Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #50 – A+ Writers: Bobby Curnow, Tom Waltz, Kevin Eastman Artists: Mateus Santolouco, Cory Smith
This issue is jam-packed with action, flashbacks, great quips and is executed absolutely perfectly by the creative team. As a long-time TMNT fan, this issue was everything I have loved about TMNT, as well as everything I have wanted to see from a TMNT comic.
With this being a double-sized issue, it makes it quite simple to see all the steps among this series that led the turtles here and how every story has brought them to this point – even the most forgotten issues among the series. But this issue has just about every element that makes TMNT so great in it with major game-changing elements that will leave some readers dragging their jaw around the ground for days.
To get into the story a bit, which is done with near perfection by Kevin Eastman, Bobby Curnow and Tom Waltz, we see the Turtles in an epic battle with Shredder and all his forces. With the turtles up against Shredder’s minions – Bebop, Rocksteady, Koya and Bludgeon – Splinter is in a deep state of meditation to prepare for his battle with Shredder. While we see Splinter in meditation, we get some informative flashbacks thanks to artist Cory Smith doing a great job with the dreamy colors for the flashbacks. It does a wonderful job of matching Mateus Santolouco’s art; the books flowed extremely well with no extreme art changes between the two separate stories.
The whole issue is basically one giant battle ending with a surprise reappearance from Donnie, a rather brutal death and huge surprise that the Turtles may now be a band of three… It all leaves to reader on the edge of their seat insanely excited, deeply saddened, extremely satisfied, and with such a large amount of surprise you MUST talk to others about it even if that means talking into a sewer hoping a turtle is there to hear you… no matter how insane you may look… not admitting I did this…
To sum it up, this issue packs a wallop of a story with an insane amount of game-changing elements for the reader, leaving us wanting needing to read it again just to make sure the shock of some elements didn’t make you miss something. I can’t say I have enjoyed TMNT this much before, and can honestly say I feel this is TMNT in its prime!
“Gauntlet of the Geek” is a new featured article where two of our writers debate on hot button issues in today’s nerd industry. We’re not paid to kiss ass, so see what happens when the white gloves come off and we let you all know how we really feel. Let us know whom you agree with.
Sherif’s opinion:
For the last 30-40 years in pop culture, one thing has remained constant – franchises survive. Think of your favorite fandoms – how many of them are new to the last twenty years? Star Wars, Transformers, G.I. Joe, Doctor Who, Disney…all of them have survived generations because of the way they replicate onto different mediums of consumption. Sure, tribal upbringing accounts for a fair amount of the influence, but these franchises, now corporations built off the blood money of thousands of parents desperate to immerse their offspring in the same stuff. And those blessed corporations care enough about we the consumer to keep putting out fresh material to relate one generation to the next, keeping these beloved fandoms alive. Where would TMNT be without the new Nickelodeon series? I’ll tell you where. In the retro section of a fucking Hot Topic, that’s where. Let’s not forget that the stuff kids find cool is only cool because television, movies, and toy stores tell them it’s cool. We’re just more accepting of it because we find it cool, too.
This is the blood price we have to pay to keep TMNT relevant.
One of the best side effects of licensed comic books is the amount of pull and resources that it gives the creators. For example, the mountains of merchandising money that Disney and WB give Marvel and DC, respectively, have opened up the doors for them to take chances on titles for the lesser-known titles (like Squirrel Girl and Ms. Marvel – both of which have had HUGE success). It’s not so much making people who watch Iron Man want to pick up Extremis, but using the resources that the Iron Man movie’s exposure brings in to reallocate and try something new (which I admit is a doey-eyed way to look at the world. We all know these corporations don’t give a crap about us). Think of it as drug dealers buying winter clothing for local school children with their drug money.
I look at licensed comic books the same way I look at the honorary torch carrier at the Olympics. They shouldn’t be regarded with the elite status they once were. X-Files and Star Trek comic books should not be competing with Saga and D4VE, nor should they be marketed as such. Licensed comic books should be designed to engage readers to narrow the gaps between fandoms. One fan who loves comics but doesn’t know anything about Ghostbusters now has input to a conversation about those who love the movies but aren’t into comic books. It’s a beautiful thing when it happens.
How can you not be excited for this?? And how is Batman not impressed??
However, the key is knowing when and how to bring some of the lesser-known books back into the spotlight. Unfortunately for us, there are some publishers out there who are filling nearly their entire catalog with 80’s franchises that just don’t fit in today, let alone in the comic book format. If you’re immediately thinking of IDW Publishing and Dynamite Entertainment, you’d be correct. A Django/Zorro crossover? A Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure 3? Escape From New York? Angry Birds?? You get the point. Since Image’s recent explosion of actual content in creator-owned titles, the smaller guys (BOOM!, IDW, Dynamite, Titan) have all resorted to making these kind of unnecessary branded titles part of their flagship titles, which can only end up giving the industry creative constipation.
Was it popular once? IDW will give it a miniseries!
With the successful integration of comic books into mainstream media, it’s only natural that these corporations would try to capitalize on the success of these franchises. Each of your favorite franchises began as a lowly “hopeful,” and while some of the crappier ones might be here for now, only the great ones remain. It’s how Buffyverse is still running. It’s how A Song of Ice and Fire will likely continue after George R. R. Martin ends the saga. Licensed comic books let creators continue telling stories even when they think nobody is listening anymore.
by Sherif Elkhatib
Montgomery’s opinion:
Let me get this out in the open right off the bat: licensed comics are terrible. It’s hard to pin down exactly why, but I’m going to see if I can narrow it down to a few easily observed facts. And before you get all uppity with me and shriek in your halting bat language, “But Montgomery! Don’t you semi-regularly gush about one or more Transformers comics?” I do. But that doesn’t mean the genre is redeemed, and it doesn’t make me a hero: it just means I’m weak, along with everyone else who bought Super Pro.
The Properties
Perhaps the most glaring issue right from the start is the properties they insist on convincing us are worth reading. I referenced Super Pro, but have you ever actually seen it? This is taking up space on Marvel’s hard drives as we speak.I mean, as someone who takes football very seriously (read: I don’t take it seriously at all), this is the thing I buy to reassure myself that I can be taken seriously as a human who breathes air on this planet. I mean, check out those cute Puritan-influenced cleats he’s wearing. This is a man’s comic, no doubt. But seriously folks, more often than not, a licensed comic is nothing but a cynical cash grab from one giant corporation to another. There’s no love of either art going into it, and then you’re forced to ask: “Who’s supposed to want to buy this?” I mean, the love fans of football have for comics is legendary, and the stereotype of the football playing comic nerd is so old it’s almost worn out (not to editor: forgot my sarcasm tags). But it doesn’t stop there. Love the music of Kiss? Well now you can enjoy their nuanced aesthetic with none of their complicated rhyme scheme.
The Writing
A misguided relative actually bought me Super Pro #1. I read it because what, am I actually going to play football? Hell to the no. It’s a story that’s nearly impossible to resurrect from the graveyard of my prepubescent memory, but one thing was painfully clear even to my eight year-old brain: this was a comic written neither for fans of football, nor fans of comics. And that’s a problem deeply inherent to the genre. Because, more often than not, the cross polinization of properties is just an attempt to capitalize on something that’s already profitable, the resultant product cannot be something the violates the spirit of either thing. It cannot offend the sensibilities of either fan base, but that almost curses it to appealing to neither fan base. Super Pro, if you care (which you almost certainly don’t) is the tragic story of a football player who gets injured nearly to death. He’s brought back from the brink courtesy of a mechanical football uniform so that he can continue… to… play football? But then realizes he’s more than just feetsballs throw man, and fights… crime? I mean, apart from about fifteen moments where I have to stop and ask, “Uh, why?”, that premise sounds like it comes straight from the mouth of that uncle we all have who hates comics and doesn’t respect us for our love. Because the end result shits on the heads of anyone who might possibly want it, every step toward that end result is just as insulting and just as steamy.Oh so, I guess I’ll just buy an adaptation of the thing I already have?!
Perhaps the most prevalent reason for licensed comics is the disease like pervasive presence of the “based on the hit movie” comic.Oh good, now I can be irritated, frustrated, and repulsed by one thing in two mediums.This is the point where I also have to stipulate that just because something sells, it does not mean it’s qualitatively good. I mean, everyone’s mom has a copy of Fifty Shades of Grey stashed under their mattress, but it’s not winning any awards any time soon. Right? God I hope not. I have to make that clear because comics are experiencing a sort of rebirth thanks to the herpes-like proliferation of comic book movies.
“Marvel: the herpes of comic books, but for movies.”
I guess on one hand I have to be thankful for terrible ideas like the Avengers movie tie-in comic, but why does such a thing exist in the first place? “Duh, Montgomery,” you might start, “because people who saw the movie might want to get into comics, and this is their way in, you dumb sack of crap,” you might finish. And very rudely, I might add. And in your very rude retort (seriously, guy), you’ve proven my point: they’ve already seen the movie. Who needs to buy this comic? Apart from the compulsive collector, is there really an audience of people who like the idea of an Avengers movie enough to buy a comic based on the movie, but not enough to buy the actual comics that have been running for 50 years or to spend the $10 to see the movie in the theater? It’s a bizarre monster we’ve lived with all our lives but haven’t really noticed.
There are other reasons why licensed comics are terrible. The fact that tie-ins are often made before the movie knows what they’re doing, so you wind up with weird anachronisms; the art is just the worst, like really, do they even care; the fact that the licensed property is fenced-in so fiercely that even if it were a good idea in the first place, they don’t have much space to play around in. Really, we could talk until all the oxygen is gone, but just these three reasons should be enough to convince you to put down that comic book prequel to Transformers 5: Planet of The Earth and invest in some stocks. Or something.
