Rowan Grover Comic Reviews

A solid continuation of the Adventure Time's charming epilogue, "Marcy & Simon" #5 highlights great character relation development and beautiful single panel page sequences.

"Alien Bounty Hunter" #1 can be hampered by unfortunate plot decisions, but is ultimately a visually beautiful debut.

A fairly straightforward noir tale with futuristic elements, "Analog" is a fun blend of classical and modern storytelling with moody and evocative art.

"Anthem" #1 is a solid sci-fi debut that will appeal to fans of the upcoming game, but feels directionless and overstuffed as an individual story.

Pun intended, "Aquaman" #25 blew me out of the water. Abnett has upped his game to match the masterful Sejic, and both have delivered a great fantasy/superhero comic.

A flashy debut that has some promise, but feels hollow and oddly executed in a lot of areas.

With excellent character work and visual pacing, "Assassin Nation" #1 is the work of two creators firing on all cylinders.

"Astro City" is as consistently innovative as it's been since the beginning, and the Busiek/Anderson team show no signs of slowing down.

"Atlas & Axis" #1, like others of its genre, is a labour of love: infectiously merry character work, breakneck pacing, and beautiful art make this comic one to keep an eye on.

A great, YA occult style story with fantastic character work by Justin Jordan, fast paced artwork by Elenora Carlini, glowing colors by Silvie Tidei, and solid lettering by Marshall Dillon. This is how you build a world.

"Bad Reception" #1 is a little formulaic narratively but its stunning visuals help it to stand out from the pack.

Bane's back to his old ways, with an entertaining solo debut that needs to work through a few issues.

A thoughtful and interesting debut, "Barbarella" #1 subverts expectations and turns a once dated character into a veritable female icon.

The Legion of Superheroes get a campy style makeover in this crossover by the always excellent Allred family.

Computers go rogue in this interesting yet strangely executed spin-off, with some seriously beautiful art to elevate the book just above average.

Sam Kieth proves that he's still one of the industry's strangest with "Batman/The Maxx: Arkham Dreams" #1.

A complex, layered first issue, "Beautiful Canvas" will have you scouring it's beautifully drawn pages over and over.

Conspiracy theories are cool again, thanks to Paul Jenkins and Wesley St. Claire's work in "Beyonders" #1.

"Black Cloud" #3 escalates to a new level with this issue, as every contributor gets to show off their talents in a brilliantly told origin issue.

Samnee and Waid bring Natasha's latest adventure to a close with incredible panache. This "Black Widow" series will assuredly be remembered fondly for years.

An intriguing premise with some generic delivery that is saved by Harris' gruesome artwork.

A solid return to form, "Bloodborne" #5 can be a little jarring with pacing, but introduces complex new characters and delivers beautiful, Victorian-influenced artwork.

Final Verdict: 9.4 " Forager may be an outcast of the New Gods, but with the Allred's helming his book, he's sure to be no stranger to the high tier books at DC and Young Animal.

"Canto" #1 is a dark fantasy debut with some serious heart waiting at its core.

Zub, Ramirez and Menyz bring the "War Of The Realms" to the "Champions" with style.

A great middle act, Farinas, Freitas and Irizarri flesh out characters while delivering dynamic, cosmic-level god-brawling action. Stay tuned to see how this excellent series wraps up.

A solid horror debut, "Cold Spots" #1 impresses with great composition and stylistic art, but feels hampered by stereotypical protagonists.

Aaron, Asrar, Wilson and the team present a fresh, time-spanning tale on "Conan The Barbarian" #1, proving the character is still in good hands.

"Criminal" #1 lives up to the lofty expectations of its predecessors, bringing back the high-tension stories, masterfully controlled art and candy-tinged coloring in a new monthly serialized format.

Prioritising style over substance, "Damage" #1 struggles to holds together an interesting plot but lucks out with an all-star art team that embody the term 'huge'.

"Dark Souls: The Age Of Fire" is tonally fantastic, with great character/ world development and painterly artwork, but a plot that takes a while to fully establish.

