Max Dweck Comic Reviews

Aaron Kuder's art on Action Comics has been praised by the series' fans for a while, and it's not hard to see why. In addition to well-drawn figures and the cool and freaky design of the shadow monsters, Kuder's scenes heavily favor using the layout of panels to emphasize the action present in the story. Lots of artists do this, but it's especially noticeable with Kuder, whose panels can be slanted, angular, overlapping, or bleed into each other in a way that really takes advantage of the comic medium.

You saw the result of the coin toss! But being serious, this is one of the best books from the first half of Villains Month, and considering the team working on it, that was a given from the start. If you were considering getting into Batman and Robin, or just like Two-Face, this is a perfect book.

For the first year and a half of the New 52, Batman and Robin stood out as one of the greatest books DC was offering. Dark and dramatic, but also fun and imaginative with a sense of humor. It was a high-quality book that always knew exactly how seriously to take itself, and even when it got dark or even depressing, was still very entertaining. The most recent story arc, in which the series became Batman and Two-Face, seemed to be missing a lot of those qualities. With "The Hunt for Robin", these elements are back in full force, and with this single issue, new life has been injected into the series. It's a must-read.

This isn't an issue that really goes the extra mile in capacity. It's good, which is to be expected due to the talent on it, but it won't go down as one of the better issue of the Batman and Robin series as a whole. Still, it's enjoyable on its own.

Batman and Frankenstein #31 is a fantastic issue, one that abandons the fast-paced nature so far typical of the "Hunt for Robin" storyline to take a moment and breathe before the story's climax. It's a very emotional book with visuals that compliment the story perfectly, and after the disappointments that were the "Batman and Two-Face" arc and Forever Evil: Arkham War, it's a real return to form for Tomasi.

Batman and Ra's Al Ghul is about as good an ending one could expect for "The Hunt for Robin" arc, given the jarring transition into "Robin Rising." As a big climactic battle issue, it works, especially after the emotionally-heavy issue that Batman and Frankenstein was. It's a fun end to a fun storyline, and plays its role in the greater Tomasi Batman and Robin saga.

"Robin Rises" continues from its strong start in Robin Rises: Omega #1, following up an action-heavy issue in that one-shot with an emotionally-heavy issue, and it's fantastic. It's great storytelling with a few reveals that really keep the reader hooked, and it's a very different kind of Batman story, one that's thoroughly enjoyable.

Batman and Robin #38 continues the book's tradition of excellence, and is a great example of why this series still has the same creative team over 3 years after the launch of the New 52. The artwork is engaging, and the stories continue to stay fresh, constantly finding interesting new developments for Bruce and Damian to go through together. After 20 issues of Batman without Robin, it's nice to see Robin back, and what comes next is sure to be great.

Batman and Robin #40 isn't the final chapter of Batman and Robin, but if it were, it'd be a really good closing chapter. It just highlights what made this the best Batman book DC published: It wasn't always dark, it wasn't always taking itself too seriously, and it had a real spirit of fun and adventure to it. This was not the game-changing Batman story that would shake up how we saw the Caped Crusader and the Boy Wonder forever, but it didn't need to be. It was Batman and Robin at their best, as a team, as heroes, and as family, and it's been a pure joy to read.

The art screw-ups aren't really present enough to detract from the enjoyment of this book; it's an incredible story. More importantly, Gray and Palmiotti did something wonderful here, by taking a villain who lost his reason for being and giving him a new one. Well over a year after Mr. Freeze was rebooted, a couple writers finally managed to make the character work again in a meaningful way. And that's exactly what Mr. Freeze needed.

This is just a great graphic novel. It's fun, well-written, and treats the protagonists with the respect they deserve. The plot isn't very heavy, but depending on tastes, that's not necessarily a bad thing. The book's largest flaw is that it's just a bit too mature for younger readers. It's a real shame, because in most aspects this would be a perfect superhero tale for kids, especially given Black Canary and Zatanna's potential as role models for young girls who could see how fleshed-out the characters are and how strong their friendship becomes. Unfortunately, due to some sexual content and a moderate amount of swearing, this book is firmly at the teen rating. At the very least, parental discretion is advised. If such matters are not a concern, it's well worth reading. It's far from Paul Dini's best work, but it's still a solid, well told tale.

While a good issue overall, Constantine is a series that continually feels like its failing to live up to its potential. Please note that this is not a comparison to Hellblazer, which was tonally different and allowed to play with fewer rules. Constantine has felt like its been building up to something great since the very first issue, but the Cold Flame storyline as a whole is starting to wear thin. There have been a lot of masterfully executed long-awaited fights in DCs books lately, such as Swamp Thing vs. the Seeder, and the Phantom Stranger vs. the Question. These fights were really great, and worth being the central focus of the issues they appeared in. This issues Constantine vs. Mr. E, while good, doesnt really feel like it deserved a full issue. This isnt some great climax, nor does it feel like a huge turning point in the story. Its just another piece of the big picture, and while an enjoyable read, theres not much thats special about it.

