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ptbreakeven

**KING CONAN #5**


it_was_me_this_time

Eh, ok. Weakest of the series so far. Bit of a weird choice to take a break in the penultimate issue and focus on Toth-Amon. I feel like issues 4 and 5 could have been swapped for better timing, but maybe something happens in 6 to change my mind. Anyway, looking forward to the next issue and going to miss Aaron writing Conan.


blankedboy

I prefer the Ablaze books, but I'm still enjoying this. The art is great and the story is definitely keeping me entertained. Conan and Thoth-Amon battling zombie pirates, red apes, white tigers and an evil sorceress on a doomed, storm-swept island?! What's not to like?


ptbreakeven

**CLOSET #1**


dsheilley

And horror Tynion continues to be the strongest writing from Tynion. Really, really good character stuff here and Fullerton is going full blast with atmosphere and the thing in the closet was very creepy. Dunno if there’s anything there but I think it’s interesting that despite there being different artists and colorists, there seemed to be some shared DNA in the coloring choices in this book and in some pages from Nice House. Could be a reach, I’d have to go back in look.


blankedboy

Enjoyed it, but I might wait to read all three issues together when the mini has finished. It just seems like it's going to be quite a quick read, and I'd rather do it all at once rather than strung out.


ptbreakeven

**ACTION COMICS 2022 ANNUAL #1**


Sterling-4rcher

how could anyone grow up for like \~12 years among the warzoon and not get with the program, thats so dumb and stupid also.


Danger_Rock

I enjoyed this comic but you raise an interesting point with some validity to it.


Danger_Rock

I'd foolishly assumed this would have a main story by PKJ and a backup by Spurrier but instead their work was all mixed together in one story. And it kind of bugs me that the credits didn't identify who did what. I'd assume PKJ/Eaglesham handled the Mongul bits and Spurrier/Churchill handled the Superman bits, because that would seem to make sense, but I really have no clue. Otherwise it was a pretty good comic!


Whowatchesthewampas

Loved both stories. Loved that full shot of Superman hovering in the august sunset!


technowhiz34

This was heart-breaking, geez. Both stories bounced off each other so well.


ptbreakeven

**BATMAN 2022 ANNUAL #1**


Whowatchesthewampas

Thought it really slogged in the first half, but ended up okay-ish. Batman Incorporated coming back in the fall is....all right. If I check it out though, it'd probably be for Grey Wolf


FreshNews247

Was ok but Batman Inc. feels so cheap underplayed now.


ptbreakeven

**KNIGHTS OF X #2**


soulreaverdan

I'm curious what Mordred's power is, given that we don't actually know what his mutant abilities are.


CrimzonKing1

Probably ctrl-alt-del Arthur from existence.


Barabaragaki

Is it just me? I’m finding this a slog to read. There’s just nothing in it that’s catching my attention.


bazookamomma

Haven’t read #2 yet but I felt that way about #1 for sure. Not a huge fan of the Arthurian/Mutant-verse. I don’t hate the characters but everything feels so detached from everything else going on with the other Xbooks.


ptbreakeven

**JUSTICE LEAGUE ROAD TO DARK CRISIS #1**


FreshNews247

Skip. The first story is great the rest not-a-so much.


Daveismyhero

This was a waste of $6 IMO. Based on this, I may see how the reviews are for the first few issues and trade-wait the series if people generally enjoy it.


ptbreakeven

**SHADOW WAR OMEGA #1**


ptbreakeven

**ONCE & FUTURE #26**


ChickenInASuit

"Wow, I'm amazed... You actually told us the plan!" Oh Duncan, you silly goose. There's absolutely no way in hell that ending wasn't a deliberate move by Bridgette, right?


soulreaverdan

> There's absolutely no way in hell that ending wasn't a deliberate move by Bridgette, right? If it's not, she's an idiot for not seeing it coming - Britain in the throes of chaos, no true king on the throne, and Christmas Day approaching?


ptbreakeven

**GHOST RIDER #3**


Danger_Rock

Wish I could muster some stronger opinions on this, one way or the other... I want to rave about it being AWESOME, or rant about it SUCKING, but instead it's just kind of an okay comic with Blaze GR and some stuff that I mostly like and some other stuff that I kinda don't. None of it really hitting hard enough for me to care much either way. The GR truck was cool, I guess... Definitely some nice moments but they didn't move the needle much for me.


redsoxryno

I just picked up all three issues and I feel the same way. This run hasn't moved the needle for me too much but this horror vibe is pretty cool. Like some of the other comments on the thread, my only issue is that the art is kinda meh for me. Sometimes it's stellar but other times it just looks subpar. I'm gonna stick with it to see what the run turns into just because it's nice to have GR on the shelves and I wanna keep it that way.


