Bethany W Pope Comic Reviews

This is a brutal, brilliant, well-plotted story. The death of hope has never looked half as good.

Taken as a whole, this was an absolutely astonishing start to what promises to be a brilliant series. I absolutely cannot wait to see what happens next.

This book is an astonishment: a rose seeded among dried bones. If you aren't reading this series you are missing out.

This is issue contains what is probably the most well-considered philosophical statement delivered by a comic this year.

After the brutality of the past few months, Simones X-Men emerges as a breath of fresh air, and a return to everything that makes these heroes stand out.

Way of X does what comics are supposed to do and what many of them have forgotten how to do.

This was a bittersweet goodby to five years of storytelling, and a bright, beautiful hello to the wonders that are soon to come.

This is a joyous, intensely fun, exquisitely executed reimagining of five years of X-Men lore condensed into one incredible story. Whether you're new to the fandom or an old hand, you are going to pick this one up.

This book is a treasure beyond nostalgia. It's perfectly written, beautifully rendered, and far too brief. I can't remember enjoying a story more.

This story is, in every sense, beautiful. It's enticing, dark, and brimming with the twin enticements of threat and desire. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

This candy-coloured dystopia combines a strong philosophical background, profound understanding of the characters, and measured shots of dread and just-plain-fun to create an alternate-dimensional story like nothing we've seen the X-Men face before. This just might be the story we've been waiting for. Reviewed by Bethany W Pope

This is a brilliant, breathtaking, brutal book. These pages will bleed all over your fingers. Pick it up.

I've rarely seen a creative team work so well together. This is a brilliant, agonizing book.

This story is as much astonishing adventure as it is painful goodbye. The hype doesnt live up to the splendor of this book.

Beneath the vaguely Star Trek patina, this story hides a wonderfully rotten heart. If you need a little theological and philosophical complexity with your futuristic mayhem, this is the book for you. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

Gillen has written one of the best LGBTQ love stories ever told within the medium of comics. One of the best love stories ever told. And in doing this, he has planted the seeds for the future of Krakoa, and the future of the mutants who reside there.

This book is a mixture of plot, high art, and meticulous character study. It is an astonishment.

This is, put bluntly, an astonishing book. It functions both as a perfect glimpse into a mind composed of overweening hubris and as a horrifying setup for what is certain to be one of the most memorable comics events of the year. I cannot wait to get this sinful party started.

This book is brilliantly done. It's an adventure story, a political drama, and a finely wrought character study all at once. This is astonishing art.

This is a beautiful, agonizing, painstakingly plotted book. It is high art, in the medium of comics.

It's almost a tragedy that the nature of these books demands an ending, because no matter how poignant or beautiful that ending is, it's hard to say goodbye. This is the beautiful, poignant epilogue to a nearly-perfect series.

This story was profoundly moving: a joy to read, in every sense. If you are the parent of an LGBTQ child, please read it. If you are an LGBTQ person who is struggling to come out to the people whom you love, this was written for you. I cannot recommend it strongly enough. This is balm for the spirit.

This story is a revelation. Horrors, existential, interpersonal, and cosmic, burst through the bloody pages of this book. It's a shame that it's only released once a month.

Classical themes meet fart jokes, cannibalism, and a creamy dollop of metaphysics in this complex, riotous, hilarious book.

This is what you get when masters in the genre put their heads together: a brutal, exquisite book that left me bruised, exhausted, and seeping blood in a gutter. And I cannot wait to enter the fray again with the next issue.

This is an incredible story: a snapshot of a world that is a fun if desperate place to visit. Let's hope Jon survives the experience!

Excellent character work and startling world building combine to form one of the best, and most surprising, books currently on the market.

This is a remarkable series, delivered with sure hands, and no faltering. If you aren't reading it by now you are missing out.

If you want to expand your understanding of the fantasy realm Taylor has spent the last year or so building, and get to know the histories of the characters he's filled it with, this is your chance. Don't pass it up.

Fantastic art, a classic script, and new insights from people who were closely connected to the heart of the original book, make this tribute essential reading for anyone who considers themselves a fan of the X-Men.

This is a dark, vicious, waste of a universe the final days of an empire that never should have risen. Open this book and be utterly lost.

This is, in every way, an astonishing book. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

This is the Mystique story that we've all been waiting for, as layered, nuanced, and dangerous as the woman herself.

This is a remarkable feat of collective storytelling. The flames are going to be high at this year's Gala, and I can't wait to see whose gooses are cooked.

This book will stress you out. Reading it will shave years off of your life. You'll treasure every second of it.

If a story is well told, the adventure will surprise you. This issue is riddled with surprises of the most brilliant sort.

Other endings brought forth over the course of the Fall of X event have been, unfortunately, for the most part disappointing. This one was vibrant, thrilling, and pulsing with deeply ominous life. I strongly recommend it.

This is a brutal, powerful, brilliantly executed story. Do not miss it.

This book is full of life, death, complex characters, desire, loss, love, and everything else. Welcome back to the Gordian knot.

This issue was a powerful introduction to a hideous new world. Fans of dystopian futures will not be disappointed. This is the sinister start of an entertainingly horrific event. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

This book is full to bursting with incisive characterization, explosive action, passion, pathos, and fun. It's a remarkable end to what was, by and large, a tremendous Marvel event.

This is a brilliantly successful, pulse-pounding, psychologically apt book. It was the strongest release of the week

This was a satisfying, if slightly fast-paced, issue and a fine goodbye to an incredibly complex example of long-form storytelling.

If you want to read the perfect villain-centered story, this astonishing piece of art is for you

This was a beautifully constructed, deeply satisfying story.

This is the Storm you've been waiting for. Al Ewing's writing and Stefano Caselli's art combine into a work of thematic complexity and brutal power.

This story is an astonishment. It raises the stakes of the current massive crossover event while never dropping the thematic threads of the primary story. Readers of both series will be swept away by this flood.

