Matthew Blair Comic Reviews

A well thought out and pretty nuanced look into both sides of the upcoming human/robot war. Also, cute cats.

A great introduction to a murder mystery that uses the tropes of a Hollywood whodunnit to deliver an interesting character study on the egos that work in Hollywood.

A good book about a real life problem that doesnt rock the boat or push a lot of boundaries, but its an engaging and entertaining read.

When something comes along that makes a character like Venom nervous, you should be very afraid...and look forward to some great art and a great story for one of Marvel's most extreme characters.

While the main character has some interesting potential, it sadly feels like a cheap imitation of cheesy, epic sincerity of its source material.

While there are few niggles over some worldbuilding minutiae, its still a gorgeous and legitimately scary creature story with gorgeous artwork and great characters.

Decent artwork and the potential for real life legal drama are the reasons why this final score isnt any lower.

What it lacks in action and end of the world stakes, it makes up for in well paced, well written dialogue and emotional stakes.

As long as you can separate this comic from the regular Spider Man mythos its a fun, quirky, and well written book that has some interesting things to say about Hollywood and comic book movies.

A well written, well drawn, and gorgeously colored issue that pauses the main plot of the series to offer some deeper thoughts on the relationship between mankind and nature.

A great super hero story that is well planned, well written, and well drawn. The only reason the score isnt higher is because it can be a little difficult to follow at times.

The artwork is gorgeous, but if youre looking for a fresh new take on superheroes, you wont find much here.

While there are times where the book loses itself in tiny details, it is saved by gorgeous artwork and a creative team that clearly put a lot of love and passion into its creation.

Its a fantastic revival of some amazing characters created for comic book fans who enjoy great storytelling and amazing dialogue.

This is a book that should feel very familiar to fans of science fiction but it avoids the worst clichs by understanding how to pull off effective world building with pretty artwork while leaving just enough mystery and intrigue to make the reader want to see more.

We have a fantastic idea of who is fighting and why they are fighting, just not the best idea of what they are fighting for.

A deceptively simple superhero story with an engaging mystery, interesting rules, and very well drawn and clear action.

An expertly written story with properly terrifying and gorgeous artwork that displays everything that makes Superman and Batman great. You need to read this comic.

This is a special story for young and old comic book readers alike that delivers great characters, classic adventure, a beautiful setting, and absolutely jaw dropping artwork.

A great premise with weird and appropriately creepy art that is crippled by a confusing and overly wordy script.

One of the most ambitious comic book series in the past decade and proof that there is still room for originality in the superhero genre.

A fantastic comic put together by an incredibly passionate, top tier creative team that brings some of the more obscure and diverse elements of the Marvel Universe into the limelight.

While the excessive use of inner monologue is a drag, this is a solid comic about a fun piece of comic book history, especially if you're a fan of the Golden Age of Comics.

Blackwood College is a nice spin on the magical school story with some gorgeous artwork, but cramming in too much information so quickly prevents it from being the best book it could be.

The '90s may be gone, but Bloodshot shows us what could have been.

An unfortunate case of too many cooks spoiling the broth as a decent story is crippled by too many artists on the same book.

If you like jaded super soldiers duking it out with crazy weapons and abilities all while lamenting how their government screwed them over, this is the book for you.

Fists, bullets, and black magic continue to fly in a superb comic book that shows a criminal family falling apart at the worst possible time

Its a solid introduction to future issues, but you might want to do some homework before reading it..

The script has some good character work, but serious flaws and world building issues. However, the artwork fixes most of the problems and helps to create a comic that tells a fun and interesting story.

Its a great character piece and does a good job of establishing characters that we want to either root for or cheer when they get eaten, but it appears to be saving all the fun weird and scary stuff for later issues..

While it really lacks a long term narrative, its still an awesome example of visual storytelling with an interesting take on the immortal super warrior character and beautiful gore.

Hardcore fans of Buffy will love seeing all their favorite characters in a familiar setting with just enough unique story and style beats to be different, but newer readers would be advised to do their homework and read the comics that led up to this event first.

A fairly competent imitation of classic 80's children's movies that is brought down by slow pacing and an artistic team that would probably be happier doing something else.

A bittersweet ending to a storyline that has some good character moments, but if this issue grabbed your interest you're better off getting the first issue or waiting for a trade.

If you've read any sort of fantasy this comic should be instantly familiar to you. However, well-written dialogue and great attention to detail make this comic just different enough to be interesting.

Some of the exposition is a little clunky, but its still a fun book that uses the medium of comics to set up a fun and interesting story.

A story filled with heart and conflict set in a very engaging universe, but a handful of tiny details keep it from being as good as it could be.

