Comic Book Reviews 07-16-14

Review Scale:

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Pick of the Week:

Magneto  #7 – A-

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

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

 

Other Reviews: 

DC/Vertigo:

Robin Rises: Omega  #1 – B+

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

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

Batman Eternal #15 – C

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

Teen Titans #1 – D+

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

Harley Quinn Invades Comic Con #1 – D-

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

 

Dynamite Entertainment:

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

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

IDW Comics:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles  #36 – B

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

X-Files: Year Zero #1 – B-

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

Marvel:

Uncanny X-Men #23 – B+

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

Ms. Marvel  #6 – B-

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

Savage Hulk #2 – C+

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

 

Funniest Panel

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

Panel with the Most Awesomeness:

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

 

 

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

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

 

So Far this Week… April 9, 2014

If you saw this week’s episode of Marvel: Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., you know that s*** just got real! Tying into the fallout of Captain America: The Winter Soldier (review here), S.H.I.E.L.D. has just gotten shaken up in a big way. Even better is news that Nick Fury and Maria Hill will be showing up in the television series. #HAILHYDRA

Bit by bit, we are getting a better look at Michael Bay’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. This week begets character posters of each turtle holding their respective weapon(s). Story be damned, this movie is going to look awesome.

This rumor is too juicy not to tell: Captain Mal/Hammer himself, Nathan Fillion, might have a cameo in the upcoming space epic, Guardians of the Galaxy.

Wreck-it-Ralph fans can anticipate a return to the arcades, as Disney is currently in development for a sequel.

Hogwarts is coming to California! The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which is a mini-park inside Universal Studios Florida, will be joining the California park in 2016. A round of Butterbeer for all my friends, please.

Also in theme park news, Universal Studios will be getting a Fast and the Furious attraction. This franchise will never run out of ways to make money off of itself.

Professional wrestling Hall of Fame inductee (just three days into induction) Ultimate Warrior has passed away. Check out some of his in-ring highlights if you didn’t know who he was.

Looks like they found work for an old Wookie! Peter Mayhew is set to reprise his role as Chewbacca in Star Wars: Episode VII.

The next edition of Super Smash Bros. will also come out on the 3DS and feature an online mode; it will also feature Charizard. Between this and Scribblenauts: Unmasked, we’re one nudge away from owning a Nintendo system.

DC Comics will be relaunching two of their super teams in Suicide Squad and Teen Titans this summer. I’m pretty stoked to see Deathstroke and Black Manta on a team together, and it’s great to see Raven and Beast Boy finally back on the Teen Titans squad.

I would say “SPOILER Alert,” but this news is literally all over the internet – even CNN is talking about it. The death of Archie Andrews is coming. I’m not gonna touch this one…

The legendary Roots crew, known by many as Jimmy Fallon’s band, has released a single from their upcoming album, …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin, called “When the People Cheer.” The album is due out in a month, and you can find a streaming version of the single at okayplayer.com.

If you needed another reason to hate EA, the reigning worst company in America, look no further than the fact that they were sitting on a Darth Maul game, supposedly inspired by the Batman: Arkham series. Now that Disney has the rights to the franchise, that game is shelved permanently – just like 1313 before it. Seriously, f*** those guys.

On the other hand, EA’s next UFC installment will feature the Dragon, Bruce Lee, in all his glory as a playable character.

Comic Book Reviews 12-18-13

Pick of the Week:

Locke and Key: Alpha #2 (IDW Comics) – A

And that, my friends, is how you wrap up the greatest horror series in comic book history. This was a Locke for pick of the week before it was even announced. Kudos to Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez for an amazing run of almost six years. I won’t judge you if you haven’t read this book, as it’s been critically acclaimed but still very rarely marketed. There are no cliffhangers, monsters or murderers – just closure. It’s a welcome finale when writers are far more concerned with the integrity of the story rather than a spin-off or a mini-series event. As the son of the great Stephen King, Joe Hill has plenty else to look forward to. The only disclaimer I have for this issue is that you must have read the story to understand the gravity or the events of what transpire in the series finale. I know it’s a bummer but you can get started by reading our review of the first volume here.

