I think if you’re a hot-looking Terminator hanging out in Southern California in the summer time, you’d find more to do than scare little kids and tear out people’s hearts, but this trio seems bent on altering their programming just to keep a serial killer alive. Thus begins the 7th issue of Terminator Salvation: The Final Battle.

One of the best parts of being a writer is stumbling upon old tales or alleged supernatural occurrences and asking yourself the question, “What if this really happened?” David Lucarelli did just that when he came across a 1954 incident in Scotland where hundreds of school children descended upon a local cemetery in search of a vampire with iron teeth who they believed killed a couple of local children.  Artist Henry Ponciano joined Mr. Lucarelli in his quest to turn this incident into the trade paperback The Children’s Vampire Hunting Brigade from Creator’s Edge Press.

DreamWorks' first venture into the graphic novel business brings us the continuing adventures of Hiccup and his friends in the How To Train Your Dragon universe.  Written by Scott Furman, with pencils by Iwan Nazif, coloring by Nestor Pereyra and Digikore, and lettering by David Manley-Leach,  DreamWorks made a wise marketing decision in choosing this series to start with.  Not only was the movie a money maker, it was very good and I very much look forward to seeing the second.  I understand this comic was supposed to be out over a year ago, but knowing how hard it is to produce a comic, I can only sympathize. But, on to the dragons . . .

I’ve been privileged to be asked to write reviews for many of my colleagues, which I hope not only means I give fair and balanced reviews, but entertaining ones, as well.  I readily admit that I do these reviews not only to get free stuff, but to learn from other creators; however, when I have to bring the hammer down, I try to do it with respect and a sincere belief that any criticism I give will only help them improve their craft or that they will at least think about what I’ve said. Fortunately, there is little not to like about Ups and Down.

Things are not looking good for John Connor and the human race with this sixth installment of Terminator Salvation: The Final Battle.   This issue rocks with lots of action and more character development, as we see more sides to Dr. Kogan, John Connor, and serial killer Thomas Parnell.

Once again, the masked, one-eyed vigilante from Dark Horse Comics dispenses his own definition of justice in the second volume of the series.  Written by Duane Swierczynski, with art by Tony Parker and Eric Nguyen, colors by Michelle Madsen, and letters by Richard Starkings and Comicraft, it covers Issues #5-8 in the series.

The continuing story of Gina and Tina, the witch killers, in this fifth issue of Where the Witches Lurk by Joe Pezzula and with art by Donny Ganakusuma finds them taken under the wing of an enigmatic woman by the name of Sarah after their father’s disappearance. The police force is unknowingly controlled by the Dark Witch through one of their own as life in the small town of Haslow Falls spins out-of-control.

Imagine you could see the world as you wished through the wonders of technology.  An elegant, grungy, mythical, or even a fantastical world is merely a blink away.  That is what writers Tim Daniel and Jeremy Holt, colorist Joshua Gowdy, letterer Matthew Meylikhov, and MonkeyBrain Comics bring us in the comic, Skinned #1.

Taking Eden brings us a heavy dose of urban horror/fantasy, and the occult in this ongoing comic series by Jason Beckwith and Malcolm Johnson with art by Niño Harn Cajayon and colors by Gonzalo Duarte. A dark tale of a young woman’s passage into adulthood and where she fits into the world, this story delves into themes of innocence and the price we pay to recapture it.

John Connor is back in full force in this latest installment of Terminator Salvation: The Final Battle #5 from Dark Horse Comics.   J. Michael Straczynski of Babylon 5 fame, along with numerous other credits, writes this ostensibly final series with art by Pete Woods, colors by Matthew Wilson, and lettering by Nate Peikos of Blambot.  The heat is on as Skynet begins to employ its new weapon against the humans.