The art is superb, particularly in the layouts and technical details, and Otomo's sense of fluid motion is practically unparalleled.

So while I do think this second volume was a step down from the first, perhaps stretching its story too thin, it's keeping me hooked. I'm quickly running out of familiar scenes and the promise of unknown material will certainly bring me back.

While the story is still stuck in a seemingly neverending chase, the characters and their motivations manage to get fleshed out along the way. The non-stop action ensures that nothing ever gets dull, at least. While this volume covers the last act of the film, for those like me who are only familiar with the movie version, seeing how differently things turned out is a real trip.

Invader Zim #1 kicks things off without wasting any time. It looks and sounds and feels just like the cartoon; so much so you might even forget you're reading a comic. Its funny, weird, random, dark… Everything Invader Zim's supposed to be. There is absolutely no reason a fan of the cartoon is going to be disappointed.

Anyway, Oni's Invader Zim is still going strong. New character dynamics added and some familiar faces are reintroduced with this installment (the Tallest). If there are any Zim fans out there who haven't picked up this comic, I dunno why they're waiting.

Yes. A fun one-off story that hopefully means the series will toggle back and forth between longer and shorter adventures.

So yeah, for all of you curious, Oni Press's Invader Zim is still good. Still really good, in fact. If you're a Zim fan and you aren't reading it yet, I just don't get you. I just don't GET you.

So far, I'd say this was the weakest issue of the series. That's not to speak too ill of the comic; it was still pretty funny and the art was quite solid.

Invader Zim #8 maybe isn't the funniest issue of the series, but it's still really imaginative, dark and weird; it hits all the points you want from a Zim story I wouldn't qualify it as bad (they haven't really had a “bad” issue yet) and it's a relief to see Dib come out on top by the last page for a change.

I was a bit let down by this issue, but even when “let down” I still think the book is pretty good. There isn't a rip-snorter on every page like usual, but it's a funny issue nevertheless.

While I'm still digging this book and never miss a month, I think it could use something to break up the streak of similar stories. Just as the cartoon employed half hour episodes every now and then as a break from the 15-minute adventures, I'd like to see another two-parter like the one that opened this series. Even if it's just more of Dib getting beat up and embarrassed, it would show a little more ambition and that would be appreciated.

So yeah, the plot follows a typical premise and the story's pretty simple, but Anderson makes it funny with all her high energy layouts and some on-point dialogue. While I'm still anxiously awaiting another multi-parter, this has been one of the better one-shot stories in a while.

I don't want to say that this issue “turned things around”, because it's not like the Zim book was heading in the wrong direction or anything. It's more like this issue livened things up and that's always welcome.

Invader Zim #13 maintains the humor of the comic for another month; maybe not doing anything too ambitious, but it doesn't necessarily have to. And hey, if you haven't yet, check out our interview with this issue's creative team!

Anyhow, I've found the Gaz-centric issues of Oni's Zim book to be some of their best stories, really turning me around on a character I disliked from the cartoon. Yes, she's more vulnerable than her animated incarnation, but giving her flaws and an even rudimentary moral compass has made her leagues more tolerable.

Well, we're four parts in and the "oh wow" sheen of seeing the two characters interact is starting to wear off, leaving only the story to admire on its own merits. Thankfully, the most cliched elements of this crossover are now behind us, so the predictability factor is out the window. If you've been lukewarm on "Worlds Collide" thus far, I'd say stick around as it's all sure to be uphill from here.

If you're still thrilled to see Sonic and Mega Man together and making wink-wink, nudge-nudge inside jokes, then you won't get any less out of this issue than you have the previous 6 parts. But if you're expecting the plot to evolve into anything other than a string of boss battles" Not yet.

But the usual critique still applies: “Worlds Collide” is playing its crossover by the numbers. Robotnik and Wily are both about to doublecross one another, the oldest crossover cliche behind “heroes fight when they first meet by accident” (a cliche this arc is also guilty of) and I really wish Flynn had resisted going there. I'm sure you can play out in your head just how the rest of this arc is going to go. 8.0 Bates's artwork is just so good.Wily confronting Robotnik about trying to kill Dr. Light was a great scene.Though I wish Bates wouldn't draw Sonic's and Tails's faces when they're in spin-ball mode. It's weird.Great as the aforementioned Wily/Robotnik scene was, the “villains turn on each other” shtick is an ancient cliche.

Admittedly, Puppet Master is a pretty niche brand, but it has its fanbase and this comic is aimed to please them. If the last few movies have left you feeling cold (that weird Axis of Evil shit), then you should give the comic a swing. It feels much closer to the earlier films in the series, which is good, because those are the best ones.

I will say I'm looking forward to the last issue. It's bound to be the “How I did it” issue, but I'm more interested in the “Why I did it.” Like I said in my first review, there still isn't a story going on yet, it's just teens getting killed by puppets without a real narrative. Saving that for the end, I guess.

For Puppet Master fans, well, you aren't exactly spoiled for choice at the moment, but I think there's enough content in here to slake your thirsts. I'd actually like to see more Puppet Master stuff from Action Lab and Gabborin, but perhaps with a longer arc.

If you're looking to get into Sonic comics, you really ought to pick it up.

The problem isn't so much the story arc of "Worlds Collide" declining in quality, but that the novelty is starting to wear thin, leaving only the story to carry the arc. And, I must confess, the story so far has been very formulaic. Still, we're only half way, so there's no telling what Flynn might throw at us before "Worlds Collide" is through.

Act III certainly starts off with a bang. My interest was waning toward the end of Act II, but they managed to hook be back on again with pure spectacle. While I still hope that this crossover throws some curveballs in the end, as it's still a lot of predictable cliches, I think artist Ben Bates really upped the game.

And yet, thanks in large part to the superb artwork of Ben Bates… It just doesn't seem so annoying, anymore. “Worlds Collide” really dragged during its middle act, and while I can't say the third act sprang any surprises on us, it has definitely felt like a surge in the right direction. Lots of action, lots of fun and who cares anymore that the whole thing has been predictable every step of the way? Super Mega Man just loaded Super Sonic into his Mega Buster and fired him at Doctor Robotnik and Doctor Wily to save the day. I got everything I needed from this arc.

The action's really gearing up and Flynn is going all out with smooshing the universes together. No, I didn't recognize the Genesis Unit, but that didn't make their fight any less fun. And for those of you equally obsessed with both franchise, then you've nothing to worry about. For the rest of us, there's Mega Man Knowledge Base and Sonic News Network.

8.5 There's something so satisfying about seeing Bass wreck Sonic's shit.Mega Man using all the powers from Sonic's friends was really cool.Fun little rideOh. They're pulling a Generic DC Comics Crisis shtick. Big whoop.