C.O.W.L. #11is an absolutely brilliant comic book that caps off a series where the creative team clicked right from the beginning. I maybe waiting a long time before another series pulls me in the same way this one did, but it was worth every issue. If you haven't read C.O.W.L.thenI strongly encourage you to read the series; I can't recommend it enough. Read Full Review

Though it is a little too scattered to match the best installments of the series, C.O.W.L. #11 proves a remarkably even finale to one of my favorite series. The mindblowing art and beautiful character-work remain right to the end as this spotlight on an alternate, but all too real, Chicago powers down, leaving an intelligent film noir ambiguity in the resulting darkness. Though its sad to see it go, C.O.W.L. sticks its landing, closing out an eleven issue run that I'll not soon forget. I strongly recommend grabbing both trades once the second one comes out and keep your eyes open for Hadrian's Wall, a neo-Cold War space sci-fi from the same creative team, in the coming months. Read Full Review

Still, taking the series as a whole, this story worked. Warner's desire to save C.O.W.L., partly out of altruism and at least partly out of ego ended up dramatically weakening the organization, while compromising the people who wanted to go out and actually be superheroes. Can we institutionalize do-gooding? Can you still be a hero if you make ugly decisions to keep being a hero? Warner may have won, but the last panel doesn't suggest a lot of hope or happiness on his part. C.O.W.L. was a fun ride, and I'm hoping we get to revisit it at some point. Read Full Review

A great way to conclude the series, with (almost) all the subplots being wrapped up. Read Full Review

The final two scenes feel inevitable, and yet the twist is still a surprise. Superficially, it's the violence that is shocking but, really, it's how the violence is visually telegraphed as an execution. The resulting moral and emotional significance makes for a powerful ending that does justice to the creative team's vision. Read Full Review

C.O.W.L. #11 isnt the series strongest issue, but its a good one regardless and a strong send off for the series. It does a good job staying true the series tone and theme especially in the way it resolves its central storylines. It wouldve been easy to fall back on a more pat and tidy ending that gave the audience good guys and bad guys and a moral victory but thats not the comic C.O.W.L. is. There arent even any winners or losers in this ending, just those who change, who go forward, and those who remain stuck in the past. Read Full Review