Ross Sweeney Comic Reviews

If you were down with the Goonies, and Abrams sickly imitator, youll absolutely love this series – besides everything else thats great about it (the art, the setting, the deepening sense of mystery), theres just a real sense of joy to be had as you read it, a deep-seated vein of precisely pitched humour thats balanced perfectly with the drama of the story. You care about these characters, and its because their endearing nature, purely and simply, will make you smile, if not outright laugh. Black Mask have once again put out an absolute belter of a series, and I can only echo Kieran: pick this series up. You will not regret it.

Those aside, this is a pretty engaging first issue " if you're a fan of Ennis' wit and wisdom, pulp fiction, or just something a little different, you'll find quite a lot to like here. It's not precisely clear as yet where Ennis is going with this, but it does look set to be a fun ride whilst it lasts.

Theres room to grow here, much as it pains me to give that backhanded compliment to what is clearly a labour of love from Kolins, but whilst theres a strong setting on the go, theres just not that much filling it right now, with only hints at what the edges of this reality have in store for us. I would love for him to prove me wrong, because hes created a superficially beautiful comic, and with a bit of effort, the seemingly hollow interior can be filled with delicious creamy plot. Well see what the next issue holds, I guess.

It just goes to show that you dont necessarily need high adventure and lasers a-shootin throughout to make a good science fiction story, or indeed a great comic series. Slow-burning, thoughtful and extraordinarily humanist, its examining some big ideas that we may well be dealing with in our own lifetimes. Its rare for a story like this to tackle the potential joys of ever-advancing technology, and that Vaughn and Luna manage to do it not only in good taste, but with a deep sensitivity is a wonderful surprise.

Still an understated gem of a series, the denouement of this issue leaves us in a narratively complex place – gauntlets have been thrown down by the man, and now that were fully rooting for our leading man and fembot, its a daunting prospect going forward. Quite how itll play out is anyones guess: I for one, here and now, raise a glass to the new robot revolution.

As weve kept saying over the last few weeks, sci-fi fans are really being spoiled in the comics scene right now, and this is no exception. Its perhaps not quite as essential as other titles that weve been gushing over lately, if only for its relatively niche appeal, but if youre a fan of the likes of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Her, this has precisely the same vein of sci-fi DNA. Beautifully, lyrically told, its almost like my robot nanny is singing me to sleep.

It's still not one that's going to appeal to every comic fan " the lack of action, and the slow, cerebral nature of the story-telling may well be off-putting to a lot of people who're after a little bit more escapism from their comics. But if you're patient with it, and are up not just for compelling drama, but highly grounded, humanist science fiction, there's few better books out there right now. Exceptional stuff.

Maybe Im just a humourless old curmudgeon, but comics do have the ability to make me laugh out loud – shocker, I know – and this simply didnt manage it once. If your weeuns are Angry Birds obsessed, this might hold their attention for a few minutes. But honestly, youre better off handing them whichever device you have the game on.

Honestly, even though Ive no experience of these before, this seems like its set to be a fun-as-hell crossover – the previous of the next few issues are equally well drawn and written, and it looks like were set to see a situation that escalates magnificently.

Both the stories nail the aesthetics of the film " in terms of both look, and narrative feel " and its a real delight to welcome these characters back into active stories. Science Projects fluffy nature sees it fundamentally being less interesting that the second segment of issue one, but given the quality on display, it feels incredibly harsh pointing this out. As a whole, this remains a must-read for anyone who calls themselves a fan of the films.

Overall, even with the game-to-comic transition inevitably shedding some of what made the game such a treat, theres still a lot for fans of Doc and Martys escapades to enjoy here. And lets face it – at this stage, theres not too many people who count themselves outside of that number. So yeah, one to pick up, for all and sundry.

As such, Im not sure I want to compel yall to head out and purchase this immediately, despite it being as engaging and terrific a read as youll find out there right now. Golden and Mignola showcase their combined rich story-telling ethic here, and it demands that you head back and read all of it. If youve been following Baltimore up until this point, theres nothing not to love about this fresh chapter in the adventure. For the rest of us, save up them pennies, and get ye atop the beginning of the story.

Overall, whilst its difficult to absolutely insist that you go out and dive aboard Ms Wires return to comicdom – the issue is all set up, and even then, its rather slight – this is as progressive a reintroduction as one could reasonably hope for. If her actual adventures kick in next issue, Crash and co. might well be on to something. Until then, one to keep an ear out for.

Much as its yet another resurrection story in the DCU, it would seem that this one is attempting to pack a little more emotional oomph with its choice of writer, and its not failing in that regard. Backed up by great art from Gray and Gleason, if you were looking for a moment to tag on to this death of Robin malarkey, youre not like to find a better one for a while.

Overall, its not striking as immediately essential, even for fans, but its also not necessarily one that you want to pass on right away either. If youre in to your Battlestar Galactica, theres certainly an intriguing set-up here, and it's worth a look if you can't find anything else interesting this week

So I guess the long and the short of it is that this didn't really click with me per se, but if you're a fan of Galactica '78, I can absolutely see how you might enjoy this book. If you're more into new Galactica, you'll see things that'll make you smile, but as said, the story may be a little bit lost on you.

Is is everyone else reading this? Why the hell not? Of course, we can hardly say for certain at this stage whether or not the arc will form into a sort of amazing Megazord of sequential art (timely reference is timely), but even if the story somehow ends up fizzling out at its denouement, what a fucking ride itllve been. Get yourself aboard this series, no excuses.

This book is not going to sell you on Bill & Ted, dude. If you're, like, the De Nomolos of the real world, then this is totally not the book for you. But if you dig the bodacious, the excellent, and air guitar, you'll totally dig this book.

When the stakes are this high, and so well told at that, we can deal with a curveball every so often. Read this series. Immediately.

