Ninjak #4
Written by Matt Kindt
Art by Juan Jose Ryp with Clay Mann, Seth Mann, Marguerite Sauvage, and Butch Guice
Inks by Brian Thies
Colors by Ulises Arreola
Letters by Dave Sharpe
Cover art by Dave Johnson, Rafa Sandoval, Jodi Tarragona, David Garcia Cruz, Raul Allen, Marguerite Sauvage, and Jelena Kevic-Djurdjevic
Valiant Entertainment
Release Date: June 24, 2015
Cover Price: $3.99

Ninjak #4 is a different kind of issue as the previous ones in the series. VERY different. If you’ve been enjoying the series, as I have, you’re going to either REALLY like this issue, or really NOT like this issue. Let me tell you what I thought.

Angry Birds #1
Written by Jeff Parker
Art by Paco Rodriques, Marco Gervasio, and Cesar Ferioli
Colors by Digikore Studios, David Garcia Cruz, and Julie Gore
Letters by Rovio Comics, and Pisara Oy
Covers by Paco Rodriques, Pilot Studios, Jose Holder, Jon Sommerive, and Andrea Freccero
IDW Publishing
Release Date: June 11, 2014
Cover Price: $3.99

Angry Birds #1 is 100% less frustrating than the game is. BUT is it as much fun? Let’s find out…

Writer Jeff Parker is the PERFECT fit for this comic! He gives us three shorter stories in the issue that remind me a lot of some old Looney Tunes or Tom & Jerry cartoons. He gives each and every bird a unique and different personality, and every single one of them is pretty funny. The pigs, obviously, play the villains of each story. The best part about the book is that it’s FUNNY. I’m not sure that I’d want to read a serious, superhero-like Angry Birds comic — in fact, I know I wouldn’t. This comic keeps the tone of the game, which is light-hearted, joke filled, and FUN!!

G.I. Joe #13
Written by Paul Allor
Art by Alex Cal, Robert Atkins & Juan Castro, and Chris Evenhuis
Colors by David Garcia Cruz, and Joana LaFuente
Letters by Gilberto Lazcano
Covers by Steve Kurth, Allen Martinez, Joana LaFuente & Freddie E. Williams III, and David Garcia Cruz
IDW Publishing
Release Date: February 5, 2014
Cover Price: $3.99

G.I. Joe #13 could be titled “Everything you always wanted to know about Cobra, but where afraid they’d kill you for asking.” Thankfully, it’s not. What it IS is a really awesome issue.

This month, new writer Paul Allor gives us not one, not two, but THREE stories all packed into one surprisingly not over-crammed issue. The stories are framed with The Baroness being told about the history of the Cobra organization. A tale that goes back — like REALLY way back. It turns out, the Cobra organization has been behind some pretty interesting things that you’d never even associate them with. You know that I’m anti-spoiler, so I’m not going to tell you what those things are, but I suggest you pick this issue up and find out what they are, because I guarantee you’ll be highly entertained. This is one of my favorite issues of Joe in a long time.

Dungeons & Dragons: Cutter #1
Written by R.A. Salvatore & Geno Salvatore
Art by David Baldeon
Color by David Garcia Cruz
Letters by Neil Uyetake
Covers by Steve Ellis, David Baldeon
IDW Publishing
Release Date: April 10, 2013
Cover Price: $3.99

The hardest part about reviews for something that R.A. Salvatore has released is coming up with a new way to introduce his work. All I really want to do is grab people and shake them forcefully while screaming “Why haven’t you read him yet?” But I hear that is illegal in some places…*sigh* This go around he is writing with his son Geno Salvatore, which has yielded some excellent results in the past. Dungeons & Dragons: Cutter #1 is the first in a five-issue series that centers around a sword that has been around for a while, passing from warrior to warrior.

But Cutter is no ordinary blade, not by a long stretch (see what I did there? It’s a longsword!). It’s Drow name is Khazid’hea and its true nature is that of death and destruction. For you see, this sword is sentient in the most malevolent of ways, it’s only goal is to be wielded by the finest warrior. Having first appeared in Salvatore’s Starless Night, we have seen it alter its own appearance to entice warriors to claim it as their own. From a weapons master in the Underdark to Drizz’t Do’Urden to Cattie-Brie and so on…this sword has been seeking its perfect match. Is it finally coming to pass? Only time will tell as this miniseries breathes more life into the sword’s story and that of the Drow family that currently possesses it.