Welcome to the second week of our new Review Rewind! Now you can see all of the week’s reviews in one handy article! There are tons of great books to cover, so let’s get started!
The biggest release this week is the start of Marvel’s next big crossover event, Age of Ultron #1. Cody gives some great insight into this issue, so be sure to check that out.
Over at DC, Green Lantern marches towards the end of Geoff Johns’ run and Jeff Lemire continues to improve the Green Arrow title.
Leaving the Big Two, Hellboy In Hell #4, Colder #5, Sex #1 and Lost Vegas #1 are all looking pretty darn tempting to pick up.
Adventure Time with Fionna and Cake #3
By Natasha Allegri, Patrick Seery, and Britt Wilson
Review by Roderick Ruth
“…the entire concept of Fionna and Cake is a direct spin-off from the popular cartoon where the main villain, The Ice King, created a story/fanfic that is based on his own romanticized vision of his counterparts Finn and Jake. The spin-off series was a smash hit –to say the least –and has not only captivated Adventure Time fans alike, but has added another layer of depth for fans to latch themselves on to.” Click for Full Review
Overall Score: 8/10
Colder #5
By Paul Tobin and Juan Ferreyra
Review by Tommy Lutz
“This is such a great mixed genre comic that even with the pacing issues it is a fantastic script. Paul Tobin touched on every subject that needed to be, but also left a whole bunch of threads loose that he could easily pick up another series with. As far as final issues go, this was probably the most exciting and weird issue yet.” Click for Full Review
Overall Score: 9/10
By Mike Mignola and Dave Stewart
Review by Tyler Goulet
“After this run of four, we’re going to get sporadic releases of a few issues whenever Mignola decides to bestow more issues unto his hungry fans. It’s unfortunate, but if the next issues are cut from the same magnificent cloth as the previous four issues are, whenever they come out we’re in for a treat. This is truly the story that Mike Mignola has been working towards for years, and he’s telling it 100% his way. This is the crown jewel in the Hellboy crown.” Click for Full Review
Overall Score: 10/10
By Jeff Lemire, Andrea Sorrentino and Marcelo Miaolo
Review by Corey Fryia
“Green Arrow #18 builds upon the seeds of mystery that Lemire had already sewn in the previous issue. Despite being on the lam and the would be target of a crazed archer named Komodo, Oliver Queen can’t help but chase after the mystery behind his supposed birthright. Unfortunately, this lands Ollie knee-deep into more trouble than he bargained for. Fortunately, Ollie’s perils make for an incredibly entertaining read.” Click for Full Review
Overall Score: 9/10
By Geoff Johns, Szymon Kudranski and Ardian Syaf
Review by Derek Baker
“As we march towards the end of the Geoff Johns era of Green Lantern, Johns is certainly not skimping on excellent character interaction and development. Sure, his last issue of GL is sure to have some blockbuster moments, but for the time being, he seems to be choosing substance over style. With Green Lantern this good, it’s just making it harder for fans to see Geoff go.” Click for Full Review
Overall Score: 8/10
By Scott Snyder, Yanick Paquette and Nathan Fairbairn
Review by Cody Mudge
“Their run had its ups and downs, but Scott Snyder and Yanick Paquette leave things on a high note with Swamp Thing #18 and that is something that we should all appreciate. Both men deliver their best work on the series in months and remind us all of how great this series can be.” Click for Full Review
Overall Score: 9/10
By Nick Spencer and Riley Rossmo
Review by Tommy Lutz
“The story has been a pretty slow build in the last three issues, coaxing a little bit more reader involvement in the mystery each time. That mystery is the best part about this comic, even with all of the sick and twisted gore that horror fans yearn for. That mystery is what we’re here for, and Bedlam #5 delivers a huge reader payoff.” Click for Full Review
Overall Score: 9/10
By Jim McCann, Janet Lee, Chris Sotyomayor, David Lanphear
Review by Andrea Shockling
“In a medium where superheroes will always have the upper hand, it’s odd that alien lizard hands aren’t also embraced. Or sentient, telepathic stretch blob…hands. Lost Vegas #1 is solidly science fiction, but if that scares you, you’re missing out” Click for Full Review
Overall Score: 8/10
Mara #3
By Brian Wood, Ming Doyle and Jordie Bellaire
Review by Cody Mudge
“This third installment of Mara delivers a healthy dose of something this comic sorely needed: some personality for our main character. So much of the story, up to this point, has been spent on world building that Mara has been a bit of a stagnant character, but she really comes to life this issue.” Click for Full Review
Overall Score: 9/10
Sex #1
By Joe Casey, Piotr Kowalski, and Brad Simpson
Review by Roderick Ruth
“While the title of this particular title is certain to grab the attention of comic shop attendees observing it on the shelf, the subject matter of the book seems to be about a much broader scope.” Read the full review to find out just what Sex is all about. Click for Full Review
