The X-Files fandom is getting oodles of good news this week. Robbie Amell (Flash, The Duff, The Tomorrow People) and Lauren Ambrose (Six Feet Under, Where the Wild Things Are, Torchwood) have been cast in the highly-anticipated X-Files reboot.
Amell will play the smart and smooth Agent Miller and Ambrose is set to play Agent Einstein, described as sharp and confident. Both characters are only set to appear in one episode so far, but seeing as so many guest stars end up becoming regulars in shows these days, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them more than that.
Other guest stars include, Joel McHale, Annet Mahendru (The Americans,) Rhys Darby (Flight of the Conchords) and Kumail Nanjiani (Silicon Valley.) Also set to be in the reboot are original X-Files actors David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Mitch Pileggi and William B. Davis.
Lone Gunmen (X-Files spin-off) starring Bruce Hardwood as John Fitzgerald Byers, Tom Braidwood as Melvin Frohike, Dean Haglund as Richard ‘Ringo’ Langly, Zuleikha Robinson as Yves Adele Harlow and Stephen Snedden as Jimmy BondIt seems all the people you may think are dead are returning for this new season of X-Files! If you have not been keeping up with the in-canon X-Files season 10 comics, you may be a bit confused at all the X-Files resurrections happening for the new mini-series. However, if you have been reading you would already known how so many characters have or will escape death for this new series. So, if you are confused, picking those up might be a good idea to prepare for the show next year. The season 11 comic series will be starting next month to lead us into the show.
The news of the horribly killed off (in an episode called Jump the Shark no less) Lone Gunmen’s return came directly from the star Dean Haglund’s (Richard ‘Ringo’ Langly) Twitter page where he responded to a fan asking about their return. “Yep, it’s true,” he said.
Haglund previously had hinted he had a casting call from a certain sci-fi show two weeks ago on his podcast, Chillpak Hollywood Hour, and eager fans have been waiting for the announcement ever since. They will appear in at least one episode, but no other details have been released yet. We can only hope it is more than just a brief appearance. In the mean time, keep staying tuned for more X-Files news in the coming months. In honor Langly, never forget the memory of Joey Ramone. The Truth is Out There!
In this consumer-based industry, it can be easy to forget the years of hard work that the people in the business put in. Behind every panel, it takes a skilled writer, artist, inker and colorist to make the product complete. Behind each scene goes hours of preparation. Hush Comics’ “Respect My Craft” articles will dive into the history of these comic book and pop culture greats that will hopefully give a new perspective on how the men and women behind the pen (or stylus) contribute to the collective awesome-ness of the nerd world, or at least give you a reason to invest in their work.
Click on the link to take you to all of our Denver Comic Con “Respect My Craft” articles
Name: Scott Wilson
Profession: Actor
NotableWork: The Walking Dead, CSI, The Great Gatsby (1974), In Cold Blood, The X-Files, The Last Samurai
“I didn’t expect to live forever. I will remain a fan of the show even when I’m no longer on it. And [Glen Mazzara] said…it’ll either be episode 11 or 12. Eleven comes, I’m alive. Twelve comes, I’m alive. Thirteen comes, I’m alive. So he says look at you, you’re still alive. I said, ‘Yeah. I’m talking to my savior!’” – Scott Wilson
Chances are the majority of Scott Wilson fans going to see him at DCC this year came to love him as Hershel Greene on The Walking Dead. There was something so warm and familiar about the character that viewers came to love him just as much as the fictional characters he shared the screen with. While that may be the character with the biggest impact he’s played in recent history, Scott Wilson has been captivating audiences since 1967.
Scott Wilson was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1942 and he spent his whole life there unit he hitchhiked out to LA one day on a whim. Wilson was supposed to attend Georgia Southern University and study architecture, but instead met up with some friends in LA and literally drunkenly stumbled into acting. He fell in love with acting and then dedicated five years of his life to studying and perfecting his craft. In 1967, Scott Wilson appeared opposite Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger in The Heat of the Night. That same year, he wowed and terrified audiences as Richard Hickok in In Cold Blood. After that, he continued to grab major roles in many films, including The Great Gatsby, for which he earned great critical acclaim, and The Ninth Configuration, which he received a Golden Globe Nomination for. Along with a thriving movie career, Wilson also made several notable appearances on popular TV shows like The Twilight Zone and The X-Files.
There is a noticeable somberness and subtlety to Scott Wilson and all the character’s he plays. He stole the hearts of TWD fans everywhere and even though comic readers knew he had to die, they were still not prepared for his departure. He was the moral compass, and one of the few characters that never let the world he lived in diminish his ability to live, love and forgive. So much more of the love that Hershel encompassed came from the man that Scott Wilson is. He’s been described as wise and extremely kind hearted while also being very serious and thoughtful about every move his character makes – not to mention he’s been married to the same woman for nearly forty years, which is a true statement of genuine character in the Hollywood world.
Scott Wilson’s range is all over the map and he nails every aspect of every character he plays. He can play a horrifying cold-blooded killer as well as a loving and wise father with both performances entrancing his audiences. Wilson has worked steadily in Hollywood since the late sixties, always taking roles that excited him and he respected. He never really became a household name, but he acted for all the right reasons. He finds passion in his work and he loves to investigate and learn the characters he brings to life on the screen. He is one of Hollywood’s great characters actors, which may be the best class to be among.
None of the media in this article belongs to Hush Comics; it all belongs to their respective properties.
The mythical A+: Classic comic book material. Belongs next to your copy of The Notebookand The Joy of Cooking.
A: Would definitely recommend to all comic book readers. Even more so to fans of the genre or characters
B: Enjoyable read. Fans of the genre or characters will especially like.
C: Non-essential read. Can be enjoyable for fans of the genre or characters, but likely for only one or two events in the books.
D: Unenjoyable book. Read at your own risk. Might find satisfaction if major flaws are overlooked.
F: Please don’t buy this book. Donate your money to a local comic book writer’s workshop instead to inspire future generations to write something better than this trash.
Pick of the Week:
Moon Knight #11
Moon Knight #11 – A
Marc Spector is in it now! Following the events of last issue, we find that Marc is being detained in a mysterious and very peculiar looney-bin. While his asylum scrubs are nowhere near as cool as his magic Egyptian armor, Marc still wears his confident and tough-guy attitude well. I’m really in love with this story. I was just as entertained with this issue as I had with all the others and there wasn’t even a single “Moon Knight” appearance. I’m really starting to enjoy Greg Smallwood’s panel work as well. I love the rigid and boxy comic squares. The lack of overlapping panels is unique and forces readers to really take their time on each image. This structure lends itself extremely well to the captivating events of the story. It’s a new year, but my love for Moon Knight is only growing! – Taylor
Other Reviews:
Dark Horse Comics:
Groo: Friends & Foes #1 – C+
The renowned Sergio Aragones brings us a new Groo story, Groo – Friends & Foes. Now this is the first time I’ve read a Groo book, and I don’t really see the appeal, maybe I’m the wrong audience though. For those who do don’t know, like I didn’t, Groo is a wandering buffoonish swordsman, a parody of characters like Conan the Barbarian. So the story follows his misadventures and misunderstandings. The bottom line is Groo will eventually wreck everything. This issue is essentially about insurance fraud. The art is unique in the way that it’s very much a traditional Sunday funny pages type of art. It’s definitely not what most readers are used to with today’s comics. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have its own appeal. The writing is a little off-putting at times; some of the dialogue is very unnatural. Groo isn’t without its charm though. – Scott
DC/Vertigo Comics:
Batman and Robin #38 – A
There is no pain like a child whose dad won’t let me him his brand new super-powers. Personally, I love that the powers that be at DC have allowed Damian Wayne to come back from the dead, and it’s even more interesting that he is now virtually indestructible (I got my fingers crossed for a Damian-Superman showdown!). Writer Peter Tomasi keeps things light-hearted at the beginning when Damian begs his dad to go patrolling with him. What ensues is exactly what you’d expect from a newly-resurrected 10 year old with new super-powers… whatever your standards for that may be. However, the issue takes a deep, reflective route towards the end that are beautifully (and frighteningly) captured by artist Patrick Gleason. One of the best issues of the new year thus far! – Sherif
Batman Eternal #42 – A-
Ladies and gentlemen, Harper Row. Or Bluebird. Either way, Batman’s newest intern is tearing it up! This issue focuses exclusively on the battle to take down Mad Hatter after he brain-washed a large collective of citizens, along with Batgirl, Red Robin and Red Hood. Harper is one smart cookie in terms of tech, and so the way she disposes of the bad guys is impressive – not just for rookie standards, but even for Batman. This book has been the biggest cluster*** of a story I have ever read, but it’s stand-alone issues like this that keep me coming back for more. We still have no idea who the Big Bad is here, and so we keep marching on. – Sherif
