Review Scale:
The mythical A+: Classic comic book material. Belongs next to your copy of The Notebook and The Joy of Cooking. A: Would definitely recommend to all comic book readers. Even more so to fans of the genre or characters B: Enjoyable read. Fans of the genre or characters will especially like. C: Non-essential read. Can be enjoyable for fans of the genre or characters, but likely for only one or two events in the books. D: Unenjoyable book. Read at your own risk. Might find satisfaction if major flaws are overlooked. F: Please don’t buy this book. Donate your money to a local comic book writer’s workshop instead to inspire future generations to write something better than this trash.
Pick of the Week:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #35- A
I am loving this story arc and where it is taking the turtles. I have had problems in the past with Santolouco’s art design for the turtles, but he is by far my favorite artist for humans in the series. But the more he does I feel the better he does as Slash in this issue looks amazing! I feel this series just keeps getting better and better to me and having a Slash centered issue was great and opened up so many opportunities for the series. – Jacob
This issue is going to open up so much! The mutagen is the key to everything. Does this mean a war with Krang and Hob’s army? Or will the turtles be able to stop the madness before it gets out of control? My money is on the former because I love Old Hob’s character; he’s like the Magneto of TMNT. I also really appreciate the development of Casey Jones, who is no longer the one-dimensional tough guy goof off he has been in other mediums. There’s a reason this was my favorite book last year, and it continues to amaze. – Sherif
Other Reviews:
Dark Horse Comics:
Serenity: Leaves on the Wind #5 – B
Things are wrapping up for this Serenity series sadly. In this second to last issue we see the normally great art for this series and it is always good to see Wash, even if it has to be from the past. This is definitely the issue the climax of this series and we see everything set up for the last issue next month and does it well. It has been a great series and hopefully we will get more once everything finishes. – Jacob
DC/Vertigo:
Wonder Woman #32 – B+
If this cover isn’t the new poster for feminism, I don’t know what is – Wonder Woman fighting a manly bull warrior with two swords and a baby strapped to her back. The war for Olympus is waning, and there aren’t many left to oppose the First Born. Diana and a small team of gods try to make a last stand. We even get to see a new rendition of Wonder Woman’s armor, which looks gorgeous in modern colors. The story is dwindling down, but it’s not that it’s getting boring; I mean, how many arcs do you know that last over thirty issues? This series has just enough momentum for a ridiculous send-off – let’s just hope it gets there without being predictable. – Sherif
Supergirl #32 – B-
Luckily it seems as though we only have one more issue to deal with the Red Lantern version of Supergirl. She has been kicked outta the corp and on her way back to Earth she is attacked by another worldkiller. The scenes of her battling the Diasporians are pretty cool and really the only reason to check out this episode. I am glad this story arc is at its conclusion but with the events of Superman Doomed affecting her ability to live on planet Earth, I am afraid we are going to be stuck with more space adventures for the time being. I hope I am wrong but that seems like the direction they are going to take. – Robert Batman Eternal #11 – C I really don’t know where they are going with this book anymore but now they are rehashing characters from the original Batman Inc. comic. I am curious to see if they manage to add Julia to the Bat family or if she will move on at the end of this arc. This issue was beyond filler and I cant think of one thing that happened to move the story forward this issue. I am also not a fan of the way the art changed an issue or so ago. I has an amateur look about it that I can’t get over. – Robert
Batman and Ra’s al Ghul #32 – C
We’re just one issue away from the finale of this long series of guest features. It has brought Batman across the world to confront the Demon’s Head and take back the bodies of Talia and Damian, choosing to lay them to rest and keep Ra’s from resurrecting them to rule the world under his control – typical Ra’s. The issue was supposed to be a major milestone, but the epic showdown was interrupted by something far more worrisome. I’m not a huge fan of how this is turning out, but I think that fact that I have no idea what’s going on now is a good thing. Who is the new Robin going to be?? Find out next month. – Sherif
IDW Comics:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time #1 – B+
Here we go folks another TMNT micro –series! This time referencing many past incarnations of the turtles. Obviously the name takes us back to Super Nintendo days battling through time in the game with the name of this series. The time travel devise looks an awful lot like the one in the film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3, and of course there are going to be tons more. This first issue doesn’t have the best art; well at least it doesn’t fit the series well since it looks an awful lot like the animated series running now on Nickelodeon. But since the artist is changing in each issue it is hard to complain. I look forward to seeing the whole story here (which is highly connected to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Annual 2014 coming out in December.) and the ever changing art, and if they are planning on referencing past properties in the process, this is a must read for long time fans. – Jacob
Samurai Jack #9 – B+
We have another issue where there is hardly any dialogue besides the odd robot language and one thing from Aku. I love that the style of the show can work so well in comic form because it definitely makes me love the show and the series that much more. I hope if this series ever ends we get the send off it deserved on television because so far it is one of my favorite monthly comics. – Jacob
Image Comics:
Sex Criminals #6 – A-
It’s been three months since the last issue of the most pleasantly lewd book in the industry came out, but issue #6 is here, and I can plainly say that it was worth the wait. John and Suzie have escaped the sex police – to those of you just now hearing about the series, yes the Sex Police are real – but they are still left fearing orgasms will be their end. The once fiercely passionate couple are in quite a rut, and Chip Zdarsky’s art highlights the changes perfectly. There are even bigger plot points around the corner, though, as this instantly shot back up my list of favorites after the hiatus, which creatively did the book service. – Sherif
The Wicked + The Divine #1 – A-
Gods live among us. Not only that, but they perform at concerts and are so purely awesome they make us ejaculate in our pants so hard that we pass out from the impact. There’s a lot more to that, but if that first sentence didn’t at least grab your attention, you might not care for this book. Tired of being viewed at as phony entertainers out to exploit the entertainment crowd, one of the gods makes a brash decision, landing her in big trouble. Aside from the fact that gods can also flick their fingers and make people’s heads explode, I really didn’t walk away from the issue knowing anymore more than I did when I picked it up. I know that the story flows, and I know that the art is beautiful. Image Comics has a great track record, so I can’t wait to see where this goes. – Sherif
Marvel:
Daredevil #4 – B
Matt Murdock’s stay in San Francisco hasn’t exactly been my favorite story, and Mark Waid having to follow up his own tremendous run on the series that just ended doesn’t make it any easier not to compare the two. This new frenemy that Daredevil has made is interesting enough to carry the story and interest me in reading more, but I’m already an invested Daredevil’er. I can’t see the current pace or story really grabbing any new fans. I could always be wrong, but I think Waid is going to have to kick things into high gear if he wants to recapture the magic he had in the last run. – Sherif
Elektra #3 – C+
What is with this guy chasing Elektra around trying to eat her brains? We get that Elektra is messed up in the head but I don’t see how they have managed to squeeze three issues outta this. I don’t see this story going anywhere exciting at all. The art is interesting but I would like something a little clearer as some of the pictures and coloring look a little confusing. – Robert
That about wraps it up for our reviews this week! Look for next week’s previews coming soon. Any comic books you didn’t see reviewed that you want reviewed? Any grades you didn’t agree on? Let us know in the comments!
All images taken from ComiXology app and the credit for them goes to the respective publishers; thanks to IDW Comics, image Comics, Dark Horse, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.
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