Other Reviews:

DC:

Harley Quinn #1 (DC Comics) – B+

Written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti, Harley Quinn issue #1 made quite the entrance into her own comic series.  Picking up where we left off in issue #0, Harley has packed up all her belongings, at least the ones that were in decent condition after Mr. J blew her stuff up.  On her very own Harley, our heroine (to be debated later) is on her way to Coney Island where she has suddenly come into her own property.  On her way there, she talks to her beaver (woah, inappropriate) that only she can hear, and rescues an abused dachshund.  A girl who likes animals more than people is my kind of girl.  The artwork is really amazing.  Illustrated by Chad Hardin and colored by Alex Sinclair (Jim Lee’s right-hand man), One of the best panels features Harley pulling up to her new pad.  We see all the people of her new hood, including a beggar on the street corner wearing a Guy Fawkes mask and holding a sign that reads “Please help me pay off my student loans.  Thanks-V”  It’s a nice little nod to the Occupy Movement. The art allows Harley to have a bit of a sexy look to her, but in certain panels we still realize that she is a creepy, crazy clown.  She even makes a jab at herself when trying to recreate her Harleen Quinzel look, “That’s what I get for getting an all over bleach job.”   Her crazy wit is cute and funny throughout the comic, and we get to see how extreme she can be, especially during roller derby.  It looks like this series will be following Harley in her adventures in the big city ala Sex and the City.  But we all know Harley is a little less Carrie Bradshaw and a little more Lorena Bobbitt. The only gripe I have with this issue is seeing Harley as such a BA, yet at the end, a dude saves her life.  When is Harley gonna be her own woman?  Hopefully at some point in this series, Harley will realize how great she is without anyone to save her.

Red Hood and the Outlaws #26 (DC Comics) – C

This issue leads up to the conclusion of the current story arc and while it doesn’t offer anything crazy as far as advancing the plot forward, it does have some incredible artwork throughout. This series has been very hit or miss for me. While I love how awesome Red Hood can be, I personally can’t stand Arsenal as character, and Starfire seems like she should be too powerful for a group such as this. Nothing in 26 issues has changed my opinion of this. I continue to read because of the potential it has to intertwine with Batman; however, since the disassociation with Batman after death of the family, I have been left with a longing for Jason to return to Gotham to dispense his brand of vigilante justice. Only time will tell if this is a book I will continue to read in the future. It definitely has the potential to shine but it will depend entirely on the writers to be able to make it genuinely interesting to read. Perhaps changing the team around wouldn’t be such a bad idea.

Supergirl #26 (DC Comics) – B+

If there was a good point to drop into the middle of this series, issue 26 would be the perfect one to do it. Kara does a little souls searching and while in the middle of that, the issue gives a great summary of the events of the last 25 issues. Sure there are some small things that someone just getting into the series would have to catch up on, but none of it is anything major that can’t be read later. What really makes this issue shine how is the introduction of the most badass bounty hunter in the galaxy. Lobo! While he isn’t given a large amount of time, what time he is given is well utilized and promises to make this current arc one of the best so far. My only complaint with this series thus far is that it requires you to stay current with Superman and Superboy, otherwise you risk missing out on key plot points due to the way the stories intertwine

Teen Titans Go! #1 (DC Comics) –  B+

Teen Titans Go! Issue #1 was a pleasant surprise for me.  It was clearly intended for the younger audiences, but was packed with witty humor. I found myself laughing out loud at several panels throughout.  This issue was broken up into two parts.  Part one is the mystery of who is eating Cyborg’s sandwich.  The mystery aspect of the story was very cute with Robin taking it upon himself to interrogate the group.  Using black and white panels for this section and giving Robin old-timey detective lines worked perfectly.  Part two focuses on a bet between Robin, Cyborg and Beast Boy on the mini-golf course.  Meanwhile, Raven and Starfire go to the arcade.  Raven cleverly uses her levitation powers to get a stuffed toy out of the claw machine.  Starfire asks, “But where does the claw come in?”  “Beats me.” Raven replies dryly.  The wittiness of this issue is what carries it.  The dialogue is quick and pokes fun at itself a little.  The outcomes of each episode are a little silly, but what else is expected for the teens? Teen Titans Go! is a good read for new and seasoned comic readers.