Terrific art, sharp-as-hell dialogue and dripping with ingenuity, this series continues to be one of the best things Image is putting out, and that's saying something. If not proof positive that Remender is one of the finest sci-fi writers working, it certainly proves that he's up there.

This is still one of Images best monthly titles. Seriously, weve said it before, and Ill reiterate it again – if you dig imaginative sci-fi, this is a series you that should have a high priority on your pull list. A wonderfully inventive story that puts a neat twist on the usual dimension hopping malarkey, terrific dialogue as always from Remender, and astonishingly good artwork to round it all off, there are few better comics out there right now.

Though this is based solely on the four issues presented herein, and it could well be that once its concluded – though a fair amount of research doesnt seem to indicate when or even if thatll happen – itll make a touch more sense. Until then, its difficult to difficult to truly recommend this book. Worth a look if you need a fix of over-the-top violence, but for now, it remains a little unsatisfying.

To summarise… well, whats there to say? Do we really need to give you another reason to get on Valiants stable? If youre wanting your super-hero fix, but want something thats new and interesting, something that you haven't seen before, thisll be your bag. Dark, intriguing and thoughtful, whilst at the same time promising a bloody tale of vigilante justice, theres no better time, ladies and gentlemen.

If youve custody of a tiny human, you can do infinitely worse than read this book with them – its not got epic, sweeping arcs or particular nuanced and compelling storytelling, but its got some silly jokes thatll raise a chuckle and lovely, colourful art. Whether or not thisll appeal to dogs themselves – presumably theyre the bulk of the 17 million likes on Facebook? – well leave to your discretion. But one thing we can all agree on, I imagine, is that yeah, Boos pretty cute.

Overall, Book of the Dead looks set to be another in a long line of terrifically fun crossovers from Valiant. Exceptional craftsmanship in all aspects give it a slick, refined feel as you progress through the pages, and the conflict looks set to escalate rather epically. Weve said it many times before " well say it again, dammit. You should be reading more Valiant.

Overall, though, this is a solid showcase of what is an appealing imprint of BOOM!s increasingly impressive body of output. If youre even slightly interested in finding out quite what this is, then this should certainly be on your pull list this week. There is, however, the flipside that its prevented from being truly essential, thanks to the fleeting nature of the stories, and the relative lack of re-readability. Still, you could do far, far worse.

Ultimately, Im not certain that as a single issue this immediately screams buy me – it feels like it would be akin to stating that the first 40 minutes or so of Michael Manns Heat can absolutely be bought separately, then watched and enjoyed solely on its own merit. Indeed, it seems like its only going to be fair to give the series an absolute rating as and when it finds its end – and whilst its not clear exactly where and how well end up there, this first act does give a sense that its going to be a hell of a ride. So the score below is a placeholder, really – check back in a couple of months when its all said and done for a more final say!

A fun wee ride – strange and dark, exactly as promised, but with lashings of sly laughs, it certainly sets up both headline characters as cool prospects for future endeavours.

Overall, its a solid reboot of a relatively obscure character, and between this, and the newly released Chaos! #1, it looks like theyre going to be going in some fairly interesting directions. Not necessarily one to rush out and buy now, now, now, but certainly worth a look, and one to keep an eye on going forward.

Overall, whilst its certainly not a bad read by any stretch of the imagination, its just not exactly clear to me who this is for. Its building a superhero mythos around a luchadore, but its neither a particularly compelling wrestling story (though Ill be the first to admit that that its dubious whether or not Id know one if it frog splashed me), nor a particularly intriguing superhero origin. My only real point of reference – and comparisons can be drawn, given theyre both about retiring wrestlers – is Keatinges Ringside, and in terms of story intrigue, Chavo Guerrero doesnt do particularly well in the ring against it. But its light and breezy, and the art is gorgeously put together, which does pull its by-the-numbers narrative up off the mat.

Confusing, poorly wrought and just plain odd at the end of it all, its a wasted opportunity given the talents that the book brought together, and that makes it the rarest of all beasts – a misfire from Image Comics. Avoid.

As for everyone else, there is a hell of a lot to like here, but its down to your tolerance of high concept sci-fi as to whether or not youll like this. But its well written and draw enough that I reckon pretty much anyone will get a kick out of it, and as said, that canvas – man, its a doozy. Looking forward to seeing how this progresses.

But well see going forward, and my criticisms I can easily dismiss myself with thats world-building for you. So if youve been digging the series so far, this will continue to pressurise your spaceplane (thats…what…she said?). If you werent sold, this doesnt take any pains to reel you in – which is something of a shame, because there remains a heck of a lot of potential in this world, and theres every possibility that it could properly fill out the bold claim of Deadwood in space that we were promised at the start. Heres to hoping.

Overall, the series is proving to be very much a new breed of supernatural storytelling – in the vein of Underworld, but vastly more considered in the way that it grounds itself in modern political and social constructs, seeing fit to tear them apart using lycanthrope as its lense. Its most impressive feat is the fact that whilst most stories of this ilk draw from just one vein of vampire/werewolf folklore, this here draws from all of them at once. This creates a fascinatingly complex world, with a grim narrative that takes a surprisingly disturbing twist towards the end of this issue. Certainly worth a look, if youve the stomach for gruesome finales.

For those of you who arent familiar with Cyborgs origin story – and even for those who are – this is a pretty fantastic rebirth for the character. A fine balance of action and exposition makes for a pacey, satisfying read, and come the end, its clear that after this reintroduction, things are going to get really rather interesting. DCs Rebirth as a whole continues to go from strength to strength, and if you haven't read a Cyborg book before, nows the time to start.

I can also personally vouch for the fact that the series as a 5-issue limited run is well worth picking up " the humour has a Douglas Adams-esque vibe to it, juxtaposing the mundane against slightly silly sci-fi to great effect. If you didnt get on this the first time around, nows the time.

