Wonder Woman #35

   At long last, after three years and the start of the "New 52," we've reached the end of the story by Brian Azzarello.

   It's a tale of gods and mortals, all centered around Wonder Woman, who is both Amazon and newly-crowned Goddess of War.

   Since the first issue she's been fighting to protect a baby who is the last son of Zeus and a mortal. So for 35 issues, Diana and her allies have fought to protect mother and baby from virtually the entire pantheon of Greek gods - Apollo, Hera, Ares, Hades, Demeter, Poseidon, Hermes - you get the picture.

   The rise of the (otherwise unnamed) First Born has been the final opponent to face. Incredibly powerful and fiercely determined, he has murdered gods and plans to take his place as the ruler of Olympus - but first he has a baby to kill.

   This issue gives us the final confrontation, and answers some questions that have been lingering since the beginning.

   The issue features terrific art by Cliff Chiang, who has given the series a wonderful, stylized work. I look forward to seeing what title he tackles next.

   I have to admit that I really liked this series, even if it was a bit too graphic in places. Frankly, the story ran too long - it covered pretty much the same ground more than once - but the writing has been strong and the art so good that it's easy to forgive these minor problems.

    Next issue, a new creative team takes over. They have mighty big shoes to fill.

Grade: A-

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All-New X-Men #33

   I have to admit that, of all the X-Men comics in recent memory, All-New X-Men is my favorite.

   There are several reasons.

   For the most part, it focuses on a small group of heroes - namely, the original team (displaced through time to the present) - although they've swapped Cyclops (now in his own title) for X-23 (who sorta kinda has a thing with the Angel. Maybe).

   The characters are fun, with distinct personalities, and the dialogue is sharp and entertaining.

   The stories by Brian Michael Bendis are fast, breezy and unpredictable.

   The art (here by Mahmud Asrar) has been quite good.

   Did I already mention not having to deal with a cast of thousands?

    All of which brings us to this issue, which continues the adventures of the team on the Ultimate version of Earth. A confrontation with a powerful new mutant ends with the team somehow transported to this world - separated and scattered.

   Here familiar menaces are somehow different but just as dangerous - and even friends can be a threat.

   It's building slowly, but it's been a great ride so far. It's been a while since I felt that way about an X-Men comic.

Grade: A-

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The Classics - Giant-Size Man-Thing #4

   It's an easy joke - the only question is, did the editors at Marvel realize they were creating a title that fans would be snickering about far into the future (coming up on 40 years and counting)?

   Whatever the case, Giant-Size Man-Thing (hee hee!) has (ahem) stood the test of time.

   The entire concept was improbable. Marvel's Man-Thing was created at the same time as DC's Swamp Thing. (There is much debate about who slogged out of the swamp first, but both owe a dinner to The Heap, after all).

   But where DC's creation had intelligence, the Man-Thing had none. A shambling mockery of a man, incredibly strong, it is driven by emotions, reacting to them, drawn to conflict. And it can't bear fear - so any creature feeling fear burns at the touch of the Man-Thing.

   What that meant was that it took a terrific writer to make the character interesting - the burden was on the supporting cast or the characters created for each story.

   Luckily for us, the character's stories were crafted by Steve Gerber, an odd, unorthodox writer who was also a bit of a genius. He crafted all kinds of off-beat psycho-dramas that drew in the title character - like the "Kid's Night Out" story here.

   It's an oversized adventure that combines text pages, a dysfunctional family at a funeral, and their destructive attempts to get their revenge on an odd but determined girl named Alice. Her only defender is the confused but powerful swamp creature.

   But this issue's famous for a completely different reason.

   Behind the excellent Man-Thing story is the first solo story starring Howard the Duck.

   Howard would quickly become a sensation, and for good reason. His stories, written by Gerber (who created the character with Val Mayerick in an earlier Man-Thing adventure), were a terrific balance of humor, social commentary and action.

   It didn't hurt that the art was by Frank Brunner, one of the most talented artists in Marvel's history.

   The story pitted Howard against Gorko, the Man-Frog - a classic loser who transforms into a formidable foe, and forces Howard to take a heroic stand.

   The issue is worth buying for the main story, but it's one to collect because of Howard.

Grade: A

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New Comics Day

    Here's what I picked up today at the comics shop:

 

- Fantastic Four #12 - An intervention for the Human Torch.

