Comic Reviews for December 21, 2011

Pick of the week this week goes to Justice League #4. Great book worthy of the acclaim it has been getting

DC COMICS

Catwoman #4

Team

Writer - Judd Winick

Artist - Guillem March

Colorist - Tomeu Morey

YOU...STILL IN THE GAME?

Such a great read. This book is continually on the top of my stack every time it come out.

If you read last issue, you will remember that Selena's friend was murdered and she was about to get picked up by the cops. Well, let's be honest, it wouldn't have made for much of a story if she got picked up. Catwoman of course got away and was able to clear herself from the situation.

We meet her new enemy. She is described as an Amazonian Meta-Human named Reach. Um, if there is a DC's top model competition, Reach is most definitely in the running. Really interesting pacing and just pushing me deeper and deeper into this title. One of the best from all of the Bat Family of books and a top 5 title for me.

We get to deal a lot with Selena's emotions after the death of her friend and her feeling utterly alone.

There was no Batman/Bruce Wayne appearance this issue(Finally).

There was also a seed planted for a new detective that will be hot on her tail in the foreseeable future named Alvarez, who looks like a really good cop that has been put into some wrong time/wrong place scenarios.

Grade

Story - A

Art - A

Green Lantern Corps #4

Team

Writer - Peter J. Tomasi

Artist - Fernando Pasarin

Colorist - Gabe Eltaeb

PRISONERS OF WAR

Finally, this series comes together and steps up its game.

Martian Manhunter shows up and helps out the GLC to read the mind of the enemy that they captured last issue. It seems the bad guys want one thing, the Central Battery on Oa.

John and 2 other lanterns are taken as POW and will most likely be used in some sort of weapon that hasn't yet been revealed.

The art is feeling really strong right now, as do all of the DC titles lately.

Grade

Story - B-

Art - A

Justice League #4

Team

Writer - Geoff Johns

Artist - Jim Lee

Colorist - Alex Sinclair

JUSTICE LEAGUE part 4

So we finally see Darkseid, and he looks literally awe inspiring. The epitome of fear and evil and power. Incredible job by Jim Lee on that.

We also finally get to see Cyborg in action. I feel like his transformation and assimilation to his programing is way too quick. He will be an interesting character though. I have really not paid any attention to him as a character since I was a kid and watched him on a few episodes of Superfriends. So I am getting a new introduction to a character I could grow to really enjoy.

I am loving the interplay between all of the heroes. In my recollection, the Flash has always been the smart ass with all of the wisecracks, but now that role is going to Hal Jordan(Green Lantern)

They are attempting to make Aquaman a bad ass. Yes, he totally looks like one, talks like one and has the attitude of one....But his power is still that he talks to fish. He wouldn't be too much help in Vegas.

This title is still getting better with every issue

Grade

Story - A

Art - A+

Nightwing #4

Team

Writer - Kyle Higgins

Artist - Trevor McCarthy

Colorist - Guy Major

SOUTH BEACH CONNECTION

So this is the weakest art I have seen so far in the Nightwing series. I don't know what it is, but I am not loving it.

And suddenly I am not liking the direction of this book. I am not a fan of the traveling around and have meet ups and different mysteries thing with this book.

It is officially on the bubble for the next few issues. If I still don't like the direction, it will be making the cut list.

The Batgirl team up felt a bit too forced in my opinion.

Grade

Story - C-

Art - C

Red Hood And The Outlaws #4

Team

Writer - Scott Lobdell

Artist - Kenneth Rocafort

Colorist - Blond

COME FLY WITH ME--

--COME DIE, JUST DIE AWAY!

Wow, this is one of those great issues that makes you forget that I almost dropped this book more than once.

Two great stories going on right now. Starfire is facing someone that is hellbent on revenge that knows how to use alien DNA to his advantage. Then Jason and Roy are facing one of the untitled that looks like she will digest them in some horribly medieval way that I don't have the imagination to come up with.

This book seems like it is finally hitting its stride

Grade

Story B+

Art - A-

Young Justice #11

Team

Writer - Greg Weisman

Artist - Christopher A. Jones

Colorist - Zac Atkinson

THE PIT....

One of the best issues I have read yet from the Young Justice title. This was mostly a Batman and Robin issue with a lot going on.

For some reason that was not yet explained, Batman and Green Arrow place Artemis under arrest. I am very curious where this will end up.

