Combined these elements deliver a pretty mediocre read. The jumpstart beginning and severely derivative construction quickly squelch any sort of distinction or uniqueness that could have been. Just because Hawkeye is on the team doesnt mean the comic has to feel like his solo series. And thats what you get with Secret Avengers: a comic entirely hedging its bets on readers flocking over from another title, and presenting them with something unchallenging and familiar.

Overall this comic is not for the uninitiated, or un-dedicated to Vampirella. Un-challenging in content, with forgettable flat artwork, this comic will offer readers no surprises. If you like T&A, and a plot that could easily be replaced with one from an episode of Supernatural, check this comic out. Otherwise there's some fantastic Vampirella reprints available, and currently in print for your enjoyment.

All in all this annual has some high points, and a lot of low points. If youre into the whole every superhero has to be dark and gritty and brooding and angry theme of the New 52, this is the perfect comic for you. Otherwise check out Paks Action Comics, orAdventures of Superman, andBatman 66for something more palatable.

The dynamic within the Eternal Warrior family holds some interesting possibilities for the future. Given Pak and Harsine are doing a bit of world building their conflict will be exciting to see unfold. This first issue was definitely a good start, but its lasting impact was lacking. A well defined world and characters may have been established, and a core conflict alluded to, beyond those details the read was hollow.

All in all Two Cities makes the Iron Man Annual #1 worth reading. Borrowing themes and methods of storytelling from two giants of sci-fi it tells an immersive story between man, machine, and the desolation of space. As a whole this issue feels muddled, unsure of what story its really trying to tell.

Overall Lady Rawhide #1 is a completely average read. Lacking any form of challenge for readers, or even a new creative approach towards Lady Rawhide herself (beyond T&A with a whip), this is yet another entry in Dynamite's already extensive list of brainless reads. Given the momentum the publishing house is taking towards pulling in bigger names and pushing for higher quality, this move towards higher quality seems more and more like a smokescreen.

And for those keeping score this comic not only fails the Bechdel test, it fails the DeConnick sexy lamp test, which can even be extended to the entire male cast too.

The verdict: All-New Invaders is pretty darn fun. Throwing a galactic conflict on a group more used to dealing with terrestrial threats is an excellent twist, especially if the villains are an echo of the groups past. This may be one of the first in the All-New Marvel Now lineup, but its already setting some high expectations.

As a whole, Mega-City One establishes a promising story, with great commentary on modern society, and immersive artwork. It gets bogged down by a disconnect between writing and art, but as this is the first issue it still has time to correct the confusion.

This acceptance is absolutely a good thing, its a step in a direction of addressing a massive disparaging imbalance within comic readership, and is proving that separation of readers need not exist. But Agent of Asgard approaches the situation in the form of a tightrope act: it walks a line between adding its own voice to the fandom, and appropriating existing voices within the fandom. Issue one is a fantastic start, showing a lot of promise for a bright future, it really comes down to a matter of treading carefully. All in all, Loki: Agent of Asgard is a book to keep your eye on.

So where does that leave fans yearning to read and relive one of the most acclaimed yet evasive [REDACTED] stories ever told? Although it is now widely available, and unfinished content will finally be completed down the line, the long-awaited reprint of Miracleman seems to have arrived with more of a forced hurrah, than with an enthusiastic bugle fanfare. Being able to finally read this story at an affordable (yet inflated) price is excellent for penny pinching collectors. But if each issue is as crammed as this first one, it might be worth it to wait for the trade.

You could do a lot worse than Quantum and Woody, but in order to transcend a label of good Asmus and Fowler need to work through some fundamental difficulties.

Overall this is a really solid start to IDWs latest 2000AD repackaging effort. Rogue Trooper #1 is an extremely solid dark sci-fi read, with a long history and a solid backbone to work from. Ruckley and Ponticelli clearly have big plans for Trooper, and are eagerly sinking their teeth into his extensive legacy.

Overall Thor God of Thunder seventeen is a solid fantasy read, keeping true to the new Marvel Studios approach towards the Asgardian God. Playing to the fundamentals of Thor, Aaron, Garney and Lupacchino create an entertaining, and fairly meaty read.

