Comic of the Day 3/4: "Batman/Teeanage Mutant Ninja Turtles" #4

It's the surprise series of 2016, offering perfect fan service for admirers of the Bat and/or the Turtles. Any chance of making this an ongoing series, DC and IDW? 

Admittedly, the story does hardly progress at all, and another journey back into Crime Alley, even if just to make Batman more relatable for the Turtles, feels like filler material at best.

But all is ironed out and then some by the sheer crossover possibilities James Tynion IV explores here. Just to name a few, we can see 

• Batman eating a slice of pizza (!)
• The Turtles riding a Batmobile
• Raphael walking through Gotham night in a trenchcoat

With only two more issues left, I hope there's more to come in the future.

Comic of the Day 2/4: "Star Wars: Obi-Wan & Anakin" #3

This is the strongest issue in the series so far, particularly shining when showing Palpatine's masterful manipulation of young Anakin. The dialogue in these scenes is meticulously crafted, with the Sith Lord in disguise precisely appealing to Anakin's interpretation of right and wrong, while never revealing his broader agenda.

Marco Checchetto's art presents an interesting angle on the Star Wars universe, creating an ice world that strays away from common conventions, while also feeling considerably distinct from Hoth. Only the Fishers seem unimaginative and too much like your usual Marvel space-alien-villain.

With only two issues to go in this series, Obi-Wan & Anakin still leaves much in the dark when it comes to what exactly is happening on Carnelion IV. The relationship between the Open and the Closed remains unclear, and it's hard to make any sense about what happens to the two Jedi at the end. One can only hope Soule starts to tie up some loose ends in #4 already, not risking a final issue that feels too rushed and confused. 

  

Comic of the Day 1/4: "Hawkeye" #4

Hawkeye continues to be the best-looking major coming series at the moment, and its plot does not disappoint either. Having said that, Jeff Lemire plays it safe as to what he does with his characters and how he develops them.

Kate's childhood story, albeit being well-told, offers nothing new to the "rich/spoilt-but-neglected girl" perspective, retreating far too often into well-known tropes and phrases. Only the final revelation about Kate's father manages to add some depth and diversion.

Meanwhile, Clint's attempt to recover the Project Communion children sees the other Hawkeye at his loud-mouth best (watch out for the hilarious "Mad Max: Fury Road reference), offering a welcome and up-beat change to the thoughtful Kate story arc.

Still going strong in #4, Hawkeye is one of the essential comic series right now, and absolutely recommendable.  

Comic of the Day 31/3: "Star Wars" #17

It's very much black and white in this one, as one cannot shake the feeling that recent "Star Wars" comics favour style over substance. The art still amazes, with great set pieces that are a delight for every Star Wars fan, but the story seems to unnecessarily drag without any essential developments.

While Leia's and Sana Starros' involvement in the prison assault features some awesome moments of suspense and action, the story seems to skip forward all the time, leaving out important information in the meantime. And then there's the comic's conclusion, with an obviously doubtful and unlogic decision and a team-up really no one needs.

And yes, there's also Han's and Luke's story arc, featuring either never seen before scenes as tie-fighters chasing the Millennium Falcon (wow!) or subtle comical masterpieces as poo jokes (poo jokes? poo jokes!!!). Cut the few pages of that, extend the prison break story line and you would have had a really good comic... It wasn't to be this time.

  

Comic of the Day 30/3: Detective Comics #26

Batman is once again after Dr. Kirk Langstrom (a.k.a. Man-Bat) in this one. Although I like the concept of having one complete story arc in one comic, it feels too rushed and incoherent at times. While we get a good picture of Kirk Langstrom and his dilemma, his wife comes too short in exploration and development, leaving behind a main villain with loads of possibilities that could have been. 

And although not without fault in this one, "Detective Comics" surely was on a great run here, with events building up to #27; the issue where everything started back in 1939.

Comic of the Day 29/3: "Deadpool & the Mercs for Money" #2

If you want loads of Deadpool himself, this series might not be right one for you. But if you don't mind a bunch of over-caricatured sidekicks and villains going at each other, it offers plenty of fun. 

Knowing perfectly well it's only silly fun, it even takes itself less serious than your average Deadpool comic (yeah, that's possible). His sidekicks are diverse enough to stand-out on their own, and the villain knock-offs are just brilliant. Nothing essential, but perfect for a quick laugh.

Comic of the Day 28/3: "Ms. Marvel Special" #1

A surprisingly clever story, that's not so much about the wider picture of "Civil War", but raises questions about authorship, agency and meta-narration. The fact that Danvers inadvertently subverts some of the core superhero-legislation principles by helping Gavin, provides a nice edge to what otherwise is a Ms. Marvel that seemed too smooth.

Comic of the Day 27/3: "Daredevil" #4

The art impressively mirrors the grit of the story and its characters, the skirmish between Tenfingers and Murdock is brilliant dialogue writing and Steve Rogers fits perfectly as Daredevil's aid. Not having read issues 1-3, it also features just about enough exposition to get straight into it. Absolutely recommendable.  

Comic of the Day 26/3: "Ms. Marvel" #10

More multiverse "I'm out of ideas"-stuff that keeps on repeating its themes and conflicts until we're finally reminded that this is actually a "Civil War" comic. The only positive: Danver's soliloquy at the end.