The calm before the storm... Snyder and Dragotta use the penultimate issue of their Bane-centric arc to set the stage for a final showdown and introduce the Absolute incarnation of Catwoman. Light on action and heavy on character interaction, the Absolute Batman team delivers a surprisingly hard hitting journey through the wreckage Bane hath wrought on Bruce Wayne's inner circle. Batman's actions have had twisted consequences on his closest friends, and the ramifications have left them disfigured, disillusioned with Bruce's mission, and honing their new capacity to hate him. Anyone worried that Snyder's decision to have Batman's greatest rogues be his childhood buddies have their concerns put to rest with this issue. By making each villain's origin a result of brutal blowback from Bruce's personal vendetta, their turns become more tragic, and their (eventual) battles with Batman drive by the personal damage they've incurred. Most of all, it makes Batman's mission more haunted: Bruce is fighting literal and personal demons now, but can he afford to pull his punches? The personal connection is strongest with Catwoman, who swings into the story in style and gets a much more interesting dynamic with Bruce/Bats, their attraction built on much more than masks and occasional alliances. A climactic collision with Bane awaits in the next issue, and we may see a side of Absolute Batman filled with venom and vengeance, if his threats are to be believed. Great issue that shows us the severe stakes in store for characters in Absolute Gotham, and a promise that Batman has many battles to fight before he wins the war. Very recommended!

'Absolute Evil' #1 expands DC's Absolute Universe and gives the villains their own title. Al Ewing and his team of creators drop a perfectly enticing first issue here, although his story is more interested with introducing our cast than coming hot out the gate. At a gathering that brings together the big and mysteries heavies of the Absolute lineup, Ewing takes us inside a secret roundtable meeting between the villains behind the other Absolute books: Veronica Cale (Wonder Woman), Hector Hammond (Green Lantern), Ra's Al Ghul (Superman), the Joker (Batman), and Eleanor Thawne (Flash). The goal? Form an alliance that will bring down the Absolute heroes (what else could it be?). This is a setup issue and there's a lot of expository dialogue to keep things moving along. Ewing's no slouch, though, and the sudden death of a beloved character indicates that he's not pulling any punches with this outing. Is this story necessary? I'm not sure. A behind-the-scenes look at villains' plans and schemes is fertile ground theatrics and infighting, and their combined efforts might raise the stakes for heroes across the Absolute lineup (and provide the impetus for an inevitable team-up), but it still amounts to a lot of sitting around a table spouting exposition. Worth a read but mostly a nice tie-in.

Nice first issue for Maria Llovet’s new series, “Artificial”, which drops us into the story with a breezy introduction that sets up all the pieces for steamy thriller like Hollywood used to make back the ‘90’s. We meet Llovet’s heroine, Clara, at a crossroads moment and deciding what to do next. Recently promoted in her career as a fashion consultant but on a break with her uninspiring boyfriend, Mateo, Clara is convinced to sign up for an AI-powered android dating service by a couple of supportive girlfriends over drinks. Llovet’s storytelling has a light touch that gives the reader enough details to ground them in her slightly sci-fi setting and keeps her panels free of heavy exposition. A conversation among friends did most of the heavy lifting this issue, and Llovett keeps the chemistry enjoyable and conversation engaging enough that you believe a young woman with a soft spot for romantasy novels would take a romantic interlude with a robot lover. Billed as a blend between Andrian Lyne's sweat-inducing 9 ½ Weeks and James Cameron's killer robot classic The Terminator, Llovet’s artwork doesn't shy away from sexiness and her story ends with an oversight by Clara that could turn out to be deadly if she lets her fantasies go too far… I’m subscribing.