It's not the biggest attention grabber for a first issue, but it works and sets up some very interesting stuff down the road.

While the story and writing may seem traditional, the artwork makes the comic an incredible and unique book to read.

Its a gorgeous looking book that doesnt have a lot of new things to say, but it handles high school drama well and has some absolutely gorgeous art.

The art style is strange, but its an entertaining book that presents a fun mystery with a cool subject matter, and if you liked Matt Kindts Mind Mgmt youll probably like this.

A fantastic comic that is amazing to look at and captures the spirit and fun of the source material all while being incredibly accessible to fans of the show and new readers.

It's all familiar material, but it's worth revisiting due to a fine level of polish and talent.

A great dive into some more esoteric corners of the Marvel Universe with a wide variety of stories and characters. Read it...if you dare!

This is a well thought out, extremely relatable, and incredibly engaging slice of life story out of Night City that reads great and looks even better.

Its a story weve all seen before, but it separates itself from the pack by being an absolutely gorgeous book to look at.

A solid Daredevil story that doesnt take a lot of risks and has to fit within a larger event, but it lets Elektra be her own Daredevil and hurt a lot of people who deserve it.

Only this creative team could combine redneck humor with racist vampires to create a story this good.

Its a well crafted book with some great ideas and subtext, but unless its supposed to be a one shot it doesnt feel like it has anywhere else to go.

A gorgeous book with some fun ideas, but there are some moments that feel poorly executed and not properly set up.

A touching look into some of DC's most famous relationships set against the backdrop of an overwhelming and horrifying apocalypse.

It's a Deadpool story, which means you can expect a certain level of quality when it comes to the writing. Unfortunately, the artwork makes it kind of difficult to follow.

A decent story that is worth reading if you're looking for something different from Marvel, but cluttered and confusing artwork stop this comic from being the best it can be.

It's a bit difficult to follow if you're not used to Hickman's unique writing style and philosophy, but the artwork and worldbuilding are fascinating and wonderful to behold.

The artwork is gorgeous enough to carry the book, but in order to fully appreciate the story it would probably be best to read the previous series.

A well written modern pulp comic that delivers a solid plot, great characters, and is complimented by some of the most gorgeous artwork you will see all year.

A fun, accessible, and relatable hero story that promises to do time travel right and looks to be a great new addition to the Valiant Universe.

This is the strange, kooky, and crazy breath of fresh air you've always wanted to read.

A great ending for a solid and functional palate cleanser of a story that doesn't take a whole lot of chances, but does its job well.

A very well produced and gorgeous comic adaptation that manages to provide just the right amount of fan service while not being too intimidating for newcomers.

Its a solid survival tale, but the book makes the choice to put world building by the wayside which can be annoying for some readers.

If the upcoming show is good this will be a great little appetizer; If the show sucks, itll be a great replacement.

An expertly written and crafted Fantastic Four story that combines with beautiful artwork to create an excellent homage to a team of superheroes that redefined what comic book superheroes could be.

While die hard hardcore fans of the show might have a few issues with the way Captain Malcolm Reynolds is portrayed in the comic, it more than makes up for it with the introduction and backstory of Ma Reynolds, who would have made a great character in the tv show.

A great jumping-off point for new readers who are eager to be reintroduced to everyone's favorite space cowboy.

A great comic book series starring newer, younger heroes for newer, younger readers.

Frank Castle and old school Nick Fury are back, and with this creative team the blood is set to flow.

With a few noticeable exceptions, its a well put together, small stakes, slice of life, sitcom drama comic about people trying to survive and get their lives together, so your mileage may vary.

While it doesn't necessarily breathe new life into the Spider-Man franchise, it's still a solid and very well-told story that is a showcase of everything that has made the hero great.

While the human characters and story might come off as a bit weak, it still delivers an awesome kaiju fight that is accessible to both new and old fans of the genre.

I am Groot (translation: solid art and great character work come together to bring two relatively obscure Marvel characters to the limelight and tell an intriguing story).

A fantastically meta and tongue in cheek way to process the creative journey, legacy, and emotional roller coaster of a great series.

A fantastic book that understand what made the source material so good in the first place but isnt afraid to strike out on its own and explore new ideas and new territory.

While there are a few problems with clunky exposition and the larger story, its still a gorgeous book to look at and a great introduction of a great character for new readers.

Harrow County is back y'all, and it's going to be fun!

If you like horror stories, you can probably guess whats going to happen next, but there are some unique ideas and fresh takes that are a lot of fun.

A well written story with absolutely gorgeous artwork, but the powers that be felt it was necessary to include the number to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for anyone who might be feeling upset or lost, which should tell you what kind of story this is.

