SCORECARD (each category ranked on a 10-point scale):
Storyline – 6
Art – 7
Captivity and Length – 8
Identity – 9
Use of Medium – 7
Depth – 7
Fluidity – 8
Intrigue/Originality – 8
The Little Things – 9
Overall awesomeness – 8
Think about your favorite team of heroes: Justice League (and their dozens of iterations), Avengers (and their hundred different iterations), Green Lantern Corps, X-Men… Now think about the gender representation among the group. Aside from the X-Men, women have been heavily underrepresented among the best in the universe for each team, let alone left in a position of power. Those female characters that are represented are typically typecast with revealing outfits and often find themselves “In A Refrigerator.” Well, in the mid-1990’s, Jordan Gorfinkel and DC Comics decided that readers wanted a team that they could relate to. The Birds of Prey were formed in 1996, consisting of Black Canary and Oracle. Through the years, DC’s elite women (sans Wonder Woman) have joined the Birds of Prey at some time or another. Characters like Hawkgirl, Vixen and Katana came under the spotlight of the Charlie’s Angels-esque team of strong women.
Chuck Dixon laid the groundwork for what would eventually turn into a DC Comics fan favorite. When Gail Simone took the reigns in 2003, we were already fifty-six issues in. Fortunately for readers, this was an opportune place to jump on, as Simone crafts Of Like Minds not only as an introduction to her writing, but the series, as well. Jumping into a series over fifty issues in is never an easy transition, but the dynamics of Birds of Prey is well established from the first page in. After suffering a paralyzing gunshot wound at the hands of the Joker in The Killing Joke, Barbara Gordon has become Oracle – tech extraordinaire and human calculator. Although confined to a wheelchair, Babs is the clear leader of the group and, to be honest, the most integral member of the Birds of Prey. Meanwhile, Black Canary (Dinah Lance) and Huntress (Helena Bertinelli) make the moves. Like messenger birds sent out by Oracle, they complete missions while Oracle feeds them intel.
Of Like Minds gives up a lot of ground in story-telling establish an identity. Simone does an excellent job of portraying three distinct personalities among the group. While Oracle has the notable Batman influence – prepared to do whatever is needed to get the job done – Dinah is inspired by Green Arrow’s more “Robin Hood” view of how to be a superhero. Add a fired up and borderline violent Huntress to the mix, and you get an amazing chemistry that could carry its own series whether they were fighting crime or playing Cranium. Where the arc seems to falter, though, in with the characters surrounding them. The antagonist in Of Like Minds, Savant, has just enough juice to pique my interest, but not enough to be worthy of commandeering the book. That being said, there were far worse ways to introduce a villain like Savant, and his purpose seems to be solely make the Birds of Prey look good.
Something that really impressed me about Of Like Minds was the amount of research Simone must have done to show just how legit our crew is. Take Barbara Gordon, for example. She’s no longer Batman’s sidekick, but rather one of the best most vital tools in the DC Universe for intel (really the only one until Cyborg’s rise to mainstream popularity a few years later). In fact, during Batman: No Man’s Land, which begins soon after the continuity of this book, she is crucial in Batman’s plight to take back Gotham. Throughout the pages, Babs: speaks multiple languages, quotes Benjamin Franklin and multiplies numbers together really quickly. She may be confined to a wheelchair, but Barbara Gordon uses her mind to thwart crime when her partner’s brawny methods come back fruitless.
Keeping an open mind that this book was published over a decade ago, the idea of strong, capable characters is completely cut down by the way the characters are constantly being objectified. Ranging from blatant (Black Canary being bound and cuffed while Savant makes sexual banter) to subtle (putting the characters’ sexy parts conveniently next to word bubbles, and the awkwardly positioned poses to show off just enough butt to make it annoying), there’s no denying that DC was using sex appeal to sell Birds of Prey. With new-age super heroine books in the mainstream now like Wonder Woman, Batgirl,and Captain Marvel, it’s hard to imagine just how skewed the industry’s opinion of women was at the turn of the century.
While the first arc of a Simone-written Birds of Prey shows its age in terms of the portrayal of women, the identity that Gail Simone – a woman writing a comic book about women – creates is worth the sticker price (or download price, as Of Like Minds is out of print and hard to find at a reasonable price). The pages are filled with Simone’s unique take on the Birds of Prey (a woman writer portraying a female led book – crazy, I know) was unprecedented at the time, especially ones smarter and mightier than their male counterparts. I was unimpressed with the story overall, but this is a case where style over substance is more over an investment. Gail Simone shows signs of becoming a tremendously talented writer, which really shines through in her recent work on Batgirl, one of my favorite series of the New 52.
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:
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.
With the expansion of Hush Comics, we have decided to give bi-weekly news updates. Anything we find news-worthy will be posted here bi-weekly. Have anything to add? Post it in the comments!
Arrow and Survivor come back tonight. About damn time! This week, we say hello to the Clock King.
Breaking Bad is finally completely available to stream on Netflix, in all it’s tragic glory. We laughed, we cried, we dressed up as meth cooks; it was the best. Open up our reviews or “Breaking Bad Week” articles while you enjoy the end of the decades’ best show.
Also in BrBa news, The Heisenberg himself, Bryan Cranston, is moving on to become a serial killer in the upcoming movie Holland, Michigan, acting along-side Naomi Watts. I’m instantly sold with anything this man does, so it will great seeing him back on the big screen.
The makers of Batman: Arkham Origins might not care about your glitchy game, but they do want you to enjoy the new “Cold, Cold Heart” DLC, released April 22nd and centered around a battle with Mr. Freeze.
Hideo Kojima has just collectively shoved everybody off the fence when it comes to buying Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes. When the game is released on March 18th, next-gen gamers will be able to purchase Ground Zeroes for $10 less.
A gentleman and an entertainer, original Ghostbuster Harold Ramis has passed away, after complications from an auto-immune disease he had been with for years.
I’ve given it five episodes before I spread the good word, but FX’s Chozen is the real deal. Give it ten minutes, and I swear he will be your favorite white, gay rapper ever.
The upcoming Joseph Gordon-Levitt led Sandman movie has found a writer in Jack Thorne, who has written several British shows – including Skins and Shameless.
Adam Driver has been cast as a villain in Star Wars: Episode VII. Yup, the guy from HBO’s Girls. I hold judgment, though, and take it as a sign that we are one step closer to an Episode VII release.
Jason Momoa, who Thronies (men who love Game of Thrones) might know better as Khal Drogo, actually turned down the part given the role of Drax the Destroyer in Guardians of the Galaxy to avoid being type-casted as the big, brooding alien – similar to his role in Stargate: Atlantis. His loss.
The track listing for the soundtrack to the movie Divergent has been released. If you like Ellie Goulding, sprinkled in with some alternative and Hip-Hop, then you should love it. It’s still not on par with the Hunger Games movies’ soundtrack.
Genre – Historically-based Fiction, Romance
Director – Paul W.S. Anderson (Mortal Kombat: The Movie, Death Race series, Resident Evil series Cast – Kit Harington (Jon Snow from Game of Thrones), Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (Lost, Oz), Emily Browning (Sucker Punch), Kiefer Sutherland (24), Carrie-Anne Moss (The Matrix), Jessica Lucas (Evil Dead), Jared Harris (Mad Men) Alluringelement – Jon Snow goes back in time a thousand years or so to rise against Jack Bauer and get the girl!
Check it out if you liked –300, TroySCORECARD (each category out of 10):
Pompeii is about Milo (Kit Harington), a Celt whose family and entire people were slaughtered by the Roman senator Corvus, played by Kiefer Sutherland. Milo is enslaved and turned into a gladiator. Eventually, he is taken to Pompeii where he meets the captivating Cassia (Emily Browning) and fellow gladiator-slave Atticus (Akinnuoye-Agbaje). Once Mount Vesuvius erupts, it becomes a race against the clock not only to save Cassia but to seek revenge against the corrupt Crovus. Pompeii is part love story, part political rebellion, and all parts natural disaster.
