Jordan Richards's Comic Reviews

Tweet

'Act-Age' Vol. 1 is a diamond in the rough, much like how Sumiji describes Kei. It has a strong hook and plenty of good ideas in it, and its main character and their evolution as an actress are fascinating. But it takes a while to get going, the supporting cast doesn't jump out initially, and the artwork struggles at times. While enjoyable, hopefully the next volume makes the series truly shine.

The artwork is probably the weakest point of the comic. It's not that the artist is bad or anything, it's just that it is rather average looking in a way. Everyone looks fine and nothing is poorly drawn (I mean, the space shuttle and the scene where Lex is trying out his armor is well drawn and detailed), it's just that there is nothing that really jumps out at you.

Action Comics #25 is not a relevant Zero Year tie-in, but does offer a promising start for Greg Pak's run on the series. He gives a solid and enjoyable one-shot tale and really gets the characters and their personalities down just wonderfully. There is plenty to look forward to if this issue is any indication, so make sure to give it a look.

Action Comics #26 is solid issue for Greg Pak's new run. He gets Superman very well, displaying his inner and outer strengths perfectly. It's not the heaviest in plot, but it's a good character piece and enjoyable to read. Action Comics earlier this year was at a trouble point with its quality, but it looks like it is back to being worth everyone's time. Check it out when you can.

Action Comics #30 is a great issue and conclusion to the first arc of Greg Pak's Action Comics run. The story came to an appropriate end, the characters were great, and there is plenty of potential for the future on where the story will go next. Despite multiple artists and the issue being out of order, I look very forward to where this story goes next time.

Action Comics #41 is a great start for this new storyline (sort of, since we still don't have the issues that come before this that'll explain" well everything). The story is enjoyable, the characterization is great, and the writing and artwork are terrific. There are minor grievances here and there and I'm sure not everyone will be keen on this new direction for Superman (can't really blame them), but I would be lying to myself if I did not fully recommend checking this out. This issue was a lot of fun and I really do look forward to seeing where the future lies.

Alex + Ada #4 is a good issue of the series, accomplishing a lot through its simple and restrained style of storytelling and artwork. Those who have thought the series has been dragging up to this point will definitely like this change of pace as things start to change quickly for the characters. Definitely a recommended read, though if the pacing is too slow for your tastes you might be better off waiting for the story in a trade format after all is said and done.

Alex + Ada #8 is a solid, but slow issue of the series. It remains a comic that's really does not work well following it issue to issue due to its snail pace and decompression, but the character and subtle writing is almost strong enough to overcome this problem. Recommended, but I do recommend waiting for the trade to check the entire story out.

While similar to other series in its premise, Alice in Borderland gets off to a good start with solid writing, enjoyable characters, and some interesting art.

All-New All-Different Avengers #1 is a great start and probably the best new Avengers series introduced so far. Mark Waid does a terrific job bringing each of these characters to life and getting their personality down perfectly, connects to other stories in the Marvel Universe to his own without it being intrusive, and brings in some good artists to work on the book. While maybe not the most exciting or energetic way to start a superhero team book, I'm more than interested in seeing what this creative team has up their sleeves.

All-New Ghost Rider #2 is a very enjoyable read. While the story is still just starting, there is a lot of fun to be had with this blend of the real world and a vibrant and kinetic comic landscape. Combined that with a solid protagonist and visuals that fit the comic almost perfectly and this is easily one of the better and unique experiences Marvel has put out. Iffy design choice aside, this is a book worth giving a shot.

All-New Ghost Rider #5 was a fantastic conclusion for the first arc of the series. It wrapped up the story very well, had tons of excitement and energy, wonderful writing, and top-notch artwork with a unique style. I'm really hoping the next arc is just as good, because the book really has won me over.

All-New Hawkeye #1 is a fun start to this new series. It's good for long time fans of Hawkeye, though difficult for newcomers at points. The story is light, but the character interaction is a lot of fun. The artwork is beautiful and quite eye-catching. This is a book to keep an eye on, because I feel it will only get better from here on.

All-New Inhumans #1 is a fine comic that sports decent writing, a clear goal for what it wants to do, and lovely looking artwork. Its biggest problems lie in the awkward exposition and the fact that it's not accessible for readers new to the Inhumans. It's not a bad comic by any stretch, but it's not the strongest debut of the new Marvel titles. If you like the Inhumans, give it a shot.

All-New Ultimates #1 is an okay first issue; while it does what most good first issues should do, it still doesn't feel like introduces the audience well enough to this world (old fans should have no problem with that though) and the writing just feels rather average and typical. Hopefully as time goes on, this series finds its legs and really takes off.

All-New Wolverine #1 is a good first issue to this new series. It acts as a great introduction to Laura Kinney as a character, giving new and old readers everything they need to know about her to understand what she is all about. The issue also sports some good writing and artwork, but lacks explanation or context for anything that is happening in the book. So in the end, if you are a fan of the character or are looking for a decent superhero comic, this may be the series for you.

All-New X-Men #1 is a pretty solid and enjoyable start to this new X-Men title. It lacks the heavy baggage that its sister title has, but instead offers a fun and bright superhero tale with some good characters that all readers can get into. It has some minor problems, but nothing that really brings the comic down. If you are looking for an X-Men title that isn't really heavy, this may be for you.

The artwork by Mark Bagley is great as well. His style, along with bright coloring from Nolan Woodard, really help add to the light tones in the story, but are also very well capable of capturing the serious and dramatic moods required in the jail scenes. While the characters still suffer from looking the same as one another in some of their faces, the characters and their action bits are still drawn very well. There are no issues with the layouts, scenery, backgrounds, or other parts of the book. It just looks good in general, just like in the first issue.Most Memorable Moment

Written by Greg Rucka and drawn by JP Leon, where in" Portland, a man is brought into a bar where he collapses and dies. The barkeep and the man who brought the guy in have certain plans for the body, but are not expecting what happens next. I'm really not sure what the overall motivations were of the barkeep and his buddy, but the twist and how this story connects back to a previous story arc did put a smile on my face. Overall, the artwork was great, but the storytelling was rather weak in general. 8.0 A very good and decent variety of stories.Great for the fans of the series.Some stories are rather dull or uninteresting.Non-fans or newbies are not going to get much from this.Hefty price point at $7.99 may deter you away.

American Vampire: Second Cycle #1 is a wonderful and near perfect start that welcomes us back to its blood thirsty world. The setup is intriguing, the characters are presented well, the artwork is perfect, and it is also easily accessible for new readers to jump aboard. If you haven't read this series before, there is no excuse now to not give this a shot. This comic is highly recommended.

American Vampire: Second Cycle #2 is a fantastic and amazing issue of the series, really cementing it as a comic that you must read. This issue is easily one of the most terrifying and horror filled ones yet; the story and characters are as strong as ever, and the artwork delivers a true nightmare for our eyes to feast upon. Horror fans or non-horror fan; you owe it to yourself to check out American Vampire: Second Cycle.

American Vampire: Second Cycle #3 is another great issue of an already amazing and creepy book. It had the horrors, the fantastic characters, solid writing, and gorgeous looking artwork that it usually has. Like always, this is highly recommended and is not a book you should miss out on.

American Vampire: Second Cycle #4 is a solid finale to the first arc of the series. It's a rather quick read, but an enjoyable one nonetheless, delivering on some enjoyable action and a terrific ending. I highly look forward to where the comic is going in the next arc and I hope it can keep it up.

American Vampire: Second Cycle #5 is an enjoyable side story that is really creepy and thrilling to read. I'm not exactly sure how this will ultimately play into the main story and the prose part of the book may not be for everyone, but I can definitely say confidently that this was a fine issue for the series.

American Vampire: Second Cycle #6 is a decent return for the series after being away for so long. It's mostly setup and not particularly exciting, but it establishes a lot of interesting new directions for this new story arc and helps expand on the world and its history. I'm intrigued by what I'm seeing and hopefully the arc lives up to the potential that's being shown here.

American Vampire: Second Cycle #11 is a good conclusion to this part of American Vampire. It wraps up a lot of plotlines, while also setting the stage for Third Cycle in the coming year. While some of the dialogue leaves a bit to be desired and the creepy factor is just not here anymore, the comic overall was very enjoyable and a lot of fun to read.

A strong story with a great and memorable characters all add up to a must read for any fan of the series. It's also especially good for new readers as well, since there is no background needed to truly understand anything going on, outside of maybe Travis Kidd's backstory. Definitely recommend.

Animal Man #26 is not bad, it is a serve step down in quality for the series and does break the momentum the comic has been getting over these past few months. It feels like filler, even though it is very clear that what happens in it is very important for later on, and it does not leave much of a lasting impression. Hopefully, the final three issues are more than enough to make up for this slipup.

Animal Man #27 is easily one of the best issue of the series since the annual came out. Its story is epic and fast-paced, the characters are wonderful, and the emotional aspects always hit right. If the quality stays like this with the remaining two issues, we are looking at a fantastic finish to one of DC's best books.

Animal Man #28 is another fantastic issue of the series and is helping bring this series to what should be a fantastic conclusion if this issue is any judge. Almost everything worked — from the characters to the emotion to the artwork. I look forward to the finale of this series with great anticipation and if you are still reading, you should as well.

Animal Man #29 is a quiet, but beautifully told finale to what was one of the New 52′s best series ever released. It had emotion, had character depth, brought almost everything to a close perfectly, and had wonderful artwork as well. While Animal Man will not be gone (he and Lemire will be back for Justice League United), his series will be and it is an honest shame. I will miss this comic a lot for all its good and sad times.

The art itself is terrific and it's great to see Foreman's work again. While I'm not a fan of how he draws faces and how most of the world seems devoid life except when required, he knows how to draw creepy stuff extremely well. All of the scenes around Anansa are extremely creepy and unnerving, causing me to actually shiver in my seat. Also, the guy does some great, eye-catching layouts.

Anonymous Noise Vol. 1 could have been a decent, if unremarkable start to a Shojo series, but it is severely handicapped by poor artwork and bad storytelling. It's a story that's difficult read, follow along with, and get invested in because of questionable layouts and pacing. It's an utter pain to read a times, even taking away from pivotal moments. Unless these two key points get better, there's no way I recommend this manga.

Aquaman #41 is a comic that is going to greatly depend on how much you are willing to go with it. While the writing is good, the premise is intriguing, and the art is nice — you'll have to be willing to accept the new status quo for Aquaman in both story and character for the time being to see how it plays out. This comic will put some people off and it's easy to understand why. If you read my review and if you like the sound of everything, definitely go for it. If not, hold off on the book for a while until things become clearer.

Aquaman and the Others #1 is a solid and well done first issue to this Aquaman spin-off. It does what every first issue should do with being able to introduce all the characters and story very well, while also having decent looking artwork. It may not set the world on fire like some other books, but if you have a superhero team itch that needs scratching, than this comic has what you are looking for.

Archie #7 is a fun and enjoyable issue when it comes to the silly antics and characters, but also feels like a letdown when it comes to the story and developments. It is easily the weakest issue in what has been a rather engaging new series, so hopefully this is only a minor slip-up more than anything. Even at its weakest, if you have been enjoying the series thus far, you should still end up liking this.

Art Ops #1 is a comic with potential with a fun premise and unique set of characters. However, the lack of excitement in the comic and everything just being complete setup with little else happening keeps the comic from being a big hit right out of the starting gate. Hopefully things improve because this is one comic that can really soar with how wildly creative it could get.

The story, the reveals, the characterization, and the artwork all come together to form the strongest, most memorable manga volumes of the year.

Assassination Classroom Vol. 16 is a great follow-up to what was an already fantastic outing for the series.

The Astonishing Ant-Man #1 is a good entry point for new and returning readers, but is burdened by slow pacing and mountains of exposition that doesn't allow the story to breathe. If you liked the previous run and the execution doesn't sound like it would bother you, then this book should be good for you — otherwise, wait to see if the pace picks up.

The Astonishing Ant-Man #13 is a finale that, while wrapping up the main plotline, leaves way too many loose ends with all of its side characters and plotlines. It's also bogged down by a plot that only works if the main character is very incompetent and suffers from artwork that goes back and forth in quality. In what should have been a very easy landing from the creators, the end results of their Ant-Man run leaves me wondering if their run was sadly ended before its time. If you have enjoyed the ride up until now, you'll probably enjoy the results of the ending, despite the unanswered questions. If you didn't, this ending won't change your mind.

Astra: Lost in Space Vol. 1 is a solid start to a series that has barely begun to show its cards and reveal what it's truly all about.

Avengers & X-Men: Axis #2 was a chore to read and a pain to write about. It's not that it's a bad or terrible book; it's just that for an event comic, it feels so lackluster and underwhelming. It feels like it should be kept and focus on solely in the pages of Uncanny Avengers and a maybe a tie-in or two, especially when it feels so tied to that book. I can't really recommend this considering my experience with it, unless it does a major turnaround in the next issue.

Avengers & X-Men: Axis #3 was a good start to a possible turnaround for this book. The writing felt much better, along with the characterization, dialogue, and artwork. The only thing lacking is a good, engaging story, something that's not easily accomplished when the book is constantly stuck in a fight scene with rather weak villains. While not completely sold, I am at least interested in seeing where this book goes from here.

Avengers & X-Men: Axis #4 seems to be continuing the slight increase in quality for the book, with improved writing and a story finally emerging from the wreckage. However, what story is emerging or has been seen so far, feels rather tired with the heroes being villains/jerks. There are some interesting ideas and twists with it mind you, but Remender is going to have to pull out some more stops if this event is to truly shine.

Avengers & X-Men: Axis #5 is a polarizing issue. The issue definitely displays solid elements and leaves off on a solid cliffhanger, but it also has a lot of other problems to it that hurt it quite a bit (the tone that feels off and the fact that we're still in setup mode). Then again, there's more potential here than in the previous issue, so that's promising.

Avengers & X-Men: Axis #6 is a big step backwards. Yes, the story finally feels like it is taking off, but it took way too long to get to this point. This issue is still just setup, the story was messy and poorly told overall, and the artwork didn't enhance everything like it should have. There is some decent writing underneath the clumsy narrative, but it's not enough. This event has been spinning its wheels for far too long and it's really hard, even impossible, to recommend this comic. Unless this does a massive 180 next issue, just forget about this comic.

