Weekly Comics Report - August 7 2011

Every week is some new comics and every week I'll have some reviews on some choice comics. I won't get to all of them, but I'll choose some comics I looked forward to and give my verdict. [I'm still working at it, so forgive the inexperience]. Also, some of them may be late - I may have missed a week on a comic maybe. Either way, enjoy.

FLASHPOINT #4 (of 5)

Writer: Geoff Johns

Art: Andy Kubert, (Inker) Jesse Delperdang, & (Colorist) Alex Sinclair

DC Comics $3.99

Winding down the series and into the the DCnU has been one big ride. Ups and downs. Big moments to very underwhelming moments. This is what I feel about this book. This book had all of that. Nothing overly exciting happened. Without giving too much away, I was very happy to see the Marvel Family in the mix. I also liked the need Barry felt to jump in the war between the Amazons and Atlantis. These is a great shot of Aquaman and Wonder Woman fighting drawn by Andy Kubert, which is probably the best scene in the whole book this week. It was exciting. That's Kubert's art for you. EPIC! Gonna get the last issue too. You should to, it leads right into Justice League #1 [2011] for the DCnU in September. 8/10

Ultimate Fallout #4 (of 6)
Writers: Brian Michael Bendis (Spider-Man), Johnathan Hickman (Reed Richards), Nick Spencer (Valerie Cooper)
Art: Sarah Pichelli, Salvador Larroca, Claton Crain
Marvel $3.99

First off, congratulations to Marvel for Miles Morales, the Black (bi-racial) Spider-Man. He made his debut this week. This is big! This means a lot. The story for his debut was cool. Nothing more, nothing less. It was written in typical Bendis fashion, with a lot of words in and throughout the action. I like Sarah Pichelli's art also. Her pencils are beautiful for the new Spider-Man title. I didn't like the colors though. They were a bit dark, and considering the debut was short and not heavy on any major topics, it could have been done without. Now, for Hickman's return of Reed Richards story - great! I know I didn't like when Reed turned bad, but now I'm warming up to it. He's still a genius and believes he's doing the right things. He's a man now and Richards is moving forward like everyone else. Larocca's art was great, as usual. No disappointment there. And then there's Spencer's Valerie Cooper story. I have to say that it was king of on the boring side. It was all build up till the end. The flow was nice and it kept a nice pace throughout, so it wasn't awful. And actually, in a subtle way, it sets up a lot for what's going to happen in his Ultimate X-Men title he's going to be writing. Something else I really loved this week in comics was some of Clayton Crain's artwork. Haven't seen him around since his X-Force, Vol. 4: Necrosha days with Yost and Kyle. (Great read by the way). [P.S. - Nyugen and Ferry wasn't in this book for whatever  reason. I wonder why that was. Clayton and Larocca did a great job!]
8/10

The Punisher #1 [2011]
Writer: Greg Rucka
Art: Marco Checchetto, Matt Hollingsworth (Colors)
Marvel $3.99

I'm a really big Punisher fan. I figure any incarnation of him is worth checking out. In the right hands, he's great, as established by Garth Ennis in the MAX series of books. With a writer like Rucka, a man who's experienced in crime and noir books, this was a great choice. With this books debut, I feel it was the best it could have been. It wasn't awful. At first, the sequencing was confusing, but getting in you get who's who and what's what. What concerns me more is how long this title can stay afloat. It does great in the MAX series, but in the normal Marvel Universe, with alls that's going on, it can fall short. Anyway, it's started off great, and for new readers it's not hard to get into. Checchetto's art on the Punisher is great. Makes him seen bigger than life when he appears.
                                                        7/10

S.H.I.E.L.D. vol. 2 #2
Writer: Johathan Hickman
Art: Dustin Weaver
Marvel $2.99

There are so many different layers in this book it's crazy. It's phenomenal how Hickman infuses so many elements into this book without it being lost in it's translation. The continuty of the Marvel universe being mashed together beautifully with the ideals and history of our world. Don't get me wrong, Life-Model Decoy's do not actually exist (that we know of), but Hickman makes us believe that da Vinci created the first one! The war between ideas, the war between Newton and da Vinci, is told so well, in that it makes you feel that you need to choose a side just for your own sake. Then they'res Dustin Weaver...probably a very large reason why the book is succeeding. His art is incredible. His layouts are just great! I wonder what Hickman asks him to draw for the the words he pens? That must be a very interesting process. Great read.
9/10

