Action Comics #1009 (DC)
Martin: 4/5 stars. I am loving the spy thriller nature of this title, and in particular I really enjoyed the scenes with the Question. It’s time for a Vic Sage Question title! Is it a good “Superman”? book? Let’s just say it’s a good story so far.
Adventure Time Marcy & Simon #3 (Boom!)
NickZ: Marceline’s father takes advantage of Simon’s desperate plea for help to enact his jealous revenge against him for being a better father to Marcy than he ever could be.
Age of X-Man: The Amazing Nightcrawler #2 (Marvel)
NickZ: As if Nightcrawler’s familiar bond with Meggan wasn’t causing him enough trouble and confusion, enter Mystique!
Age of X-Man: Next Gen #2 (Marvel)
NickZ: That moment when you join a peaceful social movement just as they decide to go terrorist.
American Carnage #5 (DC)
Infinite Speech: Bryan Hill keeps it real and ugly in one of the best stories you should be reading right now. Seriously, pick up American Carnage right now.
Amazing Spider-Man #18 (Marvel)
Infinite Speech: The Hunt is in full swing but something more dangerous is coming for MJ and that’s the part I’m more interested in.
Avengers #17 (Marvel)
Infinite Speech: Blade is staying on as an Avenger but the big plot twist at the end is going to lead to something huge later and I’m here for all of it!
Avengers: No Road Home #6 (Marvel)
Infinite Speech: So a few days alone with Conan and you forget about Jericho, Wanda?
NickZ: Scarlet Witch and Conan’s relationship escalates quickly as they have their own solo adventure in the midst of all this chaos!
Avengers: No Road Home #7 (Marvel)
Infinite Speech: Spectrum cuts loose and Conan introduces himself to Vision but I’d rather get back to Hulk, Hawkeye, and Rocket.
Batman #67 (DC)
Infinite Speech: Tom King is playing the long game here and I’m a sucker for issues with very little dialogue and solid art to move the story.
Martin: 4.5/5 stars. A fantastic, nearly all-silent issue that relies on the spectacular visuals of Weeks & Fornes to tell Tom King’s story. The fact that this relates, tangentially, to the excellent Batman/Elmer Fudd special from last year is just icing on the cake.
NickZ: The DC/Looney Tunes crossover continue as Batman and a “mysterious adversary” play a game of “Coyote and Roadrunner”!
Bitter Root #5 (Image)
Infinite Speech: Cullen left a boy and came back a man! Definitely need to know what happened in the other dimension and how much time has passed so sticking with Bitter Root!
Black Panther #10 (Marvel)
Infinite Speech: Coates and Walker do it again and deliver another stellar issue of Black Panther.
Books of Magic #6 (Vertigo)
Martin: 4/5 stars. What I enjoy the most about this comic is not so much Tim Hunter, but rather Dr. Rose – her depiction so far leaves a lot open to interpretation as to whether she’s good or bad, selfish or generous. That takes good writing.
Coda #10 (Boom! Studios)
Martin: 4/5 stars. A book that sadly doesn’t get as much attention as it should. One of the most creative settings in a comic (a post-magic apocalypse has destroyed a land – think Mad Max merged with LOTR), and some of the best, most compelling characters in comics.
Daredevil #3 (Marvel)
Infinite Speech: Zdarskey is putting DD through hell in this first arc but it’s worth picking up! I’m still not convinced that Kingpin is totally clear of all of this though.
Darth Vader: Visions #2 (Marvel)
Infinite Speech: When TF has lying to Darth Vader worked out for anyone? These done in one stories are great!
Detective Comics #1000 (DC)
Martin: 4.5/5 stars. In some ways, this is easier to score than the Action Comics #1000 from a year ago, mainly because all of the stories in this are “good” at least, with some “great” ones. So much talent – the high $9.99 price tag is worth it for the art alone.
Electric Warriors #5 (DC)
Martin: 4/5 stars. I can honestly say I didn’t see the reveal of who Lord Preceptor was coming. That, combined with the more character-driven approach this issue was more compelling to me than another gladiator battle. There’s a lot to cram into next issue though.
