Kate Kosturski Comic Reviews

In writing "Almost," Larcenet attempts to bring sense to his time in the military and events he experienced, as well as how they affect him today. It's a powerful mediation on the concept of PTSD, and while it was a form of therapy for him, he knows "it wouldn't resolve anything." He seems to be shocked at the breadth and depth of anguish retelling this story brought to him, but is he grateful that he was able to work out this complicated, painful, period of his life on the page?

A fine start to the second half of Shadow's journey, taking the necessary pause to regroup and set things in place for the larger battle to come.

Hampton has hit it out of the park with the art in this issue, and that convinced me to stick with the comic. Fans of the TV show may be a little disappointed to see that it is not a direct-tie in, but it is worth exploring to see another interpretation of the story.

We may have Kyler out of his captor's clutches, but the real adventure, short and sweet as it may be, is just beginning.

Mission executed superbly. We'll miss you Octavia, Dominic, Charlotte, Roz, and even Carlos and his waffle van.

Sometimes (perhaps more now than ever) you want to just be a kid again. But you also want want to still be an adult and do all those adult things that you couldn't do as a kid. This book gives you the best of both worlds.

Surprisingly accessible at a late point in the story, and the Harley-Punchline meeting works. But devoted readers looking for more tension to build to that promised explosive climax will feel let down.

Fans of Agent Carter will enjoy the spies in Hollywood plotline, but this can become lets use the Bettie Page name to drive sales gimmick fast (with said gimmick not working for many) if better attention is not given to the real Ms. Page herself, both in plot and in art.

One cannot deny the importance of these stories as a piece of artistic political resistance that need to be read far and wide, but as a Bitch Planet fan, it's also high time we get back to the main story.

An impersonal main story does get a lifeline from clever lettering and art, but will need to get more intimate in order for readers to connect.

A well-executed birth for a new corner of the Hellboy Universe.

Showcasing the best of what the Hellboy Universe has to offer while remaining accessible to new fans. If you ever wanted to try a Hellboy Universe book but remain apprehensive for whatever reason, this is the place to start.

Things are coming to a head in the village, and after the final panel of this issue, how this will get resolved will prove to be the most compelling aspect of the story yet.

While "The British Paranormal Society: Time Out of Mind may have started of as a rather peripheral story for the Hellboy Universe, in this last issue it shows how much more there is really going on, which will probably end up making it a good story to revisit a few years from now.

Good for those invested in the series already, not recommended as a starting point for new fans. New fans would do well to read the companion primer first at the very least, but even that didn't fill in all the gaps.

The live-action Cowboy Bebop is done, but there's building blocks here for some new adventures. With a little bit of that luck that evades the Bebop team so many times, this creative team could secure a new legacy for this series.

A compelling mystery rich in imagery perhaps does not need its initial premise as much as it thought, so let us hope the creative team focuses on the universal story themes underpinning this issue and less on the current events that seem to have inspired it.

We've hit on a closure of a particular arc with this issue (intentional or otherwise), and it was handled beautifully. No time to dwell on that " we're ready for some answers to questions.

A magnificent debut that makes its opinions known on the importance of green living, but gives you a great story to take you on that journey.

Read it if you're a completist type who feels a need to finish a series, but if you were on the fence on finishing"save your $3.99 for something else.

Titan knows a good thing when they see it, and since it hasn't been broke, there's no need to fix it when it comes to their Doctor Who line. (Well, except for that choice of series name.)

Missy's comic book debut will make you wish for her back on your TV screens.

This is a comic for longtime Whovians, and it will be a great way to keep my appetite sated until this Christmas when we meet Jodie Whitaker.

A fine introduction for Doctor Who fans of any aspect of the franchise, especially for those who want to try the comics but unsure of where to start.We're all here to join this amazing ride with you, Jodie. Long may you reign.

Things may be just a touch thin on where this plot is going, but as our Doctor says: isn't that uncertainly what keeps life interesting?

A compelling story showing that this creative team knows and loves Doctor Who inside and out, and certainly intrigues you for more. But will it be enough for those readers who justwant to read the comic component of this event?

Kudos for knowing "when to hold 'em and when to fold 'em" (to quote country legend Kenny Rogers), because this really could not go on much longer.

Come for the teen drama, stay to learn a little more about a sport many only see once every four years and the genre of sports manga. You won't be disappointed.

Classic comic storytelling and artwork make this series shine, but scripting missteps take it two steps back.

This isn't your parents or grandparents' G.I. Joe, for sure. New threats mean new warfare, and the team is ready with a story that pays homage to a half century of history while bringing the Fighting Joes front and center into 2019.

