Valeria's quest in Age of Conan: Valeria looks to be one worth accompanying the warrior on.

The volatile nature of the whole world of Valeria makes it so that one could doubt the hero's safety even though it's a guarantee that she'll carry on, and it's that tension that'll help carry the series regardless of what turns the narrative might take.

There's a bit of a pacing problem at the start of Age of X-Man: Apocalypse and the X-Tracts #1, which is a shame since the unique mutants deserve some time to get to know them.

All of these events transpire at a reasonable pace that doesn't linger on one event for too long and sets up what'll hopefully be an eventful encounter in the next issue.

The hunt for Omega Red continues, and on that journey, we're greeted with some beautiful artwork in panels with Unveil and Genesis.

As always, the artwork from any page where Unveil makes an appearance is contrasted wonderfully by the otherwise bleak style and story of the rest of the series and is dazzling in its own right.

The story will continue in Age Of X-Man Omega, but it felt like this fifth issue lacked an element that would help bridge the two series together.

Two young adults wanting to leave town and see the world is a path that's been trodden many times, but Kismet and Jani are characters compelling enough to draw readers back in for another go.

Bad Luck Chuck #1 is a strong introduction to a character that I can't wait to learn more about.

Bad Luck Chuck's blocky art style mixed with a bit of grit is so intriguing that it could probably support the entire story without any dialogue, but it'd be a shame to do so since you'd miss out on learning so much about Chuck's character.

Bad Luck Chuck is a world I'd be happy to return to, if that's the case.

Crackdown shows promise with the action scenes it touts in the first issue though, so hopefully future issues will focus more on that and fleshing out characters.

Crackdown's got a compelling enough story so far and I'd like to see where it goes, but both the action and the characters need special attention to straighten Crackdown out.

There's nothing necessarily wrong with the first story in the book aside from possibly rushing too quickly to its end, but it's the second story with Scrooge McDuck and company that stands out.

Ducktales #20 has a few laughs peppered into its pages, though there's unfortunately not much that's remarkable about the issue.

Farmhand's understated comedy will also grow on you and helps balance out some of the darker, more ominous themes.

This issue's a suspenseful one, and it looks like its steering the book towards a much darker path than it's already on.

Underneath that weightiness is an exciting prison break story filled with unexpected turns of events, so perhaps the rest of Future Foundation will follow this path now that the introductions are taken care of.

Future Foundation's quick pace is also appreciated"the heroes have to stay on their toes just as much as readers do as plans change and events unfold.

Hivebusters #1 goes right up to the edge of being overly long but ends at just the right point that left me with optimistic expectations for #2.

Many stories set in Gotham look to explore the bleak, seedy underbelly of the city, often succeeding in their attempts. But considering how Gotham is already at a critical point under Bane's control, a microscope on the volatile Monstertown that zooms even further on some of its most captivating citizens is perhaps one of the best examinations of Gotham's dark side.

Redemption and creative decisions in the heat of combat come together in the end to succinctly wrap up the story of Lone Wolf.

Every series should explore alternate dimensions at some point to give imaginations a chance to run wild, and Invader Zim performs well during its turn.

The jokes and interactions between don't even elicit a smile which leaves out a huge part of the Invader Zim formula that relies on that humor to balance out its darker, stranger moments.

Invader Zim #42 stands out as a bright spot in what's felt like a rut the series has fallen into in the past few issues.

Despite having a decent enough story about Dib overcoming a gauntlet of meat-skiing challenges and looking pretty enough for a story about Meat Mountain, this issue just doesn't have the humor to back up everything else.

A fairly so-so Invader Zim issue about hurting meat and caring for inanimate objects was made a winner by its last few pages.

Given how well this issue is structured, seeing that it'll continue on to at least a second part is a welcomed sight.

Ironheart #4 has some beautiful scenes and helps round out the characters as more tangible people, but it doesn't always do so in the most digestible way.

Riri becomes more likable, relatable, and skilled with each issue while retaining the integral "still learning" aspect of her character.

The story is paced so well that it'll feel shorter than it is, and it's bolstered even more by the appearance of Morales' Spider-Man.

Ironheart has been working its way upward in the past few issues, but #7 feels more like a plateau that'll hopefully be crossed soon.

Based on what we've seen in this issue, it looks like it's time to start paying more attention to Ironheart considering what's to come.

Ironheart #9 sends Riri to Wakanda, and in the process, we're gifted with one of the best crossovers the series has offered.

"Shuriri" is turning out to be one of the best duos the series has introduced so far, and the chemistry between the two only strengthens with every conversation and battle they share.

