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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2019 23:37:46 GMT -5
Heroes in Crisis #4: first the good. The art and colors are absolutely gorgeous. The opening scene of Donna Troy carrying a drunk Tempest out of a bar—the colors make some of the panels look like a photograph. There’s also a nice homage to the old school Titans. The art and colors are great throughout.
The bad....the story seemed very disjointed. Lots of jumping around with scenes (the page with Green Arrow and Black Canary) that make no sense. There’s a page with Donna Troy rambling on about Helen of Troy. I did like seeing Booster Gold and Blue Beetle back together and their bromance. Nice scene with Lois and Clark as well.
Basically all that happens is the trinity are still trying to figure the murders all out as Lois publishes an article about Sanctuary. Batman is not pleased as usual. Batgirl shows up and convinces Harley Quinn to let her help her before Batman finds her. I guess they are throwing these 2 together because of their pasts with the Joker. (There is a haunting scene of Batgirl at sanctuary showing her bullet scars).
I’m still enjoying this series despite this issues installment but this issue just wasn’t my cup of tea.
5/10
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Post by Deleted on Jan 3, 2019 23:31:16 GMT -5
Archie 1941# 4: Archie and Reggie find themselves in North Africa and Archie is terrified. He misses Betty and we learn just how much he loves her. Back home Hiram Lodge is profiting from the fuel shortage and there’s an excellent scene of Mr and Mrs Andrews letting him know just what they think about it. Betty and Veronica’s friendship deepens and Jughead learns why Pop Tate is against the war. This issue was good, especially the bleakness and impending doom in the war scenes. The art and colors all lended to the atmosphere in this story. There is a pretty major cliffhanger at the end as the story concludes next issue. Lots of excellent character moments here.
8/10
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jan 4, 2019 16:46:25 GMT -5
Conan The Barbarian #1Written by Jason Aaron Art by Mahmud Asrar Summary: After a hard day of slaying in the fighting pits Conan finds himself seduced by a strange woman...who turns out to be a witch!
Plot: With his excellent Thor the Barbarian stories I had no worries about the quality if Aaron's Conan, but even I was pretty surprised with how great this book was. Although it's a new number one and it is very accessible to anyone not already familiar with Conan, it still felt like something that was part of a much larger story and striking that delicate balance between new and old was truly stunning to see. While the plot device of one villain over different time periods has been used by Aaron in the past it really fits well with Conan, whose stories tended to jump around under Howard's own pen, so as long as every story isn't some generations spanning menace I think we'll be okay.
Art: I loved how scarred Asrar's Conan looked, you could really believe he was a battle hardened veteran here.
Grade:9/10 |
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Jan 4, 2019 17:04:35 GMT -5
Conan The Barbarian #1Written by Jason Aaron Art by Mahmud Asrar Summary: After a hard day of slaying in the fighting pits Conan finds himself seduced by a strange woman...who turns out to be a witch!
Plot: With his excellent Thor the Barbarian stories I had no worries about the quality if Aaron's Conan, but even I was pretty surprised with how great this book was. Although it's a new number one and it is very accessible to anyone not already familiar with Conan, it still felt like something that was part of a much larger story and striking that delicate balance between new and old was truly stunning to see. While the plot device of one villain over different time periods has been used by Aaron in the past it really fits well with Conan, whose stories tended to jump around under Howard's own pen, so as long as every story isn't some generations spanning menace I think we'll be okay.
Art: I loved how scarred Asrar's Conan looked, you could really believe he was a battle hardened veteran here.
Grade:9/10 She turned him into a newt! |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jan 4, 2019 17:22:11 GMT -5
BPRD# 159Written by Mike Mignola and Scott Allie Art by Laurence Campbell Summary: After fleeing New York Hellboy, Abe and Liz collect themselves for a final push against Rasputin while the last of Humanity heads underground.
Plot: In much the same way that Mignola ended Hellboy in Hell, the ending of BPRD's Ragna Rok is truly progressing at a break neck speed. Like it's use In Hell this use of compressed story telling and fast pacing has as many strengths as weaknesses; while the pacing creates a frenzied, realistic mood that's suitable for the end of the world, and makes the stakes seem higher than they ever have been before it does so at the sacrifice of characterization. So we get a story that truly has the weight of the end times, everything is going to hell all at once...but the faces we see outside of those we already know intimately like Hellboy, Liz and Abe might as well be cardboard cut outs and their fates and deaths are meaningless...and perhaps that's realistic as the small people hardly matter in the grand scheme of things but storywise it runs counter to the feel of BPRD since it's inception; a book where the bit players mattered. So while this is shaping up to be an amazing end to the world of Hellboy it's slightly disappointing as an end to BPRD.
