M.R. Jafri Comic Reviews

The art throughout the issue is beautiful but dull. Pasqual Ferry does not do enough to differentiate the various worlds and characters. The colors by Dean White are interesting but everything still feels muted due to a lack of detail in the background. This book tries hard to help us understand the current landscape of the Eternals. Unfortunately this issue creates too much distance through its impersonal narrator and dull art. It sets up why the Eternals want to take down the X-Men but piles on too many other conflicts and priorities not clearly central to the story.

It would also be nice to have just a bit more strategy involved here rather than just a basic brawl. But this book is extraordinary in its overall execution and a real treat for the visuals and sheer majesty of the proceedings.

Adventureman takes elements we have seen used before but pushes them into new directions, injects and incredible amount of joy and gives us an amazing heroine that we instantly can relate to and root for. The ending leaves us with the promise of more incredible stories to come.

This issue of Aggretsuko plays out as more of a benign office comedy rather than a more aggressive social satire. But it is enjoyable to anyone who is being forced back into an office environment and realizing how many parts of the corporate system are designed to slow us down rather than maximizing our efficiency and encouraging balance.

The problem with the Sunday Comic Strip tone in a comic book form is that the conflicts don't feel deep enough to justify the comic purchase. It does suit younger readers in the tone and innocence but the office setting is just an odd fit for an all ages entry. But everyone can relate to being left out of a group and in the end the conflicts here are fairly universal.

This comic has been a mixed bag but this finale has all the heart that a series with the name Firefly on it needs. What always drew fans to this series was the heart beneath the snappy dialogue and action sequences. These characters love each other and care for each other.

The final story is a nice touch with Spidey passing the torch by inspiring future heroes by recently passed writer Mike Pasciullo along with artist Todd Nauck. This entire issue shows so many ways in which Spider-Man can be portrayed both artistically and from a story telling perspective, but they all feel true to the character and cast. This is an amazing way to celebrate Spider-Man's anniversary and hopefully inspires similar anthology style books for future Marvel anniversaries.

Spencer's humor is used to great use throughout the book. It's a simple, smart story but it moves quickly and features great character moments for Spider-Man, Boomerang and Gog.

Overall this is a solid issue with a great artwork and an interesting story. It will be interesting to see what the final results of the Sun-Eater's powers are on the various supervillains. It is nice seeing a villain that is less used to be elevated within the mythos. The hope is that we can get a better visual dynamic to the character as the arc continues.

The stories are clearly building up and building together, but at this point they just feel more like plot points being laid out like a laundry list than an interesting, cohesive comic. There is a distinctive lack of humor, energy and personality to this issue which is very unlike writer Nick Spencer. This is balanced against some incredibly superb art by Marcelo Ferreira and Carlos Gomez with inks by them and Wayne Faucher.

The issue is done perfectly from start to finish. There are two added stories taking place two weeks ago which are completely anti-climatic and unneeded but of course Marvel needs to increase the page count to justify the price. Overall this is looking to be a worthwhile ride, and the fact that we know it's only 19 issues long means we can hopefully enjoy it for the quality collaboration it is rather than worrying that every twist is a permanent one.

The art throughout features fantastic layouts but looks entirely unfinished and rushed. Certain artists benefit from a great inker, and Carlini may be one of them. Overall this book feels like all the worst elements of a crossover, flimsy story-telling, rushed art, poor characterization and no connection to the character who's name is on the book. These characters deserve better and these creators can do better. Hopefully the main book gives these characters a chance to be more true to themselves.

We then get an amazing version of the Joker mashed up as the Batman. It has been tried before but not with the amazing artistic styling of Jorge Jimenez. This sets up an epic setup for what should be a wild ride in next months big finale. This is an issue bursting with solid characterization and quality art. It is not entirely original, but it is a well done, classictale.

The main story is followed by an eight page short with Damian working with his mother Talia against the League of Lazarus. The art and action are fun but the story thus far is incredibly similar to what we have seen before, with Damian having to choose between the more tempered path of the Batman and the more murderous path of Ras Al Ghul. Hopefully future chapters of Damian's journey are more interesting as the false cliffhanger is just not enough to make this feel like anything more than a retread.

This issue is a bite of fun rather than a full dessert, but it is a smart way to draw in new readers to the fold. It is not quite as effective a way to draw in classic readers to the Fortnite universe. As enjoyable as it is as a Batman story, it does not take even one panel to introduce us to a Fortnite character or their perspective. Hopefully future issues allow a bit more balance between the characters, and at least a little bit of dialogue.

Batman Tales Once Upon A Crime is ostensibly a work for young children. But it is an easy, wonderful read for adults as well. While it would do better to stray away from the traditional story-telling a bit more, it is a lot of fun seeing these characters interacting against new backdrops but still keeping the cores of their personalities the same. Batman and his cast have always worked well against new backdrops and different worlds and tales such as these are much more interesting rather than tales that simply place superheroes in high school. The amazing art and solid character work here make this simple book an immense pleasure to read.

Batman Tales Once Upon A Crime is ostensibly a work for young children. But it is an easy, wonderful read for adults as well. While it would do better to stray away from the traditional story-telling a bit more, it is a lot of fun seeing these characters interacting against new backdrops but still keeping the cores of their personalities the same. Batman and his cast have always worked well against new backdrops and different worlds and tales such as these are much more interesting rather than tales that simply place superheroes in high school. The amazing art and solid character work here make this simple book an immense pleasure to read.

This book is a worthy read and should be used as a model for how to make a great modern Batman book. The art, the action, the colors and the characters shine through. This book reminds us not only of what a great character Batman is, but what a great character Gotham is and how amazing the comic medium can be when done right.

On it's own merits, this is an interesting comic with a good narrative arc. Ultimately this story lacks weight because it does not feel like a story of the hero we know and love. Batman's psyche stopped at the moment his parents were killed. His mission became stopping future tragedies such as the one that shaped his life. Having a teen version of our hero, processing emotions such as distrust, grief and guilt is interesting, but doesn't ring true to the underlying core of Batman.

The second conflict deals with the imprisonment of Squire's mom who was a smuggler caught when she was saving a life. Bruce is able to use his connections to allow her early release. By highlighting the strength of character in both Batman and Bruce Wayne, Taylor elevated this issue and really shows us the hero's heart. This is an excellent issue really bringing together all the elements of this series into a taut finale.

This issue represents all that great comics should be, massive action, massive stakes, huge emotion and great character work. The fact that the issue ends with an interview between Johnson and Walter Simonson shows such an appreciation for the character, creators and works that have come before. It adds to our confidence that Johnson is the real thing, a creator who cares about the character and knows how to add to the history of the Marvel Universe rather than simply telling an isolated story. This is a tale steeped in the past but paving a new direction for Beta Ray Bill and comic story-telling.

The art and colors are perfectly suited to the heart and humor we want from these heroes. Every page overflows with personality and joy. Here's hoping that Dorkin and Langridge can continue the excellent momentum of this first issue and give us a story to unite the world.

What would be an average story in lesser hands, is an interesting and thoughtful issue by a creative team that knows its craft well. Russell and Pugh set up an interesting future where class warfare is pronounced. The only short-coming of this book is allowing readers to see this warfare as being between individuals, rather than focusing at all on the system that allowed for them.

This entire book is a great beginning for a new franchise. It's nice to see books like these truly being used to flesh out characters and concepts leading to the film. Hopefully the film can pay off this level of talent and artistry.

This issue employs all the strengths of its creators and showcases the massive leadership and pure courage of T'Challa. This is the kind of story fans will be rereading and enjoying for decades to come.

This is a fantastic creative team exactly right for this character working together like an orchestra. Black Widow is in the best possible hands with this excellent book.

This is a comic which goes beyond simple stories and is steadily creating a modern heroic myth.

Canto refuses to be deterred but awakens to tragedy, Veratta has passed away after her sacrifice. The issue ends with a beautiful funeral. As always this series reflects the nature of story-telling and stories throughout.From the story at the funeral to the Shrouded One threatening that Canto's pages will be empty, story-telling itself is at stake in this epic journey. The characters are incredibly likeable and the loss in this issue is felt deeply because of their heroism and friendship. This book is about emotions, supporting others and holding onto empathy and it's abook we all need more of in these times and at all times.

The art throughout the battles and dramatic rescues feels blurred and rushed. The characters and backgrounds are over-simplified. Veronica has some potential to be interesting, it feels like the writers are channeling Harley Quinn a bit. But even as she escapes the book just sinks under the weight of all of the other dull characters and concepts around her.

Marvel has so much potential with these characters and rather than focusing on what makes Iron Man and Captain America unique, this story wallows in past continuity and focuses on side characters we have no reason to care about.

This comic showcases Sam Wilson and his unique perspective as Captain America. It shows how he can represent the symbol of Captain America without embracing the imperialism and injustice that could represent. All of this combined with exciting conflicts, great action and the best art we have had in a Marvel comic in years. This is an excellent book and a model for how to use Sam Wilson as Captain America in the modern world.

These characters have so much potential but this Outlawed crossover feels way too familiar at this point. It's a waste of great story-tellers who can do so much better.

The issue nicely begins with the crossover between reality and fiction and ends with a massive character reveal as the world of The Walking Dead has crashed into our narrative. This issue is a perfect encapsulation of what this book is about, massive surprises, great character work, interesting meta textual commentary and great art. This book is one we'll be rereading for decades to come, revealing more nuance each time we read it. Cates and Shaw are incredible story-tellers and have so much to say about comics and writing even while they bring in more and more toys to play with.

