It is rare for me to read a comic book that I would label as perfect as soon as I reach the final page. But that is the exact thought that I had when I finished Batman and Robin #18. Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason delivered a comic where the reader is able to be part of the emotional rollercoaster that Bruce Wayne is on after the death of his son, Damian Wayne. The issue continuously built up to the point that when we got to that final page with Bruce holding Damians Robin costume in his arms you cant help but sad for Bruce and for what Damians fate turned out to be. That final splash will certainly live on as one of the most iconic Batman pages. So if it was not clear before, Batman and Robin #18 is a comic that is not to be missed by anyone. This must-have for every comic book collection.

From beginning to end Daredevil #26 is an absolutely brilliant comic that deserves the rare 10 Night Girls out of 10 for the story and artwork. Mark Waid and Chris Samnee have created a truly special reading experience with their work on Daredevil. This issue is a fine example as to why we all read comics on a monthly basis. When everything is working in conjunction a creative team has the opportunity to tell a long term story that provides fans a gratifying reading experience that continues the eternal hero vs. villain struggle. While we still have yet to arrive to Waid and Samnees endgame the fact that we are one step closer to it is just as exciting as the story within Daredevil #26. No matter your comic book allegiances or whether you have read a Daredevil comic or not Mark Waids run on Daredevil is one that you should absolutely not miss.

Detective Comics #875 was a perfect issue. From the story and artwork, the whole issue was just dead on perfect. Scott Snyders plotting of this issue was just brilliant as he took a chance on basing a whole two issue arc on Commissioner Gordon and it paid off. Snyder gave us a look at a character that we rarely ever see be more than a supporting player in stories. Here Snyder showed Gordon as a character that can star in his own story without the Batman characters around. This is just the type of issue that shows why Batman has one of the deepest set of characters in comics. The artwork from Francesco Francavilla was equally brilliant from the color scheme to all of the character reactions. If Detective Comics under Snyder pen wasnt already the best Batman book this issue more than put this comic over the hump as the premier Batman title.

8 Night Girls out of 10

Astonishing Spider-Man/Wolverine #3 was a blast to read. From beginning to end, I had a crazy fun time with the insane story that Jason Aaron is telling. Aaron has been showing another layer to his writing that I have not seen from him before. Aaron's work here is easily cementing him as one of the best talents Marvel has. And with Adam Kubert on art, Astonishing Spider-Man/Wolverine is a comic that is a must have for Spider-Man and Wolverine fans. I highly recommend going out and buying this comic. You will have a fun time with this issue and the series as a whole.

Batman and Nightwing #23 is exactly the story that was missing from Grant Morrison's run and Peter Tomasi perfectly executes it. The story of this issue makes you forget about everything that has happened and focus in on the dynamic between Bruce, Dick and Alfred. Tomasi does a brilliant job using bringing Dick Grayson into this issue not as another person that lectures Bruce but as someone that is looking to help Bruce get through Damian's death.

Batman: Lil' Gotham #5 is yet another excellent entry into one of the best comics DC Comics is publishing. Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs are only focused on telling a fun, creative story and that is exactly what this comic is. Seeing characters such as Joker, Talia Al Ghul, Catwoman and Zatanna having wacky chibi-style adventures in Gotham City is a pure joy. This is a must buy comic for any DC Comics fan and great comic to buy for those looking to get kids into comics. This comic gets the Revolution-Kevin stamp of approval.

I have only given two issues a 10 for the story in the past, and can only think of a handful of comic book issues I would ever give a 10 to, and Daredevil #506 was that damn good. Even though I was going to give the issue straight 9s that ending catapulted the story to get 10 Cosmic Boys out of 10. Diggle continue to astound me with the work they are doing since he started this run and Johnston seems to be a great co-writer for Diggle to team-up with. If you have not been reading Daredevil do yourself a favor and pick up this issue as well as Daredevil #501-#505 because this book just continues to get better and better. And this title does not look like it is going to slow down anytime soon with all that has happened so far and Shadowland coming up. So if you have not jumped on the Daredevil bandwagon yet all I have to say is What are you waiting for? Go out and get this title right now because this is one of the best and most exciting titles youll find on the stands.

Mark Waid and Chris Samnee continue to astound me with how incredible Daredevil is month in and month out. While the cancer topic is always a hard subject to tackle Waid handled it in a masterful way that helps the reader see how strong, even with all the ups and downs they've had, the friendship between Matt and Foggy is. At the same time Waid is able to provide some good plot progression on who has been after Daredevil and introduce a new gang with a unique design. If you have not read Waid's Daredevil than do yourself a favor and buy this comic. It is the best comic book that you can on the stands from any comic book company.

Fantastic Four #576 was an incredible issue that no Fantastic Four fan should miss. Even if you havent read a Fantastic Four comic before this issue was very new reader friendly that this is a great jumping on point to Hickman and Eagleshams run. Hickman has done a wonderful job bringing the adventure aspect of the Fantastic Four back which has been missing for far too long from this title. So if you are a fan of adventure comic books I highly recommend picking this issue up as it is a comic you do not want to miss.

Giant-Size Little Marvel: AvX #1 easily lived up to my expectations and delivered something unique in the face of Secret Wars. I absolutely loved the world of Marville that Skottie Young has created. The animated look of the world and characters that inhabited it makes you want to not just watch these adventures but also visit Marville. And in a comic book landscape that is filled with creators looking to tell serious tales it is great to find a comic that revels in how much fun the medium can be. If you haven't checked out Giant-Size Little Marvel: AvX #1 I highly recommend you fix that by buying a copy yourself.

Just as you think that Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason can't find another way to make Superman even better they gift us an issue like this. Not only is Superman #11 the best issue that came out this week but an example of the type of comic book every creative team should strive to deliver. The development of Batman, Robin, Superman and Superboy was perfectly executed, leading to an excellent payoff. If you aren't reading Tomasi and Gleason's Superman changed that right now by purchasing these last two issues. You won't regret it.

Even with all the praise I'm bestowing, Brian Bendis deserves just as much credit (more actually) for the resurgence in this title. Bendis is still in that zone where there's a perfect balance between action and dialogue. Each scene makes the necessary points with out overstaying its welcome. The discussion still meanders as is Bendis's way, but not to the point of overkill, while the action remains tight and concise as well. Norman's “last days of Nero” scene towards the end was an absolutely chilling mix of writing and art, and Bendis was still able to take it up another emotional notch with a fantastic cliffhanger. If you were turned off to the series during its creative funk and still wouldn't listen to us when we said the Ultimate Clone Saga was fantastic (completely understandable given the original), this is me hitting you with my (imaginary) sledgehammer of persuasion in an effort to bring you back into the fold. I consider it my good deed for the day –

With Angel joining the Uncanny X-Men, a great scene between Kitty Pride and Jean, Mystique continuing to cause chaos around the Marvel Universe and the Uncanny Avengers appearing at the end there is a lot to love about All-New X-Men #11. The fact that Bendis found a way to bring Jean Grey back and make her the stand out character further elevates how enjoyable this series is. There are also a lot of great character moments that are highlighted by Stuart Immonen fantastic artwork. If youre an X-Men fan I highly recommend checking out All-New X-Men.

Though I was never a fan of the run Brian Bendis had on the Avengers I am happy to see him find the franchise that fits his style of writing and All-New X-Men #14 is a great example of this. What's incredible about All-New X-Men #14 is that Bendis gives most of the cast time in the spotlight which makes the character moments a satisfying payoff that will have you smiling or cheering in your head. There are so many great character moments that I can even overlook the complaint I have over the short battle between the X-Men and Brotherhood. Stuart Immonen deserves just as much credit for this issues success as his artwork alone is able to tell a great story. Whether you are a long-time fan or new reader looking to get into the X-Men comics All-New X-Men is the perfect title to jump into.

Amazing Spider-Man #634 was a fantastic start to the Grim Hunt story. Kelly and Lark combined to tell a story that really feels like it is a big event as they immediately have captured my interest in the story with this first issue. No matter if you have been reading Amazing Spider-Man for the past year or have not read an issue from this title in a long time you should pick this issue up. You will not be disappointed as Kelly and Lark are going to be taking Spider-Man and the whole Spider family on a wild ride as they fight of the Kravinoff family. I highly recommend this issue to every Spider-Man fan.

Amazing Spider-Man #635 was yet another phenomenal read. Joe Kelly and Michael Lark absolutely knocked it out of the park in this second issue to Grim Hunt. While the story isnt very new reader friendly it is doing everything right that if you have been reading Spider-Man for a while that you should be reading this. I cannot gush about how much Im loving this story enough. It is just plain phenomenal as it feels like a big event that is happening within Amazing Spider-Man. I highly recommend long time Spider-Man fans to pick this issue up as this is a story for you.

Amazing Spider-Man #686 was another fantastic entry in the Ends of the Earth event. Dan Slott is putting on a clinic with this storyline that will be a contender for story and event of the year. He has been able to assemble all the chess pieces and throw in some curve balls to keep us on our feet. Now that he has made the story more personal for Spider-Man as it is revealed that Doctor Octopus is using Peters own tech I cant wait to see how the final showdown between the two turns out in the next issue. If for some reason you are not reading Amazing Spider-Man I highly recommend you go out and start reading this series because it is one of the best comics on the market.

Astonishing Spider-Man/Wolverine #1 was an absolute blast to read. Aaron and Kubert combine to deliver one fun comic book that promises eve more crazy adventures for our heroes in following issues. Aaron is a natural at writing both Spider-Man and Wolverine and Kubert expertly brings the story to life with his artwork. I cant wait to see what this creative team has in store for us next. If you didnt pick up Astonishing Spider-Man/Wolverine #1 I highly recommend you do because this was one fun comic book that you should not miss out on reading.

Avengers #8 is one of those comics that you will find even more rewarding with each additional read through. Jonathan Hickman packs so much into this comic that you are left wanting find out more about The White Event. Even with how much information that is thrown our way the story never feels slow, instead just feels as though we are reading a blockbuster Marvel event within an ongoing series. It doesnt hurt that the story is brought to life with amazing artwork from Dustin Weaver. I highly recommend all Marvel fans pick up Hickmans epic Avengers series.

Avengers #13 is one of those comics that you don't realize how much content there is until you finish reading it. Jonathan Hickman and Nick Spencer not only pack this issue with great plot progression for the Garden storyline and integrating the High Evolutionary into the story but also pack in a ton of memorable character interactions.

Batman #15 was another excellent entry in the Death of the Family. The methodical approach that Scott Snyder applies to this issue feeds into all of the chaos that the Joker is causing Batman and Gotham City. The Joker has broken Batman and Batman doesnt even know it. The big discussion between the members of the Batman Family helped to make Death of the Family have a larger than life feel while adding interest to all the tie-in comics. With the issue ending with Batman marching into Arkham Asylum what happens next is anyones guess and that is exciting.

Batman #17 was a phenomenal end to Scott Snyder and Greg Capullos Death of the Family epic. Snyder and Capullo had my attention from the beginning and never let go. This is one of the most engrossing Batman stories Ive read. I not only want to see where Batman goes from here but I want to know what Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin, Red Robin and Red Hood do now. Even though Joker lost he successfully left his mark on everyone related to Batman. The next issue of Batman cannot be released soon enough. I want to read Batman #18 now.

Batman #12 was another compelling chapter in the "I Am Suicide" storyline. Framing the entire issue around a letter Batman wrote to Catwoman before the events of this story gives us a better idea what they represent in each others lives. This made Catwoman's choice come over as a bigger twist to the story. It also made the issue-long fight sequence featuring Batman fighting his way through Bane's castle even more exciting. This all culminated with a strong ending as Batman now comes face-to-face with Bane and Catwoman.

Batman Eternal #1 does not waste any time in setting up the enormous scale of this new Batman series and it does so successfully. Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV did a fantastic job starting this event on the right foot by instantly grabbing our attention in the first page. The visual of beaten Bruce Wayne over a burning Gotham City was an intense visual that set the tone for how exciting the rest of the issue was. I was on the edge of my seat as I wanted to pick up on every clue Batman Eternal #1 may have had to understand why Gotham City will be in such a disastrous state in the future. And none of this excitement would have been there without the superb artwork from Jason Fabok, who was the real star of the show. As far as first issues go it does not get any better than Batman Eternal #1.

Batman Lil Gotham #1 provides not just Halloween fun but a fantastic comic that could be read all year round. Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs provide something that is easily accessible for new and long time readers. There is a great story of a father, Bruce, trying to teach his son, Damian, how to be a kid. The addition of the fun artwork that is peppered with sight gags just adds to the must read quality of this issue. If you have the DC Comics or Comixology App on your phone or tablet buy and download this issue right away.

Batman: Li'l Gotham #7 is another excellent entry in what is the best comic book being published right now. Getting to see the insanity of Batman picking up his villains one-by-one and stuffing them in the back seat of the Batmobile was purely awesome. The artwork also has a lot going on as every character on screen is doing something even if they don't have actual dialogue. This mix of strong writing and artwork should be an example for all current and aspiring comic book creators to follow. If you can tell a fun story right you will have a comic that can be enjoyed by readers young and old, which is exactly what Batman: Li'l Gotham #7 is.

This is by far the best comic book that DC Comics is publishing and is a must read for every comic book fan, young and old.

Daredevil #500 was a spectacular read. Brubaker and Lark did a fantastic job with this anniversary issue that serves as a great way to end their run on this title. The place were they leave Matt and his supporting cast is a very interesting place for Diggle to pick up on and I will be interesting to see were the characters are headed from this point forward. I definitely recommend picking this story when it comes out in trade paperback as it is a very deep and complex story that has some great action scenes with very likable characters.

Daredevil #502 was another phenomenal issue. Andy Diggle and Roberto De La Torre are proving to be worthy successors to this title from their predecessors. I really have no idea where Diggle and De La Torre are going to take all the characters. All I know is that we should be in store for one wild ride on Daredevil. If you like dark and gritty titles I highly recommend picking up Daredevil up as it is one of the best books on the market.

I had low expectations coming into this issue given how disappointing the Superior Spider-Man has been. I should have known better to doubt Mark Waid's abilities and proving how entertaining the Superior Spider-Man could be in the right situation. Spider-Man's attitude helped to contrast Daredevil current status quo with an entertaining team-up to fight Stilt-Man. Daredevil #22 also provided strong developments in Matt and Foggy's friendship that will continue to be tested given the ending of the issue. Chris Samnee's fantastic art helps elevate an already strong story which continues to make Daredevil a must buy.

With all the great comic books out on the market Waid and Samnee's Daredevil continues to stand out as the leader of the pack. In Daredevil #25 Mark Waid continues to impress with how he has taken all of the established Daredevil mythology and made it his own. The costume design for Ikari made him an instant threat. This was only made more apparent with how the fight between Daredevil and Ikari spread across Hell's Kitchen. Making Daredevil #25 even better is how Chris Samnee is able to capture both the dark and fun aspects of this series perfectly through his artwork.

Daredevil #1 did exactly what a first issue should do and that is to set-up a comic book world that makes the reader want to come back for more. Mark Waid took a more one-and-done approach with the story that he told in this first issue as Daredevil was able to save the day by the end of the issue. At the same time, Waid left enough on the table that we still have some questions we want answers to. The most pressing question that the final page of this issue brought up was the whereabouts of Foggy Nelson. This mystery along with Matts continued adjustment to his new surroundings will make the direction that this series takes even more exciting to see play out. If you have not read a Daredevil comic before than do yourself a favor by picking up Daredevil #1 that is part of All-New Marvel Now. This is a comic that is just a joy to read.

Daredevil #16 was another big win for the team of Mark Waid and Chris Samnee. This issue was a pure joy to read as the writing and artwork worked together perfectly in order to conveyed the tension between Daredevil and Kingpin. Everything else that happened around this confrontation helped to elevate the decision that Matt Murdock is making. With so many variables in play I am completely on the edge of my seat as to how Waid and Samnee will end their fabulous run on this series.

Detective Comics #871 was a fantastic read. One issue in and Scott Snyder, along with Jock, has made Detective Comics the premier Batman title which is not an easy thing to do after Batman Inc. #1. The dark and gritty vibe of this book helps separate this title from the other Batbooks as the story is standalone and does not rely on the current direction of the franchise. Snyder showed a great understanding of Dick Graysons character and what makes him different from Bruce Wayne. The mystery was also solid. If you can only pick up one Batman book Snyder and Jocks Detective Comics is the one you should be getting. This is a must have comic book.

Detective Comics #872 was flat out phenomenal. With so many Batman titles that DC puts out month in and month out, Snyder and Jock have been able to make Detective Comics stand out as the best one out of them all. Snyder is telling the type of story I expect to get from my Batman comic. With Jock helping out with some wonderful artwork this is a duo that cannot be stopped. If you have yet to pick up Snyder and Jocks Detective Comics what are you waiting for? This is easily the best Batman comic on the stands. Just do yourselves a favor and pick this comic up already.

With the Batman Family comics being heavily involved in Grant Morrisons master plan for the franchise it is refreshing to get a comic like Detective Comics #873 that does its own thing. Even though Scott Snyder puts in little reference to Batman Inc. he is not relying on that story. Instead he is providing us a different look at Gotham City as we see that the city is transforming in order to reflect the new protector of the city. With Jock at his side to provide the art, Snyders dark and gritty storytelling for Detective Comics is a refreshing change of pace from what we are currently getting in the Batman books. Snyder and Jock are doing everything right as they have made Detective Comics into DC Comics premier title again.

As endings go, you cannot get better than the ending Scott Snyder, Jock and Francavilla combined to give us in Detective Comics #881. This issue was absolutely perfect end for a run that will go down as one of my favorite Batman runs of all-time. Snyder did a wonderful job from the beginning to the end of his run. Every issue built on the what came before it and it all came together for a tightly told ending that saw Snyder give Dick Grayson his own version of the Joker in James Gordon. All of the character work was spot on as we saw each character involved in the story grow and accept their roles as Gotham Citys protectors.

As soon as I opened Giant Size Little Marvel AvX #2 I had a smile on my face. That smile did not stop even after I finished reading Skottie Young's comic book. In a sea of comic books that take themselves too seriously at times it is great to have a comic book that is all about fun. And that is honestly the best way I can summarize what Young's comics have always been: fun. If you are a Marvel fan I highly urge you to go out and buy Giant Size Little Marvel AvX #2.

Grayson #12 did a great job bringing Dick Grayson back into the fold of what is going on in the DC Universe and bringing the Bat Family into what he has been doing in Spyral. While it would've been easy to go down a more sentimental route with this story that is not how things went. Instead Tim Seeley and Tom King did a great job using Batgirl, Robin, Red Robin and Red Hood to further their own story. At the same time there is going to be a lot to love from these interactions for Batman fans, especially Batgirl and Robin's reactions. And now that Dick has re-established himself in the DC Universe I can't wait to see what happens next with Spyral.

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #4 is another strong issue in what is one of DC Comics best series. Robert Venditti continues to do everything in his writing power to make everything going on in his story feel larger to life. Even as he gives us an issue with almost no action scenes Venditti keeps your interest with how great character work for Sinestro, Guy Gardner, Soranik and John Stewart. All of this character work moved the overall story forward to make the reader look forward to the war between the Green Lantern and Sinestro Corps. Add in Ethan Van Sciver's phenomenal artwork and you have an issue and series that every Green Lantern fan should be buying.

Justice League #19 does a good job setting the stage for this new arc that will see Despero as the principle antagonist. The addition of Superman and Wonder Woman's relationship beginning to cause problems for the Justice League and Batman's contingency plans being revealed kept things moving forward at a solid pace. At the same time this issue makes the last issue feel like a time waster since Justice League #19 was another talking head issue that is more about set-up than big event action. This isn't a deal breaker, since Ivan Reis awesome artwork maintains the titles big event feel, but it does get in the way of Justice League separating itself from the mountain of team books currently available.

With the combination of fantastic artwork and writing Moon Knight #1 did exactly what it was supposed to do make me want to continue reading this new series after its first issue. Warren Ellis, Declan Shalvey and Jordie Bellaire did everything right with this first issue of Marc Specters latest adventures. Ellis was able to do enough with his writing of this issue that you walk away feeling like you learned a lot about the character without having to know his entire history. Shalvey and Bellaire do their part by giving Moon Knight #1 design that is its own that showcases all that Moon Knight is. Now that the tone has been set I am ready to go on whatever ride Ellis and company have in store for us on Moon Knight.

Motor Crush #1 is one of the most refreshing comic books I've read all year. Brenden Fletcher, Cameron Stewart and Babs Tarr quickly present us with a strong but flawed main character in Domino Swift. The world is so well realized that it makes you want to learn more about what happens both in the WGP and underground realm. Motor Crush's artwork is just as stunning that makes the world feel lived in with a history that you want to learn about. If you are looking for something not superhero related I highly recommend picking up Motor Crush #1.

Its incredible how much Jonathan Hickman and Mike Deodato packed into New Avengers #9. Everything that happens here, from Black Bolts plot to the Atlantis/Wakanda war, has its own sense of grandeur that naturally comes together to tell a cohesive story. This is all thanks to how Hickman treats his lead characters as just that leaders. Each character is playing an import part in the story and for all the crazy sci-fi elements that this issue had Hickman was able to properly ground it with the captivating political drama surrounding the Illuminati mission statement. The story is elevated to another level thanks to the fantastic work by Deodato and Frank Martin, who play an equally important part in bringing the story to life. With the Infinity event looming over the Marvel Universe I cannot wait to see what Hickman and company have in store for us next.

Nightwing #0 is the best issue we have had for the series during Kyle Higgins young run. What Higgins and his co-plotter Tom DeFalco are able to do is tell a fresh origin story the simultaneously updates Dick Graysons story and adds furthering understanding the characters motivation. Unlike all the other DC Comics #0 issue this is done in a way that does not feel like a rehash of an older story or filler until next month. We also get to see the similarities and differences between Bruce and Dick and what it is that makes the original Dynamic Duo work. If you have not picked up Nightwing up to this point than Nightwing #0 is the perfect issue to start reading the series.