 

- Groo vs Conan #4 (of 4) - The final fight!

 

- Guardians of the Galaxy #20 - Escaping from certain death!

 

- Little Nemo in Slumberland #2 - A lovely book.

 

- Saga #24 - New faces!

 

- Wonder Woman #35 - The final battle. For sure!

 

- All-New Xen #33 - Crossing over with Ultimate Universe!

 

 

   And that's it - a light week for me!

13 Coins #1

   Artist Simon Bisley has a well-earned reputation for doing edgy, in-your-face artwork that grabs you by the collar and demands your attention.

   Further proof can be found in his work on 13 Coins, a hard-edged cross between Biblical wrath and dystopian destruction.

   Written by Michael B. Jackson and Martin Brennan, the story begins with a classic (and gruesome) battle between the angels assigned to guard the Earth and a group of angels who fought back against God.

   It's never a good idea to oppose God - so for the side of evil, the battle is doomed to failure. But their evil lives on into modern times as the hand of evil rises again and again, and a select group of mortals with special abilities fight back against those forces.

   It all leads to a series of battles, giving Bisley plenty of space to work his grim magic. But is it a battle the good guys can win?

   This is definitely not a series for kids, but for those looking for a serious and gripping story of good vs. evil - and lots of terrific artwork - this is the book for you!

Grade: B

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The Flash #35

   After reading this comic, I must admit: I'd rather be reviewing the TV show, which captures the fun, energetic potential of The Flash.

   Thinking back over almost three years of the rebooted version of this series since the "New 52" started, and I really can't remember much at all about the series.

   Has Barry Allen ever won a fight outright? (Surely he has. He doesn't here.)

   Have we seen any interesting or unusual uses of his amazing powers? (Probably, but none that spring to mind.)

   The star of the series has actually been the Speed Force. It's broken, if the Flash uses it he might break reality, exposure to it creates a group of Grade B heroes - that's been the series so far.

   In this issue, Barry's future self comes through time to the present to fix his past mistakes - and, yes, the Speed Force - by killing his modern-day incarnation.

(Sigh.)

   So here's the deal, DC: the Speed Force is just a convenient explanation for the Flash's impossible abilities, just as solar energy gives Kryptonians like Superman superpowers. It's been beaten to death.

   Focus on the hero, make him a real person, give him a supporting cast - make us care about him.

   It takes a lot to make me give up a series I've been buying since I was a tot. I gave up on Green Lantern a year ago - don't let the Flash follow in his footsteps.

   Please.

Grade: B-

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Multiversity: The Just #1

   I think this issue can be summed up with the phrase, "Today's kids are slackers."

   Multiversity has been created by Grant Morrison to explore the alternate universes (there's 52 now!) that make up the DC universe.

   This issue - The Just - focuses on the children of the original Justice League (or their successors) on an alternate Earth (Earth-11, to be exact).

   They're mostly spoiled and idle - but there's a good reason for that. Their parents have seen to it that all danger has been eliminated from the Earth, so there's no crime to stop, no criminals to pursue.

   So this issue focuses on the ways they keep themselves entertained - though an odd mix of parties, love affairs, art pursuits and role playing.

   Ben Oliver provides some striking artwork for the story, and it's a clever twist on today's culture (the story is aptly titled "#earthme") and a sharp commentary on our iPhone culture.

    Either that or Morrison's just having a laugh. But just to be sure, I'd advise staying off his lawn.

Grade: B+

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Constantine

   Perhaps I'm not the right guy to review the new TV series Constantine.

   That's because I'm really not much of a fan of horror.

   I like a scary story, but most "horror" just goes for the easy shock - severed limbs, gruesome creatures popping up, blood flying - that sort of thing.

   There's some of that on view in this show - it's a bit heavy on the grisly demons - but it also carries an internal logic and an actual story that feels true to its Vertigo origins.

   The character first appeared in Alan Moore's Swamp Thing series, and then graduated to his own long-running series, Hellblazer.

   Actor Matt Ryan plays the title role, and does an excellent job as the tortured but determined demon fighter (though I admit I always pictured Sting in the part). Constantine's life mission is to make up for his greatest failure - and redeem his own doomed soul.

   He's drawn to America to try to save the life (and soul) of a young woman who faces death and destruction at the hands of a very powerful demon.