Art: Campbell's art is as stellar as always, while I think it'd be fitting for Mike to draw the end of his story if it had to be anyone else Campbell is the one we need.
Grade:9/10
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jan 4, 2019 17:38:12 GMT -5
Detective Comics #995.Script by Peter Tomasi. Art by Doug Mahnke. Someone is targeting those closest to Batman. First Leslie Tompkins and then Alfred. You can feel Bruce's tension, frustration, anguish and grief in this issue. Tomasi pulls all those emotions out in this story. Mahnke's gritty art style adds to the gravitas of the story. I like Tomasi's writing. He knows how to show Batman's family and get you to feel terror at what Batman could lose. 7/10. See, this one really dashed my hopes. I thought Tomasi did well on Batman and Robin and I loved how he wrote Bruce during his run on Superman so I was initially so excited that I was willing to over the look the negatives I saw in the first issue...but this was too much. Killing Leslie? Fatally wounding Alfred(again!)? And then heading off to torture the inmates over at Arkham? That's not the kind of Batman I'm interested in reading. I liked what looked like the focus on actual investigative work we saw in the first issue and the focus on the supporting cast...but he threw that away an substituted it all for needless grimdark. Magnke's artwork was good though, I loved his creepy Zorro, but not good enough to keep me coming back. Unless the next issue gets rave reviews I doubt I'll pick it up. 3/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jan 4, 2019 19:37:47 GMT -5
Star Wars: Obi-Wan KenobiWritten by Jody Houser Art by Cory Smith Summary: When a Jedi Holocron is found on a distant planet Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi is dispatched to look into it...and with him goes young Anakin Skywalker on his first mission.
Plot: While the story Houser presents to us in this issue is ultimately very vanilla, offering us nothing truly new or noteworthy, it does capture the voice of Obi-Wan well and provides us insight into the early adventures of Anakin Skywalker. In a fictional universe where we know the intimate life details of characters who appear on film for seconds(I'm looking at you Walrus-Man and IG-88) I am constantly baffled by the fact that we don't know more about Obi-Wan's training of Anakin; I mean, it made sense to skip that in the films but all these years later and we still don't have much of that area covered? It's just mystifying, so even though this wasn't the greatest Star Wars comic of all time, it was fun to read as it was new territory.
Art: Smith's art was a real bright spot here, I love how he captured the twinkle in the corner of the eye that McGregor brought to the role and the warmth and charm. It all felt so wholly real, like it was jumping right off the screen which made it a lot of fun.
Grade:6/10 |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jan 4, 2019 20:08:13 GMT -5
The Immortal Hulk #11.Story by Al Ewing. Art by Joe Bennett. Well that was a weird creepy issue yet deeply spiritual. Ewing takes us through Hell or at least the Hulk's version of hell. It is weird. Creepy. Disturbing. And yet what nailed it for me was Ewing's narrations. Those gray toned pages where Ewing describes Hell were really well done. Of course Bennett excels at bringing Ewing's visions to life with awesome art that shows the horrifying and grotesque. This title keeps getting better. I like how Ewing changes direction a little to keep the horror aspect going and not let us become numb to it. 9/10. My Silver Medal for this week. Yeah, I really love how metaphysical Ewing got here in this issue; his ruminations on what exactly Hell was in a universe that actually has a firey planet populated by red, goat horned people was really something worth chewing on. I also really liked the brief reflection on the value of anger, especially in relation to gender and race...all together it was just really fascinating stuff. And as much as I love Bennett's art here I think the real hero here was Paul Mounts; the colors he chose and how they set off the abstract thoughts from the on-goings of the Hulk were really stunning yet subtle. |
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jan 4, 2019 20:26:00 GMT -5
Action Comics #1006.Story by Brian Michael Bendis. Art by Ryan Sook. The end of the first arc. And I'm not sure what just happened there on the last few pages. Superman defeats the Red Cloud but she manages to escape. And I guess the next major villain was revealed in those last few pages. I'm not sure what Bendis was doing there. I just felt confused instead of excited for next issue. This arc started off soooo good but the last 2 issues have been underwhelming. Sook's art is beautiful. 6/10. Yeah, I still don't care who the Red Cloud/ Ms.Goode is but Superman's characterization is still top notch. And while I'm not begging to find out what's next with boss Leone, I enjoyed the tease with the car that Superman smashed way back in Action Comics #1 was interesting:   |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Jan 4, 2019 21:20:07 GMT -5
Oh and for those who care about trade dress-the legacy numbering of Conan the Barbarian #276 is listed below the #1 on the cover. -M I personally would love it, but is 276 following 275 or is it set in a brand new continuity? My bet is on the latter, alas. |
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Jan 4, 2019 21:26:54 GMT -5
Conan The Barbarian #1Written by Jason Aaron Art by Mahmud Asrar Summary: After a hard day of slaying in the fighting pits Conan finds himself seduced by a strange woman...who turns out to be a witch!