I am a big fan of ancient historical fiction, and to be honest, I was a bit worried about this film. Many times, films like Pompeii are a bit over-the-top; they are over-acted and rarely historically accurate. To say the least, I was pleasantly surprised with Pompeii. The visual world was captivating and, at first glance, I thought I was working my way through the Pompeii exhibit at the museum. In reality, the volcanic ash from Mount Vesuvius kept the town so well preserved that archeologists have been able to replicate the city of Pompeii with detailed accuracy. The movie paid close attention to these details of the city and this was heightened by the use of 3D which really made the world pop down to the street venders. The eruption of the volcano was on point and accurate in sequence. The only inaccuracy were the pyroclastic bombs and the dramatic tsunami which dragged a ship into the city. During the time of the actual eruption, there were warning signs days before the eruption and many people actually left before the volcano erupted. The film didn’t touch on these facts, but it is forgivable because of the visual effects.
The dynamics of the characters were what I enjoyed most. While the plot was cliché and predictable, the character nuances and subtleties made up for it. I really liked Cassia. Granted, she was a wealthy elite stereotype, but she also wasn’t totally naive nor a typical damsel in distress. Her parents also were likeable. They were present parents and good people. Her mother Aurelia (Carrie-Anne Moss) was a strong, charismatic woman who worked closely with her husband’s politics as Corvus has come to Pompeii to invest in the construction of a new arena which Severus hopes will continue to brings money into the city. Both Severus and Aurelia genuinely dislike Corvus who later find out he’s also come to Pompeii to scheme for Cassia’s hand in marriage. The other thing I really have to give the movie props for was a lack violence against women used to garner entertainment. Corvus was creepy and gross without being over-the-top violent.
While there was a love story, Pompeii was more a story between Milo (The Celt) and Atticus, who was one fight away to winning his freedom under Roman law. Both lost their families to the Romans and are trying to maintain their identity while enslaved. The arena becomes their political battlefield as Milo seeks revenge on Corvus and by extension the Roman Empire. Atticus joins Milo as his faith in Roman law is betrayed. I don’t want to give away the rest of the story, but in many ways, this overpowered the love story. It may be unfortunate for the popularity of the film that Pompeii was seemingly marketed as a love story, because the film was prominently a historical and political plot. Though, I’ve been known to read too much into stories and may be reading more into the plot then I need to.
One last note of importance: the soundtrack was fantastic. It was emotional, engaging, and epic. The music enhanced the overall experience of the film and is something I’ll invest in to listen to later. Rotten Tomatoes only gave the film 29% rating, and critics were harsh. I, on the other hand, enjoyed the film. The storyline was simple, engaging, and oddly deep in its subtlety. The 3D didn’t sully the movie but rather enhanced it; I would highly recommend watching this film in 3D. However, the story is strong enough that it will be worth watching at home if you can’t get to the theater.
After such a lackluster mid-season opener last week, this weeks “Inmates” really stepped it up for The Walking Dead fans. With such important questions finally answered and the details of the moments right after the raid for each set of remaining characters, this week was what we’ve been waiting for since December. Instead of trying to break down the episode, which made it evident everything was happening at once, this review will be broken down by character, because honestly, it’s easier that way.
Daryl and Beth
Seemingly, Beth is only with Daryl because at the moment, she is the weakest of the adults and he is the strongest. Is this supposed to be a way to get them to hook up? We sure hope not. Forcing sexual tension in the show where it doesn’t need to be would be gratuitous. The letter Beth was narrating was a powerful piece of writing considering how weak the writing in The Walking Dead can sometimes be. It was a great juxtaposition between the hope they all once felt in the prison and the despair and danger they are all in now, especially with the scene of the vultures flying above their heads. Daryl, meanwhile, is beyond hope. He was quick to throw Hershel’s death in Beth’s face only a few hours after it happened. He may not be giving a Cherokee Rose speech anytime soon, but he still has a soft heart because he couldn’t really walk away once Beth broke down. When Beth and Daryl find the feeding scene at the tracks, Beth finally lets it all out. She’s been frugal with her emotions through the loss of Jimmy, Zach and even her dad – so this was a profound moment that shows that Beth may be ready to give up, or grow up. Hopeful or hopeless, Daryl is still the strongest character on the road currently. He will be fine whether he finds the others or not. Beth will last as long as she is with Daryl, but emotionally, she needs to know that Maggie is still alive.
Tyreese and the kids
Surprise! Judith is alive. But really, how long for this world does she have? We admit, we predicted her death in the raid, mostly because SPOILER ALERT, she dies in the comics during the prison shootout. How is it possible a baby can continue to live in the apocalypse? It seems unlikely that the survivors would have been able to find as much formula as she would have already needed in order to live. Any moment involving Judith felt as though she could be moments away from death in tonight’s episode. Knowing that Tyreese got stuck with all the kids, Daryl’s situation with Beth suddenly seems really good. Tyreese and the three girls end up in the woods and hear a distant scream. Was it really in his best interest to have the oldest girl holding the baby and the youngest holding the gun? And then to just have them back to back and alone while he investigates? They aren’t his children, but he clearly feels a moral responsibility to them if he risked his life to take them out of the prison and out into the woods. If he got them this far, he should be more careful about leaving them alone. But the craziest part was Loco Lizzie attempting to suffocate a baby. When Judith continues to cry and possibly attract walkers, Lizzie puts her hand over the baby’s mouth and nose and has a glint in her eye as the child struggles for breath. Creepy much? There was also a small moment where Lizzie and Mika argue about who knows what about walkers. It was very short, but enough to question whether it was in fact Mika who was feeding rats to them. Even though Judy is alive, the sister’s relationship is still mirroring Billy and Ben from the comic series. It is unlikely the sisters will survive much longer.
Lizzie for Governor!
Carol
Yup. Carol is back. And pretty conveniently so. Right as Mika and Lizzie are about to be eaten, Carol saves the day and just in time, brings them back to the railroad as Tyreese finishes killing lots-o-walkers. That seems very convenient and smells too much like lazy writing. However, we are glad that Carol is back. And of all people to run into, it’s Tyreese. You can see the fear on Carol’s eyes as Tyreese rushes to greet her. Luckily for her, Rick didn’t end up spilling the beans about Karen to Tyreese. Will Carol come clean about what happened to Karen? Lies always have found a way to surface in The Walking Dead. It is kinda cool that Tyreese is caring for Lizzie and Mika, the same girls that Carol once did. Will their futures be in his hands? Or is he just a much nicer person than Carol is? It should be noted this is the first time Carol’s real life counterpart Melissa McBride has been listed in the main credits. Carol may be around for a while longer.
Oh good, for a second there I thought this as going to be awkward
Bob, Sasha and Maggie
Bob may not have his liquor anymore, but he has his eye on Sasha. As she is dressing Bob’s wound, he begins flexing his muscles and giving her the Old Spice guy look. It’s one of the funnier moments in an episode full of ups and downs. Sasha and Bob are a nice yin and yang, too, with Sasha playing hard-ass tactical expert, and Bob is the happy-go-lucky optimist. Meanwhile, Maggie has just landed in Crazytown. The unusually short trip to the prison bus that Glenn is supposed to be in culminates in a spectacle of emotion and a lot of walkers getting dead in the process. Everybody has had their break-down moment and this was clearly Maggie’s.
