These are reviews from My local comic shop GrahamCrackerComics enjoy. Todays reviews are also brought to By Harley Quinn.
POINT
Catwoman #1
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Guillem March
Reviewed by John Schaefer
Finally, DC's new 52 delivers something that IS new, different, and interseting. This new incarnation of Selina Kyle is a fascinating example of what Judd Winick can do with a character that he's done his homework on. Over the years, we have seen Catwoman as a thief, villianess, protector, neighborhood watch, hero, sister, girlfriend, lover, and mother. Winick's take on Catwoman is wholey believable and wonderfully off kilter. Selina Kyle has given into her desires and is slightly well...nuts. There is a certain crazy factor to her character that Winick exploits wonderfully. This book almost verges on being something that the early Vertigo line might have featured.
Now add in Guillem March's erotic art style and kaboom! His intimate knowledge of women's undergarments is overwhelming to the eye. 32 titles into New 52 month and we have a winner!
9 out of 10 Grahams
COUNTER POINT
Catwoman #1
Written by Judd Winick
Art by Guillem March
Reviewed by Shanna Berry
When I heard they were re-launching Catwoman, I was giddy with excitement! I LOVE Selena Kyle, and we all need more Catwoman in our lives, right?
WRONG.
Maybe it's because I like to keep p*rn and comics separate when talking about the BIG publishers. Maybe it's because books like Batman Hush paved the way for beautiful, romantic encounters, full of lust, without resorting to smut.
In this issue we have no plot, little conflict, but tons of boobs! If you only read comics for sax and violence, this book is for you!
What should have been a relished rebirth was instead a messy miscarriage. Avoid this train wreck, buy Wonder Woman instead. Oh and Nightwing too.
Batgirl, Swamp Thing, Animal Man, Batwoman, heck ANY of these books are fantastic reads with actual plot development! Go buy them instead.
1 out of 10 Grahams
New Avengers #16
Written by Brian Michael Bendis
Art by Mike Deodato
Reviewed by Pastor Sam
Wow. What a great book. Having never read any Avengers before, I approached this work with leeriness and feelings of trepidation. Man, was that unnecessary! After following Bendis as he destroyed my favorite character Daredevil for years, New Avengers was comparable to a 20 page apology – and yes Brian, you are forgiven. BMB takes the horned swashbuckler and shows him doing what he does best: rising above his circumstances, helping people and saving the day. Though the dialogue is a little challenging at times the story is fantastic and really captures the essence of what it means to be an Avenger (well, a “new” one anyway). Deodato brings his A game as well with great story telling through art in both the action sequences as well and the more subtle quiet panels of discourse. I cannot recommend this book enough. A must have for any Daredevil fan, and still a pretty great read for everyone else.
9 out of 10 Grahams
Batman #1
Written by Scott Snyder
Art by Greg Capullo
Reviewed by Andy Cole
Why does someone read a Batman comic? Is it for the fast paced, kenitic action? Is it for the iconic characters? The wonderful villians? Might it be for the great dark and twisted art? Or is it most likely for the intricate stories and the fun mysteries that our favorite detective finds a way to solve in them? Well if it is for any of these reasons, I have some good news for you. This new issue had elements of ALL of these things. Is it the perfect Batman book? No, but it is probably the best start to a series arc that I have read in a great long time. Greg Capullo of Spawn fame and his pencils translate very well to Gotham and its creepy backdrops. Scott Snyder has a grreat read encompassing most of the big names and faces in the Bat-verse here. He's had a few great reads already with his last run on Detective and American Vampire too if you want more by him. All in all, if you've never read a Batman book and like the character, this is the best chance you will probably ever see to jump on board.
