My Pull List for week of June 22, 2016
Darby Pop Comics
Bruce Lee Dragon Rises #3 - Was not in
DC Comics
Deathstroke (2014-) #19
Family reunion. Slade must determine whether service to Ras Al Ghul is worth the life of his daughter, Rose. For him, it's an easy choice. With Lawman, Copperhead and his former partner all trying to kill him, he needs to finish the fight before Rose dies.
Not sure if I like the younger Slade, he seems more impetuous and headstrong. So maybe when the Rebirth issue hits, they will make him older again, just like they did with Oliver Queen.
Detective Comics (1937-2011) #935
Continuing the newest storyline. With Batwoman training Batman's recruits, are they going to be prepared for the new threat facing Gotham? Who are the Bat-Men and who is their leader? We still have to find out.
With Rebirth still pushing on, will the new stories interact with the rest of the DC universe? We will see.
Flash #1 - Rebirth starts here!
With Barry remembering Wally West and Batman helping him figure who the mysterious figure who took ten years of their lives, Barry is adjusting to the news by doing his police work and always being late to appointments. A mysterious item is wanted by a scientist but no one knows what it is. And it looks like we might get another Flash.
Harley Quinn (2013-) #29
Giant transformer robots. Mayhem. And Harley. What's not to love? After a hit is put on Harley, she has to find out who and why. The hilarity ensues as Harley and Tony "commandeer" a robot for themselves. Last issue before the series finale. I can just imagine what the final issue extravaganza will be.
Robin: Son of Batman (2015-) #13 - Last issue.
As Damian and his "friends" attempt to do normal things, normality is disrupted by the father of his recent foe. Damian sacrifices himself and his soul to win but we all know the cost is greater than that. Hopefully, we will see more of Damian and his companions in the Rebirth universe, maybe alongside Batman and the other Robins.
Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Deadshot and Katana (2016-) #6 (of 6) -Last issue.
The Aurakles are mad and demand vengeance. Will Katana be able to defend herself and others? The introduction of Halo in the last issue ties in the Outsiders group and shows how Halo received her powers.
Will Deadshot be able to save his daughter after she was kidnapped in the last issue? Fighting his wanna be replacement, Floyd must make decisions that could put his daughter in greater jeopardy as a fight for who is the "best" Deadshot will not end pretty.
Overall, this series has been a great read and I enjoyed it. A take on two characters and some of their personalities. The newest series coming up doesn't really hold any interest for me, but we 'll see.
IDW
TMNT Bebop & Rocksteady Destroy Everything #4
Death, destruction, and mayhem continue. With Bebop and Rocksteady jumping thru time, the repercussions are devastating. What will happen when it all comes to a head? Will Renet and the Turtles be able to fix it?
This series has been a fun read but at some point in this issue, it becomes convoluted and just all over the place as well. Hopefully with the last issue, it gets all fixed.
Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye (2011-) #54
The DJD is coming to town and they are looking to destroy the Autobots, all of them if possible.
With Megatron a "pacifist", in the loosest terms possible, do the Autobots have a chance of surviving? A lot of them will not and we will have to wait till the next issue to find out.
Making Megatron renounce his violent past and join the Autobots seemed a bit weird at first but when you think about it, where else could you lead him? After millions of years fighting for the Decepticon way, he felt he had no other choice, But there is that thin line that he believes will make him cross to his old ways and he is fearful of it. Maybe we'll see it in the future.
Marvel
Deadpool vs. Gambit #1 (of 5)
Two of the more interesting Marvel characters finally get their own series. It seems that both of these characters have some history with each other and some of it isn't good. Betrayals and double crosses seem to be the norm, but after "talking it out", it gets resolved. Somewhat.
Hopefully, this will have all the humor it needs to be a good book. Gambit seems like he can be a funny guy as evidenced by one of the earlier X-Men titles in the 90's where he and Bishop go at it and Rogue is caught in the middle. It's a fun couple of pages but it shows his humorous side as well as his snarkiness.
Star Wars Force Awakens Adaptation #1 (of 5)
If you've seen the movie, then you don't really need the book. It does cut some scenes out but overall, it keeps the movie scenes in.
Usually, when a movie adaptation comes out, it's usually within a month or so after the movie has been in theaters a good couple of months. This came out 6 months after the movie release and after the Blu-Ray release. It seems like a wasted opportunity and more of a marketing stunt. But look who did it, so there's that.
The Unbelievable Gwenpool (2016-) #3
Working for MODOK sure has a lot of problems. Gwen doesn't exist in Marvel world, meaning she has no driver license, SSN or anything else tying her to it. Luckily, Dr. Strange is there to help her but the results don't always mean they're good.
This comic looks to be fun and poke at the Marvel world a little more than Deadpool or even Howard the Duck do. With Gwen being from the "real" world, she knows everything but doesn't have any super powers, just the knowledge of secret identities and back stories. It works for her because she knows other people's weaknesses even if they themselves don't . Hopefully, the book will explore more of her past and still be funny.
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Monday, June 20, 2016
MY PULL LIST
WEEK OF JUN 15TH, 2016
DC Comics
Batman #1
Rebirth continues. New heroes arrive in Gotham and Batman is actually surprised. After a missile hits an airplane, Batman attempts to keep it from crashing in the city, he succeeds but only with the help of the new heroes.
It will be interesting to see how Batman will allow these new heroes operate in the city. Granted, it's not really up to him, but we all know better. With Rebirth looking to reintegrate all the elements of the DC universe back in, it's just a matter of wait and see.
Dark Knight Returns the Last Crusade #1
The often delayed book is finally here! Before the Dark Knight Returns series, Batman, Joker, 2nd Robin and Selina Kyle all make a return here set roughly ten or so years before he retires, Bruce has his 2nd Robin and when training him, notices some things about him. He's a little bit more brutal. He's impatient. Pretty much all the things that he had when he was first introduced and became Bruce's partner. The Joker is locked back up but of course, gets out again.
