Comic Book Reviews 07-30-14

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:

Super Secret Crisis War #2 – A

We are now on the third issue of this series but the second of the main series. Earlier this month, we had the one off special with Johnny Bravo and we see the connection to that in this issue which has me excited for future one offs from other series. The art in these issues are great as every character has their style and yet all of them mix together perfectly and almost demand this or something similar in animated form for a Cartoon Network reunion party. Definitely grab this issue if you are a 90’s kid, or just enjoy massive crossovers. – Jacob

 

Other Reviews: 

DC/Vertigo:

Detective Comics Annual #3 A-

The best part about this annual is the fact that we get to see Batman doing what he does best, solving crimes and beating the crap outta the bad guy. I loved this issue for that part alone, but the plot with the boy had me wondering if we were going to be welcoming a new addition to the Bat-family. It seems like we won’t but it could be used in the future to add another character or maybe even villain if the writers desired to. We did get an introduction to Matches Malone, a popular alias that Batman has used since the early 1970’s but is appearing in the New52 for the first time. There isn’t much more to say about this issue other than it was awesome and I found it very enjoyable to read, which seems to be a rarity these days. Definitely worth checking out. – Robert

Sinestro #4 – B

Finally having asserted his dominance over his crew, Thaal Sinestro is back to kicking ass. This issue covers a battle with a religious cult of anti-emotion weirdos. Sinestro’s daughter, the Green Lantern Soranik, has reluctantly agreed to help him on his mission to save their people. However, she doesn’t agree with the way her dad handles business, and calls on Hal Jordan. This will spice things up going forward, as Hal hasn’t seem Sinestro since the end of the Trinity War (Green Lantern #18). Jordan and Sinestro have a lot of history, and it will be interesting to see how they’ve both changed since their last encounter. – Sherif

Justice League #32 – B-

Geoff Johns’ Justice League continues to be one of the most consistently good books on the shelves right now. The time after Forever Evil hasn’t really progressed as much as I hoped it would, but it has still been captivating. Lex Luthor has discovered Batman’s secret identity, and has hired Captain Cold for a mystery job. Issue #32 introduces us to the DOOM Patrol, a group of misfits that follow the guidance of “Chief” Niles Caulder. The Doom Patrol has been around since the late 1960’s, and has gone through several incarnations throughout the years before returning to the classic team in the New52. I’m not a big fan of them, but they could add an interesting element to how they deal with the new Power Ring. – Sherif

Batman Eternal #17 – C-

This book has taken a stiff nosedive for me in the past couple months. While I appreciate the Easter Egg characters that have been popping up in this exasperated love letter to Batman, they just don’t fit fluidly within the story. As a reader, I still have no idea what the purpose of the story actually is. I know that Carmine Falcone is the ultimate villain (or is he?), but shelling out four bucks a week to be led on this wild goose chase just isn’t turning out to be worth it anymore. I think something that has turned me off is the amount of supernatural activity that takes place; Batman has never been a fan of magic, nor I a fan of reading it in his books. Hope isn’t completely lost, though. I still really enjoy anything with Tim Drake and Harper Rowe in it, and the Pennyworth father-daughter scenes are pretty juicy. The book has substance, but there is just too much filler material to satisfy me lately. – Sherif

What seems to have started off strong and well intentioned has seemingly turned into something that is moving along at a snail’s pace with what appears to be little direction. I don’t really see where this is going anymore and I would almost prefer that they move it to a biweekly a book and have them pick up the pace. There is too little going on each issue too hold my interest. I want to know where things are going but it seems like they want to draw things out as long as possible to drive the sales as low as possible to get it canned before they ever finish the story. Only time will tell where this is going but, the end can’t come fast enough. – Robert

Bodies #1 – C-

I’M SO CONFUSED, kinda. I’m not really sure what’s happening in this book, but I do understand one thing. There are dead bodies lying in the street, there is a secret organization where everybody is loved, both the bodies and organization have been going on for centuries, and I’m sure they are connected in some fashion or another. Other than that, all I got to say is, “What? Ummm Okay.” In my opinion it’s important for any new series to make it clear to the reader the jist of what is happening, otherwise I become frustrated and don’t really find an interest to come back. However, if the new story brings a great cliff hanger and suspense, then I will want to return. Sadly, Bodies did not do this for me. I’ll admit there were some cool elements to the book such as the view points from various different time periods, and I’m slightly interested to know more about those time periods, but the bodies themselves, eh. I’m sure it’s really cool, I just wish more was presented for a first issue. – Evan

 

IDW Comics:

Samurai Jack #10 – B+

I absolutely love this series. Samurai Jack has always been a favorite of mine, and this month we get a new artist, who although stay true to the classic Tartakovsky-style, he also adds a grittiness to it which goes great with the mind invasion storyline in this issue. We get some great flashback shots from the first episode and get to see again how Jack is truly the best warrior of the animated and comic universe. Definitely check this issue out, as it is a great story and could be a great introduction to the series in general. – Jacob

 

Image Comics:

Black Science #7 – A-

The second chapter of Black Science begins a lot like the second season of a television show would. The characters have all grown, there are larger-scale obstacles in their way, and the readers have no idea what is going on. In many ways, it’s business as usual. The team is trying their best to find their way back home, but find themselves deeper in doo doo than before. The biggest difference comes in the form of the narrator. This time around, the story is told through the eyes of Kadir, the a-hole turned savior warrior after the events of the end of issue #6. The story still moves at breakneck speeds, and can be hard to follow, but I’m so enveloped in the world of Black Science that I would read it no matter what was going on in the grand scheme of things. – Sherif

