Each week, I read a metric ton of comics – more than I could ever review. Many of these comics are terrific, and it makes me more than a little sad that I’m not talking about how great they are. So, I’ve decided to try something new.

Every week, I’ll talk a little about my favorite issues and what made them special. Sometimes, I may touch on only one or two comics, and other weeks, I might blather on about everything, but no matter what, I’ll be talking about what got me excited.

Wonder Woman #4

Wonder Woman #4 is the best issue of the series so far. Everything that’s great about Brian Azzarello, from his clever wordplay to his smooth scene transitions, was on display here. Moving away from Wonder Woman’s “made from clay” backstory was a controversial choice, but it’s one that I think is paying off. This Diana felt very vulnerable and human, but maintained her superhuman presence and sense of strength. There were some smaller character moments that were absolutely wonderful – I don’t know if anything could be more awesome than Hermes sitting around watching TV – but the issue still ended on an intense note.

Cliff Chiang‘s art was once again amazing. I especially loved seeing Diana in her concert get-up. I’m in love with all the designs he’s created for the gods so far, and the bloodsoaked War is no exception. His visual storytelling is practically flawless, and is a great match for the unique flow of an Azzarello comic. Matthew Wilson‘s bright colors add plenty of atmosphere. I’m especially fond of the way he uses purples. Every aspect of this comic feels pitch perfect, and it was hands down my favorite read of the week. I can’t wait to see where it goes next.

Justice League #4

Justice League #4 also featured Wonder Woman, but this is a very different Diana than the one we’ve seen in her own book. It’s hard to reconcile these versions of the characters with other versions we’ve been seeing, but frankly, I don’t care. This book is fun and better than Justice League has been in years, and that’s all that really matters. The scenes with Steve Trevor fell a little flat for me, but I’ve never cared for the character to begin with. There are shades of the DCAU in the way Geoff Johns writes these characters – his Barry Allen in particular feels very close to animated Wally West. I’m excited to see the adventures these guys will have together once the introductions are out of the way.

I suspect Jim Lee may have a bit of a man-crush on Aquaman. He’s clearly having a blast drawing the character, and the pages in which he shows what he can do are some of the very best in the book. People doubted that Lee would be able to keep up with the strains of a monthly title, but the art here is as hyper detailed as ever. I’m not totally sold on the changes to Darkseid’s design, but the twisted smile Lee gave him was fantastic.

I think this book is still in its growing stages, but I still thoroughly enjoy it each month.

Rachel Rising #4

Rachel Rising #4 confused me completely, and I loved every second of it. I have no idea where Terry Moore is taking this story, but I’m more than happy to go along for the ride. This issue was even creepier than its disturbing cover lead me to believe, and I have the feeling I’m going to read it several more times before the week is through. The mysteries in Rachel Rising keep getting deeper and deeper, the suspense keeps getting more … suspenseful, but as always what grounds this issue is the authenticity of its character. Certain moments wouldn’t be hard to read if Moore’s characters didn’t feel so real and so easy to relate to.

There are many great things about Rachel Rising’s art, but what really gets me is the body language. There’s so much variation from character to character. It’s almost like watching a tv show or movie, in terms of the way a character’s movement effects the way you see the story. It may not have the stunning splash pages of Batwoman or a unique visual style like The Flash, but it’s still one of the best looking books on the stands. It’s beautiful, but it’s a realistic sort of beauty, which is a nice contrast to the comics more out there moments. Whether you start grab it now, or wait for it to be released in trade, Rachel Rising #4 is a must read.

Daredevil #7

Daredevil #7 is the only real Christmas story I read this week, but strangely, it’s the least lively and bright we’ve seen Daredevil since his return. The Matt we see here is a far cry from the “tortured, guilt-ridden, self-destructive, punching bag” he once was (“I hate that guy”, says Matt when Foggy brings it up), but we’re beginning to see some cracks in his happy-go-lucky, fun loving moments.

Mark Waid still works in a few hysterical moments, like Matt’s “I’m not Daredevil” sweatshirt, but what we ultimately get is a serious and bittersweet tale. The book’s ending seems mostly unrelated to the rest of the issue, but I can’t say I’m not intrigued.

Paolo Rivera continues to do amazing work on this comic. I think this is going to become the standard for how Daredevil is drawn in the future. It’s not just that he perfectly renders Matt’s powers, it’s the way he does it, like showing us how he listens for each child’s heartbeat. The snow lets us see a different side of Javier Rodriguez‘s coloring skills, and he helps create a truly beautiful effect. Even if you haven’t been following Daredevil this issue can easily be enjoyed as a stand-alone, and it seems like an excellent jumping on point for new readers.

Batman #4

Batman #4 continues to deepen the mythology of both Batman and Gotham himself. I suspected that there was something about Bruce’s opinion of the Court of Owls that we weren’t seeing, but Scott Snyder delivered in a way I was not expecting. I love any story that deals with Bruce Wayne before he was Batman, and this was a great one. This issue wasn’t paced quite as well as the last two, but that’s a small price to pay for all the character development we got. I’m glad Snyder’s been using Dick Grayson so much in his Batman tales. He obviously has a great handle on the character, and has such an appreciation for all the important relationships in Batman’s life. Aside from the tale from Bruce’s past, the conversation between Dick and Alfred was my favorite part of the issue.

Greg Capullo‘s Batman work has blown me away, and this is some of his best yet. I love the way he experiments with page level, and all the detail we see throughout the comic. At times, his characters feel like they have a little bit of a Darwyn Cooke style to them, and his action scenes are incredibly dynamic. I feel a little ashamed of myself for not fully appreciating Capullo before this – he’s doing an amazing job. Batman is always great, but he’s especially wonderful in the capable hands of Capullo and Snyder.