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!