Avengers & X-Men: Axis #7 is better than the previous issue, but that's really not saying a lot. The story isn't really there, just turning out one very long, albeit nice looking fight scene. There's not much in the way of characterization, development, or twists to anything. Honestly, the way things are shaping up, it's going to feel like a rush job to wrap everything up in the coming issues.

Avengers & X-Men: Axis #8 is one long extended fight with a contrived and rushed as hell plot. As this event nears the end, I can only shake my head in disappointment and wonder what could have been for this story. It's been such an underwhelming and lackluster experience that with the last issue coming, I have serious doubts this series will end in a remotely satisfying manner. We'll find out next time I suppose.

Avengers & X-Men: Axis #9 is one hell of a finale for this event. It is one incredible train wreck. The plot and story make no sense and are contrived as hell, the writing is awful, the characterization is a joke and insult to fans, and the artwork is a mess with so many people working on it. It's official. After a series of bad event comics, one after another, Marvel should walk away from them for a good year or two. They need time to sit and think about what they did, like a child who broke a vase or something.

The art for this comic is fine. The penciling, the inking, the coloring, and the layouts are all just fine, but that is it. It's just average work that does not do anything to either impress or be memorable for the reader, but it doesn't do anything particularly awful either. The only thing I can really comment on is that I couldn't tell that was Hawkeye right off the bat until he was holding his bow later on. 4.5 The artwork is nice.The Avengers were given some focus this issue.The scene with Thor and the kid was very enjoyable.Plot still stretched thin and not very memorable.The addition of a second writer has changed very little.The dialogue can be boring and melodramatic.

The artwork is fine, but like the last issue, that's pretty much it. Everything is done competently, but nothing about it really stands out except for when a Terminus appears and crushes Iron Man's robot. Not much else to say honestly. 4.0 The artwork is nice.All of the writing is competent.This issue and the last could have easily been combined into one.Some oddball moments in the writing.Not enough content to justify the price.The storytelling is too decompressed.

Art wise, it's kind of like the rest of the series so far. Never particularly exciting or incredible, but nothing really bad either. Everyone's drawn fine, the world's drawn fine, and the creatures are drawn… uniquely. Outside of maybe a hiccup or two, like the stale action I mentioned, nothing bad at all. Maybe that's one of this comic's greatest sins though, its art is never really spectacular or rarely does anything incredibly looking. This series is not something you would be buying for the art.

The art is…like the rest of the series up to now. It's certainly not bad, but there's nothing really special about it. Sure, the group shots look good in the final pages and when Eden Fesi is teleporting guys away, that's cool looking. However, there's just nothing else to it. It works, but you aren't going to really remember anything standing out. Also, something else that I noticed. Look at the cover for this issue and then look at Ex Nihilo in the book itself…

The artwork this time around is by Leinil Francis Yu and it is certainly a cut above the parade of mediocre and painfully average artists we had on this title. He's got a good sense of detail that helps make everyone look different and unique, standing out from everyone else and he can certainly draw an epic looking space battle (one that eventually becomes a curb stomp). Though the colorist he is paired up with always seems to be a bit odd with how he uses his tones and shades, like with how some people seem to shine a bit. Also, Bruce Banner looks like he is in his sixties in this book.

The artwork feels odd this time around. It's all drawn by one artist, one colorist (or as the credits put it color artist), and one inker; but the work looks different every chapter a way. One chapter has brighter colors, one has more shadows, etc. It's just really odd. That said, it's all drawn fine admittedly, just with nothing really visually interesting to look at outside of the retread of events in the first chapter.

The artwork is by Leinil Francis Yu and it is as good as always. The characters all look fine, the action is fine, and so on. It's the same quality you would expect from him on this title. It's just that it doesn't make the story any better and ultimately feels wasted on the book. 4.5The artwork is well done.Cliffhanger seems interesting.The writing has many problems and quirks.The characters have no presence, except for one.

Avengers #22 does not have much to it. The story is stretched thin to the point that it could have been told in two pages and there really isn't anything interesting for the art to show, resulting in an issue that could easily be skipped. There are some good character beats and moments, but not enough to justify the price. Just skip this or read this in the store if you really want to know what happens.

Avengers #23 is all about the action and setting the stage for the final part of Infinity. Unfortunately, it suffers greatly due to a lack of quality and consistent looking art, which degraded the action and tone at several points. If you've come this far, you might as well continue forward, but don't expect this issue to really wow you with the visuals.

Avengers #24.NOW is a decent enough start to the next act of Hickman's Avengers run. It has a bunch of problems, to be sure, but there is potential there that could result in some exciting stories later on. The only thing to note is that the issue costs five dollars. While there are more pages to the comic than usual, it's still a lot of dough to ask for a single issue.

Avengers #25 is a rather boring, but also a typical decompressed issue of the series. It is what we've come to expect from Hickman's Avengers series with its slow pace, lack of characterization, and issues being padded out. It's not awful, but it's not great either. The recommendation with this series is to always just read the series in paperback" no, in omnibus format. That's probably the only way to truly get the most out of a series like this.

Avengers #27 is starting to show a very bad sign of what this series is becoming if it continues on this path. The complete lack of story progression for the most part and the over decompression, combined with the fact that comic only ships once a month now is severely killing any sense of momentum, excitement, and interest one can get from this series. This comic needs to step things up desperately, because in the current direction, it'll kill the audience's interest and patience with it very quickly.

Avengers #28 is a hollow finale to the arc, despite things actually happening. Nothing about the arc feels like it deserved to be four issues long, the arc stretched out to the point of destroying any momentum or energy mustered with Infinity and the Rouge Planet issue.

Avengers #29 could possibly be the best issue of Hickman's run to date, being leaps and bounds better in areas that comic was doing poorly in before. The thing is though, it has some serious problems that hold it back from being all it could be. With a price point and lack of extra story content, alongside some art flubs and a horribly structured ending, this issue feels almost like a big rip off that's just trying to suck out extra money from you. As such, it leaves the issue in a hard place, where it's good, but also bad. It's best to read this in the stores and make the judgment of whether or not you would want to purchase this.

Avengers #30 is a pretty lackluster issue. It has some positives to it, but it lacks any real excitement, energy, or soul. A little disappointing since it had so much potential after that last issue.

Avengers #33 offers very little in the way of story, progression, or character. All it has are ideas that amount to nothing and are not even that original and some artwork that has its own problems. This is easily the most skippable issue of Hickman's Avengers run yet and I do recommend that you do that, saving yourself some extra money so you could put it towards better comics that are coming out this week.

Avengers #35 feels like its getting the series back on track and having it actually do something instead of biding time like it has for most of the year. There are some interesting plotlines and ideas being developed here that show potential going forward. The big problem though is that the time skip ended raising way too many questions and feels more like convenience for the writer with characters and stories instead of benefiting actual story. This starts the death march towards the end of this comic book run and whether it gets better or not from here, remains to be seen. Let's just hope it does.

I was curious about what this issue would be like after what we got last time, but having read it, what enthusiasm I had for this arc is slowly dwindling. Please get this comic back on track soon writer. The end is nigh.

Avengers #37 left me exhausted. The story never really went anywhere until the end, the characters are either unlikeable or underdeveloped, the writing is dull at best, and the artwork feels creepy. I'm not even sure what to say about this book at this point, but that's just something ugly within it.

Avengers #44 is a comic that I am very mixed on. On one hand, as a prologue to Secret Wars, it does a pretty solid job building things up and leading into it. There are improvements to the writing in some areas, like the pacing most noticeably. But on the other hand, the issue is a very poor finale for this series as a whole and it lacks in a lot of drama. This is the end of the world as the characters know it, but there's so little passion, emotion, or feelings here that it doesn't do a good enough job of making you feel the desperation and horror everyone should be experiencing. As such, it's hard to really give this a strong recommendation (or even condemnation) in the end. All I can say is that if you made it this far, you might as well read the issue regardless.

Avengers Annual #1 is a very good Christmas book that has a lot of humor — as well as a lot of heart. It's great for any Avengers fan, new or old. If you are looking for something to help get you into the season, give this a shot.

Avengers Assemble #21 is simple fun, Avengers style. It does not push boundaries or feature epic situations that put characters in tense confrontations like other Avengers titles do, but this comic is fine all around. Worth a read if you need a comic that is just a lot of fun with superheroes you like.

Avengers Assemble #22 is pure simple fun for people who are craving a superhero book that isn't super serious or extremely dramatic. It has a great sense of humor, enjoyable characters, and is rather accessible to almost anyone. Give it a shot when you can.

Avengers World #1 is a perfectly acceptable first issue, if nothing else. It is accessible enough for new readers and does do a few things right for a first issue, but has its own problems. The more one has read the previous works that are a part of the same series, the more issues arise and more apparent that this is not a standalone book. Do not buy if you are not prepared to add two more series to your pull list and fork over a bit of cash to do a bit of reading to get yourself up to date.

Avengers World #3 is the best issue of the series yet. For Shang-Chi fans, this will most likely be a treat to see the character in action in an intense, issue-long fight scene. On the other hand, the comic offers little else besides that fight scene with its lack of story progression. Not much else to say besides definitely give it a look.

Avengers World #15 is a pretty decent tie-in to Axis. It has its problems, but the story is off to a nice start, the writing is good here, and the artwork is nice to look at. So far, this is probably the best thing to come out of Axis and hopefully it can keep up this level of quality going forward.

Batgirl #25 was a very enjoyable self-contained story and a decent tie-in as well, using the backdrop of the storm to tell its tale. A relatable situation and character, who actually grows through the story; good emotion and buildup; and genuinely well drawn artwork. If you are looking for some more Zero Year action this week, this might hold you over.

The writing is great, the characters are enjoyable, the artwork is solid, and it delivers a very dense but engaging read from start to finish. If you are looking for a different type of experience with your superheroes, give this a shot.

Batgirl #36 still remains very tonally different than the previous run and it's all for the better. The story and characters are a ton of fun to read about, the writing is stellar and shines brightly, and the artwork is kinetic and really lovely to look at. This book is still definitely recommended and worth your time if you want something bright and colorful from your superhero books.

Batgirl #37 was another fun, if sillier than usual, installment for the series. There's so much fun to be had with this comic — from the enjoyable story and flashy characters to the lovely looking artwork on every single page. Batgirl used to be a rather miserable, gritty, and frankly forgettable read but with its new direction it has done one hell of a 180 and all I can say is that it is for the better. After a great finish for the year, I look forward to where the title goes in 2015.

Batgirl #38 is another winning issue of the series that heads in a rather surprising direction. While Batgirl's behavior might raise some eyebrows, all of the writing, development, and characterization is just so good and well developed that it doesn't matter. Definitely worth a look if you have been enjoying the series thus far.

Batgirl #39 was an enjoyable issue overall from the series, but not as good as previous issues. That's not to say the book is bad by any means, just that it has been better. Either way, it still has good writing, great artwork, and some solid characterization happening here. With the finale to the first arc of the new creative team almost upon us, now's not the time to give up. The next issue is promising a very interesting clash"

Batgirl #40 is a great conclusion to this first story arc, wrapping up everything nicely with some stellar writing and artwork to go with it. Despite all of the controversy surrounding this title with the direction it took and the choices it made, I can't honestly recommend the book enough. It shows a very promising future that you should not miss out on. If you haven't already, see if you can pick up the entire run so far and have a read.

Batgirl is back and is just as good as ever in Batgirl #41. While lighter on story and also having slightly different artwork, the comic is still a great ride. Check it out.

Batgirl #46 is back after its short break and doing well. While most of the issue was clearly about setting things up for future events and the ending presented some problems, there was a lot of fun in the story, the writing was solid, and the artwork was great. Overall, I'm really looking forward to where this comic is going and what new troubles lay ahead.

Batgirl: Endgame #1 is a fine tie-in to the Endgame storyline, but there's not much going on in it. It doesn't really add anything new to the story and it goes by very quickly. However, it's a great issue to witness what makes the Batgirl character so interesting/great and it succeeds very well at being a silent issue. If you have some extra cash this week and you like the character, give this a look.

Batgirl: Futures End #1 is an alright issue. There are some good ideas and decent writing here underneath some lackluster execution and a rather rushed story. I think a couple of more pages here could have fixed this and I wouldn't mind seeing a one-shot surrounding the ideas. Regardless, this is the end of the line for Simone's time with the book. Next month ought to be interesting…

Overall, the prelude gets you ready for what's to come, and offers a slight bit of character development for Babs as she heads back home. It's not an essential issue by any means " actually the most skippable of the series so far " but worth the read for those continuing to follow. If this is what a filler looks like in Larson's Batgirl, it's a testament to the series being worth your time.

Batgirl and the Birds of Prey: Rebirth #1 is a mixed bag. It's got a decent story, is rather new reader friendly, and the artwork has its charm. However, there is also the less than stellar writing, weak storytelling, and inconsistent art. It's something that I would like to recommend, but it's not exactly strong enough yet for me to do so. Maybe when the first real issue comes out in August.

The art on this comic is very good as usual with the combo of Greg Capullo on the main stuff while Rafael Albuquerque does the backup. The expressions and emotions from the characters are great as usual, the action scenes are nice, and the worlds they draw are very eye catching at points, especially during the car chase in the backup. Not a bad thing at all to say about it.

The art continues to impress with the great tag team of the artists for the main and backup stories. Good emotion, striking imagery and use of color, solid bits of action, good looking characters with just as good expressions, etc. There was even a bit of interesting panel layout in the main story to convey a scene, though it can be a bit jarring in how different it is. Also, the only other complaint with the art continues to be with how Rafael Albuquerque's characters keep looking like others from different comics he's drawn.

The art on this comic was really beautiful and great this time around. With less dialogue boxes and internal monologue in many scenes, it allows the art to capture the mood, feeling, and emotion being displayed in the environments and characters very well. The action was well drawn, in particular with the fight scene in backup. The use of color and inking stood out a lot, with the tones and shades used.

The artwork is by Jeremy Haun and it's solid overall. There's really nothing too special about it though since it's rather average in a way. It's all good, but nothing really stands out or is really that memorable, outside of maybe one scene involving electricity. The coloring is sort of the same way, where it's good but kind of dull with its flat tone and shading. This difference in art is definitely noticeable especially coming off of Greg Capullo's work on the title so far. 9.0 Great one-shot story.The writing is excellent.Riddler is awesome in this story.This is not really a Zero Year tie-in like advertisement says.The art, while good, is rather average and boring.

Forget what I said last time, this was the best issue of Batman all year long. Great buildup and conclusion to the first part of the arc that really leaves you wanting more with fantastic art to complement it. Maybe a bit too wordy at points that it slows down the pacing, but still really worth your time. Check it out.