Low #1 – B

Ah snap, things are about to get crazy – as if they aren’t already crazy enough. This story is interesting especially with its mix of syfy and drama. With Stel and Helmsman Caine taking their children out on their first hunt things were supposed to be fun and adventurous. However, IT’S A TRAP! I’m not going to spoil much but, things escalate quite quickly, and all I know is that this story has a long way from being over. With the fate of the Caine family, and Earth at risk, the only thing that anyone can have at this point is hope…and badassness. Yes, there are a lot of badass things in this book including the city, the Helm Suit, the the Scurvy Hoard and all the mess that’s about to go down. So basically if you are looking for what appears to be the start of a really cool science fiction series, Low may be for you. – Evan

 

Marvel:

Cyclops #3 – B

I haven’t seen a father-son road trip this bad since A Goofy Movie. Not only have Corsair and Scott been repeated chased down by bounty hunters, but now their ship has crash-landed on an unidentified planet. The two finally end up getting some bonding time, though, as Scott learns some dark secrets about his father. I can’t help but feel for Scott, who is still bitter about his dad abandoning him at such a young age, but still manages to take the situation in with such maturity. Thanks to a dwindling supply of nano-bytes, Corsair only has about a month to live. I feel like this is a good move because it brings a certainty that this series won’t drag on forever, yet still keep its poignancy. – Sherif

They finally answered one of the major early questions readers were asking, but nothing really happened that is worth mentioning. Marvel recently seems to be in the habit of announcing people’s deaths well in advance and is making a similar move here. Cyclops’ time with his father is apparently fleeting and will need to be taken advantage of to the fullest, or it probably won’t and things will continue on as usual… who the hell knows anymore? This book started out as an interesting idea to me but I honestly can’t see this book lasting that long. This version of Cyclops isn’t nearly as interesting as the one he is trying to avoid becoming and like half of the new Marvel roster getting their own books, isn’t a strong enough character to be worth maintaining an entire series for. Hopefully that changes but if this book is going to continue with the intergalactic pirate theme, they need to make it more interesting. – Robert

Deadpool Dracula’s Gauntlet # 4 – C+

Ok so this series has gone from weird t just about as crazy as I would be to live in Deadpool’s mind. As crazy as it has gotten, it has now gotten to a Sharknado 2: The Second One level where it actually become enjoyable to see where the story is going now matter whether a werewolf and other classic monsters show up with Deadpool or whether Al Roker will survive the New York Sharknado. But the series is almost over here and surely we will see Deadpool and Shiklah fall in love as we know they get married, but with a succubus, maybe love is not why they get married. – Jacob

Guardians of the Galaxy #17 – C

After being individually captured, Star Lord has freed himself with the help of Captain Marvel and is on the way to free the rest of his crew. Seeing the team work well together even though they are so different is what makes me love this book. All in all, though, nothing really happens in issue #17. It was a fun read, but the story was a scattered mess of one-two page summaries and the Nick Bradshaw’s pencil work was not very appealing. There’s really no issue that will hold a candle to the fact that the movie is coming out today, but it’s nice to see that the team’s spirit is still alive. – Sherif

All-New Ghost Rider #5 – A-

We’ve been waiting for five issues, but Robbie Reyes is finally ready to accept his position as the Spirit of Vengeance. This issue caps off his encounter with Mr. Hyde, and the battle here is one of the most artistically displayed fight scenes I’ve seen lately. I haven’t wanted to root for Ghost Rider this much since before Nicholas Cage ruined it for everybody. However, little by little we can see the suit eating away at his consciousness, tempting him to take more brutal action as Ghost Rider, and do so without impunity. I wish the book was longer, however, as each issue is cut short and I am always left wishing I had gotten more out of it. All-New Ghost Rider is easily one of the books I look forward to reading the most. – Sherif

 

Funniest Panel:

Panel with the Most Awesomeness:

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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.

 

Comic Book Reviews 07-16-14

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:

Magneto  #7 – A-

This is the type of book that needs some theme music. Something… metal. Okay, bad joke. Seriously though, Magneto is one of the most hardcore action books out right now. Each issue plays out like a miniature Steven Segal movie, and it fills a void in the comic book industry. This issue, Magneto has found himself going undercover in Hong Kong, where mutants are disappearing every day. It turns out the Chinese are holding underground gladiatorial matches between mutants they find on the street and savage Predator X beasts. The issue ends somewhat predictably, but like your seventh time on a fun roller coaster, it doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. – Sherif

The thing that makes this series so awesome is watching Magneto go crazy while taking out threats to mutant kind. My only complaint is that he is still perceived as a little weak due to events before the series started. I don’t mind it but it seems like we are constantly reminded every issue when something goes wrong. If you don’t know by now why he is weak then it isn’t really relevant anymore anyways. I love this series but I hope that it starts to have diversity because while I enjoy watching him on a rampage, I would like to see a little more story development. – Robert

 

Other Reviews: 

DC/Vertigo:

Robin Rises: Omega  #1 – B+

It’s only when you read the preface of this issue that you realize just how epic of a journey Grant Morrison has taken the character of Batman on. The first few pages of this issue are a summary of nearly the past decade of Morrison’s run. As I read it, I honestly forgot there was a story to get back to – it was that good. Flash forward to the front-lines, where Darkseid’s forces are trying to retrieve a special crystal in Damian’s sarcophagus. All out war breaks out, and there are some great one-liners in there before the party gets busted up. Without spoiling too much, we definitely find out what the plan for “The Next Robin” is, but the Robin debacle does not get solved here, and I expect it won’t for another few issues. This definitely validated Peter Tomasi’s writing skills. I can’t wait to see how this works out. – Sherif