This is probably the best issue of Constantine yet. It's a case of the big event that a comic series ties into being used to serve the series itself. Constantine's discussion with Dog is a reflection of how Constantine views the world, and this book provides a lot of insight to his character that's been missing in previous issues. Sometimes, words do speak louder than actions.

Constantine #11 is a terrible issue. It's a prime example of decompressed storytelling at its worst, grasping at straws to help extend the "Blight" crossover, and it highlights the problems with what's happened to Constantine himself lately. Constantine works as a member of the Justice League Dark under a good writer (and the series has a VERY good writer right now), but his own book should be focusing on his solo adventure to recapture the essence of the character that's missing when he's forced to play along with others in a larger universe. The early issues of this series got it somewhat right before being dragged into this crossover. This is an issue that readers can skip, so it's best to save $2.99 USD and hope that the upcoming issue of Pandora is where Fawkes is channeling all of his talent and energy.

Overall, this is a fantastic installment that's breathed new life into a series that's been suffering lately. Constantine's just kind of been putzing around since "Forever Evil: Blight" started, and not only is it coming back strong, but it's coming back stronger than it's ever been during the entire first year it's been running. Let's hope this continues into the future.

Convergence #0 doesn't offer much in terms of story, but it's still an experience. It's hard to tell from this issue what the overall quality of the story will be, but if this is a "blockbuster" comic, it certainly captures all the good details of a blockbuster: High-quality visuals and lots of hype. If you're a longtime DC Comics fans, it's hard not to get pumped from this issue. Just seeing all the toys come out of the toy chest is worth it.

Convergence is a series with a lot of great potential. These aren't the words of a critic who just slammed a book and is trying to be nice about it, these are the words of somebody who has read the tie-ins, many of which are spectacular and could not exist without spawning from the main event. But that potential desperately needs to be met.

Convergence has not impressed with the quality of the story so far, and this issue in particular is just frustrating. It would be more forgivable if the Batman/Batman sequence wasn't featured as the book's main selling point — instead of opting to focus on Green Lantern and Telos — but it was. Batman may sell, but his moment didn't. That's a real problem; the tie-ins are the only justification for this event. Looking for an interesting story with two Batmen? Pick up the Batman: Shadow of the Bat #1. It's average, but it's leagues better than this.

Convergence #3 is the first step toward redeeming this series. All of the setup has concluded and the story can finally start to play out. What worlds, cities, and faces readers will see are still unknown, but Jeff King certainly has the chance to make this a great and memorable comic, and it's starting to look like he may just pull it off.

Convergence went from bad to good with the previous issue, and if Convergence #4 is any indication, it intends to stay there. The series had a very rough start, but now that the plot is moving and the characters are developing, the whole affair is much more palatable. This event is turning out to be a lot of fun.

Convergence #5 is a great transitional point in the main story and an overall enjoyable comic with some absolutely great art. It's not one of the best comics books ever made, but it does what it set out to do almost-perfectly.

Convergence: Action Comics #1 may just be the weakest of all the Convergence tie-ins so far. The story has tons of potential, but doesn't even begin to live up to it. It's a remarkably abysmal case of a bad set-up issue, one that focuses entirely on padding out the beginning and putting off the main show, all without providing anything that would entice the audience to return. If the second issue of this miniseries is good, it will have nothing in common with this first issue.

Convergence: Crime Syndicate #1 is a phenomenal book, with an engaging, emotional, character-driven story and art design that makes all the right choices. It's a sterling example of just what makes the concept of Convergence such a great one, and lives up to all the potential it has to offer. If the next issue can follow up on all the phenomenal groundwork laid out here, this may just be the best tie-in miniseries of them all.

Convergence: Justice League of America #1 is probably the least-exciting of all the Convergence tie-ins released this week, but it's by no means a bad comic. It's a low-key preamble to a big exciting battle, and a nice little character piece.

Convergence: Superboy #1 is just plain old fun. It doesn't take itself too seriously, but it's not irreverent or really even playing itself as a deliberate comedy. It just has a good energy to it that makes it fun to read, and has one of the best multiversal match-ups that Convergence has given us yet. It's a book that makes you glad the 90's happened, warts and all.

Convergence: Superboy and the Legion isn't the best of the Convergence tie-ins, or even the Superman category of tie-ins, but it's still an interesting read. Not a lot happens in it, but it does a good job at making the reader care about the characters. The final-page stinger that teases the next issue is just enough to keep readers interested in the follow-up chapter. It's a fun read.

