For all the progress on the emotional front, issues involving technicalities of the plot and a particularly bad character twist means that Heroes in Crisis is, itself, still a comic in a crisis.

In the end, Justice League #13 wasnt a good comic for me, but I hope I am clear about what baggage I bring into this comic from the start. Eclipso is never going to be something I enjoy seeing used, but I think where Seeley and his artistic team succeed is crafting what the narrative needs: they needed to show hell on earth.

Myself, I wish that (as presented so far) Batman did not have to be reduced in stature or character the way he is, but that doesnt mean future issues wont rectify what for me was a shaky premise.

In the end, this all-too-short story arc for Cap has come to a close and were sort of left where we began, but that isnt a bad place so long as there is always the promise of more Captain America to come in our futures.

Come for the artistic works of Marquez and Ponsor, but stay for prose interview bundled in with the comics final pages. I genuinely hope that each issue of the first few Defenders issues comes with these kind of vignette interviews.

Still, these nitpicks are balanced by the character designs which I adore. Yes, some line work and coloring seems sloppy, but I believe this is because the background work of Msassyk steals the show. The smooth painted feel of the background world often clashes with the line work of Archer when examined up close, but the art as a whole remains the best part of Gotham Academy.

However harsh I may sound, let me say this at least: Jock's version of The Batman Who Laughs is gross and chilling enough to be worth the issue, should you be a Jock fan in particular. He brings a tangible sharpness to the character that oozes dread and agony, so it is a pity the character really isn't in this issue at all.

While the pace slows to a crawl, this comic is still a kick to read and it promises even more intense things to come in the future.

While Wong and Zelma take a bit more of a backseat than some might prefer, and one half of the comic will please some more than others, what is present is a solid story that allows for some fantastic art and some great panel-work. Sadly, I wish there were more of what makes this comic great packed into this issue, but at least the character who appears at this comics end promises, if anything, loads more weirdness and strangeness to come in this runs future.

Regardless of if youre a fan of All-New Wolverine or just NYX, Edge of the Venomverse #1 is a functional little comic that encapsulates Lauras origin with a neat twist while also setting up who this version of Laura is going to be in the up-coming multiverse battle on the horizon of the Marvel universe.

International Iron Man #5 does not deliver the kind of bombshell some were expecting, but that does not mean that there is not tremendous room for Bendis to showcase his talents as a storyteller in future issues. While I doubt that Red Skull is going to be Tonys biological father, the tension and excitement over who is will be something to keep coming back to this series for.

Outside of pacing criticism, Spider-Man 2099 does what a first issue should do in that it introduces the main character, gets backstory out of the way, establishes threads for future plots, and showcases dynamite art while doing so. The execution of the plot takes a hit from the odd banter moments and the limited Miguel OHara time, however the future is bright for this series as one of its premier writers and a great art/colorist team take on the challenge of giving us another Spider-Man to cheer for.

While this #1 comic seems not to be the best entry point into The Occultist series, it may best serve as a window into the larger franchise of the character. Still, despite some confusion as to backstory, the nature of The Occultist is clear " banishing demons, bizarre magical villains, and some good ol' fashioned teenage drama. On those merits alone it is worth a look, although you might want to look up the older mini-series runs beforehand.

Ultimately, Batman #2 serves as a good window into the themes and styles that King and Finch can build on for future drama. Considering the elements present in this issue, the series seems to be in good hands.

In conclusion, while Batman #36 is destined to be a brief moment of grins in a collected trade paperback one day, its present incarnation as a single issue is worth it for those who want to see Kings take on a pair of traditional heroic pals and their amazing, confident wives/fiancs who bring out their best qualities.

All in all, Captain America #1 might be off to an edited/pared-down first issue, but that doesnt mean that the whole series wont be excellent in TPB format or that what is here isnt good.

In Captain America #2, Coates demonstrates how the core focus of his narrative remains rooted in dissecting the aftermath of the "Secret Empire" story when Steve Rogers, thinking to himself, says how he is "tired of Supreme Commanders and Grand Directors."

Metal is a great series which delivers on folding Batman into the greater Crisis-based stories of the past, while also making his previous works worth a re-exploration in the process. While I stand by my earlier assessment that this story needed more space (no real conclusions to the Dark Knights of Barbatos? Pity!), what is present is great and this story deserves to be read by fans of DC Comics who have a vested interest in seeing how their star characters will evolve and grow under new, exciting conditions.