Thankfully Cates has revealed that the series will not end with the arc-ending issue 13. This is a book about the process of story-telling itself and it's fascinating getting a look into Donny Cates' mind through the prism of Geoff Shaw's glorious artwork. Comic readers clamored for a major crossover event to save comics from the pandemic, this is the only team that stepped up to the challenge.

The skill in telling an Elseworlds type tale is placing heroes we know and love in new circumstances. If we can't recognize the heroes then the new circumstances become a basic artistic exercise. It might provide imagery for a new line of action figures, but it certainly won't inspire readers to return for more.

This is a book that shows why superheroes matter, why supervillains matter, why stories matter. Imagination can trap us if it causes us to ignore reality, but it can also lift us out of trauma and deliver us back to the real world after our bodies and minds have been badly damaged. That an important lesson for us all not only in the events of our lives, but also in the collective trauma caused by war, famine and disease. Heroes and stories are never unimportant as long as people use them to inspire action, activity and healing in the real world.

This issue is paced to allow the battles to breathe and the conflicts to build. The big screen style hides a story full of heart and heroism. We still get enormous action scenes but we hold onto the character moments as we get an epic Wonder Woman story against the backdrop of realities torn asunder.

This issue sets up an interesting conflict and the art is great, especially with the designs of the Defiled. Smaller event series are clearly the way to go for Marvel right now and Steve Orlando has crafted a fun one.

This is a quick, interesting story with a much narrower focus than these mega multiverse crossovers tend to have. The art by Neil Googe is brilliant with a playful tone and bright colors matching Damian's more glib nature. There needs to be more meat on the bones to make this one shot a true must have, but it's a fun side adventure. It is strange seeing Damian be the responsible Vampire and Dick be a controlling sadistic monster but it makes for a good matchup. This book feels like it's trying to be a variation on Injustice but it's definitely interesting in its own simple way.

Except somehow this is the last issue of the run, showing just how pointless Marvel makes crossovers by not even allowing them to build momentum and an audience for their books. They're continually resetting books rather than letting a run as fun as this find a larger audience. More than anything this book proves just how great a writer Kelly Thompson is. Even if this crossover can't find more fans for this run it'll certainly create some new fans for Kelly Thompson.

Overall this issue was a celebration of everything that Deadpool is. It has great humor great art and a great overall arc from before birth to after death. It's a brilliant way to showcase so much creativity and an insane amount of fun packed into a single issue.

The story ends with the White Queen-esque Ogin sending Thor and Storm counterpoints to do her bidding. This promises even more great visual fun with the next issue, but it is unfortunate that the great visuals seem destined to be paired with poor dialogue once more.

The entire issue rests around the feeling of being in a movie, but it is presented in such a dull and vague way that we are left simply not caring what it all will ultimately mean.

The logical question is why Matthew Rosenberg and Fernando Blanco are not given the main story spot here. They are an excellent creative team with perfect use of shadow and light and a true understanding of Batman and Gotham itself. As it stands a truly great creative team is being hidden behind an extraordinarily poor one.

This is an issue that simply does not live up to its potential. It does not add any depth to the character of Scar and feels isolated and dull. The introduction of the Bone Eaters only leads us further away from any meaningful character interaction with the main cast. We would be better off with a prequel series with a more sympathetic Scar and a more consistent edge to the art style.

This debut issue is a promising exploration of a unique legacy hero, one who inherits his powers from his future self. The art and writing in action sequences are dynamic and interesting. Unfortunately things slow down dramatically with discussion of scientific principles and character backgrounds. In trying to drive home scientific theory and focusing on a generic teenage character the action is quickly sacrificed. The hope is that future issues are able to convey characterization and story as part of the action rather than a break from it. The creative team of Alejandro Arbona and Jim Towe is a strong one and what remains to be seen is if the story will become more dynamic as it moves forward in future issues.

This issue is well done, with strong character moments, solid twists and a logical path. It is unfortunate that it leaves us in a much more traditional place, with two arch villainous groups unwilling to bend to see the value of humanity. It will be interesting to see if the Cotati can discover some empathy by the end of the crossover or if they will remain in place as the vegan villains of the Marvel Universe.

Overall this issue brings a joyful change to the family dynamic and a massive complication in the return of Uatu. This issue certainly gives the title some momentum going forward. Hopefully Fantastic Four is able to build on these changes quickly and continue to entertain and surprise us.

What's unique about this issue is that it presents the origin of Thanos while barely showing Thanos. It's an artistic achievement and a beginning filled with promise for the battle to come. Thanos is presented as a monstrous force of hate out to destroy any he should love. It's a great take on a villain we love and it will be interesting seeing him face off against his forebears.

The dark, mystical tone and tragic destruction of a strong partnership makes the comic more than a basic crossover tale, but it remains to be seen if the authors are truly willing to throw their partnership away to simply give Carnage a visible score. Sacrificing a female symbiote this early in the crossover seemingly simply to boost the male seems a bit excessive. Here's hoping the crossover is aiming to strengthen all the offspring symbiotes and this is simply a throwaway feint.

An opportunity to see heroes face off is ruined when for some reason Venomized Johnny Storm thinks he can lecture Sue on her parenting skills and Venomized Ben raves at Reed for being a scientist. It is also a bit jarring to see a fast forward to the aftermath of the crossover at the issue's end where we just spend more time worrying about relationships. This issue just lays on the melodrama like it's Nutella and it's exhausting without being enjoyable.

Finally the issue ends with Doom entering the fray. There is so much going on here that the super powered Galactus waiting in the wings is not even mentioned. The art keeps up with the massive scope, great action sequences and fantastic color work. Ben Grimm's face looks wrong and some of the pages lack some detail but otherwise it's a steller issue artistically by Rachel Stott. Dan Slott is having so much fun on this book and the story shines on every page. The individual moments here can feel a bit heavy handed but the overall momentum and energy shines through.

The one criticism of the wedding issue itself has to be the incredibly small role Sue Storm has in her own wedding. But of course the creators here are confined to the original source material and the result is a fun artistic tour of many of Marvel's greatest creators and a great journey to the past full of fantastic imagery showcasing a massive part of the Marvel pantheon.

As it is, this issue is a fairly familiar but well done trip through the first decade of the Fantastic Four.

This book is going to be an amazing treat and this teaser is perfect to draw new readers in.

This is a well told story, but it just doesn't hold weight. Pak needs to find a way to add stakes that matters even while he and Sharma brings to life characters we love.

Pak and Sharma continue to tell an interesting story in the Firefly universe. It would be nice to have more attention given to characters besides Mal and Zoe. Whedon's characters are all so well formed that it's a shame not to spend more time with such a vast range of characters. Kaylee, Book, Inara and Jayne deserves a whole lot more focus. That being said, Pak does understand all their voices and this story is building nicely.

This issue is a well done continuation to a great arc. Blue Sun is a great villainous corporate monster and it will be interesting to see how the crew navigate both sides of this conflict and take on our mystery assassin. Pak and Bachs have a momentum with this series that hasn't been seen with Firefly since the original television show. It's a remarkable feat that they are able to take such a great series and adjust it to something all its own.

The Blue Sun Rising story continues to create a larger enemy for Mal and the crew to focus on. The larger moral complexities of this conflict should play out over the next few issues as they work to attack the kill switch and potential knock out technology which has become vital to the universe around them.

Jeff Jensen finds different ways to truly show us the heart and soul of Jayne and remind us of just how great and nuanced a character he is. Jensen truly understands these characters and it makes for a fantastic story both for occasional readers and fans of the ongoing continuity.

This is a book that depends on a device which could have entirely fallen through. That Jeremy Adams and the art team are able to stick the landing here and trust our love for this character is strong enough to break the fourth wall successfully is a major achievement. Hopefully the skill, heart and detailed work they are doing is rewarded with a growing audience so we see more comics with this amount of love for the character going forward.

This comic run just crackles with energy. It is so much fun seeing Wally West back and bringing all the joy and positivity that comics and the world needs. Ace finally seems to have a logical place now and hopefully this portends the beginning of a more interesting characterization for him.

This book is a fun romp and hopefully we see more characters from the Marvel universe more fully interact with the Fortnite characters moving forward. It's not a perfect book but it has enough action and characterization to hopefully draw in new readers and help them understand what makes comics fun.

The action, characters and movement in Nicola Scott's art is always astounding, but the city, characters and costumes here do not feel futuristic in any way. This could easily be an issue of Nightwing in his own run if Batman was missing and replaced a la Azreal. It is nice that the characters in Future State still feel like themselves, but time should change anyone and the fun of a future tale should in part be about contrasts with the characters and world we know. Adding cybernetics to the villains and florescent colors to the city isn't quite enough to differentiate things.

Here's hoping Infinite Frontier means that fans can demand more of these classic Tim Drake stories in the far future. But at least we get this issue which uses a future time to restore a classic character to his deserved greatness.

We need a Tim Drake book with this level of art and storytelling on a consistent basis. Fitzmartin and Barrows so clearly love Tim Drake and that fondness shines through in the level of their craft. Although the Lazarus Resin is a crutch that was not needed it does establish Tim as a very powerful character going forward in the Future State universe especially as he rises back from sure death once again at the end of the issue. This comic shows the power that a good Tim Drake story has and the potential within the character for an ongoing comic.

