Free Comic Day!

   Happy Free Comic Day, gentle readers!

   I'll be posting some quick comments later today about a stack of issues - feel free to pass along your take in the comment link below, or email your comments to us at chuckscomicoftheday@gmail.com.

   Have fun!

Batman #22

   The Rebirth story continues to heat up and this issue takes Batman and the Flash to... well, let's just say, surprising locales.

   They're trying to solve the mystery behind the Button, which we all recognize from its connection to the Watchmen series.

    Their search is taking them to other worlds, so the Flash has brought out the Cosmic Treadmill, an awesome Silver Age gizmo that allows him to move though time and/or dimensional space.

   (So, yes, it's like the Tardis without the roomy interior or the cool sound effects.)

    I can't say much more without giving away key elements of the story, but it's a surprisingly touching story with powerful art and plenty of surprises.

   This series is highly recommended!

Grade: A-

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Secret Empire #1

   So here's my problem with Secret Empire (other than the whole "Captain America is a Nazi" part of it that is so repellent):

    It's fan fiction.

   It's an interesting, intense story, and it certainly looks bleak for our heroes. Cap and Hydra have taken over the United States and are quickly assimilating the people and culture,  all of whom are rolling over like a trained puppy. (Think Man in the High Castle with superpowers and you're on the mark.)

   Opposing them is a small underground of heroes who face an impossible, hopeless task.

   It's all gone too far already for us to ever believe it will have any lasting impact.

   Fan fiction notoriously offers stories that are too over the top or too destructive to the characters involved to allow them to return to their prime position - and that's what this story does.

   Death and destruction abound, and Cap is behaving completely out of character, teaming with murderers and monsters and then acting surprised when they do terrible things. And then he also does terrible things.

   The whole concept springs out of that classic Marvel McGuffin, the Cosmic Cube, which can alter (or shred) history and reality, and turn it into a mess (mission accomplished) - and it will no doubt be the tool that allows the rapidly-approaching (and much needed) reset for the Marvel Universe.

   It can't get here soon enough to suit me.

Grade: B-

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New Comics Day

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

- BANE CONQUEST #1 (OF 12) - Bane will break you!

- BATMAN #22 - The mystery of the Button!

- CHAMPIONS #8 - Time for a change!

- HAWKEYE #6 - Teaming up with Jessica Jones!

- IRON FIST #3 - The game of death continues! (Also titled: Rats!)

- JESSICA JONES #8 - Exploring one of Marvel's darkest mysteries.

- JUSTICE LEAGUE #20 - Caught in a time loop!

- NOVA #6 - Secrets revealed!

- PAPER GIRLS #14 - Here comes the future!

- SECRET EMPIRE #1 (OF 9) - Captain America is a traitor!

- UNSTOPPABLE WASP #5 - A life on the line!

- WYNONNA EARP LEGENDS: EARP SISTERS #4 (OF 4) - Sisters and monsters, oh my!


   And these review copies:

- DOCTOR WHO GHOST STORIES #2 (OF 4) - Superhero vs. supervillain!

- DREGS #3 - The past, present and future collide!

- FAITH #11 - What happens when her deadliest enemies team up?

- PENNY DREADFUL #2 - The sequel to the TV series continues!

- RAVINA THE WITCH - How a lonely girl became a witch!

- TEKKEN #1 (OF 4) - The videogame cast returns!

   And that's it!

Britannia: We Who Are About to Die #1

   Surely this is one of the most unusual comic books - at least from a major publisher.

   Valiant's Britannia: We Who Are About To Die is set in the often brutal period of Rome's history when Nero was Emperor and life was a fragile commodity.

   There are no superheroes to be seen here - but lots of mystery and political struggles and horrible murders.

   The story centers around a soldier named Antonius Axia, who has been touched by the gods and has become the first man to specialize in solving crimes - a detectioner.

   And there are several mysteries to challenge him, including several murders, capricious gods (and their mortal agents), and a disturbing, growing trend among the women in Rome.