X-23 #13
Writer: Marjorie Liu
Art: Phil Noto [cover: Kalman Andrasofszky]
Marvel $2.99

I really like Ms. Liu's take on Wolverine's clone. Making X a teenage girl, just trying to find who she is beyond the trained assassin has been a very enjoyable ride. Now X and Gambit finds themselves in New York City, a city with some history to X and potentially new allies in Spider-Man. Liu's take on Spider-Man was a very nice compliment to X, him being the experienced adult  in a save-and-rescue mission in downtown New York. The way the person react's to X saving her is really funny, also so is the dialog between X-23 and Spider-Man. With Spider-Man's history with the Wolverine, Liu exploits that with Spidey needing to be on his toes about himself around her. He trust her, but she's still new at this. I like Noto's work in the book also. His attention to the feel of the situation transmitted to the characters face is done very well. He keeps X-23 looking very serious all the time, but also unsure of herself in any given moment. I hope more people pic up the book.
8/10

American Vampire: Survival Of The Fittest #2 (of 5)
Writer: Scott Snyder
Art: Sean Murphy
Vertigo $2.99

I'm a new reader to this title and I took a chance on this because I've heard good things. So the cheapest way to dive into the American Vampire was to get hip to this mini-series. I love it. Two issues in and close to no appointment's. I do feel that I'm missing something with the relationship between Skinner Sweet and Felicia, the female lead, but that's to be expected. No big complaints, as to everything else is set up brilliantly. The little mishap with the Nazi's and it's resolution by Cash was done beautifully. I'd expect nothing less. Quite funny too. Murphy's art work is quite breath-taking as well. All the characters pop out the panels against the monotone backgrounds. Great read!
9/10

Special Report: Batman: Battle For The Cowl [Revisited]

Anyone remember the ol’ Battle For The Cowl event by DC after Batman seemingly died in the Final Crises? Well, I just got done reading it again and I have to say, I didn’t like it as much as I originally did. When I first read it I was just starting out with comics and when this came up I was just excited to just read it. Now, I see some things I didn’t like with the personality of the characters and some of the pacing. It’s still a quality read though, just doesn’t have that much staying power. Espectially now with the DC reboot coming in September.


For more, head over to my TUMBLR for the rest of the review and my rating

Weekly Comics Report - June 19 2011

Every week is some new comics and every week I'll have some reviews on some choice comics. I won't get to all of them, but I'll choose some comics I looked forward to and give my verdict. Also, some of them may be late - I may have missed a week on a comic maybe. either way, enjoy.

Kirby: Genesis #1
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Art: Jack Herbert and Alex Ross
Dynamite Entertainment $3.99

The story takes place in Minnesota with college brainy kid Kirby and childhood, hot friend Bobbi. If you ready Kirby: Genesis #0, then you'll get a pretty good feel of how they both grew up and where they've gone since star gazing from their front porch as children. They both made it to college, and as stated before about who they are, their dynamic is great! A college kid trying to make heads or tails out of things, trying to cram all this work for test in an impossible semester., who's into show's like Chuck. We don't get a real good guage on how smart Bobbi is, but she can't be dumb to make to where she has. But, she'd rather party and try to get Kirby out of his shell. Also looks like she want's to get him laid too. Then, when these large, majestic figures appear in the sky, all eyes are to the sky, then their world begin's to change. Building's come out of no where, technology buried deep in the earth, space ship's land and start attacking people. Now Bobbi want's to go on an "adventure" with Kirby to see what they can find, but Bobbi is more connected than anyone could dream of.
8/10

Daken: Dark Wolverine #10
Writer: Rob Williams
Art: Matteo Buffagni, Riley Rossmo, Cris Peter, Riley Rossmo; Cover: Giuseppe Camuncoli, Frank Martin

Marvel $2.99

After the great story in this series 9.1 special, questions about Daken's future was put into question. Where would he go once he left Madripoor and how would he handle himself? Well in issue 10 all of those is answered. Daken is ready to set the city of Hollywood ablaze by taken down the baddest and consuming a new drug called Heat that beats his healing factor. The drug has a profound effect on a person's perception's and with skills like Daken's that could prove deadly. I like how Rob is setting Daken apart, even more, from his father Wolverine. It set's up well for deeper story telling in the future. I also like how the law is presented to. Nothing special about the team except that an FBI agent has been tailing Daken for a long time and is getting closer to him. All in all, except for some of the sketchy time lapses, it was a pretty fulfilling read. The art was great. Daken looks insane in every panel, like he could do anything at any moment. 

