Alex K Cossa, Author at Graphic Policy

Author Archives: Alex K Cossa

DC Rebirth Roundup: March 21st’s Comics

Posted on March 27, 2018 by Alex K Cossa

Welcome to Graphic Policy’s DC Rebirth: Recap And Review where we take a look at the comics released under DC‘s Rebirth banner and try to work out just how accessible they are for new readers – we’ll also be providing recap of sorts for the relevant story beats up until the issue in question in order to help you figure out if the series is something you’re interested in.

Each comic will receive a rating of Friendly or Unfriendly based on how easy it was for new readers to pick them up; the ratings are based solely on the issues released in the post-Rebirth ongoing series. More consideration regarding the comic’s accessibility will be given for the specific issue being read rather than the series overall, but if reading a back issue will help, then that will be mentioned. You’ll also notice that each comic will get a rating that falls on Graphic Policy’s typical ten point scale, which is there to help you pick between issues if you only want to check out one or two.

Not every comic is covered week to week, and that’s because I sometimes forget to read them (although that doesn’t happen often), or I really can’t bring myself to pick up the issue. If I have missed an issue, typically I won’t go looking for back issues to catch up on events – this feature is all about accessibility for new readers, after all.

*please note that due to a wonderful error, I lost the first version I wrote this. That said, this is far briefer than normal, and you have my apologies for that as I barely remember the comics at this point.

Aquaman #34 A look at the history of King Rath. It’s an interesting and Friendly look into Aquaman’s current enemy. 7/10

Batman #43 Wait till next issue. Please. Unfriendly. 3/10

Green Lanterns #43 The Unfriendly-ish conclusion to an arc that had the space cops crossing the galaxy undercover in pursuit of superhuman slave traders. Not bad, as things go, but the series has been better. 5/10

Justice League #41 The Watchtower crashed to Earth, and people want its parts. Despite how it feels, this is Friendly.

Nightwing #41 An immortal manipulator is responsible for 30-odd deaths in three meetings with Nightwing, and the former boy wonder blames himself. Now, in this Friendly conclusion, we see Nightwing try to do the impossible to stop The Judge. 7.2/10

Super Sons #14 Robin’s mother, Talia Al Ghul, is trying to murder Lois Lane. Guess who’s gotta stop her? Yeah. Enjoy this Friendly romp through comic greatness. 8/10

Superman #43 Super Boy accidentally on purpose visited Bizarro world. Now, Boyzarro has appeared in his bedroom. 7.5/10

Review: Usagi Yojimbo: The Hidden #1

Posted on March 26, 2018 by Alex K Cossa

I have never read an issue of Usagi Yojimbo before, but I got sucked in by the shiny number one emblazoned upon the front cover and a burgeoning need to discover just why a friend of mine had been raving about the series for years. So I opened the review copy, put my feet up and settled down to read a comic I knew next to nothing about.

Before we go any further, I feel it’s important to note that as I have never read any Usagi Yojimbo before I am utterly unqualified to judge this comic against previous stories featuring Stan Sakai‘s anthromorphic rabbit samurai. Therefore my judgement on this comic may not line up with those who have had long term exposure to the story. So that said, I really enjoyed this issue. The art may be an almost simplistic black and white, but it’s crisp, clean and easy to read, which is imperative for a black and what comic.

The story opens on some largely unremarkable characters for the most part, but you will still find yourself caring enough about them for the relatively brief period of time you’ll be with them.

I can’t tell you if this is a good introduction to the character, but I can tell you I enjoyed this enough to come back for more.

Story: Stan Sakai Art: Stan Sakai
Story: 8.0 Art: 7.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Dark Horse provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Mini Reviews For The Week Ending 3/24

Posted on March 25, 2018 by Alex K Cossa

Sometimes, the staff at Graphic Policy read more comics than we’re able to get reviewed. When that happens you’ll see a weekly feature compiling short reviews from the staff of the comics, or graphic novels, we just didn’t get a chance to write a full review for.

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews.

