Kevin Lainez's Comic Reviews

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Wonder Woman 80th Anniversary 100-Page Super Spectacular is a very good celebration of the enduring legacy of one of DC Comics most iconic characters. There are a few stories that are a miss but largely the collection of stories told were fun in their own way. DC Comics certainly could tap any of these creative teams to tell even more Wonder Woman stories in the future. If you are a Wonder Woman this is definitely a must buy.

A.X.E.: Judgment Day #1 isn't a perfect start. Unless you have been reading the core Avengers, X-Men, and Eternals titles going into this event there will be things you'll feel your missing out on. That said, Kieron Gillen and Valerio Schiti deliver on the big moments you expect from big Marvel comic book events. By the end of A.X.E.: Judgment Day #1 there is enough accomplished to be invested in finding out what happens next with the Avengers, X-Men, and Eternals.

There is no time to rest in A.X.E.: Judgment Day #2 as Druig's set The Hex to take out the mutants once and for all. This led to an action heavy second chapter to A.X.E.: Judgment Day that is a real showcase of the talents of Valerio Schiti and Marte Gracia. The different plot elements Kieron Gillen develops gets us to where we need to get to so this event truly involves the entire Marvel Universe not just one group. If things keep going this way A.X.E.: Judgment Day could very well be one of the best Marvel events we've had in quite some time.

FINAL THOUGHTSWhile having a few key developments A.X.E.: Judgment Day #3 doesn't push the story forward as much as you expect. We are left in a similar spot when A.X.E.: Judgment Day #3 started as our heroes figure out what to do with The Progenitor's announcement. While we do get a lot of cool moments you are left wishing more was done story wise. That said, we do get a lot of excellent artwork from Valerio Schiti that drives home how we are experiencing a big event. The art alone makes you look forward for what big thing we will get to see Schiti draw next.

A.X.E.: Judgment Day #4 does a great job in putting over what Progenitor declaration of judgment of Earth truly means. The urgency shown by the Avengers, X-Men, and Eternals as they went along with Starfox's plan made this a strong start to the second half of Marvel's latest big event. The ending now sets up many questions for how things could go in the remaining chapters of this event.

A.X.E.: Judgment Day #5 delivers an impactful penultimate chapter that pushed all our heroes to their limits against the Progenitor. Kieron Gillen and Valerio Schiti balance out all the giant spectacle moments with strong character moments. Hopefully with how things are left the final issue of A.X.E.: Judgment Day will deliver an impactful ending for Marvel's latest big event.

Ultimately A.X.E.: Judgment Day #6 did not make a smooth landing to conclude the latest Marvel event. Resolving the story through emotional story beats rather than who can punch harder was done well. As was what the ending could mean for the X-Men moving forward. Unfortunately, there are many moments in this final issue that come across as hollow on the Avengers and Eternals side of the story. Luckily great artwork from Valerio Schiti and Ivan Fiorelli help lift an ending that should've been more impactful than it turned out to be.

Absolute Carnage #1 gives Marvel's latest big event a kick ass start. The chemistry between Spider-Man and Venom along with the haunting nature of Carnage's character was on point throughout this issue. By the time this first chapter wrapped up Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman established a strong foundation for future issues of Absolute Carnage to build on top of.

Absolute Carnage #2 does a fantastic job carrying the momentum created by the first issue to continue the forward momentum of this event. Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman have combined to create a version of Carnage that comes across as the deadliest villain in the Marvel Universe. Spider-Man, Venom and the Marvel Universe as a whole are now in a position where you are left wondering how they can overcome Carnage and his forces. For a big event that is exactly the note Absolute Carnage #2 makes full contact on hitting. There is genuine excitement to read what is going to happen next in Absolute Carnage.

Absolute Carnage #3 does a fantastic job moving things forward to the next level. Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman continue to compliment each other well as they work together to make Absolute Carnage the biggest and best comic book event possible. They nail how terrifying of a villain Carnage is. In the process they are able to elevate both Venom and Spider-Man as they each approach the threat of Carnage in their own way.

Donny Cates and Ryan Stegman combine to deliver yet another excellent chapter of the Absolute Carnage event. Absolute Carnage #4 does a fantastic job showing how wickedly evil Cletus Kasady is as his God-complex reaches its next level. Dark Carange's evolution complimented the hero journey Eddie Brock takes as his return to being Venom is well earned. By the time we reach the cliffhanger ending the hype for how Absolute Carnage will end is at its max level. Which is exactly how things should be heading into the final issue of a big event.

At the end of the day Absolute Carnage #5 was exactly what it needed to be. Eddie Brock was elevated to be an even better character through his actions against Carnage and interactions with Spider-Man and Dylan Brock. At the same time, Donny Cates was able to put over the sadistic nature of Carnage and Cletus Kasady. With how things ended Cates and Ryan Stegman set a bright, albeit bleak in tone, future for the Venom series.

Action Comics #975 was a fun comic book even as we get some answers while adding more questions to what we already know. The heavy focus on Mr. Mxyzplk and why he would turn out to be the fake Clark Kent was a necessary story to be told. It at least puts a stamp on the whole fake Clark Kent mystery and gave us more insight into Mr. Oz's role in the story. There are still some execution problems with the general concept of 'Superman Reborn' that need to be solved. If not this arc may end up doing more bad than good for the long-term future of the Superman franchise.

Action Comics #976 does a very good job capping off the 'Superman Reborn' arc. Rectifying Superman's history within the new DC Universe creates a lot of interesting directions for the franchise to take moving forward. Even though Mr. Oz did not play as big a role in this arc as one would've thought, his involvement at the end of the issue does create further interest in the bigger story that was started at the beginning of DC Rebirth.

Action Comics #987 did exactly what fans were hoping it would do by revealing who Mr. Oz really is. In the process Dan Jurgens creates plenty of questions that make "The Oz Effect" feel like a must read story arc. Creating that "must read" feeling makes Action Comics #987 a successful start to "The Oz Effect."

Action Comics #988 failed to make Jor-El into a compelling character. With the entire issue dedicated to how Jor-El survived and why he became Mr. Oz the failure in the script's execution is disappointing. Dan Jurgens has his work cut out for him in order to turn "The Oz Effect" momentum around after this big stumble.

Action Comics #992 did a fantastic job giving emotional weight to the events in "The Oz Effect." Dan Jurgens and Rob Williams delivered a tight issue that made you as the reader feel how much emotional heartache Superman was going through after what he learned about his father, Jor-El. Amplifying the strong supporting role Lois Lane played was the inclusion of Batman and Green Lantern to further the plot along. The scenes between Superman and these three characters made the final moment of this issue even more effective as it could lead to severe consequences for the DC Universe.

When it comes to the main story Action Comics #1030 drives home the current status quo of Superman and Superboy in a compelling way. The problems with Superman's powers comes across as a major turning point for the franchise. Bringing in Damian Wayne for Jonathan Kent's side of the story further strengthened the narrative that this issue is driving forward with. This is a comic book Superman fans should all be picking up.

FINAL THOUGHTSAction Comics #1051 is a strong start to the new anthology direction for this series. The main story got over what the foundation for the new Superman Family direction will. The Power Girl back-up story in this issue did its job in getting over how this anthology direction is a major positive for the Superman franchise. This is definitely a comic book all DC Comics fans should buy.

The way the three stories we get in Action Comics #1052 come together to form one comic book simply dull. It's a shame because an anthology series spotlighting the Superman Family has unlimited potential. Action Comics #1052 simply strikes out on tapping into that potential.

Alice Never After #1 is a strong start to this dark twist on the Wonderland story. In exploring the impact Alice's traumatic life experiences had on her mental health Dan Panosian and Giorgio Spalletta do a great job tackling how escapism can blur the lines of reality and fantasy. This leads to adding importance to how everyone around Alice plays an important role in her journey. Even if you didn't read the series Panosian and Spalletta's worked on that preceded Alice Never After this first issue gets you invested in the journey this sequel will take the reader on.

Alice Never After #2 is a strong follow-up to the debut of this series. The twisted version of Wonderland and how it reflects the greater narrative around Alice's mental health works well together. Cheshire Cat's particular presence in this issue creates a lot of questions for how this story will inevitably end. All of that leaves you wanting to read the next chapter.

Giorgio Spalletta and Cyril Glerum steal the show with how they bring Wonderland to life in Alice Never After. The stunning visuals make how Dan Panosian continues to explore how Alice interacts with both Wonderland and the real world reflective of her mental health state. With a strong twist Alice Never After #3 sets up the second half of the series to be even stronger than the first half.

All-New Guardians of the Galaxy #1 is a great start to a new series. Gerry Duggan showcased his strong understanding of the Guardians of the Galaxy by highlighting the team's strong dynamic. That dynamic is furthered by Aaron Kuder's energetic artwork that only helps to add to the must buy factor for any fan of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

All-New Guardians of the Galaxy #2 delivered on the fun that fans come to expect from the franchise. Gerry Duggan and Aaron Kuder are clearly having fun writing and drawing, respectively, the ongoing adventures of the Guardians of the Galaxy and it shows throughout this second issue. With how serious things are with the rest of the Marvel Universe, it is refreshing to have a comic book that is all about fun like All-New Guardians of the Galaxy to look forward to now.

All-New Wolverine #14 is a solid second chapter to Enemy of the State II. Tom Taylor pushes Laura Kinney's latest adventure forward as she now heads to Madripoor with Gabby to learn who has been sending her Trigger Scent. Taylor was also able to bring in additional players to the table as we see SHIELD and Bellona, one of Laura's clones, get involved in the larger story. Nik Virella does a good job enhancing Taylor's story with how she conveys the various emotions Wolverine and other characters have throughout the issue. This all combines to create further excitement for what is going to happen next in Enemy of the State II.

All-New Wolverine #16 continues to push "Enemy of the State II" forward with positive momentum. Tom Taylor and Nik Virella delivered a chapter that elevated how dangerous Kimura is and could potentially be if her plan to take over Madripoor is successful. Kimura's plot gave us an even greater reason to look forward to when Laura is able to take her down in a fight. Introducing Gambit into the story provides an interesting wild card into the situation that should make things even more exciting moving forward.

All-New Wolverine #17 slows things down to resolve Laura Kinney's acceptance with her past and overcome the hold Trigger Scent has on her. In doing so Tom Taylor is able to take the time to further develop the relationships Laura has with Gabby and the X-Men. Unfortunately that character development for Laura did not help move the overarching conflict with Kimura, whose presence was almost non-existent in this issue. The lack of Kimura severely impacted this chapter of Enemy of the State II. Hopefully with all of Laura's struggles with Trigger Scent out of the way Enemy of the State II can kick it into the next gear as we get closer to its conclusion.

All-New Wolverine #19 does a good job kicking off the new "Immune" arc. Tom Taylor's ability to create a sense of scale continues to be a big positive for this series. Taylor is also able to push Laura Kinney forward as Wolverine and create an interesting direction for her and Gabby now that the latter is getting directly involved in the action.

All-New Wolverine #22 does a very good job picking up where the previous arc left off and kick start a team-up story between Laura Kinney and the Guardians of the Galaxy. Tom Taylor once again shows off his strength at developing Laura's character and putting her in a position that will test who she is in and out of her role as Wolverine. Gabby also had some standout interactions with Deadpool and Groot that created a greater sense of worry for what happens next following the hook ending of All-New Wolverine #22.

All-New Wolverine #26 delivered a strong follow-up on the return of Sarah Kinney and the rise of the Orphans of X organization. Tom Taylor did great job using Sarah's return as a vehicle to further develop Laura Kinney as she tries to figure out how she should deal with her mom's return. At the same time, we get to see how Daken's struggle with the Orphans of X may have a deeper tie to what is going with Laura's life. What that is will be a big driving force for what goes on next, creating a nice mystery around everything that we have seen so far in this new story arc.

All-New Wolverine #31 continues the consistency that one has come to expect from the series. Tom Taylor provides fans with all the fun you expect whenever Deadpool makes an appearance in a comic book. Deadpool's involvement did a lot of the heavy lifting in the entertainment value of this issue. Though it did feel like there was a major missed opportunity for the story of All-New Wolverine to be a teaching moment for Laura Kinney to use to continue the development of the young Gabby, aka Honey Badger. That missed opportunity kept Tom Taylor's story from reaching its full potential.

All-New Wolverine #33 is a solid start to Tom Taylor's final story arc on this series, "Old Woman Laura." Taylor gave us something different as we got to see a more positive future Marvel Universe. That setting made Laura going on her final adventure as Wolverine have a more personal feel to it. Though where All-New Wolverine #33 falls short is with the involvement of the main antagonist of the story. That is something that is hopefully improved on in the following issues.

All-Out Avengers #1 has an interesting concept behind it as we start in the middle of a story already well into development. Derek Landy and Greg Land just never do anything with the potential of this direction with the threat the Avengers face off against being the most generic villains that could've been chosen. This is definitely hard pass as I won't ever think about as a comic book I should read beyond the first issue.

All-Star Batman #7 provided us with one of the best Poison Ivy stories we have ever gotten. Scott Snyder's clear understanding of Poison Ivy's character leaves you hoping that he writes an extended arc involving her and the rest of the Batman Family. Tula Lotay's artwork helped make the already strong story much greater as she got across the impact Batman and Poison Ivy had on each other during their conversation. Add in another strong chapter in Duke's back-up story and All-Star Batman #7 is yet another winner in one of DC Comics best ongoing series.

All-Star Batman #8 continued Batman's journey through his Rogues Gallery in a fascinating way that elevated Mad Hatter's stature as a villain. Scott Snyder's choice of storytelling was unique for this one issue, as he provided us with greater insight into Batman's mind. At the same time, Duke's back-up story continues to add value to this series as a whole with Snyder and Francavilla giving us more of a reason to get behind whatever Duke decides to become in the future.

All-Star Batman #10 does an excellent job kicking off "The First Ally" arc with multiple intriguing plotlines, including a fun back-up story. Giving us a conclusion of the long-running Hush plotline of the character posing as Bruce Wayne was very satisfying and perfectly set-up the story Scott Snyder has in store for us next involving Alfred Pennyworth's history. That along with some incredibly artwork from Rafael Albuquerque and Sebastian Fiumara made All-Star BAtman #10 a must-have for Batman fans.

All-Star Batman #12 was a strong continuation of "The First Ally" arc as Alfred's history catches up to Batman's current mission. Scott Snyder did an excellent job building up Briar and the knight as credible threats even though they weren't shown in the present day. Snyder further stacks the deck against Batman by the big swerve Hush and his allies surprise the Dark Knight with. This all leads to build further anticipation for how Batman will be able to overcome the odds and successfully retrieve the Genesis Engine.

All-Star Batman #13 was another strong entry in "The First Ally" story arc. Scott Snyder has done a great job developing Alfred Pennyworth's backstory and reestablishing his relationship with Batman. Rafael Albuquerque and Rafael Scavone's back-up continues to be a great compliment to the main story. Now that both stories are reaching their conclusion there is a lot to look forward to with what come next in this series.

Amazing Mary Jane #1 is a solid start to the latest addition in the Spider-Man line of comic books. Leah Williams portrays Mary Jane Watson as a highly charismatic character with a strong fortitude that shows the great potential of this series. Williams just needs to be careful to not fall into several pitfalls that popped up due to certain story choices. Avoiding those pitfalls while focusing on the strengths will be key to Amazing Mary Jane's success.

Amazing Spider-Man could've easily been retitled as "The Clone Conspiracy #3.5." Dan Slott and Christos Gage delivered crucial information on Ben Reilly's history to make us understand his transformation to the Jackal persona. This new information gives us a new perspective into what is going on in the main The Clone Conspiracy event. How these details change the story for Spider-Man and other characters involved will be interesting to see play out. If you are reading The Clone Conspiracy I highly recommend picking up the Amazing Spider-Man #22.

Amazing Spider-Man #23 is a solid extension of the events that took place in The Clone Conspiracy #4. Dan Slott and Christos Gage are able to deliver on the potential of what would happen if Peter Parker reunited with Gwen Stacy. At the same time, this issue highlights the weakness of The Clone Conspiracy not spotlighting other characters like Gwen enough during the course of the story. Gwen's backstory, specifically, should've been a bigger focus in these tie-in issues to make her reunion with Peter would be a more impactful to the overall event. Because of that unless you are a die-hard Spider-Man fan who must buy everything related to The Clone Conspiracy, Amazing Spider-Man #23 is a passable tie-in issue.

Amazing Spider-Man #24 answers some questions left open from The Clone Conspiracy #5's ending. In doing so Dan Slott and Christos Gage create interest for future stories involving the likes of Doctor Octopus, whenever he reappears in Amazing Spider-Man. At the same time, this issue failed to create a compelling reason to want to read an ongoing Scarlet Spider comic book featuring the current version of Ben Reilly. That failure makes Amazing Spider-Man #24 only a comic book for the most diehard Spider-Man fans to buy.

For the opening chapter of "The Osborn Identity" Amazing Spider-Man #25 is very successful. Dan Slott creates a lot of intrigue on multiple angles with Spider-Man's latest clash with his greatest enemy. The surprising return of Silver Sable added to the intrigue of where things will go. Unfortunately the hefty price point of $9.99 make Amazing Spider-Man #25 virtually impossible to recommend to anyone outside the hardest of hardcore Spider-Man fans.

Amazing Spider-Man #26 for the most part was an improvement over the opening chapter of "The Osborn Identity." While the Doc Ock scenes were unnecessary, everything else about how Dan Slott developed the latest battle between Spider-Man and Green Goblin provided the excitement this story needed. The ending especially provides multiple possibilities for how this arc will end. All of those possibilities do not look like it will be good for Spider-Man, at least for now.

"The Osborn Identity" hasn't had the cleanest start but Amazing Spider-Man #27 quickly turned the story arc's fortunes around by hitting all the right beats to further Spider-Man and Green Goblin's rivalry to full-blown war. The various character dynamics made the war between Spider-Man and Green Goblin feel bigger. Having Stuart Immonen draw everything happening in this issue helped elevate Dan Slott's story to an even higher level.

With Amazing Spider-Man #28, Dan Slott delivered an ending that made previous issues of "The Osborn Identity" even better. The various character moments for Spider-Man, Silver Sable and Norman Osborn made the ending feel satisfying. Now with where Slott leaves things, the door is open for several bigger plotlines to be followed up on after Secret Empire.

Amazing Spider-Man #29 did a good job of using the Secret Empire setting to further the rivalry between Spider-Man and Doctor Octopus. The developments of Secret Empire strike home for Peter Parker as Dan Slott and Christos Gage push the CEO of Parker Industries into a corner. Doctor Octopus' proposal to Spider-Man should lead to an even better next issue as we learn why Peter hasn't shown up in recent issues of Secret Empire.

Amazing Spider-Man #31 delivered an important chapter in Dan Slott's run that sets the stage for the rest of the series after Secret Empire ends. The connection to Secret Empire did hurt the impact to Marvel's blockbuster event. That said, Amazing Spider-Man #31 did a great job in creating several intriguing plotlines following Peter's decision to put an end to Parker Industries.

Amazing Spider-Man #789 used the aftermath of Peter Parker's decision during Secret Empire to kickstart an intriguing direction for the series. There is a lot of potential in having Peter searching for a way to recover now that he has lost his company, Parker Industries. At the same time there is plenty of things to worry about as that potential could lead to more of what has turned fans off to Slott's run on the Spider-Man franchise. That fork in the road position Amazing Spider-Man is on puts the series in an interesting spot moving forward.

There are still a lot of questions as to what is next for Peter Parker but Amazing Spider-Man #790 is the start of clearing a few things up. After how Peter was still dealing with the shock of his decision to shut down Parker Industries the ending of this issue was a good step forward for him. At the same time, Dan Slott and Christos Gage were able to elevate a low-level villain, Clash, in the process.

