Comics! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #7

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #7

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

The Solicitation
Baxter Stockman. General Krang. These Turtle villains have largely kept to the shadows... until now. Baxter is determined to capture the Turtles before Krang comes to New York... and he just might have the perfect invention to complete his task. And if that wasn't enough, don't forget Old Hob is still in the picture! Trouble for the Turtles abounds! 

Preview

The Story
This restart is just awesomeness all around. It is the adult approach to the Turtles, and it equally appeals to both the kid in me and the adult sensibilities.

Take General Krang. Remember the old cartoon version of him that was in that weird machine that looked like it just got finished with Hulk Hogan? Gone. This is a robotic, red eyed menace that still features a brain for a controller. The brain is located in the chest instead of the stomach, and it has white dots for pupils. Check it out in the preview, it is well worth it.

The Turtles all have adult voices, and not so much the cartoon voices we heard from before, save for Michealangelo. It makes sense for his character to retain that appeal. We get shown the origin of the Turtles' love for pizza. Leonardo remembers something about their previous lives that no other turtles ha brought up yet - their mother. I am taking Don's approach to the theory that they are reincarnated: trust that Splinter knows it to be true, but remain skeptical until the truth is staring at you in the face.

The mousers then get their attack on Don, Leo, and Splinter. The mousers are controlled by Old Hob, who comes off as just creepy in some panels.

We learn more about Baxter's relationship with General Krang. It would appear that the mutagen that spawned the Turtles is rather important to Krang.

We get our cliffhanger when Raph and Mike join up with Leo surrounded by the mousers. Nicely done, but I don't think the cliffhanger was needed, I'll still be back next month.

The Art
There isn't much that I can say about the art that I haven't said before. I'm enjoying it greatly and it is the perfect fit this type of Turtles story. No panel seemed wasted and the ending didn't seem like it was dragged out like the last issue's ending was. All good stuff here. Keep bringing it on.

The Cover
I got the General Krang cover. I just realized that he looks a little like Bison from Street Fighter, but a much darker, more take-me-serious style. The muted colors work well in showing that this is a darker tone.

Grades
Words: 10/10
Pictures: 10/10
Recommend: Highly. If you know some Turtle lore then you will enjoy this, but if you are brand new and never heard of the Turtles before then you will be lost. There is enough introduction to understand what is going on, and the characters all have a defining voice that shines in this issue. You will grow to love it.
Buy Next Issue: Waiting eagerly.

Previous Issues
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4

Three Issue Trial

Previous Issues: Red Lanterns

Red Lanterns

Previous Issues

Red Lanterns #8


Writer: Peter Milligan
Pencillers: Andres Guinaldo & Jorge Jimenez
Inkers: Mark Irwin & Jorge Jimenez


Words: 4/10
Pictures: 4/10
Recommend: Nah. This just seems like too much, too fast, not fully developed, and not having a direction.
Buy Next Issue: Next issue will be the last one unless there is some sort of spectacular issue that brings some clarity to what is happening.

Red Lanterns #7


Writer: Peter Milligan
Pencillers: Ed Benes & Diego Bernard
Inkers: Rob Hunter, Mark Irwin, Sal Regla & Dave Meikis



Words: 6/10 - I like that it is picking up the pace, I just think it is old ideas being reused.
Pictures: 5/10
Recommend: If you were waiting to see an issue of Red Lanterns pick up the pass and have been skipping lately, come see it. If you are new to this, Guy Gardner's appearance won't make sense, you won't get the deal about Sinestro members cutting off their fingers, and the ending ends on such an abrupt line that will just leave you feelings deflated. And Rancorr has yet to be referred to by name in the comic even though the solicitations the past couple of months have been referring to him as such.
Buy Next Issue: If this situation doesn't develop into something better by next issue, I may be done.


Red Lanterns #6


Writer: Peter Milligan
Pencillers: Ed Benes & Diego Bernard
Inker: Rebecca Buchmann
Words: 3/10 - stop repeating yourself.

Pictures: 3/10 - the guest art did not do well this issue. The impossible bending of the female characters. Come on.
Recommend: Not at all. This is not the Red Lantern comic to get if you want to have been with it since issue #1. If this is your first time, you probably won't be back.
Buy Next Issue: This is the first stumble for Red Lanterns for me. If this is going to be par for the course of the book from here on out, I won't be around long.



Red Lanterns #5


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


Red Lanterns #4


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



Words: 8/10
Pictures: 10/10
Recommend: Hell to the yes.
Buy Next Issue: Count me in.





Red Lanterns #3


Writer: Peter Milligan
Penciller: Ed Benes
Inker: Rob Hunter



Words: 10/10 - perfectly told origin type of story.
Pictures: 10/10
Recommend: If you are only getting two Green Lantern books, get Green Lantern and then get this one. Its what I would do.
Buy Next Issue: See above recommendation.


Red Lanterns #2


Writer: Peter Milligan
Penciller: Ed Benes
Inker: Rob Hunter



Words: 9/10
Pictures: 10/10
Recommend: If you skipped the first one, you can still pick this one up and not miss much if you know the Red Lantern backstory.
Buy Next Issue: NOW!



Red Lanterns #1


Writer: Peter Milligan
Penciller: Ed Benes



Words: 10/10
Pictures: 10/10
Recommend: Yes.
Buy Next Issue: I. Am. There.

Comics! Flash #6

Flash #6

Story by Francis Manapul & Brian Buccellato
Art by Francis Manapul

The Solicitation
Struggling with the climactic aftermath of his battle with Mob Rule last issue, The Flash must solve a murder mystery that dates back 150 years! Is this case too cold even for Barry Allen? Also: Learn the origins of Central and Keystone City!

Preview

The Story
Captain Cold goes all sleeveless bad ass on our boy Barry. Yee, haw!

