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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 21, 2016 10:33:35 GMT -5
Welcome aboard to another thrilling week of the newest comics reviewed by regular readers just like you. So if you read em' we want to hear about it; whether it's a full review or just a simple, " Hey did you guys check this out?" As always, as the reviews start to come in I'll hyperlink them here for your viewing pleasure. Archie:Archie #15Jughead and Archie Winter Annual Digest #24 Boom!:Adventure Time #6 Backstagers #5 Joyride #8 Klaus and the Witch of Winter Kong of Skull island #6 Dark Horse:Aliens #4 Black hammer #6 Briggsland #5 Buffy #2 DHP #29 Dead Inside #1 Dept H #9 Ether #2 Spell on Wheels #3 Usagi Yojimbo #160DC:Aquaman #13Batman #13 Cave Carson #3 Cyborg #7 Green Arrow #13 Green lanterns #13 Justice League #11 Nightwing #11Superman #13 and thoughts by thwhtguardianTrinity #4 and thoughts by thwhtguardianLucifer #13 Dynamite:Red Team #6 Grand Passion #2 Green Hornet #1 Pathfinder #3 IDW:Back to the Future #15 Donald Quest #2 Gumballs #1 My Little Pony #49 TMNT Universe #5 X-Files X-Mas Special 2016 (come on that's clever!) Image:Demonic #5 Fix #7 Horizon #6 Hunt #5 Lake of Fire #5 Peter Panzerfaust #25 Marvel:Amazing Spider-man #22Avengers #2.1 World of Wakanda #2 Cage #3 Sam Wilson #16 Doctor Strange #15 Gamora #1 Gwenpool #9 Invincible Ironman #2Mighty Captain Marvel #0 Power Man and Ironfist Christmas Punisher #7 Silver Surfer #8 Spider-Gwen #15 Doctor Aphra #2 Star Lord #1Uncanny X-Men#16 Valiant: Harbinger #2 |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2016 20:19:32 GMT -5
Superman 13: The very fun 2 issue Supermonster story wraps up. I'm not very familiar with Frankenstein and his Bride from the comics, but despite their horror backgrounds, I found their story very touching. There's a nice moment with Lois and The Bride about marriage and family. There is a nice contrast between Superman and his family and the tragic Frankensteins.
The art and colors were great as was the storytelling! I'm enjoying these shorter arcs that are told in a couple of issues. I like these more than some story that takes 10 months to tell and nothing really happens.
9/10
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2016 20:59:16 GMT -5
Star Lord#1: I haven't picked up a Marvel comic in a very long time. I enjoyed the Guardians of the Galaxy movie, so when I saw Star Lord #1, I decided to give it a try. Despite not knowing how Peter is now stranded on Earth, I was able to pick right up thanks to the very clear writing of Chip Zdarsky. This issue is more about Peter trying to adjust to life on Earth as well as studying his character. There are some appearances by some other well known Marvel characters.
The art is very clean and clear and the colors are awesome! Kris Anka seems to be modeling Peter Quill after Chris Pratt and the depiction is very beef-cakey.
I'm going to add this to my pull list and see where the adventure leads.
8/10
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Post by Deleted on Dec 21, 2016 22:18:30 GMT -5
Trinity #4: Wonder Woman is front and center in this issue. Her dream takes her home to Paradise Island where she, Superman, and Batman encounter the Amazons as well as a younger version of Princess Diana. This story has not grabbed me. The first issue or 2 were good but I've gotten a bit bored with the 3 title characters going through the trippy dream world. The very last page of this book was good and the villain is revealed.....however I was more interested in the very brief scenes with Poison Ivy, Jon, and Lois. Manupul is not the artist on this issue (although he is still writing), but the art was ok.
5/10
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2016 15:23:56 GMT -5
 Written by Mark Waid. Art and Cover by Joe Eisma. Another near perfect issue. To avoid heartbreak Archie has become like Jughead. However Jughead is a great friend. He manages to enlist everyone's help to throw an anniversary party for Archie's parents & with Betty's advice get Archie to be himself again. Meanwhile in Veronica's world she enlists her father to help her "win" against Cheryl Blossom. In the end Smithers convinces Lodge to move Veronica back home to Riverdale....but with Lodge helping Veronica he now owns Blossom's business & Blossom's father will now be working for Lodge. So the whole Blossom family will be relocating to....Riverdale! Great twist at the end to keep the Veronica/Cheryl Blossom rivalry going. But now it gets extra personal as Cheryl plots to steal Archie away from Ronnie. She also wants to take her friends "Betsy & Dugout" (had me laughing out loud) away from her too. The addition of Cheryl Blossom has changed the dynamic of this book & made it even better. The New Riverdale Archie titles continue to be some of the best books out on the stands right now. Score: 9/10. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2016 15:30:58 GMT -5
Quick Reviews:
Superman #13: This would have been so much better in Oct. as a Halloween themed story. The whole Frankenstein monster story was well crafted yet felt so out of place in this Superman series IMO. The art was beautiful. The writing was good...I just didn't like the concept. 6/10.
