Benjamin Snyder 11/1/17 Benjamin Snyder 11/1/17

Review: The Shadow/Batman #2

By Ben Snyder

Picking up exactly where the last issue left off The Shadow/Batman #2 is another enthralling entry into the second crossover of two of the most iconic and historic characters in all of comics. While certainly not perfect in all regards, Steve Orlando and Giovanni Timpano do more than enough to justify the existence of this comic.

Benjamin Snyder 11/1/17 Benjamin Snyder 11/1/17

Review: 1985: Black Hole Repo #1

By Ben Snyder

Gory and gruesome, 1985 Black Hole Repo #1 delivers on its publisher, Heavy Metal, Inc.’s namesake. However, behind the artwork, which seems ripped straight from a Metal album’s cover, it misses the mark on the social and political statements it attempts to make. Often, the criticisms are unceremoniously blunt, lacking any subtlety at all. But I guess in this regard the story encapsulates the essence of its heavy metal inspiration as well.

Benjamin Snyder 10/25/17 Benjamin Snyder 10/25/17

Review: Glitterbomb: The Fame Game #2

By Ben Snyder

Glitterbomb- The Fame Game #2 picks up almost exactly after the first issue and does a great job of setting up the rest of the arc while also offering biting commentary on the nature of fame in our current society and almost perfectly capturing the psyche of a troubled teenage girl. However, its struggles in deciding on what exactly to do with its protagonist hold this issue back from greatness.

Benjamin Snyder 10/25/17 Benjamin Snyder 10/25/17

Review: Descender #25

By Ben Snyder

In Descender #25, Jeff Lemire delivers a satisfying penultimate issue to the Rise of The Robots arc. While the arc has been good so far, delivering shocking character developments and an entry into the Driller Saga, in issue #25 Lemire seems to finally begin setting up an arc that feels like it’s been in the makings for a while now- Tim-21 acknowledging his Jedi/chosen one powers.

Benjamin Snyder 10/11/17 Benjamin Snyder 10/11/17

Review: Royal City #6

By Ben Snyder

With Jeff Lemire’s second arc for Royal City, he sets up a fascinating introduction on the mystery that is Tommy from the original arc. Throughout the first five issues, the entire Pike family is haunted by their perceived version of Tommy; Tara by the baby brother she babysat and hoped the best for, Richie envisioned the brother he never got to spiral out and do drugs with; Patricia hallucinated the Tommy that took the cloth, but this is our first true glimpse into the true Tommy. The anxiety-ridden, possibly supernatural headache suffering teenager, filled with as much angst as anyone going through this period. And in this way, Lemire sets up what could be the most interesting arc the series could offer.

Benjamin Snyder 10/11/17 Benjamin Snyder 10/11/17

Review: The Family Trade #1

By Ben Snyder

The Family Trade #1 offers an interesting introduction to a "what if" world in which neutral country was founded in the middle of the ocean, was ruled by a nepotistic governing class which was controlled by a secret society of assassins. It’s all relatively lofty and idealistic, and it succeeds most of the time in setting up a fun, and politically charged story arc told through the perspective of a chipper young assassin, however some story aspects can come across as incredibly heavy handed and the art, while not entirely bad, isn’t as impressive as the story.

Benjamin Snyder 10/4/17 Benjamin Snyder 10/4/17

Review: Warframe #1

By Ben Snyder

Matt Hawkins and Ryan Cady give a semi-interesting premise of an ancient Tenno gone off the grid who awakens to protect a small town from the botched human clone species called the Grineer. If you are not a fan of the seemingly convoluted and lore-rich game Warframe, then, Warframe #1 is definitely not for you as the first issue will leave you in a state of utter confusion. However, fans of the universe might get an enjoyable if not inventive or creative story set in the apocalyptic sci-fi universe.

Benjamin Snyder 10/4/17 Benjamin Snyder 10/4/17

Review: Beautiful Canvas #4

And just like that Beautiful Canvas is finished with a spectacular fourth and final installment. Ryan K. Lindsay has crafted a thrilling and personal story placed in the center of a chaotic universe, and leaves us with just as many questions as when we started. As the series has continued, in all my reviews I asked for some answers to the numerous questions Lindsay brought up in each issue; and now that the series is over, I feel relieved he chose not to answer most of them.

Benjamin Snyder 9/27/17 Benjamin Snyder 9/27/17

Review: Annual vol. 1

Annual #1 is unlike many other comic books on the market today. It is not a graphic novel, but it’s significantly more comprehensive than a simple single issue of a comic book. It’s also completely segmented, including multiple stories as well as written essays featuring many different artists. In the introduction Joe Casey, the main writer for the comic, claims this project is his attempt at emulating the anthology issues that influenced him as he matured as a writer and to this end he succeeds. However, Casey attempts to make this composite reflect the industry’s current state of more personal, character driven stories and in this way I feel Annual #1 ultimately falters.

