Matt Lune Comic Reviews

"Batman" #73 is a beautiful, insane ride through the desert.

Despite feeling more like a prologue than the actual first issue, Fantastic Four #1 allows both Slott and Pichelli to prove why theyre the right people to bring back Marvels First Family.

A fantastic " and genuinely scary " return to form for the now Immortal Hulk. May it live forever.

A solid, fun start, with an enjoyable cast and great set-up for future issues.

Creepy and satisfying, Hungry Ghosts #4 boasts gorgeous art thats a feast for the eyes.

A clever, funny, and highly entertaining issue with plenty of reasons to read it over and over again.

Things are reaching a climax in Detective Comics, and this issue brings things together in an exciting way.

A bold new direction for the Black Hammer universe, which raises more questions than it answers.

A dark, bleak beginning, but one filled with real depth and emotion.

A fun, if safe, start for Sonics new adventures.

A fresh and compelling new monster book, one that asks important questions.

A fun and funny start to an engaging fantasy adventure.

A richly compelling start, "Dry County" is soaked in noir tropes and teases the story to come.

A realistic, emotional and even funny exploration of heartbreak and healing.

A fun and frantic teen drama that doesnt slow down for a second.

Despite an unoriginal debut issue, The Wilds does show some promise.

An unforgiving and gleeful glimpse at an unravelling mind.

A supernatural thrill-ride of a lifetime. Literally.

A bold debut that races along with a grand design, but loses the human touch along the way.

An essential piece of the Babyteeth puzzle, with the concept of parenthood and lineage expertly explored.

This is a whole mess of characters in what's essentially one big clumsy battle for the whole issue, but it's still a fun chapter.

A dark and graphic Viking ghost story thats instantly compelling and beautifully crafted.

A stunning debut. Ahmed and Kivela deftly craft a fully realized world, mixing horrors both fantastical and all-too-real.

Truly disturbing horror hiding under a sweet, sugary coating, "Ice Cream Man" is a visceral creep-fest.

The mystery deepens as we and the characters delve into the city of Paradiso

An exciting and dramatic conclusion to the first arc of the series.

lasting connection to. Read I Love This Part, and feel the heartbreak and elation of first love all over again.

A brilliant first step on the road to the return of the FF.

A brilliant debut: fun, thrilling action with a genuine emotional core.

A complex, engaging world filled with mystery, Paradiso is a city worth getting lost in.

An exceptionally fun comic with non-stop action and a great cast of misfits.

A visceral thrill-ride. Scary, engaging and so much fun.

A satisfying, smart and engaging chapter, with some tantalising long-awaited answers.

A fairly safe issue, soaking every page in nostalgia rather than pushing the character forward, however this is still a solid standalone adventure for a newly returned Cap, and looks gorgeous too.

Not exactly anti-climatic, but nowhere near as epic as what's come before.

Not perfect, but some standout moments of creativity, originality and genuine chills make this more Treat than Trick.

A graphic and frenetic issue, filled with the release of tension this series has been building, while constantly raising the stakes.

A real treat for Black Hammer fans, one that builds a fully realized world in a way that the main series has merely hinted at.

Heavy on the exposition, but the start of a fascinating new world.

A chilling ending provides the heartbreaking release to a tense issue.

A gorgeously illustrated issue that lays the groundwork for a compelling underdog story.

A well scripted, emotional story supported by stunning art that captures the essence of early Ditko Spidey.

A quiet, melancholic look at survival after the end of the world, with breathtaking visuals and a superbly paced script

Solid character development continues to deepen the lore and ultimately elevate the entire franchise.

Stunningly original fantasy with heart and soul, and more than a little word of warning about how we live today.

Some truly stunning page layouts cannot hide an ultimately unfulfilling conclusion.

Final Verdict 8.1 - A promisingly insane opening chapter to a psychedelic, self-aware roller-coaster.

A thrilling insight into a supporting character that fits perfectly into the world of Episode VII

The next epic adventure series is here, and its every bit as magical as youd expect.

Giving a much loved supporting character the depth and respect that she deserves, Moneypenny is brought into the 21st century in style.

Fantastic art supports a fun and engaging presentation of what it means to be Thor for new and old readers to enjoy.

Pitch-perfect characters and the start of an intriguing mystery, with good humor and charm for days.

