing is, timing aside, Sniegoski and Acheson bring their storytelling passion to the fore delivering a newish take on and older idea.

For all the Vampi content thats out there; with another to start later this year with Vampirella / Dracula, you may assume that the market is flooded blood red. In fact, this book could Dynamite's plan in microcosm; each Vampi in here is different, just like the books that are on the shelf.

Vampiverse is fun book, with an interesting big bad, with a cast of possibly hundreds of Vampi's to add nuance, depth, scope and grandeur to the idea of a multi verse, be it Vampi centric or not!

A great read, with a fantastic lead character, written in a way that engenders a sexy, violent and fun book.

I am a big fan of the first series and this second run hasn't disappointed in terms of storytelling and character developments, to go along with the sexiness of character who oozes sex appeal and a stronger sense of self-reliance.

As frustrating as the odd quibbles in this issue are, on the whole, this mini series has been a fun read from the get go, with its mix of action, sexiness, curves and bullets. I am looking forward to next run, for sure.

After two very successful mini-series, I was wondering where Ardai, and Joanna to some extent, would go next. The lure of resting laurels is strong, yet Ardai has refused to go down the "more of the same route (please take note Marvel and DC), and instead fleshed out the Gun Honey world, with shades of grey that match the doing bad things for good reason motif's that have been in play previously.

I admit that pirate books are not my cup of tea. The closest I get to pirates is the Captain Hook's party boat in Cancun, Mexico, (but that's a whole different story). Still, I do know the quality of writing that Stephanie Phillips brings into play. Here, she does not disappoint in any way, shape or form. I am interested to see the on gong travels of Anne Bonny.

For those that consider this particular subject taboo for a comic book, may I remind you that this topic has been seen in any number of movies and TV shows, Ray Donovan being one of the more recent. I am pleased to see how all involved have applied a level of maturity to their work. I am interested to see how this series plays out in the next chapters.

All in all, this book is an enjoyable read, whether you view it as a re-imagining of the original or are totally new to American Gods. Oh, and by the way, that episode of Star Trek was called "Who Mourns For Adonais?"

Say what you like about Artists Writers and Artisans bur over the last few months, they have been delivering some excellent books covering a wide range of topics and flavours.

This book is evocative of the show that sired it; with Bryan Edward Hill it has writer that is more than capable in delivering the goods. Coupled with Gleb Melnikov's fantastic art, this series is off to a great start. Just please don't bring Lorne in anytime soon .

This book has been surprisingly fun from the get go. Slower issues have been used well to move things long well and even the crossover, with it's less Angel focused plot encapsulated the "team" element of the book, even if the term "team" is massively over used.

Over the last 14 years, I have had rescue cats; one that supposedly hated people, but really didn't, and one who seemingly chose me. I have seen the first hand nature of the hopeful looks, the desperate looks and the resigned looks from the animals that exist in such places. Using the pound as a setting gives the book an instantly recognisable authoritarian element. The influences that shape this book are very clear; your enjoyment of the book may depend on how you feel about homages as a whole.

Time travel gives a whole bunch of people a headache. Learning the ropes of another universe can be difficult, whether it be Trek, Back to the Future, Endgame of even Calvin and Hobbes. Still, when the premise is as interesting as the one here, putting the time in is more than worth the effort.

Written and created by; Stephanie PhillipsArt by; Francesca FantiniColors by; Lauren AffeLetters by; A Larger World's Troy PeteriPublished by; AfterShock Comics

The production values of AfterShock very rarely disappoint, even if their initial "shock' value has worn out, which has been the case on some books. With that said Phillips has shown herself to be a strong and versatile creator, having worked across the aisles, for a number of different publishers.

I am a bit of a sucker for the whole "crazy town" vibe, and this book certainly whets my appetite. With many influences and stable brothers to contend with, this book manages to stand apart from the crowd. Another dark and deep success for Vault Comics.

B.P.R.D is one of the longest running books from Dark Horse, which seems to suit all those involved, especially as there seems to be a genuine effort to let the book evolve, with no easy answers or cop outs. Of course, there is a helluva of a surprise waiting at the end of theissue, which may well please this books fan base.

A fun first issue that hints at a deeper mysteries yet to unfurl and with the types of characters and the adult horror, not scary this book could well be a sleeper hit for all involved.

The cynic in me wants to say that this book doesn't deliver anything to the overall story. In fact it keeps the story in a holding pattern of sorts. But the comic fan in me is happy to see a solid mystery of sorts being applied to Batman, with the biggest one being, what does he see? This type of book is what Snyder excels at and with Tynion IV and Williamson added to the mix, the book works extremely well, even if by avoiding any real closure dooms us to more Metal mayhem over the next couple of months. I just hope that this book is a big hit for DC as there is a lot of creators that will need a paycheque for this one.

As some of you may know I have not been the biggest fan of either the main book or some of the one shots and don't even get me started on the tie-ins. DC have thrown some of their top talent at the series and in the case of the Devastator it works within its own logic, even going as far as to hinting how this whole storyline may come to an end just in time for The Doomsday Clock.