Here the audience gets exactly what they expect from a Mark Russell book which makes it a bit less outrageous. But that being said the larger question which remains at the end of this issue is if Superman is correct and appeasing these blind followers and Lex can teach them a better path, or if compromise will simply lead to Lex finding a path to greater victory.

This is a very different G.I. Joe run and it does show how a modern depiction could work on page and screen even while Hama carries on the classic run. There is room enough for many different incarnations of G.I.Joe and with a bit more character work and more focus on tactical strategy this book could be the seeds of a new type of G.I.Joe.

The book build momentum through the issue and the hope is that the momentum keeps ramping up through this series. The artwork makes this book stand out but the hope is that we gain some more personal stakes between the heroes and the villains. This may come though the inevitable connection of Baroness with Destro but we need this conflict to feel personal for each and every character featured here. For now the classic setup and incredible art are enjoyable, but one hopes there are some major twists to come to give our heroes some emotional stakes.

It remains a shame that Hama's run focuses so much on newer characters at the expense of hundreds of characters it would be nice to see, but ninjas have always been a central part of this book so the tone feels right. This is a book that is in turns goofy and convoluted, but that's classic Joe and we wouldn't have it any other way.

There are so many pieces to this enjoyable puzzle, but artist SL Gallant and inker Maria Keane give all of it clarity and keeps are attention in every vital panel. This is the type of issue which makes one want to go back and reread all that lead to it. It's a fun, frenzied brawl with old friends at every turn. Here's hoping the Joes land somewhere that appreciates this team and allows them to continue on with this historic run well beyond issue 300.

It can't be overstated how both familiar styles of storytelling and new styles of art work come together to create an absorbing experience that carries the reader from one page to the next. As amazing an experience this book is it makes one hope this series goes long enough to fill compendiums of stories allowing the reader to go on this journey without interruption. As it is we have to wait for each new issue and hope this level of artistry can continue within this book for years to come.

This book is simple, well focused and compelling in unexpected ways. It has familiar conflicts of rage and battling inner darkness, but uses the tropes of Ghost Rider in completely new ways. Most importantly Percy and Smith have crafted a fun, crazy adventure that stays entertaining even while delving into Johnny Blaze's soul. Adding just the right mix of Spawn and Mad Max to make for a race worth entering.

This issue is excellent and we can only hope for more of this exceptional, original and fun story-telling going forward.

With this issue, Go Go Power Rangers goes beyond a typical action adventure and allows us to explore the life of the random victims too often ignored in superhero comics. At the same time, it allows us to explore the characters of Rita and her team in greater depth as well as questionable decision-making on the part of Zordon.

Ryan Parrott and Sina Grace share the writing duties for this issue and overall execute the dialogue, action and story-telling incredibly well. While this remains the more traditional book and includes elements of everyday high schoolers and Finster's monsters attacking Angel Grove, it's always tough to keep these elements interesting.

There is always a place for humor and parody in comics, but this book is so poorly done that it feels like a waste of everyone's time and threatens to derail the entire crossover.

This is a creative team with potential, but perhaps this isn't the right character for them. The character's appearance, voice and level of skill all feel off here. Fans have had much better Kate Bishop stories than this one, and a character of this caliber deserves better treatment than this.

It would have been more interesting to see Peter go through some more extreme personality changes as a result of losing Aunt May and being continually bullied and looked down on. Instead we see a fairly well adjusted hero emerge in spite of the totally new circumstances. The characters and art all work as we'd expect without any genuine surprises beyond Peter's final transformation.

The writing and art balance such a large cast with varied powers, personalities and appearances wonderfully and this is a great issue that reminds us of the heyday of Age of Apocalypse and what a great team can do when given a unique opportunity in the midst of a larger crossover.

Overall this book is meant to be a dystopian look at what Alpha Flight would be without its heart, without hope. Unfortunately this is just not rendered with any depth or true character work beyond the basic plot.

Thor believes Hulk is innocent of earthly accusations so he lies to Iron Man and claims Hulk is dead. As perfect as Ryan Ottley has been for the Hulk book, having Daniel Warren Johnson on a Hulk vs Thor book is also just such a perfect, decadent treat. This is what comics is all about, big action, massive stakes, fun battles and interesting characters. The scope of the art spares no corner of any page.

This book is about our own exhaustion and despair but also serves as a call to action to all of us as readers to take the time and make the effort to show those around us and around the world that they matter and that we truly care and want to help them get through these tough times.

Ewing allows fans to enjoy an incredibly strong set of battles against gamma beasts, and then adds the added horror of parasites released as Hulk tears them apart. Rather than a simple battle with a pat-ending, this battle includes consequences on every level, with the release of even more deadly enemies, the media turning the public further against The Hulk and the human toll.

This issue feels like a prestige graphic novel. It's the type of story you'll go back to tomorrow and then again ten years from now as you remember what it means to lose a teacher, and remember that truly great teachers not only leave us with more knowledge but leave us understanding just a bit more about ourselves.

Iron Man 2020 #3 is an interesting book limited by a lack of true depth in the characterization of the various supporting characters. We see many only friends in passing, but it feels more like a cameo than a true chance to visit the AI and examine what differentiates them from each other. Given Tony's status at the end of this issue, we will likely get a lot more focus on the supporting cast in the remainder of this crossover. As it is this issue caps an interesting beginning to the conflict to come.

The limited scope of the story might change in future issues, but as of now this feels like a very familiar tale with slight twists in setting and conflict. Comics can take us places film and television simply cannot, both in story-telling and scope. This book simply feels like it was created to sell as a script rather than trying to give us something with depth and character work. The story might benefit from an expansion of the cast, more focus on the villains and some time spent in the city. Thus far it is a beautiful book with very limited imagination.

In many ways the limitations of this issue and of the overall scope of the series lie within the muddled thematic elements themselves.

In the end, Kang cannot stop his own stubborn will, and in this the cycle which creates the flawed villain is renewed. This book is a unique examination of not only what forms Kang, but what prevents humanity from breaking from past mistakes and forming what could be a better version of ourselves.

In concept and execution this book is a rousing beginning. The real challenge will be to see how well Gillen and Rossignol can keep us engaged over many issues. The hope is that they continue to find new social constructs to pull apart as the story progresses. This issues deals with marriage, property ownership, party etiquette and the greatest sin of being boring. Hopefully the creators continue the pace of pulling at aspects of society and our social media age that too many take a normative.

Saladin Ahmed is a much more gifted writer than anything he is giving us on his Ms Marvel run. The writer and character simply are not a good fit. Kamala is an incredibly original superhero in the Marvel universe, bringing a unique perspective, family, friendships and incredible positivity. Unfortunately all of this feels increasingly forgotten in a comic drowning in anxieties rather than rising above them as the story claims to do.

The combination feels much more like cosplay than a true amalgam of personalities but it's a fun exercise. It is also a great comic to draw in new young readers given its simple plot and bright colors. But for seasoned comic fans this feels like a comic to hang up as a unique mashup rather than a book you'd ever wish to reread.

If anything the book could use a bit more blood shed, it does feel a bit tame at times. Keeping the action so kid friendly, makes it feel more like a video game crossover and a bit less like a zombie horror film. But overall it's a fun ride, with great art and solid surprises as Marvel Zombies should be.

The rest of the stories are all well done and some are just so different in their perspective that it feels like an independent comic rather than a Marvel book. It is interesting how little politics comes into play here. The political injustice is only emphasized when it's taking place in other nations. The injustices within our own borders just are barely touched upon. That being said the real power here is all of the incredible perspectives and amazing artwork emphasizing these rich, realized characters from so many walks of life. This book is a wonderful start but we definitely need more of this in mainstream comics. Not only diverse voices and artists but also a feeling of editorial freedom where creators can go beyond traditional stories and perspectives.

This book proves how incredible the work of Busiek and Ross on the original Marvels books truly was. Making a solid, believable story about people living their everyday lives as they run into heroes can be a beautiful treat. Unfortunately, done badly it is a cloying parody of the stories and characters it celebrates.

The art throughout mixes a classic feel with an incredibly unique look that pops in just the right places. The colors are a vital part of the story-telling as we shift from reflective and action packed moments. This book should be required reading for every filmmaker, writer and editor who ever misunderstood what makes Cyclops such an amazing, complex character, hero and leader.

The issue takes all the promise of last issue and removes it. But the ending of the issue does leave promise of potential excitement to come.

The art and colors are classic Ranger cool. Not all the characters look exactly as we remember from the show but the art is strong and the characters are easy to differentiate. The art shines the most in the extremely well done action sequences. This is a great start to a brand new Ranger era and it will be interesting to see how Zordon's past will return to haunt the Rangers.

This book continues to highlight some strong characterizations, especially in Skull, Billy, Zedd, Zelya and Zordon. It still continues to be a lost opportunity to make Aisha, Rocky and Adam stronger individual characters. These are characters we had too little time with on the show, and it feels like such a disappointment to not spend some dedicated time with them here. Overall this is a strong arc in an incredibly strong run expanding on the larger Ranger mythology.

This book continues to grow by leaps and bounds as the saga builds. Given the threat to Zordon and the massive threat of the Eltarians and Empyreals, things should just keep getting more intense. Ryan Parrott just keeps turning up the dial as the Rangers move into all out war.

