Johnny "The Machine" Hughes Comic Reviews

This book is a great example of who the creative process should work, with writer, artist, colorists and letterer producing their best work for a character that Dynamite have breathed new life into over the last few years.

James Bond is one of the quintessentially British icons, and should be celebrated as such. Phillip Kennedy Johnson has the unenviable task of trying to morph the various versions of Bond, be it book or movies, into a cohesive character, whilst creating a sort of timeless period that could be past or present; that is, I think is the biggest achievement in Kennedy's writing and plotting.

Whilst the cynic in me balks at the inclusion of so many fan pleasing character and tropes, if you can't indulge yourself on your 40th birthday when can you? Just remember, it is said that life begins at 40!

Books like this are rare at times, hidden by the multi event hype from the Big Two's continual Back to Basics / Rebirth plans. Books like this transcend the medium, showing what the best creators can give the comic book world. Dark Horse is a company that is renowned putting out books of high qualities that are on show in this tome, which collects 3 Story: The Secret History of the Giant Man, the 3 Story: Secret Files of the Giant Man one shot, concept art and a wealth of bonus material. If excellent, emotional storytelling is your thing, then check this book out immediately.

Overall, I enjoyed the slice of noir gumshoe. Black clearly shows his appreciation for the trope, hitting all the bases well. I am very interested in seeing Black develop as a writing for both his own crowd-funded project and his work for hire.

In many ways, this book reminds me of Shirtless the Bear Hunter book in that it has a crazy off the wall hook. If you think that this issue is bonkers, then future issues will pretty much take it several notches higher.

As fun as Fearscape was, I think this book has the potential to deliver even more enjoyment as O'Sullivan walks the line between satire, savage introspection of the state of creative writing and endeavours and fantasy storytelling.

I admit that pirate books are not my cup of tea. The closest I get to pirates is the Captain Hook's party boat in Cancun, Mexico, (but that's a whole different story). Still, I do know the quality of writing that Stephanie Phillips brings into play. Here, she does not disappoint in any way, shape or form. I am interested to see the on gong travels of Anne Bonny.

Despite the lack of words, this book needed a couple of read throughs. The storytelling is par excellence, with a character that you begin to feel for, much like the first John Wick movie. Additionally, the visuals are a treat adding to the tone and vibe of the pressures of trying to do the right thing in a world where many people just turn away.

The topics covered and the pace of the story may seemunattractive to some, though with Garth Ennis at the helm, readers have got aquality comic book writer who deserves the benefit of the doubt as heentrances youwith ideas and thoughts to ponder.

This book features a lot of -isms , which under less skillful hands could have come across as preachy. Ahmed treats the subjects as a piece of the life of Elena and therefore treats the reader with intelligence, letting the reader make up their own mind about the the more personal aspects of the story. Ahmed takes this skill one step further with the political edge, ensuring that there is a genuine investigation to go hand in hand with the spooky goings on, and with Kivel on pencils, the book has a dark, gritty tarnished feel to it that makes no excuses for the 70's.

By having the book set in the 70's those -ism elements may feel like an easier sell, with a more closed worldview than we reportedly living in. Bearing in mind that this book has a lot of issues to work into the story, Ahmed juggles them well without coming across as preachy.

This book was a complete surprise for me. Back in the day, I loved the Hawk novels and this book, talking vulture notwithstanding, brought back all those memories. I am very interested in this run; "ride 'em cowboy!

This book is without question well put together, with a script that twists and turns and looks to subvert the original premise into something new and different, which leads me to ask why bother with using Batman? If you want something new, create something new! The problem with that is that there would be no playing on existing tropes, no chance to to be oh so clever and pretentious, so much cleverer than the the main Batman who is stuck in his own continuity. However, no matter how well crafted, I really just don't care. Absolute Batman, more like Absolute bonkers!

DC are looking to make some traction with this book. For some it will be a great celebration of a classic character and his family, for others it will be seen as practice run for Detective Comics #1000, although the real party should be Detective #1027, and for others this will be seen as cheese on toast, that doesn't meet the requirement to spend so much on one issue. I am going to side with aspirational elements, the inspirational elements that Superman, no Clark Kent stands for.

Action Comics #1001 goes someway to show that Bendis is planning a long game that should please some of the doubters, following the MoS mini-series. Recent Tweets advising that Lois and Jon will be coming back, should also alleviate fears that Bendis is out to destroy some of the better additions to the Superman mythos. All in all, this is a great start to the next 1000 issues.

So there you have it. Another version of the DC Universe is coming to a close. Next month sees the start of the Dawn of DC and with it more changes for a range of characters. Who better than Big Blue to kick things off?

As with the other toy line books from IDW, I am not sure of their relevance in today's gadget focussed kids and the perpetual need to be plugged into something. The lack of consistent context may well be seen as good thing the all those involved as they try to reset the board and give this long loved and lived war-time hero a place in today's world.

Spellchecked #1 is due for release on Comixology from June 21st.

For those that like a good "out in the wastelands" story with a strong female lead, this book may not offer enough of a different experience for you. For me, I was impressed with the first chapter and look forward to Esme showing me around these particular Badlands.

I may be a tad harsh; as stated, joining a book already in progress can be difficult and not every series' have built in jumping in points, but I didn't enjoy this book one bit. Still Fraction and Dodson have tons of fans who will love this book; for me, I shall wait for the trade.

Despite the confusing publishing policy surrounding this book, I am glad to see it back on the shelf, mainly as it gives DC a genuine book that can be used across reader groups. I guess, the highest praise I can give this book is that I recommended it to a colleague at work who was looking for something for his nine-year old son.

I am not sure what to make of this book. Team books may well be back in vogue thanks to the Big Two movies franchises that seem intent on throwing more heroes at the screen, than the hero count in a multi-issue crossover storyline. Looking at the ads in the book, it seems that Chapterhouse have some cool ideas. I just had hoped for better execution.

I have to say that I thoroughly this madcap styled book. A touch of Lost Boys, Rex Manning and vampires; what's not to like? Whilst Zenescope have their fans who love Grimm Fairy Tales, Robyn Hood et al, its good to see the publisher try different things in order to add their existing portfolio of established characters.

I have to say, that for a book that held zero expectations from me, I enjoyed the ride. With the hints and nods to possible extension of Jimmy's corner of the Zenescope world, I would be quite happy to revisit and see how things are progressing for the cleaner-wanting-to-be-hunter and the rest of his little circle of influence

I was going to say it's a shame that books as good as this, aren't with a big publisher. Firstly, looking at the price point, $3.99 is lot to pay for a comic book and there are number of Big Two books at that price that don't have as much fun or quality in them. Secondly, independent books publish the types of books that the Big Two can't or won't publish. With this book, Aspen and the comic publisher she has inspired is definitelymaking a splash on the comic book racks.

For those that consider this particular subject taboo for a comic book, may I remind you that this topic has been seen in any number of movies and TV shows, Ray Donovan being one of the more recent. I am pleased to see how all involved have applied a level of maturity to their work. I am interested to see how this series plays out in the next chapters.

In some ways, the idea of this book may sound like a bit of a mutt; combining Captain America, Black Widow high on the "success" of her solo movies and the ever popular Spider-Man feels odd as I am not sure how, at least in this stage of the respective heroic career's of each how or even why the trio are connected. When you cast that idea aside however, you are left with a book that looks glorious and reads well for a jig sawed start to this mini-series.

Ironically, the book is hitting stores not to long after the news of the death of Spider-Man's co-creator Steve Ditko had been announced. As I have said before, as kid, I didn't realize the genius of Ditko at the time, having it pointed out to me by my father. Spider-Man has had many a good run, with top notch creators taking up the webs. Have any been up to the magic of Ditko? That is a matter of opinion and it is unfair to lay that question on this newest of reiterations. Instead, enjoy the book for what it is, a chance to start again, to get back to basics and to rebuild on that which was once lost.

Sooner or later, Marvel is going to have to change the title of Amazing Spider-Man, as I feel that it hasn't actually been "amazing" for quite a while. The back-up story takes a twist, but be honest, are you really going to spend $4.99 for a back-up? After reading the Black Cat annual, with little impact on the Infinite Destinies big picture; I had hoped that this annual would fare better. Instead, I am left with Infinite Disappointment.

I am totally lost for words (ironic, right!) when it comes to this run. How can it go from amazing scores to average score in the space of an issue; it's called Amazing Spider-Man, not Average Spider-Man. Truthfully, it comes down to pacing and the editorial need, from the Big Two, to write for a trade paperback audience at the expense of a monthly audience. With one issue to go, I am still interested in how this goes. Guess I will find out in a couple of weeks.

Amazing Spider-Man deserves to be the pinnacle of the Marvel books. He can cross the genres and and age groups in ways that other characters can't. Nick Spencer has stuck to his guns with the pacing of this whole run, possibly to the detriment of the fans patience. Hopefully, the final parts of this story may well deliver on all that Nick Spencer's reputation has promised.

Spider-Man's past has been central to Nick Spencer's run, with the re-introduction of old villains, going back to ESU and even bringing MJ back into Peter's life. It makes sense then, that this book features a parallel to a moment of Peter's life which some would say defined the character even more than Uncle Ben. In an industry the features the illusion of change, Nick Spencer has surprised me and with the mere possibility of an actual change.

Despite containing two of my most hated aspects of Spider-Man, this book was a fantastic read, for the most part. The key for the books success will be how different Ben is to Peter and will the villains know the difference. Next up is Kelly Thompson who has been on fire on Captain Marvel. Thompson excels at the dialogue between characters, so it will interesting to see that style, even if it isn't Peter Parker.

I am truly on the fence with this book. There are bits I like and there are bits that don't quite work. For regular buyers of Amazing Spider-Man, there is a sense of logic in letting readers see the steps of Peter's recovery al long with hints and teases featuring Colleen and Misty to help move the Beyond storyline along.

It has been a given that over the last year to eighteen months, it is fair to say that Zdarsky's Daredevil has been Marvel's success. With that said, under Wells and Romita JR., this could be year the Spider-Man climbs back to top spot!

I cannot state how impressive this run has been to date. We are clearly heading somewhere with this book, giving that we are not that far from #900, and we all know what has been promo'd for that! Its a fun time to be a Spider-Man fan!

Amazing Spider-Man has been a revelation since it's soft reboot / renumbering. Wells and Romita JR. along with Menyz and Caramagna are pulling out all the stops. With six months missing from our knowledge, I am sure that the level of quality will not diminish in the slightest.

I want to hate this book. I wanted to bash it for the interruptions to the main flow of the ongoing run. Yet Wells has shown the importance of that special person, for not just Peter and by doing so, could lead to some interesting places.

I get that comics have to have crossovers, and I understand why they can be popular, but at this point I would love to return to regular scheduling programming! There are still overhanging web threads that need resolving. Like a good meal, things take a while to simmer; if you leave it to long though, the meal is spoiled. I would hate for that to happen to what was a revitalised Spider-Man book.

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A book that like most of this run from issue 6 or so on. has promised so much and somehow failed to deliver anything of any real import.

I like it when IDW take a break form their more obviously licensed products and show how they can deliver a range of different types of comics. Granted, this particular book, at least at the moment, doesn't add anything new to very populated story field. It will be interesting to see how this series distinguishes itself from others in the trope in later issues.

All in all, this book is an enjoyable read, whether you view it as a re-imagining of the original or are totally new to American Gods. Oh, and by the way, that episode of Star Trek was called "Who Mourns For Adonais?"

Say what you like about Artists Writers and Artisans bur over the last few months, they have been delivering some excellent books covering a wide range of topics and flavours.

This book is evocative of the show that sired it; with Bryan Edward Hill it has writer that is more than capable in delivering the goods. Coupled with Gleb Melnikov's fantastic art, this series is off to a great start. Just please don't bring Lorne in anytime soon .

This book has been surprisingly fun from the get go. Slower issues have been used well to move things long well and even the crossover, with it's less Angel focused plot encapsulated the "team" element of the book, even if the term "team" is massively over used.

I may have said this before (thats a lie, I have definitely said this before), but I am a tad sick of alternative universes. As a one off, they are fine, but as it stands every publisher is doing it. When did it become norm to change everything in an effort keep things fresh? Has storytelling ideas, building on existing themes with new aspect become so difficult that it is now easier to start over regardless? Back to Angel, for fans of a lot the aspects of the TV show, you may be disappointed with some of the changes, though some do say that a change is as good as a rest. I will leave that last thought there to linger.

