Dark Horse
Predator vs. Judge Dredd vs. Aliens #1
Three very dangerous groups fighting for the first time! This will get bloody and messy. Dredd did fight the Predators in the past but when you mix the Aliens in there, you just know it's going to get crazier than before.
The story starts with a Predator being hunted (twist?) by a group man/animal hybrids. As the Judges are looking for someone, they are told that going in a particular place way past Mega-City One is too dangerous for even them.
I've always liked the Predator stories in general, more so then the Alien stories, even though I love the majority of the movies they were introduced in. The story line is too early to tell exactly what is going to happen, even though you know the characters involved.
Dredd has been around longer than both of the other characters so I would give him the advantage slightly because he can be just as deadly and aggressive as the Predators and Aliens. The books also follows the tradition of the "VS" category that Dark Horse has been doing for a long time.
Hopefully this will be a slam bang action type of book.
The story written by John Layman will probably seem like all the other VS books they have had in the past and as this point, it's more in how they flesh out everyone. The art seems nice but it seems reminiscent of another artist but I can't place my finger on who.
These books have always been a fun ride and I don't see this being any different. 8/10
DC
Batgirl #1
The artwork for the series is pretty much the same as the New 52 series towards the end of it. The art itself seems to be more "juvenile", which is harsh, but it seems to be drawn in a way that doesn't seem out there. The story lines themselves were pretty well written but as for the art, I'm a little gun shy about it. 8/10
Detective Comics (1937-2011) #937
Clayface has always straddled that fine line but when you think about it, he's a man in a monsters' body and probably feels that the world hates him for his appearance instead of his personality.
Orphan, or Cassandra Cain, has finally been put back in the DC universe and whether or not she'll take up the mantle of Batgirl remains to be seen. She seems to be the deadliest and fiercest fighter of the group and let's hope she hone those abilities better.
Red Robin is the techie of the group but still a competent fighter in his own right. The issue I have here is that Tim Drake is also in the future in the Batman Beyond title so it will be interesting to see that resolved.
Batwoman, I'll tell you, I don't really know a lot about her and until recently, I wasn't even aware she was related to the Wayne family. She seems like a good enough leader as long as she isn't trying to prove something to Batman or overshadow him.
The story is OK but then you wonder why hasn't someone done something like this in the past. It has been addressed that Batman's weapons have been found every time he has fought and you wonder why he would make such a careless mistake as to leave it when he fought others. It would only make sense that someone would try to reverse engineer it.
The art is very good even though I don't know who he is. I'm used to the old school guys myself.
That being said, the book looks like a fun ride and hopefully it won't turn out to be one of the old tropes they use, like Clayface turning on them or something like that. 8/10
Deathstroke (2014-) #20
The last issue of the series before Rebirth. Slade Wilson must fight for his family against Ra's Al Ghul and also fight against the man who betrayed him.
The biggest issue in general I have against Slade is the fact that they made him younger, like they did with some other New 52 characters. Slade is a grizzled, war vet and he shouldn't be portrayed as a young man. The way they gave him back his youth seemed like a cheap ploy and really didn't work for the comic. I liked him when he had his own series back in the 80's and then when he was put in the Green Arrow book, that was a great story arc. It all harks back to the Identity Crisis series where those two came to blows and Ollie stuck an arrow in Slade's eye. Hopefully with the Rebirth series, their old rivalry will come back into play. 7/10
Flash #3
The creation of new speedsters continues. Flash and his fellow police partner have new problems to worry about. First is how his partner got the Speed Force and now that a majority of people seem to have acquired them as well. The dynamic between these two characters makes for an interesting book. Whereas Flash mostly plays the straight man, his new partner is the jokester.
Finding out who has the power to make people have access to the Speed Force and we also get introduced to a new character as well.
I like how the story is but having too may speedsters does seem to mess up things. Will these people age too quick and not use their use powers? Some have already used it for breaking the law, I'm sure there will be others. The art seems pretty good and again, I'm not really familiar with a lot of new artists. I see how the Flash has electricity around him and that is relatively new. Overall, I like how the story is progressing and we will have to wait until the really big bad shows up. 8/10
Future Quest #3
More of my favorite cartoon characters are given their limelight. Growing up with these cartoons , you sit back and can just feel the nostalgia.
