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Post by thwhtguardian on Mar 18, 2020 6:49:11 GMT -5
OFF THE RACKSReal reviews by real readers  |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Mar 18, 2020 9:43:44 GMT -5
Batman #91Written by James Tynion IV Art by Rafael Albuquerque Summary: The Designer starts to put his pieces in motion against the Batman.
Plot: When Tynion took over on Batman I had high hopes, the characterization was solid, I liked the tone and while I felt the plot was a little bit of a rehash of other "new" criminal mastermind stories like RIP, Hush and Knightfall it was interesting enough to keep me reading. Now however we're six issues in and the plot has moved forward by only a few inches and we know little more about the new villain, The Designer, than we did at the start and nothing about his motivations or plans. Six issues is enough space to tell a whole story so I don't think it's asking too much to have atleast a decent feel for a new villain...and we don't have one yet. RIP took 6 issues to tell it's whole story, Hush was 12 issues but at half way through we had a great feel for Hush and his designs and likewise the introduction to Bane and the first leg of Knightfall was 12 issues and again by its half way mark we knew who Bane was and how he planned to beat Batman. That we have no concrete information on the designer or what he plans to do and why by this point is just a travesty in storytelling. I'm out.
Art: Albuquerque draws a great Joker...but it's in a wasted scene that basically summarizes the last issue. Why was that needed?
Grade: I can't give it a numerical grade...it's just a failure.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Mar 18, 2020 13:24:13 GMT -5
Usagi Yojimbo #9Story and Art by Stan Sakai Colored by Tom Luth Summary: Just before dawn the Neko Ninja attack the caravan, can even Usagi prevail?
Plot: I presumably have this one waiting for me in my pull box but as I'm not sure when the shop will open up I decided I'd double up on this and get it digitally as well so I could read it now and I have to say it was well worth it. Although the second chapter lacked the cultural insight of the first the action was great and the conclusion with Lord Hebi and Kagemaru drinking Habu sake was fantastic. Sure, it was just two characters drinking sake but the tension between the two was just fantastic.
Art: As always Stan was great here, as I mentioned above the last scene was arguably the best of the whole story and much of what made it work was done purely through body language and eye contact. The imbalance of power between Hebi and Kagemaru was easy to see, and the tension that created was absolutely delicious and perfectly highlighted the message that Hikiji would gladly eat his own if it meant success.
Grade:10/10 |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2020 15:13:11 GMT -5
 Robin 80th Anniversary 100 Page Super Spectacular.10 short stories about Robin across eight decades. 4 stories about Dick Grayson (as Robin, Nightwing, Titans leader and Grayson the spy). One about Jason Todd. 2 about Tim Drake. 2 about Damian Wayne (with Superboy Jon Kent and with Batman). And one with Stephanie Brown. Marv Wolfman and Tom Grummett tell the story of Dick as Robin leaving at 18 yrs old. Chuck Dixon and Scott McDaniel tell a Nightwing story. Devin Grayson and Dan Jurgens handle the Titans story. Tim Seeley, Tom King and Mikel Janin handle the Grayson spy story. Judd Winick and Dustin Nguyen tell the Jason/Red Hood tale. The Tim stories are by James Tynion IV and Javi Fernandez. Adam Beechen and Freddie Williams. Amy Wolfram and Damian Scott handle the Stephanie tale. Peter Tomasi and Jorge Jimenez tell the Super Sons story. Robbie Thompson and Ramon Villalobos handle the Batman and Robin story. All the stories did the job of showing the different Robin's personalities. My favorites were the Dick Grayson stories. The Super Sons story was the most fun. I was pleasantly surprised by the Jason/Red Hood story. I usually am NOT a Jason fan. The Tim stories were good. The Stephanie story was just OK. Honestly I liked Stephanie a lot as Batgirl instead of her brief tenure as Robin. The only story I didn't like was the Batman and Robin (Damian) story. Overall a really nice job by DC (again!) on another 80th anniversary special. This was a great issue highlighting 80 years of the greatest and most well known sidekick in comic books. 9/10. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Mar 18, 2020 16:08:30 GMT -5
Robin 80th Anniversary 100 Page Super Spectacular.10 short stories about Robin across eight decades. 4 stories about Dick Grayson (as Robin, Nightwing, Titans leader and Grayson the spy). One about Jason Todd. 2 about Tim Drake. 2 about Damian Wayne (with Superboy Jon Kent and with Batman). And one with Stephanie Brown. Marv Wolfman and Tom Grummett tell the story of Dick as Robin leaving at 18 yrs old. Chuck Dixon and Scott McDaniel tell a Nightwing story. Devin Grayson and Dan Jurgens handle the Titans story. Tim Seeley, Tom King and Mikel Janin handle the Grayson spy story. Judd Winick and Dustin Nguyen tell the Jason/Red Hood tale. The Tim stories are by James Tynion IV and Javi Fernandez. Adam Beechen and Freddie Williams. Amy Wolfram and Damian Scott handle the Stephanie tale. Peter Tomasi and Jorge Jimenez tell the Super Sons story. Robbie Thompson and Ramon Villalobos handle the Batman and Robin story. All the stories did the job of showing the different Robin's personalities. My favorites were the Dick Grayson stories. The Super Sons story was the most fun. I was pleasantly surprised by the Jason/Red Hood story. I usually am NOT a Jason fan. The Tim stories were good. The Stephanie story was just OK. Honestly I liked Stephanie a lot as Batgirl instead of her brief tenure as Robin. The only story I didn't like was the Batman and Robin (Damian) story. Overall a really nice job by DC (again!) on another 80th anniversary special. This was a great issue highlighting 80 years of the greatest and most well known sidekick in comic books. 9/10. I thought about getting this digitally but I think I will wait to get a physical copy of this and if possible the Dustin Nguyen cover. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Mar 18, 2020 18:18:00 GMT -5
Spider-Woman #1Written by Karla Pacheco Art by Pere Perez Summary: Jessica Drew is back to hitting the streets for pay and her first case back is more than it appears.
Plot: I think this is the first time since the Ultimate Universe came out that I'm reading more Marvel books than DC or Dark Horse. Like some of my favorite periods of comics in the past Marvel is really putting out unique and interesting books each with their own personal flavors and the new Spider-Woman book is yet another of those as it wonderfully mixes suspense, super hero action and slice of life into one neat package that is unlike anything else on the stands(or digital platform as the case is today). The rough talking, take no bs characterization Pacheco gave Drew here in comparison to her demeanor while home was great and I'm excited to see her bounce of the Night Nurse in the next issue.
Art: I wasn't originally sold on the new costume when I saw it as the classic red and yellow look has always been one of my favorite designs but by the end it really grew on me. Sure, Miles already brought out the Black and Red look but the design here is different enough to work.
Grade:8/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Mar 18, 2020 18:47:33 GMT -5
Starship Down #1Written by Justin Giampaoli Art by Andrea Mutti Summary: A remote mining facility between Russia and Alaska uncovers an alien spacecraft.
Plot: I was originally really excited for this when I read the solicit for it as I've always been a fan of ancient alien theories, but unfortunately the concept just wasn't translated to the page very well. Instead of building up the characters and building the world the plot plays out just like the synopsis which steals any sense of suspense the plot would have had if it were developed in any other way than the info dump we got. It has the potential to pick up in future issues but I don't think I'll be reading them.
Art: I usually love Mutti's style but it's as dull as dishwater here and the design for the star was even duller but worse than that was the fact that because of the way it was layed out we never got a sense of how big it was or any feeling of surprise because instead of any kind of slow reveal it was just laying in the back ground behind some talking heads with out any importance given to it.
Grade:4/10
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Post by The Captain on Mar 18, 2020 19:02:53 GMT -5
Captain America #20
This month's issue makes last month's look like Watchmen or V for Vendetta or "insert name of incredible comic book here".
Coates continues his use of the Captain America title to write the Daughters of Liberty story he so desperately wants to tell. This issue has fewer panels with Steve Rogers in it (17, half of which he spends using an image inducer to appear to be an old man) than it does of Peggy Carter (last month's big surprise reveal) or Misty Knight (both well into the 20s), and only one panel of Steve in costume (as part of a flashback).
The only action sequence in the book is a fight scene in a Madripoor bar involving Carter and Knight facing off against Crossbones and some thugs. Steve is reduced to talking, lots and lots of talking, boring philosophical talking about why a bunch of white men would leave their families and move to a small town in Ohio to become farmers.
I know that I'm a masochist for sticking with it month after month, but it's Cap, and that's what I do with Cap books.
This issue sucked, as has almost the entire series to this point. Someday, hopefully soon, Coates will take his pen and move onto to something else, and it will not come a moment too soon.
2/10
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Post by thwhtguardian on Mar 19, 2020 6:24:19 GMT -5
Captain America #20This month's issue makes last month's look like Watchmen or V for Vendetta or "insert name of incredible comic book here". Coates continues his use of the Captain America title to write the Daughters of Liberty story he so desperately wants to tell. This issue has fewer panels with Steve Rogers in it (17, half of which he spends using an image inducer to appear to be an old man) than it does of Peggy Carter (last month's big surprise reveal) or Misty Knight (both well into the 20s), and only one panel of Steve in costume (as part of a flashback). The only action sequence in the book is a fight scene in a Madripoor bar involving Carter and Knight facing off against Crossbones and some thugs. Steve is reduced to talking, lots and lots of talking, boring philosophical talking about why a bunch of white men would leave their families and move to a small town in Ohio to become farmers. I know that I'm a masochist for sticking with it month after month, but it's Cap, and that's what I do with Cap books. This issue sucked, as has almost the entire series to this point. Someday, hopefully soon, Coates will take his pen and move onto to something else, and it will not come a moment too soon. 2/10 I used to be the exact same way with Batman, so I feel for you as you hang on. Heck, I still hang onto Batman longer than I should when I try a new run. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Mar 20, 2020 7:15:47 GMT -5
Plunge #2Written by Joe Hill Art by Stuart Immonen Summary: The shore team finds that there are more mysteries afoot than a long derelict ship's distress signal turning on.
Plot: This book stands in stark contrast to this week's Starship Down, as Joe Hill clearly knows that in order to craft a tale of horror you do it by ensnaring your readers in a web of suspense and discovery. You don't blurt out the whole premise through some talking heads, you leak the plot out in dribs and drabs, stringing the reader along and making them feel both surprised when new twists are revealed and left feeling accomplished as if they earned the reveal by following the trail. It's masterfully done here with each element really leaving you wondering what wrecked the ship; was it the result of some experiment gone wrong? Aliens? An ancient Cthulhu cult? The magic eight ball says ask again later...and I know I'll certainly be here shaking it again to find out.
Art: Immonen seems to be having a blast here as he gets to create mutated crabs, zombies, giant alien sea creatures, weird totem poles and cryptic cave paintings all in a single issue. I can't wait to see what he unleashes next.
Grade: 10/10 |
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Post by hondobrode on Mar 20, 2020 21:55:30 GMT -5
 cover by Mikel Janin    Hawkman # 22 by Robert Venditti with art by Fernando Pasarin, Oclair Albert & Wade von Grawbadger  variant cover by Gerardo Zaffino Good to be back ! My favorite current title. Finally caught up after falling behind for the last 6 months due to heavy overtime at work. Loving this title SO much and hoping it lasts a long, long time. If DC continues, they can make Hawkman and solid performer, hopefully similar to what they did with Aquaman. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Mar 22, 2020 9:24:24 GMT -5
cover by Mikel Janin Hawkman # 22 by Robert Venditti with art by Fernando Pasarin, Oclair Albert & Wade von Grawbadger variant cover by Gerardo Zaffino Good to be back ! My favorite current title. Finally caught up after falling behind for the last 6 months due to heavy overtime at work. Loving this title SO much and hoping it lasts a long, long time. If DC continues, they can make Hawkman and solid performer, hopefully similar to what they did with Aquaman. I need to catch up on this one as well. |
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