Still, as said, theres more than enough fun to be had here – and the fact that Ferrier resisted the temptation to go along the creature of the week route for the continuing adventures of 34rths mightiest hero, opting for something that promises to be far more interesting. Worth a look, but its not quite found its stride.

This feels significantly more like an appropriate adaptation of the series, not just in the artwork, but in the writing as well, both capitalising on the game's themes, and morphing the narrative architecture over to fit into a piece of sequential art.

Still, its fun, energetic and lovely to look at, so worth a punt if youre in that elusive middle ground.

Overall, theres something tangibly meaty and festive about this wee collection of stories, despite the occasional oddities. And at 96 pages for 7 of your finest Scottish Pounds, it offers surprisingly decent value, particularly given the high calibre of line- and colour-work on display. Its by no means an essential read " the new Watchmen cannot be found herein, be assured " but on the flipside, if youre looking for a nice wee gift for the DC fan in your life, you could do infinitely worse. Or should l say"" CRISIS ON INFINITE WORSE!!

Its not quite essential stuff yet – its still not clear precisely where theyre going with it (though that is absolutely part of the fun) and quite where that is will decide whether or not it gains or loses a point on the score below when all is said and done. Remender does have an occasional habit of copping out on his bolder ideas (Im looking at you, Strange Girl), but as it stands, this series is seriously picking up the pace, and is well worth checking out.

Ultimately, despite that minor pitfall, the series is solid, entertaining stuff, though its still very much in the foundation stages of the house of cards construction, and I may well end up eating the above criticism come the conclusion. But thats for next months issue to spring on us, and so for now…

Still, its an enjoyable read, and promises the kind of deliciously contrived resolution that can only really be savoured in the context of this particular character. If youre not already an Adams/Gently fan – and what on earth is wrong with you, seriously? – youll not find a lot to like here, despite Ryall making every effort to ingratiate you into the fold. But for those of us that are, this is great take on Adams lesser-known work. Worth a read.

Overall, this still hasnt proven itself essential if you arent an Adams fan already – though I would of course question the sanity of not being one, everyones entitled to their opinion, and if you dont share that one, youll like-as-not wonder what all the fuss is about. But if youre like me and were sold on the first issue, this pushes the story forward in fun and interesting ways. Whats more, it does look like Ryall is building up a story whose payoff is going to be utterly delightful. I cant wait for the next issue.

The fact that this series even exists is a great sign that Adams timeless style of silliness hasnt lost its appeal, and the fact that IDW have actively sought out people who have proven that they know this style inside-and-out only adds to the joy of the matter. If it continues in this form, the seriesll be on my Best of 2016 list the moment it ends in June. Follow the nearest stranger until you pass a comics shop, and grab this immediately afterwards.

Overall, if youre still looking for an excuse to throw your money at Valiants stable, this is yet another fantastic jumping on point – only this one is a brand new character, so if you havent dived aboard already, youre really running out ofexcuses. Chop chop.

In line with Martins assessment of issues 1 and 2, I must insist that this is essential reading. An unyielding commentary on quite how awful war is, and how awful it is, in turn, for the people fighting for a country that cant decide whether or not it values them. Action fans will find their thirst slaked, and they might well learn a thing or two as well – as I did, actively heading out and reading about the Tuskagee Airmen almost immediately after finishing my voyage through the series as it stands. Im envisioning history buffs nodding in approval, despite the fictionalisation of the main players. But really, youve no real excuse not to pick this up.

All that said, it can probably be taken as read that the series continues to struggle to shrug off its idiosyncrasies " the very things that are good about it for those of us with a hankering for a sword-and-sorcery tale will be what puts off those of you who need their fix of capes-and-tights. But going in with an open mind, you might find yourself enjoying it anyways. Irresistible to fans, and certainly worth a look for the uninitiated.

As a whole, this is yet another solid entry into IDWs Dungeons and Dragons resurgence. If youve been enjoying them up to this point, you wont be disappointed, and as said, new readers will feel more than welcome. Decent art and Zubs stalwart storytelling bring it all together, and make it well worth a new years flutter.

But this does mean that this issue is not quite the rip-roaring adventure that you might hope for. Therere some fun moments, and it does look like its setting up some interesting stuff for future issues " but on its own, it feels a little sparse. It is, however, buoyed from going completely under by a fantastic characterisation of terrifically memorable character, so fans of the game will at least get a pleasant kick out of that. And if youre a DnD nerd, new school or old, theres a lot of smile inducing stuff to find here. For everyone else, maybe wait until theres more of it before diving in.

All in all, despite a slow-ish start, it's built up a pretty excellent pace over the course of these issues, with some cracking action sequences, and Zub's writing of the main players has become something of a joy. Whether you're an aficionado of one namesake or t'other, or, y'know, both, this'll certainly float your jib (I think I got that saying right"). As for those coming in cold in those terms, you'll be left a little cold by the required familiarity with said source materials, but it gets you up to speed by the end of issue 2, and issue 3 is an absolute blast as Zub bounces through an exciting, albeit fairly traditional, adventure romp.

But that remains to be seen, and the slow-burning, politically-charged tension of this issue is something a significant change of pace when compared to the absolute blasts of the first two volumes. But the pay-off will certainly be worth it.

Buy this book. Unless youve not read it before. In which case, buy issue #1 and start from there. If you dont, youre missing out not just on one of the finest sci-fi stories written in a long while, but one of the finest stories full-stop.

But ultimately, were still firmly in the throes of scene-setting, and this answers no questions and raises far more – though it does so in a manner that rather successfully fleshes out the story going forward. Albuquerque is going somewhere with this, and its set to be a blast finding out where that is. But in the meantime, whilst the series as a whole does look set to have a top mark applied to it as a broader whole, its tricky to recommend this particular issue on its own. Still, certainly worth a look.

