REVIEW: Crowded #9, this book is one of the best things in comics right now

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By 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.

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REVIEW: Berserker Unbound #2 is a bit quieter but just as fun as the debut

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By 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.

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REVIEW: Sera and the Royal Stars #2 is a fantastic continuation of a striking new book

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By 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.

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REVIEW: Detective Comics #1010 features Deadshot and an awesome makeshift Batsuit

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By 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.

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REVIEW: The Necromancer’s Map #1, a new beginning and a continuation

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By 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!

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REVIEW: Aquaman #51, a long-awaited team-up

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By 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. 

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REVIEW: Batman #77, City of Bane keeps getting better....SPOILERS!

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By 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.

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REVIEW: Bad Reception #1, experimental comics takes on social media

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By 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.

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ADVANCED REVIEW: The Plot #1, horror comic perfection

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By 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.

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REVIEW: Detective Comics #1009 shines with top-tier artwork

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By 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. 

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REVIEW: Gideon Falls #16 is the clearest answer yet to...what the hell is happening in Gideon Falls?

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By 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?

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REVIEW: Once and Future #1 is a present day smash hit

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By 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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ADVANCED REVIEW: Tommy Gun Wizards #1 is a genre-bending and flawless debut issue

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By Alex Batts — Have you ever thought about what 1930s Chicago would be like if magic had been outlawed during prohibition instead of alcohol? Me neither. But comics creator Christian Ward did, and with the help of artist Sami Kivela, colorist Dee Cunniffe (whom Ward is assisting with colors), and letterer Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, Tommy Gun Wizards #1 has sprung to life with that very premise. Ward, an illustrative comics veteran, is taking his first turn as purely a comics writer here and with a knock-out first issue, it’s a turn well-taken.

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REVIEW: Coffin Bound #1 is stylish, surprising, and aggressively nihilistic

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By Zack Quaintance — Coffin Bound #1 is a new Image book from writer Dan Watters, artist Dani, colorist Brad Simpson, and letterer Aditya Bidikar, and it’s a comic that caught my eye right away via the aesthetic of its cover art. The cover (see above) is a rather striking image, one that has shades of familiar visuals, but not familiar enough to feel evocative of anything other than itself. There’s a girl one might describe as goth leaned against a vintage sports car being driven by a vulture whose skinless head is wrapped in a bird cage. She is on the ground and armed with a pistol, a cigarette, and one hell of a smoldering stare. Throw in a pile of debris and a logo designed in the shape of a coffin—and what you’ve got is possibly the single most intriguing piece of cover art I’ve seen on a comic all year.

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REVIEW: No One Left to Fight #2 is a feel-good comic set in an intriguing world

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By Nick Couture — Good vibes. Bright colors. Hangin’ with the buds. This feels like No One Left to Fight at its core. It’s a pleasant romp through a gorgeous world heavily inspired by Saturday morning cartoons and anime. No One Left to Fight #2 smartly allows the relationships and dialog to take center stage as we learn more about Vale and the complex relationships with his friends.

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REVIEW: Batman #76 is a fantastic continuation of City of Bane

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By Alex Batts — Batman #75 set the stage for the story arc City of Bane, and this week’s Batman #76 is all about highlighting the stakes and dire situations Gotham and the Caped Crusader are facing. The creative team of Tom King, Tony S. Daniel, and Tomeu Morey continue to escalate the desolation inside Gotham, where Bane is ruling virtually uncontested. There are two main narratives in this issue, with another short third narrative that shows the stakes and helplessness the rest of the Bat-Family feels.

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