This then is the main strength of the book; cartoon style art coupled with almost adult language that delivers some pretty mature messages, gender equality and roles to name a couple. In Angelic, Image may well be looking to foster a book that can promote some of the challenges that we face in the real world, to a younger, more impressionable audience in the hope that they can build a better future. We just need to make sure that the target audience actually enters a comic book shop.

Over the last 14 years, I have had rescue cats; one that supposedly hated people, but really didn't, and one who seemingly chose me. I have seen the first hand nature of the hopeful looks, the desperate looks and the resigned looks from the animals that exist in such places. Using the pound as a setting gives the book an instantly recognisable authoritarian element. The influences that shape this book are very clear; your enjoyment of the book may depend on how you feel about homages as a whole.

The quality of the work is what you would expect from AfterShock and is available from all good virtual an actual comics shops on 20th September.

After the initial wave of books that impressed, AfterShock, for me at least, fell intoa kind of holding pattern. This was always going to be likely as a new publisher looks to make a splash then solidify their place in the market. Reading this book, I am glad to see that this particular publisher is once again putting out the sort of book that gained so many plaudits last year.

With the amount of comics that DC are pumping out in a month, Aquaman needs to a premium book to escape the following tide. On this issue alone, I think that ship has, unfortunately sailed.

With Aquaman's appearance in the up and coming Justice League movie gaining a lot attention, it's about time that DC got around to showing Arthur Curry and his fans, some love. With Abnett and Sejic on board, it is now safe to go back into the water.

I am sorry to say, that the quality of this book, in comparison to previous issues,ebbs and flows. For a much maligned character to work, you need top-tier creators. Abnett is certainly worth a pirate's treasure, but he does feel the loss of his artistic partner. This may well have a bigger impact on this book than it does with Brett Booth leaving Titans, the latter containing as it does more popular characters. I am not sure that Aquaman is credible enough for a house style, and with that in mind, DC needs to ensure that the quality remain high. DC must recognise this, due to their belief that the book needs a house style. This issue, and the art in particularfor fans will be a drop in the ocean. However, with the drop in quality of the art, couple with an already lacklustre annual may have readers heading for the shallow end and the safety of numerous Bat books.

Time travel gives a whole bunch of people a headache. Learning the ropes of another universe can be difficult, whether it be Trek, Back to the Future, Endgame of even Calvin and Hobbes. Still, when the premise is as interesting as the one here, putting the time in is more than worth the effort.

Written and created by; Stephanie PhillipsArt by; Francesca FantiniColors by; Lauren AffeLetters by; A Larger World's Troy PeteriPublished by; AfterShock Comics

The production values of AfterShock very rarely disappoint, even if their initial "shock' value has worn out, which has been the case on some books. With that said Phillips has shown herself to be a strong and versatile creator, having worked across the aisles, for a number of different publishers.

Even though I understand for the need to have all their licensed books on the rack; they are after all cash cows with ready-made fan eager to spend their cash on the further adventures of the Enterprise to name just one, this is the sort of book that I wish IDW would do more of, to maybe compete with companies such as Dark Horse. I guess we will have to be happy with this six issue run, for now.

As I mentioned, with so many books gaining a film release, I decided to check out the trailers for the movie to give me some context. What I found was an action film, touted a the "next John Wick", with explosive violence, Hollywood lesbians, thigh high boots and a blonde star. The film looks so dramatically different from this book, that if anyone buys this book after seeing the film they may well face the biggest disappointment since buying The Killing Joke graphic after seeing the movie and expecting to see a Batgirl story. I am all for artistic licence, but could this be seen as a case for the Trade Discrimination Act! Ploughing through this book, I am left weary and unmoved, not the greatest experiences to be had in thecomic book world.

I am a bit of a sucker for the whole "crazy town" vibe, and this book certainly whets my appetite. With many influences and stable brothers to contend with, this book manages to stand apart from the crowd. Another dark and deep success for Vault Comics.

I know a certain No Prize Podcast-er who loves the Avengers. I also know that over this last year, he has left this book. Reading this, I see his points and personally, I don't think that this book would make me want to go buy the book.

Where have all the new ideas gone? Marvel used to be known as the House of Ideas; has the comic book world become so jaded that one idea becomes the norm for a range of publishers? If it is the case that one idea can spread across the aisles, then the last one to the party has to be doing it better than the last and despite all the grand ideas and epic stylings, I am not sure that this book meets that criteria.

B.P.R.D is one of the longest running books from Dark Horse, which seems to suit all those involved, especially as there seems to be a genuine effort to let the book evolve, with no easy answers or cop outs. Of course, there is a helluva of a surprise waiting at the end of theissue, which may well please this books fan base.

As much as I enjoyed this book, this genre always frustrates me. Whenever something bad happens to the family question, the remaining members become super great at stuff. Take this example; April is a downtrodden, sick of like, world weary type of character. This is established in book one and is carried over well here. But she turns into some sort of super sleuth to get on her missing daughters trail. This isn't the fault of anyone involved in the book; this is a great example of the crime / mystery genre; but this quirk is bothersome to me.

This has been a fun read; watching April come into her own to protect her brood, despite the given quirks in that type of story has been an interesting to see. AWA, with their range of distinct and diverse books are certainly making a strong start to their relatively short publishing history.

It's been a while since I hung out in Baltimore's world. Whilst I can't say I haven't really missed looking at the book, I am glad to see that his quest is heating up. Regardless of the victor in this mini series, I can't help that Baltimore will definitely be a step closer to the final battle against his arch nemesis.

An interesting first issue, that looks to re-introduce Barbarella whilst simultaneously sets up her next arc. Its a big ask, which Hoyt, Musabekov and company handle very well indeed.

Bored over bawd is a perfect way to describe this book. Dynamite should look at the target audience for this character, raise the books rating and give the Barbarella fans a book that encapsulates their heroine, not turning her into an impotent caricature of herself.

A fun first issue that hints at a deeper mysteries yet to unfurl and with the types of characters and the adult horror, not scary this book could well be a sleeper hit for all involved.

Darby Pop are getting into the habit of putting out some thought-provoking books of late. Bastard's Waltz fits their business model perfectly, given that you can't really help but shout for, essentially, the bad guy! At the core of the story is the idea that the characters are true to themselves. It will be fun to see how both John and Ezekiel world views impact and influence each other.

This book still has a Barbara Gordon that reads a little too young for my taste. But,overall, the art and the context of the story makes me quietly hopeful for this series.

Unfortunately, this book still sits below where loads of fans would like to see. After setting the standard for now, its about time for Larson and Wildgoose to raise the ante and deliver stories that can have an impact. This may be wishful thinking from me as DC may be happy with Batgirl's place as a marketing tool, rather than a character in her own right. Until then, despite the efforts of all involved, Batgirl's fans may feel a little disenfranchised.

If you look at the book as a celebration of the various styles that Batgirl can possess, then you may feel its a resounding success. For me, whilst I totally applaud the efforts, that fact that there is an iteration that I could happily live without kind of wanes (no pun intended) my overall enthusiasm. Hopefully with a new creative team jumping on, this book can start to get out the unintentional funk that I think it has been in for a while.

Reading this book, my knee jerk reaction was to wonder why this series hasn't been this good before! Problem is, the subject matter can only be used once or twice before losing its impact, those in DC who always want to use the Joker should take note. It may seem that Batgirl is only readable when its dark, when in fact Bryan Q. Miller gave us a fun, hopeful Batgirl prior to the New 52. Still, judging this book on this arc shows that Castellucci is far more talented than working on a lame duck book may intimate. You never know, DC may keep her around for whatever the next (Batgirls led by Oracle maybe?) step in Babs journey will be.

There has been a Batgirl book on the shelves since before Flashpoint, with Babs taking the spotlight from New 52 onwards. Since Gail Simone was writing Babs' adventures, I fear that Batgirl has lost her way; possibly never a top tier book, she has dropped down in peoples attention due a myriad of writers, change in tones and at times some god awful art. Despite all this issues flaws, Batgirl is going with a kind of high. I am looking forward to the next incarnation of a Batgirl book, if DC can find the correct tone. Otherwise, there is no real point to continuing with this character.

I can't blame the fall of the this book on just the current crop of creators. Since Simone left the first time, this book has been in free fall. Not even Simone's return pre-New 52 could reignite the magic. For true fans of Batgirl, Black Canary and the Huntress, please get some top talent on this book, before the lack of anything of substance causes its cancellation and the cries of non diversification are placed squarely at your feet!

Regular listeners of The Definitive Crusade and The Dynamic Convergence, as well as readers of my previous reviews know how I feel about this current iteration of the Birds. But for the first time in a long while, I am cautiously optimistic that the book is moving in the right direction. Please, Julie, Shawna and Roge, do not prove me wrong!

Looking over the final issue, all I can think of is missed opportunities. This book, with theses characters should work and work well! Thinking back to this book in its heyday, it was the relationships between the characters that made it work. Myopinion is that by making Batgirl younger, DC have destabilized the team; how can a younger Batgirl understand the Huntress's need for revenge? How can Canary, relate to her partners when she herself has not gone through any real loss since Rebirth? This may be the final book of this run and I would like to say I will miss the Birds. Problem is, I have been missing them for so long already!

This is one of the few books that isn't "Rebirthed" from an existing book. Therefore, this is a prime time for DC to claw back some of the female led stories market that Marvel are exploiting so well. Instead, we get a book, set after the first arc of Batgirl's own book thereby minimizing any impacts that may occur in there, that seems to relive its own history, without really learning from it.

I will admit that I have been caught up in the hype for this book; its currently on my pull list. How long it stays there will depend on if any of the ideas put forward that "weren't good enough' for the movie are actually "good enough for a comic".

As impressive as King's writing is in this annual, no one can state that Lee Week's does not deliver his "A" game.

Despite a lack of had copies of Batman #24 in the UK and the fact the conclusion was given away by the media and anyone with an itchy Twitter-finger, to dismiss this book as a gimmick would be fool hardy. The quality of the journey is more than up to the destination, even if at this point the destination is actually just a pit stop. I, for one welcome King's attempt to give Bruce and alternative focus, to add a further layer of context to his actions, to possibly even contradict how Bruce reacts with the rest of his supporting cast. Of, course there will be questions; can you really tame a cat? Will this make Bruce more vulnerable? Should he lose Selina, how will this affect Batman and his war on crime? All great questions, to be sure and under King's guidance we will have to see how this plays out.

I am really on the fence with this issue and if I am perfectly honest, that's exactly how I feel about the whole run since Rebirth #1. It seems that rather than tell a straight up story, Kingis always look to deliver a mini event of sorts. He isn't the one wholly to blame, DC has been playing that particular card since New 52. At times it's worked and other times, maybe not so. Finally, does anyone else miss the Batman that used to stop crime in Gotham? Where did he go? Maybe we should light a signal, or something.

Batman #50 is a one of those books that is going to divide opinion; some will hate it, some will love it. There may well be ramifications for the industry, not helped by DC pulling the carpet from underneath retailers and fans with their actions last weekend. Hopefully, when the smoke settles, people will realise that this book is a classic take on two classic characters, both of whom make decisions based on their love for each other.

For many, Tom King's Batman run has been hit and miss. You could say that this is more true than not, especially as a recent issue of Batman was basically a recap of the run to date. Perhaps fearing the backlash of Heroes in Crisis, the structure of the last few issues of this book has returned to a start, middle and end format that I credit editor Jame S.Rich for, giving each arc a feeling of resolution, regardless of the larger story.

By this time, no matter how many fans, and in that group I include myself , complain about King's pacing or overindulgence at times, nothing is going to change. With King you know what you are going to get, which may explain the books slip down the top ten sales list. You may want more direct story telling over the meanderings of character's dialogue. The knock on King's method is that the payoff has to surpass the setup; this is a failing that affects a number of DC's writers. Still, as this hit and miss run of Kings nears its climax, I can't help but hope, just one more time that King manages to hit this one, this last one, our of the park.

As much as the idea of one writer for an extended amount of time sounds attractive, the reality is, at least in this case, that it leads to overblown, oft repeated ideas that come full circle.

