Sean Ian Mills's Comic Reviews

Reviewer For: Henchman-4-Hire, Word Of The Nerd Reviews: 3268
7.3Avg. Review Rating

7
2020 Force Works #1

Feb 29, 2020

Strong characters and an entertaining team dynamic make this first issue worth a read.

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9
2020 Force Works #2

Mar 28, 2020

Considering it's a tie-in spin-off to another, bigger event, the creative team seems to be really having a blast throwing in all sorts of crazy ideas and mixing up some interesting characters.

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9
2020 Force Works #3

Jun 6, 2020

Outstanding character writing elevated what could have been a bog-standard tie-in comic into something truly enjoyable to read.

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6.6
A-Force #1

May 22, 2015

A-Force could have been something really special had it been allowed to really exist on its own terms. The writers do a great job with what they're given, telling an exciting, emotional story with relatively brand new characters. And artist Jorge Molina and his team bring it to life with exciting detail. But A-Force and it's all-female superhero team are just a gimmick in the larger Secret Wars universe. To call this the ‘first ever all-female Avengers team' is a disservice to that very idea. Someday there should be an all-female Avengers team, or an Avengers team that's majority female, or an Avengers team with an equal split of members. But if you're going to do it, do it in a way that reallymatters.

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9
Absolute Batman (2024) #1

Oct 12, 2024

Not a grand reinvention so much as just a good, solid, entertaining Batman comic, with some of the major players shuffled around into new roles. Should be a fun read.

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6
Action Comics (2011) #30

Apr 5, 2014

It's very enjoyable. And the art has been great. I could barely tell there were three different artists on this issue. The coloring is bright and cheerful, and really, Pak is just writing some nice Superman comics. Perhaps the promise of Doomsday in this issue will give him something meatier to play with in the future.

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8
Action Comics (2011) #41

Jun 6, 2015

This is a Superman I could get behind. He's personable, he's friendly, and he's a hero no matter what. Pak just has a really good handle on his main character, keeping Clark Kent as Clark Kent, even in this new dynamic. And I like the new dynamic.

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8
Action Comics (2011) #42

Jul 4, 2015

Rather than being a flying symbol of truth and justice, Superman is now a man of the people, forced to stand on his own two feet down in the grime and the muck. I really liked that aspect of the issue. The cops are almost cartoonishly evil in this issue, but it works to really put the pressure on Superman.

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9
Action Comics (2011) #43

Aug 15, 2015

This new, de-powered Superman is making for one exciting and interesting protagonist.

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8
Action Comics (2011) #44

Sep 12, 2015

We're back for another excellent installment of Superman-of-the-People, and I'm still excited for this story. Throwing out a somewhat generic super-villain as the antagonist is slightly disappointing, but Pak and Kuder acquit themselves well in the storytelling.

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7
Action Comics (2011) #45

Oct 10, 2015

Kolins is a nice fill-in for regular artist Aaron Kuder. Their styles are similar, and Kolins does a solid job with the monstrosity of the black ink, and with the normalness of this current Superman. This is a solid creative team telling a solid Superman story, though this problem with the shadow ink monsters is starting to get a little long in the tooth.

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8
Action Comics (2016) #1001

Jul 28, 2018

When Bendis focuses on a grounded Superman, among the people, his stories really soar.

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5
Action Comics (2016) #1002

Aug 25, 2018

Much like all of Bendis' work on Superman so far, this new issue is uninteresting. It's like he can't come up with anything new or worthwhile to do with either Superman or Clark Kent.

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5
Action Comics (2016) #1003

Sep 29, 2018

The art is phenomenal, but Bendis' Superman comics continue to accomplish very little. Not even a Batman cameo can help.

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7
Action Comics (2016) #1004

Oct 27, 2018

Action Comics has some really great character development, but it's unfortunately coupled with a really lackluster plot.

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6
Action Comics (2016) #1005

Dec 1, 2018

The story in Action Comics would make a better comedy than a serious crime story, but it's being played straight, making for an underwhelming read.

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5
Action Comics (2016) #1006

Jan 5, 2019

Bendis has a lot of potentially neat ideas, but his execution leaves something to be desired.

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7
Action Comics (2016) #1007

Feb 2, 2019

The new storyline is off to a good, solid start, though the series as a whole could still use a real boost to the drama.

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8
Action Comics (2016) #1008

Mar 2, 2019

Bendis is finally able to deliver some real tension and excitement in his Superman comics.

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8
Action Comics (2016) #1009

Mar 30, 2019

The tension keeps mounting and the story keeps getting better as Bendis sinks his teeth into something more enjoyable.

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8
Action Comics (2016) #1010

Apr 27, 2019

Strong character work and an interesting overall premise keep this story very enjoyable.

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8
Action Comics (2016) #1011

May 25, 2019

Bendis continues to increase the tension and raise the stakes for his upcoming event with fun twists and solid character work.

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8
Action Comics (2016) #1050

Dec 31, 2022

Superman is relaunching again, and some things are new and some things are old again. This issue serves as a really fun launching pad, with some epic superhero stuff in its own right, and a lot of cool set-ups for future stories.

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7
Action Comics (2016) #1051

Jan 28, 2023

Good enough look at the new revamp and new status quos, though I would have liked more time explaining all these characters and how this new set-up is going to work.

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7
Action Comics (2016) #1052

Mar 4, 2023

I like the Super-Family as a concept, and this issue does a solid job of setting up their first major threat with a classic Superman villain.

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9
Action Comics (2016) #1064

Apr 13, 2024

As with the rest of Williamson's Superman, this comic is the whole package. It's got great character moments, a ton of set-up and then a really big, really awesome battle sequence. And this is only the beginning!

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8
Action Comics (2016) #1065

May 18, 2024

Enjoyable, entertaining middle chapter of this Superman vs. Brainiac story.

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6
Aero #1

Jul 6, 2019

I'm all for introducing a new Chinese national superhero at Marvel, but the execution of this first issue feels a little juvenile.

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8
Age of Ultron #1

Mar 9, 2013

Also, was anyone else distracted by the idea that Spider-Man in this issue is supposed to be Doctor Octopus, from Superior Spider-Man? Bendis has been plotting out this story for years, so I'm pretty sure he expected Peter Parker to be in this role. But promotional material keeps pointing out that it's Doc Ock still living in Peter's body. That really kind of depressed me when it was revealed that Hawkeye's big action sequence was all about rescuing Spider-Man. It robbed the moment of a lot of Bendis' intended impact since it's just Doc Ock and not the real Spider-Man.

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6
Age of Ultron #2

Mar 16, 2013

Unless you're a huge Moon Knight fan and like seeing him as a badass, there's not a whole lot to get excited about in this issue or this series as a whole so far.

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6
Age of Ultron #3

Mar 30, 2013

Vision is an odd choice for villain. Bendis destroyed Vision at the very start of his Avengers run and never bothered to bring him back until the very, very end. So Bendis has never really written anything with Vision for the nearly 10 years he worked on various Avengers stories. So what difference does it make that Vision is the villain instead of Ultron? I suppose it might be a big deal for Vision fans, but they've been through so much crap over the past 10 years, can they even feel anything anymore? This was another non-issue for me. The Avengers didn't do much of anything, and it was mostly about Luke Cage just walking towards the big reveal at the end. The scene in Chicago was OK, but only in the fact that Taskmaster is a cool character and I like him being used in such a way. Otherwise it's still just a pointless scene of other superheroes fighting Ultron drones. Ho hum.

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6
Age of Ultron #4

Apr 6, 2013

For some reason, whenever it comes to Big Events, Bendis always comes up with a cool plot, but then fails in the execution. The idea of a rag tag band of heroes joining forces in a world conquered by Ultron sounds cool, but he has done absolutely nothing with the story or the characters beyond that general premise. This is a huge disappointment.

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8
Age of Ultron #5

Apr 13, 2013

Fancy that. When something actually happens in Age of Ultron, it makes for a pretty good issue. The series isn't completely saved by this one issue, but it's a change in the right direction.

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8
Age of Ultron #6

Apr 20, 2013

Overall, though, this is still an entertaining issue. The bold move of actually having Wolverine kill Pym is a strong moment, even if it's somewhat dampened by our knowledge of how the Marvel Multiverse works, and the fact that it's far from permanent. But if we ignore that, it's pretty cool. I just wish Bendis had bothered to spend a little time building up to this issue instead of wasting so much of our time. And it's a shame that Bryan Hitch couldn't stick around for the rest of the story. The two new artists, one for the future and one for the past, are nowhere near Hitch's skill level.

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6
Age of Ultron #7

May 4, 2013

This issue has nothing going for it. This is basically just a romp in a relatively uninteresting alternate reality. Those things are a dime a dozen at Marvel Comics, and there's nothing about this alternate reality that's all that compelling. Sue and Wolverine barely react to having murdered Hank Pym. And none of the other characters we've been following in Age of Ultron so far make an appearance. I complained about this last issue, but it bears repeating: Wolverine and the Invisible Woman did not exist in this series until Bendis randomly picked them to appear in the previous issue. And now the entire story rests on their shoulders, because the characters we did spend time with – Spider-Man, Red Hulk, Moon Knight, Black Widow – are simply gone. It's such a weird storytelling choice. Age of Ultron isn't bad, it's just dull.

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6
Age of Ultron #8

May 18, 2013

I was ready to declare this several issues ago, but Age of Ultron is a total failure. And I have no idea how Bendis is going to take everything we've seen so far and somehow use it to introduce Angela into the Marvel Universe. It boggles the mind.

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7
Age of Ultron #9

Jun 8, 2013

I actually kind of liked this issue. As much as I've disliked Age of Ultron as a whole, this individual issue was good, or at least it was good enough. Gone are the pointless alternate realities and the unnecessary action sequences. It's just two Wolverines debating the merits of time travel murder, while Hank Pym sits by trying to figure out what the hell is going on.

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5
Age of Ultron #10

Jun 22, 2013

Age of Ultron was bad. It was a bad comic. It was bad storytelling. It was bad everything. And as for Angela at the very end? Ridiculous. Maybe somewhere there are Angela fans who are really excited to see her appear in the Marvel Universe for some reason, but I'm not one of them. Her sudden appearance doesn't have anything to do with anything. She just shows up. I have no idea why Marvel is so excited to get their hands on her. And her appearance at the end of this comic does nothing to stoke my interest in her. Maybe she should have played a larger role in Age of Ultron. Maybe if she'd been the star of the series she would now matter. Instead, she's just a weird transfer from Spawn comics, completely void of all context since Marvel probably can't have her mention Spawn at all. I have no idea what they hope to accomplish with Angela, or even really what they hoped to accomplish with Age of Ultron. It's all just bogus.

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7
Agents of Atlas (2019) #1

Aug 10, 2019

Plot takes focus over characters in the proper debut issue of the new Agents of Atlas, but it's a really fascinating plot.

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6
All-New All-Different Avengers #1

Nov 14, 2015

This was a fine start to Mark Waid's Avengers, though it was a little light on anything noteworthy. Sam Wilson, Tony Stark and Miles Morales just kind of crash into each other fighting a pretty boring bad guy

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5
All-New All-Different Avengers #2

Dec 5, 2015

Waid repeatedly mentions the fact that they're not technically an Avengers team, but we have no idea why there isn't an official Avengers team in the first place thanks to that 8 month jump thing. I dunno. This title just isn't grabbing me. Waid seems to be going through the motions, without anything new or interesting to say about the characters or the Avengers. And Kubert's art already starts to get messy here in the second issue. The only real interesting aspect to this series is the butting heads between Nova and Ms. Marvel, but even that feels a little rushed.

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5
All-New All-Different Avengers #4

Jan 30, 2016

I love Ms. Marvel as much as the next geek, and a semi-awkward teen rivalry with Nova sounds like an amazing idea. But even Waid's Iron Manis kind of just shrugging his shoulders about this team. There's no hook, no clear direction. No apparent reason why this group of superheroes is going to be the Avengers. Their solo books are on fire and are some of my favorites from Marvel, but I guess I don't care much for them as a makeshift team.

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7
All-New All-Different Avengers #5

Feb 13, 2016

The Vision seems like an easy choice for an evil team member, but I've never cared for the character, so that's fine by me. I am far more interested in the relationships between the younger and older Avengers, and this issue finally makes that feel real and pivotal, rather than just a random collection of superheroes.

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7.6
All-New Captain America #1

Nov 14, 2014

All-New Captain America #1 is a fine start to the book's new status quo. Remender starts things off simple, with an easy-to-follow, continuity-light storythat puts new lead Sam Wilson right into the thick of the action. He's got a different background than Steve Rogers, and different ideals. He's not just Rogers redux, and that will only benefit the series going forward. Marvel put a lot on the line introducing this new Captain America and spreading the word in the mainstream media, and it looks like the project is in good hands.

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7
All-New Ghost Rider #1

Mar 29, 2014

The art is definitely unique, and I think I like it. I've really been enjoying the artists Marvel has brought on board for All-New Marvel NOW! They're becoming a stronger part of each comic, and while Moore's art won't be for everybody, it definitely works for me. I especially love his new design for Ghost Rider.

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7
All-New Ghost Rider #1

Mar 28, 2014

Still, All-New Ghost Rider #1 is a solid start to the series. Like the rest of the new solo hero comics from the All-New Marvel NOW!, the gears seem to be set for creativity and originality. Maybe that'll be enough to finally propel a Ghost Rider comic to success. But if I'm being honest, I definitely think the issue ended far too early. We already know Robbie Reyes becomes Ghost Rider. Smith and Moore should have given us a taste of what their Ghost Rider is going to be like in action. Some people might not be willing to bother waiting for that second issue to roll around.

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6
All-New Ghost Rider #2

Apr 12, 2014

The character work remains a nice draw, with very little of that weird, overly cartoony stylelike in the first issue. It's clear that the art will be a little cartoon-like, but I think it's growing on me. Moore also draws a beastly Mr. Hyde. I'm just a little disappointed that All-New Ghost Rider is following the comic book cliche of picking some obscure C or D-list villain and beefing them up into someone dangerous just to give Ghost Rider someone to fight. Hopefully Smith has some bigger plans in the future than just having the new Ghost Rider mop up the dregs of the Marvel Universe.

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8
All-New Ghost Rider #3

May 17, 2014

This is a fun, action-packed series with some great characters and great art. Moore's style is kind of insane, but it has definitely grown on me over these three issues. The angular, kinetic style in place when Ghost Rider beats up those thugs towards the end of the issue is Looney Tunes levels of wacky, but it is still pretty badass.

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7
All-New Ghost Rider #6

Aug 22, 2014

All-New Ghost Rider still has potential. Marvel has tried again and again to make this character stick, to no avail. I personally love the car angle, and I'd love to see that last. But writer Felipe Smith seems too focused on his Mr. Hyde plot, when he should be shifting the Robbie Reyes storyline into high gear. That's who I want to read about. Who cares about Mr. Hyde?

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8
All-New Hawkeye #1

Mar 6, 2015

Based on All-New Hawkeye #1, I'd say they have a very good chance of keeping the torch lit. This new series might not be a game-changer, but based on this first issue, it's at least going to be entertaining.You might even say that All-New Hawkeye is on target to be a good comic. I know I just did.

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8
All-New Wolverine #1

Nov 14, 2015

If this series can maintain fun character development like that, coupled with the action one expects from a Wolverine comic, then this could become a real standout. It's time for X-23 to really make a name for herself. She's the new Wolverine, she's got quite the legacy to uphold, and I think this comic is in the right hands.

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7
All-New Wolverine #2

Nov 28, 2015

The new Wolverine has started off on a very Wolverine-esque adventures. She's got bad guys, some solid supporting players, a good romance angle; I just hope Taylor and his art team can really start pushing this series to greatness. It's a fine read so far, but it could use a bit more spark.

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8
All-New Wolverine #3

Jan 2, 2016

That aside, this was another fun issue. All-New Wolverine seems to combine the colorful, quirky style of modern comics like Hellcat and Unbeatable Squirrel Girl with the action-packed adrenaline rush of a standard Wolverine comic. I like it. There's action galore, from claw fights to rocket-launchers and all manner of explosions. But Taylor also has a lot of quirky adorableness too, especially with the clones. This book isn't afraid to have fun. The story is a little too specific, I think, in that I don't really get an overall sense of the purpose or direction of the comic. This is just Wolverine on a very specific adventure. That can be well and good on its own, but I'm hoping Taylor can widen his scope over time and fill in some of the sidelines.

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8
All-New Wolverine #4

Jan 16, 2016

This is a fun series. Taylor and his art team are great with the action, even when it involves a big, Lovecraftian horror, and they're even better with the normal, friendly stuff. I've kind of forgotten the clones' names, but their personalities shine through, and they help keep this plot going. And Wolverine herself remains the star of the series. There's a lot to enjoy here.

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8
All-New Wolverine #5

Feb 13, 2016

We're back for more fun Wolverine times, with a special guest appearance by the Wasp. She has about as much to do with X-23 as Doctor Strange did, but this is nonetheless another entertaining issue.

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8
All-New Wolverine #6

Mar 12, 2016

This was an exciting conclusion to the first story arc, with a solid twist and a lot of good action.

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8
All-New Wolverine #7

Apr 30, 2016

This was a solid comic moving the new Wolverine forward, even if it's weird that Squirrel Girl randomly got her hands on a real, live wolverine.

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9
All-New Wolverine #8

May 21, 2016

All-New Wolverine is a fascinating comic with a lot of potential. I hope Taylor and his team really explore the space they've got, and I don't mind the occasional deviation into Fin Fang Foom.

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8
All-New Wolverine #9

Jun 4, 2016

Another issue of All-New Wolverine, another blast to be had! Wolverine herself is all about the badass action, and Gabby fills in the comedy. They're a solid, hugely entertaining team, and Taylor throws them into some great adventures.

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7
All-New Wolverine #10

Jul 23, 2016

It feels like Tayloris killing time with this issue. The cliffhanger might lead to a nice tie-in, but he apparently isn't in any rush to deal with Ulysses' vision or deal with Old Man Logan's drama. There's some strong character work in this issue, but nobody really has anything meaningful to do or say.

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8
All-New Wolverine #11

Aug 20, 2016

All-New Wolverine is a great comic. Taylor knows how to write his characters in both slower, character-building issues and exciting, action-packed issues like this one.

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7
All-New Wolverine #12

Sep 24, 2016

All-New Wolverine continues to be an enjoyable comic, and this issue has plenty to work with. But I think Taylor needs to spend a little time building a better emotional foundation for the characters and the story.

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8
All-New Wolverine #19

Apr 8, 2017

Shiny new ResurrXion threads are just one part of an entertaining new storyline in All-New Wolverine. Still a great comic with a fun cast.

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7
All-New Wolverine #20

May 13, 2017

All-New Wolverine doesn't have a place in ResurrXion, it seems, but she's doing an adequate job on her own with a mildly entertaining solo adventure.

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8
All-New Wolverine #31

Mar 3, 2018

A nice, simple done-in-one issue of Honey Badger and Deadpool having the kind of hilarious fun that makes them breakout characters to begin with.

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6
All-New Wolverine #32

Mar 17, 2018

This done-in-one issue can't hold a candle to the previous one as it gets down to business without Taylor's usual humor or heart. Without the colorful supporting cast and wacky shenanigans, Taylor's Wolverine feels pretty one-note. At least in this issue.

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7
All-New Wolverine #33

Apr 7, 2018

If you like alternate future storylines, this one is perfectly adequate.

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6
All-New Wolverine #34

Apr 28, 2018

It's all fine and dandy comic book storytelling, but the issue and story don't have anything very deep or meaningful to say so far.

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6
All-New Wolverine #35

May 19, 2018

Tom Taylor's All-New Wolverine ends on a perfectly adequate victory lap of a final story and issue.

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4
All-New X-Factor #1

Jan 9, 2014

All-New X-Factor #1 was a huge disappointment on every level. As you can see from my rant, I don't think there was one aspect I liked about the comic. It's a subpar outing from one of my favorite comic book writers. PAD had every opportunity to come up with something new and exciting, with a real focus on some interesting characters. But he delivers a generic, boring superhero story, like a million others being churned out of Marvel these days. All-New X-Factor #1 has no heart. And that's going to cost it in the long run.

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5
All-New X-Factor #2

Jan 23, 2014

All-New X-Factor is competently written and drawn, but it has absolutely nothing unique or interesting going for it. It's a comic that doesn't appear to have anything worthwhile to say. It feels like PAD and Marvel are comfortable with just phoning it in. They could have called the book 'X-Treme X-Force' and nobody would know the difference.

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5
All-New X-Factor #3

Feb 13, 2014

All-New X-Factor just isn't doing anything for me yet. PAD isn't saying anything new or interesting about the random characters he's chosen, and he's just not doing a very good job of building up the relationships between them. The plots of each issue have yet to grab me as anything more than generic superhero fare. And PAD simply isn't doing anything with Serval Industries or what it would be like to be a superhero team owned by a corporation. The characters might as well be getting their missions from anybody. It's clear that PAD's probably having fun writing this comic, but All-New X-Factor is lacking in anything that would make it truly special.

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5
All-New X-Factor #4

Mar 13, 2014

I will keep reading and writing these reviews, so I hope you stick with me. But I just don't see anything to like yet with All-New X-Factor. Of course, if PAD brings back Multiple Man, that will probably change.

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7
All-New X-Factor #5

Mar 28, 2014

I've been pretty hard on the series so far, but I really felt that Peter David's writing and characters were finally starting to gel in this issue.

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6
All-New X-Factor #6

Apr 10, 2014

There was a time when PAD's previous volume of X-Factor was the best X-book on the stands. It stood out as new and interesting, with a fun focus on character and team. But the comic book landscape has changed since then. A lot of comics focus on the characters these days, giving them heart and soul. I don't see that in All-New X-Factor. All I see is a generally well-made superhero comic, where the superheroes are just going through the motions.

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6
All-New X-Factor #7

May 10, 2014

Without Multiple Man as a guiding light, X-Factor just isn't as good as it once was, and I admit that that might be entirely subjective. Multiple Man is my most favorite comic book character of all time, so sue me. I will admit to liking this comic a bit more since I panned the debut, but All-New X-Factor is still just a mediocre book, at best.

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7
All-New X-Factor #8

May 24, 2014

I still don't think PAD has the team dynamic down as strongly in this series as he did in the last one, but they're mildly entertaining so far.

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7
All-New X-Factor #9

Jun 7, 2014

PAD is doing little with the concept of 'corporate heroes', his characters are still just a random assortment of mutants and everything feels like a generic superhero comic book.

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6
All-New X-Factor #10

Jul 5, 2014

At this point, I'm kind of just reading All-New X-Factor out of habit. I still think Peter David is just doing a serviceable job on this series. He's got his characters, he's got a general direction, and he's pretty much just cruising along with a generally jovial superhero comic. I suppose that's fine, but these days, I want more from my comics.

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6
All-New X-Men #1

Nov 17, 2012

I'm glad Bendis' established that Beast is dying and is very tired, because otherwise how else could he have come up with such a ridiculous plan? Really? That's the big reason for the original X-Men coming to the present? It's even worse than I thought. And it makes for a silly premise. Rather than have the actual characters deal with this problem (not that I see it as a problem), Bendis is relying on a gimmick to sell his comic. I would rather see the modern day X-Men deal with Cyclops than mess around with the young X-Men. Bendis has a good handle on the modern team, even if he has them viewing Cyclops as some kind of radical. I want to read a comic starring the dueling ideologies between Cyclops and the other X-Men. At least Cyclops isn't being written as a villain…though some bits are questionable. And the art by Immonen is as amazing as usual.

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8
All-New X-Men #2

Dec 1, 2012

Plus, this is some of the best work of Stuart Immonen's career. Brilliantly drawn, eye-poppingly colorful and simply fantastic on a superhero book.

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8
All-New X-Men #3

Dec 8, 2012

I liked that the issue focused on Cyclops, doing a great job of fleshing out his position in this new status quo. It's not as clear as I'd like, but I still think Cyclops is in a good place. Yes, everybody is mad at him and everybody hates him, but he still knows what he did and did not do when under control of the Phoenix – though I'm fairly certain Bendis is trying to establish that Cyclops is in denial. But c'mon, no part of anything I've read indicates that Cyclops really wanted to kill Professor X. Nor was Cyclops reshaping the world in his own image. He was using the Phoenix to create farmland and water pipelines. But I'm not going to get into that old argument again. Cyclops is not a super-villain, and I'm glad that Bendis is continuing the depth and complexity of Cyclops' new life. Though I think this faulty powers angle is kind of pointless, and I hope in future issues Cyclops can better explain why he thinks he's fighting a revolution.

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8
All-New X-Men #4

Dec 22, 2012

The true impact of the teen X-Men is finally felt in this issue, with some great reactions by Cyclops, Emma and especially Magneto. I also like how quickly Scott figures out what's really happening. Bendis is writing a pretty good Cyclops. Not as good as AvX: Consequences, but still pretty darn good. His character growth is definitely fun to read. Bendis' Magneto is a bit iffy though. One character that definitely suffers from Bendis' typical banter-speak is Magneto. That is not a character who should banter too much. But otherwise, I think Bendis is doing a great job with the ramifications of the time travel. Not all the characters are on board with it, and I like how it's played off more as a fever-addled fantasy that Beast had, as opposed to being his greatest idea ever. Bendis is getting some great mileage out of all his characters and stories.