Ashe: Warmother #3 continues to build League of Legends' universe by following Ashe's journey after she lost her tribe and acquired her signature True Ice bow, and it does so at a pace that's both fulfilling to those privy to League's characters and others who are just now being introduced to the lore.

Jumping into an established property in a way that's welcoming to newcomers while still being engaging to existing fans seems like a challenging task, but the first issue of Lux balances the two audiences perfectly.

The fanservice for League of Legends fans runs just as deep in the second issue of Lux as it did in the first.

Right and wrong come smashing together in #4, a blurriness that's exemplified by how charismatically Sylas is drawn and written.

There's a lot to unpack in this story for a first issue though, so it might require a second pass, but that's hardly a downside considering how easy it is to become immersed in Little Bird's world.

The more you see of Little Bird's bleak world and its gruesome inhabitants, the harder it is to not become engrossed in the series.

If you thought you had Little Bird figured out, you might not be so sure after this issue.

Little Bird's conclusion is an epic and brutal one, an issue packed with enough gruesome scenes and unforeseen events to fill up another entire series.

Some things are better left to the imagination or left as teasers to go along with the big reveals, a balance which future issues of Manor Black will hopefully succeed in reaching.

Manor Black finds a better footing and starts to take on a more concrete form in its second issue as we learn much more about Ari and a bit more about the mysterious Black family.

It's filled with highs and lows of Spider-Man puns and humor that'll either make you grin or roll your eyes, and it's an important steppingstone to the day that we'll see what a fully-functional Spider-Man team can do.

The comics within the issue that reference Captain Underpants and Thanos' "magical space glove" could stand apart as their own projects, but being a part of this particular formula makes the whole effort that much better.

This might also be one of the only times Spider-Man is seen in a battle royale game, and it's a strong start for the rest of the series.

You'll fly through the 80 pages found in Mastermix #4, but it's worth a second read right after to soak up all the details.

The earth-shattering fights might be what you're here for, but our guess is that you'll get much more than that out of No One Left to Fight #1.

No One Left to Fight found its groove quickly and has people hooked"now all it needs to do is show us what these heroes are capable of.

Vale's uncomfortableness with Winda at the beginning conveys itself so strongly that it's passed on to the reader as the issue melds together one emotion after another while further exploring the world of No One Left to Fight.

More sci-fi tropes come alive in Outer Darkness #6 as the crew of the Charon contend with a demon that's hunting them aboard the wrecked ship.

In Outer Darkness #7, we finally get to see a slice of Captain Rigg's past, a character who we've been following since the beginning. That glimpse into history is of course marred with Outer Darkness' signature gore and grotesqueness, but it's moments like this leave us wanting to know more about Riggs and the entire crew.

Every page is beautifully crafted with uniform background colors that frame the action, and the scenes where rain mysteriously pours inside the ship are some of the most impressive ones that we've seen throughout the whole series.

As one of the most brutal issues in the Outer Darkness series in recent memory, Outer Darkness #9 finally blows the lid off a conflict that's been simmering for months.

It's filled with startling, abrupt moments until everything falls into place, but that confusion that accompanies those times exemplifies one of the best parts of Outer Darkness: We often know as little about what's going on as the crew of the Charon does.

Every following issue should look to accomplish what Red Sonja #2 does.

The Red Sonja series understands that not everything needs to be explicitly shown, and even the moments of necessary violence that occur occasionally are shown in a subdued, mature way that avoids emphasis the grotesque.

Red Sonja #4 is another triumph, though it does feel familiar like one we've already seen before.

The consistent flashbacks and retellings of stories that we've seen throughout the series shine perhaps most brightly in Red Sonja #5, and as always, the issue strikes the perfect balance by shaping the present with the past.

There's so much to take in from Red Sonja that one read-through is hardly enough.

Birth of the She-Devil is the type of origin series we needed, it'll make you want to go back and re-read all of Red Sonja over again.

The series still has a great deal of potential though, so hopefully this is just a hiccup in the story that'll be resolved in later issues.

"Interdimensional Cable" is one of Rick & Morty's strongest recurring segments, whether it's happening in the TV or comic series, but that's unfortunately not the whole focus of Rick & Morty #47.

Rick & Morty #48 is a return to form for the series following the last issue that faltered with a focus on Jerry.

It's a setup that requires the characters to do something different despite being forced to do the same thing repeatedly, but the duo's relationship and the technological prowess of Rick make the formula work by allowing them to escape that box occasionally.

It's a promising checkpoint for a series that looks like it has many more strong stories to come.

Issue #51 doesn't step outside of the tried and true Rick and Morty formula, and that makes it a safe win.

Like we've seen with other issues that focus on side characters like Jerry, Rick and Morty is at its best when the two share the spotlight.