Doomsday Clock #3 is a good book, but if it can or cannot be considered a great one is going to hinge on how the mysteries presented within its pages unfold throughout the whole, complete story.

In time, obviously, answers will come, but for now the issues does well in pushing the plot along and making sure the villains appear to be making continued progress in their quest.

In short, this comic continues the weirder-than-expected style that has been on-going since the first issue, and the ending panel is the kind which I might actually say is shocking. Not shocking in that Hal hasnt done things similar to this before, but more because it comes from Hals raw, angry response to the situation. I imagine this moment might spark some controversial exchanges, but it doesnt detract completely from the fact that Morrison and Sharp have become a great team for this series.

All said, Darth Vader #2 is a great continuation of the series which should hopefully explore (in Palaptine-voice) a great many things in the future.

As the build-up continues towards unveiling Green Goblins end-game and the success or failure of Otto to become a hero, the face-off between Flash and Otto continues to ramp up to a great finish.

While ultimately this wasnt the Superman comic I expected, it was the right one for the narrative and for DC Comics as a whole.

In the end, The Dark and Bloody has as much to say about responsibility, compassion, and family bonds as it does about grief, violence, and fear. Aldridge and Godlewski have poured their talents into a good collaborative effort which yields up a bounty of monstrously good art, a moving story, and a satisfying ending, despite some characters being left behind here and there.

The art by Esad Ribic and Ive Svorcina, plus the lettering of Joe Sabino, bring the whole story together. The rich colors and the amazing detail bring everything from Thor showing Roz the inside of a thunderstorm to the towering, shadowed visage of Old Galactus to haunting life. While this issue is a lead into the throwdown of the universe that is to come, it moves the story along in magnificent fashion.

Great stuff from everyone aboard the A-Force train who continue to knock everything out of the park.

Snyder's work with Freeze at the start of "ENDS OF THE EARTH, Part I" does a fantastic job at two things. First, Snyder is clearly open to shaking up the narrative stylings of the All-Star issues since from the start the narrative prose is far, far more dense than traditional comics that get released. Elements read as excerpts from a novel or a formal script, with much emphasis being paid to internal thoughts and motivations. This seems as far removed from the nature of the previous five issues of All-Star as you can get, but it is heightened further by the lack of formal speech bubbles.

The final few pages of the comic, as has been done with some of Scott Snyders Bat-comics before, focuses on a side-story, this time one written by James Tynion IV with a (intentionally?) strong Halloween-vibe. The idea of a group of escaped Arkham inmates all telling their stories about a famous Bat-villain is a creepy concept, one made even more macabre by the art of Kelly Jones. While the comic itself seems to be a build-up for the stories these inmates will be spending the next five issues telling, one series of panels horrifically depicts a Bat-villain in a way never before imagined. With some retrospective, readers might also draw some ghoulish parallels behind the images in this side-story and the final image of the main book itself.

There is also a sequence which, in panel work and dialogue, manages to evoke the Rocky Horror Picture Show dinner sequence (Brad! Janet! Rocky!). I admit the sequence was probably not meant for laughs, but it proves to be another enjoyable aspect to this already great comic.

In summary, this is hopefully going to be the start of another great IDW series. While it has a high bar to surpass with the first run of the Batman/TMNT crossover, Tynion, Williams and Colwell are off to a good start.

For now, Black Science #1 succeeds on all promises set forth by Remender and his gifted artistic crew. Readers should all anxiously (and fearfully!) await what new, frightening worlds lay before us as Black Science takes us on a first-hand tour of the Eververse.

This is a great first issue to what appears to be a great mini-series.

If you're looking for a very easy to get into, almost all-ages Captain America comic, Waid's current run is shaping up to be something Cap fans may well have been waiting for: a solid, fun series which captures all the heart and courage Steve Rogers represents both in and out of his Cap costume.

Conan #2 continues the strong showing for the worlds most famous barbarian and his showcase back under the Marvel Comics banner.

Each Dark Knight appears to have their own distinctive textual and balloon designs, something I hope remains in play every time these characters speak. Theyre just one example of how interesting the character concepts are from a design standpoint, so I am excited to see them in action.

Hellboy: The Midnight Circus is an amazingly drawn and colored piece of art that serves as a wonderful homage to older tales, but it also adds to the rich Hellboy universe. While the story is short, it serves as a window into what is a genuinely large comic universe, and the journey into the circus is one not to be missed.

