Comic Book Reviews 04-02-14

Review Scale:

The mythical A+: Classic comic book material. Belongs next to your copy of The Notebook and The Joy of Cooking.

A: Would definitely recommend to all comic book readers. Even more so to fans of the genre or characters

B: Enjoyable read. Fans of the genre or characters will especially like.

C: Non-essential read. Can be enjoyable for fans of the genre or characters, but likely for only one or two events in the books.

D: Unenjoyable book. Read at your own risk. Might find satisfaction if major flaws are overlooked.

F: Please don’t buy this book. Donate your money to a local comic book writer’s workshop instead to inspire future generations to write something better than this trash.

Pick of the Week:

Magneto #2 – A

“Magneto was right.” This is quickly becoming one of my favorite titles. Gabriel Herandez Walta captured something special while illustrating this book. We find Magneto in search of Omega Sentinels, killing all in his path. When he discovers that the homeless are being kidnapped and biologically altered to hunt mutants he has a flashback to Warsaw,1942. The flashback panels are brilliant. I literally got chills reading those pages. We find yet another catalyst for Magneto’s anger when it is revealed that his friend, Levi Weinlaub, and family suffered at the hands of Hilter’s Nazis. When in the company of humans Magneto refers to himself as Max in this book. As a child, Max Eisenhardt was sent to the Auschwitz death camp. He changed his name to Eric Lehnsherr to navigate through the camp to be closer to his true love, a gypsy girl named Magda.  As Max he was weak and fragile. This is interesting because it appears as if he is identifying himself as the powerless. This book flowed well, and the reader can follow along with minimal backstory. OMG, the scene with the nails is a MUST SEE! Magneto’s new purpose seems to be focused on righting the wrongs of the past. I give this title an emphatic two thumbs up!  – JS

Marvel has finally found Magneto’s voice in the new Marvel.NOW world. He’s broken-down, tired, and fucking ruthless; this isn’t your father’s Magneto. The best part is, his powers aren’t even back to full strength – a point that serves to show just how frighteningly powerful he is. Magneto‘s writer Cullen Bunn does a commendable job on this book. We’ve started off with different accounts of Magnus Meltdowns, just to add to the effect that this guy is absolutely terrifying, and it works so well. I also love the flashbacks to Nazi Germany and how it turned Erik into a monster. This book has shot straight up my list of favorites, and I can’t wait to see where this book takes us. – S

Other Reviews:

BOOM! Studios:

Dead Letters #1 – B-

A man wakes up in a shady motel room and remembers nothing.  Not his name, not how he got there, not even what he had for lunch.  The one thing he does remember is that he’s no stranger to violence or action.  Sounds totally Bourne Identity, right?  Dead Letters #1 certainly starts out that way but ends in M. Night Shyamalan fashion.  I’m talking The Six Sense Shyamalan… Not the The Happening version.  Had it not been for this crazy twist, I would have just as soon written this series off.  This is one to keep your eye on; its’ bound to surprise and entertain. – T

Dark Horse Comics:

Terminator Salvation: The Final Battle #5 – B+

This issue was loaded with nostalgic moments from the history of the series. We actually get to see the original terminator being sent back along with Kyle Reese being sent back as well. There are obviously a few changes that have been made due to the continuity having changed. It seems as though everything is still going according to plan but with a slight twist. There are few variables that are going to change how we get to the end, but ultimately it should turn out similar to the explanations we are given in the film. With each issue that passes, I get more and more excited to find out how everything comes to an end. – R

Veil #2 – B-

The crazy lady with the weird powers is back. Dante is still stuck in the middle of it all, trying to play protector to some weird bio-weapon lady. There are some new elements that open up possibilities, but it ends up creating more questions than it does answering. I love the direction that the series is going in, even if it’s a tad creepy. The art is soft and the color art is crazy good. There’s something about a woman who mutilates sexual assaulters that really intrigues me – call me old-fashioned. There’s a difference between stalling and feeding the story to the readers, and Veil is doing a great job of the latter. – S

Edgar Allen Poe’s The Premature Burial – C

This one-shot comic combines two of Edgar Allen Poe’s tales, including The Premature Burial and The Cask of Amontillado. Both of these stories seem to be told by an original character named Mag the Hag. With anything by Edgar Allen Poe, you are assured a very dark and demented story filled with nasty people and often times nasty deaths. These two stories are nothing short of classic Poe and the artwork provide for them add to the already creepy nature of the short stories. The first story, The Premature Burial, follows a man who tries to kill a woman and desecrate her corpse only to end up finding the end he tried to produce for the woman in being buried alive. The second story, The Cask of Amontillado, is about a man who is taking a woman down to his vaults to tell her why her husband has been missing for years only to tell her that he killed him and trapped him in a wall. After he has told the woman of his actions and she runs off, the man dies himself next to the man he trapped so many years ago. Definitely two creepy stories and a must have issue for any Poe fan. If you do not know Poe’s work you may find this a little off putting as the stories are very dark and the artwork even made me shiver once of twice. – JR

DC/Vertigo:

Batman: Detective Comics #30 – B+

Oh, the wonders of a new creative team. After Gothtopia, Detective Comics‘ latest arc, the series was running on fumes. It had lost its flavor and much of its audience. However, this new creative team of Brian Buccellato (writing) and Francis Manapul (art) has breathed new life into the series. We start the Icarus arc with big panel art and some sweet action scenes of Batman. It looks like Batman will be taking on a street drug that sets people on fire! Like, full-blown Richard Pryor. I’m curious to see if they go back to Bat’s roots or will fall back on some big baddie to carry the arc. I’m hoping that the series takes some risk and starts all over, because more of this and I’ll be addicted. – S