Old Man Logan #3 does a fantastic job fully utilizing the concept behind Battleworld and using it to its full potential. Brian Bendis has been able to carve out something unique with his wandering samurai approach to detailing Old Man Logan's journey to meet Doom. The way that Logan is able to effect world's like Age of Apocalypse and Armor Wars helped to add to the greater story being told in Secret Wars. It doesn't hurt that this series features Andrea Sorrentino's jaw dropping artwork.

Old Man Logan #11 is another great example of how Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino continue to create the best comic book Marvel is publishing on a monthly basis. This issue in particular delivers everything a Wolverine can ask for as we get a lot of fast-paced ninja action. The action sequences that show Logan going up against The Silent Order is beautifully illustrated by Sorrentino. Add in the compelling story that Lemire continues to weave for Old Man Logan with each issue and you have yourself a comic book series that no Wolverine fan should miss out on buying.

Spider-Gwen #5 knows exactly what it is and in embracing that you are able to feel why this is a comic book unlike anything that Marvel is publishing. The addition of Felicia Hardy gave another layer Gwen Stacy's world both in and out of her superhero adventures. Felicia's involvement also added to the threat that Matt Murdock poses to Spider-Woman and New York as a whole. If you haven't picked up an issue of Spider-Gwen yet I highly recommend fixing that by going out and buying every issue of this series.

Superman #13 was another superb entry in what is clearly DC Comics best series. Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason's writing has no equals as they show complete understand of Superman and his world. At the same time they continue to put Superman and his cast in different situations that allows us to further explore who these characters are. This team-up with Frankenstein was a great example of this. Add in some phenomenal artwork from Doug Mahnke and we have another example in Superman #13 that further proves that if you aren't reading this series that you must change that right away. This is a can't miss series.

Thanos Imperative #5 was nothing short of fantastic. I very rarely give out 10's to a comic book story, but this issue completely deserves it. DnA are doing phenomenal work in Thanos Imperative as they show the industry not just how a big event story should be written but how a comic book should be written. This is pure fun from beginning to end. The team of DnA and Miguel Sepulveda go about 160 mph and never slow down. A comic does not get more fun than this.

Ultimate Comics Avengers #4 was another great read. Millar, along with Bendis over on Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, has done a wonderful job breathing new life into the Ultimate Universe. It is great to have the Ultimate Universe back and better than ever. Millar is showing why new takes on the original characters can be just as interesting as the originals while still maintaining key character traits.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #9 was another phenomenal read. Bendis continues to be money on this title. With an excellent mix of action, comedy, and character interactions Ultimate Comics Spider-Man continues to be one of the best comics on the market right now. If youre a Spider-Man fan or just looking for a fun comic to read than pick up Ultimate Comics Spider-Man. This is a comic I highly recommend reading.

Ultimate Fallout #1 is the type of comic book that reminds me why I read comics. Brian Bendis and Mark Bagley teamed up to deliver one of the most emotional comic books in recent memory. Outside of one minor hiccup, this was the perfect issue that delivered a final four pages that will leave some readers on the verge of tears. If you are an Ultimate Spider-Man fan do yourselves a favor and pick this issue up. It is an issue that you do not want to miss out on buying.

While Ultimatum Spider-Man Requiem #1 did not answer the question of what happened to Peter Parker this was still a very enjoyable issue. It was a blast to read the flashback story as it was not hampered down by having to tie into Ultimatum. The flashback story was just a fun Spider-Man adventure involving Tony Stark.

As impressed as I have been with many of the MarvelNow! titles thus far Uncanny Avengers continues to be one of the top comics of this relaunch. Rick Remender kicked all kinds of ass with Uncanny Avengers #2 as he quickly builds up the members of this team that consist of Avengers and X-Men. Though Captain America, Thor, Havok and Wolverine do make appearances it is Rogue and Scarlet Witch that steal the show. Their interaction with each other as well as Red Skull and his crew is an engrossing experience. Having John Cassaday on art is just the cherry on top for this wonderful series.

Rick Remender has quickly separated this series from the rest of the Avengers related titles on the market. Uncanny Avengers #3 does a great job finding a balance between a grounded story with a larger than life concept. This is not something easy because the anti-mutant riots have been done many times in the past. But Remender has been able to take the anti-mutant hysteria concept and make it his own with how he has the Red Skull become involved. This story also allowed many Avengers and X-Men characters to step up to this latest conflict. It's going to be exciting to see how this story unfolds and grows into more stories for this Avengers/X-Men team-up title.

With the onslaught of Avengers titles on the market Rick Remender and John Cassaday have found a way to make Uncanny Avengers stand out as the leader of the pack. Uncanny Avengers #4 was wonderfully executed from beginning to end. Remender was able to close this arc on a high note as the Avengers stopped the Red Skull while setting up what the future has in store for this team made up of Avengers and X-Men. Cassaday does an equally excellent job with the artwork as he is able to tell the story through his art with how he draws characters emotions and actions. If there is one Avengers book to pick up it is Uncanny Avengers.

Velvet #1 captured my attention from the opening page and it never let go. Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting work the same magic that they used to make Captain America such a special comic with this new series. The world around Velvet Templeton is rich with detail around every corner and Velvet herself has been shown to be a multi-layered character with everything we learned about her. Reading Velvet #1 reminded me of how special watching James Bond and Jason Bourne movies are. Steve Epting deserves just as much credit because his artwork captured the espionage setting perfectly as he was able to make subtle changes to fit with each time period we visit throughout Velvet #1. If youre into espionage comics or enjoyed Brubaker and Eptings run on Captain America do yourself a favor and pick up Velvet #1. This has all the makings for a special comic.

Minor complaint aside, War of Kings #5 was an excellent read. It is such a treat to read an event where the creative team involved are not worried about telling the most complex story or the biggest slugfest ever. Instead, DnA are only looking to give us a quality read. DnA have put on a clinic with War of Kings. If you have not jumped on the Marvel cosmic bandwagon yet then I strongly recommend reading War of Kings when it comes out in trade format. You will not be disappointed. I cannot wait for the final installment of War of Kings next month.

Winter Soldier #13 delivered the goods as our brainwashed hero fights Daredevil, Hawkeye, Wolverine and Captain America. The action was fast and jammed packed with a lot of great moments for everyone involved. Ed Brubaker has done a good job creating a villain that is Bucky's own. The James Bond/Jason Bourne feel to Bucky's world is refreshing to see in a universe filled with super-powered characters. If you haven't read any of Brubaker and Guice's work on Winter Soldier I highly recommend you do so by picking up the trades for this series.

Wolverine and the X-Men #31 was another strong issue that moves the war between the Jean Grey and Hellfire Academies forward. With this issue spotlighting the Hellfire Academy Jason Aaron develops the villains of this conflict by showing us how they are going about teaching their students. The cast of the Hellfire Academy had a lot of distinct personalities with Mystique, Sauron and Kid Omega being the standouts in this spotlight issue. At the same time Aaron is able to develop the X-Men's side of this conflict with Wolverine making a big decision while he and Rachel Grey look for their missing students.

From beginning to end Jason Aaron delivers a reading experience that is layered with great character interactions that enrich what has occurred in the Hellfire Saga up to this point. Each character involved in the story is given something to important to do in this issue. Whether its Iceman making a giant Ice Voltron, a comedic scene between Modok and Dopp or the drama surrounding Toad and Husk this issue had something for every comic book fan. The addition of Nick Bradshaws animated art style helps elevate everything going in the story to the next level. Wolverine and the X-Men #34 is a fun, engaging, and action packed comic book that no fan should miss out on.

Wolverine and the X-Men #40 will go down as one of the standout issues of Jason Aarons run on this series. The Cyclops and Wolverine scenes were easily some of the best writing Aaron has done. He showed such a clear understanding of both characters that by the end you understood where Cyclops and Wolverine were coming from. This also gave some closure to the rift Aaron created back in X-Men Schism. The addition of the scenes at the Jean Grey Academy helped to balance out the issue with Pepe Larraz having a lot of fun with the tour of the school we went on.

Wolverine Weapon X #9 was a fantastic read. Aaron and Paquette combine to tell a fun and compelling story arc that introduced an instant classic villain in Dr. Rot. I cannot wait to see what Aaron has in store for Wolverine in the next story arc because these first two story arcs have been a blast to read. Aaron has reminded me why Wolverine is one of my favorite characters in comics. If you are a Wolverine fan I highly recommend picking up Wolverine Weapon X as it is just a fun read that has taken the character back to what made him so great in the first place.

Wolverine Weapon X #11 was another great read. Aaron and Garney teamed up to deliver another excellent Wolverine story. Even if you have not read a Wolverine title in a while or have never read one I highly recommend picking up Wolverine Weapon X. With this series Aaron has brought back everything that made Wolverine such a cool character. So if you are looking for a fun title to pick than pick up Weapon X as you will not be disappointed.

Wonder Woman #21 is where everything clicks for this series. In many ways this issue feels like a season finale and we are now ready to move on to the next part of the bigger story that Brian Azzarello is crafting. This issue was filled with tension, family drama, action, character development, a strong character sacrifice and a hook ending that makes you want to come back for more. Even though I still don't like Zola every other character in this series is adding to Wonder Woman's world, even Hera who has become one of the emotional centers of this story. Now that the story has moved to New Genesis I can't wait to see how Wonder Woman reacts to this new world and how it furthers what is going on with her family.

After being on the run for so long it was great to see Wonder Woman and her crew stand and fight together against First Born and his army. Brian Azzarello delivered a lot of moments in Wonder Woman #23 with the moment when Wonder Woman did not hesitate to kill First Born standing out. This choice emphasized the difference between Wonder Woman and her peers. She will do whatever it takes to save the day and it was a choice that War gave greater importance with his final words before dying in Wonder Woman's arms. The appearance of Apollo at the end of the issue helped to remind readers that while this ends this chapter in Wonder Woman life we should prepare ourselves for even bigger events to occur in the future. If you're not reading Wonder Woman I recommend checking this series out in trade paperback because Azzarello continues to make this a special reading experience.

I cannot say this enough Wonder Woman is the best title DC Comics is publishing. From beginning to end, Brian Azzarello, Cliff Chiang and Goran Sudzuka hooked me into the story that was unfolding in Wonder Woman #28 and never let go. I cannot wait to see what happens now that Wonder Woman has to fight in order to save Zola and Dio from another force other than the First Born. At the same time we are given an excellent cliffhanger with the conclusion of the First Borns battle with Apollo atop Olympus Tower. If you have not been reading Wonder Woman I highly implore you to change that and begin catching up through the trades. This is by far one of the most entertaining comics youll find on a monthly basis.

While I am not going to be picking up the whole Second Coming event, thanks to it being a 14-part story, this one-shot to kick off the event did its job in getting me excited to read the story in the eventual trade. Craig Kyle and Chris Yost delivered everything that you expect from the opening chapter of an event and more. Though I cant recommend picking up the whole event because of the huge monetary commitment I will say if youre interested in the X-Men I recommend picking this issue up to see if it gets you interested in picking up the story when it comes out in trade. I know this got me looking forward to picking up the eventual hardcover for the event.

Dan Slott shows that he?s more than able to weave an excellent Spidey story. It?s even so well structured that I didn?t even realize how quickly a simple mugging had escalated to an ambitious mob assassination. The dialogue is spot on and you get the rare instance of a thought-balloon that works seamlessly with everything else. I also like that Slott shied away from a traditional Spider-Man villain, even if Mr. Negative doesn?t have much depth to him presently. Same goes for the new supporting cast, which is ?there? but little else at the moment. Steve McNiven?s work is beautiful as always. He does a superb job of infusing every panel with as much detail as possible. He sometimes seems to put more work into background characters that a lot of artist do in their main subject. In the end, good writing + good art = go buy. It?s just the sunk costs that make that equation harder than it is?

Most importantly though, is that the overall plot is progressing and characters are starting to move out of the static representation that we know so well. While the settings have changed, the characters really haven't grown all that much (besides Dawn's literal growth of course), so it was good to see Giles and Faith branch out in new directions. The art chores are handled once again by Georges Jeanty. He does a good job of capturing the likeness of the major players, while at the same time putting his own touch to them. The only problem I really had was that Faith in the flashback scene looked 12 years old instead of how she actually did in the third season. That's a small quibble though, and doesn't really detract from what is one of the best issues since season eight began.

Action Comics #5 was another great entry in Grant Morrisons current Superman run. Morrison effectively handled the re-telling of Superman's origin and added more depth to his Superman run. There were a lot of interesting sub-plots introduced in this issue that has me looking forward to what else Morrison has in store for Action Comics. The ending of this issue with the older versions of Superman and the Legion of Superheroes has me looking forward to seeing what Morrison has in store for us in the next issue.

Even though there is a questionable creative choice made it does not change the fact that All-New X-Men #9 is one of the best issues of the series so far. With All-New X-Men #9 the story of the original X-Men coming to the present is able to see positive forward progression, more so than what we have gotten the last half dozen issues in total. The story moves in a natural way that never seems as though as Bendis is stretching the story thin. Bendis finds strong balance with giving us progression for the original X-Men, Kitty Pride growing into her new role and the rise of Mystiques Brotherhood. The addition of Stuart Immonen artwork returning to the series helped elevate the story further. If you are an X-Men pick up All-New X-Men #9. It has something for every X-Men fan.

Brian Bendis continues to weave an engaging tale with X-Men Battle of the Atom in which you dont know what direction it is headed. There are a lot of players at play in this event and All-New X-Men #16 does its best to push the characters forward. So far this latest X-Men event has been able to separate itself from other events going on by being a character driven story. This character driven story has actually made it a lot harder to predict what is going to happen next. There are a lot of questions for this story to answer that could end the story in multiple ways. With Brian Wood stepping up for the next chapter of X-Men Battle of the Atom I am very excited to see where all of this is headed.

All-New X-Men #21 is another fantastic entry in Brian Bendis work with the X-Men franchise. The Purifiers provided a threat that the original X-Men havent faced before. They were the first X-Men villains that showed them that mutants and other super powered people arent there biggest threat. This new challenge also re-emphasized the danger that the original X-Men have put the present day X-Men by staying in the present. X-23s presence in the story has added an interesting wild card to the series, especially when it comes to specific character relationships. With a crossover with the Guardians of the Galaxy coming up next I am extremely excited to see how the original X-Men fare in space.

Brian Bendis is able to return to form with All-New X-Men #23 and deliver exactly the type of engaging comic book I have come to expect from him since the Marvel NOW! era began. Even though this is a talking heads issue Bendis does enough to continue to build on the tension created from the latest adventure the time displaced X-Men have found themselves in the middle in. He does this by creating multiple storylines for us to follow during this crossover with the most interesting being left for last. Hopefully, Bendis can continue this momentum into the next issue of Guardians of Galaxy and he does not hit the same problems he did in the previous issue.

Through the writing and artwork we get to see how epic this whole story is and how much weight the decision the original X-Men made to stay in the present has on the state of the Marvel Universe.

All-Star Batman #3 was another fantastic read in what is the must-read Batman comic book DC Comics is publishing. From beginning to end Scott Snyder and John Romita make you want to just continue to read whatever Batman story they have in mind. It's to the point that when I reached the end of the comic I was disappointed there wasn't more. That is how compelling this Two-Face arc is and shows how well executed this story is. If you aren't reading All-Star Batman than you are for sure missing out on one of DC's best comic books.

All-Star Batman #4 is yet further proof that Scott Snyder is hands down one of the best modern day Batman writers. His understanding of the character and his world is second to none. This latest Two-Face story is yet another example of how Snyder finds new ways to challenge Batman that feels fresh. John Romita Jr. deserves just as much credit for executing the chaotic nature of Snyder's story with his artwork. If you're a Batman fan than All-Star Batman is a must buy.

Amazing Spider-Man #597 was another great installment of "American Son." So far, this has been one of the best Spider-Man stories we have gotten in a while. Joe Kelly is doing a great job with this story and I hope that we can get just one artist drawing the rest of the story.

Amazing Spider-Man #606 was another great read. Amazing Spider-Man has really become a title that I look forward to reading month in month out. With its usual three week a month schedule there is not much waiting time between issues. I look forward to seeing the conclusion of this two-part story on Wednesday. If you have yet to give Amazing Spider-Man a try or come back to this title I recommend picking up this issue along with the last few story arcs as this title has been very good.

Amazing Spider-Man #650 was another spectacular issue. Dan Slott is delivering one wild and fun ride that all Spider-Man fans will enjoy. Slott does a great job balancing this issue with some great character interaction while building up the villain of the story in Hobgoblin. Two issues in and Slott has made Amazing Spider-Man a must read with how much fun it is. If you are looking for a comic that is just pure fun then make sure to pick up a copy of Amazing Spider-Man #650.

Amazing Spider-Man #651 was a fantastic end to a highly enjoyable story arc. You cannot kick off a new direction for a comic than how Dan Slott has started with Big Time. Slott just delivered a comic book story that is pure fun. With Humberto Ramos along for the ride as the artist this is a comic book that is hard not to have a smile on your face while reading and even after. If you are a Spider-Man I highly recommend picking up this comic up. And if you are looking for a fun comic to read than do yourself a favor and pick up this first arc by Slott. You will not regret it.

As Big Time continues it has only gotten better and Amazing Spider-Man #653 is an example of that. Dan Slott, with help from Fred Van Lente, is establishing Amazing Spider-Man as one of Marvels premier titles. This is just one fun comic that no Spider-Man fan will want to miss out on. With the extra back-up story in this issue, you are getting your moneys worth in by buying this issue. I highly recommend picking up this issue because you will be sure to be smiling from beginning to end. I know I was.

When it comes right down to it End of the Earth has gotten off to the right start. Amazing Spider-Man #682 delivered a different way to start an event as Dan Slott presented Doctor Octopus as both a hero and a villain. He also turned the world against Spider-Man in one quick move. Everything in this issue helped to make things a lot more mysterious in how things will end. Having Stefano Caselli on art was just icing on the cake for this great issue. If you have yet to pick up Amazing Spider-Man I highly encourage doing so because whether you are a new or old reader End of the Earth is an event that cannot be missed.

Amazing Spider-Man #3 continues the strong momentum this latest volume this Marvel flagship title has built since the first issue. While I was not the biggest fan of the rich Peter Parker concept when I first heard it Dan Slott and Giuseppe Camuncoli have convinced me to buy in. Slott has delivered on keeping Peter Parker grounded even with all his success. The use of Johnny Storm in this issue was a good way to drive that point home. With Zodiac attacking SHIELD and Norman Osborn lurking in the shadows there are also plenty of things to be excited for in the coming months for Amazing Spider-Man. Knowing that has me even more excited for what is come from the minds of Dan Slott and Giuseppe Camuncoli.

Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #1 is one of the best Secret Wars tie-ins that is currently out. Dan Slott and Adam Kubert did a phenomenal job developing the status of Peter and MJ's marriage while also showing us why Spider-Man is the last hero on this part of Battleworld. That status quo gave greater importance on how we saw Peter Parker in the final page of this issue. How Slott and Kubert will develop the conflict in this series moving forward will be interesting to see play out. If you are a Spider-Man fan this is one comic you must definitely go out and buy.

After dropping the series due to the first few issues being slow and boring Aquaman #15 was able to grab my attention in the series again. Geoff Johns is able to give us a solid background on why "Thrones of Atlantis" is happening as the foundation for this story. The addition of a third party will help keep the mystery of what will happen less predictable. It was also fantastic to see Paul Pelletier on a new comic book as his artwork delivers the big event feel to whatever story he is drawing.

Jonathan Hickman continues to weave a fascinating tale with Avengers #7. The cosmic nature of the story makes this title feel like a big event comic, something that has been missing from the majority of team books on the market. Hickman is able to feed us a lot of information while also keeping enough hidden that makes you want to keep coming back for more.

Avengers #9 was another great read for Marvels flagship title. Jonathan Hickman further develops his grand vision for the series by developing a strong cast of villains for the Avengers to fight. Ex Nihlo is has quickly proven himself to be one of the greatest new additions to Avengers Rogue Gallery in a long time. The integration of New Universe plotlines such as White Event and Starbrand have only further added to the larger-than-life scope of the series. The addition of Dustin Weaver and Mike Deodato on art duties helps to elevate the grandeur of the story with truly stunning visuals from beginning to end. I highly recommend Marvel fans to give Hickmans Avengers series a try. If you dont you would be missing out on a truly spectacular comic.

Avengers #14 has everything that you could ask for from a comic book. It has action, drama, character development and proper use of continuity all in one neat package. Jonathan Hickman and Nick Spencer showed masterful hands in how they crafted Avengers #14 as each scene flowed into the next. The use of Bruce Banner proved to be the highlight of this issue as we finally get to see the character not just used as the Hulk but as one of the smartest person in the Marvel Universe. Coupled with a great call back to Planet Hulk and recent developments in Avengers the issue had a larger than life feeling to it. With spectacular artwork from Stefano Caselli Avengers #14 is another phenomenal issue for this can't miss series.

Batman #694 was another great read in Daniel's second turn at writing a Batman story. Daniel is doing an impressive job with his writing on this story arc. This is actually turning out to be one of the more enjoyable stories with Dick as Batman. Daniel has done a very good job balancing Dick's personal relationships with his new adventures as Batman while also bringing him into more of Bruce's lifestyle.

Batman #697 was a great ending to a story that was surprising in how well it turned out. Daniel turned in his A-game with this story arc. This story proved that his Battle for the Cowl story was hampered by editorial mandates as he proved himself to be a talented writer when given the creative freedom to write the story he wants to write. If you are a Batman fan pick this story up when it comes out on trade as it is a fun story that will be enjoyed by new and old Batman fans.

Batman #698 was a fun fast-paced Batman story. While not as deep and complex like what Morrison is giving us in Batman and Robin which might turn some readers off that like that type of story this was still a solid Batman story that most Batman fans should enjoy. Also if you are a fan of the Riddler this is an issue you should pick up. Overall a solid Batman story that I recommend all Batman fans looking for a fun fast-paced story to pick up.

Batman #6 was another phenomenal entry in Scott Snyders epic. The whole story with the Court of Owls has been refreshing because as a reader I have been able to just read the story without knowing what is going to happen next. I am looking forward to what next crazy twist Snyder is going to throw at us instead of predicting what will happen. Heading into the big Batman crossover I am now looking forward to it even more because of how big of a threat the Court of Owls are to the Batman universe. Now if you are not reading Batman I highly encourage you do because this is a title that is a must buy.

