Bernard Chang and Marcelo Mailo are still an extremely capable art team, giving the book its own defined tone and pallet, mixing in the familiar reds and blacks so strong with the themes of Beyond with a thickly lined style that gives it its own identity.

As an interlude after a particularly under-whelming arc, this one-shot was just a really fun character study on characters who really deserved this little time in the spotlight.

This issue, oddly enough, felt like the television series Batman Beyond. This has largely been a book thats been mostly focused on integration; taking the things we like about Batman Beyond and merging those elements with the greater DCU, as well as the other way around. And its been a really good book, exploring whats changed in Neo-Gotham and especially how Terry interacts with it. But something about the self-contained nature of this issue really hit that three-act structure the show did so well, as well as giving some lime-light to a fan favorite villain with the redemption of Shriek.

The Stalker provides an interesting foe for Terry to clash with; and a tragic cause is something Batman's oh-so familar with.

Batman Beyond has been going on for 30-something issues now since the DCYOU, and it continues to positively surprise every single issue.

Matt takes the spotlight as Batman Beyond reminds us that while there's a different look, Robin is as needed as ever.

The Dawnbreaker wasn't quite as exciting as the previous two journeys so far. Even the constructs Dawnbreaker uses, while horrific and fantastic, draw too many similarities to the powers of so many versions of Volthoom to really let this issue have that much identity. That all being said, it's still an enjoyable little romp of a knight who went dark, it just doesn't manage to have that surprise factor.

As the plot of Metal continues to build and add more points to its structure, the more some of the Dark Nights tie-ins have to carry some of that crossover. The Devastator tells another tale of a dark Bruce Wayne, but the main focus of the issue ties in directly to the fate of Superman in the last issue of Metal. This gives us the oft-asked question of who would win in a fight, Superman or Batman, but in a different way. It's not about the blows the two traded back and forth, but about how much obsession can really take over someone's mind when something they've long feared comes truth.

Badass. This book adds another dark reflection of the regular 52 Multiverse to the list of what weve seen so far, with earth negative eleven reflecting regular earth elevens gender swapped earth. The Drowned gets a shocking amount of depth for the 22-pages this book has, no pun intended, and really feels like for lack of a better word, a Batman.

The summit of military forces was a fun little collection of who's who, but despite compelling art and another fun origin of darkness, this issue didn't hit the heights of Metal's insanity so far, but sets up more to come.

This event is insane, and one of the craziest combinations of things to happen in an event comic in a long time.

Everything related to Metal has been absolutely stellar, and this book is the very best next thing to the main event itself.

It's certainly something that's going to leave an impact on the event and its readers, and it's not going to be forgotten easily. Regardless of what-ifs, this what-if in its own only opens another door to an even darker place.

Exiles #1 brings back a fan-favorite team with that great taste you remember, and a beautiful new coat of paint. And after that initial taste, and you get to the crunchy filling? The new, unique style of this Exiles run is just ready to explode in your mouth.

Reed Strongs Good Read: This was Metal #3.5, and thats great. While this issue does round around what Barry is doing and his greater piece in the woodwork of, ironically enough, Metal, it manages to feel like it matters. Its taking the Justice League to their next steps in this struggle, dropping the characters off where they need to be. This still works as an issue of the Flash, but it strikes that rare balance between tie-ing in and complete derailment. The Dark Knights themselves are still simple fun to read about, and getting a few more ideas about exactly what the dark multiverse is remains one of the whole mysteries of the event as a whole. Metal has had great success so far in not taking over DCs whole line, but managing to leave a strong impact and a well told story. Flash continues that streak as surely the next chapter of Metal will as well, and the more Metal, the better.

This is hopefully far from the end of Williamson's run, but by returning to one of the earlier stories he did in one of the Flash's weaker moments, we really get to see some fun things come back and play off each other.

The Speed Force storm started a whole new era of The Flash, a well-needed one at that, and seeing Meenah getting tied into the core of it is going to lead to some really fun conclusions. But this story has just started, and while it may take a break into Flash War for a while, we're going to see Raijin reek some powerful havoc sooner rather than later.

The Rogues shine, but Godspeed dazzles as a character-driven arc gives the Flash solid footing to keep on running.

Gorilla Grodd is terrifying, and this issue reminds you just why that is.

Flash War continues as Barry Allen, for better or worse, does one of the things Barry Allen does best.

Boom can be stereotyped as having a certain house style for its teen girl adventure books, and if it did, this book would stand out while still holding a few of the classic tropes. Every character has a particular style of clothing and body language, going into a delightfully detailed style that still has the more cartoony and simplistic expressions for the really light music.

The plot finally starts to show itself in this issue, but not without still a hearty dose of charm and wit from the characters we were introduced to the last time. The fight club itself is still a little nebulously defined, but the idea of simple teenage girl vigilantes is a fun idea in both concept and execution.