Wonder Woman #26 (DC Comics) – C

Wonder Woman has pretty much carried the torch for women in DC Comics for the past few years. Protector, warrior, princess of Olympus – Wonder Woman is by all means a powerhouse. Thanks to some great writing by Brian Azzarello, Wonder Woman has undergone quite the transition into the fight for Olympus. After a godly issue #23, though, things have quite slowed down. It feels like they’re trying to do too much. There are several different story-lines playing out, and over the span of months, I’m beginning to forget what the big picture actually is. While I’m sure this would read better in a graphic novel format, it’s just too complex of a story to be able to pick up every month. However, don’t let that discount the great character dynamics and fantastic use of Greek mythology; this is still a highly enjoyable book.

Marvel:

All New X-Men #20 (Marvel Comics) – B

Laura Kinney (X-23) is back! She’s popping blades and not taking any lip from anyone! She awakens in the old Weapon X factory, (it’s since been converted to the New Xavier School For the Gifted). Scott and Laura have a heart to Adamantium talk about why the X-Men have time traveled. She explains that she has been tortured for a year and is now being hunted by an anti-mutant group called, The Purifiers. This anti-mutant group is led by William Stryker’s son.  Can we say daddy issues? The X-Men gear up and prepare to raid this new threats’ hideout when…

Amazing Spiderman #700.4 (Marvel Comics) – C

Bravo to Pasqual Ferry and Andres Mossa for the cover art. The issue is worth the pick up for that alone. Peter Parker is still in the Kaiser Permanente from hell. He has been admitted to a hospital for criminals. Joe Casey writes some harsh lines about our do-gooder, “Consider his reputation, an anti-hero at best…not exactly Captain America. He would not be missed.” Peter’s identity as Spider-Man has been compromised by the staff and now he is in a fight to get out of there.

Amazing Spiderman #700.5 (Marvel Comics) – D

No rest for the weary. Spider-Man tries to enjoy a nap after a day of crime fighting, and who should come flying through his window? Johnny Storm! Brian Reed writes this issue, Spider-Man and The Human Torch. This issue is a throw-away. The story is rushed, poorly planned and boring. Johnny steals some kind of machine from the Baxter Building that came from future Ben. It will destroy the universe and old flame-boy tries to enlist Spidey to help him get rid of it. The Fantastic Four track him down to retrieve the device. Skip this one and give Superior Spider-Man #24 a shot.

Daredevil #34 (Marvel Comics) – B-

After an odd stint in Stone Hills, Kentucky, Daredevil is back in New York City and back to the main storyline; the Sons of the Serpent, a white supremecy group, have corrupted the justice system and look to be taking the whole city from the inside. This story has been building for about ten issues now, and it finally would seem that Daredevil is gaining momentum against the Serpents. After an empowering speech over the airwaves, Daredevil has gone on the offensive against the Serpents. On display are very run-of-the-mill pages from Mark Waid and Javier Rodriguez. The series has lost a bit of the appeal it had in earlier issues, but it’s still fun to read. With the story, and the series’ run wrapping up in two issues, there’s a lot of ground to cover.

Deadpool #21 (Marvel Comics) –  B

So I’ll admit, I got a bit carried away with Deadpool #20, the ridiculous story about battling inter-galactic monsters in Wakanda. I’m not perfect and neither is Deadpool. This issue has us follow our favorite hero as he continues his journey to separate himself from S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Preston, who is sharing space aside the multiple personalities of Wade Wilson. It doesn’t make sense if you haven’t read the whole way through, but having read all the issues, it still doesn’t make sense. As he tries to satisfy Preston by watching Madea he is hunted by S.H.I.E.L.D. mercenaries, an irony that is not lost on me. The issue was thoroughly entertaining and full of hilarity. This is the start of the Deadpool vs. S.H.I.E.L.D arc, so it’s a great time to jump on to watch the Merc With A Mouth take down the system. … at least for a few episodes until they put out another stupid filler issue.

Scarlet Spider #25 (Marvel Comics) – C-

This final issue in the series really brings this particular story arc full circle. What I find the most dissatisfying is that you could have almost replaced this issue with the first one and ended the entire series right there. It basically felt like a carbon copy of the first issue, only Kaine has the chops to go through with actually leaving Houston the first time. The artwork wasn’t anything particularly special but it was not bad by any means. This ending felt a little sloppy but after reading the afterword, I am assured that this isn’t the end for Kaine. This character has great potential if explored properly. I really like the idea of a Peter Parker that is tainted and willing to go places and do things that Peter Parker would never do. It is the perfect opportunity to explore that dark side and while this ending may have been a little disappointing, I am looking forward to the future of Scarlet Spider when he returns in NEW WARRIORS #1.

