Comics! Witch Doctor: Mal Practice #6

Witch Doctor: Mal Practice #6

The Writing: Brandon Seifert
The Art: Lukas Ketner

Solicitation and Review

Review
Let's just admit it up front - I'm a fan of Witch Doctor. This series, in any of it that I've read, has been a dangerously delightful comic. There is so much entertainment and enjoyment that I get from these pages each time a new issue or series comes out that I think my opinion of the story might  just be very, very bias.

Regardless of this, I still think anyone can pick up this comic and enjoy it as much as I have. Granted, this wouldn't be the issue I would point them to pick up since it is the end of the series, but this whole mini-series would be something that you could use to gauge their interests in all things Dr. Marrow.

While I know that having this book become monthly would be awesome to see, I do have respect for wanting to bring it out in parts when the creators know a schedule can be kept. And for the calibre of story and the wonderfulness of the art, I am perfectly fine with the wait.

But I still want more Witch Doctor now!

Grades
Words: 9/10
Pictures: 9/10
General Feeling After Reading: Gimme more!
Buy Next Issue: Whatever the next series will be, I will be there!

Comics! East of West #2

East of West #2 

Jonathan Hickman: writer
Nick Dragotta: artist

Solicitation and Review

Review
East of West is showing itself to be a rather complex story and world. The end of the first issue left me intrigued to see how things would pan out, and now this issue throws in a couple of great Grendel references that it will have my attention for the next few issues.

Notice the costumes of the people who swear in the new president. Take a look a the new president even. All are signs of Grendel and as such, I am taking them signs of the devil. All of which fits in nicely with the context of this story.

The only reason I would regret buying this book is because there is definitely more to it than the pages alone would allow. The story feels much bigger and more laid out than what you see on the page, and I am intrigued enough to want more. But it needs a tiny dash of clarity in there. Having a bigger picture story is fine and all, but if too much focus is spent on giving symbols and alluding to a bigger story without an actual story being out there then it negates itself to me.

This is a book I would almost bet would be better presented in trade form. It isn't a knock to the story telling itself, I just think that it needs more of story progression to it than what is allowed in a monthly format.

Grades
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 7/10
General Feeling After Reading: Still intrigued.
Buy Next Issue: We will see. It might be the decider issue for me that sways me to the trade or to single issues.

Comics! Flash #19

The Flash #19 

Brian Buccellato: writer pgs 1-18, co-writer pgs 19-20, colorist
Marcio Takara: artist pgs 1-18
Francis Manapul: co-writer and artist 19-20

Preview and Solicitation

Review
DO NOT BUY FLASH #19. Seriously.

Here is the story in a nutshell: Barry without powers (Dial H thing) gets all the weaponry of the rogues gallery that is stored in the prison (because it is a good idea to store things like that there) to try and stop the Outlanders from rescuing Trickster (who has a mechanical arm and somehow can't break out of his jail cell?) who then all are trying to be buried by another character for no reason. Oh, and the cover that you probably got the comic for, actually shares the same amount of story time given to the "WTF" surprise villain as what the cover has. That's right, two pages are devoted to showing the Reverse Flash, which carries about the same amount of information for him as what you get on the cover.

Actually, that last bit is wrong. On the cover it looks like Reverse Flash and Flash meet, but they actually don't in the comic. So really, wrong on all parts.

Hell, more pages were devoted to the "epilogue" of sorts to the two part story between last issue and this one than what are devoted to anything Reverse Flash related.

Costume note: Apparently Reverse Flash's designer took some notes from the costume design of Venom in Spiderman 3. You know, the one look that Venom sported with the costume pulling back on the face so you could see Topher's face.

Let me paraphrase Batman a bit when I say this: The last time Barry Allen Flash inspired anyone in the DC Universe was when he died.

And yes, I am seeing the irony that the character that helped to jump start the whole New 52, at least story wise, has had his book going on the same path as the rest of the New 52 - straight into the shitter.

Grades
Words: 2/10 - It is amateur hour here.
Pictures: 2/10 - Same here, too.
General Feeling After Reading: Cheated.
Buy Next Issue: I should drop this. I really, really should.