Plot: With his excellent Thor the Barbarian stories I had no worries about the quality if Aaron's Conan, but even I was pretty surprised with how great this book was. Although it's a new number one and it is very accessible to anyone not already familiar with Conan, it still felt like something that was part of a much larger story and striking that delicate balance between new and old was truly stunning to see. While the plot device of one villain over different time periods has been used by Aaron in the past it really fits well with Conan, whose stories tended to jump around under Howard's own pen, so as long as every story isn't some generations spanning menace I think we'll be okay.
Art: I loved how scarred Asrar's Conan looked, you could really believe he was a battle hardened veteran here.
Grade:9/10 “Fighting pits”? As in the Milius movie but nowhere in Howard’s work? Dread! This creepy feeling that makes the hair on the nape of my neck stand up is dread!!! |
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Post by wildfire2099 on Jan 4, 2019 22:27:46 GMT -5
I was unable to grab Conan at my local shop (the guy that runs it is all about Superheroes and didn't think people would buy it, so promptly sold out)...hopefully at another store.
I did grab Iron Man #7... I'm not loving the eScape story and the focus on 'Robot rights'.. what is that even for? Comedy? Not sure what social commentary it could be. Slott does 'get' Tony Stark, and I kinda like Rhodey with the tank instead of a Iron Man clone, so hopefully it'll pick up.
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Post by senatortombstone on Jan 5, 2019 10:37:56 GMT -5
Conan The Barbarian #1Written by Jason Aaron Art by Mahmud Asrar Summary: After a hard day of slaying in the fighting pits Conan finds himself seduced by a strange woman...who turns out to be a witch!
Plot: With his excellent Thor the Barbarian stories I had no worries about the quality if Aaron's Conan, but even I was pretty surprised with how great this book was. Although it's a new number one and it is very accessible to anyone not already familiar with Conan, it still felt like something that was part of a much larger story and striking that delicate balance between new and old was truly stunning to see. While the plot device of one villain over different time periods has been used by Aaron in the past it really fits well with Conan, whose stories tended to jump around under Howard's own pen, so as long as every story isn't some generations spanning menace I think we'll be okay.
Art: I loved how scarred Asrar's Conan looked, you could really believe he was a battle hardened veteran here.
Grade:9/10 “Fighting pits”? As in the Milius movie but nowhere in Howard’s work? Dread! This creepy feeling that makes the hair on the nape of my neck stand up is dread!!! I just read CtB 1/276 a few minutes ago. I actually liked it. I don't want to spoil it for you, but I will say that it is two stories, one in Conan's youth and one during his kingship, that are connected. The part during his kingship seems to take place after the Conan the King series but before the Conan of the Isles graphic novel (assuming that Marvel's previous run of the character is still "Conanical"). I am not sure when in Conan's life the earlier story takes place. The part about the pit-fighting was somewhat cringe, but it was relevant to the plot, as it revealed Conan's battle prowess and intense bloodletting abilities to the enchantress. Still, the witch's discovery of Conan's mightiness could have been handled in a way more true to the character, such as Conan rescuing the witch from a gang of attackers - and not just fighting for sport. There was also a few tasteless innuendos that I could not have imagined Roy Thomas using. I suppose that and pit-fighting are just a few concessions that will have to be made for the current generation of readers who only saw the movies. Overall, I think the series is off to a good start, and I am looking forward to the next issue. |
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Post by Hoosier X on Jan 5, 2019 15:40:51 GMT -5
For the most part, I really liked Batgirl #30. I get a kick out of storylines about Gotham City politics. And the Batgirl series is actually a pretty good place to work in the city's politics. Her father is the police commissioner. And in another incarnation, Babs was Rep. Barbara "Boots" Gordon (D-N.J.), the congresswoman for the Gotham area. So she had lots of adventures in Washington, D.C., and here and there she had some stories with a political tone.
