Runaways - Digest Volume 1

Story by: Brian K. Vaughan | Art by: Adrian Alphona | $7.99 USD, $12.75 CAN | marvel.com

At first glance this looks like a tween comic. Well, you shouldn't judge a book by its...you know. Runaways brings together a motley crew of kids who discover that their parents are not who they appear to be. Together they have to make sense of the new knowledge as well as figure out how not to get stabbed in the heart (literally) by wand wielding mothers. Nicely illustrated and each character has a good amount of personality.

Civil War - Issue #5

Story by: Mark Millar | Art by: Steve McNiven, Dexter Vines & Morry Hollowwell | $2.99 USD, $3.75 CAN | marvel.com

Someone's leaving her husband and someone else is regretting his un-masking. Also in this issue, a new underground movement is building.

Civil War - Issue #4

Story by: Mark Millar | Art by: Steve McNiven, Dexter Vines & Morry Hollowwell | $2.99 USD, $3.75 CAN | marvel.com

Well, Thor didn't work out exactly as planned & now people are questioning their loyalties. Marriages are falling apart and teams are being re-arranged.

Civil War - Issue #3

Story by: Mark Millar | Art by: Steve McNiven, Dexter Vines & Mark Morales | $2.99 USD, $3.75 CAN | marvel.comWhoa, Peter Parker just came out! Well, I should say unmasked himself in front of the media. Meanwhile, Richard Reed goes to Wakanda to try and drum up some support while Iron Man checks on where Emma Frost & the school's alliances lie. The issue ends with a nice little Avenger vs. Avenger battle. Hey, wait a tick! Is that Thor...?!

Strange Girl - Issue #17

Story by: Rick Remender | Art by: Peter Bergting | $3.50 USD, $4.10 CAN | imagecomics.com

Strange Girl - Issue #11

Story by: Rick Remender | Art by: Nick Stakal | $2.99 USD, $3.40 CAN | imagecomics.com

So I'm loving Bethany's new posse. Tim, however grosses me out...especially after his torture. So it seems that hope is starting to be renewed.

Strange Girl - Issue #10

Story by: Rick Remender | Art by: Nick Stakal | $2.99 USD, $3.50 CAN | imagecomics.com
Well, I honestly don't dig on the new art...but I'm sure it'll grow on me. Beth's sadness seems to be snowballing but she's getting some help from some unexpected...relatives?

Strange Girl - Issue #9

Story by: Rick Remender | Art by: Eric Nguyen | $2.99 USD, $3.65 CAN | imagecomics.com
Finally a cool back cover! Bloato is kickin' a$$! This issue was a bit traumatic for me. I don't like it when they kill characters. =( Plus, this was Eric Nguyen's last issue. Sad, sad.

Strange Girl - Issue #8

Story by: Rick Remender | Art by: Jerone Opena | $2.99 USD, $3.65 CAN | imagecomics.com

Strange Girl's powers are getting crazy! haha. The demons are hot on her tail and neighbor Tim seems to have some unlikely allys.

Strange Girl - Issue #7

Story by: Rick Remender | Art/Co-Plots by: Harper Jaten | $2.99 USD, $3.65 CAN | imagecomics.com
Hmm, a new artist/co-plot writer. This issue is a flashback to six years ago when Bethany was still working at the bar. It gives us some insight into what a hopeful and brave little human she is. The story is a bit corny but at least we get to see a new villain and the beginning of Beth & Bloato's partnership.

Strange Girl - Issue #6 "Life After God - Part 2"

Story by: Rick Remender | Art by: Eric Nguyen | $2.99 USD, $3.65 CAN | imagecomics.com

It's about to hit the fan for the angelic Bethany. The demon lords have been hot on her trail since her escape & they are determined to get her back. Meanwhile, Bethany struggles with the seemingly indifferent attitude of Jesus to his converts, while enjoying a good bit a whiskey.

Strange Girl - Issue #5 "Life After God - Part 1"

Story by: Rick Remender | Art by: Eric Nguyen | $2.99 USD, $3.65 CAN | imagecomics.com
Is it just me or is the Sea of Red looking skerry?! Hey mister, you have a little somthing on your lip. Anyway...back in Strange Girl world the pool party has interrupted...by dudes with guns. Bethany uses a bit of magic and quick wit to try and save everybody, including herself. "Dead Western" has been found but it's not exactly what she expected. Plus, she has a new act to keep up.