8/10

X-Men #13 (2011)
Writer: Christopher Yost
Art: (NOW) Paco Medina (THEN) Dalibor Talajic
Marvel $3.99 (dammit)

In this months issue we find out more about the so called Evolutionaries. Their just that, evolution, and their goal is protect the next step in evolution from any threats. In their second meeting with the X-Men now want to remove Scott Summers/Cyclops from the picture so the "leader" can lead mutant's, excuse me "homo superior", can take over once humanity is destroyed. When the story flashes back to the first encounter with with the Evolutionaries, this issue, focuses on the Magneto and his Brotherhood of Mutant's. Yost does a great job of showcasing Magneto's dominance and presence during. All of the art is pretty much awesome. My only hangup of the issue is the end. Some other mutant's on the island begin to attack Celeste, it just seems out of place to me. Not that it couldn't happen for what they want, but the why. I also don't reconize them. But I'm looking forward to next issue. I'm expecting greatness!
9/10

Ghost Rider #0.1
Writer: Rob Williams
Art: Matthew Clark, Sean Parsons, Robert Schwager
Marvel $2.99

Johnny Blaze is a paranoid, redneck with powers of the occult to take down evil and sinners. The book starts out action packed with Johnny talking about how bad a job being Ghost Rider is. Then when he's just Johnny, he's pathetic. He doesn't know what to do. He seem's as if he wants to die. Well, he end's up getting his chance of sorts. A way to get rid of the Ghost Rider. No tricks by some demon. It just seems like a regular older dude that sees the need to help him, but he's know's a lot, but Johnny doesn't question it. Also, this connects to the event Fear Itself, so the guy who want's to help Johnny, Adam, is connected to the Serpent somehow so that is worth exploring...if the main book Fear Itself crawls out of it's ass so we know why the Serpent is doing this and his history with Asgard and Odin. The art is sort of, I guess, cool. But it's so much cooler when it's Ghost Rider in the panels. Maybe that was done on purpose. I won't spoil the ending, but I'm curious to see what happens now. I thought there where two Ghost Riders.
7(.5)/10

Avengers (2011) #14
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Art: John Romita JR, Klaus Janson, Dean White
Marvel $3.99

Bendis still going strong heading into the Fear Itself tie-in for the flagship Avengers book. Interviews with the Avenger's team, in the past and present (I'm assuming), is proving to do very well at showing us what an Avenger is and how the Red Hulk is proving himself to be an Avenger. The thing get's himself one of them hammers and turns into a engine of carnage and destruction. The way Bendis writes the story makes Red Hulk so heroic. Fearless. Brave. All those good words any of us would want in a hero. And then JRJ's art is phenomenal as usual, with Janson and White on the assist. It was a great read this week.
10/10

Fear Itself: Youth In Revolt #2 (of 6)
Writer: Sean McKeever
Art: Mike Norton and Veronica Gandini (colors)
Marvel $2.99

If you got into Marvel's Avengers: The Initiative series from two years ago then your going to love this. Newcomers should also. Since the hammers of the Serpent are falling everywhere and the avatars are so powerful, it's all hands on deck. We see the result of what happens to Thor Girl (worst name ever) as she's carted off to the clink by the leader of the Initiative, Prodigy. It's for the camera's he says till everything blows over. It's sort of believable how everyone mistakes TG's paper-weight of a hammer for a tool of destruction. It's the fear I suppose. And the fact that is isn't that many up close pics of the Serpent's avatars for the public to see. There are some interesting appearences in this issue, so how that turns out will be anyone's guess. It's enough to see how it turns out.
7/10

Weekly Comics Report - June 12 2011

Every week is some new comics and every week I'll have some reviews on some choice comics. I won't get to all of them, but I'll choose some comics I looked forward to and give my verdict. Also, some of them may be late - I may have missed a week on a comic maybe. either way, enjoy

Fear Itself: Deadpool #1(of 3)
Writer: Christopher Hastings
Art: Bong Dazo, Joe Pimentel, Matt Mill; Cover: Stegman, Babinski, & Rauch
Marvel $2.99

