10 Phantom Stranger (2012) #9 Jun 5, 2013

Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #9 is on store shelves now, and available for $2.99 in stores physically as well as digitally on Comixology and Kindle. This series, especially this issue, is a treat, and if you have any interest in it at all, I heartily encourage you to buy it. You wont regret it.

This issue really did feel like it just kind of needed to wrap up the story in time for Trinity War, but luckily, there wasnt really anything left to do in the current story aside from wrap it up. Still, this has been one of the weakest issues of the book so far, and while I wouldnt call it bad, its not great either. But its still good, and if youve been reading this series so far, you have no reason to skip this.

I had really high expectations for this book, and it met all of them. And while as a fan I think its perfect, as a critic I acknowledge that there is some room for improvement. Still, its a 5-star book in my heart, if not my head. This is a great tie-in issue for newcomers, as well as a fantastic climax set-up for long time readers, and whether youre here for Trinity War or the man in the nice hat, this truly is a must-read issue.

This is the worst issue of this comic since J. M. DeMatteis took over, which isnt to say that its bad. Its still a good comic, it just doesnt match up to the standards set by its predecessors. Honestly, if youre just looking to get into this series for the first time, Id suggest either going back to issue #11 or waiting to see if issue #13 is a good jumping-on point (although Im guessing it probably wont be). Forever Evil: Blight isnt until issue #14, so either the current plot will be wrapped up next month, or its going to get dragged into the crossover. Well just have to wait and see.

10 Phantom Stranger (2012) #13 Nov 6, 2013

Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #13 puts a rest to everything going on in the first year of the title, or at least brings it to a satisfactory resting point for a while. As the Stranger goes to join the party in "Forever Evil: Blight", there are still some plot threads that haven't been resolved, but J.M. DeMatteis does a nice job of only somewhat wrapping things up, leaving readers ready for more when it comes. The Stranger is brought into the "Blight" crossover at the end of the issue, and while it's sudden, the way it happens feels totally organic, and like a good next step in the storytelling process. While it wasn't declining in quality, the Phantom Stranger's story has been reinvigorated by this issue, and it's going to be fun seeing where the series goes from here, both as part of the crossover and the story in its own right. But for now, it's enough to see the Phantom Stranger interact with the wider DC Universe.

10 Phantom Stranger (2012) #14 Dec 5, 2013

Minor complaints aside, this is a fantastic issue. Not a lot happens in it, but while being read, it feels very substantial. The artwork is a great for the story being told, it focuses on the Stranger while also giving enough spotlight to the other players in this story, and it works. J.M. DeMatteis's contributions to this story have been amazing so far. Now we'll just have to see what Ray Fawkes brings to the table in the next couple of weeks.

As an issue of Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger, this is a really good book, which makes a huge leap in the Phantom Stranger's character arc that's sure to cause some big things to happen to him in the future. As an issue of the "Forever Evil: Blight" crossover, it leaves a lot to be desired, and while it may be unfair to call it a waste of time, it could certainly do more for those readers who are spending four times as much money on this crossover just because one book they happen to read is in it. It's still a really good read overall, but it could use some improvement.

Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #16 is available from physical and digital retailers for $2.99 USD.

This is a harder book to discuss, not because it's bad, but just because there's not a lot, which doesn't mean that it feels like it's lacking anything. It tells exactly as much story as it needs to in a great way, and it's a very thrilling read. It's simply a case of less being more.

There's not much else to say about the story. The true nature of the threat, the evident magic, as well as Cassandra Craft and Zauriel's involvement have all yet to be explored. Some of it may be resolved in this story arc, some may even be fodder for future stories. This opening chapter of "The Crack of Creation" does something a lot of comics don't seem to do anymore; it's part of a larger arc, but the issue on its own is a really good standalone tale about Superman and the Phantom Stranger. This is what serialized storytelling should be, and a lot of the time, it's not. But here, it is, and it's done very well, making it a perfect jumping-on point for new readers.

Trinity of Sin: The Phantom Stranger #19 doesn't do anything too revolutionary or exciting. It's a good issue for story progression, with nothing necessarily wrong, but nothing that stands out all that much either. If it seems like it'd be interesting to read, it probably is.