Everything Comes Full Circle in Polarity #4

“It’s been in my DNA, in my blood since my birth, an encoded destiny that spelled out the fact that I’m nothing more than an unhinged dreamer whose fantasies of normalcy and peace were always far out of reach.” This is life, according to Tim, as his superpowers brought on by his mental illness bring about an inevitability that may or may not be pre-conceived.

Continue reading “Everything Comes Full Circle in Polarity #4” →

Star Wars Legacy # 4 Review

The second installment of the Legacy series has established a different kind of tone from its predecessor championed by the Skywalker clan.

Continue reading “Star Wars Legacy # 4 Review” →

Man of Steel Review

It is hard for me not to be romantic when talking about Superman. He was the first comic book I ever read, the first action figure I ever owned, and often times, I’ve felt like a strange visitor from another planet. Superman inspires me like no other because he is the ultimate clutch player that comes through when things are at their worst. Needless to say, I had been eagerly anticipating the release of Man of Steel for over a year now, and I finally got to see it on opening night; and it is an epic film that captures who Superman needed to be in 2013.

Continue reading “Man of Steel Review” →

Superman Unchained #1 Review

Let me get this out of the way right now. Superman is my all-time favorite superhero. That being said, Action Comics has been either hit or miss, while the self-titled series has been completely uninspired since the inception of the New 52. Superman Unchained changes all of that.

I was curious about how Scott Snyder would approach things since his amazing knack for storytelling has been predominate with street-level characters.

Rest assured, Snyder, manages to put a fresh coat of paint on this 75-year-old classic. For starters, he actually made the book about Superman instead of focusing on the complexities of everything around him, such as his personal and professional life.

Those elements come into play when Lois informs Clark of an error in his news article, which prompts him to put on the cape and investigate the matter. Other characters from Superman folklore also make an appearance, and they were used for the purpose that they were intended.

Jimmy Olsen augments Clark Kent’s humanity as he receives a helping hand, including an attempt to be covered for, to avoid the wrath of his boss. The alien-hating General Sam Lane is not central to the story, but he brings about what could be Superman’s biggest threat.

Jim Lee’s legendary splash pages encompass your imagination as the action unfolds in front of your eyes. I mean it. It literally unfolds in the form of a beautiful gatefold poster with so much action that it couldn’t fit on one page.

While due to some dull moments, it is not a grand slam by any means, the newly heralded dream team Scott Snyder and Jim Lee have set the standard for what a Superman comic book should be in 2013.

Grade: B+

Daredevil #26: The Best Book of The Year?

If the Eisner award-winning Daredevil #7 is Mark Waid’s Mona Lisa, Daredevil #26 is his David sculpture. Breathtaking ingenuity is found on every page, every panel, and every word balloon.

Continue reading “Daredevil #26: The Best Book of The Year?” →

The Khan of Star Trek Into Darkness

I thoroughly enjoyed Star Trek Into Darkness from beginning to end and left the theater wanting more. The cast did a much better job of fulfilling their roles this time around. The relationship between Kirk and Spock is the vehicle that drives the story on its plotted course. They trust each other with their lives, but they still have some kinks to work out, which is fun to watch unfold but frustrating at the same time, especially from Spock’s perspective.

Continue reading “The Khan of Star Trek Into Darkness” →

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #23 Review

Miles Morales’s life has been altered forever. In the last issue, Venom killed his mother, and in her final moments, she learned how Miles had been spending his time after school. She was as proud as only a loving mother could be and cautioned him to never tell his mutant-hating father.

Continue reading “Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #23 Review” →

Justice League of America #3 Review

JLA improves upon the mistakes of the canceled Justice League International series by making the little things matter. For example, The U.N. commissioned the JLI with the intent of having a culturally diverse squad with no hidden identities.

A.R.G.U.S. runs this particular show, and Amanda Waller and Steve Trevor calls the shots. Geoff John covers a lot of ground with this issue that serves as the tip of the iceberg.

Continue reading “Justice League of America #3 Review” →

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #22 Review

The thrilling conclusion to “Venom War” brings about a personal tragedy for Miles Morales. These things and Spider-Man go hand-in-hand so it was only a matter of time before our young hero suffered this particular wound.

Continue reading “Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #22 Review” →

Daredevil #25 Review

Many have tried, but the genius that is Mark Waid has finally done it. He has managed to instill fear into the man without fear. The awesome cover drawn by Samnee and Rodriguez tells the whole story.

This is a brutal battle involving a killer specifically trained and designed not only to kill Daredevil but also to do it while being better than him in his form of fighting. It’s the ultimate mind %$#@& that Daredevil may not be able to come back from.

That says a lot, considering what Mark Waid has put this man through. From bloody punches to bone-crushing blows, every aspect of this fight is brilliantly illustrated by Chris Samnee. This was not your typical back-and-forth battle where the bad guy pulled out a fluke victory.

The killer, whose ninja outfit combines Daredevil’s red and yellow costume, was three steps ahead at every turn. He looked pretty badass while handling. This is the type of work that made Mark Waid the Eisner award-winning writer that he is.

Superheroes always triumph in the end. However, Waid manages to put the devil in such peril that it seems inconceivable that he can actually win. Then, out of nowhere, he comes up with a plan that ensures victory.

Like every story arc before this one, I have no idea how he gets out of this one, but I can’t wait to see how he does it.

Grade: A