Forrest Sayrs Comic Reviews

Exactly the kind of issue that sets "East of West" head and shoulders above the crowd.

A stunning conclusion to a great storyline, this issue has everything you might want from a "Doctor Strange" book.

A very strong start to the second arc of an excellent book.

This might be issue that will bring you on board if you've been skeptical of America's solo outing so far.

A fantastic ride through comic history that manages to stay modern.

An extremely satisfying, classic comic story that leaves the door open for great things to come.

With history balanced on the head of a pin, Gillen keeps the stakes high in this ambitious undertaking.

While the shift in art is distracting, it shouldn't keep anyone from enjoying the book. Gibson and his co-creator, Michael St. John Smith, have built an impressive world to play with and the only thing I'm worried about is what comes after the limited run wraps up next issue.

The message may have gotten muddled, but as a setup for things to come, this issue is ultimately fine.

A somewhat messy tangle of plots, kept aloft by impressive art.

The Status may be Quo, but that's not always a bad thing when the art is this good.

Phenomenal art isn't enough to compensate for the lack of a cohesive story.

One issue of this might have been effective, as evidenced by the excellent #1, but "Batwoman" needs to step it up.

An intriguing venture into something new, but needs a lot more polish before it's ready to shine.

My takeaway from this issue was that the series is still really nascent. It's not a good issue, but that's because there's nothing really here yet to catch on to. A more experienced writer might have started us a little more in media res, and let the school scenes from #1 play out in a later issue, but there's nothing fundamentally bad about "Superb" yet either. I'm definitely coming down on in 'wait and see' camp.

A completely unpleasant issue that does a lot to undermine the quality of the whole.

An undeniably poor ending to a series that had a lot of promise.

There is so much wrong with this issue that I'm running out of word count to deal with it.

Sure, the entire plot of "I, Parrot" could be unraveled by Daphne making a single, responsible phone call to her employer about bird mites, but ultimately, the story isn't about that. It's about coming to terms with life and finding a way to fight back against Shakespeare's 'slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.' Whether through the touchstone of your family, or the little acts of rebellion allowing you to feel free, "I, Parrot" message is one of finding that answer for yourself, however you end up getting there.

In many ways, "Poppies of Iraq" is too simple for the narrative it is trying to weave. It is also incredibly poignant because of that simplicity. It never tries to force an opinion on you. It is simply a collection of observations and recollections, contextualized by history. It is delightful and moving, and most of all, quite charming.

And that's an important message for kids. Grief management is a tricky enough problem for adults. But one thing that helps is recognizing that the process is painful and confusing. "The Wendy Project" probably isn't a universal solution, but it is a step in the right direction because it treats Wendy like a real person who doesn't just magically get better. The more we have of this kind of story, the more chances we'll have of finding the right tools to help everyone who has ever lost someone.