Comics! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6

Story: Kevin Eastman & Tom Waltz
Script: Tom Waltz
Art: Dan Duncan

The Solicitation
It's a new year and the TMNT and Master Splinter look to the future even as they struggle to come to grips with past mysteries. Meanwhile, General Krang grows increasingly impatient with Baxter Stockman, who is prepared to unleash a horrific new weapon to assist Old Hob in his dark quest to return the turtles and their sensei to StockGen Research, where lab intern April O'Neil continues to suspect all is not what it seems.

Preview

The Story
Solicitation is semi accurate. The turtles do begin to wonder if they are who Master Splinter thinks they are - reincarnations of their former human selves from old Japan. While even the turtles have some doubters among their ranks, it is a nice way to show how they got their ninja skills and knowledge. Again, their mutation could be explained from both a scientific and a spiritual sense. Sorta like how Y: The Last Man never fully explained how the plague hit mankind, but it puts a couple of options out there for you to decide what you want to believe.

General Krang barely is mentioned in this issue. There is reference to an Army and its ties to Baxter Stockman, but nothing that comes out and says it. Stockman is working with Old Hob, and I like how Old Hob is being played as a not all powerful bad guy. Hob has some major faults, and is the perfect opening foil for the Turtles. If we had the all powerful Shredder here, and he lost badly to the Turtles after the first couple of issues the way that Hobs did, then I couldn't take Shredder seriously as a villain. But here we have Hobs, and he is shown to not be all powerful and knowledgeable, he is just a mutated cat out for revenge.

April makes a couple of panels of appearances in this comic. The only major development in her storyline is that her and  Casey meet up. Unless Casey is some sort of agent for the Foot Clan, then her search went from point A to point A + one comic book panel.

The Art
Consistent as always from issue to issue. My one problem is with the last sequence, where Old Hobs has a surprise pulled on him. It seemed like it was one page too many that focused on it, and the art did very little to hide the reveal at the end. I would have instead had the panel were the red eyes all light up at the end when Stockman is giving the full length name of the creatures instead of that panel leading the sequence.

The Cover
I got the cover that showed the Turtles in the gun sights of a robot. It definitely caught my eye right away and was something that intrigued me. While this panel definitely doesn't reflect a scene from inside the comic, it definitely set a tone that left me wondering what it meant, and then made me shout out loud on the final page when I got it.

Grades
Words: 10/10
Pictures: 9/10 - almost perfect, the last sequence just could have been done better.
Recommend: Besides the page or two devoted to Casey and then when Casey and April meet up, a new reader could easily catch up where everything is at in this issue. Good starting point if you missed the first storyline.
Buy Next Issue: Sold!

Previous Issues
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4
Three Issue Trial

Comics! Teen Titans #5

Teen Titans #5

Story by Scott Lobdell
Pencils by Brett Booth
Inks by Norm Rapmund

The Solicitation
In their first battle as a team, The Teen Titans square off against N.O.W.H.E.R.E.'s most powerful weapon... The Superboy! But can the cunning of Red Robin, the speed of Kid Flash and the psionic might of Bunker stop a threat that has already taken out the powerhouse known as Wonder Girl? The fight rages from a battle cruiser docked in the Hudson River to the Central Park Zoo, but as a world stands up and takes notice, there is a very real possibility the Teen Titans might not survive their high profile debut!

Preview

The Story
Exactly as solicited. This issue is basically every member of the team taking on Superboy as individuals instead of working together as a team. It is a perfect way to show each person's power and how they work on their own, and it gives you some ideas for where this could go as soon as they start listening and learning from each other.

Everyone gets a tussle with Superboy for a couple of pages. At the end of the comic, Superboy is standing around having just thrown a N.O.W.H.E.R.E. mobile base into a lake. Its fairly simple in its storytelling. My one big issue is still trying to get a sense of who Superboy is trying to be. There is a personality there that is in constant fluctuation. I have been nothing but confused about how or who his character is supposed to be. This is the sort of thing I would expect with two writer handling him, but when it is just the one...bah. And just what are his powers supposed to be? It seems that he can basically do whatever he wants. Honestly he sounds like he is more powerful than Superman, and that just seems off.

The Art
I've read both Superboy and Teen Titans, and I must saw I appreciate the art and the way Superboy is handled in this comic ever more so than his own comic. Seriously, in his own he just seems so pensive. He has a look about him that says "Why bother?" In this comic, he seems very smarmy, very full of himself, and very arrogant. There is a slight smile that the Booth gives him in this comic that is seriously missing from his own.

The Cover
Bart doesn't harness the lightning like he does on the cover. The cover looks like it could be a scene from the comic, which I can appreciate. I don't know how else you would show the team not working together but still fighting Superboy. A good silver age cover of this story would involve Superboy standing in the middle of a boxing ring with each member lined up taking their turns. You would have some guy holding a rope that lets each Teen Titan into the ring one at a time and have him shouting "Step right up! Take your shot at the Superboy!"

But we aren't in the silver age anymore. Aw well, maybe next DC reboot.

Grades
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 8/10 - keep on drawing teenagers like teens and this rating will stick around.
Recommend: For first timers, yes. This issue lets you know each character's personality and how they fight on their own. Its a good demonstration of their strengths and their weaknesses.
Buy Next Issue: If we could take the whole Superboy thing out of Teen Titans, I would be around for each issue. Give them another big bad to tackle and then we could be set.

Previous Issue
Teen Titans #4
Three Issue Trial

Comics! Green Lantern: New Guardians #5

Green Lantern: New Guardians #5

Tony Bedard: writer
Tyler Kirkham: penciller
Batt: inker

The Solicitation

A spacecraft the size of a solar system is on a collision course with Oa, home of the Guardians! As the AWOL Green Lantern Kyle Rayner and members of each of the different Corps make their way to the alien vessel, deep within the ship – within the very sun that serves as the craft's fuel source – the creature known as Seraphon stirs. A major new threat to the DC Universe debuts here!


Preview

The Story
Pretty close to the solicitation. Our band of Lanterns descend down to the planets looking to see what is going on with them. We catch up with Bleez and get to see the New Guardians version of her being thrown into the Crimson Blood Pool of Mental Regeneration. It matches close to what happens in Red Lanterns, with Atrocitus  giving some additional details. This more or less gives readers of New Guardians the chance to understand what happened a bit in New Guardians, and kindly let's us know where New Guardian's timeline matches up with Red Lanterns (shortly before issue #3).

The planets that our team splits up to investigate turn out to be familiar in some way to them all. One was were the Star Sapphire was trained. Another houses the Tamarians, an alien race that Starfire (from Red Hood and the Outlaws) comes from. And on the third, we find that they are frightened by the beast, which turns out to be a statue of Larfleeze.