A deceptively simple story meshes with beautiful art and stark colors to create an amazing experimental comic that pushes the boundaries of how comics can tell a story.

It has some great moments and isnt offensively bad, but it doesnt do much to separate itself from the hoards of similar deal with the devil stories.

While the rapid pace doesnt really allow readers to sit back and enjoy the story, it is a rare second issue that serves as an effective jumping off point for the entire series for new readers.

A very slim narrative frame paves the way for an epic recounting of twenty years of Marvel history and lore, all of which is enhanced by some incredibly gorgeous art work that gives these events the epic and grandiose scope and scale they deserve.

While you dont have to know a whole lot about these characters to enjoy it, it feels like a bit more exposition could have made it better..

There are some weird issues with the timeline of the comic and the artwork might not be to your taste, but its still a violent and bloody good time with some great characters and interesting things to say.

While the plot is shoved to the side a bit in the name of character development, there are some great characters with some really effective horror imagery and gorgeous art.

This is a textbook example of classic superhero comic book storytelling created by a team of consummate professionals with a proper understanding of scale and stakes, but who arent afraid to show more quiet and humanizing moments.

There are a beautiful and interesting fantasy world and an adorable creature companion that will probably sell lots of plushies, but there's no real sense of urgency or reason for the story to be happening.

A deep, meaningful, and thought-provoking comic with gorgeous artwork that will challenge the reader to really think about how personal faith and belief can exist in the modern world.

It's not Goldfingerbut it's definitely better than anything Timothy Dalton ever did.

While the book does set up an interesting noir style mystery for our superpowered detective, the real highlight of the book are the little moments that make her life relatable and ordinary.

Its a standard sci fi comic with some fantastic talent behind it, but it feels like its trying to be a bit too cute with its world building and dialogue.

Its nice to know that Judge Dredd can survive across the pond and its nice to know that IDW is doing a great job with the character, even if this is essentially an advertisement that we have to pay for.

It's fair to say that a lot of thought, care, and love went into this book and the end results are fantastic.

Its a familiar story of the end of the world and the struggle for survival, but its got a lot of ideas that are very well presented and very interesting..

A fun idea by a very passionate creator, but doesn't work unless you're caught up on the larger story.

Its a great introduction to a classic Marvel villain for new readers and presents an incredibly powerful villain in a deep and meaningful way.

A functional but pretty bland superhero crime thriller that doesnt do a whole lot to separate itself from the pack and is probably just for die hard fans and completionists.

This is a book about childhood that is not for kids, and outside of a weird opening scene that doesnt appear to go anywhere, it presents a great mystery and some answers that jump between the mundane and the legitimately creepy.

While the choice to have no dialogue and no panel layout might not be a popular one, its still a touching story about celebrating Christmas with some amazing artwork and fun ideas.

Its a solid start to the heros journey with a lovable character, fantastic world building, and breathtaking artwork.

A fun little one shot for one of the best horror stories created in the past decade by a fantastic creative team. However, this is a book that would probably more suited for die hard fans and completionists only.

Its a story with an intriguing setting and two great main characters and fine details, but suffers from a lack of the broader details that would draw readers into its world of tech and magic.

The overall plot has some pacing issues, but the small and quiet moments make the book worth reading.

It's a story that won't change the world, but you'll have a lot of fun reading it.

Even if we're all tired of zombies by now, and even if the art isn't as violent and as gory as we might like, Marvel finds ways to maintain their unique twist on the genre and gives us a meaner, nastier, hungrier zombie horde that is starving for the flesh of Marvel heroes.

The artwork is an acquired taste, but it does its job well and it enhances a comic with a relevant and interesting message and believable characters.

While you might have difficulty understanding whats going on if youre a new reader, its simple existence as a book is a miracle and worth checking out.

While the writing is bizarre and awkward at times, it does just enough to get the point across and is offset by some of the best artwork you will see all year.

Its a sweet and solid coming of age story, but the mature dialogue and violence might make the book feel a bit out of reach for the younger readers who would really enjoy it.

You wouldnt think a crossover like this could work, yet here we are.

The writing and characters are solid, but the pace is slow when paired with artwork that screams for action.

Its not just a quick sequel to a good movie, its an awesome comic that deserves just as much attention.

A familiar, yet compelling, narrative about the life of a comic creator filled with so much meta that even Deadpool would be impressed.

While you will probably want to start from the beginning, it's a fun take on Arthurian lore.

A comic that evokes the classic Shaw Brothers films with an incredible aesthetic and gorgeous art and a plot that is okay, but feels like its stalling for time.