"G.I. Joe" #1 will be available from IDW Publishing on September 18th.

And after 64 pages of this debut issue, you might just leave more confused than ever. To try and provide any kind of linear summary of "G.O.D.S. at this point is futile. It is cliche to say, but this is a book to be experienced directly rather than just read a review of it.

A fine debut that fans of both Breaking Bad and Supernatural will appreciate in equal measure.

Just what you need from a holiday special: light, fun, a break from the mundane.Have this with your leftover Thanksgiving turkey on Friday to kick off your Christmas cheer.

This is really just a filler issue for whatever comes next " it's a necessary read to keep up with story, but there's nothing overly earth-shattering in these pages.

The first test of adulthood comes to the Sheffield gang, and they have certainly passed it.

Final Verdict: 8.0 - - Just what you would expect from any holiday special worth its salt, with the added bonuses of exotic location and focus on a secondary character ready for the big leagues. Smile and pass me a Vegemite sandwich, and let the beer flow and the men chunder.

A great debut for an existing franchise that keeps both new and existing readers intrigued, with strong art and letters to drive home deeper philosophical questions of the cost of fame.

Educating and entertaining in equal measure with stories everyone can relate to on some level.

Great art and cameo after cameo reminds you that this follow up is purely for fun, so sit back, relax, and have a few laughs!

A little less Harley and a little more Ivy can give this miniseries a little bit of a needed growth spurt.

Final Verdict: 7.75 We're in love with the HellboyAnastasia romance just as much as the two of them are with each other.

When a creative team like this is in such sync, building on each other's foundations, the results are a masterclass in comic book storytelling.

The right balance of romance and the supernatural make this a story that continues to appeal to all kinds of audiences.

Name change aside, there's some plot holes that I hope are resolved in the next story arc. An overall splendid end to a series I am sad to see conclude.

Sophisticated art both elevates classic horror tales and provides twists when you least expect them.

Seems to be a solid start with much room for growth and potential. Batter up!

A fine homage to The Twilight Zone, a series that blended that moral commentary with the macabre.

Sina Grace sets the bar higher and higher every time, telling a coming out story that is sensitive and tasteful with the right amount of classic X-Men lore.

If Fauthoux had ceded his scripting to someone else, and just focused on his artwork, "James Brown: Black and Proud" would have seized on its full potential. What we are left with is a superbly drawn work that suffers in scripting aspects, leaving this picture of Soul Brother No. 1 quite unfinished.

I'll be sad to see Bendis go, but he's certainly going out with literal and metaphorical guns a' blazin,.

Thought provoking and entertaining in both narrative and art, without getting too heavy handed in questions of theology. An early contender for one of my top books for 2018.

This series is still coming strong after a well-received debut issue, and shows what potential there is for more mature subject matter in the comic medium.

Visaggio, Cabrera and company keep up the good work with this issue, advancing story and character development with complementary art.

Visaggio and co. finish this story of Kim and Kim beautifully, with room for the next round of adventures " and I can't wait.

heavy script may not make your favorite knitter a comic book fan. But if your favorite comic book fan is looking for a unique way to learn to knit, or up their knitting game, this could be a way to get the best of both worlds.

It's great to have "Lady Baltimore back. Though 'The Dream of Ikelos' is a standalone story, no doubt its shadow will be felt in future installments of the series. It is a critical part of the series.

The characterization and worldbuilding continue to excel, showing strong synergy between scripting and art. Although we've been slightly spoiled about the series's big reveal, we're certainly excited for more of Sofia and Imogen.

Publishing delays dragged down the momentum of the series, but there's so much here in character and story development that make it worth the wait.

A solid start to a second arc, but with a lot still to unpack from the first, I fear that Erman and Sterle have bitten off more than they can chew.

The book's virtual rehashing of Captain America: Civil War doesn't justify the price point of $3.99. A smarter decision would have been to release it as a free comic, in the style of the "Marvel Legacy" primer pages of last fall.

Outside of a reliance on tropes common to the current age, this is a strong debut issue proving that Larsson's treasured characters can continue their adventures, under the right pen.

We need more time and space to explore the interconnections of the third book, and the edits that were made to narrative were not the best choices. That said, having the original artist on this book does provide some redeeming value.

Those not familiar with the original source material will find it a compelling, edge-of-your-seat mystery in words and art, and fans of the original Stieg Larsson book will uncover new meaning in his words and worlds.

Well-done writing and art but could use a little bit better lettering and layout so that they work more in tandem.

If you enjoyed any of the Count Crawley series (also at Dark Horse) or prefer the goofy interstitials of Svengoolie over the horror films he shows, this just might be the book for you. At least someone will be enjoying Griz's adventure . . . because I'm not so sure he might be.