Amazing Spider-Man #794 did a good job in kicking of the beginning of the end for Dan Slott's run on the series. With a few plotlines left to wrap up Slott began to do so by addressing the threat of Scorpio. In the process Slott was able to highlight the growth Spider-Man has gone through under his supervision. While the development in the Norman Osborn subplot did not hit like Slott intended it to one can only hope "Threat Level: Red" will end up being a strong end to such a long running creative run.

Amazing Spider-Man #795 does very little to move the needle when it comes to the "Threat Level: Red" story arc. Even with the few positives Amazing Spider-Man #795 does have are overshadowed by the lack of interest created for how "Threat Level: Red" will close out Dan Slott's run on the series. And the little development we do get at the end of the issue does nothing to create excitement for Norman Osborn's endgame to destroy Spider-Man's life.

Amazing Spider-Man #796 does nothing to create excitement for the "Threat Level: Red" story arc. With each issue that passes the less interesting Norman Osborn's endgame is becoming. There is a major disconnect between Norman's plot and everything else going on in "Threat Level: Red" that only adds to the how hard it is to stay excited about Dan Slott's final story arc. If things continue as they have, rather than providing fans with a memorable ending, Slott could potentially end his time on Amazing Spider-Man on a disappointing note. That is not something I am hoping for but am starting to fear will be a reality.

Amazing Spider-Man #797 is exactly what "Go Down Swinging" needed to start off on a strong note. Dan Slott does an effective job getting inside Norman Osborn's head as his transformation into a Green Goblin/Carnage hybrid is completed. All the developments in Peter Parker and his supporting casts lives added to the sense of danger that Norman Osborn presents to Spider-Man's life as he learns an important fact by the end of this issue. Now with all the chess pieces in place Slott can potentially end his epic run on Amazing Spider-Man on a high note.

Amazing Spider-Man #798 is one of the strongest issues to date in Dan Slott's run on the series. Slott is clearly not holding back with "Go Down Swinging" as Green Goblin makes a direct attack to Peter Parker's life that forces Spider-Man to fight him. That fight made the debut of Red Goblin had greater impact as Norman Osborn became an even more terrifying villain. With what Red Goblin forces Peter Parker to do at the end of Amazing Spider-Man #798 there is a greater sense of wonder in how "Go Down Swinging" will end.

Amazing Spider-Man #799 is the strongest chapter of "Go Down Swinging." Dan Slott did a great job building Red Goblin as an unstable threat to the entire Marvel Universe. The personal revelations for the Osborn family made the story around Red Goblin stronger. And with the cliffhanger ending Slott has set the stage for an exciting final battle between Spider-Man and Norman Osborn's Red Goblin.

When it focused on the battle between Spider-Man and Green Goblin, Amazing Spider-Man #800 was at its best. Unfortunately everything around that involving those outside our main stars, particularly J. Jonah Jameson, Doctor Octopus and the Symbiotes, dragged "Go Down Swinging" down. It does not help that Amazing Spider-Man #800 was priced at $9.99. That cover price just guaranteed that, rather than being a celebratory milestone, this was a comic book that should only be picked up by those who have read the entirety of Dan Slott's Spider-Man run. And even then Amazing Spider-Man #800 is hard to recommend given all the problems with the story of "Go Down Swinging."

Amazing Spider-Man #801 is a great standalone issue for Dan Slott to end his run on. Through the eyes of one of the many people Peter has saved as Spider-Man we are able to see what how the character is the People's Champion of the Marvel Universe. With Marcos Martin elevating the story even further with his fantastic artwork Amazing Spider-Man #801 turned out to be a comic that is hard not have a smile after reading it. Though how satisfying this final Dan Slott issue of Amazing Spider-Man is will probably be left up to what you were looking for from the closing chapter of his decade long run.

Amazing Spider-Man #1 showed that Nick Spencer's run on this series has a lot of potential to shine. Spencer did a great job resetting Peter Parker's life in a way that does build a future that creates a lot of interesting story possibilities. That said, there are definitely some things that need to be improved on from the Spider-Man side of things. Thankfully Ryan Ottley is on board to draw Amazing Spider-Man because, as this issue showed, we are in store for some great looking Spider-Man comics. If you're a Spider-Man fan I suggest checking this out and at least sticking around for the first arc to see if Spencer's run is something for you.

Throughout Amazing Spider-Man #2 Nick Spencer strikes a great balance between the drama, comedy and action fans expect from a Spider-Man comic book. Bringing back the Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson relationship is a strong anchoring point for this series to have. Combining that with Peter finding a new way to balance out his personal and superhero lives makes Amazing Spider-Man #2 a comic Marvel fans will enjoy reading.

Amazing Spider-Man #3 continued the strong start Nick Spencer is having for his run on this series. Spencer took the time to deliver a character driven story with Peter Parker at the center. Adding in some Spider-Man action sequences, which were wonderfully drawn by Ryan Ottley, helped keep the story moving forward. If it weren't for a few problems with certain story beats Amazing Spider-Man #3 would've been close to perfect.

Amazing Spider-Man #5 is a fun end to Nick Spencer's first story arc on this series. Throughout "Back To Basics" Spencer did a great job exploring why Peter Parker and Spider-Man need each other to be a great hero. That along with how Spencer used this scenario to strengthen Peter and MJ's relationship and Ryan Ottley's fantastic artwork made Amazing Spider-Man #5 a very satisfying conclusion.

Amazing Spider-Man #8 was a fun start to Nick Spencer's new story arc. Spencer continues to do a great job writing Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson's renewed relationship. While the introduction of the Thieves Guild was not perfect the presentation of their leader, Odessa Drake, was well executed. Add in the ending involving the return of Black Cat and there is enough for fans to be excited about for what will after the events in this issue.

Amazing Spider-Man #10 is an enjoyable read. There are obvious weaknesses with the plot around the Thieves Guild that kept the "Heist" arc from reaching its full potential. Luckily Nick Spencer was able to do great job providing Spider-Man, Black Cat and Mary Jane Watson such strong character development that some of these weakness can be overlooked. Having Humberto Ramos and Michele Bandini energetic artwork helped strengthen the overall impact of the story.

Amazing Spider-Man #14 does a good job progressing the series into its next major story arc in the form of "Hunted." Adding in some strong character work by Nick Spencer helps in creating a compelling narrative for this story arc. That makes it even more disappointing that due to Spencer's reliance on a lot of exposition and the story not working to the strengths of Bachalo's art style Amazing Spider-Man #14 isn't as great as it could have been. It's still a solid issue that just misses reaching its full potential.Amazing Spider-Man #14 Review

Amazing Spider-Man #15 successfully brought us one step closer to the "Hunted" story arc. In progressing that storyline Nick Spencer also continued the positive progress he has been making with Spider-Man, Aunt May, Lizard and other characters. If it wasn't for a plot point that fell flat and hit-or-miss artwork Amazing Spider-Man #15 would've gotten higher marks.

Amazing Spider-Man #17 was a strong start to the "Hunted" story arc. Nick Spencer properly built up the hunt that Kraven the Hunter has set up for Spider-Man, Black Cat and others to be extremely dangerous. Having Humberto Ramos on board helped add to how big this story felt. Hopefully every chapter that follows can continue the momentum created by Amazing Spider-Man #17. If they can "Hunted" could very well go down as one of the best modern Spider-Man stories.

Amazing Spider-Man #19 does a great job moving the "Hunted" storyline forward. Nick Spencer gives a number of characters, including Spider-Man, Black Cat, Kraven and Vulture, time to develop within the "Hunted" story. Given where all the chess pieces landed by the end of Amazing Spider-Man #19 things should only get more intriguing from here.

Amazing Spider-Man #20 was a strong chapter that moved "Hunted" into the second half of the story. Nick Spencer execution of the story as he moves every chess piece into the place they need to be to maximize the sense of urgency in the story was great. Every character from Black Ant to Kraven to Black Cat are made to feel important even as Spider-Man is still clearly the star of the show.

Amazing Spider-Man #22 was a frustrating end to what should have been a storyline with as much potential "Hunted" had to be memorable. This issue, like the majority of "Hunted," shined when the focus was on Spider-Man and Kraven. Unfortunately every other character involved from Black Cat to Kraven's Son suffered from poor development and roles in the story. All those problems dragged down what should've been an emotional ending to Nick Spencer's biggest Amazing Spider-Man story to date.

Amazing Spider-Man #23 was a mixed bag of quality. While Spencer set-up several compelling storylines to follow up on later on the overall problems with "Hunted" could not be avoided. Luckily Amazing Spider-Man #23 had Ryan Ottley's incredible artwork to elevate the entire issue above what it could have been rated.

Amazing Spider-Man #25 does a great job setting the tone for the second year of Nick Spencer's run on this series. Through this oversized issue Spencer was able to create compelling storylines for Peter Parker, Mary Jane Watson, Mysterio and others to follow. Not all these storylines worked as intended, such as the Kindred plotline falling flat. Still there were more than enough intriguing things in development that Spider-Man fans can be excited for moving forward in this series. Amazing Spider-Man #25 boasting an all-star cast of artist further helps in elevating its importance.

Amazing Spider-Man #27 is a comic that was headed to being a standout in Nick Spencer's run. The Spider-Man and Boomerang vs Sinister Syndicate worked to make all the players involved look good. Unfortunately decisions on the portrayal of certain characters and an unnecessary ending kept Amazing Spider-Man #27 from living up to its full potential.

Amazing Spider-Man #29 is one of the best issues to date from Nick Spencer's run on this series. Spencer does a fantastic job writing Peter Parker, Mary Jane Watson and Aunt May's characters throughout this issue. The way he explores the state of Peter and Mary Jane's relationship in particular is the heart of the story that is presented. That heart is strong enough to create a lot of interest in the future of both Amazing Spider-Man and the upcoming Amazing Mary Jane series.

Amazing Spider-Man #31 may very well go down as the most important issue in Nick Spencer's. This issue turned the story around Kindred's into one of the most intriguing plotlines that Spider-Man fans will want to see develop even more. The stunning artwork from Ryan Ottley further elevates the importance of the story that Spencer ends up telling throughout Amazing Spider-Man #31.

Amazing Spider-Man #32 has a solid story revolving Peter Parker and Teresa Parker clash with the Chameleon and other Marvel villains. Nick Spencer does show that he has a firm grasp on the current state of Peter Parker's personal and Spider-Man life. Unfortunately the secondary story that is picked up from Amazing Spider-Man #25 involving Spider-Man 2099 comes across as forced in rather than a natural part of the ongoing narrative for this series. The disconnect between these two stories hurt the overall impact Amazing Spider-Man #32 has.

While Amazing Spider-Man #33 struggles to build interest for Spider-Man 2099's story Nick Spencer succeeds with building a good story around Peter Parker. Spencer layers Peter's character with multiple storylines that are going on in and out of his life as Spider-Man. The way Silver Sable, Teresa Parker and others play into the multiple stories Spencer is running all create greater intrigue in everything Peter has to deal with. Having Patrick Gleason along for the ride to handle the art duties helps in elevating the story with a consistent flow from panel to panel.

Amazing Spider-Man #34 was nothing more than an advertising piece for the 2099 comic books Marvel is publishing. Nick Spencer did not sell fans on why they should stick around to read this story arc. All Spencer accomplished was confirming how you can skip this story arc and return for the next Amazing Spider-Man arc without missing anything.

Amazing Spider-Man #37 has introduces some interesting plot points for the direction Peter Parker, J. Jonah Jameson and Norah Winters are going to go on moving forward. Nick Spencer's writing is at its best when he is just writing these characters day-to-day interactions. That is helped by the excellent artwork that Ryan Ottley provides throughout this issue. The problem Amazing Spider-Man #37 runs into is the fact that in trying to be smart by referencing events like Civil War II what Spencer actually accomplishes the opposite. All he ends up doing is highlighting all the problems their is with the big stories he is trying to tell in this series.

Amazing Spider-Man #39 is a comic book that checks off just about every box for a successful story. The one big box Nick Spencer misses checking was if the way J. Jonah Jameson and Spider-Man's podcast brokedown was an earned moment. The reality is that this podcast does not come across as something Spencer has properly built up for both characters during his run. Because of that Amazing Spider-Man #39 turns out to lean more into the disappointment category.

Nick Spencer provides examples of both the good and bad of his current run with Amazing Spider-Man #40. On the good end we have the developments with Spider-Man and J. Jonah Jameson's relationship. On the bad side there is the development with a major Spider-Man villain that ends up being a negative for what Norah Winters return means for this series. This balance of good and bad just shows how much work Spencer still has ahead of him before he can make his run on Amazing Spider-Man memorable.

Amazing Spider-Man #42 takes a break from the main stories going on in this series to spotlight the rarely seen Gog. To Nick Spencer's credit he does a solid job with getting the reader invested in Gog's backstory. With the direction Spencer took, it was really Ryan Ottley's incredible artwork that elevated Gog's backstory to be as successful as it was. The only thing that hurt the story in Amazing Spider-Man #42 is that it never escaped coming across as filler content.

Amazing Spider-Man #43 was a mixed bag of an ending for this "True Companions" story arc. On one hand Nick Spencer created a touching conclusion to the storyline around Gog's character. But on the other hand, Spencer completely dropped the ball with the Boomerang and Lifeline Tablet storyline. Because of that Amazing Spider-Man #43 ended up coming across as half-complete when all was said and done.

Amazing Spider-Man #45 is one of the better issues Nick Spencer has written on this series in quite some time. Spencer showed a great understanding of what Sin-Eater's return means for Spider-Man and how the villains return affects him in such a drastic way. Having Mark Bagley on board for this issue also helped with the tension that is felt with this clash between Spider-Man and Sin-Eater. This is definitely the most interested I've been in an Amazing Spider-Man story this year.

Amazing Spider-Man #46 is continues the momentum from the previous issue as Nick Spencer is possibly crafting the best story arc of his run on this series with "Sins Rising." The development around the resurrected Sin-Eater has come across as an evolution for the character. How this has challenged Spider-Man makes the anticipation for the endgame of "Sins Rising" be even greater after reaching the final page of Amazing Spider-Man #46.

Amazing Spider-Man #47 was an intense reading experience. The way Nick Spencer works real world events in the way Sin-Eater is written gave weight to the character's direction that came across as distinct. How that challenges Spider-Man and furthers the greater Kindred storyline added to the interest in where the "Sins Rising" will end up when all things are said and done.

Amazing Spider-Man #48 was a strong chapter in the "Sins Rising" storyline that added importance to what Peter Parker did at the end of this issue. Having the Spider-Man Family get involved made the choice Peter decided to go with even more personal. That choice led to an unexpected turn that creates even greater interest in what this means for the direction Nick Spencer is going with this Sin Eater storyline.

After two years of build up Nick Spencer completes all the set-up for the big Kindred storyline he has been developing since starting his Amazing Spider-Man run. Spencer did a great job centering the story around the weight of every decision that Peter Parker has made as Spider-Man. The way he finishes laying the foundation for the upcoming Kindred story with the conclusion of "Sins Rising" in Amazing Spider-Man #49 created a lot of intriguing sub-plots for that event.

Amazing Spider-Man #50 got "The Last Remains" off to a hot start. This entire issue was built around how effective the reveal in the final page was executed. To Nick Spencer's credit he succeeded in the impact of Amazing Spider-Man #50's ending. It sets up a lot intrigue for what will happen next as "The Last Remains" continues.

Outside of the final few pages Amazing Spider-Man #50.LR is nothing more than a director's cut to the first chapter of "Last Remains." The way this entire issue is executed does make you question why Nick Spencer couldn't include some of these moments in the oversized anniversary issue that was Amazing Spider-Man #50. Hopefully these tie-in comics don't create an excuse for Spencer to leave out key plot details in the main story of "Last Remains."

Amazing Spider-Man #51 does a very good job moving the plot forward with the main two players of "Last Remains." Nick Spencer firmly establishes the unsettling nature of Kindred, who has gone all in on the horror movie villain vibe. The way Spider-Man tries to combat that by seeking out close allies to help him out show that Peter Parker knows he is up against a villain like no other he has faced. That all set the stage well for how there is still a sense of unknown with where this story will end up, especially with the hook ending of this issue.

Amazing Spider-Man #52 is built around the impact of the final page. How we get there is done extremely well by Nick Spencer as we are finally given the first face-to-face meeting between Spider-Man and Kindred. How this meeting breaks down and leads to the decision Peter Parker is forced to make leaves us in a place of uncertainty with how things will turn out. It is that uncertainty that drives greater interest in the final chapters of "Last Remains."

Amazing Spider-Man #53 is all about the big reveal of Peter Parker finding out who Kindred really is. From that perspective Nick Spencer did a great job building up that reveal by using controversial events in Spider-Man's history to create a strong foundation for why this revelation had such an impact on Peter Parker. Unfortunately not much else happens in Amazing Spider-Man #53 as Spencer has left all the other sub-plots of "The Last Remains" to be told in the tie-in issues.

Amazing Spider-Man #54 immediately delivers on Peter Parker learning who Kindred is and what that means for the impact "Last Remains" has on the franchise. Nick Spencer and Mark Bagley work well off each other's strengths as creators to tell a story that had all the emotional impact you expect this showdown between Spider-Man and Kindred to have. The way things end leaves you with such a sense of uncertainty with how things will turn out when all is said and done with "Last Remains."

Amazing Spider-Man #54.LR accomplishes all it set out to do in bringing all the players in the 'Last Remains' to where they need to be for the finale. Everything that goes on here comes across as important to the greater story Nick Spencer is telling in 'Last Remains.' That will be good for readers that are reading these tie-in issues alongside the main 'Last Remains' story but could hurt those that are not when reading the finale in Amazing Spider-Man #55.

Amazing Spider-Man #55 is a frustrating continuation of the 'Last Remains' story arc. From one end, it was fascinating to see how things played out between Peter Parker, Harry Osborn, and Mary Jane Watson. Nick Spencer is clearly not only using 'Last Remains' as a payoff to the last two years of his Amazing Spider-Man run but also to bring greater importance to all of Spider-Man's history. Unfortunately, the big problem that Spencer runs into with Amazing Spider-Man #55 is how many key plot developments come across as deus ex machinas to lead into the conclusion of 'Last Remains.' Hopefully Spencer is able to overcome these major problems with the conclusion of his big Spider-Man event.

What started out as an exciting culmination of Nick Spencer's run on Amazing Spider-Man up to this point has disappointingly turned into major let down. After being given twelve issues, and still counting, to tell his big 'Last Remains' arc all Spencer could do is find the most boring way to stretch out the end of this story. The extra pages that were given to make Amazing Spider-Man #56 an oversized issue just added to the boredom Spencer creates in this "post-mortem" chapter. Luckily, we did get Mark Bagley's wonderful artwork to look at throughout Amazing Spider-Man #56. So, there is at least that one positive to take away from all this.

Amazing Spider-Man #57 concludes the 'Last Remains' as an example of how much of a mixed bag this storyline was. When it comes to how this story challenged Peter Parker we see how 'Last Remains' shines. The problem is that there are so many other things about this story that either worked or fell flat. Not having consistency with everything that Nick Spencer had in play created an uneven reading experience when all was said and done with 'Last Remains.'

Amazing Spider-Man #58 was a good return to form after 'Last Remains' concluded to mixed results. The scene between Peter Parker and Liz Allen steals the show with how much emotion was packed in this scene. The involvement of Mr. Negative in this story also added an interesting wrinkle to the greater Kindred storyline that is coming out of 'Last Remains.' Hopefully the sense of urgency we get here is more of we get from Nick Spencer's run moving forward.

With Amazing Spider-Man #59 Nick Spencer shows that his own writing is his own worst enemy. While there are certainly compelling developments in the Kindred and Wilson Fisk storylines, when it comes to the stories of Mr. Negative and Norman Osborn that dominate this issue Spencer's storytelling just falls flat. It does not help that even after everything he has been put through Peter Parker comes across as standing still through this entire saga. That is hopefully a thing that is improved on fast.

