Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow Review (Tom King, Bilquis Evely)

One-dimensional bad guy kills man giving man’s daughter reason to hunt down bad guy. Supergirl’s involved because bad guy also kills Krypto, her dog. Hey, wasn’t the latter the plot for John Wick…?

The People in the Trees by Hanya Yanigahara Review

Dr Abraham Norton Perina writes his memoirs from a prison cell where he’s convicted of child molestation - and yet he was once a Nobel Prize-winning scientist. What did he win it for? He found the secret to eternal life on a Micronesian island where the people consumed sacred turtle meat. But living forever comes with a terrible cost…

The Philosopher, the Dog and the Wedding by Barbara Stok Review

Barbara Stok is back with a new biographical comic, this time on Hipparchia, one of the first female philosophers, who lived 2300 years ago in Ancient Greece. Stok’s story centres around a young Hipparchia who is preparing to be married off to a wealthy Athenian family - until her intelligence, curiosity and love of learning get in the way of her potential future, particularly once she meets the Cynic philosopher Crates. What will Hipparchia’s fate be?

Heroes Reborn: America’s Mightiest Heroes Review (Jason Aaron, Ed McGuinness)

Blade finds himself in a world where Steve Rogers was never thawed out of the ice so the Avengers never formed. What’s going on?! Oh - another desperately thrown-together and bloated Marvel event book that’s not worth reading.

The Nao of Brown by Glyn Dillon Review

Nao Brown is a half-English/half-Japanese young woman with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. After a visit to her dad in Japan, she returns to London to work at her friend’s kitschy Japanese toy shop where she meets and falls for an alcoholic washing machine repairman. Also Buddhism and Ghibli-esque stuff.

The Invoice by Jonas Karlsson Review

A man receives an invoice of millions for the life he’s lived thus far, simply being alive! The man tries to understand his predicament by calling the company charging him and, amidst this Kafkaesque scenario, unexpectedly finds romance at the other end of the line - but what will happen to him if he can’t pay the bill?

Justice League: Last Ride Review (Chip Zdarsky, Miguel Mendonca)

Following the death of Martian Manhunter, the Justice League is no more. But when the Green Lantern Corps capture Lobo, whose recent most heinous crime is killing the New Gods, they turn to the scattered League for help in ensuring he makes it to trial. Batman’s plan? Hide out in the ruins of Apokolips…

The Collected Toppi, Volume 1: The Enchanted World by Segio Toppi Review

Spiteful witches, monsters lurking in abandoned towers, homicidal dolls, crazed lighthouse keepers (as if there’s any other kind!), dissatisfied mushroom-sitting gnomes, child-eating ogres, gods, seals, and Inuits - Sergio Toppi wrote and drew a lotta imaginative fantasy-based comics from the late ‘70s to the late ‘90s, and a bunch of ‘em are here in The Collected Toppi, Volume 1: The Enchanted World.

Heatwave by Victor Jestin Review

It’s a sweltering August on a French beach campsite and teenage boy Leonard is there with his family for a summer holiday. And then, one night, Leonard watches a boy called Oscar strangle to death on a swing - and doesn’t step in to help. Even stranger, Leonard then decides to bury the body and tell no-one about it! With a mere day left of his holiday before he returns home, will Leonard’s actions be found out or will his secret lie buried along with Oscar?

Canary #1 Review (Scott Snyder, Dan Panosian)

A kid cutting his schoolteacher’s throat with a knife is just the latest in a string of bizarre incidents in and around 1890s Utah. A theory is floated that it’s due to the water coming from the old Canary Mine in the mountains and Marshal Azrael Holt is dispatched to join a geologist in investigating the alleged source. But the Marshal’s bloody past ain’t done with him jest yet…

Powers, Volume 1: Who Killed Retro Girl? Review (Brian Michael Bendis, Michael Avon Oeming)

Two coppers investigate the death of a superhero in Powers, Volume 1: The Subtitle Explains the Premise!

I’ve read quite a bit of Bendis’ work but never his best known earliest comic, Powers - until now. And I wasn’t impressed.

A Righteous Thirst For Vengeance, Volume 2 Review (Rick Remender, Andre Lima Araujo)

Sonny and Xavier have found shelter from the international assassins after them in a hidden off-the-grid camp in British Columbia - but said assassins aren’t too far behind so they’ll only get a temporary respite… until the next one! And then they gots to run again! And… that’s the series, really. Fight, run, hide, repeat.

Suicide Squad: Get Joker! Review (Brian Azzarello, Alex Maleev)

Red Hood somehow gets drafted into the latest roster of the Suicide Squad. Their target? Get Joker! Get Joker what - a decent storyline to appear in? It’s been a while - and this book ain’t changing that! Then Joker takes Waller’s boom box that blows up the Squad. What’s gonna happen next? I’m sure most people can wait to never find out, and they would be the smart ones.

Why Read by Will Self Review

Why Read collects some of Will Self’s essays from 2001 to 2021, most containing a literary angle, but some are about random topics like Self’s personal history with Australia, a trip to the haunting modernist ruins of Chernobyl and the ongoing environmental crisis. It’s a decent collection that’s got some stuff I enjoyed, some stuff I didn’t, and some stuff that was a bit of both!