Wonder Woman #38 – B+
Things are really heating up in Themyscira as Wonder Woman continues to lose both her people and their confidence in her as a leader. I mean, she did just save everybody from the First Born a few issues ago, but what has she done for them lately? Creatively, I love the direction this book is going in. Artist David Finch continues to bring it with beautiful full-page spreads, and his wife, writer Meredith Finch, is going a great job of keeping the story flowing at a perfect pace. Even though the issue ended on pretty much the exact same note as before, I enjoyed the read throughout. Wonder Woman is going to need to really embrace the power of being a God is she is gonna make any headway as an Amazonian leader. – Sherif
The Kitchen #3 – B-
Thanks to The Kitchen, I now know that you need to puncture the lungs and the stomach before dumping a body in the river, otherwise they will float and there will be bodies everywhere! Also, telling someone that you will cut out their eyeballs and pour bleach in the holes is an empty threat. Did I mention this isn’t a kids comic? Or good to read while you eat (if you have a weak tummy, like me)? While The Kitchen is delightfully brutal (yikes, I think it is delightful? I’m sick), it didn’t move the story along very much other than the three girls now are known to be killers and kind of bad ass. They could also be in a lot of trouble. No one knows. – Adrian
Teen Titans #6 – C+
The new Power Girl just Rick James’d all over the Teen Titans’ couch! I pretty much stopped reading the new Teen Titans after a couple issues because of the excessive bravado and lack of dynamic characters. I had never been so disappointed in Red Robin, and was annoyed that, as cool as Raven looked, she was pretty much just used to get the team places. Enter the new Power Girl, whose emergence came from the pages of World’s Finest a year ago. She tells them straight up that they need to do better as a team, and it was almost a subliminal nob from DC that they have been messing this book up. Teen Titans is not out of the doghouse yet with me, but they’re on the right track. – Sherif
IDW Comics:
Millennium #1 – A
This took me back to my childhood, when I would sit cross-legged on the floor in front of the TV every Friday night watching X-Files and then Millennium and be completely in awe. I loved it then and I love it now. This book made an extremely strong leap back into its storyline and I’m already hooked. Millennium is based on the TV show from the late 90’s that shared the same name. I know not a lot of other people watched it, otherwise it would have stuck around for longer, and without the pre-existing knowledge from that series new readers to this book may be a little lost. My point in all this is that there is a back story to this book that is not covered in the first issue, but don’t rule it out just because of that. The artwork is great, its extremely well-written, creepy, intriguing and will probably have some great scares and twists along the way. I’m very pleased with this book and I can’t wait to read the next one. As a fan of the show, I felt like the story should have kept going, and now the comic is giving it that chance. I predict this will be a complicated series, and missing one issue may completely screw readers, so if you’re a fan of science fiction, conspiracies and you trust no one you should go pick up this book before you miss your chance. – Keriann
TMNT #42 – A-
Finally! We are getting to the point of Shredder vs Krang. The set up is just plain beautiful thanks to the guy who does machines, Donatello. We see the mutanimals, the Foot, and Krang and his army all getting ready for battle… and the issue ends right as the battle starts, which will lead into what is sure to be a great third part for this arc next month. Cory Smith does the art this month and I think he is actually my favorite artist of the series so far. He has a style that is very reminiscent of Santalouco and his usual style for the series, while also harkening back to a lot of other past artists of the series while adding his own flair. The story for this series been consistently been outstanding, and this issue is right there with the rest, showing us all why we have celebrated Turtle Power for over 30 years. This series is one of the best being released now, and I’m not even being biased when I say that. – Jacob
October Faction #4 – B+
This was a good month for October Faction. The story picks straight up in the middle of the living room with the Allen family standing over the body of Cope, the man the father has just shot in front of his children. I have never read a funnier approach to getting rid of a dead body, with such gems as the body smacking into the sides of the hearse upon an attempt to launch it inwards, the father telling his daughter not to be dramatic and then hitting the man over the head with a shovel to ensure he’s actually dead, and a completely emotionless response to justifying murder with an “it was easier to kill him now as opposed to later” approach. Comic relief aside, we finally found out more about Robot Face and his incredibly cool looking family of other part child-part robot people that are kind of reminiscent of the toys Sid got ahold of in Toy Story. Overall, this has been my favorite issue of the series so far because it is really starting to feel like a Steve Niles gem. There’s horror, comedy, monsters and intrigue. I finally feel like this series is taking off in the way I hoped it would. – Keriann
Galaxy Quest: The Journey Continues #1 – B
I like all good people, I love the Galaxy Quest movie. Did I think it needed a story continuation, not really, but I’m happy to read one. Erik Burnham is best known for writing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Ghostbusters. So we know he does action comedy pretty well already. The first issue jumps right in from literally the end of the movie. It turns out the Omega 13 affects more than just people on ship and this causes problems on other worlds. Who knew how important 13 seconds could be? There is a quick character reestablishment which is good if anyone is picking Galaxy Quest up without having already seen the movie, but honestly that probably isn’t many people. I would have liked to see the characters look more like their real life counter parts though. I think it’s a good adaptation and as a fan of the movie I’m looking forward to more issues. – Scott
Star Trek/Planet of the Apes #2 – C+
I have got to be honest here and say as ridiculous as this series sounds, and as bad as “The Primate Directive” title sounds, this series holds its own and gives us an interesting look into these two franchises, showing us exactly why they should meet, but sadly also why they never should at times. So far, we know Klingons are selling Apes advanced weapons (but we don’t know why…yet) and then the Star Trek crew found the humans of this Earth and teamed up with them. I am hoping in the next issue things will start to pick up and get better, I just tend to find it a bit hard to get connected to a story when it starts with a whimper and ends with a bang, which I feel is exactly what this series will do. Unless you know the lore of these two worlds, this may not be the book for you. Its sole purpose is to please the fans. But if you like either franchise give it a read for the nostalgia and the hope to see Captain Kirk say, “Get your hands off me, you damn, dirty ape!” – Jacob
Zombies vs. Robots #1 – C
Zombies are so hyped. And robots are getting that way. Combining the two seems brilliant. And it sort of was. But in general this book was very composition heavy — which isn’t really my deal. The writer, Chris Ryall, does explain that this book starts at the end of the story, but makes it unclear if we will be working backwards or not. Personally, I found the story slightly confusing, but intriguing enough that a read of issue 2 will be necessary. I have a feeling that once this story is told, it will be brilliant, but broken up into separate issues, it could be tedious to get through. – Adrian
Creeple People #1 – D-
Creeple People #1 left me with one mind-boggling question: why do I do these things to myself? Why did I take a chance on a book that seemed like Weird Science meet Ghoulies? Well, actually because that sounds kind of awesome, but this book was in fact not. The dialogue was so bad and the three main characters whose names are, I shit you not, Spigs, Peabo and T-Ray, are so incredibly annoying I can only hope the ghoulies they are bound to create eat their faces. These three are the most unbelievable science geniuses I have ever seen, case in point, “let’s science up” is a direct quote from one of them. This book feels like it couldn’t have been written by someone who knows any less about science. It basically felt like the writers Googled biological regeneration and 3D printing and copy and pasted excerpts from the Wikipedia page straight into the speech bubbles. Oh, and apparently there’s some weird evil spiritual voodoo going on in the bell tower with 666 bells built on top of the remains of a cult massacre on the world’s most unbelievable college campus that has ONLY 3 STUDENTS IN THE ENTIRE SCHOOL WHO ARE SCIENCE MAJORS. Seriously, this book is the worst and you’d be best off avoiding it at all costs. If you have any interest in Creeple People whatsoever I leave you with this snapshot, a direct quote from page 2 “Not another mummified bog person!” Ha. Ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha…what? – Keriann
Image Comics:
Tooth and Claw #3 – A-
The third issue of Tooth and Claw keeps up its interesting world of furry magic and political intrigue with what might be the most beautiful art in any current monthly book. It loses some of its urgency with the appearance if the mythical hero, and the revelation of what he is is maybe a little underwhelming, but this along with Ody-C remains one of the most intriguing books from the most intriguing company. – J.H.