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8
All-New X-Men #5

Jan 5, 2013

I definitely want to see where Bendis goes with all of this. But again, if this is his big play to break up Cyclops and Jean Grey and have her hook up with Wolverine, then to hell with him.

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10
All-New X-Men #6

Jan 19, 2013

First, let me say that the art of David Marquez is phenomenal. My God. And I thought Stuart Immonen was good. But Marquez is such a good artist that they should name a Ninja Turtle after him. I've been admiring his work on Ultimate Spider-Man, but now I realize he was only really allowed to draw Spider-Man and a few civilians. Now Marquez gets to draw all of the colorful and unique X-Men, and they all look fantastic! If Marquez and Immonen are going to switch on and off on his book, All-New X-Men is going to be the best drawn comic on the stands. And Bendis' story holds up just as well. You really feel for these different characters and what they're going through, especially Angel and Cyclops. It's great to see that Bendis isn't going to just write off the young Warren Worthington as being unimportant. I hope Bendis has a lot of ideas for him.

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10
All-New X-Men #7

Feb 9, 2013

I really liked the conversation between Cyclops and Mystique, and I hope she wasn't lying through her teeth the entire time. Bendis has a strong grasp on her character, and using Mystique to stir up some trouble with the young X-Men is a great idea. The X-Men don't have a lot of their classic villains left, so Mystique definitely works. And Bendis continues to make Cyclops one of the true stars of this series. I can't wait to see what he does with regular Cyclops in the relaunched Uncanny X-Men. But then I also can't wait to see what he does with young Cyclops in this series. Bendis has definitely got something great going on here, and I'm glad I gave it a chance.

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8
All-New X-Men #8

Mar 9, 2013

Has Jean Grey ever been so chilling? I definitely did not see that coming! And it just gets me more excited for this series! Bendis has clearly put a lot of thought into all of the young X-Men and what roles they would play. I was worried that Angel would get the short straw and not have much to do, but Bendis is using him to great effect as the lone dissenter of the group. And I never would have seen this coming for Jean Grey! I thought Bendis' idea to give her telepathy was just a story element he wanted to use, but it looks like he has major plans for how the early onset of telepathy is actually reshaping Jean as a character. That is fascinating stuff. The fight scene against HYDRA was fine (and very, very well drawn), and the scene with the Avengers was too short, but Bendis absolutely nailed all of the emotions and personalities of the young X-Men (as well as a few of the older X-Men. The Kitty/Iceman scene was fun).

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8
All-New X-Men #9

Mar 23, 2013

First let me say that Bendis is doing a very interesting juggling act when it comes to old Cyclops. In his own title, Uncanny X-Men, which is also written by Bendis, Cyclops comes off as cool, calm and with a mostly strong head on his shoulders. In this series, everyone makes a very good argument that Cyclops is now a lunatic, and that final page reveal of Cyclops' arrival, drawn by Immomen, makes the guy look downright super-villainish! This speaks volumes about Bendis' skills as a writer, and Immonen's skill as an artist.

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10
All-New X-Men #10

Apr 6, 2013

The real dynamic here is that Marvel is trying to recreate the old battle of ideologies between Xavier and Magneto, but they're not just rehashing the same fight. Cyclops doesn't want to conquer and lord over humanity, he wants to protect mutants from humanity. What Marvel and Bendis have done instead is create a new battle of ideologies over two separate paths of Charles Xavier's philosophy. On the one side, you've got the Jean Grey School, which focuses on the education part of Xavier's dream. On the other side, you've got Cyclops and the Uncanny X-Men, who focus on the superhero side of Xavier's dream. Have you ever wondered why Professor X created the X-Men? If his dream was to create a school to teach mutants how to control their powers, where did he get the idea to also dress them up in costumes to have them fight bad guys? There are two sides to Xavier's dream, and Marvel has split them down the middle and pushed the X-Men to either side, and I'm loving it!

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8
All-New X-Men #11

May 4, 2013

If it's cloth, how does he use his powers? Does he just blast through the cloth every time? But then if it's a visor, how does he open it in order to shoot his optic blasts? There's a real brain-scratcher for you.

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7
All-New X-Men #12

Jun 8, 2013

The (only) problem with this book has been pacing. The story is moving at a glacial pace, and that was fine when the issues came out so quickly, but now everything might start dragging. I sure hope not, and at least Bendis' dialogue remains solid " though this issue spends a little too much time worrying about the past.

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9
All-New X-Men #13

Jun 29, 2013

Bendis has a wonderful hold on all of the characters involved in this series, from Wolverine to Lady Mastermind. They are all delightful. All-New X-Men remains a very good comic, and I am glad for that.

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8
All-New X-Men #15

Aug 10, 2013

I really liked this issue because it dealt with the real lives of both the Young X-Men and the rest of the X-Men. They were personable, funny and well drawn. I can't remember where I've seen Lafuente's art before, but his character work is fantastic.

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8
All-New X-Men #16

Sep 7, 2013

Battle of the Atom is off to a great start. Bendis is at the top of his game with the characters, and the collected artists from both issues so far are turning in top notch talent. This Big Event is wonderfully written and gorgeous to look at. Forget Infinity, forget Forever Evil, the X-Men are going to be the big deal this fall.

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7
All-New X-Men #17

Oct 5, 2013

Battle of the Atom slows down a little bit with the next chapter, and I'm OK with that. The last issue was a fantastic mid-series climax, and now it's time to set up the rest of the story. We get to know a lot more about the Future X-Men, along with a proper introduction of the second team of Future X-Men and why there was a future schism in the first place. So this is really a plot moving issue bolstered by the awesomeness of time-traveling Iceman.

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9
All-New X-Men #18

Nov 16, 2013

All-New X-Men #18 is the perfect example of why Bendis is great on the X-Men. The issue is fully of character and humor; I laughed out loud in several places. The characters and their drama are compelling. I am far more interested in seeing them work out this relationship drama than I am in seeing them punch super-villains. And the art by Immonen is some of the best of his career. Everyone looks so dynamic, especially in the faces, with vibrant colors and expressive body language.

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6
All-New X-Men #20

Dec 21, 2013

So there was a slight fumble when it came to any budding relationship between Cyclops and X-23, but at least their talk was the same solid characterization we've come to expect from this series.

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8
All-New X-Men #26

May 3, 2014

One issue in and I'm reminded why I loved this series so much before the crossover. The dialogue and characters just dance across the page. This issue is more of a set-up, with Bendis checking in on all of his various characters in the wake of the crossover, then kicking off the next story at the very end. So the issue as a whole was kind of disjointed, but not in any way that dragged down the comic. This was a series of very well-written, enjoyable vignettes on what various characters are doing.

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7
All-New X-Men #27

May 17, 2014

I really don't care about the Future Brotherhood. I don't like any of the characters, I don't care about their dark and mysterious origins, and their assault on the X-Men isn't all that interesting. But whatever. It's the X-Men themselves that are entertaining. Their banter, their teamwork, their desire to be heroes and do the right thing, itmakes for a good comic. Plus, Cyclops gets a really badass moment in this comic, and anytime Cyclops gets to be a badass these days, I'm definitely on board.

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8
All-New X-Men #28

Jun 14, 2014

As great a writer as Bendis might be, I'm rarely all that impressed with his original characters. The Future Brotherhood is kind of boring on a lot of different levels. I especially don't like Raze. But overall, none of them are interesting, so they make for pretty lousy antagonists in general. It's a good thing the X-Men are more than capable of being awesome.

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7
All-New X-Men #29

Jul 12, 2014

This was a fine ending, but more action heavy than I normally care for, especially in a Bendis comic. It's basically just one big fight scene as the good guys overcome the bad guys and we all go home. There's a little moral dilemma, over whether or not they should kill Baby Xavier and Raze, but it's very temporary. No feathers are all that ruffled. Basically the issue is Jean Grey thinking hard enough to triumph over Baby Xavier. And that's that. I still don't particularly care about these villains, but it's nice to know that Future Molly Hayes was being controlled like a puppet. I knew she wouldn't turn evil!

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7
All-New X-Men #30

Aug 16, 2014

I love romance as much as the next guy. And Brian Michael Bendis is using it oddly in All-New X-Men. It was only a few issues ago that he seemed to be setting up a relationship between Young Cyclops and X-23. That would have actually been interesting, considering the decades of history between Cyclops and Wolverine. But then Greg Rucka launched a comic where Young Cyclops leaves the team to join his father in space. I wonder how that came about. Was this always part of the plan? Or did somebody tell Bendis he couldn't have Young Cyclops anymore? Because he's just slotted Young Angel into his place.

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9
All-New X-Men #31

Aug 29, 2014

A crossover between the All-New X-Men and Ultimate Spider-Man sounds like a pretty weird premise from the outset. But considering Bendis writes both books, and that they're both two of his very best, I have no doubt he's got a lot of fun in store for us.

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6
All-New X-Men #33

Nov 1, 2014

Asrardoes a fine job on art, though sometimes he can be a bit muddied, especially with faces. But he's a fine fill-in, trying to match the style of Stuart Immonen as best he can. But this is a low key issue telling a low key story, so it's perfect for a fill-in artist to tackle.

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7
All-New X-Men #40

Apr 25, 2015

All in all, this was a solid issue of the Young X-Men just hanging out and being friends and teenagers. I love that sort of thing, and it doesn't feel like I needed to slog through Black Vortex to have any idea what's going on. Asrar does a fantastic job on art. Everyone looks young and unique, and some of his Bobby facial expressions were just phenomenal. They really helped keep the scene grounded.

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7
All-New X-Men #41

Jun 6, 2015

This was a well-written issue of a quality Bendis series, but it's over so quickly and so effortlessly that I think I have a little bit of comic book whiplash.

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6
All-New X-Men (2015) #1

Dec 5, 2015

This issue was pretty good. Hopeless has a nice handle on the characters, and they all seem pretty happy. With Bagley's art, this definitely isn't a grim and gritty comic. It's light, cheerful, and could have a nice team dynamic going for it. Plus the general idea of seeing these kids take to the open road could be fine. It's a nifty idea for this title, as is adding Evan and Idie to the team. All-New X-Men could be a good series going forward, and I might give it another shot, but I am supremely disappointed in what Marvel has done to Cyclops. And that's on me.

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6
All-Star Batman #1

Aug 13, 2016

It's an interesting story idea, but I think Snyder poked himself in the foot a little by jumping around too much with the flashbacks. I got a little lost and wasn't sure what was going on at first.

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7
Amazing Mary Jane (2019) #1

Oct 26, 2019

The solid writing and art, coupled with a unique and interesting premise, make for a good opening chapter to this offbeat comic.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #697

Nov 17, 2012

The issue was entertaining, if less than stellar. I especially liked the Hobgoblin fight, because it was colorful and unique. Usually we just see Spider-Man fighting his bad guys, but anything that shakes up that old dynamic is always fun. Especially since I'm such a big fan of Phil.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #698

Nov 24, 2012

Though this definitely sheds some new light on who might be the new Superior Spider-Man. Will it be Doc Ock in Peter's body? Maybe…but I think that's stupid. As a storyline, sure, the two switching bodies would be cool. But as the basis for a whole new series? That's just taking things too far. Peter will be Spider-Man again soon enough, and trying to make this a bigger deal by giving it a new reluanch is just a waste of resources. But as Slott has been saying, we just need to keep reading to see where this goes. And I know I will definitely keep reading…though Superior Spider-Man is looking less and less interesting.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #699

Dec 8, 2012

But as far as I'm concerned, the idea of someone else using Peter Parker's body in Superior Spider-Man just does not interest me. I'll probably give the series a look, and maybe check out some issues, but I don't see myself caring long term at all.

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10
Amazing Spider-Man (1999) #700

Dec 29, 2012

Simply put, this is an awesome, exciting comic. If we put aside the big surprise ending, everything that comes before is absolutely riveting. I didn't have the ending spoiled for me, so I didn't know how it was going to end. And I definitely didn't expect Peter to just die and Doc Ock to win. So it was very exciting to see Peter try again and again to come up with a winning plan. Slott definitely had the throttle pushed to full. Couple that with Otto always been three steps ahead of Peter, and that just ratcheted up the tension even more! This story was electric in its energy, and Ramos turned in some of his finest work. I have always been a fan of Ramos, and he was marvelous as he drew this major issue. So all around, a totally exciting issue of Amazing Spider-Man – let's hope it wasn't all for nothing.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #1

May 1, 2014

This issue and these moments have been a long time coming, and already Slott is making them worth the wait.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #1

May 3, 2014

I'm happy to report that Slott isn't going to shy away from the changes he brought to Peter's life during Superior. This is one bright, shiny issue of Spider-Man goodness.

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6
Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #2

May 24, 2014

All of it is written well, mind you, and Ramos' pencils continue to be nothing short of perfect. But considering this is supposed to be a big welcome back party for Peter Parker, I would have preferred this issue be a little neater. Slott had no choice but to include Electro in the comic (and probably Black Cat too) because of the movie, but he's just got too much stuff going on, and most of it is just clutter.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #3

Jun 28, 2014

The only really interesting part of Amazing Spider-Man is seeing Peter Parker struggle to keep Parker Industries going, but that has become a very minor subplot in this overstuffed comic. I want to see more of Peter trying to adjust to his new life in a post-Doc Ock world!

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #4

Jul 26, 2014

It's forced crossover time! Slott and Marvel are using Original Sin to introduce a new wrinkle to Spider-Man's origin story, and it goes off without a hitch " if you ignore all of the Original Sin stuff.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #5

Aug 16, 2014

The superhero action and tension isn't as much fun as the personal life stuff in Amazing Spider-Man these days.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #6

Sep 13, 2014

Some of the subplots work, but a lot of them don't, and as a whole, the series is just too full of them. Slott has too many plates spinningwith Amazing Spider-Man to make for a fully compelling series. Couple that with some underwhelming character choices, like making Black Cat a villain, and the relaunch is off to a shaky start.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #7

Oct 11, 2014

Slott pushes all of the interesting developments in Peter's life to the side " Cindy Moon, Anna Maria & Parker Industries " so that they can focus on an all-together boring story involving some old Ms. Marvel villain and one of those Inhuman eggs. Considering Spider-Verse is right around the corner, I wish Marvel had given Slott time to wrap up or at least explore some of his own plots instead of this Ms. Marvel team-up.

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9
Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #9

Nov 7, 2014

Spider-Verse is off to a great start, based almost solely on the strength of the gathering of Spiders. Slott not only nails Peter Parker's down-to-Earth humor and humanity, but even when it's spread across several different characters, it's still so charming. Teamed with the ever fantastic Olivier Coipel, it really looks like Slott has given Spider-Verse his all, and I'm looking forward to seeing just where they take us.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #10

Nov 22, 2014

Spider-Verse is moving at a very nice pace. Slott keeps the characters bouncing off one another, and he's got more than a few interesting mysteries building in the background. I definitely want to know why Kaine is so important as 'The Other', likewise what it means to be 'The Bride' or 'The Scion'. He's building some interesting spider mythology here, and I am eating it up. It's also nice to see the Superior Spider-Man back in the saddle, and Miles Morales is a fun addition to the cast. Really, it's just fun to see all these spider characters interact. That's all I want from Spider-Verse.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #11

Dec 13, 2014

I'm all in favor of tie-ins to Big Event comics. It helps to flesh out the story and it sells more comics. So why not indulge? But man, Marvel must have really come down hard on Dan Slott to mention all the tie-ins to Spider-Verse. I complained that the last issue had several pages dedicated to splitting characters off into the tie-ins, well this issue does the exact same thing, and even takes the time to check-in with a few of those previous tie-ins!

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #12

Jan 10, 2015

Spider-Verse is a pretty weird comic. All Big Events have tie-in comics, it's just the nature of the beast. But never have I seen a Big Event so devoted to promoting its various tie-ins. Every single issue of Amazing Spider-Man in this crossover has devoted time to checking in with the tie-ins. It's weird! Fortunately, this doesn't detract from what is still a very entertaining comic.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #13

Jan 24, 2015

I'm still definitely enjoying Spider-Verse, no matter how much of it is based on constantly crossing over into it's tie-ins.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #14

Feb 14, 2015

I enjoyed it, and I liked a lot of what I saw. I just wish Slott and his art team had been able to keep better control of the fight scene so that we could actually feel some of the emotions involved instead of everything getting lost in the Spider-shuffle. Hopefully the upcoming epilogue will carry all the emotional weight.

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6
Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #15

Feb 28, 2015

I enjoyed Spider-Verse on the whole. It was a lot of fun. But Slott missed a chance with this issue to really underline the whole event and provide some great character development or some solid character interactions.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #16

Mar 14, 2015

There's just something delightfully retro about this issue that I found appealing.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #17

Apr 4, 2015

Say what you will about Amazing Spider-Man just keeping time until Secret Wars starts, but I'm enjoying this classic-style storyline from Slott and Gage. It's a nice exploration into Peter's current personal life at Parker Industries, and this issue in particular is a great character piece for Anna Maria Marconi!

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2014) #18

May 9, 2015

Secret Wars is going to change everything, one presumes. So this story arc in Amazing Spider-Man has kind of been stalling for time. Or maybe it's Slott wrapping up some loose ends. Either way, it's a slightly disappointing issue.

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9
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #1

Oct 10, 2015

Look, we all know these changes aren't going to last forever. The status quo will be restored at some point. Otto Octavius didn't stay Spider-Man for long. But I'm going to enjoy this ride for long as it lasts. I trust and enjoy Slott completely with the character. This is going to be an exciting new direction!

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9
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #2

Oct 24, 2015

I think this was the funniest issue of Amazing Spider-Man I've read in a while! Slott was totally on his game, delving into the newly technological and international world of Spider-Man, and with a confident and excited Peter Parker. It helps that Spidey now has a best pal in the form of Prowler, and the two of them make for a great set of good guys.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #6

Jan 9, 2016

This was a solid, entertaining issue to kick off the new storyline. We get a strong introduction to both Mr. Negative and the new Cloak & Dagger, so the stage is set. Mostly, though, we spend time with Peter Parker and get a wider view of his new life. I'm definitely in favor of the Parker Industries scenes, so I liked seeing the man operate. Hopefully Slott will find the time to spend more time with Peter's new girlfriend (at least I think she's his girlfriend). Slott always packs his issues with a lot of plot and story, but sometimes he should slow down and smell the roses.

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6
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #10

Apr 16, 2016

This Spider-Man story hasn't been the best, but I'm still enjoying Slott's overall work. I really want to see him push this Parker Industries storyline as far as he can.

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6
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #11

Apr 30, 2016

The Zodiac storyline comes to an end, and I couldn't be happier. This was a dud from Day One. Slott and Camuncoli still make good Spider-Man comics, but even they're capable of producing mediocre work.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #12

May 7, 2016

The team up between Iron Man and Spider-Man is pretty fun, and the Ghost makes a good enough villain. I didn't read the Spider-Man tie-in to Secret Wars, so I don't particularly care about Regent yet. Hopefully he'll be worth our time. Slott spends a lot of time on character this issue, making it better than the previous issues, which focused on a boring villain story.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #15

Jul 9, 2016

Mary Jane's debut as a superhero was fun, and they picked a neat costume of her to wear. I almost think Dan Slott and Brian Michael Bendis made Mary Jane into Tony Stark's assistant just so that she could wear the superhero costume that is a cross between Spider-Man and Iron Man. Funny how that works out. But Mary Jane is badass in the suit, and just as smart as you'd expect when she tells everyone she isn't about to make it permanent. Quality Mary Jane issue.

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6
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #16

Aug 13, 2016

This issue is mostly just keeping time until the real fun begins with Dead No More.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #17

Sep 3, 2016

All the personality and energy that I felt has been lacking in Peter Parker lately is found here in Hobie Brown. He's a dynamic, interesting character, and the Prowler is just fantastic. He's got a cool new costume, his skills are top notch, and his character dynamic is new and cool. This is everything I could have possibly wanted when Slott brought Prowler back. This is a damn cool Prowler issue.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #25

Mar 18, 2017

The costume action and Peter's new storyare good, but the personal stuff really makes the main story in this oversized issue worth it. That and the work ofHannah Blumenreich.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #26

Apr 15, 2017

With great art, snappy writing a few good twists and just a really fun story, Slott keeps Amazing Spider-Man rolling along just fine.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #27

May 13, 2017

The emotional connection doesn't sink as deeply as I'd like, but I'm still having fun watching Spider-Man fight the Green Goblin with giant mech-robots in a foreign country. That's just crazy enough to be mostly fun.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #28

Jun 10, 2017

The latest Spider-Man story wraps up in enjoyable, bombastic fashion, but reading this issue made me realize I'm ready for a new type of Spider-Man story.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #29

Jul 1, 2017

A Secret Empire tie-in kicks off with a nice showdown between Spider-Man and the newest version of Doc Ock, so at least this issue has that going for it. I hope the rest of the tie-in is this good.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #789

Oct 14, 2017

Massive status quo changes are taking effect, and Dan Slott lays out them with his usual skill and focus on characters.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #790

Oct 28, 2017

The Amazing Spider-Man team ties strong character work with iconic Marvel Universe storytelling to give us the best kind of Spider-Man comic!

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9
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #791

Nov 18, 2017

Spider-Man and Mockingbird are delightful together as Slott beings exploring his latest new status quo for Spidey and Peter Parker.

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5
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #794

Jan 27, 2018

The new issue is fine, but it's a really boring way to set up the future stories to come.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #795

Feb 10, 2018

Dan Slott ties up some loose ends with a sweet little done-in-one Spider-Man story that ties itself off nicely at the end.

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3
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #796

Feb 24, 2018

This is bog standard Spider-Man comics. Like a promotional comic someone might churn out to package alongside a toy or advertise some corporate tie-in.

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6
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #797

Mar 10, 2018

Dan Slott continues to spin his wheels in his efforts to hype up his big finale, but it's still an enjoyable enough comic.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #798

Apr 7, 2018

If writer Dan Slott is building to something bigger than this, I hope he gets there soon. Otherwise, this is merely an enjoyable issue instead of something truly wonderful.

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6
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #799

Apr 21, 2018

Despite a really cool villain, despite this being Dan Slott's grand finale, this Red Goblin short story can't help but feel anti-climatic. Not a lot is happening, and what does happen feels pretty run-of-the-mill.

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9
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #800

Jun 2, 2018

The final issue of Dan Slott's epic run on Amazing Spider-Man is big, wild and full of punching; a true grand finale. But there are little snags along the way that hold it back.

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9
Amazing Spider-Man (2015) #801

Jun 23, 2018

Dan Slott says goodbye to Amazing Spider-Man with style and class.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #1

Jul 14, 2018

The first issue of the new era of Amazing Spider-Man is a big, jumbled comic full of old continuity and choppy status quo-building, but it's still a fun introduction to the new Amazing Spider-Man.

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6
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #2

Jul 28, 2018

Spencer's Amazing Spider-Man goes through the Spidey motions to tell a pretty standard Spidey story in this issue. Surprise cliffhanger could be a little interesting.

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5
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #3

Aug 11, 2018

The opening storyline gets weirder, and the writing takes a few unnecessary shortcuts to try and make that weirdness work.

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4
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #4

Aug 25, 2018

This story is going nowhere fast and seems to defeat the very purpose of relaunching Amazing Spider-Man for potentially new audiences.

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6
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #5

Sep 15, 2018

The real comedy foundation of Nick Spencer's Amazing Spider-Man starts to really come through with this issue, but it's not my sense of humor.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #6

Sep 29, 2018

The creativity and sheer fun of this issue keeps it afloat, whereas it otherwise seems determined not to be about Spider-Man.

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6
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #8

Oct 27, 2018

Amazing Spider-Man continues to have some interesting ideas, but stumbles when it comes to meaningful characterization.

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6
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #9

Nov 17, 2018

Some odd story choices and some unfortunate recent history keep the stories in this OK issue at arm's length.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #10

Dec 1, 2018

A touching character scene that resolves years of mischaracterization for the Black Cat elevates this issue.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #75

Oct 9, 2021

A really enjoyable launch of a new story, with a lot of fun writing, some interesting new directions and absolutely gorgeous artwork.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #76

Oct 16, 2021

The writing and art do a great job of setting up the new direction of the series and I think it could all be a lot of fun " it's just that this issue feels a bit like an afterthought of the previous issue.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #77

Oct 30, 2021

A new Ben Reilly-era of Amazing Spider-Man is here and this issue does a phenomenal job of helping the reader get to know and like the new main character, while filling his world with interesting tidbits of characters and subplots.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #78

Nov 13, 2021

The new direction for The Amazing Spider-Man is fun so far, and this issue is a nice blend of Ben Reilly's unique character, his interesting supporting cast and some classic Morbius.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #79

Nov 27, 2021

Pretty solid and enjoyable continuation of everything that's been happening so far.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #80

Dec 4, 2021

Another fine issue of Amazing Spider-Man is a bit too much like previous issues of this same storyline. It's like a filler issue, just sending Spidey up against a classic villain while we wait for the actual story-moving issues to come later.

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6
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #81

Dec 18, 2021

The first meeting between Ben Reilly and Miles Morales is rather wasted. This issue checks the various boxes for being a solid Spider-Man comic, but too little of any merit happens, despite the importance of the moment.

