Tag Archives: battle scars

Around the Tubes

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The usual update is late today due to me having a social life (yay!), but here’s the news you might have missed this weekend.

Around the Blogs:

San Diego Jewish World – Once an escape from texts, comics are prompting more of them – Comics are more than just entertainment!

Examiner – Medical Comics are the basis for future learning – Great to see this, but how bout giving these away instead?

Bleeding Cool – Hallowe’en Free Comic Book Day – Great idea.

Bleeding Cool – Walking Dead #100 To Sell Over 300,000. The Best Selling Comic Of The Year? – Great to see other media translating into comic book sales.

Comics Alliance – Hero Initiative Donations Prompted By ‘The Avengers’ Movie Total Just $5000 – Lots of talk lead to little action.

Robot  6 – Stan Lee settles POW! Entertainment legal feud – Good news I guess?

 

Around the Tubes Reviews:

CBR – American Vampire: Lord of Nightmares #1

Seattle Pi – The Art of War

Ely Standard – Avenging Spider-Man: My Friends Can Beat Up Your Friends

Talking Comics – Batman #10

Ely Standard – Battle Scars

CBR – Before Watchmen: Silk Spectre #1

Battle Hymns – De:Tales

ICv2 – Earthling!

High Desert Daily – House Of Night

Bleeding Cool – League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century 2009

Bleeding Cool – The Massive #1

Talking Comics – The Massive #1

CBR – The Massive #1

The Herts Advertisers – Thor: The Deviants Saga

Bleeding Cool – The Walking Dead #99

Comic Book (sort of) Weekly Reviews – 3/14/12

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Another week down.  Almost getting caught up on reviews.

the Avengers #24 – We now know Osborn’s powers and it’s a bit predictable as to how he’s beaten.  The story’s ending is ok, not quite the long term shake-up you’d expect from this type of story.  Overall, a solid story arc that doesn’t quite end the way you’d hope.  It feels rushed and a bit predictable.

Story: 7.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.5

Avengers Assemble #1 – A new Zodiac has formed, but other than the Hulk being in this comic, there’s not a whole lot that makes this series stand out from the other Avengers comics out there.  In fact the art is a bit off and story fairly unexciting.  Not sure this is a comic I want to assemble for.

Story: 7.5 Art: 7 Overall: 7.5

Batgirl #7 – More of the Barbara Gordon pitty party as she seeks out the Black Canary to spar a bit, then she goes on a mission.  There’s parts where the art is great and other parts, not so much.  The story is just ok.

Story: 7.5 Art: 7.25 Overall: 7.5

Batman and Robin #7 – Batman vs. Nobody and the art is solid.  That ending though, I didn’t quite expect.  The comic was simple, but it kept me on my toes as to who would do what in the fight and how they’d deal with Nobody.  Interesting stuff…

Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75

Battle Scars #5 – Hmm, the secret is out and I saw yawn.  The series is an attempt to get the 616 universe more like the movies, which is a bit silly.  Overall, we’ll see what idiocy comes of this.

Story: 6.75 Art: 7 Overall: 6.75

Batwoman #7 – The story jumps around, and I’m not sure I know everything that’s going on.  The visuals aren’t quite as amazing as they used to be, but the series is still a solid read with some amazing artwork at times.

Story: 7.5 Art: 8 Overall: 7.5

Captain America #9 – Steve is still depowered, Sharon makes a deal to save him and Falcon goes after Bravo, I wonder where the comic’s quality has gone.  Just not quite as fund as it used to be.

Story: 7.5 Art: 7 Overall: 7.25

Daken: Dark Wolverine #22 – Daken continues to lash out and spread terror as he dies.  He’s setting off bombs and generally just causing chaos.  I really hope there’s some long term plan with the character.  I’d hate to see him go to waste.

Story: 7.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.5

Fantastic Four #604 – And with that, the end of the battle with the Mad Celestials.  A lot is thrown out there in this issue and I’d imagine it’ll have a lot of repercussions for the Fantastic Four going forward.  It’ll be interesting to see where things go from here.

Story: 7.75 Art: 8 Overall: 7.75

Green Lantern #7 – The series finally focuses on the Indigo Tribe which we know so little about. Looks pretty interesting so far.

Story: 8 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.25

Journey Into Mystery #635 – Loki, Daimon and Leah continue to fight Nightmare.  Loki does the usual Loki thing and cuts a deal that’s clearly not what it is on the surface.  As usual, the comic is thick with material (aka words), but they’re weaved so well together.

Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8

Mega Man #11 – Mega Man takes on Air Man, Metal Man and Flash Man and then gets caught in Dr. Wily’s plan.  The ending is so cool.  I can’t recommend the series enough.  It’s fantastic for kids and parents alike, especially for fans of the video game series.

Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25

The Punisher #9 – The prelude to the crossover with Spider-Man and Daredevil the issue is short and a quick read.  But… looks like Punisher has a new partner and that never seems to go well.

Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8

Resurrection Man #7 – On the run in Metropolis, Resurrection Man runs into another super being and gets another power.  He’s finally at the point where he’s going to look for his past and figure out who he is.  It’s a great mystery and one I want to see more of the answer to.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

Saga #1 – Brian K. Vaughn’s new series deserves all of the hype.  It’s very familiar, but at the same time, beyond fantastic.  This’ll be a hot series for a long time coming and the usual excellence I expect from such a talented writer.

Story: 9 Art: 8.5 Overall: 9

Saucer Country #1 – A Governor must deal with her political future as she contemplates running for President of the United States.  Something is wrong though.  Is it something having to do with her ex-husband?  Is it something stranger like aliens?  And what does a college professor have to do with it all?  The first issue is absolutely amazing.  One of the best comics of the year and one of the best political comics in a long time.

Story: 10 Art: 8.75 Overall: 9.5

Scarlet Spider #3 – Kaine’s supporting cast is growing and looks like some decent baddies are coming to town.  I don’t want to ruin it, but the story is solid, interaction great and art is amazing.  I’ve never been a big Spider-Man fan, but this series has me hooked.  So fantastic, I kind of want to find out more about this character and his background.

Story: 8.75 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.75

Suicide Squad #7 – The search for Harley Quinn continues as a bunch of members of Task Force X storm a police station.  There’s some holy shit moments that show this series leaves it all out there and anything can happen.  The series is pretty decent and it’s draw is more the fact that everything is on the table and anyone can die.  I was not expecting quite a few moments in the story and thats a good thing.

Story: 7.5 Art: 7 Overall: 7.5

Superboy #7 – Superboy continues to show how much of an arrogant brat he is and gets his butt kicked.  The series is ok, but how it ties into Teen Titans is what keeps me coming back.  If I dropped one, I’d feel like I’d need to drop both, especially since there’s a lot of crossover occurring.

Story: 7 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7

Thief of Thieves #2 – I think the second issue might have outdone the first with a look into Redmond/Conrad’s life.  There’s a lot of looking into his past and his ex-wife.  The comic is fantastic focusing on the characters instead of the action.  I can see why this is being turned into a television series, it’s that damn good.

Story: 9.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 9.5

Ultimate Comics X-Men #9 – The news of mutant’s origins hits Camp Angel which doesn’t go over well.  All hell is about to break loose in this series as an oppressed people decide to stand up for themselves.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

Wolverine & The X-Men #7 – So much action, so much humor, so much fun.  The series is a kinetic blast that’s all over the place.  There’s just so much to take in, this series is now the best “X” series going right now.  Just beyond fantastic.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8 Overall: 8.5

X-Men: Legacy #263 – Exodus is defeated, lots of arguing goes on and something is hinted at.  The story is ok, but plays well as a piece of the bigger picture.  We’ll hopefully see what that is soon.

Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7

X-23 #21 – I think this is it for the series.  In this final and quiet issue, Laura deals with her dual sides, the vicious killer and the human being she wants to be.  It’s an interesting ending, understated and quiet. A nice reflection of a character who hasn’t quite found the leading solo series position she deserves and a character that has a lot more depth than any fan is willing to give her credit for.

Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8

Comic Book (sort of) Weekly Reviews – 2/8/12

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Getting closer to catching up with reviews.

Batgirl #6 – The best part of the issue is the quiet moments where Barbara reflects on her being Batgirl and her relationship with Batman.  Other than that, the bad guy isn’t as fleshed out as she should be, but hopefully we’ll get some of that in the future.  The best moments really are when the characters are shown their humanity to the point we can relate.

Story: 7.5 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.5

Batman and Robin #6 – The twist is predictable, but Bruce’s emotion when it comes to Damian is something that’s nice to see.  The series is interesting and has it’s place in the rather large amount of Batman books on the market.

Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75

Battle Scars #4 – We’re all buying this comic for the same reason.  Doesn’t mean it’s all that good.  Sigh.