All in all, this was a nice set up to start to dig into the mystery of what the giant solar system sized space ship is about. We got some good character moments that set up everything nicely, showed some points of future conflicts, and throws a couple of good mysteries in there as well. Not too shabby.

The Art
Nice to see that we are back down to one artist on the book. I like it, entertaining stuff here. If there is one comment I could make, its the little bits of cheesecake with the boobs shots that are put in. Also, there is a little inconsistency for how Starfire is dressed compared to the Tamarians in this comic. Maybe that could be explained a bit next issue if they are supposed to be the same place, but if not, then there was obviously some mis-communication there between the look of the costumes.

The Cover
This cover is more thematic than anything. The people are all being sucked into some sort of black hole looking thing. I would rather give the space ship some credit here and shrink the characters down to a colored flame look or something like that. Thankfully, there are no missing lanterns on the cover. The Red Lantern isn't here because she isn't being sucked into the planets and investigation what is going on, so it makes sense to me.

Grades
Words: 8/10 - nice setting up, let's see some payoff next issue.
Pictures: 7/10
Recommend: Nice starting point if you are familiar with the characters, but definitely not a good place to come in knowing nothing about the Lantern Corps.
Buy Next Issue: Money will be allocated for the next issue.

Previous Issues
Green Lantern: New Guardians #4
Three Issue Trial

Comics! Justice League #5

Justice League #5

Geoff Johns: writer
Jim Lee: penciller
Williams, Hope, Irwin & Weems: inker

The Comic
Well that was a quick read.

Four inkers? Four? It shows. Jim Lee must have been late getting his stuff out or something. Pencil marks are used for shading. Every page has a different tone to it with the art. Shading goes from heavy to barely there.

The writing. Sheesh, the writing. We start off the issue with all the heroes knocked out. I am going to have to check out the last issue, but I don't remember the heroes getting beat right away and knocked out at the end of the last issue. I do remember Darkseid speaking last issue. Not a single word in this one.

This issue basically feels like Green Lantern and Flash are taking the main roles. The other characters barely speak a few sentences. We get the make fun of Aquaman moment as well, which is apparently becoming a staple in the new DC universe anytime Aquaman is on the page and Johns is writing him.

Somehow, we go from the team fighting Darkseid, getting knocked back a few times, and then Green Lantern tries to fight Darkseid on his own while the heroes are off panel. The problem with this is that about half the comic happens between the heroes getting knocked down, to all of them getting back up and trying to fight Darkseid as a team again. In that half a comic of time, Green Lantern gives Darkseid another go on his own, Batman and Green Lantern have a heart to heart where Bruce Wayne reveals his identity, Bruce gets taken away by the crazy flyer guys, and then everyone else gets back up and teams up again.

The timing of those events make no sense. This isn't a team book that you would think a title like Justice League would fit. This is barely even a team-up book. None of this comic is making any sense with the rest of the DC Universe. If Batman's identity is this huge thing that no one knows, why is he giving it away like a girl when she has had her drinks bought for her all night?

Deep breath needed here.

Sigh.

This is low grade superhero spank material. Low grade. And this is coming from the A-team creators. I expected way more than this. If any other creators tried to do this slow pace story, it would be rejected outright and we would never have to read the solicitation for this comic.

This could be so much better.

Nothing gets explained in this comic. You never know what the boom tubes are unless you are familiar with previous issues. You get the idea that Darkseid is some big bad character, but what does he even want? Why Earth? Why does he not even talk?

The Cover
From the cover, you would think that Cyborg would have a huge role in this comic. He did get to discover that Lantern's arm was broken in three places, and if that was the big mystery/reveal for this book then we have some problems. Hell, the person with the least amount of space on the cover has most of the issue devoted to him.

Grades
Words: 3/10
Pictures: 3/10
Recommend: A good example on how good creators can really produce some bad quality work.
Buy Next Issue: Next issue is supposed to be the conclusion. Seeing how at the end of this one we just got Batman through the Boom tube then I don't know how this will be concluded.

Previous Issues
Justice League #4
Three Issue Trial

Comics! Wonder Woman #5

Wonder Woman #5

Brian Azzarello: writer
Tony Akins: artist

The Comic
Uh oh. Guest Artist. This could be trouble waters.

And things get a little rocky. Azzarello is still Azzarello. Which is fine, because I enjoy him and what he does. But this issue introduces some, what I hope will be, bad ass characters. I'm pretty sure if I was more up on my mythology then I would get it. But I'm not, so this can get to be problematic.

The art is more cartoony than the regular artist. The style is a little close, but at times things seem off. It may sound strange, but the art doesn't work for this story. There is something about the other artist that pulls it off a little more for me.

I can hear the drum beats of war coming, and I want to see it happen. I would like to see the regular artist on the book when that happens, so hopefully this minor break from the regular program resumes next month.

Geez, that sounds bad. You know, between this and how I feel about Wonder Woman being portrayed in Justice League, I really shouldn't be treating this as a Wonder Woman comic. This just isn't that. While this is a total re-imagining of the previous version, I don't know yet if this will be the version that sticks around after Azzarello leaves the title. While I am sure that some aspects will stay behind, I just have to take this comic and enjoy it in the same way that I enjoyed Azzarello's take on Batman in the Flashpoint mini series.

With that being said, I still need to know who these new people are. If this is the middle of a war that is about to get much, much bigger, then I need to know the players, and I need to comic to tell me.

The Cover
This cover does inspire a sense of wonder with it as you see her fighting the Octo Squid Thing. The sad thing is that this cover does not reflect what is going on inside. If anything, this is the cliffhanger to the book, so I fail to understand why you put the preview of the next issue on the cover for this issue.

Grades
Words: 7/10 - Please let me know who we are dealing with here.
Pictures: 7/10 - Just not the same.
Recommend: Eh. Pass on this one.
Buy Next Issue: If it helps to complete this issue, sure. Its just the first time this series has had a bad issue.

Previous Issues
Wonder Woman #4
Three Issue Trial

Comics! Batman #5

Batman #5

Scott Snyder: writer
Greg Capullo: pencils
Jonathan Glapion: inks

The Comic
Heart felt trippiness.

Snyder has focused more on Batman in this comic than looking after the supporting Bat-cast. There has been very little Robin action, but since that relationship is being developed over in Batman and Robin, I can manage. But there are two distinct moments in this comic that sends the same message in this comic that Batman and Robin does month in and month out.

Now, moving past that moment, let's look at the opening ones. We get the info that the Batsignal is named Siggy. We see the supporting Bat-cast.

Then things get trippy.

Batman is in the huge maze that he feel in at the end of last issue. The whole issue is one drug induced work or gorgeousness. The Talon, the assassin of the Court of Owls, is right behind Bruce the whole time, following as Bruce slowly goes mad. If this comic was designed to just see Batman go crazy, then the creators have won.