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6
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #82

Dec 25, 2021

Not much of note happens in this seemingly done-in-one story that doesn't connect to the larger narrative or anything else, really.

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6
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #83

Jan 1, 2022

Writing and art are solid, with some inspired scenes/artwork from Gleason, but overall the issue didn't do much for me personally.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #84

Jan 8, 2022

Really fun, really enjoyable issue of this Beyond Corporation storyline, mixing classic villain goodness with some plain fun Spider-Man action.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #85

Jan 15, 2022

This issue makes the absolute most out of a classic Spider-Man vs. Doctor Octopus battle, while adding some much-needed character development for this extended Ben Reilly guest-starring role.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #86

Jan 22, 2022

The drama has finally hit the fan with the current Beyond storyline, and I'm beyond excited. This issue kicks off a nice exploration of the Ben Reilly character and what he's going through, and I look forward to seeing this all through to the end.

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9
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #87

Jan 29, 2022

A character-focused issue with some great guest stars, this was a really fun chapter as the Beyond story arc moves towards its inevitable ending.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #88

Feb 5, 2022

Some really fun character development elevates another fun Spider-Man comic. I like where this story is going and I'm excited to see how it all ends.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #88.BEY

Feb 12, 2022

My bias is going to really show with this review, but this was a super fun issue focusing on some very underused by awesome characters. Nice balance of character and action.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #90

Feb 26, 2022

Good, quality Spider-Man issue that keeps the story closely tied to the characters and makes good use of a nifty new villain.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #91

Mar 5, 2022

The excellent character drama continues to build as we near the end of this storyline, and it's aided by some really fun character banter.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2018) #93

Apr 2, 2022

This issue makes for a satisfying ending to the whole Beyond story arc, ending in a cool fight with some strong character moments. A few bites and pieces didn't sit exactly right with me, but I'm open-minded to see where it all goes from here.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #1

Apr 30, 2022

This new volume of Amazing Spider-Man is off to a solid start. A lot of groundwork was laid in this issue to establish a new tone and some new mysteries, while maintaining the same old Spidey. I think Marvel also takes some cheap shots to try and be controversial.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #2

May 28, 2022

This is a solid, if unremarkable, second issue of this new relaunch. A couple of the various storylines move along nicely, just not with any panache.

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6
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #3

Jun 11, 2022

This Amazing Spider-Man comic still looks good, but I don't feel like the story has gone anywhere all that interesting quite yet.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #4

Jun 25, 2022

This comic finally lives up to its potential with a fun, exciting and tense issue that really comes together nicely by the end.

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6
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #5

Jul 9, 2022

This opening storyline ends with a bit of a whimper, storywise. The writing and art are really fun and enjoyable, but they were put into service with a very basic, uninspired plot.

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10
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #6

Jul 30, 2022

This super-sized anniversary issue is a real Spider-Man treat, as a bunch of creative teams come together for some really great Spidey stories. The main story by Wells and McGuinness is pure, perfect Spider-Man, with tons of callbacks, great guest stars and an overall fun adventure. Quality issue all around.

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6
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #7

Aug 13, 2022

The next Spider-Man story is off to an OK start, setting some pieces in place for the larger, ongoing story.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #8

Aug 27, 2022

This has been a perfectly adequate Spider-Man comic so far. This issue teases some neat developments going forward, but for now, it's just kinda neat to see in practice.

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6
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #9

Sep 17, 2022

Another very interesting issue kicks things up a notch at exactly the right time for this story to kick off.

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7
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #11

Oct 15, 2022

Good, solid start to a new storyline, with a couple smaller storyline that piqued my interest in fun ways.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #19

Feb 11, 2023

Really fun, really charismatic story with a fill-in creative team. Kelly and the Dodsons are old hats on Spider-Man and his supporting cast, and their ease of creativity and personality really shine.

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8
Amazing Spider-Man (2022) #20

Feb 25, 2023

I had a ton of fun with this issue, and it feels like the creative team did too. If Marvel is going to keep Peter and Mary Jane apart, it'll be easier to accept if a lot of stories have this much freedom and flirty banter.

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7
Amazing X-Men (2013) #1

Nov 9, 2013

Amazing X-Men #1 is fun, no doubt about it. Jason Aaron is clearly having a blast playing around in the wacky school setting he created. I've been a big fan of Wolverine and the X-Men, and Amazing X-Men is a good example of what Aaron can do when he focuses on the characters and setting rather than let silly plots like a horror circus get in the way. This issue is pure, unadulterated X-Men fun. But it is just so overwhelmingly superfluous!

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8
Amazing X-Men (2013) #2

Dec 7, 2013

Personally, I like Aaron on the X-Men, even if the premise behind this comic is kind of weak. It's basically just 'the X-Men go on adventures'.

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5
Amazing X-Men (2013) #3

Jan 18, 2014

While I've been enjoying Aaron's Amazing X-Men so far, I still don't think he put much thought into using Azazel. This whole 'pirates in the Afterlife' thing really takes a nosedive in this issue when Aaron has Azazel give a straight-up speech about being pirates in the Afterlife. It's one thing to make it seem like they're pirates, but now it feels like Azazel is living out some kind of pirate fetish, considering how closely he follows all the old pirate cliches. It just makes the whole story a little more awkward now that we know how seriously the bad guys are playing pretend.

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7
Amazing X-Men (2013) #7

May 23, 2014

It's not bad, by any means. But I think a bit more time and effort could have resulted in a sharper, more reasonable and entertaining team-up between Spider-Man and his Amazing Friends.

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7.6
Amazing X-Men (2013) #15

Jan 16, 2015

Amazing X-Men #15 is packed to the gills with continuity, remaining very specific to the current status quo of the X-Men at this point in time. But if you're on board with that already, then Yost and Fornesdeliver a solid X-Men adventure, pitting them against one of their classic foes. Whether that's enough to sustain a series like Amazing X-Men is anyone's guess.

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7.6
Angela: Asgard's Assassin #1

Dec 5, 2014

Angela: Asgard's Assassin #1 is an enjoyable start to this odd character's first Marvel solo series. Gillen knows these waters well, and he uses the epic scope of the Ten Realms to make his title character really stand out as an interesting person. If Marvel really does hope to make Angela work, Gillen and this new comic might be their best bet!

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6
Angela: Asgard's Assassin #2

Jan 10, 2015

Angela is an interesting enough character, and she's on a pretty insane adventure. The art is also pretty fantastic. It's gritty, but bombastic. I just hope Gillen has gotten this out of his system. Angela's rich backstory should be sprinkled throughout the comic, with each revelation adding to the overall story. It shouldn't just be a big, painful info-dump in only the second issue.

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5
Angela: Asgard's Assassin #3

Feb 7, 2015

We're three issues deep into Angela's solo comic, and I'm still not entirely sure I know the character. The book is really confident in its main character, and it does a heck of a job talking her up. But despite a new flashback every issue, I don't really think I know Angela as a person. She's kind of just a glittering icon who cuts her way through the action while other characters actually carry the story.

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5
Angela: Asgard's Assassin #4

Mar 7, 2015

Angela: Asgard's Assassin has the makings of a good book, but certain style and writing choices keep it from truly embracing its main character and the sorts of adventures she could have. The art is getting a little muddy too, in my opinion. The action is fine, and there's more than enough intrigue going on, but I just don't care about it when I can't care about the characters.

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6
Angela: Queen Of Hel #1

Oct 31, 2015

The art is fantastic, though, both with the present day stuff and the flashbacks. I definitely think I'll be giving Angela another try with this relaunch. Everybody loves a good Hel conquest love story.

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7
Angela: Queen Of Hel #2

Dec 5, 2015

The main problem with Angela: Queen of Hel so far is that it doesn't hold your hand in telling its story. Sometimes that's fine, but when you're dealing with characters as relatively obscure as Angela and Sera, a little help would be nice. Bennett writes about some pretty important but complicated events as if we should have them memorized. She's not taking advantage of the new #1 at all. As a new reader who wants to like this comic, there's a lot to piece together from cryptic dialogue.

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7
Angela: Queen Of Hel #4

Jan 30, 2016

The characters are fun and forceful, the dialogue is witty and entertaining, and the lead relationship has a lot of energy and resonance behind it. This is exciting stuff, I'm just a little lost in the execution.

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6
Angela: Queen Of Hel #5

Feb 27, 2016

I gotta be honest, I was a little lost in the beginning of this issue. It all comes together in the end, with a very strong finish, but I think Bennett had two many different forces in play. There were angel slaves, and wraiths, and something else, and the snappy dialogue was, I think, purposefully misleading.

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9
Ant-Man (2015) #1

Jan 10, 2015

If Ant-Man the movie has even a fraction of the care and skill that went into crafting Ant-Man #1, then we're in for one heck of a summer. Marvel knows exactly how to tell entertaining stories with even their smallest characters.

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9
Ant-Man (2015) #2

Feb 7, 2015

Does Ant-Man's second issue live up to the quality of the first? That's a tall order. Ant-Man #1 was a near perfect introduction of the character and his story, with Spencer and Marvel clearly giving it their all to make Ant-Man a good comic in the lead-up to his feature film. But can they keep that momentum going into a full series? Based on this second issue, you're darn right they can!

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8
Ant-Man (2015) #3

Mar 14, 2015

Ant-Man is good to look at too. Rosanas'pencils haven't wavered in the slightest so far. Everything is nicely detailed, especially the ants vs. paperclips battle. And Ant-Man's costume looks as cool as issue #1. Though three issues in, I hope Scott takes it off one of these days. Surely he's bought some other clothes by now, right?

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8
Ant-Man (2015) #4

Apr 11, 2015

Spencer and Rosanashave really instilled quality heroics into Scott Lang in this series. Ant-Man has an extended sequence breaking into the Cross facility, and it's a delight to read.

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8
Ant-Man (2015) #5

May 9, 2015

The comic is definitely still enjoyable, but certain parts of this big conclusion just rubbed me wrong is all.

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8
Ant-Man (2015): Last Days #1

Aug 29, 2015

As always, Scott Lang is the star of this series, and Spencer still does a great job with the character. He uses Mary to talk up Scott's accomplishments as a hero, helping the little guy to appreciate all he's done with his life. We get some great action in Scott's escape from the Slug's yacht, as well as some nicely peppered one-liners. This is just another quality issue of this great series, and Spencer seems more than ready to dive into the relaunch in a few months.

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9
Ant-Man (2020) #1

Feb 8, 2020

This is high-grade superhero comics, containing everything you need for a fun, light story about a fun character in his own tiny corner of the Marvel U.

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8
Ant-Man (2020) #2

Feb 29, 2020

The good jokes, dialogue, artwork and storytelling keep this really fun mini-series going, even if this issue slows down just a bit for some necessary exposition. Still great!

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9
Ant-Man (2020) #3

Mar 14, 2020

A bunch of Marvel guest stars add some real life and energy to the latest issue of Ant-Man, elevating this already enjoyable mini-series.

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8
Ant-Man (2020) #4

May 16, 2020

The plot moves in a lot of good ways as we gear up for what will hopefully be a grand finale.

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8
Ant-Man (2020) #5

Jun 20, 2020

A really fun wrap-up to a really fun series; it's exactly the perfect amount of the big stuff and the little stuff that make comics so entertaining.

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8
Ant-Man (2022) #1

Jul 30, 2022

This throwback issue is the perfect idea for an anniversary celebration. The look, feel and tone are all pure Silver Age and it's a fun visit.

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9
Ant-Man (2022) #2

Sep 3, 2022

Another perfectly recreated historical celebration of the history of Ant-Men, bringing all of us back, flawlessly, to the world of the Irredeemable Eric O'Grady.

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9
Ant-Man (2022) #3

Oct 1, 2022

Not as magical a trip back through memory lane as the other issues, but it's still a fun Ant-Man-centric story that leads nicely into next month's finale.

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8
Ant-Man (2022) #4

Oct 8, 2022

For an anniversary mini-series, this whole story was super fun, and this final issue caps everything off nicely with a team-up for the ages!

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8
Aquaman (2011) #14

Dec 1, 2012

The conversation between Aquaman and Orm was actually quite well done, with a simmering darkness just below the surface. Orm was not as sinister as I think we're supposed to believe, and that goes a long way towards making him a legitimate character. But what the hell was with keeping him in shadows? It's not like he was purposefully hidden. The guy was out and about, walking and swimming with Aquaman. But whereas Aquaman was bright and in the light, the art just bathed Orm in darkness. It was really annoying, especially since, again, he's right there on the cover! Oh well, at least he's being built into a good antagonist. The rest of the issue was also strong, especially Black Manta's scene. He's turning into just as much of a badass as Aquaman, and I'm excited to see him some more in the future. We also get a little teaser about Aqualad in this issue, which is a hoot.

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8
Aquaman (2011) #15

Dec 29, 2012

Another great chapter, for sure. The action slows down (no new attacks), but the slow down means more meaningful conversations. Batman and Aquaman have a great chat in the Batplane, the two heroes butting heads while also revealing the respect they have for one another. Orm is also very entertaining as he tries to threaten some fishermen. It's also cool that Orm isn't a super-villain (at least not yet). He's a king who is responding after he was attacked. Though perhaps we'll later find out that he's part of the conspiracy. We'll see. For now, he's a cool antagonist with a fairly understandable position. Here's hoping the rest of this crossover is as good as these first two chapters. Also, whatever happened to the Flash?

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8
Aquaman (2011) #16

Feb 2, 2013

I didn't see the Vulko reveal coming, but I suppose it's obvious in hindsight. There weren't very many other characters in the story. I only wish we knew more about Vulko or had a better emotional investment in him. But the story still works, and his Trench army provides a fun new twist to the battle between the superheroes at Atlantis. I didn't mention it during the recap, but there are a few awesome scenes of the Justice League recruits battling the Atlantean soldiers. Hawkman, especially, comes off as pretty hardcore and awesome. The regular Justice League scenes are good too. I like the friendship between Batman and Aquaman. And I can't wait to see the big finale!

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8
Aquaman (2011) #17

Mar 2, 2013

This is a solid issue that gives us a glimpse into Aquaman's new status quo as King of Atlantis. I kind of wish we'd seen a bit more, like perhaps him actually visiting Atlantis, but it seems he's more of a hands-on king. Plus Johns does a nice job of introducing us to new characters who will no doubt play a larger role as the series goes on. It's disappointing to not see Aquaman and Mera together, since her reasons for not joining him haven't exactly been explained (unless it was in previous issues several months ago), but it's clear Johns plans to keep her in the book. Hopefully those two crazy kids get back together soon. Though would someone please tell me if Mera has always had her chest and cleavage exposed like that or if it's just a recent change.

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8
Aquaman (2011) #19

May 4, 2013

I skipped a scene in the synopsis about a giant, monstrous squid creature called Topo whom Aquaman communicates with at the start of the comic. It's a very cool moment, showing us just how awe-inspiring Aquaman's status can be, but nothing came of the meeting with Topo, so I'm not yet sure what it accomplishes. Hopefully Topo will show up again to kick some ass later. For now, like I said, this is just an entertaining scene-setting comic. Aquaman is cool, Mera has some awesome moments, and Murk continues to set himself up as a strong antagonist. This guy Swatt seems especially interesting. Aquaman continues to be a strong book.

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8
Aquaman (2011) #23

Aug 31, 2013

Geoff Johns continues to do for Aquaman what he did for Green Lantern, and I hope his impact is felt elsewhere. Aquaman is one of the best books at DC right now and everyone should be reading. It's action-packed, it stars several amazing characters and the drama is just through the roof.

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7
Aquaman (2011) #23.1

Sep 14, 2013

Black Manta is damn cool. After this issue, he might have just become my favorite super-villain in the DC Universe. Because Geoff Johns' remaking of Aquaman did not start and stop with the hero alone. Johns has improved Aquaman's entire world, and he's turned Black Manta into a badass, hardcore warrior of the deep. He's so cool and collected in this issue, driven by his own personal passions and sense of honor, not by any kind of lunatic villainy. Black Manta is cool enjoy to reject the Crime Syndicate's offer to take over the world, and smart enough to send Amanda Waller packing with her stupid offers. And seeing him angry on that final page, ready to tear the Crime Syndicate a new one, was just fantastic. If Forever Evil is all about Black Manta being a badass, then sign me up!

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6
Aquaman (2011) #23.2

Sep 28, 2013

Ocean Master doesn't exactly become a hero in this issue, but his triumphant return to save that boy at the end is very exciting. I was fully prepared to let him walk out to sea and accept that he's a heartless bastard, but with that cliffhanger, Johns and Bedard proved that this former king is far more complicated than one might expect. Ocean Master isn't crazy like the Joker or Lex Luthor. He was the king of a foreign country whose thoughts and mannerisms are simply different from our own. That makes him uniquely interesting.

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8
Aquaman (2011) #24

Oct 26, 2013

I can only hope new writer Jeff Parker can manage the same quality of Aquaman stories as Geoff Johns, because this series is still one of the very best produced by DC month in and month out. Johns worked the same magic on Aquaman that he did on Green Lantern, and it's a shame we'll be losing him in the new year. Johns' Aquaman is bold, heroic, confident and a supreme badass. The rich history he's given to Arthur and his world is second only to maybe Batman in the larger DC landscape these days.

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9
Aquaman (2011) #25

Nov 30, 2013

It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Geoff Johns' run on Aquaman. Under his pen, this series has always been my favorite of the New 52. I've always liked Aquaman as a character, in general, and Johns truly took the character to new heights of awesomeness. He filled Aquaman's life with interesting new characters and mythologies. But sadly, Johns is stepping away from the book after only 25 issues. I don't know what the future holds, but at least Johns goes out with a bang!

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6
Aquaman (2011) #26

Jan 4, 2014

Parker tells a fine story in his first issue, balancing Aquaman's superheroics with his responsibilities as king.

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7
Aquaman (2011) #27

Feb 1, 2014

I'm not yet ready to make any sort of decision about Jeff Parker's take on Aquaman. It's mildly entertaining so far. He seems to just be carrying the ball after Johns. I hope he makes a real mark on the series soon. There's so much more to explore!

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8
Aquaman (2011) #28

Mar 1, 2014

This issue was absolutely delightful! This sort of story, where Aquaman reconnects with his roots in a very human, very personable way, is exactly what's missing from the New 52 reboot as a whole. Nobody is simply a person anymore, and as far as I'm concerned, people sell comics. I loved every minute of Arthur chatting with old classmates, worrying about old rivalries and blushing at the silly romance he had when he was a teenager. Fantastic scene all around.

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7
Aquaman (2011) #29

Mar 29, 2014

Aquaman. Jeff Parker has been doing a fine job since taking over for Geoff Johns, and that streak mostly continues with this new issue. It's not as awesome as Aquaman's high school reunion, but it's still good"though Parker has some weird ideas about Hell demons.

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7
Aquaman (2011) #30

Apr 26, 2014

Aquaman continues to just cruise right along, and I continue to read about it. No fuss, no muss!

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7
Aquaman (2011) #35

Oct 25, 2014

I'll admit that my interest in Aquaman has waned since Geoff Johns left the title. Johns has always had a special touch. But Parker has been telling some solid Aquaman stories, which I've been reading all along. They may not be as epic as what Johns was putting out, but this is still a solid comic.

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7
Aquaman (2011) #36

Nov 29, 2014

This was another solid issue of Aquaman with a rather neat, albeit slightly confusing, guest appearance. Aquaman remains a pretty solid book overall. I like that Parker has a real good grasp of his character and the world he inhabits, and I definitely like that Parker is focused on Atlantis and its politics. That's a unique and potentially fascinating avenue to explore as far as superhero comics are concerned.

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7
Aquaman (2011) #41

Jun 27, 2015

This was a good, solid return to Aquaman, if a little confusing at times.

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8
Aquaman (2016) #25

Jun 24, 2017

Aquaman #25 is a perfect jumping on point for a reader like me, who mostly just wants to marvel atStjepan Sejic's work, but also wants to get back into Aquaman. Looks like the start of a fine story.

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8
Aquaman (2016) #26

Jul 22, 2017

Another solid installment of the growing Aquaman story keeps all the pieces moving, while introducing some exciting new ones.

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7
Aquaman (2016) #27

Aug 19, 2017

Aquaman is good and enjoyable, but it could use a bit more of a spark to really set it apart.

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5
Aquaman (2016) #28

Sep 23, 2017

Despite the absolute gorgeous art, the current Aquaman storyline leaves a lot to be desired. It's all fine, but there's a lack of nuance to the characters and their actions, and a real lack of scope.

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6
Aquaman (2016) #43

Dec 22, 2018

The new Aquaman relaunch doesn't offer anything too bold or exciting to kick off the new story, but is otherwise fine.

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4
Aquaman (2016) #44

Jan 26, 2019

The new Aquaman direction just gets more impenetrable and confusing.

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8
Aquaman (2016): Drowned Earth Special #1

Dec 1, 2018

Justice League is a wordy comic, but it's also one that goes all-out when it comes to big, world-ending storylines. This was an action-packed and exciting comic that never let up and earned its emotional ending.

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5
Aquaman And The Others #1

Apr 5, 2014

Just because you can start a comic about Aquaman and the Others doesn't mean you should. But once you've got it going, you can definitely make it great. Unless, of course, this is just going to be some crummy tie-in to Future's End.

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5
Aquaman And The Others #2

May 10, 2014

The Others still feel kind of new, but they don't feel as vibrant as they once did when they were first introduced. And Aquaman being a member is really more of a fluke than a fixture.

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5
Aquaman: Rebirth #1

Jun 11, 2016

Abnett doesn't seem to have anything new or interesting yet to say about Aquaman. Everything in this issue is par for the course. Aquaman struggles to unite the surface world and Atlantis. Aquaman fights off some random, generic sea terrorists. Aquaman and Mera are a team. Black Manta is the villain. He even repeats Johns' original New 52 commentary about Aquaman being a joke to the surface world because he "talks to fish". There's nothing particularly bad with the issue, it's just not very interesting. This would be textbook Aquaman, if anybody ever cared enough to write a text book about Aquaman.

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5
Arkham Manor #1

Oct 25, 2014

I doubt I'll be picking up another issue of Arkham Manor. The premise is a little too insane for my tastes. I'm all for change, but something about Arkham invading the sanctity of Wayne Manor just rubs me the wrong way. And like I said, based on the first issue, there doesn't seem to be anything unique about this comic. It's sister title, Gotham Academy, introduced a whole new cast and premise to play with. Arkham Manor is just about Batman, and I've got plenty of other great Batman comics to read.

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4
Arkham Manor #2

Nov 29, 2014

This second issue doesn't win me over anymore than the first, but I can at least say that Duggan and his art team are good at what they do. I don't really believe this could support an ongoing, but more power to them, I suppose.

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7
Asgardians of the Galaxy #1

Sep 8, 2018

Everything about Asgardians of the Galaxy is fine for a first issue. The most impressive part is the pun.

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7
Astonishing Ant-Man #1

Oct 24, 2015

Scott Lang remains a solid protagonist, and while his life is complicated, it's still entertaining. He's got a daughter to worry about, he's got a sad sack lifestyle, and he's got some nifty supporting players. The fight with Whirlwind is cool, and the danger of the Power Broker can definitely drive some stories forward. And Rosanas, of course, is still quite excellent. The look of the book is unique and heroic, and that new costume still rocks.

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9
Astonishing Ant-Man #2

Nov 21, 2015

Astonishing Ant-Man #2 was Spencer and Rosanos getting everything back on track. We're all caught up again, and Ant-Man's adventures are as entertaining as ever. They've got a great sad sack superhero story going here, with just enough positive character development and humor to make a truly well rounded story.

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7
Astonishing Ant-Man #4

Jan 23, 2016

Scott is being put through his paces right now, and that's always fun to do to a protagonist. His daughter hates him, his security job is a bust; he's not even sure why he's still Ant-Man at this point. That's a good place to tell stories from, and I still love what Spencer is doing with the character. I just hope things snap into better shape soon.

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6
Astonishing Ant-Man #5

Feb 27, 2016

Spencer already has a great handle on Scott Lang, and he infuses Raz with that same affable humanity. Giant-Man is a nice addition to the cast.

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8
Astonishing Ant-Man #6

Mar 19, 2016

Astonishing Ant-Man #6 is a standout issue by focusing on one of the supporting characters, and I hope this is a sign that Spencer has a lot of great twists and turns planned. Hopefully that adorable actress from the Ant-Man movie will be old enough to get into some of this drama by the time the sequel comes around.

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8
Astonishing Ant-Man #7

Apr 23, 2016

Spencer and Rosanas keep the story rolling along with this issue and I am definitely still on board. The humor alone is worth the read. Not as laugh-out-loud funny as some books, but Scott Lang delivers the chuckles.

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9
Astonishing Ant-Man #8

May 21, 2016

Spencer does a great job building the chemistry between this crew, and I hope it pays off when they get into the thick of the action!

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8
Astonishing Ant-Man #9

Jun 18, 2016

Spencer has been laying the groundwork for this issue since the start of the series, putting the villains and supporting characters into place until he could bring them together for a very explicit movie reference, and I love it!