The mythical A+: Classic comic book material. Belongs next to your copy of The Notebookand 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:
All-New Ghost Rider #11 – A
First things first – shout out to Fiona Staples for rocking the cover of this month’s All-New Ghost Rider. Second things second – shout out to Marvel for switching up pencilers and letting Felipe Smith work the panels. Instantly, from very first square, I saw improvement. Every panel was so much cleaner and easy to follow – something that’s been missing with Damion Scott’s issues (in my opinion). It goes a long way to be able to SEE what’s happening in a comic book (go figure). Enough on that subject, let’s talk a little bit about the story. S*** is getting real! And dark!! I get that the whole undead, fiery-soul occupying the body of another human angle isn’t meant to make me feel warm and fuzzy, but still… things are getting pretty out of control in a very disconcerting way. The upside to this is that it’s not boring. The All-New Ghost Rider has been hit or miss for me ever since it started up last year. This month was a “hit” issue. And from the looks of things at the end of the issue, next month is likely to be a repeat performance. – Taylor
Other Reviews:
BOOM! Studios:
Adventure Time: Marceline Gone Adrift #2 – A
I’ve been on a huge Adventure Time kick recently. I’m finally all caught up on the show, and I’m unreasonably excited that there’s also a whole world of comics for me to dive into. And I hope it’s all as good as the current run. Issue two picks up right after issue one, and surpasses it in every way: better visuals, more story, a longer read time. It starts to peel back the layers of the deceptively complicated emotional pallet of the world. And did I mention the art? I haven’t heard of Carey Pietavg before, but I’m totally sold. Definitely more worth cover price than the first issue. – Montgomery
DC/Vertigo Comics:
Secret Six #2 – B
This band of misfits are badasses! The Secret Six are obscure characters who would never be able to hold their own series, but together just manage to manage an enjoyable couple of issues, with potential to get even better. With Gail Simone at the helm, this series could return to the glory it had prior to the New52 launch. The focus of this issue is basically the end of the prologue, ending in the unleashing of the team upon the world. There are some characters I like, and others I’m not so fond of, but I am excited to see where we go from here. – Sherif
Harley Quinn Valentine’s Day Special – C-
This just simply wasn’t very good. The plot was super long and convoluted and the change in art just felt lazy. In fact, they literally told the readers it was lazy because the main artist didn’t have enough time to draw the comic and meet their deadline, so they brought other artists in to do the dream sequences. This would have been fine if they weren’t so darn weird and convoluted. There were funny moments in it, but overall, this was just … weird — and not in a good way. – Charlotte
IDW Comics:
Edward Scissorhands #4 – B-
This series has been a hidden gem. This week, we see Edward and Megs find difficulty in warning people about Eli, the seemingly violent experiment Edward’s creator never activated. Most of this this opposition is the same as the film, as it comes solely from moronic adults who never listen to the kid who actually knows what is going on. The writing has gotten progressively better as this series has gone on and will hopefully come to a good ending next month in the final issue. My favorite thing of this whole series is the art by Drew Rausch because he makes Edward Scissorhands all his own while also appeasing this Tim Burton junkie pleasantly. – Jacob
Image Comics:
The Walking Dead #137 – A-
Well that got awkward. This book ended in perhaps one of the most disturbing scenes I’ve read in TWD – and believe me, there are enough to choose from. Love is in the air on the Hilltop as Carl continues to be wooed by one of the Whisperers. The issue really dives into the difficulties and paradox of how to rebuild society and the plain fragility of it all. There is trouble a’brewin; nothing this nice can last long. It only takes a few jerk-offs to ruin everything. Luckily for Maggie, Jesus sees everything. I’m also really liking that Carl has grown with the times. He’s the only one I’ve seen both threaten to murder a girl and get her in the same issue. – Sherif
The Empty #1 – B
I’m impressed; this is one of the first comics I’ve seen where the entire book was done by one person. Jimmie Robinson is the creator of The Empty, he also wrote, illustrated, colored and lettered it. Oh if only I could do all of those things. The Empty is an interesting post-apocalyptic story that is set in a part of the world covered in roots that expel a poisonous gas, mutating and poisoning the land. Tanoor is a hunter for her village. She braves the wasteland with her handy, and very cute, foxalope, Fenx. After one hunt Tanoor notices a body floating in the river near her village and it’s a woman named Lila. Lila is from a part of the world that is still lush, green and untainted. Tanoor and Lila set out to return Lila to her home. The art style makes some choices that I could take or leave. The people of Tanoor’s race are fairly normal human looking, except for the fact that their arms go down to their calves. Lila is drawn in a similar style but with different strange proportions, neck length and facial proportions in this case. There is also a backstory to Tanoor that I hope is covered. She only where’s bandages and her entire body is covered in very large scars. It will be a letdown if at some point that’s never touched on. – Scott
Shutter #9 – B-
I’ve understood all the weird shit that’s gone down in Shutter: the ninja ghosts, the steampunk Monopoly man, even the zany half-siblings angle, but the first half of this issue made absolutely no goddamn sense to me. I will say that I loved Owen Gieni’s color work in this issue. The flashback spread is beautifully crafted and, even though I had absolutely no clue what was going on, I was very visually stimulated. All this is forgiven when the book kicks it up about 20 notches at the end there, and the next issue will surely be a trip! – Sherif
Marvel/Icon Comics:
Darth Vader #1 – A-
(A) With the new Star Wars comics up and running, I’m really excited for this Darth Vader series. You never really saw many of Vader’s interactions with his fellow Empire cohorts. How much trouble did he really get in after the destruction of the first Death Star? Darth Vader #1 shows a little bit into the life and times of the Sith Lord. It’s really interesting seeing how Vader operates on a personal level. He really enjoys taking his anger out on those around him. This book also introduces some new characters, like a bad-ass looking wookie bounty hunter named Black Krrsantan. I also really loved the scroll in the beginning of the issue, it’s from the Empire’s point of view. So far, my only problem with the book is I never know how to read what Vader is saying. The emotionless mask with a speech balloon is hard to interpret, but what are you going to do? – Scott
(B) Marvel’s got a tough assignment with Darth Vader. Take the most notoriously cruel and terrifying villain in sci-fi history and create a unique, engaging and untold story about him. What makes this so challenging is that in all of Star Wars’ totality there isn’t a more iconic nor a more well-explored character than Darth Vader. The success or failure of Marvel’s first swing at the Sith lord’s solo title will only be apparent at the end. Which means getting a fair and solid reading from the first issue is highly unlikely (ask C3PO for the exact odds). That being said, there were a few things that exceeded my expectations in Darth Vader #1. The short list is this: the events of Marvel’s Star Wars title are interwoven, Darth Vader isn’t just a puppet for The Emperor, who’s this guy with half a Rodian for a face, and (this is the best one) Boba Fett has a BAD-ASS looking Wookiee bounty hunter partner (whaaaa?!?!). I’d say that this issue succeeded in capturing my attention and making me want more. Especially if that “more” includes watching this unnamed Wookie rip off a limb or two. – Taylor
Thor #5 – A-
Things have gotten pretty crazy in the world of Thor as of late, with the armless and Mjolnir-less hero no longer taking the name of Thor and giving it to the mystery woman able to pick up the hammer. Odin is not too happy with his son and the loss of his hammer. He is going to make sure he finds out who the new Thor is no matter what old Thor (no new name yet) or Freyja have to say about it. So as it stands now, Odin is likely as much of an adversary to the new Thor as is Malekith and his dealings. This series feels like most of it has been tiny tidbits of what it is placed within this issue. With Jason Aaron at the helm, he creates a very awesome intro to what definitely will be a great whodunit type of story where we will constantly be guessing who Thor is. Jorge Molina does an outstanding job with the art in this issue and really makes me wish he was more than just a guest artist. – Jacob
Guardians of the Galaxy #24 – B+
It’s the second part of the Black Vortex event, and in this issue we pick up right after the Black Vortex Alpha issue ended. Peter and Kitty are finally free of Knife, and in the process got ahold of the Black Vortex. The Guardians and the X-Men are under attack by the Slaughter Lords until Gamora submitted to the Black Vortex and beats the crap out of them all while everyone escapes to safety. Now they must decide what to do with the Black Vortex before any one of the many people after them find them again. The writing for this issue is pretty good; I always love little banter between characters you seemingly think should never work together, but we obviously can expect it to be good with Brian Michael Bendis helming this issue. Valerio Schiti kills it with the art, although the reflection in the Black Vortex at the end had me a bit worried about designs down the road. Definitely pick up this issue if you like either team or generally like to read big events, as it is definitely one of the better ones from Marvel in awhile. – Jacob
Nightcrawler #11 – B+
The Nightcrawler series has become pretty darn introspective. At times this has driven the series down (Issue #7). However, the last few issues have done a nice job at jazzing up the path to enlightenment with some good old-fashioned violence. The latest issue of Nightcrawler focused much less on Nightcrawler. However, instead of taking the approach of issue 7, an old fashioned battle-royale gave us a glimpse into where the X-Men started as we witnessed the bravery exhibited by two of our newest and bravest mutants, Rico and Ziggy. Will the new X-Men simply run from a terrifying human/mutant trafficking ring? Heck no! As Nightcrawler grapples with the meaning of his second, and now third, life let’s hope he remembers to listen to his pupils as they so eagerly listen to him. Also, how do I go about getting my own BAMF? Those things are would be so adorable as well as handy to have around. – Jake
All-New X-Men #36 – B+
As many parallel universes as there are in DC and Marvel, the stories both publishers are putting out seem like parallel versions of each other. Heck, the term “Multiverse” is actually used during this issue. One little girl with zero training has the power to open and close a portal to any dimension. With no Charles Xavier to quell her agitation, this can only end in utter disaster. Saying goodbye to the Ultimate Universe in this issue was also kind of sad; I wish I could carry Miles Morales around with me wherever I go. There is a lot to build off of with this story, and it continues to be one of the most consistent book out. – Sherif
Wolverines #6 – B+
This series and the events leading up to it have left most people with a bad adamintium taste in their mouths, but with this issue it may change a lot. We finally see the X-Men get involved in some aspect with all that is going on with Wolverine after his death. With The X-Men showing up it is now X-Men, Paradise, and The Wolverines together against Mr. Sinister. Although the X-Men mean well, they may have just destroyed all hope of the mission at hand and Wolverine’s body may be at risk. I definitely felt this issue was the best thing from this series so far and will likely mean next week would be a great time to jump into the fold of the never-ending “Death of Wolverine” and its after math. The art by Jason Masters also adds a nice touch. This issue may be the start to something good. – Jacob
Spider-Woman #4 – B
Here’s our first post Spider-Verse event comic. Having dealt with the Inheritors threat, what is next for Jessica Drew?? Apparently it’s finding a new job. One that comes with substantially less inter-dimensional travel and fewer encounters with giant alien monsters (both of which occur in this issue!). Overall this book felt a bit disjointed. It was half wrap-up of issues surrounding Spider-Verse and half transitioning into a standalone title. This made for only a moderately entertaining read. This is understandable – it’s hard to switch gears so quickly and maintain previous pace. I’m generally excited to keep up with this title. A new Spider-Woman costume is enough enticement alone (I am not a fan of the current getup)! I’ve got a good feeling about where the new Spider-Woman is heading. – Taylor
Captain Marvel #12 – B-
Oh thank the gods. Captain Marvel regained some of its old wit. There were no tropes, and we got to focus on The Cap’ herself. There was some banter between her and the ship, Harrison. But mostly there was a lot of good artwork. I love when space books take the time show you the vastness of the universe, and this issue did that very well. This new arc, in which Lila and Grace Valentine are no longer the focal point, will take an interesting turn now that the Flerken is the most powerful Flerken of all Flerkens. – Adrian
Amazing Spider-Man #14 – C
And so it ends. The Spider-Verse event is over. And while it was a super-fun ride throughout the “epic” conclusion was just a smidge below my expectations. It was exciting, but I found that as I flipped the pages I wasn’t as anxious or as nervous as I’d hoped. On top of that, there was just too much going on. The ritual, the rebirth of Leopardon, Solus’ soul crystal, Doc Ock being an A-hole, the revenge of Karn, Hamboozling. Each component was good, but because there was so much content there wasn’t any room for focus. No one aspect really brought it home and by the time is was over it was just… over. All in all, I got enough closure for comfort. What’s even better is the stage has been set for numerous spin-offs, follow-up events and completely new stories. You’d better believe that I’d pay money to read a dedicated “Spider-Ham” series. The Spider-Verse is calm again, but let’s see how long it lasts. – Taylor
Funniest Panel:
All New X-Men #36
Panel with the Most Awesomeness:
Spider-Woman #4
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, Oni Press, Dynamite Entertainment, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.