A solid start that takes this sequel in a vastly different direction to the original series.

Bafflingly cosmic in the best way, this centennial issue is an epic conclusion to one of the best runs in modern Marvel comics

A lot of Aphra's decisions are coming back to haunt her in this issue, and the payoff is satisfying.

Tense, unrelenting, genuinely scary, Redlands grabs you and threatens to never let you go.

A fun issue that feels like a classic Hulk issue, but lacks the intended substance.

A strong start. A fresh take in a saturated genre, with a deceptively light tone, and a cast that carries real weight and emotion.

A welcome expansion of the story of the early days of the Power Rangers, presented in a fresh and engaging way.

A fast-paced and entertaining start to an epic time-hopping adventure.

A well set up mystery with all the hallmarks of a Bond classic.

An absorbing start that promises an unpredictable series to come.

Despite Barry Allen being, well, Barry Allen, this was an interesting time travel tale, with a fun cliffhanger

Thoroughly entertaining, fully engaging and entirely relevant. Calexit is an important book that never lets the politics overwhelm the story.

An elevated score thanks to stunning art, but even that can't save what is frankly a pointless issue.

An intriguing start to a take on the Arthurian legend that's steeped in demonic mystery.

A visually breathtaking tour-de-force that provides an almost flawless conclusion.

A great start to what will hopefully be the first of many adventures.

An effortlessly fun and fresh take on Spider-Man; classic surroundings with a thoroughly modern voice.

A strange artifact rather than a competent issue, one that lampshades the problems of the current Marvel Universe while simultaneously adding to them.

A fun and engaging zero issue that sets up a potentially hilarious status quo moving forward.

An intimate, character-driven approach to the birth of the antichrist which is, understandably, as surprising as it is enjoyable.

A fun if occasionally run-of-the-mill annual that's elevated by an unexpected, gothic horror story about the unlikeliest of characters.

With three distinct stories, each as engaging and exciting as the last, Paklis #1 blows everything else off the shelves.

An enjoyable, engaging story that feels entirely familiar yet rewardingly fresh. A stand-alone book that's easy to pick-up and recommend to others.

"The Normals" is anything but. A fun sci-fi concept excellently paced and leaving you wanting more.

A slow burn debut issue for the unbreakable Defender, with a character-driven plot and bold, crisp art.

A high-octane neon-drenched acid trip that feels like an underground punk zine, "Grrl Scouts" is unlike anything else out there.

Light on character but heavy on visceral gore, "Regression" thrusts you deep into it world of body-horror, and hardly ever slows down.

A welcoming, accessible superhero book for all. With a wealth of character development and a sense of legacy, theres plenty to love for new and old fans alike.

A fairly by-the-numbers story from the extended Spidey universe. One for true fans of Ben Reilly only, really.

Sharp, scary, and a little bit sexy, "There's Nothing There" #1 is socialite satire with gorgeous art and a Lovecraftian twist

A compelling pulp tale with dark Lovecraftian imagery, The Book of Chaos is pure sci-fi horror that engages throughout with gorgeous art and complex characters.

A strong start to an engaging and unique new sci-fi series.

Geof Darrow is an almost unbelievable talent, and a new issue from him should always be revered. Welcome back, Shaolin Cowboy.

An engaging, traditional fantasy with the promise of an epic in the making.

A classic adventure in every sense, threading Valiant characters into existing mythology. Great for new readers and old fans alike.

A new book by James Stokoe is always a highlight, but "Aliens: Dead Orbit" #1 is a rich and rewarding chapter in what promises to be a must-read addition to the franchise.

A violent clash with some classic Batman moments, framed by strong character exploration. A satisfying conclusion to King's first act.

An issue that sets the scene well and begins to build an immersive engaging world, Rock Candy Mountain #1 offers up thrilling and hilarious Hobo adventure.

A fun and funny second issue that delves a little deeper into the scoundrels and their world.

With gorgeous, mind-melting frenzy, "Space Riders" returns and it's more manic, more psychedelic, more badass than ever. Welcome back, Mon Capitan.

A strong debut with a slow build. The best may be ahead, but here is where it all starts.

A howlingly fun deviation, possibly the best of IDW's current crop, that takes the core concept and runs with it. A satisfying follow-up on the original too.

