Comics! Batman and Robin Annual #1

Batman and Robin Annual #1

Peter J. Tomasi: writer
Ardian Syaf: penciller
Vicente Cifuentes: inker

Solicitation and Preview

Review
I'm actually kinda shocked by this book.

No, not by the need to show Damian in his future Batman costume, but by the art work. I've seen Syaf's work in other books, most notably Batgirl, but it takes the cake here! Something about it just seems to make more sense and fit in this story. It's weird, but I really dug it this time around.

The story itself felt really nicely done and paced just right. I wouldn't call it one, but this feels gives me the general feeling of closure. We got to hit some points about Bruce and Damian's relationship and just got a cherry on top at the end.

When I say closure, I really mean it. Where does their relationship go from here? It has to take a turn towards something else. If we keep getting stories that rehash the whole "can Damian be trusted" issue then I may just break form this book. In a lot of ways, the previous issues have just felt like they are spinning their wheels. Unfortunately, looking at future solicitations don't really bring any confidence to picking this book up.

Overall, it was fun seeing Damian play the role of Batman Jr. And it was interesting to see Bruce look surprised at what Damian did for him. I think we really saw more of Bruce Wayne in this issue than we've really seen in the whole of the New 52.

Grades
Words: 9/10
Pictures: 7/10
General Feeling After Reading: Satisfied, looking for more.
Buy Next Issue: I'll be down.

Comics! Teen Titans #16

Teen Titans #16 

Plot: Scott Lobdell
Dialogue: Fabian Nicieza
Pencils: Brett Booth
Inks: Norm Rapmund

Solicitation and Preview

Review
Remember last time we saw Tim and he was in his Red Robin costume? Not anymore, he's back to the old one, complete with his wings.

Remember when we saw Joker painted something red in Red Hood's mask? No resolution on that, so maybe Batman #17.

Remember that panel from last issue that had some guy in a costume and then the next panel had Black canary screaming? And wondering if they had something to do with what happened to the Teen Titans? Yea, I'm a little lost too, but apparently readers of Teen Titans know what is going on there.

Remember Trigon and Raven making a one page interruption of this story? Yea, it happened right in the middle of the book, sorta like how Hugo Strange and Deathstroke showed up randomly in Red Hood #16.

In one eye roll we see the two former Robins fight, because apparently Jason forget his dad died and the guy Joker dressed up as his dad might still be his actual dad alive and well. In the next, joker says that he has Tim's dad too, but true to my theory that Joker doesn't know their real identities, it is revealed that it isn't Tim's dad.

Seriously, this was a hero vs. hero fight in which it shouldn't have happened. It was boring and cliche. It made about as much sense as the realism that Red Robin and Red Hood were handcuffed together the entire fight and the handcuffs kept growing or shrinking depending on the panel. Seriously, at one point we are presented with the idea that the chain stretches across both their bodies with their arms spread out. Why have them handcuffed to begin with?

And there was an editor's note referencing Tim doing something in a limo in Teen Titans #8. I hope he meant Teen Titans #0, because in #8 the Titans were captured and starting that horrible Culling event. Aw well, they can just fix it in the trade, just like how they switched Tim Drake's Robin name to Red Robin.

There is just so much wrong here that it is hard to determine what went right with the plot. The dialogue was decent. The art was just swimming in chaos. For the last of the Death of the Family crossover books of the Bat-family, I just expected more.

So sad. So sad.

Grades
Words: 2/10
Pictures: 3/10
General Feeling After Reading: Disappointment.
Buy Next Issue: Negative. Maybe when a different writer/artist is on it. Maybe.

Comics! Revival #6

Revival #6 

Story by Tim Seeley
Art by Mike Norton

Solicitation and Preview

Review
First, we have to look at that cover by Jenny Frison. If there isn't anything that is going to catch the eye of anyone who walks into the shop, I don't know what will. First, the limited color palette catches your eye. It stands out against all those multi-colored covers filled with superheroes. Then, you realize it is a girl sitting around in her underwear. But this is an almost photo-realistic cover, and so there is a lot of natural beauty in the shape of the female body on display here that is opposite of what you see with the ladies on the other covers who feature, um, wide tracks of land. Yea.

But then those eyes. That's when you realize what she is doing and the cracks in the arms and throughout her body. Very statue-esque. Creepy.

