Thursday, January 31, 2008

Countdown to Adventure #6 of 8

"Countdown to Adventure" just kicks ass. It is a fun, action packed story. Writer Adam Beechen has some strong woman in this issue. All of the significant others and a warrior princess prove strong here. Beechen has done a great job of building this story over the last six issues and has me looking forward to a great climax. I liked this trio in "52" and the extended story here hasn't changed that. Penciller Allan Goldman is in fine form here and does great work. His women are strong and sexy without being slutty and he's guys aren't always striking a pose.

If you haven't been getting the monthlies, you should pick this up when it comes out in TPB.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

The Twelve #1 of 12

I missed this one last week, but caught a few of the reviews out there for it. "The Twelve" follows twelve World War II era heroes that are awakened from suspended animation in 2008. The events occur in the post-Civil War Marvel Universe as well. In reading reviews on the internet, I had heard that this story might be similar to Alan Moore's "Watchmen" and decided to check it out. As luck would have it my LCS had a couple of copies left when I went for my weekly comics run.

Writer J. Michael Straczynski provides a good setup here. I'm not up to speed on my WWII Marvel superheroes but I believe all of the ones presented here are original. The narrator is Dick Jones - the Phantom Reporter. Dressed like the DC's Phantom Stranger without any powers, he provides the reader's view into this story. I like the tone set here and Chris Weston's character designs are good. Each character of the twelve looks like the could have stepped out of some WWII comic.

The last panel of the book is the reason most cited for the "Watchmen" comparison and I can see why. However, the tone set here really isn't like Moore's creation. I haven't decided whether I'm going to buy the whole series in monthlies or wait for the TPB, but I am intrigued.

Action Comics #861

We have reached part four of the "Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes" arc and the paces slows down a bit for some exposition. The pacing over the first four issues has run hot and cold with the feeling that Geoff Johns may be stretching this into six issues. As a stand alone issue, this issue provides more background and catching up than action. The cover is a bit misleading and doesn't really match what is happening inside the book. Johns really has Superman's voice down and the Legion's reaction when Superman steps into an argument is quite good. Of all of them, I like Johns' Polar Boy the best. Artist Gary Frank continues to do some good work here. The "dead eye" critique mentioned in my last review is somewhat addressed here. It is interesting that Frank's Braniac-5's eyes are full of life while his Superman sometimes get that dead/crack head stare going.

If you've been wondering what is going on with Braniac-5 and what the plan is, this issue begins to answer those questions. It looks like next issue may go into the background of the JLE with part six providing the action-packed climax.

Countdown to Final Crisis #13

The fight between Prime and Monarch continues in issue #13 with the excellent line from Prime of "I'll kill you! I'll kill you to death!" One can only hope that Dini and company were going for a good joke here as it comes across very funny. Prime is really an idiot. Prime also gets to shout out "I am not a boy! I'm a man! Man!" If that were only followed by "Baby". Are the writers poking fun at the Superboy issue here? Probably so and it is funny. We stay on Earth-51 for this issue and by the explosive ending we probably won't be coming back too soon. It looks like Apokolips is the current destination and with that a return to Jimmy Olsen and the Amazon/Granny Goodness connection I would think.

This issue doesn't advance the story much but does provide some good visuals. If you're tired of death in the DCU, then bypass this one. Jason Todd keeps the Red Robin uniform as the traveling four Ray, Kyle, Donna, and Jason head off to the Source. No other story lines are updated here.

Not the best issue of the series but no where near the bottom of the bunch either.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

The Pull List - January 23, 2008

Looks like a DC week with no Marvel or Image books on my pull list coming out:

ACTION COMICS #861
BATMAN #673
BLACK ADAM THE DARK AGE #6 (OF 6)
COUNTDOWN TO ADVENTURE #6 (OF 8)
COUNTDOWN TO FINAL CRISIS 13
DEATH OF THE NEW GODS #5 (OF 8)
GREEN LANTERN #27

Lots of good stuff here with "Green Lantern" and "Action Comics" topping the list. Both books written by Geoff Johns have been very good lately. I'm also looking forward to the conclusion of Peter Tomasi's Black Adam miniseries. What is the magic word? Maybe will find out this issue. Will Grant Morrison keep my attention with "Batman"? His "Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul" didn't thrill me. The final three are all Countdown related. As we near the beginning of "Final Crisis" the Countdown books have been getting better. We'll see if Starlin can build some more excitement in regarding the demise of Kirby's New Gods.

I'd really like to know when Kirkman is going to get over his holiday hangover and get some of his books back out. January was a Kirkaverse dry month and I'm itching for some new "Invincible", "Brit", "Astounding Wolfman", and "The Walking Dead". The pages over on his website Kirkmania for these titles just makes me want to get them in my hands more.