Luciana Alejo is running for Congress, and she's crusading against Commissioner Gordon and his corrupt GCPD. Yeah, we've seen this plot before (although usually it's the mayor's race), but to be fair, the GCPD is notoriously corrupt and Gordon doesn't seem to have been able to make a dent in GCPD corruption in any version of the DC Universe since the 1970s. And besides, this seems like something that Gotham politicians would be running on even if Gordon was doing a decent job cleaning up the GCPD.
A political rally for Alejo starts to go off the rails when some masked thugs pretending to be Alejo supporters jump in and start causing trouble. The presence of the GCPD is not helping, but Batgirl steps in, scatters the trouble-makers and gets scolded by Gordon, who's pretty relentlessly portrayed as a jerk through this whole comic.
I like the art and I like the basic idea and for the most part, I like the execution. But the portrayal of James Gordon was rather unpleasant. I get that he's under a lot of pressure, but this should really be just another election year, and Gordon has been through this a few times. How will he react under REAL pressure the next time the city is isolated by an earthquake or threatened by a giant nuclear penguin or infested by a mutant virus that turns everyone into Blockbuster?
When he finds out that Barbara is supporting Alejo, he blows up at her and tells her that she won't be supporting Alejo while living under his roof. Dude. That is not James Gordon. This is even worse than when he was misusing "literally" like he was either a 13-year-old boy or a modern comic-book writer.
Well, I expect gibberish like that in modern comic books. I try to compartmentalize it and move on. (That's how I deal with some of the deeply stupid material in Azzarello's often wonderful Wonder Woman run.)
But then, they brought back Jason Bard. Remember him? The wounded war veteran who was a private detective who ran for district attorney and even dated Barbara a few times? Well, he's back, sort of. Now he's a corrupt political operative who used to be the commissioner. When Barbara reminds him that he framed her father for murder, he just dismisses it as politics as usual because Gotham is a tough town.
And it turns out he was one of the masked ruffians disrupting Alejo's rally. I'm a little unclear on what's going on. When Barbara goes to Alejo's office to volunteer, Jason is there, offering his services to protect Alejo from her political opponent Branson Moore, who seems to be an unsavory Gotham thug. I guess Bard was acting undercover to get the goods on Moore's tactics. Alejo doesn't seem impressed. But this issue ends rather abruptly without really getting into any of the details of what happened with Bard and the thugs. There's an assassin named the Cormorant who has to be shown in his room, plotting to kill most of the main characters.
We'll have to see how this storyline develops.
I am really annoyed to see Jason Bard brought back in this capacity. There are already a number of crooked Gotham political operatives that could be brought back and revamped a little. Arthur Reeves from the early 1980s comes to mind. He would fit in really well in this role with only minor changes to the character's back story. I also remember that the Batgirl backup series in Detective Comics in the early 1970s had a number of minor characters (whose names I don't remember) who could have been revived and been brought back for this role.
But for some reason, they need Jason Bard's name. It just seems so lazy to me. Jason Bard was a mildly entertaining character who could probably have really used some revamping in the modern DC Universe, but this character isn't Jason Bard in any way.
The storyline is titled "Old Enemies," so I was thinking it would be nice to see Killer Moth, the Cavalier, the Velvet Tiger, maybe some of those Gail Simone villains from the New 52.
But not Jason Bard.
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Post by thwhtguardian on Jan 5, 2019 19:33:10 GMT -5
Conan The Barbarian #1Written by Jason Aaron Art by Mahmud Asrar Summary: After a hard day of slaying in the fighting pits Conan finds himself seduced by a strange woman...who turns out to be a witch!
Plot: With his excellent Thor the Barbarian stories I had no worries about the quality if Aaron's Conan, but even I was pretty surprised with how great this book was. Although it's a new number one and it is very accessible to anyone not already familiar with Conan, it still felt like something that was part of a much larger story and striking that delicate balance between new and old was truly stunning to see. While the plot device of one villain over different time periods has been used by Aaron in the past it really fits well with Conan, whose stories tended to jump around under Howard's own pen, so as long as every story isn't some generations spanning menace I think we'll be okay.
Art: I loved how scarred Asrar's Conan looked, you could really believe he was a battle hardened veteran here.
Grade:9/10 “Fighting pits”? As in the Milius movie but nowhere in Howard’s work? Dread! This creepy feeling that makes the hair on the nape of my neck stand up is dread!!! That one scene definitely felt like something out of the Schwarzenegger films but the rest really did feel like classic Conan. |
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