Afterlife with Archie may not redefine zombies as we know them, but it offers a solid story with gorgeous art. The Afterlife with Archie team masterfully employs all the tropes and conventions horror fans of come to love. This is a horror comic through and through, and its one you should be reading.

He has created something special with Amala, so its doubtful this series will be the last we see of the sword-wielding, master assassin. Overall, Amalas Blade #4 is a worthy issue to end one of the finer series of 2013. From Dialynas amazing cover art, to the very last hilarious panel featuring Stormscale the mechanical wyrm, and everyones favourite ghost monkey, his work is phenomenal. Heres hoping the plans to expand Amalas universe are currently being concocted in Hortons brain, right now.

An excellent read, American Vampire: Second Cycle #1 delivers tons of bloody thrills that horror fans have been craving for. I am very happy American Vampire is back and cannot wait for the next issue to get here.

This book kick offs what may be the final in the pre-modern era B.P.R.D., taking a substantial twist from its 1946 and 1947 predecessors focusing more on North America as well as taking a science fiction style. If this is the last of the B.P.R.D. history, it lacks the punch it needs to become a classic within Mignola's work. The story better seriously start to vamp up in coming issues.

A solid issue to warm up the readers for what will be an impactful conclusion. So much is at stake up to date its incredible to think about what 2014 will hold for the B.R.P.D.

Side note: As soon as I finished reading the book, I immediately hopped onto my phone and messaged BDs own Lonmonster (I know Im pretty special), and told him how blown away I was and that he must read this one.

This arc is very different than many other B.P.R.D .stories in circulation as it combines the classic themes of the series with the seldom seen vampire aspect that is underlying throughout Mignola's universe. It will be interesting to see the next phase of historic B.P.R.D. story line.

Jonathan Mayberry and Tyler Crook prove to be the perfect creative team to dabble in this genre, and Im excited to see how the remainder of Bad Blood plays out.

It doesnt take a genius to read this as a direct criticism of US economic policies, the relative indifference of the affluent towards the almost-comical disparity in income that has become exacerbated in the past few decades, and the willingness of power, whether in the form of government, private corporations or religion, to utilize its most base form force to maintain the favorable status quo. But even if you dont pick up on the political subtext and commentary, this is still an excellent comic because of the strong story, characters and improving artwork. This is becoming one of the better comics Image is putting out and its only issue two.

Overall, its a worthy first issue with a lot of room to grow, and a definite pull for Willow fans. Parker captures her character so perfectly, that you cant help imagining Alyson Hannigans voice ringing through your ears when reading through the dialogue. Brian Chings art compliments Parkers writing well, but theres no likeness to Hannigan in the slightest. Of course, thats not to say his take on Willow isnt good. I like the fact that he turns her into a more believable Heroine in appearance. Shes very strong and determined, and it shows in both script and artwork.

Im glad Dark Horse and Whedon have enough faith in Willow to give the witch her own mini-series. Theres nothing superfluous or contrived about Parkers storytelling, and everything that happens within the pages is blatantly relevant to the main narrative of Season 9. Thats all the fandom wants from these solo minis; and thats what Parker delivers. Issue #2 ends on a depressing note, and the readers are left to wonder what Willows next plan of action is, and how far shes willing to go to get what she wants. If this installment is any indication, next months issue is only going to up its game.

Overall, The Eyes of Frankenstein #1 is a great addition to Niles Criminal Macabre universe, and the readers will be curious to see what he has in store for Cal and the iconic monster.

The artwork continues to be a franticly penciled representation of the events in Niles story, and it works remarkably well considering the suspense and horror elements of the book. Composition-wise, Mitten has a great knack for visual storytelling, and makes use of all the panel space he lays out for himself. He has a very distinctive style of art that has come to be recognizable, with his scratchy lines and airy depictions of characters and settings. Michelle Madsens colours are skillfully rendered onto the pages using dark tones to evoke the mood of the narrative. Her contributions to Hemlocks occultist activities make for some of the best panels in the entire series. Justin Ericksons consistently fantastic covers should also be commended. He definitely saved the best for last.

Being a sucker for any works of fiction involving elaborate 'Extranormal Institutes' of learning " whether good or evil " my inclination to read Remender's take on a similar trope had been remarkably strong. And with very little still known about the assassin training academy, my interest is only heightened to an embarrassing degree. There's something to be said for the author's ability to keep the mystery alive, while solidifying reader interest for the next issue.

Drumhellar proves that comics can do things other mediums cant. It crosses multiple genres in a spacious world that teems with imagination and care from the creators. I have no idea where Link and Rossmo are going to take us, but you can bet Ill be along for the ride.

With the creative team-up of Niles and Wrightson in Frankenstein Alive, Alive! #2, readers couldnt ask for much more. Made with style and substance, Frankenstein Alive, Alive is a dream come true for horror fans.

This is a comic book with implications and escalating consequences. A standout start to what I can only imagine is going to be a stellar comic with some harsh reality infused into a completely badass storyline. Because what I havent doled out yet is that The Beacon will be The Beacon for as long as that little angel sits on her shoulder. But that angel has a shelf life and that shelf life is called Furious.

Its easy to conjure up all kinds of beasts and freaks for the Hoax Hunters to encounter, and being able to imagine the characters in further plotlines is a surefire sign of a great book. Its hard to tell where the series will go from here, but Image made the right choice in promoting this to a full ongoing series.