This is the perfect way to catch up if you have been out of the loop for the last year or so. It gives a clear and concise history of the important plot points of all the Bat-family without having to go in to too much detail. It was nice for me as someone who has read all of it, to make sure that there wasn’t anything that I had forgotten or needed to know in addition to what ive read. This would be a perfect entry book for someone looking to get into the Batman line of books simply based on the intro issue. As for the new material, I knew Damian couldn’t stay dead forever as comics have a sort of revolving door policy when it comes to death, especially if a character is popular. I liked Damian and was irritated to see him die right when they finally made him likable, but such is life. Assuming there isn’t anything too fishy about his revival, I welcome it with open arms. – Robert

Batman Eternal #15 – C

I honestly don’t see the point of this series anymore. It doesn’t seem to be going anywhere important and the fact that it is a weekly book doesn’t help if they aren’t moving things along. I would be pissed if this was a biweekly book having to wait such a long time for plot advancement, but it seems that even being weekly, nothing is happening anyways. This book seems a little overly ambitious and with every few issues, the plot thickens and everything we thought we knew gets turned upside down. I think this approach needs to be toned down a bit in order to reign in the story. I hope that the end game for this series ends up being interesting or at the very least changing some major things in the series, but only time will tell what the writers have in store for this book. – Robert

Teen Titans #1 – D+

The brand new Teen Titans is here. Yeah, that’s about all the excitement I can muster for this book. I really like the members of the team individually, but this debut was just a congested bunch of meh. The book jumps right into action, with the team trying to stop a group of terrorists from bombing a school bus full of children – can we get any more cliché? The characters behave more or less how they’re supposed to, but fail to really make any lasting impression. The art of Kenneth Rocafort pretty much carries what turns into quite a mundane story. Rocafort and colorist Dan Brown’s unique style fits very well with the concept, and the full-page spreads throughout are a great addition to the first issue. In the end, though, I just couldn’t get past the horribly cliché dialogue. Also, I’m curious what the target demographic is. A book aimed at teens with casual murder just isn’t doing it, and neither is an adult book with sexed up teenagers and cheesy dialog. This book needs to find an identity. Soon. – Sherif

Harley Quinn Invades Comic Con #1 – D-

What a bunch of crap. Do not waste your money on this book. There are like ten artists on this issue, none of which I have heard of and none of which can do Harley any justice at all. The art is reminiscent of a crappy MAD magazine; that’s not to say that MAD is crappy, but it’s not the type of art I’d like to see in a comic book, choppy and ugly. This book has failed to make any lasting impact, and their B.S. “Comic Con Special” is an even gaudier cash grab. There are some tidbits of humor in the story, like Harley’s geek out at a certain celebrity, and a few other inside fanboy jokes, but for the casual fan there is just chaos and bad art. Comic Con, yes. Harley Quinn, no. – Sherif

 

Dynamite Entertainment:

Army of Darkness: Ash Gets Hitched  #1 – B+

In this new Army of Darkness series we see ash deciding to stay in medieval England with King Arthur and Henry the Red. Of course, by the title you can guess a wedding is planned but if things go the way they normally do in Ash’s world the wedding will likely change quite drastically and most likely quite violently. We don’t go anywhere really with the story here except meeting their main enemy most likely and then lots of dead things, which is obvious. The comics for Army of Darkness have always been a bit odd to me because most have had nothing to do with the characters in the film other than Ash so it is great to see it be set in the timeline and with all the characters from the film. This series is likely to be a very enjoyable one for fans and could definitely be a good intro into the Evil Dead/Army of Darkness world which of course would hopefully lead to the viewing of the films to whole heartedly understand the universe and how Ash got to be as bad ass as he is. – Jacob

IDW Comics:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles  #36 – B

This issue of Ninja Turtles is definitely one of the darker and creepier issues to date for this series. We get to see the Rat King for the first time and boy have the modern incarnations turned into something way more creepy than past ones. This has a much more psychological horror movie type of feel to it and although disturbing I really enjoyed it. Being able to bring more characters in and broaden to the world and the turtles themselves and boy does the Rat King seem like a great villain for the coming future. The art as always by Santolouco is great and I am finally getting used to his turtles, although Michelangelo still looks like a baby to me. But definitely pick this issue up if you want a very different type of Turtles and want to be introduced to a new and yet classic turtles villain. – Jacob

X-Files: Year Zero #1 – B-

This series definitely starts off interesting and makes me look forward to the rest of the series but ultimately it felt like a rather weak start. As with many of my reviews, the very fact I am reading about the subject at hand makes it much more positive because even if an X-Files story is bad, It is a very comforting feeling to have these characters still available at hand. The story so far is interesting giving a look at modern day Mulder and Scully and two past agents Bing Ellinson and Millie Ohio. A modern day case is connected to the first X-Files case ever and thanks to The Lone Gunmen, Mulder has much more information available to him about the case. It is a very good idea and as an X-Files fan, I enjoyed it, I would not recommend it to most people wanting to start off X-Files as it could be confusing with the two timelines but if you didn’t like either Mulder or Scully you may be interested in this giving you a look at the show without the main two leads… Oh man, I just realized that is what ended up ending the show. – Jacob

Marvel:

Uncanny X-Men #23 – B+

“The Last Will and Testament of Charles Xavier.” Interested yet? That was all I needed before I ripped open the cover of Uncanny X-Men #23. Surprisingly, there’s a lot more going on in this issue than the title suggests. Dazzler, reeling from her time as Mystique’s guinea pig, is spiraling out of control, taking her far from her glitzy personality and into a much darker place. Much of the issue resolves around the build-up of revealing to the X-Men that Professor X left something behind for the team. The only catch – they have to be in the same room as Scott Summers while they read the will of the man that he killed. Talk about awkward… Brian Michael Bendis’ Uncanny X-Men continues to be one o the most solid books out right now, and I have definitely taken the bait to find out what exactly Professor X left behind. – Sherif

