Daniel Schwartz Comic Reviews

Overall, this is a great start to the 1895 series, full of action and danger. Titan comics is gradually becoming my favorite publisher.

With solid pencils by Fernando Argosino and excellent colors by Chris Northrop, the visual aspect of this story is very well done. While it remains to be seen where exactly Apollos story fits into the overall IXth Generation narrative, this one shot does a good job showing readers who he is and what his goals are. This was a very good read.

Writer Mark Bertolini puts readers right into the heart of the story with a clever concept and great dialogue. This issue has one of the best lines I have read in a long time. The 1996 version of Randall gets to the future and is impressed with how it looks, especially when he finds out that it all exists because of him. He tells his older self that all of the missed dates and sports were worth it to create this future. His older self gruffly replies, We never had any dates, and we sucked at sports as a kid. You cant lie to me; Im you! Great line!

On top of the captivating origin story, the artwork of Ron Garney is simply incredible. Matched with the storytelling and the dialogue, his artwork enhances and enriches this intriguing origin tale. I also have to mention the fantastic cover art by Rafael Grampa. It is a simple image (just the main character), but he makes it look really fricken cool.

This first of seven issues is not only an enjoyable read, but it is also an easy way for new readers to be introduced to the Catalyst Prime Universe (created around the first meteor crisis). If you are tired of reading about Batman putting Joker into Arkham for the 90th time or Spider-Man taking on another resurrected Green Goblin, this is the comic for you. A new world, fun superheroes, and a powerful alien threat make Seven Days a must-read.

Writer Mark Sable crafts a fascinating heist story in the unlikeliest of settings, which adds an extra level of intrigue. In the first few pages, readers are introduced to Sergius and quickly learn why he harbors a personal grudge against Rome and Nero. Sable wastes no time establishing the why and how behind this brazen robbery and brings readers right into the plot. Many writers use issue 1 to simply set the story up. I really appreciate Mark Sable throwing us right into the action. Giorgio Pontrelli also adds stunning artwork to this action-packed ancient tale. His style fits perfectly with the setting and gives the feel of a 1960s sword-and-sandals movie.

In my opinion, Image Comics has hit a home run with Dante. Filled with amazing artwork and a creative story, Dante is the supernatural redemption story that will leave you waiting for the next adventure.

Not only are fans treated to an entertaining tale, but there is also a bonus story (like an after-credits scene). This additional telling expands on the Tenth Doctor's adventures during the episode "The Girl in the Fireplace". It fills in some interesting gaps in the story.

If you are looking to fill the Moffat-sized hole in your heart, this comic has the story and artwork that will make any Whovian forget about the year-long TV absence.

The art by Giorgia Sposito continues to impress as the Tenth Doctor and his team fight this new alien threat. She not only makes the Tenth Doctor look great, but she is also able to illustrate several other Doctors with spot-on accuracy.Overall, this issue is serves as a fitting continuation of an impressive story that looks great and draws readers in.

Another fast-paced and fun adventure through time and Space.

Combine all of the above with the fact that Titan has chosen one of the most beloved Doctors in history to feature along with his companion and UNIT, and you have a winning formula for a great story and a way for Whovians to get their Doctor fix in the long months between episodes.

Pulling double duty, Brian Haberlin provides the writing and the art for the issue. This is no easy task for any creator, but Haberlin pulls it off well. With a visual style that fits the tone of the story perfectly, he is able to bring the characters to life through his crisp artwork and snappy dialogue. With a couple of well-timed Star Trek references thrown in, it is clear that he is very comfortable in the science fiction genre.

Not only does Image deliver a solid and interesting story, readers are also treated to amazing pencils by Max Fiumara. Personally, I am not a fan of the black and white style, but Fiumaras artwork makes you forget that there is no color and draws you into a world where dragons exist in 1930s New York.

The art is also spot-on. The characters are drawn very well. Corin Howell also gives the villain has a truly terrifying look as he envelops the iconic Empire State Building.

This was not only a fun comic to read, but it also fills in several gaps in the history of one of the fans favorite characters. Writer Erik Burnham pens a fun and funny beginning of the series. You can tell he is a fan of the characters and movies; it shows in the dialogue and storyline. The art by Dan Schoening is also fantastic. His style looks reminiscent of the animated series from the 90s. The style adds to the fun tone of the series.

Overall, this issue looks great and continues the Shattered Grid event while focusing on a single character that could bring the event and Drakkon to a shocking end.

This is the start of something cool. This is the first of a 5-issue miniseries, and it sets up the story perfectly. It is hard to believe that Rita can be stopped with Godzilla in her corner, and I am looking forward to seeing how all of this plays out and how or if the Rangers manage to save the day.

