The Last Ronin was on my comic book pull list well before the first issue was released. That installment stuck with me on an emotional level long after putting it down. For that reason, I anticipated this issue but I also dreaded what was to come.

The story picks up some time after the last issue. Mikey (The Last Ronin) is recovering and in the care of an aged April O. Neil. We also learn that the young woman that assisted Mikey from the first issue is the daughter of April and Casey Jones.

The book cuts back and forth between past events and Mikey's life post-tragedy and we get a pretty awesome segment detailing this time drawn by Kevin Eastman, Co-creator of the Ninja Turtles. The big selling point of the issue and the series overall has been the mystery regarding which turtles die, when, and how.

I won't spoil any specifics about who dies in this review but I will say that what goes down is pretty brutal and still sad to see on the page. I also had an emotional reaction to this issue and it lingered with me as I tried to sleep last night. I'm not sure I've ever seen one of the turtles killed in any form of media and this one hit home. The book doesn't skimp on the violence and the book doesn't shy away from it at all. This is a bold comic and I appreciate the team for telling this story. I'm also 2 for 2 in calling the identity of the Ronin and who would be the first to fall.

As with the first issue, the oversized format of the issue works great and goes a long way in making the series feel special. The art isn't quite as polished in this issue. It's still good but when it comes to the main action sequence the fight is epic but the way they are staged it's hard to tell what's happening until you really get into the details. You basically get ****** crashing into a scene with intense dialogue before crashing into the next panel. I think the choreography could have been staged better, especially considering the stakes at hand.

Aside from the gripes about certain sequences. I didn't have any other complaints. The Last Ronin is a gem in the current comic book landscape and actually keeps a lot of the series indie roots. The book is a lot more violent than what we typically get out of IDW. The story is definitely more heartfelt than we typically get from a mainstream series. I have to say that this issue is a half step back from the first issue but that half step is better than most series on the shelves today.

9.5/10 more

So far I've reviewed several Future State comics. Most of which has been covering the events in Gotham city. The stories have had varying degrees of success. The main problem across the Future State line of titles is the feeling that we've been dropped into the middle of an existing storyline with no preamble or recap.

Batman/Superman #1 acts as a prequel and is tasked with filling in the gaps left by Dark Detective #1, The Next Batman #1, and Harley Quinn #1. In this issue, Gotham has not fallen completely into a fascist state but the writing is on the wall.

We get to see Bruce before his fall and Clark before his exile within the Future State landscape. Bruce mentions the magistrates but they appear to be an emerging threat as opposed to the all-encompassing force we've seen in the other series that have dropped so far.

The story begins with Superman investigating a new drug that allows the user to take the appearance of an animal. Unfortunately, the drug has the side effect of permanently altering the user's physical appearance. The investigation leads Superman to Gotham and Batman who knows about the drug but already has his hands full dealing with the Magistrate.

There are several solid elements in this issue. I absolutely loved Gene's depiction of Superman. Clark feels like an updated version of Christopher Reeve's portrayal. The depiction caught me off guard because I've been reading so many depressed and damaged heroes lately I forgot what a traditional take on heroism looked like.

Superman is contrasted nicely against Batman who is clearly distressed throughout the issue. He eventually puts his own mission on hold to assist Clark. The two are good together and it's a great setup issue considering what has happened across Future State. I feel like a couple of series like Batman/Superman should have been set up Future State a bit better but better late than never.

The art direction from Ben Oliver and Arif Prianto also looks great throughout the issue. Superman is the highlight for me as well but the issue is also layered with some nice action, splash pages, bright colors, and seeing humanoid penguins are always cool.

There is a massive cliffhanger at the end of the issue and it looks pretty bleak for our heroes. This isn't a shock considering how the issue opens. I appreciate what Gene has done here. Future State Batman/Superman #1 provides some much-needed context for the event and by extension makes all of the Bat-Family tie-ins much stronger.
Rating: 9./10 more

Fallen Angels was one of the first real duds in the Dawn of X line of titles. In hindsight, it should have been a red flag to the fanbase. The series is a footnote at this point and has probably been memory-holed unless you spend your restless nights reviewing old comics as I do.

Before getting into any actual review of the comic it's worth mentioning that the cover has nothing to do with the actual content of the book. I know there are a lot of comics that have bad covers but this one is particularly off because it doesn't give you an idea of what the series is about. It's just one woman looking at another, compelling stuff I know.

There isn't much going on in this issue aside from the fight between our trio of heroes (Psylocke, X-23, and Cable) and Apoth. The comic is immediately let down by the art direction. The pages are too dark and it's nearly impossible to make out what's happening on any given page. I'm not sure why Szymon chose to use this style for this material but the editors should have stepped in and made an adjustment.

The story is also a letdown and it's pretty clear that Brian is phoning it in at this point. I know he has a lot going on but this material is way below his writing caliber. The dialogue is pretentious and the characters will way off. The most egregious point aspect of the series has been Psylocke and the training that she puts Cable and Laura (X-23) through. The characters are young but the idea that Psylocke is giving them basic combat training is laughable unless you're a total noob and never read a story featuring these characters.

Young Cable is once again humiliated and never seems to land as a character regardless of the series he's in. I wasn't reading X-Men when he showed up initially but every comic I read featuring the character makes me miss the old version.

The series hints at a potentially interesting conclusion but Fallen Angels has been a slog. At best this is a series that should have been edited down to a one-shot. I have the rest of the series so I'll eventually review it but the title is one of the least exciting series I've read since launching this blog.

Rating: 5/10 more

I've never read an Aquaman story that really resonated with me. The film made me a fan of the character but none of the material I've consumed since the movie dropped made me want to actually invest in the character. The Irony is that Future State: Aquaman is the best Aquaman comic I've ever read and Arthur Curry doesn't even appear in the book.

The comic follows Aqualad who has graduated to the role of Aquaman. I've never read an Aqualad story either so this issue was my first experience with this character aside from seeing screenshots from the Teen Titans animated series. In this issue, he acts as knight and protector for Aqualass the daughter of Arthur Curry and Mera.

The comic moves back and forth within the Future State timeline and starts post encounter with Black Manta who also happens to be Jackson's Father. The comic immediately establish their relationship with one another but doesn't give much insight into what has happened to her parents. What the comic does do is establish Jackson as an A-List character and firmly establishes him in the title role.

The two characters are split up early on with AquaWoman being MIA most of the issue. In the Future State Landscape Jackson has been imprisoned and although he attempts to escape his captors he fails constantly. This continues until he receives a hint that Aquawoman is alive and renews his vigor in order to reunite with her.

This is a beautifully written story. The pacing is also solid as the creative team strings along several strong moments in the issue. Brandon Thomas is the writer/co-creator of "Excellence" over at Image Comics. Excellence is one of the best books out there so although I had little knowledge of what to expect from this issue there was little chance that the story was going to suck.

