Re-reading .... Black Science: Vol. 8 - Later the you think

The countdown is almost over!! As I approach those final few issues (the first three of which continue to be sat on my iPad, untouched and waiting to be read), I find myself excited all over again as I bound through the entirety of Black Science at an ever increasing rate of knots.

Black Science vol. 8
Issues 35 - 38

So far, I have completed the first 34 issues, making up the first seven volumes (if you look at them in trade format). Now, if you've just found this and want to start reading my gibberish from the beginning, the links for all which came before are as follows:

Volume 1 - How to Fall Forever
Volume 2 - Welcome, Nowhere
Volume 3 - Vanishing Point
Volume 4 - Godworld
Volume 5 - True Atonement
Volume 6 - Forbidden Realms and Hidden Truths
Volume 7 - Extinction is the Rule

Now, onto the main event....

(As always, spoilers, spoilers, spoilers. Forewarned is forearmed)

The cover for Black Science
Issue 35

Volume 8 of Rick Remender and Matteo Scalara's phenomenal Black Science is entitled Later than you think and, in my opinion, it's a good title for the subject matter. Much like with Godworld, Later than you think gives the dimension jumping full throttle pulp action spectacle a push to the back seat to focus on something of a more introspective matter.

Grant and Sara McKay have been wandering the Eververse alone for the past year since the final events of Volume 7, attempting to find some way in which they can return to their world and reunite with their children. However, we discover right at the beginning of this arc that they have been recruited by a multiversal marriage counselling organisation in order to help them come to terms with one simple fact; their children are dead and all they now have is each other. However, the repair of the McKay's damaged relationship isn't all this group is able to help with as when it's discovered they have a uniquely designed pillar capable to reaching the centre of the onion, Grant and Sara make a last ditch trip to the beginning of the Eververse to find a way to locate their world.

Starting the story waiting for
answers on a new world.

It's occurred to me after having written this last paragraph that it sounds very synopsis-esque. Well, if it is and I've convinced someone to read this series then 'yay' welcome to the party. However, I wrote it this way because a. I don't like to intentionally give away spoilers and b. I'm not sure how long I'd be writing for if I was more descriptive about this arc. Volume 8 is incredibly dense given that it's focus is solely on two characters, with not a single panel feeling wasted and every page filled to the brim. However, this is no bad thing as I'm seriously in awe of watching these two characters; one the severely damaged lead and the other who has long been the objective at the end of this journey, as they had to sift through their respective pain to find much needed common ground.

Sara's path not travelled!

I felt that this arc is truly Sara's arc as we got to see all the different layers to her with greater focus than the relatively obscure benchwarmer of the last couple of arcs. Seeing her get the chance to look at the road less travelled was a nice touch, certainly something I bet we are all guilty of thinking about from time to time, even if it didn't have the effect that Brenda desired. Speaking of whom, Brenda was another nice wrinkle to the lore of Black Science as we discover her lineage and discover that doppelgangers are not always guaranteed. However, even during this re-read, I thought her final actions were quite a surprise and for a moment wondered if we'd been watching an alternate version of the pair we were expecting.

Reconciliation?

Of course, this wasn't the case leading into the next instalment as we found the McKay's checking into an empty hotel on a desolate planet before attending a wedding. Now, I recall that this really unnerved me on the first read as I had not been able to correlate how they got to here from where they were. However, on this occasion, I did wonder if this was more of a shared dream sequence, in a similar vein to the Godworld adventure. In fact, there is an early reference to dreams being a method of seeing of realities which find of confirmed this to me (although I could still be wrong). However, regardless of the where's, why's and how's, I found this second issue of the arc to be so heart warming as we were introduced to everyone whom made Grant and Sara who they were and they slowly learned about each other and themselves again.

