|
|
Post by thwhtguardian on Apr 19, 2022 11:41:59 GMT -5
OFF THE RACKS!What did you read this week?  |
|
|
|
Post by thwhtguardian on Apr 19, 2022 15:10:37 GMT -5
Batman/Superman: World's Finest #2Written by Mark Waid Art by Dan Mora Summary: Superman is brought back from the brink of death with the help of Negative Man the superfriends move on to a new threat.
Plot: Waid continues his fun, Saturday morning cartoon romp through the DC Universe as Batman and Superman widen their investigation into what caused their villains to unite and end up meeting Billy Batson and Supergirl joins the cast as well. But its not all fun action and adventure, I really loved how caring Batman and Robin were while Superman was undergoing surgery and the vulnerability Superman expressed after the surgery was well done as well. I think my favorite element though was the banter between Supergirl and Robin, the way they argued about their past bad date was just so cute and real. I don't think I've ever seen Robin and Supergirl dating before so it was an interesting dynamic that I'd love to see more of and with them teaming up on a time travel adventure it looks like we'll be getting more of it in the future.
Art: While I loved Mora's art I think the real star here art-wise was the wonder work of Tamra Bonvillain. It's not often I talk about the colorist but she really makes this book stand out as the colors really are stunning. Plot wise the book was basically split into two pieces, the surgery of Superman and then the invesigation into the demon. Throughout the first segment every panel is shrouded in darkness, highlighted by harsh, unnatural shades of red and green used only in the center of the panels which makes them appear more intense and gives the whole affair feel more dangerous. And then in the second half with the lighter adventure she switches to a fun, bright primary color focused pallet that perfectly fit the book. It's really a case of a perfect match between art and story that makes the book so special.
Grade:10/10 |
|
|
|
Post by thwhtguardian on Apr 19, 2022 15:47:45 GMT -5
Nightwing #91Written by Tom Taylor Art by Geraldo Borges Summary: Wally and Dick continue their team up as they thwart KGBeast and take on La Agente Fúnebre in their quest for justice. Plot: Taylor continues to delight in his latest issue of Nightwing, it's getting to the point where the expectation on this book is whether we'll get a great an excellent issue or just a great one. And while the more action orientated nature of this issue meant less characterization than I would have looked(meaning it was only great  ) there were still some really awesome scenes where Wally talks to Dick about making room for Babs in his life that just sang for me. There was just a genuine feeling of friendship as wally gave Dick advice about balancing their work lives and their personal lives that was instantly relatable despite the fact that their work lives include battling super assassins. I know the powers that be will never really let Dick have a happily ever after but it feels like it could work under Taylor's pen and I love it. Art: While I definitely prefer Bruno Redondo slick, cartoony style Geraldo Borges continues be an excellent relief pitcher on art duties keeping the tone suitably light and energetic in Redondo's absence. Grade:10/10 |
|
|
|
Post by Slam_Bradley on Apr 19, 2022 16:32:21 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by thwhtguardian on Apr 19, 2022 17:49:27 GMT -5
I decided to wait for the trade on the Reborn storyline, it was just moving way too slow for me to enjoy reading it monthly. I don't mind a realistic slice of life kind of pace to a book on principle as its definitely a legitimate literary technique...it's just hard not to get frustrated by that kind of decompression when read as a periodical. I almost wonder if that's intentional, like Lemire wanted to play on the extreme decompression trend in comics of the early 2000's. |
|
|
|
Post by DubipR on Apr 19, 2022 19:04:26 GMT -5
Huge week of comics for me:
From DC
Catwoman: Lonely City #3
Nightwing #91
Batman/Supemran World's Finest #2
Batman: The Knight #4
Nice House on the Lake #8
From Image
Reckless: The Ghost of You
Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines #4
Good Asian #10
From Marvel
Captain America #0
Hulk #6
Aside from Reckless, I'll choose something from this as my Pick of the Week.
|
|
|
|
Post by thwhtguardian on Apr 20, 2022 9:01:11 GMT -5
Catwoman: Lonely City #3Written and Illustrated by Cliff Chiang Summary: In her quest to stop Mayor Two-Face, Catwoman enlists the aide of Jason Blood to break into the Batcave.
