I was as surprised as anyone else that Gerard Way’s “The Umbrella Academy” turned out as well as it did.  While writers from TV and film have a spotty enough record making a successful transition to writing comics, the number of celebrities from other mediums — Way was the lead singer and frontman for “My […]

What keeps this series entertaining for me is the constant stream of plot twists and complications that confound my expectations for what is essentially a B-list title in terms of artistic skill.  Granted, some of these twists and complications are less exciting than others, but “Claymore” has built up some real momentum in the storytelling […]

When I first heard about this new series from J. Michael Straczynski, I was intrigued.  Charting the fall from grace of a superhero’s former sidekick in a way that makes it compelling, as opposed to depressing or boring, would be a tricky target to achieve.  Yet Straczynski has plenty of experience with the genre, and […]

So it has occurred to me that the titles released in Marvel’s original graphic novel line have been released in such a way to cash in on whatever character or team is big in other media at the moment.  “Avengers:  Endless Wartime” came out in time for the start of “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” “Amazing Spider-Man: […]

It’s been said (and I like to quote) that superhero comics are all about the illusion of change.  For all of the crazy stuff that happens to superheroes over the years, they eventually revert back to their classic forms and we love them for it.  This is why after a creatively and commercially successful year-and-a-half […]

After seven volumes, the stories of Dass Jennir and the crew of the Uhumele come to an end.  Interestingly, this is the only “Star Wars” comic series in recent history where the writing duties changed hands over the course of the series.  Dark Horse co-founder Randy Stradley took over from original writer Mick Harrison with […]

Now that Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta have built this weird and wild Western world, we get to see them dig into it and show the hidden depths that it has to offer.  There’s mythology in the tale of the Ranger and his companions who killed all the judges and now comes out of retirement […]

Meet Suzie.  She works at a library that is about to be foreclosed on by the bank and is busy trying to fundraise enough money to save it.  She also has the power to stop time whenever she has an orgasm.  Meet Jon.  He works for said bank, meets Suzie at one of her fundraisers […]

This was probably inevitable in the title’s run.  Pitting the mind of Otto Octavius in Peter Parker’s body against one of Spider-Man’s most famous villains?  Clearly a great way to show us what the character is made of before the final arc.  The problem is that the storyline plays out exactly as you’d expect.  After […]