This cover is exactly what this book is like. It draws you in, makes you think that everything is ok, that there is something to see. But when you get to the heart of the story, when you reach the eyes, Then you don't know what to think. You get creeped out.

This is the first issue after the trade, and if you picked this up right after reading the trade then you will be in good shape. A lot of things happen in this book and you don't really get the full story without knowing what happened previously. But aside from this issue not really being new reader friendly, we certainly get a good story and art that matches.

My thoughts just keep going back to the cover. It is just as creepy to me as the first issue's cover. It just is something so different from all the other covers that were up on the comics rack this week. It matches the intent of the comic so well and is just perfect.

Grades
Words: 7/10 - the magic is there, it is only just building. Lots of potential to come.
Pictures: 7/10
General Feeling After Reading: Felt too short, gimme more.
Buy Next Issue: I'm sticking with this series for awhile. Gotta see where this goes.

Comics! TMNT: The Secret History of the Foot Clan #2

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Secret History of the Foot Clan #2 

Story: Mateus Santolouco
Script: Mateus Santolouco & Erik Burnham
Art: Mateus Santolouco 

Solicitation and Preview

Review
Why can't the regular book be like this one?

Trust me, I'm not trying to down talk the main book, but this mini just seems to capture something about the turtles in the art that has been missing in the main book for some time.

A few things of note - the soldiers are standing up in a limo. I noticed this back in an issue of Flash. Is there something about limos that are different in the comic book world? Also weird to note - Raph looks like he lands on the street when he jumps from the van onto the limo. It doesn't help that the limo is black, but from the angle of the art it really seemed like he hit the ground and not the top of the limo.

And heads up to acknowledging that the tracer that was placed on Dr. Miller would be obvious to spot. Honestly though, that was a little too obvious. No one would notice Dr. Miller carrying a back with a ninja star sticking out of it with a flashing green light as they traveling up the elevator to some floor of a huge building? Really?

And I'm liking that fish-eye view at the end of the book. It is like the view from a security camera as it watches over the turtles fighting the Foot.

The story is filled with a deep sense of history, providing as many answers as it does questions. Mind you, it hasn't answered the big question of the series, but it is supplying enough of a trail of crumbs to get to the main dish. I'm just thoroughly stoked to get the next issue.

Grades
Words: 9/10
Pictures: 10/10
General Feeling After Reading: Halfway through the mini and me. Wants. MORE.
Buy Next Issue: Done and done.

Comics! Nightwing #16

Nightwing #16 

Kyle Higgins: writer
Eddy Barrows: pencils
Eber Ferreira: inks

Solicitation and Preview

Review
Interesting thing on the credits portion of the first page that I just noticed. Maybe it was there before, maybe it wasn't, but for how long as Nightwing's creation been credited to Marv Wolfman and George Perez? Would you think there would be a link to the person who originally created Dick Grayson? Interesting.

Any who, to the comic itself! One thing that has bothered me with the whole Death of the Family crossover has been trying to figure out where Joker had time to get everything together for our heroes. Taking a look at all the set up he had to do just for this issue of Nightwing, it is almost to the point of breaking my suspension of disbelief from within the comic book universe.

That one part aside, this is actually a really nice issue. Looking back, we really didn't need last issue's set up too much. A lot of that information is covered up right away. I could see how fans who have been reading Nightwing would want last issue's events to be shown, but if you are coming to the book just to see what Joker has done, this is the one issue that you need.

I've been down on the art before in this book, but it fits more here than in previous stories. The uneven perspective and angles of the panels fit with getting you into Joker's world. The light and darkness and the colors are done quite well in getting the mood of the story set. The look of Joker's mask is just creepy to get the nerves twitching. There have been some artists involved in the Death of the Family books that just don't seem to bring a sense of creepiness to Joker's mask, considering that it dead, carved skin held together by strings to some one's face. Barrows does a nice job of bringing the level of creepiness up, much in a similar way that is being over in Batman & Robin.

This is also the last issue that Barrows will draw in the pages of Nightwing. There is an in-house ad at the end of the book for Teen Titans where his pencils will being to shine there. Or will they? That pose that Superboy is sporting just looks awkward. It reminds me a little of Catwoman's pose from the cover to Catwoman #0 that was solicited but then replaced. Interesting.

The last page is to be expected at this point with all Bat-family books ending with Joker presenting something bloody for the Bat-family to see in Batman #17. So far, I gotta say that I like what this book has done with Nightwing's story thus far with regards to the whole Death of the Family crossover. I would almost say that this is the easily in the top 3 of Death of the Family issues itself. Excellent job.