Story: 6.75 Art: 7 Overall: 6.75

Batwoman #6 – The art is solid as usual, but the story is still off.  Something just isn’t clicking for me when it comes to the plot.  It’s really a comic that survives for the art alone and that’s sad with such amazing characters.

Story: 7 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7.5

The Bionic Man #6 – Lots of fighting, sadly not much more.  But, somehow the comic is still very fun.  This is a great first arc for the series and makes me interested in a character I’ve never been interested in.

Story: 7.5 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.5

Black Panther: The Most Dangerous Man Alive #529 – That’s a wrap for the series that to few people checked out.  The art bounced around a bit towards the end, but the series played out like an entertaining chess game.  It’s a shame a solid series such as this didn’t find an audience.

Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25

Captain America #8 – Yet another story where Cap loses his powers.  It’s cool to see the Reborn mini-series matter, the story itself is just not the quality we’ve seen in the past.  Something is off from the previous magic.

Story: 7 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7

Daken: Dark Wolverine #21 – Daken is dying and he’s decided to go out with a bang.  Another series that was pretty solid at times and there’s times it showed brilliance.  Sadly it also never quite caught on with the audience it should of.  Daken was more than a Wolverine knock-off, more people just never found out how much of an individual he was.

Story: 7.75 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.75

Green Hornet Annual #2 – The Green Hornet takes on slave traders.  I really wish more was shown, but there’s some great stuff in this annual just the same quality of the series.  Usually annuals mean crap, this is the exception to that.

Story: 7.75 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.75

Green Lantern #6 – Sinestro is on a mission and Hal is trying to have a normal life.  Sadly Hal trying to live his life doesn’t get a chance to really explore that before he’s pulled back into being Green Lantern.  Not as solid as it was pre-52 relaunch, but still an entertaining series.

Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75

Journey Into Mystery #634 – We now know who the baddie is and what he’s up to.  There’s so much that’s solid here and this is a series that’s growing on me more and more.  There’s a lot of text and the writing is so good, it’s well worth the lengthy (compared to most comics) read.  Just beyond entertaining.

Story: 8.75 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.75

Mega Man #10 – Mega Man takes on a few more robot masters as he gets pulled into the dark side and let the power go to his head again.  On top of that, he’s taking a beating.  You can feel the pressure building in what is a great adaptation of the video game and the perfect comic for the entire family.

Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8

New Mutants #37 – Amara has her date with the devil and a story I went into rolling my eyes at I came out of with a smile on my face.  It was very cute and well done.  There’s some great humor, writing and entertaining logic throughout.  This version of the devil is pretty fun and entertaining.  I’m actually hoping to see more of him in the series.

Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75

Resurrection Man #6 – Wow, so good.  Resurrection Man is in Arkham and no one believes him when he says he has to die.  But, he also stands in the way of a break out and the inmates making it back into Gotham.  So much is so good in this issue.  When of the best to come out of the DC relaunch.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

Scarlet Spider #2 – I’ve never been a huge fan of Spider-Man, but there’s something about this series that draws me in.  Maybe it’s the conflicted person at the center, the solid art of entertaining writing.  The combo of the three is great and this is a series that has me interested in what it’ll bring in the future.

Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25

Secret Avengers #22 – Huh, an interesting bad guy and can’t say I’ve seen them before, but that ending has me wanting to see more of them.  The new squad has a better focus and a more interesting dynamic.  Here’s hoping Remender’s run is as solid as some of his others.

Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75

Suicide Squad #6 – Harley Quinn is on the run and the Suicide Squad is after her.  There’s some I like here, but a lot I didn’t.  Quinn’s origin is fleshed out a bit, but not enough yet to give her motivation or much as far as character.  We’ll see how this goes, but it’s no Secret Six.

Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7

Superboy #6 – Superboy meets Supergirl and there’s the expected fighting.  Lots of questions are raised too.  The art is off a bit and something about the story isn’t clicking for me.  But I’ll stick with it to see the growth of the character I expect and you just know he’ll become a Teen Titan at some point.

Story: 7 Art: 6.75 Overall: 7

Thief of Thieves #1 – There’s a lot of series this year so far that have had a lot of hype around them and this series is one of the few that’s lived up to it all.  A thief has to juggle his career and personal life in a series that’s just fantastic on all levels.  That ending is fantastic and the build up and character interaction is just solid.  Can’t wait to see where the series goes.

Story: 9 Art: 8.5 Overall: 9

Venom #13.1 – Some I liked with this issue but a bunch I didn’t.  The usual result of having some event or crossover derailing a solid issue continues.  The idea of Venom being caught up in a battle with Hell just doesn’t fit the character and there’s some much better material to mine.

