Jay Mattson Comic Reviews

I don't want to detract from the emotional significane of stories like these. I truly do not wish that. Unfortunately, when tales like these are done poorly, or half-assed, it's more disrespectful than not. In the case of Action Comics #0, Morrison simply tries to hard to strain a story from an emotional core. He wants us to connect with the young boy, reading in awe as he himself is in awe over the awesome power of Superman's cape. Instead, we get a lot of pieces that don't quite add up to anything.

Action Comics Annual #1 is an example of how 'Annual' issues should play out; a fun story, great character writing, and fantastic cultural insight. 

nyway, most of the issue is dedicated to showing Krypton esplodin'. That's about it. So unless you've enjoyed reading the scientific jargon and every Kryptonian ever saying "Oh, Jor-El, you silly coot!" every other time Superman's origins have been retold, you can mostly skip about 26 of the pages of the entire issue. The parts about the Kents are necessary and respectably done. Unfortunately, the same can't be said about the back-up story about the history of Jonathan and Martha Kent, one that goes the extra distance to make their relationship hinge all the more on some 'miracle' that come in the form of a space baby. Why can't the Kents be simple? Why does their life have to include various hints at some biblical connection to something greater? Ugh. It's exhausting.

Overall, I was much more impressed with this issue than the last. Simply put, I'm excited to read the next issue, which is one of the main goals a single issue should achieve.

The only complaint I can give Action Comicsat this juncture, is that it's moving too slow. After two months of (technically) side stories, I was ready for some bigaction and instead, got the build up to said big action.

Next month brings Superman of Earth-23, President Superman! And it's based on Obama! AWESOME!

Things start to get a bit murky near the end of the issue, when a new villain shows up to assume control of the planet. He goes on a (psychic) rant about his supreme intellect and how little Superman's brawn can stand up to an attack on the mind. Within moments, this mysterious new player is able to defeat a  Metalek monster similar to the one Superman was fighting at the beginning of the issue. He uses his psychic powers to take control of the nearby civilians and siks them on Superman as Lois Lane lays on the hood of a car, possibly dead. Morrison, if nothing else, has a flair for the dramatic and leaving the issue is one hell of a cliffhanger.

Morrison is not one to leave loose ends untied (as evidenced by the inexplicable resurrection of Batman Incorporated), so the Oort-Kind's machinations will surely be made more clear in the coming months.

Action Comics #13 is a perfect example of how to make a single issue a story in its own right, while still contributing to the larger character history and narrative.

Expecting anything less than totally weird and surreal from Grant Morrison would be like believing the rumors about Oasis getting back together that surface roughly once a year. For Batman, the enemy needed to be something he couldn't manipulate with fear, hence Leviathan. For Superman, the enemy is something that can't be punched or thrown into orbit or heat-visioned into ashes. Vyndktvx reflects all of Superman's weaknesses"there's going to be a good old-fashioned reckoning next month and I cannot wait.

Action #17 is the penultimate chapter of Grant Morrison's sprawling tale that chronicles Superman's early days. It's a simple premise that has turned out to be one of the most insightful and pragmatic visions of the Man of Steel since All-Star Superman, which also happened to be written by Morrison. In a way many other writers can only dream of coming close to achieving, Morrison is able to break open characters and find truth under the mask, both narratively and philosophically. For Clark Kent, that truth lies in Superman being the cause of his life's tragedies"his own actions caused the tragedies that shape him into the hero he becomes.

Grant Morrison's Action has been comicbook quality of the very highest caliber. The man's awe-inspiring narrative structure and storytelling style have as much or as little affect as he wants them to. All-Star Superman was set outside DC continuity so Morrison could play around with the Man of Steel more than ever before, while the first two acts of his expansive Batman saga were firmly planted in DC's main continuity. Morrison's work on Action is a gem because it's the combination of the two ends of the spectrum"it had to exist securely within the New 52, but since this was a new origin story, Morrison was allowed to take things to the extreme and redefine the Man of Steel for the 21st century. Superman has always be a symbol of truth, justice, and good triumphing over evil. Now, there's real meaning behind those ideals, which makes Superman a better character than he's ever been before.

In the end, all we can do is appreciate Action Comics #19 for what it has become: a sign of amazing potential that won't be fulfilled. 

By the end of Age of Ultron #1, I was sold. Bendis has mentioned in more than one interview how this crossover event was his swan song to the Avengers, a franchise he helmed for over eight years. It shows throughout this issue, and Bryan Hitch's superb artwork was the perfect choice for a story with this level of emotional and narrative bearing. It seems as though Bendis also foresaw Clint Barton's recent meteoric rise of popularity from his solo series by Matt Fraction enough to make him the main player throughout this issue. While not a whole lot is revealed, Age of Ultron #1 paves the way for an epic tale that's sure to have lasting effects on the Marvel universe.

Age of Ultron #2 isn't as strong as the first issue, and that's mainly because necessary exposition is rarely ever as exciting as the drama and terror that comes from seeing a post-apocalyptic world for the first time. Bendis delivers as much as he can while still bringing readers up to speed on the current standings, piece by piece. In a way, it's a self-defeating notion to sacrifice story development for the sake of explaining the backstory of the current status quo. Fortunately, Bendis pulls it off, more or less, and gets things prepped for the next issue. At ten issues, Age of Ultron is going to need a lot of twists and turns to keep readers interested; I'm confident Bendis is up to the task.

Of course I'm going to keep reading Age of Ultron, it's just this particular issue isn't particularly interesting.

It's going to be hard for Bendis to dig his way out of this one -- even if Wolverine recognizes his mistake, the fact still remains that he did it. In the years he's been featured in Marvel comic books, Wolverine has never crossed the line unless he needed to, unless there was no other option. It's a shame that such a popular and revered character is being used so flippantly.

On the surface, Age of Ultron feels like Brian Michael Bendis just going through the time travel motions and jacking up the action level to compensate for the level of timey whimey talk. But under the initial layer of fun time-space disruption, there's a message about the cost of rewriting history when the going gets rough.

Mark Waid's look into Hank Pym's history is intriguing and gives a lot of context for the character's decisions and actions over the years. Pym feels like a more fleshed out hero now, and that's always a good thing. If Marvel had published this in a better fashion, it would have been a home run. As a final send-off for Age of Ultron, if feels cheap and overbearing, preachy and depressing. In the end, it's worth reading for Waid's writing alone.

Bendis threw the biggest players in the Marvel universe through the ringer for no reason. The characters don't truly grow because they haven't learned from their mistakes, which makes it all the more obvious that the true endgame of Age of Ultronwas to allow Marvel to dig into it's plethora of fan-favorite characters with far more ease. This might sound harmless at first, but it means the characters were simply props throughout this event. All the tie-ins, all the deaths; none of it technically matters. And that's a problem.As an event, Age of Ultronwas mediocre. As the final issue Age of Ultron #10was completely lackluster.

Airboy is not meant to inspire pity for James Robinson; in fact, the opposite is true. This series is a gem in Robinson's portfolio, but it's hardly the only one. Airboy is therapy as a comic book without the presumption, self-indulgent narrative that makes sense in context, and Chekhovian storytelling through a superhero lens. James Robinson and Greg Hinkle have crafted one of the finest comic books of 2015, and the only shame about Airboy #4 is that it's the final issue.

With only two issues (and last May's Free Comic Book Day preview), All-New, All-Different Avengers is a weird attempt at shock value that doesn't hold up to scrutiny.

FINALLY Mahmud Asrar gets to shine as the interior artist for All-New, All-Different Avengers, which was one of the main reasons I decided to read this book in the first place. That said, Asrar's artwork can only carry this title so far, as All-New, All-Different Avengers #4 does a poor job of properly setting up this team as a team, instead favoring Mark Waid's affinity for witty banter.

After Matt Fraction and David Aja's visually-stunning look at Hawkeye's life from arm's length, it's nice to see Lemire and Perez tackling emotionally-driven narratives in All-New Hawkeye.

The name is different, but the overall concept of a super-human minority scared of and hated by humans at large is tired and worn ground that writers Charles Soule and James Asmus disappointingly tread with nothing new or inventive to make All-New Inhumans worth the read.

Writer Tom Taylor finds a fitting emotional center for Laura as the new Wolverine, while artists David Lopez and David Navarrot are a perfect fit for the action-oriented yet character-driven story.

All-New X-Men #1 is a double-edged sword. On one hand, I'm completely taken by Brian Michael Bendis' stellar writing and potential for this series, but on the other hand, I'm largely disappointed in how this issue was structured and executed. There must have been a more gracious, elegant way to introduce all the plot that's stuffed into this issue, but Bendis and Marvel managed to publish one of the least straightforward versions of that plot.

Bendis and Stuart Immonen have a very good thing going here and it's just poised to get better. Kitty Pride decides to be the team's supervisior, Wolverine seemingly doesn't want anything to do with the younger X-Men, Angel has yet to learn what's become of his adult self, the Beasts and the Icemen start going through the motions of existing side by side with one another, all while Jean Grey has to come to terms with all the pain and suffering associated with her older self. All-New X-Men #5 concludes this opening arc extremely well while also moving pieces around on the board in preparation for the future of the series. 

All-New X-Men #7 is another fantastic chapter in this fantastic series. Brian Bendis is bringing his unique brand of interpersonal relationships to the X-Men franchise, and it feels like such a natural fit that it's a wonder Marvel didn't do this sooner. In many ways, this sentiment is how I feel about 'Marvel NOW!' as a whole -- most of the creative team/title pairings now feel far more organic than in the past.

One of my biggest concerns with All-New X-Men was that it seemed gimmicky. While my initial skepticism was dashed as Bendis wove an emotionally-driven tale of culture shock and self-actualization, these more recent issues have felt lacking in their drive and direction.X-Men: Battle of the Atom is a new crossover event for the X-Men titles coming this fall, and knowing that somewhat putsAll-New X-Men #14 in perspective as a build-up to this large mutant conflict. Unfortunately, it's unfair to judge an issue by the series' future potentials, so I have to look at this issue as it stands. With that in mind, All-New X-Men #14 is lackluster. Also, I have a major pet peeve about misleading covers, and even though the original Mastermind has been alluded to in the past, he does not show up in this issue and that is irksome.

Anthology series can often be hit or miss, depending on the creators crafting each individual story in the collection. Amazing Forest #2 technically sidesteps that tendency by keeping the writers consistent across each story, but it ends up coming out on the wrong side of that dichotomy.

The forest is burning and Slott is only focused on one tree at a time.

Overall, Lemire and Ponticelli have really stepped it up with Animal Man, turning the book into one of the most critically acclaimed titles of DC's relaunch. At the end of this month's Swamp Thing, Buddy and his family show up to enter the "Rotworld" arc with Alec. Both Buddy and his family and the Swamp Thing will stand up to the decay and defeat it. Lemire and Snyder have been working together to make this coming arc one of the best, and it already looks promising. "Rotworld" might not only exceed expectations, it even exceed the high standards already set by Snyder's magnificent crossover event "Night of Owls".

This issue has solidified Aquaman as one of the premier titles of the 'New 52.' Letting the first four issues set up Aquaman's world before diving into the origins of Atlantis was a fantastic strategy and it's allowed for Arthur Curry to develop at a pace more fitting in this new era of comic books. Where once readers needed only a few pages and a narrative exposition to give them characterization, it now takes whole arcs to flesh out characters, as well it should. Johns understands the craftsmanship behind developing a character beyond their most prevalent elements. Of course Superman can fly, but how does he feel about the national debt crisis? Wonder Woman flies an invisible jet, so does she have a license? These anecdotes might seem trite, but they serve as examples for the kind of ideas Johns is using to create a deeper, richer character experience. And Aquaman is all the better for it.

All in all, it was still a great issue. Mera's show of force is so much fun to read, and Ivan Reis' artwork is fantastic in conveying the action. The water looks like it's moving and has more density than normal, facial expressions are rich and textured, while the lanscapes are subtly shaded and colored. Unfortunately, exceptional art can't save the story from being a tad boring. I'll wait patiently to get back to Atlantis' origins...until next month.

Geoff Johns is a master storyteller who can give readers just enough information to make them think without giving too much away. Where writers like Brian Michael Bendis have a knack for creating stories more suited for graphic novels, Johns' talent lies in month-to-month, episode-style writing. Shin's photograph on the last page shows Arthur working with a group of warriors (at least that's what it looks like) teases readers by revealing a new chapter in Arthur's life without telling us anything about it! Anticipation counts for a lot when it comes to monthly series', and Johns does it so, so well.

My only gripes with Aquaman #8 would be the a general lack of real movement in plot. While we get a lot of backstory, the present-day panels and flashbacks didn't flow as well as they could have, and Ivan Reis' art this issue seemed a bit sloppy, a bit rushed. But like I've said many a-time, Aquaman is still one of my favorite series of the 'New 52' and issue eight still impresses beyond most of the other top-tier books in DC's lineup.

Johns has fundamentally changed the game between Aquaman and Black Manta. While their histories still intertwine significantly, Arthur's former golden-boy status is gone and Manta's evil ways are no longer as arbitrary. Everything is better than the pre-'New 52' Aquaman and it shows no signs of slowing down soon.

Instead of a conflict of pure vengeance and rage, the relationship between Aquaman and Black Manta in the 'New 52' is based on deep-seeded emotional issues and the transfer of blame tied to the death of their respective fathers. Family stands as a core element of Aquaman, and Johns' reimagining of the Aquaman/Black Manta feud is astonishingly good, especially when coupled with Arthur's past secrets being unearthed one person at a time.

"The Others" continues to be dynamite. Johns is weaving an intricate melodrama that's less about the sinking of Atlantis and more about Arthur Curry's relationship with his past. While Black Manta represents the worst of Aquaman's history, the Others represent the best of his younger days. Unfortunately, Arthur is only focused on defeating Black Manta, forsaking the help of his allies and opting to rush in by himself. Black Manta's big find at issue's end also promises big things for the next issue.

In the end, Johns reveals that Black Manta's entire mission was simply building up to the upcoming "Throne of Atlantis" crossover with Justice League. Manta answers to someone, but we don't yet know who. It's most likely Arthur's half-brother, Orm (more popularly known as Ocean Master), but knowing Geoff Johns and his penchant for throwing curve balls, it may be someone even more sinister. Aquaman #13 is as perfect a conclusion issue as one can get. It neatly (but not too easily) wraps up "The Others", shows how the protagonist has learned and grown because of the events that transpired, and it deftly makes readers excited for the next story.

Even though everything is coming together, Johns keeps us guessing to the end with the big twist at the end of Aquaman #16. The reveal makes a lot of sense and it points to how and why the events of "Throne of Atlantis" have taken place, but it also leaves things open for a solid resolution in Justice League #17.

Aquaman #22 is fun because the Ice Wizard Numero Uno is a villain steeped in platitudes about destiny, rightful places, and dishonor. In many ways, Icy McFreezePants is the epitome of classic villains of the DC universe who don't have much to say beyond "I'm right and you're wrong". It's catty, and it's a bit like Ice Cakes is a twelve-year-old girl whose friends are hanging out with the new girl.

Pushing the Avengers beyond Earth means pushing the definition of the team as Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Avengers #5 introduces a new female Smasher to the Marvel universe that already shows a lot of promise. She's got major leadership potential, and her ascension in the ranks of the Shi'ar Imperial Guard is another example of human influence reaching farther into space. Avengers #5 succeeds as a stand alone issue because of it's self-contained focus on Smasher, but also serves Jonathan Hickman's greater narrative that spans Avengers and New Avengers and the greater Marvel universe.

Avengers #7 is the true beginning of something new. Hickman is pushing the concept of the Avengers into brand new territory and it's utterly fascinating.

Avengers A.I. #2 is another great issue from Humphries and Araujo that pushes the storyline forward without feeling forced. What started as a concept that a lot of people doubted would be effective has turned into one of the most poignant series Marvel currently produces. I know that's a big claim for a series will only two issues under it's belt, but it's justified when you actually see what Humphries and Araujo deliver.

Much like Cable and X-Force #1, there isn't much to like about Avengers Arena #1. The characters are cardboard cutouts of their former selves from Avengers Academy or the ill-fated and consistently neglected by Marvel Runaways, Arcade just seems ridiculous without any real motivation beyond wanting to see some murders. Plus, the entire series doesn't really have a place in the Marvel universe--the only connection it has to anything else is that the characters used to be more integral to what was going on. Now, they're literally on a different planet and totally separate from anything else going on. Why? In what way does that add to the greater Marvel narrative at all? Is this series going to end once everyone is dead? I can't imagine reading Avengers Arena #75 in a few years because it's quite obvious this series won't be around that long.

The last work I read by Christos Gage was The First X-Men, a series I started reading and stopped after the second issue. I found the entire concept to be completely unnecessary. On the flip side, Gage's story in Avengers Assemble Annual #1 is a stunning example of how the writer can handle a story with a little more significance under its wings. The Vision is a fan-favorite character that's been absent for too long, and Gage brings him back in style while also forging an exciting new path for the android who has served everyone but himself since he was first switched on.

DeConnick is similar to her husband in her ability to write amazingly grounded dialogue. There's no Shakespearean flair here or flowery vernacular. Even Thor's natural high dialect is toned down under DeConnick's hand. And I'll reiterate how refreshing it is to read these characters in a light that's not completely blood-soaked and desperate. Steve Rogers? I can't remember the last time I saw him in an issue out of costume. I was not expecting to like the 'Marvel NOW!' imprinted Avengers Assemble as much as I have. DeConnick's work on Captain Marvel has been phenomenal, but I was worried that her witty reparte would be lost in a team-based series. Fortunately, I stand corrected.