Rise of the Magi #5 – B
This is a first time, in a long time, I feel compelled to contact the people working on this comic just to tell them how much I love it. I am always drawn in and entertained, the art is amazing, and the characters from both Earth and Rune are developing into characters that I care about. Not to mention, I feel it’s messing with fantasy tropes and clichés and I really love them for that. I find myself laughing at my original reaction to the first book. In issue #5, you see how Rune, more than Earth, is feeling the effects of the stolen piece of the orb. Chaos and fighting are breaking out and Asa is barely holding onto his life as goblins slip into man-suits and wage war while the trolls attack in Rune. Also, it seems April has developed a power and I don’t think it’s because of the magical frog. Seems like magic is slipping back into Earth. Looking forward to the next book. This was way too long of a wait. – Jené
Reyn #1 – B-
Reyn is pulled right out of some D&D module from the 90’s. A fantasy realm called Fate that suffered a “Great Cataclysm” was once looked over by a group of warriors called Wardens, now thought to all be dead. SURPRISE! One is still alive and he is constantly having arguments with the deity that only he can hear in his head. There are tyrannical lizard kings, over abundant and zealous town guards and the Followers of Tek a not too favored religion. So far it’s basic fantasy faire with some humor thrown in for good measure. Reyn is a decent pick up for most fantasy fans. Also…..GIANT SPIDERS! – Scott
Marvel/Icon Comics:
Superior Iron Man #4 – A-
While I admit it is pretty difficult to see Tony Stark as a baddie, he is quite the entertaining villain. Tom Taylor does a bang-up job showing how seamlessly one of our favorite superheroes can go from chaotic-good to chaotic-evil (Pardon the D&D lingo but I’ve been playing a lot lately). What I have found to be the most interesting aspect of this series so far is the fact that very few people have even picked up on the sudden personality change of Tony Stark. This is what makes the series so believable to me. Tony is rarely seen as the selfless type, and with a little mind adjustment, we see how easily he can go from helping others to big brother thanks to his likable demeanor and insane gadgets and gizmos. Though it hurts to cheer against Iron Man, I am excited to see where this series goes and how long it takes for the citizens of San Francisco to finally see Tony Stark as the villain. On a side-note, I am delighted to get to know Daredevil over the last four issues. He’s an often overlooked character and it’s always refreshing to get a new face in there. – Jake
Powers #1 – B+
(A) I’ll be honest: I had never heard of Powers before this week. I had no idea the history behind it (see Sherif’s review below), either. However, this book was amazing! It was so good, I plan on going back and catching up from the beginning (since the year 2000!) I was genuinely laughing throughout, even though the story is pretty macabre. Bendis does an amazing job of showing the horror of death and blending it with humor. Powers follows detectives and their investigations into the deaths of people caused by people with “powers.” The latest is by a very wealthy man who killed everyone on his boat. It’s a pretty crazy story. The artwork really sold me, too; it is reminiscent of late 90’s Saturday morning cartoons. However, this is NOT made for children. But adults can rejoice, because there is blood, murder, mayhem, and naked strippers. Whoo! – Adrian
(B-) Let’s start off by assuming I have no idea what this book was about before I picked it up. Then, we’ll say that’s not an assumption, because I really did have no idea. I knew that Brian Michael Bendis (Ultimate Spider-Man) was writing it, and I knew that Playstation was picking up an order for a live-action series of Powers, but that was about it. “Powers” is the term that the world has given to anybody discovered to have… well, powers. The main antagonist is a cop, making this a really interesting detective story. Freedom to write also allows for some really funny cross-publisher references to various well-known super-heroes. I enjoyed this book enough to keep reading, but there wasn’t a whole lot to keep me on the edge of my seat. To be fair, there have been seven volumes of Powers, so suffice to say I am really far behind. – Sherif
Deadpool’s Art of War #4 – B+
In this final issue of Deadpool’s Art of War, we see the most influence from Sun Tzu’s Art of War than any previous issue. The majority of it is covered by lessons of war and has less dialogue and humor from Deadpool. Ultimately, the story was very clever but lacked something I cant really put my finger on. It may be because the source material has been manipulated in every single way possible. Most of my enjoyment from the series was from the cover art because each one is just begging to become a poster to hang on my wall. I would definitely check this series out if you have any idea about Sun Tzu’s Art of War, but a lot of Deadpool fans will find it weak because he is not featured as much as you would think, especially in this last issue. – Jacob
Black Widow #14 – B+
This month’s Black Widow finally picked up the pace! It also happened to be a good place to pick up if you are interested. Natasha has been going after Chaos for a bit, but now has a list. It’s kinda like Kill Bill, but not funny. That isn’t a downfall, Black Widow is not known for it’s wit. The fight scenes were incredible – I would not want to be on Natasha’s “kill list.” Per usual, the art was amazing, and still remains the main reason to read this book. – Adrian
Rocket Raccoon #7 – B+
This series has turned out to be way better than anyone anticipated and it is all because of the creative team. Skottie Young traded in his usual artist credit to become the writer of this issue, while Filipe Andrade does the art. Despite these changes, the book holds up just as well and gives a great story and a new arc for our pint-sized hero and his tree companion. The story puts Groot in a situation he has never been in, and Rocket is trying to bear the freezing cold alone. Definitely pick this issue up if you are a new fan or old of Rocket as this new arc is guaranteed blow you away as much as Rocket would himself. – Jacob
All-New X-Men #35 – B
Aha! Now it’s all starting to make sense. Kinda. Not at all, really. When Marvel announced earlier this week that they would be doing away with separate universes, I had no idea if would be the ripple caused by an unknown mutant girl in All-New X-Men. Nobody is really in their proper place in time or space, and explaining it to non-readers is an exhausting endeavor. However, the story itself is a lot of fun! For the time being, the original X-Men are so cute when paired up with their Ultimate selves. I’m just along for the ride at this point, and have no idea where it is going, but that makes it all the more fun to read. – Sherif
Scarlet Spiders #3 – B
Wow! A lot just happened. The final issue of the Scarlet Spiders mini-series wrapped up with a bang (literally)! The Spider-team has struck a critical blow to the Inheritors, but not without their own loses. The events of the issue were exciting and Jessica Drew’s Ultimate Black Widow spandex suit is still unnecessarily tight (this is not a complaint), but the most appreciable aspect of this issue comes from Mike Costa’s story telling. More so in this issue than the previous two, I felt that the events were very well told. The third person narration and the little insights we get from the thoughts of our cloned heroes make this issue a lot more captivating. By the end of the issue one of the more major Spider-Persons is (seemingly) permanently down for the count. I won’t spoil anything, but I will say that the good guys in this Spider-Verse took event took a big, surprising hit. It’s a crazy way to wrap up a well done mini-series! – Taylor
Amazing Spider-Man #13 – B-
(A) “It’s not the power of the Spider that makes any of us who we are! It’s the will of the man!” Preach Doc Oc, PREACH!! This line from the Superior Spider-Man’s motivational speech really captures the attitude of this issue. The Spider-Verse event has built up to its max. The motivation behind the Inheritor’s plot is revealed and they currently have the lead on the scoreboard. The anticipation for the conclusion is going to drive me mad. I think the worst (best?) part about it is that I can’t predict how all this is going to end. I know it will be epic in scale, there will more death and shocking moments, and all versions of Peter Parker will definitely be cracking jokes. This adventure hasn’t lost any of its allure and I’m definitely not ready for it to end in just one short month. – Taylor
(D) I am so ready for this event to end next month. Events, in general, are not really my thing. Usually, it involves weekly buying multiple books just to get an inch closer to some lame and un-assuming ending that could have taken five-ten issues to explain. Spider-Verse, contrary to my initial excitement, has become no different. I love Spider-Man, and all the subsequent Spider-Mens and Spider-Womens and Spider-anthropomorphic animals, but this story just isn’t doing it for me. Instead, can we Edge of Spider-Verse back to explore mini-stories with each minor character since, ya know, they all get mercilessly slaughtered as a plot point in this cockamamy story. – Sherif
Funniest Panel:
Powers #1
Panel with the Most Awesomeness:
Wonder Woman #38
That about wraps it up for our reviews this week! Look for next week’s previews coming soon. Any comic books you didn’t see reviewed that you want reviewed? Any grades you didn’t agree on? Let us know in the comments!
All images taken from ComiXology app and the credit for them goes to the respective publishers; thanks to IDW Comics, image Comics, Dark Horse, Boom! Studios, Oni Press, Dynamite Entertainment, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.
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:
Saga #22 – A
I didn’t think that the best fantasy series out could get any better, but somehow Brian K. Vaughan blew the doors even further open than they already were. The universe just got a little bigger, as we’re finally introduced to King TV, and it’s about as amazing as you’d expect. The honeymoon phase of Marko and Alana’s relationship is over, while other pieces begin to connect in the story, giving us a morsel of the big picture – and it is going to magical. This is one of the best books out, hands down, so if you are on the fence about catching up with it, let me confidently drop-kick you over to the side where you start reading. – Sherif
Other Reviews:
Dark Horse Comics:
Dream Thief Escape #3 – A-
I am a fan of Dream Thief Escape. I am kind of sad that this is only a 4 issue story arc, but I think sometimes that helps move the story along, a complaint about other comics that have no foreseeable ending that I hear a lot. This month, our Dream Thief, John, is about to break his pops out of the big house when he is possessed by a drug dealer named Whiteboy Tim who needs to avenge his own death. I like that the book still has an end point, yet can introduce new characters that have some depth without letting them hang on too long. And the dark tone of murdered people possessing John’s body is nicely broken up with some humor, and I’m a sucker for dark humor, so it really gets me. I still think the art work in this book is incredible. It captures colors perfectly, portraying the pinks and oranges of Florida and Georgia so well. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read something, but doesn’t have time to get attached to a series. – Adrian
POP #1 – B
For all intensive purposes POP #1 deserves a C grade. So why did I give it a B? Two words. Dustin Beaver. You’ll understand when you read the issue. The concept here is pretty neat and unique, but not quite awe inspiring. I think the mini series structure will serve the plot well. I appreciate the sci-fi angle as well – I’m a sucker for all that. If the humor and high tech are kept in good supply then this series will be a winner. – Taylor
Sundowners #1 – B
