Joey Casco CSW/CSS Comic Reviews

Detective Comics #1048 has lots of talk and lots of words while nothing much else is happening, but I didn't get bored at all. Instead, it held my interest and made me want to keep reading to see what the heck was going down at this tower. So it's an okay issue that I didn't love and didn't hate. The art is fantastic.

The art is top-notch, and I loved the action. I actually liked everything about this issue from the story to the character interaction. The Batfamily involved are great here, and true to their individual character. I just don't like the idea of Arkham Tower and don't really care about whatever is going on with Deb Donovan. Good stuff, though. It ended this thing with a good one.

This is an issue that was needed; to get Batman and Nakano kiiiindaaa understanding each other and know that they need to work together, and what better way to do that than desperate survival. Overall, it's not bad and I have no issues with it. It's nothing special either (not an insult, btw) other than the art, and that's okay because it could possibly be simply showing us a moment where the timeline that would be Future State shifts to something else. Again, Mora's art, mwwwwaaaa!!!

A creepy crawly story comes just in time for Halloween and I'm diggin' it. This issue is mostly atmosphere and build up to an intense climax and cliffhanger, but Batwoman walks in calmly at halftime just to swiftly dish out a few panels of action. Overall I thought it was well executed and shows Tamaki can be effective when it comes to sending out horror vibes. I hope she continues that feeling, because she's got Dan Mora's incredible art to really bring it home. Use it.8.5/10

I really can't say enough about the art. Mora has become one of my favorite artists (especially when he has a horror element to work with like he does here) and I love seeing his work in Detective Comics. This issue is action-packed and also just a fun stand-alone. If you didn't read any of the arcs you'd probably want to read the whole thing. In the end, the wrong villain lived and the wrong villain died. But I'm glad that it was a swift ending to (what feels like) such a long-drawn-out story that left so many things unanswered and I'm looking forward to not having them answered so we can (hopefully) move on.

The art by Mora of course is fantastic yet again! Although the idea of the Jury could work if set up right, it just doesn't work here and pops up out of nowhere. Although I like having Bruce struggle with his usual luxuries, I like having the Penguin back, and I do like the parasite / Vile part, the whole Worth thing just needs to end. It's awful.

Tom King had a really good idea for a plot twist but it's not done well at all, and I really wish it was because I've actually enjoyed the series overall.

This was a quick read and an enjoyable one. The art is great and it's cool to get Bats back into some old-school gear. And that's really it. Fast, fun, and forgettable (in a good way).

This is mostly filler, and way too wordy for a filler. It's a waste of time with only a few bullet points. As much as I was surprised how much I was liking this series for most of its run, it looks like Tom King is going to leave us with his usual habit of none of it going nowhere and having a disappointing ending. I doubt he even remembers the thing about Kovacs' DNA or most of the things he put out there and never revisited. I'm glad this is almost over.

This issue features the origin of Hue Vile and how he manipulated all of the events happening in Detective Comics right now. It had some really cool moments and I enjoyed it overall, but the art wasn't as good as it has been for some reason. I like this new villain Vile and I'm looking forward to seeing more from him.7.8/10

Although I do miss Mora on art, the art is still excellent. For the story, I don't know whether to love Mr. Worth for being such a psycho or not because a man born into money and who has everything he's ever wanted would not go and do that himself. I do like the idea of Bruce being under investigation for murder in a new community that he's found, but it's been poorly executed the last few issues. And the parasite thing seems unnecessary.

Excellent series but this issue is a waste. It'll take you way too long to read it and by the end, you're going to feel cheated out of your time. You find out one little thing and that's it.

This is an excellent issue that focuses on detective work, which I always enjoy. What really makes it work, though, is the feel of the atmosphere. The story, the narration, and the imagery of the art (which is AWESOME) all work so well together. Not only do we see a tragedy, but Batman also gets a preview of what life will be like when the Magistrate arrives. There are some strange things that take you out of it for a second, but overall I loved it. And I also thought the Huntress backup was pretty darn good too. I'm looking forward to seeing where they both go.8.8/10

Man, Myerson reeeeeeally lost his mind! On my first read of this issue, I was confused as heck and felt a bit drowsy from boredom. But it got way better on the second read as I now knew what the heck was going on. It's one of those ones where King wants you to be like "whaaaaaat?" for really no reason at all. But I continue to be impressed by this book as much as its existence and point befuddles me, and the more it goes on the more I'm hopeful that by the end it'll be an excellent piece of work.

Tamaki's debut on Detective is awesome! The art is GREAT and I loved how the story unfolded. Although we're not there yet, we're seeing how and why the idea of the Magistrate is was formed on Nakano's end, and Bruce having to interact with the not-so-common-people but more-common-people-than-he's-used-to is a nice thing to see. I also liked where the Robin backup went by the end.

This is a long read but it's a good long read. It shows us at length the letters that Myerson and Laura wrote to each other and why they connected regardless of their age gap. Myerson at the end of his days, Laura only 19 and spiraling into hopelessness. Although I still struggle to understand why this has to be a Rorschach story, I continue to enjoy this series, and this issue was really well done. I thought it was great.

Unfortunately this was too rushed and could have been a 4 parter.

In this issue, we see how the confusion of Bruce being dead occurred when he's still alive, and verification that the two days of obits for Batman and Bruce were intentional to hide the secret identity of Batman. And it was awesome. I loved everything about it. The storytelling is great and the art is amazing. The Red Hood backup is not good at all in any way, so that drags my score down but not too much because I don't want to think about it.

