Lauren Sisselman Comic Reviews

If you're new to Archie comics, this is a great miniseries to get your feet wet with. Hopefully this classic miniseries will be the first of many!

Gerry Duggan, Aaron Kuder, and Ive Svorcina are a great team. Duggan's dialogue is quick and funny, Kuder's lines are sharp and detailed, and his fight scenes are easy to follow. But Svorcina's colors are my favorite part of the book. They come to life in this space story, and not once do they become dull or muddled. That is the real draw to this comic, and worth the price of admission. Seldom do I see colors (and lines) are beautiful as these in modern comics, but All-New Guardians Of The Galaxy #2 has it!

I've enjoyed the new Archie series a great deal since it came out. This is the clear winner out of all the reboots, and I'm glad it's still being published regularly.

Overall this is a funny issue. When Archie is on his way to meet Cheryl, he's in a molasses barrel that's rolling down a hill. We get no context of how or why, but it's there. And frankly it's so absurd it works. I'm glad the character has fundamentally stayed the same since the reboot, it's like coming back to your home after it's been remodelled.

The story is fun and unique, and has some genuinely funny one-liners. Rich Margopolous wrote a great story here, and I'm inclined to seek out other stories of his because of it. Maybe Archie should reach out to both of these creators again and bring them in for new, classic stories.

Chris Wildgoose's pencils are great. The characters are a bit on the cartoonish side, but it works in their favor. Batgirl is utterly charming, even when she's kicking ass or being serious. The attention to detail in the backgrounds is also excellent.

Janin's art style is eerily beautiful. His artistic take on Joker is wonderfully creepy. His long, foreboding face shows just how hardened the Joker has become. Riddler is a lot more human, and in some ways resembles Michael Fassbender. I love how detailed his people are. He's captured the look and feel of these characters with his art, and I'm excited to read this upcoming story arc.

Overall, I'll be keeping this in my pull list. I know the second issue just came out (I'll review it soon, I promise), so here's hoping Batman gets his wits about him sooner rather than later.

Scott Snyder and Steve Orlando are a good writing team. Orlando seems to take this wheel in this episode, allowing to explore the Shadow in this DC universe, where anti-heroes aren't the norm.

Overall I like this series. It's easy to just pick up and start at any point, but I would still get the first two issues.

This series is fantastic. Writer Matthew K. Manning has brought these two franchises together beautifully, and he writes each individual character flawlessly.

Matthew K. Manning has done exceedingly well with this run. I wish he had given Batgirl some more lines, but since this was a large ensemble group I understand it can be hard to focus on secondary characters. You don't really need character development here; almost all of us are familiar enough with everyone presented. The story is engaging and terribly fun to read. I sincerely hope he expands on this universe beyond 5 issues.

Tom King flawlessly takes over DC's flagship title and delivers an exciting first issue.

In one of the funniest scenes I've read in my 25+ years of reading Archie comics, Betty looses her damn mind and proceeds to beat the heck out of Veronica. Hughes shines with his dialogue in these scenes. They are, simply put, comedy gold. The art compliments the story extremely well. Betty and Veronica are both drawn with care and respect. Each character in Riverdale has their own signature look and feel, which really brings this town to life. I sincerely hope this series continues and is on a more regular schedule.

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Brian Michael Bendis is an excellent (and prolific) writer who writes these characters to be believable, street smart people. You'll honestly care about the relationship between Cage and Jones, and understand why Cage gets so mad. The art, by David Marquez is realistic and grounded. This a believable New York City, and Marquez has paid attention to detail in setting up the world around the characters. The Defenders #1 is a beautiful book, and one I'll absolutely keep in my pull box.

While I enjoyed it, some parts did drag. The D&D theme is clever, but can be sometimes confusing and convoluted for no real reason. There's too many characters to keep track of, which can take away from any real character development. But, it's still an enjoyable book.

Stafano Zanchi is still pumping out great art. The creative and wild world of Feudarnia is brought to life, but it's done so in a way that isn't overwhelming, nor does it interfere with the the focus of the panels. The whole creative team should be proud of this comic, it's pretty excellent.

What I liked the most about this comic is how easily the reader gets involved into the world. Writer Jim Zub creates an immersive world with very distinct characters. His writing style is strong, and it conveys perfectly with these characters. Artist Netho Diaz compliments Zub's writing. The characters are believable, the panels aren't overstuffed with detail, and the fight scenes are clean and fluid.

Every story in here is easy to follow without any prior knowledge. They all wrap up neatly, and the flow between stories is fine too. Again, this is an annual, so you (usually) get a variety of writers and artists. I was partial to the art style in "Second City Ghostbusters", from Erik Evensen. Story wise, "Haunted America: A Prairie Hell Companion" by Erik Burnham. In fact, Burnham writes most of the stories in this annual, but we do get pieces from Dan Schoening, who also pencils a few stories, and Tom Waltz. Artists include Corin Howell, Rachael Stott, and Tim Lattie.

There are some beautiful pin up pictures throughout the book from artists such as Dustin Nguyen, Babs Tarr, and Kamome Shirahama. At $4.99 USD you certainly get a lot for your money, and the stories are mostly kid friendly, but I'd still give it a once through before buying it for kids under 10.

At the climax of the book, the art gets downright weird, but it's beautiful. The planet Terminal is presented as an eerie alternate world, with vibrant colors (thanks to Menyz). The colors are stunning throughout the whole book " he uses them well to set up the overall feel of each page. I honestly can't pick a favorite panel, since this whole book is beautiful to look at.

