Nick Couture Comic Reviews

This is one of the strongest Image #1's of the year. My hat goes off to Joshua Williamson, Andrei Bressan, and everyone involved, for crafting an emotionally powerful story with great characters that is instantly compelling.

Great Michael Walsh art and strong characterization leads this blockbuster mashup. Essential for Black Hammer fans, it may also work as a nice intro to the universe for DC fans tempted to explore another book. Black Hammer Justice League #3 is filled with humor and heartbreak in equal measure, confidently told throughout.

Black Science a special kind of book. Not often do we see a series this refined, thought-provoking, and gorgeous. It's a gem.

Black Stars Above might be the most impressive Vault debut yet, and thats saying a lot. These creators give us a warm blanket of cosmic horror with an incredibly well-realized main character. Im excited to follow her into the woods, where the existential dread is guaranteed to escalate.

Captain America #20 is another solid issue of Rick Remender's deconstruction of Steve Rogers. Rick's original take on the character is human and ever fascinating. This arc is building to a nice crescendo and it's hard to pass up Nic Klein and Dean White art.

Cluster #1 gets thejob done. Brisson brings readers into the world in an elegant manner. We get some rich, interesting characters, and by the end we're left with the beginning of a journey. Ajourney laced with urgency and desperation.

Crowded #9 continues this creative teams miracle run. The bond between Vita and Charlie deepens as we speed toward answers. I, however, cant help but feel those answers are a little irrelevant when the ride is this fun.

Enough good things cannot be said about Deadly Class.It's a book that can make people fall in love with comics. Rick Remender, Wes Craig, and Lee Loughridge's Deadly Class #5 is a glorious acid soaked trip through Vegas. It's clear that any time spent in this world is going to be a good time.

Family Tree remains a great and intriguing series, with a fantastic creative team, but this third issue might just be a bit too slow and safe.

Hulk #1 seems to have erased a lot of what came before in Indestructible Hulk, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.Mark Waid did his thing on that book and now he wants to do a new thing. Just because things are different doesn't mean we should dismiss it. This issue has a much darker brooding tone than we saw previously, and he ends it on an absolutely insane cliffhanger that hooks you so good. Knowing Mark Waid's other work, I'm sure he'll continue to explore interesting ideas with the Bruce Banner character, and pay off what he's setting up. In Waid we trust.

Iron First: The Living Weapon is a great martial arts comic book. Issue 3 maintains the high level of quality, providing more looks into Danny's past. The issue ends on a great reveal that only makes me more excited for the future of this story. Kaare Andrews is giving readers a layered, action packed, and unique Iron Fist book that is unlike most books on shelves today.

I don't know how long Ales Kot plans to be on this book or what his aspirations for it are, but I'm along of the ride. Iron Patriot #4 is the best issue yet and Iwant to see where this goes.

With three issues in the books Legendary Star-Lord has yet to falter. Sam Humphries and Paco Medina are helping to make Peter Quill one of my favorite characters in the Marvel Universe.

Low is so rich with beauty, yet depressing as hell. I love every page of it.

Magneto #3 is another great issue to one of the most promising new series. It's moody and beautiful. It'sincredibly accessible for new readers to the character, while it also touches upon the legacy of the character for longtime fans. Give this series a chance because Cullen Bunn, GabrielWalta Hernandez, and Jordie Bellaire are just heating up.

I feel good when I read this book. It makes me nostalgic for things I grew up loving. Is it the deepest, most intense comic ever? Not really, but thats cool. Im invested in the characters and want to learn about the gorgeous world. Im usually not this person, I love a good contained story, but this is only a 4-issue mini and I cant help but wish we were getting more.

Regular Show: Skips is good supplementary material for fans of the TV show, offering them more time to spend with their favorite characters. It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it's still a fun ride.

Joshua Williamson and Carlos Magno have created a solid first issue with Robocop #1. Williamson displays a real confidence with this material and Magno's art is truly great. Fans of the original Robocop film should definitely check this out.

Saga #19is a nice slow down that eases readers into the jump forward in time. The story is more relatable than ever as Marko and Alana deal with raising a little girl while also keeping their relationship together.

Secret Avengers is a book that tries to do many things, and succeeds at pretty much everything. Ales Kot, Michael Walsh, and Matthew Wilson, have created themselves one of the best offerings to come out of the All-New Marvel NOW. It juggles a fun and humorous tone while also being incredibly sad and poignant. It's the comic book that does it all.

Backed by great art from Michael Dowling and a strong point of view from Tina Horn, Safe Sex #2 is one of the best new Image titles this year. Avorys perspective is unlike the majority of protagonists we currently see in comics. Her journey remains effortlessly fascinating with plenty left to explore.

Southern Bastards #6 is another fantastic issue. Aaron and Latour are the next great Americanvoices of the South, approaching it with a love as well an undeniable hatred for the bastards that fill it. Read this book.

This is a #1 that grabs you and doesn't let go until you've seen everything on these pages. Fans of Justin Jordan jump on board. Fans of horror/post-apocalyptic tales jump on board. If you don't The Spread just might get you….sorry, I had to.

Swamp Thing #35 is another fine start to an arc. I'm excited to see more of the kingdom of machines. This book is as good as anything being published anywhere. Constantly great comics.

Test is exploding and beautiful. I dont know where the story of Aleph is going, but Sebela, Hickman, Saxon, and Otsame-Elhaou have created such a strong opening with these first two issues that Im along for whatever wild, dark, beautiful things they throw at me next.

The Empty Man #1 should satisfy horror fans with its delightfully messed up premise. Cullen Bunn is a writer finally hitting his stride doing really solid work and he continues that here. Artist Vanesa R. Del Rey supplies the book with excellent creepy, yet elegant, art.I want to see more of what this book is and I'm very excited to see where it goes.

The Field #1 is an incredibly strong start to an absurdly twisted mini-series. Ed Brisson, Simon Roy, and Simon Gough have introduced us to some interesting characters in a very peculiar situation, and I can't wait to see where this goes.

Dysart and company work toward a conclusion with beautiful, quiet moments that let the book breath. Its all working toward a thoughtful ending to a story that's been told over many years.

Dont expect Unearth to reinvent the wheel. However, it has the potential to go many unexpected places. With great art and a locked-in mood, if this is your aesthetic, this comic will very much be your thing.

X-Force continues to be the place where Simon Spurrier can explore the minds of some of the more twisted mutants in the Marvel Universe.X-Force #4 is another fantasticissue filled with character deconstructionand great action.

Ultimately "Zegas" is a hangout comic. We pop into these people's lives for a couple stories and then we pop out. It's just fun to be in this world. I want to explore it's oddities with the characters. I'm not sure what Fiffe's plans are or whether more stories are planned, but I wouldn't mind popping in on Emily and Boston again.

To not read Zero is to miss out on one of the most excited things happening in comics right now. With Zero #7, Ales Kot gives us another chilling, thoughtful, glimpse into the life Edward Zero, the secret agent who's slowly waking up.

Each month I find myself loving this series more and more. Zero #9 is a sobering look into the past of Roman, a character who is increasingly fascinating. Zero is an assured yet experimental comic. The level of craft on display each issue is second to none.

Zero #10 is like so many issues that came before, a fascinating chapter in the life of Edward Zero, with great art and emotional resonance.