Here we go with the skipping of time back and forth. I am beginning to dislike this certain story telling device. I know it has become popular lately, but I've seen it enough times to know when someone has a story that could fit it and when it doesn't. While I can't really come up with a way right now of how this story could have been handled different, I am surprised that this one actually fits better than most who use it.

Basically, in a linear fashion, Captain Cold finds out that the blackout that Flash caused (but didn't actually cause it) has set the city back "forty years." Yea, OK. Either way, whatever was keeping Captain Cold's sister alive isn't working now, and Cold decides that he will go after the Flash. He does so by attacking some cruise ships to bring the Flash out, and those ships happen to have Barry, Patty, and Iris on them. Oh comic book coincidences!

Flash is still dealing with his powers apparently ripping apart the space time continuum. The scientist guy builds not a cosmic treadmill (which is HUGE), but he also builds a device that lets the Flash know when his energy levels get too high and he is about to rip apart time.

A fight happens. Tensions rise. Its OK. Its not super spectacular, but its better in its story telling than previous issues. Can't complain but I'm not all yippee-skippy-hoorah on this either. Captain Cold got redone so he doesn't need his cold guns, instead he is just showing his guns (har har har).

The Art
Manapul does good here. I don't have much to complain about but I'm also not over joyous about some things. Its Manapul being Manapul on art, and while its going to be enjoyable, I just wish that there was a story teller giving more direction with this. I've seen Manapul draw some Geoff Johns' Flash books and I was tremendously impressed with the job that was done.

The Cover
I like it. Nice contrast of colors, let's you know what is going on inside. Anyone with some history of the Cold character will pick it up. Standard superhero flare, but with some thought put into the design.

Grades
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 7/10
Recommend: You get caught up to speed from the previous issues if you missed them. Its worth a try to check in and see how the new Flash is in the 52 world if you haven't caught it before.
Buy Next Issue: I'll pop for it.

Previous Issues
Flash #5
Flash #4
Three Issue Trial

Previous Issues: Batwing

Batwing

Previous Issues

Batwing #8


Written by Judd Winick
Pencils by Dustin Nguyen


Words: 7/10
Pictures: 8/10
Recommend: Satisfying. Definitely worth it.
Buy Next Issue: Night of the Owls crossover. Let's do this!

Batwing #7


Written by Judd Winick
Pencils: Dustin Nguyen
Inks: Derek Fridolfs



Words: 8/10 - this was the payoff issue for the Kingdom's setup. I would say that it works pretty well. And I have to give kudos to anyone who uses Batgirl as a guest star and puts her in front of a computer. That's miles above what she has done in her own comic.
Pictures: 8/10 - very well done. Can this be the regular series artist?
Recommend: Yes. If you are a casual Bat-fan reader and haven't been following Batwing, this is a decent jumping on point. I would saw that you may be ticked off that the Bat-cast isn't featured much, but the story of the Kingdom should be entertaining for ya.
Buy Next Issue: Let's see the conclusion!




Batwing #6


Writer: Judd Winick
Pencils: Ben Oliver
Inks: Ben Oliver and Brian Reber



Words: 7/10
Pictures: 7/10
Recommend: What I thought would be the finale for the first story arc, but its anything but. Passable.
Buy Next Issue: Maybe that's the finale? Probably not. But knowing that issue #9 brings the Court of Owls to Batwing and he is still in Gotham, I don't like the idea that the first African Batman has to finish his opening story in Gotham and not in his own turf.


Batwing #5


Written by Judd Winick
Pencils by Ben Oliver
Inks by Ben Oliver & Brian Reber



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!




Batwing #4


Writer: Judd Winick
Art: Chriscross
Inks: Ryan Winn



Words: 8/10
Pictures: 6/10
Recommend: Yes, definitely. This is one of the sleeper hits of the new 52 that will grow on you.
Buy Next Issue: I'm looking forward to it.



Batwing #3


Written by Judd Winick
Art & Cover by Ben Oliver



Words: 7/10
Pictures: 7/10
Recommend: Definitely. Get it. Everyone.
Buy Next Issue: As long as it keeps growing on me, I will. It is one of the books I am looking forward to reading.



Batwing #2


Written by Judd Winick
Art and cover by Ben Oliver



Words: 7/10
Pictures: 6/10
Recommend: I'm beginning to think that we need a wait for the trade approach for this book.
Buy Next Issue: I'm buying, unless someone else is buying for me.



Batwing #1


Written by Judd Winick
Art by Ben Oliver



Words: 7/10 - which is about average for Winick for me.
Pictures: 6/10 - Not much in terms of a sense of storytelling, just looks nice.
Recommend: Not so much. Maybe for Batfans to give a try, but it can be skipped over.
Buy Next Issue: I will be. You may not be. I have a feeling this may be the first Bat-title that will be cut from the reboot, but it has potential to stay afloat.

Comics! The Ray #3

The Ray #3

Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray: writers
Jamal Igle: pencils
Rich Perrota: inks

The Solicitation
Lucien can rescue Chanti from the clutches of the Isopods, but can he save his relationship with her? More important, can he save her family from the evil Director, who wants to destroy everything for his art?

No preview available.

The Story
The sad thing about being the Ray and fighting at night is that you only have so much light to draw your power from, and when the big bad shows up, you are going to take your knocks.

I like how the Ray is handled by the local authorities in this comic. When he rescues Chanti, which you know would happen, police and an ambulance are on the scene waiting. The emergency crew treats Ray just like anyone else, he is supposed to step away so the paramedics can do their job, and the cop has no problems threatening arrest if he doesn't step back. I liked that moment. To me it feels as if the people know how to handle superheroes and its a part of their job now.

Chanti's parents meet up with the Ray in the hospital. After the stunt he pulled on them in the previous issue, they aren't big fans of his. That director guy, the big villain of the piece, shows up and tells Ray that he ruined his shot and he needs the Ray to fight again. The Ray tries to say that he isn't the Ray, so the director motivates him by giving Chanti's dad a heart attack. Ray reveals his true self, just as the director guy gets a snazzy Tron inspired costume. Off they fight!