Logan and Wade come clashing sword to claw in this adequate yet comedic debut crossover issue.

"Deep Roots" #1 is a compelling debut, combining dark fantasy with modern action drama and brought to life with two distinctly striking art styles.

A great return to form of the sci-fi hit that still has some bumps but delivers slick designs and great plotting.

There's certainly potential underneath the heavy world-building and storytelling in "Dissonance" #1, but the beauty here really lies in Basri and Yuwono's visuals.

A crazy, emotion romp through the more psychedelic side of the Valiant universe.

A light-hearted tale of con-artists and fantasy, "Dragon Age: Deception" #1 has great characters, dialogue, and dynamic artwork.

Fans of 90s style comics will get a kick out of this, but Dread Gods #1 does little to impress beyond that factor.

A complex crime story that while visually stunning and narratively complex, can leave readers feeling a little uneasy.

"Electric Warriors" #1 is an exciting exploration of a new future for DC, with great character work and visual stylistic balance.

"Elektra" #1 falls into stereotypes a little too often to be remarkable, but remains a solid debut for the fan favourite character's new series.

"Elfquest: Stargazer's Hunt" is a great series continuation for older fans and re-introduces the world nicely for newer ones.

"Eternal Empire" #10 concludes the series in a bombastic and spectacular way, not only deliver a cinematic conclusion, but one with clever ethical discussions too.

"Eternity" #1 is not only a great continuation of an excellent series, but a perfect jumping on point and wonderful psychedelic exploration that's beautifully human at its core.

"Eugenic" #1 is one of the most shocking and mind-expanding sci-fi horror comics I've read in a long time.

"Excellence" #1 is a great showcase in combining character and world development, with frenetic, fun art that tells a story all on it's own.

octane debut that thrusts us right into Johnsons world Extremity is as beautiful to read as it is visceral.

Elgo's "Factory" #1 is a tough-as-nails, layered sci-fi story that rewards readers with subtle, clever storytelling with close attention.

"Fantastic Four: Grand Design" #1 is a masterclass in compressed storytelling and scale in visual and narrative aspects.

"Female Furies" #1 is a thoroughly modern debut for DC, and the Fourth World has never felt so excitingly female.

"Fighting American" #1 is a both a great homage and parody of the comics of old, whilst also dishing up an intriguing time-displaced hero plotline to keep you interested.

A classic reinterpretation of a brilliant sci-fi novel that still feels fresher than most comics on the market today.

"Future Quest #9" might be the best this series has been since the debut, but a few issues prevent this from reclaiming its crown as the best of the Hanna-Barbera books.

A sublime action experience that although is light on character work, takes full advantage of its source material with balls-to-the-wall fun.

Kot's "Generation Gone" feels like conspiracy theories done right " great characters, interesting conflicts and ideas, all with stellar art from the one-two punch of Andr Lima Arajo and Chris O'Halloran.

"Generation X" serves well at demonstrating Marvel's conscious effort to revitalise a beloved property, with Strain, Pinna, Sobreiro and co delivering an infectiously fun debut.

"Ghost Tree" #2 continues to be just as charming and even more intriguing in its sophomore issue.

A solid debut with some storytelling slip-ups, "Ghostbusters: Year One" #1 is enjoyable but much more so to dedicated fans of the franchise.

"Ghosted In L.A." #1 is a delightful slice of life debut, with killer character work and charmingly detailed art.

"Go-Bots" #1 serves as a great debut to Scioli's re-imagining of the 80s franchise, with interesting story concepts and characters, and a fusion of modern and classical visual storytelling.

"Godshaper" is a solid debut that introduces us to a vast alternate world with great art and visual storytelling.

"Gwen Stacy" #1 is a fun debut, but lacks the kind of polish that would elevate this to greater heights.

With Jordie Bellaire in tow, MacLean once again proves his mastery of the comic book format. "Head Lopper" #5 is an incredibly engaging, moving and fun story that throws us back into Norgal and Agatha's adventures.

A comics debut that handles storytelling and visual style superbly, Heartbeat is a gripping tale.

