Steve Orlando is on fire right now and Annihilation 2099 just stoked them flames to an inferno! This was honestly a blast to read. I was completely immersed into The Last Nova and Dracula Rising was the perfect introduction to what I fell this whole series will lead to. I love this short stories where creators get to test the waters and push the boundaries of what they can do and what Marvel will allow. I'm very intrigued to see where they go from here!

This issue of Annihilation 2099 brought a lot of depth to Dracula 2099 and set up something that could be much bigger going forward. His character development was handled really well and the angle of the societal issues was a great tool for that. To see Dracula in a tough spot in which he had to use strategy was also fun and engaging. The artwork did a fantastic job or merging a futuristic space environment with elements of horror. Eaglesham's work on Dracula in his emaciated form was gruesome and cool. I'm not sure where the story goes from here, but I'm definitely invested!

Despite a couple of odd story choices I still enjoyed the book overall and I think if your a fan of action movies, like me, you will too!

I've been on this book since the first issue and it hasn't managed to lose my interest yet. Issue 5 is the beginning of new chapter of Briar's overall story arc, so new settings and situations are being established. That can sometimes make for slow pacing, but the dialogue between Briar's friends feels real and authentic. What really surprised me this issue was the well times jokes. I found so many moments to be hilarious, all while not losing the serious tone in the background of this story. This a story that absolutely grabs you and keeps you in the moment, while still building something larger in the background. I love it and I can't wait to see what happens to this merry band of misfits going forward!

Briar has been a mainstay for my pull list since the beginning. Sleeping Beauty is a story that never really took off outside of Disney, but Briar is an excellent “What if?” version of the tale. It does seem to be taking them an awful long time to get to the focus of the journey, Grendrid, but I have enjoyed the story along the way. There were some emotional moments in this issue that felt earned and the cranes provided a delightfully fun plot device. All in all not a bad chapter to the story!

The pacing of this issue was a the biggest problem for me. There was some heavy dialogue involving lore dumps that were interesting, but seemed to bog down the story. Steve Rodgers is so interesting in this though. He tries his best to relate to the residents of The Front Door, but he just comes off like the weird one and it's a lot fun. Skinz was a fantastic addition to group of mutants with some wild abilities, and the penguin in the desert was a very surprising part of the story.

“They” say honesty is the best policy. Honestly, by initial thoughts were that I was getting into a campy, surface level story cartoon with nothing of real substance, just fun. Do you know what else “they” say? Don't judge a book by it's cover. After a second reading, I found myself in the deep end of the pool and I'm not sure how I got there. David Dastmalchian is a great storyteller. Jerri is so much more that jokes and monsters. She's a real person, and she's written with care.

Issue one was a great intro to this world and beginning to this story. I'm loving the brutality and horror medium involving the cutest of cartoon creatures. The Lamb is a great protagonist that was fleshed out and given personality and drive. There was more to it than just being a killing machine granted power by an evil power. The cast of surrounding characters were also fantastic and just fun to read. I'm excited for the next issue!

I'm loving the direction this story is going and the artwork feels dynamic and fresh. As the Cult of the Lamb continues to grow, it will be interesting to see how Ratau and Nana's dynamic evolves. Also, how will The Lamb deal with people not worshipping it. As they increase in power, what new atrocities will they be willing to commit?!

Scoot Snyder's story telling goes into so much depth without bogging down the pacing. Bohdi is a character with so much going on, he's so complex and real. The horror elements shine and twist at the end is the perfect exclamation point to the series. One of the hardest things in writing to do is to end a story. I see some of the best in the business fumble it all the time, but not Snyder.

The illustrations could stand on their own, but it's the colors from Dave Stewart that bring it all to life. With a title like “The Dawnrunner”, it's awesome that Stewart would use colors relating to just such a thing. Oranges, yellows, pinks, purples, and reds dominate the palette. When it comes to the interior of the Mech and the private life of Andro, a colder set of colors dominate. I love going back and forth between them all, showing a contrast and depth to the world, and in relation the story.

I try my best not to hand out 10's, but I honestly feel like Dawnrunner is going to consistently pull them out of me. This story is fun and emotional. It's also fascinating thanks to the lore and world building by Ram V. I'm neck deep into this world and I just want to keep swimming further out to sea. I'm enamored with the Tetza and what they really mean for Earth. I can't wait to see the Iron Kings square off with them as they get bigger and stronger. I want to know how Anita will be effected by Takeda's mind creeping into hers. There are so many strings to pull on and none of it feels overwhelming.