Big news! Spider-Man is FOR SURE going to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Straight from the big wigs themselves. Source: Marvel
This news has already caused a ripple in the release dates for four major films in the next couple years. Source: Marvel
If you know Hush, you know we love all things Breaking Bad. That’s why we jumped for joy when we found out that Better Call Saul had the highest ratings EVER for a series debut on cable television. You can read our reviews here. Source: EW
You knew the Joker was coming to Gotham, but now there’s a trailer to confirm it. Source: Comicbook.com
A trailer for the upcoming animated series, Batman Unlimited, has hit the web. Source: Cosmic Book News
Don’t cry, Walking Dead fans, Beth (highlight text for SPOILER) may be gone from the show but you can see Emily Kinney again on The Flash, where she will play the Bug-Eyed Bandit. I hope we see more of Kinney in the Nerd Verse. Source: Instagram
IDW Publishing and Hasbro have rekindled the fire and extended their contract, allowing IDW to create books based on the Transformers, My Little Pony, G.I. Joe, Dungeons and Dragons franchises, and more! Source: IDW
Looking for a much darker incarnation of Daredevil to appear on the Netflix series? You’re in luck! The series’ homepage shows that it will be rated TV-MA. Source: Netflix
Remember when Patrick Stewart said he wouldn’t be in X-Men: Apocalypse? Well, there was a catch. Seems that his best bro Ian McKellen will be in the movie. Yaaaay! Source: Oregon Live
The mythical A+: Classic comic book material. Belongs next to your copy of The Notebookand 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:
Postal #1 – A+ (Top Cow)
(A+) Holy crap, what a freaking awesome book Postal is and what a wicked cool introduction to the story this first issue was. I’m hooked, officially. Postal focuses on the goings on of Eden, Wyoming, a town of all criminals that tolerates no crime. They have their own rules and if you break them you will be executed in front of the masses. In a church, by a priest. And the story is all being told by an extremely endearing and awkward mailman with Asperger’s named Mark. He’s a lot like Norman Bates, but more cuddly. Mark accidently rats someone out for making and selling drugs which leads to that man’s death. However, just after dealing with that he and the whole town are confronted with the body of a dead woman no one seems to know. The whole book is illustrated in tan tones giving a very serial killer-y vibe that fits the town so well. The characters are intriguing, the story is creative and I think this book is going to go to some psychotic dark places – in a really good way. – Keriann
(A) Honestly, I had no knowledge of this book going in, and that was a good thing. Postal takes place in a town in Wyoming called Eden. It’s pretty tricky though, because Eden is a place where criminals go for their last chance. Our “hero”, of sorts, is Mark, the mail man of Eden. Mark happens to be the town Mayor’s son, but more importantly, he has Asperger’s Syndrome, which is sure to tell you is a “difference” not a “disability.” This character flaw, or rather strength, allows the audience a much different view of the town’s people. Mark’s mother, Dana, has her own rules in the town, and murder is not below her. Mark’s love interest, Maggie, has a colorful past of her own. Seemingly, Mark is the only “good guy.” His portrayal was very thoughtful, using the symptoms of his syndrome to his advantage, rather than making him unrelatable, Bryan Hill and Matt Hawkins do an amazing job of character development in only 22 pages. – Adrian
Other Reviews:
Dark Horse Comics:
Rat God #1 – F
Just when I thought I’d hit the comics jackpot with all the amazing titles I’ve read this week, I opened up Rat God, and holy crap, this book sucks. The story, if you can call it that, seems poorly thought out and went nowhere. If they were trying to go for mysterious they missed and landed square at what the hell am I reading instead. And why do all the characters look like potatoes? Seriously, everyone in the book has a potato head and the white main character was drawn in such a way that as I read his lines I could only hear Don Knotts voice in my head. This book is a no-go on nearly all accounts. Its only selling point is that I want to know what the hell this story is supposed to be about, but not in a good way. – Keriann
DC/Vertigo Comics:
Superman #38 – B+
With this recent news of Convergence ending the New52 imprint, part of me is actually relieved that creators are no longer chained to the lineage of past work. Although, that’s about the only thing I like about it. This amazing arc by Geoff Johns and John Romita Jr. is almost over, and the penultimate issue of it is one worthy of a finale. I would say that it wrapped up a little too quickly and too easily, but the new superpower that everybody has been flaring up about is really as cool as it sounds. It just pisses me off that I knew about it a week before I read the damn book. Stupid internet. Thanks to Romita’s sweet panels, it’s a spectacle that I looked at over and over. I can’t help but feel very sympathetic towards Neil/Ulysses, and I hope that Superman does not neglect the obligation to help in his rehabilitation, because this guy has the potential to be the WORST villain Supes has ever faced. – Sherif
Wolf Moon #3 – B-
Dillon was able to find the Wolf this month, this time in St. Louis. The guy went to a strip club first, and wolfed out on a bunch of college kids. Then he took his little wolf-y self to his job at the mall and there was mass carnage. Only someone has been following Dillon (who is following the Wolf… it’s like Wolf Moon Inception) and stops Dillon from finally killing the Wolf. There wasn’t really any new developments this week. While I am still intrigued, the next issue needs to ramp it up (other than having strippers) for me to continue my interest until the end of this mini-series. – Adrian
Lobo #5 – C-
Lobo continues its trudge into mediocrity. This time they tried to shoehorn in some lackluster backstory of how Lobo is the last of his kind due to his planet exploding. Also, the explosion of Czarnia also took out the sister plant of Xrexia. This will all come into play later with a modicum of importance. The unfortunate soul that Lobo has to do away with this time goes by the moniker “The Businessman.” Although, Lobo is not the only one looking for this lizardy man. Now most of you have guessed where this story is about to go. The other person looking for “The Businessman” happens to be the only survivor of Xrexia, and it’s a lady! So essentially Lobo is going to be fighting the lady version of himself from here on out and they’ll probably have sex at one point. NEXT! – Scott
Dynamite Entertainment:
Shaft #3 – C+
This week, Shaft went looking for the killer of his lady. While the story is still compelling, it feels like it is dragging a little bit. We have yet to see Shaft be, ya know, Shaft. There was a little bit of progress made; Shaft figured out who his girlfriend scrapped with before her death. I look forward to the next issue when (hopefully) the man gets tortured/beaten/murdered by our main man. The best thing about this book is the song selection in the back of each issue. – Adrian
Django & Zorro #3 – D
If I wanted to “read,” I would pick up a book. That sounds bad… I promise I DO read books… I LOVE books. But when it comes to my comics, I need that visual stimuli to make it worth it. Django – Zorro was lacking in that category this month. Lots of conversation and plot building occurred this issue, but a lot of it seemed inconsequential and generic fluff. The story is kind of all over the place too. Getting insight to Hildy’s whereabouts is cool (I guess), but there’s a strong lack of connection to the situation at hand and why it’s important. Lack of focus is never a good choice! I was feeling good about this series after last month’s release, but now I’m back on the fence and leaning pretty distinctly to the “not feelin’ it” side. If I can get some real conflict and witness better usage of the panel then it might help balance me out. – Taylor
Image Comics:
Saga #25 – A
Saga is the only book I know that can skip three months of publication and suck me right back in without even flipping open the first page. Writer Brian K Vaughan takes advantage of the hiatus by giving us background on how life was during the war between the wings and the horns – a perspective that we had no idea of previously. It’s that type of grand-scale insight that makes me fall in love with and truly believe in the story. In sort of a Game of Thrones-like way, this issue is centric to every different storyline that is unfolding – a technique that keeps the momentum going while leaving behind a trail of cliff-hangers. That way, when the final jaw-dropping cliff-hanger is revealed, the reader is too caught in the headlights to understand what just happened. I love this book. – Sherif
Nameless #1 – A-
(A) Grant Morrison is the kind of guy that makes you want to stop doing anything — because whatever you want to do he’s probably already done, just better — and just enjoy his stuff. I mean, what can I possibly say about this? Chris Burnham’s there, so you know the art is somehow beautiful and ugly and incredibly detailed. Nameless #1 also references extra-dimensional cults, ritual magic, lizard people, angry space gods, other universes, magical coincidence, dream realities, benevolent billionaires (so that you know it’s just a pretend book), far-reaching government conspiracies, at least three references to Jesus as Solar Messiah, and the kind of optimism in the face of bleak despair that makes Morrison absolutely indispensable for a healthy inner life in a world that looks more and more like the first act of a Morrison comic. I can hardly wrap my head around how he does all that in 32 pages without it feeling forced or crowded. – Montgomery
(B+) I need more time to process book. Sad robot…Human fail. Seriously, they are using Nan Madol, lizard people, ancient aliens stuff!?? It’s all my mystic shit/conspiracy occult rabbit hole I go down. The dream world was really cool, but the whole “help us save the world in 33 days, we know what you did, you have no family and nothing to live for” is very trite and cliché. But, it’s Grant Morrison; I have to believe there is some weird shit ahead. – Jené
Birthright #5 – A-
(A+) My god, this is a good issue. Dare I even say the best one of the series so far? Methinks yes. I was just blown away by this month’s issue of Birthright. It had so many emotional ups and downs and there was finally some proper insight into what/who the hell possessed Mikey and what the evil plot is. The first few pages were heartbreaking, with a sweet 8 year old boy refusing to come to terms with death being an inevitability. Cut to an epic fight between wizard and Mikey where it quickly becomes unclear who is good and who is bad. This issue was intriguing and kind of mind blowing and with Rya’s pregnant appearance at the end I am more than excited for the next issue. Birthright is a comic that does fantasy so well I can’t even come up with an analogy that does it justice, or makes sense. So let’s just go with Birthright does fantasy so well I can’t even sentence. – Keriann