Also, at the end, some kind of mud demon crawls out of the pit that Ra's Al Ghul resuscitates himself in as the cliff hanger for the next issue

Grade

Story B+

Art - B

DYNAMITE COMICS

The Bionic Man #5

Team

Writer - Kevin Smith/Phil Hester

Artist - Jonathan Lau

Colorist - Ivan Nunes

MASQUERADE BALL

So we finally see Steve Austin and the first Bionic Man named Hull start to square off. So far so good. No real big surprises in this issue but it was still a great read.

I love the evolution that Steve has made since issue one. He is now willing to go play the part that he was so fortunate/unfortunate to have placed upon him.

Saw a very cool ability that he has. He can make his face become anyone which he can get a download from. Really cool.

I would like to see this eventually at least on TV if Kevin Smith would want to shop it around.

Grade

Story - B

Art - B

Vampirella #12

Team

Writer - Eric Trautmann

Artist - Jose Malaga

Colorist - Stephani Rennee

I honestly wasn't really digging this issue until the very end. This is yet another new story arc setup this week.

The beginning has some great plot points. Vampirella and Sophia are called in to Russia to investigate a suspected terrorist act aboard a commercial plane. What they found was a whole lot of chopped up bodies in the overhead compartments (careful as contents may have shifted during flight) and a message written to her in blood in the cockpit.

After that, the whole book got really slow. However, at the end, you see that she will be fighting Lycans brought straight from hell by a demon. Yep, I am in for next issue

Grade

Story - C+

Art - A-

MARVEL COMICS

Daredevil #7

Team

Writer - Mark Waid

Artist - Paolo Rivera

Colorist - Javier Rodriguez

This was a Fantastic one off Christmas story. Honestly there is not enough good stuff I can say about this book. There have not been nearly enough Christmas books this year.

Matt takes some blind kids up to the Mountains and get into a wreck. This story is all about them surviving and turning the tables when the kids get to turn around and help Matt out when he gets hurt.

Simple story but very well executed. Bravo!

Grade

Story A+

Art - B

Wolverine #20

Team

Writer - Jason Aaron

Artist - Renato Guedes

Colorist - Matthew Wilson

AND THEN THERE WAS WAR part 1

This was a set up issue. After the great momentum of the last story arc(which I loved BTW) it is always a little bit difficult kind of switching gears to a new start. This definitely has the markings for a really good arc, but I am having a bit of trouble following who all of the people are. Several of the people are from the past and I will have to either research through back issues or just figure it out as it goes.

From what I have heard, this will be the set up for a HUGE arc that will be taking place throughout the marvel universe, but it won't be an "event".

Anyways I really like to see the Kingpin and Sabertooth in action. They are both very fun bad guys to me.The homeless, cannibal, redneck superpowered freaks that shoot teeth out of bone guns called the Buzzard Brothers are also cracking me up.

I am interested to see where this is going to go.

Grade

Story - B

Art - B-

Venom #11

Team

Writer - Rick Remender

Artist - Lan Medina

Colorist - Marte Gracia

ROAD TRIP part two

So Venom is still on the run and Red Hulk will be the next one to try to stop him.

Flash also has a new "road trip buddy" the Jack O Lantern. Now this is one seriously messed up dude. No good can come from him bonding with anyone. He is evil

I am still enjoying this title a lot and it is getting better and better to me.

One small issue that I am having is that when the book started, Flash couldn't wear the suit more than 72 hours without it taking him completely over, now it hasn't take over and he has been wearing it for weeks.

Grade

Story - A-

Art - B

Comic Reviews for December 7, 2011

Dynamite Comics

Vampirella Annual #1

Team

Writer - Brandon Jerwa

Art - Eman Casalos

Colorist - Ivan Nunes

This 100 page book actually had 2 different stories. The second one was kind of lightharted with no words and had Vampirella protecting a baby while priests and nuns fight Vampires around them... Yeah, that was just a filler story.

The first story was actually really good. No Sophia this time but that is ok. It was a standard Vampirella story with standard Vampirella art, which means that it is far better than 95% of everything else that is usually put out.

It was a $4.99 book, but seeing the length of the book and the quality of it was completely worth it.