Trillium #8 – B

This was the final issue of Jeff Lemire’s Trillium. There was a lot of confusion leading up to this issue, and I was unsure of how Lemire was going to wrap it up. I suppose it wasn’t as confusing as I made it out to be, because it’s wrapped up in the first ten pages. However, the main focus of the story is of the romance of Nika and Billy. We get more heartbreak and despair, too. Lemire really brings his A game with the art; there are several full-page panels that really make the book. Overall, Trillium made less sense than I wanted it to, but it took me on a fantastical journey to show us that we are not alone in this universe. – S

Green Arrow #30 – B

Things have begun to get a little crazy with the second to last issue of The Outsider Wars. The mystery of Oliver Queens’s death from last issue was solved and I must say that I was pretty surprised with how they pulled it off. I don’t particularly like the way that they ended this issue though. They spent all this time with the buildup to only abruptly end things in what can only be described as unsatisfying. Of course nothing is final seeing how the last issue ended and this one begins. The art for the whole Outsider War has left much to be desired as far as I’m concerned but it certainly isn’t the worst art I’ve ever seen. I am more interested to see what is coming next after this whole war as opposed to the end of this particular story arc. – R

Aquaman and the Others #1 – D

This has got to be the lamest bunch superheroes I have ever seen. So far, I haven’t seen a single interesting thing about any of The Others. I actually didn’t even know they were a team until last week. The art just as great as the regular Aquaman book, but it still can’t save the bland characters with almost no unique personalities. This issue also felt extremely short and there was barely any buildup to whatever story arc they are beginning. They barely took the time to properly introduce the main cast with each getting a few pages and absolutely no backstory. I don’t know where they are going with this publication but I am willing to give it ten issues before I kick it to the curb – if it lasts that long. – R

IDW Comics:

Monster and Madmen – C+

In the second part of this three-issue series, we learn a little more about the Madman, Jack the Ripper, and his intentions. We see Frankenstein’s monster wander off around the city trying to figure out what has happened since he awoke and he becomes enthralled with the people and buildings around the city. All is fine and he is going around unnoticed until a prostitute offer him her services and the horrified and horrifying look he gives her makes her scream in fear causing people to chase him only for him to find his way back to the Doctor who saved him from the beach in the first issue. We learn this man is Joh Moore and that he has an almost unhealthy obsession with the Monster. Dr. Moore offer the Monster his home and tells him that if he stays and lets him examine him that he will make the Monster a companion to help heal his lonely heart. After the Monster agrees to stay we see the Doctor go out on the town and pick up a woman whom we can only assume will receive the wraith we all know Jack the Ripper is known for. A very entertaining and artistically entertaining series continues to put a good twist on two famous stories. Anybody who enjoys either story or monster movies in general will enjoy this issue and hopefully in the next and last issue we will have a good wrap up of the series. – JR

Image Comics:

Black Science #5 – A

Just when you thought a story involving multidimensional travel to interwoven layers of realities and universes couldn’t get more complex, Black Science #5 enters the scene to roundhouse kick you to the face.  One of the best kicks I’ve ever received.  A whole new dynamic enters the plot this week and it breathes vibrant life into an already thriving series.  Remender knows what he’s doing.  I really applaud the way he drops a new and compounded concept on readers without making it confusing or seem out of place.  On par with the plot is still the artwork – environments are so intricately detailed!  Everything about this series is well managed and super creative. If you haven’t started, please pretty PLEASE start reading Black Science. – T

’68 Rule of War #1 – A

I really enjoyed this issue. With a familiar, yet new take on the world of zombies, this story has some interesting twists to it. I really was interested in this story from the get go, with the mystery behind what is happening and the various stories lines I could see crossing paths, I’m happy I got the chance to read this new book and I look forward to future issues. If you get a chance to read this book or you are a big zombie fan, check it out for sure. – E

Marvel:

Moon Knight #2 – A

I’ve been reviewing comics for a very short time now, but I’m finally starting to hit my groove.  Know how?  I’ve discovered my first real pet-peeve with comics!  It’s when issue #2 drops and it’s everything that should have been issue #1!!  Moon Knight #2 hits this mark square in the face.  I guess in the way of pet-peeves, this is a good one to have.  People – if you were only mildly impressed by Moon Knight #1 (like me) be sure to shake the feeling and grab a copy of #2 right now!  Panel to panel, this issue was flat out awesome.  The outstanding quality of #2 resides in the fact that no major or significant plot development occur.  There’s almost no dialogue and you don’t really know what’s happening until the end.  You might read those last few sentences and think I’m on crack.  Rest assured – I only sniff magic (markers).  The story is a one-and-done, but is executed flawlessly and is visually stunning the whole way through.  I can now start buying into the hype that Moon Knight is a keeper.  – T

Ultimate Spider-Man #200 – A-

If you have been following Ultimate Spider-Man, you know that the Ultimate Peter Parker has been dead for two years (SPOILER!). This issue, more than anything, is a love letter to Peter Parker and all the iterations of his kind. As all the big names come back for a wake in Parker’s honor, we get a recap of all the crazy adventures they went through together. It was really neat to get an inside look at how others felt about their relationship with Spider-Man, and does a solid job of explaining all the characters and relationships you may not know. If you’re not a Spider-Man fan – or you lack a heart – it can bore you. However, the full page spreads of various Spider-Men is something to behold. By the time you’re done reading this, you will have had a great session in nostalgia, or you will go buy the entire catalog of Ultimate Spider-Man. – S

The Punisher #4 – B+

I really like this entire arc of the Punisher. It is action-packed, stays true to the character, and has a story-line that is intriguing enough to keep me entertained. With moderate story progression this week, I can’t put much effort into figuring out what is brewing; however, I hope it will be exciting. This book is fun to read, and I really do enjoy reading this comic. – E

Black Widow #5 – B-

After four issues of what could be considered one-shots, the fifth issue is finally able to build a continuous story. The idea that a spy should trust her gut over intel rings true for Natasha, as it gets her into one sticky situation. Phil Noto’s art, as always, is worth the price of admission alone. I like that the story is finally moving forward, but I can’t help but feel that, five issues in, the book has lost a bit of its luster to me. It will take some really good story-telling to pull me back in the way I originally felt about it. That being said, an espionage book written about an Avenger is enough of an original idea to get me to keep reading, and Natasha Romanov is one of the most bad-ass characters in the Marvel world. Let’s hope this snowball keeps rolling downhill. – S

Loki: Agent of Asgard #3 – B-

I thought the story that was being told was pretty cool. I have a pretty good idea of where this story is going, but it is really nice to see how Loki is manipulating things for the purpose to gain his objective. I really liked the way the story is told in this issue. With most of it being a narrative, I felt like I was watching a movie about major or even a fairy tale, and honestly, that wouldn’t be far off from the truth. All the mysticism and dragons make this a tale worthy of Midgard. – E

Deadpool vs. Carnage #1 – C+

This issue marks the start to another almost guaranteed enjoyable Deadpool series. We learn that Cletus Kasady/ Carnage has escaped from prison and has been traveling across America killing as many people as he can. Deadpool sees this on the news while watching T.V. and after a classic Deadpool scene where he tries figure out what he should do with his life, he heads after Carnage figuring he is the only one crazy enough to be able to catch him and bring him to whatever kind of justice Deadpool brings. This first issue packs the kind of violence we would assume would come from not just a Deadpool book but from Carnage as well and of course has the same wit and humor that always comes with our favorite Merc with the Mouth. The issue ends on a semi cliffhanger and the sight of a smaller Villainess from the Spiderman universe known as Shriek. This series is bound to be entertaining for Deadpool alone, but I am excited to see where it goes and how these two will continue their battle. – JR

The Merc With the Purdy Mouth faces off with Carnage. We don’t know why;  Deadpool actually gets the “epiphany” from watching television. There’s not even an attempt at cohesion here – like most things Deadpool. There is some clever writing, but I didn’t see the point to any of it – and the issue was quickly forgotten after the last page was turned. The name of the series is enough to sell the mini-series, but any more bland issues like this and I don’t think I’ll be able to keep going. Here’s to hoping this issue lives up to at least a little of its potential. – S

Inhuman #1 – C

Don’t get me wrong, I like Charles Soule’s writing. I truly enjoyed last year’s Superman/Wonder Woman run from D.C. Comics. But Inhumans #1 was a difficult read. Unless you have a pretty extensive knowledge of The Kree, (an alien race at odds with the Skrulls and responsible for bio-engineering super-sapiens here on earth), Black Bolt and Terrigen technology, you are going to be lost. There is a ton of unnecessary dialog in this book, so much so that it seems forced. I know, I know, I’ve complained before about the lack of writing in some titles, but this book couldn’t find a healthy balance between the art and the story. The panels are vibrant, shout out Joe Madureira, but at points it seemed like the art and story were fighting for the readers attention. Now, with that being said, I am semi-excited for this title. If you have been following the incredible Ms. Marvel book, you will be pleasantly surprised that we start Inhuman following the Terrigen storm in New York; can we say “crossover?” Overall, great art, too much info in the story for a first issue. There is, however, a pretty cool Stark Industries Easter Egg at the end, though. – JS

 

GPA by Publisher:

DC Comics: 3 B’s and 1 D, averaging out to a 2.5

Marvel Comics: 3 A’s, 3 B’s and 2 C’s, averaging out to a 3.13

Independents: 2 A’s, 3 B’s and 2 C’s, averaging out to a 3.00

That about wraps it up for our reviews this week! Look for next week’s previews coming soon. Any comic books you didn’t see reviewed that you want reviewed? Any grades you didn’t agree on? Let us know in the comments!

All images taken from ComiXology app and the credit for them goes to the respective publishers; thanks to IDW Comics, Image Comics, Dark Horse, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.

Written by Sherif Elkhatib, Evan Lowe, Adrian Puryear, Taylor Lowe, Robert Michael, John Soweto and Jacob Robinson

Comic Book Reviews 03-05-14

Review Scale:

The mythical A+: Classic comic book material. Belongs next to your copy of The Notebook and The Joy of Cooking.

A: Would definitely recommend to all comic book readers. Even more so to fans of the genre or characters

B: Enjoyable read. Fans of the genre or characters will especially like.

C: Non-essential read. Can be enjoyable for fans of the genre or characters, but likely for only one or two events in the books.

D: Unenjoyable book. Read at your own risk. Might find satisfaction if major flaws are overlooked.

F: Please don’t buy this book. Donate your money to a local comic book writer’s workshop instead to inspire future generations to write something better than this trash.

Pick of the Week:

Starlight #1 – A

Starlight, the new series by MillarWorld, was a surprising hit for me.  Written by the legendary Mark Millar (of Kick-Ass fame) and drawn by Goran Parlov, Starlight follows a man named Duke who is going through a hard time.  His wife dies in their 38th year of marriage, his sons aren’t very good to him, and on top of it, kids in the grocery store make fun of him.  Why?  Because when he was an astronaut, he ended up on another planet and saved the aliens who lived there from a dictator.  Not only was the story incredibly intriguing, but it is crazy amazing artwork.  It reminded me of a 60’s vibe with modern day coloring.  The story stayed fresh by bouncing around in timelines, but was never confusing.  And the thought of going into outer space is pretty normal for mere humans, but saving a planet is pretty cool.  And the reality that if you come back to Earth and tell people, they are going to think you are a tad out of orbit.  The quips were funny and the ending made me wanting more.  Starlight is one of the best #1’s I have read in a while. – A

Other Reviews:

Dark Horse Comics:

The Veil #1 – B-

Not every day that a crazy naked lady shows up in the city. And it’s even less likely that this lady has powers to manipulate people who threaten her into killing themselves. It’s pretty much all we get out of the debut, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. There’s plenty of intrigue surrounding this issue. Who is Veil, and why does she play the name game? It has more of a horror vibe than an action movie, as Veil is frightening. After knowing nothing going in, I’m excited to see more of her secret origin revealed. – S