I know I'm supposed to give a solid opinion on this book right here, but to be honest I don't know what to think because it's just so... lacking where it fits into the puzzle right now. The question of "why are we even doing this?" popped into my head a lot, much more than in the other issues (which I really liked). I'm assuming that in the next few issues it'll come together and it'll make more sense but this just seemed so out of the sandbox that's been played in so far. Head scratching aside, there are moments I enjoyed, you do begin to like this new character, and the art is great as usual. I hope this issue has implications and a reason to exist, and isn't one of those side things Tom throws in there and never returns to.

Despite one big plot hole, which I hope will be explained, I thought issue #1 is outstanding and a great way to kick this 4 parter off. It's fast-paced but the story is also told well by Tamaki. And the art by Mora is fantastic! More importantly, at least I think so, the Grifter backup is the most pure fun I've had from new (printed) DC content in awhile.

Despite being slow at points and the storytelling being a little shaky, this was an okay issue that the more I think about the concept of it the more I like it. You get a solid idea of who the members of this new family are (at least the three important ones) and I like them. And I like the existence of them. Swamp Thing is human under all that, and we need that sense of community or we'll go crazy. Without humans, despite his dislike of them, he's still lonely. Speaking of humans, what our boy Venen has to say at the very end makes me interested in seeing where this is going. But overall? The issue is okay.

I really like Brad Walker's art and I'm going to miss it in this book. While most of this issue is really just Batman giving a beatdown to Hush, it takes much longer to read than you would expect with what you get out of it. I was hoping that some mending would begin to take here between father and son, yet unfortunately, that is for another day. But that ending? Awesome. I mean, get the pets into anything and I'm happy.

It's strange to question why a book exists and also really like it. We don't see why this is a Rorschach story yet, without the real Rorschach, but I'm still very much enjoying it. It tells Laura's story and it was a pretty damn good one, and I like how you get strung along to gradually realize how extreme her father's paranoia really is. As usual, the feel of the art fits naturally with the feel of the story. I recommend the first three issues of this book.

With awesome art, the threat that is Hush, and a great fight between father and son, I really liked this issue! Hush has a plan that seems pretty common but with a twist on how he's going to benefit from it. Then the big fight? Loved it! It's been a long time coming and I was not disappointed. This book has been a roller coaster for me lately, going up and down with each issue, but this is one I enjoyed reading from start to finish.

Like the last issue, the art is pretty darn cool in certain spots but also not in others. Unlike the last issue, I really didn't enjoy it nearly as much. It's just too much like what we've seen lately from multiple other books, with the big climax scene being exactly like other books recently. Also, should Bruce Springsteen get writing credit for The Mirror's fight monologue? ;)

With only two episodes in, the connection between Kovacs and Myerson is still a mystery as it should be, but should our detective's name still be a mystery? What's going on there? That can't be an accident. Even though I still have a feeling this tale might not land in the end, I really enjoyed this issue. The way it connected you to Myerson as a person was very well done, the way the panels flipped between the past and the present was well executed, and the art is great and fits the story perfectly. It's a good read and I hope King keeps that up!

You get to see what is going on inside two character's heads with everything going on. We see Nakano's drive and fear, and what happened with Damian through his own father's eyes. I like the idea of Nakano wanting to unmask vigilantes, but the extension of that with The Mirror really feels played out. And it's taking away from what should be the focus right now: Damian. The art is pretty damn cool with its sketchy style in some frames, and also pretty bad in others (especially during the Batfamily meeting). 

This issue is kind of all over the place. We meet a new character who is the driving force behind unmasking vigilantes, we see Bruce packing up his belongings in Wayne Manor, and there's a surprise cliffhanger with a member of the Batfamily that we've been waiting to see again for months. But the majority of it is just good old fashioned comic book fun, as Batman gets some chase scene action against two bank robbers.  And Dick's appearance is both ridiculous and awesome. I'm probably giving a higher rating than it deserves, but I had a good time with it. 

There's a lot of action and a lot of "AGHH!" and "GAH!" and "NOOO!" from our characters in this issue. Explosions and power blasts galore. Some characters die (or, versions of them do). And although I was disappointed in this finale on my first read, on my second read I don't see how it could have ended differently. I just wish we got more of Jessica, Blackfire, Dexx-Star, Orion, and Hax together on different adventures.

Tom King goes in a completely different direction with what this story is about and when it happens then you would expect it. The problem is that the idea on its most basic level was done not that long ago with the same character, and it's too soon to really see if he's on to something good here. For positives, I really enjoyed the art style, and the revelation at the very end does make me interested in what it means. However, it did not hold my interest throughout most of the book.

Most of this issue is very good and gets you pumped up for the last issue, but there are a few spots that just bring it to a plateau and are honestly a disappointing use of panels that could have been better utilized. Orion pipes up on it when that starts to happen though, so awareness of that is appreciated. The art, especially when it comes to Darkseid and Hex using Epoch's time manipulator, is awesome.

For such a well written story throughout this run, the last issue does seem a little bit chopped up and crudely cut uncharacteristically enough for you to notice something is off and things may have been changed, but it's still an outstanding comic book with incredible art. Plunge is a great read, and if you love comics and you love horror and/or science fiction then this is an absolute MUST. And that last page reveal? BRING IT.

I've always loved the relationship that Batman and Croc have. Croc can't just help himself but Batman realizes that and truly wants to help him, yet sometimes what Batman sees in Croc comes out like it does here. That's why I did enjoy this one-shot issue despite it not needing to be a Joker War tie in to exist, and despite the weird money thing that goes against what I know of the Killer Croc character. The art, especially with Batman and Croc, was pretty cool.

Bullock was really the only good part about this issue, other than Batwoman actually getting Batman to say "please". It was just a meh tie-in issue that you may personally like if you're into giant hi-tech tanks. I did enjoy the sketchy style of art, mostly. Some of it is GREAT but also some of it is not all that good at all, so it's rather inconsistent.

