This is a quick primer to get you up to speed on the "New" Top Cow Universe following the events of Artifacts #13. The art is the main reason to get this mini . . . John Tyler Christopher makes some beautiful panels, and there is a composite of his 13 Artifacts character covers into one spread across 2 pages. They all come together very nicely.

Wild and fast paced. This volume of Girl Genius has plenty of mad science and quick action. Tension. Fighting. Deception. And a whole lot of confusing story that somehow comes together in a way you can understand.

I haven't read the previous 9 volumes of Girl Genius. It is a well-known and popular series, and I wanted to see how the experience would go to pick up things from here. The first 30 pages were hard work to get through. The one-page write up of the story thus far was helpful, except that the story started with characters who weren't clearly referenced in this set-up material. Even so, if you stick to the story, you are rewarded with a fascinating piece of sci-fi. I found myself lost in the madness, and was satisfied as the book finished.

It has all come to this. Beautiful art. Amazing, poster-worthy action spread as Sara calls everyone to use their Artifacts. Good writing with enough surprises to entertain but true enough to "reality" that everything is either plausible or inevitable. The ending is . . .

You will want to read the earlier issues to enjoy this one more, but the skillful recap at the beginning will give you all you need to like it.

This issue has a useful backup that lists the debut issue of each of the 13 Artifacts. There's also a solid 2-page backup written by Ron Marz and drawn by Michael Broussard about the Thirteenth Artifact.

One word: fantastic.

The 2000AD series can be counted on for quick-paced stories. It is the skilled and varied art that slows you down. You'll really like your first time through the book, you'll love it the second time you read. Prog 1675 is a satisfying collection of stories, including the expected Judge Dredd episode to start off the book. Judge Dredd is usually worth the price of the book alone. The other stories in this book only enhance the value.

The Stickleback story was a bit hard to follow, but it improves on additional readings. This issue also features the return of Zombo, a brutal yet thoughtful zombie monster.

John Burns' art in the Nikolai Dante story was striking, a clever mix of painted panels with inked characterizations interspersed.

If you like the preview, you will like this book. This is purely cheesecake - there is no story, but you get what is being promised.

The book is eye candy, and it accomplishes what it sets out to do. If you want to see photo spreads of pretty and natural models, then this will please you. Content lies somewhere near the current Penthouse standards. Models are brunettes and safely "of age."

This is a terrific story, and it's available at a price that make it a no-brainer. Sablick and Mahoney write a frantic story about what happens when a down-on-his-luck loser finds out he can't die. Thomas Nachlik's art matches the story well, with a sketchy and kinetic style. The story grabs you early, and the pace picks up until close to the end. You can catch your breath right before the story wraps.

Plus, you get the bundle of issues when you buy the book. When content gets updated for the Trade Collection, you'll get updated access! Read it now and have it all later.

I like how Top Cow has bundled its series issues in trade format for a nice price. You get the issue-by-issue experience while being assured of having the full story. This includes the Pilot Season book along with the 4-issue mini-series.

With Twilight Guardian, Troy Hickman crafts a fun story that some of us might have thought about . . . what if we acted like a concerned citizen and patrolled our own neighborhoods in costume. This book is an interesting and realistic approach to civilian engagement - few of us would jump into ultraviolent confrontations like was portrayed in the Kick Ass books. Instead, the idea is more accessibly put forward.

Important Issue! Artifacts has been building up to a major conclusion, and this 11th issue is a pivotal one. Major steps take place as the Survivor gets that much closer to realizing his goal. A big positive development for the "good guys" is counter-balanced by a couple setbacks. Writer Ron Marz gives us an excellent issue of faithful characterization and Artist Jeremy Haun knocks it out of the park. Great action scenes, subtle art in the non-action pages . . . overall a solid book.

Pilot Season is a fun concept - Top Cow publishes several books, and readers vote on which book should be "green lighted" to continue as a series.

With The Beauty, you get a compelling story, some mild mystery and suspense, and sensual artwork. Jeremy Haun turns in his usual high quality artwork, and he also contributes to the writing along with co-creator Jason A. Hurley.

Why buy this book? Mainly, it's the solid art from Haun, although the story is also interesting. Plus, it's fun to review books and vote on your favorite! (Which you'll be able to do later this year on Top Cow's website.)

This book is quite gory and graphic. If you like slashing, murderous monsters blended with some XXX level sex panels, then this will be a guilty pleasure for you.

This book is a collected series of very short stories, edited together in a journal style that dives into the origin and adventure of Calavera. She is a monster. She is a monster hunter. She has claws like we may have seen in another wildly popular hero. She has a killer body and gives into blood lust as quickly as she gives into blood. If you read this all at once, you might chuckle at the repeat of extreme circumstances. I mean this in a good way. There is a variety of art that ranges from pedestrian to notable. The lettering is fine, but the fancy scripting on the narration can get distracting.

This book does not present a strong story. Rather, it collects 2 and 3 page vignettes that show off Enrico Teodorani's love of gore and slash and bodily fluids.

What happens when the Witchblade is split in two? Since the Witchblade is the balance between "dark" and "light," it creates a tense and action packed story between the two bearers, Sara Pezzini and Dani Baptiste. With volume 8, you will learn a lot about the Witchblade and how powerful these Artifacts really are. It's a great lead-in to the Artifacts series. The Curator also figures prominently, and you'll get some important clues for what could lie ahead. Come for the well crafted Ron Marz story. Stay for the beautiful Stjepan Sejic art. This collects War of the Witchblades, a very important story in the Witchblade canon.

This is a fun book for your reading list - how can you go wrong with an after-hours bar for superheroes? I read a couple of these issues in print, but they were always hard to find. Now, you can get a great collection digitally for a great price.

Clever humor, fun scenarios, good characters. If you need a break from all that is serious, this is a good place to turn.

This is probably more of a "3 1/2 star book." If you are a fan of the XXXenophile books, old-school superhero stories, and naughty strips from the men's magazines, then give Demi & the Sex Squad a try.

Treat it as a superhero parody with plenty of skin and graphic sex. It's not an erotic work, and the sex scenes are rarely more than a single panel. But it's a fun read that focuses more on the plot line than the graphics.

This is a compelling 5 issu mini-series that I recommend to anyone who is a fan of suspense. Issue 4 was the most satisfying of the series. This is the issue that gives you a glimmer of hope - even though you dread the events that will inevitably come.

Time is the real wildcard in this series. Where are you? When are you? Can this be a little of what madness is like? Good series.

This is a terrific series. If you enjoy a Hitchcock thriller, then you'll like the Echoes mini-series.

The artwork is excellent in spots, and the writing consistently gives you that creepy nervousness of a good horror-thriller. Josh Fialkov really crafts a story that pulls you at a steady clip.

In the end, we think we know the answer, but we can also imagine other scenarios. This is done in a good way, in a way that draws you to read the whole series again. Well done.