The combination of both Roberts writing and artwork is truly unique, providing a perfect balance of comedy, drama, and horror. Im really excited to see how the characters will band together to overcome the imminent undead threat, and how Robert will tie it all up. Theres no doubt Killogy will be one of the years most fun horror books

All in all, the first issue is a beautifully illustrated, and poetically written start to whats gearing up to be a compelling and noteworthy series. The amount of exceptional work Ted McKeever put into this book is a testament to his abilities as a storyteller and artist. And while readers shouldnt be so shocked to know he singlehandedly created, wrote, illustrated, and even lettered the issue, it bears repeating and merits commendable acknowledgment.

The combination of atypical prose, the deeply metaphoric, and the artistic style make this book so much more terrifying than any currently running horror book. Monocyte may just be the next big thing in horror, going beyond our imagination into the realm of the unknown. There is a certain pseudo-Lovecraftian vision that comes out of Monocyte with its cosmic level of terror, and I feel, or perhaps hope, this will really pave the way for a new kind of horror.

Note: The creative team is now incorporating a letters column into the books, so kindly direct your love and support to this email address: theratqueens@gmail.com

Saga is by far one of the most original and fantastic books in the comic realm. It's almost unfair to compare it to other work as it fits in its own niche. The art is reflective of the themes within the story and the dialogue adds another reason to why this story is so mesmerizing. I'm glad its finally back!

Every issue makes me more and more excited for the next; if you havent picked up an issue of Saga yet, youre out of your mind.

I am in to see how this mystery resolves and this is only the half way point! Hine's story is keeping me guessing and that always makes me want more. Catch up to the Space Dogs before it's too late.

Some readers might think Shands Suckers premise to be a bit too goofy and meta, and to a certain extent, it is, but that doesnt stop Shand and McGinty from delivering a number of genuinely funny comedic moments. There's also some questionably distasteful (though still arguably amusing) plot developments. The final page is evidence of that, and sets up the remainder of the series perfectly.

I want to know more about our hero, his brilliant opposite of a nemesis, and how his beetle-winged cape works. I want this pulp hero and someone like The Rocketeer would team up! I want more gorgeous letter pages and postcards in the back of this issue. It all has an incredibly consistent look and feel. I want more. That is a great start to a new book. And this is only the first part of a four part story. You know it has an ending but I hope it is the start of something bigger we can all look forward to reading.

IDW needs to go back to the drawing board for this book. It has the potential to be something huge, but with its erratic layout, and lack of quality art, it is definitely not a book I can recommend, which is disappointing because Im a big fan of the original story.

In all seriousness " an ironic qualifier if there ever was one " this is one of the best comics I've read in some time. It falls short of perfect because it does lack the gravity necessary to get a perfect score, but in virtually all other areas, this is a success. An astounding opening issue for "The End Times."

The artwork remains consistently good. Hicks' style isn't overly complicated or detailed, but visually expressive when it matters. She conveys an array of emotion when illustrating the characters' expressions, and knows how to build up suspense through lively panel work when the script calls for high-action scenes. Colourist Rachelle Rosenberg sticks with just the right palette of dark and murky hues in order to effectively portray the grim universe; and artist, Julian Totino Tedesco delivers another beautifully illustrated cover for the series. His work always hits the mark.

The artwork is as visually dynamic as it is remarkably dark and heavy. Its clearly apparent that every stroke of his brush, and placement of devices, symbols, and diagrams derived from his studies of iconography and alchemy, is so specifically envisioned, and consciously meaningful. Menton3 is consistently reliable and accomplished when it comes to producing stellar pieces of art, and his artistic contributions to the book is a huge factor for its success. He dominates space and creates such powerfully evocative images that will rest in the readers memory long after theyve experienced his work. And thats something readers can always expect from a project as intimate as this one.

Our hero`s homecoming comes with a nice change in his status quo. I noticed this in the previous mini-series too. It makes sense as each story has its own objectives and story beats. If someone down the line was clever enough, they could make a whole story out of all these finales! Until then, this series was overall an enjoyable and light read. I imagine it will be a fun collection to read in one sitting in the future.

Destined to be a classic, The Sandman: Overture is a must-read. Let Gaiman and Williams take you to an extraordinary dream you will never want to wake up from.

The Strain is the kind of book that horror fans love, heavily relying on legend and mythology, all while playing with the differing perceptions of the readers and the characters. Though first issues that dont have much in the way of action are typically hard pressed to keep readership, it somehow works for Lapham. The slow pace and character depth will ultimately make the rest of the series stronger and all the more gratifying when heads start to roll.

“Valentine” delivers a nice balance of action and horror, without going over the top. The swordplay sequences, such as when Valentine slashes everyone around him, are always aimed for excitement, rather than shock value. De Campi and Larsen take the hero quest up a notch, adding time travel and horror to the fantasy genre. With a great starting point, Valentine's continuing journey has the potential to build to an epic status.

The issue is rounded off with an art tutorial by Lois Van Baarle on how to create an atmospheric digital painting and two pin-up pieces. Catherine Miller's art adds a nice touch of racial diversity to the proceedings while Christianne Benedict reflects on the oft-ignored contributions that women have made to science. It's a clever way to end the issue as it echoes the mission statement of the "Womanthology" project: to highlight the contributions women make to a male dominated fields. Most collected editions have their shares of ups and downs and in "Womanthology Space" #4, the ups more than outweigh the downs.