I bought this omnibus on two recommendations. One from here, one from my buddy Jimmy. I kept hearing how awesome this series was when it was being made. I never really kept up with it, though the art always caught my eye. Always reminded me of buffy, and man if you know me you know I love the Buffy universe.

So this story is about Rachel. Who's that? Well we get to meet her when she wakes up from a gravenap. You know, like being fucking murdered and coming back to life. Pretty sweet opening huh? but things get even better once the plot starts rolling. A little kid murdering someone really sets the doom and gloom mood this series has for the first half. Once we get more of Jet (Rachel's friend) and the rest of the cast it starts to hit it's groove and this 42 issue series wraps up in a interesting way.

Good: This series has a sense of it's own. The second you get into this world you can feel it's very different than anything else you read. The art is great, and although sometimes made it hard to know who is who without color you soon get used to it. I also love the way the plot moves in unpredictable ways and characters die in ways I never could have guessed. The switch midway to a more humorous series feels very natural and works because of the events prior and how crazy they were. Also the dialog is top notch and always engaging and that goes for the ENTIRE cast of characters.

Bad: The switch between making it have more humor is a little jarring and I can see some not like it. Also the ending is very anti-climatic but that was never the point of this journey however if you are all about the destination this might fall short for you.

There's a couple of series in my life that will always stick with me. I'm glad I can add Rachel Rising to that. A great story with wonderful characters that keep you on the edge of your seat the whole way through. A 5/5.

I'm starting to think Al Ewing isn't my style of writing.


So Ultimates was once a universe. Then poof, it didn't sell enough, and we had to get rid of it. New Avengers is throwing together the Avengers no one really remembers or loves. Some are young avengers, some are actual avengers, and then you bring in the villain from Ultimates universe later on. Evil Reed Richards. Sounds like a homerun right? Nope.

Good: Some of the banter is funny. I do like a lot of the Young Avengers and other characters in here. I also thought having evil reed richards would have been a perfect villain but...

Bad: Evil reed richards comes across dumb here. THe sinister evil version we got from Hickman is not here. Also the plot is just jumbling and confusing and honestly boring. The art also is trying to be a hybrid of western and eastern art but doesn't nail either very well.

This wasn't a terrible book but boring would probably define it best. Too bad, it could have been great. A 1.5 out of 5.

Sam is a awesome character. I really would love to write him one day.

So this is a mix match. It starts off with Nova trying to figure out who he is and what he is. After seeing the death of someone he decides he'll finally go find his dad. He HAS to. However, what happens? Oh you guessed in. Civil War 2. Which derails the poor kid and gives a boring take of what someone outside of the heroes war would do. He verses Mole Man...yeah. Then we get, probably the best part of the book, him going into space to find his father. He then meets a wonderworld thing or something and it forms into someone and it's reveal is a surprise!

Good: I loved the ending. I also enjoy Sam's interactions with his sister and mother. The stuff with his friends was even good. Also Captain coming in was a cool little throw back. I also enjoyed the start of the volume.

Bad: The Civil War 2 stuff was so jarring and weird I did not like at all. Also the pacing is jumping ALL over the place. Poor sam gets no straight shot. Also the art sometimes is amazing, other times looks like shit. It's amazing the shift.

Well shit on a stick and call me rick (not a real expression) this was...good?

Listen. I love Jeff Lemire. As I'm creating my own comic I take a lot of inspiration from the man. He is actually writing one of my favorite comics of the entire year (Royal City) and I'll always give his stuff a chance even if it turns out I hate it (looking at you Teen Titan Earth 1). So he decided let's do a series about the Mad Titan. The big ass purple dude you've been seeing at the end credits of avengers for like 7 years now. Is it good though?

Well Thanos actually starts off with a interesting (if not odd) idea of the mad Titan going around murdering people as usual only to find out in the very first issue that he's sick. Very very sick. We talking like cancer in the lungs, brain, and bones sick. The creature of destruction goes on a mission to find a cure. While that big asshole does that a couple of other assholes including Thawn (his son) and a few other C-List characters decide to team up and take the big ass purple badass down. Will they succeed? Well that would be a spoiler. But is it good? Let's see...