Abigail Brand is discovering the problems with using people as chess pieces: namely that the damned things just keep skittering across the board.

This is a phenomenal story, beautifully written and masterfully rendered. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

This comic is as psychologically real as any story ever was. There's tremendous depth, and beauty, within this LARP. If you aren't reading it, you are seriously missing out.

This was another exceptional installment in a series that shouldn't be slept on. It is a work of art, in every possible sense.

In terms of art, characterization, and sheer intensity of story, this penultimate issue is nothing short of phenomenal.

This is an incredibly strong beginning to what promises to be an absolutely fascinating series.

This is, in every sense, a beautiful, thrilling, ticking time bomb of a book. You don't want to miss out.

These are two artistically different, but thematically complimentary stories, well composed and beautifully illustrated, that will definitely appeal to young children.

Little Baby Bunting, Nanny's gone a-hunting for the jerks who stole her robot child. What will happen when she finds them? You'll have to read to find out!

This book is like an overripe pomegranate: swollen decadence with a heart full of rot. Pick it up, if you dare.

This is a wonderful, brilliantly constructed issue, in a series that promises to be among the best X-stories ever told. I just can't wait to see what happens next.

This final issue contains a story that is nothing short of stellar. Words and images work together with fiery force to reveal new psychological depths hidden within the titular character.

This issue works equally well as a standalone Marauders story or as the lynchpin of a longer, more complex story. Beautiful art and brilliant character work combine to make a story that is more than worth the cover price.

This is a beautiful story, produced by a creative team that has found its stride. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

There's a human heart buried in this story, beneath the brash, robotic skin. It's shaping up to be one of the best X-Men stories of the last ten years.

Aside from a singular (avoidable) misstep, this was another beautifully wrought chapter in what will prove to be one of the most important works in the medium of comics.

The second issue of this series melds stunning art with sci-fi high adventure, creating a fun gut punch of a book.

The universe is winding down, burning out as Sinister's corruption leaves little room to spread. Al Ewing's dark, character driven writing and Alessandro Vitti's startling art create a world that is a lot of fun to visit though not even Sinister would want to live there.

This is a wonderful anthology, packed with feeling, tinted with nostalgia, and brimming with character. It's the perfect book for any Superman fan. I cannot recommend it strongly enough.

This book takes a premise that has become something of a gimmick among the Big Two, the monochrome anthology, and elevates it into something approaching high art.

This is a wonderful story, told with tremendous skill and illustrated with art that verges on gorgeous. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

This issue is packed with swashbuckling action, scintillating dialogue, and a whole lot of heart. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

With smart, tender, occasionally visceral writing and truly excellent penciling, this issue carries the perfect balance of action and heart.

In short, this was an action-packed, beautifully drawn, incredibly well-written installment in a story that has never disappointed. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

This issue was a lesson in perfect pacing. It is an anxiety spike in paper form.

Percy is really bringing his bloody brew to a boil. This issue signals the beginning of the end for a certain Russian, and it's been a long time coming.

This story was a beautifully drawn, action packed, philosophically sound, pee-filled season finale. I just can't wait to see what happens next!

This issue could serve as a master class in the art of building tension. It's a phenomenal work of art.

This was a brutal, wearying, battle of a book, filled with miseries of every stripe. The stakes of The Fall have never been higher, or the conflict more dire. Only a fool would miss out on this story.

Reading this book is like waking to a bucket of glacier water being thrown in your face. The writing is complex, the art is astonishing. I cannot recommend this issue strongly enough.

With fine pacing, excellent characterization, and exquisite art this is, in every sense, a beautiful book.

This book is alchemy; disparate parts combined, through the crucible of astounding art, reveal something new about characters whose stories are practically ancient. You don't want to miss these revelations.

A terrible beauty is born in the X-Books this week. This issue is the loveliest, most malevolent flower.

I would be worried about slipping into hyperbole when praising this story, but the book's so good that it honestly deserves it. I am absolutely in love with these murderous underdogs.

This story is, in every way, absolutely satisfying. This is a team who deserves every opportunity to work together. And this issue provided the capstone to a project which will, I hope, have lasting effects within the DC line.

This is a Janus of a story: looking forward into an uncertain future, even as it gazes back into the nostalgic past. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

This story is a cinematic experience Sergio Leone or Kurosawa by way of James Bond. By the time I got to the end, my appetite had merely been whetted.

Like a blade of finest steel, this story is a perfectly balanced embodiment of thought, action, and copious blood. If the entire Fall of X event is this engaging, it will be a story that will be remembered forever.

This issue was pure, raw power, wrapped up in bright colors. Come for the action, stay for the melodrama.

This book is a near-perfect mixture of poetry and visual art. I cannot recommend it strongly enough.

This brilliant series of vignettes highlights exactly why this book is such a necessary read for the troubled era we are currently inhabiting. Don't miss this comic - and if you do, you're doing comics wrong!

This was an astonishing story, told with passion, skill, and more than a measure of contemplative thought. This story reminds us of what comics can do, what they can be, as an art form. This series stands tall amidst the rubble of lesser attempts, promising something entirely better.

Aside from one (admittedly persnickety) stumble, this story galloped across the finish line, catapulting readers into place for the upcoming Sins of Sinister event. I am hotly anticipating Storm and the Brotherhood of Mutants and I cannot wait to see where Ewing takes it.

Tremendous art and excellent characterization combine, here, to restore this series to absolute greatness.

This story is a treat: satisfying on every level. It's exactly what a Superman story should be, and it's as necessary right now as medicine.

This story was nothing short of brilliant, a tender, difficult treatise on the subject of grief, and the choices we make in the wake of it. I cannot recommend it strongly enough.

This is one of those stories that is filled to the brim with hope, and horror, action and heart. I can't get enough of this team's work.