We get a big battle between the two that shows us that the director has a certain control over reality. This is in opposition to Ray's ability to control light. The director conjures up some Transformer looking things and they beat Ray to a pulp. I'm pretty sure this is a red herring, since I thought that the Ray was a beam of light right now.

We then move to our cliffhanger. Chanti is holding a gun at the director's head telling him that he killed her father and Ray and now he's next. End of another great issue.

The Art
I'm enjoying it. Everything just seems to click and make sense for me art wise. I especially loved the last scene where Chanti is holding the gun. Most artist would contort her figure to such a warped reality degree and expose more boob, but the stance and everything is just perfect. It just looks good.

The Cover
One of those more thematic covers. This doesn't happen in the issue, and they could have gone a different route. in a weird way, this cover mimics a bit of the Green Lantern New Guardians cover, but really toned down the light aspect of it.

Grades
Words: 10/10 - let's get ready for the final issue!
Pictures: 10/10
Recommend:  Highly. This is a spot on comic for me right now, just lots of fun.
Buy Next Issue: Its the last one. This issue shows 'Issue 3 of 4' on it instead of last issue's '2 of 6.' I am almost sad, but I am glad we got this comic.

Previous Issues
The Ray #2
The Ray #1

Previous Issues: Action Comics

Action Comics

Previous Issues

Action Comics #7


Grant Morrison: writer
Rags Morales: penciller
Rick Bryant: inker



Backup:Sholly Fisch: writer
Brad Walker: artist




Words: 5/10 -Mind you this is just the main story here.
Pictures: 9/10 - Huge improvement. Seriously.
Recommend: Nah. In a way it feels like it is going through the motions, and there are some interesting bits, but I'm seeing more material that I would laugh at then I would take seriously or even ignite some excitement in my belly. Boring, and not worth the price of admission.
Buy Next Issue: Nah. I may wait and just buy it online after it gets marked down to $1.99 or something like that just to finish the story, but there is no way I'm buying regular issues of this comic.


Action Comics #6


Main Story
Grant Morrison: writer
Andy Kubert: penciller
John Dell: inker


Back Up
Sholly Fisch: writer
Chriscross: artist



Words: 7/10
Pictures: 6/10 - like I said, I've seen this from him for years. Time to innovate a little.
Recommend: If you want to keep up with the weirdness and be entertained a bit, sure. This isn't a comic that you show someone to convince them to start reading comics.
Buy Next Issue: It's the conclusion to the story that was last seen in issue 4. I need both the artwork and the story to really connect otherwise I am gone. Morrison's new take on Superman just hasn't been as thrilling to me as his iconic take on Superman in All Star Superman.



Action Comics #5


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


Backup Story
Sholly Fisch: writer
Chriscross: artist



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.

Action Comics #4


Grant Morrison: writer
Rags Morales: penciller
Rick Bryant and Sean Parsons: inkers


Back up story by:
Sholly Fisch: writer
Brad Walker: artist



Main story:
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 5/10 - Was it just me, or did Superman's head look like it was made of Silly Putty? Seriously, I don't think he had the same chin in any two panels.

Back Up:
Words: 7/10 - for the cheese.
Pictures: 7/10 - felt like a sharper look of the main story, like the artist had time to draw it and make it nice instead of a rush job type of feel.

Issue as a whole:
Recommend: Yea, but you can wait until you get issue #7 so that way you can read the story and not miss much.
Buy Next Issue: I'll give the "guest" story a try.



Action Comics #3


Grant Morrison: writer
Rags Morales and Gene Ha: pencillers
Rick Bryant and Gene Ha: inkers



Words: 5/10
Pictures: 4/10
Recommend: I say no.
Buy Next Issue: Probably not.






Action Comics #2


Grant Morrison: Writer
Rags Morales & Brent Anderson: Pencillers
Rick Bryant & Brent Anderson: Inkers



Words: 7/10
Pictures: 7/10
Recommend: Eh. Sorta a mixed bag. I'm more wait for the digital copy on this one.
Buy Next Issue: Sold!





Action Comics #1

Grant Morrison: writer
Rags Morales: penciller
Rick Bryant: inker


Words: 6/10
Pictures: 9/10
Recommend: Maybe for Superman fans, but not to new readers.
Buy Next Issue: I will, but this might not be habit forming.

Previous Issues: Detective Comics

Detective Comics

Previous Issues

Detective Comics #8


Written and pencilled by Tony S. Daniel
Inks by Sanou Florea
background assists by Joel Gomez


Back up written by Tony S. Daniel
Art by Szymon Kudranski



Words: 2/10
Pictures: 3/10
Recommend: A very skippable issue. Doesn't even do a good job of introducing any character.
Buy Next Issue: It is the Night of the Owls crossover. Let's see how Tony Daniels has to deal with other Bat-writers and their much better ideas with how to handle Batman.

Detective Comics #7


Written and pencilled by Tony Salvador Daniel
Inks by Sandu Florea



Words: 2/10 - Not the worst I've red, but it is almost there.
Pictures: 2/10 - And staying there for the foreseeable future.
Recommend: No, and staying there for the foreseeable future.
Buy Next Issue: See previous disclaimers about buying it to complete the collection and how wrong that type of approach is.


Detective Comics #6


Written and Pencilled by Tony Salvador Daniel
Inks by Sandu Florea



Words: 3/10
Pictures: 2/10 - its a pose off-a-thon. Awkward poses for everyone!
Recommend: This is not the Batman comic you are looking for.
Buy Next Issue: I am this close to letting there be a hole in my collection so I don't have to read this shit anymore.




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



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.



 Detective Comics #4


Written and drawn by Tony Salvador Daniel
Inks: Sandu Florea



Words: 4/10
Pictures: 7/10
Recommend: Nah.
Buy Next Issue: Just completing my collection.








