Rob' Picks:

Lawful #2
Divided loyalties make following the rules even harder for Sung in Greg Pak’s thoughtful fantasy. Sung’s new position at the Office of the Champion is already tested by his friendship with Eris, a girl on the verge of becoming a monster. In this issue, we see how his father’s legacy as an enforcer of the law casts a long shadow into the present, straining his relationships and conscience. The world gets more fleshed out, and a few secrets are revealed, suggesting that law and order may be serving something other than the greater good. Artist Diego Galindo gets more chances to shine in this issue with more monsters and nightmare imagery. Pak’s writing stays solid, with his characters' actions and words feeling grounded in reality despite the fantastical elements at play.

Destro #2
The attack on Darklonia by Xamot and Tomax didn’t succeed in finishing off M.A.R.S. or its metal-headed leader. For a man like Destro, a bruised ego is the worst injury there is, and he prepares to answer the twins' insolence with all-out war. Like any good G.I. Joe story, their tit-for-tat trading of blows leads to some new toys hitting the battlefield. When the conflict puts the newly discovered energon in jeopardy, Destro proposes a more personal and profitable way to decide the outcome. Dan Watters writes Destro and the Crimson Twins as more alike than different, ruthless men who treat war as business and business as war. Once again, the Energon Universe has produced a villain book that tells a compelling story without sanding any of the edges off its title character.

Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #1
The dark fantasy Elseworlds hit returns! The team of writer Jay Kristoff and artist Tirso Cons comes out swinging with an incredible first issue. In an icebound land of warring Jarls, a mercenary named Slade fights for coin, lately in the employ of the warlord Vandar (Vandal the Savage to his enemies). Weary and jaded from war, the old man agrees to take on a mission truly worthy of his prowess: to capture a great monster alongside Vandar’s other agent, Killer Frost. The two brave storms, high seas, and beasts from the deep to reach their goal. The mission takes a sudden turn when Slade confronts a face from his past, as well as the arrival of a prince. This book has gritty pulp fantasy vibes dripping out of every panel, another perfect execution of the Dark Knights of Steel concept.

Solomon's Picks:

Phoenix #1
From Stephanie Phillips, Alessandro Miracolo, and David Curiel comes a groundbreaking first entry into this new story for Jean Grey! I was absolutely blown away by the quality of this story, which opens with clever and engaging narration through the perspective of a civilian, riddled with questions about the world and terrified of powers greater than themselves. This makes the gears in your brain turn before the team switches direction and showcases Jean Grey in all her glory. My favorite part is definitely the glorious moment when Jean dances within a black hole to stabilize it. Bringing Alessandro Miracolo on board was a fantastic idea, as the character designs and general illustrations are amazing. There were panels I found myself going back to over and over just to admire. All in all, I loved this issue and am more than excited to see how this story plays out!

Biker Mice From Mars #1
The brilliant minds of Melissa Flores, Francis Portela, and Leonardo Paciarotti deliver a spectacular new sci-fi YA adventure comic! Biker Mice From Mars opens with a bang, and the momentum pushes through the entire issue as we follow our main character Throttle and his trio of biker mice, who occasionally offer under-the-table aid to the settlement's military. Throttle is a young mouse who finds himself choosing between staying at home to take care of his mother or officially joining the ranks to bring about change to his home. We see how this internal crossroads is already impacting his relationship with his crew, as they are not interested in running off and becoming soldiers. The world established so far is interesting, and the various characters offer unique views of it. This book definitely appeals to everyone across the board, and families and those who love sci-fi are definitely going to want to pick this up!

Lawful #2
Lawful is back, and this issue pushes the story forward drastically! After alerting his best friend that she was in grave danger from the kingdom officials, our young hero uncovers a deep-rooted conspiracy about the very government he has now sworn to uphold. We witness the hero's drive to ensure his mother is safe and cured, and his attempts to honor his father while grappling with guilt. This issue focuses more on developing relationships and showing individual motives rather than fleshing out the world, but I personally enjoyed it as the first issue gave us exactly what we needed to know to enjoy this story. If you haven’t already, add this series to your pull list and grab a copy. You won’t regret it!