One of the boldest, most evocative beginnings to a horror series for a long time, Underwinter #1 is an almost primal, abstract tale of agony, passion, and creation. A must read.

This may not be the 'Days of Future Past' for the Next Generation crew, but it's still an enjoyable deviation from the standard Trek tale. "Star Trek: Deviations" #1

An above average companion piece with engaging art that will work for fans of the show, even if it falls short of justifying its own existence.

A satisfying main story, five backups and a teaser story for the future of the series means "Amazing Spider-Man" #25 is a strong celebration of the character.

Not only the Pick of the Week, but if the series stays this strong, this will arguably be one of the best books of the year.

Using a familiar sci-fi premise, "Colossi" #1 may be light on character development, but is filled with fast-paced adventure.

The energy of this series really is as unstoppable as Nadia, and this issue starts to build a solid foundation of engaging supporting characters, making this book stronger moving forward.

An intimate and affecting character study showcasing Jeff Lemire at his finest.

A fun, scary thrill ride providing real moments of horror through truly visceral imagery.

A fantastic, action packed debut issue with a fresh take on a familiar concept, ageless characters and lifetimes worth of gorgeous art.

Not the strongest issue of the series, and an overdependence on photorealistic character work is becoming this book's biggest downfall.

God Country #2 satisfies the cliffhanger of its debut issue and continues to build the world and tease its central conflict. The best is surely yet to come, but the deeply engaging characters, be they gods, mortals or somewhere in between, are already here.

It's full steam ahead to the conclusion of volume 2, and with everything coming together there's no sign of easing up on the action or plot twists.

A gorgeous issue that manages to find new things to say about a classic character.

A quintessential Superhero comic that still manages to squeeze in some timely, inspiring words of hope in between the multiversal madness.

New characters, new mysteries and a new location all provide a solid, if slow-burn, introduction to this third arc. Welcome back, "Paper Girls."

A great start that draws you into its seedy, vibrant, violent world, "Loose Ends" #1 is soaked with as much neon as it is blood.

A grim premise presented in a unique way, The Dregs looks gorgeous even at its most horrific, and reads like the type of thrilling crime story its main character is obsessed with. A fantastic debut issue.

A pricey book, but worth every penny for the gorgeous art and vital character insights.

In the race for both style and substance, "Motor Crush" is taking first place.

Uneven art aside, you can't fault the execution of purpose that this book achieves. Wytches is a book that is not out to scare you: It's out to unsettle you -to make you look twice at that shadow in the corner of the room; to make you walk a little faster through that short-cut home at night; and in this issue, it makes you want to hug your loved ones that little tighter. You won't find many books that scratch and claw at your subconscious in quite the same way.

Alex + Ada is not a complicated read. It's not a complex, read-it-four-times-backwards-and-forwards meta commentary. At it's heart it is a simple story of love and humanity. Yet its subtleties, its relationships, its personality is much like a dream: take it at face value, or look deeper and find a hidden world of socialcomplexity.

Both surprisingly (this event has practically been told through adverts/solicits before it's begun) and unsurprisingly (Soule and McNiven are both serious talent) Death of Wolverine #1 is a solid read and a great start to the end of an icon.

While satisfying for the overall story it's nothing Earth shattering, there's no 'Things will NEVER be the same!'. Which in itself is actually quite refreshing.

Overall This is an issue that works better as part of a greater whole (understandable for the seventh part of an eight part story). All the character building and story beats have led to this, and this issue serves to set up what looks to be a suitably epic finale. The flashbacks may be more vital to the overall plot, but its the present, brutal clashes that steal the show, and the marriage between the two halves is what really makes this issue work.

Fans of SpOck, rejoice! For he has returned.Even if this whole event was just an elaborate way to get Superior and Amazing together in one continuity I wouldn't care " I'd love to see them trade banter and blows on a monthly basis. As for this issue " a solid return for one of the best 'new' characters in years, and a tantalising, action-packed start to what is shaping up to be an extremely fun event.

Overall then another worthy chapter in the Original Sin behemoth. The claustrophobic setting of the previous few issues is opening out to rejoin the rest of the Marvel universe now, and with a faster pace and long asked questions getting answered, you can tell the endgame is near. And it is going to be big.