Grades
Words: 9/10
Pictures: 8/10
General Feeling After Reading: Creeped out, intrigued.
Buy Next Issue: You know, I really am interested in what happens in this book after the events that just happened. I'll give it a go.

Comics! Creator-Owned Heroes #8

Creator-Owned Heroes #8 

Steve Niles, Jimmy Palmiotti, Justin Gray, Scott Morse, Jerry Lando, Darwyn Cooke, Christopher Irving, & Seth Kushner

Solicitation and Preview

Review
And so Creator-Owned Heroes comes to a close. Ongoing comics are completed, lots of interviews are posted, and a lot of potential and inspiration is shown.

I think it was Warren Ellis who recently said that if the book was called anything else but Creator-Owned Heroes, it might have had a shot at making it. So I let that drivel swirl around in my brain for a bit. Would there be a title that would still describe this book and possible make it sell better?

It would need something that shows it is an anthology type book or more of a magazine style title. Something akin to the Tales to Astonish title sound plausible. Stories to Inspire? Comic Book Folklore? Part of Ellis' reasoning for the statement was that the average comic book reader doesn't care about ownership of characters be it by the creator or some big conglomerate. I can see that, because I can look at the creators of Superman to see fan support of them vs. fan support of the monthly Superman book.

I imagine that coming up with a good title is hard, but when you hear one that makes sense, then it sticks. So I can see why Creator-Owned Heroes worked for everyone involved in this book.

Maybe Image Spotlight? Image Focus? Bring the idea for Image comics as the gateway for getting people in?

Image Icons? Image Anthology?

You know, this book has got me thinking. I feel the creative twinge echoing through my brain. My fingers are setting fire to the keyboard.

Wasn't that the point of this book?

Words and Pictures. A Comic Book Anthology. I think I'll go with that one.

Grades
Words: 10/10
Pictures: 10/10
General Feeling After Reading: Creative
Buy Next Issue: 

More Articles and Reviews at Capeless!

More Articles and Reviews at Capeless!

Hey everyone! Just letting you know that I've been doing some posting over at the Capeless Crusader website as well! For example, you can make with the clicky on the links below and be taken to articles about...

Superman Copyright and...Facebook??!?!?!

Learn about how the court case involving the founding of Facebook led to being involved with the Superman copyright case.

Review of Chew #31

We start the countdown to the final issue of Chew, and the ride looks like it will be one of the best roller coaster rides ever in a comic book.

Review of Bedlam #3

This comic isn't for everyone. That's the sad part, because this comic is doing so good that everyone should be reading it!

Comics! Batman #16

Batman #16

Scott Snyder: writer
Greg Capullo: penciller
Jonathan Glapion: inker
Scott Snyder & James Tynion IV: back-up writers
Jock: back-up artist

Solicitation and Preview

Review
Knowing how all the peripheral books have been ending their adventures in the Death of the Family story, I could easily take a guess at what would happen at the end of this book, or at least what silver object would make an appearance. But what about the adventure until that point? How does that fair along the way in this penultimate comic in the current story arc?

In general, I don't like penultimate chapters of anything. It doesn't really tie anything up with regards to the plot, it more or less just puts the pieces into place to set up the conclusion of the story. Blah to that.

This story does feel like Arkham Asylum the video game a little bit. Just remove all the henchmen and deal with just the main villains and here you go. I also get a memory of Azrael when the inmates appear with their flaming swords. I also get a couple of memories when we see Joker's man-made tapestry with the history of significant Batman/Joker conflicts. The Robin one is a easy to point to the reference. The one with Joker holding a baby reminds me of the time Joke held one at the end of No Man's Land right before he killed a major character. The others are a little hazy.

Being the head writer of Batman (Snyder has made it known before that whoever writes Batman guides the direction of the Bat-books), we get a sneak peek at who Snyder thinks are B-list villains that Batman can slice through in the matter of a few panels. (Interesting to note, one horse died with fire, the other with ice.) Then we get to who Snyder probably regards as the A-class villains. Not a bad line up, and considering that Riddler is the next villain that Snyder will be writing, I am intrigued as to what will happen there.

I gotta admit, the line about aiming for the right grin made me laugh. That was just spot on and hilarious.

