Another Robert Kirkman comic is on its way to the small screen. Based on the comic by Kirkman and Paul Azaceta, Outlast tells the tale of a man with an extraordinary amount of bad luck; Kyle Barnes’ entire family has a nasty habit of being possessed.
The Cinemax show will feature Patrick Fugit as Kyle and Philip Glenister as Reverend Anderson. It looks more straight up horror than The Walking Dead’s apocalypse tone.
It is due to release some time in 2016.
While the deal is not completely done, the new writers room for the next Transformers movie will include The Walking Dead daddy Robert Kirkman. Also included are Zak Penn, writer of Pacific Rim 2, and Jeff Pinker, Lost and The Amazing Spider-Man 2writer.
Suddenly, the new Transformers movies just got a hell of a lot better. Maybe there will be strong women in the upcoming films? A girl can dream.
Thoughts? Sound off in the comments!
Source: Deadline
Another year is in the books, and we here at Hush Comics couldn’t pass at the chance to rank our favorites of this year’s releases in all types of mediums. Some of the winners will surprise you; heck, some of the results surprised us. The results are completely subjective, and therefore were chosen with infallible logic. We would love to hear your opinions on what we have chosen, or if you thought we missed anything. This should be a fun review before we gear up for 2015.
Saga is the best comic book series I’ve ever read. Point blank. Hands down. No debate. Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples firmly have my heart in their grasp. These two brilliantly talented individuals have crafted such an incredibly enchanting, detailed and (most critically) original universe. The characters are relatable and dynamic – a pretty impressive feat considering the cast is composed entirely of odd alien life forms. The surroundings and environments are beautiful. The plot is layered and interesting at every level. I even love how awkward this team can make me feel!! Panels of the Fard and Stalk-sex belong in the comic book hall of fame. In a time of sequels, remakes, and based-on works it’s a breath of fresh air – more like a tank of oxygen at the peak of Mt. Everest – to have Vaughn and Staples teamed up. These two are unequivocally the most creative comic book duo out there. Now if only they could get on a regular release schedule! – Taylor
These two creators have worked on over 100 issues of The Walking Dead together for over ten years. They are the Simon and Garfunkel of comic books, and they have one of the best relationships of any book out. Their creative direction syncs so well; minimal exposition means that the story is told through images often-times better than it is through words. It’s been a long journey, and one that does look to be slowing down anytime soon. – Sherif
Every month, when I read Batman, I feel so small compared to these geniuses. They are the real deal, people. After 37 issues into their book, they know how the other one works to a tee. Snyder’s storytelling is compelling. Capullo’s art is top notch. Together, their story is the best in the biz. Each of them work incredibly hard to get out the quality of book they have, and one without the other would disrupt the whole process. Gah! I could gush over these two all day! – Adrian
A lot of people tend to think the TMNT carry themselves and that it is easy to pull them off. With Waltz and Santolouco, however, their own take on the turtles includes additions from just about every incarnation of the turtles, appeasing all generations of fans. It’s not all just a jam-packed love story, though; the consistency of good story-telling has increased my love for TMNT so much more than is was – which was borderline insane in the first place. I find that even though I have enjoyed the issues in the TMNT series not written and drawn by Waltz and Santolouco to be fun and just as engaging at time these two have almost become the staple of this series for this year and have created some of the best stories for these characters I have ever seen, plus I have a soft spot for Herman the Hermit crab which debuted a couple issue ago, whom was designed by Santolouco. – Jacob
Chew is a juggernaut of awesome. Layman and Guillory have put together what is by far one of the most comical series ever created. We find this year that a bit of toe can go a long way. Layman proves his writing chops by not only having one of the most popular creator owned books on the market has recently been seen writing one of the most popular characters of all time, Batman. On top of doing Godzilla, paring up with a major motion picture release, I think we can all recognize John Layman as one of comics current top writers. Rob Guillory has one of the most definitive art styles of any artist currently working. The exaggerated character styles and even the little easter eggs he works into every panel make Chew more visually appealing than the majority of books currently on the market. Combined they become something on the power level of Captain Planet, BUT THERE’S ONLY TWO OF THEM! – Scott
Another year is in the books, and we here at Hush Comics couldn’t pass at the chance to rank our favorites of this year’s releases in all types of mediums. Some of the winners will surprise you; heck, some of the results surprised us. The results are completely subjective, and therefore were chosen with infallible logic. We would love to hear your opinions on what we have chosen, or if you thought we missed anything. This should be a fun review before we gear up for 2015.
Let’s be honest; this year belonged to the Batman. Writer Scott Snyder and artist Greg Capullo put out a superior product every month. Not only has Batman been DC’s highest-grossing title every month, but topped the sales charts five months this year (Source: Comichron); the next highest selling on-going series is the rebooted Amazing Spider-Man with two months at the top. In 2014, Batman tackled one of the most mysterious and intimidating parts of the Dark Knight’s lore, the origin, and carved out a place among the Batman legendary tales. Then, If you are reading this book, you are witnessing history as it is happening. – Sherif
Saga has been a continuing monthly book with one of the most interesting and original story lines ever to have been published. Brian K. Vaughn and Fiona Staples continue to dominate the science-fiction realm in comics. Brian K. Vaughn continues to show that he is one of the most creatively functional writers in comics today. There are things in Saga that you are guaranteed to not see in any other book ever. Our favorite fugitive family gets mixed up with a wonderfully eccentric theater troupe and Prince Robot IV has a son of his own. Matched up with Fiona Staples’ artwork, there seems to be no real slowing down for Saga; it’s the most creative, original, and beautiful series of the last two years. – Scott
This year I have read plenty of different series and there have only bee two that have had me on the edge of my seat waiting for the next issue and the more consistent of the two has been TMNT. This series offers absolutely everything a Turtle fan could want, honestly, as it has dealt with characters and situations from the long history of turtle history, almost like a little bit of a flashback series while also offering something completely new and just as awesome. The main team of Waltz and Santolouco are amazing and of course all the other artists and writers have been just as good making this the most consistently good series of the year to me. But with the Mutanimals coming up in the new year, a giant war against the Krang on the horizon and their crossover adventure with the Ghostbusters not being over yet, I am sure TMNT will continue to be one of my top favorites into 2015. – Jacob
Kirkman’s still got it!! More than 10 years and going strong!! The first half of the year was so-so with the conclusion of the All Out War arc. It was intense that’s for sure, but it was slightly formulaic. Then came the New Beginning arc, and it blew my face away. If you can call Kirkman anything, it’s unpredictable! I buy issue after issue after issue primarily because I NEED to know what happens next! The undead and the yet-to-be dead have found a happy equilibrium (if you can call it that). Times are good, but a new foe has reared its head. And that’s how we know shit is about to do down in a big way. This constant torrential storm of calm and chaos brings with it an unshakable endearing quality. I’m a nervous and sweaty wreck in the midst of any conflict or life-threatening situation (which is pretty much all the time) and I’m even more nervous and sweaty when nothing’s happening. And all I want is more. Because reading TWD is essentially an addiction now. – Taylor
First, have you seen the art in this book? Oh my God, it’s good. It’s like something fell out of the ’60s and into the 2060s, then trickled back down to lowly 2014. Second, the story – on the surface it doesn’t seem like much. In fact, it even seems like it’d be hard to take seriously: a scientist builds a machine to visit alternate worlds, it malfunctions, and his team gets stuck. It seems like yet another variation on a story we’ve read a hundred times before, but like all great stories, character makes it stand out. Layers of intrigue slowly emerge: maybe characters aren’t as noble as they seem. Was the machine sabotaged? Why are his children (not even old enough to drive) with him? Did I mention the art? – JH
The mythical A+: Classic comic book material. Belongs next to your copy of The Notebook and The Joy of Cooking.
A: Would definitely recommend to all comic book readers. Even more so to fans of the genre or characters
B: Enjoyable read. Fans of the genre or characters will especially like.
C: Non-essential read. Can be enjoyable for fans of the genre or characters, but likely for only one or two events in the books.
D: Unenjoyable book. Read at your own risk. Might find satisfaction if major flaws are overlooked.
F: Please don’t buy this book. Donate your money to a local comic book writer’s workshop instead to inspire future generations to write something better than this trash.
