William Evans Comic Reviews

Still, Black Canary is interesting, the supporting cast is getting more run, and little by little we are getting a unique backstory for Dinah. Yeah… I'm in.

Black Canary is a pretty damn good book and this might be the best issue so far. Fletcher is building on levels of this story and we could be in for something special moving forward.

Black Canary continues to be one of DC's brightest stars, but takes a small step back this issue as it dove deeper into the minutia of the band itself. Next issue promises to be a big one with the inevitable showdown with Bo Maeve and her very Dinah-like upgrades.

You should really read Black Canary. It's good, strange, affirming and unique. It combines a lot of different storytelling elements while still maintaining the spirit of the Black Canary character.

Black Canary wraps its first arc and quickly established itself as one of DC's top books out. The narrative gets a little wonky, but is still effective and Wu just does the damn thing as usual and carries large sections of this book. A fitting end to the first arc, and promises to show us a lot more.

Black Panther #1 had a ridiculous amount of expectation and hype, as it should with all the moving parts involved. Coates and Stelfreeze set a very ambitious agenda, with 3 very large plot threads weaving through the narrative. It is off to great start as far as setups go and here's hoping they can keep the momentum as these threads start converging on each other.

As amazing as the first two issues of been, this might have been my favorite. Each part of the story gets its own due and yet is building into a sweeping tale that finally befits our favorite fictional City on the Hill in Wakanda.

The story continues to barrel forward into darker territory as we root for both T'Challa and the country of Wakanda to root out those who do them harm. You are about four issues too late if you don't already know that Black Panther isn't just the result of hype and meeting those expectations, but also a book that is truly special in its relevance and artistry. Those of us who have ached for a good Black Panther series are being treated to more than we probably anticipated.

A little bit slower plotting this time around and a fun reunion colors this issue. Black Panther is still building upon the movements of the seen and unseen threats to Wakanda, but it looks like at least T'Challa has some back-up.

We have raved about this book for each of the 9 issues that we've been provided and its possible the most complex and layered aspects of the story are being handled with the most precision now. I am anxious about every character standing in this book and curious as to what possible outcomes await us.

It's hard to top some truly great issues that came before, but Black Panther #11 still delivers a satisfying end to the physical war it's promised since the first issue. Seeing the fallout and the fate of T'Challa in a Wakanda that must be rebuilt will be another fascinating war altogether.

Black Panther baaaaack, with a new story arc, and a new love story, same as the old love story except with Coates behind the boards. So far, it's all off to a good start.

Black Panther continues its myth-building, this time with an added "gods and titans" intrigue that may explain why the country is under siege from previously forgotten foes. The art shines in parts, feels inconsistent in others, but overall, another successful entry into the growing world of our favorite nation.

Storm Baaaaaaaaaack. An Ororo Da Gawddess focused issue leads to some cool story and character movements. Next issue looks grim. Mad grim. But we're here for it.

Black Panther goes in a bold direction in the middle of an engaging arc to give us the legacy on an old villain. It feels like a fresh coat of paint as Coates has given this conflict even more weight and consequence than before. And the stakes were already high.

Black Science is back from its hiatus with a good, if somewhat uneven start, to the new arc following "Godworld." It feels good for this book to be back on the stands (and personally, for me to be reviewing it).

The second issue of this new arc substituted more genuine and naturalized humor for the slapstick we saw in the previous issue and it was better for it. A nice twist on a Grimm fairy tale delivers and leaves Grant in yet another perilous situation.

Black Science #24 takes a serious turn left from everything we've known previously and puts the crew in possibly a more precarious position then they've experienced thus far. Which is saying a lot. Few books have hook eagerly waiting for the next issue like Black Science does and I personally anticipate how the next chapter unfolds.

Black Science looks like its about to upend itself, again, and I'm all for it. This book has a way of widening its net frequently and still circling back to some familiar characters and situations that make the book feel hugely expansive and still rooted where we can find it.

With a cliffhanger of an ending, Black Science has pushed the stakes all the way up and its pretty hard to tell where the story goes from here, but you'll definitely be willing to follow wherever it ends up.

Black Science gets weirder and, dare I say, more potent with each issue. Giving us more of the world and often wrecking it in the same issue. Not often that a book can keep you on your toes throughout and still end in a way that leaves you grasping at what possibly comes next.

Black Science is back for the '17 fam and it's like this book never left. Great action, great and agile writing. This book is always one of the best on the shelves for as long as it's running.

As always, this issue looks fantastic, and Scalera was given the full range here as just about every creature and situation imaginable exists in this issue. The action is unyielding, the story telling is so cohesive that a story could be told without the without the script. These two are truly crafting a energetic and always moving story that hasn't slowed down.

Black Science has moved into full "defend this house" mode as all the chickens have come roost for all of Grant's sins. But the kids, who he at one time thought were sacrificed to his ambitions, are picking up the slack.

A great resolution of one plot brings about some shit we just weren't ready for in the next one. Excitement for how this book progresses is at an all time high, which is ridiculous for how great this book has been throughout its run.