You know the confused/weirded-out emoticon? You know, this one… (o_O) … Yeah. I don’t think I can explain the Sundowners premier issue better than that. Despite that, I actually kinda liked it. The bizarreness of it is alluring. It’s draws a strong parallel to Kick-Ass, but with magical tattoos (or something). The character mix and backgrounds are the real drivers with this story. I fear that once dust settles and the alluring craziness goes away there won’t be enough of an active plot to move the story along. But I’m no Debby Downer, so I’ll wait to see what Tim Seely has in store before letting any negative premonitions take hold. -Taylor
Tomb Raider #7 – B
This is the start of a new chapter in the Tomb Raider universe and while nothing major has happened, this book coupled with the announcement of the next game could lead to some pretty cool things. This would be a perfect opportunity to lead into the next game and that could give a little something extra for those who have read the books and played the games. This was more of a filler issue with a small lead up into the next arc, but it has me excited for what comes next. – Robert
Star Wars Legacy #18 – C
Another Dark Horse Star Wars series wraps up this week. My brain is screaming, “FINALLY!” I hate to think that I’m becoming a fan boy snob, but with the growing list of negative reviews I spit out week to week it’s getting harder to defend myself. I can summarize the conclusion of Legacy with one word: Lazy. In every facet of (not just this issue, but) this series I struggled to find the passion in the panels. I hadn’t really been enjoying Brian Albert Thies artwork, and the plot was plagued with so many mini side stories that I could hardly keep track of the main plot. I don’t know if Dark Horse had different plans for Legacy prior to their “loss,” but it sure seemed like the effort was half-assed the whole time. There were some mildly redeeming aspects. The wondering planet and the overall concept for Darth Wredd were quintessential Star Wars. Not delving into those brighter bits more shouts missed opportunity. So long for now, Ania. Should you return, I hope you leave all us die hards with a more lasting impression. -Taylor
DC/Vertigo:
Sinestro #5 – A
When handled properly, plots themed in “control” are the best. I love the simple idea of a hero (err… In this case, attempted hero) taking on a seeming insurmountable force and not only overcoming it, but controlling it. Sinestro #5 nails this theme solidly. What was especially compelling was that this brilliant twist in the story came out of nowhere. I audibly exclaimed, “Ohh sh*t!” when “it” happened. I was digging this story before and to see this added layer has really got me excited to continue reading. And you should too! Sinestro is the perfect character for that hate to love relationship. So what if he is the reason his home planet got blowed-up?!? He said he was sorry! I’m gonna stick around and see how far that apology will take him. With his new level of control, I’m sure he’s destined to go far. – Taylor
Superman #34 – B+
Finally, Geoff Johns’ story picks up the pace. Since taking over Superman in issue #32, there’s been a lot of introductions, and even more dialogue. Ulysses has been a unique addition, and although he has been very forthcoming and a seeming ally, there is simply too much mystery surrounding him to let the readers trust him. It’s genius writing, the kind that takes a few issues to really build into something worthy. With a new bad guy, plenty of room to grow, and John Romita Jr.’s art, this is a Superman comic I genuinely enjoy. – Sherif
Batman Eternal #21 – C+
Is this the same book I’ve been semi-reading for over five months now? This issue just turned a stagnant pile of poo into a full-blown s***storm! Batman Eternal has gone from promising addition to lame filler in no time, with hoards of obscure rogues making appearances, but never really adding any value to the story. This issue at least breaks up the monotony that has blanketed the series with some of the pretty outrageous reveals. There’s no way I can justify spending $3-4 weekly on this – even if I am a Batman fan. – Sherif
Dynamite:
Army of Darkness: Ash Gets Hitched #2- C+
This issue does not offer much as far as story goes. It seems to be following the film to a tee, up until the last panel. The whole “Ash Gets Hitched” thing also has not played into the story much so far. The art of the series is great though and you can really see the original actors come out in the art, which helps with the dull story a lot. Ultimately, I would say as a fan of Army of Darkness this is rather dull and forgettable. It is a lot darker in the vain of Evil Dead 2 more so than Army of Darkness, but it still is one series with Ash that makes me understand a little about why Bruce Campbell refused sign these comics from Dynamite at Denver Comic Con. Although there is a lot of negativity there, it still is more entertaining than a lot of other series I have read, so give it a chance if you must but ultimately there is much better Ash to enjoy. – Jacob
IDW Comics:
Cartoon Network Super Secret Crisis War #3 – A-
Finally! We get to see all our favorite cartoon heroes in action together. While the first two issues covered them getting captured and about the villains evil plans, this one jumps right in and see our heroes facing off against robot versions of themselves. This story, although aimed towards kids, is brilliant and combines these characters in a way where all their strengths and all their weaknesses are used perfectly and bounce off one another. I am still waiting for Ed, Edd and Eddy to save the everyone, though. That is just my call on it. But this is a great issue with wonderful writing and the art is exactly how this would look on screen. Too bad I have to wait until next month for the great nostalgia flashback that this series. – Jacob
TMNT Turtles in Time #3 – B+
This Turtles in Time series is nothing too special, but it does give you a nice back story and sometime insanely sad back story of the Turtles.This week we see them as pirates chasing down treasure and Mikey becomes a … captain?!?!?! This issue is definitely fun and gives us a look into the past of our favorite four heroes. The art of this issue is outstanding to me, and it really stands out among this miniseries so far. – Jacob
Image Comics:
Black Science #8 – B
I think I’m going to get Rick Remender’s name tattooed on my chest. And I’m going to have Matteao Scalera apply the ink. While paced a bit slower than some of the previous issues, this issue is still a knock out. The primary plot has started to flatten out, but what’s lacking in creative conflict is made up in glorious, just GLORIOUS, panelscapes. I can’t get enough of the crazy multidimensional forest creatures and their habitats. I’m seriously considering decorating my future home with framed panels from this series. Back again to my flat plot point, I wonder what the next evolution of the story will look like. I have no doubt that IT WILL evolve, but I can’t really see the path. That’s another great thing about Black Science – it keeps your mind on its toes. Ha… Brain toes. Do your thang Remender. Do your thang. – Taylor
Outcast #3 – B
This month’s Outcast was a bit confusing, I’ll admit. I even went back and read some of the first 2 issues, and I was still confused. I am not worried though, because even though I think Robert Kirkman can be a little much with his famous series, I have faith that Outcast will come together. I have a feeling that this is a series that I will have to read exactly how I read The Walking Dead: in volumes. I find that sometimes the story that Kirkman tells can be confusing, and at times slowly paced, but that his story arcs always end with a bang. The reason to read this issue of Outcast is for the Reverend’s monologue about God, drinking on Sundays, and masturbation. Not only is it a little funny, but truly thought provoking and a great reflection of the writer’s feelings about religion. I expect Outcast will pick up strongly from here on out. – Adrian
Sex #15 – C
I still don’t see where they are going with this book even after reading all 15 issues. I would have thought that the armored saint would have made his way back into the story by now, but they seem to only be about drama and incestuous gay sex these last few issues. I don’t know what is going on with the writer but it is time to stop with the slow burn and get to something more interesting. – Robert
Wayward #1 – C
Wayward is a story about a young girl with mystic powers. She doesn’t quite understand living in Japan, then fights knock off Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with her transforming cat-ninja lady companion. Sounds like something straight out of anime and even looks like it at moments; both aspects of which I LOVE. Why the low score then? Well, if you’re as versed in anime as I am, then you know that this idea is far from novel or creative. No knocks to Jim Zub or the team behind this Image title (I did quite enjoy the issue), but if you want a grade above average you gotta give me something above average. Because this isn’t actually a true-blue anime I have faith that Wayward will breakaway from that formula and give us something unique and awesome. – Taylor
Marvel:
Cyclops #4 – B+
Things are finally starting to come together with this book and it’s not too bad after all. I am looking forward to the next few issues as they have signaled for bounty hunters to come get them. I am interested to see the father/son duo work together to get off this planet alive. There wasn’t a lot of story development; however, the bond that is starting to form between Scott and his father was worth the issue.– Robert
All-New X-Men #31 – B-
Another solid installment of the All-New X-Men series, issue #34 looks to be kicking things into high gear. At first glance, this is an unimpressive book by all means. The art is mediocre at best, and the relationship between Angel and X-23 has gone from mildly amusing to plain old mushy. Once you dig a little deeper, though, you have one of the best teams in history – but fun-sized! Jean Grey is finally getting the chance to become the phenom sans Phoenix (knock on wood) she always deserved to be, and Bobby is funny in a way I never imagined he would be, all thanks to Brian Michael Bendis’ writing. This issue opens the door for a HUGE crossover event, and the new mutant revealed here looks to play a big part in it. – Sherif
Guardians of the Galaxy #18 – C+
We finally get to see what happened to Star-Lord, Nova, Thanos, and even Drax when they trapped themselves inside the Cancerverse, and we’re on our way to figuring out how they all got out. There are some really great moments in this issue and the fight scenes are definitely something you’ll want to stop and take a closer look at…also, a near naked Thanos that you may or may not want to take a closer look at. I wish we could have had the whole story in one issue, but, I’m excited to see how they all get out of this horrible place. – Cody
Wolverine #12 – C-
I am beyond disappointed with the way things turned out for this series. Not only was this final battle between Wolverine and Sabretooth cliché and uninspired, it was also over very quickly and not drawn very well at all. I figured with the actual announcement of Wolverine’s death, it would be something more metaphorical, but then they add something to the end of the issue that makes it seem like in the next year or less this whole thing will be negated either way. I don’t appreciate that approach after investing time into a series the way I have with this one. This issue has an effect on not only this book but a handful of others as well. I am more curious to see how it changes things in those books than the future of Wolverine now. – Robert
Funniest Panel:
Panel with the Most Awesomeness:
That about wraps it up for our reviews this week! Look for next week’s previews coming soon. Any comic books you didn’t see reviewed that you want reviewed? Any grades you didn’t agree on? Let us know in the comments!
All images taken from ComiXology app and the credit for them goes to the respective publishers; thanks to IDW Comics, image Comics, Dark Horse, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.
