August 18 releases

Atlas #4 (Parker/Hardman/Rosanas)

Another good issue in Parker's 3D Man story, with some brilliant art by Hardman, particularly his depiction of the dragon Lao entering, and with his fire breath ending, the fight against the Echo people. Silver

Avengers Academy #3 (Gage/McKone)

This series continues at the very high quality of story and art it has started with. Valkyrie makes a brilliant guest appearance before Hazmat, whose origin is shown here, leads some of the team in a bid for revenge against Norman Osborn during the youngsters' visit to the Raft. Gold

New Mutants #16 (Wells/Kirk)

While this issue doesn't actually feature the team of the title it features an interesting look at the background of their current adversaries. Leonard Kirk's art is the best thing about this issue as he provides brilliant depictions of Limbo and its denizens. Silver

Secret Avengers #4 (Brubaker/Deodato)

The opening arc of Brubaker's Avengers comes to a close with this issue, which unfortunately is quite confusing and doesn't quite satisfactorily wrap up the mystery (though perhaps more of that will be in the next issue). While some of the team members, such as Ant-Man and Steve Rogers, get a lot of focus and that is done well, other characters are largely ignored or get short shrift. As a big fan of Nova it seems like Brubaker hasn't really taken into account all of the development of the character by Abnett and Lanning. The ease with which Steve Rogers takes over the Nova force, even disregarding Worldmind's offer of assistance, jars with me and doesn't seem to give the character the proper respect he should have after saving the universe a few times. Bronze

Thunderbolts #147 (Parker/Walker)

Though only loosely crossing-over with Avengers Academy, this is a really great issue continuing the new direction of the title. After wrapping up the team's previous mission most of the action takes place back on the Raft, coinciding with the "scared straight" visit by the Avengers students and the ensuing breakout. Walker's art in the extended triple fight sequence showing the Warden, Songbird and Luke Cage dealing with the outbreak of prisoners, ending with Cage's charged confrontation with Purple Man, is simply sublime. Gold

Wolverine Weapon X #16 (Aaron/Gianfelice)

This is the last issue of this current Wolverine ongoing, though Aaron is launching a new series next month, so it's a bit of a pointless marketing exercise. However, this issue is more of a send-off for the late Nightcrawler, who died in the Second Coming event, and while there was time for a funeral in the midst of the crossover, this is a fitting and very well done tribute to the character and his unlikely friendship with Wolverine. At least that's true of the writing, as the quality of the art really and unfortunately doesn't match that of the story, otherwise this would be an even higher rated issue. Silver

August 11 releases

The Thanos Imperative #3 (Abnett/Lanning/Sepulveda)

Yet another great cosmic issue from DnA, very ably assisted by Sepulveda. Events in the war on both sides of the Fault move up in intensity, with Nova forming a very interesting strike team while the tension between Drax and Thanos boils over. Gold

July releases

X-Force #28 (Kyle/Yost/Choi/Oback)

Second Coming Chapter 13: The fight against Bastion reaches its end with Hope finally manifesting her powers, seemingly confirming her status as mutant messiah just as she loses her father figure Cable. A good issue with good art, though the threat does end rather abruptly. Silver

Astonishing Spider-Man/Wolverine (Aaron/Kubert)

Aaron continues to show that he can write Spider-Man as well as he can Wolverine, with an interesting story coupled with great art from Kubert. Plus, Doom the Living Planet! Gold

Avengers Academy #2 (Gage/McKone)

This great second issue of the new series focuses mainly on Finesse, as well as providing character development for Pym and Quicksilver. McKone's art is a brilliant complement to the story. Gold

The Thanos Imperative #2 (Abnett/Lanning/Sepulveda)

The newest cosmic story gets even bigger in scale as Galactus and other abstracts join in the fight against the Cancerverse incursion while Thanos illustrates his key role in the fight. Sepulveda's art is suitably epic. Gold

Second Coming #2 (Various)

While quite a good epilogue to Second Coming, the threat of mutant extinction posed by Bastion has ended very quickly and rather cleanly, with only three deaths (though Ariel is not mentioned at all once again). It remains to be seen just how interesting the new status quo following the event actually is. Esad Ribic contributes the best art, while the worst comes predictably from Greg Land. Bronze

Atlas #3 (Parker/Hardman/Rosanas)

A shame that this latest series of Atlas is going to be cancelled, but not much of a surprise. While this arc hasn't turned out to be the most interesting so far, Gabriel Hardman's art has been absolutely fantastic and he keeps up the good work here, plus Ramon Rosanas contributes more good art in the M-11 focused second story. Silver

Marvel Zombies 5 #5 (Van Lente/Blanco)

This fun series ends with a trip to the real world. While the main characters, Machine Man, Howard the Duck and Jacali Kane don't appear much in this issue, which is disappointing, it is still a fun little tongue-in-cheek exploration of an extreme Marvel fanboy facing up to zombiehood. Silver

New Mutants #15 (Wells/Kirk)

Following their difficult time during Second Coming, the New Mutants team goes to the middle of nowhere to regroup, while Leonard Kirk takes over on art and does not disappoint. The character work and team interplay have been the best things about this series and Wells continues to develop his cast. The story is intriguing though nothing has really been revealed yet. Gold

Heroic Age: Prince of Power #3 (Pak/Van Lente/Brown/Howard)

The antagonistic relationship between Thor and Amadeus more than makes up for the lack of Hercules, while the ancient Egyptian setting of this particular issue naturally appeals to me as an ancient historian. Meanwhile back in the Olympus Group headquarters Delphyne starts to fight back against the Pantheon (EXPRESSION! WORTHY! OF DEATH SCRUNCHIE!). And of course great art from Reilly Brown. Gold

Thunderbolts #146 (Parker/Walker)

Though Parker seems to be moving the team very quickly from one mission to the other, he continues his good work with the characters, very ably assisted by Kev Walker's great new art style, though his Valkyrie design is perhaps a bit weird looking. Gold

X-Factor #207 (David/Fiumara)

X-Factor moves on from the Second Coming tie-in with a great issue with some of the best art the series has had. The team takes on a new job from Hela which involves Pip the troll, while Rictor and Shatterstar get some together time which is rather abruptly interrupted. Gold

Secret Avengers #3 (Brubaker/Deodato)

Though there is a lot of talking and exposition in this third issue, there are also a couple of good bits of action involving the possessed Nova and Deodato gets a chance to show off his art. Silver

Wolverine: Weapon X #15 (Aaron/Garney)

Unfortunately the plot of this latest arc has become a bit confusing and muddled, not really up to the standard Aaron had previously set. However, the good bits of this issue are still very good and Garney's art for the most part is top-notch once more. Silver

X-Men Legacy #238 (Carey/Mann)

Another book coming out of the Second Coming crossover, Legacy heads out on its own path separate to the other X-Men titles, still focusing on Rogue and some of the younger mutants. The character-focused writing is great and the trip to Mumbai allows for a needed change of scenery from Utopia. Clay Mann's is back on art and does quite well, showing that he would have been a much better pick for the Second Coming issues than Greg Land. Silver