Kieran O'Brien Comic Reviews

'Batman: Dark Patterns' #4 is an exceptional piece of comic book storytelling. Even if the story is a little light on plot and character depth, there's no denying the outsized impact of the incredible art by Farrell and Sherman. It's beautiful, propulsive, and creative in equal measure. The issue serves as the perfect jumping-on point for the series, and if future instalments are half as fine as this one, you'd be crazy not to hop on board.

There's no mistaking the mastery behind Batman: Dark Patterns #5. From the fun premise satisfyingly explored, to the panels, artwork, and colors, this is simply an outstanding issue to behold.

There's a strong character arc centered on the main antagonist running through these past few issues that feels personal and a little tragic. Combined with the beautiful art and moments that spotlight Batman's detective skills, there's more than enough to recommend the final installment of this current story arc.

If nothing else, Deadpool/Wolverine #3 is a fun excuse for some truly bloody violence. Tinged with a light touch of Deadpool's trademark sense of humor, contrasted by Wolverine's single-minded drive, the issue is easily compelling enough to be enjoyed by new readers and fans alike (especially if those fans happen to enjoy Percy's Wolverine and X-Men runs). The art is beautifully detailed and Stryfe's plan is so outrageous that even though the leads are lacking any semblance of character arcs, there's plenty here to be enjoyed.

Deadpool/Wolverine #4 is wild comic book action at its finest. No, you won't find any deep revelations about either of these characters here, but you will find fun action, fantastic artwork, and a supervillain with a plan that gets an "A" for sheer brazenness. Things feel a little rushed, but the writing is good enough to leave you wanting more.

The Spectacular Spider-Men #13 makes the mistake of not putting Peter and Miles in the (shared) driver seat. While there's no benefit in being prescriptive over what the book should be about, there's no doubt that the story would've benefitted from being more concerned with the Spider-Men in question rather than a slew of supporting characters. The art works and the action is fun and dynamic, but overall, the story is forgettable.

There's very little to recommend about Spectacular Spider-Men #14. If you've been reading along with the series, it does at least tie a neat bow around the Lizard plotline in a way that offers a sliver of satisfaction, but there's very little of substance here. Burdened by an overwhelming number of supporting characters and a complete lack of an interesting dynamic between Peter and Miles, this one's best left for the completionists.

West Coast Avengers #4 provides some decent action and some much-appreciated character moments that serve to underline the tensions present in this patchwork team. Uneven artwork, a lack of overall plot progression, and an absence of strong tension or stakes detract from the quality of the story, but Duggan's affinity for Firestar serves him well, as does his confidence in handling characters like Iron Man and Blue Bolt. Fans will enjoy this issue, but most will be more interested to see what comes next.

If you're looking for a low-stakes superhero punch-out, then this book is for you. While there's nothing wrong with that, this issue had the potential to be something more emotionally resonant, but it squandered the opportunity. Duggan's affection for the character of Firestar has served him well in the past, so it feels strange to have her big decision in this issue feel rushed. Overall, the book just isn't telling a cohesive story or digging deep enough into these characters to produce anything truly satisfying.

Overall, West Coast Avengers #7 does a great job at getting us to care even more about its best character: Killerwatt. This, combined with a fun subversion of expectationsplus a wild Ultron v. Ultron fight sequencemakes for a pretty enjoyable issue, so long as you can overlook the iffy art and the way the narrative skips over what could've been a really great scene.

'You'll Do Bad Things' #1 is a great start to what will hopefully prove to be satisfyingly spooky miniseries. Some delectable art makes it stand out from the crowd, and it's backed by a unique, blood-soaked spin on a fun premise. It sets a fun, reality-bending tone that promises more thrills down the line. Horror fans will want to make sure they pick this one up.

Ultimately, You'll Do Bad Things #2 feels like a step down from the previous issue. Answers to this mystery are still a ways off, of course, but instead of escalating the stakes, making things personal for Seth, showcasing his crumbling reality, or developing the intriguing backstory that is surely motivating these killings, the story stalls. Nevertheless, some fantastic art and letteringand the near guarantee that things will have to get back on track soonstill make this a worthwhile read.