Batman #10 takes the Night of the Owls event to another level as Scott Snyder delivers big revelations to both the reader and Batman. There is no point to predicting what is going to happen next with this Court of Owls Saga. This is one of those stories that has just been incredibly fun to just sit back and enjoy the intense ride Snyder has us on. I just wish we got Batman #11 next week because I am on the edge of my seat to find out how this story ends. If you have not been reading Batman I highly recommend going back and picking up this comic in trade format.

Batman #11 was a nearly perfect ending to what has been one of the best stories of the year. Scott Snyder truly creates an epic ending to the Court of Owls Saga that leaves you wanting more. Even with one misstep there was enough character work and action delivered that you can overlook that because the story is so much fun. With the announcement of the story for the series involving a certain Clown Prince of Crime this is a series that no one will want to miss out on reading. It is a must buy comic.

Scott Snyder has continuously delivered one excellent Batman comic after another and Batman #14 was no different. With the Joker going over the speed limit with his psychological attack on Batman this is a comic that can only be described as intense from beginning to end. Snyder did a great job showing off what makes the dynamic between Batman and Joker so special in terms of a battle between hero and villain. The additions of Batmans interaction with Commissioner Gordon and Nightwing only add more weight to everything going on in just one night. If you have not jumped on board with Snyders run do so immediately. Just begin with Batman #13 because this is one story arc that you do not want to miss out on.

Batman #16 is an engrossing reading experience from beginning to end. Scott Snyder and company do not let go of your attention until you reach the final panel. Each time I finished reading this issue all I wanted to do was read it over and over again.

Batman #43 was an excellently dense read. Scott Snyder was able to craft a comic book that felt like it had double its actual page count. Through all of this Snyder was able to provide proper justification for Bruce's resurrection and why he is not going to be returning to the cape and cowl any time soon. This explanation opens the door for some fresh character development for Bruce Wayne. At the same time, Snyder spent an equal amount of time developing Jim Gordon as the new Batman and how dangerous Mr. Bloom is. All of this equated to a comic book that I wanted to read over and over again which is what all great comic books

Batman #9 is a great start for "I Am Suicide." Setting the majority of the issue inside of Arkham Asylum helped the execution of Batman assembling the team. Tom King nailed the characterization of all the characters that Batman recruited to be part of his Suicide Squad. Ending the issue with Catwoman's appearance helped to solidify how dangerous Bane and Santa Prisca are. Add in Mikel Janin's strong artwork and you have a story that Batman fans should not miss out on reading.

With 52 new #1 comics coming out from DC Comics Batman and Robin #1 was able to separate itself from the pack. With only one issue the team of Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason made Batman and Robin my favorite series and the comic I will be looking forward to the most each month. Tomasi did a great job giving this issue a clear beginning, middle and end as he provided us with a full story that has a running sub-plot involving a new villain that has me looking forward to the next issue. I love the dynamic Tomasi established with Bruce and Damian as Batman and Robin.

Batman and Red Robin #19 did a lot in establishing Batman's current mental state. Peter Tomasi does a stellar job in presenting how Bruce Wayne is dealing with his son's death while using the tools available around the DC Universe in fun and unexpected ways. The addition of Red Robin and the introduction of Carrie Kelly helped to further show where Bruce is at mentally. At the same time, I continue to find all the "Who is the next Robin?" teases to be inappropriately timed, which reaches the point of frustration thanks to this week's Channel 52 back-up. With that said, Batman and Red Robin #19 continues the trend of Tomasi and Gleason making a claim for the best Batman title on the market.

Batman: Li'l Gotham #11 was another highly entertaining entry in what is easily the best comic that DC Comics is currently publishing. Though the lack of other Batman Family members was disappointing it was fun to see Damian Wayne carry this Mother's Day story. This issue had a very different tone to it than previous Li'l Gotham issues. Instead of just focusing on the comedic antics of the Batman cast this one mixed humor with some very touching moments about a kid and his parents. The heartwarming payoff at the end worked because Damian was the focus for this issue, as he is given a true family moment with Batman and Talia that he always wanted. If you're a Batman fan Batman: Li'l Gotham #11 is a must to have on your iPad, iPhone, Android or whatever other device that you have Comixology available on.

What's made Nathan Edmondson and Phil Noto's Black Widow standout from the pack is how they are able merge Natasha's backstory into their overarching story. With Black Widow #19 we were able to finally get an issue dedicated to the backstory we have been treated in glimpses throughout this run. In exploring Natasha's backstory we were able to further dive into the core of who she really is. With how this story was framed Black Widow #19 is an easy jumping on point for anyone looking for a good Black Widow story.

Blackest Night Batman #1 was a great read. Tomasi did a great job bringing in Batman and his universe into Blackest Night. So far this is the best Blackest Night related issue I have read so far. If you are reading Blackest Night than I recommend picking this mini-series up as this series will provide some answers and questions to the event. Plus seeing Batman and his allies having to fight their family and the dead Rogue Gallery along with the Deadman plotline should make this mini-series a blast to read in the next two issue.

Captain Marvel and the Carol Corps #2 does a fantastic job in helping to separate this series from the army of Secret Wars comics on the stands right now. Kelly Sue DeConnick and Kelly Thompson delivered a story that feels unique to Carol Danvers character. The relationships between Carol and her crew help ground the more fantastical elements as they all seem like genuine friends dealing with a conflict together. James Rhodes presence in the story added to the tension that already existed around this story as he gave this series a wildcard at its disposal. And with how things ended in this issue I have even greater expectations for this story to get even better moving forward.

Daredevil #501 was a great read. Diggle and De La Torre set a very good foundation for the start of their new run. Diggle did the right thing to take a slow and methodical approach with this issue as this was a very character driven issue. And with the surprising ending we got at the end of this issue things only look to get even more intense with future issues. I highly recommend any fan of gritty street level titles to pick this issue and series up as it is a very well written series.

Daredevil #11 was a strong finish to The Omega Effect. Mark Waid provided a lot of great character work for Daredevil, Punisher and Spider-Man. All three characters were able to mesh together very well as they each brought something different to the table. The addition of Rachel Alves gave the team-up an added cog to the machine to further Daredevils character. With how the story ended I look forward to seeing how the ramifications of where each character stands at the end will affect each book.

Having that instant feeling that you are about to read a comic that is truly special is a rare feeling to have. But when you do get that feeling it just makes the comic a must read. That is exactly what Daredevil #19 is. With a strong mix of adventure and drama Mark Waid continues to male Daredevil a must have comic every month. If this comic is not on your pull list I highly recommend changing that right away and buying this comic.

Mark Waids Daredevil continues to be in a class of its own, a fact proven with Daredevil #28. Its incredible how much content Waid is able to pack into a single issue. Even when introducing a new character to Daredevils mythology Waid does not slow the issue down. Instead he uses the new character, Nate Hackett, to provide Matt Murdock yet another challenge for him to face. We even treated to some great scenes between Matt and Foggy as well as Matt and his father, Jack Murdock. Add in the artwork from Javier Rodriguez and you have yet another winner for the best comic book on the market. If you arent reading Waids Daredevil I highly recommend changing that right away and picking up the trades and single issues right away. You will be in for quite a treat when you do.

While it is fun to see Matt Murdock overcome the struggles in his civilian and Daredevil life Mark Waid gave us with a much needed break from that with Daredevil #30. This one-shot story continued the action-adventure tone this series has taken under Waid's watch and added a bit of the Marvel Cosmic magic to separate this from other Daredevil stories. Silver Surfer's involvement in this story helped to give Daredevil a different type of character to interact with since Daredevil isn't accustomed to dealing with cosmic characters. It was also interesting to see how Waid was able to use this cosmic story to further the personal struggles Matt is dealing with. The ending left me looking forward to what happens next in Matt's life in and outside his Daredevil persona.

Daredevil #17 did exactly what it needed to do as the story has escalated to a point where you don't know how things will turn out for Matt Murdock and his supporting cast. Mark Waid did a great job making sure that everything that happened here elevated the threat that Kingpin imposes on Daredevil's life. With how things were left off I have no idea what will happen at the end of this story. All of this only helps to build on the anticipation I have as a reader to get my hands on the next issue as soon as possible.

Daredevil #18 capped off Mark Waid and Chris Samnee's run on this franchise in excellent fashion. Just like their entire run, Waid and Samnee went for a different type of Daredevil ending, one in which saw the character finally get a "happily ever after." The entire set-up leading into this finally made Daredevil finally coming out on top even more rewarding as a fan of the character and this run. While I can't immediately say where Waid and Samnee's run ranks amongst all the Daredevil creative team runs it was excellently executed and something all fans of the Man Without Fear should put on their reading queues.

Dark Reign The List - Amazing Spider-Man was a great read that many Spider-Man fans will enjoy. Also if you have liked these List one-shots and Dark Reign so far you should pick this issue up as it is one of the best Dark Reign related stories I have read. Highly recommended as it also seems to be setting some ground work for Norman's fall from grace.

I can't say enough good things about Descender #5. While I came into this issue expecting the end of a story arc I'm glad to see that things aren't being rushed. Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen continue to find ways to add to the mythology of the Descender's universe. The way Lemire and Nguyen do so is in a natural way that keeps the story moving forward with a purpose. The ending of this issue only made me even more excited to see how everything plays out in this universe.

Detective Comics #880 was yet another fantastic entry in Scott Snyders run on this title. As we are one issue away from Snyders big end to his Detective Comics run before he heads over to Batman he delivered an issue full of suspense. With everything that Snyder has been building towards finally colliding with one another I am on the edge of my seat as I anticipate the final issue. I cannot wait to get my hands on Detective Comics #881 in two weeks. August 10th cannot come soon enough.

Detective Comics #940 turned out to be a much more important comic book than originally advertised. Not only did James Tynion deliver a big development by taking Tim Drake off the table for use in the immediate future but also tied it into the greater narrative of DC's Rebirth story. This ending also leaves Batman and Batwoman's new team of heroes in an interesting spot after the quick crossover with Batman and Nightwing comics is over. I am definitely more interested to see what happens next than I was already which is all I can ask for from any comic book.

Detective Comics #943 loudly makes its case for why it this series should be considered one of the best Batman books DC is publishing. James Tynion and Alvaro Martinez team-up to deliver a great follow up on both the continuing fallout of Tim Drake's death and aftermath of the "Night of the Monster Men" crossover. In using both these recent storylines Tynion and Martinez were able to seamlessly launch Detective Comics in a unique direction that gives multiple characters to shine moving forward. And with the Victim Syndicate already making their presence know there are a lot of reasons for Batman fans to be picking up Detective Comics.

Fantastic Four #570 was a great start to Hickman and Eaglesham's run on this series. They did a very good job making this a very new reader friendly issue while also hooking long time readers with the introduction of the multiverse versions of Reed and continuing the Nu-World plotline. I definitely recommend picking this issue up for fans of team books and of the Fantastic Four specifically.

Fantastic Four #582 was a phenomenal read. I dont know if I can say enough about how much I am loving Jonathan Hickmans work on this title. I highly recommend seeking out all of Hickmans Fantastic Four trades right now and catching up to what has been going on as Fantastic Four is easily one of the best, if not the best, book on the market right now. I cant wait to see what is in store next as Fantastic Four #582 has me all kinds of excited for what comes next and you dont want to miss out.

With a combination of strong dialogue and artwork FF #10 was the strongest issue of the series since its relaunch. Jonathan Hickman nailed the different interactions we got in this issue as he shows us where all these character are after all the big things that they have been through. With the Kree attacking the Inhumans on the moon it is going to be fun to see the Fantastic Four deal with more cosmic threats close to Earth. The next issue cannot come fast enough.

Green Lantern Corps #36 was another solid issue by Tomasi and Gleason. This title has become such a fun title that I recommend any who enjoys great space stories to give Green Lantern Corps a try as it has become more than just a supplementary title to Green Lantern and stands on its own as one of the best titles DC has.

Green Lantern Corps #37 was another solid read. Tomasi has made Green Lantern Corps so much fun that it is able to not just stand out on its own from Green Lantern, but actually surpass Green Lantern in of quality. If you are looking for a comic that is just pure fun while also playing up the events that are going to happen in Blackest Night, then I would recommend picking up Green Lantern Corps.

Guardians of the Galaxy #14 was a great read. DnA do an excellent job making Guardians feel like is not just a senseless tie-in, like most tie-ins are, and actually make every issue that is War of Kings related feel like they add rather than detract from the story. If you still haven't picked up War of Kings or Guardians of the Galaxy I highly recommend you pick up both titles as they are some of the best books on the shelves today.

Guardians of the Galaxy #25 was another spectacular issue. Throughout their run DnA have put on a clinic as they showed how to write a big team book. This issue had everything you want out of a story big villains, universe ending disasters, and a likable team of heroes ready to take on any threat. Hopefully once Thanos Imperative is over Guardians of the Galaxy does return because it would be a shame to lose this title which has easily been one of the best titles on the stands. If you are looking for a great team book with epic stories than pick up DnAs run on Guardians of the Galaxy. There are very few comics that are more fun with a great cast from the top down than this title.

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #8 is a strong start to the second arc in the series. Without Hal Jordan or Sinestro around we were able to shine the spotlight on other characters that deserve just as much as those two. The surprising ending that revealed Brainiac as the main villain for this new arc brings a lot of fresh new opportunities for Robert Venditti to take. Adding in Ethan Van Sciver phenomenal artwork makes this an even bigger must-read for Green Lantern fans.

Mega Man #24 was exactly what I wanted it to be. Ian Flynn is able to develop a fun story that brings together Mega Man and Sonic's Universes. All of the great fanservice put a smile on my face from beginning to end as the 6 year old in me was having a blast reading this comic. Jamal Peppers helps things out by replicating both worlds in such a way that I was flashing back to memories of playing the video games and watching the cartoons as a kid. Overall, this was a fantastic read that every Mega Man and Sonic fan will enjoy reading.

New Avengers #2 effectively establishes the grand scope that makes it standout from other Avengers titles. Along with setting up the scope for the series Jonathan Hickman is able to create some sub-plots within the group that will make the dynamic of this Avengers team standout. With Steve Epting presenting a grim future for this group of Avengers it'll be interesting to see how things unfold.

There is a great sense of discovery to Jonathan Hickman's Marvel work and New Avengers #6 is no different. It's incredible how Hickman gets all the little things right in order to enhance the grander vision he has for this group of Avengers. Small story beats with how each member of the Illuminati speak to individual teammates differently to the bigger stuff such as Doctor Doom's appearance and a whole world blowing up is incredible to see play out. Black Swan's continued presence adds a wild card to the entire story as you can see the wheels turning inside her head with each word that she speaks. While this issue's exposition story may turn off fans looking for non-stop action it works for what Hickman is doing on this series. It helps that Steve Epting continues to impress with how the small and big moments are drawn to have an equal epic importance.

Nova #31 was another solid issue. DnA keep each issue of this series moving fast-paced while providing plenty of solid character development. If you haven't tried Nova or any of the Marvel cosmic titles than I highly recommend picking up this title along with everything Realm of Kings related.

Old Man Logan #1 is one of the stronger Secret Wars tie-in comics out there. Brian Bendis brought his A-game to this book with how he is able to further flesh out the world of Old Man Logan. It doesn't hurt that Bendis had Andrea Sorrentino phenomenal artwork to elevate everything about the story. While Logan was the headliner it was Sorrentino's artwork that was the true star of the show. The art alone is reason enough to buy this comic and the fact that the story is so strong is just an added plus.

All you need to know about Old Man Logan #2 is that it is a must buy merely to have the beautiful artwork from Andrea Sorrentino in your hands to look over for the rest of time. This is just a fantastic looking comic book with Sorrentino ability to tell a complete story through his artwork a sight to see. It's in that beautiful artwork that the story is propelled to be better than it may have been otherwise. With how Brian Bendis is presenting Logan as a wild card within Battleworld I am even more excited to see what comes next in this series.

Old Man Logan #3 delivered another compelling look into Marvel's newest man out of time in Wolverine. This older version of the character has opened up a lot of opportunities for Jeff Lemire and Marvel to explore a Logan that does not have a God-like healing factor and comes from a time where he lost everything. Those are the opportunities that Lemire and Sorrentino are making full use of in both the writing and artwork. And now that Kate Bishop and Steve Rogers are forcing Logan to face the reality of his situation hopefully we are in store for something even bigger. Overall if you are a Wolverine fan I can't recommend Old Man Logan enough. This is a comic all fans of the character should be adding to their collection.

Realm of Kings Inhumans #3 was another great read. DnA have done a wonderful job making this mini-series as the perfect follow-up to the War of Kings aftermath. DnA have done a great job writing all of the Inhumans and Kree in this mini-series with each main character given their own standout moments. Even though my favorite characters of this series are Medusa and Crystal all the other characters in this title are quickly becoming great characters that I like. If you have enjoyed Marvels cosmic titles and are looking for a title that directly follows up the War of Kings event Realm of Kings Inhumans is the title you want to pick up.

Spider-Gwen #12 is one of the best issues of the series. Jason Latour and Robbi Rodriguez effectively shake up Gwen Stacy's world with how her fight with Frank Castle ended. Now faced with a life without her dad to turn to Latour has created a situation where we are going to see a desperate Gwen that doesn't have someone to talk her out of bad decisions. Gwen's current state of mind is driven home by her decision to turn to Matt Murdock for help. How this decision will affect her personal and Spider-Woman life will be interesting to see moving forward.

Spider-Man/Fantastic Four #1 is my favorite comic that I read this past week. Gage and Alberti delivered a comic that is just pure fun. It was a blast revisiting this point in the careers of Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four. Gage has an excellent grasp for all the characters in this issue. He did a great job giving us a complete story in this issue while also putting in a sub-plot that will run throughout this mini-series. If you are a Spider-Man and/or Fantastic Four fan I highly recommend picking this issue up as you are sure to have a blast reading this title.

Darth Vader #5 continued to give depth to Vader's character without ever going in a direction that makes the character unrecognizable. Seeing Darth Vader's plans to create an army of his be squashed a bit by Emperor Palpatines on private army was well executed. It gave additional layer of tension that Kieron Gillen has been building between the two after the events of the first Death Star's explosion. How these new characters are used moving forward makes for an exciting prospect that just has me itching to get my hands on the next issue of Darth Vader.

Thanos Imperative #4 delivers on everything it promises and then some. Things just keeping getting bigger and more epic with each issue as DnA continue their cosmic opera. Even with how big things have gotten in these first four issues things only look to get bigger now that we have two issues left. And with everything that happened in this issue the next two issues cant get here soon enough. I cant recommend picking up Thanos Imperative enough. This is truly an epic event that you do not want to be missing out on.

Avenging Spider-Man #6 is an excellent start to this three book crossover that will also involve the Punisher and Daredevil titles. From the first page to the last there is no wasted page or panel in this issue. Greg Rucka and Mark Waid keep the entire issue focused on the story as they present us with some background into what The Omega Drive is and why Spider-Man, Punisher and Daredevil are fighting over who should hold it. With how much content Avenging Spider-Man #6 had I cannot wait to see what Rucka and Waid have in store for us in the next two issue with Punisher #10 and Daredevil #11.

Avenging Spider-Man #7 is one of the must have issues of the year. Kathryn and Stuart Immonen combined their talents to deliver what will not only be a contender for Issue of the Year but is currently the comic to beat for that award. Avenging Spider-Man #7 is one of those comics that no summary will do it justice in how much fun the story is. If you are a Marvel fan pick this Spider-Man/She-Hulk team-up issue up the next time you are in your local comic book shop. You will not be disappointed.

Avenging Spider-Man #15 is yet another example of how much fun comics can be. Cullen Bunn is able to make the team-up of Spider-Man, Moon Boy and Devil Dinosaur feel special. All the dinosaur fighting Devil Dinosaur is involved in does steal the show but Spider-Man is still able to make his presence known with some good comedic timing. If you have yet to give Avenging Spider-Man a try I recommend you start now because this has easily been one of Marvel's gems.

The Clone Conspiracy #2 nailed how the story continues to evolve. Dan Slott did a great job introducing new players in the form of Spider-Gwen and Kaine into the conflict. At the same time we got plenty of development for Spider-Man and Jackal with a big hook ending that creates a lot of questions for the story moving forward. Add in Jim Cheung's big event style artwork and there is really no reason for Spider-Man fans not to pick up The Clone Conspiracy. It's easily Marvel's best event going on right now.

Dan Slott delivered the surprises with The Clone Conspiracy #3 as he brought Ben Reilly back to Spider-Man's world. This along with Spider-Man's interactions with Spider-Gwen and Kingpin as well as bringing in elements from the old Clone Saga also elevated the story to show how far back Slott's plot goes. The issue does get marked down a bit with how predictable Jackal's offer to Spider-Man was. But even with that slight disappointment Slott story teamed with Jim Cheung's fantastic artwork delivered a strong third chapter to The Clone Conspiracy.

The Marvels Project #8 was a great end to what will go down as the definitive look at the Marvel Universes history. Brubaker and Epting put on a clinic on how to do past stories right. In eight issues Brubaker and Epting were able to tell one complete story of the Marvel Universes history and giving it a real world feel. The whole series acts as one big history lesson while also planting a few seeds for characters to pop-up again in future stories.

In a sea of good MarvelNow! comics Thor: God of Thunder is able to stand as one of the best series to come out of all these relaunches. Thor: God of Thunder #3 is just another example of this excellence with Jason Aaron continuing to inject Thor's world with a larger than life feel. Each Thor that is involved in the story is given enough time to develop their personalities. Gorr is also a different type of threat with all the mystical aspects of the character to go along with its power. If you're wondering which MarvelNow! comic to pick up than be sure to get Thor: God of Thunder. It's one comic that is not to be missed.

Thor God of Thunder #4 was another well-paced issue that sees all three Thors getting time to shine in their individual time-lines. Jason Aaron has been able to balance the voices of each Thor so that they dont all sound similar. It is a fine line to walk but Aaron is able to make the execution seem easy. Gorr the God Butcher also continues to be built up as a threat unlike any Thor has faced and his mystique is raised with what we learn about him. Add in strong artwork from Ribics and we have more epic storytelling being told and who does not like that?

