Wednesday Comics week #9 (Various/DC Comics/$3.99): This is probably the best week so far. Movement on all the story lines.
Batman: Some action and a surprise. 9 out of 10.
Kamandi: Kamandi and the Lions storm the apes, really I am in awe of Sook’s art.. 10 out of 10
Superman: Superman comes to the realization his doubts have been placed in his mind by the aliens and brings the battle to them. 9 out of 10
Hawkman: Jurassic era action as Hawkman faces off against a T-Rex(that dude has balls of brass!). 8 out of 10
Deadman: Really enjoying the dialogue and action. 9 Out of 10
Green Lantern: GL saves his friend’s life just in time for an alien invasion 9 out of 10
Metamorpho: This is just such fun. Smart and interesting. Great use of the periodic table by the creators. And Java’s dialogue at the end is hilarious. 10 out of 10
Teen Titans: Love the art, but suddenly I am lost. 6 out of 10
Strange Adventure: Strange is back in action, really the art is amazing here. And I like the lettering it works so well on the page. 10 out of 10
Supergirl: More fun. You can’t leave the animals alone for a minute as Supergirl races to the sun. Love the expression on the owl’s face staring down the super pets. 9 out of 10
Wonder Woman: Not as lost as last week, still busy, but you get some nice shots of WW. 5 out of 10
Metal Men: This is tremendous. And fun. I really love the dialogue, it works well with Lopez’s art.. 9 out of 10
Sgt. Rock: More drama, I am really enjoying this. Joe Kubert’s art is great. So right for the genre. 8 out of 10
the Flash: Great page layout and wonderful shots of Iris, the art is amazing. 9.5 out of 10
The Demon and Catwoman: This is a good week for the strip. Good action and angles.. 7 out of 10
I hope DC re-ups this series after the run. This would be a nice 12 part format for DC to publish annually. . 9 out of 10
Flash: Rebirth #4 (Johns, Van Scriver/DC Comics/$2.99): I have to admit I was originally going to pass on this series. I haven’t really been a fan of Barry Allen, for me his best appearances were in the JLA and his death in Crisis #8. And I really didn’t see any reason to bring him back. Except maybe as an event. BARRY”S BACK! Buy some comics. But I guess I saw it on the stands, and picked it up. I am glad I did. The art is amazing. Scriver fills the pages, and they crackle with energy. The detail is amazing, it doesn’t over power the page, but instead pulls you into each panel. I love his facial expression. Zoom comes off evil in every single shot. He looks villainous. Surprising to say I even like the effects. Great art. Johns’ story is evidence of his love of these characters. Every time I read one of his comics I feel like he wrote it just for me. He knows their history, their voice and writes them accordingly and adding elements of his own along the way without destroying import continuity and characterization from the past. It is amazing how Johns is taking the Speedforce (which I hate by the way, what’s wrong with running really fast?) and weaving it into a great story element. And I like how Zoom is trying to replace it with a Reverse-Speedforce. Simple, but perfect. He is the “reverse” Flash after all.
The issue itself is amazing. Zoom is out to destroy the Flash(es). And races to the West household to start with new Flash kids. You also get some insight to the nature and origin of the Speedforce, Jay (the WWII era Flash) and Bart (Kidflash) in action, and Barry saving Max Mercury and essentially the Flash family for what looks like the fight of fights with Prof. Zoom. Another great thing about the issue and story is how Johns is building up Zoom. He is making him a smart, creepy, and dangerous villain. He did the same thing with Sinestro. Zoom and Sinestro suffer from Super Friends syndrome before Johns got to them. Where they were kind of silly evil versions of the heroes. But not any more. A really fun, dense read. I am glad I decided to pick it up. 9 put pf 10
Guardians of the Galaxy #17 (Abnett & Lanning, Walker/Marvel Comics/$2.99): Holy moley what an ending! Every one should be reading this book. Abnett and Lanning are really doing a great job with this title and the cosmic characters in general. Great characterization, wonderful twists and turns and an ending I really didn’t see coming. Basically in War of Kings a bomb blew up that opened a space/time rift that threatens to engulf the universe. Warlock casts a spell to close it that involves, ready?, pulling in an unused future and replacing ours with it. Well it stops the rift expansion, but man I didn’t any of this ending coming at all. This was an intense issue. Great use of the Inhumans as guest stars, the parts with Maximus and Groot really need to praised as comedy gold. Nice action as the two teams stop the creatures who are bleeding out of the rift and finally a shocker of an ending as Martyr seems to betray the team, and it looks like three teammates end up dead when the big bad is revealed. Nothing but great surprises. Thanos has some competition as top villain now boys and girls that’s for sure. Walker is a great artist, he is a mix of Jim Starlin and Angel Medina. Great action and facial expression. Wonderful detail. He has been doing a wonderful job with a great cosmic action and a big cast of characters and dizzying array of guest stars, This book is quality back to front. And quite possibly the best take on GotG ever. 9.5 out of 10
Action Comics (Rucka, Robinson, Lopez/DC Comics/$3.99): I picked this up because it was a light week for me comics wise. I am glad I did. The Superman books are really good, and I dropped Action due to inconsistent art quality. So with four books in hand, I looked around for something to read and since Codename: Patriot was running through the other Superbooks decided to give it a go. And am glad I did. Nice expressive art. Julian Lopez does really nice action packed layouts and story telling. I have to say he does quite a good Superman and Mon-el too. The issue is full of great action as the Kryptonian patriot Ral-dar descends to Earth and the plot grows as you see he is working with General lane, not for, with, as they both want to save their people from alien influence and destruction. While Lane is just a jerk, Ral-dar is given a great deal of character this issue. You also get nice developments all the way around and some great action. This is turning into one heck of a storyline. And threatens to engulf Krypton and Earth in a war neither can win. 8 out of 10
Chew #4 (Layman,Guillory/Image Comics/$2.99): Another grand slam of dark humor, fun, great characterization and action from the Chew crew. Aliens? Did Layman just throw aliens into the mix in a comic book about a loser cop who can eat things and pick up psychic images from the stuff digests? Sure did. And a he throws in some great characterization, wonderful and witty dialogue, drama and action in there too. Plus the kitchen sink. Let’s not forget there still the stuff with his boss, his new lady friend with the midget with box, and his brother percolating out there too. Oh and lets not forget Russian Vampires? I wonder if it’s all related. This is a sick twisted book that is wonderful to read. In this issue the Chu and Savoy go to the Artic to see what some sick scientists are doing with $34 million dollars? Well…sick is the right term. And after a flurry of violence may have uncovered a government plot dealing with aliens. The art is amazing. Rob Guillory has a unique, cartoony yet offbeat style that is amazingly appropriate for this book. He does great expression and wonderful color work throughout the issue. This guy is amazing. This book is really really fun to read. 9 out of 10
This was a light week for me and it seems like I missed Last Resort. Have to pick that up. It is really good.
See you guys next week. Go out and buy some comics. Keep the monthly alive.
