Marvel Comics/Icon;  $3.50

When we saw the news that artist Sean Phillips was taking over Stephen King’s Dark Tower comic series with Marvel, we figured that meant we’d have an extra long wait until the next Criminal series. That’s too bad because he and writer Ed Brubaker were definitely in a groove. And where are we supposed to get Val Staples extremely cool, moody colors while we’re waiting? Hmm?

Okay, okay. We’ll wait.

Anyhow, Criminal: The Sinners #5 is the proverbially action-packed conclusion of the present series and it finds Tracy Lawless trapped between hardened killers who want him dead (after they get to torture him, naturally) and a relentless U.S. Army investigator who wants to bring him back to the Army. If it sounds like an uncomfortable choice, it is, but it also makes for more great reading.