DC/Vertigo:

Forever Evil #6 – A-

Holy crap! I never saw that one coming. I was pretty afraid to read this past issue of Forever Evil, as it’s been rumored that it will end with the death of Dick Grayson. I’m still scared out of my damn mind, but not for the same reason. Without giving away too much detail, just know that the Earth 3’s version of Shazam! has yet to be revealed. It’s gonna lead to some craziness in the finale. That being said, the whole issue read like the epic gun battle in Wanted. You just knew something bad was going to happen, and it was like I was hyper-ventilating through the whole thing. We do finally get a well-deserved beat-down of the Syndicate. After a methodically slower first five issues, my eyes could barely keep up with my hands on this issue. With Geoff Johns putting outstanding work into everything he does, he can do whatever he wants to Dick Grayson… Okay, not really, I will freak the f*** out if Nightwing dies! There are tons of spoilers to be had, and it’s hard for me to keep my mouth shut, so I will end this review by imploring you to read Forever Evil. – S

Batman/Superman Annual #1 – B+

The most interesting part of this story is the contrast between Supes and Bats and the way that they approach things mentally. Superman’s family is full of people that are super powered and when it comes to choosing who to include on his team, their safety isn’t really the first concern. Batman, on the other hand, has to worry about everyone from his camp not only because they are human, but because they have all suffered some greater tragedy in their own major storylines. At the end of the day, however, this story isn’t so much about the ever looming threat of the earth being destroyed as it is about the relationships that have formed between these heroes despite everything. At the end of the day, both of these Leaders have suffered major losses in their camps and it is ultimately one of the things that makes them such a great team. – R

Trillium #7 – B+

Jeff Lemire, you crazy bastard, you’ve done it again! Everybody’s favorite space love story is back. Not just back for the month, but back at the top of my list of weird comics I love. After a confusing stretch of upside-down, round-and-round page-flipping issues, Trillium is finally starting to culminate  into… well, I still don’t quite know. What I do know, is that Nika and William, and the rest of the world, are going to be in deep doo doo if they don’t save the day. The Caul, the infectious disease wiping out the whole planet, can only be stopped with the Trillium flower. I’m nervous for the fate of humanity in the finale issue, but I know Lemire will blow it out of the water. – S

Green Arrow #29 – B

The Outsiders War has been the best arc of the series thus far, by a long shot. We’ve been introduced to different tribes, all represented by a different weapon and a style that personifies said weapon. A lot is happening in this issue, but the drawn out dialog between Arrow’s back-ups is a bit lengthy. Another issue down, another There’s some real drama brewing between Komodo and Emiko, and Ollie ends up being the one catching the collateral. The ending is shocking, but it happened so abruptly that I’m still not sure if it even happened. Definitely check back in for issue #30 to find out what the hell just happened. – S

Forever Evil: Arkham War #6 – B

Bane proves time and time again that he is the baddest rogue in the gallery. While Batman is off saving the world, all the villains in Gotham have run rampant, with the big, bad Bane staking his claim over the city. Inch by inch, Bane has backed them all into a corner – until the Riddler was desperate (although not in his eyes, because he’s a genius, duh) enough to give everybody Venom to defeat Bane. Hardcore fans will remember that Venom is a temporary drug, and the effects of having done the drug are crippling. I suppose Nygma should have done his homework. It’s a great issue about Bane (#6 was even better!), and I can’t wait to see how Forever Evil: Arkham War wraps up. – S

Batman: Detectve Comics #29 – B-

Batman is, by and large, the most popular character in DC Comics. There are nearly ten books in the line-up dedicated to him and his Gotham City cohorts, and seven (Batman, Dark Knight, Detective, Batman/Superman, Batman ’66, Batman & ___,  and the upcoming Eternal) with his name on it. The challenge of keeping these books fresh is coming up with different angles. Batman: Detective Comics has succeeded tremendously into really diving into the detective work with the Gothtopia arc. Devising schemes and synthesizing antidotes, the science aspect really contributes to making an otherwise unimpressive book into a Sherlock Holmes-worthy triumph. For the first time in the New 52 Detective Comics, I’m excited for what comes next – S

Dynamite Entertainment:

TurokL Dinosaur Hunter #2 – B-

This time around we are blessed with a little more action which is a nice change of pace. I’m not really sure if I am thrilled about the whole crusaders with dinosaur’s thing. It really seems to take away from what Turok was originally about. Unfortunately if you take the crusaders out of the picture you really don’t have a story, so I am left with mixed feelings about the series so far. I hope that they have a clear purpose with where they are taking this story and only time will tell.

Image Comics:

Burn the Orphanage: Born to Lose #3 – D+

Okay, so somebody’s got to be pulling my leg, right? Just a week ago I was boasting that this was one of the best independent books on the market. It’s over-the-top fight scenes and 90’s video-game satire made the first two issues very enjoyable, but the third (and final) issue of this chapter fell flatter than a Street Fighter II character model. The folly of Burn the Orphanage is that, even though it may create intrigue, develop characters and find an identity, it fails to put it all together in any meaningful way. It spends a good chunk of the “finale” not even talking about Rock (the main character). The weak ending didn’t want to make me stop buying the books, but I hope they step their game up for Reign of Terror. – S

Marvel:

Magneto #1 – A

Poor Magneto, all he’s ever wanted to do is liberate the mutant race. Since his departure from the rest of the Uncanny X-Men, he’s been seeking to do just that, but on his own terms. Luckily for readers, that means blowing things up, murdering degenerates and a whole lot of metal bending. The way he’s tracking down these enemies of the mutant population is COLD. BLOODED. It’s like what would happen if Robert Duvall played Denzel Washington’s character in Man on Fire.