The rest of the book felt like it was moving everything into place for the finale. The part with Bruce being electrocuted didn't sound right to me, but we will see what becomes of it. The villains are explained away as to why their presence won't be around next issue. I hope that Jock will still be around for art duties, either in the main story or the backup, either would be fine with me.

Capullo did another fantastic job this issue. In some regards I thought he was holding back. This issue felt like there were little droppings of goodness, but the main dish is going to be this next issue. My guess would be that we get to see Joker without his face on, and it will lead to some gruesome artwork. There was one thing I realized when I recently took a flip through Detective #1. When Joker's face was cut off, there were bandages on his nose and other parts since he was just in a recent fight. Why haven't those bandages been shown since?

I'm still of the opinion that Joker doesn't know who Batman really is. Unless something happens next issue that explicitly says it, I'm sticking with that theory. As for the lead up that this story was supposed to bring, it did it. Now let's just see this all wraps up.

Grades
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 8/10 - Only because I know Capullo's holding back for something spectacular next issue.
General Feeling After Reading: Let's slug through the other tie in books for a non-ending to get ready for this one. Not excited now, but maybe on new comic book day.
Buy Next Issue: Yep.

Comics! Batgirl #16

Batgirl #16

Gail Simone: writer
Ed Benes: art pages 1-10
Daniel Sampere: pencils pages11-20
Vincente Cifuentes: inks pages 11-20

Solicitation and Preview

Review
It is finally there. A flashback to Barbara in a wheelchair. Taking some time to explore the lost New 52 chapter of her life in a wheelchair. But whatever you do, don't blink. Blink and it is gone.

Seriously, there were two pages to it that felt more of a focus on Batgirl that I could accept coming out of the New 52. I would want nothing more than for this to be a focus for a little while. But wait, we got some Death in the Family to focus on.

So my question about Barbara is this: what type of person is she? She was previously a rather fun character that we've seen in previous flashbacks. Then she was shot and her time in her wheelchair hardened her character a little. There are those moments in this book were she lets down whatever walls she has up and just goes batshit crazy on the villains. That kinda puts her into Batwoman territory with regards to personality. So where does she fit outside of that comparison?

I think that is some of my problem with Batgirl. I don't see where she fits in either with the other Bat-characters or just by herself. Look at it this way: with Batman books, you are reading it for Batman. Bruce Wayne is the mask. But in Batgirl, I would expect that Batgirl is the mask, and Barbara is the real person. And I felt that when she went all out, that was when we got to see some of the real Barbara.

It is funny. She goes about not wanting to be a victim again, but she puts herself in a victim status with the Joker. She knows first hand what he is capable of and goes in anyway. And then the end of the book just feels rushed in order to get people into their places.

It just didn't feel like Simone was ready for this. Barbara meeting the Joker has happened way too early in this book. This needed a little more time for the story to play out like it should. And I think that is what is really throwing me off. That and the art.

The art just feels crowded and rushed. There was a divide in the middle of the book with the art duties that just throws me off. No rhyme or reason for the change it seems other than we reached the halfway point and there it goes to the next artist.

I'm just indifferent with this book. It is what it is, it has its fans, but it just doesn't seem to pull together in a way that I find compelling or makes me want to stick around. So I think until the next crossover, or the next big specialty issue, I may just be skipping this book. Maybe next time it will come back around to my liking.

Grades
Words: 6/10
Pictures: 6/10
General Feeling After Reading: Indifferent.
Buy Next Issue: Nah.

Comics! Detective Comics #16

Detective Comics #16

Written by John Layman
Art by Jason Fabok
Back-up art by Andy Clarke

Solicitation and Preview

Review
Oh, you want a Bat-book that ties into the Death of the Family books but didn't have Joker appear in the book at all yet still rock to the standards of the main story?

Bat-book quest resolved!

This book does a couple of cool things I was interested in. It used a lot of the Penguin background characters from earlier issues as a back drop for what was going on in this issue. It also featured a bunch of crazed people going haywire now that Joker was back in the public eye. They are all no-name characters that are all influenced by the craziness that is Joker, each group intent on howling praise or worship to him in some fanatical sense.

There is also some sadness here as one devotee takes it a bit too far. Batman's characterization of the throw-away character is spot on. In fact, most of Batman's narration through the book channels the mood for the issue perfectly. Batman has prepared for all of this chaos, but he doesn't have time for it.