Batman #25 was enjoyable and solid way to kick off the next part of Zero Year. Lots of storylines starting up, fun nods and cameos for the fans to see, great artwork, and pretty well constructed as well. With this and the last two issues, this comic is back to being one of the best DC is putting at this moment. Make sure to check this out.

Batman #26 was a step back for the run, which has been improving quite considerably over these past few months. It has good moments and is decently written and drawn, but behavior by the main character just really sinks the issue quite immensely. Hopefully, the issue can step up from that.

Batman #27 is definitely good and a step in the right direction after that misstep last issue, even if it is slow going in the middle of the book. If you are in this far, you won't be disappointed.

Batman #29 is the fantastic and tension filled conclusion to the second part of Zero Year and is just simply wonderful. Its storytelling is fantastic, it's very exciting, the imagery is just phenomenal, and it's more than likely going to be sticking with you more than most books this week. If you thought you were starting to get tired of Zero Year, prepare to be proven wrong.

Batman #30 is a decent, but could be better start to Savage City. It's slow going with its world building and very dialogue heavy at the start, but the promise and potential so far is strong and makes you really want to see what comes next. If you are in this far, there's no reason to give up now in this small bump in the road.

Batman #31 is another solid issue of the series as it slowly approaches the finale of Zero Year. There's just not much else to say other than if you have been enjoying the comic up to now, there's no reason not to keep going, especially with this issue.

Batman #32 is alright overall. It's not the big exciting lead in to the finale like some are probably expecting and it's a bit slow at points. However, it's still a decent read overall with plenty of good moments, good artwork, and a nice cliffhanger ending to get you pumped for the finale. Hopefully the big finish for Zero Year can live up to hype when we see it next time.

Batman #33 is a fantastic and solidly written finale to Zero Year storyline. While it dragged a bit getting here and there were some problems here in the issue itself, it really manages to overcome these problems and truly shine. The writing was great, the characters were well done, and the artwork was absolutely wonderful on almost every level. This issue will set you back an extra dollar this month ($4.99 this time around), but between the many extra pages that extend the length of the comic very well, and the overall quality of the comic itself, it's worth it. Zero Year ended on a great note and I look forward to where the future of Batmanwill go from here.

Batman #41 is a fantastic start for this new direction in the franchise. It establishes everything from the new status quo to the differences between Jim and Bruce as Batman. The writing is very good, the creative team is self-aware enough to understand what a lot of people were probably thinking about the book, and the artwork looks amazing as always. You can probably figure this direction won't last forever and I agree that it probably won't either, but there's no way you should miss out on this fun while it lasts.

Batman #42 continues building off the success and quality of the last issue, advancing the plot forward with new mysteries and character development. While not everything has been revealed or even possibly hinted at for where this comic can go, the future still looks bright for this title. This status quo may not last forever, but it's taken us this far, and it's a ride you are still not going to want to miss out on.

Batman #43 is an important issue, answering old questions and creating new ones in their place. What hurts it though is the uneven storytelling and tons of exposition that really hit the brakes on this whole story early on in order to explain everything revolving around Bruce. It does recover a bit in the second half when the pacing and writing improves, though. Either way, despite its problems, it is not an issue to miss.

Batman and Robin #34 is a good issue, with a decent cliffhanger to get the audience excited for when all the action goes down in the next issue. In this one though, it's all about the characters and their drama and for the most part, the writing handles it all very well. Not a bad issue.

Batman and Robin #35 was another stellar, exciting issue to read in the Robin Rises arc. It was exciting, energetic, heartfelt and thrilling. With a solid story, good writing, and fitting artwork I can see this story leading to an epic and heartwarming/heartbreaking conclusion that you won't want to miss. However, that's speculation, so let's just remain hyped for now.

Batman and Robin Eternal #1 is a solid start to this new weekly. Though the issue focuses mostly on setting up the overall plot and introducing the characters, the writing and execution are solid and it's easy to get invested. Recommended, but only if you are for sure you can handle a new weekly book.

While not as plot heavy as the first, the second issue is great and a lot of fun. Tim Seeley has a real knack for writing characters and getting all of their personalities down just right. Everyone feels like themselves and has a good little moment or line in the comic. All of the writing and dialogue is solid as well and there's not a moment that is boring or uninteresting. The only off thing about the writing or characterization is the ending scene, since a certain character appears to be in trouble despite being shown as super competent.

While this issue lacked Seeley's sense of humor or style a lot of the time (it was still there at times and the characterization felt on point), the comic made up for it by having a lot more forward momentum. The last issue was basically about getting all of the characters together and getting a better look at one of the villains, while this seemed like more things were happening. Plus, the ending was a lot stronger and had a better hook to it. As such, the story felt better overall and should get people interested in seeing what comes next.

This single panel sums up all the artwork in the book quite nicely.

I'll keep this simple: this felt like the weakest issue of the series thus far. While the writing isn't all that bad (though I hope these false leads don't become regular occurrences, as they were in the previous series), it didn't feel like a whole lot happened besides a few things. And then there's the artwork " three different artists and three inkers (though Steve Pugh does his own inking) provide art for this book and it shows.

Batman and Robin Eternal #6 was a significant step up from the last few issues. There was actual progression with the story instead of a bunch of false leads being chased. We were presented with a big flashback and a far more solid direction for where this comic can go in the future. Plus, Tynion's writing was stronger than usual and Tony Daniel's artwork was good and consistent. Honestly, this is a step in the right direction and I'm reenergized to see where this comic is going.

What also helped is the artwork by Martinez. I'm not familiar with his work, but he does a fantastic job here. Besides the characters and action (though there are some weird bending motions and missing limbs at points), the guy does solid layouts that are excellent at establishing mood — from the majesty of the opera to the dark and somber developments thereafter. I love how scenes unfold and flow in this issue, especially in the double page spreads that look epic and exciting. After this issue, I would love to see Martinez do a few more issues or even team up with Valentine again in the future.Most Memorable Moment:

Sadly, this was kind of a disappointment after such a strong issue last time. The story barely progressed and didn't end in a very suspenseful manner either. On a story-level, this feels like one of those later issues from the last Eternal weekly that didn't really do much overall and felt padded. On the plus side though, the creative team still did a great job in all other categories. The characterization felt completely on point and it was nice to see Grayson not give a crap about Mother's taunting. Martinez's artwork was really stellar, as he crafted some of the best looking and laid out comic book panels this entire week. Scot Eaton, who also drew part of the comic, did a great job as well

It's not an awful issue by any means, but a bit unexciting and lacking in comparison to the last two fantastic issues.

As a whole, this issue felt a little better than the last issue due to more story developments, but otherwise not by much. The characterization seems hit and miss, the dialogue is run-of-the-mill and the action is stilted. The second artist on the issue, Geraldo Borges, isn't really any better than Roge and the shift between them isn't very smooth. The only strong points remain the new developments we get with the story in the present and past, including the ending. Otherwise, the issue is just thoroughly mediocre, which is a shame given all the big name characters involved.

After two issues of weak writing and lacking artwork, this was a much need breath of fresh air. We some more development with the plot, backstory for Orphan and Cassandra Cain, and improved writing in general. There were some questionable story decisions and a plot point that looked to be setting up to be a twist (though if it is, it's WAY too blatantly obvious and colors the relationship of two characters in a less than impressive way). Otherwise, Ed Brisson really did a great job handling the plot and keeping things interesting.

What the hell is wrong with your legs Harper?!

By no means an awful or terrible book, Batman Beyond #1 is just a disappointment at best and frustrating at worst. If you liked both Futures End and Batman Beyond animated series (to a degree that you don't mind the main character from the show having been killed off and replaced), I could say maybe check this out. Otherwise, there are better Bat-books out there to read than this.

Batman Eternal #1 is a fantastic start to this new weekly series, really knowing how to suck in the audience with its intriguing story, shocking cliffhanger, great characters, and fantastic looking artwork. If you were having doubts before this comic started, this will put them to rest. Even if you are not interested in buying the entire series right away, this is still worth your time.

Overall, I would have to say that this was a decent issue, although it suffers slightly because of the timing of the return to the Arkham storyline. You see, we just got Arkham Manor this week and it reveals the ultimate outcome of what happens to Arkham Asylum in the story, so you already know how this all ends. There's not as much tension as there should be, sad to say, but the rest of the story and writing here is still pretty solid.

A good old fashioned Spectre curb-stomp.

The scene everyone wanted to see since the Joker's Daughter debut.

The writing and artwork here were all solid as well. Good dialogue, characterization (except I don't quite get why Spoiler ran off when she was already near Batman and could have given him all the information she already knows), solid pacing, and genuinely nice emotional scenes. Also, if this is the final issue that Fabok gets to draw for this run, then he gets to go out a good note. His work is still incredibly strong, from his depictions of characters to intense moments (like the final pages of the book). I wish he could keep up his Batman Eternal duties, but it is what it is.Best Moment:

Sadly, there wasn't much going on in this issue. It basically deals with one plot point and that's really it, making it one of the slower and uneventful issues of the series to date. Don't get me wrong, there's still plenty of good things to like: there's a good deal of character development and characterization, leading to a lot of interesting moments for the cast. Plus, the dialogue and pacing are solid and Fabok's artwork is amazing like you would expect (the issue had a great fight scene this time around). However, there's just not much to write home about this time around. Hopefully things pick up next time.

The unfortunate fact surrounding Batman Eternal #34 is that we all knew how this was going to end for Batman since we all have seen Arkham Manor.

This an interesting way to start the final part of Batman Eternal (at least, I keep hearing it's the final part) and makes me curious to see where this is all going. Plus, we are finally getting some insight into Jason Bard's past and what motivates him as well, so that's a big plus. However, I can't help but find that this particular issue is very hard to buy into. The characterization for Sawyer and Bullock and why they are just going along with Bard's insane attempt to capture Batman and all the risky moves he is pulling without much argument is baffling. Then there's Batman himself and what he is doing in the issue, which seems to be extremely questionable as well. I'm sure he has a plan, but for the life of me, I don't see or get the point of all of this. At the artwork by Fernando Blanco is very nice and moody looking (he so needs to be working on a regular series).

The story and how it wraps up this arc is pretty good, the dialogue and characterization felt much better, there were plenty of good moments, and the ending was really great. Plus the artwork by Blanco was great like in the previous issue and I wish he would be drawing more issues of the series.

This felt like a very eventful issue. Lots of things were going on"a lot of follow up on several previous storylines"and a lot of good character moments throughout. Everything felt rather engaging and enjoyable to read in my personal opinion, helped by a lot of good writing and some rather enjoyable dialogue. Now, I would have preferred to see more of Selina's rise to power, like getting into contact with the crime families and how they first reacted, but what can you do? The only real thing I had a big problem with was the artwork from Andrea Mutti. It's rather bland, with none of it really fitting the tone and the characters. The drab colors and occasional miscolor didn't help either, like Selina's skin tone that made her look more like Julia.

It's not bad stuff on that level, since Selina's actions and how she's manipulating people is pretty impressive and an interesting direction for her character. Also, the characterization and development going on here is pretty good as well for the rest of the cast. The artwork isn't my thing however and not a good fit for the book.Best Moment:

Not a bad issue overall, bringing us closer and closer to where Batman #28 was last year. The story is really heating up now more than usual and I'm curious to see how this all plays out, especially with the rogues gaining control of Batman's weapons and Selina's plan of action. Hopefully we get some more answers as time goes on, since we still have no real idea who is pulling the strings in this mess. The writing and character work here was solid and the artwork was rather nice looking. Quite scratchy in areas, but the style did fit the book more than recent artists' work did.

Only three things were learned and not a lot else (heck, we only focused on two separate storylines this time around). Kind of weird since we are getting closer and closer to the end. On the plus side, the writing was pretty good overall (though Batgirl seemed to be in a bad mood for some odd reason) and the artwork by Quinones was quite lovely to look at. I don't believe he'll be drawing anymore of the issues, but at least we got this one.

There was only one other storyline that had any focus this time, but it did progress decently enough and wasn't stretched out. The characters were good, the dialogue was fine, and so was the writing. The artwork had three artists on it, but it wasn't really a problem I found since each artist worked on one scene alone.

It was great to see this comic finally get some real, fresh development in the plot. I also found the characterization to be excellent, the writing strong, and the artwork to be pretty great. Lafuente's style has a manga-ish vibe to it, but it fit the tone and feel of the issue quite well. It probably wouldn't have worked for previous issues of the series, but I did like what I saw and hope to see him do more work elsewhere. The only real negative to the issue was that I was hoping to see more beyond the stuff from Batman #28, but at least the writers put in some more twists and new angles to it.

Batman always knew how to say no to drugs in the most crazy of ways.

Well I suppose we've made some progress by the end of the issue, unless it turns out to be a red herring and this lead has nothing to do with the person pulling the strings. Either way, the issue was alright (writing and characterization were all okay) but still pretty uneventful and going over ground we've already covered. I really wish things would pick up and move on since this is rather disappointing.

Yet again, we are nowhere closer to figuring out who is the person behind everything and at this stage of the game, and with so few issues left, it's starting to become inexcusable. We keep going around in circles and dodging the answer, when it feels like we should already be told who it is (there are only a few suspects left at this point, like Dr. Hurt or crazy Owlman from Court of Owls). The story is just feeling padded out now, which is a shame since the rest of the writing is great and characterization is very strong here. I also would have preferred there not being three artists on it (it lead to some awkward changes between art styles), since any of the artist would have been fine.Best Moment

Still no advancement with the true culprit and honestly, with so few issues left, I'm starting to get worried. I'm worried that all the remaining plotlines won't be wrapped up that well since there are so few issues left to go. We're barely making progress and it's frustrating"

Well I'll say one thing. It does feel like things started moving forward. There was much more happening than usual and the comic looks like it is starting to move towards a big conclusion with so much chaos going on. That does match the idea we saw at the very beginning of the series with Batman strung up on the Bat Signal as the city burns, so all of this does feel like endgame to a certain degree. Sure, we still don't know who is pulling the strings here (money is on the villain from Court of Owls), but I'll take what we get here. Also, the writing was nice and I did enjoy having Blanco again on art duties.

Things still feel like they are moving forward in the comic, but somehow, still very slowly. It feels like we almost wrapped up some storylines here, but some are still going on when there are, like, only three issues left in total. Still no word on the main mastermind or anything. Sure, there were some good character moments I found great and fitting of the characters, but come on. It's time to wrap things up and not drag your feet anymore. Oh well, at least the writing and artwork were fine.