I'm happy to say that I was really pleased to newcomer Hastings to this tie-in book. I'm even more happy because I originally didn't intend on buying the book, I got it my mistake. What impressed me the most was Hastings honest to the character and what he's all about. I had some laugh out loud moments with all of the shenanigans that Deadpool pulls with the villain he's manipulating with one of the "hammers" that falls in front of him. And even the villain, The Walrus (I guess he's a Spider-Man guy) is written pretty awesome with all of his mischief. Without giving too much away, the Walrus gets his hammer and is met with The Spectre of Mass Destruction and has to head to Cimarron, New Mexico to wreak havoc. Then enters Deadpool. Pretty much my favorite book of the event so far. Much better than the main book to me.
9/10

Samurai's Blood #1
Writer: Owen Wiseman
Art: Nam Kim, Matthew Dalton, Sakti Yuwono
Image $1.00

This was a great suggestion from the guys over at Paradox Comics this week. And for a dollar it was too good to pass up. Throughout the book it's fool of anecdotes that tell the story of what the Samurai's code and sense of honor as well as what's going on with the story beautifully. The story takes place in the Edo Period and the story starts off with the Sanjo clan in danger from within. With no provocation things get out of control and three teenagers are introduced to a world of violence. And with that introduction the teenagers (Jun, Katashi, and Yuko; left to right on cover) relationships must change. The new Daimyo is now lord over his new samurai and the sister of one and lover to the other must guide him to be the best samurai. Wiseman get's into many themes of the time and does so effortlessly through the narrative. Gender roles, the roles of man and woman, and how to deal with growing children for that time peroid. It was a well written period-fiction and I'm defiantly wanting more of it.
 8/10

Who Are The...Mystery Men #1 (of 5)
Writer: David Liss
Art: Patrick Zircher and Andy Troy
Marvel $2.99

Well this was a big heap of fun. An in-continuity super hero crime book is awesome and Liss does a great job. Everything from the language of the time (which was funny. Some of that needs to be brought back) art was just the bees nees. Also what is great to me is the vigilante disguises! They're all well made suites! Just great. The heavy inks provided the necessary darkness the series seems to be heading toward, especially with the great demon that appears in the story. The main character's family is a pretty connected man in New York City at the time and he's the vigilante known as The Operative. The story stays on pace with lots of action and conspiracy. Towards the middle we meat the villain, a man in a collective of other normal humans that control the crime on the Eastcoast with powers granted to him by a demon, but not too much about their relationship or the extent of his powers are brought to light just yet. The book also speaks to the race relations of the time which comes into perspective with a mysterious, cloaked avenger called The Revenant who happens to be Black. And he's the strongest hero so far!
10/10

Flashpoint: Emperor Aquaman #1 (of 3)
Writer: Tony Bedard
Art: Ardian Syaf & Vincent Cifuentes
DC Comics $2.99

Isn't it great to see Aquaman on a cover again? Looks pretty badass, right? If you read the first issue of Flashpoint then you'd know that Aquaman is at war and he's sunkin Europe in efforts to stop....(I really don't know. Either I've missed it or has yet to have been said why). In this first issue we find out the events leading up to the sinking of the continent and how it is done. Also, Ocean Master serves the Emperor, a byproduct of the event. Aquaman, the King, is a master manipulator and Bedard makes a point to disguise that in that he doesn't give too much out in the first chapter. What we do find out, in just snippets, is that the war between him and the Amazon's is a fixed marriage for power gone wrong and other little pieces that will keep you wanting more. Syaf's art is all business in this book. Everyone, as they should, drawn in the book has a stern look on their face and Syaf keeps that going on through the whole book. Making decisions about your nation can't be an easy thing after all. And you can pretty much see deception in Mera's face as soon as she tells King Brion about this alliance Aquaman want's to have. It's really exciting.
9/10

Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #1 (of 3)
Writer & Artist: Scott Kolins
DC Comics $2.99

