Cat Wyatt 1/29/18 Cat Wyatt 1/29/18

Review: Theatrics vol. 1

By Cat Wyatt

If you've taken a look at the description for Theatrics, you’ve probably noticed that it’s pretty vague and short. Don’t let that put you off from the series. Despite the description, Theatrics is a deep and intriguing study of human nature; the good, the evil, the flexibility and ability to recuperate and recover, and everything in between.

Smrithi S 1/29/18 Smrithi S 1/29/18

Review: Söngr #1

By Thea Srinivasan

For the first time in my life, I listened to Led Zeppelin. While I will never fall in love with them, I now understand why the authors of this piece chose to showcase their lyrics. But are the lyrics what readers want to read? Or are they just another menagerie of long-held desires by the author?

Cat Wyatt 1/29/18 Cat Wyatt 1/29/18

Review: Out of the Woods: A Journey Through Depression and Anxiety

By Cat Wyatt

Where to start; Out of the Woods is a beautiful and thought-provoking story that helps to explain the experiences one has when dealing with depression and anxiety. The main character, Brent is suffering from both, and like many people in today’s society is afraid of the stigma that comes with treatment. More than that, he feels it is wrong to have to take a medication or see a psychologist like they’re a sign of weakness. But the truth is, like any disease out there, the best way to handle it is to go see the appropriate medical professional to get help. Depression and anxiety are no exceptions, no matter how society may feel about it.

Kelly Gaines 1/29/18 Kelly Gaines 1/29/18

Review: Raven - Daughter of Darkness #1

By Kelly Gaines

The half human, half demon teenage superhero of the DC universe has gotten herself into another sticky situation. Raven- Daughter of Darkness #1, picks up where 2016’s Raven left off, with the deeply troubled Teen Titan trying for fit into ordinary suburbia and make a life with her devout Catholic aunt’s family. Being a demon in a church group is the least of Raven’s worries. In her efforts to prevent evil forces from taking hold of the innocent, Raven meets a young superhuman (well, more of a super being at this point - there’s no confirmation that she’s human yet) whose extraordinary powers have attracted the attention of government agents. Raven finds herself caught in the crossfire of a rescue mission gone bad, and comes face to face with another super-powered teenager with a murky moral history and a strong affinity for wearing hoods.

Oliver Gerlach 1/25/18 Oliver Gerlach 1/25/18

Review: Audrey’s Magic Nine vol. 1

By Oliver Gerlach

Audrey’s Magic Nine is a charming all-ages fantasy adventure that’s genuinely worth checking out for anyone, adults and children alike. It’s clearly targeted at kids, but there’s a lot of excellent craft and endearing adventure in here for adults too.

Cat Wyatt 1/24/18 Cat Wyatt 1/24/18

Review: Batgirl #19

By Cat Wyatt

Batgirl #19 is the start of a new plot, and I’m sure I’m not the only one that was a little bit confused upon seeing this cover. Batgirl and Cobblepot working together? According to the caption on the cover (which can sometimes be misleading, intentionally or not), they’re ‘Burnside’s newest crime-fighting duo.’ What alternative universe have we been flung to? Obviously I just had to read this one and see what was going on!

Benjamin Snyder 1/24/18 Benjamin Snyder 1/24/18

Review: Monstress #13

By Ben Snyder

Monstress #13 begins the newest story arc in Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda’s sprawling fantasy epic. While still bogged down by some of the issues that plagued it previously, Monstress #13 introduces enough wrinkles into the Monstress formula to spice it up a bit while also providing a fun and entertaining read.

Dustin Cabeal 1/24/18 Dustin Cabeal 1/24/18

Review: Doomsday Clock #3

By Dustin Cabeal

Take that Victory Gin! Yeah… fuck you and your cheap bottle that breaks at the most believable spot! Who drinks gin? People? I know people that drink gin! Why the fuck is that a cover! When is this comic going to do something? Huh? What’s that lady’s name? Why can’t I remember it? Also, I swear to fucking god if the Joker ends up being their son I’m going to go down to DC’s office and shit in their lobby!

Jonathan Edwards 1/24/18 Jonathan Edwards 1/24/18

Review: Cold War #1

By Jonathan Edwards

AfterShock has been making a pretty good name for itself over the last year or so. Their catalog of books has expanded exponentially, and they’ve maintained a decently high standard of quality across the board. So, when they first announced Cold War, it seemed to be a pretty safe bet for some quality high concept shenanigans. Unfortunately, that’s not what we get from this first issue. And, what we get instead is a jumbled and unengaging plot, characters devoid of development and/or likeability, and a blatant absence of any proper reason to bother with any subsequent issues.

Cat Wyatt 1/24/18 Cat Wyatt 1/24/18

Review: Wonder Woman #39

By Cat Wyatt

Issue 39 is the second in what I assume are three issues involving the Silver Swan. When we left off a crushed fan named Vanessa had cracked under her disappointment of being abandoned (how she saw it at least) and became the villain the Silver Swan. She attacked and killed a family that Wonder Woman had recently saved, knowing that she would rush to check on them when she heard something was wrong (much like she had done for Vanessa in the early days after her own rescue). It’s understandable how to someone like Vanessa this would only add fuel to the fire.