This books still just a pleasant little experience. As we reach the near end of the four-issue mini, we start to see some arcs begin to close; finding out Doloress frustrations, continuing to play with the will they wont they of Chris and Maggie, and adding an even bigger and stranger mystery to whats happened to the missing rock star. Theres not a lot to say at this point that hasnt been said before, and thats for the better. If you read the first issue and love it, youre gonna love this series. It keeps giving you what you want and what you dont expect each new chapter of the story, and will surely be another great gateway-drug into comics that Boom is so uniquely good at putting out.

Heavy Vinyl is a heartwarming, action packed slice of life adventure that provides a perfect entry-way into the excellent house style Boom has established.

Previously on JLA. After adventures in the Microverse verging on multi-dimensional destruction and living planets taking their apparant revenge out on the denizens, our group finally finds Ray Palmer. Or do they? They don't. This time? Maybe. Probably.

. It's a good book and Orlando still writes good dialog and can tell a compelling mystery, but maybe once we find out what's really going on, this story will really manage to pick up.

The purpose of this arc is just to figure out what's happening with Ray Palmer, from how I'm seeing it, and it mostly does that well. The Ray usually helps provide the emotional core to this team, but with getting interrupted by another dude to punch, him and Canary didn't get to do a whole lot this time. There's nothing wrong with this arc, it just feels like it's still finding its way to the next big point of the run.

This issue is just another puzzle piece to the larger puzzle of Orlando's JLA plans, and I'm ready to see the final product.

Orlando is a guy really gifted at weaving some interesting story structures, and while Null and the Microverse fell a little below my personal standards of interest, it's a story that'll surely blaze by in the trade. Now, we've just got another Prometheus ready to happen, and I couldn't be more excited.

This is a dang good comic, and you should read this. Return to me next time for your regularly scheduled in-style review, but this time, we had to Prometheus it out.

This arc is moving fast and Prometheus-ing even faster, delivering some of the best fights and character dynamics of Rebirth so far.

Prometheus meets his downfall in the conclusion to a solid small arc, and the weirdest JLA yet continues to learn more about themselves as their enemies try to learn more about them.

Orlando's world expands itself in every issue, but beyond the world building the book continues to have one main advantage; these characters still really live and breathe, having a significant life outside of their costumes, and really in their own skins.

DC's been using its fair share of Alan Moore properties, and this is something that's going to keep happening for the very least of the near future. It's a controversial act especially at the degree things are coming out, but in this book, Promethea pops into a very interesting story.

The JLA has faced down true abominations and masterminds in their run so far, and a rematch with their first villain is the perfect way to see how far they've come.

JLA counts down to its last days with a fight through time, and a god of superheroes to bring it to the true conclusion.

It's a difficult time to write a story about an empowered regime taking down a particular group, but especially with the scene of Dick and Alfred not remotely being on the same level with what Dick had to do, it's an interesting start to lead through the rest of whatever we get in this what-if.

Unlike Secret Empire, this is a book about fascism. It's about dealing with Dick's choices and the regime he's lead, specifically what can happen when he becomes a victim himself. We continue to get just a really well-told elseworlds in this issue; finding out a bit more about what the hell happened, as well as getting another always heart-breaking loss of a beloved father figure.

It's an interesting elseworlds, and as we get another chapter in we're sure to find the next big surprise right around the corner.

This book has been a bit of an oddity; announced among so many other tales of superheroes gone fascist regimes, those who were familiar enough with Kyle Higgins figured they knew what to expect, but still anticipated some very different context. And that's what we got, and are continuing to get especially as we get to the see some of the original New Teen Titans together in one of the first times since the New 52 began. But an elseworlds is an elseworlds, as we get more heartbreak, more backstory, and more suffering.

Dick Grayson teams up with whoever's necessary to save his son, but saves his beliefs to stand firmly in everything he's done.

New Order is an optimistic story from dark times, showing that heroes never die; but villains can come from anywhere.

This book continues to be one of the most artfully ambitious and fulfilling projects that Sims and Bowers have done to date, including the absolutely jam-packed 9 panel grids painting the pages of the book by Ghost Writer X.

This book still continues to explore an interesting mythology, with characters of diverse enough identities that help push forward a variety of motivations for the same goal. Outside of analyzing it like that, its still just easy to say that this book is real book.

This book still rules and is going to be one heck of a trade. If you haven't checked the book out by now, this definitely isn't the issue to hop in on. (Of course it isn't, it's issue 5.) But if you've road this way so far, you're getting a hell of a fun conclusion. This book has stretched the expectations of the amount of drama and emotion Sims and Bowers are able to pair with their usual quick wits, the fleeting life of Peter Case, his complicated relationship with Amy and Alvin, and Terry's role in all of this. It's the most compelling, well written, and beautifully drawn project the duo has had the chance to work on yet. Read this series for yourself. Trust me, you won't regret the adventure.