I love Brandon's take on the new Aquaman. Jackson is a strong, earnest and extremely loyal character with flaws but feels fully realized in a way that Black characters in 2021 are lacking. He's suffered immensely over the course of the issue but once he receives a glimmer of hope that Aquawoman is alive he reverts back to his role as Knight and protector. These a powerful moments in the issue and a ton of depth to the character as the story goes on.

The book is also beautiful to look at. There is a lot of variety in locals and the character models look great. I loved the updated look for Jackson. He fits the role of Aquaman nicely but maintains enough distinction to differentiate him from Arthur. I don't know a lot about the character but Future State gives enough insight into the current situation that I never felt the need to dig into the backstory of either lead.

Daniel Sampere also does a great job of visually showing the transition of Jackson's progression from Aqualad to Aquaman. In the flashbacks, we're clearly not far removed from the current DC timeline and the little bit I do know of him. As the comic flashes forward we see Aquaman has aged and filled out which makes the story feel like a coming-of-age story filled with traditional superhero elements.

The only weak link to the comic is the cover. If I hadn't subscribed to the Future State event I probably would have passed on the book altogether. It really doesn't sell the story or concept of the issue. The variant cover isn't much better. This is unfortunate because the book is one of the best that Future State has to offer. The content of the book is proof that you simply can't judge a comic by its cover. Aquaman hit's hard and promises to deliver even more action and solid characterization in the next installment. This is a perfect intro for these characters and I hope the story has a life beyond Future State. more

Prior to diving into a mostly negative review, I'd like to mention at the outset that this issue isn't terrible. The story is competent, the art is decent and in line with most books using DC's house style. If this was my first experience with The Flash I can't say I'd dislike the issue. Every comic is someone's first and I try to keep that in mind when I'm reading a comic or posting a review. I can see a portion of the audience really enjoying this comic for what it is and maybe even seeing it as a great start to a two-part story. I also would like to mention that this was also my stance on the Wally West depiction in Tom King's Heroes In Crisis. I saw that series as a legit character assassination but If you didn't have much experience with the character It probably wasn't a big deal. Heroes in Crisis was still a crappy series but you probably didn't lose sleep over Wally's fall from grace.


Wally is probably the only Flash that many comic readers know. He's been a staple in comics for decades and Is the version of the character I have the most experience with. When I started reading comics Barry Allen had been long dead. I didn't really read DC comics in the '90s but I did have a few issues of Mark Waid's run on the character and Wally West always stood out as one of DC's finest. He's my favorite DC character next to Batman and Wonder Woman and I know a lot of other people feel the same way about him. Wally's been featured in hundreds of comics so It's bewildering to me that in the past few years DC has gone out of the way to destroy this character and his legacy with fans.


In "Heroes in Crisis" the big twist was that Wally West was the Sanctuary killer and that his endgame was an attempted suicide (Yikes). The twist didn't really make sense to fans of the character and turned many readers against Tom King. Tom was already on a downward slide as a result of questionable decisions made during his run on Batman. I'm told that Scott Lobdell did a lot to rehab the character in his "Flash Forward" Mini-Series. Unfortunately with Future State, the assassination of Wally West's legacy continues.


The comic opens with tragedy as it is revealed that Wally has stolen part of the Speed Force from members of the Flash Family and was also responsible for the death of Kid Flash. To accommodate for the loss and even the odds against Wally. Barry Allen assembles a team of speedsters to obtain the weapons of the Flash Rogues gallery. The team launches a raid on "The Calculator" in order to obtain his Thinking Cap. The heroes obtain the cap but one of the speedsters is killed in the process.


After the loss, we're told that the plan is to modify the Thinking cap to allow the team to locate Wally within the Speedforce. The team does manage to find Wally but the plan goes horribly wrong and yet another speedster is killed in the process.


If you're totally disconnected from Wally's history, this is simply a pretty dark and morbid Flash comic. If you're a fan of Wally West this is another giant Fuck you to his fanbase. It's always a bitter pill to see a beloved hero turned into a twisted psychopath and this seems to happen to Wally on a semi-regular basis.


Rating this issue below a "7" wouldn't be fair to the creative team. The story is pretty dark and disturbing in spots and as a fan of horror, I can appreciate what Brandon Vietti is going for. I just wish that Wally West wasn't constantly being used for these sorts of stories. I'll try to dial back the criticism when I get to Future State: The Flash #2 but I had to get the feelings off of my chest. What DC has done with him has been a total disservice and I hope they figure it out before they damage the legacy of this character even further.

Rating: 7.5/10 more

It's been a while since I reviewed a Hawkman comic. It's unfortunate because Hawkman is one of the best traditional mainstream Superhero comics I've reviewed in recent years. Lack of reviews has less to do with the quality of a title but based on what I have at the top of my pile at any given time.

I forget how we got into this situation but Hawkman and The Atom have shrunk down into the Microverse in an attempt to obtain a weapon/artifact to help Carter Hall (Hawkman) on his quest to restore his lost memories as well as stop the Deathbringer's on their path of destruction.

The strength of the issue is the bond between Hawkman and The Atom. Their relationship feels genuine. They give each other crap but also have mutual respect and understanding for one another.

The other major positive for the issue is that action on the page. All of the action sequences are wonderfully choreographed by Bryan Hitch and it's fun to read and look at. The urgency never leaves the comic and the creative direction does a great job of conveying a rapidly escalating situation on the ground and in the air.


The only problem I have with the issue and the series overall is the pacing. Hawkman doesn't have a decompression problem. The books just read too fast. The pace makes the argument of reading a series in chunks or collected editions. I normally don't do trades but I can see this series sold bi-monthly for a slightly higher cover price. Hawkman #6 is another solid issue in what has become a thoroughly underrated series.

Rating: 9/10 more

There have been several attempts in recent years to bring Batman and by extension Bruce Wayne down to earth by removing his wealth and resources. This makes sense considering that Batman's status has been raised to the point where he is sometimes seen as being on the level of Superman and Wonder Woman even though he's basically just a rich guy with an amazing skill set.

Future State: Dark Detective #1 is the first comic I've read that seems to get what a "Grounded" Batman looks like. What's more surprising is that the story is set a few years in the future so the contrast between what we know of the character and the setting is a bit jarring but in a good way.

The story also gives the best rundown of what's happening in Future State: Gotham, at least from the books I've read so far. At some point in the near future, Bruce Wayne at the end of his rope and finances is shot and presumably killed by the Magistrates that have outlawed masked vigilantes and those associated with them.

Unbeknownst to the Magistrates Bruce survives the shooting and goes underground watching the news of his death and the occupation of Gotham play on the 24-hour news cycle. Bruce struggles with the new status quo and this comes to a head as he steps out of hiding to save some citizens being assaulted in the streets. Batman is dead and the Dark Detective is born.

Future State: Dark Detective #1 is a perfect Batman story. It also reminded me a lot of the recently released "The Last Ronin". We get a weathered version of the hero we know and love in a future setting and forced to come out of hiding to set things right.

