Why the hell is Angel riding a bike? ... he has wings ... he can fly. All New X-Men, written by Brian Michael Bendis, has been my favorite X-men book for awhile now, and there are a lot of them. Mainly because I love the concept of this book, even though when I say this it will sound dumb, you ready? Beast has brought the original five X-men from the past to the present to rub Cyclops' face in how far he has fallen since he killed Charles Xavier (Spoilers! that happened like 2 years ago). Now the X-men from the future have come to the present to yell at the X-men of the past to go back and stop this madness...because this is not Sparta evidently. But wait up a second, it was a trap and the X-men from the future are really the evil brotherhood of mutants from the future and it's time to throw down! I love the original X-men being in the present. It has been really fun to see how they react to their future selves and for some, how they died. X-23 has joined the original X-men and for those of you out there who are not familiar with her character, she is Wolverine's daughter. I know, that sounds dumb too, but really good writers have been showing this character love, and she fits right in with this young team. The art on this series has been great and really shines on this issue with all of the over-the- top fight scenes. My only complaint is there is just too much red used in the coloring. I know the power is off and the alarm is sounding so you understand why it's used, it adds to the drama and danger, but I just think it's a little too much. Overall, this has been one of the best X-men books in the past few years, and one of the best books to come out of the first Marvel Now re-launch. This is the end of the current story arc, so the next issue may be the best jumping-on point, and I like the last page which sets up the next story a little bit. Oooo, that's why Angel is riding the bike .... touché, comic touché.

Time for the book that punches everyone in the face, like an episode of Oprah but with violence! Batman was left in a tough spot last issue and has to fight his way out of rival gangs and cops to escape. This book does a great job of isolating Batman and really showing him in his element as a detective. We get a classic gang story that brings Batman back down to the streets and feels very akin to Frank Miller's Year One. When I make that comparison, I'm really not talking about the "dark" or "gritty" Batman, because we see a lot of those stories, but to really see one man take on real treats like drugs and gangs, it gets to the heart of the character more than colorful villains. Don't get me wrong, I love colorful villains, but to see Batman on the streets stopping gang violence and running from the police just makes me happy, and I am sure that I should get that checked out. Francis Manapul's art has quickly made this book one of my favorites at DC. Manapul's Batman is old school and intimidating, and the panels when Batman is in the shadows are just classic. The panel layout in this book is also fantastic. The story flows and is easy to follow, but still feels interesting and just pretty to look at. Panels where Batman is hanging upside down and searching for clues in a warehouse are just awesome. Brian Buccellato not only writes the book, but also does the colors for Manapul's art and they are one of the best teams out there. The colors used when Batman lurks in the shadows are beautiful, just really dark blues that almost blend to black. I had to laugh at the ending but I loved it none the less, and I am glad to see Batman's conflict with Harvey Bullock come to a head ... and then beat the shit out of each other!! Read more reviews at http://www.geekretaliation.net/

My Favorite new series from Marvel: Moon Knight! This all-star team has really re-imagined this character and I have a feeling he will be written this way for a long time to come. Writer Warren Ellis has been telling stand alone crime stories that anyone can pick up and read, and normally I am not a fan of this style, but Ellis makes each story feel like an Edgar Allan Poe story... but with more violence, and the same amount of masked people. (boom! Literature joke) We have a very simple plot. Girl gets taken by gang. Super hero comes to rescue girl, but has to take the stairs and beats up, cripples, or kills anyone in the way. I know what you're thinking...just like Poe! What really makes it feel like Edgar Allan Poe is the dark, gritty, and almost claustrophobic tone of the book, along with just a hint of supernatural elements. Is Moon Knight embed with an Egyptian god or is he just bat-shit crazy? You decide! I am very sad to see this art team leave in one issue, because artist Declan Shalvey and colorist Jordie Bellaire (The Queen of Colors) have been just killing it on this book. The whole story takes place in one very old and dark building, which seems like a nightmare for not just the Moon Knight but the artist's themselves. However, Jordie does a great job mixing up the blacks and browns so the page never feels stale. Moon Knight pops off the page as Jordie does not add color to him but rather lets the inks sit on the white background. Shalvey also creates such a fast pace of an action scene that the reader is always right there with Moon Knight climbing to the top to save the day. So maybe more like... if Edgar Allan Poe wrote fairy tales? Anyway the sixth issue is the last one with this creative team and I am sure Marvel will put out a trade collecting these stories and I recommend checking it out. read more reviews at http://www.geekretaliation.net/

Rocket Raccoon gets his own series! With the Guardians of the Galaxy movie just a month away, this is the perfect time to learn more about the character and enjoy amazing Scottie Young art!. Young is the writer and artist on this book and you can really feel the fun he is having with Rocket as character. What is really surprising is the freedom that Marvel gave Young in this story, because this is not kid friendly book , and is more like Looney Toons rated "R", but hey, that sounds awesome right?! For this first issue, we find out the Rocket is wanted by the police. But for what? Could it be murder? No sir, it's multiple murders! Rocket believes he has been set up, but as Starlord points out ...murder is kind of his thing. You don't get the name Rocket Raccoon by accident, you know. (I know, the Beatles song, but that was like the fucking 70s) I really enjoyed the banter between Starlord and Rocket, because those characters have such a great relationship, and it did not take away from the feel of the book as a Rocket solo series. I hope they pepper in more Guardians in the series when it feels right and adds to the book, like it does here. For a first issue, Young does a great job of setting up the plot but also having fun and not going overboard with new characters and plot points. This is a great example of how to set the tone of a book, and that may be easier for Young, as he is also the artist with mad skills. Young's art fits this character like a glove that a raccoon is using to choke a man to death with, and I mean that in the best possible way. Young's style is super loose and cartoony with over the top motions and expressions that just makes the art feel fun. Young also does a great job on backgrounds and giving such detail that it makes the world feel more real. Add on the fact that this is a crazy space adventure and the art can go nuts, which gives a recipe for muffins ... I mean fun ... fuck that, I meant muffins.

Hands down the funniest book in comics right now, and by far the longest title. Superior Foes is a book about 5 super villains who form a new sinister six gang. Wait, there is only 5 though right? Perfect, then everyone will always be expecting someone else! Our Hero .. wait Anti Hero... our villain leader is Boomerang and he is trying to make the jump from henchman to crime boss. Writer Nick Spencer has been doing a great job creating the best-worst villain team ever. Boomerang and his team have stolen a painting of an unmasked Dr. Doom that the criminal underworld would kill for. This series is packed with more backstabbing and betrayal than an episode of Game of Thrones. This issue our villains are on the run, back to the safe house (a house Boomerang's girlfriend is house- sitting), to hide out after the big job. We also get to see everyone's favorite probation officer; butter-fly-man, Mach VII. It is really difficult for comics to have good comedic timing, because the timing is controlled by the reader. However, this book kills it every time. The art matches the tone of the book very well, by being colorful and fun, but not feeling overly cartoon-y or fake. I always thought books about villains were a bad idea, because they just turn into anti-heroes, but there is another way to do it... just make them totally incompetent and it's hilarious! The first volume of this book came out not to long ago and collects the first 6 issues, and I promise you will laugh your ass off. Unless you don't have a soul ... you do have a soul don't you? Read more reviews at http://www.geekretaliation.net/