This issue has generated more press than all the other Marvel books out this week, including all of the Marvel NOW! relaunch titles that have popped up too, and it's for good reason. Slott and Elson together have set this final arc of Amazing Spider-Man off with a bang, and I cannot wait to see where we go next. After such a strong opener, let's hope that the only way is up.

As I said, this is the best issue of the series since #1. The story, the dialogue, the artwork, and everything are all in top form, and I really can't think of anything negative to mention. This is a piece of work, and if you for whatever reason decided to drop Animal Man, I highly recommend revisiting the series because you're missing out on something more than special.

Really though, the images I've used for this review cannot do the experience justice. You really must download the issue to see each of these pages to their fullest.

So whatever you were expecting in this issue? You'll get that, and even more. If the Court of Owls was Snyder and Capullo's action/adventure story, Death of the Family is their horror entry into the Batman mythos. Bring a spare pair of underwear when you read this issue, you're definitely going to need it.

I'm sure everyone and their mother is reading Batman at the moment, but if you're not, now is the time to start. Scott Snyder is breathing new life into the Joker, and this series is going from strength to strength. With Snyder coupled with art gods like Greg Capullo and Jock, there's no reason that you shouldn't be reading this book right now.

I think I've forgotten to mention how awesome Greg Capullo's artwork is on this series over the past few reviews, and that's a terrible thing. His art steps up another notch in this issue, something I didn't think was possible, using mastery of shadows to hype up the tension as Batman delves deeper into Arkham Asylum, making the reveals of the Joker and friends even more blinding after half an issue with almost no colour at all. The synergy between Capullo and his inker and colourist has never been more evident than in this issue. Plus, Jock's art on the back-up is basically flawless as always, too. Not only is Snyder firing on all cylinders, so is everyone he works with -" evidently his enthusiasm for Batman is rubbing off. This is another in a line of flawless issues, and the third five out of five rating I've given since this arc began four issues ago. With only 1 issue remaining of “Death of the Family,” can this series get any better?

So another Bat-Epic is over and personally, I think that Death of the Family outdid the Court of Owls at every turn. Of the five issues, I deemed three of them worthy of full five/five ratings, and the other two were almost close. Scott Snyder, Greg Capullo, and everyone else working on this series should be immensely proud of themselves and what they have accomplished here " what will likely be lauded as one of the best Batman/Joker stories ever written.

Goodnight, Sweet Prince.

I have nothing bad to say about this issue. If you've been reading this series since it began then this issue will simply be perfect for you. Maybe you're a fan of a certain character who has been MIA for a few years, or maybe you're just a big fan of Daredevil as a character, Waid as a writer, Samnee as an artist, or just comics in general. Either way you cut it, I think anyone should find enjoyment in this comic, and that's all I really ask when reading comics.

All I can say in closing is that it's a good thing that the Flash Annual is out next week, so I don't need to wait and find out what happens next. I've said before that issues that elicit emotional responses from me usually get high ratings, and whilst that usually means making me cry, this issue just made me smile all the way through. This is an absolute treat of a comic book, and I loved it from the first to last page; the story is compelling and the completely opposite of predictable, the characters are interesting and varied, and the art is absolutely stunning. You don't get much better than this.

So, Johns is gone, but not forgotten. With this final issue, he has redeemed the Wrath of the First Lantern story as well as turned out a perfect send-off for himself as he says goodbye to the characters of the Green Lantern universe for now. He'll still be writing Hal and Simon in their respective Justice League books, but his work on the majority of these characters and concepts is now over, and this issue is a love letter to everything he has added to the Green Lantern mythos over the last decade. If it had to end, this issue was the best way for it to go out. Thank you Geoff, for everything.

I have gushed about this series since it came into play during Fear Itself, and I will continue to do so until it ends, and likely for years afterwards. It's not too late to jump onto one of Marvel's best ongoing series, and you owe it to yourself to check this book out. Kid Loki's journey may be close to ending, but his legacy will live on in this title, whether he likes it or not.

Journey Into Mystery has one more issue in which to wrap up Loki's storyline, and that'll be the end. After two practically perfect issues, it only remains to be seen how Gillen will finish everything off, and in true Journey Into Mystery fashion, there's still everything to play for. Far be it for me to predict the future, but I can safely say that the final issue of Gillen's run on Journey Into Mystery, like this issue, and the rest of them, will be truly unforgettable.

So that's it. Kid Loki's story is over, at least in this incarnation, and it will be a long time before I recover. This series has been superb throughout, and this final issue is everything that it deserves and more. This is a perfect end to a flawless series, and I urge you to read it. If you don't, you will be depriving yourself of one of the best books to hit the stands; this series will go down in history in the same breath as other epics like the Sandman, or Y: The Last Man, and rightfully so. What more of a recommendation do you need?

I've barely even scratched the surface as to why I enjoyed this issue so much; Soule and Kano have created a perfect first issue for their (hopefully long and prosperous) run on this title. The artwork is top notch, the storytelling is both respectful to what went before but original in going forward, as well as proposing some interesting dilemmas and linking Swamp Thing into the DC Universe at large, seemingly without even trying. If you've not read any Swamp Thing, this is the best place to start right now.

There's only one issue of Uncanny X-Men left, and I do hope that it is of the same quality as this one. Avengers Vs. X-Men has been both a blessing and a curse for Uncanny X-Men, but if the next issue is this good, these two issues will more than make up for any of the weaker tie-in issues.

Given that I've been annoyed at this Shi'ar storyline for the past 5 issues, I'm now almost sad to see it go. Warbird's story is written to give just the right amount of emotional impact, and still manages to contribute to the Avengers Vs. X-Men storyline as Gladiator and his forces finally tackle the Phoenix Five, and we return to the Jean Grey School for the coda. If the past few issues had put this title on shaky ground, this one cements it right back at the top of my pull list.

Gillen, McKelvie, Norton, Wilson, Cowles and friends close out the Young Avengers' first arc with this issue, showing everyone just how comics are done. I know I'm predisposed to like this series because of the characters and creative team, but it really is one of the best books at the moment, constantly pushing the envelope and the nature of comics as a whole, whilst telling a heartfelt story that has so many hidden undertones that there's almost no end to the amount of times you could read each issue and get something new. Volume 1 of this series is called Style > Substance, but this series has both in spades.

Ends of the Earth is almost over, and the stakes couldn't be higher. There is a lot of pressure on Slott to round off the storyline in both a timely and satisfying fashion " there are lots of story threads to conclude, such as Ock's final fate, and the cliffhanger he ends on this issue, but if the previous five issues are anything to go by, the fate of Spidey's world couldn't be in better hands.

Whilst the price tag on this book isn't quite justified, it's still well worth picking up. The first part of the Alpha storyline is promising (and has an evil cliffhanger), and the two back-up stories are decent fodder that will leave you with a warm, fuzzy feeling that reminds you why Spider-Man has lasted for fifty years so far. All that's left to say is happy birthday Spidey, here's to another fifty.

Note: Apologies for the lack of images for this review, Marvel decided not to release previews for this issue for some unknown reason.

The same artistic problems persist with this issue as last time; either the new inker or the new colourist are doing something that is causing Camuncoli's strong linework to be drowned under a sea of colour — it needs either thicker inking, or a less sweeping colourist to elevate it back to the level it was when D'Armata and Janson were working on it. Camuncoli's work is always great, but it needs that little extra push to get it up to excellent.You'd never have guessed that Spidey's title would bounce back after Alpha so quickly, and even without him present in it. Spidey may be missing, but this issue is one of the best of Slott's run so far, with credit to Gage for his wonderful dialogue. Amazing Spider-Man is back to being amazing again.

The Amazing Spider-Man is destined to go out with a bag, as “Dying Wish”continues to be an exceptional storyline. Given that this entire issue takes place inside a prison cell, the fact that it still manages to be funny, compelling, engaging, and worrying all in one go is a real treat. Slott is pulling out all the stops for this final storyline before Superior Spider-Man launches, giving us one last show before everything changes, and now is a brilliant time to be reading this series, as always.

Amazing Spider-Man ends with a bang, not a whimper, you'll be pleased to hear. Of course, the internet has been cracked in half by the revelations contained within, but what can you do? Personally, I believe that this issue was well thought out, nicely executed, and an enjoyable conclusion to the Dying Wish storyline. The two back-up stories vary in quality, but the artwork is top notch throughout, and this is a great way to bid adieu to Amazing Spider-Man, for however long it remains absent.

It's been a while since an issue of this series has wowed me so greatly. I enjoy every issue, but I'd be lying if I didn't say the title took a bit of a dip in quality recently. I blame it on Rotworld being a bit too drawn out. But now it looks like we're back to A+ material from Jeff Lemire and his crew, and I can't wait to see where he takes Buddy henceforth.

It looks like the arcs of both characters are going to be coming together sometime rather soon, but as of now, we're getting this really interesting sort of diptych with Buddy and Maxine. With this story, the title is going forth into a direction that I always felt it should go (down darker paths) and it effectively separates itself from the rest of the DC Universe, giving it exactly what the “Dark" series should have been; Vertigo-esque books featuring DC characters.

This installment faltered a bit a the beginning of its second half, but a strong finale makes up for all and any discrepancies. It's too bad we've got to wait a whole two months to see what happens next, but I know that Lemire has a hell of a ride in store for us.

This annual is not something to miss. This series has been on a definite upswing as of late, and this issue more than adds to that quality.

I've been loving Hickman's Avengers so far, and this is simply another very strong issue. I love Hickman's insistence on introducing us to his new characters, as it gives us a good chance to become familiar with them as we move forth into the next few issues, where the team deals with the White Event, which is what both this series and New Avengers has been leading to. It's definitely an exciting time to be an Avengers fan, and these next few issues will further prove just that.

There is a damn good reason that Batman is one of the highest selling New 52 titles at the moment " it hasn't missed a step since it began. With both a superb main story and a supplementary story that does not disappoint, this issue is everything you want from a Batman comic: action, intrigue, and the culmination of everything that has gone before. With one more issue (and an epilogue) to go, the Court of Owls storyline deserves pride of place on every comic fans bookshelf.

Is it really any surprise that Batman continues to be impressive? This series has gone from strength to strength and shows absolutely no sign of stopping any time soon, which is fantastic news for us as readers. Whilst this issue can be a bit bogged down by the exposition heavy scene in the middle, it serves a purpose which allows us to forgive it, and the cliffhanger is hair-pullingly frustrating. Cap it all off with another brilliant back-up story, and we get once again another almost perfect issue of Batman. What more can you ask for?

It's not a huge, life changing storyline contained within these pages; it's not a massive event that's dragging all of the other Bat-titles in for tie-ins, or even a crossover with one or two titles. This is just a straight forward, solid Batman story that shows that we don't need to always have the highest stakes to have an enjoyable series. With Tynion's distinctly different back-up story as well, this is a great start to this two issue interlude between long storylines which shows that Snyder is just as good at the shorter stuff as he is at the longer stuff that's made his run on Batman already one that will be talked about for years to come.

It may come as a surprise to learn that this issue wasn't written by Scott Snyder " but it's probably more of a surprise that it is still exceptionally good. Bennett introduces an intriguing new character to Batman's rogues gallery, and has managed to breathe fresh air into the concept of Arkham Asylum where it had previously become quite stale. The artwork isn't as good as it could have been, but that doesn't stop the story being excellent. This is highly recommended, even with the inflated price tag.

Altogether, this issue is extremely solid work, and I really didn't expect any less. Greg Pak truly shows that he understands how these two characters work, and that's particularly exciting considering how few people really understand how Superman ticks. That said, I'm excited to see that Pak will be coming onto Action Comics as it's new regular writer following the fill-in arc by Scott Lobdell.

Batman/Superman is moving forth is a great direction, and honestly not getting answers up front isn't bothering me at all. As long as I can have more incredible characterization and beautiful artwork as we've had in these first two issues, then I'm alright. If you were worried about the New 52 not bringing any (or many) new worthwhile series, then look no further than this title. If you were worried about writers at DC not knowing how to handle Superman, then look no further than Greg Pak.

Anyway, this issue was just about pitch perfect for me, not only as a Batman fan, not just as a Morrison fan, but as a fan of comics in general. Plus, it provides something different for Batman in the New 52 than what we've had for the past nine months. As opposed to Scott Snyder's dark detective series, this book gives us the super spy Batman that we've been missing. I certainly look forward to seeing where Morrison takes us with this series.

This issue gives small hints towards what Talia's endgame may be, and expands on much of what's happened before, but I think where Morrison truly succeeds in this issue is in delivering us an entire issue of backstory that's still very entertaining. Morrison captures the super-spy side of Batman that's been lost for a while, and it really does feel like we're reading a modernized Silver-Age tale of Batman here which is a great way to differentiate this title from the other four titles that have Bruce Wayne in the starring role. In short, it's a damn good read as Morrison once again knocks it out of the park.

By the end of the issue, we've had 20 pages of pure detective work on Bruce's part (which is often absent from Batman comics), as well as an ending that puts both Bruce and Damian in rather interesting positions. If anything this makes it seem like Morrison's work is centered on having Damian himself evolve into a powerful and independent character, not just a sidekick and secondary character at Batman's side in his comics. It's an important evolution that every Robin has undergone throughout their own publication, so it's good to know Morrison plans to nurture Damian while he's stuck in the middle of this domestic war between mother and father for the life of their own son.

This isn't the Bat-book for everyone, but I think that, for those it IS meant for, it's succeeding in every way. I've feared Morrison's run might end on a whimper rather than a bang, but if the way things are going so far are any indication, I should have no worries about that happening

Overall, Morrison has delivered another promising installment to his series. I'm very excited to see where he's taking the series in his finale, and I'm completely anticipating seeing how everything comes into place. I'm sure I'm right when I say that these (supposedly) five remaining issues will be full of twists, turns, betrayals (there was one in this issue!) action, and plainly fun comic storytelling.

I know there are a lot of fans who have decided to drop the title due to the death of Damian Wayne, and that's an action I don't particularly understand. If he's a favorite character of yours, wouldn't you like to see the story where he died play out to the end? Wouldn't you want to know the writer's plans and why he used the character's death as the climax to the story? All I can say is that if you decided to drop the book because of this, rethink yourself. Out of respect for the character, keep reading, because the way that Morrison has the characters react to this death is the best I've read, and he'll be taking this series to hell and back in these final few issues. By the time all is said and done and Morrison's entire Batman run is collected in hardcover volumes, I know it will be regarded as one of the finest stories in the history of the character.

As we come close to the end of Morrison's tenure it's kind of bittersweet. I've been loving the story since it's beginnings, and while I want to see how it all ties up, I'm still scared of a world without Grant Morrison writing Batman. Hopefully next issue will be satisfying enough to leave me without fear, knowing that the writer made his mark successfully.

However, what really drives the point home is Morrison's final pages. After everything is done, you have a broken, tattered, and torn Bruce Wayne considering ending his tenure as Batman, but without skipping a beat, he is thrust right back into the game; right back into the circle. With a final epilogue Morrison delivers one last hook. He gives us one final cliffhanger that drives the message home; this will never end. There is no "The End" in the corner of the final page, but an Uroboros instead.

This is perhaps the best issue of Blue Beetle so far. With a clever combination of Jaime and his supporting cast, this issue serves to bridge everything to the conclusion next issue whilst still being thoroughly enjoyable on its own. Having now found its place in the scheme of things, I can only see this series going from strength to strength, and will definitely be following it as it does so.

Captain Marvel #1 does everything that it should as a first issue, as well as providing (hopefully) enough to coax readers back for a second issue and beyond. I was highly anticipating this issue, and wasn't disappointed at all, with my expectations even being exceeded. Whilst I may not be able to review every issue, I will definitely be there to read them, and support my favourite Marvel leading lady " Long live Captain Marvel!

Waid and Samnee have succeeded once again in delivering a fantastic issue for a fantastic series that leaves me begging for more. I've come to expect no less than greatness from this title, and hopefully, with the reveal that Waid would be writing the new Hulk comic this November, we'll get another book just as amazing.

While the issue does mostly take a break from the ongoing story in this series, it does give us a bit of a lead into the next arc, giving readers a bit of a cliffhanger in the end. Mark Waid's touching emotional story paired with Mike Allred's fantastic and expressive artwork turns this issue into a must-have, and is another extremely successful installment in this series.

We haven't gotten to the action of this arc yet, or even been introduced to the villain, but this issue is nothing, if not a fantastic start to a new story that's sure to become more emotionally resonant as we go forth. The cover of this issue proudly displays the”Eisner Award Winner” stamp, and this issue is a great example of why the title earned that award.