I whip my hair back and forth
Glenn and Tara
For no rhyme or reason, Glenn somehow finds himself waking up, get this, back at the prison! He’s armed with just an assault rifle, meaning that he left the bus, staggered out through the cell block and then up to the nook where he was positioned. In fact, he worked himself into such a tizzy that he passed out and woke up hours after everybody was gone. I mean, sure, he had just narrowly avoided bleeding out of his eyeballs until he died, but this is the guy who killed a walker with duct tape and a chair. Once we get a sentimental shot of Maggie’s photograph, Glenn brings out the riot gear. In some miraculous Marshawn Lynch kind of way (that’s right – Denver fan givin’ some love to the Seahawks), he over-powers a dozen walkers to make a clean break – but not before he asks the Governor’s ex-girlfriend’s sister, Tara, to join him. We often joked about calling her a “less-hot Maggie,” so we were amused to see her and Glenn stuck together. The best part of Glenn’s scenes was the way it was filmed as if we were in the riot gear, too. Very video-game like, and yet another way to translate the story to other mediums.
The big news that comes out of “Inmates” is that we are getting three new cast members. Originally from comic book fame, the three strangers we have are: Abraham Ford, Eugene Porter and Rosita Espinosa. In the books, our guests are traveling across the country to Washington DC, where Eugene – a U.S. Scientist – will hand over classified information to the U.S. Government, which is definitely, in no way, a ruse. Shhh… Well, I’m not sure where this version of the trio will go, but they are physically cast perfectly.
Anyway, this episode of The Walking Dead showed a vast improvement over the mid-season premiere, “After.” Not only is there more action, but the dramatic moments feel more genuine, more interesting, and – thanks to the comic books – more original. The only set-backs are the logical inconsistencies; the story felt forced in places for the sake of being grand. We really don’t want another episode paced like “After,” but there’s no need to sacrifice development for the sake of keeping the action fast-pased. For this, we give “Inmates” a B.
All images credited to and owned by AMC Television
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:
The Bunker #1 (Oni Press) – A
If you were one of the lucky few to order this book in print form, give yourself a pat on the back! The Bunker tells the story of a group of friends in the process of creating and burying time capsules in the woods. Instead, though, they stumble upon a military bunker, and self-addressed letter from their future selves. If that’s not trippy enough, the letters explain how each of them have a part in ending the world. No pressure. The Bunker did a really good job of pacing the story, and giving it enough detail that each character gets their own voice and personality. This could easily be made into a television show or movie. I highly recommend you pick this up digitally, or try to find a coveted physical copy. – S
Other Reviews:
DC/Vertigo:
Batman #28 – B+
After the crazy cliff-hanger from issue #27, Batman picks up in a completely different time, with a completely different cast. If you remember Harper, she’s the rambunctious orphan that has followed Batman around, and even saved his life when he was reeling from the unfortunate death of Damian. The break in action from Zero Year was a little bit annoying, especially when you realize that this issue was just a promotion for the weekly Batman: Eternal series out in April. All is forgiven immediately, as we finally see Harper, or Bluebird as she is called, knocking around the bad guys. There’s also a very awkward stand-off between Batman and Catwoman, who is very much a woman scorned. Bonus points for the underground club called The Egyptian. And a huuuge Spoiler at the end of the issue (get it?). Although issue #28 was a fun ride, and did make me want to read Eternal, it was an unneeded distraction from the superb Batman issues that preceded it. – S
Superman/ Wonder Woman #5 – B+
It is said that behind every strong man is an even stronger woman, but in what world is Wonder Woman significantly stronger than Superman? So strong, in fact, that she is able to handle two Kryptonians with little issue while Clark gets his ass kicked all over the forest. This time around, Wonder Womans resolve seems to be shaky as to the future of her and Clarks relationship. While it is way too early for them to break up, relationship issues have the potential to effect up to four different publications, depending on how writers portray things. Not to mention that after three issues of Zod, we still don’t really know why he is here or what he was locked in the Phantom Zone for. Despite all of that, this was still a great issue and I am convinced that this is just setup for something big. – R
Injustice: Year Two #2 – B
Injustice has easily become one of the most enjoyable books out. I love how original the story is, and the fact that I really don’t know what comes next is very appealing to me. With Batman out of commission, the people of Earth must look to others to try to stop Superman’s regime. There’s a lot going on in this issue, which hurts it a bit. The last few issue runs felt very focused and I think that helped guide the story much better than skipping around like a television series. I was in no way disappointed in the issue, it just felt like a big lull amidst the incredible action-packed issues preceding it. – S
The Royals: Masters of War #1 – B
In the mood for a spot of tea and a jolly good read? Why my good lad, you should take romp down to your local comic book shop. Cheeio!! Pip-Pip!! God Save the Queen!! Sorry… I’ll go back to American text now. The Royals: Masters of War #1 is now on comic shelves. The setting is London, 1940’s, WWII. The focus – A royal and lavish British family, the House of Windsor. Only this royal family is way more exciting than even Prince William, wife Kate and their little bundle of royal joy. They have superpowers. Superman with a charming accent? Swoon m’ladies. And what’s a better use of kingly superpowers than to stick it to Hitler and his evil regime? However, the head of House Windsor, Albert, has his children under strict order to never demonstrate the greatness of their unique gifts. Turns out super powered nobles don’t have the happiest of histories – you know that usual bit about not everyone being welcoming and accepting of those that are “different.” Thankfully for the citizen of London, not everyone in the House of Windsor agrees with father’s orders. As the fight is taken to the invading Germans we learn that the Windsor family is not the only “gifted” royal family on the block and it’s likely to spell trouble for both the Windsor family and London. I’ve got a good feeling about this six part series and it’s unique twist on pivotal events in recent history. – T
Nightwing #28 – B-
I’ve been really impressed with the way writer Kyle Higgins has managed to build a new world for Dick Grayson without using Gotham to lean on; Nightwing has a real home in Chicago, and it’s not just about Tony Zucco (the man who killed his parents). Unfortunately, some of the art seems a little awkward when showing Dick Grayson outside of being Nightwing. This issue pushes things along, as a little girl in his life is thrust into the same situation he was in when his parents died. It’s a really interesting angle, but it was entirely too rushed – for multiple reasons. I wish Higgins would have taken this over the span of an entire six-issue arc, but I can understand where this is going. All while reading this issue, I had a gut-wrenching feeling. After the events that opened up Forever Evil, you know we are building up to a major tragedy in Grayson’s life, but it just won’t come. – S
Justice League 3000 #3 – B-
Takron-Galtos! The prison planet that has three of the five cloned Justice League members trapped and searching for a way off. After a nasty encounter with Locus, the reality bending blue-alien tween, Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman experience “Hell” in the year 3000. The images and artwork showcasing the expanses of Takron-Galtos are awesome. Porter (artist) has consistently delivered gorgeous landscapes and cityscapes every issue. It’s one of the most alluring elements of the series. Whereas the last issue of JL 3000 was a little disjointed, I felt a strong refocusing back on the big picture plot even though the story is being told from various angles. Bit by bit the mysterious villains are being to reveal themselves. The ever developing and at time hilarious dynamic of the genetically engineered superheroes carries the story well. There are lots of pieces working in the background and it’s all going to come to a head very soon. Oh… and Superman is still an ass-hat. – T
Batgirl #28 – C
I finished this issue more confused than when I started reading it. After an enticing Gothtopia issue, it seems as though they’ve completely abandoned the Detective Comics-centric storyline. That wasn’t explained very well and then to snap into the current story with zero mention of the last issue was disappointing to say the least. Barb is back to fighting form and wearing her yellow bat after her self-imposed exile. This new story arc introduces a vampire hunter who is given no real introduction or back story. We also get to experience a nice tag team duo with Barb and Strix that has the potential for some cool moments. I continue to enjoy Batgirl, as usual, and this story arc seems to be like filler until the next major plot line or the next cross over event. I’m personally hoping for the latter. – R