   With terrific artwork and an original (and clever) concept, this is a strong series.

   It's not for young readers - there's quite a bit of bloodshed here - but for those who don't mind that sort of thing in the telling of a good story, it's well worth seeking out.

Grade: A-

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No World #1

   Aspen Comics is in the process of doing something that's overdue - namely, bringing together their heroes into a unified "universe."

   The series No World is the latest step along the way.

   It starts with a horrific (and thankfully, mostly off-screen) attack at a shopping mall, and then jumps to a restaurant in the middle of nowhere.

   The quiet existence of the cook and waitress there is disrupted by the arrival of a stunning woman on a high-tech motorcycle. (It's Executive Assistant Iris.)

   That's followed by a brutal, no-holds-barred battle royal with a few surprises tossed in for good measure.

   The story by Scott Lobdell is pretty thin stuff, but it's fast and raucous and efficient in its setup.

   The art by Jordan Gunderson, Mark Roslan and Charlie Mok is terrific, with strong layouts and very sexy women.

   So it's a decent start to the unification effort - and heavy on the action.

Grade: B+

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The Visitor: How and Why He Stayed #3 (of 5)

   While the big companies fret over their latest event series, over at Dark Horse in the Mignolaverse, the focus is on crafting quality.

   One of that group's gems is the dark and delightful comic called The Visitor: How and Why He Stayed.

   With just a hint of a retcon, we're introduced to a mysterious... creature. Is he alien? Demon? Monster? Threat or Menace? No idea. (Which is part of the fun, of course.)

   But he's there to witness the arrival on Earth of a potentially Armageddon-level figure: Hellboy.

   Tasked with destroying the creature, the Visitor is instead moved to stay his hand and monitor Hellboy's progress instead - which leads him into all kinds of strange territory.

   And as this issue shows, sometimes that doesn't include Hellboy at all, as the Visitor explores a strange new cult that may follow a path that threatens all of humanity.

   With terrific, organic art by Paul Grist, and a sharp, original story by Mike Mignola and Chris Robertson, this series is a real treat - which is no surprise to those of us who hang out in the Mignolaverse a lot.

Grade: A

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X-Men Blue #2

   When you start a "new" series, you shouldn't waste time getting things rolling along.

   But this issue of X-Men Blue, which is devoted to the new adventures of the original team (who have been brought through time to the present) features a heck of a lot of pages of characters standing around talking.

  The only action sequence ends up not being what it seems to be (which is annoying), and by the end of the issue we've made almost no progress from the first page.

   To be fair, there's an interesting situation teased by a final confrontation - and another in the last page - but that doesn't make up for an otherwise humdrum issue.

   I assume the original team was "revived" to try to combat the continuity malaise - and the convoluted storylines - that have weighed down the X-Men books in recent years.

   It was a good solution, but the creative team needs to capitalize on it by delivering some cracking good stories. Character that have been around for 50-plus years shouldn't need much in the way of setup.

Grade: B-

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Batman / The Shadow #1

   In comics, time is the enemy of continuity.

   That's because, for "permanent" heroes like Batman, Superman and most heroes, they're stuck in time. They can only age a small amount - and that means, in the long run, writers must "adjust" their story to keep them in the modern day.

   So Batman has only been operating for the last five or 10 years - not since the 1940s, or the '60s, or the '80s.

   So the big problem arises when heroes are linked to a particular time. That's a burden The Shadow carries.

   Like Doc Savage, that hero is linked to his brutal crime-busting career of the 1930s and '40s - so it's difficult to bring him into modern times.

   DC actually did crossovers (of a sort) with the two back in the '70s, when it was still plausible that the two heroes could meet (heck, Batman even met Sherlock Holmes, compared to whom The Shadow is a punk kid).

   But for them to meet in modern times, The Shadow would have to be over 100 years old - so obviously he'd have to use some kind of mystic power to extend his youth.

   That's believable enough, but his assistants have no such dodge to avoid Father Time - yet in this story a couple of them are still around and, while aged, they're pretty spry for centenarians.

   While this comic doesn't specify its time setting, Batman uses advanced tech, so presumably it's set in the present - so it's a bit of a struggle for purists.

   Still, it's great fun to see the two heroes meet (especially since the one was based so closely on the other), and it's a hard-hitting confrontation that keeps each true to their (very different) characters.

   So it's a meeting that probably shouldn't happen in the modern day - but if you can relax that inner voice that objects to continuity problems, you're sure to enjoy this issue.

Grade: A

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The Flash #21

   It's really sad to realize that, for the first time since the "New 52" started, they've published an issue of The Flash that I really enjoyed.

   Perhaps that's because this issue shows us Barry Allen at his best.

   He uses his skills as a police scientist to analyze a crime scene, though it's an unusual one: the dead and decayed body of a super-villain who disappeared after brutally beating Batman. He died almost immediately after he reappeared.
 
   It's fun to see Batman and the Flash relating to each other as investigators, and working together to solve the mystery behind the Button.

   Their investigation is taking them to some interesting places (Easter egg fans will enjoy the visit to the Justice League storeroom) and we see some unexpected faces along the way.

   It's a strong script by Joshua Williamson and the art by Howard Porter is terrific, with strong layouts and great character designs.

   The Rebirth concept has lost some of its focus since its kickoff, so it's good to see it getting back on point, and in such a strong fashion.

Grade: A

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New Comics Day

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

- Batman / The Shadow #1 (of 6) - Who killed Lamont Cranston?

- Comic Book History of Comics #6 (of 6) - Modern times!

- Doom Patrol #6 - The first story arc ends!

- Flash #21 - The mystery of the Button continues!

- Hulk #5 - Unleashed! (Maybe.)

- Kamandi Challenge #4 (of 12) - What lies beyond the western wall?

- Man-Thing #3 (of 5) - Into the nexus of realities!

- Mighty Thor #18 - The Asgard / Shi'ar war continues!

- Visitor How and Why He Stayed #3 (of 5) - A mysterious woman who defies death!

- X-Men Blue #2 - What is Magneto hiding?

   And I received review copies for:

- Britannia We Who #1 (of 4) 

- Doctor Who 12th Year Three #2

- Doctor Who 9th #12

- Dollface #4

- Hookjaw #5 (of 5)

- No Angel #3

- No World #1

- Quantum Teens Are Go #3 

- There's Nothing There #1 

- Vampblade Season Two #2 

- X-O Manowar #2

   And that's it! Whew!

The End for "Powerless"

   Well, that didn't take long.

   Just over two months after its debut, the comedy Powerless has been canceled.

   It's a shame, because as posted in this review, it was a show with a terrific cast and a potentially strong foundation for future storylines, as it focused on the employees of a business that helps normal people cope with a world loaded with powerful heroes and villains.

   But it had the same problem that has doomed innumerable comedies before it: the show wasn't funny.

   The cast was striving mightily to overcome the thin plots, but it was all just standard sitcom boilerplate.

   It's certainly not the first super-hero-based TV show to get the hook, but it's the first of the modern breed.

   Hopefully the cast will land in productions that are more worthy of their talents.

Black #5

   Mutants (and superpowers in general) have long been a story element that has been used to tell stories about everything from the horrors of racism to young people just trying to fit in.

   The comic series Black takes that idea and amps it up to a degree I've never seen before.

   In this universe, superpowers are part of the world - but the only ones with powers are those with an African heritage.

   That long-held secret has only exacerbated the already-existing racism, as those with powers are monitored and incarcerated in secret, high tech jail cells.

   But one of the men being jailed may be a game-changer, as he uncovers even more despicable forces at work - and meets a valuable ally.

   The story by Kwanza Osajyefo is terrific - powerful and adult, a solid mix of science fiction, superhero and social commentary.

   The art is by Tim Smith 3 and Jamal Igle is outstanding, with great character designs, emotional moments, unique layouts and strong storytelling throughout.

   This series is a hidden gem. It's not for young readers - the language and violence is harsh - but it's an original take on a powerful topic. Highly recommended!

Grade: A

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Astro City #43

   The beauty of Astro City is that there are heroes that we know nothing about.

   For example, there's been a hero who's appeared practically since the series began more than 25 years ago - and he's a complete mystery.

   But for some reason, I've always been fascinated by The Gentleman (or, as I call him, Fred MacMurray - because the comic book character is definitely modeled after that usually likable actor).

   Always dressed in a tuxedo, he has amazing powers - he can fly, has super-strength and is apparently invulnerable.

   Finally, the mystery is explained in this issue, as we get the origin of the hero - and it's an odd one.

   It all centers around a plain spoken girl who has seen terrible hardships - but somehow she continues to believe that (as someone once said) the sun'll come out tomorrow.

   The issue also includes the Bouncing Beatnik, another wonderful music-based hero, and has a few other guest appearances, too.

   Great art and a fun, far-fetched story make this yet another terrific addition of the pantheon.

   As I've said before: surely every comic book fan should be reading this comic.

Grade: A-

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Nick Fury #1

   There have been many attempts since the '60s to revive Nick Fury in his own comic, but they typically don't last - perhaps because they all stand in the shadow of Jim Steranko's towering, groundbreaking work on the original version of the super-spy.

   But you have to hand it to writer James Robinson and artists Act and Hugo Petrus - they're swinging for the fence here.

   And succeeding!

   They're created a breezy, fresh, op-art look for this series that is cinematic and spectacular.

   The story has Fury infiltrating a Hydra stronghold and trying to escape intact.

   It's not a deep story, but it's fast and fun and well worth the price of admission.

   It's downright... Steranko-esque!

Grade: A

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Secret Empire #0

   I've been critical of the Hydra storyline that's been running through the pages of the Steve Rogers Captain America series for a year-and-a-half, but that story finally is delivering as we arrive at the Secret Empire event.

   Let's take a stab at sorting this out: the Red Skull used the Cosmic Cube to change Cap's origin, making him instead a member of Hydra since he was a child. For decades he's worked in secret, pretending to be a hero while laying plans for Hydra's ultimate takeover of the world.

   That plan includes attacks on several fronts, including a space invasion by the Chitauri, a Hydra takeover of a foreign nation, and a huge attack by an army of villains in New York City.

   It's good to see that Nick Spencer's story is a big one - it's certainly had a long enough (and often agonizing) buildup - and the art Daniel Acuna (with a prologue by Rod Reis) is excellent.

   But it's hard to see how this is all going to pay off. The only options seem to be redemption for Cap (which would still leave his origin and history changed and stained) or a miracle reboot ("Thanks, Cosmic Cube!").

   Hopefully there's a better choice that I haven't spotted.

   Whatever happens, this is a powerful story with shocks and surprises aplenty. So far, I'm sticking around.

   (So there are three "secret science organizations" in the Marvel Universe - Hydra, AIM and the Secret Empire - so why is this mini-series about Hydra named after... oh, never mind.)

Grade: A-

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Batman #21

   When my comics shop owner handed me this issue of Batman, I knew it was going to be something special - it has a lenticular cover!

   (I'll pause while you go "Whoa!")

   I know!

   Thankfully, the interior lives up to the promise, as we (finally!) see the beginning of the investigation into Rebirth and the mysterious blood-splashed Smiley Face button.

   Batman teams up (sorta kinda) with the only other hero aware of the button - the Flash (he's the other image on the cover).

   It's a fast-paced, action-packed story by Tom King, as Batman must fight for his life against a powerful, surprising opponent.

   It's a story loaded with some genuine shocks and surprises (which we won't give away here, natch) - but it does tie into certain other event books.

   The artwork by Jason Fabok is very good, with great character designs, strong layouts and powerful action sequences.

   It's great to see them finally getting around to taking the next step in the Rebirth story - it's been simmering far too long, but it seems to be coming to a boil at last!

Grade: A-

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New Comics Day

   Wow, a big haul of comics today! Here's what I picked up:

- Archie #19 - Mending fences with Veronica.

- Astro City #43 - At last, it's... the Gentleman!

- Batman #21 - Finally, the investigation into Rebirth begins!

- Steve Rogers Captain America #16 - The beginning of the end!

-  Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye #7 - Look, up in the sky...

- Daredevil #19 - It's the Purple Man!

- Doctor Strange #19 - Fighting his oldest friend!

- Totally Awesome Hulk #18 - Fighting for his life!

- Invincible Iron Man #6 - Face the future!

- Justice League #19 - The end of the Timeless!

- Nick Fury #1 - Channeling Steranko!

- The Punisher #11 - Death on the high seas!

- Secret Empire #0 - The secret revealed!

- The Wildstorm #3 - A meeting of minds.

   And I received review copies of:

- Anno Dracula #2 (of 5) - The adaptation of the vampire novel continues.

- Assassins Creed Uprising #3 - The video game worlds unite!

- Black #5 - Falling deep into the system.

- Doctor Who 10th Year Three #4 - The finale!

- Forever War #3 (OF 6)  

- Generation Zero #9 - Zeroes to heroes!

- Ninjak #26 - Battle royale!

- Peter David Artful #5 - The Dodger gets in more trouble!

- Soulfire #2 - Fantasy action adventure and more!

- World War X #5 (of 6) - Another alien enemy?

- Zombie Tramp Ongoing #34 - The final challenge!

   Whew! And that's it!

Spencer & Locke #1

   Like every right-thinking comic strip fan, I'm a huge fan of Calvin & Hobbes, which is (in my opinion) the greatest comic strip ever.

   It has inspired a number of comics, all trying to capture its creativity and manic sense of wonder.

   The latest in the list of homages is Spencer & Locke, which offers a different take on the concept of a boy whose stuffed animal comes to life when no one else is around (or alternately, it's about a boy who is friends with an intelligent talking tiger who seems to be just a stuffed animal to the rest of the world).

   But this is a dark vision of the concept. Young Locke (seen in Watterson-esque flashbacks) grows up to be a detective, and his partner is a "real" panther, Spencer.

   This is not a happy, optimistic series - it's about murder and dark plots and an unhappy childhood.

   I'm on the fence with this one. On one hand, it's well crafted and manages to represent (and replicate) elements of the strip it's based on with great skill.

   On the other hand, it's a perversion of the work Bill Watterson crafted over decades of work - and I'm not sure how comfortable I am following a series that is based note for note on another creator's work.

   It's well-crafted, but I'm not sure it's well-intentioned - or in good taste.

   Your mileage may vary!

Grade: B-

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Immortal Brothers: Tale of the Green Knight #1

   I believe it was sometime in Junior High (these days they call it Middle School) that I read the original story of the Green Knight.


   I loved it! It had knights, magic, action, horror, surprises - it was entertaining all the way around!


   Here Valiant has mashed up its "Immortal" characters and thrown them into the mix, all as part of a story being told by Archer to an under-the-weather Faith (with a nice hat tip to the movie A Princess Bride).


   The story finds the mysterious Green Knight arriving at Camelot to challenge King Arthur and his knights to a deadly game. One of their knights can use an axe to strike the Green Knight - but that knight must agree to take a return blow within the next year.


   The only knight to accept the challenge is Gawain (known to us as the Eternal Warrior, Gilad). The Green Night survives and departs, and Gilad begins to gather his brothers to help him overcome the challenge of his emerald adversary.


   It's a fun story with terrific art and lots of entertaining dialogue, and a few surprises - plus an unexpected twist on the classic Arthur legend (one I'm not so sure I like, but I'll give it credit for being original).


   All in all, a lot of fun whether you've read the original or not. It's a great "standalone" story that should serve as a great template for future adventures.


Grade: A


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