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Post by thwhtguardian on May 16, 2023 12:10:37 GMT -5
OFF THE RACKS!Real Readers, Honest Reviews.  What did you pick up this week? |
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Post by thwhtguardian on May 16, 2023 13:53:01 GMT -5
Batman: The Brave and the Bold #1Written by Tom King, Ed Brisson, Christopher Cantwell and Dan Mora Art by Mitch Gerads, Jeff Spokes, Javier Rodriguez and Dan Mora Summary: A new anthology featuring Bat-adjacent characters on new brave and bold adventures. Plot: I love anthologies as they although they may only have a slightly larger page count than your traditional comic so they don't actually take longer to read they still feel like you're getting more bang for your buck as you're getting more than one story. The down side to anthologies is that for some unknown law to the universe they are almost always a mixed bag...and this new attempt at a Batman and friends anthology(which is a great idea in my mind) is no different. Out of the four stories here only one was really stellar, another one was interesting but more fun to look at than read a third was just barely okay but was a story we've already seen before and the fourth was nearly unreadable with zero characters to care about. The first feature was the "Winning Card: Part One" by Tom King and Mitch Gerads. And while it looked fantastic and the characterization of Batman/ Bruce Wayne, Alfred and Jim Gordon were all solid...it's just yet another retelling of Batman's first meeting of the Joker. And rather than making his own version of how Batman first battled the Clown Prince of Crime, King instead just chooses to put his usual noir style moody twist on the same story we already know. Sure, Brubaker did the same thing in 2005 and it's a classic but that's just not something that can be repeated. It undoubtedly looks amazing though, with Gerads really capturing that moody Year One feel which just fits perfectly. The less said about the next feature about a new Stormwatch by Ed Brisson the better. Only the Weatherman returns with the rest of the team featuring a bunch of other "edgy" Batman cast offs that couldn't name if you tried. On top of that there was no political intrigue or satire. It was just a boring, "edgy" fake justice league. The best of the bunch was surprisingly one of the ones I was skeptical of as I'm not a huge fan of Cantwell...but get that man on Superman stat! Being a Superman story in a Batman anthology already made it stand out, but the pulpy mystery of Clark being sent a decoder ring from a sci-fi adventure show he loved as a child and following it on a quest to save a mystery person was just amazing. It was energetic, fun and the treasure map style mystery set up was immediately engaging which will sure to leave you howling for more when you get to the end. And the art by Javier Rodríguez? I'm just going to leave you with this image:  See? Perfection. This team needs a full length book stat! The final feature was written and illustrated by Dan Mora and although it looks as amazing as you'd expect from Mora the plot itself was slightly thin. I loved the concept of a new futuristic, cybernetic Batman fighting a VR controlled Joker robot, and the anime-esque transformation into Superbatman mode was fun...but there was no real plot other than that and very little in the way of characterization which makes it feel like yet another situation of an amazing artist who really does need a partner when it comes to writing and there's nothing wrong with that.
Overall, I'll definitely be reading more but it's not shaking the curse of anthologies being mixed bags any time soon.
Grade:7.5/10 |
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Post by DubipR on May 16, 2023 14:42:04 GMT -5
Large week of downloads
Batman/Superman World's Finest #15
Superman #4
Titans #1
Wonder Woman #799
No/One #3
Avengers #1 (I'll give it a shot)
Fantastic Four #7/Lgy 700
She-Hulk #13
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Post by thwhtguardian on May 16, 2023 15:27:30 GMT -5
Worlds Finest #15Written by Mark Waid Art by Dan Mora Summary: Batman and Superman discover that the true murderer was Ultramorpho an evil knock-off created by ... Newmazo!?