Moon Knight #1 – A-

You know how Batman loves to lurk in the shadows and cloak himself with the blackness of night?  Think of the awesomeness of the Dark Knight and now pretend that he wore a blinding white suit of armor instead of the pitch black cowl.  That’s what you get with Moon Knight (except he doesn’t wear armor and isn’t quuuite as cool as Batman – but he is pretty BA).  Issue #1 of this series gives me a few mixed feelings.  Warren Ellis’ (writer) opening book teeters on the edge of cliché and creative.  “Mr. Knight,” as he is called in the issue, has a backstory that left me confused, but also extremely intrigued – typically a good combo. The art in the issue was also amazing; the use of the surrounding colors to highlight Moon Knight’s pure white statue.  It wrapped up in a bang that guaranteed my purchase of issue #2.  I’m anxious to see what else Mr. Knight can do. – T

The Uncanny X-Men #19 – B+

With all the hoopla about Jean Grey and the original X-Men team in space, I haven’t had a second to think about how Scott Summers would feel about losing his beloved Jeannie again. This issue covers that, and more. The most noticeable thing about this book is the frantic artwork. I don’t mean frantic in a bad way – the raw character design and panel separation is an acute reflection of the rage and confusion going on in Cyclops’ head. More than a year removed from the tragic death of Professor X, Kitty Pryde gets her feelings off her chest; it comes off a bit cheesy, but I can give it a pass. My favorite moment is the awkward bonding between Cyclops and his younger self. We know there’s nothing that can separate Summers from Grey, so I can’t wait to see what the world’s greatest mutant threat will do to get her back. – S

Loki: Agent of Asgard #2 – B+

Loki goes speed dating!  That should be all the convincing you need to pick up this issue.  While the mainline of Loki: Agent of Asgard has me all kinds of confused, the issue focused plot is excellent.  This is one of those purely “fun” books to read.  The trickster god is a great story teller and his antics are endless.  The lead supporting character also adds a lot of value to this issue.  If you want to see how a lovely lady with the power to tell when someone is lying behaves during a speed dating session, you definitely need to snag this issue.  It’s hilarious.  Furthermore – I just cannot get enough of that Nordic style font.  It makes me feel so much more sophisticated in my comic book reading.  If you haven’t, you definitely need to try it out. – S

The Punisher #3 – B-

Punisher has gotten off to a great start. Explosive, violent and dry assassin humor splatter the pages like a well-placed headshot. The story is building towards something, but it has yet to reveal itself. I love action in my Punisher books, but if you’re gonna use Die Hard as your inspiration, there needs to be more plot development. The addition of Electro in his new variation was pretty cool, and of course the action scenes were man-gasmic, but after I put the book down, I gave little thought to it until I started my review. I want a book I can brag to my friends about; Punisher did that the first few issues, so I know it’s capable of giving it to us. – S

Wolverine & The X-Men #1 – C+

Warning folks – this review comes from a reader whose last X-Men comic adventure was Avengers vs. X-Men.  Some time and critical events have passed since that time and it’s obvious they are crucial to the story.  Take my critique with a grain of salt!  I’ll start by saying the artwork is beautiful in Wolverine & The X-Men.  Mahmud Asrar (artist) and Israel Silva (color artist) kill it on the environment and action panels.  Focus is placed on The Jean Grey School for Higher Learning along with its instructors and gifted students.  Roughly 90% of the highlighted characters are of a newer generation of X-Men.  I’ve already got special feelings for Eye Boy and Nature Girl.  And the OG X-Men are still holding it down – especially Storm and her rockin’ mohawk.  I’m not 100% committed to the series yet, but that’s only because I’m behind!  If nothing else, Wolverine & The X-Men #1 has kicked me into gear to catch up so I can get the full effect awesomeness in the next issue! – T

She-Hulk #2 – C

This month’s issue of She-Hulk was scattered.  The story was mostly filler.  To recap from issue #1, Jennifer Walters, an attorney, is fired from her job, takes on a case pro bono against Tony Stark, gets paid anyway and then opens her own law office.  This month, she hires an assistant with a monkey, gets drunk with Hellcat, fights S.H.I.E.L.D. and then is commissioned by Victor Von Doom’s son.  See?  Scattered.  There seemed to be no point to it.  Not that every book has to have a point, but the only memorable moment was the assistant bringing her monkey everywhere.  Unfortunately, that doesn’t make it a great story.  I look forward to future She-Hulk’s, but if the story doesn’t go anywhere, it may not last long. – A

Night of the Living Deadpool #4 – D

I think we all knew this moment was coming. Night of the Living Deadpool has been cliché from the start. Parodying several popular zombie books, there was never really anything that made the mini-series live up to its potential. There were the occasional chuckle-able jokes and some zombie massacring every once in a while, but, ultimately, Night of the Living Deadpool falls short where most Deadpool books do. There was simply nothing to glue the story together and make it seem like there was any reason to exist in the first place. I’m not bitter about it, as my expectations were in line from the start, but anybody looking to find a mini-series with more value than the play on words in the title will probably be disappointed – S

GPA by Publisher:

DC Comics: 1 A and 5 B’s, averaging out to a 3.17

Marvel Comics: 2 A’s, 3 B’s, 2 C’s and 1 D, averaging out to a 2.75

Independents: 1 A, 2 B’s and 1 D, averaging out to a 2.76

That about wraps it up for our reviews this week! Look for next week’s previews coming soon. Any comic books you didn’t see reviewed that you want reviewed? Any grades you didn’t agree on? Let us know in the comments!

All images taken from ComiXology app and the credit for them goes to the respective publishers; thanks to IDW Comics, image Comics, Dark Horse, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.

Written by Sherif Elkhatib, Adrian Puryear, Taylor Lowe and Robert Michael

Comic Book Reviews 02-19-14

Review Scale:

The mythical A+: Classic comic book material. Belongs next to your copy of The Notebook and The Joy of Cooking.

A: Would definitely recommend to all comic book readers. Even more so to fans of the genre or characters

B: Enjoyable read. Fans of the genre or characters will especially like.

C: Non-essential read. Can be enjoyable for fans of the genre or characters, but likely for only one or two events in the books.