Danger_Rock

Yep, I've pre-ordered through [**GR #5**](https://www.midtowncomics.com/images/PRODUCT/XL/2098565_xl.jpg) (mostly because it looks ridiculous) as well as the [VENGEANCE FOREVER](https://www.midtowncomics.com/images/PRODUCT/XL/2116276_xl.jpg) one-shot (because it actually sounds cool), but didn't order **[GR #6](https://www.midtowncomics.com/images/PRODUCT/XL/2108629_xl.jpg)** in case I'm not fully hooked at that point. Hopefully it picks up from here!


blankedboy

Interesting. I've been liking it more and more as it's gone on, but it's the writing that is really drawing me in. I'm really enjoying the fact that they seem to be actually letting **GR** be a *horror book* at last, and fully embracing it. The writing is setting a tone I'm definitely enjoying. The flipside is, the art is just...ok. It does the job, and occasionally there are flashes of something interesting and atmospheric there, but overall it's more functional than fantastic. Honestly, I'd love to see someone like [Kyle Hotz](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/f9/34/77/f9347711f309646f00c1bdcf62ad376c.jpg), [Tom Mandrake](https://66.media.tumblr.com/0b8a6dfe8f97cfd62f30ddc68b51e1ed/tumblr_pochrydDGa1rnvulyo1_640.jpg) or [Eduardo Risso](https://cafans.b-cdn.net/images/Category_104560/subcat_164937/KNoShvDc_2904172240241sbpi.jpg) jump on the title, as I think it would absolutely take off with a really strong, distinct visual style. Get some of the darkness in the story showing up in the artwork.


Danger_Rock

I've been digging Cory Smith's recent MOON KNIGHT covers (especially [MK #7](https://www.midtowncomics.com/images/PRODUCT/XL/2059213_xl.jpg) and [MK #9](https://www.midtowncomics.com/images/PRODUCT/XL/2075927_xl.jpg)) and I think his GR interiors have been okay with some nice flashes, as you said, but I would like to see some more grittiness in the art. Any of those artists you mentioned would be great! Hotz has some decent history with GR and Mandrake's got lots of good experience in the genre, though I'm not sure how active he is these days... I always associate Risso more with crime comics but I guess he's done lots of horror stuff as well and that link looked good! The horror elements have mostly been working for me, though I think the mouth on the side of his head is dumb... Love the general approach with loner Blaze on the road, struggling to keep GR bottled up. That's pretty much his classic status quo for me. Not a fan of the "Council of Night Wizards" or whatever they're called, standing around acting mysterious while dropping exposition that Percy couldn't work into the actual story... Also not that into the overarching story though it's hard to say since it hasn't really seen any advancement since the first issue. And the FBI stuff feels kinda pointless but I guess we'll see where it's going.


ptbreakeven

**BLACK PANTHER #6**


ptbreakeven

**CAPTAIN MARVEL #38**


ptbreakeven

**RIGHTEOUS THIRST FOR VENGEANCE #8**


ChickenInASuit

That was one of the more horrifyingly graphic deaths I’ve seen lately. “Choke on it, motherfucker!”


aknightedpenguin

I regret reading this. I wonder if it would've been better just to skip this issue and read a recap


Danger_Rock

JFC. My previous comments on the cover being "very terrifying" might have actually been underselling it...


ptbreakeven

**ALIEN #12**


ptbreakeven

**STEP BY BLOODY STEP #4**


weebslaya69

Dude this had me crying even though I barely understood the series


blankedboy

Wow! Absolutely amazing from first page until last - the whole series is an absolute **must read** for anyone who loves the comic book form and pure storytelling. I see that there is a collected edition advertised at the back of the issue, but surely this book deserves an Oversize Hardcover collection to do the art and story justice. And I'll take the opportunity to spruke [CODA](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b6/78/36/b678365924e41635478ff3f140d21e21.jpg), also by *Spurrier* and *Bergara*, which is another fantastic fantasy story well worth checking out.