I feel that this story really didn't need to be written as the time frame surrounding it is too far apart from the first series. Jason isn't really mentioned in any context of it, so it's really hard to place him in it. It also appears as if the story line concerning Jason mimics the original plot where he is killed off, but you're not sure because it only shows him being beat unconscious.
Green Arrow #1
Rebirth continues. How can Oliver Queen fight "the man" if he is the man? Continuing from the Rebirth one shot, Ollie and Dinah are looking for the head of the slaving and kidnapping ring, he will use his company to find out.
I became a fan of Green Arrow when the Longbow series was introduced. It showed an "adult" version of Ollie, considering he was thought of as a man-child sometimes. With Dinah back in the picture, the series look to be a good one.
Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death (2016-) #6 (of 6)
Final issue. Ivy finds out who has been killing the scientists and others. And with the appearance by the Swamp Thing, he answers some questions of hers. This whole series has been a great one, and as long as they continue to write her as a more compassionate, albeit misguided person, I see a lot of great things for her, hopefully to be also integrated into the Rebirth universe.
IDW
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #59
Does someone die? We have to wait to find out. With Splinter taking over the Foot and the Turtles trying to find themselves, their whole world could come crashing down with one heinous and traitorous act.
The Turtles book has always been one of the best books around. The stories. The mood. The art. Just always the best around.
TMNT Bebop & Rocksteady Destroy Everything #3
The weekly mayhem continues with a couple of the Turtles' most fearsome foes. With multiple Bebops and Rocksteadys, the Turtles and Renet must stop them from destroying every timeline. Can they do it? Most likely.
Transformers - Till All Are One
New limited series. With Starscream the leader of Cybertron, there must be tension. The new police force seems to only target the Decepticons by assaulting them, but then one of them dies after an assault and has his memories taken from him. There is also the ghost of Swindle who many Cons worship, though he was supposedly killed by Starscream. Who is the DC537 and who make up the police force known as the Nameless? These answers will soon come.
As a Transformers fan since the 80's, I like these takes on them. They're different, nuanced and show personal sides to all the Transformers. Whereas Starscream was a lackey of Megatron with ambitions of ruling, he finds that just because he is the leader doesn't mean it's a good or rewarding goal. Many of the series or limited series show up all those sides and hope to see more of it in the future.
Marvel
Deadpool (2015-) #14
Civil War 2 tie-in. The Merc with the Mouth is back with his wife and needs her help to deal with the issues happening in New York. But his merry band of mercs are not to happy with Wade. Sounds like a spin-off book is happening. With the continuing Mercs for Money series happening soon, will the other mercs have what it takes to do any job they get?
Star Wars (2015-) #20
More past tales of Ben Kenobi. Jabba hires the meanest Wookie bounty hunter he can to find Ben. Who do you think wins? Hopefully, the series will continue for a while as the Vader series is coming to a close.
Star Wars Han Solo #1 (of 5)
Everyone's favorite smuggler gets his own limited series. The Rebellion is losing a lot of people and Leia thinks there is a spy in it. Now all Han has to do to help find the spy is get into a race that could cost him his life, even though no one takes him seriously because of his profession. It's a wait and see game.
WEEK OF JUN 15TH, 2016
DC Comics
Batman #1
Rebirth continues. New heroes arrive in Gotham and Batman is actually surprised. After a missile hits an airplane, Batman attempts to keep it from crashing in the city, he succeeds but only with the help of the new heroes.
It will be interesting to see how Batman will allow these new heroes operate in the city. Granted, it's not really up to him, but we all know better. With Rebirth looking to reintegrate all the elements of the DC universe back in, it's just a matter of wait and see.
Dark Knight Returns the Last Crusade #1
The often delayed book is finally here! Before the Dark Knight Returns series, Batman, Joker, 2nd Robin and Selina Kyle all make a return here set roughly ten or so years before he retires, Bruce has his 2nd Robin and when training him, notices some things about him. He's a little bit more brutal. He's impatient. Pretty much all the things that he had when he was first introduced and became Bruce's partner. The Joker is locked back up but of course, gets out again.
I feel that this story really didn't need to be written as the time frame surrounding it is too far apart from the first series. Jason isn't really mentioned in any context of it, so it's really hard to place him in it. It also appears as if the story line concerning Jason mimics the original plot where he is killed off, but you're not sure because it only shows him being beat unconscious.
Green Arrow #1
Rebirth continues. How can Oliver Queen fight "the man" if he is the man? Continuing from the Rebirth one shot, Ollie and Dinah are looking for the head of the slaving and kidnapping ring, he will use his company to find out.
I became a fan of Green Arrow when the Longbow series was introduced. It showed an "adult" version of Ollie, considering he was thought of as a man-child sometimes. With Dinah back in the picture, the series look to be a good one.
Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death (2016-) #6 (of 6)
Final issue. Ivy finds out who has been killing the scientists and others. And with the appearance by the Swamp Thing, he answers some questions of hers. This whole series has been a great one, and as long as they continue to write her as a more compassionate, albeit misguided person, I see a lot of great things for her, hopefully to be also integrated into the Rebirth universe.
IDW
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #59
Does someone die? We have to wait to find out. With Splinter taking over the Foot and the Turtles trying to find themselves, their whole world could come crashing down with one heinous and traitorous act.
The Turtles book has always been one of the best books around. The stories. The mood. The art. Just always the best around.
TMNT Bebop & Rocksteady Destroy Everything #3
The weekly mayhem continues with a couple of the Turtles' most fearsome foes. With multiple Bebops and Rocksteadys, the Turtles and Renet must stop them from destroying every timeline. Can they do it? Most likely.
Transformers - Till All Are One
New limited series. With Starscream the leader of Cybertron, there must be tension. The new police force seems to only target the Decepticons by assaulting them, but then one of them dies after an assault and has his memories taken from him. There is also the ghost of Swindle who many Cons worship, though he was supposedly killed by Starscream. Who is the DC537 and who make up the police force known as the Nameless? These answers will soon come.
