Frank Gogol Comic Reviews

As the book heads into its final chapter, the road ahead is unclear. What this story will ultimately become is a mystery, and the same is true for its core cast, but everything is all the more exciting because of that.

At the end of the day, Beautiful Canvas was never destined to be a book for the masses. The story and the storytelling read as too layered, too personal, but the book that functions incredibly well in those regards. And for readers patient enough and thoughtful enough, a rewarding conclusion awaits.

Descender #25 helps to inject a much-needed sense of stakes into the end of the series' first phase. That"coupled with the book's beautiful artwork"makes for another near-perfect outing for Descender. With just one issue left in this arc, a sense of urgency and scale have taken over the book. And with this issue, Lemire and Nguyen continue to prove that they are two of the best storytellers working in comics, especially when paired.

Enteral is a rare and special book"the kind of book that shows what an artist, a writer, and a colorist can create when arbitrary factors like page-counts and deadlines don't get in the way of the story; the kind of book that only happens when a creative team's vision and execution are truly unified; the kind of book that beats the breathe out of your chest and fills your heart at the same time.

There will be those on either side of that fence, but that's a good thing. Marvel and DC are both at their best when they're competitive, and both publishers are looking strong right now. If this one-shot is any indication, fans have great things to look forward to during Marvel Legacy.

Despite uneven art from Di Nicuolo, Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers #25 is a great start to Shattered Grid. This new arc serves to further expand the scope of the MMPR and is entirely successful in that right. And Higgins absolutely fires on all cylinders. Readers will walk away from this book with plenty of story to chew on. Moreover, they'll have a couple of great emotional hooks to bring them back for the next issue.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #75 offers another solid entry into the TMNT franchise at IDW. With double the page count, writer Tom Waltz delivers a story with two very different, but satisfying, halves. Artists Smith, Santolouco, Johnson, and Couceiro draw the issue well, but fail to elevate it. If TMNT #75 proves anything, it's that these Turtles have lots of story left and capable creators behind them.

Jordan, Ryan, and Beem's The Family Trade #1 offers a solid first issue. It won't blow reader's minds, but it's a well-designed, good-looking book with an interesting premise and some promising story aspects. It's enough to warrant coming back for another issue. The story needs to work harder in successive issues, though, to invest readers in Jessa and The Float.

In spite of being a bit too neat a sendoff for the series, Violent Love #10 is a fine, even great, finale for a great series. Barbiere and Santos tell a beautiful"visually and narratively"emotional last story.