Benito Cereno tells a fun tale of the supernatural. Hector is really humorous (He kicks open a door marked Don't Open Witch Inside, thus freeing the witch. When the witch flies off, he shrugs his shoulders and remarks "Well, I don't know what I was expecting) with a perfect combination of sarcasm and mystery. The first issue is masterfully crafted, mixing the whimsical and dark elements in a way that keeps the comedic elements while driving the murder mystery forward.

Throw in the special cover art by comic legend Walt Simonson and this book has it all.

At the end of the comic, readers will also find a heartfelt message from Rusty Gladd that shows his and Emma Kuberts passion for the comic and their craft. It makes you appreciate the comic even more.

One of the best features of this comic is the artwork. Mauricio Villarreal is simply fantastic! The characters look amazing, the action is easy to follow, and the colors make for stunning visuals throughout the series. This looks and feels like an epic tale, very fitting for a series spotlighting winged warriors of the light, and dark.

At first, I was skeptical of a comic series based upon a 20 year old campy movie, but Layman delivers an intriguing story that ends on a captivating cliffhanger. Mix that with amazing pencils and ink by Andy Kuhn and Jason Lewis (who make the Martians look even more terrifying than they were in the movie), and fans of the movie and series have the ingredients for a winning comic. Throw in a hilarious note from Denton Tipton where he channels his inner Kent Brockman (I, for one, welcome our new Martian overlords) and this issue really sells itself.

I have not seen Marco Renna's art before, but I am quickly becoming a fan! He creates action shots that look awesome and flow nicely. He also does a great job of illustrating familiar fan-favorite characters. He adds really entertaining visuals to this story.

Simone di Meo creates a fantastic visual as the Turtles morph (just like the original TV show) and does a great job making the Rangers look cool in their alternate uniforms. The entire visual look of the series is done very well.

Overall, this issue was a great start to an epic event. It has a story that draws you in and artwork that makes you feel like you are watching the show.

Not only is the story amazing, but the artwork is as well. Daniele Nicuolo puts together some stunning fight and action scenes that jump off the page. Add in Drakkon's upgraded Samurai armor, and this issue has it all.

Overall, this is an original and fascinating story that will keep readers engaged. With a nail-biting cliffhanger at the end, issue 2 cannot come soon enough.

The art is also incredible. Kudranskis gritty, realistic style paints a haunting tone that fits the story perfectly. Issue #1 uses the mix of extraordinary artwork and entertaining premise to draw readers into the shadowy world of spies and murder while also fleshing out the flawed, but likable main character.

An excellent first chapter to the Normandy Gold story. Really looking forward to issue #2.

The artwork by Felipe Watanabe is equally impressive. Making a wide-ranging story like this flow visually could be challenging, but he makes it look easy. Not to mention that the characters have really cool looks (especially in god form).

While the story starts slow, the action and the intrigue build up through the middle and the end, making it a very enjoyable read. The unique way that Poseidon and his people take on the monster keeps the story interesting and leaves the reader wanting to know more.

I read the collection of all six issues in one sitting to see what happens next. It is a fun, action-packed adventure with surprising twists and tons of mystery.

With this fun first issue also comes fantastic artwork. Juan Jose Ryp makes Rai look like a badass, but he is also able to make Raijin look harmless and badass at different points in the story!

THE VERDICT: This new chapter in the Spawn universe is off to a great start. With a compelling origin story and outstanding artwork throughout, RatCity #1 gives fans a futuristic and fun reason to keep coming back month after month. This was an outstanding comic!

Overall, this comic is a must-have. Filled with humor and danger, Peck and Hauns apocalyptic story serves as a great introduction to their destroyed new world.

Not only is the story entertaining, but the artwork is fantastic as well. Brent McKee's artwork flows along with the story, and I felt like I was watching the comic just as much as I was reading it.

I am not a huge fan of murder mysteries, but I really enjoyed this one. Ray Fawkes begins a story that is sure to have twists, turns, and surprises along the way. He does a great job of fleshing out the story's main characters as well. You get a good sense of who Pavel and Boris are and their motivations.

Backing this creative and fascinating story with his impressive pencils is Jerry Ordway. His art style is reminiscent of classic horror tales and matches the dark tone of the story. The evil smiles that he gives some of the villains will remain with you long after you put this book down.

Overall, this is a really good start to what is looking to be an exciting storyline. The Mirror Universe is a fascinating place to explore. It can be dark (the evil Terran Empire conquering the galaxy) and campy (evil characters have goatees and no sleeves) at the same time, which makes it really fun.

Matt Hawkins does a great job building his futuristic world and society for the readers. He makes us feel very comfortable with how everything is, and then literally pulls the plug. I am very curious as to how humanity will survive in this changed world where everyone is nave and unable to fend for themselves. With Raffaele Iencos beautiful pencils bringing this fallen Utopian society to life in a great introduction to what will surely be a world in chaos, this Top Cow book will have me and several readers coming back for more for several months to come.

