Comic Book Review: Superman (2016) #10

Official site is http://www.dccomics.com/comics/superman-2016/superman-10

For years now, DC Comics has tried to reproduce the youthfulness and success of the old Teen Titans stories with debatable results. In my opinion, the primary attraction towards those stories was watching a group of teenage, sidekicks as they come of age and try to fulfill their potential. The Teen Titans was a superhero story for teenage readers to relate to. Reading Superman #10 then, was in many ways a revelation. For the first time in a long time, I got that same feeling I had when I read the old Teen Titans books. I felt that youthfulness of young heroes trying to grow up and be heroes while having fun at the same time.

In this book, Damian Wayne, the current Robin finally meets with the new Superboy, the son of the new Superman, and fisticuffs and hilarity ensue. What’s striking is how Superboy and Robin are very clearly characterized. Superboy is a humble, good natured little boy raised by loving parents who’ve tried to teach him responsibility. Robin has spent the majority of his young life training with ninja assassins and Batman. Robin’s even died and come back to life already. Robin is also incredibly arrogant and condescending; he’s a little jerk.

It’s surprising then, how much chemistry the two characters have. They don’t really get along right now, and yet it’s not hard to see how they would. There’s a camaraderie in their childishness and it’s tons of fun to watch. In fact, this new Superboy and Robin could easily form the core of a new generation of Teen Titans and spawn a whole host of stories I would love to read. I hope you’re listening DC, these two characters need their own book and maybe a few more young superheroes to join their team.

In regards to the art, anyone whose been following DC Comics should be familiar with Tomasi’s style. It’s cartoony and fluid, which perfectly suits this book.

Score: 7/10 A fun starting point to what will hopefully be a whole bunch of stories starring Robin and Superboy.

Comic Book Review: The Walking Dead #160

Official site is https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/the-walking-dead-160

The Walking Dead comic book is really boring. It feels like all the excitement was sucked out of this book and regurgitated in the television show. It definitely feels like Kirkman’s attention is focused there.

I remember when I first started reading this series. Every subsequent arc brought something new and unforeseeable. It showed you the depths of human depravity. Deeper and deeper the hole of depression and hopelessness went, and the deeper the sadness of the narrative, the stronger the core characters became.

This is what I felt until the television show came out. Now the book feels like a shell of it’s former self. There are too many characters, to the point where the deaths of main characters don’t really feel all that sad anymore. There was also this sense of isolation and impending doom that wasn’t there before. Now Rick and crew are part of a big, new world with lots of neighbors and allies. It’s just… not horror anymore. It’s not a psychological exploration of the human condition. It feels more like Kirkman is simply testing ideas here that he can use in his television show, which just depresses me.

Which leads me to the following conclusion: Kirkman should end the Walking Dead comic book. He won’t, because the comic book cross promotes with the television show, but he should. He recently announced that he was ending his book, Invincible, because the story had run its course. He had told all the stories he wanted to tell and there wasn’t much else to add. Which is great. It feels like the Walking Dead is in the same situation. He should just end the book and focus of television.

Oh, and if you need a synopsis of the story, Rick’s army is fighting the Whisperers and the Whisperers attack a city. That’s about it.

Score: 5/10 This story arc lacks the weight of past story arcs. This book feels like a book that has gone beyond its expiration date.

Comic Book Review: The Unworthy Thor (2016) #1

Official site is http://marvel.com/comics/issue/61718/the_unworthy_thor_2016_1

Coipel and Thor, together again. Coipel is one of those artists that if I see a book by them on the shelf, I’ll just buy it. It doesn’t even matter what it is. Seeing him draw Thor, one of the best series that he’s ever been on, is just a cherry on top.

In this first issue, we find Thor fighting to reclaim his power. Thor is no longer worthy to carry Mjolnir and without that hammer, he posses but a fraction of the power he once had. Futher, the way that Thor became unworthy also seems to have affected him psychologically, weakening him both in physical power and in mental fortitude. Thor is now a weak man. He still has the strength of an Asgardian, but he is no longer the unstoppable force he once was.