Dark Horse:
Star Wars #14 – C-
As Ensign Nanda continues to tow Vader across the galaxy in what I call an “epiphany quest,” I continue to be underwhelmed by this story arch in the revitalized Star Wars comic series. Brian Wood’s attempt to highlight the brutal and ruthless nature that so perfectly describes Darth Vader falls far short in my opinion. On top of that, the last few issues of Star Wars have failed to move the plot along. No major revelations, twists or epic moments were to be had. The most redeeming aspect of this 14th installment was getting to see Vader and his super-elite, black-ops Storm Troopers in action. Even at that, those sequences left more to be desired. At the conclusion of this issue it appears as though the story is preparing to steer back on track to a likeness similar to the first five or six issues. There seems to be a ton of Vader focus in Dark Horse comics these recent months. I hope the oversaturation slows down so that new characters and stories can be shared with all the hungering fans out there! It is the Will of The Force! – T
Image:
The Walking Dead #121 – B-
Another issue goes by, and a whole lot of nothing happens. I’m not even sure that this will read better in the trade format. Negan has a few inappropriate lines that just make me laugh out loud. He’s the nastiest one in the bunch, and I find myself rooting for him more than I do The Survivors. Meanwhile, Rick has become a caricature of himself, the self-righteous leader. Honestly, it’s like a soap opera, because even though The Walking Dead has given me nothing notable since a main character’s gratuitous death in issue #100, I still keep reading it. Every issue, I just can’t wait to see if our heroes will be about to crawl out of whatever hole they dug themselves into. Well, sigh, this isn’t the one – better luck next time- S
The Fuse #1 – C-
Seriously, what the hell is a cabler?? In what has become tradition with new publications from Image, I left the end of the first issue not really knowing anything that was going on. Unfortunately, unlike Black Science and Deadly Class, I really am not invested in The Fuse. The debut issue takes us to a futuristic planet, not Earth, where we follow a new guy, recently transferred from Munich, and an witty older woman who has been doing this for a long time. Together, they search for the cause of death of these “cablers” around the city. It has kind of a cliche vibe – the buddy cop thing has been done before. To boot, the art looks raw, and not in a good way. It, in no way makes the cut when compared to other Image titles like Walking Dead, Saga, and the aforementioned two titles. I’m not turned off yet, but it’s gonna have to take a convincing second issue to get me on-board with The Fuse – S
Marvel:
Superior Spider-Man #27 – B+
Now this is what I’ve been waiting for! Finally, a villain fit for a villain. After Green Goblin had taken control of the Goblin army, he makes his move to tighten his grip in the city. Meanwhile, Spider-Man is swallowing the pill of defeat when he learns of Goblin’s idea to cloak his army from the Spider-Bots that Spidey had created to survey the city. Peter’s consciousness also plays a part in trying to escape his own body’s sub-conscious (props for including the original Doc Ock quote from Amazing Spider-Man #3), but gets sucked even further down the rabbit hole. Everything is going to hell and all that’s left are Otto Octavius and Norman Osbourne, playing chess as the city burns to the ground around them. – S
Kick-Ass 3 #6 – B+
Kick-Ass 3 has been slowly moving along, as Hit-Girl has been imprisoned for the entire six issue run. You know what though? I love Kick-Ass. I love the brutal nature and the realistic portrayal of teens playing vigilante. Most of all, I love the story of Hit-Girl and how her dad trained her as a little girl to be a superhero – and not no “liberal asshole” like Spider-Man. The flashback takes up nearly 3/4 of the issue and I just wish it was longer. Issue #6 also ends on a Mother-F***** of a the cliff-hanger (get it?). Anybody who can handle the crude language and content of this book written and drawn by legends Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. should pick up this awesome third installment. – S
All-New X-Men #23 – B+
The Trial of Jean Grey has added some much-needed excitement to the series, which has been waning up til recently. Jean Grey is captured by the Shi’ar, an ally race whose planet was destroyed by The Phoenix. Of course, poor Jean Grey has no idea of any of this, as she is a pre-Phoenix version of herself. The Guardians of the Galaxy come to the rescue, conveniently, and are on a rescue mission to save not only Jean, but the series along with her. The writing of Brian Michae lBendis is on point, and there are plenty of hilarious moments in the book. This story is really heating up, and the inclusion of the Guardians of the Galaxy own makes it that much more enjoyable. Throw in the inclusion of a nearly-forgotten fan-favorite, and we’ve got a heck of a family reunion. – S
Deadpool #23 – B
I don’t know how or when it happened, but somewhere between that god-awful issue with the Wakandan alien monsters and here, Deadpool has found his identity in the Marvel NOW! universe. Deadpool vs. S.H.I.E.L.D. draws to a close in this issue, and it does so in epic proportions. It’s a non-stop thrill ride, and I laughed almost the whole way through – mostly at the goons who work for U.L.T.I.M.A.T.U.M. The way particular scenes mirrored Alien (which you could have guessed from the cover) brought it back to the good old days of Merc With A Mouth, which showed Deadpool for what he truly was, a bad-ass and a psycho, but above all, a comedian. – S
All New X-Factor #3 – B
Serval Industries, the company that employs mutants and mission statement is all for the betterment of people finally starts to show a bit of its true nature. Some questionable acts and curiously unexplained motives are revealed by CEO Harrison Snow through the panels of All New X-Factor #3. I for one am glad to see this development begin to take shape. Its final form is definitely going to make this series fly or flounder. For added juiciness – there appears to be ulterior motive for some of the Serval mutants as well. I’m anxious to see how it all plays out. I’m in love with Giandomenico’s pencil work. Even the small and uneventful panels are nicely detailed and do much to bring life to the page. The issue was exciting and I’m invested in the grand plot enough to keep money stashed away for the next issue. – T
The Winter Soldier #1 – B-
The debut of Winter Soldier was not really what I was expecting. This initial story goes back to the time when the Winter Soldier was still a myth. It’s hard to tell whether or not this book will be a collection of short stories that involve the Winter Soldier or if it will be a normal story arc. We did get to see some classic Nick Fury action which is nice after all the Sam Jackson portrayals. The art is great and the depiction of the Winter Soldier is much closer to what they have setup for the upcoming Captain America movie. I knew that this book was supposed to come out to give the new Captain America movie some exposure so I can’t help but wonder if the government replacement for the Captain will be present at some time. I am excited to see where this story goes and will definitely keep my eyes on this book. – R
She-Hulk #1 – C-
Damn, I’m pretty disappointed with this book. I don’t know if it’s because I expected something different from the world’s strongest woman or that I’m just not getting the point of this book. I thought a good 90% of it was just so boring. I haven’t seen a wordier comic than this one in such a long time. I don’t think there is anything wrong with comics have tons and tons of dialog, but when there is no action to back it up, it becomes stagnant and boring. Now, I understand that they are trying to transform and introduce a new side to this hero. Rather than follow her superhero career, we follow her lawyer career. That’s all fine and dandy, and I understand it’s nice to see the human aspect to things some times. Call me a poor judge of comics or whatever, but the bottom line is that I didn’t enjoy reading this comic. For others, this will downright be a great read. However, what I read comics for and what I seek to enjoy was nowhere in this comic. The artistic side of the comic made the people look aquatic or fish-like, which was weird. Nothing really popped or stood out. I’ll stop here because I realize I’m going on a rant. Some positives about this book, however: it has the makings to make a pretty good story in the court room and there is a lot of valuable information presented within this comic. Like Hawkeye and Daredevil before it, it is nice to see the human side to our heroes. I’m sorry to say that it simply isn’t enough for me. – E
GPA by Publisher:
DC Comics: 6 B’s and 1 C, averaging out to a 2.86
Marvel Comics: 6 B’s and 1 C, averaging out to a 2.86
Independents: 1 A, 1 B and 2 C’s, averaging out to a 2.75
Funniest Panel of the Week:
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Epic Panel of the Week:
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Cover Art of the Week:
Jerome Opena’s Kick-Ass 3 #6 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.