Ryan C

Batman #43 (DC)** – So that’s it, huh? Poison Ivy takes over the whole world except, for reasons never explained, Batman and Catwoman — then three issues later, one punch and some persuasive dialogue get her to give up her scheme. Poor show, Tom King — very poor show indeed. Clay Mann and Hugo Petrus do their best to elevate a garbage comic with some truly luscious art, but you know what they say about putting lipstick on a pig. Overall: 3 Recommendation: Pass

Deadman #5 (DC)** – If you thought Neal Adams had gone off the deep end before this issue (and you were right, by the way), prepare to see him completely sink into a veritable ocean of insane nonsense here. Nothing anyone is saying or doing makes any sense from first page to last in this book, and Adams’ art — well, let’s just be polite and say it ain’t what it used to be. Not even close. All of which makes this the most poorly-done comic on the shelves this week — but also undeniably compelling and singular work. Overall: 0. Recommendation: Buy. This is not a typo.

Thanos #17 (Marvel)** – Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw are having so much fun doing this comic that the enthusiasm is downright contagious to readers. This issue is no more substantive than the average 1990s Image rag, but it’s far better-drawn than any of them were, and the story, while straight out of the “dumb jock” school of comics, is actually quite a bit of fun. A lot of cool future versions of fan-favorite characters have been introduced in the first few chapters of the “Thanos Wins” storyline — and they all get killed here. Batshit crazy fun if you’re willing to shut off your brain and go with the flow. Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Buy

Ice Cream Man #3 (Image)** – The third issue of W. Maxwell Prince and Martin Morazzo’s anthology of stand-alone horror stories falls somewhere between the lackluster first and the stellar second, but the clean, detailed art and the story’s semi-unique take on “fallen star syndrome” make it well worth your time, if not your money. There will be ups and down with any series of this sort, but it would probably be a mistake not to at least keep an eye on what’s being done here. Overall: 6.5 Recommendation: Read

Logan

Cave Carson Has An Interstellar Eye #1 (DC/Young Animal) – Jon Rivera, Michael Avon Oeming, and Nick Filardi for another adventure of Cave Carson, his daughter Chloe, and Professor Bartow that is one part psychedelia, another part spacey prog rock, and the mix is completed by “Blackstar” by David Bowie. The team visits Cave’s old friend, Star Adam, the godfather of rock, and they reminisce about the old days until Star finally it’s time to die. Oeming and Filardi’s art is brilliant and has all the glory and madness of the elaborate 80s MTV era music videos where rock stars became gods through sounds and visuals. Cave Carson #1 will make you miss David, Freddie, Prince, and Michael all at once while setting up some pretty crazy adventures in the future and delving into Cave’s backstory in the backup story, which is framed as a podcast. Overall: 9 Verdict: Buy

Kill or Be Killed #17 (Image) – Ed Brubaker uses Dylan’s unreliable narration to craft a simple revenge story in the psych hospital where he’s getting treatment. Sean Phillips and Elizabeth Breitweiser create plenty of claustrophobic spaces with his art and her sterile colors before Dylan ends up wandering in the falling snow, which is as pure as he wishes his motives would be. Again, Brubaker and Phillips make Dylan sympathetic by making his nemesis, Perry, a monster of a human being, who uses the “r” word and has sex with and gropes his patients. The guy had it coming, but this incident shows Dylan’s increasing addiction to vigilantism even when he’s supposed to be getting help. The longer game plotline of Dylan’s roommate discovering his guns in mask might seem more interesting, but this fairly standalone issue showcase the complex mixture of justice, revenge, and power that motivates Dylan to kill. Overall: 8.2 Verdict: Buy

Runaways #7 (Marvel) – Rainbow Rowell, Kris Anka, and Matthew Wilson settle in slowly into the new arc and focus on the team/family’s new dynamic by splitting them into pairs. Each character has an issue to deal with from Karolina’s long distance relationship with Julie Power plus college to Chase and Nico becoming parental figures and looking for jobs and Gert working out some body image things not so well with the still headless Victor. There are no villainous plots yet (Except for the last panel of the last page), and Rowell, Anka, and Wilson craft the story through a series of vignettes, including Nico and Karolina chilling at the diner, Nico and Chase slaying a parent teacher conference, and Molly exuberantly enjoying middle school. Anka still has the gift of fashion, and Wilson adds a splash of pastels as Molly does an elaborate BFF handshake. This book is way more concerned with every day family life than any sort of superheroics, and that’s totally cool. I love how Rainbow Rowell and Kris Anka show Nico and Karolina’s unlikely friendship. Overall: 8.5 Verdict: Buy