Plot: I pretty much start off the review about this book each month the same way, so excuse me if I sound like a broken record but it's still as true today as it was in the past: Mark Waid's World's Finest continues to be the best superhero comic on the stands today. Bar none. In this issue, what started as a simple murder mystery morphs into world ending robot apocalypse that all of Earth's heroes seem incapable of stopping. You'd think that break neck change of direction would feel jarring but due to some kind of magic Waid is able to pull it off, along with a bunch of cameos(Hello challengers of the Unknown!) without missing a single beat. I don't know what arcane rituals he had to complete, or how many souls he had to sacrifice to make this story but whatever it was it was well worth the price. The action and pacing are both perfect and the character moment with Robin pulling back Metamorpho at the end in order to form a plan to save Superman and Batman when taken together is just about as perfect a read as you could ask for. What I really love is that although this book has been made up of self contained stories leading into one from the other Waid has now tied them all together, bringing back both the Titans and Doom Patrol from previous arcs and it doesn't feel forced at all. This is what modern super hero comics should all aim to be.
Art: Again, I'm not trying to beat a dead horse here but it's really hard to come up with new praise for Mora's work. To put it simply: Mora's art is stunning. From brilliantly designed and super detailed characters and back grounds to the slick, cinematic action, the issue has some intense and beautiful art on every single panel that you just don't want to miss. If you still haven't picked this up you just might no longer be a fan of superhero comics.
Grade:10/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on May 16, 2023 16:09:02 GMT -5
Superman #4Written by Joshua Williamson Art by Jamal Campbell Summary: Lex Luthor pulls back the curtain and begins to reveal how he first met Dr. Pham and Mr. Graft and the trouble they mean for Superman.
Plot: This is another one where I really feel like I starting to come across as a broken record on, I say it often but as terrible as Williamson was on Batman and Dark Crisis he is just amazing on Superman. In #4 Williamson continues Superman's struggle to find and stop Dr. Pharm and Mr.Graft while reluctantly seeking the aid of Lex Luthor. Each page is more delicious than the last as The story gets better and better as the issue progresses, with the science hero origins of Lex Luthor being a particularly bright spot and the last-moment twist was amazing but classic ending for Jimmy. It's light, quick and fun and just doesn't disappoint, this is really the best Superman has been in a long time.
Art: Campbell continues to give us a very round edged, cartoony Superman but despite not being as photorealistic as the rest of the characters in the book there is just something comforting about his depiction of the Man of Steel that I love.
Grade:8/10 |
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Post by majestic on May 17, 2023 10:00:07 GMT -5
I will second my positive reads of Superman & World's Finest as well. Another milestone this week was Fantastic Four #700 although it was a bit superficial on story. It was extra sized but the entire story could have been told in half the # of pages.
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2023 11:01:57 GMT -5
Regarding Superman in the Brave And The Bold, I liked the hook and the art, but it's got one slight and one big mark against it. The tiny mark is the reference to recent continuity - the global mindwipe or whatever it was. There was no need for the reference. I believe most readers are fine with continuity-lite stories in anthologies (and I suspect many are like me in that they prefer anthologies to be a haven from heavy continuity). All the reference served to do was remind me of the horrible decisions DC can't stop making. It had no bearing on the story (to be fair, it might end up being relevant in later chapters, but I won't be around to find out).
The other mark against it is that it unintentionally highlighted the ethical issues of Clark reporting on Superman. Lois' idea to increase readership is to have an employee of the Planet create news, and then cover the news he creates. I didn't go to journalism school, but if they don't teach that as unethical, then they are in the wrong. At the very least, the published story of Superman's eventual antics should come with a disclaimer saying that it was written by Superman himself. How the heck could the writer not understand that he was portraying Lois and Clark in such an unsympathetic light?
