Superman: Son Of Kal-El #5
Written by Tom Taylor; Art by John Timms
Published by DC Comics
A lot has been written about this issue before it has even come out. People were talking about how Superman was now gay or bisexual and people went a little crazy online. They should have been reading this book all along which shows a complex character and a nice bend on the normal standard superhero fare.
The bottom line is this: Writer Tom Taylor and artist John Timms are telling excellent stories in this title month after month. The characters are well developed and this is a great thing to see. I really enjoyed the issue and I think it is as well crafted as the first four issues. It’s a good read that is well drawn and that’s all we really need in our comics. (– Lenny Schwartz)
Rating: A+
Star Wars: Doctor Aphra #16
Written by Alyysa Wong; Art by Minkyu Jung
Published by Marvel Comics
Leaving the entanglements of the War of the Bounty Hunters storyline behind, Doctor Aphra sets out on a new adventure that sets up an intriguing concept: using technology to replicate the force. Aphra’s wit is on point as always and the B storyline with Just Lucky continues to take sharp, engaging turns.
What grabs my attention is the final panels for each storyline. In Aphra’s it looks like it may tease a tie-in to the Mandalorian and with Just Lucky’s, an old rival is brought back from the dead! Doctor Aphra never disappoints. Natural and witty dialogue coupled with fun and expressive artwork. (– Anthony Sword)
Rating: A-
Nightwing #86
Written by Tom Taylor; Art by Robbi Rodriguez
Published by DC Comics
Tom Taylor really has taken this title over as a writer and made it his own. I am truly enjoying all of the little things that he is adding to the Nightwing character. This is a crossover with the Fear State storyline and it is a very good one. I am loving this as a whole for sure.
We get to see Dick and Barbara battling it out on the streets of Gotham in this issue. The citizens are under the Scarecrow’s influence and things are getting really crazy! The art by Robbi Rodriguez really works here and it is almost terrifying and exhilarating at the same time! This issue also has a good ending. Well done. (– Lenny Schwartz)
Rating: A-
Snelson #4
Written by Paul Constant; Art by Fred Harper
Published by Ahoy Comics
This book has been very fun and it has some truly excellent moments. I have to say that I am enjoying the comedy of the book very much. But it is also very relevant to modern times. Paul Constant is writing a very sharp and pointed script with this one and every moment is working.
Snelson’s career has hit the toilet. He is bombing at his shows. His career is on the path of death. He has also taken a bunch of OxyContin’s and he is now near death. He has to find a way out of this predicament. But can he? The story really takes a turn here and the artwork really compliments it well making this a good comic. (– Lenny Schwartz)
Rating: A
Suicide Squad #9
Written by Robbie Thompson; Art by Dexter Soy
Published by DC Comics
This title has been struggling to find an identity these past eight issues. I was hoping that the creative team was going to pull it together. Sadly, that doesn’t seem to be in the cards. This issue just gives us more of the same old stuff and none of it is that interesting. I was hoping for more but it is almost time to write this title off.
Amanda Waller wants to invade Earth-3. She just needs one more item to do so. It’s in a vault on OA. So, she sends the Suicide Squad to go get it. The story really has no subtlety at all. Oh, well. At least the artwork is nice. This is the issue that they jump the King Shark. (– Lenny Schwartz)
Rating: C
Green Lantern #8
Written by Geoffrey Thorne ; Art by Marco Santucci and Tom Raney
Published by DC Comics
There has to be a better Green Lantern title coming down turn line at DC. Right now, this this comic isn’t doing a whole lot. It is rather a shame as the universe is quite good and developed. This book sadly is quite forgettable and there isn’t that much there to grab you.
The Dark Sector may die. John Stewart fights a monster to try to save everyone. And Jo Mullein tries to solve a mystery that doesn’t seem very important. The whole thing feels stuck in second gear. The artwork is decent but it isn’t enough to save it. (– Lenny Schwartz)
Rating: C
Robins #1
Written by Tim Seeley: Art by Baldemar Rivas
Published by DC Comics
This has been a book that has been a long time coming. This is a comic featuring all of the five Robins coming together to form a team. Normally, I am not the biggest fan of writer Tim Seeley but he may be on to something with this book. This really works well and I have to say that I am intrigued by the premise.
The five Robins are being attacked by an unknown assailant. They have no idea who this is. Yet, they come in contact with someone who claims to be the first Robin! Who is this person and can they be who they claim to be? The story is good and the artist is well done. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. (– Lenny Schwartz)
Rating: A-
Clear #2
Written by Scott Snyder; Art by Francis Manapul
Published by ComiXology
This book had a really exciting first issue that felt like new territory for both the writer and the artist. I love futuristic stories but the pair may have created something wholly unique. The main character of Sam is fantastically developed and in this issue we get to see the mystery deepen and see new aspects of this world.