Convergence: Superman #1 is the best book to have been published under the Convergence banner so far, and one of the best Superman comics to have come out in recent years. It takes full advantage of the possibilities these crossovers allow for, and presents an understanding of Superman that's nothing short of perfect. It's a comic that's just an absolute joy to read, the kind that justifies the existence of the entire event, and the kind of read that just makes going to the comic book store worth it. It seems that Superman's trunks really are a crucial element of his character after all. If you read one comic this week, make it this one.

Convergence: Man of Steel #1 is a good comic book. It uses its cast well, finds a good balance between light-hearted moments and a serious story, and provides a lot of cool action. This is one title you don't want to miss out on.

Convergence: Adventures of Superman #1 is not the best book in the Convergence line if you're looking for a multiversal beatdown, but it is a powerful story with a lot of emotion and high stakes. Marv Wolfman may be pushing 70, but he's still just as good a writer as he ever was. Talent's not that easy to get rid of.SCORE: 8/10

Convergence: Titans #1 is a really solid book, although I feel the need to clarify this as coming from somebody who does not have particularly strong ties to this era of the Titans. I have not read Roy Harper's full journey from junkie to father, nor can I tell you what Donna Troy or Starfire were up to before Flashpoint. I am only tangentially aware of events these characters went through thanks to online discussion, and if you're a fan of the old Arsenal, I can't sit here and tell you that it's more in line with the character you know and love than the trucker hat version from Red Hood and the Outlaws, because I don't know for sure. You'll have to take my word that this is a good read not as a DC Comics fan, but as a fan of good comics in general.

David F. Walker clearly has an understanding and appreciation of Cyborg that makes it easy to believe that he has what it takes to tell a great story, and Cyborg could very well become one of DC's best, if not one of the best books on the stands, overall. This series has a lot of promise. If you're a fan of Cyborg, be sure to check this out.

Dream Police #4 is a great issue that turns the story from a one man act into a story about multiple characters. The world and people in it continue to be great, and now that JMS can finally move on from showing us how the world works, the plot is progressing at a great rate. Mystery and thrills are abound, and it's definitely a comic worth picking up.

As Dream Police goes on, it seems to be slowing down a bit. The earlier issues felt like they had more of a sense of progress than the past couple, and it seems like the plot is moving in half-steps. It's still engaging and entertaining, but the pacing leaves a small something to be desired.

This was a book I really wanted to like, but things just didnt wind up that way. Its a shame too, because Matt Kindt stated at one point that Grundy was the darkest, most messed-up thing hes ever written, so I was expecting a lot more. The books cover looks nice and scary, but thats it. If you want some good horror, I recommend checking out this weeks Eclipso or Black Hand one-shots.

While there are some minor flaws with the artwork, its not enough to detract from this books score, because this book does exactly what its supposed to do. It gets the reader excited for the rest of the event. Like it or not, Forever Evil as a whole is going to be with us for the next half a year, so its important for the first issue to make you want to read this for the next half a year, and in that regard, its a complete success. And until the next issue comes out, enjoy Villains Month! Its off to a great start as a whole, really.

All said and done, this was still a really good comic. Didnt quite have the impact of the first issue, and I think it wouldve been nice to see Lex bring together the anti-Syndicate group a bit more, but its a great read all the same.

Forever Evil #3 is typical Geoff Johns event writing: really good stuff, but not enough of it, and a constant feeling of incompleteness from issue to issue. Johns stories are best when read as a whole, not in pieces.

The usual suspects aside, this has been the best issue of Forever Evil since issue one. There's a lot of great story progression and character moments, and now that the comic is in its second half, we can expect a lot of really cool stuff to happen with the impending deadline.

Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. isn't really a bad comic, but it's not a good one either. It toes the line between good and bad, with nothing great happening, but nothing offensive or insulting to the audience happening either. The story's flaws don't make it unreadable, it just lacks a heart that makes it truly engaging. It's a decent read with fun action in it, but nothing that makes it all too memorable. It's a junk food comic; Not that bad on its own, but if everything were like it, that would be a serious problem.

Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. #6 is available from physical and digital retailers for $2.99 USD.

Help Us! Great Warrior doesn't have the strongest start if you're already a fan of the webcomic, but it does have a lot of promise. Comic strips and comic books are two very different things, and so a full-length book doesn't have quite the same punch to it that a strip does in setting up and delivering on a joke. That said, the book does have a lot of jokes, and while not all of them are Flores's best material with the character, they're still entertaining. Even better is the promise of seeing more of the world and characters, all of whom are fun, interesting, and worth exploring. This comic is worth reading, and it's nice to have another humorous and original female-lead comic on the shelves now. Help Us! Great Warrior is advertised as a "girl power" comic, and while the message may not be traditionally delivered, it's there.