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Post by thwhtguardian on May 17, 2023 15:01:23 GMT -5
Regarding Superman in the Brave And The Bold, I liked the hook and the art, but it's got one slight and one big mark against it. The tiny mark is the reference to recent continuity - the global mindwipe or whatever it was. There was no need for the reference. I believe most readers are fine with continuity-lite stories in anthologies (and I suspect many are like me in that they prefer anthologies to be a haven from heavy continuity). All the reference served to do was remind me of the horrible decisions DC can't stop making. It had no bearing on the story (to be fair, it might end up being relevant in later chapters, but I won't be around to find out). The other mark against it is that it unintentionally highlighted the ethical issues of Clark reporting on Superman. Lois' idea to increase readership is to have an employee of the Planet create news, and then cover the news he creates. I didn't go to journalism school, but if they don't teach that as unethical, then they are in the wrong. At the very least, the published story of Superman's eventual antics should come with a disclaimer saying that it was written by Superman himself. How the heck could the writer not understand that he was portraying Lois and Clark in such an unsympathetic light? The continuity nod didn't do anything for me, but the latter I think is one of those things that just comes with the pulpy feel of the story. Sure, it goes against modern journalistic ethics but with the pulp serial hero that is leading Clark on the journey it gives the whole piece a larger old time superhero feel than a modern realistic mood which means that realistic journalism isn't something I'm expecting or even wanting. Fun is fun. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on May 17, 2023 15:09:20 GMT -5
I'm not usually a big team book kind of guy but I've been loving Tom Taylor on Nightwing so I thought I might give his Titans a try...and it was okay. Although I know all the players, I'm not really attached to any of them so the interpersonal drama didn't really hit home for me and the mystery with who shot Wally was only just okay because again, not only do I not have a real care for Wally but you just know that despite him being "dead" he's going to be okay by the end of the arc so there's no shock for me or real sense of anticipation. I might give it a few more issues, but I don't think I'll be sticking around.
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Post by thwhtguardian on May 17, 2023 16:30:52 GMT -5
Wow, and just when I was warming back up to Williamson he comes up with this Waller story in the New Dawn Primer where she's paying D-list villains to assassinate the heroes "because they smile too much".
We like the heroes being bright and optimistic. We don't want a story with stupid mercs trying to kill them.
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Post by Deleted on May 17, 2023 17:03:18 GMT -5
Big week for me...
Frazetta Cover Art Hardcover
Batman: Brave & The Bold #1
Avengers #1
Avengers #1 (1963 series) Facsimile series
Batman/Superman World's Finest #15
Titans #1
Disney Villains Maleficent #1
Miss Truesdale & The Fall of Hyperborea #1
Critical Role Mighty Nein Origins Hardcover Mollymauk Tealeaf OGN
-M
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Post by The Captain on May 20, 2023 8:58:53 GMT -5
She-Hulk #13 - I've been on the fence about this book the past few months, but it is one of the few things that I read that is fairly light and breezy, instead of having to be grim and gritty. This month's issue worked as they continue to explore Jen's relationship with Jack while dealing with a villain who might have bigger plans for her, as well as having Hellcat and Mallory show up for decent interactions.
Captain America, Sentinel Of Liberty #12 - I love Captain America and will support his book pretty much regardless, but WHY does Marvel make it so hard to enjoy the character? We have Steve, Sam, Misty and Sharon trying to get at White Wolf and Bucky (or New Revolution), who is dealing with Natasha as well, all in an attempt to recover Steve's "son" Ian, who has been kidnapped, but they've brought back Dimension Z, which is bad sci-fi, and the entire plot involving the Five-Pointed Star is virtually incomprehensible. This should be far better than it is, even taking into account the bad elements, but somehow, it's just not doing it for me. Hate to say that Issue #750, coming up this summer, might be the end for me if things don't drastically improve.
And from last week:
Moon Knight #23 - Moon Knight helps Dylan Brock (Eddie's kid and the "new" Venom) deal with some bad guys hunting him so they can get their hands on the symbiote for their boss. MK shows Dylan that there are people out there who will help him and gives him some pointers on how to better take care of himself. Nothing world-threatening or universe-impacting, just a decent story about a guy who's been there lending a hand to a guy who hasn't.