When the news came down the line that Tynion was replacing King on this book, I was hopeful. Tynion had written the in bat universe before, on the Eternal titles; on the flip, he has worked a lot with Snyder, would Tynion have the same flaws that I find in Snyder? Thankfully, my faith has been rewarded, with a tight story that suits the twice a month frequency of this book. Perhaps the biggest compliment I can give; I am actually looking forward to a Joker story!

Given my distaste of the over use of the Joker, this book and it's preceding set-up arc have been a massive improvement on King's run and is eminently more enjoyable.

For all the recent DC larger issues over recent months, I think that Batman #100 has been my favourite, even if for some reason Huntress is on the cover regardless of her lack of family connection. Tynion and Jimenez have brought back the energy to a character that had felt weighed down by his own quest and maudlin meanderings.

With Detective Comics taking a horror stance to Batman's crusade, it is left to Chip Zdarsky to bring the more expected style of superhero action in Batman. Man, does he deliver! An action packed issue, with a rash of family members all to try and take down Failsafe!

Despite the talent on show, this book is an advert for the coming event, which is going to cover a range of books and characters that I don't really care about, I get that this is the marketing point of a crossover, to get readers to buy all the books. But I do worry, that with DC's focus on a new Batman that Bruce Wayne may be relegated to a lame duck. Hopefully this is not going to be the case as for me, there is only one Batman of present day Gotham City.

Seriously though, this is a great book and a fantastic example of the quality of maybe not cannon storytelling that the Black Label can deliver.

I am enjoying this run so far, but I am concerned that the pace is going to come back and haunt this series. I guess only time will tell.

This book a this stage, is still style over substance. A third of the way through and it feels that we haven't moved from the starting pont. Does this mean that the final act is going to be rushed? Is rushed even in the Tome King dictionary? I have a nasty suspicion of where this story or at least a key part of it going. I hope I am wrong, as if the backlash of what King put Wally West through was considered harsh, it will pale in comparison if I am correct. I guess time will tell. For the time being, I am sticking with the book, but it I would welcome more substance as despite how gorgeous the art is, my patience could wear out.

For those readers expecting an action packed series, then I am afraid you will probably be disappointed. Kings run on Batman and Heroes in Crisis are examples of how action scenes break the pattern of the ongoing diatribe of conversation and emotion. Whilst this may work on other characters, maybe not so much with Batman; but what the hey, Bats barely appears in this anyway. Five issues in and I am not sure that anyone is wholly happy with the pace and at this point, does anyone care what happened to Andrew?

After an intriguing start, an over-extended middle section we are now in the stages of the final act. We have the pieces set in both the present and the future, leading to, hopefully, a strong and satisfying conclusion. Maybe that will explain what Raven is doing in this book!

This run has left me frustrated for quite some time. Part of the problem is the lack of progress over the longer run, extended by late books; the lack of Batman; should the book have been called Joker Catwoman and finally, the fact that I bought into the idea in the first place and still have this issue to pick up from my local comic book shop. King may well work best on books that sit under the title, such as Rorschach or Supergirl. As a Batman fan, I want more than 12 issues that feel like it is in a continual holding pattern.

C'mon DC, try harder; I don't just buy a book because it has Batman in it.

Readers of my reviews and listeners ofThe Definitive Crusade podcast,should know a few things about me by know. Fishnets rock, I am the DC Jeopardy king and I love both Batman and The Shadow. With a crossover like this,the temptation is to over critique as expectations are not normally met. Where this book is different, is that whilst my expectations were not met; they were surpassed. I would urge anyone who feels that current comic books rely on events too much to go and pick up this old school book, with two old school characters, created for the old school reader.

Reading this book, it may well be a Bat too far. It is also worth to note, that DC may feel the same, as on this occasion The Signal is a mini series. This is a move that has paid dividends in the past, thinking of the how the Tim Drake Robin was promoted. So a mixed bag to be sure, which may well frustrate as much as it pleases.

I have been a big Beyond fan ever since the Batman of the Future; it got renamed for UK audiences, cartoon aired and I have a number of the previous series. Under his watch, Jurgens has given this oft used universe a sense of its own continuity, it's own weight so to speak. Granted, Jurgens had a choice with this book; would he be bold or not? Rightly or wrongly, he went the Picard route which allows others to play in this part of the DC Universe without having too carry over too many aspects from this successfully consistent series.

Back in the day, when it came to Batman, Neal Adams wasn't my favourite artist. That honour belongs to Jim Aparo. Other artists would include Irv Novick, Don Newton and down the line, Alan Davis. Its ironic that all three could be seen as second even third generation Adams clones. This series is aimed at the nostalgia market. However in the wise words of Billy Joel "The good old days weren't always good". If you want to see this book done well, you should buy the Batman #232 facsimile that hit the racks a couple of weeks ago.

I understand that Black Label books are going to aim at being more mature. Yet for some, this means nudity and swearing. Given the trouble a naked man caused last issue, I am not sure how I feel about the last few panels and the implied seduction of the not so innocent. With this label, DC have an opportunity to challenge the reader with ideas and images that may seem distasteful or disturbing. With that in mind, this book continues with its strong substance that actually meets its excellent style.

So there you have it; the first Black Label series is done, with the usual DC tomfoolery of adult content that's "too adult" and a delay that gives the Doomsday Clock a run for it's money. Was it worth it? If I am honest, I could probably live without the series. I applaud the idea of it, but like so many DC projects of late, the setup far outweighs the payoff.

For. writer that can be divisive, King has taken a step back from huge epics, to smaller, almost inmate stories in comparison. It's change that I think will garner a lot of new fans, how had previously felt waylaid by his Batman run and the aforementioned Heroes and Bat Cat books. Let see what the next five books in this new limited series fare. As it is, King and co are off to a great start!

Looking at this issue, it is clearly an out of current continuity book. The costume is neither the original or the one Batman wore "when she…". It is almost a throwback to times gone by. I don't mind that so much, if only the story had more original facets. As it is, this book doesn't accurately represent the talents of a pair of creators who, in the past, have delivered much stronger work.

The cynic in me wants to say that this book doesn't deliver anything to the overall story. In fact it keeps the story in a holding pattern of sorts. But the comic fan in me is happy to see a solid mystery of sorts being applied to Batman, with the biggest one being, what does he see? This type of book is what Snyder excels at and with Tynion IV and Williamson added to the mix, the book works extremely well, even if by avoiding any real closure dooms us to more Metal mayhem over the next couple of months. I just hope that this book is a big hit for DC as there is a lot of creators that will need a paycheque for this one.

After the fantastic Rebirth #1 issue, I was hoping that the main books would continue to create the same level of excitement. It may be then, we have been a tad spoilt. For all the freshness that this book appears to hold, under further scrutiny its polish does indeed tarnish. Moving forward, this book may indeed be a solid starting point for both Duke and the Calendar Man, but in light of last weeks Rebirth revelations, this issue feels like a step backwards. In the past, Snyder has taken one issue characters and moved them front and centre at a later stage. This is may be the course that Kring is plotting, leading to this book having a greater impact then it seems at this first sight.

Batman Secret Files #2 two feels like a tie-in book for reader who may not have been around for a while, serving perhaps those who have only just recently jumped on to Batman. For the log time reader, there is the stylishly taken route and the not quite comparable quirky which can show just how different Batman, and his infamous rogues can be.

Lost amid the Fear State books, this is a little gem of a book, reminiscent of Fear State Alpha with its unusual designs. Tynion has gone a long way to ensuring that fans get what they have been calling for; no, make that what readers and Ivy and Harley themselves deserve. Recognition of how important they are to each other, and how important their love and relationship is to the DC Universe.

For me, a long time Bat-fan, this is the sort of book that I have been waiting for. This is absolute proof that Batman doesn't need to live in the superhero world. In fact, he is better suited to life away from the Justice League. I can only hope that his recent shenanigans in his main book and his actions in Metal will finally get him kicked out . DC should take note, there is room on the rack for a teen + bat book as well as their mainly crowd pleasing titular Batman book.

To say I am not overly enthused about the Metal storyline would be a massive understatement. The formulaic approach to these tie-in books reminds me of the repetitiveness of the Convergence books that DC published as their moving offices stop gap. As I mentioned in my Batman Red Death review, in my head, Bruce doesn't need nor does he want to gainsuper powers. With that in mind, the crux of the story doesn't rest easy with me. Next up on the Metal tie-in is Batman: The Drowned #1. I wonder who that will feature…….

As some of you may know I have not been the biggest fan of either the main book or some of the one shots and don't even get me started on the tie-ins. DC have thrown some of their top talent at the series and in the case of the Devastator it works within its own logic, even going as far as to hinting how this whole storyline may come to an end just in time for The Doomsday Clock.

Formulaic at worst, this book is a great advert for seeing more of Philip Tan's work. Collectors of these one-shots may well discover that this book, at least artistically, is a treasure.

With the attention that The Batman will get over this weekend, it seems that serendipity that this book has recently hit the racks. Personally, I think comics should be more respected than just an advert for the movie, but I understand the logistics of such a plan from Warner Brothers. An interesting start to a three part series, I am very curious to see how it all plays out down the line.

This books works well in a number of ways, from seeing who strong a character Diana is, to possibly how weak Bruce is to let the power corrupt him, all the way to seeing how these books fit into the main story, which does give the impression thatwe are seeing at least some progress toward the end of these one shots.

DC are definitely ramping up the stakes across their books, with various heroes dealing with Rebirth repercussions, a darkness encroaching that may not be just about the Dark Night falling and of course there is a certain Doomsday Clock on the horizon. With so many big ideas there comes the risk of a drop in quality, over saturation of the market (have you seen how many tie-ins books accompany the main book?). Still, this is the course we are on and we are have to put out trust and faith in those that have entertained us, fortnight in fortnight out since the start of Rebirth.

I do have a worry regarding this series that has nothing to do with the sheer amount of Joker we have seen this year. After Doomsday Clock, my worry is that Three Jokers may promise too much and deliver too little. I sincerely hope that I am wrong as DC could do with a win. Fingers crossed.

I was so looking forward to this series, which was odd given who much I dislike the Joker. The concern was, that like Johns' Doomsday Clock, it would promise so much and fail to deliver. Well, DC got the "lateness" problems out of the way by delaying the book, prior to the pandemic, so at least it shipped kind of on time. Still, with the three heroes being challenged by their own personal Joker history, I would have liked to have seen some sort of resolution. I also found the neat bow of who created who first a little too sickly sweet. In comparison, Batman #100 reads better, has better character interaction and has some form of resolution, temporary as it may be. Finally, are the minor shocks and reveals worth the cost? Thats up to you to decide, but remember, Black Label is not main continuity, so does it even make any difference?

You don't last 80 years without enjoying different version of self. Batman is one of the greatest characters who has successfully charted the ever changing trends of expectations. Unfortunately, with Bendis involved, I expected more from this book, than something that feels watered down with little or no tie into current continuity. Granted, as this is essentially a reprint book, I understand that continuity would have been a hard thing to manage, yet manage it does with Jinny Hex. Batman Universe is a book that hardly whelms for me, but for others, especially younger readers, there will be more than enough to bring them into a lighter version of the Dark Knight, maybe a Twilight Knight?

The timing of this book strikes me as unusual if I am honest. DC are currently putting out a wealth of "alternative" Batman books as part of the Metal event. As such, this may well get missed by some in the crush of product on the rack. That would be a shame, as this books, very much like Gotham City Garage and Nightwing New Order are presenting a different DC universe that actually feels like it could lead to an ongoing series, rather than the "make a buck, quick" nature of the aforementioned Metal books. I am sure that, with all the nods and echoes in the, book there might be a few people who will criticise; when are too many Easter eggs enough?(Please no French jokes).For me, I am very interested in seeing where this book is going.

This book is quite an unsettling read, as well it should be when the hero takes on the traits of his arch nemesis. Still I am not certain whether it's the idea of the story or the execution that has me rattled. It's true, that I have been less than impressed with the visual of this particular Dark Batman, being how closely he resembles Judge Death from the Judge Dredd comics. With so much is at stake in the multiverse, I had hoped that we would have got more than a rehash ofa video game story, even if in this media, things are taken a tad further.