This book is brutal, violent, and altogether brilliant. If you aren't reading it, you are missing out.

This book is filled with demons, dragons, zombies, gods, and written with a deft understanding of human psychology. With a creative team of this caliber, I don't think that this story could be disappointing if it tried.

This story snaps, crackles and pops. I am excited to see where this fuse leads.

This was an excellent, if speedy, finale to the saga of Krakoa.

This issue is a brutal, hilarious, corpse-laden ride, punctuated with humor and surprising heart. I just can't wait to see what happens next!

This is a beautiful, brutal, terrible read one that will serve as a reminder of the nobility at the centre of these characters and the love that makes them great.

The noose is tightening around the new mutant nation. I can't wait to see if the council can slip the knot.

For a story involving almost ludicrous amounts of physical carnage, this story was both hilarious, deeply worrying, and very, very fun.

This is an action packed, thematically dense story, a gunpowder charge preparing the groundwork for an event that promises to blow Krakoa off the face of the earth.

This story is a balancing act between philosophy and plot. Luckily for us, that's a space that Gillen gleefully prances around in.

The final issue of Koshchei the Deathless is a dark, sad, beautiful, and ultimately hopeful conclusion to a fable about a man searching for his soul. It's a good one. Pick it up.

This issue is a perfect balance of humor, horror, and character development. I cannot recommend this series highly enough.

This was a strong, vibrant book, balancing action, magic, and well-rendered characters. It will be interesting to see where this series goes.

This was a solid issue, packed with quips, action, romance and heart. It was fun to look at, too. You can't go wrong with a creative team like Taylor and Timms.

This book is beautiful, brutal, and carefully plotted. It's everything a superhero book should be.

This story was wonderful to read, from the first page to the very last. These artists work together brilliantly, producing a work of equal parts adventure, excitement, and heart.

This issue is something close to perfect, laying the groundwork for what's to come while reminding readers about why we love these characters so much in the first place. I cannot wait to see what comes next.

Things fall apart. The center cannot hold. The Gods are scattered, war is coming, and Thor's having problems with his hammer. But what else is new? Read on to find out.

This story was a fun, if not vital, glimpse into a new corner of the Swamp Rats history. It's well worth picking up.

A bomb this large requires a long, slow fuse. Expect no easy, black and white moralities here. Be prepared for pyrotechnic, nation-shaking explosions.

This story was building for a long time, but the wait was absolutely worth it. Read it and find one of the best psychological thrillers in modern comics.

This book is a beautiful, terrible gut-punch. It'll leave you grieving in the best possible way.

This was a frankly phenomenal example of narrative art and a satisfying conclusion to an extremely strong series.

A dense, joyous, occasionally frightening, often-hilarious reimagining of five years worth of X-Lore. This is an essential read for fans of all stripes. Plus, there's a panel in which Dr. Doom plays with a Barbie.

Aside from an unfortunate segue into the realm of sexist trope, this story is a deeply fascinating character study, perfectly balanced with a rip-roaring plot.

This second issue is brilliant, brutal, and deeply addictive. This is storytelling at its finest.

This is a brilliant, brazen, glimpse into the crucible that forged The Batman. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

This was a satisfying conclusion to a wonderful story. I'm so sorry to leave this world behind. If only every apocalypse could be so beautiful.

This story walks the bloody knife blade between raw gore and pure heart. It would be a shame to miss out on it.

This trio of stories reveals the absolute best of Deadpool. I cannot recommend it strongly enough.

This is a dark, troubling, brilliantly illustrated story told with humor and a lot of heart. Be sure to save this dark angel some room on your pull list.

This is the beginning of a multifoliate, gorgeously complex story, one which looks like it will change the franchise for many years to come. The art is wonderful enough to live up to that burden. Pick this issue up.

House of X #3 (Hickman, Larraz) Add together action, heart, a good dash of sci-fi, a smattering of political intrigue, a giant explosion, and you get this book. There's a brave new world, right between these covers, and, O, what people are in it!

Immortal X-Men is the pinnacle of great Comics writing. It is a truly remarkable book.

Groundbreaking, gut-wrenching storytelling and astonishing art marks the beginning of what will prove to be a very important X-Man story.

Come for the delightful art and Sinister's delicious sartorial insults, stay for a revelation that will rock all fandom to the core.

This was a strong start to the dark timeline this event is exploring. Action, adventure, tragedy and love exist here in perfect balance. It's going to be difficult to wait for issue two.

Taylor and Tormey have created something very special. This is an important book. You all should be reading it.

The battle between lies and The Truth reaches a fever pitch in this issue. Fantastic story and show-stopping art cement this as one of DC comics' best books.

This was another brilliant, thoughtful installment of the Job Kent story, told with exquisite characterisation and phenomenal art. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

This is an exciting, beautifully drawn, beginning an excellent jumping-on point for new readers, and a satisfying continuation for those of us who have followed the story from the beginning.

This series fuses Claremont-era soap opera with Southern Gothic creepiness, creating a story that is simultaneously eerie, emotional, and seriously fun.

This was another solid issue in the series that is quickly becoming the best that the Krakoan-era has to offer.

This ending redeemed a great many of the faults of previous issues, and it did so in a way that brimmed with revelation, genuine terror, and stellar art. I just can't wait to see what happens in the finale.

This is a fun, bloody, thematically complex story, beautifully illustrated and well-told. I just can't wait to see what happens next.

This issue provided a predictable, but incredibly effective, return for one of Marvels finest characters.

This was a fun, engaging, beautifully rendered start to a series which promises to be deeply enjoyable if the author can avoid the usual monster-of-the-month pratfalls.

For this story, Hickman provided tight, effective scripting; Gho lent the panels creepily appropriate colors, and Asrar's likework absolutely store the show. This is a fantastic piece of work.

The characterizations in this issue are among the best in X-History. This is the Goddess at her absolute best and Xavier at his very worst.

