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

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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

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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

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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

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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.