The book isn't without a sense of fun, the "looks like i picked the wrong time…" joke will only appeal to fans of a certain age (thank you Mr David, I got it!) and the idea of two Battlestars going head to head, with the variants on the theme providing all sorts of conceptual contrasts. You never know, the latter-day Tigh may get his wish for Starbuck to go frak herself, kind of. It's a shame, that very much like the Armistice between humans and Cylons, the art promises much, but fails to deliver the desired result.

Even with the info dump, I am still interested in how this series goes, especially when you consider that both fleets did manage to find an Earth far from the Twelve Colonies of Man they separately called home.

This issue is an improvement over the last couple of issues, but it is still some way from where I, and a lot of fans, would like it to be. Hopefully, after this arc we can get to talking about Batwoman's future rather than focussing on one element of her past.

There is a problem with Batwoman that people, including those at DC never talk about. Its nothing to do with her being a girl or a lesbian or the fact that the hair is a wig. The best stories that feature Batwoman were arguably, the Greg Rucka and J. H. Willaims III run from Detective Comics and the series written by J.H. Williams III, who supplied the art along with Amy Reeder Hadely and co writer W. Haden Blackman. The loss of these creators helped to actually push back Batwoman's cause, essentially rendering her just another hero. I am sure that as the CW show gets closer, we will see yet another restart for a character that seems to get short change from her publishers.

Co- creators Lindsay and Kivela have wrapped up a story about the duality of a persons nature, in a crime story featuring super powers. I am not sure what is going to happen next, but I will definitely wait and see the bigger picture that this Beautiful Canvas will be a part of.

I used to love Zenescope's unapologetic mission statement. Somewhere along the line though, things have changed. Sure, the covers still fit their bill, but the interior art is nowhere near the same level. With so many new threats; seen every issue it seems, in Grimm, Robyn and Van Helsing, maybe its time for Zenescope to re-evaluate their stable of big bads'. As it is, the continued use of new threats only serves to create a faceless army as such, with no defining elements and totally replaceable, though Zenescope may find that their reader aren't so!

I have been on a bit of a Zenescope kick of late. Robyn Hood has been good; Van Helsing more so. Here, the solid plotted arc elements, both previous elements and future teases are well handled. It's a shame that the art doesn't quite meet Franchini's ambitious story.

As mentioned above, Zenescope have worked hard to create their cohesive universe, almost plateauing out with their recent books. Now is the time for Zenescope to drive forward, to make hay from having top writers like ChuckDixon providing stories for them.

With Ben Reilly being Spider-Man over in Amazing, now is the perfect time to give the fans more Reilly, especially given as how far removed we are from the dreaded Clone Saga. Of course Peter will be back soon, but this series could end up giving Reilly his own set of Rogues which could lead to a full run down the line.

I can not stress how much fun this book is. True, there are enough elements to make you think of other characters, but in Lemire, you have a writer who seems to be able to fasten onto the core elements and vibes of what characters and stories tick, adding in a very well done classic touch.

The art is provided by George Schall who has another book out this week in Made in Korea from the aforementioned Image Comics. On that book I compared Schall to Raymond Briggs. Here, with the benefit of historical context, there is a more Guy Davis feel to it which feels more substantial than the Image book. Some of the poses, the movements through the panels are similar, but with a lighter tone of story, Schall's works becomes more light-hearted. Schall also supplies the colors with a deft touch which further impresses me with its murky backgrounds and lavish settings rolling into a cohesive environment. AndWorld Design delivers a font that screams "of its time" that adds to overall feel of the book.

Reading through this book, I can't help but be reminded of the Jane comic strip by Norman Pett. For those not in the know, Jane was a morale boosting character, popular during the Second World War, who had a tendency to lose her clothes. Both characters tend to get themselves inadvertently caught up in traps through misadventure, although the former manages to do it at the same time as losing her clothes. This then leads to the confusion that I feel about this book. With such a prominent character the focus of the book, coupled with everyone's opinion of the "Queen of Bondage" there will quite a few fans of Bettie that may well be disappointed.

I am not sure to whom this book is aimed. Is there enough of the cheesecake elements to entice true Bettie fans? Is the character in the book even recognisable as Bettie Page? Why even bother with this book when her facsimile in Betty from The Rocketeer covers pretty much the same ground with more style and flair?If you can answer any of these questions with a positive answer, then this book is for you. Enjoy, as Iam not sure that I did.

I am a little confused by thecreators intent. Are they trying to show that Betty and Veronica can be strong female characters? If that's the case, then why do they have emulate men?Are theytrying to be sexier than it's core base? If so, why retain the Archie house style of art? Still, at the moment there is no doubt that thereis a strength of appeal to all things Archie at the moment. A resurgent comic book and the TV show Riverdale proves that the material is strong enough for multiple versions, with each one having their own fans. This seriesmay well act as a bridge between the more innocent books and the show, with it ambiguous moral code.

Being a huge fan of MacKay, Campbell and of course Felicia, with this creative team they would have to go some way to disappoint me. Safe to say that didn't happen. With Felicia's almost obsession with a certain red-head in her own, it's great to see the pair together. By continuing this theme, MacKay gets to build on Mary Jane and Felicia's relationship, although maybe not in the same way that Peter dreams. A fantastic book, that goes to show that dropping Black Cat from schedule is a huge mistake for Marvel.

I have to say that calling a book Beyond the Beyond, yet featuring a stymied society that features a runaway from said society. It's like a planet that the Enterprise came across mixed with Logan's Run.

For what I thought was "just" a monster book, I was both surprised and pleased. The story reads well, with some well paced elements that lead in to the main flow and direction of the story. Jason Howard has done an incredible job in creating a world that is more interesting and intriguing than I expected.

Other than some swearing and beheading, I have no idea why this is a Black Label book. The writing is inconsistent with the need to add the Joker into the mix…..again. The art is equally inconsistent with poor finishing in the quality department adding to the half arsed feel to proceedings. Considering how expensive this book is I expected more, much more.

The tone of the book is kind of odd. At points, it is quite dark, in others it's quite fun with a recurring joke running through the book in contrast to the art that lacks seriousness, whilst building on the fun. With so many vibes in play, it will be interesting to see which, if any of them, will become the major focus.

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The Black Cat series is showing how strong a character Felicia is, in both attitude, competence and lifestyle. Her regular book is a fun read from the get go. I am at a loss as to how Marvel can produce such an enjoyable book and yet fail so miserably with Black Widow. To be honest, that's Marvel's conundrum to solve. For me, Black Cat is one of the books that I look forward to most every month.

In a lot ways, this is the book that I feel DC wishes their Catwoman book was; a character based on the thrill of the chase, out for fun instead of a character mourning the loss of a fiance that she herself left. Reading this book, I am reminded how well Marvel can create strong female led books, when they put their minds to it.

I have said it before, but this book for me has been the surprise hit of the last year. For all their problems, when Marvel get it right, boy do they get it right!

I can not say enough good things about this book. I love it! Every issue is like a throwback to when comics were enjoyable and not every story or character had to have some sort of societal impact! Entertainment can just be fun; and this book, thanks to Jed MacKay and his team, is pure entertainment.

Whilst, this may not seem like much of a tie-in to the overall Infinite Destinies story, I cannot pass up the chance for another Black Cat issue. Cynics may say that the book is vacuous, empty and style over substance. I say this book is full of fun dialogue, is pacy, has attractive characters and most importantly, is great fun!

As anyone who knows me, knows how much I loved the first volume of Black Cat. I love her fringe, outsider status. For the reason, I was worried about the tie-in; Felicia doesn't seem to be the kind of character to hang-out with some big leaguers. I should have had more faith in Messrs MacKay and Villa who have handled Felicia's temporary integration to mainstream status well. Thanks to Black Cat, my pull list has become a lot more fun!

This book is one of my favourite books and has been since last year. I look forward to reading it every month, and to date Jed Mackay and the team have never let me down. If you read comics for the fun and enjoyment of excellent storytelling with fun and vivacious characters, you cannot do better than read this book.

As much I love this book, I am glad that we are seemingly getting towards the end of the Cat and the Fox caper. Bring on the next challenges for Felicia!

Regular readers of my reviews and listers to the No Prize Podcast will know how much I love this book under Jed MacKay's guiding hand. Now that it seems we are getting to the money down, I cannot wait to see what twists, turns and clicks of the fingers await.

Is this a bad book? No it isn't. Was I expecting more? Yes I was, and therein lies the problem. For the last couple of years I have been saying how Black Cat was one of Marvel's funniest books. Yet in this finale issue, it seems that the core ingredients have somehow been missed. I guess I am both disappointed that the series is ending and how it is concluded. Oh and by the way, I nailed a huge part of this story way back when I interviewed Jed MacKay on Outside the Panels, which you can find here.

Comparisons abound, when made are purely metaphorical. The idea of a disliked police force and a multi tier society can be seen in any number of movies and books. By taking this road, Thompson is showing her writing mettle for those that may think she is just all about a certain Carol. I am massively impressed by the setup of this book and look forward to how things play out.

Of course, this isn't the first time that DC and Dark Horse have gotten together; the Wonder Woman vs Conan book, prior to the latter returning back to Marvel, was a lot of fun. The first issue of this book, goes a long way to continuing that element of fun as an alternative to the more regular Justice League team, with the added spice of yesteryear.

Whilst this book has an element of charm, I have to admit, I miss the old regal T'Challa. I appreciate that Marvel are in a state of flux, with cinematicsuccess nottranslating into comic book success, but even so, this feels like a light weight T'Challa when compared to the original. In this incarnation, he is more a Grey Tabby, than a Black Panther.

Black Stars Above #5 will shine in comic book shops on March 18th.

This book was a fun read that had its dark vibe to counter the lighter moments. As a Marvel book, there is a rick of this book turning into another Domino books; high on the hi-jinks and humour. Now if that's your bag,, that's fine, but surely not every Marvel book has to fit that model? Hopefully, with the Twisted Sisters involvement, Natasha Romanoff will continue her danse macabre of Madripoor!

Natasha suffering a memory loss isn't a new thing; it can been seen as far back as Marvel Team-up #82, where a certain red-haired school teacher despatches would be muggers before Spidey can lend a hand. Still that was quite some time ago, to say the least, so I am willing to give Thompson and company a bit of a pass here. Taking a breather from Captain marvel is certainly giving Thompson some fresh muscles to flex.

It feels that this book is suffering a little from the impact, or lack of, of the continued Black Widow movie delays. Thompson's first arc may have had a more mature aspect, with Nat's loss; this feels more like a super hero book. It is interesting how Black Widow can survive in both.

For a genre that I am not generally fond of this book has impressed me. Where Potter and his gang dealt with wizards, Blackwood has a more earthy feel to it. This then gives the book a bigger horror vibe than a magic one. If the powers that be at Dark Horse know one thing, it is how to do horror well and this book is no exception!

I love how versatile a vampire story can be; it is a trope that can be used in feudal Japan, modern day Los Angeles, the wild west and even the Blade Runner-esque future. Making it work here; Koizumi and Rahal have shown that for the flexibility to work, vampires need to be grounded at the core, every Dracula has a Mina Harker for example. Throw in deceit, flaws and the darkness of night shrouding darker acts and you have yourself an excellent first issue of an exciting series.

An engaging book, that at first glance suits some of my visual preferences, along with a story that has little bite to it. Is it enough to keep me coming back? There is enough going on to whet the whistle of both horror fans and the classic gum shoe vibe.

Bloodshot is in a unique position for Valiant Entertainment. With a movie due out next year, this is the perfect time for Valiant to tempt comic book fans. If the movie is a success, then I am sure further Valiant movies will grace our screens. Looking over the book, I think that the thing that disappoints me is that in order to give the character mass market appeal, Valiant have had to resort in delivering a story that, I feel, caters to the lowest common denominator of comic book story telling.

Bloodshot is one of Valiant's core characters that seems to equally have a core following, with some pretty strong issues to date. It is a shame that in order to move forward, we have to have a story that is figuratively and literally set in the past. If anything, it does show that Thompson and Nadler deserve an actual continuing X-book of their own.

Valiant are known for books that push the envelope in some way. Their recent history has set us up for that trend to continue. Therefore, it comes as quite a shock that this book, a possible flagship for the company, resorts to a trope that is instantly recognisable. I am hoping that Lemire's skill will seep through and entice readers past the obvious comparison and into a new take on one of their most popular characters.

The book is a fun little escapade that allows the various elements of the book to breathe which gives the book a grand feel, if not epic in places.