Batman #36- A
(A) There needs to be a limit on how much of The Joker Scott Snyder is allowed to write. I cannot remember a version of The Man Who Laughs that terrified me as much as Snyder’s version does (aside from Brian Azzarello’s Joker, yeesh). Endgame is already shaping up to be able to stand next to Court of Owls, Zero Year and Death of the Family in terms of quality. The best way I can describe his writing is like a spider; he reels you in, thinking that you have it all figured out, until the story pulls the carpet from under you until you realize that you are trapped. Snyder’s horror background (The Wake, Wytches and American Vampire) makes him a perfect fit for the most terrifying villain in Batman’s history. This is all perfectly complemented by Greg Capullo’s pencil work. Having had the chance to interview Capullo, we know what a craftsman he is; his eery art style that worked so well on Spawn and Court of Owls fits perfectly with the Joker. The use of colors is dire to the issue’s success, as well, with FCO Plascencia really blending the brightly colored Superman scenes with the dreary Arkham moments. We cannot praise this book, this team enough. Right now is your chance to get in on history in the making, so go out and start reading Batman before the party is over. – Sherif
(A) The New52 Batman is absolute genius. Yeah, it has been going for a few years now, but I feel the need to remind everyone, just in case they forgot. Endgame Part 2 continued to showcase the exceptional writing of Scott Snyder and mesmerizing art by Greg Capullo. The first panels of the issue start slowly with Batman talking about a specific sound he hears in his nightmares. It forces you to read everything about the page and to experience what Batman himself is experiencing. This is a rarity in comic book writing, in my opinion, and should be lauded. In this world without the rest of the Justice League, Gotham and beyond become scarier and scarier, but there was one panel in particular that terrified me to my core: a close up of The Joker’s deranged eyes. No one but Capullo could have pulled it off. If you are behind, or have yet to start in on this story arc, quit reading my review, and go pick it up at your local comic shop now! – Adrian
Deep State #1- C-
A government conspiracy between Russia and America when the moon landing really happened – the first thing that jumps out is the opening narration that is void of any comic cliche comic book writing: just describing the action in the panel, and then saying, “My name’s John Johnson, and I am Fly Guy.” It’s really nice and sets up the expectation that what you’re about to read is going to be creatively written, but then all the dialogue reads like this: “For instance, the question you want to know right now is how I could possibly expect you to believe a word I’m saying.” It’s the kind of writing that’s trying really hard to be intriguing, but points too vigorously to itself. The art is OK; it’s like someone simultaneously trying to do Hellboy and anime, which aren’t complimentary. Man, I want to love every comic I read so bad, and this one was right in my wheelhouse (government conspiracies, alien life, ancient astronaut, probably), but the dialogue was so clunky that it made 25 pages seem like infinity. Page 24 is definitely the most interesting to look at. – Cuyler
Resurrectionists #1- B+
Resurrectionists was a fragmented story and there was a lot of content that was covered really quickly, but it’s done right. There are well formed characters to start, with some very interesting dynamics between them. The first part leaves you a little intrigued, but you have to hope that comes back around in a way that does it justice. Overall, though, I liked it a lot. It has a bit of everything: intelligence, action, intrigue, and what it does best is the interpersonal dynamics between the characters. I think some of my favorite books and comics always built that as their foundation, so it has me wanting more. I’ll definitely have to grab the next issue. – Zach
Prometheus: Fire and Stone #3 – C
This is my first review for the series though I’ve read every issue of it so far. The artwork is beautiful. Last issue had some truly beautiful panoramas of the planet. The biggest problem is the overstuffed staff. There are somewhere in the neighborhood of ten characters, and the story gives each one near-equal screen time, which means I have no idea who to root for. I assume the main character and captain simply because she’s a take-charge woman, and those are the only people to make it out alive in the Aliens/Prometheus universe, but it tries to be tense and mysterious, and hints at some fascinating ideas – monkeys, ants, and giraffe-ish looking animals that all developed as a result of the black goo from the movie, and an android that mutates as a result of exposure to the goo – but never gives anything real screen time. The best Aliens comics have always had some sort of philosophical answer to look for, and the worst were simple run-n-gun stories. I might be the only person on the planet who liked Prometheus, but this is a simple run-n-gun story with way too much trying to be accomplished at any given moment. – Cuyler
The Kitchen #1 – B–
(B) The Kitchen follows three women whose mobster husbands have been sent to prison. So basically, it’s Mob Wives, but instead of you feeling bad about watching trashy reality all day instead of organizing your garage, you can now read the same storyline in a comic in 15 minutes! And honestly, it was better than reality TV. Set in the 70’s, the story feels a little like Charlie’s Angels, with the blonde, brunette and redhead. But ya’know if they were in the Mob and didn’t give a single fuck. The three women must make do with their lives sans husbands, and by the end of the first issue, they have already gotten themselves into a mess. But oddly, I find myself rooting for them. – Adrian
(B-) I’m usually a big fan of crime books, but The Kitchen just doesn’t quite do it for me. I’m not saying it’s bad, just not really my cup of tea. The story of The Kitchen follows the lives of three mob wives learning how to live after their husbands are put away for five years. The three women handle it their mob lifestyle in different ways. Kathy, the toughest of the three does her best to pick up where he husband left off, even to the point of picking up protection money. The other two are a little more toned-down characters. The art isn’t bad but the lines around the faces of the women are a little too dark and age the characters I think more than they need to be. Perhaps that’s to better convey the hardened lifestyle they live. The Kitchen is good enough to keep up on it for now, but I hope that it picks up a little more. – Scott
Earth 2: World’s End #6 – C
Well, things are all over the place again, and like before, it’s not bad, it’s just a lot of information to cram into a couple dozen pages. The cliffhanger from the last issue is disappointing and I was definitely hoping that it was going to go in a different direction, but, who knows; things will probably still head to that end, anyway. – Cody
The New 52 – Future’s End #28 – F
I… Don’t… Care… Those three words perfectly sums up how I felt about this entire issue of Future’s End. Here’s the thing – the plot is so confusing and mutilated that when an issue drops and it focuses solely on this butchered storyline, all it makes me want to do eat a hamster. I know that doesn’t make any sense!!! That’s the point!!!! This issue COULD have been saved IF the faceoff between Terry McGinnis and Bruce Wayne would have been as epic as the cover art indicated, but noooo. All I got was a grappling hook to the foot and a broken window. Wasted time and effort on this one folks. Be warned. – Taylor
Django/Zorro #1 – C
This comic was probably my most highly anticipated release for this week. Django Unchained was my favorite movie of 2012. As a kid, I used to pretend I was Don Diego himself – swinging rapier like sticks in the backyard, carving “Z”s into the tree trunks. In fewer words: I was PUMPED!! Well, with great expectations comes the risk feeling great disappointment. Risk not adverted. Before I go further let me disclaim, I did enjoy this issue and I’m looking forward to the follow up issues very much. What irked me about this first issue was that it was far too much buildup. I know who Django is and how deadly he is with a pistol, and I’m acutely familiar with Zorro’s unmatched fighting ability and cunning; you don’t have to spend 70% of the issue building up to what we already know!! I guess the important thing is that these two badass vigilantes are finally together and are planning to stir it up big-time in Arizona. Not quite the BANG-SLASH intro I was hoping for, but an intro nonetheless. – Taylor
Alice Cooper #3 – C
The story for this series is dark and brooding, as expected, and offers the brand and style Alice Cooper has grown to be known and loved for. That is where the parallels end between the music career and the comic of Alice Cooper. As great as it is to see him in the limelight again, I wish it were in another capacity as these comics definitely leave something to be desired. The art is actually quite fantastic, but the story just seems rushed with not much focus and it is kind of just gliding by the seats of its pants. Not to say as a fan of Alice that I don’t enjoy it every month but only get this book if you are a big fan of Alice Cooper and his mythology; otherwise, this series offers nothing too incredible to entice you into caring. – Jacob
Star Trek #38 – B
Reeling after the surprise death of the last issue, we see the crew still separated, multiple threats appearing, alliances disappearing, Q being the scheming bastard he always is, and new allies and friendships forming. I have thoroughly enjoyed this crossover of every Star Trek property, but this issue it left me wanting a bit more as I felt they really grounded themselves with certain characters and wasted or not even used very good characters from the entire franchise. Instead, they choose to focus on characters that may seem minor to those that only really know TOS and TNG. I would still say that this series is a Star Trek fan’s dream no matter what series and Captain you follow; now, if only we could see Captain Janeway appear, this may have been a grade A issue. – Jacob
Black Dynamite #4 – C+
If you are looking for any sort of cohesive story, keep on keepin’ on; this is not the book for you. Black Dynamite books have been completely random, with no real direction. However, it is good for a laugh. In this issue, Dynamite takes on the shoe industry after a famous basketball player is murdered when attempting an alley-oop from half-court completed by Evel Knievel while jumping over three Ford Pintos – pretty standard stuff here. Either you love Black Dynamite, or you think he’s one of the most ridiculous things on paper. I will say that the writers have found a good medium to keep the book at without going overboard… just in time for this to be the final issue. If you like Black Dynamite, you might enjoy the animated series, which returned to adult swim on Saturday, 10/18. – Sherif
October Faction #2 – C-
(C) The first issue of October Faction started off strong (or maybe I told myself it did because of how much I adore Steve Niles) but sadly issue #2 did not take that momentum and run with it. In all honestly it fell a little flat. The most recent installment focused entirely on building the story, the only problem is that it was still a little too vague at times and not so compelling at others. Overall, it just moved a little slow. They introduced a few new beasts, a werewolf and what I can only assume is a killer robot, which I like because it at least hints that down the road we may get to witness some epic battles and meet some cool characters. The members of the hunting family were building to be interesting but I don’t feel like they are developed enough by this point that they are likable or not, they merely exist. I wish I could say more, I really do, because I am so rooting for this series to take off and be amazing, but for now it really is just kind of fell dead in its tracks. – Keriann