10 out of 10 Grahams
Black Panther #523
Written by David Liss
Art by Francesco Francavilla
Reviewed by Pastor Sam
Perhaps I allowed my expectations to rise too high as we careened along to the end of this arc on the roller coaster that is Black Panther. That’s not to say this wasn’t a really good issue, because it was, I guess I was just hoping for something more than was delivered. The art was solid again as well, though the overuse of red and black in places was a bit much at times. All in all though Liss wraps up life with the Hate Monger in a nice tidy neat little package while at the same time piquing curiosity about where things are going for the star-spangled psycho, American Panther. If you aren’t reading this already just wait for the trade and be sure to pick up the first trade while you are at it – these are not to be missed.
7 out of 10 Grahams
Nightwing #1
Written by Kyle Higgins
Art by Eddy Barrows
Reviewed by John Elle
After about two years or so, us "wingnuts" get Dick Grayson back in the role he was born to play. With the relaunch sowing confusion into "What has stayed" and "What's changed", it's covered fairly early on.
The first issue begins quickly and throws us right into the action. The writing is fairly decent, and Dick's ties to his past come front and center early on. The art is also top notch, however loses a few points with the new/updated costume (sorry folks. Yes I understand the Red is a nod to his time as Robin, but the good ol' Black & Blue fit the character much better)
We're quickly brought up to speed with Dick's time as The Batman and his new base of operations.
Long story short, Solid Issue, good pacing and decent art. Welcome back Nightwing. We've missed you.
8 out of 10 Grahams
Daredevil #3
Written by Mark Waid
Art by Paolo Manuel Rivera
Reviewed by Pastor Sam
“Suddenly, I miss ninjas”. These were my sentiments exactly upon hearing over the summer that Mark Waid would be taking DD away from the comfortably familiar smoke-when-kill em’ assassins. Turns out his instincts were right on. Issue #3 puts us right in the middle of the action as DD has to try to figure out how to escape the Klaw’s “grasp” (wink wink) while at the same time win a court case as the much aligned attorney Matt Murdock. It is in this that we are introduced to an interesting if albeit unlikely spin on the lawyering of Nelson and Murdock. Hold on to your hats folks things are gonna get rowdy, no doubt. Waid isn’t the only one deserves praise here though. The art is phenomenal. Paolo and father Joe bring the goods in each panel and enhance a hundred fold on the written words by making you feel like you are a part of the goings on. It’s nice to have a book that isn’t comprised of 20 splash pages, isn’t it? Give this book a shot, it will leave you asking the question, “What ninjas?”
8 out of 10 Grahams
DC Universe Presents #1
Written by Paul Jenkins
Art by Bernard Chang
Reviewed by Andy Cole
Deadman and his alter ego Boston Brand have been done some justice by creators in the past. But rarely have they EVER been this good. If you've never read anything to do with the character, fear not because this ish serves as the ultimate primer to Deadman. The art is a perfect fit, the story is fantastic, and the hook at the end is one of the best example of how to leave them wanting more that you will come across in many years. All in all, this was the BEST book I've read of the new 52 from DC comics. Simply put, you will be hard pressed to find a better book this week, or maybe even this year.
10 out of 10 Grahams
Green Lantern Corps #1
Written by Peter J. Tomasi
Art by Fernando Pasarin
Reviewed by Andy Cole
As many fans of the GLC would tell you the stories here have been really good for a while. Tomasi has done a great job in continuing that ttrend here in this new #1. My problem with the old deries was the art. It looked like a GL book, just not as polished. That concern (of mine at least) has been answered by Fernando Pasarin. The art here is great, and really hold up next to what you would find in the regular Green Lantern monthly title. The story does start out with some very graphic violence like many of the new 52 seem to be trending towards, but what follows is some great character work on Guy and John. Then we are off on some more galactic adventure. A nice starting point for the new series, but I think the artist here, Fernando Pasarin, is the one to watch.
7 out of 10 Grahams
Red Hood and the Outlaws #1
Written by Scott Lobdell
Art by Kenneth Rocafort
Reviewed by Shanna Berry
*some spoilers*
Man! Talk about ACTION PACKED! This series kicks off with such energy; going in you can't help but get pumped! I'm so glad they saved Jason Todd from a disastrous fate, and teaming him up with Roy Harper was genius. This issue almost warranted a full 10 Grahams, but read on for why I cut that in half.