For a while, fans have been clamouring for the return of Ted Kord. Now that he is back, I am not sure this is the Kord they wanted. Seems to me, fans want the Blue and Gold team back, rather than just one part of it. Cast your mind back to the new 52; the Justice League International book featuring Booster got cancelled, as did the Blue Beetle book starring Jaime Reyes. What does that go to show you? Blue and Gold are stronger together, than they are apart. Now we have Kord with two partners who couldn't hold down a regular monthly book after trying and failing recently. Could this be the first Rebirth book to be cancelled? Time will tell, but after reading this latest issue. I can safely say that, regarding this book,my ignoranceis still very blissful.

It goes without saying, but I am going to say it anyway; I really like the first Bob issue I read I am more than pleasantly surprised to see that the quality of the book, both in the writing and art has not only remained consistent, but has in places improved. A fun ghostly book that is full of spirit.

As mentioned, I have missed quite a bit of the Something is Killing the Children run, this book was a great read, seeing as it serves a number of aspects. Firstly, it provides history and context to toe ongoing series. Secondly, it moves the main character through their journey, and finally, looks to set up the wheels in motion for future issues and plot points. All in all, a reach that is firmly met by its grasp!

Briggs land is an interesting read, presenting as it does, a different way of life and potentially how a government would act towards such a viable case for secession. If America is truly the Land of the Free, why can't a group secede? I do have questions about life in the New Land, how do they buy food? How do they pay for stuff? How does their economy work?How do they know about cell phones (mobile phones to us Brits)? These question are mentioned not as means to decry or debunk this book; they are asked as a sign of respect to a creative team who produced a book that has sincerely piqued my interest. I look forward to discovering the answers along with the further developments of this ongoing story.

This story isn't a new in any shape of form. Golem's or Tulpa's have been part of comics as frequently as any other type of horror trope. In the capable of hands of all involved, this is book that screams honesty in its characters and their motivations.

Brik has been a surprising read. At each turn, Drew's life has the potential to fall apart, but despite the surrounding despair there are lights that spring hope eternal that entices the reader into wanting Drew to succeed in South Yonkers, where others have faltered and failed.

The idea of living for now rather than later could be seen as a statement about a human race who has forgone the sanctity of the planet in order to utilise its resources now, or any number of choices we make on a daily basis where we decide that today is more important than tomorrow. With differing viewpoints on show it is hard to say who is wrong or who is right. But reading a book like this should give a reader an opportunity to look at life from both sides and find out for themselves.

Brooklyn Blood is a strong outing for Levitz and Hamilton, especially for Levitz as it goes to show what a great creator he is, showing the strengths that maybe his New 52 DC work had perceptually diminished.

The book is an odd mix of genres to be sure, though I would have preferred to see the mysterious woman and the quest for Lee's memories take more of a centre stage. I am sure that as this Shannon Lee's second comic book featuring her father, that these answers will be forthcoming. With that said, this issue is a solid introduction to the new "Status Quo of the Dragon".

For a book that, at first, didn't seem to offer much, the surprises come thick and fast. There is a simplicity to the storytelling, being as this is the first issue. Yet, there are enough questions left hanging to indicate that things are going to get a little more complicated. I am normally quite critical of the current trend of story compression to fulfil the demands of TPB format. But here, I am not sure that four issues will be enough for many readers who may well want more issues of Ich's adventures.

Originally I thought nothing more of this book than a vanity project, catering to fans of the movies. After reading this second issue, I am quite happy to have my assumptions changed.

This book has it all; kick ass characters, doomed romance; a possible turncoat; a secret weapon and of course an over top big bad in the shape of Mr Penny. What's not to like in this tech-punk laden world where even the thieves can be the good guys?

As fun as this book feels, I am not sure of the reason for it. Dark Horse has previously published the Buffy book set after the TV show as cannon which was really popular. So why go back to the start and re-vamp (no pun intended) the whole thing? I am sure that there will be elements of fun as we get to meet the newer versions of Mr Pointy, Kendra, Spike, Angel, Faith et al but is that enough for you to buy into this book? Whilst I am on the fence at this stage, the quality of the work and clear love for the show is evident throughout the books pages .

This series has been an interesting read from the get go, with Bellaire and company adding new twists to an all ready popular series.

BOOM! Studios have done a great job in bring Buffy and Angel back to the masses. By taking a different tack, they have managed to keep their Buffy-verse interesting, enjoyable and importantly, fun!

For Willow fans, this book finally puts their heroine firmly in the limelight. It's a credit to how BOOM! have gone about putting out a new range of Buffy stories that do not need to hang on the TV show.

I know that multi-verse is all in vogue at the moment, but truth be told, I could go a month or two without "alternative timelines / universe". Whatever happened to great stories in the current universes? This book may appeal to Buffy fans; for me though it is been there, done that, which is a poor showing for a show and character that affected pop culture so much in her heyday.

Regardless of the target audience, there is enough humour in Andy's quest to have fun-turned-world-saviour to engage with a wide range of readers, especially if you ever wanted to read a book where 90210 and They Live are meshed together.

I have said many times, that Scout Comics have a diverse portfolio of comics, taking on the fantasy trope therefore is right up their cobbled street. Fans of Grimm Fairy Tales may enjoy a simpler looking book that actually feels the weight of trying to rid personal demons in order to bring someone back.

This book has moved from a set number of issues to an ongoing book. This is a huge credit to Naso and Muhr as well as Scout Comics commitment to its creators, which will allow Elodie's world to continue to grow and develop.

To paraphrase, behind every monster is a strong woman trying to kill it. As with a certain vampire slaying cheerleader, it is the aspects of different lifestyles, which seems the clear focal point of the story, will turn out to be the most interesting.

Comics are meant to be entertaining. The fact that top notch creators such as Matteo Pizzolo and Amancay Nahuelpan, along with Briggs Land creators Brian Wood and Mack Chater, can weave the political fallout of secession and present a different version of the United States into engaging books that can challenge a readers perception, is one of the great flexibilities of comic books. Not everything has to revolve around the cape and cowl crowd.

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Waid and Samnee have a style about them that I don't think would suit every Marvel character, though I would like to see them take on Spider-Man. You never know, these two may yetmake Captain America great again!

Captain America is the kind of character who seems to be used to make political points and view points in any number of creators. Duggan has returned to a straight up superhero story, which when compared to the possibly heavy handedness of his regular book at times, is actually quite refreshing.

Captain America, as a book, seems to be polarising in much the same way that Superman can be. Does Cap work better on a team rather than on his own? Is that why the MCU movies Winter Soldier and especially Civil War feel like de facto Avengers movie? I am quite interested in Cap, so I will be keeping an eye on this run.

Books that throw a curveball into recognisable formats have been a bit of a mainstay in comics since Kick-Ass. As such, they run the risk of becoming as part of the community as the books they are trying to either emulate of take apart, before putting the pieces back together to make a new whole.

After the initial hoopla of AfterShock Comics first round of books, the company seems to have settled in to a holding pattern on consolidation. If true, this is a great idea from Editor-in-Chief Mike Marts as the company won't want a deluge of books watering down the overall quality; yes, I am looking at you, Marvel and maybe glancing a little at DC.

Given that Carol runs the risk of being seen as over powered, those involved have kind of tried to ground her with a family of friends, in much the same way that Superman is grounded by Lois, Jimmy and the rest of the Daily Planet. With Carol, apart from Jessica Drew, the lines of friendship seem less distinct. This issue then, sees a total 180 degree turnabout; instead of hiding her power for the sake of friendship, Carol is at her powerful best. Granted, this turn of events may be short lived in the grand scheme of things, but that doesn't that this isn't going to be a helluva ride!

It has been said before that Captain Marvel lives in the good graces of Marvel needing a premier female superhero. After all, how else can you explain the myriad attempts of having her lead a series? In Thompson, Carol has a writer that obviously loves the character and whilst loving a character is different to having a successful book, in this instance I think that Thompson, along with Garbett, have finally hit the right balance.

Having a soft spot for Carol Danvers since the 70's, I ma pleased to have enjoyed this story line. There is no massive motive, no change a characters origins and no suddenly worthy element that effectively reduces the need for any of the other heroes. It has been plainly put, a fun read! Marvel have been doing a great job, for the most part, with their female led books. Hopefully Thompson and company can keep this momentum going.

Overall, I haven't minded this little arc. As I am not reading Empyre, I was a little concerned that these would be lame duck issues. With Thompson introducing Lauri-Ell, she has given us a sort of "Carol-by-proxy" to keep the readers entertained, whilst Carol is doing her war stuff off panel. A surprisingly well executed arc. Well done.

Usual. This is a word that carries some negative connotations. This book has been a solid book for quite a while now. As such it is sometimes hard to appreciate a book that maintains quality rather than excel for periods of time. But appreciate it you should as Thompson's familiarity with the character ensures that there is great storytelling in every issue. Don't fail to see if for all the other Marvel books, trying to be this good, on the rack.

For a book that has been at a high standard for quite some time, this issue was outstanding! When you consider how frustrating Avengers and the Phoenix force story has been, how nothing has happened in Amazing Spider-Man for a whole and don't get me started with the re-incarnation of Claremont's long running elongation of story that Hickman is channeling, Thompson and Carol have delivered quality storytelling month in / month out. Head and shoulders the best book that Marvel has published this year to date.

It shows how much effort and talent Marvel are putting into "just" a regular book; you have superstar writer Kelly Thompson, David Lopez, expert colorist in Triona Farrell and the event letterer and X-font creator Clayton Cowles! How can you not be impressed by this book. Captain Marvel, Black Cat and the up and coming Spider-Woman, which has found its feet, go to show that Marvel has their fingers on the pulse when it comes to their female led books.

Despite the legacy counts, this issue sees the longest run of the Carol's comic book career. Through all the changes, be titular, costume, the addition of Alpha Flight, you have to admire the persistence of Marvel to stick with the character, though truth be told, I feel that Kelly Thompson deserves all the recognition for maintain Carol;'s ongoing presence in the Marvel Universe and in your local comic book shops.

Despite the art snafu's, this book is highly readable, which kind of proves my view that you read a well written book with art you may not enjoy, but not the other way around. You would have to go someway to have art that would detract from Thompson's excellent ideas, plots and dialogue. Captain Marvel is one of the most consistently good books from Marvel Comics, full of energy, humour as Thompson successfully manages to create genuine threats for one of the most powerful characters in the Marvel universe.

Captain Marvel has been one of more consistent books from Marvel; all credit for this has to go to Kelly Thompson who always seems to be on her A game with this character.

This books remains one of the best books that Marvel publish, with a writer at the top of her game, displaying a love for the character that she has worked on for so long.

I am not a huge fan of the A.X.E event, having read a couple of issues from the main arc (don't get me started about the resurrection of Steve Rogers) and a number of tie-in books. This issue is on par with the Amazing Spider-Man issue, though without the pathos that goes hand-in-hand with Peter Parker. Instead, Thompson manages to keep Carol on her toes through the continued us of her supporting cast, be they sister, friend or even cat / Flerkin.

If i have said once, I must have said it a million times, Captain Marvel under the writing of Kelly Thompson is consistently the best book Marvel are putting out, month in month out. Thompson mixes up genuine threat, X-Men excepting, with a sense of family that displays true emotions from the characters.

By using team aspects to Captain Marvel's, Kelly Thompson is showing readers not just her ability to deliver high quality storytelling, demonstrating a fantastic understanding of the character. She has also established herself as the type of writer that I would love to see take on the Avengers; how many time have the Avengers been in Carol's book and vice verse? I am not sure the book could commercially be re-packaged as "Consistent Captain Marvel, though it is fully descriptive and accurate. Another great issue!

Captain Marvel, with Kelly Thompson as writer is, by far, the most consistent Marvel put out. The quality of writing is excellent, with Thompson giving us a Carol that we can love, no mean feat given how the character has been used in the past.

The dialogue is as sharp as ever, each character has their own voice, the level of consistency through the entire run is impressive.

AWA Studios are publishing some excellent books, going from strength to strength. This slice of almost Fatal Attraction offers a look at the things that we lose when we are busy with that thing called life.

Casual Fling is a mini series that, initially, presents a great idea for a story, but ultimately gets a tad waylaid by the weight of its own nuances and fails to deliver any true closure for the problems that beset Jennifer and Matthew before golden masks and video tapes.

