It’s a light week of books, but the batch also includes three of the best on the market, all published by DC imprint Vertigo.

We also have the debut of Hit Monkey which I became excited about when it was teased.  Does this bizarre idea hold up?  Or is it as idiotic as it sounds?  Find out what we think below.

Monthly Comics

Batman and Robin #8 – An issue I have with Grant Morrison’s writing is often you need to read into his mind and decipher what the hell is going on before you on the printed page.  He waffles back and forth between understandable and fantastic and dense and confusing.  This is the latter as we’re given Batman vs. Batman and a lot of scenes missing an explanation.  I feel like I missed something somewhere.

Story: 6 Art: 8 Overall: 6.5

Daytripper #3 – Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá look at love and relationships.  This series came out of nowhere and quickly established itself as one of the best on the market.  No superheroes, not action, no villains, just a simple series that examines people and their relationships.  Absolutely amazing and a must read.

Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10

DMZ #50 – Brian Wood’s for fifty issues weaved a narrative centered on Matty Rith, a journalist embedded in Manhattan which is now a war zone due to a second American civil war.  In these fifty issues Wood’s began the tale as a clear statement on current events such as America’s involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan as well as the very basis of war itself.  With the election of President Obama the story was quickly shifted into an allegory about our expectations that can’t be met in our elected leaders.  That’s the brilliance of this series, on one level it’s just a reporter’s journey in a war zone, but underneath the hood this is a definitive treatise on war and the past 4 years of our nation.  There isn’t a much more political comic out there (sorry Captain America, I know you got the buzz), and there’s few comics that make you think more.  If you’re not reading this series you’re doing yourself an injustice.  This fiftieth issue is a look back at some of what Matty’s scene in his journey and maybe hints at what we’ll experience in ours yet to come.

Story: 10 Art: 10 Overall: 10

Hit Monkey #1 – When I heard about a comic book about a monkey that was a hit man I laughed and at the same time thought what a brilliant idea.  The comic could of easily gone into the over the top goofiness that similar comics like Deadpool sometimes run into.  However, that’s not the final product.  Instead it’s an origin tale about how a monkey becomes a hitman.  It’s told mostly in the narrative with very little dialogue and the writer Daniel Way hits it out of the park.  The issue is entertaining, fun and in no way winds up iin the silly territory I was expecting.  Kudos to Way and team for such a fantastic one-shot.

Story: 9 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.75

Marvel Boy: The Uranian #2 – An origin of sorts for Marvel Boy that takes place in the 50’s.  There’s an interesting retro feel, but at the same time the comic is very modern.  It’s an entertaining read, nothing ground breaking, but still very enjoyable.

Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7

New Mutants #10 – For nine issues you might have been wondering why this team exists and in this issue we find out why.  The team heads to Japan to take on some mutates for the Savage Land as Scott and Emma have a discussion about the point of the team.

Story: 8 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.75

Realm of Kings: Imperial Guard #4 – The Starjammers and Imperial Guard must deal with horrors of the Fault as they decide if Nova was telling the truth.  At the same time Gladiator continues to deal with his new found role.  While Realm of Kings has suffered from not having a main series to draw all of the story lines together this is an excellent series to read for fans of Marvel’s cosmic adventures.

Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8

Secret Six #18 – I’m normally a huge fan of this series, the interaction of the characters is excellent and action exciting.  While there’s great interaction and banter here, something seems off.  Maybe it’s the need to know a lot of these character’s history to understand their connection with the Black Lanterns or the folks they’re forced to ally with.  I lack the knowledge needed to truly enjoy the last two issues, oh well.

Story: 6 Art: 7.75 Overall: 6.75

the Unwritten #10 – The series so far has been about the fine line between fact and fiction and how we perceive reality.  It’s only appropriate that Tommy and friends wind up in the past dealing with Josef Goebbels whose role in the Nazi party was spinning under lies and making them seem like truth.  The series that started off weird has taken a turn and somehow one upped itself.  This series is definitely for adults who want to think and I can’t recommend it enough.

Story: 9 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.75

Vengeance of the Moon Knight #5 – This is straight up Marvel’s version of Batman, and in so many ways superior.  Moon Knight shows a character such as that would be crazy and dealing with his own inner demons.  This limited series came out of no where as I haven’t followed the character much, but I quickly became engrossed.  The series is an enjoyment to read and I can’t wait to see what comes ahead.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

X-Men: Forever #17 – I’ve been pretty down on this series as far as the quality of the art versus the quality of writing.  Chris Claremont has picked up on his initial run of X-Men and driven it off in a direction not held down by the need of merchandising and sales, and gives us a series where anything can happen.  With his mixing of a cabal, mutant burnout and killing popular characters he’s given us something fun and original.  The art has taken a while to catch up to the writing and is getting to a point where it at least isn’t dragging the series down.

Story: 7 Art: 6.5 Overall: 6.75