|
|
Post by thwhtguardian on Jun 22, 2021 8:33:25 GMT -5
...And we're back with another week of brand new comics reviewed right... OFF THE RACKS! Where real readers write honest reviews! What did you pick up this week? |
|
|
|
Post by thwhtguardian on Jun 22, 2021 9:11:55 GMT -5
Detective Comics #1038Written by Mariko Tamaki Art by Viktor Bogdanovic Summary: Batman and Worth duke it out in Gotham's sewers while Hue Vile continues to meddle at the Mayor's office.
Plot: If you'll recall my thoughts on the last issue I said I had felt that the end scene with Worth taking a bazooka to the police precinct where Bruce Wayne was being held felt a touch over the top then it will come as no surprise that I wasn't a fan of how this issue continued the fight...as it took that scene, which was already high on the unbelievability scale, and turned it to eleven, err make that at least 22. Yes, instead of a single rocket fired at a building which was crazy enough here we got Worth using a bazooka as a close range weapon...in the sewers...and somehow although just last issue a single rocket reduced a building to rubble none of the five rockets (where is he even keeping those things) manages to bring the house down on top of them. But it doesn't stop there, Worth gets arrested...for simply destroying public property...and then walks free with no bail money needed. That sound you're hearing, like an over strung window shade snapping back in place? Yeah, those are my eyes finally coming back to their normal front facing position after having rolled several times well beyond just the back of my head. I know, I know, this is a book with a guy running around in his pajamas punching people so reality goes out the window pretty often but for whatever reason this sequence events was just too much for me, and I'm a guy who loves Krypto the Superdog.
All that said though? For as much as all that turned me off, Tamaki is still writing a pretty solid Batman book. I really love the characterization of Bruce and his interactions with Huntress here are really great to read and the mystery at the Mayor's office is still as intriguing as always...it's just the big action scenes that are slightly off. Here's hoping that improves.
Art: Bogdanovic is quickly becoming one of my favorite new artists, and my issues with how the action scenes are written doesn't reflect at all on my appreciation of how he gets them on the page. Despite the absurdity of the entire premise Bogdanovic makes it look really slick and fun to look at with his slightly cartooned style. What ever you might think about the over the top nature of the action you certainly can't say that it's visually boring.
Grade:6/10 |
|
|
|
Post by thwhtguardian on Jun 23, 2021 5:20:46 GMT -5
Batman/Superman #19Written by Gene Luen Yang Art by Steve Lieber and others  Summary: Batman, Robin, Superman...Allana of Rann battle Io through several different universes.
Plot: After enjoying the first two outings of Yang's pulpy mash up of Batman and Superman I very nearly didn't buy this issue because it looked like a whole new story based on the cover. We last left off with the Superman, Batman and Robin of the movie serial universes coming into "our" world and seeing the mad robot Io trapping Batman and Superman in a Phantom Zone crystal so seeing western versions of Batman and Superman made me think I had missed the conclusion and a whole other elseworlds like story had begun, but silly me for taking a cover at face value! My initial feeling wasn't however that far off the mark though as the story does take a bit of a left turn here with Batman, Robin and Superman making jumps to several different worlds in a single issue with out the need of the dramatic "burns" in the film used to separate worlds in the past issues. But the action as they leap from one setting to the next is fun and I loved the inclusion of Allana from Rann as the female heroine joining the band over the more traditional pick of Wonder Woman as it does give the book a more unique feel.
Art: I could be wrong, but I think there were five different pencilers listed here and just as many inkers...and it shows in the art. It would be one thing if the different artists were used for the different worlds giving each their own unique visual style to set them apart...but it seems to switch randomly which gives it a slightly rushed and disjointed look over all even if the individual artists are competent in their own rights.
Grade:6/10
|
|
|
|
Post by DubipR on Jun 23, 2021 6:12:20 GMT -5
With the exception of Nightwing, Robin is one of the best monthly titles going on right now at DC.
Joshua Williamson and Gleb Melinkov (who's art I'm really enjoying) are crafting an interesting take of Damian Wayne. This issue with him and Conner Hawke together was really well done. The arc is ramping up to be extremely interesting with a great last page reveal for next month. Tom Taylor and Williamson are two must reads from DC.
|
|
|
|
Post by Slam_Bradley on Jun 23, 2021 13:36:25 GMT -5
Black Hammer Reborn #1: Jeff Lemire and Caitlin Yarsky Overall I've been a huge fan of Lemire's Black Hammer universe. There have been some stories that didn't really land, but overall the quality has been high. I was glad to see Lemire returning to the main story...and I was not disappointed. Lemire is about as good as it gets at world-building. And what we get here is a focus on Lucy Weber twenty years after she returned the heroes to the world and took up the Black Hammer. But now she's a mother and not active as a super-hero. This is all about character and exploration of a hero that was and it's just darn excellent. 
|
|
|
|
Post by majestic on Jun 23, 2021 18:38:29 GMT -5
Robin #3. Joshua Williamson and Gleb Melnikov.
In a night off on the League of Lazarus's island Damian has to act like a normal teenager at the beach party. Then some time spent comparing fathers with Conner Hawke. Until the League of Shadows shows up...
This was a nice balance of action & humor. I really liked the scene with Conner & Damian comparing Batman & Green Arrow. I hope Conner plays a big role in this title going forward.
Williamson really writes the characters well. Melnikov's art is stellar. Cartoony but detailed. He excels in the action sequences and I thought I saw some Gene Colan influences in the action scenes.
This title and Nightwing are the best DC titles right now.
|
|
|
|
Post by thwhtguardian on Jun 23, 2021 18:42:11 GMT -5
With the exception of Nightwing, Robin is one of the best monthly titles going on right now at DC. Joshua Williamson and Gleb Melinkov (who's art I'm really enjoying) are crafting an interesting take of Damian Wayne. This issue with him and Conner Hawke together was really well done. The arc is ramping up to be extremely interesting with a great last page reveal for next month. Tom Taylor and Williamson are two must reads from DC. Robin #3. Joshua Williamson and Gleb Melnikov. In a night off on the League of Lazarus's island Damian has to act like a normal teenager at the beach party. Then some time spent comparing fathers with Conner Hawke. Until the League of Shadows shows up... This was a nice balance of action & humor. I really liked the scene with Conner & Damian comparing Batman & Green Arrow. I hope Conner plays a big role in this title going forward. Williamson really writes the characters well. Melnikov's art is stellar. Cartoony but detailed. He excels in the action sequences and I thought I saw some Gene Colan influences in the action scenes. This title and Nightwing are the best DC titles right now. I agree, this book is a whole lot of fun and the characterization is so good that I don't even care that the main thrust of the plot is a thinly veiled play on Enter the Dragon. I loved the scene between Connor and Damian, how is this the first time these two have met? |
|
|
|
Post by majestic on Jun 23, 2021 18:46:09 GMT -5
Batman/Superman #19. Gene Luen Yang. Art by Emanuela Lupacchino, Steve Lieber, Darick Robertson and Kyle Hotz. Like thwhtguardian stated in his review this issue was a dip in quality. I liked seeing Allana from Rann and I liked the western portion but this issue felt "off" and slightly disjointed. Also the multiple art styles added to that feeling. Still overall I like the concept behind this arc & am looking forward to Etrigan next issue.
|
|
|
|
Post by majestic on Jun 23, 2021 18:56:31 GMT -5
Detective Comics #1038. Mariko Tamaki & Viktor Bogdanovic. Another title already reviewed by thwhtguardian. I agree this is one of the best Batman titles recently with great writing by Tamaki and great art by Mora and Bogdanovic (who reminds me of Greg Capullo). I love the Huntress being included. As mentioned the action was way over the top and unbelievable even for a Batman comic. But that wasn't enough the ruin this overall arc. I also liked the Penguin back up.
|
|
|
|
Post by majestic on Jun 23, 2021 19:10:56 GMT -5
Fantastic Four Life Story #2. Mark Russell. Art by Sean Izaakse.
Celebrating the FF's 60th Anniversary. This series imagines the Fantastic Four's lives in real time. This issue shows their struggles through changes in the culture of the 1970's. Reed becomes irrational and obsessed with preparing for the impending arrival of Galactus. Sue becomes involved in social causes and leaves Reed to live with Namor. Ben gets his chance to be human again.
This is a different take on the FF. Not sure if I really like it. I feel like it tries too hard to add realism to a series that really shouldn't be realistic. The FF should be over the top with crazy ideas. Have mixed feelings at this point.
|
|
|
|
Post by thwhtguardian on Jun 23, 2021 19:17:15 GMT -5
Wonder Woman: Black and Gold #1Written by AJ Mendez, Nadis Shammas, John Arcudi, Amy Reeder and Becky Cloonan Art by Ming Doyle, Morgan Beem, Ryan Sook, Amy Reeder and Becky Cloonan Summary: In the vein of Batman: Black and White this dichromatic anthology focused on Wonder Woman features the best and brightest talents of DC.
Meat: Like any anthology not every one of these five stories will hit the right notes for every reader out there but there is a variety to the tales here so I do think that there is bound to be something for just about every reader out there. My opinion of the book did not initially begin very high as the sort of slice of life story by Aj Mendez with art by Ming Doyle was a little off kilter with what I was expecting. Don't get me wrong, the interactions between Diana and Hyppolyta were certainly heartwarming...but neither was really in character and if the art hadn't suggested Wonder Woman and her mother I would have just thought it was a slightly amusing if some what generic mother-daughter bonding story. However, for my tastes any way the book got better with each successive story with the second feature we got probably the closest thing to a typical "mainstream" Wonder Woman comic with Diana clashing with Circe but the art by Morgan Beem was really stylish and the contrast between the shadows and Circe's golden hair really brought a sense of menace which I often find her lacking. With the next two features by John Arcudi( I love him!) and Amy Reeder you get that kind of Wonder Woman Annual kind of feel with Arcudi's story focusing on the immortal nature of Wonder Woman and how she sees all her friends fade away eventually and Reeder giving us her version of a retro Wonder Woman story from the forties. And while both were certainly fun the crown jewel was the story by Cloonan which played on my love of the Batman/Wonder Woman romance from the Justice League cartoon. Out off all these people the fact that Cloonan isn't on some major book just feels like a huge head scratcher, not only is here art stunning but she is a great storyteller as well. In the end, whether I continue to like this book or not will come down to the talent behind the book but for now I'm definitely locked in.
Grade:8/10 |
|
|
|
Post by majestic on Jun 23, 2021 20:02:21 GMT -5
Wonder Woman: Black and Gold #1
Out off all these people the fact that Cloonan isn't on some major book just feels like a huge head scratcher, not only is here art stunning but she is a great storyteller as well.
Cloonan is the current writer on the main Wonder Woman title. The current arc just ended her time in Asgard and she is now in Olympus involved in a murder mystery on who is killing the Gods of Norse/Greek/Roman Mythologies. |
|
|
|
Post by thwhtguardian on Jun 24, 2021 10:16:56 GMT -5
Imogen of the Wyrding WayWritten by Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden Art by Peter Berting Summary: While hunting vampires in Copenhagen Imogen meets a refugee who believes trolls in Sweeden may have his family hostage.
Plot: While I would have liked more information on who Imogen is(other than Lady Baltimore's lover) and how she became involved in the war this was still head and shoulders above the quality of storytelling we've seen so far in the main Outerverse book Lady Baltimore. Imogen's interactions with the supporting cast were light and fun and the action was really great. Still and all this was far from the greatness of the previous Baltimore series, which is a shame because the world is so amazing. I wonder if Mignola's heart just isn't really in it?
Art: I think a lot of my enjoyment of this book comes from Berting's art, his vampires and trolls here just looked amazing and I loved how he drew the sunlight destroying them.
Grade:6/10 |
|
|
|
Post by Slam_Bradley on Jun 24, 2021 10:30:20 GMT -5
Fantastic Four Life Story #2. Mark Russell. Art by Sean Izaakse. Celebrating the FF's 60th Anniversary. This series imagines the Fantastic Four's lives in real time. This issue shows their struggles through changes in the culture of the 1970's. Reed becomes irrational and obsessed with preparing for the impending arrival of Galactus. Sue becomes involved in social causes and leaves Reed to live with Namor. Ben gets his chance to be human again. This is a different take on the FF. Not sure if I really like it. I feel like it tries too hard to add realism to a series that really shouldn't be realistic. The FF should be over the top with crazy ideas. Have mixed feelings at this point. I'm a huge fan of Mark Russell and have loved everything of his I've read (I've not read his take on Red Sonja). I was really under-impressed with the first issue, but decided to read this one because I trust him. And man...it just wasn't any better. I thought Zdarsky's Spider-Man book like this was pretty good. So it's not the concept. Russell just doesn't seem to have a handle on this book at all. In the first issue Reed and Ben were mostly at odds with each other. Now, out of the blue, they're buddies and roommates with no real evidence of a rapprochement. As of the second issue this is easily one of the most disappointing books I've read in a good long time. |
|
|
|
Post by thwhtguardian on Jun 24, 2021 13:19:56 GMT -5
Black Hammer Reborn #1: Jeff Lemire and Caitlin Yarsky Overall I've been a huge fan of Lemire's Black Hammer universe. There have been some stories that didn't really land, but overall the quality has been high. I was glad to see Lemire returning to the main story...and I was not disappointed. Lemire is about as good as it gets at world-building. And what we get here is a focus on Lucy Weber twenty years after she returned the heroes to the world and took up the Black Hammer. But now she's a mother and not active as a super-hero. This is all about character and exploration of a hero that was and it's just darn excellent. Yeah, this was truly excellent! It had a great mix of slice of life, mystery and action that just makes it a pain when you make it to the end. |
|