Hulk #6 is not a bad comic, but it's not a good one either. It's bland. It's unremarkable. It's an interesting idea with lacking delivery, and while it could one day be remembered as an early chapter in fantastic story that changed everything Hulk forever, for now it's just a comic that exists.

This is a vast improvement over the last issue, and if Duggan continues pumping out work of this quality, Hulk could easily become one of the best books at Marvel. As a part of the story arc, character development for Doc Green, and even just a standalone comic, this is a great read. Even though it's the third chapter of this story, it's actually a great jumping-on point for anybody looking to get into Hulk.

Justice League has been at a high point since the conclusion of Forever Evil, and Geoff Johns doesn't seem to be letting up now that the series has finally picked up some steam. Complaints about the Doom Patrol aside, this is a very enjoyable issue, and seems to be a good preview of things to come with the Lex Luthor/Justice League dynamic. Now there's just that matter of Captain Cold joining the League to address.

Justice League #35 has nothing new or exciting. It's a huge downer after the thrill ride that the book has been since the start of Forever Evil. To Geoff Johns' credit, it's certainly impressive for a book to go a whole 13 months without losing momentum once, but when an issue bombs in that situation, it bombs hard. This is a prologue to a story that doesn't really need one. It's 16 pages of dialogue readers have seen with 6 pages of the inciting incident for the storyline at the end. It has a couple fun character moments here and there, but overall, it just fails.

Justice League #38 begins to lead the "Amazo Virus" arc into an interesting payoff, and it's going to be a real treat to see where it goes from here. While it probably won't go down as one of the most memorable tales of the world's greatest superheroes ever, it's become enjoyable, and any comic improving and living up to its promise is never a bad thing.

Justice League #40 ultimately isn't eventful, but this is to be expected as it is both a prologue issue and written by Geoff Johns, who is one of the reigning kings of decompressed storytelling. Thankfully, it draws on one of Johns' greatest strengths as a storyteller as well: It's an exciting piece of continuity porn for old readers while remaining accessible for newer readers. It's tantalizing and exciting, and the remaining time until the next issue comes out is going to be painful.

Futures End: Justice League #1 combines with its predecessor to make a fun superhero story. Jeff Lemire shows a real love for lots of different characters, and it's fun to see them all in play. If you're looking for a good superhero tale, you can't go wrong with this one.

This is definitely a transitional period for Trinity War. I'd say that with this issue, the story has entered its second act. Characters have clear goals and motivations now, and the story's looking really interesting. While a lot of Trinity War's advertising has made the story look like your standard crossover smackdown, the story itself is all about the repercussions of what such a fight would actually be. Trinity War as a whole has been a really good, solid story all throughout, and if it continues on this level of quality, then the second half next month should be a real treat. It's also nice to have a second writer in on this, because it brings in new ideas and a nice reprieve from some more tiring elements of the other writer's work (Don't get me wrong, Geoff Johns is great, but he really can't write Wonder Woman).

This is one of the best books this week, and if youre interested in the magical side of the DC Universe, reading a creepy story, or are like me and youre one of the seven Eclipso fans out there who doesnt already work for DC, I heavily recommend it. The only reason Im not giving it a 5/5 is because I feel like I should be accounting for my fan bias here.

I couldnt even begin to tell you where somebody like this new version of the Creeper would begin to fit in with the rest of Forever Evil, and its really nice that they didnt even try to make it happen, and instead gave the readers of the book that the Creepers actually in the answers theyve been wanting about the character.

While Jeff Lemires run on the series had some flaws, overall, its been a fantastic comic, and hes really turned it around after Peter Milligans first eight issues of the series. Justice League Dark is one of the best books DC has right now, and while DeMatteis is an excellent replacement, who will surely put out work at least equal in quality to Lemires issues, its still sad to see him go. Thank you, Jeff Lemire, for all the fun magical adventures.

While it wasnt the perfect beginning to a new storyline like the first issue of Forever Evil was, this is still a really good start. They set up the threat, introduce a couple of the key players, and the delivery is top-notch. If youre interested, its definitely worth checking out.

Justice League Dark #25 takes a few reads to fully appreciate.At first, it feels like not much actually happens as far as story progression went, but then it makes sense that this issue had a ton of set-up work to do, and it does it well. There are a lot of pieces to this puzzle, and with everything that's set up, it makesForever Evil: Blight deserving of how big a crossover it is. Four series, eighteen issues, six months. That's a lot of material, and they need to cover a lot of stuff so it doesn't get boring. This is going to be one hell of a storyline if they can deliver on all the promises this issue makes, and given the pedigree behind the crossover's writing, it's a safe bet to say that they will deliver.