New readers won't get much from this if this is the first issue you pick up. There are some areas of groundwork that you can follow along, but you won't get the grander sense of The Court and what they are up to. You may have a hard time just trying to understand Bruce's narration. And when the page starts to tilt, then you will think you've gone a little crazy.

The art goes from normal, to a widescreen -turn the comic sideways- kind of feel, to holding it upside down. The panels don't do much distorting themselves so the reader can still follow along, which is nice. this is a departure from artwork like J.H. Williams over in Batwoman which can be confusing for some new readers that you will need to read a couple of different times to see how the story flows.

But, just to have fun, I read the comic in a regular way and didn't turn the page around. Snyder was successful in making the comic being read normal and the comic being read "backwards" so that it flows right either way. Granted, Batman is a blathering idiot here either way, but there seems to be a flow with the writing that is reflective in a way.

This is just your regular monthly installment of Snyder Batman. Enjoy with a warm light, and the room to yourself.

The Cover
I like the use of having the singular light source from above casting shadows on the cover. My one complaint that I see that is weird is the fact that there is blood on one knife that is the opposite of where it is on the wall. The lighting is also just off enough and not coming directly from above so that it makes you tilt your head a bit to view it right. Nice touch.

Grades
Words: 9/10
Pictures: 9/10
Recommend: Not if you are picking it up for the first time. Get this if you have been keeping up.
Buy Next Issue: Hooked. Or skewered. Skewered is the better word here.

Previous Issues
Batman #4
Three Issue Trial

Comics! Spaceman #1-3

Spaceman #1-3

 by Azzarello & Risso

The Comics
This story is about a group of forgotten Spacemen. The Spacemen were bred by science specifically to survive a mission to Mars. Cast out after the fall of NASA, we meet up with our main character Orson who passes the time through getting high and getting cyber-laid. Then a rich reality show couple's adopted child gets kidnapped for a rich, perverted prick who hopes to do some nasty things to the child. Then Orson happens upon the boat she is being held on, and rescues her. Orson tells the child that she must keep quite so he can sneak her back to her family. He doesn't want everyone to find out who she is, but they do.

That's the first three issues in a nutshell. Its got the kind of story that I like to hear in a comic book. The comic is from the same team that brought you 100 Bullets. The first issue was only a buck. Considering the fact that I love this creative team, it was a good deal.

Azzarello loves to have no captions in anything. You have to get the feel from the change in the art that times and places are different. While this does work to Azzarello's strengths at points, it can be disorienting to a new reader. The cover says its for mature readers, but I think there is only going to be a very specific, very small audience that this book will reach. There is an interesting premise, and I almost think that with a few more words to the book, this would be a home run.

The art in the book is great. Risso has a way to have floating panels in the book, but shows enough in the transitions between them that your eyes can follow along easily. And when he is given his time to shine, he does it with such precision, such detail that you can't help but love it.

The Covers
All the covers are done by an artist other than Risso, and it shows. They are good, but I would almost prefer Risso do the work. I like how the title stands out and the coloring is good. The cover reflects the story in a thematic way, but it is missing something. It is definitely one of the covers that will easily catch your eye as you browse through the comic shelves.

Grades
Words: 9/10 - spelling words phonetically and in a crazy, cool kinda future Idiocracy way is enjoyable to me.
Pictures: 10/10
Recommend: If you like Azzarello and loved 100 Bullets and want a Warren Ellis kind of story, this would be for you.
Buy Next Issue: Bought the first three, only 6 more to go to complete the series. Unless this takes a downward shift, count me in.

Comics! Red Hood and the Outlaws #5

Red Hood and The Outlaws #5

Written by Scott Lobdell
Art by Kenneth Rocafort

The Comic
Fight!

Crux Vs. Arsenal, Red Hood vs. The Untitled, Minor Story Progression vs. the Need For Fight Scenes!

This issue is OK. We do get some fight scenes between the heroes that lead a little bit for some character development. We do get the moment when Arsenal gets a little bit of a bad ass in him and kicks Crux's butt with his quiver of trick arrows. The moment when Cruz is at looking up in disbelief wondering why a human wouldn't want to kick some alien tale is a pretty cool laugh moment.

We do get a flashback moment of Jason Todd in training. It basically gives the excuse of why he isn't going after Batman and Joker right away and is instead focusing his attention on going after the killers of those who trained him. But then the art brings in a moment of Jason jumping ten feet out of water, cutting himself in a way with some swords that should kill him. But why did he cut himself with the swords? Somehow it fed the swords power. Don't ask me how it works, the story didn't bother to tell me, but it did help Jason kill the Untitled thing.

Its funny, but issue #5 for DC seems to be at a weird point for me. For some stories, it has been part 5/6 of the opening art, for some books it is the beginning of the second arc. This comic is weird, because it doesn't really fit into either of those categories, but this issue still feels a bit like it was the set up for something. Seeing how the next issue is called "How It All Began," it makes me wonder if it will be some type of origin story explaining how Jason and Starfire met up. I don't really see why we have to go to the past in this sense, I already feel like I know enough about the characters to the point that I just want to see what happens next, not what happened before.

The art kinda returned to being on my nerves again. Weird panel layouts, awkward body positions for the characters, and a weird sense of angles is just jarring things up for me. The art in this issue once again felt like an amateur was allowed to run wild while whatever idea he wanted to.

The Cover
Crux looks like a cross between Killer Croc and Man-Bats on this cover. Starfire's hair just seems to never end, sorta in the same way that some cover artists will take Batman's cape and make it seem like it is 20 feet long. The background just looks bad, like a bunch of sketchy pencil marks. Maybe that is what Rocafort could use: an inker.

Grades
Words: 6/10
Pictures: 6/10
Recommend: If I could appreciate the art more, I would recommend seeing it for the pictures, as the info presented in this comic will surely be brought up again in later issues. But it is passable. Definitely not one I would recommend to give to someone who is on the fence about the comic.
Buy Next Issue: I will be, it is still exciting to read it and see what is happening to Jason.

Previous Issues
Red Hood and the Outlaws #4
Three Issue Trial

Comics! Batgirl #5

Batgirl #5

Gail Simone: writer
Ardian Syaf and Vicente Cifuentes: pencillers
Vicente Cifuentes: inker

The Comic
I'm just not enjoying this comic or this character. There is so much about it that is so far removed from trying to show a character for Batgirl that I can get behind. I am seeing no reason for Barbara to be back in the role, especially after seeing Stephanie Brown, the previous Batgirl, in Batman: Leviathan. I took more from her in the role than I do from seeing Barbara in the role.

But I don't want to compare the two comics to each other in that way. Let's take a look at just Barbara as Batgirl.