Patrick

Mage: the Hero Denied #7 (Image)** – As Kevin gets high and searches out the Questing Beast for Reasons, the real heroine of the book, Magda, is brutally assaulted by something in a man’s suit, also for Reasons. Meanwhile, more monsters take over Kevin’s son’s schoolbus, and another monster destroys his house. Apparently, with neighbours and the school board none the wiser. Just what is going on in this world, and how does it work? Overall: 6.5 Recommendation: Skip

Dry County #1 (Image)** – Though Spy Seal caught my eye, it wasn’t quite my cup of tea. So I was really happy to see a new Rich Tommaso series, and a Florida Noir at that. A chance encounter in an apartment laundry room leads to upheaval in the lonely life of a strip cartoonist. It doesn’t sound like much, but it’s all in the details. Watching a pretty regular guy who knows not much trying to work things out while drunk is always a good time for me. Tomasso’s writing nails Lou’s inner workings, and his art is cartoonishly stylized without being pretentious. Refreshing to just watch someone go to work telling a story. Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Big Trouble in Little China: Old Man Jack #7 (Boom!)** – This thing is just not slowing down. In this issue, the gang goes to rescue Egg Shen and things do not go exactly as planned – well, “plan” is a strong word. This series is one of the rare ones that actually has a pulp feel to it, like John Carpenter, Anthony Burch, and Jorge Corona are making it up as they go and then go, “it’s almost the end of the issue, we better have a cliffhanger”. But the cliffhanger actually has consequences. This is a really solid, fun ride. Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Kill Or Be Killed #17 (Image)** – While things go down badly back in the world, Dylan hatches a plan in Bellevue. Not a plan to get out, but to kill one of the orderlies. And yep, Perry is definitely deserving: abusing patients, getting high at work, calling people “retard”. But Dylan, now demonless and unmedicated, is even more of a mess now that he’s killing people for his own conflicted motives. Brubaker takes us right down that hole in the ice, and Sean Phillips and Elizabeth Breitweiser give us incredible images of snowstorms and staircases. As for the story going on in the outside world, well, I got so wrapped up in this issue that I completely forgot, too. Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Stray Bullets #33 (Image/El Capitan)** – When an entire issue spotlights Kretch’s quest to rid himself of the useless things and people in his life – you know, all the people to whom he has given so much and been let down by so hard – it’s best to maybe take a shot before you crack it open. When you realize that one of those useless things is the guy’s OWN ARM, you might as well just leave the bottle. “We’re the future and I’m letting your lumpy ass in on the ground floor” indeed. Another shot? Don’t mind if I do. David Lapham continues to delight. Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

Alex

Batman #43 (DC) Holey. Shit. No, really, that’s what this is. A comic with a plot full of holes, that is ultimately a turd. A pretty turd, of course, but a turd nonetheless. Overall: 2 Recommendation: Igore and consign to the depths of history.

Weapon H #1 (Marvel) When you have a character that is literally a cross between Hulk and Wolverine you kind of know what to expect here; and yes, you’ll be familiar with the story, but that doesn’t mean it is any less enjoyable. Greg Pak delivers a decent popcorn comic that doesn’t set the world on fire, but is more than entertaining. Overall: 7 Recommendation: Read

Well, there you have it, folks. The reviews we didn’t quite get a chance to write. See you next week!

Please note that with some of the above comics, Graphic Policy was provided FREE copies for review. Where we purchased the comics, you’ll see an asterisk (*). If you don’t see that, you can infer the comic was a review copy. In cases where we were provided a review copy and we also purchased the comic you’ll see two asterisks (**).

Underrated: Comics Not In Diamond’s Top 300 For February

Posted on March 24, 2018 by Alex K Cossa

This is a column that focuses on something or some things from the comic book sphere of influence that may not get the credit and recognition it deserves. Whether that’s a list of comic book movies, ongoing comics, or a set of stories featuring a certain character. The columns may take the form of a bullet pointed list, or a slightly longer thinkpiece – there’s really no formula for this other than whether the things being covered are Underrated in some way. This week: Comics not in Diamond’s top 100 sellers for February.