Reading the book, I was aware of a certain vacuous experience.Whilst comics are meant to be escapism, I do prefer my character to have something to hold onto. Here, with a man with no past, where is the connection? The connection is going to have to come from Astrid and her mission, which I am sure we will see beginning in the next couple of issues.

Lion Forge have been publishing some strong books. By bringing Simone into the fold, they are looking to capture a loud and vocal group of fans. For that to happen, the quality of the story needs to shine. This is the first issue and whilst it may not automatically feel like a Simone book, there are enough hints and teases to intimate that normal service will be resumed during this run. Throw in the art of Lis and company, delivering a solid quality of production and Lion Forge may eventually get their wish.

The book's main idea is quite simple, there are copycats of all shapes and sizes and a new big bad that seems to have a hate on for everyone's favourite feline of felony. This book is a bit of a break from the norm. Hopefully, the talent of Joelle Jones will finally give Catwoman the book of quality that she deserves.

Story by; Sean Murphy & Blake NorthcottScript by; Blake NorthcottArt by; Cian TorpheyColors by; FCO PlascenciaLetters by; Tom NapolitanoPublished by; DC Comics

I am going to stick around for the new creative team, due in a couple of issues (#39), though if truth be told, I wasn't that impressed with Tini Howards Excalibur book, so I guess time will tell. For Ram V, with news that he's leaving both Justice League Dark and Swap Thing, I hope he gets the opportunity to get more meta-textual, akin to These Savage Shores, soon.

Reading this book, I couldn't shake the feeling that this book is effectively Selina's Dark Knight Return. Look at the similarities; its a four book affair, Two-Face is in the first book and her action are driven by a loss. Oh and there is the ten year element. With all that said, Catwoman Lonely City is a great addition to the Black Label stable.

Written, Art, Colors & Letters by; Cliff Chiang Published by; DC Comics / Black Label

The publishing schedule may mean that we have to wait a while for each book, but all told, Catwoman Lonely City is well worth the wait.

When it comes to comic creators, there are only a few that can change their style of story and still deliver the goods. Warren Ellis is definitely one of those, having written superhero books across the aisle as well as a host of indie and alternative books. Coupled with Jason Howard, the pair have created a world that bears some investigating. Luckily for us, we have Michael Blackburn and his violent tour guide to going exploring with.

This book is a throwback to an almost simpler times, possessing an innocence inherent in the characters that somehow have no concern for how they are portrayed or how they are perceived. Is this any different to how characters are currently portrayed in comics? That's up for debate. What I will say is that the simplicity of intent makes for a refreshing read.

Not being a war comic fan, I am somewhat of a loss about the reason for the book. Sure there is that particular question mentioned at the beginning of this review, but I am left pondering why did the question need asking? That said, those involved tackle the book with gusto, meaning that fans of the genre will no doubt be impressed.

If you want the book to be more about form than substance, at least be consistent with the form. Here, this book feels like the type of book that non-comic book fans will use to vilify the industry. I wonder what the book would have looked like of Marc Silvestri had more input or supplied the art?

I like Scout Comics; there are one of a number of indie publishers that look to diversify their portfolio's. In doing that, they run the risk of dropping a book that doesn't appeal to everyone., regardless of its quality Cherry Blackbird could be one of those books. With a specific audience, this book may well need to find its niche.

Whilst this book may not offer anything new to the whole crime noir genre, the setting help create an unusual juxtaposition between paradise and hell. Under the writing skills of Lindsay and the art of Kivela, I am going to enjoy my visit to Kingsford, it surely meets the definition of a great place to visits, but I would hate to live there."

Writing - 3 StarsArt -3.5 starsColors - 4 stars

As I alluded to, it depends with which part of the brain you use to read this book which will determine your enjoyment. If you take books too seriously (as I sometimes do), then reading this book will only serve to make your eyes roll so hard you will get dizzy. On the other hand, if you have a itchin' for a sassy lassie with a gleefully murderous spirit then you could do worse than check out this mini-series.

This book, in fact this whole mini series is not going to win any prizes for it's high brow story. Depending on your mood you will either love the crazy or you may well feel that the amount of violence with very little story featuring a half dressed stocking wearing curvy womanis an indictment of everything that could be seen as wrong in comics. For me, the truth lies somewhere in between.

If you have followed this series, even buying just one cover per issue, it would cost you $16.96 for an ending that as mentioned may well leave you feeling like you wasted your time and money. This story would have been better served as a one shot which would have cut down the repetition of certain elements and still allow the story, such as it is, to unfold.

I could debate whether the monsters that Cindy faces are part of a mental health condition or an extrapolation. of real life issues or even if they are real at all. Instead I am going to leave that up to you to decide, preferring to enjoy the trials and tribulations of a young girl disillusioned by life, with the love of her dog and best friend her only tangible joy.

I have to admit, I wasn't really looking forward to reading this book, yet I was more than pleasantly surprised. Sure, some of the ideas in the book aren't the newest, but somewhere along the line I found myself intrigued in Clandestino's life. For fans of grimy, dirty violent stories that harbour more than a Tarantino edge, then go check it out and hopefully you will be as surprised as I was.

For a series that initially surprised me, I am more than pleased to say that my surprise has turned in genuine enjoyment of a very well crafted book, that delivers strong characters through solid writing and consistently good art.

It is a wise man that knows when to call time on a series. Too often, characterscan overstay their welcome. By doing so, their existence becomes a parody of all the good stuff that went before. Nahuelpan neatly avoids this by bringing the curtain down in a way that some may expect, but still leaves the door open for further stories of this war torn world. With such skill on show, both in the writing and art department, I am sure that we will see Amancay Nahuelpan's work again very soon.

Dark Horse, kings of the mini-series format, have allowed Snyder and Manapul to produce a giant sized issue. which allows Snyder's script to breath without the confines of 22 pages. This gives book a more fuller, grander, more epic feel to proceedings. It also means that you will be done in three issues, albeit at a higher price point. For the swathes of Snyder fans out there, this is another great example of the world outside of Batman!

An interesting book, part examination of the vigilantes and the need for a sidekick coupled with a gumshoe detective story with a well worked cliff-hanger which secures readers returning.

IDW's Clue hits the rack a week or so after Image's Shirtless Bear Fighter, both ramping the "laugh out loud" elements, proving that there can be some fun had in this oft Dark Forge, Crisis, Secret Empire comic industry. I can't wait for the Monopoly comic!

There are parts in this book that did grab my attention; initially I thought the demise of the nun was going to lead into a metaphor about religion, In the hand, it seems just happenstance sent her on her way. Despite the number of influences inherent in this book, I feel the Mo could have wrung some originality out of this mash-up of used and re-cycled ideas.

If you read The Dreggs, you could be forgiven for assuming you know the writings of Thompson and Nadler. True both books challenge perceptions and the order of things, and even though the battle between being rich or being poor does raise its head here, it is by no means the same level as their previous work. I am a big fan of Black Mask Comics, having read quite a selection of their books, as they quietly go about carving out a niche for themselves by delivering quality products.

Over the last year there have been a number of specials, be it Joker, Catwoman, Robin and Detective #1027, not forgetting the 80 Years of Marvel special. This has certainly been my favourite which surprises me as the last Conan book I bought was the Conan Wonder Woman book from DC/Dark Horse.

With so much going on, there will be a story element that you may enjoy more than others. if thats the case, are the remaining elements enough to help you through the book? The flip is that by losing her sobriety, the various elements will have an impact on Rose, with her reactions and actions possibly crashing further.

This third issue is a tough read; not for any drop in the writing. There is a lot of darkness on show, be it the darkness of secrets, the weight of responsibility or the pressure of living several lies; it all comes to ahead here. Klein sprinkles in a couple of possible future elements which may have an impact, Time will tell. As it is, I am still intrigued as to where Rose will crash land.

Issue 4 is the wrong book to use as jump in point. Rose's story may have started small, with the focus on her, but every interaction has been marred by her addiction, whether she is fighting it or succumbing to it; a heady cocktail that unapologetically does not promise a happy ending.

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This was a fun read, given the history of the comic book industry; there are Fredric Wertham quotes and the influences of the Seduction of the Innocent are plain to see. Part of this may be the influences of Mark Waid who is helping out with story edits and putting it all together. It is going to be a fun ride.

I am not sure how I feel about "The New Age of Heroes". Whilst I sit on the fence, pondering if having a range of new characters is financially feasible for comic book fans (I know I can't afford to buy every book), retailers who may have to chop numbers in other areas such as indie books perhaps and DC; if I have a choice to buy a book with my favourite characters or a new book with a new character thatI have no real relationship with, how do you think my knee will jerk? These are questions for another time. In the meantime, the New Age is upon us with a pretty solid book straight out of the gate.

Four issues keeps things tight, so don't expect any wasted panels or pages, as MacKinnon and company have produced afun little book with a boundless amount of energy; it will be interesting to see what happens when Connor stops for a breather.

In many ways the book kind of reminds me of the Buffy TV show. I recently re-watched a couple of episodes and I have to say, it hasn't aged well at all. What is surprising is how well Jordie Bellaire's Buffy book reshapes that world. Unfortunately, it is this "not aged well" vibe that I get from this mixed audience book.

Top Cow are one of the most consistent studios in the Image arsenal. Regardless of the lack of freshness you can always rely on the studio to produce a high quality looking book.This is no exception. Will the quality of production over the story content be enough for Dante to hit his peak? Only time will tell if the series is strong enough to compete with some much better books out there.

For comic book fans of a certain age, Frank Miller's time on Daredevil always features as the best run for this character. I would say however, that Zdarsky is quietly delivering a run that could quite easily be regarded in the same light, at least for this generation of fans.

It is fair to say that the devil switcheroo may have given this book some traction. However it s Zdarsky that has kept the book moving forward, giving us characters in both Matt and Elektra to root for. Zadarsky has managed to utilise the villains of the most classic Daredevil stories of Frank Miller's run and given them a role that feels like a real threat for the first time in ages. This run could be this generations of readers Born Again!

Another good issue in a run where exceptional storytelling is now becoming the norm, which adds further pressure on those involved to keep bar at its high level.

This book was a lot more fun than I expected it to be, effectively resetting players into another crusade, or is that fools errand?

This book continues to build on Daredevil's and Elektra's return to grace, demonstrating excellent storytelling through effective monologues and art that radiates quality in a variety of environs. Hands down a great book!

This event has me intrigued to say the least. Without the pressures of what comes next, readers can enjoy the the journey not focus so much on the destination.

Back when they started, I was a big fan of AfterShock. Unfortunately, at least for me, after a great start, the books tended to fall in to something of a holding pattern. As if once that initial pop, editors were happy to not push the envelope as much. I am glad to say that with Dark Ark, AfterShock is getting back to what they are possibly best known for; great twists on what readers think of as original stories. In the hands of Bunn and Doe, AfterShock may once again be riding the tide of success.

Dark Ark is a relatively simple tale, which will require all of Bunn's skills to retain reader interest.The monsters and demons do offer an interestingconfluence of intentions. Some may seem honourable, saving the humans in the hold when their own kind left them to drown; others just want to eat them I am sure thatBunn is up to the task, even if the threat teased at the end of book, may offer another conflict which hopefully will allow those subplots to come to fruition, with Doe's art capturing the action in all its demonic glory.

This book was to have the first appearance of the Red Canary, and she does appear, though blink and you may miss her. Middle point of the story and the heroes are still licking their wounds. I do sometimes worry about continuity, given the amount of character who have their own books and stories; can Nightwing spend this much time away from Bldhaven? Overall though, I am in for the ride. lets see where it ends.

The definition of "Casting" is to pour molten metal into a mould. Taking the obvious metal out of the equation, and applying The Forge, it seems to me that Bruce's actions havecertainly been shaped and forced into the role thatthe Dark requires him to be. Taken on its own, this book is a big improvement on the last issue, in part for the reasons mentioned above and also, because we now know what to expect from the format of the story. It would certainly be advisable to read the pair of books back to back. Finally, as with any prelude book, there are a myriad of question left unanswered, to whet your appetite for the upcoming one shots and main event.