Farmhand #6 (Image)
Infinite Speech: So many layers of great storytelling here and Guillory continues to make this one creepy ride for the fans. That last page though…wow!
NickZ: I loved the Walter Bishop Easter egg in this issue! Between having an old eccentric scientist breaking the laws of nature and a strained father/son relationship, Fringe and Farmhand have a lot in common.
Flash #67 (DC)
Infinite Speech: This is a creepy issue but feels like it’s stalling till we get to something bgger.
Martin: 3.5/stars. Making Trickster the big bad is an interesting choice for this arc. I liked the set-up last issue giving background on James, and this issue certainly is creepy, but the tone was slightly off this issue. I think I just don’t like maniac evil Trickster.
Freedom Fighters #4 (DC)
Martin: 3/5 stars. The idea of this series has, so far, been better than the execution. The Nazis are cartoon-like in their depravity – none of them are fully realized as characters, but the same can be said of the heroes, of whom we know next to nothing.
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #4 (Marvel)
NickZ: Taylor’s Spidey book continues to be both hilarious and heartbreaking.
Infinite Speech: Kingpin has way too much juice but this is another great Spidey story worth picking up.
Heroes In Crisis #7 (DC)
Infinite Speech: Best thing about this issue was the Poison Ivy design and the parallels between Harley and Booster. Not sure if the “therapy” parts is pulling this off though.
Martin: 3/5 stars. The good: the interactions between Batgirl, Harley, Blue Beetle, & Booster Gold. The bad: Its still isn’t clear, after 7 issues, why the solution to hero PTSD is “talk to a robot.” As the dad of a daughter with PTSD, it just doesn’t ring true.
Invisible Kingdom #1 (Dark Horse)
Infinite Speech: I was blown away by Wilson’s story but moreso by Christian Ward’s artwork! Everything about this issue demands you come back for the second one.
Ironheart #4 (Marvel)
Infinite Speech: Eve Ewing and Luciano Vecchio are on fire and one of my favorite new creative teams!
Isola #7 (Image)
Infinite Speech: Not much happens however, it looks so good and leaves us with a decent cliffhanger.
Martin: Easily one of the best illustrated comics on the stands right now, supported by an interesting story with creative characters. Rook & Olwyn’s travels are beginning to reveal different lands and cultures in the world, which is a treat for readers.
Justice League #20 (DC)
Infinite Speech: When something looks too good to be true, it usually is. Except Jimenez’s artwork. That’s just perfect and you’ll enjoy every page of this issue.
Martin: 4/5 stars. The Jarro as Robin scene cracked me up and made me realize that we need more Jarro stories. But, the pacing, alternate reality characterization, and all around “off” tone of the alternate future are perfect.
NickZ: I didn’t need that amazing Jorge Jimenez 3-part cover to tell me that this future “Justice League” is too good to be true!
Justice League: Odyssey #7 (DC)
Infinite Speech: Whoa! Starfire looses it and almost kills her sister but I’m not sure if Conrad’s great art is enough to keep me on this one.
Martin: 3/5 stars. Yet another new artist for this title. It’s never been clear where exactly this series is going, and while this issue, with new writer Dan Abnett tries to fix some of that, it might be too late to save what could have been an interesting book
Lazarus Risen #1 (Image)
Martin: 4.5/5 stars. It’s been a long wait but the new quarterly, longer format is worth the wait. The expanded format suits this title, as the story is given more room, + additional goodies including a short story & material for the Role-Playing Game by @GreenRoninPub.
Life & Death of Toyo Harada #1 (Valiant)
Infinite Speech: Joshua Dysart kicks off this new series with a comfortable introduction to one of Valiant’s most powerful men.
Middlewest #5 (Image)
NickZ: Wizards, weather, A circus, and terrible parents, this book has everything!
Miles Morales: Spider-Man #4 (Marvel)
Infinite Speech: Miles’ day off is pretty much the most fun I had in comics all week and after a second reading it was just as good. BK all day!