Ultimately, this is an incredibly solid piece, with aspirations to be almost a Fight Club for the 21st Century an insightful punk rock record distilled into comic book form, and whilst its final proof remains to be seen, its setting up a fascinating getting-there, though itll take a few more issues to see quite where and why. But right now? All signs are pointing towards getting in on this early.

Dont get me wrong – this remains almost exactly as much fun as Future Quest was. Its just that a touch of the sheen has been stripped away by virtue of it being a sequel series, DC having tapped here the same vein that the Marvel Cinematic Universe did with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2. And while this new series doesnt have its Yondu Poppins (yet), its still a blast to read, and worth a flutter for the art alone.

It of course remains to be seen precisely where Prez is going with this, and ending with yet another cliffhanger is a bold move. But based on these first two issues, this promises to be a cracking slice of that little explored genre, feminist sci-fi. One to pick up.

There's a lot of fun ideas being tossed about in this book, and honestly" do you remember the first time you watched an episode of Scooby Doo? This'll give you that precise vibe " it's fun, it's engaging, it's beautifully drawn and I for one am excited to see where it goes from here. One to add to the pull list, certainly.

I guess that makes it an ostensibly new take on the aesthetic, and it's an incredibly admirable one " a great start to what promises to be a nice wee diversion from the usual capes and tights. One to pick up.

Its just all a little uninspired, and given the energy and depth of the source material, it certainly feels like were being sold short here. Three issues in, and it just doesnt feel like its going anywhere interesting a promise which, whilst suspiciously quiet in issue #1, was still there. I cant even confidently recommend this to current Halo fans let alone newcomers. Avoid.

Ultimately, in case there was any doubt, Mignola and Co. have not lost it when it comes to Hellboy. Not even close. The Riveras are a smart choice for the line and inkwork, and the story here is interesting enough to keep you engaging. It lacks the epic, sweeping storytelling beats of the main, present-set series, but thats almost to be expected. Regardless, these mini-series are becoming a reliably solid read – definitely worth a look if youre already hooked.

This is still very much a groundwork issue – establishing its magical realist world that on the one hand isnt that original, but on the other is a satisfying blend of great concepts. And once thats all laid out, it still manages to do something intriguing, messing with your expectations at every turn, and I for onell be picking up next months issue to find out where it goes.

At the end, whilst not Valiants most accessible title, its certainly up there amongstits most absorbing, presenting what promises to bea complex and engaging narrative thats already had its first major twist, and escalates the pre-existing status quoto a thrilling new level. It succeeds on multiple levels – as an action series, as an existential examination of the nature of villianyand necessary evils, as an espionage thriller, and even has time to address philosophical implications of artificial intelligence. Simply put, its great, and well worth your time.

Overall, if youre a fan of Waids distinctive patter and introspective narration, youll be right at home with this series. It beautifully balances the silly and serious coin faces of superhero comics, and with this third issues, is pressing along a delicious engaging story at an immensely satisfying pace.

With those incredibly strong first three issues behind it, Insufferable has really come into its own with this issue – a deepening mystery surrounding Nocturnus, exceptionally staged action, fused with a commentary on just how well a Batman-archetype superhero would really work in the information age, where the separation between the light and the dark is mostly shadow, and no-one really has anywhere to hide. Waid continues to blend his dark wit with scathing social commentary, Krauses art is spot on, and whilst this issue is lighter on the laughs, its still a great read. Hit him again, Emily!

But the question that does arise at the end of it all is who is this for?. I know a fair number of fairly (okay, you got me, its four) hardcore James Bond fans, and not a one of them fancied the idea of a Felix Leiter-led mini-series. That said, at least the dialogue and narration has momentary glimpses of the smooth, handsomely crafted main series, but as whole, Im really struggling to breathe life into a recommendation for this book. Its entirely possible that I know the foir oddballs of James Bond fandom, and that youll at least find this interesting as and when the fuse reaches the explosives, but for the rest of us, therere better purchases this week.

Overall, this is a promising start to a new Bond story arc – its got all the classic hallmarks that it needs to have, and does just enough new and differently with the story and its tropes as to spark a tiny flame of interest in this particular Bond fans heart. If youve never been sold on Bond, thisll do literally nothing to get you on board – but for the rest of us, thisll get your pulse momentarily pumping. It remains to be seen exactly where its going – and a Bond story is only ever as good as its payoff, so for now

Given that its an anthology series, the sheer quality of this issue doesnt directly inform us as to whether or not the next issue will be as worth your shiny dubloons – but this one? This one is definitely worth it – a gorgeously rendered, engaging and moving tale of family and dragons. Whatve you got to lose?!

Its all those little things that prevent this from being a 100% essential read – in a perfect book, Idve not even felt the urge to point them out. Here, theyre fairly noticeable, if easy to overlook, blemishes – but only because the book otherwise tells an absolutely wonderful story, that I'm excited to read more of. Sure, the LGBT community have gained two fresh new protagonists to represent them in a format of media that theyre criminally under-represented in – but the rest of us can get in on the good stuff too. Cant wait for next months issue.

If there were any doubts that Jones thoroughly deserved those Eisner nominations decorating her CV, this issue stabs those doubts in the neck and buries them in the swamp. Just absolute magic – we can only hope the series as a whole ends as strongly as its predecessor.

Given that both myself and mcolleague Sam have twice broken the scoring system with sci-fi – Sam with issue #2 of this very series – Ill stop giving Ceej headaches and just leave it at our usual perfect score. But if I had less regard for human life, thisd be higher. Its incredible – get the hell on this series!

All-in-all, its a fantastic end to another fantastic first slice of Remender science fiction that both satisfies in and of itself, and creates a distinct appetite for more going forward. Well played, gentlemen, well played.