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #7 continues the excellence of this title. It is hard to find a title that is more fun than Ultimate Comics Spider-Man. With the additions of Johnny and Bobby to Peters supporting cast this title has only gotten better as Bendis characterization of every character in the series is just spot on. It will be interesting to see where Bendis takes this Rick Jones/The Watcher storyline with the next issue. I highly recommend picking this issue and series up especially if you are a Spider-Man because you will not be disappointed with how fun this series is.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #200 was exactly what it was supposed to be a celebration. Brian Bendis wrote this issue for long-term fans to remember why they have been reading this series and that is because of the dynamic between Peter, Miles and the rest of the Ultimate Spider-Man supporting cast. Each character was given enough time so that we can catch up with where they are and also get to see the dynamic they share together. The possible futures we got to see was great bit of fan service that had me smiling as each character had a different vision for Peters future had he not died. Bringing in the artists that were most attached to each character was a nice touch to make the possible futures stand out without getting in the way of consistency of Dave Marquez artwork. If you are an Ultimate Spider-Man fan than Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #200 is a must-have.

Ultimate End #1 knocked it out of the park when it came to delivering on a crossover we've been waiting for since the Ultimate Universes inception. Brian Bendis and Mark Bagley proved that they are the right creative team to work on this mini-series with how much they understand both universes. Not only was it great to see the 616 and Ultimate Universes colliding but having this series be directly tied into the events of Secret Wars gave this added value to those reading the Marvel event. Establishing that these Marvel heroes still remember everything before Battleworld's formation is an important factor in separating Ultimate End from all the other tie-ins. This fact alone makes what goes on in this series feel like a must read for everyone following Secret Wars.

While Uncanny Avengers #1 is not the most new reader friendly issue that Marvel could have started their new direction with it delivered a strong story nonetheless. Rick Remender and John Cassaday combined to deliver an entertaining comic that laid the groundwork for the rest of the series going forward. The six cover characters are all given enough screen time to establish the different voices they each have and what their attitudes are post-Avengers vs. X-Men. With the Red Skull initiating his plans and mutants back with a vengeance what happens next will be exciting to see.

The final domino for Brian Bendis epic X-Men finale has been laid out with Uncanny X-Men #35. By highlighting the young group of X-Men he has developed over the course of his run Bendis was able to place them in an interesting position leading into his grand finale. The one-shot nature of Uncanny X-Men #35 also provided this set of characters a good chance to have a full arc on their own. Seeing how these young X-Men dealt with success and adversity also gave a greater importance for a place like the Jean Grey School to exist in the Marvel Universe. Hopefully now that everything is place Bendis is able to deliver a strong end to his great X-Men run.

Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting continue to do a fantastic job bringing all of the best aspects from classic spy movies into one comic book. Velvet #3 shows us that the first two issues werent just a fluke. Instead what those first two issues did was establish the world Velvet lives in and now with the third issue we are ready to see Velvet in full spy action. And even though we get to see how badass of a spy Velvet is we also see that she is still human and is prone to make mistakes. With how the issue ended I look forward to seeing what the fallout will be and what is next in the bigger mystery that Velvet has involved herself in.

If you are going to launch a new series you better go big or go home. That is exactly what Ed Brubaker and Butch Guice do with Winter Soldier #1. Brubaker sets the espionage tone the series is going to have from page 1 and never stops. This first issue does everything right as we get inside of Bucky Barnes head to see how he ticks and how an efficient fighter the character is. With the inclusion of Black Widow as Buckys partner and Red Ghost as the villain of the story things should continue to get interesting in Buckys world. If you are looking for a superhero title with a 007-feel or were a fan of Brubakers initial run on Captain America then I highly recommend picking up Winter Soldier #1.

Though the fanboy part of me wants to hate certain aspects of the story Winter Soldier #10 but it is just too well executed to hate. Ed Brubaker continues to show why Bucky Barnes as Winter Soldier is deserving of starring in his own solo series. Putting Natasha in a situation where she not only reverts back to the old Black Widow but also forgets her whole relationship with Bucky puts further weight on this latest arc. Having Butch Guice on art only helps further the enjoyment of this issue as he is the perfect fit for the tone Brubaker is going for this story.

With Winter Soldier #14 Ed Brubaker and Butch Guice end their run in stellar fashion. Brubaker delivered on all the dramatic potential of this story. Though Bucky was able to save Natasha it was a no win situation for Bucky. It's a sad but fitting end for the story. This leaves Bucky in a very interesting position moving forward for the new creative team of this series. At the same time Guice is able to deliver some fitting artwork as he is able to switch up his artwork for both the past and present day scenes. If you did not read Brubaker and Guice run on Winter Soldier I highly recommend picking up the trades. This is one short but great run that shouldn't be missed.

Wolverine #1 was a blast to read especially when you add in the fantastic Silver Samurai back-up. Aaron showed he has a great handle on Wolverines character and does a great job setting up the story. And along with his artists, Guedes for the main story and Latour for the back-up, this is a great looking issue. If you are a Wolverine fan I recommend picking this issue up even with the one problem it had. This story has all the makings of being a crazy fun time and with Aaron on writing duties I have faith that is what he is going to deliver.

While the first two issues of the series weren't bad they never were able to fully connect the dots for an engaging story. Wolverine #3 is where everything comes together for this series. Paul Cornell has done a fine job capturing the veteran superhero voice of Wolverine with a great use of the supporting cast and Nick Fury Jr.'s involvement to highlight this. The story with the mysterious villains plot is also able to pick up and truly gets going in interesting ways. All of this is brought to life by the great artwork from Alan Davis, who brings his usual A-list talent to this series. With how things went down in this issue I believe that Cornell is setting us up for something special on Wolverine. Knowing Cornell's past work that is something no Marvel fan will want to miss out on.

Wolverine #1 does its job of hooking me right away. Paul Cornell quickly establishes how Wolverine is going to be handling life without a healing factor by embracing the characters entire history. Cornell accomplishes this in a way that doesnt make you feel like you have to come in with expert knowledge on the character. Everything you need to know you are able to learn as the issue progresses. There are also a lot of little things that long-time fans of Wolverine will love such as the look at the characters possible future. If you have ever been interested in reading a Wolverine comic book than I highly recommend giving Wolverine #1 a try.

Jason Aaron has been able to knock it out of the park so far with every issue of and Wolverine and the X-Men #6 is no different. Aaron has delivers great dialogue from beginning to end. The story has a strong pacing between Wolverine and Quentin Quires adventure on Planet Sin and the X-Men at the Jean Grey School fighting of the Brood. If you are a fan of the X-Men than Wolverine and the X-Men is definitely a series you should be picking up. It is the best X-Men book on the market.

As someone that has never been a Wonder Woman fan I continue to find myself more and more invested in the intriguing tale that Brian Azzarello is weaving in this series. Wonder Woman #19 does a great job spotlighting all of the aspects in the series that make this one of the best comic books being published by DC Comics. Azzarello is able to move many of the chess pieces he has set into a position where I cannot wait to see how Wonder Woman handles this war between the Twelve Olympians. If you havent checked out Wonder Woman I highly recommend you do so because it is a true standout in the sea of all the superhero comics out there.

X-Force #26 was a great read. Kyle and Yost delivered the best chapter in the Second Coming event since the one-shot that started this whole event, which they also wrote. While I hate how predictable and forced the Nightcrawler death was structured from the beginning of the event Kyle and Yost handled the death well. Combine the great writing with Choi and Obacks spectacular artwork and this issue delivers everything you expect from a big event. I am now looking forward to the next chapter of this event more than I was before this issue. If you have been reading the Second Coming event this is an issue that will not disappoint. Definitely pick this issue up.

X-Force #27 was a great read. After three disappointing chapters Second Coming picks up the pace again as the X-Men face extinction. If you have been reading Second Coming so far you will enjoy this issue by Kyle, Yost, Choi, and Oback. It really delivers on what you expect from this X-Men crossover. Here is hoping that now that we are entering the last few chapters that the X-writers can keep things up.

While the lack of a resolution may turn some people off this is exactly how things should have ended. Brian Wood does a phenomenal job not letting the fact that this is an all-female lead cast be the main driving force of the story. Instead Wood focuses on what is important which is how this X-Men team deals with the conflict at hand and how the characters complement one another. At the same time, with how the Sublime/Arkea conflict ended Wood has left the door open for an even bigger story to develop moving forward. The addition of Olivier Coipel fantastic artwork makes this an easy recommendation for all fans of superhero comics to read.

Brian Wood offers fans a little bit of everything that can be asked for from a comic with X-Men #4. The argument between Storm and Rachel address a long standing question in superhero comics and further establishes Storms role as the leader of this group. Not to be left out of the issue Kitty, Psylocke and Rogue steal the show in during their screen time with a riveting sequence that involves the three saving an airplane over a mountain range. The Wolverine and Jubilee portion of this issue helps break up the seriousness of what the other X-Men are doing and highlights the father-daughter relationship that they share. With so many X-Men comics to choose from every month Wood breaks out of the pack with X-Men #4 and stakes a claim at having one of the cant miss comic books.

Its refreshing to have a comic book event that is able to execute the idea of an end of the world scenario without having to rely on giant explosions or dark settings. Brian Wood does a great job carrying over the tone established in the opening chapters to Battle for the Atom and makes the story his own with X-Men #5. Wood seamlessly integrates sub-plots from his recent story arc to enhance the X-Mens current predicament. The dynamic shared between all the X-Men, especially Past-Cyclops/Past-Jean Grey and Rachel/Present-Kitty, helps add to the unpredictability of this story. Wood does such a good job with the pacing of the story that he is able to naturally transition the story into the Uncanny X-Men series. Hopefully Brian Bendis can continue this great momentum as he gets the reins of the story back with the next chapter of Battle of the Atom.

X-Men Schism #1 was the perfect definition of what a first issue of a major event should be. Jason Aaron delivered an issue that can bring in new readers while continuing ongoing plot threads from previous X-Men events that have happened the past few years. Aaron did a fantastic job showing the X-Men, specifically Cyclops and Wolverine, as characters that have seen a lot of evolution over the years. He also provided excellent challenge for the heroes of the story. The villains of the story are so great that it has the reader question how the X-Men will actually be able to come out of what lies ahead of them. If you are an X-Men fan or have had an interest in reading an X-Men book I highly recommend picking up X-Men Schism #1 as it delivers on everything you expect from a great X-Men issue and event.

This issue goes a long way in terms of resolving many of the lingering plot threads that have run through the series. The final showdown with Alter and the Israelis finally happens. If you're expecting a giant battle scene, you obviously haven't been reading this series for long. The conclusion is much more subtle and nuanced – tying together a number of small cues from throughout the series that only make complete sense now in hindsight. Taking care of this story thread leaves a lot of room for Vaughan to flex his creative muscle in the 60th and final issue. I trust he'll make good use of it. Add in some more of Pia Guerra's consistently strong understated art, and you have no reason not to buy this issue. Unless you haven't read the previous 58, then you're excused until you have the time to catch up through trades…

It goes without saying that Michael Lark does his usual fantastic job. He's a great noir artist that just happens to be able to do super heroes as well. After a short lull in quality, Daredevil is back running full throttle.

Being one of the flagship titles in their DC Comics New 52 #1 it was imperative Action Comics #1 would deliver a strong read. With Grant Morrison at the helm that is exactly what we got. Morrison delivered a fast paced Superman comic that turned this non-Superman fan into one.

Action Comics #2 was a fantastic issue. Grant Morrison and Rags Morales combine to deliver an excellent character focus issue. Morrison lays all the ground work Superman and Lex Luthors conflict and how both characters represent the two sides of the same coin. There were a lot of great touches throughout the issue that also develops some sub-plots that will be fun to follow. With so many new series out on the stand Action Comics easily stands out as one of DC's best titles.

A few nitpicking comments aside I did enjoy the general story that Grant Morrison told in Action Comics #7. Morrison has a strong grasp of the type of hero Superman is and furthers the storyline involving Brainiac. The ending delivered the excitement necessary that I am looking forward to how Morrison takes things in next months issue.

All-New X-Men #1 is the biggest surprise coming out of MarvelNow. Brian Bendis floored me with how well written this new X-Men title was. The conflict and characters are all quickly established with choices being made by certain characters can lead to some interesting ramifications. Stuart Immomen is able to help make the issue be even better by giving all of the talking head scenes a sense of urgency through his artwork.

All-New X-Men #2 is a strong second showing for Brian Bendis and Stuart Immonen. They have been able to provide the X-Men with a new life. From beginning to end the story pacing is very strong as Bendis puts in motion the conflict between the original X-Men with the present day X-Men. The difference between both groups helped to show how much all the characters have changed over time and builds excitement to the conflict between the two groups in future issues.

While All-New X-Men #3 had a few minor faults this was by far the best issue of the series so far. This is saying something because there has been very little to complain about these first three issues of All-New X-Men. This third issue was able to final let us get into the perspective of Cyclops group. Each character has their own motivation for joining Cyclops cause and how these purposes will mesh and conflict will be fun to see. Just the possibility of seeing past and present day Cyclops fighting in the next issue, with past Jean Grey there, is enough to have me eagerly anticipating the release of the next issue.

All-New X-Men #10 continued the momentum that the previous issue set by progressing all of the plotlines of this series. Even though this is a dialogue heavy issue Brian Bendis makes the most of every page by delivering great characterization for the X-Men, especially the past version of Cyclops. The conclusion with an unknown member of the Jean Grey School joining Cyclops Uncanny X-Men could have a lot potential to provide a dramatic shift to what happens next. The addition of the new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants making their presence known only adds further intrigue into the future of the series. If you are an X-Men fan I highly recommend picking up All-New X-Men as it is getting better and better.

All-New X-Men #12 is another entertaining chapter in Brian Bendis run that is slightly brought down by scenes that we have seen before. Even with scenes taking a similar tone Bendis is able breathe new life to them by integrating events that occurred during House of M and Avengers vs. X-Men.

After going through a few chapters that progressed at a snails pace Brian Bendis turned in a fine six chapter to the X-Men Battle of the Atom crossover. With a greater look at what the future holds for the X-Men if things stayed as they were Bendis furthered the unpredictable pace of this story. As a reader this makes what happens next be even more exciting because I have no idea what each character will do the closer we get to the end. There is so much going on in this story that I just want to get my hands on the next chapter of this crossover. In the end, Bendis was able to reinvigorating my interest in this crossover with All-New X-Men #17.

Amazing Spider-Man #599 was a great ending to "American Son." Kelly really set the bar high for Amazing Spider-Man #600 that comes out on Wednesday. I cannot remember the last time I was this excited about reading Amazing Spider-Man and much of the credit goes to what Kelly and the other Spider-Man Brain Trust members have done to build stories organically.

Amazing Spider-Man #618 was a good read thanks to all the great artwork that Martin provided in this issue. While Slott does a solid job with the writing it was just not as great as the story that Van Lente and Kelly wrote in the last three issues of this series. Still you cant go wrong picking this issue up as Martins artwork alone is worth the cover price. Overall you wont go wrong picking this issue up as it was a nice solid Spider-Man issue that had plenty of entertaining parts.

Amazing Spider-Man #627 was a fun start to this three-part stand alone story that does not have any connection to the Gauntlet arc. This issue continues the role of great stories that Amazing Spider-Man has been delivering for the past few months. Roger Sterns sequel to his classic storyline hit all the right notes as he perfectly set-up the story and also showed that he still has a good handle of Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Combine Lee Weeks strong artwork and this was everything that you expect from a Spider-Man comic. I highly recommended to new and older fans looking for a good Spider-Man story.

Amazing Spider-Man #630 was another solid entry in the Gauntlet arc. Wells and Bachelo delivered a fun beginning to this new arc involving the Lizard. With the last page for this issue I cant wait to get a confrontation between Spider-Man and the Lizard. I recommend Spider-Man fans pick this issue up as you are in store for everything you expect from a Spider-Man comic as it looks like we are promised another fun arc involving one of Spider-Mans Rogues.

Amazing Spider-Man #632 was another great issue of Amazing Spider-Man. This Shed arc has really surprised me with how great it has been since I originally was not going to get this arc but boy am I glad I did. Zeb Wells is really delivering a fun Spider-Man story. If you are a Spider-Man pick this issue and arc up because it has everything you expect from a good Spider-Man story. You wont be disappointed.

Amazing Spider-Man #633 was a great end to the Shed arc. This was the best Lizard story I have read involving the character. Wells, Bachelo, and Rios combine to deliver a fun, engrossing story that all Spider-Man fans will want to read. Whether you havent read Amazing Spider-Man in a while or been reading this title on and off if you are a Spider-Man fan pick this story up when it comes out in trade paperback. This is just a quality Spider-Man story that you will not be disappointed in. Highly recommended.

Amazing Spider-Man #659 was another enjoyable issue of the new Big Time direction for the book. Outside of problems handling Carlies character, both Dan Slott and Fred Van Lente are able to deliver a fun story with Spider-Man out on a mission with his new team in the Future Foundation, aka Fantastic Four. The story does a good job building up Spider-Mans new status quo as part of the FF and continuing the build up of the Sinister Six. Stefano Caselli comes along for the ride by providing some excellent artwork. Spider-Man fans will sure enjoy this issue, and if you have been reading FF then I recommend picking up this arc since it is a great extension to the story Hickman is telling.

Amazing Spider-Man #1 set-up the groundwork for the series moving forward without making it feel like I had to go back and read Superior Spider-Man. Dan Slott clearly has a plan in place for what he wants to do with Spider-Man moving forward. He has already set up numerous obstacles for Peter to overcome both personally and as Spider-Man. At the same time he makes the new status quo as something Peter is actually enjoying, which in turn makes it fun to read as a fan. And while half of the back-up stories did nothing for me the Electro and Black Cat stories did their job in teasing an interesting future for Spider-Man. With that I am back on board for whatever Slott has planned for Amazing Spider-Man next and that is all that can be asked for from a new first issue of a comic book.

Amazing Spider-Man #5 was another enjoyable issue for a new series that has quickly become one of the comics I look forward to reading every month. This is a big deal given how I did not read Dan Slotts Superior Spider-Man, and after more than a year away from reading a comic from this franchise it feels good to be reading a Spider-Man comic again. So far everything is playing out well, with the exception of Electros motivation. And with the hook ending showing us that Black Cat is getting closer to getting her revenge on Spider-Man things should only get more exciting moving forward.

Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #2 was another strong issue in a series that has quickly stood out as one of the best Secret Wars tie-in comic books. Dan Slott is working his magic with how he has reintroduced us not only to a married Peter Parker and Mary Jane Watson-Parker but also Annie Parker. The dynamic that Slott has created with the Parker Family has made everything going around these character feel much more important. And with the momentum created by Peter's final decision at the end of this issue I'm highly intrigued in what will happen next.

Avengers #11 is another piece to the puzzle that Jonathan Hickman and, as an extension, Nick Spencer have been building towards. Hickman is able to further reestablish AIM as a strong organization and show the wide array of characters he has to play with in the Marvel Universe. The AIM plotline also gave us the opportunity to see different members of the Avengers get time in spotlight that they would have otherwise not gotten.

Avengers Academy #37 is a big, fun end to the Final Exam story arc. Gage and Grummett combine to deliver a comic that is not only fun but is filled with great character moments that push all the kids of the Avengers Academy forward. Getting to see how far each character has come and the choices they make even in mid-battle is what makes this series special. We still don't fully know which characters will become heroes or villains in the end. What is known is that this is not only the best Avengers book but one of Marvels strongest series on the market on a monthly basis.

As we have gotten further into the latest Marvel event the better it has gotten. Avengers vs. X-Men #9 is a testament to this improvement from where it started. Jason Aaron is able to build an emotional connection to what is going on in the conflict. By focusing on three key character relationships we are able to see how far the conflict between the Avengers and X-Men has developed. Spider-Man specifically steps up as the star of the show in this issue which put a big smile on this Spider-Man fan. If you stuck with Avengers vs. X-Men this long than you will be happy to know that the event has been getting better and better. I am now even more excited to see how things turn out in the end.

Batigrl #41 had plenty of things to enjoy about it that one small gripe against the story couldn't ruin the fun of this issue. Cameron Stewart and Brenden Fletcher did not waste anytime in drawing out the mystery of who the new Batman. This allowed us to see how Barbara is really going to handle the fact that her dad is the new Batman and that he is actually hunting down all vigilantes. This development adds greater interest in the new status quo in Gotham City. Having the fabulous artwork from Babs Tarr does not hurt either as she elevated all of the dialogue given to the characters, particularly during the scenes between Barbara and Jim. All together, Batgirl #41 was a great issue that helped to increase my interest in everything going on in Gotham City.

Batman #690 was another solid read that will not appeal to all Batman fans. This is a much more action focus series than the other Batman titles. This is just a title that you have to have fun with. I've been one of the biggest critics of Winnick's work but I have to admit that he is just providing a fun read. And with Bagley on art this arc has been a fun story and I look forward to seeing what happens with Batman vs. Two-Face.

Batman #696 was another good read that continues what has been a very fun Batman story written and drawn by Tony Daniel. Daniel has really impressed me with his work on this title. Even though I got a little tired all of the shifts between past and present this was still a very well written issue that gave us some nice character work for all the characters in the issue. If you are a Batman fan Irecommend picking this issue and story arc up.

Batman #709 was a solid end to the Judgment of Gotham crossover between Batman, Red Robin and Gotham City Sirens. The crossover was nothing spectacular but it was an enjoyable read that Batman fans will enjoy. David Hine delivered the strongest chapters of the crossover in Batman, especially this finale. This issue did a great job telling us an untold story from Dick Graysons past to add an extra layer to the character and this character driven ending.

My feeling for Batman #7 can be summed up in one word Excellent. In more than one word, I have to say Scott Snyder just continues to get better and better with each issue. There is no wasted time with Snyder making every scene and every panel feel important. This whole issue provided a lot of great revelations for all the characters involved. The story further strengthens the Court of Owls as absolutely menacing villains that Bruce needs to bring in the whole Batman Family to tackle. If you did not pick up this story arc in the single issue format I highly encourage you to pick up the eventual hardcover to catch up because Batman is the best series going for DC Comics right now.