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9
Astonishing Ant-Man #10

Jul 23, 2016

Nick Spencer has got to love it when a plan comes together. He set up the fact that Scott is back in prison way back at the beginning, and he set up the fact that Darla has these television camera drones flying around, then brought them together splendidly. I have asked myself whether or not Darla's TV show as filming this whole caper, and sure enough, that's exactly what Spencer wanted me to ask! He brings all of his Ant-Man worktogether in a great crescendo, delivering a fun, exciting and shocking comic book. Fun shocking.

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7
Astonishing Ant-Man #11

Sep 3, 2016

Last issue was a blast, and next issue is the Trial of Ant-Man, which also sounds like a lot of fun. But for now, we twiddle our thumbs in prison a little bit.

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4
Astonishing Ant-Man #12

Sep 24, 2016

Astonishing Ant-Man #12 is a hugely disappointing comic. In what seems like it should be the big climax of the series, Marvel and the creative team just limp things along. The series is being cancelled, and everything involved in this issue, from the story to the art to basic logic, seems to be rushing out the door.

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9
Astonishing Ant-Man #13

Oct 22, 2016

The writing is a little sloppy here and there, and I think Spencer probably had to rush through his plans for the villains, but overall, he's clearly having fun.

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7
Astonishing Iceman (2023) #1

Aug 5, 2023

A whole heck of a lot of explaining needs to take place to set up the characters' new status quo, and that serves as baggage for an otherwise fun first issue.

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7
Astonishing Iceman (2023) #2

Sep 16, 2023

A solid second issue that has a lot of fun with its main character, but the series as a whole feels too light and breezy to really get behind just yet.

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7
Astonishing Iceman (2023) #4

Nov 18, 2023

The writing, and especially artwork, are otherwise very strong, but the status quo and overall X-Men storyline is leaving this comic in the lurch. I wish an Iceman comic from Orlando could be more free.

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8
Astro City (2013) #1

Jun 8, 2013

If I had one complaint, it's the Broken Man narrator. He's this weird guy who breaks the Fourth Wall and talks directly to the reader. He gets the narration across, but the Broken Man also goes on and on about some larger conspiracy that just doesn't make sense yet and doesn't really gel at all with the story being told. I realize Busiek is building to something bigger with him, but for this issue, it was just distracting.

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7
Astro City (2013) #2

Jul 13, 2013

This issue on its own was fine. Marella is a fun enough protagonist, but the story was really kind of basic throughout most of the issue. It's just about a woman getting a new job, meeting her co-workers, dealing with her boss and basically just working her job. That she gets to meet superheroes on occasion is fun, but the issue is still kind of uneventful. It may be an awesome job, and it may be a fascinating corner of Astro City, but it's still just about a woman working at her job. The cliffhanger promises a bigger story next issue, and I do legitimately feel bad for Marella on this one. Busiek succeeds at making her believable and likable.

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7
Astro City (2013) #3

Aug 17, 2013

If you're wondering why I didn't grade the comic any higher, it's because I didn't find anything overly special or gripping about the issue. It's just a very well-made comic telling a fascinating and fun story, but I didn't really connect with it any deeper than surface level. Astro City #3 is by no means a bad comic. Far from it. I'm just hoping to see a little more emotional investment is all. I'm picky like that.

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7
Astro City (2013) #13

Jun 14, 2014

This is one of my favorite comic book series of all time, and the newly relaunched version has been just as good as past volumes. This is just such a delightful series.

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5
Avengers & X-Men: Axis #1

Oct 12, 2014

But the fight against Red Onslaught is not the overall point of Axis, so maybe Remender just wanted to get this part out-of-the-way with a big action scene. That I can understand. But he bit off more than we readers could properly chew with Axis #1.

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6
Avengers & X-Men: Axis #2

Oct 18, 2014

There's still very little depth to any of the characters involved, but for a big fight scene of hero vs. villain, it's entertaining enough.

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6
Avengers & X-Men: Axis #3

Oct 25, 2014

Avengers may be full of drama and character depth, but if you prefer mindless action, then Axis is the book for you!

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6
Avengers & X-Men: Axis #4

Nov 8, 2014

But really, this is one of those stories where you just need to put your pre-conceived notions aside and let Remender do his thing. This is a big story where the villains start acting like heroes and the heroes start acting like villains. Embrace that idea and just run with it, and you've got a pretty cool (if fairly obvious) story. The Avengers are acting like jerks, and guys like Jarvis and the Hulk are struggling to accept it. Tony Stark and Carnage are on the loose, and those who weren't effected by the Inversion Spell are starting to figure out that something weird is going on. It's a simple concept, and hopefully it'll have an entertaining resolution.

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6
Avengers (2012) #1

Dec 8, 2012

I like the general idea of Avengers World. Bendis broke the mold when it came to Avengers membership. So it makes sense, I think, to expand upon Bendis' ideas by making Avengers membership available to all superheroes! Make the Avengers a world-wide organization of superheroes, not just a team of specific figures who hang out in their clubhouse. That's a good idea. But Hickman doesn't go far enough with it – at least not yet. I want to see what happens next, even if this issue was a total let down.

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6
Avengers (2012) #2

Dec 22, 2012

The issue is mostly just a whole lot of talking. Ex Nihilo talks a lot, getting his origin out of the way without much fanfare. Hickman seems to introduce some new wrinkle to Marvel's cosmic history, which comes off more as presumptuous than actually interesting. So Ex Nihilo was birthed by the earliest civilization in the universe? Good for him. Ex Nihilo has no depth beyond his polite desire to evolve the human race. The recruitment scenes are entertaining, but short. And most of the characters were already Avengers before Marvel Now! So I don't see why Cap would have to re-recruit the likes of Wolverine, Spider-Man, Captain Marvel or others. When did they stop being Avengers? Seeing new characters like Cannonball, Sunspot and Manifold was more entertaining. Hickman seems to have a lot of big ideas for this series, but the actually implementation of those ideas is utterly generic.

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4
Avengers (2012) #3

Jan 27, 2013

Especially when Captain Universe is used as an almost literal Dues ex Machina. We all know the Captain Universe concept, but Hickman gives us no introduction whatsoever to this new host, or how she's able to just either convince Ex Nihilo to stop what he's doing or blow up the robot. The fight literally lasts long enough for Hickman to write the host trying to understand what's happening. And the moment she does, everything gets quickly settled. Poof. And then Cap's line. “It's an Avenging World”? What a stupid one-liner.

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8
Avengers (2012) #4

Feb 2, 2013

It's nice of Hickman to give us an origin to Hyperion since he made the character such a big part of this issue. If wish he'd done the same with Captain Universe last issue. But even still, who cares about Hyperion? He's a weak Superman clone and he barely does much in this issue anyway. He most certainly does not possess an interesting or captivating personality, or any reason whatsoever for me to care about him. But that's the bigger picture that I guess Hickman is building towards. Like maybe somewhere down the line, Hyperion will prove his worth, or something. I don't know. All I do know at this point is that we've got a fairly uninteresting character, who has very little background or emotional connection with the reader, going on an adventure in the Savage Land. Why should I care? The AIM scientists in this issue are far more interesting and are better fleshed out than the Avengers. And that's saying something.

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8
Avengers (2012) #5

Feb 9, 2013

There's nothing wrong with introducing new Avengers, it's just the way in which Hickman has gone about this series as a whole that bugs me. Maybe if Smasher had actually done something in the series so far then she'd deserve an origin issue. But she's barely appeared. What about the origin for Captain Universe, who Dues ex Machinaed the bad guy in issue #3? Where's her origin? And why suddenly tell Smasher's origin in the middle of his bio-space-jungle story? Anyway, oddness aside, it's a strong origin and I think Izzy could prove to be a fun character. There's very little fanfare behind her becoming a superhero and an Avenger, but perhaps Hickman has some good stories in mind. Yet again, there is no way I would recommend this series to anyone who isn't already steeped in their knowledge of all corners of the Marvel Universe. And that seems counterproductive considering the publicity push behind Marvel NOW!

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8
Avengers (2012) #6

Feb 23, 2013

Overall, however, I just don't think I'm a fan of Hickman's jumbled storytelling. For all his talk about putting together a bigger, better team of Avengers, he has done very little to actually build the team dynamic and character interactions. But maybe that's the point. He's kind of just relying on the idea of the Avengers rather than actually focusing on the team or the characters. I guess that might work. We'll see. I'm just not yet convinced of Hickman's greatness on Avengers.

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8
Avengers (2012) #7

Mar 9, 2013

To his credit, Hickman makes this feel like an epic event, even though the trope of giving ultimate power to a loser has been around forever. Wasn't that the entire point of the Alpha character over in Dan Slott's Amazing Spider-Man? At least here Hickman is going for a dramatic take on the tale. And count me on board. It has been a weird, disjointed journey to reach this point, but I think this comic is finally picking up the right kind of steam. This was a very clever, very cool revamp of the New Universe concept. The story blends classic comic continuity with new, modern ideas to produce what will hopefully be a real Avengers epic. Hickman could have done a better job of getting us to this point, but I suppose all writers are allowed their eccentricities. Although now I have a weird fear that the next issue isn't going to be about this new Starbrand at all, but will instead tell a completely unrelated origin story of Manifold.

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8
Avengers (2012) #8

Mar 23, 2013

The fight scene is pretty cool. Thor and Starbrand exchange some powerful blows, and the Hulk has a great moment where he's first blasted out into space, then Captain Marvel launches him in a Fastball Special back into Starbrand. Weaver's art is fantastic during the fight, as is the sense that the Avengers are trying to contain a scared but proud young man who is tasting real power for the first time in his life. Starbrand's characterization comes across well. Then the issue cuts to an extended info-dump by Nightmask, and it's just not very clear what he's talking about. He tries to explain what caused the White Event and how it's all tied into the Builders, eventually taking Starbrand back to Ex Nihilo for reasons I don't fully understand. I just don't get what Hickman is trying to say with Nightmask and Ex Nihilo, but the rest of the issue is still entertaining.

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6
Avengers (2012) #9

Apr 13, 2013

I am not entirely sure that I have any idea what's happening in this series. Whatever grand ideas Hickman had about repurposing the New Universe have been swallowed up by his larger, mind-boggling idea about Ex Nihilo, shapers, gardeners, life seeds, sentient planets and whatever the heck else he's cooking up. This isn't so much an Avengers comic as it is Jonathan Hickman's crazy ideas notebook!

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8
Avengers (2012) #11

May 11, 2013

This is the kind of Avengers comic I was hoping to read! It's a very fun use of the characters, it treats the Avengers (and their enemies), as people first and superheroes second. It's funny, it's charming, and it's very, very well drawn. Plus, it's just plain cool to see the Avengers don civilian wear to infiltrate a super-villain casino. That's just an awesome plot. Sam and Bobby have the best time paling around with some AIM soldiers, even if the two of them are being written like douchey ‘bros'. I can forgive the out-of-character Cannonball when his scenes are this much fun. The Shang-Chi stuff was fine, but his vague, first-person narration clouded the point of the scene. I guess there's some new villain corporation named Chimera that we have to be watching out for? Whatever, the much more enjoyable stuff was the legitimate team building, finally.

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8
Avengers (2012) #14

Jun 22, 2013

Hickman's ideas are still as crazy as ever. The giant builder men are weird and come out of nowhere, but they merely represent the dangers of these crash sites, so they definitely work in representing the otherworldly nature of the crash sites. Hickman has successfully built up the scale of this threat, and the idea that there is something huge about to happen – and that the Avengers might not be prepared to stop it – fills every page. It was also cool to see all of the Avengers coming together to battle this threat. I'm still not totally on board with everything Hickman has done in this series, but there's a definite sense of growing dread and of all his plans coming together, and that makes for an exciting read.

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6
Avengers (2012) #15

Jul 6, 2013

I was really hard on this series at the start. The issues didn't seem to have much to do with each other, and I just didn't like the style of Hickman's storytelling. I like him as a writer. There have been issues and moments where greatness has shone through. But on a whole, I still just don't like his style. Maybe all of this is just over my head, and other people are firmly on board, I don't know. But I can appreciate the enormous peril he has placed in this adventure, and his skill in writing the individual Avengers. I am legitimately excited to see where this all goes, and I'm confident Hickman can pull it off. This issue was just another piece of the puzzle, moving us forward and teasing everything that comes next.

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6
Avengers (2012) #17

Aug 10, 2013

This issue was pretty much just Hickman rushing to get all the final pieces in place before Infinity, and in doing so, he pretty much reveals why he created Ex Nihilo, Starbrand and the others in the first place.

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6
Avengers (2012) #18

Aug 24, 2013

For now, I am enjoying Infinity. If nothing else, Hickman has created a true sense of scale. This really does feel like a battle for the fate of the universe. But at the same time, he's failed to explore the smaller scale of what this actually means to the characters involved. Avengers #18 doesn't seem very important to the larger narrative. It's a quick blurb in the overall event.

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5
Avengers (2012) #19

Sep 14, 2013

Unless something changes soon, I have a feeling that all of my reviews are going to be the same way from now on. The Builders prove how unbeatable they are, and the Avengers and their allies run away with their tails between their legs. It's big, but it's dull and flat. None of the Avengers have much of a role in this thing, and clearly the only one interested in the Builders is Hickman himself. He's so damn pleased with all the Ex Nihilos and Starbrands and whatnots that he's made. But I just don't care. These aren't bad comics by any means. They are very well written and well drawn. They just don't rise above the level of generic space thing. There is no humanity in Infinity.

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6
Avengers (2012) #20

Sep 28, 2013

Infinity is no longer as bad as it once was, although I hesitate to call the series 'bad' to any degree. It's competently made and has some amazing art. Hickman writes very well. But he's still overly obsessed with his own creations, and that's troublesome, because he's done a poor job of getting the audience to connect with them. Instead, he spent the first dozen issues or so of Avengers telling disconnected tales seemingly at random.

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6
Avengers (2012) #22

Nov 2, 2013

Hickman is a writer who thinks big, but I'm a reader who likes things smaller.

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7
Avengers (2012) #23

Nov 23, 2013

I'm not made of stone, people. The idea of Gladiator, Super Skrull, Annihilus and Ronan the Accuser stepping up as the ultimate cavalry is just plain fun. Black Dwarf remains as stupid as ever, and seizing the Peak doesn't seem all that important in the grand scheme of things, but that was just a fun scene. The rest of the comic remains the usual mix of entertaining but pointless, much like all of Infinity. The story is only skin deep, but it's solidly told. I find myself enjoying Infinity more here in the end now that most of the excess stuff is gone, and it's just a fight where the good guys mop up the bad guys.

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7
Avengers (2012) #24.NOW

Dec 28, 2013

This is the comic Avengers should have been from the beginning of Hickman's run. In the wake of Infinity, his Big Event, Hickman settles down for a simple, almost done-in-one issue that expertly combines humanizing the Avengers and sending them on an epic, out-of-this-world adventure. This was one of the most enjoyable issues of his entire run so far. Unfortunately, at issue #24, it comes way too late.

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9
Avengers (2012) #29

May 16, 2014

Avengers #29 is a lightning rod of a comic. If you've been enjoying Jonathan Hickman's work on the Avengers franchise, then this is the issue where he kicks things into high gear. The world is in danger and the very foundations of the Avengers are about to implode. It's going to be brother against brother for the fate of their very souls, and that doesn't even begin to address the real problems. Hickman has been a slow build, but it looks like he's ready to burst.

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5
Avengers (2012) #30

May 31, 2014

So much for wanting to get back into Jonathan Hickman's Avengers. After a stellar two issues that really dig into the characters and their interpersonal conflicts, it looks instead like Hickman is just going to send a small bunch of Avengers on some weird time travel jaunt into weird, Hickman-inspired futures.

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9
Avengers (2012) #34

Aug 30, 2014

And it's all masterfully drawn by Yu, of course. Sometimes his style might be a little too heavy on the black lines, but he captures all of the emotion and tension in place in this great issue. I almost don't want to see the world jump ahead 8 months, because I want to see the Avengers vs. the Illuminati right now!

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7
Avengers (2012) #35

Sep 20, 2014

As a 'possible future' story, it's a solid set-up, with interesting takes on all the various characters. Not to mention the quality line-up of different artists. But the fun of seeing all these changes only takes us so far. This issue is entirely set-up, and while it's interesting set-up, and I kind of like where it's going, we've still got a long way to go. And personally, I'd rather Hickman deal with this storyline in the present, rather than pull this 'alternate possible future' stuff. The Avengers vs. Illuminati storyline he was building was pretty damn awesome.

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6
Avengers (2012) #36

Oct 11, 2014

We're still in the future of the Avengers, and while I've been absolutely thrilled with Hickman's New Avengers, he doesn't give the regular Avengers comic as much oomph. I think it's the choice of characters.

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9
Avengers (2012) #37

Oct 25, 2014

Hickman has weaved quite a tapestry between his two comics, and I love it more and more each issue. He's not a linear storyteller, so there are bumps along the way, but overall, I am love this whole event. I almost wish it didn't have to end in Secret Wars or whatever insane story's going to come out of it next Spring.

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8
Avengers (2018) #1

May 5, 2018

It's a little wonky at times as it tries to do everything at once in continuity, but The Avengers #1 does pull off everything it needs to for an exciting, character-rich first issue relaunch.

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5
Avengers (2018) #2

May 19, 2018

The character fun at the heart of the first issue is mostly gone as action and massive set pieces take over. Now it's just about crashing the characters and villains into one another, including a surprise villain that is way too overused in this capacity.

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6
Avengers (2018) #3

Jun 23, 2018

There is way too much plot and way too much exposition explaining that plot for this issue's own good. There are hints of a good time, but they are buried.

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6
Avengers (2018) #4

Jul 7, 2018

Avengers is focusing way too much on retcons to ancient history when it could be focusing on interesting characters telling an interesting story.

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9
Avengers (2023) #1

May 20, 2023

This first issue is the whole package. From big action to a classic team building segment, everything works flawlessly to get the ball rolling on a new Avengers relaunch.

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7
Avengers (2023) #2

Jun 24, 2023

Solid second issue has a lot of fun with general superheroics, though I think it could have been a bit more subtle with its foreshadowing.

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7
Avengers (2023) #3

Jul 29, 2023

A new batch of villains is introduced straight from central casting. I'm hoping for a fun twist behind them, but perhaps they're as straight forward as they seem. We'll find out, but for now, they just get introduced.

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7
Avengers (2023) #4

Aug 12, 2023

Solid writing and art make for a fine comic still, but if everything hinges on the ‘kewl' factor of these two generic villains, the overall story is going to suffer.

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6
Avengers (2023) #5

Sep 30, 2023

Several issues deep and we're still just introducing the new villains, who are creative, but don't have much depth beyond their funky ideas and very modern names.

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5
Avengers (2023) #6

Oct 14, 2023

The bad guys that have been built up over multiple issues now are quickly defeated without much fanfare and no deeper meaning behind them (unless that is to be revealed later?).

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6
Avengers (2023) #7

Nov 4, 2023

Strong writing and strong art don't make up for an otherwise lackluster story and a disappointing cliffhanger ending.

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8
Avengers Assemble (2024) #1

Sep 14, 2024

A good, solid, entertaining start to a more back-to-basics, classic superhero-style Avengers comic. The big roster should have plenty of appeal. And matching jackets are awesome.

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8
Avengers Inc. (2023) #1

Sep 16, 2023

First issue nails the tone and the themes perfectly, kicking off what should be a fun new series.

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8
Avengers Vs. X-Men #4

May 18, 2012

I want more from this comic " but it doesn't look like I'll be getting it. And I'm not going to penalize Avengers vs. X-Men because it's not being written the way I want it to be written, that it's not doing what I would have done. It's an entertaining, face-paced story that is keeping me on my toes and offering a few legitimate surprises. If you step back and put too much thought into picking out its flaws, you're going to have a bad time. I want to have a good time, and Avengers vs. X-Men #4 is a good read.

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10
Avengers Vs. X-Men #5

Jun 7, 2012

Avengers vs. X-Men continues to be a good, solid, well-paced read. It may not delve into any of the characters on a personal level, but there are tie-ins for that. And with awesome ideas and wild events like this issue, it promises to only get better.

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10
Avengers Vs. X-Men #6

Jun 22, 2012

At least the art is absolutely fantastic!

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6
Avengers Vs. X-Men #7

Jul 6, 2012

I hope this series can still surprise me. And it has more than enough issues left to do just that.

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6
Avengers Vs. X-Men #8

Jul 19, 2012

This is why I don't get this comic anymore. They clearly want to paint the X-Men as bad guys and the Avengers as heroes, but it's being forced on us. Marvel controls this story. They are writing it. They planned it out. So why the hell are they being so weak-willed when it comes to the heroes and the villains? Why are the X-Men evil if all they're doing is making the world a better place? Why are the Avengers the good guys when they're only concerned with proving themselves right, where their only plan is to basically murder the PhoeniX-Men?

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8
Avengers Vs. X-Men #9

Aug 2, 2012

This issue made up for my anger and frustration from last issue. I'm very excited to see what happens next as we get closer and closer to the big climactic finale!

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8
Avengers Vs. X-Men #10

Aug 16, 2012

We still only have characters telling us that Cyclops has gone bad. And sorry Marvel, but I just can't believe them until I see it with my own eyes.

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10
Avengers Vs. X-Men #11

Sep 13, 2012

But I suppose the real impact of his death is what it does to Cyclops. Because if Cyclops is still alive at the end of Avengers vs. X-Men, he's going to have quite the personal journey. And as long as he doesn't stay a villain and seeks redemption, that's a comic I would definitely read.

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10
Avengers Vs. X-Men #12

Oct 4, 2012

The story made some kind of logical sense, as long as you don't pick it apart too much. The Phoenix was a classic Marvel adversary, and clearly Marvel had been building up to this story for several years, what with the Scarlet Witch and Hope having semi-prominent roles over the years. This made for a nice parallel to House of M, where Wanda took away the mutant powers. And it does a fine job of setting up Uncanny Avengers and the new Marvel NOW! campaign. So yeah, this story was exciting, well-drawn, epic and pretty darn cool.

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5
Avengers World #1

Jan 11, 2014

If you love Hickman's Avengers, this series looks like it's going to be the continuity-free place to get general stories of Avengers heroics, with few, if any, ties to Hickman's bigger, weirder ideas.

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8
Avengers World #1

Jan 10, 2014

Avengers World might not be necessary in the grand scheme of the franchise, considering how many Avengers comics there already are these days, but it looks like Hickman, Spencer, Caselli and Martin are going to make the most out of it. This first issue is a strong balance of adventure and character. Avengers World could become a very entertaining companion series to Hickman's main Avengers comic. Any fans of Hickman's approach to the franchise probably won't mind paying extra to get even more Avengers adventures.

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8
Avengers: Twilight (2024) #1

Jan 20, 2024

Excellent first issue sets up the world, the characters and the mood, but it also follows the dystopian future playbook to a T.

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7
Avengers: Twilight (2024) #2

Feb 3, 2024

The writing is very strong, the art is phenomenal, and each issue so far has been a good, solid read. Just know that it's exactly what it says on the tin.

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7
Avengers: Twilight (2024) #3

Mar 2, 2024

Action-packed, engaging issue that still hasn't come up with anything new or unique to say about the premise.

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10
AVX: Consequences #4

Nov 3, 2012

Then once again, Cyclops's part of the story is simply amazing. Iron Man continues to accomplish little, but he's just an excuse to get Cyclops out of the room for the brutal killing of Jake. I did not see that coming. I thought for sure that Jake would be a new mutant character to join Cyclops on his eventual return. But nope! Jake is the catalyst for Cyclops' upcoming break out, and hopefully his complete and utter badassery as a rogue mutant freedom fighter alongside Magneto and the others. That final page was great. The world will view them as villains, but we know better, my friends. We know better. Pax Utopia.

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8
AVX: Consequences #5

Nov 10, 2012

But the best moment in this issue is what happens when Wolverine and the Avengers arrive at the prison, too late to stop Cyclops. Wolverine finds a note from Cyke, and it perfectly defines both Wolverine and Cyclops over the past few years. In a stunning reversal (which I'm sad to say I didn't see coming), Cyclops reveals that Wolverine has now become the respectable, moral leader of the X-Men, what with both leading the Jean Grey School and joining the Avengers. Wolverine has become the new Cyclops. And in turn, Cyclops declares that he is the new Wolverine. Cyclops will be the rogue warrior operating out of the shadows, doing the things that need to be done to protect mutants. This is brilliant.

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9
Batgirl (2011) #35

Oct 11, 2014

We all knew the new Batgirl costume looked amazing, but everything looks amazing in this issue. This is art with a clear direction. This is art, this is a whole comic, that speaks for itself.

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10
Batgirl (2011) #36

Nov 15, 2014

And not enough can be said about Tarr and Stewart on art. It's just gorgeous. It looks like nothing else in comics, and is just full of personality and spirit. This is art that energizes the comic, filling it with a wonderful sort of life. I love this comic. It makes me want to be a better creator.

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8
Batgirl (2011) #37

Dec 13, 2014

If this new Batgirl hadn't come out so late in the year, it would be in the running for best comic series of 2014. I am loving this comic, with a depth of love I usually only reserve for Kamala Khan. This is just such a splendidly constructed comic. Stewart and Fletcher have created their own little Batgirl world, full of youthful energy, artistic style and a diehard appreciation of modern day social media. I am loving this comic.