As a done-in-one tale this book is funny and crazy, with a real mystery at its core (even if the payoff is equally as ridiculous as the rest of the book) and for a one-off purchase of $3.99 you won't be disappointed in taking a chance. Go buy it, put aside 10 minutes of your day and be swept up in the mental world of Cap'n Dinosaur.

Haters gonna hate, but at least pick up this first issue before you make up your mind. The characterisation and level of detail prove that the creators take the task of integrating Angela very seriously, and if the rest of the series is as good as this, she'll have no problem fitting right in.

The proverbial calm before the storm, Original Sin #5 slows the pace down even more from last issues talking heads, and takes us back through Furys hidden past. Its enjoyable, engaging stuff, and so long as youre willing to be swept along with the narrative youll no doubt have a lot of fun. If you go in looking for specific answers you may be disappointed, but otherwise a solid issue.

What Skottie Young does with Rocket Raccoon (both the book and the character) is take a concept that in other hands could have been standard, All-Ages irrelevance at best, and shallow movie tie-in at worst, and has created something that is unique, funny, gorgeous, special and oh so essential.

Taking two characters from similar backgrounds in military weaponry and merging certain parts of their story doesn't just make sense, it sort of feels weird that it hasn't been explored/exploited more previously, so in that sense the retcons feel natural and the Sins more believable. Whether the final product will be a story for the ages remains to be seen, but so far so good.

Overall this is a big step up from last issue, but only because all three stories had something to offer. As with all anthologies each issue is its own beast so I'm interested in what's to come from Original Sins…plural.

The art gets a solid 9 from me. The story though, as I say, is seriously hampered by that one moment which, although doesn't enrage me as much as it will some, is still just a cop out. Sorry Jason Aaron. Saying all this though, Original Sin still has me hooked and I can't wait to see what happens next.

While I can't give anything more positive than a shrug to Deathlok, the Young Avengers section is brilliant and no amount of bland filler will take away from that. Despite that, I'm leaving the scoring in the hands of the Math Gnomes, who tell me that a score of 9.5 for Young Avengers is brought down by Deathlok/Lockjaw's scores of 5 to a total of 6.7. Unfortunate. Still check out the book though; Young Avengers is that good.

This issue was a major step up for an already stellar event. The epic moments really were epic, and the shocking moments were graphic and brutal. The art has likewise gone up a level here. The quality is in the details, and from the huge splash pages to the smaller panels, Deodato has upped his game and delivered here big time. I cannot wait to see what he and Jason Aaron have up their sleeves for issue 4.

Dark Horse should beaiming higher with a franchise that I absolutely love. I grew up with this stuff, I know all the episodes of Buffy and Angel like the back of my hand, so I like to think I know what I'm talking about when I say that both of those shows were constantly evolving. For better or worse they kept changing and never stopped aiming high, which for a TV show is a big deal. With Angel & Faith though I get the feeling that they're trapped by their own mythology; doomed to just keep things lukewarm and not just let loose. That's the kind of comic book this could be. Forget what's come before and stop trying to recreate the TV series and instead create something new. That's what I want to read.

Overall this is looking to be a series with many influences. Part Mad Men, part Watchmen, C.O.W.L. stands alone in its class. The characters are clearly set up with the long game in mind, this first issue barely scratches the surface of the players involved, and itll definitely be rewarding to see their stories unfold. Keep an eye on this book, I have high hopes for the series moving forward.

Original Sin #2 gives me a lot of faith in this event. While the wider premise of 'secrets revealed' will obviously bring back a mixed bag of results as it permeates through Marvel's entire line of titles, the core series as it is so far is remaining focused on providing a fast-paced, action-packed murder mystery right at the heart of the Marvel Universe; one that encompasses everybody and everything in its quest to reveal the truth. Every character that's given room in this book is given a purpose, and as the mystery deepens I'm on board to follow wherever it leads me.

Issue 1 came out of the stands swinging (no pun inten- ok, maybe a little intended), with ridiculous action and Parker-luck humour; which was great, but underneath it all I, and a lot of fans, knew that around the corner was Anna Maria waiting to get her heart broken. I'd come to really feel a lot for her and was eager to know what would happen to her, and in this issue Dan Slott answers that question: she's not going anywhere.While last issue brought the fun and frantic action that we as the audience missed while Peter was away (not to mention the fun Peter himself missed), this issue brought back something much more important; the heart.