With spot-on dialogue and an amazing art style (the solid dark lines and sharp colors are a personal favorite of mine), Symmetry #2 provides a visually stunning story that is entertaining and makes the reader think. Follow that with a daring cliff-hangar to end the issue and it appears that Image has published another winner.

Not only does this comic explore different dynamics of humanity, but it also tells a fast-paced and exciting story. Matt Hawkins continues to build off of the momentum from the first two issues and dives deeper into an increasingly fragile and troubling Utopia with a stunning visual style that fits the tone and pace of the story.

This historic milestone issue lives up to the hype, delivers an emotional and heartfelt tribute to what came before, and serves as a bridge to what is coming next for the Heroes in a Half-Shell.

Jeremy Haun (pulling double duty as co-writer and artist) and his co-writer Jason A. Hurley do a masterful job creating characters that draw the reader in and move the story forward. With a visual style that brings The Beauty to life (thanks to Jeremy Hauns amazing art), this book has the brains and the looks to be a huge hit for Image.

Just like the first issue, this book kept me turning pages and feeling sad that I had reached the end. With Jeremy Hauns spot-on artwork, easily relatable characters, and the growing conspiracy behind the disease, The Beauty #2 is a must-read.

Continuing to deliver amazing pencils and spot-on coloring, Jeremy Haun delivers a comic that is a great read and truly fitting of the title.

Not only does Jeremy Haun continue to write a clever and action-packed tale, his artwork continues to impress as well. The solid line and sharp color style is not only pleasant to look at, but also brings the world of The Beauty to life month after month. This is by far my favorite series Image is currently publishing. Here is to wishing The Beauty team Happy Holidays and looking forward to the New Year and what lies in store for our favorite agents on the run.

Writers: Jeremy Haun, Jason HurleyArtist: Mike HuddlestonPublisher: Image Comics

The art and the characterization continue to be spot on. With a shocking turn at the end of the issue, #14 will have readers counting down until the next issue.

The fact that this absurd tale is based upon real events makes this graphic novel even more interesting. It is little wonder why this book is getting the movie treatment. Look for me to be in line on opening day!

This trade paperback tells a seamless story of finding inner-strength and redemption among tragedy and terror. With a heartfelt and touching introduction by comic (and Doctor Who) legend Neil Gaiman, and an amazing tale, this collection delivers an entertaining reading experience for fans of all ages.

Bringing his celebrated book series to life in amazing visual fashion, Jack Campbell delivers a sci-fi masterpiece.

Like the writer, artist Russell Olson perfectly balances the campy with the serious subject matter. The drug kingpin Asif Singh has a threatening look and jumps off the page as a terrifying villain.

This first issue also has a large variety of fantastic variant covers. From black and white covers to poster-worthy covers, there is a little something for everyone.

The artwork for this issue is also incredible. It takes a special kind of artist to tackle the Transformers. Making giant robots with countless detailed parts look familiar and badass at the same time is an extremely difficult ask. Artists Dan Mora and Jorge Corona pull it off brilliantly. The characters have iconic G1 designs, and the Decepticon portion of the story has a visual style reminiscent of the 1986 movie. The Autobot portion of the story has a lighter, brighter visual tone. It shows a brilliant visual dichotomy between the warring factions.

Overall, this is a fun, exciting, and intriguing series. The war can go either way and the stakes get higher with every issue. IDW has knocked this one out of the park.

While the writing is spot-on, I do have to say that the artwork is fantastic. Augustin Padilla can capture the G1 look while giving them modern tweaks that make the characters recognizable and outstanding. I have never attempted to draw a transformer, but I can imagine that it would be challenging with all of the details. He does a great job making it look easy.

With a great story, beautiful artwork (from Alex Milne) and several amazing alternate covers (including my favorite, an homage to the 80's movie poster), this issue has it all!

Overall, I am loving this series. It is a knock-down, drag-out fight that the good guys are losing. Can the Transformers save the Earth and all of humanity? I can't wait to find out.

Artist Juan Samu faced a daunting task. He had to take two franchises that people love and put them both together in his style and make them look cool. He knocked it out of the park. Between the BTF characters and the Rock-em Sock-em robot action, he tells a great visual story that matches the action-packed story.

This issue was awesome! I was very nervous about two of my favorite properties teaming up, especially when they are not obvious crossover teams. Those nerves were quickly calmed as I went through the pages. The characterization of my favorite Transformers was spot on, which made it even more readable. I am really looking forward to issue #2!

Writer Tres Dean creates characters and family drama that keep your interest. I want to know the answers to the questions above, and that is a great indication that the writing was excellent. Artist Sebastian Piriz also shines. The Kaiju and the Titan visuals make you feel like you are in the middle of the fight.

Dylan Burnett's pencils are amazing as he gives life to the monstrous appendages the Weavers wield. Not only does he make the superpowers look great, but he also fleshes out the characters and makes them jump off of the page.