With this in mind, its difficult to recommend this to new readers without the caveat that you should probably grab the rest of the crossover series, and given quite how much there is out there at this stage, that seems like something of a poisoned apple. But who knows? Maybe thisll get your interest piqued in it. And if youre already keeping up, theres a heck of a lot to love about this addition to the event.

In terms of ongoing intrigue, I can't help get the feeling that Brisson's played his best card first and that it's downhill from here " quite what he can do after that twist to maintain your attention is anyone's guess, and whilst I'll be delighted to be proven wrong, I can't help but foresee an inexorably downhill slide from here. Certainly worth a look as a self-contained vignette if you're interested in quite what the change-up is, but otherwise, it's perhaps not worth getting invested just yet.

Beautiful, haunting stuff, but hard to properly recommend. If youre in a dark, brooding frame of mind, thisll suit you rather well. If youre just in for some be-tighted super-heroics. best look elsewhere.

It can certainly be held up as a prime example of how comics can be used to successfully tell stories like this, and whilst the influences are clear, it sets in motion a fascinating chain of events that promise exciting things to come. Black Mask are fast becoming a one-to-watch in the grown-up comics stakes, and this could very well serve as their calling card. Get on it!

Overall, this is a surprisingly affecting study of depression, masquerading as a fascinating sci-fi tale. Part 1984, part The Truman Show, and thoroughly enjoyable, this well worth picking up if youre after something completely different for your pull list this month.

Its not a bad read by any stretch of the imagination. Far from it, in fact, what with the slick artwork and the sharp script. It just leaves you a little bit dissatisfied come the end of the book, when you consider the opportunity missed – the entire thing compromised by marketing execs with dollar signs in their eyes, shrouded in a haze of cigar smoke as mustaches are twirled, leaving its appeal spread rather thinly across both sides of the Pacific. Its possible theres some meta-commentary going on regarding the recycling of heroes, Im crossing my fingers that as the series progresses, theyll do more to emphasise this, as well as to delineate Kenan from Clark. But as it stands…

Overall, with such a strong start, and with its momentum not faltering as yet, this remains a Bat-family series that should very much be on your radar. It hasn't quite reached utterly essential as yet – though depending on precisely how this arc culminates, thats very much subject to change in retrospect – but its an immensely satisfying read in its own right, even if youre not a pre-existing fan of the character. The creative team have breathed new life into an oft-maligned hero, and I for one cant wait to see whats next.

So yes, this is still an absolute belter of a read, held together by terrific writing from the no-longer-so-enigmatic Lees, and magnificent artwork from Cormack and Rivera. Next month really cant come quickly enough – devour this with your eyes immediately.

Overall, if youre an existing fan, I imagine theres some kicks to be had here, but for the clueless majority, its not much fun, and doesnt really compel you to go and fill in the blanks either. Kind of like joining a long-running roleplaying group as a new player – you can tell theyre having a whale of a time, but their in-jokes and pre-existing banter end up immediately alienating you. I kinda want to go join those girls playing Rat Queens. That looks like fun…

At the end of it, this does read far better than City of Secrets. Sutters approach is defter, albeit bound in what precisely can be done by the lore of the world. The ongoing character arcs continue to develop interestingly, and its all incredibly solidly put together, a couple of editing hiccoughs aside. Worth at least a browse thanks to the energetic artwork, and itll be interesting to see how the rest of this volume pans out.

If theres one weakness and its borderline at best its that the issue is entirely Peter-free (with him having been captured at the end of the last) and whilst hes missed, Lily is more than capable of carrying the story forward, and the series as a whole shows no sign of slowing down any time soon.

If youre at all a fan of either facet of the crossover and are at least passingly familiar with the other, then youll likely get a kick out of this. Its fun, light and eminently readable. Just dont expect it to take a place in the echelons of the classics.

Therere all sorts of video game narratives out there that are ripe for being mined for decent comic book stories. Titan themselves have proven it with their own mostly successful Dark Souls adaptations. This? This is an error of judgement on both Titan and Bethesdas part. Heck this creative team on a Doom comic wouldve been a better idea – and Doom 2016 went entirely unadapted to any other medium, despite its narrative ingenuity. A shame, a misfire, a negative kill/death ratio in comic book form. Avoid.

The series as a whole is still a rollicking, deliciously vulgar five-out-of-five, but this issue, whilst providing us with solid backstory, doesnt really take the story anywhere, and honestly, aside from the final two pages, you could like as not skip this one entirely and still know what the hell was going on come issue nine, and Im fairly certain we already liked Violet. I guess now wereally her? Still, its exceptionally well crafted, and the dialogue is just as delightful as weve come to expect. Heres hoping the here-and-now story progresses next month, because those two final pages are just incredible.

Still gloriously sweary, action-packed, deeply un-cynically feminist, and ending on an absolute doozy of a cliffhanger, theres no sign at all that the change in creative team has stalled the books momentum in any way. If you've not already, get your arse on THE FUCKING RAT QUEENS! (sorry) immediately. Or well set the smidgen on you.

So for those of us still in possession of our mortal spirits, this remains firmly on the list of books that Im regularly willing to shell out hard-earned cash for. If it hasnt embedded itself on yours at this stage, well not stop harping on about it until it has. Exceptional stuff.

So admirable on all fronts then, but with a few roadblocks keeping it from being truly memorable. With Hitchs connections, it may well get made into a movie, and the story would be all the better for it. But as it stands, as a comic, it just ends up in the limbo between good and bad, with every possibility that the next issue will end up swinging it one way or the other. But for now

Overall, Red One is a highly enjoyable slice of pulp fiction that sets up both a likeable stable of characters and an intriguing plot steeped in clandestine intrigue and mystery. Vibrant art, great dialogue and a surprisingly large amount of story crammed into a 30-odd page book make this yetanother addition to Images mass of great titles. Certainly worth a look.