The comic is also beautiful to look at. Dan Mora and Jordie Bellaire really do a great job capturing Bruce's emotional state as well as making Gotham feel alive. Gotham gets updated with a futuristic touch but maintains the cities status as one of the principal characters of the story. The Dark Detective costume is also slick. It's rare to see a take on Batman that works without the cape but I really dug the costume in the brief moments we get to see it.

The mystery of how Batman got to this point seems to be an extension of what is happening in the main series post "Joker War". It also seems to be a natural path for the character without having everything spelled out to the reader. Dark Detective also retroactively makes "The Next Batman", and "Harley Quinn" better comics because it takes the time to lay out the status quo of Gotham and motivations from the perspective of the Magistrates.

The backup story featuring Grifter was also a nice addition to the comic. I haven't read a comic featuring the character in decades and forgot that Wildstorm was apart of the DC Universe now. The story is a lot of fun and also features Luke Fox (Batwing) as he recruits Cole Cash/Grifter to help him get out of Gotham. The two characters have great chemistry and Matthew Rosenberg injects some decent humor into the script which makes the segment a joy to read. Grifters also has an excellent pace and nice action setpieces which allows the comic to feel like a double feature instead of a comic with a meaningless backup story to pad the page count.

The main story and backup of Dark Detective justify the $5.99 cover price and I feel comfortable recommending it to anyone interested in what Future State is about. I believe that DC should have led with Dark Detective instead of "The Next Batman" because it does the job of worldbuilding that has been somewhat lacking elsewhere across the Future State landscape.

Rating: 10/10 more

Mark Russell can be a God-Tier writer but he tends to meander when he's not writing a tight or focused story. Wonder Twins has some interesting underlying themes but the humor doesn't always work and the jokes in this installment couldn't move a crowd with a gun. Take that statement with a grain of salt. I'm a little older, crankier, and out of touch with most of the people, I interact with.
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I'm not even sure if Wonder Twins has an overall point. There is a villain plot involving "The League of Annoyance" that offers a throughline for the series but the focus appears to be a series of vignettes detailing the twins and their adapting to life on earth. This isn't the worst comic I've reviewed but the hit rate on the jokes is pretty low and if this was Showtime at the Apollo Mark would have been swept off the stage.


This issue has the Wonder Twins branching out of school and superheroic's and going out on the town. Jayna goes out with a guy that happens to be a member of the aforementioned "League of Annoyance". Zan also finds companionship with a girl clearly using him as a rebound. I don't want to spoil the comic but shenanigans ensue on both sides.


There's also a subplot in this issue involving their friend Polly whose father is being blackmailed by Lex Luthor into becoming a supervillain. Polly doesn't really stand out as a character and falls into the consistent trap of mainstream Black Characters being flat, uninteresting, unnaturally virtuous, and great at science. It's something that we see across media so I won't hold it against this series but I wish we had more variety in our media particularly when it comes to Black Women.


I did smirk a few times while reading but ultimately the issue was a dud aside from its messaging which does make a valid point when it comes to dating. Stephen Byrne also seems to be phoning it in this issue. Nothing stands out in the story and I found it odd that a comic featuring superheroes and villains has no action to speak of aside from angst, drama, and bad jokes.


I'm starting to feel like Wonder Twins was a 6-issue mini-series stretched out to 12. There have been a few moments that shine but I'm wishing that there was more consistency to the story being told. The series still has the potential to turn the corner but I'd be lying If I didn't mention it being soft in the middle.

Rating: 6/10 more

Swamp Thing is one of the few established mainstream characters that I've never seen involved in a bad comic. That doesn't mean that they don't exist I just haven't read them. I'm happy to report that this issue doesn't let me down and is actually my favorite Future State title so far.

I'm not 100% of the exact timeframe Future State falls into but If appears that Swamp Thing is even further along in the timeline. and exists in a post-apocalypse scenario. The setting reminds me a lot of The Walking Dead. Swamp Thing is still alive and has created a group of Swamp creatures that exists with their own distinct personalities. They travel the world and act as his family and tribe.

He leads this group in the hope of finding any signs of human survival. Something has caused them to disappear while leaving behind the traces of their society. Some of the tribe agree with Swamp Thing as he is their elder. Others see him as delusional and feel that he loves humanity more than he loves his creations. The search continues until the group happens upon a frightened Human that manages to kill one of the group members.

I liked this issue a lot and think the next issue will be even better. I watched a "Comics Matter" video which basically spent 10 minutes calling the pitch "woke" or "SJW" I didn't pick up on that at all while reading and if you did please point it out to me.

The cast is very diverse in appearances and personalities. Even with the knowledge that the group is basically an extension of Swamp Thing himself you get a lot of different perspectives on the journey they embark on. We've seen similar scenario's before in Tom King's Vision run and even more recently in Dan Didio and Shane Davis's "Metal Men" mini-series.

The comic also includes painstakingly intricate art detailing the anatomy of Swamp Things creations. The infographics provided by Ram V/Perkins reminded me of what we get in Jonathan Hickman's "Dawn of X" run at Marvel. The focus here is a lot better than what we're getting in other books that attempt to use the storytelling format. I felt Iike I was reading the notes of Victor Frankenstein as he detailed the creation of his monster.


The cliffhanger of Future State: Swamp Thing #1 promises more action but earns the switch in tone as the setup and payoff in this issue is actually great. The art also shines as Mike Perkins makes all of the Swamp Things distinct in appearance. He also manages to explore several abilities that I didn't even know the character had.

All of this comic goodness is housed in a pretty bleak setting which begs the question of what the hell is going on. I can't wait for the second issue. Swamp Thing is definitely at the top of the Future State pile.

Rating: 9.5/10 more

One of the last videos I recorded on my Youtube channel was a review ripping apart Daphne Byrne #1. Three Issues later we're looking at a story that has moved from the realm of vaguely interesting to the point of actually being captivating. I'm still not a big fan of the art but every other aspect of the series has had notable improvement.

Daphne and the entity that accompanies her visit Mr. Brooke, a skeptic. Daphne's plan is to use Brooke to assist in pulling her mother from under the influence of the con-men that have taken obvious advantage of her.

The problem here is that Daphne is also obviously being manipulated by demonic forces. The boy that follows Daphne has all but dropped the veneer of being an ally and at this point, I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

The series will definitely read better once collected but I think that the last two issues have been solid stand-alone installments. Decompression hurts books like these, especially with new IP and characters. I'm not sure what the sales trajectory was for this series but I'm sure that based on the pacing of the initial offerings that a lot of people probably checked out from the series as it went on.

Daphne Byrne hasn't been all bad and I'm expecting a decent conclusion. I just wish that DC had better editorial direction this is good series that could have been great with a few tweaks here and there.

Rating: 9/10 more

Back in the 90's Marvel and DC comics mashed up their characters and told stories in a combined "Amalgam" Universe. The comics were all One-Shots and the most standout aspect of the mashup besides the characters themselves was the illusion that the Amalgam universe was longrunning and had a long-established history.

This is my third "Future State" review and I'm starting to see a lot of similarities between this event and the Amalgam Universe. The main difference I'm seeing between the two universes is that the stories aren't one-shot and that there appears to be a push to integrate some of these characters and concepts into the mainline DC Universe. Superman of Metropolis feels the most like an Amalgam comic in how the stories are presented.

