If you can imagine a spacecraft like the Starship Enterprise having lost its entire human crew due to disease and being run by intelligent cats, you have the premise of this series…to a point. You must add to that the inherent nature of cats not being team players, leading to chaos on board, as well as the fact that the cats do not well understand the workings of the ship, leading to more chaos. The storyline has until now been a mix of science fiction, adventure and humor. This issue the humor is set aside for a crisis in progress: the ship is being attacked by a superior craft manned by aliens with no interest in taking prisoners. Captain Ginger can only do damage control and try to get his crew onto lifeboats for a descent to the surface of the world they’re orbiting…a world run by dogs.

I think that about sums it up! I liked the writing and art on this one the best of the series so far, and look forward to the next issue with interest.

Recommended.

Link to the issue on the Ahoy website.

This series continues to have fun with the concept introduced in THE WRONG EARTH, two versions of superhero adventures, one looking back to the 1960s in feel and one in today’s grim and gritty world. The two play off each other with very different results as this season ends.

On Earth Omega, Dragonfly’s young partner is fed up with the ill-treatment he feels he’s been given by his boss, and is trying to walk away, while a new potential partner surfaces. On Earth Alpha, Dragonflyman’s partner Stinger has found new ways to help his partner, and is about to be rewarded for it.

Clearly things are set for another season ahead. I look forward to it. This one is now collected in the book below. Recommended.

This humorous horror anthology has been a hoot through 12 issues. This time the first main story is by Carol Lay, a fine cartoonist with a long history in comics. Her take on Poe’s Purloined Letter is unusual and funny, and her treatment of Poe himself as the story host is possibly the best one yet.

For variety, the Robert Louis Stevenson’s story about Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is adapted by Paul Cornell and Steve Yeowell. I don’t know if adapted is quite the right word. Perhaps “referenced in amusing ways” would be closer. The story is a funny look at British vs. Scottish customs and language.

Wrapping up the visuals is another brilliant episode of Poe Vs. the Black Cat by Hunt Emerson, this time four pages, making for an explosive finale reminiscent of the Mad feature Spy Vs. Spy.

Recommended, as is the entire series.

This new series from Ahoy features a logo I designed. I read the first issue while I was doing that many months ago, too early to review it. Now the second issue has arrived, and it’s equally fun. It follows the Ahoy model of mixing humor and horror well.

Lottie Thorn, shown in action here, is meant to be the world’s new champion against montrous evil, though she has some issues with that. She’s older, cranky, and not sure she wants the job. Her teacher, magician Peruvia Ashlington-Voss wants to train Lottie to meet the challenges of her new role, but seems to be learning on the job too. When she tries to summon her mystical leaders, they have the phone off the hook, and only a small imp turns up to join them. The evil is real enough, not only a magical threat but a menacing corporate presence in the real world. It’s hard to imagine how Ash and Thorn can prevail against them, but then that’s the story, isn’t it?

I love the writing by Mariah McCourt. The art by Soo Lee is uneven at times, but the storytelling works fine. Mariah also supplies some tasty-looking recipes. I enjoyed reading this. Recommended.

The book on Comixology.

The final issue of this run of The Dreaming has finally arrived digitally. If you haven’t read the 19 issues that came before, there’s no point in starting here. If you have, I think you’ll find it a satisfying conclusion. As expected, writer Simon Spurrier has returned the main players to where he found them, but it’s been an enjoyable ride. His new character Dora gets a good send-off to adventures elsewhere, and the rest of the cast each have their moments. Dream himself is also at last on the scene once more. I’ve enjoyed the writing and art, particularly the art of Bilquis Evely, but everyone rose to the occasion including colorist Mat Lopes and letterer Simon Bowland. Nicely done all around.

Recommended.