Justice League #25
(W) Bryan Hitch (A) Tom Derenick, Trevor Scott, Andy Owens (CA) Bryan Hitch
In Shops: Jul 19, 2017
SRP: $3.99
In this issue, an ancient cosmic evil is revived on Earth-a threat that once took the combined Green Lantern Corps to defeat many millennia ago. Now, how can six heroes and two Green Lanterns possibly put this cosmic genie back into its proverbial bottle?
Justice League #23
(W) Tom DeFalco (A) Tom Derenick, Trevor Scott (CA) Paul Pelletier, Sandra Hope
RATED T
In Shops: Jun 21, 2017
SRP: $2.99
The League takes on an extremist anti-terror group led by a dangerous fanatic named Black Flag. But by trying to stop him and his paramilitary team, is the League actually making the world less safe from terrorism?
Cyborg #11
(W) John Semper Jr. (A) Tom Derenick, Tony Kordos (A/CA) Will Conrad
RATED T
In Shops: Apr 05, 2017
SRP: $3.99
Severely damaged and on the run, Cyborg struggles to find his father as the Rat Lord engulfs Detroit with his army of rodents! But when the Rat Lord oversteps his boundaries, it causes a turf war within the criminal underworld. Introducing 8-BIT, who has the power to delete anything in his path-and he’s looking forward to reuniting with Vic Stone!
Red Hood and The Outlaws #7
(W) Scott Lobdell (A) Mirko Clark, Tom Derenick (CA) Giuseppe Camuncoli, Cam Smith
RATED T
In Shops: Feb 08, 2017
SRP: $2.99
“how do you solve a problem like Bizarro?”! Now that Black Mask is defeated, Artemis continues her quest for the Bow of Ra-a weapon of immense power. Meanwhile, Jason is dealing with an immense power of his own-Bizarro. What’s to be done about such a volatile creature…and is he too dangerous to be kept alive?
“How do you solve a problem like Bizarro?”! Now that Black Mask is defeated, Artemis continues her quest for the Bow of Ra—a weapon of immense power. Meanwhile, Jason is dealing with an immense power of his own—Bizarro. What’s to be done about such a volatile creature…and is he too dangerous to be kept alive?
After the events of the six part Dark Trinity story, Red Hood And The Outlaws get a bit of a reprieve in this standalone(ish) story that finds Red Hood questioning just what he should do with the immense power that is Bizarro. It’s a unique take on the with “great power…” line that Spider-Man so often utters, told with a flashback or two that leads up to the final act that should be no surprise to any who’ve seen the standard cover (which should be all of you reading this review).
But the journey to this point is well done, exploring the troubled psyche of Jason Todd as he tries to find which side of the line he falls, and whether he really should just let a destructive powerhouse like Bizarro free. There are some interesting exchanges between Artemis and Todd in the flashback sequences, although it’s easily Bizarro that steals the show this issue, whether it’s the more somber moments or the ones in which he’s acting like a slightly more intelligent Hulk, when he’s in panel it’s always a pleasure to see him, especially with the way Mirko Colak brings him to life. The same cannot always be said for Jason Todd’s unmasked face, but that’s personal taste more than a criticism on any artistic ability.
At the end of the day, this comic is the epitome of the series so far, because while it’s an entertaining read, the questions it asks are never quite subtle enough not to be spelled out for you. The end result of the comic won’t be a surprise, nor will the dilemma faced by Jason Todd and how he reacts to it. That Artemis is used almost entirely to send Red Hood on the deep soul searching journey he undertakes this issue makes her feel like an underused aspect of the Outlaws (even if her verbal jousting with Red Hood as she uses his computer is one of the highlights of the comic).
Make no mistake, this is a comic about Red Hood first and the Outlaws second, but given the series title that’s to be expected. Red Hood And The Outlaws has been like a reliable old Ford pickup; solid and reliable, but unlikely to set the land-speed record.
Story: Scott Lobdell Art: Mirko Colak
Breakdowns: Tom Derenick Colours: Veronica Gandini
Story: 8.0 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Four weeks into the new year and three weeks of new comic days! We’ve got two more first volumes to two DC Comics “Rebirth” trade paperbacks!
Green Lanterns Vol. 1: Rage Planet collecting issues #1-6 and Rebirth by Sam Humphries, Robson Rocha, Geoff Johns, Ethan Van Sciver, Ed Benes, and Tom Derenick.