Crazy, weird, insane superhero fiction is fun. But superpowers and mad scientists only go so far. Kelly Sue DeConnick's career has been a slow burn that's been building to her current status as one of Marvel's top writers, and Avengers Assemble #10 is a fantastic exhibition of her talent. Having a good mix of relatability and action goes a long way in terms of making a comicbook interesting, and DeConnick is a master at finding that groove. It feels like Tony Stark is really nervous, and that Carol Danvers is actually worried for Steve Rogers' safety. It's not hard to write the words saying these things are true. Making those ideas feel authentic through the narrative is a whole different ball game, and DeConnick hits home runs every time.

For fans who regularly follow Marvel's titles, Avengers Vs. X-Men #0 is probably an integral issue that offers payoff for months of build-up, but as a jumping-in point for new readers, it fails to give enough backstory to create a narrative understandable enough to continue reading.

Being disappointed by Marvel events has left a sour taste in my mouth. Last year's Fear Itself was so lackluster I stopped reading after two months. Even 2010's Siege was half-baked at a measly four-issue main series. Apparently, Marvel took note with Avengers Vs. X-Men, giving readers a perfect-sized 12-issue main run, a six-issue VS. series dedicated to fights, fights, and more fights, as well as multiple tie-ins throughout the imprint.

Knowing about VS going into this event makes the scant storyline all the more obvious. I couldn't help feeling like a lot of the fighting in the main series could have been relegated to the pages of VS with little consequence. But then Marvel couldn't stretch this (somewhat inane) conflict between these teams out for a exhaustive 12 issues AND sell us the companion series, so...there's that. Hopefully the third issue can make up some time in the narrative department.

So far, it seems like Brubaker has the best hold on the plot of this series. It's difficult to express discord between friends in a comic in a meaningful way. Fortunately, Avengers Vs. X-Men #3 made up for a lot of the pitfalls I saw in the first two issues. If Marvel can keep the narrative moving as smoothly as the giant, orchestrated fight sequences, this series might just be amazing yet!

The showdown between the Avengers and the X-Men is staged on the moon's surface as Wolverine informed the Avengers to Hope's whereabouts as soon as they met in Antarctica, and Emma was able to find Hope using Toad and Cerebra. Like most situations in this series thus far, this face-off feels forced. On the moon? Seriously? Then Thor crashes down and the Phoenix shows up. Like I said, this issue finally gets some plot going, but it takes us to the moon and that just seems silly.

And of course, Cyclops declares, "No more Avengers" on the last page, which is what we've been waiting for since Act II's announcement. Here goes nothin'!

Avengers vs. X-Men #7 does a fine job as a bridge issue between more important narrative aspects. Last issue, it was the reintroduction to the world under the leadership of the Phoenix Five and in two weeks, it will be the invasion of Wakanda by Namor and the Atlanteans. For an issue with little substance to spread out over 22 pages, Matt Fraction does the best job be can with the content he's given. It's unfortunate that Olivier Coipel's fantastic penciling couldn't be more readily employed, but even his 'neutral' faces for characters have so much more life in them than some artists' most emotionally charged heroes.

The Avengers now have more support than ever. Unfortunately, Cyclops rips through time and space to get to K'un Lun and take Hope away from Earth's Mightiest Heroes. While most of these issues have ended with cliffhangers, this one seems especially haunting because the writers can't jump forward in time next issue; this is the very moment before a giant brawl that promises to lead into the epic climax.

At the end of the day, this is issue ten. It's not the first issue, and it's not the halfway point. It's not even an act change. Very much so, Avengers vs. X-Men #10 is like the prelude to the end. With only two issues left, we know there's got to be a big reveal, a big death, and some choice words for a few of our favorite characters that will leave them reeling in disbelief. Unfortunately, none of those things happened this week.

A lot of this issue's merits come from the emotional ramifications of the one of Marvel's Golden Children falling into darkness.

If Marvel had made more of an effort to include layered meanings throughout Avengers vs. X-Men, the entire event would have been damn near perfect. In reality, it's still one of the best crossovers of the past decade, but without more than surface-layer meanings and forced misunderstandings, everything just seems silly in the end. But I try not to think like this. I try to see this story for what it was; a narrative intended to bring years of resentment and anger to a close with a conflict that tore them apart, both literally and symbolically.

It very much feels like Marvel and it's writers are trying to throw audiences curveballs with this series. It's very, very obvious that Magneto should defeat Iron Man and that Namor should defeat Thing when fighting underwater, yet Jason Aaron and Kathryn Immonen (respectively) feel like giving the underdogs the victories makes more sense. Instead, it simply comes off as ridiculous and a slap in the face to readers who supposedly know these characters. I mean, how can Marvel justify making Namor lose a fight underwater? I simply don't know.

In the first totally enjoyable issue of AvX: VS, Colossus takes on the Thing while Black Widow and Magik take the fight to the demons in Limbo. While I previously lamented about how both Coloss-onaut and Thing have already been featured in VS, their fight was actually quite enjoyable. Similarly, Black Widow and Magik are generally evenly matched.

It's sooooooooooooo melodramatic. Gail Simone seems to think this sappy ridiculousness is good and it's not. I wish I had better words to use, but it's trite and this issue doesn't do anything to inspire a desire to read any more of Batgirl.The art was decent.

The final sequence is a bit confusing and disturbing at the same time. Honestly, it doesn't make much sense in it's own context, but after getting totally sucked in by Barbara's attempt at rescuing her mother. I'm confident Batgirl #15 next month will explain the Joker's actions. And really, on some weird level, I almost like being totally in the dark about where this tie-in arc is going.

Batman #0 does a fantastic job giving readers a history without being boring or unimportant. Batman-related books could have suffered terrible setbacks with these "Zero Month" issues. Instead, Snyder is leading the pack in terms of quality and type of story that should be told. Us readers already know how Bruce's parents died and how he becomes Batman, so these issues should be more about building up a world that leads into the present day, and Scott Snyder has done this in spades.

Along with his newfound neuroses, Snyder and Tynion have given Freeze more than just a biological condition and an ice gun. His skin now exudes cold and he can spit ice from his mout. While Greg Capullo's artwork in Batmanhas been fantastic thus far, Jason Fabok does a ridiculously good job conveying the sub-zero temperatures and all the insane new ways Freeze has at his disposal to kill people. All around, Batman Annual #1is great - Mr. Freeze is not firmly established, not only in the 'New 52', but as a reimagined horror that has been part of Bruce Wayne's life for years.

Batman Annual #2 is a phenomenal issue. The epic nature of Scott Snyder's Batman run is palpable throughout this issue simply because Anchoress is such a compelling and important character. Batman knows a lot; he's the most intelligent tactician on the planet and he's versed in nearly every form of martial arts there is, he can go head-to-head with some of the most vicious and deranged criminals in the entire world. But there are still some things he cannot do. He can't predict scenarios playing out years later, he can't make up for past mistakes, and he can't be anything other than Batman. The Anchoress forces Bruce to confront these truths and ask himself how he could let someone slip through the cracks of his mission to eradicate crime from Gotham City. In the end, Batman recognizes his own weaknesses are the ones he doesn't even know about. Every Batman fan should read this issue.

Part of what makes Snyder's Court of Owls so cool is that it is so steeped in myth. Bruce is convinced the Court can't exist, but the signs are all around him and he really doesn't know what to do. And as always, Greg Capullo's artwork is damn near perfect for the Dark Knight (unlike David Finch's weird renditions of Gothamites.) Without spoiling the last pages, this arc is set to get even more engrossing in the coming months.

Seeing Bruce confront hallucinations, his own mortality and the (apparent) potential loss of his 'story', or, his memories, his history as a Wayne and as a hero. While everything stays in the 'generally vague' category of explanation in this issue, next month's issue looks like it will give us some answers to the Court of Owls' motives and maybe their members!

This was one of the best issues of any Batman-related books I've ever read, and it's one of the best issues I've read ever. Keep up the good work, boys.

Next month's Batman and Nightwing both act as prelude issues to May's giant "Night of the Owls" event, and from the looks of the last few pages of issue seven, things are about to get a lot more messy for Batman.

With fantastic art by Greg Capullo, a completely engaging narrative that ropes you in and never lets go, and a great lead-in to the main events in Gotham next month, Batman #8 is the best issue of the series to date, something Scott Snyder better stop doing soon before he can't outdo himself anymore!

Of course, the Talons finally freeze and Bruce makes his escape to go and save Jeremiah Arkham - a plot point added at the eleventh hour - before going after March. Bruce's visit to Arkham Asylum is depicted in the pages of last week's Detective Comics in rather dull detail. Fortunately, March's panels at the end of the issue are superb, and while his time in the Batman universe has been brief, he was such a good foil to Bruce that I still felt upset when he died. His last words are about how great Gotham can be, telling Batman to make sure Bruce Wayne knows that the dream shouldn't die. It's probably one of the best emotional moments in the series so far, and it simply pushes Bruce past the edge.

It was a pretty bold decision to not only introduce Bruce's brother, but also to revamp him as Owlman, a character that has traditionally been an evil, alternate version of Batman from the parallel Earth-3. I'm not sure how much I like these decisions yet, but they're HUGE nonetheless.

The Court of Owls is poised to be a major part of the DC universe moving forward. Scott Snyder has done what many writers only dream of doing - making a significant impact on a character and their universe. If all comic books were this good, there would be a whole new mainstream appreciation for this form.

The fate of Harper Row is still to be determined. Though she's just been introduced, she already has a (somewhat) direct line to Batman, something not many people can claim. It's almost as if Snyder is setting the stage for Harper to put on a cape and become another ally in Batman's army against crime. In interviews, Snyder has hinted that Harper will be a big part of Batman in the coming months along with the "true" debut of the Joker in the 'New 52' universe.

One of the best things about Batman #13 is how much Snyder is able to stuff into one issue without coming across as detail-obsessed (William Faulkner, anyone?) The murder of a man on live television and the claim that Mayor Hady would be dead at midnight all connects back to the Joker's first appearance (according to Batman) and must have some importance in the present. Then there's the Harley sequence! Yes, Harley Quinn adorns the original Red Hood outfit - worn by Joker before he was Joker - to confront Batman, hoping to catch him off-guard and get him away from his cave. That's all I want to give away because the final pages are just so damn amazing.

Batman #14 is a stellar issue from beginning to end. Never before has Bruce's 'extended family' been such a focal point of a Batman story to such a degree. Obviously, Alfred Pennyworth was taken from Wayne Manor at the end of Batman #13, and Jim Gordon gets hit his month with a blood-thinning poison. Even without the big reveal at the end, I would highly recommend this issue. The final pages, though, change everything for Batman and the Joker. Scott Snyder is leading the march on a new era for Batman and his allies, and it's going to be a frightening, sadistic, horrifying, absolutely entertaining road.

This month, Bruce reveals a shocking secret about his history with the Joker than sends Nightwing, Red Robin, Batgirl, Red Hood, and Robin into a hissy fit. The actual information isn't so important as the fact that Bruce kept a major secret from his allies. Bruce attempts to convince the others that Joker doesn't actually know anyone's identity and that it's all just a twisted mind game. The revelations from the past make Bruce's words somewhat hollow in the eyes of the others, and they start to question Bruce's ability to keep a clear head in the midst of this chaos. It very much feels like a turning point for Batman and his allies, that they might never fully trust each other ever again, that this is how the family falls apart.

I won't tell you to not read this issue, because it's one of the main issues of "Death of the Family", but if you're wondering whether it stands on it's own as a good issue, that's up for debate. Sure, it's a penultimate issue to a five-issue-long storyline, but that means there should be a whole lot more going into the end of the issue to ramp up readers for the grand finale! Instead, we get a contrived situation that Batman will obviously escape from because it's Batman. Which is a shame because Scott Snyder truly understands that the Joker's terror doesn't come from his physical prowess, but rather from his mental acuity. Even though the man is a psychopathic, murderous criminal, he's probably the most intelligent, psychopathic, murderous criminal Batman has ever faced.

While I'm excited for the upcoming "Year Zero" arc, Harper Row is what truly interests me now about Scott Snyder's Batman. Since the 'New 52' launched, Harper has been around and that's no coincidence. I'd be shocked if Snyder killed her off. I'd be even more shocked if she didn't become the next Robin because who else is there? Seriously, it's the next logical step. But it's a good next logical step.

Greg Capullo's artwork looks cleaner here than it usually does -- more crisp and less hurried-looking. I've always loved the artwork in Batman, but it really feels like Capullo drew things less rounded and more utilitarian in an effort to mirror Batman: TAS's art style like Snyder was mimicking the narrative style. If not, the art is still fantastic. If so, that's just a whole new level to the way Snyder and Capullo produce this book and work together.

Thus, Batman #20 isn't the most memorable issue of the series, but it's still a great comic book. And really, that's what ongoing series are all about. Even when the story isn't world-shattering or life-changing, it can still be high quality and have meaning beyond it's plot. Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo understand this and work the principle into "Nowhere Man" seamlessly.

Batman: Year Onewas bout Batman's relationship with Jim Gordon. "Zero Year" is about Bruce Wayne becoming Batman. It's a simple concept that bears a lot of weight because with the condensed nature of the 'New 52', this is the year of Batman's career when he establishes his rogues gallery. Yes, there seems to be a central antagonist here at the starting point, but it would be folly to assume Snyder will only stick to one villain for eleven issues that spans a year of Batman's life.

Everyone should be reading "Zero Year". Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo have been doing amazing work onBatman since the first issue, but this newest arc has a depth and suspense to it like nothing I've read from this team. It's intuitive about Bruce Wayne's formative years in the same wayThe Dark Knight Returns is intuitive about the future of Gotham City and it's Batman.

Batman #23.2: The Riddler ties for my favorite Villains Month title so far (next to Green Lantern #23.1: Relic). Scott Snyder's story written out by Ray Fawkes is surprisingly minimal with a big punch at the end that actually gives the Riddler more depth.

Batman #23.1: Jokeris a missed opportunity to give the Joker more depth. Introducing the character Jackanapes may have sounded good on paper, but by the end of the issue, it didn't feel like a Joker comic book much at all. Mostly, it felt like DC wanted to introduce Jackanapes and didn't know how else to do it, which is not a good enough reason.

Batman #23 starts to focus more on supporting characters. We get to see Alfred Pennyworth before he became used to seeing his employer beaten inches from death on a fairly regular basis. Edward Nigma makes another move in his grand scheme to command the highest powers of Gotham City, the Red Hood Gang continues to be the wrench in the gears, and we discover just how much Thomas and Martha Wayne's memory stayed alive long after their deaths.

Most of what's covered this month was already acknowledged and processed better in previous issues, there's the artwork of Yannick Paquette that usually stuns the audience and digs out clarity through controlled surreality but feels completely out of place in this issue, and the general feeling that "Superheavy" is being stretched out unnecessarily.

Batman #7 is a fantastic first chapter in "Night of the Monster Men" that pulls plot strings Tom King planted in his first arc, "I Am Gotham", pays homage to a classic Batman story, and finds two of DC's most talented writers producing a clear and distinct crossover than actually benefits the titles involved instead of taking away from their narrative flow.

Batman/Superman #1 is a triumph. This is the right book at the right time with the right creative team. Though Ben Oliver hands the artwork for the last seven pages, Lee's influence on the tone throughout is evident. Greg Pak has such a handle on both characters, their inspirations, their passions, their fears, and their impulses as young men. This is the series that I didn't even know I wanted, and now I would write a strongly worded letter to DC if they said I couldn't have it anymore.

Though Batman/Superman #7 ends the current arc well enough, the reason for Monguls defeat is paper-thin and uses a comic book trope to explain away logic and realism. Granted, a story about a video game where people take control of actual individuals isnt that realistic, the idea that Superman could change the rules of the game at the last minute is kind of lazy and drags the entire arc down.

Batman/Superman #10 is the best issue of the series. Though Greg Pak has been doing a great job so far, Jeff Lemire's single-issue homage to Silver Age stories is pure gold. Though Pak will return next month, Lemire has laid a lot of groundwork with Dr. Ray Palmer (who does indeed come up with "The Atom" as a codename at the end of the issue) and the…shady…S.H.A.D.E. keeping tabs on Batman and Superman. Here's hoping Lemire gets another crack at Batman/Superman in the near future.

Unless Batman/Superman can get back on track, it's destined to take over the spot of "worst Superman family title" that the eponymous series just recently vacated.

Patrick Gleason is an excellent artist for the Dark Knight, whose minimal style effortlessly conveys the darkness and tone of Gotham City. I'm a fan of artistic consistency and DC has done a great job of keeping their artists on lock.

By the end of the issue, Damian reveals that he's been playing bothBruce and Ducard! Using his past to solidify the believability of his leaving Wayne Manor, and using his shaky relationship with Bruce to leverage Ducard's trust. It's a brilliant plot twist, one that could have been written much more lazily. Tomasi has done a great job keeping the story engaging while not burning out readers with constant action or pages of expository dumps.

The final pages, in which Damian murders Morgan - even after Bruce stopped himself from doing the same thing - are a terrific build-up for the next arc. My only complaint: Damian getting all religious with the "Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned," shtick. It's annoying and grating. Other than that small snafu, Batman and Robin #7 sits at the top, in terms of quality, for this series thus far.

The issue starts dipping into cheesy territory when Damian explains, "I don't want to end up like Ducard...without a moral compass...I don't want to turn into a nobody. I want to be like you. I've always wanted to be like you." After all this time, Damian sheds his hardened skin after one close call with death. Knowing that Batman and his Robin had a relationship before the relaunch is almost necessary, or this scene loses most of it's meaning.

This connection between the Talon and Burrows would make a whole lot more sense if Burrows still owned the land, or anything like that. In the flashback, the Talon even says that the Court eventually took control of the land, so why does he care so much about killing Burrows? It doesn't make much sense and pulls down a book that was pretty damn good up to that point.