As a Transformers fan since the 80's, I like these takes on them. They're different, nuanced and show personal sides to all the Transformers. Whereas Starscream was a lackey of Megatron with ambitions of ruling, he finds that just because he is the leader doesn't mean it's a good or rewarding goal. Many of the series or limited series show up all those sides and hope to see more of it in the future.
Marvel
Deadpool (2015-) #14
Civil War 2 tie-in. The Merc with the Mouth is back with his wife and needs her help to deal with the issues happening in New York. But his merry band of mercs are not to happy with Wade. Sounds like a spin-off book is happening. With the continuing Mercs for Money series happening soon, will the other mercs have what it takes to do any job they get?
Star Wars (2015-) #20
More past tales of Ben Kenobi. Jabba hires the meanest Wookie bounty hunter he can to find Ben. Who do you think wins? Hopefully, the series will continue for a while as the Vader series is coming to a close.
Star Wars Han Solo #1 (of 5)
Everyone's favorite smuggler gets his own limited series. The Rebellion is losing a lot of people and Leia thinks there is a spy in it. Now all Han has to do to help find the spy is get into a race that could cost him his life, even though no one takes him seriously because of his profession. It's a wait and see game.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Pull List for week of June 08, 2016
June 08, 2016
BOOM! Studios
Big Trouble In Little China #25 - The last issue of the series. What a fun ride Jack Burton has been on. From losing his truck, his girl, dying, venturing into the soul world, coming back to life and waking up in the present, going back in time and returning back to the 1980's, it has certainly been an interesting adventure. After the last issue where Jack and Wang's daughter are stuck in the 1800's, fighting Lo Pan and the 3 Storms. A younger Egg Shen also helps our heroes and puts them on the path to the future. Meanwhile, they are inserted into key points of the movie such as, the alleyway fight, the incursion into Lo Pan's company and other areas. It's a fun ride to see another view of other areas that were adjacent to the movie. So long, Jack Burton. May the Wings of liberty never lose a feather. See you in the next ride, hopefully.
Dark Horse
Prometheus Life and Death #1 - The continuing story of the Life and Death series. The Predators could not stop the Engineer's ship from leaving, but that doesn't mean the humans and marines are safe. This series picks up after the Predator limited series and a god awakens. After the encounter with the Predators, the humans have a new enemy, one more dangerous. The Engineer awakens and kills a marine and now must deal with the other intruders aboard his ship. Not much action here, except for when the Engineer wakes up and it goes by kind of quick. If the story continues down the same path as the Fire and Stone series, it will be a good read.
DC Comics
Black Canary (2015-) #12 - The last issue of the series. The entire series basically chronicles Canary's time in a band and fending off various villians. It's not a "super hero/super villian" book, more like a small get together book. The art of the book was interesting, something I hadn't seen before but I liked it overall. The feel was completely different than the Birds of Prey series, and that's a good thing. It doesn't really showcase the overall DC universe and sometimes books can be better off that way. When Green Arrow returned back in the mid 80's, they took that same approach, by not introducing a lot pof DC alum. It worked for this book and I'm glad they finished up everything.
Detective Comics (1937-2011) #934 - Rebirth continues. A new Bat team is formed and a new foe is watching them. Can the team of Batwoman, Red Robin, Spoiler and Clayface(?) stop the new threat? A new chapter in the Batman series begins with the Batmen as their foes. Out of all the New 52 series, Batman didn't really change as much as you would have expected, and that is a good thing. Hopefully the direction will be as interesting as some other stories.
Earth 2: Society (2015-) #13 - Now that the planet is "cured" the Wonders of Earth2 now have to decide who is going to lead them to a new direction and the return of an old villian. Ultra Humanite is the bi bad and he originally came from Earth2, but that was Pre-Crisis. It's not one of the more polpular series but I happen to like it.
The Flash: Rebirth #1- The Rebirth event continues. Barry Allen reconnects with the Speed Force and sees things that he's not sure are true. Barry reconnects with Wally West after West thinks everyone forgot about him. Barry also meets with Batman to discover who left the Smiley button in the wall. Some questions and others aren't. but with everything about Rebirth being the next big thing, there's no reason to spoil everything. Now to see how it will affect the DC universe.
Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys (2016-) #3 (of 6) Continuing the misadventures of the Harley Gang. Who is Harley-Sinn and what does she want with Quinn? Have the Gang of Harleys been blown up?
As the Harley Gang attempt to find their boss, they almost lose their lives before they can look further. The issue answers the question as to who Sinn is, a little bit anyway. Apparently, she was a former auditioner for the Gang. At this point, it seems that she's getting revenge for not being picked. Only time will tell.
The great thing about the Harley books is the fun in them. Sure, it would be crazy to have the fun she has, but it's still fun.
Red Hood/Arsenal (2015-) #13 - Last issue before Rebirth. Will the Joker's daughter win? Will Roy's past catch up with him? The series ends with Roy and Jason parting ways after the Iron Rule, Roy's former partners, return mutated. To top it off, Joker's Daughter is helping them. It ends with a fanciful trip down memory lane showwing how the 2 first met.
Wacky Raceland #1 - Another Hanna Barbara cartoon comes to print. If you're a fan of the old TV show and a fan of Mad Max, then this mashup is for you. And I have such high hopes for this comic, but it seems like a giant mashup, and not in the good way. It just seems all over the place and blurred, like some convoluted mess. Hopefully it will get better.
IDW
TMNT Bebop & Rocksteady Destroy Everything #2 - Time travel. More than one duo of Bebop and Rocksteady. What could happen?The continuing misadventures of the TMNT's craziest foes.
