Excellent art, no complaints there. Story was ok. It is clear he is going to be more of a social warrior for equality rights (if things continue but based on his back story he hates systems of inequality most of all?). Will need to see where this goes. Could be an interesting story to tell if the tones don't get too hamfisted.

I didnt pay the extra money that Action Comics costs for an Archie back-up story. I want more action in action comics. I guess I expected too much.

Let me get this out of my system first (and so people know the context of which I am writing). I think it was really dumb of DC to end PKJs run on Action Comics. It was clear he still had at least half a year of story left in him (maybe more but it felt like he had a good 6 issues at least). Instead they wanted to rush that and put out Jason Aaron to start the year. Another concern I have is Jason is typically brought in to ruin characters. Look at what he did in Marvel. Besides him creating the Butcher, he normally WAS the butcher with runs like the Avengers and the Punisher. So I dont trust this guy one bit. All that being said, this was a good first issue. A weird mix of great action, some sadness, some brutality and a weird creepy atmosphere overall. This feels like it might be like other Bizzaro stories, but maybe darker? Going to need a couple of issues more to get a good feel for it, but I like the start. Art is lovely.

Waffling between a 7.5 and 8 but reading other reviews that I agree with made me side on the 7.5. Don't get me wrong. I like this story overall. This is a pretty dark take on Bizarro with this not just being a Bizarro world but one filled to the brim with malice from Bizarro's experiences. As people have said though, a lot of time and space is used to show how the world is reversed. Personally I dont mind this as much as other people and can dig it but get why it bothers people. What bothered me more is that Superman somehow has saved everyone even though everyone is killing themselves all the time, like I get he does a great job showing that Superman is pushing himself to the absolute limit (which he did very well and I do feel like Superman is really being Super in the sense of pure endurance and perseverance), but at least have some losses to add some impact. I also like how it shows what other characters were doing and that this is indeed a world wide event that likely only Superman can save them from. Another con though is how abrupt Aaron goes between Superman in control and when he gets taken over, its like 1 panel and its so abrupt it really pulls you out of the story. Didnt like that one bit. The ending is something I saw coming from the start (i.e. if everyone is reversed where are all the villains doing good stuff/saving the day?) but I still enjoy and I do look forward to the final issue of this. All in all I think it will be a great Superman story but this was the weak middle issue.

I will say, I have more hope for the next issues by Joshua then I do this arc. I liked the start, but it just never got great. It was only ok. It never really felt like it got to the unique story it wanted to tell. While there were a couple of good moments like the joker knowing he would turn back, and the ice cream truck scenes, so much of the story was just told and not shown. Aaron did the opposite of what a good writer should do. We apparently get an epic Joker vs Bizarro battle of wits vs violence but we never get to see it. We are told Superman is Superman but we never see his resolve besides a small panel or two. It just glosses over some of the best stuff to get through the story. This felt rushed and if this is what Aaron is going to give us for Action Comics, I am not impressed.

Action Packed! Got to start by saying, wow Sandoval does an amazing job drawing Superman. Loving the art. Also is this the first Williamson event that might be good? This is a really good start. We have intense action, twists, espionage, nice establishment of 'mini bosses' and just cranked the threat way up high. This is an issue that will get your attention. Excellent start.

Good solid read. Gets a +.5 from me as it has SPACE CABBIE! I got a soft spot for that golden age fellow. On the to real part of it, it moves the plot forward, we get some good fighting and Lobo... being Lobo I suppose. Brainiac's plan is starting to be revealed but still interesting how he is breaking down. Look forward to more reveals. Art for the main story was good. Art for the backup looks like something I could draw and I am a disaster at drawing. Its too scratchy with too much darkness and none of the characters look as they should. I dont know what it is about DC and having amazing main issue artists then having like E tier list backups.

Solid issue with the art in the first main story by Sandoval being amazing. I loved all the details and sketch lines. Felt like you were reading something really high quality. I really could just go on and on about the art. So good. The story itself was good but not amazing. Usually Williamson really drops the ball at this point and the fact he hasnt and there is a nice team up is quite a pleasant surprise. I just hope he can stick the ending. As for the back story I feel like Lex is being made way too sympathetic. I dont like that direction. Some sympathetic elements and conflicton, sure, but not trying to go full good guy with no reason. I dont want all the bad guys to become good guys.

I have mixed feelings on this book. On one hand, some of the stuff I dont like about it is honestly just bronze age stuff that, for its inspiration is well done. Clark is rather feckless in his early days hiding who he was. That was in character, but it is hard for my to enjoy compared to how great the Superman parts were. The actual fights and the characterization of superman was great. I really enjoyed it and nice to see the Bronze Age Superman fighting for what is right. Simone is clearly pulling from the era and I can respect that. As for the art... something is off. The art isnt bad but it just feels wrong. Barrows isnt a bad artist and this doesnt seem phone in but at the same time, I dont like parts of it, it just feels off, warped, incorrect perspectives. Something I cannot put my finger on. As for the backup. It was a logical move on Lois's part but still not the best read for me. Possible hot-take on the back-up. Rowell was born in the wrong era. Golden age and early Silver Age comics had a lot of great romance and slice of life stories. Modern comics dont and have mostly ruined them. If we could do that right that would be nice, but Rowell's story just feels like it is in a medium that it no longer belongs. The back-up itself was ok but uninspiring.

I am just going to give this one review for this entire series now that it is done. This was a waste of time. People who are looking to buy these books in a TPB skip it. This series has no point, no good development as Jon and kind of just went downhill after issue one. I just dont understand why they even made this series? It just feels all so pointless and meaningless. I am just apathetic to this I suppose.

Going to keep this simple just to hit the high (low) points of how this is a dumpsterfire. 1) No understanding how lobotomies work at all? Check. 2) Doing a hack-job at ruining Alan's origin, making him a shell of himself and taking away the cool part of his lantern? Check. 3) Negative gay stereotypes? Check. This is basically a story written by someone who doesn't seem to understanding how to not write males leads who are gay without diving straight into the stereotypes. This issue isnt deep, its a poor tackling of series issues by a writer who doesn't understand the character. This reads like high school fan fic quality writing.

Is this Alan? I don't mean that has a joke, I mean the character that is in the book has no relation to any previous version of Alan I have ever known. In fact none of the characters do. Spectre is written super odd as well. For Alan to just be visiting all the prostitutes all the time to deal with grief feels nothing like his character. Also the big reveal at the end with the his big enemy reads more like a really bad episode of the Young and the Restless (like the later seasons when things really went downhill and evil ghost partners would come back type BS), but with capes. I don't come to DC for mid-day cheap drama tv. Literally any hack can write that.

This mini has come to nothing except recons and poor characterizations. If you like this book because you like this iteration, that is one thing. However if you like this cause you, in delusion, think it is anything like Alan was designed to be... well that's a special kind of special. This feels like character assassination at its finest. Wiping out everything dear to poor Alan. Retroactively reducing my enjoyment of the Alan I know and love from the Golden Age stories.

No. And I mean regardless of if you like the direction or not, this just felt like a Zeb further pumps up his self insert Paul. The Spider-team want to make sure you know they don't care about this book or Peter. The writing is weak, the art is sloppy and if I produced work of this quality I would have been fired long ago. I feel like at this point, I have lost all my anger at this run and just apathy now. I just dont care. They want to write Peter as a miserable person who will only be harmed? Sure. Ok. You do you.

This issue once again embodies apathy. I just dont care at all for this arc. It is a sad, poorly written issue with no impact and no meaning. I feel nothing for the death as they have already telegraphed that they will undo it shortly. The art is 0/10. Might be the worst art JRJR has ever done. The scenes which should invoke emotion have all the characters looking asleep/impaired. There is nothing going for this book. Nothing. Maybe the new arc with doc ock can keep me going a bit more, but I am looking to drop off after this pointless disaster. Overall: This issue evokes the worst emotion possible from a reader: crushing apathy. Terrible art.

Most of this score is for the Art. The art is so much better than JRJR who was either phoning it in, or has lost all his talent. Black Cat looks awesome, Spider-man looks agile, and Norman looks more like how I expect him to look. The tone was terrible in this book. Like trying to write three issues at once and jam them all into one book. Invalidates most of the Gold Goblin mini-series. Doc Ock is written terribly which is a real shame. I was excited for this next arc cause I like him but this looks bleak. His arms seem to have an interesting personality which is one of the only good parts of this issue writing wise.

Doc Ock fight scenes are cool. That is it. Nothing else positive to say but at least some stuff is positive this time around. But the plot makes no sense. Most of the characters are written poorly/make no sense. Zeb clearly doesnt know what he is doing writing this. Just some weird tentacle stuff. Skip.

This was... surprisingly good (aka decent/not a dumpsterfire like usual). Do not get me wrong, there are still a lot of janky parts to it, and why throw Rek-rap into is randomly. They even joke in the notes that he is not plot relevant. Being aware of your poor writing, doesnt make it better Zeb. All that being said, Doc Ock is here with good reason, and I like where the arc is going. Norman possibly getting reverted back- I dont know how I feel about that. This almost feels like Zeb is putting 'the toys back in the box' to end his run, but we will see. Honestly this arc, totally on its own isnt all that bad. Its serviceable. However, it is apart of a much larger, dumpsterfire of a run. I do look forward to the next issue... which I dont know when the last time I said that for an ASM book in this run.

Wells botched this arc. Belly flop on the ending. Who would have guess? Only anyone with any concept of history or have read any of the previous arcs in his run. Nothing to say really, I should have expected this. Never have any expectation beyond a 5/10 book for Wells and maybe... maybe you could sort of at least not be too sad with this run.

The main story was decent but the tone was odd, and just moved to plot along for the one-shot story in which I assume Eve breaks Ben out. Pryor was a bit on her high horse for someone who was assisting Ben until she heel-turned on him. This wasnt the authors fault though, that was just some bad writing previously from Wells which messed it all up. All in all though, I do enjoy how Eve is actually fighting for her partner and basically being to Peter what he should be for MJ. So Kudos on Eve being more Spider-man than Spider-man. Just goes to show how poorly Wells writes. Second story seemed utterly pointless. Art was poor and Peter is an awkward 3rd wheel to MJ and Paul. Just a really gross dynamic overall. tldr, first story has some plot stuff, and Eve being a decently written character. Second story is pointless.

Honestly with the way Carol is typically written I thought this series would be dead in the water. But then again it is written by MacKay who usually does a decent job. Honestly? I loved it. Avengers avenging montages, as they save lives based on Kang's info. Also Kang doing good things just to get revenge on another guy he hates more is so very Kang. Art is great. Very solid issue. First issue explained the team, this second issue really laid out the first arc. Well done foundation. Now we just need it to be carried out. Excellent work so far, and I hope it continues to improve.

This is good, but I dont quite feel the grip yet. Art is solid and the story is good enough, just need to see how this unfolds a bit more. Still havent really gathered my thoughts on this first arc.

This issue is good, but by breaking up the Avengers so quickly, so much time has been spent on these 1 vs 1 fights. Feels like a lot of wasted pages fighting the Ashen. It feels like it could be better but it still is interesting. Way better than the last run though.

This was fine. the art was good and I do enjoy how each Avenger took out the Ashen Combine in their own way, even if that took up a lot of pages. There solutions were far and reasonable/creative and played into who they were as people. As noted by other reviewers, Tony's was kind of BSing it... but alas, most were fine. The city becoming an Avenger and implying it is there new base of operation is ok, but like several avengers cant fly/go into space/survive space. This seems like a poor choice for location but ok... This run so far as been ok and that is how I see the first arc. Some ooohh and aww moments but nothing great. I hope the next arc picks it up. Lastly, I really hate Marvel increasing the prices of their books. The cheaper they are the more I can justify meh/under-performing stories. The more they cost, the more likely I am to skip them or drop them. If this next arc doesnt pick up, I might drop this.

Well that was sure an impact filled start to a new arc. I was growing weary of the old one so hope this one goes better than the last. Loved the epic fight throughout the book and the hopelessness. 4th Wall Breaking skit with Scarlet Witch was fun. Ending is where the real arc actually starts and I am glad to see it is aiming to address of a couple of subplots that Marvel has sort of been dripping to the readers over a period of a couple of years with Kang. I am cautiously optimistic.

I don't understand all the high ratings. This book is ok. I will say I do like Thor putting aside his pride when the rest of the Avengers so were prideful they would destroy themselves instead of helping their allies. Scarlet Witch and Vision were good but all in all this issue is just ok. I dont really feel anything for the antagonists. Just feel like generic back-story. This series really needs to pick it up or I will drop it if this arc doesnt go well.

If you want an honest take on this, the issue was fine. It was a classic take on musical chairs with the avengers done time and time again. Was this done well? Yes, but it was really unique by any means. Characters were at least in character but nothing about this really wow'ed me. Art was pleasing. Overall a fine issue but I dont get the reviews so far. Not sure what makes this a 10/10. Its a decent issue but not mind-blowing or epic in any way. The fights are not more intense than the previous arc (which I thought was done better). I am still trying to find the purpose of this arc besides the twilight court wants Kang. I just wish this feels like the antagonists had more weight to them rather than how they feel like they are just here for the sake of moving the plot forward.

I liked Kangs part with Myrddin, but all in all this felt like such a anti-climatic end to this arc. Honestly I haven't been impressed with this arc all that much. Just feels like a lot of place holdings. It doesnt help that we are left on a great cliff hanger but based on solicitations, the next issue is a filler and then the next couple after that are irrelevant event fillers. So we will probably have to wait several months to see if this is a nice plot thread.

This felt like the embodiment of a filler issue. MacKay phoned this one in and it honestly felt like it was just here to get your money and tease "oh the next one is a cross over issue". Its to an event that most will hate so I am skipping the next one. That though made the value of this one rather poor. Art was good. Also can for the love of all things Marvel, the writers at Marvel stop spending so much time on food? It is a meme how many of the stories now a days are just people eating or talking while eating or in this case talking about making food for people. Please stop. I hate this.

The first volume is a great introduction to the characters and sets up the storm that is going to be unleashed. Also makes you really hate the other Chimera so you want to continue to read to see how they get their comeuppance.

My rating for this is so harsh because of how bad it just ended. Even if the rest of the book was decent enough, how batman survives is beyond belief. The Chip said Ryan North told him this was totally doable for a person to do. If that is true, this honestly feels like sabotage for this arc. Such a let-down as it limps to the finish.

It is very hard to take this arc seriously. It is written like no one know who these characters are with their decades of history. The bat family is acting completely out of character. When no character is really written in character and its not a black label title, how can you give it more than a 5/10? If these characters are actually acting like this than Batman should kick them all out of the bat family and just stick with a Batman/Robin team with Damian. They are not worth saving. Catwoman's logic continues to fail. Bruce losing his house is just another screw you. I mean the twist with that is crazy enough I suppose it breaks even for me, but this feels like Chip no longer cares for this run and is just wiping trashing everything now. Remember for writers, you should 'put the toys back after you play with them', this arc feels like a 3 year old ripping off the arms of the dolls. Art is great, people look like they should instead of the... whatever happened to them in the previous issue of this 'event'. Jimenez cant save this issue though.

This issue is an aberration of batman and his family. The 1.5 is for the art as it is good as always. The story gets a 0. Now onto the review. Chip is a failure, no other way to put it. I don't know how it happened but this feels like the end half of Tom Kings batman run (at least he got to 50 issues before he totally destroyed it... Chip got to like what... 15?). He has destroyed Batman for the rest of his run. I feel sorry for the person after him who has to clean up. But Researcher how is it that bad? I hear you ask. Well lets go over some utterly damaging things done in this issue. 1) Batman reprogramming Jason. Hey you know how Zatanna reprogrammed a r*pist after being pressured by the league to do so and Batman so strongly objected to altering human free will it altered her relationship with him and permanently removed her as a love interest to him? I remember that, but apparently Chip didnt. Apparently his batman is super ok with using brainwashing devices. Also if he had this, why use it on Jason, and you know... not another criminal like... oh I dont know his rouge gallery? This is ridiculous. 2) Batboxes and Nightwing. Nightwing is a total sell out at this point. He should be removed from the Batfamily. Selling out to criminals the first chance he gets cause he thinks Batman is taking it too far... So apparently trying to stop a criminal ring that has the backing of corrupted superheroes is 'taking it too far' for Nightwing. He is the problem. He is one of the corrupted. I dont know if I will be able to look at him the same way after this. He is a coward . Also why would Batman keep the fact Jason is programed in the batbox? That is some hack writing. 3) Damian: So he regresses to a small childs mentality who cries out to his daddy when he loses a fight (that he should have never have lost. We know Tim Drake has no skill based on is previous books so he should have beaten him to within an inch of his life, not lose for the sake of the plot). Chip is not only ruining Batman, but as I am pointing out, all the rest of the batfamily. This is disgraceful. 4) A WTF plot contrivance ending. So this entire event is actually just Randal Savage doing his thing with his daughter and Catwoman was too stupid to see she was a Pawn? The only way I could believe this is because Tini is writing Catwoman he her Catwoman reads as smart as paste with insane plot armour. Chip just doesnt want Catwoman to be wrong so all this insanity can be blamed on someone else. Take a look at my point and try and disagree. You might disagree with how I flavoured the facts but the events did occur as I said. Chip has disgraced Batman and his run. I loved it when he first came on and someone in the comic shop I was in said that it might be a monkeys paw wish. They were right. I am regretful I ever liked this run or trusted Chip. Dude appears to be a hack that had a couple of good stories in him. I have lost all trust in his ability to write batman till he proves otherwise.

Zdarsky's run has devolved into drivel it seems. What is up with modern writers just messing up or trying to knock down previous authors works? This is a weird unprofessional act that feels like it has been on the rise for the past several years. Some people seem to like it when authors look down on previous authors, but I just find it tacky. If you read the issue you will get what I mean. Jimenez art is wonderful as always. I feel he is really the only pull for the book now. But art alone cannot keep a hollowed out Batman standing.

This is a terrible start. What in the world does Chip think he is doing? No one wants this. No one needs this lore. Leave the Joker alone. We should never solidify his origins, the unknown is what people love. Please don't ruin this.

What the actual #$%^ is this? Did Chip just drunkenly take every major beloved story from Moore, to Morrison, John's and more and combine it with Snyders year zero and the year 1? I feel like I am watching someone ruin all the critical Batman and Joker lore in real time? So really Three Jokers will never get a part two because apparently that was all a lie in his head and Chip is hawking the Knight as a critical story to the lore that overwrites the previous stuff? As Moore put it, Joker should be multiple choice, not this weird 'brothers and father' situation he is trying to push. This is like reading a train wreck, but I beg you, look away, dont buy this book, if you must read it, read it second hand or something. At this point, this is making Kings run post marriage fiasco look like pure art. This is honestly turning into one of the most damaging, poorly written Batman runs of all time. I think there is a question of where Chip fits into Batman runs quality wise and if he isnt at the bottom or second to the bottom quality wise, he at least takes the cake for the biggest fall in quality. Failsafe opener was amazing. Everything afterwards just fell apart and this is just pure character assassination.

How much can you ruin batman? Why not also ruin Joker and also miss the own point of your story. At the end of the day it really isnt a Joker story but just some sort of backstory to the gas that is released many years or so in the future when everyone turns into Jokers? What a terrible story. Also why make Batman so stupid? Why did the Joker have to drag Batman around by his nose for the solution? How is the worlds greatest detective so dumb? Like he was acting like some no-body character. Aquaman probably has better detective skills than Batman at this point. Another point that is just wrong, is Chip has no idea about the relationship between the Joker and Batman. Joker doesn't love Batman (although one could argue Morrison poorly tried to do this), Joker loves Chaos and the horribly dysfunctional rival/obsession he has with Batman. To distill all that Joker is down to 'he loves Batman' is totally missing the point and really disrespecting the previous work people did with the Joker. The art was decent but I have read a fair bit of stuff drawn by Sorrientino, and this looks about phoned in or rushed as possible. This is Sorrientino and Camuncoli on their worst days. All in all between the artists not appearing to care and Chip literally having no idea what he was doing, I can say I am worse off for reading this. And if you read this book, you are worse off as well. This was a disgrace and I have lost pretty much any respect for Chip I had. I have books signed by him. I now feel they have less value now than they did before. Although I suspect in future issues he will further humiliate himself... somehow.

Trash. Zdarsky is going to go down in the bottom 5 worst batman writers of all time. Secret Half sibling BS has been done a couple of times and scrapped a couple of times because its a terrible idea. Chip must be inhaling his own farts at this point or hates the readers with what he is doing. I feel so bad for the next author who has to clean up this garbage.

Zdarsky has lost his way. He himself is a good enough writer, but he constantly learns on poor writers to help him develop ideas and it shows. We saw how the Failsafe arc ended (The insane/dumb way Batman makes it back from the Moon was Ryan Norths idea as stated by Chip). Now he works with Tini, a writer who books constantly drop after she takes over and who much of the time has her books cancelled due to how poorly they are written. It is clear this 'event' is being used to boost the faltering Catwoman sales and it shows. This issue is a mess. I don't really want to go into more detail as it is depressing to contemplate this book, but skip it. Skip this event. Its not worth your money or time. Even if you are a completionist, just save yourself the money. Don't do this to yourself.

If you are a super-obsessive fan of Red Hood and love anything he is in regardless of quality then sure. For the rest of the comic book community, its a waste of money. This event is a waste of money and this is a non-essential waste of time for a waste of time event. How low can you go? Art is literally why it gets 2.5 and that is in part pity points.

I think Batman is dead. I know he is alive but this run of Batman might as well be dead. This event might be the worst, most bat-family destroying event in the past 20-30 years. Everything has been taken from Batman. I am not talking about the villains doing it. I mean Tini and Chip. He now has no tech, no cash, no team (who all come off as traitorous fools) and he left the team to Nightwing as him and Catwoman cant play mom and dad anymore. Really? Batman and Catwomans relationship is so toxic at this point, I dont think they could ever be put together in the next decade or so. Nightwing shouldnt run the bat-family, it should be disband based on how dumb they were. Batman himself was so out of character and both him and Catwoman made such insane leaps of logic that were right only for the plot. Oh Savage is just losing his powers after 50,000 years and is using a homing meteorite? WTF? Also since when could a small vehicle break up a massive meteorite? Literally everything was ham-fisted. Everyone acted the way they did so this nonsensical plot could work out. Nothing actually made sense. Also don't get me started on the 'multi-endings'. So we are liking getting a ripp-off 3rd rate version of 3 Jokers, everyone is going to know who batman is cause he is so careless some thug found his costume in his new home and Catwoman is still somehow alive. Congrats Tini and Chip. I think you might have the worse Batman and Catwoman stories in modern history. I give out very few 1.0s and if I could I would give this a 0. DC has high highs and low lows. This was the broke through the basement.

Just don't. There honestly isn't a reason to give anymore of a review. Just don't buy it or read it. It will provide you with no enjoyment or worth.

This is awesome. Robo-apocolypse with some amazing rarely used cameos of many of the old robot foes?? Yes please. Great story continues? Yes. Tense high? Yes. Stake high? Higher than ever. Waid and Mora once again please. Gold standard right here.

This is my highlight book of every month. Like the finest of chocolate, enjoy it slowly because it only comes in small doses. Art 10/10. Mora, do I need to say more? Story: The stakes are high, the world is ending, heroes are giving their lives and things look bleak! The robot uprising continues and both sides make progress towards an end clash. All I will say is every page is great and I love all the cameos. Everything about this is almost every super hero comic should be. This is the gold standard.

Look I know you are suppose to hold ratings of 10 to truly great books, but you know what? This book is great and this is why it deserves a 10: This is the best that DC has to offer. This was an epic well thought out final issue to the arc. We see the critical thinking skills of batman, we see him find a weakness in a seemingly impossible enemy. We see word play reveal the truth. We see an all star cast fight. We see not just the JL working together but all the heroes. Honestly, compared to the Knight Terrors event this last arc feels like an event with almost everyone showing up to help save the day and each get their little moment. Waid knows how to give respect to each character and make them since. Also Moras art is some of the best out there for superheroes. The man's drawing skills are like a superpower I swear. This is something I will remember for a while, and I enjoyed every page. Every detail was great. Very few books can have the weight of an event, captivating art, and have a strong start, middle and end. This one delivers on all fronts. And that folks, is why I gave this book a 10.

Is this the best tale of Batman and Superman meeting? Ehh maybe the cartoon did it better, but this is still a great read. A bit of a simple first half of the book, but a few twists in the later half keep you on your toes and I enjoy the banter between the two. Got a few good chuckles.

This was a good issue but its problem is that is treads in an area that has been done so many times before. Like this isnt bad at all, probably one of the better (but not the best), telling of their team up. Art is great as always. One thing I like about Waid's run here is the little additions of planting the seeds of villains for the future. So the fact that this ties into a future issue of Action Comics is nice. Gives it a bit of a unique feel and touch. Overall I enjoyed it, but I am glad this mini-filler story is over and we can get onto more very promising things.

So the easy stuff first. Mora's art is on fire like always 10/10. Every panel is amazing. Second the story by Waid? All you really need to know is that this is an early glimpse into the World of Kingdom Come from the perspective of our Superman and Batman. They have to solve a mystery and stop a tragedy we already know will come to pass. Excellent set up. This does not fall short of the expectations I would have for the first issue of a Kingdom Come story. Every DC fan should be reading this series (and especially for this new arc).

Ok so this had some really great fights. While that was most of the issue, it was great to see each of them fight their counterparts. I also enjoy the mystery of what is going on here. Why is Thunder Man isolating this world from the multiforce. Also that ending... what in the world/why were all the heroes... teaming up in an almost cult like manner? I need answers!

MUST READ BOOK. I need to re-read Kingdom Come to get some timeline questions out of the way and refresh on history but this issue is hot fire. Excellent fights, art is (subjectively) perfect, and the lore dump was well done, thematic and well paced. Superman and Batman felt exactly as they should, with big props on Batman and KC Batman acting how they would. 10/10. I don't really have any complaints about this book. This is a (subjective) perfect addition to Kingdom Come. Once again I say Waid really goes give me a challenge of separating writer from the work. I love the book written by a terrible person and it does cause some cognitive dissonance. I still think it is worth reading though as Marvel and DC really are not putting out a lot of good books now. This might be the best?

This is a massive blood, drag-em-out brawl that you don't see very often in comics anymore. The big boss fight before the final boss fight. This is going to read so well in a trade. Wild fun is to be had in this issue. First and Philosophies fly with characters written well and in-character. What more could you ask for?

An excellent end to a wonderful Kingdom Come Arc. Really, were there any winners? Sort of in a bitter sweet way. Also I understand there is a massive amount of confusion based on the last two pages and if that retcons Kingdom Come (which would be really dumb for Waid to retcon his best story). If he did retcon it, Waid is a fool. However, based on the age of David in the last pages (a very old man), it appears this is post Kingdom Come events, so sort of a 'you really messed up but can still be better, you are never too far gone to forgive' type deal. That is a very touching message and much more in line with what I figure the story was trying to portray. Mora art is on-point and amazing as always. Must read arc. If you enjoy Kingdom Come then it is a must re-read arc. 24 Issues in and this series keeps putting out amazing issues. How many series can say that? Now-a-days? None except this.

Ok I laughed out loud when Joker came out of the bathroom and Luthors 'w..t..f' face. Was great. Wish Mora would have drawn that story though. Art was good but not great. So Aaron did a bit about the Joker being insane and did a monologue on that. It was boring. Here Waid does a Monologue of what the Jokers mind looks like to Luthor and its amazing. The fear and madness leaps off the page. Luthor saves everyone from a Joker world of unspeakable horror. I enjoyed it. A great first time meeting story. As for the backup. The fight was great, and the art was great. I am just not a bat-mite person so I dont know how excited I will get with this next story. Oh well.

Honestly I dont really like the mites ect but I enjoyed this issue. Waid did a really good job making annoying characters work. Chuckled a bit and the fight scenes were great. The idea of parasite learning new ways to absorb things was quite cool. Writers might want to remember that for any future arc with him. Powered up robin was cool. Honestly a lot more cool moments than I would have expected in this issue. Good times all around. Mora is amazing, as always.

I didnt think I would like this issue too much until I got to the Olsen stuff. That silver age deep lore is what I love about Waid's writing. If you know DC, this issue oozed with great call backs and shows Waid knows and respects the lore. It is why it is the best book DC has right now. Long story short: Do you want some amazing deep lore cuts of the 'Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen' Silver age stories? If yes this will tickle you pink. Wacky wacky fun!

This was a blast. Waid holds nothing back when it comes to deep cuts into the lore or little bit that long time readers can enjoy. For those who are newer readers, Mora's art captivates and really pulls in that silver age feel. The characterizations are great, the plot is insane and Olsen is great. What more can you ask for? Also Batman having a great Batman moment with Batmite. Love to see it. Waid might be a monster of a person in real life, but as a writer he is still one of the best out there and this series still delivers. The most consistent high quality series there is out there.

As I mentioned in the start of this story, I really dont like the 5th dimension stuff but Waid did this story well. From a writing perspective, this was just a good short story. We get the hint in previous issues of how Batman and Superman are going to get out of this mess when Parasite pulls them out of dimensions and then Batmite makes it worse. WE have a really great fight (and surely it is not just me who though that Doom-mite got all Eldritch horror when they pulled out the dimensions out of him and he started to look like his '3rd dimension' form right?), coherent plot, great art and a heartfelt good by. Everyone was written in character (which is so rare nowadays), and a nice Superman moment when Doom-mite was asking him why he even bothered to defend earth because he isnt from here. It has heart the book and in today's market that is almost non-existent at DC and Marvel.

This was by far the weakest worlds finest so far. That being said, even that is better than most DC books. Waids: It was ok, too goofy for me and I worry about the next issue because it sets that up. Culver: Morpho was the best story. I liked almost everything about it. Culver does a great job. Williams: The story felt like it has little point. Very weak as it was totally boring. I mean Stagg getting screwed always brings me joy but that was about it. 'Cantwritewell' - Wasnt a bad story, I liked parts of it and disliked others, but it did feel thematic to the Challengers so I give him that. They are always dying and coming back somehow... so he respect the Kirby lore. I give it a pass.

Good first issue. I enjoy the art (I know its not to everyone liking). Better Batman book than the mainline.

Not sure how I feel about this one. Everything is sort of good but not great. Still better than the current mainline Batman book but that isnt saying much.

This played to the artists strengths a lot more. The action scenes felt so alive. We are moving forward and I enjoy that. Really the art carried this one this time. Enjoyed the fights.