This books works well in a number of ways, from seeing who strong a character Diana is, to possibly how weak Bruce is to let the power corrupt him, all the way to seeing how these books fit into the main story, which does give the impression thatwe are seeing at least some progress toward the end of these one shots.

The timing of this book strikes me as unusual if I am honest. DC are currently putting out a wealth of "alternative" Batman books as part of the Metal event. As such, this may well get missed by some in the crush of product on the rack. That would be a shame, as this books, very much like Gotham City Garage and Nightwing New Order are presenting a different DC universe that actually feels like it could lead to an ongoing series, rather than the "make a buck, quick" nature of the aforementioned Metal books. I am sure that, with all the nods and echoes in the, book there might be a few people who will criticise; when are too many Easter eggs enough?(Please no French jokes).For me, I am very interested in seeing where this book is going.

Co- creators Lindsay and Kivela have wrapped up a story about the duality of a persons nature, in a crime story featuring super powers. I am not sure what is going to happen next, but I will definitely wait and see the bigger picture that this Beautiful Canvas will be a part of.

For what I thought was "just" a monster book, I was both surprised and pleased. The story reads well, with some well paced elements that lead in to the main flow and direction of the story. Jason Howard has done an incredible job in creating a world that is more interesting and intriguing than I expected.

Of course, this isn't the first time that DC and Dark Horse have gotten together; the Wonder Woman vs Conan book, prior to the latter returning back to Marvel, was a lot of fun. The first issue of this book, goes a long way to continuing that element of fun as an alternative to the more regular Justice League team, with the added spice of yesteryear.

For a genre that I am not generally fond of this book has impressed me. Where Potter and his gang dealt with wizards, Blackwood has a more earthy feel to it. This then gives the book a bigger horror vibe than a magic one. If the powers that be at Dark Horse know one thing, it is how to do horror well and this book is no exception!

I love how versatile a vampire story can be; it is a trope that can be used in feudal Japan, modern day Los Angeles, the wild west and even the Blade Runner-esque future. Making it work here; Koizumi and Rahal have shown that for the flexibility to work, vampires need to be grounded at the core, every Dracula has a Mina Harker for example. Throw in deceit, flaws and the darkness of night shrouding darker acts and you have yourself an excellent first issue of an exciting series.

Briggs land is an interesting read, presenting as it does, a different way of life and potentially how a government would act towards such a viable case for secession. If America is truly the Land of the Free, why can't a group secede? I do have questions about life in the New Land, how do they buy food? How do they pay for stuff? How does their economy work?How do they know about cell phones (mobile phones to us Brits)? These question are mentioned not as means to decry or debunk this book; they are asked as a sign of respect to a creative team who produced a book that has sincerely piqued my interest. I look forward to discovering the answers along with the further developments of this ongoing story.

For a book that, at first, didn't seem to offer much, the surprises come thick and fast. There is a simplicity to the storytelling, being as this is the first issue. Yet, there are enough questions left hanging to indicate that things are going to get a little more complicated. I am normally quite critical of the current trend of story compression to fulfil the demands of TPB format. But here, I am not sure that four issues will be enough for many readers who may well want more issues of Ich's adventures.

Given that Carol runs the risk of being seen as over powered, those involved have kind of tried to ground her with a family of friends, in much the same way that Superman is grounded by Lois, Jimmy and the rest of the Daily Planet. With Carol, apart from Jessica Drew, the lines of friendship seem less distinct. This issue then, sees a total 180 degree turnabout; instead of hiding her power for the sake of friendship, Carol is at her powerful best. Granted, this turn of events may be short lived in the grand scheme of things, but that doesn't that this isn't going to be a helluva ride!

It has been said before that Captain Marvel lives in the good graces of Marvel needing a premier female superhero. After all, how else can you explain the myriad attempts of having her lead a series? In Thompson, Carol has a writer that obviously loves the character and whilst loving a character is different to having a successful book, in this instance I think that Thompson, along with Garbett, have finally hit the right balance.

Having a soft spot for Carol Danvers since the 70's, I ma pleased to have enjoyed this story line. There is no massive motive, no change a characters origins and no suddenly worthy element that effectively reduces the need for any of the other heroes. It has been plainly put, a fun read! Marvel have been doing a great job, for the most part, with their female led books. Hopefully Thompson and company can keep this momentum going.

Overall, I haven't minded this little arc. As I am not reading Empyre, I was a little concerned that these would be lame duck issues. With Thompson introducing Lauri-Ell, she has given us a sort of "Carol-by-proxy" to keep the readers entertained, whilst Carol is doing her war stuff off panel. A surprisingly well executed arc. Well done.

Usual. This is a word that carries some negative connotations. This book has been a solid book for quite a while now. As such it is sometimes hard to appreciate a book that maintains quality rather than excel for periods of time. But appreciate it you should as Thompson's familiarity with the character ensures that there is great storytelling in every issue. Don't fail to see if for all the other Marvel books, trying to be this good, on the rack.