This issue was a page turner. I was taken back by images, consumed by the characters emotions, and intrigued by what was going to happen next. I've been loving this series as a whole, and I believe this is the best issue so far. Anita has been a fascinating character to see evolve and the Tetza showcase an amazing, unique beast every issue. This one is huge for the sci-fi and anime/manga fans. I don't think it should be missed!

This was the perfect conclusion to the heart of the story that Ram V was trying to tell. It hit all of the emotional high notes for me. On top of pulling you heart strings, the action is exciting. I found myself trying not to cheer out in joy at certain moments during the battle. It had all of those awesome moments you see in an anime fight when someone unlocks a new level of power! Each and every story thread gets wrapped up very nicely and leaves the reader feeling satisfied!

As someone who has kinda gotten tired of the Moira MacTaggert schtick in the X-Men universe, and welcomes the soon to come retcon, I have to say that Dead X-Men #1 went above my expectations. Time travel can get really convoluted, really quick, but this book did a great job of laying everything out straight forward. There would obviously be some context needed for anyone picking up this issue, but I feel like this could be a good jumping off point for interested readers.

As I've said in my previous reviews of Dead X-Men, Steve Foxe is running on all cylinders. This book has been a breath of fresh air from all of the X-Men drama going on. These characters are rarely featured on prominent teams, some may even be regularly ridiculed by readers, but here in this book, they work. Foxe has the voices for these X-Men perfectly in tune, and the fun adventure through time and space has been a blast. I'm almost sad to see it end in the next issue.

I'm love what I see thus far. This is classic Dick Tracy with a pretty new paint job and some upgraded parts. The characters are fleshed out and explored, but not in an exhausting way. Everyone grows through action, not tons of exposition. There are little to know narrative boxes which is great. Dialogue and actions drive the story. It's very cinematic in that way. It's my opinion that the art of any Dick Tracy book is the cornerstone of its success. Geraldo Borges and Mark Englert are off to a great start. If they can keep this momentum, the sky is the limit for this series.

I want to yell from the mountaintops how much I love this book. The story is packed with action, beautiful prose, and artwork that pushes the narrative and raises it to new heights. I found myself one moment on the edge of my seat excited for happens next, the next, feeling emotionally engaged at what has happened and what's going to happen. The layout of the pages is fantastic, making it a pleasure to the eyes. The pacing is balanced. Flashbacks and explanations don't drag the story and add the appropriate amount of information without any huge lore dumps. I know that I'll be reading this one over and over again for years to come!

Popeye Was Made For Anime Action!Williams gives us plenty of action in this issue through flashbacks to this stories being told, and the current battle they end up having to fight! The issue kicks off in the middle of the battle and circles back around to what happened to get there. Characters move with purpose and in such a dynamic fashion that the excitement and tension begs the reader to follow to the next panel and then the next! To top it all off, the colors are so vibrant and rich. This is where I think the anime and American cartoon styles blend so well.

Overall a great way to start a new Flash Gordon story. Motivations are clear for Flash and his abilities are put on full display. It looks like this one is going to be action packed and a roller coaster of fun. Flash Gordon hasn't looked this good a long time!

This one was a ton of fun! I've been in and out on G.I. Joe comics, mostly in on the Energon Universe, but this issue showed me what I've been missing! The action was bad-ass and the art made me feel like I was watching a movie. With so may story threads to pull on, I still felt engaged and extremely fascinated by all of it. Highly recommend this one to G.I. Joe fans and action movie fans alike.

As Geiger continues to unfold in this universe, it's clear that as a character he contains a lot of layers. As we peel those back and see different angles of him, he only becomes more intriguing. Also, the world around him can feel so big and yet grounded at the same time. He's a seriously heavy hitter as far as powers go, so to see someone really put him in harms way is great. I'm really excited to see how this confrontation with The Electrician unfolds!

Issue 4 is another building block on the way to a confrontation between The Hood and Johnny Blaze. There are some awesome kills in this issue, as well as some fantastic art panels that really stood out to me. Benjamin Percy is a great writer for Ghost Rider, as I feel he really understands to the wants and needs of these characters.