Trinity #4: Wonder Woman's part of the story. The best part of the issue was the cover & Lois fighting Poison Ivy. Will probably drop this title at the end of this arc. 4/10.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2016 15:43:43 GMT -5
 The Deluge: Part 2. Written by Dan Abnett. Art by Scot Eaton and Wayne Faucher. Cover by Brad Walker and Andrew Hennessy. Aquaman convinces the Justice League that NEMO is orchestrating events to start a war between The USA & Atlantis. However the JL can not convince the USA of this so by the end of this issue the order to assassinate Aquaman is given by the US military. This storyline has been brewing for 12 issues. Hopefully it will be all out action instead of the constant back & forth that we have had so far. Aquaman can be trusted/next issue no he can't. Next issue he regains their trust. Next issue he loses their trust. That is my only complaint. The art has been good. I like Eaton's style. Score: 7/10. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2016 15:51:22 GMT -5
 Written by Tim Seeley. Art and cover by Marcus To. The Run Offs are villains that Batman & Robin fought in the past & are now trying to restart a new life in Bludhaven. However others (police & other villains) aren't helping them stay on the side of the law. Now that the former Robin as Nightwing is in Bludhaven he wants to help but the police don't welcome his aid. Great job. Having Nightwing back in Bludhaven has revitalized this book. I love To's art. His style is perfect on a book like this. This was my favorite book this week. Score: 9/10. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 22, 2016 19:19:15 GMT -5
Written by Tim Seeley. Art and cover by Marcus To. The Run Offs are villains that Batman & Robin fought in the past & are now trying to restart a new life in Bludhaven. However others (police & other villains) aren't helping them stay on the side of the law. Now that the former Robin as Nightwing is in Bludhaven he wants to help but the police don't welcome his aid. Great job. Having Nightwing back in Bludhaven has revitalized this book. I love To's art. His style is perfect on a book like this. This was my favorite book this week. Score: 9/10. Between work and the holidays i don't know when I'm going to find the time to pick these issues up but when I do I might try this one. I've given it two previous chances, the first issue and then again with the Superman team up which I think was issue 8 or 9 and it just didn't click but this sounds like the fun concept I want out of a Dick Grayson book. In my mind to be enjoyable a Dick Grayson book needs to be light and fun, so runs like Robin Year One, Nightwing Year One, Grant Morrison's Batman and Robin and Grayson were great outings while his solo book in the early 2000's and the opening story here which were darker didn't work for me at all. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 22, 2016 19:59:33 GMT -5
Written by Tim Seeley. Art and cover by Marcus To. The Run Offs are villains that Batman & Robin fought in the past & are now trying to restart a new life in Bludhaven. However others (police & other villains) aren't helping them stay on the side of the law. Now that the former Robin as Nightwing is in Bludhaven he wants to help but the police don't welcome his aid. Great job. Having Nightwing back in Bludhaven has revitalized this book. I love To's art. His style is perfect on a book like this. This was my favorite book this week. Score: 9/10. Between work and the holidays i don't know when I'm going to find the time to pick these issues up but when I do I might try this one. I've given it two previous chances, the first issue and then again with the Superman team up which I think was issue 8 or 9 and it just didn't click but this sounds like the fun concept I want out of a Dick Grayson book. In my mind to be enjoyable a Dick Grayson book needs to be light and fun, so runs like Robin Year One, Nightwing Year One, Grant Morrison's Batman and Robin and Grayson were great outings while his solo book in the early 2000's and the opening story here which were darker didn't work for me at all. The book has done a 180 in tone. Both Nightwing & Flash improved once their first arcs were done. |
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shaxper
CCF Site Custodian
Posts: 22,871
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Post by shaxper on Dec 23, 2016 15:26:31 GMT -5
Harbinger Renegade #2 script by Rafer Roberts, pencils by Darick Robertson, inks by Richard Clark, color by Diego Rodriguez Summary: The first Harbinger story that is completely free of the original 1990s source material begins to take on a more meaningful shape with a clear and present plot progressing. Plot: Everything this title did right last issue is still in play here, but now, with the plot taking a more definite shape and the story thus beginning to progress, my interest in, and enjoyment of, this series is increasing as well. Characterization, writing and art all remain incredibly strong, and my only remaining concern is that this series is all just set-up for the next big crossover. I truly hope we're going to get a satisfying and complete story out of this. But, as of now, the quality is top notch, and my interest is piqued. Art: Absolutely stunning. Robertson is particularly impressive with faces. Each has its own seemingly God-given distinctiveness. Conclusion: If you're interested in Non-Big Two superheroes, the Valiant Universe is absolutely where you need to start, and this title proves that a thousand-fold with characters who feel painstakingly REAL even as they grapple with super powers, hopelessness, and the unintended impact of their good intentions upon the world. Grade: 9/10 |
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Post by String on Dec 23, 2016 19:55:52 GMT -5
Amazing Spider-Man #22
Written by: Dan Slott & Christos N. Gage
Art by: Giuseppe Camuncoli
The Jackal has been revealed to be Ben Reilly, the original clone. Which makes little sense to Peter since the last he saw of him, Ben faded to dust in his arms. Well, Slott tells of how Ben survived, the role Miles Warren played in that, and how Ben came to be the new Jackal. What happened to Ben was horrifying if you really think about it but how the experience lead him to overcome his dependence on the long-standing shadow of Peter Parker's life was gratifying. That plays strongly into the gray morality that's been building throughout this event as Ben offers Peter the chance to bring back the one person he believes the most deserving.
