Batwoman #24 Review

Batwoman #24 serves as the series’ swan song for W. Haden Blackman and J.H. Williams III. Despite all of the great stories that has come out of these remarkable pages, it is fitting that the duo gives us the one thing they’ve been teasing for twenty four issues: The showdown between Batwoman and Batman.

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Star Wars #10 Review

One of the great many things about this Star Wars series is we get to see things that never unfolded in the films.

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Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #1: Review

If you’ve ever read a comic book that tests the limits of your mind and imagination, Matt Kindt probably wrote it. His ability to make the reader question what they are reading and seeing in front of them is truly remarkable.

Marvel Knight’s tales involving Spider-Man tend to have a certain edge that the regular continuity books don’t possess. Speaking about continuity, Peter Parker is the resident web-slinger for this story, which is a nice change for those who miss the character.

Peter lives in a world where work as a photographer is drying up because Spider-Man photos are considered passé. He looks for work elsewhere, but his rep for being Spider-Man’s photographer makes it difficult for the ends to meet.

Parker takes a particular job that turns into a deadly escapade where he is taken to the edge of his physical and mental abilities. The detail of Marco Rudy’s artwork perfectly illustrates the madness Spider-Man is experiencing.

Val Staples’ coloring compliments the pencil and makes the reader feel that they are tripping on acid at times, which also conveys the gravity of the psychological peril Spider-Man is in, as his spider-sense is ringing nonstop.

The maze of twists and turns written by Kindt makes you wonder if this is real or just some horrible nightmare. The end of this tale reveals an insurmountable gauntlet of 99 problems for Spider-Man. Oh, and a bitch ain’t one.

Grade: A-

Jupiter’s Legacy #3 Review

What if, one day, the Justice League got tired of Superman’s truth, justice and the American way rhetoric and conspired to kill him? This is the plot device that Mark Millar uses to crank the intensity up as family drama drastically changes everything.

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Superior Spider-Man #18 Review

I got out of work early for a change on Wednesday and wouldn’t you know it. All five comic book stores I went to were sold out Superior Spider-Man #18.

Airing my grievances on this matter caught the attention of Dan Slott who retweeted my grumblings which blew up my Twitter account and resulted in several new followers. One of them even offered me their ComiXology version when they were done.

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Baltimore: The Infernal Train #1 Review

I had the pleasure of meeting Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden at Boston Comic Con last month. While everyone wanted to talk Hellboy, I went in a different route and talked about the vengeance filled vampire hunter, Lord Henry Baltimore.

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Flash #23 Review

One of the trademarks of this series is the pacing of the story. So much happens in what appears to be so little time, that when you reach the end, you find yourself saying, “That was fast”.

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Daredevil #30 Review

Thirty issues in and Mark Waid has been the mastermind behind what is arguably not only the best Daredevil run of all time but also the best series in the game today. The preview at the end of last month’s issue made me super excited. I mean, come on: A Daredevil and Silver Surfer team-up!? How are they going to pull this off? I’m here to report that it was pulled off spectacularly.

Ru’Ach, an Achian, is a galactic fugitive who seeks the counsel of Matt Murdock. This moment is great because his idea about hiring Murdock is based on an inebriated commencement speech. Silver Surfer comes in to apprehend Ru’Ach, and Murdock stops him in his tracks since he feels his “client” is innocent until the Surfer proves otherwise.

The adventure they embark on was an absolute pleasure to be a part of, and Chris Samnee’s two-page spread of Daredevil driving Silver Surfer’s board was priceless and needs to be made into a poster ASAP. This issue has a little bit of everything from comedy to action and everything else in between.

This is definitely one of the best single issues of the year, and you owe it to yourself as a comic book fan to read this issue.

Grade: A+

Flash and Green Lantern’s First Meeting

“When Barry Met Hal” provides an inside look at their friendship over the years.

What begins in the past culminates in the present as the residual effects of a previous crime rears its ugly head. Of course, the residual is Green Lantern’s fault, and while on the surface, there are deadly consequences but it’s really just Hal being Hal.

Brian Buccellato writes this in a way where the reader lives vicariously through Flash because we’ve all had that really good friend that has gotten us into a sticky situation.

You want to choke them out and swear you will never speak to them again, but in the end, you have their back, and the friendship becomes stronger as a result.

Batman and Superman’s legendary friendship is one of the things that make them a popular duo. Flash and Green Lantern’s bromance should be on the same pedestal because certain variables make it more relatable.

Nicole Duback penned a nice back story highlighting how even a hero can’t save everyone all of the time, but you can help push things in the right direction. This was the right story to tell for this second annual because Hal is away on Oa running the Lantern Corps, and Flash is doing his thing on Earth with the Justice League. It may be a while before their shenanigans can entertain us again.

Grade A-

Believe the Hype for Red Sonja #1

Gail Simone is one of the more respected names in the industry whose reported firing from DC Comics’ Batgirl title sparked such fan outrage that she was hired back a few days later.

Simone’s take on the red-headed She-Devil generated a lot of buzz going into this past Wednesday.

After journeying through twenty-four pages of superb storytelling and fierce imagery, I’m here to tell you, believe the hype.

Red Sonja’s slightly refreshed origin story wastes no time in setting up a plot where the beautiful barbarian is charged with repaying a life debt.

What makes this moment poignant is how Sonja is portrayed as an unapologetic badass.

There was a fun moment where three would-be thieves attempt to pillage Sonja’s belongings. She is completely unfazed by this and draws the ire of the more daring thief by refusing to engage the trio because she doesn’t want to get blood on her horse. The blood splattering artwork of Walter Geovani shows how exquisite a sword through the head can look.

“I can teach them tactics. I can’t teach them WAR” is Sonja’s motivation as she serves the king who granted her salvation to prevent the slaughter of a kingdom. In my humble opinion, there aren’t enough comic books featuring female leads.

This ongoing series is another great example of why there should be more, and the talents of Gail Simone is the perfect archetype to improve a glaring need.

Grade: A