Showcase: Astonishing X-Men, Batman: Lovers and Madmen, and Anita Blake

Need some good reading material for these hot summer days? Look no further than my July edition of Showcase, which features reviews of three sizzling graphic novels: Astonishing X-Men: Gifted, Batman: Lovers and Madmen, and Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter: Guilty Pleasures.

Each trade puts the emphasis on the characters—whether it’s Joss Whedon tackling fan-favorite mutants, Batman and Joker going head-to-head in Gotham in a mad tale, or Anita Blake practically being suffocated by vampires and other creatures of the night that are tucked away underneath beds and in closets. On second thought, forget I mentioned that last part.

Side Note: I’ll be gone from Wednesday, July 22 to the first of August, so don’t expect much activity from me until next month. I have a few more posts ready until then, and Sounds of Nostalgia and Bad, Comic, Bad! should go up as scheduled. If you’re going to SDCC, I’ll see you there!