This is the best issue of the Forever Evil event so far. The team has their first real victory yet, and takes their first step towards undoing all the magical mayhem that's befallen the world. The plot is engaging, the action is amazing, and it provides readers with the kind of bizarre themes and strange adventures comics are known for. If the rest of Forever Evil: Blight keeps up this standard of quality, this could be a legendary comic. Or at least as legendary as comics starring non A-list characters get.

This is a difficult issue to peg down, because while a lot of things are going on, not very much actually happens. It's certainly not one of the stronger issues of "Forever Evil: Blight", but like some of the earliest issues of the crossover, is planting a lot of seeds for future developments. The plot doesn't actually move, but unlike the recent issues of Constantine and Pandora where the story feels stagnant, this is more of a pit stop, getting readers ready for what's about to come next. And hey, it's all interesting while it's being read, so that's good.

"Forever Evil: Blight" started slowly, quickly picked up, get the pace going for a while, slowed down, sped up near the end, then fizzled out. There were parts of it that were great, parts that were good, parts that were average, and some parts that were just plain old bad. As part of the crossover, this issue is average at best. But as an issue of Justice League Dark, it's quite good. At the end of everything, the crossover as a whole feels pretty inconsequential, but it was a fun ride while it lasted. And maybe, in an industry that's full of a never-ending barrage of stories that will "change everything forever", that's good enough.

Justice League Dark #30 is the best issue of the series yet. It serves as a transitional issue, letting the reader and characters recover from the events of "Forever Evil: Blight" and move on to a new era for the series. J.M. DeMatteis is finally being allowed to play with the characters at his own pace, no longer having to worry about crossovers, and this is a very promising start for what might just become the best run of the entire New 52.

The Nightmare Nurse storyline is exactly what this series needed after "Blight"; Something short and sweet that gives us an idea of who this new character is and helps define the new team dynamic. While it's not flawless (there are unexplored ethical concerns about the Nightmare Nurse that I won't go into for spoiler reasons), it's a solid story that needed to be told, and does a very good job in the telling. Most importantly, it's fun.

This is the start to a very interesting story, one that plays with character motivations, gods, monsters, magic, dimensional travel, and more. With a fascinating tale to tell and incredible artwork to match, it's a really good jumping-on point for anybody looking for a different kind of superhero book.

Missing story piece aside, Justice League Dark #34 continues DeMatteis and Guinaldo's run of excellence on the book that's been going on since issue #30. After Futures End month, the team will be bringing back a few members, and how they'll be incorporated them into the team dynamic will be worth waiting for.

Outside of Justice League, Justice League of America has had the best tie-ins to Forever Evil so far. This is a really fun, engaging story so far, and its just a treat to read.

Justice League: Gods and Monsters Batman #1 isn't the most exciting comic in the world, but it does a good job at building up hype for the movie and introducing readers to its universe. Nothing about it individually really has a wow factor, but it doesn't really seem to be lacking anything either. It's Batman's origin story, and unlike the looks given at Superman and Wonder Woman so far, Batman seems so much smaller than the other two members of this world's Justice League, which feels appropriate. How this character winds up teaming up with the two most powerful beings in the world remains to be seen, but he doesn't really seem like he fits in. Only time will tell. Still, as a standalone story, it works. It's well-constructed, if nothing else.

Justice League: Gods and Monsters Superman #1is a phenomenal origin story for an elseworld tale. With a creative premise that brings a well-told story and perfect artwork, it's an incredible one-shot.

Katana is not one of the best books on the market, but it's worthwhile all the same. It offers a good story, good artwork, and is just something different from all the regular superhero fare DC puts out there. Katana may be on a superhero team, but she is not a superhero herself, and the book makes that very clear. Whether you think it's good or bad, you won't find another read like Katana at DC right now. Amidst all the fallout from Catwoman and Green Arrow, this book shows just why Ann Nocenti is an industry professional. It's not a great book, but it's not bad either. It is a good, solid book, and I look forward to reading more.

While this was a really good issue, whats really good for Katana is still the equivalent of decent for most other books on the market. That said, this issue really is a step in the right direction for the series, and if Nocenti continues to play her cards right, I really see this book turning around.

Klarion as a series can't really be judged by this first issue. It's definitely going somewhere, but it's hard to tell where. Ann Nocenti has a lot of great ideas, and this book is definitely continuing that. The question of whether she'll properly execute them remains to be seen, but at the moment the story's quality is at least high enough to generate some interest in what will come. For those that might be interested in Klarion, it's worth giving a shot.