Batman #8 was a fantastic comic book. Pure and simple, Scott Snyder knocked it out of the park with the beginning of the Night of the Owls. This opening chapter set up the chess piece for this war between the Batman Family and Court of Owls to be big. There are a lot of things to get excited for and the final page with Batman showing up with an armor suit reminiscent of the Dark Knight Returns suit just cemented the fact that this was a home run.

After an intense arc that saw Batman taken to his limits by the Court of Owl Scott Snyder choose to end his first year on the series with an issue that changes the stories focus. Maintaining a dark tone the series is known for Snyder switches the perspective to Harper Row. By making this switch we get a tightly focused character study that helps in the development for a supporting character that looks to play a large role in future stories. With strong artwork that supplements the strong story told Batman #12 is an issue that will be enjoyed by most Batman fans.

Batman #18 does a great job showing what Bruce Waynes mental state is after suffering the loss of his son, Damian Wayne. Though I wish that DC would have allowed Grant Morrison to be the first to tackle the aftermath of Damians death Scott Synder did his best to address these developments. Snyder smartly used this opportunity to further delve into Harper Rows character history and use her as the vehicle to show the reader the fragile state of mind Batman currently is in. Andy Kubert and Alex Maleev are also able to provide artwork that strongly complimented Snyders story. If you have been keeping up with recent developments concerning Damians death than Batman #18 is an issue you should pick up.

Batman #41 started of the era of Jim Gordon as Gotham City's newest Dark Knight on the right note. Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo crafted this issue in a way that made it feel like we were reading a story on a new Gotham City. From how they evolved Jim into the role of Gotham's new Batman to the development of the supporting cast everything worked together to make it easy to accept what was going on. The only thing that hurt this issue was Bruce Wayne's role in the story. As long as Snyder and Capullo keep the spotlight on Jim Gordon and his version of Batman than this could be a great way to build on the legend of DC Comics most iconic character.

With how vulnerable the Batman Family is post-Death of the Family it was great to see Peter Tomasi not just sweep things under the rug and actually explore were Bruce, Damian and Alfred are. Tomasi was able to address the aftermath in Batman and Robin #17 in a unique manner that gave us insight on the three characters state of minds. There are a lot of standout moments Batman fans will love, especially the ending. Add in Gleason's refreshing, vibrant artwork and Batman and Robin #17 is easily a must read for Batman fans and those who have followed "Death of the Family."

Batman and Robin #21 hits all the right notes as it explores the fallout of all the big events that have occurred in Batmans life. The addition of Batgirl to the story elevated what Batmans current state of mind is because she is in a similar situation. The confrontation that these two have inside the batcave is easily one of the most memorable interactions that I have witness them having. Batgirl really got to the heart of the matter and is the first character that challenged Batman to realize that he is out of control. If you are a Batman fan I highly recommend checking this issue out as it is a great character study for both Batman and Batgirl.

Batman and Robin Annual #2 was exactly what I expected it to be. Peter Tomasi is able modernize the type of stories the original Dynamic Duo went on while keeping the light heartedness that those stories were known for around with the use of quick comedic moments and villain choice. The story was also a nice change of pace from present Batman stories as we are able to see an extensive look at how Batman and Robin acted during the early parts of their careers. After reading this issue I definitely was left with the urge to read more modern Batman and Robin stories. With DC publishing 20 Batman comics on a monthly basis I dont see why we wouldnt get a Batman comic that explores this early era of Batman, Robin and Batgirl. Make it happen DC!

Batman Beyond 2.0 #5 is one of the best issues since the launch of the Beyond line of comics. Getting to see Terry briefly fight the previous Batman team, even if it was just an illusion created by Rewires crew, was a great moment that will have people fanboy and fangirl out. Also, through the introduction of Rewire to the Batman Beyond Rogues Gallery Kyle Higgins is able to show us how far Terry McGinnis has come as the Batman of the future. If youre a fan of the old DC Animated Universe than you should be picking up Batman Beyond 2.0. Higgins has done a great job capturing what made the Batman Beyond animated series special and progressing the characters to the next stage of their lives.

Batman The Return is a great start to the new Batman Incorporated direction. Outside a few problems Grant Morrison and David Finch combined to tell a great story. A lot of the ground work for the new direction has now been set in place including the villain. I am very excited to see what Morrison and the other Batman writers have in store for this new direction for the franchise. If you are a Batman fan or are looking for a great jumping on point to Batman comics this is the issue you should pick up.

Nathan Edmondson and Phil Noto continued to show us how much chemistry they have with the close of their latest arc. It's that chemistry that made Black Widow #18 something I wanted to read multiple times, just to catch the little things they each did. With how many question marks they left in Natasha's life with how things ended I am excited to see what they will do next with her.

Since its relaunch at the end of last year Captain America has slowly been getting its swagger back. Ed Brubaker has returned to form on the series and character that made him a Marvel mainstay. Captain America #12 delivers on everything that a reader can want from a comic with strong action, character work, suspense and reveals that leave you wanting more. If you haven't given Captain America a shot I recommend picking up this latest arc as it is the perfect jumping on point for Marvel's First Avenger.

From the beginning Captain Marvel has been a series that is fun, smart and full of personality. Captain Marvel #4 continues this as Kelly Sue DeConnick firmly establishes the voice of both Carol Danvers and the series. With the addition of artwork from Dexter Soy that has continued to get better there is no reason to not pick up Captain Marvel. This is a book that will easily be in the running for Best New Series for 2012.

Captain Marvel #7 combines great writing with great artwork. Kelly Sue DeConnick and Dexter Soy continue to make Captain Marvel one of the best new series of the year. This issue continues to show what makes Carol Danvers different with her grounded background to go along with her cosmic powers. The underwater adventure was a fun way to keep things grounded on Earth while maintaining the unknown setting of a cosmic adventure. If you have yet to try out Captain Marvel then I highly recommend giving this comic a try.

Captain Marvel #10 is yet another gem for this series that has been just that since it launched. Kelly DeConnick and Christopher Sebela are able to treat the new development in Carol's life with care. They use the brain lesion as a way to add another layer to her character that helps set her apart from other superheroes. From the touching scene with the young Captain Marvel fan and Captain America's dramatic conversation, there was a lot explored when it comes to the situation Carol finds herself in. If you are not reading Captain Marvel I highly implore you to change that.

Being left to do its own thing Daredevil continues to be one of the most consistently well written titles. Daredevil #13 is yet another example of how great this series is as Mark Waid closes one chapter in Matt Murdock's Daredevil adventure and begins another. The combination of strong character interaction and action sequences made this issue a lot of fun, which is enhanced by the vibrant artwork. The ending is sure to mean a lot of Doom is on the way for Daredevil which only means more fun for us as the reader.

The ending not-withstanding, Daredevil #21 provided an exciting end to this Coyote/Spot story arc. Mark Waid continues to challenge Daredevil in unique ways that has him utilize his powers to look even better. At the same time, Chris Samnee's art style helps elevate all the action involving Daredevil and the dramatic scenes between Matt and Foggy. This is just another winner in a long line of excellent issues from Waid's Daredevil.

Daredevil #36 ends this volume of the Man Without Fears adventures with a questionable bang. Mark Waid continued to show his understanding of Matt Murdocks world and what makes the character special. At the same time some of the impact of Matts Daredevil reveal is taken away due to the lack of follow-up in the final pages. Hopefully we get to see how the reveal affects Matts life when the new volume of Daredevil launches. Still, I am excited to see where Waid is going to take the character and his supporting cast next with the move to San Francisco.

It is a great mix of old and new school with a lot of great, dynamic pages that keep the focus on the characters of the story. If you're a Daredevil fan I recommend checking Daredevil: Dark Nights #1 out.

Detective Comics #878 was yet another exceptional entry in Scott Snyders Batman run. With so many Batman books that exist on the market Snyder has easily separated himself and Detective Comics as the best in DC Comics library. The way he is able to explore both Dick Grayson and Gotham Citys history and weave them into the present are something every comic book fan should be reading.

Fantastic Four #579 was another homerun issue by Jonathan Hickman. I absolutely love how Hickman is weaving together all of these various one-shot stories together as he builds up the War of the Four Cities. This issue is a great jumping on point for readers that have yet to jump on the Fantastic Four bandwagon. Hickman showed in this issue that he has big plans in store for the Fantastic Four and no one should miss what is coming up next. I just cant recommend this issue and Hickmans run as a whole to you enough. If you are a fan of big stories with a nice cosmic flavor do yourselves a favor and pick this series up. You wont be disappointed.

Fantastic Four #581 was yet another superb issue. Hickman continues deliver one great read after another and building this title back to a fun adventure title. I love how Hickman is using the multiverse and the concept of the Council of Reeds but just for Nathaniel in this issue. Also seeing how Hickman is tying his various work together gives this issue a cool payoff to his work and I cant wait to see what he is going to do with the final showdown between the last two Nathaniel Richards in the multiverse. If you have been enjoying Hickmans work so far you will no doubt like this issue. And if you havent picked up Hickmans work on Fantastic Four I highly recommend picking up the trades for Hickmans Fantastic Four as he has been doing a wonderful job building up great stories.

Fantastic Four #583 was a phenomenal read. Jonathan Hickman is absolutely killing it on Fantastic Four. Hickman's work here is second to none as he has created a fantastic universe for the Fantastic Four. Hickmans work reminds me a lot of Stan Lee and Jack Kirbys work on this title. With everything that Hickman has built seemingly coming to a head in this latest story arc, Three, comic book fans will not want to miss out. Whether it is adventure, action, cosmic, world building, character deconstruction or anything else that you are looking for Fantastic Four has it. This title truly has everything that a reader would want from a comic book. I highly recommend jumping on board Hickmans Fantastic Four run as a whole.

Grayson #9 was another stellar issue in a series that has been consistently one of the best titles DC Comics is publishing. Tom King and Tim Seeley were on point with how they were able to clearly establish the changes that were made to the Spyral organization following the events of Grayson #8. The shake up in Spyral gave Dick Grayson a great chance to show off exactly why he is a natural fit as James Bond-esque super spy. With the introduction of Nemesis and other possible threats to this series Grayson #9 is a great jumping on point for anyone not reading this series.

Grayson #11 accomplished its job of setting the stage for Dick Grayson's return to the DC Universe proper. This is something that we've been waiting to see since Forever Evil and now we are about to get. At the same time, there was plenty done in the process that gives this series many more stories to tell beyond Dick's return to Gotham City. Hopefully all of this leads to Dick's life in Gotham and Spyral merging at some point in the future.

Green Lantern #67 was a great end to the War of the Green Lanterns. Though I had my share of problems with most of the issues in this crossover Geoff Johns was able to deliver the good with this final issue. Things have been shaken up for the whole Green Lantern franchise in a very interesting manner as now we have Sinestro back to being a Green Lantern and Hal kicked out. This sets up things up nicely for the relaunched Green Lantern books in September.

Green Lantern #5 was another great issue that leaves us with some huge ramifications that will spin out of what happened. Geoff Johns has done a fantastic job transitioning the lead of this book to Sinestro. With Sinestro as the head of the book I am finding myself become even more interested in the series than I was when Hal Jordan was in the role. With the majority of DC books taking place on Earth it is refreshing to have a book like Green Lantern that can be that cosmic opera that explores the rest of the universe. If you are looking for a strong sci-fi book I recommend giving Green Lantern a try.

Green Lantern Corps #40 was another solid issue in Peter Tomasi's run on this title. Tomasi did an excellent job capturing the big event aspect of Blackest Night that the main series has. Though I don't think this issue is a must read to understand Blackest Night it does help further the story for those interested in the event.

Even though the Galactic Counsel meeting went on longer than it should have, thanks to all the exposition, it never got in the way of the story that Brian Bendis crafted in Guardians of the Galaxy #2. Bendis actually impressed me with how he was able to switch between the action on Earth and the meeting that took place. Everything flowed together smoothly that built up the insurmountable threat that the Guardians of the Galaxy must overcome. The artwork by Steve McNiven, Sara Pichelli and the rest of the art crew helped in a lot of areas as they maintained the cosmic tone of the story.

Brian Bendis is not afraid to go all out with the big summer blockbuster vibe he has going for Guardians of the Galaxy. It helps that this series features excellent artwork from Steve McNiven and Sara Pichelli that really capture the cosmic setting of this series. Guardians of the Galaxy #3 does a great job continuing to build an intriguing story with Bendis finding his comfort zone with his writing of these characters. While the brief bursts of comedy still need refinement I am finding myself enjoying the new guy vibe Bendis has given Iron Man and the chemistry he has built for the team. The political drama surrounding this series has also been fun to watch with Star-Lord's father doing his best to keep himself composed while dealing with extremely powerful leaders. If Bendis, McNiven and Pichelli can continue this momentum than Guardians of the Galaxy may find itself among Marvel's best titles by year's end.

Guardians of the Galaxy #13 did what it was supposed to do. It delivered a satisfying ending that continues to move his chess piece in place for where Brian Bendis wants to take Guardians of the Galaxy and All-New X-Men. Where things are going I have no idea but that is part of the fun of Bendis current work. I am more than happy to just sit back and enjoy the story that is being told. I also cant wait to see how Present Cyclops reacts to his past self taking off with his supposedly deceased father. If you are not reading All-New X-Men or Guardians of the Galaxy I recommend you start because things are getting even more interesting for both titles.

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #11 is the strongest chapter of "Bottled Light" that we have had thus far. Robert Venditti was able to strike a good balance between Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern and Sinestro Corps individual stories. He is also able to bring them together to set-up a reunion between Hal and his friends that could go many different ways. The introduction of Larfleeze as the main villain of the story was seamlessly integrated to the ongoing story. It doesn't hurt that this issue feature some great looking artwork from Rafa Sandoval.

Hawkeye #1 is a strong start to a series with a lot of promise. Matt Fraction is able to do a lot of character work for Clint Barton's character as he dedicates the issue to who the character is. Even though we don't get much Hawkeye in this issue things are set up well as when know who the man behind the mask and get set to follow his adventures. With the addition of David Aja on art duties Hawkeye is an ongoing series that has all the potential to be a true breakout series.

As the team comes together Justice League finally becomes the big blockbuster comic book it should be. Justice League #3 did a great job balancing out the various personalities in this book with a lot of action. Getting to see the team finally come together was a lot of fun to see as each one of them gets some time to shine, especially the two new members of the team.

Is Justice League #16 a perfect comic? No. But even with the few problems that I had with Justice League #16 still left me excited to see what happens next. Geoff Johns successfully made the Ocean Master and Atlantis a larger than life threat with how they were able to not just go toe to toe with the Justice League but utterly decimate them. The additional drama of Aquamans indecision of what side to be on makes things that much more interesting. With a new Justice League on the way things should only get bigger and that is a good thing.

Justice League #41 is a great example of how to keep the opening issue of an event moving forward while introducing all the major players along the way. This attention to detail allowed every big moment Geoff Johns gives each character have a greater impact to what was going on. The issue also does a great job making the story really feel like there is no hope for the Justice League to overcome the might of Darkseid and Anti-Monitor's forces as they are. Seeing how the Justice League can overcome these odds makes the anticipation for what comes next harder to endure.

I approached this title with very little in the way of positive expectations. However, Justice League Internaional #1 has quickly jumped this title up to being one of the books I am most looking forward to reading. Dan Jurgens and Aaron Lopresti gave us a book that is pure fun from beginning to end. This issue was a nice balance of character work at the beginning with some big action to end the book. Jurgens quickly established the characters on the team and what the mission statement is for the JLI. Though I am not sure about Batman being on the team, I highly enjoyed all of the character interactions we got in the issue. Out of all the new DC Universe 52 #1 books, Justice League International has become a must have book from the start.

Mega Man #25 caps off the first act of this crossover with fast paced action and witty dialogue. While this issue is plagued with some heavy exposition in the middle of the issue it never slows the story down. Ian Flynn has done a fantastic job merging Mega Man and Sonic's worlds together with each character given the opportunity to shine. The artwork by Jamal Peppers and Ryan Jampole is what truly steals the show as they bring both worlds to life with visually pleasing artwork. With things moving back to Sonic's newly distorted world I cannot wait to see what Flynn and company have in store for Mega Man and Sonic.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers #11 does a great job kicking off this new arc by continuing the momentum created by the Black Dragon arc. Kyle Higgins sets several things in motion with Billy and Tommy's adventures in a post-apocalyptic Angel Grove taking center stage. How the other Rangers, Rita and Goldar in the present factor into whatever Lord Drakken has planned will be very interesting see play out. Hendry Prasetya artwork further helps establish the darker turn this arc is taking with some great design unique to this series. If you were ever a Power Rangers fan I highly recommend picking up this series as it is only getting better with each passing issue.

Nightwing #2 was a great mix of character work and action. From top to bottom, Kyle Higgins and Eddy Barrows delivered a comic that is easily one of my favorite comics from the new DC Comics 52.

Between both Nightwing #8 and #9 Kyle Higgins has given us the two best issues of the whole Night of the Owls event. Not only has Higgins added to the story Scott Snyder is telling in Batman but has been able to make the Court of the Owls and the Talons as much of a villain for Nightwing as they are for Batman. What these two tie-in issues establish is how personal this battle has been for Nightwing as his family history is the most tied in with the Court of the Owls. With how things were left off in this issue I cannot wait to see what Higgins has in store for us next. If you are a Batman fan, whether you are reading the Night of the Owls or not, these two issues are a must buy. While they do tie into the greater Night of the Owls event you can read these issues as a standalone story.

For all the attention the other Batbooks get Kyle Higgins Nightwing continues to be one of the most consistently entertaining comics that DC Comics is publishing. Higgins has a great grasp of the character and the setting. In Nightwing #21 Higgins puts Nightwing in scenarios where he can flourish while developing intriguing sub-plots that complements the main plotline. The story develops several obstacles for Nightwing with Tony Zucco going on a "vacation," Prankster's escape and the presences of the mysterious Mask Murders group. The issues story is further elevated by the great artwork from Brett Booth, which will be missed as this is his final issue on Nightwing while he moves on to be the artist for Justice League of America. With all this said if Nightwing is not on your pull list I highly recommend you change that because Kyle Higgins is doing something special.

Kyle Higgins has continuously shown himself to be one of the best rising talents that DC Comics has and Nightwing #24 reaffirms this fact. This issue properly ended the Prankster arc with Nightwing being able show how he can overcome any problem thrown his way. Nightwings victory over Prankster also propels the whole mask hunters sub-plot to become the next obstacle for Nightwing to face off against. At the same time Higgins is able to put together an unexpected end to Nightwings hunt for Tony Zucco that leaves the door for a bigger story down the line. If you have not been reading Kyle Higgins Nightwing then I highly recommend picking this series up in trade paperback.

Nightwing #9 is a great one-shot story that helps reconnect our hero with Superman. Tim Seeley does an excellent job using Superman to highlight what makes Nightwing a special character within the DC Universe. And Dr. Destiny was a great opponent to enhance Superman's involvement while also tackling some of the loss Nightwing has suffered in his life recently. If you haven't picked up this series I highly recommend picking up Nightwing #9. This is a great launching off point for new readers to start with.

Siege The Cabal One-Shot was a good read but is not a required for people who are going to read Siege. This was a filler issue just to tell us that Siege is going to involve Norman attacking Asgard which Marvel already revealed back when this event was announced. So you can pass on this issue and pick up Siege #1 without missing anything as Bendis has made the first issue of the event new reader friendly, from the preview we get. Still if you are a Norman Osborn and/or Doctor Doom fan pick this issue up if you have an extra $4 to spend as it is a good read.

Sonic Universe #52 was another strong chapter in what is quickly become one the best comic book event in years. The work Ian Flynn has done cannot be understated. He has created a crossover event that mixes two different worlds together perfectly. All the characters in this issue are given time to shine whether it is through the great battle sequence or the banter they have amongst their group. If you are looking for a comic book story that will put a smile on your face when reading it this Mega Man and Sonic crossover is for you. And if that is not what you are looking for you should still pick this issue up anyways as it will give a turn that frown, or whatever facial you have at the moment, into a joyous smile.

Spider-Man/Fantastic Four #3 was another fun read. This is one comic that more people should be reading. It is a fun Spider-Man and Fantastic Four story by Christos Gage and Mario Alberti. Fans of both franchises will enjoy this mini-series. This is a comic that will be especially enjoyed by fans of the various eras of these characters histories. I highly recommend Spider-Man and Fantastic Four fans to check this series out either in the single issue or TPB format because it is one comic you do not want to miss out on.

I was impressed with Superman/Batman #76. Judd Winick delivered what may have been his best written comic ever. This is a quick one and done story that finally gives us the confrontation between Superman and Dick Grayson as the new Batman. It is something long overdue and proved to be very satisfying. If you are a Batman or Superman fan I recommend picking this up as it was a strong read that you will enjoy. And that is coming from someone who has not liked Winick work in recent years. So you know that is saying a lot.

Teen Titans #1 does a good job building on the momentum created by the Rebirth issue. Damian Wayne getting a rocky start in his career as the Teen Titans' Robin was a good launching point for the dynamic Benjamin Percy is creating for the team. While Percy still has some room to improve in how he handles giving each member of the Teen Titans quality screen time I trust that he will find that balance. Add in strong artwork from Jonboy Meyers and it is looking more and more like the Teen Titans have finally returned to being a fun series about the next generation of the DC Universe's superheroes.

DnA hit another home run with Thanos Imperative #2. This issue had everything a comic book fan wants from big events. DnA continue to write the book on how big events should be written and this issue was filled with even more Marvel cosmic greatness than the first issue. If you have yet to read Thanos Imperative I highly implore you to go get these first two issues and the Ignition issue that kicked off this event because you do not want to miss this event. This is the true big event that is one big cosmic opera that no superhero comic book fan should miss out on. Highly recommend picking this issue up.