For a book that has been at a high standard for quite some time, this issue was outstanding! When you consider how frustrating Avengers and the Phoenix force story has been, how nothing has happened in Amazing Spider-Man for a whole and don't get me started with the re-incarnation of Claremont's long running elongation of story that Hickman is channeling, Thompson and Carol have delivered quality storytelling month in / month out. Head and shoulders the best book that Marvel has published this year to date.

It shows how much effort and talent Marvel are putting into "just" a regular book; you have superstar writer Kelly Thompson, David Lopez, expert colorist in Triona Farrell and the event letterer and X-font creator Clayton Cowles! How can you not be impressed by this book. Captain Marvel, Black Cat and the up and coming Spider-Woman, which has found its feet, go to show that Marvel has their fingers on the pulse when it comes to their female led books.

Despite the legacy counts, this issue sees the longest run of the Carol's comic book career. Through all the changes, be titular, costume, the addition of Alpha Flight, you have to admire the persistence of Marvel to stick with the character, though truth be told, I feel that Kelly Thompson deserves all the recognition for maintain Carol;'s ongoing presence in the Marvel Universe and in your local comic book shops.

Despite the art snafu's, this book is highly readable, which kind of proves my view that you read a well written book with art you may not enjoy, but not the other way around. You would have to go someway to have art that would detract from Thompson's excellent ideas, plots and dialogue. Captain Marvel is one of the most consistently good books from Marvel Comics, full of energy, humour as Thompson successfully manages to create genuine threats for one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel universe.

Captain Marvel has been one of more consistent books from Marvel; all credit for this has to go to Kelly Thompson who always seems to be on her A game with this character.

This books remains one of the best books that Marvel publish, with a writer at the top of her game, displaying a love for the character that she has worked on for so long.

I am not a huge fan of the A.X.E event, having read a couple of issues from the main arc (don't get me started about the resurrection of Steve Rogers) and a number of tie-in books. This issue is on par with the Amazing Spider-Man issue, though without the pathos that goes hand-in-hand with Peter Parker. Instead, Thompson manages to keep Carol on her toes through the continued us of her supporting cast, be they sister, friend or even cat / Flerkin.

If i have said once, I must have said it a million times, Captain Marvel under the writing of Kelly Thompson is consistently the best book Marvel are putting out, month in month out. Thompson mixes up genuine threat, X-Men excepting, with a sense of family that displays true emotions from the characters.

By using team aspects to Captain Marvel's, Kelly Thompson is showing readers not just her ability to deliver high quality storytelling, demonstrating a fantastic understanding of the character. She has also established herself as the type of writer that I would love to see take on the Avengers; how many time have the Avengers been in Carol's book and vice verse? I am not sure the book could commercially be re-packaged as "Consistent Captain Marvel, though it is fully descriptive and accurate. Another great issue!

Captain Marvel, with Kelly Thompson as writer is, by far, the most consistent Marvel put out. The quality of writing is excellent, with Thompson giving us a Carol that we can love, no mean feat given how the character has been used in the past.

The dialogue is as sharp as ever, each character has their own voice, the level of consistency through the entire run is impressive.

IDW's Clue hits the rack a week or so after Image's Shirtless Bear Fighter, both ramping the "laugh out loud" elements, proving that there can be some fun had in this oft Dark Forge, Crisis, Secret Empire comic industry. I can't wait for the Monopoly comic!

If you read The Dreggs, you could be forgiven for assuming you know the writings of Thompson and Nadler. True both books challenge perceptions and the order of things, and even though the battle between being rich or being poor does raise its head here, it is by no means the same level as their previous work. I am a big fan of Black Mask Comics, having read quite a selection of their books, as they quietly go about carving out a niche for themselves by delivering quality products.

When it comes to vampires, there isn't really a whole not of new stuff you can add. In this case, there are influences in play that you may have seen before, most notably True Blood and Twilight, with the setting and the idea of marking the land as theirs; though thankfully there are no sparkly vampires. Previously AftserShock like to go for the jugular when it comes to stories with a twist. This idea may have served it's usefulness as constant twists and turns can become the norm with over use. As such, this book, with its reasonably normal setup is actually a bit of fresh for the publisher, though I am sure that whole story may have a bite down the line.

Away from the world of Gotham and the Justice League, Snyder has a reputation of delivering fantastic work. Without the pressures of working on a cross media icon, and being free to tell hisstory, I am sure that this book will be another blaze of glory for him.

I was unsure what to think of this book, initially. Yes, it could be seen as a tad pretentious, though Russell ideas certainly have resonance in todays world, both on an individual and societal scale. The "twists" in the tale add a level of darkness and enjoyability to yet another Vault Comics hit.

I looked at this book a couple of times before choosing to put, erm, digital pen to digital paper. Ahoy books look to mess with your idea of the world. It is great to see that this modus operandi is still in full swing.