It was from here that I thought Matteo Scalara and Moreno Dinisio made their presences known during this arc as, while they (as usual) gave us stellar art in issue 35, the pencils and colours looked so much softer than some of the previous issues. I wonder if this is maybe to imbue that more warm, gentle and loving atmosphere of bringing this couple back together. Nonetheless, this entire issues looks fantastic with a gorgeous array of faces (the bride and groom look amazing in this) and (as usual) bizarre locales such as the below.

A parent's gotta do what a
parent's gotta do.

From this point, Later than you think's plot takes a similar direction to the Godworld arc as Sara and Grant leave their time of 'introspection' and return (mysteriously) to Brenda in order to discuss how they can find their children and how the Eververse is being destroyed. I have to admit that I must not have read this issue properly the first time round because, while it has gone from subtly implied to overtly mentioned about the destructive properties of the Pillars within the Eververse, I was actually as stunned as the McKay's when finding such a proportion of worlds had been destroyed.

Look who it is (again)!

Of course, I feel this only confirms the impending end of the series as why else would Remender destroy so much of his story telling playground. It also seems to increase the urgency of both the McKay's and Brenda's objective as well as explain their newly-discovered daughter's viewpoint to give up on the maybe of finding their kids to save what's left of the multiverse.

However, as the series has progressed, I've always liked the character of Grant McKay and, after becoming a father myself I've found I tend to agree with most (though maybe not all) of his decisions. Therefore, how the issue ends with the McKay's choosing to forsake the greater good in favour of their children totally rings true with me as I'd probably do much the same thing. And so, Grant and Sara drill their way (in a spectacular Scalara visual) to the centre where they encounter a rather familiar face.

It seems some rivalries have
been going since the beginning.

It is with him, the original Grant McKay, that we finally learn the truth about life, the universe and everything (sorry, I had to use that line!). I'll be honest that I'm not sure how I feel about the final issue of this arc as, while it's interesting to finally get an understanding of how all the pieces fit together (such as the meaning of the other dimensions and the programming of the 'avatars' within said worlds), I'm in two minds about the revelation of these 'Angels' (as Sara puts it, and which Scalara's art certainly hints at) rather nefarious plans.

That said, it seems that Grant and Sara's presence was not to that plan, resulting in the Centre facing the dangers of their outer layers and the Prime Grant facing down his own nemesis in Prime Kadir. It was here that I found myself wondering, if all choices are subconsciously programmed into the avatars, did the Prime Grant programme the McKay we all know to achieve the seemingly impossible and reach the centre? Or did the our Grant somehow achieve free will and make his own way here?

And look who's back!

Either way, his action looks to have caused the end for the centre, although fortunately for Grant and Sara they don't get to share its fate as they are rescued last minute by their kids. So, the gang is all back together again.

And so, we reach the end, and I've got to admit that I really enjoyed this tale which, while it was a relatively quiet arc (compared to many of the others),felt kind of like a coda to what I would probably call the second act of the series (Volumes 5-7). Fortunately though, this is not in the Endgame yet, because that's up next.

As of right now, after reading the entire series of Black Science all together in anticipation for the final few issues, I am absolutely pumped to see how this all ends. Can the Anarchist League of Scientists save the multiverse? Will they all be together at the end? Who will live? Who live die? Who will come back? I really can't wait to dive in to these final five issues.

Especially that final one, because the cover of issue 43 looks amazing!!

When does 'lots of comics' become 'too many comics'?

A couple of weeks back (as of the time I wrote this) my wife and I were having a conversation about space when she pointed that my comic book collection was both taking up space and getting slightly in the way (although I may be under-estimating the 'slightly) within our dining room.

Seven boxes. Now my entire single issue collection after much has been sold off.

Sadly, she is very much right there.

Since having our second child, the amount of 'stuff' in our house seems to have grown exponentially, with every room now seemingly filled from wall to wall and floor to ceiling. Now, my comics don't take up much space in comparison to some I know. One of the owners of my local comic shop has enough that he rents two other rooms from his parents in which to hold them. Then, there is a gentleman I know in the states who is a Guinness World Record holder for having the biggest comic collection in the world.