While I have my problems with the $3.99 price point Avenging Spider-Man was a fantastic read that was pure fun from beginning to end. Zeb Wells finally gets the opportunity to write his own Spider-Man book and he hits it out of the ballpark on his first at-bat. Wells understands how to write the character as he has him play off his fellow Avengers teammates really well. There were even points that I found myself smiling because of how much fun I had reading this issue. I definitely recommend picking up Avenging Spider-Man if you are looking for a Spider-Man book that is just about a fun adventure.

From the time you open up this comic with the comedic recap page to the ending there is a lot to love about Avenging Spider-Man #9. This issue pushes the friendship between Spider-Man and Captain Marvel as Kelly Sue DeConnick gives us a preview of the voice she will give Captain Marvel in the characters new ongoing. This issue definitely got me more excited to read that series and has me looking forward to the next issue of Avenging Spider-Man. Having Terry and Rachel Dodson on art duties just puts the whip cream and cherry on top of this highly entertaining comic book.

Avenging Spider-Man #13 is one of those special comics that is so crazy that it works on many levels. The situations that Kevin Shinick and Aaron Kuder put the not to sane duo of Spider-Man and Deadpool is just so much fun that it is hard not to have a smile on your face when reading this issue. The enjoyment level of this issue is off the charts and fans of Spider-Man, Deadpool, comedic comics or a combination of the three will love this issue.

The Clone Conspiracy #1 doesn't knock it out of the park with its first at-bat. It is more of a productive double that continues the momentum established with previous issues of Amazing Spider-Man post-Superior era. This may not be for everyone but for fans of what Dan Slott has been doing with his run on Spider-Man it is a must-read as Jackal's plot comes to forefront. The addition of Jim Cheung's artwork makes this an even better purchase for Spider-Man fans. But for those that haven't been reading Slott's Spider-Man run, particularly Amazing Spider-Man post-Secret Wars, than you should not get this title. It's not for you unfortunately.

The Clone Conspiracy #4 has made the cloud of mystery as to how this event will end even bigger. It's clear that Dan Slott has some endgame in mind for the final issue. What that is will be anyone's guess. What we do know is that the aftermath of The Clone Conspiracy won't only affect Spider-Man's life but everyone else that Jackal/Ben Reilly has involved in his plot, which is a lot of people. This all creates further excitement for the final issue that we will be getting next month.

Thanos Imperative Devastation was a great cap off to one of Marvels best events as well as a great set-up for the next stages of DnAs cosmic opera. DnA did a wonderful job juggling a large cast of characters and showed that the Marvel cosmic universe is one that never stops. Big things continue to happen and our heroes will not get much time off as they must face more challenges that will be bigger. With the challenges getting bigger, DnA have assembled a team that arguably has the heaviest hitters in the Marvel Universe to form the Annihilators. With the hook ending of Iron the Spaceknights arrival it will be a lot of fun to read what DnA have in store for us next for what is the most fun series of comic books there is in Marvel Cosmic comic books.

The otherworldly adventures as we get to see Asgard and the other realms through the eyes of Thor from three different periods is what is going to set Jason Aaron's run on Thor apart. That is something that is firmly established with Thor: God of Thunder as we see a young Thor fighting a threat that has him on the brink of death. If you are looking for a big fantasy adventure comic than I highly recommend giving Thor: God of Thunder a try.

Ultimate Comics Avengers #1 was a fantastic start to the new start of the Ultimate Universe. Though this was a very action heavy issue, Millar did an excellent job hooking the reader with this first issue. If you can get past the $3.99 price tag of this issue than I recommend picking this issue up.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #14 was an enjoyable ending to an otherwise average arc. Dont get me wrong, an average arc on this title is better than most arcs on other titles. However, because Bendis has written some great stories on this title this arc felt average in comparison. Still, I am looking forward to all of the fallout from this story arc. The fall out from the Chameleon siblings messing up both Peters personal and Spider-Man life should make for some fun reading in the next few issues.

Ultimate Spider-Man #159 delivered the type of high quality that I have come to expect from this series after so many years. Brian Bendis and Mark Bagley teamed up to deliver an issue that kept moving at a great pace. There was a lot of fantastic character moments for Spider-Man/Peter Parker throughout the issue. Bendis even delivered one of the best lines of the series during the banter between Peter and Electro. With one final issue left I am anxiously awaiting Ultimate Spider-Man #160. June 29 cannot get here soon enough.

From the opening page Uncanny #1 was able to grab my attention and left a strong impression by the time I finished reading the issue. Andy Diggle was able to create a fascinating world around the lead character that compliments who Weaver is established to be. There are a lot of question created that I want to find the answers too which adds to my excitement in following these characters and the world. The addition of Aaron Capbells strong artwork helped to elevate Uncanny #1 as one of the better first issues to a comic that I have read. Hopefully, the momentum that was created continues into the next issue. If it does then I can easily see this series becoming one of my favorite comics on my pull list.

Uncanny Avengers #5 drives forward the potential of the fantastic ending to the opening arc. Rick Remender does a lot character work for the members of the team as they each have different factors that motivate them to be part of this specific Avengers squad. These different character motivations contribute to how Uncanny Avenger is doing the best job at dealing with the aftermath of the Avengers vs. X-Men. The addition of the birth of the Apocalypse Twins and Kangs involvement with the Twins should lead to a very intriguing second adventure for the Avengers Unity Division.

Uncanny Avengers #8 was another exciting chapter in what is easily one of the best comics on the stands. What makes the entire story impressive is how Rick Remender uses the established history of the Avengers and X-Men to further develop the story he is telling. This approach further establishes the larger than life threat that the Apocalypse Twins pose and spotlights the unique dynamic of this Avengers/X-Men team. While I am not a big fan of Daniel Acuna's art style I got to admit that he does turn in some of his best work on this issue. He is able to capture both the small and epic moments of Remender's tale. If you are looking for an Avengers or X-Men book to pick up than I highly recommend checking out Uncanny Avengers. This series does a fantastic job using the best of both worlds.

The Battle of the Atom crossover continues to deliver on all the crazy drama and action that I expect from X-Men story. It is done so well that by the time I finished reading Uncanny X-Men #13 all I wanted to do was read more. Brian Bendis delivers on all the moments comic book fans want, with great action and character moments, while also raising more questions about what is going on in the story itself. There are still many unanswered question about the past, present and future X-Men teams involved in this story. This adds to the unpredictability of the story, which in turn makes it even more engrossing because I do want to find out what happens next. If youre an X-Men fan you owe it to yourself to read Battle of the Atom right now or when it comes out in trade. It is exactly what you are looking for from an X-Men story.

Jason Latour and Nic Klein deliver another dramatic read with Winter Soldier #17. Latour is able to explore the unknown parts of Bucky's history as the Winter Soldier in a way that you don't know what is going to happen next. There is something to be said about this type of storytelling since we are learning more about Bucky just like he is. The original Nick Fury appearance helps to keep the story focused as the reader never feels lost even with all the information that is thrown our way. The addition of Klein's styled artwork elevates the story by building up the tension with how the color palette changes depending on the scene.

Wolverine and the X-Men #23 was another crazy experience to behold. Seeing the X-Men battle a bunch of different circus freaks lead by the new Doctor Frankenstein and Azrael is just too enjoyable that it's hard not to have a smile on my face when reading it. Under the crazy battle Jason Aaron is able to continue the threat the Hellfire Academy are towards Wolverine's own mutant school. The build-up to the eventual showdown between the two academies is turning out is something I continue to fall in love with as there are multiple layers to the story that are building at once.

Wolvering and the X-Men #29 further fleshes out the new mutant environment that the X-Men are living in. Jason Aaron continues to amaze me with all the world building he has done as how he is letting his imagination run wild with his X-Men stories. This issue does a very good job setting up the future for Wolverine's character and the X-Men as a whole as they get ready to face off against the Hellfire Academy. The look into the future of the current X-Men status also had a lot of fun Easter Eggs to find on further re-reads. With what was hinted at in Wolverine and the X-Men #29 I am even more excited for what Aaron and the rest of the X-Men writers have in store for us next. It is a good time to be an X-Men fan.

Wonder Woman #600 has everything to make this issue a fun read. The all-star cast of creators really delivered fun stories. Even though there was the weak story in this issue overall this was a great purchase that was worth the cover price. And the JMS story really has me interested to see what he has in store for the character during his run. I highly recommend everyone pick this issue up as it is just a fun comic and a much better way to judge JMS writing than just looking at the new costume. If you dont like the story JMS wrote in this issue thats fine but I recommend everyone at least try this issue out before passing judgment on what JMS has in store for the character.

Wonder Woman #601 was a fun read and good start to the new status quo for Wonder Woman. After some bad issues of Superman that has turned me off to his run on that title I was expecting his Wonder Woman work to be just as bad but I was pleasently surprised to find this issue to be an enjoyable read. JMS did a great job setting the foundation for the story he is going to tell. When combined with Kramers great artwork JMS looks like he is going to deliver a very good story that can turn into an excellent story. As someone who has never read a Wonder Woman comic this issue hooked me and I am looking forward to the next issue.

X-Men #1 is a good start to Brian Woods X-Men title that delivers on what it promises. There were a few things that keep the issue from being a perfect read but they never got in the way of how much fun this issue is. Wood does a great job creating an organic chemistry with the X-Men team of Storm, Kitty Pride, Rogue, Psylocke, Rachel Grey and Jubilee while developing the central plotline involving Sublime and his sister. Olivier Coipels realistic take on the characters enhance the story as the art compliments Woods story by portraying the characters as strong and independent. No matter your allegiances if you are a comic book fan I recommend giving X-Men #1 a try. You may be surprised as you will fall in love with one or more of the characters that star on this book.

X-Men Battle of the Atom #1 is a great continuation of everything that has been going on with all the X-Men books post-Avengers vs. X-Men. Brian Bendis is able to properly lay out a strong foundation that gives this latest X-Men crossover a big event feel to it. Bendis is also able to separate this event from other going on concurrently by exploring the specific consequences of the original five X-Mens presence in the present Marvel Universe. Add in the great artwork from the team of Frank Cho and Stuart Immonen and you have a great start to a comic book crossover for current X-Men readers.

As with the previous incarnation, Annihilation: Conquest was preceded by four mini-series, but you don't have to worry about getting lost if you decided to buy Halo 3 with the $60 needed to fully prep for the main series. In a change of pace, Abnett and Lanning decide to forego the customary recap page and put you right into the heat of the action. Multiple character hark on the point that no one has the full picture of what's going on/being planned, and the writers want the reader in the same position. You never get the full scope of what's happening, but continually pick of bits and pieces on the way. The resistance gains a couple allies, while the true face behind the Phalanx finally shows itself, but there's still not enough yet to connect all the dots. In the end, I'm more intrigued by the series than I was going into it, which is really the main purpose of a first issue, isn't it?

Action Comics #3 was yet another strong issue for one of DC Comics flagship titles. Grant Morrison is hitting all the right buttons with how he is developing Superman and his world during the beginning stages of his career. Morrison masterfully handles various running sub-plots as he sets up various physical and psychological threats for Superman to face. Not only that but the plot of the issue is so well developed that it feels like we got a full story in the issue with a good number of things to look forward to next. If you are a Superman fan or have ever been interested in picking up a Superman comic I recommend buying Action Comics. This is a comic that easily stands out as one DC Comics best offerings.

Adventure Comics #2 was a disappointing read especially with the news Johns and Manapul are leaving this book after issue #6. The slow and methodical approach Johns is taking with this series made this issue a boring read. Fans that are reading the current Superman books and are up to speed with the direction of the franchise will probably enjoy this series more than new readers like me. After this issue I am considering dropping this series before Johns run is over though I'll let a quick flip through at my LCS for the next issue decide that.

All-New Wolverine #13 firmly establishes "Enemy of the State II" as a personal story arc for Laura Kinney. Tom Taylor did an excellent developing the story around who Laura is in the present and was in the past. By doing this it makes "Enemy of the State II" not feel like it is a sequel. Instead it will be a story arc that will stand on the strength of its main character. If you haven't read All-New Wolverine yet than I highly recommend jumping in with this new arc as it is one Marvel's must-read comic books.

All-New X-Factor #1 successfully introduced us to the new team in grand fashion. Peter David did a great job executing a first issue that welcomes in new readers and long-time readers to the new series. The character interaction was done in a way that you know that there is already history between Polaris, Gambit and Quicksilver but its something that you dont need to know it to understand what is going on. You just have to know that they have been brought in as the new X-Factor team by Serval Industries and move forward with the story. With all that was set-up in this first issue I am ready to continue reading this series on a monthly basis instead of in trades.

All-New X-Men #27 continues the unofficial crossover between the All-New and Uncanny X-Men teams and does a fantastic job in re-introducing the future version of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. The change in the narrative to put a focus on the origin story of Charles Xavier Jr. and Raze gives added depth to the future that this Brotherhood come from. The more we can see Bendis develop this version of the Brotherhood the better. Their presence adds to the trouble the original X-Men are constantly in by staying in the present. And so far Bendis is keeping things small by having it all set in the Xavier School which gives the story more of a focus on the character dynamics. Hopefully that continues because scenes like those shared by Cyclops, Emma and Jean really helped this issue stand out.

Amazing Spider-Man #607 was another entertaining issue. Joe Kelly is a perfect fit for Amazing Spider-Man as he does a great job writing Peter and his supporting cast. If you haven't tried these past few issues of Amazing Spider-Man I highly recommend getting these issues in trade format, starting with "American Son," as this series has really been on a role the past few months.

Amazing Spider-Man #687 did not provide the best conclusion to an event but it was still a fun comic to read. Dan Slott characterization for the most part was as strong as always. All of the action is well choreographed and he leaves Spider-Man has me greatly anticipate what comes next. It is just too bad that how Doc Ock is taken down turned out to be a letdown compared to all the build-up the character got this past year. Even so, I look forward to picking the eventual hardcover to End of the Earth as it is strong event that every Spider-Man fan will want to read.

Amazing Spider-Man #592 was an excellent origin story for Spider-Mans sidekick. Dan Slott gave Alpha ample time to develop his character that it is easy to connect with the new character. The story was able to grow organically, the pacing kept moving and there was never a dull moment. But as much as I enjoyed the story it is hard to recommend this comic to anyone given the high price point killing the issue score and must buy qualities.

Geoff Johns continues to use Throne of Atlantis as a showcase for how fascinating the world around Aquaman is and. Aquaman #16 is a good testament of that. Johns was also able to have the new members of the Justice League establish their presence on this title in a quick fashion. Unfortunately the predictability of the twist ending and Orm's importance diminishing hurt some of the story we have been following so far. Johns still has a chance to recover from this misstep and I'm willing to give him that chance because I have enjoyed Throne of Atlantis thus far.

Even though Ex Nihlo and his crew were not involved in Avengers #10 this issue successfully pushed the story forward thanks to the final fate of Alpha Flight and the revelations that the Avengers made during their mission in Canada. I will admit that Hickman should have turned this one-shot into a two issue arc to further flesh out certain sub-plots. But then again that is the double edge sword with using the Marvel Universe history as the basis for the story since there will be things new readers may not catch. Overall, Avengers #10 is able to solidly progress Hickmans epic Avengers story forward with things only get more dangerous for Earths Mightiest Heroes in the future.

As each month passes Christos Gage continues to show everyone how it is done. Avengers Academy #30 is yet further proof that this is the best Avengers title and one of Marvel's best comics on the stands. This issue does a great job fleshing out the conflict between the Avengers and X-Men as we finally get to see both sides given equal amount of time to voice their concerns and opinions.

Avengers Academy #34 is even further proof of this series being one of the best series that Marvel has going. Taking everything he has built-up over the course of the series we see all of the character development for the students of Avengers Academy come to a head. Gage is able to give every character a unique voice as all the students face one of the most important decisions of their lives. Where things go is unknown but it will be exciting to see how Gage ends all of these characters stories and how it builds to their individual futures in the Marvel Universe.

Avengers Academy #39 is able to end the series on a high note. It is sad that the series has to end but Gage is able to provide a proper "end" for this cast of characters. With how each character ends there time at this Academy there is a lot to look forward to in whatever book each one of them appears in the future.

Avengers Prime #1 was solid start to this mini-series. Even though this issue suffered from the usual problems a Bendis Avengers book typically suffers from it was still the best issue of Avengers I have read that Bendis has wrote. It helps that he has the talent of Alan Davis on art who just knocked it out of the park with his artwork. If you are looking for a fun Avengers comic to read pick up this issue because this is definitely a good book. If it wasnt for Secret Avengers I would say this is the best Avengers book but still it is a close second. Pick this issue up if you are an Avengers fan or just a fan of one of these characters.

Though Avengers vs. X-Men has had its fair share of problems, specifically with the way the story drags and the handling of the X-Men, this final issue did its job in getting me excited for what comes next. Jason Aaron and Adam Kubert combined to deliver a fun, fast paced comic that got the job done in tying things up and instilling hope for what comes next. There is a lot of possibilities when it comes to how the Marvel writers will handle the fallout from Avengers vs. X-Men #12. Because of all these possibilities there is no question that I will be buying many of the comics involved in the MarvelNow! direction that the company is going.

No matter what the future holds for this series Gail Simone looks to end her run on a high note as she proved with Batgirl #15. This is not just another tie-in book. Simone uses the situation presented to her with "The Death of the Family" event to explore the conflict between Batgirl and Joker. Daniel Sampere does a good job adding to the drama of the story with some intense and wicked expressions on various characters. If you are reading "The Death of the Family" make sure you pick up Batgirl #15. It is just as intense of a story as is being told in Snyder's Batman.

Small nitpicks aside, Gail Simone returned to deliver the most memorable issue of the series thus far with her work on Batgirl #19. From beginning to end Simone packs a lot of emotion into this issue as Barbara tries to get her life back to normal only to be placed in a no-win scenario. Her final decision changes her status quo in an intriguing way that shakes both her personal and Batgirl life. The artwork by Daniel Sampere is also at its best in this issue as he captures the emotional moments that furthers your investment.

Since returning Gail Simone delivered one exciting issue after another and Batgirl #20 is the best issue of the series so far. Batgirl #20 was able to strike a good balance between the drama in Barbara Gordon's life and building up the new female Ventriloquist. This balance made the battle between Batgirl and the Ventriloquist much more exciting to watch since both characters, for different reasons, aren't mentally stable at the moment. The one place this issue stumbled was with the late appearance of Commissioner Gordon, which felt tacked on. His role in the story would have carried more weight to it if he was integrated into the story in a more seamless manner. With that said Batgirl #20 is the perfect jumping on point as Barbara begins the next stage of her life.

Batgirl #21 was another great issue in a series that has been rejuvenated since Gail Simone returned. This issue strikes a fine balance between continue to delve into the aftermath of Batgirl's decision in the previous arc and her current conflict with the new Ventriloquist. The new Ventriloquist has a sick and twisted vibe that is the perfect adversary for Batgirl to face at the moment. The interaction that Barbara has with Dick Grayson and her roommate gave us further insight into her current mental state. These interactions add extra depth as Simone is building towards a big confrontation between Barbara and Commissioner Gordon. While Fernando Pasarin needs to improve in how draws scenes outside of Barbara's superhero life he does a very good job in the Batgirl vs. Ventriloquist portion of this issue. Hopefully Simone and Pasarin are able to keep up this momentum moving forward.

Batgirl #22 is one of the strongest issues of this series to date. Gail Simone did a wonderful job using the Batman Familys current status quo to enhance Barbara Gordons choice of giving up the Batgirl cowl. Barbara is in a position where she has no one to turn to as theyre either away doing their own thing or too close to what is bothering her. These factors add a greater weight to the inner monologue and actions that Simone has Barbara take in this issue. Adding in the current tunnel vision that Commissioner Gordon has in his hunt for Batgirl and Batgirls villains assembling to take her down things only look to get worse for Barbara. If Batgirl #22 is any indication as to how things will shape out over the course of Batgirl Wanted than I cannot wait to see how this ride ends.

Batgirl Annual #3 is a great example of how annuals should work. Even as the villains were a bit disappointing Fletcher and Stewart more than make up for with how entertaining the team-ups were. The opening segment involving Dick Grayson and Helena Bartilleni in particular stood out with strong action and comedy scenes. The artwork was also able to keep the pace of the story moving in an entertaining fashion. By the end of this annual Fletcher and Stewart left me hoping to see Batgirl interacted with Dick Grayson, Helena Bartilleni, Batwoman, Spoiler and the Gotham Academy students again in the near future.

Batman #688 was a good read. While it is nothing amazing, Winick is doing a good job showing the rough transition Dick is going through from being Nightwing into being the new Batman. I am also interested to see another confrontation between Dick and Two-Face now that Dick is the new Batman.

Batman #691 was a good read. Winnick and Bagley combined to tell a fun story even though it had its faults. This issue and story arc will not appeal to all fans. If you enjoy reading a solid Batman adventure than I recommend picking this up. For fans looking for a bit more I recommend picking up Batman and Robin or Streets of Gotham.

Batman #705 was another solid issue by Tony Daniel. I am still not convinced that Batman will continue to stay on my pull list after this arc, but Daniel has laid out a nice foundation for his second run on this title to be a fun one. The story with Sensei and his search for the Mask of the Beholder is an interesting one. I will be interested to see how the Riddler ties into this story of the Mask of the Beholder. If you are looking for a fun straightforward Batman tale than Batman #705, as well as the previous issue, are comics that you should get. For those looking for something more complex, I would recommend getting either Batman, Inc. or Detective Comics. The straightforward nature of the story in Batman may turn off those readers that are looking for more substance.

Batman #9 was another strong issue of the Night of the Owls storyline. Scott Snyder has done an excellent job getting over the threat the Court of the Owls have brought to the entire city of Gotham. With the added motivation he gains in this issue it is going to be fun to see how far Batman will go as he takes the fight to the Court of Owls. The back-up was a nice icing on the cake that expands on the story being told in the main feature.

For all its positives the one big negative makes me hesitant to say that Batman #19 measures up to the standard that Scott Snyder has set for himself. Batman is a character that works best when we dont know everything he is thinking. That said there is a lot of things that the issue does well. The way Snyder uses Damians death to enhance Batmans current mental state and is able to make Clayface a bigger threat than he previously was are great examples of this. The addition of a great back-up story by James Tynion IV involving a Superman/Batman team-up helps to elevate the value of this issue. It also doesnt hurt that Greg Capullo continues to deliver some of his best artwork to date. If youre a Batman fan I recommend checking out Batman #19 as all the good it does is able to overshadow the one negative.