A surprise book from the outset, that impresses a cynic like me with its "it is what it is honesty, in an easy going, charming and fun read.

AWA or Artists Writers & Artisans Inc. giving them them their full title ,may sound a little pretentious, but based on this first issue, Percy, Schoonover and company are certainly trying to live up to the company title.

AWA thrive on this type of mature storyline; sometimes its not clear who the good and bad guys are or if there are good guys, they are fragile as if one more bad case or situation will break them forever. The fact these types of characters are driven to fight the good fight is matter of their own personal issues as much as it is in protecting others in the world. It is this level of ambiguity that makes this book an interesting read.

At first reading, I wasn't that impressed with this book. Bucky looking for his past is as used as a story as Red Hood being angry at Batman. Lanzing and Kelly have used the usual desire of the character [Bucky] to change the perspective of the whole Fisk files. As such, this is an interesting book that stand out against the usual superhero ideal of trying to take down the bad guy.

Echoes; a reverberation of the past. The title alludes to the journey that Martin is going through, but could also be used as a nod to the influences mentioned earlier. That allusion is probably going to be the hardest sell in regards to the book and it is one that is only overcome by reading the book and immersing yourself in Martin's journey.

Being not really sure what to expect from this book, I have to say I found the whole book charming in a subtly horrifying way. I do have reservations about the longevity of the premise; once the fun has stopped with all the wishes, will there be enough left tin the tank to resolve the problems caused? I could wish for a conclusion, but I think that would mean missing so many interesting ideas and observations.

This is an ongoing series, structured in five issue arcs. Schirmer and Balboni also have set themselves the task of providing a complete story in an issue. Given today's usual preference to write for trades, I have to say, I like the nod back to yesteryear especially as it gives the impression that every issue will be a valid jumping on point. All in all, this is an intriguing read based in a new world, with Schirmer's influences clearly seen throughout the book.

What more could you wants from a book that features, magic, sex and humor? Azzarello and Llovet feel well suited to chronicle Faith's relationships with magic, Poppy and the Devil.

This is an interesting book in so much as it seems to capture the ambiguity facing a number of people and their lifestyle choices. Throw in some magic and suddenly the book doesn't seem to have a moral compass. That said, to whose compass must a person chart their path? People are individual, with their own dreams, needs and desires, each as viable to themselves as the next person. Here, within the confines of a comic book, we get to see how one person comes to terms with the responsibility of trying to live her own life. Remember though, the Devil is always in the detail!

This series is bubbling along nicely. By know, readers should be used to the amount of sex and nudity that is on show. It will interesting to see how much further Faith can lose herself and when with the bounce back, if there is any, she will attempt to find herself anew.

Touted as a jump on point, this book manages to introduce and develop at the same time, setting up Faith's next challenges, which I am sure will be just a daunting as that dreaded canvas of white, just waiting to absorb her creativity without feeling or remorse.

Both runs of Faithless are advertised as in the 000tradition of the divine comedy. After reading this latest issue, I think that there's another major influence on display; the TV show Lucifer. True, this book has more sex and eroticism shown with courage and without apology than Lucifer but there is a love interest, there is the devil and a cast of characters up to no good or good depending on your point of view. I do feel that we have lost the way a tad in this run; there used to be touches of magic around Faith which seems to have dried up. Even with interest waning, the book is still one of the most readable from a quality perspective.

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If you are interested in Freeway Fighter, head over to the interview section where we catch up with writer Andi Ewington and artist Simon Coleby.

Describing the book in five words or less Frank and Johns stated "Walking x-ray kicks ass!" and "Radioactive family man"; after reading the first issue, I can confirm that both descriptions are more than correct.

I will admit that I absolutely love the show Glow, so this book was always going to grab my attention. The surprise is that the book is so well developed, ensuring that the fun elements that make the show enjoyable are all present in this one-shot, which goes to prove who well observed this book is, from all involved.

With violence, attraction, disenfranchisement and revenge are all the ingredients of a dish best served noir with chefs Robinson and Feister is setting the heat in their noir filled kitchen.

I was recently in my local comic shop, shooting the breeze and I discovered that they don't stock Zenescope books, which goes to prove that there is possibly too much product out there for retailers to choose from. Retailers will always gravitate towards the big icon's as those book sell and bring people into the store. Whilst I have not given this book or run the highest of scores over the past year, it has been consistent. Shand's storytelling is a kind of throwback to earlier days, with long running storylines and threads carried over, rather than writing for the trade paperback. Despite the lack of love for Zenescope from the majority of the North East UK, I for one will miss looking through this book.Thanks for the ride, Pat.

The key factor in this book are ensuring that the main character remains relatable and that the readers care about him. On top of that, the mystery has to be worthy of the eight issues. Too often the punchlineof a number of mystery stories fails to deliver on the setup. I am hopeful that under the guidance of Higgins and Siegel, we are in for quite a ride.