Even though we know what the end result of all of it is, the book still provides some compelling moral drama.

While Cullen Bunn could have done a better job at world building, its still another solid horror comic with a great idea, creepy design, and great characters.

If it wasnt for the blood and violence youd probably think this was a kids book, and thats the point.

Pacing issues and walls of text take away from a book with beautiful artwork and a viscous post apocalyptic setting filled with cool looking tech and massive amounts of gore.

The familiar but well written story that borders on cliche is complimented by some of the most fascinating artwork you will see this year..

This is a book that understands what it is and the story it wants to tell, the only issue is a missed world building opportunity.

If youve read any Cold War conspiracy story youve read this, but the real make or break moment will come from what you think of the artwork.

While the artwork seems a bit wooden and bizarre, the characters and world-building help shape something unique and interesting to follow.

Long time Punisher fans will love this return to form for their favorite mass-murdering vigilante.

While the book could have probably benefited from not getting lost in a ton of fine detail, it is still well written, well drawn, and immediately hilarious and relatable for anyone who has siblings.

Walls of text and crowded pages prevent the book from being the best it could be, but it's still a book with plenty of heart and some really good jokes.

Its a book thats more concerned with vibes rather than plot and transports the reader to a far off exotic land where they are really going to want a massala chai.

A weird and interesting take on American history that puts character first and isnt afraid to have fun with itself.

If you like vampires, this is all information you'll know but it should be interesting to see what happens next.

Amid the chaos and terror of the mutants dying off and the Biblical level of power on display here, this is a surprisingly personal and private tale of a mutant trying to save her friend.

Its the end of a special age of mutantkind, but despite all the necessary baggage and backstory that comes with it, this book still manages to stand on its own and deliver an interesting story.

A very traditional and borderline cliche horror opening that will draw you in with gorgeous art and colors.

An okay mystery with some good action and long awaited development for a great character. The reason why the score for this book is so low is because everyone involved with this book is capable of doing better.

It's fine. It won't win any awards or become something that people talk about, but it's okay if you like the show.

A little sluggish and drawn out in places, but offset by some great horror artwork and thematic material perfect for a Venom book.

A strong and intriguing emotional story with good artwork is hampered by very sloppy world building.

While there are some moments where it feels like the story is talking too much, its still a well written, well paced story with some great art and creepy imagery.

While its not Bunns best work, its still a very well made book with gorgeous artwork and great horror imagery.

A decent comic with some good character work, but pacing issues and cliche subject matter prevent this comic from being anything better than alright.

What it lacks in worldbuilding and exposition it makes up for with great characters and a fantastic sense of style.

The story leaves quite a bit to be desired, but the art makes this comic a joy to look at.

The individual stories are flat and boring, while the issue as a whole is jumbled and confusing. However, the artwork is fantastic and theres a goofy sincerity to it that reminds the reader why this character has been able to last this long.

Its an anthology catalog of future projects that is very well drawn, but the stories are either very densely packed with insider information or too short to be interesting on their own.

It's irreverent, it's cartoonish, and it's so self-referential that even Deadpool is rolling his eyes. In other words, it's pretty gosh darn good.

It's a solid Spider-Man pulp story that has some slight identity issues, but is still a lot of fun. The comparisons to Indiana Jones are not made in jest.

A wonderful comic with great characters and tons of heart; but if there aren't plans for a Space Pig plushie in the near future"I will be very disappointed.

While the book requires a bit of patience from its readers, if you take the time to concentrate youll find characters that are fascinating and heartwarming with an intriguing story and breathtaking artwork.

Once you get past a slightly annoying inner monologue, theres a well written, no nonsense, and very tense spy thriller with an unknown, yet incredibly menacing, alien threat.

While some small pacing issues are a problem, great emotional depth and maturity make ths a worthy prequel to one of the best TMNT stories in recent memory.

If you like the idea of DIY punk rock horror, then this is the book for you.

Fun artwork coupled with tons of heart and pep elevate what would otherwise be a fairly boring sports story about working as a team and overcoming adversity.

A genuinely creepy cult thriller set in an interesting time and place with great artwork and solid writing.

Fans of the original comic will enjoy the expanded lore while newcomers will enjoy a well written and well drawn story about loss, vengeance, and protecting the people you love.

A haunting and intense horror story that feels incredibly personal and doesnt need the trappings of a major holiday to be effective.

While the two stories in the comic dont really feel like they should fit together, its still a great horror story that evokes many of the best elements of the British Invasion of DC, as well as the strong independent comic book scene that became prevalent in the 1980s.

A great example of mythic storytelling mixed with the hard and brutal reality of the Old West where nobody is truly evil or truly good.