This installment was more of a tumble than a plummet, but strong character moments and phenomenal art salvaged the story from a potential wreck.

This is a well-paced one shot, packed with action, introspection, and a compelling plot. I hope that there's much more to come.

This penultimate issue is a pulse-pounding, sweat-inducing, beautifully rendered thrill ride. If it doesn't leave you gasping you've got no heart.

This series is a hilarious labor of love, laden with sight gags and forgotten bits of marvel history. I'm sorry that it's nearing completion.

This was a satisfyingly hilarious conclusion to a consistently good series. I'm sorry to see it end.

If you want to read a trio of hilarious, bloody, intestine-filled Deadpool stories, this is the book for you!

This is an extraordinarily tightly-wrought, action-packed comic that is laden with character and balanced by finely-accomplished art. Pick it up.

Exquisite art, humor, and a keen, demonic edge elevate this book far above DCs other offerings. This is a series to pick up.

Some stories go off like damp firecrackers. This one is a nuclear bomb.

This series is laden with a full measure of intellect and heart, a measure pressed down and overflowing. It is an absolute work of art.

Sharp writing and brilliant art make this beginning into a miniseries that you don't want to miss.

Humor, dramatic irony, and fantastic art define this issue. If you aren't reading this series you are missing out.

Stunning art and a roguish plot make this book stand out, leaving competitive books firmly in the background.

Kick-butt action, clever plotting, and phenomenal art set this story aside from other books out this week. Don't sleep on this issue, folks!

The level of talent on display in this book is occasionally overwhelming, often frankly astonishing, and that's just the way I like it.

The Marauders are setting sail into a new era! Meet the crew, watch the battles. Become enraptured with Captain Kate as she gets gayer and does crimes! This book is quite the ride.

This story is an allegory of the struggles of queer people who want to uncover their histories, wrapped up in a sci-fi/body horror package. I cannot recommend it strongly enough.

This issue served as both a lovely ending to the arc which preceded it and also as some truly excellent stage setting for the new fun to come. It would be a shame to miss out on it.

This was a strong, oddly poetic collection of vignettes, dripping with horror that has as much to do with the heart as it does with the desire for braaaaaaaaiiiiiinnnnsss.

Everything changes in this issue. Everything ends. Of course, knowing Hickman, hes just using this as an excuse to press our expectations even further. This is not a story that you want to miss.

This is a stunning, heartbreaking, beautiful conclusion to a wonderful piece of work and like every ending it opens the door into a brave new future.

This book is a twisted fever dream, a sick nightmare. Once you start reading you won't be able to turn away. And that's exactly how I like it.

This is the end of the Krakoan era, and in the hands of Gillen and Silva, these ashes are glorious.

Excellent art combines here with a thought provoking, extremely timely story. It's well worth picking up.

There's a lot of action packed into these twenty-four pages. It would be a shame if you skipped it and missed out.

This was a fun, fraught, beautifully rendered story peppered with memorable characters and fueled by a high-octane plot. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

This issue was fun, deeply atmospheric, and beautifully rendered. The plot stuttered in a few places, but not badly enough to blur the intent. It's well worth picking up.

As ever, David Marquez's art was absolutely sumptuous, beautifully detailed, but delivered with a dynamic energy that masterfully conveyed both emotional and narrative force.

This was a satisfying conclusion to the Dark Artery storyline.

This was an extremely fun, tonally complex story. Simone and Vecchio packed a lot of narrative bang into these pages.

This is the start of a joyful, bloody, rollicking good time.

If body horror and questions of identity and self-worth are your thing, this is the book you want to be reading. It's better than advertised.

This is a well-paced, character-driven story, laden with existential dread and buoyed by a touch of humor and a bracing of fabulous art. I cannot recommend it strongly enough.

If horrific futures and hilarious dialogue are your entertainment weapon of choice, this is the story for you.

This is a fun, brutal, bloody blitz of a story. Any X-Force fan would be remiss to miss out.

This is not an essential read, but it is a thing of great beauty one which any X-Men fan will be certain to enjoy.

The art in this issue is absolutely stunning. The dialogue is next to non-existent, but the theme is remarkably complex. Even if you don't approve of King's long (and I would say extremely successful) experiment with narrative, you are going to want to have this in your collection on the strength of the visuals.

Strong art, a smart premise, and a few surprises lead to this being the rather explosive start to a promising series.

A fun, exciting revenge story told with truly wonderful art.

This was a satisfying resolution to the Batman prequel story, informing readers about a pivotal time in Batman's life while not straying too far from the established mythology. It was a fun, if not necessary, read for old and new fans alike.

This was an explosive start to what promises to be a fun little mini assuming none of these idiots manages to blow up the world before issue two comes out.

This series is a chaotic, joyful romp through the madcap history of Marvel. It's a love letter to fans, written by other fans, and delivered with wry delight.

This story is a rollicking adventure, packed with high stakes and heart.

If you are interested in fine writing, character, kindness, action, violence, and startling art, this is the book for you. If none of that sounds appealing, I dunno. Read a Frank Miller book, I guess?

A miniseries about a zombie-like apocalypse has absolutely no business being this beautiful, touching, or straight-up fun. DCeased #6(Taylor, Hairsine, Edwards, Gaurdiano, Beredo)proved a fine conclusion to a wonderful event. Do pick it up.

This is a fun, action-packed story, packed with adventure and exciting art.

This was perhaps the weakest issue of the event, thus far, but there were still a few effective moments glittering amidst the rubble.

This issue is full of beautiful art and fine characterizations. What more do you need?

After the darkest hour comes, at last, the sunlight. This issue is both joyous and deeply important to the future of the series. Pick up House of X #6 (Hickman, Larraz, Garcia, Curiel, Cowles).

Smart writing, astonishing art, and a side of psychedelic psychology make Legion of X one of the best books out right now.