The Rangers gather on Promethea where Grace and Matt tell them Zordon is gone with Grace trying to take charge in his stead as the Eltarians gather just outside. This book bursts with action, characterization and massive matchups. The Rangers have a true threat and this war is just getting started.

The art by Dan Mora is detailed and every character and moment is clear and perfectly rendered. The art works best when the colors by Raul Angulo use some darker, sharper tones. The depiction of Krang is gloriously creepy and Ranger X is just as cool as you'd want a mysterious villain to be. This story need more surprises to lift the series to a truly epic place, but thus far it is a fun romp with so many of our classic favorites.

This issue is entitled Aftermath, but it nicely acts as a prelude to major changes directing the story forward with new villains, dynamics and powers on the horizon. Between the Dark Rangers and the threat Drakkon warns of, the Power Rangers should continue to be in top form for many issues to come.

This issue does a great job of encapsulating the character of Moon Knight, showing off the nature of his villains and allies and his potential for destruction. It is a great jumping on point but also leaves one ready for more.

This book is a must have for the sheer variety of creative genius, showing us the power of these story-tellers and the range within the character of Moon Knight.

Many readers will likely pick up this first issue out of the novelty of the crossover. This first issue serves its purpose with a simple setup and interactions between the characters. Unfortunately the overall effect is a bit underwhelming. Hopefully the meeting of Grimlock and Spike next issue brings a needed energy to the crossover.

Overall this crossover is progressing nicely, being smart enough not to worry about a larger plot and instead allowing for characters interactions to take the spotlight.

It remains to be seen if Napoleon Dynamite is a viable comic book property. This special may be the most effective use of the property, a one-shot removes the need for complex cliff-hangers, conflicts or extended dialogue. Megan Brown and Christine Larsen create a entertaining, interesting and surprisingly thought-provoking piece on the mistakes characters we love might make on Valentine's Day, and the heart it takes for relationships to turn those small mistakes into small victories.

In one issue, Ed Brisson and Flaviano introduce us to a full range of conflicts and ends with multiple tragedies. This series feels like classic X-Men. While using the premise and larger conflicts Hickman established, it still fits perfectly with the proud tradition established by Chris Claremont.

This issue reflects some massive parallels to the original New Mutants 8. That issue in 1983 was the first appearance of Amara, took place in the Amazon and features Sebastian Shaw plotting to gain control of mineral deposits in Rio. The parallels between that issue and this one enrich the larger story-telling history and reward long-time readers. At the same time the story is completely accessible for newer readers and those drawn in by the larger Krakoan storyline.

Every issue of this book gives characters we love more depth and interaction.

This remains a great run full of fun character moments and fantastic art, this issue just doesn't work because the threat here feels too small to ruin the reality of the Bat-books by calling in the Titans to save the day.

The entire work allows us to see these celebrities in a personal, specific way and puts us through their emotions in a way more strictly nonfictional comics might not. What results is a celebration not only of the comaradarie among the Beatles, but of the comic form. This is a story which could never be told as well without the visual media provided by comics. In spite of being quite simple on the surface, the comic form allows it to be deeply affecting and true creative harmony between the written and artistic form.

The visuals of the Omega Rangers, their new pet and the villainous Drakkon are incredible. The breakout scene is action packed to the point that a more traditional battle scene isn't even missed. The larger conflicts between Tommy and Zordon on one side and the Omega Rangers on another is unique and allows for rich character development on all sides. This is a great start to a new arc and seeing the Omega Rangers enter the Final Frontier is massively exciting as endless storytelling possibilities await.

The issue caps off with the Rangers entering a nightmare version of Angel Grove capping off a fantastic, action packed, character building issue with promise of more great things to come under Parrott's guardianship of the Power Ranger universe.

This issue is a bit confusing, even with the color coded word balloons being able to differentiate who is speaking at any time takes extra thought. This makes the experience of reading the book a bit disjointed. But the larger alliances between the Rangers, Zords and Eltarians is great fun and the art has built up beautifully over this arc with grand colors and massive battle scenes. Ryan Parrott knows how to tell a great Power Ranger story and he understands exactly how to bring the action to a massive finish.

The character work, art and colors of this issue shine and carry us through the many farewells. This issue does not quite have the energy of the prior but that is to be expected in an epilogue issue. It is a great ending to a solid Power Rangers epic, and hopefully the beginning of much more.

There is simply no reason for readers to return other than trust that the arc will take a turn for something more dramatic to what this book currently is: a young man who is completely giving in to all the authority figures in his life.

This is an extraordinary issue with jaw dropping art. It sets up some key conflicts and revisits the spirit of the Fantastic Four in a unique way.

Dennis Hopeless and Scott Hepburn create an entertaining issue that deals with incredibly complex issues including time travel, contracts for souls, cosmic characters and parasitic monsters. Through strong writing, clear story-telling, dynamic art and strong character work they makes every moment interesting and vital to the larger story arc. The shocking ending is given even more emotional weight through our time spent with Cammi on her journey to return to Frank. All of this represents the great story-telling, history and depth that can only be found in comics.

One wishes Damian had just as much attitude here as the art does. Perhaps we are just seeing a more mature depiction of the character, but it's also less enjoyable.

Damian rises and calls on all the fighters to work together and coordinate their attacks. We get to see nice moments with characters who have each grown through the series before the demon is defeated and Hawke saved. The issue ends with a final blast of demonic energy sending Damian into the past where he meets a young version of his grandfather, R'as al Ghul.

The art by Alexis Vivallo adds to the lighthearted spirit, creating great characters with writer Jason Nutt. While these archetypes feel familiar, there is absolute talent behind the fun. Sasquatch in Love is a well executed story of friendship, secrets and mistaken identity that leads you feeling uplifted and looking for a Sasquatch of your own.

This is an absolutely epic chapter of a larger tale which gives strong moments to some great characters.

Gene Leun Yung is a skilled creator who has found a perfect setup for our hero to show not only his skills but also his ability to face adversity and adversaries of all types. We're left truly excited about the future of his character, beginning with a matchup against Cap next issue.

While the battle between Shang-Chi and Captain America is fast, the battle with the villains and especially Lady Iron Fan is well executed classic action fun. The entire issue is a well made heist plot and the pure love the creative team has for this character and this madcap story is palpable. Although Shang-Chi isn't battling the Marvel Universe, he is reconnecting with it, and through this filter with fans old and new.

Spawn has always carried the flag of the superhero horror genre, and while this issue embraces the horror aspect as the issue progresses, it moves much to slowly towards that interesting end. The hope is that future issues in this arc can capitalize on conveying philosophy through dialogue and actions rather than simply burying the issue in text boxes.

It can't be overstated how great the art is in this book. Every issue consistently brings iconic action, great characters a fantastic action sequences. Todd knows how to foster and hold on to great talent and this book shines each month because of it. The plot and characters are fantastic, they just need a bit more room to talk to each other rather than pages of exposition and internalized angst.

The mismatch between the epic plot and visuals and the horrible script makes this feel like a parody rather than a real comic book. That being said, it is a whole lot of fun still and so epic that you'll find yourself flipping back through it over and over.

Zeb Wells is an amazing writer and his work here suits Spider-Ham well. The reader's actual enjoyment of the issue depends entirely on if you have the time, resources and desire to read a relatively throw-away comic in which the stakes are massive but the threats never turn out to be as powerful as the punchlines. The extended Avengers Endgame tribute feels like a YouTube video rather than a comic story. But for those who read comics for silly humor and insane dialogue, this is top form nonsense that Stan Lee would be proud of.

The art by Juan Ferreyra is astounding. He presents big screen action and the color work he does throughout this book is the perfect combination of dark Noir mixed in with flashes of light. Stohl gives him so much to do in this issue and he absolutely thrives as the issue swings between undead monstrous villains and the smaller character moments. This is a book that is uniquely well done and hopefully it's creators gain even more of a following from it.

Killam's writing is strong, funny and thoughtful. Killam's style of comic humor here clearly borrows heavily from Looney Tunes, and that style of humor suits the Spider-Man multiverse quite well. At some points you can almost close your eyes and hear Maurice LaMarche's Yosemite Sam, or Bob Bergen's Speedy Gonzalez.

In spite of these minor issues this book is a brilliant, fun and surprising look at a great character in conflict with the friends and foes around her. As the book builds up to a larger conflict with High Evolutionary, hopefully we get more of the depth and surprises seen so far in this run.

The ultimate problem with this issue is that it takes the Black Order and reduces it down to a family. Having a super villain team that is also a family is not a new concept. It is however not necessary with a team as heartless and interesting as the Black Order has already been. Trying to create sympathy for some of the coolest villains in the Marvel universe is unnecessary. Some villains can just be villains. They can be extraordinary in their brand of evil, they do not have to be ordinary in their love for each other.

This story is not perfect. It makes some narrative leaps forced upon it by the pacing of the comic format. But it does have a massive scope, interesting conflicts and manages to focus on characters we love in the midst of extraordinary circumstances. Getting an original, impactful, forward moving Star Trek story with a great cast and strong, exciting art is a treat. Hopefully it truly is an inspiration for the larger Star Trek line going forward.

This feels like a Star Trek book and never forgets this means delighting in characters, conflicts, mythology, alien species and alien worlds. This issue builds up conflict on multiple fronts, between the heroes themselves, with the Romulans and with the planetary environment of the Tzenketh homeworld. It truly makes every page count and builds up an interesting new conflict even while visiting many old friends.