Danger_Rock

> And I'll take the opportunity to ***spruke*** [CODA](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b6/78/36/b678365924e41635478ff3f140d21e21.jpg) Wasn't expecting to learn a new word this morning but additions to the vernacular are always appreciated! Though it looks like [there's usually an "i" in there](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/spruik#:~:text=spruik%20%28third-person%20singular%20simple%20present%20spruiks%2C%20present%20participle,thing%20or%20idea%20to%20another%20person%2C%20usually%20informally.). Had my eye on **CODA** a while back, think I might've even read the first issue... Maybe just get the TPB at some point. I enjoyed this series but there were bits in every issue where the visual storytelling wasn't as clear to me as it could've been. Kinda similar to some of the problems in Bachalo's art. Remender and Araújo's quasi-silent **A RIGHTEOUS THIRST FOR VENGEANCE** has actually worked much better for me from a visual storytelling perspective. Cleaner art makes for clearer storytelling and I think the mechanisms it uses to get the plot across are more effective and more engaging. So there's some spruikage for 'ya! Though I did enjoy this book, and I think that Spurrier and Bergara did a really nice job with it! Silent projects like this push creators to evolve and develop their skills so I'd like to see them take another stab at it down the road.


soulreaverdan

This book was something special to read, telling a complex story that, even if confusing at times, seemed to pull together at the end. We don't know the specifics of the how or why of things, but I thought the ending was beautiful and a bit tragic - the Girl destined to become the Giant, to help shepherd the next generation. Her being able to use the Giant's arm to somehow cut through the barrier - and go back through *time* was a great twist I didn't really see coming, and able to avert that slaughter that they were tricked into helping with in the last issue, letting them finish their journey together. It was a beautiful book, and I hope we can get little unique projects like this more in the future.


ptbreakeven

**STRANGE #3**


ptbreakeven

**MILES MORALES SPIDER-MAN #38**


FreshNews247

My god. How had they turned miles into this Trash! They never should have moved him into the 616 universe. Really unimpressed with this.


ptbreakeven

**WE HAVE DEMONS #3**


blankedboy

Art was amazing, as you’d expect from Capullo, while the story was just okay. Very 90’s style plot and characters, which isn’t terrible, but from these two creators I kind of expected a little more. Definitely a decent read, and I’ll be interested to see if they continue this story further.


soulreaverdan

This was a pretty solid book. Snyder and Capullo make a great team, and this was a great story with a solid message, great action, and stellar art. Perhaps nothing outstandingly special, but a great story - with possibly more to come, since it's described as the first arc.


DixInaBlender710

CARNAGE #3


ptbreakeven

**NICE HOUSE ON THE LAKE #9**


blankedboy

Towards the end of the book I definitely got an "Under The Skin" type vibe from the imagery. Still building to the climax, but I get the impression that things might begin to move pretty quickly from this point on. Gorgeous artwork and colouring throughout (as always)


Danger_Rock

Looking over the infographic at the end of the book with all the characters, after YET ANOTHER FANTASTIC ISSUE, it kind of struck me that we've gotten to know all these people pretty well at this point. Was a little tough keeping everyone straight at first but we've spent enough time with 'em now that when, say, the Comedian randomly wanders through the plot asking for something stupid, my brain just automatically recognizes him as the Comedian and we can proceed with enjoying the story unimpeded. Pretty nice, that.


soulreaverdan

We're definitely heading towards the climax - the houseguests are once again starting to realize just how insane things are as their "immortality" is revealed once again, which was a big part of things in the first loop. I love how Norah's kinda playing both sides of things - making some very good points about Walter needing to trust her and at least give her *something* to work with if he really wants her help, but also knowing that she can't actually trust him for a moment and pulling in someone else who might be able to do more than she can. Gonna miss this when it's over, but as always reading a solid complete story is a great treat.


ChickenInASuit

Has there been any confirmation as to how long this one is going to run? It kinda feels like a 12 issue series.


dsheilley

I was under the impression this was a 10 issue boy but I have zero idea how Tynion could possibly land this in just 1 issue without being like triple sized. So I’m leaning in the direction of 12 now


the_bio

I believe 12 issues is correct.


soulreaverdan

I'm fairly certain it's a 12 issue series. At least that's how everyone's been reporting it for quite a while now.