The art in this issue is great, especially during the two awesome fight scenes. Darkseid is such a force too and he looks great after his big battle, eyes smoldering from his Omega beams. Most of the JLO didn't need to be in this issue other than to have their butts handed to them, but Jessica Cruz did and she accomplished what she's been trying to do for who knows how long now: get one of her friends back. There's also a surprise ending that I for one did not see coming. I enjoyed this issue a lot and I hope they keep it up for the final two issues.

This is still the second best book in comics right now (well, for the ones I'm actually reading). A great story, great characters, great dialogue, great art work. It really hits everything and has a modern horror movie feel to it (one of the good ones, not the trash ones). The final issue is next month and what I hope is in that hatch is actually what's in there it could mean Hill House round two and I'm all for that. 

There's a lot of action with some great breaks of the Joker giving commentary and just being classic Joker. It's pretty cool seeing Batman not have to hold back and, uh, put someone on the rocks. The art again is incredible and Walker's Two-Face in particular is killer. Although I'm so glad that the Two-Face cult thing is over, it's because of Walker's art and because I think Tomasi writes the character itself well, that I hope we see Two-Face again soon under different circumstances.

The art is so fantastic in this issue throughout the whole thing. Tomasi writes such a great Joker and Walker draws him great too. But the rest of the issue story-wise kinda bored me. I like how the narration tried to go with a Detective Noir feel to it, but it just didn't play out well. As ridiculous as seeing Two-Face in a Bat-mecha-suit that the GCPD hoarded away in their basement is, the action that came from that was pretty cool. Taking the good with the bad, it balances out.

This issue is a speed bump in the great progress that JLO has made, as it's mostly either all recap or completely useless. I wouldn't mind a break from the main story to get a proper Gamma Knife origin story, but we didn't even get that in an issue that features Gamma Knife before she called herself Gamma Knife. I dunno, man. This is now the book that I look the most forward to from DC and I'm disappointed. I understand that filler issues have a purpose, but this is a very ill-timed filler issue.

The art is so good and its creep factor is excellent. But the creep factor isn't just visual. There's a lot of great work put into this with excellent characters with distinct voices and plot roles, well written dialogue, and a captivating story. This continues to be an outstanding book in every single way. And the tie-in to another Hill House book blew my mind!

There are very specific parts of the story that are left to your imagination and honestly it's the parts that you really don't want to see. Possibly the truly horrifying things remain off-panel, and I like that. The very last page though really makes me want this to continue. I really enjoyed both of the main characters in this series and I'm sad to see it end, but man for whatever reason it feels like it was the longest running out of all of the Hill House comics. Overall The Low, Low Woods was AWESOME. And that art? Fantastic.

I really wanted to like this. I really did. I was rooting for Russell to be somebody who got Harley's voice and could "make 'em (and me) laugh", but it was bad. The art is good, especially when it comes to Clayface, but Harley doesn't look like herself. She looks like a 23 year old Instagram cosplayer trying to get likes by using the character's popularity. I suppose the overall story concept is actually pretty good for a fun one-shot digital only issue, but everything from the dialogue and the way the story was told is just... not. Also, that museum is looking for a tragedy and a lawsuit in the children's section.

The art is excellent, there's lots of action, and there's plenty of work for the artist due to the number of participants in said action (Darkseid brought A LOT of his homeboys). The story legit feels like a piece of a climax and you can see that there are stakes here. This is one of the very good issues in a roller coaster of a title that I've so badly wanted to be consistently good. We can get so jaded by so many things for so many reasons, but this issue felt like... yeah man, I'm reading a comic book. "Eff you, Darkseid! Beat his ass, Jessica! Go, good guys!"

I loved it! The art is just incredible, and the way the art is shown and the story is told through the paneling is great. Batman pulling himself out of a vat of acid and just being a menace and a badass made me want to cheer out loud, but I'd get a weird look from my wife. There's a quick part with kids at a children's hospital that was a nice moment. And the Joker, New 52 style? Outstanding.

For the most part I really truly enjoyed this issue, but it's hard for me to get over the big threat at the climax. I know for something that isn't canon, and from a title that has just screamed FUN since the very beginning, it shouldn't bother me but it does. So I gotta get over it and let it effect my score but not ruin it. The art is great as usual, character interaction is great as usual, and the fun is great as usual.

On my first read of this issue I was like "... what?.... wait.... what?" But just get over the confusion of where this mysterious water is coming from because, my goodness, you done messed up, little witch. So many things that seem unrelated come together here and start to make sense as you see what happened to this town and what happened to the witch. Despite my reviews never coming out of the 7's for single issues, I continue to believe that this will make an incredible trade.

Man, this was a fun series and I can't wait to read it all together in one sitting. There were things in the mysteries that I got right and other things that I completely missed the mark on, but on those things I'm glad that I was right or wrong. The weird thing about "Baskets" is variety among its layers. Police corruption, God-fearing drug dealers, spoiled entitled rich boys, a magical Norse ax. Emily's story is really rough and hard-hitting and uncomfortable, while (even though June doesn't have it easy either by any means) June's story is fun for us readers and very very satisfying in the end. This is just a well-told and entertaining short horror story expressed through some pretty awesome art.

This is a quick read but also very much worth it. Per usual with this series, the art and the character interaction is great. The initial fight between Superman and Titano is pretty cool, Lex is sketchy enough to assume another agenda is at hand, and how the conflict within Clark is portrayed is impressively just... true to who Clark is. Yet another awesome and fun issue in this run!

