Quickfire Combo-Reviews: "The Fix" #5 / "Cyborg" #1 / "Batman" #7

"The Fix" #5: Aside from having two lead protagonists that are among the best in comics in 2016, the true strength of The Fix is writer Nick Spencer's ability to create supporting characters (the mayor of LA it is here) that are so wonderfully unique and over-the-top, you just can't stop laughing. 

9/10

"Cyborg" #1: A rather surprising issue that predominantly deals with Victor's "soul search" and the emotions it entails. Writer John Semper jr. proves here that he can well handle that emotional side of Cyborg, without ever being in danger of making it kitsch.

8/10

"Batman" #7: Coming from the heights of the "Gotham and Gotham Girl" story arc, this Halloween crossover looks like the first major bump in Batman's "Rebirth" run. It all seems half-baked, with a story that is neither very scary nor thrilling nor even entertaining. And who needs a ripped Hugo Strange?

5/10

Quickfire Combo-Reviews: "Cyborg: Rebirth" #1 / "Deadpool & The Mercs For Money" #3 / "Superman" #6

"Cyborg: Rebirth" #1: It's exactly what you'd want from a "Rebirth" title, with its concise Cyborg origin story and a premise that is able to set this series apart from its predecessors. One to have an eye on in the upcoming weeks.

8/10

"Deadpool & The Mercs For Money" #3: Cullen Bunn and The Mercs For Money have, gladly, arrived at the same conclusion: Deadpool is better off without the Mercs, and vice versa. While there were some fun moments throughout the various series over the last year, undoubtedly the team-up has lost much of its chemistry and dynamic in recent outings. Go Deadpool, but go alone. 

6/10

"Superman" #6: First it's a large-scale fight (with, admittedly, some quite confusing art by Patrick Gleason), and then a pompous celebration of the return of Superman. It all feels a bit thin for one entire issue, as Gleason and Tomasi clearly seem to have run out of steam towards the end of the "Son of Superman" storyline.

8/10

Comic of the Day 25/4: "Action Comics" #51

There's not much going on in Action Comics #51. It's still enjoyable, but as a part of the larger "The Search for Supergirl" story arc, it falls into the old trap of not sufficiently existing in its own right. While it starts out with a spectacularly paced action scene that sees Superman take his daughter away from the D.E.O., the comic doesn't have much too offer afterwards, with an apparent lack of pace or tension.

Peter J. Tomasi's dialogue between Supergirl and her father is stale and clichéd, while Paul Pelletier's pencils and Tomeu Morey's colours are often too playful to add a real dramatic tone to the story. Taking some risks would have benefited Action Comics #51, as its safe approach does not allow for too much creativity or fun.