Starfire. *sigh* This is a character harnessing immense power, capable of thwarting the most vicious of villains. We get a brief taste of it: she cleans up a mess of tanks at the request of Jason...though we don't get to see it. Starfire is also an alien who, clothing-wise, has always left little to the imagination. Yet, somehow we find new ways to eliminate even MORE clothing. Never thought that was possible. But I wouldn't mind...if it ended there. But this series rewrites Starfire as a Forgetful Sl*t. That's the basis of her character now. And I really do not enjoy it, I'm rather insulted. She doesn't remember anyone from the Teen Titans, because her race "doesn't care". She asks Roy to have sax as soon as Jason disappears, because sax means nothing to her. So now this once powerful, inspiring warrior is now belittled to a sax-crazed air-head. Well done DC. (i might add that yes, she has done the nasty in the pasty with Nightwing, a period of romance that I quite enjoyed. I'm not adverse to some love-makin, just don't turn our beloved characters into WHORES.)
If they would have left Starfire completely out of this book, and out of the re-launch, I might retain respect for the creators.
Starfire fans beware!
5 out of 10 Grahams
Supergirl #1
Written by Michael Green & Mike Johnson
Art by Mahmud Asrar
Reviewed by John Schaefer
Kara returns to the DC Universe in a hail of meteors and straight into Russia which leads to an introduction to the new 52's Rocket Red squad. The best part of this book is Green & Johnson's spotlighting of the nieve quality of Supergirl's personality. Mirroring emotions and thoughts that surely crossed the minds of immigrents as they exited the boats at Ellis Island, Supergirl's awe and fears collide as she takes her first steps into the snows of Russia. Then, of course, there's Superman.
7 out of 10 Grahams
Daredevil #4
Written by Mark Waid
Art by Marcos Martin
Reviewed by Pastor Sam
Ah, the end of September. It brings with it two things I’ve eagerly an ticipated, post-season baseball and a new artist on Daredevil. And much as a pitcher can have a decent game with any only old catcher, he won’t turn in his best game unless he is working with a catcher only really knows how to handle him. Marcos Martin takes the always solid Mark Waid and delivers a perfect game to kick off his run. This is an artist’s book, no doubt about it. While the text and dialogue are great as usual, it is the pictures here that tell the story. Martin makes you feel what it’s like to be Daredevil, not just see it. In fact, some of the scenes are so descriptive, that the text seems almost redundant. That being said, the story is also engaging as Waid does a superb job of painting our hero into a corner and I can’t wait to see how he gets out of it. So put on your cleats, grab your glove and let’s play ball with everyone’s favorite scarlet swashbuckler!
8 out of 10 Grahams
Birds of Prey #1
Written by Michael Green & Mike Johnson
Art by Mahmud Asrar
Reviewed by John Schaefer
A new team of Birds. Barbara Gordon just says no. New secrets, new costumes, and a new mystery to figure out. It appears that Duane Swiercaynski doesn't want to deviate too far from what we've come to expect from the Birds. I just have one problem with this book and with the whole New 52 universe really. What is with the body armor? Apparently, there is a wormhole in the New 52 Universe which leads directly into Tony Stark's wardrobe over at Marvel. Batman in body armor, totally ok. Superman in a body armorish costume, questionable. Black Canary in a body armor version of her classic costume, no way. And is that Outsider's own Katana on the cover or some sort of Ninja robot (Spoiler: It's Katana.) The only character who gets to dress halfway normal is new member, Starling. Guys, Fishnet stockings...way hot! Fishnet arm sleeves...not helping. Molded, computer designed body armor with a priest collar...boys, you've jumped the shark here. For over 60
years, Black Canary has been dark blue one piece and fishnets. Those who screw with this system are doomed to eternal fandom hell along with the creators of her blue and yellow jumpsuit from the 80's.
7 out of 10 Grahams