The Derleth crew seem to be pretty, er, "friendly" right now, other than what they've done to Russell. So why did they have Peter sneak attack the McReady? I was not expecting them to come out and be just like "hey, what's up guys" and it caught me off guard at first, but it's a pretty engaging issue that makes you wonder what they're really up to. Again, great character work by Hill. And, dude, the art is fantastic. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Damn. This was such a good final issue and at moments completely effed up! It not only continued the theme of taking you completely by surprise but wrapped it all up perfectly. I have zero complaints about that ending. As always, the art fits the story so well. As I've said for this entire run, Dollhouse Family is a must-read.

I loved this issue so much. The art is just amazing, the overall feeling of the book is eerie, the way that the story unfolds is brilliantly done, and there's only a few things here and there that stop it from getting a perfect score. I need that first volume to get here ASAP.

Hey, I really liked it! First of all that art should give everybody some "mwaah" Italian kissy fingers. And even though it was pretty predictable that Supes would end up on the side of the monster, he still beats the living crap out of said monster to do so. This issue maintains the theme of this run: one-shot with no stakes, well written character moments, and fun for the sake of having fun. It's exactly what I need right now.

The time manipulator is still confusing as hell, or maybe I'm just not smart. Per usual with this title, I really like the concept, the story, and the characters, but there's just something about it that doesn't make it work as well as it could or care as much as you should.

Just like in the second issue of this series, I really enjoyed the interaction between all of the characters. I love the voices that Venditti has given these characters so far, especially Clark and Lex. Perry eating Clark's fries gave me a legit laugh, Supes post-UFO-attack moment with the little girl was nice, and man that art is good. Is it a crazy super awesome intense issue that makes you feel there are stakes at hand? Nope. It's a fun one-shot story with fun moments meant just for that: to have fun. And it's absolutely worth the 99¢.

Venditti is doing a fantastic job in this series writing fun comics to read and entertain us without stretching it out, and the art is amazing! It's just so good to read a Superman story that is just what you expect from Superman instead of whatever the heck we've been getting from that other guy. First of all, the story actually makes sense. But also all of the characters feel right. From Superman, to when he's Clark, to Lois, to Jimmy. Most importantly, the dynamic between Clark and Lois is where it should be. Man, I like having Superman back, and there are scenes in this comic that just scream "CLASSIC SUPES". And $#!+, it was 99 cents? *starts playing Thrift Shop*

June chops her own thumb off so she can in turn chop off a head. She uses the ax so she can escape from the handcuffs and decapitate Hank. This girl is a badass. Through the art it's made obvious that the longer the heads remain bodiless the more they turn blue and dreary, so they may have a limited  shelf life. We find out that Liam is sexy as shit with those abs, Puzo is gay, and the sheriff is ready to straight up drown somebody. This is another damn good issues in a damn good series.

The art in this issue was phenomenal. Batman in torrential downpour looked amazing. Two-Face also looked amazing throughout (and lets be honest, it's not often when that happens). I like that Harvey is in dire need of help and Two-Face has completely spun out of control to be a threat again. But we've had a cult theme for how long in this run? And now Two-Face, of all people, has one? It just doesn't fit. The whole thing feels out of place.

What the freakin' hell? Talking centipedes that come out of peoples faces, enormous sea monsters living in sunken ships, and zombies lighting floating ships on fire. Joe Hill does a great job of giving each character their own voice, and the art is just so good! So far this series has been a must-read. Also, I learned about something that I was not aware of: fire retardant grenades.

Although I've liked this series overall, I haven't given a real glowing score to any of the individual issues yet. They've usually been in the 7's, meanwhile making it clear that it'll probably make for an excellent trade when collected all together. Well, this issue was the best issue of the series so far. It's got some messed up stuff like deer women slaughtering skinless men, and your understanding of the bond between the two girls is strengthened to the point where these are two characters that you genuinely care about, and a new question pops up: how did the witch owe El's mother a favor? Oh! Speaking of skinless men, those skinless men had to have come from Jessica's house. I'm not sure Jessica is still alive.

This is another very good issue from this great overall story, although I did want more from it since we only have one issue left. We finally get to see who the Dollhouse Family is and why they're there, Alice decides to take on the house rather than the Dollhouse, and that last two pages were just a big "WTF, are you serious?" I don't know how this all can possibly wrap up with just one more installment, but I'm really looking forward to it.

I didn't even know if I should go through with what happened in the book. The overall story isn't the best but it's not terrible; it's the way that it's told that makes you not care. And the art seems to be so inconsistent from frame to frame, especially the characters looking like the same person. I will say that the classroom scene was pretty cool, and the best part of the issue.

I'll admit it: I'm pretty confused about how the manipulation machine is actually going to work once Epoch gets those evil-less continuity balls activated. All of the damn talking did nothing to make it easier to understand and made it more confusing. Yeah, it's a long read because there's a lot of boring talking and a lot of it will almost put you to sleep. But the issue has a few good moments, especially the fight at the end. And I've been loving Cliff Richards' art on this title.

This is a big info dump on what is going on in the conspiracy involving Liam and why the police and Hamilton are involved. Even though we don't know exactly what Liam was actually initially LOOKING FOR to use against the sheriff and his family just yet, we now know that an unexpected side-quest is the reason why he got busted. There are no heads added to the basket but we mostly get a story from an elitist family with a sociopathic spoiled entitled son, and a big stand is made by June at the end. This issue sets up the next two to finish the story off so I'm happy that we get this stuff now before a hopefully gory climax.

The art is just so good, as well as Harvey in the clinic. And that's my entire score because the reveal of a constant repeated theme in this run at the very end of the issue has finally just worn me out. That theme needs to end.