Go and read Letter 44. Read it, feel captivated by big-idea storytelling, and join me in longingly starting at the calendar every day until the next issue is released.

Naomi herself receives the most attention, and it shows. Her expressions and the detail Campbell devotes to her makes her the heart of the story. What is also interesting is the use of half-tone, something this reviewer is normally more used to seeing in manga. While some art is re-used in a few places, mostly character models re-imposed here or there, Campbells work seems to be at the top of his game.

A special comment must be made for Youngs lettering. Some of the best laughs actually come from how he manages to so playfully use text and how he subverts the normal ideas of a SFX use. Multiple jokes come from normal CLICKSFX-text balloons becoming things like Pinky Out Click and the like. Cute, weird, and hilarious.

Spider-Gwen continues to be an amazing comic with a dynamic cast of re-introduced characters, each one better than the last.

Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi:Captain Phasma #1 is a great ride that lets readers know about one of the most interesting new additions to the canon of Star Wars.

Issue #29 serves as the preview for issue #30 that many readers have been awaiting. It establishes that despite Otto being the new Spider-Man, Green Goblin will go to any and every length to destroy Otto, his memory, and those close to him. While the plot of Spirit-Peter is relegated to two pages, it serves its purpose will enough in that is reveals some new perspective of what Otto has gone through by being (in Ottos eyes) Spider-Mans personal punching bag. This plot point, as well as all others, work together to make Superior Spider-Man #29 a must have issue in Slotts deconstruction and revival of all things Spider-Man.

The second and third page splash is a great one. Check out the detail Sprouse put into the different Thors present, both there and then on pages four and five. Great art for a great comic.

What else can be said by now about the art of Cliff Chiang? Amazing work. Amazing character designs. Amazing effort feels poured into all aspects, from Dianas weapons, the First Borns gruesome body, and to the colors and styling Chiang and Wilson collaborate to A+ impact.

With beautiful lines and character designs, a great color palette, an awesome grasp of both characters, and a promising plot (even with some shortcomings), Wonder Woman / Conan #1 is a great book that is going to be well worth the time of both Wonder Woman and Conan fans alike.

While there is still one issue left in the “Goblin Nation” storyline, the final players in the finale have been cast and now there is only a few more weeks to see the fallout. Still, other side-plots come to different points that should be mentioned. Spider-Man 2099 is left in a percarious state by the end of the issue (much as he was left in issue #29) and Liz Allen hints at yet more potential tragedy waiting in the wings of Superior Spider-Man #30. While the plot of Spider-Man 2099s fate could have been handled a little better, his jab at Otto, as well as Green Goblins impression of the Wicked Witch, the pace rolls along at a rip-roaring momentum.

Bitch Planet #3 could serve as a powerful comic just on its own, with Pennys imprisonment and evaluation serving as a perfectly powerful piece to highlight female social issues, but the fact this only adds to the Bitch Planet mythos? That is truly Bitchn!

While I have some minor nitpicks about why Steve and Nick were included in this issue at all, everything else is aces and this is a solid entry into both the Captain America canon as well as another solid piece of work from a fantastic team.

CONS: The story for some readers might be too much in one issue, even if it seems great care is taken to lay out how many parts exist within the whole.

Mister Miracle #2 adds to a series that already stood out with dynamic vision and craft, and is now all the stronger. Check it out, read it, re-read it, and tell your friends.Darkseid is.

Each comic in the showcase has a color palette and style which suits the story, obviously, but the pencils of Goodhart and the colors of Peter really bring out the ambiance of the Italian setting and in Zatanna's showmanship.

If you have not yet picked up any of the Star Wars comics, pick up this one. It is a wonderful story, it presents characters we think we know in ways we do not expect, and it is simply fantastic.

I am hard pressed to recall a book, any book, within the last year that so wonderfully pulled at the heartstrings like this one. From the facial expressions of Jon having to talk school while at the fair, to Lois' face at hearing how Clark snuck in crimefighting, to " everything. Everything about this comic is as true to the essence of Superman as possible.

I will say the reveal of Ultimate Thor's identity is fantastic and it may even come as a breath of relief for some.

Pick this issue up. Check it out. Find and order older trade editions of Usagi's adventures and keep reading as new issues come out. You'll become an expert at knowing the in's-and-out's of Usagi's world in no time.

It is no stretch to say that Wolverine: The Long Night is a wonderful audio experience that every comic fan should check out, if only because there is really nothing else like it presently in Marvels entertainment toybox.