Amazing Spider-Man #60 was a strong return to form to what Nick Spencer does best with his run on this series. The focus on Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson made the progress in the ongoing Kindred Saga much more compelling. While some may not like the fact that One More Day and Brand New Day are being brought back into play Spencer has done enough to create investment in at least giving these plot elements a chance to be explored within this ongoing story.

Though the presentation for how Peter Parker gets his new costume in Amazing Spider-Man #61 is not a home run everything around this change worked well. Nick Spencer does a good job in how he focuses what it means for Wilson Fisk to return to being the Kingpin of Crime. How that impacts Peter Parker and Spider-Man's world creates enough things to be invested in to want to come back for more from this series.

Amazing Spider-Man #62 is a fast-paced comic book from beginning to end. There is no time wasted as Nick Spencer develops multiple storylines throughout this issue. The pacing ends up working to the advantage of the storyline as even when there are some weak parts in the story we don't spend to much time on those moments. We quickly move on to focus on the more interesting aspects of the current storyline involving Spider-Man, Boomerang, Wilson Fisk, and other characters. The end result leaves you looking forward to what comes next in Spencer's run on this series.

Amazing Spider-Man #63 is one of the worsts, if not the worst, issues that Nick Spencer has written in his run on this series. The fact that underdeveloped storylines became such a major focus in this issue makes it seem like Spencer just threw everything he could into part one of "King's Ransom" without caring what it would mean for the characters long-term. Spencer just had way too many things going on that made everything come across as rushed and chaotic for no reason.

Amazing Spider-Man #64 was a vast improvement over the first chapter of the "King's Ransom" story arc. The sense of urgency from Spider-Man, Robbie Robertson, Wilson Fisk, and others made you invested in the latest developments around the war for power and control of New York City underground. The surprising development in the greater Kindred plotline added to the success of this issue.

Amazing Spider-Man #65 is a fun action-heavy comic book. The artwork by Federico Vicentini and Federico Sabbatini carry this issue. While the relationship between Randy Robertson and Janice Lincoln falls flat, the developments with Mayor Fisk help keep you interested in how Nick Spencer plans to wrap up the "King's Ransom" storyline.

While the developments around Kindred are what this issue will be remembered for it is the focus around where Peter Parker is both personally and as Spider-Man where Amazing Spider-Man #66 shines. You get the feeling everything that happens here is the calm before the storm. Now if Nick Spencer can get a better handle on giving time to develop sub-plots beyond their introduction this series would be even better.

The Chameleon Conspiracy is the definition of a filler story arc. Every aspect of this story fallen flat from the very beginning. There are just too many rushed elements to make this a compelling narrative alongside the ongoing Kindred Saga. This story needs to end now so we can move on to, hopefully, better stories in Amazing Spider-Man.

Amazing Spider-Man #70 did its job of setting the stage for the upcoming Sinister War. All the players are all given just enough time to build excitement for the latest Spider-Man event that we are about to get. Now that the scope of Sinister War is set-up hopefully Spencer's final big Spider-Man event can live up to the 70+ issues of development.

Amazing Spider-Man #71 does very little to bring greater excitement for the Sinister War event. Instead, it is reminder of how Nick Spencer has too many sub-plots going on. This ends up causing Spencer to take certain sub-plots in directions that make them come across as filler content. With Sinister War set to be Spencer's final big Amazing Spider-Man story it is disappointing that we can't get a complete story in one comic book.

Amazing Spider-Man #72 continues the disappointment train that Sinister War has turned into. Nick Spencer attempts to create interest by introducing last minute character developments that only makes the story an even greater cluttered mess. The end of this story can't come soon enough so we can all just move on from the disappointing story Sinister War has become.

While I am thankful for Nick Spencer officially undoing the damage done by the worst Spider-Man story of all time the overall Sinister War event continues to disappoint. The developments in Amazing Spider-Man #73 make a convoluted story even more so right as we reach the end. It all leaves you wondering if we needed such a big build up around Kindred's character given what this issue revealed. Hopefully Spencer can deliver a satisfying conclusion to his Amazing Spider-Man run and Kindred story in the next issue.

When all was said and done Amazing Spider-Man #74 accomplishes its job of wrapping up Nick Spencer's Kindred Saga that dominated his run on this series. To get to this ending Spencer and co-writer Christos Gage highlighted how convoluted this entire saga has been with the Osborn Family at the center of it. The convoluted nature of the Kindred Saga could've been wrapped up in a more satisfying fashion if it did not feel like we took the longest, most unnecessary road possible to get to this ending. But now that it is over we can just look towards a new future for the Spider-Man franchise.

Amazing Spider-Man #75 kicks off the Spider-Man Beyond direction off on a great note. Zeb Wells, Patrick Gleason, and the Beyond Board are able to create a fresh start for the franchise that utilizes Spider-Man's history in a welcoming way. Now with it looking as though Ben Reilly will be the lead Spider-Man for this series moving forward I'm interested to see what direction Amazing Spider-Man goes from here.

While Morbius was treated as throwaway villain the story Kelly Thompson crafted around Ben Reilly's Spider-Man and the Beyond Corporation kept interest in this new direction high. The developments in Amazing Spider-Man #78 reinforced the foundation that the Beyond era is looking to build on. Unfortunately the rushed artwork did impact the overall flow of the story, which is something that will likely be the norm given Amazing Spider-Man's current release schedule.

When focused on the superhero aspect Amazing Spider-Man #79 is at its best. There is still a lot of work to get Ben Reilly over without the mask but at least he is starting to get comfortable as Spider-Man. The set-up for this Kraven storyline has all the makings for a fun arc that will challenge Ben to prove himself as Spider-Man.

Amazing Spider-Man #80 was a solid story that presented a true challenge for Ben Reilly to overcome. More stories like this where we see Spider-Man fight Kraven will help Ben gain more credibility as the permanent person carrying the mantle. If the Beyond Board writers can improve the writing of the supporting cast of this series then Spider-Man Beyond could be a big success when all is said and done.

With the three times a month schedule that Amazing Spider-Man's Beyond direction has it is smart to do shorter stories that are one to three issues. Saladin Ahmed did a great job showing how to tell a quick story that holds importance to the overall Beyond direction with his work on Amazing Spider-Man #81. The interactions between Ben Reilly and Miles Morales led to a lot of potentially interesting developments for the direction of this series.

Amazing Spider-Man #82 is an example of how you maximize the page count you are given for a comic book to tell one complete story. There is a deep investment a strong investment that Saladin Ahmed and Jorge Fornes are able to create with this mystery story. This is easily my favorite comic book issue of the Spider-Man Beyond direction thus far.

Amazing Spider-Man #84 was a solid chapter in the Beyond direction. Cody Ziglar and Paco Medina did a great job with how they wrote and drew, respectively, Doctor Otto Octavius. This portrayal made Doc Ock instantly one of the most interesting characters in the Beyond era. How Ben Reilly's Spider-Man and the Beyond Corporation respond to Doc Ock's actions in this issue will be very interesting to see play out.

Amazing Spider-Man #85 moves the plot forward in the Beyond Era as Ben Reilly learns information that will impact his immediate future. Now Ben is on an even more unknown path as Spider-Man and it is all thanks to Doctor Otto Octavius. If it wasn't for inconsistent artwork and a major error the editors should've caught right away Amazing Spider-Man #85 would've scored higher.

Amazing Spider-Man #88 is easily the best issue of this series we have gotten in the Beyond Era. Zeb Wells and Michael Dowling did a great job at having Ben Reilly finally begin to deal with a past that he did not know about thanks to how the Beyond Corporation manipulated him. Now that Ben's past from the Clone Conspiracy is out in the open where things go next in the Beyond Era will be very interesting to see.

Kevin Lainez You can catch up with all of Kevin's thoughts about comics, anime, TV shows, movies and more over onTwitter @TheKevinLainez. You can also watch the fun and silly videos Kevin is making over on hisTikTok @nerdykev.

Kevin Lainez As a fan of Marvel, DC Comics, manga, and comic books a whole Kevin joined the Comic Book Revolution to share his love for these things with the world.

Judging Amazing Spider-Man #89 solely on the content of the story Patrick Gleason and Mark Bagley did a great job in establishing Queen Goblin as a major threat. How Queen Goblin's introduction helped to further Peter Parker's story in the Beyond Era made his return as Spider-Man even more exciting. That said, all the great character and plot developments further highlighted how Ben Reilly, the current lead Spider-Man, is turning into the least interesting part of this series. We'll see if the next issue can bring Ben up to the level of Peter and all the other great characters in this series.

Just like the previous issue, Amazing Spider-Man #90 was a reminder of how much Peter Parker was missed as the series lead. Peter battle with Queen Goblin was so different from all the fights Ben got into as Spider-Man with other villains. While that is certainly a negative for Ben Reilly's character there is a lot to enjoy in Amazing Spider-Man #90 when it comes to the developments around Peter, Janine Gobde, and Maxine Danger. Its their character arc that have built a high investment level as we enter the final stage of the Beyond story.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #91 had the elements to be a great comic book. Unfortunately it is weighed down by how rushed Ben Reill's character arc and Beyond Corporation's full heel turn has turned out. Hopefully the final few issues of this whole Beyond era can turn things around to give us a satisfying ending.

When all was said and done while Ben Reilly's arc in Spider-Man Beyond left a lot to be desired the writing for Peter Parker and all other characters involved in the story lifted the ending to this era up. Zeb Wells, Patrick Gleason, Sara Pichelli, Mark Bagley, and Tim Townsend all worked together to keep the reader invested in what happens next in this series after Amazing Spider-Man #93.

Giant-Size Amazing Spider-Man: The Chameleon Conspiracy #1 is a complete mess. Every aspect of this storyline is rushed to the point you don't care about anything that happens or the characters involved. And when all is said and done you are just left with the feeling that Nick Spencer and Marvel are just trying to end this era of Amazing Spider-Man as quickly as possible. That unfortunately leads to an event like The Chameleon Conspiracy that ends up being nothing more than a filler story arc.

When it comes to the resolutions for Spider-Man, Boomerang, and Wilson Fisk arcs we get in Nick Spencer is very successful in the story he presents in Giant-Size Amazing Spider-Man: King's Ransom #1. There is a lot accomplished that creates even greater potential for future stories down the line. Unfortunately there are choices made with other characters that are just frustrating. Spencer really needs to find a Striking a better balance with how many plotlines are juggled in one story. If not the frustrating parts of his work on Amazing Spider-Man will overshadow the fun and engaging aspects of this run.

If you are reading "Sins Rising" in the main series then Amazing Spider-Man: The Sins of Norman Osborn is a must read. Nick Spencer provides a lot of key details for the story with Spider-Man, Sin-Eater, Norman Osborn, and the newly formed Order of the Web. The choice to make this important chapter in "Sins Rising" be told in a one-shot is questionable. Fans who do pick this issue up will get a lot out of it heading into Amazing Spider-Man #49.

Venom Inc. Alpha #1 failed to create excitement for the crossover between Amazing Spider-Man and Venom. For Venom fans this may be what they were looking for since the character is at the front and center of the story. But for everyone else the lack of proper execution makes it hard to be interested in the plot Dan Slott and Mike Costa created. Everything about the "Venom Inc." story, from the symbiote villain to reintroduction of Anti-Venom, lacked inspiration. So unless you are a hardcore Venom fan this is one crossover you can pass on completely.

Ant-Man and the Wasp #2 is a solid comic book that makes you care more about the current predicament our lead characters find themselves in. For readers unfamiliar with who Ant-Man and the Wasp are this is a great starting point as Mark Waid goes into their respective origin stories. For readers who already know this may become bored by what happens in this issue, especially with the lack of action. Still, Ant-Man and the Wasp #2 moves at a quick pace that helps this mini-series be a good jumping on point for those looking to read a comic involving these two characters with their movie coming out in July.

Ant-Man and the Wasp #5 played it safe with how things ended. Fortunately the dynamic that Mark Waid developed over the course of these five issues between Scott Lang and Nadia Van Dyne was enjoyable enough to be satisfied with how the story concluded. Though that dynamic was not enough to create a compelling story that suffered greatly because it lack a true antagonist for Ant-Man and the Wasp to overcome. That problem makes Ant-Man and the Wasp only a comic I recommend those who are fans of these two characters pick up.

Antarctica #1 is a tale of two stories of different degrees of importance. One is the main mystery surrounding our lead character. Then there is what felt like a side mission in a video game. The side mission did not hit as intended, though it did give the series lead time to showcase her personality. The main mystery of Antarctica #1 is where this first issue shines and hopefully is the main-focus moving forward.

Aquaman #43 delivered an unexpected start to Kelly Sue DeConnick. In taking Aquaman out of his normal Atlantis setting DeConnick created an intriguing mystery around a new village and the Unspoken Water. The story moved at a quick enough pace that it never dragged with Aquaman not being left in the dark of what was going for too long. That makes this a nice starting point to see what else DeConnick has planned for this series.

Aquaman #44 did not turn out to be as strong as the previous issue. The mystery around the Unspoken Water and Aquaman's amnesia help drive the story forward. Unfortunately the lack of development for key supporting characters have caused Kelly Sue DeConnick to not hit its intended mark. Hopefully with how Aquaman #44 ended these problems can be fixed so the story can quickly turn around.

Aquaman: Deep Dives delivers a fun, straightforward superhero story. There is no time wasted as the issue dedicates most of its page count to the fight between Aquaman and Black Manta. Steve Orlando sprinkles in some cool character focus dialogue that helps give the fight between rivals much more meat to the bone. With a $0.99 cover price, Aquaman: Deep Dives is definitely something you should check out if you're looking to get a superhero comic book fix.

Aquaman: Deep Dives #2 accomplished what it set out to do. Michael Grey provided a story that will give fans looking for an enjoyable Aquaman story to get their fill. There isn't much outside of that. Which is fine but if you are not an Aquaman fan this is definitely an issue you can easily pass on and try the Superman, Batman or Wonder Woman digital firsts released this week instead.

Aquaman: Deep Dives #3 was a good change of pace as we got to see our lead hero's role as a mentor shine. Steve Orlando was able to showcase how there is a lot of potential in the duo of Aquaman and Tempest. Their chemistry comes across as natural and makes you hope there are more stories where we see them team-up in the future. The story itself was a good showcase of how both Aquaman and Tempest can step up to save the day during a major crisis.

Aquaman: Deep Dives #5 was an enjoyable, action-packed beginning to what's already turning into a major storyline for this series. Steve Orlando does a great job using the Trench as antagonist to build up the politics Aquaman and Mera are in the middle of while continuing to build credibility for the Sea Devils as a team. With the introduction of a villainous group from the DC Universe's past this storyline could lead to bigger things down the line.

Aquaman: Deep Dives #6 is the best issue of this series to date. Steve Orlando does a fantastic job mixing politics, action and character development to tell a strong comic book that added excitement for the "Stinging Tide" story arc. The way things turned out increased the excitement for what will happen when Aquaman clashes with Scorpio's leadership.

Aquaman: Deep Dives #7 was a fantastic ending to the "Stinging Tide" arc. Steve Orlando does a wonderful job showcasing what makes Aquaman the true King of Atlantis. The way Aquaman stepped up on multiple fronts showed the reader why he is a great character. The way Tula, Mera, and Tempest are used throughout this issue further elevated this issue to be as fantastic as it turned out to be.

Arcade Kings #4 continues the fun of this series. The series is hitting on he overtop nature of anime fighting with a retro video game setting.

Artemis: Wanted #1 is an excellent example of the power a one-shot comic book has. We get a complete story that resolves the story of Hippolyta's murder in a way that adds a lot more to what is going on in the Wonder Woman franchise. In the process, Artemis character is treated with genuine care with what we learn about her elevates her status even higher when all is said and done. This is definitely a must-have for fans of the Wonder Woman franchise.

Astonishing X-Men #1 does a fantastic job introducing the characters that will make up the core cast for this series. Charles Soule gives every member of this X-Men team a stand out moment that feeds into what we should expect in the latest clash with Shadow King. The final page present a surprising appearance from the former X-Men leader, Professor X, that could have larger ramifications on the entire X-Universe depending on what happens. All of this is wrapped in a package that makes Astonishing X-Men the only comic new and old X-Men fans should to read.

Astonishing X-Men #2 was another strong entry in what is already the best current comic book in the X-Men franchise. Charles Soule showed his clear understanding and respect towards the X-Men's history in how he used that history to develop Shadow King's latest plot against the X-Men. Having Mike Deodato's talent to help elevate the danger the X-Men are faced with in Soule's Shadow King story. If you are an X-Men fan, Astonishing X-Men is one comic you should be reading.

Astonishing X-Men #3 is the weakest issue of this series so far. The focus on Old Man Logan over the rest of the X-Men hurt how the mission statement of this series. That said, Charles Soule does provide a lot of strong dialogue that makes up for how the story is executed. The main story involving Shadow King continues to be the strength of the arc and there is enough development in Astonishing X-Men #3 to make fans look forward to what comes next.

Avengers #1 is not a home run. It is instead a close double that an umpire calls safe after looking at the replay. Mark Waid does a good job with executing the story involving Kang's latest attack on The Avengers. Incorporating Vision so closely to this latest attack gave both sides of the story a personal stake in what is going on. It's just unfortunate that Waid stumbles on how he decides to characterize a few members of the Avengers. These mistakes are only further hurt by Mike Del Mundo's artwork, which ends up detracting from the story, especially in the dialogue heavy scenes.

Avengers #6 was a highly enjoyable ending to Jason Aaron's first story arc in this series. Aaron delivered a story that felt like a big event that had major consequences for how fans will view the Marvel Universe moving forward. And with how Aaron concluded this Dark Celestials story arc he has left us with a lot to be excited for as he gets deeper into his plans for the Avengers.

Jason Aaron clearly had his best intentions in mind by trying to use Avengers #7 to reveal Ghost Rider 1,000,000 BC. Unfortunately this is something that was not built to, making it tough to actually connect with this version of Ghost Rider. It does not help that certain story choices just further drove home how uninteresting this version of Ghost Rider is. That all added up to Avengers #7 turning out to be nothing more than a filler comic book that you can pass on reading.

Avengers #8 got the series right back on track. Throughout this issue Jason Aaron was able to establish the team dynamic and what role each member will play during his run. Along with the continued development around what the Celestials appearances revealed about Earth and Namor's sudden attack, Avengers #8 delivered on the high expectations for Aaron's run on this series.

Avengers #11 is an example of a comic that had a lot of potential that unfortunately ends up falling flat. The heavy exposition that fills just about every panel turns Avengers #11 into a bit of a chore to read. It does not help that there are several Avengers who are hurt by the dialogue they are given. Hopefully with all this set-up out of the way Jason Aaron can now focus the series on the next big storyline.

Jed MacKay and C.F. Villa provide The Avengers with a much needed reset with the start of the new start to the relaunched series. Time was well spent to get lapsed and new readers caught up to speed with each member of this new Avengers roster. Those catch-up scenes never overstay their welcome as the focus for The Avengers #1 is showcasing the team as Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Add in the tease of a bigger storyline centered around Kang The Conquerer, The Avengers #1 is a strong start for the new creative team.

Jed MacKay and C.F. Villa have started hot and have not turned down the temperature at all. Avengers #4 is another example of that, with how the teams fight against Ashen Combine builds on the long-term Tribulation Events story. This is certainly the big, epic stories you expect one of Marvel's premiere superhero teams to be involved in.

If you're a fan of Janet Van Dyne and Hank Pym then Avengers Inc. #1 is a comic book you'll want to check out. Al Ewing is on a mission to bring both characters back into the spotlight. That does mean this isn't a new reader friendly first issue. But if you can just accept, you'll be learning as you follow the series Avengers Inc. is set up to do some big things.

Batgirl #13 is delivered a fun, intimate one-shot story that fans of the series will enjoy. Hope Larson nails the dialogue between Batgirl and Catwoman as they worked on a case that was deeply personal to the latter. Involving a young girl that looks up to Batgirl shows how far our main character has come. The ending will leave fans of the series with a big smile on their face and that is exactly what we all want from a comic book we read on monthly basis to accomplish.