I love the fact that Zod is becoming something of a major villain in the DC Universe, after stints in Suicide Squad and the Superman books. Venditti has clearly understood how a super-powered zealot would feel if his home was destroyed, and the high and mighty Lantern Corps did nothing to save it. For a book that I don't read, featuring characters that I am not fond of, I was completely taken by surprise with how much I actually enjoyed this book.

Valiant fans will love this book; all their favourites are on show and with the promise of other heroes and teams on the verge of introduction, sides have never been more cluttered or the reasons for choosing more complex. It does make you wonder how Kindt would handle that other threat to national security…..mutants. So until Kindt, makes his Marvel, enjoy the complexities of heroes living in a non-heroic world where actions carry their own level of political gain and public retribution.

Titan Comics may be seen as a small publisher when it comes to single issue books, but their recent record shows that they embrace the four corners of comic producing world, not content to fall into just one genre. Regardless of personal preference of the stories within, Titan always put together high quality books.On this occasion, the quality story surpasses their already high production values.

Overall, this book is still a good read with theburden of the murder beginning to have serious ramifications for a number of people, which gives the reader more than one point of view each with their own importance and baggage. I am very interested how much weight the story can hold before Faust and Phillips start toward what is beginning to look like a confliction of a conclusion.

Overall, this book is an engaging read, though ultimately, at least at this stage, doesn't add anything really substantial to Harley or the Joker. The biggest impact on this book could well be the timing, coming on the heels so quickly of other Harley featured books. Still for fans of the Jim Lee anointed "fourth column of the DC Universe", this will be a must buy book and series.

For a book that, at its inception, felt like it could water down the product, I have to say that I quite enjoyed this issue. I do worry that once the Madeline focus is resolved, will the book falter in the same way as Fallen Angels. After all, both books use the set mission approach, that may not offer much wiggle room. That's a concern for down the line; for now, just revel in the gloriously visual chaos of a vengeful Goblin Queen!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, odd characters and body part shapes not withstanding. What's not to like; a break from the Krakoan arc and a couple fo old school villains to boot. I can't wait for the next issue!

Historically, I am not much of a Vertigo fan; I always feel that with their main characters having so much history, I kind of missed the jumping on point. With Hex Wives however, there is no such issue. This is a totally new spin on the age-old men vs women and the subjugation of the genders, of which at times, allow for both to enjoy the upper hand, just not at the same time. With pacing being a a potential problem to overcome, the book is an interesting take, with engaging characters and enough of a selection of hooks and hints to keep the reader's attention.

With David's plight, it certainly seems true that misery loves company, or at least a company of readers love his misery, in this entertaining book.

As good as this book is, it doesn't pack the same wallop as Waves, (written by Ingrid Chabbert with illustrations by Carole Maurel " the review can be found here), which features another equally emotive pregnancy issue. Some of this is down to the one person worldview mentioned above. The other is the pacing of the story.

I have said previously that I am not the biggest Valiant fan in the world. I don't know why to be honest; it must clearly be a "me thing, not a them thing". Yet looking at this book, reading the quality of the writing, I am not surprised that have carved for themselves a piece of the comic book reader pie.

Never being much of an Iron Man fan, I was unsure how much I would enjoy this book. For me, I would have preferred more Tamara and Felicia; with the inclusion of the Iron Cat armour Tony was bound to be involved. With the main crux of the story being the tension between the ladies, Tony should have been a modus operandi; instead, I sometimes felt that Black Cat was a guest star in her own book. Hopefully this balance will be redressed in the aforementioned Black Cat Mary Jane mini.

I have been a fan of Dynamite's James Bond books for a while now. It's good to see that in the need to make the most of the current Bond love generated by the movie, that Dynamite haven't scrimped on the quality.

For a while, I have been saying how Dynamite have given Bond a mature world in which to exist. It is great to see that this ideal continues in a book that I may not have asked for, but now, thanks to its near perfect execution, I am now eagerly looking forward too.

This book is an interesting diversion from some of the more continuity fuelled books with a defined style that will no doubt split opinion. First impressions aside, the book does deliver the required horror that fans of Mike Mignola et al usually deliver.

In addition, keep an eye out for a podcast scheduled soon with the creators of Neon Skies over on the Outside the Panels podcast!

Minor quibbles aside, such as theidentity of the second big bad, this series is one that offers a likeable character trying to do a simple thing, whilst dealing with the barriers of environment and circumstance coupled with overcoming people expectations of her. Sounds likes a tall order? With a book of this quality, I am sure that Siya Oum is more than up to those challenges as is Lola herself.

This book is a fun read that is both poignant in retrospect, with writing that possibly hides Upchurch's feelings and thoughts in plain sight and covers the beats of familiar tropes. It will be interesting to see how this series develops.

I have said it a few times, but I am not a huge horror fan. That said, Kalan and Mutti have created a book that is truly disturbing in places.