Ok this gets some free marks for the single page splash of Batman establishing dominance over the bats. Like its silver-age silliness but I loved it. White rabbit is a bit too strong in this iteration of her. The info drop by Damien at the end was kind of ridcilous but again plays to the more light hearted goofiness of the book. Art is better. I like this a bit more. Better faces. Also that slash page of them playing a game to catch white rabbit was great. Good use of bold colours.

Interesting to get to see how Batman is playing is Bruce side with all these changes. A bit too humble and meek from how I would have thought but overall not totally unbelievable. The moms at the start was a nice funny bit. Interesting Gotham lore in this issue as well, or at least a reminder of how crappy it is. Ending was... well it was something. I enjoy this issue for its campiness as I feel that is the atmosphere of this series, but the faces were a bit off in this issue. At least Batman's were. Cant explain it well but it was just... off.

I enjoy Flatline so this is a nice ending for me. Also Damian's fan fic story got a good chuckle out of me. He is an edge Robin but still a hormonal teen at the end of the day. That characterization feels realistic. A nice light hearted campy book for Batman is a nice change of pace, I am growing to like this more and more.

Flatline issue, glad she is joining into the story. The two plots work together. Shush isnt a great character for a more serious plotline, but for what this book is trying to be, it works. That plot is a solid B grade. Art is once again really great at times, and others slightly off. All in all, its bring more to the table than it takes away.

Flatline being Flatline, Batman in a nice fight, its all fine this issue. I think I am finally understanding why I kind of line this run even with its average plot. It is because this Bruce/Batman feels a bit like Batman TAS in a sense. He has compassion, tries to hope for the best for things but isnt above getting brutal. I like this balance far more than the edge 'I am 14 and this is deep' main book batman.

A fun read, a good oneshot, but as others have said, I think something is wrong with Porter. Like he either rushed this or age is getting to him or a health condition because this was really rough art. It actively hurt the score by a point for me. Fun simple story, poor art.

This is a great issue with a lot of moving parts. The use of the court of owls and Ra, makes for an interesting contrast, both with world wide goals but different directions. You know Ra is up to something, but it is unclear what is going on with the grain. I enjoy the mystery and the team that has formed. Fun to see Batman, Robin, Catwoman and Taliah all working together.

IF this is how they conclude the batman adventures series, while bittersweet, this is something I can totally accept. It does bring in most of Batman's rouges gallery, large fights, good quips and a twist or two that you might or might not see coming. This read felt great. Still reminds me of the original shows. The spark is still there and as I said, this was a great end to the season, possible the entire series. I will always respect the Dini, Templeton Team (with Burnett often in there), as they brought so much of us our childhood batman. This series did an excellent job continuing that. I will conclude with how the book does: The adventure continues....

A nice and refreshing take on Batman. As of the writing of this review (Jan 2024), we still haven't had a good main-line Batman writer for years (think pre-King). All we have are the off-shoot and Black Label/non-cannon books. Great Art that can sometimes be a bit cluttered, and Alfred was only in for a short bit, but to make him so terrible was sad and felt bad. Besides those two complaints the book is great and Wong was an excellent character. An excellent addition to the history of the GCPD. If they took elements of her and put her in the mainline books that would be great honestly. This feels like a more grounded, harsh Batman. He still tries but he is far from invinsible and has less than stellar public perception. Bruce was also interpreted in an interesting way. Worth a read for sure. I enjoyed it in a HC TPB version. Looks nice on the Bookshelf and something I can hand off to people if they want a Batman short story to read.

I cannot see how this can be wrapped up in the next few issues. This might be fine if it was the start of a 20 issue run, but if it is as short as I am told it will be, then this story is going way too slow. Now the story is great and fun, but I cannot see it being properly done unless it is extended for a nice long run.

This review could have scored higher if Joe didnt decide to pace things the way he has. As for the issue itself, its great. Lots of info dropped, great fights, some power levels established and more debts to untrustworthy sources. All the characters have their next destinations and lot of tantalizing plots. Art is quite nice. Now for this pacing problem... If he sticks to 3-4 issues a year, I dont actually mind. However with how vague he was at the end of the book, I dont want to wait 5 years or even 3 years for the next arc (I will forget about this book at that rate). However, even if its only 4 issues a year, I can do that. I dont mind a slightly different schedule order as the story itself is quite fun.

I feel like the indie writers of late have been knocking it out of the ball park. This issue goes from so wholesome to so terrifying and wtf? so you get whiplash. I mean this in the best possibly way. It sucks you in. I would also like to add that besides the major point of horror, there is also a quite sad horror, an every day suffering, if you will that the author Patrick Horvath touches on really well. The local in a small town with dementia, a close friend who has a degenerative illness so you can only watch as they fall apart, the fact that the killer started off with those who would be considered 'undesirables'. It is scary cause it can hit close to home and it is scary cause of the twisted pure horror aspects. Additionally the main character is a really interesting sort. Art is also quite nice. I am strapped in and ready to be scared and sad (in a good way).

This issue deals with the fallout of the first issue, and how the town reacts. Things then proceed to get really messed up and crank the tension up to 11. Sam realizes stuff is going to explode from here and what is going on. I love a good murder mystery/crime drama, and add in the uniqueness of the setting and you have a run to read tale. Go Patrick! You are going a great job!

Honestly for a murder mystery, this is exactly what I wanted in this issue. The art is great, has its own unique look and feel and really works for this story. Everything is on point. While this issue might be able to be called a bait and switch, it did a great job of it. What appeared sinister was tragic, and really does a good job of showing that the people who you think you know might be holding deep wound and fears that they never let the world know about. The question the book poses of 'Who is a monster?' this issue has the surface answers but if you are willing to dive a bit deeper can get pretty complex quite quickly. I love everything about this. Again I will say, for what I wanted from this book, it delivers exactly what I wanted (and some stuff I didnt even know I wanted from the story).

You know I previously thought that the first issue was the 'oh $^&&' issue. No I was wrong. It was this issue. Sam is pretty messed up here. Going to be an interesting come back if it goes that way. Horvath is a great writer. Art is perfect for the story he is trying to tell. His art just works.

Look lets just say what everyone is thinking. That was a pretty #$%^ED up ending. Got to be reminded that even though we might route for the protagonist, she isnt good. Just cheering for one villain over another. At least the town is safe... for now.

I won't rate this as I don't really know what to make of this one. I think it might be good, but the idea didnt exactly grab me. The art was great though. I did enjoy that. Might need a couple of more issues to know if I liked this or not, but I also got this for free in the push to get this book into people's hands, so not sure if I would pay for the second issue.

So this is a great opening issue. Putting a lot of pieces in place, but great to see how the initial players are setting up and what this type of story is going to be. As Millar himself said, this is 20 years of stories in the making, so this is going to be big. Art is amazing. Loved every panel. First issue is essentially a hype issue and it does just that. Now that being said, if you dont like Millars writing, both the heroes and the villains this isnt the type of book for you. (This should be obvious if you dont like his books, dont read a book series pulling them all together but I guess I need to state that).

I dont know if I have ever read a second issue of an event that was this bleak. Like there is no 'oh they are down and they can overcome this'. This is just the bad guys winning without any real push back as the good guys had no idea what they are up against. I geuniunly dont know how the good guys (those who are left), are going to fight back as most of the strongest ones are dusted by now. This event is either going to be amazing or blow up in the next few issues. Knowing what effort Mark put into this from listening to his interviews, though my expectations are high.

Look I know the saying may be "Kill your darlings", Millar take it to "Slaughter your darlings". This is an intense book and wow no mercy is shown. Like this is just a bad guy stomp but the stakes are super high and there are some small talks like Kick-Ass about his life and his responsibility. Good event overall.

This is how you do an event. This like like the best event in the past... 10... 15 years? Additionally, for a penultimate issue, this is exactly what you want. Will the good guys turn it around? In a twist of fate... I dont think so. It looks like most are actually dead, but what if a bigger bad guy came in? Looks like the fate of the world will be bad vs bad vs a couple of heroes. Didnt see that one coming this issue but that is what makes it so great. Love how Millar is pulling together all of his stories.

Like others have said, this is how you end an event. The world is changed and has brought in essentially every character Millar has ever written. This feels like a "Crisis of Infinite Earths' level event. A true crisis event. This is the best event in... what the past decade? Best since Blackest Night or Civil War (1). I cant think of any that come close since then. Correct me if I missed a great event since those ones. This is a cannot miss event. If you do miss it, catch up on at least some of Millars books and then read this. Proceed to enjoy.

This was a brutally painful issue demonstrating that if breaking the chain was as easy as Ward though, many throughout human history would have done it. Alas, most are crushed under the chains we have been bound with due to circumstance or birth. One of those 'try not to cry, cry a lot' moments. Poor Ward. Excellent issue.

Very few arcs to a story will end as epic as this one. It is a weird mix of despair, hope, confusion, the unknown and suffering. Lots and lots of suffering. Somethings are answered while others are raised. For self contained stories, this should be used as an excellent example of how to write and arcs conclusion.

Excellent story that has to be read to be understood. I feel like to really explain how intense this volume was as a story story would take many many paragraphs. Just know it is a story about hope, about being broken, about failure and about suffering. The human condition is a hard thing to ignore event when you should be working together as a team to survive. A but too real and accurate in a sense. Art is wonderful. Scalera knocks it out of the ballpark.

Well this is a mostly refreshing, but absolutely explosive first issue. First the story is awesome. Byan Hill blows it out of the water with the issue. He gets full marks. Without spoiling everything, we learn that Blade messes up, like ends the world level mess up. Which is honestly nice. Seeing heroes make mistakes makes them relatable and allows them for some redemption. So love the hook. Also the revel of the female antagonist was close to epic. Flaying ones own skin with the only thing that can kill them and clocking their flayed body in shadows is... well like it is memorable. That is stuff you talk about at your LCS. One big downside, which I can see why people would rate it much lower. The colourist was a disaster. Everything is like someone went- yeah this page will be red, just red. Or blue, all blue. I feel with the right software I could have done the same levelling of colouring and I have no experience in this field. It really kills some of the hype of the issue with such poor use of colours (not the artists fault, the colourist is different). So depending on your tolerance for the colour, rating will likely vary.

This is leaps and bounds better than the first issue. Hill is still on fire story wise (and I will get to that in a second), but the art and colourist are much better. Especially the colourist. Like I dont know if they rushed the first one or did it while impaired but it feels way better. Now as for the story. It is AWESOME! This is the best Blade issue I think I have read in... over a decade? This feels like an action movie. Blade get hooking up with an old flame who hates him but has got the weapons. An amazing action scene where he wipes out a helicopter by jumping out of a condo and then back into the condo before the helicopter goes down. Epic fight scenes, and he has emotions. Like action hero style emotions. Not stoic and emotionless like some previous writers have written him which is wrong. He isnt emotionless he is cool. Like probably should be written as one of Marvel 'coolest' heroes personality wise, if you get what I mean. Tl dr, This is basically Marvel Grindhouse/Action pulp book (for those familiar with the genre) with Blade as the lead. Everything I want in a Blade book. The story and art scenes were perfect.

Another great issue. Once again it feels like this is an action movie rolling out issue by issue, in '10 min intervals'. Blade works with his 'partner' and old love/hate lady friend to essentially work out an impossible plan. It is insane, but I am loving every second. Blade comes off as amazing and cool. His rag tag team trying to go on a suicide mission is great. His ex also has a hilarious line where she is like "I should totally leave this" then ponders Blade and goes a long with it. It goes feel it has that great pulp action feel still. Everything you want in a Blade comic.

Not sure if I should give this a 7.5 or 8. The train battle itself was great (at least getting to the head vampire). However the head vampire battle was quite lame, and Strange just sending Blade right to the final boss battle aka Adana, felt lame and rushed. Honestly between this and the new artist (worse than previous issues), screams that Marvel editors are putting them thumbs on the scale to rush this series/run it into the ground. Bryan Hill is clearly being crippled here by the editors/weak artist partners. If you think about this, besides Hill himself, this run has been sabotaged by a poor colourist in issue 1, a poor artist in issue 4 and editorial/marvel higher ups rushing this/possibly cancelling this on-going series at 5/6 issues. Such a great series had its wings clipped. This was really a good Blade book.

Good issue and quite fun. Really is an interesting contrast with some previous issues. Hill has been doing a great job showing how Blade, when he is in his zone, is an amazing killing machine. When his anger and pride get the better of him he makes some serious mistakes. A character you can really cheer for. His poor ex though. Feel terrible for what happened to her. Blades got to get his act together. Only sort of iffy moment was Dr. Strange and Blade. Better than the previous issue for the interactions but it still feels like it needs some work. That and the time-skip. I went easy on this issue but honestly there should have been an extra issue... This brings me to my next point though... I have serious worries for this series though. Marvel appears to have axed it then unaxed it, and now it looks like they might be rushing him to turn it into a maxie (10 issues?). Hill is doing his best but I swear everyone else is trying to ruin it.

This does feel lacking. As mentioned this is really fast paced and you can read the book in like 2-3 min. Really its just a long training montage to help Blade surpass his 'human-ness'. Art is meh. One thing I will say is the set up for the next issue is nice. I look forward to the next issue. This issue was just ok. I am being a bit light on it, probably should be a 6.5/7 rating, but I understand this issue had to be a training issue with how bad Blade got ruined last issue. So it served its purpose.

This was ok with ok art but I dont really understand the purpose between tying together Blade and Hulk. Dont get me wrong, these (besides FF) are the only ongoing series of Marvel I am actively reading these days (my interest in Avengers is rapidly waning). That being said, this reads fast as there is just not much going on, Blade talks to Bruce, then an issue is resolved almost instantly cause Blade is just that strong. The fight on the cover never takes place. This feels like a waste of money. I mostly blame Marvel and the editorial. I dont think Hill wanted to write this but with the cancellation and cancellation (and seemingly re-cancellation) of this book, I think its plot is in shambles. The cover of this issue really gives off click-bait vibes.

I give this an 8 mostly because it actually moves the plot forward (towards the end of this short series which appears to be issue 10), and the art feels a touch better. Also I can't help but laugh hard at the conversation between Draven (the guy he killed by mistake in the first issue) and Blade. The "Rumored to be made for Lucifer himself-' 'Been there, the Adana has that.' 'You are filled with disappointments.' Like Draven must be so ticked that the dude who killed him just keeps messing up and making Adana more powerful. He is surrounded by clowns (or in this case dammed souls). I will echo other comments point that Blade going to hell is a bit weird and not really his wheelhouse. Maybe it is suppose to show how desperate he is. Oh well, at least the plot is moving. I hope this series can end on a high note because it started so good and then really fell off with the first Adana 'battle'. This at least shows some promise.

So I did chuckle at a couple of points like "What about Tanaka" " I believe he has gone insane'. How was that suppose to be written to get a chuckle out of me? I dont think so, but I try to laugh where I can in this series as it is such a miss. The art really brings it down. At least there were some other genuinely funny moments in this one. The set up is nice and I do look forward to the final fight. Better than many of the previous issues which were so weak. Overall, story is a big step up, art is still a mess.

Well I know this book was cancelled but wow does it scream 'cancelled'. This was clearly the real end of the first arc with Adana defeated and now Blade has to fix all the world wide effects she has put into motion. My guess is Marvel will ignore that the entire world is filled with evil and just go right into blood hunt (not everyone is vampires). This will be a plot point that is never resolved. I figured Hill would fix this in another 10 issue and get the grand conclusion or something along those lines. Instead... we get this. Also speaking of Adana... wow was she weak and quickly defeated for a literal element of evil. Like she was a concept. How do you kill the concept of evil so easily? At least her body. This should have been some epic mind melting fight with serious in universe effects. Instead this will likely leave nothing. This series of what it should have been to what it became due to Marvel is honestly in part why I think I am going to stop reading most main universe marvel books. Maybe keep 2 or 3 at most and just see if the ultimate universe can keep itself together better. The main universe is a disaster.

Ehhh... this wasnt good but it could have been worse. Catwoman is at least written okish even if everyone around her is sort of lame. Goodish art. Art is probably carrying the score for me.

Save yourself the pain and dont read it. This run has no point and this issue does nothing to help it. Art is where all my points go to. The writing is 0/10.

So this was a character shattering and terribly written plot. Tini clearly no longer cares. Start off with Batman. Who thought it was a good idea to have him act like an overly hormonal 12 year old? He starts off crying on a roof top and needs to be comforted by Catwoman and is deeply upset that they might be enemies. You might argue, well he is being controlled by zur en arrh, but Zur doesnt really do that. Zur is crazy, unhinged, not a whimpering child. This is not Batman. This is some lame character that I dont want to read about. Also he makes out what Lady Clayface looking like Catwoman? Did I read that right? He couldn't tell the difference when he was making out with her? (The same Catwoman who makes out with Batman runs non-stop to Savages location, and is beheaded as Clayface, so its the same person unless there is something super indicating they swapped out). Batman is written like a fool. Also, while I did laugh at it, Batman giving Jason Todd a piggy back is hilarious in the bad way. Like did the artist not care at all or were they told to do it that way? Who would have him carry him out of rubble that way? It honestly feels like we are at the point where I cant tell when Chip, Tini and the artists are just trolling/dont give a crap, or if they really are bad at what they do. Shame. As for Catwoman herself. She is written as some plot armour, all knowing OP character. She somehow knows of Savages plot, even though she never directly heard it from him (Remember the Catwoman who heard it, was Clayface), so unless Savage just let Clayface run away and tell Catwoman (making him really out of character dumb), she shouldnt know this. She just 'knows'. This issue has no flow, action for the sake of action, and non-stop plot holes. This event in its entity is a very low point for the Bat family. I have no idea how long the damage it has done will lasts.

What is this? Seriously... what is this? So a bunch of non-sense scenes, with rushed-plot and now she has powers? Really? Tini's entire run seems to be breaking down and ruining Catwoman as much as possible. Between her falling in love with a War-criminal monster to her getting powers, what is left of Catwoman? Well I can answer that. Covers. Looking at Catwoman sales, that is the sole thing that appears to be keeping the sales going. The All-star cast of artists DC puts on the covers. Tini is an anchor and the artists are the helium balloons trying to pull up this complete waste of a series. I genuinely feel bad that such good art is being associated with this terrible writing. Nine-Lives superpowers? Please end this run. It is so painfully cringe.

Laugh with me! Laugh with me! This dumpsterfire has got to the point its so bad its good. Catwoman has fully transcended to a clown (literally and figuratively at some points in this story). She has no common sense, no skill, a full on bumbling stooge. Tini shows she must have slept through highschool and still passed as she don't know that injecting chemical cleaner like drano into your neck would kill you. She thinks it just knocks you out if it doesnt hit a vain. Hint: You would almost certainly die, it would dissolve the surrounding vains in your neck and you would bleed out/internally hemorrhage quickly. Also Catwoman working with a cannibal clown with no logic is amazingly terrible. This series is now so bad its great. Get it in a dollar bin a few months from now. Store owners will likely have to pay people to take this book with how bad it is. This wreck literally brings to me laughter. The art is also terrible. They dont even have good cover artists anymore. DC I think has given up on Catwoman. The fall from V and JJ is massive.

So for one lets just get it out of the way. Wow that is one heck of a way to end an issue. Honestly couldnt have seen that cliffhanger coming. So kudos, I got to pick up the second issue to see where this goes. City Boy Issue 1 is really a focus on who he is as a person, and gives some background to him, the place he lives and some of those around him. His life isnt the greatest to say the least. Does a good job making you cheer for him. To sum up the We are Legends Books, I would say for each of them you read them for... Vigil- The Team Spirit World- The Setting and secondary characters City Boy- Character Building We are Legends has honestly got off to a far stronger of a start than I think most people would have expected. I look forward to the second issue of each of these books, it is now up to the artists and writers to not let us down!

This is a great issue. It really is building up to his hero moment, but also paints that this guy is not going to be an all rainbows hero. Considering he channels the city and you know if you consider what mostly occurs in inner cities, suffering, abuse, neglect ect. He really fighting against the urge to go brutal and they author shows this. Enjoyable read. Still say this guy needs a new hero name. Maybe by the end of the mini-series he will rename himself to show the change in character. That would be cool.

Consistent writing throughout, this is still putting a high focus on City Boy, what he is and what he isnt. Supermans parts are very in character which is nice. Good mentor moment. The book does a good job laying out what the rest of the miniseries is going to look like. My predictions: Issue 4 more of a back story to City Boy Issue 5 Mob/Gang fights Issue 6 Gang fight resolution/Darkseid Conflict Unlike the other We are Legends books, this one comes out as the one with the most direction, which is weird as this one I feel started the weakest. Has really improved though.

This book for me keeps chugging away at pretty much solid 8s. That feels like the type of book it is. As for the actual content, we get great character development for City Boy as we learn a lot of what he is not (which leads to more questions but good ones, ones you want to have for a character to grow and have a future). We also learn the fate of his mother but that doesnt help him at all. Swamp Thing was great in this issue. The single joke he makes is pretty on-point to. This mini-series feels like a deep character dive where each issue City Boy meets up with another person to help him slowly find out who he is as a person. I feel like in the end, City Boy will be a great mini-series to introduce this character, his power set and his mindset as a hero/possibly anti-hero.

Ok I am just prefacing this with the following description is going to sound weird but it has a point. I actually wouldn't mind if we never saw City Boy again after this or only in very small cameos. Not because I don't like the book, the opposite actually. I really liked this. In some ways, for a story from a person with Super Powers who might never be a hero this is kind of a 10/10 ending. I really do feel like this was an excellent story of how both the heroes and the villains wanted City Boy to be something he never wanted. Some demanded him to be a hero, others a villain but in reality he just wanted closure with his mother. In all honestly this was a risky story to write, Pak took that risk an I applaud him for it. He wrote a story that had great moments. Even anti-trope moments. In the end, his mom never loved him. The heroes try to give him that BS of 'well this is proof that she always loved you' but he corrects them and it changes to a note of grief and closure. He never got what he really wanted, but he got a real ending and closure. He never has to be a hero again. No one should have to call on him. He did what he needed to do. He might help out the people of the Cities he goes to but it feels like he is at home with who he is. He doesn't have to be great, he knows who he is. The story ended with great closure and peace. It was a calm happy ending. And if I don't ever see City Boy in comics again, I will be ok with that. He seems like he found his place, and maybe its in his own story, one that we never will get to see. It feels ok to leave him in this good place. Truly a different type of read. Everyone should give this mini a try.

So this is a great read but I must warn, I dont think this is going to be what people expected. I am really rusty on Cobra lore but from what little I remember, this is a bit intense. Cobra Commander is far less scheme'y' and smarmy and far more terrifying and brutal. Cunning and strategic. Tech instead of skills and he embraces this weakness. Much like what was done in Transformers for StarScream, they did for Cobra Commander. The villains in this universe are way more terrifying than what I remember in the 90s and I am down for it. Both Duke and Cobra Commander are amazing start to mini-series to explain the rise of GI Joe and Cobra. Must reads. Once again the Energon universe is pumping out winners.

Well hot dang that was a good issue. Establish people that are a threat to the Commander? Check. Show off the Commanders wits and strategy without making him OP? Check. Developing a great voice for the Commander? Check. Establishing high stakes for the next issue? Check. I really enjoy what is coming together here. This Cobra Commander is so well written you know he is going to be amazing here and down the line. A great villain for sure. Everything in the Energon Universe is a must-read and Issue 2 of this mini-series just goes to show you why.

I really liked this issue because it gave us everything you functionally needed in this 3rd issue. But I must warn, dang it gets brutal. We see that while the commander is not a fighter, the guy can take a messy torture. He knows how to play the waiting game and how to manipulate the pawns around him to do what he needs to get done. Williamson is delivering on his promise of a new type of Commander. Not a silly coward but a dark, intense, threatening one. He really is driving home the point that this guy will put the fear in you. He has two issues left and I cannot wait. The Energon books are the one universe that I just cannot wait for the next book to come out each month. I need more commander!

This was great. Loved it all. Loved the betrayal. The character development of the commander, the brutality of it all and how we see how all paths lead to Destro. They are doing a great job hyping up Destro. I love this mini-series, this is a great way to paint a picture of the universe while building it up. Yet it doesnt overwhelm. Very smart move by Skydance. Evergon Universe going strong!

And so sums up the Cobra Commander intro... and boy was that an intro. He units the worst of them through fear and brutal pragmatism. I look forward to this Energon world. It first building blocks have been so amazing to see. Williamson clearly has fun writing these stories and I look forward to what else he has in store.

This is a solid start, and it has all the main beats you would want for this type of story. Cryopod failue? Check. Hostile planet but its the only thing left in the universe so its a do or die mission? Check. Unspeakable horrors and mass death? Check. Mission off the a disastrous start? Check. I just have two issues. 1) This story is totally fine but doesnt innovate much. It doesnt have the best hook. 2) The art doesnt feel appropriate for this type of story. Its not great for a sci-fi. I wish the art had more grit and 'bleakness' if you will. Something feels lacking. All in all a good read but not great.

Well this was a much better issue. Oddly, the hook was in issue 2. Things have really gone to crap, but we are not just witnessing the madness on the planet but the politicking and the dire situation back on the spaceship. We are getting deaths, hard choices and an ever growing atmosphere of dread. That being said there is almost a sense of hope in the desperation. People are pushing forward and its not like the mission is doomed. Just drastically altered. Art is once again 'ok' but it is growing on me (but not like the thing growing on one of the poor survivors!).

This story feels abruptly short. With only 4 issues, is this just the start to this story or is there more coming? Issue 3 presents us with more... well issue as things just continue to get worse. Unless you consider tricking people to their death to get the best fighters on the only other working craft a win. Then yeah I guess 1 win. While I liked this issue (and my 8 is based on that with hope of what the story can be based on what I read), it feels like issue 4 is going to let me down. The only ending I can think of is everything gets so bad everyone dies rapidly (boring), or that this is just the start of a larger story (confused as to why its only 4 issues then). I suppose I am hoping to be surprised. Art is once again odd and not to my liking but not bad per say either. Kind of fits this type of story... in a weird way.

Well this was a messed up read. It was mostly a hopeless read with no chance of survival, but there is almost a disturbing 'hope' if you will that you are left with. That all being said this read like a teaser of a much bigger story. There are so many questions left unanswered and so much story to go. This is just the really the arc of 'how did the get there and why is everything so messed up' with the first crew being those to show the reader how terrifying the rest will find it. Though I am a bit surprised at who survived, who died and who 'survived'.

The art is great. Story is kind of slow and sort of forced. Clearly everything just needs to be symbiotes.... lovely (sarcasm). Now that being said, having everyone in the Osborne family be freaks in some way... is an interesting dynamic. Not sure if they can pull it off but I am going easy on the rating for this first issue.

Not bad. Art is fun, Misery looks great. Also while this almost has no tie-in to the universe at general, it sort of explain stuff that I figured would have happened a lot already. Companies should be in constant arms race to get ahold of these symbiotes to make weapons of war. This plot line at least feels like something that would actually happen in the background, even if the heroes are not exactly dealing with it. Nice to see more Liz development, even if she is like an E tier character.

I think I get the point of this issue to be to sum up all of Liz's life to accept that Harry was an abuser and that her life sucks so she should just embrace the misery? While I do appreciate her inner mental state explained so as to justify why she is able to bond/fully bond with Misery instead of being consumed by it, I just wish it was done a little better. All that being said, I love how the first page of the book is literally panels from the very beginning of her life to the day she married Harry. Loved seeing all the old art. Waves of nostalgia. Corwin loosing control of Madness can only bring problems. Issue 5 should at least be interesting. Overall, it was ok but spent way too much time doing a mediocre job explaining the merge to Misery.

I waffle between 7 and 7.5 but the art is great so 7.5. All in all, this is a bit of a mixed bag. There was a lot of great stuff going on in this book, good fights and I like Misery and how Liz is explored overall. It also leaves a bunch of linger points that could be reasonable built upon. Madness is a character that has potential. At least some. That being said, lots of silly stuff also occurred. Stanley's mom is clearly killed in an image (basically cut in two), but apparently makes a full recovery by the end. Spiderman's scene is also bizarre. Like he couldnt take them before but once Spearhead dies and then he is good to beat everyone? Really?

This fell kind of flat. Cyborg himself is good, but the supporting cast and just the feel... is lacking. I didnt get a spark from this issue. Going to give it one more issue. Has potential but only an 'ok' start.

Look if you have a young kid, this is an awesome book to read together and build some memories. I laughed hard at it. Good simple, in-character fun. Art is just right for it. All wholesome fun (except the Lobo story, sort of out of place a bit, but still good).

This takes a little warm up but the story will grab you, dig in and not let go. There is some great character and world building done. As for the art... its perfect. Its beautiful, unique and perfectly fits the story being told. I cannot explain why but it gives a feeling of wonder, hope, weariness, and perseverance. Just take a read, get prints of each of the pages. I could stare at them for hours...

Excellent continuation. Art is top notch and drives the story. We do a deeper dive into the plot and honestly I binge read this it was so good. Went by in a blur and that was my only complaint. It was gone so fast.

Probably the weakest issues/volume of the series as its all backstories and very little forward plot movement (there is some just its not a driving factor). That being said it fills in a lot of unsaid things and makes a lot of stuff retroactively more impactful. All I can say is... Driller really is a killer!

Betrayals, revelations, amazing art, intense moments, a machine moon. What more could you want? I also binged this volume so I wont go into details but its hard to put down once you pick it up. Chapters blur into one amazing story.

Everything is at a fever pitch at this point. By the end of this volume tensions are ratcheted up to 11 but there are still so many unanswered questions. Art is breath-taking as always! Dustin, you are an amazing artist!

This is more of a score for the series as a whole. It was beautiful. I loved it. I loved this 'ending'. The final chapter is not really a true ending but more of the start of a new beginning. That being said, man does it get dark. This was not the ending I expected at all. That being said that is why I loved it so. It wasnt what I expected but it didnt 'subvert expectations' it just gave me a better ending than the one I wanted. This volume provides a lot of feels, anger, anxiety, heartfelt moments, unspoken things finally said, bitter-sweetness. I loved it every moment. Read it. Soak it all in and then jump into the next adventure with Lemire and Nguyen!

As someone new to Destro for the most part, this was a wonderful introduction. The explanation of how Watters is approaching it intrigues me and the general start of the story, while a bit scattered, was highly interesting. Destro clearly has some flaws that can be exploited but the book also shows many of his strengths. I do look forward when he is more on the offensive foot in the next issue.

Can I just start off saying that I love the cover art? The mech-warriors are great looking. Lucas does a great job drawing them (and later in the issue). If you are seeking action, this issue will give you some. Mostly at the start. However, if you are seeking a strategic, tit-for-tat, precision strike business battle, then this is for you. Destro vs Xamot and Tomax is great. It is enjoyable to see their characters unfold. Also can I say the Destro is just a megalomaniac and I am all here for it. Love the way he is drawn (almost goofy comical evil villain but it feels like it fits). I would say this issue is better than the first and that is a nice thing to see.

