AVENGERS #11 = ★✩✩✩✩

Ughh. I'm not sure what Hickman was trying with this issue but it's a mess. Various Avengers - but notably none of the big guns - go undercover on A.I.M. Island. The narrative is told in flashback, non-chronologically and from different viewpoints. Humour is turned up... but frankly falls flat. It's rare for me completely dislike a comic but I can't find hardly anything I like in this issue. What happened to the big, cosmic story? Awful.

BATMAN #20 = ★★★★★

I absolutely loved this! I've read lots of comments online about how Synder can't tell shorter stories - in 18 issues he's really only managed to tell two. This two-part Clayface story is great: Clayface collects the genetic imprints of all those around him - even to the point where he discovers that Bruce is Batman. It's a New52 Clayface who makes it clear he's more than just a pile of yuck: "I ain't your daddy's clayface!" There are some fantastic moments: the prototype Batman Beyond/Batman of the Future suit and the way that Damian's death is mourned. Plus I think this is Capullo's best art. In all, a very satisfying issue.

CONSTANTINE #3 = ★★★✩✩

Still searching for occult artefacts, Constantine arrives in London. Various characters - including the City of London itself - try to kill him. There's a mix of dark magic and some moments of humour. London itself looks like it exists in a 1990s Japanese cartoon with cute video game cars. Constantine on the cover looks like a youthful screaming Rod Stewart.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #3 = ★★★✩✩

I have one massive gripe with this comic: the portrayal of Green Arrow as a wannabe hero who is desperate to join a team. I'm not sure why Geoff Johns wants the character presented like this. In this issue, Catwoman goes "double agent" to infiltrate the villain's organisation. There's a neat scene where Martian Manhunter probes her mind and we get to see flashbacks of Selina's childhood and youth as well as Martian Manhunter's life on Mars. The implication is - to paraphrase this month's Clayface - "this ain't your daddy's Martian Manhunter": there's something definitely off about him. I'm on the fence about whether I'm going to read JLA longer-term. Trinity War crossover is about to happen and I'll keep on until then. Really, there's not enough to distinguish this title in terms of characters I'm interested in or a strong narrative (it needs one or the other). David Finch's pencils are great, though.

THE PRIVATE EYE #2 = ★★★★★ 

In an off-beat, post-internet future where most people wear masks to protect privacy and the role of the Fourth Estate press is to act as a form of police force, the fall out from the murder of his client crashes down on the illegal private eye, Patrick Immelman. It's classic noir tropes transferred to a bright (almost luridly so) future. Marcos Martin's energetic Moebius-like art suits this weird future world. Must also mention Munsta Vincente's stunning bold colouring. Vaughan introduces more characters into the narrative and we're left on another great cliff-hanging moment. Great great great comic.

THE ROCKETEER: HOLLYWOOD HORROR #4 = ★★★★✩

Cliff Secord goes up against the Hollywood con-man, Otto Rune using Peevy's substitute jet pack while Betty's being sacrificed to a mechanical monster called Sh'ozzoth. I admit that I was skeptical about J Bone's art - but I can see the appeal: it captures a tremendous sense of fun. Couple of great moments: finding out that the narrator is Groucho Marx and Cliff meeting Doc Savage. 

THOR: GOD OF THUNDER #8 = ★★★★★

Now this is what I think is a fantastic issue of a fantastic story-arc. Young Thor attempts to destroy the God Bomb while middle-aged and OAP Thor sail to Gorr, the God Butcher's planet. Esad Ribac's artwork is stunning (though I have to praise Ive Svorcina's beautiful colouring). Best Thor artist since Simonson? 

UNCANNY AVENGERS #8 = ★★★★✩

In contrast with Avengers, this is a cosmic title with an epic plot. This group of Avengers get split up by the Apocalypse Twins who manipulate events. Daniel Acuna takes over art and it's masterly - well suited to such a powerful story. Although it's possible to follow what's happening, having read Remender's run on Uncanny X-force definitely helps in understanding the back story. For me, this is the best of the various Avengers titles.

SCORING

✩✩✩✩✩ = Awful.

★✩✩✩✩ = Poor.

★★✩✩✩ = Average.

★★★✩✩ = Good.

★★★★✩ = Very good.

★★★★★ = Excellent.

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