If these two issues comprise volume one of Red One, then volume one has been something of a success. A great idea, magnificent art and slick storytelling all combine to an arresting first crack at the whip. The change in format and release schedule are a little frustrating, and its not quite up there at being 100% essential, but as ever with Images output, this is certainly worth your time and cash.

Its all just very well done, and even coming in cold, it works. The contrast between the close-to-mundane plot and the deliciously snappy dialogue (along with the fact that the main character is a frickin alien, guys!) make for a really rather fun read, and the real achievement is that it can be picked up with no previous experience with the series. Which makes it certainly worth doing so.

Still, its been fun enough to read, and having now caught up with the rest of the volumes, it continues the overall Resident Alien story along nicely. Plus, given the note that it ends on, it does seem that therere interesting things in store for our hero. If youve already invested, youll get a kick here " otherwise, its passable.

Still, the art as a wholeis great, the writing is of Symons consistently high standard, and though its early days, with the story lacking a distinct vector, its clear Symons is playing the long game, setting up multiple plot strands that see some minor resolution in the small picture, and bode rather well for the big one. Whether or not this series will ultimately become as essential as TMS is hard to say at this point – but it has all the structurally elements of a great series. It now needs that one great issue that knocks it all out the park, and if Symons previous work is anything to go by, thatll happen soon. Keep an eye on this one, folks.

Still, its a little way off being quite as essential as The Mercenary Sea – but that is very much pending the resolution of the cliffhanger at the end of issue #4, and I await #5 with bated breath. With the right twist in the plot, this could well see the series as a whole get an extra point on the score below – well just have to see.

It's testament to quite how far the story's come that I'm excited to see what's in store going forward, and that's testament to just what a unique and intriguing turn the tale has taken. Go back, grab the first 4 issues, and you'll ultimately enjoy the hell out of this book.

Three issues in, and this remains an utterly compelling read, even – and perhaps especially – if youre not a pre-existing fan of the wrestling oeuvre. Its insights into the behind-the-scenes insanity of such an operation are fascinating, and the drama that Keatinge creates – whilst at first seeming to be so off-piste as to border on lunacy – slides effortlessly into that endorphine-producing part of your brain that cant help but love a great story. If you havent already, get aboard this series. Its wonderful.

Overall, this does look set to be something of a belter – two titanic British talents coming together to create a deeply engrossing tale of horror. Ive got a good – or is that bad? – feeling about this.

At the end of issue 2, Im struggling to conjure a proper recommendation – a half-decent fantasy story, let down by what seems to be an attempt to pull the wool over our eyes with the art. If youre jonesing for a supernatural fix, by all means, swipe it up, but for now – and at least until the story reaches what may or may not be its satisfying conclusion – its one to avoid.

This series has promise, theres no doubt about it – from the incredible artwork, right through to the execution of the premise. Quite where its going at this stage is anyones guess, but for the first time in a while, Ive got the right kind of wanting more. It doesnt feel like its stopped short, or holding anything back – exactly the right amount of exposure and intrigue happens before the vaguely traditional cliff-hanger ending. There are bold ideas here, bold designs too, and its all tied together with a fluidity thats deeply enticing. This is the sort of story that Babylon 5 and Farscape wished they couldve been, and is easily one of the best issue ones Ive read in months.

After that absolutely essential opening, the story is now settling into its sense of self and pace, and given that barely any time has been spent world-building, its genuinely jaw-dropping quite how familiar this world is starting to feel. Even as a stand-alone issue – detached final pages aside – it reads like a complete piece, throwing down stakes, raising them, and having our hero overcome them it a pleasingly inelegant, yet immensely effective manner. This remains a series that you absolutely must get aboard – seriously, just go out and buy it already.

Ive said it once. Ive said it twice. So third times the charm? If this doesnt convince you, I dont know what will – yall should be reading this series. Its one of the most genuinely entertaining and intriguing stories that youll read this year.

It remains early days, and the series could still streamline itself into something interesting. But there are worrisome signs already, and this issue is something of a chore to slog through. It also doesnt really live up to its promise of grit and depravity either, with perhaps a single page flirting with being depraved, and the book as a whole being rather more sandy than gritty. Hopefully the story can catch up to the art in future issues, but as it stands…

Still, its going from strength to strength a must buy for any fan, and the series is quickly becoming as good a jumping on point as any for the franchise as a whole. Long may it continue.

What is there to say that hasn't been said? If you're a Firefly fan, this should be on your pull list already " the series as a whole is a wonderful continuation of the characters you know and love. It just feels right, and that fact alone is a hell of a lot more than certain other TV-show-to-comic adaptations can make claim to (we're looking at you, 24).

Still striking a deft balance between fan-service and actually getting an excellent new story told, this series continues to be an absolute treat for Browncoats everywhere. Throw your money at it, soon as it comes out. One score this month:

Proof that theres life in this old girl yet, the series as a whole has been absolutely wonderful, even if this particular issue – by its very nature of wrapping up everything thats happened, and setting up a new status quo – isnt quite as good as its predecessor. Still, it leaves you wanting more, and thats very much to its credit, and its not enough to dock it any points. And then theres the final panel – you can practically hear David Newmans score from the film playing over it, and if ever there was a better one to end a comic on, Ive not come across it yet. A ship, a leaf, a breeze, and we watched them all soar rather high indeed.

Overall, this is a solid read, and if youve been enjoying this series thus far, youll certainly get a kick out of it – but moreover, as a single issue, it still manages to draw you in to Bradburys – and the writers whom he inspired – world. One to pick up, certainly.

I imagine were one, maybe two issues away from it all coming together, and things are certainly looking up after the relatively lacklustre first issue. If it does indeed follow through on this, expect to see the score below tick up once again, because there is a hell of a lot to like here.