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:
Magneto #8 – A+
This series has been surprisingly great. Magneto himself, although his powers are a fraction of what they once were, is as cold and callous as ever. This isn’t your older brother’s Magneto, and that’s a good thing. Unfortunately, the story has just kind of crept along, offering enough to justify the insane amount of violence. That changes this issue. Magneto #8 encapsulates everything the Civil Rights era of X-Men was so successful at, and what the X-series of today are failing so hard at. It’s at this moment that Magneto becomes more than a raging badass, and stands for something much more important and complex. – Sherif
Other Reviews:
Dark Horse Comics:
Dark Horse Presents #1 – B
If you’re as die-hard Star Wars as I am, then chances are you’ve probably overlooked many of the other Dark Horse titles printed in the past 20 years. And as of late SW series have been as stimulating as a napping Hutt – sorry Jabba. So I picked up Dark Horse Presents #1 as an opportunity for this David, amongst Goliaths, to show me what it was made of. In large – it did not disappoint! Compilation issues run the risk of becoming boring and distracting quickly thus losing the attention of the reader. Pleasingly, I found myself very seldom watching the squirrels engage in squirrel combat outside my window while reading this issue. I was especially wrapped up the Kabuki, Wrestling with Demons, and Sabertooth Swordsman titles. Seeing this potential is critical in the midst of Dark Horse losing their bread winning title at the end of the year. So, while it’s a lot of fun to reminisce and revisit prior greatness, I can’t help but wonder if all Dark Horse has to offer going forward are glory day moments. I won’t count them out just yet. In the meantime, I’ll continue to enjoy the good ol’ days. – Taylor
Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir #4 – C
Darth Maul should have stayed dead (wow… can’t believe I just wrote that). Let me be clear – Darth Maul will forever remain one of the most bad-ass Sith in all of Star Wars history. No crappy comic ark will ever change that. But in this final issue of Son of Dathomir it’s blaringly obvious that Maul is just not as cool as he used to be! I supposed gettin’ chopped in half can do that to a guy. His original claim to fame were his merciless methods and crazy-scary hunter/killer instinct. Both of which were is short demand the entire ark. “Boss Maul” spent most of the issue throwing tantrums and yelling at his subordinates. Revisit again the origins of Maul – furious as he was in combat, his demeanor outside the battle field was stoic and mysterious. Not the whinny, dependent character Jeremy Barlow gives us. Add to that the fact that this was really a Mother Talzin story (who was also sloppily handled) and out comes another subpar Star Wars series. As these Dark Horse series wrap up I grow more excited for the Marvel handoff. The panels in the galaxy far, far away is in need of a fresh start. – Taylor
DC/Vertigo:
Multiversity #1 – B+
(A) If this review comes off as a little incoherent it’s because I’m hyperventilating while typing. It’s not necessarily the plot that’s got me huffing and puffing into a paper bag, it’s the idea of the plot. Huh?!? Let me start over. Multi-dimensional travel via the medium of comic book panels is, well… mind blowing. Multiversity is an adventure within an adventure within an adventure featuring characters that are make believe in one universe, but really-real in another universe, all brought together to fight an inter-dimensional being (group?) that is everywhere and nowhere at once…all the time. Sound confusing? Read the issue. Done? Still confused? Yeah. And that’s okay! What I took away from this first issue wasn’t that I was supposed to understand what exactly was happening or comprehend where the story was going, only that in the coming issues this “happening” was going to be uniquely epic. I was introduced to characters I (1) had never heard of and, (2) knew very little about. Despite this, I was wildly engaged the entire issue. I’ve already reread it twice. So while my score may and my synopsis here may not be in the same universe, know that this series is going to present something brilliantly imaginative from Grant Morrison. – Taylor
(B+) I had to read this one a couple times, but, each time I read it I liked it more. Multiversity brings together characters from all over the various DC Universes. It’s great to see all the different interpretations of all our favorite heroes. The premise is that the greatest hero from each universe is being brought together for some unknown reason and our team needs to figure out why they’ve all been brought together. There were a couple moments that I just didn’t like in terms of corniness and was also rather confusing at times, but, I’m really liking it so far. I’m afraid to say I’m even enjoying Superman for the first time ever. – Cody
(B) Ok, you probably read the two reviews above me, but I still had to put my two cents in. Multiversity is a new series written by Grant Morrison, comic book writing legend, and pencilled by Ivan Reis (whose resume is incredible). With all of the time traveling, things get really confusing. At times, I had no idea where we were, what time we were in, or even what some of the dialogue meant. There were also so many characters, and those same characters transported into different time periods, it seems like a 90’s Batman movie, too much packed in one story. However, there were two outstanding characters, Superman and Aquawoman. It should be of no surprise that Aquawoman looks so badass because Ivan Reis was the penciller for Aquaman back in 2011. And yes, its true, Superman is black in this book. There is a comment about it by another character in the book, which seemed out of place, but the nice thing is that Superman just ignores it, because really, what does it matter what Superman’s ethnicity is? I did really like that all this is happening because of a comic book panel being supernatural, or magical, or otherworldly, or something. It give true comic nerds something to giggle at. I am looking forward to seeing how the heroes get out of the future… -Adrian
Batman and Robin #34 – B
Things are finally heating up in Batman and Robin. It feels like we’ve been stuck feeling sorry for Bruce and his dealings with Damian’s death forever now. Well, as Redman so eloquently put, it’s “Time 4 Sum Aksion.” The biggest letdown was the appearance of reuniting the Bat-family for a vacation to Apokolips, but it was all just a big dramatic front – a common pitfall in Batman books. Clichés aside (especially the corny Dick Grayson appearance), the book had a very sci-fi feel to it, and pulls it together quite well, an unusual feat for Batman. It’s about time this book got down to business. – Sherif
Dynamite Entertainment:
Justice, Inc. #1 – C+
I’d heard about Justice, Inc., The Avenger, Doc Savage, and The Shadow, but that’s about all I knew about them. Nevertheless, I was excited to see that a new series was starting and that all three of these classic characters were crossing over for the first time. This first issue was a bit slow, but, it had a lot of interesting elements to it. Lots of science talk at the start, which I enjoyed and, we get to see Albert Einstein. Howard Hughes also makes an appearance and H.G. Wells has been mentioned as well, which would make sense as we’re dealing with time travel when a modern day passenger jet is sent back to 1939. I’m definitely looking forward to where this story is going, I do love me some time travel. – Cody
IDW Comics:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Annual 2014 – B+
(A) Finally, we get the annual issue of TMNT that helps explain the Turtles in Time series going now as well (issue #3 out next week). Although I have waited to learn where the mysterious Renet comes from, this issue did not give us the best idea other than she just randomly shows up at different times. It does bring in the now infamous Battle Nexus from past TMNT versions, which opens up a whole lot as far as characters and other universes (Maybe and hopefully we will see Usagi Yojimbo show up soon!) Of course, Kevin Eastman’s art is wonderful as well as the writing. The issue was totally different than what I was expecting but in a good way. Definitely pick this up if your store still has any (I was lucky and picked up the last copy at my store) as it is a great new story that references past and present turtles with a modern twist.- Jacob
(B-) I couldn’t find it in my heart to give a Kevin Eastman scripted and drawn book anything less than the grade I gave it, but my enjoyment of this book was limited, and came in waves. The initial few pages were really fun and nostalgic, but Eastman’s writing shows its age in this annual. Conceptually, I enjoyed the Turtles in Time-like plot, but there was just so much dialogue here that I felt quite lulled. Plus, the dull greyscale used to represents the future (like 75% of the book) came off as really boring. At the end of the day, the TMNT co-creator can do whatever wants and I will enjoy it. I just wish the story was of a little more substance. – Sherif
Little Nemo: Return to Slumberland – B+
Little Nemo, written by Eric Shanover, is a remake of the popular weekly comic from the early 1900’s that ran for over 10 years. Shanover is known for his work in recreating the world of Frank L. Baum’s Wizard of Oz in comic form. Nemo was known for its fantastical world on the way to Slumberland, where he is chosen to be the Princess’ playmate, but he always wakes up before he can find it. The new comic is a great homage to the original strip, referring to the Princess, the boy’s new name, and world they both exist in. I really enjoyed it; however, it should be noted that this is a children’s comic. I do recommend it to emerging readers, but this may not be the book for an adult. -Adrian
Super Secret Crisis War The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy One-Shot – B+
In the second one-shot for Super Secret Crisis War, we see the characters from The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy battling the same evil robots our heroes in the main series and Johnny Bravo and the Squirrel did in the last one-shot. This issue as with the past ones, all feel like they are lost episodes from their respective series. The art is wonderful and mixes all the styles of animation perfectly and on top of the great Billy and Mandy story we also get a prequel story featuring Mojo Jojo and Aku. If you enjoyed any cartoons of the 80’s and 90’s this issue and entire series is for you so make sure and pick it up and fill yourself with nostalgia. – Jacob
Samurai Jack #11 – B
This month, we get a new story arc for Jack and it may be his most dangerous one yet. With Samurai Jack being one of my favorite cartoons and being a huge inspiration artistically for me, this series has been wonderful. This issue the art does get a bit darker and full of shadows more than past issues, which always is a bit distracting to me with most comics trying to be gritty these days. But the story of the issue is definitely good and sets up this arc wonderfully making for quite the adventure for our hero. Definitely start here if you can, as it is sure to be a great story for this great character. – Jacob
X-Files: Year Zero #2 – B-
In this issue we get to see more Mulder and Scully than the previous issue and we figure out what happened from the first X-Files case ever. The series took a turn that may be a bit odd even for X-Files but it has a been a good story up to now despite being a bit confusing and more of a horror genre than most previous issues and television episodes. One of the most redeeming features of this series to me is the art by Greg Scott and Vic Malhotra. It is definitely more stylized than most of IDW’s X-Files series and it doesn’t focus solely on being dark for the sake of making things creepy the whole issue even if Mulder is doing paperwork. This series definitely adds to the mystery and awesomeness of X-Files and will likely be an absolute must have for any fan of the X-Files. – Jacob
Image Comics:
Fade Out #1- B
(B+) I love film noir, so Ed Brubaker’s new series The Fade Out fills a empty space that rarely sees a decent entry. Brubaker has a constant moody “voice over” following the main character, Charlie. The narrator appears to not be from the perspective of anyone you come across in the first issue and that’s intriguing; this adds an extra flavor of mystery to the already involving murder mystery main plot line. The art is done by Sean Phillips, who has worked with Brubaker in the past with FATALE. His art is dark and brooding and when paired up with colors from Elizabeth Breitweiser, who is also familiar with FATALE, the mood of the story is fully realized. I’m hoping to see the rest of cast of character fleshed out more in the upcoming issues, right now, other than Charlie, they are pretty flat. – Scott
(B-) I’m not normally a fan of cop/detective stories but when I saw Ed Brubaker was writing a noir style murder mystery, I was intrigued. Brubaker has accurately captured the style and at times I found myself using those stereotypical film noir voices while reading. The issue follows a screenwriter who wakes up to find the star of his film dead, he wipes the room clean and a mystery unfolds. This was about as good as I thought it was going to be. It was enjoyable and well written, I’m just going to have to get over my own biases towards the genre. Hopefully this mystery doesn’t get cold. – Cody
Marvel:
Deadpool vs X-Force– B+
One of the better Deadpool stories recently, this series follows our favorite Merc With A Mouth as he travels through time wrecking American history although this issue sees him and Cable in China during 1900 at least until Deadpool’s inevitable time jump at the end of the issue. The art of this issue is well done an enjoyable especially with such different settings and time periods having to make Deadpool look at least semi-normal in a confederate army outfit. The story for this so far is very intriguing and hopefully the series will continue to be good as Deadpool is always a hard character to do real well. – Jacob
Storm #2 – B+
This month’s Storm was much better than last month. Not only that, but last month’s issue was explained in the “Previously On” paragraph than the whole issue did. In her 2nd book, Storm takes on helping the people of New York again, mainly a girl she sees on a “Missing” poster. I really like the concept of small “savior” stories with Storm reflecting back on her childhood in Cairo. We can really see Storm as a well rounded woman, not just mutant, hero, or queen. There are a few steamy scenes with Logan, and we got our “funny” panel of the week from this issue. While there are mentions for characters like the Morlocks and Calypso, I think Storm may be a good series for new comic book readers to get into. -Adrian
Deadpool Dracula’s Gauntlet #7 – C+
This series started off rather over the top and bad, but as it went on the over the top ridiculousness stayed but the quality got better. Or maybe I just got used to it and started enjoying it for what it was, like a Mystery Science Theater 3000 film. The art is definitely good for this issue and the entire series in general but the writing could have definitely used some help although this issue was one of the more well written in the 7 issue series. Next week we have the first week without a new Deadpool which is pretty surprising, bust rest assured a new weekly series will likely start up soon. – Jacob
Original Sins #5 – C-
This series which has covered certain characters during the Original Sin story line, has at its heart been enjoyable, but the Young Avengers storyline that was in every book was pretty bad and the conclusion was a definitely a facepalm moment for me. This issue also covers “Everyone Else” and has some very minor characters (Frog-Man!!!) confessing their worst sin, although Nick Fury says none of what they say is canon. The art of each story – other than Young Avengers – is top quality and the writing especially for Nick Fury’s story is good. If you have followed Original Sin closely, then this is a great book, but ultimately it can be missed and the Original Sin storyline would still work. – Jacob
Funniest Panel:
Panel with the Most Awesomeness:
That about wraps it up for our reviews this week! Look for next week’s previews coming soon. Any comic books you didn’t see reviewed that you want reviewed? Any grades you didn’t agree on? Let us know in the comments!