Just going to say the FYSO characters were so well written. Although DWJ doesnt spend a huge amount of time on their backstory, you understand perfectly well why these people, do terrible terrible unforgivable things, and you can empathize with them. You also see how their goals and desperation drive them to their eventual end. So much said with so little. That is the mark of a great writer/artist.

Depending on who you are as a person. This issue feels like the embodiment of 'try not to cry, cry a lot'. The final few pages of this issue are beautiful. Not what I wanted, but possibly what I needed to read.

I do not say this lightly, but this honestly feels like a masterclass in writing for this style of book. Funny, impactful, heart-felt but also just so bizarre at times. I dont think anyone could have written the framework of this story than DWJ. This book is good for almost any reader. I dont even like wrestling, I find it just an act, rather pointless to watch. But DWJ made me love this story. It really is the journey of a girl and her father and a path of hope and redemption. He handles the conclusion quite well considering he goes and writes a conclusions/penultimate issue that could be quite inflammatory/handled badly, but he is such a good writer he knocked it out of the park. Please read this, it is a wonderful book that will give you both an adrenaline rush and a whole lot of 'feels'. Art is on point. It fits what it is trying to portray perfectly. It is so over-the-top and colourful that I was drawn into every page and wanted to yell when some of those moves dropped. I cheered for the characters as they were on their journey and their emotions were conveyed beautifully.

Well hot dang that was an amazing first issue. Gives you what you need to know, a couple shots of motivation and tragic plot points, great action, and a promising start to this 6 issue series. I flipped the last page and wished it was a trade that I could read in one go. To me that is the best kind of success. I was left wanting more.

A great mix between action, character introductions and plot advancement. Not much to say about this issue except that each page was compelling and I loved reading it. I really enjoy the formation of GI Joe group in this universe. Every book is a hit for this written universe. Ending the story with some eye-candy after being filled with Duke and crews ripped muscles is also nice. Its all good all the way.

A bit of a slow start, but for someone with a dodgy GI Joe background it was handy to know. Baronness pretty much shows Duke if he went down a darker path. Love the fight scenes and the prison break at the end. If I got the final panels correct, they wiped out another GI Joe villain early on. I really do enjoy the way this universe is going and how it differentiates itself. I love all these energon books.

High octane action, massive fights, Bludd survives (that sob), but is mutilated, Baroness and the crew make a break out and we end on a cliff-hanger. The issue was jam packed but didnt feel rushed to me. What more could have been added? Art was great, very kinetic. We get some great plot advancement here as well. All in all, couldn't really have asked for more. This issue was just what was needed. Williamson is doing a great job here.

Yeah Duke was awesome. Enough said. Oh I should say more for a review? Well the action was great, got lots of that. Got the classic faking the death scene. Got the start of GI Joes. Some more Destro stuff. All the good good stuff you want. Strong recommend. This was a fiery amazing start to the Energon Universe.

Why is this still going on? These stories range from, interesting but not given enough space to just lame. They really need to wrap up the spider-verse as it just hurts at this point. Save your money. Don't read this series.

Did I see a different book than everyone? Art is ok, plot is meh. Nothing inspiring in this one. This wont last. Uncanny>X-Men>>Exceptional. Easily.

This should be a 1/10. The only reason to read this book is to read the end of a rotting era. Likely the worst era X-men has ever had to date. Key Stupidity from this issue: 1)The entire argument against the X-Men is that they are invading Aliens. Ok that is stupid on its face. They are clearly not. They come from humans its not like they are working with an invasive alien species to give you that ide... wait just in X-Men team up with the Brood? Really just prove all the insanely easy to disprove points appear true? And the Brood will likely be used on people who doesnt agree with them? So they truly appear to be the villains. 2) The 'ScrewBall' combo of just tossing people to their deaths is weak 3) Cyclops could have actually made a stand in the shame trial and put out a counter argument and buy more time for the other x-men to stall and grow in strength. Instead he immediately capitulates. 4) The writing and speeches are just cringe. This is a disaster but really does represent the end of this era. Pathetic, weak, with the heroes being villains and leaving the readers with only disgust. I would say using if people like this era as a metric of if they understand X-men at all would be a good future litmus test.

This should really get a 0/10. Everything is forced. Plot makes no sense, character break lore from even an issue ago. I.e. Emma Frost in her non-diamond form can apparent take hits point blank from a Sentinel not just get back up. This is something a 10 year old who was vaguely told what x-men was about and thought Magneto was the real hero. Polaris is over there committing war crimes, Kurt is just bamping people into the void committing brutal murder against people who, yes are bad, but mostly cant defend themselves. The x-men have truly become everything they fear. Congrats Duggan. You turned them into homicidal, bigoted, fascist, genocidal psychopaths. They have no redeeming features left. Also the one bad guy turning because of Cyclopes 'motivating speech'? There was no set up for that and that speech was one of the worst I have read. It would calm down a person on a bender. I just leave this as read as I am reading the ruins of the x-men. How can they recover from this?

To get this out of the way first, I don't like North's writing 95% of the time. I think most of the time he is a hack and that this run started off weak. Now getting that out of the way. This issue I have to give him credit where credit is due. This is actually creative. The perspective from Alicia, and the sibling combo action is stuff that has never/or rarely ever been done. And this was done pretty well. The art is also great. The characters sound mostly in-character. In an era where so many writers only re-use and water-down ideas, it is rare to find something more unique. So for that I like it.

Love this issue. But I am rating this for its story and art, not what it is as a FF story, cause honestly, they act as a plot device to the story and nothing more. Now as a sci-fi horror story, this is great. Replace the aliens with humans and the FF with an outer rim planetary exploration group and you have a solid movie premise. I just loved everything about this from a one-shot horror sci-fi perspective. I dont want to ruin too much but the Alien perspective was great. North leaves me confused. A lot of his writing is terrible, but this run has been unusual, separated, but full of unique one-shot ideas. I can't tell if he is getting more editorial help or less, but whatever the change is, it is working well for him. So keep this up!

This is just a goofy issue. Positives: Ben gets the spotlight to show off the fact that he is smarter than your average person and gets to use some of his historical knowledge to work (without Reed just being the go-to brains). Fun read. Like if you turn off your brain there is a lot to like about this issue. Cons: Plot kind of doesnt make sense that only Ben was able to get out. Like I get why it had to be that way but I was surprised at least Reed didn't get out (it at least sounded like Susan was super close though, so maybe half pass?). Also all these one-offs, while great, start to feel a bit weird, like how is this all happening and being wrapped up so well in their little house cabin? Maybe a over arching plot point will work that out but until then it feels a bit weird. Even though the cons sort of seem bigger, I really enjoyed this issue of Ben and his 'new dog'.

This was a far weaker issue for me. It misses the mark for a few reasons. 1) The art for the first few pages before they go off to the Dino world feels off... like the smiles feel warped/things dont seem quite right like the was just done quickly/poorly. Things snap back once they change worlds but it might just be masked by the fact Dinos are drawn differently. 2) The story is just wacky. And not wacky fun like the previous issues. This feels so wacky it has 'jumped the shark' so to say and just feels ridiculous. I think the problem they face interesting but the portal of it is just too goofy to really focus on the story. One part I liked was Ben with his Dino kids and the one kid to changed to look human. That as cute. All in all, not a bad issue per say but falls far from where the past 5 issues have been.

Better than the last issue but too goofy. Additionally North re-uses one of Doom's weaknesses again too soon. Used his pride/paranoia in what issue 7? And again in this issue. Using the same way to take him down (even if he took himself down the last time), is a bit like going to the same well too often even if it does keep with the saying 'The only one who can beat Doom is Doom.'. Overall not a terrible issue and has its redeeming moments for sure. But too wacky and reused ideas for me. I didn't dislike it though and it was better than the last hence my 7.5 rating.

To mimic some other reviews, I really liked the fight at the start (no complaints I think it was fun and well drawn), and the twist at the end was also good. Lots to work with there. However, the middle was mostly just philosophical waxing and waning all to ram in a plot device. To me this issue felt like eating a burger, with amazing artisan buns and cardboard as the meat. No fillings were bad. This run is no doubt better than the Slotts as other have said, but that is a low bar. Slott should not be anyone's comparison bar, we should expect everyone to do better than that.

Much better than the previous issue. Unfortunately the issues are tied together and so it is dragged down by the disjointedness of the previous issue. Additionally the previous one ended pretty conclusively so I was sort of caught off guard by the fact this is a continuation. Parts of it seem a touch forced. All that being said, the story is bitter sweet and has some touching moments, which dont really feel as earned as they should be but I will say this. So many of the stories in Marvel are so BS and pointless, the hope that is in this story feels good. I could use some hope in comics. So the end of this book and the explorations into what is a life, are nice. Again not done as well as it could have (I feel like this could have been a real 10/10 book if this was instead a well put together 3 issue mini arc), but still at least this felt like a good story. Maybe my bar for Marvel comics is so low but this was so much better than the previous issue and felt good to read.

This is much better than the previous issues but I feel weird even giving it an 8.5. I do find it a cute story and I had fun reading it, which I guess at the end of the day is all that matters? Like the science is poorly done, and its barely a FF story at all, just some wacky shenanigans but its kind of fun. At the end of the day I feel weird reviewing it because I feel like I had 8.5/10 worth of fun reading the book even if the book feels more like its a 7.10. I dont usually feel confused reviewing books but here I am. Tl dr, its a fun read even if its not a great FF with dodgy science.

This was a good issue but let down by the art. It was similar but clearly a step down unfortunately. All in all the story was good and enjoyable but Ryan does the same thing every issue that bothers me: He over explains everything and tries to make it make sense but if you understand what he wants to say you realize he writes like what a dumbish person thinks a smart person sounds like. His concepts are wrong, but not totally wrong. He gets the general idea of what he is going for but then just makes up stuff. Like there are legit 'science-fu' ways to explain these things instead of the garble he comes up with. It kind of takes away some of the fun of it. Dont get me wrong, I like the mysteries and the Sue/Reed/Kang story was fun. I also really like the lore consistent incorporation of braille. Like for anyone else besides like DD it would be some BS McGuffin, but for Reed and Sue it makes perfect sense. So it was nice.

While I still dont know if I like this run, it is fun in its own way. It is just the Fantastic Four being Fantastic in new an creative ways (even if the science behind it is BS and one of my major grips in that North has to actually lean into hard science, or go full wonky science. This middle of the road really pulls me out of the book sometimes). I do love the fact the solution was basically replicating an 80s arcade game. Nostalgia and all that jazz. Art is ok, growing on me I suppose. Blaze still looks so weird with a stache. One thing I will say is I am glad the FF is mostly sticking to itself and not really doing too much with the rest of the Marvel world. The 616 is frankly a disaster right now with most books being meh to straight up disasters. This is a nice corner I can read and enjoy without the other stuff bogging it down.

It is a fun crime noir with a twist at the end to make it all fit into the current run. I had run, I liked the reinterpretations. Lovely art for the story. Really got the feel. The FF all look great as noir characters. This run has no real strong overarching story but all these one offs are not bad at all.

This issue was fun but functionally meaningless. Just for a good laugh and slight character development. Nothing wrong with that but it really is a filler story at best. Did I laugh? Yeah I kind of chuckled. One of the best stories out of Marvel right now (which is saying almost nothing as besides the Ultimate Universe and Twilight A, its all trash).

I dont think my normal review style would make any sense for my rating this time so I am just doing pros and cons and hope it makes sense: Pros: -Alicia acts human (which might be a low bar but Marvel cant seem to do this right) and when things are quite has real worries. Nice to see it. -I laughed pretty hard at Reeds %s including a sliver for if Johnny does stupid things. -Seeing Reed use his power in a more interesting way then just in a small battle. Stretching out across several blocks to create safe passage is both interesting and not often seen. Neutral: I feel like the FF family is written mostly in character but something feels slightly off. I cant quite put my finger on it. Still not bad but slightly skewed. Cons: -Art is taking some getting use to. A step down I feel. -The end seems a bit McGuffin'y' with how the Vampires got in. I get the idea but to leave the biggest weakness so open, not to even have guards or whatever nearby was kind of weird. -Biggest Con: tied to the blood hunt event which is a dumpster fire. Honestly having this be some other random FF bizarre situation would be more interesting. This series does better when its on its own and not tied into the wreck that is the greater Marvel 616

Good read over all, art is growing on me or maybe just better done. I dont know how I feel about all of the story honestly. Like its interesting to have the FF be in the background and not solve a problem in their own book. I cant tell if I like that or it was a waste of money. A more picky question for other readers: Was the Reed tearing his skin from stretching in character? I mean I get it was established last time that he pushed himself to the limits but Reed's power has been so all over the place with each writer I cant tell if this is actually consistent or not. I suppose this is what we get when Marvels Editors go on record mocking continuity and lore. Fun issue though. Still held down by the fact it had to be associated with the terrible blood hunt event.

This feel like this is a good book to base a '5' off of. It is not good in the least, but also not a total disaster. What it does hilariously wrong: The characterization of Fire and Ice, with the big emphasis on Fire. Fire comes off as an out of touch, unlikable a-hole who really has no redeeming features and doesnt seem like the Fire from JLI at all. Also her entire background of being a secret agent is gone. Only a model/influence style background remains. She is far more shallow. Ice is much better but still kind of flat. She needs more to her. Fires rant at Superman is totally uncalled for. If you said this book was to justify taking Fire and Ice out to pasture and put justify them not showing up in comics for years after this mini is done, I would believe it. Meh Factor- The art. Its not good, rather weak but not bad either. Just uninspiring. Overarching story is also meh. Like the plot per say isnt a disaster but it isnt pulling you in at all. Reads like a YA book and just pointless fluff. The Good- One joke- I enjoyed the Ambush Bug bit. I did laugh. Who is this for: Probably for people who like reading YA books and know nothing about Fire and Ice. This also feels like a really niche audience so I am unsure why you would write towards this group.

Ok so first lets get off the real reasons to dislike this entire series. 1) None of the characters are written in character. Joanne Starer clearly has no idea who any of these characters are. They feel like all OC's just re-skinned as DC characters. 2) This is like season 54 of Days of Our Lives where only wine moms would enjoy this. Like that is what the humor feels like. 3) This has no functional plot besides mindless hi-jinks. Now for the reason you can all call me names for but something really ticked me off and why I wanted to write this review for this specific issue: How they treated the disabled character. Rant time: Why the ^$&* did they somehow justify robbing and harassing a guy in a wheelchair (and imply he shouldn't use tactics to not... you know get robbed and possibly killed by a giant gorilla), because he charges too much money for drinks? So because the guy owns his own business and wants to survive in the USA with a disability they have the right to rob him? Fire is the one who says the comment about drinks! The guy isn't rich. He has been dealt a crappy hand in life and is just trying to make it and you, the hero come in to screw him. This book is trash as it is, and filled with BS themes, but then you go and punch down? Really? That feels bad. And tactless. I just have little patience for trying to justify harassing a person with disabilities and still sell the harasser as the 'better person' which is how the situation seemed to be trying to play out. Rant over.

Adams goes out with a Bang. Considering issues like these (multiple short stories by many authors), are rarely good, it is impressive to see that 4/5 are great. Breakdown- Adams 10/10 Waid- 10/10 Johns- 9/10 (Niches but if you like/know of Zoom its great) Williamson- 9/10 (look maybe its a bit mooshy and cheap but I like the sweetness) Spurrier- 5/10- Not reassuring for where the series goes from here. Art- All great but Nauck just knocks it out of the part again. Guy is amazing and one of the best artists out there right now. Just lovely.

So this is quite a strong start, but there are some serious red flags. Like this new direction is exciting as I like the unknown edrich horror stuff/things broken that shouldnt be broken, unknown unknowns ect. Big Red Flag- characterization. Like Linda I am worried he will ruin her and the marriage. Now if he decides to take it in more of a understanding post-postpartum and the family working through that, that would be more wholesome and nice. I just worry that he will ruin it and make Wally's like in ruins. That would ruin the run instantly and really just further break Wally's character. I hope that isnt the case. Overall, nervously optimistic.

This feels like an average person trying to sound like a genius. It comes across as silly and poorly written. The art sort of grabs the feel of what they were going for, but I also assume the artist had little direction and had to make due with vague descriptions of what Spurrier wanted. Plus side, the stillness were drawn really well and the overall unknowning creepiness is something I enjoy. This has potential but it is honestly sliding. My goodwill is running out in that sense. It just feels like way too many concepts mashed into one. Also what ticks me off is Wally seems to be getting even more powerups. Stop just giving all the heroes insane powerups so they are all broken. It sounds like he can now step in and out of time? Is he also getting stillness powers?? It will probably be cleared up in the next issue but that might also break the next issue.

Look I will give it this. This books art is experimental. Very creative angles, use of panelling. Deodato gets max creative points. Enjoyed that. As for the story itself. It is a lot of rambling. So many panels of just people thinking things that go no where. Lots of random words combined to sound smart. I give this one more issue before my ratings for this run drop off a cliff. So I am willing to put up with stuff now as Deodato is great, really unique and I dont want to miss that, but Spurrier clearly thinks he is way smarter than he actually is. He thinks he is writing like Moore, philosophizing like Plato. Really this sounds more like the rambling of the kids who got stoned in the back of class in highschool.

Art is great and really fits the feel. I would probably hate this art is most other stories but it really fits this trippy storyline. Now that being said, this issue had great atmosphere but not much else. It felt like everything was moving really slow in the stillness and normal paced outside so that was good. Otherwise it sort of meandered and we really didnt get a lot in this issue. It was just sort of was. Irey was written... ok. Not great, not bad. Ok. That is what this issue felt like "ok" with great art.

Can you suffocate from smelling your own farts so hard? Spurrier sure is putting it to the test. I don't mean to be crude but its the simplest way I can describe the books to this point. I am unsure if he got Jai's character correct (I prefer Adams stuff), and while some of it is kind of cool and the concept on paper is something I love... this just isn't working for me. It is like he is spinning his wheels and using complex words that when you understand what they mean... he is saying very little. He writes like what a dumb man thinks a smart man sounds like. This is deeply disappointing. I keep hoping it gets better because I should be loving every page... in theory. In reality I am choking on his pretentious farts.

With this issue I drop reading this (or at least paying anything near cost for this, if I can grab a copy from a friend who dumps it then I guess I would continue reading for the rage read). This run has fully jumped the shark. This issue was just a bunch of stolen previous ideas (like the flash wars), mis-characterizations and the plot was just a bunch of 'and then this happened because I needed it to'. Also so much of it was just character going 'Wally is so dumb lets just explain it all to him'. This might be one of the biggest fails of 'dont tell, show'. Spurrier has clearly given up on the mysterious cosmic horror aspect (which I was here for) and now its just forced plot points. Long story short, after 6 months its clear Spurrier is just breaking down Wally. Apparently Adams building up and making Wally a hero and family man again was too much. DC must want all its 'heroes' to be fools, incompetent and without happiness or family. Spurrier is a hack. Also the art feels phoned in. Deodato I think has stopped caring because based on the sales numbers for this run, so have most other people.

As I said in the previous issue, this is where the ride should stop for most people. The first arc had its end and it was lame nonsense with no impact. This just feels like stagnation with some poor characterization around the edges. Just drop this. Spurrier has no idea what he is doing besides being pretentious. He is not a great writer.

Not a big follower of Flash Gordon myself but aside from that a great first issue. Man wakes up on Death Planet strapped to a rack beside a dead guy. More or less a classic 'started from the bottom' type story including escaping using an eldritch horror then having to escape the escaped eldritch horror. A lot of action and enough plot that you know where the first arc is going. Also enough unanswered questions about what happened before that it will keep you guessing. Art is good. The writer is Jeremy Adams and he hasn't written a bad series so far. Great work at DC with Flash, Jay Gerrick Mini Series and Green Lantern current run. He knows the characters well and respects them. We are in good hands.

I feel like if you have read the Magic Order by Mark Millar first, this issue gets a lot worse points. As it kind of feels like Hickman read that and when... hey I can do that. Now if you havent read it, this issue is probably a 7.5/10 cause you dont realize that there is other better and cheaper stuff out there (you can get the entire first volume of magic order for less than the first issue of this overprice bloated book). Might also read issue 2, but if the next issue isnt any good, I cannot see myself continuing this.

For a sampler, this is about the best you could ask for. Rook, Geiger and RedCoat has amazing art. Like absolutely amazing. I like the Rocketfellers and Hornby and Halo as well. Its a fun mix and really the best way to introduce a new universe/imprint. Very promising.

Ok so I am coming into this one with some really hot-takes. First I dont think this is a bad book. Is it a good book? Not really but it isnt as bad as people are making it out to be. Lets honestly go over the pros and cons to get to my point. Pros Harvey and Ivy act like villains. For those who think they are heroes, you are wrong, sorry to say. Harvey at best should be highly conflicted villain rare times a hero and Ivy should be a sympathetic villain which she was for decades. Either way I enjoyed them just offing people cause they are terrible people. That was at least written in character which it doesnt feel like happens much anymore. Human meat puppets concept is sort of interesting. It at least feels like something we havent seen too much recently so that is something (look I know the bar is low but DC cant even clear that half the time). Punchline actually makes sense here. She usually social media for horrible purposes. Seeing her adapt and use the Gotham equivalent of Twitch, Youtube, Tic Toc ect is actually quite in character for her. She has been treated terrible the past couple of years for the most part but Williams actually seems to get her point. Is the bathwater stuff going to become dated? Yeah, but Punchline because she is based around Social Media will always be changing much like how social media is always changing. This checks out. Subpoint to the punchline point but some of the plot is shown not told, like all the XO Punch ads ect. Punchline is adapting her drug trade. Her flexibility is quite interesting to see. This is a personal one but I like the fact that social media is portrayed so toxic. Punchline functionally has an army of people worshipping her ('Simps' as one might say in 2024), and based on how social media is as of this review... it is honestly quite an accurate portrayal. Social media influences encourage people to do horrible trends (like the 'punch a stranger tic toc trend that happened last year), so the idea that eventually it would just be murder for fun, and do drugs for a chance to hang out with your 'favourite influencer' feels on point. Neutral: Lolli is a good artist but they kind of phoned this one in. Could have been better but could have been worse. Cons: Plot has some interesting points but is all over the place. This plotlines need to be tied together. Too goofy. Like its ok to be a bit but Williams always takes it too far and that is annoying. No consistency with other books. While I prefer Harley and Ivy being villains that is clearly not what DC wants to do so there characterization here is a bit off from the main books (but I personally think that is a plus). ....why the cowboys. I just cant help but chuckle at how silly it is. And like why is outside of Gotham limits its like a desert. I dont remember that being a thing. All in all not a terrible book. I think for the most fair review, I would check out Casually Comics on Youtube. She does a great job giving it a far review. Williams does a lot of poor work, and while I dont think this is the best book, its an ok one for sure. Plus if you like Punchline like myself, it is nice to see her logically evolve her trade as she finds her place. The social media space is wildly misused in DC books so having her be that villain would be great.

Art is phoned in again. Real 5/10 art. Not terrible, but rough and clearly details were missing in certain panels when they thought they could get away with it (Guys you didnt get away with it, it is obvious you phoned it in). Onto the story itself. Jokes are Leah Williams standard ones... so yeah. Now that being said it works a bit more for the Gotham City Sirens because how what Harley and Ivy have become (goofy wantabees of their previous selves). Catwoman is played straight here and that works. She is fine and a good contrast to the other two. Harley is better than how she is written in her own book but like its still only a 4/10 on that front. Punchline weirdly works in cowboy chaps. Didnt expect that. Also while I found some parts cringy with her, it still feels like this works for Punchline. Like of course she would be playing into what her 'elite subs' want. So if they want White Rabbit, they get White Rabbit. Williams writes and evil, annoying influencer character pretty decently. I dont mind this take of Punchline. Also for those who have been reading a lot of Punchline stuff, Punchline is shaping up to be an interesting villain for Catwoman. They have duked it out a couple of times and Catwoman doesnt exactly win these exchanges so it makes it more personal. In all honesty Punchline saves this book. Harley is just in a sad state of affairs for DC, Catwoman is written service-ably here and Ivy is meh. One of Williams better books. You need to be willing to accept this is a goofy book though.

... I think I might actually like this issue overall which is a change from the first two. We see the characters with their backs up to the wall (some suspension of disbelief required), and an info dump (that I enjoyed because it felt more like a video game tutorial with the mascot so it flowed a bit better) that filled in any questions readers might have had. That being said, if you were paying attention to the background and to what was being said, 90% of people should have been able to put this all together. Ivy we see actually use her powers and how easily the tied is turned when she is active (so written in character). Punchline once again carries this book. Here she is schmoozing with the elite subscribers and much like a twitch influencer, is just playing off peoples additions and worst desires to play them like a fiddle. She also appears to get away with it at the end of this issue which is refreshing. The main crew is stuck dealing with her ploys and not her so the story at least feels like they need to try to win rather than just being given the win which is so common now-a-days. White Rabbits characterization is interesting for sure. She has been a pretty blank slate from previous writer's so I am not opposed to what Williams is trying to do with her skill set. At least I give her kudos for trying to flesh out the character. The nasty boys are... well they are there as pawns I guess. All in all character writing quality I would say is: Punchline>Ivy>Catwoman>Harley. As for the art, it is better but not great. Lolli's art still seems on the rougher side. It doesn't feel like they are phoning it in at least, just that maybe they are rushed due to the tight deadlines on this book (once a week instead of per month). A shame but its not jarring anymore at least.

What the actual F was that art? That is some of the most phoned in, poorly done art I have seen in a while. It ruined the story for me (not that this was a strong issue to begin with). It is like they got to this issue and went 'hey lets get my 7 year old to draw this issue. Character faces are all wonky, details are almost non-existent and dialogue boxes are kind of weird. Even with a perfect story, with how bad this art is, it wasnt going to get more than a 6.5/10. Art is like a 1/10. You should feel bad for submitting such poor work. Now onto the story. It was a below average ending for sure. Everything suddenly goes the way for the 'heroes' with little logic, just 'because the plot demanded it'. Insert jokes that are oddly weak compared to previous issues and you get the story. Also why was Williams throwing around the wh*re word so much? That didn't add to the story, felt forced and felt very childish. Only plus side I would say is I like the fact that the way the XO Punch worked was a use of Ivy's pheromones which plays into Punchline's poison making aspects. Also that she had a crew of people who were actually terrible people. Nice to see she is able to find the worst (but smart people like the scientist) to work with. This book really was all about Punchline and for that I am happy with Williams work. Even in this wreck of an ending, Punchline still was the best written. For that, thanks!

If you didnt like the first issue due to the lack of Green Lantern, then this issue resolves that issue. Great art honestly, and a fun plot.

Honestly wasnt my favourite issue but still pretty good. Kind of convoluted at times but I get the point, this was putting things in place to get the ball moving again/the next act of the arc. So for what it was meant to do, it did it well. Great art as always.

Hey here is our great friend Parallax coming back to hang out with Green Arrow... wait a second.... Yeah this is a great call back, and much needed return after the terrible knight terror event. Great interactions between GA and Parallax GL. Just take a read and watch them... 'bond/talk'.

This was a cute wholesome ending to the arc. One let down was the villain reveal and resolution was a bit lacking. Everything else provided the feel goods (besides the last page), and has a nice slide into the next arc. Good run so far.

I found this issue to be a wonderful homecoming. Did it have the action that I seek? Well only 1ish pages worth but it has a lot of other stuff going for it. Green Arrow/Green Lantern talk was great. It really lets you know where everyone one else is at this moment. DC has done an absolutely terrible job letting you know how the world is working. Each book feels like its own thing. This issue really tied together the Dawn of the DC world like no other has. It really tells you where each character is in their journey and really grounds everything. Also for any relapsed reader this is a perfect issue. Like Olly, I do wonder, where is the Justice League? I long for it back as the Titans book is just not doing it for me. Like at all. So maybe that is why it resonates so well. It is great to see Olly try to find his place in a new disjointed world. Frankly I feel as lost as him in this current DC world.

Good solid fun with Omonomatopoeia... sort of? I like the action and use of an interesting villain. The twist was expected but done decent enough. Good art and some solid father son bonding. It is clear that the next few issues will be getting the gang back together for real and then Green Arrow will be set up for Dawn of DC.

This is a decent issue. I find it interesting that that functionally Green Arrow is the series that ties all the Dawn of DC story together. He somehow is getting the raw end of the deal from all the other heroes as he tries to put his family together. With all that being said though it feels like this takes a bit of agency out of his character when he is always responding to the events around him. Kind of bothers me. Amanda Waller is overused. It is getting a bit cumbersome. I hope that big Absolute Power event later this year knocks her out as she is way overexposed and annoying at this point. Art is good. I still like this series but feels like drew me in on this issue. Also bringing back Sanctuary is a terrible idea. I hate that. It was such a poor story.

I do enjoy the art, and I enjoy the team Roy went in with. I feel like this will hit a lot harder for Green Arrow fans. For me I read it mostly for the plot and how it seems to be a reflection of the DC universe at this time. Good book, one of my complaints though is how OP Waller is being written. All these people have bombs in their heads... this is less a Williamson issue and more of a DC editorial trying to push Waller so much. Remove that and I like it a lot more.

The issue is fun but also lacking. Some plot points dont make sense like the family just being able to go in to the bunker and the Waller side of things seems to be a mess. The action is great though. I am neutral on the Merlyn take. Some good and some bad on that. Overall not bad, but I hope the ending can make this work. Williamson always does weak endings so I am nervous about that.

That Merlyn wrap up was wayyy too fast. Like that killed a lot of the momentum. Honestly this would have been a great way to end the maxi series. Could have just used Green Arrow elsewhere and I would have given this a much higher score. Instead we trudge on. Williamson should have taken the Win while he still could. I suspect this series is going to rapidly lose readers. I will check out the next issue but 'Now an ongoing series' feel more like a threat than a reward.

It is ok. It has motion at least. I think there is sure a chance for an upswing. The opening few pages were great. My biggest gripe is the fact it is tied into Absolute Power. Why has DC been building Waller up as the biggest threat for years? She is a government agent. She has some cool stuff to her but she is not a wold controlling super-villain. The entire premise that this book is affected by is silly. That to me is at least -1.5 points for the fact the plot is rather BS. So some high points brought down by a terrible villain. Marvel and DC are having the same issue right now.

Why is red canary so pathetic? I dont think that was ever her intended purpose. Tomorrow Woman showing up was indeed a surprise and Professor IVO is.. well he has seen better days. Once again this feels like a green arrow family book and I just dont know if I enjoy that. Each member of the team is really going to need a defined role, if we are going to accept a 'Green Arrow Team'. It needs work. It could have some promise though. We clearly have the team issues, and at least a dynamic of sorts.