Ms. Marvel  #6 – B-

Everything I love about Ms. Marvel is back in this book. A surprising result from the talk Kamala has with the Sheikh breathes some great cultural breath into the book that neither I nor Kamala expected; it’s almost invigorating. We jump right back into the story, with Ms. Marvel searching for The Inventor, who has kidnapped her friend’s brother. We finally get to meet the Inventor, who is not at all what I expected. The character is silly, and I instantly take the book less seriously because of it. However, the team-up with Wolverine more than made up for it. Kamala totally fangirled over him, making for some hilarious dialogue between the two. Ms. Marvel doesn’t back down, though; she manages to impress him multiple times. By now, I’m feeling that this is a fun book, and the cultural component adds a lot of value for me, personally, but Ms. Marvel isn’t living up to the potential I thought it would. – Sherif

Savage Hulk #2 – C+

I’m not too crazy about the art with this series but the story overall is pretty standard for a Hulk story. In fact, it seems like the stories from the beginning of the Hulk series many years ago. I feel like I could just read those old issues instead of making a throwback series that doesn’t really serve any purpose. I like where the other Hulk series is going, but this seems pretty unnecessary. – Robert

 

Funniest Panel

Ms. Marvel teams up with Wolverine in Ms. Marvel #7

Panel with the Most Awesomeness:

Batman brings out his skills when his son’s body is involved in Robin Rises Omega #1

 

 

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.

 

Comic Book Reviews 07-09-14

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:

Spider-Man 2099 #1 – A-

This book is going to be awesome! Just one issue in and I’m genuinely sad that it ended at all. Miguel O’Hara, the Spider-Man of – you guessed it – 2099 has traveled back in time to make sure that his grandfather stays safe, ensuring his own existence and the prosperity of the family business. The series opens up with a HILARIOUS Terminator-like bounty hunter come back in time to set the time-line straight. I don’t think there was a single page that I didn’t end up laughing at something that was said or drawn. This looks like it will be a very fun read, mixed in with some good action sequences. I only hope they make this series last; I’m getting really tired of following what ends up being mini-series. Miguel is O’Hara to stay… Sorry, I had to. – Sherif

This series is almost exactly what I expected from it and that makes me happy. I wasn’t sure how they were gonna handle him not going back to his own timeline after Superior Spider-Man but they pretty much answered that in the beginning. This could be a really cool opportunity for some team-ups or even some brand new enemies from the future. It seems like he is settling in to our timeline for the long haul and I am very interested to see where they take it. – Robert

 

Other Reviews:

Dark Horse Comics:

Terminator: Enemy of my Enemy #4 – B

This series so far has been pretty bad ass, but this is the first issue where things have started to falter slightly. This series was really only interesting while a human was going toe to toe with a Terminator. Now that they are working together it has gotten a little mundane. The conversation is interesting and has some throwbacks to the original movies, but otherwise is pretty standard fare. It looks like they will be teaming up for the foreseeable future despite their original agreement. I don’t know how I feel about it but I certainly worked for T2 so I am open to anything. – Robert

Terminator Salvation: The Final Battle #7 –  A-

Well this issue was certainly unexpected and it is interesting to see things come full-circle for John Connnor. I have no idea how they are going to end things but after this issue, I have never been more excited to find out. I won’t spoil anything but I don’t think any long term fan of the series could have ever expected things to turn out like this. If you are a fan of the  series you need to check this out. This issue was sort of a turning point because we are at the point where everything about the series is fresh. Everything we have known about the war or the series has either happened or been changed, we are in uncharted territory and it is refreshing. – Robert

 

DC/Vertigo:

Detective Comics #33 – A-

This book has gotten a bad rap for its sub-par story-telling, but since issue #30, when the Icarus arc started, the series has had new life breathed into it. The series has since recaptured everything that I considered part of the “detective” lore in a Batman book. Littered throughout the book are Sherlock-ish phrases like “simple mathematics” and technical jargon that showed Batman’s superior crime-solving skill that put the “Detective” in Detective Comics. By far, the best part of the book has been the passive-aggressive confrontation with Harvey Bullock, who has been the hardest sell on the Dark Knight since I was a boy watching him on The Animated Series. The confrontation becomes more aggressive than passive, and an explosive fight breaks out. With no Gordon to mediate, things are looking to get messy soon. – Sherif

Grayson #1 – B+

Being the first issue of a new series, it was obvious  that they were going to bring the big guns, and they definitely delivered. This seems like it will be an interesting series, especially when some of the main superheros find out Grayson is still alive, which they are bound to do. I also like the fact that there is something much more nefarious going on with Spyral. I hope it has something to do with the agency that is trying to recruit Barbara Gordon. It would be pretty sweet to see them working together as secret agents. As with all new books, the next few issues will set the tone for the future of this series as a whole. Nightwing was great and this seems like more of the same with a change of scenery, definitely worth checking out.  – Robert

There’s a lot to like about the new Grayson series, whether or not you liked the way he got to the point he’s at. It was really sad for me to see Dick hang up the domino mask for good when his identity was compromised in Forever Evil, but I’m liking the super-spy stuff. Working for Spyral, Dick had been sent into the organization by Batman to see what kind of no-goodnik stuff they’re up to. The book feels like James Bond’s first day at spy-camp, in all the good ways. There are some entertaining moments and some awkward moments, but overall, there’s a clear purpose that the story seems to be going in, and you’re going to want to be invested in it to discover how it plays out. – Sherif