This was a great finale that helped cement this as a really fun and fascinating Ghost Rider story. Parker Robbins and Johnny Blaze both had an awesome finale to their character arcs and Mephisto was the icing on the cake. I absolutely loved Johnny's conversation with Zarathos and his inner dialogue made for some engaging storytelling.

I think Hellverine is off to a nice start. This issue focused on building foundations for what was to come, while still injecting action and conflict into the narrative. I was worried at times that I might get bored, but then something would happen and keep the pace up. I feel like this book will get better the further we get as Percy is really building some interesting plot points that could pay off big.

Matt Wilsons bright, flat colors are reminiscent of the whole masters of the art. It feels so classic and old school, and yet much more nuanced and detailed. It truly is the best of both worlds. Each character has a color scheme that separates itself from the other. Everything contrasts so well lifting the characters and the action off the page.

The Immortal Thor continues to be well written, beautifully designed book. Al Ewing has crafted an amazing story, commenting on modern social issues in a different and unique way. It's almost surprising that the publisher he works for allows him to go as far as he does. Ewing is commenting heavily on the greedy, capitalistic society that rules the social world. Corporations will do anything, no matter how silly or embarrassing, to get your attention and keep it for the purpose of selling you something. Ewing isn't necessarily reinventing the wheel here, but he's definitely found a way to streamline it!

I've already said it, but I'll say it again, I love everything about this book. Johnson is crafting an intriguing horror story with Marvels biggest, scariest character right in the middle of it. The creatures he's come up with are larger than life, elemental horrors that can do more than physical or mental damage. They can attack the psyche. Not only that, Hulk has someone he actually wants to protect. These factors bring stakes to a character that is otherwise invulnerable. All that said, this issue has the two most important things in comics going for it: It's fun to read and it's fun to look at it.

Phillip Kennedy Johnson continues to build on an interesting narrative involving the Hulk. It's so much fun to see these monsters and eldritch horror creations that bring a fresh feel to the Hulk.

The horror element to The Incredible Hulk continues to grow and expand. I absolutely love these dark and disgusting issues. The body horror is turned up to 11, which I believe fits so well into The Incredible Hulk's vibe. It's also interesting to explore more of the Hulk/Banner relationship on and emotional and psychological level. To see them both exist at the same time and interact rings on some heavy moments. After they work together and defeat Sumanguru, we get the next piece of the puzzle to saving Charlie. I'm totally invested in seeing her saved and what that will mean for The Hulk and Banner.

Overall, this issue was a fun read. The art really kicked it up a notch. The story itself was more of a rest stop on the way to a much bigger confrontation. It was good to see Bruce acknowledge all of his mistakes, but the way Hulk was playing with him felt so sadistic. The closer Hulk gets to The Eldest the more he is changing for the worst. When the finally clash, I think it will have a fantastic payoff.

Overall, Into The Unbeing has me locked in and starving for more. The use of real science with physical anomalies and unnatural environments make everything feel grounded and familiar while also alien and almost supernatural. The characters also feel real, tangible, and relatable. There is something so much bigger brewing underneath all of this and it's going to be a pleasure to watch the layers being peeled back to reveal it all.

So much more to explore in this issue and yet, still not a lot of answers. I'm ok with that. I like a slow burn. In issue one we got a lot of Hildur's backstory and POV and in this issue it was all about Zara. I'm wondering if Selba and Abby will get this treatment in the coming issues. The artwork in this book is a horror fans dream and the character development is top notch. I'm eagerly anticipating issue three!

Hayden Sherman's art is still driving this book. His designs for the inside of this giant organism look biologically accurate, while still looking like an alien world. With the characters traveling down the esophagus with gnarly teeth, the body horror levels rise. When they encounter a weird deer like creature, they flee to the veins, where they swim right into the chest cavity. It's here that all of the horror environments are balanced by a beautiful scenic view of a giant pair of lungs. Sherman is blowing me away with these beautiful, eerie views of the internal human anatomy. Ms. Frizzle, eat your heart out.

Tri Vuong is an excellent story teller whether it be with words or with pictures. Making LEGO seem emotionally deep and dramatic can be a challenge without sound and acting, but he finds a way to bring you into the fold. It's also not all serious and gritty. There are few light moments that made me laugh out loud, seamlessly woven into the story. Tri walked you carefully through the first half of the book, but has you running with joy in the second half. This one is worth checking out for fans of good storytelling. For more info on this story and Tri Vuong, be sure to check out our interview below!