Velvet, as a character and as a book, continues to be strong, believable and engaging. There's an intensity to the protagonist that echoes through the narrative and while it hits enough tropes of the genre to make hardcore fans happy, there's a refreshing reality to Velvet that makes it one of the highlights of the comic book landscape at the moment. The trade of the first volume, containing this and all previous issues will be out in June and as you may have guessed I highly recommend it!

Overall. In no way a book for the faint of heart or those that are easily offended, The Auteur consistently provides the most batsh*t insane comic-book reading experiences. As I said earlier, you will either love or hate this series, but either way you cant help but get dragged into the disgusting slapstick journey that its taking you on. Overall 8.5/10.

It's not the zany, over-the-top world Kate lives in that will be bringing me back for issue 3. This feels strange to say, seeing as the zany was what drew me to the book when it was being previewed. It was the lack of development of that world that was my biggest criticism of issue 1. Now that I've seen a little more of what Keatinge has in mind for the landscape of Shutter, I've realised that it's not as interesting as the characters that live in it, and that I think may actually be the point. So give it a read. It's definitely worth it, but more for the potential that's hiding behind the ridiculous. Oh, and look out for that one page; it's a doozy.

So all in all the book could have done with being a bit simpler. All the best murder mysteries start off with the who, what, and why's of the crime, but those essential questions are almost lost in the pile of subplots that ultimately detract from the true essence of the book at this early stage. This is in no way a bad book; in fact it's one of the stronger starts for a Marvel event in some time, but it's not the perfect lift off the story needed.

Where we go from here, both figuratively and literally, is anyone's guess. There's a little time to wait while Image release the trade of the first arc (perfect time to catch up you guys), but Remender, Scalera and the Anarchic League of Scientists will be back in July, and so for that matter will I.

Superior Spider-man was never going to last forever -indeed that was part of the appeal " and while the main point may not have been a ploy to make us miss Peter Parker I find that we, much like Parker himself, truly didn't know what we had until it was gone.

What could have been, and almost should have been, a throwaway issue became a surprisingly moving and elegantly crafted tale. It manages to fulfil its original criteria of re-establishing the Watcher for new audiences, but does it in a way that makes you look past the cynicism and actually care. It didn't need to be this good, but the Original Sin behemoth is all the better for it.

The first arc has concluded in a very strong way then, and left the book in a fascinating position moving forward. If you already read this book then you won't be disappointed by this issue. If you don't read this book then the trade comes out on July 30th. If you haven't already guessed, I highly recommend it.

As the plot thickens, so too does the art. As we dive deeper (no pun intended) into the ramifications and the rewards of Redum Anshargal's rebellious expedition, it would be nice if the art could be a little clearer. I can still appreciate the detail, the lettering and the gorgeous color palettes, but as the pace of the story picks up, the art needs that extra level of clarity that at the moment it's missing. Otherwise a great issue.

The Goblin Nation storyline has had its ups and downs, and while it definitely reads better as a whole this issue is a definite high point to the final arc. Due to the previously mentioned pacing issues regarding the plot, this issue feels more like a prelude to Amazing Spider-man than the end of Superior Spider-Man (for one theres no Otto at all in this issue, for obvious reasons), but it gives a satisfying conclusion to the run. Its saved by the fact that Peter is a joy to read again, and while some will definitely miss the complex and flawed nature of Otto Parker, I for one am looking forward to seeing the original Spider-Man being Amazing again.

A near-perfect way for Aaron to leave the X-Franchise, a great issue that concludes some storylines while setting up others. I'm sad to see him go but this was a fantastic exit for him, and I'm excited for what's to come for this book. Especially the next issue with Kathryn Immonen reuniting Spider-Man with his Amazing Friends - looks to be a lot of fun.

A special nod also needs to go to Marcos Martin, for his amazing variant covers. Scattered throughout this review, they're a brilliant way to celebrate Daredevil's 50th anniversary.

It'll definitely work better as a trade, where it will be easier to read it in the style of one complete episode. Plus the opening and closing monologues would have greater effect when taken as a whole. This issue, while not going to convert anyone new, serves as a decent end to the first tale and sets up the next arc to come nicely. Overall Score: 7.5 out of 10