Phillip Kennedy Johnson continues to execute emotionally grounded, action packed, and well-constructed Superman stories of heroism, pain, and family in near perfection.Action Comics #1052 is another fantastic step forward for the Dawn of DC, living up to the promise of new stories reminiscent of the old, but a step forward into a DC Universe with new interpretations and fresh ways of telling stories.

ACTION COMICS #1053is representative of what the best superhero comics in the modern day can be. Its narrative, a blend of plot decompression and precise character storytelling, is rife with deep themes that lay just under the surface of beautiful art and bombastic superhero action.

BLOOD TREE #2continues to grow as high-tier pulp fiction. The plot moves at a quick pace balanced out by character exploration done neatly. While it may feel a little basic and bare in its execution, it's a classical serial killer mystery that is sure to tickle fans of the genre's fancy.

CASTLE FULL OF BLACKBIRDSis a grab bag of well-mixed ideas executed in a page count too small for what it needed. While not offensively bad, I can recommend it only to Hellboy Universe completionists, as to anyone else it'll lack the substance or atmosphere many come to narrative fiction for.

Its safe to say thatCLEAR #1is nothing short of excellent, a story that not only nails style with its visual flair and writing choices, but brings something new to the table with an overarching them of expatriation.

If you're a lapsed Marvel reader, or just looking for a simple book that manages both beautiful art and brilliant simplicity with it's storytelling, I couldn't recommend this issue more.

COSMIC GHOST RIDER #1is a promising start to a new Marvel ongoing that promises mystery and the ever enticing setting of a 'Western Space Opera'. However, it is skimpy on character history details that may be difficult for any new readers jumping into the character for the first time.

Gods Against Groo #3 is a smart slice of comedic social commentary that struggles to find a character or plot worth caring for. Whether this be a victim of its Sunday strip tone or the nature of Groo as a character, there is still a lot to be enjoyed about this series. For fans who desire an older, newstrip style book, this might be the closest you'll get on the spinner rack.

Like those before me at Comic Watch have said, it's become increasingly difficult to take any critical shot at our boy in red. Hellboy in Love is a good series for readers old and new alike. This issue was a blast to read, and an absolute recommendation for all.

I AM IRON MAN #1is the earnest start to honest celebration of Tony Stark that isn't attempting to appropriate and regurgitate stories of the past. With their own narrative stepped deeply within the eras of Tony and an art style that idealizes the character, its a validating showcase of why Iron Man has room to still be a compelling hero in 2023.

If you have extra room for new books this week, this is a definite pick up.

While KOSHCHEI IN HELL#3 might be a Hellboy Universe book following up on and wrapping up plot lines from previous series, it itself still has a lot to say about the nature of a mythological figure and their unending life of pain and battle. Excellently written with outstanding artwork, Mignola and his team continue to be one of the best in comics to date.

Local Man has set itself up with a main character under the lens of earnest exploration with a murder mystery brewing in the background that has left me hungering for what comes next. Fans of what Image once was and fans of what Image have become will both find something to love within the pages of this brand new series.

At its core, Local Man has been growing into a deeply human series that explores identity in the fly over states by way of 90's superhero tropes, an unexpected yet completely genius premise.

MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN #4is a well-done setup chapter for what's to come in the finale forTrial By Spider. Ziglar and Vicenti continue to deliver exciting and plot-rich superhero comics that are bolstering up Miles and his world.

Overall, this issue doesn't re-contextualize the rest of the mini-series in a way that would have me yelling from my soapbox to go back and pickup the previous two issues. However, for fans of Monica Rambeau who may have been hesitant about picking up this book, I can strongly recommend it on the character front alone. Whatever I may find disengaging about the story's structure, Ewing does have such an excellent way of presenting Monica and her struggles that I will continue reading the book until its end.

THE NEIGHBORS #1is a promising start to what may wind up being one of the most haunting horror comics this year from Boom Studios. With a folk-horror hook and its contemporary themes, this issue is just the right mix of uneasy and endearing needed to enrapture readers everywhere.

While NOCTERRA #12 undercuts its potential character drama for the sake of plot, everything turns out solid in the end as Scott Snyder continues to prove himself as a master of momentous and exciting narratives that fall nowhere short of pulse-pounding.

Great for both young and ageing readers,SPIDER-MEN: DOUBLE TROUBLE#4 makes for a consistent wrap up to this well-illustrated series. For those wishing superhero comics were a little more whimsical, and that their Spider-Man comics were a little more classic, than trying out this series might be the break if fresh air you've been looking for.

It is one of the best books the Spider-Man world has to offer right now, and deserves every morsel of attention and praise it receives.

LaVelle, as a writer, had struggled in previous issues to balance out all the characters within this book, but as we cross the finish line, he's found his footing. An excellent job has been done balancing entertainment with commentary, and we've been set up for a stellar conclusion. Not only is issue #4 the best so far, but it has me looking forward to the next in a way I hadn't before.

SABRETOOTH & THE EXILES #5is a lukewarm finale that, given its previous issues, finds its footing with an unsatisfying barrage of convenience and future setup. At the very least, the series is competently written and well-drawn, so it's far from the worst comic in existence, but does hang its hat on some of the worst modern comic finale tropes.

Is it yet another retread of the Spider-Clone concept? Sure, but I think the style and tone being brought to the table gives SPIDER-GWEN: SHADOW CLONES #1just enough oomph to remain an enjoyable and light read.

While the ride for this story has been entertaining and without any major contradictions, its existence and lack of anything meaningful to say seriously drags it down. SPIDER-MAN #6 at the very least brings the ride towards the finish line in a way that is completely fine, but offers nothing of note or particular excitement to be yet another book that won't matter in a few months.

SPIDER-MAN: THE LOST HUNT #5is a solid trip down memory lane that does some interesting things with its characters with a thematic plot that, sadly, holds zero weight on it's own thanks to it's instantaneous invalidation by future stories.

The Last Barbarians #2is good ol' fashioned sword & sorcery fun. In a comics market devoid of classical fantasy comics, it does scratch, but fails to stand out with this issue. It's a fine read, but nothing you haven't seen before.

VANISH #5 is the return of Ryan Stegman & Donny Cates' new age superhero fantasy, continuing the story that started in issue #1 more so than paving the way forward with a new arc. However, this issue is the best so far with a gripping pace and narrative that concludes sharply with a worthwhile cliffhanger.

At the end of the day, this book is a schlocky mess of fun action, well-written dialogue, and some piss poor narrative work.Going forward, VENOM: LETHAL PROTECTORhas a lot of work ahead of itself if it wants to keep readers onboard.

All in all,WASP #3offers an interesting insight into what a modern day Wasp should be viewed as, tying up some loose story lines just before the final chapter begins. It's a perfectly safe series for Wasp fans, and if you aren't onboard yet you definitely should be now.

Overall, this issue is just a plain ol' action-horror romp that plays well with Marvel history and genre tropes to craft a fine, inoffensive story sure to tickle the fancy of genre fans. The team has a strong understanding as to how a story like this needs to be devised, keeping the narrative fixed, tight, and true to the voices of every character.

X-Treme X-Men #4is classical X-Men suspense done right. Choked with action and great character moments, this issue rectifies some of the pacing shenanigans in previous issues for an all around great time.