Brian Michael Bendis is an otherwise very gifted author. But this passion project noir tale is aggressively mediocre. It traffics in all the clichés of the genre, bad dialogue, cartoonish characters, and stale melodrama. The art is a stark black and white, but executed with a less than steady hand. When compared to the work of Frank Miller, arguably the godfather of this style comic, reveals the pale imitation this book really is. Don‘t bother.

I am very partial to the pairing of Marvel‘s ying and yang, Steve and Tony. Their different approaches to solving problems make them a very interesting pair. This time they are confronted with an escaped Hydra agent and the novice super team trying to capture her. Fun and dynamic, with beautiful cover illustrations from the amazing Alex Ross.

As Sorcerer Supreme, Dr. Strange is responsible for blocking legions of demons and other magical bad actors from reaching Earth. When murdered, this blockade is rendered void, and all evil is unhindered from invading our planet. But who killed Strange? A younger version of the Dr is unleashed via an insurance spell to solve his older self‘s murder! A truly unique and fun read, like a mystical ‘whodunnit‘. Recommended!

Between conflicts with supervillains, America Chávez struggles to reconcile her past lost home and origins with her current adopted universe and family. A mysterious antagonist who seems to know America‘s deepest secrets is out to get her. The resolution to this battle will uncover a shocking revelation that will change her forever!

Light and fun, this history of Nintendo is an easy read. Look elsewhere if you want in depth reporting, but as a primer, you could do worse.

Another really good Batman story. The dark knight (Dick Greyson) and commissioner Gordon pursue a serial killer throughout Gotham. I‘m always happy for a detective story, and a grisly, dark one like this is best. Recommended!

This is a classic Batman adventure in the best sense. Time jumping, roaming through the most fantastic environments in the DCU, fun team ups, this book is the standard for a good time. Highly recommended!

This prequel to the film “The Devil Made Me Do It”, is actually better than the film (that‘s not saying much), but a bit light in content. The short stories about the cursed artifacts in the Warren‘s private collection at the end of the book are much better.

Sometimes when an actor tries to generate a new IP to suit their taste, there can be mixed results. This is one of those times. Keanu Reeves co-writes this book with an eye towards a new film franchise. He created an immortal protagonist similar to DC‘s Vandal Savage, yet unlike the world dominance obsessed warlord, this undying caveman lives only to kill for his tribe‘s survival.
Gory and hyper violent, the story is threadbare and lacking.

Fun and light. This history of video games covers the big leaps and standout games, but lacks detail. There are many other more in depth books on the subject, but if you‘re just casually interested or just want a breezy read, than this one is just fine.

Terrifyingly sobering.
The author does a great job of unmasking the negligence and apathetic cruelty of our justice system and the people who enable it‘s horror show to continue without change. An important first step forward in rectifying this is acknowledging and understanding the problems with a unbiased view. Only then, can we begin to unwind the harmful system that is still in motion.

At first I balked at what appears to be DC‘s attempt to clone Marvel‘s X-MEN, specifically the ‘school for gifted youngsters‘ aspect. But this book really transcends the initial mirage of being nothing more than a clone. The characters are interesting, the conflicts exciting, and by framing the main story as a mystery: who is masquerading as the Red X, this book manages to find it‘s own voice. Recommended!

After two trilogy chapters, the sequel even better than the first, this final book is sadly disappointing. With the real threat eliminated by the end of the second book, this entry feels more like a 600 page epilogue. The first third is a flashback to the human life of the main antagonist before the fall of humankind explored in the first installment. A slog to get through, as I found it impossible to care. The rest is equally pointless.

This semi autobiography by artist Chris Ware is sad, beautiful, lonely and strangely engaging. The tale of a boy lost in life, echoed by the simultaneous story of his father as a boy the same age, Ware ruminates about the paths in life that we choose or are chosen for us. Laid out on a tight, rigid grid with a brilliant use of empty space and quiet, we are brought completely into Jimmy‘s world. Worth checking out!

After 10 years writing the main Spider-Man title, Dan Slott brings it home with a bang!
When Norman Osbourne, a.k.a. The Green Goblin, unites with the alien symbiote known as Carnage, the result is a terrifying amalgam of horror called: THE RED GOBLIN!
Peter works with friends and foes alike to stop the threat that might consume him, in a blistering send off not to be missed!

Thrawn?
Yawn.
A beloved villain from the days of non-canonical ‘expanded universe‘ stories, the tale of his rise to the post of Grand Admiral of the Empire, is a relatively boring affair. As someone who was unfamiliar with this character, I was intrigued to find out what was so special about him. I still don‘t know.

With Peter Parker a grown up tech business success, the young Miles Morales fills our need of a web slinger with everyday problems. In this book he has a fun team up with Rhino and Cap, as well as being pursued by his School Principal in a hilarious riff on ‘Ferris Bueller‘s Day Off‘.

