Collected Edition of the Month
Written by Benjamin Percy
Art and Colors by Otto Schmidt and Juan E. Ferreyra
I can forgive the clunky dialogue, when I get characters and stories as interesting and intense as they have been in this series. Ollie losing everything isn’t new, but it’s well told. I like the heist film atmosphere of the 3rd issue, as well as the Bond like villains with their fortress on the sea. Canary has been a great addition.
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Art by Ian Burtram * Colors by Dave Stewart
This descent into madness is becoming even more nightmarish and gruesome. And the anti-gun message comes more into focus.
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art and Colors by Tyler Crook
When Cullen Bunn closes a door (the 6th Gun), he opens a Harrowing window. I’m glad I still have one supernatural Bunn series to enjoy. In this ish Emmy meets the family, and they are a ghastly lot.
Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Steve Epting * Colors by Elizabeth Breitwesier
This isn’t an explosive finish, more in line with Hercule Poirot explaining the details of a case. But the dialogue is strong, and the art beautiful. I agree with Ed: Steve and Elizabeth’s work on this series was career defining
Written by Dennis Hopeless
Art and Colors by Javier Rodriguez
Hopeless serves up a Civil War tie-in that doesn’t disrupt the series, and actually fits right in with the mission. I like the humor, the humanity, and the wild action of this title. All seen here as Jessica’s crew unravel a mystery, fight off an army of Wendigo’s and contended with Captain Marvel’s annoying persistence.
Written by Brian Azzarello
Art and Colors by Juan Doe
What an exceptional but appalling portrait of America Azz has painted here: It’s like this small rural town is the dumping ground for all of life’s losers and haters and bullies. You’ve got aimless kids with no future, and broken, used up adults haunted by their pasts. Doe’s storytelling on the art is equally as impressive, with movement and details you need to soak in rather than gloss over.
Written by Hope Larson
Art by Rafael Albuquerque * Colors by Dave McCaig
It's a rather quiet and reflective tale for the most part. It speaks to the past as Babs coincidentally bumps into a childhood pal (or was it planned?) which ties into the action sequence at the end… where Batgirl meets someone she admires (another Bat from the past) who offers her some words of wisdom.
Positives? I like seeing Barbara abroad. Artist Rafael Albuquerque stages some nice action sequences to go with his usually stellar character work. And I like that writer Hope Larson uses thought bubbles - seeing them took me back and put a smile on my face.
Written by Mia Goodwin
Art and Colors by Michelle Wong
I picked this series up after hearing good things about it. And it is a decent, if unwieldy mash-up of several genres: mystery, conspiracy, supernatural, psychological horror, teen assassin. It's truly all over the place. But this explosive issue is tight as a drum. Scary, intense, violent and at the end, a heart breaker
Written by Tom King
Art by Gabriel Hernandez Walta * Colors by Jordie Bellaire
Addresses predestination vs. free will, and asks, “Can you break your programming, can you challenge fate? Or are your best efforts to stay destiny’s hand, the very thing that sets into motion what you tried to prevent?” What caused the Vision to go mad? You get your answer here, and it’s heartbreaking.
Written by Greg Rucka
Art by Michael Lark * Colors by Santi Arcas
The verbal exchanges between family members are just as scintillating as the exchange of blows in that thrilling fight between Lazarus’.
Written by Christopher Hastings
Art and Colors by Gurihiru
Gwenpool might have started off as a gimmick, born from a month of Spider-Gwen variants - but kudos to Christopher Hastings for transcending the gimmick and giving Gwen personality and vibrancy. This is my favorite superhero book of the right now, and this issue made me giddy - as Gwen finally has her revenge against MODOK… And oh what a glorious throw down it is. Not just physically (though that’s awesome sauce), but also in the way she mocks his intellect, and bruises his ego (you go girl!) And as a bonus there’s the return of someone I’ve missed as much as Gwen has.
Written by Tim Seeley
Art by Mike Norton * Colors by Mark Englert
All hell breaks loose this issue, and damn - just… damn! No other words suffice.
Honorable Mentions: Future Quest #2, The Wicked + The Divine #21, Black Widow #5, Spider-Gwen #10, Miss Fury #4
Writer of the Month:
Tim Seeley (Revival)
Artist of the Month:
Otto Schmidt (Green Arrow #2)
and there was some exceptional art found throughout the top 10 and beyond.
Head Writer, wide awake nightmare... bids you salutations citizens of Earth!
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