Note about score: This is influenced by the fact is has become more apparent through leaks ect that editorial had a bigger hand in making Hal a bit of a creep ect/weird story choice, so I am being a bit more lenient. Fun story besides when Hal is being creepy or the humor is a bit odd at sometimes. The starting sequence was just great fun with the demolition crew. I enjoy the start a lot, and the ending page is good. Also the joke about Hal getting promoted throughout a single day is pretty humourous. This issue has highs and lows, but I think the editorial should just let Adams loose and have fun. He is a good writer and I dont think they are helping at all. Looking forward to see what Adams vision is when this returns in September.

First, I would like to say, DC you have terrible leadership. Your Knight Terrors event made everything worse. Boo on you. Now onto this book. Think of issues 1 and 2 as warm up and Issue 3 as the real start to the book sadly. This book establishes quite a few things and the ending really puts some momentum to it, but it had to spend some time getting the momentum going again due to the event. Additionally, the back up is pretty awesome. Like where that story line is going to. Art is great as well. Good issue but it could have been better without the event.

The main story is firing on all cylinders, and the Flash/Green Lantern Team up is great to see. Adams proves he can not only write Wally, but Barry as well. Surely one of the best up and coming writers there is. There is so much silver age fun to see here and we get more of Hals perspectives into his personal life, plus some of the plot moves forwards with Sinestro's goals. As for the back up story... well this isnt Tomasi's best writing but the plot itself is okish. The art though it weirdly childish for what I assume is suppose to be a darker story/not a child book story? If this is meant for young readers then sure the art makes sense, but why put it as a back-up for Adams Green Lantern? Like either the art is wrong for the story, or DC really really sucks at planning and is throwing in a young readers story into this book for no reason. Either way I still have to subtract 1 from the score for how odd it feels compared to the main story.

So this issue might be the best Adam Green Lantern story yet. This really shows the might of Hal Jordan. Like if series was a movie, this was the climax of that movie and it was amazing. This felt great, everything was on the table and Hal rose to the occasion. It just feels like an adrenaline rush this issue. Loved almost every page. Good stuff. Art was great. Back up story though... like the plot itself isnt bad. A bit weak for Tomasi but still okish. The art though is clearly meant for a kids book and this doesnt mesh with the main story at all. The art is all wrong for this book. Really this is the biggest problem with this issue but its a backup so I mostly disregard this. Shame on the art though.

The mystery builds with a great fight. Sinestro is way off from what he normally is and it is clear something is deeply wrong with the emotional spectrum. The revel at the end was sad but good to confirm. Great art. Adams does a good job in this story, but I must say, he story is getting exciting and I really look forward to all the answers to these questions, so I hope he can pull that off well. If he does, my ratings for this run will go way up. Good run with a lot of potential. So many plot points to unravel and explore. Back ups art is once again so weird and disjointed with the story. Story itself is fine and I do actually want to see where it goes next issue (Is there a father and son meet up? Cause I cannot see that going well but I want to watch!)

Another solid issue by Jeremy. Art was a step down but still quite good. So overall no complaints there. Good action, GL actually policing was nice. Get to see a bit of the mystery box opened and the 'death' of ol'Kil. Poor guy. I dont think he is dead though with all the oddities of the emotional spectrum. Adams is keeping the cards close to his chest with what is really going on, the underlying big issue that keeps getting hinted at but never revealed. I love how each issue has its own plot moving forward with Jordan but we have a much larger overlying plot that we get drip fed. This feels like stories of old, where multiple lines of plot were going on at once with hints dripped here and there. This feels like this was written in a better age of comics. I love this run so far. The back-up is ok. More action but man that artist is really bad for this book. Lafuente draws kids books and it makes no sense to have a kids book in the back of GL. The tones have been wrong since issue 1 of this backup. Story itself was decent.

I probably like this more than the average reader, but this felt like this issue had everything you would want to move the plot forward. You have some serious foreshadowing that stuff in space has got really f'ed up with all the emotional spectrum cores blowing up and the fact the United Planets Corps are able to use a variety of colours. We get some good fights, Hal sass (always up for it), and some relationship drama (short but nice subplot). Seeing some magic involved as a guest start was also nice. Art is ace as always. Back up was much better than before (better art). Really enjoy seeing Kyle again, even if the scene was quite sad. This book felt like it was worth every penny. I dont get that feeling often.

Adams start to deliver on all of the set up he has been doing for the last year. He now is actively building on the Green Lantern Lore in a great way. Helping explain in a reasonable way, why there are so many human green lanterns, but also setting that explanation up for more deep lore further down the road. That is some excellent writer set up. Everything about this issue was great. Art was great. Hal had some real character development. The nostalgia drops were nice. This run is developing very nicely. The Jessica Cruz backup was actually well done. Wasnt sure but I liked it. While the leader seems easily tricked, he is also a megalomaniac who just wants loyalty to himself and his ego pumped (much like some real life figures). Jessica does that and is easily able to manipulate him. A great issue with a nice back-up. Big win for Green Lantern fans.

Fun issue, but some of the characters feel a bit off in the writing (not a lot but still a touch). This feels like a 'move along issue' we learn a lot of what is going on in the background and get some nice action and some ring info updates. Back up was ok. I laughed once but I expected to laugh more in a Lobo Guy situation.

This was really fun and we had a lot going on. I apprecaite Carol trying to move on and form her life independent of Hal even if that is proving very challenging. Also the childhood flash backs were great. Hal really was an A-hole as a kid. Like not very likeable but seemed to jive with Carol. The big bad reveal of 'ok cool you did your thing and it did nothing' was pretty great. Good guys got duped, which is so rare nowadays. It wasnt even due to stupidity, it was just good old out planning and having a lot more control than the Green Lanterns throught (they dont have the best strategists to be honest). I kind of enjoyed the back up this time. Like either its not Lobo and that is funny, or it is Lobo and he is really sticking to his bit which is funny in its own right. At least this time it didnt feel like it wasnt worth the price. The extra buck felt ok.

While this is probably an over grade (maybe it should be a 9.5), I loved this issue. The art by Xermanico was beautiful, he did Star Sapphire justice. Hal and Carol get more relationship drama that I was wondering which way it would go, and the ending means we can expect a big fight next issue? I am here for all of that. The back up finally pays off. I will admit I was totally wrong on Lobo and all you Lobo lovers can mock me for it. But I laughed at how dumb the back up issue was. There were some great deep cuts "Warrior" ect that I enjoyed and Guy fans will enjoy. I just loved this issue so much. Jeremy Adams is a gem that should be protected. He is a great writer and I enjoy opening up his books every month. So all in all, JA and Xermanico, please keep being amazing!

Ok lets get the worse out of the way first. The Sorrow Lanterns concept was rushed and the Absolute Power stuff was ok but clearly something editorial forced on Jeremy. I really enjoyed all the Hal parts. Art was a slight step down though. All in all for a tie-in this was really good. Usually they are terrible but this one continues the mainline story and also does its job as a tie in. Pushes the event forward. The back-up was another good back-up. It was nice seeing some of the mindset and background of the Thaaros. Patient and Cunning. So many evil characters are just cunning or strong ect, but it is good to see the classic 'revenge is a dish best served cold' type of villain again. It feels like it has been a while since I have seen one. Also frankly based on the story, this guy is actually pulling it off. Like as far as villains go, he has won against the 'good guys' quite a lot. He is clearly a threat and I wouldn't mind seeing more of him in the future if this arc ends well.

PKJ comes out on fire with this issue. Stewart quick establishes why he is a real green lantern, even without the ring compared to a green lantern with the ring. Also I will say the end of life of a parent with dementia was written very realistically, which was both great, yet very painful if you have lived that. Almost too realistic. Art is great. All in all, a wonderful start, that was well written and shows great promise with a solid understanding of Stewart.

Another great issue. Going to be interesting where PKJ goes with the story based on the last page. Revenant Queen looks to be an interesting enemy.

Great art. As for the story, it did its job and move forward but I dont feel like there is actually too much to review here. The Radiant Dead are cool though and Johns arm looks real messed up.

This will vary from person to person for sure, but I liked it. Excellent art that really gave the atmosphere it needed. We see John's will in action and the plot for getting him back into powered up mode feels natural/logical and not shoe horned in. Good work. I expect issues 5 and 6 to be action packed.

A good solid issue, but it feels like too little happen. I mean at the end a bunch of stuff happen and we get to the start of the epic final fight, but I dont know where the pages went. I do appreciate the stuff with his mom at the start and how he pushed himself to go further and really test the limit of what he can 'build' but I think it could have been done in fewer pages. Great art, the last 4 pages are where it really pops. Well that and when he makes his sister. That page was adorable. It sets up the final issue, but I think this could have done a bit more to get a higher rating.

This was good. Like way better than I expected. Some of the previous issues have been a bit rocky but this renewed my interest in this series. The fights had tension and weight, we get loss and we get some amazing John Stewart fights. Learning more about the Revenant Queen was also good. It felt like it revealed a lot but at the same time kept some secrets. What we do learn is creepy though and great cosmic horror element. Also I learned you shouldnt mention his mom unless you want to die... like really quickly. Good fun fact. Strong recommend.

Unlike the dead in the water flash run by Spurrier right now, this is how you do eldrich space horror. The art is great. Stewart feels like he is in an unknown and disturbing space. You can feel his need to get home and yet being trapped in a place he has no idea of. A rare feeling for him so this is a nice change. Putting John in a situation he doesnt find himself in often allows PJK to do some interesting work with him. I like where this is going. His 'sister' on earth... yeah I dont think that is going to go well even if it was with the best of intentions but this B plot also has me hooked. Small actions, cascading consequences. You love to see writing like this. Like the art. Want to read more. This series just keeps getting better.

Honestly I yearn for Sci-fi and the Green Lanterns fill that (might be the only books in DC that do). All that being said, PKJ War Journal is really doing it for me now. John out in a dead space fighting with a rag tag group of lost survivors against untold space terrors? Yes please. The art really adds to it. Love this entire part of the story. Ellie's story gives me the 'feels' if you will. The terror and pain of John's mother and a desperation of Ellie to protect her. At best I can see this ending in a bittersweet way but its going to be emotional regardless. Guy and Shepard are quite funny. The fact PKJ has 3 stories all tied together, one sci-fi, one emotional drama and one comedy, and I am invested in all of them is quite something. I am loving this. As a side note, is it just me or does PKJ writing style seem kind of high risk. On several of his runs (like this one and the Hulk currently on going), he almost loses me and then bam releases a new arc or some critical issue that just sucks me right back in, fully excited. I am way more invested in this book than I was before, I am loving this run, please stick the landing on this!

PKJ is cooking with fire in this series. Between his story telling (and trying to clean up some of the BS other writers did with John), and the epic art of Montos (LOVE the comic horror interpretations), this series is one of the best at DC currently. Right now if you like the Green Lanterns you are having a great time. Sadly due to sales I dont think this series will survive into the next DC phase of absolute power but I wish it did. I just love everything about the story. The lore and fights are great. It really feels like a battle field and I love John as a solider again leading troops and trying to survive.

More epic psychological fights this issue, and Shepherd getting a cool hero moment in there as well. Chuckled at the end. What can I say about this book that I havent already? Its great. People missed out on this one and now the book is being cancelled. A real shame PKJ has been fire with this series (barring a couple issues). If you havent read this, please do, this is a great John Stewart story.

This was some great stuff here. So you have the drama of John's mom and her accepting/being open about what is happening, which is emotional. Then you have the epic mind games occurring with John and the Dark Star. Tension is high, we get some insight into how things were and we also get an epic full page of John being the architect and rebuilding. It was a great page just to stare at honestly. So well drawn. Guy and Shepard showing up at the end really did a great job of signalling that the next issue will be the last. Shame that this run is ending, but it looks like it is going to blend in with JA's Green Lantern so all things considered, that isn't a bad way to go out.

If you know what you are getting into you will enjoy this. Action and gangsters. Good art, I am not talking the T and A, I mean the actual art. Good details, nice setting backgrounds. I also appreciate that Tan isnt like Bourne or Cruise. She has clear strengths and weaknesses and pushes herself too far. The end of this issue as an example. Not sure how she plans to get out of this one.

Another great action packed issue. Tensions remained high and the escape of Tan did not require that much suspension of disbelief. I did chuckle at the Bruce Willis quip. Great art as always and a good job done establishing the location of the next conflict for issue 3. This books flows smoothly.

If you want action, explosions, a conspiracy unravelling and a decent amount of murder... well then this is what you came for. Moves the plot forward a considerable amount and sets it up for an explosive finale. I look forward to it.

So admittedly the start of the issue is a bit jarring. They dump you in at a weird point and you sort of have to work backwards. Also the opening panty shot is just... crass? Like I know this book has a lot of T and A but it was needless in a book with needless... you know. Now past the intro things get better. The action ramps up, you get the conspiracy, loose partnerships, a great 'Austin Powers' moment of someone misinterpreting a scene (I laughed at that, it was well done for the comedic value mixed with the intensity of the fight), and a high stakes final fight. The book ends like any Hollywood action movie would, with a hook for another adventure. Joanna once again this issue is done well. She is strong and smart but not invincible, she gets beat up and only the allies she put in place earlier make it work. It feels right for a story, I never know who is doing to die (besides Joanna), but when it works out it feels great. TL DR: Intro is kind of a mess, the rest of the story is great with a action movie finish.

Weaker issue, but gets a .5 bump from me for the 'HERES JOHNNY' reference at the end. Eve is a flawed character for better or for worse. Writing could be a bit better but is also not quite detracting. Sort of middle of the road of 'enjoy-but-not-really-enjoy'.

Spider-man fight was nice, interesting to see how she compares him to Ben. Nice to see the inner thoughts. Also plot was rather predictable so far. Sort of a pain-by-numbers issue. Not bad by any means, fun enough, but not amazing.

As another reviewer mentioned, this issue really shows that there are some solid issues you could do with Hallows' Eve. She actually has a conflicted character arc, and other other new characters nowadays, she actually messes up and fumbles a fair bit. It is nice to see her struggle as she seems a lot more real. This issue though involves her being more put together and trying to fix her mistakes. Good action, nice build to the climax. Solid overall.

Still not sure if this is an 8 or 8.5 but all in all this series was a solid read. Much better than a lot of the other spider-related books out now. Fight seen was ok, but I do like that this mini series actually led to some character development for Eve, so it makes it worth i. She is a bit of a changed person, and helps define her abilities a bit more (even if they are still pretty up in the air). A solid read. Eve is an actually promising character with some personality which seems to be a rarity in Marvel now-a-days.

This shows off her abilities more and really shows how fun and versatile of a character she can be. Honestly one of only good things to come out of Well's run. Erica does a solid job on this issue, with a little comedy, good action, and some underlying character conflict of a person on the wrong side of things seeing what it is like to be the hero. Eve does a whole lot of good for someone who considers herself a bad person. I would like to see her break Ben out and go try to be heroes together (after an arc or two of her rehabilitating him of course). She is a fun character that I hope is developed slowly over time and get more time to shine in the future. Also this is a Halloween issue done well so bonus points for that.

I wont give a score but let you guess what it should be. When the main selling point for this book is the disastrous Tini Howard who has tanked Harley sales on the main book, do you think this will be any good? There are no all-star/good authors on this book to really sell it. The headliner is a dead anchor.

Some notes so people can understand where I come from in this review. I have read Axelrod's other work Galaxy: The Prettiest Star (I got it free from someone who was just give the stuff away for free when I picked up other books from them). I would give the fist issue a 5/10. For this book The art get the 2.5, its good. Fun and nice to look at. As for the story: 0/10 for the story. It butchers Hawkgirl by making her a terribly unlikable and moody character. Galaxy saves the day, does all the work and everyone knows how awesome she is. She is a slice of life character mostly who apparently is also better than hawkgirl as a hero. Only read this book if you really hate Hawkgirl and like to see her humiliated and poorly written, or love Galaxy and think that she is the 'bestest bestest hero in the universe'.

Here me out. This is the DaVinci Code of Hawkman. This might be the best opening volume of Hawkman ever. Take the concept about Hawkman that confuse most people/make him a challenge to be popular- his confusing nonsensical past and plot inconsistencies. Here Venditti decides "Why not make an absolute banger and just resolve all those issues by making the best mystery-solving plot about Hawkman? Venditti respects all the past lore, no matter how crazy it is, and encoperates it into ways that make sense to give a much more complete picture of Hawkman. This helps make sense of decades of Hawkman comics. This is a legendary start. Very few character are as complex/confusing/hard to write as Hawkman, but Venditti instead takes it as a challenge and works to unravel all the mysteries wrapped up in this character. Hop on for the ride and enjoy it. It is amazing.

Like a variety of Price's stories, this hits different if you are a parent. A simple story and not really a horror in the normal sense of the word. The dark humour once you get to the whale par is pretty great, but I think the best part is the intense frustration the father feels with the way things go. Its a type of terror/anguish that I cannot quite put my finger on. All in all, this comes down to another tale that drives home the important point: Spend time with your kids. You never know how things will go with them and ignoring something as simple as a request for a hug can come back and haunt you. If you have kids the last few pages hit harder.

This is not an easy issue to read both for content and actually comprehending it. I absolutely see why others didn't have it click for them and the lower scores. That being said, if you can make sense of it, it a good and sad read. It deals with the suicide of a sibling and how the siblings cope with it under the framework of the surreal full metal jacket take of some fluffy creatures. If you understand how a depressed mind works, you can see how the writer (the dead sibling), but be essentially pleading their needs in the story. I dont know how to honestly explain it, but it should be read for the experience. I think for myself, the most emotional page was the sister breaking down after taking the colder approach towards the dead brother, when she talked about how she would sing him the song their mother would sing to him when he had panic attacks. That page painted a full story of how broken their lives were and the dynamics of the family so well, in such sadness. Prince I feel like falls under the unusual horror genre of 'every-day horrors'. While each issue of Ice Cream Man is surreal, they mostly deal with topics everyone knows about or has had to deal with/deeply fears ever having to deal with: A failing family, the death of a child, the suicide of someone you are close with, sudden loss of a friend, loss of ones place in life. Are these epic horrors? No, they are the quite horrors that we do not wish upon our fellow humans. I continue to read these books out of morbid curiosity where he explores next.

This was honestly a wonderful issue. While the issue spreads with paranoia and honestly could have had the classic hopeless or painful story lesson many of these issues have, but instead has a hopeful end. Not necessarily a happy ending, per say (it might be), but one with hope and direction. Prince does an excellent job evoking emotions in his books and this one is no exception. I loved the refreshing pallet cleanser with a most optimistic outcome. Cherish your life and live.

Stuff like this is why I call Price a reality horror writer. The emotions you go through when you read an issue like this is varied but also always unsettling. Not because of some cosmic horror (which I also love), or a jump scare or the atmosphere. It is just these hit too close to home. They are too relatable. Even if they havent happen to you (I dont know how you are reading this review if you died in a car crash), they are things you understand. A boys dreams of the future, the parents memories of a wonderful past, these things, you get how they mean the world to people but as soon as they are there, they are gone. Lost in the cessation of their lives. All in 5 second and 28 pages. Speaking of 28 pages, I wont babble for long but this book does decompression right. Heck it dissects decompression, almost satires it, but at the same time uses it to deliver a bone chilling story. Most authors nowadays would kill to understand decompression half as well as Price does. This story has so much to talk about. I wish more people bought these books so I had more people to discuss intense stories and artwork like this.

This is a hard one to judge grade wise because it really is more like an artistic statement than a full story per say. It really shows if you are going to do decompression, one of the ways to do it right, not like the 99% of authors now-a-days. In a weird way it also shows that death isnt always scary. The dead in this case gave a gift to the living. This issue wasnt scary per say like some of this other issues, but it does make you think. As always, for as dark as all these stories that Prince writes, there is always that subtle or not so subtle message of: Appreciate your life and that of those around you. You or those you care about might be gone in an instant so never take it for granted.

The writing was really great. We once again get to see more monster madness! A new opponent enters the fray that even Man-Thing worries about. Also some nice break down of anger and different peoples views on it. Continue to like Hulk and his 'side-kick' dynamic.

Story itself is great. PKJ once again writes a great horror. The art however is really hit or miss. I personally think we need the main artist back. Marvel keeps shuffling around artists for books and it really hurts everything. This art feels to 'scratchy and simple'. Does some of the horror pages well but otherwise a miss. One thing I really do love is the one page written story PKJ wrote about the monster. You get a nice horror story lore dump. I really enjoy how he twisted the knife. Builds up a possible tragic back story but nope, the monster really did deserve everything that happened to it/what Hulk did to it. The fact it was just a written story with no art really goes to show that PKJ is just a solid writer. He doesnt need art to carry him. Just unfortunate that the art in this issue was a detractor. Back-up story was ok but uninspiring. Pretty good work by Vita standards though so I count that as a win.

1) That is a cool cover A, WW2 Spirit of Vengence is drawn really well (Yes I know Marvel is totally diluting its brand and ruining its characters by making 10 of every version but at least PKJ is making good use of Marvel destroying themselves) 2) Last issue was a gross but cool transformation. This issue, with the original artist back so SO MUCH BETTER! Nics interpretation of it is amazing. Literally growing out of Banner's flesh is true body horror. 10/10 3) Unexpected monster. I assume the guy is housing it? Interesting set up. Great issue overall. Art is really good and fitting. Nice story set up if you can ignore the fact this is like what... the 7th or more Ghost of Vengeance?

You want monster madness and horror in Marvel? Look no further than the Incredible Hulk. PKJ nails the tone of this issue, and I enjoy the banter. The fights are great and Nic really did a great job. Banner in the pit and the Ghost Rider were both 10/10. This title has so much going for it. It is one of the only issues I have left when I read Marvel. I have given up on almsot everything else. However as long as this continues to be some high octane action horror, then I will be onboard. +.5 from me because I loved the art of the WW2 Ghost Rider. Like its amazing.

I can only imagine an issue this epic much have been created in this way: PKJ: Nic, I need you to draw the most epic monster fight between Hulk, a WW2 Ghost Rider, and a Giant Blood Bourne style demonic monstrosity. Editor: THIS IS MADNESS, do you know what you have requested! We must stop him! PKJ: *Raises his hand* No, we must let him cook. *Cue to Nic drawing furiously to the sound of German Power Metal*. Read this issue and tell me this didn't happen. This is fighting for the best, or is the best monster fight story I have read in years. When I stumble upon this issue in the future on a re-read, I will like get that same adrenaline rush I did reading and re-reading this book this week. This is a must read.

What in the world is Marvel doing with the artists? Not to say Earls is terrible, but its such a step down. Nic needs to be the on-going artist for this book. The biggest damage done to this series so far is the herky-jerky artist rodeo that has been going on. Put Nic on it and let him be awesome. For those of you who realize I rate every issue of the IH, you might wonder- why did you give the last issue a 10/10 but this one a 5.5? Well simple, besides the art, the last issue was a wonderful end to the monster stories and a nice next arc to move the plot forward could have occurred. Instead we get another 2-3 issue monster story with no progression. Additionally this issue felt like 2 plots, maybe 3 jammed together with none of them really being important parts to each respective plot line. The story is jarring as well. They just end up in New Orleans but the girl is still being chased by police? Is this really the USA? A single killing and she is being chased/police actively know her face across this large of an area? So much time has gone by in each of these states that 100s of killings by more dangerous people have probably occurred. I do wonder if PKJ understands how the police works or if this is just suppose to be suspension of disbelief. This is by far the weakest issue of the series so far. This needs to get turned around asap.

I dont know I just feel apathy towards this issue. Its not terrible but why is Hulk chilling with ghosts and why did the genre change to noir for the majority of this issue? Do not get me wrong, I like noir but in a Hulk...? This also just feels too repetitive. The monster of the week stuff is getting boring. The art does not help. The lack of action makes it so much worse. We need the plot to move forward in a meaningful way. Not whatever we got here.

Full disclosure, I was going to drop this book if this issue wasnt great. The last arc was a disaster but I heard that PKJ was asking people to hold on till this arc happened. So I did, and this is a great start. I am glad I waited. Klein's art at this point has become critical to this book. Without it the story doesnt feel right. If they cant keep Klein on for longer stints, I dont think this book will survive. Otherwise, from a plot perspective, a lot has moved forward and wow did I like the end half of this book. First half was just ok but end half, especially with Banner in the other world is great. This arc promises a bunch of tense moment and Banner and Hulk are going to have to have some long overdue conversations.

Kleins art is the reason for reading this series and the way they keep jerking him off and on the book is terrible. Shame on Marvel. The story itself was great, and amazing art. My main let down was the end and how easy it was to beat the Flesh-Weaver. Like isnt this guy crazy strong? A super evil sorcerer? This felt too easy to get what was needed. Maybe I am missing something.

This hurts me to give this issue this score but I feel like this is kind of where this series has got to. So much meandering. The issue itself is fine and Nic's artwork is nothing short of amazing. So many of these pages could be prints that I could plaster on a wall. His artwork is terrifying and I respect the details. The story itself is stretched out. I enjoy the Banner and Bruce back and forth but this series is going so slow, now in not the time for an introspection issue. We need action and moving the plot along. That only happens in the last 3 pages. The rest is just an artfest (which again I love the art but art isnt the entirety of a comic. I swear based on what PKJ puts out on social media about this series that Marvel must be making him draw out all these stories into infuriatingly long, meandering tales. Get Nic on this full time and let PKJ just go full force forward. As it stands PKJ writes way better DC books than Marvel issues.

Character assassination in action. Or what I like to call "How to Turn Mary Jane into Mary Sue in just one issue." There is no functional story here and Jackpot is literally a character that has all their flaws fixed instantly, and Mary Jane who has no combat experience suddenly gets perfect hand to hand combat. This isnt Mary Jane, this is some random BS. Paul is still around for some reason just being a simp... I guess? This book is just filled with ever negative modern Marvel Tropes. This is what you get when you get a My Little Pony author writing spider man. Note to author, you are not writing to Bronies, you actually need to write a story. 1.5 is for the art which is decent. I suppose you can give it a higher rating if you are that thirsty for girls in tights or to see She-Hulk in a tight outfit. But that would just be sad.

Art is wonderful, story is wonderful, the feeling you get from reading this book is wonderful. Jeremy Adams is a wonderful writer that really gets family dynamics and gets how this family should be written. Hot take moment here: I posit that Jeremy Adams is the anti-Tom King. Whereas in a Tom King book you know the wives will be beaten, the children will die, and all the men are monsters/abusers, in a Jeremy Adams book you instead find loving fathers and mothers, children who grow with their family and families that overcome issues together. Things are not perfect in his stories but the characters know that they can rely on each other and you can feel that this is what a healthy family looks like. Adams writes essentially the superhero version of the 'American Dream'. You can be better, you deserve love and find people who support you. This series will almost certainly be a fun ride.

Loved this issue! Adams knows how to write families. No question! Laughed at the start with the robo-bear. And honestly, everything in this issue felt right. Like all in character. Even Judy who is a new character felt right. She was written and drawn perfectly as a girl out of time enjoying her teenage years. That Jay moment with him tapping his foot sweating and each second until his wife lets him check on Judy is what one might call 'Big Dad Energy". This feels like a natural family. Sure one struggling with time shenanigans, but like a real living, loving family. How many comics out there, or even in the past few years can you honestly say feels like that? This feels like a wholesome slice of life with a lot of zany action superhero comic. We dont have lot of that anymore. This is a rare gem. Adams is knocking it out of the part. Hats off to the artist Olortegui as well. They are doing a great job!

Adams does a great job in this issue. Once again, this is the JSA content you are looking for. Great fights (this does Alan Scott better than his actual book), wholesome family moments, wacky science, lore consistency and amazing character awareness with a dash a fun reveals! I honestly don't know what more you could ask for in a book like this. Judy is great. Like honestly in the past few years this is by far the best new character introduced to DC. Her character is developing well and written so well. Seriously if you dont know if you should pick up these issues. Just do it. Read them, be happy and get a little hope back in these depressing times. Treat yourself. This book puts a smile on my face.

While I think this is a 9/10 I give it a 9.5 because this is how you tweak an origin story. Add a bit of your own flavour without changing the basics. Jay get a bit richer of an origin story, Dr. Elemental get a nice logical origin, Judy get some clarity for hers and we all are better off for it. Compared to the dumpster fire that is the Alan Scott story, this shows you how it is done. It also suggests that Jeremy really studied the material for Jay and really gets him to be able to do this fine scalpel like change. No hammer, all precision. As always the story is great, I love the details and the art matches the feel so well. Lots of information and the change in perspective was interesting. We are now fully set up for the big clash in the next two issues so this issue did its job perfectly. tl dr, dont miss out, read this story and see how to do a proper origin tweak!

Ok so the short version of the review is: Everything is great. Read this. If you like Jay at all or any Golden Age stuff this is a must read series. Longer version: Oh boy was this fun. Between the Golden Age team up with Jay and Mid-Nite I loved every second of that. The first opening battle was also great. The art really works for this series. Honestly Jay and Sandman both have artist that really work for the stories being told. Its great to see. Good work Olortegui! This cast of new villains that Adams has created are both fun and cool (robo-bear) and intimidating (Doctor Elemental). This story has everything you want and builds on Jay's history in a respectable and enjoyable way. Judy continues to be a great character and if Adams continues to work on her character it would be a great hand off from Geoff's creation of her. All in all a great book.

Name me a DC mini-series with a better ending than this one in the past 5 years? I bet you can't honestly tell me one that is better to any meaningful degree. Adams sticks the landing like an Olympic gymnast. This has everything you want. It has Jay pushing himself to the very limit, Adams understands who he is, his ideals, how he would approach things, what his limits are and when he can push those. This issue distills Jay to who he is at his core. He is a hero. He is the Flash and he doesn't go back, he just moves forwards. This has action, it has big emotional moments, it has villain arcs set up for the future, it has nice art. I love it. I love everything about this. The final couple of pages dont feel like an 'and its over now', it feels like I am closing a story book that has come to a close in this chapter. Jay has shown me who he is and it is who I expected. The book has lessons and leaves that lingering feeling that we should strive to be better. I might be embellishing a bit but I loved it. I feel great putting this book down and it gives me the feeling that I want in a comic. I wish more comics were like this. I wish Adams got more work from DC.

Love the start. Note: If you dont like Helen, then take two points off of this. I look forward to seeing how this plays out. For me this gets such a high score cause of what happens near the end. Bunch of whiny people get a surprisingly satisfying end.

Solid issue. Again you need to like the Huntress to like this book.