It's difficult to keep four plots spinning at the same pace over 34 pages, but Hickman manages it beautifully. The plot(s) all take a major kick-start in this issue, and the art is beautiful enough to be compelling on its own. If you haven't already, pick this series up.

If you're in the mood for some complex, surprisingly astute analysis of western colonialism wrapped in a patina of 1940's all-American pulp, pick up the first issue of Tom King's Strange Adventures. It's well worth the cover price.

This is a strong start to a complex, interesting story. The art is fantastic, and the banter is top notch.

Beautiful, generous art and a timely, important story combine to form a book that you all really should be reading.

This was a dizzy, psychedelic sugar-rush of a finale punctuated with operatic violence and moments of real emotional weight. Pick it up.

If you like the found family elements of the X-Men stories, this is the book for you.

This was a fun, joyfully chaotic book, that still manages to wedge a little earned pathos amidst all the blood.

This new iteration of X-Force combines tight plotting, cutting dialogue, and an intriguing mystery with exceptional art. Taken together, these elements build to a fun, engaging, and thematically-dark story. There's a renaissance happening in the X-Books right now. This is part of it. - Review by Bethany W Pope

This is the perfect jumping-on point for new readers. Let's hope that they're better at making themselves welcome than Wayde Wilson.

All in all, this is a satisfying, beautifully rendered, adventure story well worth picking up.

Although this story was uneven, and the writer continued mishandling a few recurring themes, the extremely high quality of the art and the information about the upcoming Fall of X event made this story into an exciting, interesting read.

The stories that Tom King is telling with Batman will prove to be part of an historic run. This issue adds another piece to his unspeakabe puzzle. It is a masterful story.

This is a comic that's as well plotted as a horologist's masterpiece. Let's just hope that the writer doesn't strip the gears.

This is a very effective installment, a strong link in the chainmail that Taylor is forging.

This issue tied up loose ends, but unfortunately it was too reliant on readers dropping cash on other books to stand on its own.

This is a very strong start to what promises to be a remarkable series. Aside from a few sour notes, this book contains a great deal of fun, action and philosophical depth. I cannot wait to see what happens next.

This conclusion was competent and complete, but as the ending of an important series, it felt a little rushed.

Spider-Man: Life Story comes to an end with a deeply touching, beautifully executed book that will leave every fan absolutely exalted and more than a little teary. Pick this one up.

This was a fun issue, packed with action and a leaven of heart. I cannot recommend this series highly enough.

This cast has a great deal of potential, but unless something changes soon this monster of the week format is going to get boring fast.

Beneath the 60's-Chic design and happy happy faces inhabiting X-Man's perfect world lies a deep seam of dystopian fear. Witty writing and beautiful art combine to make this issue everything that you'd want from an X-Men alternate reality Story.

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, but at least there are jokes about Guliani. Pick this one up.

Literary wit, astonishing action, and kneebuckling art all abound in this issue. What more could you possibly want?

This is superhero storytelling of the highest quality. I cannot recommend it strongly enough.

Love him or hate him, there's a lot more to this Merc than obscure pop-culture references and a variety of pouches. Theres also a lot of punching and pretty unicorn-themed accessories.

This was a dramatic and arresting introduction to a series which will certainly have repercussions for all of the X-Books.

This story will hit you like a firehose, on full blast, aimed at your face. This is the place where unstoppable action meets exquisite art.

This issue continues the trend of Marauders being the very best of X!

Taken together, this was a highly satisfying conclusion, and a wonderful set-up for the stories to come.

This story balances on the knife-edge between humor and anxiety. It's a series full of guts, horror, and a lot of heart. Plus a few drunk Russians.

Startlingly effective art and odd asides elevate this final issue head and shoulders above the previous two.

This book was a fun, rollicking adventure ride through the world of Marvel, formed from great art and a fun story. I can't wait to see what happens next!

This is a brutal, beautiful story which strips Wonder Woman down to the bones of the myth then polishes those ruins until they absolutely glow.

This book is a fun romp,painted in dayglow, with some unexpected answers buried in the seams.

This is a satisfying, well-balanced story, and an enticing, action-packed beginning to what promises to be another amazing arc.

This was a fun, though inessential read. It's nice to see so many non-male creators gathered together in one book. It's a pity that Marvel only seems to break out this level of diversity for Pride.

This story balances action, world-building and introspection to highlight the fact that when doubt is forbidden we all are made into fanatics. Welcome to the second issue of what will likely become the best series of the year.

In terms of both the story and panel-after-panel of beautiful art, this is an issue to read at once, in a breathless, admiring rush, before revisiting again and again to chew on all the meaty bits. This is an astonishing piece of work.

This issue serves as a bridge between episodes, but that's not a bad thing. Ragnarok is coming.

With this issue, Tom Taylor has added another, fascinating, dimension to the Bat-mythos. Parental love, and the function of compassion, are the primary themes. Oh yeah. And Alfred beats up a bunch of baddies while wearing a Halloween mask. That happens, too.

If you are a comics fan who enjoys poking fun at yourself and your geeky proclivities, this series is for you. I highly recommend it.

Ultimately this is a lively, interesting story, told with vivid art, that should satisfy Jean Grey fans.

This arc finished as it began: a mixed assortment of blessings and curses, held together with wonderful art and a tincture of color. Hopefully the second arc will hold onto what is good while improving on the areas that need it.

This is the start of a much stronger story than the one found in the previous arc. The plot is enticing, the characters are considerably better written, and the art is absolutely phenomenal. Netho Diaz is a talent to watch.

Exquisite art elevates what could otherwise be described as an ocean-bound flashback episode.

This is a horror story composed of equal parts head and heart. If you aren't reading this book, you are missing out.

Bolstered by fantastic art, this issue was the best of Spurrier's current run. Nightcrawler faithful, your draught may at last be coming to an end. (Fingers crossed.)

