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I missed most of the original X-23 stories when they were released. One pleasant surprise while reading the X-Women graphic novel (2010) is that I got to read an impressive collection of stories that are leagues better than the endless Krakoa non-sense we are getting in current year.

This one-time is told entirely from Laura Kenny's (X-23) perspective and touches on her origin's and her time on the streets as a sex-worker. Laura's story is tragic and hardcore stuff. The character has been used by everyone she has had a meaningful relationship with, including X-Force a team that sends her on assassination missions.

The book switches from origin to present day as Laura catches the scent of the group of kids that accepted her with open arms with no hidden motives or agendas. This presents Laura with a dilemma, to stay with her peer group or go back to the X-Men.

I really liked this story. It totally establishes Laura Kenny as her own character independent from the Wolverine and the X-Men. The comic also made me question why this character would ever go by X-23 or Wolverine for that matter. Laura has clear identity issues and PTSD issues based on the manipulation she has faced her entire life. If anything based on this issue alone. I would expect Laura to forge her own identity. It is pretty weird that Marvel basically lost the plot had her take on someone else's mantle a decade later.

The art for the X-23 One-Shot is dark and stylistic. The art direction is unique and works to contrast the character against Wolverine. I have reviewed 3 of the 4 stories featured in the X-Women graphic novel. I did skip reviewing the Dazzler story because it was dogshit. I really feel like I missed some solid stories. If you are a fan of this era of X-Men, please offer suggestions in the comments below.

In Short: X-23 provides a definitive breakdown of the character and her origins.

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I was not reading many comics circa 2010 and missed this entire era of X-Men stories. I recently reviewed Chris Claremont and Milo Manara's X-Women One-Shot. Cloak and Dagger #1 was also included in the trade paperback

Cloak and Dagger #1 is easily the best story I have read featuring these characters. It is also the first story I have seen them treated as individuals with different mot ivations that don't necessarily align with one another. Historically, both has been symbiotically tied to each other so seeing them at odds is a bit refreshing.

In this one-shot we see both Cloak and Dagger seeking relationships outside from one another. Dagger seeks a new life with the X-Men. Cloak, on the other hand sees the X-Men as a group of segregationists. In his Downtime Cloak teleports to his old neighborhood and has rekindled a relationship with an old flame. Cloaks new relationship causes tension with Dagger as they both seem to want more out of life than their co-dependence to one another. The situation breaks down further when Cloak is captured by an anti-superhero group and Dagger needs to go solo to bail him out.

Cloak and Dagger #1 is the sort of comic that will make you go and track down back-issues. I was not expecting such a quality story. Both lead characters are in a weird situation and their feels are valid. Cloak and Dagger have one of the most tragic origins of any superhero team. The two characters leech energy from each other, so any squabble is detrimental to both.

The art from Mark Brooks is Steller. He has a really clean art style. This is complimented by the colorwork from Emily Warren. I have never seen Cloak in his human form and would love to see more of it. The story gets creepy at times. The relationship our heroes have is an odd one, but it makes Cloak and Dagger one of the most unique teams in comics.

In Short: Cloak and Dagger #1 One Shot is of the best One-Shots I have read in a long time.

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"In Celebration of the Male Gaze"

X-Women #1
Words: Chris Claremont | Artist: Milo Manara | Publisher: Marvel Comics

**Review**

Full Disclosure I review Comics, but I also have a Facebook page and group called Bluelines: Babes, Cars, Comics and other cool $hit. This page celebrates the female form in every shape and size, real or imaginary. I wanted to preface my review because this story is right up my alley. However, I am very aware that this story would never be told in current year.

If you are sensitive to women being sexualized this comic is not the one for you. Milo Manara is an expert artist, but he is primarily known for depicting traditional variations of femininity and sexuality. The art direction is not offensive but if the comic were released in 2022 there would be significant changes, fair or not. If this book were released 2022 one or more characters would be LGBTQ, frumpy or morbidly obese.

What I liked about X-Women beyond the art is that the characters feel real and true to themselves. This is a testament to Claremont's reverence for these characters. The X-Women are the characters know and love, but the setting is a lot more relaxed than that you would see in a regular comic. It is also refreshing that there is no social justice messaging in this book.

There are excesses to this story. The plot between Storm and the Pirate Captain is a bit overboard and I am surprised Marvel approved this plotline even in 2010.