This first issue is excellently written all across the board from story, to dialogue, to character development, and with excellent art. You end the issue not only wanting to find out what's happening with this boat but giving a damn about the characters and wanting to see more of them. Unlike the other Hill House comics, it has more of a horror movie feel to it than an indie horror comic feel, too. So if the other Hill House books aren't your thing for whatever reason but you still want some horror, you should give this one a try. It's a near-perfect first issue.

This issue introduces some new stuff that makes you wonder what the heck is going on even more than you were before. First, we meet a Shutter-to-Think's resident witch. Then with El being hurt and Vee getting a bleeding lip at the same time (and then what happens on the last page) they're now somehow physically connected? But there is an expansion on things we've seen before. The skinless man returns, for example. But the real WTF moment comes from Jessica with what we see happening to her mother, giving this book a real horror moment. Also, poor Pearl! I'm enjoying this mini even with all of its frustrations, and I really believe by the end it's all going to come together and be a much better read when read straight through.

One thing I don't get is why Jenny sent that guy to kill them if she still wants Una. It doesn't make sense to me unless interference by her or the Dollhouse was why they survived. But anyway, we get to see the fate of Joseph, how Cordwainer got into the Dollhouse, and Alice's greatest fear come true. Creepy, potty-mouthed Jenny is awesome yet again. And so is this book. I keep saying in every review of every issue that it goes in directions that you never could have guessed, and I'm saying it again here. If it wasn't for one specific ongoing (Daredevil), The Dollhouse Family would be my favorite book in comics right now and I consider it a Must Read. It's a great story that makes you constantly say "WTF?", creeps you out a bit here and there, and the art is a great match for the story being told.

I did not like the first issue and I did not like this one, but just like the first issue, there were a few things that I did like. Still, the story just doesn't really grab my interest and I hope it gets better from here. For the art, at points, it's really good and at other points not so much.

More space adventuring and more of what I expected this book to be like 18 issues ago! By putting together a new unlikely team with a far better dynamic than the original, Abnett has found a way to get JLO into the swing of things and it's quickly becoming one of my favorite titles. There is a lot of talking here and the only action is at the very beginning, but there are no wasted conversations and I liked it a lot. The most important thing about this issue: we finally see (in that thing I'm not spoiling for you) how this Justice League title ties into the main Justice League title and other things going on in the DC Universe. The inking kinda throws the art off a little bit in some spots but overall it was still pretty good.

We get a Batman who cares and talks once again. And it's a nice one-shot tribute to Alfred. What he used to do, what he left unfinished, and what his absence means to Bruce now. Really, it's how Alfred gave up his career and left that thing unfinished because he felt a sense of responsibility to an orphan named Bruce. So, yeah, I get it. But the things beyond that or the specifics of that just didn't hit with me. Yet I do realize that this is an Annual, and sometimes that means it's isolated one-shot issues that you just need to relax about and enjoy. Seriously though, the art is fantastic. I love how Batman is drawn and the color schemes throughout this entire issue. So my gut rating is really all about the power of a few character moments and the art.

Again, first and foremost, the art style is awesome. Overall this was a very fast-moving issue compared to the first three and I really liked it. Even though I would have expected to have a bit more plot progress at this point, the series has managed to keep me invested in the story and the characters.  With Hank's revelation at the end it looks like things are about to ramp up, and if they do this will make for a very good trade. Ya know, for being called "Basketful of Heads" that basket is pretty full with only two heads in it, so that might be it... unless Hank is about to join them. 

Art. ART ART ART. I loved the art. The inking especially, as at some points the thick lines make Batman's look kind of remind me of the Brave and the Bold cartoon series. But the last thing we need in this run is another cult story. And even if you need to have this, I'd like to see a few more issues so we could get more of Sorel's story, see how he escaped and how this all happened, and wtf was up with the 1659 beginning. This is exactly like the two-parter with Spector from earlier on in this run: great art and atmosphere; not enough story or explanation of details.

I had a lot of fun with this issue. Not only is the art really good but the action is intense and the dialogue keeps you invested and interested (well, except for maybe Gamma Knife's drones). Orion fighting back and phasing in his war gear legit gave me goosebumps, I grew to really like Hax in this issue, and Jessica's monthly badass one-liner moment does not disappoint. This title has been a roller coaster lately, switching between good issues and bad ones. But when it's good it's really good, and this is one of those.

While I enjoyed reading this issue while I was reading it, when I hit the end I wasn't sure how I felt about it overall and I still don't. It's almost like there's too much going on without anything going on.

There are parts of this that I did enjoy. I like how the art gets pretty creepy at times, that Daphne is a science geek dressed up like Wednesday Addams, and how she gives false information to a medium to prove she was a phony. But I didn't really care for the story, especially when the dream starts. Yeah, I know it's the first issue but it doesn't have the appeal or captivating storytelling that the first issues of the other Hill House books have had. It leaves me not really caring about what's happening or who this goth kid is. Sure, I'd like to know what happens next (if only to see if it gets better), but I'm not going to be eagerly awaiting the publication of the second issue.

Joseph is attempting to finish what he started by facing Cloax himself, Alice is now a mother trying to protect her daughter from an evil dollhouse, and damn Jenny is creepy. This book keeps going in directions that you would never, ever expect, and it just keeps getting stranger and better! The Dollhouse Family is one of my favorite books right now and this issue takes it to another level. Also, what an explosive ending! ;)

The evolution of Jessica was hands down the best thing about this title run, and this is the issue where she finally realizes that being a Green Lantern is her calling and she uses that to boost her confidence and finally make and control constructs. How could that not make you happy?

It appears that we've got a Viking waging a war on Christmas! Making everybody say "God Jul" instead of "Merry Christmas" in the name of the sun goddess Sl! Pretty cool! I like that Bullock is heading the GCPD and the art is great buuuuuut... although it's nice seeing Titus and Ace playing together and Bruce actually giving them some attention, there are moments that don't fit this particular issue and take you out of the mood that's being set. It could have done without those, saved them for another day, and instead use the space to add more of the creepy stuff that was done so well.

