1. Immortal Hulk #24 (Marvel) ★★★★★
‘The Steel Throne’
Writer: Al Ewing / Art: Joe Bennett, Ruy Jose, Balardino Brabo, Marc Deering & Roberto Poggi / Colors: Paul Mounts / Cover: Alex Ross
Sweet Christmas. This book went places I did not see coming. The end of Fortean and the possible emergence of a new kind of Hulk. Big things are definitely brewing. Oh, and the ending? I have no words. I have lost all my words.
2. Absolute Carnage: The Immortal Hulk #1 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Writer: Al Ewing, Gerry Duggan, Mark Waid & James Robinson / Art: Felipe Andrade / Colors: Chris O’Halloran / Cover: Kyle Hotz & Dan Brown
Incredible book. The Banner narrative, the art by Filipe Andrade. Everyhting. Riveting from beginning to end. There’s a tension that runs through the whole thing. Just aces.
3. Daredevil #12 (Marvel) ★★★★★
‘Through Hell – Part 2’
Writer: Chip Zdarsky / Art: Marco Checchetto / Colors: Nolan Woodard / Cover: Julian Totino Tedesco
Gritty, dirty and brutal – twice. The fact the Murdock fight take splace in daylight makes it even more visceral. You could almost feel the punches. The Fisk scene… holy… yikes. Awesome book.
4. Canto #5 (IDW) ★★★★★
Writer: David M. Booher / Art: Drew Zucker / Colors: Vittorio Astone
Six pages of wordless battle and the end of Canto’s quest… or not the end? Beautiful storytelling and one of the most heartbreaking pages I’ve ever read (second to last – I read it three times). Wonderful book.
5. Once & Future #1 (Boom! Studios) ★★★★★
(6th Printing)
Writer: Kieron Gillen / Art: Dan Mora / Colors: Tamra Bonvillain / Cover: Dan Mora (6th Printing: Jae Lee & June Chung)
Okay, that’s just delightful. Gran is a pip and Duncan is adorable. I loved the brezzy dilog and dynamic art. Just a fun read all around. I totally get all the fuss. 6th Printing? Lordy.
6. Marvel Comics #1001 (Marvel) ★★★★★
Writer: Various / Art: various / Colors: Various / Cover: Rod Reis
Another fun collection of single page stories. Favorites? ‘Uato Know’, ‘Powers of Pack’, ‘Moving On’, ‘Comics for Victory’ and ‘Hulk Cookies’. Brizuela does a spot on Chris Giarrusso (is it an alias…hmmm?)
7. Black Cat #5 (Marvel) ★★★★
‘Yancy Street Shuffle – Part 2’
Writer: Jed MacKay / Art: Travel Foreman / Colors: Brian Reber / Cover: J. Scott Campbell & Sabine Rich
Fun battle with Blastarr. Nice little bits with Sue & Johnny.The writing is aces. Art too. All in all a very entertaining book.
8. Mountainhead #2 (IDW) ★★★★
Writer: John Lees / Art: Ryan Lee / Colors: Doug Garbark
They certainly packed a lot into this book. The mystery of Braeriach deepens with a growing cast of odd characters. Some solid dark humor in the final sequence. Very cool.
9. Doctor Strange #20 (Marvel) ★★★★
‘The Secret of the Ancient One’
Writer: Mark Waid / Art: Javier Pina / Colors: Brian Reber / Cover: Jesus Saiz
Solid one-shot >klik< finale for this Volume of Doctor Strange. We now >klik< know the cost of Strange's repaired hands… or do we? >klik<
10. Batman #80 (DC) ★★★★
‘City of Bane – Part 6’
Writer: Tom King / Art: John Romita Jr. & Klaus Janson / Colors: Tomeu Morey / Cover: John Romita Jr., Klaus Janson & Tomeu Morey
Good to see Bat & Cat taking back Gotham one thug at a time. Romita Jr’s art felt like a bit of a mismatch for this story, lacking the grit that has suited it well so far. Still, it’s an enjoyable read with some solid set pieces and a sweet cliffhanger.
11. Fantastic Four #15 (Marvel) ★★★★
‘Point of Origin – Part 2: The Invasion’
Writer: Dan Slott / Art: Paco Medina with Bob Quinn / Colors: Jesus Aburtov / Cover: Nick Bradshaw & John Rauch
Interesting take with The Unparalleled and Spyre. Odd that Reed didn’t detect their technology and send a message ahead of their arrival. Could have avoided all the unpleasantness. I really enjoyed the mixed language bit. Good stuff.
12. Contagion #1 (Marvel) ★★★
Writer: Ed Brisson / Art: Roge Antonio / Colors: Veronica Gandini / Cover: Juan Jose Ryp & Jesus Aburtov
Interesting little mystery illness causing big problems. The FF go down pretty fast, which shouldn’t be that easy to do. Not quite as scary as it could be, but still a solid read. Interesting artwork on Ben Grimm.
13. House of X #6 (Marvel) ★★★
‘I Am Not Ashamed’
Writer: Jonathan Hickman / Art: Pepe Larraz / Colors: Marte Gracia & David Curiel / Cover: Pepe Larraz & Marte Gracia
Somewhat quiet end to HofX. The art continues to dazzle, while the book felt like equal parts ending and beginning. The Cyclops/Havok panel was probably my favorite.
14. DCeased #5 (DC) ★★★
‘Hope Lost’
Writer: Tom Taylor / Art: Trevor Hairsine & Stefano Gaudiano / Colors: Rain Beredo / Cover: Joshua Middleton
Things are looking awfully grim. Surprised Supes didn’t just lift Barry into space and let the vacuum destroy him. Heat of the moment I suppose. They need to decide how tall Jon is. The farewell felt odd as a result of his constantly chaniging size. Definitely curious how this gets wrapped up.
15. Justice League #33 (DC) ★★★
‘Justice/Doom War – Part 4’
Writer: Scott Snyder & James Tynion IV / Art: Bruno Redondo & Daniel Sampere with Juan Albarran / Colors: Hi-Fi / Cover: Francis Manapul
Somewhat of a step backward. There’s a lot of back and forth going on here and it gets a bit confusing at times. Still a compelling read complete with a surprise ending.
16. Champions #10 (Marvel) ★★
‘The Road Ahead’
Writer: Jim Zub / Art: Steven Cummings / Colors: Marcio Menyz / Cover: Kim Jacinto & Rain Beredo
Champions ends not with a bang, but wth a heavy-handed muddle of a fight that gets resolved way to easily. Sort of like Trellain on ‘Star Trek’. This series certainly had its up and downs. The future should be interesting.
17. Spider-Verse #1 (Marvel) ★★
Writer: Jed MacKay / Art: Juan Frigeri & Carlos Lopez, Stacy Lee, Arthur Adams & Federico Blee, James Harren & Dave Stewart, Dike Ruan & Carlos Lopez, Sheldon Vella
I get the appeal of the Spider-Verse, but it’s doesn’t really connect with me. This book wasn’t bad, in fact it had some pretty cool moments, but it just feels so… forced.
18.Legion of Super Heroes: Millennium #2 (DC) ★★
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis / Art: Jim Cheung & Dekal / Colors: Tomeu Morey & Jordie Bellaire / Cover: Ryan Sook / Cover: Wendell Dalit
Not sure what to make of this book. I didn’t understand any of it. I guess not knowing anything about the Legion of Super heroes doesn’t help. I did enjoy the opening sequence with Michal tho. That’s something.