All images taken from ComiXology app and the credit for them goes to the respective publishers; thanks to IDW Comics, image Comics, Dark Horse, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.
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 #5 – A
This book is what adventures are made out of! Duke McQueen, once savior of the galaxy, is now an old man who has lived his life shamed by the very people he saved because nobody believes him – including his own sons. However, the same cannot be said across the galaxy in Tantalus, where an underground revolution is stirring. It’s hard to tell you what happened in this issue without spoiling anything, but know that s*** is about to get REAL. I enjoy every aspect of this story, and the books move along at a very brisk pace, containing just enough dialogue to keep readers engaged but not enough to feel cluttered. With Kick-Ass officially done for good, this is my new favorite MillarWorld book out. For something new and exciting, this is the book you should be reading! – Sherif
Other Reviews:
BOOM! Studios:
Hexed #1 – A-
Perhaps the biggest reason I loved the new comic Hexed is because it was very reminiscent of Buffy, but instead of our hero, Lucifer, being a Slayer, she is a cat burglar. Lucifer is witty and quick thinking. She also knows a lot about the magical world. After all, most of her jobs involve some sort of magical, artsy artifact. The art in this book was mesmerizing; the use of color was very well done, taking us from ” the normal world”, to the bright colors of magical hexes, and to the dark and eery world from inside of a scary painting. The story was enough of a teaser to keep me interested for the next issue, but it also kept me interested in what was happening in the moment. Lucifer is very relatable, despite the fact that she is a thief and is very mixed up in the magical world. She has a lot of foes, and it can be hard to determine who is the worst. This isn’t a gripe with the book, rather a compliment because it is often hard for anyone to distinguish who the baddies are in our own lives. The first issue left us with a pretty big cliffhanger, which is something I personally like when I have only 20 pages to get into a story. I definitely expect Hexed to just get better from here on out. – Adrian
Dark Horse:
Terminator Salvation: The Final Battle #8 – C+
Well everything I thought was coming pretty much got shot down this issue. I was hoping for happier ending for John Connor but it seems like that won’t be happening, at least the way things are looking. The cover and the last issue were definitely a bit misleading, but we still have plenty of time left to change John’s future. – Robert
DC/Vertigo:
Batman #34 – A-
I’m still reeling from the end of Zero Year, the phenomenal story of Batman’s first appearance in Gotham City. This issue is the bridge into the next arc, Endgame, which is undoubtedly going to be another classic. As far as one-shots go, this is pretty damn great. Matteo Scalera does a decent job filling in, and honestly, the ultra-dark tone of the issue is suited by it. We get to see a morbid side of Gotham and Batman that we really haven’t gotten to since Snyder’s first Batman run, The Black Mirror. It honestly gave me the creeps, in a good way. This killer that Batman is trying to catch gave me extra heebie-jeebies because he is more along the lines of what could happen in real life. I’m looking forward to seeing the team back together in issue #35, but this was a great all-encompassing story well worthy of you time. – Sherif
Batgirl #34 – C-
As much as I will miss Gail Simone’s writing, a complete creative overhaul for Batgirl is just what the doctor ordered. This latest Knightfall arc has floundered for a good ten issues, so this big finale was a great way to send Simone off. The art in Batgirl has also gotten progressively worse, with this issue being one of the least appealing in recent history. Batgirl pulls out all the stops, and calls in all the favors she can to beat Knightfall, but it doesn’t feel like the climactic ending that the book deserved. Where the book does succeed is in the portrayal of the original Birds of Prey team – Huntress, Canary and Batgirl. They work very well together and Simone’s writing gave me a solid case of nostalgia reading it. It was a decent way to wrap up this run, and I do look forward to the next version of Barbara Gordon; I have high hopes that a new start will revitalize the character. – Sherif
Batman Eternal #19 – C-
I don’t know why I continue to read this book anymore seeing as I have not been satisfied for the last ten issues or so. Now that Zero Year is over, things are going back to normal in the regular Batman book. I don’t like how they are using it to bridge the gaps in other books and how it is becoming a mandatory read in order not to be confused in a book I actually care about. About half way through this book I felt completely lost and realized how much I hate DC for doing this with another book. I have been very critical of how they did the same thing with the Superman family. It’s as if they are forcing people to read subpar books by putting important bits of information in them (I’m looking at you Superboy). I don’t appreciate this approach at all and should the writing also continue to be subpar, will have to discontinue my support of most of these publications. – Robert
IDW Comics:
Star Trek #36 – A-
What a wonderful series for any Star Trek fan! In this issue we see the current film cast, Deep Space Nine’s captain Sisko and Odo, and of course Q the greatest villain from The Next Generation (sorry, Borg). The art as with most IDW series is fantastic and unlike sometimes, each character looks exactly like they did in their respective series. I am sure we will see more The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager and maybe even Enterprise, which would be great. If you are a fan of Star Trek in any capacity this is spectacular and even if you are not this is a great series as it may introduce you to characters from the entire Star Trek Universe to give you an idea of which series you may enjoy more.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #37 – B-
(B+) This was a pretty fun one off issue for the series where we see a battle between Shredder and Krang and a new mutant is introduced. The story for this issue is pretty solid despite the lack of Turtles in it but nevertheless, the story is good and gives us a great look into the two biggest villains in turtle history. The art is done by Cory Smith and he knocks it out of the park with this issue and it is nice and fresh to see a different artist than Mateus Santolouco although all the artist for this series have been great! Definitely check out this issue as it is a single story and a new arc will start next month. – Jacob
(C) Since City Fall, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are preparing for a comeback. However, with Shredder in possession of some mutagen, he has set his sites upon higher targets. However, before taking over the world, he must first have a meeting of the minds with Krang. The tensions quickly rise, as the two are both too stubborn to share a vision of the future. There are some great scenes between the two, but a lot of the issue is mindless banter between Shredder and Krang, with a predictable ending and zero turtles. The addition of Krang into the mix will give the fight for New York a new perspective for the TMNT, so while this issue was a bit stagnant, it was necessary in the grand scheme of things. – Sherif
The X-Files #15 – B-
Well this issue was definitely a mind bending issue as I am still thinking about the ending… But the art of this series has always gotten on my nerves although it is the worst I have seen I wish a more detailed artist could do some upcoming issues as they have many which is obvious with the covers for this series. The writing for this issue is top notch as I have felt this whole series is and is definitely a must have for any fan of the television series. Although if you are looking to start right now, I would wait or try and read all the back issues first as things have gotten real crazy especially this issue so it could definitely be confusing to the new reader.