Plot: Cliff Chiang continues his love letter to the Gotham of the late 90's-early 2000's with this look into Catwoman's last ride. While it has been a fun romp so far watching Selena reconnect with Killer Croc, the Riddler, Penguin and Poison Ivy, Chiang really kicked things up a notch with this issue. Character deaths have become a dime a dozen in superhero comics and I usually just roll my eyes when a writer goes to that well to up the drama so when the gestapo like Batmen closed in on Selena and her gang I was prepared to hate it...but I'll be damned if I almost cried a little when Croc sacrificed his life and begged Selena not to let the Batmen get him. Chiang had spent so much time building up Croc's character and adding so much pathos to him as he dealt with his age that it meant something when he died. It was powerful and moving and it really solidified this as a great book rather than just being fun.
Art: Chiang's art continues to be stunning. The simple, cartoony style that Chiang is famous for is just perfect for this Saturday morning cartoon heist story. The action is slick and although you know they are just static images you'd swear it was an animated feature as it just so perfectly conveys a real sense of Selena's acrobatic motion.
Grade:10/10 |
|
|
|
Post by majestic on Apr 20, 2022 13:36:38 GMT -5
CAPTAIN AMERICA #0. Written by Tochi Onyebuchi; Collin Kelly; Jackson Lanzing. Art by Mattia De Iulis.
This One Shot is the prelude to the two Capt America series starting next month. One starring Steve and the other starring Sam. It was written by the writers doing both series.
Arnim Zola launches an attack on New York City and Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers team up to stop him. Sam is back in his Capt America uniform complete with a new shield. Steve is back in his classic uniform with a few updated features (like new gloves) and his classic shield.
This issue felt like an Annual. It told a complete story while setting up the two new series: Symbol of Truth for Sam & Sentinel of Liberty for Steve (plus it looks like Bucky will play a role in Steve's series). The last 4 pages showed those two series. I also liked how it showed the respect the two heroes had for each other and how they worked well together.
Well Done.
|
|
|
|
Post by majestic on Apr 20, 2022 13:41:04 GMT -5
Batman/Superman: World's Finest #2. Written by Mark Waid. Art by Dan Mora. I agree with thwhtguardian. Best issue this month. So many good reasons to like this series. Nightwing #91. Written by Tom Taylor. Art by Geraldo Borges. Another excellent issue by Taylor. Totally agree with the review by thwhtguardian.
|
|
|
|
Post by thwhtguardian on Apr 20, 2022 16:00:43 GMT -5
CAPTAIN AMERICA #0. Written by Tochi Onyebuchi; Collin Kelly; Jackson Lanzing. Art by Mattia De Iulis. This One Shot is the prelude to the two Capt America series starting next month. One starring Steve and the other starring Sam. It was written by the writers doing both series. Arnim Zola launches an attack on New York City and Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers team up to stop him. Sam is back in his Capt America uniform complete with a new shield. Steve is back in his classic uniform with a few updated features (like new gloves) and his classic shield. This issue felt like an Annual. It told a complete story while setting up the two new series: Symbol of Truth for Sam & Sentinel of Liberty for Steve (plus it looks like Bucky will play a role in Steve's series). The last 4 pages showed those two series. I also liked how it showed the respect the two heroes had for each other and how they worked well together. Well Done. I might have to check this out, sounds good. |
|
|
|
Post by The Captain on Apr 21, 2022 13:10:27 GMT -5
CAPTAIN AMERICA #0. Written by Tochi Onyebuchi; Collin Kelly; Jackson Lanzing. Art by Mattia De Iulis. This One Shot is the prelude to the two Capt America series starting next month. One starring Steve and the other starring Sam. It was written by the writers doing both series. Arnim Zola launches an attack on New York City and Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers team up to stop him. Sam is back in his Capt America uniform complete with a new shield. Steve is back in his classic uniform with a few updated features (like new gloves) and his classic shield. This issue felt like an Annual. It told a complete story while setting up the two new series: Symbol of Truth for Sam & Sentinel of Liberty for Steve (plus it looks like Bucky will play a role in Steve's series). The last 4 pages showed those two series. I also liked how it showed the respect the two heroes had for each other and how they worked well together. Well Done. I might have to check this out, sounds good. I just read this during a break at work. Agree with the “annual” feel, not that’s it’s a bad thing. It does what it needs to do to bring these two characters back together, show their bond, and get folks excited for the new ongoings. Plus, the artwork is GORGEOUS, which more than makes up for any shortcomings in the story. |