   Fans will find some nods to other DC legends in the show - the most obvious one being Dr. Fate.

   I do like the visual look of the show (a peek into the afterlife / alternate reality for lost souls was striking) and the creatures are unique - but a few of the more grotesque scenes were a bit much. One character is badly mangled in a horrific car accident - I could have done without that image.

   But for TV horror, it's well done. Add in solid acting, as interesting supporting cast (assuming any of them stick around or survive), and you have a solid show.

   Any fan of the genre should enjoy this series. Fans of the comic book character may find it a watered-down version, not as blunt or cutthroat  or quite as much of a heel - but frankly, it's much better than I expected.

Grade: A-

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The Avengers #37

      The "jump to the near future" story that Jonathan Hickman is spooling out here continues to offer a dark a dismal future where the team has been torn apart.

   New alliances are being formed, several members have gone missing (or perhaps gone over to the other side), and the cat and mouse game between the Avengers and the Illuminati continues to add to the tension.

   And then there's the Cabal - how do they fit in?

   It's all tied together with the usual amazing artwork by Mike Deodato - just stunning work here.

   The story has been a bit unrelenting in its grim attitude - and I'm not sure I care for the way Steve Rogers is being represented - but there are some nice moments, especially the twist at the end.

   So it's the same song - a great story (for those who have been following along), terrific art, and lots of exciting events pushing this complex and compelling story forward. I like it!

Grade: A-

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   Hey, here's a bonus! Have you seen the trailer for the next Avengers movie? I can't wait to see this one! Check it out:



 

Superman #35

   This series continues to excel under the craftsmanship of writer Geoff Johns and artists John Romita, Jr. and Klaus Janson.

   That's largely because they've returned Superman to his iconic roots, restoring Clark Kent to his role as a reporter for the Daily Planet, making Lois, Jimmy and Perry key supporting characters again.

   That helps center the character and make him more, well, human.

   But there's plenty of room for over-the-top super heroics, too, as the Man of Steel and Ulysses, the newest Superman on the block, team up to take on the mysterious munitions master named The Machinist.

   (Fans who were upset by the film Man of Steel and Superman's, uh, treatment of Zod will enjoy the discussion Superman has with Ulysses over the importance of preserving life.)

   With dynamic art are a couple of unexpected plot twists, this series has me once again - after far too long a dry spell - looking forward to the adventures of Superman!

Grade: A-

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The Classics - The Warlord #21

   Since the success of the comic book version of Conan, there have been hordes of sword-and-sorcery, blade-wielding heroes of all shapes and sizes - but the best (and perhaps most unique) entry in the race was Mike Grell's Warlord.

   Created in the late '70s, the series featured Travis Morgan, a pilot flying a secret mission who crash-lands in the Arctic, passing through a hole into a strange tropical land inside the Earth. There he finds Skartaris, a land of dinosaurs, swords and magic.

    The inside of the Earth, it turns out, is hollow, like Edgar Rice Burroughs' Pellucidar.

   He has one lucky break - he has with him a large gun (a .44 AutoMag) and lots of ammunition. He quickly learns how to fight with a sword, leads a revolt of slaves and meets and falls in love with a princess named Tara.

   The stories in the series are an impressive collection of mostly single-issue adventures, with some sub-plots continuing over several issues.  Grell's writing combines adventure, humor and places it all in imaginative settings. His artwork seals the deal, working in a realistic style reminiscent of Neal Adams. With powerful layouts, great character designs and wild menaces, it was a terrific series.

   The Warlord's main opponent was the evil wizard / scientist Deimos, who kidnapped Travis and Tara's infant son and used arcane skills to age the child to manhood - but he was just a mindless killer. So Morgan is forced to fight his own son - to the death!

   It's a gripping story with several twists that actually had ramifications into the future as it set up a storyline that was finally resolved just a few years ago in the last Warlord series (to date).

   Grell managed to bring together all the elements of great sword-and-sorcery stories - lots of action, bizarre menaces, beautiful (and powerful) women, heroic men, great villains, exotic locales, mystery and intrigue - and package it up in a fantastic series that was always entertaining.

   Highly recommended!

Grade: A

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New Comics Day

   A light week for me, too. Here's what I picked up:

 

- Avengers #37 - A grim future with Avengers fighting Avengers!

 

- Flash #35 - Flash vs. Flash.

 

- Justice Inc. #3 - Putting the band together.

 

- Multiversity: The Just #1 - A very different Justice League.

 

- She-Hulk #9 - Taking on Daredevil - in court!

 

- Superman #35 - Two Supermen for one low price.

 

   And that's it!

Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor #1

   So what do you think of the 12th incarnation of Doctor Who?

   I've just seen the first few episodes, but so far I like Peter Capaldi a lot - his version of The Doctor definitely feels like a classic approach to the character (fast-talking, funny and smart but with a slightly dark edge), with some interesting character quirks to make the role unique.

   He has big shoes to fill, even if you're just looking at the most recent versions - but I think he's off to a great start.

   Of course, I'm also crazy about Clara (Jenna Coleman), an intelligent, funny and darned attractive companion for the Time Lord.

   This series, too, is off to a great start. The Doctor takes Clara to an Ice Planet - but instead they discover a planet that has been altered into a jungle paradise.

   Or is it paradise? There's a dark menace lurking just below the surface, one that may have surprising ties to the Time Lords.

   The story by Robbie Morrison is sharp, with some interesting twists and turns, and some great dialogue (I love the Doctor's line about couches).
 
   The art is by Dave Taylor, and it's quite good, with strong likenesses of the main characters (with a couple of minor exceptions) and great environmental designs.

   I especially like the cliffhanger ending, which is so true to the spirit of the series that you'll expect to hear the squeal of the theme song as the episode ends.

   So, lots of fun, highly recommended for any fan of The New Doctor!

Grade: A-

----------------------

Avengers World #14

   The Avengers World comic has been a wild ride from the beginning.

   Over the course of the last two years (or so), the series has introduced a number of menaces that have continued to escalate - and now each one threatens world-wide destruction.

   Among the problems: a massive dragon has been awakened. (How big is it? The city of Madripoor sits on its head!) The sorceress Morgana Le Fay has raised an army of the dead. The organization AIM has used technology from the future to set up an impregnable fortress and launch an attack on the U.S.

   Whew! Rather amazingly, all those stories are wrapped up in this issue - and only the solution to the AIM problem seems to be a bit of a cheat.

   So it's an action-packed story that goes from completely improbable (the fight with the giant dragon - how could Madripoor possibly survive that?) to speedy (Morgan's fall) to satisfying (AIM).

   I've enjoyed the series so far, but the next issue feeds into the Axis event, so I'll bow out for the foreseeable future.

   Not to worry - there are plenty of Avengers comics out there to choose from.

Grade: B+

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Uncanny X-Men #27

   I've never been a big fan of all-powerful characters - including the Beyonder and Q (to name the two that immediately come to mind).

   (Do I need to mention that Beyonder was the big bad in the original Secret Wars maxi-series, and Q was practically a regular on Star Trek: The Next Generation?)

   The problem with characters who are too powerful is: you can only stop them by tricking them or reasoning with them. They can only stop themselves.

   So I'm not entirely thrilled to see just such a character introduced in Uncanny X-Men. Matthew Malloy is a mutant whose incredible powers were suppressed by Charles Xavier - and now, his powers running wild, he seems to be a threat to everyone - human and mutant alike.

   The writing by Brian Michael Bendis is sharp as always, and the art by Chris Bachalo is excellent - his storytelling is clear and his layouts are dynamic.

   So basically I'm on the fence here - the story is well executed and has some interesting insights for Cyclops and his recent possession by the Phoenix Force - but I still don't like all-powerful characters.

   We'll see if the ending of this story changes my mind.

Grade: B+

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New Avengers #25

   As much as I've been enjoying both the New Avengers and the Avengers under writer Jonathan Hickman, it's getting more and more difficult to recommend the series.

   That's because the story has become so complex, so dark that no casual reader could possibly follow along (despite the sharp recap page that begins each issue).

   This issue picks up seven months in the future, as the Illuminati (including Mr. Fantastic, the Beast, the Hulk and Captain Britain) are on the run from the combined forces of the Avengers and SHIELD.

   Just why this is, and what has happened to cause old friends (and more than friends) to become such bitter enemies isn't clear. But it appears that some members of the team have fallen during the hunt (perhaps permanently).

   It's a vast tapestry being rolled out here, detailed and challenging to follow. Not at all designed for new readers - but I suspect long-time fans, and those who have been following along since Hickman began his run will love it.