The first page. Batgirl is swinging above the city. Way above the city. WAY above the city. How did she get up there? Is there some huge building on top of the bridge that she swung from? I can see the curvature of the earth in the background, that's how high up she is. Batgirl is also is some pose that reminds me of a porn actress modeling. Seriously.

Then we get some fight scene that really doesn't make sense. The people are shouting something about "338" and are being hypnotized to some degree by some multi-colored hair woman. That's the first half of the book that doesn't establish much in terms of what the villain wants or what is going on. Sorta like the last villain from the previous arc.

Then we get to the cliffhanger from the last issue where Barbara talks to her mother. Honestly though, I can't tell the characters apart. They are drawn in the exact same way with no distinguishing characteristics that show age on Barbara's mother. And that conversation goes nowhere. We only get the fact that Barbara's mom is coming back to Gotham, but she specifically tells Barbara that she can't explain why. Shouldn't that strike Barbara as odd in some respects? Wouldn't that alert Barbara and raise a red flag for her?

Then we shift gears to Jim Gordan wanting the detective from the first issue who held a gun to Batgirl to come back. Apparently Gordan wants her to start to follow Batgirl and the cases she is on. Which seems really off, because if Gordan knew that Batgirl was his daughter, why not confront her directly? Seems off.

Then we get Barbara at home. She is watching TV and is seeing a report about Occupy protesters giving a crap about Bruce Wayne wanting to tear down condemned buildings in Gotham and rebuild some better ones in their place. That type of protest makes no sense. But, this minor detail allows us to have Bruce Wayne come and make a speech at the site, so let's skip past that, because it becomes "important" later.

We then get a fight sequence that makes no sense when you think about it. And then the big "cliffhanger" ending, where Bruce Wayne looks to be possessed by the multi-colored haired girl and he starts to go after Batgirl. Yea, I'll buy that scenario.

Simone is a really wordy writer. Seriously, I feel like I am reading a novel. Which is not a bad thing necessarily, as long as you remember that you are writing a comic book. The art is also an essential part of the story telling. But when you use the words that the characters are thinking or saying to show and explain to me what is going on, and this is already information that I can get from the art, the words become rather redundant.

We also got the little throwaway line that hints at an explanation for how Barbara got healthy. Apparently, it is some neural implant. We are five issues into the story, stop throwing pebbles at us and get on with making this a bigger part of the main story. If the main story was more intriguing that the mystery of how she became healthy, then I wouldn't care so much about these little hints towards her healing. But that main story is about as dull as watching golf being played by rhinos, its slow, dull, and nothing is happening.

The Cover
The cover has the name of the villain. It is not mentioned within the comic. I have no emotional impact with the cover. It is simply a scene of Batgirl being punched in the snow. Big whoop.

Grades
Words: 4/10
Pictures: 4/10
Recommend: No.
Buy Next Issue: I will, but if it is the same as this one, then it will be the last.

Previous Issues
Batgirl #4
Three Issue Trial

Comics! The Ray #2

The Ray #2

Writers: Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Penciller: Jamal Igle
Inker: Rich Perrotta

The Comic
Let's be honest, if I saw that cover I wouldn't pick it up. "Attack of the Flying Monster Stingrays" just wouldn't be the thing that I would go for. Luckily, I am in the mood for something fun and I really enjoyed the first issue. And I am glad, because there is another gem here in this issue that I am loving.

The Ray does battle the monster stingrays and deals with them right away. Then our hero goes and meets his girlfriend's parents who are from India. So he plays with the light and decides to appear like a person of Indian descent instead of his Asian look. He girlfriend ends up hating him for it and kicks him out of her parent's house.

It is something that a young, stupid kid would do. And that is who the Ray is. It fits perfectly.

The villain of the piece then decides to send mechanical bug like robots to kidnap the Ray's girlfriend and bring the Ray out into the open. My one problem is that last issue was set up so well with the villain, but we only hear his voice in this issue. This would be something I would overlook, because you probably aren't going to get too many new readers to the second issue of the comic.

The art, the story, everything with this comic is just hitting the right notes and keeping it coming. There is very little I would say is bad about this comic. A really surprising reveal was on the cover for me. This comic did say 1 of 4 last issue, but now it is 2 of 6. I'll take it as a good sign. As long as this comic keeps up with the pace it is on, I will definitely be around for as long as it continues.

The Cover
Again, flying monsters stingrays. Sounds funny, but it does work well in guiding the reader into what is happening right from the first page of the comic. Which is awesome because you don't have to get about halfway through the book until you read what is on the cover, it is right there from page one.

Grades
Words: 10/10
Pictures: 10/10
Recommend: A thousand times yes.
Buy Next Issue: I will be there for as long as they stretch out how many issues this series is getting.

Previous Issues
The Ray #1

Comics! Batman and Robin #5

Batman and Robin #5

Peter J. Tomasi: writer
Patrick Gleason: penciller
Mick Gray: inker

The Comic
Insert my usual praise for this book. Its hitting all the high notes for me for a Batman title. Hell, for just a comic book in general.

The great part of this book is the focus on Damian. He is one messed up kid. He takes Morgan, the big bad, up on his offer to train under him instead of Batman. Bruce finds this out when he finds a note from Damian and Alfred notices a bunch of drawings done by Damian that show some twisted stuff.

Bruce finally realizes that he hasn't been listening to his son and so he goes out in search for him. This will be difficult, especially since Batman as well as the League of Assassins have trained Damian on how to be stealthy.

Meanwhile, we get an origin story for our main villain told to us via a message Bruce is dictating to Damian. It tells the story of how Morgan came to be, how he ties into Bruce's training, and how Bruce learned some sort of valuable lesson by asking Morgan and his father, Ducard, to train him. We then go back to Damian and Morgan where Morgan is telling Damian that they are going to take out an embassy that is the current location of a slave trader. And take them out they do!

Now this next scene could have been done a couple of ways. There could have been a two page spread that focused on a couple of panels that would provide room for plenty of exposition that gives us some insight into what the characters are thinking. However, these two have to be silent as can be. So we get to see how Damian and Morgan take down several men, skip over hurting a janitor, and pull a gun out on the person who you assume is doing the slave trading. Morgan than turns and hands the gun to Damian, telling Damian that he must now prove himself and kill the man. The sequence has a quick feel to it thanks to the art. The path they take from the parking lot where it is dimly lit until they get into the room that is fully lit up works wonderfully, and it makes me look forward to the next issue. I am predicting that Damian realizes that he doesn't want to kill, and turns on Morgan. The fight will be good for a bit before Damian gets his butt handed to him and that's when Batman comes along. My next hope after that would be a scene where Batman and Robin come together, and Bruce takes some time to hang out with Damian.

