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Post by thwhtguardian on Jul 11, 2018 20:26:29 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2018 11:47:37 GMT -5
 Superman #1.Written by Brian Michael Bendis. Art and Cover by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado. This was better than the Man of Steel. After a quick recap of MOS we see Superman in space searching for Lois & Jon. Several small battles that Superman wins as his mind is filled with thoughts of his family. Bendis hammers home how lonely Superman feels right now. We see the JLA helping him clean up the destroyed Fortress & Superman creating a new Fortress. My only complaint was some of the dialog with Martian Manhunter was too quirky for Superman but other than that I enjoyed this issue. I do like the direction Bendis wants to establish with the Manhunter's suggestions. The last page? Pretty cool. The art was lush and just beautiful. I'm pretty happy with this issue. I enjoyed it more than Man of Steel. 8/10. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2018 11:57:41 GMT -5
 Amazing Spider-Man #1.Written by Nick Spencer. Art and Cover by Ryan Ottley. The story is called "Back to Basics" and this issue did just that. First Peter gets stripped of his doctorate degree because his thesis was found to be written by Dr Octavius (written when Octopus had taken over Peter's body). Pete loses his job as Science Editor at the Bugle because of the fall out. He loses Aunt May's respect. He gets re-established as the Rodney Dangerfield of super heroes in NYC becasuse he gets "no respect" from the other heroes as Spidey. He discovers Mysterio is behind a recent attack. He gets sent back to school to "redeem" himself at ESU & is placed in Dr Conner's class (but Conners is the Lizard). The only positive in Peter's life? He is back with Mary Jane! Spencer crams in a lot of story in this oversized issue. I love the concept & direction this story established. Ottley is a nice fit for this title. Great start. 8/10. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2018 12:06:21 GMT -5
 Archie #32. Written by Mark Waid and Ian Flynn. Art and Cover by Audrey Mok. Sigh. The end of an era. Waid writes his last New Riverdale story. And does it with style. There is a satisfying conclusion as Waid wraps up all his plots from the last 3 years. Reggie redeems himself. The gang acts totally in character to get themselves out of this mess. The Blossoms get some sympathy. All done with some beautiful art by Mok. This series has been outstanding from day one with the first issue. So what's next? Archie returns to "legacy" numbering with #699 in Oct with new writer Nick Spencer. But Waid is not done with the Archie gang just yet as he starts Archie 1941 in Sept. Archie 1941 is a 5 issue series mixing New Riverdale styled stories with the back drop of WWII. This issue had a preview that looks outstanding with art by Peter Krause. 10/10. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2018 12:20:47 GMT -5
 Flash #50.Written by Joshua Williamson. Art and Cover by Howard Porter. The conclusion of Flash War. Zoom wins! With comic book science all things are possible. In summary Zoom splinters the Speed Force. The result? No temporal energy is left in the Speed Force so the Flashes can not time travel anymore. Worse he drives a wedge of distrust between all of them. Kid Flash goes off to hang out with the Teen Titans. Wally runs off and disappears. Iris leaves to track Wally down. Barry is left all alone... In the epilog a villain in the 25th century escapes vowing to kill the Flashes saying "Worlds will live. Worlds will die". And an impulsive youngster bursts free of the Speed Force when Zoom splinters the Speed Force... Great wrap up of this arc & nice set up for the next stories. 8/10. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2018 12:36:16 GMT -5
 Hawkman #2.Written by Robert Venditti. Art and Cover by Bryan Hitch. Carter continues his quest to try & remember his past lives. Carter goes to the British Museum in London. While in the exhibit of Prince Khufu he experiences a flashback sending him back to ancient Egypt fighting a version of himself. When the flashback ends he finds he is still in the museum but bruised & battered. He also remembers where a map was hidden in the past which he steals. I really like this hook that Carter's memories of his past lives aren't clear anymore & he needs to go on a quest to get them back (for various reasons). So far Venditti is doing a great job giving us glimpses of some of Carter's other lives. This makes this book a different style of super hero book that makes it stand out from others on the stands. Hitch's art is still top notch. 7/10. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2018 12:42:30 GMT -5
 Plastic Man #2.Written by Gail Simone. Art by Adriana Melo. Simone "gets" Plas. She writes him quirky & funny. The first few pages she allows Melo a lot of freedom to draw Plas in outrageous situations & it works beautifully. This issue Plas goes up against Man-Bat while trying to protect & find a kid that helped him. I know that sounds simple but the issue works. Great story. Great art. Great Character that is hard to do right. 8/10. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 12, 2018 12:51:28 GMT -5
 Daredevil #605. Written by Charles Soule. Art by Mike Henderson. As usual Soule sticks the landing. The conclusion of Matt as mayor. DD defeats the Hand & the Beast with some help. Matt steps down as mayor when Fisk recovers but gets Fisk to back off the heroes in NYC. And a nice twist on the last page. Soule has great ideas. He starts them off with a blast... stumbles a bit in the middle sometimes "hurrying" to get to the conclusion. And his conclusions are usually pretty good. This arc was no different. Great start & a great finish with a "rushed" feeling in the middle parts. 7/10. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jul 12, 2018 18:06:36 GMT -5
Superman #1.Written by Brian Michael Bendis. Art and Cover by Ivan Reis and Joe Prado. This was better than the Man of Steel. After a quick recap of MOS we see Superman in space searching for Lois & Jon. Several small battles that Superman wins as his mind is filled with thoughts of his family. Bendis hammers home how lonely Superman feels right now. We see the JLA helping him clean up the destroyed Fortress & Superman creating a new Fortress. My only complaint was some of the dialog with Martian Manhunter was too quirky for Superman but other than that I enjoyed this issue. I do like the direction Bendis wants to establish with the Manhunter's suggestions. The last page? Pretty cool. The art was lush and just beautiful. I'm pretty happy with this issue. I enjoyed it more than Man of Steel. 8/10. The small, quiet moments were truly fantastic, that's the Superman I want to read and the conversation with the Manhunter was interesting but I'm not looking forward to more of Doomsday Lite. I knew there was no way that putting him in the Phantom zone would be the end of him, but I was really hoping it we would have a lot longer respite before he came back. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jul 12, 2018 18:46:12 GMT -5
Darth Vader #18by Charles Soule Art by Giuseppe Camuncoli Summary: On a small planet way out in the outer rim Grand Moff Tarkin is hunting the galaxy's most dangerous prey...Vader.
Plot: After a grueling six part story set on Mon Cala that seemed all the longer as the main book was covering much of the same ground this one shot was just the breath of fresh air I needed. While light on characterization the action was fantastic, and the general idea of Vader asking to be hunted as a personal test was a lot of fun. I think it might have better with less of tarkin's monologue, letting the mood sink in and the art to convey the tension but all in all it was a fun time.
Art: I really love the menace that Camuncoli was able to give Vader here, like the opening of A New Hope and the end of Rogue One this was a Vader that was a pure force of nature which is always fun to see.
Grade:7/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jul 12, 2018 19:45:32 GMT -5
BPRD #155Written by Mike Mignola and Scott Allie Art by Sebastian Fiumara Summary: Varvara's plot to give the saying, "Hell on Earth" a very literal meaning comes to fruition as she summons the remaining lords of Hell to New York.
Plot: BPRD, Mignola's team book, has always been about the long game when it comes to its plots but Hell on Earth is really taking it to new lengths as it ties in elements that were first introduced twenty years ago. It's all an intricate web, and each element is just perfectly placed making it a joy to read from start to finish. The story didn't start out that way however, the beginning of Hell on Earth was terribly fragmented with the character moments feeling lost and undeveloped which made it a slog to read but in the last few issues and in this issue in particular things have become much more cohesive and the pace is really building up a full head of steam. And although that's exciting...there is a bitter sweet note to it all as well as it all feels like it's rushing to the end, it's been a long trip and I know it'll be fantastic to reach the conclusion to Mignola's magnum opus part of me has always hoped it would go on forever.
Art: I've always loved Fiumara's art but this was really one of his finest. Every character was perfectly done, and their emotions made them seem so real but my favorite image was his full page spread of Abe, Liz and Hellboy together again. Seeing the big three together again with all the physical changes they've been through was just plain stunning.
Grade:10/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jul 13, 2018 19:54:55 GMT -5
Hawkman #2.Written by Robert Venditti. Art and Cover by Bryan Hitch. Carter continues his quest to try & remember his past lives. Carter goes to the British Museum in London. While in the exhibit of Prince Khufu he experiences a flashback sending him back to ancient Egypt fighting a version of himself. When the flashback ends he finds he is still in the museum but bruised & battered. He also remembers where a map was hidden in the past which he steals. I really like this hook that Carter's memories of his past lives aren't clear anymore & he needs to go on a quest to get them back (for various reasons). So far Venditti is doing a great job giving us glimpses of some of Carter's other lives. This makes this book a different style of super hero book that makes it stand out from others on the stands. Hitch's art is still top notch. 7/10. I've really been enjoying this new Hawkman, I love that it's more of an adventure book than a superhero book. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2018 20:00:29 GMT -5
Superman #1: Count me in as enjoying this more than Man of Steel. I liked seeing just how lost and lonely Superman is without his family. The quick scenes showcasing memories of them was nice and how worried he must be not knowing what is happening with them. I loved seeing so many pages of Superman saving the day and the quick scenes of Clark at the Daily Planet. The new Fortress is very intriguing as well, especially the locale. I wasn't quite on board with the Martian Manhunter's conversation with Superman. Maybe because I don't care for that character? I thought it was an odd choice of words for him to suggest Superman take over.
The art is a excellent. Big sweeping panels combined with smaller personal ones. Some of the art reminded me of Curt Swan style layouts, the Superman movies, and some panels made me think of Neal Adams. And was Lois wearing a Jayna of the Super Friends style pajama set? And nice that Superman has his chest hair back, haha! I noticed the paper is different too. Almost like old school comic paper, but nicer.
9/10
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2018 20:07:31 GMT -5
Archie #32: An excellent finale to Waid's run on the title. Things are going south quickly at the dance as the Blossom Twins' biological father holds everyone hostage. I loved how the gang decided to weaponize Archie's bad luck...and how he almost blew it! Loved the quick scenes with Toni and Kevin, Mr. Weatherbee, and the parents. Glad to see Reggie has been somewhat redeemed and hoping he soon is back in his rightful place in the gang. The art is good and I loved how Mok showed Jughead still eating during the crisis. Also the scene where the Blossom Twins learn what a bad dude their dad is and the resulting beat down was so awesome! Sad the book is going on hiatus, but looking forward to Archie 1941, the new Betty and Veronica title, and Archie coming back with a new creative team (who has big shoes to fill).
10/10
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2018 20:09:42 GMT -5
Archie #32: An excellent finale to Waid's run on the title. Sad the book is going on hiatus, but looking forward to Archie 1941, the new Betty and Veronica title, and Archie coming back with a new creative team (who has big shoes to fill). 10/10 Did you like the 1941 preview? |
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