This week we’re going to be looking at a list of comics that are all fantastic, but don’t get the attention that they deserve. Now I’m not even going to pretend to have a definitively exhaustive list of underrated comics here, because we’re hoping that you decide to check at least one of these series out next time you’re looking for something new either online or at your LCS, and giving you a huge list to check out would be counter productive to that. Instead, you’ll find four to six comics that are worth your attention that failed to crack the top 300 in sales.

Where possible, I’ve also avoided comics that have appeared on the last version of this list, but the only hard stipulation for this week: not one of the comics made it into the top 300 for January’s comic sales, according to Comichron, which is why they’re Underrated.

TMNT Universe #19 (IDW)
February Sales Rank/Comics Sold: 213 / 7,429
A new story that feels freshly familiar to fans of the Turtles that acts as a showcase to some newer characters. This series has been consistently thoroughly enjoyable for some time, and this issue is no exception.

Bloodborne #1 (Titan Comics)
February Sales Rank/Comics Sold: 227 / 6,766
A series based on a video game that doesn’t suck? Believe it or not, yes. I read this before playing the game, and the comic was more than capable of standing alone as a creepy and intense setting, but after playing the game a little I can honestly say this comic is a brilliant adaptation.

Armstrong And The Vault Of Spirits #1 (Valiant)
February Sales Rank/Comics Sold: 271 / 5,038
A one shot story about family, immortality, and bad luck. Armstrong brings his friends to his gargantuan vault of various wines and spirits to reminisce about days gone by, only to be attacked by an evil alliance of all of his enemies. Blending comedy and emotional impact seamlessly into an brilliantly fun comic, this should have been read by more people than it was.

Fence #4 (Boom!)
February Sales Rank/Comics Sold: 374 / 2,601
Innocent, entertaining and a perfect break from some of the more universe spanning multi-part epics from other publishers. A not so guilty pleasure of mine that reminds me of when I used to stab other people in white coats (though not nearly as well).

Fu Jitsu #1 (Aftershock)
February Sales Rank/Comics Sold: 442 / 1,204
An utterly crazy concept where the villain is Robert Wadlow (who didn’t die). I have no words for this series, other than it’s a blast.

Unless the comics industry ceases any and all publication look for a future installment of Underrated to cover more comics that aren’t cracking the top 100.

Review: Ninja-K #5

Posted on March 21, 2018 by Alex K Cossa

“The murderous assault on MI6 has spilled out of the shadows and onto the streets of Britain’s capital! With his would-be killer unmasked, can Ninjak grapple with the truth behind the bloodstained legacy of MI6’s covert Ninja Programme…and an opponent with more experience, more precision, and more ruthless instincts than any he’s faced before?”

Full disclosure: I loved this comic. Everything about this series is a step above what I actually expect to get – even five issues in, Christos Gage, Tomas Giorelo and Diego Rodriguez continue to exceed expectations. Ninja-K #5 opens with an infiltration sequence as Ninja’s C and K infiltrate the department that ruined C’s life and may have been responsible for ruining K’s life as well. Balancing out the action is an internal monologue from the title character which explains what’s happening when there’s minimal dialogue without spoon feeding you a narration. The sequence is incredibly well presented in comic form by all involved, and provides a chilling look into the effectiveness of these operatives.

Tomas Giorello once again delivers an incredible work of art that is steeped in shadows and murk that the agents of the Ninja Programme live in. It’s art that is perfectly suited to the comic in your hand and it’s elevated by the colouring Diego Rodriguez. The pair deliver a book that is worth buying just to look at, but thankfully it’s also very much worth reading. Gage’s first arc comes to a close, and it does so in a way that will leave you thirsty for more. There’s noticeable character growth over the past five issue, and as Gage continues to explore the solitary nature of Ninja-K I eagerly anticipate more in the future. The first arc is a perfectly balanced tale with an ending that hits all the right notes.

There is literally nothing I can (truthfully) say against the art in this comic.

After the first arc, Ninja-K remains among the best series currently being published by any publisher, and is an absolute must read. Add this to your pull list today.

Story: Christos Gage Art: Tomas Giorello Colours: Diego Rodriguez
Story: 9.6 Art: 9.8 Overall: 9.7 Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review.