Story: 6.75 Art: 6.75 Overall: 6.75

Wolverine and the X-Men #5 – The art seems to be off a bit with this issue, but it’s really entertaining mixing some great concepts together.  The series has thrown out the serious tone that’s plagued the X-Men for quite some time, replacing them with fantastical concepts and a great amount of humor.  One of the best “X” books on the market.

Story: 8 Art: 7.5 Overall: 8

Wolverine and the X-Men: Alpha & Omega #2 – Wolverine stuck in the virtual reality thing is entertaining up to a point, but just not quite sure the point or need of the mini-series.  It hasn’t added much to the overall dynamics and we’re not seeing anything new or shocking.

Story: 6.75 Art: 6.5 Overall: 6.75

X-Men #24 – Jubilee deals with her vampire side, while the X-Men search for her.  What’s up with the art?!

Story: 6.5 Art: 6.5 Overall: 6.5

Comic Book (sort of) Weekly Reviews – 1/11/12

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Catching up on reviews….

Batgirl #5 – There’s a new villain for Batgirl called Gretel and some weirdness with the number 338.  It’s all ok, but not the quality we know Gail Simone can do.  The best parts of the series are the quiet moments when Barbara is reflecting on her life in and out of the cape.

Story: 7.5 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.5

Batman and Robin #5 – Damian has thrown his lot in with Ducard as we get the background between Ducard and Wayne.  The story is ok and somewhat predictable.  The art is changed up a bit too.  Overall, the read is good, but not necessarily great.

Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75

Battle Scars #3 – The issue is a lot of fighting as Marcus Johnson continues to try to figure out who is trying to kill him.  This six issue limited series just feels like one long origin story.  Hopefully it pays off.

Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7

Batwoman #5 – The series relaunch isn’t as quality as the previous with a supernatural bent to it all.  The story is so-so, but the art is amazing.  It’s a buy just for that reason alone.  Hopefully the story quality ramps up a bit as the series progresses.

Story: 7 Art: 8.75 Overall: 7.5

Black Panther: The Most Dangerous Man Alive #528 –  The Panther is playing a game of chess with Fisk for the fate of Wakanda.  The story is entertaining enough and this issue has a very different artistic look.  I loved the art and would dig seeing a pulp/noir comic that looks like this.  This is the second to last issue and it’ll be interesting to see how it ends.

Story: 7.75 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8

Brilliant #2 – The second issue of this Kick-Ass wannabe is ok and there’s a lot of interesting stuff in it.  But, the series feels tired and not fresh enough since so many other stories have walked this territory.  It’s not bad, it’s just not great.

Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75

Captain America #7 – Captain America keeps reverting and madbombs are being set off.  The story has a camp feel about it, but the art I think is just not as quality as it’s been in the past.  It’s a classic feel of a story, with art that also feels like it’s from the past.  Overall, not as strong as the past story arcs.

Story: 7.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.5

Daken: Dark Wolverine #19 – Wow is that a bad ending.  The art is sup-par, the story is a let down.  Overall, not the quality that we’ve seen.  It’s a shame because the character has so much potential.

Story: 6.75 Art: 6.75 Overall: 6.75

Green Lantern #5 – What is the Chamber of Shadows and who is the first Lantern?  So many questions are raised here after Jordan and Sinestro’s battle against the Sinestro Corps.  The story is intriguing and I want to see what else is in store that hasn’t been done before.

Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8

Journey Into Mystery #633 – A transition issue with some fantastic writing, but the story itself is slow.  The individual words are fantastic though.  Very odd.  There’s a slow fantasy build to it all as Loki has nightmares and the Son of Satan is looking for a demon.  This is just the beginning but really it’s for the hardcore Thor fans.

Story: 7.75 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.75

Mega Man #9 – Much like the video games, this latest ark feels rather similar to what’s come before.  That’s not a bad thing as just with the games, it was all quality.  Hopefully the story arc switches it up just enough, but it’s nostalgic fun for the whole family.  Perfect for kids and their parents who grew up playing the video games.

Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8

The New Avengers #20 – The team takes on Osborn and his crew.  Overall there’s some very interesting stuff here and the usual solid and entertaining writing.  I feel like we’ve seen this story before, but it’s still good.

Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25

Resurrection Man #5 – We finally get a sense of Resurrection Man’s origin and it’s actually pretty cool.  The story got very interesting with the latest revelations and that ending.  I’m digging the series which is one of a few that are bringing Vertigo quality and horror to the DCU.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25

Scarlet Spider #1 – Kaine is in Houston and the story is very fun having a bit of an edgier tone from the Spider-Man comics I’ve read in the past.  The issue is the history of Kaine is so convoluted.  There’s clearly torment there that adds depth to the character, but unless you know it all, there’s a bit lost in the entertainment.  There is a bit at the end about Kaine, sort of, but even that just shows how overly complicated the Spider-Man history is.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

Secret Avengers #21 – A mission to take on some weird beings and all I could think of was when Warren Ellis would be off of the series.  It’s not bad, but there’s just not a reason for the series.

Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7

Suicide Squad #5 – It’s a jailbreak and the squad is kicking ass.  The series is fun and there’s a lot of solid moments in it.  It’s definitely not Secret Six and is taking a bit to find it’s footing, but the series is entertaining.

Story: 7.75 Art: 7.25 Overall: 7.5

Superboy #5 – Superboy is having some issue with Nowhere and Gen-13 is looking like it’s coming more and more to the DC universe.  There’s a lot of hints being dropped in the series which is a slow, but decent build up to…. something.

Story: 7.5 Art: 7.25 Overall: 7.5

Ultimate Comics X-Men #6 – Wow is all I can say.  So much going on and so solid.  Is Rogue a traitor?  Was there some plan?  And who is getting her to do everything she’s doing?  That answer is a shocker.  I really need to go back and get caught up on everything.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

Wolverine #300 – The situation with the Silver Samurai is finally being taken care of.  Also, what the hell is up with Sabretooth coming back?  So much I liked and so much I didn’t.  But Wolverine is getting back to the decent read it used to be.

Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8

Wolverine & the X-Men #4 – Logan is dealing with the fact that he’s now as much of a teacher as he is a murderer.  The issue is great with so many fantastic moments, especially for what it hints might be coming.  This is one of the best “X” books out there right now.

Story: 8.5 Art: 7.75 Overall: 8.5

X-Factor #230 – The team is debating Guido having no soul and Jamie is in his weird world.  Wolverine makes a social call and offers up the team to join his side of the split.  This is the beginning of some great things I think.

Story: 8.5 Art: 7.25 Overall: 8.25

X-Men: Legacy #260.1 – The series shifts to the new school with some humor mixed into the issue.  The art is ok, but there’s potential here.  I’m interested in seeing how this series stands out.  A bit of an improvement.

Story: 7.75 Art: 7 Overall: 7.5

Comic Book Weekly Reviews – 12/14/11

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It’s a good mix of comics this week including a bunch I’ve been waiting to read.  What’s worth it?  Find out below!

American Vampire #21 – We get some insight into who Skinner is, but still not how he became what he is.  That’s the story I thought was being told, but it’s clear that this story arc was just one small piece of the larger puzzle that Scott Snyder will eventually reveal.  Much like his general writing style, even with the bigger story telling, Snyder takes his time, laying it out in a slow, but enjoyable reveal.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

Avengers Academy #23 – The plot of future Reptil coming back to make sure his timeline happens is rather interesting, but there’s something that’s missing to me as far as the writing.  The art too isn’t as top notch as I’d expect from an important title like this.  As with the characters, there’s something that just seems junior to me.  It’s an improvement in the series, but still not enough for me to consider it an “A” title.

Story: 7.5 Art: 7 Overall: 7.25

Avengers: X-Sanction #1 – This is the first step in the big Avengers vs. X-Men fight that reaches it’s full blown madness in a few months.  Cable is back to prevent a disaster in the future and to do that he has to take on the Avengers.  It all revolves around Hope too, and with all the mystery surrounding her, this event has the potential to reveal a hell of a lot.  The first issue is interesting and pretty solid, but quite of a few of Marvel’s recent events have started out strong too only to stumble.  We’ll see if this one can buck that trend.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8 Overall: 8.5

Batgirl #4 – We finally find out how Barbara is walking, even if it’s just a few panels and her battle with Mirror comes to an end in this holiday themed issue.  Overall the comic is pretty good as expected with Gail Simone behind the wheel, but it still nags me about Barbara Gordon now walking.  That’s not Simone’s fault, but it’s still the elephant in the room as it feels insulting to those who are in wheelchairs or who have other disabilities.  The comic is good though, even with the rather lame villain.

Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25

Batman and Robin #4 – We learn a bit as to who Nobody is as the villain and Batman fight for Damian’s loyalty.  It’s interesting these two so easily represent the dual sides of Damian, but it’s also so obvious this is the intent.  The comic doesn’t have subtlety, but the story is entertaining and art very solid.  Overall a good addition to the Bat family of comics.