Black Science keeps barreling ahead, even after big bombshells that would serve as a climax. The story keeps upping the stakes. There are few stories that have me on the edge of my seat for the next issue, but Black Science seems to do this every issue.

Overall, this is a good start to Civil War II. We still get a bunch of crossovers that essentially pit hero vs hero (especially in Marvel) so we weren't exactly in need of this sequel, but it's welcome nonetheless. Bendis and Marquez, as always, will make a good team on this as we find out how the sides get drawn in successive issues.

Civil War II started off with a bang (and some controversy) but has done some wonky things since. And not moved much. Here's hoping the exposition phase is over (but judging by the last page, it doesn't seem like it) and we can get into some hero on hero action moving forward.

Civil War II isn't really getting better, but it's far from the worst thing on the stands. Still, with so many heroes and personalities at your disposal, this book just isn't giving us a quality story to fully invest in. Here's to hoping (HOPING) we get a real shift in the second half of the book.

Civil War II #7 is actually a pretty good individual book, it just has to carry the weight for some inconsistent and unfulfilling aspects of the story. If the book can end at the caliber that the last two issues have, then it will have ended in a much better place than it started. And considering how low this book has felt at times, that would be a win.

All in all, this feels like a mini-series to find a way to incorporate the X-Men into the overall conflict, similar to the previous Civil War event. With 4 issues promised, we'll see if this gets more interesting or continues to tread heavily walked ground.

The chess pieces get moved a little bit in issue #2 to make the conflict a little more interesting, but in a four issue arc, it's hard not to wonder if it's still moving a bit too slow. The teams seem to be drawn as far as who is on who's side, all that's left now is the fight we know is coming.

In the penultimate book of this spin-off, the war part actually happens, somewhat and we move closer to Magneto's endgame. Sadly, with just a few highlights, nothing particularly stands out for this book.

Still, these aren't huge gripes and ultimately, the story has so much meat on the bone that could exist in our outside of this story. Its fair to say that Metal could have big repercussions on the DC universe, more so than Convergence or even Rebirth has had for that matter. Personally, Metal #1 can not get here quick enough.

It's hard to tell what the public anticipation was for the book and what exactly were the expectations upon launch. Speaking for myself, they were fairly low and they surpassed that, even if they didn't blow me away. A solid start to the new series, but it may need to tie somethings together quick to keep that potential.

Okay, fine, it isn't wholly spectacular but I am enjoying Master Race more than I thought I would. The next issue, provided it doesn't give us some sideways plot movement, should have some big developments in it that genuinely make me excited to see what happens next.

All in all, its a forward progression of the story, though the most interesting aspects are fueled by the cliffhanger in issue #3. The stakes are finally high for Batman himself, so it will be nice to see him back in action next issue.

Issue #7 asks a lot of questions and answers a big one, but leaves the real solution for the last issue, setting up a pretty big and anticipated battle. The book has been pretty good with only a few dips so far. If you're reading this, you'll probably agree it's worth seeing out to the end.

The DC event that almost wasn't is still a pretty good book with the biggest showdown on the horizon. A pissed off Superman, a blood thirsty Wonder Woman, and a baby faced Bruce all barreling towards the end of this book.

After a lot of stellar tie ins, Dark Nights Metal comes back for another twist induced issue that satisfies on just about every level and takes it in some unexpected places. The story gets crazier an crazier in direct proportion to its quality.

The penultimate issue of The Lazarus Contract sets up the final confrontation to an interesting story. Deathstroke is carrying this crossover in ridiculous fashion where the roles of 80% of the characters not named Slade have forgettable contributions. Still, it's one of the better crossovers that DC has done in a while and paves the way for a finale worth checking out.

Ultimately this comic isn't a must for comics fans. But it is entertaining to Destiny fans nonetheless. There are some opportunities missed for sure. Without knowing how many issues we're getting, one can't say if it's a slow burn or just slow. There seems to be more to come and here's hoping it expands the world a bit. The last page suggests insight into familiar events yet to come. We'll see if that proves inspiring or retells what we already know.

Not much of the story has been revealed yet, but so far, the creative team has laid out an intriguing and beautifully rendered opening. Not only do Johns and Frank need to craft a good story, they have the pressure of bringing character back into prominence for the first time since they were part of the best graphic novel of all time. We will see how this ends up stacking up to that, but so far, they haven't given any reason as to why this couldn't be a damn good book.

Doomsday Clock is taking its time moving through the plot and that's ok. With a lot more time to breathe than most events, Johns and Frank are building a fascinating environment with plenty of room to drop the big revelations that we know are coming.

Doomsday Clock is teasing us at this point, which isn't terrible. One hopes that it bears a lot of fruit by the time the heat gets turned up. The intro was particularly strong and gave us some perspective for the stakes involved.

All in all, it makes for an interesting read that will help explain Rorschach's actions moving forward.

Doomsday Clock makes its way back with a torrid pace. A lot is happening, but it is mostly created an atmosphere to weigh the plot even further. We aren't getting too many answers yet, but we are getting a better picture of who is involved.