Taking place after the events of the first STAR WARS film, this series starts off like a weak remix of familiar beats, pure fan service. Soon Vader is paired with the human character, Aphra, and a couple of murderous droids. A fun dynamic emerges between the awkward, temporary comrades. Beautiful art and a brisk pace help elevate this series into something special.

This reinvention of Marvel‘s martial arts master cast him as an estranged son to a ruthless leader of an ancient evil secret society ruled by dangerous siblings he‘s never met before. It‘s an interesting premise, but not as satisfying as the seemingly normal ‘everyman‘ protagonist as portrayed in the recent film.

The 1979 film Alien is widely considered a masterpiece, it‘s success is not easily attributable to any one source. From masterful directing to an iconic creature design, a fantastic cast, and top notch effects, this film is a wealth of many professionals at their peak. I was intrigued to read this comic based on the original screenplay. Without any of the collaboration that so enriched the film, this take is not nearly as original or impactful.

This is just a collection of tired clichés strung together: the hero‘s journey, secret societies, manic pixie dream girl, true conspiracies, crop circles, lost artifacts, obvious film quotes… and a farting Corgi.
Just terrible.

Brilliant!
Much like the author‘s previous masterpiece, UNDERSTANDING COMICS, this is a foundational text for any aspiring comics creator. Thorough, entertaining and massively informative, this book goes over every detail in planning and executing your vision for a successful comic.
I can‘t recommend this enough!!

Batgirl continues to be funny, touching, exciting and personal. It‘s a great achievement to continue to balance so many tones and maintain a coherent, believable narrative. Worth reading!

In a Gotham city ravaged by the Joker, teens don makeshift yellow and green outfits and adopt the “R” to fight crime. We are Robin. Great premise, very well executed. It‘s refreshing to read a story about ordinary folks taking inspiration from the bat, to organize and help Gotham become better for everyone.

Riri Williams is a brilliant young woman who builds her own version of Tony Stark‘s armor and fights crime as Ironheart. She is a deserving successor, witty and capable. Her adventures are more ground level and less epic (although this is just her beginning) and she works well with the other younger heroes, collectively known as the ‘Champions‘. Good start, looking forward to her further exploits in the Marvel universe.

Batman confronts all four ‘Clayface‘ villains and later a vigilante named Anarky.

I love the gothic art style of this era (89-90), juxtaposed with the fading, yet still present campiness.

Batman is now so detached and distant from other people, but back in ‘89 he was more approachable and empathetic with ordinary folks. Cracking jokes, even.

The classic tale of a 19th century American who wakes up in medieval England. Comedy punctuated with moments of dire tragedy, as was Twain‘s style, this story explores the past through a modern lens to much amusement. Having the protagonist be a brilliant engineer, able to shape the future of a country, I often think how a ‘normal‘ person of average education might fare in this scenario. I know I would probably not survive a week.

This book focuses on certain members of the X-Men, the ‘gold‘ team. Great characters, action and even some quiet moments. Wanted to give a higher recommendation, but this volume feels short and the story somewhat unresolved.

Maria Hill, leader of S.H.I.E.L.D has created a special prison for villains. A small town filled with brain washed criminals playing out suburban lives with no memory of their past selves. A decent premise marred by the presence of the insufferable Kobick; an infinity stone masquerading as a small child. I love the three protagonists (old cap, falcon cap and Bucky) but absolutely hate Kobick. Such a terrible character…

Containing four classic stories from Black Panther‘s canon, this is a pretty good primer for those just discovering the costumed monarch. Two stories are from the seventies featuring the villains Klaw and Killmonger. The two more modern tales are a team up with the Fantastic Four, and the story where Shuri takes the Panther mantle in T‘chala‘s absence.

The most powerful mutant on Earth is the son of the deceased Charles Xavier. He is also wildly unstable. In trying to protect mutant-kind from a new threat, he must reunite with his estranged mother and confront the man who killed his father, the X-Man known as Cyclops!
Pretty good premise, and out-there situations, but not as satisfying as I had hoped.

Not bad, but far inferior to the book where BATMAN meets Predator. The tone here is a bit tame and ‘comic-book-y‘, where it really needs to be more gritty and dire. The best story collected here is SUPERMAN AND BATMAN VS. ALIENS AND PREDATOR. That one is a blast!

Brutal murders in London echo Jack the Ripper‘s rampage, but all evidence points to Wolverine being the culprit. Logan has no memory of the killings so he sets out with Gambit to solve the mystery. I hate Gambit, and the story is really lackluster. Only Wolverine‘s presence makes this book palatable.

Mr Freeze is on trial for the murders of three women. Bruce Wayne is head of the jury. Everyone agrees the suspect is guilty, he confessed after all. Everyone except… Bruce Wayne. As Bruce spends time unfurling the mystery as a citizen and jury member, Dick Greyson moonlights as the Batman. Great premise, it‘s really nice to see these characters tackling a crime mystery!