I love the ideas being flung around in this book, I really do – I just wish that the story would come together from the disparate array of narrative threads weve been presented with so far, and theyre so close. One more issue. I can feel it. If next months score isnt 4 or 5, fully worthy of your attention, Ill eat my hat.

Its been a while coming, but this series is finally getting to the crux of the matter, and its become clear that the first arc is laying foundations for future stories to come, with Kates accepted role in the adventuring being reversed going forward. The title of the piece still doesnt make much sense " to me, at least; shes not taken that many photos " but hey-ho, thats a minor nit-pick at best. If youve not gotten on this series, nows the time.

As a Splinter Cell enthusiast, I found a lot to like in this book " the story is well paced, Sams personality is nicely captured (his dialogue even plays in Michael Ironsides voice, such is the appropriately gritty edge), and the art gets the job done, much like our hero. Given how often video games struggle to adapt to other mediums of story-telling, this book is something of a welcome surprise, and Im looking forward to seeing where it goes.

Its worth a read to get a feeling of the tone and texture of the series, but it begins properly next month, and for that, I cannot wait.

Ultimately, its a well-put-together issue that unfortunately, doesnt immediately scream this series needs picking up. Theres potential, certainly, and Id be happy to gamble that itll get far more interesting as it picks up steam. For the moment, though, its not quite enough to steal December from that other Stellar Adventure.

I never, in all my days, thoughts Id give a Jim Lee/Rob Williams team-up this low a score. I hate myself a little, but…

Overall, its a bold and stylistically solid opener to a new chapter in our favourite Kryptonians story – chock to bursting with Johns carefully paced story and dialogue, and Romitas joyous action. Supermans suddenly become one to keep an eye on.

This is seriously the best of both worlds – grand yet intimate, fantastical yet grounded, big and bold, yet absolutely charming. Its been at least, what? Eight years since the last truly essential Superman story came out but if this post-rebirth arc continues with the sheer amount of quality crammed into each issue, it could well be the new gold standard. Touching wood, this series just went from great opener, to essential pull list material. Get yourself on this – youll find yourself loving Superman again.

But for now, this is all we got, and as such, Im pretty much obliged to slap this with the fans only rating. But do not let that put you off giving Teen Titans #1 a shot when it comes out next month.

Theres the possibility that itll all come together at the end, that the dream-state that its in right now is just that, and the storyll wake up come issue 3. Perhaps Im not reading enough into it. Or maybe too much. Its certainly worth a gander for the visuals. But either way, when its not clear why youre being weird, its hard to make yourself stand out from the people who are being weird for the sake of it. I can only recommend it eh experimentally, I guess?

Like a fairly awesome mix of Aliens psychological horror, Fireflys frontiersmanship and the sense of wonder that imbues all great sci-fi, this is a book that absolutely knows how to make the most of its wonderful artists. Theres a heck of a lot to like about this series thus far, and whilst therere a couple of writing pitfalls, its eminently readable and thoroughly enjoyable.

The problem is that given that its set on another world, its not clear at all whether any of the awkwardness that results from these is deliberate, and Robinson certainly doesnt make any concessions towards explaining this. It could well be an attempt to create a sense of otherworldliness, but if it is, it has stumbled at this first hurdle. Theres quite possibly an intriguing story waiting to be told here if it pulls together in subsequent issue; but what we have here is a relatively lifeless book that is difficult to really recommend.

It aims pretty big, and there's some vaguely interesting stuff going on here, but at the end of it all, the only shock is that it's Titan, rather than Dark Horse, that're putting it out. Sadly, this ends up being skippable, unless you suddenly become a massive fan of the game and are desperate to find out what happened before it.

Overall, however, based on the two stronger entries, Im excited to see whats in store for us in future issues. A surprising and unsettling anthology, its certainly worth throwing a few bones at.

It's a shame, because there is good stuff in here, and overall, it's a perfectly readable one-two opening salvo for the series. It does get more confident as it progresses towards the final page of issue two, and I can only imagine that should we see issues 3 and beyond, Jenkins and Imber's style will have found its feet. Worth a look, especially if you're in the mood for something off the beaten path.

All-in-all, this book looks set to nestle itself into Images spate of recent close to essential titles the art is great, the writing exciting and intelligent, managing to simultaneously keep just enough held back, whilst surging forward at the same time. Lets hope the upcoming issues live up to this promise.

It's just great, to be honest – the characters are likeably gruff, the action cracks along at a terrific place, and the plot's thickening magnificently. Then there's that dialogue – it's just magic, it really is. Get this on your pull list – there's just so much promise going forward.

Still, its with great joy that I can conclude that The Mercenary Sea is continuing its absolutely stellar run. Weve got a couple of new characters to enjoy, a burgeoning romance, and exciting action in spades. Tally-ho indeed.

The series as a whole continues to go from strength to strength, with great characters, terrific dialogue and absolutely gorgeous art. Theres nothing I dont love about The Mercenary Sea, and if you're a fan of Indy, Firefly, or World War II dramas, youll do the same. Get this series on your pull list, immediately.

I'm sold, I'm in – have been for months, and this first arc has only scratched the surface of the potential on display, with that Indiana Jones-esque mythical portion still yet to dealt with. Part the second simply can't come quickly enough – get out and buy this series however you can, it's so very worth it.

All in all, this remains one of the best adventure stories on the market right now " a gorgeous balancing act that's got just the right amount of high octane action, clandestine intrigue and grounded mythicism to keep you hooked. I still just can't recommend it enough.

Its just not quite interesting enough to really heartily recommend, but at the same time, its not immediately dismissible. Theres potential for a fun story to be told here, if they actually get to the historical-team-up-come-zombie-viking-axe-murder-session that the cover promises. Future issues could see this become more essential, but for now, its not quite there yet.