(B) This comic is all-around a good time. I love the back and forth between the fantasy land and the modern landscape. It’s so seamless and integrated. It’s cool to see Mikey’s life and his development in the other world and then to see him in his brother’s. At times the way he interacts with his father and brother almost make it seem as if no time has past. We finally have a clue as to what is part of him. The “Nevermind” is interesting and it’s becoming more clear of what Mikey’s mission turning is. Also, flaming sword awesome and creepy blood demon face. – Jené
Wytches #4 – A-
(A+)So month after month I find myself impatiently awaiting the arrival of the new Wytches. Once again it came in to my life only to increase my heart rate, drop my jaw and leave me alone, waiting once more. This book is nonstop awe-inspiring goodness. Poor Sailor is a god damn warrior and she is fighting tooth and nail to survive. Charlie met up with the crazy old woman only to learn the horrifying truth of where his daughter is and then to witness her suicide. Scott Snyder knows his shit; he is a master of writing in layers and keeping the reader at bated breath because he writes characters we care so deeply for. This isn’t just some blood and gore book, there is no gimmick (although the wytches themselves are pretty freaking terrifying) this is just a truly enthralling story that is genuinely scary because it’s written with heart. I’ve never read anything like it, and issue after issue I am just blown away. – Keriann
(B) This month, Wytches gave us some answers. Who was the woman who broke into the house? Answered. Why is Sailor’s dad so protective? Answered? Where is Sailor now? Answered. But! The end left us with even more questions. This issue did a good job of showing the past, a very odd scene with Sailor and her dad at an abandoned amusement park, and the present, with Sailor trying to get out of the hole, and her dad trying to get answers from the creepy woman. The whole thing was still very scary, but for some reason, this issue didn’t grab me like the rest did. I do look forward to next month, though. – Adrian
Nailbiter #10 – B+
(B+) This month’s Nailbiter once again just left me wanting more. It flew by so fast I hit the last page and could have sworn I’d just started it. The mystery of The Buckaroo Butchers is building and now it really seems like the serial killer origins may be supernatural, or a curse or…something. I don’t really know and honestly I might be a little bummed if it ends up being like a Mayan curse or something that the temple under water kind of hints at. Joshua Williamson promises that won’t turn out to be what we think it is so I’ll take his word on that. At least for now I can be content with a bus full of children NOT being drowned and a sweet little girl in pigtails taking her revenge on her captor’s jugular with very sharp blade. Not to mention, Finch has had it with all the bullshit dead ends he keeps hitting so he’s taken the fight straight to the Nailbiter himself which will no doubt be a gruesome, amazing, and possibly hard to read show down. Personally, I can’t wait. Ultimately the story just keeps getting more and more enticing and at this point the answers to some burning questions seem almost tangible. – Keriann
(B+) Shit got real in this book. This was not an issue showing macabre humor, which Nailbiter has been known for in the past. The bus driver who was ready to kill all the kids last month, actually drove the bus into the lake. But all the kids made out alive…except something really terrible happened afterwards. Needless to say, the bus driver didn’t make it. While saving the kids, Sheriff Crane and Finch found an underwater shrine of sorts. Also, Finch decides to torture Nailbiter. While none of this was the book I am used to, it was really enjoyable. The characters were pushed this week. The decisions and moves they make after the events of this week will catapult what ever comes next. – Adrian
Cluster #1 – C
Two parts Starship Troopers and one part The Condemned (starring Stone Cold Steve Austin), Cluster is an ok sci-fi action drama. In the world of Cluster, if you are sentenced to life in prison you can lower your sentence to only 15 years if you fight for your planet against aliens who want the same thing humans do. The story revolves around a new female prisoner, Samara. Where have I heard that name before? She is the daughter of a very famous and powerful father, whom has yet to be revealed. Oh, and while you’re out fighting, if you don’t make it back within 24 hours, your insides will be very painfully liquidated by an implant called “punch.” So far, that’s all there really is. – Scott
Oddly Normal #5 – C
Oddly Normal is so much fun to read. It’s not out of this word, where my comfort zone in books is, but I enjoy reading it every time it comes out. The art is so much fun and the characters are a treat. I wish I was reading this as a teenager; I’d love it even more. Oddly is a stranger in her own world and even stranger in a strange land, still having to cope with the joys of an elementary like school experience. Vampires are all levels of douche no matter what genre you put them in, but at least she now has an interesting new friend to hang out with possibly hang out with. This is a lovely read but not something to write home about. – Jené
Marvel/Icon Comics:
Return of the Living Deadpool #1- A-
Zombies and Deadpool will always be awesome, and in this series, which continues after the previous Night of the Living Deadpool mini-series, we see that zombies are actually second tier to a much worse plague devouring humanity. If this series is anything like the previous the art will be fantastic, with the same style of all black and white – other than Deadpool – which gives the comic a much different feel than the normal Deadpool series. The story is as funny as you would expect from Deadpool, but on top of the black and white the idea that zombies are not the real threat reminds me of The Walking Dead. But then again, most good monster stories don’t have the monster as the real bad guy and use simple things like normal everyday people as the truly terrifying thing; although here we have Deadpool, so the “normal” person aspect makes just about anything you can imagine that is terrifying look like an adorable puppy, thanks to the humor of the man and the smell of his day-old Chiminchangas. – Jacob
The only thing that really disappointed me about this issue was that there could have been a few more classic Deadpool one-liners. At least the zombies have some comical lines in the series! I didn’t read the series prior to this, although I really wish I had, but the first issue does a decent job at setting up the scenario. There is a traveling hoard of extra evil Deadpools who are a liiiittle bit rapey. Then there’s one, I don’t want to say good Deadpool, that’s better than the other ones. Then there are the zombies, and they’re pretty social during their meals. I’m excited about getting into this story. Are the evil Deadpools just the Dead’s tools, or will they eventually be Dead fools? Either way, it’s pretty Deadcool! – Jake
Ant-Man #2 – B+
(A-) Ant-Man continues to show us the trials and tribulations of your everyday man Scott Lang. Writer Nick Spencer is doing a stellar job of showing us this superhero, but letting us know that this superhero, he’s just regular guy. And he is going through a serious rough patch. Does that mean it’s hard to get through? Not one bit. This week, Scott tries to get a bank loan, fails, then has to fight a Nazi robot, wins, and ends up getting the loan. He is taking small steps forward, and you can’t help but root for the guy with the dry humor. Tony Stark makes an appearance that is laugh-out-loud. And there are a few side characters who reveal that they are more than they seem. Now that Scott has his own Security Solutions business (because of the loan), he will probably be more of a target, but the antics (see what I did there?!), will surely be worth the wild ride. – Adrian
(B) I love the simplicity of this series. It’s just a story about a guy with a super-suit, trying to juggle a family, an honest (non-super) career and “life” in general. Sure, some “super” things happen along the way – like fighting an angry man in a bear suit (hilarious), or taking on a giant Nazi-era robot that kills by smelting you in gold (hilarious AND awesome) – but what I enjoy most about this comic is Lang’s continual struggle to handle the basics! It kinda boils down to relatability. I may not understand how it feels to fight off interdimensional aliens or defend Earth from galaxy conquering armies, but I do know how it feels to fill out 100 applications in search of a minimum wage job! This one is fun folks – you should snag a copy. – Taylor
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #2 – B+
This is the best female-led series Marvel has out right now. Squirrel Girl is cute, quirky, smart, and very very awkward. But for a nerdy girl like me, this makes for the perfect hero. The month, Doreen aka Squirrel Girl goes looking for a club to join at her college, but gets interrupted by news from Tippy Toe (her squirrel friend, duh) that Galactus was going to destroy Earth. It’s always the weirdest stuff that interrupts our college activities, isn’t it? This issue was delightfully cute. The best part is the commentary on the bottom of all the pages. I did feel that the Stark Industries break-in was a little drawn out, but overall, this book is still far exceeding my expectations. – Adrian
Guardians of the Galaxy & X-Men: Black Vortex Alpha – B
(A) The X-Men can’t even catch a break around a bunch of rogues from space – disliked on earth and disliked amongst the Guardians. Maybe after that sweet battle royale the two gangs of misfits will get along better. This is one of the better opening issues to a series that I’ve read in a while. Ed McGuinness’s artwork is amazing to start off with. There were some really cool panels (I spent about 20 minutes just looking at the big battle scene toward the end). I also like how this team up, although facing some cosmically terrifying baddies, is still quite confident that they will safely find the Black Vortex and save the day yet again. This is how both teams of heroes have always been. Why not fight a bunch of baddies who have reached their full cosmic potential? – Jake
(B) I didn’t know too much going into this story of what to expect because, although I love both teams, I have not really been reading the comics for either of them at the moment. But with just random tidbits of what is going on, it was easy to jump on board and really enjoy this issue. So maybe brush up a tiny bit on what is going on in The Legendary Star-Lord, X-Men, and Guardians and the Galaxy before reading this issue to get everything perfectly. The art is spectacular throughout, and gives us a real idea of the scale of what the Black Vortex and the enemies are capable of. As far as the story, it definitely is a strong opening to something that will likely be second to Secret Wars for Marvel events this year for me. – Jacob