   I am!

Grade: A-

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Justice League #35

   Of the few "New 52" titles I still buy, the one I thought would hold up best is Justice League - but it's been running flat since the beginning of the Forever Evil event.

   That's because it's moved away from its most basic concept - to be a comic about a team made up of the company's greatest heroes.

   Recent issues have been more about Lex Luthor, who has contrived to gain membership to the League. That story continues here, as the team contrives to uncover information about Lex in hopes of coming up with an excuse to arrest him.

   For some reason this requires the entire team to stand around in disguise, not doing much of anything.

   The ending finally kicks off the next story arc, The Amazo Virus (though it's all still a mystery at this point).

   The good news is: the art is terrific, as Ivan Reis and Doug Mahnke team up to provide the pencils, with a small army of inkers covering it; and the whole team is here (almost), with the newly reformed Power Ring taking the place of the long-absent Green (Hal Jordan) Lantern.

   Hopefully this is the storyline that gets the series back on track. I want to like this series, but they have to meet me halfway and actually include the Justice League in each issue.

Grade: B

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Death of Wolverine #4 (of 4)

   Alas, poor Wolverine.

   Cut down at the height of his popularity, his death leaves a gaping hole in a number of X-Men, Avenger and (of course) Wolverine comics that cannot be replaced. Not to mention all those movies - poor Hugh Jackman!

   Our sorrow will continue... at least until his inevitable resurrection (I give it four months).

   This issue wraps up the mini-series that has combined excellent art and a solid story to bring us to the point promised in the title.

   But it isn't really what I would classify as a "successful" heroic death.

   The real trick to a hero's death is that he or she must fall while giving their life to save others. Wolverine's death here almost manages that - but actually feels more like an accident on his part.

   But maybe I'm being too picky - the story brings Logan full circle and gives what seems to be a definitive end to his existence, with a nice sentimental splash near the end.

   Solid work by the creative team (and apologies for my cynical tone here - I'm just really jaded over the death of the hero bit. Perhaps I'm the only one).

Grade: A-

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The Classics - Warlock #11

   It's difficult to explain what a revelation Jim Starlin's Adam Warlock comic was.

   It was a cosmic, trippy story unlike anything seen before in mainstream comics.

   Warlock's history goes back to an issue of Fantastic Four in the 1960s, as an artificial human known only as Him was created by a secret cabal of scientists.

   After a few crossover appearances, he was given his own comic, sent to an alternate Earth on the opposite side of the sun, and had several adventures. Then his comic was canceled.

   But in 1975, he returned to action under the guidance of writer and artist Jim Starlin. Now a galactic adventurer, he was given an Elric-inspired burden in the form of the Soul Gem, a mysterious gem that captured the soul of his opponents.

   As he came into conflict with the powerful and mysterious Magus, Warlock also picked up some unexpected allies, including the lethal Gamora, the degenerate Pip the Troll and the Mad Titan Thanos.

   After numerous adventures, which examined such cosmic ideas as the benefits of madness, the dubious concept of justice and the true nature of reality, the story wrapped up (sorta kinda) in this issue, as the final confrontation with the Magus results in a cosmic journey for Adam - and as promised on the cover, the death of Warlock!

   Even more disturbing, the series only lasted four more issues, and readers had to wait two more years to see the storyline resolved in a two-part story crossing between a Marvel Two-in-One Annual and an Avengers Annual.

   And let me tell you... having lived through it, those were two long, agonizing years!

   By breaking new ground and taking comics even further into the territory of mind-bending cosmic concepts, Starlin opened new frontiers for comics and set a standard that has been rarely (if ever) equalled.

   (By the way, did everyone caught that glimpse of Warlock in the Guardians of the Galaxy movie? Since every other comic character is getting a movie, let's hope there's room for Starlin's Warlock one of these days. Might be more than two years, though.)

Grade: A+

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New Comics Day

   Here's what I picked up at the comics shop today:

- Avengers World #14 - Lo, an ending!

- Daredevil #9 - Out of control.

- Death of Wolverine #4 - He's dead, Jim.

- Fantastic Four #11 - Fun in prison.

- Justice League #35 - Matching wits with Luthor.

- New Avengers #25 - Heroes on the run.

- Uncanny X-Men #27 - Facing an unbeatable foe.   

   And that's it - a light week for me!