Comics! TMNT Micro-Series: Krang

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Micro-Series: Krang

Script by Joshua Williamson
Art by Mike Henderson

Solicitation and Preview

Review
Presenting Krang, now with more origin story!

There isn't anything here that is different from most origin stories similar to this one. Spoiled brat gets thrown into a situation where he has to defend for himself and then when he is rescued he proves his worth. The thing about stereotypical stories is what gives them that sense of uniqueness to make you forget about the stereotype.

There isn't much here that really adds to the main TMNT story like some of the other Micro-Series have before, but it does do a good job of fleshing out Krang's character a bit. It is nice to know that someone who is currently a ruthless villain at least was a spoiled brat at one point, but I think it will be hard to have that development find a way to integrate into the main TMNT story.

The art and coloring was done very well in this issue. Just like the story, it is something that I think is some solid work and actually made me wonder how those little brains run around on their own.

Grades
Words: 8/10
Pictures: 8/10
General Feeling After Reading: Good times.
Buy Next Issue: Next up is Baxter, so this should be interesting.

Comics! Nightwing #19

Nightwing #19

Kyle Higgins: writer
Brett Booth: penciller
Norm Rapmund: inker

Solicitation and Preview

Review
Speaking of fresh starts, much like Red Hood, Nightwing finds the hero in a new city with a new artist. Brett Booth, formerly of Teen Titans, takes over the art duties in what seems like a decent start to the new direction for the book.

Booth's Nightwing definitely gives you a feel for a younger Dick Grayson than a beefed up superhero that you would be expecting. This is somewhat problematic for me, because this is a guy who took over as Batman for awhile and still looks like an early 20s kid.

Aside from that, what does Nightwing doing in Chicago mean for the hero? New supporting cast, new enemies, new everything. But then again, he does give the Batman-lite feel when the cops start chasing after him and shooting him down. Isn't that essentially what Batman was like during his early years? The more things change....

I'm not too big of a fan of taking the killer of Nightwing's parents and suddenly having him alive. I'm also thinking that the whole idea behind Bludhaven in pre-reboot was essentially the same thing that Chicago is now. Realistically, once you've proven that you can play the role of Batman, where else is there to go for the character? I know I can't be the only one asking that question, because it seems like that is something the creators are struggling with too. But that could be an assumption on my part, but repeating story lines are a telltale sign of that.

Grades
Words: 6/10
Pictures: 6/10
General Feeling After Reading: Interested, but not convinced.
Buy Next Issue: In store decision when I see it on the comic rack.

Comics! Red Hood and the Outlaws #19

Red Hood and The Outlaws #19 

Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Julius Gopez

Solicitation and Preview

Review
I've longed for a fresh start to the Red Hood book for awhile now. I didn't realize it would be taken so literally!

Red Hood and the Outlaws #19 takes us on a different path than what I thought it would. I thank incoming writer James Tynion IV for that. While I haven't been too much of a fan of his previous works, which honestly felt bogged down by Scott Snyder, we get to see what he can do with this trio of characters in a post Scott Lobdell world.

When I've read Tynion before, I really felt like his writing was very formulaic and very predictable. It just wasn't anything that held my attention for longer than a few pages. Here, it feels different. There is a sense of character here amongst the cast. Hell, I think we get more of a sense of who each of these characters are more so than we did in issue #1 of this series. Especially Roy.

The big twist at the end of the story is done very well. If it helps push this book to the outskirts of the Bat-family of books, I'm down with it. I'm more willing to see Jason truly start fresh in a world where he seems to play second fiddle to everyone in the Bat-family. Let him be his own man and let's see where he will go.

About the only thing that really turned me off from the book was the art. It just seemed to be very disorganized and really went all over the place. At times it would be clear and perfect and could hold the story on it's own, other times it felt like it didn't know where to go. The biggest turn off, which I'm sure was meant to be more of a draw for the book, was the over sexualization of Starfire in the comic. She wore more clothing on the cover than in the actual book. Hell, she should pretty much be running around nude. The costume looks more like boots, nipple covers, and some weird double layer panties. And something to cover her shoulders. The art always seemed to reinforce the fact that she was posing for the camera in any panel she was in.