Star Wars #2 – B
Two issues in and still not too sure how I feel about this series. Don’t get me wrong as I absolutely enjoyed it and am looking forward to it, Darth Vader and the Princess Leia series as I love everything Star Wars – yeah, even the prequels and especially Jar Jar Binks. Now that you are done throwing things at me for that last statement, I only question this series because the timeline of where this story has happened is a little vague to me and maybe in time we will get more of an explanation, but ultimately all we know is it is between Episodes 4-6. This issue we got to see Darth Vader fight more, which is always a good thing because a lot of the bad asses of Star Wars really never do anything at all. On top of that, the art is wonderful and definitely does a great job of interpretations of the actors and making it feel very cinematic in its storytelling. Despite not knowing when this takes place at all, the story has been quite solid and given us even in just two issues, a nice and deeper look into the characters we thought we knew all about. – Jacob
A month has gone by since the premier issue of Marvel’s Star Wars. Just enough time to let the novelty effect and nostalgia wear off a bit. This month’s issue gives us a chance to critique on the merits of what generally makes a good comic book. I’m glad to say that there’s no disappointment to be found in issue #2 (not that I was worried). Aaron and Cassaday have thoroughly nailed the “Star Wars” aspect leaving only basic plot and storytelling elements to be mastered (which is currently on track for great success). Much justice is given to Vader and his bitterly evil ways. He snapped a Stormtroopers head 180 degrees for accidentally catching Vader with his helmet off!! And then there’s the predicament of the rebels – I have no idea how they plan to escape. This uncertainty and anticipation is making this year’s first Star Wars title an excellent experience. – Taylor
Hawkeye #21 – B
Ugh. Matt Fraction and David Aja, the ones who made this Hawkeye book one of the best selling trade paperbacks of 2014, will be leaving the series after the next issue. This has been announced for a while, but it didn’t really hit me until I read this penultimate issue, the one where Clint and Barney gear up to defend the building from the Russian Bro mafia. I feel sort of the way a guy feels when he plans a trip with his girlfriend just to find out she didn’t think it was that serious. I had great plans of sitting in bed, reading Hawkeye until I got old and wrinkly, but now that’s all ruined. Oh well… The art in this issue continues to carry the story-telling in the same magnificent fashion, but the tragic ending and angst of only having one issue to close this out just came too soon for me to really prepare myself. – Sherif
Wolverines #5 – C+
I am a pretty big Wolverine fan or basically just a Weapon X fan in general, but this series and the others leading up to it have been the most subpar Wolverine story ever, which could have something to do with Wolverine being a hunk of adamantium at the moment, but whatever. This issue broke open the story a little and finally got to a point where it seems these events will matter outside of its own story. It also offers up a new artistic approach and has a very watercolor feel to it, which can be absolutely beautiful at times, and then also very confusing during some times as well. I loved the style and would love to see more books done like his, but the drastic change definitely was a bit distracting at first. Hopefully in next weeks issue we will finally get to a point where I will actually feel like it was a good choice to read every story from Death of Wolverine. – Jacob
Funniest Panel:
Ant-Man #2
Panel with the Most Awesomeness:
Superman #38
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, Oni Press, Dynamite Entertainment, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.
The mythical A+: Classic comic book material. Belongs next to your copy of The Notebookand 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:
Batman #38 – A+
(A+) Snyder and Capullo do it again. I could just gush and gush, the thing is, is that no review I could ever write would be with your time to read as much as actually going and picking up a copy of Batman #38 and reading it yourself. Batman must go down in history for the sheer literary genius it is. This particular issue is packed with so much history, Gotham, Batman, Greek Mythology and word origins. Here’s what I can say: any book, comic or not, that schools me on Dionysus and the meaning of the word “tragedy” is absolute perfection. – Adrian
(A+) Beating a dead horse here, but reading Batman: Endgame is one of the smartest investments of your time you can make. You don’t need much background knowledge, and you know why that is? Because your whole world will be flipped upside down with this issue! Nothing you have ever known about the Joker is true. It’s such insanity that not even Batman has a plan for what to do about this revelation. There’s a reason that nobody has ever given Joker’s origin, and that was revealed with this issue. DC must have a lot of trust in Snyder and Capullo to allow them to cement their legacy here. Some teams make great comic books, but this team makes history. – Sherif
Other Reviews:
DC/Vertigo Comics:
Multiversity Guidebook #1 – A+
Holy crap, you guys. I was excited at the notion that this book would just be some nerd-style manual circa 1995 that would explore each of the 52 worlds – a simple guidebook like you might find in the lobby of a Holiday Inn. Not only is it that, but it still has a story. In fact, it has guidebook in story, in story (…in story). It starts with adorable little mini Justice League getting super-duper murdered by robots created by the legion of evil Sivanas, and mini Batman as the only survivor fleeing to a neighboring universe where he teams up with a Batman who looks like Buzz Lightyear, except Batman colors (later we find out that because of space reasons, ALL the super heroes look like Buzz). That kind of Never-ending Story whatthefuckery is enough to total overload every nerd bone in my body. Knowing one story entirely fills out everything Multiversity is, but in addition to that story, Morrison has figured out how to weave every single incarnation of DC Comics into one whole narrative. So far the only thing disappointing about this mega meta arc is that there aren’t 52 issues of it. – Montgomery
Gotham Academy #4 – B+
Can I have a Maps? Please. The kid sidekick, who is actually the smart one, is just so cute. As usual, Gotham Academy knocks it out of the park with art and coloring. I am continuously finding myself lost in the art. This issue had a panel with a ghost that had me entranced. Olive found herself encountering many aspects of her life she has been avoiding, but in the process, she found a secret passageway in the Academy where she found a very special guest star living behind the walls. Many things were answered this week, but many doors were also answered. Get into this book before it gets too far ahead of you! – Adrian
Batman Eternal #43 – C
I love Harper Row, er… I mean Bluebird. I do wonder how an outspoken teenage can hide her secret identity when her signature purple and bright-blue Mohawk are completely visible, but I can get over that. Either way, it looks like we’ve found Batman’s next ward. That was almost the only highlight of the issue, though. We do close some gaps on a scene that’s nearly a year old, but there still aren’t any hard-pressed issues addressed. We know something big and bad is coming, but we’ve also known that for 43 issues. Big win for Harper Row, though. – Sherif
Effigy #1 – C
I had a big time love affair with 90’s Vertigo (with the exception of Constantine, regardless of how hard I try…). I love the super-weird, the super-witchy, the mystical and occult: if it has curses and multiple dimensions, count me in. At some point, though, Vertigo shifted to a focus on more violent books (LeMire’s stuff being a very noteworthy exception). Reading the press materials for Effigy, it sounds like my jam: vapid Hollywood crossed with ritual murder and maybe multi-dimensional mish-mash. This first issue, though, itfocuses on a former child actress as she tries to move on with her life and move into being a detective, but struggles against her glory hound mother who wants to move her back into the limelight. Which is all stuff I don’t really care about. The really interesting stuff was the space gods we just glossed over (literally two panels. They get two panels). The art is another sore spot; maybe I’m just a big dumb dinosaur that needs to lay down in a tar pit and accept my place in the world, but I loved the gritty haphazard horrific art styles of the old Vertigo. This book has that art style that looks like maybe it’s some kind of very design heavy flash sidebar ad that’s become really popular with high-concept indie books recently. It’s not that it’s bad, but when it’s, like, the third book this week you’ve seen with that art style, it gets hard to tell them apart. – Montgomery
Arkham Manor #4 – C
Alright, so I may have over-reacted when I got to the conclusion of the last issue of Arkham Manor, when it seemed like the Joker was the big bad in this mini-series. Arkham Manor holds its own just fine, and so very little of that has to do with Batman. Victor Fries takes center stage here, and wouldn’t ya know, he is the funniest person in a Bat-book not named Dick Grayson. This book won’t revolutionize anything, but it’s an interesting departure from the status quo for books focusing on the Dark Knight. – Sherif
IDW Comics:
X-Files: Season 10 #20 – B+
We continue the story of the experimental government manufactured marijuana called G-23. Now, Langly and Mulder are tripping out on the drug in the desert and neither is sure what is real and what is just a massive hallucination. In the issue, we find out the secret behind the drug, who is behind it, and become paranoid of government-regulated marijuana, but then again that is just the Mulder coming out in me. As far as art goes, I really enjoy having a different perspective, and Tom Mandrake’s style blows my mind when it comes Mulder’s hallucinations, really making you feel the effects and making me never want to take hallucinogenic drugs. I would say pick up this issue if you generally enjoy X-Files, or if you maybe want to see what X-Files could have been like if Vince Gilligan added more if his Breaking Bad ideas to the show, which I totally felt that vibe with the panic and struggle of using the drug at hand. – Jacob
TMNT/Ghostbusters #4 – B
This mini-series comes to a close this month leaving our 80’s hearts empty yet again to deal with the modern tells of both franchises. With TMNT already getting a sequel, and the all-female Ghostbusters on the horizon, it was nice to see this team-up while it was still relevant. This story in this series is much better than anything I came up with when I was five. Ultimately, the story is not integral to the main story line of each property, so despite this issue and the series as a whole being very enjoyable, it is not needed to understand anything but a small reference in the mains series. – Jacob