Still enjoy the book, getting more into the JSA portion of things so that will probably make a lot of people happy.

First I will get out of the way the complaints I have: 1) Inconsistent release schedule. I wish this would come out more consistently for reading purposes. This was suppose to line up with StarGirl but now it is a bit misaligned. 2) There is a lot going on. This itself isnt a bad thing, I actually like all the plot points, but this puts a lot of pressure on Johns to pull this off. I hope he can do it. Now onto all the great stuff: 1) Lots of great plot points, so there is likely something for everyone 2) The big fight this issue was great. Helen really showed that she is the daughter of batman with her leadership and deductive skills. 3) Dr. Fate moment was great. 4) Most stuff felt quite in character for the time period they are in. Its great. 5) PowerGirl/Helen Moment- PowerGirl: My future has good stuff in it... right? Dark Humor right there. All in all a great read and its moving forward, really building up its momentum.

This was a really solid issue, but the serious time delays by Johns is getting annoying. This might be a better story to buy in Paperback once it all comes out. Its timing is messed up. Like this should be in line with Star-Girl which is already done. Johns get your act together! Its a good story, just tell it!

Note: I don't mind this slow pacing, but if you do please remove 1 point from my score. I didnt subtract any points also for the delays, but feel free to also -1 for that as well. So 6/10 if you include both those. I found this issue cute and a sort of 'between the arcs' style chapter. We see a wrap up to the previous arc, where the kids went from the Star Girl story and where things are going with the new JSA by the end. A lot of things happen in this issue, but only a little bit of each, so it feels rather slow paced. I get the importance of these set up issues though, and I respect that. That all being said, stop it with these delays. They are really messing up the story. This might be a better buy for the Trades if DC cant get its act together.

I am a softy for the JSA by Johns hence the 8.5, but all these time delays have really ruined the flow of the story. Honestly wait for a trade and get this all in one go. That being said, this was a solid transition issue with some nice fighting, some petty fighting, and some good old recruitment to get the timeline back on track. I did get a good chuckle out of the last panel. Poor substitutes with their lame powers.

I do enjoy these issues. I am sad though that this is just 12 issue mini and with Geoff leaving for Ghost Maker Imprint, I dont know who will take these stories over. Or does this just die and we never get anymore JSA after this. I like Ruby so far. It is an interesting tale of Huntress trying to form a redemption team while the current iteration of the JSA mostly think its a terrible idea. I look forward to it but hope more JSA occurs after this and we dont end it all with this story arc. The Alan scene better not be trying to tie into the current Alan dumpsterfire mini-series. 1) The sales of that are so bad no one will understand what is being implied 2) That series is written so poorly that it doesnt even match up with this series in any proper way. I hope that mini get left to be forgotten.

If this wasnt hamstrung and ruined by the insane delays issue from issue this would be one of the must read series. This issue was really good. The deep-cuts into the lore reminds you that Johns knows his stuff and treats each character with respect. Everyone is written in character and I love trying to make amends with this being spelled out in the twist at the end. This maxie of the JSA is really good and opens up so many mini series (which several are tied to). This could have been such a cool wing of the DC comics line-up. Instead it is relegated to us dedicated JSA readers who will wait 4+months for an issue. The art is great. What more do I need to say? If you dont read the issue, pick up the trade. This is a great read.

Unlike some others I am enjoying this mostly. I think its a rather unique story to tell for the JSA of rehabilitation. Honestly rehabilitation stories are never easy to be done well (look at the entire X-men Krakoa era where the end product was making everyone villains instead). But here you see the pros and cons. Helen realizes that maybe timing is important and you cant force people do be good when they dont want to be. They have to come around on their own. Additionally not everyone is going to have the same feelings. Some will want revenge against someone who hurt others, some will think they should just be jailed or killed for their crimes. It is not an easy read, as some others have pointed out the things they are doing is a hard pill to swallow and the team itself is torn (understandably). Also this rating of 8 is ignoring the crippling delays. With those I would give it a 5. Honestly you should just read this in the trades. It would read so much better. TL DR, its a tough story to tell. You very well might disagree with all their choice and its not your typical JSA story. Also the delays are insane with this book. Pick up in a trade.

While I do echo others comments that there is not a massive hook to this issue, and the art is good at best, the story itself is quite promising. I enjoyed this more than I expected. There is a sense of political drama here, each of the characters has a good voice, and the brutality of Zod is on full display, between the cruel but pragmatic treatment of this son, to the defending of his planet, Casey makes it clear, Zod aint a good guy and is going to do whatever he needs to, to get the job done. The only question now I have is, should this be picked up issue by issue or in a trade? I am unsure, but I do want to read how this unfolds. A nice political (and I mean that in running a planet/governing body type of way), and action packed book. A lot to like here. I do wish is had a solid 'wow' moment though. A lot of good moments, really almost every page was very good (hence the 8.5), but no amazing jaw dropper moment, or breath-taking splash page.

This issue was fine. The intro was mostly Deadman lore recap. Story was ok, but man if that is actually how the villain formed, that is so boring. Just some inmate with powers from the rain. I wont hold judgement on that yet, as I hope there are more character building twists but so far that is lame. The end though, I did enjoy the last two pages.

Look, I really like Dodds and his entire look. Undead verion of him I am jiving with. However, there feels like such little movement in this story. 3 Issues in and we are still sort of in a talk and learn phase, not much fighting or moving stuff forward. Not much to say as not much happens. Nice art though.

So right off the bat, still loving Zombie Dobbs, love the look, love the writing. Overall art is enjoyable for the reader. Now as for the story... There are some real meat on the bones that could be played around with, but there is also so much campiness/cheesiness to this story. Bostons opening, the 'house of horrors comment' the way they find the nightmare stone. It all just feels like it is written so that it can be forced. I do enjoy Damien coming and joining the fight. While his reason why he is still awake is a bit sketchy, the FCBD issue gave him ample 'prep time' to know what is coming and we all know Batman (and his progeny) can do crazy stuff with prep time, so I give it a pass. All in all, its fine, there are great parts and there are lame parts.

Ok so let me get out of the way the few good points of this book: The art is nice. And I laughed when Damian is like "WTF is going on", and Deadman responded with "Great question Damian, you truly are the son of the worlds greatest detective". Those are my highlights. The art and those two panels. That is it. Now onto what was horrible: Everything else. The plot could be seen from a mile away what his end goal is, all the characters, Damian, Dobbs and Deadman are essentially fools doing the obviously wrong thing. Also Insomnias origins are so dumb. Like a 4 year old wrote them level dumb. I think I will quote what I think was from Critical Thinking" "So he was a serial killer before he got his powers from a nightmare that happened when he was awake so he refuses to sleep so he did get caught and put into a coma, he got powers you would only get if you were outside in the rain while he was inside in a medical induced coma and they didnt explain any of that." His powers just happened to line up with a nickname the media gave him. Does this sound like gibberish? If so that is basically what the majority of the issue is. Gibberish.

Better than expected. Holding most of my judgment till the next chapter. Give this a go, as it gives you an idea of where several of the nightmares will go and at least the concept is cool. That being said, why make it in the summer when it is clearly a Halloween event?

Tl dr: We got played. This entire event is basically just a set up for the next event it seems. I am predicting it now: This is the start of the end of the Dawn of DC (I dont care how long it actually goes, this and the next event will kill the sales). I didn't get my cool horror story I wanted (even if the art is sometimes great). Instead I got a pathetic villain with some heroes just acting silly to justify the villain. The conclusion that the villain 'won' was so stupid. Like how dumb does the world have to blame the heroes for this? The villain honestly just seemed like a whiny pathetic person who couldnt handle the dark world they live in so instead blame the heroes. This entire thing is terrible I dont want to ramble more about this. This went worse than I expected. I almost had hope at the start. This being a line wide event that disrupted it ruined everything. Williamson should not be doing events. Really this event, plus the disastrous batman event and this weak looking up and coming beast world event. DC is dying from poorly written events.

PKJ story was better and a good old slasher style flick, with Williams story not being terrible but not great either. That all being said, These tie in need to be really unique to be worth reading, and this one is just ok. Not bad, but not great. Art is lovely though and the art in PKJ story might justify the purchase.

Williams story was ok but thats it. I suppose better than her normal writing as it did feel spooky and I enjoy the derelict ship setting but overall not much to say. PkJ knows exactly what he wanted to do and he did it. From a campy but really fun first issue into a horror filled 'hunt them down' second, it really did feel like an 80s horror film. I enjoy the twist of Cyborg Superman being both the treat and a victim himself of the nightmare. Again the Warworld tie in and building up the super twins background was a nice thing. Art was utterly fantastic. That was like 10/10 for what it needed to do. Nothing here was ground breaking or truly amazing, but at least it didnt feel like you got ripped off. Just some good horror.

This is by far the best tie-in, even though I was going to skip it, I took a chance and man it was great. It doesnt read like a nightmare though. It feels like the is an entire sub plot, with beings who have come through with the nightmares Insomnia created and now they are doing their own thing. I actually prefer that over this turning out to be a pure nightmare, but we will see.

I dont really understand why everyone is giving this issue such a low rating. It was a great horror story, that lays the ground works for a group of villains (pentapriests) that is better than the current villain this event is all about. If these guys pierce through in the real world and just stay in the dark, a great writer could use them in a later issue of DC or Batman or even Batgirl with Barbra. This was a very creepy issue of be careful of what you wish for... or what others wish for. You also get a good argument from Gordon about how he views his lot in life. Fun overall.

So this stuff is more standard horror. Some good horror art and all that, but story wise, mostly just exploring Hal's fears. Nothing too crazy. Though I will give a +1 point as it looks like Adams is actually trying to keep the flow of his Green Latern book by tying it into this event. I do look forward to see if that is how it plays out, and how this nightmare will affect Hal's life/actions afterwards. That does seem more promising. Backup story was ok. Really not sure where it is heading for now. Will have more judgments once the second issue gets out.

Adams story can be summed up with the idea "I am not trapped in here with you, you're trapped in here with me!" This is how you do a tie-in. This issue is not like any of the others and honestly fits into Adams current run with Green Lantern. This is how you take a lame event and turn it into something that benefits the character you are responsible for. Adams does it and does it well. Hal reaffirms why he is a green lantern, and then proceeds to utterly ruin his nightmare. He saves the day and seems to resolve some of his wavering that he had in Green Lantern 1+2. It is an awesome read with great art. Top Notch stuff. He breaks out of his nightmare with sheer willpower and is in total control. Contrast that to the Sinestro story where he functionally loses to his nightmare and only awakens when the spell is dispelled (second final page bottom right hand image). He is a failure but in his deluded state interprets as something beneficial to him. I assume the first big arc of Green Lantern will be him coming back. I enjoy the contrast of the two stories to really show how utterly different these two characters are. But Adams story takes the gold. Slow clap.

Skip this. No real connection to the main story line so you are not missing anything skipping it and pretty much everything is forgettable. Art is uninspiring, and the twists later (if you can even call them that), are boring and unfun.

Bias note: This review rating is elevated by .5 just cause I really like reading anything punchline. Now onto the actual review. As someone else said, the use of some words in the books are... interesting. That being said, this wasnt a bad issue at all. Considering some of the junk we are getting this week, this is solid. I like the fact this is a pretty close to silent issue with us just being guided by Punchlines thoughts. I do enjoy when the mask slips and she realizes this is all wrong and it goes from her ideal dream to nightmare. It does a decent enough job really showing how she is terribly overconfident (at least one trait people get constantly right with her). Art is on point. I dont normally like the work of Danny Lore too much, but this is a solid read. The fact it is in a night terrors event and that no one can seem to grasp all the aspects of punchline brings it down. Give me more social media terrors! Not just her drug and poison stuff.

Good art and a story that is a good cheap thrill. The problem with this issue is there is nothing offensive by any means but nothing really great either. Like I like how most of the issue is quite except for Punchlines thoughts Lore doesn't do a disservice to Punchlines character, but just not much happens. Punchline just realizes she is in a nightmare after some commentary about her and the internet and boom its done. Fun but like if this book was 2$ instead I would feel like I spent my money better. Not bad, not great. But I like Punchline so it worked well enough for me... mostly.

Clearly going against the grain with this opinion, but this wasn't bad at all. Was it confusing? Yes. But I have honestly had nightmares similar to this one. Where things just happen and you never gain your footing. Where the everyone around you acts normal but nothing is normal, where you might even know you are in a dream but you still cannot get solid ground. This is what this issue is like. If you have had dreams like this before then I think you will find this issue enjoyable. If you dont dream much, or have very orderly dreams, this will seem weird and jarring. Is it a needed read at all? No. Should this event have had all these tie ins? No. Is Waid doing a good job conveying a disorienting nightmare? Yes.

My rating of an 8 is based on the fact this is a tie in to an event that is frankly quite weak. Not terrible, just weak. What type of stuff should you expect out of this? Just dumb fun. Mary goes around and gives her families powers back, and helps the mom and dad out. Essentially acts as the Dream Police for her family. Its fun, its dumb, it doesnt mean much. The last pages though suggest the nightmare creations are manifesting in the real world, hinting at what the conclusion issue to this event will be. The art is great though, every page has such great colours and panelling. TLdr, its a dumb, fun read with great art. Don't expect much but if you turn your brain off you will have a good time.

Honestly I really liked the art. It really gave an old silver age drawing style. The panelling was also awesome with Superman crashing through the panels in one page. I am aware it is not to everyone style, but I love a nod to the old classic styles. Story wise, it was pretty strong, which I expected with Williamson doing such a great job on Superman. It also moves the plot of the story forward a bit, which is appreciated. Unlike most other issues, this one clearly is a tie into to the main event. It is a fun great read. Worth it in my opinion.

This advances the plot and has Aquaman do some cool stuff. Swimming through an enemy made of blood was nifty. This honestly felt like a 'move the plot along' type book. Besides a few cool moments it wasnt all that exciting. All in all, not a bad book by any means, but didnt have any key 'great' moments. Just a tad boring. Non-offensive.

Now this is how you write a nightmare. Something where everything goes wrong, and things slowly melt from bad to worse as your fears keep building and every little hope you have is taken from you, slowly. The art is great and the writing is very good. This is what I wanted from all the tie-ins. Barry not knowing he is in a nightmare but the situation feels real enough that this could be a 'else-worlds 2-shot' type story. Love it. If I had to pair this book with a song, I think it would be Hall of the Mountain King. Everything starts off wrong, but appears fixable, but soon more and more things appear wrong till time burns and Barry can only watch as events unfold, unchanged. -.5 for being tied to a lack lustre event, but unlike some other reviewers, I don't ding it too much, as I truly loved this issue.

This is best reviewed as a short story about Flash on its own. Almost like an elseworlds 2 parter. This event it is apart of is close to pointless, and this story doesnt really help anything with that. So why the 9/10? Well as a story on its own it is great. If you want a movie-equse horror story about Flash this is it. The crazy part is Barry loses to his nightmare. We mostly see heroes win, but Barry only survives from outside intervention. It is just a decent into madness and I was there for every moment of it. More of the stories should have been like this if they wanted to make insomnia scary. So many got out too easy. Only heroes like Hal should have escaped easily. This is how most should have gone, the decent into terror as they dont even know they are in a dream and lose everything to their greatest fears. Give me some real horror. Also a cute touch how Barry's biggest fear is losing Wally, but Wally saves him. So some bonus points for that.

There are two stories in the book so I will rate each one. First story 8.5/10. The art is fire and WW actually feels like WW, or at least a lot more like she should compared to her previous writings, so kudos to Campbell I believe? Although it should be noted that Constantine does a lot of heavy lifting in this book, but he is quite well so I kind of look past that. Detective Chimp is sort of there as well as mostly comic relief which is sort of a shame. In all honesty with how well the WW lead Justice League Dark was, this book being a fair bit about them is good. As we move forward with people consantly writing her poorly (not this issue, this issue was fine), it feels more like she should be in JL:D then JL. Weird. Second Story: 6/10. Not bad, not good. Art was meh. Mostly just a fight. Little story and not connected to anything so totally pointless. Final page was cool though. Might be a more interesting fight in the second chapter. Overall a 7.5 as I put more weight on the first story as it takes up like 80% of the book.

The first half of the WW story is sort of hit and miss with her character, but the part about her accepting her fears and using that to escape the nightmare was nice, with the great leadership speech she made at the end was also nice. Overall, not a bad portrayal of WW, but nothing great either. Solid with good enough art, 7.5/10 The second Nubia story, has sort of weird art and the story is really meaningless. Like it is just a meaningless fight with no story significance. Nothing happens. It just makes the book bulkier. I cannot stress enough how pointless the second story is. Not offensive but just pointless. 4/10. I put more weight on the first story for my overall rating.

Ok opening scenes I laughed. "Bring me a champion." Robotman appears "Wtf" Zatanna "These guys suck!" Everyone hates/rags on the poor Doom Patrol. That being said, seeing as this is written by Culver, it is at least consistent with Doom Patrol characters, and as often the case, Cliff punches his way out of his problems. Both physical and emotional. Zatanna is awesome as always. ...and those daddy issues as always. Also don't take my score too seriously, I love both the Doom Patrol and Zatanna as my top two favorite people/teams so this is going to be an inflated rating as they were both written in character at least.

Weaker than the first, that is for sure. Still enjoy it overall, but lack a bit. Like Zatanna is still great (her father haunting her felt a bit jarring but whatever), and the final battle, trickery is great (honestly the last 3 pages are like 9.5/10), but they cant save the front half which isnt bad, but lacks a bit of punch. All in all, the ending is great and Robotman still has some standout moments.

Plot was weak, solution was incoherent and even in a fictional land, wouldnt work based on the rules of this world, and never had any real pay-off except for the titans. Honestly this feels more like a 'mid' Titans book than a Nightwing. Just disappointing.

This isnt so much a knock against this issue, but more of what this run has become. As many have previous mentioned, it is all empty calories. Is Nightwing great? Yes. Is he a good guy? Yes. Does this book have any tension? No. The entire plot of "would nightwing send a little innocent girl to hell for some powers" is so dumb considering how he has for like 20 issues, constantly told us how great nightwing is. If I understood one page correctly, it was a fan-service moment doing a callback to a fan-service moment that was based on a general fan-service theme. I want plot, I want Nightwing to struggle, to grow, to be human. Not just a vehical for fan-service and high fives. Is that nice? Sure. But I want more than just that. Also this feels more like a Titan book than Nightwing. It has felt this way for a while.

Note for review: This is from a quick read through as it feels more appropriate just to read it quickly. The art deserves almost my entire score. 5 out of the 10 points are for art. No complaints there. But I dont buy a book just for the art. The concept is also cool. Catch to the idea though is the book has to be exciting for it to land. Taylor does nothing to make me go 'wow I loved seeing what nightwing sees'. Like it is pretty uneventful and that isnt what I wanted with this type of gimmick. It had so much potential, but once again it is held back by Taylor and his subpar writing style. TLDR, art is awesome, gimmick is cool but used poorly in an uninspired story. Give me an epic fight or something worth looking through Dick's eyes for.

A) Why do we need an issue on a D list side character from one of the most hated Nightwing runs of all time? Why does Tom keep trying to make her relevant? B) This was just a bad issue. At this point what isnt she? This is just like 'ah yes this character actually has a tragic past, secretly awesome and shoots rainbows, love her!' This is exact opposite of what you should do if you want to make it a character that becomes beloved. With this in place this almost certainly cemetes her as a character in the background for all time. Shame. She could have been something or redeemed with some good character work. This is character work that a small child would write. C) Art not terrible not good?

If you like a crime/detective story, then this is a solid start. A lot of unknowns and they make you work for it. If you read the book a second time, you pick up a lot more than what you got from the first run based on the art mixing with the dialogue. Are secrets hidden? People lying? Where will the plot go? This is how the first issue of a murder mystery should be written.

Keeps you on the edge of your seat. So much to unravel. I look forward to the next issue.

Weakest issue, but I get why. There is a lot of build-up needed in this issue to continue to move forward. That being said it isnt bad at all. It does what is needs to do and drops more info/builds up more to get things moving in the next issues. Get ready to do lots of reading. The mystery builds as we are given more info.

Note: This issue gets a 1.0 boost due to the pod-cast. The interview with Tate is excellent and the voice actors are great/giving more insight into what occurs in the issue in this book. Really its the other side of the coin to this issue. Things don't go so great for No-One in this issue. Really nothing goes well for anyone this issue but tensions rise and the senator is essentially putting fuel on the fire. I look forward to see where this goes. Its a great ride and I strongly recommend getting this issue by issue, as it feels like that is how it was meant to get read, it keeps the tension so high, I love it.

Absolutely agree with other reviewers that not enough people are reading this book. You want good crime drama? Higgins delivers. I honestly thought this would go another direction, but the twist at the start and how it unfolds really throws everything into chaos. I also love how now I can say that whoever no/one is, they are very human (remember this takes place Higgins superhero universe). They dont easily win battles (when they do fight them), and tire like any other person does. Also every character is written so well. The writing room banter at the start where some people just throw out idiotic ideas that get shot down instantly it quite funny. The tone of this book is well paced and enjoyable. Lastly, I must mention the podcast again. This isnt just a book, it is also a podcast which is nice. It really makes it feel like you are following a live crime drama. What books can honestly say that now-a-days? Might bump this up to a 9.5... still waffling on it.

So things heat up this issue. The body count raises, and if you listened to the pod-cast, you realize that their choice to name suspects went about as poorly as you would expect. Ending is intense. I believe this is a 10 issue series and now I am starting to get a feel for how this might go plot wise. As Higgins has mentioned before, he has dropped enough hints for who is No / One. I have a guess or two, but I look forward to this book every month to put the pieces together. More people should be reading this book. This is perfect for being an issue by issue series. Better than in trades I assume. Also the podcast continues to be great and adds to the story in meaningful ways. I really enjoy this mixed media approach. Kudos to this unique approach and I wish people were reading this.

First off, Geraldo Borges is not the artist for this issue. Its is a weird mix of fill in artists and they are all a step down. Art is weird this time around. So that is a -.5 for me. Its not bad per say, just a bit jarring from what I am use to. Borges has their own style that I have really grown into for these characters. As for the story itself, I think I now have an idea of who No/One is but wouldn't be surprised if it was someone different. J Things are rapidly reaching a climax as tensions boil. I think things will probably come to a peak next issue. This is a great stand a lone story for those who enjoy crime dramas. Also please listen to the podcast for each episode at the Drop. It ties into the story directly (murders occur due to the poor reporting of the podcast and the actions they do). This is my top crime drama for this reason. It really feels like it is playing out in real-time. This is one of the rare cases where the issue format adds so much to the story rather than the trades. Its so unique, creative and cool! I enjoy every issue that comes out.

Pretty great issue. I was thrown for a loop a couple of times about who no one is but like poor Ben. His life really is a wreck. I do like where this is going though. The set up is in place for an intense finish, but they got to stick this. I dont think it will be easy, but I hope Higgins can do it. I have been waiting so long to confirm who No / One is.

The only reason I didnt give it 10/10 is it feels like things went to chaos a bit too unrealistically fast but honestly the premise, while insane, feels like something that could happen given all the polarization that is occurring. Also the limited use of No/One was a bit of a downer. That being said, this was a pretty messed up issue in all the best ways. The tension is incredibly high and I have no idea how Higgins is going to end this to beat this issue. This was pretty great read.

First off, listen to the podcasts! For that go here: https://the-drop.info/podcasts/10-closure/ That is the official site for the podcasts and is for episode 10. You are missing the atmosphere and part of the story if you skip these. They are not mandatory but highly recommended. As for the story itself, an insane run. Arron is a total POS. The senator was kind of funny at the end going out with just constant confusion. The fight was rather confusing and it was great BUT I wish we actually knew who No/One was. Do we have enough information to figure out who No/One was? I think my guess was wrong unless there is some 'Prestige' level twists going on. I think this mean there will be a 'second season' or will tie into the Massverse later on. I will say I am so curious how this plays a greater part. This entire series was an excellent detective story and a great whose whose. Also I swear if there are enough hints to figure out who No/One was I will be kicking myself. I love stuff like that. Either way this was a great read all the way through. For new readers skipping to the end of this review: Read it issue by issue and watch the podcast issue by issue. It feels so much better than reading it all at once in a trade.

The cover is really cool and up my alley. Shame the book can't match the feel or quality.

Look I love this issue but its a weird balance between the two stories. Maybe it will all come together, but as it stands, its a great read but both stories are splitting your attention. I want a bit more of the main story.

Great ending to the 'first book' so many questions left unanswered, but is a great end none-the-less and the reveal this issue is pretty impactful and well... just read it yourself. I dont want to spoil anything.

This story is no doubt a slow churn horror. I dont know how to describe it, but everything is constantly unsettling. Even moments of peace feel off and you are waiting for the shoe to drop. If you are looking for a lot of story development this isnt it, but this issue really excels in the atmosphere.

This is a lot of rinse and repeat stuff. Yes the plot is moving forward and I am enjoying it but its moving slowly. The uh.. ally or enemy who shows up is terrifying in a disturbing kind of way. I like where this is going, and I am sticking with it for sure, but I think this will read a lot better in a trade. Will probably be a great read in the trades.

Better issue than the last, and we get some forward momentum. This issue felt more like set-up with some background hints, some foreshadowing dropped to set up future issues, some rifts divided the characters. The plot really needs to start moving forward faster though. All that being said, that last page... oh no. Oh dear no. I am guessing my score for the next issue will be much higher based on that page alone.

This was great. The backstory reveal for both Dom and Birdie were brutal. Honestly the entire book was kind of intense for all the main characters. The baby that hatched is also pretty crazy. This finally moves the plot forward after the last couple of world building chapters. Only issue was this issue moved really fast, it was a quick read.

Disclosure, this will read way better in a trade. Issue by issue this story is really slow and painful to wait month to month. All that being said, this was a great issue. Stuff heats up, we learn a lot more about the situation with everyone, you can start to put together the dots of what is happening and we get even more questions than answers. Great issue. All in all, wait for the trades to get the best experience for this story. The story itself is really really good. Just slow. But a slow that keeps you in suspense and unnerved.

I am going to come in hot on this one and say that I think this series will be the best series Cantwell has ever written. Cantwell is honestly a pretty D/E list writer with most of his series being failures both in general interest and sales. THIS on the other hand is intriguing. I love almost everything about it. How would plastic man die? The way Cantwell has gone about it both makes potential sense (as far as super heroes go) and is horrific, which, is what I was looking for. The art techniques and choices in here are amazing, from the melting body part to show his past, so the effective use of different artists to show different times, I enjoyed most of it. The writing techniques were also worth noting. From literally having speech bubbles block out his own pleas for help, to his internal voice painting negative connotations on all the positive aspects of his life, it was a joy to read. It felt like it was using the comic book medium to its fullest. 'Grips' Small one: The art could have gone harder. Now maybe it is cause it is only issue one, but we better get intensifying body horror. Not many chances to show off pure chronenberg madness but Plastic man melting alive is one of those times. Slightly larger one but context dependant: Were the JLA really just A-holes to Plastic man? That felt out of character. That being said, if that was merely plastic mans perceptions of the situation and they were more caring but he didnt pick it up, that would be some good writing. The art suggest that might have been the case, but will need another issue or 2 before I can say if this is a strength or a the weakness it appears it might be. All in all, very pleased.

I do struggle to rate this book. I think it might be an 8.5 but going to be conservative till I see how the full book plays out rating this issue. The issue itself has a lot of great points but some clear weaknesses. Lets start off with the cons first: 1) The way the justice league is written is still hard to grasp. It is clear from the art that this is from his perspective and how Plastic Man views things which are distorted to be overly perfect and cartoony. The league doesn't take his issue seriously enough as he literally sneezes out his guts onto the table then makes a joke and the JL laughs. However they also point out they are willing to put more resources into the mission as they view it as important. Their words and actions dont mix and I think that is because we see things from PM's view and its messed up. Also Detective Chimp lets him know there are people out there who will help him but he turns down that offer. 2) The art was still good but they are really holding back from true horror/Chronenburg body horror. GO THE FULL DISTANCE. Make me uncomfortable with PM melting as he tries to come up with a cure to prevent his son from experiencing the same thing. The only thing that really got close which was the last 2 pages, which were admitted almost what I wanted. Pros 1) This is a solid story overall and I like the horror and how things do play out as you would expect (in the sense nothing is happening because the 'plot demanded it', things are set up earlier and foreshadowed properly. Everything going wrong for PM is a gut punch. 2) The emotional factor is done well here. Having one of the characters break down because they chose the opposite of PM (Not doing the extreme to save their child) is a nice touch because it keeps him in that grey area. He is doing horrible things but his motivations are painfully relatable. 3) The father son relationship seems to be done decently. I didnt think Cantwell could do even basic family dynamics properly but at least this is good enough. Better than I expected of him. 3) The final couple of pages take things up to a 9.5/10. Like man its brutal and horrifying and exactly what I wanted to see in the book. Give me more of this. All in all a great read and continues to be the best book Cantwell has ever written.

Burning Hot-take that I never thought I would say: I think Leah Williams honestly has talent as a writer but has been totally failed by editorial at DC and Marvel. Before you ruin me in the comments, here me out. We know from interviews that she didnt know much about Power Girl and asked for help about her history (as it is confusing), and DC instead told her to make her own character with the skin of Power Girl. This is just setting her up for failure. As for Marvel. Well we know Marvel editors are some of the least talented people around based on 'waves arms at all the failed Marvel books with several reboots'. As for this book itself, while its not great, it does show hints that Leah is trying. The villain of this book actually makes sense for the political message Leah tries to shoehorn into it. Like its not just someone going 'hey colonialism is bad'. She actually uses a character created by Jim Shooter who would actually hate Kryptonians for their colonialist history. Now he is also a hypocrite as he does the same stuff as them but that really fits into his character. So Leah gets full marks for this one. Also depending on how she goes with building up Power Girls character (which I think is in a terrible starting point and I hate this Paige new origin BS), there could be some real development. We see her mess up by putting a bomb in the ocean messing up relations with the Alanteans and Superman calls her out on that rightfully. She panics and is insecure. If Leah does do some character development and she slowly overcomes that, that would be nice. She isnt a perfect female lead/Mary Sue which so many books have nowadays. Omen and Power Girl friendship is a toss up. I chuckle at some of the dumb jokes but its also grating. So overall I will say the highly unpopular opinion that this book might have some promise if Leah can hold in her worst impulses as DC editorial sure as cuss isnt going to help her. I really do think she could be a great writer if she has a strict editor pushing her in a positive direction.