Strange Girl - Issue #4

Story by: Rick Remender | Art by: Eric Nguyen | $2.99 USD, $3.65 CAN | imagecomics.com

(The back cover is the same as Strange Girl #3)

Uh-oh! Is Bethany getting naked?! hehe. The newly formed threesome go on a rode trip. Rumor has it that there's a relatively normal community and they're determined to get there. The initial plan was The Vatican, but the non-existent flights put a hamper on that idea...for now.

Strange Girl - Issue #3

Story by: Rick Remender | Art by: Eric Nguyen | $2.99 USD, $3.70 CAN | imagecomics.com
Reunited and it feels so...creepy. Bethany & Bloato make their way back to Beth's childhood home. She finds herself reminiscing about her family & runs into an old friend from right after the rapture. Is her old friend as normal as he appears, or is there a darker streak to be discovered? Oh yeah, and Bloato might die. =0

Strange Girl - Issue #2

Story by: Rick Remender | Art by: Eric Nguyen | $2.95 USD, $3.95 CAN | imagecomics.com
Bethany's getting the hell out. Well...she's still stuck in hell on earth, but she's running away from Balial, her demon lord. She's stealing choppers & using her spells and charms. Can she out run the biker gang? I don't think I'm spoiling anything when I say, yes. heh.

Strange Girl - Issue #1

Story by: Rick Remender | Art by: Eric Nguyen | $2.95 USD, $3.95 CAN | imagecomics.com
"Forgotten by God, powered by darkness." Is that not a kick a$$ tag line or what?! This comic is based on the Rapture. So Strange Girl's (aka: Bethany's) family along with all the "good" people have all been taken up to heaven. What's left is a bunch of hooligans (and not the fun soccer type) and demons.

Civil War - Battle Damage Report

Head writer/Coordinator: Anthony Flamini | Writer: Ronald Byrd | Cover Artists: Ed McGuiness & Jason Keith | $3.99 USD, $4.75 CAN | marvel.com
Not a whole lot needs to be said about this one. It pretty much is what it is. And it's a chunky one!

Civil War - The Initiative

Story by: Brian Michael Bendis | Art by: Frank Cho | $3.99 USD, $4.75 CAN | marvel.com

[2nd Printing, varient cover]

Can't we all just get along?! No...no, we cannot. This is a nice introduction to all the splintered teams; Omega Flight, The Thunderbolts, and The Mighty Avengers. There's definately some struggles among the teams...people are started to feel conflicted. Who will change teams...? Hmm...

Mighty Avengers - Issue #1

Story by: Brian Michael Bendis | Art by: Frank Cho | $3.99 USD, $4.75 CAN | marvel.com

Well, the back of the comic was a lame ad for Spidey 3 so I decided to leave that out. Did you like that movie btw? I heard it was lame. One of these days I'll begrudgingly sit my lazy bum down and watch it. Who the hell casted Kirstin Dumbst anyway?! But I digress.

The Mighty Avengers: The Initiative. Good stuff, even if Iron Man picked the wrong side. heh. Because of the recent Civil War, the Avengers have become divided into two main groups: the "let's sign up with The Man so he can make us do His bidding" group & the "actually, we like our civil rights" group (headed by Captain America). In this issue Iron Man is trying to figure out who his team will consist of...and he has a fancy computer full of all the heroes that are at his disposal to help him decide.

Dynamo 5 - Issue #2

Story by: Jay Faerber | Art by: Mahmud A. Asrar | $3.50 USD, $4.05 CAN | imagecomics.com
Now, I haven't read any of the Noble Causes series (I'll get to it, I promise) so I'm a little late to all of the relationships in Dynamo 5. I do realize however that Scrap (see front cover above) is a feisty little Superhero & I love her. heh. I also enjoy how "normal" these kids are (or where) before forming the team that they are now.

Dynamo 5 - Issue #1

Story by: Jay Faerber | Art by: Mahmud A. Asrar | $3.50 USD, $4.05 CAN | imagecomics.com

A little background: Captain Dynamo apparently got around...alot. After his death, his wife finds his little black book & discovers the Cap has 5 illegitimate children. Each of these kids has one of Captain Dynamo's powers. She rounds them up in order to protect the now chaotic & unprotected city.

There's been alotta hype about this Image comic. I must admit, I got caught up in it. It's not all hype though. The art is beautiful, and the dialogue is entertaining. The kids are learning how to use their powers, fight as a team & somehow become a family all at the same time.