Comics! The Dream Merchant #1

The Dream Merchant #1 

Written by Nathan Edmondson
Art by Konstantin Novosadov

Preview and Solicitation

Review
Not bad, but nothing that sends me screaming for more.

Dream Merchant is an interesting first issue. It does set up the story and is extra-sized to allow for things to be set up. The art is also well done and is something that is easy for the eye to follow.

So why didn't this book blow me out of the water? Well, and this is going to sound weird after how I just described it, but it feels decompressed.

Let me explain a little. The story does OK and it does have enough focus to let you know about the main characters and introduce you to the world that this book will be living in. In fact, I would almost say that if you cut out about ten pages, then you would have had as equally as satisfying a book as this issue delivers.

There seems to be three panels when only one will do. This works fine for a extra-sized first issue, but let's think how this will be once it is on a regular monthly schedule. Unless the pictures and words tighten up a bit, we are going to be left with something in the style of recent Green Lantern books or Ultimate books when they first came around.

Edmonson's name is something that I've seen around the comics community, but never got the chance to really read his stuff. So far I am liking the story idea, I'm just wondering where this will go from here. It has a touch of mystery with just enough to keep things going into the next issue.

All in all, one of the better Image first issues that I've seen. Definitely worth the price of admission.

Grades
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 7/10
General Feeling After Reading: Amused.
Buy Next Issue: I'm intrigued, and it will be worth my time.

Comics! Judge Dredd #7

Judge Dredd #7 

Writer: Duane Swierczynski
Artist: Nelson Daniel
Artist: Jimbo Salgado

Preview and Solicitation

Review
I like that this book is split into two stories. After reading some of the Complete Casefiles, I think Dredd is something that works better when the page count for a story is limited.

That being said, I like it even more that the back up is being used to tell a sub-story of the main one, just to reinforce what is happening in the main one.

Having the shortened page space means that every panel in the story has to count for something, and this book is a shining example of that. Daniel has been excellent in every issue of this series, and I can't help but continue to appreciate it every time.

The story is a ramp up for the finale next issue. So far, things have been moving along great. The robots are taking over, and Dredd has to find a way to stop them. Something tells me that the next issue won't be the end all for the overall story arc, but whether it is the end or not, I'm still going to be buying this month in and month out.

Grades
Words: 8/10
Pictures: 9/10
General Feeling After Reading: Give me more Dredd!
Buy Next Issue: Definitely.

Comics! The Flash #20

The Flash #20 

Francis Manapul: co-writer and artist
Brian Buccellato: co-writer and colorist

Preview and Solicitation

Review
Reverse Flash was featured on the first page of this issue, and then in a blurry image towards the end of the comic. Everything in-between was horseshit and showed nothing even close to the image the cover has.

I really hope that someone out there is enjoying this comic. The only thing that seems fast about The Flash comic is how quickly it gets put into my comic storage, never to be seen again.

I seriously wonder how many readers this book will bleed before we get a change of the creative team.

Grades
Words: 2/10
Pictures: 4/10
General Feeling After Reading: Humbug.
Buy Next Issue: Regretfully so.

Comics! Nightwing #20

Nightwing #20 

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

Preview and Solicitation

Review
I just find it really hard to think that this character once played the role of Batman.

He has the ability to see the attention to details about who he is facing, but he can't think so far ahead that someone would attack the tech in his mask? That he didn't see the person in his bed after a long night of playing vigilante?

And let's look at this: unless I am mistaken, Tony Zucco died right after Robin's parents did. So why would Zucco sit there and talk about the last time Nightwing came after him? Wouldn't Nightwing have been Robin at the time, or is Robins identity starting to become public knowledge?

I guess you could say I expected better from this comic. I'm giving it a second chance, but there isn't anything here that is exciting for me. Booth seems to stick to the art styling of the previous artist with the scattered panels and such. I'm not against the scattering of panels, just have them make some sort of sense.

Bah. I just can't read this book anymore.

Grades
Words: 4/10
Pictures: 4/10
General Feeling After Reading: Bored now.
Buy Next Issue: Nah. The rebooted attempt at Nightwing just isn't working for me.

Comics! Red Hood and the Outlaws #20

Red Hood and the Outlaws #20 

Written by James Tynion IV
Art by Julius Gopez
Thumbnails by Ian Churchill

Preview and Solicitation

Review
The credits say that it is the same artist from last issue, they just changed who does the thumbnails, or essentially the layouts.

I don't believe it. The art from last issue to this one is fairly different. different enough that Kori's costume changed in the span of two seconds. Now, instead of having nipple covers for a top, she has more of a swimsuit top.

I'm saying this as a guy - but can't you put some fucking clothes on her already? I'm just tired of it. Even when she got some development this issue, it still didn't feel like much. She is the "float around and show lots of cleavage" girl, and I've been sick of that shtick for a while now.

Tynion is doing some good here. The story is enough to keep me interested, but that art is just taking the interest out of me. There just isn't any consistency throughout this issue when it comes to the art.