Detective Comics #3


Written and Drawn by Tony Salvador Daniel
Inks: Sandu Florea



Words: 5/10
Pictures: 7/10 - there is something to say about getting a new inker and feeling like nothing has changed art wise from the previous issue.
Recommend: Only for the collectors. New people, take your own risk.
Buy Next Issue: Yes, it is Detective, and I am a collector. But there may be a time I buy it just to not have a hole in the collection. I hope it doesn't come down to that.





Detective Comics #2


Written and Drawn by Tony Salvador Daniel
Inks: Ryan Winn



Words: 5/10
Pictures: 6/10
Recommend: Nope. No no no.
Buy Next Issue: For the third issue. Probably will buy more because its Detective Comics and I collect Batman. That's the only reason to do so.





Detective Comics #1

Written and drawn by Tony Salvador Daniel



Words: 6/10
Pictures: 7/10 - just because its an improvement for him.
Recommend: Not really. But if you liked Daniel before then you be impressed now.
Buy Next Issue: Yes, for curiosity's sake at the cliffhanger and because I would anyway.

Comics! Teen Titans #6

Teen Titans #6

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

The Solicitation
In the aftermath of their battle with Superboy, the Teen Titans make a horrifying discovery: Kid Flash has been knocked out of synch! If they are going to save their teammate, the badly beaten and battered teens need to sneak into the New York branch of S.T.A.R. Labs – which means that this issue guest-stars none other than Virgil Hawkins, a.k.a. Static! But if the team was hoping to use the lab for some downtime, they are going to be disappointed, because now they must battle a new, young team of supervillains known only as 2.0! All this and the debut of Kid Flash's new costume!

Preview

The Story
The Titans are caught in the lights of a bunch of cops. They are weary and look like they just got beat up, which is true considering that last issue was the one were Superboy kicked all their butts. There are a couple of things to note with this police confrontation. The first is that Red Robin and Batman are apparently well known enough for Red Robin to be recognized as coming from Gotham. Interesting bit of information. Apparently Skitter is just like a child when she is in her Skitter form. Kid Flash, who was seen in a solid, weary form before, apparently started to freak out and is now a huge blur. More on Kid Flash in a minute.

Guest character time! Static gets a friendly visit from the Titans. Static did the work for Red Robin's wings, and Red Robin thinks that Static could help out with getting Kid Flash calmed down. Static, who I am just learning about, works for S.T.A.R. labs as an intern and is very smart. He is an inventor type. He also happens to be teenage. And since Red Robin couldn't reach the Flash to help Kid Flash out, Static happens to be the next best guy to help out.

We then get our introduction to the random villain of the issue. His name is Grymm. Apparently he has some sort of mind control power, which is awesome for those wanting to hear more about mind control of people in comics. Apparently all the good comic book stories have it. I am sick of it.

Now is the perfect time to bring up something about Bart Allen that was slightly referenced before. That cop that they beat up in the beginning of the issue, isn't really a cop! Turns out she is only pretending, as she knows who Bart Allan is and where he comes from! She is some sort of alien and is wondering if any for the Titans realize who Bart Allen is. Apparently he has some sort of rap sheet, although Bart is still claiming amnesia.

We get Wonder Girl wanting to leave the team, AGAIN, and Bunker trying to tell her not to go. She interprets as him hitting on her, he tells her that he is gay. Then we realize that Skitter has become mind controlled by Grymm. Apparently Grymm has no problem telling the Titans how the US government put some genetic implants in him to enhance his metahuman abilities. He can mind control bodies. Which means that Bunker's psionic powers are not controlled by him. Bunker uses that fact to defeat him, and our villain of the issue is defeated.

Go to Kid Flash getting a new costume from Static that is supposed to help stabilize his powers. The Titans now want a round two with Superboy. End Issue.

While I appreciate the name checks in the issue that Scott Lobdell does each issue with the characters, there has to be a better way to present it. The dialogue is just awkward sometimes when characters have to remind each other of their powers and they have to say it out loud. It makes for some hilarious lines of dialogue. Add that to the villain of the issue thing that is going on and Teen Titans is just going down hill for me. The book is introducing character after character and there doesn't seem to be much established character wise besides mystery, mystery, mystery. Maybe less time should be focused on introducing a new villain each week and more time should be spent developing the characters.

I am not liking the direction that the origin of Kid Flash is headed to. I thought the relaunch would give the perfect chance to tell a less complicated origin story, but this seems to be headed in the opposite direction. In the old universe, Kid Flash was the grandson of the original Flash, Barry Allen. He was age accelerated in a virtual reality program that sought to speed up his control of the speed force. He got sent back to present day times and brought his powers under control with the help of Wally West. They became partners. He had a photographic memory.  Now it seems to be more complicated and the opposite of what he was before. Sigh.

The Art
It has been pretty consistent since the first issue. A few thoughts did occur to me. First off, why is everything that everyone wears, including the guy in a lab coat and a cop,. have to have skin tight clothing? Is that a law or something?

And second, when you have your big reveal of the new costume for Kid Flash, could you at least try to make his waist seem like a realistic pose? The way it twists reminds me of those broke-backs poses that females have had. Specifically i was thinking of the ones that Rob Leifeld characters would have. If you need reference, there is an awesome site here with some more information.

The Cover
This could have happened in the comic. but it didn't. Red Robin was never in that much of a costume. Grymm and Red Robin never met. Static was never giving CPR to Kid Flash considering the fact that Kid Flash was conscience the whole time. I also wonder why there is no mention of Static's guest appearance. I think the cover would have worked better featuring Static and having the Titans in the background wondering if Kid Flash was going to make it. Have Static pear over Kid Flash's body. Put the words "Fall out from the battle with Superboy" or something like that on there.

Grades
Words: 6/10
Pictures: 7/10
Recommend: From what I can see here, this is a mostly skippable issue. You'll get to see the costume next issue, and that was the whole point of this issue.
Buy Next Issue: I wanted a big bad last issue, but I would like them to stay around for longer than one issue. I'd even ask for Superboy back again this issue. I will be around, but my interest is fading quick.

Previous Issues
Teen Titans #5
Teen Titans #4
Three Issue Trial

Comics! Green Lantern: New Guardians #6

Green Lantern: New Guardians #6

Tony Bedard: writer
Tyler Kirkham: penciller
Batt: inker

The Solicitation
The sleeper in the sun has awakened! Green Lantern Kyle Rayner and his renegade team of Lanterns are all that stands between the creature Invictus and planetary genocide. But in this battle, how did Fatality and the rest of the Lanterns end up being the bad guys?

Preview

The Story
Someone call the 90's, they have some of those character designs happening again.

Big muscle bound men with huge armor plates and pads in all the wrongs places. More like a two bit villain that doesn't make much sense.

The story is rather simple. All of our main characters are spread out on different planets when Invictus, the villain guy, pops in on the planet to kick some ass and then hop over to the next. Not much is really explained in terms of character with any one in this comic. We learn that Invictus hates the Orange Lantern and things that all of the Lanterns are being ordered by him to attack.

Oh, and we get to see a lot of boob from the Star Sapphire. more on that later.

This seems like a rehash of the fight scene they had a couple of issues ago with the Guardians. They do sometimes work together, but mostly its all on their own.

The cliffhanger at the end is that Bleez is back, now with a proper conscious (but if you aren't following Red Lanterns, this turn to the talking side comes out of left field), and is getting ready to burn the solar system space ship so she can find the other Lanterns.

Boring.

The Art
T & A. Every shot featuring a female has to have it all hang out and they have to be positioned just right in that pose that looks like she is breaking her back. Seriously, who can bend like that?

We have one panel where the Star Sapphire is speaking, but you only see her chest. Talk about awkward.

Don't worry, I won't complain just about that aspect of the art. We also have something that is supposed to be the size of a solar system, but everything around it makes it seem so much smaller than that. It seems more like size of Jupiter and its moons and not something about the size of our actual solar system. I wonder if the definition of solar system is would be what you could use to actually describe how its been done. You can see it in the preview pages where the ships are attacking.

The Cover
I laugh at the pose the villain strikes. He looks like a Care Bear giving the Care Bear stare. But did you see the boobs next to the title? Look, its boobs, it means you have to buy it! Yea Sex Appeal!

Grades
Words: 5/10. Nope. Not for me.
Pictures: 4/10 - I wonder if something other than boobs can be drawn on a female character.
Recommend: Negative. Just wait until next issue, I'm sure that the story has to come back to the good stuff.
Buy Next Issue: This issue just really put a bad taste in my mouth. There is a repetition to the story from the previous arc that is just ticking me off. I'll give it another issue to see if it gets somewhere.

Previous Issues
Green Lantern: New Guardians #5
Green Lantern: New Guardians #4
Three Issue Trial

Comics! Animal Man #4-6

Animal Man #4-6

There they were, just sitting on the shelf. Sure the first issue was the fourth printing variant, but I didn't care. I just heard such good things about the book. So I caved in and bought all six issues. So here is a special quick review and run down of the next three issues.

Animal Man #4

Story: Jeff Lemire
Art & Cover: Travel Foreman
Inks: Jeff Hunt & Travel Foreman

The Comic
We pick up from the end of last issue. Ellen is driving with the Detective/Rot creature to her mother's house, a place that the fam decided to meet in case of emergency. Back in the Red, Animal is getting his but kicked.Maxine steps up and protects her father, sending the Rot away. Maxine has to heal her father and learn her powers. She does, and tells her father that she wants a costume.

We get a little more history of how the Hunters Three came to be. Basically, they are after a living avatar, who happens to be Maxine. If they possess her, then the Rot would spread throughout the Life Web. The Red warns Animal that Alec Holland, from Swamp Thing, is also encountering the Rot, and that means we will have a crossover sometime soon!


One of the Red creatures decides to leave the Red in order to help Maxine, even at the risk of never being able to return to the Red.

Meanwhile, Cliff has discovered that the Detective guy is bad news, and the creature needs to feed. Cue Ellen out to find out what happens. As she learns what is about to happen, Animal Man returns home to find everyone missing.

Grades
Words: 9/10
Pictures: 10/10
Recommend: Highly. Next please!

Animal Man #5

Story: Jeff Lemire
Art: Travel Foreman and Steve Pugh (pgs 17-20)
Inks: Jeff Huet (pgs 1-16)

The Comic
Boom goes Ellen's shotgun at the Rot creature. Animal Man comes flying in as Cliff takes up the shotgun to the creature who has Ellen in his grasp. Then Animal Man gets shown what will happen if the Rot gets control of his daughter.


Now that's just gross and horrifying. Seriously, you have to see it to believe it.

Maxine uses her powers to get as many animals over to help her father. The animals eat the Rot, but instead of stopping it, the Rot has now spread into the animals and further into the Red. possessed animals, attack Animal Man and family!

The issue ends with the Red creature, who is a talking cat, telling the Baker family that the Rot is spreading like a sickness everywhere, and only the Swamp Thing can save them now.

If this was the end of a storyline, i would consider it kinda weak. As a comic on its own, it just seems to be wanting to tie things back up to get us ready for what is next, but it is very sparse. So, kinda like most of the issue #5s of the New 52.

Grades
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 10/10 - just for the one scene that I just can't describe without getting sick.
Recommend: Eh. If you figure that not much will be resolved from the previous issue, then not too recommended. However, the art only is enough to get it.

Animal Man #6
Jeff Lemire: writer
John Paul Leon: artist pages 1-17
Travel Foreman: pencils pages 18-20
Jeff Huet: inks 18-20


The Comic
This seems like a filler issue, but it is an awesome filler. We get to see the movie that was discussed in the first issue that Buddy Baker starred in. The movie follows an alcoholic superhero as he tries to beat the habit. The thing is, he's a joke. He gets his ass handed to him by some kids and doesn't have too good of prospects with the family life. Just as the movie was progressing, the battery dies for the phone that it was being viewed on.