Superman of Metropolis is another 3 in 1 comic book. All three stories touch on the situation in Metropolis and the presentation is similar to what was done in "The Next Batman". The main story features Jonathan Kent in his role as Superman. The backup stories feature new incarnations of Mister Miracle and The Guardian respectively.

It's next to impossible to discuss the backup stories without spoiling the main plot point of the issue. How much you enjoy this series will be tied to how much you're willing to accept Jon's decision making in the issue. In my opinion, it's pretty dumb and hurts the overall narrative.

We learn immediately that Lex Luthor has been exiled and Lexcorp has been supplanted by Andrej Trojan and Trojan Solutions. Trojan Solutions has been combining human DNA with Nanotechnology and supporters of the initiative have declared Metropolis "The Free Republic of Metropolis". This is clearly a succession scenario and forces the hand of the United States Government as they begin clashing with the citizens of Metropolis.

The Nanotech is called "Braincells" and is created from remnants of Brainiac after he was shut down. Long story short, the people of Metropolis have been integrated with Brainiac technology. I got serious Mass Effect 3 vibes when reading this issue and was wondering if this scenario was what Bioware was going for in that game when It was released.

The Miltary moves in to destroy "Brain Cells" which would put the people integrated with the technology at risk. In order to protect the people, Jon uses Brainiac's technology to shrink down the City and bottle it in the "Fortress of Solitude". This puts Jon in direct conflict with the Military and Supergirl. It also becomes clear that Jonathan may be playing into the hands of outside forces that he's not aware of.

The setup for Superman of Metropolis is actually pretty cool. It's standard futuristic sci-fi stuff. The problem is that Jon unilaterally deciding to shrink Metropolis and its population against their will essentially makes them prisoners. It's a fascistic move and would frame Jonathan as a villain depending on who's telling the story. I'm not sure how anyone can see his decision as the right one objectively.

The art direction for the issue is fantastic. I especially loved the updated designs for Jon and Supergirl in the comic and hope they carry forward beyond Future State. The action is also pretty dynamic and although I have an issue with the script everything else about the story looks great. I look forward to seeing more from John Timms as he's a talent I haven't seen before.

In addition to my gripes with the script, the backup stories aren't much to write home about. Not much information is given about the New Guardian and Mister Miracle aside from the fact that they are also trapped in the bottled city of Metropolis and doing their best to maintain order. The art for these segments ranges from bland to meh. It seems that these backup stories were done to justify the $5.99 cover price. I appreciate more bang for the buck but I would have been satisfied with the main story for $3.99. The other obvious thing is that the characters of Guardian and Miracle have been race-swapped. The characters are pretty bland in this issue. Hopefully, this changes as the stories are fleshed out.

This issue only works if you understand and agree with Jon's decision. I'm assuming that the situation will be fleshed out more as Future state rolls on but as it stands Superman of Metropolis #1 is a pretty comic but it has problems under the hood that should have been caught at the concept stage.

Rating: 7/10 more

Since I started reading DC comics regularly I haven't been blown away by any mainline Harley Quinn comics. The "Black Label" Harley Quinn stuff has been great (Harleen, Criminal Insanity) but the regular DC Harley is basically the DC's version of Deadpool.

Future State: Harley Quinn exists in the Future Gotham status quo and somewhat dials back the goofier elements of the character. The story isn't bad but it's nothing to write home about either. The book follows Harley after she has been incarcerated by the Magistrates and their agent Jonathan Crane (Scarecrow). Crane offers a lesser sentence if she agrees to take down some of Gotham's most wanted.

Harley reluctantly agrees to work with the Magistrates and performs admirably in her tasks. We see her use her skills as a psychologist in matching wits with Professor Pyg, She eventually gains favor with Crane and is sent out to take down Black Mask which weirdly makes a connection to DC's Birds of Prey Film.

The issue is okay but the art direction prevents it from getting high marks. Simone Di Meo is providing linework and If you've followed my blog you may know that he is my favorite artists working today. The problem is that Tamra Bonvillain uses a bright but muddy color palette that detracts from the overall art direction.

At one point Harley lays out a plan to take down Firefly. The encounter between the magistrates and the villains is conveyed in the background but the colors get so murky that it's hard to make out what is actually happening. This isn't usually an issue from Simone based on my experience with his work, I'm guessing it's just the wrong artist/colorist combo.

This isn't a horrible comic. The story is decent enough and the art while not Simone's best isn't the worst. The story does provide more context for what's going on in Gotham in the Future State landscape. There also wasn't much provided when I read The Next Batman #1. This is a growing criticism with the overall Future State project You may get more out of the issue if you're a Harley Quinn fan but I'm not sure that this comic needs to exist aside from editorial mandates.

Rating: 6.5/10

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I often say that I'm not the biggest fan of Fantasy. It's not that I dislike the genre It's just that most of the material is so front-loaded with lore that it becomes a barrier. There are exceptions. I love Dragon Age, Lord of the Rings is one of my favorite books and films. I've also enjoyed Robert Geronimo's Blood Realm series from Alterna Comics. I feel I can add The After Realm Quarterly to that list.

The story of The After Realm isn't lore heavy and I never felt overwhelmed by the setting. What Michael and Taki have done is taken the Norse Myth of Ragnorox and used it as a springboard into something really cool and unique within the Fantasy genre.


The comic opens with our heroine Oona and her best friend Pikki at the outset of the end of the world. Loki invades Elfheim and during the assault, Pikki is lost. The comic flashes forward beyond the war. Loki is defeated and captured and _ is still mourning the loss of her friend.

Oona is a cool character written in classic fashion and placed on a heroine's journey. She longs to find her friend and that motivation drives her throughout the issue. She's also a bit of a mess. She's self-centered a liar and arrogant. This gets her into a lot of trouble over the course of the issue as she begins her journey. I understand Oona's motives but it's clear that she has a lot of growing up to do.

I loved the energy and variety in this world and this also reflected in the art. The preview art has hinted at even more shenanigans in future installments and ts cool to see creators having fun with their worldbuilding. There are also some cool illusions to tabletop role-playing and videogames. I know Michael's work from Powers and Dick Tracy: Forever seeing him tackle a totally different genre was interesting I can't wait to see the other realms introduced as the series goes on.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention value. I purchased The After Realm #1 for 5.99 last year and it's currently on sale on ComiXology for 3.99. The book is of standard paper quality and features 50+ pages of art and story. Not many books on the shelves can match this presentation dollar for dollar.

The issue also feels complete and not a vehicle for a decompressed story that inches toward the point. The book lays out the settings, stakes, has some adventuring promises even more fun concepts to be introduced going forward. Michael and Taki deliver a homer with their opening swing at-bat.

Rating: 9/10 more

DC Future State is upon us. I'm not sure what to expect from this series or the overall event but I know one of the biggest talking points was that we'd see a "Black" Batman. After reading the issue I wasn't all that impressed. John Ridley doesn't really give us enough to go on and I'm not quite sure why the series exists after the first installment.