Martian Manhunter #3 is a weird adventure, and it's absolutely wonderful to be on. From misshapen babblers to people who have been fooled into thinking they're something they aren't, it's crazy, wild, imaginative, engaging, and entertaining. This may just be the best comic DC's publishing right now.

Really, there's nothing left to say. Ms. Marvel is a great comic, and whatever challenge Kamala faces next, it's sure to be a good read.

Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #9 is on store shelves now, and available for $2.99 in stores physically as well as digitally on Comixology and Kindle. This series, especially this issue, is a treat, and if you have any interest in it at all, I heartily encourage you to buy it. You wont regret it.

This issue really did feel like it just kind of needed to wrap up the story in time for Trinity War, but luckily, there wasnt really anything left to do in the current story aside from wrap it up. Still, this has been one of the weakest issues of the book so far, and while I wouldnt call it bad, its not great either. But its still good, and if youve been reading this series so far, you have no reason to skip this.

I had really high expectations for this book, and it met all of them. And while as a fan I think its perfect, as a critic I acknowledge that there is some room for improvement. Still, its a 5-star book in my heart, if not my head. This is a great tie-in issue for newcomers, as well as a fantastic climax set-up for long time readers, and whether youre here for Trinity War or the man in the nice hat, this truly is a must-read issue.

This is the worst issue of this comic since J. M. DeMatteis took over, which isnt to say that its bad. Its still a good comic, it just doesnt match up to the standards set by its predecessors. Honestly, if youre just looking to get into this series for the first time, Id suggest either going back to issue #11 or waiting to see if issue #13 is a good jumping-on point (although Im guessing it probably wont be). Forever Evil: Blight isnt until issue #14, so either the current plot will be wrapped up next month, or its going to get dragged into the crossover. Well just have to wait and see.

Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #13 puts a rest to everything going on in the first year of the title, or at least brings it to a satisfactory resting point for a while. As the Stranger goes to join the party in "Forever Evil: Blight", there are still some plot threads that haven't been resolved, but J.M. DeMatteis does a nice job of only somewhat wrapping things up, leaving readers ready for more when it comes. The Stranger is brought into the "Blight" crossover at the end of the issue, and while it's sudden, the way it happens feels totally organic, and like a good next step in the storytelling process. While it wasn't declining in quality, the Phantom Stranger's story has been reinvigorated by this issue, and it's going to be fun seeing where the series goes from here, both as part of the crossover and the story in its own right. But for now, it's enough to see the Phantom Stranger interact with the wider DC Universe.

Minor complaints aside, this is a fantastic issue. Not a lot happens in it, but while being read, it feels very substantial. The artwork is a great for the story being told, it focuses on the Stranger while also giving enough spotlight to the other players in this story, and it works. J.M. DeMatteis's contributions to this story have been amazing so far. Now we'll just have to see what Ray Fawkes brings to the table in the next couple of weeks.

As an issue of Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger, this is a really good book, which makes a huge leap in the Phantom Stranger's character arc that's sure to cause some big things to happen to him in the future. As an issue of the "Forever Evil: Blight" crossover, it leaves a lot to be desired, and while it may be unfair to call it a waste of time, it could certainly do more for those readers who are spending four times as much money on this crossover just because one book they happen to read is in it. It's still a really good read overall, but it could use some improvement.

Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #16 is available from physical and digital retailers for $2.99 USD.

This is a harder book to discuss, not because it's bad, but just because there's not a lot, which doesn't mean that it feels like it's lacking anything. It tells exactly as much story as it needs to in a great way, and it's a very thrilling read. It's simply a case of less being more.

There's not much else to say about the story. The true nature of the threat, the evident magic, as well as Cassandra Craft and Zauriel's involvement have all yet to be explored. Some of it may be resolved in this story arc, some may even be fodder for future stories. This opening chapter of "The Crack of Creation" does something a lot of comics don't seem to do anymore; it's part of a larger arc, but the issue on its own is a really good standalone tale about Superman and the Phantom Stranger. This is what serialized storytelling should be, and a lot of the time, it's not. But here, it is, and it's done very well, making it a perfect jumping-on point for new readers.

Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #19 doesn't do anything too revolutionary or exciting. It's a good issue for story progression, with nothing necessarily wrong, but nothing that stands out all that much either. If it seems like it'd be interesting to read, it probably is.

Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger has been a blast from start to finish. Although the series ends with a loose plot thread or two, it can be expected that they'll be followed up on in DeMatteis's upcoming Trinity of Sin. The Stranger's personal story, or at least this chapter of it, is finished, and this was a lovely ending for him to go out on.