This places the leader of Flash's Rogues, Captain Cold, in a world where he the reluctant hero with a chip on his shoulder and a deep secret of Central City. The city is attacked by Dr. Freeze and to protect the city and Citizen Cold has to kill him to save it? Yes, and the public is okay with that. And who else but Iris and Wally West to show up to get the scoop on the latest development. If you've been following Geoff Johns run on the Flash then you'd be familiar with the rogues seeing as that none of them change that much. Iron Heights is Iron Heights and the Rogues are as bad as ever and are plotting something big for our would-be hero. Cold is pretty much the same too, he still likes his hookers and parties. And the feelings for his sister is going to play a big role in this tie-in. Especially after she's on the news that same night about some family business. Kolins does a great job with the writing, as well as the art too. I would say that his inking makes the book kind of rough, but Cold is a rough man to deal with. All in all, it was a good read, and it let us know about one of the former speedsters.
8/10

Weekly Comics Report - June 5 2011

Every week is some new comics and every week I'll have some reviews on some choice comics. I won't get to all of them, but I'll choose some comics I looked forward to and give my verdict. Also, some of them may be late - I may have missed a week on a comic maybe. either way, enjoy

Flashpoint #2
Writer: Geoff Johns
Art: Andy Kubert, Sandra Hope,
Alex Sinclair
DC COMICS $3.99 (holding the line? smh)

So it's part two in this event and I have to say while it's good, It's doing a lot with incorporating other  story lines from the new world of Flashpoint into the main book - they should be left in the tie-in book. There are a lot of pages dedicated to this and it should be more focused on Barry, at least THE FLASH (any of them even though I'm not getting how ZOOM is doing any of this if Barry isn't a speedster...remains to be seen). Then comes Thomas Wayne as Batman, I love it...well, the idea. I do feel like his eagerness to help Barry so quickly after he mentions Bruce and Barry's new found knowledge so quickly is a cause for concern, but I think Johns can clean that up nicely. And speaking of nice - the Kubert art. It's always spectacular. The cover alone is great, although he makes Barry look like a really young guy. I know the speed force keeps them young but man! I'm going to finish the series and some choice tie-ins though, can't back out now before the big reboot. And knowing Johns, this is going to be relevant to DC for a long time.
7/10

X-Men #12
Writer: Christopher Yost
Art: (NOW) Paco Medina (THEN) Dalibor Talajic
Marvel Comics $3.99

Now this is just a good story. I'm really glad that Yost is back with the X-Universe (I'd like to Craig Kyle with him on something soon too). This leaves off from the Giant Size X-men that was released a few weeks ago. This week we get a some more information about the Evolutionaries. Things like how long they have really been around and what they are, but not much. Keeps you wanting more. The whole chapter this week is full of tension, when it breaks everything goes out of control and Cyclops is trying to keep everything together for the sake of getting past this, but the Evolutionaries have a big problem with Cyclops role the past few years and plan to take him out for it. What's also really interesting is Archangel. Outside of X-Force you don't see him at all, you just see Warren, so I'm eager to see what's his role in this arc. Without being super nitpickey, my only criticism is when Talahjic draws Angel. I just fel he draws his wings too small.
9/10

Xombi

Writer: John Rozum
Art: Frazer Irving
DC Comics $2.99

Rozum is really good at making David a hero. The not not quiting in front of impossible odds deal does not fall short with him and is emphasized throughout the narrative. He's up againsted in incarnate of rage and he's not stopping, while the Maranatha is beating him to a pulp. Coupled with the great art from Irving, I believe it's a great series with a lot to offer for DC. I wonder if this is one of the titles in the reboot...I mean it just started. Anyway, it's a great read
8/10





S.H.I.E.L.D. vol. 2: The Beginning of The End
Writer: Jonathan Hickman
Art: Dustin Weaver and Sonia Oback (colors)
Marvel $3.99

The Forever Man aka Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarrotti Simoni is the focus of this story. His part he's played in young Leonid's life is revealed as well as his history with S.H.I.E.L.D. and it seems to me that he's the most important character so far. Things are put into place because of him and the way it's written, now that I think about it, means that he could be a bad guy, or rather on a side of his own. He's a man a being that is facilitating everything and is in there to council Leonid. Waiting to see how he handles it will be fun to read. What's weird is Leonid's mother - a gross looking alien, and Newton had him and he still looked human, but with powers. (hmmm..) Hickman didn't linger on that too long and that made way for decisions that impacted the present war in the book. Also, it's great for new readers since it gives a brief description of some the great minds of history as related to the story in the back, I liked that a lot.
9(.5)/10