Solid writing, great characterization, and good artwork did keep this book from sinking.

Either way, the issue was great and it really feels like things are all wrapping up nicely for this big finish, though there are some minor points that might not sit well for everyone. The writing, the characterization, and the artwork are all reading and looking good here. It gives me hope for a big and exciting ending next issue.

Do I recommend Batman Eternal now that I've seen it all? Sure, but only if you can get the trades cheaply.

The artwork is generally good. Clayface looks pretty good and his transformations are nicely drawn, but I swear this is the fourth redesign of this character. In all of his appearances, his usual form always looks different. Backgrounds are good, the action is nice, everyone looks different, and the facial expressions are decent. Really nice overall. 8.0 Clayface is a very fun villain to watch.The story and surprise at the end were a blast.The artwork is decent overall.Clayface's portrayal and appearance keeps changing with every story.Not as exciting as it could be.

Then there is artwork itself. It is honestly not bad, but there is certainly nothing special about it. It's bland and average looking, without a single thing standing out about it. Average penciling, coloring, and inking all around. Average artwork is certainly nothing bad in general, but with an awful script and story, it does not remotely help make the experience any more tolerable. The cover was nicely drawn though, I'll give them that.

Batwing #25 is a questionable tie-in, but an enjoyable comic despite that fact. The characters are well written, the story is simple but fun, and the art is great looking. It's not very deep, nor does it do much to make itself truly special among other superhero books out there, but it is one of best books if you are looking for some simple, superhero action with great hero.

Batwoman #24 is a wonderful issue, but it leave such a sour taste in your mouth given that this is how it ends for this writing team. It's so great, but yet, this is it. The story is over and it ends on such a bad cliffhanger. Get this issue if you want to wrap up this team run on the comic, but prepare to be disappointed.

Batwoman #25 is sadly not that good. While the writer Marc Andreyko gets the characters and their voices down right, the storytelling on display is very poor and the artwork is messy due primarily to how many different people worked on it. This was a clear rush job and a bad start for the new direction on the book. Hopefully the future will be better than this.

Batwoman #26 was a pleasant surprise for me. I wasn't sure if the comic was going to keep up the quality after what happened with all the abrupt changes but things look to be turning around so far. I would like to follow-up on the events of last arc definitely, but I can make due until April for now.

Batwoman #32 is a decent start to this new arc with good characters and interesting storylines. Its only faults lie in the fact that it is slow and decompressed in areas, along with one storyline being a bit clichd. Hopefully, the rest of the arc can make up for that as time goes on.

Batwoman #34 brings this small arc to a close on a rather tragic note that everyone has had in the back of their minds for a while. It does have good parts to it and the big surprise at the end is interesting and leaves you wondering what'll happen next. After this issue, many things have changed and whether or not that'll be good for the future of this title, is up to us to find out in future issues.

Batwoman #35 was a major dip in quality for the book due to the poor decision of just dropping the audience in the middle of the story with no context or explanation for anything. If it offered something in the way of explanation, just anything, the issue might not have been so bad — but combined with that and the below average artwork, this felt like a huge letdown. Skip until you can get the next issue.

Batwoman Annual #1 is a decent conclusion to the arc that was left unfinished back in October. It may not be what the original writers were intending considering what they hinted at, but what we got was still enjoyable to read. I do hope we do get to see follow up on some of this later on though.

Batwoman: Futures End #1 is an odd one. It's certainly not a badly written book, lays out some interesting hints for what we'll be seeing in the main book soon, Beth was a great addition, and the artwork wasn't too bad. On the other hand, the very dark route, depressing story, and depiction of Kate is going to have more than one person shaking their heads in disappointment or annoyance. It may be worth reading, depending on how you feel currently about the series.

Beastars Vol. 3 is opening the door to a wider world for both its characters and the audience. Its characterization is improving as the universe feels more fascinating and deeper than ever. Between its strong writing and great art, Beastars is easily one of the best new series I've read this year. If you haven't tried it, now is the perfect time to jump into this animal kingdom.

Beastars Vol. 4 steps back a little with the plot to focus more on developing its characters and their relationships with one another. While some are better than others, it is engaging and curious to see how the fuzzy cast continues growing and grappling with their own feelings as they evolve. For those looking for more character-focused material, Beastars continues to offer a good experience, even if it does seem questionable at times.

The first volume of this new series offers an intriguing beginning to a new take on an old classic. While not perfect, it does everything a good series should do to hook the audience in right off the bat and leaves you wanting to know more.

The Big Con Job #1 is a good start to a mini-series, with plenty of good setup and very strong emotional bits that really make you sympathize for the characters. It doesn't really have much story going on until the end, so don't expect until really crime related until then. However, it's not a bad book at all and it may be worth a look.

Birds of Prey #25 is an acceptable comic book overall, but not something to be rushing out to get if you need a Zero Year fix. There are better books you could be reading and if you truly wanted to check this out, it would probably be best to wait until a special collection comes out that has all the Zero Year tie-ins (it'll happen, just like Batman: Night of the Owls (The New 52) and Death of the Family).

Birds of Prey: Futures End #1 is a decent enough send off to the series, even if there are some plot problems going on. It's a fine one-shot and with decent characterization and artwork. Where Black Canary goes after this is anyone's guess, but hopefully it's to a good book where she can get the best treatment she deserves.

Birthright is off to a fantastic start with a great setup, a strong family dynamic that should be interesting to see going forward, strong writing, and solid artwork. There are some things that I would have liked to see more of in this first issue, but for what we got, we had a great first outing. Hopefully the next issue lives up to the potential we've seen here.

Birthright #2 is a good continuation of the story, just not exactly as great as the first issue. It doesn't move the story forward too much and the family aspect isn't nearly as strong as it was in the first issue. Nevertheless though, the writing and its ability to pull you in still remains strong, as does most of the artwork. It's still definitely worth your time, so go check it this out, along with the first if you haven't yet.

Birthright #7 is a great issue and continuation of the story. If you were worried that the first issue of this new arc was going a bit too slow, this one should put your fears aside. The story is really picking up with a lot of interesting new developments and plots going on, alongside a shocking cliffhanger that is sure have you coming back for the next issue. With issues as strong as this one, I'm more excited than ever to see where Birthright will take us next.

Birthright #16 was a good return for the series after its small break. While there's often not a lot to discuss on each issue individually, the series still remains one of the most consistently enjoyable and well written books on the stands from any company. Definitely give it a look if you haven't already, especially now that there are three trade collections worth of story already available.

Black Canary #1 is a great start to a new series with a strong opening, a fun main character, solid writing, and great looking artwork. This is a real good outing and I can't wait to see more from this comic in the future.

Black Canary #2 is a great issue overall with a lot to like and very little to dislike. If you liked the first issue, you definitely do not want to miss out on the fun in this issue.

Black Canary #6 is a wonderful and surprising end to the series' first arc. While maybe a tad too much flash and not enough substance in one or two areas, the comic was a lot of fun and leaves off on a rather exciting note for the future. Overall, while the scheduling wasn't great for the book, this is easily one of the highlights of DC Comics' DCYou line. Hopefully the next year is just as great for this title.

Black Canary #7 in theory is an enjoyable and fine finale to end the first arc of the series. It wraps up almost everything and leaves off on an interesting note to hook the readers into staying around for a while longer. However, the execution and the rushed nature of how matters ended resulted in problems that took away from the ending. While there are still plenty of things to remain interested in and see what happens in the future, the issue doesn't measure up to the preceding ones that came before.

Black Widow #1 is just a fantastic start to a brand new series that should be read. It fully fleshed out and realized its main character with beautiful artwork and an enjoyable one-shot. If you are looking for a new series to try, there is no better one out there at this moment from any company than this.

Black Widow #2 is another great issue for the series and should cement this comic as a must read for any comic fan. The story, the characters, the writing, and the artwork all come together to make another great read. Still recommended to anybody who likes the character, spy fans, or anybody who likes well written comics.

Black Widow #5 is what you come to expect from the series, a completely fantastic and enjoyable experience. The writing is top notch, the characters and themes are great, and the artwork is beautiful. Easily one of, if not the best series Marvel is putting out right now and is worth your money.

Black Widow #6 is a solid conclusion for the first real arc of the series, which also gets an interesting storyline going. The writing and themes are good, the main character is still well defined, and the artwork is strong like you would expect. Maybe it's not as amazing as previous issues have been, but it's still a good wrap up for the arc.

Black Widow #8 is an issue that had potential, but ultimately wasn't able to fully capitalize on it. It was also perhaps the weakest issue of the run to date, lacking the usual depth and complexity that the series has. It is still a decent read overall beyond that, with lots of good moments and beautiful artwork. Just doesn't live up to the expectations that we usually have with the comic.

Bloodstrike #1 is completely and utterly awful and the worst of it was that it wasn't even so bad it's good like you would hope. The writing is just terrible; the first issue does a horrible job of being accessible for new audiences, the artwork is garish, and the overall tone and edgy nature of the book makes it into one of the ugliest and most unpleasant experiences I have had reading a comic. There are moments of unintentional hilarity, but I cannot recommend this book in the slightest, even those who are big fans of Rob. If you want fun bad Liefeld comics, check out the remaster first volume of Youngblood that had Joe Casey involved with or even the New 52 Hawk & Dove series.

Bloodstrike #2 is less than impressive. It is slightly better than the last issue, since it doesn't engage in pointless, vile moments. However, in a strange way, that lack of shock (including the lack of story and character), ends up making the issue rather hollow and boring. Unless you are a big fan of Liefeld, there's no point at checking this series out.

Blue Beetle #1 is an unfortunate step down in quality from the excellent Rebirth issue. The storytelling and writing are just not as strong as they were before and they make reading the comic more frustrating than it should be. It's a shame since the story, character, and the artwork are all pretty good though. Hopefully the next issue gets things back on track.

Blue Beetle: Rebirth #1 was a great start to a brand new series, setting everything up and introducing the characters and the plots that we'll be following. It's accessible for all readers and the artwork is quite nice and appropriate for the book. There are some questions around continuity with previous series, but they don't really detract too much from the overall experience. If you wanted to get into the Blue Beetle, this is a great way to jump on in.

Blue Exorcist Vol. 17 is another fine outing for the series. While the main plot isn't progressing as much as one may hope, the expanded look at one of the side characters and the continued buildup of Yukio's arc still make this quite the enjoyable and engaging read. Not much else to say but check it out if you've beenenjoying the series thus far.

Boarding School Juliet Vol. 1 is a fine romantic comedy. The chemistry between the two main characters is excellent and the humor is great most of the time. What hurts it the most is that there's not much substance to its characters or backstory.

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations Vol. 1 is not particularly great. There are flashes of greatness within the manga, but it's held back by not being able to forge its own path and is stuck adapting a movie currently in its first storyline. Most of the characters are just kind of there and storylines don't feel very well-fleshed out currently either. At this point, I would just suggest checking out the movie rather than reading the manga.

Bucky Barnes: Winter Soldier #1 is a comic with great potential and boasts some beautiful visuals. However, it really needs to work on its writing and the artist really needs to balance beauty and cohesiveness in order for the art to truly contribute to its success. I think they're onto something here, but there's work to be done and I hope the creative team can fix its problems.

A decent start to what could be an interesting series.

C.O.W.L. #1 is a fantastic and gorgeous looking period piece/superhero tale. This series is off to a great start already with an intriguing setup, interesting cast of characters, great feel and tone and absolutely beautiful looking artwork. This could be one of the best indie superhero comics coming out, so be sure to not miss out!

C.O.W.L. #2 is a continuation of the story from last issue, interweaving several interesting subplots and characters into it and creating a very engaging and intriguing experience. The main story and narrative is on the weak side admittedly, but the rest of the writing along with absolutely astounding visuals make this a very exciting and worthwhile read.

Captain America and the Mighty Avengers #1 is a big disappointment in its initial outing. The whole relaunch thing just really screwed things up, and the story being a forced tie in to Axis doesn't help matters. It really hurt the potential of this comic, because the writing and artwork are pretty solid otherwise. Hopefully things can really turn around in the next issue and get this book back on the right track. It was Marvel's best Avengers book and I hope it can quickly regain that title.

Captain America and the Mighty Avengers #2 is getting better slowly and over time will hopefully show the same level of quality previously seen in the book before it was relaunched. The writing and story are definitely improving and getting more enjoyable, but the whole tie-in to Axis really does a ton of damage unfortunately. Here's hoping the next issue continues with the improvements.

Captain America and the Mighty Avengers #3 is problematic. Almost all of its problems lie in the fact that it ties directly into Axis, which brings with it a boatload of problems, and also the fact that the issue has nothing much going for it in the story department. Honestly, the faster this comic escapes the grasp of Axis, the better things will be for this series.

Captain America and the Mighty Avengers #4 feels like a much needed step in the right direction for the title. Having finished with Axis, the comic now gets to focus more on its characters, its own stories, and what it wants to do. The comic feels less constricted now and it's all for the better. While the comic needs one solo artist at this point, the writing and handling of the fallout of the previous arc were just plain well-done. Hopefully, things continue to get better for the comic as it continues to move forward.

Captain America and the Mighty Avengers #5 is a good issue overall. There are some minor problems here and there, but the story's direction and quality are promising so far. This may not have been the direction I would have personally wanted from the book, but the results are good and I remain interested in what'll happen from here on out.

Captain Marvel #1 is a slow, but decent start to this "new" series. It feels like things have yet to truly get underway in it, but the potential seen in the opening for where the comic will ultimately be going appears to be promising. If you were a fan of the previous series, give this one a look when you can.

The art is nice to look at though, with well drawn characters and great colors. The only downside to this art is that it is really not given anything amazing to show. Nothing really pops out or is very eye-catching, except maybe the the Red Skull looking guys that are green and glowing. Also, there some rather nitpicky art flubs, but that's it.

Super Secret Crisis War! #1 is a solid start for this new event and great crossover for all of the fans of these shows. It's very accurate with capturing the feel, tone, and personality of these shows and characters, plus it delivers an enjoyable crossover with some good writing. Maybe not for everyone, but for the right audience, this is definitely worth their time and money.

The art is the only real saving grace to this comic. Its purdy looking and nice, with the action scenes being intense and the emotions expressed well (most of the time). The comic does have its occasional flub (like the questionable body poses that Catwoman does), but nothing it does will distract or take you out of the comic, unlike the writing.