Hope Larson taps into the spark between Barbara Gordon and Dick Grayson to treat fans to a fun Batgirl #14. This is a story that will be a great treat for fans of the Batgirl/Nightwing pairing. Using the Batgirl and Nightwing's early history with one another added depth to this story that involves characters related to one of their first adventures together without Batman. If you are a fan of Batgirl, Nightwing or both then Batgirl #14 is definitely worth picking up.

Batgirl #23 ends Hope Larson's run on this series with a story that felt more like a filler arc than a strong bookmark to end a creative team run. The characterization of Batgirl, as has been the case throughout her run, was solid by Larson. Unfortunately having the story in Batgirl #23 filled with "villain of the week" style bad guys that fans have zero knowledge or connection to made this ending feel less meaningful than it should have been. If your a Batgirl fan Larson's run is still one I recommend checking out even though how it ended left a lot to be desired.

Batgirl #24 is added a great standalone story that strengthens the overall library of this volume of Batgirl. Shawn Aldridge stepped in big to deliver a story that looked to be about Batgirl clashing with Two-Face and instead delivered a twist that made this issue even better. The twist made Batgirl's latest adventure resonate emotionally as it tied closely to her past. Even if you haven't picked up an issue of Batgirl before this is a great starting point as you get everything you need to know in one tightly written comic.

Batgirl #26 is a solid beginning for Mairghread Scott creative run on this series. Scott does a good job creating a compelling villain in the form of Grotesque for her first story arc. What the villain does in this issue along with the hook ending as Batgirl's chip implant shorts out creates interest in what happens next. Adding in Paul Pelletier great artwork made Scott's story even better, especially in the few areas where the story ran into some problems. If your a Batgirl fan this issue will be a satisfying continuation of her adventures and a good entry point for those who weren't previously reading this series.

Batgirl #28 had all the ingredients to be a strong issue. Unfortunately Batgirl #28 does not handle the transition of who the main antagonist properly. The failure in the execution in this part of the story hurt the overall impact that Scott was looking to have in this issue. Luckily Scott's writing of Barbara Gordon and Paul Pelletier artwork lifts Batgirl #28 up even when the main story stumbles over itself.

Batgirl #50 is not an ending that nicely wraps things up. Instead this final issue focuses on showing what Gotham City post-Joker War looks like. In the process Cecil Castellucci explores how Barbara Gordon will be able to do different things to help shape the future of Gotham City in and out of her Batgirl adventures. The back-ups included in this oversized issue help make Batgirl #50 a satisfying conclusion to this volume of the series.

Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #9 does an excellent job in building Blackbird as a serious threat the team has to contend with. Tying Black Canary's evolution to the Birds of Prey newest villain helped amplify the horrible intentions Blackbird had when teach her students to use her powers. Bringing Green Arrow and Nightwing into the fold helps add to the threat level Blackbird presents to the Birds of Prey.

Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #10 delivered exactly what you want from the concluding issue of an arc that features a brand new villain. Julie Benson and Shawna Benson found a creative way to deal with Blackbird while elevating the new villain to be an even bigger threat down the line. The dynamic between the Birds of Prey, along with Green Arrow and Nightwing, helped make this ending stand out even more in a week filled with strong comic books.

Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #11 was a good start to a new story arc that places the focus the new Oracle, Gus Yale. Delving into Gus' backstory helped create a better connection between the Birds of Prey and their new Oracle. Calculator and Catwoman's involvement adds further interest in how the story may go as we get to see the team deal with the two villains at the same time.

Batgirl and the Birds of Prey #13 provide the "Source Code" arc with a satisfying ending. Julie Benson and Shawna Benson continue to show their clear understanding of who all Birds of Prey are. With the return of Barbara Gordon as Oracle the Bensons have opened up even more avenues to explore the Birds of Prey's dynamic, especially with Catwoman and Poison Ivy joining the team. These additions make the future of Batgirl and the Birds of Prey even more exciting.

Batgirls #2 has so many good things going for it that it is unfortunate to see how Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad just get in their own way. This issue is just to busy to make any of the many plotlines it has going on to fully grab your interest. Luckily the chemistry between Barbara Gordon, Stephanie Brown, and Cassandra Cain is strong enough to lift up the series.

Batgirls #3 does a great job presenting Tutor as menacing force that Barbara Gordon, Stephanie Brown, and Cassandra Cain have to work together to overcome. In the process the dynamic between the three Batgirls is able to shine as the strength of the series. Highlighting that strength made the ending with Seer further push how there are many things to look forward to seeing develop in Batgirls.

Overall, Batgirls #4 is more of the same. The chemistry between Stephanie Brown, Cassandra Cain, and Barbara Gordon is where this issue shines. Unfortunately how heavy handed the writing is during the fight with Tutor is gets in the way of the cool stylized artwork that Corona is providing this series.

Batgirls #5 is easily the best issue of this series to date. Becky Cloonan, Michael Conrad, and Jorge Corona work well to showcase how effective of a team the Batgirls are. Going from dealing with The Saints to Spellbinder and Tutor flowed well with the story that has been unfolding. With how things turned out by the end we are left in a spot wondering how the Batgirls will defeat Spellbinder and Tutor. That is a good spot for the final issue of this story arc to pick up at.

Becky Cloonan, Michael Conrad, Jorge Corona, and Sarah Stern saved the best for last as Batgirls #6 is by far the strongest issues of this first story arc for the series. The payoff to the character arcs for Barbara Gordon, Stephanie Brown, and Cassandra Cain is all handled well. We even get a hook ending that transitions well into the next story arc featuring Seer that keeps the reader invested in finding out what happens next.

Batgirls #7 is a massive step back for a series that started to find its footing at the end of its first story arc in the previous issue. The writing gets in its own way from beginning to the very end of this issue. Its to the point that the writing distracts the reader from how the artwork is trying to help tell the story. This is by far the most disappointed I've been in a comic book in a long time.

FINAL THOUGHTSBatgirls #8 is a comic book that gets in its own way of finding success. Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad just can't help themselves with how overly written this comic book. It gets to the point you are left wondering if there is trust in this story that is supposed to wrap up the Seer and The Saints story was worth telling. The only thing that saves Batgirls #8 is the good artwork, when given the chance by the writing, by Robbi Rodriguez and Rico Renzi

Batgirls #9 is such a frustrating comic book to read. There are hints of a fun comic book throughout this issue. Unfortunately, Becky Cloonan and Michael W. Conrad consistently get in their own way with how they insert themselves into the story. There is absolutely no need for their constant narration as a key narrative direction for the story. That narrative decision impacts everything from the character development to the enjoyment of the artwork. At this point I'm strongly considering dropping this series all together even though Barbara Gordon, Stephanie Brown, and Cassandra Cain are among my favorite DC Comics characters.

Batgirls #10 is the point in this series that I just must tap out. While I'm a big fan of Barbara Gordon, Cassandra Cain, and Stephanie Brown I've come to terms that this series is just not for me. For those enjoying this series I am happy for you and I'm okay with Batgirls #10 being the final issue I read of Cloonan and Conrad's run.

Batman #14 is an excellent follow-up to the "I Am Suicide" story arc. Tom King's decision to focus on Batman and Catwoman's relationship highlights his strength in understanding these characters. The relationship between the two comes across as genuine and shows us how Catwoman is the one person that Batman drops his guard for, and vice versa. The issue ends with a moment that all shippers of the Batman and Catwoman pairing will love.

Batman #15, like the issue preceding it, is an excellent love letter for fans of the romance between Batman and Catwoman. The addition of Holly Robinson to the story also helped clear up the mystery of if Catwoman really did kill 237 people. With how things didn't end on a happy note Mitch Gerads is able to capture the tone of Tom King's script well, while showing his ability chameleon-like ability to replicate classic Batman artwork. This all comes together for a heartbreaking conclusion that King and Gerads use to further strengthen the relationship between Batman and Catwoman.

Batman #16 is a solid set-up issue that introduces us to the major players of the Dark Knight's latest clash with Bane. The interactions that Bruce Wayne has with Catwoman, Duke, Nightwing, Robin and Red Hood helped to establish how dangerous Bane is as Batman is going out of his way to warn those close to him to leave Gotham City. This allowed Bane to come off as a huge threat with having to have the villain appear at all in this issue. The ending further drove home what we should be expecting from the rest of Tom King's latest Batman story in all the right ways.

Batman #18 maintains the high level of intensity that "I Am Bane" started with, adding further intrigue to the current conflict. Now with Batman out of commission and Catwoman pissing Bane off even more there is a greater sense of unpredictability into how things will turn out in the end. Unfortunately that is brought down by the rehash material of Batman and Bane's origins, which takes up half of Batman #18's page count. The fact that we don't really learn anything new from all the flashback scenes does take away from the impact of what is otherwise a great issue.

Batman #20 was not the cleanest of endings to an arc that started out strong. There was a constant feeling that for as strong as Batman and Bane's development were, that there was something missing around them to make "I Am Bane" a memorable story arc. That thing that was missing hurts the strengths this ending has from a story and artwork front.

Batman #21 is an excellent start to "The Button" crossover with The Flash series. Tom King delivered a lot of information without ever losing your attention as a reader. Adding in a dream fight between Batman and Reverse Flash, which had the backdrop of the story behind the Watchmen Button, added to the weight this story carries for the entire DCU. Having Jason Fabok draw everything that took place during the course of Batman #21.

Batman fans are going absolutely love the scenes between Bruce and Thomas Wayne that Joshua Williamson and Tom King delivered in Batman #22. Unfortunately the fact that there has been very little in the way of plot progressions makes it feel like "The Button" crossover is not going to accomplish anything of substance. There is still one issue left to provide a satisfactory ending to "The Button" crossover but Batman #22 did not do anything to build confidence that will actually occur.

Batman #24 did an excellent job providing Gotham Girl with an exit from the series and delivering the big surprise of Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle's possible engagement. The ending was made even more enjoyable thanks to how Tom King has built up Bruce and Selina's relationship during the course of his run. That engagement opens the door for a lot of intriguing storylines that showed how impactful Batman #24's character development was.

Batman #25 is a fantastic start to the "War of Jokes and Riddles" story arc. Tom King does an excellent job framing the story through the eyes of present-day Bruce Wayne, as he looks to strengthen his relationship with Selina Kyle. King adds to the tension of the story by revealing that Batman did something during the war between Joker and Riddler that he has kept secret for a long time. That mystery makes "War of Jokes and Riddles" feel like a big event, even if we know where Batman is in his life in the present.

Batman #26 built on what the previous issue established by developing how Joker and Riddler go about building up their army for the upcoming war. The approach each villain takes creates the sense that we are in store for a big event in the life of Batman and history of Gotham City as "The War Of Jokes And Riddles" erupts. And given the villains being assembled for each side Tom King and Mikel Janin are sure to deliver a story that no Batman fan should miss out on reading.

Batman #28 was a good return to the main story of "The War of Jokes and Riddles." The tense atmosphere around Gotham City is enhanced with Tom King and Mikel Janin highlighting the five day battle between Deadshot and Deathstroke that proves to be a breaking point for Batman. Unfortunately some Bruce Wayne's narration is starting to hold back the story from reaching the full potential a war between Joker and Riddler should have. That said, "The War of Jokes and Riddles" continues to be a fascinating read with Batman #28 creating further excitement for what comes next.

Batman #30 is the strongest issue of "The War of Jokes and Riddles." That is a major accomplishment with how great this story arc has been thus far. Tom King did an excellent job turning Kite Man's joke status into a key plot point for the story arc's development. Now King has set up a situation where Joker may be even more dangerous while Batman tries to come to terms with his alliance with Riddler.

Batman #31 was a thoroughly enjoyable fifth chapter to "The War Of Jokes And Riddles." Tom King and Mikel Janin do an excellent job setting the stage for an epic finally with Batman, Joker and Riddler left alone in a room together. On the way King was able payoff the major character development of Kite Man in a satisfying way. These developments along with several other character choices made the final chapter of "The War Of Jokes And Riddles" something that is highly anticipated.

Batman #33 is a solid start to the new arc that pushes the engagement of Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle forward. Their journey that eventually leads them to Talia Al Ghul's location is made even more important by the implications of all the possible consequences. Those consequences make what happens next a bigger mystery as Tom King explores Bruce and Selina's evolving relationship.

Batman #35 does a very good job further developing the Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle's relationship. The fight between Selina and Talia Al Ghul was well executed to be a balance between quick sword fighting and emotionally impactful dialogue. By the end Tom King and Joelle Jones were able to have Bruce and Selina's engagement take an important step forward.

Batman #38 is one of those comics that gets better each time you read it. Tom King created such a fascinating new Batman villain in the kid named Matthew that when you read the issue again you take the story in differently. The fact that Matthew ended up being more of a Bruce Wayne villain added to how terrifying the kid was during the final few pages of his issue. If you are a Batman fan and did not pick up Batman #38 yet do yourself a favor by purchasing this comic book. This is a must buy for Batman fans.

Batman #40 is an excellent close to the "SuperFriends" story arc. From the friendship between Batman and Wonder Woman to the continued progression of Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle's growing relationship everyone involved grew stronger. With how much emotion he packed into Batman #40 Tom King was able to add some fun, light hearted moments when needed. With great artwork from Joelle Jones this "SuperFriends" arc is something fans will enjoy for all the ups and downs the characters went through.

Batman #41 was an absolutely stunning comic book. Tom King and Mikel Janin created a comic book that perfectly capture how confident and terrifying Poison Ivy can be when she is using her full power. Seeing how Batman and Catwoman had no way of fighting back against Poison Ivy's latest plot elevated Ivy among the villains in Batman's Rogues Gallery. If you are a Batman fan this is an issue that you do not want to miss out on.

Batman #42 is another incredible chapter in Tom King's run on this series. King has done an absolutely wonderful job developing Poison Ivy into one of the most powerful characters in the DC Universe. King's writing of Poison Ivy is well balanced with how Batman and Catwoman interacted with each other and the villain as they try to figure out what to do next. King's story is given even more depth by the phenomenal artwork that Mikel Janin and June Chung provided Batman #42. If you are a Batman fan "Everyone Loves Ivy" is a must read story arc.

Tom King, Mikel Janin and Hugo Petrus did a phenomenal job delivering a meaningful character study for Poison Ivy in Batman #43. There was a great sense of importance in how King developed Poison Ivy's character as this issue came to a close. How King used Batman, Catwoman and Harley Quinn to help in Poison Ivy's character development made this issue even stronger. If you are a fan of Batman than "Everyone Loves Ivy" is a must read story arc.

Batman #46 is an enjoyable Elseworld tale of what would've happened if Bruce's parents would've been alive. The post-apocalyptic setting created a lot of interesting opportunities for Tom King to explore various characters from Batman's mythos in different roles. At the same time there is a bit to the world that does not fully tap into the potential of this world. Though some life is given to the Gotham City we get in Batman #46 thanks to so great artwork from Tony Daniel.

With Batman #50 Tom King builds the foundation for what the future of his run on this series will be built on. Throughout this issue King does a very good job getting over why the events that occurred took place, especially with who was behind it all at the end. Now the actual effectiveness of Batman #50 will hinder on if you have been reading King's run from the beginning. If you haven't it is tough to recommend Batman #50 being your starting point. You will get much more out of the events of Batman #50 if you go back and read King's run in its entirety up to this point. It will be well worth it and get you excited for Batman's future.

The trial of Mr. Freeze presented a unique opportunity for Bruce Wayne to be at the forefront of Tom King's latest story arc, "Cold Days." In doing so King is able to use Batman #51's story to explore Bruce's current state of mind following his failed wedding with Catwoman in a fascinating way. The involvement of other Batman characters and Lee Weeks artwork added extra dimensions for where King is taking his run on DC Comics top comic book.

Batman #52 is not a perfect issue. There are some minor problems that keep it from reaching that point. But even with those minor problems Tom King still tells a powerful story centered around Bruce Wayne tearing the idea of Batman down while Mr. Freeze is put on trial. It all helps to progress the fascinating narrative King is telling during his Batman run. Having Lee Weeks along to draw the Batman #42 helped elevate this Mr. Freeze story so that the strengths outshine any problems that briefly pop up.

The way Tom King explored the pain Bruce Wayne was dealing with the sadness he felt after he was dealt serious emotional blow made Batman #53 a strong conclusion. This emotional weight in King's story is made even better by the great artwork provided by Lee Weeks. Now with the ending King created a lot of intriguing avenues to explore who Bruce wants to be as Batman moving forward.

Batman #54 is an excellent issue that continued to explore the aftermath of the failed wedding between Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle. Tom King does a fantastic job showing how much of an emotional toll that event took on Bruce. Bringing in Dick Grayson to help Bruce deal with his emotional and mental state showed how strong of a big brother-little brother relationship these two have. Seeing King delve into this key relationship makes Batman #54 a must read for every Batman fan.

Batman #55 was an excellent chapter in Tom King's ongoing run on this series. Throughout the issue King balances having fun of writing Batman and Nightwing working together as the Dynamic Duo alongside with building up tension with what KGBeast was planning. All that tension perfectly built to the final pages of Batman #55 that will have fans talking for a long time. That build up and final payoff makes Batman #55 a must read for any DC Comics fan.

Batman #57 delivered an effective end to the "Beast of Burden" story arc. Tom King did a great job making the fight between Batman and KGBeast absolutely brutal. How the fight ended created a lot of intrigue around the direction King plans to take Batman. If it wasn't for a questionable story decision Batman #57 would've been an even better issue than it turned out to be.

Tom King created greater interest around Penguin in one issue with Batman #58 than the character has had in recent memory. In doing so he further developed the major story involving Batman and Bane's rivalry. These elements came together extremely well to make Batman #58 another strong chapter in the long-term narrative King is crafting in his run on this series.

Batman #59 was another phenomenal chapter in Tom King's epic run on this series. The way King continues to write the ongoing war between Batman and Bane just gets more fascinating with every passing issue. The fantastic artwork by Mikel Janin's elevated the story in Batman #59 to another level. If you haven't checked out King's run thus far I highly recommend reading "The Tyrant Wing" arc out as an example of how great this series has been up to this point.

Building off everything that came before it, Batman #63 delivers the strongest issue of the Knightmares story arc thus far. Every character involved in this story played there role excellently. Tom King builds on the emotional tie that existed with the failed wedding of Bruce and Selina to craft a compelling story guest starring Constantine. With how things ended I am much more excited for what comes next than I was before reading Batman #63.

Batman #64 provides a good start to a story that is acting as a tie-in to Heroes In Crisis. Joshua Williamson is able to highlight how much weight is on Batman and Flash's shoulders with all the events they have been involved with the last year. If it wasn't for the timing and odd choice in villain for this story, Batman #64 would've been a much stronger read.

Batman #65 was by far the worst issue of "The Price" crossover. There was very little progress made as Joshua Williamson recycled a lot of content from the previous two issues of this crossover. With how much potential a crossover between Batman and The Flash had in the midst of Heroes In Crisis it is extremely disappointing to see how things have turned out. The saving grace for this issue was all the excellent artwork by Guillem March.

Batman #66 does nothing new to progress the overall narrative of the "Knightmares" story arc. Tom King just goes around in circles with the drama around the failed wedding between Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle. By the end of Batman #66 we are at the same spot where we started and that is just unacceptable with the high standard King has set for this series.

Batman #67 does absolutely nothing to progress Tom King's "Knightmares" story arc. We are left standing still as King decided to write a sequel for his Batman/Elmer Fudd Special from 2017. That would've been great if this was done in a separate one-shot comic titled Batman/Road Runner Special. But with the importance "Knightmares" is supposed to have towards King's epic Batman run this is unacceptable. The saving grace for Batman #67 is that we were treated to phenomenal artwork from Lee Week and Jorge Fornes.

Batman #69 was an improvement to the "Knightmares" arc that came way to late into the game. How long it took Tom King to get to this ending just further cemented the fact that "Knightmares" was a filler story arc. In the grand scheme of things this is a story readers can skip and still grasp what King is doing with his Batman epic.