This issue puts our title's protagonists in the past where they meet their human selves before the mutation. It also brings Renet back and time travel. What more can you want? This weekly series is surprising fresh and funny and different than the regular TMNT series. A pet from the past gets reintroduced as well. As more B&R show up, the time stream becomes crazy and most likely changed. It's a fun ride of a book and when you get all the main covers, they interlock to form one giant cover, just like the recent issues of the TMNT series. Pick this book up for fun and levity.
Marvel
Darth Vader (2015-) #21 - Vader is still hunting the traitorous Cylo and also his former partner Dr Aphra. The Vasder comic is one that shows Vader at his most ruthfulness and braggadacio. With the series ending soon at issue 25, it will be one of the most missed and has become on of the most popular books right now.
Deadpool & The Mercs For Money #5 (of 5) - The last issue before the ongoing series. It all culminates at the Ozark King's residence. The Crazy Gang. Evil Deadpool. It's going to be a fun ride. The whle series revolved around a robot who could tell the future and knew all of the past. As the winner, the Ozark King attempts to take possession of his prize. But other forces conspire to claim it as their own. Who will win?
Howard The Duck (2015-) #8 - Bev returns. Howard finds his friend Bev and all she really wants is to be left alone. We know that isn't going to happen, don't we? One of the things missing from the book is their "relationship" and the nuances of it. It's an emotional issue and fans will love the interaction between them. And a bonus surprise guest at the very end.
Star Wars Poe Dameron #3 - The Saga continues. Poe is captured by First Order troops and his crew can't help him. The story takes place before Episode 7, so it gives us a little back story on Poe's adventures. Considering the rest of the Star Wars stories are good, there's no reason to not expect this to be good. It's a good start to another great series and hopefully it will continue to get better.
June 08, 2016
BOOM! Studios
Big Trouble In Little China #25 - The last issue of the series. What a fun ride Jack Burton has been on. From losing his truck, his girl, dying, venturing into the soul world, coming back to life and waking up in the present, going back in time and returning back to the 1980's, it has certainly been an interesting adventure. After the last issue where Jack and Wang's daughter are stuck in the 1800's, fighting Lo Pan and the 3 Storms. A younger Egg Shen also helps our heroes and puts them on the path to the future. Meanwhile, they are inserted into key points of the movie such as, the alleyway fight, the incursion into Lo Pan's company and other areas. It's a fun ride to see another view of other areas that were adjacent to the movie. So long, Jack Burton. May the Wings of liberty never lose a feather. See you in the next ride, hopefully.
Dark Horse
Prometheus Life and Death #1 - The continuing story of the Life and Death series. The Predators could not stop the Engineer's ship from leaving, but that doesn't mean the humans and marines are safe. This series picks up after the Predator limited series and a god awakens. After the encounter with the Predators, the humans have a new enemy, one more dangerous. The Engineer awakens and kills a marine and now must deal with the other intruders aboard his ship. Not much action here, except for when the Engineer wakes up and it goes by kind of quick. If the story continues down the same path as the Fire and Stone series, it will be a good read.
DC Comics
Black Canary (2015-) #12 - The last issue of the series. The entire series basically chronicles Canary's time in a band and fending off various villians. It's not a "super hero/super villian" book, more like a small get together book. The art of the book was interesting, something I hadn't seen before but I liked it overall. The feel was completely different than the Birds of Prey series, and that's a good thing. It doesn't really showcase the overall DC universe and sometimes books can be better off that way. When Green Arrow returned back in the mid 80's, they took that same approach, by not introducing a lot pof DC alum. It worked for this book and I'm glad they finished up everything.
Detective Comics (1937-2011) #934 - Rebirth continues. A new Bat team is formed and a new foe is watching them. Can the team of Batwoman, Red Robin, Spoiler and Clayface(?) stop the new threat? A new chapter in the Batman series begins with the Batmen as their foes. Out of all the New 52 series, Batman didn't really change as much as you would have expected, and that is a good thing. Hopefully the direction will be as interesting as some other stories.
Earth 2: Society (2015-) #13 - Now that the planet is "cured" the Wonders of Earth2 now have to decide who is going to lead them to a new direction and the return of an old villian. Ultra Humanite is the bi bad and he originally came from Earth2, but that was Pre-Crisis. It's not one of the more polpular series but I happen to like it.
The Flash: Rebirth #1- The Rebirth event continues. Barry Allen reconnects with the Speed Force and sees things that he's not sure are true. Barry reconnects with Wally West after West thinks everyone forgot about him. Barry also meets with Batman to discover who left the Smiley button in the wall. Some questions and others aren't. but with everything about Rebirth being the next big thing, there's no reason to spoil everything. Now to see how it will affect the DC universe.
Harley Quinn and Her Gang of Harleys (2016-) #3 (of 6) Continuing the misadventures of the Harley Gang. Who is Harley-Sinn and what does she want with Quinn? Have the Gang of Harleys been blown up?
As the Harley Gang attempt to find their boss, they almost lose their lives before they can look further. The issue answers the question as to who Sinn is, a little bit anyway. Apparently, she was a former auditioner for the Gang. At this point, it seems that she's getting revenge for not being picked. Only time will tell.
The great thing about the Harley books is the fun in them. Sure, it would be crazy to have the fun she has, but it's still fun.
Red Hood/Arsenal (2015-) #13 - Last issue before Rebirth. Will the Joker's daughter win? Will Roy's past catch up with him? The series ends with Roy and Jason parting ways after the Iron Rule, Roy's former partners, return mutated. To top it off, Joker's Daughter is helping them. It ends with a fanciful trip down memory lane showwing how the 2 first met.
Wacky Raceland #1 - Another Hanna Barbara cartoon comes to print. If you're a fan of the old TV show and a fan of Mad Max, then this mashup is for you. And I have such high hopes for this comic, but it seems like a giant mashup, and not in the good way. It just seems all over the place and blurred, like some convoluted mess. Hopefully it will get better.