(D+) October Faction’s initial release had me intrigued. It’s first issue had style, timing, and all the hall markers of a good story building into something more. The second issue took all of that build up only to bring you right back down to earth, and not in that nice gentle way that generally comes to mind. Think sky diver without a parachute type of coming to earth. Like a bad second date, I finished reading October Faction’s second issue feeling as if I was staring at a beer in a restaurant, wondering why I even bothered. That’s a harsh review, I know, but this issue is almost all fluff. Filler and family drama that could have just as easily been squeezed from a bad sitcom or a teenage family lifetime movie. It has it’s twists and a new character that could lead to something very interesting down the line, but when it comes to this issue it’s too little too late. So let’s hope this is just a lull proceeding the storm because when it comes to issue #2, October Faction left me wanting in all the worst ways. – Zach
The Bigger Bang – D+
I went into this one intrigued by the idea of a second Big Bang. If you read the Origin Story on inside cover (which I didn’t at first), it explains the idea of a second Big Bang or Bigger Big Bang that destroyed the universe we live in and in the wreckage was left this new multiverse in which the comic takes place. This had so much potential. It’s too bad it was executed so poorly. The two biggest problems I have with this comic is the melodramatic tone and the dialogue. Honestly, it reads like the half-formed idea of a sad teenage boy. I’m TIRED of the atonement-seeking hero and while I understand that *SPOILER* the hero’s whole thing is survivor’s guilt, it doesn’t come across as such. The character has no reason to save the people he does. There’s nothing driving him forward, or at least nothing that is revealed to the reader. The dialogue tells us everything flat out. I know the cliche “show don’t tell” is getting old, but apparently the author of this comic has never heard of it. I didn’t need to be told flat out that Captain Wayne (who is arguably the only redeemable character in the comic) doesn’t understand why she’s being ordered to kill the hero. She doesn’t need to say that. I get it that she’s torn and if I didn’t, there would have been a better way to go about making that clear than saying “but he seems so kind!” The only reason I would recommend this to someone is if they were a studio artist, because the art is actually quite good, even though it seems a bit out of place set in space. – Charlotte
The Walking Dead #134 – B+
(A-) There’s finally some conflict and traction in The Walking Dead. After about a half-dozen issues of catching back up with current times, we have quite a situation on our hands. Carl and Sophia are finally the tag team we always knew they would be, and we get a better glimpse of who the heck these guys attacking travelers are. I love the concept of these meat sack guys (that’s what I’m calling them for now), and I cannot wait to see more of their background story. The best part of this issue, hands down, has to be the multiple pages of Adlard’s work that show Jesus going off on the meat sacks. Even though a team of people have had encounters with the meat sacks, I think only a couple of them know what they actually are – and bringing one back to camp is a good way to find out. – Sherif
(B) This series continues to be the best it’s ever been. Whatever these things are, it’s messed up. This issue has a couple big moments but the one that stands out to me the most happens between Carl and Sophia. This issue did a lot in terms of setting up a new B story and finally getting some hope that were going to find out what these things are that are attacking everyone. Seems pretty obvious, but, you never really know with this series. – Cody
Wytches #2 – B
Wytches lost some momentum this week, but overall it still held pretty strong as one of the best horror books out right now. Issue #2 was a little convoluted and it definitely lacked the cold brutality that made the first issue pop so much, but it was still a solid read with a good flow. There was more of a focus this time around on the Rooks family members and how they are each dealing, but there was still a healthy helping of super creepy and what the hell is that moments – especially at the end after Sailor hijacks a school bus and runs out to the woods to escape confront her demons. There was good sprinkling of exciting things are to come, so even though this month’s Wytches may have been a little tame, it was still the best book I read all week and I’m certainly looking forward to the next issue. – Keriann
Drifter #1 – C+
(A-) Drifter is a sci-fi with a little bit of post-apocalyptic flavor. A so far nameless man crash lands on a planet that doesn’t quite have a working society. He wakes up in a Mad Max style outpost town after his crash, and after being shot by the way. So far the characters are nameless, there is the crash landed pilot, a medic, and the man who shot him. One thing I did notice that I didn’t really care for was that some of the conversations don’t seem to make sense. More than once I felt like there were questions being answered before they were asked. What Drifter really has going for it is the art. Nic Klein does an outstanding job. The colors are particularly outstanding. Drifter is definitely one to pick up this week. I’m sure it will worth the read every issue. – Scott
(D) To be honest, I’m not sure what to make of this book. It started off kind of choppy and had a very Pitch Black feel to it, but the lead character has less charisma overall than Riddick has in his pinky finger. To be fair, he actually has less charisma than that girl who dressed as boy to be cool that nobody liked. But I’m getting carried away in the wrong direction; it’s just that remembering watching Pitch Black is more interesting to me than this book was. The dialogue is way too fragmented; no one speaks in complete sentences and that’s annoying to read over and over. The characters just use have thought out metaphors and what I think is supposed to be gritty just sounds like bad writing with no real flow to it. So far the plot does not seem well thought out, or at least it comes of that way. Drifter seems to really miss its own point, at least so far. The characters were without depth and they all spoke like Steven Segal, or the villains from his movies. The plot is too choppy and tries to be mysterious without revealing anything to actually give it a hook so why should I care? Short answer: I don’t. Long answer: See above. – Keriann
American Legends #2 – C
American Legends returns with its second issue and this time around I think it might actually be growing on me. I’ve come to accept that this story is basically going to be The Dukes of Hazzard featuring a handful of historic characters and now it’s easier for me to sit back and enjoy the ride. The book isn’t great; the writing is full of camp and, frankly, it’s not that clever or funny, but it is at least kind of enjoyable if you can just take it for what it is. Issue #2 progresses the story a bit more; although, it is still unclear of exactly what point they might be building to. It also introduces a few new historical characters into the mix. Unfortunately, Sacagawea is kind of lackluster considering she should be awesome and there is so much they could have done with her along the lines of historical embellishment intermingled with fantasy. At least the explanation of how the feud between the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s started is kind of funny. Other than that gem, Sally Thunder’s insanely giant boobs that pop out of her shirt in basically every panel and a few nearly unbearable “Duke Boys” moments between Crockett and Fink, American Legends #2 really didn’t have a whole lot to offer. – Keriann
Copperhead #3 – C
(C) The mostly dull sci-fi-western, Copperhead, continued this week. Being largely unimpressed and barely intrigued after the first two issues, I expected more of the same. In that regard – I was not let down. The story is progressing much too slowly to really keep me interested; this is one of the poorer uses of the comic book medium I’ve seen lately. A few dozen pages isn’t much to work with; it’s important to hit readers hard and fast to keep us interested! By this point I’m expecting twists, gadgets or anything new and different. The thing saving this review from a “D” grade is the twist (if you can call it that) revolving around Ishmael, the artificial-human dessert nomad, and his involvement with the mass murder of an alien-hillbilly family. While floating among pages of lackluster content, I was immediately sucked in at the last two pages of the issue. I hope issue #4 keeps me drawn in – I don’t know if I can take much more of this boring space adventure (if you can call it that either). – Taylor
(C) This series continues to be good, if not a little one dimensional. Things are panning out just as you’d expect in any cop drama and it’s unfortunate. I’d really like to see some cosmic cowboy justice but it just isn’t happening yet. The one thing that keeps me coming back is the art and how unique everything seems. – Cody
Spider-Verse #1 – A
Spider-Man is quickly becoming my favorite superhero. Mostly because there are an infinite number of him (and her, and ham). Even though Spider-Verse #1 did nothing to advance the plot-at-large that is the “Spider-Verse Event,” it did a great job of showcasing the many different ways one can enjoy Spidey. Comprised of three mini-stories and two even more-mini stories (all with different writers and authors) I found myself really enjoying the wide birth of Spider-Man experiences brought to life on the panel. My particular favorite was Steampunk Lady Spider! I don’t even understand Steampunk, but I really dig Lady Reilly and her gizmo-geared-spider-contraption suit!! At its core, this issue is just flat out fun. It’s refreshing to be able to take a step back from the epic epic about to take place and just enjoy a comic for the sake of it. The comic book community is having a lot of fun with this Spider-Verse event. You should definitely join in if you haven’t already. – Taylor
Avengers & X-Men: Axis #5 – A-
This week’s issue pretty much opened up the entire plot for what seems to be the rest of the series. Without spoiling too much, we see many people changing sides, unlikely team-ups, and Apocalypse is here – which is never a sign that thing will go well. So things are not looking so good here after the events of Red Onslaught as he is now free and hiding out somewhere for the time being while all the heroes kind of duke it between one another hoping something will be resolved. The art has been very consistent and enjoyable for this whole series and offers up some great iconic images along the way and the story is definitely the best of the major Marvel events so far this year. – Jacob
Superior Iron Man #1 – B+
I have to admit, I have not been an avid Iron Man reader, ever. In fact, aside from Extremis, this is the first Iron Man-titled book I have ever read. I quite enjoyed this. The Tony Stark we get here is very much a product of his bout with alcoholism, as well as his fatally narcissistic personality from the movies. This time, Stark has created the Extremis 3.0 app, which lets people experience perfection. However, the app was released as a free trial – and the cost to re-up is $100 a day. Superior will try to shed light on people’s addiction to physical flawlessness and technological enhancement – something I don’t doubt will be reflected back onto Stark himself, who insists on playing God to other humans. There is a ton of sarcastic humor in this, which is what makes Iron Man such an enjoyable character. There’s trouble to be had in San Francisco, and I certainly aim to be around when it happens. – Sherif
All-New Captain America #1 – B
Sam Wilson has finally put on the suit, and he looks damn good in it. While the former Falcon attempts a routine mission to save a kid hostage, he’s met by Batroc the Leaper. While the issue itself doesn’t really break any boundaries or set any new standards, it is really fun to read, and the cute comments about Sam getting acclimated to the shield give the issue a whimsical tone. I also loved Batroc’s attacks on American culture and addressing the adversity that Wilson will have to overcome to be respected by Cap’s enemies. It would have been nice to get a little more development out of the issue, but it was a strong start. – Sherif
Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man #7 – B-
What the whaaa…!?!?!? I’m not sure what just happened… But I think it was awesome! I feel a little guilty about it, but I like this issue in spite of itself. There’s plenty of action, zero story, and a little bit of extra something(s) thrown in at the end for good measure. The art is as crisp as I’ve come to expect from this series, yet the action (not to mention the current storyline) is still a bit confusing to follow at times. Maybe this ties into Spider-Verse. Maybe we’re getting the Ultimate version of another mainstream character. Maybe this is all a dream… I don’t know, and I don’t think you will either. I’m thoroughly confused, but I’m still unabashedly along for the ride. – Jumoke
Thor #2 – C
(C+) This issue really didn’t do a whole lot for me and was kind of just filler it seems. I know they are not going to reveal everything right off the bat, but when you are dealing with a very short weekly story to try and entice fans I kind of hope that there is a little character progression past, the thoughts of ”I have the power of Thor now! Cool! I’ll just beat up this guy and this guy and oh, no I am not really Thor. I’m just a woman with his hammer who doesn’t know how to use it yet.” For someone who seems to have spent a lot of time around Thor and his friends and knows an awful lot about them, she should probably know a little more about Mjolnir than she seemed to have. Either way, it is just the intro to the whole grand scheme and intro are always difficult even for the best stories. Despite the little things that bugged me personally, the story and art are both wonderful and offer us something we never thought would happen. So I am sure this will improve in time and it is good to see more badass women in comics, albeit the Thor armor sure got a lot more revealing when a woman picked up the hammer… – Jacob
(C) While this issue of Thor was better than it’s 1st issue, it still feels off. We were finally able to see the female Thor in action, but the writers are making it very clear that she isn’t actually Thor. Then why title the book as such? Just to create controversy? I don’t think that is necessarily the best idea. This issue put female-Thor (they have yet to give her a name) on Earth to battle Ice Giants who have frozen the Avengers. While the idea is neat, it seems premature. We have yet to even know the lady’s name and she is forced to save the biggest names in Marvel. While some of the dialogue was clever, it was extremely exposition heavy. I think if Thor has been a favorite of yours, this book is up your alley, but if not, it may have already failed. – Adrian
Hawkeye vs. Deadpool #2 – B-
(B) Kate Bishop! Kate Bishop! Kate Bishop! This month’s Hawkeye vs Deadpool was a really enjoyable read. What I love about this comic is how relatable, funny, and well executed the characters are. Both Clint and Kate are awkward as all hell and it makes the comic all the greater. All the characters read not as high-class, 100% serious, “Get-out-of-my-way-I’ve-got-shit-to-do” heroes, but as real people who just happened to save the world frequently. While the comic has its serious parts and there’s a definite urgency to get the precious files on S.H.I.E.L.D. agents into the rightful hands, it is also largely funny. I was constantly laughing at the bickering interactions between Clint and Deadpool and the hilarious one-liners and general quirkiness of Kate. I also love how similar Clint and Kate are and the friendship between them is really enjoyable to read. One thing that I really appreciate in this story arc as a whole, is that they address the fact that Clint is deaf. They joke around with it (without being offensive) in scenes where Clint can’t read Deadpool’s lips because of his mask, which Deadpool comedically takes advantage of when he’s asking Clint for permission to do something but really doesn’t want an answer. This comic is definitely a must read for both Hawkeye and Deadpool fans alike – and if you’re a Kate Bishop fan, you’ll be happy with how present she is in this issue. I’m super-excited for what is to come in this story arc. – Charlotte
(C) From what started off as great chemistry between Hawkeye and Deadpool has turned into a slop of an adventure with no real direction or desire to find an endpoint in two more installments. There are still a lot of cute lines and subtle jokes made throughout the book, but it lacks any of the pop that sold me on the last couple issues. The inclusion of Kate Bishop is pretty helpful, as the banter between her an Deadpool is flat-out adorable, but the issue begins to drag on when all they do is talk about how Kate is better than Hawk guy. Even the twist at the end loses its impact when there is such a lack of cohesion throughout the rest of the book. – Sherif
Captain Marvel #9 – D
The only shred of anything that saved this week’s issue was the vague cliffhanger. Otherwise, I am so disappointed in how this series is shaping out. This week, Lila Cheney, mutant rockstar who can teleport, lands on Captain Marvel’s ship and takes Captain Marvel and Tic to a planet that only speaks in rhyme. Yeah, the whole book rhymes. The point of going to the planet is to stop Lila’s marriage to a boy she made a pact with as a kid. It seems really early to introduce a character like Lila, how has added little to no value to the Marvel Universe in the 30 years she’s been around. It could have waited until issue, I don’t know, never. It’s almost as if someone at Marvel was like, “Hey it’s cool that you wanted to write a story about Captain Marvel and have her be a bad ass woman and all, but this month, you must insert Lila Cheney, the story line must be inconsequential, and it must all rhyme!” Bleh. – Adrian
Death of Wolverine: The Logan Legacy #4 – D
I keep getting my hopes up that the next character covered in this series will have a better story to offer than the last, but yet again that is not the case here. Although, I am trying to read the entire Death of Wolverine series and spin offs, I am finding out that very few of the issues of this event whether the main story line or one of the one-shots offer anything substantial. This particular issue left me rather confused and made me question not only why I read it, but also why it was written in the first place. It does offer a good look into Lady Deathstrike, but by the end I was not sure of her intentions or her true feeling for Wolverine. I would say unless you are already invested in the series, or just a huge Wolverine fan, then this entire series will be a been a let down for what should have been quite a great look into how Wolverine’s closest connections handle his death. – Jacob
All images taken from ComiXology app and the credit for them goes to the respective publishers; thanks to IDW Comics, image Comics, Dark Horse, Boom! Studios, Oni Press, Dynamite Entertainment, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.
We can all agree that Season 5 of The Walking Dead has been really, really ridiculously good looking. However, I can’t help but begin to think that the show may beginning to like the smell of its own rotting farts just a bit too much. There is definitely the sense of a lack of effort in “Self Help,” and it is a reminder that this show will need to continue to bring its A game (much like last week’s “Slabtown”), and focus more on character development, exciting plot twists and bringing the spirit of the comic books to the small screen.
The formula of Season 5 has been to draw from some of the comics richest scenes, and apply them in quite conspicuous situations. So far, that formula has worked wonders. It has become standard for a show to start a season months in advance, avoiding the responsibility of filling in the blanks of what happened between seasons, but The Walking Dead has been impressive thus far by staying balls to the wall throughout each episode. “Self-Help” is about as far as you can get from that.
I’m surprised at how lame this week’s installment was, simply because of the gravity that the bad news at the end of the episode carried. The whole episode was full of foreshadowing for something big to happen, and we were entirely disappointed to find out that it could have been set-up so much more dynamically. Instead, what we get is a bunch of uncharacteristic actions taken by probably the least entertaining story of the ones TWD could have chosen from. From the get-go, “Self Help” is littered with lazy writing holes. We compiled a list of over ten instances we went, “Now why the hell would ___ do that?” A horror series can only immerse its viewers if they can give credence that an environment like that can exist and if the people within it act hypothetically believable. And I’m sorry, but choosing to chow down on toilet water when they knew there was a fire truck with water in it across the street, or wasting said water on shredding zombies. Although, that was pretty damn cool.
Where we do get some quality in “Self Help” is the fleshing out of Abraham’s backstory. I love the short flashbacks, and the polarizing topic of “did Abraham go too far?” easily sparks up a debate. Abraham’s late wife, Ellen, simply wasn’t about that life, or ready to face the harsh realities of survival. The sad end of his family’s tale ties in perfectly to Eugene’s big fat lie. There’s a lot to be said about a man willing to bust the crap out of his mangled hands just to kill some walkers – without wearing gloves. Why is Abraham in such a rush to get to DC, even while ignoring impossible odds against him? It’s a far stretch, but maybe that hand isn’t gonna be around much longer, ala [some guy in] the comic books.
Director Ernest Dickerson has directed some of the series’ greatest episodes in Season 2, including: the introduction of the Greene family, Shane’s junkyard showdown with Rick, and the Season 2 barn-burner finale – so why is this episode so painfully uninteresting? A lot of it had to do with tone; there were far too many Shaun of the Dead-type moments where the show made fun of itself instead of putting us in a suspenseful mood. Eugene is a completely laughable character, and the fact that two-thirds of voters on Talking Dead (and a herd of those on social media, too) were so shocked that this idiot could hold the answer to humanity’s end was just as laughable as his Tennessee Tophat.
Hush Comics gives “Self Help” a D+ for its zombie crawl pacing and a general lack of logic used by the characters in what should be a life or death environment. Even though we laughed our fair share at Eugene’s hilarity, there was simply no substantial development other than the obvious one to make us excited about the episode as a whole. Despite the harsh review, this episode doesn’t ruin the series, the season, or even my evening. It still opens up philosophical discussion and it still entertains. There are still tiny details for eagle-eyed fans to spot (for example, Eugene’s choice of literature, HG Wells’ The Shape of Things to Come), and mouthful of comic book lines brought to life. I’m glad the cat is finally out of the bag on this one, and we can move forward.
The mythical A+: Classic comic book material. Belongs next to your copy of The Notebook and The Joy of Cooking.
A: Would definitely recommend to all comic book readers. Even more so to fans of the genre or characters
B: Enjoyable read. Fans of the genre or characters will especially like.
C: Non-essential read. Can be enjoyable for fans of the genre or characters, but likely for only one or two events in the books.
D: Unenjoyable book. Read at your own risk. Might find satisfaction if major flaws are overlooked.
F: Please don’t buy this book. Donate your money to a local comic book writer’s workshop instead to inspire future generations to write something better than this trash.
Starlight #5 – A
This book is what adventures are made out of! Duke McQueen, once savior of the galaxy, is now an old man who has lived his life shamed by the very people he saved because nobody believes him – including his own sons. However, the same cannot be said across the galaxy in Tantalus, where an underground revolution is stirring. It’s hard to tell you what happened in this issue without spoiling anything, but know that s*** is about to get REAL. I enjoy every aspect of this story, and the books move along at a very brisk pace, containing just enough dialogue to keep readers engaged but not enough to feel cluttered. With Kick-Ass officially done for good, this is my new favorite MillarWorld book out. For something new and exciting, this is the book you should be reading! – Sherif
Hexed #1 – A-
Perhaps the biggest reason I loved the new comic Hexed is because it was very reminiscent of Buffy, but instead of our hero, Lucifer, being a Slayer, she is a cat burglar. Lucifer is witty and quick thinking. She also knows a lot about the magical world. After all, most of her jobs involve some sort of magical, artsy artifact. The art in this book was mesmerizing; the use of color was very well done, taking us from ” the normal world”, to the bright colors of magical hexes, and to the dark and eery world from inside of a scary painting. The story was enough of a teaser to keep me interested for the next issue, but it also kept me interested in what was happening in the moment. Lucifer is very relatable, despite the fact that she is a thief and is very mixed up in the magical world. She has a lot of foes, and it can be hard to determine who is the worst. This isn’t a gripe with the book, rather a compliment because it is often hard for anyone to distinguish who the baddies are in our own lives. The first issue left us with a pretty big cliffhanger, which is something I personally like when I have only 20 pages to get into a story. I definitely expect Hexed to just get better from here on out. – Adrian
Terminator Salvation: The Final Battle #8 – C+
Well everything I thought was coming pretty much got shot down this issue. I was hoping for happier ending for John Connor but it seems like that won’t be happening, at least the way things are looking. The cover and the last issue were definitely a bit misleading, but we still have plenty of time left to change John’s future. – Robert
Batman #34 – A-
I’m still reeling from the end of Zero Year, the phenomenal story of Batman’s first appearance in Gotham City. This issue is the bridge into the next arc, Endgame, which is undoubtedly going to be another classic. As far as one-shots go, this is pretty damn great. Matteo Scalera does a decent job filling in, and honestly, the ultra-dark tone of the issue is suited by it. We get to see a morbid side of Gotham and Batman that we really haven’t gotten to since Snyder’s first Batman run, The Black Mirror. It honestly gave me the creeps, in a good way. This killer that Batman is trying to catch gave me extra heebie-jeebies because he is more along the lines of what could happen in real life. I’m looking forward to seeing the team back together in issue #35, but this was a great all-encompassing story well worthy of you time. – Sherif
Batgirl #34 – C-
As much as I will miss Gail Simone’s writing, a complete creative overhaul for Batgirl is just what the doctor ordered. This latest Knightfall arc has floundered for a good ten issues, so this big finale was a great way to send Simone off. The art in Batgirl has also gotten progressively worse, with this issue being one of the least appealing in recent history. Batgirl pulls out all the stops, and calls in all the favors she can to beat Knightfall, but it doesn’t feel like the climactic ending that the book deserved. Where the book does succeed is in the portrayal of the original Birds of Prey team – Huntress, Canary and Batgirl. They work very well together and Simone’s writing gave me a solid case of nostalgia reading it. It was a decent way to wrap up this run, and I do look forward to the next version of Barbara Gordon; I have high hopes that a new start will revitalize the character. – Sherif
Batman Eternal #19 – C-
I don’t know why I continue to read this book anymore seeing as I have not been satisfied for the last ten issues or so. Now that Zero Year is over, things are going back to normal in the regular Batman book. I don’t like how they are using it to bridge the gaps in other books and how it is becoming a mandatory read in order not to be confused in a book I actually care about. About half way through this book I felt completely lost and realized how much I hate DC for doing this with another book. I have been very critical of how they did the same thing with the Superman family. It’s as if they are forcing people to read subpar books by putting important bits of information in them (I’m looking at you Superboy). I don’t appreciate this approach at all and should the writing also continue to be subpar, will have to discontinue my support of most of these publications. – Robert
Star Trek #36 – A-
What a wonderful series for any Star Trek fan! In this issue we see the current film cast, Deep Space Nine’s captain Sisko and Odo, and of course Q the greatest villain from The Next Generation (sorry, Borg). The art as with most IDW series is fantastic and unlike sometimes, each character looks exactly like they did in their respective series. I am sure we will see more The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and maybe even Enterprise, which would be great. If you are a fan of Star Trek in any capacity this is spectacular and even if you are not this is a great series as it may introduce you to characters from the entire Star Trek Universe to give you an idea of which series you may enjoy more.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #37 – B-
(B+) This was a pretty fun one off issue for the series where we see a battle between Shredder and Krang and a new mutant is introduced. The story for this issue is pretty solid despite the lack of Turtles in it but nevertheless, the story is good and gives us a great look into the two biggest villains in turtle history. The art is done by Cory Smith and he knocks it out of the park with this issue and it is nice and fresh to see a different artist than Mateus Santolouco although all the artist for this series have been great! Definitely check out this issue as it is a single story and a new arc will start next month. – Jacob
(C) Since City Fall, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are preparing for a comeback. However, with Shredder in possession of some mutagen, he has set his sites upon higher targets. However, before taking over the world, he must first have a meeting of the minds with Krang. The tensions quickly rise, as the two are both too stubborn to share a vision of the future. There are some great scenes between the two, but a lot of the issue is mindless banter between Shredder and Krang, with a predictable ending and zero turtles. The addition of Krang into the mix will give the fight for New York a new perspective for the TMNT, so while this issue was a bit stagnant, it was necessary in the grand scheme of things. – Sherif
The X-Files #15 – B-
Well this issue was definitely a mind bending issue as I am still thinking about the ending… But the art of this series has always gotten on my nerves although it is the worst I have seen I wish a more detailed artist could do some upcoming issues as they have many which is obvious with the covers for this series. The writing for this issue is top notch as I have felt this whole series is and is definitely a must have for any fan of the television series. Although if you are looking to start right now, I would wait or try and read all the back issues first as things have gotten real crazy especially this issue so it could definitely be confusing to the new reader.
Transformers: Primacy #1 – C+
The final installment in the current Transformers series starts out with recent Autobot Academy graduate Hot Rod joining the ranks of the Auto Bots and learning the ins and outs like any fresh meat (or fresh metal in this case). In the meantime, Optimus is off climbing glaciers with Ironhide when they come across something ancient and Megatron seems to have some dastardly new plan. Overall, I enjoyed this; it was a bit slow with all the exposition, but I feel like this mini-series is going to get pretty good. I also enjoyed the art in this one. It was very realistic although it was a bit dark at times. Definitely worth the time if you’re a Transformers fan. – Cody
Sex Criminals #7 – A
There aren’t too many books that really pull off a dildo sword fight. Matt Fraction has written in the most ridiculous scenes into this book about two twenty-somethings who find a bond between them because they can freeze time from their orgasms. I absolutely love how John’s backstory intertwines with the current situation. The books has been primarily told through Susie’s point of view, so this helps add some variety to a character we’ve never gotten to fully explore. This book is fully shifting back into gear after our power couple fell into a bit of a lull, relationship-wise. Especially after John found what was in the Sex Police basement, I’m entirely excited for the book to get back to it’s action-packed, crazy self. Like I said, dildo swashbuckling. – Sherif
Shutter #5 – A-
Shutter continues to wow. Five issues in and I’m still awed by Joe Keatinge and Leila del Duca’s adventure story. Every installment opens more and more doors for what could possibly come next, and because it is such an original story, I have no expectations for what will come next or when I expect anything to wrap up. I also love the concept of revealing the backstory of Kate’s dad bit by bit instead of doing it all at once. Each appearance fits within the story, and although answering questions, also shrouds itself in enough mystery to keep me intrigued for future issues. And then there’s Alarm Cat, who is one of the best companions you could ever ask for. There are a few moments that make you lose brief connection with Kate, but for the most part, this book is just pure gold, and I hope there is enough juice to squeeze 100 more issues! – Sherif
The Walking Dead #130 – B-
I have no idea what is going on here. Did George Romero take over as writer for The Walking Dead? There are events in this issue that our brand new to the series, but has been the central theme to all of the recent Romero titles. I’m not sure whether it’s done as a slight, since Romero has trashed TWD as being a “soap opera,” or whether the series is actually going to go in that direction, but it’s straight-up absurd. I do give the issue a lot of praise for progressing the story along – setting up Carl for a better role and finally showing a post-pregnancy Maggie – and especially for not taking the easy bait at the end of the last issue. There’s still tons of promise in this series, so a little absurdity is allowed. – Sherif
All-New X-Men #20 – B+
If you picked up this book and stopped reading it after the first ten pages, you would think that it is a terrible book. The awkward PG-13 relationship between X-23 and Angel was enough to make me take pause. The whole “I’m an animal” and “if you only knew the things I’ve done” cliché has been done so many times that it’s hardly even parodied anymore. The real excitement is between Jean Grey and Emma Frost, the latter of which is trying to push Jean Grey to realize her true powers. We finally get the showdown between the two, as Emma’s jealousy is addressed. Meanwhile, Kitty Pryde and her relationship with Star-Lord is investigated further. The signature of this series has been the fact that it is often tethered to lots of humor – none more so than Iceman. This is an exemplary bridge issue that still progresses multiple storylines, and gets us one step closer to finding out the contents of Charles Xavier’s Last Will and Testament. – Sherif
Spider-Man 2099 #2 – B+
This book has the potential to be really good and actually has a great sense of humor, especially in this episode. Things have started a bit on the slow side but I am sure things are going to pick up soon enough. I have no complaints about this issue and am looking forward to what this book has to offer in the future. – Robert
Wolverine #11 – C+
(B-) One more month until one of Marvel’s most famous characters and personally one of mine (after all he was best friends with Morph in the X-Men animated series) meets his ultimate fate. We have him getting to Sabertooth’s lair with many allies and trying to take him on. Obviously with next month being the last, we don’t get the epic battle between Wolverine and Sabertooth but we don’t have long to wait. The art of this issue is great and the story is good as well. Although it is an epic event the story is not the best I think Wolverines death should have, but we will see how it all goes down next month. – Jacob
(C) Well the time we have been waiting for during these last few months is almost upon us. One more issue and Wolverine is gonna be dead. I am actually wondering if he will finally kill Sabretooth and take that orb to get his powers back. Or maybe this will be some crappy metaphorical death. Either way, if they were going to actually kill Wolverine, I wish they wouldn’t have announced it so long ago. For being so close to the end, this issue had an awful lot of filler. I am honestly ready for this to be over so we can move on to whatever is coming next. – Robert
Original Sin #7 – C
This series has been enjoyable but I found myself lost in this issue. I still feel like I understand what s going on, but by the end of this issue I was left scratching my head. The art as always in this series is good although it is insanely dark with more shadows than words on the page and this is a wordy series. It is all over next month so yeah it is a bad time to just get into the series and it is one of the more violent Marvel series at the moment so also not for kids. – Jacob
Amazing Spider-Man #5 – C
I am not sure that I am crazy about this love triangle Peter has suddenly gotten himself into. He is supposed to be in relationship with Anna and we all know you can never get rid of Mary Jane, and now he has this new chick, it is like a bad soap opera even by comic book standards. I am more interested in the ending of this issue however; there is no way they are going to release Peter’s identity again so I want to see how he gets out of this. Nothing too crazy has happened since Peter came back, minus the new chick, so I am hoping that they pick up the pace instead of easing back into things. – Robert
Deadpool #33 – C
Although this Deadpool story arc has been interesting with meeting his daughter, it is altogether not a great Deadpool story. After reading some really good Deadpool stories it is hard to read the constant three series of the character that happen each month. The art is pretty good but not great and overall the story is enjoyable as most Deadpool but this story is definitely one of the duller of this series. – Jacob
Deadpool: Dracula’s Gauntlet #6 – C-
Ok I have to admit this issue was quite fun once I got past my views of just how ridiculous it is. I still don’t think it is anything special but in this issue we got to see Red Hulk, Ghost Rider, Elektra, Punisher, Blade, and a couple extra Deadpool regulars. The art is for this series has been good for the whole run and the story overall isn’t good or terrible. If you enjoy Deadpool, it is worth a read otherwise avoid this series, as it is one of the craziest and weirdest Deadpool series I have read. – Jacob
Nova Special #1 – F
I found this issue to be incredibly boring. NOVA is a kid who is out of his league at this point. He can hardly even handle a bunch of teenage X-Men. I found myself struggling to even get to the next page. Iron Man is a total douche (as always). The ‘X-Kids’ are morons. And, NOVA is weak. The art of the book isn’t bad, until Iron Man shows up, I’m not sure what was going on there. Even though it only takes 10 minutes to read, save you time, watch The Office instead…at least you’ll laugh. – Cody
All images taken from ComiXology app and the credit for them goes to the respective publishers; thanks to IDW Comics, image Comics, Dark Horse, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.
The mythical A+: Classic comic book material. Belongs next to your copy of The Notebook and The Joy of Cooking.
A: Would definitely recommend to all comic book readers. Even more so to fans of the genre or characters
B: Enjoyable read. Fans of the genre or characters will especially like.
C: Non-essential read. Can be enjoyable for fans of the genre or characters, but likely for only one or two events in the books.
D: Unenjoyable book. Read at your own risk. Might find satisfaction if major flaws are overlooked.
F: Please don’t buy this book. Donate your money to a local comic book writer’s workshop instead to inspire future generations to write something better than this trash.
Superman #32 – A
No, this is not Bizzaro World; Superman actually got a higher score than Snyder and Capullo’s Batman. This is proof that DC’s poster-child, Clark Kent, is not washed up. All it takes is a phenomenal creative team, and the Man of Steel is returned to his former glory. Thanks to writer Geoff Johns, I’m ready to start following Superman for the first time since George Pérez left at the beginning of The New52. He did have a little help from DC Comics’ rookie, JOHN ROMITA JR. That’s right – legendary Spider-Man artist and Kick-Ass co-creator is drawing the most iconic character in comic book history now. The best part about this book is that it is a perfect jumping-on point for new or estranged readers. Not that I can solicit this book any harder, but the story had me humming the John Williams theme song. The Big Blue Boy Scout is back! – Sherif
Dream Thief: Escape #1 – B+
Dream Thief is a new comic out this week and it is pretty cool, I gotta say. The story is a nice twist on revenge and possession, both major factors in main character Johnny Lincoln’s life. Johnny gets possessed by murdered ghosts sometimes. Those ghosts then go find their murders and use Johnny to kill their murderers. While it sounds very creepy, it is a pretty funny book because it has a lot of quips to keep the story just light enough to not be so disturbing. The story takes place in the mid 80’s in Florida, which makes a for a very beautiful and colorful backdrop. The book ends with Johnny meeting another person, a very special person (no spoilers, I promise) who also gets possessed by ghosts, allowing the story to end on a pretty major cliffhanger, and making me want to pick up this book immediately next month! – Adrian
Serenity: Leaves on the Wind #6 – B+
Another series that has come to an end and after six months, Serenity and its crew finally get everything, well almost everything resolved. The series ends on a great note and one that I really wish I could see done with the cast and crew of the show. This last issue makes any Serenity fan tear up by just looking at the cover with Wash being so prevalent so seeing that image going into the last issue it sets you up to have so much of what happened to Wash get resolved and have everyone on the track to healing after the insane events of the film Serenity. – Jacob
Batman #32 – A-
Zero Year is really heating up as we approach the climax – the showdown between Batman and Nygma is heating up… kinda. There is a constant back and forth between the two to see who has the statistic advantage. Even though both are so young in their respective masked careers, they are both supremely sharp and the battle of wits is a site to see. The issue ends on yet another cliff-hanger, and this one makes a little less sense than I would have liked, but that’s the nature of a story centered around The Riddler. Batman has been the most consistently great book in the DC staple, so if you’re on the fence, definitely read this arc. – Sherif
Justice League #31 – A
The idea of Lex Luthor being a valued member of the League is ridiculous, and writer Geoff Johns is not afraid to show it. Since a very dreary Forever Evil arc, Justice League is enjoying a nice little break before the next Big Bad comes along. Unlike other books, there’s no filler here. We get to see the new Power Ring, as it begins to corrupt a poor young woman in Portland. Meanwhile, Lex comes to Bruce Wayne with that shocking discovery, and it’s interesting to see Lex get the upper-hand of the detective who’s always thinking six steps ahead. Mostly though, it’s Shazam and Cyborg that steal the show with their hilarious banter at the Watchtower. – Sherif
Super Secret Crisis War #1 – A
Here we have an ultimate team up of all of our favorite Cartoon Network characters joining together because all of their villains are planning to take over multiple worlds together. For this issue I love how each character is done in their distinctive style and yet they all feel like they belong together which makes this issue so much more than just pictures of my favorite cartoons together. Hopefully with all the main issues and one shots included in this series we will get to a point where it all is explained a little bit better than what we got in this issue, but it is all leading up to a series that will have anyone who watched Cartoon Network freaking out because of happiness by the end. – Jacob
X-Files: Season 10 #13 – B
Thins are getting real! More of The Lone Gunmen, more Krycek,, and everyone is crazy! This issue is definitely one of the better ones as part 3 of this current story arc, and we get a couple answers but just like X-Files, we get more questions. The art in this series can be a little hit or miss, as it is not very detailed and at times it can be hard to tell who is who. The writing of this series though is what makes it good and it gives me so much hope for another movie that could be awesome. Although this issue was great for me, I have not missed an issue so for anyone trying to start here it would likely be rather confusing. – Jacob
Image Comics:
Saga #20 – A
If I had a dollar for every time I screamed “Holy S***!” while reading this issue, I would have $3. Seriously, follow through the pages and tell me if you can spot them. I may still be a little punch-drunk off meeting Fiona Staples at Denver Comic Con, but I’m in love with her art, and with the beautiful writing of Brian K Vaughan. The range of story goes from “trouble in paradise” to straight up disturbing by the end of the issue. How long can Alana and Marko stay hidden? What the hell is going on with Prince Robot IV? Mostly, though, I wonder how many more times can we tell you how amazing Saga is before you go read it?? – Sherif
Deadly Class #6 – A
A “sadistic, twit redneck who likes to f*** sheep” sounds like the most terrifying villain of all time. This book is so ludicrous; I love it. The kids’ trip to vacation has been no vacation, but they band together over a common enemy – the way everything plays out had my eyes wide and my heart racing. At the end of the day, every issue of Deadly Class has been beautiful and brutal, and this issue is no exception. This is a great read if you think need something to make you feel better about your own high school experience. Each issue uncovers more and more of the students’ pasts. This was a perfect way to close out the arc. – Sherif
Outcast #1 – B-
Robert Kirkman is at it… still. I can’t really say “again” because well, The Walking Dead is still happening. Anyway, Outcast is Kirkman’s answer to the Horror genre. We follow main character Kyle Barnes and his really bad luck with the women who are closest to him getting possessed by demons, and then he has to exorcize them. I’m not sure if this is a comment on women or not, but I’ll tell you this, for the first 20 pages of the 48 page issue, I had no clue what was going on. But don’t let this turn you off. By the end of the story, it all kind of makes sense. And leaves enough unsaid that makes the reader want to know more about Kyle, our new demon hunter hero, or should I say Outcast? – Adrian
Amazing Spider-Man #3 – B
The return of Peter Parker has been a solid one so far. While he was “away,” Otto Octavius made quite the mess of his life: pissing off frenemies, chasing off close friends, and falling in love with another woman. The story with Black Cat is getting very interesting, as she is reborn with a lot more moxie this time around. Peter, meanwhile, is learning the joys of owning your own business. It’s quirky and fun, but is lacking of any real substance right now. The story is still building, so I’m sure that will change in the next couple issues. – Sherif
Ms. Marvel #5 – C+
I don’t know what happened between the end of issue #3 and this one, but somewhere along the line, the book lost a lot of momentum. I’m still really excited to see where Ms. Marvel is going, but it seems to have lost a bit of the flare and the social relevance that catapulted it to the top of my reading list each issue. I’m still interested in the story, and the dynamic characters are a lot of fun in themselves, but it still needs something to push it back over the hump. – Sherif
Original Sins #2 – C+
This series obviously is a way to connect lesser character of the marvel universe to the Original Sin storyline going on now. All of the stories so far don’t really show much connection but a small mention of the events in Original Sin. Each issue is going to contain a large Young Avengers story and then two other stories one being a medium size and the other usually just two pages. It does make me happy that Howard the Duck got to be the small story in this issue, but other than that novelty, I don’t see too much of a connection between these stories to warrant purchasing this issue unless you are a completest. – Jacob
Deadpool vs Carnage #4 – C-
Although this series has been dull, and left you wondering why is it happening (which is actually quite strange considering the other things Deadpool has done). In this last issue we finally get everything resolved, absolute insanity is brought down to a little bit crazy, and we can all finally take a nap and forget it all ever happened. But seriously this series has been entertaining for what it is, the artwork has definitely been good throughout the series and this last issue. Ultimately this series will have its fans but mostly it is just a series to read on a boring day, and there are much worse things to readout there. – Jacob
All images taken from ComiXology app and the credit for them goes to the respective publishers; thanks to IDW Comics, image Comics, Dark Horse, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.
The mythical A+: Classic comic book material. Belongs next to your copy of The Notebook and The Joy of Cooking.
A: Would definitely recommend to all comic book readers. Even more so to fans of the genre or characters
B: Enjoyable read. Fans of the genre or characters will especially like.
C: Non-essential read. Can be enjoyable for fans of the genre or characters, but likely for only one or two events in the books.
D: Unenjoyable book. Read at your own risk. Might find satisfaction if major flaws are overlooked.
F: Please don’t buy this book. Donate your money to a local comic book writer’s workshop instead to inspire future generations to write something better than this trash.
The Walking Dead #127 – A-
Well, this was certainly not the follow-up to All Out War that I was expecting. This is like when you and your girlfriend have a huge fight and you think you’ve lost interest, but then you wake up the next morning and there’s bed in breakfast for you. Oh, Walking Dead, how could I stay mad at you? This issue was everything I was hoping for and more to freshen up the series. That girl on the cover? Yeah, you’ll have no idea who she is. That doesn’t mean the rest of the book is unfamiliar, but there’s just so much that is happening here in this issue that I don’t even stop to wonder how we got here. Alexandria is fully developing, and Carl has turned into one weird little dude. Puberty does not look good when you’re missing half your face. Oh, and I think we should start a petition to start officially calling them “stinkers.” Jumping ahead so doesn’t excuse the terrible All Out War story, but I’m finally genuinely interested in the book again, and there looks to be potential for a lot more to come. – Sherif
When the teaser for issue 127 was released there was fan boy speculation galore. Who were the new characters on the cover? Is this a spinoff from our normal cast of survivors? Will the story still take place outside of Atlanta? Well Dead-heads, A New Beginning answered all of those questions and more. Spoiler Alert! A large heard of Walkers is steered in the direction of our new group of post-apocalyptic drifters. Jesus, Aaron, Eugene and Rosita are on horseback and leading the zombies away from The Kingdom. Eugene has devised a flocking technique to keep the settlements safe. Sidenote: I find it interesting that Kirkman is using the term herd. Usually the word herd is used to refer to a group of grazing animals, like cattle or sheep. Zombies are predatory in nature, the term pack seems more appropriate because the collective hunts as a single entity, much like Walkers. With that being said, this new survival skill is attention-grabbing and depicted well in the issue. We join our group at Alexandria sometime in the future. Crops are being harvested, children are free to roam, there is peace and order, and yeah, Rick Grimes is in charge. His hair is shaved and his beard is full. It’s a good look for our long-time hero. He still has a limp and is now using a prosthetic arm. All of our characters seem to have gotten a make-over. Jesus looks like Yojimbo. Andrea looks like Clint Eastwood in For A Few Dollars More, and Carl looks like…Carl. Our new survivors are welcomed into Alexandria. When Magna is introduced to Rick in a tense situation, Jesus says, “I promise Rick doesn’t bite.” This was especially funny because in issue 57 Rick kills a bandit by biting the man in the throat. This also happened in last season’s finale of AMC’s TWD. Meanwhile, Eugene has secured a crucial role in the success of The Kingdom, and appears to be Rick’s right-hand man, and Carl is ready to move to The Hilltop to apprentice as a Blacksmith. But that’s not all. At night Carl creeps into the basement and has been chatting it up with their former enemy and current prisoner Negan. This is a story arc to watch. During All Out War, I predicted that Negan would take Carl as a Padawan. This still seems like a possibility and I’m excited to see how their relationship turns out. Can we say Stockholm Syndrome, anyone? – John
Terminator: Salvation #6 – A-
Six issues in and we are finally up to the point in time where the first and second Terminator movies take place. The T-800, T-1000, Kyle Reese and the reprogrammed T-800 have all been sent back in time to come full circle with everything we know about the series so far. We are finally entering uncharted territory and it is truly no fate but what we make for ourselves. I have been waiting for these issues with baited breath seeing as how I consider T2 to be the greatest film of all time. I am excited to see how they finally end the series. This issue ends with a blast from the not so distant past and would have made for an amazing twist if they decided to finish this series out as movies. It is disappointing that these didn’t get turned into films but I am just happy that they decided to finish the series at all. Shit is about to go down and for the first time in the series history, anything can happen. That’s worth the price of admission alone. – Robert
Terminator: Enemy of My Enemy #3 – B+
There is something really awesome about the way they have managed to create a character that can rival the great sarah connor herself. This is possibly the only character that can go toe to toe with a Terminator and not only die, but come out the victor. Ultimately she would eventually be killed I suppose but each encounter with the terminator has only gotten better in this series. With the new remake of the original Terminator in the works, I hope that they can implement similar story choices in the film, Kyle Reese is after all a soldier from the future. It wouldn’t be a major surprise if he was capable of handling himself where the Terminator is concerned. We are three issues in and still haven’t been given a solid idea as to what is happening, but it would seem that they are going to stretch things a little while longer seeing as how they don’t have a limit on the issues like they do with their other series. This issue ends with a small twist but I cant wait to see the next battle between these two. – Robert
Superman: Doomed #1 – B+
Doomsday is back! The last time this Phantom Zone escapee came to Earth, the Man of Steel lost his life. This new and improved Doomsday seems to suck the energy from all living things. Humans burst into flames in his presence, and water boils at his touch. Superman has teamed up with Dr. Shay Veritas and she informs him that the old Doomsday was just “Larva,” and that our hero must kill Doomsday or billions may suffer. Look for an appearance from Steel and the Justice League. Ken Lashley is perfect for this face-paced, action packed book. His art is vibrant and electrifying and kept me glued to each panel. – John
I’m not usually a big Supes fan, so for me to say that I enjoyed this book says a lot. Doomsday is one of those villains that you love to see the Man of Steel throw down with. As with most New52 reincarnations, Doomsday has returned to the pages deadlier than ever. There isn’t a whole lot of plot developing here, but we get to see some of the best action sequences I’ve seen from DC in a long time. It’s definitely enough to warrant a second issue for me. – Sherif
I have always said that my favorite issues and films of Superman are the ones where he snaps and unleashes his full potential, and this is definitely one of those issues. The whole Doomsday/Superman dynamic has evolved and we can no longer just have the two go head to head, we have to have something for the new generation. Now its not about the death of Superman but instead he becomes the very thing he has tried to destroy. It’s a different kind of self-sacrifice but I really enjoyed the imagery presented in this issue as well as the way they paid homage to the original battle. I couldn’t help but feel that this fight was a little bit on the easy side considering it was over in one issue and he was barely beat up by the end. The original was a knockdown, dragout brawl that ended in the both of them bloodied and beaten so badly that it took months, if not years for both to fully recover. The other weird thing about how quickly this fight ended was that this is supposed to be an evolved Doomsday as well. Perhaps that is the plan, he is fragile enough that even if he is defeated he becomes the person who defeats him. It kind of reminds me of the old horror film Jason Goes to Hell. This can’t possibly be the last we see of Doomsday but now we also have Wonder Woman on our side so another battle with a more powerful Doomsday seems inevitable. – Robert
Superman/Wonder Woman #8 – B+
With the way they are intertwining the whole “Doomed” story in to all of Superman’s publications, this is essentially a continuation of what happened in Superman Doomed #1. We also know that it is apparently resolved by superman #32 so either a lot happens in these two series or this whole Doomsday thing is going lie dormant in Superman’s body. Either one of these scenarios has the potential to be pretty awesome but I would like to see Superman transform into Doomsday when he needs some extra firepower, which could make for some very interesting Hulk-like scenarios. Only time will tell how this pans out but I am also happy to report that it seems the relationship between Supes and WW isn’t going anywhere. I look forward to the continuation of this storyline in Superman #31. – Robert
Batgirl #31 – B-
Why is it that Batgirl has gotten all of the uninteresting crap villains as of late? She is an interesting character/Superhero and she deserves to be treated as such. Her last few villains have been a bunch of super carnies, a vampire hunter, a ventriloquist doll, her brother and now a guy who can wrap his legs around you like Xenia Onatopp from Goldeneye. How much lamer can they really get? Then throw in the personal struggles of her regular life and we have a recipe for a hot mess. Also while I’m thinking about it, why is Commissioner Gordon getting shit on in every publication all of a sudden? It would seem that the people at DC have some sort of hatred for the guy. – Robert
Batman: Eternal #6 – C+
I haven’t kept up with the publication so you can imagine my surprise to see Batwing in this issue. I don’t think he was strong enough to stand alone as his own character but he makes an interesting addition to the current Batman family, kind of like a modern day Batman Beyond. This series and particularly this issue reminds me of knightfall and the way Bane planned to wear Batman out before he broke him. Anytime I hear Alfred mention him pushing it to the limits in the way it is described here, I can’t help but feel it’s a rehash of what has already been done. I mean the guy has the whole of Batman Inc. at his disposal, why does he have to run himself ragged in this day and age? Plot holes aside I am interested to see where this series is ultimately headed. Carmine Falcone can’t be the only major thing they have up their sleeves. Perhaps the death of Jim Gordon? – Robert
With Eternal really digging deep in the Batverse, issue after issue, I was wondering just when we would pass the point of an all-inclusive Batman story and fall into the realm of obscure and overly-complex. Issue #6 brings us dangerously close. We meet The Spectre, Batwing and even Gentleman Ghost and Deacon Blackfire (big ups if you even knew who this guy is), but nobody really carries any weight. I know Snyder and friends are building up to something huge here, but so far, the series looks like when you buy a jigsaw puzzle and throw all the pieces on the table. – Sherif
The New 52: Futures End #2 – C
I am not too sure where this series is going, to be honest. The only part that makes any sense to me is with Batman Beyond and the corporation he is investigating. Not to mention they are pulling some obscure characters out to highlight as main attractions for this. As with most series though it usually takes an issue or two to get into the story and past the initial intros and with a multitude of characters that this story includes you have to introduce a lot to get the story going. I am not the biggest DC Comics reader other than Batman so it may be that these characters are just a little bit lost to me but hopefully we start getting things connected soon before it turns into something like Lost where only more questions are asked while none get answered. – Jacob
Oh snap, the future is looking pretty crazy at the moment. I’ll be honest, I don’t know much about the DC universe, but I had no idea who any of these characters were except for Green Arrow. Overall, I can see this becoming a really good story if all the pieces connect and things start to become cohesive. I hope future comics will allow me the insight and background knowledge that would make this comic great for me, however, at this point in time I feel that I just can’t connect due to that lack of knowledge on my part. – Evan
Mars Attacks: First Born #1 – C
Although I love this franchise – Cards, Comics, Film and all – this series is a bit odd. It may be that babies just do not interest me at this point in my life, or that the other Mars Attack series I have read seen or know about are much more filled with story and conflict from the start. We are introduced to the main couple of characters and the first born Martian baby in this issue but it doesn’t go past much from there. Besides it being a bit bland to begin with I have a lot of faith in it as it is a franchise I trust and it is co written and all the art is done by Sam Keith, who created The Maxx comics, which are still some of my favorite comics from when I was growing up (which they are rerelasing now through IDW!). Hopefully we won’t have to endure Tom Jones battling the aliens like in the film, which is a much better pro than the con of it being about a baby. – Jacob
All-New X-Men #1 – B
The casual reader may find this series a bit confusing. The young X-Men of the past are now in the present. Young Cyclops is now part of the StarJammers, see Cyclops #1, Jean Grey is back from being on Trial, Tyrion Lannister style, and the Brotherhood of the future is attacking. There is a big reveal about Christopher Muse and his abilities and the genealogy of Mystique. This may play out in the future. Sidenote: There a ton of advertisements in the physical issue. It’s a little off-putting. We get it Marvel, there are 20,000 different story arcs we need to keep up with. – John
Nightcrawler #2 – B-
What do you get when you mix a blue transporting man, a witch lady, and a bunch of other individuals with extreme abilities? There are a crazy amount of answers to that but in this case the correct answer is a circus that I would love to see. As Nightcrawler returns he is continuing trying to preserve his life while at the same time trying to save the people he loves and take down Trimega. Next issue seems that it’ll be pretty exciting because of the battle that is about to ensue. Overall this issue wasn’t anything great but it did allow readers a deeper look into Kurt’s life and how he became the Nightcrawler. – Evan
Am I the only one who is wondering where the hell those little adorable BAMFs came from? There must be something I am missing because I am completely lost when it comes to them, but all I know is that I want one. This issue isn’t really that interesting and barely pushes the plot forward. It is as if we are both slowly getting background information as well as slowly advancing the plot with almost no idea what is going on in the first place. I am still not sure how he came back to life and I also am irritated that I don’t really see any direction as far as the plot. I hope that marvel didn’t spread itself too thin with this new reboot. – Robert
All-New Ghost Rider #1 – B-
This ride is getting crazier each issue, and it doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon. The art in this series really sets it apart, especially when Robbie starts getting his rage on. Even with the great art, it’s Robbie’s human interactions that really sell the book. I oddly enjoy his time as himself than I do as the vengeful spirit from hell. This initial arc seems to be more of an introduction than a kick-the-door-down type of book. I can respect Felipe Smith’s approach, but I’m looking forward to seeing a more brazen take going forward. – Sherif
All-New Ghost Rider is pretty spectacular and it is only 3 issues in! I do have to say though of the last three issues this one is probably the weakest as not as much happened it terms of story or character development as the first two issues. This is also understandable as we are getting more into the story now, now that we are past the initial introduction phase. We do learn the a little about how Reyes became Ghost Rider which is definitely a different take than the past Rider was. The artwork on this series is very interesting and definitely gives this series a fell all of its own. Definitely check out this series as it is bound to get crazy now that things are picking up. – Jacob
Just when you think this issue is going to suck, this all new Ghost Rider pulls something off that makes things awesome. Toward the beginning of the comic, I thought this week was going to be a flop. First off, it reminded me a little too much of Knight Rider with the whole, “my car is a spirit” thing. And if you have a badass car spirit, I wouldn’t expect it to be named Eli. So even though that part was really cheese and just not as cool as it could have been to me, I still really liked the action Robbie Reyes brought forward in this issue. I personally loved the whole, transportation through fire thing. That was awesome. I still can’t say I know what to expect out of this new series but I still plan on following through with it. Overall not a bad, but not a great showing this week. – Evan
All-New Ultimates #2 – C+
GANG FIGHT!!! I have to say, I did like the way this comic started out jumping right back into the fight that we left off in, yet overall as a whole issues, it all kind of lacked. I do like how the comic clearly captures how new and unexperienced these new Ultimates are truly how much work they need to do. With all the infighting, and back workings of the comic I don’t know what to expect, but I hope it doesn’t suck. The ending of this issue with Black Widow (Formally known as Spider-Woman) tripping off her ass on something only god knows intrigued me, and it gives me hope that the next issue will be better. So once again, I didn’t hate this comic, but it was absolutely nothing to brag about. – Evan
Wolverine #6 – C
Things have started to slow down again with this series but if the past is any indication, things will pick up towards the middle to end of this current arc. We get to see a James Bond side of Logan that is really only hinted at in his past. The more I read these stories and other characters that he is involved with, I can’t help but feel he will ultimately sacrifice himself in some way that will save the world. It would be a fitting send off for such a great character but I will be livid if he doesn’t at least take that bastard Sabretooth down with him, and I don’t want to see any of that “we made peace with each other and became friends” crap either. – Robert
All images taken from ComiXology app and the credit for them goes to the respective publishers; thanks to IDW Comics, image Comics, Dark Horse, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.
We might be fresh off the flight back from Emerald City Comic Con, but we are determined to watch The Walking Dead Season 4 finale and review it for all you lovely readers. The finale, “A,” is a thrilling and insightful ride from start to finish. We get a better look at Terminus and some closure between Rick and the band of merry assholes, but there’s way more questions asked than answered here. If you’re somebody who hates being left hanging on the edge of a cliff for a half-year, you’re going to be furious at the end of this episode – but the only thing you can get mad at is that “A” just isn’t long enough.
We start off with a Scott Wilson AKA Herschel Greene reappearance! The flashback that we get throughout the episode is a nod to Herschel’s attempt to domesticate Rick. And this wasn’t just for Rick’s sake, but for Carl’s, as well. At the time, Carl had just cold-heartedly terminated a scared young man without prejudice, and Herschel was needed to steer Rick towards setting a better example: “You have to show [Carl] the way. Which way are you going to show him?” While Herschel helped Rick regain his sanity after Lori’s death, I can’t help but feel that he hindered Rick by giving him the allusion that he doesn’t have to put his feet to the fire to make things work in this world.
It seems as though the can on a string security system is catching fire in the zombie apocalypse. Where are they getting all these cans and string? Who knows? Rick is trying to teach Carl how to trap a rabbit, which is painfully foreshadowing of what happens at Terminus. I’d also like to point out how awkwardly Rick stuffs the rabbit corpse in his messenger bag. Yeah, I get that it’s probably some plushy prop, but haven’t these people learned anything from “Infected?” You can’t just carry around rabbit carcasses in the same bag you keep your comic books! I digress.
The theme of this episode is identity; from the get-go, Carl asks “Who Are We?” It’s too bad that we didn’t see the same level of acting from Chandler Riggs in “After,” but he raises a question worth asking, as all characters are far cries from who they were before everything went down. We find out soon just who Rick and his lieutenants are. One of the biggest turning points of the entire series happens when Joe and his merry band of misfits catch up to Rick. From the way that Rick and Michonne were sitting around the fire and Carl was sleeping in the car, I was instantly reminded of a scene in issue #57 of the comics, where Carl is attacked and Rick pretty much loses his god-damned mind to save him. I swear, if the book wasn’t in black and white, Rick’s skin would have turned bright green.
The scene, and the few others following it, are borrowed directly from the issue. It’s the type of pay-off that fans of the comic book love to see in the show. Don’t let that discredit the commendable acting by all parties involved. The dynamic that Carl and Michonne have here is spectacular. We finally get to see that they’re all survivors, and to survive means becoming a monster. Michonne is able to open up to Carl in a way that she just can’t to anybody else. We get some insight as to how her armless, jawless pets came to be. It added some deserved depth to her character and it’s actually a better story than in the comic books. Then there’s Rick and Daryl – Rick’s declaration that he considers Daryl a brother is one of Stewart-McKellen proportions. Both have had previous considerations of brotherhood in the show – Rick with Shane and Daryl with Merle – but both were highly toxic relationships whose investments weren’t returned.
During the Daryl and Rick conversation, when Rick asks about Beth, Daryl tells Rick that “she’s just gone.” It’s really odd to me that Daryl doesn’t elaborate, and that Rick doesn’t ask him to. What really matters is that the Alpha group is back together. Daryl, Rick and Michonne (and Carl, I guess) just win at everything when they’re together. They really know better than to just stroll through the front door, for at least the first few minutes. They awkwardly stroll through the back, and right into the people of Terminus, which kind of defeats the whole purpose of being stealthy in the first place.Thanks a lot, Albert. Their initial travel guide is Alex, which might be an homage to the comic book version of Terminus, called Alexandria.
Terminus is, however, NOT Alexandria. It’s a TRAP! Just like Rick’s rabbit trap, Terminus was designed to herd: The Ringleader, The Archer and The Samurai into a big shipping crate. There is one set of freaks that we haven’t met in the comic books thus far, and that is the cannibals. The cannibals make their comic book appearance during Volume 11 of the trades (right around issue #62) and they are a scary group of people. However, just as in the comic books, Rick lets everybody know that these people are out of their league when they mess with Rick Grimes. In the book, this is one of the more gruesome scenes, so I’m excited to see how the show chooses to portray it – especially as Season 5 opens.
It might not be the finale that fans wanted, but it’s the one we deserve. Or something like that. Hush Comics gives “A” an… A (heh). The dynamic dialog and excellent cinematography throughout was a precise ode to the comic books and an inclusive wrap up for what has been quite the journey of a season. There’s way too much left unraveled for this to satisfy me for the season finale, but I’m sure, one day, we’ll look back at this one Netflix and laugh as we play the next episode. I hope you guys can put up with the seven month wait. The Walking Dead returns October 2014.
Thanks for catching our reviews! We’re looking to fill the gaps with another show (possibly Game of Thrones, but we’re not nearly as well-versed there)
All media credited to Image Comics and AMC Television
Hush Comics 