That being said, the issue is still enjoyable. More character study then story progression, at least in the big scheme of things. But as I've stated before, this book really aims to be larger than the sum of its parts. At the halfway point, there's still a lot that we can look forward to.

So, now we have the big showdown the book has been missing, and we know the stakes are even higher. Doomsday has continued to get better as the story peels back more and more. Hopefully this makes for a hell of a closer now that we're past the half way point of this book.

The very ambitious and, some would say, audacious nature of this book is justifying more and more why it should exist and how good a story can be woven from these universes. After many character driven issues, the plot is moving ahead at full throttle now. As we are in the last third of the series, it feels like there are a lot of possibilities left, and that is an exciting possibility.

What began as a slow build is now just an outright steamroll towards a finale. There are so many moving parts, but at least two of them presented themselves in big ways. The payoff is here and the cork can't go back in the bottle…not that we would have it any other way.

We got a brief chance to catch our breath this issue, but it looks like it is going to be an all-out sprint to the finish for the last two issues. I wonder if this issue with Doctor Manhattan with its interiority gives us too much of what to expect in the finale or if Johns and Frank still have some surprises for us.

After a long delay, Doomsday Clock is back…on time? I know, that's horrible, but like the only time I'll ever be able to make that joke. If you've stuck around this long, I think we're in for a well-deserved finale.

It's hard to say that Doomsday #12 was worth the three-month wait, especially since we don't live in a vacuum and can't pretend that a great version of Watchmen didn't just happen in Doomsday Clock's absence. The story wraps up well, if not a bit safe. Ultimately, it will be hard to look back on this series and not at least put it in conversation with a cohesive media from the same source, that couldn't be more different.

This issue was almost 100% setup with no real forward movement of the plot. Still gorgeous, still interesting, but not a whole lot that was new to hang your hat on.

East of West is playing the long game right now by bringing more relevance to little-known characters. It's a mixed bag, but to be honest, it's a Hickman mixed bag, which elevates it over other table-setter issues. However, the longer we get away from Death, the Horsemaen, or the Beast, the more this story begins to drift into something far less engaging than the one we were introduced to.

You don't expect a Hickman written story to possess a minimalist approach, but this issue couldn't have come at a better time. This is war and we got the riskiest venture in that war so far with this issue. We don't know how it will affect the world of East of West, but it is an absolutely joy for the reader this month.

East of West slows down just a bit, but we get to revisit with a character we hadn't seen in a while in how they tie into this overall conflict. So far in this arc, we've touched upon different characters and their relationship to the overall conflict, rotating between plotting and physical warfare. Even with more dialogue heavy issues like this one, it's still a good ride.

The meet is set. The players are moving and shit is about to go down. Does that mean the next issue will be action packed? I doubt it. But SOMETHING is going to happen. And the anticipation of that is often the best part of reading this book.

Some cool moments and still a good amount of set up, we're still ramping up to more fruitful revelations. If we get East and West back on a regular schedule, there's no doubt that big things are in the coming months.

A small ripple of revelation here and there, but nothing has significantly changed since last issue. The ending does lead one to believe that shit is about to go down soon, but we'll have to wait and see on that one. I've been wrong before.

They set us up for this last issue and it delivered, big time. East of West has been in a perpetual state of war for several issues now, but almost impossibly so, the stakes are even higher now. What comes next is going to be good. Really, really good.

We are moving chess pieces around again, but this is still a solid issue as we (hopefully) move closer to the confration / meeting between father and son that we've literally waited years for. One wonders if Hickman is going to give us what we want or throw another curveball our way.

East of West ends year two in spectacular fashion and the ending is like the beginning as we spin towards year three. Hickman and Dragotta are still making a great book. What a time to be alive.

Not a ton of (present day) action in this issue, but we did get a revelation that is clever and makes complete sense. Year Three starts off well and hopefully the next few issues will have us checking in with the other factions and how they are dealing with the war.

Another great issue of East of West that keeps this war entertaining and unpredictable. There's not many books that have kept a story like this fresh and engaging while navigating in the same story.

The book starts and ends in brutal fashion, why also making great use of flashback and backstory. Dragotta is, as always, doing the lord's work on this book. Constantly complimenting the brutal nature of what Hickman articulates with a kinetic and unflinching style to match. This is a world I'd never want to live in, but one I sure as hell enjoy visiting that these cats create once a month.

I wouldn't have thought I would love East of West so much with Death and the Beast absent from the book for this long, but the creators have done such painstakingly great work in building such a fascinating world, that the war between the factions has been so entertaining. By the time we get to Death and the Beast, the world may look very different than how they left it.

Man, war is hell. Bloody, hell. And it doesn't seem to be ending anytime soon. The Bride of Death gets an issue to shine, and you can imagine what the message was.

The creators have wound us up again and given us great exposition for what comes next. We finally got the famous "you deserve what's coming to you" line and I can't help but think Hickman is talking to us. If you've invested this much into East of West thus far, we're heading towards a climax you can't help but look forward to.