Catwoman #24 continues its trend of terrible dialogue and plotting, constantly changing the plot and contradicting itself. Catwoman is in desperate need of a new writer and new direction, otherwise this is one book that'll continue to destroy itself.

Catwoman #25 has its problems, some of which can be found being perpetrated by the usual team on the book. However, with a completely different tone and the fact the book is trying to evoke some simple fun, Catwoman #25 feels different and enjoyable in comparison to what has come before. If people are looking for some fun with Catwoman and don't mind if the book is rather silly give this issue a chance.

Catwoman #27 is pretty bad with its subpar dialogue, poor structure, bad characterization, and terrible dream sequence. It's certainly not the worst issue of the series and the artwork wasn't too bad, but honestly, there is no point in buying this. If you want a decent tie-in to Gothapia, go get Batwing.

Catwoman #29 is a lot of fun and great issue. It gives a great depiction of Catwoman, an enjoyable and exciting heist, and with desire to see more stories like this. While we may not be getting any more stories like that for a while, we can at least have a good story to keep coming back. Definitely recommended.

Catwoman #30 had some promise with the premise of the arc, but it ultimately still fails to deliver. The writing is still awful from the plotting to the dialogue, bad characterization all around for the cast, and now with bad and ugly artwork. The only good thing that can be said that it appears that the comic is approaching its end and soon, we may not have to deal with this anymore. Hopefully, that's the case.

Catwoman #33 is awful, pure and simple. The writing has continued to degrade more to where it all culminated in a lackluster and quite poorly put together ending. Catwoman herself remained an unlikeable jerk throughout and the rest of the cast wasn't any better. Top it all off with terrible looking artwork and you have quite possibly the worst comic DC has produced in years. It's going to a bright and happy day once the book changes teams this October.

Catwoman #34 is a completely weak and underwhelming finale to Nocenti's Catwoman run. The story was unengaging, Catwoman barely did anything in the actual issue, the writing was a mess, and the artwork was just forgettable and drab. And, fittingly, that's how Nocenti's entire run ends. It started with an god-awful origin story and ended falling flat on its face and breaking its nose. I'd wager a guess that most people will end up remembering this run as easily the worst comic book run of the New 52.

Catwoman #35 is a little miracle. The new creative team gives this book just what it needed: an intriguing story, a well-written main characters, solid writing, and fantastic looking artwork. It's been a long time since I've been so excited and happy to read Catwoman, and I hope that this joy and the quality of the book will continue in future issues. Highly recommended, especially if you are a fan of the character and of Batman Eternal.

Okay the writing and the story was terrible, but what about the art? Well it was just fine. Not much in the way of action or excitement this issue, despite an ice cream truck shooting up in a neighborhood (long story there), but some decent emotion from the characters and some good looking settings. However, the art was really wasted here on such lackluster writing and storytelling.

Catwoman Annual #2 is a solid character focused story, really diving into the life of/bringing the new Catwoman to life. It has some issues with the narration but the writing and story read very well overall. If you have been liking the new Catwoman run so far, be sure to check this comic out as well.

Catwoman: Election Night is not very good. While it has a strong story involving Prez, the main event is not very good and takes up the majority of the pages in this comic. The writing is bad, characterization is questionable, the story is poorly told, and the political commentary is terrible here. As much as I enjoyed the Prez portion, I struggle to really recommend this comic, especially at a $5 price point.

Cells at Work Vol. 3 is a fun collection of tales with our favorite personified cells as they go about their jobs, even developing and exploring some of the various recurring characters. The latter half is not as strong as the first half, the book is rather light overall, and the Red Blood Cell herself is barely in the book. This takes away a bit from the volume itself, but this was still a good and educational experience. Definitely worth checking out if you like the previous books.

Cells at Work Vol. 4 is an excellent edition for the series, providing some of the best stories seen to date. The characters are delightful, the narrative's educational and clever in its depiction of familiar ideas we've seen, and the artwork, while different at times, is still quite beautiful-looking. Fans of the series are going to want to check this one out.

Cells at Work! Vol. 5 was a terrific, fun outing, taking our heroes on an incredibly creative and tense journey through the digestive system. The change-up in the narrative and storytelling was great and all the characterization, writing, and artwork help bolster everything further. This is easily one of the best, most unique, mangas, let alone educational mangas, that I have ever read. Without a doubt, this is something you should check at some point in your life, especially if you have passing interest in biology.

Chainsaw Man Vol. 1 is a brutal, gory, crass, but surprisingly thoughtful and human beginning. Worth a look, though maybe pick up the second volume alongside it.

Chainsaw Man Vol. 2 is a marked improvement over the first volume. While the sexual and crass side does not always blend with the serious and poignant moments, the writing is sharper than ever. The characterization and writing are excellent, while the art is even firing on all cylinders, delivering amazing action and engaging characters. If you were iffy on the first volume, you owe it to yourself to check out the second one.

While not as heavy hitting as what came before it, the seventh volume packs a lot of punch with a wide variety of memorable, striking villains and beautiful artwork.

The artwork remains its usual vibrant and silly looking self. If you have been reading the series up to this point, the quality remains as great as always, with its unique looking characters and their neat expressions and amusing sight gags. My personal favorite thing is always the background stuff on the posters, signs, and flyers that the artist puts in, with the best one this issue being a Mario reference.

Chew #40 is another solid issue of the series and decent finale to its arc. While it could have focused a bit more on the family element for the ending, it has all the usual enjoyable things that you have come to love from this series and that won't distract you at all. Definitely loving forward to the next arc.

Chew #43 is another solid issue, but lacks a bit of the punch or surprise we've gotten in the previous two issues (outside of the ending shot here). Regardless of that though, the quality of issue remains the same as previous ones. The writing is still very strong, with great characters and very enjoyable artwork. All I can say is that I'm looking very much forward to the next issue and wondering what will exactly happen.

Chew #44 is, without a doubt, one of the best issues of the series it has had in a long time. It was intense, surprising, had a lot of payoff to a long building storyline and had great writing and art as usual. This issue is definitely one fans of the series will be talking about for a while.

Chew #45 is a game-changer and one hell of a way to end the arc on. The writing is better than it has ever been, the characters and drama are strong, the ending is jaw-dropping, and the artwork is stunning like always. Just what is there left to say at this point? Chew is amazing and with the next arc on the horizon, I looking forward to it a lot.

Chew #47 is another fine issue of the series, ending off on a great cliffhanger that has me excited for seeing more. Everything you've come to expect from the series is still here in terms of quality, so dive in.

Chew #50 is a solid and exciting milestone issue for this long running series. While I'm personally iffy on the epilogue, the story and finale to the Collector storyline was fantastic from beginning to end. There's very little to complain about or nitpick with the writing or the artwork. Ultimately, fans of Chew are not going to be disappointed at all with the issue.

Chew #51 is a great issue that gives you the usual fun and silly shenanigans that you come to expect from the series. Its only weakness is that it could be doing more with the story, especially now that the series is getting closer and closer to the end. Either way, I don't see anyone being all that disappointed with the issue regardless.

I always knew there was something evil about that Boo-Berry cereal.

Chew/Revival #1 is a great crossover one-shot story — perfect at capturing what makes both series great and telling their own little stories in each of each other's worlds. If you are a fan of both, there's no way that you won't enjoy this comic and if you are only a fan of one, Chew/Revival #1 still comes recommended anyways if only for the portion of the book you normally only like. Give it a shot.

Chew: Warrior Chicken Poyo #1 is what you would expect: an entire issue devoted to Poyo kicking butt, but in a fantasy setting with the usual level of quality that the series is known for. If you really dig Poyo and want to see more adventures with him, then grab this issue. If not, just wait it out for the next regular issue of Chew; this issue won't change your mind about the character.

Children of the Whales Vol. 1 presents us with a fascinating setting wrapped in a coat of luscious, beautiful artwork that is a treat for the eyes.

Civil War II #4 is a very average read. The story suffers from a lot of problems in its execution, pacing, and how it portrays Carol Danvers in the book. It doesn't feel like an equal argument at all, which makes the narrative one-sided and not as compelling as it could or should be. In the end, it's just really hard to recommend this comic enough though it engulfs most of Marvel series right now. It's visually gorgeous, but that's really it in the end.

Civil War II #5 is a step down from the last issue. While we finally got the action we were promised from the very beginning, we sacrificed story progression for it, outside of a very questionable ending. The writing had a lot of problems, especially when it comes to character depiction, and the artwork, while amazing, has some slipups as well. This is the weakest issue of this event by far, so hopefully things can bounce back somehow next time around.

Civil War II #6 is a step up from the last issue, with some minor improvements to getting the story back on track and fixing the issues with the inking. Its main problem lies in the fact that not much was accomplished by the end, mostly just setting things up for the other books or the final two issues. It ultimately leaves the comic rather uneventful with not much to talk about. Perhaps things will pick up as we reach the final stretch.

Civil War II #8 and the entire Civil War II event were a disappointment. This isn't the worst event ever with ones like Axis and the original Civil War out there, but overall it felt lacking and was mostly just a vehicle to setup other Marvel series. There was potential here with the overall premise and the backing of a powerhouse artist but it was squandered with bad characterization, tacked on messages that weren't explored all that well, unlikable protagonists, and very awkward writing and pacing.

Clean Room #1 has a lot of good ideas going for it and there are things to like, especially the unsettling vibes the story is emanating. The problem lies solely in the execution of the story and writing due to how unnatural and fast everything comes across. This is another Vertigo book I and many others were excited about reading, especially after it got put off for so long. However, the first issue is a disappointment despite the gold that lies underneath all of its problems. Maybe come back if it improves and hopefully, it will.

The art for the book is overall decent. The characters look good with their expressions and interactions, the backgrounds and worlds look lively and not just blank or nonexistent, and the action is pretty neat (love the car chase near the end with the line work and movement). The one thing that kind of stands out to me in a way in the coloring and that it looks very familiar. Seems an awful lot like the same person who colored this comic did Miss Fury as well (though the artist in this case is much better). 8.0Promising start with the plot and characters.The art is decent.Mostly just setup.The plot does not feel extremely original.

The only downside to this quick pace and all-plot style is there is not much in terms of character development. Sure, you do have an understanding of who people are and why they do things, but you don't know their backstories or history outside of vague hints. You like them, but you don't feel fully attached to them. You probably would need to read the comics they star in to get the most out of them in that department.

My only problem is that some of the panel layouts are weird or off, like the writer forgot to put something in there. For instance, look at the picture I posted above with the guy who looks dumbfounded. It seriously feels like dialogue should be there. Another weird moment happens on the previous page where the characters greet Eve as she comes up, but the next panel makes it look like they haven't even noticed here. It's bizarre and threw me off a bit.

Coffin Hill #3 is a book with many secrets and mysteries that can quite possibly leave the audience wondering what exactly is happening. However, its mysteries are interesting so far, its characters are well developed, and its artwork is just downright beautiful in its eeriness. For those seeking a more complex horror story, this may be right up your alley.

Coffin Hill #4 moves in the right direction this issue by starting to unravel some of its mysteries, while also still keeping the audience in the dark enough. With some new and great elements added to this issue, the series feels much better than it has in a while. Definitely worth your time.

Coffin Hill continues to improve with its newest issue, as the story comes more into focus and the mysteries start to come together. With the end of the first arc coming to a close soon, this is shaping up to be a very interesting conclusion.

Coffin Hill #6 was a solid finale for the first arc of the comic. It wrapped the story up, clearing all the hazy parts and setting the stage for the next part of the series, while also having some great and scary artwork. I look forward to where this series will go from here.

Coffin Hill #7 is a decent one shot that adds quite a bit more to the story of the last arc, making it quite enjoyable. The writing and guest artwork have a few hiccups, but the issue is still a decent read. With issue, I look forward to when the series comes back in June.

Coffin Hill #8 is a great return for the comic, really getting off on the right foot for this new arc. The storyline and subplots are intriguing, the characters are interesting as usual, the writing is solid, and the artwork is beautiful at points. It really gets me excited to see where the comic is going with this new storyline and I honestly hope it continues to get better and better.

Coffin Hill #9 is another excellent issue of the series, keeping the momentum that was built up in the last issue and continuing it here. While not particularly scary, the writing and artwork are strong enough to easily make up for that area. All in all, this new story arc is shaping up to be much better than the first arc and I hope it continues that.

Another solid issue of the series, even if it's a bit weaker than the previous two issues. While there are some nitpicks to be had with it, the story and artwork is strong enough to overcome these problems and still deliver on a satisfying and intriguing experience. Definitely worth your time.

Coffin Hill #11 took a bit of a step back with some of the choices it made in the storytelling here. The comic needs to work on balancing all of its stories and giving them time to progress instead of barely moving at points. Still, the story is very engaging and creepy, features some neat twists and turns and still maintains some great looking art. The issue may have had some problems, but luckily there is still enough value and substance to be found so that it doesn't sink.

Coffin Hill #12 is a solid issue that is really heating up the story as the end for the arc approaches. The buildup is great, the writing is good, the characters are enjoyable, and the artwork is solid like usual. I am very intrigued and excited by where this comic could be going from here and hope it goes out on a spooky and creepy note.

Coffin Hill #13 is a good conclusion to the second arc that sadly is hurt by a bunch of problems that prevent it from being as good as the first. It does a passable job of wrapping things up and getting the audience ready for the next arc, but the pacing feels rushed and as if book is trying to cram in as much information as it can into the end. It's disappointing honestly, but I do remain invested in wanting to see where the comic goes next. Here's hoping the next arc does things a little bit better.

Coffin Hill #14 was a nicely creepy done-in-one little tale. While it doesn't really connect too much to the main series (at least at this point) and doesn't seem to add much to anything, it was a good story from beginning to end. The writing was good and artwork really helped bring out the creepiness in all of it. I look forward to see how this issue fits in and where the main story goes when the comic returns in the future.

Coffin Hill #15 is a decent start to the new story arc for the series. It has one storyline that hasn't been built up that well with an uninteresting villain to boot; the storyline is rather intriguing and shows a lot of potential to develop the side characters however, so there is that. I'm very mixed on this issue, but I am still interested in seeing where the comic will take the audience. Hopefully it's somewhere nice and spooky.

There is a lot of potential in this first issue with its premise and world it is developing. The characters could use some more work so we can get to know them better, but right now, I'm quite sucked in already. If you are looking for something a bit different, as in government agents fighting the broken laws of physics, this could be for you!

