The Punisher #16
Writer: Greg Rucka
Art: Marco Checchetto
Colors: Matt Hollingsworth
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $2.99
All good things must come to an end, and unfortunately, so does Greg Rucka’s run on The Punisher.
Of course, Rucka’s work with the character will continue in October with a five-issue War Zone mini-series, but it’s just not the same. This run brought a sense of conviction to Frank Castle that we have never seen before.
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These days, when you think of Batman’s rogue gallery, names such as Ra’s al Ghul, Bane, and The Joker come to mind. Catwoman flip-flops back and forth from good to bad, but there is a cornucopia of evildoers that have been lost in the shuffle over the last ten years. One who comes to mind is The Penguin, and the creative minds of Gregg Hurwitz and Szymon Kudranski have put the spotlight back on this criminal genius.
Continue reading “Penguin: Pain and Prejudice Review”
Spider-Men #5 | Writer: Brian Michael Bendis | Art: Sara Pichelli
Colors: Justin Ponsor | Publisher: Marvel Comics | Price: $3.99
The charming tale of when Peter met Miles comes to a close, and guess what? Peter approves of the 13 year old web slinger. Of course, that’s not all that happens in this instant classic team up story.
Mysterio of 616 Earth will remain in the Ultimate Universe for the foreseeable future. Brian Michael Bendis weaves a grand finale that will have a lasting effect on all things Spider-Man.
Sara Pichelli’s work is top notch as always and Justin Ponsor’s coloring is the icing on the cake. The ingenuity of Bendis’ script is to be admired at the subtlety of certain character’s actions that heavily suggest this story is only over in the numerical sense.
If subtlety is not your thing, then the ending is anything but and the possible ramifications of it are endless.
Grade: A
Click here to read the rest of the column I wrote at Forces of Geek.com
Batman & Robin #0 | Writer: Peter J. Tomasi | Art: Patrick Gleason & Mick Gray | Colors: John Kalisz |Publisher: DC Comics | Price: $2.99
The book may be titled “Batman & Robin,” but this series has always been about the pint-sized assassin Damian. Over the last twelve months, we’ve seen Bruce Wayne’s son struggle with his morality. He was bred to be a masterful killer from the day he was born and has a hard time fighting the urge to kill.
Continue reading “Batman & Robin #0 Review: One Cute Book”
Hawkeye #2 | Writer: Matt Fraction | Art: David Aja
Colors: David Aja
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price: $2.99
Act two of the Arrowed Avenger proves the outstanding story in the first issue was no fluke.
Matt Fraction delivers a thrilling comic book that shows Clint Barton’s time away from his famous super team.
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Justice League #12 | Writer: Geoff Johns | Art: Jim Lee, Ivan Reis & Joe Prado
Colors: Alex Sinclair & Tony Avina | Publisher: DC Comics | Price: $3.99
This is the issue everyone is talking about.
Superman and Wonder Woman make out and become a couple according to Geoff Johns.
The main story in the book serves as the conclusion of the Alan Graves saga. The League is able to battle back the ghosts of their loved ones, but the damage is already done. The world doesn’t trust them and Green Lantern quits, which makes complete sense if you read this month’s Green Lantern Annual. I
Continue reading “Justice League #12 Review: The Kiss Heard Around The World”
Before Watchmen: Rorschach #1 | Writers: Brian Azzrello & Len Wein
Art: Lee Bermejo & John Higgins | Colors: Barbara Ciardo & John Higgins
Publisher: DC Comics | Price: $3.99
Rorschach is one messed-up individual.
But you didn’t need me to tell you that. He is the anti-hero or anti-heroes and can justify anything while trying to do what he believes is right. This is hard to do in a world where very little right takes place.
This was the Before Watchmen title I was looking forward to the most and I was right to be so excited.
Rorschach’s narration drives the story at its core because it is different than most comic narratives. It is written in the form of a journal entry and he is careful and blunt with his thoughts when putting pen to paper.
Often, you will find certain words in a sentence crossed out and replaced with a most poignant verbiage.
The other books featuring Watchmen characters have a unique mix of good a bad things going on in their life. There is nothing good at all about Rorschach’s life.
Lee Bermejo has an eerie ability to make darkness and despair look beautiful and is the icing on the cake of this gritty title.
Grade: B+
Batman #12 | Writer: Scott Snyder & James Tynion IV | Art: Becky Cloonan
Colors: FCO Placencia |Publisher: DC Comics | Price: $3.99
Scott Snyder has written eleven remarkable issues and the 12th installment is no exception. Becky Cloonan takes artistic duties with this issue and her touch on this particular story was the perfect fit.
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Hawkeye #1 | Writer: Matt Fraction | Art: David Aja | Colors: Matt Hollingsworth |
Publisher: Marvel Comics | Price: $2.99
If you are looking for the Hawkeye that wowed fans in the Avengers movie, you won’t find him here.
What you will find, however, is Matt Fraction’s realistic and gritty interpretation of a man named Clinton Barton. The purple archer doesn’t have the luxury of fighting crime with superpowers, and a bow and arrow is not the answer to every situation. While it is a scary sight for anyone on the receiving end, it’s not going to convince a slum lord gangster to stop unfairly raising rent on poor families.
These injustices are too small for someone like the Hulk to deal with but just right for Mr. Barton.
Fraction does a fantastic job of painting him as the everyman’s hero of Queens, New York. David Aja’s art felt like something I would see drawn on a subway wall, and Matt Hollingsworth’s coloring gave the story a Bohemian motif to match the grittiness of the story.
As the kids say these days, this issue has tons of street credit.
A side note: Does anyone know why one of the variants has Spider-Man surrounded by the many incarnations of Doctor Octopus? It’s a cool cover, and I purchased it, but I can’t seem to discover the reason for its creation. Please let me know in the comment section below. Thanks!
Grade: A-
The first joint effort of Ed Brubaker and Cullen Bunn brings about a fun new story arc titled New World Order.
Captain America has a full plate as he’s fighting a new race of alien invaders while having to deal with public opinion weighing heavily against him.
Continue reading “Captain America #15 Review”
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