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Post by wildfire2099 on May 20, 2023 19:36:25 GMT -5
She-Hulk #13 - I've been on the fence about this book the past few months, but it is one of the few things that I read that is fairly light and breezy, instead of having to be grim and gritty. This month's issue worked as they continue to explore Jen's relationship with Jack while dealing with a villain who might have bigger plans for her, as well as having Hellcat and Mallory show up for decent interactions. Captain America, Sentinel Of Liberty #12 - I love Captain America and will support his book pretty much regardless, but WHY does Marvel make it so hard to enjoy the character? We have Steve, Sam, Misty and Sharon trying to get at White Wolf and Bucky (or New Revolution), who is dealing with Natasha as well, all in an attempt to recover Steve's "son" Ian, who has been kidnapped, but they've brought back Dimension Z, which is bad sci-fi, and the entire plot involving the Five-Pointed Star is virtually incomprehensible. This should be far better than it is, even taking into account the bad elements, but somehow, it's just not doing it for me. Hate to say that Issue #750, coming up this summer, might be the end for me if things don't drastically improve. And from last week: Moon Knight #23 - Moon Knight helps Dylan Brock (Eddie's kid and the "new" Venom) deal with some bad guys hunting him so they can get their hands on the symbiote for their boss. MK shows Dylan that there are people out there who will help him and gives him some pointers on how to better take care of himself. Nothing world-threatening or universe-impacting, just a decent story about a guy who's been there lending a hand to a guy who hasn't. I read the first trade of both Captain America series... they were OK, but I agree that the New revolution was weird... also, just how many secret organizations control the world in the MU? Do they fight? Split things up? it's kinda silly. I also thought Black Panther was WAY out of character. (Though, to be fair, I haven't read much of him for a while) |
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2023 11:52:01 GMT -5
Not sure if this came out this week or last but I picked it up this week.. Count Dante...yes this Count Dante:  ahem, Count Dante: The Unauthorized {But Sort of True]Story of the Deadliest Man Alive #1 from Scout Comics byJ.C. Barbour & Wes Watson; cover by Cary Nord. Ok, so who could resist a Count Dante comic? Then this fabulous Cary Nord cover...  made this a must buy even though I had never bought or read anything from Scout Comics previously (unless it was something form FCBD past that I have forgotten). So it had all the set up of being something I was disappointed in because I was buying it for all the wrong reasons, but I actually quite enjoyed it. So it is a semi-bio comic with fictionalized elements, and the set up is that a reporter in the mid-80s is researching a story on John Timothy Keehan (a.k.a. Count Dante) and meets Sidney Brown (Keehan's partner/friend/right hand man) in a diner to interview him and Brown begins to recount how he met Keehan in Nam and how they came to Chicago after the army to pursue Keehan's dream of setting up a martial arts studio that brings him in opposition with the mob... I know nothing of Count Dante outside those cool but cheesy ads from 70s comics, so I have no measure how much is fact and how much is fiction, but it is a well told, well drawn story that grabbed and held my attention, so I will pick up at least the next issue. If I were rating it, 4/5, not perfect but a solid entertaining comics. -M |
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2023 11:59:26 GMT -5
Short takes for other stuff I read from my latest trip to Superfly...
Frank Frazetta's Death Dealer #12-continues to be a solid entertaining sword & sorcery comic, but new art team this issue (not sure if it's fill in or team for the next arc) wasn't as good as previous art teams. 3.5/5
Disney's Villains: Maleficent #1-pretty standard stuff but well done. Will check out at least issue 2. 3/5
Miss Teasdale and the Fall of Hyperbora #1- (I am switching to trades for the Mignolaverse stuff but I had preordered this issue so picked it up to honor my promise to buy it). Likes the story and the characters, wasn't enamored by the art. The storytelling was good but not an aesthetic that appealed to my tastes. 3/5
Black Cloak #5- I'm really enjoying this so far, but it is moving from a fantasy police procedural into a royal political intrigue fantasy comic, but it continues to be entertaining and well done. 4/5
Didn't get to more because I was devouring the Frazetta art book I picked up...
-M
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