I am sure that there are those out there who will think that this book is the greatest book of all time, possibly oblivious to the fact that for it work, all the other great books had to come first. There will be those that will deride it for being yet another "event book", hot on the heels of Marvel's current love it or hate it, Secret Empire. The truth, as always, lies somewhere in between. Snyder, at least in my opinion, has always been good at the set up part of the story and this issues, with its easter eggs and nods to his New 52 run is by no means an exception. But now, as with Jim Lee books shipping on time, I have learnt from experience and choose not to get carried away with the hype. Instead, I lay a challenge to the crew of eleven with the cast of many story, the stage is set, now, impress me!

I love the original Dark Knight Returns and I liked DKIII eventually. I even enjoyed The Dark Knight Returns: The Last Crusade (purchased in the discount bin), but I am a sucker for John Romita Jr. art With all that said, I am not sure why we have this book. Could it be that DC are going back to the well a little too often. After all, its not like there is a shortage of Black Label bat-centric books out there. For fans of Miller, rather than fans of Batman, this book may be of interest, as will perhaps the pull of Gramp on art. For me, I think this book is a bit of a storm in a tea cup, that once read actually offers nothing new to the world, and like that oft visited well, is seemingly running dry.

Re-interpretation. Rehash. Re-done. Regurgitation. Copy. All of this words can be thrown at this book. Do we really need every last mystery laid bare for us? Does anyone really care how the Robin from an essentially and albeit excellent Elseworld story died? There is nothing really wrong with framing a story in the familiar, but something new has to be thrown into the mix, otherwise there is no point. With everyone knowing the outcome for Jason, it feels like, especially towards the end, that the writers have just thought, "if that's what they want to see, let's show it" and done so with a lack of sincerity or craft.

So there you have it, DC's summer starts here, with another part of Gotham destroyed and Batman keeping secrets from his friends. This may sound like a poor setup for such a huge event, but lest we forget, Snyder's storytelling is all about the journey and when the landscape is provided by Capullo et al, who can really complain. Please fasten your seat belts, we are in for wild ride.

This issue is something of a return to form, after the debacle that is Batmanium. It seems that all of us, not just Superman, needs to have faith. This issue may well be that start of having that faith repaid.

Cynically, this series is mainly about creating new books to spin out of it. I don't really have a problem with that; comic companies have been doing that for years and we are still hooked enough to buy them. I just hope that when the dust settles and when the DC universe is back to normal, (sorry guys it will be, the tie-in books have already reverted to their regular scheduled programming, with only Teen Titans showing any sort of nod to these events), that we have been given a great story in its own right.

Overall, I am left disappointed by the whole thing, a plot device fora series of books that don't appeal to me seems like a waste of my time, despite some of the great art and colors that have been on show. Maybe, after all this, I actually agree with Batman, "We never speak of this again".

When it comes to vampires, there isn't really a whole not of new stuff you can add. In this case, there are influences in play that you may have seen before, most notably True Blood and Twilight, with the setting and the idea of marking the land as theirs; though thankfully there are no sparkly vampires. Previously AftserShock like to go for the jugular when it comes to stories with a twist. This idea may have served it's usefulness as constant twists and turns can become the norm with over use. As such, this book, with its reasonably normal setup is actually a bit of fresh for the publisher, though I am sure that whole story may have a bite down the line.

Away from the world of Gotham and the Justice League, Snyder has a reputation of delivering fantastic work. Without the pressures of working on a cross media icon, and being free to tell hisstory, I am sure that this book will be another blaze of glory for him.

This book is a straight-forward comic, does what it says on the cover and delivers on the newer ideas of Darkhawk, whilst paying homage to the past via certain story elements. Surely, in todays heavy continuity laden, every story is a multiverse industry we could all do with sitting back and enjoying a simply well told story?

For a character that is basically a mix and mash of Spider-Mans responsibility schtick, Iron Man or Rom's armour, Falcon's wings and Wolverine's claws, Darkhawk was well received. During he publishing life, it did feel like Marvel were trying to pimp into every book; there's no shame in that, after all that's how Dazzler got her big gig! This book is a love letter to all the Darkhawk fans, giving the character a new lease of life.

Darkhold has been a surprising little mini event for me. I didn't expect much, then those expectations were smashed and now, this book has effectively lowered them again. Where is the horror? Where is the twist? Where is the sting in the tail? Maybe a book like this is needed to allow future books to bring the heat with only two more issues to go.

As with the majority of events or even mini-events, there are going to be highs and lows. Darkhold Blade has an exterior problem to deal with. The Darkhold Iron Man book set the bar extremely high with the idea of Tales of Suspense type of twist. That issue used existing characters that were instantly recognisable to even the most casual of readers; here Blade kind of suffers a tad. I wonder where on the scale the following book land.

Alternative realities are all the rage at the moment, be it multiversal or one created by a third party, in this case the Darkhold. For me, therein lies the problem. It wasn't that long ago when I reviewed Dark Ages; that mini series isn't due to end until Jan 2022 and of course it wasn't that long ago we had the second generation of Heroes Reborn. So my question is, are readers that bored of the regular heroes and continuity now? Regardless of the timing, this is a fun read, with clever twists that may well surprise you.

Despite some fun issues, the Wasp, Spider-Man and Iron Man, this series has kind of dovetailed into an ending that feels a tad lacklustre and underwhelming. With that said, I can see how the book will appeal to Wanda fans.

Over the last couple of years, over different events, Paknadel has never failed to deliver the goods; this book is no exception to his high standards!

I had serious doubts of the Darkhold mini-event, being as it came around on top of of Dark Ages; how many alternative universes do you need to see in any given month? That said, the quality of the Darkhold books has been pretty good, the re-workings of the familiar have turned out better than expected.

Monsters of the moon are as synonymous to "bumps in the night" as vampires and zombies. Overall, this is a solid attempt at covering off a story in a typical horror infused genre.

One year, back when I was eightor so, I wrote a Star Wars Christmas story, in which Princess Leia decided to send Darth Vader a tin of polish for Christmas. It's the sort of nonsense Christmas story that only makes sense when you are a certain age, at the most wonderful time of the year. For a lot or reasons, this books reminds me of that story. The kid in me smiled at parts of this book, where the adult I am now would balk at the cover price. Still,the book has enough about it, with stellar creators providing stories that will appeal across the age ranges. Just a thought DC, next year, to make it truly special, why not make this a charity book, with the sales going to a national charity of choice. That way, people may not mind dropping the $9.99 on Christmas whimsy.

The book may well be a preview of future events, but it is done with style, strong characters and a massive amount of heart. Well done DC and well done Geoff Johns.

If I ma honest, I am a tad sick of alternative universe stories that are out of continuity. With that said, this series has been fun from the get go and I am really looking to see how it plays out over the remaining issues and thanks to the quality of the work from Messrs Tynion IV, Rosenberg and Schmidt, this book has a real bite to it! #sorrynotsorry

These specials are always a mixed bag, especially given the high price point, Still, it is a great way to sample some of the best indie creators as they take on the more familair characters. From a creator point of view, these specials are a win/win; not only do they get a bigger audience, but may also drive readers to try nooks outside of their comfort zone.

Zombie versus superheroes isn't a new thing; Marvel did this awhile ago, though they may have dallied with subject matter for too long, after all who cares is "D" list character get turned into zombies? With this type of book, Taylor and gang are going to have to make journey really interesting to counter the familiar zombie trope.

This first issue does what it needs to do. We get brief introductions that will lead further into play as the story progresses. Gogol, who received some fantastic coverage for his previous book, is taking his story-telling up a notch with a longer story rather than snippets. It is challenge that I am sure that he is more than up to.

An enjoyable mash up of the medieval and zombie tropes, that whilst playing within the expected confines of each is well produced that engages the reader .

I was unsure what to think of this book, initially. Yes, it could be seen as a tad pretentious, though Russell ideas certainly have resonance in todays world, both on an individual and societal scale. The "twists" in the tale add a level of darkness and enjoyability to yet another Vault Comics hit.

I looked at this book a couple of times before choosing to put, erm, digital pen to digital paper. Ahoy books look to mess with your idea of the world. It is great to see that this modus operandi is still in full swing.

DC are in the midst of the final third act of Rebirth, withthe majority of their previously announced books hitting the shops and our wallets. Still, it is good to see that they have learnt their lesson from New 52. Instead of getting an ongoing series, which somehow manages to get cancelled, DC are taking the "dip your toes in the water approach". This is a great way to whet the appetite of the readers, but to fully the succeed the book needs to be of a high standard. This book isn't there yet, but it is only the first issue. To determine success, the whole mini series will need to be taken as a whole, with this book hopefully enticing you to pick up the remainder of the run.

This book is great read that instantly makes me want to back track and find the first issue before next months conclusion. Hopefully Mr Lindsay remembers that he owes me a happy ending!

The original Defenders book was a cult classic; Secret Defenders was a mutt of a book. It will interesting to see how this new mini series fares, especially given the up and coming publicised Death of Doctor Strange,

I really wanted to like this book, coming back for a second look. Thanks to the uneven storytelling and art, I don't think I will be jetting into battle, rather I will be leaving this book faster than light!

A surprise book from the outset, that impresses a cynic like me with its "it is what it is honesty, in an easy going, charming and fun read.

I am uncertain what I expected from a Dejah Thoris book. I do know that this wasn't it, at all. Sure, Dejah lives in a secluded type of world, with threats always having to come within. That may be one story retold over and over, but at least the art could fit my expectations!

Dejah Thoris is a staple of Dynamite's comic book line; in that regard, Abnett and Miracolo do not disappoint, I am sure that fans of Dejah and John will find plenty to enjoy in this book.

A chewy issue at times, this book is an important piece of the puzzle for readers of this series. Patience is requires, maybe more than John Carter himself displays, but patience nonetheless. the next few issues may be make or break for this run in order to make the time spent here worthwhile.

I love noir detective books, I love the setups in this book and look forward to the many twists and turns that the reader and Tate will undoubtedly take as we both follow Vera into this very kink friendly series.

Whilst this book is heads and shoulders above the Batman book, I do have reservations. I am a big Batman fan. I love the comics and B:TAS and have a great deal of affection for "The Batman" cartoon show. When this story line was first proposed, I couldn't help but be reminded of the episode "Rumours", which features an armoured man taking down Batman villains and the episode "The End of The Batman", which features a duo looking to usurp the Dynamic Duo. Still, there is the possibly that the big bad, who's first appearance may well be Rebirth #1, will add a new level of intrigue to this "new" book, that features old style story telling of the protectors of the Gotham night.

I have said for sometime, that I am enjoying Detective way more than the main Batman book. To me, there is a lack of pretension and there is a sense of logic that flows. Very rarely do you get something that works just because "I'm Batman". Others will say that Detective suffers because there is no seemingly importance or impact to Batman, the recent letters to Catwoman being an obvious example. I would argue that Detective's strength is the relationships between the characters, how Batman interacts with them. In many ways it isa more genuine interaction than the one shown between Batman and the Justice League. Amongst the DC Rebirth titles, this book remain one of the most consistently enjoyable.

The change of pace and change of focus may put some fans off, especially as they may feel its like a filler song before the big hit on a CD. Extending the metaphor a little, if you spend your time waiting for Anna Begins, you will miss out on the nuanced Perfect Blue Building. Despite the changes, events in this arc will have repercussions down the line, which in part, is why Detective remain one of the most consistent books from DC Comics.

With all that said, this book is a great starting point for the celebration of Batman's 80th.

Given the over 80 years of his existence, there are going to be parts of Batman you don't like. Invariably, theses may pop up in here, after all you can't please everyone all of the time. Instead of picking at the faults that I am sure exist in the book (I loved the Aparo mentions and Spoiler getting hugged by Batgirl is one the best bits however), I am instead going to tip my hat and say well done DC for producing a book worthy of this tremendous milestone that I doubt Bob Kane and Bill Finger themselves would ever have seen coming!

Now that all the hype of The Batman has passed by, it's perhaps time to get back to what Batman does best! With two new creative teams on the main bat-books, the excellent The Knight mini series, regardless of the varied crossover books (of mixed quality), this could be a rich vein for Batman.

AWA or Artists Writers & Artisans Inc. giving them them their full title ,may sound a little pretentious, but based on this first issue, Percy, Schoonover and company are certainly trying to live up to the company title.

AWA thrive on this type of mature storyline; sometimes its not clear who the good and bad guys are or if there are good guys, they are fragile as if one more bad case or situation will break them forever. The fact these types of characters are driven to fight the good fight is matter of their own personal issues as much as it is in protecting others in the world. It is this level of ambiguity that makes this book an interesting read.