But, as I went back through these boxes to get an idea if there was anything further I could cull as a way to appease my better half. However, as I sifted through the many issues still in my possession I realised that many of these comics I rarely think about, with two of the series I held I did not actually remember having.

Therefore, it brought to my mind a question; When does 'lots of comics' within a comic collection become 'too many comics'?

My comic collection over multiple versions consists of;

• 464 titles on Comixology (Not including those I have archived because I don't like them)
• Approx. 700 single issues (the majority of which consist of Fantastic Four and Daredevil)
• Approx. 30 Paperback Graphic Novels
• Approx. 15 Hardcover Graphic Novels

While not a massive collection in comparison to some around the world, I have come to realise that it is a lot!

Too many perhaps as, while pouring over the fruits of my 17 year odyssey into the comics world, I found comics which I had only read once and even some which I had never read at all.

I, like almost everyone else I know, considers these comics to be collectors items as we read them upon release, bag them, board them and then file them away amongst all the others.

Like a smaller, maybe less powerful Ark of the Covenant.

But why do we do this? Modern comics aren't really worth anything as any issue can be found in any bargain box in comics around the world and even if they can't, everyone owns a tablet and so can easily find whatever they look for in the digital realms.

What's more, how often do some of these comics get read? I own the entire Sharpe series of novels by Bernard Cornwall as well as all the Rebus novels by Ian Rankin, which I've been buying since I was 13 years old. However, for a great deal of these I have only ever read them from cover to cover once, with the two most recent Rebus novels having not been cracked open (yet).

The same goes with my comics. I've read (almost) all of them once but what point is there in keeping them beyond this point if I don't read them regularly.

An example (or two) come in the vein of Fraction and Aja's Immortal Iron Fist and Remender and Ribic's Uncanny X-Force. Both of these series are runs that I love, with artwork (particularly in the early half of the series) which is spectacular. However, I own both of these runs in single issues and, thus, find it a little taxing to re-read the entire series with the routine of get out, read, put away, next, repeat. Therefore, I'm currently pondering on digitizing both runs so that I can continue to have them without such a struggle.

That said, with over 460 separate comics on Comixology, what are the odds that I will ever read them again if I get those issues online? An example here comes in Alex + Ada, which is a series I nigh on lauded over upon it's release. However, since then I've never re-read, opting to spend money I don't have on other things. Will I ever re-read Alex + Ada? Hopefully, but then I could say the same thing about Dead Body Road, The Legend of Wonder Woman, Gotham Central and on and on and on.

I fear I'm just waffling now and talking myself in circles, but I guess what I'm trying to say is have I reached that limit in terms of a total number of comics I can conceivably read in my lifetime? If I were to stop buying now, would I be happy re-reading the same comics over and over again?

I guess those are the ultimate questions because, if I couldn't read them over and over again, then what is the point in having bought them in the first place.

You know, that kind of answers my own question.

Thanks, good talk.

Comic reviews: July 2019

While it is now mid/late August as of the date which I post this (although I wrote it at the beginning of the month), it certainly feels like a long time since I actually reviewed these comics.

However, while I still gave my word which I would reference the links for each of these reviews, I felt as though this was something I needed to do, simply because more people need to here about these books.

And the four I reviewed during July definitely deserve greater focuses as I thought they were all rather good.

First up amongst my reviews in July was Shaun Gardiner's The Boy with Nails for Eyes. Now, I have to confess that, after reading this comic, I had absolutely no idea what the plot was for this or where it would be going. However, that mattered little because I absolutely loved reading it. This comic looked moody, gothic, and somewhat dreamlike and the dialogue had me absolutely hooked from the beginning. I think it is fair to say that but I don't think I've seen a comic like this before and, if this guy could at least hint where his story is going, then, to me, this title could actually be pretty damn near perfect.