Maria Llovet turns up the heat and tightens the ropes in an impressive second issue of "Artificial". Our protagonist Clara enjoys a working staycation with her new android sexbot, Saul, balancing a new opportunity in her career as a stylist with a whole of down 'n' dirty f*cking to punctuate her workflow. Llovet is telling a nicely contained story so far that focuses on interaction over exposition. Just as in the first issue, Llovet does more showing than telling, putting us in the rhythm of Clara's week off from work with a series of wordless panels of Clara and Saul working, dating, flirting, screwing, repeat. It's just two lovers holed up and hanging out, human head over android heels with each other, and Llovet makes the scenes connect. Bad omens arise when Clara activates the role playing function but has difficulty turning it off again. An ill-timed visit from Clara's ex-boyfriend, Mateo, puts him squarely in the crosshairs of Saul, still engaged in his possessive lover roleplaying programming mode and leaves us wondering just how far this android will go to protect Clara. I really enjoyed the first issue of "Artificial" and the second issue confirms that we're in the hands of a writer/artist fully in control of her story. Great pacing, believable characters (one even sells the line, "He's an android!"), and a story that's turning a new twist in the erotic thriller genre. Subscribe if you're not already.

It’s a new day, no rain and a number 1 for Batman. Matt Fraction takes the reigns on a reset the long-running DC title and uses pieces from Chip Zdarsky’s previous run to fill in the alleys and rooftops of his Blade Runner-esque take on Gotham City’s Fraction has a knack for deftly weaving small character beats into his scenes that add a weight and relatability to his characterizations. Fraction’s Batman operates in a light grey that matches his suit: Neither teetering on the edge of psychosis or drawn back into the inner recesses of his private turmoil(s), his version of Bruce Wayne’s alter ego come across as resignedly understanding that Gotham City is the way it is. Still, this Batman is getting a little tired of all the same ol’ bullshit. It's a refreshing take and the reason I decided to check back in on a Batman book after decades away. Jorge Jimenez’s art is a highlight and really compliments the quiet-loud-quiet-loud moments that Fraction provides. Scenes bounce from small character moments to explosive action and Jimenez provides a great mix of stellar action scenes, flowing character interactions, and one or two page-stopping moments (“Strike a little terror into his heart.”). The issue isn’t perfect. It’s a #1 and there’s a bit of clunky exposition dialogue of the top to orient new readers (myself included), but Fraction gets past that within a few pages. Artificial Intelligence Alfred is a choice to get used to. It’s early days and not sure I feel like committing for the long haul but I’ll definitely pick up issue 2 and see where this is headed.

Matt Fraction's second issue of 'Batman' is a confident step forward from issue #1, setting some immediate stakes for the Caped Crusader(s) while also keeping the action street-level, which gives the consequences a serious and ominous weight. When the actions of two overzealous cops leave Batman and Robin injured targets on the streets of Gotham, the depths of their trust for one another is brought to the surface. Fraction balances the present day action-and-injury side of his story with a flashback to Tim Drake learning how to drive a stick shift from an increasingly frustrated Bruce Wayne, while observed by an increasingly more frustrated Damien. Just as with the first issue (and all his work), Fraction excels at creating believeable relationships and rapport between his characters. We don't just hear Bruce talking about the importance of trusting their partnership, we see both he and Tim relying on that trust and returning it for each other as Batman and Robin try to get away from a bad situation that is about to get much, much worse. This issue has it all: Jorge Jiménez's phenomenal art creates pops during a high speed fight in close-quarters, and finds all the right beats to make Fraction's comedic moments shine ("What the hell do you need thirteen gears for?!"). He keeps delivering crisp, clean, colourful work that keeps the tone hard hitting without getting bogged down in shadows and broodiness. I thought Batman #1 was good but wasn't sure if I needed more Batman in my reading list. With issue #2, Fraction and Jorge Jiménez show they're working on something a little different, and I'm sticking around to see where they're headed next. Recommended!