The Next Batman #1 is actually three stories in one comic. The overall plot seems to be that in Gotham "Masks" are outlawed. Bruce Wayne is MIA or causing trouble elsewhere and a few other vigilantes are operating as a resistance.

The issue doesn't give much away regarding how Luke Fox gets the cowl and without context, the segment featuring Luke reads like a standard Batman story in a slightly futuristic setting. Yes, there are some hints about an inflection point in the past but nothing concrete is provided. Sadly without the hype about the Batman race swap this a pretty ho-hum first appearance. The series may come together but that's where we stand after the first outing.

What manages to save the comic are the backup stories. They add readability and more world-building regarding the overall happenings in Gotham. All of the segments are pretty standard but they add scale and bang for the $7.99 you're paying for in this book.

The first Backup features Outsiders "Katana" and "The Signal". It shows just how fascist Gotham has become. This is the strongest of the three segments and the one I'm most interested in going forward. Not a big fan of Katana's costume design but everything else is exciting and I generally liked the energy of Sumit Kumar's art style.

The second backup story features a group of former Batman Rogues banded together as a team of heroes designated "Arkham Knights". This is the most far-fetched Future State story I've read so far and the one that resonated with me the least. The art in the segment is the strongest but the Idea of Two-Face and Victor Zsasz as costumed heroes is a bit much. The Next Batman is billed as a 4 issue series so I'm sure by the end we'll have a complete and respectable story for these characters we just aren't there yet.

I appreciate the format and the increased page count but I'm not a fan of the price point in this instance. I think The Next Batman may have benefited from the Dawn of X/Hickman style of storytelling where text and graphic elements are used to do the heavy lifting regarding world-building. There is enough content to justify the price point but I also think the price could have been dialed down and some of this could have been explained in a few blurbs.

I also feel that the "Future State" setting may have benefited by having a launch issue that established the status quo a bit better. I've also read Future State Harley Quinn and it does give part of the Gotham story but it feels like we're dropped in the middle of a story and not in a good way. When events like these became the norm with stories like "The Age of Apocalypse" or "Onslaught" there used to be an Alpha and Omega issue to open and close things out. I thought the opening chapter would be "Generations Shattered" but that story seems to be standalone and doesn't really foreshadow anything that we see here.

If you're willing to invest in this story The Next Batman may turn into something great but as it stands it's too early to say. I do like that DC is experimenting with different story concepts and trying something different. I just think the editorial may have fumbled the rollout of this event.

Rating: 7/10
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I'm not sure why Stillwater caught my eye while browsing the Comichub App. Aside from Chip Zdarsky being the writer I didn't know what to expect from the project. I didn't even realize it was a horror title when I preordered it.

Stillwater #1 follows Daniel West. He's a normal guy that's down on his luck. He isn't really a people person but tries anyway. As a notorious introvert, I can totally relate to this character. After losing his job and later his dignity in a bar fight he receives a letter from his Great Grand Aunt to visit the town of Stillwater and obtain a family inheritance.

Things get really weird really quick as there aren't any signs providing direction to the town and none of the locals seem to be able to provide details about Stillwater. The situation gets even weirder when they arrive in town just in time so see a kid get pushed off a building and seemingly walk it off moments later.

Daniel and Tony are a couple of down to earth and relatable guys. You probably know people like them or share qualities with them. When I started reading Stillwater I almost wrote it off because the first half was so down to earth. You'd never guess that the story had a supernatural angle based on the opening third and when things get weird it's kind of jarring because the first half is so grounded in regular life situations.

The mundanity extends to the art style. Perez draws everything as completely normal and plays everything straight even as it becomes obvious that things aren't right with this situation. It's a nice and subtle way to lull the reader before putting our leads through the meatgrinder.

I gave a lot of the first half of the issue in this review. I won't spoil the ending as it acts as a cliffhanger and also establishes the direction of the series going forward. There is a major shift about midway through the book which immediately sold me on the project. There's a lot more to the town of Stillwater than you'd suspect and even then you'd probably be wrong.

The issue is fun and gets shockingly violent after the guys arrive in Stillwater. It's a tale of two halves and once the veil is lifted you're in for a treat especially if you're a fan of horror and suspense. I can't see anyone reading this issue and not coming back for seconds.

Rating: 8.5/10 more

Generations Shattered has a similar format, price point, and page count to the other Anniversary comics that DC has put out in the past year. The difference between those projects and this one is that Generations Shattered maintains narrative and artistic consistency throughout and provides the single best DC comics reading experiences that I've had in a long time.

I've never been the biggest DC lore guy but I've read most of the major events of the '80s and '90s. The issues tagline says that the series spins out of Dark Knights: Death Metal but It honestly feels like a spiritual successor to the original "Crisis on Infinite Earths" with flashes of the publisher's bests eras blended into something new and fun.

The elevator pitch is that various universes are being erased. In a last-ditch effort to save reality "Old Man," Booster Gold travels across time and space to recruit a team of heroes from different periods in DC history. You've seen this story before across media but it's a trope that works whether it's "Crisis" or "The Never Ending Story" so why reinvent the wheel?

The coolest aspect of the comic is seeing the menagerie of heroes interacting with each other. There's Superboy from his stint with The Legion of Superheroes. Golden Age Batman is there although I'm not sure if this is the version that packs heat and murders criminals. We get two versions of Booster Gold. Starfire is recruited shortly after the launch of the 80's Teen Titans series. Sinestro is pulled into the team prior to his fall to villainy. Steel is recruited into the mix circa "Death of Superman". Kamandi: The Last Boy on Earth also gets a huge role in this issue.

Some of the interactions between the heroes are tense and become violent but it's more a consequence of not knowing each other than anything else. These dynamics are cool to see considering the long histories some of these characters will end up developing amongst each other. I also imagine you'll get more enjoyment from the issue if you are familiar with the original storylines.

There are a lot of egos and personalities forced together but the book works a lot better than you'd expect. That's a credit to the script and respect the creative team has for these characters. I haven't read Dark Knights: Death Metal yet so I'm not sure how this series spins out of that one. However, I never felt a loss or need to stop reading and get caught up on how we got here. Generations Shattered is just a story of heroes stepping up in the midst of the crisis and that's enough for me. I was also pretty excited to see Sideways, Silencer, and Damage appear in the comic if only in passing reference.

I'm generally not a fan of $9.99 comics but considering that Generations Shattered is about 80 pages vs. a standard 20-page floppy and features top-notch art and a solid script I think the book is worth supporting. If DC pared down their line of titles to about 10 or 15 books and maintained the quality of this issue I wouldn't mind subscribing to them all. I'm not sure if this is the future of DC comics but it definitely should be.

Rating: 10/10 more

It's been so long since I read Martian Manhunter #2 that I forgot where I was in the story. I vaguely remember J'onn being a somewhat crooked cop and devoted father and husband when off duty. I don't remember much else beyond the general weirdness of Riley Rossmo's art style or J'onn being forced to reveal his identity as an alien to his partner.