Capes Volume 1 TPB

Continuing to meet my son's "Kirkmanina" decree, I picked up the "Capes" TPB. "Capes" follows the story of Capes, Inc. a hero-for-hire type company. Robert Kirkman was going for funny in this series and the comedy seems forced at times. You can tell that this is early work from Kirkman. While Kirkman was already putting out "Invincible" and "Tech Jacket", "Capes" is not up to even the lesser "Tech Jacket"'s standard. The story is pretty light and fun with some interesting Kirkman-twists along the way. It does have some funny moments and I liked Bolt and some of the players, but the concept didn't seem like enough to support an ongoing series. I think this team serves as a good backup to any of the Kirkaverse titles out there.

Blue Beetle #23

"Blue Beetle" continues to sit a top my list of most fun reads each month. Writer John Rogers has done an excellent job of presenting Jaime's character growth over the last year's worth of issues. Artist Rafael Albuquerque has grown into an good artist as well and I'm always put of when he's not on board this title. Albuquerque captures the "Blue Beetle" vibe for me. Rogers tips his hat to all of the Ted Kord Blue Beetle fans out there with his pinup of "W.W.T.K.D" over Jaime's strategy board on the first page. Rogers' incorporation of the Blue Beetle legacy characters is outstanding. You really get the feel that Jaime respects the legacy. The first half of this issue is discussion and strategy with the last half implementing the strategy. Rogers has Jaime showing his growth utilizing the Blue Beetle armor and looking good doing it.

There's a lot going on in this issue and quite a few surprises. Issue #23 continues the streak of fun and exciting reads for this title. Even if you are a die-hard Ted Kord fan, hop on the Jaime bus for a few issues, you won't regret it.

Uncle Sam & the Freedom Fighters #5 of 8

The opening scene of "Uncle Sam & the Freedom Fighters" #5 proves once again this this book is written for mature readers. The beginning of this issue focuses, somewhat, on the Human Bomb and I like what writer's Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray are doing with the character. The Red Bee's story continues to evolve as it impacts various members of the team. Palmiotti and Gray must have been given some form of free reign with these characters because they have no problem providing some shocking outcomes with them. I liked seeing the return of the Ray's dad in uniform and his attitude about all of this. Renator Arlem's art is the perfect match for the tone set here and reflects the bleak nature of the circumstances.

The miniseries continues to be interesting, but it would be nice to have it in TPB form to read it all eight issues in one sitting.

Countdown to Mystery #5 of 8

The Eclispo story stays front and center in this issue and I really enjoyed it. Now that the story is focusing on Spectre and Bruce Gordon, I have to say that the it is way more interesting. Bruce Gordon is a bit nuts and the Spectre has a hard time dealing with his insanity. Chad Hardin takes over the penciling duties for this story and does a fine job here. I think Dan Brown's coloring really makes the story pop and provides just the right mood.

Over in the backup story, Dr. Kent Nelson continues to loose his mind as he deals with the death of Inza and his dealings with Dr. Fate's helmet. I like how writer Steve Gerber takes a side trip with the "KillHead" comic by Inza Fox. I'm hoping that spending this time on Inza means that she will be returning to Dr. Fate's side. This story continues to be interesting and I like how Gerber has setup the character of Dr. Nelson.

I like what DC is doing with both Dr. Fate and Eclipso. Both of the characters have been rebooted as interesting, conflicted individuals. I think both will go a long way to upping the readability of DC's magic stories if used properly.

Monday, January 28, 2008

Tech Jacket Volume 1 TPB

In an attempt to fulfill the decree of my son to get all of writer Robert Kirman's Image output, I happened upon "Tech Jacket". "Tech Jacket" predated the premiere of both "Invincible" and "The Walking Dead" and was Kirkman's first creator-owned output from Image. It should also be noted that "Tech Jacket" predates DC's current version of Blue Beetle as the similarities in both execution and tone are interesting. The whole time I was reading this book I kept making comparisons to "Blue Beetle". While "Tech Jacket" didn't grab me as much as Kirkman's "Invincible" did, it was a fun read. Kirkman mixes in tidbits from other superheroes including Green Lantern, Iron Man, X-O Manowar, and others and makes what could be a generic superhero book an interesting read. In Invincible's initial adventures, Kirkman kept the character on Earth. Here Kirkman gets the hero off planet for the the six-issue arc. The covers for issues #7 and #8 are in the TPB and I would have liked to read those issues. Of note, the art here by E.J. Su is different than what you see in Kirkman's current series. It has a slight manga-feel to it without being overdone. I think it fit with the tone of the series.

Kirkman has come a long way with his dialogue since he published these stories. Some of the dialogue comes off as rushed and clunky. However, the story is pretty good. You can see Kirkman laying the seeds for future stories along the way. I hope the Kirkman revisits this character. I'd like to see him team up with Invincible or Brit in their series.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Crime Bible: Five Lessons of Blood #1-4 of 5

Back in the day, I read the original "Question" series and really liked it. It was good to catch up with the character when he was brought into "52". I wasn't so attached to him as I had been out of comics for so long and his demise in that series didn't affect me much. I did, however, grow to like the Rene Montoya character. Now, I didn't have a burning need to read any further adventures of her, but when my LCS put this miniseries in my box, I decided to try it out. I haven't read much of Greg Rucka's work either and he's dealing with some "Se7en" type stuff here. I was reading issue #2 "Lust" at my son's wrestling meet and had to hide it from the moms in attendance. This miniseries is definitely for adults only. The art is a bit uneven but matches Rucka's tone. As the story progresses I've worried a bit about the new Question's place in all of this. Hopefully with issue #5 we can see her come out on top if not unscathed.