Story: 8 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8

Batwoman #4 – Flamebird gets her butt whooped as Batwoman continues to search for the missing children and attempts to have a social life.  The story as usual isn’t the draw here, it’s all about the art which continues to be amazing.  Hopefully the storytelling will get to the level of the art and layout and at that point, this’ll be one of the best comics out there.  Until then, it’s only for people looking for something beautiful to look at.

Story: 7.25 Art: 9 Overall: 7.5

Battle Scars #2 – The mystery of Marcus Johnson isn’t revealed in this second issue…. maybe the next one?  The comic is ok, but nothing that’s gotten me too excited.

Story: 7.25 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.25

Black Panther: The Most Dangerous Man Alive #526 – In a plot that’s rather appropriate in today’s anti-corporate fervor, we find out exactly what Wilson Fisk wants with the Bank of Wakanda.  The story is pretty solid in it’s chess like plot and the art is always great.

Story: 7.75 Art: 8 Overall: 7.75

Green Lantern #4 – Jordan and Sinestro versus the entire Sinestro Corps.  But, what happens when they fail?  Captured and surrounded by people that hate them, Sinestro and Jordan have to figure out how to escape and free an enslaved world that despises them.

Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25

Iron Man 2.0 #11 – Just one more issue to go with Warmachine taking on a nano tech villain.  It’s been an interesting story, but nothing quite amazing.  The art in this issue though takes a dip as a few different folks hop in to put it all together.  The usual interesting and unique look changes a bunch and often in a jarring way.

Story: 7.25 Art: 6.75 Overall: 7

Magneto: Not a Hero #2 – What the hell is going on?  Unless you’re a die-hard “X” fan and care about Joseph/Erik/Magneto, this comic just makes little sense for the folks who haven’t been reading for decades.

Story: 6.5 Art: 7 Overall: 6.5

the New Avengers #19 – It’s Norman Osborn’s new Dark Avengers and a lot of discussion of what worked, what didn’t and why this team is better.  At the same time the new Avengers discuss Norman being loose and it looks like they have a traitor in their midst.

Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25

Resurrection Man #4 – A bunch of crazy in this issue as various forces merge to get Shelley back.  There’s heaven and hell and two women sporting big guns and a guy calling himself Transhuman.  The series is pretty crazy, but something very entertaining and interesting about it all.

Story: 8 Art: 7.75 Overall: 8

S.H.I.E.L.D. #4 – Is this in continuity?  There’s some things shown here that are pretty huge if this is happening in the 616 world.  As usual, a lot I like in the series but also a lot that’s a bit dense and hard to get in to.

Story: 7.25 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.25

Suicide Squad #4 – The cover lays it out there “betrayed by one of their own,” but who it is and why definitely caught me off guard.  The second arc comes to a close and leads directly into the third.  The series isn’t the tops out there and needs a bit more fine tuning to turn it into a solid Dirty Dozen type comic, but it’s still entertaining to read.

Story: 7.25 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.25

Superboy #4 – Superboy is given a choice after it’s clear who and what Red is.  But, in his wandering to figure it all out, Superboy comes off as a dick.  It’s interesting to follow this series, just because of it’s tie into Teen Titans, but without that, there’s not a whole lot that’s enjoyable about this Superboy.

Story: 7 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7

Ultimate Comics X-Men #4 – Well, hell, I totally didn’t expect that and see that coming.  Stryker attacks New York while the US government and the remaining X-Men have to figure out how to respond.  The story is very familiar, but just different enough to keep me on my toes.  The Ultimate universe is one where anything can happen and it does.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

Uncanny X-Force #18 – Well that was one hell of an ending and I have to say I got a bit emotional for part of it, but still not sure why there was a bag.  Rick Remender’s epic story of the rise of the new Apocalypse goes out with a bang and deserves to be put up there as one of the best “X” stories ever.  Solid on every level.

Story: 8.75 Art: 8.75 Overall: 8.75

The Walking Dead #92 – Just when you think writer Robert Kirkman is going to go in one direction, he throws something at you that you weren’t expecting.  This issue really shakes up the series and I’m sure you’re jaw dropped at the ending like mine.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

Comic Book Weekly Reviews – 11/9/11

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A pretty good stack of books this week.  Find out what’s worth it below.

Avenging Spider-Man #1 – When a comic has me laughing out loud multiple times that’s a good sign.  The comic has energy, fun and excitement dripping out of it’s pages.  The writing by Zeb Wells is perfect with some amazing one-liners and the art by Joe Madureira is as fantastic as I’d expect.  I can’t wait for the second issue.  Is all of Spider-Man this fun?

Story: 9 Art: 9 Overall: 9

Batgirl #3 – Everyone is worried about Barbara Gordon.  She’s recovering you know… That fact and that she’s experienced a miracle is beat over our head throughout this issue as she attempts to diffuse a bomb, chats with her dad and goes toe to toe in a flirtatious fight with Nightwing.  Some lines in this comic just make me even more confused about the new 52 timeline.  Just best to ignore all of that.  The comic isn’t bad and is quite entertaining, it’s just the repeated mentioning of some simple facts in Babs life that keep being repeated each issue, that feels old already.

Story: 7.75 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8

Batman and Robin #3 – The first three issues really seem to be about Damian and the fine line he walks between vigilante who has some sort of moral code and a full on murderer.  The villain is the represent that latter side.  A “good guy” who brings the ultimate justice to criminals.  Damian is caught between that and Batman’s style and interesting intro story.  This issue is good continuing to build on what’s been one of the better comics of the new 52.

Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25

Battle Scars #1 – An attempt to introduce a new character post Fear Itself it would seem.  I’ll read it, but so far not too impressed.

Story: 7 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7

Batwoman #3 – The art is amazing, absolutely stunning.  The layouts just make you question the visual aspect of comic book story telling and show what can be done.  The story though is a mixed bag.  There’s a lot I like here, like Kate Kane’s personal life and her juggling that with being Batwoman but the Weeping Woman thing confounds me.

Story: 7 Art: 9.5 Overall: 7.5

Black Panther: The Most Dangerous Man Alive #525 – The other pulp comic Marvel is doing. Black Panther now faces the Kingpin who is making a move on Wakanda and has the Hand to help him.  The story is interesting, art great as usual.  The series is one that deserves an audience as it’s pretty high quality and entertaining.

Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8

Fear Itself #7.2 – Wait, what the hell happened?  We get a new God of Thunder, which everyone just seems to accept but hoisting beers and he seems to have no issues with his fellow Avengers and then is that Don Blake?  I’m so confused.  Then there’s the ending which we could all predict.  Sigh….

Story: 6.75 Art: 9 Overall: 7

Green Lantern #3 – Um, that was a bit unexpected.  Jordan has to come to grips with his new role and Sinestro’s as well.  The two have to team up too, which makes it all a bit more complicated.  All the while it seems the Guardians are plotting on what to do next.  There’s some hints we’ll be seeing some fireworks soon and that ending definitely caught me off guard.

Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8

Huntress #2 – Pretty similar to the first issue but Huntress now has a better idea as to who the first target should be, but clearly there’s someone higher or something bigger going on.  The art is great and story is solid, I just wonder if it really needs to be six issues and whether it might read better as a trade or graphic novel.  Still, a strong female lead, great story and art, it’s a comic that’s a buy.

Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25

Jennifer Blood #6 – This is a very interesting series.  Jennifer has got her revenge and lays it out there for the final victim.  After all her talk, you’re left to think.  Is she as bad as they are?  Is she somehow more perverse due to her duality?  Is she a new type of feminist?  It’s a series I’d love to debate folks about.  A female lead with twisted violence and sexuality that only Garth Ennis can do.

Story: 8 Art: 8 Overall: 8

Journey Into Mystery #631 – An interesting issue where Loki has to deal with the new status-quo of Asgard.  It’s all about setting up the future and the pseudo Shakespearean speak bothers me still, but the character of Loki is back to his roots and very entertaining.  This is really for the hardcore Thor fans.

Story: 8 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8

Magneto: Not a Hero #1 – A lot I like, especially the interaction between Cyclops, Magneto, Captain America and Iron Man but the second half teeters a bit diving into X-Men history I’m a bit fuzzy on.  It’s not quite as new reader friendly as I’d hope, but still entertaining.

Story: 7.75 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7.75

The New Avengers #18 – Osborn is back and he’s forming his own group of Avengers again.  This issue focuses on that as well as why A.I.M., Hydra, some Hand and H.A.M.M.E.R. are all coming behind his leadership.  Something awesome is brewing here, you can just tell.

Story: 8.5 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.5

Point One – Hmmm, there’s a lot here and about half of it gets me interested, but that’s for stuff I’d probably buy anyways.  Also, a lot of the stories teased here have been set up in other series.  It’s also probably not quite enough to suck in and get a new reader interested.  But, it’s interesting for the most part.  I have to give Marvel props for trying, but this comes up short overall.