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8
Batgirl (2011) #38

Jan 17, 2015

The honeymoon phase for the new Batgirl is over " for some more strongly than others " and now it's time to see if Stewart, Fletcher and Tarr can produce a quality comic on a regular basis. I definitely think they're up to the task, and this week's new issue proves it. We know the characters, we know the concepts, and now the team begins telling bigger, more thematic stories about the Batgirl of Burnside.

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8
Batgirl (2011) #39

Feb 21, 2015

The new Batgirl hasn't lost any of its steam as it nears the end of its first story arc. The world is as dynamic as that first issue, and the characters are all people first, superheroes second. Fletcher and Stewart have a nice blend when it comes to the life of Barbara Gordon, and Babs Tarr continues to be the series star. Her art is unlike anything else in comics, and that keeps the book in quality storytelling.

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8
Batgirl (2011) #40

Mar 21, 2015

Batgirl is a comic that's firing on all cylinders. The story, the art, the characters and everything else all come together in a great package, delivering both superhero adventure and personal character growth. It's equally important that Burnside is saved and Barbara's college thesis is saved. This is a creative team that understands the importance of putting characters first, superheroes second.

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8
Batgirl (2011) #41

Jun 27, 2015

The creative team behind the new Batgirl is back, with a slight change of plans: it appears that Babs Tarr is going to handle the art chores all by herself! Before this, Cameron Stewart was doing breakdowns. The change isn't huge, but it's just enough that Batgirl #41 looks a little bit different... Still an awesome comic, though!

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9
Batgirl (2011) #42

Aug 1, 2015

Batgirl #42 is another great issue of this fun, uplifting comic. Batgirl's superheroics are a ton of fun, using her smarts, her skills and her good nature to see a bad guy properly defeated. She's great with her friends, she's great with Batman; she's just all around great. This is fun comics and I love it. And Tarr's art is just so perfect for this title. Upbeat, energetic and dazzlingly colorful, Batgirl deserves to be a gold standard for how DC Comics should be from now on. This is the sort of comic that reminds me why I love superheroes so much!

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9
Batgirl (2011) #43

Aug 29, 2015

I've said it plenty of times before, and I'll say it again: my personal mantra for writing superhero comics is "People first, superheroes second", and Batgirl is a near perfect example of that. This is a comic about Barbara Gordon, and her personal life is just as important as the latest superhero adventure. That said adventure involves mysterious tigers is icing on the cake, and a great example for how fun and creative this team can be. Mysterious tigers! Come on! That's just plain cool!

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8
Batgirl (2011) #44

Sep 26, 2015

Bengal's art did a great job of carrying the Babs Tarr load. It's fun, colorful and very friendly, just like Tarr. So I say DC should consider Bengal the official fill-in.

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9
Batgirl (2011) #45

Oct 31, 2015

Everything about this issue was in perfect working order. The creative team, especially Babs Tarr, threw a pretty spectacular comic book wedding full of great character moments, some real heartbreak, and a heck of a lot of charm.

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7
Batgirl (2011) #46

Dec 19, 2015

This issue is a solid start to the next storyline. Gangs are always a problem, and combining them with a housing crisis in Burnside sounds like a neat way to mix fisticuffs and politics, which sounds very Burnsideian. I look forward to where they're going with this. Tarr's art is as amazing as ever, giving this title so much personality. And I didn't mention it in my synopsis, but there's a fun moment where Babs finally relents to letting Frankie join her crime-fighting. There are a lot of great character moments in Batgirl.

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8
Batgirl (2011) #48

Feb 6, 2016

There's nothing like Batgirl, and that's such a great thing.

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7
Batgirl (2011) #49

Mar 5, 2016

This was a solid issue and made for great set up for the eventual showdown with Fugue. This series has been good to great since it was refocused, and this issue is a good way to set things up for a grand finale.

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9
Batgirl (2011) #50

Apr 9, 2016

Babs Tarr has been phenomenal on this series, and I look forward to her continued work in comics. DC also found some great fill-in artists to help with some of the scenes, and the book flows regardless of who is behind the pencils. This is the big, climactic action issue that we could possibly want from a Bat comic, and I, for one, consider this whole Batgirl relaunch a huge success. I can't wait to reread the whole thing.

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7
Batgirl (2011) Annual #3

Aug 1, 2015

Overall, this is a fun little read. It's a pretty straight forward case-of-the-week, and Batgirl handles herself quite well. The other heroes are all spot-on, but overall, the whole thing just kind of dragged. I realize that Annuals are longer than normal, but I would have been happier with a much shorter story. At least the art mostly holds up for the whole thing .

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8
Batgirl (2016) #1

Jul 30, 2016

And Larson does a fine job building up her supporting cast. The arrival of an old childhood friend is kind of abrupt, but I suppose we run into people we used to know all the time. It's a small world, right? But Babs looks to be getting a nice supporting cast, and it's clear that the creative team has done their homework on the new worlds and cultures that Babs will explore. Albuquerque is a little rougher around the edges than Babs Tarr, but I like what I'm seeing here.

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9
Batgirl (2016) #2

Aug 27, 2016

The new Batgirl Rebirth is off to a great start. It's got the same fun energy of the previous volume, while definitely sending Batgirl on a new and interesting adventure.

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6
Batgirl (2016) #3

Oct 1, 2016

This was a fine issue, and it moves everything forward a bit, but it seemed to lack that special charm I've been enjoying in previous issues. I can't quite put my finger on what went wrong, though. Scenes kind of cut to the next one pretty rapidly. Nothing of too much note actually happened. The villain is vaguely defined. Like, I'm not sure if Batgirl has been fighting the same person in every issue, or if there's a league of martial arts villains who all have the same tattoo. It's not that big of a deal, I suppose. This was a perfectly fine issue of the new Batgirl, but it's in the middle of a story and has a lot of moving pieces that could stand to be a little more clearly defined.

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7
Batgirl (2016) #4

Oct 29, 2016

Batgirl is still a fine continuation of Batgirl of Burnside, though it's lost some of its spark. Larson and Albuquerque are telling a nice story in the new issue, with a lot of action, but they've already squandered the unique setting they've worked so hard to use.

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7
Batgirl (2016) #5

Nov 26, 2016

I'm still a little bummed that Larson and Albuquerque didn't spend more time visiting the various Asian locations that Babs went there to see. She went to Asia to enjoy a vacation and get away from the hustle and bustle of Burnside. But then she spent her whole vacation fighting yet more super-villains, and not even particularly noteworthy super-villains. Some vacation. What started as a potentially interesting story devolved into just another slugfest with a super-villain. At least the art and the writing were solid enough to keep it afloat and entertain.

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8
Batgirl (2016) #6

Dec 31, 2016

This was a fun little done-in-one adventure with solid performances by both Batgirl and Poison Ivy, who is definitely getting a bit of a makeover these days. Gone is the evil villain, here is the feisty anti-hero. I like it. This issue was a great showcase of the talent on hand, keeping the action issue moving with solid character work, a neat conflict and the perfect artwork to keep it all amazing. I remain a little confused about the ending, but maybe Larson planned it that way and has something more planned for the future. By all means, I look forward to more quality Batgirl going forward.

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6
Batgirl (2016) #12

Jul 1, 2017

This was a perfectly fine issue of Batgirl, but there are so many leaps in logic and really stretching plot points that I kind of think Hope Larson just scribbled something out with her deadline approaching.

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9
Batgirl (2016) #13

Jul 29, 2017

Hope Larson and her team tell an adorable, one-off story about missing pets that renews my faith in this comic.

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8
Batgirl (2016) #14

Aug 26, 2017

A new Batgirl mystery is off to a very exciting start, and the Nightwing guest appearance fits perfectly.

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7
Batgirl (2016) #15

Sep 30, 2017

Come for the awesome Batgirl/Nightwing team up and stay for the awesome Batgirl/Nightwing team-up, because the story that unites them isn't very hot this issue.

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8
Batgirl (2016) #16

Oct 28, 2017

The story really kicks into fun gear with this issue, but the real strengths of Larson's work on Batgirl are still the quality characters.

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9
Batgirl (2016) #17

Nov 25, 2017

Larson writes a really nice story about Babs Gordon and Dick Grayson to finish off her latest storyline. The emotional weight of the story, both good and bad, is really strong and helps make this one pretty special.

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7
Batgirl (2016) #18

Dec 30, 2017

Batgirl delivers a nice, done-in-one Christmas story that's a little rushed and a little too jam-packed with stuff, but is an otherwise very entertaining, well-drawn comic.

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6
Batgirl (2016) #19

Jan 27, 2018

As much as I love Hope Larson's Batgirl, sometimes she takes some really weird leaps in character and logic to move us through her story.

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7
Batgirl (2016) #20

Mar 3, 2018

It's a standard, solid issue of Batgirl fighting baddies as the creative team tries to build some big picture momentum.

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7
Batgirl (2016) #22

Apr 28, 2018

A really neat twist ending saves this issue from being a dull superhero comic, but it's still a dull superhero comic before arriving at the twist.

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6
Batgirl (2016) #23

May 26, 2018

A slightly neat story idea plays out as expected, with a bit too many thought bubbles for my tastes. They really cram them in there.

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8
Batgirls (2021) #1

Dec 18, 2021

Really fun, really stylish start to this new series. Not as much out-of-costume stuff as I would like to see, but the superheroics are in a league of their own.

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8
Batgirls (2021) #2

Jan 15, 2022

Batgirls has a very specific style and energy that I like a lot, and really helps to elevate this comic as a whole. It's an otherwise pretty straight forward comic, but it absolutely delivers on its stated premise and pushes itself to be something special.

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7
Batgirls (2021) #3

Feb 12, 2022

This comic maintains a general quality with fun characters and fun interactions, both with each other and with the slowly expanding cast. But this specific issue feels a bit like treading water, as the villains aren't particularly deep.

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8
Batgirls (2021) #4

Mar 12, 2022

The overall feel and vibe of Batgirls remains really fun, and this issue has some nice character moments. But this issue also has a very dingus decision that makes no sense other than the creators needed to slam this square peg into a round hole for their story.

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4
Batgirls (2021) #5

Apr 16, 2022

This is a very stylish and fun comic, but this issue really solidifies just how surface-level everything feels. There's no character depth and no weight to the story, even as it stretches on issue after issue. It's all style, no substance. All glitz, no glamour.

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5
Batgirls (2021) #6

May 14, 2022

The artwork and the writing are pretty wonderful in this comic, but for the sixth issue in a row, the story leaves too much to be desired to recommend this comic.

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10
Batman (2011) #14

Nov 17, 2012

Sorry, I did it again. I'm trying to say that this story is awesome. I loved Snyder's Court of the Owls and this Joker story is even better. There is real menace and evil coming off these pages, with Batman at the end of his rope. There is real, meaningful emotion felt between Batman and the Commissioner or Batman and Nightwing, not to mention Batman and the Joker. Seriously, this is some of the best Batman has ever been in comics. If you love Batman, you should be reading Scott Snyder.

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8
Batman (2011) #15

Dec 15, 2012

Though how the hell is anyone supposed to tell any future Joker stories after this one? They will all pale in comparison.

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6
Batman (2011) #16

Jan 19, 2013

Snyder is writing a great Joker. He's truly twisted and his dialogue is phenomenal. The opening chapter of Death of the Family was terrifying. But since then, I just don't see anything happening of note. It all looks like empty hype. So here's hoping Snyder has a great conclusion in store for us. As for what's on the serving dish? My guess is that it's Alfred's severed head. What else could it be?

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8
Batman (2011) #17

Feb 16, 2013

The only real victim in all of this is Nightwing. He lost all of his new supporting cast and status quo for a story that ended up going nowhere for the character. Poor guy.

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8
Batman (2011) #18

Mar 16, 2013

As much as I liked this issue, it wasn't very emotionally fulfilling. It kind of just checked off the right story beats to start Harper's journey to becoming Robin. And while I fully support the idea and enjoyed this issue, it still felt a little clinical.

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6
Batman (2011) #19

Apr 13, 2013

Scott Snyder has definitely had a solid run on Batman, in my opinion. The stories range from good to great, and I think everything he created with the Court of Owls should stand the test of time as one of the really awesome, original modern-day Batman stories. The man knows his characters, and he's got a solid voice on Batman himself. Artist Greg Capullo is the perfect accomplice. This is a great Batman creative team, and I'm actually looking forward to his upcoming Batman: Zero Year idea. Unfortunately, Snyder kind of drops the ball a little with the filler material on the way to Zero Year.

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6
Batman (2011) #20

May 11, 2013

This two-parter was mostly ho-hum. I've always liked Clayface, but Snyder has a weird way of handling him, and I just didn't connect to the villain whatsoever. Maybe now that he's established, his next appearance will be more engaging. The rest of the issue is fine, I suppose. Bruce Wayne and Batman both get some cool moments, though there's a really elaborate moment where Clayface absorbs Batman's DNA to expose his identity that falls kind of flat. He shows everyone that Batman is Bruce Wayne, but then Batman already thought of that, and reveals he and Wayne worked out a fix to trick Clayface involving some kind of Wayne DNA mask. That feels like the sort of twist that belongs in the Silver Age. It's hard to tell if Clayface really does know Batman's identity now or if he also bought into Batman's explanation. I suppose it doesn't really matter. This was a standard little Batman story, and I guess that's all I should have expected.

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8
Batman (2011) #21

Jun 15, 2013

I liked this issue and the work Snyder is doing to Batman's origin. Obviously, Batman: Year One is irreplaceable, but Zero Year is going to be very different from Year One. For one thing, Year One focused a heck of a lot on Commissioner Gordon, and intercut his story with segments of Bruce Wayne. Zero Year seems focused on the nuts and bolts of what exactly Bruce Wayne did with his time and how his crime-fighting crusade came together. So far, it's a fun story. Snyder works in all sorts of cute little nods to the fans, like the giant penny and the Batmobile, while still telling an interesting story. Capullo's art is as great as ever, so I'm definitely in to see how all this plays out, and to see what other neat ideas Snyder has to add. Plus the backups showing off different forms of Bruce's training sound like a good idea to me, though I don't know why Bruce would use his real name.

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7
Batman (2011) #22

Jul 13, 2013

I thought this was another solid issue of Zero Year. Like I said, Snyder really seems to know what he's doing and where he's going. His Bruce is also imperfect enough to have a believable character arc. He's got a lot to learn, and this is the story where he will learn it. The argument with Alfred was good, and I look forward to how their relationship grows over the course of the story. I'm not yet sold on the Red Hood Gang. They're interesting enough, I suppose. Are we supposed to already know that their leader is the future Joker? It's definitely hinted at, hard. I really enjoyed the appearance of Edward Nygma. Snyder quite clearly has some big plans for his character, and it'll be neat to see what he does to build the Riddler up into a truly powerful villain. Zero Year is still a strong, entertaining story, though we are only two issues in.

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6
Batman (2011) #23.2

Sep 14, 2013

I am legitimately excited to see what Scott Snyder does with the Riddler in Zero Year. I've always liked the character, and he's been kind of special in the New 52. He's an underestimated Batman villain. And this is a great issue for the Riddler. He's clever, he's smart, and he's sadistic when it counts. But it's not an origin story, and it doesn't really tie into either Zero Year or Forever Evil. So it's just a nice little story about the Riddler. Simple as that.

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6
Batman (2011) #23.3

Sep 21, 2013

This was a fine issue. It's a neat little reminder that the Penguin can be badass. It doesn't really tell us anything new about the character, nor does it flesh him out as someone with layers. He's the Penguin, he kills people, he runs a business and he can be pretty cruel. I didn't mention that the Penguin and the governor used to be friends in grade school, but it doesn't really matter. The governor character has probably never existed before this issue, so who really cares about this back story? He only exists to show us how ruthlessly vile the Penguin can be. Now we know, so that's that.

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7
Batman (2011) #24

Oct 12, 2013

I am very much enjoying Scott Snyder's Batman opus, but there's something fairly standard about the whole affair. I think I've felt this way for a long time, but Batman #24 really underlines my feelings. Snyder isn't really trying anything overly daring or shocking with the franchise. He's just writing some really good Batman stories. Don't get me wrong, the writing is top notch and Capullo's art is absolutely spectacular. But it's all just very plain.

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8
Batman (2011) #25

Nov 16, 2013

I've said it before and I'll keep saying it: Snyder is very good at writing a solid, entertaining Batman. He doesn't have any wild, controversial ideas like Grant Morrison did. Snyder just seems to want to tell the best, most gripping Batman stories possible. Does he succeed? Yeah, for the most part. I know other critics are absolutely in love with what he's doing, but I remain mostly lukewarm. I'm enjoying the comics, both Snyder and Capullo are highly-skilled, but there's just something missing for me " and yeah, it might be Robin. Or maybe it's just heart in general. There's no spark. This is a very straight-forward, very entertaining, very clever and well-plotted Batman story, but that's all it is. Batman is Batman, and his first year as a crimefighter goes almost exactly how you'd expect. Still fun, though.

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7
Batman (2011) #26

Dec 14, 2013

There is no denying that Snyder's run on Batman will go down as a classic. The guy has some great ideas, and he writes a very solid, very entertaining Batman. But for whatever reason, and maybe it's just me, I'm not connecting with this comic as much as other people. I can recognize it as one of the finest outlets for Batman stories in a long time, but I've never really seen them as anything more than really good Batman stories.

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7
Batman (2011) #27

Jan 25, 2014

The story jumps ahead in the end, and it's fine, but the real strength of this issue were the speeches from Gordon and Alfred. Both are strong, and both add a lot more depth and interest into these early years of the Caped Crusader.

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7
Batman (2011) #28

Feb 15, 2014

Something bad is going to happen to Gotham City soon, and I'm sure it will push Batman into some fun new places. But for now, the issue is all about teasing Bluebird, Selina Kyle and Stephanie Brown. Definitely fun to finally see her in the new continuity.

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8
Batman (2011) #29

Mar 15, 2014

As usual, I don't actually find myself very invested in Zero Year as a whole. I don't know what it is, though it may literally be the lack of Robin. I just don't care about Batman as much when Robin isn't around. But I can definitely recognize that Snyder and Capullo are telling some truly epic Batman stories.

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8
Batman (2011) #30

Apr 19, 2014

I've been enjoying Zero Year for the most part, but Snyder and Capullo really go a little too far in this issue. When writing a prequel, you kind of need to keep in mind that what you're writing takes place before everything else. But clearly, from the major status quo changes in Batman #30, Snyder's imagination may have gotten a little too big for his britches.

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8
Batman (2011) #31

May 31, 2014

We're almost at the end of Zero Year, and while I still think this story about the Riddler turning Gotham City into Fallout for an entire month is a little too ludicrous to be this early in Batman's career, I can at least appreciate a good comic. Snyder finds a way to add some tension into this issue, making it one of the most exciting of Zero Year so far.

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7
Batman (2011) #32

Jun 28, 2014

I just don't know how to best explain my feelings about this comic. Read as a whole, I bet Snyder's run is going to be amazing. But there's just something about each story, each issue, that doesn't really connect for me. And that's on me, not on them. Capullo is doing an amazing job. And Snyder"man, I don't know. I want to like his work, but something about it has always felt empty to me. It's why I stopped reading Superman Unchained.

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8
Batman (2011) #33

Jul 26, 2014

I don't think the story really supported the gravitas of what happened in Zero Year, but Snyder and Capullo offered enough clever twists and emotional payoffs to make for a good finale.

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7
Batman (2011) #34

Aug 16, 2014

I have no real complaints about this comic. It's a solid, enjoyable Batman story with a few neat little bits here and there. That's kind of what we all want from Batman.

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7
Batman (2011) #35

Oct 11, 2014

This issue was basically just one big fight scene as Snyder narrates the individual ways he thought up to take down the Justice League. This is classic Batman. In fact, we've already seen it once or twice in the New 52 already, so this issue is nothing new.

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7
Batman (2011) #36

Nov 15, 2014

When it comes to the Joker, Snyder just tries way too hard. The Joker becomes more myth than character, and while that's probably a perfectly legitimate take on the villain, you've got to be willing to believe the myth if the story is going to matter. And I don't. I don't care about the Joker. I enjoy a good, well-crafted Joker story as much as the next person, but when your story is just 'look how cool and scary the Joker' is, then I just don't care.

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7
Batman (2011) #40

May 2, 2015

I really enjoy Scott Snyder's Batman as a series. He's a great creator, Capullo is an amazing artist, and they both do a great job of creating a world and an atmosphere for Batman stories. But Snyder's Joker is all style and no substance, and it brings the whole comic down.

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9
Batman (2011) #41

Jun 13, 2015

There's clearly a lot more story to come, but Snyder and Capullo deliver a perfect one-and-done introduction to the new Batman. Consider me completely on board.

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9
Batman (2011) #42

Jul 11, 2015

I like that Snyder saved an original villain to put up against Gordon, with some minor villains to keep up the punching. That should keep the issues exciting and action-packed, and you've got to have that when you're playing with a Robo-Batman. Capullo has plenty of action to draw, and he's still one of the best in the business.

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7
Batman (2011) #43

Aug 15, 2015

Snyder is playing with some interesting ideas here, and I'm eager to see where he goes with them. I think we can all agree that this new status quo isn't going to last, and that Bruce Wayne will return as Batman before too long. But for now, I want to see what he can do with all these new ideas (and I personally love that Snyder still gets to play with Duke Thomas!

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7
Batman (2011) #45

Oct 17, 2015

Batman remains one of DC's best comics, but I don't think Snyder's doing a very good job introducing his new villain. At least Robo-Batman remains a fascinating read.

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7
Batman (2011) #46

Nov 14, 2015

I may be an old school Robin fan, but I'm loving everything happening in the Bat-world these days. Bring on the weirdness, bring on the altered status quos! I want to see the very concept of Batman and Robin run through the wringer! I only wish Snyder had a more interesting villain. Nothing about Mr. Bloom interests me right now. He's just some weird, gangly, super-powered nutter who kills indiscriminately, to the point that nobody really seems to care that he murdered so many people so grotesquely. It's just business as usual.

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7
Batman (2011) #48

Jan 23, 2016

The end is on its way! Another Big Batman Blowout is coming from Snyder and Capullo, and this issue does all the heavy lifting to set us up for something spectacular. The tension is rising! It's party time!

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8
Batman (2011) #49

Feb 13, 2016

It's a weird issue, to be sure, but the emotion gets through in a lot of meaningful ways.

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10
Batman (2011) #50

Mar 26, 2016

This issue was worth the wait. It was worth the build-up, worth the months of Jim Gordon as Batman, worth the troubles with Mr. Bloom, worth the entirety of the We Are Robin comic. This is everything someone could want from a triumphant Batman comic.

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8
Batman (2011) #51

Apr 30, 2016

The great Snyder/Capullo Batman run comes to an end with this issue, in a fitting little farewell story that touches on all the classic Batman elements, while looking fantastic. It's not exactly ground-breaking stuff, more like a well-earned victory lap.

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6
Batman (2011) #52

May 14, 2016

If all DC wanted to do was stretch out the Batman series to the magic number 52 issues, they could have done worse. Maybe Snyder and Capullo charge a lot of money? Or maybe they specifically planned a 51-issue run? Who knows, but DC got exactly what they wanted: a short, sweet Batman story that celebrates the character's history. There are callbacks to his training. There are a lot of nice moments between Bruce and Alfred. And we get to see Batman chase down and defeat some fancy new costumed crook. This is all classic Batman goodness, told simply and almost effortlessly. It's nothing to write home about, but it's still enjoyable in its own right.

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6
Batman (2011) Annual #4

Oct 3, 2015

So apparently the great experiment that was Arkham Manor has come to an end. This annual issue, tossed out on a Fifth Wednesday, serves to tie off that storyline with a nice, simple bow and give Wayne Manor back to Bruce Wayne. I'd say it was fun while it lasted, but I lost interest in Arkham Manor fairly quickly.

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9
Batman (2016) #1

Jun 18, 2016

Tom King's Batman looks to be phenomenal, with an exciting first issue that plays up a lot of classic Batman elements, while delivering some truly outstanding action.I would probably prefer a better artist than Finch, but I suppose he'll do for now.

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6
Batman (2016) #2

Jul 9, 2016

Batman #2 was a bit disjointed for my taste. It had some really good character moments, but overall, the juggling plot points didn't gel for me.

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5
Batman (2016) #3

Jul 23, 2016

I'm probably just being picky, but Tom King has not yet won me over on why his two new earnest superheroes are worth my time, or worth stealing the spotlight from Batman and Duke Thomas. None of the energy and excitement of Grayson has carried over into King's Batman (except during the first issue), and that's a damn shame. At least Finch had probably his best issue yet!

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4
Batman (2016) #4

Aug 6, 2016

I have no idea what King is going for with his Batman series. It's disjointed and focused on entirely wrong things, with a Batman who relies more on his myth than being an actual man. And Batman #4 brings out the worst in all of the already obvious flaws in this comic.

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3
Batman (2016) #5

Aug 20, 2016

Tom King tries to set up an epic showdown between Batman and Gotham, but I don't feel like he's laid down near enough groundwork or character work to make this issue work. Batman #5 is disjointed and disappointing.

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6
Batman (2016) #21

Apr 22, 2017

Batman #21 is a finely written, exceptionally drawn comic, but it does next to nothing to move the story or the mystery forward, at least as far as I'm concerned. I may have missed something.