I really do tend to enjoy superhero stories where the heroes are in-fighting, and the "War of the Robins" portion of Batman and Robin #10 is totally awesome. My psychoanalytical critique aside, these characters are all awesome and now, they've got an arc slowly building that will pit them all against one another in a variety of circumstances. FANTASTIC. Terminus will probably continue to be a boring sub-plot that will eventually slip it's way into the main story, pulling the entire arc down as a result, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, awesomeness.

With two plot lines running simultaneously, Tomasi should be focusing on "War of the Robins", a narrative that actually has a purpose and can give real insight to Batman's various sidekicks throughout the years - it's a character-driven plot that has a lot more potential. Terminus' plot to make the city his own is one that has been done to death for the last sixty years of Batman's history, and it feels like more of a support story that's getting too much limelight.

Now that "Terminus" is in the past, we have Batman and Robin #0 to look forward to next month, hopefully shedding some light onto the formative years of Damian's life in the League of Assassins. Because really, I just want to forget Terminus was even a villain. Tomasi even had to throw in a biochemical warhead for Batman to stop to make Termy more that just another faceless threat. But even that didn't work.

Batman and Robin #15 is by and far the best "Death of the Family" tie-in issue yet, and is simply one of the best issues of the series overall. Damian Wayne is brash and confident to a fault, and it comes to a head when he faces the Joker, a villain who feeds on traits like overconfidence and uses it to his advantage. This series went through a bit of a rough patch for a few months in the late summer/early fall, but these past few issues have been fantastic. Peter J. Tomasi comes in at a close second for best interpretation of the Joker. And really, the only reason for that is because Scott Snyder developed the Joker's 'New 52' persona, so he's kind of got the best hold on him. If you're looking for a good "Death of the Family" tie-in, but you don't want to go overboard with issues, stick with Batman and Robin.

The past two issues of Batman and... have been designed to show how both personas of Bruce Wayne and Batman are coming apart at the seams. His family is crumbling around him into the pit where Damian used to be, and his borderline-psychotic actions are doing nothing to help the situation. I understand why Tomasi is doing this, and he's doing a fantastic job writing it, but he's also slowly turning Batman into an emotionless obsessive whose singular mindset will be his own downfall. Honestly, I don't know how to feel about it and that excites me.

I teared up for Damian Wayne when I got to the end ofBatman and Nightwing #23. Seeing Alfred torture himself by trying to change an unchangeable past is heartbreaking. These "Requiem" issues following Damian's death have been haunting, intense, emotionally challenging, and generally fantastic reading. It's not often one death can provide so much material without it feeling like overkill.Batman and Robin has been one of my absolute favorite series since I started reading the 'New 52′, and it continues to impress me each and every month.

Genevieve Valentine's script is fantastic, with witty and organic dialogue between the different players, while Alvaro Martinez and Raul Fernandez's artwork "comic book" " this should be the new DC House Style because it blends Mikel Janin's realism with Paul Pelletier or Eddy Barrows' physicality and action work.

It's becoming more and more clear that Batman's international army may not be essential to the story, acting more as lieutenants in this 'behind the scenes' war against the very essence of evil. In this sense, Batman Incorporated #0is a letdown and a success. It let me down by offering very little in the way of story advancement - or even really any information about it at all - and with the staccato nature of the narrative. It was a success because Morrison does an amazing job focusing on the characters he's presenting, giving them developed, clear-cut personalities even if they only get a few panels of page time. So even though they probably aren't all that important in the grand scheme of Morrison's plans, the origins of Batman's soliders around the world is captivating, nuanced, and drawn incredibly well.

The final pages are dedicated to the assassin who's been hunting Damien the entire issue. He's been brought in by the mysterious Leviathan and made to explain how he shot Batman and killed Robin! And that's where the issue ends! It's a very satisfying cliffhanger.

As a competent Batman story incorporating multiple elements from the Caped Crusader's past, Batman Incorporated is doing a fantastic job building up to a greater goal, but as a title aimed at making comic books easier to pick up for new readers, it fails. Giving character history isn't a crime, but doing so in the second issue of an already complex series isn't the right way to go about it. Granted, this issue as a history lesson does give readers some context as to who exactly Damian Wayne is, but I really feel like changing the tone and focus of the series so soon after beginning the series will throw new readers off before they're willing to take the time to commit a rather obscure character's history to their comic knowledge.

Batman Incorporated has been a victim of circumstance since it began, and though that was partly Morrison's own fault, it's now growing into it's own as a solid title in the 'New 52' lineup. I'm skeptical it'll continue after Morrison steps down, as that would open up a spot for a new title in the roster while also trimming down the already massive number of Batman-related titles. That being said, if DC were to get someone like China Mieville to take over, the series might just stand a chance of continuing.

It's unfortunate, but Batman Incorporated #10 feels very much like the filler issue it is instead of being a stepping stone toward Morrison's endgame. It is, technically, but there's a lot of exposition, a lot of waxing poetic about the idea of crime and the concept of justice. In a way, it almost feels derivative of Morrison himself. These are ideals and themes he's used in Batman stories in the past, and instead of feeling conclusive by nature, it seems repetitive. I'm not saying I didn't enjoy the issue, because I seriously enjoy Morrison's work. It's just not the strongest issue of the series.

Whether you subscribe to Grant Morrison's wacky narrative style, his Batman saga has been a landmark of DC comics over the past seven years. Throughout his runs onBatman, Batman and Robin, and finallyBatman Incorporated, Vol. 1and Vol. 2, Morrison rewrote the book on Batman. He gave us Batman's son, then took him away. He killed Bruce Wayne and let Dick Grayson wear the cowl before Bruce came back. He made Batman go global, and the implications were mesmerizing. There have been many great Batman stories, and many great Batman arcs, but a Batmansaga; that's all Morrison.Batman Incorporated #13is the end of Morrison's Batman story, but it's not the end for his characters or his various plot points. The final pages of this book bring up a whole slew of unresolved issues that leave things open for the future. Damian Wayne and Talia al Ghul may be dead, but what does that mean for Batman, Leviathan, and the League of Assassins? We'll all just have to keep reading.

So not a bad beginning for a title I am surprised to be buying. The friction between Vibe and ARGUS's goals is going to be the big draw for me. The possibility of classic inter-dimensional characters showing up is some nice spice. And Gates' sensibilities on a young hero along with Woods' slick art.

And that's the real tragedy: that Batman's void can really never be filled because he will never be able to conquer his own fear and ascend to a greater cause.

Alan Moore strongly hints that the Comedian assassinated JFK through a cruel turn of events that made the weak-looking Kennedy a liability in the eyes of the US government. Zak Snyder's 2009 film adaptation explicitly shows Eddie Blake shooting the President before finishing his giant cigar. But none of this matters to a Brian Azzarello who probably said, "But what if the Comedian was framed???Huh, guys? What if?" to an unresponsive audience. It's a stupid idea. With one page, Azzarello has managed to deconstruct the history of Watchmen while simultaneously proving the critics' point and pissing off millions of fans. And why does he do this? I guess I'll have to read Comedian #2and see if Azzarello is intent on fucking up one of the greatest characters in comic book history. I'm also scared for theRorschachmini-series now, knowing that Azzarello might turn our favorite detective into a news reporter or something...

While this shift in Eddie's behavior definitely gives this issue a whole lot more credence than the previous, Azzarello still can't figure out how to fix this series biggest problem: it's necessity. Did anyone really want a six-issue series detailing the horrid actions of the Comedian during the 1960s and 70s? Wasn't it enough to know he was a huge dick? Wasn't that part of what made the character so great? If Azzarello continues to change retcon - like he did last month when it was 'revealed' that Eddie never shot JFK - and take us down a path of pointless darkness and machination, this series is going to burn out much faster than it's release schedule.

It's hard to reflect too much on an event that's only really getting started. 35 weeks is a lot longer than is sounds before you think of it as six solid months of weekly content. There's a whole lot more story coming that will weave into all the titles already begun. While last week's Comediandid an absolutely awful job creating a satisfying character history, Straczyinski and the Kuberts do a awesome job giving Dan Dreiberg and Hollis Mason meaningful development. It's also interesting to note that the seeds of Silk Spectre and Doctor Manhattan's relationship are planted within the pages of this issue, an element that's probably going to be a common one throughout this event.

I'm not exactly sure where Blue Beetle #0should fit in chronologically amongst other issues. Even though a majority of the story is dedicated to the years before Jaime bonds with the scarab, the final few pages recap Jaime's journey so far, and we eventually get to the current day with Jaime stuck in Reachworld space after being abruptly transported there by O.M.A.C. in the pages of Justice League International Annual #1. So, one could place it before issue one purely for it's historical content, or it could go right after Blue Beetle #12. It's a conundrum for chronological perfectionists like myself. That one nitpick-y criticism aside, Blue Beetle #0does a fantastic job giving readers a fleshed out, meaningful history of the scarab Khaji-Da, as well as placing the building blocks for future stories. And really, what more could you ask for from this series?

This is what excited me most about this issue. Blue Beetle and Booster Gold have a long history together - when the Blue Beetle was Ted Kord, albeit - so it's fantastic that DC is building that relationship once again. In the 'New 52', Ted Kord is only a memory (I assume), so it will be interesting to see how a dead character will affect events throughout DC's imprint.

Booster Gold knows about the Reach and is convinced Jaime is under it's control, yet is forced to stand down when the surrounding crowd, and Jaime's grandmother in particular, starts chastising the adult hero for beating up a kid. Lying through his teeth, Booster covers his tracks by claiming it was all a test to be a member of the JLI and giving Jaime a more open-minded chance to prove himself.

The ability to make a generally lesser-known character more popular is an under-appreciated skill these days. Characters like Wolverine, Batman, and Superman have a built-in fan base. Now, that's not to say that writing these characters doesn't present their own challenges, but starting from scratch can be a daunting task for any writer. Tony Bedard aptly handles the teenaged Blue Beetle, offering up a narrative flow that keeps the series grounded enough to be relatable, but includes enough weirdness to keep it interesting. If you haven't read Blue Beetle, you should.

Fred Van Lente, Juan Jose Ryp, and Jordie Bellaire deliver a fantastic conclusion to an already phenomenal series that gives a sincere and meaningful backstory to some of the most interesting mysteries of the Valiant U.

Cable and X-Force is now the second 'Marvel NOW!' series that has seriously let me down (I'm looking at you, Deadpool). In general, everything Hopeless strives for falls flat and it's extremely disconcerting. Not very often do I find myself pausing while reading to reflect on how bad something is. Instead of giving readers a fun, intense, action-packed book with awesome characters, Dennis Hopeless wrote a first chapter completely shrouded in thick, unnecessary plot that's metaphorically giving readers a snarky smile to show that it knows more than we do. What a jackass.

Rick Remender has a lot of ideas for Captain America. In one issue, he's taken Steve Rogers out of the gritty darkness of the spy game, thrown readers some integral and telling character history, and introduced a whole new chapter in the Captain's life. He's stuck in an alternate dimension that's populated by Arnim Zola's mutated creatures and he's got no way to get back home. John Romita Jr's pencilling gets mixed reviews, usually, but here, it's spot on and works perfectly with Remender's more cheeky style. I've never read Captain America on a regular basis. Captain America #1 by Rick Remender is going to change that.

It's difficult to say how Rick Remender's run with Captain America will pan out. With most other 'Marvel NOW!' titles, I've found myself either raucously sold or defiantly opposed. Remender's Captain America is different from most other titles Marvel is currently offering: it sits outside the general Marvel turn of events due to it's setting in Dimension Z, Captain America is completely out of his element (something we haven't seen in ages), yet the fate of a whole universe hangs in the balance.

It makes sense that many people are finding Remender and Romita's vision for Captain America a little off-putting. The most common complaint I've found has been the arguably unnecessary inclusion of the flashbacks to Steve's childhood. As I mentioned earlier, these flashbacks serve not only to shed some light onto a part of Steve Rogers' life that hasn't ever been delved into much, but also to show that even though the world and the circumstances may change, the pain and the struggle remains the same. Captain America #3 comes to an end with a pretty big shocker that's going to have lasting consequences (at least as far as Marvel's solicitations are concerned) that will affect not only the rest of Steve's time in Dimension Z, but also quite possibly for the rest of his life!

Captain America #4 isn't what I expected, but it's everything I wanted. Rick Remender's trademark long-form approach to storytelling means Steve Roger's sojourn to Zolandia isn't going to end any time soon. The first four issues of this series have been a marathon of steadily building up the emotional investment, creating a psycho-weird (a term I just created because no other seemed to describe Dimension Z well enough) reality that tests Cap at every turn, and raises the stakes for Steve and Ian in terms of their relationship and their mission to escape the influence of Zola. Yes, this Captain America is completely different than anything Ed Brubaker wrote in his seminal run. But if you step away from the continuity and just read Remender's Cap as-is, it's one of the most exhilarating, powerful titles to come out of the 'Marvel NOW!' initiative.

Rick Remender does a phenomenal job conveying Captain America's emotions. Death in comic books is too often understated, but Steve's total emotional breakdown over the death of his son is a dramatic triumph. It would feel cheap had it been done any less well. In the end, it doesn't matter if Steve's relationship with Ian was real or not because the emotional fallout is very, very real and it has shattered the spirit of the United States of America. Even though Steve kills him, Zola still won because he took what made Captain America who he is and broke it, simple as that.

And let's not forget the logistical inaccuracies. Isn't Sharon Carter dead? I know 'continuity be damned' and al

What could have simply been a continuation of Rick Remender's All-New Captain America " featuring Sam Wilson in the titular role for a whopping six issues " is in fact an important stepping stone for both the title of Captain America as well as Sam Wilson as a character.

Captain Marvel succeeds in providing Marvel with its biggest female-led title, and also in doing so with integrity. DeConnick and Soy have found a groove that works for them, allowing Carol Danvers to grow naturally and organically instead of being put through the ringer every year or so with a new event tie-in arc that only serves the greater Marvel universe. For the first time in years, Carol Danvers is receiving the excellent treatment she deserves, and it's fantastic.

More than nearly any other moment in Civil War II, Carol feels like a real persona again in Captain Marvel #8 instead of just the figurehead for the "Ulysses Initiative". She has real fears and real insecurities about what she's doing, and there's no one with whom she can vent without causing emotional distraction. That said, does Carol's slip of faith in her own actions make her stance weaker? Tony is absolutely sure of where he stands, so what does an indecisive Captain Marvel mean for the end of Civil War II? For better or worse, we'll find out soon.

Charles Soule captures the essence of the original Civil War " the fear, mistrust, and bitter anger " but shows how that essence becomes shrouded in political sabotage and shadow manipulations.

The final pages of Constantine #1 prove that, in a very real way, Jeff Lemire and Ray Fawkes have a firm grasp on John Constantine. There's a lot to love, not only regarding the story and the characters, but also about the story structure and openness to future potentials. I love the ideas presented in this issue, I just struggle with the presentation itself and how the writing feels like it's vibrating at a frequency only slightly off from our own.

Tynion, Doyle, and Rossmo (who is in top form this month) are truly earning back some goodwill for Constantine after the travesty of Ray Fawkes' dismal 'New 52' volume.

Convergence: Green Lantern/Parallax #1 is a compelling and emotional visit to a time when the Green Lanterns were gone; the dynamic between the Corps' greatest failure and their last remaining hope is absolutely palpable.

And while the story rarely ever lets up, in terms of action, the very end of issue six leaves a lot to be desired. Of course, Rann-Thanagar, along with the other three lead-up series, exists specifically to do just that: lead-up. Meaning, it made sense to let them all finish up on cliffhangers or unresolved plots because Infinite Crisis would take care of the rest. But Rann-Thanagar simply ends by revealing the rip in space and time. It sounds really cool, but this quantum singularity is given a single panel before the issue closes.

Gail Simone's character-driven story was, by far, my favorite of the 'Countdown to Infinite Crisis' mini-series. The series told a story without being overbearing while also giving readers valuable information about the coming crisis. It felt the most coherent and the most satisfactory at the end.

The lead-in to "Death of the Family" at the end was sub-par. After reading Scott Snyder's explosive pages in Batman #13, I guess I just expected more. Though, I don't want to get myself into a situation where I'm comparing all the tertiary stories of this event to Snyder's main run because nothing will live up to it. Barbara's mother is attacked by Joker's minions, and three villains (of Batgirl's, I'm assuming) are released from prison by three mysterious strangers (unless they've appeared in the series before, in which case I apologize to regular readers of Batgirl who know these characters' significance) with the death of Batgirl on their minds.

While Guy is the focus of this episode, the real revelation is that the Anitmonitor has come to destroy the universe! Comic book fans know the Antimonitor as the catalyst for the Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover in the 80s that streamlined DC continuity by merging different timelines and multiverse dimensions. In GL: TAS, the Antimonitor has sent a universe-wide signal to all of the Guardians' old Manhunter robots, reactivating them to slaughter any and all sentient life. It's a big, complex, and somewhat terrifying concept for a children's show, and I applaud DC, Warner Bros., and Cartoon Network for allowing such a bleak arc to be produced. It shows how much faith these companies all have in Bruce Timm's amazing ability to bring superheroes into animated form.

As a whole, DC Universe Presents #0 is a good read. As individual stories, the tales about O.M.A.C., Mister Terrific, and Deadman are considerably better than those about the Blackhawks and Hawk and Dove. Read them all, or just read the ones you want. It's kind of up to you when it comes to an anthology format such as this. I only read one issue of the "Challengers of the Unknown" arc because it just wasn't my cup of tea. But I jumped right back in with "Savage", then regrettably "Kid Flash". DC Universe Presents #0 is definitely worth the buy, if only for the fact that you get five stories from five different creative teams at a whopping 48 pages.