The art continues to be consistent and shine through the main story and the back up. We get to see a new villain in this issue called the Merrymaker. I mention him here because the look he has reminds me of the Tally Man from Batman comics years ago, but with a realistic look that is Fabok's style.

Emperor Penguin continues his climb up the ranks of Gotham's criminal elite. My hope is that when he and Batman finally come face to face, if they do at all, then Batman is going to read Emperor Penguin's biography to him and throw one punch that will knock Emperor out, thus ruining Ogilvy's rise to the top of the criminal underworld.

I'll give Ogilvy this: he is smart to use the Joker backdrop to advance his own work. And here I thought that the Death of the Family tie in to the book so quick after Layman starts up would ruin things. Layman got quite creative with incorporating the elements from the main story and the crossover.

Grades
Words: 8/10
Pictures: 8/10 - I get the style for both artists and it is very good work, I want to see them step out of their element sometime soon and really deliver something that will hit the reader.
Buy Next Issue: Shut up and take my money!

Comics! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Secret History of the Foot Clan #1

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Secret History of the Foot Clan #1

Story: Mateus Santolouco
Script: Mateus Santolouco & Erik Burnham
Art: Mateus Santolouco

Solicitation and Preview

Review
Well, this is definitely something I've been waiting for in the main Turtles book.

This book is great at introducing you to the mystery behind the Foot Clan. And it does it spectacularly well. We are given some history, see how it ties into other Turtle lore so far, and comes across as something that has more gravity to it than a regular Turtle book. And best of all is the cliffhanger that really spells some things out.

The one thing that I really didn't like is that this book is very much meant for those who are at least familiar with the Turtles. Knowing that this book is probably aimed for an audience that is familiar with them, Santolouco's plot overall still does the trick in making you want to know more about them. And with the art, Santolouco make the Turtles shine in a new light that I found to be excellently done.

Each Turtle has a different colored mask to help show who they are. That's cool. We've also gotten little personality differences in the main book that also help to show the Turtles as having four distinct personalities. Santolouco puts in a tiny detail with how their masks are shaped on their heads that really shows an aspect of personality as well. That is why I say that if you aren't too familiar with them, you get a sense of who each Turtle is based on the shape of the mask that they are wearing.

The first panel you really see the Turtles is when you see the masks on them and it just clearly gets all four different personalities and character. All four are lined up and it just clicks.

The back of the book states that this series has been in the works for over a year. The detail in the art shows that some great care was put forth, and the story is set up to go right along with the art. Santolouco's art was previously used for the flashback parts in issue #5 of the main series, and it is as much of a pleasure seeing it here as it was seeing it then.

Grades
Words: 9/10
Pictures: 10/10
Buy Next Issue: As long as it stays this consistent, I'm down with this series.

Comics! Teen Titans #15

Teen Titans #15

Plot: Scott Lobdell
Dialogue: Fabian Nicieza
Pencils: Brett Booth
Inks: Norm Rapmund

Solicitation and Preview

Review
Every now and then I will post a message on Twitter or on a message board to a comic creator to see if they will respond. The message isn't anything to bait them or something like that. It is usually words of praise or maybe a request for some behind the scenes material.

So I post sometimes on comicbookresources.com and hve gotten the occasional response. I posted to a forum about this particular comic, and got a response from Fabian Nicieza. You can read it here.

Back? Coolness. Because the dialogue was done very well in this issue. The plot and art is something else.

We open up with Batgirl bending over, because it is a pose that some people naturally have happen to them when they are flying through the air. Mind you, I've liked Booth's art in previous issues of Teen Titans. He has the tendency to draw teenagers like teenagers. And let's face it, he has some talent.

Now the dialogue I don't have too much of a problem with. Having been away for a bit from the book, the ground work for who all the characters are is laid out. My problem is with some of the plot. The first was having Batgirl appear for no other reason than to exchange some dialogue that catches the reader up. If you are a Batgirl fan, you can skip her appearance in this issue, it pretty much is the preview pages for the book.

Then we move to Red Robin waking up in his "original" Red Robin costume. It is the same one that Lobdell put him in when he was technically Robin but went by Red Robin. Joker lays it out to him that the Teen Titans searching for Tim is what brings about the Joker-ization of all the people in Kid Flash's dust wake. Don't worry, because for some reason we get a flash to check out Birds of Prey #15 to get further background behind what is happening with the Teen Titans in this issue. I know, completely out of place, but feel safe in knowing that I don't get it either.