To put into simplest terms, this is the science fiction version of Homeward Bound. Athos, Porthos, and Lovely provide a lot of heart and comedy that lightens up the dark and sort of depressing tale of the humans traveling the stars. Jesse Lonergan's artistic creations are fresh and interesting, somehow increasing what makes these animals so relatable. The action scenes raise the stakes and goes from enjoying comedic tropes to feeling pride in these three as the battle the unknown to find their guardians. I highly recommend this for anyone interesting a light hearted, fun story that doesn't take itself too seriously.

This issue was great from beginning to end. It was action packed and the stakes are were high. The character development of Athos, Porthos, and Lovey is perfect, with the way they work together being the highlight of it all. The pacing of this issues was great too. It was quick and action packed, with a couple of brief moments to explore the character development, none of which caused a lull in the movement of the story. It really all reminds me of the phrase “well oiled machine”.

This issue picks right in the middle of the action that ended the previous one. Lovey, the French bulldog had been shot down by the “Klangers” as they call them. It's here that we see Athos attempt to make a quick decision, convincing the fiercely loyal and brave Pathos to leave Lovey behind, so that they can find Doc and return with help to save Lovey. But in retreat the suffer injuries of their own and lose consciousness.

Jesse Lonergan continues to think outside of the box in his designs for these abstract worlds and beings. Everything feels so fresh and interesting to the eye. You can't help but spend time on each panel, adsorbing the different dimensions and the intricacies of each new world that the three animals travel through. Everything presents a new angle and art style. Honestly, Lonergan is putting on a clinic and demonstrating a wine variety of art theory and history.

The artwork is phenomenal. Fabok and Anderson have created a new world that feels relatable to our own with subtle changes that make in feel ever so unnatural. It's a thin line that they walk with grace. I believe Rook's solo debut was a resounding success, and this science fiction, Mad Max like story is the beginning of something extraordinary!

Orlando understands these two characters and writes them into a real family relationship that can have strong bonds, and still be a little toxic from time to time. It's all elevated by the artwork of Tammetta and William. The faces and body language could write a story themselves, and the colors by Frank lift it all off the page and drive home the characters emotions to the point that it connects directly with the reader.

So far issues one and two have been action packed. The pacing is moving fast, but in an appropriate way. Steve Orlando continues to keep me engaged with his amazing character writing, especially Quicksilver. The Wizard is a great villain, but I'm still curious as to who is pulling his strings. The art from Lorenzo Tammetta and Frank William is progressive yet still feels classic. I love every page. This is one of those books that tends to fly under the radar for whatever reason. It's a shame though, because it's a beauty that deserves the spotlight!

What can I say about this book that I haven't said about the previous two? I'm in love with the art work. It feels like a classic style with much more detail and rich vibrant colors. The story has been so much fun and dramatic. Pietro is a blast to read. He's cocky and hilarious. Wanda is absolutely beautiful and so powerful, to the point that she's spending a lot of time holding back. I find myself still intrigued by what the letter from Magneto said. What would Wand think Pietro couldn't accept? The Wizard started out as your stereotypical, mustache twirling villain, but grows into something deeper with each issue. If the trend continues, issue 4 should only continue to impress.

As the final issue in the series, the action is turned up to eleven as conflicts are resolved. Wanda gets a big upgrade that was really amazing. I loved seeing Pietro get over himself, be vulnerable, and just be real with Wanda. He truly loves his her and that really shined through in his own special way. There are definitely some set ups for Scarlet Witch's next series, that looks to continue the efforts of the still mysterious big bad in this book. The art work has been consistently great and it continues here.

Rainbow Rowell has been putting Jen through the ringer, and this issue is no different. It was absolute pleasure to see the way she works through She-Hulk and Jack of Hearts relationship, especially in this issue. This issue as a whole had a really face pace to it, with the dialogue between Jen and Jack slowing things down, but not in a bad way. For a final part to this arc, it really kinda felt like a filler episode though. Regardless, I'm excited to see what's next for this power couple, and I really hope we get to see more of Ganymede in the future!

