Don't bet against the old tough guy with all the chips stacked against him.

Sunset succeeds. It takes themes and characterizations that we've seen before and makes them fresh.

The story starts at the end. A former mob enforcer, Nick, lives the quiet life in the sunset of his years. Yet, the boss he screwed over is out of prison and more powerful than ever. When he comes after Nick, the fireworks begin.

I was ready to dismiss this book as a rehash, yet writer Christos Gage grabbed me early on. In fact, I read this graphic novel in the span of one day because I wanted more.

I'm not usually a fan of strict photorealism in comics, but there was a lot to like about the artwork of Jorge Lucas. Instead of feeling stiff or photoshopped, the characters were engaging and alive. So often this style can come across as stiff and lifeless. That's what happens when there is mere tracing or manipulation. Instead, Lucas complimented the script with the main character in each panel. Occasionally, a supporting character will come across as a translated photograph, but the focal point of action continually showed a spark of life. It makes for an interesting mix of photorealistic backgrounds and active motion.

I read the first chapter of this book in color, having been printed in the Top Cow First Look trade paperback. I was not sure how well this would come across in black and white. Minotaur Press made the right decision. The lack of colors really support the gritty nature of the characters. Even with the harsh blacks that result, the book may have been dragged down by colors that would either smooth things out or make them too shadowy. Instead, the harsh world comes through.

If you want a nice, complete break in your regular reading, slip in Sunset. It's a book that you'll read again someday.

If you have been curious about the western genre, you should consider Tall Tales from the Badlands #2. This black & white anthology contains 5 short stories that are accessible, thought-proviking, and entertaining.

Three writers and five artists combine to tell tales from the late 1800s, with a focus on both sides of the law.

"A Nation of Laws," by Sean Fahey (writer) and Borch Pena (art) is compelling. The question of justice versus due process remains topical today. The artwork is very good, although the word balloons take up large parts of panels due to the extensive text. Still, the writing is smooth, and the story keeps your attention.

"The Great Wall" by Fahey and Giannis Milonogiannis is set in the 20th century and displays the slow move toward ethnic tolerance in our country. The artwork is sketchier and contrasts the other styles in the book nicely.

"Paw" by Nick Nunziata (writer) and Carlos Trigo (art) calls back to the common Western movie theme of family feuds and the death that often defines their history. Trigo's linework is very clean, and the storytelling comes through well in the art. You can almost read it without the script.

"The Fastest Way from Here to There" by Seamus Kevin Fahey (writer) and Pablo Peppino (art) tells a story without words following a wild horse through the lawlessness and progress of the wild west. The art style is muddier, which is quite effective for the type of story being told.

"The Inside Man" by Fahey (writer) and Ger Curti is serviceable, if not predictable. There is a twist at the end which you might see coming. Even so, the artwork and pacing are enjoyable.

The lettering throughout is well done by Kel Nutall. Overall, this book is well done. It gives you what a comic book should . . . some action, multiple stories, and solid artwork.

This is a fun book. You can tell from the cover, which evokes Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 in a way that tells you this book does not take itself too seriously.

The story is adult, but not graphic. There is some mild language and suggestive situations, but it is certainly accessible to everyone.

While we really love action in comic books, long time characters remain because we like to see how their personal lives are affected by their powers and responsibilities. This book focuses on that personal life impact with a scenario showing how jealousy, infidelity, and poor communication can lead to disaster.

The book is whimsical, and the artwork is quite good. Panels are peppered with references to fine art (such as Birth of Venus) and well known superheroes (anyone remember seeing Batman grieved and surrounded by Joker heads? I do.). The bar scenes are also fun to hunt for tributes to people and things we know from elsewhere.

This is a fun break in your regular reading, and I'll be watching for future issues of C-Listers.

If only I could rate a comic with 6 stars instead of just 5.

Artifacts #18 has been the most fun book of the series to date, including the original 13 issue storyline. Ron Marz created a book full of character twists, surprises, and the return of fun Darklings. Stjepan Sejic paints beautiful artwork, whether it is a tender love scene or a horrific fight panel. This book is well worth your attention.

There is some adult content in the book, both sensual and violent, but it is all in keeping with the mature rating of the series. This is a book for mature readers, and it stands well on its own.

It is worth checking out, since Marz is solid when it comes to writing for the first time reader. If you haven't read Artifacts (or a Top Cow Universe book) before, you'll still enjoy and follow the story.

There are many reasons to buy this Graphic Novel.

The artwork is beautiful throughout. Plus, you get more than just the gorgeous painted pages by Stjepan Sejic, you also get varied art styles - different, but no less stunning - from Luke Ross, Kevin Nowlan, Stephen Sadowski, Rick Leonardi, and more.

If you are interested in the Artifacts story, this is essential preparatory reading. If you have already read Artifacts, then this book will help you appreciate it even more. Important character development takes place. Events take place that set the table for the Artifacts storyline. It's an important book in the Top Cow Universe.