While Brand knows he can't "win", in as much as being free of Rama's grip, but at least he can alleviate some of the pressure before giving in to her control. Through a mildly complex series of connected ideas, Brand explains that gods feel no humility which means they could never think to ask one of the most simple, yet most important, questions mortals feel every day of their lives: "Why me?" Everyone has, at some point in their lives, felt victimized and that shared sentiment cannot be felt by those with no true humility. In a true 'thinker' piece, Jenkins crafts a damn near-perfect origin story for Deadman before letting him go to exist between the pages of other books until DC sees fit to give Brand his own ongoing.

The story features Nanda Parbat - the mystical place where the revamped Jason Todd trained - as well as a giant ice monster that attacks the team as they attempt to escape the icy mountains via helicopter. It's action-packed and fun to read, both qualities of which have been exemplified by Didio over on O.M.A.C. The only problem with this introduction to the Challs is that we get very little actual background information of any character. Of course, Didio and Jerry Ordway have months ahead of them to establish this team as a part of the new DC universe.

This second part of "Savage" would be hard to read as a stand-alone issue, seeing as elements from DC Universe Presents #9 come into play throughout the issue, and the ramifications of this month's events will be concluded next month. Then again, I guess the same could be said about most any comic book series, but in this case, it would be like watching The Godfather, Part II without having seen The Godfather or knowing anything about it. I'm sure it would be enjoyable, but you wouldn't have a frame of reference for these characters or their motivations.

DC Universe Presents exists to give lesser-known characters a bigger spotlight. And though Vandal Savage is hardly "lesser known", beyond this arc, he's only featured in the pages of Demon Knights, a title set centuries in the past. Robinson's fun romp into the arena of psychological thriller is just fun. It's not too original, hardly unique in it's narrative structure, and Savage is presented as a stereotypically remorseless killer (who believes he's been) gifted with immortality. Really, it comes down to Robinson's handling of each character and the relationships between them that really sell "Savage" as an excellent part of DC's 'New 52' universe.

In interviews, Nicieza outlined his idea for this Kid Flash story, how it would begin as a back-up story in Teen Titans #11, continue on into DC Universe Presents #12 with a bulk of the story and a lot more revealed about Kid Flash's origins, and end in a back-up in Teen Titans #12. While in theory this sounds interesting, in reality, it's utter silliness. The five-page 'opening act' is so bare-bones on story that it's completely not worth reading, and the fact that you're forced to buy Teen Titans #12 just to get the finale is money-grubbing. I really was looking forward to this odd little three-part experiment. And perhaps in better hands, it could have been pulled off. But trying to convey a story in such odd increments seems almost backwards, so unconventional that it actually doesn't work. If this story is the model for the technique, it will be quite some time before anyone tries it a second time.

With DC's January solicits out, we learned that Andreyko's take on Blue Devil and Black Lightning was cut from five down to four issues for some reason. It could mean that Andreyko overextended his outline, it could be that DC has something planned for the title in February, or it could mean, unfortunately, that DC Universe Presents might get cancelled. I don't want to wildly speculate, but this new arc might just be what the series needs to pull itself out of the low rankings if it is indeed on the chopping block.

Deadpool #1 is seriously underwhelming. Already, I've seen multiple 5-star reviews for this issue and for the life of me, I can't understand why. The only explanation I can imagine is that Posehn's position on the title preceded itself -- everyone expected it to be really funny, so it just is really funny. And unlike other series, Deadpool suffers so much more because it fails at providing the one thing it's supposed to offer that other titles can't -- humor.

I really wanted to like Deadpool, I really did. I'm a huge fan of Brian Posehn's stand-up comedy, and I kept hearing good things about Gerry Duggan's past work. Pairing two proven funnymen with an erratically humorous character like Deadpool seemed like a slam-dunk, at least theoretically. In reality, Deadpool is one of the worst new titles I've read this year. Any attempt at humor falls flat, all uses of extreme blood and gore is unnecessary, and the narrative itself is as flimsy as the paper it's printed upon. Save your $2.99 and stay away from this book.

This is the kind of issue that exemplifies the aim of the New 52 as a cultural project"Paul Cornell has taken a character who had become a bit long in the tooth pre-reboot, and written a fresh take on said character that's similar to the original, but takes enough liberties that the story becomes its own. Demon Knights #0 says what it needs to say without becoming overdeveloped or annoyingly bogged down in it's own mythology, something that Cornell could have easily succumbed to in a tale of magic, demons, and betrayal.

Now allied with the "knights of the demon", Arthur Pendragon plans to lead them into Avalon to resurrect the greatest wizard of all time, Merlin. It's an outward adventure, and an inward quest. Exactly like the original Arthurian romances.

As the 'New 52' moves forward, cohesion amongst titles has become an extremely important aspect of the storytelling process. Seeing Cain and his vampire horde traveling through Medieval Europe adds more credence and meaning to the events of I, Vampire, and we've already seen Etrigan pop up in Stormwatch. Robert Vendetti has stated that he's got a long-term game plan in place for the series, and Demon Knights #17 is another great example of how the setting for this title allows for fantastic storytelling because of it's distance from the rest of the DCnU.

But that's what comics should be! Why spend $3.99 for a single issue you'll read once then look at for the art? It seems absurd and Miville is making an excellent case for a step up in the level of narrative quality among mainstream comic books.

Drive #1 is a fun issue if you're a fan of the film. Otherwise, it's mostly forgettable.

The 'New 52' is still young, and this new continuity needs time to come into it's own as an established universe with diverse, interesting, developed characters in a rich, vibrant world. Robinson's venture in Earth 2 is fantastic, but the introduction of a new multiverse is really, really annoying.

I like Earth 2 Annual #1. It's a fun read. Regular readers of the series will appreciate how much James Robinson is pouring into Earth 2 from all angles. That being said, it's really only for regular readers.

The final pages of the issue are dedicated to giving readers a bit of the retooled backstories for both Alan Scott, who is the owner and CEO of G.B.C. Media, and Jay Garrick, a recent college graduate with no plans for the future and a girlfriend who dumps him for a better life. Already, it's quite obvious that the Justice Society is going to be a parallel to the Justice League instead of their forefathers.

Nicola and Trevor Scott's art this week is a bit mixed. The Flash/Hawkgirl panels are fantastic, while the Green Lantern pages look like Alan is wearing Hollywood makeup and talking to a green screen, which I don't even know how they could pull off. Overall, I'm still very invested in Earth 2. Green Lantern, Flash, and Hawkgirl are enough to entice me to keep reading, and the promise of the Atom and more of Earth 2's (Solomon?) Grundy is too much to resist. Robinson gets a 'pass' this month on the character dialogue simply because the first two issues were so good, this may just be a hiccup.

Robinson recently promised Wildcat coming soon to the pages of Earth 2, along with Doctor Fate and a slew of others. In such a unique position, Robinson is doing everything he can to make the heroes of Earth 2 just as epic and amazing as their New Earth counterparts. In most ways, he's succeeding (I'm looking at you, Hal Jordan).

Seriously, though, Earth 2 #6 is one of the best issues of the series to date. While that's not a huge catalog of issues with which to compare, it's still an a success. In interviews, Robinson has stated that the series is titled purposefully so that he would be free to build his second Earth without being forced to focus exclusively on the forming Justice Society. Sure, most of it will be about them, but the potential for world-building is huge. Earth 2 #6 points to how much Robinson is committed to those ideals going forward. It's a fantastic issue.

James Robinson is seriously making the stuff of legends here, with believable, relatable characters and world building that's slowly becoming on-par with the entirety of Earth 1. Whether you like the costume redesigns or not, Robinson has done a deft job re-imagining these Golden Age heroes for a new generation.

The opening pages of Earth 2 #9 reveal that this new story arc is called "The Tower of Fate", implying we'll be getting at least three issues to flesh out Khalid's new gig as the hand of destiny. James Robinson is building up his version of the Justice Society very slowly, though he's mentioned that the team proper won't be together until the title's second year, which is approaching rather quickly. It will be interesting to see how Robinson puts all the pieces together in coming months, especially since a little over half of the classic roster of the JSA works for the World Army and is actively hunting the rest of the new Wonders.

It's fun to see Mister Miracle and Big Barda show up for that one panel, and in the grand scheme of things, these two were bound to be introduced sooner or later. I bring this up again because DC's mandate to make every April cover some shocking revelation just doesn't work for every title, Earth 2 being one of them. It very much feels like Robinson was forced into jamming the New Gods connections into Earth 2 #11 that could have easily been in the next issue.

One of the best aspects of Earth 2 is the how easy James Robinson makes creating a world look. This isn't just a team book -- this title is about an entire separate universe. The changes and differences between the main DCnU and Earth 2 are important because they are there and the moer Robinson shows us, the better this series becomes.

I am very sad that James Robinson is leaving Earth 2 because we're now getting to the point in the series where all the various bits and pieces we've been getting over the past year will finally start coming together. He's taking old ideas and totally revamping them in a way that even the rest of the 'New 52' can't top.

There's just too much going on inEarth 2 #15. So many characters and so many plots are continued, established, or expanded upon that it's jarring when Robinson switches gears. Plus, each sequence is small, so a lot of info is packed into a small amount of space making it feel claustrophobic and stuffy to read. I really likeEarth 2, but this issue is a total bust.

Boring, disappointing, and frustrating: three words to perfectly sum up Extraordinary X-Men #1.

After reading Marvel NOW! Point One, I was mainly just interested in reading Fraction's FF, but after this debut issue of Fantastic Four, I will most certainly be following the adventures of Marvel's first family as they steal away through the multiverse in search of adventure and knowledge. If nothing else, 'Marvel NOW!' is most assuredly bucking my usual preferences, which was kind of the point in the first place, right?

My only real problem with the Fantastic Four being involved with events on Earth is that up until now, there's been absolutely no way of contacting the team while on their journey. Now, seemingly out of nowhere, Black Panther has some deus ex machina communication device that can broadcast through all space and time. What?

The last work I read by Christos Gage was The First X-Men, a series I started reading and stopped after the second issue. I found the entire concept to be completely unnecessary. On the flip side, Gage's story in Avengers Assemble Annual #1 is a stunning example of how the writer can handle a story with a little more significance under its wings. The Vision is a fan-favorite character that's been absent for too long, and Gage brings him back in style while also forging an exciting new path for the android who has served everyone but himself since he was first switched on.

Uncanny X-Men #1 is another solid entry in the 'Marvel NOW!' lineup. Brian Michael Bendis started his tenure as head X-writer strong with All-New X-Men, and he keeps it going here with Cyclops and the Uncanny X-Men. Sure, there's already a traitor in their midst in the first issue, but that's the kind of thing the X-Men franchise needs to shake things up. The status quo has changed and Bendis is taking the opportunity to do amazing things with these characters. Uncanny X-Men by Brian Michael Bendis is going to be different than any incarnation of the series before it, and that's more exciting than anything else.

I mentioned earlier that this issue isn't about being a spectacle. It's a comicbook that you get more out of each time you read it—you discover nuances in the writing, or subtle images that weren't obvious during your first read through. Matt Fraction and Mike Allred are endeavoring to create a series that can stand on it's own while seamlessly integrate to the greater Marvel universe, and it's those qualities that will make this a timeless, classic series.

Fraction and Allred have struck some gold with this series. Fraction's relatable, grounded writing coupled with Allred's signature art style is a match made in heaven and this first issue is the evidence. There's a lot to love about FF #1, but unfortunately, a lot of that comes from knowing who these characters are and what's happened to them. Fraction does an apt job covering his bases when it comes to integral backstory, but it's still FF, which is named after the Future Foundation, which is an offshoot of the Fantastic Four, who wont actually be in the series at all in an issue or two -- it's a bit wonky. Other than that, FF #1 is a fantastic issue that has left me wanting more...now...seriously.

If you're not reading FF, you should. Fraction and Allred have crafted a series with a near-perfect balance of plot-based, superhero action and organic, character-driven story. Potential is the name of the game here because a new Fantastic Four means a whole new way to tell Fantastic Four stories. 

Over the previous eight issues, Fraction was positioning pieces on the board, andFF #9is the first move toward an even bigger story. I truly love this series, not only because it features one of my favorite regular creative teams — Matt Fraction and Mike Allred — but also because Fraction has taken a wholly unique approach toFF that pays homage to the past while moving the concept of the Future Foundation forward into new territory.

Where "belief" was the focal point of Figment, "doubt" becomes the central theme for Figment 2 as Blarion and Figment find that the 21st century isn't as imaginative as the time they come from.

The rest ofThe Flash Annual #2 is a testament to how well Buccellato knows Barry Allen and also how well he's able to write Hal Jordan without making the characters sound like a complete dick. Barry scolds Hal for not telling him about the deal and Hal gets angry at Barry for not appreciating that he saved all those kids. Barry thinks Hal is irresponsible. Hal thinks Barry is uptight. It's classic Flash and Green Lantern. And it's classic for a reason: it works. Hal and Barry are the least morose members of the Justice League. Superman and Wonder Woman have their whole stoic thing going on. Batman is Batman. Aquaman is a King, which is bound to make a guy grumpy. And Cyborg just doesn't do much else than monitor the planet and join in the fighting (at least, for now). There have been a lot of team-ups in the 'New 52′, but not many feel as natural as Hal and Barry's.

Manapul and Buccelatto's frantic script this month feels clustered at first, but eventually straightens out and packs about four big punches in a row before moving directly into the 'reeling in awe' stage. Rogues start coming out of the woodwork left and right, Glider takes steps to murder her brother and steal a monorail full of civilians, Flash confronts Dr. Darwin Elias about his accusations and slandering against the Scarlet Speedster, while Cold seeks revenge against his mutinous sister. There's a lot more to everything than what I just outlined, but that's the gist of things. Really, The Flash comes down to the details. Manapul and Buccelatto have mastered the art of subtle development and are now ready to tackle a full-scale super war starting in October, and I couldn't be more excited.

Grodd is insane, through and through. Trickster approaches the looming ape king and offers his services as a credible citizen of Central City, as well as a villain who knows how to find Flash. In the most graphic sequence of the issue, Grodd literally tears the Trickster's arm off before claiming that he needs no man's help in his conquest. It's a powerful scene and one that shows just how much for violent and ruthless Grodd is under Manapul and Buccellato's direction.

We don't get to see the Crime Syndicate much inForever Evil #1, nor do we get to see the actual battle between the Syndicate and the three Justice Leagues that results in the disappearance of nearly every superhero. I do wish there had been more information about how the Leagues fell. Most likely, we'll get the full story starting next month when various DC titles start tying-in toForever Evil,but that's a full month without any real answers, which is a 6/10 on the frustration scale. I don't know why DC is content with everything being so vague right now, but it seems to be an ongoing problem for many titles: not enough information to keep readers interested.I will be reading the rest ofForever Evil because I'm extremely interested in what comes next, but for the casual reader interested in the villains of the DCnU, this crossover event could be too much too fast without context.

Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. #1 is a necessary, but tedious read. Steve Trevor and A.R.G.U.S.s activities in the wake of the Crime Syndicates invasion prove to be the most interesting aspect of the story, but the entire issue is weighed down by unneeded backstory concerning Steve and Wonder Woman.

At this point in the New 52, Steve Trevor is somewhat synonymous with A.R.G.U.S. because he was the original liaison to the Justice League, and the organization was created with his leadership in mind. Unfortunately, this is not an excuse to make a series supposedly about A.R.G.U.S. focus solely on one man. The problem is that most of what happens in Forever Evil: A.R.G.U.S. #2 either isnt important, or could be conveyed in the main series.

This all might sound overly-harsh and like just so much nitpicking from a self-professed lover of this series. But it's because I've enjoyed Frankenstein: Agent of S.H.A.D.E. so much in the past that it makes me sad to see the easier road being taken on a crossover with such potential. I'm confident Kindt will make something of the current chaos, it'll just be hard to wait another month for some plot advancement.

As fun as Giant Days continues to be, the intimate moment between Susan and McGraw feels rushed, truncated when it should have been decompressed.

Each month, James Tynion IV's Gotham By Midnight continues to get better.

Everything about this issue is incredible.

The return of a certain controversial character and his deceptively dark competing spy organization bodes well for the future of Grayson, with Tom King and Tim Seeley's spy war kicking into high gear.

At the end of the issue, there was no reason to include Ollie's support team, there was really no consequence in the battle with the Warhawks, and the direction of the story is surface-level intentions at best. I've heard "Hawkman: Wanted" is supposed to somewhat add to the upcoming Justice League of America by making Hawkman and Green Arrow work together. In reality, the two characters barely interact outside barking their strategic plans to each other in the middle of battle. I'm confident JLA will be good, but I'm also confident that "Hawkman: Wanted" is a big waste of time.

Green Arrow #17 fulfills all of these expectations. Lemire's steady plotting paired with Andrea Sorrentino's equally organic artwork result in the best issue of Green Arrow yet, by leaps and bounds. New villain Komodo is as fun to read as he is a danger to Ollie. And stripping Ollie of all his previous amenities"like friends, money, a reputation, fame, technology"will force him to prove that it's the person behind the mask that makes the hero. "The Kill Machine" starts off in an excellent way and only points to better character development for Oliver Queen going forward. It's been said that one does not really know what one is capable of until one is desperate enough. Ollie understood this once, and Jeff Lemire is now in a position to teach the Emerald Archer this lesson all over again. Sign me up for that class!

After an extremely long and rough start, Jeff Lemire's reworking of Green Arrow has been a rousing success. In just two issues, the entitled, arrogant Oliver Queen has been wiped away and replaced with an Ollie that understands his place more than he ever has in the past. Everything he had is gone, and everything he now has he's building from nothing. In a way, Lemire is proving to readers that Oliver Queen is worth our reading. Trying to enjoy the expensive hobbies of rich jerks isn't as much fun as seeing those same jerks get knocked down a few pegs. Lemire recognizes this and wants to make Ollie a character with real depth instead of just another playboy with superhero aspirations.