Benjamin Snyder 9/20/17 Benjamin Snyder 9/20/17

Review: Descender #24

By Ben Snyder

In Descender #24, we catch up with a seemingly forgotten friend in Driller. It’s a true shame that issues like this don’t come more often, because in these quieter, smaller character driven issues Jeff Lemire’s skills as a writer prevail, shedding light and humanity on what could be a simplistic robotic character.

Benjamin Snyder 9/20/17 Benjamin Snyder 9/20/17

Review: Glitterbomb: The Fame Game #1

By Ben Snyder

Glitterbomb: The Fame Game #1 picks up directly after the horrifyingly gruesome and subversive finale to the original Glitterbomb and offers a lot of promise for Fame Game with some tradeoffs.

Benjamin Snyder 9/13/17 Benjamin Snyder 9/13/17

Review: Kill or Be Killed #12

By Ben Snyder

Every issue of Kill or Be Killed is one to remember and issue #12 is no exception. What started as a tale of a hallucinating schizophrenic trying to reason why his murders were just and the right thing to do, has evolved into a commentary on the state of society and its justice system, a deep involving look at the mind of someone dealing with mental illness, a hopeful view on love, and so much more. Kill or Be Killed #12 is one of my favorite issues of the series for reasons the series has never touched on before. Dylan has a legitimate, at least to him, motivation for committing murders now.

Benjamin Snyder 9/13/17 Benjamin Snyder 9/13/17

Review: Dread Gods #2

By Ben Snyder

After the initial chapter’s intense action and hints at a destroyed world, Dread Gods #2 instead focuses on the world of the “Gods.” It’s not entirely bad as it does somewhat clarify what exactly the “Gods” are, but it lacks the secondary storytelling that made the first issue so exciting.

Benjamin Snyder 9/6/17 Benjamin Snyder 9/6/17

Review: Elsewhere #2

By Ben Snyder

Elsewhere #2 is a much quieter issue than the one prior, and it is better off for it. Not much action happened in this issue. However, the central characters of Earhart and D.B are only getting richer. With high-quality art and an interesting take on famous figures, Elsewhere is beginning to show potential for a fun, entertaining series.

Benjamin Snyder 9/6/17 Benjamin Snyder 9/6/17

Review: Beautiful Canvas #3

By Ben Snyder

As Beautiful Canvas continually unfurls, the chaotic super powered world and the people who inhabit are revealed as well. Once again we are left with little definitive answers regarding any major characters, but inexplicably Beautiful Canvas #3 does a better job than the prior issue in handling the chaos.

Benjamin Snyder 8/16/17 Benjamin Snyder 8/16/17

Review: Mage: Hero Denied #1

By Ben Snyder

Mage: The Hero Denied #1 is an enjoyable if not extraordinary entry to a seemingly average story. There’s nothing offensive or amazing in Mage; it’s just simply there.

Benjamin Snyder 8/16/17 Benjamin Snyder 8/16/17

Review: Kill The Minotaur #3

By Ben Snyder

Kill The Minotaur #3 is another example of how to craft an interesting story from a famous fable. Chris Pasetto, Christian Cantamessa, and Lukas Ketner continue to take a story everyone has heard before and make it their own by focusing on the characters and the history of the labyrinth.

Benjamin Snyder 8/9/17 Benjamin Snyder 8/9/17

Kill or Be Killed #11 Review

By Ben Snyder

Just when things seem to be getting better for Dylan, Kill or Be Killed #11 brings him back down. Despite Dylan’s overarching narration throughout the past issues, I actually did forget that the entire story as of now has been a flashback in which we’re desperately trying to meet up with Dylan’s present. It can be frustrating because although Dylan points this out, we are again thrown back into the flashback format. Regardless, Kill or Be Killed #11is another great addition to an already fantastic story.

Benjamin Snyder 8/2/17 Benjamin Snyder 8/2/17

Review: Ghost Station Zero

By Ben Snyder

Ghost Station Zero #1 serves as a continuation of the Codename Baboushka catalogue and a mediocre one at that. Issue #1 sets up another globe trotting quest for Baboushka as she must stop the Russian government from reclaiming their secret and shady past. While obviously mimicking classic spy stories from 007, Ghost Station Zero #1 is just not nearly as interesting.

Benjamin Snyder 7/26/17 Benjamin Snyder 7/26/17

Review: Doom Patrol #7

By Ben Snyder

Gerard Way continues to pump out the comedy in this humor and exposition filled entry of Doom Patrol. However, the same problems that plagued the last story arc continue to permeate in the beginning of Doom Patrol #7. Despite this, Way provides some hope that this story arc will be different as the team symbolically and literally denies their past and moves on towards the future.