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8
Batman (2016) #24

Jun 10, 2017

In spite of the the gawking, clickbait headlines this issue prompted, this was actually a really nice meditation on Batman's emotional state and why he deserves to be happy.

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8
Batman (2016) #25

Jun 24, 2017

The War of Jokes and Riddles kicks off in style, with a strongly written, well drawn introductory issue that really lays out the heart of the conflict to come.

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7
Batman (2016) #26

Jul 8, 2017

The War of Jokes and Riddles is off to a suspiciously slow start, but what meat we do get is damn good in story, character building and art.

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9
Batman (2016) #27

Jul 22, 2017

If you want an epic, tragic and surprising origin for a Z-list nobody Batman villain, then this issue is for you! If you want the actual War of Jokes and Riddles, then I think you're getting played by a master storyteller.

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8
Batman (2016) #28

Aug 5, 2017

The War of Jokes and Riddles continues in quality and content. I'm both loving and mildly bothered by King's sideline perspective approach.

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6
Batman (2016) #29

Aug 19, 2017

Whatever meta game Tom King is playing with The War and Jokes and Riddles, it feels like it reaches its zenith with this bonkers issue. On it's own, it's just OK, but I'm hoping King is playing some kind of crazy long con with this one.

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8
Batman (2016) #30

Sep 9, 2017

King continues to impress with his off-kilter Big Batman Event. Here's hoping the pay-off is worth this wild ride. Hell yeah.

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8
Batman (2016) #31

Sep 23, 2017

A lot of writer Tom King's work pays off in this issue in wonderfully enriching ways, making this whole Event worth it! But we're not done yet! I can't wait to see how this all ends.

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9
Batman (2016) #32

Oct 7, 2017

The War of Jokes and Riddles pays off in all the best ways as Tom King delivers an expertly crafted conclusion to his latest storyline.

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9
Batman (2016) #33

Oct 21, 2017

Everything comes together this issue for a glorious Batman story, whether it's Batman and Catwoman in the desert on a horse with no name, or it's just the Robins bantering back-and-forth on the couch. Great read.

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9
Batman (2016) #34

Nov 4, 2017

Another great Batman story is being told with some pretty great Batman characters. This is even more fun than Kite Man.

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10
Batman (2016) #35

Nov 18, 2017

Rather than just be a stunt storyline, the engagement of Batman and Catwoman has opened this series up to some really solid character exploration. Coupled with amazing art, this is probably my favorite story arc Tom King has done yet.

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10
Batman (2016) #37

Dec 23, 2017

Writer Tom King works his magic on the Batman/Superman friendship, delivering a series highpoint two-parter. He also introduces us to the magic of Selina Kyle and Lois Lane becoming fast BFFs.

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8
Batman (2016) #38

Jan 6, 2018

Tom King creates and executes a very fun, done-in-one detective story, getting to the heart of Batman as the world's greatest detective.

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9
Batman (2016) #39

Jan 20, 2018

Tom King and Joelle Jones work their magic on a Wonder Woman guest appearance that uses typical comic book insanity to tell a surprisingly intimate story.

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8
Batman (2016) #40

Feb 10, 2018

As cool as I found this story overall, with amazing art, it comes to an end with little consequence.

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7
Batman (2016) #41

Feb 24, 2018

It's a testament to the creative team's skill that this simple, straight forward issue is still so much fun to read.

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8
Batman (2016) #42

Mar 10, 2018

Tom King dives deep into character studies in his ongoing Poison Ivy story, taking what could have been a standard villain tale and making it something truly special and enjoyable.

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8
Batman (2016) #43

Mar 24, 2018

For a moment, I thought this issue was going to give me everything I ever wanted. But then Tom King swept everything under the rug.

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7
Batman (2016) #44

Apr 7, 2018

Quaint little issue about Catwoman picking out a wedding dress. How are we so lucky to get both Joelle Jones and Mikel Janin on art in a single issue?

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8
Batman (2016) #45

Apr 21, 2018

The new storyline looks to be a pretty crazy one, and that's always fun! Requires a full issue of set-up, though.

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6
Batman (2016) #46

May 5, 2018

I'm not sure what King and Co. are doing with this weird alternate timeline story. It's a little too weird and a little too unfocused for me.

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4
Batman (2016) #47

May 19, 2018

This issue was weird in a really off-putting way, as if the creators had an ax to grind against Booster Gold and wanted to humiliate him. The time travel/alternate timeline stuff felt half-baked for very little pay-off.

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6
Batman (2016) #48

Jun 9, 2018

The art is gorgeous and is pretty much the only saving grace for a pretty ugly issue that, I think, is unintentionally about how much of an idiot Batman is for letting the Joker get away with whatever he wants.

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7
Batman (2016) #49

Jun 23, 2018

Talking heads comics are not everyone's cup of tea, but I rather enjoyed this chat between two long-standing characters. It was witty and clever at times.

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8
Batman (2016) #50

Jul 7, 2018

The story is fun, the additional artists are great to look at and the ending is powerful on several levels. Quality wedding issue all around!

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9
Batman (2016) #51

Jul 21, 2018

Tom King sets up a really excited, character-focused problem that Bruce Wayne has to solve, and I'm on the edge of my seat.

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7
Batman (2016) #52

Aug 4, 2018

What I hoped would be a thrilling jury room deliberation on the merits of Batman turns out to just be a couple weak arguments. King appears to be saving the really good stuff " hopefully " for a future issue.

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8
Batman (2016) #53

Aug 18, 2018

Bruce Wayne gets philosophical in a really strong, character-focused issue of Batman. Too bad about the miscarriage of justice, though.

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9
Batman (2016) #54

Sep 8, 2018

Tom King works his magic and writes a simple and wonderful issue that perfectly explains that relationship between Bruce Wayne and Dick Grayson; which, I'll admit, is my Kryptonite.

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8
Batman (2016) #55

Sep 22, 2018

A solid issue gets the job done " and then some " in setting up the next big, expansive storyline.

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6
Batman (2016) #56

Oct 6, 2018

Despite the massive, status quo-shaking events of last issue's cliffhanger, King doesn't do very much in the immediate follow-up issue.

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7
Batman (2016) #57

Oct 20, 2018

Another light issue of Batman beating up a guy, crossed with an old fable that probably went over my head. But that's on me.

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6
Batman (2016) #58

Nov 10, 2018

A tense and twisty issue has some odd storytelling choices that hold it back.

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8
Batman (2016) #59

Nov 24, 2018

Tom King ups the stakes and makes some neat character choices as his overarching story moves along steadily.

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8
Batman (2016) #60

Dec 8, 2018

Some great art really elevates an already exciting issue that moves the story along nicely.

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6
Batman (2016) #61

Dec 22, 2018

Tom King gives us a neat little refresher course on one of his new villains, and little more than that.

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9
Batman (2016) #71

May 18, 2019

This is a tightly constructed ratcheting of tension that pushes the story to the very edge, with strong writing and perfect art.

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6
Batman (2016) #72

Jun 8, 2019

The now classic Tom King trope of just explaining everything via narration, clip show and silent fight scene saps some of the energy out of the big reveal of the villain's master plan.

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7
Batman (2016) #73

Jun 22, 2019

A lonely, sparse issue keeps the story moving well enough, with some new ideas. But mostly this feels like a bare bones issue, relying more on tone than content.

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8
Batman (2016) #74

Jul 13, 2019

Batman battles his father in a strong, meaningful issue, though I wish there had been more build-up.

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8
Batman (2016) #75

Jul 20, 2019

The introduction of City of Bane is sufficiently insane and dangerous, but the sudden shift in status quo makes it feel like a house of cards more than an actual conflict for Batman to defeat.

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7
Batman (2016) #76

Aug 10, 2019

The new issue of Batman checks in with some key characters as City of Bane continues, and that's nice enough.

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8
Batman (2016) #77

Aug 24, 2019

The stakes get more serious and the tension builds as Robin takes on the City of Bane, with disastrous results!

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7
Batman (2016) #78

Sep 14, 2019

A perfectly fine issue has some sprinkles of character development, while mostly slowly walking circles around itself.

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6
Batman (2016) #79

Sep 21, 2019

A perfectly fine issue that shouldn't exist. This issue should have been bundled into the previous issue instead of drawing out all this beachfront banter.

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7
Batman (2016) #80

Oct 5, 2019

The grand Tom King finale kicks off with a flashy issue that is fun to read, but overall a bit fleeting.

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6
Batman (2016) #81

Oct 19, 2019

Heavy-handed narration throughout the issue wipes away anything that made this storyline remotely interesting, all so we can build up to a predictable ending.

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7
Batman (2016) #82

Nov 9, 2019

A seemingly short, quick issue has some great art and some nice character work, but it feels overall anti-climatic.

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7
Batman (2016) #83

Nov 23, 2019

It's all solidly written and the art is amazing, but the content and the plot leave a sour taste in my mouth.

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6
Batman (2016) #84

Dec 7, 2019

The issue is almost all flashback as the creative team continues to delay the finale. The flashbacks don't reveal anything worth the delay.

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7
Batman (2016) #85

Dec 21, 2019

Ends the whole saga with more of a whimper than a bang, but has some good moments. Probably will read better in the trade.

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7
Batman (2016) #86

Jan 11, 2020

A perfectly fine, very enjoyable Batman comic that's more focused on the classics than on being some big, crazy statement on the character.

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8
Batman (2016) #87

Jan 25, 2020

Despite a few minor gripes, this remains an exciting, well-made Batman story.

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8
Batman (2016) #88

Feb 8, 2020

The mysteries and excitements go up a notch as this story deepens and expands.

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8
Batman (2016) #89

Feb 22, 2020

It's the small things that add up to a lot in another entertaining, ongoing Batman comic.

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8
Batman (2016) #90

Mar 7, 2020

Secrets are revealed and they are rather interesting and exciting!

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7
Batman (2016) #91

Mar 21, 2020

All the characters and plots continue to work very well as the story continues to ramp up excitedly.

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8
Batman (2016) #92

Jun 13, 2020

The big picture story lost some steam because of the shutdown, but this individual issue is a lot of classic fun with Batman versus the Riddler!

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8
Batman (2016) #93

Jun 27, 2020

A very well-crafted, well-executed story reaches the prestige with just the right amount of surprise, suspense and anticipation for what comes next.

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8
Batman (2016) #94

Jul 11, 2020

The latest issue does a great job of setting up the stakes, the dangers and the eventual Batman awesomeness to come in Joker War.

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6
Batman (2016) #95

Jul 25, 2020

This was a disappointingly small start to Joker War.

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7
Batman (2016) #96

Aug 8, 2020

The art is the strongest thing about Joker War so far. There isn't too much substance to the event, just a generally entertaining Batman story.

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7
Batman (2016) #97

Aug 22, 2020

This story is energetic, and the artwork this issue is gorgeous, but Joker War remains a pretty flimsy adventure overall.

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8
Batman (2016) #98

Sep 5, 2020

Another less-than-interesting issue of Joker War contains some really good grief counseling for Batman, at least.

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6
Batman (2016) #99

Sep 19, 2020

We're at the penultimate issue of Joker War and still this event doesn't have much meat on its bones. Familiar tropes and rehashed arguments try to give the story meaning.

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9
Batman (2016) #100

Oct 10, 2020

Joker War ends with its best issue yet, a gorgeously drawn issue that features real stakes and real strong character moments. This is some great Batman vs. Joker action.

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6
Batman (2016) #101

Oct 24, 2020

Small, straight forward issue that tells us about some of the upcoming changes to Batman rather than showing us those changes.

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7
Batman (2016) #102

Nov 7, 2020

New characters are coming hard and fast into the new Batman, but they don't really give us a chance to explore this new Batman.

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7
Batman (2016) #103

Nov 21, 2020

No real bells or whistles to be found here. Just solid, enjoyable Batman storytelling featuring a couple new characters who are still wet behind the ears.

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8
Batman (2016) #104

Dec 5, 2020

My personal opinions on the various Robin retcons aside, this was another solid Batman comic. Tynion is doing a fine job using and incorporating his new characters.

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8
Batman (2016) #105

Dec 19, 2020

I don't think Ghost-Maker has had enough time in the new-character oven, but the end of his first story makes for an enjoyable and unexpected meal.

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8
Batman (2016) #106

Mar 6, 2021

Batman has some fun new directions in this soft relaunch, and they all work like gang-busters in this kick-off issue.

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8
Batman (2016) #107

Apr 10, 2021

This is bread and butter Batman comics. It's pretty much everything you could ask for, with gorgeous artwork and good, solid character work all around.

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9
Batman (2016) #108

May 8, 2021

Batman lays out the point behind one of their new villains in a really fun way, while also setting up some future villains in a differently fun way.

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8
Batman (2016) #109

Jun 5, 2021

Real fun us of characters new and old throughout the issue, though some of them feel forced into the story to serve other stuff going on elsewhere.

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8
Batman (2016) #110

Jul 10, 2021

Energy and excitement are tops in this thrilling issue as the danger grows and Batman is shoved deeper into a corner.

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8
Batman (2016) #111

Aug 7, 2021

Art, storytelling and characters come together nicely for another solid, enjoyable chapter in this ongoing Batman saga.

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8
Batman (2016) #112

Sep 11, 2021

This issue is a bit too much of a retread of last week's Alpha issue, but there's still enough new story " and some continually amazing artwork "to make this issue worthwhile.

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7
Batman (2016) #113

Sep 25, 2021

Another fine issue of Fear State, with solid writing and art; though one rather silly retcon really pushes credibility.

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8
Batman (2016) #114

Oct 9, 2021

This is a fight-based issue and it is truly gnarly. Between the art and some clever writing ideas, this is one heck of a fight and really propels this story forward.

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8
Batman (2016) #115

Oct 23, 2021

This remains an exciting storyline, even if this issue leans a little too heavily into new, hastily-introduced characters being the key to everything.

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8
Batman (2016) #116

Nov 6, 2021

Another excellent chapter of this excellent storyline, with art, story and characters doing a fine job being a very good Batman comic.

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10
Batman (2016) #117

Nov 20, 2021

Fear State comes to a big, fun conclusion with some really nice character moments that sold the whole thing for me.

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8
Batman (2016) #118

Dec 11, 2021

New creative team and new story come together for an excellent issue of Batman comics.

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7
Batman (2016) #119

Jan 8, 2022

The main Batman story is good stuff, building a new mystery, creating a new villain and putting Batman through his paces. The series seems to be in good hands. But for my money, the back-up feature starring a new Robin makes this issue more than worth the price of admission.

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9
Batman (2016) #120

Feb 5, 2022

Some really great twists, some really great story developments, and another banger of a back-up feature make this a real quality Batman comic.

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8
Batman (2016) #121

Mar 5, 2022

A solid, enjoyable wrap-up to Batman's international adventure, though there might be one too many triple crosses to be taken completely seriously. And the Maps Mizoguchi back-up feature is worth the price of admission alone for the entire comic, in my opinion.

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10
Batman (2016) #125

Jul 9, 2022

This is an incredibly strong and incredibly fun issue, kicking off the highly anticipated run by Chip Zdarsky. This comic is Batman to its very soul, while adding some fun, new layers to make it stand out. And bringing back the Dynamic Duo feel is *chef's kiss*.

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9
Batman (2016) #126

Aug 6, 2022

Despite a questionable cliffhanger ending, the art and writing for the bulk of the issue are top tier Batman comics. The danger and the stakes feel very real, making for some exiting storytelling.

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9
Batman (2016) #127

Sep 10, 2022

This comic is pure fun Batman and Robin goodness, the exact sort of thing I love to read. Zdarsky takes some classic ideas and adds some new twists on top of them, and it totally works for me here.

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10
Batman (2016) #128

Oct 8, 2022

Great character moments and an escalating threat that gets bigger and more exciting than I realized all make for a truly amazing Batman comic book.

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7
Batman (2016) #129

Nov 5, 2022

Not as much happens as I would have liked in this otherwise excellent Batman comic.

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8
Batman (2016) #130

Dec 10, 2022

The insanity of this comic gets even more extreme perhaps even too extreme but the story, characters and art continue to make for a fun read.

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8
Batman (2016) #131

Jan 7, 2023

The next chapter of Chip Zdarsky's Batman kicks off with a nice issue of set-up and character exploration. And he continues to do great things with Robin, so I'm happy with that.

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8
Batman (2016) #132

Feb 11, 2023

Bruce Wayne is in a messed up alternate reality, and he's the one man who can don a bat costume and make things right. Pretty solid story so far.

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6
Batman (2016) #133

Mar 11, 2023

This alternate reality storyline isn't as unique and special as I would like. It doesn't have anything alternate enough to sink my teeth into.

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6
Batman (2016) #134

Apr 8, 2023

This alternate reality story hasn't really done anything for me, and some of the character and story choices aren't helping matters. Cool fight scene, though.

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9
Batman (2016) #135

May 6, 2023

The nostalgia bait of The Flash movie trailers is turned into a synergistic comic book issue, which doubles and triples down on the fan service. It doesn't necessarily work as an overall cohesive story or character journey, but it's still just plain fun.

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8
Batman (2016) #136

Jun 10, 2023

I don't think we've ever seen Batman like this before: burnt out. It's a really neat exploration of the character, and I'm very eager to see where all of this goes.

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9
Batman (2016) #137

Sep 9, 2023

Batman is in a really interesting place with this new crossover, and I'm enjoying how it's all playing out as sides are drawn and twists are thrown about.

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9
Batman (2016) #138

Oct 7, 2023

The characters are raw, the emotions are high, the action is awesome and this story is really moving at a high gear.

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8
Batman (2016) #139

Nov 11, 2023

It's Batman vs. the Joker by Zdarsky and Jimenez, so you already know it's going to be pretty darn cool.

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8
Batman (2016) #140

Dec 9, 2023

Parts of this issue are so gosh darn silly, in all the best ways. Couple that with some badass action and fan-pleasing artwork, and this is one bonkers fun story.

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8
Batman (2016) #141

Jan 6, 2024

The action and adventure don't let up one iota as Batman continues to be pushed to his limits against intense foes.

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8
Batman (2016) #145

Mar 9, 2024

We return to our regularly scheduled storyline and it's just as fun and exciting as before. The stakes are laid our nicely in this issue.

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8
Batman (2016) #146

Apr 6, 2024

I might not like some of the reveals/twists in this issue, but that doesn't take away from the intense storytelling and the phenomenal artwork.

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8
Batman (2016) #148

Jun 8, 2024

Big, bombastic and fun wrap-up to this chapter of Zdarsky's Bat-saga. It's got some creative ways to wrap things up, which I enjoyed.

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8
Batman (2016) #149

Jun 22, 2024

A very nice epilogue to Zdarky's big Batman stories, though some plot points are wrapped up a bit too cleanly, in my opinion.

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9
Batman (2016) #153

Oct 5, 2024

Great start to a new storyline, with a lot of really fun day-in-the-life moments for the major characters. Great hook ending, too.

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8
Batman (2016) Annual #2

Dec 2, 2017

We pause this holiday season to give Batman and Catwoman a really sweet, really fun Annual issue. Good times all around.

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8
Batman (2016): Fear State: Alpha #1

Sep 4, 2021

Tynion and his team do a mighty fine job setting up all of the pieces for Fear State, both big and small.

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8
Batman / Catwoman: The Gotham War (2023): Battle Lines #1

Sep 2, 2023

Gotham City doesn't need yet another war, but this first issue lays out the stakes nicely, while leaning into Zdarsky's interesting take on Batman.

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5
Batman / Catwoman: The Gotham War (2023): Scorched Earth #1

Nov 4, 2023

The ending of the story is far less interesting and just more generic superhero comic than the start of the story.

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6
Batman / Superman (2013) #1

Jun 29, 2013

Speaking of the story and plot, I'm just not impressed. This is supposed to be the first ever meeting of Batman and Superman in the new continuity, but it's just so dull and flat. So the two bump into each other on a park bench? Big whoop. And the first time they meet in costume, it's in some random, crowded apartment in the middle of a fight. Not only that, but apparently their first adventure together is going to be some insane time travel jaunt that involves future versions of themselves. Seriously? That's the continuity precedent that DC wants to set? This is the first ever meeting between Batman and Superman in your new continuity, and instead of as tory that has any kind of gravitas, it's a spooky, mind-bending, complex trip through time.I'm sure a lot of people will be happy with this issue, and Pak and Lee are very talented, but I don't think this series will be for me. This is not a Batman or Superman I want to read about.

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8
Batman and Robin (2011) #14

Nov 17, 2012

There's the Joker again. Why would the Joker go through all of this trouble to set up this cult and these zombies? Were they really that desperate to tie this issue into Death of the Family? Still, the Robin action was fun as he rises up to be a hero. And like I said, I finally saw Damian as Robin. Though that feeling didn't last. And the ending was a little too sappy. This is why I don't like the idea that Robin is literally Batman's son. It leads to a weird sort of headspace for Batman. But that's just personal taste speaking out again. This is still an otherwise entertaining issue, with some solid Robin action.

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8
Batman and Robin (2011) #15

Dec 15, 2012

I liked this issue more than Batman #15 mostly because it's Joker vs. Robin, even if that Robin is Damian. I still don't completely buy into Damian as the Boy Wonder. He still feels like he's just wearing the costume instead of actually being Robin, which I don't like. Damian these days is a far more important character as an individual than the mantle of Robin, and I just feel (as a huge Robin fan) that this robs Robin of really mattering. This comic is more ‘Batman and Son' than it is ‘Batman and Robin'. Still, considering this is all the Robin we get these days, I'll take it!

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10
Batman and Robin (2011) #16

Jan 19, 2013

This issue is fantastic. Whereas Snyder's Joker story was basically just Batman easily triumphing over the Joker's obstacles and then getting tripped up by the necessary plot, Tomasi's story actually has real emotional weight behind it. This is a big moment for Damian. The Joker has him backed into a corner: either kill his father or be killed by his father. Damian doesn't know it's a trick, and watching Damian struggle to free himself from the trap, only to eventually surrender to it, is a very good story. Couple that with Joker's wickedly villainous commentary and you've got a good Joker story. He's testing Robin, putting him in the type of situation that Joker excels at. And Gleason's art is wicked. I think he draws the best new Joker of all the tie-ins. This is the Joker done right, both in creative villainy and downright menace.

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8
Batman and Robin (2011) #17

Feb 16, 2013

I'm rarely a fan of dream sequences. The imagery and metaphor tends to go over my head. There was a lot I probably missed in this issue too. Like Joker as Moby Dick? Although I guess even I could understand the imagery of a big, white whale. This issue did little to explore the ramifications of Death of the Family, but it was still generally entertaining. I especially liked Alfred's dream. That was damn awesome.

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8
Batman and Robin (2011) #18

Mar 16, 2013

It's a solid issue. The art is up to Gleason's usual standards, and Tomasi and Gleason come up with a nice little silent story to show off Batman's grief. Calling back to the family portrait was a nice touch, and the scene on the GCPD rooftop where Batman drops off a whole pile of criminals was fun. The rest is the emotional stuff that's expected, like Batman grieving over Damian's Robin costume. So it's a good comic, has some nice art and a few entertaining scenes. I wasn't blown away, but perhaps other people will appreciate the issue more than me.

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8
Batman and Robin (2011) #19

Apr 13, 2013

The Carrie Kelley segments of the book are pretty cool. She's a solid, entertaining character so far, and I look forward to her ongoing story. I think it's kind of silly that Tomasi is keeping it a secret what she was teaching Damian, but whatever. It's his story, let him have his secrets. I also think it was awesome that Bruce gave her a check for $10,000 instead of the $1,000 bill. That's classic Bruce. Also, if I haven't mentioned this yet, I don't think Carrie is going to be the new Robin. I think she's a red herring.

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8
Batman and Robin (2011) #20

May 11, 2013

Why couldn't we have gotten this kind of story when Red Robin guest-starred? This was a great issue, especially for any Red Hood fans. Batman and Red Hood team up, they share some really touching moments together, then we get a dramatic, climactic fight in the very spot where Jason was killed all those years ago. Batman is still filled with rage over Damian's death, but now that rage is used to tell a great story between Bruce and Jason, instead of a story between Bruce and Frankenstein that Tim Drake just happens to appear in. Like I said, I'm very disappointed, but enjoyed the issue. The Carrie Kelley stuff remains relatively entertaining, though I think it's silly that she threw Bruce's money back in his face, or that Bruce can't just tell her that Damian is dead. Is Bruce Wayne really pretending to the world that his son is still alive?

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6
Batman and Robin (2011) #21

Jun 22, 2013

Also, Batman's ruthless grief is exactly what happened in the wake of Jason Todd's death, and it's exactly what led to Tim Drake becoming Robin. So once again I'd like to re-state my disappointment in the Tim Drake issue. You'd think Tim would be able to recognize the same problem over again and be there to help Batman. But apparently not.

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8
Batman and Robin (2011) #22

Jul 20, 2013

I liked this issue. It was cute, and it was good, quality Batman. The banter between Batman and Catwoman was pretty fun too. Their relationship is kind of up in the air in the New 52, but here it was just fun. Batman isn't one for flirting, but Catwoman can easily support the two of them. He's gruffly entertaining in his own right. Then Batman saving the little girl, and taking her for a ride, was just fantastic. Batman isn't in this business to frighten children, and Tomasi gives us a moment that elevates the whole issue. And considering I've been growing bored with this story, I'm happy for anything that makes this comic fun to read again.

