Close to Death by Anthony Horowitz Review

A “neighbour from hell” is murdered via crossbow in a posh London suburb. But when all of his neighbours hated him, whodunit? Hawthorne investigates - this time, from the past!

Esc & Ctrl by Steve Hollyman Review

In 2012, someone broke into Steve Hollyman’s flat and stole a manuscript he was working on. 9 years later, a mysterious academic called Ike A. Mafar contacts Steve to say he’s come into possession of his lost book - except someone has added pages to it. Someone with intimate knowledge of Steve’s life - but who? Steve and Ike go through the manuscript looking for clues to try and find out.

Thor: Vikings Review (Garth Ennis, Glenn Fabry)

Undead vikings invade Manhattan - Thor (and Doctor Strange) to the rescue!

Garth Ennis made a rare foray into superhero comics with his Preacher artist Glenn Fabry in this relatively-unknown 2003 Thor comic (when he does write for Marvel, he tends to write “street-level” characters like The Punisher and Nick Fury and ignore/slight the more colourful superheroes - this is the man who also wrote The Boys after all!). Unfortunately, I can see why this book is out-of-print and largely forgotten as it’s quite poor.

The Amazing Spider-Man, Volume 8: Spider Man's First Hunt Review (Zeb Wells, Patrick Gleason)

Queen Goblin gives Kraven a magic spear to turn Norman Osborn gobbly again - but not if Spider-Man can stop him! Also, Bizarro Spidey Rek-Rap returns to solve a case about a debt collector after Randy Robertson - but not if Spider-Man can buh buh…!

Prison Pit: The Complete Collection by Johnny Ryan Review

Aboard a prison spaceship, a prisoner is thrown into a pit (that’s basically a portal to another world) and must survive in a harsh landscape filled with killers. Insane amounts of gore and violence ensue!

Barefoot Gen, Volume One: A Cartoon Story of Hiroshima by Keiji Nakazawa Review

Barefoot Gen is both a fictional and autobiographical manga about life before, during and after the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Fictional in the sense that Gen and his family are made-up and autobiographical in that the author, Keiji Nakazawa, was 6 years old at the time of the bomb and actually lived in Hiroshima throughout the experience, much of which he includes in this book.

James Bond: Agent of SPECTRE Review (Christos Gage, Luca Casalanguida)

There’s civil war within SPECTRE and Blofeld enlists the help of Bond, Jamesh Bond, to help him defeat his rival Titania (teehee) Jones. Bond and Blofeld on the same side? I can’t believe it’s not butter!