At this point, it would be best if you just waited for the TPB. I think the collected edition along with some extras might be a better fit for this type of series.

Wonder Woman #16

Part Three of "The Circle" is quite an excellent read. Writer Gail Simone has come on strong on "Wonder Woman" and is reestablishing the title character as one badass warrior. The flashback sequences to Diana's birth are very good. The script for these sequences is nicely handled. Simone has presented a powerful image of Wonder Woman and I like the direction that she is taking her. The Dodsons' along with help from Ron Randall elevate Simone's writing with their portrayal of Diana and company. This is the way to present a female superhero. The Dodsons' Wonder Woman is both powerful and sexy without looking like something out of Maxim magazine.

I was wavering on dropping "Wonder Woman" but Simone has pulled me back in. If DC editorial stays out of the way and lets Simone tell good stories, I'm on for the long haul.

Teen Titans #55

One panel into "Teen Titans" #55 and the Titans are down one major player. Writer Sean McKeever begins to make his mark on the team beginning this issue. The first story arc was an editorial mandate story and he did a fine job with it. Now, McKeever takes a breath with this issue and starts building to what he has planned for the team. More on that over at Newsrama. This issue picks up the pieces from the "Titans Tomorrow" story line and lays out where all of the team are. I'm not sure whether I care about the hooking up of Cassie and Tim. It somewhat mirrors what was going on between Nightwing and Starfire in the original series and seems a bit of a retread. Hopefully that plot line will go away. I do like the playfulness of Ravager and how she screws with the opposite sex. It's affects on a young Kid Devil, however, might not be so nice. I'll go along with what McKeever is working on Miss Martian but I'd really like to see that character go somewhere other than dark. You have Ravager, Kid Devil, and Miss Martian all dealing with dark personalities and that is just a little too much. I like the addition (or not) of Blue Beetle. Jaime is a great character and brings fresh eyes to this franchise. I like having him hang around.

Sean McKeever is a good writer and I'm hoping that he can return this title to prominence with solid story telling and characterization. DC needs to stop the carousel of artist on this series and stick with one team. Jamal Igle does a decent job here but I'm not sure he's fully up to the task either. With Dan Didio now serving as editor, here's hoping that a top art team is assigned and Didio stays out of McKeever's way and lets him tell good stories.

JLA Classified #51

For those of you out there that want to see Barry Allen as the Flash, Arthur Curry as Aquaman, and a classic representation of Oliver Queen, then this is your book. Writer Roger Stern goes old school with the JLA this issue going back to when the team was just forming its identity. It is a classic lineup with Black Canary, Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), Martian Manhunter alongside the previously mentioned heroes. Both Superman and Batman also make a showing. Stern provides a good story with a powerful protagonist and a good reason for the JLA to get involved. John Byrne's penciling is top notch providing good characterization and detailed panels. Mark Farmer handles inking Byrne's pencils quite well. While the alien bad guy looks a bit silly, he comes across as very powerful due both the Stern's direction and Byrne's depiction of him in action.

I was very satisfied with this issue. Both Stern and Byrne are a power team and really compliment each other here. I should note that my LCS owner commented that he was selling more "JLA Classified" now and he wondered why. When I pointed out the team of Stern and Byrne he nodded his head in agreement. It is good to see that the comic buying public doesn't forget the greats.

Superman/Batman #45

I am enjoying writer Michael Green's "Search for Kryptonite" arc. While the issue #44 served as a prelude, this issue finds Superman, Batman, and a few friends spanning the globe scooping up all of the K that is out there. I was very impressed with penciller Shane Davis and inker Matt Banning's art. From the design of Superman's protective armor to toyman's ride, Davis does a fantastic job. I especially liked his take on the new Aquaman. This is my first story involving this character and I liked Green's take on him. Green poses some interesting questions towards the end of the issue and I like where he is going with these characters.

The last two issues have been the best Superman/Batman in quite a while.

Countdown to Final Crisis #14

"Countdown to Final Crisis" is getting better as we wind down. While a few threads have been left alone - Jimmy Olsen, Holly & Harley, Mary Marvel, and, thankfully, Piper & Trickster, this issue continues to focus on Earth-51 and the battle raging there. This is an action packed issue as all of the players on Earth-51 are involved in one battle or another. The Earth-51 Batman/Jason Todd thread was very interesting providing the best splash page of the series. I don't much care for the Jason Todd character but the costume that he wears on Earth-51 is quite nice. Dini and company keep the pace up and move the Earth-51 story along. However, the Ray Palmer story seems to be petering out. The art is very good here. My only quibble is still the sudden aging of Prime. He looks a bit older than he was just six months ago. I guess maiming and killing will do that to you.