There's great interaction between June and Sal throughout the issue. How he goes from scared to angry back to scared, while she is sorry for what she did but not intimidated by him, makes for a very entertaining conversation. And that makes up for the lack of progression. Yeah, you do learn a little bit more about stuff going on but the plot still treads water until the very end when something pretty big happens. Still, I very much enjoyed the book while I was reading it and think it's the best issue of the 3 so far. And the art style fits the story being told well.

This, of course, is a character development issue so we get to know who Vee and El are, their social lives, their family situations, and the history of the town that they live in. I like the time setting, and the art and overall style of the book looks like it could come from a 1995 indie comic. The deer thing does seem out of place with the rest of what's going on such as memory loss and an underground fire, but the issue does what it's supposed to do: invest me in the characters and the story and make me interested in moving forward.

There was a lot of switching of light colors here because the Phantom Ring is causing Frank to completely fall apart, and because of that this issue was pretty chaotic. But that's the point. Frank is going through more emotions in a single minute than a kid going through puberty. The entire Green Lanterns series dealt a lot with Jess's and Simon's insecurities and how they learned to overcome them together and rely on each other as partners, and this issue is one of the pieces of that theme. The art is GREAT and looks very cinematic at times. For me this was another fun issue in this very fun arc.

A few plot holes and unanswered questions aside, this was an excellent one-off issue that took a tragedy and turned it into hope. I feel like the art will look better in print, and many of the Batman and Robin frames are so covered in heavy snowfall that it's a bit annoying, but these storms do add to why it took them so long to find Miguel. Best moments: Batman admitting to Miguel that Superman is his favorite superhero, and the obvious parallels of the first few pages to the last.

This feels like an extra-long issue because there's a lot of talking, but it's not people just talking for the sake of talking (except for Gamma Knife and her drones). Jessica has a long talk with Orion where we find out what happened to him and why he has such disdain for Jessica and the Justice League, so that part of the story is filled in. And I actually like Gamma Knife more than I thought I would. The cliffhangers left on both ends of the team are pretty awesome, and the issue isn't bad, but it just doesn't really suck you in or feel captivating.

I absolutely loved the first issue but I wasn't quite sure what to think about this second one the first few times that I read it, but as I wrote the review I got more into it. We already know that all of the members of the Dollhouse Family had not met each other before they one by one came into the dollhouse, but now we have confirmation that they are all from the same family tree; which starts with Joseph. And then his son Cordwainer, who is now in the dollhouse, and could also be the spawn of the evil beast. So questions are answered and more questions arise, and I'm still looking forward to seeing where it goes.

Frank is finally standing up to the Green Lanterns instead of running away, and it looks like he's pretty good at using Fear. This issue gives you more of a reason to both love and hate Frank, the argument between the two Lanterns is actually a relevant one, and then there was the revelation that they both secretly want the Power Ring for themselves. Also, Volthoom is one creepy bastard. The art isn't as good as the last issue, and that's not an insult because the art here is still good. Overall, yet another solid issue ofPhantom Lantern.

Frank so desperately wants to be a hero but not for the right reasons. It's clearly for the accolades and spotlight and power. And that's what makes him such a good character. He's arrogant and cocky and selfish, and this issue does a great job of making you both love and hate him. It also progresses the story of the two GLs and their partnership nicely. Another fun issue in an awesome arc.

Like I said, this was a very fast-moving issue but it was a lot of fun, especially their interaction after she chops the guy's head off. It has a classic horror comic feel to it and a "what the hell does that mean?" last few panels. I'm not sure if my theory is correct, but I'm looking forward to finding out.

I feel bad for Freeze because he desperately wants to help Nora. He even accepts that she doesn't want to be with him anymore, but he still wants to help her instead of just stopping her. And I like the idea that Nora is out there and even more of a threat than Victor is. Those things are cool and the art was good, but this whole arc could have been much much better. Especially if the science made sense.

Heroes being heroes, going into a fire to save a little girl and connecting on a personal level with them to make sure they're okay. Villains being villains, doing what it takes to get what they want. This is an entertaining issue that sets up the rest of the arc, as the Green Lanterns of 2814 now have to deal with an enemy who can use every power on the Emotional Spectrum. Also, the art is fantastic.

I loved everything about this issue. The character, the narration, the art, the story. We get to see each Earthling Green Lantern pop up through the eyes of somebody whose main drive in life is to be one of them, and it brings him to a crazy level of jealousy and commitment. And to see him unravel and become a broken man after getting his ass kicked and then almost being chosen and denied, you feel bad for the guy. This was an outstanding start to an outstanding arc.

I wish Tomasi gave us more of the Freeze's as a team to make Nora's inevitable treason mean more. We've waited so long for her to come back and we only really get one splash page of what we, or maybe it's just me, actually want to see. And the issue overall is forgettable and boring. The return of Nora Fries, especially as a villain, should not be forgettable.

You know what? I thoroughly enjoyed this issue! It was action-packed, made good use of the team members, the art is great, and that Eskaton is totally badass. The friendship and comradery that they're starting to build here feels genuine and is exactly what was missing from the old team. This book can't seem to stay consistent (I gave it a 3 last month) but if we can get more of this then I'd be very happy.

Whaaaaaat? I have no idea where this is going and I love that! There are people living in a dollhouse, a giant sleeping in a cave, and a horned up witch lady having sex with lost cartographers. And that ending! I can't wait to find out how it all ties together. This book has hooked me right in with how different and how &^%$ed it is!