Superior Spiderman #24 (Marvel Comics) – C+

Oh great, as if Spiderman wasn’t arrogant enough. With the great narcissistic Otto Octavius at the helm of the Venom symbiote, things are not looking so great for those close to him. Really, enough is enough. You can make him an asshole, you can make him break up with MJ, you can even make him dance around like an idiot in Spiderman 3… but you do not get to disrespect sweet ol’ Aunt May; that is off-limits. As Spidey’s ego goes to his head, there are a lot of things set in motion by the police, the Golbin gang and The Avengers. I like where this is going, as it’s obviously time for Peter Parker to come back from oblivion and return to the spotlight. The weekly splurge of Amazing Spiderman hints that a Parker return isn’t far off.

IDW:

Samurai Jack #3 (IDW Comics) –  B

This month’s issue of Samurai Jack was a nice change from there the series could have gone.  With the first two issues requiring Jack to defeat an unbeatable foe, I was worried every issue would follow the same script.  So far, Issue #3 is my favorite.  Jack, still following the magical Threads of Time to rewind history from his enemy Aku, lands in what seems to be Ancient Greece.  He meets the warrior of the town, Gloer the Great of Grantus.  The alliterative character shows Jack around town.  But instead of having to fight Gloer, as was expected, he sees that Gloer’s town has already been demolished by Aku’s terribleness.  The series is already a little Mr. Peabody-esque.  This issue is Mr. Peabody meets Stepford Wives meets Disney’s Hercules.  It’s very cute, but still a great use of medium to provoke some pretty deep thoughts for the intended elementary level reader. I highly recommend picking up this issue for your new little comic book reader.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #29 (IDW Comics) – B+

We join our turtles after the fallout of City Fall as they drive to a Northampton countryside home where April O’Neil’s parents live. The family is in shambles and I can feel Splinter pain as he tries to repair the damage that Shredder and the Foot have wrought upon his family. The issue is divided between the turtles and their family issues and the O’Neils meeting Casey Jones for the first time. Ah, but the plot thickens! Our heroes had an unwelcome guest follow them to Northampton (Although not unwelcome to me, as this is secretly my favorite character in the book). Meanwhile, April finds out that there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to the mutagen, and her parents are the one to tell the secret. Ross Campbell has picked up art duties for the main story after doing a couple of the Micro-Series (Leonardo, Alopex) books. Although I was initially sad to see Mateus Santolouco’s grimy style end with City Fall, Campbell’s art is intrinsically beautiful and fitting of the subject matter. As we build towards another storyline, I was thoroughly pleased with TMNT #29, as it serves as a great jumping-on point for fans new to the series while still reflecting on the events of City Fall.

Image:

Black Science #2 (image Comics) – A

The second issue of this deep space thriller, Black Science, opened up the story and explained a lot of character dynamic without giving too much away for what’s to come. It’s a captivating sci-fi tale that mixes a little bit of Mass Effect with an 80’s space thriller twist. What Black Science succeeds at so well is its ability to draw in a reader with it’s amazing character dynamics and between-the-lines story-telling. Two issues in and you already know who you are supposed to like and who you are supposed to loathe. Throw in a well-placed flashback scene and now you’re part of the family. First, mutant frog people and now futuristic Native Americans killing Nazis; this is shaping up to be one special series, and it’s not limited to cliches and superheroes.

Saga #17 (image Comics) – A

“The only journalists that deserve killing are sports writers.” Saga is written too well for me to fully appreciate. It’s filled with literary quips. I feel like it’s written only for English majors or burnt-out authors. Needless to say, it’s brilliant. Issue 17 masks its social and political dogma behind vibrant panels and fashionable sarcasm. We find our two journalists greeted by yet another Freelancer named, The Brand. He enchants them with an Anti-snitching potion (Embargon) to impede them from continuing their story about inter-species love. When Upsher and Doff ask The Brand why their writing is so threatening the response is, “It’s the stories with no sides that worry them.” Saga engages everything is our current social spectrum. Nothing is taboo. Homosexuality, popular media, inter-racial relationships, and child-rearing are all on the table. As readers we are also unclear to Vaughn’s stance on these issues. This is what makes Saga so intriguing.