Back in reality, Cliff is covering up the fact that he was watching his dad's movie. We see that the family has hit the road, and the last panel reveals that the Rot is hot on their trail.

I loved the guest artist used for this issue. There is a very different style done here than in previous issues that reminds me of Michael Lark from Gotham Central and Daredevil fame. While I am sure that this is just the first part of the movie, I can't wait to see more coming.


Grades
Words: 9/10
Pictures: 10/10
Recommend: Definitely. This is the way that you allow for your main story artist to get some time to catch up and take a break from regular art duties without sacrificing the story.

Previous Issues
Animal Man #1-3

Comics! Batman #6

Batman #6

Scott Snyder: writer
Greg Capullo: penciller
Jonathan Glapion: inker

The Solicitation
Trapped far beneath Gotham City and hunted by the Talon – the Court of Owls' unstoppable killer – Batman lies bleeding and broken. With no way out and no one to help, is this the end for The Dark Knight?

Preview

The Story
Now this kicks some ass.

Take the trippiness that the last issue had, and mix it in with some Batman kicking some ass and this comic is golden from the first panel until the last image.

We start off with Batman having a knife sticking through his stomach. Talon, the assassin for the Court of Owls, telling him that the Court has sentenced him to die. Talon holds Bruce up high and asks the Court how the wish for Batman to die. The youngest member gets to decide what happens to him, and she decides to hurt him...more.

Bruce is going through some spotty visual depictions around him and we continue to see him how he is hallucinating at the same time that we see the reality of what is actually there.

And then Batman decides he has had enough and he is sick of owls.

Thus begins a beat down of epic proportions that you have to see to believe. The dialogue back and forth is spot on, and the end leaves you knowing that Bruce will make it out alive, but he will have taken a huge beating.

We then get a little more insight into the Court. It appears that the Talon they have will be disposed of, and the other Talons they have in waiting will be woken up.

Snyder has done an amazing job setting up the strength of the villains. What I thought at the first issue would just be some generic villain to introduce us to the New 52 Batman has become one of the strongest villains around.

There are a lot of tones to this story that strike a very familiar tone with me. The Court of Owls seems to play out as a much stronger take on the old Azrael story. Azrael was the guy that became Batman years ago when Bane broke Batman's back in Knightfall. Azrael was an assassin with training that was rooted in his childhood, waiting to be activated so he could become a mindless killer for the Order of St. Dumas. Talon seems to be the same thing presented here, but I don't think that the story will go the route of replacing Batman with him.

But this is a much, much stronger story than the old Azrael one, and that's coming from someone whose first experience buying Batman comics on a regular basis started with the Knightfall story, so you know that places the story very high in my perspective.

The Art
Delivers. This is the kind of art that words can't describe. Much in the way that Snyder used Jock's skills in The Black Mirror Batman story, Greg Capullo is given his chance to shine. If the preview doesn't entice you, nothing will.

The Cover
Scary. Reminds me of the Batman: Red Rain cover that showed Batman as a vampire. Who knew that an Owl/Bat hybrid could look frightening? The trick is in the eyes, they just stare at you.

Grades
Words: 10/10
Pictures: 10/10
Recommend: If you are familiar with Batman comics and want to give this a go, the only thing that you would be missing out on is wondering why Batman is hallucinating half the time. If you take that part out, even a new reader could connect with this issue.
Buy Next Issue: HAHAHAHAH! Now that's a funny one.

Previous Issues
Batman #5
Batman #4
Three Issue Trial

Comics! Wonder Woman #6

Wonder Woman #6

Brian Azzarello: writer
Tony Akins: pencils
Akins & Dan Green: inks

The Solicitation
Hades and Poseidon both have designs on the kingdom their brother Zeus left behind, but Wonder Woman doesn't intend to let their turf war decimate the realm of man! It'll take a big lie and some help from the mystery man known as Lennox to stop a holy war from breaking out – but what does Lennox know that Wonder Woman doesn't?

Preview

The Story
I think I need some help translating this issue right now.

Wonder Woman is still fighting the sea creature guy. She is trying to offer a deal where both it and Candlestick Head Guy, who is apparently Hades, hold the title of king of the gods together. Meanwhile, we have our weird centaur/minotaur characters from the first issue come looking for Zola, who Wonder Woman is supposed to protect.

Meanwhile, Lennox is walking with Candlestick Head Guy through some sewers. Why can't he be next to Wonder Woman? I don't know. They split for some reason last issue that I forget in this one.

Back to the Wonder Woman fight where she gets tossed back to the bridge where Zola is cornered. Wonder Woman breaks a wooden flagpole to use to fight the two creatures, who were originally somewhere within arms reach of capturing Zola on the sidewalk, but are now in the center of the street. Weird.

Wonder Woman kills one of the creatures and then take Zola back with her under the bridge where she was talking with Sea Creature Guy. Apparently, this is enough to keep the other creature from attacking. Lennox and Candlestick head emerge from the sewers and everyone talks. Wonder Woman wants to make her deal, which causes Hera to come down and say otherwise.

Lennox snaps a candle off Candlestick Head Guy's head and tosses it to Wonder Woman who now has Hermes' staff which can be used to transport to other realms, although you would have to have read previous issues to know that. Wonder Woman tosses the candle onto some mirror thing and that causes Hera to go back to her realm and Wonder Woman says that she will make Hera pay. (New Reader: for what?)(Old Reader: WTF is going non to cause one thing leading to the next?)

Hades and Candlestick guy realized that Wonder Woman played them and that no deal was forthcoming to share the chair of Zeus. Candlestick head doesn't like this, and kidnaps Zola. Candlestick guy says that they had a deal, and that Wonder Woman should fill her end of the bargain. Although, wasn't the deal just a proposal and not concrete?

