Red Robin: Hit List

I like how Fabian Nicieza writes the Bat family.  The hostile relationship between Tim and Damian, the brotherly relationship between Tim and Dick and the mutual respect when Bruce shows up at the end.  The actual plot was a little convoluted and I'm still not sure Tim's plan would have worked the way it was portrayed but I enjoyed the writing enough to ignore the inconsistencies.

Forces of Warmachine: Cygnar

Only a year or so behind, I'm getting around to reading the Mark II Warmachine books.  I started with Cygnar because they're the first covered in the main rule book.  The fluff from the main book made me want to play them.  That's not much different here.  I still like Caine, but an epic Haley trencher army seems like it could hold lots of potential.  If I actually played more often I'd be tempted to try one out with borrowed models but I don't even play my own army often enough.

Rosario + Vampire Season II Volume 5

Aww... Gin has a crush on a senior student (now graduate).  That's cute.  He's a favourite so it was nice to see him in an expanded role. 

As for the regular cast, I'm not sure how I feel about Tsukune's enhanced powers.  I like ghoul-Tsukune, but now that he can access the power at any time it seems to defeat the "average human teenage boy" that the manga is based on.  He and Moka are getting closer and closer to that first kiss though.  I wonder if this one will have an ending or if Ikeda will try to keep it going after they graduate.

Black Butler Volume 5

It's all about a Victoria Curry Competition!  I love the overdone silliness of this manga.

Naruto Volume 37: Shikamaru's Battle

The manga carries Naruto's name but he doesn't appear until the last chapter.  This one's all about Shikamaru and revenge.  Kishimoto has had characters say that Shikamaru is a tactical genius but he hasn't really had the opportunity to really let the character shine.  That's what this volume is about.

Naruto does show up at the end as the cavalry.  I'm a little afraid at what he might face with his new skills.

Naruto Volume 36: Cell Number 10

Wow!  Death.  I wasn't expecting that.  Maybe I'm just to used to Western comics where no death is permanent.  As usual, the fight scenes were really good but the parts that really stand out for me are Shikamaru's reaction to his mentor's death.

Birds of Prey: End Run

I like most of the characters that make up the Birds of Prey and I'd heard that Gail Simone was having a fantastic run on the series.  So, when I saw that the graphic novel was available, I picked it up.
It was really, really good.  It almost feels like two different stories because the first part takes place in Gotham and the second in Asia.  I liked the first part better.  Simone's characterisation of Hawk and Dove reminded me how much I liked these two characters.  All the women in Birds of Prey have their own personalities and all of them have depth.  Huntress came come across as one-dimensional but Simone doesn't let that happen.  Dove is probably the least well defined but she is just being introduced to the team.

The Penguin's blood-loss induced hallucination made me laugh out loud.

The second part was less about character and more about fighting.  Even then, I didn't feel that Black Canary was quite right.  I think there may be more to it than that but I hadn't been following her character so I'm not quite sure what state of mind she was in that Simone was trying to portray.