Dream Thief #2
Written by Jai Nitz
Art & Lettering by Greg Smallwood
Cover by Ryan Sook
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: June 19, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

Dream Thief #2 continues the awesome yet confusing story of John Lincoln in his super crazy adventure, for lack of a better term, that…you know what? I don’t even know. Your guess is as good as mine!!

Jai Nitz is horribly underrated in the comic book business. I’ve sung his praises before on the excellent Green Hornet Legacy title that he writes for Dynamite Entertainment, and here, we have more of the same. Only, the two books in question could NOT be more different. Basically when John Lincoln falls asleep, horrible horrible things happen. And, he has, in addition to his own memories, the memories of several other people. This issue’s focus is very adult in nature and as not to offend anyone, I won’t go into specific detail here, but trust me when I tell you – this is a GREAT book. Not only this issue, which is superbly written, but the series in general. Now, that’s high praise for a series that’s only on issue two. But, please, TRUST me on this, you will LOVE this book!!!

Transformers: Regeneration One #92
Written by Simon Furman
Penciled by Andrew Wildman
Inked by Stephen Baskerville
Color by John-Paul Bove
Lettered by Chris Mowry
Editor: John Barber
Editor-In-Chief: Chris Ryall
Covers by Andrew Wildman, Guido Guidi & Geoff Senior
IDW Publishing
Release Date: June 12, 2013
Cover Price: $2.99

Transformers: Regeneration One #92 is the latest in a long line of books that IDW is publishing for the FANS. And, as a fan, I don’t think we can thank them enough. Yes another case where the publisher ACTUALLY does something because YOU demanded it!

Transformers Godfather Simon Furman continues doing what he does best – writing Transformers. This series picks up where the original Marvel series left off, just like IDW has done with G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero. The series has been running since last year, and it’s given Transfans exactly what they wanted, and that is a proper ending to the series. Now, I know most of this is old news to a lot of you, but since this is my first time reviewing the series, I thought a brief catch-up would be nice.

The Black Beetle: No Way Out #4
Story & Art by Francesco Francavilla
Lettering by Nate Piekos of Blambot
Cover by Francesco Francavilla
Dark Horse Comics
Release Date: June 12, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

The Black Beetle #4 is the EPIC conclusion to the first miniseries for Francesco Francavilla‘s creation. I’m very happy to say, it measures up to the previous three issues.

Writer and artist Francesco Francavilla wraps up this excellent miniseries with more of the same – excellence. I have to tell you, even though I’ve been reading this character for four issues, it really feels like I’m very familiar with The Beetle and his universe. It’s like when you read a comic that you haven’t read in years and a wave of nostalgia comes rushing back. While I won’t spoil it, this issue is full of really shocking resolutions to the mysteries that have been running in the book, and, of course, leaves the door open for The Black Beetle’s next miniseries.

Miss Fury #3
Written by Rob Williams
Art by Jack Herbert
Colors by Ivan Nunes
Lettered by Simon Bowland
Covers by Joe Benitez, Paul Renaud, Billy Tan and Wagner Reis
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: June 5, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

Miss Fury #3 is the latest chapter in Dynamite’s latest Pulp Hero revival and one of the MOST confusing comics that I’ve ever read in recent memory. And, I’m loving every minute of it.

I hope writer Rob Williams has a scorecard for this book at home, because I’ve long since tossed mine out. No, I’m not stupid, but you have to agree when you’re reading a comic book about a time traveling hero who blinks and goes from 70 years in the past to 70 years in the future, you’d tend to get a little confused too. Not to mention cyborg Nazis who’re hiding in disguise are political figures in 2013 and trying to start World War II. That’s right, 2. It is this kind of “lets throw everything at the reader just for fun” action that I absolutely LOVE and here, Rob Williams totally makes it work for this book and the universe that it’s set in. To say that there’s a lot going on would be the understatement of the year. To say it’s pretty darn entertaining? Right on the money.

The Black Bat #2
Written by Brian Buccellato
Art by Ronan Cliquet
Colored by Mat Lopes
Lettered by Rob Steen
Covers by Marcos Martin, Billy Tan, Jae Lee, Ardian Syaf and Joe Benitez
Dynamite Entertainment
Release Date: June 5, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

Reading The Black Bat #2 will further cement what we now know as FACT. Dynamite Entertainment loves its pulp heroes and takes extra good care of them. I’m not sure just who it is, I’m guessing senior editor Joe Rybandt, but someone at DE goes the extra mile to see that all these books are treated with the utmost care and that they all have a genuinely sincere creative team working together to ensure that the best versions of these characters are hitting the stands.

Writer Brian Buccellato, best known for his work on DC Comics The Flash, takes what could’ve easily been a Batman rip-off and does something that’s not even remotely related to one of “those types of stories.” In fact, he goes out of his way to make the character unique and independent and stand out on his own. And we’re rewarded for all his hard work by having a great comic!!!