A well-told rendition of an age-old tale, "Her Infernal Descent" blends elements of literature, modern culture and religion in with hauntingly beautiful art.

"Hex Wives" #1 is a chilling, yet timely and powerful debut, with fantastic visuals that range from innocently suburban to bloodcurdling visceral.

A fun character study but an ultimately unoriginal premise, "Hidden Society" doesn't do enough to separate itself from the pack in this debut.

Hickman, Larraz and Gracia bring Marvel's mutants into a magnificent new era that feels genuinely fresh and exciting.

Final Verdict: 9.2 " A tonally brilliant horror anthology that combines atmosphere with socially relevant storytelling, "Hungry Ghosts" is a great launcher for the Berger Books line.

"Ignited" #1 kicks off the new Humanoids superhero universe with a shaky but well-meaning debut.

A mysterious and delightfully weird debut that has minor slips in quality that keep it from feeling truly great.

"Infidel" #1 presents one of the most compelling and evocative tales with powerful social commentary, gripping tension, beautiful art and well-paced execution.

Inhumans: Once and Future King" is a beautiful start to what looks like an epic chapter in the Inhumans' history. Priest brings his best on his return to Marvel, and Noto provides some sublime artwork.

A solid look at Namor as an antagonist, "Invaders" #1 finally manages to inject the WWII team with purpose.

A debut that blends excellent world building, character relations and vibrant environments, "Invisible Kingdom" #1 is a great series debut for G. Willow Wilson and Christian Ward.

Loveness writes a powerfully sympathetic protagonist in "Judas" #1 with superb, stained-glass art stylings from Jakub Rebelka.

A thrilling, hilarious new chapter in the ongoing "Kaijumax" saga that promises to deliver some interesting worldbuilding.

The creative challenge is brilliantly enticing to ensure readers return, and the whole package serves as a solid homage to one of comics most influential storytellers.

"Killer Groove" #1 is a great debut that feels like the product of super-talented creators in total synergy.

"LaGuardia" #1 is classic speculative fiction at its best, coupled with an endearing protagonist, and a vibrant, living sci-fi world rendered by a fantastic art team.

Infection/quarantine stories have never looked as good as they have in Chapman, Levang and Bidikar's "Lazaretto" #1.

That's it for this week's climactic battle! Tune back in next year, as we see how this new confrontation pans out! Izuku vs. Overhaul!

Fans of the game will get the most out of this, but "Little Nightmares" works well as a nice visual piece, regardless of how confusing it can be.

"Livewire" #1 is a great solo debut for the longtime Valiant character, with complex character work, and stunning clean-lined and vibrant art.

While some narrative beats are a little too familiar, "Lost City Explorers" combines great characters and smooth art to convey a solid debut.

A little rough on the edges, but "Ludocrats" #2 continues with the same ridiculous fun that the debut issue exploded with.

"Major X" is undoutedly a Rob Liefeld story, but doesn't have the flair or edginess that made him so popular in the nineties.

Man-Thing #1 is filled with unique scares that's only held back by dated narration.

A smartly funny debut with a lot of family-oriented heart at its center, "Mars Attacks" #1 shows that this franchise can still be great.

A great anthology title that shows off renowned creators having a blast on the superheroes they know and love.

"Punisher 2099" is bogged down narratively, but that doesn't stop the artists from providing a beautiful issue.

"Marvel Action: Spider-Man" #1 is a great all-ages debut, with only a few plot and visual setbacks that never detract from how charming this book feels.

A snappy and delightful adventure, "Marvel Team-Up" #4 is classic feel-good superheroics.

A moving, human story that has me hooked for more, with incredible visuals to boot.

A missed opportunity, "Medieval Spawn/Witchblade" #1 features dull plotting, poor character work, and uncomfortably CGI-looking artwork, all without even featuring one half of the crossover characters.

Held back by some dated plot devices and narration, "Mera: Queen Of Atlantis" #1 still manages to launch a well-paced solo series for the character with beautiful art direction.

A crossover that does a good job at handling both properties well but can be a little by the book at times.

