I think I'm actually caught up with all the new releases! Except for the books that came out today, obviously.

 

 

"Batman: The Imposter" DC-Black Label: A grounded and gritty look at what effects Batman has on Gotham City. Slowing violent crime to a crawl, costing businesses and the city millions in damages, and of course copycat "heroes''. It's a tight engaging read that leans heavily into detective work by the GCPD and psychiatric work by Dr. Leslie Thompkins. I'm 50/50 on the art, some panels are deeply atmospheric, bathed in deep shadows and dirty reds. Then other panels, particularly faces seem flat and washed out, like the film was over exposed. 6 Black Mask BVDs out of 10

 

"Eternals Forever" Marvel: This is a tight one-shot focusing on a handful of the Eternals and a battle in an ongoing war with the Deviants. This allows Ralph Macchio the time to introduce the origins of both groups, letting this issue serve as a great introduction to the Eternals. 6 no this wasn't written by the Karate Kid out of 10

 

"Nubia & The Amazons" DC: Set firmly in current continuity, Nubia (current Queen of Themyscira) must prepare for the Trial Of The Amazons (2022's Wonder Woman event). The splash page dream/nightmare sequences are excellently designed though the art overall is serviceable. There's nothing wrong with it but it doesn't 'pop'. I liked seeing Nubia interact as a new Queen, leaning on new and old advisors alike. 6 Golden Snitches out of 10

 

"Refrigerator Full Of Heads" DC-Black Label-Hill House: Can we get more imprints onto one book? Anyways, this is actually really good despite being a completely new creative team. It reads, looks, and feels completely different from "Basketful Of Heads". Which is a surprisingly good thing. Rio Youers and Tom Fowler wear their influences and inspiration on their sleeves. There's a supernatural mystery, biker gangs, and a closed down beach! If you're looking for an older style horror vibe, like something from the 70's you could do much worse. 7 I think we're gonna need a bigger boat out of 10

 

 

 

"Catwoman: Lonely City" DC-Black Label: I don't know what to say about this first issue. I'm torn because I really love Cliff Chiang's art style but I'm not sure how well it works in Gotham. The story, while well executed and intriguing, is awfully slow. The questions set up as the driving macguffin are less interesting than the events preceding this story. Don't get me wrong I'm all in. I poured over every page fully ensnared by the colors and drama unfolding on each page. I just hope the execution blows away any uncertainty in the narrative. I know this is a pricier book, but don't despair at 47 pages, Cliff Chiang really packs in a lot of panels and information. 

 

"ET ER" AWA Upshot: A comedy medical sci-fi anthology.

 

"Phoenix Song Echo" Marvel: I don't know how to write about this issue without spoilers. It is an average story that fans of the Avengers Phoenix Tournament will want to pick up as an epilogue to Jason Aaron's tale.