By Alex Batts — This week’s Detective Comics #1011 is the conclusion of a three-issue arc featuring Deadshot. This issue boasts slightly more action than the previous two, as we finally get a full-force showdown between Batman and Deadshot. As with previous issues in this arc, Peter Tomasi is joined by Christian Duce on art and Luis Guerrero on colors, with Rob Leigh lettering.
Read MoreBy Alex Batts — Up until this point, the City of Bane story arc has been pedal to the metal, full force insanity. This week’s Batman #78, however, puts on cruise control, sending readers on a semi-vacation with Batman and Catwoman. It’s a welcome break in pace, which keeps things interesting. Tom King is joined by frequent collaborators Clay Mann and Tomeu Morey on art duties, with Clayton Cowles on letters. This interlude — I’m not sure it’s officially called an interlude but I’m rolling with that — does something similar to the Kite-Man interludes in The War of Jokes and Riddles arc, in that both serve as a break from fast-paced high octane action while also lending it all an incredible amount of emotional weight.
Read MoreBy Jarred A. Luján — Pandemica #1 is a new mini-series from IDW Publishing written by New York Times’ bestselling author Jonathan Maberry with line art by Star Wars: The Old Republic alumni Alex Sanchez. It’s also a timely book about designer pathogens used to commit ethnic cleansing across the globe. Which is, to be blunt about this, a pretty horrifying plot. The phrase “designer pathogens” alone gives me a sense of dread, and Maberry has made it quite clear that he wants the book to be grounded in reality, going so far as to mention that he has been conducting research with epidemiologists and molecular biologists to make the book more realistic.
Read MoreBy Zack Quaintance — In its (pretty stellar) debut issue, Coffin Bound from writer Dan Watters and artist Dani (with colors by Brad Simpson and letters by Aditya Bidikar) made readers a few promises.
Read MoreBy Jarred A. Luján — No One Left to Fight #3 is out today, continuing a streak of excellence for one of the most fun comics being published today. This book really does fire on all cylinders, and while its rooted in nostalgic anime vibes, it also does so much to establish itself as its own unique and wonderful thing.
Read MoreBy Nick Couture — Crowded is the collective work of writer Christopher Sebela, artists Ro Stein and Ted Brandt, colorist Triona Farrell, and letterer Cardinal Rae. With each issue, the team gels more as they find notes that really make the book sing. Crowded is a refined work. It’s a dark near-future road trip comedy with the world at its disposal. Crowded #9 follows main characters Vita and Charlie as they continue to hangout in Vegas. Unsurprisingly, hijinx ensue.
Read MoreBy Jarred A. Luján — So, in Berserker Unbound #1, we of course met the main character of this comic — the very buff and very angry, Mongrel King, a Conan homage if ever there was one. Then we proceeded to watch him discover and deal with the slaughter of his family, accomplishing the latter via a pretty awesome rampage...before being teleported to the future, which is actually our present but you get the gist. It was a very action packed, emotionally intense issue, and it was a ton of fun to read. This week’s Berserker Unbound #2 doesn’t have quite the same level of intensity that the debut did, but it is still a pretty fun read.
Read MoreBy Jarred A. Luján — To sort of echo what Zack said in his review for Sera and the Royal Stars #1, Sera and the Royal Stars #2 continues to be a wholly unique fantasy comic. Notably, the Royal Stars themselves have some of the best character designs I’ve seen in a while, providing something that is so different than we’ve seen in other recent fantasy comics. I’m particularly fond of how colorful and diverse The Bull’s design is, but that’s sort of a testament to the book in and of itself. While elves and orcs and the like are plenty fun, Sera’s strength lies in that it brings you into a different, colorful world. I’m just really thrilled about how it’s gone so far.
Read MoreBy Alex Batts — Detective Comics #1010 marks the second issue of the Deadshot story arc. Peter Tomasi is joined here again by Christian Duce on art duties, with Luis Guerrero on colors (According to the cover, though the interior page says David Baron is on colors), and Rob Leigh on letters. This issue sees Bruce, Deadshot, and the occupants of the crashed Wayne Jet stranded on an island in the Pacific.
Read MoreBy Jarred A. Luján — The Necromancer’s Map #1 is, as co-writer Andrea Fort called it, a “new beginning and continuation” of Vault’s Songs for the Dead. So, first and foremost, I should tell you that I haven’t read Songs for the Dead, so if you’re not familiar with the title, this is actually the perfect review for you. You can see through me if it’s as accessible as you want it to be!
Read MoreBy Ander Lilly — If you're an avid Aquaman reader, you know about the importance of Arthur Curry's faithful companion, Aqualad. Whether the mantle was held by Garth or Jackson (Kaldur), Aqualad has been a stalwart ally to Aquaman over the many years of his publication history, helping him weather his most challenging moments and devious foes. Since DC Comics’ New 52 reboot, however, Aqualad hasn't really gotten much of a chance to interact with Aquaman. Garth was introduced during Cullen Bunn's run back in 2015 and has remained a part of his book in some capacity since, but he’s been known as Tempest, rather than Aqualad. Aquaman readers (myself among them) have been eagerly waiting for the reunion of Aquaman and Aqualad, fighting and working beside each other once again. Our wishes have now been granted. In Aquaman #51 by Kelly Sue DeConnick, Robson Rocha, Daniel Henriques, Sunny Gho, and Clayton Cowles, we get the team-up we've long awaited; we get Aqualad back in the fold.
Read MoreBy Alex Batts — Batman #77 continues “City of Bane”, which keeps getting better with each new issue. King is joined on this one by artists Mikel Janin, Tony S. Daniel, Norm Rapmund, Jordie Bellaire, and Tomeu Morey. Like the other issues in this arc so far, there are two narrative threads, one in Gotham, the other in Paris. Janin and Bellaire handle art duties for the Gotham scenes, with Daniel and Morey handling the art for the Paris scenes featuring Batman and Catwoman (I’m not sure exactly where Rapmund fits in, I’m assuming with Janin and Bellaire since I normally see Daniel inking his own work, but I'm not 100% sure). With the setup out of the way, this issue pulls no punches.
Read MoreBy Zack Quaintance — Bad Reception #1 asserts itself right away as an experimental comic (its form is very interesting) that also has a whole lot to say. A lot to say, specifically, about social media. This can, presumably, be attributed to the idiosyncratic and very talented creator Juan Doe doing pretty much all of the creating here himself. The writing, the art, the coloring, the lettering...Juan Doe does it all.
Read MoreBy Zack Quaintance — The Plot #1 is the newest comic from Vault, the industry’s most exciting indie publisher right now, and, like many a Vault book before it, The Plot #1 raises some heretofore unseen bar for what the publisher’s line can and will be. Put simply, this is a strong and smart comic, as immersive as it is hyper-focused in the family drama and horror motifs that define its scope. I absolutely loved it, and, as such, this review will be spent mostly explaining why this comic is so damn good.
Read MoreBy Nick Couture — Unearth recalls many works of fiction. It evokes: Alien, The Thing, Annihilation, and countless other great works of squad action body horror. While not breaking any new ground, Unearth #2 accelerates the tension and continues the dark descent into madness.
Read MoreBy Greg Lickteig — “In my experience, force usually fails. Of course, mercy often fails, too - but it does so more pleasantly.”
Read MoreBy Alex Batts — Detective Comics #1009 is the start of a new arc for writer Peter J. Tomasi’s run. Titled “Survivor,” this one will feature Deadshot facing off against the Caped Crusader for the first time in a while, and the first time in a main Bat title since “The War of Jokes and Riddles” (if I’m remembering correctly). Tomasi is joined by artist Christian Duce, colorist Luis Guerrero, and letterer Rob Leigh, who together bring Deadshot back to Gotham, which results in an interesting setup for what’s to come.
Read MoreBy Zack Quaintance — Everything about White Trees #1 screams, we need more comics like this! First, the format is great. White Trees is going to clock in at just two oversized issues for $4.99 a piece. Not bad, and, most importantly, your $10 gets you a 60-some page complete story.
Read MoreBy Jarred A. Luján — Another month, another Gideon Falls issue that has left me afraid of turning off any of the lights off in my house. Andrea Sorrentino and Jeff Lemire are absolutely back at it again with Gideon Falls #16 this week, in what is maybe the most enlightening issue of this reviewer’s monthly question: What the hell is happening in Gideon Falls?
Read MoreBy Jarred A. Luján — I know Kieron Gillen and Dan Mora are pretty big deals in comics, but neither of those names are what first got me excited about Once and Future. Holly, from Boom! Studios, actually tweeted out a page from the book, and it was so funny and gorgeous, that I was immediately sold on it. The creators being who they are was an afterthought...the single page was that good. I preordered it that day.
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