Theres just no hook, nothing that compels you to come back for more unlike its newly reanimated protagonist, theres not a whole lot of soul in here, and whilst its entirely competent, it just doesnt pop like the premise says it ought to. The next issue may prove me wrong, but theres just nothing here to compel me to pick it up.

Ultimately, its excellent to see such a fascinating world being built, driven forward by excellent creature design, a strong characterisation of an against-the-grain protagonist, and. And at 28 pages, its pretty great value for money. Im already looking forward to the next issue.

Overall, after that surprising and intriguing first issue, the series looks like its now settling in, but the plot itself has yet to reach its stride. Thats not at all to say that it wont – many a building block has been placed, and it remains to be seen if therell be a payoff at the end. This doesn't stop the series as a whole being a fascinating oddity, and one to keep an eye on going forward.

However, theres very likely better value to be had elsewhere for this series – the collected editions are out there both in print and digital, as are the individual issues, and whilst its certainly a series thats worth getting in to, whether or not this particular edition should be your entry point is something of a dubious question. Still, as far as horror comics go, you can do infinitely worse than the strain, and it genuinely heads somewhere interesting come crunch time, so this is as good a moment to start on it as any.

Overall, it's a pretty great opening issue to the cross-over " the writing's sharp, the art is incredible, and as an introduction to Valiant's pantheon of off-piste super-folk, whilst it does lack a few details on some of the supporting players, it's still a great jumping-on point for their perpetually underrated stories.

Assuming that youve bought, devoured and enjoyed Vol 1, then this is absolutely essential, continuing the story in a satisfying and entertaining manner. If youre not aboard this trippy-as-balls ride yet seriously, whats up with that? You dont want your friends calling you square do you?! Well chop-chop – off you go and buy all six.

Theres certainly potential here – past precedent shows that Tynion can knock out some terrific stories, and theres nothing blocking this from becoming a great series, but theres also nothing herein that convinces me it's anything other than a gamble at this stage. Ill be happy to be proven wrong, and to see the score below tick up at least one notch, but for now, its maybe just one to keep an eye on.

Its a enjoyable read, certainly, but at the moment, lacks anything stand-out to send it into essential territory. The characters decorating the story remain intriguing – if occasionally a little too oddball nerdy – and the mostly sharp dialogue brings it all together. Theres potential for greater things, and if Hawkins and Ekedal can escalate matters as the final page hints that they can, you can expect an uptick. But as it stands

At the end of it, I'm also still not precisely sure what 'Valiant-Sized' means " the structuring of the book indicates that it's a pretty decent, regular-sized issue with two additional, tangetially-linked stories stuck on the end. I'm still not wholly sold on the proceedings, but if at any point you've said to yourself 'I should probably be reading Quantum and Woody', this is an absolutely perfect diving-on point. Containing just enough of a primer on the characters for no previous reading to be required, whilst at the same time driving forward with a fascinating, deliciously silly interdimensional disaster-prevention tale and a healthy dose of subversive Christmas cheer to boot, there's more than enough here to justify a return visit come new series 'Quantum and Woody Must Die!' in January. Fun stuff, and certainly worth a look.

Still, given that were not yet halfway through, and theres still scope for this to come together in some pretty terrific ways. The intrigue, as said, is up at 11, but its still not striking as something you need to rush out and buy, at least until the trade collection comes out. Well keep our fingers crossed for this one.

It's not bad, not by any stretch of the imagination – the gorgeous artwork and solid writing see to that – and now that we know what's going on, the final issue will be the true test of whether or not this transpires to be an essential series. But for now, I still can't conjure up a reason to rush out and buy it. It's interesting, certainly, and hardly a rip-off, but I can't help but feel your money might be spent more rewardingly elsewhere. But we'll see come issue 5.

At the end of it all, this series is passable at best, but you can't help but feel that given more space, writer and artist both could've had a lot more fun with it. There's still some kicks to be had from the terrific art, and there's a couple of neat concepts going on here and there, particular when it comes to the prominence of the rats, but overall, whilst it's certainly interesting, and by 'eck, the artwork is exceptional, it's just not fully satisfying, and it does feel like a trick was missed somewhere along the line.

The series as a whole raises the age-old question of 'does great responsibility come automatically with great power?' " recalling Mark Millar's work, as well as some of the more cynical super-'hero' flicks of late, but filtered through a lovely 80's vibe. Scintillating dialgoue, t'r'ific art and an genuinely interesting story all combine to continue Black Mask's run of exceptional books.

This is ultimately a far breezier book than the intricate supernatural ponderings of Cry Havoc, but doesnt quite reach the close-to-whimsical fantastical overtures of The Spire either. If Spurrier is attempting to occupy all ends of the fantasy spectrum, then this is his entry fired precisely at the centre of it. Thats not to say that its a lesser book than either of its counterparts – but as with both of them, Spurrier just loves taking his time with his world-building, and whilst this issue has its share of delights, its not precisely clear just yet whether itll end up being worth it in the long haul, and it doesnt have quite the same bite (hah!) as Cry Havoc did. 

Still, Ive been harping on about getting aboard Valiants intricately crafted universe for a while now, so itd be safe to assume that a fair few of you have done so. With that, and the beautiful art, and the terrifically paced story that knows just when to hit you with the cliffhanger, and the beautifully weighted dialogue, and literally everything else about this book, I can do nothing but heartily recommend you get this book bought. Valiant and Vendetti have knocked it out the park once again.

After their success in 2015, Valiant are hitting the ground running in 2016, and this gorgeous piece of work sees the bar that's been set, and vaults over it with ease. If my previous evangelising hasn't convinced you that this series should find its way onto your 'must pull' list, then I really don't know what else I can do, but this here could've been just a holding issue, and instead pulls off an exciting, intricately detailed torture-and-escape sequence that'll get your blood a-pumping. Acquire, immediately.