This just doesn't feel fun anymore. It feels forced. Not everything in a comic book universe has to be tied to fate, destiny, or past events. Sometimes, heroes arise because they need to and not because their great-great-grand uncle was cursed by an evil warlock for generations or somesuch like that. I like Lemire's dialogue; it's quality work and the all characters feel organic. I also love Andrea Sorrentino's artwork. It's honestly just the story that's turning me off of Green Arrow now.

Already, Johns has established Simon Baz as one of the coolest new characters to hit DC's 'New 52' since it began. Some might say that the newest Green Lantern hasn't had enough page time to warrant a decision on his fate. But seriously, he's freaking awesome.

Next month's Green Lantern #0 focuses on new GL, Baz. Up until now, I'd been confused as to how DC was going to shoehorn a new Green Lantern into the mythos, but after reader Green Lantern Annual #1, things are starting to make a lot more sense. Already, some have criticized this issue - and Johns' direction with the GLU in general - for being a rehash of previously tread ground. To that, I say what isn't? This year's amazing "Court of Owls" is based on any secret society trope, but that doesn't mean it can't be interesting and fresh. "Rise of the Third Army" promises to be a huge (if not long) event that will change the landscape of the Green Lantern books and the DCU at-large for a long time to come.

In the final pages, Sinestro gives Hal's construct ring enough power only to get him back to Earth. With no battery to recharge, Hal becomes panicked and realizes that he only cares about the power of being a Green Lantern. It's a welcome bit of character growth for one that hasn't had much since his resurrection in 2004. Hal sees a little more clearly that he wants to be with Carol Ferris and makes the first steps toward making that a reality. While it may come off as cheesy to newer readers, GL fans will know this is a monumental moment for Jordan. With a sixth issue left to complete the 'Sinestro' arc, I'm interested to see how Johns will segue into the next adventure for Sinestro and Hal.

And just like that, Geoff Johns starts reeling me back in! If these premonitions are a window into future Green Lanternarcs, it's going to be an exciting road for Green Lantern fans.

Basically, Sinestro read the Book of Black and saw the end of the Green Lantern Corps - an idea that's been seeded throughout Green Lanternsince the relaunch - and now he needs Hal's help to stop it from happening. In true Green Lantern style, the Indigo Tribe shows up to corral Sinestro for themselves. Over on Oa, the Guardians are getting pretty hardcore, talking about murdering a Corpsman. It's a little uncomfortable, but I'm sure that's exactly what Johns wants.

However it unfolds, Johns (like always) does a fantastic job of keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The final page of Green Lantern #8 reveals Sinestro's conversion to the Indigo Tribe, a development that will most likely be reversed, but it's still nice to see Johns having fun with one of Green Lantern's most notorious villains.

Fortunately, the final pages are so epic, the quick lead-in soon turns from a curse to a blessing. Apparently, Abin Sur knew pretty much goddamn everything, as he's the one - we are now constantly being reminded - who knew the Guardians were bad news from the get-go. As Natromo hears of Abin Sur's death, he decides to destroy the indigo battery and end the Indigo Tribe project he started with Abin Sur all those years ago. The good news is that Sinestro is freed and becomes a Green Lantern once again, the bad news is that the worst criminals in the universe are now all in one place, with two giant green targets with which to play.

But haven't we already done the whole Black Lantern thing? (Snore)

One of Geoff Johns' strongest points as a writer is his ability to create huge, cosmic events that change the landscape of the world he molds. Unfortunately, DC seems to be shying away from imprint-wide events, sticking to family series crossovers (like Batman's "Night of the Owls", or Young Justice's "The Culling") in order to make each part of DC's line stronger on it's own before deconstructing it down the road, which we all know is a question of 'when?' rather than 'if'. The teaser promo for "Rise of the Third Army" doesn't include Hal or Sinestro anywhere in the image, a startling fact seeing as both Hal Jordan and Thaal Sinestro are two of the franchise's most recognizable characters. I'm sure Black Hand will fit into the scheme of things somehow, which will Bring Hal and Sinestro into the fight as well.

The big reveal at the end of the issue leads up to the new Green Lantern, the Islamic one we've been seeing in promo shots and that appeared on the final page spread of The New 52 #1 this year for 'Free Comic Book Day'. A few months ago, nobody understood how this new GL fit into things, but as we get closer to October's "Rise of the Third Army", everything is starting to become clearer. Hopefully, this crossover can inject some life into this series, which has slowly been on the decline since last September.

Green Lantern #13 may not be the first chapter in "Rise of the Third Army" that we were all expecting, but it's an issue that deftly navigates a new character through a crucial time in his experience being a superhero. The manual for this situation has been thrown out the window, so it's up to Baz to figure things out for himself, and that's leading to engrossing, truly interesting stories about a man given a ring and no helping hands. At every turn, Baz is betrayed or hurt, and it's starting to become apparent that his Green Lantern career may be based on this drive to make a stand against the betrayal.

Johns also takes some time to build mythology through sequences featuring the Guardians conversing with the still-mysterious First Lantern, Black Hand's imprisonment in the Chamber of Shadows, and the Third Army ravaging the universe in the name of peace and order. I'm enjoying Simon Baz's personal voyage as he comes to terms with being a Green Lantern and what that means in the greater scheme of his life. And while there hasn't been a lot of crossover with the Third Army proper, Johns is obviously building to something that will test Simon as a GL and as a person.

Green Lantern #15 is simply exceptional. Geoff Johns is literally building Simon Baz's character--his moral, his ethics, his personality--from the ground up as he deals with his personal issues while simultaneously trying to learn why he's received a Green Lantern ring and is being approached by a talking squirrel (for those who watched Robot Chicken: DC Comics Special, B'dg's inclusion in this storyline is just awesome.) "Rise of the Third Army" finally feels real, like something ominous and terrible is getting ready to devastate the entire universe.

The final pages of Green Lantern #16 prove that Simon Baz is no temporary replacement; for a while, I was worried that Baz was more of an experiment that could be ended as quickly as it was started. Of course, that could still be the case, but Simon's inclusion in the upcoming Justice League of America coupled with the fact that the Green Lantern Corps really hasn't ever had a problem with there being an inordinate number of Lanterns from Earth points to his being around for a while. With "Rise of the Third Army" coming to a close next week, and "Wrath of the First Lantern" coming next month, I'm sure the Corps will be needing all the firepower it can get.

Green Lantern #18 is a great issue when it's focused on Hal, Sinestro, and Simon. While Johns does take some minor detours that feel underwhelming, the overall experience is pleasant. Szymon Kudranski's art is spectacular and fits with the Dead Zone backdrop perfectly. Is it a coincidence that Hal seems to look a lot like Geoff Johns himself? "Wrath of the First Lantern" is a mixed bag when it comes to quality. I wasn't impressed with the first four issues of the crossover and GL #18 doesn't even feature the eponymous Lantern. As an actual story, it's nothing to shake a stick at, but the effects of the First Lantern's existence are causing all sorts of indirect results that are far more interesting than yet another emotional spectrum conflict.

Now that the terrible secrets of the original Guardians have all been revealed and all the awful prophecies have played out, it's time for a new direction for Green Lantern. Robert Vendetti is just the man to do it, and Green Lantern #21 is stellar.

The final sequence of Green Lantern #27 is the catalyst to a much larger story in Robert Vendittis run. The Green Lanterns are now at the mercy of every being in the universe with the ability to confront them. The GLC was already on thin ice from basically ignoring the chaos of the universe to deal with their own problems for so long, and now that everyone knows that using an energy ring causes the universe to deteriorate, theres no turning back. Venditti has changed the game for the Green Lanterns, turning them form universal protectors to the source of its chaos, and its astounding to read.

Green Lantern #28 is a fun issue, if only a bit awkward in the story's placement in the middle of a giant universal war against the Green Lanterns. It leads directly into Red Lanterns #28, and Robert Venditti does an excellent job focusing on character development in place of advancing the Durlan storyline.

Green Lantern #30 isn't terrible, but it's also not terribly interesting. The funeral to honor the fallen Lanterns comes months too late, and the conflict on Oasis Bay seems contrived and far to small for a series about to embark on a universe-spanning war.

Green Lantern #31 feels like filler issue, which just seems wrong when it's actually the first part of a crossover event.

Green Lantern #32 is a fun issue, but it's also a prime example of why the Green Lantern name isn't as powerful as it once was. The more time spent questioning the actions of the Green Lantern Corps in-story will eventually lead to readers questioning the same thing about their monthly pull lists. Yes, it's exciting to read about the Corps getting into a pickle, but when something like "Uprising" is just normal episode for Green Lantern, it starts to become boring.

The fifth chapter of "Uprising" is one of the best issues of Green Lantern in the past six months. It progresses the story and makes a lot of good choices, right up until the end. The late-in-the-game faux pas means Green Lantern #33 is not perfect, but the art alone makes up quite a bit. The only glaring problem with the title now is the utter dominance of story over characterization.

Green Lantern Corps Annual #1 does a great job finishing up one story arc and starting another. While the entire "Rise of the Third Army" event was less fast-paced as I had originally expected it to be, the conclusion makes it worth the build-up because we've been able to slowly integrate the idea of a hive-minded army of locust soldiers assimilating sentience into the basic setting of Green Lantern series. Instead of "Rise" being a one-month blitzkrieg (like, say, "Night of the Owls"), Johns and Company opted for pacing that made the threat of the Third Army all the more real and disturbing.

In one stroke, Tomasi has not only given the Green Lanterns a formidable foe without resorting to a crisis-level villain, but also provided another great piece of the Guardian's history of fucking everything up. I've read (and thought myself) that blaming the Guardians for everything has become a crutch for writers over the past five years. To many, it seems as if the Guardians apparently acted more like the CIA, killing, cheating and lying to claw they way to the top, rather that behave like the benevolent beings presented over nearly seven decades of comic continuity. But that's the beauty of a race that's as old as time itself; they've had a lot of time to screw things up, and a lot of universe in which to do it.

As I mentioned earlier, it's been great learning about Green Lanterns other than Guy Gardner, John Stewart and Kilowog. Bringing in the 'Mean Machine' and including some of the better characters from past series - such as Sheriff Mardin, Hannu, and Brik - has been Green Lantern Corps'saving grace. I'm excited to see where Tomasi takes the series after next month's issue.

An excellent 'epilogue' issue if there ever was one, if a little light on the plot advancement.

The real point of this issue (outside Guy's promotion) is the final page; the Alpha Lanterns descend to arrest John for the murder of Green Lantern Kirrt, an action that will surely lead to this "Alpha War".

Peter J. Tomasi needs to step up his game. Green Lantern Corps was doing great, but mucking it up with legal drama is murdering it's reputation.

Green Lantern Corps #10 is easily the most enjoyable issue of the "Alpha War" so far. The first two entries into this arc were mired with legal jargon and judiciary proceedings - not things you want (or expect) from an action-based comic book. And while the best part of this month's issue is actually a debate over an issue of hypocrisy, the fights come out in spades.

Guy and John have been going down their separate, yet intertwining paths for months now -- it would be nice to see them side by side to take on the Third Army, but the events at this issue's end have me worried for the future of the Corps. 

Green Lantern Corps #19 is as much a filler issue as you can get. It involves contrived character development based on a continued 'deus ex machina' device. Nothing about the plot is really advanced at all. It's only worth it if you're a completionist.

Green Lantern Corps #22 is Jensen's second issue on the title and it's the first where his writing style starts to meld with the franchise. New recruits on Oa means readers get a first-hand glimpse at the life of a brand new Green Lantern. While rebuilding, Stewart arrives on Oa to lend a hand and some helpful advice to the tenderfoots still reeling from being inducted into the Corps while simultaneously being ordered to rebuild their new home from the ground up. There's a lot of uncertainty flowing through the Green Lantern Corps, and Jensen captures that feeling almost perfectly. More so even than inGreen Lantern, Jensen manages to show how the Corps works and why it works despite it's corrupt masters and arguably unqualified new leaders.

Green Lanterns: New Guardians has a second-stringer title since it began due to a lack of direction and overall cohesiveness. I understand that this Annual was intended to be a lead-in to Threshold, but why? Why can't that series stand on it's own? Why make an already struggling title break focus and lose it's momentum in the process? Last month's issue was a great step forward, but Green Lantern: New Guardians Annual #1 is like taking two steps back.

I want to like this book. I love Green Lantern and Kyle is my all-time favorite GL, so I keep reading, sticking it out hoping that things will get better. Fortunately, this month's Blue Beetle promised a pretty awesome new arc starting with issue #10. Here's hoping things get better by June.

The story of the Angels of Vega points to Larfleeze as the culprit behind the creation of the New Guardians. In a somewhat annoying info dump, Kyle Rayner explains how Larfleeze was the one who stole the various-colored rings and sent the team on their mission to kill Invictus. The manic-depressive Invictus finally shows some restraint and decides to not replace the current Vega system with his copy. How nice! Instead, he wants Kyle to kill Larfleeze. Who's ready for next month's issue? This guy.

It's hard to make beetle-men seem intimidating, but Tony Bedard does a fantastic job of keeping the pace steady and giving more information on a need-to-know basis. Tyler Kirkham's art is spectacular in conveying the hopelessness of the Blue Lanterns' defense against the Reach. This GL: NG / Blue Beetle semi-crossover looks to be very interesting, not only from a narrative standpoint, but also for it's ramifications on the DC universe in general!

By the end, Saint Walker recognizes the source of all the New Guardians' troubles; the person who led the Reach to Odym, a world that's virtually undetectable; the one whose actions have ripple awful consequences for the entire universe: Larfleeze. Agent Orange went from being a monster to comic relief, and now - it seems - criminal mastermind, manipulating those around him to get what he wants.

These days, Green Lantern books are all about the future, which makes sense with "Rise of the Third Army" coming in October and November, but it can be off-putting to continually buy issues that are only leading to something else. I'm all for proper build-up and development, but when actual plot is sacrificed to create a trumped-up prelude, things start getting annoying.

I have to say, Kyle's Red Lantern getup is probably the coolest costume he's worn in his many years wielding a green ring - it's that helmet that really dredges up thoughts of horror movies, y'know? Tony Bedard, in one single issue, has managed to reel me back in and take Green Lantern: New Guardians seriously again. I'm a bit miffed that Carol Ferris is taking Fatality's place as the team's Star Sapphire, but it makes sense in terms of GL family cohesion. Other than that, I really don't have a lot bad to say about this issue. Bedard knocks it out of the park, Andrei Bressan and Amilcar Pinna have a refreshing art style, and the new, clear direction for the book makes me want to continue reading it even more.

Tony Bedard is losing his grip on Green Lantern: New Guardians issue by issue. Maybe he's putting more effort into his other series, but Kyle Rayner and his Rainbow Brigade have suffered for it exponentially. Each month now, I feel like the series is getting worse, and that's upsetting. Kyle Rayner has always been my favorite Green Lantern. I've come to accept that fans and editors alike don't seem to want Kyle in the spotlight, but to reduce him to some confused epic hero who's journey isn't all that hard is just depressing.

Kyle Rayner is such an interesting character that Tony Bedard has just begun to understand more fully. Green Lantern: New Guardians #19 doesn't do much to progress the "Wrath of the First Lantern" plot, but it's got fantastic character development for Kyle, Carol Ferris, Sinestro, and even Simon Baz.

Justin Jordan has an amazing hold on any character he gets his hands on. Just look at The Strange Tale ofand TheLegend of Luther Strode, as well as his recent work on Superboy, a series he saved from the deep pit of darkness it found itself within. Green Lantern: New Guardians #21provides an excellent introduction to the Justin Jordan era of the title, and it's going to be epic. Not to mention that the title 'New Guardians' now finally makes sense.

I'm really enjoying Justin Jordan's run onGL: New Guardians because he's finally given the title a direction that makes sense and a voice that feels more organic than the first 20 issues combined. I don't want to discount Tony Bedard's work, but his concept of teaming up the various colored Lanterns was a novelty that wore off rather quickly. Jordan, on the other hand, is using the title to explore less specific ideas. Instead, we get to see Kyle back at his prime helping the literal New Guardians understand the universe they've inherited.

Green Lantern: New Guardians #23 is my favorite issue of the entire series, hands down. Justin Jordan has set up an amazing prelude to "Lights Out" that can stand on it's own as well as serve as a jumping-off point for future stories. It was painful reading Warth's death, but in the end, it shows how much Jordan cares for these characters that he's not simply forgetting about them on Elpis just to use them when the story deems it necessary. Though he killed off Warth, Jordan shows he respects the character much more than previous writers.

Green Lantern: New Guardians #29 is a fun issue. After all the Relic shenanigans (maybe a harsher word than shenanigans), New Guardians hasn't been tied into what's going on in the main two GL titles, which frees Kyle to be a better character than he's been in a long time. Justin Jordan deserves a lot of the credit for bringing Kyle from being a Hal Jordan sidekick, back to his roots as a Lantern that carves his own path.

Though just an opening chapter, Green Lantern/New Gods: Godhead #1 could actually still be read as a self-contained story about elitist culture believing they hold all the answers, only to fail by way of their own egos. The next three months of Green Lantern family titles — Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps, Green Lantern: New Guardians, Red Lanterns, and Sinestro — are devoted to fleshing out the conflict between those who think they know everything and those trying their hardest to prove their worth to a universe that hates them. It's going to be an emotionally-charged, character-driven event, and Godhead #1 is a near-perfect start.

Though I enjoyed it, Guardians of the Galaxy #0.1 was less than satisfactory because it was all backstory and it somewhat diluted the effect of a premier issue that hadn't even come out yet. That being said, after reading Guardians of the Galaxy #1, most of my skepticism has been washed away. It's now clear that Bendis wanted to put out a prelude issue to set up Peter Quill's character enough to carry the first issue -- readers are familiar enough with Quill to not be lost going into the issue, but also get vital information on the actual rest of the team. Guardians of the Galaxy #1 is a triumph for Bendis and Steve McNiven, pointing to a bright future in the stars for Marvel.

Other than that, the narrative is exciting and fast-paced without feeling rushed. Bendis is at his best writing teams. His work on the Avengers franchise is more than enough evidence to this fact. Guardians of the Galaxy #3 really conveys just how legendary this team of heroes is, though many consider them menaces and pirates. Basically, this series allows for Bendis to use all his favorite tropes in one place: pomp and grandeur, deriving conflict and character development from emotional resonance, the proverbial "David vs. Goliath", divisive interpretations of consequential happenings. All of this stuff can be seen in Guardians of the Galaxy #3. Bendis graduated from the Earth's Mightiest Heroes to the defenders of the entire galaxy.

Guardians of the Galaxy has suffered from delays which causes any momentum it gains with each issue to severely drop once the next issue doesn't show up for a over a month. That much aside, Bendis is still telling a superb tale of intergalactic politics that play directly into Earth going-ons.

Guardians of the Galaxy #11 connects to Civil War II about as tangentially as it can while still being relatively necessary (not necessarily good) reading. The Guardians show up as surprise backup at the end of Civil War II #4, so knowing how they got there could be construed as important. But really, this issue is filler with a shoehorned sub-plot about Thanos that probably won't go anywhere.

Hawkeye is shaping up to be an incredible series. Matt Fraction's natural, organic writing partnered with David Aja's minimally gorgeous artwork proves that you can write a superhero comicbook that's not all mad scientists (which, as a side note, I find there is a lack of these days), alien overlords, or mystical threats. Sometimes, the best stories are the human ones, the tales that deal with real people overcoming real situations. For Matt Fraction's Hawkeye, that means standing up to what is wrong, no matter how convoluted and messy it gets. The real Ollie Queen would be proud.

While there are only these two issues of this series from which to judge, Hawkeye is turning into one of the best series Marvel releases each month. Matt Fraction is a volatile writer whose work either flourishes, as is the case here, or flounders terribly, as was the case with last year's Fear Itself crossover event. What makes Hawkeye so great, fortunately, is it's ability to mine emotion without taking advantage of the medium. At every turn, this series becomes more and more relatable and grounded, while still keeping the high-concept idea "Robin Hood" idea intact and - I'm assuming - a future with at least a few super-villains thrown in for good measure.

This is a comic book. This is one of the more polished, meaningful examples of good comics I've read in a while. Matt Fraction has a complete understanding of his intentions and how he wants to write Hawkeye. This is a Marvel ongoing series that doesn't feature alien invasions, mutant menaces, evil masterminds, or brainwashed superheroes - this is a series about life's real problems being dealt with in way less based in reality. Acid-tipped arrows? We're not supposed to believe it's real, just that it could be, and that's awesome.

The final pages of Hawkeye #4 include some epic foreshadowing to next month's conclusion of "The Tape", including the contents of the tape, those bidding for it in Madripoor, and a scheme to secure the information no matter what. It's thrilling. It's action-packed. It's Matt Fraction's Hawkeye, and you should be reading it. Even if this issue was a bit weaker than the others.

But in true Matt Fraction fashion, things aren't always what the seem and the final few pages of Hawkeye #5 will remind you how good Fraction is at writing street-level heroes. Clint and Kate Bishop have been in a few pickles before "The Tape", but this is really the first time we get to see the two Hawkeyes in their natural state together, kicking ass and taking names. Hawkeye is one of the best comic book series currently being published and you're doing a diservice to yourself if you read comics and aren't keeping up with this book. As evidenced by most everything he's writing at the moment, Fraction is incredibly gifted at making comics easy and fun to read instead of a chore in backstory and line-wide events. This is the series to read.

Some people have favorite holiday moveis they watch every year. I feel like this will be an issue I read each and every December. Hawkeye #6 is how a holiday-themed comic should be--inclusive, fun, relatable, grounded, visually appealing, and thematic to the season. Throughout the issue, Clint is pushed to be something he's not. In the end, he comes to terms with being himself and liking that person. It's a feeling most of us go through at one point or another, and the backdrop of snowy New York City nights is just so awesome. Fraction and Aja deliver with Hawkeye #6.

The final pages of Hawkeye #8 point to a future direction for the series. Clint waxes poetic about the scolding he receives from Captain America and Iron Man about the moral and ethical guidelines to being an Avenger, we get to see Penny's true colors when Clint becomes expendable, and a meeting of New York City's most powerful criminals results from Clint's unique brand of urban justice cutting into their illegitimate business plans. The ongoing development of Clint Barton isn't really about making him grow or change"it's about defining what's already there and discovering truth behind the definition.

For regular readers of the series, this specific plot might start to feel a bit long in the tooth by issue's end, and new readers wont understand what's happening and why a book called Hawkeye is focusing so intently on a man not named Hawkeye. All that being said, Hawkeye #10 is still one of the best single comic book issues you can buy this month.  Francesco Francavilla's artwork alone is worth the cover price, and Matt Fraction's writing is still leagues better than most.

This is the "What If? House of M" that should have been, and now is. House of M #2 is the calm before the storm, the pieces being set up to soon be knocked over.

The artwork by Shawn Crystal is amazing but does not fit this narrative in any way, shape, or form. Crystal's talents would be much better served on a title like Ms. Marvel, New Avengers, or even a new volume of Young Avengers.

Mark Waid's Bruce Banner is far more reasonable and responsible than previous iterations. Even at his calmest, Bruce used to only have a one track mind. Under Waid's hand, Bruce is more relatable and makes more sense on a logistical level -- it always bothered me how a man of staunch science could work for decades to no avail without accepting a certain truth of things. Waid understands this principle, applies it liberally, and it works. Like Matt Fraction, Mark Waid is a phenomenal emotional writer. For scientists, though, emotion can often be expressed through their work, and Bruce hasn't done any work outside himself for a long time. For too long, Bruce has been a tormented soul searching for something that isn't there. That's been done. In the 'Marvel NOW!' era, he's is going to be a force of good, and a darn good one at that.

Overall, Indestructible Hulk #6 is the introductory chapter of this story, which means there are some big questions that are left unanswered at issue's end, but the big revelation teased on the cover is somewhat overshadowed by other mysteries Waid planted along the way. There's nothing wrong with that, but it dulls the excitement of the final page, for sure.

It's difficult to critique a work such as JB vs. DP because the story was most likely devised by one of James Kochalka's children, Eli or Oliver. The combination of hand-drawn art with real-life photos is cute and drives home the idea that this story is mostly about having a good time, not learning a lesson or dropping a plot twist. Spandy the Cat plays an immeasurable Dragon Puncher, a sentinel past it's prime that finds little solace in the fights of his waning days. SCORE: 8/10

All-ages comics are in short supply these days, and comics aimed squarely at children are in even shorter supply. Littlest Pet Shop: Wait a Second is the second collection of Littlest Pet Shop comics released by IDW, and they come with a charm and sparkle that young audiences will absolutely adore. The average comic book reader used to superheroes, epic stories, and complex plot twists might not enjoy Littlest Pet Shop: Wait a Second, but that's not who the book is for. This is for kids learning to enjoy comics in a friendly and inviting way.

I doubt if I'll event continue to readInfinity as a true crossover event. Marvel can market this mini series however it wants, but as it stands right now,Infinity is just a major point in Jonathan Hickman's grand Avengers design. That's not a bad thing, but when looking at the logistics of this being the second major crossover event of 2013 — and starting only two months after the previous one ended — it's hard to justify jumping in when the learning curve is so freaking steep. If you read Hickman's Avengers series, you'll want to readInfinity because if you don't, you'll be lost after it's over. Otherwise, this event may not be for you.

Brian Michael Bendis and David Marquez's Invincible Iron Man continues to be a delight well into the third issue. Bendis brings his trademark style steeped in decompression to Marvel's shell head with aplomb; the dialogue is witty without feeling snarky, the artwork is just polished enough, and the narrative is actually interesting without resorting to flashbacks or constant references to immediately post-Secret Wars.

The metacontextual parables to Ultimate Spider-Man are uncanny and make this one of Marvel's best new series even if it's popular to dislike both Brian Michael Bendis and Iron Man.

Both Iron Man and Deadpool debuted this week as part of 'Marvel NOW!', and many buyers are considering purchasing just one of these issues. Do yourself a favor and get Iron Man #1. Kieron Gillen has, in one issue, built a fascinating situation for Tony Stark, as well as a clear direction for the character himself. This was not a title I thought I would be buying each month. In fact, I had no plans on even reviewing this initial issue outside the 'Extra! Extra!' section. But as always (and I should have guessed), Kieron Gillen blew me away with his masterful grasp of comic book writing.

Simply put, Iron Man #9 is a triumph. Rarely does a single issue so intuitively cater to both the dedicated fan and the new reader. We need more writing like this in the comic book industry. Sure, it's still about Iron Man zipping around the galaxy with a giant robotic bounty hunter looking for another robot who orchestrated genocide, but somehow, it feels incredibly relatable and down to earth.

Overall, I found Iron Man #10 to be intriguing. It's the first official part of "Secret Origin", and it reveals quite a bit about the story leading up to Tony's birth, but nothing is intersecting yet. It's like one of those new puzzles without edges that are just that much harder to start piecing together, but are so much more satisfying when completed.

That might sound cheesy, the but the fact is that comic books appropriate for children and also enjoyable for adults is in short supply. Jem and The Holograms is helping to change that.

Writer Kelly Thompson and artist Sophie Campbell approach a real-life situation with realistic consequences as the Holograms are kicked out of the battle of the bands; having a science fairy that imbues confidence and performing power doesn't help against bylaws and contracts.

Both in visual aesthetic and narrative, "Viral!" isn't as strong as any of the preceding six issues of Jem.

After a mediocre first chapter for "Viral!", Kelly Thompson and artist Emma Vieceli " whose work greatly improves over last month " Jem and The Holograms #8 brings back the awesome.

Justice League #0 was a gamble. For a general public that doesn't read a lot of comic books, making this "Issue Zero" a Shazam-only story could be bad for the bottom line. Literally nowhere in theses pages are the actual Leaguers featured. Johns and Frank dedicate this issue to Shazam, giving him a damn fine introduction as he gets ready to join the League proper starting in 2013. Before the reboot last year, Captain Marvel was always the boy scout, more so even than Superman. He never erred, rarely faltered, and was liked by all. He was a bit more sickeningly perfect than Superman, which was hard to do. Now, we have a dynamic character who actually has depth, who really does have a reason for acting beyond a surface-level desire to uphold truth, justice, and the American way. Now, we have a real Shazam.

I still really enjoyed this issue, despite all my whining. It was filled with action from Darkseid, Flash, Green Lantern and Batman with a great last page of the whole team heading out to take down their first villain as a team.

Unfortunately, we still get almost no team time or deeper understanding of the characters outside of Steve Trevor who isn't a League member anyway. The first six issues did little to give these six individuals reason to come together (really, Darkseid's appearance was way too convenient), and this issue gives nothing more by way of meaning. Again, the 'New 52' was supposed to be about bringing in new readers. Without giving context, Johns is stripping away the Justice League of everything that makes them awesome. The Avengers - at least in the comics these days - are getting super lame because Marvel keeps adding new spinoff teams (and ongoing series'), switching members and not providing emotional connections. Johns needs to step up the quality on Justice League before readers begin losing interest.

What's actually interesting about this new arc of Justice League is that Graves is a villain who has (supposedly, or at least seemingly) been wronged by the Justice League directly and wants to take his revenge. This is interesting because it's been quite a long while since there was a JLA story that actually connected to the League. More often than not, the League is called upon to handle situations like alien invasions, criminal masterminds, and worldwide catastrophes, all of which have no meaningful connection to the League. Mostly, the League is reserved for massive threats. Giving the team a more personal villain might be a fantastic way to give a little more characterization and depth to a crew that readers haven't yet received.

And speaking of the wizard, Doctor Sivana continues his archaeological dig, now complete with a fancy magic-seeing eye that helps him see the mystical spells placed on the door to a greater prize than any gold or gems. As he utters a single, "Shazam", Black Adam emerges from the tomb demanding to see the wizard! The final, double-wide pullout pages of The New 52 #1 revealed what looked like Black Adam fighting Vibe, though many posited that it was just the 'New 52' version of Captain Marvel, as Billy Batson is much more mean-spirited than his former self. Obviously, Black Adam is here, which spells trouble for our little trouble maker.

I like Justice League. You get to see a different side of your favorite heroes and, more often than not, it's exciting and fun to read, which is the real goal of all comic books. "The Villain's Journey" started out strong, with a path that had the potential to produce an awesome new nemesis for the League. Instead, we got Graves, a whiney writer who has deluded himself into believing the Justice League is responsible for his family's eventual death.

Justice League #12 does an excellent job capping off a first year that saw the team come together and face more than just villains. Geoff Johns is slowly figuring out the team's voice and how they honestly fit into the greater DC universe. It's a difficult task, no doubt, but Johns has a long history with Teen Titans, and his pre-'New 52' work on Green Lantern included some of the characters best stories in years. Now, after taking the time to give us readers the basic stuff, it's time to go into new territory. Obviously, Superman and Wonder Woman's relationship is leading this trend, and coupled with Hal Jordan's resignation, we're sure to be in for an exciting 2013.

Justice League #13 proves that Geoff Johns can write a character-driven story. For so long his focus has been providing the grand schemes that shape the fate of a great number of characters. It's nice to see him spend more time with the more specific details of these characters' lives. Since Wonder Woman takes place in the present day, a lot of Diana's history hasn't yet been revealed, so it's nice to see a villain like Cheetah not only being used, but being used in an effective and prominent manner.

And while DC's website claimed that Johns' "Shazam" back up was still happening, in actuality, it's a story penned by Geoff Johns and Jeff Lemire about Steve Trevor and Oliver Queen. Trevor is done working for A.R.G.U.S., and decides to drink himself into a stupor when Ollie Queen shows up to deliver some bad news that looks to be of some importance in the upcoming Justice League of America starting next year.

Instead of making this story arc a bit more fluid and organic -- perhaps with a full issue of cheetah-controlled Superman hunting the League members -- "The Secret of the Cheetah" feels rushed and compressed. Promotional material form DC states that the "road to 'Trinity War' is paved through Justice League #14'. With nothing else to go on, I can't really say what that connection might be. Then again, Johns is a master as subtle build-up to explosive results, so there's a big possibility I'll be reading "Trinity War" next year, and I'll come back to JL#14 only to see something I'll tell myself should have been obvious.

The good outweighs the bad, in the end. Justice League #15 has some glaring weaknesses in terms of basic premise, but Geoff Johns' solid character work makes up for it. Additionally, bringing on the stellar Aquaman artistic team of Ivan Reis and Joe Prado was a dynamite choice on DC's part. While Jim Lee's pencils are good, I've always liked Ivan Reis' facial expressions and Joe Prado's depth in shading. I'm excited for "Throne of Atlantis" because I really like stories like this, and I'm confident Johns will do it justice.

Justice League #16 is a fun issue full of intense action, plot-advancing story, and an ending that will get most any DC fan excited for the future of the series and the 'New 52'. Already, a tidal wave has destroyed the east coast of the United States. That's going to last for a while, and a war with Atlantis is going to change the landscape even more. Since last Free Comic Book Day, we've known that 2013 would bring "Trinity War", the first major 'New 52' crossover that would effect the entire line. "Throne of Atlantis" may or may not be a prelude to this massive event, but it's setting the standard for 2013 being about big ideas and big changes.

There's no escaping the fact that Justice League #18 is a good old-fashioned prelude issue. There's so much being set up from beginning to end that it's hard to squeeze a story-proper out of an issue like this. Fortunately, Geoff Johns stands up to the task and makes the entire affair feel completely fluid and natural. My bias for the structure of character development aside, JL #18 hits all the right marks. At the end of the day, it's really hard not to like seeing so many familiar (and some unfamiliar) faces in one issue.

Justice League #20 is a fun, fun issue. Desperos attack, while not entirely explained, is a great way to not only introduce the villain, but also give the new blood their first taste of life in the League. Its hard being a literal keystone for the New 52 and telling a satisfying, quality story, but Johns pulls it off month after month. This issue is no exception. Trinity War, here I come.

While Justice League #22 does a fine job setting up Trinity War, there are a few big missteps that pull the issue down. Its obviously too early to make a call on the overall quality of Trinity War as a crossover event, but as a single issue, Chapter 1 isnt the awe-inspiring, jaw-dropping opening act many were hoping to read.

Justice League #23.1 is half-baked, which is unfortunate because Darkseid should be one of the most prominent and awe-inspiring villains in DCs roster and as of right now, hes not. Marvel has gone above and beyond to make Thanos a character to be feared. DC, on the other hand, seems content with letting Darkseid slip into B-list villain territory at a dangerous speed. We dont even get to see Darkseid when he first uses his eye beams; its just Uxas one panel, then full-blown despot Darkseid the next, while more mundane details (like anything before he starts murdering gods) are dragged out to unnecessary lengths.

Justice League #24 is not an integral issue to Forever Evil because it was designed that way. Geoff Johns made sure to include enough information and backstory to make it a compelling buy for those interested in knowing everything about Ultraman, but the financially discerning reader more focused on the main series doesnt necessarily have to own this issue. While this is an odd phenomenon, this suggestion shouldnt detract from how well this issue is written.

Justice League #26 is a misleading, bore of an issue. Its a necessary evil to flesh out the Crime Syndicate, but the presentation and pacing is just totally off.