IDW
TMNT Bebop & Rocksteady Destroy Everything #2 - Time travel. More than one duo of Bebop and Rocksteady. What could happen?The continuing misadventures of the TMNT's craziest foes.
This issue puts our title's protagonists in the past where they meet their human selves before the mutation. It also brings Renet back and time travel. What more can you want? This weekly series is surprising fresh and funny and different than the regular TMNT series. A pet from the past gets reintroduced as well. As more B&R show up, the time stream becomes crazy and most likely changed. It's a fun ride of a book and when you get all the main covers, they interlock to form one giant cover, just like the recent issues of the TMNT series. Pick this book up for fun and levity.
Marvel
Darth Vader (2015-) #21 - Vader is still hunting the traitorous Cylo and also his former partner Dr Aphra. The Vasder comic is one that shows Vader at his most ruthfulness and braggadacio. With the series ending soon at issue 25, it will be one of the most missed and has become on of the most popular books right now.
Deadpool & The Mercs For Money #5 (of 5) - The last issue before the ongoing series. It all culminates at the Ozark King's residence. The Crazy Gang. Evil Deadpool. It's going to be a fun ride. The whle series revolved around a robot who could tell the future and knew all of the past. As the winner, the Ozark King attempts to take possession of his prize. But other forces conspire to claim it as their own. Who will win?
Howard The Duck (2015-) #8 - Bev returns. Howard finds his friend Bev and all she really wants is to be left alone. We know that isn't going to happen, don't we? One of the things missing from the book is their "relationship" and the nuances of it. It's an emotional issue and fans will love the interaction between them. And a bonus surprise guest at the very end.
Star Wars Poe Dameron #3 - The Saga continues. Poe is captured by First Order troops and his crew can't help him. The story takes place before Episode 7, so it gives us a little back story on Poe's adventures. Considering the rest of the Star Wars stories are good, there's no reason to not expect this to be good. It's a good start to another great series and hopefully it will continue to get better.
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
FIRST NEW ISSUES OF REBIRTH DROP THIS WEEK!
June 01, 2016 Releases
BOOM! STUDIOS
Big Trouble In Little China #22 #23 #24
This entire series has been one fun roller coaster ride that brings the heart of the movie into it. While the movie itself didn't do well in theaters, it has become a cult classic. The series continues the misadventures of Jack Burton and the Pork Chop Express.
Jack has time traveled, been killed, resurrected and time traveled some more, all with the campiness of the movie. This could be considered a sequel to the movie and it feels like it. The series is coming to close with issue #25 and the reason I had 3 issues is because I was waiting for #22 since it was damaged in the original release date.
Overall, a good series on par with the recent Escape From New York series. Always been a fan of Kurt Russell and glad they took 2 of his most iconic characters and gave them a story his fans would love.
Dark Horse
Predator: Life and Death #4 (of 4)
Continuing where Fire and Stone left off, the Predators and Marines get into it big time. The gist of the story is that there is an Engineer ship on a distant planet that Weyland-Yutani is attempting to claim. With the Marines as backup and help, they discover the ship and investigate it. Meanwhile, a group of Predators are also there and it's possible they want the ship for themselves or just want to destroy it, nothing's for sure.
If you read and liked Fire and Stone, then Life and Death will be a good read for you. It's a crossover series with the same antagonists as Fire and Stone. The overall writing and art is better than the typical stand alone Predator stories. That being said, ever since the Prometheus movie came out, the mythology have evolved and hopefully future stories will enhance instead of dilute it.
DC COMICS
Batman Rebirth #1
The Rebirth is here, starting with Batman. There are other issues out there, but again, I concentrate on my pull list. The issue brings back Robin member Duke as Bruce wants him to be a new type of crime fighter and also re-introduces the Calendar Man as the villain. The apparent origin of Calendar Man has been changed again, and this time it states he lives and dies as the seasons change, becoming a new person with the previous person's memories. It's an interesting thought about a character that mostly has never been taken seriously. I believe that the recent incarnations of him in the video games have somewhat led to the fact of him being changed like that.
Just like when the Calculator and The Catman were revamped, 2 other villains who were not taken seriously at point, it's being done here to show how someone with a non-threatening name like Calendar Man can be a truly dangerous person once you figure out how to make his "shtick" work in his favor. If you think about it, the changing of seasons can be a dangerous thing and there are dates in history that are infamous, so if you think about it, with a little ingenuity, you can make them dangerous.
Bloodlines (2016-) #3 (of 6)
When I first heard that this series was being reintroduced, I was skeptical. I was expecting the same hokiness from the 90's crossover series.
A little backstory: in the early 90's DC had a crossover series with the majority of their titles, published in the annuals, as they were doing in a couple before. One in particular was Bloodlines.
The series went like this: a group of travelers from a parallel dimension invaded ours and had multiple antagonists. These creatures could shape shift into whatever they wanted to and they had a mission to collect spinal fluid for their master. Normally, they way they got the spinal fluid was at the base of the neck and shoulders and would kill the majority of people. But for the few who were not killed, something happened to them: they gained super powers. Some were good. Some were evil. Some straddled the line, the most famous of them was Hitman Tommy Monaghan, who went on to his own series just like some others, but his was the most successful.
Back to the series, the new series introduces new characters who are affected by the alien parasites. But for some of them, they are not able to control the transformation and are put down by a vigilante monster hunter, so to speak. It mostly follows a local high school disabled kid whose powers turn him into a blue giant and restores his ability to walk, but only in the giant form. He has a couple of friends who are also affected by the parasites as well and they are attempting to determine how and why they have their abilities and how they were infected.
Overall, I liked the story and it's not as hokey as the original series. The art on the page is perfect for the subject and representation of the series and hopefully we may get to see these characters in the Rebirth universe, just like the original ones were in the DC universe back in the 90's.