If I knew more about Greek Mythology, I might be more filled in right now. Generally a read a comic issue on its own about 3 times when I review it, and I'm still sorta lost after reading this issue. If the story is only going to get more complex from here on out, maybe I need to go back and re-read the whole thing.

The Art
There are some art problems. I don't know if the two creature guys attacking Zola was supposed to be blocked the way they were. It would make more sense for them to be some distance from her on the bridge that Wonder Woman could get in between.

Also, the characters get bent into some weird shapes this issue. See the first preview page and you will see the bottom left panel with Wonder Woman in the tentacle mess with her body so out of sync with any other limb that it just seems weird and warped and not comfortable.

The Cover
I like this cover. Its a shame that it never came to pass in the actual comic. My one concern is what I am assuming is Wonder Woman's lasso making the gold, rope-string things that really doesn't have a point of origin and looks like it doesn't belong there.

Grades
Words: 5/10 - I'm lost. Even as a comic fan and someone with this comic since issue #1, that's not good.
Pictures: 4/10 - bleh. Give me the series regular again, please.
Recommend:  No. I may change my mind upon a re-read with the other five issues, but for now I will firmly say no.
Buy Next Issue: For now it is on the monthly pull list, put I need to see the quality return to this comic with some clearer story telling or else it is goodbye.

Previous Issues
Wonder Woman #5
Wonder Woman #4
Three Issue Trial

Between the Panels: Gary Friedrich

Between the Panels: Gary Friedrich

This post is mostly to link to all the sites that have put up some interesting article about the Gary Friedrich case. If you are unfamiliar, He was the man who claimed sole ownership and creation of Ghost Rider and sued Marvel for making the Ghost Rider movie. He lost. Marvel defended their copyright and sued him for $17,000.

Heh.

When you are a writer, you work with others in creating characters. Unless you happen to be an artist. but then if you create that wonderful character, why are you looking at giving that character to a corporation like Marvel? Marvel Comics, which is currently owned by Disney, will surely go after your ass if you claim any kind of copyright on a character they own and make millions off of. Disney's lawyers wrote the book on extending copyright on creations long after their original creator has died.

Small fact: Steamboat Willie, the first cartoon to feature Mickey Mouse, is technically in the public domain. But try making any money off that creation and see how fast Disney will sue you.

I think that creators and artist should be trying to sell their own shit at conventions from their own creations, the stuff that they own. Less of a legal mess that way.

Anyway, link dumb. Check it out if you would like.

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/02/14/jean-marc-lofficier-on-the-consequences-of-the-gary-friedrich-decision/

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/02/15/john-nee-dan-slott-rob-liefeld-and-artists-alley/

http://www.comicsbeat.com/2012/02/15/buckley-and-quesada-speak-on-marvels-side-of-the-gary-friedrich-matter/

Comics! Red Hood and the Outlaws #6

Red Hood and the Outlaws #6

Plot: Scott Lobdell
Dialogue: Josh Williamson
Art: Kenneth Rocafort

The Solicitation
How did Jason Todd and Princess Koriand'r of Tamaran meet – and what has bonded them together in a way that neither could have imagined? At long last the story can be told! It's a scorcher!

Preview

The Story
Holy flash to the hero's first meeting story, Batman!

I'm going to speculate that this was the first issue that Lobdell wanted to put out, but decided to save it for a rainy day. Too bad he only got to plot it and not write it. Funny, that's the second title this month that uses someone else for the dialogue and Lobdell for the plot. This issue serves as the first meeting of Jason Todd and Starfire in the new DC universe. Let's see how it goes.

We start off with Red Hood in his old clothes with a broken helmet as he tries to stop a guy with a metal jaw from smuggling in nuclear weapons into Miami. So, not much of a difference from what else we've had from previous issues. The sub explodes as Jason tries to escape from it, and he wakes up a bit later on an island attached to some medical devices that are healing him. (Minor suggestion - Don't have an editor's note state that the events of this comic take place a month before issue #1, just have a dialogue box that says "One month ago" or whatever you need.)

Todd is drifting in and out of consciousness as Starfire debates whether or not he looks familiar. Jason then goes through a flashback of when Nightwing was first teaching him the ropes about being Robin. There is some tension there as Jason tells Nightwing that Bruce chose Jason to replace him as Robin and that he can shove off.

Flash to Jason walking around butt naked searching for Kori. The island that they are on is the home of Starfire's ship, which has obviously crashed on earth. They exchange pleasantries and introductions before Kori decides that Jason could use some clothes. She takes him to a closet that has all of Nightwing's old uniforms in it. This is the part where you realize that Kori really doesn't remember much of the past and tends to live in the present.

We get a flashback to Jason in Red Hood garb pointing a gun at Batman. Jason blames Batman for leaving him with the Joker in what must have been the moment that Joker killed Jason when he was Robin. Before Jason can pull the trigger, Nightwing comes in and interrupts him.

Starfire then gets some time to her own memories. She doesn't live in the past, but she will remember the name of the person who left the clothes behind when she sees him next. (Him being Nightwing). She tells Jason a version of "the clothes don't define the man" and offers him one of Nightwing's old uniforms which Jason wears in present day.

Days pass and Jason is healing. Jason is admiring the weaponry that Kori has and thinks how it could help him with his own war on crime. Jason goes to talk to Kori and she kisses him. Apparently this is how Tamarans assimilate language and knowledge. Fancy that. Instead of taking advantage, Jason talks to her all night long where they share a bonding moment and hug at the end. The next day Jason sees an article about how Roy Harper is going to be executed and Jason decides to go bust him out, thus tying this into the events of the first issue.

I almost laughed at the ending. They stayed up all night talking? Ha! I hope that Jason is supposed to be about 16/17 years old in this comic, otherwise that is one of the most teenage type of ideas for a story I could ever read. I was into the story and was wanting more out of the flashbacks, but then when that twist to the story came it just made me laugh so much. They even hugged it out at the end.