Also, pay close attention to her eyebrows. They go from being red, to black, to joining up with her hair to being their own entities, to who know what they are even doing there. I just had no confidence that Gopez knew what to do with them in any given scene.

Outside of the art, I really was surprised with the book. This is the first issue that I think has really impressed me since very early on in the series. Let's just hope the second issue can keep things rolling.

Grades
Words: 7/10 - and almost an 8. Gotta see if next issue makes this one a fluke or not.
Pictures: 5/10 - Nothing interesting here, unless you are into seeing orange boobs with blue nipple covers.
General Feeling After Reading: Impressed, and interested.
Buy Next Issue: I'm down, which that itself makes me feel weird when I saw that about a Red Hood book.

Comics! Mara #4

Mara #4

Brian Wood, Ming Doyle, Jordie Bellaire

Solicitation and Preview

Review
The look is there, but the story...

Last issue's weird time jumping issue just felt out of place for me. It really felt like it was taking a story and really putting it out of place right when things should have gotten interesting. This was an interesting book about a volleyball player and her having (surprisingly to her) superpowers manifest themselves. But then things turned very generic for me.

Mara is essentially turning into a Superman type. Something akin to Rising Stars. Having seen that type of  plot used several times before, I really want something to pop out about this comic that makes me want to finish the story with positive feelings of anticipation instead of the feelings of dread that are rising.

This issue even dropped the world around her, save for a few panels of hints as to how the world reacts to her being gone. Mind you, the only sense of time that is really given says that this story takes place with the span of a couple of days. The news media outside has accepted Mara's death by unknown causes as the essential truth, and are moving on to other things. For having the world around Mara move at as quick of a pace in forgetting her, the book is forgetting to really develop her character at the same pace.

I find myself just not caring for Mara. There really isn't anything about her personality that tells me she is someone unique that I should care about. What have we discovered about Mara's character that we didn't know about at the end of the first issue? That's where I am struggling to maintain interest.

Grades
Words: 4/10
Pictures: 7/10
General Feeling After Reading: Blugh.
Buy Next Issue: I'm really, really debating if I should. If I do, I might as well finish the series. It will be a realease day decision.

Comics! Batman & Red Robin #19

Batman and Red Robin #19

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

Solicitation and Preview

Review
Tomasi gave an interview before this book came out due to the premiere of Carrie Kelley in the New 52, her first time ever being introduced into the main Bat-titles. He was asked if it was his idea to bring her in. He alluded to the fact that an editor and him were talking, and then he dodged the question.

Editor driven issue/development aside, how does this story stack up? Well, it was surprising actually. Aside from Carrie Kelly, whose initials "C.K." give a different perspective to previous issues where a note from "C.K." was left on a book of Damian's, Frankenstein made an appearance here.

It makes sense to have him in the story, simply because Bruce being off the rails and wanting to re-animate his son would drive Bruce to the point of seeing how Frankenstein ticks. But Frankenstein isn't really a pushover here. In fact, he comes across as the most logical one between him and Batman, which was nicely executed by the creative team.

My hope with this issue was being able to see lots of screen time between Red Robin and Batman. Unfortunately, there isn't much of it here. When Red Robin arrives on the scene, Bruce is already pulling apart Frankenstein. In fact, both Carrie and Frankenstein get more screen time and more interesting plot points than Red Robin. Such a shame to see another opportunity to get to know Tim Drake in the New 52 world go to waste.

The question that I'm thinking of after finishing this book is how I want to look at Carrie Kelley in the New 52. Personally, a part of my wishes that she would be kept in The Dark Knight Returns world and just stay there. But I trust Tomasi. In just this one issue, I am getting a sense of character that doesn't feel generic like how Harper Row feels. In a way, I feel the same way about Carrie right now like I did about Damian when he first appeared on the scene. Interesting, and I'm not entirely turned off by the idea initially. Let's see how this plays out.

Grades
Words: 9/10 - a firm grasp on main characters involved, minus Red Robin, who remains a mystery.
Pictures: 9/10 - Gleason and Gray are awesome together.
General Feeling After Reading: Interested in a little more.
Buy Next Issue: I'm down. Should be interesting to see how Red Hood interacts in the story.