I sometimes feel that horror can be hard to accomplish in comics. Sure, you can have over the top gore or over the top monsters, but there is nuance that is lost, be it the music track or the "there they are behind the door; now they're gone!" type of effect. To remain so popular and so consistent as Bunn and to some extent Hurtt, show the calibre of their work, This is no different.

For Marilyn fans, this book may be a bit of a reach, especially as for the large part, there will no doubt be expectations in play. However, if you are a horror fan, then you will be well served by this book with its creator using such a prolific person as the focal point, the impacts of her monsters can be seen to play out in her more than colourful real life exploits and ultimately her failures.

An interesting taking on family dysfunction that is wrapped up in a an exciting psychological thriller and horror story.

Way back in 1983, my parent divorced. At the time, the UK only had three TV channels Friday night on BBC2 was horror night. My mother and I used to sit on the couch, watching the classic horror films from Nosferatu to Frankenstein's Monster all the way up to some of the Hammer classics. Thank you Mike Mignola and Warwick Johnson-Caldwell for feeding my own personal nostalgia.

An interesting read, cleverly mixing the readers expectations to deliver a book that feeds on some old school paranoia, with the need for belonging and family.

Not for the faint-hearted, this book is an excellent addition to the very cluttered horror genre, with its clever use of sub-genres that cater to many, many nightmares!

It seems that August is "Alternative DC Month" with futures that yet may be making something of a return. Is thisan editorial edict from DC as a means to consider bringing back Elseworlds? As a six-issue run, this series serves to challenge Dick Grayson's convictions in a number of ways. What would someone do when the two guiding ideals by which they live, exist in direct contradiction? What is the right choice? Who's hurt and disappointment can you live with? All great questions to be sure; which in the answering, should make this book a highly entertaining read.

This book surpassed my expectations as Snyder and Daniel bring out their respective big guns to deliver a book that has an intriguing premise with a likeable lead. I am sure that fans of either will love this book.

Image have done it again. They have shown that with the correct talent on a book, you do not have to devolve comics into just the superhero crowd. True, the immortality of this gang could be seen as a super power, but its the ramifications of their "skills" that is going to make this book a very interesting and very enjoyable read.

I am not sure of the validity of reworking classic books. If I wanted to read Oliver Twist, I would do so. On the other hand, I guess a lot of the fun is seeing the old story in a new way. Whilst not a book I would rush out to buy, the standard of the writing, the art and the infusion of quality from all those involved, make this an interesting read.

Boom! Studios have gotten their mix of books just about right, probably after seeing how Dark Horse manged their own licenced and original material back in the day. By tempting creators of the calibre of Keiron Gillen and Dan Mora, along with a very talented colorist shows just how diverse Boom! Studios line of books is.

Peter Cannon is an old school character which I enjoyed back in the 90's and is a title that I have patiently been waiting for since hearing about his return. With Superpower and Peter Cannon, it seems that Dynamite are having a go at cracking the superhero market and with books of this quality they stand a great chance.

With shades of Hotel California ringing in my ears after reading this book, I am intrigued to see where Lemire "keeps on trucking will drive the character forward. Is it just survival or is there something else in play down the line? I wonder what Dom would give for Optimus prime right about now?

Plastic is a book about love, the things that someone would do for love mixed with a little bit of crazy and some over the top bad guys. What's not to like?

Plastic Man is an odd book, taking the comical hero and casting him in a seriously dark world. It is certainly a square peg book for a round hole character. Sounds perfect for the man of many shapes then.

I am not a horror book fan. Still there is something about this book that catches my attention, that despite my usual lack of disinterest, I am genuinely curious and want to see what is going on.

For a non-horror fan like me, enjoying this book came as bit of a surprise. True, there are a couple of tropes in play, but they are done extremely well, which should please the horror tinged Vertigo fans out there.

As with Vampi, there is now a range of Sonja books to choose from, depending on your personal taste. All of them, very much like this new ongoing series, feature A list creators; it is surely one of the best times to be a fan of the She-Devil with a sword!

Fifty years is truly worth a celebration. There has to be said about the sort of longevity that doesn't require constant reboots and restarts. Sure, there has been the had "toe dipped in to water' with alternative Sonja's but in the end, it's Sonja herself that remains true to herself thanks to the range of excellent creators, with Grbekk and Geovani adding to that list.

Fifty years is truly worth a celebration. There has to be said about the sort of longevity that doesn't require constant reboots and restarts. Sure, there has been the had "toe dipped in to water' with alternative Sonja's but in the end, it's Sonja herself that remains true to herself thanks to the range of excellent creators, with Grbekk and Geovani adding to that list.

A warlord that caused a curse, could it be Kulan Gath? Niles will need to work hard to move away from the expectations set by previous series. Following this well paced first issue, with it's initial set-ups, I have every faith that we are in for an intriguing and surprising quest. May be we will be damned if we do and damned if we don't!