You know a better way to end that part of the story? Have them be attacked by something. Let their fighting and instant ability to work as a team together bring them closer to each other than that teenage B.S. at the end. The characterisation here was just so far off from what we have seen and learned from the characters. There were two writers for this book between the plot that Lobdell had, which missed the point, and the dialogue that Williamson wrote, which bordered on cheesy at points. It just missed what I expected out of this book.

The Art
You know what creative paneling choices do for you? Leaves a bunch of background spaces. This issue had a lot of them. Trying to cover them up with red colored boxes don't exactly help. The only time you don't see a white background on any page is the very first one and one page when they are talking at night. That is a lot of unfinished and unused space for art that could be used.

The Cover
If you haven't read the story, the cover doesn't look too bad. After you read the story, you can tell how far off the cover is. First off, Jason Todd is in the wrong costume. The events that are depicted on the cover should have taken place before he got that costume. Second, if those people are supposed to be some sort of army, why are they all in different costumes? Oh wait, in the story they are just smugglers, so I guess it makes sense.

Grades
Words: 5/10
Pictures: 5/10
Recommend: Very skippable. I really don't even see the need to have this place here for issue #6. It isn't like the story is told with the backdrop of present day events happening that could make it all tie in together. This was done in previous issues, I wonder why it didn't happen with this story.
Buy Next Issue: This is the second issue in a row that has been skippable. Let's hope there isn't a third, this book had such good promise.

Previous Issues
Red Hood and the Outlaws #5
Red Hood and the Outlaws #4
Three Issue Trial

Comics! Batwoman #6

Batwoman #6

J. H. Williams III & W. Haden Blackman: writers
Amy Reeder: penciller & cover
Rob Hunter & Richard Friend: inkers

The Solicitation

Artist Amy Reeder and inker Richard Friend join the Batwoman team with this new arc, as the epic "To Drown the World" begins!


Six lives, inextricably linked in the past and present, each on a collision course with the others: Batwoman, fighting for duty and vengeance against a threat of arcane power. Detective Maggie Sawyer, investigating a case that could end her career. DEO Agent Cameron Chase, commanding a vigilante she despises. Colonel Jacob Kane, clutching at a life that's slipping away. Maro, a new villain corrupting Gotham City. And Kate Kane, wrestling with decisions that will test her loyalties.


Preview

The Story
Um, wow. Where to begin...

There is an almost insane randomness to it that just seems unnecessary. The solicitation is right in that we try to follow 6 different people and there own stories. Again ,we do try. If you break it down by the page count, each story is only getting 3-4 pages to set things up. Each story line is also jumping back and forth in time, to either a week ago, two weeks ago, etc.

The first story takes place now and has Batwoman appear to be skewered by a guy with a hook for a hand. It is the same guy that randomly skewered Flamebird a couple of issues ago. That's about it.

Second story takes place a month ago and introduces Jacob, a nurse at Gotham Hospital. Batwoman's father is checking in on Flamebird, who is attempting to recover form being skewered. He reads to her hoping that she will wake up.

Third story is a bit on Maggie Sawyer, the captain of Gotham Major Crimes Unit. She gets yelled at by a mother who has a missing kid. When the mom leaves the room, Maggie pulls out a picture frame and starts to cry. You are meant to think that Maggie has a long lost child or something like that.

Fourth story follows Maro. He is some nut job who was the actually killer of the children from the previous story arc. He created the weeping woman that was the big bad of the last arc.

Fifth story is Kate's story. We are following the morning after her and Maggie were together. Kate lies about a bruise she has and tells Maggie that she doesn't want to talk about her past and if Maggie pushes her then Kate will leave.

The sixth story takes ten pages of the book. Agent Chase doesn't like working with Batwoman, and Batwoman has a new suit. The new suit allows her to get shot at multiple times and it barely leaves a mark.

Cut back to the first story again with the guy with the hook for a hand. Turns out Batwoman wasn't as skewered as he thought and now she is ready to fight. End the issue.

I think I understand what this issue was meant for. I think that these are all two page stories that were on the cutting room floor from previous issues and would make more sense in those issues than here. Then you could take the two main stories that you wanted to write about - the Batwoman's new suit story and the first story where she gets skewered, and develop those concepts more.

If this was the first issue I try out for Batwoman because I saw that there is another artist on the book, nothing in this issue would make me want to come back. I don't know anything that is even going on in the book. Its like seeing the first five minutes of the second act of a play and you are clueless as to what is going on and don't understand the meaning of what is happening. Take that example and do it for five different plays that are supposed to be connected somehow.

Scratch your head, and repeat until your scalp is bleeding raw. Yeesh.

The Art
I don't think I've ever seen Amy Reeder's art before. Its definitely a different style than Williams, but I like it. It will be good for a fill in. A couple of things I would point out that looked awkward was the consistency in how people's faces are drawn. Some were very circular, almost as if they were a caricature. Then some were very detailed and focused. And the one page where Batwoman is fighting the people who just shot her looks ridiculous. I seriously didn't know what she was supposed to be doing, either leaping out of the page or throwing the guy or something. It just looked awkward as can be.

The Cover
It looks like Batwoman only has one eye. Other than that, I really enjoyed it. Its the kind of cover I would expect to find on a trade or something, it just pops with me.

Grades
Words: 5/10
Pictures: 7/10
Recommend: Not at all. Typically I like this book better for the art than the story. A guest artist will point out that flaw, and then show you how well the regular artist is compared to a fill in. I think it has to do with the fact that Williams knows where he is going with the story and figures he can work the art around what he is doing since he is the co-writer on the book. But when it comes time to tell someone else that information so they could draw it, he definitely is lacking.
Buy Next Issue: Hopefully it tells me more about what is going on in this issue.

Previous Issues
Batwoman #5
Batwoman #4
Three Issue Trial