Brian Martin Comic Reviews

With its deep, moving personal narrative and powerful art, March: Book One is a terrific, and essential, contribution to the medium.

Batman '66 brilliantly captures the feeling of the Adam West series, with a fun story and perfect visual style.

Despite a little too much simplicity in places, Adventures of Superman continues to dazzle in its second month of digital releases.

The Last of Us: American Dreams isn't a terrible comic by any stretch of the imagination. At the series' halfway point, it just doesn't feel like the material is strong enough to support four issues. The comic doesn't necessarily reek of "cheap tie-in" desperation, but it also doesn't demand to be read.

Superior Spider-Man finds its voice in this issue, as Peter Parker finally disappears from the series and Doc Ock is left to become a hero on his own terms.

The Bounce has an interesting story buried inside it. Unfortunately, this initial outing drowns much of that promise in the cynical attitudes of its characters.

Adventures of Superman shrugs off continuity to deliver pitch-perfect stories of the world's most iconic superhero by a who's who of talented creators.

Another superb issue of Fatale from Brubaker and Phillips, featuring monsters, Nazis, and plenty of secrets.

Comeback is a solid, entertaining book, that hits all the right notes with a tale that twists its chronology and takes chances with its plot and characters.

Archer & Armstrong is a zero issue that is high on enjoyment and indispensable for fans. Truly a remarkable feat, and one we're coming to expect from titles carrying the Valiant brand.

Shadowman #0 is a moody, dark origin story for the series' villain, managing to humanize Master Darque without devaluing him as an antagonist.

Ten Grand is full of well-trodden ideas, but shows the potential to rise above the trappings of its genres.

With crisp artwork, witty dialogue, and a relentless barrage of jokes, Skullkickers is a comic any fan of the medium needs to be reading.

Justice League #19 is a good looking, entertaining, and competently written comic, but it's impossible to shake the "been there, done that" feeling while reading it.

If you've never read, or even seen, Adventure Time before, this is the perfect place to become acquainted with Finn and Jake and the meaningful (and funny) bonds they form in the Land of Ooo.

Batman and Robin #19 is a solid exploration of the first stage of grief, as only Bruce Wayne could experience it. The Carrie Kelley appearance, however, is a bit arbitrary.

Look past the controversy, and you'll find a tense, effective issue of Saga that ponders the relationship between author and audience.

Detective Comics #19 attempts to be a memorable anniversary issue, but ends up reading more like an 80-page advertisement for other series. The only saving graces are the decent artwork and the Mr. Combustible backup feature.

Uncanny Avengers #5 elevates the series, introducing loose ends from Uncanny X-Force and building an interesting group dynamic.

Nemo: Heart of Ice is a chilling, accessible entry in the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen canon, and a must-read for fans of Lovecraft and Poe.

Defying the odds, DC's new Vibe series is sincere, exciting, and a pretty decent comic.

It may take a long, convoluted path to get there, but Grant Morrison's Action Comics swan-song finally gets to the core of Superman and serves as a poignant conclusion to his run.

With an intriguing premise, gorgeous artwork, and a pay as you wish price point, comic readers can't go wrong with The Private Eye.

Batman and Robin #18 is an emotional send-off for one-half of this book's titular duo, and an example of a "silent issue" done right.

While it still features some of the weak characterization of recent issues, Fantastic Four #5 is entertaining and surprising, and a step in the right direction for the series.

The return of Infinite Comics brings with it a simple, but fun, story that serves as a primer for Guardians of the Galaxy as well as a kinetic example of Marvel's digital-exclusive format.