Good: Thanos. I know, give me a moment, I couldn't believe it myself. The Mad Titan always came off as try-hard evil big bad final level boss at the end of the game type dude. However, he's a shit-talking, murdering machine, wild fucking asshole who has some really sick burns. In other words he's got the strength but he's also got the smack talk, oh and his skills at fighting are terrifying. I also enjoyed the ending as it sets up a ton of cool things this series could do.

Bad: The group get together with his son and their mission is kind of boring. I know it needs to be there to give us the other side of things. I mean we can't hope for Thanos to win he's a fucking asshole afterall. But their stuff seemed kind of boring in comparison.

Overall whenever Thanos is on a panel this series really shines. From the savage point of view to a creature desperate to live it's pretty great. While the other side of the story suffers Jeff Lamire writes a very very compelling Thanos. I'll be reading more of this for sure! A 3.5 out of 5.

Wow this was by far my favorite arc for Superman Action Comics.

So Cyborg Superman has returned. You knew this Terminator looking bitch would be back one day. However, he's not charging in alone to face the man of steel. Nah, that be dumb. So he begins to build a team of Super Villains. It's the sinister six for superman in the making. Except these are all really strong mofos. The Eradicator, Cyborg superman, mongol, and Zod himself (plus more) all gunning after our favorite boy in blue. Is it the end or will someone come to his rescue!?

Good: The fights are intense and so fun to watch. When the whole group of other Supermen/woman come into play it gets really exciting. Then add on the fact to see the Super family together protecting each other, including Lex, is goddamn great. I also really freaking loved Jon coming in for the rescue. Awesome timing. Even Krypto had a great scene.

Bad: Dan still has some bad dialog at times. Very 80's feel, early 90's, and not in a good way. Superman suppose to be cheesy but not this cheesy. Some is cringy as hell.

Overall this was a blast. I really had fun the entire time reading this. I'm hoping the Doomsday tie in for next volume is as good as this. Action Comics and Superman have been the highlight of Rebirth so far for me.

So it's over. Damn shame because this series could have kept building.

So Doom is starting to become a true hero. He takes down 40+ villains in the very first issue. At first Ben thought he killed them all but we find out he just knocked them out and they were arrested. Doom arresting people? WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO? But then when Ben goes on a mission to find out what Doom is really up to we find out the truth behind the twist in the last volume, who is Doom's mother truly? It all comes down to a psychological warefare battle that could only end in one truth...this is the end of Infamous Iron-man (the series, he'll be back in Iron-man legacy.)

Good: I really enjoy Doom's interaction with everyone. He's snide, very very smart, and kind of a dick. I also like Ben dealing with not letting go of the past but so badly wanting Doom to be good. The Riri interaction with Doom was great too and it shows how much of a kid she is in comparison to someone with a history like Doom. Also how great was Strange coming in to help doom out at the end?

Bad: THe art sometimes can be a little wonky. Still good sometimes, but other times can't tell what's happening. Also the ending feels rushed as you can kind of tell Bendis had longer plans but they all came to a head because Iron-man Tony HAS to come back. Fuck people learn to try new things. Ugh.

Anyway this was a fun series while it lasted all of 12 issues. I enjoyed the banter, the fighting, the story for this run. It wasn't perfect but where it ended I still wanted more. I'd give this one a 3.5 and recommend it to anyone liking some snide ass Iron-man going around using magical powers on top of having a badass suit.

Such a shame this series got canned because this is finally a really fucking great story with Sam!

So Rich is back. Oh, who's Rich? He was the Nova before Sam took over. He had died a few years back. So now that he's returned he's trying to find his place. He's so confused with all the other Marvel heroes being so young, and different, that he feels misplaced. However, when he starts getting into the groove of things everything is seeming to settle. OR IS IT!? Of course not. Bad shit has to happen. So Sam and Rich team up to become the last duo Novas of the universe!

Good: I LOVE the art in this. Just enough style, yet everything flows so smooth, and everyone looks great. I really love Jeff's writing here, so natural and easy, and Sam and Rich together will give you a few laughs. Then add in the fact the story is actually pretty touching (and a bit sad) but hopeful it hits all the right notes. The ending also leaves it open for some great stories.