Green Arrow Rebirth #1
Green Arrow and Black Canary back together again. One of the things missing from New 52 was the relationship of Arrow and Canary. They never crossed paths in it and for the people who read the previous stories, these two were supposed to be destined to be with each other. The Birds of Prey series showed us that Canary was previously married to a man named Kurt, who was supposed to be dead according to Canary. It felt like a betrayal to Arrow since these 2 were together for so long. The LongBow Hunters series revitalized both of these characters in the mid 80's and had them be together. Even after Arrow died in this series and came back, there was still a spark between them and they eventually got married.
Part of the reason I didn't like the New 52 Green Arrow was his youthfulness and basically making a lot of bad judgement calls. Sure I get he was young, but it seemed to conflict with the story of him when compared to the regular DC universe.
This issue gets them back in the mix as formally getting back together while investigating a new case. Once again, Arrow is the hero of Seattle and Canary is his reluctant partner in the investigation. It will be good to see them back together again after being apart so long it seemed that the New 52 version was more of a child than man-child. That being said, the new series will hopefully be more of what they were, a crime fighting couple who love what they do and each other.
IDW
TMNT Bebop & Rocksteady Destroy Everything #1
Two of the Turtles roughest and toughest villains get their own series!!
Bebop and Rocksteady have always been the a duo who have not shied away from trouble or the turtles and in this story, it's no different. This time, the series helps us reintroduce a character we haven't seen for a long time and another who's always a fan favorite.
If you like craziness, time travel and mayhem, then this book is for you. But be warned, it is a weekly series so you're gonna have to keep up.
MARVEL
All-New Wolverine (2015-) #9
Continuation of the crossover with Civil War 2. Fin Fang Foom is still causing some issues and X-23 is there to try to stop him. Guest starring Iron Man and Capt Marvel, the issue also has Old Man Logan. Where as X-23 is a byproduct of the Weapon X program, Old Man Logan is a man without a world to live in. The issue isn't really actiony except with dealing with Foom and some comedy aspects of it, which the book seems to cross with.
Deadpool (2015-) #13
This multi chapter issue deals with DP acting as a bodyguard for a mob investor who happens to lose all their money on the stock market. Slightly subtle dig at the exchange by the various mob groups in wanting to take out the exchange simple because their money was lost, as if that will fix the problem.
The book is broken up into 4 chapters and guest stars DareDevil, Iron Fist and Power Man, who are all used for comedic effect. The only serious guest star would be Typhoid Mary and a very nasty secret that Wade has.
Pretty much what you can expect from a Deadpool book, mayhem, destruction, banter (not all of it witty) and all around craziness.
Old Man Logan (2016-) #7
The conclusion of Logan and the Reavers fight. Lady Deathstrike returns and threatens more of the villagers. The grittiness of this book is basically what gives it the edge it has. A man with the belief that he has nothing to lose is a very dangerous man. As Logan finishes this story, we wonder how he will interact with the others in the Marvel Universe.
The Punisher (2016-) #2
With the new series, Becky Cloonan is doing a great job of writing this series. It seems on par with Garth Ennis in relation to the stories he wrote and Steve Dillon is back as the artist. I've seen a lot of artists who drew the Punisher and I would have to say that Steve is in the top five.
Again, someone from the Punisher's past is back and it seems interesting because I would think no one from his past would be of any importance. But I was wrong and it's a good read.
Spider-Man 2099 (2015-) #11
Miguel is in 2099, but is it his reality? A new Sinister Six. Since the inception of the 2099, the Spider Man title has been the only one to survive the integration into the Marvel Universe.
It's a different take on the Spidey myth and has Miguel more as an angry avenger than a regular one. A very good series.
X-Men '92 (2016-) #4
Coming off the Secret Wars series, this series brings back all the nuances of the X-Men series that was released in 1992. It's a different X-Men than the current ones and there is more levity in it. It also brings back a lot of characters we haven't seen since then and overall, it's a great read. If you're looking for something and not take it too serious, read this book.
June 01, 2016 Releases
BOOM! STUDIOS
Big Trouble In Little China #22 #23 #24
This entire series has been one fun roller coaster ride that brings the heart of the movie into it. While the movie itself didn't do well in theaters, it has become a cult classic. The series continues the misadventures of Jack Burton and the Pork Chop Express.
Jack has time traveled, been killed, resurrected and time traveled some more, all with the campiness of the movie. This could be considered a sequel to the movie and it feels like it. The series is coming to close with issue #25 and the reason I had 3 issues is because I was waiting for #22 since it was damaged in the original release date.
Overall, a good series on par with the recent Escape From New York series. Always been a fan of Kurt Russell and glad they took 2 of his most iconic characters and gave them a story his fans would love.
Dark Horse
Predator: Life and Death #4 (of 4)
Continuing where Fire and Stone left off, the Predators and Marines get into it big time. The gist of the story is that there is an Engineer ship on a distant planet that Weyland-Yutani is attempting to claim. With the Marines as backup and help, they discover the ship and investigate it. Meanwhile, a group of Predators are also there and it's possible they want the ship for themselves or just want to destroy it, nothing's for sure.
If you read and liked Fire and Stone, then Life and Death will be a good read for you. It's a crossover series with the same antagonists as Fire and Stone. The overall writing and art is better than the typical stand alone Predator stories. That being said, ever since the Prometheus movie came out, the mythology have evolved and hopefully future stories will enhance instead of dilute it.
DC COMICS
Batman Rebirth #1
The Rebirth is here, starting with Batman. There are other issues out there, but again, I concentrate on my pull list. The issue brings back Robin member Duke as Bruce wants him to be a new type of crime fighter and also re-introduces the Calendar Man as the villain. The apparent origin of Calendar Man has been changed again, and this time it states he lives and dies as the seasons change, becoming a new person with the previous person's memories. It's an interesting thought about a character that mostly has never been taken seriously. I believe that the recent incarnations of him in the video games have somewhat led to the fact of him being changed like that.