Powerpuff Girls Super Smash-Up #1 – B
Taking place after the events of the Cartoon Network Super Secret Crisis War, this new series focuses on Dexter and the Powerpuff Girls combining forces to traverse all the different worlds within the Cartoon Network brand to track down a mutated Dee Dee. We start with the intro and a short story of Courage the Cowardly Dog – setting up next month’s issue. We may get every issues like the one-shots having a prequel of sorts to the main CNSSCW story. The story so far definitely has some plot holes and things left unexplained, but then again, it is a cartoon book and anything is possible. I would say pick this book up if you are young as it is a blast and also for nostalgia reasons as one of your favorite cartoons is likely to show up at anytime and give you all sort of warm feelings as if you just ate some Oops All Berries and washed it down with some Ecto-Cooler. – Jacob
Image Comics:
Sex Criminals #10 – A
It almost feels dirty putting this book in the reviews, but I absolutely love this book. I decided to sit down in the hotel lobby I’m at, and read this book (of all books, right?) on my tablet. Of course, this had to be the issue with the most dicks and vaginas out of all of them. That experience would be equivalent to watching the salad-tossing scene in Girls, when all of a sudden your grandmother and five-year-old nephew walk in the room. To you, shirt-cocking. It’s that awkward, but I love it anyway. Sex Criminals takes the taboos of weird sex things and explains that it could get a whole lot weirder. – Sherif
Bitch Planet #2 – B+
(A) If you’re not reading Bitch Planet you are doing yourself a disservice. Kam is as badass and noncompliant as they come. She’s true to her beliefs and stands strong by them. It is only when she sees an opportunity for escape that she decides to accept the offer given to her by “the fathers.” There are still a lot of parts of this world falling into place, and we’re not 100% sure how everything operates in the Bitch Planet universe, but I am so excited that a comic like this exists. We need more of these stories and I can’t wait to see what comes next month in this story arc. Bonus: Don’t forget to read the essays at the end of these issues. This month’s was on how feminism is often misconstrued and I reread it aloud to my friend, it was so good. – Charlotte
(B) Orange is the New Black meets Hunger Games meets messed up dystopian future…and I love it! It’s raw, intense, and gritty and at time hard to read. Sure is a soccer punch to the gut. The covers art of the comic as a retro feel to it a comingling of time periods. The future is the past is definitely a theme to this book. Sexism is in its hyperbolic form and I think this does a lot to highlight how insidious, subtle, dangerous it’s become in our culture. In this book we get more info about the “male” Earth and its society and the politics of Bitch Planet. The inmates are thinking of using the brutal games to 1) let Earth think they are generating entertainment but 2) really they are going to use it to change the indoctrination of gender roles. Brilliant! Honestly, there is so much packed in visually and linguistically and I could write a paper on it. It’s a comic many will be talking about for year. Go read it! – Jené
Casanova Acedia #1 – B
So there’s a badass body guard with no memory of his past and he protects this other, old guy who also doesn’t have a memory of his past. There’s a fight scene that takes on a diving board with a hot naked girl. Uhh… there’s also bad guys that don’t have heads or faces. Oh! And the world is going to end in nine days for some reason. In much fewer words, issue #1 of Casanova Acedia is one healthy serving of “HUH?!?!” That being said – I didn’t hate it. In fact, I recommend you read it! It’s a simple and classic storyline with some really, really weird twists added in for what I assume is alluring intent. Whatever this is, I’m into it (I think…) and I plan to stick with it until the weirdness overwhelms. – Taylor
Rasputin #4 – B-
This series is hauntingly beautiful. I wish the books weren’t so short, but it seems like the art style probably takes a long time to finesse. Rasputin has finally made it to the winter palace and has healed Alexi of the bleeding disease. What this book offers is insight into his powers and how they work. Being able to heal isn’t all fun and games. As always looking forward to the next one. – Jené
Graveyard Shift #2 – C+
This week, Hope, Liam’s girlfriend and now vampire, tried to kill him for 6 pages. Then it turned out she’s a good vampire and quit trying to kill him. Then for the rest of the comic, we found out she is just a classic vampire. Can’t touch crosses, or hit the sunlight. Also, she’s hungry … for blood. This book was forgettable, but the saving grace is when I flipped to the back and saw it was rated “T” for Teen. Now I realize that if this is a teen’s vampire book, they could be reading Twilight, and this is waaaaayy better than Twilight. – Adrian
They’re Not Like Us #2 – F
Last issue, it seemed like this book would be a little bit like an X-Men rip-off, which I was more ok with than the garbage that was this week’s issue. The specials, or whatever they are called, beat up a guy and steal all his stuff, all because he was going to graffiti, and they make it seem justified because tagging would bring the cops to the neighborhood. What the hell? Does tagging really deserve not only a whole story line that attempts to explain why they deserve what comes to them and an entire panel that says “F*ck Taggers?” I think its an abuse of power that comic writers have to convey a belief that is very closed-minded. And the main character questions the actions of the others, but then accepts it because she is “free?” This is not modern day The Awakening, this is badly written tripe. – Adrian
Marvel/Icon Comics:
Thor #4 – A
“Lady Hammer Pants.” Spider-Man FTW on picking out the Goddess of Thunder’s new name. That and an epic duel between “both” Thors made this a pretty great issue. My annoyance at not knowing the identity of lady-Thor has plateaued to the point of (nearly) no longer caring. I’m almost convinced that writer Jason Aaron doesn’t know the identity either. It’s been building up for so long now that when the reveal finally happens it will probably fizzle, like month-old Coke-a-Cola. I’ve come to accept (and expect) this reality and instead focus on the plot for primary value. The outlook is optimistic at the end of the issue. I’m very intrigued at how things were left off and I’m excited to see where it goes. That being said, Thor will have to significantly impress this critic if it want another “A” rating anytime soon. – Taylor
Uncanny Avengers #1 – A
I’m really liking the Avengers and X-Men mashups that are increasingly common these days. My favorite musician-turned comic writer, Max Bemis, even had a hand in the AVX series, much to my delight. The Avengers and X-Men are at it again in the newest volume of Uncanny Avengers. In this new series, we join Captain America, Scarlet Witch, Rogue, Quicksilver, Vision, Sabretooth, and Brother Voodoo as they travel to Counter Earth. This first issue left me with a lot of questions, but has enough action and plot to make me want to figure out what in the (Counter) world is going on. How will the Avenger Unity Division get out of the hostile situation they have gotten themselves into? Where are Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver? So many questions, but I guess I’ll have to wait. – Jake
Spider-Man & The X-Men #2 – B+
Does it get much better than superheroes fighting dinosaurs? Actually, in the case of another Avengers and X-Men team up, it does! While this entire issue was packed full of action and awesomely lame one-liners, my favorite part was seeing our new X-Pal, Glob, transform into an adorable and transparent dinosaur. Although the new batch of mutant heroes isn’t exactly my favorite team so far, the story-line has not been relying very heavily on the mutants, but instead seems to pave the way for a what feels like a new Spider-Man solo story. The first two issues have been entertaining thus far, but I am eager to see the character progression of the X-Men as they begin to trust their impulsive new teacher. On a side note, don’t fret, Shark-Girl, though you may have turned down love, there’s always other fish in the sea. – Jake
Deadpool #41 – B
Well after the events of AXIS have died down and our Roxxon flashback issue is behind us, we can get back to the regular Deadpool we all know and love. There is only one problem with that – Wade Wilson as we know him is a different man and his daughter, wife, friends and all he should hold dear are changing because of it. The main story for this series is really delving into Deadpool’s psyche. You actually sympathizing and caring more for Deadpool than you thought anyone could. I would say grab this issue to get ready for the new arc and the countdown to his inevitable death in April, as well as it has the best comic cover of the year so far in my opinion, done by Mark Brooks. – Jacob
Spider-Man 2099 #8 – B
If you haven’t heard it yet, I’ll say it for you now. I LOVE Lady Spider! This issue of Spider-Man 2099 is actually more about the sexy, female steampunk version of Spidey than it is about Miguel! I hope this attention to the character is foreshadowing and that fans (especially me) will get more of this captivating character in some other Spider-Man title following the conclusion of Spider-Verse. I’m also pumped that the Japanese Spider-Man Megazord has been re-commissioned and is geared up for the final battle. The atmosphere is critically electric leading into what will be THE final comic book issue of the Spider-Verse event. Everybody hold on tight and hope that the day will be saved!! – Taylor
Wolverines #4 – D-
I have had so much hope for things since I did really enjoy the actual Death of Wolverine story, but the changes it has made and the stories it has created have me to a point where I am very much at peace with Wolverine being dead forever, if it just meant his friends would shut up about it and stop trying to bring him back. The dynamic between the two teams of this series is pretty fun, only to see Sabretooth, Mystique, X-23, Daken, and Deathstrike working together. But in this we add Fantomelle who took the focus from last weeks issue become part of the team, and she is generally the first new character who holds any interest to me. The artwork for this issue is a little rough around the edges, but generally works for a weekly title, although the cover this month was definitely the worst cover to come from anything Death of Wolverine related. If you are the completest that I am of course you should pick up this issue, otherwise, please avoid Wolverine and most things associated with him from now until Earth 616 doesn’t exist anymore… – 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, Oni Press, Dynamite Entertainment, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.
