Another very good issue, albeit a bit of a comedown from the last two storylines primarily due to a lack of urgency and the lack of a major impending threat. This issue pauses a bit to catch its breath while setting up some intriguing future storylines that have already started to come to fruition by the issue’s end.

Despite a new storyline that could have provided an opportunity for course correction on the part of the writer by making the book more accessible and coherent to fans, we end up with another confusing and incoherent mish-mash of pseudoscience and technobabble that will continue to drive most readers away. Read ABSOLUTE FLASH instead. This title needs to end and be rebooted ASAP! The cartoony art is lousy too. more

A great first issue with a very challenging new threat to the Man of Steel that also manages to radically reinvent the status quo on his adopted world. A little too heavy on the recaps for my taste, and the art looks a bit awkward in places, but overall a great first issue that left me wanting more. Does a good job of creating a new jumping-on point for new readers, especially with a new movie on the way. more

This book continues to defy expectations and find new ways to explore the characters’ personalities while revealing new surprises. The plot moves forward at a brisk pace and introduces a terrifying threat to not only our heroes but all of humanity. Hands down the best book on shelves each month. Kudos to this team for bringing their A-game every time!

I don't feel anything for this comic and this run.

Misses the mark once again, just as with the previous storyline. The villain had potential, but the motivations and lack of character development worked against it. I love Francovilla’s art style on some other recent titles, but coming in the wake of Bruno Redondo, it’s not a good fit here.

This saga continues to unfold in fun and unpredictable ways. To me, the key word here is FUN, seeing both versions of our heroes encounter key characters and events from their past and future, while maintaining the seriousness of the threat that the LOD poses. It’s clear that Waid is having a blast writing this as it shines through on every page. Definitely the best this book has been in over a year! more

Another great chapter that moves the story forward in interesting directions while keeping the focus on the Bruce/Dick mentorship and character growth. Eager to see how Harvey figures into all of this. This is one book that seems to fly under a lot of people’s radar.

Great issue once again! Layman and Woods have really found their footing over the last several issues. The Vanadia storyline, the JLU confrontation and the Deathstroke subplot are all very compelling and I’m eager to see where they’re all headed.

Another stellar issue that continues to explore Wally’s journey and ties up a couple of the various loose ends. The Absolute version of Grodd is also exciting and compelling, and I’m excited to follow this dynamic duo’s escapades in upcoming issues. One of my favorite Absolute titles each and every month!

This just continues to blow my mind. This is the best Lemire DC work since his Green Arrow run, which to me is utterly classic.

This merges Lemire's penchant for psychological horror beautifully with his flair for family drama. This could end up as his defining DC run.

I really love this book, but this issue fell short for me, especially given how much I liked the setup in the first chapter. Batman goes up against a plethora of ….frozen ice zombies…and runs away from both Freeze and a satisfying resolution to the conflict. Additionally, Martin’s art in this chapter didn’t sell the larger than life craziness compared to how Dragotta’s typical art style would have. He was sorely missed here. I did enjoy the parallel story with Bruce and Waylon, as it gave depth to both characters. I have complete faith that I will enjoy the next story better. This one just didn’t click for me compared to the prior issues. more

It's honestly crazy on how good this series has gotten, and how Absolute DC Universe has been firing on all cylinders. Absolute Flash, Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter are solid, and of course we got the DC Trinity. While I personally think Absolute Wonder Woman is the best, and Absolute Superman is my favorite, I can confidently say that Absolute Batman is the most entertaining and consistent.

It's impressive on how Scott Snyder still has a lot of creative juice and ideas for Batman. Perhaps it is because Absolute DC Universe is not shackled or inhibited by the continuity where the author has to take into account every event, but Scott Snyder can do whatever he wants in this book while also having top notch writing. I love the fight on how it's basically like a manga battle, yet I can see the fight choreography. I like the art and coloring, I like the different takes on Batman's villains. I like how Bruce Waynes learns that he needs to live instead of just going in guns blazing while not caring about his life. Scott Snyder's exposition isn't overbearing and bloated like the later half of his DC Career, it's more digestible and easier to understand.