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9
Batman and Robin (2011) #23

Aug 24, 2013

As great as Dick's role in this issue was " and believe me, it was awesome! " this issue really belongs to Bruce Wayne and Alfred. The team-up between Dick and Bruce is great, but the real emotional punch comes from seeing Alfred's guilt at having let Damian leave the Batcave that night. Alfred's simulation is heart-breaking, as is the moment he shares with Bruce at the very end. This is the kind of emotional connection that has been missing in comics recently. Forget reboots, this is Bruce and Alfred sharing their grief, working from decades of experience between the two old friends. This was a great way to finally lay Damian to rest and have Bruce accept that his son is dead.

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9
Batman and Robin (2011) #33

Jul 26, 2014

Tomasi gets Batman. That emotional spark that I feel is lacking in Snyder's work, Tomasi captures it in spades. His Batman in this issue is a force of nature. He's a warrior and a thinker all in one, and it's fantastic!

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8
Batman and Robin (2011) #34

Aug 23, 2014

I may be dreading how this whole 'Robin Rising' thing is going to turn out, but there's no denying that Tomasi knows how to write the Bat-family. Hot damn, this issue positively dripping with awesome, fan-friendly scenes as Batman says his goodbyes to his most trusted allies. I may have taken some time off this book, but I'm glad i'm back! It might just be my favorite Bat-book right now!

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9
Batman and Robin (2011) #35

Oct 18, 2014

This was a thrilling issue! I was so close to giving it a perfect score based on fan-joy alone! Red Robin and the rest of the Bat-Family standing strong in support of both Batman and Robin was just wonderful!

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8
Batman and Robin (2011) #36

Nov 22, 2014

This is fun comics, pure and simple. Fun, action-packed and full of personality and character!

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8
Batman and Robin (2011) #37

Dec 20, 2014

Even though I think DC could have gone in a dozen betterdirections with Robin, Tomasi and Gleason told one hell of a tale in making this happen.

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7
Batman and Robin (2011) #38

Jan 24, 2015

Damian is back in the Robin saddle, and Tomasi and Gleason take a low key approach to this new issue. We get a brief look at Damian and his new powers, a brief look at Batman's reaction, and then some slate cleaning.

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8
Batman and Robin (2011) #40

Mar 28, 2015

This issue is just a really great finale in light of the upcoming Convergence. It highlights not just Batman and Robin as separate people, but what they represent together. And if you aren't already pre-disposed to dislike Damian (like me), then this is a really good look into his character. He can be an alright kid sometimes, and Tomasi and Gleason know exactly how to show that off.

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9
Batman and Robin (2011) Annual #2

Feb 1, 2014

This issue was just delightful. No continuity troubles. No overbearing stories. Just a simple tale of Dick Grayson's first few days as Robin. This is exactly the sort of character rich story that I want in my comics. It celebrates the rich histories of the characters while adding a few new details and twists. This issue doesn't rewrite anything we couldn't have assumed about Batman and Robin's first few days as partners, but it doesn't need to. The story is simple and enjoyable.

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8
Batman and Robin (2011) Annual #3

Apr 4, 2015

he pure joy of this issue comes from the balance of insane story vs. straight execution. This isn't a comedic issue. This isn't a wink-at-the-camera story. The creators are having fun, but they're telling a serious, grounded Batman story " about a battle with moon men! The art, especially, is hyper-detailed and realistic, with Ryp getting all the details of the space gear and the freaky aliens just right. The comic looks great.

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8
Batman and Robin (2023) #1

Sep 16, 2023

This new series is off to a good start, and the dynamic between the two main characters is a lot of fun so far.

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5
Batman and Robin (2023) #2

Oct 14, 2023

Story continues apace with the super-villain stuff, while downplaying the actual unique aspects of this comic.

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8
Batman And Robin Eternal #1

Oct 10, 2015

If they can keep up this level of fun and respect for the Robin legacy, I could definitely enjoy this comic. If the characters stay this strong and interesting, I could definitely enjoy this comic. But if this is all about tearing down the House of Robin and salting the ashes, it's probably gonna suck.

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9
Batman And Robin Eternal #2

Oct 17, 2015

I am definitely enjoying Batman and Robin Eternal so far. There aren't any painful plot holes or forced story beats. The characters are all spot on. The story is low key so far. There's a dangerous new threat, and without Batman in the lead, the various Robins and Bat-allies must scramble to figure out what's going on and stay alive. That sounds like a solid story premise to me! I only hope Duke Thomas and the We Are Robin gang might get involved at some point!

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8
Batman And Robin Eternal #3

Oct 24, 2015

The mystery grows, the characters continue to get along well with one another, and the tension is mounting! With Batman out of the picture, it's up to the Robins and their allies to work together and save the day! I love it! This is a stellar idea for a story, and the creative team is doing a great job in this early going. The mystery is real, the characters are well-written, and the energy is fun so far. Granted, I'm hoping that we don't find out that all of Batman's Robins were custom-ordered from a villain named Mother, but surely that retcon won't be real. Even still, I like how this comic is going so far, and I hope this quality and energy continues.

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7
Batman And Robin Eternal #4

Oct 31, 2015

The mysteries are spinning, the revelations are coming, and everything is still on track for a good yarn. Let's hope it stays that way.

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8
Batman And Robin Eternal #26

Apr 2, 2016

I loved Batman and Robin Eternal because it was a great, ever-growing story that put the focus on the very concept of Batman taking a sidekick.

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6
Batman Incorporated (2012) #5

Dec 1, 2012

Look, this is a good comic, if you've been following along. And I'm sure it'll be even better if it's read all in one sitting. But as far as I'm concerned, Morrison has lost all of his momentum. Between delays and the whole New 52 shakeup, this series just doesn't matter much anymore. Especially not with Scott Snyder writing an even better Batman series elsewhere. Morrison's epic tale, which he's been writing for what feels like forever, just doesn't matter anymore. It's a relic that keeps lumbering along based on his reputation alone. Sometimes he has a good idea or a really fun scene, but as a whole, the Batman: Incorporated ship has sailed. But I suppose I'll keep reading to see if it goes anywhere interesting. Though threatening to just straight up kill all the cool Incorporated characters does not count as interesting. Spare us your tired comic book theatrics.

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6
Batman Incorporated (2012) #6

Jan 5, 2013

And c'mon, Alfred the cat? Are you kidding me? Either Morrison is writing some kind of riff on the very idea of super-pets, or he's making fun of somebody. And I fear he's either making fun of us fans for whatever reason, or he's making fun of Peter Tomasi, who introduced a new bat dog named Titus when he took over the series Batman and Robin from Morrison. The Bat-Cow joke has definitely stopped being funny, and now in the middle of a city-wide crisis, Alfred reveals that he went and bought Damian a cat, and then Damian turns right around and names is ‘Alfred'? Ridiculous.

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8
Batman Incorporated (2012) #7

Feb 2, 2013

I love Robin. But more importantly, I love the Robin character, the idea that Batman has this colorful kid sidekick to help him out. A lot of people give Robin crap, but I love him. However, I've never particularly cared for Damian Wayne as Robin. I'm a big Tim Drake fan, and he was a great Robin. But then Morrison came along and created Damian, shoving the character into the role of Robin and giving Tim the shaft. That rubbed me the wrong way and I'm still trying to get over it. Issues like this one help. Damian has never seemed like Robin to me. He's Damian first, Robin second. That's his character. But this was a great issue for Damian and for Robin, and now I'm definitely looking forward to seeing Robin save the day. Morrison will always be a great comic book writer, but sometimes he adds too much weird stuff for his own good.

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10
Batman Incorporated (2012) #8

Mar 2, 2013

Fantastic issue and great final battle for Damian. I've talked a lot about Damian this week, so I won't say much here, but he is really cool in this issue, and I especially liked the team up once again of Dick and Damian. That was easily my favorite scene of the week. The rest of the issue is good too. Red Robin gets a moment to shine, which always makes me happy. And Morrison and Burnham expertly controlled the drama and rising tension of the issue, bringing it to a tragic ending. Knowing Damian's fate beforehand actually heightens the tension as you read through Damian's final moments of heroism. Plus, if we didn't know he was dead for real, then those of us who are jaded by comic books would expect him to recover from that fatal wound at the end. Solid issue all around, and I'm definitely excited to see where Morrison goes next.

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8
Batman Incorporated (2012) #9

Mar 30, 2013

I wrote things out in a somewhat linear fashion, but they don't happen like that in the book. The scenes jump around and make things more than a little confusing for some reason. Why Morrison couldn't just tell this story in order is probably a question everybody has had about Morrison for years. But it's still a strong comic. Batman's pain after Damian's murder is quite palpable, and the immediate fight with the Heretic is a good one. It was also cool to see Squire step up to become the new Knight, like we predicted. All in all, it definitely feels like Morrison is on a roll as we race towards the conclusion of Batman Incorporated.

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8
Batman Incorporated (2012) #10

Apr 27, 2013

There are a lot of pieces in play in this story, and most of them are entertaining, but overall, they don't feel like they're going anywhere. What the heck is Morrison's end game? At the very least, this was a fun issue. Nightwing, Red Robin and Knight are very cool, though I'm definitely disappointed that Morrison didn't reveal Jason's kidnappers this issue. That kind of cut away for no good reason. The scene with Ras al Ghul didn't feel like it went anywhere, nor did the scene between Talia and Heretic. Talia doesn't have anything more to do in this comic, I'm afraid, so she's left just standing around killing time before Batman shows up. Fortunately, the Batman stuff is awesome. Mech-suit and Man-Bat formula? Hells yeah!

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7
Batman Incorporated (2012) #12

Jul 6, 2013

For this story to still be effective, it should have come out quicker, and the rest of the Batman universe shouldn't have moved on so quickly. Still, once read all together in tpb format, I bet it'll be a great read.

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7
Batman Incorporated (2012) #13

Aug 3, 2013

I'm being generous with that 'Good' rating. This is, by no means, a bad comic. The final show down is cool, the dialogue and characterizations are sharp, and the wrap-ups are well done. The problem is that there is no urgency or energy left in this story. None at all. There are no stakes.

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8
Batman Incorporated (2022) #1

Oct 15, 2022

This new series is off to a good start, with a solid international threat and a good use of all the characters; though there might be too many characters to keep solid track of them all.

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7
Batman Incorporated (2022) #2

Nov 12, 2022

Plot and story are the main focus of this second issue, and they move things along nicely.

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4
Batman: Eternal #1

Apr 12, 2014

Overall, this seems like a hastily thrown together first issue, one that's really only concerned with getting Gordon in hand-cuffs, logic, plot, story and characterization be damned. A weekly Batman comic is an ambitious idea, but I don't think it's off to a good start. Of course, if you ignore all those logical points I brought up, it's probably a fine issue.

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6
Batman: Eternal #2

Apr 19, 2014

I still think Batman Eternal is a little sloppy. If the idea is that Carmine Falcone has returned at long last to reclaim his city, I feel a lot more could have been done to build up the menace. He's apparently crafty enough to set up this huge plot against Gordon. Couldn't Falcone have stayed in the shadows a bit longer? Couldn't he have come up with even more tricks and traps for Gotham's Dark Knights? As it stands, Batman Eternal is just another Batman comic. That's usually always entertaining enough, but it really needs to come up with something to make it stand out.

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7
Batman: Eternal #3

Apr 26, 2014

Fortunately, if you can ignore the insane logical stupidity, the rest of the issue is pretty cool. Watching Batman struggle to catch up to whatever Falcone is putting into motion is pretty cool. The Penguin is always a hoot. And the stuff with Stephanie Brown promises to be interesting. So Snyder and Tynion are telling an engaging story, it's just that some parts of it are ludicrously forced.

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5
Batman: Eternal #4

May 3, 2014

There is a lot of ambition behind Batman Eternal. Clearly this creative team has plotted out some big bad mystery that threatens all of Gotham. But I don't think they've really put much thought into making this the best Batman comic it can be. The plot and characters just feel like they're rolling along in the service of whatever big mystery the writers have planned. None of the storytelling and scene-setting skill that Snyder has injected into his Batman run is evident in Batman Eternal. This is a mediocre Batman comic trying desperately to make us care about the plot and the mysteries.

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6
Batman: Eternal #5

May 10, 2014

The rest of the issue was fine, and I always like more from Harper Row, even if she's not going to be the new Robin. A Tim/Harper subplot over the course of the series would be absolutely delightful. They bring with them this weird, sci-fi nanobot subplot, which is more out there than the gang war from the previous issues. Personally, a nanobot swarm is not as interesting as Carmine Falcone, but there are probably going to be a lot of juggling balls in the air over the course of this series.

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5
Batman: Eternal #6

May 17, 2014

Meh. All of a sudden, Batman Eternal is all over the place. I know they've got a whole year to fill, but now we've got Batwing, Spectre, Joker's Daughter and Gentleman Ghost all doing something weird on the side? Does anybody even really read Batwing? I'm amazed it has lasted this long in the New 52. This is just a forgettable issue that doesn't really seem to have anything to do with the larger, more interesting narrative, and instead just adds another, uninteresting subplot to the larger tapestry. One assumes this might all connect somehow in the end, but this issue " despite being solidly made " fails to get me hooked. At least I really like the art of Ray Fawkes.

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5
Batman: Eternal #7

May 24, 2014

In a weekly series like this, I don't want the writers to desperately fight for my attention span with explosions and 'kewl' moments every issue. I want them to take their time and build a truly powerful, memorable Batman story. But I'm pretty sure Batman Eternal is just going to be about the former.

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3
Batman: Eternal #8

May 31, 2014

This is getting out of hand. I wanted to like Batman Eternal, I really did! I wanted to have faith! You have to believe me! A massive Batman conspiracy story that stretches across all corners of Gotham City, written by Scott Snyder and his band of merry men? It sounds too good to be true! And it is, it truly is too good to be true. Because instead, we get Batman Eternal and its utter dearth of logic.

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3
Batman: Eternal #9

Jun 7, 2014

I know a few weeks ago that I said I was determined to read each issue and chronicle the whole adventure in these Hench-Sized Reviews, but man oh man, that task just gets tougher and tougher with each passing issue. I legitimately dislike this comic. It's just a poor representation of Batman.

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2
Batman: Eternal #10

Jun 14, 2014

Batman Eternal is a bad comic. The story is all over the place with absolutely no pacing. The writers just fling whatever they want at the reader, regardless of tone, plot or character. It's all just a big pile of half-twists and madness. And the art has just gotten progressively worse issue after issue.

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5
Batman: Eternal #11

Jun 21, 2014

Insane. That is the only word to describe the latest issue of Batman Eternal. It's like something snapped off in the minds of the creative team and they decided to put out the craziest possible chapter imaginable. And they hired the craziest possible artist to draw it. You've got to see it to believe it, and I'll post some pictures in a moment. But jeez"this one is just"so weird!

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6
Batman: Eternal #12

Jun 28, 2014

Holy unexpected, Batman! I actually liked this issue of Batman Eternal! It progressed the plot to a nice degree. It features characters who make smart decisions (for the most part). It provides an answer to my ongoing complaint about the GCPD (with one tiny exception). And the art is great! Not Ian Bertram great, but it's good, solid Batman art! Who'da thunk this was ever possible! Batman Eternal might actually have legs!

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6
Batman: Eternal #13

Jul 5, 2014

Big picture, this series still isn't very interesting. Little picture, this issue was somewhat enjoyable. And further team up between Red Robin and Harper Row is definitely how the creative team can win me over.

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6
Batman: Eternal #14

Jul 12, 2014

There are bits and pieces of Batman Eternal that have potential, and maybe the series will be much more stream-lined and focused from now on. One can only hope.

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6
Batman: Eternal #15

Jul 19, 2014

I think that horrible GCPD storyline was like a thorn in my paw, and I couldn't enjoy Batman Eternal while that was in place. I find myself not hating this series as much now that Commissioner McCrookedCop has been taken care of. This issue focuses on the Spectre and Batwing, my second least favorite storyline, but it's not half bad.

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6
Batman: Eternal #16

Jul 26, 2014

Batman Eternal's overall quality has picked up considerably after ditching that stupid GCPD storyline. That thing was like a stone in my shoe, grinding into my foot with each passing step. With that gone, and with a better understanding of what this series will be about (random insanity), the comic is just better. It's still not a must-read, but it's not so bad anymore.

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5
Batman: Eternal #17

Aug 2, 2014

All I know is that two characters I don't particularly care about are in over their heads against a villain I don't particularly care about, and neither one of them is Batman or Robin. This whole storyline is an example of Batman Eternal giving itself far too many plots.

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6
Batman: Eternal #18

Aug 9, 2014

Batman Eternal continues to hum along at a relatively solid pace. I like some of the plots and I dislike others, but none of them rise to the level of truly enjoyable or especially deep.

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5
Batman: Eternal #19

Aug 16, 2014

Batman Eternal doesn't seem to have anything to say about Batman, Gotham City or anything else, for that matter. It's just cruising along with a bunch of random different storylines, failing to come off as a cohesive whole. Why does this comic exist? And why does it exist as a weekly?

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6
Batman: Eternal #20

Aug 23, 2014

Overall, the issue was entertaining, and that gives it a higher grade than just being mediocre. I still don't think the stories are all that great, and the writing isn't anything special, but it's a relatively entertaining Batman comic. I liked Batman teaming up with Killer Croc. I liked the reveal of Rex Calabrese. But Batman Eternal still isn't living up to its potential, not by a long shot.

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7
Batman: Eternal #21

Aug 30, 2014

Here's the thing about Batman Eternal #21: the twists are pretty cool, and I did not see a lot of them coming, but I'm not entirely sure they actually fit with everything we've seen so far.

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5
Batman: Eternal #22

Sep 6, 2014

It's a big mess of a comic, with so many twists and plots and characters that it has lost itself in its ambition. The comic remains professionally made, but the story has no heart.

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5
Batman: Eternal #23

Sep 13, 2014

I never feel likeBatman Eternal knows what it's doing. Instead of using 52 weekly issues to build this big tapestry of a Batman story, they seem to be making it up as they go along. I know they're not, but that's what it feels like. Nothing from the current issue feels like it flows from the previous issues. This all just comes off as a bunch of different mediocre Batman stories cobbled together.

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6
Batman: Eternal #24

Sep 20, 2014

That Stephanie Brown issue we've all been waiting for is finally here! She's been teased for months, especially in the pages of Batman Eternal, and it's high time she got an issue all to herself. Mostly to herself, I guess, because there's a scene featuring Batman in this issue that makes absolutely no sense. Even when Batman Eternal has a clear focus, it can't help but glance around wildly at shiny things.

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6
Batman: Eternal #25

Sep 27, 2014

Batman Eternal #25 is hideous! Characters look like misshapen monsters, especially in the face. And everything is some jagged, ugly, off-model mess. Art on Batman Eternal has usually been pretty solid, but this issue is an abomination. I hope Guera doesn't stick around.

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3
Batman: Eternal #26

Oct 4, 2014

Batman Eternal has descended into madness, but not the madness the creative team is expecting. The comic is just a mess. None of the plot threads tie together, no time is being spent on the characters, and the art has just gone off the rails. This is a series that wishes it was some big, grand Bat-tapestry, but really it's just a failure at basic storytelling.

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3
Batman: Eternal #27

Oct 11, 2014

Batman Eternal is a mess. The stories could and do change with the flip of the page, with zero connection to anything that has come before. The art is hit or miss, since the artist changes with almost every issue. And while I would agree that perhaps every issue has the same story tone, the stories themselves are too insane to connect in a larger work. There is no through line, no anchor for the audience to hold onto. Every new issue just sort of throws up whatever it wants, even though the same writers keep working on it. I just don't understand what could have gone wrong.

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5
Batman: Eternal #28

Oct 18, 2014

When Batman Eternal focuses on only one or two stories, when it actually seems to have some focus, it's not half bad. The overall landscape is still a mess, and very little of any of this has to do with Batman, but I can give credit where credit is due when the creative team produces an OK issue.

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4
Batman: Eternal #29

Oct 25, 2014

There doesn't seem to be much logic to the story progression in Batman Eternal. It's being pulled in so many different directions, and possibly for so many different reasons, that this whole adventure remains a big mess.

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5
Batman: Eternal #30

Nov 1, 2014

Batman Eternal #30 is one of the lightest issues of the series so far, providing very little in the way of plot development or characterization. Though the art is kind of neat.

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7
Batman: Eternal #31

Nov 8, 2014

Now we'll switch gears a bit, because this might just be the coolest issue of Batman Eternal yet! It helps, once again, that the writers have focus, narrowing down the story to a couple of pretty awesome moments that actually come from the characters themselves.

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4
Batman: Eternal #32

Nov 15, 2014

Eh. Batman Eternal returns to lameness this week with a subpar issue that once again starts veering into strange, unfocused territory. It makes me ashamed to have actually liked the last issue, but I was distracted by the sheer awesomeness of Alfred teaming up with Bane. I guess I'm just easily distracted by shiny things.

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5
Batman: Eternal #33

Nov 22, 2014

I think the writers are just stalling for time at this point. While this issue has the focus that I love so much, it also doesn't accomplish a whole heck of a lot. This might be the lightest issue of Batman Eternal yet.

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5
Batman: Eternal #34

Nov 29, 2014

We've spent so little time with Batman in this series that nothing in this issue lands with any kind of emotional impact. Not him losing his company, not his boring fight with Hush. This is all just 'Paint By Numbers Batman', and it's just so boring.

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3
Batman: Eternal #35

Dec 6, 2014

I think the big problem with Batman Eternal is that the creative team is more focused on their big, labyrinthian plot than they are on Batman. They've concocted this multi-tiered plan to tear down Batman and all of Gotham, and Batman himself is secondary to this criminal plan. They use Batman like a dull hammer to hit the next nail in their plan. But because they had to fill 52 issues, this plan is a scattershot mess spread out over so many weeks and so many different writers. It's just a big, unyielding story that only makes sense in their heads, and Batman has been stripped away of all his intrigue in order to make the plan work.

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4
Batman: Eternal #36

Dec 13, 2014

I'm telling you, the Batman in this comic is just a big idiot and a slave to the plot.

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1
Batman: Eternal #37

Dec 20, 2014

Batman Eternal is a mediocre 6-issue Batman story stretched out for a whole year because the gimmick was more important than the actual story.

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1
Batman: Eternal #38

Dec 27, 2014

This whole experience was dull. And honestly, what does any of this have to do with Batman Eternal?! How does chasing down these villains tie into the bigger picture? This two-part storyline has just been a pathetic diversion.

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4
Batman: Eternal #39

Jan 3, 2015

By all accounts, I should have given up on Batman Eternal a long time ago. I don't like it, it doesn't live up to the hopes I had for the series, and it's just a bargain basement Batman comic.

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4
Batman: Eternal #40

Jan 10, 2015

Batman Eternal whips off another transitional issue this week, moving various storylines along at random intervals. The issue lacks focus, stretching itself so thin, but then focus hasn't exactly helped the previous issues.

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5
Batman: Eternal #41

Jan 17, 2015

Batman Eternal #41 also highlights another weird fact about this series: it has so many seemingly pointless and minor plot threads.

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5
Batman: Eternal #42

Jan 24, 2015

The general storytelling in Batman Eternal still isn't very good, at least as far as I'm concerned, and I wish Bluebird had been given a cooler first assignment, but this was an acceptable issue. Though Batman was kind of an asshole to everyone. Why even have him show up for a single page just to be grumpy and barely acknowledge Harper?

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7
Batman: Eternal #43

Jan 31, 2015

Forget all the junk with Batman, ignore the grand super-villain plot; Batman Eternal #43 is pure character development staring two amazing characters. That's going to make for good comics no matter what other mess surrounds it.

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3
Batman: Eternal #44

Feb 7, 2015

And just like that, Batman Eternal sucks again. Sigh. The fun team-up between Bluebird and Spoiler was short-lived, and now we're back to this comic making little sense about dumb topics. Say goodbye to strong personalities and interesting characters, say hello to another random plot line from out of left field " actually, make that at least two random plot lines from out of left field.

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4
Batman: Eternal #45

Feb 14, 2015

Batman Eternal is all over the place, sometimes within the same issue.

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3
Batman: Eternal #46

Feb 21, 2015

I think we've finally hit the low point of Batman Eternal " and as you'll see, I mean that literally. In what should be a heart-wrenching scene of Batman hitting rock bottom, is actually a painfully awkward and pathetic rock bottom for Batman Eternal as a whole. It's time to close up shop, folks.

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5
Batman: Eternal #47

Feb 28, 2015

And the art is just fantastic this issue. Ferreyra has this stiff, almost painted style that has a lot of detail and emotion in it. He's does good landscapes as well. There's one really great double-page spread of Julia, in costume, jumping over the rooftops of Gotham, with the panels placed into the sides of the buildings. Just a fantastic look for this comic. So at least the art is nice.

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4
Batman: Eternal #48

Mar 7, 2015

I will say that Batman Eternal #48 is a tighter book than usual. Some of the wilder tangents are contained or absent, keeping everything in a tight lock step towards the end. I just wish these events actually made some kind of logical, interesting sense instead of the writers just forcing their agenda on everyone involved.

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4
Batman: Eternal #49

Mar 14, 2015

As we near the end of the terrible Batman Eternal, either the series has settled into a certain level of mediocrity or I have just become numb to its horribleness.