Chris Samnee definitely impresses in this issue once again. His artistic abilities never let me down, whether it be to display the high-flying action of DD leaping around the city, or if it's a subtle, silent series of panels that dictate a moment of extreme tension. He's good at what he does, and I'm happy that he's on the series for the long haul.

In this issue Mark Waid reminded me why I hate waiting a month to read the next issue of my favorite comics. It's both horrible and wonderful as it means my interest in this series has shot right back up to high priority. Simply, I want to know who the hell is behind everything and how it all ties together.

Mark Waid and Chris Samnee continue to deliver one of the highest quality, and most fun series on the shelves from Marvel, with this issue being a prime example of the title's quality. Waid certainly shows that even if he wrapped up his larger plot a couple of issues ago this series still has plenty of life left in it's pages.

Whilst the Dark Avengers storyline looks to be enjoyable, I still find myself loving the time-travelling Thunderbolts that are the heart and soul of this book. Whilst this may be a misstep for new readers, it rewards longtime ones with the beginning of a culmination of a year's worth of stories. Knowing how Parker writes, it's safe to say that the two storylines will soon come to a head and impact each other, but for now, we are treated to an almost perfect instalment of everyone's favourite time-tossed troublemakers.

I really love this title, and I cannot recommend that people check it out enough. It's so strange that it's hard to even label it as a DC comic, which means it's perfectly accessible for people who don't usually read cape books. As we head into the second story, the series should continue to expand it's mythology and the mythology of the H Dial, making for truly interesting and thought provoking comics.

Basically, Earth 2 is everything I would have wanted it to be and more, but at the same time nothing that I expected for it to be. I didn't have high expectations here, but I'm really happy I decided to grab this issue anyway, despite my reservations. It was a really fantastic intro to this new series, and this new world, really. In fact, I would have much rather have had this as the first issue to usher in the New 52 than what we got with Justice League. Not exactly in what transpires within the issue itself, but in the daring plots that were explored, and the amount of awesomeness that is stuffed into this single issue in order to introduce us to a new world. My consensus? If you're wavering on this one, then check it out. It's well worth the price of admission, and I really hope the quality continues.

Also, I do plan on writing a full review for Hickmans entire run on the Fantastic Four, but I want to wait until next months issue which wraps up this story, and is also the final issue of the series. Starting in March Hickman will reboot the series in a new book simply titles "FF". As for what it stands for, I believe I have the answer (it's somewhere in this review), but I'm not writing about speculation right now.

Images courtesy of Marvel Entertainment

Green Lantern's story continues into the Green Lantern Annual in 2 weeks time, thankfully, because the cliffhanger in this issue is enough to make anyone want to pick up their jaw from the floor. Where we go from here remains to be seen, but I'll be following the series with baited breath, as usual. As I've said a few times, the first arc of the New 52 Green Lantern wasn't very invigorating for me personally, but from the Indigo Tribe arc to this Black Hand arc, Green Lantern is soaring high once again. Well done Johns and team.

Green Lantern has been plodding along as an excellent book for a long time now, but this issue rockets up the quality just one more notch as Johns does what he does best. It's just a damn shame that this story couldn't have been told outside of the Rise of the Third Army crossover, so that it would be missing that annoying little niggle in the back of the mind that something more should be going on other than the deeply emotional and endearing journey that our main character has gone through in only his first few months of existence.

Simply put, this is a damn good comic. Aaron proves that he's had a vision since issue #1 for where to take the Hulk and it's an exciting one. If this issue shows us anything, it's that the next two issues are going to be full of action, and full of the same analysis of character that has been the highlight of this series since issue #1.

Overall, Mark Waid gives us a great first issue. I have to say it's particularly strong because he lends a lot of forward progression for Bruce Banner as a character, but it's also a great issue because it's a ton of fun packed with a ton of story. Fans of the character in the recent Avengers film will definitely want to check this one out, as it puts Banner into a similar place as he is in the cinematic universe, but fans of the character in the comics should also be reading this one as it moves Bruce forth into an exciting new era of his life.

Of course, this book will have you in hysterics, as usual. The recap page is especially hilarious this time around, with a certain Elder God who looks suspiciously like Cthulhu grumping about how I have raved about Journey Into Mystery on my personal blog so much, and this issue is no exception. Gillen's writing is top notch, as always, and whilst this arc may draw comparisons with Neil Gaiman's Sandman, I think this stands nicely on its own two feet as both a testament to that series, and as an arc of Journey Into Mystery alone.

I really should stop worrying about Journey Into Mystery's quality dropping as a result of outside influences. It seems that whatever Marvel throws at it, be it crossovers or artist changes, the title continues to be excellent through and through. Loki continues to be a compelling protagonist who has gone through so much already and yet drags himself through even more for the love of his brother and his commitment to doing good, no matter the consequences, and I will truly be sad when this title changes creative team.

This book has certainly risen up the ranks as far as my favorite DC titles go, and it's all from Jeff Lemire's involvement. This is really one title to check out, and I look forward to it more and more each month now. Any fan of the supernatural side of DC would do well to pick this title up, especially if you've been missing anything that's gone absent in the past couple of decades.

Every issue that passes just makes me happier and happier that Jeff Lemire was brought onto this title. His exciting story, his perfect character work, and his love and appreciation for the darker and oft-forgotten side of DC's past has turned this title from meh to marvelous.

I'm really looking forward to seeing how Lemire closes off this first arc, especially because it looks like the team roster will be getting a bit of a mix-up next month, and we get to see Lemire return to writing Frankenstein within its pages. Luckily, though, we only have to wait one more week before we get more JLD, and if everything we've seen thus far is any indication, it's sure to be a great issue.

The first issue of Wiebe's new series is a roaring success as far as I'm concerned.

After taking a break from the main story for three issues for an Avengers VS X-Men tie-in, it's great to have Secret Avengers back. Remender proves again that this book is one of the best Marvel has coming out each month, right up there with his other series Uncanny X-Force. Remender's proved himself as a writer that comic fans should definitely keep an eye out for, and it'll always be worth the money to buy something with his name on it.

If Remender is able to pack this much quality into the remaining three issues of this series, then I can say that we're about to be in for a great conclusion.

If, after reading this second issue of Superior Spider-Man, you still have fears about how this storyline is going to turn out, I'm not sure if you've been reading the same series as me. Two issues in, the tone of this series has been set, and it is completely insane, whilst the fears that certain people have had about the relationship between Mary Jane and Peter Parker have been assuaged. Combined with Stegman's superb artwork, it is obvious that whilst Superior is going to be a very different animal to Amazing, the quality is still there.

I've praised this series since it debuted, from its ingenious storytelling to its new approach to Spider-Man, and the excellent artwork so far. This fourth issue turns everything up a notch on both the story and art fronts, making this the best issue so far. If we continue on this uphill climb in quality, by issue ten this series will be the best on the stands, which is an honour that it is already a strong contender for.

It seems like whenever Massacre pops up, Spider-Man comics take an upturn in quality. And given that Superior Spider-Man has been excellent since it started, you know that with this issue (and the last) you are in for a treat. Slott, Camuncoli, and everyone else involved turn out a discussion-worthy issue that will make you think, make you cringe, and make you beg for the next issue already.

Things are changing in Spider-Man's world, and it looks like they're for the better. With this being another in a long line of excellent issues, it's going to be interesting to see where we go from here. Ock's approach to crimefighting is innovative and different, but how long can it last before something goes wrong, and consequences of his actions come back to haunt him? In the meantime, if everything stays as good as this, then let's just enjoy the ride.

It's almost getting boring trying to write reviews for this title " every time I do, it feels like all I can do is heap praise on it, and it can come across as if I'm just kissing butt, but I genuinely believe that this title is absolutely excellent. I'd have said way back when Dan Slott took over that he was born to write Spider-Man, but even that seems like it falls short here, considering that he's been writing Doc Ock with even more skill than he handled Peter with. The Superior Spider-Man has been bringing us the best of all involved, creative team and characters, and this issue is just another in a long line of excellence. Add in an awesome cliffhanger, and once again I am hanging on the edge of my seat for the next issue, and I'm pretty sure you guys are too.

Superman Unchained is a fantastic first issue, and I implore you to check it out if you haven't already. Snyder appears to have a good grip on all of the core characters of Superman's world, whilst also establishing an intriguing series of mysteries to entice the reader with in the first issue. Add to that the wonderful artwork, and there is honestly no reason you shouldn't pick up this issue. Except from the price, of course.

This is a perfect ending to this run of Swamp Thing. All of the loose ends are addressed, and both Alec and Abby are put in new and exciting places for the new creative team to spring from. Snyder has taken Swamp Thing from the obscure, if fan favourite, Vertigo character that he has been and placed him firmly back in the spotlight, where he deserves to be.

Three issues in, and I'm almost tempted to say "Scott Snyder who?" " Charles Soule has made this series more Swamp Thing-like than ever before, and immersed himself in the lore and mythology of the series with ease. His voice for Alec is clearly defined and makes for a engaging framework to drive the story forward. Capucine is an intriguing addition to the supporting cast (or a good start, considering Alec's lack of friends), and the artwork is absolutely fantastic and seems to be consistent across artists. Is it possible that this series has gotten even better? It sure looks like it.

This is another brilliant issue of Soule's Swamp Thing, which shows no sign of slowing down, building momentum with each successful issue. There are answers, questions, and a rock-solid, completely crazy story that has a whiplash plot twist halfway through, with art that supports Soule's writing every step of the way. Bravo yet again.

Aaron's first issue on Thor far exceeded my expectations, even when they were set high, by delivering something completely individual than anything we've seen before with the character. Looking past the fantasy elements used by JMS and Gillen and the sci-fi elements from Fraction's run, Jason Aaron ushers us forth into a new era of Thor comics that steps away from the hero guise and paints him as the benevolent god and warrior that we know he is.

I really couldn't be any happier with the way this book has turned out. Jason Aaron and Esad Ribic could not be any more of a dream team for this book and this character, and I think within these two issues, they've proved this to be one of the best books to come from Marvel NOW thus far. It's certainly a contender for one of the best new comics of the year. My only real complaint with this issue was a lack of the awesome Old King Thor, but I'm sure we'll get more of him soon enough.

This series continues to be one of my favorite of Marvel NOW!, which in itself is hard to say because everything I've been reading from Marvel these past few months have been incredibly fun, giving new innovative turns to favorite Marvel characters.

Moving forth towards Thor: The Dark World this November, this is definitely the book to be reading from Marvel, for any fan of Thor. Really, it's the perfect book for anyone who's a fan of fantasy stories, as it's one of the best I've read in a while.

This issue was exactly what I wanted it to be. It wrapped up the story, but it gave an aftermath that didn't leave a bad taste in my mouth when I turned the last page. It's tied everything up nicely with a pretty bow on top, so we know that this epic saga has run its course, while leaving just enough to establish the beginning of further adventures for the God of Thunder. This issue is the way an ending to such an amazing story should be, and I really could not have asked for more. All I can say is that I hope Aaron's further stories can measure up to this one, though that's going to be pretty damn hard.

Uncanny Avengers has gotten off to a rather strong start, but this is just the beginning and it's certainly visible that there are bigger things to come. I'm sensing that this series is going to go down as one of the best Avengers stories of all time as well as one of the best X-Men stories of all time, alongside his Uncanny X-Force title.

Oh, and Remender's weird narration was limited to just three boxes this time, so there's a huge plus.

In short, Remender is back, baby. He's once again delivering these dense, character driven, cerebral plots that delve into the annals of Marvel continuity, which I absolutely love. If you were disappointed with the direction of his first story on this series then I'm happy to say you will not regret picking it up anymore. In fact, I go on to say I'm not missing Uncanny X-Force anymore, because it feels like it's back again.

Overall, this was a really solid issue of the series, and a welcome change of pace after the odd arc that preceded it. I'm really excited to go into the next story, The Final Execution, and if you haven't been reading UXF just yet then this issue or the next might be a great jumping on point.

Uncanny X-Force continues to trot along as one of the best titles Marvel is currently producing, and honestly you'd be wrong to deprive yourself of this incredible title.

By the end of the issue, it seems like everything stands revealed. Not just everything in this arc, but everything Remender has been working forward towards in this entire series. Every character he's brought into play, every villain he's used, and everything in between is here, and it all plays a part. Best of all, Remender's extremely successful in assembling all these plot points. And of course the issue wouldn't be complete without several twists along the way, which Remender delivers in spades.

We haven't been told yet if Remender plans on ending this series soon, but I really wouldn't be surprised if this plays out to be the final arc of the series given the dire situations we're seeing the team placed in in each issue. Regardless if it'll continue on longer, or end some time in the near future, I can't wait to see what comes in the future of this series.

As we continue into the second half of "The Final Execution," it looks like the stakes are higher than they've ever been for the X-Force. They know what could happen if their mission goes wrong, and not only do they have the Brotherhood to worry about when they get back (which includes Daken, Mystique, Shadow King, and many more), but there's also a certain important character from the Dark Angel Saga that's about to make a bang here

It's amazing how great of a writer Rick Remender is. His thematic elements and the way he portrays his story is almost inhuman, as if Marvel found a comic writing robot that could spew out perfect scripts at all times. With plotlines and character work coming together that were sewn since back in the first issues, Remender continues to impress and I still don't hesitate in saying that Uncanny X-Force is sure to go down as one of the greatest X-Men Comics of all time, and in fact may go down as one of the greatest comic runs of all time, period. If issue #35 really is the finale of this series as is being rumored then I'm sure these final five issues are going to be quite an intense ride full of action and emotion. To that I say ‘bring it on!'

It's sad to know that this series will indeed be ending with #35, but it's better to see something end while it's still this great than to see it spiral downward in quality. Remender gives a tease as to what happens in the finale to this arc that proves to us there's going to be plenty of action and heartbreak, as well as some death, before we say goodbye to this book.

We have two issues left and it seems like there's so much story to be covered as each member of the X-Force is being left in a rather difficult position. I have no doubt that Remender will close off this title with the same skill he's been giving it in each installment, which means that these last two issues should be rather explosive.

Overall the issue is another huge success and it's only weakness is the fact that I know it's much better for those familiar with other books. In this installment, Remender has completed the long-running Final Execution arc with great success, but there's still one issue left for an aftermath that's sure to tear readers apart and leave them an emotional pulp lying on the ground. Not entirely sure if I'm ready for that, but I'm definitely excited to read Remender's intended conclusion for this incredible series.

Daniel Acuna's painted style makes up the visual side of this arc, and whilst it may lack detail in wider shots, it is beautiful in more close ones. He is famed for forgetting people's faces in the backgrounds of some panels, and this is no exception here, but his sweeping views of Pax Utopia are breathtaking, and the personal shots of things like Psylocke and Magneto sharing a confused glance are fantastic. Sinister London looks wonderful under his brush, with the realm of Cyttorak being hands down the best scene in the book due to the artwork.A promising start to the next arc of Uncanny X-Men, aided by the fact that it isn't bogged down by the crossover but rather embraces it in order to tell a much more interesting story. With the Phoenix Five now on Sinister's doorstep, you just know that the next few issues are going to be explosive, and I'm once again glad I'm aboard the Uncanny X-Men train for the ride.

Unfortunately, the art side of this issue isn't quite as strong as the writing. Ron Garney's work feels washed out and unpolished throughout. I'm not sure if this is due to the inking or the coloring, but it lessens the books quality as a whole. The art is serviceable, but could have been so much crisper.The seesaw that is Uncanny X-Men during Avengers Vs. X-Men continues to rock, with this title climbing back up to excellence after falling a little with the conclusion of Mister Sinister's story last issue. With two issues of the title remaining, it remains to be seen if this level can be maintained as we head into the final month of the crossover.

Rick Remender closes out this series in nearly perfect form, and I couldn't have asked for him to put out a better finale to his run. Fans will not be disappointed, and I think this one will go down as a fan-favorite comic from this decade; as something that was truly different from everything that shared its name before it, showing us that the character of Venom isn't stale as we thought.

Jason Aaron has said that he is with this title for the long haul, and if this issue is any indication, I hope this is true. The characterization is top notch, there are multiple plotlines running alongside each other and coming into play when they are required, and there is still room for both humour and sorrow in heaps. Adding in artist Nick Bradshaw just goes on to ensure that this book is now firmly where it should be—at the top of your reading pile every week.

This series astounds me with how easily it can both entertain and infuriate me. These glimpses of greatness are constantly being bogged down by issues that throw off the curve of the book. I just wish we could get some consistency in the title — I thought the end of Avengers Vs. X-Men would give us the breathing space for that to happen, but it seems we've still got a way to go yet. I want this series to do well, and it has shown that it can, so let's hope more issues are like this one, and less are like the one that preceded it.