Deiciders #1. Image from
Comixology.

Next up was Deiciders #1 from Markosia Comics. Now this comic, which (rather aptly given it's title) is about three Vikings who travel to kill a God in order to save a girl, is one I absolutely loved reading and totally couldn't put it down. I absolutely adored the art (especially the first and last pages) and thought the action was so good. It did have it's bad points, such as the characters not feeling fleshed out (which actually isn't as bad as my constant mentioning makes it feel like) as well as the cliché of the 'Damsel in Distress'. However, both of these things did little to stop me really loving this and I've gotta be sure I pick up the other three issues if they are anything like this one.

Miskatonic High #1.
Image from Comixology.

For the third week of July was Miskatonic High #1 & 2, which (I thought) was a kind of Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Scooby Doo's Mystery Inc. as five schoolmates join a club and find themselves stumbling across one bizarre and unusual occurrence after another. Now, with this comic, I absolutely loved it as it read as so light and breezy, in no way taking itself too seriously, that it was actually a nice change of pace from all of these other comics where 'the world is in danger' kind of thing. I did think that it struggled in the very beginning but it picked itself up nicely with it's story and the artists style is so on point with the concept and story themselves that this title really is a perfect match of two great talents. I'm actually looking forward to reading some more.

Delver #1. Image from
Comixology.

And finally there was Delver #1 through to 3, which is a fantasy comic but I'm not sure I could explain further without delving (pun not intended) into stuff I'd gone through in the review. In short though I really enjoyed this, although I struggled for about half to 2/3 of the first issue. However, it really grew on me with the characters and world really feeling real in some fashion. The art is...well, art. It's nice, has this kind of classic fantasy look in some way and isn't tough to look at (apart from the early pages which I think are rougher than the rest). The colours help, keeping it toned down and making it look mostly realistic (as much as it can in a story about monsters and magic doors). In truth, I'm not sure why I liked it but I just did. Hopefully, I got across everything I could that spoke to me.

And there you have it, July's reviews referenced with the more personal ramblings of what I thought of these comics. For as far back as I can remember, I think this could have been the best month I've had since reviewing for Pipedream, as all four comics have now made their way to my wish list.

Hopefully, these additional thoughts and a (hopefully) genuine ramble of love for these comics will help convince others to give these a shot.

Re-reading .... Black Science: Vol. 7 - Extinction is the Rule

So, as I hurtle my way towards the end of the series and, with it, those final five issues I've yet to read (despite them periodically being released. I figured I'd save it all for the VERY end), I find it quite surprising that I have managed to commit so many words to paper in the fifteen plus hours it has taken me to get to this point.

Now, if you have just found this and would like to go back, the links are as follows:

Volume 1 - How to Fall Forever
Volume 2 - Welcome, Nowhere
Volume 3 - Vanishing Point
Volume 4 - Godworld
Volume 5 - True Atonement
Volume 6 - Forbidden Realms and Hidden Truths

But for now, forward...

(Just a warning, probably spoilers.)

Black Science: Volume 7

Extinction to the rule, the seventh volume of  Black Science's entire run, picks up where Volume 6 (and, in my opinion, volume 5) left off as the McKay's home Earth is overrun by all of their enemies from throughout the series so far; Zirates, Millipedes, Witches and .... some big hairy monster with awful language. However, the tables look set to turn as the Anarchist League of Scientists finally reunite in their entirety with a plan to defeat at least one of these villains, with the others looking set to be finish quite soon after. However, while trying to convince Sara that he's truly right, Kadir sets about his own plan to protect this world from all the enemies of the Eververse, by removing it!

Black Science #31

Now, I've got to admit that after the joy and excitement which volume 6 gave me, I was certainly expecting more of the same during this re-read. My worry was that I couldn't really recall how I had felt about this story arc when I had first read it, with only specific scenes sticking in my mind (and one which I eventually discovered my imagination had made up.