This is the perfect finale to Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger. Although it likely serves as more of a what-if piece than a full promise of things to come, it's still a well thought-out, phenomenally told, and beautifully presented story. It does exactly what DeMatteis has done every single time the Phantom Stranger has been pulled into an event: Use the event to boost the Stranger's story. And although this series is finished, there is more to come with the Stranger. And if it's even a little bit like this, it will be great.

Overall, this is still a very entertaining book. At the very least, it's good for a laugh, and even without that, there's some powerful plot moments here. It's not perfect, and depending on what you think of drugs and drug humor, your mileage may vary, but it's worth reading all the same.

Red Lanterns #28 is available as part of a special flipbook along with Green Lantern #28, available at both physical and digital retailers for the special two-for-one price of $2.99 USD. To learn about Green Lantern #28, check out our review of that issue here.

Red Lanterns continues to be one of the best books DC's putting out right now. Charles Soule is a talented writer, and while his work on both Swamp Thing and Superman/Wonder Woman has been spectacular, he's really struck gold with this series in particular. The restructuring of the Red Lanterns, Guy Gardner's personal struggles as an unofficial leader, and the use of Supergirl all work phenomenally. It doesn't look like the fun's going to stop anytime soon.

Robin Rises: Omega #1 is truly a work of art. The continuity issues really aren't a fault of Tomasi's (nothing he states really goes against anything shown in the New 52) so much as DC editorial's and don't have a lot of bearing on the execution of the story. The execution itself is something special. It's not a very emotionally heavy comic, but emotion does come out over the course of and in the aftermath of the battle, and the battle is a lot of fun to look at. This is exactly what the start of any blockbuster event should be like: Big, bombastic, and leaving the reader wanting more.

This is a really high-quality story worthy of the character who stars in it, and the fact that DC felt the need to put "Superman" in the title at all for branding purposes is kind of upsetting, because he doesn't show up at all. This is Lois's story, and it's absolutely incredible.

There are three new books about witches this week: Klarion from DC, Wytches from Image, and Sabrina. Sabrina is the best of the lot, but only if you're familiar with the more innocent past incarnations of the character. A lot of the time, trying to make a property more adult fails, due to the simplistic and thoughtless addition of sex and violence. This is not the case. Sabrina breathes new life into an old property, with a well-crafted story that pays respect to the old while going somewhere new. Those looking for a comic to get you into the Halloween spirit can't go wrong with this.

Futures End #0 is a dark, disturbed comic. It's all action and spectacle, and while imagination is exercised, the premise isn't anything terribly new. Still, it is what it is: a prologue. It's a showing of what this series is about, of what's to come, and what must never come. This is the loss that must be prevented, and although it is joyless, it serves a purpose. This issue gives this series gravity. It gives it a sense of importance. It gives the readers something to root for as this story gets underway. This issue alone is not high art, but it's not trying to be. It serves its purpose, and for the right reader, does one hell of a job of piquing interest.

Futures End is still introducing new plot lines at this point, and that's probably not going to stop anytime soon. Still, things are starting to tie together a bit. There's a lot more to learn before the full scope of events can be understood, but the understanding has begun. A lot of events have happened between the DC Universe of now and the world seen five years later, and discovering it all is going to be an exciting experience.

Futures End #9 includes a major upset, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing in and of itself. It is definitely an issue that overall serves to add more to the story than it does to advance it with lots of little hints to what the characters will be dealing with eventually, but not actually showing it happen yet. It aims to keep readers interested, and does a pretty good job doing so.

Overall, individual issues of Futures End are largely indistinguishable in terms of quality. You get a few of the subplots moving forward, one or two big moments to keep readers hooked, and at least one segment always feels insubstantial, doing legwork for when that particular subplot will become interesting later. It's what you generally expect a weekly comic to be.

I had high hopes going into this, and they were surpassed. This is going to be a fantastic prequel to The Sandman, and may even get a few new readers interested in the original series. There's really no experience like reading The Sandman, and I got the same feeling of fascination reading this as I did when I read the first issue of the original series a couple of years ago.

Every once in a while, a comic comes along that changes the way we look at comics. Unbeatable Squirrel Girl probably isn't that comic. But it is one of the most fun, happy, and genuine comics on the market right now, and an absolute treat to read. Now we just need a Ms. Marvel crossover.

Overall, while it lacks gravitas of a final issue, this is still an entertaining comic. The title Thor: God of Thunder may be over, but Jason Aaron's overall Thor run is not, and there's still a lot to come. This book's main problem is that it acts more as foreshadowing for the new series than it does a send-off to this one, and getting past formalities, that's not actually a flaw with the book's quality. The framing narrative does what framing narratives are supposed to do, and the two real stories contained within these pages are a lot of fun. Throw in some top-notch artwork from some of the comic book industry's best artists, and if nothing else, it's a very impressive one-shot.