This was a tremendous improvement on the first issue: action, adventure, romance, decent pacing, and fewer problematic elements made for an engaging and enjoyable story.

Taken all together, this issue was absolutely wonderful. A mix of fine storytelling, cutting dialog, brutal fights, and frankly incredible art. X-Men hasn't been this entertaining in a long time

After the unfortunate waste of the previous issue, King jumps back in the saddle with this stellar exercise in narrative economy and astonishing art. This is one to pick up.

Balancing good psychology with roaring action is no easy task, but it is one which the team of King, Bellaire, and Janin have absolutely knocked out of the park. This issue more than redeems the somewhat weaker passages we had to slog through to get here.

Fine art elevates this flawed but deeply interesting story.

Lush art and a sharp-edged story: what more do you want?

Joyful, casually brutal art, and a fun story elevate this book to something that is a lot better than you'd expect for a product that's meant to be given away for free. Grab it before it goes.

This story is composed of lovely art, wrapped around a mystery. What more could you want?

This book contains some of the best artwork currently on offer. Splashy explosions, violent deaths, betrayals, and a black revelation await you in the finale of Legion of X.

This book combines heavy subject matter (sometimes handled well, other times poorly) with a veritable visual feast and a little light narrative time-travel and produces a flavor that is, to say the least, incredibly complex.

This issue was a fun read, with good art and an enjoyable story. What more could you ask for in a comic?

This issue was a little bit uneven, but the emotional heft of the story, and the lovely art, carry the reader through storm and through calm.

This is a book about a disparate team, brought to life by a wide array of talents. It is utterly unlike anything else currently on the market.

New Mutants: Dead Souls #6 is a thoughtful, beautifully-wrought character study coupled to a flash-bang plot and seasoned with cursing and the promise of nudity. Along with X-Men Red, Astonishing X-Men, and Extermination, it is one of the best books that Marvel has produced this year.

This was a strong start to a series which promises to be, at the very least, entertaining and interesting. The art is worth the cost by itself.

Aside from some unfortunately seriously regressive gender politics, this story was a fun, rollicking tour through a devastated dystopian future.

This beautifully rendered issue serves as a deep dive into the characters of both the Arakkoan nation and the new Regent of Sol. It's well worth reading.

The pacing in this series is nearly perfect. The script is an expert balance of action and introspection, with a real focus on character. Combined with fun, jubilantart, this series is one for the ages.

Hel has frozen over, and someone has a wedding in it. A story this operatic needs a Wagnerian score and a deep draught of laudanum to wash it down with.

Despite some deeply uncomfortable misogynistic elements, this issue continued the recent upward trend in Spurrier's work.

This is a deep, interesting, philosophical work, rife with jokes, adventure, and a few near-fatal flaws.

This issue is SUCH a dramatic improvement from the first two that it might have sprung from another mind. Trust me. You're going to want to pick this one up.

This issue combines truly beautiful art with top-notch storytelling and a firm handle on character voices which have been lacking in previous installments. It's a heart-stopping ride.

With truly excellent art and pristine characterizations, this issue rose high above it's purpose. It's well worth picking up.

A quiet, but not uneventful interlude on a beach brings Batman to a new level of self-understanding right before ripping the carpet right under his feet. This issue won't appeal to the folks who read primarily for the explosions, but it will be an important issue for just about everyone else.

This story is a popcorn read. Beautiful art, hinting at storylines which will, no doubt, come to fruition later down the line. It isn't an essential read, but it is undeniably fun.

This book is something of a mixed bag. The art is absolutely wonderful. Spurrier handles his pet characters and themes brilliantly. Unfortunately his take on religion as a concept is problematic at best. It's a solid read, even if the philosophical angles don't quite hold up.

This is a story that's saved and redeemed by excellent pacing and phenomenal art. Come for the Krampus jokes: stay for the pencils.

This issue is an info-dump, but it is a beautiful, well-executed info-dump one which future writers will be mining for decades to come.

This final issue was a brilliantly illustrated disappointment.

With the combination of a fascinating premise, innovative art and perfect pacing, these creators deliver the penultimate issue of Marvel's most ambitious series. I have never loathed an X-Man villain as much as I despise Nate Grey. That, in itself, is a remarkable achievement.

Elegant, deeply-psychological writing paired with deliberately noirish art and at least one giant tentacle-monster. What more do you need from a comic?

The neo-noir tone of this comic is consistent throughout, but the careful character studies are a little let down by some pacing problems and a few instances of dubious art.

Although flawed, this book balances action, introspection and phenomenal art. If that sounds like fun to you, it would be a shame to miss out.

This issue suffers from the damage inflicted by last month's cliffhanger ending. I'm not certain that the series can recover from this.

The fascinating What-If? Narrative begun in the previous issue continues here. The script is tight, masterfully balancing the tightrope between profundity and silly fun, and the art is a beautiful fusion of the best parts of classical and contemporary form. Pick this one up.

It's amazing how much heart, plot, and generally amazing art are crammed into each issue of this incredibly-satisfying series.The fandom is lucky to have it.

Aside from some narrative oversights which drag the tale down to the merely passable, this is a deeply enjoyable read.

Smart, fast-paced writing, 90's themes, and some rather extraordinarily nuanced art combine to produce exactly the kind of action-packed, morally dubious book that X-Force fans have always loved. Pick this one up.

Mystique, Destiny and Nightcrawler all get beautifully illustrated, long-overdue overhauls. Pity about all the misogyny.

This final issue masterfully builds to a conclusion which feels inevitable and devastating all at once. I haven't been so moved by a comic in a very long time.

A deeply psychological story told with nuance, depth, and badass flair.

Some stories are fairy tales. Some stories are nightmares. This story incorporates elements of both and the results are explosive.

We don't really need another contemporary totalitarian dystopia, since we're well on the way to living in one now, but this is proving to be a fun ride anyway.