Just like when the Calculator and The Catman were revamped, 2 other villains who were not taken seriously at point, it's being done here to show how someone with a non-threatening name like Calendar Man can be a truly dangerous person once you figure out how to make his "shtick" work in his favor. If you think about it, the changing of seasons can be a dangerous thing and there are dates in history that are infamous, so if you think about it, with a little ingenuity, you can make them dangerous.
Bloodlines (2016-) #3 (of 6)
When I first heard that this series was being reintroduced, I was skeptical. I was expecting the same hokiness from the 90's crossover series.
A little backstory: in the early 90's DC had a crossover series with the majority of their titles, published in the annuals, as they were doing in a couple before. One in particular was Bloodlines.
The series went like this: a group of travelers from a parallel dimension invaded ours and had multiple antagonists. These creatures could shape shift into whatever they wanted to and they had a mission to collect spinal fluid for their master. Normally, they way they got the spinal fluid was at the base of the neck and shoulders and would kill the majority of people. But for the few who were not killed, something happened to them: they gained super powers. Some were good. Some were evil. Some straddled the line, the most famous of them was Hitman Tommy Monaghan, who went on to his own series just like some others, but his was the most successful.
Back to the series, the new series introduces new characters who are affected by the alien parasites. But for some of them, they are not able to control the transformation and are put down by a vigilante monster hunter, so to speak. It mostly follows a local high school disabled kid whose powers turn him into a blue giant and restores his ability to walk, but only in the giant form. He has a couple of friends who are also affected by the parasites as well and they are attempting to determine how and why they have their abilities and how they were infected.
Overall, I liked the story and it's not as hokey as the original series. The art on the page is perfect for the subject and representation of the series and hopefully we may get to see these characters in the Rebirth universe, just like the original ones were in the DC universe back in the 90's.
Green Arrow Rebirth #1
Green Arrow and Black Canary back together again. One of the things missing from New 52 was the relationship of Arrow and Canary. They never crossed paths in it and for the people who read the previous stories, these two were supposed to be destined to be with each other. The Birds of Prey series showed us that Canary was previously married to a man named Kurt, who was supposed to be dead according to Canary. It felt like a betrayal to Arrow since these 2 were together for so long. The LongBow Hunters series revitalized both of these characters in the mid 80's and had them be together. Even after Arrow died in this series and came back, there was still a spark between them and they eventually got married.
Part of the reason I didn't like the New 52 Green Arrow was his youthfulness and basically making a lot of bad judgement calls. Sure I get he was young, but it seemed to conflict with the story of him when compared to the regular DC universe.
This issue gets them back in the mix as formally getting back together while investigating a new case. Once again, Arrow is the hero of Seattle and Canary is his reluctant partner in the investigation. It will be good to see them back together again after being apart so long it seemed that the New 52 version was more of a child than man-child. That being said, the new series will hopefully be more of what they were, a crime fighting couple who love what they do and each other.
IDW
TMNT Bebop & Rocksteady Destroy Everything #1
Two of the Turtles roughest and toughest villains get their own series!!
Bebop and Rocksteady have always been the a duo who have not shied away from trouble or the turtles and in this story, it's no different. This time, the series helps us reintroduce a character we haven't seen for a long time and another who's always a fan favorite.
If you like craziness, time travel and mayhem, then this book is for you. But be warned, it is a weekly series so you're gonna have to keep up.
MARVEL
All-New Wolverine (2015-) #9
Continuation of the crossover with Civil War 2. Fin Fang Foom is still causing some issues and X-23 is there to try to stop him. Guest starring Iron Man and Capt Marvel, the issue also has Old Man Logan. Where as X-23 is a byproduct of the Weapon X program, Old Man Logan is a man without a world to live in. The issue isn't really actiony except with dealing with Foom and some comedy aspects of it, which the book seems to cross with.
Deadpool (2015-) #13
This multi chapter issue deals with DP acting as a bodyguard for a mob investor who happens to lose all their money on the stock market. Slightly subtle dig at the exchange by the various mob groups in wanting to take out the exchange simple because their money was lost, as if that will fix the problem.
The book is broken up into 4 chapters and guest stars DareDevil, Iron Fist and Power Man, who are all used for comedic effect. The only serious guest star would be Typhoid Mary and a very nasty secret that Wade has.
Pretty much what you can expect from a Deadpool book, mayhem, destruction, banter (not all of it witty) and all around craziness.
Old Man Logan (2016-) #7
The conclusion of Logan and the Reavers fight. Lady Deathstrike returns and threatens more of the villagers. The grittiness of this book is basically what gives it the edge it has. A man with the belief that he has nothing to lose is a very dangerous man. As Logan finishes this story, we wonder how he will interact with the others in the Marvel Universe.
The Punisher (2016-) #2
With the new series, Becky Cloonan is doing a great job of writing this series. It seems on par with Garth Ennis in relation to the stories he wrote and Steve Dillon is back as the artist. I've seen a lot of artists who drew the Punisher and I would have to say that Steve is in the top five.
Again, someone from the Punisher's past is back and it seems interesting because I would think no one from his past would be of any importance. But I was wrong and it's a good read.
Spider-Man 2099 (2015-) #11
Miguel is in 2099, but is it his reality? A new Sinister Six. Since the inception of the 2099, the Spider Man title has been the only one to survive the integration into the Marvel Universe.
It's a different take on the Spidey myth and has Miguel more as an angry avenger than a regular one. A very good series.
X-Men '92 (2016-) #4
Coming off the Secret Wars series, this series brings back all the nuances of the X-Men series that was released in 1992. It's a different X-Men than the current ones and there is more levity in it. It also brings back a lot of characters we haven't seen since then and overall, it's a great read. If you're looking for something and not take it too serious, read this book.
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Comics for May 25, 2016
DC Comics
Batgirl (2011-) #52 - Last issue for New 52. This series is one of the few bright lights on the New 52. Barbara goes from Commissioner's daughter, to Batgirl, to Oracle and then back to Batgirl. The series moved her to Burnside with some new friends and roommate. The entire series finishes on a high note before Rebirth. The art style was something I had to get used to, but it won me over.