The Murder Circus has been disbanded and this arc is over, but it goes out with a bang which emphasizes all of the good areas of this series and works hard with the vast cast in order to move many of their plotlines along nicely whilst concluding the overall storyline in style and adding a few new villains to the line-up (as well as moving an existing one down a new path). Remember how I said a few issues back that when this series is on, it's exceptional? This issue is a prime example of that.

Whilst the prelude issue wasn't fantastic, the Hellfire Saga is already hitting the high notes, and with four more issues to go, I'm sure that the only way is up. Bradshaw's artwork, and the culmination of Aaron's long-term storylines are going to work even more in tandem than before, and that means great quality comics for us readers.

Azzarello's run on Wonder Woman has only just begun, and with the established themes in this story so far I can't see her not coming face to face with the Amazons again and experiencing some sort of closure as to why they would hide so much from her. We don't know exactly where the creative team will be taking the character, or what the end that's being worked towards will be, but as far as we've seen so far we can count on it being filled with emotional revelations, interesting characterizations, and something completely new and original for the character. This issue was just one more amazing stepping stone towards whatever is to come in unforeseen future.

This issue was simply great stuff. It hits all the notes I wanted it to while giving plenty of surprises as far as both plot and the environmental design from Chiang go. And I can't wait to see how Cupid reacts to what Diana did (and what happened to her) at the end of this issue. If you're already reading this series, there's no reason you won't enjoy this issue.

That final few pages, that final moment just made this issue stick with me as a truly special one. It showcases Diana's love, and that she truly does have love for everyone, enough love to hope that everyone can love themselves as much as she loves them. Not only that, but Hades is depicted as a truly tragic character in many ways. PLUS we get some incredible character work for Hephaestus in the few pages he appears. However, that one moment is the strongest of the whole issue. It's a moment that I think is truly beautiful in every way, and it makes for a completely satisfying issue. I think if it weren't for the fact that Chiang took a leave for this issue then it'd basically be a perfect issue, especially for this comic. I've been praising this book since issue #1, and it's never been better than it's been now. Let's hope Azzarello doesn't slow down going forward.

The issue brings some pretty big developments that thrust the series into its next stage, and at the same time it leaves the readers aware of the difference in power that our heroes have, compared to those they're going up against. It may not have the sheer emotional resonance that the previous issue had, but it perfectly outlines the impending threat. If the scenes in this issue are any indication, the next few issues should be full of action. Bloody, awesome action.

As said, this issue closes off the first year of stories effectively, but there's an enormous reveal at the end of the issue that'll fuel any DC fan's interest in what is to come. Let's just say there are plenty of “Kirby Krackles” to look forward to in the future, as Azzarello is setting the stage for the use of some characters I've been patiently awaiting to arrive in DC's New 52.

As the series goes forth, we'll be seeing more of the First Born as well as more New Gods, so I'm expecting the next six issues to be rather awesome as we head to the conclusion of year two.

I knew going into this series that it was going to be crazy. I didn't know that it would blossom into my favourite X-Men title on the stands. When there are books like All-New X-Men and Wolverine and the X-Men also there, I think it gives that statement even more weight. Spurrier and Molina have turned out an issue here that has me literally begging for more, and I cannot wait to see where this weird and wacky series goes next.

Next issue concludes our Invasive Exotic arc, and the stage is set for a very interesting finale. As usual, this series continues to impress, posing intriguing questions that will linger in the head of the reader for a long time after they've finished reading, as well as turning out another engaging adventure for David " all without throwing a single punch.

If there's one complaint to make, it's that this issue feels a little bitty. The opening scene doesn't gel very well with the rest of the book, especially since it goes entirely unresolved. But given the strength of Gillen's characterisation, and McKelvie's absolutely spectacular artwork, it's easy to say that Young Avengers is off to a stellar start.

Go out and read Young Avengers for yourself. I could easily sit here for hours and tell you how much I enjoy it. It is a truly individual series that stands apart from all of the other mainstream titles that are available at the moment — possibly because its creative team does not approach it from a mainstream point of view. It is always trying new things, and this leads to an enjoyable reading experience that you won't get anywhere else. We're only two issues in, and already there have been things in this series that I've never seen anywhere else. The collaboration of creators within this series is a match made in comic book heaven, and I hope they continue to take us to new, exciting heights for many issues to come.

If this issue suffers from anything, it's the fact that it's not double sized. Just when the action hits its peak, the issue ends and an agonizing month wait begins as we anticipate the next issue. When most other Marvel titles double ship all the time now, having titles like Young Avengers be strictly monthly makes the wait seem twice as long " but when the quality is this high, that's hardly a complaint to make. Young Avengers has been impressive since the start, but I think this issue has the series really hitting its stride.

Every month, I always have nothing but the best to say about this series. There's hardly ever a misstep, either with the story or the artwork, and it truly is a joy to read. This month we're treated to two issues, which is excellent news for me and every other fan of this book, especially after the cliffhanger ending to this issue and the promise that the next issue cover has. Every issue of this series is so compelling that as soon as it finishes, I want to go back and read it again, and I can think of no higher praise than that.

I'd heard this issue called predictable elsewhere, but I must disagree. This is another in a line of excellent issues that highlights why Spider-Man is the heart of the Marvel Universe; other heroes may be more popular, or looked up to more often, but Spidey will always be the heart and soul, which is something Slott understands intimately. Ends of the Earth continues to impress, and the stakes are now even higher going into the final two issues of the story.

Ends of the Earth comes to its end with a bang and a whimper; the bang from the comic, and the whimper from me as I realise that the story has come to a close. This concluding issue wraps everything up neatly, giving closure on pretty much every story point from the last five issues, as well as setting the stage for the epilogue issue. Whilst it doesn't reach the same level as Spider-Island due to the global scale of the storyline lacking the personal touch that Spidey works best with, this is a superb storyline, with this issue continuing that trend through to the end.

Camuncoli's art continues to be impressive in this issue, though he doesn't get as much time to flex his muscles as we may like, given that the Lizard only appears in one panel. His human faces aren't quite as good as his more monstrous designs for Morbius, but they get the job done and his facial expressions, especially the Lizard/Connors' more pained and angry looks as he struggles with his new predicament.Is it really any wonder that this is another in a long line of great issues? Slott manages to turn his hand to every character that comes under his pen, and when you add in his wonderful storytelling and unpredictable plot lines, you get, very simply, some amazing Spider-Man.

There's not a lot left to say here, other than No Turning Back continues to be unpredictable, impressive, and enjoyable. We've taken a turn for the dark with this storyline, but the series continues to be great fun to read, and infinitely more fun to think about afterwards. As long as the conclusion is satisfying next issue, and I see no reason why it wouldn't be, I would easily rank this arc next to Shed for best Lizard storyline.

Another arc comes to a conclusion, and there's now only one more between us and the end of Amazing Spider-Man as we know it. Dying Wish is on the way, and everything we know is going to change. Again. In the meantime, Danger Zone has been refreshing after the dismal Alpha arc, and has cleansed the palette of the bad taste that it left. If Dying Wish is meant to be as life-altering as it's been hyped up to be, then I say bring it on.

Overall, another great issue of a great series. I won't lie about the fact that the first page (the Morrison reference) was basically what made me giddy the whole way through, but Steve Pugh's art and the continuation of Lemire's story are what kept me happy and wanting more. However, it did all go by too quickly and now I have to wait another month for more awesome… which seems to be like the curse of the comic reader.

Animal Man is still decidedly in good hands and things look like they're going well moving forward into the crossover. However, I have to say that I'll be really relieved once we can move past the whole crossover because I want to see where Lemire will take this series after this initial story that it's been leading up to since the beginning has finished.

Lemire's constantly exciting story combined with Ponticelli's pencils makes for an issue that entertains both as a finale of what's happened thus far and also as a precursor to what is to come starting next month as this series finally crosses over with Swamp Thing. Plus, we're left with a final page that's going to leave fans (including myself) wishing this book was published much more frequently than just once a month.

Next month we get all of DC's #0 issues, so the event won't effectively start until October, but I can say now that I'm sure this story will be worth all the wait and build up and I can't wait where it leaves both of our heroes as we move forth into the second year of stories from the New 52.

This issue gives a nice start to the Red side of this event, and really succeeded in the fact that I have no clue what's going to happen. I'm happy in the decision to have the story here separate from the one happening in Swamp Thing as it allows for a broader look at this world and more area for the characters to stretch to deliver an interesting story. With this first part out of the way, I can say that “Rotworld” looks like it's going to be quite a good comic, and it shouldn't be missed out on.

Overall, we get another solid installment in this event. Though I'll admit I am finding myself a bit weary of “Rotworld,” and I look forward to see where Lemire will take this title once Buddy comes back from this event. I'm hoping that next month will give us a truly grand conclusion to the storyline.

Now, I'm not going to spoil Swamp Thing #17 or the ending here, but I'll say that I enjoyed the event overall, and that I'm more excited to see what happens in the epilogues than I expected to be. There will definitely be a new status quo in Animal Man, and it's one I anticipate reading.

This is another strong issue for Aquaman. As noted earlier, this issue sees Johns masterfully balancing multiple plot points, helping to update the mythology for Aquaman, whilst crafting a new epic story with hidden pasts and mysteries. I honestly cannot wait to see just where Johns is going to take us with Aquaman next issue. Especially considering how this issue ended.

Jonathan Hickman's Avengers is off to a fantastic start, and if there's any book that's got high ambitions, it's certainly this one. I know this series is going to go places, and so should anyone familiar with the way Hickman writes stories in the long form, but I found myself wishing there was a bit more substance to this first issue. However, I then remembered it's biweekly, so I won't have to be waiting quite as long to get my mitts on the next installment of the series.

Avengers #3 brings the first arc to a close that obviously brings forth plenty of questions. If you're familiar with the way that Hickman writes comics you know that this is literally the very tip of a huge iceberg that will be slowly revealed as we move forth both here and in New Avengers.If you're unfamiliar with Hickman then let me just say to trust me, things are about to get crazy and you ain't seen nothin' yet. The best part? It's only one more week until issue #4, where we get to look into the returned Hyperion.

This issue sets up some awesome things, and while I'm still not sure exactly what's going to happen in the long run, half of what I love is finding out. This issue also brings forth another connection between Hickman's two Avengers books that I think is going to come into play fantastically in the future, so I'm definitely anticipating whatever comes from that. I do miss Jerome Opena, but Adam Kubert is a fine replacement so there's very little complaint from me on that point. Plus, honestly, I'm a sucker for Superman's origin story, so Hickman gets some bonus brownie points from me for telling his own version of that.

Back on Avengers #5, the issue was another winner in my book that was able to make me care about a character that meant nothing to me last week. Plus, Kubert's work in this issue is a step above what he did in last weeks issue, so I'm expecting it to be similarly good in the next issue. Speaking of next issue, the solicit promises “Captain Universe deciphers the code that was hidden in the first five issues” so I'm sure there will be a lot to discuss when that hits the stands.

So the next several issues will feature the Avengers hitting hot spots like Hong Kong, Canada, The Savage Land, and more as we gear towards Infinity, and we see the Gardeners plan possibly coming to fruition. It'll be an interesting next several months, to say the least. Oh, and for a reference to New Avengers in this book, look out for Sol's Hammer.

The issue doesn't bring a whole lot to the board as far as the ongoing story goes, but it does leave a bit of a hint for the future at the end. It's a nice, lighthearted issue that I found really welcome before we head into the Savage Land starting in #12, and it echoes the early days of Secret Avengers quite well.

Another interesting chapter of Hickman's Avengers is delivered this week. I rather enjoy this almost "monster of the week" style of storytelling that allows utilization of a number of members in each story. Each part is quick and concise allowing for a briskly paced run through all these important stepping stones before Infinity.

While it is fun to see the Avengers trying to deal with something that they're frankly not able to face head on the best part of this issue is that Hickman continues to show his ability to write these characters. Stand out characters are certainly the ones he's developed himself such as Nightmask, Starbrand, and the new Captain Universe, but during short in-battle scenes we get nice exchanges between other members of the team that make for some levity among the gravitas of the story. But yeah, those scenes with Nightmask, Starbrand, and Captain Univere are the ones that make me want to see what's going to happen next issue.

A great cliffhanger brings this issue to its close, and we'll see what happens with that in the next issue ofInfinity. This issue gave a perfect example of how to write a tie-in issue to an event. It's not something that's so essential that a reader would be completely lost if they only picked up the core event title, but it definitely adds to the experience answering the questions of where certain characters went and what they were doing while off-screen.

The Night of the Owls has begun, and the crossover shows no sign of hindering the quality that Snyder, Capullo and their team have been putting out so far. Both the main story and back-up are well executed, with some excellently planned set pieces and even a mystery or two for you to wonder about as the month wait between issues ticks away. Batman may be facing his toughest foes yet, but it is nothing but a treat for the readers.

Nine issues in, and Scott Snyder shows no sign of slowing down his fantastic runs on both Batman and Swamp Thing. This issue closes down the Night of the Owls and sets Batman on a path that will lead him right into the heart of the Court of Owls. With two issues left of this Owl storyline, I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say that I can't wait to see how everything is going to turn out.

As I mentioned last issue, Scott Snyder built his Bat-reputation on smaller two or three part stories when he wrote Detective Comics before the New 52. Ever since Batman was relaunched, we've been treated to long-term stories like Court of Owls' 11 issues, or line-wide crossover events like Death of the Family, so it's nice to see that Snyder is still just as good at the smaller, more personal stories like this two issue Nowhere Man story. Bravo once again Mister Snyder.

'Surprisingly good' doesn't cover this issue of Batman. Zero Year seems to have been judged before it even began, so those who wrote it off probably don't care if it's any good or not " that's not going to stop me saying how good it is, however. If you're still reading Batman, you'll know what I mean. If you're not, you're missing out. In Snyder we trust, surely you know that by now.

Zero Year marches onward, and with another nine or so issues left to go, there's still plenty of time for fun, thrills, and the excellent storytelling that everyone involved in this series is now famous for. Any worries left over from last issue will easily be swept away by the time you close this issue " a year of Bruce Wayne instead of Batman was just what the doctor ordered.

Whilst the main story does spend a lot of time getting to the cliffhanger ending, the execution of said ending ensures that this issue is just as enjoyable as previously. The back-up story continues to be well-used and an essential part of Batman's history, and the artwork is drop dead gorgeous on each and every page. Batman should be right at the top of your reading list every month, but I'm sure after 24 issues of awesome, you all knew that already.

Another winner for Scott Snyder and company is almost par for the course at the moment, but it would sell this issue short to say that it isn't another great one. Snyder and Tynion's take on Mister Freeze is both familiar and different, offering something new to the obsessive scientist's origin as well as a romp around Gotham City with the Bat-Family in tow. For a week light on the ground with releases, DC has made sure that we have quality if not quantity.

The issue doesn't necessarily drive forth Morrison's ongoing story in Batman Incorporated, but I think it adds a necessary bit of character to all those involved in this series, not just the main players. Hopefully, we get a lot of great character work for all the secondary players in this cast before Morrison wraps up his run in another nine issues. And hopefully we can get a bit more of that Dark Ranger/Squire relationship.

Aside from my disappointment in the story that the identity of The Heretic wasn't revealed, and the fact that a random four pages in the middle of the issue featured art from another artist aside from Burnham, this was another strong installment of Batman Incorporated that is sure to lead us forth towards the title's and Morrison's run's epic conclusion.

Overall, it's a fun issue with crisp writing and nice artwork that really rounds it all out to a good filler issue. It was nice catching up with Jiro after such a long absence, and I really didn't mind the month delay for the next issue of Morrison's story. Plus, this issue kind of gives a peek to what we might be able to expect from the Batman Incorporated Special that's due to ship in August, which will feature more stories like this, focusing on other members of Batman Inc.

Overall, this is a really strong start to this new story-arc on Batwoman. If you aren't already on board with this title, then I seriously urge you to take a look at this issue at your local comic store. Oh, and then buy it of course.

With Jaime's adventures in New York basically over at this point, bar a sojourn over in the Justice League International Annual in a few weeks, it's going to be fun to see where Tony Bedard takes the character next. Solicitations say that we're going to Reachworld, which will give Jaime even more problems to overcome. This series is probably flying under a lot of people's radars, but it is a solid superhero series with a big heart and well worth checking out. It really has hit a stride since around issue #4, and continues to improve with every new issue; I urge you to give it a try.

