Once a month the amazing staff at 8th Dimension Comics selects a pile of the best new releases for us to peruse and judge.

The magical arm of the Justice League has gotten a lot better since Jeff Lemire took over the writing, but in some ways I feel he's still undoing a lot of the mistakes of his predecessor. In this issue, the League are trying their damndest to keep the fabled and all-powerful Books of Magic out of the hands of Felix Faust, but even the normally sly John Constantine is tricked at every turn. The book has become a sort of cameo-fest for magical DC characters, and ultimately isn't really trucking along on story as much as it can. Still, they get points for linking up with Gaiman's Books of Magic and Timothy Hunter. If you can't get excited over the boy that clearly inspired Harry Potter then what can you get excited over?

Rating: 6 of 10

Jeremy Bulloch of 8th Dimension Comics, "They're trying to turn her into Marvel's Wonder Woman."

Me, "Badly written?"

All joking aside, I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Carol Danvers. She's more pinup than hero, an all-powerful symbol of feminine strength that never really got the showcase she deserved. The new series under Kelly Sue Deconnick really gives her the chance to shine as she was always meant to. In a way, it's a complete reboot of her origin in a Marvel universe that desperately needs not only an insanely powerful superhuman, but a woman with the heart she has.

Rating: 7 of 10

Sean Murphy is either going to become the greatest name in comic history or this is the last time he'll ever see print. Totally one or the other. Punk Rock Jesus exists in a world where the Second Coming plays out in the same world as 16 & Pregnant. It's a time of reality shows cashing in on the religious zealotry that's made living in this state such a pain in the ass lately. Brilliant, twisted book that should not be skipped by anyone.

Rating: 9 of 10