Issue #1 takes the series off on a strong start, pairing a tight narrative and strong characterization with a surprising amount of psychological depth and some well-planned art. This miniseries seems to be aimed at a slightly older audience than the show it is promoting, but that is more of a strength than a weakness. It's a good jumping on point for new readers.

This is a fun, fast-paced book whose noir surface hides a surprising amount of psychological depth.

Want a taste of the original Excalibur with a side order of jump-scares and a truckload of absolutely amazing art? Yes? Then grab this issue.

This issue struck a good balance between character and plot, but although the writing was tight, it was impossible to disguise the fact that this issue was primarily intended as a bridge to the next part of the plot.

Marvel is hitting it out of the park with their stories, just lately. This one is certainly a mini series that you'll want to watch.

This is a fun, well-written adventure which is let down, in places, by the politics of the art.

This book perfectly balances complex themes and lighter tone to produce a story which is equal parts contemplative and deeply entertaining. When you add Dodson's masterful art to the equation, you absolutely cannot miss.

This series is a cure for the rainy-day blues, if ever I've seen one. Pick it up.

All the signs and portents have been read, the population of the earth is dwindling, and the dragons are rising from the depths. There's nothing left to do but sit back and wait for the end of the world. The final cycle of stories in the Mignolaverse are rapidly ramping up for their certain-to-be-bloody conclusion. Luckily there's room for humour --and a touch of tenderness -- amidst all of the destruction. This series is a lot of mythic fun.

This was a hallucinatory, nightmarish episode contributing a vital splash of blood to an interesting story. The art is worth the cover-price alone.

The circuitous narrative spooled out over the last several issues comes to fruition, here, when Batman finally finds the key to freeing himself from the labyrinth of fear. The art is stellar, as is the narrative. This is one to pick up.

This book is something of a mixed bag, but there's still a tremendous amount to enjoy within these pages especially if you like clown zombies.

Beneath the body horror, marvellously gory art, and genuine metaphysical terror of this book there is a story which has been told with love and honesty. It's difficult to read, in the very best sense, but well worth the effort required to endure it. Do pick it up.

This story continues to be a fun, character-driven dark-toned futuristic romp. A good action comic need not be profound, so long as the flow is fast and the script is enjoyable. This is very much the case for this story.

Taken as a whole, this was the conclusion of an excellent experiment. One which, I hope, will not be completely erased by Hickman's upcoming venture in the Land of X.

This book is a complex mix of soap-opera-style drama, incisive social commentary, and a nuanced study of life on the fun side of a scary totalitarian regime. It's a hell of a lot of fun. And, yes, Nightcrawler is pretty danged Amazing.

This series asks some serious questions, hidden behind a compulsively consumable popcorn-flavored plot. If you aren't reading it yet, you are missing out.

King and Daniel construct a comic book that is as intricate as the inner workings of a clock while still packing the pages with plenty of spirit, heart, and fun. It's everything you want in a Batman book.

Compulsive, cinematic action coupled with a good wallop of heart: what more could you want in a comic?

A satisfactory penultimate issue to a mediocre event.

This was a mediocre end to a mediocre series, but at least the art was excellent.

The opening issue of this relaunch is packed with keen characterisation, sharp dialogue, and absolutely fantastic art. If you like your X-Books to be a little darker and morally murky than Red or Uncanny, this is a great series to pick up.

Every time-travel story requires a flashback or two to flesh out the narrative. This flashback was set two-thousand years in the future, but despite such timey-wimey shenanigans the story was wonderfully clear. This was a good tale, told with sensitivity, and augmented by some lovely gory art. It has everything youd want in an X-Force book -- and its an excellent jumping-on place for new readers.

The pace of this issue allowed for moments of superb characterisation while not stinting on moments of real dread. The art is effective and stylish. This is a series to pick up.

Dawn of X starts here! Following the events of House of X/Powers of X, Hickman slowly establishes the new mutant paradigm inX-Men #1(Hickman, Yu, Alanguilan, Gho, Cowles).

King starts off this new arc with a level of structural narrative complexity that is perfect for the medium and thus far unequaled in the form. There's also a surprising amount of well-executed violence.

Although the script seemed to be a bit muddled in places its deficits were balanced by the strength of the dialogue and art. Clearly King is building to an emotionally-powerful conclusion. Lets hope that he sticks the landing.

This is a three-tiered love story, slightly flawed, but beautifully decorated. The art is worth the cover price all by itself.

The penultimate issue is fast-paced and well-plotted, with enough action and banter to keep the readers entertained and anxious about the safety of their favorite characters.

This issue balances action-packed adventure, meditative philosophy, and some very well-done humor, creating a story that is trippy and fun, with just a hint of melancholy running through it. Pick it up.

This is a frustrating infodump of an issue, partially redeemed by exquisite art.

This is a remarkably clever, multilayered narrative which balances a measure of heart with an abundance of punching.

After reading this issue I can say that (assuming that King can resist the urge to ruin the pacing by spreading the story out until it is thinner than a wet poppadom) City of Bane looks like it will be a very fun, very wild ride indeed.

In this book, unbalanced, unsatisfactory storytelling is partially ballasted by beautiful art.

The plot is a tangled mess, but the artwork elevates it.

This arc was not essential reading, but there were a few good moments, and the issue as a whole showed signs of marked improvement on all levels. If this line is renewed after Inferno, I won't be sorry.

While not strictly an X-Force story (the crew are hardly in it) this issue presents a deeply satisfying glimpses into a possible future. It's well worth checking out.

This one-shot explors two heart-wrenching stories which explore the loss of a familiar hero. Cable never appeared as a grown man, even in flashbacks, but he was finely drawn in his absence. There was a gaping hole in the center of this narrative, and that hole served as the story's living heart.

This is a flat, nearly static story, which is elevated by some truly first-rate art.