The writing is terrific. Ron Marz is a master at writing compelling stories where you are never lost about who somebody is or why they are in the scene. We get some bonus writing from a couple of Phil Hester short stories in the back.

Want to know more about Witchblade, Darkness, Angelus, and the Magdalena? This book has solid information and stories featuring all 4 of these important Artifacts.

This rendition of Alice in Wonderland is madcap, strange, and surprisingly fun. I have not read the Lewis Carroll books, but I can't help but think that this book is more faithful to the spirit of the tale than the animated feature or Tim Burton treatment. It certainly moves at a flurried pace, with simple dialog to appeal to any level of reader.

The art style is colorful and reminiscent of manga, although it is clearly Western in execution. The colors are vibrant and translate well on a backlit computer or tablet screen.

APE is well known for putting out fun and good quality material. This fits nicely in their line of books.

While this is a serviceable issue, it is better as the last chapter of the full series than it is as a single book. As a single issue, it has good action, solid pacing, and an interesting wrap-up to the story. But Netherworld as a whole is a fresh take on some common themes in comics and sci-fi.

There was a page or two where the artwork seemed rushed, but the layouts and storytelling stayed true to the series. Now that it is complete, it is worth grabbing this story as a trade or complete set of 5 issues.

It is clear that this team is ready to tell more stories about this world and it's main character. I'll be interested to know what kind of twists that they can create, since the real fun of Netherworld was in figuring out what the place really was and how the characters got there.

Yes! Dragon Prince #1 is an "all ages" book that doesn't feel like one! It just reads like a good comic fantasy story. The comic book landscape has widened to include some really good choices for kids, but it's always a treat to find a book that can be enjoyed by adults and kids alike.

The story is set up well by Ron Marz, and the art by Lee Moder is terrific. The graphics translate well to the pdf format.

In retrospect, the story has some predictable elements. On your first read, however, you aren't necessarily expecting or predicting some of the twists and turns that take place.

The first issue makes a good promise for a fun series. We have plenty of tension and fighting yet to come!

The "jumping on" point continues . . . even without Artifacts #14, Ron Marz does a good job helping people understand what's going on. As we have seen, the world is changed dramatically thanks to Jackie Estacado. The new reality is fragile, and it's all cracking apart around Tom Judge.

Amazing art and storytelling. Great action. Character development. Artifacts brings it all.

This book is a blast from the past for fans of Sara and the Witchblade. The story doesn't hold up to the test of time, but that's mainly because Sara has been given depth of character that comes with 150+ issues. This is a fun peek into the early days of Sara's possession of the Witchblade.

In this story, she recently re-acquires the Witchblade from Ian Nottingham. Issue #26 just touches on the beginnings of a mystery, including the return of Kenneth Irons. Irons has expanded ambitions and is about to make a big splash into the world.

The art style has become a bit outdated, but it matches the story well.

This is a great "indie" find. If you lean more toward the mainstream superhero books, then you might give this one a try. The execution of the book reminds me of some of the stuff Boom has been doing with Irredeemable.

They have a fairly ambitious with the cast of characters, but it works since they are killing one off each issue! It's a mystery with some action. The writer does a good job building the team dynamic and resulting conflict. The artist does a nice job with the storytelling. The coloring is quite good.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to following the story through.

Tim Seeley and Diego Bernard are creating a nice "jump on point" for new readers with #151 and this issue, #152. The artwork is good with unique perspectives, it tells the story. The writing is better than the art, and both go together well.

Plus, there's a nice teaser within the story for long-time fans of Artifacts and Witchblade. The Top Cow Universe rebirth is not without its cracks in the foundation!

I picked up Epoch #4 without having read issues 1-3. Top Cow always does a terrific job with their page 1 recaps, and this was no exception. I felt like I had everything I needed to know to enjoy this issue. This issue has solid action and good, comic fun. You don't read Epoch to uplift you or better touch your humanity. This is an adverterous escape.

The artwork didn't click with me, but the story was strong and enjoyable. I will definitely seek out issue #5 when it is released!

After more than 80 issues, the Ron Marz run on Witchblade comes to a close. The story in 150 puts a nice close to the collection without being a "jumping off" point. Far from it, actually.

Sara once again confronts the essence of the Witchblade, urged to make a choice between embracing the artifact or rejecting it outright. Life changes are swirling, and Sara returns to the scene of the first Witchblade story arc. In the end, we get closure with a strong leaning toward where she is about to go in her life.

Beautiful art, again, by Sejic. This creative team has been making some of the best books in comics. (Luckily, they will continue on in the Artifacts ongoing series!)

This book is a fun read along with a cool history lesson on Mister Crime.

The Alter Ego superhero books pay homage to comic genres of years gone by, and this issue pays homage to Crime Comics. The storytelling is classic and the art harkens back to the old school Marvel house style.

And the star of the book is Brother Crime, the ghostly narrator who influences the evil doers to fall deeper into their crimes. While Brother Crime is modeled after the old Mister Crime character from old books like Crime Does Not Pay, he turns out to be an old nemesis of Alter Ego. This was a fun twist.