1. Domino: Hotshots #3 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Gail Simone / Art: David Baldeon & Michael Shelfer / Colors: Jim Charalampidis
Sparkling dialog and some interesting character developments make this issue a delight.

2. War of the Realms #3 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Jason Aaron / Art: Russell Dauterman / Colors: Matthew Wilson
Big battle book. I did enjoy Daredevil stepping in for Heimdel and Spidey sporting a war helmet. Fun stuff.

3. Uncanny X-Men #17 (Marvel) ★★★
Writer: Matthew Rosenberg / Art: Carlos Gomez / Colors: Guru-eFX
I liked the back and forth story structure. Nice job of building tension. Carlos Gomez’s art breaths some fresh life into this series. Nice rebound.

4. Amazing Spider-Man #20.HU (Marvel) ★★★
Writer: Nick Spencer / Art: Cory Smith with Mark Morales / Colors: Erick Arciniega
I enjoyed the main story. It moved the plot along and cleared up a few things. Still a bit unclear where this story is going.

1. Daredevil #4 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Writer: Chip Zdarsky / Art: Marco Checchetto / Colors: Sonny Gho
Frickin’ awesome book! The interplay between Castle and DD reads so beautifully. It’s grim, dark and true. Great sequences throughout. Solid as they come.

2. Miles Morales: Spider-Man #5 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Writer: Saladin Ahmed / Art: Javier Garron / Colors: David Curiel
Schlock cover aside, this was a wonderful book. Garron’s art is gorgeous, and Ahmed’s writing has an easygoing, casual flow that reads real. Simply a beautiful book.

3. War of the Realms #2 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Jason Aaron / Art: Russell Dauterman / Colors: Matthew Wilson
More fighting, but the story comes through better than in issue #1. Plenty of interesting moments bring the book to life.

4. Amazing Spider-Man #19.HU (Marvel) ★★★
Writer: Nick Spencer / Art: Chris Bachelo with Wayne Faucher, Livesay, Jaime Mendoza, Victor Olazaba, Tim Townsend & Al Vey / Colors: Erick Arciniega
Bachelo’s artwork saves this issue. The story is okay, but after the Gibbon masterpiece, it feels a bit lightweight.

1. Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #5 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Writer: Tom Taylor / Art: Yildiray Cinar / Colors: Nolan Woodard
Sweet one-shot story. Some silly parts with the car, but a fun read with an ending packed with feels. Tops.

2. Amazing Spider-Man #19 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Nick Spencer / Art: Gerardo Sandoval / Colors: Edgar Delgado & Erick Arciniega
Interesting things happening in this story. Sandoval’s art continues the quality from Ramos. Solid read.

3. The Long Con #8 (ONI Press) ★★★★
Writer: Dylan Meconis & Ben Coleman / Art: EA Denich / Colors: Fred C. Stresing
Very funny read. Lots of great bits of business. Best issue in a while.

4. Avengers: No Road Home #9 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Jim Zub, Mark Waid & Al Ewing / Art: Paco Medina / Colors: Jesus Aburtov
Cover’s a bit misleading, but the story and art maintain the high quality. Lots of tension in this one. Looking forward to the finale.

HITS
Another big week for comic releases. Quite a few hits, but we only have room for four.

1: Adventures of the Super-Sons #9 (DC) ★★★★★
Writer: Peter J. Tomasi / Art: Scott Godlewski / Colors: Protobunker
Sparkling dialog, fun art, exciting action, plus a twist. This series keeps delivering.

2: Avengers: No Road Home #7 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Writer: Jim Zub, Mark Waid & Al Ewing / Art: Carlo Barberi / Colors: Jesus Aburtov
Another great installment in this wonderful series. Everything works. Loved the way the multiple narrations were handled.

3: Immortal Hulk #16 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Writer: Al Ewing / Art: Joe Bennett & Ruy Jose / Colors: Paul Mounts
Lots of great stuff in this book (What else is new?), plus Doc Sampson!

4: Domino: Hotshots #2 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Writer: Gail Simone / Art: David Baldeon / Colors: Jim Charalampidis
Gail Simone is at the top of her game, and David Baldeon’s art continues to shine.

MISSES
With so many books this week, it was time to highlight what I thought missed the mark. No worries, War of the Realms isn’t on the list.

1: Uncanny X-Men #15 (Marvel) ★
Writer: Matthew Rosenberg / Art: Salvador Larroca / Colors: Guru-eFX
Another unpleasant slog in the current series. I like the art, but the story direction, not so much.

2: Feast or Famine #3 (Alterna) ★★
Writer: Dave Swartz / Art: Joseph Cooper / Colors: Joseph Cooper
A lot of jumping around in this series conclusion. Hard to follow, with a confusing ending. Could have benefitted from an additional issue.

3: Cosmic Ghost Rider Destroys the Marvel Universe #2 (Marvel) ★★
Writer: Paul Scheer & Nick Giovanetti / Art: Todd Nauck / Colors: Antonio Fabela
Not as good as the first issue. The humor felt forced. Todd Nauck’s art was okay, but he could not capture Frank at all.

1: Daredevil #3 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Writer: Chip Zdarsky / Art: Marco Checchetto / Colors: Sonny Gho
Excellent. This series has taken off where the previous run, and ‘Man Without Fear’, left off without missing a beat. Brilliant writing by Chip Zdarsky with gorgeous art from Marco Checchetto. Easily one of Marvel’s best current titles.

2: Sharkey the Bounty Hunter #2 (Image) ★★★★
Writer: Mark Millar / Art: Simone Bianchi / Colors: Simone Bianchi
Love the gritty, and at times, highly stylized art in this book. It’s a fun read too. Mark Miller and Simone Bianchi have created a very interesting and enjoyable world here.