The only real negative point on this issue comes from the artistic side. In modern comics, pretty much since Amazing Spider-Man, John Romita Jr.'s artwork has gone back and forth between invoking the sense of the silver and bronze age of Marvel in the best possible ways, and looking way too boxy andunattractivefor him to be considered one of the industry's giants. If it weren't for Klaus Janson and Dean White on the inks and colors, then I'm afraid this book would just come off as ugly. Romita shines in his representation of technology and of grand scenery, but it's his character forms that always seem a little off. It's the out of costume scenes where Romita's characters don't come out wonky, so I'm hoping in future issues his art can really be in full form as he illustrates Dimension Z.

I think it's safe to say that whilst Trinity War didn't do this series much favours, it's going to bounce back quite nicely. The ongoing plot continues to build, and Constantine is facing all manner of new and exciting threats as the Cold Flame draw ever closer. The final few pages show that things are only going to get worse, and if this issue is any indication, this series is going to get better.

All in all, it's another solid issue of Mark Waid's Daredevil run, it's still well worth your $2.99, and if new readers jumped into this crossover I'm sure they'll be inspired to keep following either of the series involved, if not simply to see what happens next with the Omega Drive. It may not have had the conclusion I originally expected, but it was a nice story to have before we do get to that conclusion.

The issue rounds out with a little bit of a tease for the next arc, in which everything with the Omega Drive will be continuing, and it also leaves us with the fear that Matt, despite his greatest efforts, may about to be ousted to McDuffie as the hero he's been so trying to claim he is not. It's a fun, heartfelt issue that adds to the characters of the series more than it does to the ongoing plot, but anyone who's been reading thus far has no reason not to pick this up.

Overall, another solid issue of this ongoing series, but it really just leaves me more excited for what's to come next month as we see Matt face one of the MU's best baddies.

Mark Waid doesn't waste a single moment in this issue, and the way he portrays Matt's struggle is brilliant. He's definitely not short-handed in having Samnee on the artistic side of things here, who's just as brilliant as any other artist who's been on this series. There's a reason that Daredevil is one of the most critically acclaimed series on this shelves right now, and that's because Waid really understands the character that he's writing. He gets what makes Daredevil who he is, he understands how to use his powers, and he really understands how to portray it all in a way that makes this series constantly one of the most fun comics you could wish for. Now we just have to wait until next month to see more of Daredevil's adventure in Latveria, and what Doom wants with him.

Overall, this issue marks another solid installment for the series, with A+ marks for both story and art, and an ending that I can't wait to see elaborated on. As always, it's safe to say that Daredevil is one of Marvel's most consistently great titles and everyone should be reading it. My only complaint is that it came and went too quickly.

Daredevil continues to be one of the best titles from Marvel right now, and I have no doubt that even through the launch of Marvel's numerous new NOW titles it'll remain in that spot.

Chris Samnee continues to impress on the artistic side of things delivering some nice stylistic scenes of action with DD, Spidey, and Stiltman. It's quick paced, energetic, and fun, just like this comic has always been.

Chris Samnee's art is just as delightful as it always is but in a different way than we're used to. This issue allows Samnee to channel pain and fear through his characters, which intensifies the manic feeling of the writing on Waid's part. Plus, you can't not love his depictions of young Matt training with Stick.

Both Declan Shalvey and Kev Walker get to work on this issue, and if I remember right, this is the first time that it has happened since the pair began working on the title. I've complimented their styles before, and they mesh together well to give the issue a consistent feel but still manage to differentiate nicely between the Thunderbolts and Dark Avengers sections of the book. This looks to continue for the future issues, so this good start is a great sign. Also, it seems that John Tyler Christopher will be sticking around for cover duties for a while, which is brilliant - look it up, if you don't believe me.Both the Dark Avengers and the Thunderbolts have had one issue to themselves, and now it's time they learned to share, as each gets pretty much half an issue for their own escapades, joining together to create a surprisingly cohesive whole. Both teams' storylines are heading in fun directions, and if there's one thing this title gets right, it's fun.

It is a shame that Kev Walker and Declan Shalvey aren't around to see the finale of their long-running storyline, but Neil Edwards' contributions to this series are well on their way to being just as good. Apart from one unfortunate incident with Iron Man's arm and a lack of perspective, Edwards' art is excellent. There's a gritty feel to the proceedings that puts the 'dark' in Dark Avengers.Ever since Thunderbolts became Dark Avengers, this series has been building to this point. Every plot thread that has been dangling since even before the name change are tied together in this issue, with only a few little footnotes to deal with in the coming one. Whatever this title is called, it continues to be perhaps the best and most consistent book with 'Avengers' in its name.

Dark Avengers reaches another end of an era, as we head off on new adventures with a familiar team, and some more action packed craziness. This issue is basically the housekeeping that the title needed in order to ensure that the transition between the Thunderbolts era and the true Dark Avengers era was as smooth as possible, and manages to be both a love letter to the characters we're leaving behind, and an enticing look forward to where our new cast are going next. Viva Dark Avengers.

I was worried that taking this series into a different dimension so soon after its intertemporal romp was a mistake. Two issues in, and I'm already eating my words. Parker knows exactly what he's doing with these characters, taking them into situations that will test them as characters and push them in different directions, and after his intense character work with the Thunderbolts, there's no surprise that he is replicating that success with the Dark Avengers.

Dark Avengers is an odd book, being completely out of place in the Avengers line and standing apart from pretty much everything else on the shelves. This issue is a prime example of what makes it work well, with both the artwork and the storyline building an interesting and individual storyline that you would be unlikely to see in any other title. Now if we could only get rid of those spelling mistakes, this book would be nearly perfect.

For a #0 issue this one is pretty successful, and I think it's also a lot different than any of the other #0 issues we're going to get this month, but it's one that's definitely catering to fans of the series it comes from. Now I can't wait to get back to the main story so we can find out what the hell is going on in this book.

This is definitely the start of a really fun series that has interesting characters and a greatly imaginative creative team. It's not grounded at all in DC lore so really anyone can jump in on this series without feeling like they needed to read anything prior.

By the end of the issue we still don't know everything about what's going on in the series, but we do have a mysterious new character named Manteau, a powerful and interesting villain in The Squid, and an identity for X.N. Dial H is a crazy series, and honestly I can't wait to see it get crazier in upcoming issues, and I'm also really excited to find out exactly what X.N. and their whole gang is up to here.

Next month promises to reveal more secrets behind this series, and with a new character introduced in the conclusion of this issue, it's sure to beak out into a lot of the insane and fast paced action that readers have come to expect (and love) from this series. That said, I'm really looking forward to whatever's up next.

We're left off in this issue with a cliffhanger ending, but next month we're taking a break for a #0 issue that'll tell the story of an ancient H Dial that's sure to tie into the conflict at hand by the end of this month's issue. We're heading towards a big climax so I can't wait to see what's to come next.

This issue continues to prove how strange this series is, but I think it solidifies a bit of the mythology that Mieville is trying to assemble, which really gives it reason to exist past this opening arc (something I was previously worried about). Whereas before, I didn't know what might even come after this first story was done. I now find myself really intrigued by the possibilities, and more excited than I have been before about reading upcoming issues.

Luckily there weren't THAT many off-putting instances, and Ponticelli impressed me how I hoped he would in this issue, while Mieville wrote in a couple of new things that I really loved — one being this new antagonist in The Centipede, and the other being the trash-talking hero known as Flame War. That said, I'm excited to see more about Centipede in future issues, and I'm hoping Mieville keeps topping himself as far as these H-Dial transformations go, because he hasn't disappointed me yet. Also, bonus points because this issue has one of my favorite covers I've seen in a long time. Nice, classic-looking Bolland.

Guest artist Tomas Giorello provides some passable artwork that really finds its strength in the costumes and backgrounds. Anything tech-based seems to get the long end of the stick here, while his characters faces andexpressionsseem a bit off throughout. Also, he draws Superman's costume like his counterpart from the main DCU rather than the Earth 2 costume, which becomes a bit distracting, especially when Universe crossing plays into the theme of this story.

I'm really excited to see how next issue turns out as James Robinson has a lot to pull out of his sleeves at this point. Aside from the flame filled origin for this new Alan Scott, we'll also have the intros for the rest of the Justice Society to look forward to, and I'm really curious as to which characters he chooses to include in this new version of the team.

I have to say that overall I was more happy with the way this issue has played out compared to last month's, but I'm hoping that whatever comes after this introductory arc will be able to keep me buying the title.

If you've missed out on the first 12 issues of The Flash, this Zero issue is a perfect place to jump on. If you know nothing about Barry Allen, then you'll find out all you need to know here, and hopefully this will be enough to entice you back for some more of his adventures. A few Zero issues haven't done their jobs, but this issue of The Flash does everything it's meant to, and does it well.

It goes without saying that the art on this issue is exceptional; Manapul and Buccellato always benefit from being both writers and artists on this book, and this issue is no exception. Combining their phenomenal art style with their own plotlines means that their winning formula does it again, producing another in a long line of excellent issues that ensure I always look forward to reading this series.

I won't waste time mentioning how amazing the artwork in this issue is; you're probably sick of me saying it, and it still holds strong here. This issue is another in a solid run for this title, on every front. This series continues to impress month in and month out, and shows no sign of stopping. The passion that the writers have for the character of the Flash and his ever-growing supporting cast leaks out of the page with enthusiasm and love "- let them share it with you by checking out this series already.

It's always nice when an issue you think will be a fill-in turns out to be just as good if not better than some of the more 'important' issues of the series. That's what happens here with the Flash, as this issue puts more of the big picture into perspective, whilst providing good fun storytelling and some pretty pictures to go along with it.

We're halfway through Reverse, and it makes a change to see that the momentum is being carried between issues rather than stalling like it has been known to do. Manapul and Buccellato are firing on all cylinders, and with the confrontation between Barry and the Reverse Flash well underway, it's clear that the next few issues are going to be even better.

The Flash Annual is a chunky book that is well worth the price of admission, with lots of information being imparted, and the usual mixture of plot progression, setting up for the future, and even some tying up of business from the past. The cavalcade of artists aren't bad, but the issue probably could have done without one or two of them, so that there was more time to appreciate each of them instead.

Last year's Flash Annual set up the Rogues Revolution storyline nicely, and whilst this second annual is unrelated to the ongoing story at the moment, it doesn't stop it being just as enjoyable, if not moreso. The lead story is enjoyable and does what it says on the tin " introduces us to Hal and Barry's ever evolving friendship, and the back-up story is a heartfelt little tale that fills the space nicely. If you've been reading Flash's ongoing series you'll find the storytelling you know and love here, and if you're not, then you won't feel lost picking this up for a quick read too " and maybe it'll get you interested in the ongoing series itself.

Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino have really saved Green Arrow, restoring this title to my Pull List after its disappointing start in the New 52, and bumping it up to the top of my pile each month. #22 is no exception, with Lemire's story really building up the excellent opening storyline, showing that despite having no real attachment to the character prior to this run, he has big plans for the character. And with the reveal at the end of this issue, well, let's just say #23 can't be released quickly enough.

Green Arrow #23is another strong issue for this series. Concluding the 2-parter "Shados" storyline, it has left us in a nice place for a month off with Villains Month, by introducing us to the awesome Count Vertigo who we can follow next month, whilst setting up nicely Oliver's return to Seattle, with a certain old character being reintroduced in the New 52, which will certainly make for an interesting read in a couple of months' time.

The secret of the Indigo Tribe is out, and now we have to deal with the aftermath. Geoff Johns has built up the mystery of the Indigos for a while, and now that we have all of the details, it's clear that this has been a long time coming. Promising to dovetail straight into the next arc, the Revenge of Black Hand, the Secret of the Indigo Tribe delivers ring-slinging action, answers to long-standing questions, and even some surprises along the way.

It's still safe to say that the Third Army's presence in this book feels like an add-on rather than the main plot line, but as I've said on previous installments of this storyline, Simon's plot is definitely interesting enough that I'd be checking this book out even if it wasn't for the Third Army banner. Taking your main protagonists out of the picture for a totally new character is a risky move, but Johns has handled it very well so far, and I expect he will only get better as Simon's character reveals itself further over the next few issues. This series is hurtling forward with a lot of intertwining plots at the moment, and doesn't look to be letting up any time soon.

Despite the Rise of the Third Army being fairly underwhelming as a whole, this series continues in its usual presentation of an enjoyable, somewhat different storyline to all of the other Green Lantern books, and finally seems to be using the Third Army in the capacity that it was designed for. The other plots bubble away nicely, and the art continues to impress. What more could you ask for?

Rise of the Third Army is done and dusted, and Wrath of the First Lantern is off to a swinging start. Johns looks set to make his final storyline on this book a worthy finale, striking the balance between Simon's quest and the overall Volthoom plot without drifting too far in one or the other's favour, which Rise didn't manage to do throughout its few issues. If you've somehow missed all nine years of Geoff Johns' run on Green Lantern, there's still time to jump on board and see it through to the end. Miss out, and it won't just be Volthoom's wrath you'll have to worry about, it'll be mine!

Speaking of art, Johns' collaborator on the event that restarted all of this, Green Lantern: Rebirth, Ethan Van Sciver, returns to draw this annual and it is glorious to behold. His art is crisp, clear, inventive, and in some cases downright creepy. There are a few moments as I mentioned earlier where it's a little difficult to work out exactly what's going on, but this is more due to the panel choices than the art itself.The extra pages in this Green Lantern Annual mean that this book is about twice as good as usual. Despite a few pacing and panelling problems, the issue is well worth picking up, even if you've not been a fan of the Green Lantern universe so far " this is a springboard for everything that's going on in all of the Lantern titles over the next few months, and you owe it to yourself to check it out.

Overall, it's another fantastic installment in this series, and it raises further questions to be answered about some of the cast. Hopefully, the title can stick around long enough to see these storylines visited because what Fialkov has been doing here is nothing short of genius.

Overall, it's a solid issue of I, Vampire that continues to show why this is a great series, and the artwork continues to impress. If you haven't already been reading then pick it up quick, because I'm really scared it'll be on the chopping block for the next batch of New 52 series to be cancelled simply due to the lack of subscribers.

The Helsing clan is portrayed here to be an extremely militaristic sect with questionable morals who will go to the farthest lengths to achieve their goal, but on top of the awesomeness that they keep in their arsenal, we also get half of the issue dedicated to an introduction to the characters that focuses on a conversation about the morals behind killing not only vampires, but humans as well. If this issue is any indication of the direction the series is heading in then we're sure to have an awesome story on our hands.

There really isn't much more to say here as the issue read incredibly fast. It's pretty much all monstrous action throughout, but it's freaking awesome and it's further reminding me of the manga series Hellsing. Andrea Sorrentino continues to display his ability to illustrate these horrific scenes in grand fashion, and the book is better for it. Those who clamor for action such as this should really be buying this series, but the issue is that I doubt they'd head to something from the DCU expecting to find what they're looking for.

Fans of I, Vampire have another great issue this month, and it seems like we'll be having a lot more great stuff to look forward to as long as sales are strong enough to keep the title from being canned by DC editorial. Given what Fialkov has introduced here I'm hopeful we see the title stick around for a good while.

Fialkov has introduced a lot to get me excited for whatever is to come on his second year of this series, and since it's once again dodged being cancelled in favor of the upcoming Fourth Wave of titles, we know it's at least safe until the middle of next year. Hopefully, even longer than that, and this is exactly why more people need to go out and buy this comic!

Due to the low sales of this series, I'm almost positive it'll be one of the next series announced to be cancelled, but I'm not too afraid of that happening because it seems like Fialkov would ultimately be able to bring this series to a satisfying conclusion at any notice.

Oh, and don't be put off by the “Shattered Heroes” banner at the top of the book. Even though that's the label for the Fear Itself aftermath stuff, there is no mention of that event at all. It's completely safe for new readers.

Overall, it's another fun issue of this run complete with all the action, character work, and comedy that fans should have come to expect from Jason Aaron and this series. It might not be the best jumping on point for fans coming from the Avengers movie, but it wouldn't hurt to give it a look anyway.

Fansof this serieswill continue to have a lot of fun in this issue, and since the reveal of Banner's goal is only two issues away we don't have too much longer to wait before the story itself is made more satisfying than just having some really fun situations for Hulk to be put into. But until then we do get to see the jade giant going head to head with Kraven the Hunter in the next issue, and with art by Renato Guedes (Wolverine, Secret Avengers)it's sure to look nice too.