Review: Quantum & Woody #4

Posted on March 21, 2018 by Alex K Cossa

“They went looking for Woody’s birth father…and they’re about to wish they didn’t! Woody’s pop has left a long trail of broken promises and broken bottles behind him across the decades. Now, Quantum and Woody – the world’s worst superhero team, currently estranged – are thousands of miles from home, riding shotgun across Australia with the human dive bar that forever changed the course of both their lives. Will the senior Van Chelton convert his long-lost son to his hard-traveling ways? And can Quantum take on an older, smarter, and slightly more inebriated version of his unpredictable partner?”

After an emotional detour story about Quantum and Woody’s relationship with their father and by extension each other, we’re back to follow up with where the second issue left us. In a plane on the way to find Woody’s biological father.

Quantum & Woody #5 is a visually stimulating comic that you can’t help but get drawn into. Kano’s layout on the opening page is simplistic in a basic grid layout, but within half a second you’ll immediately recognize the shape of the panels given the context of the setting. It’s simple yet very effective stuff that draws your attention in just as much and the visual representation of the sound effects from Dave Sharpe‘s lettering.

Despite what it says, I heard Eye Of The Tiger.

Written by Daniel Kibblesmith, Quantum & Woody #4 is a comic that uses humour to add to the story without actually relying on it to be the main draw, but rather as a pleasant addition (which is a good thing, for me at least, as I didn’t find anything side splittingly hilarious). Kibblesmith keeps the fine balance between the silly and the serious throughout the issue with neither over shadowing the other. Comics with comedy are often more miss than hit for me, but with Quantum & Woody, Kibblesmith has a sure fire hit.

It doesn’t matter if you’re unfamiliar with the characters when starting this series (I was), as by the time you get to the fourth issue you’ll have fallen in love with the self aware story telling that’s going to leave you aching for more. A brilliant read all around.

Story: Daniel Kibblesmith Art: Kano Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Story: 8.8 Art: 8.9 Overall: 9.2 (because rounding) Recommendation: Buy

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

DC Rebirth Roundup: March 7th’s Comics

Posted on March 20, 2018 by Alex K Cossa

Action Comics #999 Almost a filler story until the huge milestone coming up, but it’s not completely worthless as it ties up a few loose ends and resets Lois’ relationship with her father. Friendly enough at the end of the day, but I’d hold out till next issue at this point. 6/10

Detective Comics #976 Batwoman killed Clayface to save the lives of innocent people and subsequently joined The Colony as the fallout of her actions rippled through the Bat Family. This issue picks up with a new arc that’s still leaning heavily on past issues but is Friendly nonetheless. 7/10

Hal Jordan And The Green Lantern Corps #40 Hal and Kyle Raynor were sent to investigate a planet for a relatively unrelated reason only to find that Zod and his family had conquered it. They fought the Kryptonians, lost, and were captured. Their rings were removed for study. Hal’s ring, being made from his own will, broke confinement andHal made Kyle use it to escape and get reinforcements (who left on an unscheduled and unsanctioned rescue mission). Prepare yourself for the might of Krypton and a lot of Green in this Friendly action packed issue. 8/10

New Super-Man And The Justice League Of China #21 The JLC have come face to face with a young man escaping from North Korea on the back of giant freaking crabs. It’s awesome (and Friendly). 7.5/10

Red Hood And The Outlaws #20 Bizarro is using some kind of green stuff to remain super intelligent, and the Outlaws are beginning to suspect that the genius who has helped them eliminate crime is keeping a secret… 7/10 (Yeah, since you asked, TNS_Cv21 it’s Friendly).

Suicide Squad #36 I missed the last issue, I think, but this one is still relatively Friendly. 6.75/10

The Flash #42 Uh…. dear lord this is a pile of turd. I really don’t want you to read this because it’s awful, but if you must…. Grodd has stolen Barry Allen’s powers and he’s believes that nobody but him can save the day despite there being three other Flashes in the area. The are is sub par as well. 2/10

Titans #21 I may have forgotten most of last issue, but Roy Harper was given drugs (he wasn’t aware of it until afterwards), and is trying to save the world but isn’t having much luck with people believing him. This issue is kinda Friendly, and has a really cool fight scene. 7.25/10

Wonder Woman #42 I’d give you a recap, but the series has taken a turn for the worse, and I either didn’t read the last issue or I don’t remember it. Either way, this is kinda Friendly, but quite miss-able. 5/10