Batman #22 was a big improvement over the first chapter of Zero Year. There are still some kinks that need to be worked out but as a whole this issue flowed much better. The dichotomy between Bruce and the Red Hood Gang and the confrontation between Bruce and Edward Nygma are just some of the issues highlights. These highlights add extra dimension to the story with every character given an important role to play in Bruces journey to become the Batman we know and love. If the previously mentioned weaknesses of the story can be worked out than Zero Year can stand on its own as a great origin story. Given the pedigree of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo past work this is something that Zero Year can achieve.

Batman #24 is by far the strongest issue we have had during this Zero Year arc. Even though the seven dollar price is jarring at first once you dig into the meat of what Batman #24 is youll find an engrossing reading experience that you will want to find out how it all ends. The oversized nature of this issue actually helped Scott Snyder execute the best ending to this first chapter in the career of the Batman. Snyder was able to move every character involved in Zero Year so far into the role readers are familiar with them being in. At the same time, he is able to present everything in a way that will appeal to new and older fans. So rest assured Batman #24 delivers on everything that is expected from a Batman comic with moments that will have you grinning when you see it inside the comic.

In the process of making The Riddler a villain that Batman should be constantly be on the lookout for Snyder brought in some of the horror elements he introduced to the Batman Universe back in his Detective Comics run. It was during these moments that Snyder and Capullo shined as the writing and art came together nicely.

Batman #42 was another strong entry in Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's run on this series. Putting aside Bruce Wayne's presence, Snyder does a very good job at making you come to terms with Jim Gordon as the new Batman. Through some clever plot development Snyder is able to place a greater emphasis on what it means to be Batman, both for the person wearing the cowl and Gotham City itself. This clear definition has set the stage for a different take on the Batman legend that has all the potential to be something special.

Batman and Robin #4 was another solid issue of this series. Morrison provided plenty of solid dialogue and Tan did a great job with the artwork for this issue. The only thing that keep this issue from being another great issue is Morrison lack to follow the continuity the other Batman writers have set-up with the new status quo. Anyone looking for a fun Batman title than I definitely recommend picking this series up as Morrison is doing a great job on this series.

Batman and Robin #11 continues to be one of the most underrated comics that DC Comics is currently putting out. Peter Tomasi does a great job exploring the relationship between Bruce and Damian while giving them challenges that test each of their personalities. The addition of Damian's challenge to his predecessor gives this book just another reason to follow as it is a battle that you want to see.

With Batman and Robin #22 Peter Tomasi shows masterful skills in using everything that has been going on in the New 52 DC Universe to enhance this team-up between Batman and Catwoman. These two characters are natural foils for one another, which is one of the reasons why this relationship is so special within the Batman lore. Their unique chemistry makes the moment that Batman smiles for the first time since Damian's death feel special. Batman smiling was made even better with the prior interaction between Bruce Wayne and Carrie Kelly helping to build up that moment. With that said, I hope that Tomasi can use Nightwing's upcoming appearance as a way to get the Two-Face sub-plot back on track.

With Batman Incorporated #8 Grant Morrison delivered one of the best issues of his Batman run to date. From top to bottom Morrison was able to weave an incredible story that not only showed the evolution of Damians character as Robin but also how parents being so focused on fighting one another will blinds them to how the fighting effects their child, which was the case for Bruce and Talia. Helping things out are scenes such as Nightwing and Robins team-up only help elevate the story as you awaited what Morrison had in store for us when we reached the end.

While this may be the weakest entry in series so far Batman: Lil' Gotham #4 was still highly enjoyable. You just can't help but have a smile on your face after reading the adventures of Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn in a chibi-style. Both the writing and artwork are on point as this book works as both fanservice and an all-ages story. Whether you're a long-time comic book fan, looking for a way to get into comics or someone you know than do yourselves a favor and download Batman: Li'l Gotham.

Birds of Prey #1 was a solid start to the new Birds of Prey. This was a nice balanced read between action and talking head scenes while delivering two solid mysteries. And outside of a problem with too much dialogue at times Simone delivers everything you expect from a new #1 for a comic as this is a very new reader friendly issue while keeping things in for long time readers. If you are a Birds of Prey fan or are interested in any of the characters in this title pick this issue up.

Blackest Night Titans #2 was a good read. If you are reading Blackest Night this mini-series isn't very crucial to the main series. This mini-series is much more for fans of the Titans franchise. So if you have no interest in the Titans I would not recommend getting this mini-series. Still, if you are a fan of these characters I recommend getting this fun mini-series to get some of that old Titans nostalgia.

Captain America #606 was a solid start to the Heroic Age for this title. Brubaker and Guice returned this series to form and went back to what made this issue great. Brubaker showed why Bucky makes for an interesting Captain America with the conflict inside of him. He also did a great job quickly building up Baron Zemo into being the new Red Skull for this title while giving Zemo his own distinct character and motivation for going after Captain America. If you havent picked up Captain America yet this is a great jumping on point as it has great action and character development to get new fans into the series. And if you have been reading this title this issue should not disappoint as it was a great read. Good to have you back to greatness Captain America.

As we reach closer to the end of Ed Brubaker's run on Captain America there is clearly no sign of this comic slowing down. Captain America #16 is another example of how Brubaker is able to mix in strong action with great character. Every character has something to do in this issue that all feel important to the bigger picture of the story. With what this issue establishes the next issue of Captain America everything is set for a strong ending for this story.

Captain America Reborn #2 was another very average issue that disappoints because it is just not the same type of quality I expect from an Ed Brubaker penned Captain America issue. So far, Brubaker has been writing this more for the eventual trade paperback than for a monthly series. While I still have faith Brubaker can pick things up with the last three issues I recommend that if you are interested in picking up this series wait for the trade as.

Captain America Reborn #5 was a good read that was not as great as it could have been since Marvel has decided to spoil what happens in this mini-series ending already. With the ending already spoiled it is a bit harder to get excited for the final issue of this mini-series. Still Brubaker and Hitch have done a solid job on this mini-series so far and I look forward to seeing how we reach the ending of Steve being back. If you have not picked up this series up yet I recommend picking it up in trade as I have no doubt that this mini-series will read much better as a trade than it has been in single issues.

Captain Marvel #1 is a strong start to Carol Danvers latest series as she picks up the Captain Marvel mantle, with all-new costume to go along with the new title. Kelly DeConnick is able to capture the various aspects of the characters life, from her grounded personality to the cosmic basis of her powers. With how well we are able to get to know who Carol is and what point in her life that she is in there is a lot to look forward to for future stories in this series. If you are looking not just for a strong female-lead book but great comic book to read pick up Captain Marvel #1. It is a great starting point for the character and a comic book that will be a lot of fun to read.

Chaos War #1 was a fantastic start to this Marvel event. Just as they did over on Incredible Hercules, Pak and Van Lente delivered one fun comic. Chaos War #1 is a perfect example of how you start an event. Pak and Van Lente did not waste any time setting up the story as they showed how big of a threat Chaos King was in the first few pages and what the return of Hercules means. There was no shortage of awesomeness in this issue. If you did not pick up Chaos War #1 then I implore you to do yourself a favor and pick this issue up. You do not want to miss out on this event.

For all its faults Damian Son of Batman #1 successfully brings Damian Wayne back in his own book that isnt tied to the New 52. This book wont be for everyone as it is written for Damian Wayne fans, especially those looking to delve deeper into the world introduced in Batman #666. Luckily I am one of those fans and I greatly enjoyed what Kubert presented to us. With the swerve that Bruce was not the Batman that died and Damian battling the conflicting ideals he was raised on I am fully strapped in for whatever comes next.

Detective Comics #866 was a fun read. Dennis ONeil and Dustin Nguyen deliver a great story that most Batman fans should enjoy as it included a story set in the past that was very old school while also giving us a story told in the present that was darker. There was one problem with the narration of the issue that might not make this issue for everyone but if you are a Batman fan I recommend picking this issue up as it is a lot of fun.

Green Lantern #56 was yet another fun read. Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke have teamed up to deliver a title that is just great read month in and month out. Seeing Hector Hammond as the Orange Lantern Corps entity should be a lot of fun in the next issue, especially with how Larfleeze handles this situation. I just hope we get more space adventures in future issues instead of continuing to have this title only take place on Earth. If you have been enjoying Green Lantern so far you will like this issue. I recommend picking this issue up if you have been enjoying Brightest Day and this title.

Green Lantern #1 continues the cosmic opera that is Green Lantern as Geoff Johns continues to have a clear minded course to where he wants to take the franchise. In the process this comic does not read as new reader friendly as the rest of the relaunch books that are part of the DC Comics New 52. As a fan who has followed the Green Lantern series since Johns original relaunched the series 6 years ago I enjoyed this issue. Unfortunately I cant recommend this book to new readers. Instead I recommend picking up Green Lantern #1 only if you have read Geoff Johns previous work on Green Lantern.

Guardians of the Galaxy #23 was another entertaining read. Guardians of the Galaxy continues to be the best team book on the market. DnA are doing a wonderful job on this title and this issue finally sees the series embracing everything that has happened since War of Kings. If you have not given this title a try I highly recommend picking this series up because it is truly one of the best comics on the market.

Robert Venditti continues to show that he has a firm grasp on the Green Lantern franchise and the cosmic side of the DCU. Even as the ending stumbles a bit Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #7 does a great job closing the door on 'Sinestro Law' while setting the stage for several potential story arcs. Hal Jordan and Sinestro final battle more than lived up to expectations as both sides got to show why they are the alpha males of their respective Corps. But now with both characters out of action there are a lot of exciting possibilities for this series to take hold off. If you are into sci-fi stories I highly recommend picking up Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps series.

Indestructible Hulk #1 is able to set the stage for the rest of the series perfectly. Mark Waid is able to give both Bruce Banner and the Hulk a new direction as an Agent of SHIELD that is fresh and exciting. There are a lot of possibilities for where the series can go with this set-up. This is definitely one the stand out MarvelNow! comics that has been released. It is one not to miss out on.

Injustice Gods Among Us #12 was another riveting chapter in one of the best comic books being published by DC Comics. Tom Taylor and Mike Miller did a great job moving the story forward as we see Superman going down a darker path, Wonder Woman becoming a puppet master, Batman trying to play peacemaker and Aquaman protecting his people. If youre a DC Comics fan Injustice Gods Among Us is a must-read comic. I also highly recommend any fan that has been disenchanted by the New 52 to try this series out because it is taking the iconic characters you know from the pre-New 52 DCU in unpredictable directions.

Justice League #2 was a solid rebound after the rough first issue. Geoff Johns and Jim Lee provided us a good mix of character work with some action sequences. With the Justice League finally coming together it will be interesting to see how the Big 7 will mesh together as they are all early on in their careers. I am not won over by Darkseid being the first big challenge for the JLA, but I am willing to give it a chance since big books like this is where Johns has made his money on.

Justice League #6 was a nice action packed end to the first arc for DC Comics flagship title. There were still a lot of problems when it came down to the core plot but I did enjoy this issue in a shut down your brain and enjoy the action sort of way. Geoff Johns did a good job finally bringing the team together and giving each member their own moments to shine. Now that the team is finally together I hope the pacing picks up for this series. If you are a fan of action packed comics Justice League is something you may want to check out. However, if you are looking for a comic with a strong plot I do not recommend buying Justice League.

Star-Lord #12 is a good building block that was able to add depth to Peter Quill's sister, Captain Victoria. In doing so Sam Humphries was able to build an additional plot point for the future of Star-Lord's character. What that future is we don't know given the fact that Secret Wars blew up the Marvel Universe. While I would have liked to have gotten some time dedicated to the aftermath of Peter Quill and Kitty Pryde's engagement I can't complain too much about an issue that gave us more Collector goodness. That alone makes this an issue that any good Marvel cosmic fan will enjoy.

New Avengers #7 catches the series up with the current Marvel Now timeline and in the process created a few more sub-plots for us to follow. This issue won't be for everyone because a big chunk of this issue deals with catching us up to recent events. That said, the methodical pacing that Jonathan Hickman takes provided us with a lot of great character interactions as we spend just enough time in each scene to eagerly anticipate what happens next. It is this character work that continues to separate this series from all the other Marvel books because each character in this new Illuminati group is doing something outside the group that affects everyone else. Hopefully some of these sub-plots pick up because there will come a point where all of the exposition will get in the way of a strong story. But as I've said in the past: In Hickman I Trust.

Kyle Higgins does a great job creating a new setting in Nightwing #19 that is both familiar and different from what the character is used to in Gotham City. With the Dick Grayson having to start from the ground up Higgins is able put the characters improvised style to the forefront. This improvised style is further highlighted from the artwork by Brett Booth, which is much more clean and consistent in this issue than it was over in Teen Titans. With Tony Zucco dark shadow looming over everything Nightwing does in Chicago and the introduction of the Prankster there is a lot to look forward to in the future of this series.

Nightwing #10 was a strong introduction to the new version of Bludhaven that is located in this DC Universe. Tim Seeley lays the groundwork for a city brimmed with opportunity to become Nightwing's new stomping grounds outside of Gotham City. The issue is hurt by how the supporting cast we've been introduced to so far were portrayed. Even with that slight disappointment Seeley writing along with Marcus To's visually appealing artwork makes Nightwing #10 a worthwhile read for fans of Dick Grayson.

Nightwing #11 was a strong world building issue. Tim Seeley once again shows off his understand of who Nightwing is in and out of his costume. The backstory the Run-Offs receive work well in complementing why Nightwing moved to Bludhaven in the first place. Seeley also creates enough obstacles for Nightwing to overcome that make his first case in his new city interesting to follow. As long as Seeley can find a way to balance the personal and superhero life Dick Grayson leads, this series will only be getting better moving forward.

Nova #34 was another fun read. While not exploring the Realm of Kings story as much as I would like this title to do DnA continue to make Nova one of the best comics on the stands as they go all out with the sci-fi aspect of this title. If you enjoy sci-fi titles I recommend picking this title up.

Red Robin #8 was the best issue of this series so far. Though Yost continues to have the same problems previous issues of this series have had. Still if you are a fan of Tim Drake fan you are sure to enjoy this issue and I recommend you pick it up. The next issue will be a prologue issue to the Red Robin/Batgirl crossover so if you are looking to jump onto this title you will have to be picking up Batgirl as well in March. So be aware of that if you plan on picking up the next arc of this title.

Red Robin #10 was a very good read and was a big improvement over the Batgirl issue that also came out this week. This issue did a good job finally getting me interested in this crossover. While there are a couple things I worry about this crossover I am looking forward to see where Miller and Yost take the story. If you have been picking up Batgirl and/or Red Robin than this is an issue you should pick up.

As first issues go Secret Avengers #1 did its job in showing us why we should be picking this series up. Nick Spencer did a fine job setting up the groundwork to make Secret Avengers different from the dozen other Avengers book on the market. It doesn't hurt that Luke Ross nails the espionage tone of Spencer's story. Even with questionable character motivation this issue did enough to get me to back for more.

Secret Avengers is one of the biggest surprises out of Marvel Now. This is a series that I did not have high expectations for but Nick Spencer and Luke Ross have turned it into one of the most intriguing Marvel titles. Secret Avengers #2 effectively conveys this with Spencer moving the series at a methodical pace that never feels slow. This issue had a strong balance between Nick Fury Jr. continuing to build up the Secret Avengers membership and AIM rising to power once again with its new High Council. If your into action/adventure comics with an espionage tone than pick up Secret Avengers.

Shadowland #2 was a good read that was a major improvement over the first issue. There are still problems with this minis-series but hopefully Diggle and Tan will be able to fix it in future issues. But even with those problems Diggle did a great job with the characterization of all the characters in the story and Tans artwork looked great as well. If you have been enjoying Daredevil than you will enjoy Shadowland as Diggle does a solid job with Matt being the leader of the Hand. Also for those looking for a good action story than I say pick this event up as you are sure to enjoy it. For the rest I would say wait for this story in trade as it will read much better in collection than singles.

Sonic the Hedgehog #249 is another exciting chapter in the Worlds Collide crossover. Ian Flynn continues to provide excellent chemistry between the Mega Man and Sonic characters. Each character is given a moment to shine and it never feels like one set of characters is being favored over the other. The one problem that I did have with this issue is the size of the lettering. It is rare to see such big lettering used for a comic and they did cause the word bubbles to take a good chuck of each panel. Fortunately Tracy Yardley provides us with a lot of eye pleasing artwork that gives this title a fun energy, which you can't help but smile when reading this comic. If you've ever been a Mega Man or Sonic fan I encourage you to pick up the Worlds Collide crossover. It is some of the most fun you'll find yourself having with a comic book this year.

Teen Titans #88 was a solid read. Outside of a few minor complaints that keep this issue from being great, Teen Titans #88 was a very good start to a run. I look forward to see what Krul and Scott have in store for the team especially with Damian joining the team as a member and the Robin of the team. He should definitely bring in a cool dynamic to the team. If you are a Teen Titans fan then I recommend picking this issue up, even if you have not read this title in a while. This is a very new reader friendly issue. As someone who has not picked up this title for a few years I am now excited to pick this title up on a regular basis again.

Teen Titans #2 is another strong entry in the opening arc of Benjamin Percy's plans for the next generation of DC Universe heroes. Percy did a great job establishing The Demon's Fist as a credible threat for the Teen Titans to face. This issue also furthers the character arcs for each member of this new team. Add in the strong artwork from Diogenes Neves and you have all the you need for an enjoyable reading experience.

Teen Titans: Rebirth #1 did exactly what it needed to do to breathe new life into the franchise. Benjamin Percy does a good job giving us an idea of where Robin, Beast Boy, Starfire, Kid Flash and Raven are in their lives and what their current mentality is. This introduction helps set up whatever Percy had Robin assemble the Teen Titans for as now we know who they all are. Jonboy Meyers art style was a welcome addition as his art brought a lot of energy to every panel. With both the story and artwork working together Teen Titans looks to be in great shape moving forward.

IDWs new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series has slowly been improving with each issue. Now with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6 we are finally starting to see the build up from the first arc being fully fleshed out. Kevin Eastman and Tom Waltz have done a great job placing all of the key chess pieces on the board for the upcoming war in New York. Mix in Dan Duncans gritty artwork thats a perfect match for this title and you have a TMNT title all fans of the Turtles.

The Clone Conspiracy #5 did not stick the landing as the latest Spider-Man event came to a close. The lack of development for certain characters left a lot to be desired. That said, Dan Slott did a great job with how Spider-Man saved the day by overcoming tremendous odds in the face of all the horrible things Ben Reilly and New U did. The ending of The Clone Conspiracy #5 also leaves enough things open for future stories in all the Spider-Man books to follow up on.

Titans #6 was a strong ending to "The Return of Wally West" arc. Dan Abnett successfully brought Wally back in a prominent way and pushed the character to accept his new life with the Titans. This story also helped to elevate Kadabra as a credible threat and Lilith as a powerful member of the team. With the appearance of Deathstroke at the end there is plenty for old and new Titans fans to be excited from this series.

Ultimate Comics Armor Wars #4 was a great read. Warren Ellis completely nails what makes Tony Stark a great character. While the rushed ending was disappointing it did not take away too much from what has been a highly entertaining mini-series. Ellis did an excellent job turning the Ultimate version of the classic Armor Wars story into a James Bond type story. I highly recommend any Iron Man fan to pick this mini-series up when it comes out on trade as Ellis and Kurth combine to tell a great Iron Man story.

Ultimate Spider-Man #158 was a good calm before the storm issue as Brian Bendis sets the stage for Spider-Man to make his final stand against his Rogues Gallery. With an adept hand at writing all of the characters, Bendis has built up this storyline to have a great ending. Whatever next month, whether it truly leads to Spider-Mans death or not, I know this, I cannot wait to get my hands on the next issue. At the same time there was one big problem this issue faced that kept this issue from being a home run. With that said if you have been following this storyline from the start you will not be disappointed as there is a lot of great character work throughout the issue.

Ultimate Spider-Man #160 proved to be a very good issue. Brian Bendis and Mark Bagley teamed up to deliver an arc that showed how Ultimate Spider-Man has been one of the most entertaining comics in the past decade. The balance between the roles Spider-Mans supporting cast and villains played in this arc worked to give the reader an impactful end for a fantastic character.

Ultimatum Spider-Man Requiem #2 was a good ending for Ultimate Spider-Man. Still, it feels that there was a lot of lost potential with this issue as it does not feel like the proper ending this series deserves. In any case, I am happy to see that Peter is alive and I am very interested to see what Bendis and LaFuente have in store for Ultimate Comics Spider-Man.

Rick Remender continues to deliver some of the best stories that have come out of Marvel Now! with Uncanny Avengers #5. What is most impressive about Remender's work on this series is how he is able to juggle multiple stories at once. There are many sub-plots working together in Uncanny Avengers #5 and Remender is able to present it in a clear manner so that readers do not feel lost even when addressing daggling plotlines from his run on Uncanny X-Force. Everything meshes well together and allows us to get a good gauge at the mission statement and personalities that are in this Avengers team. Though I am not a big fan of Daniel Acuna's artwork I did enjoy how he choreographed the opening action sequence involving the Apocalypse Twins and the Four Horsemen. In the end Uncanny Avengers #7 is another great example of this series being one of the best comics in Marvel's current catalogue.

Uncanny X-Force #1 was a great start to this new X-Men series. After all the other X-books failing to capture my interest post-Second Coming it is great that this series is out because I can now start reading an X-Men book again. Outside my issues with how Psylocke was handled, Remender did a great job showing why this is going to be a much more effective strike team. Each member is given a moment to shine. With a nice hook ending involving child version of Apocalypse I am looking forward to seeing were Remender takes this title. I am definitely on board with this title and I recommend X-Men fans to check this issue out.

Wolverine #1 is a good start for the mutant that calls himself "The Best There is at What I Do." Admittedly having the story begin in the middle of an adventure did not help build a connection to the story right away. But by choosing not to go with the normal Weapon X or X-Men storyline Paul Cornell gives the reader the feeling that he is going to do something new and different with Wolverine. The mystery with who the weird kid is and where he came from is intriguing, especially since Wolverine has normally tried not to hurt kids throughout his career. It doesn't hurt that this issue features some fantastic artwork by Alan Davis that you can easily lose yourself looking at.