Batgirl #33 – B-

Gail Simone’s Batgirl has been consistently good throughout the New52 and flown under the radar for far too long. The last few issues have been a bit out there, and more than an issue has been dedicated to another Bat-themed story arc, but it looks like the final showdown with Knightfall is going to really pull in all the big guns. One of the best parts of the issue was the emergence of Huntress; her and Batgirl have never really gotten along in past continuities, so this introduction was a lot of fun to watch unfold. With Spyral breathing down Barbara’s neck, I’m really curious to see where the Knightfall arc leaves her. – Sherif

The Birds of Prey are together and by the end of the issue, are ready to take on Knightfall and end this particular story arc. I can honestly say that her run the last few issues have been shaky with vampires and other terrible villains, but this is a chance to start a new arc. Hopefully this new arc will distance itself from what’s going on in Gotham and will include Grayson and his super spy lifestyle. Not much to say about this issue other than it was pretty standard for what we have come to expect. I am hoping they decide to shake things up a bit after this story arc is concluded. – Robert

New Suicide Squad #1 – D+

I’m not gonna lie, when DC cancelled the first run of Suicide Squad, I was a little sad. The mish-mash of C list bad guys fit well together, and though a lot of the unknowns died by the time the series was over, it was worth a continued exploration. After the events of Forever Evil, DC beefed up the cast with some top-tier villains like Deathstroke and Black Manta, who fit right in with the spirit of “Task Force X.” However, the debut issue isn’t very impressive – story or art wise, and the inclusion of Joker’s Daughter feels incredibly forced. She has been one of the worst characters to come out of the New52. I wouldn’t say I’m totally giving up on the series, but I’m not sold on it, either. – Sherif

 

 

IDW Comics:

Star Trek #35 – B+

A brand new story arc for the new movie version of the first enterprise crew and this time they encounter one of the most iconic and my favorite The Next Generation villain, Q. In this six-issue arc Q has thrown multiple universes into chaos crossing the new Enterprise crew with what seems like will be every other generation of Star Trek crew. Of course coming from me as a huge fan of Q I can say that although I am ecstatic about this story I wish it was the next film instead. But as with the continuation of Firefly, X-Files, Samurai Jack and other great TV turned to comics, it is awesome enough to be able to read about these characters in comic form. Definitely pick this up if you are a fan of TNG or the new movies or even if you want to be introduced to Star Trek through one of its best villains. – Jacob

 

Image Comics:

The Walking Dead #129 – A-

Oh man! Things are finally heating back up in TWD after the lackluster event that was All Out War ended so poorly that they had to straight-up skip months just to get some traction. There are multiple crossroads here, as Carl has finally convinced Rick to let him venture from the nest and strike his own at the Hilltops. It’ll be nice to see how Carl finally does without his dad to constantly look over him, and hopefully Little Rambo will make a return. Meanwhile, Rick’s special guest is certain his escape from captivity is coming – and with Alexandria’s new group of nosy a-holes snooping around, it can only mean that everybody is completely screwed sooner or later. This is the first time in almost 30 issues that I’ve been genuinely excited for a new issue, so I hope Kirkman can keep the momentum going. – Sherif

Spread #1 – B+

This is a horror series I can really get down with. This new book from writer Justin Jordan (Luther Strode) is both weird and familiar in all the right places. The premise of the story is that a man simply known as “No” – which I’m sure we’ll find out why he’s called that soon enough – lives in a post-apocalyptic world full of “The Spread,” a grotesque infection that gives people disgusting teeth all over their orifices. It made me pretty squeamish, and reminded me a bit of The Last of Us video-game. Yuck. No is quite capable of killing things and his short name gives me the impression there will be a lot more art-driven storyline, which I absolutely love. If horror is your thing, Spread is your book. – Sherif

 

Marvel:

Wolverine #10 – A-

Wolverine has faced death and has come out better because of it. While he is still afraid of Death, he is ready to do what is necessary for the people of the New York City. Anything could happen in the next few issues, including the possibility of his death, but given how the last issue sort of made fun of the revolving door policy of comics, I get the feeling we are in for a surprise. If Sabretooth has his way, there are huge changes in store for the Marvel universe, but I wonder if that will be what keeps Wolverine from dying. It could also be that it is some sort of metaphor and Wolverine as we know him will die, which is terrible by the way. I don’t know what they have in store for these next two issues but it seems clear that Wolverines “death” might not be as clear cut as the subtitle would suggest. – Robert

I am really enjoying this arc of Wolverine and seeing his transformation now that he is mortal and having to come to grips with that he can and will die soon. To me this is a great story for Wolverine as it shows how despite the horrors of his life and all the troubles and enemies he has made and the friends he has hurt, he is sorry and is wanting to apologize and make up for his mistakes.  This issue of Wolverine was my favorite of this arc and mostly of it was because of the art by Pete Woods in this issue. Although Wolverine is definitely an overplayed character of Marvel, I feel his best stories lately have been ones that put him in a situation that completely changes him and in two months, he will finally get see the worst change of all when the world as he knows will slip away. – Jacob

