With the adventures of Red Sonja spotty at best over the past year, there was hope in finding a reason for vigour in the pages of this Doom encounter.

Lots of dark runs rampant through the veins of this issue. The brooding denial of defeat just sapping away all kinds of energy. Red Sonja proves to be as strong and as defiant as ever in her chain mail bikini. Outside of that though, there was no connection at all to the story.

 

July 21. Nothing much happens. Leaving much time to wonder why it can't always be like this. Then again, it really is. Just before the weekend is sucked into a naked vacuum where by the only thing that stands between the sanity and the insane asylum is a week's long sleep. That never happens to be the case...

Astonishing X-Men #11 marks out life as the penultimate issue of the Whedon and Cassaday run. At least for the first year. Nice work here. Shame about the tardiness of the schedule. But there are other things to read while waiting.

Ex Machina #13 continues with part two of the new storyline. If it doesn't, then the issue looked at the other night -- about three weeks ago -- was certainly not #12. Anyway, it's an Eisner winner.

Feels like only last week that #79 hit. So seeing Ultimate Spider-Man #80 on for this week makes the rush to read #76 that more pressing. To an extent.

Red Sonja #1 answers the question, "What happened to Red Sonja?" All those variant covers going crazy and with no sense of monetary ratcheting. Late or just finally here, either way, it's apparently a comic that really exists. Way to go Dynamite!

 

As the monies align for the eventual collection of Puppet Angel, comics are also on the cards and this time, for May 1.

At a damn cheap price, Red Sonja #0 is one that surely has to be picked up and taken home at the very least. Hopefully there will be more to the fiery red head than a chain mail costume showing some crack on the first page.

Pretty much the same goes for Invincible #0 in terms of cheapness. Only in Kirkman's case it's a currently running title that is supposed to be something of a foothold for prospective new readers. Why not?

Kabuki #4 finally rears itself and like all of The Alchemy has been thus far, should definitely blow the mind. A rare case in which the wait is definitely worth all the fungi in the room.

Not too sure on Lullaby: Wisdom Seeker #2. The first one felt like a mash of things from all over the place. Best read that one again before heading out and putting money on the second.

Short ordered on the first go and now coming back for another round is the Vertigo First Taste trade. The cover is absolutely tragic and in no way delivers any hope. But check it out and there's hooks all over the place. For those who are fans of pulp serials or Sal Velluto and Bob Almond, Captain Gravity and the Power of the Vril #1 was reordered. No idea how many though.