A solid, slightly nauseating read. There are chunks in the vomit.

This was a cartoonishly-paced, gloriously-violent vacation in Weird World that is only occasionally let down by the art.

The energy in this story is really ramping up in a satisfying way. If you enjoy druids and dragons, this book is well worth the cost.

The conclusion of the Extermination series combined tight writing with beautiful art and manages to tie off most of the loose ends created by the time-displaced O5.

While this story lacked the subtext and narrative nuances promised by the first issue, it remains a rollicking adventure story, laden with beauty and wit. Pick it up.

This issue was more considered than the last, written with greater psychological depth and narrative nuance, possibly because Aaron was more comfortable with the characters. Even so, the only female role was occupied by a woman who was talking about her son, while literally in the kitchen. That's...not great. The art was, as ever, perfectly suited to the story. It's worth picking up.

This is a fun book, and an excellent study of Magneto as a leader, and a Hero, for the world.

This issue is crammed with interesting ideas, or ideas that could have been interesting, but the writing was not at all engaging, in practice, despite the heavy lifting done by the art.

Beautiful art is forced to work in concert with a mediocre script in Batman Annual #4 (King, Fornes, Norton, Steward, Cowles).

Despite excellent dialogue and the usual (for this book) high quality of art, this issue felt unnecessarily bloated. It could have told twice the story in half the space, had the editing been a little more effective.

The stereotypes in this book are more than a little bit troubling, but it features some stellar art. That's not enough to balance it, but it's fun to look at.

Stories about depression are rarely this much fun. There was an emotional honesty to this issue which shocked me, without reducing the quality of the humour.

Excalibur hits its stride in this issue. Dragons, fairies, and special surprise guest stars abound.

Adroit art is, in this issue, unfortunately shackled to a grinding cog of a story. Let's hope that this is merely a workmanlike pause in the artistry, rather than the whole of the story.

This issue is a candy-colored glimpse of corporate espionage, delivered mutant-style.

A popcorn plot combines with some absolutely amazing art in this surprisingly fun issue. Grab it, before The Brood grabs you!

This is the well-written, funny, occasionally touching penultimate issue of a wonderful series. There's a little, inadvertant, insensitivity to adopted families (and an odd focus on the importance of genetic family) but aside from that this book is well worth picking up.

This is a well constructed issue designed to reveal the cleverness of Bane's machinations that largely succeeds though it is marred by a slight flaw.

Carefully constructed, psychologically nuanced, and tinged with humour of the blackest, bleakest variety, this issue adds another layer of paint to the mural declaring Tom King the best Batman writer in decades.

The Very Good fire Fox is back and so is Rogue. This issue is a lot of fun, and exactly what you want from a fantasy X-Series.

This is an action packed, well-written (slightly familiar) story told and illustrated with style, verve and more than a few hidden jokes.

This story (rather jarringly) shunts readers back to the present. The dialogue is good, and the art is magnificent, but the structure is haunted with difficulties not least the writer's depiction of women. Thori remains absolutely delightful.

X-Men #2 (Hickman, Yu, Alanguilan) is compelling, playing with high stakes and complex ideas, all of which will influence the entire Dawn launch, however it's let down by less than stellar characterizations and mid-range art.

Although the art is as arresting as the plot, the story (and its unworkable shift in perspective) leaves a lot to be desired. This is something of a low-point for an otherwise fascinating arc.

The art is beautifully rendered and joyfully disgusting. The story is a bit like a Simpsons episode after a hit of meth. But hey. It's Deadpool. What more do you want?

A lushly drawn narrative set against a cosmic backdrop told with humor and a twist of pathos. This book is one to pick up.

This exceedingly brief issue is composed primarily of beautifully illustrated filler. You'll miss nothing by skipping it.

This issue served up a lot of introverted contemplation, disguised as an international police-chase. If you care about the characters, it's one to pick up.

Taken as a whole, this series is extremely solid, but far from unmissable. Those who enjoy it (as I do, beyond a critical capacity) will likely continue to do so for some time.

Deadpool resets to his original factory settings, abundant pouches and unicorn undies included. This book is good for fans of musical theatre and pro wrestling.

This book is the best there is at what it does and what it does is mix juvenile humor with cartoonish violence and references to films which came out decades before I was born. Mayhem. It's a good thing.

Vibrant colors and a dark, beautifully fantastic tone to Excalibur #2 (Howard, To), combine into a story that, despite its (many) flaws, is shaping into something very special indeed.

This issue is wrenching and beautiful: the writing is heartbreaking, but undermined by one terrible flaw.

Shards is an anthology composed of many diverse voices telling stories which vary dramatically in terms of subject matter but which all spring from honest human emotions and which were composed with passion and heart.

This is a beautifully realised story with a terrible (and absolutely avoidable) flaw at its heart that the strong writing and art cannot quite compensate for.

This issue's beautiful art and stellar plot are tarnished by some rather insidious sexism. Reviewed by Bethany W Pope

Dinner is served! Your main courses are fine art, an excellent plot, and a heaping side-order of unexamined misogyny.

Read on for an extended commercial for future plots. Opt out if you actually want either story or answers.

This book is an action-packed entertainment gumball, undermined (in part) by an unfortunate take on mental illness. Nevertheless, the overblown, soap-opera elements were a lot of fun.

A firecracker start fizzles to a damp squib conclusion in this story but any completist will still want to pick this issue up.

Incoherent dialogue, a rushed pace, and a flimsy plot cannot, it turns out, be redeemed by good line art.

This is a vibrant series of explosions, with some serious problems in the plot.

Uneven storytelling, and an egotistical desire on the part of the writer to cause furor among fans, lead to this being a controversial entry in the realm of X-Lore.

Despite the frankly heroic efforts of the visual artists to wrench coherence and beauty from this script, the writing was so abysmal that I cannot recommend that anyone spend money on this book.