All New X-Men #29 – B+

The arc with the future Brotherhood is finally at a close… for now. The culmination was an exciting one that genuinely had me invested in the results. Turns out that the X-Men from the future weren’t all bad guys, but rather being puppeteered by a single bad apple. There is tons of action to behold, and colorist Marte Gracia adds just the right amount of pop to the action to make readers feel the danger. If anything, I hope that this event brings current-day Cyclops’ group closer to the other group. They’ve been split for so long; it’s time for a reunion. As for Angel, it looks like he and X-23 are going rogue, making for one of the weirder X-couples in recent memory. It looks like the original X-Men are coming to terms that they are stuck in the present, and seeing them grow all over again (especially Jean Grey) is something I cherish as a reader. – Sherif

Daredevil #5 – B

If this issue doesn’t give you a case of the feels, I’m not sure what will. Foggy Nelson, who has been Matt Murdock’s best friend for fifty years of publication, is fighting the battle with cancer. Since Daredevil’s exile from New York, he has been unable to take care of his friend who needs it most – and with his identity compromised, Foggy is in danger. So what is the logical solution? Fake his death, of course! It’s a bit wacky, and it plays out with the corniness of an after-school special, but the last page was the literary equivalent of opening a box of kittens. The issue was well-worth the read and reminded me why I love reading Mark Waid’s Daredevil all over again. Sometimes it’s worth taking a break from the action to explore the more human side of our heroes. – Sherif

Nightcrawler #4 – C

I still have no idea what to make of this series. I could also do without the voodoo storyline. Luckily, I think that intro story arc is over so we can be on to bigger and better things. This has been a bit of a slow start but with so many people getting new series there was bound to be a few slow starts. I hope that they can come up with something interesting for this series to keep it from getting canceled. – Robert

Deadpool: Dracula’s Gauntlet #1– C-

Another week and of course another new Deadpool story, which are more common these days than creatures we know that breath oxygen. This series focuses on Deadpool being hired by Dracula for a mission and of course as with everything Deadpool, things get even crazier real fast. This series seems like another odd and very much forgettable series among the endless Deadpool ones around. Although I always find Deadpool entertaining and will continue to read this despite its quality, I would recommend most people forget this and check out the Deadpool vs X-Force series that started this month as well. – Jacob

 

Funniest Panel

Negan is a glass half-full kinda guy in The Walking Dead #129

 

Panel with the Most Awesomeness:

Batgirl welcomes Huntress to Gotham in Batgirl #33

 

 

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.

 

Comic Book Reviews 07-02-14

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:

Deadpool vs. X-Force #1 – A

It may be that I am a huge history buff that made this issue and the start of this series so great to me. I never fathomed that Deadpool would be part of the Revolutionary War and the Civil War and that made me love this book especially knowing he goes to Gettyburg and it is the anniversary of the battle right now. Ultimately this issue was a great surprise after the dismal Deadpool vs. Carnage series and this first issue has me extremely excited for its future. The artwork here is great as well and it brings me so much joy to see Deadpool in the outfit of an American Revolutionary War soldier. Pick this up if you like Deadpool, if you like Cable or any of X-Force, and especially if you like either and American history – which, after Dead Presidents, seems to be a theme of Deadpool these days but I am all for it! – Jacob

 

Other Reviews:

DC/Vertigo:

Superman Unchained #7 – B+

Unchained took quite the hiatus between this issue and the last; issue six came out in March. It seems like the long was wait worth it though, as Jim Lee’s spreads are amazing to look at. Wraith is causing destruction in the Batcave and General Lane has become a thorn in Superman’s side. There’s a lot that goes on in the issue, and the only thing keeping it from being A-worthy was that the transition from in danger to Diablo-suit was kind of abrupt. All in all, though, #7 was a very theatrical issue. The mix of action shots and humorous one liners is what gave it the top action panel and the funniest panel of the week. This book may be better in trade format, as delays going forward are sure to continue truncating the book’s momentum. – Sherif

 

IDW Comics:

Dexter’s Laboratory #4 – B

Dexter is still trapped in the world of Dee Dee! Will he escape in this issue or stay trapped in his own personal hell for all eternity? And will he be able to bring Dee Dee back to help his sanity of overcoming her misdeeds? Well you must read it to find out of course. This issue continues the classic Tartakovsky style this cartoon and comic series are known for, which is great for any fan of the property in general. The story also is an entertaining ride so far with many references to characters and things from the show only fans may know about. Pick this week’s issue up if you want to finish this story arc and if you are a fan of the historic awesomeness of this certain era of Cartoon Network. – Jacob

 

Image Comics:

Tech Jacket #1 – A

Tech Jacket has the potential to become one of my new favorite comics – even though it is over a decade old, it is coming to print for the first time. I cannot even explain how cool this comic is. It hits all the necessities of awesomeness: space adventures, cool technology, aliens, possible villainess army, drama, suspense, action, and mystery. Zack “Tech Jacket” “Galactic Guardian of Earth” Thompson is the sole individual keeping the universe in check and by the looks of it he is doing a pretty good job. However, with this new threat(s) appearing to be more than the average alien outlaw, who knows what’s going to happen. Either way, I am there to watch it all. I can’t wait for the next issue to come out, and personally I recommend all nerds read this book. – Evan

 

Marvel:

Moon Knight #5 – A

Mr. Knight continues to lead one of the most underrated books in all of comics. Under the direction of writer Warren Ellis, penciller Declan Shalvey and colorist Jordie Bellaire carry the story to infinity and beyond. This entire issue is comprised of Moon Knight rescuing a kidnapped young girl by beating the living shit out of everybody involved in it. There’s not a whole lot of dialogue, and honestly, I could have gotten watching him do just that, but there are some really chilling lines of monologue that paint the picture of just how badass of a character Moon Knight is. There’s not a whole lot in terms of story development, but I’m sure it will pick up soon enough. Do yourself a favor and pick this book up for some visual stimulation of another kind. – Sherif

