New Comics Today

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

- Archie #16 - Meet Dilton!

- Avengers #3.1 - Facing an unbeatable for!

- Black Widow #10 - Meet the old boss.

- Cave Carson Has a Cybernetic Eye #4 - Exploring an underground city!

- Invincible Iron Man #3 - An unexpected encounter (or two).

- Justice League #13 - Enter Eclipso!

- Monsters Unleashed #1 - The Marvel Universe has a big problem!

- All New X-Men #17 - Fighting the Inhumans!

   

   And I received review copies of:

- Clandestino #5 - Fighting in the streets!

- Divinity III Aric #1 - Fighting for the CCCP!

- Doctor Who 9th #9 - Dealing with aquatic aliens.

- Generation Zero #6 - Time for a new mission!

- Harbinger Renegade #3 - Facing a vicious new enemy!

- Hard Case Crime Peepland #3 - A killer at large.

- Hookjaw #2 - A toothy problem.

- X'ed #4 - Retrieving a hit man from certain death.

   And that's it!

The Classics - Stormwatch #1 (Vol. 2)

   In the heady first years of Image Comics, Stormwatch was an early entry in the "let's do something like the X-Men" contest.

   But it was thin stuff, all about the art and the posing and explosions and not worrying so much about the stories.

   That was 1993 - and in the years that followed, the creative teams shifted around regularly and events shook up the roster.

   Finally the series was turned over to Warren Ellis, who wasted no time in introducing science fiction, adventure, horror and political  elements, giving the team purpose and setting up some major storylines.

   In other words, the writing became the driving factor.

   After the Wildstorm Rising event shook up the Wildstorm Universe, Stormwatch was rebooted with a new issue #1 (volume 2).

   Teamed up with artists Oscar Jimenez and Jason Gorder, the art moved away from the early Image excesses (gritted teeth, impossible figures on the women, splash pages that featured the team posing) and focused on good storytelling, strong layouts and great character designs.

   The team balanced super-heroics with political posturing, rebuilding the team's good name, and facing down some deadly and merciless opponents.

   The series was really starting to take off - but the best was yet to come!

Grade: A-

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Ninjak #23

   As this issue sets up the "Seven Blades of Master Darque" story, it only neglects one thing: there's not much actual Ninjak content here.

   (Everyone's doing it, it seems.)

   Instead the focus is on his deadliest opponent - the tragic Roku, a red-tressed assassin who Ninjak has tried repeatedly to save (and each time, he's failed).

   We follow her as she breaks into an impregnable prison as part of her plan to recruit the members of the murderous Shadow Seven, all high-powered assassins in their own right - and all of them defeated by Ninjak.

   It's a grim tale with lots of death and destruction - and what is her mission all about, anyway?

   The script is crisp and the art is excellent - and Ninjak does play a vital role before we hit the end of the issue - but it'd still be nice to have him a bit more involved.

   (Last page shock panels aren't quite enough.)

Grade: B+

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Daredevil #15

   So which is better - the lighthearted Daredevil (last seen in the Mark Waid / Chris Samnee series) or the darker version now inhabiting the series under the guidance of Charles Soule and Goran Sudzuka?

   It's a tough call, because both versions have a lot to recommend them.

   The dark version has been compelling, with sharp, clever storytelling and unexpected twists - but it certainly is grim.

   Following the last storyline, which ended with a terrible injury to Daredevil's "apprentice" Blindspot, we find Matt Murdock having a strange reaction to the event - and now there's a bounty on Daredevil's head, which gets a lot of attention from the underworld.

   The art is powerful and the story is... well, unexpected. And oh, that final panel.

   So which is better? Well, I admit that I probably prefer the lighter version - but if we can't have that, this is powerful stuff, too.

Grade: A-

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Jessica Jones #4

   One of the things that stands out about Jessica Jones is that it is (now) set firmly in the Marvel Universe - but it doesn't really feel like it.

   It's almost like an Earth-2 version of Marvel. (Arguably, the original Alias series was set in a slightly different, "R" rated version of the MU.)

   That's because it's much more gritty, more street-level, than any other series. A lot of the credit goes to the art by Michael Gaydos, whose unique style evokes the real world without being photo-realistic. Stunning work!

   The story by Brian Michael Bendis has Jessica involved in a mystery. As this storyline started, she was being released from prison (we don't know why). Her child with Luke Cage is in hiding, and Luke wants answers but isn't getting any (we don't know why). Jessica is kidnapped by a mystery woman and offered a chance to betray her former friends in the Avengers.

   And there, at least, we finally get some answers, as Ms. Marvel Captain Marvel puts in an appearance and we learn the reasons behind Jessica's problems - and why she's being so secretive.

   But the story isn't over, and there's much more to be revealed and uncovered.