This book is quickly building to an all time best status. It is difficult to recall any Star Trek series ever written better than this one. The constantly great art, character moments and growing conflicts makes this a series every fan of Sisko and Sci-fi must read.

Kelly and Lanzing are a proven writing team and we are sure to get a massive conflict coming from this mission, here's hoping the art can improve enough to keep up.

This issue is filled with grand concepts and powerful moments. So many characters are allowed to shine and there is a smart respect for the film universe in spite of the satisfaction in seeing it destroyed. The issue ends with a pivot as Sisko is called back to the celestial temple but this stop over has enough heart and action to fill an entire arc.

The feat of combining internal struggle with metaphysical conflict with incredible art makes this a unique tale in a standout run. This is the type of book which could have been a stand alone graphic novel, and the fact that we get this quality every month in serial form remains astounding a true tribute to the faith IDW has in keeping this writing team on this book for the long run and pairing them with incredible artists in every single issue.

Christopher Cantwell and the Star Trek Defiant team continue to craft a strong, thoughtful and action packed Star Trek tale. This story is entirely different from the tone and themes surrounding the core Star Trek book. While still referencing that story reminding us this remains a shared universe, the book and its strong characterizations remain unique. The strong focus on character along with visceral action hold our attention and give the characters depth without slowing the story down for a second.

This remains an excellent book with strong visuals set against interesting advances in characterizations and conflicts. The hope is that this book won't be sidelined by crossovers but remains on its own path to develop its own characters and conflicts.

This is a fantastic, bright, interesting book perfectly aligned with the energy and character moments which fill the series.

Star Trek Scorpius Run is a fun, action-packed, character filled adventure and exactly the type of Star Trek book we need on the stands. Here's hoping we get a lot more of this creative team on Star Trek books moving forward.

This issue has massive consequences and given how great this creative team is, the final part of the five year journey promises to be a massive treat.

This book takes us into a fascinating period between Episodes V and VI. The character work and dialogue feel genuine. But the danger of telling stories in this period is robbing some of the energy of the cliffhanger episode V left us with. The fact that we clearly will see Leia's Carbonite Freeze be reversed could also rob some of the power of seeing Han reversed in Episode VI. Telling stories in this era should be an opportunity to visit new places and have new adventures. By hewing so closely to the locations and events we just left behind, the story is in danger of feeling redundant and reduce the power of the original stories.

The art feels a bit simple at times, with the ancient droid looking a bit too nondescript and Leia not looking quite like herself. But on the whole the characters look great and the action and battles have a kenetic aspect which is tough to achieve on the comic page. This book is a solid entry to a new epic filling in the gaps of a vital era and bringing together some great characters from the larger Star Wars Universe.

As Luke takes the kill shot he has a vision of Vader going after the Millenium Falcon at Yavin. He realizes Vader is going after Han and that he needs to quickly join with Leia to save Han from imperial clutches.

The character art throughout the issue is solid but the backgrounds in many scenes feel a bit too simple. There are great depictions of the landmark locations across the galaxy, but the smaller scenes lack some depth. That being said, the true limiting factor here may be a lack of any action or conflict beyond Luke's own thoughts. This may just be the beginning of a much larger story, but it's tough to see why any reader would return simply to hear Yoda's old hologram talk next issue.

This book succeeds on the basis of great character moments and strong art. These are the moments we come to a Star Wars comic to see. Zahra has been built up over years as a formidable foe and seeing her face off with Leia should be interesting.

This issue is an excellent ending to a rivalry which has been built up across multiple series and she's just how far Leia is willing to go to help the rebellion.

This issue packs in a lot of content, action and characterization but it is all done with incredible skill and you can feel the energy building back up in the Star Wars universe as we enter a new phase for Star Wars comics.

The fact that we get a solid, fun book taking place on Life Day across various eras is a surprise to be sure. It is a welcome one and this book has all the heart and friendship anyone would want from a holiday special. It is of course much higher in quality than the original Holiday Special, but it does help us look back at that with a certain fondness"as long as we don't have to rewatch the whole thing.

Although young children might not recognize the characters, the strong artwork along with the colors by Charlie Kirchoff are enough to draw any reader in through shear story-telling.

Overall it's tough to recommend a book that spends the majority of its pages spinning its wheels on a weak tribute to a classic concept. The second story shows just how much a book like this can do to add to the characters and mythos of Star Wars. Here's hoping we get more of Tobias and Val in the future.

This second story is vastly different than what we normally see in the Star Wars universe. It is delightful in the way it mixes various Star Wars characters and concepts from many different places and eras, but a bit perplexing in that it sets up many elements with no clear idea of why. This story would mean more if there was some indication of what the mystical concepts it presents means to the larger Star Wars story. On its own, it simply feels too disparate to matter.

The art, the writing, the colors and the great cliffhanger combine into a grand adventure worth coming back for. It's a true tribute to what stylistic and artistic risks can be taken at IDW under their Star Wars books.

This simple story revisiting an old haunt is better than all the sequels combined. As our heroes head back to Vader's Castle next issue we look forward to more greatness even as we mourn the potential ending of the IDW era.

Valance misses the target on purpose to warn Han but in the battle that follows Han discovers Valance's involvement and blames him for the attack. Han is written perfectly here, both in his banter with Chewie, and his rush to judgement of Valance. In the present Zuckuss and 4-Lom close in, but Dengar is able to trade his knowledge of the location of Han and Fett for their safety.

Overall this is an excellent issue with great art and great action, here's hoping this crossover brings a renewed sense of focus to this book.

This is a great cap to an action filled arc. The story-telling here is clear and focused, the characterizations emerge strongly through the heat of battle and the art is just an absolute feast.

The art is perfect for this book, it keeps our attention through some heavy exposition and shows the weight of Madelin's discoveries through a physical transformation. It is a bit more animated in style but still feels very much a part of the classic Star Wars universe. Charles Soule has great skill in building up new characters, but allowing us this time with a unique perspective he breaths new life into this series. We already know Qi'ra has alot of power and loyal followers. It's definitely time to move onto other interesting facets such as this one to expand the story into new and interesting places.

The art by Steven Cummings and inks by Victor Olazaba absolutely immerse one in the feel of Star Wars. The ships, cantinas and Mustafar itself are all well rendered. The character designs of the various Knights could use more differentiation. Beyond Ren himself and the highly entertaining Bazzra, the other Knights feel a bit interchangeable here. But as a whole they are an interesting bunch and it would be interesting to see Soule tackle them in a series all their own to give them even more depth.

This is an interesting setup to the final series of Qi'ra's story. Hopefully we get a bit more time to truly understand her motivations even as we see her serving as a great adversary for Vader and Palpatine. The art and colors here are consistent and clear although they don't add any unexpected excitement to the proceedings and come off as a bit flat. This book feels like filler content rather than a necessary piece of the puzzle. Hopefully the final arc brings us much more action and depth with core characters that we care about.

Pak and Ienco are back on track to make this the epic, action-filled story of the dominant Vader which we should be seeing during this time. This crossover has been a boon, cleansing all our minds of the embarrassing weakness Vader was reduced to earlier in the series. Hopefully this is just the beginning of more great stories in which Vader shows why he is the greatest villain in fiction.

The rest of this arc could hold great promise as Vader and Ochi encounter space terrors as the move towards Exegol the planet of Sith powers and clone experiments. As much as we want to put Rise of Skywalker behind us it would be great fun to see Vader crush an army of Snokes. Unfortunately that's not happening here as we get what amounts to a filler issue bridging the action of Mustafar to the journey to Exegol.

This issue serves as a bridge between the last story on Mustafar and the upcoming promise of a trip to the heart of Exegol. But in and of itself it is still an amazing space battle and Vader battles past the empire and a monstrous blockade in order to reach the Emperor and the answers he seeks.

The issues greatest strength is the insane skill of Guiu Vilanova's epic, art and the coloring by Dean White and Giada Marchisio. They play with light and dark in creative new ways and use color to differentiate the layered flashbacks. Vilanova is definitely an artist to watch, the kind of artist you want to follow no matter what series they're involved with. Hopefully it includes a whole lot more art on this series and in the galaxy of Star Wars.

That said the book still suffers from two core issues. The first remains that Ochi is still not quirky enough to hold our interest. He does not feel like a true threat to Vader's power and does not serve the role of sidekick well. Secondly as mention is the larger crossover entirely side-tracking all the supporting books and making them feel redundant rather than adding anything new.

This issue is all action and exactly what this book always should be. Vader is tested and betrayed in turn, but is out in full strength and full determination. The characters and conflicts feel vital and interesting. This book has had moments portraying Vader as a massively weak and flawed character, but this latest arc finally has him acting as his old self.

Overall this is an excellent book with Vader growing in power as he faces an unexpected foe in Sabe and Crimson Dawn.

The overall art on this issue is excellent with characters and action in top form, but the creatures that take up part of the issue look absolutely absurd.

Hopefully we see more of Kitster, Wald and their invention going forward but even a glimpse and their lives is interesting. Sabe is such a strong foil for Vader that the story has a renewed momentum and the art and colors seem to recognize this popping with energy in every panel.

The writing by Greg Pak has so much potential but the continued weakening of Vader's character and determination limits the enjoyment of this book. All of this might be purposeful given the end of Return of the Jedi, but this just feels too soon. Let us enjoy Vader at the height of his power rather than the ongoing self doubt and weakness.