The first story revolves around Birdman and him fighting the supposed source of the first 2 issues.
The second story revolves around one of my personal favorites, The Herculoids. Until now, I'm don't think I've seen or heard their origin story. Apparently, their home world was a very technologically advanced and they built robots to help them in society. Of course, the robots turned on their masters and wiped out everyone, but not before the Herculoids escaped to a planet with no technology. It seems like such a cliched story, I wonder why they even bothered with it. It takes pieces of the Matrix and Terminator movies and makes it their back story. Kind of lazy if you ask me.
As for the artwork, I love the vibrant colors of the issue. For something that's supposed to be destroying the universe, there's not a lot of darkness on the pages. The writing seems a little distracting but I understand it's all a matter of introducing the characters and then most likely having them meet each other in the end to do battle against the grand threat. 8/10
Harley Quinn (2013-) #30
Last issue before Rebirth. Every since Harley was introduced, she's always been a fan favorite. Why the didn't start sooner with her when New 52 was introduced, we'll never know.
Harley' book is one that never really took itself serious with all the wacky adventures she has and the effect is has on people she hangs out with. It was good to see her take on the Joker and "attempt" to resolve their issues, but you just know the Joker isn't going to let it go.
The issue deals with Harley trying to save a tree and going on to various places to get help. She finally gets Poison Ivy to help and if you're like me, you sense a little bit more of what kind of relationship is going on between them. It's not a bad thing, it's just there.
The artwork seems a little cartoonish but with Harley it works. It does seem familiar to the late Darwyn Cooke's art, especially towards the end. Probably a homage to him.
Overall this series has been a great one and one of the few bright spots of the New 52, where everything else seemed like doom and gloom. Not sure what the new series will entail but if it's a lot like this series, it will be a fun ride. 8/10
Nightwing #1
Rebirth continues. Dick Grayson is back in his old Nightwing suit and he feels better than ever. Dick is undercover in the Court of Owls after the events of the Robin War. He also gets a new "teacher", if you could call them that, and it doesn't go very well.
I liked the New 52 series of Dick's a lot even though I didn't get his 90's series. (stopped in 93, picked up in 2001) He had a carefree attitude that was just opposite of Bruce. Even when Bruce died and he took the mantle of the Bat, Damian as his Robin sidekick was the more serious one.
Red Hood and the Outlaws Rebirth #1
Rebirth continues. Jason Todd, the perennial "Robin who kills" is one of those characters that you like but can't really seem to figure out why. He's cocky and arrogant but it may be a front from actually dying a while back.
The new story line involves Jason being asked by Bruce to investigate some issues at City hall and Bruce believes a new player is in town. The book shows some of Jason's past, including his death and rebirth and his path going forward. I liked the previous RHATO series because of the group dynamic between Jason, Roy and Khori, It was fun to see Roy move past that whole Arsenal shtick and see a lighter side of Jason as well. Apparently, the new team hasn't been introduced as of yet so we will have to wait for the new series to who is joining Jason.
The artwork of Dexter Soy is very appealing and it flows pretty well. The writing by Scott Lobdell, who had been writing the other books for a while, seems to humanize Jason when others think he's just an angry soul. Jason still is an angry soul, mostly because he was killed by the Joker and resented Bruce for a while, but it seems like Scott is writing him to be something bigger. 8/10
IDW
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #60
Now that Shredder is dead, one has to wonder the purpose of the turtles. I didn't like the cheap sellout story of "killing" a member who actually wasn't dead and it seems like something they wouldn't do. And is the Shredder TRULY dead because the witch sure plans to make sure he isn't.
All in all, this book continues to amaze me with the flow of the stories being told. I believe the book will get better as it goes on as well. I do wish Eastman would do more besides the alternate covers, I've always liked his style because of the grittiness feel to it.