Overall, while the issue kind of invalidated (or rather just made it seem less important) most of what we saw Hulk go through for four issues, it was, on its own, a strong chapter in this title with great action and great artwork. Looking back, if you just wanted to take this entire arc as an example of Hulk given the opportunity to smash things in new locales, then it would have been overtly successful, and overall, a simply fun arc to read. The issue doesn't end without giving us a big cliffhanger, though, and I'm more than happy to see what's coming in the next few months as Jason Aaron closes out his run with the character.

This issue introduced a lot of interesting ideas to the story, and it makes me even more sure that Aaron is going to pay off in a big way next issue. Sure, this Hulk series was short, and it seems to just be a stepping stone before Mark Waid takes over in November, but I'll be damned if it's not a memorable series.

The issue itself doesn't disappoint, but I do wish that Aaron was given a longer run on this series, as he'd be sure to introduce a lot of interesting elements to the character's mythos. Well, at least in the end we got a monkey slinging gamma irradiated poo.

Personally, I'm not quite sure yet if I want to stay with the series, as I'm also picking up The Mighty Thor (which I will review when the first issue releases on the 27th of this month), but I won't deny that it was an enjoyable first issue. Good for Loki fans, good for Asgardian fans, okay for Thor fans, but not so great for fans looking to get into Thor for the upcoming movie. All in all I think this one deserves a solid 4/5.

Two issues in, and the Exiled crossover is getting into the swing of things. With one problem almost solved and another threatening to throw everything out of whack, there's a lot going on in this issue with promises of even more to come. The fish-out-of-water aspect of the Asgardians works very well as a framing device for the story, and all three writers bring their best character work to the New Mutants and Loki. With everything much clearer than when we started, I'm anxious to see how the team and the little trickster deal with coming their way next.

Exiled is shaping up to be even more enjoyable than I'd expected. Like Venom's Circle of Four arc before it, Marvel's five week crossover storylines seem like throwaways when you first glimpse them as solicitations, but they truly are well thought out and conceptually clever. Exiled has one more issue to go which should prove just as enjoyable as this one, I hope.

With the Exiled crossover and Journey Into Mystery shipping this week too, it seems like we've had Journey Into Mystery for six weeks in a row, and it shows no sign of letting off steam as we move into yet another arc. Taking Loki out of his comfort zone has added a new edge to the series, and it already had more edges than porcupine with a ruler. This series hasn't had a bad issue yet, and this is no exception.

If you like your comics zany, but hilariously enjoyable, then I cannot recommend Journey Into Mystery enough. And trust me, I will keep trying.

Lemire gave us what was one of the more consistently solid, and also more substantial zero issues. Most of the zero issues I read in September gave, at most, a couple of important factors of these characters' past, and most of them didn't play into the story happening in the actual issues of the series, but this one gave several important bits of information that are definitely coming back into play when issue #13 hits shelves late October.

While I was reading the issue I stopped for a second, turned to my girlfriend, and told her “Jeff Lemire has delivered exactly what I've been wanting from this series since issue #1.” It doesn't mean too much to her given that she doesn't read JLD, but I think she got the idea that this meant it was a really great issue to me. Plus, I had a really excited reaction to the last page reveal/teaser that makes me really excited for what's going to come in the following months. Lemire may have had to leave Frankenstein for this book, but I think it's well worth the sacrifice, and this series is definitely going to be one of the best from DC as we go forth.

In this issue, Lemire continues to impress with his knowledge for all things occult in the DCU while expanding this book's role in the larger scheme of things, and he still finds time to make sure every character gets some screen time. It's a nice break from all the action we just got out of with the JLD showing down with Necro in the annual, but Lemire proves he's not slowing down any time soon.

Mikel Janin continues to impress on pencils this month as he gets to let his fantasy legs stretch in his illustrations of giants, faeries, goblins, and more. Janin's style seems to be able to properly and beautifully lend itself to many varying genres, which is great for a book such as this which explores such a wide array of settings and characters.

By the time I finished the first issue of this new series I was convinced that I'd be coming back again next month for more, because despite the shortcomings that I felt with the art I think the story makes it worth it, and hey, I wasn't the most fond of Lemire's style when I started reading his work but it grew on me over time enough for me to consider him one of my favorite artists as well as writers. Mind MGMT is worth the cover price, and it's a series I'll be excited to follow each month.

So I've praised the hell out of this book. The issue was a very solid beginning, and while the weak parts with the Red Corps brought it down a bit, even if it was purposeful, I can tell this is going to shape up to me a truly interesting title going forward, and anyone who's a fan of Guy Gardner really should be reading this title. Also, for following up a tough act on Swamp Thing and making Red Lanterns an actual good comic, Charles Soule is officially on my radar.

The issue ends on a cliffhanger that promises a nice threat for Guy and his new “friends,” and it looks like Soule is prepared to explore the mythology behind the Red Lanterns, which makes me very excited to see what's around the corner after “Lights Out” passes.

If you're already reading Secret Avengers there's no reason not to pick up this issue, especially if you're a fan of some certain Kree characters. Also, whether or not you're reading the AvX event, this comic is one that I'd recommend, especially if you're looking for a nice bit of cosmic action for the next few months.

With a cliffhanger that isn't exactly what readers may have been expecting, this issue definitely succeeds in building interest in whatever Remender has planned for the next issue and the remainder of this arc. It's great to see that he's intent on revisiting unfinished plots from earlier in the series, as well as creating new conflicts for this team to face.

Remender certainly delivers another successful issue with this title, but knowing that the series is ending (or at least he is leaving as writer) with #37, it puts the book in a bit of another light. Specifically, it has me wondering what sort of conclusionhe is working towards. Whatever it is, the road there is full of great character-work and awesome action. If the last six issues are as good as anything that came before then I'm sure we can stay confident in the fact that this run will conclude quite nicely.

All in all, it's another great issue of this great series, and there's a final page cliffhanger to bring readers back for what is set to be Remender's finale to his run. The team's about to have a lot to deal with, and I don't question that it's going to be an awesome ride. Especially given the fact that in two issues time, the Secret Avengers will be head to head with Franken-Castle… but that's another story entirely.

Remender does very well with this issue as a beginning to the end of his run on this book. As I highlighted, it's exciting to see him bring together so many plotlines and stories from across multiple titles into one grand finale. With the series relaunching in February, I think it's safe to say that everything that's been happening since issue #1 of this volume will be resolved, which is a huge plus for readers who have been around since the beginning.

As we approach the finale of this series I'm sure it's going to be worth the past few years of lead in from both this series and Uncanny X-Force. Not only is this a finale to everything that Remender's been doing, but it's also a finale to everything that's happened in this series since it started a few years ago with Ed Brubaker at the helm, so it does have a lot riding on its shoulders, but with a fantastic writer like Remender I'm sure it's going to work out into something great.

This issue is a nice placeholder between issues of the main storyline, and feels very much like a world-building experiment that helps flesh out the already well-populated Smallville universe. I'd be very pleased if these specials continued, especially if they remain as well put together as this one was.

Superior Spider-Man isn't your daddy's Spider-Man. It's twisted, almost unintentionally hilarious, and full of ideas that I can see setting this book at the top of my to read pile for a long time to come. It was a big gamble to put this series on a pedestal before it was even released, but all of our hopes are fulfilled and our fears avoided in this solid first issue. The Superior Spider-Man is here to stay, and thankfully, that looks to be a very good thing.

Three issues in and the status quo for our Superior Spider-Man has been well and truly established. Ock's motivations and approaches to crime fighting and his new social life are on the table for all to see, and we're already getting hints as to how Peter's journey is going to progress. Some of the base problems that naysaying readers were citing have been addressed, and the air is clear for the series to progress in its own weird and wonderful way. Viva the Superior Spider-Man!

Whilst this isn't an essential issue of Age of Ultron, or even of Superior Spider-Man, it's definitely well worth checking out. Gage's writing is spot on, and should mean that when he helps Dan Slott out in a few issues, we'll be in good hands, and Soy's artwork is absolutely superb. If you've got the spare cash, grab this issue for certain.

It's been a bit of a strange period for Superior Spider-Man at the moment. Issues #6-8 haven't had the same fanfare as either #1-5 or #9 onwards, and yet they have proven to be some of the best issues of the series. It just goes to show that there's never a dull moment where Slott is concerned, and even the most throwaway of issues is part of his tight plotting, even if it doesn't immediately look as though it will be.

This issue will be collected as the final part of the second trade of Superior Spider-Man, and yet it feels like a fresh start and new beginning for our leading man. It doesn't quite reach the heights of last issue's intense battle, but the chess pieces are in motion for an explosive confrontation further down the line which will be interesting to see indeed. The artwork continues to be stellar, and it's very clear that Dan Slott knows exactly what he's doing with this series.

It feels like a cop-out to say that this issue is pretty much par for the course, and more of the same from Slott, Gage, Camuncoli and friends, but when you consider the fact that these guys are always at the top of their game, it's more of a compliment than it sounds. This is a solid beginning to what will no doubt be an excellent three part arc, and there's definitely No Escape-ing that.

I ended last issue's review with a terrible No Escape pun, so I'm trying to avoid that this time. This issue continues to ensure that this is another strong arc of Superior Spider-Man, keeping the quality as high as it has ever been. With the conclusion on the horizon, let's hope that it can conclude as strongly as it began, and kick Superior Spider-Month off to a good start.

Constantly surprising and evolving into something even more enjoyable, the Superior Spider-Man's adventures show no sign of dropping in quality. The artwork remains solid, the dialogue is tight, and the plots are unpredictable and always offering something new and exciting for Spidey and his supporting characters. The entire creative team is firing on all pots, and that's something delightful to see.

Another arc comes to a close, and the pieces continue to fall into place and the chess pieces continue to move around the board. The fact that Slott is obviously playing the long game with so many plot threads in this series shows the faith that Marvel have in this new direction for Spider-Man, and as I've said numerous times in the past 16 issues, Superior Spider-Man is never disappointing or a poor read. This issue continues the trend, and the next arc, Necessary Evil, looks set to do even better. Bring on 2099!

Swamp Thing looked to take a dive this issue, only to rise up even stronger. This is true of both the character and the series as a whole, with issue 9 being another superb instalment of the series. When we look back on Snyder's run in the years to come, it will stand up there with Alan Moore's critically acclaimed run as one of the best uses of the character.

Is it any surprise that this is another knockout slam for Snyder, whose writing style lends itself to everything he attempts? Between Swamp Thing and Batman, Snyder is writing two of the best of the New 52, and there's a damn good reason for it. With Francavilla's expert visuals lending him the much-needed darkness for the reintroduction of Anton Arcane, it seems that this issue is the first in a new direction that has Alec and Abby on another crash course with the Rot, and I for one can't wait to see what happens when they clash once again.

Swamp Thing's battle against the Rot is only just beginning, and everything that has gone before is the calm before the storm. With the stage now set for the crossover between Animal Man and Swamp Thing, I cannot wait to see what's going to happen next in both of these titles. As I'm sure my fellow comic contributor Ryley-stbatman is saying in his reviews for Animal Man, these two titles deserve to be read together, and definitely deserve to be read!

As a first issue, Swamp Thing's Rotworld storyline is off to a good start, with some interesting (if symmetrical) plot points set up for the next few issues that should make things even more so later on. Both Alec and Abby's storylines begin well, and their respective cliffhangers have me already wonder what's going to happen next, and the return of Yanick Paquette to the title can only be a good thing. It's been a year in the making, but Rotworld is already living up to the hype.

So Rotworld continues to chug along as an enjoyable mini-event book, with some clever storytelling and exceptional artwork, as per usual. Despite annoying comparisons with Animal Man, this issue is very good, finishing the set-up for the storyline and gives us two clear issues to sort out everything that's left to deal with — and it's a hell of a lot. But with Snyder and Paquette at the helm, you know it's going to be well worth the ride.

With only one issue left of Rotworld proper, and one issue further of Snyder and Paquette's run, this series continues to perform at an exceptional level. There's perhaps too much story for the amount of panel space at certain times, but for the rest of the issue, everything is turned out almost perfectly. There's still plenty of time for all of our questions to be answered and some more plot twists to be thrown our way, but each issue remains satisfying on its own, so that the month wait between issues isn't quite as devastating as it might be otherwise.

I spent a lot of time last issue praising Kano's artwork and his adaptable depiction of Swamp Thing; that continues here, though not to the same level as last time since Alec is in the same spot for most of the issue. The addition of Alvaro Lopez as inker is barely noticeable, and if that means that Kano is able to contribute to more issues in the future rather than just alternate story arcs, then I am perfectly okay with that. I feel that more artists would benefit from having an inker rather than inking their own work so that deadlines can be met more often.This first story finishes nicely, with a gruesome look at what's to come. Swamp Thing's new status quo has been established, and his connection with the human world has become even more tenuous than before. Charles Soule and Kano have already made their mark on Alec Holland's world, and it looks like they're going to pave the way nicely for a brand new direction for the book.

Despite not having the tonal twist that made last month's issue so excellent, this is an admirable conclusion to this storyline and another great entry into the series. Soule is taking Alec to task, showcasing every facet of his character and some innovative ways to use his powers to save the day, plus continuing to shove him into moral quandaries that will test him for a while yet. The art is great despite having a fill-in, and this series continues to go from strength to strength. Dare I say it " Scott Snyder who?

I think sometimes it's nice to remember that we should never judge a book by either its cover or its solicitation information. This issue reads nicely alone, but is also part of Rotworld as a whole, filling in information that we will likely not get again in the main Swamp Thing series. It's nice to see this important first meeting between our two main characters, and there's just enough story to fill the extended page count, and even the possibility of revisiting the story further down the line to flesh out some of the final few scenes. This issue is a surprise to say the least, but looking back, it really shouldn't have been, given how great the rest of the series has been.

Next issue, a new story begins, and I cannot contain my excitement to see what's next in this series. I missed having Esad Ribic's art in this issue, but Butch Guice did a proper fill-in job before the Croatian star comes back next month for "Godbomb." That certainly doesn't sound good for Thor.

Overall, Uncanny Avengers' first issue does it's best to act as an introduction to a new era of Marvel comics. There's that feeling that previous first issues of big books (New Avengers after 'Disassembled', and Avengers after 'Siege') have had, but there's also a definitive difference. You can feel the initiative being taken to try and bring the X-Men and the Avengers together, whereas in the past when Bendis reformed the Avengers in New Avengers volume one, the only reason Wolverine was even put on the team was because they happened to run into him on their first mission.

Also, we've already been teased as to who will be part of this new Brotherhood of Evil Mutants by solicitations and previews of future issues, and in this issue it really seems like Remender is carefully bringing all these players in to team up in a way that really makes sense. And the reveal of this new Omega trio is quite exciting. Fans of the series will feel right at home with all the action and character work they've grown accustomed to over the last couple of years.

Phil Noto continues to impress on the artistic side with his crisp and clean style. A clean art style is always interesting to see on such a dark (and bloody) book, but when it works it works superbly, and that's exactly what we get here from Noto. I do miss Opena's work on this series, but I'm happy to see Phil Noto getting to show off his chops here, especially given the wide array of interesting and intricately designed characters.

In that point, there's also a big of a negative, but it's one that is pretty much the nature of comics. Unlike an indie or creator-owned title, when a run on a superhero book ends it's pretty much never completely conclusive because it's just one writer handing off the reigns to the next. Each writer pretty much has to put the toys back in the box how they found them, and while Remender has left some pretty deep scars on the toys, he's still handing stuff off to different writers and taking stuff to different titles. So what is supposed to be a conclusion isn't really completely conclusive, but it is more an end to one act of a larger play.

X-Men fans, I think this is the issue you've been waiting for. The series is finally seeming to take a fully positive turn, and I'm really wanting to see what happens next. This issue gets a 4/5 from me. It'd be more, but there were times in the issue where I felt detached from the story because I have NO CLUE about anything dealing with Breakworld, and I think that Gillen could have given some more background material on that. But it's still a solid entry that X-Fans will love.

This has been the strongest Avengers Vs. X-Men tie-in I've read in an X-book so far since it takes a step back from the main storyline to give us a bit more detail on what's going on elsewhere instead. By taking the focus away from the main events, it feels as if this title may finally start giving us something new, rather than retracing steps or filling in battle scenes as the previous few issues have done. By the look of the next few issues, this looks to be the case, with the focus shifting to Mister Sinister instead. If it continues in this vein, I see no problems upcoming.

With the direction of the book nicely sidetracked away from the Avengers Vs. X-Men storyline for a while, it looks like Uncanny X-Men will be climbing back up in my estimations. I've mentioned before that Gillen flourishes when given free rein on event tie-in books, and as usual, he doesn't fail to disappoint.