Then again, I hope I am wrong and something even better than that happens. I'm enjoying this ride and the breaking down of the character of Damian. Sure, he is arrogant, but there is more to him than just that aspect of his personality. Tomasi is doing an outstanding job getting into the thick of it and the artwork is living up to the high expectations that people put on it before the relaunch.

The Cover
I like this cover. It reflects the story perfectly but plays it a little safe. If you are casually seeing it on the shelf, I think it would make you do a double take because you would expect to see Batman there instead of Morgan. Beyond that, its a pretty standard superhero cover.Which actually makes me wonder why there isn't something better on the cover that could match the story on the inside of the book.

Grades
Words: 10/10
Pictures: 10/10
Recommend: Couldn't recommend it more.
Buy Next Issue: Sold!

Previous Issues
Batman and Robin #4
Three Issue Trial

Comics! Green Lantern #5

Green Lantern #5

Writer: Geoff Johns
Pencils: Doug Mahnke
Inks: Mark Irwin, Keith Champagne, Christian Alamy & Tom Nguyen

The Comic
Remember. No Fear.

This is Sinestro taking charge, doing what he does best. You can imagine from this comic that when he was previously a Green Lantern he must have done a lot of good. I'm glad that this aspect of him is being explored. Sinestro is a far more entertaining character for this book than Hal Jordan ever was.

We start off with the "cliffhanger" from last issue quickly addressed. Sinestro then grabs his Lantern and they attack. Wait, what? Ok, I knew that the rings Sinestro gave people wouldn't hurt him, and I'm shocked that it got brought up. Then Sinestro's lantern floats to him and he retrieves it. If all he had to do was call out to his lantern, or whatever he did, and then it would free him from the prison he was in, doesn't that throw out all the build up of how he couldn't get out? Why didn't he do this from the beginning? Was it just to gain the trust of the people of Kurogar? In the end, he really didn't get their trust, so what was the point? Sigh.

So Sinestro gets into the Yellow Battery and zaps all the yellow energy back to it, causing the Yellow Lanterns to fall into a coma or something. Sinestro decides to bring the Yellow Lantern back with him to Oa, send Hal Jordan back to earth with the ring but not a lantern, and then we get a scene where Hal tells Carol that he really just wants her. So it looks like they are an item again. We then get a page where the Guardians decide that they will release the first lantern and the first lantern will lead a new army that will replace the Green Lanterns. It is similar to how Johns ended Aquaman #4 by giving a minor preview of things to come.

Knowing how Johns works, this arc is "over" since Sinestro decided to fully embrace the fact that he is a Green Lantern again and we are on to the next big development. There are enough threads there to keep the overall story going, but I just felt like I got cheated in this arc. Certain situations in this arc didn't make sense for the overall story (I'm looking at you, Prison Scene). The end of this arc didn't make sense. But, if you came to this book and it was the first issue you saw, well, it still wouldn't make much sense for certain scenes.

Bah. Johns knew how he wanted to end it, and he fell short here. This is the first issue I really didn't enjoy of the series from the writing side, so its no big issue right now. But if this is an indication about how future arcs will end, then why should I stick around for another story?

I am looking forward to not having Hal around. I hope it stays that way for more than the next story arc.

The Cover
The cover has the words "Two against a Thousand!" Not reflective of the story at all since Sinestro and Jordan had plenty of help. Now if the cover had all of those people from Korugar with rings charging at you on the cover with Jordan and Sinestro in front, that would have been a good cover. The cover did stick out for me from the racks due to the coloring, but otherwise it was a pretty generic cover: a posed shot that didn't actually happen in the issue.

Grades
Words: 6/10 - The overall story was fun, but the steps it took to get there didn't make sense.
Pictures: 8/10
Recommend: Only if you are really willing to suspend your disbelief and not try to logically put it together. Sorta like the Green Lantern movie.
Buy Next Issue: Everyone is allowed to stumble from the consistency from time to time, just get back up on your feet the next time through.

Previous Issues
Green Lantern #4
Three Issue Trial

Comics! Batwoman #5

Batwoman #5

J.H. Williams: co-writer & artist
W. Haden Blackman: co-writer

The Comic
This is a weird one for me. It is the wrap up of the first story arc and a transition to a new one.  So far its left me hanging a little in the story department, but the art still does wonders.

The story takes a turn and shows that the skull faced guy is approaching Batwoman in order to get her to work for him and find Medusa. Strangely enough, when Batwoman faces the water demon thing, the water demon also tells her to find Medusa. So we know where the next story will be headed.

Batwoman deals a lot with magics and demons and stuff like that. Its more the areas that Batman doesn't go to. Red Hood also deals with the same scenarios. I find it entertaining and different to see Bat-characters approach this area. With Red Hood, it all is brand new to me and I'm liking it. With Batwoman, I get the feeling that there is something I'm missing from her previous story that explains the mysticism. What is sad is that its not explained so much here in this relaunch, and you can tell that new readers will miss out.

Which brings me to an overall feeling that I have for this book. I can't recommend this to new readers. Seriously, if someone is just picking this up, it isn't meant for them. Its meant for those who followed Batwoman previously. much in the same way that new readers won't get much of what is going on in Green Lantern. With Batwoman, at least you have fewer trades that you have to go back and get when compared to Green Lantern. Which reminds me that I should re-read the previous issues that I have with her.

There are less two page spreads in this issue, which was rather surprising. The art takes a turn here because of it, and I think it becomes a little more clear about what is going on. I'm not complaining about having to look at so many two page spreads in previous issues, I did enjoy them. I think the story gets a little more focus when Williams only has one page to deal with, which is used effectively in this issue in order to close up the story.

The Cover
It is much simpler than other covers. There is still a lot going on, but not as much as previous ones. There is a more subdued feeling about this comic  that does reflect the story inside, that things wind down.

Grades
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 10/10
Recommend: Only to viewers of previous issues.
Buy Next Issue: Art over words, art over words, art over words...

Previous Issues
Batwoman #4
Three Issue Trial

Comics! Superboy #5

Superboy #5

Scott Lobdell: writer
R.B. Silva: penciller
Rob Lean: inker

The Comic
Just colored me all sorts of confused.

This book is trying to introduce to me a bunch of new characters, give some intro to older characters, and throw in a wrench to the story on just about every other page.

Seriously, I really can't describe what is going on. From what I think may be happening, is that a bunch of Wildstorm characters and old Gen 13 characters are being brought into this book, but I'm not quite sure. See, I wasn't a fan of Gen 13 and never really read them before. So I'm not quite sure who these characters all are or what kind of motivations they have. Which is a good thing, it will show me if the writer has the ability to show off new characters that are unfamiliar to the reader.

