Josh Epstein Comic Reviews

The first issue of D4VE is a darkly funny, masterfully composed opening movement of an opus which holds tremendous promise. Farrier and Ramon have delivered a delightfully fresh take on the robot apocalypse and, if the series delivers on its potential, may have given us the most original spin on nearly-century old concept that we've ever seen.

VERDICTIt would have been difficult to live up to the advance hype that God Country received, but Cates and company delivered in spades. The opening chapter is a perfectly paced blend of poignant character moments and explosive story beats. The creative team is in near-perfect sync, turning in stellar work. This book is incredibly ambitious, and if its only fault is attempting to reach the scope of a Jack Kirby Fourth World story without QUITE nailing the landing. That said, if it keeps up its pace, then God Country is an early front-runner for the 2018 Eisner Awards in several categories. As such, I feel no compunctions about giving this issue an almost-perfect 9.5/10.

While thematically on-point and brilliantly crafted from an artistic perspective, Imperium isn't new-reader friendly. It's beautifully constructed but has zero in the way of character accessibility.

The only reason that I am not giving this issue an absolute rock-bottom rating is the art itself. For what the script demands, Ryan Ottley does a superb job. He captures a great deal of emotion in the Mark/Eve scenes, and manages to convey the menace of Mark's assailant in a way which makes her legitimately disturbing.

Moonshine has the sudden kick and slow burn of the back-country likker after which it's named. Luckily, it won't blind you like it's namesake, because then you wouldn't be able to see how gorgeous it is. It would have been difficult to start on a stronger note, and the rousing beginning earns the first issue a near-perfect 9/10.

Postal might seem on its surface like a simple "whodunnit" tale, but that is almost assuredly not the case. The very nature of the setting and the murky pasts of the characters who make up the cast of Postal make it a certainty that the title has a lot more to reveal in future issues.

Real Heroes looks like it's going to be a hell of a ride. Visually spectacular, personally engaging, and a stinging shot across the bow of the super-hero movie machine which dominates modern box offices.

For a series based on a show spun out of a movie franchise, "S.H.I.E.L.D. #1" is a fine debut. It's fun, charming, and finely executed. While it loses a couple of points on the finer points of the art, Mark Waid was the perfect choice to write this book, and delivers with aplomb. Definitely a good read.

The return of Sex Criminals to comic shop stands is a mixed bag. The book has all the same elements which made it a raging success, but this issue feels more like what it is: a bridge from what has come before to what the book is about to become, which is a more ensemble-focused endeavor. This is not necessarily a bad thing, and as a bridge it does quite well. When collected in trade, it will make an excellent first chapter. The dialogue between the characters and the audience remains one of the book's strong points, even if it felt a tad bit overdone in this instance. Zdarsky is fantastic even if he doesn't get enough opportunities to strut his stuff. Overall, this is not the strongest issue of Sex Criminals, but it still delivers all the solid punches which have made the series so enjoyable.

The Man of Tomorrowis back, boys and girls. The world had better be ready.

Overall, the first issue of Tarzan on the Planet of the Apes is a success. It checks off all the boxes needed to jump-start a story. Walker and Seeley's unique approach to the combination is beautifully aided by Dagnino and Molina's art. The combination makes for an beautifully engaging read. There is enough meat to the story to bring readers back for more, and it will be interesting to see where it goes.

The Black Monday Murders is Hickman's most ambitious work to date, and if he doesn't wind up dying mysteriously in a small aircraft crash before completing it, it should be amazing to see to its end.

VERDICTDespite its slow pace, the second issue of The Black Monday Murders remains a darkly compelling story which both educates and entertains. It is Hickman doing what he does best: shining a light into the dark corners of society and revealing the entrenched power structures which control it. The combination of depth and it's perfectly crafted artistic sensibility are enough to earn this month's issue a solid 8/10.

The first issue of The Discipline is a bit of a tease. It offers up a taste of the dark, mystical, sensuous world which the series will explore without delivering on the promise by the last page. Peter Milligan is obviously going for the "always leave 'em wanting more" approach, and in that he succeeds admirably. Aided by the delightfully smooth, clean art work of Leandro Fernandez, Milligan has delivered an excellent first installment in what should be a tremendously fascinating, edgy series, earning a truly exciting 9/10. - See more at: http://capelesscrusader.org/advance-review-the-discipline-1/#sthash.Szxk8HoX.dpuf

The Goddamned is an ambitious story which will delight fans of apocalyptic fiction. Its horrific setting, corrupt characters, and unrepentant brutality blend into a sickening masterpiece.The beautiful ugliness of R.M. Guera's art is impossible to look away from and pairs with Jason Aaron's script perfectly. It will never find its way into Christian book stores, but it fleshes out the Book of Genesis in a way which will force you to keep reading.

"The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #1" hits on all cylinders. It knows exactly what it's trying to be and makes zero apologies for it. This book is fabulously funny and perfectly composed.