Batman #70 was an excellent return to form for Tom King's incredible run on this series. King used the consequences of the "Knightmares" story arc perfectly to give major weight to what happened in this first chapter of "The Fall and the Fallen." It was incredible to just see how in a place as dangerous as Arkham Asylum that Batman was the most frightening person there. Where "The Fall and the Fallen" goes from here is anyone's guess. Whatever does happen next King has made sure that fans should be very excited for what comes next in Batman.

Batman #71 had all the potential to be an excellent chapter in Tom King's run. That unfortunately didn't happen. The structure King chose caused this issue to never gain any sort of momentum due to the constant shifts between past or present day scenes. Luckily Batman #71 was saved by the strength in how King has executed Bane's plan to break Bruce Wayne in a way that is both sad and fascinating to read.

Tom King and Jorge Fornes delivered a brutal fight between Batman and Bane that emphasized the intensity of their war. Unfortunately their brutal fight was drowned out by the inner monologue of Flashpoint Thomas Wayne that was nothing more than a recap of King's entire Batman run. This decision made the entire issue move at a crawl, causing Batman #72 to fall more in the skip rather than must read category.

Batman #73 was an improvement over recent issues in Tom King's run. Unfortunately the strong character work for Bruce Wayne was overshadowed by how poorly Flashpoint Batman has been developed. The revelation that closed out Batman #73 only further detracts from what King is trying to accomplish with this "The Fall and the Fallen" arc. Luckily King had Mikel Janin and Jordie Bellaire's fantastic artwork to lift up the quality of the story in this issue.

Batman #74 was a summary of all the problems that "The Fall and the Fallen" had with giving "The City of Bane" event a strong lead. All those problems center around how Flashpoint Batman's character arc went. Tom King just never made the direction he took Flashpoint Batman on something that was rewarding. Fortunately Bruce Wayne's part in this story along with Mikel Janin and Jordie Bellaire's artwork lifted the story up enough so Batman #74 didn't completely drop the ball as we enter "The City of Bane."

Tom King, Tony S. Daniel and Mitch Gerads gave "City of Bane" the hot start that was expected from all the build up to this major event. Throughout Batman #75 the creative team set a strong tone to what a Gotham City under the control of Bane and other villains would be like. In the process there are several characters that King has been working on that are given strong forward progress.

Batman #76 does a fine job putting over the current status quo in Gotham City. Though the no show of Bane is disappointing, Tom King does a great job writing Flashpoint Batman and Gotham Girl as the new Dynamic Duo. The new world order that they have created is amplified by the way Robin, Captain Atom and other heroes and villains react to their presence. All of this builds anticipation for how things will go down once Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle make it back to Gotham City.

Batman #77 is an issue that will be remembered by fans for a long time. Tom King delivered one impactful moment after another. By the time you get to the big game changer of the issue it truly felt like nothing in the Batman franchise will ever be the same again. This is definitely an issue that all Batman fans should experience reading along with the rest of the "City of Bane" storyline.

Tom King their goal of getting Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle back together at the conclusion of Batman #78. King clearly takes great care in writing Bruce and Selina's relationship. Unfortunately this issue falters when it comes to the actual "City of Bane" storyline. There is no sense of urgency even after the jaw dropping moment in Batman #77 that should've been shown as major event which rocked the franchise. If King doesn't shift the attention back to what is going on in Gotham City in the next issue he risks losing the big event narrative in "City of Bane."

If this interlude was a standalone story, Batman #79 could've been seen as a great arc that showed how Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle's love has evolved. Unfortunately too much time was wasted on recycled dialogue, giving almost zero progression to the "City of Bane" event. Given all that has gone down in Gotham City, the lack of urgency throughout Batman #79 is deeply disappoint. At this point, the faster Batman and Catwoman return to Gotham City the better King's overall "City of Bane" event will be in the long-term.

Batman #80 gets "City of Bane" back on track after two issues that halted the momentum of the story. Tom King and John Romita Jr. did a very good job getting over the tone of this story and delivering an ending that will have readers guessing. Unfortunately the lack of Bane and poor way Gotham Girl's sub-plot was handled are things that continue to hold "City of Bane" back from reaching its full potential. Hopefully with Batman and Catwoman back in Gotham City these negatives can be turned into a positive, in turn creating a strong march to the conclusion of King's "City of Bane" epic.

Batman #81 is such a massive disappointment. Rather than being cool character development, the heavy exposition from Bruce Wayne is just exhausting. By the midway you start counting how many more pages are left in Batman #81. This issue is just a complete failure in building anticipation from what will happen next in "City of Bane."

In comparison to the previous issue, Batman #82 was a step up for the "City of Bane" story. Tom King and Mikel Janin finally gave us the showdown between Batman, Catwoman and Bane that fans have been itching for. Unfortunately all the problems that have persisted throughout "City of Bane" put way to many speed bumps in front of Batman #82 to be able to avoid. Hopefully the remaining chapters of "City of Bane" can turn the negatives into positives to wrap things up in a satisfying way.

He gave readers more than enough time to process Alfred's death that Batman #83 misses being the home run it should be. In making that choice King placed an even bigger spotlight as to how slow these last several issues have progressed the actual "City of Bane" storyline and how the villain this event was named after has become a complete afterthought.

If Batman #84 was a standalone comic than it would succeed in telling a summarized version of Flashpoint Thomas Wayne's backstory leading into "City of Bane." But that is not what Batman #84. This is the penultimate chapter for the story that Tom King has built his entire run on Batman around. For there to be this big of a stalling tactic applied going into the final issue for "City of Bane" is inexcusable. If it wasn't for the strong artwork from Jorge Fornes and Jordie Bellaire this issue would've been an even bigger swing and miss than it turned out to be.

If there is one word to describe Batman #85 it would be "lackluster." There is never a point in Batman #85 that comes across as a true wrap up to a long-term creative run. Every conclusion that Tom King presents to specific characters comes across as incomplete. There is so much missing that makes what was sacrificed in the lead up to Batman #85 hurt even more. After enjoying the majority of his epic run it is a shame that King ended his time on the main Batman series with a story in "City of Bane" that was a giant disappointment.

Batman #86 was a solid beginning to James Tynion's run on this series. There is a nice balance between how Tom King ended his run and what Tynion plans to do with where Bruce Wayne, Selina Kyle and others are right now. With the groundwork for his run established I have high hopes Tynion can deliver on the potential that was laid out for Batman moving forward.

Batman #87 was a solid continuation to how James Tynion kicked off his run on this series. There are a lot of great plot elements that Tynion develops around Batman's current plans for Gotham City and how villains like Deathstroke and Penguin are responding. Unfortunately there were a few slip ups when it comes to how the DC Universe's current continuity was applied that hurt Batman #87's momentum. Improving this aspect of the storytelling will be a major help in ensuring the "Their Dark Designs" arc establishing a strong foundation for the rest of Tynion's run on Batman.

There are certain aspects where James Tynion is able to excel in Batman #88. The way he portrays Batman, Catwoman, Riddler and Lucius Fox shows why Tynion's has a solid handle on this world. Unfortunately the storyline around the Designer and his plans for Gotham City have left a lot to desired. There are a lot of little problems that combine together to drag the overall interest in Tynion's first story arc on Batman down.

James Tynion is quickly finding his footing the more issues of Batman he writes. Batman #89 is a good example of that as he is able to properly develop several storylines at the same time. Every character from Batman to Catwoman to the Designer to Joker get time to shine during this issue. It all helped build greater interest in how things will turn out in "Their Dark Designs" and how it leads into "Joker War."

Batman #90 is a notable jump in quality for "Their Dark Designs." Tying The Designer's origin story to the early years of Batman's career, particularly during the original Dynamic Duo era, made him a much more intriguing character. How Catwoman, Joker, Penguin and Riddler factored into The Designer's plot added to that intrigue as Tynion explored how everyone has evolved over the years. With all this set-up out of the way Tynion can hopefully tap further into the potential of this story about the future of Gotham City.

"Their Dark Designs" is a story that has gotten better with each passing chapter. The Designer now being a fully realized villain has helped tremendously in the improvement of "Their Dark Designs." Because of that James Tynion begins paying off the character development for everyone involved in this story, making Batman #91 the best chapter of this storyline thus far.

Batman #92 is easily the best issue of "Their Dark Designs" storyline thus far. James Tynion did a great job writing the battle of the minds between Batman and Riddler, and how that ended up setting the stage for the final showdown with the Designer. Further elevating this issue was the first big meeting between Harley Quinn and Punchline. That meeting builds further anticipation for all the plans that Tynion has in store for Batman fans in the near future.

Batman #93 turns an average storyline in "Their Dark Designs" into a strong prelude for the upcoming "Joker War" event. The revelation with how Joker and Punchline manipulated everything to prepare Gotham City for their plans elevated the entire story. James Tynion set things up to be even more intriguing as Batman, Catwoman, and Harley Quinn must now overcome all the odds they have been placed against going into "Joker War." This set-up creates greater excitement for the future of this series.

James Tynion, Guillem March, and Rafael Albuquerque saved the best for last as Batman #94 provided "Their Dark Designs" with the best issue of this entire story arc. This finale was more about positioning Batman, Joker, Catwoman, and other characters for where they will begin "Joker War" at. Which was fine given the reveal of who the Designer that Batman has been battling this entire story arc turned out to be. Now it is on to whatever surprises are to come with "Joker War."

James Tynion and Jorge Jimenez kick off "The Joker War" in spectacular fashion with Batman #95. The story speeds out of the gate and never slows down as Joker and Punchline push Batman to his absolute limit. Given how things begin with "The Joker War," there are plenty of things for fans to be excited for as this story has all the makings of a great big event that will impact the entire Batman Family.

Batman #96 is a tone setter for "Joker War." After the explosive reveals in the first part of this event James Tynion takes the time to develop the new state of Gotham City as it has fallen under Joker's new world order. Through that Tynion and Jorge Jimenez create a lot of questions for how "Joker War" will turn out. Which is exactly what you want to peak your interesting for the remaining chapters in an event.

There is no time to rest for either the reader or all the players involved in "Joker War," as shown with Batman #97. James Tynion and Jorge Jimenez have built a story that is getting even more chaotic with each page that you turn. The chaos creates concern for how Batman and his allies can even hope to overcome Joker's latest plot. That all builds greater anticipation for what happens next as a reader following along.

Batman #98 is the middle chapter that was needed to set the stage for the final chapters of "Joker War." To James Tynion's credit he does an excellent job providing great progression for Batman, Harley Quinn, and Punchline's character arcs. Unfortunately the drawback with that was losing the big event scope "Joker War" should have. Luckily Batman #98 had Jorge Jimenez to keep the big event energy going with his phenomenal artwork. Now with the stage set for big things to happen as we get closer to the end I'm still excited for what will happen next in "Joker War."

In terms of bringing all of the sub-plots in this series and tie-in comics together Batman #99 gets the job done. James Tynion and Jorge Jimenez bring everything together to provide a strong set-up for the final chapter of "Joker War." Unfortunately by bringing together so many different sub-plots together does show that "Joker War" may have had way to many things going on for its own good. Hopefully Batman #100's increased page count will help in fixing these story problems and wrap up "Joker War" in a satisfying way.

Batman #100 was the explosive ending that the entire "Joker War" has been building up to. James Tynion did a fantastic job using the entire Batman Family to make this ending bigger. The way the final fight between Batman and Joker turned out effectively set the stage for a future filled with possibilities for the entire franchise. The artwork by Jorge Jimenez, Carlo Pagulayan, and Guillem March made this ending even more impactful as all their excellent work elevated Tynion's writing.

Batman #101 sets the stage for what the franchise will be moving forward. Batman, Catwoman, and Lucius Fox lead what that direction will be with the decisions they each make during the course of this issue. Those decisions along with where Gotham City finds itself post-Joker War create a lot of exciting possibilities for the Batman Family as a whole.

Batman #102 was a good start to the first story arc in the post-Joker War Gotham City. James Tynion is able to show that Batman has a lot of work to do in order to be able to help Gotham City recover from what just took place. At the same time, Tynion is able to expand on Bruce Wayne's training with the addition of the new Ghost-Maker villain. How all this will play out has a lot of potential to add to what fans know about Batman's history.

Batman #103 moved the goal post forward as James Tynion builds a strong narrative around the rivalry between Batman and Ghost-Maker. Using the time period before Bruce Wayne became Batman has helped make this storyline feel different from what has come before. With how things ended in Batman #103 the mystery of how this arc will impact the series direction added interest in what Ghost-Maker will do next.

Batman #104 is by far the worst issue of James Tynion's run. Given how great Tynion's run on Batman has been thus far it is disappointing that we get an issue that is essentially a recap of the previous two issues. There are some interesting plot developments with Nightwing and the Batgirls but they aren't enough to mask all the problems with how this story around Ghost-Maker has progressed thus far. Hopefully the next issue is able to recover and push this story forward in a way that it regains the momentum it started with.

Batman #105 ended James Tynion's first year on the series on a strong note. There is a lot of groundwork laid out that has potential to turn into several intriguing storylines in the future. Harley Quinn's was a particular standout with her speech being something fans will most remember from this story arc.

Batman #106 wasted no time in establishing what the new normal is for Gotham City after the events in Joker War and the Future State direction. James Tynion and Jorge Jimenez nail the tech-noir vibe Gotham City now has. That added to how Batman is currently in a spot were he has to much more creative with how he defends the city that villains like Scarecrow are looking to rise in power to take over. The quality of Batman #106 is further elevated by the excellent start to Damian Wayne's new arc as Robin that Joshua Williamson and Gleb Melnikov establish for his character.

From beginning to end James Tynion and Jorge Jimenez have your attention in everything that takes place in Batman #107. Every character from Batman to Harley Quinn to new characters that debut have their own stories going on. And each of them builds greater investment in what is going on in Gotham City after the events of A-Day. This is definitely a must have Batman comic book.

James Tynion and Jorge Jimenez continue to do an excellent job creating a multi-layered story with "Cowardly Lot" in Batman #108. All of the strong character work with Miracle Molly, Bruce Wayne, Simon Saint, and Sean Mahoney adds greater perspective into what Gotham City is becoming. It is all building a world that you can't help but want to spend even more time reading about.

James Tynion and Jorge Jimenez are an incredible creative team and Batman #110 is yet another example as to why that is. The fight between Batman and Peacekeeper-01 is as brutal as you expect it to be. How this fight builds on the current state of Gotham City and leads to the Magistrate Program official launch creates even greater interest in what will happen next in all the Batman Family titles.

Batman #111 sets everything into place for the upcoming Fear State story be an event I am entering at the maximum hype level. James Tynion and Jorge Jimenez do an excellent job making the unknown something to be excited about. In the process they turn Scarecrow into a top-tier villain with how terrifying he comes across. Everything else that goes down in Batman #111 creates a lot of questions for how the Batman Family will deal with the rise of Scarecrow and the Magistrate.

Batman #112 works well as an extension for how Batman: Fear State Alpha #1 set-up the latest big event that is taking over Gotham City. This issue emphasizes how Batman is going to working from behind as Scarecrow and the Magistrate are several steps ahead of him. Which all sets a strong foundation for a Batman event that I am fully invested in from the beginning.

Batman #113 solidifies the foundation for Fear State created by the two issues that proceeded it. Now that all the set-up is out of the way Fear State could quickly match and exceed the scope of a story we saw in Joker War.

Fear State is still not hitting the highs after all the build up that led this to be a highly anticipated Batman event. There are certainly character beats with Scarecrow that James Tynion nails in Batman #114. Jorge Jimenez's artwork certainly helps keep the visual storytelling look like a big event. Its just that the focus in this series thus far has not matched grand scope Fear State wants to have.

Batman #119 was a nice, solid second chapter that built on the mystery around the returning Batman Inc concept. The interaction between Bruce Wayne and Lex Luthor along with the Batman vs Abyss fight certainly helped the main story keep the interest high in what happens next in this story arc. The back-up story with the returning Mia Mizoguchi from Gotham Academy series added further value to Batman #119.

Batman #121 does a fantastic job closing out the two storylines that have been running in this series the last few months. Both Joshua Williamson and Karl Kerschl create such fantastic character moments that showcase what makes the Batman franchise special. If you didn't read this story arc make sure to pick up the collection of Batman: Abyss when it is released.

Batman #122 was a good follow-up to the assassination of Ra's Al Ghul that kicked off The Shadow War crossover. Every major character that is going to play a role in this crossover is given time in the spotlight. By doing this Joshua Williamson is able to provide you with a good idea of what the scope of this event will have. Which is all you can ask for from a second chapter of a story and sells you on buying the other comics involved in the crossover even if they weren't on your pull list before.

Batman #123 does a lot to push the narrative of the Shadow War crossover forward. We get some great character moments between Bruce Wayne and Damian Wayne. While the artwork is not this issue's strong point the ending had a strong hook that drives up interest for the next chapter in this story.

Batman #124 works well as a conclusion to Joshua Williamson run on this series. Williamson was able to wrap up all the loose ends with the Abyss storyline in a satisfying way. Along with the back-up story by G. Willow Wilson and Dani that does a great job selling the new Poison Ivy series Batman #124 is a solid read all around.

Batman #125 is a strong start to a new era for the franchise as Chip Zdarsky and Jorge Jimenez take over the series. The work by recent Batman creative teams is well respected and utilized to tell a story that will certainly grab fans' attention with the multiple aspects of Bruce Wayne's life that are addressed to push the character forward in intriguing ways. This also works as a good starting point for readers who are interested in jumping into reading a Batman comic book.

Things definitely take an unexpected turn with the Failsafe storyline bringing us a part of Batman out that I did not expect to see. This all is on top of some very personal storytelling going around where Bruce Wayne finds himself at this point in his life. Add in wonderful artwork by Jorge Jimenez and Belen Ortega for both stories in Batman #126 all results in Chip Zdarsky already making the statement that this is a creative run that you don't want to miss out on reading.

Batman #127 is a great examination of how Bruce Wayne has built so many different contingency plans. Seeing how the idea that Batman is prepared for any scenario has made this entire Failsafe arc such a fascinating read. This is definitely a can't miss story for Batman fans.

FINAL THOUGHTSBatman #128 is an excellent read. Chip Zdarsky and Jorge Jimenez have paced this storyline to natural escalate with every issue. The fight between Failsafe and the Justice League and the end result create great concern as we don't know how things will turn out in the end. The back-up story does a great job modernizing the Batman of Zur-En-Arrh origin story with fantastic artwork by Leonardo Romero. This is really a can't miss reading experience for Batman fans.

Batman #129 is fantastic from start to finish. Both the Failsafe main story and Batman of Zur-En-Arrh origin back-up are expertly crafted by Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jimenez, Leonardo Romero, and company. You are left on the edge of your seat with the desire to want to read what happens next right away.

Batman #130 is an excellent ending to both the Failsafe storyline and the "I Am A Gun back-up story that featured the origin story of Batman of Zur-En-Arrh. From beginning to end Chip Zdarsky, Jorge Jimenez, Leonardo Romero, and company did so much great character work for Batman, Robin, Superman, and Failsafe. The ending leaves you looking forward to what 2023 will look like for the entire Batman franchise.

Batman's 2023 direction starts in a way that is reminiscent to the characters direction throughout 2022 with Shadows of the Batman and Dark Crisis On Infinite Earths. Because of that it does take a lot more work for Chip Zdarksy and Mike Hawthorne to build momentum for this new story where Bruce Wayne finding himself trapped in an Elseworld universe somewhere in the Multiverse. Now with Batman #131 getting the set-up out of the way the next issue will be key in getting a full buy in for this new storyline.

Batman #132 improves on both Bruce Wayne and Tim Drake stories that are happening simultaneously in different universe. How Bruce goes about tackling being in an unknown universe made the Gotham City he finds himself a layered world. Similarly, we get a much better told story on how Tim is going about saving Bruce that makes his story much more intriguing. Hopefully the rest of the issues of this story can build on this positive momentum.