This issue was enough to make me realise that, as much as I love Gillen's writing on this title, I am actually invested in the characters that make this series the flagship X-Men book on the stands, and convince me that I did in fact want to follow them into All-New X-Men next month. This series had has its ups and downs, but Gillen's run has been overall excellent, with this issue a fantastic point to end on. Bring on Bendis.

This is an excellent first issue. It's not perfect, but fans of ANY incarnation of the Venom character should really pick it up. I'm sure it's going to quickly become one of the best Marvel books on the stands, and especially so with it's creative team.

Overall, we get a solid single issue story that ends on a downer… but a good downer. A downer that makes you want more because it's adding to the tortured nature of this troubled hero. If there's one thing we've learned through Remender's writing on this series it's that in the end nothing ever really ends nicely for Flash.

Overall this is another very solid issue for Venom, and I'm really anticipating how this arc will play out. Luckily we get another issue in just two weeks! Any fan of the series will enjoy this one, and it's also a nice jumping on point for anyone who hasn't been reading it yet.

The conclusion of the issue is a moment we knew was going to have to come, so now we just have to wait until next issue to see how it pans out. Overall, it's another great issue of the series and a nice start to this final storyline for Remender that is dragged down only slightly by the artwork. Again, Medina isn't bad, but it's disappointing when there are artists that have been used on this series who I'd much rather see.

The problematic issues with this comic essentially boil down to the fact that I feel it ended too abruptly, and that the big cliffhanger at the end didn't really do anything for me. I don't know how it affected other readers who are more familiar with Betty Brant and her family members, but it just didn't give me the big shock that I'm sure it was aiming for. Luckily, this is only part three of this story and there are two more issues after this for which Rick Remender to lay down the goods and give us a grand conclusion to his run on Venom, so I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt because I always have hope in Remender.

If you could get a Looney Tunes comic to star purely Marvel characters, this issue of Wolverine and the X-Men is exactly what you'd get. It's zany, out of control, and totally daft, but entirely good fun, and still manages to be important to the overall plot of the series without taking itself too seriously. If the series was like this all the time, it might be too over the top, but for a one-off special, it's well worth paying attention to. With all of the other Avengers and X-Men comics going for death and disaster as Avengers Vs. X-Men comes to a close, Wolverine and the X-Men opts instead for a little comic relief, and that's a welcome change.

When this series is on, it's well on, and it has been for the past few issues now. There's so much going on, and all of it is engrossing, compelling, and exceptionally well drawn. There are a lot of X-Books on the shelves at the moment, but Wolverine and the X-Men is at the top of my reading pile when it's on top form like this.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: when this series is on point, it is razor sharp. This issue is a strong example of how to balance multiple plotlines, a huge cast of characters, and still tell an engaging, witty, and sometimes laugh-out-loud funny story too. This issue won't win any prizes for flashy battle scenes, but for intimate character work, this issue is top of the line.

It looks like Wolverine and the X-Men is going to stay on track as the excellent book that it has proven to be, time and time again, if this issue is any indication. Aaron's deft character work weaves plotlines and intimate development together effortlessly, whilst Perez's artwork captures the insanity of the Savage Land and the quieter character moments with equal aplomb.

With one issue left of this arc, I've got my fingers crossed for a strong conclusion. Aaron's stories tend to lose their way in the middle whilst starting and ending very well, so previous experience would suggest that my prediction will be correct; in the meantime, we're treated to a penultimate issue that gets back to the core of the series and shows what happens when Aaron, his characters, and his artistic collaborators are all on the same page " excellent stuff.

Another arc has come to a close, and for the most part, Savage Learning has been another excellent addition to the Wolverine and the X-Men storyline. It's an intense character piece, unlike any of the arcs so far, thanks to its removal of most of the Jean Grey School clutter, and it's done wonders for characters like Eyeboy, Sprite and Genesis whohaven'thad the time in the spotlight that characters like Quentin Quire or Idie have had. This is an enjoyable, solid conclusion to the arc.

With another arc completed, and the Hellfire Saga on the horizon, it's nice that we can have a reminder of the heart behind this series. It can be a little corny, but this issue strikes a balance between being soppy and sentimental, and showing exactly why Jason Aaron is handling this series so masterfully " there are so many subplots and storylines going on at any one time that it's just insane. The next few issues look to turn everything on its head (again) as many of these stories come to a head and the two academies wage their war against each other; there's a lot to love about this series, and this issue illustrates just some of the many reasons.

The issue, as far as writing goes, is obviously very different from the usual fare. Typically, this series runs under the idea that less is more as far as text and dialogue goes, but being that this is supposed to channel the golden age, we have tons of words on every page making this a much more dense read than the series usually is. It makes for a fun novelty, but some readers might be turned off by it, especially when waiting for the follow up to come from last issue's huge cliffhanger ending. We'll just have to wait another month to see how that plays out.

Anyway, fans of the series won't be disappointed at all with Azzarello's continuing story, and if you haven't been reading the series thus far then look out for the hardcover coming later this month!

This issue successfully introduces the plot for the next year of the series while continuing to show Azzarello's hold on these characters. Tony Akins covers the art on this issue, and I think he's outdone himself here. No longer entirely trying to emulate Cliff Chiangs work, but not venturing too far from it, Akins' art on this issue does well to show not only all the various characters in the issue, but he beautifully illustrates the locale as well- Olympus, Antarctica, and Libya included. I have no doubt that this series will continue to be one of DC's finest this next year, and I can't help to remain at the end of my seat in anticipation to see Azz bring Orion into this book.

Brian Azzarello simply continues to tell a great tale featuring these characters, and it continues to be a series I can't want to read with each passing month. These characters — not just Diana — are so intriguing and exciting to follow, and I'm not someone who ever thought he'd say that about Wonder Woman. Each new character that Azz introduces to the series is just an incredible addition to the cast, and I simply can't wait to see where this book goes as we move forward in its second year.

As we round out year two of Wonder Woman it's evident that things won't be slowing down much. Diana has some huge adversaries to face in the next couple of issues and she'll be visiting New Genesis soon, so needless to say 2013 is looking to be another great year for Wonder Woman.

Month in and month out this is still one of the most consistently high quality books coming from DC. The intrigue is still there even 22 issues later, and I believe it'll stay there for a while to come as I know Azzarello has plans for where he's taking Wonder Woman and her crew.

X-Men Legacy doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't. It's not your basic X-Men book. It's not a straight forward superhero book, either. It's a mess of madness, insanity, and a little bit of craziness thrown in too. And it makes for some fantastic reading. If you fancy something a little different, then give this book a try; you might be pleasantly surprised. Or scared. Either way.

I had a feeling when X-Men Legacy's new focus and creative team were launched that I would enjoy it, but this issue has exceeded my expectations; there's so much going on here, and Spurrier is making Legion a thoroughly rounded and enjoyable character. The dialogue is both hilarious and emotional, and the artwork also continues to impress me as Huat pulls out his best work I've ever seen. If you're looking for an X-Book that's slightly off the beaten path, then go somewhere else. If you're looking for an X-Book that's on a completely different level, X-Men Legacy is for you.

Excellence abounds in this series, the black sheep of the X-Family. With well written characters, an extremely unpredictable storyline, and zany twists that you'd never see coming even with precognition, this series is off to a superb start only four issues in. As I've said before, if you're after something a little different, X-Men Legacy offers all that and more.

All in all, X-Men Legacy has surpassed my expectations from the first issue all the way through to this closing issue of the first arc. Spurrier's zany writing style suits Legion's world to a tee, and the storyline zigzags and throws curve balls that you will never see coming, and yet once they hit feel like the only direction that the storyline could ever have taken. Coupled with two rapidly improving artists and now a clear direction for the book, it seems like the best is yet to come — and it's already been so good.

As I've said in the six previous issues, X-Men Legacy is a strange, weird, and wacky title that stands out among its X-Men brethren by having a very individual approach to the characters and situations that mutants often find themselves in. Whilst books like All-New X-Men and Uncanny X-Men are dealing with the bigger problems, X-Men Legacy is nipping them in the bud before they grow to the level that would require the intervention of the bigger X-teams, whilst being an altogether more personal book. Add in scathing sarcasm and hilarious plot developments and you've got a title that easily deserves your attention.

X-Men Legacy progresses from done-in-one stories to our next three part arc here, as Invasive Exotics begins and introduces a whole new set of problems for David to deal with. Whilst still reeling from his involvement with Blindfold (who still plays an active (and hilarious) role in this issue), David finds himself involved with a mutant cure, and the story goes in a direction you'd almost never expect. Which is becoming the motto of this excellent series " expect the unexpected, but always expect awesomeness.

With twelve issues under its belt, X-Men Legacy has easily cemented itself as my favourite X-Book, and one that I look forward to reading all month. There's so much to praise here that I often don't even know where to start, and this issue is no exception to that either " there are plotlines resolving themselves, others being opened up, character development abound, and an art style that is almost perfectly suited to the action. It may not have what would be considered an all-star creative team, but that doesn't stop it from being one of the most continually impressive books on the stands.

This arc may be called Hope and Glory, but there's a lot more to it than just being 'the England story'. David's character is progressing in interesting ways, and the addition of Pete Wisdom to the proceedings is good fun, whilst Blindfold continues to be the voice of reason (surprisingly). The artwork is improving, and the story has never been better. X-Men Legacy is top notch comics, once again.

I continue to sing the praises of this series and I will carry on doing so until it no longer deserves them. For now though, X-Men Legacy is an entertaining, unpredictable read that always offers food for thought and storylines that will have you wracking your brain as you try to work out how they're going to end, only to be completely wrong. Spurrier's plotting and dialogue are hilarious and excellent, and he is definitely on a roll with this title.

Brown's work is expressive and very easy on the eyes, with a soft colour palette that gives the dreary workplace the feeling that it should have, whilst making David and Tommy pop off the page. The colour choices in the final scene involving the 'ghost' invoke the spooky atmosphere excellently, and the expressions on David's face on the last page are almost heartbreaking. I'd be disappointed at this point if Brown didn't come back to do other fill-in issues.I should be used to Kieron Gillen pulling surprises on me, but making sure that this fill-in issue would leave me on the edge of my seat by the end and cracking up with laughter at the beginning is a surprise that I'd never have seen coming. In what could have been a completely throwaway issue, Gillen introduces two characters and a brand new mystery that have me gagging for more, and his partner in crime Kate Brown is helping him along every step of the way.

Is it any surprise at this point that Young Avengers is consistently breaking boundaries and being an overall extremely impressive comic book? If it is, I think you need to stop expecting anything different. Gillen, McKelvie, Norton, Wilson, and Cowles are all at the very top of their game, working on a book that plays to all of their strengths, and if they're having half as much fun creating this book as I am reading it, I hope they carry on forever.

Ends of the Earth rockets onwards, and this issue brings us to the midpoint. We still aren't sure exactly where the story is headed, but it is clear that it will be a bumpy ride for all involved. If Slott, Ramos, and Caselli continue in this vein of high octane action mixed with witty dialogue and wonderful character moments, Ends of the Earth, like the rest of Slott's work on the title, will easily go down as one of the best Amazing Spider-Man arcs in years.

The Lizard problem has been dealt with, and now Spidey's getting ready to party as he heads for his 50th Anniversary issue next week, and No Turning Back has come to a conclusion. There's a lot to love in the story arc, though this concluding issue doesn't sit quite right with me, but it doesn't do anything particularly bad to colour the overall storyline.

If you're looking for an issue that will show you why this Zero Month was essential on DC's part, then this won't be the the one you're looking for, but if you're just an Animal Manreader looking forward to the next issue of this series, hoping for an amusing re-telling of his classic origin, then you might wind up more satisfied. Either way, the issue isn't the most necessary one, and aside from a couple pages that reveal the threat of The Rot is nothing new, I think readers could skip it and be okay to just grab #13 next month.

Overall, this issue does what an Annual should do, and delivers an extra-sized story (for an extra-sized price) that can be read as part of the series or as a one-and-done story. Fans of the series should enjoy it, but I wouldn't really recommend it to anyone who hasn't been reading eitherAnimal Manor Swamp Thing in the past.

Batman #0 has a decent lead story that could have benefited from a few extra pages, and a back-up that would stand well on its own. Together, they make another excellent entry into the Batman series that Snyder and Tynion IV have been working on, and provide a good look back on the origins of Batman without a single mention of the character, as well as some cryptic looks forward too.

The back-up feature concludes as well, with the fate of Jarvis Pennyworth revealed and a coda for Bruce and Alfred that reflects back on it all. Again, this isn't very clear about anything in general, and adds to the mystery surrounding everything that has happened in the past eleven issues and this does weaken its impact just a bit, but it's still an enjoyable conclusion to the feature, with more superb art from Rafael Albuquerque " the scenes set inside the flaming Wayne Manor are exquisite.The Court of Owls have been defeated for now, and this final issue is a serviceable finale to the storyline, if not as solid as I would have liked. The air of mystery detracts a little from the overall conclusion, but the sentiment is there and you can tell that this storyline will affect Bruce Wayne going forward. Now Batman must rest and recuperate, because in a few short months, the Joker will be back, and if Bruce thinks he's ready for that, he hasn't seen anything yet…

As usual, this is an enjoyable issue of Batman; whilst it doesn't add much to the overall storyline surrounding Damian's death, nor reach the level of quality that Death of the Family and Court of Owls hit, it moves the chess pieces around the board nicely, putting Harper back into the spotlight and revealing a little more of her back-story and how far she has come since her last appearance. She's got a way to go before she's worthy of a place in the Bat-Family as most fans speculate is her ultimate goal, but these intermission issues that put the focus on her are always welcome.

Despite this, Blue Beetle #0does everything it's supposed to do, and does them well. It catches up new readers on what happened before, gives us the origin of our main character's body armour, and even manages to set up the next arc without breaking a sweat. I didn't mention much about it this time around, but Ig Guara's art continues to be superb, full of detail and with a great grasp of facial expressions. I know I've said this before, but Blue Beetle is a solid, enjoyable, and above all, reliable superhero book that everyone should check out, and this zero issue is the best place to start.

It was almost inevitable that Blue Beetle would be cancelled soon, given its sales figures, but it does not mean that the final few issues can't be just as good, if not better, than the ones preceding it. This issue sets the story in a new direction full of surprises and familiar characters. It is a shame that this title is ending, since it has been, and continues to be, impressive on every front.

There's only one issue left of this series, but you'd never know it given how much happens in this one. There's a lot of ground to cover in issue 16, but I'm confident that writer Tony Bedard and whichever artist he snares to pencil the final issue will be able to pull it off with as much flair and good storytelling as all 16 issues thus far.

The final issue of Blue Beetle has finally arrived, and so we must bid it a bittersweet farewell. With only seventeen issues, this series won me over and had some extremely good fun along the way, taking Jaime to all sorts of places, not just literally, but in a storytelling sense as well. Whilst this title will always sit in the shadow of the previous volume, this series tried really hard to carve out its own little niche as DC's Spider-Man title, and for the most part, I think it achieved that. Jaime's adventures may continue into Threshold, but for now, we must bid our hero adieu.

If we could sum up this issue of Constantine in one sentence, I think it'd be: “Progressing nicely, but not quite there yet.” There are improvements made over last issue's decent start, and the internal monologue remains an insightful look into the inner workings of Constantine's mind, but there still feels like there's something missing from this series. Whether it's because Constantine doesn't get to show off quite as much as I'd like, or because Croydon's Compass doesn't really seem like it's worth all this hassle, there's just a niggling doubt that this series needs to discard so that everything fits into place.

So, the Dark Avengers begin again, and this is a strong start that (I hope) ticks all the boxes for new readers and old alike. It's clear that the title change hasn't stopped Parker and Shalvey's momentum with the Thunderbolts cast, and the Dark Avengers seem to slide into place nicely. If you're a new reader to Dark Avengers, let me know in the comments if you enjoyed the issue, I'd really like to know how easy it was for you to get into the title, and if you'll be sticking around for the next issue.

And as we edge ever closer to another status quo change, Dark Avengers maintains the quality that it has set up since #175 and even before that. Last issue was a bit of a blip, but this one has easily restored my faith in the book, and the addition of Neil Edwards to the creative team has done nothing to hurt it at all. The Cataclysm is on the horizon, but this book continues to be anything but cataclysmic.

I am hugely conflicted over this issue. On the one hand, Jeff Parker manages to create an expansive and engaging new world in just one short issue, fleshing out a clever idea and establishing the boundaries, whilst leaving some things up to the reader. On the other, this all seems too fast. We've just finished travelling to another timeline with the Thunderbolts, and throwing the Dark Avengers into a similar story feels repetitive, even if it is well done. Time will tell if this feeling of familiarity continues, or if the story manages to differentiate itself from what has come before.