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:
Ms. Marvel #1 – A
Take away the costumes, super-powers and alter-egos – we read comic books to find a relatable issue that is dealt with in ways that we simply cannot. Every once in a while, though, we get a special kind of book that inspires us to deal with those issues without using super-powers or high-tech gadgetry. That book is Ms. Marvel. Kamala Khan is everything you have never read in a comic book. She is a young, Muslim woman. Growing up in a matriarchal Muslim family, I could relate to every inside joke, every snide comment. There are really no good or bad guys (okay, that’s a lie; obviously Ms. Marvel is a good guy), there’s just life. To be honest, thanks to the always amazing G. Willow Wilson (Cairo, Alif the Unseen), I forgot that this was even a book about a superhero. Do yourself a solid and buy this book, you will not regret it. – S
Other Reviews:
DC/Vertigo:
Forever Evil #5 – A
Never in my life would I think that Batman would be in a position to take orders from Lex Luthor. Well, that’s just what happened in Forever Evil #5. I’ve never found myself rooting for Luthor, Captain Cold, Black Adam or Sinestro, but the bad guys have turned into the good guys as they begin to “eradicate” the Crime Syndicate. The best part of the issue, by far, has to be Sinestro. He puts the hurt on Power Ring, and has a flirtatious conversation with Batman about using the yellow ring. We also end on somewhat of a major cliffhanger. Forever Evil has been a solid book so far, but for the first time in this storyline, I’m genuinely excited for the next installment. – S
Green Arrow #27 – B+
Thanks to the work of Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino, Green Arrow is a complete turnaround of what it was just a year ago. The current arc, The Outsiders War, puts Green Arrow in the middle of a war between all the clans. You’ll be horribly out of touch if you haven’t been following Outsiders War, starting issue #26. There is a lot happening in this book, so even if you haven’t been following the story, the way the creative use of every spot available on the page to tell this epic story will be enough to sell you on Green Arrow. – S
Forever Evil: Arkham War #5 – B
I will admit, yes, the Arkham War story has been not much more than an over-the-top slug-fest between Batman’s rogues gallery. But the last few episodes have really opened up a great storyline for Bane and Scarecrow, both of whom are in a struggle to control the Talons. Bane is pretty much the man now, adorning himself in makeshift Batman armor. It’s one of the coolest things I’ve seen in comics recently, and I can only hope they make a figure out of it. Scarecrow, on the other hand, has a much more interesting approach on defeating Bane, and I found myself genuinely interested in this series that I thought was nothing more than a poor man’s No Man’s Land. – S
Joker’s Daughter #1 – B-
This week’s DC one-shot was truly disturbing. Joker’s Daughter introduces a teenaged girl who calls herself “Joker’s Daughter”. She takes us through her very twisted world after the supposed “death” of The Joker in Death of the Family. And when I say twisted, I mean some of the creepiest stuff I have ever seen. Not only does she enjoy torture, pain and murder, she also seems to have some, ahem, daddy issues. In this recount, we are reminded that the girl isn’t reallyThe Jokers’ daughter, but forces herself to believe she is when she finds his flesh mask floating in the sewers below Gotham City. As she traipses through the city with The Joker’s face strapped to her own tortured face and causing mayhem where ever she goes, it was hard not to want to know what this insurgent will get her hands into next. She is a little mesmerizing and that makes the reader just a little sympathetic to her neurosis, although it is of note that she is not nearly as much as we are to Harley Quinn in any adaptation. This issue was almost entirely female produced which is a huge testament on how the comic book world is changing, and for the best. – A
Trillium #6 – D+
Trillium has been somewhat of a roller-coaster ride thus far. It started off on a really high note, introducing a new world, illustrated and written by Jeff Lemire. Time travel, plagues and a magic flower – I was ready for the ride. Lately, though, there has been so much build-up and confusion that I’m beginning to lose interest. We spend the entire issue #6 explaining what could have been shown in a few pages. None of this was made any easier to swallow by the fact that I read this digitally and the flipped orientation of the pages made this a real chore to read on ComiXology. One saving grace was the conversation that Nika had with her mother about being scared and alone. Otherwise, I’m just glad this series will be wrapping up; unless Lemire can really bring something to the table in the next few issues, I’ll be wishing I went back in time to not pick this series up at all. – S
Detective Comics #28 – D
If you had your hopes up for this new Gothtopia arc, you can consider yourself let down right now. The idea behind Gothtopia is that the Scarecrow has brain-washed the city of Gotham to make everybody think that things are safe and shiny, when really, the rogues are running things. It’s a great idea that’s so poorly executed I don’t know that I can bring myself to read another issue. The writing seems horribly forced and out of character for a Batman book. While Gotham keeps pretending to be a nice place, it seems that Batman is the one pretending in this issue. – S
Dynamite Entertainment:
Turok: Dinosaur Hunter #1 – C
If you ever wanted to know what the Native American version of the O.C. would look like, then Turok is for you. There was nothing that made any sense in relation to the N64 game other than the look of the character. It had even less to do with the PS3 reboot apart other than both having dinosaurs. Turok is riddled with weird design decisions. From the teenage drama to the dinosaurs controlled by crusaders, where is this comic going? I am not sure I am thrilled about the initial direction this book is taking but I am such a fan of the video-game that I owe it to myself to at least see where they take things. – R
Marvel:
The Punisher #1 – A
With the start of this new story arc of The Punisher, Frank Castle is back in full swing and as bad-ass as ever. In this comic, they definitely stay true to the character and what he stands for – shooting people, creating massive explosions, feeding people to crocodiles – all are in The Punisher’s to do list for this issue. What I particularly like about this comic is that it has an overall tone of harsh justice and “punishment” yet it doesn’t seem too dark and gloomy. I’m really excited to see where this story will progress to and what is in store for the upcoming issues. Perhaps one of the best quotes to come out of this issues is as follows: “That’s why we need The Punisher around here. More than we need the Avengers.’ ‘How’s That?’ ‘Because everyone isn’t afraid of the Avengers.” WHOA, that’s scary, and that is exactly what this comic is showing you. It is showing you The Punisher as he is, a man people should fear. – E
Black Widow #3 – B
Black Widow isn’t building much in story, but each issue is exciting. This week, we found Natasha in Argentina doing a prison break. It really would be nice if in next week’s issue SPOILER ALERT, that her mission did not go south. The same storyline is already getting old. However, this week in her voiceover, Natasha tells us about home. It really beautifully written, giving the audience something more substantial to hold on to about her character. And as always, the artwork is stellar. – A
Wolverine #1 – B