I may sound a tad glib or sarcastic over the use of the same idea; I guess I get a little disappointed in the first instance. Is it that the first attempt wasn't great and needs a do-over? Part of this is due to the constant re-usage of a theme from the Big Two. With Abnett I tend to think that he maybe looks at an idea and rather than settle, things, how similar situations can be taken down a different route with different characters, giving readers not one, but two great stories.

One of the things that Dynamite manages well, is the idea that there is a multiverse, where continuity has no bearing. This will explain the various volumes of same character comics. It also means that the rule can be pushed back a little bit and in the wake of being unshackled, creators like Abnett and Lau can produce fantastic comics!

If like me you like the older tongue-in-cheek stories or even if you love the Rocketeer or King, than this book is a must! For everyone else, a simple, yet fun book awaits!

I wasn't quite sure what to to expect when I picked this up. I can see that both LaValle and Kirk are channeling the influences from the recently cancelled (and re-started) Hulk book; the horror vibe is there for all to see! Yet, by using a a character like Creed, we have a character that seems more in control of his own destiny than the Hulk. What I mean by that, is that Banner's alter ego is a reflection of third party influence on banner, where as Sabretooth is usually the person that is doing the affecting. Given that difference in approach, it is interesting to see Creed react, yet still trying to control his fate.

An actual all-new and all-different Sonja that borrows from a myriad of sources, which includes magical armour which is an idea used differently in Sonja traditional book, is a surprisingly enjoyable read.

In all the hoopla and success of Endgame, this feels like an odd time for a book that features not one member of the film to hit the stores. Maybe Marvel think that people may be tired of Rogers, Stark et al being the focus of the Avengers. Problem is, no matter how much fun this book is, eventually Avengers always fall back on the main three characters. Still, this team is an odd mix which will give fans a different type of team a different type of dynamic, so much so, I am tempted to say "All New, All Different". In all honesty, I hope the book does well and I am looking to seeing how Conan reacts to Venom and Frank Castle reacts to Elektra down the line.

So the "old order changeth once more, though constants remain as always. Pepose takes the "changeth idea an applies it to key parts of the story, not happy to mix up the team. Savage Avengers, very much like Justice League Dark is an odd book at times, with a mix of ideas and characters that shouldn't fit; surely lady Daredevil is better suited to the mean streets of Hell's Kitchen instead of getting mixed up in timey-whimey stuff? Still I am sure fans of the characters involved could have their curiosity piqued and in doing so, could be in for a pleasant surprise.

Given my aforementioned lack of interest in horror books, I was pleasantly surprised to get caught in the swirl of this first issue. The ability of the creative team working together is on show with enough script and dialogue to direct the art which shows enough to warrant the need of less lettering, thus nothing distracts the reader from the whole experience.

By now you should have realized the plethora of quality books that AfterShock is putting on comic racks with a heady mix of dark tales, violent pasts and the promise of more to come.

An interesting first issue that successfully re-introduces a character that may not have been given his full due previously. With Bunn, Davis-Hunt and crew on board, it will be interesting to see the magic that they will weave.

I was buying the previous Sheena book before I felt it ran out of steam. Hopefully with a distinct setup, story compression will not eke out the fun elements that is so prevalent in this engaging first issue.

All in this book was an enjoyable first issue; the revelations hold true reverberations which will intrigue readers down the line. Show's End is yet another well crafted and produced book from a publisher that exudes quality.

The not so quite far-flung future has an interesting vibe in play to compliment the father daughter relationship. Both Willa and her father want her to be able to travel, but with his heart stuck in the past andher head firmly in the present, with low gravity to deal with, what will keep theses two from drifting apart?

Spencer & Locke Volume 2 #1 is due for release on April 24th, and for more interview with series writer David Pepose and artist Jorge Santiago Jr. please click here

As stated,this book is a fun read, which may not offer much in the way of ramifications, though, personally I hope that's not the case. Carol could do with a new counterpart. the ambiguity in Star would serve as an interesting contrast down the line.

Reading this issue, I have come to the realisation that I may have been assimilated. I have enjoyed a number of the Trek books, especially when they have attempted something different; the Academy book for example. I still don't see the point of the photo-story book, but there is always Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations, as someone once said. Back to this book, I was very impressed that Johnson has brought character elements into play rather than action on top of action trap that the recent movie seemed to have fallen. As I am not a huge fan of the movies, I totallymissed any pre-releasepress about this book soI was genuinely surprised at the end. All in, good job all round.

Thanks to the lock-down, I have been on a bit of Trek-a-thon, covering Classic, Next Gen, Picard and the new-ish movie. I have yet to make it out past Bajor. Reading this though, has made me realise how intricate this series became with the war, Worf and the secession of Bajor from it' s Federation application; not to mention changes in crew. Scott Tipton and David Tipton have managed to mine the show effectively with an engaging story of what could have happened between episodes.

Han and Chewie are my favourite character in all of Star Wars. I even own the original Brian Daley Han Solo books (first prints). Seeing this pair of scoundrels back in the action certainly put a smile on this old Star Wars fans face.