I especially liked the use of splash pages in this issue, as multiple scenes play out across them; this aids in ramping up the story for the final issue as the hits come quick and fast, and it all explodes together on the final page. It's a simple layout choice that works wonders, and just goes to show that sometimes the simplest approach is the best.Dark Avengers has one more issue left, and everything seems to be coming together, finally. There are still some bumps along the way, but this issue is a vast improvement on the previous one, and builds momentum towards the final issue with ease. It'll be a shame to see this title go, but hopefully it'll be able to go out with a bang, not a whimper.

There's even a letter from Jeff Parker at the end of the issue, thanking the fans and the rest of the creative team he's been working with for the past few issues. I always like it when writers take the time to do this, it really shows that they care about the series they've been writing, and that they're as invested as the readers can get. Personally, I've found Parker's run on Thunderbolts and then subsequently on Dark Avengers reinvigorated the series and took it in some interesting new directions, constantly changing the status quo of the series and keeping my attention for over 50 issues. This series will be missed, even if it's just by me.

Deadpool #13is a fun little read. As with #7, it isn't just a silly little filler issue, instead serving as a hidden prologue for the next story-arc on Deadpool. Whilst not as 'complete' as a story a #7, this is still an entertaining read, and is something which Deadpool fans should definitely check out.

This really is a funny issue. The creative team certainly had a lot of fun creating and writing the White Man, and I certainly had a lot of fun reading his escapades too. Roll on the next issue!

Overall, it was a solid issue of the series, but there were definitely flaws, not only with the writing but in the way parts of the story is told. I don't believe that makes me like the title any less, but I do hope that Robinson's dialogue improves in the coming issues, especially since I'm pretty impressed and interested in the way the series is heading.

FF #9 is a fun little issue which entertains, whilst also setting us up nicely for the next story-arc of FF, as the team decide to step up their search for the original team. If you have been enjoying this title so far, this issue is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. Especially if you love Bentley-23.

Overall, this a fun little issue which entertains, whilst also progressing the Doctor Doom subplot introduced earlier in this title. And just when you thought that this issue was about to end straightforwardly, Fraction drops his surprise revelation on the final page " something which the comic version of him was saying in great length that all good comics need.

The Flash continues to impress with its final issue of the first arc, leaving us on a tantalizing cliffhanger and giving us more of an insight into how exactly everything that has happened before is tied together. Whilst this may be the end of the arc, it shows no sign of slowing down as everything flows swiftly into the next storyline. Manapul and Buccellato's artwork is unparalleled, and this issue highlights their strengths in combining art and story just as much as the previous issues.

The Rogues continue to be slowly reintroduced to the Flash's universe, and this issue brings us up to speed on the Weather Wizard " we learn everything we need to know about him, as well as some more hints as to the event that lead to the Rogues new powers being dropped. There is a lot of story in this issue, and you will most certainly get your moneys' worth. Manapul's art is missed of course, but To as a fill-in is a fantastic choice, bringing his own take on Barry's world to the table and keeping this one of the most enjoyable of the New 52.

This is an odd issue; it's sort of like the eye of the storm, with the battle with Grodd almost on hold as Barry attempts to use his powers to see the future, and the other supporting characters go through their own revelations. It's an interesting experiment, and one that succeeds on some levels and fails on others. It's nice to see that the comic industry isn't averse to trying new things, and it certainly keeps the reader on their toes, but sometimes, a bit more of a straight forward approach would do better for the overall storyline.

This issue attempts to rebuild the momentum that the previous issue lost, and manages it in almost all respects. The artwork continues to amaze and engage, and every plotline ticks along nicely as we head towards next issue's conclusion to the story. The fact that poor planning on DC's part ruins the final reveal of the issue is a damn shame, and prevents this issue gaining a higher rating.

Artistically, this issue is a bit more subdued than the usual Flash fare, since a lot of the scenes outside of the fight scene that opens the book are more to do with moving characters around the board which calls for more standard panel arrangements than Manapul usually delivers. Of course, it is all still wonderfully depicted, if a little less adventurous than usual.The Flash's first big story arc concludes here, and it leaves a trail of destruction in its wake. Gorila Warfare wasn't fantastic all the way through, but it managed to salvage the misstep mid-arc in order to turn out something well worth reading by the end of it, and it's lasting ramifications will continue to shape the series for a while yet.

This issue suffers slightly from inconsistent art from a usually reliable source, but the story remains as strong as ever; Buccellato has managed to capably craft a two issue story that deals with the fallout of the previous arc and set up the oncoming threat of the Reverse Flash with flare, as well as pseudo-crossing over with another title. This title goes from strength to strength, and with the return of Manapul to scripts and pencils next issue, our next arc looks set to be even better than the preceding ones.

A few issues ago, I would have said that I was dropping Green Lantern if the quality didn't jump up " the first arc that was heavily Sinestro-related was enjoyable, but didn't hold my attention very much. Now that we have returned to the meatier sections of the Green Lantern universe, I'm pleased to say that Green Lantern is back on track and should have a place on everyone's pull list.

So the Third Army event has apparently started, but this issue is barely related to the storyline aside from a few more portent-filled pages near the back. If the rest of the issue had been less interesting and full of strong character work, I'd call the issue out on this lack of event material, but when it is this good, I'm in no position to complain.

As with Rise of the Third Army beforehand, it seems that this title is just as consistent as always but is held back by a nagging feeling that the crossover is pointless as the story it was telling beforehand continues on without any reference to the overall plot. As a result, Green Lantern is still one of the better books on the stands, but a higher rating is out of its reach for now.

This issue finally strikes the correct balance between crossover and actual storyline that it has been missing since Rise of the Third Army began, and yet it now suffers on the art front instead. I'd have liked to give this issue a 4, or even possibly higher, but the poor contributions from Syaf drag it down a little. With one more issue to go before Geoff Johns leaves the Green Lantern books for good, it's a shame to say that this issue isn't quite as good as it could have been, even if it's not Johns' fault.

I feel like I've been very negative so far, but this issue is enjoyable regardless of the flaws I've picked out. The humour is welcome and doesn't interfere with the plot line, the voices for each character are well established already, and the artwork continues to impress even with the addition of two new inkers in exchange for Richard Friend. I called the weak points here 'teething problems', and that's what they are " easily ironed out as Venditti gets further into his run, but unfortunate that they're here at the moment.

These few issues of Robert Venditti and crew's Green Lantern feel distinctly similar to Geoff Johns' opening few storylines in that they are laying the groundwork for what is to come, but aren't really all that impressive on their own. This issue especially felt slightly truncated, as if it was going to be part 1 of a longer story but was instead derailed by Lights Out instead. Good, not great, but promising.

In this issue Jordan has introduced to the New 52 Relic, along with all his mystery and power, making this great unknown and teased threat to the Lantern Corps someone you are eager to discover more about. Who is he? Why does he hate 'lighsmiths'? What will he do next? I have no idea, but this issue has definitely made me excited for "Lights Out", along with Relic's issue in September during Villains Month.

This wasn't the issue that I was expecting at all, to be honest. I was expecting a really action packed and explosive introduction to Angela, with her appearance taking center stage in this issue, with all other story developments being relegated to the sidelines. This issue however takes a more considered and low-key approach to introducing Angela to the Marvel Universe, instead moving to explore the fallout of "Age of Ultron" first and foremost " something which I consider to be a wise, and hopefully an entertaining path to follow.

Overall, this is probably the craziest Aarons' run on the series has been yet, and I don't think that's a bad thing at all, but I really wish another artist aside from Steve Dillon was chosen to open this exciting arc. I look forward to seeing where the story takes us, because something tells me it's going to end with quite a bang.

Aside from my wish for this story to be published more frequently, I was pleased while reading this comic. It's the type of fun that I've come to expect from Jason Aaron, and knowing the way he writes I'm sure it'll lead up to a really awesome conclusion. Plus, Pasqual Ferry is an artist that I really enjoy, so it's always nice to see him handling the art in anything I read. I believe issue #10 features artwork from Tom Raney, so we have that to look forward to in the near future.

All in all, this is another solid issue of New Avengers. With the arrival of "Infinity" to the stands soon, I'm curious as to just how Hickman will tie all the plot threads of this title, along with Avengers and "Infinity" together. If its anything like the end of his Fantastic Four/FF run, then we are all in for one heck of a treat.

So Smallville has made the transition from screen (to computer screen) to print, and I'm hoping that it doesn't go anywhere soon. Whilst the art is a pain at times, this feels like a worthy continuation to a popular television property, and one of the better "season" comics that I've read. It's familiar, yet different, and keeps readers on their toes by adding in just enough of its own material. Fans of the show will be thrilled to see their favourite characters all appearing in, what feels like, a natural progression of the series, and even those who have never seen an episode will soon be caught up in Clark Kent's continuing adventures. I will attempt to review this series in story arcs, rather than individual issues, so expect a review of the second story arc, Detective (featuring Smallville's interpretation of Batman!), in a few months time.

For what it's worth, this issue does just feel like closure on the super-powered Lana Lang storyline that was kind of left hanging when Smallville ended. It's a decent enough special, and during a week with not a lot else out, it'll tide you over until the main series releases another issue. I just hope it means we've finally seen the last of Lana, but that's just me.

Overall, this is a really solid second issue of Superman Unchained. The story understandably is slowly unfolding in front of the reader, which may frustrate some, but I personally feel that Snyder's storytelling is teasing us nicely. As noted with last issue, Snyder seems to have a real good grasp of Superman and his supporting cast, whilst he also has a really intriguing story to tell us. As such, I'm really looking forward to seeing what #3 has in store for us, as Superman gets set to meet the mysterious other 'Superman' for the first time"

Superman Unchained #3 is another fine issue of this series. Some may be disappointed by the break in the action midway during this book as we discover, along with Superman, some initial details about his rival, but overall, these teasing little bits of information were much needed.

Another month, another issue of Swamp Thing that leaves me begging for more. Whilst this issue is an interlude in the overall Rotworld storyline, it's a good place for new readers to try out the title, though it will probably be more of an introduction to the series at issue #1 rather than allowing them to jump on with issue #13 next month. This is a gory, gross book which is exactly what an issue based around Anton Arcane should be, and as a result, it doesn't disappoint.

Rotworld is now past its halfway point, and Swamp Thing continues to be an enjoyable series as part of its overall story, despite a few mishaps along the way, both by the writer and artist. This is possibly one of the weaker issues of the run, but I have faith that both Snyder and whoever is finishing off the art duties will pull it back for their final three issues.

With only one more issue to go before Thunderbolts morphs into Dark Avengers, it's safe to say that this series is on a high note. I was looking forward to this arc, and it has not disappointed me yet, constantly keeping the reader on their toes as the story progresses, aided by a superb art team.

Thunderbolts may be over in name, but their story is by no means coming to an end. This final issue wraps up the arc, but leaves the team in limbo throughout the timestream with further problems to tackle. It's fair to say that this issue doesn't feel like the end at all, but merely a new beginning, as it should be.

Overall, this would have been a great issue had Remender not decided to narrate pointlessly throughout he entirety of the issue. It seems like such an odd decision to make mid-story, especially in an issue that's the most action-packed of the three published thus far. This all said I have to wonder if this writing style change had something to do with the delays that this issue experienced. Whatever the case, I feel like while this arc may wrap up very nicely, it's the next story that I'm really looking forward to, where Remender will continue upon elements from his Uncanny X-Force series with some new characters called the Apocalypse Twins.

Honestly, if it weren't for that epilogue to the issue, I would give this a lower rating because Remender's narrative boxes just really put me off. They'd work in a story that isn't supposed to be fast paced, but for these two issues it just didn't fit.

This issue mostly sets up the fact that the team is now split apart and they have to deal head on with four individual huge threats. It's a very intriguing setup, but it's just that. There's not a lot that actually happens in this issue to move the plot forward, but there's enough here to move a lot of the character development forward that makes this issue a worthwhile, but slow, read, even if there isn't a ton of action like you may have expected.

Gillen's previous forays into event tie-in stories have always met with success. His work on Journey Into Mystery during Fear Itself, or on Thor during Siege, were excellent, and he seems to have discovered a winning formula that he can stick to and always turn out something enjoyable for any reader that picks up his titles " Uncanny X-Men seems to be following that pattern.

The real highlight of this issue, though, is the scenes that deal with the fate of Flash's mother as a certain human eating member of the Savage Six enters her home. I feel as if the issue's quality almost hinges on the reader wanting to continue because Remender efficiently teases an extreme emotional conflict to come in the next installment. Otherwise, this issue is a pretty good one that could have been better if just more had happened. It seems like it existed just to make a space between the cliffhanger from last issue and the cliffhanger leading into next issue. I also have to say that while I was initially impressed with Lan Medina's artwork on this series I now find myself really wishing we could see Kev Walker or Tony Moore return to the title to deliver the artwork that has given this series some of its most outstanding issues.

Despite some flaws, this issue is another consistent one. The ending is poor, and the art can be difficult, but at heart, this issue expands on the Avengers Vs. X-Men crossover to give some insight into Wolverine and his fellow teachers viewpoints on the conflict, plus some little teasers of some other plots that will continue to bubble below the surface. I'd have bumped this issue up above its predecessor, but those few niggling flaws drag it back down a little, unfortunately. Hopefully these will be ironed out by next issue.

Popping in for a two issue fill-in starting here is Jorge Molina, whose work I saw most recently on an issue of Avengers Academy which was…less than stellar, to put it nicely. Some of Molina's problems from that issue persist, such as his odd concept of facial expressions and how a face works (Not like Kitty Pryde's does, as a hint), but his work feels closer to Nick Bradshaw's than Chris Bachalo's does, so at least we have a vague sense of unity going on. There isn't really much else to mention about the art other than this: Molina is competent, but I wouldn't want him around more often than usual.In a complete reversal of fortune, Wolverine and the X-Men has now gone from the least anticipated Avengers Vs. X-Men tie-in comic on my stack to my most anticipated. Having gotten back to the heart of the series, the Jean Grey School, it seems that everything is on the uptick once again, except the artwork.

Wolverine and the X-Men has managed to morph back into the series it set out to be, shrugging off the chains of the crossover to return to its roots as an amusing series set at the heart of the Jean Grey School. This issue won't win any awards for overall plot developments, but it is a solid issue that reminds us just what the book can be when given the chance.

Despite the problem with the pacing, this issue has almost everything that makes this series as good as it has been, and continues to be. Aaron's character work continues to be strong, and it seems like he finally managed to work out how to balance the Avengers Vs. X-Men crossover with the Jean Grey School's continuing story in this final issue. It may be a case of working it too late, but this issue is great, and with the crossover behind us, we can expect issues of this quality for a long time to come.

Since the comparison is unavoidable, let's just go with it: Like the Flash this week, Wolverine and the X-Men's second issue of its highly anticipated storyline has stalled slightly, not really progressing the plot but spending time building the world around the Hellfire Academy and the problems it presents to Wolverine and friends. There are lots of potential ways that this storyline could go, and the introduction of the Siege Perilous has made sure that it will be unpredictable, but it's a shame that it'll take us a bit longer to get to the juicy stuff on the horizon.

And apologies for the lack of preview images this time around — SDCC meant that Marvel didn't post previews of their books for last week, and despite scouring the internet, I couldn't find any suitable ones.

With only one issue left of the Hellfire Saga, the stage is set for everything to come to fruition. Of course, there's not going to be a lot of time to breathe as Battle of the Atom is just around the corner, but as Jason Aaron has shown in the past, a lot can happen in one issue so we're almost certainly in for a pulse-pounding conclusion.

X-Men Legacy is the self-confessed black sheep of the X-books, but I think this is going to work in its favour. With the utterly bonkers mind of Spurrier at the helm, aided by the kinetic and equally bonkers artwork of Huat, Legion's mind couldn't be in better hands. There's work to do on both the writing and art fronts, but this is a strong opening issue that gives me hope for the future of Legion.

It's difficult to review this book without feeling like I'm repeating myself (I'm sure that previous sentence has been in every review of this book since issue #2), but it's because the sentiments remain true. This book is always a curveball; I can never tell whether the issue I'm going to read is going to swerve one way or another, and once the path that it takes has been plotted, it's always something completely unpredictable that I would never have thought of. Despite some odd scribbly bits in the artwork, this is another solid issue in the series.

Young Avengers is an odd book that doesn't fit into the superhero mold properly, and that makes it difficult to review and always an interesting read. The only real drawback at the moment is that it feels less of a team book and more of a semi-team book, considering the team isn't all here yet, but if that's the only thing working against it, I'm hardly one to complain.