The Will is still bleeding out after being attacked by a possessed Sophie (slave-girl). Gwendolyn is desperate to find help. She makes her way to D. Oswald Heist’s lighthouse. She arrives after Klara’s attempt to save his life from Prince Robot IV.  This week’s issue submerges us deeper into this space-opera and will give you a good giggle and gasp (See Prince Robot’s erotic revelation).

Sex #9 (image Comics) – B

Now we’re talking! There’s been a lot of foreplay leading up to Sex, but it seems that the buttons are finally coming undone. What we are shown is a genuine origin story starring our hero Simon as The Armored Saint and his techie sidekick, Keenan. It really brings the story together and explains a lot in the first eight episodes that didn’t make a whole lot of sense the first time through. Guest artist Morgan Jeske’s art has a very distinct appearance from the rest of the series, and gives the issue a very raw, Dark Knight Returns vibe. And, of course, there is raunchy, gratuitous sex – as is expected when your crime-fighting secret hideout is a whore-house. Here’s to hoping that we get more exciting issues like this and less build-up.

Dark Horse:

Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows #1 (Dark Horse Comics) – B

Enter Clone Trooper CT5539, after the Clone Wars and after Order 66. One of Jango’s copies has settled down working and living quite unremarkably on what appears to be a desert planet (perhaps Tatooine – some of the best Star Wars stories star there!). By way of true “events,” Cry of Shadows #1 really has none. The pages are filled with narration and storytelling. Flashbacks and imagination dominate. This isn’t a bad thing though! On the contrary, I was able to connect with CT5539 almost immediately because I was reading his inner thoughts. It’s critical to note that the flesh and blood Vader (or should I say, metal and lube-oil) makes no appearance besides what’s being imagined by CT derived from stories told by drunk cantina-goers. Vader remains a fantasy and a symbol in CT’s eyes. The ferocious tales are vividly and beautifully illustrated by Guzan and Atiyeh. It could be my bias, but Vader remains as imposing and awesome as ever. After meandering through post-war life, CT finds a spark and journeys out to see if the stories about Vader are true. What better way to obtain answers than ask the guy yourself?! The build-up is well done in Cry of Shadows #1 and I’m already anxious to see how the real life Vader measures up to the Vader of CT’s dreams and aspirations.

Ghost #1 (Dark Horse Comics) – B-

The series is a continuation of the original 1990’s Ghost series where Elisa, a journalist, uncovers a crazy secret; the Mayor of Chicago is actual a demon in disguise. The possessed mayor banishes Elisa to hell only to have her brought back to the living world in ghost form by two paranormal investigators, Vaughn and Tommy, after which she proceeds to pull the demon from the mayor. That same demon, however, is able to escape and possess a new host – Doctor October. This is essentially where we pick up in Ghost #1. Elisa is still hunting for Doctor October as well as other possessed persons of power in Chi-town. Issue #1 starts out pretty intensely with Elisa kicking serious demon behind on the monorail. There’s lots of plot development in the first issue (as expected) and it makes for a somewhat slow read. Authors Kelly Sue DeConnick and Chris Sebela appear to be working depth into the story and I enjoy the direction its heading. In Elisa’s return for the demon realm, she only partially recovered her memory; this aspect does much to move the story along and kept me engaged. Demon sketch lack originality, but are beautifully grotesque in detail (props to Ryan Sook). Ghost herself is also pretty B.A. She stunts some really cool tricks and maintains a fearless and confident attitude throughout. I’m looking forward to Elisa’s pursuits to purify her city, recover her memory and take on Doctor October!

Funniest Panels of the Week:

Adrian’s nomination for funniest panel of the week from Teen Titans Go! #1.

Panama’s nomination for funniest panel of the week from Amazing Spiderman #700.5.

Robert’s nomination for funniest panel of the week from Supergirl #26.

Sherif’s nomination for funniest panel of the week from Deadpool #21.

Taylors’s nomination for funniest panel of the week from Ghost #1.

Epic Panels of the Week:

Adrian’s nomination for Epic Panel of week from Harley Quinn #1.

Panama’s nomination for Epic Panel of week from Saga #17.

Robert’s nomination for Epic Panel of week from Supergirl #26.

Sherif’s nomination for Epic Panel of week from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #29.

Taylor’s nomination for Epic Panel of week from Darth Vader and the Cry of Shadows #1.

Cover Art of the Week:

TMNT #29 by Ross Campbell gets our cover art of the week for its beautiful use of color

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, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.

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