Another batch of capsule reviews from the Comics Daily team, including Blue Beetle #33, Captain America #44, Secret Invasion: Inhumans #4, Ultimate X-Men #98 and X-Force #9.

Review: Blue Beetle #33
It’s completely ridiculous that this series is getting cancelled when books like Titans and Hulk can exist (and sell far, far more copies). Alright, so it’s not as downright brilliant as it was in the John Rogers days, but Matthew Sturges has still maintained the book’s reputation as a pure, straightforward yet sharp and entertaining superhero title. There’s some excellent material here with both the Peacemaker and Paco and Brenda, the joy of which is tempered somewhat by the knowledge that we probably won’t see them any more when Jaime’s only appearances are in Teen Titans. Despite the cliffhanger ending, Doctor Polaris hasn’t been the most threatening of villains, but this is still confident and easily solid superheroics that’s more worth reading than a lot of the junk out there. [SP]

Review: Captain America #44
Ed Brubaker steers the book back into familiar territory here, with Bucky putting his hesitation over his new role aside as he closes in on a sinister conspiracy in the international intelligence and diplomatic community. The Winter Soldier’s past has been a solid source of material for the title even before the death of Steve Rogers, and the writer obviously has no intention of abandoning this element of the book. There may be a slight element of predictability to the story now that the winding long-term arc is on longer explicit, but this is still quality entertainment. [JHa]

Review: Secret Invasion: Inhumans #4
One of the better-conceived Secret Invasion wraps up in quite an unexpected fashion, as the Kree and Inhumans form an alliance that leads inexplicably not towards the resolution of Secret Invasion, but Marvel’s incoming cosmic crossover, War of the Kings. Still, it’s markedly more in-step with the crossover than series like Civil War: X-Men were and it was a good Inhumans story that focussed on them, wrapped up what happened to Black Bolt and made itself important in the overall arc of the Inhumans’ story too. A surprisingly decent read, and – writers take note – a good template for other crossover tie-ins. [JHu]

Review: Ultimate X-Men #98
This Rogue-heavy story makes a bit of a mess of itself as the main cast duly head off after Magneto following the events of Ultimatum #1, leaving Rogue behind because they can’t trust her. The issue further re-iterates the “fact” that certain X-characters are dead, but frankly the idea that they can be considered so when they died off-panel is nothing short of a joke in comics terms. We don’t believe it, so why should the characters? The introduction of an Ultimate Stryker is misconceived, and it’s hard to imagine a 3-issue arc built around this will be a fitting end for the series. [JHu]

Review: X-Force #9
Kyle and Yost hit a bit of a rocky patch here, with their second arc slightly running out of steam. The problem is that this issue feels too jumbled, with the Proudstar/ Ghost Rider team-up removing the feeling of logical progression that had characterised Logan’s investigation to date. The writers clearly have to juggle a shopping list of elements here, in order to set up material that the main Bastion story will subsequently play with, but they show their hand a little too obviously. Mike Choi continues to deliver some superb art, but unfortunately isn’t given anything too interesting to draw. [JHa]