In the end,Uncanny Avengers is one of the biggest teases on the rack. Consistently solid writing, consistently vibrant art, and now consistently halted story momentum will leave a sense of ambivalence in its wake. If Remender is as good at baiting readers as he is at delivering mind-shattering plot developments what hes holding up his sleeve will be as ludicrous and amazing as the Red Skulls most recent transformation. Until that point we can only wait and play some more what if.

The new chapter in Winter Soldiers legacy is off to an explosive start. If Remender, Boschi, and Chuckry are exiting the gate with a story as exciting as Bitter March #1, theres no telling how crazy this comic is going to get by the end.

When you add everything up, Batman '66 is one of the best values in comics. Fun on every page, and teeming with historical nods, Jeff Parker and company (Joe Quinones and Sandy Jarrell this issue) continue to deliver one of the most rewarding reads in comics today. From my perspective, it's a no brainer: a Batman comic that's fun, is faithful to its source material, and (heaven forbid) is suitable for kids and fun for adults? Sold.

Batman and Robin Annual #2 does exactly what an annual should do: tell an independent, continuity free, fun story. If more New 52 comics were driven by the same motivations, even within continuity, the entire line would not just be more palatable, it would allow their characters to be more interesting as a whole. Tomasi, Mahnke, Gleason and company enable the Bat-family to let their hair down a bit and show theyre capable of expressing something beyond anger. Their characters were more engaging, giving the comic a significant lasting appeal. Should the same approach be taken towards the rest of DCs incredibly rich catalog of characters, the New 52 might become a more welcoming place to read.

Black Science is easily one of the most engaging and thrilling reads on the shelf. Issue three continues a welcome president of involved reading, stories which can balance pace and offer a considerable time spent reading.

This comic continues to thrill, remains fun, and can be devoured on a single-issue basis, concepts that are fleeting in today's world of comics. The inks get a little funky in the early pages of this issue, but given the fact that Yu spends the time to draw full backgrounds, (what a concept!), this is a minor grievance.

Perhaps this issue is the denouement to the Mark Waid and Leinil Yu run on Indestructible Hulk, but ultimately it feels incomplete. Lacking the completeness of the previous three issues, this fourth installment accelerates the story a bit too quickly. These grievances aside this comic is still an enjoyable read. Banner is witty, Hulk smashes, and there are plenty of awesome baddies waiting for a green fist to be applied to their faces. As a complete story, the pacing and depth issues will likely dissipate, until then an appetite for more remains unsatiated.

On top of all that, Hulk continues to be a wonderfully meaty read, unable to be devoured in mere minutes. Far too many comics forget the importance of plentiful dialogue or narration, Hulk is not one of them. Although it is a page turner, each page is a feast in and of itself between Waids wit and Simonsons scrumptious art, a supreme force to be reckoned with has been delivered to comic store shelves. An expense of $3.99, (plus tax where applicable), will satiate even an endless comic craving, only to reignite that belly fire by the concluding page.

As an introduction to either Hulk or Daredevil, this comic is an amazing starting point for comic fans on the fence about either title. Although Hulk is the star of the show, Daredevil is able to flex his new fun groove just as much making this a wonderful, fun filled read from cover to cover. Comics, superhero or otherwise, dont get much better than this folks. It may be issue 9, but it could be the beginning of a great time for any hungry comic fan.

The art on this issue creates a harmonious bond with the writing, even more so than the prior issue. It was easy to see from the beginning that Matteo Scalera would deliver inspiring art for this fantastic comic, and in the span of a single issue he has already shown hes prepared to swing for the bleachers. His action is clear, dynamic, and translates the imperative of each situation without excessive use of page space. Lacking a single dedicated splash page, Scaleras movement on every page makes as dramatic an impact as a splash would have, while not sucking up space for the benefit of more story. His Daredevil action shots were particularly impressive, making DD feel as if he were gliding through the air, accompanied by his Hulk who maintained an overbearing presence in every panel. Considering the all-star cast of artists who have already graced Indestructible Hulks pages, Scalera has accepted the challenge and is making a huge, unique impact in his wake.

DC has been in dire need of more titles willing to be this wacky, or even titles willing to have this much fun with their characters. The skys the limit as far as Larfleeze is concerned, and hopefully were in store for more wacky backstory, imaginary tales, and even intergalactic battles as more issues unfold. It has been a long time since a comic like this has left a lasting feeling of excitement for the next issue, and rest assured this reviewers fingers are crossed in hopes Larfleeze will become a hit, (and during villain month the star is Green Lantern).