The mythical A+: Classic comic book material. Belongs next to your copy of The Notebookand 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:
Moon Knight #11
Moon Knight #11 – A
Marc Spector is in it now! Following the events of last issue, we find that Marc is being detained in a mysterious and very peculiar looney-bin. While his asylum scrubs are nowhere near as cool as his magic Egyptian armor, Marc still wears his confident and tough-guy attitude well. I’m really in love with this story. I was just as entertained with this issue as I had with all the others and there wasn’t even a single “Moon Knight” appearance. I’m really starting to enjoy Greg Smallwood’s panel work as well. I love the rigid and boxy comic squares. The lack of overlapping panels is unique and forces readers to really take their time on each image. This structure lends itself extremely well to the captivating events of the story. It’s a new year, but my love for Moon Knight is only growing! – Taylor
Other Reviews:
Dark Horse Comics:
Groo: Friends & Foes #1 – C+
The renowned Sergio Aragones brings us a new Groo story, Groo – Friends & Foes. Now this is the first time I’ve read a Groo book, and I don’t really see the appeal, maybe I’m the wrong audience though. For those who do don’t know, like I didn’t, Groo is a wandering buffoonish swordsman, a parody of characters like Conan the Barbarian. So the story follows his misadventures and misunderstandings. The bottom line is Groo will eventually wreck everything. This issue is essentially about insurance fraud. The art is unique in the way that it’s very much a traditional Sunday funny pages type of art. It’s definitely not what most readers are used to with today’s comics. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its own appeal. The writing is a little off-putting at times; some of the dialogue is very unnatural. Groo isn’t without its charm though. – Scott
DC/Vertigo Comics:
Batman and Robin #38 – A
There is no pain like a child whose dad won’t let me him his brand new super-powers. Personally, I love that the powers that be at DC have allowed Damian Wayne to come back from the dead, and it’s even more interesting that he is now virtually indestructible (I got my fingers crossed for a Damian-Superman showdown!). Writer Peter Tomasi keeps things light-hearted at the beginning when Damian begs his dad to go patrolling with him. What ensues is exactly what you’d expect from a newly-resurrected 10 year old with new super-powers… whatever your standards for that may be. However, the issue takes a deep, reflective route towards the end that are beautifully (and frighteningly) captured by artist Patrick Gleason. One of the best issues of the new year thus far! – Sherif
Batman Eternal #42 – A-
Ladies and gentlemen, Harper Row. Or Bluebird. Either way, Batman’s newest intern is tearing it up! This issue focuses exclusively on the battle to take down Mad Hatter after he brain-washed a large collective of citizens, along with Batgirl, Red Robin and Red Hood. Harper is one smart cookie in terms of tech, and so the way she disposes of the bad guys is impressive – not just for rookie standards, but even for Batman. This book has been the biggest cluster*** of a story I have ever read, but it’s stand-alone issues like this that keep me coming back for more. We still have no idea who the Big Bad is here, and so we keep marching on. – Sherif
Wonder Woman #38 – B+
Things are really heating up in Themyscira as Wonder Woman continues to lose both her people and their confidence in her as a leader. I mean, she did just save everybody from the First Born a few issues ago, but what has she done for them lately? Creatively, I love the direction this book is going in. Artist David Finch continues to bring it with beautiful full-page spreads, and his wife, writer Meredith Finch, is going a great job of keeping the story flowing at a perfect pace. Even though the issue ended on pretty much the exact same note as before, I enjoyed the read throughout. Wonder Woman is going to need to really embrace the power of being a God is she is gonna make any headway as an Amazonian leader. – Sherif
The Kitchen #3 – B-
Thanks to The Kitchen, I now know that you need to puncture the lungs and the stomach before dumping a body in the river, otherwise they will float and there will be bodies everywhere! Also, telling someone that you will cut out their eyeballs and pour bleach in the holes is an empty threat. Did I mention this isn’t a kids comic? Or good to read while you eat (if you have a weak tummy, like me)? While The Kitchen is delightfully brutal (yikes, I think it is delightful? I’m sick), it didn’t move the story along very much other than the three girls now are known to be killers and kind of bad ass. They could also be in a lot of trouble. No one knows. – Adrian
Teen Titans #6 – C+
The new Power Girl just Rick James’d all over the Teen Titans’ couch! I pretty much stopped reading the new Teen Titans after a couple issues because of the excessive bravado and lack of dynamic characters. I had never been so disappointed in Red Robin, and was annoyed that, as cool as Raven looked, she was pretty much just used to get the team places. Enter the new Power Girl, whose emergence came from the pages of World’s Finest a year ago. She tells them straight up that they need to do better as a team, and it was almost a subliminal nob from DC that they have been messing this book up. Teen Titans is not out of the doghouse yet with me, but they’re on the right track. – Sherif
IDW Comics:
Millennium #1 – A
This took me back to my childhood, when I would sit cross-legged on the floor in front of the TV every Friday night watching X-Files and then Millennium and be completely in awe. I loved it then and I love it now. This book made an extremely strong leap back into its storyline and I’m already hooked. Millennium is based on the TV show from the late 90’s that shared the same name. I know not a lot of other people watched it, otherwise it would have stuck around for longer, and without the pre-existing knowledge from that series new readers to this book may be a little lost. My point in all this is that there is a back story to this book that is not covered in the first issue, but don’t rule it out just because of that. The artwork is great, its extremely well-written, creepy, intriguing and will probably have some great scares and twists along the way. I’m very pleased with this book and I can’t wait to read the next one. As a fan of the show, I felt like the story should have kept going, and now the comic is giving it that chance. I predict this will be a complicated series, and missing one issue may completely screw readers, so if you’re a fan of science fiction, conspiracies and you trust no one you should go pick up this book before you miss your chance. – Keriann
TMNT #42 – A-
Finally! We are getting to the point of Shredder vs Krang. The set up is just plain beautiful thanks to the guy who does machines, Donatello. We see the mutanimals, the Foot, and Krang and his army all getting ready for battle… and the issue ends right as the battle starts, which will lead into what is sure to be a great third part for this arc next month. Cory Smith does the art this month and I think he is actually my favorite artist of the series so far. He has a style that is very reminiscent of Santalouco and his usual style for the series, while also harkening back to a lot of other past artists of the series while adding his own flair. The story for this series been consistently been outstanding, and this issue is right there with the rest, showing us all why we have celebrated Turtle Power for over 30 years. This series is one of the best being released now, and I’m not even being biased when I say that. – Jacob
October Faction #4 – B+
This was a good month for October Faction. The story picks straight up in the middle of the living room with the Allen family standing over the body of Cope, the man the father has just shot in front of his children. I have never read a funnier approach to getting rid of a dead body, with such gems as the body smacking into the sides of the hearse upon an attempt to launch it inwards, the father telling his daughter not to be dramatic and then hitting the man over the head with a shovel to ensure he’s actually dead, and a completely emotionless response to justifying murder with an “it was easier to kill him now as opposed to later” approach. Comic relief aside, we finally found out more about Robot Face and his incredibly cool looking family of other part child-part robot people that are kind of reminiscent of the toys Sid got ahold of in Toy Story. Overall, this has been my favorite issue of the series so far because it is really starting to feel like a Steve Niles gem. There’s horror, comedy, monsters and intrigue. I finally feel like this series is taking off in the way I hoped it would. – Keriann
Galaxy Quest: The Journey Continues #1 – B
I like all good people, I love the Galaxy Quest movie. Did I think it needed a story continuation, not really, but I’m happy to read one. Erik Burnham is best known for writing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Ghostbusters. So we know he does action comedy pretty well already. The first issue jumps right in from literally the end of the movie. It turns out the Omega 13 affects more than just people on ship and this causes problems on other worlds. Who knew how important 13 seconds could be? There is a quick character reestablishment which is good if anyone is picking Galaxy Quest up without having already seen the movie, but honestly that probably isn’t many people. I would have liked to see the characters look more like their real life counter parts though. I think it’s a good adaptation and as a fan of the movie I’m looking forward to more issues. – Scott
Star Trek/Planet of the Apes #2 – C+
I have got to be honest here and say as ridiculous as this series sounds, and as bad as “The Primate Directive” title sounds, this series holds its own and gives us an interesting look into these two franchises, showing us exactly why they should meet, but sadly also why they never should at times. So far, we know Klingons are selling Apes advanced weapons (but we don’t know why…yet) and then the Star Trek crew found the humans of this Earth and teamed up with them. I am hoping in the next issue things will start to pick up and get better, I just tend to find it a bit hard to get connected to a story when it starts with a whimper and ends with a bang, which I feel is exactly what this series will do. Unless you know the lore of these two worlds, this may not be the book for you. Its sole purpose is to please the fans. But if you like either franchise give it a read for the nostalgia and the hope to see Captain Kirk say, “Get your hands off me, you damn, dirty ape!” – Jacob
Zombies vs. Robots #1 – C
Zombies are so hyped. And robots are getting that way. Combining the two seems brilliant. And it sort of was. But in general this book was very composition heavy — which isn’t really my deal. The writer, Chris Ryall, does explain that this book starts at the end of the story, but makes it unclear if we will be working backwards or not. Personally, I found the story slightly confusing, but intriguing enough that a read of issue 2 will be necessary. I have a feeling that once this story is told, it will be brilliant, but broken up into separate issues, it could be tedious to get through. – Adrian
Creeple People #1 – D-
Creeple People #1 left me with one mind-boggling question: why do I do these things to myself? Why did I take a chance on a book that seemed like Weird Science meet Ghoulies? Well, actually because that sounds kind of awesome, but this book was in fact not. The dialogue was so bad and the three main characters whose names are, I shit you not, Spigs, Peabo and T-Ray, are so incredibly annoying I can only hope the ghoulies they are bound to create eat their faces. These three are the most unbelievable science geniuses I have ever seen, case in point, “let’s science up” is a direct quote from one of them. This book feels like it couldn’t have been written by someone who knows any less about science. It basically felt like the writers Googled biological regeneration and 3D printing and copy and pasted excerpts from the Wikipedia page straight into the speech bubbles. Oh, and apparently there’s some weird evil spiritual voodoo going on in the bell tower with 666 bells built on top of the remains of a cult massacre on the world’s most unbelievable college campus that has ONLY 3 STUDENTS IN THE ENTIRE SCHOOL WHO ARE SCIENCE MAJORS. Seriously, this book is the worst and you’d be best off avoiding it at all costs. If you have any interest in Creeple People whatsoever I leave you with this snapshot, a direct quote from page 2 “Not another mummified bog person!” Ha. Ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha…what? – Keriann
Image Comics:
Tooth and Claw #3 – A-
The third issue of Tooth and Claw keeps up its interesting world of furry magic and political intrigue with what might be the most beautiful art in any current monthly book. It loses some of its urgency with the appearance if the mythical hero, and the revelation of what he is is maybe a little underwhelming, but this along with Ody-C remains one of the most intriguing books from the most intriguing company. – J.H.