Justice League #28 is one of the best issues of the series. Unlike other elements of the pre-New 52 universe that Geoff Johns has recently introduced into continuity, the Metal Men don't feel shoehorned or obtrusive. This comes from their story having true emotion; Will Magnus finally feels a human connection with robots shouldn't have as much mental independence as they do. The Metal Men sacrifice themselves to save innocent lives, and it breaks Magnus' heart. In one issue, Johns achieves a level of emotional resonance that he's struggled to find since Justice League started tying-in with Forever Evil. Justice League #28 is a breathtaking issue that sets the bar for how the Metal Men will be portrayed going forward.

Justice League #29 is a fantastically enjoyable read. Cyborg finally gets his due and becomes a fully-developed character, the Metal Men rise to the occasion (literally and figuratively), and Grid's technological stranglehold on the planet is broken. While it's not, by definition, a "must read", it's one of the best Forever Evil tie-in issues and definitely worth the buy.

Justice League #30 is the beginning of a new era for the Justice League. Though the "Forever Evil" banner still hangs at the top of the cover, it's more of an aftermath issue that starts the story of how the League deals with the fallout of a worldwide catastrophe unlike anyone has ever seen. It's another stunning issue in a series that Geoff Johns has used as a world-building title since the beginning of the New 52.

Justice League #31 is a ton of fun, simple as that. Instead of jumping in to a Justice League that includes Lex Luthor and Captain Cold (who also gets a fantastic sequence in this issue), Johns is taking the time to flesh out the events that lead to these unorthodox new alliances. Some readers take issue with Johns' decompressive style of storytelling, but for this "Injustice League" arc, it's a fitting flow that makes sense. If this is going to be the status quo for the Justice League for a while, it's important to make sure the foundation is laid well, and Johns is doing just that.

Well, it turns out that in defeating Felix Faust, the JLD would also be able to retrieve a mystical artifact lost to the government before it turned up in Faust's hands. After a cunning sleight-of-hand maneuver, Faust is defeated and the team takes a look at the real focus of their trip: the map to the ancient Books of Magic.

The segue into the next issue begins when the team attempts to open the map to the Books of Magic, tripping a mystical lock on the map set by Felix Faust! Soon, the team is attacked by the Demons Three who are indentured slaves under Faust's command. The demons attack quickly before teleporting into an A.R.G.U.S. facility where Steve Trevor is interrogating Faust. This 'ah-ha' moment comes when the team realizes that Faust wanted to be in A.R.G.U.S. so his demons could help him break into the Black Room, the warehouse filled with all the mystical artifacts collected by the US government over the years.

Jeff Lemire really has turned Justice League Dark around from a book on the verge of losing itself after only six issues, to one of the best titles DC offers right now. The multiple-plotline nature of the book doesn't feel overcrowded, and the paced character development gives meaning to these heroes and how they come to know each other instead of just assuming they'll talk about themselves off-panel. JLD's similarities in flow and structure to popular supernatural television shows is no coincidence, and in this case, it works. Bringing an episodic edge to an industry currently wrapped up in serial arcs is no small task, but each month Justice League Dark gets better. People will, I am very certain, start noticing.

Basically, Justice League Dark #13 is the prelude to the conclusion of "War for the Books of Magic". Nick Necro is putting his final plans together to find the Books, part of which includes Felix Faust retrieving Timothy Hunter, the boy who is supposedly the key to finding the books and unlocking their power. Fortunately, Madame Xanadu is on site and whisks Timothy away before Faust can take him. Meanwhile, the rest of the team takes on the combined power of Nick Necro - recently returned from Hell with a cadre of new powers and abilities - and Doctor Mist. This isn't the final battle. Mostly, Lemire uses this issue to put all the pieces into place for the coming showdown. Yes, there's a lot of magic being thrown around, but it's the personal relationships that take the heaviest beating this month. Constantine, Zatanna, and Necro have a past and it comes back to bite them. And we only have to wait one week for Justice League Dark Annual #1 for the final chapter!

Overall, Justice League Dark #14 is a bridge issue that suffers only because it's the starting point for a lot of plot going forward, meaning it's an issue filled with questions with positively no answers. And even then, there's something exciting about being given a whole load of new mysteries to ponder as we wait for the next issue. Jeff Lemire is writing one hell of a series and I'll be sad to see him leave once he takes on Green Arrow in a few months.

Justice League Dark #15 does an excellent job of setting up "The Death of Magic". Lemire is playing around with the idea of magic in the DC universe, something that's only ever been lightly done, due to the ingrained nature of continuity-based comic book mythology. As long as I can remember, magic has always been regarded as a more 'powerful' or 'enigmatic' force than science in comic books. With the 'New 52', all bets are off, so making magic and science more equivalent doesn't seem like such a far-fetched idea.

Justice League Dark #16 is another excellent chapter in "The Death of Magic" and the series in general. Jeff Lemire and Ray Fawkes have such a knack for fantasy writing it's uncanny. There are so many different elements that affect the story at any given time, and each of them is handled with care and precision to create one of the most entertaining and fun books DC currently publishes.

If you're not reading Justice League Dark, you should be. I know that's a cliche thing to say in comic book reviews, but hear me out. It checks off a lot of boxes on the "who would like this?" list. It's a supernatural series (1). It includes well-known heroes like Constantine, Deadman, and Zatanna (2). It's consistently one of the best titles DC publishes each month (3). It's an integral part of this summer's "Trinity War" crossover (4). Mikel Janin's artwork is superb (5). That's five good reasons to read this book.

Justice League Dark #22 is the best chapter of "Trinity War" yet. It closes out the first act of the event with a grace and elegance not seen in the first two chapters, and the artwork alone makes this issue worth the buy. Every issue of "Trinity War" introduces new ideas that complicate the situation further, butJLD #22 is the first instance where these new concepts felt organic and made sense during the first read-through. I couldn't recommend this issue more highly.

Justice League Dark #23is the only issue of "Trinity War" I could imagine someone reading without wondering what was going on the entire time. Jeff Lemire is able to make the issue function as a self-sustainable issue that is enjoyable whether you're reading "Trinity War" or not. Now, I can't say for certain it would be a fun read if you haven't read the previous four chapters because I have read every issue of the event so far. That being said, Lemire makes sure to include a quick overview at the beginning of the issue, the three plot lines makes sense in their placement and how they connect to one another, and the battle against Dark Shazam is contained enough to entice almost any DC fan to pick up a copy just to marvel at all the characters involved in one brawl.

By the time we reach the final pages, the team is technically down to just Godiva and a heavily-injured August General in Iron. Rocket Red and Olympian are dead, Batwing and Guy Gardner have resigned Blue Beetle is on the other side of the galaxy, and Booster is deleted from time and space. Justice League International Annual #1 is not only the JLI's most exciting issue, but it sets up the next chapter of the collective 'Justice League' story very well. At the very end, Batman has a chilling conversation with his creation, Brother Eye: "Eye am home and eye will be waiting for my new programmer's signal. He is coming, Batman. And you will join him or die." recites Brother Eye as if from a script. The emotionless, yet highly sophisticated, Brother Eye looks to be the focal point of things to come. Perhaps in the same vein as Infinite Crisis, Batman's presumptuousness concerning other heroes became paranoia, resulting in some of the darkest days in DCU history.

This sixth issue has been my favorite yet. Heavy on dialogue, most of the issue focuses on Booster convincing the UN Security Council that the JLI is worth it, that they have worth and value to the world. By the end, Booster is ready to solider on as team leader, with or without the UN behind them. It's a pretty great couple of pages with some great character development for Booster Gold. I've always liked Booster (and Blue Beetle Ted Kord) because they're the underdogs. They try so hard and fall so much harder each time. Fortunately, Jurgens is able to somewhat 're-invent' Booster in the pages of Justice League International, giving him a bit more selflessness and making him less silly.

The fight between Booster and Lightweaver was fun, but ultimately just the set up to introduce Batwing into series and onto the team in upcoming issues. It makes perfect sense, now that there's a Batman in Africa, but it still seems weird. I'm not a fan of Batwing, and I hope Jurgens keeps his panel time to a minimum in the tradition of the real Batman.

I understand that Jurgens is building towards something. It's obvious that this issue is a 'filler' issue meant to introduce some characters and little else. The story doesn't advance at all from last month, and the only real exciting part about this issue is the arrival of Batwing, which itself is pretty lackluster. I've been extremely happy with Justice League International every month, and one hiccup isn't enough to turn me off of a great, great book.

Dan Jurgens loves the JLI. He's nurtured this book since day one, and it's been a slowly evolving tale that just gets better and more cohesive with each issue. It really is a shame that such an excellent series is ending so soon.

Batwing resigns from the team for no other reason than he was barely on it to begin with; he cites "too many duties elsewhere", but he was never really all that interesting anyway. Batman's reasons for leaving are a bit more poignant. Bruce takes the time to explain that he's no longer needed, that Booster Gold is more than qualified to lead the team, and that their old headquarters and bankroll had been reinstated. Much in the vein of the JLI's history within the DCU, Batman sees the potential in this rag-tag group and gives them a chance - the chance no one else was willing to give them after a less-than-perfect inaugural outing.

Justice League of America #1 is a joy to read. Geoff Johns has written on damn fine story that's already got me excited for the second issue. This series is the first one to grow organically out of the 'New 52'. Talon is similar for being a byproduct of the events in Batman, but Calvin Rose is a new character that readers are still getting to know, which makes it just as much an effort to invest in as any other 'New 52' title. JLA #1 features heroes and villains that have already made a name for themselves in the DCnU and now, we get to see them work together. Basically, if you like any of these characters, you're going to like Justice League of America #1.

Even though JLA #2 doesn't have the same feel as the first issue, Geoff Johns is still stetting up something big. Perhaps the series is supposed to feel like it's not completely sure of itself, much like Steve Trevor and his grasp on the JLA situation in general. Last year's The New 52 #1, which came out on Free Comic Book Day, portended the coming of a Trinity War that pitted hero against hero. That reality is coming closer and closer to fruition with more characters and plot lines being introduced.

Speaking of Catwoman, I read Catwoman #19 after Justice League of America #3 because it's supposed to be a look at Selina's 48 hours inside Arkham Asylum before she escapes at the end of JLA #3. I wouldn't recommend doing the same unless you're interested in reading a story that has nothing to do with anything at all. The whole plan was for Catwoman to get info about the Secret Society whilst inside Arkham. Instead, she antagonizes everyone and really doesn't get much in the process. 

I really, really like this series. I like Geoff Johns writing, I love the characters being used, and the spy thriller angle is different enough to warrant a separate Justice League title. Justice League of America #4 continues Worlds Most Dangerous on an emotional level more than a plot-advancing one. Pre-New 52 readers will appreciate the numerous new elements being integrated throughout the issue, which continues to show how the other League lives.

Justice League of America #7 does indeed reveal new information, but so sparsely that it nearly feels inconsequential, which is not a good feeling to have about a comic featuring the world's greatest superhero team.

Larfleeze has quickly become one of the best titles in the New 52. Even before it launched, many fans were critical of a humorous title focused on the most annoying of the various colored Lanterns, and with good reason. Never before has Larfleeze has this much characterization, and the revelations Giffen and DeMatteis bring in at the end of the issue will shake preconceptions about Larfleeze down to the core. This is a very good issue of a very good series and it shouldnt be missed, either for Green Lantern fans looking for more insight into Agent Orange, or for casual fans who just want something a little more lighthearted in their comics.

Shannon Watters and Kay Leyh present yet another fun, unabashedly delightful tale with Lumberjanes #19.

It's difficult to review a prologue anthology simply by it's definition. These stories and their format are unique. Unlike back-up stories of similar length, these aren't multi-part or even one-shot tales. Each of these small stories is like a "Zero Issue" of sorts. While DC made a whole month of it in September, Marvel NOW! Point One could be considered 'ground zero' for all six featured series. It's a fun issue - simple as that. Knowing that all six series are starting soon gives more weight to these six prologues, and that's part of the charm. If this were just another short story anthology, it would be a bit lacking. But it's not. And we know it. Get ready, because if the level of quality seen in NOW! Point One continues through the next five months of new launches and into the future, Marvel might just have the upper hand on DC.

The final pages of Masks #3 brings some insight to the Justice Party's intentions that raises a whole new set of questions for the series going forward because the Party's actions could have, up to now, been chalked up to pure financial gain. The end of Masks #3 confirms that this corruption is a lot more complicated than any of our heroes could have anticipated. The Justice Party is not something than can be punched, or tasered, or shot—this is an enemy that defies all previous conventions and is eating society from within, and there are still five issues left.

An all-ages adventure that touches on historically societal issues is an incredibly rare find in the modern comic book landscape. The fact that the story comes from an issue of Mickey Mouse is even more astonishing.

Steve Orlando has merged aspects of Batman, Wolverine, and Daredevil into an enigma of a character that only gets better with each issue.

There are a number of reasons to readMighty Avengers #1: it's technically a tie-in toInfinity, it features a mostly African-American cast of characters — if you're invested in diversity in comics — and it hearkens the return of Luke Cage to the ongoing happenings of the Marvel universe. But it's faults are big, and they might just be too big to ignore going forward. I'll give most any series three issues, but I'm not holding my breath.

"Wrath of the First Lantern" continues in Green Lantern Corps #17 with Volthoom (the eponymous First Lantern) seeking out various colored Lanterns from which to leech emotional energy. Already, this follow-up to "Rise of the Third Army" feels long in the tooth -- a person who has the potential to literally reshape the entire fabric of the universe is spending his time poking around the lives of mere mortals? "Wrath of the First Lantern" needs to be about more than just exposing our protagonists' emotional frailty because that's basically all "Rise of the Third Army" was about, and that turned out pretty unsatisfactory. It's unfortunate that, even with a new crossover to pump it up, Green Lantern Corps #17 is simply forgettable.

And the truth is, I don't really know why; Snyder and Lemire invested so much time, effort, and energy into crafting this massive crossover that would have lasting ramifications on these characters, yet in the final moments, it all comes down to something that's been in the equation since the beginning. I'm not a fan of "deus ex machina" situations like this where the answer has been sitting there the entire time because that kind of story betrays the intelligence of the characters and, by extension, the readers. I didn't dislike or hate "Rotworld: Finale" as a closing chapter of the ongoing Rotworld saga, but it's just not as explosive as I imagined it would be, and switching out Yannick Paquette for Andrew Belanger for Swamp Thing #17 was a mistake on DC's part because there's now a disconnect between the rest of the arc, which looks beautiful, and this final issue, which looks just passable. I'll continue to read both titles going forward, because Snyder and Lemire have amazing

Demon Knights #18 suffers from being the penultimate issue to Robert Vendetti's first run of the series -- Cain's invasion of Themyscira has been built up so much already that emotional drama is the only thing going for the Demon's Knights this month, and it's just barely enough to satisfy. While I thoroughly enjoy Vendetti's character development, the plot stalls terribly and that accounts for the dragging feel throughout the issue. Moments after Jason Blood and Xanadu are finally reunited, a simple miscommunication gets blown out of proportion, causing Jason to throw a temper tantrum and hide out in Hell. The final pages set everything up for next issue's explosive battle between the Amazons, Cain's army, the Demon's Knights, and Vandal Savage's horde, raising the anticipation significantly.

"Tower of Fate" begins this month in Earth 2 #10 as James Robinson introduces Khalid Ben-Hassin, the all-new Doctor Fate. A quick flashback reveals that Khalid initially rejected the power he was destined to hold, though his encounter with the helmet containing said power left him with sporadic and uncontrollable spurts of magic, as well as some sort of psychological issues. Robinson is doing a phenomenal job building Earth 2 from the ground up, making sure to focus on the entire forest instead of just the trees of the yet-to-be-formed Justice Society. The villainous Wotan also makes his 'New 52' debut as the malevolent, yet surprisingly polite seeker of the power of Fate for himself. All of this combines to make Earth 2 #10 a strong and impressive opening salvo to "Tower of Fate."

New Avengers #1 is exciting. It's subtle and underscored to juxtapose the grandiose and larger-than-life Avengers. Less is more with Jonathan Hickman. Instead of spreading himself thin by penning three, four, five Avengers titles, he's consolidated down to two series that are already show a whole world of promise Bendis could never achieve. This is how the Avengers should be, and Jonathan Hickman is providing it in spades.

As good as this title should be, New Avengers #1 is a mess of oversaturated Avengers exposition, eye-numbing artwork, mishandled characters, and an inability to capture Squirrel Girl that all adds up to one convoluted mess of a comic book.

At the end of the issue, Kyle Higgins reveals that the Talon is actually William Cobb - rescued from the Batcave by a fellow Talon - who is hunting down his descendent because "[Dick's] betrayal takes everything I sacrificed and made it worthless." I'm sure Higgins will continue to delve into the history of William Cobb next month, but for now, it feels fragmented.

Nightwing #15 is one of the strongest tie-in issues for "Death of the Family" yet. Unlike the other Bat-allies, Dick's life is literally crumbling right before his eyes: everything he's spent the last year building is being destroyed in a succinct and straightforward way. This is what Joker's reign of terror needs to feel like across the board, in all the Bat-titles tying into "DotF"--full of terror, death, and lots of Joker's insanity.

While Kyle Higgins does a good job navigating Nightwing through his feelings of guilt and depression, it's kind of overkill. And not because of how it's written, but because most of Dick's emotional eureka moments happen twice. He talks about the destruction of Haly's Circus twice, he gets pissed at Bruce for lying twice, and he mentions how he and Damian were like brothers twice. It would have worked better if Higgins had perhaps worked his way from having Dick simply understand his situation to Nightwing accepting and processing Damian's death. Instead, the sentiments are played out by the middle of the issue, leaving Higgin's big reveal as the main focus of the second half. It's an interesting enough surprise, but already feels contrived. So, we'll see.