More than this continually having Vader betray or pretend to betray Palpatine massively weakens the end of Return of the Jedi. Why do we care that Vader turns against the Emperor for his son if it's the seventh time he's turned. We lose the lesson of hope if he's willing to turn against the Empire purely for power or vanity.

The art by Minkyu Jung conveys stong emotions, powerful action and a sense of adventure that's vital to a great Star Wars book. There is world building with new characters on top of classic and new concepts. The book is alway filled with a humor that feels natural and fits the adventurous caper tone of the book. This book is clearly meant to feel a bit like Ocean's 11 and it nails that perfectly even while feeling like a true Star Wars epic.

The art here feels just as average as the story, with characters that are recognizable but never interesting. David Messina is an extraordinary artist, but his work in this issue just feels vastly uninspired. Marvel's Star Wars books are so amazing at their peak. It makes series like this even more egregious when they waste valuable comic book time and space on false reunions and unimportant quests. Hopefully the creators disprove this in future issues but as of now there is no artistic or creative drive to recommend this book.

Krrsantan is such a dynamic character and seeing him here gives hope that we'll see a massive Wookiee battle in the next issue that will earn this book its full title. The art throughout this issue is decent but well below the usual standard of David Messina. Add to this the incredibly dull cover by Phil Noto with our heroes just standing there looking at the camera. But the final page with Krrsantan attacking and the cover for next issue are breath-taking and gives hope that this series will improve as it progresses.

This book has so much potential, Guggenheim is sometimes a strong writer but in this book he is using bland plot devices and ignoring any development of the main characters. Just rename this book if Han and Chewie are just going to be Phaedra's sidekicks. This is nothing like Aphra who made Vader seem even more interesting by playing off him. This is just Phaedra demonstrating all the skills and planning which Han should be doing and Chewbacca being ignored entirely.

The talent involved on this book is way too good for this simple pointless story. Cecil Castelucci as writer and Megan Huang at art understand how to craft a simple, fun action tale. But because it has no narrative impact within the larger Star Wars universe it feels like a wasted opportunity to visit the most powerful duo in the galaxy.

This book represents everything wrong with the way the sequel era is being used in novels and comics. Nothing that actually uses these unique characters to define them, celebrate them, give them depth and carry them into the future is occurring. We are getting throwaway stories with thin plots, barely recognizable characters and no stakes. Even a comic designed for kids needs to make readers care about the characters, conflicts and outcomes.

This new series has beautiful art, great characters and incredible promise. Obi Wan's vision of the future is filled with a range of characters and concepts promising massive action, fun character arcs and insane action. This is the kind of big, bombastic, intelligent and action packed Star Wars series we have need.

This book would benefit from being a bit more steeped in worlds and other prequel characters we are familiar with. But surrounding Mace with new characters and locales does allow for some suspense in terms of where this story could could go. There are some anachronisms in seeing the Jedi operate in this era as a strategic military unit. A bit more philosophy and introspection would help to balance the action.

The art in the action scenes make them exciting in spite of the absolute lowest stakes possible. The fact that most of the action takes place in a flashback also robs us of any real concern for the characters involved. Tie in books are meant to bring in new readers to comics and bring comic readers to the featured attraction. Neither of these are likely to occur with the standard, pointless ending to this series.

This is a story we have seen before but it is well executed and a nice entry point into this era of the High Republic. This is a fun setup with classic alien rogues as our heroes and a great young Jedi character at the center of it all. Sav feels very much like Jubillee or Kitty Pryde in the X-men as an entry level character we can use to introduce us to a complex group of strangers who seem rough around the edges but are now fundamentally interested in saving their world.

Rather than allowing us to get to know Kanata's crew through their actions and independent conversations, we have to go through each of them them spitting out character traits and facts to Sav. This means everyone is centered around one very dull character's perspective. It's Alice in Wonderland in space but with none of the character development for our hero. Maz also comes off as a cardboard character, here to push Sav along on his journey rather than having any depth. All of this could change in issues to come, but unless these characters are allowed to interact more with each other we are left with a bunch of descriptions of crazy characters rather than an actual Star Wars book.

The art cascades perfectly with this speech as Ram's and the rebels bring light into the dark night with an explosive effectiveness. This is a simple story with a dramatic point on the nature of unity in fighting oppression. As our own hearts sink under the growing darkness of military control around our own world, Older reminds us through Star Wars that the light of hope will always defeat

The issue is artfully written with a steady patter and flashbacks involving Porter and Barash. They are a great duo who really do work better together than apart. The detailed art is beautiful in most places although the closeups are much more impressive than the siege and battle sequences. This book is a fun, intriguing examination of sibling Jedi who clearly enjoy working together. Ultimately the final fates of both these characters are tragic, but we will enjoy their stories as long as we can.

This entire issue is so simple but executed so well. The characters are fresh and interesting, the setting are exciting, the tone is ominous and incredible art makes this a series that raises the standards of what a Star Wars comic can be. The High Republic has given us such a rich plethora of story-telling and such a rich cast that we almost want to simply get to know our current characters better. But the inclusion of the more adult characters and noir tone make this a new epic worth following.

The colors by Giada Marchisio and Ian Herring throughout the issue are incredible, but most so in the dark, monstrous scenes with the Nihil and Uttersond. Trail of Shadows is a perfect encapsulation of the story-telling, character building, action and connectivity that continues to make The High Republic saga such a rewarding ride.

This is a fun, interesting series with fantastic characters and some important clues as to the threat transforming Jedi

This book is an interesting read with solid characters, a strong focus and interesting perspectives on the dual threats of the Nihil and their monsters. Which the noir feeling so key to the beginning of the series feels a bit lost at the end, the art, action and characters are all rendered in interesting and dynamic ways.

This issue holds massive promise with defined, interesting characters and a large cast reminiscent of the Green Lantern Corps. Whatever the larger story of The High Republic becomes it is clear that there is a dedication to strong characters and a classic fantasy tone. This book is in good hands with Cavan Scott and the amazing artistic team. Here's hoping that the other entries to The High Republic live up to the promise of this fantastic initial entry.

Reading the novel makes one love the story but reading comics as rich and interesting as this makes one invested, and also makes one want to buy every action figure that will inevitably follow.

After a battle on all fronts, the issue ends with the arrival of the other Jedi with a controlled Sskeer siding with the Drengir. The visuals throughout the issue are well done with great Jedi appearances and action. Everything from seeing a Hutt being dissected to seeing force powers and light sabers in action are done well. The plant-like prison is visually dynamic and interesting. That being said it would be nice if the Drengir were a bit more ominous looking and a bit less like extras from Little shop of horror. But the overall look of the issue is fantastic and the writing and art quality is top notch.

The danger of The High Republic is the potential of trying to explore too many characters at once. Cavan Scott astutely gives us massive stakes and ominous threats, but focuses the narrative around Keeve and Sskeer. The fact that the creators can succeed this quickly in making us care deeply for characters and conflicts is a testament not only to the storytelling here, but also the care of the Star Wars story group across this line. All that being said, if Sskeer doesn't survive the next issue, we riot.

This book and the High Republic story continues to shine as an amazing addition to the Star Wars mythos.

This battle really allows Anindito to showcase some incredible skill, with the best art we've seen in this series. The Drengir here feel deadly rather than silly.

This issue has the conflicts, action, and sense of adventure which has been promised since the entire epic began. Both with the second phase of novels and the recent comics, we are seeing heroes we have grown to love facing both physical and moral threats. The conflict and heart bounce off every panel and hopefully the momentum continues as the Nihil threat and this epic continues to evolve.

It's impossible to reach the end of the issue and not want to pick up the next chapter. The scope, artistry and excitement of The High Republic has really built up over the past year and this comic has been on the forefront in both quality and importance. It is such a gift to have comic books be such a vital part of world-building for the larger Star Wars universe.

It is such a shame to lose this team just as they have grown to this level. Here's hoping Cavan Scott and this art team can be reunited in the future because this book is glorious and we need more.

There are an incredible number of interesting characters brought together in this single issue. The Art by Ario Anindito is exciting with great new character designs and constant movement and action. This book promises to dive a bit more into the mythology behind the Whills and Force and the mysteries of how the Force can be manipulated. It will be incredible to see how all of this unfolds over the months to come as phase 2 attempts to declare itself as an expansive new era of Jedi storytelling.

Cavan Scott and Ario Anindito remind us of how amazing Star Wars comics can be in the right hands. The High Republic was gone too long and even with the reset this book retains so much of the fun and adventure of the original run.

This issue is limited by some lack of detail on that art but this book remains top form.

This book has strong characters and conflicts but needs to make the stakes within the broader High Republic universe clear. Hopefully the trip into the Occlusion Zone will bring those stakes. The art and story are a bit uneven but Lourna and Keeve are great characters and the conflict between them as well as the heart of Sskeer drives this book to greatness.

This is the book where we see the largest amount of Nihil and the general Jedi order within their respective worlds and it is everything we'd imagine. It is an interesting juxtaposition of this massive Jedi order against the scrappy nests of Nihil. Thankfully all of this is just the beginning as The High Republic era and Daniel Jose Older's involvement in the Star Wars Universe are just getting started.

This series has been some of the best Star Wars tales we've seen in both the story-telling and the art, giving us a visually amazing and character centered view of the central conflict of the High Republic between the Nihil and the Jedi. It will be fascinating to see how this conflict and these characters shift moving forward.

