Valiant; $3.99

Exarch Fane is using the Book of Shadows to partake in the Dark Feast with plans of gaining unlimited power by sacrificing our world. Valiant’s Dark Defenders – Shadowman, Punk Mambo, Eternal Warrior, Doctor Mirage, and Persephone – have gathered together to battle this terrible foe.

Fane is not messing around in this series, sending his hordes throughout the world to slaughter entire towns and gather souls. As Eternal Warrior and Doctor Mirage learn more about the Book of Shadows, Shadowman, Punk Mambo, and Persephone try to beat back the tides of monsters attacking the world.

The entire story so far is like an action-packed third act. There’s no wasted space in any panel with layers of detail and style to invoke the supernatural aspect of Fane’s attacks. The creative team of writer Cullen Bunn, artist Vicente Cifuentes, and colorist Nick Filardi are not messing around with this series.

-Amanda Sheriff