Mind you, this book is almost page for page on the same pace as Red Hood and the Outlaws #15. There are some differences between that comic and this one. Just look at Starfire's costume. Completely different in this comic than in Red Hood.

Can we just go back to the fact that Joker kidnapped Red Robin and then dressed him up? And, considering the fact that this will cross over with Red Hood, and the books are written by the same writer, there would have been a little bit of paying attention to details like that one. Over in Red Hood, Tim was wearing the new Red Robin outfit. So where is Jason Todd in this book? Hopefully that little detail will be explained, but who knows.

Over in Batman, Scott Snyder has been building on this twisted Joker. It is a more psychological, twisted scare and atmosphere he has around him. In both this comic and Red Hood, Joker comes across like a classic Joker. There isn't that twisted edge to him that makes an appearance in Suicide Squad or Batgirl. Joker is just corny under Lobdell's writings. And that's really where this crossover just doesn't feel like it has gravity to it like the other books do. The other books are bordering on disturbing, this just feels elementary.

Grades
Words: Plot - 2/10; Dialogue 7/10 - which isn't bad considering what was handed to him.
Pictures: 6/10 - Joker's face didn't have a "mask" feel to it. It just looked like bad plastic surgery.
Buy Next Issue: If I feel like I will know what will happen when I read Red Hood, then I may just skip it.

Comics! Reviewing Two #2s: Nowehere Men #2 and Judge Dredd #2

A Review of Two Issue #2s:

Nowhere Men #2 & Judge Dredd #2

Nowhere Men:
Eric Stephenson: writer
Nate Bellegarde: artist

Judge Dredd:
Writer: Duane Swierczynski
Artist: Nelson Daniel
Artist: Brendan McCarthy

Solicitation and Preview - Nowhere Men
Solicitation and Preview - Judge Dredd

Review
Issue #2s can sometimes be a tricky bunch. The idea behind them is that they can begin the path of the main story, semi-resolve any type of cliffhanger that the first issue left you with, and try to have the skill to keep the interesting premise from the first issue to continue into this issue. Then try to interest you into buying issue #3, of course.

So here are two comics that I thought blended some of those elements. Let's take a look at Nowhere Men #2 first.

I spoke previously of issue #1 of this series needing to be a double issue to really get the ball rolling. Interestingly enough, we open the first page and on the back of the cover is where the story picks right up as if you never left. So I'll give it that it is a continuation of the first issue, but does it match up with other expectations of issue #2?

Interestingly enough, it doesn't. But that's not what I don't find  to be a let down with the book. For all the aspects that it has for being a continuation of issue #1, it really doesn't do too much to advance the story to anything interesting for me. A huge chunk of this issue is spend with the group of people stuck on the space station fighting to see if they should leave or go. There is one character who I believe is suffering from space madness, and him being conscious or not is what drives the plot anywhere near going forward. Outside of that, this issue really feels like it could have been trimmed in areas to move the story more along, and try to expand other areas. But it just feels really lack luster.

The tag line behind the book that I thought was interesting was "science is the new rock n roll." And you do get a Beetles vibe from when these scientists where popular, unfortunately it is all lost between the panels. We have either seen these guys when they are really young or really old. We missed the part when they were popular, and flashback stories aren't something that I really want to see right now. It gives it a Lost kinda vibe where it needs some legs of its own to stand on.

Judge Dredd #2, however, was something that kept my interests in all things Judge Dredd going. I have gone out and searched for some other Dredd work, and took it upon myself to watch the latest Dredd movie. This book definitely keeps me going with Dredd and wanting to see more. This issue focused on expanding some of the characters around Dredd while also finding a way to continue the robots gone crazy story from the first issue.

Between the two, I would say that Dredd definitely succeeded in making want to get the next issue and continue on with the book. Nowhere Men just seems like it isn't going anywhere in a direction that I'm finding interesting. That's sad to me, because it was something that I thought would catch my interests and keep things going for me.

Grades
Words: Nowhere Men - 6/10; Judge Dredd 8/10
Pictures: Nowhere Men - 7/10; Judge Dredd 8/10
Buy Next Issue: Nowhere Men - not so much; Judge Dredd is definitely getting a third issue.

Comics! Punk Rock Jesus #6

Punk Rock Jesus #6

The review is up for viewing over at Capelesscrusader!