Nightwing Vol. 1: Better Than Batman collecting issues #1-4, #7-8, and Rebirth by Tom Seeley, Javier Fernandez, and Chris Sotomayor.
Find out what each trade has in store and whether you should grab yourself a copy. You can find both in comic stores January 25 and bookstores January 31.
Get your copies now. To find a comic shop near you, visit http://www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook or digitally and online with the links below.
Green Lanterns Vol. 1 Amazon/Kindle/comiXology or TFAW
Nightwing Vol. 1 Amazon/Kindle/comiXology or TFAW
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with FREE copies for review
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Green Lanterns #15
(W) Sam Humphries (A) Tom Derenick, Miguel Mendonca, Scott Hanna (CA) Tyler Kirkham
RATED T
In Shops: Jan 18, 2017
SRP: $2.99
“GHOSTS OF THE PAST”! Jessica and Simon head to Portland on a case that’s close to the heart: the murder of Jessica Cruz’s friends. And now that she has some ring-slinging experience, Jessica goes back to the one place she’s feared to return-and she won’t stop until she finds the killer.
Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five Chapter Twenty-Seven
Writer: Brian Buccellato
Arty by Tom Derenick
Cover by David Yardin
Flash has to face Superman’s wrath as a result of giving aid to Batman. Is a permanent rift forming in the regime?
The chapter will be available for download Tuesday via the DC Comics App, Readdcentertainment.com, iBooks, comiXology.com, Google Play, Kindle Store, Nook Store, and iVerse ComicsPlus.
All of the magic in the DC universe is being drained. The white gates are on the edge of falling and releasing monsters who have lived before the concept of good and evil. All signs point to Black Alice as the reason why and every magical hero and villain, is now out to steal her from the Secret Six.
The premise of the story is fairly simple. Black Alice is taking all of the world’s magic in what’s deemed her “magical puberty” and, now, she needs to be stopped before the Earth is taken over. This simple premise though, allows for a multitude of different character from all parts of the DC universe to interact and, the results are at most hilarious and, at worst very entertaining. Etigan’s poems are a particular highlight, considering the Secret Six react to his arrival in the most inappropriate way possible. The same inappropriate way they react to everything. Their ability to never react to a situation properly, leads to great character moments early on in the narrative when Catman, Thomas Blake, attempts to teach Strix from the Court of Owls, the game of basketball. Needless to say, it does not go well. Later, he takes the entire team out to play putt-putt and, it again, becomes a horrible mess. Both of these scenes, are extremely funny and contribute a lot to the character development of the team. The other important events of the tale are Ralph Dibny and his interactions around, a still bed ridden, Black Alice after the events of issue #6. These scenes are more heartfelt and genuine, and show that below the rough and insane exterior of the Secret Six, there is a deeper emotional layer that Gail Simone is slowly peeling away.
The artwork in this comic is very solid throughout. There is an issue of many panels being laid out poorly and angled without the purpose of adding to the story. This leaves a lot of unnecessary white space on some pages. Although, not all of the lay outs are poor. The five vertical panel Etrigan page is particularly well done and a real highlight of artwork enhancing a story. Inside the panels, the character are well designed and the actions scenes, particularly Ralph Dibny’s, are fast paced and chaotic.
Overall, Secret Six builds on the momentum of issues #5 and #6. The characters are truly coming into their own and each is beginning to feel completely natural and fluid in the wild world that the Secret Six inhabits. The story may not be groundbreaking but, anyone looking for a fun comic, does not need to look any further than Secret Six #7.
Story: Gail Simone Art: Tom Derenick, Dale Eaglesham
Story 8: Art: 7 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials Official Graphic Novel Prelude
Written by: Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly, Wes Ball & T.S. Nowlin
Illustrated by: Marcus To, Andrea Mutti, Nick Robles, and Tom Derenick
With over 6.5 million copies of the Maze Runner series of books sold and a franchise-launching film that earned over $340 million worldwide, it’s plain to see fans are in love with this sci-fi series about a group of young adults who are locked in a struggle for survival in the shadow of a gigantic maze. Readers got their first taste of Maze Runner comics at last year’s San Diego Comic-Con panel and then in the film’s Blu-ray release, and BOOM! has added three more stories that serve as an introduction to new characters from the upcoming second film, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials.
As anticipation for 20th Century Fox’s Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials ramps up (out in September), gain more insight into the Maze Runner cinematic universe with this anthology collection of five short stories that go deeper into the lives of several key characters that feature prominently in the upcoming film, including Aris, Ava Paige, and Mary Cooper.