Comics! Batman #19

Batman #19 

Scott Snyder: writer
Greg Capullo: penciller
Danny Miki: inker
James Tynion IV: writer - backup
Alex Maleev: artist - backup

Solicitation and Preview

Review
Well, this is awkward. The backup was a more interesting read than the main story.

Let's face it, once Clayface is introduced in a story where you have an introduction with Bruce Wayne robbing a bank, I think we know where this story is headed.

The only aspect part of the first part of the issue was the meeting of Reaper. Reaper seems like a throwback to a 90s style of villain with the giant scythes attached to his forearms and the armoured chest plating. It isn't necessarily a bad look, but usually characters with this specific type of look usually only look good under the original artist's work. Under anyone else and it begins to look...troublesome.

I find it odd that Clayface is a shape shifter who generally stays in his muddy form rather than constantly being someone else. What is up with that?

I do have a small gripe with wanting to put a timeline to the Bat-books. The flashback to Damian being around six days prior to this story really feels too soon considering that we don't know the punishment that Bruce took or what happened towards the end of Batman Incorporated. I find it surprising that even in death, Damian eschews the Bat-timeline just as he did when he was ten and walking around in a five year old DC universe.

Now the second story has me very much more intrigued than the first. This is a meeting of Superman and Batman post Damian's death. This is the first time I think that Superman has appeared in the pages of a Bat-book post New 52, and it is interesting to see.

My first impression is that this doesn't feel like an over bearing, all seeing Superman from the previous DC universe. points for that. The second is that magic and the supernatural seem to be more of a weakness than kryptonite, which is another interesting aspect seen here. I don't know how explored this concept has been done in the Superman books, but I like it here. This story is set up perfectly to find something mystical that challenges both Batman and Superman and puts them both in a vulnerable spot.

I'm actually surprised. Most of the stuff Tynion has wrote in these backups in previous issues never really seemed to thrill me much when he wrote it alone. This is actually something I'm looking forward to reading more so than the main story. That is a job well done.

Grades
Words: 7/10 - a good split between the 6 of the first part and more of an 8 for the second part.
Pictures: 9/10 - I love both of Capullo's work and Maleev's use of light. Well done by both artists.
General Feeling After Reading: Intrigued, but not until the very end.
Buy Next Issue: I'm down.

Comics! Animal Man #19

Animal Man #19

Jeff Lemire: writer
Steve Pugh: artist

Solicitation and Preview

Review
Let's just forget about this whole Rotworld thing, shall we?

At least, that is the impression I get after reading this book. There are ramifications to acknowledge, such as Buddy's son's death, but this book gives me the feeling that it will be trying to move away form the whole Rotworld breakdown in story that happened before this.

Honestly, if anything should have been labeled an "epilogue," then this issue fits the bill. It really feels like it wants to move forward at the end.

This issue brings the same feelings to me that Batwing #19 did. It gave enough story to everything that happened before but then leaves you on an ending that just felt like it was too soon. In that regard, both books did offer very good transitional material for their respective stories.

Something that bothered me about Ellen in this story is that I don't see how her character has progressed much since the first issue of the series. She still is in denial about anything involving superheroes and the supernatural when it comes to her family. The one thing her personality does mirror is buddy's outright ignorance to his role within the Red. The art for this issue started the story mirroring how each of these character's spent their time before Cliff's funeral, at it was looking over these pages that I got the sense of both Buddy and Eleen's denial.

It is funny to think that the only character who has really grown is Maxine. My only sense of hope that he character makes it is that she provides the key to whatever it will take to get Ellen and Buddy to realize their character flaws. I could see her serving as a good vehicle for that character development.

I will say that with less of a focus on all things Rotworld, this book makes a good first step towards coming out of that crossover nonsense and being able to stand on its own two feet.

Grades
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 7/10
General Feeling After Reading: Alright, let's move on.
Buy Next Issue: Going to give it a go.

Comics! Batwing #19

Batwing #19 

Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti: writers
Eduardo Pansica: penciller
Julio Ferreira: inker

Solicitation and Preview

Review
This is essentially a sweeping under the rug of one Batwing, only to introduce a new, yet familiar one.