Bad: It got canned and that pisses me off.

This is some of the most fun I've had all year reading comics. The pacing is wonderful, the fights are fun, but most of all the characters are truly kickass. I highly recommend this wonderful little series, for it feels complete, and well worth reading! The best Nova story I read so far! 4.5 out of 5.

Damn this was so much fun.

Laura is the new Wolverine. Got a problem with that? Go fuck yourself. Anyway she is now taking care of Gabby, her little clone. This volume contains a one shot with Squirrel girl which is very very funny (I didn't like SG solo series so this was a surprise) and introduces us to Johnathan the wolverine. He's a actual wolverine. It's adorable and scary. Then we get into meeting Old Man Logan and Laura's distrust with him. Then it leads to Civil War 2 tie in but this one actually makes sense and is pretty well done. It ends with a bitter moment that gives me a lot of hope for future titles.

Good: The humor is spot on. Not too much but just enough to tell you this is a very different wolverine but a great one. The fights are vicious a lot of the time (come on it's wolverine) but some are a ton of fun. Gabby is adorable and my favorite little killing machine. I really enjoyed the interaction with Old Man Logan too and I never liked him much.

Bad: The big dragon thing (forgot it's name) was kind of over the top and a bit too silly.

Overall this was a damn blast. Pacing was perfect, characters are wonderful, fights are fun. I mean it hits all the right notes. I have a feeling this will go down as my favorite wolverine series of all time. A 4 out of 5.

David F. Walker is a badass dude. He's created some of my favorite comics of last two years. Saying that, I was a tad bit let down on Luke Cage.

Luke is kind of just a dude here who is dealing with "family" in a big way. Not direct family but people who went through the same experiments he did but usually ending up worse. They have some crazy effects that make them become cold blooded killers. So while Luke confronts his past in terms of his creator (of powers) and dealing with new kids who are stuck in the same position and also a very pissed off old dude who is mad his son is also one of the experiments it all comes to head in a very bloody big way.

Good: Well Luke Cage of course. I like a more somber, less loud mouth Luke Cage. I mean he was fun on New Avengers and such but I like more of a real version of him. Power man and Iron Fist gave us that but also a funnier version. You're always funnier with your best bud. This is a Luke Cage who's dealing with a very serious issue and get to see his internal thoughts. I liked that. Also enjoyed Warhawk's crazy fucking ass. Always fun.

Bad: I really didn't love the art. Felt stiff, and the movements not flowing right. I also thought the side cast, save Warhawk, were kind of boring. When one died or was hurt I didn't care really. The story is also trying to go in a lot of direction so I feel some may get confused or lose interest in a lot of characters.

Overall I wanted to love Luke Cage. I sadly did not. I think with time though this serious has potential to be great. I mean David gave us Powerman and Iron Fist and Nighthawk. Both series I truly enjoyed. I hope to see more from him as he continues to give us great stories, but this one was just decent. A 2.5 out of 5.

So I actually enjoyed a Inhuman comic. This is also the first Al Ewing series I truly enjoyed. Go figure huh?

Madusa decides it's time to leave earth. After the events of Inhumans vs X-men (Which I guess gotta read to understand it all) the Inhumans are not going to be made anymore. They destroyed the mist that was killing mutants and they decide it's time to head into space to find a new human. Just the main core though, Madusa, Black Bolt, and a few others. However, once they get to space, twist and turns begin to happen. People aren't who they appear to be, a old villain comes to say Hi, and people begin to figure out just what everyone else is up to.

Good: I really enjoyed the character interaction here. The best parts are when they are just sitting around shooting the shit. Watching the past reveal itself about black bolt and his "family" was great. I also enjoyed the ending as it sets up so many fun possibilities.

Bad: I didn't love the art direction. Sometimes it looked badass, and I loved designs at times, but the fights are hard to follow at points and the flashback art was pretty bad. I also thought the Chitari were a joke here and kind of wasted a issue just to show a character pull off a new power.

Overall though this was a blast. From start to finish I had a good time reading it. A few bumps here and there and art that could be better aside, the story is there, and I'll keep reading. A 3.5 out of 5.