Chip Zdarsky along with artists Mike Hawthorne and Miguel Mendonca delivered a strong chapter in the two Multiverse adventures we get in Batman #133. With the main story we see how Bruce Wayne resourceful he is while struggling with his emotions when interacting with certain Elseworld characters. Then with the Tim Drake adventure we get another example of what makes him the best Robin. It all comes together for a comic book that makes you want to find out what happens next in both stories.

Chip Zdarsky and Mike Hawthorne elevated "The Bat-Man Of Gotham story to a new level by putting over Red Mask as the bad guy you love to hate. Learning about Red Mask's motivation and ties to Batman put the main story on another level. Then when you add the heartwarming developments in the Tim Drake back-up story by Zdarsky and Miguel Mendonca Batman #134 was a big win.

Batman #135 delivers a satisfying end to "The Bat-Man Of Gotham that includes incredible fan-service Multiverse fun that's fitting for the Batman #900 milestone issue. The way Chip Zdarsky, Mike Hawthorne, Jorge Jimenez, and Mikel Janin celebrate the history of Batman through the utilization of the Multiverse is something all fans of Batman should experience for themselves.

Batman #136 does a fantastic job utilizing everything Bruce Wayne has been through the last year to get into what Bruce Wayne's Dawn Of DC status quo will be. Whether it's age, mental health, or strain from all the big event battles he's been through, Bruce is of the same as he was before. This creates an ominous cloud around the direction of Batman as he is tested in unknown ways. That all creates even greater intrigue to find out what Chip Zdarsky and company have planned next.

Batman #137 spotlights all the problems with Gotham War as the Batman Family are portrayed out-of-character and the weaknesses on Batman and Catwoman's sides are clear. There is just no hiding how rushed this event has been right out of the gate. The saving grace on the writing side of this rushed storyline is the potential roles Batman's Rogues Gallery and a surprise DC Universe villain can play. That along with Jorge Jimenez incredible artwork save Batman #137 from being a complete loss.

Batman Annual #2 is a masterfully executed comic book by Tom King, Lee Weeks and Michael Lark. The three come together to put a finely assembled package that acts as a love letter to Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle's relationship. At the same time King, Weeks and Lark crafted a story that could easily lead any fan more than satisfied if this is the true end of Batman. Even if that is not the case the fact that Batman Annual #2 can elicit such a feeling just further proves how exceptional the entire comic book is from beginning to end.

Batman: Fear State Alpha #1 got the job done in setting the stage for the latest Batman Family event. Every aspect from the characters involved to various sub-plots are presented here so you can be best informed what the Fear State event will be about.

For better or worse, Tom King picks up directly where he left off with Batman/Catwoman #1. The pacing of this issue was a reminder why I was left so conflicted with how King ended his run on the main Batman series. There are certainly plot elements to be intrigued by as someone who read all of King's Batman work. Unfortunately, the way King told the story in Batman/Catwoman #1 was its own worst enemy as notable character moments ended up falling flat. Unless you read all of King's Batman workI recommend waiting for this series when it comes out in trade format to see how it is receive as the story develops.

Batman/Catwoman #4 doesn't deliver the big moments that this series has been known for. Instead, Tom King and Clay Mann take a more methodical approach to progressing all the different character arcs. Unfortunately the pacing ends up highlighting how difficult it is to get invested in what is going on because of how often we jump between all the different timelines. Hopefully these pacing issues are figured out immediately so we can get into what made King's Batman run so engaging.

Batman/Catwoman has been one of the more frustrating reading experiences because of how the story is battling itself. Batman/Catwoman #5 is no different as the biggest thing holding it back is the three time period structure Tom King has chosen to go with for the narrative. Even when two-thirds of this issue grab your interest as a reader the other third is there to stop all that momentum. Now that we are getting into the second-half of this series hopefully King can find a way to resolve the narrative structure problems that are becoming more noticeable with each passing issue.

Batman/Catwoman is so close to being a great series. It is unfortunate that one major aspect of this series narrative is holding it back from reaching its full potential. Because as Batman/Catwoman #6 show, Tom King and Clay Mann have a lot of great character arcs to be invested in. If they can just fix the flow of how the three different time periods compliment one another the second half of Batman/Catwoman could be truly special.

There are so many missed opportunities in Batman/Catwoman #7 that it gets to the point of being infuriating. That anger all comes from have such high hopes Tom King would deliver an epic conclusion to his Batman run. Now after this issue I'm not so sure anymore. Which makes all the emotions I am left with for this series turn into sadness with that realization.

The pacing is what it is. By far the most interesting aspect of this story is the future Gotham City story with Helena Wayne. The rest of the issue suffers from lack of fully connecting to the narrative because of the lack of tension for what will happen in those two plots. With one issue left I do wonder how King and Mann will tie everything together.

After reading Batman/Catwoman #12 I am left genuinely sad that in the end this series was just not for me. Maybe I had to high expectations for how Tom King would conclude "The Bat and The Cat narrative but I was just left disappointed with how this entire series turned out. It's definitely not how I thought I would feel after enjoying most of King's Batman run, including "The Bat and The Cat story, going into Batman/Catwoman.

Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War Red Hood #1 is nothing but a pure disappointment. This is by far the worst chapter in the Gotham War crossover event thus far. Which is saying a lot given that Gotham War hasn't gotten off to a good start. If you are reading Batman and Catwoman's Gotham War crossover save yourself the trouble by skipping this Red Hood tie-in mini-series.

Batman/Catwoman: The Gotham War Battle Lines #1 works overtime to get the latest Batman Family event started. There is a lot of catch-up done for the concept of Catwoman taking over organized crime and Batman's reaction to it. While messy, by the end of this first chapter there is enough solid work to buy into being on the ride that Gotham War will be taking us on.

Joshua Williamson and David Marquez delivered a strongly paced debut issue with Batman/Superman #1. This issue does a good job explaining why Batman Who Laughs is one of the biggest threats in the DC Universe. In the process Williamson and Marquez give Batman and Superman a reason to secretly team-up away from their Justice League adventures. With one of Batman Who Laughs' Secret Six members revealed in the form of Shazam it'll be interesting to see where Williamson and Marquez go from here with Batman/Superman.

Batman/Superman #2 successfully builds on the foundation created by the first issue. The focus on Shazam Who Laughs puts over the full heel turn the character takes. The turn for Shazam further spotlights how deep into the rabbit hole Batman and Superman have found themselves in when it comes to dealing with Batman Who Laughs. The actions Batman and Superman are forced to take create a lot of intriguing possible directions for this series to take in future issues.

Batman/Superman #3 is another strong chapter in the event that is building around Batman Who Laughs plot for the entire Multiverse. Reveals being spoiled aside, Joshua Williamson does a great job developing the latest Infected heroes that have joined Batman Who Laughs' Secret Six. How Batman and Superman respond to all that takes place has created greater interest into the endgame of this storyline. It's just to bad continuity issues hinder the full potential of Batman/Superman #3.

If you are a fan of either Batman or Superman than you should not miss out on Batman/Superman: World's Finest #1. Waid and Mora are on a mission to deliver a fun Batman and Superman team-up story. If this first issue is any indication of the quality they will hit than they will absolutely be successful in what they are setting out to do with Batman/Superman: World's Finest.

Batman/Superman: World's Finest #2 is just pure fun. Mark Waid and Dan Mora are doing a wonderful job using the DC Universe to tell an story around Batman and Superman you are fully invested in. Add in the scene stealing moments with Robin and Supergirl, Batman/Superman: World's Finest is truly a series all DC Comics' fans should be reading.

Batman/Superman: World's Finest #3 is a lot of fun. Mark Waid captures the unique voices of each character that is involved in this storyline. Which is all elevated by the wonderful artwork being done by Dan Mora as this is one of the best, if not the best, looking comic books on the market. This is certainly a comic book that DC Comics fans should all be picking up right now.

Batman/Superman: World's Finest #4 was such a pleasure to read. Mark Waid and Dan Mora created so much more excitement for how this story dealing with the threat of Devil Nezha will end. Mora definitely stole the show here as we get a lot of great action sequences and a cool fusion that Batman and Superman should not miss out on experiencing.

Batman/Superman: World's Finest #6 is a fun standalone story that does a great job showcasing Robin's detective skills. The way Batman, Robin, and Superman interacted throughout this story is really what made this a special comic book. Its definitely a must read for Batman and Superman fans.

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #1 was an absolute blast. From beginning to end James Tynion IV, Freddie E. Williams II and Kevin Eastman crafted a comic book that will leave fans with a smile on their face. If you are a fan of Batman and/or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles this is a must have comic book.

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1 is a strong start to the latest crossover between two of the most well known comic franchises. James Tynion picking up directly where the previous crossover left off gave even more weight to the consequences of an alliance between Ra's Al Ghul and Shredder. The fallout of the alliance's failure along with Donatello's personal character arc that opens this first issue makes Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II an intriguing comic to follow for fans of both franchises.

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #3 is an enjoyable comic book. James Tynion and Ryan Ferrier continue to do a great job delivering on things fans of both franchise want to see, like a fight between Raphael and Robin. Unfortunately there are a few missed opportunities when it comes to character arcs that keeps this crossover back from being as special as its predecessor. That said, if you are a fan of Batman or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles this comic will deliver on what you expect when these worlds collide.

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #3 accomplished its main goal to the series to next phase in the story. James Tynion IV, Freddie Williams II and Kevin Eastman packed plenty of emotion into this issue as Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles started to uncover the truth about this new merged universe. The conclusion of this issue creates a lot of possibilities for where Tynion, Williams and Eastman can take this story as we head into the endgame.

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III #5 does a fantastic job building the maximum amount of hype for the finale of "Crisis In A Half Shell" event. James Tynion, Freddie Williams and Kevin Eastman combined to further all the character arcs that have been in development throughout this series. Batman's arc in particular is the standout of this scene as we see how important Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin, Red Robin and Red Hood truly are to him. It all works to deliver an ending that will get every Batman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles fan excited for the final issue of this series.

Joshua Williamson and Simone Di Meo hit a grand slam with Batman & Robin #1. Utilizing the current status quo for the franchise they create a strong foundation for how Bruce Wayne and Damian Wayne will operate as the Dynamic Duo and as father-son out of the cape and cowl. If you are a Batman fan make sure to pick up this comic book.

Timing is everything and Batman vs Robin #1 is an example of why that is. Mark Waid's decision to center the story around a one-note villain rather than diving into exploring the father-son relationship between Bruce Wayne and Damian Wayne was a big mistake. It is a decision that ends up reminding you that these characters futures in Dark Crisis On Infinite Earths instead of getting you invested in finding out how things will turn out by the end of Batman vs Robin.

The elements of an engaging story are all here for Batman vs Robin to be a big success. Unfortunately things aren't coming together as intended with Batman vs Robin #2 suffering from recap storytelling and disappointing artwork. The ending with call back to a specific plotline tied to Damian Wayne does capture interest in finding out how Mark Waid will handle this development. Hopefully it is something that helps turn around the quality of Batman vs Robin.

Batman: Gotham Nights #2 does exactly what I was looking for. Michael Grey and Ryan Benjamin deliver a Batman story that adds layers to the Clayface character. In doing so we get a fight that has greater meaning than just another hero vs. villain fight. If you are a Batman fan and looking for fun a new story that takes place in Gotham City than look into picking up Batman: Gotham Nights #2.

Batman: Last Knight On Earth #1 was a comic rich in content. Splitting the issue up in different chapters made the world Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo crafted around Batman be fully realized. For how many answers we get about Batman's surroundings there are even more questions raised for what really is going on with this Earth. It all comes together for a fascinating continuation of Snyder and Capullo's Batman run.

The world building that was done in Batman: Last Knight On Earth #2 was fantastic. Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo have developed a post-apocalyptic world filled with potential. The interactions Batman has with Wonder Woman, Lex Luthor and Joker helped this issue move at a steady pace that never felt slow. How Batman deals with this world and reacts to everything he learns lays the groundwork for a stellar final issue for Batman: Last Knight On Earth.

Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo do an excellent job ending their Batman run with Batman: Last Knight On Earth #3. They present a story that could very well be the final Batman story told and are successful in crafting a world that captures your imagination. While Batman is the star of the show there are plenty of characters, like Wonder Woman, Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon, that get time to shine. Having all these characters play a key role in the story made Batman: Last Knight On Earth an even more fitting end to the epic run on Batman that Snyder and Capullo crafted together.

Batman: Prelude to the Wedding " Nightwing vs Hush #1 was a solid tie-in issue that builds momentum to the wedding of Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle. Tim Seeley did a lot of great job using the idea of who Batman's best friend is to provide positive character development for Nightwing and Hush. If you are a fan who is looking forward to the wedding of Bruce and Selina then I recommend checking out Batman: Prelude to the Wedding " Nightwing vs Hush #1.

Alan Burnett, Paul Dini, and Ty Templeton wasted no time getting us back into the DC Animated Universe with Batman: The Adventures Continue Chapter 1. Burnett and Dini do not skip a beat when it comes to writing this version of Batman, Bruce Wayne, and Lex Luthor. Templeton's artwork adds to that as he captures the style from The New Batman Adventures and makes it work in comic book form. For fans of the DCAU this is a must buy comic.

Batman: The Adventures Continue #2 does a great job carrying the momentum from the first chapter and delivering a strong conclusion to the clash with Lex Luthor. The approach to the fight that Batman and Lex employ showcases what makes both these characters so great. The way Burnett and Dini use the DC Animated Universe continuity makes this a comic that fans will highly enjoy.

Batman: The Adventures Continue #3 provided the DC Animated Universe version of Deathstroke with a solid debut. The way Alan Burnett and Paul Dini have positioned Deathstroke against the Batman Family sets up a compelling story for future issues to develop. The only place this issue falls flat is when it comes to the mystery character who is following Batman. It's unfortunate that this sub-plot lacks a compelling narrative because otherwise Batman: The Adventures Continue #3 was a fun issue that gave us a good debut for Deathstroke.

Batman: The Adventures Continue Chapter Four work well to progress the story with Deathstroke. If this chapter was dedicated completely it would've worked out much better. But the push to remind readers about Batman Family stalker sub-plot is hurting the momentum of this Deathstroke story. Keeping focused one storyline would be beneficial to this series as it is building momentum for himself

Batman: The Adventures Continue #5 progresses the "Mentor" story but unfortunately faces several problems that hold back the quality. The biggest problems facing this storyline are with how poorly Deathstroke and the Batman Family stalker have been developed. Thus far the name value of these characters are what this story are playing off of rather than true character development. Hopefully that changes in future issues of this series.

Batman: The Adventures Continue #6 is a disappointing conclusion to the "Mentors" story arc. This story failed to make Deathstroke's debut in the DC Animated Universe a compelling read. At no point did the character come across as a major threat to the Batman Family. The lack of intriguing development for Deathstroke as an antagonist ended up affecting the impact this "Mentors" arc had as a whole.

Batman: The Adventures Continue #7 may very well be the best chapter of this series thus far. This issue read like an episode from The New Batman Adventures that this series timeline is placed in the middle of. The chemistry between Batman, Catwoman, Azrael, and Penguin was on point throughout this issue. Hopefully the rest of this arc can keep up the strong momentum established by Batman: The Adventures Continue #7.

Batman: The Adventures Continue Chapter 9 was a solid start to finally learning the backstory of the DC Animated Universe version of Jason Todd. This is something that was needed since introducing Jason as the Batman Family stalker at the start of the series. Learning who this version of Jason Todd is will be extremely helpful since Alan Burnett and Paul Dini clearly have major plans for the character during this run.

Batman: The Adventures Continue Chapter 10 is a frustrating comic book. On one hand, Alan Burnett and Paul Dini do a good job telling Jason Todd's backstory from Alfred Pennyworth's perspective and how Bruce Wayne was affected by that period in his Batman career. On the other hand, Burnett and Dini continue to do a poor job in actually getting readers invested in this version of Jason Todd. For the sake of this entire Jason Todd Saga the series needs to do better in telling the story of the character's past and present. If not "Red Son Rising" will just end up falling on its face rather than being an intriguing addition to the DC Animated Universe.

Batman: The Adventures Continue Chapter 11 further highlights all of the problems that Alan Burnett and Paul Dini are having in establishing the DCAU version of Jason Todd. All Burnett and Dini accomplish is to remind readers why Jason is the least popular Robin. The only redeeming thing about this arc is how Burnett and Dini write Bruce Wayne, Leslie Thompkins, and Alfred Pennyworth. But even the strong writing for those characters can't redeem the direction this origin of the DCAU Jason Todd has taken.

Batman: The Adventures Continue Chapter 13 is by far the strongest entry since Jason Todd's Red Hood became the focus for this series. The stories pacing made good use of the digital format that it is presented in to tell a story that hooked you from the beginning, leading to greater intrigue in the cliffhanger ending. Hopefully this momentum is carried onto the remaining chapters in this Red Hood arc.

When all was said and done Batman: The Adventures Continue Chapter 14 was a boring conclusion to the "Red Son Rising" arc. This final chapter solidified the fact that the introduction of the DC Animated Universe version of Jason Todd was unnecessary. There are so many other stories that could be told in the DCAU and hopefully this series moves on to do just that in the immediate future.

Batman: The Red Death #1 is an excellent companion to the Dark Nights: Metal event. Joshua Williams and Carmine Di Giandomenico set the tone for all the rest of these Dark Nights: Metal one shots. They did a great job developing The Red Death's origin through the battle between Batman and Flash from another Earth. That battle made The Red Death version of Batman a character I look forward to following in Dark Nights: Metal.

Batman: Urban Legends #4 once again delivers several compelling stories involving the Batman Family. The lead story involving Red Hood and Batman by Chip Zdarsky continues to do a great job exploring the status of their relationship as partner's and father-son. The new stories with Luke Fox and Tim Drake both did a great job bringing both characters back into the fold as Batwing and Robin, respectively. It all comes together to create a strong comic book that Batman fans should not be missing out on experiencing.

Batman: Urban Legends #5 is a blast to read. It is great to pick up a comic book that offers the opportunity for the entire Batman Family to take the center stage in their own story. This issue does a particularly highlights what makes Red Hood, Spoiler, Orphan, Tim Drake's Robin, and Grifter such great character. Each of the stories told around these character keep you engaged as a reader and makes you want to read more adventures dedicated to each of them.

Batman: Urban Legends #6 is filled with fantastic storytelling. The stories involving Batman, Red Hood, Tim Drake's Robin, and Black Canary are all can't miss. This is a must have series for fans of the Batman Family.

Each creative team that worked on Batman: Urban Legends #7 showcased how strong the franchise is by the exploring the Batman legacy in different timelines and universes. The Batman Beyond story in particular does a lot of great work to make you want to see more stories from that universe. All in all, Batman: Urban Legends #7 is a yet another example of what has made this series such a joy to read since it started.

Batman: Urban Legends #10 is a great example of why the best version of the Batman Family is when they are united. The stories starring Batman, Red Robin, and Nightwing solidify this fact. In the process we get a lot of great character work that uses all the developments in their lives that makes this a can't miss comic book for Batman fans.

Batman: Urban Legends #15 was another strong issue in what is one of DC Comics best titles. All the creative teams involved tell stories that deliver something different to keep the reader engaged with what is going on. The chemistry between the different casts used in particular gets you invested in one, if not all, the stories in this issue.

Batman: Urban Legends #16 does a good job closing out the long running team-up story between Batman and Zatanna as well as the Ace The Bat-Hound led story. These two stories along with the Birds of Prey story, that also concluded in this issue, all provided good insight into the characters involved. Hopefully in future Batman: Urban Legends comics we see more of a balance with the rest of the BatFamily used so that Batman isn't forced to be involved with every story in this anthology.

While I wish there was more of a variety of Batman Family members with stories in this final issue Batman: Urban Legends #23 has a great collection of stories. The creative teams all delivered with stories that show why the Batman Family is great. Hopefully we see more anthology series from DC Comics in the future as Batman: Urban Legends showed how to do that right for all their characters that have incredible legacy's to explore.