"Mirror" #8 is entrenched in its well-crafted world " presenting a new story that feels like a natural progression from everything Rios and Lim have given us so far in this visual treat of a book.

A terrifically character-driven debut, "Morning In America" #1 will keep you on edge with an underlying sense of unease, but charm you with its diverse cast.

Motor Crush continues its vibrant first arc with solid character debuts, immersive bike action and moving quieter scenes.

"Multiple Man" #1 gathers the best and weirdest X-Tropes and distills them into a fast-paced, manic and effortlessly hilarious debut.

"Murder Falcon" #1 is Daniel Warren Johnson at his greatest " with compelling characters, hyper-expressive artwork, and genuinely warming attitude.

Claremont and Sienkiewicz prove that they're still one of the best creative teams in the game with "War Children".

"No One Left To Fight" is high-powered and fraught with delicately complex characters, truly the comic we always wanted.

A stylish debut that nails every aspect of what a debut issue should be, whilst leaving intrigue for plenty more story on the horizon.

"Orphan Age" handles a childish twist on an overused trope fantastically, with subtle post-apocalyptic themes, great characterization, and cleverly constructed art.

"Outer Darkness" #1 is Layman and Chan firing on all creative cylinders, with all the God Engines and Japanese satellite bars you could ever need.

"Pandemica" #1 has tons of potential to be great, but numerous shortcomings keep it from reaching that level

Final Score: "Power Pack" #63 is pure eye-candy to take in, but narratively it's merely a serviceable throwback – one without any real stakes or ramifications.

A momentous finale that opens up a world of possibility for the future of the X-line, "Powers Of X" #6 is grand storytelling at it's finest.

A great representation of how the comics medium can be used to explore different genres both visually and narratively.

"Prism Stalker" #4 is a sublime combination of words and pictures " an expertly paced story with great character work, narrative intrigue and sequential art.

A visually stunning and complexly layered debut, "Protector" #1 is undoubtedly worth your investment.

Like it's teenage protagonist, "Proxima Centauri" #1 is fickle and moody, but endlessly rewarding to anyone willing to spend the time to listen to it.

"Queen Of Bad Dreams" #1 takes you for a ride in its compelling world, with diverse, interesting characters and a sleek, dreamy visual production.

A thoughtful, insightful debut, "Quicksilver: No Surrender" shows readers' Pietro's complex psyche and motivations, with some killer psychedelic art to boot.

A cyberpunk comic debut that is effortlessly cool and immerses even first-time readers into this intriguing world.

An inventive genre mix-mash that feels genuinely well-thought out, "The Realm" is a stylish debut issue that thrusts you head-first into its gritty, yet fantastical world.

A touching reunion and some great action-oriented artwork make this Annual one to remember.

"Red Sonja/Tarzan" #1 is a crossover done well, with Simone delivering exceptional character work, and the art team of Geovani and Augusto doing a serviceable job with a few minor inconsistencies.

On its tenth issue, "Redlands" shows no signs of slowing, with great character moments and tightly choreographed art.

Kyle Starks and Chris Scweizer ensure that "Rock Candy Mountain" is by no means lumbering towards its end, with a breakneck pace, well-developed characters and a sleek, signature art style.

A solid origin story with vibrant art and expansive world building, but feels a little too familiar at times.

"Sabrina The Teenage Witch" #1 is a delightful take on the compelling character, with luscious, campy art to elevate this debut to must-read status.

Harren brings his uncontrollable style to Remender's grand fantasy tale, delivering a chapter that's exciting and deliciously grimy.

Arguably the best of the Young Animal line up, Castellucci and co. bring their opening storyline to a soaring climax.

"She Could Fly" #1 handles believeable and flawed characters and emotional and well-paced sequences seamlessly, resulting in a wholly original take on the superhero genre.

An engaging chapter in a series that looks to be another win for Aftershock Comics.

A solid fantasy debut from Image Comics, "Sonata" #1 will appeal to fans of the genre but leans too hard into its conventions at the best of times.