While this story is moving a head at full speed, the other threads of Countdown are hanging in the breeze. It will be interesting to see how Dini ties all this up in just 13 more issues.

Marvel Zombies 2 #4 of 5

I can feel the stretch in this issue. What has been up until this issue a tight and interesting miniseries, writer Robert Kirkman slows the story down just enough to make this miniseries reach five issues. I hope this wasn't done to make a better collected TPB. After the reveal of Colonel America in the last issue, this issue doesn't really advance the plot very much. It bordered on being a boring, pedestrian read. At the end of this issue, Kirkman has almost painted himself into a corner, leaving not much left to say. Hopefully the last issue will be a bit more interesting with some true Kirkman twists and turns added in.

Catwoman #75

I don't read "Catwoman". However, in perusing my LCS new comics rack I saw that "Catwoman" #75 was a "Salvation Run" tie-in. Having seen Catwoman fighting alongside the Outsiders in "Batman & the Outsiders", I was wondering how she ended up being sent off planet. After a recap of the events of "Salvation Run" #2, we catch up with Catwoman and Lex Luthor on the jail planet. The question that I have to address is

Is this comic required reading for "Salvation Run"? The answer is No. It provides a good side story involving Catwoman and some of the major players but it isn't critical reading for the miniseries.

It is a decent read and does provide some good character moments. I liked David Lopez's art and thought he did a good job of capturing all of the villains present here. Will Pfeifer's story serves as a connect-the-dots story to explain Catwoman's absence from the main miniseries after her arrival with Lex Luthor. He does a good job of getting Catwoman from A-to-B. The final splash page make me want to get Part 2 of this to see where Catwoman landed and what was going on.

For the long term, this issue didn't impress me enough to put this on my pull list.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Legion of Super-Heroes #38

I'm hooked! Jim Shooter's return to "Legion of Super-Heroes" has breathed new life into the book. After such a long absence from writing these characters combined with all the restarts and reboots, I thought it would take Shooter 4-6 issues to get back up to speed. This was not the case. Shooter has hit the ground running and has captured each member's characterization. The art by Francis Manapul is the cherry on top of the Shooter sundae. Manipul produces some nice pages giving a lot of detail. This first arc is moving forward quickly and is setting up new characters, new situations, and future plot lines along the way.

This is the way to come back to a title. Take note, Shooter is in full form here.

BRIT TPB Vol. 1 and #1-3

Robert Kirkman continues to expand upon his Kirkmanverse with the addition of the monthly "BRIT". Brit is a very old, invulnerable government operative. The TPB collects three one-shots and presents them for the first time in color. I enjoyed the TPB as Kirkman pulls out the stops and just has fun riffing with the character. It took a while for Kirkman to put together the monthly with all of his time spent on writing three Image monthlies and quite a few other books over at Marvel. Instead of writing this one Kirkman steps up as editor and has handed the writing chores over to Bruce Brown. Brown does a fine job of developing Brit's extended family in the first three issues and does some unusual things with the character. I like the interactions between Don and Brit's sister and the action is non-stop. Cliff Rathburn the cover colorist and gray tone artist of "The Walking Dead", provides very nice art here. He captures the action nicely.

"BRIT" is a fine addition to the Kirkmanverse and my pull list. I just hope that Kirkman can keep the output level up with now four Image monthlies coming from him.

Monday, January 21, 2008

New Wonder Woman Artist - Aaron Lopresti

NEWSRAMA has a short interview up with new "Wonder Woman" artist Aaron Lopresti. While the rebooting of "Wonder Woman" failed to jump start interest in the character, DC has done a great job of bringing some heat to the book. First with Gail Simone coming on as the writer and now with Lopresti coming off of his successful run on "Ms. Marvel", DC has started the turnaround of this character. I've always been a big fan of Wonder Woman and am glad that DC is bringing top talent to this book.

Robin #170

Chuck Dixon returns to "Robin" this issue and kicks off the "who spoiled Robin's day" arc. I did not read any of the Spoiler turned Robin issues and don't really have an opinion on whether Stephanie should have a memorial in the Batcave. I've read a lot about this on blogs and forums, but I have no stake in the outcome of Stephanie's story. Whether she returns, stays dead, whatever, I'm just hoping that Dixon can provide a good story along the way. Dixon's opening chapter introduces a new "hero" to Robin's world. She wears violet and steals from the bad guys. I found the read to be fun and interesting. A good first chapter in Dixon's return to the book. I thought Chris Batista's pencils were very good. He does a good job of making the teenagers look like teenagers, rather the short adults. I really liked his action scenes with Violet.

I was leaning towards not putting "Robin" on my pull list after "The Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul" but with a little pushing from my son and the fact that Dixon is back on, I decided to check out Dixon's first arc. I'm glad that I did.