As stated by so many others, Somna is a perfectly balanced book. Issue #2 continues the trend of mixing two well executed art styles with 2 different realities, telling one cohesive story. That to me is a feat in and of itself.

The colors, without question, make the art of Somna move and drive the emotions felt by the characters and the reader. Lee Loughridge, Dee Cunniffe, and Tula Lotay continue to dominate this area of expertise in comic book artwork. Color palettes are curated with care and intention. The simplicity and harshness of earthy tones in the real world drive home a feeling of cold monotony, yet it still looks beautiful and begs to be explored. The soft, bright, cool tones of the dream world give off a warm glow, enticing you to step into the panel. As I read I feel as though I could touch it, feel it. It's inviting but in a dangerous way.

This issue was a certified banger and I can't wait to see the final showdown between SG and Zorak. Pepose creates a rich and deep history for this world in only a finite amount of space. His understanding of this world and its lore shows and he passes that passion on to the reader. The art team takes that passion on puts it to the page in every single panel. The colors are vibrant and playful while not risking too much of the seriousness of the settings. High marks all the way around!

This first half of this issue was super heavy on dialogue and backstory. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but it can be a bit hard to get through. Once we get the squad on their mission the pacing picks up and things seem to flow easier. I thing this book has some great potential going forward. Once things get complicated and the squad members start diverting from their main objective, it's gonna get fun. I say it's worth picking up issue two to see a little more of how the story unfolds!

I'm loving the premise and the character development already. This massive catastrophic event switched something in Emmett and Gabby that made them grow in a matter of pages. Everything story wise is executed with a real sense of building to something even bigger, and that's exciting! Add on top of that artwork that gives off a feeling of familiarity and movement, and the colors to elevate that to an emotional response and we've got a real chance at something special developing!

The Displaced is a fascinating study on the psychology of survivors. Guilt, ambition, and loss of identity Al factor in to these peoples motivations. I believe that this causes the pacing to be a little slow, and there's not much action until the end of the issue. However, the story is still fascinating to see Emmett, Harold, Gabby, and the others react in different ways to this supernatural phenomenon they are experience together. The art is heavy and grounded all while still feeling ethereal in a sense at times. This issue may have been giving us a lot of information and showing us character development at the expense of action, but I still think it's a great read.

The Goon: Them That Don't Stay Dead is nothing complicated or emotionally gripping, but it is just plain fun. It's over the top style of story telling is wonderfully campy and entertaining. Fans of detective noir and classic cartoons will delight in Eric Powell's style and tone.

What Eric Powell does exceedingly well is balance. The story can have high stakes, danger, and horrific imagery, and yet it's funny and cartoon in a way that brings it a light hearted feel. That same tone matches up with the art work. Zombies go from silly and stupid, to menacing and powerful. This issue really took what the previous issue started and ran with it, all while building a new layer. I feel like things are gonna be challenging for The Goon and he'll have to make some tough decisions in the future. The Goon is a great read for me and I highly recommend it to any fans of horror, Noir style stories, and Looney Tunes.

I'm constantly impressed as I go from panel to panel. The pacing of the story great, and the story continues to impress. As Kim slowly builds out the lore and the world in subtle ways, the action keeps moving and The Mermaid reveals more of who she is and what she is capable of. It's a slow burn story moving page to page like a freight train and reminds me so much of Japanese Manga, but with so much more visual depth.

Look, I'm not out here throwing out 10's just because I like it or because I may be obsessed with this series. The Last Mermaid is riveting, beautiful storytelling. Derek Kirk Kim has pulled inspiration from so many different mediums (Comic-books, anime, manga, animation) and created his own amazing piece of art that feels so new and yet familiar. I am on the edge of my seat while reading, while also being in awe of the imagery of each panel. It feels so cinematic. I wish it would run for a hundred issues, but I know this best stories have an end. I can't wait to read issue 4 and you should hop on it while you still can!

Speaking of the mutant chase, that was a great sequence! Kim kicks up the action with a high speed chase. Each panel fell like an animation cell. If you were to cut the out and form a flip book, I imagine it would animate the scene in a thrilling way!

I was intrigued by issue #1, but issue #2 really pulled me in deeper. Ram V is pulling me into this city and the character of Ari Nassar. The art gets the best of marks. Between Laurence Campbell and Lee Loughridge, I find myself part of this world. I can feel it, smell it, hear it. This truly is an example of how synergy between every creator can make something real and tangible. Between this and The Six Fingers, there's a story like no other being constructed here and I don't want to miss a single panel of it.