Rocket Raccoon #1 – A-

Watch out everyone, because Rocket Raccoon is about to take the nerd community by storm! Rocket starts his own personal series off with a bang as any one would expect him to. The art in this first issue is a bit strange as it is very cartoon looking as well as a bit edgy. The story was interesting and could lead into a great series that could turn Rocket from a B story character to one of the most iconic Marvel Comics characters today, blowing Howard the Duck out of the water for anthropomorphic animals within the Marvel universe. – Jacob

Magneto #6 – A-

Alright, if this issue of Magneto doesn’t get you hooked, then nothing will. Magneto has been on a rampage lately, murdering everybody in his path since the series started, but in this issue, we see a whole new side of the master of magnetism we wish we didn’t. Calling it a “genetic cleansing,” Magneto has started eliminating those mutants that don’t fit his image of what a mutant should stand for. Does that sound like somebody familiar? Comparing Magneto to Hitler, the very man responsible for Max’s awful childhood and mutant awakening, is pure genius and Cullen Bunn deserves some mad writing props. And the whollup of a punch at the end of the issue has me cringing with fanboy excitement. – Sherif

Guardians of the Galaxy: Galaxy’s Most Wanted #1 – B+

Wait… Is this actually just another Rocket and Groot story? Yes indeed, people, we get two series starting that focus on the bad boy thugs from Guardians of the Galaxy, the oddest thing is no other Guardians appear in this book, but they all do in the Rocket Raccoon book this month. The story in this issue is rather odd as things jump and things weird happen that are not explained at all. The art of this series though is great, and it is the most realistic looking Rocket I have seen which is cool as both him and Groot look like they do in the film. I definitely think the series could be fun, but I hope more of the Guardians show up next issue. – Jacob

Iron Fist: The Living Weapon #4 – B

Man, things are about to get crazy! What good is the Iron Fist, if iron can shatter? I’m intrigued by this story line, and it’s just getting started. I have so many questions that I cannot wait to know the answer to. What is happening to Iron Fist’s powers? Who is this mysterious man creature? Why is Danny so crazy? Why hasn’t he been treated for PTSD? All I know is that this book keeps drawing me back in. I love the story, I love the action, and I love the subtleties of the art and the panels. I also enjoy how this comic does different layers of flashbacks within each story. We have what is currently happening, then we have flashbacks to his adult life, and then we go deeper into his childhood. This book is building an entire person and story for us. It’s letting us see the whole picture without showing the audience everything. Piece by piece, it’s all coming together and it’s making a great story. – Evan

Legendary Star Lord #1 – B-

Marvel is hitting us full-force with the Guardians of the Galaxy stuff now. With the movie just under a month away, it’s time we meet the crew. Star Lord, or Peter Quill, is an orphan who is great at getting himself into some interstellar drama. Think of him as a Mass Effect Commander Shepard meets Disney’s Aladdin. This issue offers a solid introduction to Star Lord and his tongue-in-cheek humor getting him out of trouble. It’s a bit predictable, and there are some tidbits about his past thrown in to build up to the conclusion fall a little flat, but it’s a thoroughly entertaining read and I’ll look to learn more about Star Lord in the next issue. – Sherif

Original Sin #5 – C+

Well we finally learn who killed The Watcher and not sure anyone saw that one coming… This issue is paced rather slowly and although we learn a lot, we also don’t see much action or real significance to the story so far. Obviously more questions are being raised each issue and with the way this series is going I hope to not be disappointed in the ending outcome of it all. The art, just like past issues is great with a hint of odd and the writing for this one all together seems confusing as I am still not understanding what, who why, where and basically everything else. – Jacob

 

Funniest Panel

 

Panel with the Most Awesomeness:

 

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.

 

Comic Book Reviews 06-11-14

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:

Detective Comics #32 – A

It’s official! Batman now has TWO good books. This Icarus storyline combines all the aspects you’d expect in a story about the world’s greatest detective. It feels like an Adam West-helmed episode, with the gadgets, and the deductive thought process, but with a modern and accessible twist that doesn’t feel campy or over-the-top. I mean, when you can fight a giant squid and still feel realistically engaging, you’re doing a good job. We also get a look at the lighter side of Harvey Bullock, who we come to find is an unapologetic crazy cat lady. Kudos to this new creative team for giving me complete faith in Detective Comics for however long their run lasts. – Sherif

 

Other Reviews:

DC/Vertigo:

Superman/Wonder Woman #9 – B+

With the continuation of the Doomed storyline we enter the next chapter of Supermans battle with himself. The atmosphere has been contaminated with Kryptonite that is slowly taking away Clarks ability to control the Doomsday inside of him. While this issue has mainly focused on that inner struggle, as usual I feel like the spotlight is on how much of a badass Wonder Woman still is. My least favorite people in the world besides Arsenal, the Red Lanterns, show up and make a cameo. The whole battle with them is short-lived and I could have done without it. This was mostly filler but it had a few essential pieces of info. – Robert

Batgirl #32 – C+

Everything about this issue bored me except for the last panel. It really isn’t a spoiler but I won’t say anything just the same, however it does excite me that they seem to be changing the formula up a bit. I do hope that they will steer clear of the one-shot villains that are lame and have no depth or staying power. I would also like to see a little bit more of the female talon as she made for an interesting dynamic with Barbara. This is the first issue of a new story arc so there wasn’t much going on except for the setup. – Robert

Batman Eternal #10 – C

(+) More filler but we are given yet another teaser at the end. The plot continues to thicken but we aren’t really given any clues as to the endgame in store for this series. Something about the art changed this issue and I can say that in some panels I am definitely not a fan. There is also the inclusion of Julia Pennyworth from last issue. I am curious as to her backstory and how she will come to play in the future. Perhaps we will have another character to add to the Bat family after the departure of Dick Grayson. – Robert