Wolverine and the X-Men #42 is exactly the type of ending I expect from Jason Aaron after more than two years of storytelling. He gave us an issue that is able to put a close to his chapter in the X-Mens history while leaving things open for the next team to pick up from where he left off without a problem. And for an ending of a story that is all you can ask for as a reader.

Wonder Woman #2 was everything that the first issue was not. Though it lacked much action, Brian Azzarello made up for it with great character work. Azzarello did a good giving us a look into this new DC Universes Wonder Woman. We also finally get an idea of what the conflict for this story arc and maybe the whole series will be based on. Characters like Hera and Strife will be interesting characters to follow along with Wonder Woman. With a good hook ending that could lead to some big repercussions between Wonder Woman and her mother, Hippolyta, the next issue should be fun to read.

With each passing month Brian Azzarello has made his claim for the having the best DC Comics ongoing series and Wonder Woman #22 is another example of this. From beginning to end Azzarello is able to hook me into a story that introduces us to the rest of the New Gods in an intriguing fashion. While in New Genesis we are also treated to great character progression for Wonder Woman and Orion as they have grown to understand each other on a deeper level. At the same time Azzarello gives us a taste of the history of New Genesis and how that history has made Highfather into the authoritative figure he shows himself to be. This all leads to an exciting end that sets up the continuation of the war between Wonder Woman and the First Born. With so many pieces in play itll be interesting to see what other surprises Azzarello has in store for Wonder Woman moving forward.

X-Men Schism #4 is an example of the greatest strengths and weakness that have been present in every issue of the latest X-Men event. Jason Aaron again gives us plenty of great character work for Cyclops and Wolverine as well as some cool action sequences.

If there was one comic to hand to a kid in order to get them into comics Young Justice: Invasion is that comic. It has all the fun of the show and is all-age friendly. There is also a lot to Young Justice: Invasion #23 that fans of the show will love. Greg Weisman is able to give us multiple layers to the plotlines that will keep you coming back for more.

Young Justice: Invasion #24 is another fine example as to how this series is able to separate itself from all the other DC Comics published series. This series is not worried about telling dark and brooding stories. Greg Weisman continues to keep the focus on telling entertaining superhero stories and allowing the characters iconic stature to shine through. Batgirl's fight with Match is a great example of this as it is a scene that you can't help but have a smile on your face when reading it. In a time where DC has been changing, or as they say tweaking, a lot of character origins it's nice to pick up a series like Young Justice that's just focused on telling a strong superhero story.

I was as happy as anybody when I originally heard that there was going to be a season eight, but I was expecting it to be like all the other seasons – not content with the status quo. Some of those changes didn't go over all that well (pretty much all of season six), but most succeeded. In not making changes that could alienate readers, they've found a way to alienate them regardless. Of course, it's still early, so I'll stick around for a bit longer to see if they can turn things around.

Action Comics #19 was a fast paced issue that set-up the future of the series in interesting ways. Some cofusing timeline problems aside Andy Diggle did a good job developing Superman's voice, his powers and current state of mind. He also did a great job capturing the sadistic voice of Lex Luthor in a way that shows the character is calm and in control of his latest plot against Superman. It is unfortunate that we will not be able to see this story goes from here as Diggle exits the series after his first issue. I am sure Danial will do a good job with the story moving forward but it will never fully realize the vision of Diggle had for the series. We will never know what his plans were since he was not allowed to write the story he was originally hired for and partially developed in Action Comics #19.

All-New X-Men #4 contains a lot enjoyment with the big confrontation of the original X-Men and the present day Cyclops. It leads us to some interesting friction between each faction of the X-Men in the story. Unfortunately the fact remains that after four issues the story should have moved further along. Whether its weekly, bi-monthly or monthly I want to know that when I pay $3.99 I am getting more out of a comic. So far the characters are more or less in the same position they were in the second issue. The pace needs to be picked up or else the interest in this title will die down much like it did during Bendis Avengers run.

All-New X-Men #5 packed a lot of drama for the X-Men. Some heavy decisions were made by a few characters that will have ramifications felt by the entire X-Men Universe. Brian Bendis has been able to find his home with the X-Men as he is able to nail the large cast of characters really well. There are issues with the pacing of the story but the drama provided by this issue is able to provide enough excitement for the future of this series.

All-New X-Men #7 is the best issues of Brian Bendis run thus far. By introducing Mystique and having her get directly involved with the original X-Men coming to the present added an extra layer of suspense to what will happen next in this series. There is still a missing element to the story to move it to that next level but that does not take away from the success of this issue. With Bendis lighting the bomb right at the house of the X-Men I cant wait to see what happens when it is set off. If youre an X-Men fan than I highly encourage giving Bendis All-New X-Men a try, if you havent already started reading it.

All-New X-Men #15 is not the strongest issue that Brian Bendis has written for this series but it was enjoyable for what it was. The great interactions between Scott, Bobby, Jean and Rachel helped to push this issue to be more than another boring talking head issue. Through these scenes and how other X-Men played their supporting roles well we got to see how the founding members are taking their futures into their own hands. At the same time the state of arrested development Jean has found herself in and the lack of screen time for Hank did take away from the impact this issues story shouldve had. These little things are threatening to become bigger problems as Im beginning to think about how this story should end soon. Hopefully the upcoming X-Men Battle of the Atom event will fix this problem as the X-Mens past, present and future collide.

A few flaws in the story and some inconsistent artwork keep All-Star Batman #5 from being the home run it could've been. With that said, this was still a great ending to Scott Snyder's first arc in this series. Through all the chaos that happened around Batman there was a lot of strong character development packed into "My Own Worst Enemy." There are also several plot threads that create a lot of intrigue for whatever Snyder has in store for us next. If you have followed any of Snyder's work in past or are looking for one Batman comic to read I highly recommend picking up All-Star Batman. It is only going to get better from here.

Amazing Spider-Man #671 was another great entry in the Spider-Island event. Dan Slott just nails Spider-Mans world. He understands that the core of every Spider-Man story is Peter Parker and his supporting cast. Even with such a big event going on they are still the focal point of the story.

Even with some problems with the story structure and artwork Amazing Spider-Man #688 was a fun read. Dan Slott nails all of the characterization he gives the characters in this issue. From start to finish this issue is able to get the reader invested in Spider-Mans battles, both personal and physical. This issue also serves as a great epilogue to End of the Earth as we get to see Peter dealing with the fallout from that story. With how this issue ended and what the cover shows for the next issue the battle looks to only have begun for Spider-Man, which means more fun for us.

Avengers #1 was a fun start to this new Avengers book. While this issue had some obvious defects Bendis turned in a solid effort as he delivers a story fitting of the Avengers. This issue was also very new reader friendly. So if you are looking for the classic Avengers or a more positive comic give Avengers #1 a try because this issue does capture the classic Avengers feel especially with the return of Kang.

Avengers #3 solidifies what Jonathan Hickmans run for this series. Hickman establishes why the Avengers are seeing this expansion and that the scope for this series will be larger than life. Most importantly, he does this in a quick 3-issue arc that will let the series continue to grow in bigger ways. I was not a big fan of Captain Universe being used as the deus ex machina for this story. But even with that fact Hickman was able to create a fascinating new character in Ex Nihilo. Hickman has been able to hook me and look forward to seeing what he has in store for this Avengers title.

Avengers #17 is a solid end to the prelude to Infinity. Jonathan Hickman and Nick Spencer continue to do a fantastic job giving the Avengers a scope that spans the entire Marvel Universe. There is nothing that this team will not take on and seeing how they deal with their latest challenge by teaming up with Ex Nihlo, Abyss, Nightmask and Star Brand was fantastic. A.I.M continuing to plot their big plans in the shadows of this cosmic event has helped to add another layer to this series that we must keep our eyes on. Hopefully Hickman, Spencer and all those involved in the Infinity event are able to take this great build up and deliver a memorable Marvel event.

Avengers Academy #33 delivers an emotionally heavy story that will remind you of The Iron Giant. From all the various personalities involved Christos Gage is able to show how all the student, no matter their differences, are friends and will stand by each other in the worst situation. This issue really helps get over how much all the kids at the Avengers Academy have evolved over the course of the series which is extremely satisfying for readers that have been reading the series from the beginning.

Kelly Sue DeConnick has continuously raised her stock as one of Marvel's top writers and Avengers Assembled #10 is another showcase for her. The writing and art all gelled together to create fun read with the right amount of character interaction between this cast of Avengers and big, over-the-top action. The bland villains does take away from the story but the comic is still enjoyable for all the Avengers interacting with one another. If you are looking for a fun Avengers comic that is not worrying itself with continuity or being dark and gritty than give DeConnick's Avengers Assembled. It is an easily accessible comic.

Outside a few flaws that continue to hamper the overall story Avengers vs. X-Men #7 was actually a highly entertaining read. Now that we have gotten past the halfway point of Marvels mega event things have picked up in quality with Fraction doing a very good job making the story even bigger. With solid characterization of the Phoenix-5 and most of the Avengers I am now looking forward to what happens next as there are a lot of interesting possibilities stemming off what happens in Avengers vs. X-Men #7.

Avengers vs. X-Men #8 continues the strong developments we have gotten from Act 2 of Marvel's big event. While things may have started slow things have really picked up steam as the X-Men continue to get stronger and the Avengers lose more hope. The ending does a great job having the Avengers hit their lowest point as now they are the ones to face the adversity that the X-Men have long known.

Is Avengers vs. X-Men #11 a home run? No, it is not. But, it is not an issue that was unreadable. Avengers vs. X-Men #11 is actually a very entertaining issue that accomplished a lot more than the majority of the event has in ten issues. Brian Bendis effectively uses the page count he is given to tell a story that gets the reader excited to find out what will happen in the finale. Unfortunately, the problems that have shrouded the event continue affect this issue and keep it from being a winner. If you have enjoyed Avengers vs. X-Men than you will love this issue as it the best issue of the event. If you have not then this issue will not change your mind on Marvels big event.

I will not lie by saying that The Avengers vs. The X-Men Versus #1 was not entertaining because it was. I had fun reading the two fights that were in this issue. But the question is not if the comic was fun but if it is worth the $3.99 cover price? The answer to that is a definitive No.

In the end, I ended up enjoying AvX: Versus #2 much more than the first issue of this tie-in mini-series. Not only that but Versus #2 was actually much more entertaining that its parent title. I am still not sure that this is enough to validate the $3.99 price tag. The high cover price is what makes me hesitant to recommend this title to readers. That along with the lack of actual progression in the main angle of the event makes Versus a series to only get if you really want to see how these fights play out.

In reading Batgirl #22 you can see that Simone loves Barbara Gordon's character. There a lot of nuances to how Simone writes Barbara that you will not find anywhere else. This is most apparent in the great scene between Barbara and Commissioner Gordon that's shrouded with the dark cloud of recent events. Now while the date between Barbara and Ricky was fine it would have been more effective if Simone allowed Pasarin to tell the story with his artwork in a silent date sequence. That aside, Batgirl #22 worked effectively to push the new status quo for the Gordon family forward and continue Barbara's evolution as a character.

Batman #692 was a good read. Other than the Nazi part of the story at the end Daniel actually impressed me with his writing in this issue. It was a vast improvement over his work on Battle for the Cowl. This was a very new reader friendly issue with giving the reader plenty of information not to get lost. Also with how this issue has built on other storylines that have been building since the start of the new direction from the franchise this has plenty for older Batman readers. So I do recommend picking up this issue whether you are new or a long time reader of Batman.

Batman #20 gave Clayface the opportunity to elevate his stock in the crowded Batman Rogues Gallery. The lack of consequences to the events that happened in the story does hold this arc back from being memorable. This is a story that is just good enough to be entertaining but wont be remembered among Snyders best Batman stories. The strong back-up story by James Tynion and Alex Maleev that involves a team-up between Batman and Superman does help elevate the quality contained in this issue. Hopefully, Zero Year, which begins in the next issue, is able to put this series back on the memorable track it was before this quick arc took place.

I came into Batman #21 wanting to love Zero Year and it had all of the pieces in place for that to happen. Unfortunately everything Scott Snyder introduces in the main feature and in the back-up, which he co-wrote with James Tynion IV, fails to fuse everything together in order to tell a compelling story. The fact that Bruces road to become Batman is not presented with many hardships does not help. So far Snyder has handed everything to Bruce instead of letting us see the evolution the character as he creates the Batman persona. There is still a long way to go and things can quickly turn around given that this is only the first chapter. The great artwork from Greg Capullo and Rafael Albuquerque is already here. Now all we need is for the pieces that were introduced to come together and form a story in which we can immerse ourselves in.

Batman #13 is a good but flawed ending for Tom King and Mikel Janin's "I Am Suicide" arc. How Batman defeated Bane at the end couldn't off been more telegraphed. Luckily King's strong characterization of everyone involved in Batman's plan helped overcome this problem to not be as noticeable. The ending also opens the door for an even greater story involving Bane to be told in the future. Seeing as Bane comes to visit Batman Gotham City in February we won't have to wait that long for his revenge, which I cannot wait to see how it turns out.

While we get a brief bit of action Batman/Superman #2 is a character-driven comic that establishes multiverse within the New 52 era. This is the type of story that I did not expect to get for the first arc of a new Batman/Superman comic but it is fully welcomed. Greg Pak treats this multiverse crossover with care as we are treated with a few lighthearted moments from Earth 2 Catwoman and Lois Lane. At the same time Pak stays focused on the bigger story at hand with how the Batmans and Supermans interact with one another.

Batman and Robin #12 was a fun read and definitely was the best issue of Batman and Robin since issue #3. While the issue had its share of problems Morrison finally delivered an entertaining read. With Dr. Hurts return and Joker reappearing things should get much more interesting with the next story arc. Hopefully now that we are entering the big Return of Bruce Wayne story Morrison is able to maintain this consistency, which he hasnt been able to do since Batman RIP ended. If you have been enjoying Morrisons work on Batman and Robin than you are sure to enjoy this issue as Morrison brought his A-game for this issue and 3-part overall.

Batman and Robin #14 delivered on everything I expect a Grant Morrison penned issue to be. From top to bottom this was a fantastic, tightly written story. Morrison is showing a lot of focus in this story which has been missing from his work as of late. The story feels big like a big event that no Batman fan should miss. Everything is falling apart around Dick Grayson as he has lost all control in Gotham City as the new Batman and is faced with the biggest challenge of his life. I cant wait to see how Morrison finishes this arc with the next issue. I highly recommend Batman fans to pick this, and the previous, issue up as it really feels like a big Batman story.

Batman and Robin #2 was strong character focus issue with the Tomasi further developing the new Dynamic Duo. Though I have my problem with the NoBody plotline the writing for Bruce and Damian was so strong it makes up for the weakness in some of the plot. Tomasi writes both characters with their own distinct voices as they each deal with problems in having to team-up as Batman and Robin. Moving forward I want to see Batman and Robin fighting bigger villains. With what he has shown so far I am sure we will get that as Tomasi continues to develop the unique relationship Bruce and Damian have.

The end of the "Terminus" arc is a comic that was missing one piece to finish off the puzzle. Unfortunately, that piece turned out to be crucial to a successful story as the villain, Terminus, was a forgettable villain that did not leave a mark. The saving grace for the story of this issue is that Tomasi continues to do an excellent job when it comes to developing the relationships within the Batman Family. Whether it's Bruce and Damian or Dick, Tim, Jason and Damian all of the dynamics that are at play are well handled. The addition of Gleason's distinct artwork the Batman and Robin #12 is still fun but failed to reach its full potential.

Peter Tomasi continues to make the best out of Damian Wayne's death by exploring Batman's current relationship with his former sidekicks. Tomasi does a great job giving the reader a good sense of Batman and Red Hood's history through their dialogue instead of a bunch of flashbacks. The problem with their interaction is that Red Hood's personality is strikingly similar to Red Robin's. This fact cancels out the importance of both characters since there is no clear distinction between their personalities. At the same time, while I found a lot to like about the New 52 version of Carrie Kelly her integration into the series continues to feel forced. Hopefully with the next issue of Batman and Robin guest starring Batgirl we get to see a different direction taken with the current story.

Batman & Robin: Eternal #1 successfully set the stage for the latest Batman weekly series. Scott Snyder and James Tynion did a good job at putting the spotlight of this first issue on Dick Grayson, Harper Row and Cassandra Cain to show us that they will be the driving force of this series. The only problem I had with the issue was the decision to set this story shortly after the events of Grayson #12. There could've been better choices for this part of the story that wouldn't of gotten in the way of what Snyder and Tynion wanted to tell without lessening the impact of that issue. That aside, I am all in on the story of Batman & Robin: Eternal and greatly looking forward to learning more about all that was revealed.

Batman Incorporated #10 is another incredible chapter in Grant Morrisons Batman epic. The closer we get to the end the more Morrison ramps up the intensity of the story. Morrison has done an incredible job in creating a sinister aura around Talia and Leviathan. We see Batman make choices that may end up doing more harm than good but he makes these choices because Talia has pushed him to the absolute edge. The additions of Ras, Nightwing, Red Robin and Spyral in this issue further elevated the intensity of the war that is taking place in Gotham City. With the final image of this issue being that of a Man-Bat version of Batman I have absolutely no idea how Morrison is going to end his Batman epic. All I know is that I cannot wait to get my hands on the next issue.

Batman Eternal #2 is an enjoyable issue that continues the plot threads created in the first issue. It also introduced us to a number of new players and get hints at the sides certain characters will be taking during the course of this weekly comic. But as the story progress I am worried with Snyder and company trying to use too many characters for this story. We can already see how big the cast is going to be and it will only grow. This issue definitely made me see how problematic things could get with characters getting enough screen time to adequately involve them in the story. If this isnt corrected quickly Batman Eternal will be in danger of becoming turning into yet another Batman and Commissioner Gordon story, of which we are already getting in Snyders Zero Year storyline. Hopefully, that is not the case as we move forward with this weekly comic.

While 99% of DC Comics marketing has been geared towards Flashpoints importance and the DCnU relaunch/reboot Batman Gates of Gotham snuck its way in to being the best event that we have gotten this year. Even without getting much attention Scott Snyder, Kyle Higgins and Ryan Parrott combined to deliver a story worthy of being a big event. All the characters involved from Dick Grayson to the new villain, The Architect, were given plenty of growth as the event moved forward. Even underutilized characters like Cassandra Cain got to be in the spotlight for most of the story. If you are a Batman fan I highly recommend picking up Batman Gates of Gotham when it comes out in trade as it was one of the best Batman events we have gotten in years.

Batman Streets of Gotham #8 was a good story for a filler arc. For those looking to get a continuation of the Zsasz storyline you will be disappointed by this issue as Dini again steps aside for another writer to write a different story. For his credit Benson did the best he could but at no point in the issue was he able to shake of the filler feel to the story. Still this issue, as well as the next issue, is not mandatory issues that you have to pick. So if you are waiting for the start of the conclusion of the Zsasz storyline I recommend passing on this two-part story and picking this series back up again in March when that story starts back up again, hopefully.

Did Batman: The Dark Knight #9 deliver on the promised first adventure of Red Robin in the Batman universe? No. If that is what may have interested you about picking this comic up than save yourself your money and buy a different comic. What Batman: The Dark Knight #9 did is to provide a supplementary story to the current Night of the Owls event going on in Scott Snyder's Batman comic. Is this required reading? No. But if you want to see more of the Court of Owls storyline play out The Dark Knight #9 is not a bad comic to pick up.

Through its first four issues Nathan Edmondson has done a very good job separating Black Widow from the other comics Marvel is publishing by focusing on the superspy aspect of the character.

Captain America #610 did a good job ending No Escape and setting up the next arc for this title, The Trial of Captain America. Though I had my problems with how Brubaker portrayed Zemo, Brubaker still continues to do a great job showing the depth of Buckys character that makes him so interesting. With Guice's great artwork it looks like Brubaker is bringing Captain America back to form. I am looking forward to the next arc as it has a lot of potential to be one of the best arcs on this title.

Ed Brubaker delivered another strong read with Captain America #614. With each issue The Trial of Captain America has been getting better and better. This story has far and away been the strongest story we have gotten since Marvel decided to renumber Captain America. Brubaker is doing a good job showing that no matter what he does Bucky will never be able to escape his past as Winter Soldier. With Bucky going to face Sin to save Falcon and Black Widow it will be interesting to not only see what happens in his battle against Sin but also the repercussions of him escaping his imprisonment.

Captain America #15 continues the strong trend of fun action packed issues that are layered with good character work. Ed Brubaker, along with co-writer Ed Cullen, delivered on a comic that is just fun to read. With Scott Eaton on art, this issue is able to suck you into the adventure and gets you inside of what the character is thinking without having to rely on inner monologue. As we reach the conclusion of Brubakers epic run on the character it doesnt seem he is letting up on the gas pedal which means only exciting things for us as the reader.

Kelly Sue DeConnick and Dexter Soy continue to make a great combination on Captain Marvel. This latest issue is yet further proof as to why this series is one of the best new comics of the year. As we have Captain Marvel and her supporting cast firmly established it will be important for this series to create a Rogues Gallery for Captain Marvel to battle. If you haven't given Captain Marvel a try I recommend you change that as this is an extremely fun superhero comic.

Kelly DeConnick and Christopher Sebela are able to use Captain Marvel's current status quo as a way to ground Carol's character while also addressing her cosmic origins. The battle between Captain Marvel and Deathbird further established the danger Carol is in with her brain lesion continuing to affect every aspect of her life. Though the art will not be for everyone Filipe Andrade's stylized artwork does provide this comic a unique look not found in a standard Marvel comic. So if you aren't reading Captain Marvel I highly recommend checking it out.

After a critically successful run Kelly Sue DeConnick takes Captain Marvel #1 as a new launching pad to have the character involved in the more cosmic aspects of the Marvel Universe post-Infinity. The results are an issue that tries to act as an introductory issue for new readers that isn't entirely successful.