D: Unenjoyable book. Read at your own risk. Might find satisfaction if major flaws are overlooked.

F: Please don’t buy this book. Donate your money to a local comic book writer’s workshop instead to inspire future generations to write something better than this trash.

Pick of the Week:

Wonder Woman #28 – A-

This latest arc of Brian Azzarello’s Wonder Woman can be summed up in one word – EPIC. All I’ve ever wanted to see is Zeus’ first born tangle with the interim king of Olympus, Apollo. The use of Greek mythology, both public domain and vastly abundant in characters, has held my interest strongly the entire series. Wonder Woman herself is as bad-ass and beautifully-drawn as ever. The best part about her character in this series is that she isn’t just an inspiration to girls; her strength resonates in women and men alike. There is an epic God of War 3-esque build-up happening for the throne of Olympus, and you can’t help feel bad for First Born. I love this series because it feels so much more like a frozen movie than a book, a uniqueness that has made this a series in a league of its own. – S

Other Reviews:

DC/Vertigo:

Justice League #28 – B+

I don’t know how Geoff Johns did it, but he managed to make the Metal Men cool and modern. Sentient androids created from metal alloys, the Metal Men have been around for over fifty years. This iteration shows them as selfless heroes that Cyborg is trying to recruit to take on the Syndicate. They all play off each other well, and are given personalities that match the alloy; for example, Gold is the flashy self-absorbed one, Mercury is the hot-head, etc. The entire issue is full of silly banter that kind of makes the reader forget that the Justice League arc is smack-dab in the middle of a global takeover. I’m curious to see how Cyborg can rally the Metal Men. Alone, this issue was quite enjoyable, but I’m not too sure that it’s anything more than novelty.  – S

Supergirl #28 – C

I won’t lie, this series had me at “hormonal Kyrptonian girl with a Red Lantern ring.” For those of us just joining the show, Supergirl had incorrectly thought that she killed Lobo (not the Bastich we remember, but a new skinner Lobo). As the awakened Lobo tries to calm Kara down, and even get her to join the bounty hunter, which would have made for a great story arc on its own. Supergirl, predictably, reacts to the situation like any hysterical teenager would, by punching and yelling. It’s become a tiresome pattern with her, and I was really hoping for some sort of emotional connection with her transformation, similar to the way they did with Rankorr in Red Lantern #5. But what really annoyed me about the issue is that the whole reveal that we were waiting for doesn’t happen until the very last panel, and that everything leading up to it was filler. Supergirl #28 is a taste of good things to come, but I feel it was introduced pretty poorly. – S

Harley Quinn #3 – C-

There comes a certain time in a new comic book that the novelty wears off and you expect an actual story to form. In Harley Quinn, that point was somewhere around the middle of issue #2. There’s plenty of things happening in this issue, but just like the puppies Harley is caring for, this issue chases its own tail the entire time. I really had high hopes for this series going in, and I still think Harley is capable of carrying her title, but taking a vacation from writing just to put out a throwaway Valentine’s Day issue. I’m not breaking up with Harley Quinn, but we’re definitely on a break. – S

Dark Horse Comics:

Terminator – Enemy of My Enemy #1 – A-

I really enjoyed this book and being a major fan of the films, would have thought it impossible to find a female lead that is more of a bad ass than Sarah Connor. Not only is the new lead more of a bad ass, she is able to go toe to toe with the T-800. That’s pretty much unheard of for any human in the current lore. Not much has been stated about the story other than there is no Kyle Reese and there is a woman the terminator is after. Other than that we are left guessing what is next and why this is happening. I’m not sure if this is supposed to be the same continuity as Sarah Connors story or if it is supposed to be an alternate universe. Either way, this was a very enjoyable first issue; things started off with a bang and it doesn’t seem like it will be slowing down from here on out.  – R

Star Wars: Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows #3 – B+

Cry of Shadow’s #3 is everything that should have been issue #1.  From first panel to last panel I was completely engaged in the story of CT-5539 aka Hock Malsuum and his connection to Darth Vader.  The insight readers receive in issues #1 & #2 verge on being pointless in the context of “The Shrouded Offensive,” the focus of this issue.  Hock’s first person narrative does a lot for Cry of Shadows.  Anticipation and suspense is really starting to build and for the first time in some months I’m really interested in what will happen next in a Star Wars series.  The Vader and Hock dynamic promises to be very different (and more exciting) that the typical Dark Lord-Stromtrooper combo.  Next issue is wide open for deeper developments and continued great story telling.  Cry of Shadows will definitely be my first read next month! – T

IDW Comics:

X-Files Conspiracy: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1 – B-

This new resurgence of the X-Files has been quite interesting. Following up January’s Ghostbuster issue (and preceding next month’s Transformers), the TMNT issue has government agents searching for the exploits of the turtles in Northampton as vampires attack. More than anything, it’s nice to see the turtles having fun. The ongoing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series is my favorite out right now, but it’s nice to see them take a break to crack jokes and fight ridiculous bad guys. The art in this issue, which focuses on shading a lot more than the ongoing series, and it’s a nice change of pace. It might be the vampires, but the humor remind me a lot of Joss Whedon’s style. So before I go off on my fanboy fantasy of a Whedon-created TMNT, I will say that this issue was a nice diversion – and an incredibly original idea to use other IDW staples to investigate via X-Files, but not much more. Also, when’s the last time you’ve read the word “Nincompoop” in a comic book? – S

Image Comics:

Undertow #1 – C

Image published a new series titled Undertow this week that explores a really neat concept – reverse scuba divers!  Fish people from under the sea.  Not mermaids and mermen though.  These underwater dwellers have two arms, two legs and gills.  Not to mention they live in Atlantis!  And when a group of these Atlantians get the hankering for adventure they dawn scuba suits filled with water and explore the dry surface shores and landscapes.  With the use of flying crafts that accommodate whole cities and other advanced gadgetry the explorers study pre-developed and conscientious humans and other creatures that live off oxygen.  The ultimate goal is to find a way or method that will allow the gill-bearing society to also breathe the O2 and “free” themselves.  Doesn’t all that sound awesome?  I thought so too, until I read the issue.  As an engineer by trade, I’m often given a hard time by other coworkers for turning something really simple into something really complex.  In that sense – I empathize with Steve Orlando (author) and his intention with this story.  For a premier issue, Undertow was overwhelming and downright tiring to read.  Plot building content was so scattered and choppy that I was lost before I started.  It wasn’t even until the very last panel that I saw a real story begin to develop.  I get the feeling that Undertow may be one of those series you wait to buy when it comes out in trade paperback format.  We’ll let you know if issue #2 is any better. – S

 

Marvel:

Daredevil #36 – A-

We’ve made it to the end of this chapter in Daredevil, but don’t be sad, because Marvel is finding it necessary to reboot everything in the line-up to attract new readers. In all honesty, though, this was a great place to wrap up this volume of Daredevil. The fight against the Sons of the Serpents is culminating and there is a definite change about to happen in Matt Murdock’s life. It’s not quite the epic conclusion that I was hoping for, but it was still a great send-off that has Daredevil, as Notorious B.I.G. said, “Going Back to Cali.” Should we be so lucky that Mark Waid continues to write for Daredevil, I will continue to read the book enthusiastically. – S

The Punisher #2 – B+

Another great issue to read for you Punisher fans out there in the world. What I really love about this comic is that it stays true to the character. They don’t try to put some different spin or twist on Frank Castle but rather, he is the same good old bad-ass in boots. With this comic, I can see the story development at just the right pace, and the introduction of some familiar characters gets me really excited to see how this story-line is going to progress. The way the panels are set up and the constant action that is happening, I feel like I’m watching an explosive action movie right before my eyes. Even though there weren’t tons of explosions or crocodiles in this issue, it was still really great to see the action that came in this comic…BOOM Head Shot!! Yeah there some of that in this book. Overall, I am very pleased with how this story is progressing and look forward to reading the next issue. – E

Uncanny X-Men #17 – B+

Yeah, so the next time you decide to go on location, do not visit the Savage Land. The Savage Land is some scary stuff, and that is just where Magik decides to drop off the new rectuits for field training. I do want to ask how Google Maps works out there, but there are more pressing matters at hand. The horrid environment makes for some great humor, as the naivity of the students and some exceptional writing by Brian Michael Bendis creates for some golden moments. The new recruits are becoming highly likable, but Cyclops is eager to let his team know that they are serious about the mission they are embarking. Uncanny X-Men #17 was a rapidly-paced issue, which had both positive and negative effect on the reader. This high-octane laugh riot is definitely worth your time and money. – S

Dexter Down Under #1 – B+

My only gripe with this first issue, other than the fact that Dexter doesn’t slab anyone up, is that I cant stop picturing Michael C. Hall every time I look at Dexter’s face. This is a continuation or possibly a shoot off from the books from what I can tell. I won’t be sure until they reveal a little bit more of the story. This is a perfect way for people who want more Dexter after the recent ending of the show. I personally hated the way the last season of Dexter ended so this is a perfect opportunity to get that outta my mind and hopefully leave me with something better to remember. Nothing major happens story-wise which is to be expected but is still a little on the disappointing side just because I am used to at least one thing happening every episode. Being a major fan of Dexter I am looking forward to his first trip down under. – R

Marvel Knights: Hulk #3 – B

I may be a little biased this week, just because I am a big Hulk fan, but I love to see the raw power out of the Hulk and we sure get to see some more of it in this issue. I also like that they dove further into back-story. I will admit that part of this comic had me confused at times, with the progression of events or “memories,” but I’m not too hung up on it. As a Hulk fan, I appreciated this book – even with all the mystery surrounding it. It was flooded with amazing, action-packed panels, and good story-telling. So at a pure minimum, it was great eye-candy. I feel that, with this story, a lot of the pieces are there, and we just need a few more to make the whole puzzle in order to get the full picture. Either way, my confusion did not dictate my enjoyment. I look forward to seeing more out of this book, and I’m sure as it progresses I’ll love it even more. – E

Night of the Living Deadpool #3 – B-

I think Deadpool books get a bit of a break in standards. The stories are never great, but they’re regularly enjoyable. Parody some pop culture, shoot and stab some bad guys and make a lot of jokes in bad taste. Lather, rinse, repeat – Night of the Living Deadpool is no exception. And that’s not entirely a bad thing. There is a lot of entertainment value to this series, from Romero jabs to The Walking Dead Easter eggs. Zombie fans will get a kick out of this books, and Deadpool fans get to see a different spin on zombie Deadpool, as Wade has quite the odd reaction to being bitten. I’m also a huge fan of the return of A.I.M. scientists; I knew they would be the cause of the apocalypse some way or another. I wouldn’t buy into it too hard, but I have gotten a kick out of every issue so far. -S

Amazing X-Men #4 – B-

BAMF! Nightcrawler and the crew are back at it. Azazel is trying to hi-jack the after-life, and only Nightwing and his X-buddies can stop him. Most of this issue focuses on reuniting the team, which is scattered across hell.  It all happens a bit too easily, because the gravity of the situation is lost when Nightcrawler is able to just teleport everybody out of danger. Amazing X-Men succeeds when it is able to fall back on the nostalgia of Kurt Wagner, especially with the use of flashbacks and his encounter with Wolverine. It looks like we’re finally gearing up for the battle with Azazel, so I hope the next issue has more to offer. – S