The world in question is 2052 in San Francisco. Sam is trying to track down a killer with the technique that the population uses to change individual reality. This issue shows us just how deep some people’s fantasies go. The writing by Scott Snyder is sharp and this is the best artwork Francis Manapul has ever created. Well done! (– Lenny Schwartz)
Rating: A
Primordial #3
Written by Jeff Lemire; Art By Andrea Sorrentino
Published by Image Comics
Throw in elements of the Grant Morrison classic WE3 and add a dash of a Cold War spy thriller and you get Primordial. The story flips from the jungles of Peru, to the streets of East Berlin, to space with Laika the dog. It does all this with such ease one can’t help but be impressed.
By now we know what we are getting from Lemire and Sorrentino. Lemire has fully fleshed fascinating characters and Sorrentino’s visuals take it to the next level. Just two greats at the top of their game. (– Alex Vaello)
Rating: A
Batman Secret Files: The Gardener
Written by James Tynion IV; Art by Christian Ward
Published by DC Comics
I was skeptical when I opened this book. Another Secret Files book? I am happy to say I was wrong.
Tynion tells the story of The Gardener. Tying her into Poison Ivy and greater DC lore in surprising ways. The book clears up Poison Ivy’s recent stories while giving us a new character to see in the future.
Ward’s art is the big draw here. It’s rich and lush. Exactly what this tale calls for. (– Alex Vaello)
Rating: A
Batman #117
Written by James Tynion IV; Art by Jorge Jimenez
Published by DC Comics
Fear State reaches its climactic mark. I can’t quite say it’s ending with a Fear State Omega special. But it hits its high mark, with characters getting closings, and others on to bright new beginnings.
The highlight of this title continues to be Jorge Jimenez’s art. His action scenes are dynamic. But the moments of triumph are appropriately cinematic and make you want to stand up and cheer.
Tynion is safely landing this plane, and while you can quibble with certain aspects (It feels like we spent a lot of time with Ghost-Maker earlier in his run, a character that has served little purpose towards the end) Fear State was a decent Bat event. (– Alex Vaello)
Rating: B+
Justice League #69
Writer by Brian Michael Bendis ; Art by Phil Hester
Published by DC Comics
This issue feels like an improvement over recent issues of Justice League. It’s the first chapter in a new storyline, so it might be a good time to check in if you’re unsure about this book.
Bendis continues in his corner of DC by having Checkmate appear here. Espionage is definitely far more in his wheelhouse. The characters all have a certain level of comfort and banter in this issue that they haven’t had recently. It does feel unclear when this takes place in relation to the happenings in Superman’s own book.
Overall, I’m still cautious about where Bendis is taking the series. But, he and Phil Hester may have something good brewing. (– Alex Vaello)
Rating: B-
Blue and Gold #4
Written by Dan Jurgens
Art by Ryan Sook, Kevin Maguire, Dan Jurgens and Norm Rapmund
Published by DC Comics
Every issue of this series has been rollicking fun. But this issue leans on the Justice League International “Bwa Ha Ha” vibe. Like an old friend coming to visit, this issue works.
Booster and Blue Beetle are sitting down for an interview. As it unfolds, they find they have very different views of their first meeting. A humorous, Rashomon like retelling, with a visit from Guy Gardner, leads to bickering and fun.
Seeing multiple artists getting credit on a single issue may be a cause of concern, but the art duties are evenly divided. Jumping time frames and points of view, each artists does it with good humor.
Jurgens is clearly having a lot of fun, and he’s taking readers along. (– Alex Vaello)
Rating: B-
Supergirl: Woman Of Tomorrow #5
Written by Tom King; Art by Bilquis Evely
Published by DC Comics
A powerless and sickened Supergirl is stranded. Trapped with Ruthye and surrounded by monsters, she struggles to survive. Their only hope is to stave off death until the sickening sun sets.
Strangely enough, I found myself having a conversation about the Superman/Swamp Thing story, written by Alan Moore, in which Superman is sickened and delirious by Kryptonian Fungus. While I can’t say this issue is inspired by that story, one can see the similarities in a sick Supergirl.
Tom King really puts Supergirl through the ringer in this issue. His Supergirl has an edge, but we can see it’s well earned.
The art from Bilquis Evely is just perfect. It’s detailed but not so grounded that it doesn’t soar. (– Alex Vaello)
Rating: A
Nubia and the Amazons #2
Written by Vita Ayala and Stephanie Williams; Art by Alitha Martinez
Published by DC Comics
The plot thickens in this next installment, as somehow the opening of Themyscira’s Well of Souls appears connected to fissure in Doom’s Doorway. And now we see Medusa has returned – but is she the only entity to escape?
The hows and whys of that remain to be seen, but Ayala and Williams do a fine job balancing the plot between its titular characters: Nubia, who is working through a crisis of confidence after being elevated from guardian of Doom’s Doorway to queen of Themyscira; and the Amazons, who are adjusting to the influx of new Amazons and growing anxious about who next will guard the Doorway, while a new threat is descending. Martinez also is up to the task of juggling all these characters, many of whom are familiar to longtime Wonder Woman readers and even moreso with the past year’s stories.