   It's a strong return for the series and it fits well with the TV version, too. It's for adult readers - and highly recommended!

Grade: A-

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Khaal #1

   Titans Comics has been bringing some interesting comics to our shores, and the latest addition is the series Khaal, which is subtitled "The Chronicles of a Galactic Emperor."

   It's a grim tale about life aboard a gigantic space station that was once a prison - but after a galactic version of Armageddon, it's the last stronghold of civilization (more or less), and it feature three alien races struggling for dominance.

   Standing at the top of the heap is the human (ish) leader known as Khaal. (A nice guy he isn't.)

   He holds the reigns thanks to his incredible power (and the secret source of it), which allows him to face challengers in a gladiatorial setting - and stay unbeaten.

   This is an adult story (with violence and sex) and an inventive one, with a big, bold story, terrific art and lots of secrets to sort out.

   It's not for the timid, but it's a strong start to the series.

Grade: B+

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The Flash #14

   It's usually a good idea when a series goes back to the basics, and that seems to be the plan for The Flash.

   This issue brings the focus back on the Rogues - Captain Cold, the Mirror Master, Heat Wave, the Trickster, Weather Wizard and Golden Glider.

   The gang of Flash foes has been absent for a while, and the Flash decides it's time to track them down.

   We also meet a few more villains and see Barry Allen and Iris West finally - finally! -  starting to build a relationship.

  So it feels much more like a classic Flash story, and thank goodness for that!

   It's an interesting story by Joshua Williamson and strong art by Carmine Di Giandomenico, with strong character designs and page layouts. (Though I'm not crazy about the lightning bolts around Flash's eyes. Maybe it's just me.)

   After too many issues that were off target, it's great to see The Flash cooking on all cylinders!

Grade: A-

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The Mighty Thor #15

   Now that's more like it.

   This issue is very much an "old school" Marvel comic, as it sets up a war between - of all things - the alien Shi'ar and Asgard.

   There's just enough story and subplots to set the stage for a major throw down between the gods of Asgard and the Imperial Guard (which is Marvel's version / copy / homage to the Legion of Super-heroes).

   So why are they at war? Ah, that would be telling - but at least we get a revelation thanks to that last page surprise!

   Kudos to writer Jason Aaron and artist Russell Dauterman on crafting a terrific all-out action issue that gives the cast room to spread their wings and fight!

   Lots of fun!

Grade: A

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New Comics Today

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

- Captain America Steve Rogers #9 - The trial of Maria Hill!

- Daredevil #15 - A matter of faith.

- Flash #14 - The return of Captain Cold!

- Groo: Fray of the Gods #4 - The heavenly (or hellish) finale!

- Jessica Jones #4 - Mystery revealed!

- Mighty Thor #15 - The Shi'ar attack Asgard!

- Totally Awesome Hulk #14 - Fighting a dragon and playing basketball!

   

   And I received review copies of:

- Assassin's Creed Awakening #3 - A new world order!

- Assignment #1 - Revenge in a hit man.

- Chimera Brigade #4 - A world at war.

- Doctor Who 10th Year Three #1 

- Doctor Who 11th Year Three #1 

- Doctor Who 12th Year Two #13 

- Hard Case Crime Triggerman #4 

- Jade Street Protection Services #4 

- Khaal #1 - A prison ship drifts in the void.

- Knight Guardians of Relativity #1 - Investigating a knight's murder.

- Ninjak #23 - The 7 blades of Master Darque.

- Norman the First Slash #2 - A mini-murderer.

- Samurai Brothers in Arms #5 - Rescue mission.

- Sherlock: Blind Banker #1 - A mysterious break-in.

- The Skeptics #3 - How to save the world.

- Vikings Uprising #4 - Fight to survive!

   And that's it!

Red Dog

   As a fan of Robert Heinlein's "Juvenile" science fiction stories, I'm enjoying the new series Red Dog from the comics company 451.

   It has the feel of that kind of "hard" SF - that's based largely in real world technology, and takes us into the life of a teen named Kyle who's learning to deal with the dangers - and the wonders - of the new world he now lives on.

   That world is called Kirawan, and humans have colonized it to mine precious minerals. That brings them in conflict with the barbaric inhabitants, and the issue starts out with a bang as Kyle tries to survive a vicious attack.

   He's saved by his dog, Q, who happens to be a robot mutt.

   And Kyle's collection of dogs grows with this issue, as he gets a special Christmas present: five more cybernetic dogs!

   As he struggles to connect with (or even understand) his parents, he spends his time learning more about the dogs and training them to work as a unit.

   The series was created and written by Rob Cohen, is adapted by Andi Ewington, and features art by Rob Adkins (and three inkers). I like the art - it's a sleek, futuristic style that fits the "world" perfectly.

   I'm enjoying the series so far. It's a solid story about the fight to survive on an alien world, but it's also a high-tech and heartfelt story about a lonely boy and his dogs.