Again, here's hoping. 9/10
Transformers Titans Return #1 (One-Shot)
THE LAST AUTOBOT! Once he ruled CYBERTRON with a brutal (and literal) iron fist... left for dead four million years ago, SENTINEL PRIME is back. But in a world where STARSCREAM rules CYBERTON, OPTIMUS PRIME has invaded Earth, and MEGATRON is an AUTOBOT-SENTINEL doesn't like what he sees! Bullet points: The story continues in TRANSFORMERS #56 and MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE #56 next month, and expands to TILL ALL ARE ONE this fall! For the first time ever-Scott, Roberts, and Barber working together on one story! Plus the powerful noir art of superstar Livio Ramondelli! After OPTIMUS is hailed; after the LIGHT dies... the next phase of TRANSFORMERS comics starts here!
Sentinel Prime returns!
Sentinel was killed long ago by Megatron and he has come back and doesn't like what he sees. Autobots and Decepticons living in a somewhat fractured peace? Not on his watch.
I've always loved the Transformers since the first time I saw them in 84. This series and others like it are for a good read and they flesh out a lot of the backstory of everyone, or they at least try. and it makes for good reading. It seems they are taking it up a notch with each story arc and I have a feeling the book will end soon. Just a gut feeling.
The artwork is something to get used to as it isn't the typical style that I've seen before. It's dark, foreboding and somewhat outlined more than usual.
The issue ties or begins the next arc which is a crossover series, The Road to Revolution. I still like these titles and hope they go for a long time. 8/10
I always like The Transformers for a loing time, starting with their animated series.
The art is always dark and flashy at the same time and since Megatron has "reformed", it's been interesting to say the least. 8/10
Marvel
Howard The Duck (2015-) #9
Howard is back in NEW YORK CITY! And on his strangest case yet: A missing person! His client? The missing person! WHAAA-? * Join us as Howard encounters aliens, Brooklyn and network television with a SPECIAL GUEST STAR so SHOCKING that I am STILL SHOCKED that we're ALLOWED TO DO THIS. * SERIOUSLY.
Can you say "special guest star Lea Thompson"? Yes, the actor who played in the movie starring Howard is playing herself in the book. After last issue's gut wrenching moments, Howard is back and in need of a case. In comes Lea. It seems she can't remember dozing off at certain times and hire Howard to help her find out why.
This book is a homage to the movie and also the characters as well. It's a book so absurd that you can't help but to take it serious. It's one of the better obscure books Marvel puts out and I'm glad that it's not an X-this or an Avengers-that or even Civil War tie-in. With the series ending soon, I wonder what Marvel is going to do with Howard once again. 8/10
Old Man Logan (2016-) #9
Ever since alternate timeline Logan has returned, he's getting into more trouble than before. I know he wants to fix certain things so they don't or will happen in the future, but his future catches up too him pretty quick.
The artwork is gritty and dark and the new story line introduces some new characters that were/are a part of his past/future.
The thing about a Wolverine comic is that you know Marvel wasn't going to keep him dead for long, albeit by doing it, they brought one from the future. It makes me wonder if Secret Wars was this whole backwards plan to do that since Old Man Logan was in it.
Wolverine is their money maker and you don't kill one off unless you have a replacement. 8/10
Star Wars Force Awakens Adaptation #2 (of 5)
The saga continues! * Desert scavenger Rey and ex-stormtrooper Finn are being pursued by the evil First Order! * But can they escape Jakku in an old 'hunk of junk' YT-1300 freighter? * And what new threats will they find in a galaxy far, far away? 9/10
X-Men '92 (2016-) #5
An X-TRA special and X-TREME one-off tale featuring the best romance the '90s can offer! * Scott Summers and Jean Grey want nothing more than a quiet, romantic getaway. * But time for 'romance' and 'quiet' doesn't exist when you're an X-Man! * Something Sinister this way comes for our two lovebirds!!!
The XMen92 to me, was a great time. With the series showcasing the flashy 90's series, it acts like an exaggeration of itself, loud and everything.
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