The Flash #236

"The Flash" #236 accomplishes several things. First off, it ends writer Mark Waid's run on the book. DC Editorial must have given Waid the job of establishing Wally back as the flash, explaining the new family dynamic, and explaining where Wally & his family spent their down time after "Infinite Crisis". This issue pretty much wraps up all of those points to varying degrees of success. For those wondering how Linda went from being a news reporter to the leading expert on juvenile speed force issues, we do get some explanation on that. This issue was the first read where I actually enjoyed both the primary and backup stories. I liked that Waid has tied the two together as well. Freddie Williams II's art is starting to grow on me. With each new issue, Williams is getting more comfortable with Wally and his supporting cast.

While Waid did not bring Wally back to the DCU with a bang, Wally's now firmly established back as the Flash. I look forward to Tom Peyer taking over the writing chores and moving the Flash into a new and exciting direction.

Justice League of America #17

I've been reading "Salvation Run" and was wondering if the events from that miniseries would be shown in regular DCU books. This month brings both "Justice League of America" and "Catwoman" with tie-ins to "Salvation Run". Regular writer Dwayne McDuffie steps to the back in this issue with a tale of Vixen while Alan Burnett takes on the primary writing duties. I liked Burnett's story chronicling the affect of "Salvation Run" on the villains in the DCU. The art for this story struck me as very dark. I don't know if it was the inks or the coloring but the book looked like a movie shot at low light.

The backup story by McDuffie attempts to explore the problems with Vixen's powers. Penciller Jon Boy Meyers' art has a cartoony quality to it that didn't seem to fit with the JLA. McDuffie's story was decent but I'm not really sure I care that much about Vixen as she isn't the most exciting character for a solo story.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Booster Gold #6

"Booster Gold" continues to be a fun read - as long as you don't ask too many questions. I like time travel stories but writers Geoff Johns and Jeff Katz are giving me a headache with their version of the time stream. As we learned last issue "solidified time" deems that the future is open but the past cannot be changed. Now if this were completely true we really wouldn't have a story here. The primary thrust of the book is Booster going through time with Rip Hunter and fixing things. So we have the three Blue Beetles of different eras show up and assist Booster in saving Ted "Blue Beetle" Kord. The story moves a long at a fast clip and is a good read. While the outcome really wasn't in doubt for me, I thought Johns and Katz did a fine job of adding little character moments as the story moved from A to B. Dan Jurgens pencils were outstanding here.

This book reads like a summer action popcorn flick. I really dig this series and I'm looking forward to next month's Zero Hour tie-in.

Countdown to Final Crisis #15

I believe this marks four weeks in a row where I have actually enjoyed "Countdown to Final Crisis" enough not to be totally disgusted with it. Writer Paul Dini and company stay with the Earth-51 story providing a few answers to some of the questions brought up over the last 36+ issues of this series. We now have Mary Marvel crossing over into the Harley & Holly story, which deals with the ramifications of "Amazon Attacks" and the New Gods. We have Karate Kid intersecting with the New Gods in Bludhaven as well. I liked the interaction between Jason Todd and Earth-51's Batman. Dini and company may be using this as a method of evolving Jason Todd past his Red Hood Punisher-style ways. I'm not sure I like what they've done with the Ray Palmer character as he really comes across as rather spineless. In all my years of reading stories about Ray - spineless really doesn't fit him. The art team does a fine job this issue but it isn't anything spectacular.

Now in reading over at Newsrama that "Final Crisis" scribe Grant Morrision states that "Countdown to Final Crisis" doesn't really play into "Final Crisis", I must say I'm surprised about that. Dan Didio likes to say that the "beats" from this mini are carried into the next. I sure hope this hasn't been a big waist of time and money.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Teen Titans Lost Annual #1

When my son started reading comics I bought a couple of "Showcase" phonebooks to catch him up on the history of some of my favorite titles. One of those collections was "Teen Titans". We got a good chuckle out of the "cool cat" stories and dialog. Coming on the heels of Sean McKeever's excellent first "Teen Titans" arc and the outstanding beginning to "Teen Titans: Year One", "Teen Titans Lost Annual" #1 is a bit out there. While writer Bob Haney's trippy tale harkens back to the original Teen Titans, I question DC's timing on releasing this long time shelved comic now. If McKeever's "Teen Titans" and Amy Wolfram's "Teen Titans: Year One" draw in new readers, Haney's lost annual may scare them away.

For an homage to the 60s Titans Jay Stephens and Mike Allread nail the art style of the day. Bob Haney's script is wonderfully full of corny dialogue and funny/odd situations. Both my 14 year old son and 9 year old daughter enjoyed this comic as a fun diversion from the seriousness of the other books on the market.

This book is for original "Teen Titans" fans and for those feeling a bit nostalgic for 60s style of comics.

Suicide Squade #5 of 8

"Suicide Squad" continues to build the momentum and intrigue. Writer John Ostrander has brought his A-game so far with this miniseries. I had not picked up a "Suicide Squad" story since I left comics and Ostrander has drawn me back into his fun world of villains on suicide missions. Javier Pina's art has been exceptional and continues in this issue. This has been a fun series to read.