(-) Ugh. Not a fan. First of all, this stand-in artist they got, Riccardo Burchielli? Awful. I mean, it’s not bad art by any means, but it’s probably the worst style I’ve seen for Batman since I can remember. This issue would have gone down smoother if Scott Synder drew it. It’s really distracting from the actual story, which is doing it self no favors here. I miss the direction Grant Morrison took Pyg in – the psycho surgeon, not the Rob Zombie meets Human Centipede doctor. There is a neat hint that Stephanie Brown will be reprising The Spoiler, but it’s marred by an awful pun. This book is drowning in stock, and shoving more filler down my throat isn’t keeping me engaged. Please don’t be another throw-away series. – Sherif

 

IDW Comics:

Rocky & Bullwinkle #4 – B

Although this series may not be for a lot of comic readers it always pleases me to see new Dudley Do-Right. The artwork is up with all the past issues and you can expect a bunch of modern references through out the issue showing that although we may not have seen them, Rocky & Bullwinkle were around the whole time we thought that they may have been gone for good. – Jacob

Dexter’s Laboratory #3 – B-

What happened to Dee Dee? Will Dexter survive in a land of Dee Dee? We won’t find out either really in this issue but it still is a delightful read for fans of the series. We even get a cameo from the 2 Stupid Dogs! The artwork as usual is wonderful and always looks as if Genndy Tartakovsky is doing all the work himself. The only things with these animated show comics is they stick to old fans because not many people are going to become new fans from these stories. So although enjoyable it is best enjoyed when knowing the material from the past. – Jacob

 

Image Comics:

Shutter #3 – A-

This series is so great! Wondrous, full of crazy, new ideas – if you’re open to new ideas, there is no reason not to pick  this book up. I mean, any book that can turn The Busy World of Richard Scarry into cold-blooded killers deserves a look. Giant fox warriors riding Triceratops? I’m still not exactly sure where this book is about, but we’re slowing chipping away at the bigger story here. Only three issues in and we’ve been running around like crazy, revealing plot points only when necessary, but mostly meeting all the crazy character that make the story go round. This book is going to be big; I can feel it in my bones. – Sherif

The Walking Dead #128 – C+

After a giant shocker of an issue in #127, there’s a little more reveal here. This new group, who is going through the same initiation that Rick and Co. did when they first arrived in Alexandria, brings about a nice sense of nostalgia. The more things change, the more they stay the same, I suppose. Everybody has kind of gotten back to life as usual, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see this group drag a few skeletons out of the closet before this arc is over – including one very loose end hiding in the basement. Like so many single issues of TWD was come to be, they seem like filler when read by themselves, but overall, the complete revamp of the series has me interested for more. – Sherif

 

Marvel:

All-New X-Men #28 – B+

The fight is on and Xavier’s son is going all in against Jean Grey, psychically.  These future X-Men have ben a pain in the ass, and their assault is challenging the rest of the X-Men. The story is definitely confusing if you haven’t been following All-New from the beginning, but there is a bigger story starting to open up. Perhaps my favorite part of the story has been the re-evolution of Jean Grey, who is picking up new tricks that she never learned before the Phoenix took over. I love this second lease at life for Jean Grey, and can’t wait to see how she continues to evolve. – Sherif

Wolverine #8 – B+

The cat is a outta the bag and people know that Wolverine isn’t a bad guy anymore. That whole plot seemed awfully short lived considering they took four issues to tell the readers about it. Wolverine has decided to go a spiritual journey to rediscover martial arts and lose his fear of death. The headline for this issue is “Three Months to Die”. I know it has never been done before but I don’t really see why they need to kill him. I guess the countdown has begun but they did hint at the possibility of immortality this issue. – Robert

Hulk #4 – B

This series got off to a rough start. A bullet lodged in Bruce Banner’s brain had left the man a complete invalid, while the monster inside was unaffected. Steve Rogers puts it best in this issue when he wonders how Maria Hill took S.H.I.E.L.D.’s mightiest weapon and broke it. This issue has some pretty awesome Hulk ass-kickery, courtesy of Hulk getting ahold of Cap’s vibranium shield. There’s still some question about where the series is going in the grand scheme of things, but I had a lot of fun reading this particular issue. – Sherif

Amazing Spider-Man #1.2 – B-

The 1.whatever story arc, Learning to Crawl is a fun, nostalgic look back to the simpler times of Peter Parker, before he had a rogues gallery capable of destroying cities and murdering loved ones. As a way to make some cash on the side, Parker is doing entertainment gigs. He attracts the attention of a young, rich loner who idolizes Spidey to a dangerous level, even crafting his own costume and calling himself Clash. One misunderstanding and this Stan turns straight psycho, vowing revenge on Spider-Man. There’s not a lot whole developing outside of that, but it’s refreshing to see a new villain forming, and the old style of writing is, at worst, amusing. – Sherif

Original Sins #1 – C

The Original Sins books are different than the regular Original Sin issues. In Original Sins we get multiple short stories in one issue that connect to Original Sin. In this issue we get a story about Deathlok, the second is about the Young Avengers and the last is a real short one about Lockjaw. It is kind of cool to collect how smaller characters within the Marvel Universe connect to the much larger Original Sin story line. The artwork is all different artists for each story as well as the writers of course. Much like the regular tie in issues, these stories don’t connect much to the storyline but are a fun addition for those fans who like the B-list heroes of Marvel. – Jacob

 

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.