3: Heroes In Crisis #7 (DC) ★★★★
Writer: Tom King / Art: Clay Mann, Travis Moore & Jorge Fornes / Colors: Tomeu Morey
One of the best installments in this story so far. Everyone was played just right. Does it help that I love Blue Beetle and Booster? Yes it does. Minus points for the surprisingly poor cover.

4: Once Our Land: Book 2 #2 (Scout) ★★★★
Writer: Peter Ricq / Art: CJake Bilbao & Peter Ricq / Colors: Peter Ricq
Compelling and entertaining book by Peter Ricq & Jake Bilbao with a unique and refreshing visual style. Excellent stuff.

1. Immortal Hulk #15 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Writer: Al Ewing / Art: Joe Bennett / Colors: Paul Mounts
Wow. Just… wow. What an amazing read.

2. Spider-Man: Life Story #1 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Writer: Chip Zdarsky / Art: Mark Bagley / Colors: Frank D’Armata
Amazing. Great art, brilliant storytelling. Perfect.

3. Guardians of the Galaxy #3 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Writer: Donny Cates / Art: Geoff Shaw / Colors: Marte Gracia
Excellent book. Gorgeous art. Strong storytelling. Sparkling dialog.

4. Wizard Beach #4 (Boom! Studios) ★★★★★
Writer: Shaun Simon / Art: Conor Nolan with George Schall & Chad Lewis / Colors: Meg Casey
Possibly the the best book in this series yet. Excellent in every way.

5. Avengers: No Road Home #6 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Writer: Jim Zub, Mark Waid & Al Ewing / Art: Sean Izaakse / Colors: Jay David Ramos with Marcio Menyz
A really good book that packs in a lot of story. The art is sweet, and the action top notch. Wow.

6. Batman #67 (DC) ★★★★
Writer: Tom King / Art: Lee Weeks & Jorge Fornes / Colors: Lovern Kindzierski
Great issue-long chase/fight sequence. Lots of great stuff, plus a sweet reveal at the end. Beep.

7. Miles Morales: Spider-Man #4 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Saladin Ahmed / Art: Javier Garron / Colors: David Curiel
Fun old-school one-shot story. Beautiful art (inside). Great read. Minus points for the lame cover.

8. Thor #11 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Jason Aaron / Art: Lee Garbett / Colors: Antonio Fabela
Surprisingly strong Prequel to the War of the Realms. Thor’s obsession, Fryda’s strength, guest art by Lee Garbett. All good stuff.

1. Amazing Spider-Man #17 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Writer: Nick Spencer / Art: Humberto Ramos / Colors: Edgar Delgado
Ramos’ art is always a joy. The fight scenes here are epic. Spencer provides a nice mix of narration & dialog, along with twists that I did not see coming. I’m in.

2. Avengers: No Road Home #5 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Jim Zub, Mark Waid & Al Ewing / Art: Sean Izaakse / Colors: Marcio Menyz & Erick Arciniega
This is a really good book. I love Wanda’s narration and the reveal at the end. The art is aces.

3. The Long Con #7 (ONI Press) ★★
Writer: Dylan Meconis & Ben Coleman / Art: EA Denich / Colors: Fred C. Stresing
Back to adventure in this big battle isssue. The last third got a bit confusing, but the end promises more fun to come.

4. Uncanny X-Men: Winter’s End #1 (Marvel) ★★
Writer: Sina Grace / Art: Nathan Stockman / Colors: Federico Blee
Surprisingly solid wrap up to the Iceman solo story. The outing outrage seemed a bit late in the game, but I get it. Unfortunately, Stockman’s art continues to hurt the book.

1. Cosmic Ghost Rider Destroys Marvel History #1 (Marvel)
Writer: Paul Scheer & Nick Giovanetti / Art: Gerardo Sandoval & Victor Nava / Colors: Antonio Fabela
Lots of fun, and a truly interesting set up.

2. Uncanny X-Men #13 (Marvel)
Writer: Matthew Rosenberg / Art: Salvador Larroca / Colors: Guru-eFX
Seriously great art and a excellent story.

3. Avengers #16 (Marvel)
Writer: Jason Aaron / Art: David Marquez / Colors: Erick Arciniega
Beautiful art, excellent story and the Avengers (finally) act like the Avengers.

4. Avengers: No Road Home #4 (Marvel)
Writer: Jim Zub, Mark Waid & Al Ewing / Art: Sean Izaakse / Colors: Marcio Menyz
Nice fleshing out of the villain’s backstory. Art shines.

1. Daredevil #2 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Writer: Chip Zdarsky / Art: Marco Checchetto / Colors: Sonny Gho
Beautiful Book. Love the narration, the quiet moments… and that ending. Aces!

2. Fantastic Four #7 (Marvel) ★★★★
Writer: Dan Slott / Art: Aaron Kuder & John Lucas / Colors: Marte Gracia with Rachelle Rosenberg
Big things are happening. Wonderful art. Solid story. I don’t know what’s going to happen next. Love it!

3. Invaders #2 (Marvel) ★★★
Writer: Chip Zdarsky / Art: Carlos Magno with Butch Guice / Colors: Alex Guimaraes
Namor vs Cap is always a good time. I like the way the mystery keeps building.

4. Flash #65 (DC) ★★★
Writer: Joshua Williamson / Art: Rafa Sandoval & Jordi Tarragona / Colors: Rafa Sandoval
Solid art. Interestng story. A bit grim? Sure, but that’s today’s DC.