If you haven't picked up the monthly version of this, you would do well to get the TPB when it comes out.

Nightwing #140

The first thing that struck me about "Nightwing" #140 is the art. Penciller Rags Morales and inker Michael Bair are top notch talent and really shine in this issue. With bringing on this new team, DC looks ready to push "Nightwing" to a new level in the DCU. Writer Peter Tomasi makes this issue an excellent jumping on point for new readers. He firmly establishes Nightwing in Batman's realm while giving him a distinct/separate agenda. I hope that DC can keep this crew on this title for a long time as Dick Grayson has been a favorite character of mine since the "New Teen Titan" days. Although I was never felt compelled to try the "Nightwing" monthly, the new team has me hooked for the near term.

Friday, January 11, 2008

Geoff Johns Running with the Flash

DC's Geoff Johns has been out and about the last couple of days with a few interesting interviews. He first popped up over at CBR with a two part interview (part 1 & part 2). I found it interesting that Johns has some ideas for an Aquaman book. I think Johns on Aquaman could be very good whether he would use the traditional Aquaman or the newer, younger version. I enjoy his commitment to the DCU. I think that he has good vision and produces great stories. It was also neat to hear that he has a couple years of Iron Man stories plotted out.

The NEWSRAMA article is an exciting turn as well. Johns hinted about returning to the Flash in the CBR interview and goes into some detail here along with artist Scott Kolins. I missed Johns run on "The Flash" and have since gone back and picked up most of the TPBs to catch up on what he did with the Rogues. I like his take on these villains. The Rogues were the main reason that I bought "Salvation Run". I'm definitely up for a new Rogues miniseries by Johns and Kolins.

Valiant Universe Coming Back?

I've been meaning to comment on some very good news that I read about over at NEWSRAMA. Valiant Entertainment, publisher's of the excellent "Harbinger: The Beginning" Hardcover, settled its court case with Valiant Intellectual Properties. This opens the door for Valiant Entertainment to bring back the Valiant Universe. I loved Valiant back when Jim Shooter was with the company and writing some great stories and characters. My favorite characters was X-O Manowar. I liked the Conan-in-Iron Man story and thought the book was a lot of fun.

First on the slate for Valiant Entertainment is the "X-O MANOWAR: BIRTH" hardcover collection featuring a new “The Rise of Lydia” story by Valiant co-architect Bob Layton and a new cover by Sean Chen. This will be in stores in April. A good side effect of the resolution of the law suit is that Diamond Distributers will now solicit books for Valiant Entertainment. This alone will be the forcing element that allows VE to start producing new stories for these properties.

So color me excited that these characters will be seeing print again.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Green Lantern Corps #20

Issue #20 comes across as an epilogue to the epilogue of "The Sinestro Corps War". The last issue showed the aftermath of the war and now we see the affect on both Guy and Kyle. This issue serves as more a character piece with Guy and Kyle trying to find their place in the world (universe). I like the secondary story dealing with Mongul's new found power with the Sinestro Corp ring. It is too bad that we have to wait until issue #23 for that story to come to the forefront. The art in this issue is a bit inconsistent. Gleason & Rollins cover is exceptional but the interiors aren't up to that standard with some of the pages looking rushed and Guy just not looking like Guy.

I put this book on my pull list at the start of "The Sinestro Corps Wars" and will keep up with it for a few more issues - at least until the Mongul story is complete. However, if Guy's bar is a central point and the series loses focus, it won't stay on my pull list for long.

52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen #6 of 6

When this "52" tie-in miniseries began, I wasn't enthralled. I actually got it by accident as my LCS throw it in my box because of "52" on my pull list. The first couple of issues didn't pull me in as writer Keith Giffen let the plot unfold slowly. With issue #3, though, I started to get into Giffen's Trinity tale. The final issue did not fail to disappoint. Giffen provides a very satisfying ending. The art team of Pat Olliffe & John Stanisci handles the action well. I like their renditions of the Doom Patrol, Wonder Woman, and Batman. I wasn't too fond of their Superman. From here they move onto "The All New Atom" and should do a fine job there.

If you didn't pick up the monthlies and you are looking for a decent Trinity series, get this in TPB. It isn't ground breaking work, but Giffen provides a fine story. Now that Giffen is exclusive to DC I look forward to seeing him on some high profile DC projects (other than "Countdown").

Superman #672

"Superman" #672 is part two of the three part "The Insect Queen" story arc. I can't say that writer Kurt Busiek is really impressing me with this arc. I think the insect queen as a villain is being done much better in the "Uncle Sam & the Freedom Fighters" miniseries with the Red Bee. I did like the secondary plot of Lois dealing with Chris being sick during Clark's absence. At times the art by penciller Peter Vale and inker Wellington Diaz is quite good. I'm not a big fan of how Vale does the title character but he has a flare for insects and drawing Lana Lang.

This arc reads like something out of the 70s. I think if Busiek had thrown in a bit more humor this might have elevated the material, but it is all so serious and I didn't get into it.