I feel like this issue is fine, but if we are going this route with Power Girl, we really need to emphasize and explain her personality change of old. Like Leah has the skills to do this. She hints that she was really traumatized by her experience/capture by her old 'pod'. Use that to explain her imposter syndrome, shaken confidence and panicky decision making. Leah is putting all the needed parts in the plot, but she has to tie them together otherwise it is just me giving her the benefit of the doubt. I will say that Amalak 'twist' was quite welcome and I enjoyed that writing. This book isnt the best, and I am still rather upset with how Power Girl is portrayed personality wise. Additionally her Paige Alter ego is so dumb. That being said, it could all be put in a reasonable context of trauma and have her grow back into the old Power Girl that we all know and love. If Leah can pull that off, this will be a great'ish' book. If not it will meander and probably get cancelled. Like I said in the first issue, I believe Leah has talent that is just crushed by poor and incompetent editorial. She did write a good Amazing Mary Jane book. She shows signs of good idea but no one to help her foster them. Shame really.

So I am coming in hot with my hot-takes again. While this is not a good issue per say it once again has elements of good story writing in it, just poorly used. There are some touching moments like the end of the lions life, and the real struggles PowerGirl is undergoing. We do touch on the virus plotline a bit (maybe in reality a parasite plotline), but as so many have mentioned, this really isnt PowerGril. Something is deeply off with this writing. Also Power Girl really needs to break it off with Omen or at least move out and have the book portray her less. She doesn't do anything except attack rioters and protesters or give not funny jokes this issue. Superman is also written weirdly. Like kind of judgey and distant. Its clearly off. There is some hints though that PowerGirl might be acting this way for a reason. If this all turns out to be a simulation or in her mind, and all is normal on the outside world, I would be 100% for that and give the reveal issue a nice high mark for that. However I think we might get the middle ground where this parasite is really the old ship so her fears are founded. Maybe if she actually tackles her insecurities (which are valid, if you thought you were living a lie and everything might be a fake reality around you, you might be acting really weird like PowerGirl is), and returns to being normal PowerGirl then I will say Leah pulled it off. All in all, for me this series is riding the rails, barely holding on from being a total disaster. If Leah adds the twists I talked about then we can have a real positive spin. If not and she sticks with this broken PG then then series wont go too far.

This story had a lot going for it and lot against it. Once again I am torn and I blame DC editors. Leah has some great ideas but also some really stupid ones. Clearly no one is guiding her and so everything just comes pouring out. This issue only had one major big problem: Omen. Get rid of Omen. She is @#$%@$% annoying, useless and then randomly OP just as a plot device. If PowerGirl stopped focusing on her feeling all the time with Omen these issues would be way better. I dislike Omen more each issue. What it had going for it: The fight was pretty good. Superman felt more like Superman. Trying to have the best outcome of the day. Take some damage to help a friend. Not condescending, just concerned and caring. Cool. Symbio is a great villain to me. Like I like this thing and its weird toxic relationship with PG. Better yet, it helps explain her current sad characterization. You have something that just wants to ruin you, to trap you in the same place forever and you might never have control again or even know if what you are experiencing is real. Would that lead to anxiety? Depression? Out of character acting? Oh yeah for sure. We dont really see it dealt with well from PG angle but Symbio itself is cool. I also appreciate that it ends with it biding its time to strike again. A smart but super creepy opponent that is unique to PG. All in all, I would rate this series so much better if Omen was gone and if PG really starts addressing her personality/characterization issues (aka she is really just SuperGirl right now). If that was done I would love it. As it stands, without editorial doing their jobs, this will only ever be an 'ok' at best series.

Once again this isnt really a PG comic, but not a terrible comic nonetheless. I dont know why editorial isnt helping Leah. It baffles me how incompetent the editors are. Leah clearly has some fun idea (the cat adventure is cute, but would be better as a shorty story in one of those silent one shots DC does), but no one is helping her form them. All in all its a cute book but not a PG book. Editors are out to lunch and Leah is left to do her own thing. Which honestly isnt terrible but if you are looking for PG... she is only here in her weird new iteration for like 5% of the time.

Look at my previous reviews when I say this. This has gotten worse. I will defend Williams when I think it is just terrible editors ruining her. This seems random and totally pointless. Also no offence to the artist but this is such a step down from issues 1-4 which were not great to start with. The animal issue worked but this looks like it was written for kids. Nothing about this issue feels right. The story itself isnt terrible but feels like pointless. The only plus it has is it at least ties into the previous issue which I thought was a one off. That was nice for some continuity. Going to stay with this one and see if it picks up for the Superman event but if not... then I dont see how this isnt cancelled by issue 12.

I dont understand who Williams and DC editors are writing to. The first arc had some high points and went darker at moments. Then it got goofy, now it is just a book for kids. I contemplated reading this to my kid instead of reading it for myself. The art is not appropriate for a standard super-hero, let a lone power girl book. This is drawn like it is for kids. Now is it good art for kids? Yeah the art is honestly pretty great for a child audience. The story was literally written as a fairy tale kids story. This entire mini-arc was just a straight up fairy tale. Williams clearly has no one directing her. This was an ok kids tale but a total miss on what should have been a PG story for typical comic book readers, not 4-8 year olds. I suppose though if you did read it to a kid you might find the crude humor parts fun and your kid wouldnt understand it. That might be a small win. Editorial has failed and Williams seems to lack common sense. tl dr, its a decent ish kids tale, total miss as a PG book.

Too much time was wasted establishing that PowerGirl is top heavy (but not drawn like it), non-consensual thought invasion which is now established that is something Omen does on the regular (side note, what type of friend violates their 'besties' memories and emotions on a regular basis? If this is what Leah thinks friends are, I actually pity her. Omen is written as a toxic piece of trash) and random flirting texts. By the time we get to the action, it isnt bad, and at least it is lore consistent why PG remains. She is acting a touch more like PG but still a far cry off. The tease of Crush was way too short. Essentially this book only has like 6 important pages. The rest is fluff. Though I will say, at least it has 6 pages, that is more than some other stories can say. A far cry from an acceptable book though. Art is more appropriate for this book than in previous issues. So that is a plus.

Honestly this issue was quite passable. Like not a lot of plot occurred but PG actually seemed a bit more like PG, hot headed, loved smashing things, decent fights. Crush doesnt seem out of character either and the unique weapon and zaniness of the fight element was slightly entertaining. All in all it was decent and had some entertainment value. The ending plot hooks for the next arc also wasnt half bad. I can appreciate it. Art was good. Raised the score. Should this be a 6 or 6.5? Sure, but I give it a 7 cause I feel like rewarding people when they move in the right direction.

Art was better this issue. Symbio subplot was the best part. Rest was dumb. Also Leah doesnt get PG and Harvey. Yeah they have worked together before but PG would never call her a 'bestie' that was just gross. Williams worst impulses with Crush and PG come out this issue which is a shame as when it sticks to just PG beating up people it isnt the worst. Just give me more of the Symbio was that is the only thing Williams seems to know how to write half-decently.

The art is not bad. AT least the characters actually look like what you imagine they might look like. This issue is all over the place though: PG crying when Lois fired her was... kind of a pathetic look for her. PG would get angry or defend herself, not just breakdown. Also her and Omen honestly have a wildly toxic friendship and if this is what Williams thinks a friendship is, she might need a hug (assuming she isnt the toxic one). PG acts like someone with ASD on the date. It is written so poorly in character it is jarring. I want old PG back. Now the one highlight of the story was the Aquus fight (more like thing that occured in the background as PG and Axel fought). It is like some 90's She-Hulk comedy skit with Steel getting ticked at them igoring the fight and getting the staff who tranq the fish. I did laugh at that honestly. It was dumb fun but a bit more like old PG shenanigans. The ending though with Axel being from Asgard is just weird and I dont know what to make of that. Lastly, why was there a random line about SuperGirl fighting for rent? Is that really what SG has been doing (since she is almost not in any book currently), she is struggling to pay rent like most people? Well at least I guess most people can relate to that. Such a pathetic state of SG though. TL DR: Book is mostly off character and terrible with about 3/4 pages of actually funny material that you will likely enjoy.

Good start! Looking forward to some punchline, yet nervous based on the writer.

This should have never crossed over with Catwoman. The more it crosses with that terrible book, the worse it gets.

Sadly this ended a bit rough, but there were some standout moments, like queen pledging her aligence, and her social media aspects playing a bigger role. This however needs work and needs some slow burn aspects. The seeds needed to be planted better. I enjoy Punchline, and this book scratched the itch, but could have been better overall.

What do you get when a writer clearly hates a character and has made little qualms about it? This is pretty much what you would get. First off, I am not a big Punisher fan. I read him but could take it or leave it. The thing that bothers me the most about this run is the author clearly knows who Frank is, but he just hates him. I would argue he dislikes the entire Castle's family. In this issue, it pretty much wraps up the character assassination. Maria comes off as insane/evil/unsympathetic, and Frank just gets the boot, as the writer clearly did not get the go-ahead to kill him off. His struggles are flat. It also bothers me that this run had a lot of really cool idea that all came to nothing functionally. There is a lot to unpack about Maria coming back to life and seeing what Frank did. There are serious conversations to be had, would she be shocked, confused, disoriented? Sure, and long conversations should be had. Instead she doesnt allow any of that, cuts off any great character development that could be had and comes off as a terrible character. Franks transformation/powers were also handled quite poorly. Things just wrap up with his legacy destroyed for no other reason than cheap shock value. This series had so much potential, but written by someone who just didnt like the character and ddint want to put in the effort to properly explore the issues, that he himself wrote. Overall: A deeply disappointing series with such great potential that was wasted. This is what you get when a writer doesnt like a character and editorial is asleep at the wheel.

So Marvel is making someone write a Frank Castle origin story/essentially a FC story without FC? Isnt this just a knock off? I feel like this series will not last, and then FC will come back when Marvel realizes a fake one wont sell. So this is just pointless filler isnt it?

Honestly this is pretty good. Nice take compared to everything else spider related that is coming out right now. Nice to see Normie getting some more character development.

A lower rating seems warranted as, while this isnt bad by any means and I still like the story, it seems a bit all over the place. The ending is nice, and I would like to see some resolution to that dangling plot line. Good overall, and I like Normie. Seems like this is the end of the current story though with the next issue being Carnage Reigns tie in. Kind of disrupts things.

If you are not partaking in the crossover event, do not get this issue, it is non-nonsensical and really draws you out of Normie's story. Cool fight scenes and great art but that is all I can say. I feel sorry for the author as he was clearly forced to write this.

Honestly, I am enjoying this. Way better than the current ASM run. I wish I could give it an 8.25 though as this felt like it had moments of weakness. I dont mind it, but there is a lot of Normie contemplating if he is a monster or not and we get him losing control this issue. This series is an interest world building series about symbiotes and the Goblin crews. I do enjoy this evolving relationship with Normie and Rascal. It is highly fraught and feels like one step forward, one back sort of thing. Which makes a lot of sense since both are functionally children. The last issue was the weakest issue in the series so far, but it did do one good thing by introducing a destabilizing factor which sort of triggers this new 'arc' if you will, so it might age well. All in all, enjoyable. The ending clearly establishes that things have gone from bad to worse for Normie and his friend.

To me this was a much weaker issue that last considering you need a bit of a carnage book to understand it fully without being lost. This issue jumps around a lot and has very little focus on Normie which is a shame. That being said, this being a weak issue might be necessary to give it juice to move forward. We now have Miles and the Turn-coat Goblin gang second in command against the same foe. Sounds like a mish-mash team is coming together. The idea of taking Rascle from Normie though is not appealing. I hope that doesnt happen.

First off, I have no idea what the first few pages were about. They felt jarring, misplaced and not all that important to the plot. Besides that, the story was quite good, and continues its exploration of the cycle of hate. That being said, I think Normie really took that homeless persons advice way to seriously and in a black and white way. Like he blames himself for the symbiotes naturally violent nature. It isnt his fault, but he took all the wrong messages (also that message to him way very reductive). Its like Pitbulls are naturally violent and we can see from real life statistics, even well trained Pitbulls in loving families still kill/maim people. To me symbiotes are the same way. They have violent tendencies and the blame a kid for that is kind of insane. Maybe I am missing something, but I feel like the messaging is a bit muddled. Still enjoyed it overall though.

Good issue overall. Enjoyed the annoying kid at the start getting their life scared out of them. We are also finally getting Normie to realize that yeah Rascal might not be good, or at least he is very alien and doesn't understand normal human concepts. Norman still dealing with guilt and trying to fix his previous mistakes is at least consistent with where he is in the universe at this time. In character. Good fight scenes, but this was mostly a set up to the final issue. Red Goblin might not exist by the end of this series.

I cannot decide if it was a 7.0 or 7.5. This story feels unfinished. I get that they sort of left it open to let Normie melt into the world around him with him now clearly embracing the role of Red Goblin. Feels like there should have been 1 more arc worth of stories to really have him blend into the world. As it stands, I can totally see Marvel ignoring Normie for another several years and this story will just fade without purpose. And that is my biggest fear that this will fade and mean nothing. At the end of the day I am going with a 7.0 because the art in this issue feels really weak. It just feels like everyone had to tie up this book and be done with it. Feels like it lost momentum both in the art and story but it really shows with the art. Quite unfortunate.

Much like my other X-Men review of this era I am just leaving this as read. Is this better? Yes. Is it still a convoluted mess? Yes. Will it carry out it message? Unlikely. Will it fall to pieces by the end? I expect it to. From a hilariously bad start with a team that was the stuff of incompetency (I expect them to Push Ms Marvel for years...), at least they *mostly* died, so I got a chuckle out of that. It was all so convoluted though it really felt like a bunch of 4 year olds trying to mash puzzle pieces together to make a coherent picture. Next the 'all the Sinisters doing their own thing and win..?' like it was ok but convoluted. The ending was great if at nothing else establishing that this Era is truly the most disgusting, empty, banal era of X-men ever. This is not the Xavier anyone wants or knows. This is the one of this dead era. Will this era really end with a child being murdered by the 'heroes' for the greater good (remember, pretty much every villain thinks they are the villain and have to do terrible things for the 'greater good'). So I will give Kudos to Gillen if he cements this era of X-men as villainous aberrations that should be forgotten and spat on. If he paints them anything else less than treacherous villains he is really missing what they have become. It is the only shining spot to all of this. So the book start was 2/10, middle 5/10 and ending 8/10 for an overall score by me of 5.5/10. It gets a bonus .5 in hopes that it does pull of the ending premise. All in all this is a lost era. The least they can do is drive home the point this era should be forgotten in a fun way.

Tl dr; can be summed up as the embodiment of 'not sticking the landing' or 'a testament to the failure of the x-men'. Rise of Powers of X was no doubt the better book between this or the Fall. Fall was a total wash of incompetence. This had some good ideas though. At least in issue 1. Things got rocky and then we end with this. This is a total failure. For those who rate this above a 5... or 6 if we are being generous. Do you actually realize the book has massive gaping plot holes, very poor art (when it isnt the big action scenes), totally ignore previous concepts. The fact that this all ended with an uppercut against a foe that was established as being more powerful then any of then is so sad. Just deus ex-ma china after mcguffin. All the cheap poor writing tricks. I expected better from Gillen, but they clearly had no idea what they were doing for the ending. Relying on Phoenix for everything and just having it absorb those waiting to be resurrected is such a cheap cop out. Phoenix is like a crutch almost all x writers use. 'Oh it can do this now, oh its this powerful now, oh it cant do this now ect ect ect. While not my biggest gripe, this book drips 'lets move on' energy. If you like the rule of cool and want to see the X-men win even if they dont deserve it, then sure its a fun book. If you like X-men lore, like the idea of a heroes journey, expect plots to be resolved, expect the writer to consider the implications of what they have done or decent art then look elsewhere. This book fails to deliver any of it. It was like watching an athlete try to stick a landing but break their ankle instead. Just painful and cringe. 3 out of the 3.5 score is because Gillen tried to put the 'toys back in the box again' which I can appreciate.

I nervously give this a 7.5. I am choosing to interpret some of the scense more favourably. If this is some complex sister-relationship with Jinx, ok we can work with that. If that ninja scene wasnt her killing like 20 all at once but just an action scene of her taking out 2-4 with multiple motions, ok still cool. I can buy into the story. What I hope this isnt is some over the top teleanovel romance with Jinx and Scarlett being so OP she can kill 20 people at once. Then we just dive into a totally un-grounded story that doesnt fit into this universe at all. This is a gritty universe with the humans being on the weaker side considering what other powers are out there. Scarlett better not be some super powered person. So I am hopeful. Kelly has laid out enough point to turn this into a decent story. However she has also laid out enough points that she could tank this. I want to believe (because she wrote a half decent black widow story before) that she can write a strong female spy-solider lead. I think...

Ok some odd moments, did she really just pull an unwrapped razor blade out of her insides? Like that thing would have shredded up her intestines and abdominal cavity. Not sure if that was Kelly or Marco's oversight but it was funny how dumb that was. Admittedly, the fight scene right after it was well done. Very movie-ques. Also nice to see a unit leader call out the mistakes of his followers. As it was a really dumb move to shoot at her in that room. Interesting start to Scarlett. Still not sure how I feel. It is the weakest book out of the Energon universe so far but not terrible by any means. Also that relationship with Jinx is suspect. Like Kelly has gone on record saying Scarlett views Jinx like a sister, but that dialogue and the way they are drawn together in the flash back. It is riding a real line between caring sisters and "Sweet home Alabama" if you get what I mean... Please dont go full Alabama.

This might be everything you want in a Shazam book for the second issue. Some stuff answered, other problems arise, Billy further loses control of his actions and you see the horrors of BUREAUCRATIC DINOSAURS! Oh the horror! Its a great blend of of comedy and action. Something older individuals can enjoy but also something you can read to your kids. Art by Mora is amazing as always. Strong recommend.

Normally I provide reviews that make sense and give a sense of feeling or plot points about the issue. For this one I will just say: This issue is insane. Like playing madlib with Shazam. I laughed a fair bit through the issue and I love how different this feels from any other DC book out there.

This is another great issue that I was laughing most of the way through. Be it the lying Gorilla Commandos who want the moon, the scorned Bee Queen who fell for Zeus's charms (love the little blush marks Mora put on Queen Bee when she is yelling at the solider to get Billy) of Billy being grossed out by a kiss, it is non-stop laughter (except for the last page. That is more like a record scratch). Similar to what I said in the last issue, this is another crazy hilarious issue that I think encompasses the fun of Shazam. Waid and Mora are a perfect team. TL DR, just read this and laugh. Be happy.

Is it possible for art to be more than 10/10? Mora is probably one of the best if not the best artist out there currently but I feel like he outdoes himself this issue. The colour are amazing, the lines are so clean, the details are so perfectly blended with the colour choices... I could go on. I could gush over his art more but lets get to the story... I burst out laughing this issue to the point I couldn't breath. Its just insane situation followed by situational comedy, good puns and just hilarious panel transitions. Two of my favourite though are: 1)Mary logics out that the gods are messing with Billy. The panel then cuts to the gods hearing this and essentially they all go: ...brah. Laughed at that. 2) All the monkeys saying how much they hate Ted. I couldnt stop laughing at that part. This issue just put a big smile on my face for the entire issue. At the end of the day, is a comic does that, isnt it really embracing what the grand silver age of comics aimed to do? Easily one of DCs best books.

Once again I burst out laughing at the insanity of the issue. The kids beating up the gods with their trinkets and the Dion auditor joining in is great. The ending was also hilarious. Darn Dino Bureaucracy! It must also be said that Waids use of Solomon was well done. Identifying that not all of Billys powers are from Gods and how that might effect how they do things/what they do and how Billy took advantage of that was great. Art is amazing. This is an all ages book that is one of the best DC has to offer. You will not regret it at all.

Now mind you this is still a great issue. I laughed in it, it had a great fight and I was quite stressed by the end. Good characterization, and a fun opening scene (very fun and a fun Bizzaro idea to play with). All that being said, it feels like it lacked the magic the last few issues had. In those I was bursting out laughing and the art was perfect. This feels great but not amazing. Still a great issue and one of the best things coming out of DC at this time. But for the series itself, it is just a touch down for the usual 9.5 or 10/10s.

What is the most deadly force to a group of bureaucratic dinos? A girl of infinite 'whys'. If you have a kid you will get it. The loop is unending and without mercy. As for the story, I think having a Dino auditor pal is a great addition to Shazam's odd team. Good puns overall. Story was a touch weaker than previous issues. Still great but not amazing... if that makes sense? I think losing Mora on the art really hurt it. Some of the puns and such would have landed better with his style. Still an excellent fun read.

This being Waid's final issue on Shazam seems so weird. Like they just ripped him off the book even though he was doing a great job. I wanted at least one more arc with him. All that being said, I laughed a lot this issue and the several set up at the start of the issue pay off throughout. Excellent time to be had reading this book. Its just fun. That final page was great. Only issue was the slow start. Took a couple of extra pages but those pages did a lot for a lot of set up and some good small chuckles before the fights and payoff occurred. I am just sad that we will likely never see another Waid Shazam book as this was great. I might drop Shazam after this.

The brother popping up and playing such a big part is making me nervous. This feels like the book is switching to his book, not hers. This was a poor drop off from the first issue.

I really like Silk. I want this to be good. It is not bad, but it lacks something to draw you in. The concept is cool but not enough time is spent on it and diluted by the brother. The brother side-plot has essentially become the main plot and this feels less like a Silk book and more like 'Silks brother + Wong book". I didnt pay to read about her brother and Wong. Honestly this book is a 6 but I gave it a 6.5 as I like the Silk fights. Those are at least cool.

This issue was better than the last, but it also drives home the theme of this series: Forgotten brothers. And honestly I could be down for that, but I really just wanted to get more Silk stories. This is more like sad brother stories, and again, I want to state that there is really something to be had there. What is it like being the forgotten siblings of a superhero? That might be a story worth telling but in a Silk book? Ehhh. All in all an ok story but not really what I wanted. Last issue will be to rescue Albert and my guess is Silk and Sayas brother come out as heroes? Maybe? It just feels like it lack a soul, I cant quite put my finger on it.

I feel like overall this arc was very mixed. Somethings I like was a creative and humiliating way to defeat Saya. Kind of sidelines that villain for a while though, so I hope that means in the future a deepening of Silks rouge gallery. Could use some new and unique characters. Art was ok, not good not bad. The brother stuff left me mixed. I do like the message that it was trying to send, and it felt like the story had good bones, but it just never really clicked for me. I might have got close, but never went above good/decent. The bad was that this all felt kind of meaningless. Like a story that was mostly about Silks brother, and was a fun tale but I dont see how this fits into anything else. It doesnt even build on Silk as a character. Also I dont really know if I want her brother on a 'team' with her as we have enough bad Marvel teams. Unless he is just working intel or something then it could work. I must stress though I do like the family theme. Just wish it was done better. All in all, I would say, if the brother does get included in the future, then this 'arc' might be worth picking up in the dollar bin or as a 50% off trade.

Please note that my rating is based on who I assume this book is for. If you are considering this as an older reader who doesn't like light-hearted stuff then this is like a 7/7.5 All in all this was a fun, light book that was rather goofy and about SpiderBoy working out who he is in this world and how he will go about doing things. Being a young kid, he really feels more like earlier days of Spider-man but like goofiness as a coping mechanism. Still learning how to land quips and that is a fun section also. Back up is just goofy but might indicate that this is more of a spiderman book for young teens. Slott is not a great writer honestly. However, he does have his moments like Spider-Island. This feels like this might be another one. He seems to have a solid grasp of what he wants SpiderBoy to be and it is more fun and light. Lower stakes from a readers perspective but still important stakes for SpiderBoy. I hope this continues to go well but I was pleasantly surprised.

Main story is good. Made TaskMaster a bit of a jobber there but at least he achieved his goal somewhat so he gets part marks. Epilogue was sweet. Back up story was 100% a kids story. Again kind of weird mix. It sort of works but this should really be advertised as a kids book. It is trying to sell to two audiences and I am not sure how well that will work out.

This is honestly quite a fun book for younger readers. That being said I am not a young reader but I still laughed at it. So maybe a good all ages? The second story was much better this time around. First story was just silly, but I suspect that the purpose of this series is to build up the character of Bailey. He is growing on me.

This was a fun book but Peter is written wildly out of character. He puts a lot of trust in miles (mostly from the get go), but doesn't trust Bailey even after he proves himself and saves the day? Slott is terrible at writing these interactions and it makes Miles and Spider-man look like a-holes. Poor Bailey. Besides that at least Bailey is acting like a kid would with the misunderstandings and trying to find a family/group of people who understand him/respect him. He is still trying to find his place in this displaced world so it makes sense. The second story with the clone spider-boy is kind of sad. Still worth reading in my view. Bailey is a good character all in all.

What happened to the art in the first issue? It feels weird, rushed and poor quality. Story itself is chugging along. People are acknowledging that they were terrible last book and a good fight was nice. Cliffhanger was good enough. Briggs is a good character, but just not sure this book will carry the day in sales.

What can I say? This was quite enjoyable. Action, tragedy, some backstory revel, cheesy puns. If you are still reading Spider-Boy by this point this should all appeal to you. Also that twist at the end was a nice and sets up the villains reasoning better and adds a little bit of depth. Con: The time jumps/incoherent timeline was a bit annoying. Stuff just seemed to jump ahead and back between the two characters and that was annoying. Some editing would have fixed that but we all know Marvel and DC dont have any competent editors left.

This issue didnt feel good. For one it didnt have that all ages reader feel to it as far as the writing goes. It feels like slott took a bunch of ideas and mashed them together. Also winning with the power of friendship is pretty lame if it isnt a shonen manga. Kind of cringe.

Does Slott not have a mother? Or does his mother hate him? Spider-boys mother was written like someone who never had one or never understood what a family was. This sounds like something AI would write. The first half of the book is just trash and all the character are written poorly besides Spider-Boy. Also he takes his mom not loving him at all perfectly well... like that isnt how that would work. He really wanted his family back. TL dr, I assume Slott is a android or AI with how poorly he writes families. The new villain was pathetic. My only points go to the artistic design of interweaving his puzzles into the story. That was cool. If only he wasnt so pathetic. Lastly, why keep messing with Bailey. Slott just wants him to suffer just like the main universe Peter. Why does the Spider-crew just want to mess with the Spider-people? Can we please get some better writers?

Oh great we are 'into the Spider-verse again'. Does Slott really not have any better ideas now? He is a broken record, Spider-verse this, Spider-verse that. Blah blah blah. The jokes were made for 7 year olds this issue but lore needed to understand a lot of this fully would require years of reading. Who is this book made for? This series is going downhill fast. The last issue and this one are real misses.

This isnt a bad issue per say, but cracks start to show. Alyssa Wong start to get preachy, yet there are some great moments. If she can reign herself in from her worst tendencies this will easily bounce back. Also stop using the terrible trope of making an established character worse to rise up a new character. Xanthe is good enough to stand up on their own... just let them do that. Dont make Constantine look worse to make them look better. Please stop doing this. Does get some good feels though for a couple of short parts.

This issue is better than the last, but I must ask the question, does Alyssa know where this story is going? She has all the makings of a great story but doesnt know how to put it together. I am being a bit nice on these past two issues due to the strong start, but if this doesnt come together next issue, my ratings are going to tank. So it is a 7, but a super cautious/generous 7.

This sputters and dies. It looses steam every issue and get more convoluted. Really the biggest loss of the "We are Legends" Series. It honestly feels like Wong just make up whatever random rules for the Spirit World as she goes and these rules are not consistent. Fight was ok at best. Haining art is great though. Personally I quite like it. That alone boosted this books score by +2.

Art is great. Like I really enjoy the art. I just wish there was a clear coherent plot. While there is a 'plot' like I said last issue it is really just made up as they go. Stuff is solved cause we are told it is solved as Xanthe just says 'ah yes this will work' or they guesses and they is always right. This series feels like a disrespect to the character Xanthe. I was excited for them but now it feels like they are just a character with a big sword. Watered down through poor writing. A shame.

Note this rating is based on scrapping all the back-ups from Action Comics about Steel. Ok for one, this is a much better start. The back-ups in Action Comics are written by someone else and feel like they are trying to test out what the concept should be. Second, normally voice actors and hollywood writers are terrible comic writers. Just look at the history. However Dorn bucks that trend. Turns out being the actor for Steel actually wore off on him. Which in this case is a win for us readers! This is a lot of set up on a rather untested character, so I am being cautious, but it is a strong start, and we have a solid villain start, one sympathetic, one just evil. The last page is also a joy. Like what happened? While the last page is confusing, it does leave a nice cliff-hanger. I will be getting the next issue.

This is clearly a far better book if you havent dived deep into Superboy lore. As a newer person to reading Superboy this isnt bad, but as some have pointed out, it is sort of missing something from making it great. Its good, but missing flair. Its like a dark take on the legion of superheroes for Superboy. It need a great hook, twist or something in issue 4 or I fear it really wont have any lasting impact. It is hard to judge and rate. Its not bad, the colouring is good, but it lacks pop. If you are newer to Superboy though its quite fun. Also as everyone else mentions, what is going on with his hair?

This issue to me was the make it or break it issue. We had been building up to something and Porter had to deliver in this issue or the story was going to be 6 issues of nothing. Well he did it. We knew the Cosmonaughts were up to no good, and not just 'poor innocent rebels', but man did he deliver and cranked it up to 11. Violation of basic free will? Big Bad Slaughtered in unethical ways? Green Lantern brutally murdered (this was a shock but added impact)? Really putting Conner in a terrible spot? Yes to all of the above. While the ending is a bit off, I think they did what they did to be cruel? At least it worded it like that otherwise it would have been more logical just to kill him. But as they say... overconfidence is a slow and insidious killer. That final page though brought a smile to my face. It will be a sort of cute/hopeful intro to the next issue if it goes where I think it goes. While this issue isnt a 9 itself per say, I think this issue deserves the mark for that sweet sweet pay off we get.

This is a solid issue. Conner finally finds the balance of who he is. Not the boy of the past, but not quite the man of tomorrow (working towards it though). It is nice to see how he inspires hope and how he might be a bit different yet similar to others in the super family. Trav is insane by the point and the fight is pretty good overall. Nice art, brings it together well. All in all, we know the final issue will be an epic fight in a superboy version of Superman vs Cyborg Superman (Trav just wont die it seems). Nice to see him find his way and prove himself without having the Super Family come in a save the day. This is his fight and he is giving it his all/coming to terms with himself. The round robin back up is terrible. Nonsensical out of character and pointless, ignore it. I dont count that against this issue but if you do read it, I feel sorry for you and that would bring the issue down to 7/10.