Transformers: Primacy #1 – C+
The final installment in the current Transformers series starts out with recent Autobot Academy graduate Hot Rod joining the ranks of the Auto Bots and learning the ins and outs like any fresh meat (or fresh metal in this case). In the meantime, Optimus is off climbing glaciers with Ironhide when they come across something ancient and Megatron seems to have some dastardly new plan. Overall, I enjoyed this; it was a bit slow with all the exposition, but I feel like this mini-series is going to get pretty good. I also enjoyed the art in this one. It was very realistic although it was a bit dark at times. Definitely worth the time if you’re a Transformers fan. – Cody
Image Comics:
Sex Criminals #7 – A
There aren’t too many books that really pull off a dildo sword fight. Matt Fraction has written in the most ridiculous scenes into this book about two twenty-somethings who find a bond between them because they can freeze time from their orgasms. I absolutely love how John’s backstory intertwines with the current situation. The books has been primarily told through Susie’s point of view, so this helps add some variety to a character we’ve never gotten to fully explore. This book is fully shifting back into gear after our power couple fell into a bit of a lull, relationship-wise. Especially after John found what was in the Sex Police basement, I’m entirely excited for the book to get back to it’s action-packed, crazy self. Like I said, dildo swashbuckling. – Sherif
Shutter #5 – A-
Shutter continues to wow. Five issues in and I’m still awed by Joe Keatinge and Leila del Duca’s adventure story. Every installment opens more and more doors for what could possibly come next, and because it is such an original story, I have no expectations for what will come next or when I expect anything to wrap up. I also love the concept of revealing the backstory of Kate’s dad bit by bit instead of doing it all at once. Each appearance fits within the story, and although answering questions, also shrouds itself in enough mystery to keep me intrigued for future issues. And then there’s Alarm Cat, who is one of the best companions you could ever ask for. There are a few moments that make you lose brief connection with Kate, but for the most part, this book is just pure gold, and I hope there is enough juice to squeeze 100 more issues! – Sherif
The Walking Dead #130 – B-
I have no idea what is going on here. Did George Romero take over as writer for The Walking Dead? There are events in this issue that our brand new to the series, but has been the central theme to all of the recent Romero titles. I’m not sure whether it’s done as a slight, since Romero has trashed TWD as being a “soap opera,” or whether the series is actually going to go in that direction, but it’s straight-up absurd. I do give the issue a lot of praise for progressing the story along – setting up Carl for a better role and finally showing a post-pregnancy Maggie – and especially for not taking the easy bait at the end of the last issue. There’s still tons of promise in this series, so a little absurdity is allowed. – Sherif
Marvel:
All-New X-Men #20 – B+
If you picked up this book and stopped reading it after the first ten pages, you would think that it is a terrible book. The awkward PG-13 relationship between X-23 and Angel was enough to make me take pause. The whole “I’m an animal” and “if you only knew the things I’ve done” cliché has been done so many times that it’s hardly even parodied anymore. The real excitement is between Jean Grey and Emma Frost, the latter of which is trying to push Jean Grey to realize her true powers. We finally get the showdown between the two, as Emma’s jealousy is addressed. Meanwhile, Kitty Pryde and her relationship with Star-Lord is investigated further. The signature of this series has been the fact that it is often tethered to lots of humor – none more so than Iceman. This is an exemplary bridge issue that still progresses multiple storylines, and gets us one step closer to finding out the contents of Charles Xavier’s Last Will and Testament. – Sherif
Spider-Man 2099 #2 – B+
This book has the potential to be really good and actually has a great sense of humor, especially in this episode. Things have started a bit on the slow side but I am sure things are going to pick up soon enough. I have no complaints about this issue and am looking forward to what this book has to offer in the future. – Robert
Wolverine #11 – C+
(B-) One more month until one of Marvel’s most famous characters and personally one of mine (after all he was best friends with Morph in the X-Men animated series) meets his ultimate fate. We have him getting to Sabertooth’s lair with many allies and trying to take him on. Obviously with next month being the last, we don’t get the epic battle between Wolverine and Sabertooth but we don’t have long to wait. The art of this issue is great and the story is good as well. Although it is an epic event the story is not the best I think Wolverines death should have, but we will see how it all goes down next month. – Jacob
(C) Well the time we have been waiting for during these last few months is almost upon us. One more issue and Wolverine is gonna be dead. I am actually wondering if he will finally kill Sabretooth and take that orb to get his powers back. Or maybe this will be some crappy metaphorical death. Either way, if they were going to actually kill Wolverine, I wish they wouldn’t have announced it so long ago. For being so close to the end, this issue had an awful lot of filler. I am honestly ready for this to be over so we can move on to whatever is coming next. – Robert
Original Sin #7 – C
This series has been enjoyable but I found myself lost in this issue. I still feel like I understand what s going on, but by the end of this issue I was left scratching my head. The art as always in this series is good although it is insanely dark with more shadows than words on the page and this is a wordy series. It is all over next month so yeah it is a bad time to just get into the series and it is one of the more violent Marvel series at the moment so also not for kids. – Jacob
Amazing Spider-Man #5 – C
I am not sure that I am crazy about this love triangle Peter has suddenly gotten himself into. He is supposed to be in relationship with Anna and we all know you can never get rid of Mary Jane, and now he has this new chick, it is like a bad soap opera even by comic book standards. I am more interested in the ending of this issue however; there is no way they are going to release Peter’s identity again so I want to see how he gets out of this. Nothing too crazy has happened since Peter came back, minus the new chick, so I am hoping that they pick up the pace instead of easing back into things. – Robert
Deadpool #33 – C
Although this Deadpool story arc has been interesting with meeting his daughter, it is altogether not a great Deadpool story. After reading some really good Deadpool stories it is hard to read the constant three series of the character that happen each month. The art is pretty good but not great and overall the story is enjoyable as most Deadpool but this story is definitely one of the duller of this series. – Jacob
Deadpool: Dracula’s Gauntlet #6 – C-
Ok I have to admit this issue was quite fun once I got past my views of just how ridiculous it is. I still don’t think it is anything special but in this issue we got to see Red Hulk, Ghost Rider, Elektra, Punisher, Blade, and a couple extra Deadpool regulars. The art is for this series has been good for the whole run and the story overall isn’t good or terrible. If you enjoy Deadpool, it is worth a read otherwise avoid this series, as it is one of the craziest and weirdest Deadpool series I have read. – Jacob
Nova Special #1 – F
I found this issue to be incredibly boring. NOVA is a kid who is out of his league at this point. He can hardly even handle a bunch of teenage X-Men. I found myself struggling to even get to the next page. Iron Man is a total douche (as always). The ‘X-Kids’ are morons. And, NOVA is weak. The art of the book isn’t bad, until Iron Man shows up, I’m not sure what was going on there. Even though it only takes 10 minutes to read, save you time, watch The Office instead…at least you’ll laugh. – Cody
Funniest Panel:
Panel with the Most Awesomeness:
That about wraps it up for our reviews this week! Look for next week’s previews coming soon. Any comic books you didn’t see reviewed that you want reviewed? Any grades you didn’t agree on? Let us know in the comments!
All images taken from ComiXology app and the credit for them goes to the respective publishers; thanks to IDW Comics, image Comics, Dark Horse, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.
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:
TMNT: Turtles in Time #2 – A
The second issue in this mini series is definitely much better as far as story goes, and the artwork in this issue is great as well. We see the Turtles travel forward in time from their last destination but it is still the past to them. This time they are in Japan and almost immediately after they get there and get clothes they help out a familiar man as he is getting attacked. We still don’t know much about Renet who is the cause of the time travel until later in this series or we may have to wait for the TMNT Annual coming out later this year where she is said to be introduced as a official character for the series.- Jacob
Other Reviews:
DC/Vertigo:
Batman #33– A
The end of Zero Year is finally here. The showdown with Edward Nygma comes to a close, and one of the best Batman stories of all time is over. The finale is every bit the culmination it was supposed to be, as Batman and Nygma engage in mental warfare, the fate of the city in Batman’s hands. The arrogance of Nygma is perfectly in sync with The Riddler mythos and it makes him a character that you love to hate. The main story is great, highlighted by some great panels that will define the arc, but the real prize are the subtle callbacks to minor Batman details. These range from past Zero Year issues to new aspects of Batman’s past, to the appearance of a newly-designed (and sexy) love interest of Batman’s past. When the debris clears, there’s no denying that Zero Year‘s decision to tackle uncharted territory pays off in a big way. – Sherif
Batman and Robin #33– A-
Although Robin Rises didn’t give us the result I wanted, it led to a much more epic journey. The “new” Robin is going to be Damian, and if the picture I’ve seen floating around the internet are any indication, Damian will be returning, but as a reanimated corpse. The issue even pokes fun at the ridiculousness of what is soon to come. As Batman fights the League when they try to stop him from going to Apokolips to recapture Robin’s body. To do so, writer Peter Tomasi reveals the Hellbat armor, which already deserve a spot on our Top Batsuits list. With the League not allowing him to go, what do you think he’s going to do? Whatever the hell he wants. I’m all in on this epic tale. – Sherif
Superman #33– B-
Batman has been hogging up much of the New52 spotlight, so it’s about due time that some of the biggest names in comic books saved the book. Writer Geoff Johns and John Romita Jr. have instant chemistry, and this new hero (?) is an instantly appealing character, and the mystery surrounding him drives the story without dragging on at all. The major issue I have with the tory so far is that there is a LOT of dialogue. The first few pages are almost half-way filled with words, which was hard to get through when there was no momentum to warrant such long story-telling. The use of the medium succeeds with good art and word chemistry, not pages of talking heads. It doesn’t last forever though; once the book progresses to show our new guest, we get an enthralling story that I look forward to reading again. – Sherif
Wonder Woman #33– C+
By now, word of Wonder Woman‘s new creative team has swept the internet. After this one, we only get two more issues of the amazing Brian Azzarello and Cliff Chiang before the reins are handed off to the Finchs. Until then, we get to live out the rest of this bittersweet journey knowing that it will be over soon. First born has captured Wonder Woman and has begun his assault on Themyscira. We have all the tellings of a good war tale, but this issue plays out kind of like a bad The Walking Dead issue, with not much development throughout the issue, and one cliff-hanger at the end. In the grand scheme of the finale, this was just collateral damage – the issue isn’t unenjoyable. – Sherif
IDW Comics:
X-Files #14 – B+