Review: Ninjak Vs The Valiant Universe #3

Posted on March 18, 2018 by Alex K Cossa

“The pulse-pounding expansion of Valiant’s upcoming, live-action digital series wages its most dangerous gambit yet as Colin King – aka the international super-spy codenamed Ninjak – battles his way through his former friends and allies! Ninjak’s arch-nemesis – the deadly and cunning assassin Roku – has manipulated MI6’s most dangerous asset into turning on his former masters and stealing an object of immeasurable power. So who can MI6 send to stop him? EVERYONE! The bone-cracking showdown of a lifetime continues here as Ninjak battles X-O Manowar, Bloodshot, Livewire, Archer & Armstrong, and all of Valiant’s most formidable heroes!”

Despite the live action version of this story having been faced with multiple delays, Valiant have published Ninjak Vs The Valiant Universe as an alternate universe story with no real bearing on the other comics in the publisher’s line up. Being an adaptation, there’s a few hands in the creative pot steering the series with Eliot Rahal adapting Aaron Schoenke‘s screen story (the screenplay itself credits Aaron Schoenke, Sean Schoenke, Joe Harris and Andrew Rowe) with often mixed results; the first issue wasn’t great although the second was a step up. The third… is neither a step up nor a step back. Once again this remains the comic equivalent to a popcorn fueled action movie, but this time the charm isn’t holding as strongly as you would hope.

The story has the unique honour of limping along in a disjointed shambles and yet moving with the speed of a track runner. Think a zombie running the hundred meters without any hint of the humour that should be present and you’ll not be far off.

Joe Bennett (pencils), Belardino Brabo (inks) and Ulises Arreola (colours) are on art duties again, and provide a comic that is presumably close to the visual style of the web-series, but doesn’t really do anything to wow you completely. Visually the comic is solid, if unspectacular, and you won’t feel short changed by the art. But unfortunately Ninjak Vs The Valiant Universe #3 is an exercise in mediocrity. It’s not bad, but it’s just not that great, either.

Ultimately, although this series isn’t going to be winning any major awards, it’s not bad as a primer for the web-series.

Story: Eliot Rahal Pencils: Joe Bennett
Inks: Belardino Brabo Colours: Ulises Arreola
Story: 6.7 Art: 7.0 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read

Valiant provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Mini Reviews For The Week Ending 3/10

Posted on March 18, 2018 by Alex K Cossa

These are Graphic Policy’s Mini Reviews.

Ryan C

Mister Miracle #7 (DC)**– Something of a “let’s take a breath here for a minute” issue in terms of action, but a very big day indeed in the lives of Scott Free and Big Barda as they welcome their first child into the world. A rather charming and heartwarming little story from Tom King and Mitch Gerads here, with some seriously ominous shit ripping the rug out from under everything right at the very end. Don’t know what it all means yet. Looking forward to finding out. Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Slots #6 (Skybound/Image)** – Dan Panosian puts his six-parter to bed in grand style with a story that wraps up every loose end in both highly believable and highly satisfactory fashion. The icing on a really fun, gorgeously-illustrated cake. Grab it in trade is you haven’t been picking up the singles, you won’t be disappointed. Overall: 9 Recommendation: Buy

VS #2 (Image)** – Really digging Esad Ribic’s art on this series, but it’s really hard to say if Ivan Brandon’s militaristic take on “Ready Player One” is going anywhere interesting. I’ll stick it out for another issue or two in order to find out, but this is so far just really dynamically-illustrated virtual reality-type stuff. Overall: 6. Recommendation: Read if you picked up the first issue, otherwise take a pass

Postal: Laura #1 (Top Cow/Image)** – Bryan Hill and Isaac Goodhart get one more crack at the world they did such a terrific job bringing to life in this final epilogue to their long-running series, and for people who were wondering whether or not a book-length postscript was going to be essential reading, trust me when I say — it is. Not sure why Laura gets the title honors with this one as the story is about the final fate of Mark and Maggie more than anything else, but other than that? No complaints whatsoever. Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Logan