This is a perfectly fine ending to this mini-series. Considering where this could have gone, I suppose it is really one of the better endings for the series. My score is more to reflect the series in its entirety. Its a good mini-series worth pick up. You end with Superboy finding where is place is and who he should be as a person. Some solid growth and good plot to explain that he will be around the super family but often in space in the future so maybe the super family wont get too oppressive/overwhelming on earth. My only real gripe is more that previous damage to Sueprboy (lore wise), made it so that Porter just wrote him finding himself again which was already done, but then undone so this is kind of just re-treading ground. All that being said, we have now anchored in who Superboy will be the the Dawn of DC and where he is mostly going to be operating (Space). If this holds then this mini-series was great at doing its job. If the next writer just trashes it and does whatever with Superboy, then this will all be for naught. Solid read overall.

Another great issue. Last page is a bit of a shock (you might like it or hate it), but this still feels real fresh, like the plot and the direction it is going. Still has me excited every week it comes out.

Once again, this is how superman should feel. This was an interesting issue though, this villain this time is much more quickly resolved, due to them not really wanting to be a villain in the first place. If you like Jimmy, you get classic Silver Age silliness with him (miles might vary but this is really in character for him so I find it great). Art is great. That ending. Oh wow talk about a tonal shift. Honestly it paints the entire issue in a much darker tone. Without getting into details, it essentially punishes Superman for even the brief moments where he gets to feel human. Which is interesting to explore/quite sad. Williamson continues to be on fire this run. Easy, easy recommend.

Superman probably 'dun goofed' in this issue. Love how it played out though. Chained looks quite promising as an enemy and there is a lot of room for some great character building. Nice start to the next arc.

Quite a solid issue. The Chained is turning out to be a rather interesting enemy. He seems to be quite involved in the old Metropolis so there is no doubt that he has a lot of relevant information of Lex and Perrys old days. Like the fight scenes, good art all around. Good display of his strength in that even the entire super family is struggling with him. The ending with Lexs family was weird but I am not sure how I feel about that. Like they are in the DC lore so they are not new characters, just current iterations. So no lore breaking here, I will just wait to see how they are written. The second story made me pause and go 'oh no more Lobo family', but it doesnt seem like it. Seems more like his people that were trapped in on of the bottle cities that Brianiac is using for his plans. If anyone was going to bring out long dead species it would be Brainiac and his bottle cities. So at least it is character consistent.

Good enough issue with some great fights but it all feels like it was sort of forced. Like he just had to get that suit, no time to think, got to almost kill yourself. The fight in the suit didnt feel quite as do or die, as much of a slug-fest as I would have expected. Read like 'ok this needs to happen, lets make it happen, ok its done." The art is great and the overall story is good, but it didnt wow me as much as previous issues.

An excellent issue coming off a slightly silly plot device in issue 8. Good balance of emotions plus Superman being Superman and going back into the Fray not at 100%. Get to see Graft fight and some hints at back story. Slow lore drops, but we are finally learning about our casts back stories which is nice. Great art. Bruno is better used here than propping up Nightwing (if one had to have him choose a book).

It was a nice enough issue with some fun being had with Moonlight being her own inspiration for who she became and some Terra-Man non-sense, but it felt like it was mostly there to move the plot forward. Not bad by any means and I had fun but a bit lacking compared to other issues. I do enjoy the Wild West but it was used to its fullest.

This was action packed and had a lot of stuff I liked. Also the hubris of Graft coming back to bite him a bit is always nice. Grandma Lex being an a-hole surprises... no one. I enjoyed a lot of this and the little art bits like Lois' crazy eyes when she barges into the room was pretty funny if not accurate to her emotions at the time. While the twist was something you could likely see coming, it does leave Superman in a bad spot and I hope Williamson can write a good ending to the arc. It has been a fun 11 issue ride, with far more highs than lows so I hope this lands well. The reason this doesnt get a higher score, is some of it feels forced and while I enjoy Grafts Hubris back firing, the way it is written makes him come off as dumber than he has been portrayed to be. Stuff like that is what keeps this down. Great art, but certain panels seem a bit goofy.

This did wrap everything up more or less, but it honestly felt like Williamson had so much going on from the previous issues that a lot of threats fizzled to focus on the gas and Lex's mother. Pharm and Graft as well as the revenge squad (especially the squad) came to nothing. A sad end to really cool villains. I can only hope they escape and get up to more great modifications. It was nice to see Superman actually accept SuperCorp and realize that the people working in it are good even if Lex is not. Art was a let down. Like it wasnt terrible, just worse than previous artists. They need to up the artist came again. This is the main Superman book for goodness sake!

Another exciting chapter. A lot is set up well in this issue and I want to see what is going on with Brainiac. Good mix of action and conversations to break up the pace. Solid art. This is shaping up to be a promising Superman event. I just hope Williamson can stick the landing (which he often cannot).

First I will say, this might be the first good event Williamson has ever done. He is usually terrible at these types of things and almost always drops the ball by the 2nd or 3rd issue. Instead here he has done a great job and we are getting to the fun bits. Lots of fighting this issue, some questions answered but more still remain. The reveal of the Queen was pretty epic. My only worry is about the power scaling. We see the queen just murder/eat individuals that were given the Super Family issues. As she powers up, how are they going to take her on? We know she plays a big part in Absolute Power so how will this be resolved? I do worry if Williamson can stick the landing but he is doing a better job than he ever has on an event before so I have some hope this time. Art is great as always.

Probably a bit higher than it should get but I give the bonus .5 as this is Williamson's first event he has ever landed right! It didnt fall apart at the end, was solid impact and even had a little of that 'what makes superman superman' moments when he whisper 'Every battle is real.' That was such a great line. Also I could gush over the artwork but I will keep it simple. I love the line work by Sandoval. Its good, like really good. The eyes in a couple of panels are not 10/10 and the final Lex face is funny but overall they chose a really really good artist for this event it was that much better for it. Great work! All in all an enjoyable event with lots of action, some great superman moments, a really fun team-up paying off some intertwining plot lines from other books and some superb line work. This event series deserves a read. A great entry by DC, Williamson and Sandoval.

Barring the event aside, I think this was a nice issue. The opening start was cute and heartfelt, Zatanna by Campbell is great, curious about the dark roads, and Waller is just annoying. If Waller gets obliterated and removed from DC's toolbelt for a decade it wont be long enough. DC editors must be in love with this C class villain which is annoying. But back to the art, CAMPBELL IS BACK! Oh how I missed his art. This was a great issue. When I think of this run of Superman, I think of Campbell and his art. Great work as always. Overall, beautiful art, great story. Looking forward to the next issue. Only grip about the art, fishnet stockings do not rip like that. Like the way the binding was drawn on the stocks was weird. It was uninterrupted even though the stockings were torn up. I know that is one of the most petty things I could complain about but it still stuck out to me and bothered me. Bah!

Does this book have a lot of Superman? No. But you know what else is important besides Superman himself? The world around him. The lore, the people who are affected by him, his support team, his wife, his villains, the after-effects of his actions. These are all things that are addressed and in an amazing way. This reminds you that the world and city of Metropolis is alive! Alive and growing, changing, maturing. It was great to see all these things in the book. Loved every page of it. So overall, does this book have a lot of Superman? No, but it still drips with Superman. Every aspect of him is represented in this book one way or another. This is how you can showcase an A-list hero, not just directly what he does, but who is around him and how the world is affected by it.

I am a bit generous with the rating on this one, but as someone else said (and I agree), this is exactly what a filler issue should be. It even advertises itself as one (2.5 and all that). You get to know some background history so there are no hanging plot points, you get to see some foreshadowing from a couple of years ago pay off and you get a bit of the politicking on earth going on. The Perry White story is ham fisted yes, but rather realistic. I would expect this type of thing to regularly happen. People trying to evict aliens sounds like it would happen every 5-10 years honestly with all the madness superheroes bring. People would grow tired. Now could the story have been better? Yeah its written by Russell so you are not getting the A game here. As for the Brainiac stories, I enjoy the lore drop of the first part. Waller is overused by this point but I like the connection and reveal of the council. At least, if the foreshadowing is right, we will be done with her at the end of Absolute Power. Good art.

Place your bets now if this will become a classic in time. I cannot quite put my finger on it, but something about this first issue, gives me 'evergreen' vibes. If Waid can pull this off I would love it. Such a strong start, and I enjoy anything that deals with the little bottle city! Also laughed at Lex and Zods interactions.

Right off the bat I will say this story isnt for everyone. It is an odd mix of bitter-sweet misery with just a dash of knowing what is most important in life and happiness. As for the story itself, it really is a rather happy take for a situation that is clearly painted as nothing but sadness and suffering. It really is a therapy session in a book in a way. Focus on the small stuff that you can control and bring you worth/satisfaction and ignore the stuff you cant. Help those you can, ignore those you cant. For such a dark book, it presents very positive ideas. The ending is about as sweet as one can be for the end of the world. The art was great for what this issue was trying to convey. As other mentioned, I wouldnt have minded a page or two more focusing on the mother-son relationship, but all in all, I felt that this was a great fist issue and has left me excited for the rest of the series.

A funny concept tackling a very depressing topic. The art is wonderful, just perfect for the feel. Both characters are flawed and their issues were actually quite easy to resolve, but instead they choose to 'end' it. They both could clearly reconcile but choose not to. There is a lot of conversations you could have about this book, a lot of themes to go over, and a weird mix of sadness and something else... maybe contemplation? Very few comics now-a-days would lead to a lot of conversation. This one can do that.

History doesn't repeat but it sure does rhythm could sum up this book. We start at the beginning of all things again, and even with the best of intentions we are reminded of how fallen and broken people are. The art is a perfect match for the story. I saw the words 'otherworldly' used and I agree. It feels like the start of something new, something different. Mixed with the bittersweet story and a splash of pain and you get a great story. Is it a new take on something? A crazy twist? Moore level writing? No, none of that, but it is beautifully painful nonetheless. Maybe I was just in the right mood to enjoy this book, but it felt right. Like this was indeed the swan song for the end of the end of the world.

I do not know what type of horror story this is. It feels like as you walk in the main characters shoes you slowly see how he sees the world and how pointless things are. Not in a 'I will harm others' sort of way but in a 'I have never had a choice' kind of way. It is a very sad sort of horror and the end really drives home the point. The very last image on the final page, the look of the guy and the final sad libs was very impactful. Everything was written to both feel hopeless and yet a glimmer of hope and freedom remained. Loved this short story.

Trippy and enjoyable with a fun artistic take. You never truly get the answer though so some will like that, others will not.

The fact I am the first one reviewing this book feels insane. There should be a lot of people commenting on this issue. Lots of people should be buying this issue. This was a unique if not intense read. Honestly I couldn't read one page of the book cause I was so close to crying already I knew what was coming but it was just brutal. Reading about a family being torn to pieces and suffering in whimsical poem format under the cruel Ice Cream Man overlord is very Prince and it was done well but seriously? That was painful. This issue was made so much more emotionally impactful for anyone who has read where the side walk ends which this book is an homage to. The contrast of both of them is intense. I honestly have a hard time describing this issue. It is an end, but also a beginning for some. Oddly enough the book ends on a note of hope and renewal after many pages of brutal hopelessness. This book is a book to read because you should be talking about it afterwards. It feels like this was meant to be talked about, discussed, or at least sit in silence afterwards and ponder it. I dont know. I dont know if I am doing this justice. Read and judge it yourself.

I wont spoil much but like dang this has some great twists, and honestly its cause the characters act human. Most comics nowadays they feel so fake or like the writer is just inserting themselves. Not Mark. Each character is crafted to be a unique person and they all feel so real. Are they a good team? Ehh things are starting to pop up that will likely drive the next arc. Love it all. This is just top level stuff. Overall a great series, absolutely worth reading.

The title of the book itself is fundamentally what it is about. A passageway into the Bone Orchard Mythos. It is a tale of dread and vague endings. Some satisfaction is had but way more questions remain than were answered. If you like a story that leaves you with answers, you will hate this. However, if you like a story that you can talk to your friends about and discuss what stuff meant, then you will love this. I have a lot of questions, many of which I know will never be answered, and some that I image will be answered in future books. Haunting.

This ending will leave you partially confused and wanting more. Some will love this, some will hate this. As for me? I just want to discuss it with a group of people are argue of what was real, how to interpret certain images and what the messages were. I have a lot of questions for Lemire. In a good way. A good read if you want to think and talk about it. If you like a standard horror or action, stay away. Art was great. Was a good match for the plot and atmosphere of the story.

This felt way too much like a tonal change and fell flat to me. Michael seems really off and maybe that is how this is suppose to be written, maybe he is even the killer, but there isnt much too him, kind of boring, kind of bland kind of nothing. This issue also has too much talking. Lots of rambling. I dont know if I will continue with this. Maybe one more issue to see if it picks up. If not I dont want to sit around and listen to prison stories and comic writer trying to do poor journalism. The story has something there though so its not all a loss.

Tom King trying to insert himself into the works of better writers and retcon things to try to preserve himself in history. Name a better duo. Skip this trash.

This is for those who have been reading comics a while and enjoyed the Reign of Superman time period. A true tribute and a nice dive into all the different types of 'supermen' as well as a nice character dive into Perry White. The art is wonderful and the fact they were able to get back all the original writers to write these follow up tribute stories is amazing. There is so much passion and love for these characters in these stories. Each character is given the love and attention they deserve. Steel is written so well, Superboy is in his heyday. The Eradicator is given his cold respect he warrants. Cyborg gets the tragic fate that he will always end on it seems (now how tragic he actually is is another point entirely). For those who read this era this is a much pick up.

As this series wraps up, this is just a review of the entire thing as I refuse to go through them all and write why each issue is poorly written. 1) The art of the series, all aweful. Rossmo is a terrible choice for 1 issue let alone more. Their art style of totally inappropriate and that alone ruins the story. That art style should be used more for a dream-scape/drug trip like story. Maybe a Sandman style story.... hmmm... 2) The story has no direction, no real plot, no real theme. Fitzmartin has no direction and no clue what they are writing. Robin living at the docks and gives terrible tactical advice to bystandards. Poor writing all around. 3) No faith to the stuff that came before it. This truly appeals to no one. Do not waste your money and time on this series. If you love Robin, dont read this, dont collect this. If you hate Robin, dont read this, it probably wouldnt even bring you joy. It helps no one.

This book has given me mixed feelings. There are some real pros here and some real cons. Pros- The team is back, and the feel overall for the team is good -Art is nice. -Giant Monster fight! -Starts with a bang! Neutral -Energy is all over the place. Half of the time it feels great, the other half it feels kind of low energy. -Peacemaker/SS, some might like the implications, some might groan. I will leave this as undecided currently. Cons- -Wally is getting a new #1 and it seems like they are screwing him with this/or guarantees some time travel BS to make a lot of this potentially pointless? -Gets kind of preachy. Even if I agree with some of the points I just dont care. -Everyone is great all the time and great people are great.... ect ect. We get it. -Doesn't really justify why the Titans are better/the ones doing the work when the League should really be around/they should only be a part time fill in. All in all, the book is good, but unlike other Dawn of DC books, this doesn't seem to have great energy/the same hopeful spark. I am nervous about future issues, as Taylor is kind of known for blowing it after a few issues at this point. But I hope against the odds.

Not a big Transformers person, but I do like DWJ. This was a banger of a first issue. Like Did he just kill off/incapacitate in the first issue the ones I think he did? Like that is some open with a blaze type writing. Nothing is held back. Prime here is written wonderfully, Jetscream tragically, and Starscream... a-holly...? All in character, and every page just drips with detail. The atmosphere, the tension, the drive, the detail. Its all perfect. This is what every comic should be (not thematically but I mean the sheer level of writing and artistic detail). There is still a lot of mystery and I want to read the next issue so badly. This is how you get people back into comics. DWJ once again produces a 10/10 work. The man's work in the comic industry is amazing.

This was an issue of duality. You have the peace, calmness and understanding of family with Prime and then the horrifying brutality of Starscream. I dont have the most Transformers experience, but Starscream feels way more intense and threatening in this version of Transformers. I am all here for it. Story is quickly escalating in the threat category. DWJ once again has great art. It really feels like it is working with the story he is trying to tell with Transformers. All in all he is doing an amazing job. This is a very strong issue.

Optimus beating Skywarp with his own torn off arm is not a sentence I thought I would ever create but it was amazing. A perfect splash page. This book has some amazing moments that you could show to people 20 years in the past or future and they would all respond the same "Awesome". The action is near perfect in this book. I do rage at the humans and their stupidity but the decepticons literally call out and laugh at how stupid they are. All that being said, you have a bunch of small town weirdos hyped up on guns, shooting anything that looks different. Can't say that doesn't happen in real life. Great issue. This series in on fire and DWJ once again proves why he is one of the modern day all stars in comics.

While I could fill up this entire room just drowning DWJ in compliments (all of which he would deserve), I will instead point out the highlights of this issue (just the best of the best otherwise I would say this entire book is a highlight). 1) StarScream is messed up. Like enjoying Warcrimes killing people in hospitals with a machine gun level messed up. DWJ went hard. The early scene filled me with disgust and dread which most books fail to do even when the try. His art and the brutality go hand in hand. 2) Optimus Prime is written so well and so in character. That hospital generator scene got my kind of misty eyed. It was great. 10/10/ 3) Follow up brutality by the Decepticons to their own kind in complete contrast to Prime was an effective way to emphasize how different they are. This is some ace level writing. 4) Little moments like Carly and Cliff Jumper or the dad and Prime are so heartwarming. My only regret is that DWJ will not be the indefinite writer for this series. He is hands down the best writer currently out there.

How does DWJ deliver epic issue after epic issue? I could quote a panel from basically every page of this book to show how amazing it is, or the moments I chuckled. From the intense but reflective opening about the horror of war to the funny reflector drop, to Optimus' new gun arm its wall to wall action. I also love that we are expanding the cast as people are being revived. Starscream remains a cruel leader. His back and forth with Prime and the line 'A constant reminder of what you'll never be.' hit amazingly well. The art remains superb. The ending was... well kind of terrifying considering the shape prime is in.

Just going to say, they need to pay DWJ whatever he asks to keep him on this book. If he keeps coming up with panels/stories/scenes like these, how will this ever not sell amazingly? DWJ is probably the best writer in comics today. Art is amazing. Nothing more to add. It the best it could possibly be for this book. Each scene has so much weight. Talking about the scenes. My oh my... starscreech getting 'yeeted' into the sky, Rachets legs getting chopped off to save his body, the dad epic moment... all of these and more. A single one would make a comic. DWJ has one almost every page. I cannot tell you what high level writing and art this takes. Everyone should be reading this book. Also there is a moment in one panel it has the background 'you know the song'. Ok 10/10 right there. DWJ knows when to get epic. How it ends somehow feels as intense as how it starts, but also it really feels like the end of an arc. You will have a lot of emotions in this issue but enjoyment will be the most stand out.

First, Jorge Corona is doing an amazing job replicating DWJ style. There are small differences here and there but nothing jarring. I love this as often when switching artists things can go downhill quick. Not in this case! As for the story itself... like did they just kill off Starscream? This is such a more brutal stake on Transformers and I am here for all of it. Such a contrast in hope and despair, in growth and loss. DWJ starts this new arc off with a bang and delivers an amazing story. A must read.

Another amazing issue. Jetfire with the 'Please dont leave, its so dark' moment hit pretty hard. Decepticons with a competent leader is a scary sight to behold for very different reasons than when Starscream led it. And Prime slowly fusing with the dad's memories is very interesting and I wish to see where that goes. Carly is annoying this issue but honestly its really in character and given everything she is going through totally understandable. Her becoming an Iron Apprentice is also something I am curious what the implications will be. This is still my favourite book (really all the energon universe) to come out each month. DJW is the best writer out there right now.

I am really bad at TRANSFORMERS names, I really am but I am trying with this series. Ratchet was a surprise and the general brutality still catches me off guard even 9 issues in. This has to be the best written on-going series this year (Ultimate Spider-man is giving everyone what they want but I say this is better written). DWJ is a national treasure when it comes to writing. Corona does an amazing job duplicating is rough style. I was so worried when they changed drawers but not anymore.

So this is functionally a bait and switch. Its mostly a reprint book of the back-ups with a really pathetic like what...8 pages of new story with Trinity punching WW in the face which is apparently the same thing WW did to her mom. Which btw is not in character. So essentially framing Trinity as a copy and paste of her mom just more annoying and cocky I guess. There is no reason to purchase this book unless you like to waste money. You likely already have almost the entire story. Save your time and money. If you are giving this a 10 I must assume you give everything from King a 10 or you have never bought WW and actually like these back-ups alone.

Like others have mentioned here, there is no lack of poor Black Panther stories. How many years has it been since he has been done the least bit of justice? Well here is finally have the change of pace. Hill delivers a great first issue, that although it is heavily focused on world building, it really spells out the similarities and differences in this Wakanda. Black Panther himself has not changed much but the world around him has changing how he responds. this Wakanda is one steeped in superstition and yet immensely high tech and advanced. Their King has a mystic secret council that he doesnt trust. There is political intrigue everywhere. On the outside, Moon Knight is like nothing we have seen before, two individuals of unknown power but clearly with a thirst for destruction leave a wake of blood across West Africa. I look forward to how this draws out Black Panther and how he operates in this new world. As a general side note, I would have really liked to see at least a couple more issues of his father. I thought that dynamic was quite interesting. Shame to cut it so short. Seems like a bit of a missed opportunity, even if it was an effective opening catalyst.

Ok this is a BP book that leaves you on the edge of your seat. There are so many questions I have and I really want to see the direction Hill takes it. I mean T'Challa has his work cut out for him, war, a traitor in the ranks, a falling nation, and a prophesy that will likely ruin his marriage and get him into trouble with a lot of people if he acts on it. So... oh boy this is going to be a ride. Strap me in.

Another great chapter in the ultimate universe. I like where this is going and this series starts with a lot of paranoia. A lot of people who dont really trust each other and who are trying to see how far the trust will go. So far the characters are both similar but different enough that this is a nice break from the disastrous BP in the 616. Ultimate is honestly how BP should be (much like Spider-man and maybe the X-men).

I enjoyed this but to repeat what others said, the ending was telegraphed pretty hard. The one thing that I wasnt sure of was the flight with Shuri, Hill seems to be playing a bit lose and fast with who gets messed up or killed so it is nice to actually be worried about a character, builds suspense. Or maybe I am just deluding myself. Art was good enough, story was fun and moved the plot a long. That is a win in my books.

Its 'ok'. The other orb is interesting but the lack of details and how it was handled leaves is lacking. I need more to be interested. Also how it was stolen just feels sort of forced. If they could teleport into their base at anytime with mind-controlled soldiers, why didnt they do that more and why couldnt they just have got the orb themselves? I am sure there are reasons but it feels a it messy. All in all the story is must chugging forward without any real accelerator. I dont feel like draw that I do with Ultimate X-men or Ultimate Spider-man. It is the weakest of the bunch (barring Ultimate's which really dropped the ball but might get better)

I am worried that the wheels are falling off this one. I just dont see the point for a lot of it. Like is this suppose to be the battle of faith vs science? But Wakanda also has superstitions and mysticism in it. Is it a warning against following false prophets? I only ask because the plot would indicate there is some sort of diametrically opposed ideologies going on here but to me all it looks like is a power hungry guy vs a paranoid guy trying to protect his land. All in all I think the next arc should be more interesting with more action if a war actually does come but I am failing to see how this isnt a more standard story. Not very 'Ultimate' if you ask me.

Art is great but Bryan Hitch is wasted, mostly just people standing around. I assume this is suppose to be building stuff up for something, but it really isnt interesting. Wait for the trades maybe? Not sure how this will play out, but right now I am leaning towards a 'wait for the trades or skip' type thing. Unless you love data pages, then go wild. It has got those.

I will keep this simple. Now that all the issues are out and we can see what this entire mini-series is, I ask the simple question: Why? This is never really answered. It just feels like Marvel throwing a hail mary hoping to get more cash out of the Ultimate Universe considering how poorly their main universe is doing. Book itself is 'ok'. Not inspiring, and I feel a lot will finish this book with the statement 'Ok, that was a thing.' While this review is light on details, the feel to me is the most important for this book. You get nothing big from it. Just a middle of a road forgettable book and some wasted art (Hitch is good but not used to his full potential).

While I can't give it a 10/10, this is the best Spiderman book written in the past... what.... 10 or so years? So maybe in a way its 15/10. Art is amazing. I cannot wait to see Checchetto actually draw Spider-man in action. The story has wonderful world building. Hickman delivered on that. I love the family dynamics, I love everyone's interactions in the world around Peter, its just breath-taking to see a new world one with actual promise compared to the ill and nearly pointless world of 616 that Marvel has functionally destroyed (besides maybe the Hulk book and FF to a lesser degree). This is a world of promise, of different fates, of paths not taken. I do hope this universe thrives on great writers, great artists and has longevity. This Peter is a warn out, but loving father and I want to see how he does. Ben's and JJ's interactions as die hard 'bros' from an era long past is great. I love it. 10/10. My only two tiny complaints are I wish we got to see a bit more of Spiderman (or him in action), and that nothing stood out as truly unique or wowing. But I still loved it. For the first time in probably a decade or more, this is feels like an Amazing Spider-Man... the Ultimate Spider-man one might say.

Ok this is probably too high of a rating for this issue, but it got me in the soft spot. May helping be Peters inspiration for changing the costume cause it scares her? Got me tearing up a bit with a big old smile. The banter between Ben and Jonah is great. I legit love it. There is so much in this new world to explore with the character relationships. I also really enjoy Peter exploring the question, do I need to be the same Spiderman that I was suppose to be? I hope that answer is a clear no with him becoming his own unique version. Lastly, I chuckled at Peter and the Shocker. Great moment. Everything has been said by the other comments. This is a great series giving readers what they have wanted for over a decade. A married older Peter with adorable kids and an amazing Mary Jane.

So trying to find something to say that hasn't already been said about this issue (its a great issue, look at those other high reviews, they are pretty accurate), I will say that I love they dad energy Peter has. Between trying to get a 'cool' costume with his daughter, to to moment with Harry 'It is cool.' he just drips the 'I am not an old man! I am still hip with the kids' dad energy. Written very well and I love this take on Peter. Please keep this up.

I wanted to touch on a couple of points that I think a lot of people are over looking. This dinner conversation was more of a social spar and a feeling out of potential allies. Hickman did a great job of how each party reacted. Peter and MJ vs Harry and Stacy. Totally different walks of life whose goals sort of overlap but have rather different approaches. This conversation clearly sets up a lot of potential for future issue and plot points. Loved it. Also why is no on talking about Harry dropping the famous 'With Great Responsibility?'. Hickman isn't so dumb to drop that without a lot of subtext. This isnt some young Peter learning this from the death of a family member, this is an older Peter with a family hearing this from a potential ally asking them to do something that might put there family in direct danger. The implications of this are way different. How will Peter internalize this? We know that in what ever run or version of spider-man that exists, how that Peter takes those words forms who he is. How will he internalize this one given how different the context was? If I were to tell you this was just a dinner conversation issue, you would likely scoff as Marvle's dinner talk issues are almost always terrible. This however was intricate and likely sets the stage for how Peter will become.

Good issue. Messina is clearly brought on to write more of the sitting and talking issues, and I guess I am fine with that. Interesting to learn about Harry's past leading up to current time. Hickman continues to world build and I do enjoy the world and people he is building. Honestly not as great as the previous issues but still played an important role. Seems like we are getting right back into the action next issue so this lull isnt too bad for me.

Not to bother to try out outdo other reviews. My favourite parts: He got his name! Woo! I enjoyed that a lot. The Kingpin fight, although just round one was a lot more shocking than I figured. I just wish it would have gone on for a bit longer. Cons: The family took the situation a bit too well. Like that was awfully convenient. Wish it would have been handed with more nuance.

I feel like this was a really strong start to a new arc while still touching on the implications of what came before. I love the newspaper subplot so nice seeing that move a long. Peter being is own voice of reason in his suit is pretty funny, but also sweet. Also totally no worries that Harry has his toxic dad giving him advice and that Otto has put his own AI as an option. Totally nothing bad will happen from either of those choices...

I find the complaints about this book so odd. This is the START to Ultimate X-men. Not the X-men yet. Just the prelude if you will. And do you really want it to be the same cast. Everyone who actually loves X-men should be excited to get something different than what we are currently getting in the main universe (which calling a dumpster fire is putting it politely). This is a refreshing start. We have a student, a school and unexplained power. The bones of the X-men are here and I am so excited to see what Peach will do with this. I enjoy Peach's art so for me this is great. Just wins all around. And for those who say this is too much like manga so it is not a real comic, please take off your fedora and relax a bit. Enjoy the ride. Tl dr, this is a blast of fresh air to a polluted diseased x-men franchise. I have high hopes.

This is a good not great read. It is by far the strongest X-men book out there. The x-men at least feel like they are trying to be heroes in this book and Gail at least has an idea of what they should be like. Wolverine detecting that something was wrong by his smell was a nice touch. Doing a make-a-wish is at least better than anything they have done hero-wise in the past... what like 5 years? Ending is meh and plot needs better panelling but all in all the only book out of the X-Men line worth buying. The rest are best for the burn pile.

You buy this book for the art. You buy this for Simmonds. James is just fine here. Not bad, but its not the main drawn. I don't think I have ever seen Renfield portrayed in this way and it is amazing. The art is nothing short of amazing. You can almost tell the story without words. The atmosphere is truly chilling and dire.

Robotman "Since I cant die, I will go talk to him, oh I just need the new kid." New Kid "Me? But I can totally die!" Robotman: "Yeah Yeah" Ohh Doom Patrol, never change. Please never lose your pettiness and dysfunction. Its a great first read, lots of action. Seeing the start of a clear plot. Give it a go.

Very strong issue with a great twist at the end. Great building up the role of the doom patrol in this mini-series. Also enjoy the little nod of Robo-mans roll in this issue to reflect on the previous Doom Patrol Teams and to give insight into all the loss he faces. Sort of a side thing, but a nice sub-plot none-the-less

Several plots continue to movie forward as this issue builds steam. Once again it builds on the wacky and odd humour of the Doom Patrol. Enjoying this more each issue. Another strong issue. No idea what is going to happen to their Doom Patrol base with all the Meta-Humans. Feels like a super important plot point that should be relevant even after this mini-series. Also what is going on with the real Chief? That needs to be brought up. A lot of questions need to be answered.

This is a slow issue. Not bad by any means, but a slow issue. Essentially this recaps all of each of the main members pasts and goes into the origin of one of the new members. Also explains how they ended up in the new HQ. So this issue really just answers a few of the questions you probably had about everything. Little forward movement, except for the fact we see another sub-plot about Jane move forward. Jane is clearly not ok (even by Crazy Jane standards, I guess?). Also to note, we still have a lot of dangling sub-plot points from previous issues (like the spy in the group ect). I hope none of those are forgotten, because I feel like this mini-series will either thrive or flop on how all of this ties together/plays out.

Great issue with a mix of emotions. Nice to see Niles back in the spotlight... and I think the DC version of Elon is the head bad guy?? I got a chuckle out of the entire situation. Quite bizarre, but sort of sad with Metawoman, but filled with laughs most of the way though. The first several issues did world building, and now we finally get the strands of plots and subplots combining to move us forward. I look forward to the rest of this mini-series.

This feels very Doom Patrol is the easiest way to put it. The majority of this issue is a massive all out brawl between the Doom Patrol, trainees trainees and a bunch of metagene bad guys buying time. Watching a massive fight between the weirdest people around is all I needed in this issue and feels like classic Doom Patrol. Last page is also great. I dont feel like much needs to be said about this issue but its just good old Doom Patrol fun.

Honestly my biggest gripe with this issue is that it is over. The mini-series is done, and I am sad at the lack of Doom Patrol I will be getting every week. The worst part is the series was finally getting on really great footing. It had it less than perfect issues but this last section of the arc was excellent. This Dawn of DC Doom Patrol seems to have found its place. The final battle was great, had its Doom Patrol classic zaniness and the big fight allowed for a lot of small spotlights on the allys and villians of the Doom Patrol across time. Culver actually understands the history of the doom patrol and the people in it. He might not be a Grant Morrison, but he does respect the Doom Patrol and what came before him so I give him a lot of credit for that. The art on this issue was also on point. The Abomination General Immortus became was done perfectly in the Burnham art style. So kudos on that. TLDR, Read the issue and have fun. Also please DC give us more Doom Patrol. You cant tease us with such a great mini... please give us an on-going.

Reveal was lame, some functional batman rip off (the creator of the character admits this and seems to show little love for the character). This issue was very weak. The past 4 issues have been on the weaker side but this reveal falls flat unless you like niche rip-off characters from long ago.

Note this review is a bit bias cause I love Silver Sable. This has everything you would likely want from this type of story. Killer nuns? Check. Venom and Sable just wrecking everything? Check. Brock/Venom kind of being trolls *Venom cant do anything, Broke pops up in a coat, Venom who? Stuff goes boom. Check. Doom being Doom. Check. Shut your brain off, laugh and get a dopamine hit. Simple as that.

This is a great issue that really dives into the books of the time. Venom and Brock learn more of their relationship and you see Dooms goals. +.5 points of this line "A book bound in human skin" "Did I say human?" Laughed pretty hard at that. Also that ending... like wow. Doom does what Doom does best and is willing to go to any end to acheive his goal. Looks to be an epic final issue. Loving this mini-series so far.

Honestly this is right up my alley. This feels like a combo of Doom Patrol (one of my favourite groups), and Suicide Squad. Great opening issue with everything I would have wanted from this type of book. Group is interesting, and while we dont dive deep into any of them currently, I look forward to the next issues exploring the group more.

Note: This review is bias, as this book is just like an Indian version of a Doom Patrol/Suicide Squad cross and I like the DP so... Anyway, this book is full of action as we get to know the character Arclight better. These people are 'heroes' but more grey. The Doctor who leads them all is also what you might call 'sus'. Watching members of the team operate is great. Watching a man who has lost his family try to save an out of control child is also nice. Fun all around. Great action. Awesome art. There are a lot of plotlines all going on at once though so it might be a bit confusing to some. The main one is Arclight though. Out of the We are legends books, this is by far the strongest.

In all honesty, this is exactly what I want in this type of book. This is an awesome mix of Doom Patrol of Suicide Squad as I said in issue 1. I stand by that. Even the adventure this time was classic Doom Patrol insanity. A futuristic Aztec style city created by the waking dreams of a dying monk. Ok you sold me. We learn a lot about the team dynamic and about each member a bit more and how the leader views them. Just read this book. Out of all the We are Legends books, I say read this. I think most are good, but this one is the one I say read! You wont regret it. My one Major concern for this, is that we are already 3 issues in and Ram V is known for meandering. If this was an ongoing, I would have no worries, but I worry that he might just rush the ending to make it all fit and ruin the awesome story he has unfolding. The speed that it unfolds is my sole worry. Yet it is a large one.

Again this is exactly what I want in a Doom Patrol/Suicide Squad style book. This issue starts like the previous issues with another dive into another character, this time Dodge. The mission they are on goes downhill and the Doc has some major secrets about himself and everyone that induces a major turning point by the end of the book. This issue builds up some major hype and the lore dump next issue is going to determine how this run shapes up. As for the job it was suppose to do as a 4th issue, it sure does it. It really is becoming more clear what this 6 issue mini-series goal is. Love every page of it.

Well this was a great reveal/info dump/set up to the climax issue. It is clear this mini-series was never really meant to have a big bad, but instead this is going to be more of the 'true creation/destruction' of the team. The die of been cast, the characters have been developed, the enemy now made clear. There is only forward. My biggest issue with this series is that it is not a 12 issue maxie. Ram V is slow in how he does things, but these 6 issues have been full of great details and mystery that has slowly been solved ect. I also enjoy the twist at the end. Didn't see that one coming, but I look forward to why it was done. Still loving every moment of every page.

This end feels like of like cheating as its not really an end but a sort of 'where will they show up in the future' (Hint, Wildstorm concepts). That being said, they do defeat the right hand of the main villain of theirs and solidify themselves as a team. So it does feel like an end in some ways. Not sure how I feel about it. Not the strongest end, but the series was great and I did like a lot of moments in this book. Arclight's actions scenes were pretty sweet. The art really elevated this. Excellent details and Arclight's powers were illustrated so well. I do wish to see more Vigil in the future.

So without spoiling too much (that everyone is probably already spoiled), Void Rivals is a great start. Just focusing on the story, it is a great sci-fi start and drops just the right amount of hints that the twist at the end can be seen. Good atmosphere, good art. Solid start for the character developments/pairing. Like them both. Robert Kirkman's start to this universe and the other authors he is bringing on fills me with joy, even though I am not even the biggest fan of those other series. Cant wait to see how this goes.

Yeah this rocks. The betrayal and where it ends is great. I love Darak's response to all of this situation. Like It builds a great plot but I also find it has a lot of pretty funny moments without it being a comedy in any way. Kirkman is doing great. The twist at the end though. So good. Like you probably will see the twist coming but that isnt what I am really talking about. I mean the little details you get from the words used, the tiny background detail. The artists and Kirkman drop a lot of hints and details about the world in that twist. Its great.

It is a great read. Really enjoying the dynamic between Darak and Solila. Great writing on that front. In this issue we get another faction in play to help out Darak and move things along. After all, in any brutal authoritarian society there has to be a resistance! Like some others have said, the art of this entire series isnt exactly to my liking but it has been growing on me. So at least its trending in the right direction. Fun read, you won't regret it.

An amazing escape, great banter, a betrayal, and a angry king seemingly making a compromise. Top quality stuff! Also I know the issue was good cause when I got to the end I was like "Ah yes, I am excited and cannot wait for the next issue but I can wait a month." I then saw its not till March to allow the entire Energon Universe take off (Cobra and Duke), and I almost screamed out "NOOO!". So needless to say I am sold on this series.

Void Rivals continues its break with a pang. We get Proximus added to the mix to really start off this new arc with some crazy threat level. Darak and Solila still keeping secrets (so I wonder how that plays out) and the universe is unfolding slowly. I enjoy everything about this. I dont have much to say except Kirkman writes a sweet story. The art is wonderful. The shooting starts double spread in the first pages of the book I could stare at for far too long if I had that much free time in my life. I love it.

What can I say? It was a great fight issue what ended up much worse than I expected. I mean they are not dead so... less than what Proximus wanted but I am so use to writers just having the heroes get out unscathed with no challenge, this one caught me off guard. I suppose Kirkman isn't like most modern day writers, so that is on me.

Another strong issue, and the intro to Springer as well as the fight that followed was great. Things are not looking to great for Darak and especially Solila though so I am curious how they get out of this. This has been a fun series to follow and I know I am going to have a great time when I pick up these books. I haven't been let down so far.

Synthetic? Man the twists keep coming on this one and I dont know where the plot is going in a good way. I love how the lore is unravelling and the two leads dynamics are fun. I am routing for them in all this chaos. Love the Transformers lore woven into the story. Kirkman continues to deliver a riveting story.

Very good first issue. Honestly my rating might be considered a bit harsh as I liked it overall, but Rossmo's art is just hit and miss. Riley does a great job drawing Dodds as Sandman, but the way he draws most people is just weird... now mind you this is probably some of his better art as his people actually look like people vs when he drew Tim Drake and his people looked like aberrations. I do believe Rossmo is giving it his all, so I tried not to dock too much for the art. Venditti does a great job. I feel the frustration Dodds has at man inherent nature for violence, the ease at which killing trumps over a possible technological advancement in how war is conducted. The contrast of the party, everything is rather well done. He lays great groundwork with the final pages for the conflict Dodds will have to resolve. Functionally everything a first issue needs to have he has and did it well. I just would like to see the second issue and see what direction he is taking this in before I give it anything higher than an 8.5. Next issue hopefully will be telling, and I look forward to it. Also one last note. I am not really a Sandman person myself. Like I do like golden age stuff and Dodds is good, but I like his look most of all. His costume is great, but I normally dont go out of my way to read his stories. It is hard to skip Venditti writing stories though. Recently he has been on rush a tear.

Excellent second issue. Rossmo's art is really improving! Love to see it. His style is meshing well with this story (it rarely does but Kudos for finding a good use for his art). The dream-scapes are really well done. Wesley is having a rough go of things. I also love the fact that this feel time period appropriate. The bad guys dont use some amazing secret enhancing drugs. Just standard what we consider old school style stuff but back then that would have been unusual and more surprising. Also shows that Dodds is effective for his time. His stuff would be less effective in todays world. But that makes this story so on-point. Last few pages the art is quite chilling. The villain from what little we see has a great 'atmosphere to him'. Sandman has produced an unlikely great duo in Venditti and Rossmo.

If you like murder mystery style crime, or noir. This is right up your alley. Rossmo's art continues to get better, the case moves forward, some dead-ends but a slight face reveal of the villain at the end. So some crime progress is made but I Dodds is really in rough shape. Curious how this goes.

Ok so unlike some other books, I get why people rated this so highly. That opening. Those... what 6 splash pages back to back of Dodds experiencing his own sleeping gas for the fist time and what it was like. A unique horror of empathy. What a fitting thing for Dodds to unleash on the scum of humanity. With these splash pages Rossmo was in his element. Distorted dreams, bleeding blurry nightmares. This is where Rossmo excels. Post splash page sequences (amazing stuff again), the plot really picks up with Dodds on the move to find... and maybe accidentally kill his one lead. His plan is a massive escalation in character. This issue was on fire and Rossmo went hard. This had the oomph that issue 4 in a 6 issue series should have. The pacing is right on track for this series. It is wonderful. Please give it a read.

I cant believe I am saying this but Rossmo's art continues to get better. Like just take page 3, The look of Ms Belmonts face is worth a thousand words and Rossmo just nailed what Venditti was trying to get across in that panel. There are some great moments in the arts fine details across the book on that alone. As for the story, right off the bat, Dodds reflecting on what his gas actually does and adjusting it to be human is a small but well written detail. Venditti really get the character. Also can I say that verbal spare between Dodds and Colonel Malcolm Breckinridge was intense. Essentially the embodiment of the industrial war machine vs the pacifist Dodds. When the Colonel responds to Dodds about what is victory if it is done through war crimes and the Colonel responds by saying that Victory is unimpeachable because war crimes are for the defeated, it was rather chilling. Venditti and Rossmo teaming up to deliver a great detective noir story that mixes art and story so well was not the team combo I expected but I am so happy with how this is turning out. Also one last note. Humphries better be ok, or we riot.

This was an excellent end to the series. A real noir style start to the issue, followed by a great rough and tumble fight, with a nice tag team with his lady friend. Ends noir style as well. Final page was a nice cannon event. Really puts this story into Sandman lore. I had goosebumps on it from the nostalgia. This was an excellent issue and included everything this issue needed to conclude this great story. It stuck the landing, it respected the sandman lore, built on it a tiny bit and had great characterizations. Rossmo also did a much better than expected job throughout. While I still say he should be used very sparringly, and is almost always used in ways he should not, he fit the style of this book well and it was nice to see Rossmo do something good. For lovers of the Golden Age or Sandman, this is a must-read. Congrats Venditti, you did it again. Another great read.

So this is a reboot but with respect to the original story. I think it does a good job in that matter. Marguerite says she grew up reading Witchblade and it does sort of feel like that. There are little easter eggs throughout the story to the original and the art is passable. Could be better but there are some really great pages. The Horizontal two page splash really impressed me. I looked great. An interesting concept is the idea of ones own bodily autonomy. Not in the politically charged sense but in 'what is a body' is it you or a tool? That is a question Sara is clearly working through and I dont think that is a bad take. If you got taken over by a killing tool, might you not be asking similar questions? Bonus points for the little Turner dedication and all the extra 'sketch' to final images. I really enjoyed the breakdown and seeing how it was made. The start was good, not amazing but enough to say we might have a good team. They didnt reinvent the wheel but tried to take the best of the original story and make it their own. Also all the old Witchblade fans out there, remember that the first 50 or so issues were a lot of fan service with questionable plots (minimal great ones). It wasnt till later that the story hit its stride, so lets give this team at least 5 issues?

First, the fact this is a celebration issue and they only have two writing teams on this is a testament to how little they care for Wonder Woman. There are many good writers (from years ago) that they could have got but they just dont care. "Happened to the Warrior of Truth?" should never have been the title of the story. To waste such an important story name on writers like CloonRad is a disgrace. That being said this might be one of their best stories this entire disastrous run. I mean at the end of the day it is just WW telling people they are great and the other people going 'No, you are great as well." No creativity, no greatness, no nothing. Still out of pity that this is the best they have done I will give it an 8/10. Art across the board in great. But oh my... that second story. Destroying characters right off the bat, eh Mr. King. Truly he is a professional at character assassination, or in this case creating an instantly unlikable character. I think I even get at what he was going for "Bratty younger sister, the older siblings dont know what to do with." She throws them under the bus as quick as possible and they go along with it to humor her while she constantly insults them thinking she is better. But honestly? Jon and Damien actually did stuff. She just complained and berated them. If King really wanted us to go in hating her, then congrats. He did it. She is totally unlikely. He better have some amazing writing skills to pull off this story later, but I seriously doubt it. 2/10. TD dr, Glad the CloonRad run is over. Story was 'ok' at best. Art is great. King is a hack who wrote an annoying brat of a character, disgracing WW. This issue just shows how little DC cares for WW. Shame.

So quick review would be: Art 8.5/10, Story 4/10. This story is a far stronger start to WW than the past couple. WW has had it hard for quite a while with poor writer after poor writer put on her. That begs the question. Is Tom King a poor writer? No. Tom is, at a technical level, a great writer. He knows how to write stories, he knows what makes stories good at a ground level. However, the problem is that this is overlaid with his own perspective on things and a clearly unresolved mental health issues/guilt. He almost always uses the same bloody tropes over and over and his messages are always so ham-fisted. This story is clearly an anti-american angle and yet look at the way the story is written. It is totally American-scentric. An odd mix. Everything is based around America with today's political issues, so take that as you will. You might like that, you might hate that. WW feels like a character that honestly doesn't need to be US involved, she can be anywhere, and doesn't really have a lot of roots in the US, but we know Tom King and his hang-ups. Another writing hang up is that this is also starting off with clear gender battle. Men vs Women. Look you can do this, but this is not subtle at all. Again if you a lot of the male characters needlessly sexist to try to create a difference then sure? WW is also almost not in this issue except at the end to humiliate the villain. Like make the villain imposing (even if he is not the main villain), don't cripple them in the first issue. Also the main big bad is essentially a Doom Patrol villain with the lasso of lies. Not all that creative. Mostly used to send a message but a simple and boring one at that. As for the art, Daniel Sampere is great. Love his art for this. He really elevates the story. So good on him. All in all, it is Tom King being Tom King again. A much better start for WW than in recent runs (that were all disasters), but unless you are a obsessive fan you will likely find many flaws in the story. Art does make it enjoyable though. Will you get your moneys worth? Unlikely, but you will also probably not feel like you got ripped off either. So 'meh category' for me.

Something is deeply deeply wrong with Tom King. There is no other way I can put it. The main story is disgusting and reads like someone with a first year university course in psychology and political science and thinks they understand the world wrote the part with the Sovereign and the solider. The analogies and implications he gave were pretty clear and pretty disrespectful to service men and women. Additionally that solider must be how he interprets front-line workers. Emotionally dead and quite dumb. Any solider in that situation from Issue 2 would likely be rather messed up seeing his fellow soliders killed/tossed around ect and there was nothing they could do vs a Superhero. Guy would have PTSD, but no, according to King, it was the Lasso that made him all messed up and wanted to kill himself. He didnt need a lasso for that! I mean at least I can make the excuse King has no military or foreign experience, not like he was part of the CIA in a foreign country ever... oh wait. The man has lived experience yet cannot properly convey a basic understanding of military experience or a basic understanding of mental health. WW herself is written like a toxic girl boss. This isnt progressive. This just paints a deeply negative stereotype of woman on one of the best best female superheroes. I love WW, I think she is awesome. What King is doing to her is gross. For the main story King is a failure. He has no understanding and disgraces mental health, military personal and women. 0/10 As for the back up story, it is actually good. So good I cannot believe King wrote it. Its funny, lighthearted and cute. No real complaints there. 8.5/10. Good art across the board. All in all, this is a disgraceful issue, and I come full circle with what I said, between the insults he heaps at the military front-line, individuals with mental health issues and women and the insane swing to a lighthearted adorable back up just furthers my view that something is deeply wrong with King.

This book once again frustrates. It is a tale of two stories. And dont get me wrong, the art throughout the book is gorgeous. However, if you know King, he often uses amazing art to cover up his poor story telling. Main Story: 1) This book was a slog to read. So much text and so much of it meandering. I didn't have fun reading this, it felt like a chore. 2) I dont know how anyone can defend the tone. Its really really mis-matched. Of course I don't expect King to be above using a dying child to go for the cheap 'feels'. It is sort of his MO to kill children at this point. That being said, the contrast he was trying to paint falls flat. If you would have had that dying child story with another writer in another situation I would have loved it, but it is contrast with the Sovereign. Her inactions and chilling with a kid will no doubt cause lives to be lost down the line. It was also the extremeness of it. Like Tom King needed us to bond with Diana, so he was like ok lets pull out the classic dying kid trope. Its cheap and hackney. Why not use her connecting with people who think she is a monster but she shows them what a hero looks like? Not a kid who already loves her. Totally misses the mark. 3) All the characters act so dumb in the first story. Just feel like a bunch of poor choices, and the fact the Sovereign is just essentially the ruler of the USA still feels like a cheap writing device. Back-up story. 1) This is the only reason I buy this book. The art is great and the story is sweet. It would not surprised me if King used a ghost writer to write this because it doesn't feel like his writing at all. It has hope, lightheartedness and laughter. If you are honest with yourself in King's writing history, he doesn't really do that. Dude has a lot of issues.

This was by far the best issue of King's WW so far. While I dont think the Wonder Girls were written the best in character, and honestly this issue is rather boring, a couple of parts made me chuckle. Yara (a cool character that DC has trashed) saying F-U you WW got a solid laugh out of me. Nice to see she has a team because apparently they are smarter than her and realized she would be destroyed on her own. Also Donna is awesome. King at least got her more right than wrong. All in all, ok at best but really nothing special and a waste of art. On the topic of special, man is the art great to look at. Honestly this art is what keeps me in this (and the back-ups). Kings story overall is quite weak and embarrassing but Sampere... truly this man carries this book. He must have rock hard back muscles with all the lifting he does. As for the back-up, I still dont think King is actually writing it. It is fun, kooky, with fun nice kid fun. Stuff King has never really done... he is kind of the anti-kid really. Interesting that we are essentially canonizing that Lizzy is scumbag, but in a lovable way I suppose. While she does grow on me she is also terribly annoying. Damian out of the 3 is written the best. I wish the back-up was the main story. Then this would have gotten a higher score.

More out of character writing. I tire of this. My 4 points go to Marchs great art. 0 to King and that is generous. I should deduct for his trash.

Do any of you actually think the Sovereign is a threat to WW? This character has never been established as a real threat. WW has just destroyed every challenge he put against her. This series reads more as a curb stop. WW just as to be reminded she is WW and that this was never a good read, or a real enemy. Tom King is a hack at this point. I have never wondered what challenges WW will experience in this book. She was never in any danger. She has never experienced any real threat in this entire run. Sovereign is a weak, pathetically written character. He is only good at controlling every day people. I find it hard to believe that he actually controls things behind the scenes except for the face that King has to constantly tell us this or show us in ways that dont really pan out. Art is ok but not Sampere's best work. Also the entire 'dream sequence/hallucination' that WW was in made me burst out laughing. How many female characters in the past year turn out to have their largest fears be 50s house wives? I was not aware that 50s house wives were the worst experience one could have throughout history (which Diana should know given how long she has been alive). King might fear 50s house wives but I seriously doubt WW does (or at least fears a lot of other stuff a lot more).

I agree with most that the best books in DC right now are the world finest series. This one doesn't deviate from that. An amazing start, and it feels interesting. Like a mix of modern age and silver age. I must admit the teen titans with young Robin as the leader just forming and having social media throws me a bit as I love the silver and bronze age stuff, but this take also works really well thanks to the great writing of Waid. The social media and modern age of it is going to take some getting use to for me, but honestly this issue put a big smile on my face, and made me think of the best comics has to offer from previous eras. Very few books can get close to that (barring the other World's Finest, of course).

First issue was great, this issue was better. While it does appear this might be sort of episodic story-telling in nature, it leaves several subplots that will almost certainly play out into bigger issues later on. Really enjoy that there are still people who use foreshadowing and subplots in stories. Feels almost like a simple but forgotten art. Also I will say I laughed a lot at this issue, between the Speedy and Robin banter and Donna just going full... Donna? I loved so many moments of this book. A great story augmented by moments of laughter and 'the warm and fuzzies'.

Once again, if you are fine with the modern interpretation of the Teen Titans, this is very fun. Also once again Robin is right... those darn horny worshipping Con goers. We have all been to Cons (I think?), we all know Waid's interpretation of it is more honest than most would like to admit. I laughed pretty hard several times this issue with the shenanigans going on. Good fun read. Action was great and in a fun setting. A lot of fun to be had. Well worth the cover price.

This was fun. Not a lot of action and half the book was totally awkward but it considering what they were dealing with (Wally trying to keep the secret of two teammates who are dysfunctional from his parents while they deal with relationship problems), it makes sense. Honestly Waid writes teens kind of awkward in a 'Hello fellow kids' kind of way but it almost feels like he knows that and channelled that into this issue. It feels pretty accurate to how I remember being a teen talking about relationships with my friends at their houses or my own. Bumblebee and Mal sections were also great. Good banter. Actually that sums up this issue quite well. An issue of Great banter that was fun to read. That being said, the action scene at the end gets the plot moving forward again. Also +1 for that quick seen with Donna. I love her energy. "But you cant drive!" "Didn't matter!" We all probably need a Donna in our lives to keep us on our toes.

Solid issue. You knew what was coming. The group was fraying too much and this was the big break. This mini-series reads like a classic tale of a young group of heroes trying to form a team. It has a very nostalgic feel. A bit of paint by the numbers if you ask me but a very nice paint by the numbers. Waid just shines up old concept and tropes really well to deliver a solid issue. It does its job well and leads clearly into the last issue with a potentially re-energized team.

While the first half is a bit cliche, it was done in the best way. The send offs at the end/the epilogue was wonderful. I love the Dick and Bruce talk, the Team line was 10/10. There honestly isn't much I want to say about this issue besides it left me feeling great about the TT. I feel like I jumped back into a time of hope and promise. A time that still believed in a brighter future. At was great as always. On the topic of the writer, Waid wrote a great story, but I do wonder how a person so filled with hate and malice for comic reader/the general public can write stories of hope, teamwork and compassion. The man seems to lack all these qualities but can write them well. Maybe he knows what they are and yearns for them but is incapable of embracing them. I just dont know because for me he is my hardest 'separate the artist from the art' situation.

I assume the grade for this book is so high because most people who actually like X-Men have long since left the book. I suppose someone has to post an alternate view for those in the future wanting to get a read of what this book is like. Avoid this like the plague. This is a disaster. This book sums up the failure of the Kraoka era. Please note for this review I am not an America and I assume it is this cultural difference which puts a different lens on it for me. I do not take pleasure is segregation or hating my neighbour. This book is almost a love song in some ways to the idea that segregation is right and that things are always better if you just eliminate people who dont have the same views as you. It endorses everything about the fear that sweeps the world (in 2024). It is hard to work together with others. Real life is hard and its hard to do the right thing most of the time. X-men 35 finishes off this era with the bad guys winning, the good guys joining them in a pro-segregation way and the destruction of Xavier's dream. The fact that Magneto gives that speech to Xavier in the dream. You literally have the mutant supremacist giving the good guy speech. This all felt dirty. It ends and era and starts a new era deeply tainted. Mutants are monsters with many of them seemingly ok with just separating themselves (this Krakoa in a bubble BS). Xavier getting a guy to kill himself at the end is just madness. Like way to establish him as a total monster. Way to ruin his dream. This entire era was a disaster and a terrible 'take' on the X-Men. So If you have loved the old x-men. This isnt it. This era feels like a celebration of hate. I honestly shouldnt even be rating this book as I dont want (I have hated this series the last while) to but seeing all these 9 and 10/10s baffles me so future readers deserve a bit more of a balanced take. Phil's art is mostly good.

Weirdly uninspiring. The art is also a mess. Does Stegman not know what he is doing or just phoning it in on a major X-men title. Also MacKay said he likes Morrisons X-men... it shows, he is just taking those ideas and doing a worse job with them (kind of like Zebb and his 'Inferno aka Dark Web' story.

Yeah this is not good. Just read Morrisons X-men run if you want to know what this is about. This is just a copy and paste version but worse. There is functionally zero reason to buy this book, the story has already been done and the art is very mediocre.

Better but still a long way to crawl from its terrible start. All that being said, based on interviews with the X-men team I have little confidence this will meaningfully improve to 'good'. Also based on the sales data we have so far, seems like the general buying audience has similar thoughts.

I think this book might be 'lost in the wilderness'. It isn't really worth your time until MacKay figures out what he is doing with the story.

It's so stupid, it just might work! No... its just stupid. This is side Spurrier's trademark. He thinks he is smart but in reality writes like how a dumb person thinks a smart person writes. More recons from Marvel that don't surprise me in the least. For those who defend this by saying 'But Chris Claremont wanted this from the get go!' I would like to remind you that other writers in the earlier ages also wanted to make Sue Storm sleep around and Mr. Fantastic to 'like to watch' but editors stepped in to because that is batcrap crazy. I love Claremont but no writer is without their crazy nonsensical ideas. We use to have great editors like Shooter to keep things in line. Marvel and DC (but especially Marvel) editors are asleep at the wheel allowing anything to occur, good lore or not. Tl dr, I wish people understood how important high quality editors are. Without them you get Marvel in its current state.

Honestly shocked to see so many people like this book. The art is a disaster. While that is a bit more of a subjective take, when you have people like Montos, or Mora on other DC books, this looks like something I might be able to draw with enough time and I am a terrible artist. This art is so poor even if the best of stories I couldnt give it more than a 7.5/10. The story itself is ok. It kind of just shuffles along and has some interesting concepts (the childhood part is interesting), but the art ruins every good moment. Everything Tamaki tries to build up or where there should be 'oomph' the art makes it look foolish or unimpactful. Normally I say the writer is bringing down the art, but this is one of the rare cases where the artist is tanking the story hard.

This issue was a bit better than the first but still the art really holds it back. With a better artist I feel like we would really get the mystery of the casters, the aura of the Zatara, the pure oddity of the rabbit people, but I dont feel any of that. The art falls flat on all front. It really is not a proper fit for this book. It isnt a proper fit for any DC book frankly. I am a massive Zatanna fan, I have all her major stories going back to her inception, but she needs good art. Her magic, her atmosphere, her backstory all demands it. This is not that. As for the story itself, it does ramp up a bit and I do enjoy parts of it but it feels like it is missing the 'show part' due to the poor art. The one issue I have with the story is that Zatara feels colder, more evil then he normally is. This relationship feels less healthy than normal and that is a shame. Zatanna and her father normally care for each other but I dont get that vibe in this book. We will see though. There is more to her childhood story to reveal.

This issue was much better than the first two. It could be summed up a Zatanna's no good, awful day. That being said, it feels like Tamaki's jokes and voice for Zatanna landed much better this issue and the oddity psychodelic art of Rodriquez felt more in place this issue. Also I cant help but feel he drew Zatanna better this issue. All in all, this issue felt tighter and better written than previous ones. Art made more sense. Only downside is that as others have said, this is going a touch slow. It is not a deal breaker for me but it doesn't boost the story at all.

This book is progressively getting better and finding its stride. Honestly the first couple of issues were a mess and the art was a disaster. However the art grew into the story as things got weirder and more into the magic world. Also Rodriguez drew Zatanna better each issue. She looks great and more in line of how I imagine her. So that is great! The Zatanna Constantine relationship is how I figured it would be but that is a good thing. Complex, John betraying but still having to move forward for the greater good. Also Zatanna finding herself in this issue was great. That colour explosion with her in her full costume near the end was great. Also I chuckled when Zatanna dragged the Stranger into the mindscape at the end. Nice little touch. One thing I still dont like is how Zatara is treated. Unless their is a twist for what happened to him, him being an a-hole feels bad considering what their relationship typically is. I wish it was better in that aspect. That to me in the big thing I cannot 'get over' but seeing as its black label I can at least 'accept it' as its not cannon. A book that is growing into itself. A nice change of pace compared to so many DC books that start of strong and fall apart by issue 3.

Its a good enough ending and the art really works for this issue even if its not my jazz. Honestly this entire issue felt like that. I understood it was totally fine and the art and story went together well but I wasn't feeling it. The stranger being the Phantom Stranger was ok and written ok and her father being the main villain was... ok. Just not how I like her story. Her relationship being a positive but traumatic thing always made her, her. Without it, it is kind of weird. All that being said, if you were down for that then this issue was a good time. Most things fit well and at least the story was coherent. I did enjoy the slight twist with the power difference. Didn't exactly see that coming. All in all an enjoyable read, but if you are like me and really like her relationship with her father then this might not hit.