Tiny Titans: Return to the Treehouse #1 is a fun comic for readers of all ages. While the simplistic and genuine tone of the book may not be as appealing to some more mature readers as the sarcastic comedy of Teen Titans Go! or the tongue-in-cheek camp of Batman '66, it really works well for the young and the young at heart. If you're looking for a comic to share with a younger reader, you really can't go wrong with this.

Trinity of Sin #1 is a really good introductory issue that gives a crash course on the three protagonists. Unlike other team books, which have a lot of members and can't usually focus on more than a couple of them at a time, this seems like it will be a book that fully utilizes all three of its protagonists. With good lead characters, a good writer, and beautiful artwork, this series is not to be passed up.

Trinity of Sin: Pandora #1 is available in comic book stores now for $2.99, as well as digitally through Comixology. Whether youre just interested in it for Trinity War, really like the character of Pandora, or just want to try something different from your standard cape and cowl fare, this is a book worth checking out.

For all the confusion and tragic overabundance of Signalman, this is still a good book. Flawed, but good. And thats really all you can say about it. Hopefully, future issues will be a bit stronger.

This is the best issue of the series by far, and I think that now that Pandora is leaving "Trinity War" and allowed to do her own thing, we're going to see more issues of this quality. It really is fantastic, and if you've been on the fence with this series, I suggest buying this and issue #1 and just going from there. Feel free to skip issue #2.

With Pandora about to be sucked into Forever Evil: Blight, its nice to see that these events are being used to serve Pandoras personal story instead of the other way around. Pandora is a character I think has a lot of potential here, and that if she sticks around long enough, she can grow into her own character truly worthy of carrying her own title. This is a step in the right direction, and I hope to see more issues like this one.

The biggest problem Ray Fawkes seems to have with this series is a constant breaking of storytelling's Golden Rule: Show, don't tell. When we're told what's going on, like Marcus's backstory or Pandora's combat abilities or the truth behind the Seven Sins in this issue, it just cheapens the story. When it's properly shown, like Pandora's history or her learning how to combat the Sins, it's a lot better. This issue is basically the opposite of the previous issue, which was fantastic. The quality of this comic seems to rise and fall from issue to issue, and it needs to stabilize at or above the quality line soon if Pandora wants a chance at sticking around.

If Portela had been the only artist on this book, it would've received five globes, but the jarring art shift is just too much to call this book perfect. Still, this is the best issue of this series yet, from a story standpoint, and an excellent addition to the crossover that is Forever Evil: Blight.

This is a comic worth reading. It really is staggering how Fawkes can just seem to turn quality on and off like a faucet from one issue to the next, but at least it results in some great material like this. As an issue of Trinity of Sin: Pandora, it's pretty good. As an issue of "Forever Evil: Blight", it's very good.

Pandora #9 is unsatisfying, simple as that. Too much is happening, and while it's not bad, it feels like it could all be a bit better. It's definitely a necessary chapter of "Forever Evil: Blight", but it's far from the best.

This is a great breather issue after the heavy events of "Forever Evil: Blight". It gets Pandora started on a new quest as a result of the character development she underwent during the crossover, provides a really cool action sequence, and doesn't place a ton of importance on itself. It's a good read.

As Trinity of Sin: Pandora counts down to cancellation, it looks set to at the very least go out with a bang, which is more than can be said for some other series that have been victim to the editorial chopping block. Ray Fawkes has a vision. It was evident throughout the beginning of the series, "Forever Evil: Blight", and remains evident here. It looks like he'll get to tell the story he wanted, and at the very least, it's a good story.

This is the best issue of Pandora yet because it keeps readers invested throughout the entire comic. The series just is getting better all the time, which is a real shame considering that it's leading up to one big cancellation. Still, as long as the comic delivers great issues like this one for the rest of its run, at least we'll have something to look back fondly on.

As Pandora heads towards an unceremonious end, it's truly sad how much this series had to give, but didn't get to due to the events of "Forever Evil: Blight". The series' mythos and pathos are only just starting to develop, and yet there will be little opportunity to see them all explored to their fullest. Perhaps J.M. DeMatteis will explore some of these ideas when Trinity of Sin starts, but it will be sad to see Ray Fawkes and Pandora part ways.

This is a weak ending to a series that had been picking up as it approached its end. Where its sister series, Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger was able to deliver a final issue that looked back on the series as a whole and wrap things up with a nice little bow, Trinity of Sin: Pandora fizzles out. Fawkes couldn't adapt his plans to the book's death, and the idea that there's more to come can be felt in the storytelling, even though it won't be. Maybe next month's "Futures End" event issue can provide some more closure.