Messy first issue for new miniseries "Death to Pachuco" from writer Henry Barajas and artist Rachel Merrill. Cover art by indie crime comics legend David Lapham might have set expectations too high for this title about the investigation into a young Mexican American set against the backdrop of the real life 1943 clash between U.S. Navy members and LA's Mexican community. Problems begin with the pacing, throwing us into the investigation before we get any sense of our characters' personalities or motivations. Maybe Barajas was hoping an overreliance on tried and trope film noir tropes and clichés would be enough to fill in the gaps, but he's further hindered by Merrill's art which makes little effort to distinguish between characters or provide atmosphere or interesting settings. With clunky narration, a story that flows poorly from panel to panel, and no real reason to root for the characters (we're told the number one suspect "doesn't look like a bad person"...ok?), there's no real reason to see what happens next. Barajas wants to tell an important story about race and an overlooked and shameful part of American history, and he's certainly found an interesting place to set it within, but it feels like he and his collaborators are just plain out of their depth. Won't be picking up the second issue.

David Lapham returns to the scene of the crime with 'Good As Dead', a jet-black thriller that looks set to elevate the kind of intricate, character-filled storytelling that made his 'Stray Bullets' an all-time great series. The debut issue is a packed 48 pages that introduces a wide cast of characters led by Sherriff Calhoun, head lawman of the small border community of Port Linden. His rival is the Valade family, a clan of wealthy bastards with a finger in every bit of dirty business and the town in the palm of their hand thanks to their control of the only bridge connecting the (presumedly) island community to the mainland. Lapham sets his stakes HIGH with this introduction: When a man self-immolates on the town's bridge, it kicks off an investigation that seems ready to touch just about everybody in town. That would be enough for a great premise, but Lapham and his team, including co-writer and wife Maria Lapham, amp the threat level even higher with a truly shocking tragedy that leaves Sherriff Calhoun walking wounded and the entire town grappling with what may turn out to just be the opening salvo in a battle between two families that could tear Port Lindon apart. There are shades of 'Twin Peaks' and 'True Detective' in Lapham's North-Western noir and if his follow-through is as good as his setup, I'm in for the long haul.

Killer second issue of David Lapham's new series "Good As Dead" sees Sherriff Calhoun descend deeper into his drug-fueled pursuit of revenge against the family he is pinning all of Port Lindon's tragedies on. Lapham is telling a powder keg of a story that's packed, primed and ready to blow. We feel the urgency of Calhoun's uphill race against the clock to catch his killer(s) and settle a family grudge before the mystery micro toxins eat him from the inside out. Aided by his conspiracy-haunted veteran sister, Bobby, Calhoun steers headfirst into the oncoming conflict that may drag him deeper into a mess that goes back generations and require him to transcend earthly planes. Lapham, along with his co-writer Maria Lapham, have filled Port Lindon with interesting characters hiding God-knows-what kind of secrets. Calhoun's family life is complicated, his lawman instincts are getting hazy, and everyone in town is packing a weapon or not what they seem. This series has quickly jumped to the top of the pile for me. Can't wait to see how messy things get for the residents of Port Lindon next month. Recommended big time.

Fantastic one-shot from writer David Brothers and artists Nick Dragotta that collects three stories about characters on the brink -- of the apocalypse, of life and death, and of narrow escape on the streets of New York. Brothers' stories wear their influences openly (the creators even include a final page laying them out and paying homage), and he and Dragotta's mix of manga, Mad Max, and Gil Scott-Heron provide a series of fast-moving and beautifully drawn tales. As someone who doesn't read much (any) manga, the full-tilt momentum of the storytelling took some getting used to, but Brothers knows his genre well and I found myself locking into his rhythm in no time. Dragotta's art renders fight scenes in a mix of carefully broken choreography and chaotic splashes that condense multi-frame sequences into single scene explosions. Each story stands distinct from the other (there is some connective tissue between two tales set after a massive climate collapse event), but they stand together as complementary pieces within this collection. Definitely a fun one and highly recommended for anyone looking to dip their toe in manga waters or --like me -- just get a few fun stories that pack a punch from a team that's fully in sync. Recommended!