I had a tough week so the reviews are shorter then usual. thanks for stopping by. Enjoy.
Wednesday Comics week #8 (Various/DC Comics/$3.99): Enjoying this more every week.
Batman: Great layouts and pacing. 9 out of 10.
Kamandi: So beautiful to look at. I am in awe of Sook. 10 out of 10
Superman: Really love the art, pops off the page. Wonder what’s up with these aliens. 9 out of 10
Hawkman: Nice art. I like the quests stars. 8 out of 10
Deadman: Really nice retro art, fun story. 9 Out of 10
Green Lantern: Another great stylistic choice that works very well for GL. 9 out of 10
Metamorpho: This may be the most fun thing I read all week. Love the thought that goes into the layout of the page. Great work by Gaiman and Allred 10 out of 10
Teen Titans: More nice art, not sure the pacing is working. 7 out of 10
Strange Adventure: This is really fun, well written and drawn. I never thought I would be enjoying this so much. 9 out of 10
Supergirl: Great art by Amanda, she really amps up the cute factor. As much as I love what Gale and Igle are doing, I really would like more of this version of Supergirl. 9 out of 10
Wonder Woman: Great art, but I am completely lost. 4 out of 10
Metal Men: More fun and great art. This is a classic version of the Metal Men. 9 out of 10
Sgt. Rock: Another surprise for me. Really fun. It feels like an authentic WWII story for sure.. 8 out of 10
the Flash: The art is beautiful. I am enjoying the story. Things don’t look good for the Flashes. 9.5 out of 10
The Demon and Catwoman: I love the angular art and camera angles. The story seems a bit inconsistent week to week for me. 6 out of 10
Again, I find the tactile joy I experience opening this every week really exciting. This is a fun format. 9 out of 10
Justice Society of America #30 (Willingham,Sturges,Merino/DC Comics/$2.99): this does not feel like the JSA at all. Willingham and Sturges is missing some thing in the tone and writing completely. The characters do not seem like the characters I have been reading for the last thirty years or so, and even the never ones seem off. It is almost as if the new writing team didn’t read the book before coming on board. The entire issue long narration from Jay Garrick’s PoV was hollow and emotionless. The big fight with the villains pretty much a waste of time, there was really never any threat there. Great to see Dr. fate back, even if it’s a new incarnation (although I wish they would have went with the classic costume). And finally the mystery and in fighting between the heroes on how to handle villains in the field was badly handled. It is forced to the point you get the feeling they are doing to launch another comic book. Oh wait they are. It is just bad. I don’t know how else to put it. I am a long time fan of Willingham ever since his D&D days, but this just isn’t the JSA. And worse, I have not interest at all with any thing that is going on. The art was hollow as well. Merino certainly puts a lot in every panel. But there is something off about the poses, faces and layouts. I never like panels on top of panels. And with the number of characters and pull away shots the pages look messier then they have to. 4 out of 10
Wonder Woman #35 (Simone,Lopresti/DC Comics/$2.99): I am at a complete loss. This really isn’t a Wonder Woman book at all. It’s a clear departure from any thing I believe this comic should be. It’s silly in a bad way. I am not sure what Simone is doing is working. This whole two parter is horrible. An underground fighting ring where Diana happens to meet up and battle the daughter of the Polynesian god she pledged allegiance to who was murdered by Zeus? Wow. That was really bad. The art on the other hand very very nice. Lopresti is great at storytelling and figure drawing. Brad Anderson is amazing on colors. I love Wonder woman as a character and see so much possibility, but I can’t read this book any more. 3 out of 10
Blackest Night: Titans #1 (Krul,Benes/DC Comics/$2.99): Eventually something Blackest Night had to be bad, and this was it. No soul, no character. The writing strictly by the numbers. And unlike the other Blackest Night stories missed they key horror element. In fact, it lacked that thing that would make it like the other Blackest Night stories completely. It is just another bad Titans story. I always liked Hawk and Dove too…but this was just horrible. I am not a huge Benes fan. But his art served the story well enough, even if the pages and quality of art is inconsistent through out the book. 2 out of 10
Incredible Hercules #133 (Pak, Van Lente, Buchemi/Marvel Comics/$2.99); the Mind-bending origin of Amadeus Cho! What a fun story. Great fun. Basically Cho is trying to find out how the Olympians are tied to the death of his parents, find his sister, and along the way face off with the 6th Smartest Person in the World. Pak and Van Lente have done wonders with Cho, I love the character, and I love how they use his smarts as a power and actually make him witty. Also using the hero’s progress as a guide was a nice touch, so Hercules is in the story too!!! Great art by Buchemi. Lovely facial expressions and gesture and dynamite fun on every page. Hercules month in month out is all WIN. 8 out of 10
New Avengers #56 (Bendis, Immonen/marvel Comics/$3.99): Man this book stays awesome. Fun and full of great banter and dialogue by Bendis. Nice to see the Wrecking Crew front and center and great scenes with Mocking Bird, she aint not slouch!. Love the developments once the Dark Avengers arrive and are taken out with relative ease by the Hood’s former gang of super villains. Looks like Loki kept her/his side of the bargain with the HOOD too. I am guessing he is going to show up and save Osborn’s a$$. Great art by Immonen. He is a master storyteller and his style is amazing. He never lets you down. Great panels of the wrecking Crew taking knocking around the de-powered Avengers. Some great angles and character expression. 9 out of 10
Detective Comics #856 (Rucka, Williams III, Hamner/DC Comics/$3.99): This comic is beautiful and awesome. Rucka is making me love Batwoman. She is an interesting character, with a nicely growing story and supporting cast. The book has a great tone and voice,. The art by Williams is great. Wonderfully original and aesthetic layouts and beautifully rendered characters. This book is fantastic in every way. the Question co-feature is just as good. Great art by Cully Hamner as we get some great action sequences and fight scenes. 9 out of 10
Batman and Robin #3 (Morrison,Quitely/DC Comics/$2.99): Wow this is the probably the best Batman has been since I have been reading comics. I can hear the gnashing of teeth now! It’s just a balls out action and thrill ride. Pyg was a scary, crazy villain, interesting to see Robin take him on and wonderful how Dick is morphing into a very Bruce-like Batman. Great dialogue, fun characterization, creepy villains and a cool ending. Red Hood gets his own doll. This is a great comic. The art is incredible. Wonderful story telling and sequencing by Quitely. He is really doing wonders with the action and dynamism. Great expression and terrific dramatic use of camera angles. This is really comics at its best. 9.5 out of 10.
Green Lantern #45 (Johns, Mahnke/DC Comics/$2.99): Sinestro remains one of the most interesting characters in comics. This issue focuses on him freeing his Sinestros from Star Fires and taking on Carol Ferris. Interesting developments for John Stewart who ends up facing down a planet whose death he is responsible for. And we see the War of Light being pulled into the Blackest Night as the Reds, Blues and even Agent Orange are confronted by Death’s awesome power. Great Art too. Mahnke is the best there is hands down. Wonderful visceral emotion and battles…he doesn’t skimp on the detail and dynamism one bit. The pages almost crackle with power. 9 out of 10
Have a great weekend. Go buy some comics.