Grade: A-

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Nova #2

   Rather unexpectedly, Nova has become a buddy book.

   Or perhaps a brotherly book.

   It continues the story of the return of Richard Ryder, Earth's original Nova, who somehow managed to escape from certain death in the Cancerverse. (We don't know how this happened.)

   The new Nova, Sam Alexander, joins Ryder to fight an alien attack of some kind, and the two bond over their common powers and interest.

   Ryder - who's struggling to adjust to a "normal" life - finds a new home with Sam and his family.

   They bond, they fight bad guys, and they head into deep space - what's not to like?

   It's a fun issue that sends up lots of entertaining possibilities. (And Ryder's encounter with the members of The Champions is priceless.)

Grade: A-

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The Avengers #3

   Time travel's always a tricky story element. One wrong move and the story unravels.

   And The Avengers are in the middle of a particularly gnarly story. I'll take a shot at a recap: to get revenge on an earlier attack, the Vision traveled in time and kidnapped Kang when he was a baby and took him to a safe place.

   Future Kang doesn't like this, so he (and his temporal counterparts) go back in time and eliminate the Avengers when they were babies, destroying the team.

   Only the team managed to survive, thanks to a benevolent version of Kang's future self - but their survival may not last, unless they can find a way to undo the damage done - and beat Kang for good.

   Which brings us to this issue, wherein the new (and delightful) Wasp is given the task of setting things right while the rest of the team is duking it out with several alternate Kangs.

   It's a fun story by Mark Waid that plays fair with the time travel concept and - as far as I can tell - hasn't made a mistake yet.

   I'm a little bit on the fence about the art by Mike del Mundo. It's amazing work, visually stunning - but sometimes it's difficult to follow the action involving so many characters in the swirl of color and motion.

    But that's a minor quibble. The story is building to a frenzied conclusion - how difficult to wait a month to see it!

   (Where's that time machine when you need it?)

Grade: A-

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Justice League #12

   Ah, it's the old bait-and-switch.

   You see, this isn't really an issue of Justice League (despite the team's appearance on the cover).

   The JL only makes one other appearance in the issue, in a single flashback splash page.

   Otherwise, this is given over to promoting the ongoing Justice League / Suicide Squad crossover.

   It focuses on a meeting (of sorts) between Amanda Waller (the force of nature that leads the Squad) and Maxwell Lord, the leader of Checkmate.

    We learn about Lord's rise to power and get a few hints about his future plans.

   It's not a bad issue - the story's interesting and the art is very good - but it's not an issue of Justice League, and that's what I laid down my $2.99 to purchase.

   Instead, I purchased an ad for a mini-series that I have no interest in.

   Thanks for nothing, DC.

Grade: B

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The Unstoppable Wasp #1

   As a geezer, it's been fun to see the comics industry moving away from being a boy's club.

   When I first started going to conventions in the mid-'80s, there were very few women in sight. A few pros, a few models, a few working the sales booths - and otherwise it was just guys as far as the eye can see.

   But in recent years (especially in the last five or so), that's changed - and now con attendance is very close to being half female. That's a wonderful thing!

   It's almost happened in spite of the comics companies. They've made only minimal efforts over the years to attract "girl" readership.

   But they seem to be making up for lost time, and this title - The Unstoppable Wasp - is all about empowerment and fun.

   It focuses on the recently-revealed teenage daughter of Hank (Giant-Man) Pym and his first wife, Maria. Nadia is a genius in her own right and has duplicated the work of her father (shrinking formula, wasplike wings).

   This story is an intro for Nadia, who's mostly a mystery. But we see that's she's kind, thoughtful and makes friends easily. Oh, and she's amazingly smart.

   It would have been nice to have a more challenging foe, but it's fun to see the Wasp interact with two other famous super-heroines.

   Writer Jeremy Whitley has a good ear for dialogue, and artist Else Charretrier packs a lot of fun into this issue.

   It's a good start, and I'd think this would be high on the list of fun reading for both female and male fans.

   Nadia's a good hero for young women to emulate - perhaps we'll see more "Unstoppable Wasp" costumes at this year's conventions!

Grade: B+

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Justice League of America: The Atom Rebirth #1

   As a longtime fan of the Atom, I was glad to see him getting the Rebirth treatment - heck, I'm just glad to see him in a comic, period.

   Apparently he's going to be a member of the upcoming Justice League of America title (in some capacity), so DC is rolling out a series of one-shots focusing on the team's lineup.

   This isn't an origin story - not quite, anyway. It follows Ray Palmer, the scientist who created the shrinking process and the Atom costume, and it brings back (thankfully) Ryan Choi as his working partner / lab assistant / possible successor.

   And that's about all you get here - an introduction to both men, and a possible setup for the first JLA adventure.