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6
Batman: Eternal #50

Mar 21, 2015

Is it awesome? No, not at all. I'm actually very underwhelmed. But James Tynion IV has been this comic's best writer, and at least he keeps things tight and mildly entertaining.

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6
Batman: Eternal #51

Mar 28, 2015

The pacing is probably what makes this issue work so well. The comic never slows down, and when it jumps to other scenes, they keep everything moving. Everybody is focused on this one problem, and that's a huge help.

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5
Batman: Eternal #52

Apr 4, 2015

Batman Eternal was not a good comic. It was made by some very talented people, who had a couple good ideas floating around, but the execution was an atrocious mess. At the very least, this final issue is mildly entertaining, with some cool moments here and there, but I'm probably just being polite.

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8
Batman: Last Knight on Earth #2

Aug 3, 2019

Old Man Batman is full of darkly clever ideas and the creators are having a lot of fun, but the opening issues don't feel too deep just yet.

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8
Batman: Rebirth #1

Jun 4, 2016

Seriously, this is a solid look at King's upcoming Batman series, and I'm definitely on board. The characters are written well, we've got an interesting new mystery/villain to solve/defeat, and Janin's pencils are as gorgeous as ever. This definitely feels like a fresh, reinvigorated take on the Dark Knight. I think Batman is in very good hands.

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8
Batwoman (2010) #14

Nov 24, 2012

Oh man, the previous issue, Batwoman #13, was greatness. It was amazing, as awesome as a team up between Batwoman and Wonder Woman should be! But sadly, this issue falls a little short. There's not as much good stuff happening. Just a few pages agonizing over Pegasus' wounds and a lot of chaos in Gotham. There's no meaningful interaction between the two heroes. This is just an effort in moving the story along – but it's still a pretty great comic. And the art, like I said, is the stuff of legend. I can only hope Williams is saving his best for the big conflict next issue.

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4
Batwoman (2010) #15

Dec 22, 2012

Oh disappointment, they name is Batwoman. This is normally one of the most amazing comics on the stands. The art is the best in the business, and the stories usually hold up to that high standard. But this issue fails on all accounts. The art is by someone new, and while serviceable, is no replacement for Williams. The story is rubbish. Maggie Sawyer has been beating her head over these missing children since issue #1, and it's getting old, so her heavy-handed narration didn't help. Nor did the minor threat of a missing husband, who was found and saved with little problem. So nothing of note happened in this issue, nothing really happened to Maggie, and all it did was delay the eventual arrival of what could potentially be this series' best issue yet. Bad form, Batwoman.

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8
Batwoman (2010) #16

Jan 27, 2013

By all accounts, this is the best drawn book of the year. It's amazing. I completely understand why Williams took a break with last issue so that he could pencil these beautiful splash pages. If you've never read Batwoman, you won't understand. It's simply amazing. Colorful, detailed, dark, other-worldly, with characters who clearly stand out. Williams draws amazing versions of Batwoman, Wonder Woman and Medusa. It's a stunningly drawn book. But I just don't love the montage of narrations as much as I would have loved a more real-time story. I realize the scope of the battle is huge, but I think they could have done a lot better focusing more on the moments themselves than what was happening in the characters' heads. It slowed everything down at a time when I wanted the story to speed up and kick ass. Thankfully, we have one more issue to go in this story! And I'm more excited than ever!

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10
Batwoman (2010) #17

Feb 23, 2013

And the art, oh my god, the art. If you've never read a Batwoman comic with J.H. Williams III's art then you do not know what you are missing. When he's firing on all cylinders, like this issue, then nothing can possibly compare to Batwoman. It is the best drawn comic book ever.

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8
Batwoman (2010) #18

Mar 23, 2013

I really wanted to see some kind of follow-up to Kate's marriage proposal. It was a huge moment for this series, as was Maggie finding out that her girlfriend is Batwoman! Why didn't we get that scene? Seems to me that would be a huge moment for both characters and the series. Instead we get a random fight with Mr. Freeze and a scene of Maggie trying to pick out a new apartment. I'm also a little annoyed that Batwoman is still working for the DEO. I thought she quit last issue, and I was glad for it. I don't like that Batwoman is beholden to an organization like the DEO, or to characters like Chase, who is generally unpleasant. It's just an annoying complication, especially since it's not like the DEO has any standing in the DC Universe these days. There are dozens upon dozens of spooky organizations with acronym names. The DEO is nobody special. At least it was fun to see Batwoman and Hawkfire teaming up.

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8
Batwoman (2010) #19

Apr 20, 2013

And lastly, the art is just OK. Obviously no one is going to match up to Williams' artistic brilliance, but this fill in is mostly just doing an adequate job. It's clear, it's detailed, and the superhero scenes look good. Though I'm only just now noticing that Hawkfire's mask really only covers the top half of her face. She doesn't have any sort of cowl or anything covering the back of her head and neck. It's like her big, bulky orange mask is held on by string, like a Halloween mask. What's up with that?

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9
Batwoman (2010) #20

May 18, 2013

This was the best issue of Batwoman since the Medusa arc, and for that, I'm excited. Really excited. For once, the DEO prove themselves a strong element of the book, pushing Batwoman into a new story that I think is going to be very cool. I still don't like the DEO in the book, but they definitely work as a catalyst for a bigger, better story. Plus there's one scene in this issue that's just adorable.

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7
Batwoman (2010) #21

Jun 22, 2013

Despite not having much to do with Batwoman, this was still a good, solid issue. I've always had a soft spot for Killer Croc ever since his Batman: The Animated Series days, so it was cool to get an issue about him, with Croc narrating in his own special way. The writers definitely get into the head of this odd villain, and his story works. Likewise, the art is perfectly suited for the character. So a good job all around by the creative team. I like that Croc is actually a level-headed kind of guy instead of the usual crazy maniac you get in Gotham City. He may not be smart or clever, but he knows enough to make good decisions for himself. So yeah, this was a nice comic telling a short Killer Croc story, but I'm still much more interested in Batwoman's current adventures, thank you.

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6
Batwoman (2010) #22

Jul 20, 2013

Maybe it's just me, but not enough really happened in this issue to win me over.

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8
Batwoman (2010) #23

Aug 24, 2013

For some insane reason, the creative team behind Batwoman keep pushing off her attack on Batman. I got chills several months ago when the match-up was first announced, but since then we have seen some truly impressive delaying tactics. Fortunately, those tactics can be fulfilling themselves, especially when this issue finally gives me the aftermath of that marriage proposal that I've been waiting for.

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7
Batwoman (2010) #24

Oct 19, 2013

And so we have arrived at the final issue for Williams and Blackman, their Batwoman opus coming to an inglorious ending. The series hasn't always been perfect, but it's been one of the best, strongest outings in DC's New 52. And this story arc promised to be one of the best throughout the entire company, with Batwoman finally, at long last, going toe-to-toe with Batman himself. I was excited, and the issue delivers, but upon reaching the end of this issue, all I could do was groan in disappointment.

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5
Batwoman (2010) #25

Nov 23, 2013

There's nothing creative about this tie-in, or particularly revealing about the main characters. It's a cheap, lifeless tie-in " and having four different artists, all of whom do sub-par jobs, is just another sign that this tie-in was rushed into production when DC found themselves in an unfortunate situation (which was mostly their fault).

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5
Batwoman (2010) #26

Jan 4, 2014

So Andreyko starts fresh with new characters, a new villain and his own ideas. Unfortunately, the offering is rather disappointing.

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6
Batwoman (2010) #27

Jan 25, 2014

I very much care about the drama that will come from Maggie's daughter finding Kate all bruised up in the bathroom. That's the kind of drama I want, and hopefully we'll get it next issue. For now, despite that trippy moment, the second proper issue of Andreyko's Batwoman is stronger than the first, and I have hope that this series might get really good. I even liked Haun's art better this issue.

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8
Batwoman (2010) #28

Feb 22, 2014

Yes! This issue was everything I was hoping to get from Mark Andreyko's Batwoman! I was as sad as anybody to see J.H. Williams III go, but I knew Andreyko's work, and I knew he could pull off some things that Williams couldn't " and this is it! We finally get some really good characterization between Kate and Maggie, and both we and Kate finally meet Maggie's daughter! It's amazing to realize that Williams' tenure focused so much more on Batwoman than on Kate. I hope this is a good sign of what's to come.

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7
Batwoman (2010) #29

Mar 22, 2014

I'm liking the new focus on Kate Kane's personal life, and her relationship with Maggie Sawyer, that Andreyko is bringing to the table. But his plots don't seem to be as good as the last creative team. Wolf Spider still isn't very interesting. And am I the only one bothered that this nobody is so easily defeating Batwoman in hand-to-hand combat?

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5
Batwoman (2010) #30

Apr 19, 2014

The more compelling personal life stuff is almost completely ignored in favor of the continued chase between Batwoman and Wolf Spider. I really hope this is all going somewhere.

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5
Batwoman (2010) #32

Jun 21, 2014

Andreyko is definitely introducing some nice complications, but there doesn't seem to be any magic to them, no spark. I'm not sure what it is that isn't clicking for me, but it's not there yet. I want to like Batwoman"but I just don't know right now.

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5
Batwoman (2010) #33

Jul 19, 2014

Wowzers. I know Kolins can do much better, so clearly this is just a rush job he slapped together so that Batwoman would get out on time. This comic used to feature the absolute best art in the entire business. Is this DC's way of punishing Batwoman? I sure hope not. The character and comic can be good again, but Batwoman has definitely fallen from its once high perch.

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6
Batwoman (2010) Annual #1

May 3, 2014

One of the saddest parts of J.H. Williams III's departure from Batwoman was that he left before his epic Batwoman vs. Batman storyline was over! His last issue on the series was at the very height of the story, with the tension never higher in Batwoman's life! Welp, rather than just leave that plot dangling, DC has let new writer Marc Andreyko wrap up Williams' story. Andreyko does a serviceable job.

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8
Batwoman (2017) #1

Mar 18, 2017

The new Batwoman comic is off to a great start with solid art, a lot of mystery and a story that already has me pretty excited.

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7
Batwoman (2017) #2

Apr 22, 2017

The mysteries of the new Batwoman series continue to deepen in an issue spent mostly establishing new characters, settings and adversaries.

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6
Batwoman (2017) #3

May 20, 2017

The creative team on the new Batwoman has yet to sell me on their storyline, and the longer they delay the juicy mysteries, the less interested I'm going to be in their new characters and villains.

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4
Batwoman (2017) #4

Jun 24, 2017

If you want another issue of Batwoman fighting her boring new villain again, then this issue is for you. It's all boring fight and little consequence as the first storyline comes to a seemingly rushed end.

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9
Batwoman (2017) #5

Jul 22, 2017

A great flashback issue with absolutely gorgeous art comes too late to save the opening chapter it's providing context for.

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7
Batwoman (2017) #7

Sep 23, 2017

The new Batwoman story looks like it will be pretty cool, and has a lot of great set-up in this issue. The new artist is also pretty great for the series, I feel.

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9
Beta Ray Bill (2021) #1

Apr 3, 2021

Through strong character writing and gorgeous artwork, the first issue of this new mini-series really gets at the heart of Beta Ray Bill and his current troubles. Great start to a new story.

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8
Beta Ray Bill (2021) #2

May 1, 2021

A very strong second issue propels this mini-series forward in a lot of great ways. Both story and art are as good as comic books get.

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9
Beta Ray Bill (2021) #3

May 29, 2021

The artwork in this comic just keeps getting better and better, to say nothing of the really strong character work and storytelling.

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9
Beta Ray Bill (2021) #4

Jul 3, 2021

Outstanding artwork once again lifts this already amazing comic to even greater heights! This is comic book of the year material.

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10
Beta Ray Bill (2021) #5

Jul 31, 2021

Beta Ray Bill is the superhero comic of the year, by far. This series has been great from start to this finish, ending with the sort of final battle that other comics and movies wish they could pull off.

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7
Biker Mice From Mars (2024) #1

Aug 17, 2024

A solid first issue that does enough to kick off the series, though it seems torn between telling a serious story and maintaining the feel of a Saturday morning cartoon. Should have gone with a much grittier reboot to really make this comic stand out as something new.

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9
Birds of Prey (2023) #1

Sep 9, 2023

This issue has everything you need for a strong relaunch of a comic like this. Great characters, fun introductions, an enticing story and artwork that really sings.

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9
Birds of Prey (2023) #2

Oct 7, 2023

The art really wows in this second issue, as the story and characters keep the pace moving nicely.

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8
Birds of Prey (2023) #3

Nov 11, 2023

One very talky Bird is crowding out the others in this ensemble comic, but it's still a very fun read.

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9
Birds of Prey (2023) #4

Dec 9, 2023

A really exciting, action-packed, well-written chapter of this ongoing tale, with great art and some truly fun character moments sprinkled throughout.

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8
Birds of Prey (2023) #5

Jan 6, 2024

The switch to a new or fill-in artist is a bit jarring, but that doesn't stop the well-written and fun-to-read new issue of Birds of Prey. I'm sure the artist will grow on me if they stick around.

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8
Birds of Prey (2023) #6

Feb 10, 2024

Solid, entertaining finale to the first storyline, with a lot of characters getting big moments to shine, and a fun new status quo set up going forward.

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8
Birds of Prey (2023) #7

Mar 9, 2024

Lot of fun to be had as these great characters kick off a mostly new storyline.

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8
Birds of Prey (2023) #8

Apr 6, 2024

Cheeky, charming, action-packed issue that continues to build a nice team dynamic.

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7
Bitch Planet #1

Dec 13, 2014

Regardless of its flaws, which are probably all on my end, Bitch Planet is off to a strong start. The characters that are still alive are already fascinating, and I want to get to know more about this world. Why are they on a separate planet? What do they do up there? What's Kogo's role in all of this? DeConnick has got a bit of world-building ahead of her, and I can't wait to see where she goes with it.

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8
Bitch Planet #2

Jan 31, 2015

I was hesitantly confused by the first issue of Bitch Planet, which played a bit weakly with the narrative and didn't really focus on the characters who actually mattered to the series. Fortunately, all of that is straightened out in this second issue as the plot shifts into gear " thought I hope this series won't be as predictable as it seems.

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7
Bitch Planet #3

Feb 21, 2015

DeConnick does a great job guiding Penny through her childhood and into her eventual anger. You really get into her head, you really come to understand what's pushing her and driving her. I guess I just expected more ass-kicking than head games.

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9
Bitch Planet #4

May 2, 2015

It's been more than two months since the last issue of Bitch Planet, and the wait has not been so bad. I definitely haven't forgotten about the book, and the story is still quite strong. In fact, this might be the best issue of the series so far, and not just because we finally get an explanation for the rules of Megaton, the brutal sport that carries this series.

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5
Bitch Planet #5

Sep 12, 2015

DeConnick seems to have a larger, far more interesting story planned for Bitch Planet. But considering the delays, there's no telling if she's ever going to get to the larger plot. Or if we'll still be interested when she gets there.

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6
Bizarro #1

Jun 6, 2015

It's a well-made effort, and everyone is at the top of their game, to be sure, but it just didn't strike any chords with me. Corson seems to be going more for the 'wacky' than the 'wacky with a point'.

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5
Bizarro #2

Jul 4, 2015

Man, I really wanted to like Bizarro. I thought it might be DC's answer to Unbeatable Squirrel Girl. But it's definitely not. It's fine, by all means. I'm sure there are people loving these two issues. But the humor is definitely not my cup of tea.

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8
Black Canary (2015) #1

Jun 20, 2015

There's a solid team in place behind Black Canary, and I hope they can really keep this series rocking " though personally, I kind of want to see some more band-related stuff instead of superhero fights.

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7
Black Canary (2015) #2

Jul 18, 2015

Black Canary is a fun, action-packed comic that has a really neat premise. I don't know if I've ever read a comic about a superhero as a rock star before, and I love it. But like I said above, the problem is that I just don't know her bandmates as well as I should. And when the major plot points all revolve around those bandmates, that's a bit of a problem.

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7
Black Canary (2015) #3

Aug 22, 2015

Black Canary has a lot of style, there's no denying that fact. But its substance has more holes than Dinah's leggings after a night on stage!

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5
Black Cat (2019) #1

Jun 8, 2019

Black Cat #1 is a competent comic made by people with a general idea of how to make a comic. Rote and lacking any real hook or selling point.

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4
Black Cat (2019) #2

Jul 13, 2019

This new series is off to a rough start, with bargain basement art and too much story crammed into a single issue.

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6
Black Cat (2019) #3

Aug 10, 2019

The story and the writing are a noticeable improvement over previous issues, delivering a pretty fun issue. But the art is still a huge drawback.

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7
Black Cat (2019) #4

Sep 14, 2019

The Black Cat comic improves by leaps and bounds with a great lead character and a great story…it's just everything else about the comic that stinks, from subpar art to a poor supporting cast.

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7
Black Manta (2021) #1

Sep 11, 2021

This first issue does a good job in setting up what the series is likely going to be. I think we get a good handle on Black Manta and his personality and style. Some of the story and plot elements feel a bit out of place, but I've no doubt they will all make sense as we move forward.

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7
Black Manta (2021) #2

Oct 23, 2021

Black Manta is cool as hell in this villain mini-series and I think he could easily lead an ongoing about his pirate adventures. The problem is that the rest of the comic " mostly the subplots and the art " doesn't live up to his standards.

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4
Black Manta (2021) #3

Nov 13, 2021

Really embarrassing art is all it takes to crater this formerly fun comic. Bad art just shines a light on all of the myriad of story elements that just don't work anymore.

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6
Black Panther (2016) #1

Apr 9, 2016

Given the high profile nature of this relaunch, Coates and Marvel should have taken a different path. They should have focused on moving forward with new stories rather than mire the first issue in the past. The art is great, and Coates does a fine job writing T'Challa, but the disjointed narrative keeps the issue from being worthy of the hype.

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6
Black Panther (2016) #2

May 14, 2016

Black Panther just isn't settling for me. It's still a fine comic, and I hope it goes far, but it might not be for me.

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8
Black Panther (2023) #1

Jun 17, 2023

The foundations are laid for this relaunch in a strong, well-written and well-drawn first issue. Everything is put in place where it needs to be, and there's enough to the characters and the events to hook a new reader, like me.

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7
Black Panther (2023) #2

Jul 22, 2023

This is a solid, respectable second issue that establishes more for the main character and his new story status quo, while filling in the world around him with good supporting characters and antagonists.

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7
Black Widow (2014) #1

Jan 11, 2014

The art by Noto is equally effective, with a uniquely painted/drawn style that manages to blend realistic pencils with a faded, outside-the-lines coloring. It looks great, and it works perfectly for the Black Widow.

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7
Black Widow (2014) #1

Jan 9, 2014

Black Widow #1 provides a nice look into what a Natasha Romanov solo series can be about. Writer Nathan Edmundson clearly has a lot of great ideas for balancing Widow's personal life with the one of high-risk super-spy excitement. I hope the fans support this book and keep it on the stands. Personally, I want to read more about that cat.

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8
Black Widow (2014) #2

Jan 25, 2014

Everything about the new Black Widow works. I can't wait to see Edmondson really dig into some of his ideas.

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7
Black Widow (2014) #7

Jun 7, 2014

Everything that was good about Edmundson and Noto's Black Widow is still with us in issue #7. It's a moody, lonely book, exploring the hero's sense of place in the world.

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7
Black Widow (2016) #1

Mar 5, 2016

This first issue definitely makes a statement, and it does its job of kicking off this new series, but I fear it was just too slight of an issue. Waid and Samnee don't fail to entice, setting up a mystery about what Widow stole, and giving her plenty of action moments. But the issue was over way too quickly for my tastes.

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7
Bloodshot: Reborn #1

Apr 18, 2015

Still, Lemire does a fine enough job setting up this new Bloodshot as someone to watch. He's an interesting enough guy, and the mission he gives himself at the end of the issue could be promising. Suayan is also solid on art. It's definitely a well-made comic, but I could have used a little more going on.

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7
Bloodshot: Reborn #2

May 23, 2015

The FBI subplot is a nice storyline to add to the comic, to give us a bit of a break from Ray's madness. But this Agent Festival bit is a little cliche. Hopefully Lemire has something special planned for her, because it definitely reads like she's got more going on than meets the eye. I bet she works for the bad guys.

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8
Bloodshot: Reborn #4

Jul 11, 2015

I think Suayan has gotten better as the issues have gone along. The art is gritty and harsh, but very human. The battle with the maniac was full of energy and danger. The art fits the series well and is becoming a true strength.

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7
Bloodshot: Reborn #5

Aug 8, 2015

This is another solid issue that really helps underline who Bloodshot is as a character and what's motivating him.

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1
Bucky Barnes: The Winter Soldier #1

Oct 4, 2014

I like Bucky Barnes as a character just fine, but Marvel has always struggled to figure out what to do with him. This new Winter Soldier by Kot and Ruby looks to be about the worst possible option. It's just an ugly, stifling comic.

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6
Cable (2020) #6

Nov 21, 2020

Perfectly adequate continuation of X of Swords.

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6
Cable and X-Force #1

Dec 15, 2012

Like I said up above, this issue fails because it just doesn't have anything that really captures the reader. There's nothing to make this issue stand out as something new and different in the X-Men family. I like that idea that Cable and his team are fugitives, but all we get of that is the short prologue at the beginning, which then doesn't connect to anything later in the book. The rest of it is just everybody kind of coming together around Cable, and then a tease of the Phalanx. Yawn. This book just doesn't have anything going for it. The team members look like a good group, and I dig their color scheme, and I'm very slightly interested to see where it goes from here. But Hopeless should have given us a lot more than he did. The threat of the Phalanx or any other super-villain is not enough of a hook. Every single superhero comic deals with the threat of some sort of villain. What makes Cable and X-Force different from every other book? Absolutely nothing.

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6
Cable and X-Force #2

Dec 22, 2012

A bunch of mutants team up together to fight bad guys. Yawn. I will say that Hopeless is doing a fine job with the characters, but that just means the only reason to buy this book is for the characters. The plot, the story and the potential are all squandered.

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6
Captain America (2012) #1

Nov 24, 2012

The rest of the issue was more weird than anything else. Monsters, an elaborate ambush by Arnim Zola, and then kind of a generic fight scene as Cap predictably just wills his way to fight through his foes and escape to safety. There's nothing particularly exciting about the action or the foes. And this whole Dimension Z nonsense just doesn't excite me. Nor does the idea of Captain America and a baby in the wilderness. So yeah, basically just a lot of generic Captain America action. Perhaps if I liked Captain America more, I'd enjoy the comic more, but this wasn't anything special.

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6
Captain America (2012) #25

Oct 4, 2014

Just know that the Sam Wilson stuff is really good, and I think Remender could do a good job with him going forward.

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6
Captain America (2017) #695

Nov 4, 2017

The new Captain America series starts off small with a fluff story that is good enough to be entertaining, but nothing to really sink our teeth into. Fine stuff all around.

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6
Captain America (2017) #697

Jan 6, 2018

An OK Cap story doesn't have much meat on its bones, quickly burning through some jungle tropes instead of anything stronger.

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8
Captain America (2018) #1

Jul 7, 2018

The new Captain America looks to get really political and I'm excited, because Coates does a solid job setting up the unease and the danger of this new adventure.

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7
Captain America (2018) #2

Aug 4, 2018

Coates tells, but does not really show, the drama in his new series. It's interesting enough drama to stick around, but I'd like to see him sink his teeth into his own material already.

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8
Captain America (2018) #3

Sep 8, 2018

The mysteries and political intrigue keeps growing in Captain America, and that's a damn good thing. It's a nice blend of real world politics and superhero universe action.

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6
Captain America (2018) #4

Oct 13, 2018

Despite a solid, interesting take on Captain America in today's world, the rest of the story leaves a lot to be desired.

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6
Captain America (2018) #5

Nov 17, 2018

Coates reveals what all of this has been building towards, and it's almost worth the weaker parts of the comic.

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8
Captain America (2018) #7

Feb 2, 2019

The fascinating themes of Coates' Captain America run come to the forefront with the new storyline, making for a powerful issue.

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8
Captain America (2018) #8

Mar 2, 2019

The themes and the larger complexities of the story keep this series going, though the characterizations are strong too.

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7
Captain America (2018) #9

Apr 6, 2019

At it's core, Captain America remains a gripping series, but a lot of side material " like an oddly portrayed new character " is more wobbly.

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7
Captain America (2018) #10

May 11, 2019

An exciting and character-driven issue builds to an even more exciting cliffhanger ending!

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8
Captain America (2018) #11

Jun 22, 2019

The action picks up and pays off in a really cool issue of Captain America, though it's not without its nitpicks.

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7
Captain America (2018) #12

Aug 3, 2019

The overarching storyline is fantastic, but the smaller story choices Coates is making aren't nearly as exciting as they could be.

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7
Captain America (2018) #13

Aug 31, 2019

A pretty straight forward issue doesn't do enough to capitalize on the big changes in Cap's life, but is still a quality read. I look forward to more from the villains.

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6
Captain America (2018) #14

Sep 28, 2019

All of the pieces and themes are still in place for a really good ongoing comic, but the execution of this issue alone doesn't go hard enough.

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8
Captain America (2023) #1

Sep 23, 2023