Comics! Death of the Family Tie-Ins: Red Hood and the Outlaws #15 & Nightwing #15

Death of the Family Tie-Ins:
Red Hood and the Outlaws #15 &
Nightwing #15

Scott Lobdell, Timothy Green II, Wayne Faucher, Kyle Higgins, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira

Solicitation and Preview - Red Hood
Solicitation and Preview - Nightwing

Review
Hello Death of the Family tie in books! There were a couple of books that caught my attention from the recent Bat-crossover so I decided to take a look at them to see what was going on when other writers could play with the concept of Joker attacking the Bat-family.

First up is Red Hood and the Outlaws #15. At this point we know that Teen Titans #15 has come out, and the issues indicate that these two books will directly intersect with each other. Hell, even when you compare them side by side, it is sickening how close and how far apart they are. But let's focus a bit.

The very first page of Red Hood's art is just messy, and if you check out the preview pages above then you will see why. Just like the fight in Batgirl #14 that I reviewed before, you can't have characters doing flips and running around a room, and flipping over people without me wondering when they are going to run into some furniture or the ceiling. I get the same feeling later on when Jason is running through some sort of tunnel system. I would say it is concrete, but that wouldn't make sense later in the story when the floors give way and then Jason is able to break through the floor that is seemingly made of the same material as the walls.

That aside, and seriously the art is something I'll just have to look past, basically what we get from Joker in this book is him revealing that he knows Jason Todd = Red Hood because Joker created Todd's back story. It is pretty much the second half of issue #0 being told to Jason instead of the reader. So, sorta re-using the same imagery and plot device. Take note of that for the review of Teen Titans #15.

So, when given the chance to go a little crazy with the Joker, we get an electrified crowbar and an artist who can't determine how many hooks Joker has in place to hold the face on. Seriously, go back and count them on each panel. Their placement tends to shift, so be careful.

Over in Nightwing, which does have a step up in the art department but still drives me a little batty, I have what feels like a much more complete story and introduction to all things Nightwing related. Yes, it might be a good idea that when you have a book that is part of a crossover that will get readers who haven't read your book before that you take some time to introduce the characters a bit. Which, this books does except for one person: Raya. I don't really know who she is besides a circus criminal and that she isn't too friendly with Nightwing.

What Nightwing does differently than Red Hood is that Joker's presence is more felt than he is actually seen. That makes him scary, because he could have honestly shown up at any point in Nightwing's story and it would be something the book can roll with. Red Hood feels deliberately structured, and I think that becomes more apparent when you read Teen Titans #15.

I've also held a theory that Joker doesn't really know the Bat-character's true identities, save for Jason Todd apparently. Nightwing #15 was the first real chip in that theory for me, if only because I don't know Raya's connection to Haley's Circus too well to be able to point out something that would make sense for Joker attacking her. But then I thought about it a bit. The story did open with Joker attacking Jimmy, who Joker took some offense to about people saying Jimmy looked like him. Haly's Circus could just be used by Joker to get back at them and have them be some innocents that Nightwing has to rescue. It just happens to be coincidence that Grayson is the owner Haly's Circus.

Hey, it is the first time I've had to reach with my theory, but it can still be justified.

Overall, one book is successful, where one book is just failure to me. Want to know how? Let's grade these books.

Grades
Words: Red Hood - 4/10; Nightwing - 7/10
Pictures: Red Hood - 2/10; Nightwing - 7/10
Buy Next Issue: I'm only going to get the Death of the Family tie in books for these series unless there is a huge 180 degree turn towards awesomeness happening very soon.

Comics! Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #17

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #17 

Story: Kevin Eastman & Tom Waltz
Script: Tom Waltz
Art: Ben Bates

Solicitation and Preview

Review
Whoa, art change! Yes, I was looking forward to it, and Bates does a good job of getting things done better than the last artist. Bates' style is very similar to one that Duncan had so many issues ago, but with a hint of an anime style of flare.

For the start of the next story, we get a check in on everyone's status. There isn't much from what is being said that old readers wouldn't already know. One thing that did catch my eye was that Shredder stated that they needed more of the ooze in order to carry out a possible plan they had. That is interesting, as it makes me think that the whole reincarnation thing for the turtles is based somewhat around ooze. At least it would explain how both Shredder and the Turtles do this re-incarnation thing.