   I was really hoping for much more - this issue just offers some backstory for those who came in late.

   For those of us who've been here a while, there's nothing new here.

   Darn it.

Grade: B-

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Champions #4

   One of the classic "bits" that made the New X-Men fun was the running gag that had their jet being shot out of the sky with great regularity.

   Since the (teenage) Cyclops is now a member of the Champions, it seems only fitting that they pick up that shtick.

   And that's how this issue starts, with the team's jet being shot down by a mysterious attacker, and the heroes must work as a team to survive.

   The heroes - which include Ms. Marvel, Nova, (Ultimate) Spider-Man, the (Totally Awesome) Hulk and Viv Vision - must also learn to fight and function together, and it's fun to see them work out that dynamic while they also try to figure out who their leader should be.

   A sharp script and terrific art - the only thing lacking here is a more impressive villain. But that's a minor complaint.

   This series has a lot of energy and a great youthful feel. Highly recommended!

Grade: A-

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New Comics Day

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

- Avengers #3 - Kang, Kang, everywhere!

- Champions #4 - Trouble below the sea.

- Death of Hawkman #4 - Despero is plotting.

- Hawkeye #2 - On the case!

- Justice League #12 - Guess who's back?

- Justice League of America The Atom Rebirth #1 - The return of the Atom!

- Nova #2 - When Novas meet!

- Ragnarok #11 - Death comes calling.

- Saga #41 - Speaking of death...

- Unworthy Thor #3 - Trapped by the Collector!

- Unstoppable Wasp #1 - Saving the world.

- Wynonna Earp Legends: Doc Holliday #2 - On the trail of pure evil.

   

   And I received review copies of:

- Archer & Armstrong #11 - A freaky fracas!

- Faith #7 - Ghosts of the past!

- Masked #2 - The government is watching you!

   And that's it!

Future Quest #8

   So my theory is that Future Quest is so attractive to fans of Saturday morning cartoons that the top artists are lining up for a chance to draw an issue.

   For example, this issue is drawn by Ariel Olivetti, and it's stunning work, with a powerful, painted style.

   My only complaint is that one scene is a bit too horrific - it doesn't fit the high spirits / high adventure tone of the rest of the series.

   But once we get past that, there's a lot to like here. Birdman and Mightor in action! Space Ghost and the Impossibles! The return of the Herculoids! And Jonny Quest, Hadji, Jan and Buzz try to find a way to help! (Not to mention Race, Dr. Quest and more!)

   It's a brilliant reimagining of the classic cartoon characters as they gather to fight a terrifying menace.

   Love it!

Grade: A

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Hulk #1

   It seems that the She-Hulk has come full circle.

   In her first appearance (back in 1980) she was The Savage She-Hulk, and while she wasn't as slow-witted as the Hulk (at that time), she was certainly just as angry.

   Since then, she's been through a stunning array of changes - becoming intelligent, joining the Avengers, the Fantastic Four, having several solo series, working as an Agent of SHIELD - sometimes she couldn't change form, other times she worked as a lawyer.

   In the wake of Civil War II, we find a different version of the character. She's back to being Jennifer Walters, an attorney starting her new job for a new law firm - but she's still shaken by what happened to her cousin Bruce Banner (the original Hulk), and by the terrible injuries she suffered at the hands of Thanos.

    The Hulkish cover aside, the focus here is on setting up the new series - so there's a lot of setup and not much actual Hulk content.

   Which is fine - the story by Mariko Tamaki is focusing on characters, not mayhem.

   The art by Nico Leon is very good - a nice, clean "real world" style that sets the stage nicely.

   So, it's something of a slow start - and a fresh start - for this long-running hero. So far, I like it - I'll be hanging around.

Grade: B+

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Civil War II #8 (of 8)

   So the sprawling saga of Civil War II lumbers to an end, and as always with Big Event books, the question is: 1) does it have a strong ending; and 2) does it make significant changes?

   I've been dubious about the whole story, based around an Inhuman named Ulysses who gets glimpses of the future - but is he seeing what will be, what might be, or is he affecting the future somehow?

   It set up a moral dilemma that resulted in death (of course, because that's what happens in Event books), and set Iron Man (and his allies) against Captain Marvel (and her allies).

   All of which led to a huge battle between the two on the steps of the Capitol in Washington, D.C. - which is silly, of course. (What hero allows a huge, energy-splashing battle there?)

   But I have to admit, the wrap-up to the story of Ulysses is actually a surprise, ties up that part of the story up well and offers potential for future stories.

   As for how significant the changes are, it seems minimal so far - but the most significant seems to be its effect on Tony Stark.

   The conclusion lifts this series up a bit - and it's certainly better than the "first" (Marvel) Civil War - but it's still a thin excuse for a bunch of heroes too whale on each other.

Grade: B

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