Rise of the Magi #5 – B
This is a first time, in a long time, I feel compelled to contact the people working on this comic just to tell them how much I love it. I am always drawn in and entertained, the art is amazing, and the characters from both Earth and Rune are developing into characters that I care about. Not to mention, I feel it’s messing with fantasy tropes and clichés and I really love them for that. I find myself laughing at my original reaction to the first book. In issue #5, you see how Rune, more than Earth, is feeling the effects of the stolen piece of the orb. Chaos and fighting are breaking out and Asa is barely holding onto his life as goblins slip into man-suits and wage war while the trolls attack in Rune. Also, it seems April has developed a power and I don’t think it’s because of the magical frog. Seems like magic is slipping back into Earth. Looking forward to the next book. This was way too long of a wait. – Jené
Reyn #1 – B-
Reyn is pulled right out of some D&D module from the 90’s. A fantasy realm called Fate that suffered a “Great Cataclysm” was once looked over by a group of warriors called Wardens, now thought to all be dead. SURPRISE! One is still alive and he is constantly having arguments with the deity that only he can hear in his head. There are tyrannical lizard kings, over abundant and zealous town guards and the Followers of Tek a not too favored religion. So far it’s basic fantasy faire with some humor thrown in for good measure. Reyn is a decent pick up for most fantasy fans. Also…..GIANT SPIDERS! – Scott
Marvel/Icon Comics:
Superior Iron Man #4 – A-
While I admit it is pretty difficult to see Tony Stark as a baddie, he is quite the entertaining villain. Tom Taylor does a bang-up job showing how seamlessly one of our favorite superheroes can go from chaotic-good to chaotic-evil (Pardon the D&D lingo but I’ve been playing a lot lately). What I have found to be the most interesting aspect of this series so far is the fact that very few people have even picked up on the sudden personality change of Tony Stark. This is what makes the series so believable to me. Tony is rarely seen as the selfless type, and with a little mind adjustment, we see how easily he can go from helping others to big brother thanks to his likable demeanor and insane gadgets and gizmos. Though it hurts to cheer against Iron Man, I am excited to see where this series goes and how long it takes for the citizens of San Francisco to finally see Tony Stark as the villain. On a side-note, I am delighted to get to know Daredevil over the last four issues. He’s an often overlooked character and it’s always refreshing to get a new face in there. – Jake
Powers #1 – B+
(A) I’ll be honest: I had never heard of Powers before this week. I had no idea the history behind it (see Sherif’s review below), either. However, this book was amazing! It was so good, I plan on going back and catching up from the beginning (since the year 2000!) I was genuinely laughing throughout, even though the story is pretty macabre. Bendis does an amazing job of showing the horror of death and blending it with humor. Powers follows detectives and their investigations into the deaths of people caused by people with “powers.” The latest is by a very wealthy man who killed everyone on his boat. It’s a pretty crazy story. The artwork really sold me, too; it is reminiscent of late 90’s Saturday morning cartoons. However, this is NOT made for children. But adults can rejoice, because there is blood, murder, mayhem, and naked strippers. Whoo! – Adrian
(B-) Let’s start off by assuming I have no idea what this book was about before I picked it up. Then, we’ll say that’s not an assumption, because I really did have no idea. I knew that Brian Michael Bendis (Ultimate Spider-Man) was writing it, and I knew that Playstation was picking up an order for a live-action series of Powers, but that was about it. “Powers” is the term that the world has given to anybody discovered to have… well, powers. The main antagonist is a cop, making this a really interesting detective story. Freedom to write also allows for some really funny cross-publisher references to various well-known super-heroes. I enjoyed this book enough to keep reading, but there wasn’t a whole lot to keep me on the edge of my seat. To be fair, there have been seven volumes of Powers, so suffice to say I am really far behind. – Sherif
Deadpool’s Art of War #4 – B+
In this final issue of Deadpool’s Art of War, we see the most influence from Sun Tzu’s Art of War than any previous issue. The majority of it is covered by lessons of war and has less dialogue and humor from Deadpool. Ultimately, the story was very clever but lacked something I cant really put my finger on. It may be because the source material has been manipulated in every single way possible. Most of my enjoyment from the series was from the cover art because each one is just begging to become a poster to hang on my wall. I would definitely check this series out if you have any idea about Sun Tzu’s Art of War, but a lot of Deadpool fans will find it weak because he is not featured as much as you would think, especially in this last issue. – Jacob
Black Widow #14 – B+
This month’s Black Widow finally picked up the pace! It also happened to be a good place to pick up if you are interested. Natasha has been going after Chaos for a bit, but now has a list. It’s kinda like Kill Bill, but not funny. That isn’t a downfall, Black Widow is not known for it’s wit. The fight scenes were incredible – I would not want to be on Natasha’s “kill list.” Per usual, the art was amazing, and still remains the main reason to read this book. – Adrian
Rocket Raccoon #7 – B+
This series has turned out to be way better than anyone anticipated and it is all because of the creative team. Skottie Young traded in his usual artist credit to become the writer of this issue, while Filipe Andrade does the art. Despite these changes, the book holds up just as well and gives a great story and a new arc for our pint-sized hero and his tree companion. The story puts Groot in a situation he has never been in, and Rocket is trying to bear the freezing cold alone. Definitely pick this issue up if you are a new fan or old of Rocket as this new arc is guaranteed blow you away as much as Rocket would himself. – Jacob
All-New X-Men #35 – B
Aha! Now it’s all starting to make sense. Kinda. Not at all, really. When Marvel announced earlier this week that they would be doing away with separate universes, I had no idea if would be the ripple caused by an unknown mutant girl in All-New X-Men. Nobody is really in their proper place in time or space, and explaining it to non-readers is an exhausting endeavor. However, the story itself is a lot of fun! For the time being, the original X-Men are so cute when paired up with their Ultimate selves. I’m just along for the ride at this point, and have no idea where it is going, but that makes it all the more fun to read. – Sherif
Scarlet Spiders #3 – B
Wow! A lot just happened. The final issue of the Scarlet Spiders mini-series wrapped up with a bang (literally)! The Spider-team has struck a critical blow to the Inheritors, but not without their own loses. The events of the issue were exciting and Jessica Drew’s Ultimate Black Widow spandex suit is still unnecessarily tight (this is not a complaint), but the most appreciable aspect of this issue comes from Mike Costa’s story telling. More so in this issue than the previous two, I felt that the events were very well told. The third person narration and the little insights we get from the thoughts of our cloned heroes make this issue a lot more captivating. By the end of the issue one of the more major Spider-Persons is (seemingly) permanently down for the count. I won’t spoil anything, but I will say that the good guys in this Spider-Verse took event took a big, surprising hit. It’s a crazy way to wrap up a well done mini-series! – Taylor
Amazing Spider-Man #13 – B-
(A) “It’s not the power of the Spider that makes any of us who we are! It’s the will of the man!” Preach Doc Oc, PREACH!! This line from the Superior Spider-Man’s motivational speech really captures the attitude of this issue. The Spider-Verse event has built up to its max. The motivation behind the Inheritor’s plot is revealed and they currently have the lead on the scoreboard. The anticipation for the conclusion is going to drive me mad. I think the worst (best?) part about it is that I can’t predict how all this is going to end. I know it will be epic in scale, there will more death and shocking moments, and all versions of Peter Parker will definitely be cracking jokes. This adventure hasn’t lost any of its allure and I’m definitely not ready for it to end in just one short month. – Taylor
(D) I am so ready for this event to end next month. Events, in general, are not really my thing. Usually, it involves weekly buying multiple books just to get an inch closer to some lame and un-assuming ending that could have taken five-ten issues to explain. Spider-Verse, contrary to my initial excitement, has become no different. I love Spider-Man, and all the subsequent Spider-Mens and Spider-Womens and Spider-anthropomorphic animals, but this story just isn’t doing it for me. Instead, can we Edge of Spider-Verse back to explore mini-stories with each minor character since, ya know, they all get mercilessly slaughtered as a plot point in this cockamamy story. – Sherif
Funniest Panel:
Powers #1
Panel with the Most Awesomeness:
Wonder Woman #38
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, Oni Press, Dynamite Entertainment, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.
Hush Comics 