Matt A Comic Reviews

Paul Pope's Battling Boy is not only his magnum opus but also the best graphic novel released this year. It's guaranteed to fascinate both children and the twelve-year old in us all who never stops yearning for excitement and adventure.

It doesn't get any better than Age of Bronze. It's easy to forget, due to the sporadic shipping, how wonderful this comic is. Do yourself a favor and pick up the first three trades, which should get you up to the latest storyline. I can only imagine how great a television show this serious would make. HBO, are you listening?

Although The Death ofHaggard Westisn't as original or groundbreaking as most of Pope's work, stylistically it still soars. Pope somehow manages to make me care about a character he kills off in one issue. This reads like the opening sequence of a movie, which makes the comic feel somewhat incomplete, but still ultimately satisfying. I can't wait to see where Pope takes this story.

The Bounce is quickly becoming one of my favorite monthly comics due to Casey's wild, edgy writing and the superb art of Messina and Niro. In the stale, predictable world of the super hero genre, The Bounce is unique, smart, entertaining, and refreshing. Highly recommend.

Mister X is a fabulous creation of retro-futurism, which blends film noir, German modernism, and dystopian literature seamlessly to create something totally unique. This is one of the more intriguing titles on the racks. I can't wait to read the next issue.

Although I'm relatively new to this series, the well scripted dialogue and the strong character dynamics makes this an enjoyable issue to read. Now it's time for a little action.

Angel and Faith is a must read for Buffy fans and accessible for newer readers like myself. With only a few issues to go Gage and Issacs are pulling out all the stops. This is a highly entertaining series.

Overall, this issue gives fans everything they want and ends with Talia Al Ghul, the mother of Damien, in the batcave set to do battle to the death with the Caped Crusader. And you thought your family was screwed up. I need to read this now. Two weeks can't come fast enough.

Captain Midnight #0 serves as both an exciting mystery and a unique origin story, which leaves a lot of questions unanswered. Looks like Dark Horse has a hit on their hands. I can't wait to read the next issue.

Overall, Clone is a great read, a vastly underrated sci-fi comic"overloaded with suspense, action, and spectacle"which resembles a mixture of Philip K. Dick and The Terminator. With the last two issues, Clone has really started find its voice. The final page cliffhanger leaves me desperately wanting to find out right now what's going to happen. Thirty days is a long time to wait. Highly recommended.

Clone 8 is quieter and more personal than some of the previous issues, but it's still a gripping read. I highly recommend you track down the first trade and get caught up on this great series, which features great story telling and some of the best art in comics today.

Overall, this is a great first issue that immediately pulls you in from page one. Williamson's script keeps the pages turning and Sudzuka's art is stunning. Yet another Image title to add to my subscription. Thanks a lot Image, you're making me very poor. Make sure to grab this comic fast before it sells out.

If you're a fan of pulp magazines, science fiction, and film noir, than this is the series for you. Sci-fi noir has rarely looked this cool. Even with the somewhat lackluster ending, Mister X: Eviction is highly recommended.

Perhapanauts Danger Down Under 5 is an exciting and satisfying conclusion, which pulls no punches. If you're a fan of Hellboy or B.P.R.D. you should give this issue a try, or wait a few months for the trade.

Overall, Amala's Blade is entertaining but sort of hollow. This issue, unlike the first, seemed a little rushed and uninspired. We learn very little about Amala. That being said, I think this series has a lot of potential. I'm interested to see what the repercussions will be if/when Amala is able to carry out her mission to assassinate Lady Strawbale. There is enough here to keep me reading this title for at least a few more issues.

Overall, this is a solid issue with a skimpy plot. Although it's easy to follow, if you're a new reader like me this is probably not the best place to start because none of Emp's friends- Thugboy, Ninjet, and the Superhero Homeys-make an appearance. I'm intrigued by what I've read, but I don't think it's fair to make a judgment on the entire series until I read more.

This issue of Buffy has enough action to keep fans interested. There's a sense that the story is going somewhere, but a lot still needs to be resolved in the final three issues. I have my doubts that the ending will live up to fans' expectations, but I'm rooting for this creative team to pull it off.

With only a few issues left, Buffy 23 offers action, suspense, and a great cliffhanger. This might not be the most ambitious comic on the rack but it manages to enrich the mythology of the beloved tv series. If you're fan you probably already know that.

After three issues, Minature Jesus still hasn't answered any questions. In fact, it has become more confusing. It's certainly different and original, but unless something meaningful happens next issue, which unifies the two strands of the stories-the quest of Minature Jesus and Chomsky- then I'm calling this series a failure. If you're sick of reading about superheroes and want to read a comic that makes you think, you might want to check this out. Otherwise, don't waste your time.