However, I had a serious struggle with the first issue as the tone and pace seemed to be completely off kilter with where we left off. The story opened with Grant appearing at a cabin in the woods to talk to it's older owner and, while it made sense by the end of the story and was, essentially, a recap method. it completely threw me and lost me for the issue.

The gang's all back together again!

However, it did recover by the end, if not the second instalment of the arc as the plot went back to it's natural feel. Now, for me, I'm convinced that this entire arc is the final act of the movie; the action set piece where the good guys save the world and this vibe I got was only strengthened by the fact that it was basically a cleanup arc where all the bad guys started getting killed off. It was also the moment when the Anarchist League of Scientists were finally reunited in it's entirety for the first time since issue 16, further solidifying that heroic final arc where all is right in the world(s).

Kadir's gone all Hank Pym.

Of course, this is Black Science and no sooner do things go right then things start going wrong all over again and this was again the case as no sooner was one villain dealt with but another came right along to take its place followed by (briefly) another and then (a little less briefly) another. If not for the fact that I'm re-reading the series and so know that more is to come, this series of falling dominoes would have convinced me more than anything that the end was nigh.

Kadir and Chandra's big secret revealed.

But, the end not quite being nigh, this arc regardless threw everything but the kitchen sink into the action and I now have to believe that this was done to highlight the amazing work of Matteo Scalara on this series. I have said repeatedly throughout my re-read about how incredible the art in this series has been, with Scalara just going nuts in his imagination on every issue with every world, creature and building which has appeared. With these four issues, however, we get to see Scalara's chickens, much like Grant's, come home to roost with every crazy idea and unbelievable design he's seemingly ever created nigh on bursting from every page between the front cover and the final page.

And yet another Grant/Kadir fight.

That said, not only did this arc feel like it was fun lol to the brim of great art, but every inch of Scalara's work, coupled with Moreno Dinisio again stellar colours, looked so much better in this volume. The colours were richer and the the shading looked deeper all the way throughout, the best example of this being a great shot of Nate after his defeat of Zar'Logh as he stands there in partial shadow. To me, this is almost an epic visual and one of probably a hundred reasons why I love this book and this artist. It is probably no understatement to say that Scalara and Dinisio are what make this battle for Earth as great as it is.

What amazing everversal art!

However, as the arc draws to a close, this all-out war series of visuals isn't what I loved about this arc but for the focus returning to the Grant/Kadir rivalry as revelations surrounding the beginnings of this entire story are revealed, making me far more intrigued. Now, having already read the entire run, I of course knew what was to come. That said, the reveal that Kadir and Chandra (who, like Block) are not of this world was still as much of a gut punch as it was the first time round.

To be fair, this revelation now seems incredibly obvious after re-reading the entire series; like watching the Sixth Sense after discovering Bruce Willis is dead (sorry if I've just spoils a 20 year old film for you). However, unlike that, it becomes this thing of the oddities which occur over the course of the series, such as Kadir's memories of meeting Grant in college or his relationship with Sara, I just noticed that he had so many inexplicably similar memories to the prime Kadir. Now, given that the eververse theory is based on branching universes created from decisions, this does make some sense, but surely the two dimensions couldn't be THAT similar, could it? I guess, the point of the earlier scenes in Godworld of Rebecca on another world was to prove just that.

Proof that Scalara and Dinisio
are top of their game here!

However, beyond these questions, I also found myself asking a few more about Block/Kadir/Chandra's past world's which weren't so obvious? Firstly, was that last world the gome of the Alt-Grant and Sara we met early in the series? If so, then it would certainly explain Alt-Grant's facial scarring. But secondly, and maybe more crucially, were Kadir, Block and Chandra responsible for the epidemic on Roman World? Was their affliction the thought cancer which was reference and did this trio spread it as carriers?

