Rob's Picks:

Daredevil #4 - Daredevil has finally caught up to Omen, the serial killer hunting his alter ego, Matt Murdock, only to end up on the ropes. With his superhuman senses nerfed, he’s still struggling in issue #4, and things only get more complicated when another enemy arrives with a score of his own to settle. Stephanie Phillips (Grim) intercuts the opening action with vignettes from Matt’s life, and his reflections on the formative experiences that made him a hero create an interesting contrast with the prophecy-obsessed Omen. The various threads in this book are coming together thematically, but how the A-plot, Professor Matt, and the police investigation elements will converge narratively is still hard to judge. At the college, data mogul Harlan Vale is pushing his company’s tech across campus, digging up all the information he can on our hero. With all the concerns surrounding data mining and surveillance in real life, Phillips is clearly drawing a parallel between Vale and Omen, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the two have some actual connection. The police detectives have been the least productive element of the series so far, but some major developments finally arrive in this issue.

Clayface #1 - Hollywood loves a comeback, and superstar actor Basil Karlo has come all the way back from his turn as the supercriminal Clayface. An experimental treatment gave him back his face, and after what must have been one hell of an apology tour, he’s back on the silver screen and bigger than ever. There’s just one man who isn’t loving it: Basil Karlo. The real Basil, that is. Maybe. Locked away in Arkham Towers, Clayface wants out, but how can he prove he’s reformed when he can’t even prove which Clayface he is? Many have carried the name and the amorphous body, and the authorities aren’t about to put the man they believe to be Todd Russell back on the streets. With a copycat stealing the limelight and no other options, Clayface escapes, really hurting his case for being a "reformed criminal." Next stop: Los Angeles, where a young starlet is about to have a very literal meltdown. The expressive style of artist Fran Galán (Pine and Merrimac) perfectly complements the writing of Jude Ellison S. Doyle, giving the book a tone that effortlessly flips between glib humor and outright horror while making a fairly engaging protagonist out of a murderous pile of mud. Clayface #1 is a promising start but could have benefited from a few extra pages, ending just as the story gains momentum. Given DC’s recent track record of spinning solo series out of the Batman Rogues Gallery, this one should have the creative leeway it needs to tell a compelling story about the classic villain.

M.A.S.K. #2 - Matt Trakker calls in two new Mobile Armor Strike Kommand agents for their first field mission! A piece of alien technology has been found in the Arctic Ocean, and Miles Mayhem has activated the device, creating a wormhole that is swallowing the ocean along with everything on and beneath it. Bruce Sato and Gloria Baker arrive on the scene ahead of Trakker, and they don’t waste any time showing off this issue’s new toy: a slick street racer that transforms into a submarine for an underwater dogfight with V.E.N.O.M. henchman Sly Rax. Dan Watters keeps up the '80s action movie style by giving Sato and Baker plenty of banter, their strongly contrasting personalities aligning with their very different roles. F1 racer, pilot, and martial artist Gloria is the kind of hyper-competent badass that the toyetic action genre demands, but physicist Bruce isn’t relegated to nerdy comic relief. As a former M.A.R.S. employee, he also provides this series with another connection to G.I. Joe, lest we forget this is part of the Energon Universe. This issue begins as an incredibly satisfying execution of the Saturday morning cartoon formula before blindsiding readers with a shocking final twist.

Solo's Picks:

Ben 10 #3 - We finally escape the forest in the third issue of Ben 10, and Grandpa Max reveals some secrets of his own! After narrowly escaping the military, Ben comes face to face with the iconic Kraab from the original series. In my opinion, this is where the book really starts to deviate from the source material and fully embrace the "Absolute" direction that the Man of Action team has been teasing for the past year. The action is much more brutal than the Cartoon Network pilot, the characters are more serious while still retaining their core personalities, and several new plot threads make this feel like a worthy reboot rather than a simple retelling. While the tonal shift has been apparent from the beginning, this issue firmly establishes the mature direction the creative team is aiming for. Robert Carey's artwork has also improved noticeably, particularly with the human characters, which was the biggest criticism of the first issue. At this point, I can confidently say this is one of the best books on the shelves right now. There's also an exciting tease for Zombozo in the closing pages, and if you've seen the original show then you already know he's terrifying even in a PG setting, so it's hard not to be excited to see what this version has in store. Pick this one up today!

Vampyrates #1 - Vampires and pirates collide in this gorgeously illustrated gothic fantasy! After an exhilarating prologue, we dive into the main story as the Empress and an Arch-Count enter an arranged marriage to unite their fractured kingdom. It isn't long before we learn that the Empress has secretly been carrying on a relationship with a human lover, a revelation that enrages her sister and sparks a bloody rebellion. The ensuing battle is beautifully illustrated, giving both women the kind of overwhelming presence you'd expect from a modern Shonen Jump series. I'm trying not to reveal too much because this is a carefully crafted world that deserves to be experienced firsthand, but every major character has an engaging personality, even those positioned as antagonists, making the book consistently entertaining. If you've been following my weekly reviews, you already know I have a soft spot for vampire and pirate stories, so combining the two was always going to be an easy sell for me. Personal bias aside, this is genuinely an excellent debut that I think just about anyone could enjoy. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up.

Showdown #2 - Harvey reaches his breaking point in this emotionally charged second issue, cutting ties with everyone left in his life. Before making that decision, he unexpectedly reunites with his old high school football teammates, who welcome him with open arms for a night filled with beers, brawls, and memories of better days. For a brief moment we get to see a more compassionate side of Harvey, making what follows hit even harder. After a heartbreaking encounter with another ghost from his past and several surprising revelations, Harvey finally abandons the last pieces of the man he used to be and embraces the cold, murderous persona the series has been building toward. We've learned a tremendous amount about this town through Harvey's perspective over the first two issues, and it feels like the stage is now set for Trish's story before the long-awaited confrontation finally arrives. If you've been waiting to jump aboard, now is the perfect time before the inevitable showdown begins.