Fortunately, if you start the series here you'll be in a good spot as readers are given a nice rundown of how J'onn found himself on earth and how he came to adopt the Jones identity.


I'm not the most well versed in the history of the Manhunter and found his origin to be really interesting. I loved the pace of the issue and the back and forth between the two leads. Their dynamic is pretty cool as they begin the process of rebuilding a severely fractured relationship.

The body horror aspects of the issue were my favorite parts of the comic. Imagine learning that your friend and associate died several years ago and that Jeff Goldblum's "Fly" had been wearing his skin. It's a fascinating concept and the script really pushes the concept by making a disturbing turn of events relatable on a human level.


There are some pages where J'onns is downright frightening and other panels where he's barely holding his human form together. The way the linework flows from page to page plays well with the nature of J'onn's abilities and thematically with the story.

Martian Manhunter is back on my radar after a really strong third issue. I will put the series back on my review schedule and pick up the pace on these rundowns. It looks like we may have something special developing here. more

This was fine. I wasn't blown away. This was mostly a character issue, but the problem, as it is with so many of these types of comics, is that the characters aren't that interesting. They're fine, just like this issue. I don't feel the need to find out what happens next, but I'll keep reading for some reason.

The Hillhouse line of DC Comics has been really hit and miss so far. For every hit (Basketful of Heads, Dollhouse Family) there is a misfire (Daphne Byrne). Unfortunately, The Low, Low Woods also stumbles out of the gate.

There are several problems with this comic. The primary concern is that the series is gonna be decompressed. The series was on my pull list so I have the entire series but I can't imagine someone randomly finding this series, reading this issue, and thinking Fuck Yeah! this is great.

The book's problems also extend to the cover and art direction. Neither cover sell the concept of the series. They aren't scary nor do they convey the tension needed for a horror comic. It's strange that neither cover depicts the lead characters as they appear in the comic. The co-lead Octavia is literally drawn as a purple person for the bulk of the issue. I know bi-sexual lighting is an actual concept but the color palette for the issue is just lazy.

This is a #1 issue of a decompressed story. The comic follows best friends Octavia and El after they "lose time" like in classic Sci-Fi and wake up in a movie theater. They leave on the way home they encounter some weird deer creature. From there the comic transitions and we're given a brief history of Shudder-To-Think, PA, and the strange happenings around it.

After the strangeness with the theater and the deer, El narrates the rest of the comic which wouldn't be bad but she wasn't really interesting to me. The next SEVERAL pages of angst, exposition, and YA drama never connected and made the entire reading experience feel like I was reading prose. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but if you buy a novel you get the whole story at once. Carmen Machado is an essay-writer and novelist which explains a lot of the pacing issues.

Hopefully, as I review the series the plot will come together and characters will be fleshed out beyond teen melodrama. All of the Hill House books have improved as they have gone on. I'm expecting the same With The Low, Low Woods.

As hard as I've been on the comic it does have a great cliffhanger which piqued my interest for the second issue. Even with that insight, I can't recommend this series in single-issue format. There are just too many problems with the pacing and structure of this issue to recommend to anyone aside from hardcore YA, horror enthusiasts and, people like me who burn money reviewing comics that no one will ever read 😂

Rating: 4/10 more

I picked up The High Republic #1 last week while visiting my local comic shop. I was on the fence about picking it up at all but it was new Star Wars and I figured I'd give it a shot. I finished reading it and didn't feel anything at all. The general apathy turned into me forgetting the plot altogether and I reread the issue again before posting the review. I've seen opinions all over the place about this issue and the overall "High Republic" story arc and my reaction is somewhere in the middle.

The High Republic #1 isn't bad it's not great either. At first glance the comic reads like a generic Star Wars story with the potential to develop along two paths. It will become something worth reading or it will be memory-holed within a year as more exciting Star Wars stories are told.


The comic follows Keeve. She's a padawan on the verge of being knighted but first, she needs to complete her Jedi trials. The story cuts back and forth between Keeve, her Jedi Master Sskeer, and the impending dedication of "Starlight Beacon", a space station that will serve as a beacon of hope for the galaxy.

Aside from those two elements not much happens by way of plot and your enjoyment of the material will probably split along the lines of how much you enjoy this sort of storytelling. From my perspective, there isn't much here to judge. It's obvious that the story is going to be decompressed and by the end of the issue is we still in setup territory.

This is a huge problem across the industry so It wouldn't be fair to blame "The High Republic" exclusively for being long-winded. My main gripe is that as a weekly comic reader I don't want to play this game with Marvel or DC anymore. You'll probably get more out of this story by waiting for the Trade and reading it in a single session than winging it month to month.

The characters aren't really fleshed out which is fair because this is the first issue. None of them are particularly endearing, or even likable. Keeve's main trait is that she swears constantly and at inappropriate times. We've seen the character's archetype before and although I'm not impressed Keeve isn't a bad character. Everyone else is pretty bland and otherwise generic, even Yoda who makes a brief cameo.

The art direction doesn't elicit any excitement for the series. Ario Anindito's linework isn't horrible but it's just as bland as the script. This is a consequence of the story being told. Much has been made about the characters being "Woke" or SJW" I didn't get that vibe while reading but I am tired of the default look for Black Women being a shaved head or a mohawk. Again, it wouldn't be fair to single out Star Wars for this when it seems to be an across the board look for Black Women.

The comic feels safe, corporate and this carries across every aspect of the issue. This isn't necessarily a bad thing but it's part of why I don't care for these sorts of stories. The one aspect that I think is worth propping out is that aside from Yoda popping up this is an entirely new story set in the Star Wars universe.

For those in the audience that are tired of revisiting the Skywalker Saga, you're finally getting something different. It would have been really easy for Disney to put out another Boba Fett comic and although the opening issue didn't quite connect with me I appreciate the effort. Hopefully, the series turns into something worthwhile.

Rating: 7.5/10
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I had high hopes for Naomi. She's a decent new character with a ton of potential going forward. Unfortunately, this series turned out to be a mediocre slog to get through. It's also unfortunate that many of the complaints cited in previous issues apply in this instance as well. Naomi's biggest problem is that the series is a One-Short or a 64-page graphic novel stretched into a 6-part mini-series. This may not be a problem for you but reading this series in a serialized format was painful for me.

Naomi #6 follows her as she encounters Zumado, an entity from her homeworld. They pass through a portal and we get to see her world in its current state which is pretty rough. Things go from bad to worse as it's revealed that Zumado is the person responsible for the devastation and also for the death of her parents. This would have been a spoiler but the reveal is pretty obvious.


The comic looks great which is a no-brainer, Jamal Campbell is one of the best artists working and the comic is often beautiful. The color palette for these African-American models are some of the best I've ever seen put to the page. I'm not thrilled by Naomi's costume design but that's more of a personal preference than a knock on the general art direction.

Now that the series is over I can recommend reading it in trade. However, any goodwill I have toward the character is tainted by the fact that DC comics could have edited this down by a lot.