At first reading, I wasn't that impressed with this book. Bucky looking for his past is as used as a story as Red Hood being angry at Batman. Lanzing and Kelly have used the usual desire of the character [Bucky] to change the perspective of the whole Fisk files. As such, this is an interesting book that stand out against the usual superhero ideal of trying to take down the bad guy.

This book kind of creeped up on me in the listings. I am glad I took the time to give it a once over. It is going to be an interesting ride, given the influences on show and the writers looking to improve on their own facets of past work that show up. Die!namite indeed!

When I first looked at this book, I was kind of all over the place, given the way Tarzan is shown and how he speaks. But, as they say in football, after further review I enjoyed the chaos and the art, which pretty much describes the whole Die!namite affair.

Two books from Dynamite this week have a Valentine's theme of sorts, though this one's vine is more evident. As a sojourn from the main Die!namite story it works more so, giving the reader a kind of breather from the main battles.

This book was originally a Kickstarter project, that smashed its various goals. Now looking at the quality of both the script and the art, it seems clear that all involved shouldn't have any problems raising funds for the subsequent issues.

I am one of the few Crusader who doesn't swoon at the thought of a new Valiant book. That said, I am very impressed with this first issue, enough to hold my "punchline never hits the highpoint of the setup" cynicism in check.. Kindt has trifled with my expectation level. I hope he and his artistic cohorts are up to the challenge.

This series has been quite a surprise for me. Maybe the Valiant fans out there will deride me for coming late to this party, and if that's the case, then so be it;I will take the hit. Hopefully, Kindt and his crew will continue to deliver on this book.

For a book that had so much potential, I can't help feel a little bit disappointed in the conclusion. With the level of effort that Valiant, as a company, has put into this event. It seems that the things I feared regarding this run, may have unfortunately reared its head, leaving me not quite sure what all the fuss is regarding this series and feeling a little jaded regarding Valiant books.

For all the great things that are in this book, it is quite a simple story, albeit extremely well told, containing as it does the little snippet of hope. As a companion piece to the main story, it works as it gives us more of a view of the problems that Colin King is facing, which were alluded to in the first issue of the main series. As this series isshowing aValiant universe that is current, there is at some point going to be a snapback. How that is works with the series' that follows depends on the quality of the overall story, aided by the quality of the tie-in books.

Jeff Lemire is certainly starting to show his versatility of late, working on a range of books from a range of publishers. Here, his "JSA wannabes" and Doctor Star himself, have an opportunity to shine some light on the long forgotten Golden Age and quite possibly by doing so, go someway to show that not every great story needs to be centred around an event.

I have never really bought into the comic adventures of the Doctor, not when he was a Marvel book for a while or when he had his own monthly magazine out in the 80's (the Peter Davison years). I don't know why that would be the case. Intellectually I know that the comic can show more aliens or special effects than the show, but there seems something special about watching Doctor Who. So, even though this book is not going to replace or even be a welcome addition to the show for me , I have to applaud those involved for keeping their faith and producing a comic that maintains the current incarnations feel and vibe.

Paradox's can be fun, despite that fact they are practically imaginary stories that have no ramifications, full of sciencey, time-wimey stuff that barely makes sense, but because it will all get wiped out it doesn't really matter. With all of time and space to play with, it does baffle me why there is a a need to even invoke the "P" word. Still, this is a good effort that shows who much work and quality Titan Comics are putting into their comic range.

After months of Dark Nights and crazy continuity problems, it is a welcome relief to read such a fun book. In some ways, this book has been a palate cleanser. It is also a bit of a boost for Simone, whose early work on Birds could be seen as her best superhero work, and had failed to hit the high notes on subsequent Birds series and, despite her well known affection for, the Barbara Batgirl book.

As it stands, the clock may be ticking but my interest in this series is by no means running out.

I absolutely loved the first issue of this maxi series. Then I went to the cinema and watched Star Wars: The Last Jedi. I bring this up as both that movie and to some extent this series serves to tread the same ground; walking the fine line between the reminiscent and the new. Also, as with the movie, I am not certain how long this perception can continue to deliver the results that DC are counting on. Strangely enough, the traditional use of a quote on the last page seems to echo this sentiment.

Recently, it was announced that this book had shifted to a bi-monthly schedule meaning that what was going to be a 12 month story will likely take a whopping 21 months in total to tell. Keeping the readership entertained for that length of time will be the real trick for Johns and Frank, especially as at times this book currently feels as welcome addition to the Watchmen mythos as Superman Returns is to the Superman movies. Homage is great; but eventually, this story will need to produce something to rival the original series, or else what was the point?

With this issue, it finally feels that we are getting some traction. With four issues left, it will interesting to see how Johns will bring the various threads together. With more than half the run plotted as set up, we run the risk of having the solutions and conclusions coming thick and fast. If that's the case, then the climax will have to be pretty spectacular to warrant the cost, length and at times pedestrian earlier plotting. That's a problem we will have to deal with over the next eight months. As it is, this issue serves the overall pacing well, driving the pace forward as, even in this late stage, there are still questions being asked.

This issue has gone a long way in giving some credibility to the storytelling of this run. With Johns essentially giving reasons for all the reboots and crises there may be bigger implications yet to come. With #11 due in July, the final issue should be out September time. By which point, we will be in the midst of Leviathan and the Year of the Villain. With that in mind, I am curious to see what ramifications, if any, The Doomsday Clock will have on the DC universe.

I was so looking forward to this series. Unfortunately, DC has dropped the ball too many times. The already pedestrian pacing has suffered with the infamous delays that this series has suffered. Throw in the excellent, high quality House and Powers of X from Marvel and you get to see how this books should have been produced and received. As it is, Doomsday Clock feels over long, over tired and over played. Can the final issue both rescue and validate this whole series?

DC, and to some extent Geoff Johns, had grand hopes for this book, as they tried to encompass so many different aspects. Firstly, the series was about bringing the Watchmen to the DC Universe. Then it was about given Rebirth a reason; then there was bringing back the Legion and JSA! Looking back over the entire run, I can't help feel that creativity has given way to a level of pretension that has failed to meet the all the overall goals. Given that the delays were never going to help the book, maybe a less is more or at least a less planning and more doing would have helped this Clock wind down.

This second issue sorts of restarts the main story, after last issues mainly introduction of sorts, the thrust of the arc is moving forward. Piest has a huge following, I am reading Vampirella Unholy. It will be interesting to see if Priest's style change to accommodate his very different leading ladies.

Oni Press have an eclectic range of books to be sure. Give them their credit; whilst fans of the game will no doubt have their expectations, the dialogue, the setup and the covers go some way to more than hint at what is in the inside. If same-sex love between two men isn't your thing, then simply don't pick up the book. Don't buy it then complain about the content, as by doing so, you may miss that fact that really is a sweet love story between two people who are happy to be in each others life.

Dying is Easy #1 is out in shops on December 11th.Dyingiseasywill be available for purchasehereat IDW Publishing and wherever print and digital comics are sold. Or, support your local comic shops usingwww.comicshoplocator.com.

Creator and writer Roye Okupe has mined a number of different ideas in order to deliver this book. An techno-futuristic African nation screams Wakanda and a armour suit could be either Iron Man or perhaps more obviously, Batwing. With that said, having inspirations and influences is not necessarily a bad thing; how else do you find an audience. In Wale, Okupe has a character that will seem familiar, making the book an easy read from the outset.

Echoes; a reverberation of the past. The title alludes to the journey that Martin is going through, but could also be used as a nod to the influences mentioned earlier. That allusion is probably going to be the hardest sell in regards to the book and it is one that is only overcome by reading the book and immersing yourself in Martin's journey.

This book is a crime noir type of book that I didn't think I was going to like. The tropes in play are reminiscent of other stories from across all four corners of the media market. So it is to the credit to all involved, that I actually found myself rooting for Samantha and James; that I was wary of the plan and even worried by the cliff hanger ending. Good work in converting a non believer.

Whilst it is a given that there is more than meets the eye to the town of Eden's Fall, the fact that the outside world shares a level of ambiguity can seem more disturbing. Overall, this book continues to deliver on the promises made in the first issue.

I really enjoyed the first couple of issues. But as I read this book, I am struck by the idea thatafter the surpriseending of issue one, you pretty much know where the book is going. Maybe thenew characters were meant to be the curve balls, but in theend, this story pretty much concluded halfway throughthe second issue. A very disappointing ending to aseries that started so well.

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Being not really sure what to expect from this book, I have to say I found the whole book charming in a subtly horrifying way. I do have reservations about the longevity of the premise; once the fun has stopped with all the wishes, will there be enough left tin the tank to resolve the problems caused? I could wish for a conclusion, but I think that would mean missing so many interesting ideas and observations.

A few years back, Valient stormed back into racks of your LCBS too much fanfare. Since then, I can't help but feel that they have run out of steam a little bit, with familiarity breeding something not quite akin to contempt. Their freshness may have seemed greater at the time as the Big Two were mired in their own problems. Since then, with ships righted (and a huge number of books out every week), Valiant's output doesn't seem quite as good as it did. Certainly, the lost Warrior story, told more than once already, is certainly not going to help change that opinion.

For a book essentially about gods you want the art to look epic and grandiose. In that regard, Esad Ribic rises to the task brilliantly with powerful characters existing in grand halls, machines and environments.

Valiant may have taken a page out of the Dark Horse publishing manual, utilising mini series format rather than an ongoing book. This really works for a book that is looking to deliver a certain type of vibe, where a change in creators coulddisrupt the quality of the story that is being told. It also helps generate a level of excitement and anticipation in fans. After the realityaltering heaviness of Stalinverse, it's refreshing tosee Kindttackle something that is a tad more personal.

Don't be put off by the title of the book. Euthanasia is a serious topic that other than the wordplay that gives the book its title, doesn't really feature. In fact, it's the topic is exploring the realms beyond death, regardless how the person in question got there, that is the focus. As a first issue, the premise of the book is intriguing, with the quality of the reading experience exemplary.

I am not sure where I stand on this book. Maybe I am getting event-fatigue with the, for me at least, anti-climax of Heroes in Crisis and the ongoing elongated Doomsday Clock, meaning that with this book, DC may be a victim of its own not quite success. On the other hand, having Bendis and Maleev back on a book will no doubt bring fans of their Marvel stuff over to the their perceived dark side if DC Comics.

I am a huge fan of both Lindsay and Kivela; I love how neither are just settling as creators. Instead they continue to push their talent forward with stories that feel as diverse as any of the big indie publishers output. For a book that mixes scope of environment with the scope of human emotions, Everfrost, through Lindsay and Kivela, surely delivers.

With this book, Zenescope are showing readers that they can do more than salacious covers and fairy tales both Grimm and not so Grimm. If this I means to get more recognition for their books, then I am a little disappointed that they have chosen to make the stand in such a facsimile manner.

The range of books that are slatted to spin out of the House/Powers book seem to hark back to the X-Men heyday of sorts; not sure I really need a new Fallen Angels books regardless of their recent reprint in Marvel Tales. With that in mind, I am not sure how long the apparent ancillary books will last, especially as the main characters are getting ramped up in the next couple of months or so. Still, you have to applaud Marvel for trying to live up to it layered tapestry of history.

For the most part, I am not sure if I am the target audience for an Aspen book. At times, I think that the maturity of the story is somewhat hindered by the needs of showing the characters in a certain light. Art style not withstanding, coming back to the book, I had hoped for a growth from the previous book. As it is, more of the same might have been good enough if the whole book had the quality of the first part.

Despite the oft travelled road of technology running amok, this book from Vault Comics is off to an intriguing start.

This is an ongoing series, structured in five issue arcs. Schirmer and Balboni also have set themselves the task of providing a complete story in an issue. Given today's usual preference to write for trades, I have to say, I like the nod back to yesteryear especially as it gives the impression that every issue will be a valid jumping on point. All in all, this is an intriguing read based in a new world, with Schirmer's influences clearly seen throughout the book.

At times, Faith is shown inconsistently by the same artists, the aforementioned aging of the character, shown in the origin part of the book for example. Still this is a minor quibble which doesn't detract from the amusement of Faith's troubles or the energy that propels the story forward.