Tim Sheridan's Reviews

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Hey all, it’s been a bit of a stressful week, so I don’t have much time for small talk. But I do hope you’re all doing well, and that you got a lot of good books this week. DC’s “One Year Later” is in full swing, and the Ultimate line over at Marvel had some good stuff too. Hope you enjoy…

Nightwing #118

“The Gang’s All Here”
Writer: Bruce Jones
Pencils: Joe Dodd
Inks: Bit
Colors: Javier Rodriguez Studios
Published by DC Comics

Big Nightwing fan here, so I was really looking forward to this book. I was a bit nervous that Bruce Jones was writing, because his “Hulk” run left me rather cold. But I am now at ease. This was a good issue. Was it great? No. But it was very solid, and it set up a lot of potentially cool arcs for our hero. Seems that there are two Nightwings out there. And one kills rather brutally. (That’s not Dick Grayson). And hey, Clancy is back! Don’t know who she is? Read old issues of this title. She’s a great character, and I’m pleased to have her around again. So next issue we will probably get to see Dick Grayson vs Jason Todd, which totally makes the fanboy in me geek the heck out! I can’t wait!!

(Sorry, all.)

Grade: B

Infinite Crisis Secret Files

Writer: Marv Wolfman
Art by Dan Jurgens and a whole lot of people

Teen Titans Annual
Writer: Geoff Johns & Marv Wolfman
Art: Ed Benes, Dale Eaglesham, Tom Grindenberg
Colors: Rod Reis

Published by DC Comics

I’m lumping these two issues together because they are of the same ilk. They are both big parts of the current EPIC crossover at DC, and they are both mediocre. They cram a lot into their pages. Secret Files tells us the story of Superboy and Alex Luthor and how they became the villains we love to love and hate. While they are sympathetic, they seem a bit too two-dimensional. However, this is a rather essential chapter in the whole story of “Crisis”. I have to recommend it, despite how awkward the story is. We also (much to most peoples’ chagrin) that Superboy’s punches are responsible for many of the inconsistencies in the DCU. It’s a somewhat lame reason, but it sort of makes sense when not just thought of as “some guy hitting things”.

Over in the Titans annual, we see Superboy and Wonder Girl GET-IT-ON!!! Anyways, we also see the history of this incarnation of Superboy and it’s a wonderful little recap since he appeared back in Adventures of Superman #500 (I remember the day I got that issue……misty water-colored memories.) And we see how Robin truly takes the lead of this team in crisis. It’s a great show of how he has evolved as a hero.

Secret Files: C
TT Annual: A

DMZ #5
“Crosstown”
Writer: Brian Wood
Art: Riccardo Burchielli
Colors: Jeromy Cox
Published by DC/Vertigo

By far the best of the new Vertigo titles, it’s probably not doing as well as it should, sales-wise. But it’s really good. We see a (somewhat) alternate take on a post-9/11 America, where Manhattan is essentially a war zone (much more realistic than Gotham’s NML). But rather than get lost in the big picture, Brian Wood focuses in on one character, a writer from the outside, who has been all but marooned in this world. This issue is the second of two stand alone issues, and is a great chance to experience the world from one single point of view. I highly recommend this series.

Grade: A

Ultimate Extinction

Writer: Warren Ellis
Art: Brandon Peterson
Colors: Justin Ponsor
Published by Marvel Comics

Finally, something happens!!! After many many issues of this overlong, overlate mega story, we’re finally getting somewhere. Gah-lak-tus is approaching (but we learned this close to two years ago), the Silver Surfer is weird (but we learned this three months ago), and Warren Ellis writes superheroes like mean SOBs (but we always knew that). So what makes this issue special? Well, the plot moves, if only a little. Warren Ellis is losing valuable time, and my interest, so he better get moving. But at least there are the requisite cool character moments herein.

Grade: C

Ultimate X-Men #68

“Date Night” Part 3
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Pencils: Tom Raney
Inks: Scott Hanna
Colors: Gina Going
Published by Marvel Comics

Go get this book. I love Millar, and Bendis, and Vaughn, but under Kirkman, this is the best the book has ever been. He seems to really capture the right amount of fun and adventure and soap opera that made the X-Men so uber-popular. The art is amazing, and like I said, it’s just fun. If you like superhero comics, you’ll dig this. I will say nothing more, just go get it.

Grade: A