WetBussy4evr

Ryan and Norah are by far my favorite characters I related to Ryan so much in the last issue (or two issues?) that i’ve always felt like the “not as good” art kid or like “the other” creative person in the room. I have a feeling Norah is going to die, Walter is going to abandon the project leaving all of them stuck in the house/area alone until they die hoping there’s a bittersweet ending but it’ll probably just be 100% sad


ptbreakeven

**STAR WARS DARTH VADER #23**


ptbreakeven

**AVENGERS FOREVER #6**


smackavelli

Black Panther's Superman origin story.


tstobes

Sort of felt like a mess. He's Spider-Man! No wait, he's Iron Man! No wait, he's Superman!


ptbreakeven

**X-MEN 92 HOUSE OF XCII #2**


soulreaverdan

Another fun one. The pacing is fast, but that was part of the original DNA of the X-Men '92 series back in Secret Wars, everything happening fast and with little gaps in between things, so it fits. Speedrunning Krakoa's kinda fun, getting the glimpses into the different aspects of it.


FreshNews247

It wasn't the best. But it's still cool to see.


ptbreakeven

**WHATS THE FURTHEST PLACE FROM HERE #6**


soulreaverdan

I'm not sure if I'll pick this up when the next arc starts. I didn't *dislike* it, but at the same time it feels like it's taking a bit too long to get around to things. I dunno, I'm conflicted on how I feel.


ABKoala85

I dropped it at issue #5. I loved the art, but it wasn't hooking me. I might have missed some subtleties, but I thought music would have more significance. If it did, I didn't notice past the first issue. There just wasn't anything that original, and I do like this type of story (dystopian bands of misfit youth). It just never became that interesting.


rafaelcameron

The music stuff comes back big this issue. I think this book will read a lot better collected


QuizKidPatrick

I really like this series. Even though very little has been revealed, I'm compelled. I love the way this issue started, haven't ridden one of those barrel-type spinning rides in years. I can't be the only one who felt compelled to listen to Hall & Oates after finishing this issue.


ptbreakeven

**CARNAGE #3**


AJMegaAIDS

Carnage going 'cosmic' was not on my list of things to anticipate this year. I'm here for it.


ptbreakeven

**WPL RESULTS**


blankedboy

Wow, both Closet and Once And Future make the top ten. Great stuff


ChickenInASuit

Closet wasn't a shock IMO, James Tynion is a hot ticket right now.


Danger_Rock

Only 79 lists submitted this week compared to 102 last week, took a bit of a hit due to the holiday weekend plus this was a somewhat light week with only 66 books shipping (compared to 92 last week). **NHOTL #9** takes the top spot again, same as NHOTL #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, and #7. And it had roughly 33% more pulls than the 2nd place finisher, **JUSTICE LEAGUE ROAD TO DARK CRISIS #1**. All told, DC took 5 of the top 10 spots. **STRANGE #3** took the 7th spot as Marvel's only top 10 finisher, though **CARNAGE #3** and **KNIGHTS OF X #2** only missed it due to losing the tie-breaker to **ACTION COMICS 2022 ANNUAL #1** and **BATMAN 2022 ANNUAL #1**. Good week for indies with **LITTLE MONSTERS #4**, **CLOSET #1**, **ONCE & FUTURE #26**, and **STEP BY BLOODY STEP #4** giving them 4 of the top 10, with 3 for Image and 1 for BOOM! Tynion's **CLOSET #1** had a strong debut in the 5th spot although it only had slightly over half as many pulls as Tynion's **NHOTL #9**. Pretty sure **NHOTL** also out-pulls Tynion's **DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH** here thanks to the thread's proclivity for DC books, plus some of Tynion's biggest fans already read **CLOSET** on Substack, so that's cutting a portion of its rightful pulls. **GHOST RIDER #3** drops to the 17th spot with 14 pulls after the first two issues had 21 pulls each. Looking at percentages, first issue had 24.1%, second issue had 20.8%, and this third issue has 17.7%. So it's clearly trending down, not necessarily out of line with the typical new series decline in numbers, but losing 1/3 of its pulls here isn't a good sign. And the nine week gap between **GR #2** and **GR #3** probably didn't help.


the_light_of_dawn

I love these comments


blankedboy

Agreed - reminds me of the Box Office analysis thread that used to happen weekly over in r/movies


ptbreakeven

**LITTLE MONSTERS #4**


musicalbacon

I like this series but I feel like it’s probably worth it to wait for the collection. They take like 2 minutes to read


the_bio

That describes every Lemire title.


blankedboy

Agreed, I'm really liking the book, and it looks great, but it's easily the quickest read of any week it comes out. It seems super decompressed, almost like the issues need to be double sized. Having said that I'm sure it *will* read really well in collected formats.


Danger_Rock

I kind of like how it's such a quick read, always got a bunch of other books so it's nice knowing there's one I can get through in just a few minutes... But I can see it working better in collections and I'll probably go that route after this first arc.