Improving in some ways and maintaining the quality of the last, the second volume dives deeper into Nagisa's insecurities and the issues surrounding her love of cosplay and her desire to continue it.

Complex Age Vol. 3 continues to be an utterly fantastic, personal, and real experience of a manga.

Complex Age Vol. 4 is a strong volume for the series, easily one of the best to date. The characters are absolutely wonderful and complicated, some showing so much to them to you can't help but be drawn into their struggles. The writing and artwork helps to bolster the already strong characterization and story, makingfor a truly engaging experience. There are only two volumes of Complex Age left and given how excellent this one was I look forward to seeing what happens in the ones to come.

Complex Age Vol. 5 is bringing our series to a close in a satisfying and complete way.

The art by Renato Guedes continues to be good, making the magic and characters all look unique and memorable. The fight scene was pretty solid as well, with a great use of color for the magic in it. On the other hand, the comic continues to have the same coloring problem I mentioned a while back; it's just too bright. The color scheme just does not match up with the mood or tone of the book, especially during the most gruesome part of this comic. A darker palette, with maybe the magic still looking bright, would be more preferred. 7.5 Decent little one-shot that continues its own story.Constantine and Shazam are both good and clever in this.Good looking art.Not a good tie-in.There's really not much to this story.The color's too bright for the tone of the comic.

Constantine: Futures End #1 is a book with a good base that feels like it is lacking something. Now, that could easily just be me here despite some weak dialogue and odd pacing. Personally, if you have been enjoying the series up until now, I'm sure you'll enjoy this issue and want to check it out. Otherwise, you may just want to read this in the store first to see if you want it.

Constantine: The Hellblazer #1 is not a bad start at all to this new series. It feels much closer to the original comic, being far more adult and serious than the other Constantine book DC put out, while also having some pretty good writing. While I freely admit to not being a fan of the artist, people who definitely like Rossmo's style will definitely enjoy this. Overall, I recommend this comic for those seeking a darker, but also mature title from DC Comics right now.

Contest of Champions #1 isn't a bad book and features plenty to enjoy, but there's also a distinct lack of characterization or setup for most of the comic. It has good writing, a neat lead character, decent artwork, and an enjoyable backup story; however, at a steep price point of five dollars and not a lot happening story-wise, I think you could wait on this issue a bit until you can get it cheaper — or see what we say about issue two, of course.

Cry Havoc #1 is a pretty strong start to a new series. The story is structured in an interesting way, offering up intriguing mysteries and a strong, well-rounded main character. The artwork is quite nice as well for the most part, with a combination of strong line work, good inking, and tonally fitting colors. All in all, I give Cry Havoc a recommendation, especially if you've been looking to try out a Simon Spurrier comic for the first time.

Cry Havoc #5 is underwhelming. There's not much going on with the story this time around and there's very little in the way of characterization for anyone outside of the lead. I suspect if you were to read this issue in a trade collection, it would be a lot better since you could easily just move onto the next issue. However, as a single issue in a series that releases one issue a month, this comic just did not deliver like you would hope. I say skip picking up this issue until the next one comes out, unless you can get it cheap. There's no reason to get it right now, even if you are desperate to find out what happens next.

Cry Havoc #6 is a huge disappointment and plummet in quality. The story and character developments are extremely rushed here, speeding through potential ideas and character growth. The writing suffers due to the speed at which things are resolved, leaving the experience feeling awkward and in need of a few more draft phases. The only thing that doesn't suffer is the artwork, which while good, is not enough to save the title. This series started off so promising, but it just fell off as time went on. It could still redeem itself if the series does return, but until that point, I just cannot recommend the comic.

Cyborg #1 is an average first issue, with some lackluster execution but amazing artwork. It's not the best first issue for a new series or run that DC started in these past two months, but it's not bad either. If you are a fan of the character, I recommend giving this first issue a shot. Otherwise, maybe hold off on it until there are few more issues to really see where this comic is heading.

DC Universe: Rebirth #1 is teaser for things to come. It brings back many fan favorites and ideas from the past, while still shaping the new universe. It is also backed up by beautiful looking artwork that makes this a visual treat from start to finish. However, it's not particularly strong in the story department and some of the new changes are controversial to say the very least. Regardless, I'm excited to see what will happen now and how the DC universe will change.

Dead Boy Detectives #1 is an alright book, but it is mostly in the realm of setup, having not gotten started and just putting the piece into the right places. Maybe hold off on buying this book right away until the second issue gets out, cause otherwise there may not be much here for the reader.

Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction Vol. 1 is by far one of the best manga I've read in a while, and it's also easily one of Asano's strongest series debuts.

Deadly Class #1 is a solid introduction for the series, though it doesn't feel like the series has really started yet. It's all mostly setup for the main character, and for a book called “Class” there's no real sign of the school until the end. It boasts some solid artwork, some great action, and decent writing; but it isn't there yet. The next issue though should provide us with the “school” aspect.

Deadly Class #2 is another decent issue for the series and still shows plenty of potential, especially now that the school aspect of the title has come in. However, the comic still feels like it needs a bit more time to grow and needs some more likeable characters before it can truly shine. Worth checking out regardless.

Deadly Class #3 is a solid issue of the series. The characters are well developed and the artwork is quality and will appeal to the right audience. The only thing it really lacks is likeability when it comes to the main character, since he really possesses no qualities one would like about him. Maybe as time goes on, that'll change.

Deadly Class #4 seems to be setting up for something exciting and thrilling the next issue, but it doesn't really go anywhere much beyond that. Despite some decent writing and good interactions between the cast, the characters aren't particularly likeable and the story is on the weak side. The comic does seem to be heading somewhere interesting and exciting very soon, but right now, it is just having a rather weak showing.

Deadly Class #7 is a decent enough start to this new arc, mostly just getting groundwork laid out for what'll be seeing soon. The writing and artwork are perfectly capable and do the job, though in comparison to previous issues, it feels like it's lacking a punch or energy to it to keep it memorable or exciting (most of the time at least). If you've enjoyed the series up until now, you'll most likely enjoy this.

Deadly Class #18 is one of the series' best issues to date. The amount of the character development and growth was fantastic and very compelling. The personal stories and small fights are really elevating the comic as a whole, even if the main character and some parts of the writing could use some work. Hopefully this is a sign of good, but nasty things to come for this series in the future.

Deadly Class #21 succeeds at being one hell of a shocking and haunting ending, with strong artwork and writing. However, upon reflection and once the shock wears off, it loses a lot of its luster and comes across as manipulative, wasteful, and straining in its believability. I know a lot of my complaints may come down to personal opinion and that there is plenty of good here, but I find the problems of the narrative and decisions take away from the experience. However, if you've enjoyed the series so far, I can say you'll definitely at least like this.

Death Vigil #1 is a not bad comic and definitely has appeal for the right target audience, the kind who are more into a magic and sorcery theme. There's plenty to like here with a fairly solid and well laid out first issue, likeable characters and decent artwork. It's not for everyone, but it could be just the kind of comic you are looking for.

Deathstroke #1 is a good comic, but perhaps not for everyone. It really depends on how much you really like the character, how much intense violence you can stomach and if you want a pure grade action story instead of a superhero action kind of tale. While not particularly my bag, I can definitely recommend it to people looking for any of those aspects and can attest to the decent writing and intense visuals. Give it a shot and see if this is the bloodbath for you.

Delicious in Dungeon Vol. 1 was a delightful, charming first volume. The series has an interesting premise of combining both a fantasy and cooking series together and delivers on it wonderfully due to the creator's fantastic creativity and intricate writing. With a great cast of characters, strong writing, and just as good artwork, this is easily one of the best fantasy series to come out in a while. Highly recommended.

Descender #1 is a fantastic start to a new series. It shows a lot of promise for the future with a great setup to what could be an epic, thrilling, and emotional sci-fi tale. It has an intriguing universe already and combined with great writing and awe-inspiring artwork, this is a comic you owe it to yourself to try. Even if it is not your thing, it's worth at least a look.

Descender #2 is a really good continuation to this new comic series, diving into the heartwarming and eventually tragic backstory of Tim and then proceeding to hit you with one hell of an ending. Combined with fantastic writing and absolutely gorgeous artwork, Descender has quickly become one of the best new series Image has to offer. If there's one new Image series you have to read this year, make it this one.

Descender #3 is another fantastic and highly enjoyable issue of the series. While progress is a bit slow in areas and the comic is slowly building up this world, the things that we do learn are intriguing, the writing is still going strong, and the artwork continues to look downright gorgeous. Image has been putting out a lot sci-fi comics recently and of all of them, Descender is easily the best and most worth your time.

Descender #5 continues to impress with its beautiful, splendid artwork to this surprising and engaging story & cast of characters. With the all of the twists in it, there's no way you are going to want to miss out the next issue. This is looking to be one hell of conclusion for its first arc.

Descender #6 is an excellent finale for the first part of the series. We spent most of the time in the past, where we learned and discovered new and interesting aspects to this series. While we didn't spend as much in the present, we still walked away learning a lot in the end. The story, writing, characters, and artwork are all blending together just perfectly in this comic. Easily the best new series Image Comics has put out this year and you should not miss out on this series.

While the backup artist, Andy Clarke, remains on art duties, Scot Eaton takes over for Jason Fabok for the issue. Combined with the coloring, I almost forgot at points that there was a different artist. Eaton has a very similar style as Jason does, so it keeps a consistent feel between issues if you read them back to back. As such, everything looks just as good as it does usually. Good character and emotion, good action (not very much action surprisingly), good flow from panel to panel, and good full page spreads. Maybe just one hiccup or two along the way though"

The art this time around is by Neil Googe. He has a very cartoonish and silly looking style with how he draws his people and the action and it honestly fits the tone and character of Harley Quinn. Well, she's technically more serious nowadays, but a goofier looking art style would fit her best (certainly works well with Chris Burnham's cover) and it really works here. The only artistic problem with the whole book is the fact that the colorist can't make up his mind about what color the black circles are around his Harley's eyes. Are they black or blue?

Detective Comics #30 is an amazing start for this new creative team. Not only is the artwork fantastic, but the storytelling is strong, the characters are great, and the new feel is intriguing. If you want to try a new Batman comic, this is the perfect chance to do so.

Detective Comics #934 was a fantastic and really wonderful start for this new creative team. It did everything right when it came to setup, not dragging the experience down, and kept you interested in what was being shown. The writing was mostly good, the characterization was excellent, and the artwork was stunning. Detective Comics has returned to top form and if you're a Batman fan, you'll definitely want to get in on the fun.

Detective Comics #935, while not having a lot happening in the story, is a terrific showing for each of the characters within it. Everyone came away looking good or having a nice human moment that just captured them very well, which were beautifully rendered by the excellent artwork on the book. So far, this series continues to do well and I'm hoping it stays that way.

Detective Comics #936 was not as good as the two previous issues, but still enjoyable to read regardless. While its twist is interesting, there are also some problems to it as well, especially for longtime fans. The writing is fine and while boasting a different art team than the previous two, the fill-ins still do a fantastic job at bringing the book to life. Hopefully, the next issue gets things back on track and back to the previous level of quality.

Detective Comics #937 is a decent issue that unfortunately feels a tad lacking. The issue doesn't make much advancement with the characters or story beyond introducing two new aspects for later. While the writing and artwork were solid, it didn't feel like I got a whole lot out of the experience. I'm predicting this will read a lot better in the trades, but until then, you won't miss much if you just wait until you can both this and the next issue together.

The artwork is done by Alvaro Martinez again, but with Al Barrionuevo backing him up (sadly not listed on the cover). Barrionuevo provides artwork for the flashback sequence, while Martinez does everything else. Both of them do a great job, nailing the look of the characters, the locations, and capturing the right mood. Barrionuevo was better at capturing the emotions of the scene he drew while Martinez did a really solid job at depicting the action and making it look so energetic. Bottom line: Detective Comics #938 is a great looking book from beginning to end with really no complaints. Most Memorable Moment:

Speaking of distracting, damn those eyes! They stare straight through me!

Detective Comics #940 is an epic and effective ending to rather long, slow arc. The storyline started and finished strong, but was stretched out a little thin in the middle. The characterization was strong, with some auxiliary characters getting a chance to shine, and the artwork was eye-pleasing in many ways. The ending of the issue will certainly leave people talking, whether that be in a good or bad way. Either way, when all is said and done, Detective Comics is definitely a series to keep your eyes on.

Detective Comics #941 is a solid installment in the Monster Men storyline. It kept the story and action going, provided some nice character moments and developments, and was backed up with solid writing and artwork. So far, this is one of the best mini-events/crossovers I read in a long time. It's just a lot of creepy fun the perfect treawt for the Halloween season.

Doctor Fate #1 is a nice start to this new series, offering up a good main character and story setup for the rest of the series to build off of. It has some weak points for sure and the artwork isn't exactly for me, but I can't deny the potential and also quality that the comic showed. Definitely keep your eye on this one.

Doomed #1 is a comic that isn't as bad as it looks or seems, but it's not great either. It's a decent effort, presenting a classically-structured and familiar style origin story for a super-powered being. It does a great job of introducing the main character and it shows some promise, but it feels like it needs more before it can become something truly great. Maybe hold off a bit until the second issue arrives and see what the series has in store.

Drumhellar #1 is just flat out awful. It's a comic that makes little to no sense, has no foundation for anything, the characters don't make sense, and the artwork is ugly. It's a comic that pretty much grabs the audience and tosses them into the deep end of a pool, hoping they can swim. If a comic starts like that and is this confusing, it will completely alienate its audience and drive most people anyway. As such, I cannot in good conscience recommend a mess like this. Avoid this book at all costs.

Drumhellar #5 just doesn't do it for me, especially with the rather flat ending for its first arc. The writing is subpar and overly complicated, the dialogue is bad, the characters are just not compelling, and it was poorly structured and put together. The artwork is divisive and while you may like that part of the book, it's not enough to save this.

Drumhellar #7 is pretty dang bad. It has some improvements in areas of the last issue, but it doesn't offer anything particularly good either. Heck, it even takes a bit away from the last issue with nothing visually unique or interesting on the pages. All you got is a poorly written story with bland characters. There's nothing to get into here and this comic still remains not recommended at all.