Cloned from Wolverine, the two ‘sisters‘ stumble upon a buried secret about their origins when pursuing a mysterious assassin. Will their bond survive the realization of what they are? Will their sense of humanity prevail? Great themes executed with grace. Definitely worth a read!

Meh. Not bad, this book has decent art and some good moments, but having SUPERMAN battle a shadowy organization is not very satisfying. It was refreshing to see Clark flex his investigative journalism muscles, but without a figurehead to hit in the face, the story ends up lacking an emotional focus.

Although I am a fan of KICK-ASS comics and films, I am aware of how they push the boundaries of maturity and good taste. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised when this book turned out to be very good at representing Indian culture and the plight of members of ‘the third sex‘. Of course there is still plenty of action and gore, just in service to a mature and compassionate story.

An amazing premise ruined by a terrible resolution. The Justice League has a secret facility called Sanctuary where an advanced AI ministers to the mental health of the superheroes. Here, they unburden themselves of all the trauma suffered while fighting evil. They confess their innermost secrets and fears. What if these secrets were revealed to the world? Unfortunately, the story centers on a murder with a convoluted resolution instead.

An emotional look at Cap‘s early years fighting in the Second World War alongside his best friend, Bucky. Sparse dialogue with very cinematic scenes, this tale digs into the deep relationship forged by these kindred spirits, a friendship that will echo into the future. Classic!

This new take on the DOOM PATROL, by the creator of THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY, makes a lot of sense, when you consider his original creation was a variation on the same themes (further down the rabbit hole, both titles owe their existence to the X-MEN). He admirably captains the ship, but I‘ll always prefer the ‘90s run of this book.

This is a period where all of Banner‘s personas are manifest at the same time (Hulk, Banner, Mr.Fixit). Instead of being interesting, it renders the character meaningless. He is a brute behemoth, a brilliant scientist or a gauche misfit whenever it suits the narrative (and his hair and fashion choices are abhorrent). I also HATE his pal Rick Jones. He is a tool that has no business being involved in Hulk‘s adventures. Ugh, the 90‘s!!

Stephen King is widely recognized as the master of horror (and rightly so), but he is equally adept at another emotion in narrative, yet rarely acknowledged for it: heart.
This is a simple tale of an average man mysteriously losing weight day by day, but maintaining a normal outward appearance. As he deals with his bizarre situation he makes new friends, opens his heart to the beauty of life, and feels rewarded for it. Very emotionally rewarding!

Absolutely fantastic!
This second book of a trilogy follows a similar structure to the first. We begin at the early days of the apocalypse following a new group of characters as they negotiate their survival. Then we flash forward seventy years to an important and traumatic event. All these threads come together and inform the epic second episode in the struggle of our main characters‘ battle for Humanity‘s future. Must read!

After reviewing the abysmal “Heroes for Hire” book from the ‘90s, it is a relief to read a proper take on these characters. Dealing with street level crime and their own personal issues is the way to go. Enjoyable and easy to follow with stakes that are meaningful. Well done!

“The Way to Dusty Death” is an evocative title to a fantastic story. Had this been the only tale in this volume I would have given it a hearty thumbs up. Unfortunately, there are quite a few more stories of Spidey and Doc Strange from the ‘60s to ruin the average. If you are a fan of both characters, or enjoy the snappy dialogue and naive plotting from Marvel‘s early days, this book is worth checking out.

The nineties saw the golden age of indie comics, some of the best series ever created. But for some reason the decade also saw the absolute worst of the super hero genre. Convoluted continuity, abysmal proportion-distorted artwork and just all around awfulness, the super hero concept that started the modern era of comics were at an all time nadir. This collection represents all that terribleness.

Bruce Banner is killed and Jen Walters barely survives the events of the second civil war. Plagued by survivors‘ guilt and post traumatic stress disorder, she tries to rebuild her life and return to practicing law. This is a great theme and it is respectfully realized, however, I miss the adventures and smashing usually associated with the ‘Hulk‘ characters.

Very fun!
I love when a book focuses on another dimension of a super hero. Peter Parker is a photojournalist, Batman is a master detective, but these aspects are usually overshadowed if not completely ignored, over the brawling and vigilantism. Here we get equal measures of Jennifer Walters as trial lawyer and She-Hulk. It‘s very satisfying to read her adventures that are organic outgrowths of her legal cases.

Much like God, Stan Lee is a complex character who created a universe full of villains and heroes. This book definitely sheds a bright light on the man who was endlessly self promotional and rarely forthcoming about his collaborators; titans without whom he would have no legacy at all (especially Jack Kirby). He was full of happiness and vigor, the smiling avatar of a colorful world of escapism that sheltered many a young imaginative outcast.