Essentially, Generations, the Iron Man version is interesting and cool to look at and envision without a whole lot, if anything, at stake. We may find it referenced in future books, but it would've been nice to see something a little more consequential with all the potential that a Utopian future provides.

With those caveats, how does the overall book play out? I still like it. I didn't like the shooting. At all. But I liked everything else a great deal. If Bendis avoids dipping into scenarios of the fragile Black life experience and can stay in a lane that shows Riri for the likable badass she can be, I'm all aboard. Only time will tell.

Invincible Iron Man has a few flaws in its armor, but the book still has a good start with a promising future. Riri is what a hero looks like in today's comic book and I look forward to seeing what she does next.

I didn't even get to address the surprise visitor or what looks like the first real conflict that Riri will face, but let's just say that this book could be going in some really exciting directions. Riri might have one of the best origin stories in recent memory, and three issues in, this might be the perfect time to catch on and catch up.

Even with the cliffhanger ending, this was a pretty great installment and appropriate for the legend building that is Marvel's newest badass.

Not only is Invincible Iron Man a good book that is getting better, but Riri put on some big hero boots this week and showed a part of her personality we hadn't seen yet with satisfying results. Combine that with the heart this issue showed with Riri's mom and the balance she faces as the parent of a teenage superhero, and this book just about claimed the week.

Riri gets a dose of fame and all the good stuff that comes with it. For now. The book is mostly dialogue as Riri gets a lot of options thrown at her. Its a lot of set up and a calming after the last arc, but it puts the story in prime position for some big things moving forward.

If you have loved Riri this point, then this point of her hero's quest will only strengthen that. Outside of a few inconsistencies with the art, this is another strong issue of building up a hero with some serious staying power.

In what has been a stellar run, this issue had some issues with consistency and pacing that made it less engaging than previous issues. Still, the book ends by opening up a conflict with a much bigger fish for Riri, so it promises to kick things up a bit moving forward.

Riri continues to be the best new hero in any comic book universe, period. This book specifically does some great work with relationships and future interactions while giving us a hell of an action packed book as well.

Riri has a short but consequential (of sorts)romp as Queen for a day at Latveria that shows a lot of heart in sacrifice for any of the disasters that could have befallen her hastiness.

Essentially, Invincible Iron Man doesn't do a whole lot of movement in the story, but gives some nuggets here and there about the man that is Tony Stark before the next arc where Tony will definitely be a focus kicks off. Riri isn't central here and we don't know how much she will be in the subsequent issues, but still an important read for the throughput of the next arc.

In our first search for Tony Stark, we get a stuffed and complex issue. Most of it works, some of it is gently touched upon. Still, the art helps make this a worthy first issue of this inevitable story arc.

This issue had plenty of interesting elements, but didn't move the story forward much at all. Hopefully we get the Doom / Riri reunion sooner rather later and see the search for Stark take center stage.

Ironheart #1 is a great start that feels both like a continuation of Riri's story and a new arc with a bit more agency assigned to her. Ewing writes a compelling script that feels fun and authentic, coupled with some excellent art to usher the story along. If issue #2 is any indication, Riri has a very bright future ahead of her.

Pretty good issue, light on action, but bigger on answers as the war finally kicks off in earnest. This series will be large and sprawling, so it's really hard to tell where exactly all this is going, but that's part of the fun.

Justice League #44 continues the Darkseid War in epic fashion, letting you know the end of this story is far from over and that the repercussions might linger longer than we previously thought.

Justice League #45 is a departure from the beginning of this arc, which has both it's ups and downs. There's a lot of intrigue for what comes next now that some of the members have "ascended" to different roles, but overall movement of this issue brings it in lower than the preceding issues.

Justice League still has a great story to tell in front of it, but this issue was dedicated to set up and giving some lesser characters more spotlight that may or may not prove fruitful. Hopefully next issue we get some of these new Gods facing each other.

After a couple of slower weeks of set up and exploration of some of the B characters, this issue comes back with a lot of movement and intrigue in the story. And the return of one of the best artists on DC's roster doesn't hurt.

I wasn't a huge fan of The Trinity War and liked but didn't always love Forever Evil. Yet, those stories were absolutely worth it to bring us to this moment. Short of Snyder and Capullo's Batman, Justice League has had the strongest book from issue #1 in DC's catalog. We've reached the point where no matter how this ends, something will profoundly be changed in the DCU.

Justice League is crazy as hell, folks. But it's still really good. We still see these heroes we've been so familiar with in a pretty unfamiliar setting, and that alone keeps this book interesting with anticipation for what happens next.

There are triumphant moments, some silly moments, but altogether satisfying moments in Johns/Fabok's dismount on Justice League before DC Rebirth. With a few dips in certain storylines, since the beginning, Justice League has been one of the most consistent books in DC's catalog and this issue was a fitting end to it all.

Lazarus is building up to something big, as usual. The plot threads have wove themselves together and it looks like the world that Rucka and Lark have built might change profoundly over the next couple of issues. I for one, want to see where that ride goes.

I have long touted this book as one my favorite comic books out and this was almost as good as it gets for the run. Considering this probably wasn't the big finale of any sort, it was a spectacular issue that highlighted the potency of this arc and brought a lot of threads together.