|
|
|
Post by thwhtguardian on Apr 21, 2022 18:27:31 GMT -5
CAPTAIN AMERICA #0. Written by Tochi Onyebuchi; Collin Kelly; Jackson Lanzing. Art by Mattia De Iulis. This One Shot is the prelude to the two Capt America series starting next month. One starring Steve and the other starring Sam. It was written by the writers doing both series. Arnim Zola launches an attack on New York City and Sam Wilson and Steve Rogers team up to stop him. Sam is back in his Capt America uniform complete with a new shield. Steve is back in his classic uniform with a few updated features (like new gloves) and his classic shield. This issue felt like an Annual. It told a complete story while setting up the two new series: Symbol of Truth for Sam & Sentinel of Liberty for Steve (plus it looks like Bucky will play a role in Steve's series). The last 4 pages showed those two series. I also liked how it showed the respect the two heroes had for each other and how they worked well together. Well Done. I might have to check this out, sounds good. I just read this during a break at work. Agree with the “annual” feel, not that’s it’s a bad thing. It does what it needs to do to bring these two characters back together, show their bond, and get folks excited for the new ongoings. Plus, the artwork is GORGEOUS, which more than makes up for any shortcomings in the story. I picked this one up on my way home from work today and I have to say a hardy thank you to both you guys as this issue was a ton of fun. The art was stunning, so I was already digging the book to start with but it really won me over with, " Rockets. I sure do hate a lot of things in the world...but I sure do hate rockets." It was just such a perfect line for Steve, that I found myself smiling just reading it. This is the kind of reaction I want my superhero comics to have, sure some times dark and realistic makes for a good read but I absolutely love optimism and bombastic action and this book had it in spades. And what was great was that it had that sense of optimism on both levels, the wide eyed action adventure feel of the Steve Rogers part but also the social justice angle as well in the Sam portions, Sam's understated response of "Yup, that America." to Zola's the litany of injustices committed by the United States was actually pretty powerful. It's a statement that despite its many flaws America is still worth standing up for which really spoke to me and that it echoed the cadence of Langston Hughes "Harlem" (better known as "A Dream Deffered") made it really fitting for Sam. And then it ends with a fist bump in front of the Statue of Liberty. What more can you want out of a book than that? I'll definitely be picking up both of these new Cap books when they come out. |
|
|
|
Post by wildfire2099 on Apr 23, 2022 7:41:17 GMT -5
Three books for me this week:
Nightwing #91 : conclusion of the team up with Wally (with a few other cameos..even Aqualad!). I absolutely love the Taylor is giving Dick Grayson his earn place in the DCU.. they were just starting to go there before re-boot-o-rama started. heck, I might even check out the Justice League event! It can sometimes be really hard to do a team up with two characters whose power levels are so different but first with Jon and now Wally, that pulled it off flawlessly.
Aminal Castle #5 : Excellent, if sad, conclusion to the series. Highly recommend grabbing this in trade when it comes out in July. I worth successor to the classic that inspired it.
Arrowsmith: Behind Enemy Lines #4 : Typical middle of the story issue.. mostly an info dump really, but pretty art and good world building, so I'll allow it.
[/b]
|
|
) there were still some really awesome scenes where Wally talks to Dick about making room for Babs in his life that just sang for me. There was just a genuine feeling of friendship as wally gave Dick advice about balancing their work lives and their personal lives that was instantly relatable despite the fact that their work lives include battling super assassins. I know the powers that be will never really let Dick have a happily ever after but it feels like it could work under Taylor's pen and I love it.