The One Hand has been a slow burn thus far, but this issue really made me feel like things are about shift into overdrive. Laurence Campbell and Lee Loughridge have proven to be masters at building the aesthetic of this world and bringing it to life. The character of Ari Nassar gets more and more complex as we learn just how simple he really is. It's a fascinating development, really. I'm so ready for him to see the big picture. Each issue has felt like a tease, but I just know when the curtain falls its gonna be one heck of a ride.

This is series has been a lot of fun so far. There's so much to think about and so many visual cues that add to the mystery. As The Six Fingers fleshes out the killer, The One Hand continues to make Ari Nassar a more interesting character. It was great to see them briefly interact through the wall in this issue. There is so something so massive in this story, entangling so many parts of each character and their environments. When this all resolves I feel like there's gonna be a huge “AH HA” moment where everything aligns.

The One Hand's conclusion left me in awe. I'm going to be thinking about this one for a while. It was almost frustrating for a good portion of this issue as I was ready to scream at Johannes myself to tell me what was going on. It turned out to be a slow burn, and in the end I still needed a moment to process. It ended up being a great part of a fantastic whole. The artwork will inspire works to come. I'll comeback at some point and reminisce at how wonderful it was.

The Principles of Necromancy is perfect for anyone that enjoys body horror. Images can be jarring at times, but no matter how grotesque, I find myself unable to look away. I hope the introduction of Eloise is going to be a driving force going forward. There's no telling where Jakob ends up next and what he's creating has me wanting to continue following this story.

I enjoyed this comic and I really like the idea of seeing the story develop from the other side of the coin. Dan Watters gets us into the mind of a serial killer without giving us everything in the first issue. Sumit Kumar's art pulls me into the world he's building, and helps build character by making Johannes seem almost different in a way from everyone else. I did enjoy The One Hand more, but that's a person bias there. I really loved the dark Neo Noir feel of that book, whereas The Six Fingers has a lot less of that. All that said, the idea of reading a story from a killer and the detective trying to catch him makes both of these books worth picking up!

The Writer is a great opening issue for what proves to be a fun and exciting adventure. It reminds me of some of the great stories like Indiana Jones, National Treasure, or The Adventures of TinTin that take us on an adventure full of action while also rooting itself in history, compelling lore, and legends. Ariel Olivetti makes it even better by providing artwork on each panel that could stand on it's own as a work of art.

Venom War: Zombiotes brought us a story and genre that feels very familiar but is fresh and fun. With the gritty Gothic art work from Juan Jose Ryp is combined with the fun, action packed story by Cavan Scott, we get something that will exceed your expectation. I can't make you get over Zombie and Symbiote fatigue, but I can tell you that this one brings a quality to it that focuses on telling a good horror story. I may not be sold on the rest of the Venom War story line, but this one will keep me interested!

Issue #1 kicks things off with the “Eventuality” AKA The King in Black addressing the reader and offering them 5 questions. The Eventuality is simply a hand engulfed in flames, remarkably similar to that of Venoms hand, and explains what it is to the reader. In essence, it is the ultimate result of every single Eddie Brock that bonds with a Venom symbiote. It is an all knowing, multiversal presence. “What if Eddie Brock isn't Venom?” it proposes, and we lead into our first tale title “Kiss The Ring”.

Robert Kirkman is building a slow burn here, but it's not without its fair share of fun, action packed moments. Void Rivals is a piece of a bigger puzzle, and quite a sizable one at that. It takes time to world build on this scale, complete with some seriously intricate lore. Not everyone will be down for that, but I can say that this issue is paced extremely well.

This is one of the best issues of this run so far for me. Springer is delightful and a blast to watch in action. Darak and Solila are a great pair and bring a little comedic relief without being silly. Now that I have that little slice of Transformers lore that i've been waiting for, I'll be biting my nails in anticipation of more. Transformers fans should not be missing out on this series!

Artistically speaking, characters and colors were simple. To make things worse, the panel layout really made this drag. Simple blocks on every page, with wavy lines to represent moments in Synch's mind. The whole thing felt rushed and nothing more than filler for the larger conclusion to come. Synch was definitely the star of this book and really established him as a cornerstone for what's to come.