Nightwing is getting better and better the more it's not focused on Bat family issues. Kyle Higgins is proving that Dick Grayson can stand as his own hero without having to live in Batman's proverbial shadow. He's an anomalous character because, unlike Jason Todd, Tim Drake, or Damian Wayne, Dick was able to properly process Bruce's teachings and heroic lifestyle. While the other three Robins mostly retained the darkness and bitterness, Dick stayed positive and is still the most optimistic member of the Bat family.

Instead of pining for the old, why not try and embrace the new? Loeb has introduced a whole new, secret branch of the Nova Corps! That should be an exciting prospect for anyone interested in Marvel's cosmic line because it means new stories and new ideas.

As far as Sam goes, he's nothing special. I was hoping for some real emotional nuance with this series, but all Sam has going for him is generic teenage angst and a contrived situation that doesn't make much sense. His dad's only been missing for a matter of days and now he's supposedly dead? Wait, what? Where did that come from? Loeb isn't doing himself any favors by keeping readers in the dark; we've been waiting to learn who the new Nova is since Marvel Point One over a year ago. It's about damn time we got the story, and now Jeph Loeb wants to spend six issues outlining the character's origin. Bluuuuuhhhhh. 

After an incredible 'Marvel NOW!' series that developed Sam Alexander into an engaging character, Sean Ryan's new Nova ongoing is about the blandest comic book of the month if not the year.

Though interesting as a concept, Onyx #1 fails to be much more than a standard science-fiction tale about an errant space knight come to help Earth against some doomsday situation.

I was honestly quite skeptical of DC's "Third Wave", as two of my favorite series (Justice League International and Resurrection Man) were cancelled to make room for new titles. But after reading The Phantom Stranger, I feel better about the other three upcoming series. Dan Didio knows what kind of writer he is, and he recognized that his full-blown style (as presented throughout O.M.A.C.) was too much. For The Phantom Stranger, Didio reels in his bombastic style just enough to make the series more accesible to a larger audience without sacrificing the pulp and charm that make his writing so good.

The Phantom Stranger #5 is a perplexing issue if only because it's such a drastic shift from the slow-burn of the previous issues to the rapid-fire storytelling seen in these pages. It's quite clear this series is starting the long journey toward "Trinity War", but it's doing so clumsily at this point and that somehow makes the entire endeavor feel a little less special. I don't want to have a bias going into DC's first 'New 52' major crossover event, so I'll take this issue's events with a grain of salt.

I very much enjoyed Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #11. Though it doesn't take the cake as 'Issue of the Year', it's still the best issue of the series, and one of the better "Trinity War" tie-in issues there's been so far. Matteis does misstep a bit when it comes to exposition about "Trinity War" itself, using Batman as a proxy to outlineexactlywhat's going on in the Justice League books: "Doctor Light isdead, Stranger.Killed"or so most people believe"by Superman. That single event triggered achain reactionthat's rippled across theworld. Brought three Justice Leagues towar"and then uneasy peace." It's all pretty much laid out right there, I guess. There's no real finesse to this method, but I guess it gets the job done and it's not overbearing.

The critical final sequence is as preordained as the title allows and launches The Immaterial Girl head-first into this new era of Phonogram that promises a different take on the idea of individuals who wield music like magic and affect people like songs. Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie are already industry heavyweights and The Immaterial Girl #1 is proof that they haven't lost their touch one bit.

Next month, I'm sure I'll have a whole lot more to write about than a 'prelude' issue, so don't miss out on the coverage for "Night of the Owls".

If you can't tell, I was seriously and pleasantly surprised by Red Lanterns #13. The main reason I've kept up with the series is because Green Lantern is my favorite character franchise, and I just wanted to collect all the GL Family titles. Simple as that. Now, I'm truly invested in Red Lanterns.

Resurrection Man #0also looks toward the (now nonexistent) future of the series. Who is the fishy-man who injects the first Mitch with tektites originally? How does Deathstroke's involvement with Mitch Shelley connect with his time with Team 7? How will Mitch make amends for the terrible crimes of his source material? Where does Kim Rebecki fit into all of this? And why is the Devil being set up to become a major character? Alas, it's highly unlikely any of these questions will ever be answered, unless Mitch joins the Justice League Dark or something. (Hint, hint, DC.)

Dan Abnett throws a lot of plot into this issue and doesn't give many answers to raised questions. I'm sure there's an eventual conclusion that everything will lead to, but introducing some cybernetic-suited warrior in the last pages without so much as a name is kind of frustrating. It makes for a good cliffhanger, but not a solid single issue of work.

Fletcher, the aforementioned corrupt guard, incites a cell-break for Sumo, one of Batman's rogues, as a diversion to allow Sumo escape through the service tunnels. Before Fletcher or Sumo can escape, Shelley attacks and brings down the obese super villain. Seeing the man he's tortured for days finally displaying a semblance of power, Fletcher shoots Shelley through the temple even after Commissioner Gordon's expressed cease fire order. Deemed a hero, Fletcher takes medical leave. The final pages show Shelley going to take his revenge against the 'hero' who gambled Gotham's safety against a few bucks. It's a great, single-issue arc that really captures what the 'New 52' wanted to do; present easier-to-digest stories that could be accessible to new readers. Resurrection Mantends to hit this mark more times that not, and each month, Mitch Shelley's journey becomes more and more enigmatic.

Resurrection Manis consistently one of my favorite titles offered under the 'New 52' banner. Mitch Shelley's journey mirrors the narrative style of comic books in the 1960s, when characterization was shownnot toldand readers could make inferences themselves without needing to be led through cosmic event after cosmic event.

Next month, I'll be covering Suicide Squad #9 to see what happens between the team and the Resurrection Man.

What started out as one of my favorite series in DC's 'New 52' has quickly become stale, possibly a reason for it's cancellation. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning have fantastic storytelling ability, but it feels like they don't know what to do with Mitch Shelley. There seemed to be a focus for the first six issues, but recent months have yielded a lot of fighting without much substance. And while nothing's wrong with a fight sequences every once in a while to break up the narrative, using confrontations as a means of plot advancement doesn't work if they don't advance anything!

I'm not going to give a lot away about the plot of this issue, as it's the last and the surprises throughout the issue are awesome enough that they warrant secrecy. Suffice it to say, a lot of bombs are dropped. As I suspected, Abnett and Lanning really do pull out all the stops for this issue, bringing resolutions to a lot of loose ends while simultaneously raising a whole bunch of new questions that will hopefully be adressed in Issue Zero. A lot of what felt like filler throughout Resurrection Man's run now seems a bit more important now that we've reached an end. And really, the last page cliffhanger makes the entire issue and series worth the read.

There's a lot more packed into Action Comics #15--the meaning behind the golden angels from last issue being one of the most interesting for me--that brings Grant Morrison's vision closer to fruition. It makes sense, as his run is coming to a close with Action Comics #17 in February. The Man of Steel has never been weirder. Well, alright...he was weirder in All-Star Superman, which was also written by Morrison. There, Morrison had the freedom to do literally anything he wanted with Superman without repercussions because it didn't exist in the main DC continuity. Here, with Action Comics, Morrison received a similar amount of freedom, except this time the task wasn't to simply tell the best Superman story possible--it was to create Superman anew from scratch. And while that meant having to adhere to some modicum of new continuity, having his run set in the past has given Morrison the ability to make the 'New 52' universe as weird as it can be.

As the 'New 52' moves forward, cohesion amongst titles has become an extremely important aspect of the storytelling process. Seeing Cain and his vampire horde traveling through Medieval Europe adds more credence and meaning to the events of I, Vampire, and we've already seen Etrigan pop up in Stormwatch. Robert Vendetti has stated that he's got a long-term game plan in place for the series, and Demon Knights #17 is another great example of how the setting for this title allows for fantastic storytelling because of it's distance from the rest of the DCnU.

I'll be honest and admit I totally forgot Tom King was scripting this story, which was a welcome surprise, and his grasp on the different narrative styles of We Are"Robin!, Robin: Son of Batman, Red Hood/Arsenal, and, of course, Grayson, is astonishing. The crux of the "actual" Robins taking a stance is also fun, but feels a bit shoehorned.

Already I'm excited at the prospects for Saga. With such a wide open (literal) universe to work with, Vaughan and Staples have large shoes to fill with this series' second issue. I'll be covering the rest of Sagaas it continues, month to month.

While not as action-filled as the first issue, Saga #2 succeeds in pushing the narrative forward and dropping multiple clues about the future of this series. In a world as big and expansive as the one Vaughan has built for this series, taking time to flesh out the characters and their surroundings is important. So far, I feel like I've known these characters all my life.

I'm continually impressed with the quality of Saga. Vaughan has expressed that the series is heavily influences by Star Wars, and it shows; from the character-driven romance to the look into the seedy underbelly that exists all around the galaxy. Vaughan and Staples are creating one of the best comic book series I've ever read and it just gets better every month. If you're not reading Saga, you should. It's as simple as that.

It's not entirely clear how all of these plot lines will eventually intersect. The most obvious confrontation will be Marko and Alana's meeting with Robot IV somewhere down the line. The Will started off as a clear-cut enough character who's slowly changing into the wild card that doesn't really have a horse in this race yet, per se. However things pan out, it's sure to be amazing.

In the end, Savage Wolverine #1 really only serves to highlight Cho's talent as an artist. The visual element of this issue is astounding and vibrant, if not overly-sexualized by an overuse and focus on Shanna's body. Otherwise, Cho fails at delivering a cohesive narrative that captures the attention. In fact, by drawing the reader's attention to Shanna's boobs, the S.H.I.E.L.D. team's conundrum, and Wolverine's violent rampages, Cho is left little space for a true plot. There's a mystery on the island of some sort? Maybe?

There are many ways to tell a spy story, and Remender is picking and choosing the most action-oriented of those elements. While that sounds good in theory, it takes the 'secret' out of Secret Avengers and turns the story into a high-octane race against the clock. Again, nothing wrong with that, but for a title that's supposedly about fighting the hidden battles, this issue does not deliver.

Secret Avengers #1 is a solid read. Spencer keeps a good balance of action and information sequences that reveals only what the reader needs to know when he or she needs to know it, and that's the mark of any good spy thriller. S.H.I.E.L.D. is becoming something of a new entity as we deeper into the Marvel NOW! era, and Secret Avengers seems like the vehicle for that ongoing change.

Secret Wars #1 is an adept and beautiful first chapter in this universe-shattering epic. Jonathan Hickman is a master of packing decompressed storytelling with as much plot as possible; he's been planning for this over years, and the quality of care shows in every page. Esad Ribic and Ive Svorcina complement Hickman's vision perfectly and capture a visual aesthetic fitting of an event of this magnitude. Secret Wars should be on every Marvel fan's pull list.

In a recent interview, Hickman explained howSecret Wars #2 was the first issue to be completed so other Marvel writers would have an idea of how to flesh out Battleworld in their tie-in series. It makes sense, as this issue truly does feel like the proper start toSecret Wars and what it actually means.

Thanos' words represent a growing faction of comic book fans less worried about continuity, canon, and history in favor of good storytelling and fun characters.Secret Wars, as a whole, represents a shift to a more inclusive comic book industry.Secret Wars #3 sets the stage for Doom's fall because the cracks are forming and the survivors of the old multiverse are bringing jackhammers.

In Secret Wars, Hickman has created a narrative that truly deserves the title of crossover event. Tie-ins actually do justice to the main series a story so big and comprehensive that it already deserves the title of modern day classic. After three issues of world-building to focus on fleshing out Battleworld and its purpose, Secret Wars #4 turns the tides on God Doom's reality, literally and psychologically.

Secret Wars #5 is the calm before the storm, the floodlights humming to life before the big game. The Future Foundation studies everything, and it doesn't add up. Doom allows fear into his heart and it is degrading his reality. Strange is gone and with him the only chance at a peaceful outcome. The war is coming and the secret shall be revealed. Doom Will Fall.

Secret Wars #6 is another fantastic issue in Jonathan Hickman's story of a man playing god and the ones who won't be puppets. It's unfortunate that Marvel has steamrolled the ending of the event by launching 'All-New, All-Different Marvel' this week, but the final issues of Secret Wars will connect the dots between the Battleworld frontier and the new Marvel universe being born this very moment.

When the 'All-New, All-Different Marvel' line launched in October, many saw it as yet another way for the publisher to cash in on a bevy of new debut issues to lure in new readers (and to an extent, it probably was), but the end of Secret Wars and the very real beginning of an entirely new but notMarvel universe commands respect on a level executives have given and critics couldn't have understood until now. Much like how DC shook the dust off the entire comic book industry with the 'New 52' in September 2011, Marvel now stands to benefit greatly from inspiring new readers with a digestible relaunch whilekeeping entrenched readers attached by not changing much. In retrospect, it's genius. Secret Wars #9 is the end of the event, but also the end of an entire era of Marvel comics. So long, Earth-616. Hello, Prime Earth. Goodbye Secret Wars. Hello, anything and everything else.

Kieron Gillen does the best with what he's given, but the initial excitement dies off quickly and leaves a bad taste in your mouth.

Slott and Allred slam another dunk with Silver Surfer #14, an issue just as enjoyable for readers abstaining from Secret Wars as those neck-deep.

Yes, the snappy dialogue and colloquial nature of the character remains intact, but Spider-Man #1 feels less like a continuation of Miles' story and more like Bendis giggling over the young Spider-Man carrying Captain America's shield while standing over 'dead' Avengers for reasons unknown.

And really, that is what irks me about Spider-Men #1: it's not really a crossover yet. If Bendis wanted to do a lead-in to their meeting, he should have done it in an issue of The Amazing or The Avenging Spider-Man instead of taking 1/5 of his narrative about TWO Spider-Men and only focusing on the one. I finished the issue thinking Well, maybe issue two will be in Miles' head, then immediately thought how boring and tedious THAT would be! Bendis is a great writer - one that seems to be a bit overworked these days - and I have faith that Spider-Men will get better, but based on this first issue alone, there's a lot left to want for.

Spider-Men #2 is a huge step forward from the first issue, not only in terms of story progression, but also of narrative structure. The subtle hints at past events connecting to current dilemmas is near-perfect, and Sara Pichelli's art just fits so well with the tone of everything going on. Mysterio looks menacing, Peter looks dumbfounded, and Miles looks overwhelmed. There's got to be more to Mysterio's involvement in this situation, and Bendis seems to be taking the series in the right direction. I'm definitely looking forward to next month's issue!

Spider-Woman #10 is another decent, if artistically flawed, issue that helps bring the conflict in Civil War II down to a more personal stage as Jess plays Devil's Advocate to Carol's bordering-on-fascist behavior. A vignette about an old Inhuman woman who gains reality-warping powers and inadvertently terrorizes her husband and cat through existential deconstruction brings some levity to a rather dour situation, and even though the art struggles to capture the tone, Hopeless manages to save the issue with excellent dialogue and emotional clarity.

As summer blockbusters go, it's hard to top this sci-fi superhero crossover spectacular.

ST/GL: The Spectrum War #3 is slow, but in this case, it's a welcome break before the inevitable epic battle coming in the next few issues.

Overall, Star Trek/Green Lantern: The Spectrum War #4 is a disappointment. After three solid issues, this fourth chapter's missteps are big issues with only two issues left.

I won't be reading Stormwatch any more. It's not for lack of interest. It's because at this point, continuing to read this series would be like getting abused and not getting out. Because in the end, it's disrespectful to readers who have spent their time and money investing in this series only to have it ripped out from under them. For shame, DC. For shame.

Suicide Squad #20 is an excellent comicbook. Recently, DC has been taking a note from Marvel's diary and hiring new, young writers who are bringing their unique visions to titles like this who have suffered from mediocrity since the New 52 relaunch. In one issue, Ales Kot has turned Suicide Squad into one of my must-read titles each month.

Good luck going forward, DeFalco.

Even the cover looks unbecoming!

My opinions concerning origin stories and Lobdell's handling of the Titans and Superboy thus far set aside, if you're going to pump your titles full of fights, you better make them awesome and in the case of Superboy #9, they are. Basically, it boils down to Superboy vs. Warblade and Red Robin vs. Rose Wilson with a few other heroes helping out here and there. By the end of the issue, all the other Ravagers have been taken out, and Harvest descends to take on all the teenaged superheroes by himself. It's a pretty awesome moment to end on and leads directly into Legion: Lost #9.

At the end of the issue, Superboy and Wonder Girl find a mysterious set of stairs leading into the earth, down below the surface. They end up coming out upside down? It's a pretty heady page and one that promises an awesome continuation in Teen Titans in a few weeks. Keep this up, Lobdell, for real. I was one more bad issue away from not reading Superboy anymore, but now I'm hooked. Kudos.

Superboy's relative age becomes more and more apparent when new villain Detritus starts attacking the city. Kon feels like he's being taken advantage of - as the team's powerhouse player - whenever a "big bad" attacks. All he wants is a more normal life, something Bunker explains is "boring!" While this sentiment of normality might work for Peter Parker or Jaime Reyes, nothing up to this point has given readers the impression that Superboy wants to live a normal life. Why would he? He's a super-powerful telekinetic clone of Superman. Why be normal?

Really, this issue feels phoned in. Tom DeFalco's awful story is just boring and gratingly inane, while the artwork from Robson Rocha and Eduardo Pansica is plain ugly. There was only one panel I truly enjoyed and that's because it had hints of Darwyn Cooke's style nestled in there. Otherwise, the panels looked rushed and dated. I really did have high hopes for Superboy after it's last two issues. I even conceded that my issues with the series were due to the cumbersome N.O.W.H.E.R.E. arc. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Superboy is just bad.

Oh, and the cover features the special handcuffs designed to suppress Superboy's powers because that's definitely worth making prominent on the cover image of your comic booj.