I'm a believer in Palmiotti and Gray. What they've done this issue is to put a nice bow on everything that came before they started this title as a way to sweep everything away and introduce something new.

Not really knowing what has happened since I last picked up the book, which I think was the Night of the Owls issue, it isn't too terribly difficult to pick up what is going on. Everything essentially gets introduced enough so that it doesn't feel like anything is unnecessary, and we are at least left with the feeling that if David ever needed to return to the pages of Batwing, then there is room for him here.

The one thing that bothered me a bit was towards the end of the book. We get this moment when Bruce and Alfred are talking about bringing in the new Batwing with the new suit and Alfred makes mention that this new Batwing was actually Bruce's first choice for Batwing. That, to me, really underscores the whole premise of Batwing and Batman Incorporated in general. Isn't the whole point of Batman Incorporated is to introduce Bat-characters around the world? That was the appealing aspect of Batwing when I first picked up the series, but now it looks to be swept under the rug since the new Batwing is living in Gotham.

If I am to accept this issue as a transition issue, then the time spent on each Batwing was as much as could be spent on them. I would have liked to gotten to know the new Batwing a little bit better, but I guess that is for another issue. Although, even given the reveal, I just don't find myself overly excited for the next issue. It seems to be missing the wow factor for me to really ignite my interests in picking up the title regularly again.

Grades
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 7/10
General Feeling After Reading: Ok, but like I'm missing something.
Buy Next Issue: That will have to be a decision when it is on the comic book shelf.

Comics! Flash #18

The Flash #18 

Brian Buccellato: script & color
Marco Takara: artist

Solicitation and Preview

Review
Francis Manapul did not write or draw this issue.

Repeat: Francis Manapul did not write or draw this issue.

This is interesting. Now we get to see Brian Buccellato write a story with just his credited input. This may shed some light on things.

...And it does.

On the writing side of things, this is amateur work.

Let's make a list of what has to happen in order for this story to work:
-Barry Allen, who recently was found alive and was in  the papers, still isn't recognized by anyone at the Rogues bar that he works at.
-Police come into said bar to arrest Trickster for murder. and put handcuffs on his new robotic arm.
-Introduce new heroes without saying what their powers are.
-This is the first time Flash has decided to do anything about the fact that all four people who were trapped in the Speed Force now have some radiant energy that he can feel.
-Some "Outlander Nation" never before mentioned suddenly has an army and guns and considers itself its own nation.
-Somehow time goes loopy and it goes from dinner time to night time to morning in a few pages.

...hmmm.

The art is OK. Nothing too spectacular but gets the job done.

And beyond that I'm just about done with Flash. It seems like the focus on the book is everyone but the Flash, which would be fine if we had established any likability for Barry Allen before this.

I seriously do not like bashing issue, but this is one I'm just going to have to turn my back on and forget about. I'll silently collect it until the next creator change.

Grades
Words: 3/10
Pictures: 5/10
General Feeling After Reading: Done.
Buy Next Issue: For collection purposes only.

Comics! Planetoid #5

Planetoid #5 

Story, Art, Lettering: Ken Garing

Solicitation and Preview

Review
Ah, Planetoid. You were a fun little romp.

Was this issue worth the long wait since the last issue? Yea. We get a lot of action that could have felt more tied up if the book was on a monthly schedule, but I'm not complaining too much.

By a single issue metric, this book is somewhat jarring. You get that a war is going on but you don't fully understand the sacrifice made at the end. Hell, even the epilogue was a little beyond me until I started thinking more about the first issue, then it all looped together.

The story ends somewhat predictably, but there was enough throughout the series that made the journey worth the ride. The art alone was spectacular. I loved the overall feeling and look of the series enough so that if any more stories are published in this world then I would pick them up.

I'm now wondering if this would have been a series that I would buy in a trade. Thinking back to the first issue, and if I got that issue free to try, then this would have been a purchase I would be satisfied with. There is potential for Garing in this series. I don't know if this is his first go around with his own solo work, but it is something that I find intriguing and want to see more from him. This feels like a semi-pro about to discover what works for him, and I'm glad I was there to enjoy it.

Grades
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 8/10
General Feeling After Reading: Goodness.
Buy Next Issue: