Doctor Who: Supremacy of the Cybermen #4 (of 5)

   I'm a sucker for Doctor Who stories that team different incarnations of the Doctor, and that's exactly what you get in the Supremacy of the Cybermen mini-series.

     This issue doesn't feature a direct meeting of the Doctors, but follows adventures in different time eras as each one fights against different staggering menaces created by the robotic Cybermen.

    So you have the Ninth Doctor trying to save Rose and stop nanites from taking over his body; the Tenth Doctor is trying to save his companions from a skyscraper-sized Cyberman; the Eleventh Doctor finds himself a prisoner of Cyber-controlled dinosaurs; and the Twelfth Doctor must find a way to save the Time Lords and Gallifrey itself from the destruction of the universe.

   It makes for a fast-paced issue, and writers George Mann and Cavan Scott do a good job of capturing the voice of each version of the Doctor.

   The art by Ivan Rodriguez and Walter Geovanni is quite good, capturing the likenesses well and making the mayhem clear and easy to follow.

   This series has been a lot of fun and is building to a whopper of a conclusion. While the Doctor's on hiatus on TV, this is a great way to keep your Who-meter topped out. (Sorry, that was terrible.)

Grade: A-

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The Silver Surfer #7

   I get the feeling that the Silver Surfer's comic is flying under the radar for most fans.

   Which is a shame, because it's really a lot of fun.

   Perhaps it's Michael Allred's art, which I wouldn't categorize as a "fan favorite" style, but it does evoke the style and energy of the great Silver Age artists without copying any of them - it's fun!

   Storytellers Dan Slott and Allred have reinvented the Surfer, creating a new supporting cast member for him - a companion, in the Doctor Who sense - in Dawn Greenwood, a smart, likable and attractive Earth girl who joins the Surfer on his adventures.

   They both are enjoying their trips to strange worlds and places around the universe, but when Dawn asks for a more serious adventure, they visit the Casino Cosmico.

   There they discover the very real dangers of gambling - especially when you're risking things that have real value.

   It features the return of a certain well-known cosmic character - and has a clever plot twist at the end.

   Maybe I'm wrong and lots of people are reading this book - but it never seems to have much buzz, and that's a shame, because it's consistently one of Marvel's best comics.

   Recommended!

Grade: A-

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The Flash #9

   Like most comic book fans, I enjoy the continuity side of comics.

   But the Rebirth version of The Flash may be a step too far.

   This issue brings together the "new" Wally West / Kid Flash and the recently-returned-to-continuity original Wally West / former Kid Flash.

   And just to up the ante, the original Wally now goes by The Flash. Just like Barry Allen.

   And both Wallys are grateful to Iris West, who was so good to them both.  (Where did she find time to raise them both - and how old is Iris, anyway?)

   There's a lot of discussion about Speed Forces and mysterious beings who stole years and stuff going on with the Titans and evil fathers and visions of the future.

   You know, I've been reading the adventures of the Flash virtually since Barry first suited up, and this stuff makes my head hurt - I assume it's almost impenetrable to new readers.

   But I can't totally slam this series because that final page, which presses all the right fanboys impulses, made me smile. Big time.

Grade: B

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Captain America Steve Rogers #6

   Six months into the "new / returned" Steve Rogers version of Captain America, and the story continues to unfold about Steve's childhood (with his life now apparently altered by the Red Skull) and how he became a secret agent for Hydra.

   That's tricky enough to manage - and to the credit of the creative team, they also manage to make the story fit into the continuing Civil War II storyline, which promises some, shall we say, major changes for the Captain.

   The story is giving us some indications that the real Steve is buried in there somewhere - but the big problem with stories like this (ones that so completely change the back story of the character) is that it runs the risk of collapsing under its own weight.

   For example, under this new reality, Cap has always been an agent of Hydra. So he's managed to keep this a secret since his return to the modern world? And during his combat duty in World War II? And what about the times in the past that he fought the Red Skull - wouldn't those be null and void now?

   And on and on.

   This isn't a bad issue at all (though, like most of the Civil War stories, it's very heavy on standing around and talking). The art is terrific and the story is interesting, even though it makes it difficult to cheer for the title character.

    It's interesting and well done, but I can't really say I'm enjoying it.

Grade: B

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Skybourne #2

   Artist / writer Frank Cho recently ended his exclusive run at Marvel, and he explodes out of the gate at Boom Studios with the new series Skybourne, which is loaded with all kinds of goodness.

    The series focuses on the children of Lazarus (yes, that Lazarus) - they're immortal, invulnerable, incredibly strong and quite mysterious.

   After the shocking turn of events last issue resulting from the battle between one of the Skybourne siblings and a powerful wizard, the word goes out to bring in Thomas Skybourne - and we meet his allies and visit an amazing base loaded with mystic Easter eggs.

   It's a given that the art is terrific, and Cho seems to be having a lot of fun here, from monsters to dynamic action scenes and exotic locations.

   If you're a fan of Cho (isn't everyone?), then you don't want to miss this series. It's a heck of a lot of fun so far!

Grade: A

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Civil War II #6 (of 8)

   I think I've finally figured out why the Civli War II mini-series just isn't generating any heat.

   It's certainly trying. It's included the "death" (wink-wink) of one of Marvel's biggest Silver Age characters, plus some others. It has lots of fighting between heroes as they decide which side of this silly division they fall on.

   It also includes numerous guest stars and lots of action.

   So why does it seem to be getting a lukewarm reaction from the fans?

   I think it's because the series feels like it's padded out with dream sequences (which I, for one, hate).

   They're not exactly dream sequences - they're actually visions of the future by the Inhuman named Ulysses. It allows for some shocking images (such as the death of another icon that kicks off this issue), but it's a cheat, since that image is - so far - just imaginary.

   The issue focuses on a moral dilemma - namely, how do you punish someone for something they haven't done yet?

   It's an interesting thought, but as an 8-issue mini-series, it feels mighty thin and ultimately inconsequential.

Grade: B

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New Comics Book Day

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

- Captain America #6 - Still a Hydra Agent.

- Civil War II #6 - What to do about Spider-Man?

- Flash #9 - Two Kid Flashes!

- Future Quest #6 - Meet the Impossibles!

- Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #7 - Final fight with Sinestro.

- Guardians of the Galaxy #13 - Civil War.

- Totally Awesome Hulk #11 - Fighting the Black Panther.

- Saga #39 - Love and death.

- Silver Surfer #7 - Life's a gamble.

- Skybourne #2 - Death of an immortal.

   And I received review copies of:

- Bloodshot USA #1

- Dark Souls #3 

- Doctor Who 10th Year Two #15

- Doctor Who 11th Year Two #14

- Doctor Who The Long Con

- Generation Zero #3

- Kim and Kim #4

- Mycroft #3 

- Penny Dreadful #3

- The Skeptics #1

- Vikings Uprising #2

   And that's it!

Guest Review: Big Trouble In Little China / Escape From New York #1

   Two action heroes meet up in a new comic book mini-series - and here with a Guest Review of that title is Glen Davis: 

   John Carpenter and Kurt Russell were a regular cinematic dynamic duo for several years, collaborating on well-remembered films. 

   Boom! Studios is mashing two of them together in a fun mini-series.

   Jack Burton from Big Trouble In Little China is driving his rig through Texas shortly after the events in the movie. He drives through a dimensional portal invoked by Wang, his friend in the movie, and arrives in an alternate 2001, the post-apocalyptic world of Escape From New York.

   Of course, he's mistaken for Snake Plissken, who tracks him down to kill him for taking Snake's name. Plissken is the man that Wang actually tried to summon. 

   After the initial confrontation, some handy exposition explains what the heck is going on.

   A fairly good beginning, and a plausible way to get two very different concepts together. Not bad.

Grade:  B 

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Black Widow #7

   The Black Widow is a character who - outside of Marvel's movies - has rarely realized her potential.

   She's been many things in her long career at Marvel - villain, spy, super-hero - but her past has remained largely wrapped in mystery.

   So this series is shining a light on some of those dark corners, as we meet some of the people behind her training as a child - and see what that process of brainwashing and brutality did to her.

   It's a dark, deadly story, and it shows just what Natasha has overcome to become a hero (at least we think she's a hero).

   It's terrific work as always by co-writer / artist Chris Samnee and co-writer Mark Waid, two of the best in the business.

   It's not a happy, upbeat story - but it is an important one, as the Widow faces a deadly race to the finish.

   You really should be buying this series.

Grade: A

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Justice League #7

   There are comics that I really want to like because, well, I've always liked them.

   The Avengers, the Fantastic Four (where are you?), Green Lantern and the Flash are among the many titles on my list - and the Justice League is near the top of the list.

   Which is why it's annoying that I've been so disappointed with the latest (Rebirth) version of the team.

   It works on paper - the series is written by Bryan Hitch, who has been involved in terrific stories in the past. This story arc is drawn by Jesus Merino and Andy Owens, and it's strong, solid work.

    But the story just leaves me cold.

   It focuses on a strange attack by a mysterious creature that feeds on (or causes) intense fear. As a result, the members of the League are acting out of character - threatening each other, collapsing in fear, attacking a military base.

   Just why they're doing this is unclear, and it's frankly annoying to see heroes all acting in unheroic ways.

   I'm not quite ready to give up on this series yet - but I don't know how much longer I'll be able to say that.

Grade: B-

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The Mighty Thor #12

   For this issue, The Mighty Thor pays a visit to a library.

   To be fair, it's not just any library - it's the Hall of the All-Knowing, the library of the gods. (Admit it, you'd like to have access to it, too.)

   She's there at the urging of the hammer Mjolnir, which has been behaving oddly - and exhibiting intelligence.

   So she looks for answers, and finds some (though not all, of course). It's a mystery that stretches back into the history of Asgard and battles decided by the power of Odin.

   The story by Jason Aaron is that most dreaded of creatures - a retcon - but it's not terribly intrusive and mostly sticks to corners that have been untouched (though it seems to ignore stories that depicted Odin using Mjolnir in battle - when Thor was just a boy).

   The art chores are divided between Russell Dauterman and Frazer Irving, as they divide the modern-day story from the historic action. It's strong, vibrant work all around.

   This series continues to be surprising and entertaining - but I do miss the real Thor, and it's frustrating that we still don't know what caused him to be "unworthy." Perhaps his promised new series will clue us in.

Grade: B+

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Death of X #2 (of 4)

   As the Death of X series continues to set up the upcoming conflict between the X-Men and the Inhumans, we can pause to reflect on the nature of Marvel's "hero vs. hero" tradition.

   It goes back a long way - in fact, almost every time two Marvel heroes first met in the Silver Age, they fought.

   Usually it was because of a misunderstanding (Iron Man vs. Sub-Mariner), or jealousy (Spider-Man vs. the Human Torch), a test (Fantastic Four vs. the Black Panther), or the plot of a villain (Captain America vs. Iron Man) - but the real reason for the fight was because it was fun.

   And that's why the tradition continues, right into last summer's hit movie. But for it to work, there has to be an acceptable reason for the fight.

   And so far, this series has managed to set up a good motivation.

   The Inhumans released the Terrigen Mist into the Earth's atmosphere, and now a cloud sweeps around the planet, releasing the inner potential of people with the Inhuman gene.

   But that mist is having a devastating effect on mutants - and the X-Men are demanding that the Inhumans do something about it. Will they cooperate - or will conflict result?

   Take a wild guess, true believer!

   But the potential for an entertaining story is strong. We'll see if it delivers.

Grade: A-

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Dark Knight III - The Master Race #6 (of 8)

   The Master Race threatening the Earth (and Gotham City in particular) seems unbeatable - it's an army of super-powered fanatics from Kandor (the bottle city from Krypton).

   Now grown to normal size, they've rained destruction across the globe, and not even Superman can stand against them.

   But Batman, of course, has a plan to level the field.

   This issue is loaded with intense confrontations, delightfully improbably battles and some gruesome bits of business.

   It also has a helluva cliffhanger ending - one that hearkens back to another classic Batman moment.

   I'm still not quite sold on the story here - I like Batman better when he's dealing with more street-level menaces, rather than super-powered extravaganzas - but there's plenty of time to change my mind.

   With terrific art and powerful writing - and I love those mini-comics inside each issue - this is a series you should not miss.

Grade: A-

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Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye #1

   Here's a comic that could be sold by the title alone: Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye.


 But I didn't buy it for the title - I picked it up because Cave Carson was the star of the first "hero" comic I remember reading (a story I told in this post).


   Cave's adventures were limited back in the '60s, but just seeing the title of this new series jabbed me right in my nostalgia zone (and that tickles, I can tell you).


   This issue is set under the Young Animal imprint DC has started under Gerard Way's guidance, and so far, so good.


    This is an odd issue, with moments of "normal DC" events (as Cave checks in with the company that uses his "Mighty Mole Machine" technology to seek out rare elements) - and then there are the "weird DC" events, as we discover Cave's malfunctioning eye, and he's confronted by a strange figure from his past.


   There's a tragic element throughout, as Cave learns to deal with loss and tries to connect with his grown daughter.


   There are also a couple of terrific cameos that will delight long-time readers.


   It's all strange and odd and not much at all like that first adventure in 1960 - but it's also mysterious and fascinating and I'm totally hooked.


   Can't wait for the next issue!


Grade: A-


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New Comics Day

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

- Archie #13 - Welcome Cheryl Blossom!

- Astro City #40 - The trial of a lifetime!

- Black Widow #7 - No more secrets!

- Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye #1 - A new take on a classic hero.

- Dark Knight III Master Race #6 (of 8) - War in Gotham!

- Death of X #2 (of 4) - The Inhumans are killing the mutants. Or are they?

- Doctor Strange #13 - Lost and found?

- Justice League #7 - Fight the fear.

- Powers #7 - Flashback time!

- Mighty Thor #12 - The secret origin of Mjolnir!

- Usagi Yojimbo #158 - A strange journey.

- All New X-Men #14 - Game on!

   And I received review copies of:

- Assassins Creed Locus #2 (OF 4) 

- Dishonored #4 (OF 4) 

- Doctor Who 10TH YEAR TWO

- Doctor Who 12TH YEAR TWO

- Doctor Who 3RD #2 (OF 5) 

- Doctor Who Supremacy of the Cybermen #4 (OF 5)

- Faith #4

- Ninjak #20

- Norman #5

- Penny Dreadful #5 (OF 5) 

- Samurai Brothers in Arms #2 (OF 6) 

- Sherlock A Study in Pink #5 (OF 6) 

- Torchwood #2 

   And that's it!

Peepland #1

   This is the first of the line of Hard Case Crime comics I've seen, but if Peepland is any indication, they're definitely angling for stories about the grimy underbelly of society.

   Set in 1986, this series, which is definitely just for adults, follows a stripper / sex worker named Roxy who is working in a Peep Show (performing salacious acts while the customer watches).

   A slimy acquaintance named Dirty Dick (I am not making this up) is being pursued by some toughs, and his escape attempt leads him through the Peep Show, where he hides a VHS tape.

   The secret hidden on the tape throws Roxy and her friends into a mystery - a deadly one.

   The story is written by Christa Faust and Gary Philips, and it evokes a grim hardboiled crime story - one that's all too realistic and unsavory.

   I like the art by Andrea Camerini - it's vivid and real, with a surprising use of depth and great characters.

   It's well crafted but not for the faint of heart - and certainly not for kids.

Grade: B+

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Wrath of the Eternal Warrior #12

   In this series, the Eternal Warrior has gone to Hell.

   Really!

   (It's no wonder he's feeling so much wrath.)

   As recent issues have disclosed, despite his title it is possible for Gilad Anni-Padda to die.

   When he does, he finds himself in "heaven" (sorta kinda), reunited with his wife and children. Why would he ever leave?

   But his sense of duty leads him to return to the land of the living, but it's not an easy thing to manage - because first he must fight his way past an army of demons in Hell, including the mountainous monster named Humongous.

   But for the first time, the parameters of the battle have changed, making it a fight Gilad can't win.

   That's because his oldest son Kalam has followed Gilad and been captured by the demons, who use him as a bargaining chip.

   So for Gilad, apparently surrender the only option.

   This series has been a bit on the grim and gritty side, but it also has heart, courage and a smart hero. Add in sharp scripts by Robert Venditti and excellent, vivid (and often epic) artwork by Robert Gill, and you have a powerful story to enjoy.

Grade: A-

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Warhammer 40,000: Will of Iron #1 (of 4)

   I know almost nothing about Warhammer 40,000.

   Here's what I know: it's a really popular game, it's science fiction-based, and the visuals are stunning.

   I probably wouldn't know anything about it if not for a young man I interviewed many years ago who was a salesman for the company that marketed the game, and he had a case filled with amazing figures (statues?) from the series that were exquisitely painted and loaded with amazing detail.

   So like I said: I know nothing.

   So I approach this series (subtitled Will of Iron) as a blank slate - and while I obviously have a steep learning curve ahead of me, I have to admit I enjoyed this issue.

   As near as I can tell, the story follows a conflict between at least three different factions fighting over a newly-revealed planet.

   The attack gives new meaning to "shock and awe," as they launch giant machines that crash to the planet's surface, covered in flames. There they spit out armored legions that attack the strange animal-like creatures that live there.

   Why is all this happening? Well, I haven't sorted that out yet - but the visuals are stunning and I trust that the reasons behind the conflict will become more clear as the story rolls along.

   The art by Tazio Bettin is terrific - powerful and detailed, with impressive alien vistas and character designs.

   The story by George Mann covers a lot of ground and throws quite a bit of info at the reader, but keeps things relatively clear for those new, clueless readers.

   Like me.

Grade: A-

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Chimera Brigade #1

   If you're mourning the fact that stories featuring the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen are only published sporadically, this series might be a good way to scratch that itch.

   The Chimera Brigade is set in 1938 (though storylines stretch back into World War I). It's a different version of that time, as familiar (though renamed) charters populate the story.

   Some are historical in nature (including Marie Curie's daughter), other are pulp-based (Doc Savage and the Shadow), and some are horror derived (including a bug-based character) and some are right out of comic books (look for a Man who looks like he might be made of Steel).

   The comic by writers Serge Lehmen and Fabrice Colin and artist  Gess is actually a reprint of a foreign edition (originally published as La Brigade Chimerique).

   It's a lot of fun (if a bit obtuse in places - or maybe I'm the obtuse one), and it sets up a fast-approaching conflict by powered individuals on a continental stage.

   I enjoyed this issue, a pseudo-historical adventure crossed with a small army of fictional characters. It works as a story and as a collection of Easter Eggs.

Grade: A-

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All-Star Batman #3

   It took me three issues, but I finally figured out why the All-Star Batman series by Scott Snyder and John Romita, Jr., works so well.

   It's because it's a Marvel Comic.

   Well, it says "DC" on the cover, but it's a fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride from start to finish.

   (The traditional idea is that DC is all about plot and story twists, while Marvel is about action, humor and character. I realize this isn't always the case.)

   The story (such as it is) has Batman trying to escort Two-Face out of Gotham City - but that villain has blackmailed the entire city to stop the Dark Knight, meaning he must fight every step of the way against some of his most deadly villains.

   So it's all about the action, and certainly that's something that Romita (and inker Danny Miki) do extremely well.

   The idea behind the story is a little shaky, and the series is a bit on the brutal side, but it's a heck of a lot of fun - highly recommended!

Grade: A-

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