Color me confused. I just don't get it. But I am digging Teen Titans and some of the new characters in that book. So what makes this one different? I'm not quite sure. There is definitely a different tone with this book than the other one. Beyond that I just don't have the right word or expression right now.

The art is still the same as before. There is consistency there, I will give this book that. But there were obviously some missing panels or artwork in this book. For example, when  Rose is searching through Red's room, there seems to be a hidden compartment that is opened by a sword. Rose is carrying swords, yet somehow in the instant that something falls out of said compartment when it is opened, there is no sword in Rose's hands.

I want a consistent feel for Superboy so I can enjoy the character in whatever context he comes in. But if he's going to be equally confusing in both Teen Titans and this one, and I can wrap my head around the characters in Titans and I care more for the story in that book, then this book won't be around much longer.

I will read the preview for the next issue and see if it intrigues me. If it does, then the next issue will be bought. If it doesn't, then no dice.

The Cover
Many things wrong with this cover that I've had for all the Superboy covers: the artist that they get to draw it, who obviously isn't the same one who does interiors, has no idea what is going on in the book. Red doesn't dress like that, Superboy hasn't shown  much in the way of heat vision, and the placement of the characters and their poses just doesn't make sense. Except for Superboy, because he just looks ticked off and grunting, like he does in the book.

Grades
Words: 5/10
Pictures: 6/10
Recommend: No. Unless you are a fan of Wildstorm characters, then maybe you can tell me if this is intriguing or not.
Buy Next Issue: Depends if I like the preview pages that DC releases on Tuesdays on their blog.

Previous Issues
Superboy #4
Three Issue Trial

Comics! Detective Comics #5

Detective Comics #5

Main Story
Written and Pencilled by Tony Salvador Daniel
Inks by Sanou Florea with Rob Hunter


Backup Story
Written by Tony Salvador Daniel
Art by Szymon Kudranski

The Comic
What the fuck is going on with this comic?

Its split between a twelve page main story and an 8 page backup. Coolness. I think this might have been put on since Tony might be a little behind with the artwork, and in order to keep the schedule they have brought in a back up artist to allow Daniel a break. That's cool, and one I've seen before. I can appreciate it since that means that the same story tellers, or in this case story teller, stays on the book and is able to finish it.

First up is the main story. Quite frankly, I don't like it. It reads like nothing but a mess through and through. You know those lingering questions you had from last issue? Don't look for any type of answers here. Instead, we are left with a bunch more questions about what is going on.

We start off with Batman going through a park that is occupied by Joker fans who are upset that the face of Joker is not in their hands with the people. Batman then goes on a mission to follow some mobsters. The mobsters quickly are killed by someone in a Joker mask. Batman tries to stop the masked man, but gets sprayed directly in the face with acid. From the spray of the acid, it looks like it hit the entirety of Batman's face, but somehow only the top half is affected.

Next, Batman decides to chase the masked Joker by running through the crowd filled with Joker fans. Seriously. I wish I were joking, because this is BATMAN running through a MOB, most of whom are dressed as the JOKER, in order to catch a guy, who is wearing a JOKER MASK.

Cut to the masked guy escaping by boat, takes a briefcase to what I assume is the owner of a casino, and then cut to said casino. At said casino, we get introduced to a couple of people and Bruce's girlfriend of the moment who happens to be an investigative reporter and dresses herself up as a maid in order to do some investigating. Of course, while she is changing, Penguin is watching her. He decides to send the troops after her. End of main story.

So again I must ask, what the fuck is going on? If last issue was supposed to be the end of one story line, and this is the start of a new one, what is going on? Who are these people? What is the reporter investigating? Who are the three women behind Joker in the last panel? Apparently they are some sort of bad-asses, but I wouldn't be able to tell by just looking at them as they strike that pose.

But it all looks pretty, sorta. Heavy, heavy duty on the dark colors. Usually the art some what makes the book entertaining for me so it can distract me from the bad writing. Not so much this time.

Then let's look at the back up story. It is actually an improvement over the main story. Seriously.

We get a kid who gets the chance to sit down with the mob and play a card game. Nice intro to everyone around the table. I get a good sense of what is happening at the poker table. Artwork is really dark. Really dark. REALLY dark. Then the kid wins a card game. With Jokers being wild, his opponent has 2 jokers and 3 aces, so a 5 of a kind. Nice hand. The kid wins with a straight, all spades except for the king of hearts. If you know poker, you know that that isn't a winning hand. So the mob suspects he's a cheat, he has a bunch of cards tied around his wrist under his shirt to confirm their suspicions, and the Catwoman shows up. She declares everything hers, kicks some ass, and then the boy leaves. He is being watched by who I have to assume is Hugo Strange.

Who is Hugo Strange? In the previous DC he was a psycho psychologist who figured out what he thought was Batman's secret ID. Who is he in this? I have no clue. None. Apparently he has a son, who was playing the card game, and he has some sort of criminal history.

I'm lost. I've read this comic a couple of times and I'm just lost. This isn't a mystery story. A mystery story would give you more clues as to what is going on and would clue you in to some basic facts that you need in the story that this entire book just isn't doing.

Like I said before, usually the art is the saving grace with this book that makes it at least halfway decent. Not here. The first half falls flat and the back half looks like an ink spill with some occasional white spots to it. I understand what goes on behind the scenes enough with a comic book to know that this went pass an editor who approved the look for the final book. Why didn't the editor stop it from being printed and tell the artists that this book needed to be clearer with the art? That in sequential story telling you need to have some clear artwork to tell the story.? Why weren't these questions asked? Several people were put in charge of making this comic and this is what came out?

The back up artist needed to have a look that was more in tone with how Alex Maleev drew Daredevil back in the day. That would have worked better. That would have been a better direction to take.

The Cover
This cover has nothing to do with the comic. You only see Penguin on the last page of the first half of this book, yet the cover makes it seem like this comic will be about those two. If you were to judge a book by the cover, it is an almost failure on all accounts for me.

Grades
Main Story:
Words: 3/10
Pictures: 5/10

Backup:
Words: 4/10
Pictures: 2/10

Overall Issue:
Recommend: This would be a comic that you could use to see how not to make a comic. I don't like saying that, because I know hard work is put into each comic by every creator and editor. It just seems like a lot of people had a lot of bad days in a row and this is the product of those bad days.
Buy Next Issue: I am only buying this comic to complete my collection of Bat-comics. Which is a very stupid, stupid thing to do. You should not buy a comic just for the collection, because then it is selling and the publisher will think that the comic must be doing well since it is selling.

Previous Issues
Detective Comics #4
Three Issue Trial

Comics! Red Lanterns #5

Red Lanterns #5

Writer: Peter Milligan
Artists: Ed Benes with Diego Bernard
Inker: Rob Hunter

The Comic
Atrocitus is letting his anger get to him. Very easily. Krona is gone missing, he thinks that his Red Lanterns are turning against him, and then suddenly a human gets picked up to be a Red Lantern.

Bleez takes another dip in the pool to go after the Red Lanterns that Atrocitus threw in last issue. This issue essentially picks up from the last issue and finishes telling their stories. So now we have multiple, conscious Red Lanterns that aren't just standing around and spewing blood. We learn that they all did both good and bad, and that the red ring seems to pick the Red Lanterns in a very random way. Some were killers, some were saints before the red ring. The explanation is that everyone feels rage equally.

Atrocitus then comes page at the end in order to speak the Red Lantern oath and rally the troops just as a human gets selected for the red ring. What is interesting is that this human, John Moore, seems to have his anger and rage come from his own inability to do anything. So does this mean that he must take the rage out on himself? This will be interesting to see where this goes, especially since this has been building since issue #1.

This issue feels very much like how issue #5 for Batwing was, an issue that was trying to get the pieces in place so the first story arc could conclude. I don't think I have a taste for issues like this one unless the payoff is evident. The first couple of issues were self contained in a way, and the past couple of issues were working towards something. If it is to try and understand how the Red Lanterns work and to get them in place to where some in-team fighting and conflict could happen, this chapter seems to be slightly awkward in getting there. It is the worst of the series for me so far, but it is still better than most other comics I've picked up this week. Let's see what kind of payoff happens next issue.

The Cover
Swing and they both miss! Alien anatomy must be very special, because no humans could bend like that. And if this were a true fight, Atrocitus could easily grab Bleez' wing and take her out via submission hold. The cover would have you believe that this was the be all end all issue that decided a Red Lantern leader, but that's slightly different from the truth of what actually happened. And Bleez' blue butt really shines in a cover filled with red.

Grades
Words: 7/10 - unless the next issue hits a home run, then this issue will look better by reflection.
Pictures: 10/10 Consistent on the art end of things. Loving it.
Recommend: Just like with Batwing #5, wait until you can read both issues at once and then it will be better.
Buy Next Issue: This was the first "bad" issue for me, let's hope this isn't the start of a new trend.

Previous Issues
Red Lanterns #4
Three Issue Trial

Comics! Batwing #5

Batwing #5

written by Judd Winick
pencils by Ben Oliver
inks by Ben Oliver & Brian Reber

The Comic
Oh, no. This I don't like. After the guest artist on the last issue, and this issue seeing Oliver getting some assistance, I worry a little about this comic. While it took a bit for me to like the art in the comic, I've come around to appreciating it. Seeing other artist draw Batwing just make him look comical in their art. Strangely enough, Oliver has that look about it that brings more seriousness to a Bat-character. We do have to remember that these are people dressed in Bat-like costumes, so they can be a little bit on the ridiculous side.

I'm glad that it was this long before Batman appeared again in the book. It allowed for Batwing to make it on his own as opposed to having the title character playing second fiddle to a bigger name hero in issue #2 of his own series. It is a comic book story telling device that happens a lot more than you would think.

It is revealed that Massacre now has an a following with him. Good. The villain has to have his henchmen. And with the help of those henchmen, we see how much Batwing is learning about what it takes to be a hero.

This comic has the feeling of starting to pick up speed, and right now I see a little wobble to it. And it honestly could have been because Batman showed up. I was liking this title just fine on its own outside of the Bat-family.

This issue felt like a set up issue. Next issue is supposed to be the conclusion of the opening story arc, so let's see if it finishes up nicely. Art miscues aside, this story has been much better than I expected this far into it.

The Cover
I don't know who did the art on the cover since there are no credits inside the issue. But you can see what I mean how another artist just draws Batwing in a way that I can't take him as seriously as the inside artwork. This cover artist would have been better last issue where we had the fill in artist but it still had a Oliver drawn cover.

Grades
Words: 7/10 - moving of the pieces. Minor character development.
Pictures: 7/10
Recommend: I'm fifty fifty on this. I would say wait until issue 6 comes out and then read them both together.
Buy Next Issue: Let's finish out the first arc!

Previous Issues
Batwing #4
Three Issue Trial

Comics! Action Comics #5

Action Comics #5

Main Story
Grant Morrison: writer
Andy Kubert: penciller
Jesse Delperdang: inker


Backup Story
Sholly Fisch: writer
Chriscross: artist

The Comic
In taking a break from the main story, Morrison is showing us what happened when Krypton decided to go boom. This gives us the perfect set up to tell a Superman origin story! Again! (as the cover suggests)

This story seems to fit very much in the same vein that Green Lantern: Secret Origin was for Green Lantern a couple of years back. Basically, it was a way to tell an origin story, but fit in some characters and plot points from the current storyline into the origin story. Thus the "Secret" part.

There are a lot of fleshing out of characters and important Superman items such as the rocket that brought him to earth and Krypto, the super dog. We then get an introduction to some new big bads at the end of the comic. From how the story began, me thinks it is the group of super criminals who some how escaped the Phantom Zone.

The story itself feels very different from the first few issues. First off, it is set after the events of the origin story. You can tell this because Superman is wearing his actual costume and not the t-shirt and jeans look. This story also feels like it is going out of its way to explain things and show stuff. Which is fine in and of itself, but it feels like fluff stuff.

The back up story tells us the same thing as the first half. A story that I really don't care about or need to hear. It tells the story about how Martha and Jon cannot have children and try over and over again without success, until baby Superman falls from the sky. Just like the last Action Comic that had a back up story that fleshed out a couple of panels in the back up, this one does the same. This back up is different in that it is telling a story about characters that are no longer alive in the new DC. When it tells the story, you have to make me care about what is going on with these characters quickly. But this is Jon and Martha Kent. The story feels like it is spinning wheels. I can't feel bad for these characters and their plight not to be able to have children of their own when I know that they will be Superman's parents.

The Cover
Look, I grow weary of Superman origins stories. Instead of the cover having the words "It Begins..." &"...again!," it should have had "It Begins..." & "Again..." That would have reflected the story better. But it does have pudgy baby Superman on it, so I guess is has a laughable quality about it.

Grades
Main Story:
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 7/10 - I like Kubert's style, but I haven't seen much progression in his art since I first saw it. This issue is his typical stuff.

Backup Story:
Words: 3/10 - This was routine all the way. Not a single bit of original dialogue.
Pictures: 5/10 - This was Chriscross, who had a look with this story that just screamed boring.

Recommend: No. You can skip this little side story.
Buy Next Issue: I will, but I recommend that you don't. Unless you like Fanboy Fluff pieces.