Other than the cited gripes X-Women is an excellent X-Men story. I enjoyed it more than about of the 90% of the X-Titles released today and would like to see more from Claremont and Milo.

In Short: X-Women perfectly encapsulates comics before political correctness stifled creativity.

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In my Batman #69 review I mistakenly listed it as the end of the Knightmare's storyline. While #69 was the end of the dream aspects of the story, this is the end of the arc.

In this installment we see Bruce escape from his fear toxin induced coma and make his way out of Arkham Asylum. Along the way we see an extremely angry batman dispatching several rogues while swearing vengeance on Bane.

It is hinted that Bane is secretly controlling the rogues in this comic. I still find it weird when Batman (or any hero for that matter) beating all their rogues in a single issue. These guys tend to give Batman problems in any given issue so having him wreck several villains seems cheap, lazy, and diminishes the characters.

I went back and looked at some of the reviews for this issue when it released in 2019 and fans were giving King a pass because the plot finally moved forward. On that note this issue is an improvement over the last several comics. However, the book continues to be held back by lame dialogue and the weird poetry that Tom King keeps inserting into his scripts.

The art from Mikel Janin and Jorge Fornes is inoffensive, but the art direction is undercut by the lack of any narrative tension in this story. I have seen an angry Batman before; this take seems forced.

In Short: Batman finally escapes his nightmare's and waltzes into his next story arc.

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"80's Slasher At its Finest"

Maniac of New York: The Bronx is Burning - #1

Writer: Elliott Kalan | Artist: Andrea Mutti | Publisher: Aftershock Comics

**Review**

Maniac of New York: Bronx is Burning is a homage to the 80's slasher film. It is also the sequel to an indie comic I never knew existed. Like most true horror movie sequels from my youth Elliott Kalan and Andrea Mutti invite you to revisit past events while moving the story forward. The community is still reeling from the events of the prior series. Entire task forces have been created to deal with the Maniac if and when he shows up again. The problem is nothing work, and he shows up at a local public school.

The Bronx is Burning #1 is not a deep or complex issue, but it is a lot of fun especially if you know the formula. Everyone in-universe is freaked out by The Maniac. The situation is so bad that copycats are using his visage to take advantage of the fear spread across the city.

The art direction from Andrea Mutti is gritty, brutal, and transitions well from the mundane to horrifying. The Maniac himself is this universe of Michael Myers and Jason Voorhees an unkillable force of nature. In fact, it would be quite easy see The Maniac as a Jason rip-off. However, I will allow it since we have not seen a proper Friday the 13th film in ages.

In Short: Maniac of New York: Bronx #1 Bronx is burning nails the tone and atmosphere of every classic slasher film you have memories of. If you grew up in the 70's and 80's this series is the perfect send-off.

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"Feels Like Something Special"

Star Henge Book One: The Dragon and The Boar
Writer/Artist: Liam Sharp | Additional Art by Matylda McCormack-Sharp | Publisher: Image Comics

**Review**
I have been a fan of Liam Sharps work for years and was excited to support this creator-owned project as soon as I saw the solicit on the Comic Hub App. Liam does double duty as Writer and Artist which is a combination that proves to be comics gold.

Star Henge is a high concept project that blends Sci-fi and Fantasy. Book One lays the groundwork for the series, introducing characters and laying the worldbuilding foundation.


If I am interpreting the issue correctly, humanity discovers faster than light travel via magic and begin colonizing the galaxy. Everything is great until a group of astronauts inadvertently awaken an ancient A.I. that brutally murders than and launches a war on the rest of us.

The narrative transverses time and space. It is tied together by the narration of Amber who recounts the events in question and her relationship with Darryl who has a deeper relationship with the overall story. I admit I got a little lost reading this book. The narration helps but the story is not in focus at this time, and I expect more clarity as this series goes on.


Liam's art is as sharp as ever and if the book were presented without words, it would still be worth the cover price. The art direction is God-Tier and even the segments that are confusing were still captivating.

The story feels epic in scope and scale and imagine by the end of the series we will be looking at one of the most beautiful works of art produced in the comics medium.


In Short: Some of the concepts presented in Star Henge Book One flew over my head but the issue is a visual masterpiece blending sci-fi and fantasy. I was intrigued from beginning to end of the issue.

