The Amazing Spider-Man, Volume 1: World Without Love Review (Zeb Wells, John Romita Jr.)

Spider-Man does what a spider hero does and inadvertently starts a gang war between Tombstone and the Kingpin’s son, The Rose. Tombstone must reassert control over his criminal empire - and Spidey’s gonna help him, whether he wants to or not.

Rental Person Who Does Nothing by Shoji Morimoto Review

In 2018, Shoji Morimoto began to rent himself out to people as someone who did nothing except show up and spend a set amount of time with them. So if you wanted someone to accompany you for a difficult task and you couldn’t ask a friend or family, or maybe you don’t have either, then Shoji would do it. Or if you wanted someone to sit there while you worked so you wouldn’t slack off then he would show up. Even if you just wanted him to think of you while you were doing something the next day or needed a DM from him to remind you to go to the gym, Shoji would be your guy.

James Bond 007, Volume 1 Review (Greg Pak, Marc Laming)

A Russian smuggler has a special case and is making his way to the bad guys for a big payday - not if James Bond has anything to say about it! But what’s this: a Korean spy is also after special case - and he’s got a deadly bowler hat…! What an odd… feature. Will superspies save the whatever who cares.

Dr. No by Percival Everett Review

Professor Wala Kitu, a mathematician that specialises in Nothing, is approached by billionaire John Sill, who wants to become a real-life Bond villain, to help him rob Fort Knox. But it’s not the gold Sill is after but something more valuable: nothing.

The Sandman Universe: Nightmare Country Review (James Tynion IV, Lisandro Estherren)

A young artist paints a man with eyes for teeth in painting after painting - what does it mean? So asks The Corinthian, the nightmare serial killer with eyes for teeth that Morpheus created yonks ago, stepping out of the Dreaming into the real world, for some reason. There’s a chase - a couple of obscure Hellblazer characters, Mr Agony and Mr Ecstasy, are after the artist for some reason - and there’s a billionaire who wants something because whatever. Yeah, I had no idea what was happening in this one.

Music for Chameleons by Truman Capote Review

Truman Capote’s literary fame rests on two things: a short story called Breakfast at Tiffany’s and a pioneering “nonfiction novel” of true crime, In Cold Blood. Music for Chameleons, Capote’s last book to be published in his lifetime, collects pieces from both genres he made his name in, along with some magazine-style “Conversational Portraits”, featuring, most notably, the icon on the cover, Marilyn Monroe.

Tombs by Junji Ito Review

A spooky village riddled with tombstones. A monster washed up on a beach. A girl with a slug for a tongue. A haunted tunnel/statues/house/town/everything. So your average Junji Ito story collection? Yuh huh!

Supreme Power: Nighthawk Review (Daniel Way, Steve Dillon)

Millionaire Kyle Richmond is the dark, flying animal-themed vigilante Nighthawk, determined to protect his city after his parents were murdered when he was a child. Now, a new menace rears its ugly head: a sociopathic chemist wearing clown makeup who can’t stop killing. Hmm… this all sounds very familiar doesn’t it? But wait - it’s a Marvel book, not DC! Huh-wuuuh!?

Vixen by Ken Bruen Review

Vixen is the first Ken Bruen novel I didn’t like and couldn’t pass off as being the fault of a co-writer like Jason Starr. It’s the fifth book in his Inspector Brant series, a series I’m not familiar with (besides seeing the 2011 film adaptation of Blitz starring Jason Statham - it actually wasn’t bad considering it starred Jason Statham) and a series I’m not going to pick up further books from.