Each Amazon is distinct and diverse, but again, Martinez’s Nubia towers above them all in every panel. If anything, this issue is packed with so much good stuff and exploration of Themysciran life that I wish we could spend more time on it. For example, we learn of the Victor’s Circle, an unsanctioned fight club among the Amazons “to do anything from hashing matters out to just blowing off some extra steam.” I hope we get more of these slices. ( – Marvin Pittman)
Wonder Woman: Evolution #1
Written by Stephanie Phillips; Art by Mike Hawthorne & Adriano Di Benedetto
Published by DC Comics
Very quickly in this story, we see both sides of Wonder Woman as a character.
The story opens on Diana as a fierce warrior, locked in combat with monstrous aliens on some other world, wielding an ax with which she cleaves into one creature’s chest. And we see Diana the defender and protector, in a presumably earlier scene where she is confronting Silver Swan at a museum. The connection between these two sides is that Diana chooses to pursue peace and de-escalation first, and that she will bring violence in defense against aggression. Yet another part of Diana is her self-reflection on her purpose, her goals and impact. In other words, she beats herself up after a loss.
Empathy’s a mother, ain’t it? Lucky for Diana, and us readers, she has some heart-to-heart time with Superman in the Himalayas. And I hope the Kryptonian got our favorite Amazon to buck up, because she’s suddenly yanked into a space portal! Phillips writes with a confident handle on these characters, and Hawthorne/Di Benedetto craft an angular Diana of rippling muscle and very Greek features. It goes. ( – Marvin Pittman)
Aquaman: The Becoming #3
Written by Brandon Thomas; Art by Scott Koblish and Wade von Grawbadger
Published by DC Comics
Jackson remains on the run from the Atlantean guard, without even enough time to begin clearing his name after a terrorist attack on the underwater kingdom. Who is the mysterious Deluge, encased in armor, who’s perhaps stronger than Jackson, and possessing a grudge that sounds way too personal? As Jackson perilously flees across the country with a damaged teleporter, Mera is caught in political intrigue as Atlantis suspects the attack is connected to her home kingdom of Xebel, a rival and longtime enemy of Atlantis.
Koblish and von Grawbadger deliver gripping hand-to-hand combat between Jackson and Delugue, including a master series of widescreen panels depicting their face-off of moves and countermoves in classic multi-frame art the way only comic books can do. And that’s before Thomas yanks the rug out on Jackson’s latest bit of family drama. Go nab this one, folks. ( – Marvin Pittman)
Moon Knight #5
Written by Jed MacKay; Art by Alessandro Cappuccio
Published by Marvel Comics
Just when you thought Moon Knight couldn’t peel back any more layers of pain, McKay finds a way in another prestige TV-level installment of this series. Sure, the therapy sessions add to that feel. But it’s also the deeply stylish art of Cappuccio and how we never see Moon Knight in the daylight. Following up on his reveals to Tigra, Moon Knight gets challenged by his therapist to give an honest and complete answer to why he is so unhappy. Spector tells a story of his Jewish upbringing, of weakness and unshakable faith, and how all of his own choices are born from the violence in his soul, poisoning everything he touches. All but being the Fist of Khonshu, the only being he can stand to look in the mirror. All this happens amid uncovering the mystery of who has been behind sending all these threats his way until it all ends in flames. ( – Marvin Pittman)
Fantastic Four Anniversary Tribute #1
Original stories by Stan Lee, Jack Kirty and Vince Colletta
Redrawn art by Various
Published by Marvel Comics
Celebrating 60 years since Stan Lee and Jack Kirby kicked off the Marvel age with Fantastic Four #1, dozens of top talent spanning the past four decades of comics have gathered together to jam on this special. Artists including Walt Simonson, Neal Adams, Daniel Acuña, Steve Epting, Chris Sprouse, Adam Hughes, Sanford Greene, Bryan Hitch, Leinil Francis Yu, Mark Bagley, Michael and Laura Allred, and Terry and Rachel Dodson all jam on reinterpreting the art page by page from that original first appearance and the legendary Fantastic Four Annual #3, aka the blockbuster marriage of Sue Storm and Reed Richards that draws every hero and villain in the Marvel Universe.
While it’s always a hoot to see what holds up and what fails in Lee’s meant-for-kids comic book prose, a tribute issue such as this is tough at times to swallow because Jack Kirby’s art goes missing. Another tribute where Kirby is sacrificed while Lee stays intact, because Kirby didn’t get credit for any storytelling or writing. It’s fun to see what these artists do with Kirby’s layouts, posing, and compositions, but the Silver Age fun of Kirby’s designs lose some of the whiz-bang factor these stories fed on. And gods help ye who tries to keep track of which artists are drawing which page. That said, it’s still pretty fun, but maybe for the FF completists or if you’re trying to introduce your kids to the classic stuff minus the “it looks old” impediment. ( – Marvin Pittman)