Hey, nothing has changed, Lazarus is still one of the best books on the shelves. The "Poison" arc ends in bombastic fashion and simultaneously sets the stage for some insane plot developments for next arc in the last pages. Since the book will be on hiatus for a while, now is a great time to get caught up on the whole story if you're not already.

Lazarus is back and almost no one is happier about it than me. The trademark story telling and development that Rucka and Lark have sculpted over 20 issues continues. It is crisp and ripe with intrigue, but also has great looking action per usual. It's nice to have this back on the shelves.

Lazarus turns in another stellar issue with some big, bit questions answered and a few more asked for the future. The tight storytelling and beautiful art combine to give a very dense, yet quick moving story that lets you know this tale is far from over or losing any steam.

The Cull is in full effect. Forever gets closer to knowing the full truth and another family gets cleared off the map. Things will only get heavier from here.

I've been saying it for over 20 issues now: Lazarus is good. So very good. They moved some chess pieces around this issue, but gave us enough action and foreshadowing to leave us lost in the storytelling. It's. About. To Go. Down.

Lark, as always, does the damn thing in this issue. The side by side panels of "Number 8" and Forever going through their regiment is just familiar and different enough from each other. But you know where he drops the bars at: The big Lazari pile up. I can't even say any more about it for fear of spoiling it. But it's" brutal. Sorry, that's all I got. It's fantastic, cop the issue, we'll talk about it.

Cage reads and looks great straight out of the box. Still a rooted story that hits close to home on numerous levels for our titular hero, but the team of Walker and Blake might have something great on their hands if they can fulfill the promise of this opening for issues to come.

All of the elements come together for this book and this is one of the books that you should be looking forward to each month. An endearing story, great supporting characters and a determined Luke make a great book.

Luke Cage continues to be a good offering and a refreshing take on the character that Walker is groomed perfectly for. With a great fight scene and some story revelations, this makes one of the stronger books in this new run.

Luke Cage, as predicted, is still really good with the plot heating up. When it seemed it was possible some not as interesting characters might take control of the narrative, Walker guides us right back into the path of our dangerous players.

This first arc ends with Luke coming to grips with who he is in respects to who made him the way he is now. While it wraps up a little quick, this has been a stellar beginning to a series we hope is around for a while.

Luke back in a new arc facing this typical Black man in America problems. There's something even more sinister at work (maybe more is the wrong word) of course. However, Walker pulls no punches on the commentary of what someone that looks like Cage projects to some Americans. Here's to seeing next injustice we see Cage navigate through.

The second arc of this issue is still finding its footing after the first arc started out on fire. Cage is up against an unfamiliar foe (to him) but in an unfortunate familiar setting. Hopefully, the subsequent issues flesh out the villain and the plot a bit more.

The art is sharp and largely stylized with Almara's glossy and vibrant color style. It works for this book, the question is, does the tone of the book work for you. For me personally, I'm a bigger fan of more grounded type of humor and hyperbole for my superheroes, so I didn't love how this book has opened. This definitely isn't the previous and ultra-serious New Avengers under Hickman, but this isn't even the heralded Mighty Avengers that Ewing penned himself. This is something a little more light and obscure, hopefully yielding some better results in the future.

Nightwing starts a new adventure in earnest with decent promise for where this story could go. The introduction of new villains and expansion of others should make this a unique story, but still keep enough ties to familiar stories.

Nightwing looks like it could be a pretty enjoyable book with an original premise for Nightwing. While I doubt we'll see Dick Grayson dip into Jason Todd territory, seeing Grayson with a little bit more moral ambiguity could be an entertaining venture.

Nightwing continues to incrimentally get better, with a fellow Bat-Family member coming through to throw a curveball to the narrative. There seems to be a confrontation approaching with the Owls with Nightwing having to decide who he can ultimately trust when the fighting starts.

All in all, it is an investment to follow the whole Monster Men storyline, but it has been worthwhile to see something a bit new that involved all the heroes around Gotham.

We get back to the Raptor story line with Nightwing after the briefest of hiatus. But the claw is back and he holds court over this book in a mesmerizing way.

The Rise of the Raptor arc seems done for now, which means that Nightwing is probably off to a new adventure next issue. Which is ok, the character's immediate future seems to be in good hands with Seely.

Nightwing takes a month off from the arc it was building and sacrificed an issue for the transition of Nightwing to familiar places. And that's enough, I'm still excited to see Nightwing's progression and maturation with this creative team.

Nightwing is back in Bludhaven (for the first Rebirth time) with a little mystery to kick things off for him. The intrigue is there to see how our hero explores his new home and sees what is lurking beneath the surface.

Nightwing is still a fun book, but it is exploring Grayson in a refreshing, self-effacing way that makes the character a little more three-dimensional. He is now fully immersed in Bldhave, for better or worse. Probably the latter.

Nightwing continues to be a damn good book and the Bldhaven arc is getting more intriguing with each issue. This is a very Nightwing story, heart, detective work and resiliency.

Nightwing finally identifies the villain, but much more has yet to be revealed and we have new people working together to bring them down. This book is still an enjoyable read while carving new and familiar tones for Dick Grayson.

Of course, this is a superhero book and as you can imagine, not everything is roses and swinging through open windows, so the book does lead us to the next arc for Nightwing, which will of course having him squaring off with some villain. But this book as a standalone story was unique and lighthearted and needed for any kind of book where the hero is usually in peril.

A new arc, another hero in town and new potential "problem" maybe, sorta in addition to Shawn being kidnapped. I'm here for the buddy cop story with Damian and Dick any day of the week, especially facing basically Bizarro Nightwing for the next few issues.

The villain is revealed and Robin has Nightwing's back as the story jumps up a notch. Now that we know what the plan is, it will be interesting to see what the cost is of Shawn being kidnapped and its ultimate effect on Nightwing.

Nightwing Must Die continues with its fatalistic storyline, putting everyone in danger at one time or another. With one problem down, another one looms and a bigger player is introduced for the rest of the story.

All in all, the issue is pretty decent but not quite to the narrative stature of previous issues. It does look great however with some excellent showcase panels by the artist.

The arc ends successfully, with a good byproduct of some evolution in Robin and Nightwing's relationship. The duo cleans up nice and its always nice to see how the deal with each other and the task at hand.

New story arc kicks with an interesting premise, but not much from the first issue sinks its hooks into you. Here's hoping the story kicks up a bit in subsequent issues.

Nightwing has had some good arcs thus far, but Blockbuster seems to be a good one, especially with the twists and turns. It does what works best for Nightwing, dropping him into a lot of trouble and watching him trapeze himself out.

A pretty good issue overall and slightly different balance for a Nightwing series with such an action focus. Which is a good change of pace. It ends with a bang and we'll have to see what daring escape the trapeze artist made this time as this arc continues.

The Blockbuster arc went some unexpected places and Nightwing survives in some ways, less so in others. A good conclusion to the story and a good spark for the next one.

Nightwing is on the hunt, but of course, the predator rarely stays in that role with a Nightwing book. We don't see the range of emotion we expected following the last arc, but the inclusion of Huntress and the Spyral connections start this arc off in interesting ways.

Nightwing dives back into his Spyral days to uncover the mystery of why they're being hunted with some pacing issues and artistic hitches, but nothing that derails the story. It still carries the intrigue that Seeley has built over this series.

Nightwing wraps up a storyline pretty quickly, but gives us breadcrumbs of some other, more personal conflicts to come. Fair or not, this storyline could've used a little more time and doesn't quite hit the high notes of the previous arcs.

As Tie-Ins go, Nightwing follows a pretty good Teen Titans issue by delivering another enjoyable trip towards the center. It seems that Nightwing might return to his own story next time, but for a brief interruption, this won works extremely well.

Nightwing starts a new arc with Raptor back in the spot and Grayson hitting rock bottom in his quest to bring him down. With a return of some established characters, the Nightwing creative team might have another good arc on its hands.

Nightwing has managed to work in all the elements of this book from previous arcs to give us a truly captive and interesting story arc. This book could go in so many directions, it will be a thrill to see how it turns out.

The Raptor's Revenge storyline continues as the stakes rise, Raptor makes his move, and the Runaways try to find their motivation for entering the fray. While this wasn't an action heavy issue, it did work well to establish where everyone stands leading into the big showdown.

In the penultimate issue of Raptor's Revenge, we get the master plan. We have clearly drawn lines after Raptor told us his motive last issue. All that remains to see is how Nightwing saves the city, who will help him and ultimately if he's still going to leave.

It's nice to get Nightwing back in a proper book after the successful Grayson run, but this book is all setup to why we're getting that book. It may be the product of a Rebirth title, but one can hope the next issue hits the ground running with the actual conflict.

ODY-C comes back after a short break and goes left with the story, which expands the scope beyond Oddysia's quest home. It does some things well, and some story elements get a little lost in the wash, but overall a solid installment to continue the story.

Ody-C continues to be a good, unique and challenging read in how Fraction presents and directs the story. Some of the momentum has waned in the wake of going away from such an incredible character that guided began the series, but there is still some really good stuff and progressive story to find here.

ODY-C is so, so different than anything else out there and that doesn't seem to be changing any time soon. There have been some peaks and valleys, but this was a particularly strong issue that might move us closer to some cohesion of the stories down the road.

Overall, the first issue of Power Man and Iron Fist is solid; good in some spots, a little flat in others. Ultimately, this book will hinge on the ways that Walker can bring the friendship of Luke and Danny to an enjoyable spectacle, which I have a lot of confidence in him doing.

Power Man and Iron Fist continues to be a very high-quality book with a unique language and story to much of the Marvel lineup. We'll see if this serving as a tie in to the Civil War conflict is just a one and done or if their conflict with the vigilantes (using some predictive reasoning for targeting ex-villains) will prompt them into the fray. Either way, Power Man and Iron Fist is absolutely worth your time. This month or any other.

Power Man and Iron Fist continues to be one of Marvel's most consistent books along with being a complicated and nuanced read. This issue managed to move things forward and set up some possible big stuff to go down next issue, which is always a good combination.

The Power Man and Iron Fist book continues to be a good one for Marvel, with both it's mostly POC cast and grounded narrative. The Harlem Burns storyline isn't as strong as the initial ones thus far, but this still a worthwhile read each month.

It is Hell up in Harlem as the war goes bigger than anyone anticipated. With some succinct storytelling and plenty of action, this is another good issue of the Heroes for Hire with the biggest showdown on the horizon.

While it has been good, I do think we've reached the end of this storyline (and sadly this book via the Luke Cage book announcement) as we've gotten the deep dive and then some on all characters involved.

Sadly, we're almost at the end of this terrific book. But the story has somehow grown wider than we originally thought and things are more grave than first imagined. Here's to seeing how Walker ties this story up before the end.

Its sad to see this book go, especially with its creative team, but they gave us a nice, localized ride for the time being.

Saga #35 moves some chess pieces forward, setting up some really big moments ahead but doesn't give away the store yet. The character interactions have always been the strength of this book and this issue is no exception.

The story jumps forward a bit and we say farewell to a beloved character, but Saga is as it's always been: great. There is some crucial character development and a good setup moving forward.

Saga continues to give us the family drama that we have learned to covet over the last few years. Hazel is growing into the promise that Vaughan and Staples made with those first words of the book. The book is still one of the best on the shelves each month and there is plenty of reward for rocking with this book this long.

Saga keeps being great, even though this issue spun in place a little bit not too much forward action. Still, numerous showdowns are on the horizon and surely, the plot will shift when that occurs.

Our heroes solve one problem, but haven't solved the big problem of their planet heading into a Timesuck (which is all kinds of disturbing). I have no idea how they have kept the momentum feeling like it is always moving forward through 40+ issues, but Saga continues to feel like a comic you can't let fall off your pull list.

Saga closes this traumatic arc in brutal fashion and gives us no indication of what is supposed to happen next. An incredible issue all the way around.

Possibly, a serious miscalculation on language sticks out in an otherwise surprising and enjoyable issue showing our heroes in new light. No matter the circumstances, its still really good to have Saga back.

Saga gives us another stellar installation while also introducing another crazy branching narrative with one of our beloveds that is surprising but also makes a lot of sense. The no holds barred approach to not just their crazy journey, but parenting in general makes this book, still, one of the most unique reads on the shelf.

Saga is building towards an interesting turn in the story that both expands the world but continues to define what it means to be a family in an increasing dire situation. Quality of this book continues to stay consistent, even while we learn more new things about our protagonists.

Not as potent as some previous issues, Saga continues to bring a quality, weird book each month. With not a ton happening, it did set the stage for some interesting movements to come.

Even as we are almost 50 issues and several years in, Saga is still, somehow fresh and one of the best comic books you can read each month. The marriage between familiar and new characters, the humor and sadistic inclinations of them and Staples consistently great art make this one of the few must read books for comic fans.

Saga offers us a different arc ending than we're used to, but we're probably better for it. Having something nice to look forward to in this book is a plus as opposed to the usual "what the hell happens now" feeling we're become accustomed to.

Secret Wars continues to be great, even when our heroes aren't battling with each other. The exposition is handled so well to not be drawn out and make sure that any background info is directly functional to how we see the action. Just a great book. Period.

We got our second exposition heavy issue in Secret Wars that carried some very cool and fascinating elements. Even with a lack of action, we learned a ton about the world that Doom has created and a little bit about how it might get destroyed. There seem to be several factions that might threaten Doom's stranglehold on Battleworld and any of them has a legit shot. Still, this is Hickman, so you know it won't be that straight a line.

Secret Wars finally creeps back into our consciousness considering how many books have started in what is supposed to be the wake of the series. More action and plots converging on each other make this a worthy installment, as we wait to see what will be come of Doom the God.

Only one more issue of Secret Wars left, which, hopefully, we'll get next month, but I wouldn't hold my breath on that. Still, even with the release schedule making it impossible to gather momentum, this book is still an incredible voyage and really underscores that Hickman has cultivated something so ambitious and rewarding, that it will be hard to not compare other long form stories to his.

Does it complete stick the landing? Mostly. With one extra over-sized issue, there was never going to be a complete wrap up of a story that Hickman has been telling for multiple years like this. There is enough explanation and cool Easter eggs and call-backs that makes this a satisfying finish. The most tragic realization, however, is that Hickman is done writing Avengers-themed books for the foreseeable future, and THAT saddens me deeply.

We're still circling the big event, but we are getting some great character studies in the process. Boone is instantly fascinating and consequential to the story moving forward, even being introduced this late.

Southern Bastards is still one of the best comic books out and now, that we've gotten the result to the game, there's a huge anticipation for all the other pieces we're aware of to show themselves. This is storytelling at it's apex and I hope a lot of people are enjoying the ride like I am.

We've been waiting a long time for this issue and now with the Homecoming Arc done, it seems that all the pieces are in place for the big game in Craw County. With the arrival of Roberta on the scene, I just can't imagine who is going to make it out alive when the shit hits the fan. But seriously, Jasons, y'all took Earl from us mad early, please let Roberta LIVE!

Southern Bastards is back and we could not be more happy about that. There seems to be no refuge for Coach Boss as things go from worst to even more worse and the vultures from all walks of life have began to circle.

Southern Bastards is a good, challenging and sometimes difficult read. But the book never loses its potency and things have been converging for a long time now.

Southern Bastards returns in a climate that makes its characters a lot less obscure feeling than they might have once felt before. The quality of the book has not changed though as this brutal and thrilling book continues to hit all the narrative notes, inching us closer to something big going down in Craw County.

A writer and artist shake up, but no drop in quality as we got a singular character focus on Roberta as she starts her revenge in earnest. Things are rough in Craw County, and now that Roberta has truly committed to the cause, it's going to get much worse.

Southern Bastards comes back swinging the big stick right out of the gate. It hasn't been a game for a long time, but the stakes could not be higher. We are converging on the big story and the boulder is rolling downhill. Nothing feels safe.

Southern Bastards, as it has been, continues to be one of the very best comic books you could be reading right now. Twenty issues in, Aaron and Latour pick the fruits of their labor by delivering one of their best issues to date.

This is a solid first book for Miles as he sits at the big kids table for the first time at Marvel. I'm happy that this book is simply named Spider-Man #1, with no qualifiers or disclaimers. This is Spider-Man. Not Ultimate Super All New Different You Won't Believe It Kind of Sorta Spider-Man. He's the real deal, he's here and he's not going anywhere, anytime soon.

The action is all but non-existent, but we got a great moment with Miles and Kamala, the introduction of our villain for this book and the a surprise new mutant joining Miles' class. All in all, pretty hard to go wrong in this one.

Even in the wake of the news that Sara Pichelli is leaving the book soon (as it goes to twice a month), let's just enjoy the pencils while we can. This issue, like the previous ones, looks great in almost each panel (some of the distant shots of Miles aren't as crisp as other similar situations). All in all, the book still looks great with a good flow from page to page, even when the narrative isn't at its strongest.

The issue is mostly enjoyable with a couple of bumps and good dialogue, but admittedly nothing really moves forward while Miles hand wrings his way throughout the issue. I imagine the next issue puts Miles squarely in the conflict somehow, so I anticipate the stakes will ramp up a bit.

Spider-Man #11 goes left a bit after it's last Civil War tie-in and an emotionally exhausting previous issue. We get to see Jefferson in action, which isn't bad, even if it's a little familiar for long time fans. It definitely sets up his involvement in Miles story to a great degree as the series progresses.

Sitting in a Tree continues to be interesting, but this part of the story was a little disjointed for how the story had been running previously.

There's no understating the importance of this moment in Spider-Man and will probably lead to a lot of more complex story developments down the line, but it lacked the punch that this kind of reveal should have, especially since it dominated the issue.

Spider-Man turns in a pretty good issue with some real minor gripes. It is nice to see that Miles maturation as a person and hero isn't a straight line as he struggles with anger and the extent of his powers. Hopefully, we see more of this quality consistently throughout this arc.

Spider-Man takes a risk and ships Miles across the globe, away from home in a storyline could last a couple of issues or substantially more depending on what Bendis has in store. Subtle and realistic nods towards Miles and Ganke's relationship are the most intriguing even it isn't the on the main stage of this book.

Issues are partially resolved, but mostly a very good set up for Sinister Six. Hopefully, they stick around for a bit and give Miles a true rogues gallery to go up against. While there isn't a ton of action, the story does move fluently through a lot of different terrains. This should lead us to a pretty entertaining arc.

My issues aside, issue #2 is still a good one, though it doesn't advance the plot too much. The action looks great, the jokes are all there and it still has potential moving forward.

This wasn't a bad issue, just not much happened to move the story that couldn't have been done in another way. Some cool possibilities were left on the table or at least punted for the conclusion. We'll see if things tie up nicely in last issue or if the slow movement of this issue will benefit the story's ending.

The story lost a lot of steam this week from the momentum it had built up in Yang's first two entries. The villain is a little uninspired thus far and the big reveal of how Superman's identity is released didn't have the punch it should have. Still, Superman is on the run now, and not exactly his super self, so that should make the following issues worth checking out to see where Yang takes the story.

This is a strong story entry into the "Lazarus Contract" storyline, if not lacking a bit on the more technical aspects of the issue. Still, it doesn't detract what has the potential to be a good crossover. DC definitely needs one.

Unfortunately, the lasting legacy of the Lazarus Contract may be how it effects everyone after the story as opposed to within it. It was fun seeing Deathstroke using the speedforce and certainly had some great moments along the way, but ultimately, the conclusion served as a means to the stories the books have planned moving forward. Which is a shame, because this could've been great.

A good start to a fresh take on the popular story. With this group of writers at the helm, there is a potential for this to be a very good crossover, but of course, it's still early.