This all started back in Original Sin. Nick Fury whispered something in Thor’s ear, thus making him unworthy of wielding the hammer Mjolnir. Readers have waited years, but Marvel has yet to reveal what was actually said. One of the key draws of this series is that maybe we will finally find out what Fury said and what took away Thor’s powers.

Score: 6/10 Coipel’s art needs no explanation. It’s great. I’m really looking forward to Jason Aaron revealing what Fury said and hopefully a big reveal further exploring and redefining the character of Thor.

 

Comic Book Review: Batman (2016) #10

Official site is http://www.dccomics.com/comics/batman-2016/batman-10

I think a lot of people forget that a big aspect of the Batman is that he is a leader. His books are often times a team book. He leads the Justice League, he leads the Bat Family, and in this issue, he leads a team of bad guys.

It’s a necessary aspect for the evolution of Batman. So many stories have explored Bruce Wayne, so much so that they we’ve had to tell and retell his past over and over again. The allies and villains then, are essential in continuing that narrative and the exploration of Batman’s world.

In this issue, Batman has assembled a squad of bad guys from Arkham Asylum in hopes of breaking into Bane’s prison and kidnapping Psycho Pirate. Psycho Pirate seems to be the only person who can help Gotham Girl, another new ally in Batman’s world.

The most interesting part for me are the hints dropped on what made Catwoman the most dangerous villain in Arkham Asylum. Apparently, she killed 237 terrorists in cold blood, earning her a death sentence by lethal injection. Batman intervenes and recruits her to his team, but it still isn’t fully explained how she came to be a mass murderer. I’m looking forward to that reveal.

Score: 5/10 An interesting, though unoriginal Batman story. Batman’s had many, many teams in the past and the dynamics involved in this team have yet to be fully explored. The most attractive aspect of this story is the possibility of Batman having his own suicide squad.

Comic Book Review: Suicide Squad (2016) #5

The official site is http://www.dccomics.com/comics/suicide-squad-2016/suicide-squad-5

After reading through five issues of this new series, there is really only one reason to pick this series up: Jim Lee’s art. That’s it. Jim Lee stars as the penciler in this new series and he does exactly as great a job as you’d expect from him.

I guess you could also pick up the book if you like the Suicide Squad. I imagine most people will pick it up after watching the movie. A substantial number of readers may just be Harley Quinn fans as well. But mostly, it’s for Jim Lee.

Score: 3.5/10 The story is meh. Jim Lee’s art is as good as always.

Comic Book Review: Civil War II (2016) #6

Official site is http://marvel.com/comics/issue/58683/civil_war_ii_2016_6

Another month, another issue of Civil War II. Nothing much happens in this issue. Everyone just saw the vision of Spider-Man killing Captain America and everyone cools off. The ending is the only noteworthy part of this book. Spider-man goes to Washington DC, the very site where the vision is supposed to take place, thus setting the stage for the vision to potentially come true. We will see.

Score: 4/10 Marquez’s art is always nice to see. If only there were some narrative beats worth his illustration.

Comic Book Review: Captain America: Steve Rogers (2016) #6

Official site is http://marvel.com/comics/issue/57871/captain_america_steve_rogers_2016_6

Captain America: Steve Rogers has been a lot more interesting than I had thought it would be. Similarly to when Dick Grayson and Damian Wayne took over for Batman and Robin, this series continues to surprise and intrigue.

If you haven’t been following, Captain America is evil now and had his entire history rewritten by the now sentient Cosmic Cube. The most recent issues have taken us through the new origin of Captain America as well as his navigation through current events like Civil War II.

It’s fascinating to see that evil Captain America approaches situations with the same fervor and devotion that he had when he was good… just with more evil. Evil Cap’s started out his life as the same scrawny kid as good Cap’. He overcomes and devotes himself the same as before. And it’s hard not to respect and admire this new Captain America when you see that he is willing to die for his beliefs, even if they are evil beliefs.