This event continues to impress as Peter struggles with the living and the cloned. Offered to fix his greatest mistake, in honor of his greatest responsibility, can Peter say no? Tragedy amidst triumph, what's more Spider-Man than that?
Grade: 8/10
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 28, 2016 9:45:28 GMT -5
Amazing Spider-Man #22
Written by: Dan Slott & Christos N. Gage Art by: Giuseppe Camuncoli The Jackal has been revealed to be Ben Reilly, the original clone. Which makes little sense to Peter since the last he saw of him, Ben faded to dust in his arms. Well, Slott tells of how Ben survived, the role Miles Warren played in that, and how Ben came to be the new Jackal. What happened to Ben was horrifying if you really think about it but how the experience lead him to overcome his dependence on the long-standing shadow of Peter Parker's life was gratifying. That plays strongly into the gray morality that's been building throughout this event as Ben offers Peter the chance to bring back the one person he believes the most deserving. This event continues to impress as Peter struggles with the living and the cloned. Offered to fix his greatest mistake, in honor of his greatest responsibility, can Peter say no? Tragedy amidst triumph, what's more Spider-Man than that? Grade: 8/10 I mean I know it's a comic so no death is too final....but how the heck do you come back from this:  ? |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 28, 2016 13:49:27 GMT -5
Superman #13 Written by Peter J. Tomasi and Patrick Gleason Art by Doug Mahnke Colored by Wil Quintana Summary: We learn that the woman Lois thought to be the editor of the local paper was actually an alien war criminal posing as the editor, but before it can be brought to justice Frankenstein's ex-bride intercedes and calamity ensues!
Plot: Over all the plot here is a mixed bag of disparate parts that don't really make for a cohesive whole. There are elements that are really strong, like the parting between Frankenstein and his Bride, but there isn't enough build up of that plot for it to have the strength it really deserves. While I think Gleason and Tomasi usually work great together this seems like an effort to paste together two of their own separate ideas, a fun, light hearted monster of the week story and a deeper story about what holds a family together and unfortunately there isn't enough there to bind them both together or enough to either plot to be satisfying on their own. Either story if allowed to breath would have worked but together it's just too much at once.
Art: That said, Doug Mahnke really makes forget that I'm missing Gleason's art which is really something for a fill in artist. The look in the eyes between Frankenstein and his Bride at the end was beautiful, the framing of their parting was great and the reformation of the fugitive was wonderfully gross so his work was a real bright spot here.
Grade: 6/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Dec 28, 2016 14:25:12 GMT -5
Trinity #4 Written Francis Manapul Art by Emanuella Lupichino Colored by Hi-Fi Summary: The dream quest continues as we enter the mind of Wonder Woman and her journey to Themscera.
Plot: Although I've been enjoying the looks into the lives of DC's big three so far Manapul's view of Wonder Woman was a little lackluster. While the first two issues gave us important insight into Batman and Superman and what drives them with beautifully quiet character moments we didn't get much in the way of depth for Wonder Woman or even a look of decent look at her home. Instead of quiet character moments we got mostly action, which while fun lacked the depth of the previous issues.
Art: While I still miss Manapul's art Lupichino has a perfect grasp of action; its slick and sharp and it really conveyed a great sense of movement.
Grade:6/10
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