Infinity Inc. #5

I was all set to drop "Infinity Inc." after a four issue tryout because of the snail's pace plotting and poor use of Steel. I did not (and still don't at this point) like the direction of the book. As a fan of the original "Infinity, Inc." team I thought this book was just plain boring. However, while perusing NEWSRAMA I discovered that Pete Woods is coming on as the monthly artist. After looking at his new designs, I thought that maybe writer Peter Milligan would be taking the book in a different direction after the opening arc is complete.

This issue seems to tie up the first story arc and I can't say that it was very satisfying. I like that fact that Steel is back in his armor and that the kids are actually working together. I still don't care for the villain of the story or really understand his and his companions motivations. Now that Steel is operating again and the kids look to be forming a team, I look forward to moving towards Woods' team uniform design and the direction that takes this book.

I believe you could skip this first five issues of this book and pickup when Woods comes on for issue #8 and not really miss much.

Green Arrow & Black Canary #4

For all the Judd Winick haters out there, read "Green Arrow and Black Canary" issue #4. Winick knocks this one out of the park. He has a complete grasp of Green Arrow, Black Canary, their relationship, the JLA members, all of it. Everything happening in this issue feels genuine and real. Winick pours on the emotions and Ollie's true nature is shown. The characterization of the JLA members is excellent - even the ones that just show up to show support. Cliff Chiang's art is outstanding, capturing all of the characters well and showing quite a range of emotion in their faces.

I've read a lot of Winick's work as he happens to work on a lot of the characters that I like. This issue may be the best issue that he has ever written. At least it is the best issue of his that I've read ever.

Salvation Run #3 of 7

I didn't realize that a lot of what is happening in "Salvation Run" was hinted at in the "Countdown" teaser posters until I went to the some of the forums and started reading peoples theories. You can really dissect those posters from what has happened both in "Countdown to Final Crisis" and its spinoff titles. One of the big hints that the online forums picked up on happens in this book. Even though I had read those prognostications, I was surprised when it happened in the book. This issue focuses on the split engineered between the villains who support the Joker and those who side with Lex Luthor. Writer Matthew Sturges is great at keeping the pacing up and moving the plot forward and is supported quite well by Sean Chen's art. Sean Chen's art is perfectly suited to this book as he does a great job laying out the action and giving detail to even the smallest villain in the background.

DC should really get out and beat the bushes to get people to buy this series as it looks pivotal in what is going on in the "Countdown" line. It does a fine jog go standing on its own with no requirement to read the other "Countdown" books and is really a good "Lost"-type book with villains as the lostees.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

JLA Classified #50

I heard that Roger Stern and John Byrne were getting together to do an arc in "JLA Classified" and figured I had to check it out. I grew up with Byrne's "Uncanny X-Men", "Fantastic Four", and "Superman: Man of Steel". I've always liked his art and, at times, his writing. I loved seeing the JLA drawn by Byrne. I enjoyed Roger Stern's work at Marvel in the 80s including "Captain America", "The Avengers", and "West Coast Avengers" as well as his writing in "The Death of Superman" extravaganza in the 90s.

So, when these two legends get together I expected a great effort. I was not let down. Byrne's art is crisp and clean here showing an eye for anatomy and proportion that you don't see in some of the hot artist out today. Stern's script is good with excellent pacing and action. I usually don't get "JLA Classified" but will be getting the next four issues to complete this story.

Countdown to Final Crisis #16

Earth-51 takes in in the shorts in this outing of the weekly "Countdown to Final Crisis" series. While the battle rages some issues get explained a little - the Monitors situation, Jimmy Olsen's problems, where the Earth-51 Batman has been, etc. Dini and company keep the pace fast in this issue by providing a lot of action. We basically stick with Earth-51 through the entire issue with a foray over to New Earth's Metropilis to catch up with Jimmy Olsen.

You can see the pace of the "Countdown" books picking up since Ray Palmer was discovered on Earth-51 and it is a welcome change. The art team does a decent job in in this issue as well. All in all, "Countdown to Final Crisis" is starting to show more promise.

Youngblood #1

I bought the first "Youngblood" series when Rob Liefeld and Image published it in the early 90s. I enjoyed it a lot then but it seemed to disappear off the map. It is nice to see the guy who was the leading impetus for the formation of Image Comics back with the company along with his premiere title "Youngblood". This time Liefeld is handing the reigns over to writer Joe Casey and artist Derec Donovan. My first impression of this book is that the art and story telling are similar to that of Robert Kirkman's "Invincible". While the first issue is all setup as the government puts the team back together, I liked the reality TV aspect of the story and Shaft's attitude towards the reformation of the team. I'm not sure that the supporting team members are all that compelling but I like Shaft's characterization.

While this first issue did not blow me away, I'll stick around for a few more issues and see if Casey can work some magic on this old Image throwback team.