Alpha still has a concluding issue to go, and hopefully Slott will rectify the little flaws that have been marring this arc. There are still moments of greatness in this issue, and most of it is just as good as you'd hope, but there are those niggling little doubts that will spoil this arc and drag it down in quality. This is by no means a bad comic book, but it's nowhere near as good as Slott's best.

So Alpha has left us, and whilst the character himself left a bad taste in my mouth, this issue was a satisfying conclusion to the storyline. There was probably a lot more that could have been done with him, but given how he played out across the three issues he starred in, I think it's for the best that he disappears for a while and comes back when he's developed some nice character traits rather than all of the bad ones. The arc, and this issue, had their good parts, which mostly outweighed the poor ones, but this is possibly the weakest arc of Dan Slott's Amazing Spider-Man so far. With Goblins on the horizon, I think it'll be a return to form next arc however.

As an issue of Amazing Spider-Man, this issue fails on almost all accounts. But if you treat it as a Morbius #0.1, then you'll likely get more out of it instead of wondering where Spider-Man is all the time. This issue sets things up for Morbius' new series pretty well, and has me confident in Keatinge's ability to write the lead character. If you don't know the origin of Morbius, then feel free to add a full point to my final rating.

I think this is the first time in a few years in which Amazing Spider-Man has had an annual which tells a story that a) doesn't require any prior knowledge to understand and b) is done-in-one and doesn't continue elsewhere. This is what annuals should be like. There may be some pacing problems and the art may not be perfect all the way through, but it's an enjoyable, heartfelt little story that will keep you going until the main Amazing Spider-Man issues are back on the stands.

So the Court of Owls are gone for now, and most of the hanging plot threads have been dealt with in this issue. Harper Row has made herself known, and Snyder has laid the seeds for her further involvement in the series in an issue that has truly thrown me as to what rating to give it. There's nothing inherently wrong with the issue at all; I'm just not sure exactly where we're going just yet. However, as I said, I'm prepared to go along with the ride for now, and I expect fans of Snyder and Cloonan will be too.

This is a solid issue of Blue Beetle, and showcases everything that makes the series what it is. From Jaime's personality to the influence that his family and friends have on the goings on in his life, the story in this series evolves naturally from one issue to the next; there's no reason to have multi-part arcs specified, because it is all one big storyline, and all the better for it. Bedard and Guara are a great team, and I'm glad to have this series on my pull list " I'm sure you would be too.

Blue Beetle continues to be entertaining, if a little on the safe side of superheroics. It's an enjoyable book that has become reliably good month in and month out, and as I keep saying, it's going to be a shame when it disappears, even if the title character is sticking around as part of the Threshold ensemble cast. This issue is another in a long line of good fun, easily accessible, highly recommended issues. It may not take many risks in its storytelling, but it is onto a winning formula for good old fashioned fun "- and what more can you ask for in a comic book?

Constantine's first issue is a solid effort, but not quite what I was hoping it would be. The story feels very bog-standard at the moment, and whilst some aspects of Constantine's character are well developed, others like his dialogue don't ring true just yet. The artwork from Guedes is a highlight, and the foundations have been set for a successful story, we just need to hope that Lemire and Fawkes can build something sturdy on top of them.

It's a case of two steps forward, and one step back with this series. This issue is fine, but never really gets beyond fine, which is a shame. John's inner voice is still rock solid and continues to build on the earlier work that Fawkes and Lemire established in the first few issues, but the story itself doesn't really build any momentum or do anything of too much interest. Given how far the series has come since its first issue, and the vast improvements that issues 2 and 3 were on issue 1, going backwards is not a good idea. Hopefully Trinity War's impending arrival will help it back up the quality ladder.

Even Renato Guedes' artwork doesn't seem as up to par as it usually does. After taking issue #4 off, he returns here with some wonderful splash pages, but the nitty-gritty details on more paneled pages seem to be off. I'm not sure if he's rushed to get this issue out on time so that it makes sense within the crossover, or if he's trying a new approach to his already unique style, but it doesn't work as well as the first three issues did. Again there are highlights, such as the panels involving Shazam's magic thunder, but there are times when this issue's art is just not up to par.Constantine as a series is very uneven so far. We've had a few good issues, a few poor ones, and then there's this one that tries to do everything right and only manages it about half the time. For every good idea there are decisions that drag the issue back down, and this is not the kind of issue you want to put out as a tie-in to the DC Universe's first even in two years.

This is a decent enough mid-arc issue of this series, though it's getting to a point where the split focus on the book isn't working as well as it has previously. I think that, as the two storylines get closer together, this will be less apparent, but for now we're going to have to put up with the shuffling pace that the storylines are progressing at. This doesn't stop Parker from adding even more to keep us interested however, and the banter between characters continues to be as impressive and hilarious as ever.

The two teams are now poised for their final showdowns; the 'Bolts have one last fight in the future to get through before they (supposedly) get back in time to stop the Dark Avengers, and then it's all change in an issue's time as another new status quo takes hold of the book with issue #183. This incarnation of the Dark Avengers/Thunderbolts has had a few ups and downs, but I'm certain it will go out on a high, despite stumbling a little near the end of this cataclysmic storyline.

With the news that this will be the final storyline the Dark Avengers get to enjoy before their title is cancelled, it's with a heavy heart that I have to say that this isn't one of the better issues of the series. It's basically an extended fight scene, and Parker does his best to make it interesting and a proper look at how our characters function together " badly, as it turns out. It's still good fun, but it isn't a particularly memorable issue, serving to move our characters around the board and get them in place for the final few issues that will bring everything to a close.

Hopefully this series can pick itself back up after this opening arc. I gave Justice League the same college try with its opening story and though I dropped the title after six issues, word of mouth has said the following story blew the initial one out of the park. Hopefully the same happens over here as we move out of this opening story and into a book with a team that's more familiar with each other (and maybe even a new, more impressive artist).

Overall, this is a solid issue. As noted, I was somewhat concerned when this issue was solicited, fearing that this would just be a silly time travel issue (and talking of time travel, didn't Age of Ultron break it or something?) acting merely as a filler. However, this actually was an important issue, moving the main plot forward, and I'm interested in seeing where the Fantastic Four go next as Reed searches for a cure for their condition " as well as seeing just what its effects will be on Ben and Johnny.

Based on the solicits, this looked like a rather interesting issue. And don't get me wrong, it certainly is. But, sadly however, for me it felt a bit flat, trying to do far too much within its pages. There certainly are some neat little concepts to be had here, and I am looking forward to reading the next issue " but I just hope that the story is more focused next month and allows for them to shine a bit more.

The Flash remains a strong New 52 book, now turning its attention to introducing the Rogues to new readers and reintroducing them to older fans. This first issue gives a nice take on Gorilla Grodd, and promises more in the future with the likes of Weather Wizard and the Pied Piper. Manapul and Buccellato may have made a bit of a mess of some of the narrative, but that's no reason for this book to be anything short of enjoyable. Add in their usual pitch perfect artwork driving the story along, and another solid issue of The Flash has once again raced onto the stands.

The Flash rockets on in this second arc as the Rogues continue to come together, as does the Flash's world. Manapul and Buccellato continue to prove themselves excellent writers, and Marcus To's contributions to this title won't soon be forgotten.

Reverse is off to a good start, but isn't anything too spectacular just yet. Given that this is a six part arc however, there's plenty of time to build momentum and run with it. This issue is our standing start, with the final page being the gun-shot that starts the race. We can guarantee that the next five issues are going to be pulse-pounding action, as Barry meets the Reverse Flash and some other characters he's long overdue to meet before reaching the finish line. Yeah, I went with the running puns " considering I've gone 21 issues without it, I'd call that restraint.

Despite what I've said in this review, this isn't a bad issue by any means; it's just the fact that we've been looking forward to this storyline for a long time, and it still doesn't feel like it's really kicked in just yet. With four more issues (plus Villains Month) to go, there's plenty of time for more fun to occur, but this issue is a bit of a stalling point.

This is a slower issue than the past few, but that doesn't detract from the ongoing storyline here. As we move from one arc to the next, we're bound to lose just a little momentum as Johns moves his players across his chessboard, but there's still enough in this issue to keep the reader's interest. With promises of yet another great arc (and even glimpses of future storylines too), the Revenge of Black Hand is off to a disturbing start—in a good way, of course.

This issue is a solid start to Venditti's tenure as writer, and whilst it probably won't set anyone's world on fire, it lays a sturdy foundation for things to come. There are some teething problems, but this is to be expected, and there's no reason to believe that this title won't soon be at the top of everyone's reading list as it has been for the past 9 years.

Talajic delivers on the art, though. As we move forth with this arc, I have to say that the art in each issue is better than the last, and hopefully with Carlos Pacheco on the interiors in the next issue (along with the fact that Banner's plan is to be fully revealed, and we also have Hulk up against both Wolverine and Thing) it takes the cake and rounds this arc out successfully. Talajic's style seems perfectly suited for the jungle scenes which make up almost all of this book, especially when we see the Sasquatch City, and his character designs are fantastic. I have to say, though, that Frank Martin's colors make the artwork really stand out as his palettes blend perfectly with the settings Talajic illustrates.

Rotworld begins, and things already look bleak story-wise. Quality-wise, things have never looked better. Snyder and Lemire have been teasing and setting up this story for 12 issues, and now here we are as it takes off. Hold on to your hats, and the contents of your stomach, because if this issue is anything to set the bar by, Rotworld is going to be great.

Swamp Thing has been a strong series since the get-go, but for the first time I think it has made numerous missteps in one go. Not only does it not conclude the storyline it set out to conclude, but it suffers from inappropriate artwork, and for the first time ever has left me disappointed. Hopefully Scott Snyder will be able to remedy that with his final issue next month.

Whilst the majority of the story is a mass fight scene between the Titans, Legion, Superboy and the other teenage metahumans, there are enough answers and new questions posed that will keep you engaged for most of it. The cliffhanger isn't really much to go on, but it promises more fighting to come, which is what superhero books are famous for. The Culling started off on a wrong foot with some dodgy dialogue, but by the time the issue comes to a close, it has its feet firmly on the right path to being an enjoyable crossover.

Whilst it does smell distinctly like cash-in material, the Ends of the Earth one-shot does bring something to the table. With some solid superhero action and a nice look at a variety of heroes across the world, this issue helps show just how far reaching Doc Ock's plans are, and how much really is riding on Spider-Man to make sure this all ends well. The lead segment by Williams is by far the stronger of the two, and Silas' artwork helps cement the tie-in as part of the storyline with its similarities to Humberto Ramos. You won't miss anything if you don't read this one-shot, but picking it up wouldn't hurt either.

Gillen seems to be playing it safe so far with the Avengers Vs. X-Men tie-in for Uncanny X-Men. We don't get anything too different than we'd expect, but there is promise for something more in latter issues. I know that later in the tie-in, the focus will shift to Mister Sinister and his plans, but for now, we have an enjoyable, and hilarious, punch-up issue, and there are much worse ways that this could have gone.

To recap, I can see that Kieron Gillen is trying his best with this issue. He is taking what he can use and doing the best he can with it, but the shackles of Avengers Vs. X-Men are dragging the quality of this series back down. Whilst I'm hopeful that the final issue of this arc will have a few surprises in store, given that all of the Phoenix Five are fine in Avengers Vs. X-Men #8, I can't see there being much. It's a shame that we've been feeling the effects of the crossover for so long, even before it started.

So another arc comes to a close, and with only three issues of the series left, it's safe to say that Gillen has a lot of work to do to wrap up all of the plotlines he has created, as well as having some repercussions from the crossover event to sort out as well. It looks as though Cyclops and Emma Frost will be getting the spotlight for the next few issues, but here's hoping they're as enjoyable as this last little arc has been.

With one issue left in his run, I have to hope that Remender is able to tie things together effectively and give us the ending his run deserves. Apparently the issue will feature a battle between Venom and Jack O' Lantern, which should be good given that he's been the most intriguing villain for Flash to go up against throughout this title. Luckily we have Remender continuing to use the character to his full potential over in Secret Avengers, and we know his run on that title isn't set to end any time soon.

As the first Avengers Vs. X-Men tie-in I personally have read, and one of the first on the shelves, this sets a good level for what to hope for: Jason Aaron balances the event with his own storylines well, and offers a little something for regular readers as well as those who have just jumped on because of the Avengers Vs. X-Men banner. The artwork does drag it down, but the story is as tight as ever.

This issue of Wolverine and the X-Men fumbles the ball a little by reducing a potentially interesting plotline into nothing more than page dressing, but redeems itself with some truly wonderful storytelling later on in the issue. Aaron knows what he's doing with this book, even if the Avengers Vs. X-Men crossover might not be letting him do all he wants with it just yet. One misstep in eleven issues is hardly anything to complain about.

Wolverine and the X-Men continues to be an enjoyable comic, but not to the standard that it was before the Avengers Vs. X-Men crossover struck. It needs an injection in the same way that Uncanny X-Men currently has, perhaps a change in story direction or a new idea to focus on. Until then, it remains decent, but a shadow of its former self.

This is one of the less impressive issues of Wolverine and the X-Men; it'll probably be forgotten once this storyline progresses past the initial Dog/Wolverine confrontation, but for now, the exposition-driven plot and the uneven artwork means that it leaves a bit of a bad taste in the mouth once it's over. After five or six excellent issues, we were bound to get a dud, and here it is; past experience has shown that next issue will be much better, so we'll forgive this one for not being as good as it should have been.

As we head into what will be this book's biggest storyline yet, it seems that all of the storytelling pieces are in place to make it the most excellent yet as well. The art on this issue is a big misstep, and drags this issue's final score down massively as a result, but we can rest assured knowing that next issue will be a marked improvement.

Dark Avengers has hit a blip, and this close to the end of the series, it's definitely not a good time for one. Hopefully this issue's flaws will be forgotten by next issue, because it'd be a damn shame for this consistently enjoyable series to take a nosedive this close to the finish line.

All that said, the issue did fairly wrap up the opening arc while leading us forth into the next story, but it just didn't do enough to make me want to stay around to see what happens next month. I'd love to follow these characters, but with my ever-expanding pull list thanks to Marvel NOW!, Image Comics constant new releases, and upcoming new waves from DC, cuts need to be made, and this happens to be one of the books that gets the short straw. Typically, I do give a book about an arc before deciding it's fate on my pull, so at least this one made it that far. But I do hope that I'll be proven wrong and the title goes forth and becomes better than it has been in this opening story to make me really excited to read it in collections.

Teen Titans is an odd series. It can have moments of sheer idiocy, like ignoring a perfectly good cliffhanger, but then it always seems to tease enough plot threads that make me want to come back. This issue is decent overall, despite the shaky beginning and the cryptic ending, and it gives us just enough to come back for another instalment. The Culling begins next week in Teen Titans Annual #1, so hopefully that will finally answer some of the questions readers have.

To conclude, Kieron Gillen's run on Uncanny X-Men so far has been hampered by stilted conclusions to well developed arcs, and this is no exception. There are some gems to be found in this issue, but most of it feels like the issue is only biding its time before the Avengers Vs. X-Men crossover hits the pages next month.

This isn't a particularly bad issue of Wolverine and the X-Men, but it feels like an unnecessary look at some characters that don't really need the added back-story. It's competent and decently told, but basically exists as a filler issue in order to bridge the gap between the final stages of Avengers Vs. X-Men. Thankfully next issue should be a bit more fun, as a certain Doop appears to brighten things up a bit.

Luckily, this series is double shipping to high heaven, with another issue out next week of all things, so the loss of momentum that this issue causes will hopefully not be a problem for too long. There's nothing inherently wrong with this issue as a stand-alone, but it just feels extremely out of place and unnecessary at this point in time, so let's hope next week puts us back on track…again.

Continue to read: No, at least not in single issues.Continue to review: No.

Don't let this issue of Wolverine and the X-Men put you off the main series " it has nothing to do with it, and is nowhere near the level of quality. I've read some poor tie-ins for the Age of Ultron event, like last week's Ultron #1AU issue, but only this one has reached wall-headbutting levels of stupidity. Thankfully, the artwork is great, but that's nowhere near enough to save this issue from being unneeded, and just silly.

It is safe to say that I will no longer be picking up Teen Titans " this crossover has been a mess, and I have no motivation to carry on following these characters in single issues. The only redeeming feature of this issue is Ig Guara's art, but that will not save this issue from being a poor end to a poorly conceived crossover that has killed all interest I had in the characters. As a result, I will be reviewing Blue Beetle instead of Teen Titans from now on " at least that book hasn't let me down yet.