Start Again is a very strong book, with all involved clearly on the same page with the vibe and the intent of the story and deserves to be read.

DC have really pulled out all the stops with this book by looking to get the best "indie" creators to write a story set within a specific time frame. This means that they have asked creators to work to their strengths, especially with Mariko Tamaki. The end result is a 48 page Book One, that whilst doesn't offer anything new, is a fun and engaging read and is head and shoulders above its ongoing series sister.I will definitely be picking up Book Two, despite the high $5.99 price tag.

This book has a lot riding on it. Firstly its a chance to re-integrate the character into the Rebirth universe, regardless of how he fits better in Vertigo or even Young Animal. Secondly, it gives long-term fans a chance to say good-bye to the great Len Wein.

In today's multi-part, built for the TPB stories that seem to require more and more of my hard-earned cash, its great to see that there are still quality one shots being produced that encapsulate the mixed media that are comic books.

An interesting book, which challenges Curipan and could give the reader a chance to consider all the implications of an extended life; the good, the bad and the down right painful.

This isn't my normal type of book. Still, I am glad that I have read it. The story could be seen as a "where does an artist get his or her ideas from?" The mix between Breslin, who thinks she knows everything and Brut, who does actually know everything is well-defined. It will be interesting to see how the series plays out as we move further into Brut's world.

Familiarity doesn't always have to breed contempt, especially when the finished article looks and reads as well as this book. With a slew of female led books falling by the wayside, for whatever reasons, its good to see that not everyone has given up on the, seemingly cursed,idea of strong female characters.

Berger Books have been quietly going about their business, utilising the experience of editor Karen Berger for a little while now. With that idea in mind, it is safe to say that this is yet another hit for the imprint.

It has been a while since I last looked through a Vault book. It is good to see that during my time away the quality that Vault brings to the comic book shop is still there. With #BuyIndieComicDay on 31st July, just around the corner, Vault Comics, along with The Last Book You'll Ever Read, are both well worth your attention.

So with all the hoopla surrounding Bendis, does his writing work in the DC Universe? In my opinion, Bendis, like Stanton, may be starting off slow, waiting to get the bases to get loaded before hitting the grand slam. I guess we will have to wait a few more innings to find out.

Seth MacFarlane, the creator of the show has certainly crafted a well observed show. Does this translate into a well observed comic book? Truth be told, I think it does, especially with the nuanced writing of Goodman and the likeness of the characters crafted by Cabeza; Dark Horse could easily take the second star on the right and let the crew of The Orville fly 'till morning.

It's good to see The Rocketeer back on the rack, albeit for a four issue run. With the talents involved in this project, I am sure that the sky is the limit!

Another Rocketeer series see the a number of things that we have seen before, is it homage or repetition? Whilst the case could be made either way, I am going homage. I love The Rocketeer from way back, from the King of the Rocketmen serial, through Dave Stevens and of course the movie. There is a slight nod to trying to change things up, so we will see where those storylines go.

An interesting take on the whole "with great power, comes.. parable that is synonymous with comic books, deliver on the worst of human nature. What dark joy!

Future societies, dystopian planets are these days, almost as over done as zombies and vampires. That said, Jody LeHeung has a knack for taking ideas and insinuations from other sources and creating something bigger than the whole.

Its a fact that I am not a huge horror / magic fan. That said, there is enough going on in this book to entertain throughout. The characters work, there is a real threat and there is a level of complexity to events. Andolfo's fans will see that that this books sells well.

For those that are interested, check out http://www.undercovercapes.com/creator-spotlight-pat-mills/ for the interview with Pat Mills and hear what he had to say about the importance of Valerian.

Thomas Sneigoski has a lot of credit in the Machine bank; part of it is that he is a great guy, a consummate pro. The other part is that he know how to tell a great story. This new book is no exception!

Vampirella Strikes is a kind of old school book, with a strong female lead in her classic costume, written by a writer who clearly loves the character.

All in all, an enjoyable read for fans and not yet fans alike.

Scout Comics are quietly working their magic, taking stories and books that may have had success as a Kickstarter and given a regular schedule. Its a strategy that clearly works with creators of the calibre of Stickney and Hughes on a book, let the pair bring their not quite fantasy, not quite Romeo and Juliet and not quite Buffy to a larger audience.

This book is going to split opinions, for a variety of reasons. One, the idea of knocking the "white saviour whilst also providing a kind of alternative saviour element could be off putting to some. Second, the humour content is huge, with not just the characters getting in the act, but also the creators looking to break the fourth wall several times to deliver direct messages to the readers. They aren't the first to try this trick, nor will they be the last. How you feel about that type of thing may change how you look at this book. If, this causes a negative impact, it would be a shame as you would miss out on a fun read.

A hit over a couple of issues, Yara Flor now has the added weight of an ongoing monthly book on her young shoulders. Marvel seems to be head and shoulders ahead of DC when it comes to delivering good female led books. Maybe Jolle Jones and Yara Flor can start to eat into that lead.