All Articles

Castle: A Calm Before Storm (2012) 1 arrives with the confidence of a comic that knows spectacle matters most when the people inside it have something meaningful to lose. Published on 19 December 2012 as part of Castle: A Calm Before Storm, it places Derrick Storm at the centre of a conflict shaped by identity and responsibility. The opening explains enough to welcome a new reader while keeping the emotional pressure clear. ⁠ Castle: A Calm Before Storm (2012) 1 treats the ce

A strong comic issue should offer a reason to care before the machinery of the plot takes over, and Captain Marvel (2012) 8 understands that principle. Published on 19 December 2012 as part of Captain Marvel, it places DEEP SEA DANGER at the centre of a conflict shaped by identity and responsibility. The opening explains enough to welcome a new reader while keeping the emotional pressure clear. ⁠ Captain Marvel (2012) 8 treats the central conflict as a chain of consequences,

There is something inviting about the way Captain America and Bucky (2011) 640 establishes its world, its conflict and its emotional temperature with very little fuss. Published on 19 December 2012 as part of Captain America and Bucky, it places Black Widow at the centre of a conflict shaped by identity and responsibility. The opening explains enough to welcome a new reader while keeping the emotional pressure clear. ⁠ Captain America and Bucky (2011) 640 treats the central c

Captain America (2012) 2 is the kind of issue that makes an old publication date feel less important than the energy waiting on the first page. Published on 19 December 2012 as part of Captain America, it places Arnim Zola at the centre of a conflict shaped by duty and courage. The opening explains enough to welcome a new reader while keeping the emotional pressure clear. ⁠ Captain America (2012) 2 treats the central conflict as a chain of consequences, which gives even famil

Reading Cable and X Force (2012) 2 as part of Marvel's wider catalogue reveals an issue with a clear personality and a surprisingly immediate sense of purpose. Published on 19 December 2012 as part of Cable and X Force, it places X Force at the centre of a conflict shaped by courage and justice. The opening explains enough to welcome a new reader while keeping the emotional pressure clear. ⁠ Cable and X Force (2012) 2 treats the central conflict as a chain of consequences, wh

Avengers Arena (2012) 2 opens the door to a distinct corner of Marvel history rather than feeling like a catalogue entry that should be admired from a distance. Published on 19 December 2012 as part of Avengers Arena, it places ANNIHILATION's Cammi at the centre of a conflict shaped by courage and justice. The opening explains enough to welcome a new reader while keeping the emotional pressure clear. ⁠ Avengers Arena (2012) 2 treats the central conflict as a chain of conseque

Avengers (2012) 2 provides an enjoyable reminder that Marvel history is built from individual issues with their own rhythms, risks and small surprises. Published on 19 December 2012 as part of Avengers, it places Captain America at the centre of a conflict shaped by discovery and technology. The opening explains enough to welcome a new reader while keeping the emotional pressure clear. ⁠ The most persuasive passages in Avengers (2012) 2 are the ones where action changes a rel

What first stands out about Astonishing X Men (2004) 57 is not its age or collectable status, but the directness with which it asks the reader to enter the story. Published on 19 December 2012 as part of Astonishing X Men, it places Manhattan at the centre of a conflict shaped by duty and courage. The opening explains enough to welcome a new reader while keeping the emotional pressure clear. ⁠ The most persuasive passages in Astonishing X Men (2004) 57 are the ones where acti

All New X Men (2012) 4 arrives with the confidence of a comic that knows spectacle matters most when the people inside it have something meaningful to lose. Published on 19 December 2012 as part of All New X Men, it places X Men at the centre of a conflict shaped by identity and responsibility. The opening explains enough to welcome a new reader while keeping the emotional pressure clear. ⁠ The most persuasive passages in All New X Men (2012) 4 are the ones where action chang

A strong comic issue should offer a reason to care before the machinery of the plot takes over, and A+X (2012) 3 understands that principle. Published on 19 December 2012 as part of A+X, it places Chris Bachalo at the centre of a conflict shaped by courage and justice. The opening explains enough to welcome a new reader while keeping the emotional pressure clear. ⁠ The most persuasive passages in A+X (2012) 3 are the ones where action changes a relationship as well as the imm

There is something inviting about the way X Treme X Men (2012) 7.1 establishes its world, its conflict and its emotional temperature with very little fuss. Published on 12 December 2012 as part of X Treme X Men, it places Brood at the centre of a conflict shaped by duty and courage. The opening explains enough to welcome a new reader while keeping the emotional pressure clear. ⁠ The most persuasive passages in X Treme X Men (2012) 71 are the ones where action changes a relati

Wolverine (2010) 317 is the kind of issue that makes an old publication date feel less important than the energy waiting on the first page. Published on 12 December 2012 as part of Wolverine, it places Dreaming Maiden at the centre of a conflict shaped by courage and justice. The opening explains enough to welcome a new reader while keeping the emotional pressure clear. ⁠ The most persuasive passages in Wolverine (2010) 317 are the ones where action changes a relationship as