Overall Score: 8/10
By Ron Marz and Walter Geovani
Review by Tommy Lutz
“Prophecy #7 avoided being predictable in every way. The climax, the resolution and the affect on the continuity of Red Sonja are all welcomed shockers. Fans of Dynamite should read this series, and those with a smidgen of curiosity should try Prophecy on for size.” Click for Full Review
Overall Score: 8/10
By Brian Michael Bendis, Bryan Hitch, Paul Neary and Paul Mounts
Review by Cody Mudge
“Though I haven’t felt overwhelmed by hype or speculation regarding this issue or event, no doubt the release of this book is the biggest event in comics this month and probably so far this year. Age of Ultron will have no problems selling, but is it worthy of the high numbers it is sure to pull? In a word: yes.” Click for Full Review
Overall Score: 8/10
All-New X-Men #8
By Brian Michael Bendis, David Marquez and Marte Gracia
Review by Cody Mudge
“What might be the funniest comic of the week, All-New X-Men is relentless in its exploration of the X-Men characters but it isn’t all one-liners and making fun of others behind their back. Bendis throws yet another pile of kindling onto the fire with this issue as a previously hinted conflict is resolved in a troubling way. Here’s a hint: it involves Jean Grey.” Click for Full Review
Overall Score: 9/10
By Jonathan Hickman, Dustin Weaver and Justin Ponsor
Review by Cody Mudge
“There aren’t many comics like Avengers and it’s that great creativity that this title uses as its greatest strength. And when I say creativity you can feel free to substitute that for “Hickman mind-bombed the S&$% out of us again”. The old Hickman mind-bomb…because just when you think you might have things figured out he drops one of those suckers on you and changes the game.” Click for Full Review
Overall Score: 8/10
By Dennis Hopeless, Salvador Larroca and Frank D’Armata
Review by Tommy Lutz
“You keep hoping for the story to reach the potential of the characters who inhabit it. After five issues you would hope that a creative team could find their groove, especially when working on a major comic for a major publisher. Cable and X-Force‘s cast members are all characters who can’t be found anywhere else at the moment, and thus, fans of Cable, Colossus, Domino, Forge and Dr. Nemesis must read this comic to get their fix. After this long, the directionless yet characterizing plot has got to pick up to keep readers on board.” Click for Full Review
Overall Score: 6/10
By Brian Michael Bendis, David Mack, Klaus Janson, Alex Maleev, Bill Sienkiewicz and Matt Hollingsworth
Review by Cody Mudge
“A lot of very talented people have had a hand in creating this series and the product has definitely been worthy of the big names involved. Co-writers Brian Michael Bendis and David Mack have built an incredible story surrounding one of the most interesting comic book superheroes ever created. I believe that we are reading what will one day be considered one of the greatest Big 2 comics of this era.” Click for Full Review
Overall Score: 9/10
By Dan Slott and Giuseppe Camuncoli
Review by Derek Baker
“When you have a bad guy that has no qualms about killing mass amounts of people, what do you do with him? Should you let him rot in a jail cell and wait until he inevitably breaks out and murders again, or should you kill one in order to save countless others? Dan Slott delves into this common superhero dilemma quite extensively in this issue.” Click for Full Review
Overall Score: 8/10
By Adam P. Knave, Sean E. Williams and Andrew Losq
Review by Andrea Shockling
“Brand new comic books are a risk, for both creator and reader. When the book in question is only available digitally, the risk is far greater for the creators, since estimates put digital-only readership at just above 10% of the entire comic market. In the case of Artful Daggers #1, the “risk” to readers is under a buck. So let’s talk about the benefits, because they’re pretty significant.” Read the full review to learn the benefits of reading this fair-priced book! Click for Full Review
Overall Score: 9/10
By Cullen Bunn & Joelle Jones
Review by Tyler Goulet
“Who doesn’t like sword fights with a little bit of creepy magic on the side? Nobody, that’s who! The fact that this series takes place in 580 A.D and in “the North,” not to be confused with the territory beyond The Wall, can only mean one thing – VIKINGS!” Click for Full Review
Overall Score: 9/10
by Ian Alley-Seals and Carl Mefferd
Review by Tommy Lutz
“This trade makes no qualms about putting readers right into the action as soon as they open the first page. It is almost like a miniature heart attack waiting to happen as the mouth of a giant sea creature opens around a ship. The crew of the ship, known as The Atlantis, through an epic struggle to defeat this monster find themselves at the mercy of the main protagonist’s past. Another ship dashes to the scene to aid The Atlantis, but as soon as our hero, Dr. Julius Fowler, realizes who the ship belongs to it becomes evident that the giant fish was the least of their concern.” Click for Full Review
Overall Score: 8/10
Derek Baker
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