This is the promise of High Republic realized, so many characters and concepts we got to know in the first cycle mixing it up and having an incredible adventure with massive stakes. The fact that we already see these characters as familiar friends is a tribute to the great writing by all the High Republic creators.

This issue is a much needed breather and character based issue, building up both sides of the conflict to come in their own way, with unity and camaraderie on the side of the Jedi and cutthroat planning by the Nihil.

This is an excellent comic that reminds us just how much the use of the comic book format has influenced The High Republicu2019s story-telling. As much as novels can describe action, Star Wars has always been a visual universe and comics brings a context to this epic that the novels alone could not accomplish. Hopefully the future of The High Republic comics brings brings even more characters from the novels to the fore and allows us the thrill of seeing them in action in more great tales such as these.

This is a really tough episode to adapt and writer Rodney Barnes and artist George Jeanty do their best to hit all the beats. But this issue feels very plot driven rather than truly giving us a feel for the characters and action which made the series so worthwhile. The opening with the Razor Crest and the conversation on the ship are well done but the remainder of the issue just flies by at the expense of tone and pacing. Hopefully this series can allow for more episodes to be spread across multiple issue rather than losing what makes this series so special.

This issue is a solid adaptation filled with great character moments, action and all the heart you would want from The Mandalorian. A bit more room across multiple issues for each episode to unfold would serve this book well as it enters into season 2.

The lack of flare, the lack of characterization and the basic plot device of the wayfinders makes this book a reminder of all the worst aspects of the film. Readers deserved something which added depth to the film. Imagine if the creators took the time to give us Finn's thoughts or Leia's struggles throughout this tale. There was so much opportunity to redeem the mistakes of the movie in this retelling, instead we just get a product which exacerbates them.

This is the classic Star Wars underworld we love combined with the newer underworld introduced in the modern era, and it's all done so well that it feels seamless. The excitement is just beginning and the galaxy is unlimited.

This issue is everything this crossover promised to be, amazing art, massive action, and a parade of great character moments. Here's hoping the momentum keeps building as this crossover draws to an end and sets up the future of Star Wars comics.

This issue is so much incredible fun that it lifts this entirely crossover. It also makes one wish that some of this action could have been more spread out over the slower middle issues of the crossover. Hopefully we get more of this high action in the next arc rather than a return to the more claustrophobic setting we saw for much of this one. That being said this book holds so much promise for the future of Star Wars comics.

This issue fits well within the larger story even while telling an entire tale of its own. The characters are welcome and hopefully we get more time with them in many comics to come. Older is a welcome addition to the Marvel family, combining massive action with strong characterization, intrigue and a whole lot of heart.

This is a massive opening salvo to what promises to be the biggest bounty hunter focused story we have ever seen. Every fan of Star Wars and The Mandalorian series needs to check out just how great Star Wars comics can get.

So much time is dedicated to repair and introspection and so little spent on actual action making this one of the most disappointing parts of what has otherwise been an excellent crossover.

This Mini-Series is Star Wars done to perfection. The perfect book to make us thankful for great characters, conflicts and art.

This issue just crackles with energy, artistry, characterization and intrigue. There is clearly more than meets the eye to the Crulkon and this story is a fun, contained adventure showing how well a book for a character we love can work without making the character feel too familiar to trite. This is Yoda facing a different type of conflict that will use more than brute force to work through.

This is an excellent story and the art just jumps off the page with color and character. The seemingly simple tale is full of heart and wisdom. This is the kind of stories that elevates Star Wars comics beyond copying older stories and styles. Here's hoping the incoming team is similarly inspired next issue and that we will see more of this excellent team in future arcs.

Static Season Season One #1 is a great start to what will hopefully be a long run and the beginning of big things to come for the Milestone Universe.

This book really does represent the best aspects of the classic Generation X book, students who bicker, are searching for themselves, are incredibly selfish and heroic in turns. It uses characters and concepts which encompass the Marvel Universe while still being contained enough to be an incredibly entertaining ride in its own right.

This is a solid book and shows just how a great creative team can take relatively unknown and apparently minor characters and make readers fall in love with them all.

Holiday specials should be fun, but as with those referenced in this tale, they also must draw us in with a larger plot, characterization and a message that emerges from the story itself. All of this seems to be missing here.

It is a bit odd having a Stranger Things story with such little female presence, but it is just a peek into one aspect of the story and is a fun one at that. The hope is that we can get more series like these, that expand on character moments and adventures focusing on the main cast rather than using the comics to build up the mythology aspects that are often too dull to carry a series. In the end the mythology is fine but it's the friendships that bring us back to Stranger Things.

There is not enough quality here to bring readers back for the next issue to see what twists may lie ahead. We understand the need for a dull beginning to contrast with Eddie's eventual Hellfire transformation. But as of now the D&D sequences feel silly and the characters feel light. There is no anger, no rebelliousness, no danger and no injustice in this book to justify any future transformation.

Alessandro Vitti's art is pitch perfect and the fact that an artist of this caliber is on this book levels up the expectations for what's to come. Vitti can manage massive action scenes but can also show an incredible broad range of reactions and humor within a simple conversation. That balance is perfect for this book.

Hopefully this issue was simply designed to lull us into boredom and complacency before a big twist comes as the arc continues. As this stands, it is simply a forgettable placeholder.

The Splinter Clan story has a lot of potential, but it's all been wasted here as the characters just play out gang film cliches rather than acting like Ninja Turtles. Perhaps not having a mentor ages the characters too much, but whatever the cause these ninjas are way too dull and have lost their edge in this story arc.

Hob decides to give up on running the town and instead focus on their synthetic mutagen and using them on animal sanctuaries. This story arc has potential but between the house style art, dull colors and lack of character depth it's entirely bland in its execution.

To have such an original, well developed and thought-provoking style is an unusual gift. Add to it all the different ways the issue looks at political and societal issues and it makes for a thoughtful intriguing series worth checking out even as we continue to gain more depth around the character of Jennika and Mutant Town itself.

As great as the action and colors of these scenes are, the ultimate scene is the black and white scene of Michaelangelo's despair in the face of the loss of so much of his family. It would be nice to spend some time with the villains of this book to gain their perspective and a deeper knowledge of who they are as Mikey rises to meet them and enact some punishment. Hopefully future installments not only continue to give us these layered heroes, but also take the time to do the same for our villains.

Each sequence is full of different forms of art and create an amazing whole, but the story would have done better to just focus on Mikey's fight with Hiroto and Baxter Stockman. The massive battle and seeing him take on the mouser army is the least artistic but most memorable part of the book. Unfortunately next issue is the last and this series has still only scratched the surface of its artistic and story-telling potential.

This issue repeatedly focuses on efforts of corporations to get animation on the cheap and with a premium on any ancillary profits. That being said it has enough glib humor and strange tidbits about big name creators in animation that it's worth the more cynical tour of the animated universe. And at the end of the issue you'll find yourself flipping back through at the pure fun of seeing characters you love interacting in small ways in each panel.

Dono Sanchez-Almara's colors compliment Larsen's artwork perfectly. In spite of being an apocalyptic landscape, the art and story-telling never seem dull or tedious. This is a classic comic done in a way which feels fresh and interesting. Its also a prototypical Captain America story, one which readers should enjoy for decades to come.

Sean is only able to gain back his self by believing in his own innocence, knowledge and abilities even when every authority figure around him attempts to convince him of his own criminality and incompetence. Using tropes of time travel so familiar to us, Layman and Mostart create an epic tale about identity, race, oppression and self-worth.

It will be interesting to see if this book can stick the landing with its final issue. This is very clearly a metaphorical visitation of the characters trying to deal with the past and the horrors of a rotten family. Even as they try to build a new family their past threatens to tear them down. The book uses these familiar tropes effectively and the art makes it truly special.

With The Resistance Straczynski and Deodato tell a big screen, epic story of heroes rising in the face of a world willing to embrace fascism out of fear. Clearly there are parallels to our modern times, both planned and accidental. The writing is sharp and memorable. Without truly introducing our central characters, Straczynski has created a backdrop which is interesting and leaves you wanting more.

This is a very well done issue. The art and colors by O'Sullivan and Colin Craker perfectly encapsulate the visuals of the region and tone of war. The Terminator is still a quirky, fun anachronism here with the future tech artistically blended in well with the environment of classic war. The themes of war are a natural thematic backdrop for the destruction brought onto all sides by The Terminator. This series is so well done that it plays out as well as any Terminator film.

Phil Noto can make even the simplest conversation dynamic and somehow makes us feel every moment in the action scenes. This combination of Simone's off over the top humor with Noto's more understated style is an unexpected creative collaboration that really works. Noto and Simone are like players in an orchestra where each of their skills are lifted by the other to the point that the entire work is better than the sum of its parts. Every part of this book is effortless, interesting character work with a fascinating examination of the many parts which make up Jessica Jones.

This is a true battle between masters of their craft and weaponry. The art evokes the swordplay of Jim Cheung's Scion and the emotion of the battle on Mustafar in Revenge of the Sith. The team of Donny Cates and Nic Klein take Superhero Action to the level of true artistry. The simple plot and incredible execution leads to conflicts, characterizations and visual dynamism which any child or grown-child will read and reread for generations.

Cates has an imagination that clearly inspires artists to do their best work and this book alongside Cates and Tradd Moore's Silver Surfer Black tell massive, beautiful cosmic tales that are still incredibly personal. Thor is everything great comics should be and every chapter leaves you absolutely needing to read the next.