From the writing to the artwork, Batman: White Knight #1 is a fantastic comic book. The time Sean Murphy spent on developing how Batman and Joker find themselves switching roles was handled extremely well. That development made this version of Gotham City and the residents living in it even more fascinating as GCPD and Batman Family play an important role in shaping this world.

Batwoman: Rebirth #1 does an excellent job acting as a primer to get fans invested in the upcoming Kate Kane ongoing series. While it would've been nice to see the support cast fleshed out a bit Marguerite Bennett and James Tynion IV more than make up for it with a strong look at what shaped Kate into becoming Batwoman. With a clear mission now set up out of the gate and Steve Epting's phenomenal artwork to help tell their stories, Bennett and Tynion's Batwoman ongoing could be one of DC Comics best comic books.

If you are a fan of the Spider-Man franchise this is definitely a comic book I recommend checking out.

The first issue of the newest Birds of Prey series is all about assembling the team. While we get the team's first mission introduced it is done in a way that it'll take the second issue to fully put over its importance. That leaves Birds of Prey #1 being the basic "get the team together intro that by the end is solid but not game changing.

Birds of Prey: Sirens of Justice #1 was a solid start to this new Digital-First series by DC Comics. Gail Simone immediately showed how well she understands Black Canary, Harley Quinn, and Huntress through her writing of each character. The one-shot style helped create a foundation for this series that can hopefully future issues can build on.

Black Cat #1 was a good example as to why Felicia Hardy is more than ready to lead her own solo series. Jed Mackay showed what makes Black Cat a standout character and was able to build a world around her that you'll want to come back to see how it moves forward. As long as Mackay can work on the rough edges than Black Cat can easily be one of Marvel's gems in their monthly ongoing comics.

With another strong issue in Black Cat #2 Jed MacKay and Travel Foreman are quickly establishing this series as one of Marvel's best. This issue moved at a brisk pace and never wasted time. The story with Black Cat and her crew stealing something from Doctor Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum was a lot of fun. Combining the strong pacing and fun story together made the ending of Black Cat #2 even more effective hook to find out what happens next.

Black Cat #11 is a strong example why this series is one of the best comic books that Marvel is currently publishing. Jed MacKay and C.F. Villa combine to tell a fun story as Felicia Hardy leads her team in what may be their biggest heist to date as they take on Tony Stark. The interaction between Felicia and Tony shines even brighter thanks to how MacKay frames the plan the former executes in order to make this heist successful. MacKay and Villa end Black Cat #11 with a final page that immediately gets you hyped for the next issue.

Outside the questionable final page Black Cat #12 delivered a fun story that featured an extended battle between Black Cat and Iron Man. The chase got over what makes Black Cat such a great character and is able to continue the greater story about the war with the Thieves Guild that Jed MacKay has been developing. Hopefully after this hiatus MacKay is given a chance to continue the story he has building around Black Cat and her crew.

From beginning to end, Black Cat Annual #1 is just pure fun. Jed MacKay delivered a comic book that's a showcase to the magical chemistry Black Cat and Spider-Man share. If your a fan of Black Cat, Spider-Man or both this is a comic I recommend checking out.

Jed MacKay and C.F. Villa do a great job using the events of King In Black to give the new Black Cat series a hot start. From the opening page to the final page we are shown why Black Cat is not only a great character but can play a key role in the King In Black event. The job Black Cat's team is given by the Avengers creates greater anticipation for what other stories this new series will be telling after King In Black is over.

Black Cat #4 effectively spotlights Lily Hollister's character as we learn why she is Queen Cat and the reasoning behind targeting Felicia Hardy. Even though this meant that the overarching story involving the Black Cat vs Thieves Guild story was sidelined it still worked. Building up Lily as Queen Cat provides this series with another character that Jed MacKay can write to strengthen the quality of this series.

Jed MacKay and Michael Dowling deliver a strong conclusion to the Thieves Guild and Black Fox storyline that has been going on for two years. Black Cat #7 showcases all the different skills and traits that make Felicia Hardy such a compelling character. The payoff for the relationships that Felicia has with Black Fox and Odessa Drake made the payoff to the endgame that's been built create even more excitement for the new stories to come in Black Cat.

Black Cat #10 does a very good job in setting the stage for the finale of The Infinity Score storyline. There are some surprises from recent storylines, including Heroes Reborn, that added tension into the latest heist job Felicia Hardy has taken on. The questions we are left with by the end of this issue creates greater interest in how this storyline will end.

Giant-Size Black Cat: Infinity Score #1 was a great way for Jed MacKay to wrap up his run on this series. Mackay and C.F. Villa maximized the page count they were given to full put over how great of a character Black Cat is. In the process they were able to wrap up the Infinity Score storyline in a satisfying way for those who have been following this story. Hopefully we don't go too long without a Black Cat ongoing series.

Black Panther #1 is a good set-up issue that creates a solid foundation for the rest of the series moving forward. The focus on using continuity established by previous creative team runs added a lot of intrigue into what John Ridley and Juann Cabal are looking to build with the decisions T'Challa makes throughout this issue. It certainly got me invested enough to go on whatever journey this new Black Panther series will go on in the future.

While a new volume to the franchise Black Panther #1 very much acts as an extension of the previous run by John Ridley. This approach by Eve Ewing comes with both positives and negatives. Luckily, it's the positives that largely outweigh the negatives as Black Panther #1 concludes.

Black Panther #2 improves on everything established in the debut issue. T'Challa's new status quo is further developed to make how he operates in his new city to have cool espionage elements. Add in how well developed Beisa and Deathlok are put over as antagonists Eve Ewing and Chris Allen are building something special with their run.

Black Widow #8 is another strong entry in one of Marvel's best ongoing comic books. Mark Waid and Chris Samnee did a fantastic job giving us a scope of the fallout from Natasha Romanoff's clash with the Dark Room's Headmistress. The balance between strong character development and engaging action sequences was on point throughout the issue to tell a complete story. With the ending teasing the appearance of the Winter Soldier there is plenty to be excited about for Black Widows continuing adventures.

Black Widow #9 delivered an action-packed issue with plenty of emotion to back it up. The reunion between Black Widow and Winter Soldier was elevated by the presence of Recluse, who is quickly becoming the biggest threat to Natasha's life. Now with Winter Soldier revealing that Nick Fury needs to speak with Black Widow while Recluse is still on the loose things should only get more exciting.

Mark Waid and Chris Samnee did not waste any time in establishing what is on the line for the final issue. Black Widow #11 effectively set the stage for the final issue of this series to go out with a bang. The conflict between Black Widow and Recluse cannot be any higher as the latter has raised the stakes in a way that puts the world into danger. Samnee's phenomenal artwork throughout this issue only helps to amplify the tension created by the story as it progresses towards its inevitable end.

Black Widow #12 was an excellent conclusion to Mark Waid and Chris Samnee's run on Natasha Romanoff's latest ongoing series. As sad as I am for the series coming to an end it is great to see that Waid and Samnee were able to execute an ending that closed the book on this chapter in Black Widow's life in a satisfactory way. The place where Waid and Samnee leave Black Widow provides plenty of opportunities for other creative teams to do fun and exciting things with the character in the greater Marvel Universe.

There was so much built-in potential for a new Black Widow comic book. Unfortunately it all goes to waste with how it begins in Black Widow #1. The story's tone and pacing never seems to be connected well enough to set-up a compelling narrative. Even when the opportunity is there to tell a meaningful story it all goes to waste due to the decisions made with how to present Black Widow's character. Add in artwork that is a bad mix with the presented story, this comic turns out to be a disappointing start to a mini-series with so much potential.

Kelly Thompson, Elena Casagrande, and Jordie Bellaire kick off Natasha Romanoff's newest adventure with a strong debut issue. A strong tone is set as Black Widow #1 is inviting to new readers that want to get into Black Widow's character while respecting Natasha's recent history to peak long-time readers interest. If you are a Black Widow fan or someone that enjoys spy stories this is a comic book you should pick up

As "The Ties That Bind" arc progresses Kelly Thompson and Elena Casgrande continue to add layers to the story. Black Widow #3 keeps that trend going as there are new elements added that will build on the mystery around Natasha Romanoff suddenly waking up to a new domestic life. Both the villains and heroes that have been brought in added to the questions you have as a reader. It all gets you excited to find out what is really going on with this story.

Black Widow #4 is yet another example of how this series is quickly becoming one of the best comics Marvel is publishing. Kelly Thompson does a great job delivering a story that has emotional weight while also showcasing Natasha Romanoff as the badass superspy we know she is. The artwork by Elena Casagrande and Carlos Gomez further emphasized that fact as everything comes together to tell a story that gets you more invested in what is going on.

Black Widow #5 solidifies this series as one of the best Marvel series the company is publishing right now. Kelly Thompson, Elena Casagrande, and Rafael De Latorre work perfectly in sync to challenge Natasha Romanoff in ways that create a compelling narrative around her character. Where that narrative ultimately ends up at creates a lot of excitement for the unknown future of this Black Widow series moving forward. If you have not picked up this Black Widow series up yet I highly recommend changing that fact as this is a can't miss Marvel comic book.

As each issue is released Kelly Thompson has established Black Widow as one of the best titles published by Marvel. Black Widow #6 is further proof of that as it carries the momentum created by the first story arc of this series forward in a positive direction. Thompson does a fantastic job showing how Natasha Romanoff plans on being proactive in taking down the threat of Apogee that has come after her. The artwork by Rafael De Latorre and Jordie Bellaire further elevates the story that takes place in this issue.

Kelly Thompson, Elena Casagrande and Rafael De LaTorre once again show why their work on Black Widow is some of the best being produced at Marvel. Black Widow #9 is strongly paced with a mix of fun action and great character work for the entire cast of this series. The ending leads to even greater anticipation for how this storyline around the Apogee will all turn out.

Kelly Thompson, Elena Casagrande, and Rafael De LaTorre knock it out of the park with the conclusion of the "I Am The Black Widow" arc in Black Widow #10. This issue wonderfully wraps up the story with Apogee in strong fashion while creating even greater excitement for the future of all the characters in this series. It all goes to prove why Black Widow is easily one of the best comic books on the market right now.

Black Widow #12 continues the trend of this series being the best comic book Marvel is publishing. Kelly Thompson and Elena Casagrande did a great job making the latest spy mission Natasha Romanoff and her crew go on have a great deal of tension and excitement. The ending with a new villain being introduced created even greater anticipation for what will take place in the latest story arc for Black Widow.

All of this worked to build the hype up for the next three chapters of "Die By The Blade" as we see how things go between Black Widow and Living Blade in the present. Along with their rematch we have a lot of questions around the mission Natasha and her crew are on. Add the incredible artwork by Rafael Pimentel and Jordie Bellaire to the character work done for Natasha in this flashback story Black Widow #13 is a can't miss comic book.

Overall, Black Widow #14 is yet another example of why this is the best comic book that Marvel is currently publishing. Kelly Thompson, Elena Casagrande, Elisabetta D'Amico, Jordie Bellaire knock it out of the park with create the maximum amount of tension through the various action sequences and character interactions. If you aren't reading this series already I highly recommend fixing that because you really are missing out on something special.

Black Widow #15 is a strong close to one of the best series that Marvel has been published. Kelly Thompson, Elena Casagrande, Elisabetta D'Amico, Rafael R. Pimentel, and Jordie Bellaire were a phenomenal creative team. They can all be proud of the magic they created with this series. If you have not read this volume of Black Widow I highly recommend checking out the trade collections immediately. It is truly special and I hope we see this creative team work together again in the future.

Blade #1 gets the job done for what you expect from the first issue of a new series. Blade is shown as a badass while the long-term mission statement for the series is established. This all comes together to create a strong debut issue by Bryan Hill and Elena Casagrande that leaves you looking forward to what they have planned for Blade moving forward.

Blade #2 immediately takes us on a detour for a side mission that is possibly more interesting that the main story introduced in the first issue. While that is not a good thing for the main story it does show how well Bryan Hill builds chemistry as Blade and Tulip worked well off one another. Adding in the amazing artwork by Elena Casagrande makes Blade a comic book that continues to be a hit.

Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer #1 is a solid start to this sequel series. This was a very character focused beginning as we see where Buffy and new Slayer Thessaly Maclay Rosenberg are at after a time jump. That works if you have read the first series. If you haven't read the 2021 Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer then I recommend going back to read that before starting this sequel.

Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer #2 falters in trying to recreate Sunnydale with its new setting. That led to Thessaly journey as a Slayer tough to connect with as her story relies to much on the old rather than new that the concept of this series provides. Buffy's identity crisis as a former Slayer is an interesting one but can only carry half of this story. Improvements certainly need to be made in the next issue to recover from this.

Cable #5 does a good job at showcasing the dynamic between Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Cable. The Summers Family work effectively together as they learn about new threats that they'll have to worry about in the future. Though as a X of Swords chapter Cable #5 does not really advance the plot of the crossover. Which could disappoint readers of the 22-chapter long X of Swords crossover.

Cable #6 was exactly what X Of Swords after the mix bag that has been the second half of this X-Men crossover. There was a genuine sense of urgency as characters, specifically on the X-Men side, had to come to terms with how bad things are in this tournament that X Of Swords is about. Hopefully that urgency is carried over to the final three chapters of the latest X-Men crossover.

Captain America #4 was a strong read that furthered the plot that Ta-Nehisi Coates is crafting in a positive direction. After several issues of little development Coates finally makes Alexa a compelling character by tying her into a big event that happened during Ed Brubaker's run on Captain America involving Sharon Carter. That connection elevates everything that has been going on in this story, creating more questions for Captain America and Sharon Carter to have to deal with. If your a Captain America fan I recommend checking Coates run out as he is bringing in a lot of past continuity into in a great, logical way.

Captain America #5 is a tightly written issue that places sturdy building blocks for the future of this series. By bringing back a classic Captain America villain Ta-Nehisi Coates sets things up to get even more interesting as he can now build future stories around what he set into place here. If you are a Captain America fan you'll want to be reading this series. It looks like it could be something special.

Ta-Nehisi Coates delivers a strong start to "Captain of Nothing" with Captain America #7. Now that Steve Rogers has been locked up it is going to be up to Sharon Carter and Bucky Barnes to step up to find out who is manipulating current events to create greater chaos in the world. In doing so Coates has created several sub-plots within "Captain of Nothing" that are equally compelling to the greater narrative of this series.

Using all of the recent continuity established Ta-Nehisi Coates created a fascinating narrative for Captain America #8 to continue the "Captain Of Nothing" story arc. Not only has Coates put Steve in a dangerous spot, he has also opened up the opportunity for Sharon Carter to step up in a big way. There is no telling where "Captain Of Nothing" will go and that is extremely exciting. If you aren't reading Captain America right now I highly recommend changing that immediately.

With Captain America #11 Ta-Nehisi Coates and Adam Kubert created a fun, chaotic prison break story. The issue moved at a brisk pace and never slowed down even when our focus was split between Steve Rogers, the Daughters of Liberty and other characters. Everything that happened worked in sync with each other and moved the overall plot in "Captain Of Nothing" forward.

Captain Marvel #1 accomplishes its goal of providing a fresh jumping on point for new and long-time readers. Kelly Thompson identifies what makes Carol Danvers great by highlighting her history and exploring some of her most important relationships. While the generic villain Captain Marvel fights was disappointing the shift in setting provides an interesting hook for the rest of this story arc. If you are someone looking to get into who Carol Danvers is before the movie comes out I recommend giving Captain Marvel #1 a try.

Captain Marvel #2 is a comic that is completely driven by the character interactions. Kelly Thompson does a great job writing Captain Marvel dynamic with Spider-Woman and other heroes. Through that Captain Marvel was able to shine as a strong leader. That was something which needed since everything about Nuclear Man's plot falls flat. Hopefully the development of Nuclear Man's plot improves or else it will end up dragging the entire first arc of Thompson's Captain Marvel run down.

Kelly Thompson showed throughout Captain Marvel #3 that she has gotten a firm grasp on who Carol Danvers is. The chemistry Captain Marvel has with her allies made everyone on the heroes side shine in this issue. Along with the great artwork by Carmen Carnero, Thompson's first story arc Captain Marvel continues to improve with each passing issue.

Captain Marvel #4 is a major let down. That all falls on the failed development of Nuclear Man. At no point does Kelly Thompson make the character a compelling villain. Instead everything the character said and does comes across as incredibly forced. Which is highly unfortunate since Thompson has shown that she knows how to write a fun Captain Marvel. Hopefully this story arc ends in the next issue and this series can move on to much better adventures.

Captain Marvel #5 was a disappointing end to a lackluster beginning to what should be one of Marvel's top titles. The story around Nuclear Man completely fell apart from the beginning and it never was able to recover. The one bright spot is that Kelly Thompson showed she knows what Carol Danvers voice should be as Captain Marvel. Now that Thompson can start a new story arc she can hopefully developed a stronger plot to go along with how great of a character Captain Marvel is.

Captain Marvel #9 was a tightly paced comic book. Kelly Thompson creates greater interest in the direction of Carol Danvers powers failing her. The mystery around that along with the different interactions she has with characters like Iron Man and Spider-Woman a strong second chapter to the "Falling Star" story arc.

With each passing issue Kelly Thompson grows more confident in her writing of Captain Marvel and Carol Danvers' character. Captain Marvel #11 was another example of that with strong hero moments and supporting cast usage. Unfortunately the lack of development around Star brought the entire "Falling Star" story arc down. The character never gets passed being a one-note villain, even in the final page. That leads Captain Marvel #11 from missing out on going from potentially being great to just being a solid read.

Kelly Thompson and Lee Garbett delivered a hot start to "The Last Avenger" with Captain Marvel #12. The extended battle between Captain Marvel and Thor put over how powerful both characters are. The way the entire battle escalated made how it was one moment where Thor dropped his guard be the vital point in the conclusion to the fight even better. Everything is now set for "The Last Avenger" to be the most exciting story arc the Captain Marvel series has had thus far.

Captain Marvel #13 was a tightly paced comic book, delivering a solid second chapter to "The Last Avenger" storyline. Kelly Thompson wasted no time in giving us a fun showdown between Captain Marvel and Iron Man. The way that fight leads into understanding why Captain Marvel is working with Vox Supreme helped create an emotional connection to what is motivating Carol Danvers. In the process, Thompson, along with Lee Garbett and Tamra Bonvillain, creates greater excitement for how things will go down in "The Last Avenger."

Captain Marvel #14 was another solid chapter in "The Last Avenger" storyline. Kelly Thompson keeps you guessing as to how Captain Marvel and, by extension, the Avengers will overcome the threat Vox Supreme has presented. Lee Garbett adds to the events of this issue with strong artwork that is at its best during the action.

With each passing issue of Kelly Thompson and Lee Garbett have made "The Last Avenger" a stronger story. The weight of Captain Marvel being forced to fight her Avengers teammates reaches a strong conclusion when she has to go up against She-Hulk and Captain America. How those fights lead into the final phase of Vox Supreme's plans makes for an intriguing build going into the conclusion of "The Last Avenger."

"The Last Avenger" had all the makings of a strong story. Unfortunately this storyline ends with a final chapter that makes the entire story come across as forgettable. The only saving grace for Captain Marvel #16 was the solid job Kelly Thompson continues to do with how she uses Carol Danvers relationships with the Avengers in this series. Sadly, that is not enough to help make the final battle between Captain Marvel and Vox Supreme any less disappointing.

Captain Marvel #17 is by far the best issue that Kelly Thompson has written during her run on this series. This comic book is just pure fun as Thompson spotlights the friendship between Marvel heroes as Captain Marvel, Wolverine, Ms. Marvel, Spider-Woman, Spectrum, and Hazmat have fun together during a game night. It is such a refreshing change of pace and story that stands out from all the superhero stories Marvel fans are used. If you are a Marvel fan Captain Marvel #17 is a comic book you should check out.

