Justin Partidge, III Comic Reviews

Television aims to refine it's style and narrative as seasons go on, but in the mercurial climate of comics, we rarely get singular and prolonged artistic statements. Thankfully, in the recent market, titles that fit this description are starting to thrive and be noticed thanks to a receptive readership. American Vampire: Second Cycle is one of those titles. Issue #4 of this current volume looks and reads exactly like the issues that were published in 2010, and that is more than worth your attention.

Everyone has great memories of road trips with friends, but I would be very surprised if Marcus remembered anything past getting in the car to leave. Rick Remender and Wes Craig didn’t start Marcus in the best of places with this series, but #6 just set his world on fire. It’s stakes like the ones presented in Deadly Class that makes for compelling comics that mix the mundane with the ridiculous. Marcus is palling around with the potentially the world’s next generation of master assassins and he crossed one of them in a big way. There was bound to be a heavy price to pay; we will just have to wait until next month to see just much of Marcus’ blood it took to settle the debt.

Every great slasher has a gimmick. Freddy has his glove, Jason his machete, and now, the Plague Doctor has his mask. Death Head #1 isn't perfect and often comes across disjointed, but the hook of an interesting villain design as well as a firm grasp on its own tone is more than enough for a compelling debut issue. The Kellers, Joanna Estep and Kelly Fitzpatrick are playing everything down right now, but all the pieces are in place for Death Head to deliver some choice slasher movie action in future issues.

Martian Manhunter #1 might play a bit broad in certain scenes, but lays an interesting foundation for a long overdue new solo title starring one of the JLA's heavy hitters.