Score: 6/10 A fascinating what-if kind of story that explores another take on Captain America.

Comic Book Review: Infamous Iron Man (2016) #1

Official site is http://marvel.com/comics/issue/61547/infamous_iron_man_2016_1

Something that I hold against Marvel is their decision to shelve the Fantastic Four line likely due to the fact they do not own the movie rights to the Fantastic Four franchise. They don’t want to cross promote and put money into someone else’s pocket. Which I understand, but the Fantastic Four has been a pillar of the Marvel Universe and I wish very much to see the whole family back in their own book again.

Almost as a consolation prize, Marvel has been sprinkling the remaining noteworthy characters of the Fantastic Four through out other stories and titles, like the Thing in Guardians of the Galaxy and the Human Torch in the Inhumans books. Which brings us to this story; Doctor Doom is now Iron Man, or at least one of the Iron Man.

This issue takes place after the events of Civil War II. It doesn’t go into what happened to Tony Stark, but Tony Stark is gone. Since the end of the Secret Wars events, Doom has been trying to rectify his evil ways and right the wrongs he committed in the past. In light of Stark’s absence and Doom’s new desire to do good, Doom picks up the mantle of Iron Man and starts his own super hero career.

Doom is an interesting character in that he’s one of if not the most powerful person in the Marvel Universe. He has mastered both science and magic, and if you’d read Secret Wars you’d know, there is no being that he is incapable of besting. Well, except Reed Richards.

So this first issue is an interesting read. It is nothing more than a jumping off point to explore an evil character gone good. Part of my interest also comes from my longing to see the Fantastic Four again. Perhaps if this issues sees some success, Marvel will recognize the errors of their ways and brings back their first family.

Score: 6.5/10

Comic Book Review: Dark Knight III: The Master Race (2015) #6

http://www.dccomics.com/comics/dark-knight-iii-the-master-race-2015/dark-knight-iii-the-master-race-6

I feel like after All-Star Batman and Robin, Frank Miller’s credibility just kind of went to shit. Even with Jim Lee’s art, there was no saving that mess of a story and dialogue.

I am happy to say that The Master Race is not as bad as All-Star Batman and Robin. It also isn’t quite as prolific as the more legendary Frank Miller stories of old. This is just a good story, a fun story that likes to reminisce and take us back to the old Dark Knight stories.

In this issue, Batman and Superman both armor up and beat the crap out of the crazy Kandorians. The side story at the end with Wonder Woman and her daughter was a nice addition as well.

I’ve got to give some credit to Azzarello  here. The dialogue is much more toned down and less corny and out of touch from Miller’s prior works. No more weird name calling or excessive mysogyny. There are hints of it. It wouldn’t be a Miller-Batman story without it, but it is toned down.

What really helps is the art of Kubrick. I’ve read a number of books involving Kubrick, namely “The Death of the Dark Knight,” and I think he’s a superstar. As far as I can tell, Kubrick’s art can do no wrong. He captures the artistic styles of yesteryear, except that his work is some much cleaner and easy to read. Miller’s art at the end was nostalgic more than anything else. It was just nice to see.

Score: 6/10 It’s a fun, action story. No big dramatic twists here or editorials on the Batman mythos or commentary on modern day society. It’s just a fun story with characters from Miller’s Dark Knight books.

Comic Book Review: The Mighty Thor (2015) #12

Official site is http://marvel.com/comics/issue/55799/mighty_thor_2015_12

Wow lots of good comics came out today. I’ll start with Mighty Thor #12. This is the second issue of Mighty Thor I’ve read in a row and I am hooked.

What you get in this story is a flashback and origin story for the hammer Mjolnir. It’s a fun story that dances between mythology and science fiction. There were some nice jokes sprinkled throughout as well. It’s a good standalone issue.

The art as always was great. Dauterman’s art is always monolithic and feels like a great mythological story is being told. Irving’s handling of old Asgard’s art style is fun and whimsical with heavy use of colors, like you’d expect of a memory.

Score: 6.5/10