Overall, I'm very impressed, and this is the best ongoing Batman series I read in a long time. And I was a James Tynion IV and Zdarsky defender. It's honestly strange on how Absolute Batman is better than most of Scott Snyder's other Batman books, perhaps this is because it's an ongoing series and he can end whatever he wants without having a certain issue limit. more

Utterly bone chilling. An utterly wild ride with exciting reveals and crucial/consequential character moments. The most important Matches Mallone ever, I love this.

Batman vs Fries is tantamount to an exhilarating old school manga battle. The character Waylon is set to become is utterly (and absolutely) insane. The wait until the next issue is going to be hell. Comfortably my favourite Absolute comic is Absolute Batman. I relish being this into comics again. Thank you Scott Snyder. This has been the shot in the arm Batman has needed since Synders last run.

King was not great, James Tynion was terrible, Joshua Williams wasn't good and the return of Jeph Loeb hasn't been brilliant. But...maybe the writers weren't the issue? Maybe our rigid expectations of mainline Batman are impossible to appease. Maybe a reboot was the answer all along. It's not something I'd really pondered until now. I love the non Batman works of all those writers. So much blame was flung at all these writers, perhaps the parameters were more challenging than we knew. Snyder had a clean slate and now Batman is the most vital he's been in comics in years. more

I’ve collected every Star Wars #1 out there over decades, and this issue by far is the weakest launch to a SW series I’ve ever read. While Noto’s artwork is good (and better than the recent Battle of Jakku miniseries), the writing is weak.Luke and his squadron have gone up against 2 Death Stars, a fleet of Star Destroyers and dozens of TIE Fighters, yet he has his squadron retreat in this issue from a group of pirate ships?!! Leia gets butt-hurt because a planet doesn’t want to join their Republic? Are these the best storylines that the writer could muster when the sky was the limit on new ideas post-ROTJ?! Very disappointing! more

A chilling issue with genuinely scary moments that make you worry for Superman when he and Braniac inevitably collide. I did miss not having Kal appear this issue, but otherwise it’s another instant classic!

Best issue so far! In particular, the character moments shine, especially the conflict that the legacy members have with the JLU.

Very good issue, though with precious few answers as to what is happening. Only more questions. Premise seems to be intriguing, but until we start to understand what is happening, excellence will likely elude it.

I’m in the minority, it seems, but once again this team delivers an issue with too much overblown dialogue and very little in the way of great storytelling. Instead, we get page after page of Ollie beating up on Freshwater Killer zealots and their leader. It’s taken 6 issues so far to tell a story that could’ve easily been compressed into 4.

A royal mess. Too many characters within the factions to keep track of. Poor, cartoonish artwork instead of cinematic realism. Poorly defined villains. Constantly changing loyalties. The series has become too hard to keep track of, and the artwork failed to complement the writing. Overall, a big disappointment for what should have been a critical chapter in the Star Wars saga.

I want to preface my remarks by stating I absolutely loved Adams’ introductory United Planets storyline, which was epic! By comparison, I feel like this Fractured Spectrum storyline is running out of gas prematurely. The plan to defeat the villains is a little fuzzy and underdeveloped, while the subplots involving Hammond and Hell and Dan Garrett are a bit distracting from the main storyline. The villains, Sorrow and Starbreaker, are underdeveloped and barely involved in the main storyline, resulting in a chapter that seems very…unfocused. I do have faith in Adams to pull it all back together in the next few issues. more

I love having Waid write Grodd again 30 years later in the JLU’s version of “Yesterday’s Enterprise “. The stakes are high, even if this chapter doesn’t quite hit the high notes of Part 1. I loved the presumed nod to Absolute Martian Manhunter with Grodd wearing what appears to be a colorful Martian Vision helmet.

A tremendous payoff to two years worth of fantastic storytelling by Josh Williamson that doesn’t disappoint even in the slightest. Everything that happens in this action-packed story is 100% earned. I’m a bit confused by Superman’s reaction at the end to something Lex does, but I suspect there’s a reason for it that will make itself known in the coming months. Williamson is the best Superman writer in a decade or two! more

Once again this title delivers an epic story that not only delves deep into the underpinnings of Diana’s values and intellect, but one that also delivers clever action sequences and moral conundrums. This team continues to deliver excellent work each and every month.