Drumhellar #10 brings this series to its apparent close if the ending is any indication. It's a weak conclusion if this is the true end; it left way too much plot holes and loose ends with its story and characters. The writing still suffers from the series' main problems and the artwork, surprisingly, feels visually boring this time around. In the end, even if the creative team was trying hard here to make a unique experience, it just never came into its own. I cannot recommend this series at all due to the quality of the writing and characters.

Earth 2: Futures End #1 is a mess sadly, especially for this writer's first outing writing a DC Comic. The plot structure, writing mechanics, and more are an absolute mess and make this one of the more unenjoyable experiences I had with a DC Comics this side of Catwoman. I give the writer credit for trying to make a complete and fully realized story in a limited amount of space, but sometimes less is more and you need to know what to cut in order to make a good experience for the audience. Give this a pass and check out a better Futures End tie-in this week.

Earth 2: Society #1 is the first (and hopefully only) bad new book DC Comics launched in their new program. The story is lackluster and barebones. The artwork is nice but has little to work with considering the forgettable writing, and even though it is intentional by the writer, there's barely any characterization going on here. With so many new comics and new creative teams that DC is putting forth, there are much better things you could be spending your money on this month if you need your superhero fix.

There are some problems and honestly, this wasn't the most exciting start to a weekly series I've read this year — however, I do like what I'm seeing so far and I do believe there is plenty here to like. If you have been enjoying Earth 2, make sure to give this a shot.

These cartoony visuals don't fit the mood.

Calling it now. This will be a deus ex machina down the line.

All the characterization and dialogue works well and the artwork is appealing looking (it's also much better at feeling consistent from scene to scene). The one thing that felt silly though was that in one scene, it ended on a note that seemed like it was supposed to be a big shock or surprise. However, immediately in the next page, it turned out there wasn't anything to be surprised about and the characters making the shocked expression were just being overly dramatic.

My same praises and complaints that I usually have for the book still apply here: Good plot points, way too much happening, interesting characters, slow pace and artwork that's drawn well, but done with so many contrasting styles/artists that it doesn't mix together well. It's the same thing as always for this comic and while it's nice that there's no dip in quality, the comic still seems to be missing something. I wouldn't mind seeing something big or shocking to really change things up or conversely" a nice slow down and a focus shift on only a few plot points. (For one issue at least).

I've seen this speech somewhere before, haven't I?

Like with most issues, this was just alright. Not bad, but just alright. The story remains fairly interesting, more twists and turns keep on appearing, the characterization is decent, and all of that. However, at this point, the story does feel a bit tiring to a certain degree. It's tiring in the sense that the heroes never catch a single break and bad shit keeps on happening relentlessly. There's never any victory, no sense of payoff, nor any moment to breathe. The book just constantly keeps piling on the amount of bad crap that can happen to the characters and any form of victory they may achieve is instantly taken away from them. It's frustrating and makes you want to see some upbeat or positive happen for once.Most Memorable Moment

Ultimately, the issue is as good as any other in the series in terms of the story and writing; the only real weaknesses come from some questionable moments like the three Avatars fighting off the Furies when not even the Superman and Bat-Family could fight off one or how the Chicago storyline with Dick's Family transitions poorly between this and the previous issue. The artwork is also not looking too good here, with art styles that vary greatly between each other, more than any other issue to date.

There's honestly not much to comment on here that I haven't already said. I like some of the directions the comic is taking, but it feels slow going at points. The writing is perfectly fine, but nothing ever really jumps out about it. The characterization and dialogue are good as well. Finally, there is the artwork that is also just fine, but doesn't mix too well together. There was just nothing truly notable about this issue to discuss and that's honestly sad. The book isn't bad, just rather forgettable.

I think it's good that it didn't stretch out a single plotline for several months and gave the issue extra focus. On the other hand, the story here felt completely rushed and seemed to skip over a lot of story elements. Then there is the whole Big Barda betrayal, which came out of nowhere; Mr. Terrific and Sandman's token appearance before they completely disappeared, the cheesy pose at the end of the book, and so much more. Though I will say the comic looked a whole lot better when one person was actually drawing the book (Paulo, while Scott did the breakdowns).

While there are certainly signs for future improvement as well as strong points within the story at this time, this first volume doesn't do enough to dazzle.

Effigy #1 is a good enough start to this new series, featuring some solid setup and building up a potentially intriguing mystery to follow from here on out. The writing isn't bad and the artwork is easy on the eyes here. There are some problems that do hurt the book, like some strange storytelling parts, but overall, the comic was enjoyable. I look forward to seeing where the series goes from here.

Effigy #2 is a good step up from the last issue, showing plenty of improvements over last time. The script feels tighter, the writing is solid, the characters are pretty good, and the artwork is easy on the eyes. I'm hoping this series continues to keep growing and improving, because it shows plenty of potential to become something really great.

Effigy #3 is an issue that is good, but struggles a bit due to difficult and awkward storytelling at points. It makes the comic a tad frustrating to read, even with all of the great things it has going for it. It still has a strong cast of characters, writing that can be very good, and artwork that fits the book perfectly well. Effigy is still a strong read and I recommend it, but this was a slight drop from the last issue.

Elektra #2 a fantastic looking book that is backed up with some decent writing. Easily one of Marvel's best new debuts since Black Widow and a book to certainly watch as time goes on. If you have the cash — it's time to invest in a new series.

Elektra #4 is another solid issue for the series. The story doesn't advance too much, but the handling of the characters and their backstories is able to overcome that. Combined with some of the best artwork in the business, Elektra continues to utterly shine. A must read.

Elektra #7 ends on a good note and does a good job getting the next part of the story started. The writing is pretty good and so is the characterization, though the artwork and some parts of the writing leave a lot to be desired. I look forward to where ever the comic goes from here.

Elektra #11 is a disappointing finale to the series in the sense that the conclusion feels rather hollow and abrupt, like the comic had plans to continue on from here. Despite that, the writing is still decent and the artwork remains incredible. Overall, even with the disappointing ending, I would still recommend the series as a whole, if only for the artwork alone. It's something you really need to see and take in.

Extraordinary X-Men #1 is a good first issue for new readers just jumping into the X-Men franchise, while problematic at times for returning ones with its questionable plot points. Jeff Lemire does a great job writing the book, while Ramos' artwork is good as long as you don't look at the characters for too long. In the end, Extraordinary X-Men is one of the better new series to come out of the Marvel's new relaunch and I look forward to where it goes next.

Is Extraordinary X-Men #2 trying to have the most miserable main characters in a Marvel series? Because that's what it feels like. I thought All-New Hawkeye and Astonishing Ant-Man were tragic in the sense that the stories revolved around the protagonists being screw-ups where life constantly seemed to crap all over them, but this title is going above and beyond the call of duty with this.

Maybe it'd be a better idea if they were made of ice? Come on man! Ice is sooo much stronger than snow!

Fables: The Wolf Among Us #1 is an perfectly alright adaption of the video game, but not much else. The writing and characterization are all on point, though the artwork and drab coloring leave a lot to be desired. Maybe wait a bit until a few more chapters are out, but otherwise, I don't see getting this right unless you are a diehard fan of the video game.

FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics #8 is a solid issue for this unique and highly creative series. While it has some of the science talk previous issues had, this one focused and put more time in its characters, developing and fleshing them out more. Combined with its visual style, this is a comic that is definitely a must read. With the trade that's out that collects pretty much every issue that came before this one, this is a great time to jump into the series and give a shot.

FBP: Federal Bureau of Physics #14 is a good issue, but not a particularly exciting one. It's all character focused and dives into the life of Cicero, shedding some interesting light on him and his past. The writing is still good and the art, while really not fitted for the comic, isn't bad in general. I look forward to where this new arc will take us, especially once we return to the present.

Fire Force Vol. 2 is a solid follow up to a very strong and exciting first volume. There are a few problems that need to be addressed, like the pacing and the use of fanservice; however, there is still plenty of fun and intrigue to be found in this series, making it more than capable of overcoming these problems. Without a doubt, this is one of the strongest brand new Shonen titles to hit book shelves, so definitely don't miss it if you're a fan of Soul Eater and other similar books.

Fire Force Vol. 3 is another enjoyable volume of an entertaining series, but its pacing is starting to detract from its strengths.

Fire Force Vol. 4 is a fun, action-filled ride with plenty of twists and reveals to keep you surprised and excited for the road ahead.

Fire Force Vol. 5 was one of the better volumes manga, really showing the series at its best. While itmay not have had the big reveals or grand developments in the plot like previous volumes did, it made up for it through some great characterization, good backstory, interesting worldbuilding, and terrific pacing and art.

Fire Force Vol. 6 is an action-packed, exciting, and energetic outing for the series, providing some great fight scenes and fantastic artwork to boost them up.

An excellent outing for the series, bringing in new characters, providing some fun action, and hitting you with interesting revelations and surprises.

One arc ends effectively while another gets off to a strong start. With that said, the pacing is rushed.

Five Weapons #6 is a great start to this new arc and return for this series. It has a well-told story and likeable cast, is great from a technical writing standpoint, and features solid artwork. It's not a series that'll make you think, be very serious and deep, or try to revolutionize comics themselves. No, it is a series that is about having fun, giving the audience an enjoyable experience, and you know what? It does it with flying colors. If you need a break from the super serious stories out there, this is the comic for you.

Five Weapons #10 had a lot going for it: very strong writing, good artwork, and a possibly great conclusion for the arc. What killed and dropped it so many levels was the ending and the fact that comic seemed to have been cancelled without getting a proper amount of time to wrap things up in a fulfilling way. Five Weapons was a great series for all ages (something that Image is severely lacking in) and there was so much fun to be had. While the ending is a letdown, I do still recommend the series regardless and hope you check it out. Maybe one day, this series will return to us.

The artwork is pretty good. I mean, it is not Francis Manapul style art, but it is still nice to look at overall. The characters all look good, the action is very nice looking, the coloring is good, the backgrounds are nicely detailed and lively, and there are couple of great looking panels and pages throughout the issue. Maybe some facial expressions aren't the best, but it's good stuff in general.

The Flash #25 was a good issue, presenting a possibility for what the future will be like when the team moves to Detective Comics. It's enjoyable, well characterized, and sweet at points. If you want one last dose of Flash with these two on board, give this a shot.

The Flash #30 is a good comic and start for this creative team. Questionable change and artwork aside, the writing is strong enough to overcome its problems. The new direction is intriguing, the characters are good, and the story is engaging overall. If you can get past its shortcomings, there's plenty to like or at least enjoy here.

The Flash Annual #3 is a pretty good continuation from last week's Flash issue and kicks off several interesting storylines for the new run. Outside of some questionable choices in areas, this was a good issue and you may want to give it a look. Though if you are one of those fans that refuses to read this book because of Wally West's change, then you probably will be skipping this, even though the comic is solid.

From what was implied by solicits and the story, it seems that there will be a group of villains trying to fight against the Crime Society, possibly led by Lex Luthor. That does not or begin to happen this issue, but it does seem like it will happen given how Lex is reacting this issue. As for the rest of the story, it's very good. The pacing is solid and the story moves quickly while setting up the new status quo, the villains are great and very imposing, the dialogue is decent (I like the banter with the villains talking to one another), and the cliffhanger is especially good (a bit silly but hey, this is comics). This does seem like a promising and thrilling event judging from this first issue.

The artwork, again, is the most problematic thing going on in this comic. It's ugly looking with poorly drawn characters (not so much that you can't tell everyone apart mind you) with similar faces and odd anatomy. I mean, some of the areas look decent, the one action scene was pretty neat, and tone does fit the ugliness of the art itself. But it is just so meh after the previous event had three (well two) great artists on it.

Forever Evil #3 does not accomplish a lot story-wise this time around, but it remains a very essential and enjoyable issue none the less. Still has great characters, memorable moments, and promises great times ahead. Still recommended if you have been enjoying the comic.

Forever Evil #4 is sort of like that last issue. It's decently written, but does not accomplish a whole lot, other than hints sprinkled throughout and with the ending itself. The artwork still has its good and bad moments to it as well. I'm still enjoying it and looking forward to where it goes, but it is a bit tiring at this point after all these event comics.

Forever Evil #5 was a good, but brief issue. Not much was accomplished with the plot, but it had some terrific moments and great characterization. The comic ultimately needs to pick up the pace, but with only two issues left that is hopefully the case.

Forever Evil #6 was a step up in the right direction for this event as it nears its conclusion. It picks up the pacing, the situations are getting more intense and exciting, things are actually happening and wrapping up, character moments are strong as usual, and it ends on a pretty decent cliffhanger to lead us into the finale. If you are still hanging in there, you'll certainly enjoy this issue.

Forever Evil #7 is a very strong and fitting conclusion for the New 52's first real major event. The writing was strong throughout; the characterization was great, the surprising moments piqued my interest and the artwork was more than fitting for this comic's tone and feel. It had its problems for sure and some very annoying delays, but it came together in the end. Hopefully the next event, whenever it comes, can go over a bit smoother.

Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. #1 showed that this mini-series has potential. It's good at getting everything setup and establishing our main character well. It falters in the art department and by not being very exciting. If the next issue can fix these problems, this mini-series could be a lot of fun and enjoyable while it lasts.

Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. #2 does not have a lot to talk about in general with it being rather average in its writing and with it still being in setup territory. Outside of that and the art issues, it's not a terrible book by any means, but there are better miniseries you could read that spawned out of Forever Evil. If the book continues to be like this, you may be better off waiting for the trade edition in the future than buying this.

Then we got Scott Hepburn, who draws the second half of the book, and it is a major step down in my humble opinion. He has a very cartoony and silly look that makes some of the serious scenes hard to buy. The costumes look very goofy on the characters (Especially Captain Cold's mask at points) and the body proportions and expressions seem off at points. He does some decent looking action, but that's pretty much it. His stuff would work better in a different book I feel. At least the coloring is consistent between artists, the book always looks good in that department with its ugly and dingy colors.

Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #2 was a step down from the last issue unfortantely due to a lack of story progression and the artwork not fitting the tone of the story well. It's certainly not enough for me to say don't read the book, since it is still enjoyable, but the quality took a step back this time around. Hopefully, this will be as worst as it gets.

Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #3 is very strong with characters and weak with its plot. It's not a bad mini-series at all, but has some problems that hold it back from becoming truly exceptional.

Despite its problems with the female characters, Forget Me Not is a strong, dramatic tale that is certainly worth your time seeing if one can truly overcome their own past.

A good continuation of the story and exploration of the complicated relationships one can fall into.

A good start bolstered by a terrific, fascinating main character and an interesting premise.