The issue has all the required action and a visually dynamic villain. The art style truly evokes the feelings of the original animated series, full of gentle violence and bright colors. This series is a fantastic ride into our childhoods suitable for all ages.

Ultimately the challenge with this main Transformers title is the tendency to ignore characters we have known for decades, and instead focus on characters and concepts new readers would be less familiar with. But the series deals with large interesting concepts and seeks to build something new within a world we are familiar with.

The art by Anna Malkova and colors by Joana LaFuente bring a simple clarity to the action and drama. It is welcome to have a Transformer comic where every character is easily recognizable even in battle scenes and crowd scenes. The art is not memorable but it does serve the story well. Hopefully as this story unfolds in future issues the conflict can move away from such obvious parallels into deeper thematic waters. Senate proceedings and political debates truly matter, but making this comic tow so closely to our real world reduces both this comic and the real world drama.

That said it's still absolutely a book worth owning simply to see the glory of Sentinel Prime in his final battle and the rise of Optimus. Hopefully at this point we can put politics behind us and the story can embrace the action and intrigue of war rather than political discussion and maneuvering.

This issue has strengths including clear artistic storytelling, classic characters rendered well, seeing the Autobots and Decepticons in battles right out of our childhood with The Terminator by their side. But we don't get enough of the perspective of The Terminator or Sarah Connor. This feels too much like a Transformers comic with a few guest stars rather than a balanced crossover. Hopefully Starscream's scheming against Terminator and Sarah Connor's promise to bring help give these characters more focus in issues to come.

Alex Milne is one of the greatest Transformers artists ever and this book reminds us why. The classic battle scenes, epic destruction, and great expressiveness of the characters shows us just how great Transformers and The Terminator can be in battle. The nice twist at the end with Megatron's destruction and the alteration in Skynet will hopefully lead to even more cybernetic crossover greatness in the future.

The writing here by Sam Maggs is superior with clear storytelling, well developed characterization and deep issues of blind faith and the desire to apply logic upon that faith. It provides easy access to new readers as Gauge is discovering the Transformers and their story and universe with newly opened eyes.

This book is an interesting, genre bending treat with an epic scope, incredible art and mysterious protagonist. Clearly this combines elements of Clint Eastwood and Old Man Logan, but it's an exciting tale with absolutely unique style and art. Seeing Rodimus at the end of it all fighting against himself and his attackers is a fascinating basis for the series.

Every panel of this book just sings with action, color and motion. The limited cast allows us to focus on characterization and what begins as a study of Blurr is clearly simply a feint as the issue showcases how deadly Starscream is in any reality.

Overall, this is a fantastic start to a promising series. If they can continue to do callbacks to classic lines and visuals from the Back to the Future films and still mix in the Transformers and have them feel organic to the storytelling, this could be an all-time great crossover.

This book is shear pleasure, going beyond nostalgia into solid story telling with old friends and unexpected new ones. Cavan Scott and Juan Samu are giving readers an incredible gift in this well executed crossovers and here's hoping this miniseries will lead to more.

Every crossover event should feel this important, this epic in scope and create these types of ripples. All we can hope for is that is not truly the end as the final page hints at. We really needed a big banner at the end exclaiming it will be continued as with the original BTTF film. Here's hoping the sequel brings back this same brilliant team as does not take quite as long to come to fruition as the second film.

This series is a great ride, with an epic arc. But in the end it feels a bit forgettable. It's not clear what the repercussions of this arc will lead to as the series ends and John moves onto what appears to be a totally unrelated book. Walker is a true Everyman, and he's not good enough to stand out compared to other heroes, but that never stops him from battling for the everyday people.

This book uses the backdrop of a pandemic, a fractured political empire, and martial law not simply to show what our own society has become, but also to emphasize what truly matters in such altered times. The conflicts around us are not what define us, what defines us is how we join with others to find ways to navigate these hurdles. Every quest gains meaning because the quest itself is an opportunity to create a better society.

The art the colors and the tone of the story are perfectly done. There is a simplicity to the story but it never feels rushed or forgets to keep us engaged. The parable is one that is so incredibly important for our time, remembering that anger is easy and destruction is simple, but it never leads to happiness or joy to the one meting it out. Everything about our current times would be better if people just looked at stories like these and truly took the lessons to heart.

Given the simple, beautiful, animated style this series uses it is always surprising to see such horrific and complex conflicts and themes. The colors match the tone of the art and characters perfectly and the entire piece is just proof of how great well made comics can truly be.

This book feels a bit like the Malibu Comics old Prime book with the young hero in over his head. But this book lacks that hero's heart, insecurities, deep character interactions and real life conflicts. The book's greatest drawback is failing to make us truly care about Dylan. He feels very much like a placeholder until Eddie's return. But it gets enough right that it may improve now that Eddie is back, albeit as a villain.

This issue deals with important themes but fails in its execution. There just isn't enough of the battle with shadow king to make the conflict seem worthwhile. Ultimately Starlord's is able to get through his guilt. But it feels like a false exercise as it is entirely a strategy by Shadow King rather than Starlord truly dealing with his own feelings about the actual heroes that passed. It is very similar to what was done way too many times in DC's Blackest Night crossover. Having a villain simply try and fail to make a hero feel guilty does not matter if readers don't feel the emotional turmoil of the hero.

The art is a bit too classic in construction but each panel is well done, making pages of dialogue interesting and keeping characters active and expressive. This is a book that was badly needed in the current X-Men universe. The X-Men need a conscience and it will be fascinating to see if Nightcrawler can move Krakoa at all back toward God and morality.

Symbiotes on the page can take any shape and configuration. Limiting them to more familiar appearances robs some of the horror of the remainder of the book. The book ends as it must, with the death of many of our heroes, few survivors and the revelation that Knull and the Symbiote army have arrived.

It's an interesting version of the Thor tale from a teenage perspective. This is filled with odd use of language and perspective but it does still hold the reader's interest. The art is a typical house style but absolutely does not look like Miles Morales at any moment in the story. Why the creators agreed to be a part of a Miles Morales series when they clearly don't know his voice or look is perplexing. Their skills may be better off with other heroes and other books. This issue casts a pall over the entire series. If the use of Miles is less about his character and understanding who he is in new contexts then the series falls apart entirely and becomes a vapid stunt.

The story by Benjamin Percy is perfect for Wolverine, it also uses the text pages to build up the story itself rather than just give background information. The humans in the bar are each varied and interesting characters. Even though this is a simple tale, it builds nicely and comes to a crashing end with the arrival of Omega Red and the vampire army. Wolverine has his work cut out for him in issues to come. Readers are clearly in for a treat with this high quality of storytelling. This is the best Wolverine comic we have had in decades.

This is an excellent, entertaining issue that balances espionage against insanity. We do need a bit more action but hopefully we get more of that as the excellent arc progresses.

This feels like a Deadpool comic but since we don't really get his perspective here it makes the entire book feel disjointed and silly. This crossover started out with so much promise and daring but persisted too long and dragged Logan's character into the mindset of Deadpool. Hopefully the book is designed to realize this and perhaps bridge things over to Wade ending up calling him on it or perhaps taking on the mindset of Logan as the story progresses.

This book is interesting, clear, has a great conflict that is ramping up in new ways. The art is dynamic without ever being confusing. This arc takes us down a new path against Beast, but it is nice to have a clear concise enemy and hero in an X-book.

The issue ends with the horrific realization that as Jean guides Logan to this place it is Logan himself who has been taken over by Omega Red. This is an excellent twist capping off an incredible issue that takes us on a true journey without making it feel rushed. The art gives all of this the depth and epic scope it deserves. We are left at a true cliffhanger that will bring us all into the second half of this epic.

World building including concepts of elections, galas, councils and talks should not be this interesting, but Hickman and Noto knows how to tell any story well and it keeps our attention. Hickman's individual issues always seem unimportant until one pulls back and sees the larger narrative. That being said this issue does much to build up a new potential enemy and sets up a new status quo in admirable fashion.

We clearly have to see this mission as a massive failure in spite of Logan's bravado. But for readers this is a really fun and well done classic mutant action tale. It is full of small character moments and massive battles exactly as we'd wish for in a great Wolverine epic.

This comic is a celebration of so much that we loved and hated from the 90s and in many ways the art, wordiness and character work mirror the excesses of the 90s X-Men run. Unfortunately nostalgia and the ending of a long held mystery alone aren't enough to make this a book worth recommending.

Despite the simple premise, the humor, color, action and team dynamics set this issue high. It's such a classic Peter David adventure that it makes you want to dive into you comic stack and read all the others.

Female empowerment has been a key cornerstone of the X-Men world, but this book makes it into a punchline rather than simply showing empowered women. The spiral effects and the reference to the X-Babies are nice but definitely not enough to save this book. Thankfully the nature of this anthology allows us to move onto another creative team next issue with renewed hope for truly legendary storytelling.

Of course the main attraction of any book by Mike and Laura Allred is the insane, incredible art. This book pops with all the fun, bombastic effects we expect from this team. The art and colors perfectly suit this story. The Surreality absolutely lives up to its name. All of the characters are visually unique and interesting. X-Ray Robot is an absolute joy of a book, Even if it is taking us down a narrative path that feels familiar. Theabsolutely glorious artwork and great character work is well worth taking the adventure.