There's a few plot hiccups and my aging eyes could do with some larger lettering, but by the third date, one often has a good sense of where the relationship is going and "Moonstruck" and I are set for commitment.

Clever color choices with creative meaning and ingenious paneling make even this setup issue for the final showdown a feast for the eyes.

What more can I say to this entire creative team except: Thank you.

Welcome back Ms. Marvel. We knew you wouldn't stay away for long.

The slow start from the debut continues, but it's starting to pick up the pace. Pack your patience with this series; I have a strong feeling you will be rewarded.

Format still proves problematic, but there's some talent within these pages that deserves to be watched.

Boundary breaking (literally and figuratively) lettering and layout, along with color style, takes a tale that has played out for many people before and gives it new life, helping readers see revenge porn through the eyes of the victim and understand the pain it causes.

The self contained nature of this story helps introduce new fans like myself to the series, and I hope that the next two issues don't dive too much into backstory that I missed by not reading the predecessor. The star of this show is the coloring, chosen deliberately to heighten the supernatural symbolism.

Black Mask's iconic characters get the ongoing series (in fact, this is the publisher's first-ever ongoing series) that they so rightfully deserve. Welcome back, ladies.

Good for fans of the TV series and not much else.

Have patience with all your unanswered questions about Vep and her world and linger over the artwork. It's the star of this show and may provide some clues into her world and future.

order via Kickstarter. Pass me a plate of nachos (extra guacamole). I'm ready to see what this space traveling taco and friends have in store next, and recapture some of that youthful zest and wonder we adults sometimes lose sight of as we grow up.

A fine effort for Riverdale and Archie fans old and new, with enough maturity for an older audience.

Almost a "Book of the Week" contender, if not for the "oh let's make an object have paranormal powers" trope that Starks is dipping his toe in.

Closure at its finest, but I do hope we'll see the Pikes again someday, as there are plenty more stories to tell, I am sure.

90s nostagia done right. Reptar would approve.

Even when there's hardly any sex to be had, there's still plenty of sexy, witty times.

I really wanted to embrace the joke and give it a 6.9, but smart craftwork takes it just over the top.

This was a finale that was more than just pretty okay. It was just what we needed, what we deserved " " and worth the wait.

A solid BEAR PUNCH! And BEAR KICK! of staggering genius.

Sutter and Alameda keep things going with just the right balance of exposition for Greta and action. You can't help but feel sorry for these four women, and I'm along for this ride to see if justice for them will be served.

Second verse, could be better than the first. (I'll let you know after I read the previous 40 or so issues.)

There's nothing original or outstanding with this story besides a location that is new to the Star Wars universe and easily recognizable from its movie appearance. Decently executed art can't save a cookie-cutter story.

Those looking for escapism need not apply, and those overly fearful of the current geopolitical state won't have their anxieties lessened. If you're somewhere in the middle and have enjoyed television programs such as Designated Survivor, this proves a worthy complement.

There's some rather large narrative gaps for a debut issue that shouldn't have been mentioned in the solicit if they weren't going to be at least alluded to in the actual book. That aside, high praise is due to this team for writing a heroine worthy of admiration by all ages, and giving her glorious art to match.

Artwork provides deep and meaningful symbolism and beauty for the eye, but too many concerns remain that this story will be rushed and awkwardly finished, given its short run.

the start to a fun superhero story doesn't bowl a strike, but does get the spare.

Well-done setup to conflict, with art that makes the end times look actually pretty. But this is still a very tentative story, and I know that the talent here can push creative boundaries further. Hopefully that's coming.

Final Verdict: 7.8 A fine holiday tale to exchange with friends and start your own Icelandic holiday book swap.

Creative, borderline risk-taking art can't save the weaknesses IDW seems to have with X-Files stories.

Tweens and teens who like Stranger Things will like the story of kid detectives, but hardcore X-Files fans will be left quite cold.

The one word that comes to mind with "Time and Vine" is fun, and that is what readers will get from start to finish. With less text and some more depth in the art, this could earn a long-term place on my pull list.

The wink-wink nudge-nudge joke can wear thin 20 issues in (especially in writing), but a hefty dose of self-actualization on the part of our heroine keeps plot moving.

You never know when your community, your school, your family, will be next in the crosshairs of a mass shooting. The way to prevent that from happening rests at our feet.

A well-executed celebration of the essence of Wonder Woman and all that makes her so great.

Plot may be predictable, but keep Snyder's long term plans in mind as you read it and this one-shot is anything but standard issue.