Avengers World #3 – B-

I don’t really know what to say about the story for this book. There is almost too much going on at the moment. The events of last issue went completely unmentioned and we are back to something that was mentioned in the first issue. For some reason, the city of Madripoor is on the head of a giant centurys old dragon flying around the ocean. And to make matters worse, we don’t end this issue knowing any more than we did when it started. All that being said, Shang-chi is a boss and is truly the Master of Kung-Fu. The art is amazing and the action sequences between Shang-chi and Gorgon are awesome. I particularly loved the panels they chose while he was channeling his chi from those before him. I’m still left wondering what the hell is going on and don’t really expect anything to be answered next time either, since there are three groups, it most likely won’t focus on either of the last two issues stories. I’m hoping for a bit more story cohesion in these next few issues because they really do have a great cast to work with and it would be a shame to see that get wasted. – R

New Warriors #1 – B-

Like any new comic that comes out, there is going to have to be some set up in order to get things rolling. What I really liked about this comic is that it successfully introduced the main story-line and the individuals involved with no background needed; it revealed the heroes names, their nicknames, and super-powers. With all that in mind, it is really easy for new readers to focus on the story rather than trying to figure out who everyone is. I believe this book has the potential to be a great read, depending on what happens next. No, there wasn’t a ton of action, more or less just set up for the action that is soon to come. Whatever is about to happen, it was intriguing enough for me to want to come back and read the next issue whenever it may come out. So even though most of the book was just set up for future issues, it was still a nice read and fans of the genre would find enjoyment from it. – E

GPA by Publisher:

DC Comics: 1 A, 2 B’s and 1 C, averaging out to a 3.00

Marvel Comics: 1 A’s and 8 B’s, averaging out to a 3.11

Independents: 1 A, 2 B’s and 1 C earning a 3.00

Funniest Panel of the Week:

Iceman in Amazing X-Men #4

Epic Panel of the Week:

Hulk loses it in Marvel Knights: Hulk #3

Cover Art of the Week:

Justice League #28 Steampunk variant

That about wraps it up for our reviews this week! Look for next week’s previews coming soon. Any comic books you didn’t see reviewed that you want reviewed? Any grades you didn’t agree on? Let us know in the comments!

All images taken from ComiXology app and the credit for them goes to the respective publishers; thanks to IDW Comics, image Comics, Dark Horse, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.

Written by Sherif Elkhatib, Adrian Puryear, Evan Lowe, Taylor Lowe and Robert Michael

So Far This Week… January 22, 2014

With the expansion of Hush Comics, we have decided to give bi-weekly news updates.  Anything we find news-worthy will be posted here every Wednesday and Sunday.  Have anything to add?  Post it in the comments!

So far this week…

Quickly following the release of the next DC Animated film which debuts in less than two weeks (February 4th), Justice League: War, it has been announced that an animated adaptation of Grant Morrison’s Batman & Son story titled Son of Batman will be released in the Spring of 2014. Chronicling the introduction of Damian Wayne, this will be a great addition to the DC Animated library. Check out the trailer below.

DC won’t be the only comic book company getting some animated love; Marvel will be releasing an anime-style movie called Marvel Avengers Confidential: Black Widow & Punisher, coming straight to DVD on March 25 I’m really excited to see a darker animated film of two of the most brutal enforcers in the Marvel universe. You can find more details here or just check out the trailer below.

Everybody holding out hope that the open world bounty hunter game, Star Wars 1313, would still be produced after LucasArts was sold are going to be sorely disappointed. Disney has officially dropped the trademark on the game’s title, essentially dropping it in the sarlack pit for good. Wanna know more about this  game changer that could have been? Click here.

Don’t be too down in the dumps, Star Wars nerds! There have been heavy talks about a Boba Fett spin-off film. Only thing is, he might not be the Fett you grew up with. If you’re intrigued by Lawrence Kadsan’s (acclaimed Star Wars producer) alteration of the great bounty hunter, check this out.

In an amazing show of love, a couple in Denmark have crafted a table-top version of a Mass Effect reaper, a world destroying drone for the popular science-fiction video-game. It’s terribly realistic, which does the nearly month-long construction justice. You can learn more about this couple and their pet drone here.

It’s a LEGO’opoly out there! LEGO and Marvel have once again teamed up to come out with LEGO sets (and assumed videogame connection) for Captain America: Winter Soldier, Amazing Spiderman 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy, the latter of which will be released in August, right in time for the film. You’d think will all these sets coming out that the price would decrease.

In comics news, Dr. Who will be finding himself a new home after leaving IDW Comics (home to some of our favorite independent comics like TMNT, Samurai Jack and Locke & Key) for a lesser known Titan Comics, ending a six-year run with IDW. We’re not sure how we feel about it, but check the facts and let us know how you feel.

It’s been a while since Bruce Willis has blown something up in a futuristic sci-fi thriller (uh, you mean like in Looper?). This film, titled Vice, portrays a society where people are allowed to take out primal urges on androids. Complications arise when one of the androids becomes self-aware. There are more details here.

The script for a new Fantastic Four film, slated to release in June 2015, has been finished, with casting to begin within a month. I might be the only one who thinks Marvel is beating a dead horse with the FF franchise, but I am excited at the prospect of Michael B. Jordan (The Wire, Fruitvale Station) playing the Human Torch. Those interested should check out this article.

So if the New 52 Justice League International didn’t work out, and the current Justice League of America isn’t working out… the next logical step is to release Justice League: Canada, right? DC Comics logic has me confused. It’s since been renamed Justice League United, and features another ensemble cast of lesser-known DC characters. Check out our reviews when this book drops April 23rd.

New trailers have been released for Maleficent and 300: Rise of an Empire, both of which are on our ‘must see’ list for 2014.

Quentin Tarantino is PISSED! Somebody leaked his finished script for what was supposed to be his next film, a Western titled The Hateful Eight. The leak caused him to go on a Pulp Fiction-esque rant, the entirety of which can be found here.

Miniature Dollhouse reunion, you say?!  It’s true!  You can watch the trailer for Lust for Love starring Franz Kranz, Dichen Lachman, Enver Gjokaj and Felicia Day right here.  Then you can squeal about Whedonverse.

Check back on Sunday to get a new round-up!

Written by Sherif Elkhatib