Condensing Naomi would have been an easy task if DC editorial weren't either;

A. Sleeping at the wheel when pages were being submitted.

or

B. Trying to exploit their customer base of readers and local comic shops.

Comixology is now selling the Trade for about 9.99. I think this is a fair price all things considered. If you purchased the series monthly as I did you probably spent about $24 on this series which is a total rip-off when you factor in the story told and the lack of progression by the end of Naomi's first season.

Rating: 7.5/10 more

Of all the different versions of Harley Quinn out there, Harleen presents the most realistic, relatable, and honestly pitiful takes on the character. Harleen doesn't tread new ground. This is the Harley Quinn origin we've seen floated for about 20+ years now but the book still comes together nicely on the strength of the writing and art direction. StJepan clearly gets this character and treats her seriously. Other writers tend to treat Harleen like a broken clown and never really dive beneath the surface of the Harley Quinn tragedy.

Although I think we all know where the series is going I appreciate that StJepan doesn't portray Harleen as a victim or brainwashed groupie. We all have our vices or hangups. Harleen's problem is that she makes shitty decisions. She also has the unfortunate hangup of being attracted to and attempting to rehab broken men. How many people can relate to the destructive behavior that comes along with those personality traits regardless of gender or sexuality? Unfortunately for Harley, she falls for the worst guy available in The Joker.


What makes Harleens fall so tragic is that she literally has everything going for her aside from her unresolved personal issues. She's great-looking and is the model career woman but still falls short. This is the type of role I'd really like to see taken up by Margot Robbie eventually. The story details Harley's fall but never takes agency from her or her decision making. This is what we also see in most modern takes from writers trying to soften Harley Quinn into an anti-hero.

The book focuses on Harley and her growing infatuation with the Joker. The title also continues detailing the parallel origin of Harvey Dent aka Two-Face. This is also one of my favorites depictions of the character that I've read since getting back into comics.

The presentation here is flat-out gorgeous. Stjepan and Mike Mayhew are the only writers working today that seem to be able to draw realistic characters without hitting uncanny valley territory. I've seen some complaints about Joker being too handsome but considering that the book is written entirely from Harleen's perspective it makes sense that Joker isn't presented as a twisted monster but as an idealized version of himself.

I have one more issue of the series to review and I expect the transition from Doctor to Supervillain will be completed by the end of the series. The script is solid and the story is as heartbreaking as I expected it to be walking into the series.

The origin of Harley Quinn has been retold countless times over the years but it never becomes less tragic. There are a lot of Harleens out there and I think the series is doing an amazing job of highlighting how lust and infatuation can lead to self-destructive outcomes.

Rating: GOD-TIER more

TMNT #108 brings the "Slithery" arc to a close. Questions are raised and answered and we get further insight into what the hell is going on with Baxter Stockman.

There isn't any urgency to the plot or its advancement. The art continues to improve as the arc goes on but it's still not great or enough to slow my growing apathy with the current direction of the series. I've reviewed every issue of TMNT since issue #80 and I'm nearly at the point of dropping the title from my pull list. The book isn't horrible but it feels wrong and I'm not even looking forward to new releases anymore. It's also pretty annoying when you get a TMNT comic and the guys aren't even on the cover.

Sophie Campbell can be a great writer but I feel that she's just winging it right now. On top of the mediocre writing, the once tight editing for the series is gone as the dialogue gets mixed up again and Leo once again gets mixed up with Mikey.

I'll stick around for a few more issues but if the series continues to meander I may have to drop TMNT from the review schedule altogether in 2021. I hate posting shallow reviews but there isn't really much here to talk about and even if I did go in-depth I'd just be wasting your time. If you're a fan of the series you may be interested for completionist purposes. For everyone else, you aren't really missing anything right now.


Rating: 7/10 more

Usually, when someone says that a comic is tailor-made for television/streaming series it's in a negative light. Drawing Blood is streaming series waiting to happen but it's also one of the most unique and meta comics I've ever read.

Quick recap, Drawing Blood is a semi-autobiographical comic from the mind of Kevin Eastman and co-written by David Avallone. The book follow-s Shane Bookman and details his rise and fall after selling the rights to the breakout hit "Radically Rearranged Ronin Ragdolls".

This issue picks up with the cliffhanger of the last issue. Bookman is surrounded by gangsters and threatened at gunpoint if he doesn't pay the debt his deceased business partner left behind. He's also forced to provide an autographed picture of one of the Ragdolls. After a timely de-escalation, the comic transitions to auditions for one of the plays that Bookman is working on.

The comic reads like a slice of life for our lead character. The story is funny and has great pacing and quite frankly is a solid reading experience. I think you'll find enjoyment whether you're reading this as a fan of TMNT or have no interest in the classic franchise. I also think the comic works in a single issue which is surprising in light of the subject matter. It would be very easy for Drawing Blood to be a decompressed talking head comic but it never goes that route and I really appreciated the storytelling while reading.

Shane Bookman is a lovable loser who seems to be being set up for a redemption arc but it's too early to say. He could easily wind up face first in a gutter somewhere. In any case checkout Drawing Blood or Radically Rearranged Ronin Ragdolls. When the series pops up on HBO MAX just know I called it. more

I've been a huge fan of Forge dating back to the '90s. He's a great character that plays the combo role of Iron Man and Reed Richards but for the X-Men. Forge is also the only character that I can recall that had a believable romance with Storm. Although Marvel has seemingly memory-holed the Storm Forge relationship it stands out as a milestone for each character.

This issue gives Forge a proper intro to the current Dawn of X landscape. He naturally takes on the role of armorer for the team and also seems to get his rocks off by giving Wolverine a hard time. There are some nice exchanges between the characters and although don't recall Forge being this snarky he makes a nice addition to the cast.

The book also formalizes X-Force as Krakoa's C.I.A. Branch. The situation is a little more complicated than that but it gives the series purpose and justifies the team's mission going forward. The remainder of the comic focuses on the mission to get back at the human group that assassinated Xavier and mutilated Domino in the previous issues.

The comic looks decent in most spots. Joshua Cassara doesn't have the most bombastic style but it's atmospheric and works best when he illustrates the more disturbing elements of what's happening on the page. There's action but this is primarily a dialogue-driven issue aside from the closing segment of the book. It's also to see the 90's blue and gold uniforms again and Forge looks great in it. The colors are consistent with the rest of the series but the palette doesn't use many colors which makes the comic seem pretty drab despite the above-average script Ben Percy provides.

X-Force #4 isn't earth-shattering by any stretch but it's a solid addition to the series and ongoing story arc. There's also a pretty messed up cliffhanger and it will be nice to see how our heroes get out of this situation.

Rating: 8/10 more

The Curse of Brimstone ended over a year ago but I'm still reviewing it because I like wasting my time and yours as well. To my knowledge, none of these characters have reappeared in continuity so I'm not sure if the series ends definitively. Even knowing that the outcome is certain I still find myself invested in the outcome of Joe (Brimstone) and Annie's story.