Hulk #1

I got my son the "Planet Hulk" hardcover for Christmas because I had heard such great things about Greg Pak's epic Hulk adventure. Both of us enjoyed it very much. I'm waiting for the "World War Hulk" issues to come out in TPB to catch up on that story. So, I jump into "Hulk" #1 with no knowledge of the events of "World War Hulk". Writer Jeph Loeb uses this issue to introduce the main supporting players leaving the Hulk in background. With She-Hulk and Doc Sampson playing C.S.I. for a murder we get to also see that General Ross and Iron Man will play a role in the opening chapters of this book. Loeb does a fine job capturing all of the personalities here with good interactions and dialogue. Ed McGuinness' art is very good. I liked pretty much every panel. The story is slowly played out as the murder investigation moves along and I think this gives new readers like me a chance to catch up on who's who here.

I'm on board for at least a few issues to see how this plays out and will give it my traditional 3-4 issues to see if it captures my interest.

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Marvel EiC Joe Quesada on Howard Stern

Marvel EiC, Joe Quesada, called into Howard Stern's Sirius Satellite show today to explain the ramifications of the "One More Day" story in "Amazing Spider-Man". Yesterday, Howard and company discussed Peter and Mary Jane's "divorce". Generally they were against it. Today, Quesada called in to clarify Howard's misconception.

When Howard asked why make Spidey single, Quesada stated that "Spider-man works better as a single person" and that "20 years ago Marvel made a mistake".

Howard asked why not kill her off? Quesada stated that there are "too many deaths already" and that Marvel didn't want to go that direction.

Other interesting tidbits are that there was a wedding day but the wedding did not happen and that Peter and Mary Jane did break up. Quesada said that both subjects will be handled as "stories down the road".

When asked was Quesada getting a backlash from the fans? He answered "yes, we always do. If we got no backlash I would be worried. It is part and parcel of the business."

Quesada was on the air for about five minutes and seemed very passionate about the choices made for this story.

I haven't read the OMD story as I haven't read Spider-Man in quite a few years, but I know the backlash online has been pretty loud. It was nice to see an EiC call into a show like this.

Monday, January 7, 2008

52 Aftermath: The Four Horsemen #5 of 6

When this miniseries started off, I wondered about the point of it. The first couple of issues didn't impress me, but I kept reading mainly because of writer Keith Giffen and it was a book that focused on the Big Three. I'm glad that I stuck around. While the issue is action packed as the confrontation between the horsemen and the Trinity mount, Giffen sneaks in a bit of character development and intrigue. I started off lukewarm on this series but have begun to enjoy it as Giffen ratchets up the action and shows that he has a good grasp of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman. I wouldn't mind seeing Giffen's take on a Doom Patrol miniseries as well.

While this isn't a must read for "52" or "Countdown", it is a satisfying team up for DC's Trinity.

Countdown Presents: Lord Havok & the Extremists #3 of 6

We are at the half way point for this miniseries and I think it just isn't worth my time or money. Given that the outcome of this mini has already been spoiled over in "Countdown to Final Crisis" I'm not sure it is worth reading the second half. The characters are not compelling.

I'm out.

Supergirl #25

Once again, "Supergirl" clocks in as the fastest read of the month. The pictures are awfully pretty and I wonder if writer Kelley Puckett is so in awe of Drew Johnson & Lee Ferguson's art that he feels there is no need for further explanation. This issue has more dialog than the previous issues, but not by much. I'm just sure what Puckett is going for here.

We are three issues into Puckett and Johnson's run on "Supergirl" and I'm not impressed. For $2.99/issue I'd like quite a bit more story to go along with the art.

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Teen Titans: Year One #1 of 6

Rarely does a book come home that is enjoyed across the board by all the comic readers in my house. "Teen Titans: Year One" looks to be the book to break that mold. Everyone from me (age 39), my son (age 14) and my daughter (age 9) liked the book. This book is a solid outing in terms of both story and art. I like what writer Amy Wolfram is doing here. This book serves to update the first gathering of the original Teen Titans to the modern era. For those of you who have read the "Teen Titans" Showcase books, there are no "hip cats" and "cool dudes" here.

The art team of Karl Kerschl, Serge Lapointe, and Steph Peru brings a unique look to the Teen Titans on hand here - Robin, Kid Flash, Wonder Girl, and Aqualad. The team members are drawn at what looks to be the 13-14 age range and I like it.

While Wolfram spends most of this first issue setting things up, I was engrossed in the story and am looking forward to the rest of the series.

Detective Comics #840

"Detective Comics" #840 brings the true epilogue to "The Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul" story arc. Titled "After the Resurrection" writer Paul Dini brings us a story that shows Batman's first post-resurrection meeting with Ra's Al Ghul in Gotham City. I didn't see the ending coming and was surprised at that Batman would go to such lengths to eliminate a threat. Dini lays out a decent script and keeps the pacing up through out the issue.

The new art team of Dustin Nguyen and Derek Fridolfs didn't really capture my attention. The art reminded me a little bit of "Gotham by Gaslight". The layouts were fine but the art really didn't jump off of the page.

This issue serves as a good epilogue to the let down of "The Resurrection of Ra's Al Ghul".