I'm interested in seeing where this new status quo for Jason goes. That will have to wait, as Green Arrow appears to be coming up next as a guest in the first Red Hood annual. We've had Batman show up in these pages, so I guess it is only fair to bring in Green Arrow. Let's see how it goes.

Grades
Words: 7/10
Pictures: 3/10
General Feeling After Reading: Do comics come in audio book form?
Buy Next Issue: This will be the end of the three issue try. Better be a good one!

Comics! Batman and Red Hood #20

Batman and Red Hood #20 

Peter J. Tomasi: writer
Patrick Gleason and Cliff Richards: pencillers
Mick Gray and Mark Irwin: inkers

Preview and Solicitation

Review
Hello, Carrie Kelley. How much sooner before you get your Bat-costume with some familiar green, red, and yellow highlights?

I'm glad Carrie's transition into the New 52 is a slow build. It feels just like earlier issues where Damian's character was allowed to grow and develop and let the reader care about him.

For the next step in handling Damian's death, we get the Rage issue with Red Hood. And what a rage it is. The comic is also filled with a couple of surprises. I'm actually surprised that Batman let's Red Hood use a gun against the enemies, but puts on a very restrictive hands, knees, and elbows only order. Another little interesting art choice was seeing Nobody's face mask sorta appear as the red lights on top of the Bat-vehicle of the issue.

Gleason takes a step back for a couple of pages when Richards fills in. It makes sense due to it being the action sequences of the boo, which is a departure story wise from the rest of the issue. I like when guest art comes into the story in that manner instead of getting thrown in randomly that takes you out of the story.

In what is going to be a theme probably for some of these issues, Batman gets in a fight with the guest sidekick of the issue. He deserves it when Jason realises where Batman has taken him to - the place where Jason died. The story really captures the difference between how Jason handles his pain and how Bruce faces it. I'm really behind this creative team and can't wait to see it capture these character moments and make the comic well worth the price of admission.

Funny thing though - this issue demonstrates that Bruce doesn't know that Talia is responsible for Jason's return from death. How interesting that confrontation would be between Bruce and Talia when that tiny detail comes to life.

Also interesting - the last page. Is that Two Face coming to make an appearance within these pages? Nice.

Grades
Words: 9/10
Pictures: 9/10
General Feeling After Reading: Awesome. I really dug this issue.
Buy Next Issue: Bring on Batgirl next issue!

Comics! Batwing #20

Batwing #20

Script: Jimmy Palmiotti & Justin Gray
Art: Eduardo Pansica & Julio Ferreira

Solicitation and Preview

Review
"I want you to be a global agent of chaos battling against criminal interests and threats to Wayne Enterprises." - Batman to Batwing as Batwing is in his first battle royal and Batman has a smile on his face.

And that pulls me away from the book by a huge chunk. The rest is the fact that Batwing is back in Africa and is essentially wearing a suit that Terry does in Batman Beyond. There really isn't anything about this Bat-character that makes him stand out as unique or any different from the previous Batwing that really sparks my interests.

It isn't like there is anything entirely wrong with the art or the words, I'm just utterly bored by it. Play this issue in contrast to the previous one and I'm just at a loss. Last issue felt like closure followed by a really quick hello to the new guy. This one felt like a long intro to the new guy and a quick setup to put him in danger. Sure, the character has no where to go but up with regards to him learning how to be Batwing, but I just don't feel like he is unique.

He's a bat-character without a great tragedy that drives his vigilantism. He's just some rich guy's son who wants to work with Batman. That's what every Bat-character needs - that small bit of tragedy and humanism. I'm just not connecting to him without it.

Grades
Words: 5/10
Pictures: 5/10
General Feeling After Reading: Blah.
Buy Next Issue: Nah.

Comics! Animal Man #20

Animal Man #20 

Jeff Lemire: writer
John Paul Leon: artist p 1-18
Timothy Green II: penciller p 19-20
Joseph Silver: inker p 19-20

Solicitation and Preview

Review
This was an awesome issue. I really enjoyed it.

We got to take a look at more of the movie that Buddy Baker starred in, which honestly felt like such a relief. I look at the book as now beginning to go in a direction that I think I will enjoy and there isn't much more praise that can be said for it.

Animal Man cleverly used the fill in artist in the right manner again. If memory serves, I think this is the same artist who worked on the previous movie issue, and the style just fits. It is a stark difference from the regular art, and it has that sense of Alex Maleev and heavy inks that just give it a noir/sad look. The art goes right along pace with the quick story, and I would almost like to see the movie done in one Animal Man special.

The surprise twist at the end that Buddy has been nominated for a Best Actor was something I think I read what feels like months ago. Regardless, I think I'm beginning to be thankful that I've stayed with the book since the end of Rotworld. Let's shake off that heavy weight and move forward with more stories like this one!

Grades
Words: 9/10
Pictures: 9/10
General Feeling After Reading: Ready for more!
Buy Next Issue: Bring it!