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"Sometimes Dead Is Better"

The X-Cellent #1
Writer: Peter Milligan | Artist: Michael Allred | Publisher: Marvel Comics | Variant cover by David Mack

**Review**
Peter Milligan and Mike Allred's run-on X-Force which evolved into X-Statix is my favorite take on the X-Force franchise by a wide margin. The series was different from the X-Books that were being released a t the time.

The group also stood out because of the team's celebrity status in relation to most mutant titles. The series was also distinct in that readers could not get attached to any of the cast. X-Statix team members were subject to being killed off at any time. Not even DC's Suicide Squad had a larger rotating cast of characters. If nothing else, I will always admire the creative team's ability to keep me invested in characters that may only be around for an issue or two.


The focus of The X-Cellent #1 is split between X-Statix and The X-Cellent. The X-Cellent are a new group of mutants led by Zeitgeist, The original leader of this iteration of X-Force. The comic is dedicated to public perceptions of both teams.

While I appreciate Peter and Mike being true to the spirit of their take on these characters, we have lived through 20+ years of celebrity/reality TV culture. Unfortunately, a lot of jokes and references to social media culture feel dated.


I also thought it was odd that in the Krakoa era of X-Men the mutants of X-Statix/X-Cellent are still dead. The oversight may be explained in this series, but X-Statix has always been detached from mainline X-Men titles so, shrugs.

Mike and Laura Allred have not missed a step and the art direction for The X-Cellent is just as solid as ever. I get that the art may not be for everyone but the simpler style contrast against the shocking violence and humor was always a key selling point for the series.


I was not blown away by this issue and was bored at times reading it. The celebrity obsession was a bit much in current year. I am tempted to go back to my old stash and see if it was as pronounced back then. I could just be getting older and now have different sensibilities.

In Short: While it is nice to revisit these characters. I am not sure if the X-Statix format still has legs in 2022

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I reviewed Nubia & The Amazon #3 awhile back and gave it a scathing assessment. Issue #4 does read better this time around. The story may land a satisfying conclusion depending on the direction the creative team goes in the final two issues. On the positive side of this comic, Nubia has a few solid action sequences. This change allows Alitha Martinez and Darryl Banks to flex and show that they can do more than draw bland characters spewing even blander dialogue. There are also some meaningful insights revealed about the characters of Nubia, Andromeda, and Medusa. On the positive side of this comic, Nubia has a few solid action sequences. This change allows Alitha Martinez and Darryl Banks to flex and show that they can do more than draw bland characters spewing even blander dialogue. There are also some meaningful insights revealed about the characters of Nubia, Andromeda and Medusa.

The comic flashes back to Nubia's time in 70's Chicago. It was during this period she developed a romance with a schoolteacher, Ms. Knight. I may have missed it but considering these characters become lovers It is odd that Knights first name is never mentioned. Nubia saves Knight and her students from a random monster which sets off their awkward romance. This section of the comic also comes off as weird. The dialogue is rough. Knight seems overly smitten with Nubia from their first interaction. It gets even stranger when Nubia follow's Knight home and prevents an attempted rape. The scene gives us a lesson on toxic masculinity while downplaying that Nubia is a creepy stalker. 

Back in present Themyscira, the Amazon's spend the issue trying to save Andromeda from being possessed by Medusa. The weakness of these scenes is that aside from a couple Amazon's everyone is still eating Nubia's ass. Clearly Nubia has abandoned her post as guardian of Doom's Doorway at several points in the past. You would think this would be a bigger issue for the Amazon's, but it is glossed over like every other clever idea in this series.

The story is clumsily coming together. I think the biggest problem with Nubia & The Amazons so far is the weak editing and pacing the series for a collected edition. This is a very simple story bloated by very pretentious dialogue.

The story is clumsily coming together. I think the biggest problem with Nubia & The Amazons so far is the weak editing and pacing the series for a collected edition. This is a remarkably simple story bloated by very pretentious dialogue. We see these elements in every series that tries to combine superheroes with Game of Thrones, political intrigue (X-Men - Krakoa, Black Panther - Wakanda). The high concept format does not work for superheroes. I hope this trend ends soon because it zaps the excitement from short-form 22-page storytelling.

In Short: Nubia and The Amazon's gets out of its own way and puts more focus on the elements and downplays those that do not. The series is still a mess, but I have seen worse.

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One of the biggest regrets of 2021 was falling behind on IDW's TMNT comics. Like Tom King's run-on Batman, TMNT is a series I will keep reviewing. Neither run is in great shape at the time of writing this review, but I will plug along until the series flatlines or gets better.

TMNT #110 has two plots running concurrently. The main plot follow's Leonardo as he gathers intel on Old Hob an d his plans for Mutant Town. The cover plot follow's Raphael and Alopex's date night.

I am not the biggest fan of Sophie Campbell's chosen direction of this series. The story is not bad, but her creative choices are not the best for this series. If TMNT: Mutant Town was a side series, and the main book was more action oriented I do not think the fandom would be as apathetic to the comic book.

This issue is over a year old. If you have stuck with the series to date, I am curious of your thoughts on how Sophie's direction is playing out?



It is nice seeing the Turtles lives when they are not on missions. The relationship between Raph and Alopex is cute and the interaction they have with the mutant biker gang goes does a nice bit of character buildings for all involved.

The segments with Leonardo are a lot more interesting and serious. He gets to show off his skillset as a ninja and goes undercover to infiltrate Hobs base of operations.

The strongest aspect of Sophie's direction is that Mutant Town feels like an actual community of mutants that have lives independent of whatever is going on with our heroes. It just feels weird that everyone seems to have acclimated to being mutants so quickly. I would be losing my shit if I woke up one day as a mutant Cockroach. There are elements of the Mutant Town storyline that work but the presentation is a bit too whimsical.

In Short: TMNT #110 is okay single issue, light on action heavy on world-building and character progression.

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I checked the reviews of Casual Fling on Comicbookroundup.com and it's hard to believe that the series is scoring as low as it is. I have a few theories, but I won't get into them in this review.

The story picks up with Matthew meeting with is Sensei (Mentor) and doing a deep dive into his wife's sex tape. The goal is to find out who Alex is really.

The first half of the iss ue is great. I lie that Mattheo and Jennifer are proactive in dealing with the situation. The Sensei character is also hilarious and has the best line in the comic when she suggests that next time that the couple feels like stepping out, they have a threesome.

The downside of the issue is the pacing of the second half. We learn that "Alex" has preyed on other women and they are naturally nervous about coming forward. This fine and makes sense but the act swerve comes out of nowhere and leads me to believe that the final issue's conclusion will be rushed.

Casual Fling was originally solicited as a five-issue series. This may be a mistake but based on where this issue ends, it feels like the additional issue may have been needed to flesh out some of the character motivations that are presented here.

It would have been hard for any writer to top the last issue of this series. To _ credit I have no idea what to expect when Casual Fling ends but it's been a hellava ride so far.

In Short: Casual Fling #3 is another solid issue but nailing the ending will be tough.

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1985's Fright Night is one of my favorite Vampire movies. When I saw the solicit for a direct sequel to the film by the original writer/director the purchase was an easy decision.

I never watched the 1988 sequel or the remake, so my memories of the franchise was pure going into this issue. I could do some more research or watch the movies, but I'd rather keep my reaction to this materia l as raw as possible.

Tom Holland's Fright Night #1 is a follow-up to the film that I know and love. As a sequel this take is nearly perfect. The story gives a detailed recap of the 1985 film before pivoting and catching up with the surviving characters.

Charlie Brewster and Amy Peterson are now in senior year and have parted ways. Meanwhile, Peter Vincent has written a novel detailing the events involving Jerry Dandridge and the vampire killings but presents the account as a work of fiction.

While establishing the status quo of the principal characters the comic also introduces a new group of protagonists who have for our heroes to deal with.

The issue feels like a natural progression of the story. The series is still in setup phase so there isn't much action. However, the issue does not feel decompressed like most current year mini-series.

Ironically, the weakest section of the book is the recap of the film. This segment is effective but the art direction for this portion of the book isn't the best and it is glaring. Thankfully, this part of the book does not take too much of the page count. The reminder of the book has a different artist who is better fit for the story.

I do not want to spoil the comic for fans of the source material. The pace and progression of the story is great. James Kuhoric has a great voice for these characters. The scale of the story also feels self-contained. The hook of the series is obviously nostalgia and to revisit these characters, but the member-berries are not overblown which I appreciated.

In Short: The Fright Night Sequel you've been waiting for.more

I read Kane Abel about a month ago while stoned and didn't remember much about it aside from its presentation being akin to a fever dream of ideas.

I reread the original graphic novel again today and though I can recall the events of the book, I'm not sure who the book is for aside from fans of batshit crazy anthologies.

The closest series I can compare Kane & Abel to woul d be Heavy Metal. The comic is an anthology featuring several short stories crafted by creators Shaky Kane and Krent Able. I've never heard of these creators, but I'd love some of what they were smoking while writing this book. Although some aspects of the book didn't land for me, I admire the presentation and imaginative nature of the project.

Even upon the second read some of the stories and concepts went over my head. Including the main narrative through-line that features a character suspiciously bearing a resemblance to Jack Kirby. These sections of the book are nice, and I appreciated the Easter eggs I did pick up on. I'm also pretty sure that there are a ton more that I missed out on.

The standout section for segment of the book features "Black Fur" a talking bear vs A Non-Binary kaiju sized Monstrosity named Lady Death Roach. The segment totally caught me off guard by the sheer absurdity of it all. This story has it all, including a pair of infants wielding chainsaws.

Another notable segment features Nightmare and his sidekick, Sleep as they investigate a possible vampire infestation. The story isn't as out there as Black Fur and Death Roach but it's just as imaginative and has a pretty slick twist ending.

Kane & Able is 72-pages and features a 12.99 cover price. The book was released by Image Comics over a year ago so you may be able to catch it on discount. The title has a retro style like classic horror magazines from 60's and 70's. The characters are also presented in a nostalgic way that makes them feel vintage and familiar even though I had never experienced them before.

The only real downside is that stories felt totally disconnected from each other. I know there is a through-line that readers familiar with these creators may pick up on but I couldn't and It left me feeling a bit frustrated. I also found myself asking the point of this project? The point could also be that there is no point at all.

In Short: Kane & Able is a nice anthology to pass time with but the disparate nature of the stories and events may make the project inaccessible to mainstream readers.

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"Southern Belles of the Timesteam"
Majorie Finnegan: Temporal Criminal #1
Writer: Garth Ennis | Artist: Goran Sudzuka
Publisher AWA: Upshot | Mike Deodato Jr. Variant

**Review**
I am not sure why Marjorie Finnegan: Temporal Criminal #1 presented me with such a rough review. The comic has a lot going on. It's written by Garth Ennis (The Boys, Preacher), one of the greatest comic writers of our time. The art from Goran Sudzuka is solid, varied and shockingly violent. I guess the main gripe is that nothing about this issue connected with me. As much as I like Ennis, this issue feels like he's phoning it in.

This is a time travel story. Marjorie is a fun-loving character that pulls heists across the timestream. She also keeps a talking severed head that fantasizes about fucking her as a companion. There are a few laughs to be had in the issue The first half of the issue is a decent intro and focuses in on the time heist element of the series. This section of the book also does a solid job of explaining how time travel works in this section.

The B-Plot of the issue sets up the antagonist and why the two will eventually bump heads. In its entirety the book is functional and there isn't much to knock aside from the general mediocrity.

This series ended months ago. I have the entire comic run in queue and hope the plot picks up. Nothing about Marjorie Finnigan #1 stood out as must-read material despite the creative team. The lack of excitement after reading this comic is kind of sad considering how varied the action and locales are in this issue.

In Short: If you have a spot on your pull list or bookshelf Marjorie Finnigan: Temporal Criminal be worth a spot but there simply are better options available. We will see how the series develops.

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Batman: The Detective #1 - A Dark Knight in London
Writer: Tom Taylor | Artist: Andy Kubert | Publisher: DC Comics
KAEL NGU Variant Cover

Review œ

Since I relaunched "GTMedia Reviews" as "I Review Comics", the Batman titles I've reviewed have been hit and miss. I'm currently reviewing the tail end of Tom King's run, as well as Joker: Puzzle box and Suicide Squad: Get Joker. Of the Bat-books, I've reviewed non have stood out as anything other than mediocre which is sad because:

A. Batman has always been one of my favorite Superheroes.

B. DC is producing so many books featuring the Bat-Family of characters.

Batman: The Detective by Tom Taylor and Andy Kubert is easily the best of the Bat titles I've reviewed recently. The story appears to be set in the future. I haven't read the solicits for the title or any other reviews. I am not exactly sure of the background surrounding the series. I'm not even entirely sure this is Bruce Wayne in the suit.

This Batman may be Bruce Wayne, but since no one mentions him by name so I won't assume. In any case, the character is jaded by events that the series isn't clear about and focuses on taking Batman in a new direction away from the status quo (Gotham City, Wayne Manor, Etc.).

The book follows Batman as he investigates a terrorist attack on a plane that leaves over 100 people dead and one of his allies, Beryl Hutchinson A.K.A. Knight critically injured. The opening action sequence is over the top and beautifully rendered by Kubert. It sets the tone of the series and also raises some interesting questions. Why are the bad guys wearing Batman cowls?

In addition to wild action, the supporting cast is surprisingly strong. In addition to Knight, Squire is another interesting character that reminded me a lot of Robin without being a ripoff.

I am interested in seeing where this story leads without having much knowledge of the series getting into it. I am curious about how Batman got to this point and excited to see Tom and Andy's take on these heroes and villains. The issue is dynamic, has a lot of energy, and doesn't feel like it's written with a Trade Paperback in mind.

In Short: Sometimes a comic just work and Batman: The Detective #1 is one of them.

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The Worst Dudes #1 - Too Crude To Be Cool
Words: Aubrey Sitterson | Art: Tony Gregori

Review œ
Before getting into the meat of this review I have to mention that this is an ugly comic book. I'm not sure why this art style was chosen but It exacerbates the other issues I have with this title.

The Worst Dudes #1 reminds me a lot of Mark Millar's Space Bandits. So mu ch so that I could easily see this series existing in the same universe. That's not to say that this comic feels like a rip-off. It's just thematically similar.


The Problem with The Worst Dudes is that Aubrey Sitterson is no Mark Millar. The book tries way too hard to be edgy. The story follows Sam Sugar, a detective given the task of locating the Queen's Daughter, Zephyr Monsoon. To assist in this task he's also given a sidekick, Bang, the Queen's asshole son.

The two don't get along and Bang has an obvious superiority complex, think Damien Wayne. After introductions, the two are sent on their way and run into Caligula Monomacho, a giant cat who seems to have had a sexual relationship with Zephyr.


I mentioned that The Worst Dudes is an ugly comic. To Tony Gregori's credit, I think the art direction may have been intentionally messy to hide some of the more egregious content. The book is crude and every joke or sight gag is over the top. You get trans characters with obvious bulges and nipple twisting. Other characters are getting blowjobs in a panel.

Underneath all of the depravity, The Worst Dudes is a buddy cop story. The cops don't get along but you see the foundation for mutual respect developing between the leads. There are flashes of a good story here but it's buried underneath the nonsense and the jokes simply don't land. The book isn't great but the I have the series in my pull box so I guess I gotta review it, grumble...


In Short: I can't recommend The Worst Dudes #1 but it has barebones elements that work and may come together into a solid story by the end of the series.

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Batman #69 - Why is Bane Naked?
Writer: Tom King | Artist: Yanick Paquette
Cover by Francisco Mattina

Review œ

Tom King's Knightmares is a very weird story arc. It doesn't start with a bang, doesn't have any shocking reveals and there isn't much of a climax. The arc just ends like sex in a loveless marriage.

As this issue progresses we get more "Bat-Simp " as Bruce uses his connection to Selina to pull himself from under the influence of Scarecrows fear toxins. This aspect of the comic is written as a below-average romance with Bruce pining after a woman that left him at the altar. The fact that even in a dream Bruce can't get the girl without groveling is kinda pathetic.

While Batman slumbers on, the rest of the issue hones in on the blooming alliance between Thomas Wayne (Flashpoint Batman) and Bane. This story is more interesting than the Bat-Cat stuff which is way to melodramatic but also has its weird shortcoming in that the two characters spar and Bane is naked throughout their scenes together. There's no real reason for Bane to be naked here and the fact that Thomas Wayne is smiling through much of this exchange is weird.

The variant cover by Francesco Mattina is fantastic. The art from Yanick Paquette is gorgeous in spots and utterly bizarre in others. The nostalgic takes on Bruce and Selina are a nice touch as they dance through the comic but these moments don't make up for the odd sequences in this issue or storyline. It's as if Knightmares was a throwaway storyline designed to fleece Batman readers who were looking for any sort of resolution to the Bat/Cat storyline.

At a glance, there are some brief moments of imagination in the Knightmares storyline. The silent issue of #68 comes to mind as well as the Professor Pyg fight in issue #62. Those comics worked because Tom King was able to get out of his way and let Lee Weeks and Mitch Gerads do the heavy lifting artistically. The rest of the storyline had no clear direction and even the ending feels Low-T.

I can't see a new reader picking up this graphic novel and seeing it as a definitive take on any of these characters which is a shame because like comics, dreams are only limited by imagination.

In Short: After 6 issues of Knightmares, I'm still trying to figure out the point of it all.

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Not All Robots #3 - The Obsolete Machine
Writer: Mark Russell | Artist: Mike Deodato Jr. |
Publisher: AWA Upshot

Review œ
In my previous reviews of "Not All Robots", I put a lot of stock into the Human/Robot conflict that had been brewing. Mark Russell shifts that dynamic a bit by introducing a new wrinkle that should have probably been obvious from the start.

Not All Robots #3 introduces Omni, the corporation behind the machines currently plaguing humanity. Omni plans to introduce a new line of Robots with human-like features (Man-Droids). This threatens the current model of House-Bots with the same fear of obsolesces currently facing humanity. It's an interesting twist that grants the Robots a degree of empathy that was lacking in prior issues.

The irony is that all the death and misery is being caused by a small cabal of elites that could care less about either group. Profit and power is the ultimate goal and everything else is a means to an end.

Thematically, Not All Robots #3 is brilliant. It puts a new spin on the working class vs. corporate elite trope. There is the obvious allusion of automation supplanting large swaths of the workforce and how this impacts those left behind. The head of Omni looks suspiciously like Jeff Bezos, which is ironic because most of the Amazon workforce is a few lines of code away from being replaced by A.I.

The story also presents a tongue-in-cheek example of capitalism run amuck with no apparent safeguards. The series has covered several ugly aspects of society and feels even more timely in an age where fascism and authoritarianism seem to be reemerging across the world. There is a political subtext to the series but I never felt talked down to nor did I feel that Mark Russell was using the series as a soapbox.

When Mark is at his best he draws attention to an issue in a matter-of-fact way. He presents the problem to the reader and allows them to take the stories and implications from there. It is a cool philosophical way of storytelling that I wish we got more of across entertainment.

Mike Deodato Jr. shines again in this issue and manages to capture emotion in the faceless machines. There's also a ton of detail conveyed in the linework and inks throughout the issue. The detail in the art makes the story feel grounded yet larger in scope in scale than it would have otherwise. It was also a nice touch that the lead character suddenly becomes a spitting image of Michael Douglas from "Falling Down".

In Short: Not All Robots is one of the best titles on my reading list. It's easy to see the real world through the lens of this scenario, which is a hallmark of the best science fiction.

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"The Queen of The Amazons and Her Hoes"

Nubia And The Amazons #3
Writers: Stephanie Williams & Vita Ayala | Artist: Alitha Martinez | Publisher: DC Comics

Review œ

**Disclaimer** If you're enjoying Nubia and the Amazons please I'd love to read why in the comments below.

Stories set within Themyscira, Krakoa, and Wakanda tend to have the same proble m. The settings are presented as Utopian to the point that all the characters have a pretentious air that takes away relatability on a basic level.

I get "gods" being distant from the reader. It's a different story when Nubia and her supporting cast are all written like second-rate Shakespearian actors.

Nubia and The Amazons have been more miss than hit so far. If you're collecting this series I'm curious as to why. I have a blog, and I try to stick with a mini-series until the end but why are you slogging through this miserable experience?

This issue is rough. Medusa makes her move on Nubia using Andromeda as a vessel. The two fight to an obvious conclusion. A secondary plot is also established with New Amazon, Bia having ominous visions of things to come.

The rest of the comic is a hot mess. The story reinforces how much the new Amazons look up to, revere and lust after Nubia. Aside from sucker-stroking the lead character, this is one of the most boring comics I've ever read. The comic doesn't offer much aside from confirmation that Nubia is the best Amazon ever, and screws her subordinates.

The art from Alitha Martinez is just as dispassionate as the script. There's no energy to any of the events taking place. Even the action sequences are a bland affair. Nubia and The Amazons have a lot of potential but the creative team lacks imagination and aren't suited for superhero comics.

This isn't the best use of Nubia. Beyond the virtue signal of the character being elevated to Queen of the Amazons, this series has been generally worthless.

In Short: Nubia and The Amazons backslides. This is one of the worst single issues I've read in recent memory.

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Casual Fling #2 - A Little Too Close To Home..
Writer: Jason Starr | Artist: Dalibor Talajic

Review œ

I read Casual Fling #1 a few months ago and while there was a solid premise established it wasn't exactly must-read material. However, as a person that has had a tumultuous marriage at times, this issue hit a bit close to home.

After the first issues affair, Jennifer is placed in a position as her "fling" has plans that go beyond a one-night stand. Later night calls turn into daytime visits and quickly evolve into threats and extortion.

The situation gets so bad that Jennifer is forced to admit the affair to her husband. I've been married several years now and based on personal experience, the scenes between Jennifer and Matthew are very real. Jason Starr is fair to both parties in this marriage and although Jennifer is clearly in the wrong it's hard not to empathize with her situation.

Matthew is also presented as a stronger co-lead than we were originally led to believe in the first issue. In the first installment, Matt was presented as the typical current year beta-husband. This perspective changes on a dime when shit gets real and he has to take the lead on the safety of his family.

I still contend that Casual Fling isn't the most original story but it moves at a nice pace and the tension surrounding the characters is palpable. This is also a comic that could easily translate to other mediums. This is also a story that I think many professional women and housewives will gravitate towards. I gave my wife a rundown of the premise and she was immediately on board.

I'm a lot more invested in Casual Fling now than after reading the first issue. I don't believe that the series is decompressed. I do believe that Jason needed to establish the monotony of Jennifer and Matthew's relationship before tearing their lives apart.

Casual Fling has been collected as a Trade paperback. Although the series probably reads better in the collected format, it's been a solid story in its original monthly format.

In Short: Mommy does a bad thing and suffers the consequences...

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I love comic books. It's the primary reason I write long-winded reviews of books no one will ever read on a site that no one will ever see.

One reason western comics are losing ground to Manga is the idea that every comic is someone's first. It's often hard for new readers to jump into a 700+ issue ongoing series. The question is often where do I start?

There's also a sense t hat most comics and mini-series don't matter. Comics are constantly shifted in unpopular directions by unpopular writers which kill enthusiasm within the core fanbase that cares about the character and their continuity.

Both positions cited above are contradictory at first glance. However, a nice jumping-on point will often entice new readers to invest in previous volumes of a popular ongoing franchise. This doesn't work when you're reading a reboot of a reboot of a reboot. This is the main reason I don't review a series I have a working knowledge of or have Issue #1 on hand.

Fist of the North Star Volume 1 is my first Manga. I'd seen images of Ken floating around for decades and did watch a few minutes of the Anime. I still had no idea what the story was about or idea of what I was getting into.

Once I settled myself into the differences between manga and western comics I was immediately hooked on the Story of Kenshiro. This isn't a deep story. However, I did appreciate that there weren't 50-word balloons on every page. It's also cool reading a story where the writer's political views aren't driven home on every page.

Fist of the North Star reads a lot like a classic western blended with Mad Max. There is a narrative through-line that develops between segments of the story but each segment stands alone and begs the reader to keep going.

Most comics I review lately don't seem to value standalone storytelling. If you pick up a random issue of a random comic book you're probably going to be lost. This is a symptom of story decompression. In fairness, a 6-issue storyline will generally tell a complete story but jumping in is almost impenetrable, especially within a meandering story.

Fist of the North Star does not have this problem. Each segment of this volume starts with Kenshiro stumbling into a bad situation. By the end of the installment, justice is served in the most violent way possible. Stories are presented in a simple episodic format that makes this material easy to adapt across genres.

In addition to Buronson's stellar narrative focus Fist of the North Star is a beautiful book. Tetsuo Hara's characters are stylized and presented in equal parts power and menace. Kenshiro is a hugely powerful man. He's often matched against threats that tower over him. This gives the impression that Ken is an underdog in the same sense that Hulk Hogan would be seen as an underdog against an opponent like Andre The Giant.

I loved Fist of the North Star Vol: 1 and its format. I've been reviewing the latest volumes as they are released. I'll also be checking out more Manga including Golgo 13 and Akira.

It is also nice to read a story that offers genuine escapism and not get dragged into whatever social ill is up the writer's ass this month.

In Short: Fist of the North Star Vol: 1 is your favorite Western blended with Mad Max and presented in a brilliant package. more