If this is the case then, it re-affirms my thoughts earlier in the series that all the players are fated (for want of a better word) to play certain parts in the tale of the Black Science, of which Kadir appears to have accept his. With yet another Sara leaving him (and finding her own strength to stand against him), his realisation has come that he can never get what he wants, all he can do is save the world his (albeit the wrong) way.

Even Sara gets her hero moment here.

As such, we learn two fundamental truth about both Grant and Kadir's places in the story. With the former, we finally see him realise (with help from a guest appearing McKay) that is actually isn't to blame and that, while he's made mistakes, he is not responsible for the eververse's situation. With the latter, however, I feel that Kadir has been lined up to represent the ultimate big bad of the series, as his survivalist nature has finally won through. It's just a shame we had lose Brian to get there for both.

Looks like the (formerly) happy
couple are making the next jump alone.

But now the end is here with Grant and Sara separated (again) from their home and their family. However, this arc, despite its bumpy road, has me thinking that it sets everything up nicely for that final Hail Mary run, the final arc which see the McKays and their allies do all they can to save the Eververse. However, that moment isn't quite here yet for, first of all, we watch one last tale to prepare the McKays for what is to come.

It's time for Volume 8 - Later than you think.

July 2019's Pull List: Fantastic Four #12

So, as I mentioned while reviewing Lazarus Risen #2, my pull list has been greatly diminished in recent months/years. However, July's quota was doubled in size (albeit to a measly two) and so I got the privilege of rambling over two different titles.

However, while I had planned to post them as one large post, I was asked to break that down.

And so, here is part two about my Pull List comics for July.

Fantastic Four #12

Comic number two is Fantastic Four #12, which continues the Dan Slott/Ben Grimm love affair as the ever loving blue eyed Thing takes to his honeymoon with new wife Alicia Masters, having put it off to coincide with his annual week long reversion to his human form. However, his time away from the FF (in every single way as he left his communicator behind) isn't going to be the relaxing holiday he might have been hoping for when the Immortal Hulk appears at the very same island with only one thing on his mind; to kill Ben Grimm.

Now, I'm not going to lie, I'm a bit... annoyed (I guess) at the amount of focus Ben Grimm is getting in this new run. I mean, I get it, Slott knows the character inside and out (having written his solo series way back when). However, I do feel like he's getting a lot of play at the expense of the rest of the four.

It's the Vitruvian Thing!!

Anyway, now the negatives are out of the way, I going to come right out and say that I absolutely loved this issue! While I have just admitted that the Thing is getting a severely biased amount of page time (in my opinion) on this new run, I can't deny that Slott writes him so fantastically, almost like he is imbuing the spirit of Kirby (who everyone knows the Thing is practically based on). This issue, however, is just so adorable and light hearted in how it opens right up until the midway point and Alicia makes her own romantic gesture that it's easy to forgive any problems with reading it (not that there are any) and then we get to the big ol' knockdown which isn't so much a fight as a prelude to something more.

Of course, that doesn't make this battle any more fun to watch/read, especially as I found myself actually really get engrossed (despite knowing how this will end, with the two amicably parting ways) because we know that Ben's 'Thing Time' is counting down. But then we get to, by far the best part of the issue, the end, and truly the greatest moment in comics for this year (I'm not going to spoil it though ;-)). It was this which had me truly pumped for the next issue and the resolution.



I just love Isaakse and Robson's art
and use of shading in this issue.

As such, I have to confess that Sean Izaakse and Will Robson are yet another terrific art team to grace this title. I love their deep inks and rich colours and the night/fight scenes look spectacular here as they nicely capture the Immortal Hulk's horror-esque vibe from his own book but without letting it overtake the tone here. Also, that final scene (which I think I'm in love with) is just gorgeous and is so wonderfully rendered that I'm certain that it is just etched into my brain.

Contender for the best moment in
Comics, right here!!