Frau Faust Vol. 2 was a step up from the previous volume, building up its cast and diving into intriguing, fascinating plot developments.

A solid continuation of the first volume, improving upon what was presented by fleshing out some of the characters and slowing down the pacing at times.

Gangsta: Cursed. EP_Marco AdrianoVol. 3, while good, is a setback in comparison to the episodes that came before it. It feels a bit lighter in the content, putting all of its weight onto Marco/Spas. While it does that well and helps fill in background detail for the main series, it feels like it could have used a bit more to chew on. Still, Gangsta. fans should still find plenty to enjoy overall.

The artwork by Afua Richardson is a mixed bag as well. The imagery is striking at times — Destiny's backstory and the second page for instance (though it's sort of ruined by the narration), which both have a lot of power behind them. Other times it's just rather bland and boring, like the scene that introduces Grey. The coloring that definitely helps with a lot of the scenes. Also, on a final note, the comic boasts something that I rarely see with comics and that's really hard to read text. Luckily, it's only confined to the first page, but it still made it a very big pain to read.Is It Good?

Ghost #1 is a fantastic start to this new series. While reading the mini-series is a must to get the full experience out of it, this comic has solid writing and absolutely beautiful looking art to it. For old and new fans of the character, you'll definitely want to give this a shot.

The art for the book is pretty decent. The ghosts look neat, the characters all look different and unique (though one or two tend to have the same facial features); the coloring works very well in certain panels, especially that certain page towards the end; and there are a couple of memorable images in the book. It's good stuff in general for a book like this. 7.5 Finally some ghost thrills and chills this time around.All of the writing is competent and engaging.The art works and fits well with the story.Still lots of setup.Story unfolding very slowly.Not much characterization going on.

Ghosted #5 is goodish. There are definitely good moments to it, the artwork is decent, and I find the ending is pretty good overall despite some nitpicks. However, some of the plotting on issue is very suspect and some twists and backstories are very questionable in how they are presented to the audience. If you enjoyed the series up until now, you'll want to check it out and see how the first arc concludes, but I don't see it as great enough to get the audience pumped for the second arc in January.

Combining elements that would usually clash, Girls' Last Tour blends them effectively to create a truly unique tale.

Gleipnir Vol. 1 is not very good. There are ingredients within the manga that could make for an interesting, dark action series for sure, especially backed up by some stylish art and decent monster designs. But it feels undercooked with how little happens and the copious amounts of fan service take way too much away from the tone.

Goblin Slayer #1 is a pretty solid adaptation of the source material so far, bringing to life all the moments from the story very well. It makes a good companion piece for those who read the novel and want more, though I think newcomers would be best to read this and the next issue together. Its only big problems lie in the fact that it feels more exploitative than the novel and its storytelling doesn't feel as strong either. Still, if you want a new, very dark fantasy series to try following, give this a shot. However, despite what Comixology rates this series as, DO NOT approach this manga if you are 12 years old.

Goners #1 isn't a bad start for this new series. There's an interesting story with plenty of potential. The problems are that there isn't much in the way of setup or characterization and the art style could be more congruous. I say give it a look after the second issue hits. Give it some time to develop we may be looking a real gem here.

Goners #2 is a very mixed bag. There are elements that work and the story and concept still remain very intriguing. However, the lack of backstory, foundation, or context for anything in the comic really hamper the experience and make it hard to really get into the book. There are things that can definitely be improved upon, and hopefully that happens soon.

This is one of the most beautiful looking series with some of the saddest, most broken, troubled characters currently out on the market.

Gotham Academy #1 is a pretty solid start to this new series. While it's setup for the most part and not a book for everyone, it's a very engaging and enjoyable read overall. Combined with good writing and beautiful looking artwork, I'd say Becky Cloonan and Brenden Fletcher are on to something with this book. Definitely keep an eye on it since I see plenty of potential with the title going forward.

Gotham Academy #2 is a very enjoyable issue of the series with a lot of good, quality aspects. It does suffer a bit with a lack of development in its story and supporting cast, but it does offer a lot of interesting ideas, intriguing surprises, good writing, and really lovely artwork. The next issue seems to be hinting at something big and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Gotham Academy #3 is another fun and well done issue of the series. Now that story seems to be underway, things have picked up quite a bit and I'm more curious than ever about what will be happening. Hopefully, the remaining issue for this arc will continue heating things up in the right ways.

Gotham Academy #5 is a turning point for the first story arc. We start getting a lot of reveals in this issue that put a lot of the events we've seen into context. The writing is still top-notch, the characters are really enjoyable, and the artwork is as good as always. With the final issue for this opening story arc coming next month, I am more curious than ever to learn the truth and see how it ends. This ought to be good.

Gotham Academy #6 is a decent conclusion to the first storyline, but not without its own little problems. The writing is good and the story wraps up nicely, but the inconsistent coloring and conclusions to some of the plotlines leave a bit to be desired. Still, it was a good issue regardless and I look forward to where the comic is going in the future.

Gotham Academy #7 is a simple and quick one-shot that was an incredible amount of fun, seeing both Maps and Damian team up for a little bit. There were some minor problems and a disappointment at the end, but overall, this was easily one of the best issues of the series so far. I hope the series can keep this excitement going forward.

Gotham Academy: Endgame #1 is a great issue, telling a fun story with our favorite characters from the series and even building off ideas introduced in Endgame. The stories told are pretty creepy and memorable, the writing is strong throughout, and the artwork in the book looks very good. It's something you should consider checking out, even if you are not reading Endgame.

Besides that, the story and writing here are excellent, the characterization is wonderful, and the artwork is fantastic from beginning to end. If you have been feeling conflicted with what DC has been doing recently, specifically with Dick Grayson, put those fears aside and jump on into Grayson. You are in for one hell of a ride that shouldn't be missed.

Grayson #2 is a solid follow-up to great debut. While remaining a done-in-one, it continues the story and character development very well with plenty of great moments and excitement. The writing is fantastic and the artwork looks phenomenal. If you haven't jumped aboard yet and sought out this comic, what are you waiting for?

Grayson #3 is a comic that a lot of powerful and shock to it when it was all over. The writing was fantastic, the characters were great, the message and themes were well handled, and the artwork was stunning as usual. There were concerns when people saw the solicitation about Grayson having to make a hard choice and it relating to guns, but those people should not be concerned. Everything turned out great and true to the character.

Grayson #4 takes a break from the all the seriousness and heavy morality it had in the last issue and decides instead to have a lot of fun — to wonderful effect. The story, the characters, and the writing all come together wonderfully to make a lively and enjoyable experience, while the artwork seals the deal fantastic visuals and expressive characters. Grayson continues to be one of the shining stars of DC Comics and if you have not read the book yet, what are you waiting for?

Grayson #5 is another terrific issue, further cementing this comic as one of the best DC Comics has to offer. The story, writing, and character work remain some of the best I have ever seen in superheroes this year. Then you add in the amazing artwork that only enhances the story and drama even better and well, there you have it. Grayson is truly one of the best comics of 2014 by a longshot and I hope to see it continue this trend of quality into the upcoming year. Highly recommended and worth every penny.

Grayson #6 is great, really diving into the story and providing a bunch of payoff for storylines and subplots that have developed so far. This issue provides some great writing, character, and artwork — all of which you have come to expect from this book. I have a feeling the first real arc will be coming to a close very soon and with how everything has been building, it will be incredible.

Grayson #7 is a good issue, though not quite as good as previous ones. However, Grayson at its weakest is still leagues above most comics. The writing is still very strong, the story is good outside of some minor hiccups, and the art is good despite being fill-in work. Still completely worth your time checking out, so go get it.

Grayson #8 was a great finale to the first part of the series and really makes me look forward to the future of the title. The story and writing on this comic have been fantastic, as is custom. It's going to be a long wait until the next issue, but in the end, I'm sure it will be worth it.

Grayson #10 is a great issue from start to finish. Great characters, great story, great writing, and great artwork just like usual. It's just another fantastic issue of the series, promising some very intriguing and exciting times ahead.

Grayson #18 is a fall from grace. A combination of the established creative team leaving and being replaced with a new team in the middle of the final arc; the book being cancelled in the next few months, which forces the story to wrap up much more quickly; artwork not as good as the rest of the series' run; and the feeling that the comic would be much better if there was just more time given… just hurts the book so much that even someone who was as huge fan of the title as myself can't ignore the faults. If you are this far in, you might as well see it all the way through at this point but temper your expectations.

Green Arrow #25 is very enjoyable book that is a fun tie-in into Zero Year. You don't need to read that event if you are just reading Green Arrow and you don't need to read Green Arrow if you are just reading Batman. The best of both worlds, but the story presented here is interesting and offers enough hints that if the reader was so inclined, they would probably want to check out either comic now. Definitely worth a look.

Green Arrow #26 is a great start to this new arc, which promises a lot of excitement and thrills. With solid characterization, a well-written story, and just breathtaking artwork, there is no better book you could be reading this week from DC and probably most of the other companies. Check it out.

Green Arrow #28 is utterly amazing and easily proves why Green Arrow is one of the best comics that any company is putting out there. Its story is intense and exciting, its characters and villains are interesting, twists and surprises will keep you coming back for more, and the artwork is some of the best in the business. If you are not reading Green Arrow right now, get to it. You are missing out!

Green Arrow #31 is what it is: a fantastic, shocking, and thrilling conclusion to one of the best story arcs of the year. It's hard to talk about what makes the issue so impressive without diving into spoilers, but let it be known that if you have been reading the comic up until now, you will not be remotely disappointed in what happens. Now, it's time to get psyched up for the next arc coming next month.

Green Arrow #32 is a great start for the new arc, with an exciting and different than usual story. The writing and story are very strong, it's an engaging read from start to finish, the artwork is a sight to behold and the intrigue in where the story will be going only makes the issue even better. Green Arrow is easily one of the strongest superhero books DC or any company is currently putting out and you should not be missing out on all the fun.

Green Arrow #34 was a fantastic issue and a solid finale to one of the best superhero runs I have read in a very long time. The writing was solid, the characters were enjoyable, the action and energy was phenomenal, the artwork a wonder to see, and it closed on a very satisfying ending to top it all off. Wherever Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino end up next after this, I'll be there.

What a sad fate that has befallen such a great comic. Green Arrow #35 is a gigantic step down after the previous run in most areas. It squanders all the potential the previous team left, the execution and introduction of Arrow elements are poor, the writing is weak, the story is unremarkable, and the artwork is at best passable. If you were a fan of the previous run, do not bother with this. If you are a fan of Arrow, I suppose you might like this. However, as much as it pains me to say this, this is probably not worth your time at all.

Green Arrow: Futures End #1 is a great tie-in to Futures End and also sad farewell for this book's creative team. Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino truly made something special in their run with the character that I hope is remembered for a long time. I wish the best of luck to the next creative team for this book. They have their work cut out for them.

The issue was drawn by Doug Mahnke (with the exception of a couple of pages) and it was really well done. The emotion, the action, the epic feel and tone presented, and even those huge full page and two page spreads. It's all just beautiful to look at and some of Mahnke's best work yet from what I've seen of him.

Billy Tan is on art duties now and he's not bad per se, since his action is good and he draws some decent looking landscapes and aliens. However, his people leave a lot to be desired with his facial work not being very good when it comes to expressing emotion; in particular, during the Carol and Hal scene where it looks like she always has the exact same emotion. Also, occasionally the faces seem to change shape and features, making people look different from panel to panel, and Billy seems to have trouble drawing the Lantern rings on people.

Green Lantern Corps #25 is a pretty good issue and tie-in. The fans may not like the fact the title is getting roped into another event just so soon after Lights Out, but it did turn out to be an enjoyable book regardless. Give it a shot if you're interested.

On the flipside though, the art is anything but average. It's beautiful in every way you look at it. The characters are great and the emotions from them are terrific, the action with the sharks is incredible, the backgrounds are detailed, and space scenes are amazing. Seriously, there is so much to look at that you'll find your eyes darting all over the pages trying to take everything in, though it could be hard to focus on the dialogue if you are doing that. Still, very great looking.

Green Lantern: The Lost Army #1 is a solid start to this new series. It's very new reader friendly and does a great job with establishing this big cast of characters and providing an air of mystery to the book. Its downsides are in the fact that it isn't all that exciting. The story is very light currently, and the artwork, while looking fantastic, wasn't utilized to its full potential. All in all, I recommend this book if you are fan of Green Lantern and want to see a book involving the other Lanterns.

It's good for the fans despite some questionable pacing, but it'll probably turn off anyone who isn't already invested in the show. Worth a look if you are already invested in the story.

Helsing #1 is an alright book, getting the comic off to a decent start with a good introduction to the main character and potentially interesting story, even if it only starts going at the end of the book. It may not be for everyone, but there's nothing here that a person will ultimately hate. May be worth your time if you liked the character in her previous GFT appearances.

Gwenpool Holiday Special #1 is a middle of the road special. Ignoring the fact that this should have been simply called a Marvel Christmas Special (Gwenpool is barely in the comic beyond her one story), the quality of this anthology is up and down. If you're a diehard fan of the characters " give it a look. Otherwise, there might be better use of your six dollars for this week's pull-list.

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #1 really should have been the Rebirth issue (or the two should have been combined), since it feels like a prologue and setup to the main series. It's not badly written at all and the artwork looks great here, but it just feels like it's lacking punch and excitement. Hopefully the next issue picks things up and really shows what this series can do.

Oh sure! Throw THAT phrase back at me after I told you the same thing!

While certainly nowhere near as decompressed as the last issue, the latest issue of Green Lantern Corps leaves so much to be desired. It feels like there is so little happening in the series every issue. We meet a new character, learn of a new weapon, and then we get the standard shocking cliffhanger. That's really it.

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps: Rebirth #1 is the first real misfire of the Rebirth issues, that I have read at least. It's pretty much the equivalent of a free preview that would you get for an upcoming book in stores, but it lacks any action, character drama, or big suspense/excitement. It's just incredibly lackluster and feels like its missing something that could really make it shine. More than any other book, this is the first Rebirth issue you could easily skip and not miss a single thing. Hopefully, the main book coming later this month is much better.

This is, without a doubt, one of the finest ongoing horror series in any market.

Happiness Vol. 4 is a great conclusion to the first part of the series, ending on a note that'll leave us wondering what'll come next for our characters. To say any more about the plot and cast would spoil, so just check out this manga if you haven't already. A series like this is one that must be experienced to truly appreciate it.