The art by Ramon K. Perezis stunning. It invokes a Darwyn Cooke style, with attractive characters and strong expressions. The New York backdrop is muted as to not take away from the characters, but the city itself lends itself as a background character to help Jane evolve. Irma Kniivila (along with Perez) is a master colorist. The water scenes are especially perfect, showing a beautiful calm that ultimately put Jane where she is now.

The writing is solid, which helps with the number of story-lines going on. Thompson has a solid style and knows how to convey each of the characters. I'm not wild about Meredith McClaren's art style, but I appreciate that she draws very diverse looking characters of all shapes and colors.

The diversity of the Jem universe is fantastic. People of all shapes, sizes, colors, sexual orientations and more are presented not in a stereotypical way, nor in a way to shock readers. They're all complex characters with a myriad of real problems. This is a fantastic story for young readers, as it exposes them to all kinds of different people they too will encounter in real life. It shows tolerance and acceptance, something we need now more than ever in this world.

Jimmy's Bastards isn't for the faint of heart, but that's the norm with an Ennis book. If you're not familiar with his work, this is a good jumping-off point, and overall a fun book to read. Let's hope #2 can keep up!

All of the characters have come such a long way since Dan DeCarlo introduced them. They have always been brave and daring, but now they're just so much more. They are now fleshed out and real, aside from being international superstars.

The humor is turned up in this issue. The click bait headline parodies are hilarious, and even Archie being buddy buddy and then realizing he's also supposed to be mad is, well, funny! That's the real charm to Jughead. You don't have to take him seriously. And while Jughead does have a very real problem in this issue, it's handled in a way only feasible in the world of Archie.

Overall, the look of Justice League of America is great, and as long as they don't switch artists, I'll keep getting this series.

I sincerely hope Archie Comics release more Little Archie books. Art and Franco are comedic geniuses that use simplistic, child like art to draw readers of all ages in. It's easy to lose yourself in this world since it's just plain fun.

The comic also has a one page gag story with Goofy and Mickey, and then we also have a Horace Horsecollar story as well! I love seeing the lesser known Disney characters represented. These stories (translated from whichever European country they're from) are great at showcasing characters we don't see much of in America. I've raved about this series before, and until I'm given a reason not to, I'll continue to do so. This series is fantastic for all ages.

Even if you're not a fan of MLP I urge you to pick this issue up, the rest of us already are.

The comic has a good life lesson for young readers, but I won't give it all away. It's even good for older readers to be reminded that we all make mistakes! Jeremy Whitley tackles this issue well by having the characters in constant communication with the reader. He captures Rarity's voice and tone, and does an even better job of showing us that Trixie has in fact changed for the better.

Sandy Jarrell is an exceptional artist who pays attention to detail, especially with faces.

This could very well be an episode of Rick and Morty, so if you're a fan " grab this book.

Whether you got into Archie during the classic years or came on after Riverdale, this is a series to pick up. The art is dark and brooding, and the classic gang looks like their TV counterparts, which is fantastic and adds to the realness of Riverdale.

Joe Eisma does a good job at drawing the characters. His facial expressions are spot on, which adds to the tension and comedy in the issue. The background scenes are a little lacking, but it helps the reader focus on the character more. Plus, Riverdale is a pretty mundane town. Aside from Jason Blossom's death, nothing really happens there. The characters we know are the color in the town, and that's how it should be.

Overall, I'd say this is worth your while to pick up. I understand why so many people are against the book and the parallels it draws to what's currently going on in the world, so it certainly isn't for everyone. As someone who grew up endlessly learning about WWII-era history (thanks, Hebrew school!), I know that Hydra Cap makes people feel physically uncomfortable. But I am intrigued to see how it plays out for Marvel.

John Lees script for this issue is great. From the very first panel with the sewer worker, he pulls you in. His portrayal of Mikey is spot on, giving him a strong, clear voice. Nick Pitarra's art style is kid friendly, and reminds me of the early 90's cartoon show, with a hint of the original Kevin Eastman comic. While I find the comic to be child appropriate, readers under the age of 8 may be a little scared of the villain in this story. As always, be involved in what comics your kid is reading, and enjoy!

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina #7 is a great starting point to those new to the series, but I implore you to read the other issues leading up to this. You will not be let down.

I'll keep reading the story since I feel it would be the right thing to do as a Spirit fan, but I hope the story picks up.

The X-Files is no stranger to keeping people on the edge of their seats. Chris Carter was a master at this, and I am thrilled that he's still involved with the comics. Writer Joe Harris is truly keeping the tone of the show alive in this issue, with artist Greg Scott bringing the cast to life. Cigarette Smoking man stands out against Reagan, with his callous and calculating nature shining bright. Reagan is made to look naive and almost stupid by it. While I can't spoil the rest of the issue for you, I strongly urge you to pick this series up.

I'm excited to see how the X-Files Origins story progresses. I'll eat up anything X-Files (yes, even that dreadful second movie), and The X-Files Origins: Dog Days Of Summer #1 has done a good job of hooking me in.

The story suffers from too much going on with too many characters (below). I know who Gwen and Jack are, but if you only have a base knowledge like me you likely won't get into this comic. It's a shame. This story has potential, but it's relying on core fans to keep up. Sorry to anyone who's new here I guess.

Overall this is another great addition to an already great story line. Be sure to pick up a copy this week at your local comic book shop!

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Greg Rucka is a great writer, and he shines in this issue. I'm glad that he used this as his return to the DC universe, as it really showcases his raw talent with these heroes. There is clear conflict, and while the action is minimal, Rucka keeps the reader engaged.

This is a great book by some talented people, and you absolutely do not need to read any prior issues (nor do you need to watch the WWE) to know what's going on. It's engaging for readers of all ages, so if you're looking for something fun and different to read, I highly recommend this.