Previous Issues
Action Comics #4
Three Issue Trial

Comics! TMNT Micro-Series: Michelangelo

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Micro-Series #2: Michelangelo

written by Brian Lynch
art by Andy Kuhn

The Comic
This issue is about Michelangelo taking a break from his brothers and heading out for the night. This night happens to be New Year's Eve, and Michelangelo gets caught up in a costume party. The unfortunate part is that he gets mistaken as the tech guy for a group of thieves.

The book is a nice done in one story. My only complaint is that it seems pretty routine and the artwork seems to be a little inconsistent. I'll chalk that one up to the cartoony type of feel that the artwork has.

If you compare this book to the main series, this comic really feels flat. In its own rights, its perfectly fine. If I wasn't such a fan of the main series, I would argue that the $3.99 price point isn't too justified for this comic.

Grade
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 7/10
Recommend: Skipable. Maybe for a completest would this be necessary.
Buy Next Issue: It's Donatello's story, I'll give it a go.

Previous Issues
No previous reviews since I haven't gotten the first issue yet. It is the Raphael story.

Comics! Green Lantern: New Guardians #4

Green Lantern: New Guardians #4

Tony Bedard: writer
Tyler Kirkham and Harvey Tolibao: pencillers
Batt: inker

The Comic
Enter: Agent Orange.

I seriously think that I would buy an Orange Lantern book just to follow Larfleeze, the sole member of the Orange Lantern Corps. But now we have him appearing in New Guardians, and it provides a really good story.

Larfleeze lays waste to the Guardians, we get an idea of what his own Guardian has been up to, Kyle decides to leave the corps and go on his own, Akrillo and the Blue Lantern get a moment together that shines, and then we meet the ship for the big bad of this story, a spaceship the size of a solar system.

Not all members of this New Guardians crew get their moment to shine, but we have a majority of them able to have their own moments within. Bleez runs away, which hopefully means that she comes back with her personality in tact like it is in Red Lanterns.

What else I find surprising about this book is that it really does feel like it is in its own little universe. If you read the first four issues as a whole, you get a sense of all the characters. The Indigo Lantern is the least developed in my opinion, but I'm sure he'll have his moment soon. He has just seemed like he has always followed someone else's lead and hasn't gone out on his own.

If you read this issue by itself, you would be brought up to speed rather quickly. Motivations are determined for a majority of the characters in this issue. We get some exposition that doesn't feel like exposition. And the artwork keeps up the pace. Each alien character has a distinct look and I loved the action page of the Orange Lantern Corps.

The cover credits two artists in this issue. The interior only credits one. I don't know where the mistake was made, but I couldn't see off hand a difference in the artwork that distinguished one from the other. So either the cover had a mistake, or Tolibao started drawing more similar to Kirkham than the last issue.

The Cover
This cover is nice and colorful, but there are a few things missing. If this is supposed to feature the whole cast and crew of the New Guardians, where is the Blue Lantern? You have his lantern, but not him. And where is the Star Sapphires' lantern? The background color seems like it shouldn't fit. But I honestly can't look at the cover and thing of a single one that would work besides black.

Grades
Words: 8/10
Pictures: 7/10
Recommend: With this issue, the series gets its stride. I understand that team books take a few issues so it can give you some character moments for each team member, but now that that is out of the way, let's get to some action.
Buy Next Issue: The cliffhanger reveals an alien spaceship emerging from a white hole and the ship is the size of a solar system. You better believe that I'll be back.

Previous Issues
Three Issue Trial
Green Lantern: New Guardians #3
Green Lantern: New Guardians #2
Green Lantern: New Guardians #1

Comics! Flash #4

Flash #4

story by Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato
art and cover by Francis Manapul

The Comic
I'm going to go into this the same way that I do with Batwoman: It will look pretty, but the story will be lacking a little. And when I do that, I enjoy the issue.

This is probably one of the more on target stories. It focuses on the origin of the villain for the first arc, Mob Rule. I'm liking it. It reminded me of when Johns used to write Flash and have an entire issue focus on the back story for one of the Rogues. This comic does a nice job of making Mob Rule's origin work well, and also balance it out with a couple of other subplots. This is done much more strongly than previous issues that seemed to jump around without focus and juggle a bunch of them at once.

One minor thing that bugs me is the idea that Barry is dead. Wasn't this done before in the first issue? The Barry death scares will get old really quick.

I really want to go back and get the earlier books I have with Manapul as the artist and see how much he has progressed since. I think it would give me a good idea of the growth he has had in storytelling. He has taken a page out of the J.H. Williams book and started to make some fantastic looking double page spreads. They work quite well in the monthly format, and my only concern is that if the binding isn't right on the collected edition of the comic then some of the artwork will be missed.f

The Cover
Nice stuff going on here. Clearly defines the different plots of the story. This would work well as a recap page, but works even better as a cover. This was definitely a cover that jumped out at me on the comic shelf.

Grades
Words: 7/10 - much better than previous issues.
Pictures: 8/10
Recommend: If this was the first issue that you read, you will be missing a few plot points and may wonder where the Flash is at, but if you have been with the comic since #1, then you will enjoy it.
Buy Next Issue: Let's see where this leads to!

Previous Issues
Three Issue Trial
Flash #3
Flash #2
Flash #1

Comics! Aquaman #4

Aquaman #4

Geoff Johns: writer
Ivan Reis: penciller
Joe Prado and Eber Ferreira: inkers

The Comic
I bought this issue because I heard it wrapped up the first story line in this issue. This is surprising, because I didn't see much in the first three issues that felt like a it could be concluded in this issue.

So we have Aquaman find the sea creatures' hideout, see where the humans are being kept, rescues said humans, the big bad queen of sea creatures chases him, Aquaman tries to reason with her buy can't, Aquaman throws the trident to save the day and kill off all of the sea creatures. And then Aquaman gets some props from a little kid, only to have a cop say that he still doesn't like him. Then Aquaman gets Aquadog. Then a sneak peak of the next story arc.

I guess I was let down. There was so much build up for these creatures, and so much trouble and difficulty that they had for Aquaman, to be able to defeat the queen a few pages after she was introduced just seems underwhelming.

There were some great moments in the book that the art worked well with. The two page spreads where we get introduced to the queen and when Aquaman unleashes the trident were awesome. The story just didn't set up the moment for me. The pay off wasn't earned.

The teaser page at the end of the book highlighted the next story line for the comic: Who sank Atlantis?

My reaction: Who cares? Maybe after enough issues are collected and I can read everything at once then I won't feel like my money is being wasted.

The Cover
The cover for this issue can be intermixed with any of the previous issues. There isn't much difference between them all. The good part is that they reflect the story content as well - not much difference between all the issues.

Grade
Words: 5/10
Pictures: 8/10
Recommend: Nope. No no no.
Buy Next Issue: Not for myself.

Previous Issues
Three Issue Trial
Aquaman #3
Aquaman #2
Aquaman #1