Batman '66 Meets the Man From UNCLE (2015-) #6 (of 6) Two series from the 60's complete their mission against THRUSH and other super villains. Batman 66 was one of the few comics that was campy, but in a good way, just like the TV show. This time, they team up with the UNCLE agents against the villains. It goes about as you would expect, considering it's kind of like the TV show.
DC Universe Rebirth #1 Read my info here
http://jokerzwildcomicreview.blogspot.com/2016/05/spoilers-dcs-rebirth-is-not-reboot-its.html
Deathstroke (2014-) #18 The family gathering continues. The one thing I don't like about Deathstroke is the fact that they de-aged him, just like Green Arrow. That being said, the issues have always been violent and this no different. The Wilson family, Slade, Rose and Jericho, go up against CopperHead and a person from Slade's past. Ras Al Ghul makes and appearance as well, and the book is just action after action, with not really a lot of plot development.
The Flash (2011-) #52 - Last issue for New 52. The series concludes with Barry Allen with the Rogues fighting the Riddler, who has been using drones to scare and imprison people. This entire series has also been another one of the better series, in my opinion. I was never really a Flash fan or collector, but with this series it has been pretty good.
Grayson (2014-) #20 - Last issue for New 52. Oh, what a life for Dick Grayson. Circus Trapeze Artist. Orphan. Ward of Bruce Wayne. Robin. Nightwing. Martyr. Spy.
This series came out of the Forever Evil series in 2014 and put Grayson as a spy for Spyral. The adventures were crazy and fun and tongue in chic. It's like he knows he's in a comic book. (hint, hint)
Justice League (2011-) #50 - The issue to read before Rebirth #1. The Great Darkseid War comes to end. Fates changed. Questioned answered, somewhat. This sets up the forward to Rebirth with some questions at the end. The biggest question that was supposed to be answered was "Who was the Joker?", which Batman asked in a previous issue while in Metron's chair. The answer was not what he expected and is a little underwhelming when revealed.
Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Deadshot and Katana (2016-) #5 (of 6) Deadshot escapes and wants revenge. After the previous issue, Floyd Lawton is recovering from his wounds by the Deadshot wannabe, he escapes and visits his daughter.
Katana is in Markovia with the Suicide Squad helping Brian Markov fight against Kobra and their minions. This also brings the Halo character somewhat, or at least a version.
This whole series has been a great roller coaster of fun and well written. It's great to see characters outside their regular purview.
We Are Robin (2015-) #12 - Last issue. After the Robin Wars, the Robins attempt to go back to their lives, but a former Robin's life gets a distressed and an attempt to make a quick buck could go sideways. This was an interesting series because it didn't really focus on Batman and all the other Robins either, just normal kids who are wanting to do good after being inspired by Batman and the others. Alfred is the main help here and attempts to hide his appearance and is kind of found out.
Darby Pop
Bruce Lee, The Dragon Rises (2016) #2 - Bruce Lee returns again and he is an amnesiac. After being awoken in 2012 in the previous issue, Bruce attempts to find out where he's been and why he's been kept out of society.
This book brings all sorts of nostalgia to me because I grew up a Bruce Lee fan, like most kids in the 70's. This book was approved by Bruce's daughter, Shannon and again, it's great fun. But's there only so much you can do with the series and I don't believe the series will last a whole lot of issues.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Amazing Adventures #10 - Spinning off the TV series, TMNT Adventures is basically the comic book version of it.
TMNT Amazing Adventures Carmelo Anthony Spec #1 - I'll be honest, all I know about Carmelo is that he's a basketball player and I don't really care for basketball. That said, the issue focuses on kidnapping him and using as a test subject for a special kind of mutagen, that was designed by Baxter Stockman. Another issue that falls along the line of the TV show, which I think would have made a fun episode, like the book.
Transformers: More Than Meets the Eye (2011-) #53 - While waiting for the Dept of Judicial Decepticons, the Autobots tend to their wounded. One of the big things that shook up the Transformers universe was the change of Megatron's allegiances, which I believe was a good thing. Megatron had come to terms with his killings after Bumblemee was killed (not by him) because Bumblebee was striving for peace. It's interesting to see a character who was portrayed as a one dimensional despot, pining for victories, be fleshed out as someone who has definite flaws and that they are exposed.
Marvel
Deadpool (2015-) #12 - Deadpool 2099 returns. Someone claiming to be DP 2099 has the original one tied up. All the Deadpool series have had their ups and downs and I believe that the DP 2099 is one of their downs. It seems like they are just indulging it just to slap a 2099 label to it.
Deadpool: Mercs for Money (2016) #4 of 5 - Mayhem and betrayal. The series is typical of a Deadpool title, with mayhem and destruction . The fortune telling robot is being transported and everyone wants it. Will they get it? We have to wait til the last issue.
Obi-Wan & Anakin (2016) #5 (of 5) - Last issue. This series explores an early mission of the Jedis. It also explores the possible attempt at corruption or coercion of Anakin. This series was well written but the art leaves something to be desired but again, the writing makes up for it.
Spider-Man/Deadpool (2016-) #5 - The Bro-mance continues. Sort of. Has Deadpool killed Peter Parker? Yes and no. He's dead but hasn't gone to hell like Deadpool had hoped, so Peter comes back. As long they keep this book as a tongue in chic, bro-mance book, it should do well.
Star Wars (2015-) #19 - Prison arc concludes. Leia finds out who is killing the prisoners and she is not happy. This series has been well received and well written. The last Star Wars comics were done by Dark Horse, and while they were different, it is kind of sad that they weren't included in the Marvel universe, as they were pretty good stories. The stories themselves are all set after New Hope and before Empire, so it would be interesting to see if they skip a few years and follow Empire. As I've said, the stories are well written and the art is pretty interesting.
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