Each character's expressions and reactions shine authentically, and the shorter "Feel Bad Inc." story that returns to Rick and Morty is a succinct way to follow up the longer story which came first.

Rick and Morty Presents: Jerry #1 has "Rick and Morty" in the name all right, but it unfortunately doesn't feel like it belongs in that universe.

The scenario where infected zombie-like characters invade O-Town is even handled well despite zombie outbreaks being a tried-and-treaded story by now, so much so that I'm invested in a Rocko story for the first time.

Rocko's Modern Afterlife #2 picks up the pace in the second issue and tells its story quicker without losing anything in the process.

With one more issue left to go, the finale will hopefully deliver on the experience it's been building up to.

Modern Afterlife is a book that grows on you as it found its stride, and it makes whatever Rocko spin-off that comes next one that's worth taking a look at.

The Mystery Gang can clearly team up with anyone given how many crossovers they've had, but they pair up especially well with Magilla Gorilla's humor.

If either of these two characters have ever been one of your favorites from the Sonic universe, chances are you'll have a second favorite by the time this series is done.

The fact that the antagonist of this story can transform into different characters provides an easy and enjoyable avenue for showing off more of the Sonic universe while keeping the spotlight on the two stars.

Whether you played Marvel's Spider-Man or not, the first issue of City at War is a promising bridge between Marvel's playable and readable mediums.

Its emotional moments are balanced out with the signature humor of Spider-Man, and it still hits hard even if you know what's coming.

The pacing of the story will still feel a bit rushed if this isn't your first introduction to the story, but it makes sense given the medium. If there were ever a downside to the fast-forwarded version of this Spider-Man story, it's that it's going to end all too soon and leave us wanting more. -

Marvel's Spider-Man: City at War #4 moves at a slightly slower pace than the rest of the series, but it's a necessary change to ramp up to a big conclusion.

Every issue in Spider-Man: City At War has done a superb job of making sure it was accessible to those familiar with the Marvel's Spider-Man game and those who weren't, but #5 is the first instance where it feels like this goal wasn't fully realized.

With breathtaking highs and gut-wrenching lows, this conclusion to the series is a brilliant one for Marvel's first big embark voyage into its Gamerverse.

Some of the slang where things like "omg" and "turbo ominous" are said don't exactly hit every time, but here's hoping that that part of the book grows on me since the rest of Star Pig is excellent.

Star Pig already got off to a fun start with its debut, and in its second issue, it finds itself even better like a cartoon that's been ripped straight from TV.

The conclusion to Soldiers is a satisfying one, though it is a bit difficult to come down off the high of the battle as the characters' stories are wrapped up.

Most everything else StarCraft: Survivors is solid though, so I'm eager to see where the book goes as long as Caleb turns out to be at the same level of quality.

Survivors still has a story and a supporting cast worth keeping an eye on, so long as it can create a compelling enough protagonist to guide it.

There's surprisingly a lot of moving parts in this issue even though it doesn't advance the story a great deal on its own, and everything works cohesively to build up to the next issue.

It's got some interesting twists in it, and raises just enough questions to keep you hooked for the next issue.

Steven Universe continues to excel at flitting between different stories in issue #27 without doting on one character or avoiding another for too long.

Some worthwhile character development culminates in #28 which in itself is a critical part of enjoying Steven Universe, so it's still a decent issue even if it doesn't deliver on the story's setup.

If there was ever a "bad day" comic collection that you needed to stash away somewhere to pull out whenever you're feeling down, Steven Universe #29 needs to be in it.

The dialogue between Steven and Pearl isn't as strong as the conversations we've seen him have with other characters like Amethyst in the series, but it's hard to find anything actually wrong with this story.

Just about as wholesome as it gets, Steven Universe #31 is a charming chapter in the series.

Multiple stories with clear beginnings and ends are wrapped into the first issue, and each one feels different from the last both in their styles and the themes they explore.

Seeing Cyborg deal with a zit isn't exactly the most compelling follow-up to "Weirder Things," but there are still a few laughs to be found occasionally thanks to the team's dynamic.

Action scenes are sparse in the issue aside from one which was supposed to be a significant event, but it lacked the "oomph" one might expect from a multi-issue build-up.

The first issue wasn't wholly representative of that since it felt like a chore to power through the opening while constantly feeling like you've missed something, but hopefully the rough patch to an otherwise promising story has passed.

Trout's story has started off quick and seems to be an interesting one full of bleak events, so hopefully the series' eerie charm continues to hold up and grows stronger.

With dark and light tones balanced as well as Valkyrie's coming to terms with her new role, Valkyrie Jane Foster feels promising.

Two issues in and Valkyrie has already managed to take quite a surprising turn that, by itself, warrants anyone remotely interested in the series to pay attention to what comes next.