While the pacing might make the story feel a bit weird, it's still a story filled with a lot of potential for fun, mystery, and magic for a lot of young adult comic book readers.

Its a kids story with kid friendly art and a familiar storyline that is competently told and promises to be entertaining, but doesnt do a whole lot to inspire or innovate.

Come for the tattoos, wait to get used to the unique and initially jarring artwork, stay for the great story and characters.

It's a comic that suffers from a confusing story and too much exposition, but the world-building, artwork, and commitment to breaking traditional fantasy molds make it a worthy read.

Your mileage may vary depending on how much you like high school drama stories, but its a solid take on a tried and true formula with very pretty artwork.

A solid effort and a good story with good artwork, but slightly handicapped by the limitations of the medium and not the best comic book it could be.

While the creative team has created a book with an interesting aesthetic and has some of the best character work Ive seen in 2024, there are some pretty substantial issues with the big picture and themes of the story.

It's a great Spider-Man story, but the Peter Parker and Miles Morales bits feel confusing, disjointed, and in need of a rewrite.

A funny, self aware, and surprisingly deep story that promises to be a lot of fun and is perfect for readers of all ages.

It's a pleasant and funny kid's story with simple and fun artwork.

A fantastic book for Thor fans and a great tribute to over eighty years of stories and characters that would have never worked anywhere else.

If youre already familiar with the series this is based on, or if youve already read the previous books, you probably dont need this recommendation. Other then that, its a solid book for children and looks great.

A safe, inoffensive comic with great art and is perfect for small children, or anyone who has never read a superhero story in their life. Other than that? Skip it.

A vicious, brutal story that presents Tony Stark with one of his most difficult challenges yet. It's just a little disappointing that the artwork didn't fully embrace its body horror potential.

A really good and surprisingly mature re-introduction to the world of Transformers that has the potential for a lot of great ideas and future stories.

It won't change your life, but it will appeal to your inner eight-year-old.

While the comic has some interesting ideas and good artwork, it is crippled by a confusing plot structure, too much dialogue, and crowded pages.

Its good and creates a solid foundation for the new Ultimates Universe, but if you havent read the previous books you might get lost.

A satisfying gritty neo-Western that sets the lawless, brutal, and nasty human condition against the backdrop of a hauntingly desolate and beautiful desert town.

It's a reintroduction of the classic and familiar with a fresh coat of paint, perfect for new readers and old readers trying to introduce the stories they love to their friends.

It's an acquired taste, but if you're willing to be a bit confused and look past some strange art, "Vagrant Queen" is a very good comic.

It's an intriguing, yet an all-too-familiar idea that is hampered by artwork that tries a bit too hard to be something unique.

Its a book that throws Venom into a playground of cosmic horror and familial suffering, something that old fans and new fans alike will love.

Historical realism in the writing meets a dreamy, fairy tale look in the artwork that might not work for everyone, but is an interesting take on a classic story.

A great ending to one of the best event stories in recent comic book history that lays the foundation for an exciting future.

A great bit of comparatively quiet character work that would make great inspiration for anyone who might want to work with the Black Widow character, no matter what form of media she might appear in. A great bit of relatively quiet character work for one of the greatest couples in Marvel history.

A relatively low stakes super spy thriller whos flaws are mostly negated by solid action and great character work.

A decent book that moves the broader story along nicely, but if you're not already invested in the Witchblade series there's really no need.

If you collect comics, it's a good book to have; but if you're in the mood to revisit some of Wolverine's greatest moments, you're better off re-reading the comics that inspired these stories.

A fun and incredibly tense chase sequence that is well written with the usual Marvel quality art. However, if you really want to get the most out of this book, you have to either know what happened in previous books, or get ready for some homework.

Marvels newest event kicks off in grand style with a fun set up and some great character moments, just be prepared to read it slowly and do some homework.

A fascinating new take on the X-Men's continued fight for survival and recognition that will be fought in boardrooms and laboratories instead of battlefields and government black sites.

If this is the end of an era, then it is a beautifully drawn, incredibly violent, and absolutely gut wrenching end to one of the most interesting and unique X-Men storylines ever written.

If you are not following the adventures of Valiant's super armored Visigoth, you should.

While some of the artistic choices can make the story a little confusing to follow, it's an absolutely gut-wrenching book that sheds a harsh look at something truly evil and awful.

It's a comic that strongly disapproves of its roots from the Adam West tv show, but there are some nice little funny moments and it's all in the name of a potentially interesting character shift.

Its well paced with good art and just enough creepy imagery and ideas to make it interesting, but it would probably be better to wait for the trade paperback.