DC:
DC PICK OF THE WEEK
Batman #2
Written by: Scott Snyder
Drawn by: Greg Capullo
-Everyone has been sick and tired of Bat-mania for a long time I know, but as long as guys like Nolan, Morrison and Snyder here can keep churning out quality stories, I’m on board. Snyder comes off his run from Detective Comics on to the main Bat-book. Honestly, it feels like he never switched. This is still a Detective story, just filtered in with more action and cartoony art. I wouldn’t have it any other way. We see Batman learn more about the Court of Owls here and get his ass kicked near the end. Capullo’s dynamic panel movement and fluid, cartoony artwork provide a solid structure for all of the scenes in the book. It’s so damn graceful and hard hitting at the same time. It reminds me of The Dark Knight Returns filtered through a B:TAS lens. Of course, Snyder’s writing is impeccable as well. His use of smart conversational dialogue and emotional monologues make his work on par with some of the best writers of the industry. I suggest you pick up this book. 5/5
MINOR:
Blue Beetle #2
Written by: Tony Bedard
Drawn by: Ig Guara and Ruy Jose
-I thought this issue was a fun but it didn’t explain a whole lot and it seemed like a bit of a transition issue for something bigger. It was also pretty jam packed. 3/5
Captain Atom #2
Written by: J.T. Krul
Drawn by: Freddie Williams II
-A bit of a snoozefest with lots of dialogue bogging it down. The action sequences were nicely done and the art is tight. 2.5/5
Catwoman #2
Written by: Judd Winick
Drawn by: Guillem March
-As I have to drop one DC book off my pull list to keep affording comics, I picked Catwoman. Why you ask? Because as good as this issue was, I don’t see myself sticking with it in the long run. That being said, I enjoyed this issue and read it as if it were an exploitation movie similar to Hobo with a Shotgun, or She-Wolf of the SS. It’s a fun and trashy book not meant to be taken seriously. 4/5
DCU Presents:
Written by: Paul Jenkins
Art by: Bernard Chang
-A bit of a talky issue, but Deadman is a great character and the story bits actually had feeling to them. The action sequence was superb and nicely done. Great development and art help out this intriguing story. 3.5/5
Green Lantern Corps #2
Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Drawn by: Fernando Pasarin and Scott Hanna
-Arguably the second best Lantern book out right now, GL Corps makes due with its namesake by fixing the first issues problems and giving us more of the Corps. We see a lot of character development interspersed with action scenes and gives the book a sense of pace. As usual, the art is great, with lots of details, impressive colors, and a sharp-edged drawing design. Finally, I can say I enjoy a Green Lantern series. 4/5
Justice League #2
Written by: Geoff Johns
Drawn by: Jim Lee
-Geoff fixes what bogged down the first issue by introducing us properly to Flash and Superman as well as giving Vic Stone more of a spotlight. Johns has a talent for writing these characters like few others have, and he shows it. Cocky Hal Jordan, riotous Superman, vigilant Batman, and worrying Flash (in a good way). He gives them all unique personalities that give the book a joyous vibe. Lee’s artwork is great as well. 5/5
Nightwing #2
Written by: Kyle Higgins
Drawn by: Eddy Barrows
-I was unimpressed by most of this issues art except for the fight scenes. That’s when things got really good. The story progresses at a fast pace and we see Dick coming back in to his own role. The mystery behind his arc is intriguing and worth sticking around for. 3.5/5
Red Hood and the Outlaws #2
Written by: Scott Lobdell
Drawn by: Kenneth Rocafort
-YES YES YES!!!! This book is so much fun I can’t put it properly in words. Scott Lobdell knows how to writes these characters (you can think what you want about Starfire, but her characterization reaches new depths of Freudian thinking). There’s a lot of badassness going on here but there’s a story behind it all to give the book some worth. It feels like a martial arts buddy cop movie with a good storyline. I can’t wait to follow this book more. 4.5/5
Supergirl #2
Written by: Michael Green and Mike Johnson
Drawn by: Mahmud Asrar
-Interesting issue that reveals more of the story as we go along. A few clunkers in the artwork and pacing, but nothing that can’t be fixed later. 3.5/5
Marvel:
MARVEL PICK OF THE WEEK
Superior #6
Written by: Mark Millar
Drawn by: Leinil Yu
-Superior just keeps getting better and better for me. I’m surprised the book hasn’t dipped in quality yet. Normally, I love and hate Mark Millar, but on Superior it is just straight love from me. Mark throws away all of his trashy sensibilities to bring us a fun and invigorating superhero comic, almost like Grant Morrison’s Action Comics in that they share a playfulness and sense of adventure not normally found in today’s grim ‘n’ gritty books. Mark throws around his most Shazam and Superman-esque ideas and lets them run wild. This is Silver Age filtered through the best of Mark Millar. Leinil Yu’s artwork only helps the book. His detailed character structures and backgrounds are two things I particularly enjoy about the series. The coloring is really solid as well and brings the book to life. I think Superior will go down as one of the best books of this generation. 5/5
MINOR:
Deadpool Max2 #1
Written by: David Lapham
Drawn by: Kyle Baker
-This book is ridiculous. It’s over the top and stupid. It’s also funny. That being said, there is little to no story and the artwork is ridiculously bad. 2.5/5
Fear Itself #7
Written by: Matt Friction
Drawn by: Stuart Immonen and Steve McNiven
-What a great way to end a poorly done event. This automatically puts the book in half decent range. I enjoyed it and loved all of the splash pages. For once worth the $4.99. 5/5
Fear Itself: The Fearless #1
Written by: Matt Fraction, Cullen Bunn, and Chris Yost
Drawn by: Mark Bagley and Paul Pelletier
-As much as I hated Fear itself this was a decent follow up with an interesting story premise I can get behind. Hopefully the rest of the book ends up quality. 4/5