Wolverine is Dead….. or is he? This isn’t the Wolverine that we all know and love. Killable has left him stripped of his mutant healing factor. What we have this time around is combat armor that makes it appear like nothing has changed. I can’t help but feel like we have been here before; this will be the third time that Wolverine will have lost his healing factor that I can remember off the top of my head. The idea of killing him is interesting but I still don’t think it compares to things like the Hulk ripping him in half and throwing the pieces a mile apart. As far as the current plot goes, Sabertooth is still around causing trouble but Wolverine has a new group of people he is mixing in with. If history is any indication of the future, Wolverine will be back to his old self in no time. Besides it’s not like he doesn’t have 5 other books that have his normal persona instead. – R
New Avengers #14 – B-
The New Avengers have been building up to and fighting off some type of ridiculous galactic force since the series began. Earth’s elite minds are now preparing for another apocalypse, and it seems like Dr. Strange is the only one willing to sacrifice it all to save it all. There are some pretty graphic scenes in the book, but I couldn’t really tell if it happened in an alternate reality, or not at all. My gripe with this book all along has been the over-complication of the storyline, and this issue doens’t really clear up much more than it provokes new questions. The spotlight of Dr. Strange is great though, so i would recommend readers to spend a little change for something Strange. – S
Loki: Agent of Asgard #1 – B-
With the crazy awesome attention that Loki’s character has gotten, thanks to the fine acting of Tom Hiddleston, so it seemed only natural that the God of Mischief would get his own book. This Loki is oddly estranged compared to the one in comic book’s past, and that’s for good reason. Apparently, someboy did a good ‘ol Civil War on the Asgardian and this title Loki isn’t the “real” Loki. However, the jerk with the ridiculous helmet is back, and he is drawn in such a way that I can’t help but feel frightened for the The Avengers and the rest of Midgard. It was a bit confusing, but I’m totally into whatever happens next. – S
All-New Invaders #2 – C+
This week’s issue of All-New Invaders still impressed heavily with the artistic aspect of the comic. However, it simply wasn’t as action packed and thrilling as the first issue was. That’s okay, though. Not every issue can be a rollercoaster of emotions and excitement. What I did appreciate about this issue was the development of the story. Things are progressing nicely and I can see this turning out to be a pretty good story in the end. If you are someone who is unfamiliar with the Invaders, doing some prior research might help with the overall understanding of the comic. Especially if things continue to go down the road they are on, it could be very helpful to understand more about the characters. I also believe it would make it more enjoyable to the reader. But as for the comic itself, I thought it was a fairly good read. I didn’t lose interest, but I wasn’t amazingly engaged either. The art is still amazing to me however. I hope the story continues to develop and grow, and hopefully we can see some greatness out of it. – E
GPA by Publisher:
DC Comics: 1 A, 3 B’s and 2 D’s, averaging out to a 2.50
Marvel Comics: 2 A’s, 4 B and 1 C, averaging out to a 3.14
Independents: 1 C earning a 2.00
Funniest Panel of the Week:
Captain Cold in Forever Evil #5 isn’t afraid of anybody… in the light
Epic Panel of the Week:
Frank Castle is one BAMF in The Punisher #1
Cover Art of the Week:
Ms. Marvel #1 – Art Adams 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.
With the expansion of Hush Comics, we have decided to give bi-weekly news updates. Anything we find news-worthy will be posted here bi-weekly. Have anything to add? Post it in the comments!
This week, we’re excited about several new books out, but none moreso than Ms. Marvel, which has been rebooted and features a young Muslim girl as the superhero. Read this article by The Washington Post to see why this is a BFD.
The Lex Luthor story line in the new Batman vs. Superman movie is going to be similar to something we’ve seen before.
The late, great Philip Seymour Hoffman still had a vital scene to film to complete the Mockingjay – Part II film. So what are they to do? Three words: C.G.I.
Kick-Ass news! John Romita Jr. will be coming to DC Comics to do Superman with Geoff Johns this summer. The team-up could give the Man of Steel a much-needed boost.
Voting for the 2014 Comic Alliance Readers’ Choice Awards ends soon! Go vote and feel validated!
Can anybody smell what The Rock is cooking? You can’t just Tweet out #JohnStewartCanStillWhupSupermansAss without people thinking that you will be playing the Green Lantern John Stewart in an upcoming movie.
The fairy-tale world is on fire right now – figuratively, of course. Zooey Deschanel will be producing an animated sitcom called Queen of Everything to FOX.
Long-running show Psych has been cancelled just a couple months into their eight season; the last episode airs March 26th.
Try to keep up here. The Flash’s new spin-off series, which begins filming in March, has found an actress to play Iris West, who is the love interest of Barry Allen, who is the Flash (shhhh!); her name is Candice Patton and she was in a show called The Game they also chose Broadway actor Carlos Valdez, who will play Vibe, a young and inexperienced hero who can emit powerful vibrations from his arms. He must be a hit with the ladies… Whoo, that was fast.
The next-gen release of Disney Infinity 2 will feature both Marvel and Star Wars characters. If you were looking for an excuse to buy the game, there it is!
Speaking of Star Wars, Disney has already announced that they will introduce the brand-new Star Wars Rebels series by way of original Disney Channel movie this Summer.
Sunny Day, Sweepin’ the clouds aw-Kahhhhn!!! Benedict Cumberbatch stopped by to join the cast of Sesame Street.
Bill Nye, who is like, the Guy, when it comes to science, had a debate with best-selling Christian author Ken Ham to discuss Evolutionism vs Creationism. It’s a lengthy and intelligent debate held by NPR, so get some sleep, get your grand-dad’s pipe out and watch the debate here.
It might be the news about how crappy Sochi is doing, I was just thinking the other day that there haven’t been any good movies about an Olympic tragedy in a while. Enter Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill, who will both co-star in a film about the 1996 Atlanta bomber.
Assassin’s Creed: Freedom Cry will be its own $15 downloadable game, meaning you won’t have to buy AC4 to get in on the action. I hope they do this with every game’s DLC going forward. Arrrrrr.
FX’s Archer is about to dead a whole lot better, as The Walking Dead‘s Lauren Cohan (Maggie) will be joining the show for multiple episodes. She describes her character as “a wealthy corrupt President’s wife who is vaguely European.” SOLD.
If you’ve read our “Shut Up and Take My Money” article on RetroFit gaming systems, then you will geek out when the RetroFit TRIO comes out in the next couple months.
So… who is going to beat the living f*** out of George Zimmerman? There were apparently 15,000 people who applied to fight Zimmerman. What a scumbag… Details of the fight will be announced in a week.
Ubisoft had a little debacle with the trademark name of their high-profile game Watch Dogs when somebody had fraudulently filed to dissolve the trademark name of the upcoming game. Ubisoft is trying to correct the issue and it should not impede the game’s release.
They’re talking about another Duke Nukem game. Oh God, Why?? Just let it die!