Vampironica #1 (Archie)– Greg and Meg Smallwood kick Vampironica off with a riveting, gory destruction of toxic masculinity via vampire/vampire killer Veronica, but then immediately put on the brakes for a non-descript origin story. The environs of the Lodge mansion is perfect for Greg Smallwood’s atmospheric horror storytelling, but he and Meg Smallwood don’t make a connection between Veronica’s personality and her newly vampiric nature. Hopefully, future stories focus more on her as a vamprie and less on the hackneyed Archie/Betty/Veronica love story. Overall: 7 Verdict: Read

Action Comics #999 (DC)- In Dan Jurgens’ penultimate issue of Action Comics, he and artist Will Conrad prove they really understand the character of Superman. They tell a standalone story of Superman and Clark Kent finding a better way and rebuilding damage done by his son Jon’s grandfathers, Jor-El and Sam Lane. As Superman, he destroys the Phantom Zone once and for all and finds a more humane way to imprison Cyborg Superman by surrounding him in a room where he can experience memories of his life as Hank Henshaw. As Clark Kent, he admits fault for not introducing General Lane to his grandson earlier and admires his determination as a military even if Lane will never be a big fan of Superman. Despite some time travel shenanigans and pitfalls, Jurgens’ recent run on the Superman titles has been about establishing Superman and Clark as a family man and ending the issue with a family meal warmly drawn in a photorealistic, but not stiff style by Conrad is a fantastic culmination to Jurgens’ arc for the Kent family. Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Buy

New Mutants: Dead Souls #1 (Marvel)– Matthew Rosenberg, Adam Gorham, and Michael Garland throw it back to the early 90s (And the 80s briefly.) in New Mutants: Dead Souls. However, this comic isn’t just a nostalgia trip for fans of Magik, Strong Guy, Wolfsbane, Rictor, and Boom Boom, but has great banter, social commentary, and some zombie bashing action. Gorham is best at drawing the creepy horror bits while Garland pours on the yellow, and for two seconds, it’s like you’re reading the Chris Claremont/Bob McLeod New Mutants. But the X-Men “Little League” has changed for better and worst, and this mini will explore this. Magik is definitely the standout character in the early going. Overall: 8 Verdict: Buy

Shean

Star Wars :Thrawn #2 (Marvel)– As Thrawn moves up the ranks, he faces resistance and prejudice as his commission still feels like a black eye to the elite. In this issue, we find Thrawn in the midst of a secret experiment and dealing with a new captain, which leads theit ship to responding to a distress call. What Thrawn and Eli find is a ship taken over by Pirates and a crew under siege. By issue’s end, our protagonists rescue the crew, take back the ship and Eli gets an interesting proposition. Overall: 10 Recommendation: Buy

Joe

Avengers #684 (Marvel) – This comic was a blast. You get a Green Hulk we all know and love, and a Red Hulk that is as awesome as he is ridiculous. They have been merging all of The Avengers teams really well in this event, and this book is no different. Overall: 8.5 Recommendation: Buy

Peter Parker Spectacular Spider-Man #301 (Marvel) – Overall: Chip Zdarsky has really found his footing not his series. I wasn’t into it as much when it first began, but it has become a very fun series. He nails Spidey’s humor and this issue which deals with time travel embraces the silliness perfectly. I love the trip down memory lane with Spidey’s rogues gallery and the usual fun quips Parker is famous for. The art also has a nice throwback feel to it. Overall: 8 Recommendation: Buy

Old Man Logan #36 (Marvel) – Wilson Fisk is now Mayor of New York, and as usual Logan is pulled into something he doesn’t want to deal with. This was a solid start to this arc, and Brisson continues to shine on this title. It’s always good to see Fisk popping up in another title, and now with him being Mayor, I am hoping for some fun crossovers throughout the Marvel universe Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Buy

Well, there you have it, folks. The reviews we didn’t quite get a chance to write. See you next week!

Those Two Geeks Episode Twenty: Tangents Galore!

Posted on March 18, 2018 by Alex K Cossa

On the docket this week: The geeks debut a new segment, have a half dozen tangents and talk about a bunch of other movie related things.

As always, the Alex and Joe can be found on twitter respectively @karcossa and @jc_hesh if you feel the need to tell them they’re wrong individually, or @those2geeks if you want to yell at them together on twitter or email ItsThose2Geeks@gmail.com.

Thanks for listening, and we’ll see you ~~next week~~ in the future!

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