Since their return, I'm certain that Fantastic Four just continues to get better in my eyes and I'm totally psyched for issue (unlucky for some) 13. While I'm hoping that the creative won't 'stick the landing' (is that the right term?) I nevertheless want to see just how quickly Ben Grimm can take down a Hulk.

So, there you have it, my Pull List is done and two awesome comics have been fully read. For both I'm eager to see what comes next, but sadly only one of them is back in 30 days while the other will be a bit longer.

Fortunately, I've got plenty of reviews to do while I wait both both of them to come out.

Of which, my thoughts for July's will be posted next week.

July 2019's Pull List: Lazarus Risen #2

I'm taking a break from my ongoing Black Science ramble for a couple of weeks. The reason for this is because I'm going on holiday and probably won't have the time to analyse the next arc like I normally do. Also, I've got to discuss all the comics I reviewed for Pipedream comics as well as my own Pull List comics.

Well, the Comic Reviews for July will be next week. This week it's the Pull List (split in two halves).

Now, if the last few pull list specific posts are anything to go by, my pull list is pretty thread bare of late. This is due to both a lack of funds to pick up more singles as well as my limited free time being used to review for Pipedream comics as well as real life responsibilities. It also isn't helped by a gradual conversion to trades.

Lazarus Risen #2. Image
from Comixology

However, this month I do get a larger number as not only did Fantastic Four release it's 12th issue but the second instalment of Lazarus Risen finally came out!!

So, Lazarus Risen #2, which goes first because it was released a week ahead of FF, returns to where Greg Rucka and Michael Lark left off, with Forever facing off against two Lazari, one of whom her 'ex-boyfriend' (in apotrophes because of the incredibly complex and convoluted history of the two characters), on an abandoned oil rig. Meanwhile, at home the rest of the Carlyle's are beginning to Fracture as Bethany feels cut out, Malcolm is feeling useless and Forever 8 attempts an extreme escape from her circumstances.

We are now two issues in and, I've got to admit, I'm getting on board with this new Quarterly format. I mean, it is a shame that I have to wait 3-4 months for each issue but, when all is said and done, it is still everything which makes Lazarus a great series; great art, great characters, intriguing story, solid back matter.

Now, this issue felt a little bit hodge podge to me, with the story almost being two distinct tales stitched together down the middle. The first half was pure fight scene as Forever took on Joacquim and the D'Souza Lazarus. Once again, the is Lark territory and he shows why he is on this title with yet another fantastic fight scene which, to me is only second to that great one that happened at the end of the third story arc. It was also a brutal one as Forever took on Joacquim and you could almost feel the heartbreak as the scene drew to a close.

Meanwhile, the second half felt more like a completely different issue which, I've just realised, makes sense given that this series' issues a more than twice the size of the old monthly singles. In the story though, it was a case that the focus shifted away from Forever to her ensemble as we see the originally unified Carlyle clan begin to crumble a little. I have to admit, while there was a lot of characters being focused on and, as such, they each got a limited time, only Malcolm and Eight were the arcs which really intrigued me. As such I really hope we see more of both their arcs as I'd like to know how Malcolm is doing in his 'retirement' and just what's going on with his wife. Meanwhile, eight's actions make perfect sense in light of the last issue and wonder if/hope this will only get worse and how it will all play out.

As for the extras, while this short story from Adam Christopher wasn't as good to me as the last issues, I still really enjoyed it and am loving getting a look at these other aspects of the Lazarus world. Meanwhile, while the game info was interesting (and does make me want to play it) and the letters were cool, it was Greg Rucka's own input at the end which really got me thinking.

Now I'm not gonna say that this issue hooked me because, having been on since the beginning, it's fair to say I'm not going anywhere. However, while it wasn't my absolute favourite of the issue, it was still a damn good read and one more stone on the path to the end, which kind of feels like it could be visible in the distance now, so I'm ready for the next issue now.

Of course, that's a few months away so, for now, onto Fantastic Four #12.