This was a great finish to an excellent miniseries. There's less killing in this issue but more intense moments and everything comes to a head. We learn a lot about Floyd's problems and why he is the way he is, and the conversation between him and Marnie at the end was great. Speaking of Marnie, she really steps it up in this issue and what she's been doing this whole time really paid off. I highly suggest that you go ahead and read this miniseries (it's on DC Universe). You won't regret it.

The vast majority of this issue is setup and character development, and it feels like it's a lot longer than 22 pages because it's so wordy. It's not the most entertaining issue but I enjoyed the conversations that were taking place, and the art fits the tone and story very well. I feel like I know these characters pretty damn well now and I'm ready to see what's about to happen to them. And I'm really ready to see those axes be put to use.

Wow, this was just amazing and I didn't expect it to go the way that it did at the end there. Marnie's parts are slow, as she goes around Floyd's home town, but that's a good thing because it gives the book a little breather here and there while Deadshot is just killing everybody. This mini-series continues to be a must read.

I've been down on this arc because it's not given me a reason to care. We've been through all of this so many times... until just now. I actually liked this issue because Nora is finally back and it looks like she's ready to kick some ass right beside her husband. It finally moves the Fries' out of staleness and into some forward progress. Also, I really enjoyed the confrontation between them and Batmanless Bruce. Could Tomasi pull a reverse move and start a Detective story off disappointing only to end it with excitement?

I absolutely loved the art. And just the way the issue is laid out to compliment the visuals are great (the zombie attack and the snowmobile chase are intense because of the way it's all put together). Again, I think that's been Tomasi's strength on Detective. But I still just don't care for the story. It's not incredibly awful like what's going on over in Superman, it's just... meh.

I really hate to say bad things about art, but the art is really not that good. Especially when there were seven people involved in it. And with the exception of Jess kicking ass and taking charge in the very beginning, and the surprise return of a big character at the end, the writing in between is not good either.

This issue is a lot slower paced than the first one but it's still really good. We learn a lot more about Deadshot's past and what really happened to his brother and father, which I purposefully left out of the review for you to find out about when you read it. Because you should read it.

YES!!! This is just so good and so shocking at points with its adult content and cold-blooded savagery. Deadshot is a honey badger. Herr's portions with Lawton's backstory and analysis do feel a bit fillery at times but they do give you an understanding of why Deadshot is the way he is. I loved this issue.

For some reason this is a very fast read for a pretty wordy issue, and it has some enjoyable moments, but I'm just not into the story. However, I loved the sketchy style of art.

Overall, this issue is fine. It's not bad but the only thing that doesn't make it completely forgettable is what happens to Jessica Cruz and what it could mean going forward.

Mostly this issue made me angry. The art is awesome, and that's pretty much my entire score.

This was such a great arc to read and review, and even though I'm moving on for my retro reviews, I'm in the midst of reading this entire DeMatteis Dr. Fate run and it is fantastic. I highly recommend all of it.

I enjoyed this issue because it was fun and it's nice to see somebody have some fun with Batman. The art is fantastic and, one thing that has been consistent in Tomasi's Detective run, the panel work is very well done. I admit that I rolled my eyes when I first saw Hiroshi and Clarence (stranded wartime pilots on tropical islands is a bit overdone) but I really grew fond of them. Bruce sewing ears onto his makeshift suit is ridiculous but I get why it was done. Also, the ending actually has me pretty hyped to get into this Mister Freeze story.

I don't know how I can keep praising this series without sounding like a broken record. Everything about this issue is on point. Humor, darkness, dialogue, emotion, art. And even though I keep saying the same things, each issue is not the same in the least. It's not the same jokes or the same old stuff each issue; nothing is overdone or over saturated. Look at everything that Jack Small has been through already. Again, you gotta read it.

You know what this reminded me of? 1980's Batman. We saw a lot of Bruce doing actual work for Wayne Enterprises back then and we see it here too, as most of the issue is just that. Also, we have a villain like Deadshot with no explanation of why he's out of Belle Reve or exactly what he's been hired for. He's just a dangerous man on a mission. And lightning striking a plane at precisely the right moment in complete coincidence? Yup! This is a Detective Comics issue that I could have read when I was a kid; only with much better art.  Cool. And Ace helping out in any way possible is always a bonus.

Woah, this was heavy. Darkseid's plan falls into place perfectly, he's scary and menacing as $#!+, and then there are the last few pages that totally broke my friggin' heart and I'm still sad about. We finally have a relevant issue where the important stuff happens, in a book that should have been relevant with important stuff happening this whole time, and it's sooooo gooood. And that art? Amazing. Anyways... I'm going curl up in the fetal position and cry in the shower now.

With everything being so huge and world-changing in DC right now, Tomasi has brought their most epic villain back to his basics for at least one issue. The Joker is free and he's terrorizing a carnival just because. I mean, that's it. There's no complication here. And he does it so goddamn well with each individual that he threatens. This really felt to me like an ode to the classic Batman and Joker rivalry.  The art was great with the one exception of the most important character in the story: the Joker. I didn't like the way he looked, but I really liked the story.

Man, this book is so good. It's got humor, darkness, and sadness. Andrew Bennett really makes you feel bad for him, and I really like this version off Nabu as Kent. I highly suggest you give it a read. Again, the art is awesome except for Eric. I don't get what's going on there. Is he supposed to look like a strung out junkie all the time?

In the end, nothing is explained. How does this cult even exist? We know their purpose, but how do they have that purpose? What is their motivation? How do they magically appear and disappear? And how are their members so pale and ridiculously ripped as the Spectre? Why doesn't a Planet Fitness employee say something when a bunch of creepy dudes covered in baby powder are chanting the same thing over and over while they're working out six hours a day?  These and many more questions will sadly go unanswered!