A fun dive into one of the most overlooked villains of the Star Wars mythos.

"Starcraft: Scavengers" #1 is a visually beautiful debut that narratively feels a little too familiar.

A great standalone story highlighting some of the show's overlooked characters, "Steven Universe" #2 is a simple story with a lot of heart.

A side story worthy of the Netflix series' success, "Stranger Things" #1 blends 80s comic aesthetic with modern sensibilities to triumphant effect.

A generally good, quieter issue with fun artwork, which is unfortunately a little uneventful and some odd slips in tone.

Oeming and Soma bring us Norse mythology filtered through young adult themes, and it makes for a compelling series debut.

Marvel has let Jason Latour go all out in this high-concept, beautifully drawn single issue.

Liam Sharp breathes life to Celtic Mythology within the DC universe with grandeur and reverence, with breathtaking art backed by Romulo Fajardo Jr.

A fun reinterpretation of a golden age property, "The Death-Defying Devil" is hampered by its art but still feels promising.

"The Forgotten Queen" gives us a genuinely mythic protagonist made relatable by human desires, with art that feels constantly full of life and in motion.

"The Highest House" #5 has some solid character moments, plot reveals and isolated beautiful single page spreads but jarring visual emotion contrasts and oddly slow pacing make it one of the weaker entries in the series.

"The Mask: I Pledge Allegiance To The Mask" #1 woos its readers with cynically dark undertones and well-crafted characters.

A great addition to the Jodoverse mythos, "The Metabaron: Book Two" has all the makings of a classic sci-fi and then some. If you're a fan of the current Image Comics Sci-Fi movement, you need to jump onto this series.

A revenge story taken to it's furthest extremes, "The Quiet Kind" is high stakes of the best kind.

Serge Lehman and Jean-Marie Michaud pore their souls into "The Season Of the Snake", creating a sci-fi that's superbly paced, complex yet compelling and visually breathtaking.

Compelling written and visual metaphors make "The Seeds" #2 a great continuation of the mysteries of the first issue.

Combining Viking ferocity with sci-fi intrigue, "The Spider King" #1 is a well-paced and beautifully drawn debut.

"The Spider King: Frostbite" is a great trip back into Vann and D'Armini's original series.

Orlando builds great character relationships and resurfaces fun DC lore, and the Nord/Farmer/Hanna/Cox art team deliver a style that feels stylish and Mignola-esque.

"The White Trees" #1 is fantasy in comics done right.

"The Thrilling Adventure Hour" lives up to its name, delivering well-paced, campy and self-aware thrills, with solid art and warming colors.

Final Verdict: 8.7 " The Dinosaur Hunter makes his latest debut in sleek style, providing a great jumping on point for new readers and breathing new life into an old franchise.

Final Verdict: 8.2 " The best Marvel Cosmic comic in years comes to a huge climax as Ewing, Foreman and Yackey bring out the big guns.

A speculative, relevant and familiar ride that feels highly original and endlessly interesting, "Undiscovered Country" #1 is worth your time.

With an intriguing support cast and masterful sequential action, "Usagi Yojimbo" #1 continues to be one of the greats.

"Vagrant Queen" #1 is a comic that shows promise, but is marred by a few pacing decisions and art technicalities that detracts from the book's endearing nature.

Final Verdict: 8.1 " An exhilaratingly excellent celebration of everything Venom, this is a great return to form for the character.

A conceptually interesting debut, "Volition" #1 feels a little disjointed structurally, but manages to keep your attention with fantastic art production.

Atwood and Steacy's "War Bears" #1 balances camp with bleak reality, creating a series debut with compelling characters and timeless artwork.

A mellow conclusion for one of Valiant's best characters that sets up interesting things for Valiant's 41st century future.

The Hulkverine is here to stay in "Weapon H" #1, and the book's creative team make a compelling point for him to do so.

A great revamp of a beloved character and franchise, "Xena: Warrior Princess" #1 hits all the right beats to feel like a faithful adaptation.

"Youngblood" is moving in a great direction, one that should intrigue old fans and equally entice newer fans.