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:
Black Widow #1
Black Widow #1 – A
If you’re looking for a kick-ass superhero book, pick this up. Black Widow has always been a character worthy of her own series; an ex-KGB and current Avenger, Natasha Romanov is shrouded in mystery and has the skills to take on anything. The art in Black Widow is amazing, giving off the feel like the whole story is being told through the lens of a spy, with extreme color detail (nod to Phil Noto!). I’m instantly sold on just how bad this chick is as she takes on two cases with ruthless efficiency. Not much developing yet in terms of a plot for this arc, but the issue itself is thoroughly entertaining with just enough detail to make you pine for the next one. – S
Other Reviews:
Dark Horse Comics
Star Wars #13 – C
The beginning of a five part spinoff story starts with Star Wars #13 this week. The topic – Vader’s revenge! Sounds cut throat and exciting right? Well… not so much in this issue. Following events in the previous 12 issues, Vader is out to force choke the life out of everyone who played a part in allowing the double crossing Bircher to take command of the Devastator. He recruits young Imperial ensign Nanda to chauffer him around the galaxy on his vengeance quest. While I enjoy the prospect of Vader violently using the force on others as an anger management technique, I can’t help but feel that this theme is overplayed. Through the entire issue there was only one moment in which readers experience the “Vader moment,” and even at that it only spanned two pages. The most intriguing and exciting potential for the next five issues are the elite, black-ops Stormtroopers (that have no record of ever existing) and what they will bring to Vader’s foes. The story has me interested, but not on the edge of my seat. I hope we get to see more out of Nanda and that Vader jumps into action soon. – T
DC/Vertigo:
Detective Comics #27 – A
This is not your average “special anniversary” issue. With DC celebrating 75 years of the Dark Knight in 2014, Detective Comics #27, which was the original comic that the Bat-Man appeared in dating back to 1939, is a great way to ring in the year. This issue is full of mini-stories, both feel-good and reflective, that explore a different aspect of Batman’s history. All are thoughtful and put a smile on my face, with Gregg Hurwitz & Neal Adams’ nostalgic story stealing the show. You can tell that the creative team that worked on this book had fun making it, and I had fun reading it. – S
Batman Black & White #5 – A-
Bringing back this collection of short stories about our vigilante hero is the best idea DC has had for a long time. Each issue is a series of vignettes about the Bat. All of the writers and artists so far have been a hodgepodge of the comic book elite. Issue five does not disappoint. I guess what I find so appealing is the old gumshoe approach that they have taken. The first story by Ivan Brandon puts us in the middle of a training exercise between Alfred and the bat. Several of the other stories focus on how clever Bruce Wayne is when he is tracking his prey. “Cat And Mouse” by Keith Giffen and “Hope” by Jimmy Palmiotti are great detective stories. My favorite, hands-down, is “I Killed The Bat” written by Blair Butler and illustrated by Chris Weston. This twisted tale of a cartoonist turned murderer will put a vicious smile on your face by the end of story. – J
Forever Evil: Arkham War #4 – B
The Bane we all know and love is back. With the Justice League out of commission by the Crime Syndicate, the Gotham rogues are left to pick up the pieces of territory. This arc reminds me a lot of No Man’s Land, where Gotham plunged into chaos and the rogues all fought over the remaining territory. All villains are scheming and plotting to get the upper hand over one another, but no tag team is more fun to watch than Bane and Talon. This issue is a full-out Battle Royal between the Gotham baddies that can get clustered at times, but well worth the price of admission. With Freeze and Scarecrow unleashing their own mind-controlled Talons, I can’t wait for the next one. – S
Batman/Superman #7 – C
Batman and Superman are in a colossal fight to death. Bats has been fitted with cyborg technology from the alien villain Mongul. He has been turned into a playable character in a global video game. Over 90 million gamers are in control of the Batman and are hell-bent on killing Superman. The overall story is a bit trite, but the artwork of Brett Booth gives this issue a vibrant look. This issue felt rushed, but if you’re in the mood for a quick mindless read with pretty pictures this is your choice. – J
Dynamtie Entertainment:
Lil’ Vampi #1 – C
Li’l Vampi, a one shot by Eric Trautmann and art by Agnes Garbowska, follows pre-teen Vampi in her new adventures in Stoker, Maine. The puns from vampire, werewolf, and monster lore are cleverly put throughout the book. Vampi is a loner who doesn’t really get along with her peers because she is… well, weird. Her story reminds me a bit of if Buffy had taken place in her late elementary/ early middle school years. Vampi plays detective to the morbid in the town of Stoker. But her pet cat, Pantha is a good distraction from the social mishaps she endures. The best part of this book is Pantha, particularly when he turns his litter box into a miniature replica of the Pyramids of Egypt. Overall, I felt the story was a bit confusing, especially for the young targeted audience. The story bounces between the actual happenings of Vampi to her diary, without much warning, which could be confusing to new and young comic book readers. I do have to say the art was very well suited for the genre, of course, with cover work from Art Baltazar. This was a decent read, but definitely was out-shined by other releases this week. – A
Image:
Sex Criminals #4 – A
Across the back of issue four reads “For Mature Readers Duh,” something that readers should definitely take heed of. This is not the book you read with your friends. It’s raunchy, and foul, and my mother would be ashamed of me, but I love it. The story is written superbly by Matt Fraction, the writer behind the acclaimed Hawkeyeseries (ongoing!) and it focuses on two young lovers, Suzie and John, who can freeze time when they orgasm. This issue introduces us to Her and the sex police. It’s crude humor of the best kind and I can’t get enough of Sex Criminals. It’s only been four issues so I implore you to catch up, but only if you can handle that type of humor. – S
The Walking Dead #119 –B+
Excuse me a moment while I put my foot in my mouth, because TWD just shut me up with their latest issue. After a forgettable #118, we join our Survivors back at Alexandria as they regroup and prepare to defend themselves from Negan’s retaliation. We seem to have found a soft spot in Negan, as he killed one of his own when they try to sexually assault a POW a few episodes ago. That all seems to fade, though, as we get a reminder why we hate/love him so much. – S
Kaboom! Studios:
Adventure Time: The Flip Side #1 –B
Adventure Time: The Flip Side may seem like a children’s book and, although it isn’t as popular as superhero comics, the first issue was enjoyable. It’s lighthearted, easy to follow, and good for some laughs at any age. If you are as big fan of the T.V. show as I am, you will enjoy reading this issue as you watch Finn, Jake, and Beemo take on a rather interesting and unexpected adventure. There isn’t anything dire going on – no threat of planetary destruction which only our heroes can prevent and no grand mystery that is looming over our heads. It’s about a group of friend going on an adventure because that’s what they do best. This book is humorous, enjoyable, relaxing, and just plain old Mathematical! I look forward to the next issue. – E
Marvel:
Marvel NOW Point One #1 – A-
This issue is designed to introduce multiple new arcs that all begin in the next few weeks. Point One is a great read throughout; some of the series will pique readers interest and some will not. Unlike the weekly previews publishers come out with that have only two or three pages, each of these stories actually have a starting and ending point. Especially engaging are the Black Widow and Ms. Marvel series. It’s about time we see some kick-ass women in comic. This isn’t your average variety comic, this is a collection of stories about Marvel’s soon-to-be front-running comics and they deserve your attention. – S
All-New X-Factor #1 – B
Serval Industries wants is open for business, their model, “we just want to help people.” But the real special thing about Serval Industries is their business associates – superheroes! Polaris has recruited Gambit to work for the seemingly noble and industrious Mr. Snow. Why shouldn’t a powerful, cutting-edge company recruit mutants?! What could go wrong?!… The concept put forth by Marvel and Peter David has got this reader very interested. I haven’t seen a concept like this explored in comics before. The theme is very down to Earth and jives very well with all us grownup nerds out there working a 9-to-5. The plot balances predictability and mystery nicely and the characters in focus are well selected. For casual Marvel fans, like me, I appreciate the effort to put well-know, but very dynamic characters into the story. I see a lot of potential in the follow up issues. I expect to see many more familiar faces and I can’t wait for the plot to gain additional depth. I recommended this issue for anyone out there interested in Marvel, but doesn’t necessarily know the entire cast and crew of Avengers vs. X-Men. – T
Avengers World #1 – B-
Unlike the current Avengers title,which centers around intergalactic epidemics, Avengers World takes the series back down to Earth, quite literally, as the Hand (again, no relation to the Foot) emerges as the threat. All your favorite Avengers are in action, with Captain America and Bruce Banner getting a majority of the spotlight. Banner is very witty and sarcastic throughout the issue and is instantly my favorite character. There’s a lot that happens here, and it’s great to see Marvel put out an Avengers book that focuses on what’s going on down here instead of out there. – S
Deadpool #22 – C-
After an intriguing last issue, Deadpool #22 keeps the momentum going with Deadpool tracking a traitor amongst S.H.I.E.L.D. A special All-Star appearance by Agent Coulson keeps the book fun and exciting; even his ’62 Corvette, Lola, is part of the action. There is not a lot of intrigue here, as most of the story is made of up situational humor. That being said, it is a Deadpool book, so it’s around the lines of what I was expecting. – S
GPA by Publisher:
DC Comics: 2 A’s, 1 B and 1 C, averaging out to a 3.25
Marvel Comics: 2 A’s, 2 B’s and 1 C, averaging out to a 3.20
Independents: 1 A, 2 B’s and 2 C’s, averaging out to a 2.80
Funniest Panel of the Week:
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Epic Panel of the Week:
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Cover Art of the Week:
Jim Lee’s variant to Detectice Comics #27
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.