Naomi #3 (DC)
Infinite Speech: This is a mystery that keeps getting weirder and more compelling with every issue and is damn near perfect!
Martin: 4/5 stars. This is a way to unfold a mystery, giving little clues each issue to drive the story forward. Most writers can’t do this, & entire issues can go by where nothing happens. Bendis is still too wordy instead of relying on visuals, but it’s still a good story.
Noble #16 (Lion Forge)
Infinite Speech: This issue feels like a setup for something bigger. So whatever Kevin Grevioux is bringing then I’m here for it!
Quincredible #5 (Lion Forge)
Infinite Speech: Took this issue a bit to get going but when it does it’s a solid wrap to the arc.
Shazam #4 (DC)
Martin: 3.5/5 stars. Johns’ stories tend to work better in collected format than individual issues, & I’m hoping that’s the case here. The 7 magical lands is an interesting concept but it hasn’t allowed for enough characterization, & it’s basically put Mary out of commission.
Silencer #15 (DC)
Infinite Speech: Silencer is my 2nd favorite DC title right after Justice League! That’s right, I said it!
Sparrowhawk #5 (Boom! Studios)
Martin: 4.5/5 stars. Once again, another big plot point this week that I did not see coming. Artemisia’s transformation into the thing she least wanted to be is complete, and yet somehow I kept thinking things would change. The last page focusing on Crispin was chilling.
Spider-Man Life Story #1 (Marvel)
Infinite Speech: Nothing too new here but if you’re a die hard Spidey fan then I’d say pick it up.
NickZ: Zdarsky and Bagley do an incredible job merging Spider-Man’s early years with the 1960’s! The Vietnam War literally feels like a flesh and blood character that people see as either friend or foe.
Superb #18 (Lion Forge)
Infinite Speech: I like this series but as someone who’s been here since day one it’s odd how the lead characters look so much older in 18 issues.
Superior Spider-Man #4 (Marvel)
Infinite Speech: We don’t deserve Anna Maria but Otto is going to have to step his hero game up.
Teen Titans #28 (DC)
NickZ: The Titans take on Slade and win?…Or is that just what he wants them to think?
Terrifics #14 (DC)
Martin: 4/5 stars. A nice send-off for the current creative team. Terrifics has been one of my favorite New Age of Heroes comics, but other than that, it’s just a good comic, period, with zany, fun, Silver Age-inspired ideas & characters. Lemire will be missed.
Thor #11 (Marvel)
Infinite Speech: The prelude to the War of Realms was alright but might have a larger impact as events unfold later.
Transformers #2 (IDW)
Infinite Speech: Did we really need that long conversation between Bumble Bee and Rubble? Too many boring moments between the excitement.
Uncanny X-Men #14 (Marvel)
NickZ: This maybe the most depressing X-Men team of all time but i’m actually feeling it, their desperation is kinda appealing in a weird way.
Venom #12 (Marvel)
Infinite Speech: Donny Cates really has brought the symbiote and Eddie relationship to new levels and as toxic as it is I’m glad the symbiote did the right thing at the end.
NickZ: Some crazy s*** goes down in this issue and I’m not sure I fully comprehend it all. Are there now 2 Eddie Brocks? Or does the Symbiote no longer require a host?
West Coast Avengers #9 (Marvel)
NickZ: I’ve been on board with all the crazy shenanigans that Kelly Thompson has thrown at us thus far in this series but Ramone’s “secret origin” and the truth about Kate’s mom are a bit much, even for me.
Wolverine Infinity Watch #2 (Marvel)
NickZ: Wolverine is not a good fit with all this Infinity Watch business, and that “Phoenix Wolverine” is just a disgrace to the Phoenix Force and all who have come before.
Wonder Woman #67 (DC)
Martin: 4/5 stars. Cary Nord’s art, particularly scenes showing the size differences between the Titan, Giganta, & Wonder Woman, is great. I’m also enjoying having Giganta in this arc – her banter with Diana is fun & makes her so much more than a 1-dimensional villain.
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