Story: 7 Art: 8.25 Overall: 7

Rachel Rising #3 – It’s a horror comic that’s creepy more than anything.  There’s a lot here that’s disturbing and still a mystery as to exactly what’s going on, but I’m hooked.  It’s all interesting and different, definitely a comic I look forward to each month to see how it’d unfold.

Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25

Resurrection Man #3 – We get a bit better of a sense as to what’s going on here and the mystery deepens really.  Isn’t the “caught between heaven and hell” schtick more of a John Constatine thing?  No matter, the comic is entertaining as it explains a lot of what’s going on, but the ending makes me feel like I missed something.  I’m sure for long time DC fans it’s a cool moment but for me, I shouldn’t have to go to wikipedia to get the back story after the relaunch.

Story: 8 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8

Suicide Squad #3 – The issue is a bit choppy in the story telling as it just back and forth in time though that’s not totally clear.  There’s an essence of time with the series that could be played up a lot better, but overall it seems to just be getting it’s footing and it’s pretty entertaining.

Story: 7 Art: 7 Overall: 7

Superboy #3 – Well, I think that answers who Red really is.  Superboy is out and discovering what the real world is like.  That’s interesting, but there’s not enough of it.  We also learn a bit about who this Superboy really is, also interesting stuff.  Overall though, we’re still in the set up phase and the verdict is still out on the series overall.

Story: 7.5 Art: 8 Overall: 7.5

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #4 – Bendis has put together a comic that plays off nicely on what’s coming before creating a connected transition that doesn’t feel forced but a natural passing of the torch.  The story is still in the whole discovering powers phase but Miles and his friends seem interesting and there’s a sense of fun that flows off the page.  I’ve never been a big fan of the Ultimate universe, but I’m a fan of this newly rebooted series.

Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25

Uncanny X-Force #17 – Wow.  The issue is impressive and is filled with moments that make me say holy shit.  I have no idea what to expect and what’s going to happen next.  For a series to keep my on my toes just shoes how top notch it is.  So far everything has been on the table and so much being pulled out of so many different places.  The Dark Angel Saga is going to go down as one of the best “X” arcs ever.

Story: 9 Art: 8.75 Overall: 9

Wolverine #18 – A nice mix of action and humor as Logan and friends take on the Jade Claw.  An entertaining issue that’s leading the series away from the depressing morose plot it’s had for way too long.

Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25

X-Men: Legacy #258 – Why is there a moment where I can see the writer pausing to figure out how to end this arc and get everyone home?  The X-Men save the day and get folks back to Earth, shocker.  It’s really all to set up what happens next.

Story: 6.75 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7


Shattered Heroes Begins Now – Get Your First Look On Marvel.Com!

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Official Press Release

SHATTERED HEROES Begins Now – Get Your First Look On Marvel.Com!

This week only at Marvel.com, bear witness to the debut of four, all new series setting fan favorite heroes of the Marvel Universe in a bold new directions. Originally featured in Fear Itself #7, fans now have the opportunity to see just how some of the year’s biggest new launches including, Fear Itself: The Fearless #1, The Defenders #1, Battle Scars #1 & this week’s Incredible Hulk #1, kickoff in 4 page stories of original content you won’t see anywhere else online! So what are you waiting for True Believer? See how Shattered Heroes begins and affects your favorite Marvel heroes, today at Marvel.com!

FEAR ITSELF: THE FEARLESS #1 (AUG110582)
Script by CULLEN BUNN
Story by MATT FRACTION, CULLEN BUNN & CHRIS YOST
Pencils by MARK BAGLEY & PAUL PELLETIER
Cover by ARTHUR ADAMS

ON SALE NOW!
INCREDIBLE HULK #1 (AUG110584)
Written by JASON AARON
Art & Cover by MARC SILVESTRI
ON SALE TODAY!

BATTLE SCARS #1 (SEP110505)
Script by CHRIS YOST
Story by MATT FRACTION, CHRIS YOST & CULLEN BUNN
Art by SCOT EATON
Cover by CARLO PAGULAYAN
ON SALE – 11/9/11

DEFENDERS #1 (OCT110587)
Written by MATT FRACTION
Art & Cover by TERRY DODSON
FOC – 11/7/11, ON SALE – 12/7/11

Incredible Hulk #1 CoverBattle Scars #1 CoverFear Itself: The Fearless #1 Cover