My like of the team and the story continues to be frustrated by the poor planning of it all, and the inconsistency of Darkseid's hold on Starfire and Azrael is pissing me off. I thought we turned a corner in the space adventure that was the last issue but I was wrong. Oh, the art is awesome, by the way.

I really loved everything about this issue. The crime scene was eerie, Spectre taking on a gang of Spectre wannabes was great, then Spectre walking through Gotham like the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man was intense, Batman's attitude towards the Spectre was perfect, his fight with the burglars was pretty awesome, and the art is PHENOMENAL. Again Tomasi starts off an arc with a home run. I hope he keeps this one going!

I rated this arc well because each issue had cool moments that I really needed to see right now, but there's a lot of problems with the story overall and theclosing issue unfortunately exposed that truth. That said, because of the great moments, I'm really looking forward to more Tomasi on Detective.

See, this is what I expected out of this book this whole time! Lost in space, low on resources, desperate for survival, going to different worlds, and kicking some butt. You all know my love for Jessica Cruz and she is a total badass here. I really hate the Azrael voice thing so I'm taking half a point off just for that, but I enjoyed the crap out of this issue and I can't wait to see what Jessica and Cyborg do now that Darkseid is back. Will they have to fight Starfire and Azrael to go through with their plan?

This is a nice follow-up to the awesome first issue and I had a lot of fun reading it. The Deadshot/Manticore and Tiger/Ravan fights are particularly entertaining. Boomerang has great moments such as sex references, to completely owning an opponent, to letting his own team member die; and super friggin' annoying moments such as a boatload of his usual nonsense jibba jabber. But I wish they had stretched things out a bit for another issue because it does feel rushed.

I really liked this annual! There are nice moments between Batman and Gordon, Bruce and Sophia, and ESPECIALLY Bruce and Alfred. It's got action, humor, a villain you actually feel bad for who works for a jerk-face villain out for revenge, and a nicely packaged one-shot story that leaves things open to possibly make a return later. The art is great and the Reaper outfit looks badass as always.

This gives you everything you want in a first issue. That first scene with Jihad at the airport was friggin' awesome and brutal, so it kicks off showing you exactly what kind of series this is going to be. Things slow down once we meet the Suicide Squad, but you get everything you need to know about the team, their purpose, and that they really don't like each other. It also leaves you excited to see these two teams face off.

On the first read, I was like "really? that's stupid!" with the delivery scene, but on the second read I liked it, and now on the third read I thought it was pretty cool. The Joker reading to her was touching and how she thought of the inmates as her family makes complete sense. Overall the issue is good, I enjoyed it, and can't wait to see where it goes next.

I love to see the Batman and Robin partnership back together again. It feels so good. Damian's little showdown with the Knights was great, and I enjoyed pretty much everything in this issue. This arc is exactly what I need right now.

One good thing is that this book seems to be coming closer to colliding with the other Justice League books and providing a purpose. The bad thing is, and I've liked this title more than a lot of people, it doesn't deserve to be important. Seriously, what they're doing here is probably more important to saving the universe than what's going on in the Justice League book but it doesn't feel important. Also, the only two sane people in this title right now are Jessica and Blackfire. Honestly, I'm hoping Jessica actually does go through with it and mops the floor with them.

I enjoyed this read so much that I couldn't believe how quickly 20 pages came and went. The art is great and I like how the white eyes on Batman and Robin were handled. The GCPD coming to Batman's aid and Jim helping him escape was a wonderful moment, and that this was a Robin heavy issue after that was a breath of fresh air. We need more Robin in the Batman books, and I hope it continues.

Homie got his ass beat. And you know what I really liked about this issue? The contrast. Batman rode a Man-Bat through the darkness of Gotham like a boss, and when everything was illuminated he was rushed and taken down like a punk. I've got some issues with the way Arkham Knight looks, but this dude and his tactics are a real threat and I like it. And I thought the inking and coloring were particularly well done to make it feel like the light they produced wasn't natural.

While we get some answers to questions that have been hanging around since issue #1, not much is done with them.  Overall, this book seems like a better fit for Abnett, but at the expense of some character work.  The art is good but Sampere needs to draw Darkseid more often because he's great at drawing that character specifically.

As a celebration of Detective Comics and of Batman himself, this is a good read.  The art is outstanding throughout and while not every story hits its mark, most get pretty darned close.  I think that everyone will be able to find something they love here and if that's enough for you, go grab a copy.

The title has a fun concept with the opportunity to build a truly unique team exploring the Cosmos as they try to make their way back home, but we just end up waiting a whole month for 20 more pages that go nowhere. The score is all art.

The art was good and I love the panel near the end where he's looking at all of his old Batman suits. But I'm giving it an 5 for the effery. 

I'm looking forward to seeing if Abnett keeps this up because that would make me very happy.

I admit that maybe I'd like this issue more if I had any investment in these characters, but there's only a few that I know and care about that are in this issue. And Superman doesn't show up until the end. It's the equivalent of reading an X-Men comic from an era you're not familiar with, with a team featuring mostly characters you don't know, and things that have been happening in that continuity that you have no idea about.

The art in this issue is great but the story left me really confused. I don't hate that I'm confused because we're supposed to be confused and I enjoyed reading it. Because of that, I can't wait to find out what is actually going on.

This book has become a must-read since Tomasi took over.  I have no idea where this is going but I can't wait to find out.

This is such a good issue. You've got blackbelt Lois, my man Bibbo, three kinds of dinosaurs, neanderthal hotness, Supes being Supes without knowing he's Supes, and every bit of dialogue that's said by Mr. Z. And the art, yet again, is so classic for the era. I love it.