The dialogue in Breaking Bad is the baseline for what makes the show so enjoyable. It’s smart and funny. It is packed with a lot a punch. There are very few things that are said that don’t mean more than what it first appears as. It is also one of the most quoted pieces of modern pop-culture. It suddenly doesn’t seem inappropriate to yell “Bitch!” at someone or gruffly tell them to “apply yourself.” It was difficult to narrow the list to only seven, as there are so many great ones, but we felt these were the best of the best.
7. How Walt Lives His Life:
“To hell with your cancer. I’ve been living with cancer for the better part of a year. Right from the start, it’s a death sentence. That’s what they keep telling me. Well, guess what? Every life comes with a death sentence, so every few months I come in here for my regular scan, knowing full well that one of these times – hell, maybe even today – I’m gonna hear some bad news. But until then, who’s in charge? Me. That’s how I live my life.” – Walter White
This may be the most honest Walt has been the entire series, and it was to a total stranger in the waiting room at the doctor’s office. He is angry he has cancer, but that has never let him hold back in the two years we have known him. While it seems like an inspirational quote on the surface, Walt has lost the desire to live, and he really doesn’t care when the cancer comes back. At points in the timeline, Walt actually wishes that the cancer would come back; he has enough money to leave his family. Walt’s Heisenberg alter-ego is his way of coping with the cancer. He’s created this “big bad” persona that always has an answer to an issue that arrives, the anti-Walt, if you will, but it’s really just a coping mechanism that helps him feel in control of his cancer.
6. The Chemistry Must be Respected:
Walt: “You believe I have some proprietary kind of selfishness about my own formula? Some sort of overweening pride that you think simply overwhelms me, clouds my judgment?”
Gus: “But it doesn’t?”
Walt: “Absolutely not. I simply respect the chemistry. The chemistry must be respected.”
What a smug asshole. He could have been out of the game cleanly right here.
In this scene, Walt finds out that Jesse has been entrusted in taking over Gus’ operation and been manufacturing Walt’s signature blue meth. Offended by this, Walt convinces Gus that Jesse is nothing but a burn-out junkie that must be “supervised” during cooks and that a quality of “more or less that he has come to expect” is still not Heisenberg Level (although, technically, Heisenberg level is only 92%). Walt gets very snobby and denies that there is any conceit in his words, but simply that he is so in love with Chemistry that he could not bear to have this product cooked by anybody less-deserving. Gus cleverly sees right through all the bullshit, as he was just letting Jesse cook the product to lure Walt back. Gus shows Walt the lab and convinces Walt that he needs to be a man and provide for his family, forever setting Walt back on the bad path for the remainder of the show.
5. ASAC Schrader is Really the Smartest Guy We Know:
“You want me to beg? You’re the smartest guy I ever met, and you’re too stupid to see—he made up his mind ten minutes ago.” – ASAC Hank Schrader
It was silly for Walt to ever think that he could pay the Aryan’s off when they still had the opportunity to sack a DEA agent, who they know would have gotten them all arrested eventually. Hank knew that with these types of criminals, when they have that chance and get 80 million dollars for free, they are going to jump on it. And his words to Walt were the things we all have wanted to say to Walt. He is so smart, but the entire show has been too stupid to see… well pretty much everything. His judgment has always been clouded by his family or his pride. And as we find out, he cannot have both.
4. You Knew the “Empire Business” Would Make the Cut:
“Jesse, you asked me if I was in the meth business or the money business. Neither. I’m in the empire business.” – Walter White
So back to the pride thing… Walt’s still butt-hurt that Gretchen and Elliott “screwed” him out of Grey Matter Technologies, a company that Walt helped build, but ultimately walked out on because of some weird relationship with he and Gretchen. Anyway, his own pride kept him from staying with Gray Matter and his own pride is what keeps him as Heisenberg. When Drew Sharp is murdered, it’s the end for Mike and Jesse. They want to sell the methylamine and be done for good, something that they are well-justified in doing after dissolving the body of a teenager. Walt has this delusion that the drug empire he has built will be a fair substitute for the one that he missed out on with Gretchen, and refusing to give up the methylamine to Jesse and Mike add one more crack to the mirror image of Walter White.
3. You Also Knew “Say My Name” Would Make the Cut:
Walt: “Now, say my name”
Declan: “Heisenberg”
Walt: “You’re God damn right.”
Who’s the bitch now?!
There goes that pride thing again! At this point in the series, Walt has a major hard-on for himself. He’s murdered the drug kingpin of Albuquerque and established himself as the all-powerful Heisenberg, with a ruthlessness as fine-tipped as his product. After convincing a hesitant Mike to make a new deal for the methylamine, Walt meets up with Declan, the kingpin of Phoenix. We don’t know anything about Declan, but we do know that Phoenix is supposed to be a bigger player than ABQ in the meth game, so this dude is a big deal. Walt doesn’t care; he’s taken on the Cartel for Christ’s sake. He nixes the original deal and tells Declan, a presumably-dangerous man Walt has never met, that he now works for him. When Declan laughs at the idea, not knowing who Walt is, Walt elaborates. “I’m the man that killed Gus Fring.” Ahhh, snaps! He proceeds to make Declan his bitch by making him say Walt’s street name.
2. It’s How We All Feel, Jesse:
“I am not turning down the money! I’m turning down you! You get it?! I want nothing to do with you! Ever since I met you, everything I ever cared about is gone! Ruined, turned to shit, dead, ever since I hooked up with the great Heisenberg!” – Jesse Pinkman
Jesse sees things more clearly, even if it’s through one eye.
It’s a surprise that this quote only comes half-way through the third season. Jesse had been through a lot up to that point, losing both Combo and Jane, not to mention having murdered a man. And while Walt saved him from Hank at the junkyard, there was nobody around to stop Hank from beating the ever-living crap out of Jesse at his own home. In what some could call a two-season long bitch-fest, Jesse breaks down in his hospital bed and refuses to work with Walt ever again. It’s a tragic statement so vivid that, no matter how you end up feeling about Jesse (we love him, btw), you can’t help but feel sorry for him. He has had everything taken away from him since beginning his time working with Walt. Unfortunately, money overrules foresight, as Jesse goes back to work with Walt. As everybody in Breaking Bad will eventually discover, this quote applies to more than just Jesse.
1. Knock, Knock. Who’s there?:
“You clearly don’t know who you’re talking to, so let me clue you in: I am not in danger, Skyler. I am the danger. A guy opens his door and gets shot, and you think that of me? No! I am the one who knocks!” – Walter White
If there was one line of Breaking Bad that sums up the entire show, it’s this one right here. Skyler wakes up Walt and asks him about Gale Boetticher, she is frightened at the notion that the people Walt work with killed Gale and may do the same to Walt. She is sincerely worried about Walt and her family, pleading with Walt to turn himself in, that he was obviously in need of help and in way too deep. Walt, not one to allow anybody to make him seem weak, barks back at Skyler and makes himself look like a cold-hearted killer. In essense, his own arrogance destroys a family dynamic that was barely there in the first place.
Thanks for reading our Top Breaking Bad quotes. There was so many more we wanted to add, but we didn’t want to double dip moments by mentioning them more than once in our Breaking Bad Week articles. Stay tuned tomorrow for our Funniest Breaking Bad Moments article in the meantime (isn’t it hard to remember a time when this show was actually funny?), but in the mean time, let us know what your favorite quote from the show was below!
Hush Comics 