Dustin Cabeal 1/24/18 Dustin Cabeal 1/24/18

Review: Sink #4

By Dustin Cabeal

At the end of every year, we roll out our list of the best and worst comics. It’s a tricky thing because where do you draw the line. Some titles have completed, while others are just starting, but show fantastic promise. There is a time in the past in which I picked a book for one of my best of choices that had just started, and while that first issue or so were great, the series quickly tapered off. Since then I like to give a series a few more under the belt before putting them on my list.

Cat Wyatt 1/24/18 Cat Wyatt 1/24/18

Review: Suicide Squad #34

By Cat Wyatt

Issue 34 is still focused on poor Juan Soria. If you remember from last time, Juan is one of those background type characters who are always in the wrong place at the wrong time. The problem is he knows it, and he’s in the worst place of all; he’s an extra on a Suicide Squad mission. He’s already witnessed most of the other (unnamed) backup team members die (and pretty horrifically I might add), so things aren’t looking too good for him at the moment.

Dustin Cabeal 1/24/18 Dustin Cabeal 1/24/18

Review: Ninja-K #3

By Dustin Cabeal

Admittedly, this issue is a little chatty. If you’re not super invested in the lore behind the Ninja program, then you’re going to be bored. For those of us that are vested, it’s more like, “Go on gentlemen, fire this all out here in the third issue please!” They don’t figure everything out, but Christos Gage introduces a concept that changes the superhero landscape.

Cat Wyatt 1/24/18 Cat Wyatt 1/24/18

Review: Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #37

By Cat Wyatt

Issue number 37 of Hal Jordan and the Green Lanterns is starting a new plot – and this one was not one I was expecting (okay, not the full truth – I knew to expect it once I saw the cover, but before that, it never crossed my mind). Zod is back from the Phantom Zone, and he’s looking to start fresh. So, of course, the odds were likely that a Green Lantern would come across them first. Just looking at the cover, it’s clear that Hal gets put up against one of Superman’s greatest villains. I honestly had never thought about this fight, so I can’t tell you who I’d expect to win. Probably whoever had more time to prepare? (which doesn’t look good for Hal, in this case).

Benjamin Snyder 1/24/18 Benjamin Snyder 1/24/18

Review: Abbot #1

By Ben Snyder

Abbott #1 begins as an homage to 70’s Blaxploitation films. Starring a touch as nails black female reporter who stumbles upon a mystery that only she can solve. But Abbott #1 evolves into something much greater and more occult. Writer Saladin Ahmed and artist Sami Kivelä both work beautifully together to create what has the potential to be one of the best new ongoing series this year.

Cat Wyatt 1/24/18 Cat Wyatt 1/24/18

Review: Batman Beyond #16

By Cat Wyatt

Issue 16 of Batman Beyond was kind enough to pick up exactly where 15 had left off; with Stalker and Terry battling it out in the air (and remember, poor Dana has been taken along for the ride). I understand why Stalker is doing this, despite his agreement with Terry (his people are starving, what choice did he really have?) but I still feel like there would have been another way around this. Anyway, the fact that he knows Terry is Batman is pretty damn scary, as is the fact that he obviously knows that Dana is his weakness. This doesn’t bode well for our Batman.

Kelly Gaines 1/23/18 Kelly Gaines 1/23/18

Review: Weed Magic #1

By Kelly Gaines

Weed Magic #1 is set on the date 4/20. That tells you a majority of what you need to know in regards to this book, but I’ll set the stage as vividly as I can. On the “420 of 420’s”, a wannabe film star and his law clerk roommate are desperate for weed. They visit their guy, the mysterious alley shaman known as My$tic, and are given a bag of weed described as a strain “fertilized with the manure of 50 virgins and hand misted three times a day with the sweat of 100 Thai ladyboys.” This weed, which they are given for free under a grave warning of its power, gives the men (Bunny and Moe) special powers. After a brief intermission of goofing off, Bunny and Moe decide to use their powers for good. After all, with great weed comes great responsibility- right?

Smrithi S 1/23/18 Smrithi S 1/23/18

Review: Discord

By Thea Srinivasan

I’ve always been a fan of the multiverse theory. The idea that that multiple universes always made me curious to the possibilities that exist beyond certain boundaries. While the idea of universes created by various timelines irks me, I am always wondering what could lie beyond our universe and space. (I still get nightmares of seeing a version of myself.) Discord happens to be one such comic that helps me to wrap my head around the concept of various universes beyond everything I know that is logical.

Dustin Cabeal 1/19/18 Dustin Cabeal 1/19/18

Review: The Incal vol. 1: The Black Incal

By Dustin Cabeal

The Incal marks the first time I’ve read anything by Alexandro Jodorowsky or Moebius. I’ve probably broken some comic taboo that I care nothing about. A little backstory for me, if you tell me there is a creator I must read, that I need to read, I won’t. I’ll wait until I happen across it which is the case here with The Incal.

Kelly Gaines 1/18/18 Kelly Gaines 1/18/18

Review: Wonder Woman/Conan #5

By Kelly Gaines

Gail Simone’s Wonder Woman/ Conan title has taken us back into the original age of heroes, one full of bloody battles, mythical creatures, and ancient prophecies. Issue 5 continues the journey of The Amazon princess and her unlikely companion, Conan the Barbarian. On the surface, both are dark-haired and muscular pictures of strength, but their personal codes of honor could not be more divided. The title’s fifth installment solidifies the stark contrast of Diana and Conan. Diana, a believer in truth, honesty, and loyalty dumbfounds Conan by her interactions with the world around her. Something as simple as dismounting their horses for the night draws a clear line between Diana’s faith and Conan’s hardened worldview.