April and Honeycutt's conversation just seems really strange. It just feels and sounds so awkward when I read it. It makes me beg for something else to happen, and we get that when the Neutrinos come into the story. Then we get a "hero vs. hero because we are charging into a fight instead of sitting down and talking" scenario between the Turtles and the Neutrinos. Its an excuse to get them all into the same area in order for the Turtles to get transported off world.

Which, damn it, I do this funny thinking thing. See, the Neutrinos are able to communicate through the dimensions as the ones that came over talk to their home base on the Neutrino home world. And they remotely catch and retrieve the Neutrinos on earth. So what stopped them from locking onto Honeycutt and transporting him away without sending the army around? You then would have April have some convincing dialogue with Honeycutt where the Turtles reveal themselves to him. They get to talking and Honeycutt shows that he is a robot. Then the Neutrinos get a lock on them and they get transported off world. Honeycutt then acts as a guide on this new world for a few seconds while the Turtles get caught in the crosshairs of war and aren't sure who they should be fighting. Then you can have the Turtles fight the Neutrinos in a way that makes sense, as they are trying to bring Honeycutt back to their base because the transporter works in a funny manner and doesn't always bring people to the spot they want to go to.

But that's just my crazed take on the situation to avoid a cliche story of hero vs. hero due to misunderstanding between them.

I don't know. I haven't been too much of a fan of some of all things Turtles lately. It was good for a spell there, then some crappy art came along, and now the story just feels flimsy when the art starts to bounce back. I'll need to re-evaluate my Turtles stance soon, as it is one of the very few books I pay $3.99 for.

Grades
Words: 6/10
Pictures: 7/10
Buy Next Issue: I'll stick with the story for another issue, but if it isn't as much fun as it used to be, I may just wait a few months and get the discounted digital version of the book.

Comics! Batman #15

Batman #15 

Scott Snyder: writer
Greg Capullo: penciller
Jonathan Glapion: inker
Back-up co-writer: James Tynion IV
Artwork: Jock

Solicitation and Preview

Review
Let's pause our regularly scheduled event to bring you some exposition and minor advancement in the story.

There isn't anything bad about taking a break like that, but we are only a couple issues into the event in this book and the rest of the Bat-family of comics have really only just begun their crossovers. So much like the batarang had an origin story for it a couple issues back, let's take a look at that Joker card that hangs in the Bat-cave.

But first observation - how the hell did the bat-gloves come off? I followed the panels and he has them on, on ,on and then suddenly they are off. Usually when something like this happens, Capulllo has done a good job of showing them coming off or something like that. But we literally get a panel where they are there one moment and then gone the next. And they were gone before Bruce went through the fire. It was really weird, and only seemed to serve a purpose of having Bruce get drugged when he punched Joker, which really wasn't needed. Since the waters below already had a toxin, you just had to find a way for Joker to literally throw Bruce over the edge and then away he would go into slumber land. I don't see why they would have him go down the way that he did.

Each supporting Bat-character in the following sequence each gets their chance to shine. We get the leadership aspect to the group that Nightwing brings. Jason and Damian both have distinct personalities that come through when they speak. Tim and Barbara are a little different. They don't really shine as much as the others do. One thing they all have in common is constantly calling Bruce by name. I understand that it helps to have each character name checked at some point in the book, but I think there are a couple pages where the name Bruce gets dropped about 5 times on each page. That is a tad excessive, unless there is a meaning behind that.

After many pages of Bat-family discussion, we get four pages where the story actually progresses before being cut-off by the frowning face of Arkham Asylum. Seriously, that is another one of those little artistic touches that Capullo puts in there that just tells me he knows what he is doing.

We get to the back-up featuring more of the Joker recruiting super-villains theme from last issue. It seems that Riddler is as obsessive with questions marks on his clothing like Doctor Who was with them back in the old series of the TV show. Personally, I like this take on the Riddler. Master genius who has to leave behind clues for Batman to find. Super intelligent. i like that, and it makes perfect sense why he doesn't want Joker around. He looks like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders, like his intelligence is something that weighs him down and sets him apart from society. Interesting.

Looking back on the comic, if having that card hang in the cave is something that will drive a serious wedge between the Bat-characters, I find it rather lacking as a plot device. If it is only something small that sorta acts to get the ball rolling, then I can kinda go with it.

Grades
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 10/10 - We get a Capullo and Jock one-two punch. This is top notch talent here.
Buy Next Issue: I'm a Bat-fan, it will happen.