This issue reminds me so much of classic X-Files, I felt like I was watching the show. Again, with a lot of these TV to comic adaptations, I get a bit frustrated that I am reading a comic instead of watching these stories. However, this was a good moment for this series as it really connected to me as a fan with the writing and the art. Seeing Skinner, Krychek, Mulder, Scully, and the Cigarette Smoking Man all active and all involved in some huge conspiracy was amazing. I am sure it will all tie into a lot of the big events from the TV series. They have made references to a ton of cases and things that may come into play at some point. Although a lot has happened up to this point in the series, you should definitely try and pick this up if you are just getting started in the series or if you were a big fan of the show.-Jacob
Super Secret Crisis War Johnny Bravo One-Shot – B
This event at IDW has the child inside me having a brain aneurism because of over-excitement. This issue focuses on one of the robots from the previous Super Secret Crisis War #1 who invades Aron City, the home of Johnny Bravo, who is the famous Elvis looking and sounding, Zapp Branigann type of guy from his own cartoon. Johnny’s mom is missing and other various characters from the show, but ultimately it was a good story for the character development of Mr. Bravo and shows why he was not chosen as one of the main heroes kidnapped by Aku. If you have ever watched the Cartoon Network classics this is a must have, but since it is just a one shot, I am sure not getting it won’t effect you understanding of the main story. -Jacob
Image Comics:
Saga #21 – B
As much as I enjoy this book, it’s actually painful to watch Marko and Alana continue to drive a wedge between themselves. Alana is busy at work, but has taken on way more than a bigger role – she is on her way to becoming a drug addict. Meanwhile, Marko is rubbing elbows with a fellow stay-at-home parent and they seem to be getting uncomfortably close. There’s also the signature sex scene, which promptly follows the signature murder scene. I love the crazy robot janitor. His character is causing going to put a huge hole in everybody’s plan, and with no motive or backstory to understand what he is doing, he is even more frightening to watch. Saga remains my favorite book from Image, so to say that this issue didn’t strike me as amazing is still saying it’s one of the best books out. – Sherif
Marvel:
Deadpool Vs. X-Force #2 – B+
This monthly series of Deadpool is kicking the pants off of the Dracula’s Gauntlet weekly series and the main series at the moment! This issue has some pretty good writing and it is wonderful seeing Cable and Deadpool get to know each other during Civil War times. This series has definitely been enjoyable and has been a good break in the overdone and often story lacking series Deadpool has been involved in this year. – Jacob
Storm #1 – B-
This week, Marvel debuted its latest solo X-Men character, with Storm. To give you some background on my love affair with Ororo, when I was a child and all the other little girls were putting toilet paper on their heads to make a veil for Kindergarten weddings, I was using toilet paper to create tornadoes, and then I would control them while I was in the sky, a.k.a. the top of the stairs, and scream “I am STORM!”. With that being said, I was a little disappointed in this issue. The story gave some background into Storm, her capabilities, and where she is now. However, there was no background for the island she saves or the young defiant mutant who Storm takes back home to Mexico. I never felt connected with any character, including Storm or Beast. My predetermined bias forced me to give a high score on this book, but I won’t knock it until there has been more content. – Adrian
Original Sins #4 – C+
This miniseries and by connection the main series of Original Sin are about to come to a close. In this second to last issue of Original Sins we get to see stories about Doctor Doom, a overweight man playing Captain America in a parade ad of course the Young Avengers Story that has come with each issue. This series has been odd and I tend to be most excited for the stories that last two pages, which is usually something like Howard the Duck (whom I love). It was nice to at least kind of see what Doctor Doom is up to during Original Sin, but ultimately his story was about just some random loser who saw Doctor Dooms secrets. Overall this is definitely not a must have comic even for an Original Sin story line. -Jacob
Deadpool Dracula’s Gauntlet #3 – C-
We see the final battle between Blade and Deadpool and more story behind how Deadpool and Shiklah fell in love and got married. But although some of that may sound entertaining the way they dispatch of Blade is a very “No duh!” moment and the rest of the story just seems like it is a very unneeded prequel to Deadpool’s wedding and, of course, extra stuff to add to the whole Deadpool Gauntlet story. I will continue to read this series as I always find Deadpool entertaining, but maybe the constant barrage of stories for him has made him a predictable and boring character when not written in the right way. -Jacob
Funniest Panel:
Panel with the Most Awesomeness:
That about wraps it up for our reviews this week! Look for next week’s previews coming soon. Any comic books you didn’t see reviewed that you want reviewed? Any grades you didn’t agree on? Let us know in the comments!
All images taken from ComiXology app and the credit for them goes to the respective publishers; thanks to IDW Comics, image Comics, Dark Horse, Boom! Studios, Dynamite Entertainment, DC and Marvel for putting out great books.
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:
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.
In this consumer-based industry, it can be easy to forget the years of hard work that the people in the business put in. Behind every panel, it takes a skilled writer, artist, inker and colorist to make the product complete. Behind each scene goes hours of preparation. Hush Comics’ weekly article “Respect My Craft” will dive into the history of these comic book and pop culture greats that will hopefully give a new perspective on how the men and women behind the pen (or stylus) contribute to the collective awesome-ness of the nerd world, or at least give you a reason to invest in their work.
Click on the link to take you to all of our Denver Comic Con 2014 “Respect My Craft” articles
Name: Kevin J. Anderson
Profession: Author
NotableWork: Dune Prequel trilogy, Legends of Dune series, Heroes of Dune series, The Saga of Seven Suns series, Jedi Academy trilogy
“You can’t just hide in a hole and write books; I believe you need to give something back.” – Kevin J Anderson
I was introduced to Kevin J. Anderson through his novelized works in the Star Wars universe. Author to one of my favorite series of books, The Jedi Academy trilogy, Anderson has a special place in my heart. And even though Star Wars is the coolest thing to grace this side of the universe, Anderson’s real claim to fame lies outside of the galaxy far, far away. Better known for his work on this independent series The Saga of Seven Sons and his collaborations with Brian Herbert on the Dune sequels and prequels, Anderson garners a large following.
KJA @ a signing – LEFTY!!
Out of the womb with a pen and notepad practically in hand, KJA (cool acronym-name!) is as true a writer as I or many have seen. Referencing inspiration from as early as when he was 5 year old Kevin has always loved to write. He was strongly impressed by the War of the Worlds film (the 1953 version… just to be clear to all you young whippersnappers out there) based on the famous H.G. Well’s novel. Anderson wrote his first novel when he was 8 years old, titled The Injection – a story about an evil scientist that created a serum that could bring anything to life. I don’t know about you, but the best idea I had when I was eight involved putting potato chips INSIDE my PB&J sandwiches. He became so enthralled with fantasy and sci-fi that he opted to buy his own typewriter instead of a bicycle when he was ten!
Do you think he’s read all those books?… Nah – he probably wrote ’em
Before delving into his more renowned works I have to pay homage to Anderson’s involvement in the Star Wars universe. Having only published four adult novels and a series of young adult books with his wife, Anderson tends to be written off as fairly influential in light of the other heavy hitters on the Star Wars novel scene. For those of you that doubt let me remind you of two very important points: Admiral Natasi Daala and Kyp Durron. Two reoccurring and very developed characters that still play pivotal roles in novels being released today were introduced by Anderson. Kyp is one of the most charismatic character on the page and he is an expanded universe fan favorite I’ll never forget Admiral Daala’s cut throat and totally bad ass moment at Tsoss Beacon with the Imperial Warlords.
Anderson’s done more with SW than just the novels. He also had heavy involvement with the Tales of the Jedi comic series. “I love writing comics…it uses a different part of my creativity, and there’s something very exciting about seeing the pencil sketches, seeing the specific images in my mind come to life from the talents of a great artist,” says Anderson. George Lucas felt so comfortable with Kevin’s creative ability that he allowed him to write the comic detailing the invention and first time use of the double-bladed lightsaber. Without a doubt, The Force is strong with KJA.
With a bibliography extending back to adolescence it’d come as no surprise to learn that Anderson isn’t a one trick pony. Having such masterful ideas in the realms of fantasy and science-fiction Anderson has had the opportunity to write for DC Comics (The Last Days of Krypton, Enemies and Allies), StarCraft, Titan A.E., the X-Files, Dune and several of his own projects. He’s written over 100 novels and has put out numerous short stories – all spanning multiple universes and exploring new concepts, worlds and creations. Anderson’s won several awards for his sci-fi & fantasy novels and almost 50 of his publications have made the Best Sellers list! He even held a Guinness World Record for the single largest author signing at one point in time.
Anderson winning a Scribe Award at SDCC
Anderson’s novels have a lot of character (10 PUN POINTS TO GRYFINDOR!!). Great care and thought goes into every aspect of Anderson’s writing. On one of his more recent works involving the first meeting between Batman and Superman in a novel titled Enemies & Allies, Anderson states, “The challenge was to make icons (that you see on a comic page) into real characters. And that’s the advantage of a novel over the comics page, because you can really get into the thoughts, emotions, and backstory of Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent, Lois Lane, and even the villain Lex Luthor.”
Arguably his most popular works are the prequel/sequel stories of the highly acclaimed Dune novel written by Frank Herbert. KJA can attest to the challenges of writing new adventures in another creator’s universe that will appeal to what fans of the original series loved and cherished. Brian Herbert, son of Frank Herbert and original heir to the Dune legacy, released several sequel novels on his own initially, but struggled to bolster popularity like his father had with just one book. Bringing in KJA as a collaborator and fan the tag team was able to publish several more books and continue to do so. They’ve do so well as a team that many of the Best Seller accolades earned by Anderson are due to his stories in the Dune universe. You better believe that after writing this piece, each one of Anderson’s Dune novels hit my “need-to-read” list.
A man that loves his craft as dearly as Kevin J. Anderson does can’t help but share his passion with the sci-fi/fantasy/nerd community at large. From making YouTube videos to hosting forums to “answering all [his] fan mail,” KJA loves interacting with fans and enthusiasts. The introductory quote to this article sums up his disposition towards his love for what he does. He’s even gone so far as to marry a fellow author/enthusiast. Partner in crime Rebecca Moesta was a direct collaborator on the Young Jedi series with Anderson. Moesta has also written pieces in the Star Trek and Buffyverse.
Anderson and wife/fellow author Rebecca Moesta
Kevin J. Anderson is an incredibly talented and endlessly creative author. After learning more about this great name in sci-fi and fantasy I’m ashamed that I haven’t read more of his works. Anderson has a pure and true respect for his craft and the genre. Hush can’t wait to welcome him to DCC is just a few weeks!!
None of the media in this article belongs to Hush Comics; it all belongs to their respective properties. Join us tomorrow as we continue our countdown to Denver Comic Con as we spotlight Batman: The Long Halloween and Spiderman: Blue artist, Tim Sale
![Lone Gunmen (X-Files spin-off) starring Bruce Hardwood as John Fitzgerald Byers, Tom Braidwood as Melvin Frohike, Dean Haglund as Richard 'Ringo' Langly, Zuleikha Robinson as Yves Adele Harlow and Stephen Snedden as Jimmy Bond [dvdbash.wordpress]](https://hushcomics1.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/lone-gunmen-x-files-dean-haglund-tom-braidwood-bruce-hardwood-3-dvdbash.jpg)
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