Nick has worked with comics for the last 15 years. From garbage disposal, to filing, to grading, he has become a disgruntled, weathered comic fan. A firm believer that comics are meant to be fun and be printed on paper, Nick seeks wacky, bizarre, and head-scratcher comics from every era. Introduced to Ranma at a young age, his love for manga continues to grow, fueling his desire to learn Japanese and effectively avoiding the wait between publication and translation. His love for classic comics originated from a battle between Batroc the Leaper and Captain America, and hes never turned back. Preferring reader copies over pristine comics, he yearns for comics to return to the fun days of the Silver Age buying up anything his bank account can sustain.

It may have been said before, but its going to be said again: Bongo comics, and in this case Simpsons Comics delivers one of the biggest bangs for your buck the comic rack can offer. Combining the antics of one of televisions most beloved cast of characters with prominent issues of society is a fantastic way to keep a comic fresh and interesting. The love and devotion shown to telling a compelling and funny comedy story is only enriched by Simpsons Comics subtle ulterior motives.

Its a shame more comics from Bongo dont see a wider range of press or reviews. The entire line is packed full of fun comics, created by authors who are truly inspired by the source material. Spongebob Comics may be 29 issues into its run, but every one has been unique, unified by a different theme. Its always a treat when the new issue of Spongebob or Simpsons Comics hits the stand, Bongo sure knows how to make a mighty fun comic.

As a whole Shaolin Cowboy is much more than beautiful artwork, and is most certainly not devoid of storytelling. Through an augmentation of traditional sequential storytelling, Darrow creates a narrative reliant on the reader pulling their own individual thoughts from the pages. What we see in the story is a matter of what we allow ourselves to see on the page. It is one of the most unique and intriguing comics you will ever read, and will train you to rethink the way you read comics.

If your budget only permits you one comic this week, you should, without a doubt make that comic Batman Black and White. Comics like this have the potential to enrich our view of the medium as a whole on top of being quite entertaining, and give us a very critical position on the characters we love.

Continuing in the footsteps of excellence, Batman Black and White number five is an outstanding read. Offered as a deviation from the norm, this series should be considered the standard for Batman comics, if not superhero storytelling as a whole. It provides creators with the freedom to explored new or possibly forgotten, territory, keeping Batman fresh, innovative, and stylish. As we get closer to the end of this volume, the foreboding sense of monotony within Batman storytelling looms ever closer. Black and White continually shows what Batman could be, if creativity and imagination were the primary driving factors behind his adventures.

It's not very often that comic creators are able to tactfully and skillfully approach real life problems and break them down through the eyes of fantasy. To attempt this and incorporate a message so seamlessly into an already established story, as if it had been planned from the beginning, shows that Waid and Samnee are doing more than just telling compelling super hero stories, they're using the medium to get us thinking. And maybe this element was present all along, and maybe it was all building up to an issue like this to get us to really open our eyes.

Where Waid and Samnee conclude this volume of Daredevil is anybodys best guess. This issue, along with every other issue in the run, have delivered twists and turns even the most dedicated analytical thinker couldnt hope to uncover. Needless to say, thirty days cant pass soon enough to see how this one wraps up.

Action Comics #1000 is an expedition through the absolute best of what Superman has to offer.

As a whole, Ms. Marvel #1 is one of the most impressive comics Marvel has released in recent years. Wilson, Alphona, and Herring are setting out to create a comic capable of uniting an unbelievable spectrum of comics fans. Its welcoming and fun story is nearly impossible to resist smiling at while reading, and Kamala is the type of character who's extremely difficult to dislike. It's not often a single issue is capable of instilling such a powerful feeling of anticipation for the next issue, but 30 days seems like far too long to wait for Kamala's next adventure.

Bone's cartoony art style definitely adds an element to The Rocketeer that is a welcome addition and fantastic compliment to the animated cast of characters. He nails fashion of the time, every page has fully drawn backgrounds (seriously, this is huge!), and even took the time to hide little nuances in those backgrounds. With a great pair of creators Hollywood Horror will without a doubt be some of the most fun you'll find on the shelf for its entire duration. Do yourself a favor and give Rocketeer a chance, you won't regret it.

It's a reading experience unlike just about anything happening in comics with each new installment