What's not in doubt is the quality of this issue. We don't get much of Brimstone in this comic. The book focuses on Annie and her encounter with Wandering Jack. Jack has been a villain festering in the background since the first issue but he wasn't fleshed out until The Curse of Brimstone Annual #1.

The character is interesting in that he's one of the most flagrantly evil characters we've seen in the series but he's just a guy. Jack would be an obvious candidate for "The Salesmen's" deal to become a superpowered agent but when presented with the deal he turns it down violently.
The book details Jack's motives and also gives us another monster to deal with.

The comic looks great as usual. The new monster/agent has a great design and the daft script and art combine into a menagerie of evil with Annie being the one bright spot by default of not being compromised. Brimstone does pop up but he's lost his way and looking for a path back to the light. The book is very intense despite most of the tension arising from two characters conversing from opposite sides of a kitchen table.

The Curse of Brimstone #10 is another great issue of a criminally underrated series. I'm not quite sure what to expect in the final issues but the title is a nice read whenever it pops up on the top of my list of comics for review.

Rating: 9/10 more

SFSX is a weirdly awesome reading experience especially if you're a fan of film and a bit of a freak in your downtime. It's easily one of the most unique series I've read in a long time.

This issue splits it's time between Avory and her crew as they plan to rescue Jonesy (presumably brainwashed) and George who has been held captive by "The Party". The rest of the comic splits time between flashback's to Georges early days at "The Dirty Mind" and how he met Avory. We also see what goes into the Reformation process as Jone's attempts to break George from his deviant tendencies.

The reformation segment's are pretty brutal if you're squeamish to pain like I am. I imagine it may also be a turn on depending on your kinks. We learn that George is turned on by pain. This makes the pain he's subjected to while being tortured ineffective. George takes a severe beating and Jone's attempts to "Cure" him escalates as the issue goes on.

There is some nice character development for all of the principal characters. All of the banter feels natural and you get the impression that these characters have strong bonds with one another. The sex sells the series but the strength of the comic comes from the characters and their interpersonal relationships. SFSX is a fun comic and a nice diversion from the mainstream drivel on the shelves today.

8.5/10 more

Tom Taylor has created one of the most unique Zombie Apocalypse scenarios I've ever seen across all media. The beauty of the Anti-Life virus is that if this virus hit our world we'd be phucked. The virus is transferred by screen technology. This mean's that your cellphone, tablet, computer, and television are potential agents for this thing. I'd imagine that western society would be taken out within a day or so.

The severity of the situation is perfectly exemplified by the opening pages of this comic. Deathstroke is in the middle of a job. He realizes the job is bigger than he expected and calls his employer. At this point, Deathstroke is immediately infected. The only reason Deathstroke survives at all is because of his Healing Factor. The implication from the opening interlude is that this world is as good as dead.

How many screens do you interact with within a day? How long would you last in this world?

DCeased: Unkillables follows two groups. One set of heroes and another group made up of villains and anti-heroes. The first group features the remaining members of the Batfamily including Red Hood, James Gordan, and Batgirl/Cassandra Cain as they try to get out of Gotham.

The second group features the aforementioned Deathstroke, his daughter Ravager, Mirror Master, Vandal Savage, Captain Cold, and a few other not so good guys. The Unkillable aspect of the series seems to be that these characters have unique advantages that allow them to survive in this world. One example is Deathstroke's healing abilities another is a unique set of lenses produced by Mirror Master that blocks out the signal of the Anti-Life Virus.

Both factions are presented in a fun way. The book is just as macabre as the main DCeased series but the difference is tone. There is a lot of levity in this issue and the lighter tone is reflected in the art and color palette. The action sequences are dynamic and the staging of the action sequences are pretty awesome throughout the book. Unkillables is clearly a tie-in and maintains continuity to the main-series but the flavor is totally different and I really dig it.

In short, DCeased is the comic equivalent of Dawn of the Dead and focuses on a world falling into ruin. Unkillables feels like The Walking Dead and focuses on the survivors. The world Tom is building at DC comics has a lot of potential and continues to be one of the brightest spots at the publisher.


Rating: 10/10
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I'm a big fan of classic horror magazines like Erie, Creepy, and Tales from the Crypt. Justice League Dark #7 is the first mainstream comic I've seen that takes the horror format from those comics and applies them to a mainstream book.

The comic is framed around Man-Bat who acts as the host of the comic. He's been my least favorite member of the team so far and hasn't had much to do to this point in the series. Langstrom (Man-bat) details several JLD casefiles involving their investigation into "The Other Kind". The stories are all creepy and end with a bit similar to the aforementioned horror magazines.

It's a lot of fun and one of the more imaginative comics I've read in a while. I reviewed JLD #6 and this issue doesn't appear to be a continuation of the previous storyline. Although I loved this issue it's a jarring transition between issues.

The atmosphere of the issue is also pretty awesome. The art direction is spot on for this sort of homage. There is a lot of variety in the stories being told Alvero and Brad knock it out of the park. There are ghost stories, body horror, horrific implications. Even classic characters like Frankenstein make an appearance.

You can probably guess that I loved this comic and the creative approach it takes. It also hit me with nostalgia pangs for more stories like this. With comics being a visual medium I always appreciate when a title thinks outside of the box. If we had more comics like this the industry would be a lot more interesting and healthier.

Rating GOD-TIER more

I thought I was done with Dawn of X but after a few solid recommendations, I decided to check out Hellions #1. While the issue isn't strong enough to draw me back into the X-Line of comics it is a great first issue. If you're still reading those books at least it has one series that works...for now.

The comic opens with Havok and Nightcrawler in what appears to be a pretty basic mission. Things go horribly wrong for the heroes and Havok loses control of his powers. He causes massive property damage and nearly kills innocent bystanders.


This leads to a "Quiet Council" meeting to discuss the situation. It turns out there are several mutants on Krakoa that have been out of sorts. Mr. Sinister has the idea to collect these misfits into a group and sonofabitch, the Hellions are born.

The makeup of the team is pretty weird with Nanny and Orphan Maker being the oddest choices. I hadn't seen either character since the 80s but I always found them to be fun characters. Wildchild also makes an appearance. He's been around for decades but I have fond memories of the character from "Age of Apocalypse" and when he was a member of X-Factor. Havok is one of my favorite characters but the standout member of the team in this issue is Scalphunter.

Scalphunter now goes by John Graycrow. The character has also been around for decades and is most notable as one of Sinisters original Marauders group. I don't believe any of the Marauders were fleshed out so Graycrow comes off as a blank slate. He's cool, gruff, and gets the issues best moments.



I like the cast and the creative team does a great job establishing the tone of the series.. Some of the characters have regressed it seems. I'm pretty sure Havok mastered his powers a long time ago and I'm also fairly certain that Wildchild wasn't this feral the last time I'd seen him.

Aside from the nitpicks the issue is fun and is easily the most entertaining Dawn of X book I've read in a while. The series has a lot of potential going forward.

Rating: 9.5/10 more