Captain Marvel #22 was a solid start to a new story arc. Kelly Thompson gives this issue a aura of being a fresh start after Captain Marvel took part in the recent Empyre event. Bringing in the setting that was seen in Captain Marvel: The End was also a nice change of pace to create new dynamics between Carol Danvers and other fellow superheroes.

Cptain Marvel #24 did what it needed to do tell the story of Ove and why he is the antagonist of this story. There are some spots in the way this issue progressed that may come across as boring. But with how things ended the remaining issues of this arc are set-up to conclude the story strong.

Captain Marvel #26 was at its best when it focused on the Carol Danvers aspect of the story. The way visiting a possible future for herself and her friends impacted Carol was well handled by Kelly Thompson. Which makes the underwhelming way that the main villain of this story was dealt with such a massive disappointment. At the end of the day Ove was a forgettable villain even though a lot of time was spent trying to develop him as a credible threat. That disappointment brings down what was otherwise a well-written character focused conclusion.

Captain Marvel #27 does a good job giving weight to the big personal decision Carol Danvers made in her life in the previous issue. How Jessica Drew and others help Carol through this decision worked well to put over their relationship. The person that Carol ends up with at the end of Captain Marvel #27 could lead to some interesting stories down the line if it turns out to be a long-term thing. We'll have to wait and see on that.

Captain Marvel #30 is a strong conclusion to the "Strange Magic" story arc. The actions Carol Danvers takes against Enchantress and Ove creates a lot of questions of how she will deal with the consequences for those decisions. The back-up story involving a meeting with Kamala Khan complimented Carol's character well. It all builds excitement for what the future of Captain Marvel will be moving forward.

Captain Marvel #32 was good start to The Last Of The Marvels storyline. Kelly Thompson and Sergio Davila delivered an energetic start as Vox Supreme was brought back into play. How Carol Danvers responded to who attacked her pushed the story forward and had you highly anticipating what comes next.

Captain Marvel #33 gets the job done when it comes to getting us to the next stage of The Last of the Marvels storyline. But even as we are left with a dramatic hook ending the content before the final page left a lot to be desired. This issue just never felt like it lived up to the large potential it had with what takes places and the characters Captain Marvel interacts with.

Captain Marvel #34 is at its best when Kelly Thompson and Sergio Davila focus on Carol Danvers various battles. Specifically, Carol's battle with Mar-Vell carried the emotion you expect such a reunion to happen. Unfortunately, the big bad of this story in Vox Supreme continues to fail as a compelling villain. Until that part of "The Last of the Marvels" is fixed the full potential of the story that is promised will never be reached.

Captain Marvel #35 does fix the problems with Vox Supreme being a boring villain but at least the strength of "The Last Of The Marvels" continues to lift the story up. That strength coming from how Carol Danvers and her cast are dealing with what Vox Supreme has done. This issue focusing on the Captain Marvel and her allies made this the strongest chapter of this story arc since the first chapter.

Captain Marvel #36 was a satisfying conclusion to "The Last of the Marvels" storyline. The only thing that kept this story from reaching a higher level was how uninteresting Vox Supreme was the entire time. Other than that, every development around Captain Marvel and her team-up with the Marvels, Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy was so much fun to see. The end this story provided a great showcase for how much Carol Danvers has grown over the course of Kelly Thompson's run on Captain Marvel. And that is really what you want to see as a fan and will keep you coming back to see what Thompson has planned next.

Captain Marvel #38 is a strong start to the newest story arc for this series. Kelly Thompson sets up two strong arcs for Carol Danvers and Binary to each go on. Juan Frigeri and Alvaro Lopez enhance those arcs by giving them each a distinct look that added to how invested you are in what is going on. It all comes together for a tightly paced issue that has me excited for what comes next in this "Trials arc for Captain Marvel.

Captain Marvel #39 does a fantastic job using the past story revolving around Ove to create immediate concern about what Carol Danvers is dealing with as Marvel's Magic Tribunal places her on trial. That along with Binary's character arc continuing to gain momentum makes a lot of what takes place here work extremely well. It is just to bad that the hook ending of Captain Marvel #39 ended up falling flat or else I would've scored this issue higher.

When the focus is on Carol Danvers the story that Kelly Thompson and Alvaro Lopez crafted for Captain Marvel #40 is at its best. The entire trial that Carol has been put on by a magic tribunal has pushed her to be challenged in ways that captivate you as the reader. Its just unfortunate that how strong Carol's story is that when the spotlight is momentarily shifted back to Earth you are reminded that the Binary storyline may have run its course. Hopefully Thompson and company are able to find a way to lift Binary's story to match the interest there is behind Carol Danvers' own story.

The Armageddon Game is becoming a game changing event for the franchise and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #133 captures that fact on at a street-level. By focusing on Donatello, Jenika, and Venus both Sophie Campbell and Fero Pe were able to get across how overwhelming the things the Turtles and their allies are dealing with during The Armageddon Game.

Captain Marvel #44 moves at a solid pace to keep the reader engaged. Tough decisions are made that are handled well with how Captain Marvel and X-Men react to them. Hopefully the next issue opens up more on what the Brood are truly after in their latest plot.

Captain Marvel #45 is solid but flawed latest chapter to the Revenge of the Brood storyline. The first half in particular has many instances of panels that come across as filler content. Its the second half of this issue where Captain Marvel #45 finds a strong flow of good character moments and strong action visuals.

While the inner monologue did not work to tap into the full potential of things Kelly Thompson previously established the dynamic between all the characters was done well. Hazmat, Polaris, and Psylocke stole the show in this issue. Good artwork from Javier Pina made Captain Marvel #46 another solid chapter in The Revenge Of The Brood story.

Powered by excellent artwork from Sergio Davila, Captain Marvel #48 is the best chapter in the "Revenge of the Brood storyline. The major character moments are some of the biggest in Kelly Thompson's run. All of this comes together for a strong penultimate chapter that leaves you looking forward to how the storyline will end.

Carol Danvers was shown stepping up and doing what she needed to do to put an end to the conflict with the Brood Empress. The ending could've been better if the Brood story running concurrently over in the X-Men series was integrated in a more seamless manner. The way Rogue played an important role in the story did help in making up for this. Overall, Captain Marvel #49 provided a satisfying conclusion to the "Revenge Of The Brood storyline

Joelle Jones gives Selina Kyle's new ongoing series a solid start with Catwoman #1. From the beginning Jones sets up how Selina is now in a rebuilding mode as she is trying to figure out what she should be doing next. This state of unknown as to what exactly Selina's future in and out her Catwoman disguise creates a lot of potential for what this series can and will be. For Catwoman fans this is a must buy. And if you have ever been interested in Catwoman from her time in the Batman comics I recommend checking this issue out as a starting point for Selina Kyle's solo adventures.

Joelle Jones continues to show through her writing and artwork that she understands who Selina Kyle is. Unfortunately Catwoman #2 suffers from having an antagonist that has yet to be put over as a credible threat with clear motives. If this major part of the story is not improved on than Catwoman's first story arc will turn out to be a letdown.

Catwoman #3 is the best issue that we've gotten from this young series so far. Joelle Jones did a fantastic job developing the world around Catwoman. The character work for Raina Creel in particular elevated the entire conflict in this first story arc as we now have a villain to hate. Combining that with a strong hook ending there is a lot to be intrigued about the direction for Jones' Catwoman series.

Joelle Jones does a fantastic job using Catwoman #4 to explore Selina Kyle's current state of mind. Bringing in Maggie Kyle instantly brought in an extra layer of depth to the current story with the Creel Family and created a long-term plotpoint that readers will be instantly connected to. The artwork for the present-day and flashback scenes made the entire issue stronger as it nailed how emotional Catwoman #4 was.

Catwoman #7 was a very good set-up issue for a short story arc. The pacing of this issue moved at a rapidly as Joelle Jones positioned Penguin as the latest threat Catwoman has to come up against. In the process Jones does not forget the strong character work around Selina Kyle is the strength of this series. How Catwoman's meeting with Penguin sets the stage for what comes next from this series will be very interesting to see.

Catwoman #8 was another fantastic issue in what is quickly becoming one of DC Comics more consistent comic books. Joelle Jones showed a clear vision on where she wants to take Selina Kyle. That vision made the story around Catwoman, Penguin and Raina Creel carry a sense of importance as things continue to escalate. If you aren't reading Catwoman yet I highly recommend giving this series a try.

Catwoman #9 is a well written one-shot story. Ram V's story is works extremely well as an entry point for this series as everything about who Selina Kyle is on fully display throughout this issue. Keeping the story simple to a heist that Selina begins and ends successfully made everything that happened even more compelling. If you were looking for a place to start reading Selina Kyle's solo adventures Catwoman #9 is a great place to start.

When Catwoman #12 focused on moving the plot forward by showing us what Selina Kyle and Raina Creel were doing it was at its best. Joelle Jones has done a great job in developing them both as strong rivals. If it wasn't for the narrative choice spend half the issue with flashbacks to previous scenes from Selina Kyle's sidekick's, Carlos, perspective this issue would have been stronger.

Handling the writing and artwork, Joelle Jones was able to elevate Catwoman #16's story to another level. Jones strong grasp on Selina Kyle's character shines throughout this issue as we see how strong she is in and out of her Catwoman costume. The fantastic artwork by Jones and Laura Allred added to that storytelling, with various points in this issue the art progressing the story forward without any dialogue.

From a standalone perspective, Catwoman #17 is very strong. Joelle Jones understanding of Selina Kyle's character shines throughout the course of Catwoman #17. Unfortunately the choice in direction makes all the previous issue completely unnecessary. Catwoman #17 is essentially one big recap of the events that just happened. The connection to Year of the Villain also proves to be nothing more than a deus ex machina to progress the story. Not hiding that fact puts a big damper on what has otherwise been a solid story involving Catwoman and Raina Creel's rivalry.

Catwoman #20 does about everything right to build excitement for the conclusion of Joelle Jones run on this series. Jones has crafted a compelling narrative around this conflict between Catwoman and Raina Creel. Hopefully Jones can end her Catwoman run on high note in the next issue.

Joelle Jones wrapped up her run on Catwoman that leaves a strong mark on Selina Kyle's history. The war between Catwoman and Raina Creel ended in a way that left Selina a stronger character than when this series started. The ending creates plenty of opportunity for the next creative team to use what Jones built as a strong foundation for Catwoman's future.

Catwoman #35 does an excellent job integrating the series into the Fear State event. Ram V is able to address recent events and how that impacts the way we see Selina Kyle approach what is going on in Gotham City. Seeing as the Poison Ivy storyline will be something that this series will be addressing I recommend those reading the main Fear State story also pick up the Catwoman tie-ins.

Catwoman #37 concludes a strong tie-in story that complimented Fear State extremely well. The journey that Catwoman and her crew went on put over how big of a threat the Magistrate became before their downfall. The ending of this story also sets up Catwoman to continue to be a major player in Gotham City.

Catwoman #57 is the start of the possible turn around the entire Gotham War storyline needed. The story still feels rushed but the introduction of Vandal Savage was a much-needed addition to the story. Hopefully Gotham War focuses more on the strengths shown in Catwoman #57 moving forward.

It is good to have Robin and Superboy back together again as the Super Sons! Peter Tomasi does not miss a beat delivering a fun start to the new Challenge Of The Super Sons series. As with previous comics involving the Super Sons the chemistry between Damian Wayne's Robin and Jonathan Kent's Superboy is a blast to read. Max Raynor energetic art style adds to how much fun Challenge Of The Super Sons #1 is. It is all a reminder that DC Comics publishing library is stronger when they can have Robin and Superboy together in a comic book.

Champions #1 is a good start to get new fans invested in Marvel's next generation superhero team. Jim Zub quickly establishes who each character is, what roles they serve, the team's mission statement and several dynamics between team members. Because of all that good work it was disappointing that Zub decided to conclude Champions #1 with a twist ending that so easily damages the entire issue. The sooner that twist ending is resolved the better it will be for the future of the Champions.

Vita Ayala and Bernard Chang kick off Children of the Atom with a fun and engaging first issue. Multiple plotlines are set up that builds intrigue to learn more about who the members of the Children of the Atom are. The way this team works into the greater story around Krakoa we've seen in all the X-Men comics worked well to give this series a hook that gets the reader to come back for more.

Children Of The Atom #2 keeps the momentum going from the first issue. Developing a greater connection with the members of the team, as we got a spotlight on Cherub's personal life, was a good choice as it strengthens the connection the reader has with these characters. How the X-Men and Avengers factor into this story added greater interest to see where this series will go next.

The concept of Civil War II: The Oath #1 is absolutely an intriguing one. Unfortunately the potential of exploring Steve Rogers and Tony Stark's relationship is not fully realized. Instead this new one-shot was simply Marvel and writer Nick Spencer's way of advertising the Secret Empire event. This in turn hurts the impact of the just finished Civil War II as Marvel is clear about the fact everything is going to change soon yet again. And if Civil War II didn't matter why should we believe Secret Empire's impact will be any different? That is one thing Nick Spencer and Marvel don't answer, causing Civil War II: The Oath #1 to fail rather than succeed.

The pure imagination in every panel of Coda #1 makes this a home run of a start for this series. The way all these fantasy characters deal with a post-apocalyptic setting keeps your attention from beginning to end. It is a great entry point for the world created by Simon Spurrier and Matias Bergara.

Creed: The Next Round #1 is a fantastic start to explore the legacy of the Creed and Rocky movies in comic book form. Amara Creed is quickly established as a lead whose journey you want to follow. Her journey both builds on the legacy of her father and stands on its own, even if you haven't watched any of the Creed movies. It all comes together for a must-read comic book by Latoya Morgan, Jai Jamison, and Wilton Santos.

Latoya Morgan and Jai Jamison continue to do an excellent job at exploring the concept of legacy through Creed: The Next Round #2. Expanding on the Creed legacy by including the rest of the Creed Family tree is a fantastic choice as Amara's story continues to develop alongside her dad, Adonis. Strong artwork from Wilton Santos and Joe Jaro just adds to how this is a can't miss comic book for Rocky and Creed fans.

Creed: The Next Round #3 does an excellent job at building excitement for the final act of this story. We get a deeper dive into Jamie "Slayer Pierce character that made her a strong antagonist for Amara Creed to overcome. The additional elements of how the Creed legacy continues to be tackled made this all yet another winning round for this series.

Daredevil #26 is an excellent start to the "Land of the Blind" arc. Charles Soule does a fantastic job with all the little details from how Daredevil's supporting cast reacts to his search for Blindspot to giving support for certain actions the character takes. It all culminates in a cliffhanger ending that makes you want to find out what happens next.

Daredevil #595 delivered a strong start to the Mayor Wilson Fisk-era of the Marvel Universe. This is a major change that changes the landscape of a lot major comic books Marvel is publishing. And Charles Soule does a very good job at getting over how big of a change this is and how it affects all Marvel superheroes. This in turn gave more weight to what Soule has done with Daredevil and what is to come for this series in the future.

Daredevil #600 is an excellent ending to the "Mayor Fisk" story arc. Charles Soule ends the arc in shocking fashion with Daredevil, Spider-Man and other heroes arrested. At the same time we see a major shift in the status quo with the Hand taking out Mayor Fisk. All of these developments create a number of stories for Soule and other writers to follow-up on. Those story possibilities set-up a future that will excite fans of Marvel's street-level comic books.

Daredevil #603 is a strong set-up issue that makes the threat the Beast and Hand pose to New York City to be off the charts. The pacing of this issue helped drive home how desperate things have gotten for Daredevil as he recruits villains he recently put in prison. That act along with other decisions that are made all create greater interest in what Charles Soule has planned for this series.

Charles Soule wrapped up the conflict with the Hand in a satisfying fashion in Daredevil #605. Throughout the issue Soule was able to show how far Daredevil has come as he inspired those around him that they will defeat the Hand. While Daredevil and his allies did win Soule used the ending to create several stories involving Elektra, Wilson Fisk and others to build a strong foundation for future story arcs. Having that foundation built will excite the majority fans for what the future of Soule's Daredevil series.

Daredevil #606 was another excellent chapter in Charles Soule's ongoing narrative in this series. Soule's understanding of where he wants to take Daredevil and how he will challenge Matt Murdock continues to prove to be the strength of his writing. That clear direction help make Daredevil #606 feel more than just a set-up issue as there were multiple sub-plots going on at the same time.

Daredevil #608 was another excellent issue in what continues to be one of Marvel's best comic books. Charles Soule does a great job presenting Mike Murdock as an unexpected wildcard for the ongoing war between Daredevil and Mayor Wilson Fisk. Matt Murdock's own actions put into question how exactly this story arc will affect the long-term story Soule is developing. With those questions in the air there is a lot to be excited for with what will happen next in the pages of Daredevil.

Daredevil #609 kicked off Charles Soule's final story arc with a great sense of urgency. There is no time wasted in getting the final act in the latest war between Daredevil and Wilson Fisk into action. Everything that happened in this issue built a proper amount of intrigue around if "The Death of Daredevil" will live up to its name and end Soule's run on a memorable note.

Daredevil #610 is a fantastic second chapter to "The Death of Daredevil" storyline. Charles Soule continues to show his masterful understanding of Matt Murdock's world. Bringing in Elektra to team-up with Daredevil and his crew made the story even better. The way things went between Daredevil and Elektra built further anticipation as to how this war with Wilson Fisk will end.

Daredevil #612 delivered a twist ending that subverted the expectations for a story called "The Death of Daredevil." A lot could've gone wrong that would've made Daredevil #612 a lackluster ending. Instead what we got was a conclusion that was a mixed bag. Charles Soule did an effective job showcasing the mortality of Matt Murdock. Unfortunately Soule also slipped up on the execution on several plot points the twist ended up affecting negatively. In the end these positives and negatives ended up canceling each other out, making "The Death of Daredevil" an odd note for Soule to end his run on.

Daredevil #1 is an excellent start to Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto run on this series. Zdarsky makes great use of where Charles Soule left the character and crafts a story that has a lot of potential as multiple intriguing plotlines are introduced. Checchetto's artwork complemented Zdarsky's story perfectly as we come to understand where Matt Murdock is at the moment. If you are a Daredevil fan this is a must read for sure.

Daredevil #4 is just about a pitch perfect comic book. Chip Zdarsky is able to tell a complete story in this one issue. At the same time he feeds into the greater narrative he is crafting with great care. Where Daredevil begins and ends in this issue after his conflict with Punisher creates even more intrigue into what comes next. If you are a fan of grounded superhero storytelling I highly recommend checking out Zdarsky and Checchetto's Daredevil.

Daredevil #5 was another excellent chapter in Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto run on this series. Ever since Daredevil accidentally killed someone Zdarsky has put the character on a path where there is genuine concern for his choices. That all came to a head with how things went down in the battle against The Owl and two emotional scenes with the Defenders and Spider-Man. Where things ended up created a lot of unknowns for the direction Matt Murdock will go on now. That sense of unknown makes what happens next in Daredevil a must read for fans.

Daredevil #10 was a phenomenal issue. Chip Zdarsky continues to do a fantastic job exploring Matt Murdock's life without being Daredevil in a fascinating way. That has not been an easy thing for Matt to do which leads into an intriguing set-up for the role Elektra can serve in Zdarsky's greater narrative for this series. The fantastic artwork Jorge Fornes and Jordie Bellaire provide Daredevil elevates an already strong story to an even higher level.

Daredevil kickstarts the newest arc to this series, "Through Hell," with many fascinating things in play. Chip Zdarsky builds on everything he has done so far in his run that continues to highlight how long Matt Murdock can go without getting back to being Daredevil. The roles Elektra, Wilson Fisk and others all play their roles in building greater interest in whatever endgame Zdarsky is building towards.

Daredevil #12 was another phenomenal issue in what is easily Marvel's best ongoing series. Chip Zdarsky and Marco Checchetto work perfectly together to create two intriguing stories that follow Matt Murdock and Mayor Wilson Fisk. By the end of Daredevil #12 both characters are placed in positions that create even greater excitement for what will come next.