THE OUTSIDERS #16 (DC): Three issues into his run on the rechristened Outsiders and writer Peter J. Tomasi has (mostly) established his playing pieces. Mostly because even though the Outsiders themselves feel rather well placed there is still a certain level of “forced” in their interactions. This isn’t the awkwardness that is expected from a bunch thrown together rather suddenly (even if most of them have worked together in the past). It’s just that it seems Tomasi is trying a bit too much to sell them to the reader. But just barely, not so much that it detracts from the enjoyment of the story. That dubious honour goes to the villainous part of the chessboard. Not only is the mystery of who these guys are not quite working (not for me at least) it’s getting old and boring. Here’s hoping that the final revelation turns out better than the anticlimactic one I am (almost) expecting. (7/10)

STORMWATCH: PHD #20 (Wildstorm): After the just ended visit with The Authority this issue answers the “What next?” question. Fuji still isn’t out of trouble, Jackson is still carrying on with this secrecy and Deathblow is still a hoot to watch. Still, even after the better part of the year into the Post-Armageddon WSU things still don’t look any hopeful. This I feel will start working against the series and the overall Wildstorm Universe, if it hasn’t already. The darkness and bleakness is all well and good but if things don’t show any improvements (and soon at that) I fear that it will start driving away the ever decreasing readers that are still hanging on. (6.5/10)

SUPER ZOMBIES #1 (Dynamite): My second zombie read for the week, and even though it wasn’t quite ass-kickin’ on its own Super Zombies #1 is definitely better than the dreck that was Resident Evil #1. Not that that’s difficult mind you, RE #1 just set the bar that low. That said, I hope the series kicks it up a notch in the next issue (which I might give a try), ‘cause this issue though high on the SUPER was low on the ZOMBIES. Even in the former it came across more as a bad late 90s comics’ era than a proper superhero story. As for the art, it’s okay, nothing memorable. (6/10)

TITANS #11 (DC): The Titans take a breather this issue with all of them taking some time off from the superheroics and hanging out with family and/or friends…sort of. From Roy Harper and, well, whatever it is that he was doing while using T-shirt as a mask (and his usual/restarted whoring around) to Cyborg’s tying himself into the Titans’ HQ to Raven and Garfield’s break-up, only Wally, Donna and Kory do the ‘friends & family’ thing. As a first issue for his run, writer Sean McKeever used this issue to clear the table and set the pawns in place for upcoming Titans-Teen Titans-Vigilante crossover. Howard Porter’s artwork is as expressive and impressive as ever/usual. (7/10)