Grade

Story - A

Art - A

Image Comics

Spawn #214

Team

Writer - Will Carlton

Art - Szymon Kudranski

Colorist - Fco Plascencia

So I know a lot of people love this book....but it is time for me to call it quits. I recently got my hands on some of the older TPs of Spawn and I think that is the best way to read this book. I will be going all the way back to the beginning so maybe, by next year, I will be caught up completely.

It's not that it is a bad book by any means, I just would rather read this in long form

Grade

Story NA

Art - B

DC Comics

Red Lanterns #4

Team

Writer - Peter Milligan

Art - Ed Benes

Colorist - Nathan Eyring

"THE DEPARTED"

This series has been making a steady climb up in interest to me. While it may have moved a lot slower than I initially wanted, it is starting to pay off a bit to me.

This issue marries some origin stories for some of the Red Lanterns into the main story. From the looks of it, we will be getting out first Red Lantern from Earth coming very soon. I think that a human to sympathise with is exactly what this series may be missing.

I am also liking that Atrocitus is making more of his Corps sentient. It may be rough on the history but it will make for a much better read and more characters to follow.

I am not positive where they are going with the missing corpse of Krona but I will save speculation till after next issue

Grade

Story - B+

Art - B+

Batman Detective Comics #4

Team

Writer/Art - Tony Daniel

Colorist - Sandu Morey

" THE MAIN EVENT"

I have been considering dropping this book and switching to the other Batman book, which I have heard great things about. Mostly because I refuse to have more than 2 Batbooks and Batman & Robin is not leaving my stack because of my fondness for it......Long story short, I will most likely end up buying the other BatMan book in trades.

It was a sort of wrap up of the first arc in this issue, but it was fascinating. I really love the action in it, and that they leave so many unanswered questions in every page. I love that the face of the Joker is still in play. I love the relationship between Batman and Gordon. I love the way that the batman is drawn in this book as well. He is somewhat......Different in this book. I can't quite put it into a reason yet, but I am trying to put my finger on it.

It is a very interesting feel when the same person is the writer and artist of the same story. It is not something that I usually see much

Grade

Story - A+

Art - A

Superman Action Comics #4

Team

Writer - Grant Morrison

Art - Rags Morales

Colorist - Brad Anderson

"SUPERMAN AND THE MEN OF STEEL"

So I feel like the art has changed a lot for the worse. I finished this book and really had no desire to reopen it, and that is a bad sign for me.

This had 2 stories in it. The main ongoing Superman story and a side story that is intertwined about Steel, John Henry.

This book now has 2 issues to win me back or I will be dropping it.

I really didn't like that story. It did have one high point, that the US government is actually asking Superman for help so this may turn everything around

Grade

Story - C+

Art - C

Huntress #3(of 6)

Team

Writer - Paul Levitz

Art - Marcus To

Colorist - Andrew Dalhouse

"CROSSBOW AT THE CROSSROADS"

I do enjoy this book, but I enjoy the art the most. It is really great.

I am having a lot of fun reading this book. I hope they end up giving the Huntress her own book after this mini-series, or at least giving her a team or something to be on

She really is a interesting character

Grade

Story B+

Art - A+

Asylum Press

Chopper #2 of 5

Team

Writer - Martin Shapiro

Art - Juan Ferreyra

Colorist - Chandran Ponnusamy

I don't really have a reason why, but I really like this book. I mean really like it a lot. I know it is preachy, just say no, type propaganda, but at least it is well done.

We are getting to see more of the effects of this super drug that our characters are experimenting with. They are starting to have full blown conversations with ghosts, and the ghosts think that they are dead as well. I know, it sounds weird, you need to read it for yourself to really get the gist of what I am saying.

Another killing by the Headless Hells Angel biker as well.

Grade

Writing - A

Art - A

Marvel Comics

Deadpool #47

Team

Writer - Daniel Way

Art - Salva Espin

Colorist - Guru EFX

"'POOL VS. CAP'"

There is nothing in the whole comic book universe that is more fun than these Deadpool books.

This book picks up where last month left off, with Captain America and Deadpool fighting. Deadpool does get the best of Cap this round.

Evil Deadpool is still pulling all the strings. Being that Deadpool and Evil deadpool are the exact same person, it leads us to ponder that the biggest weakness a hero can have is a conscience.

I love that every plan Wade comes up with is easily manipulated by his evil counterpart. Although that may be a slight problem with the writing. I may be over thinking it, but if they are the same, shouldn't Wade win exactly half of the time?

Grade

Story - B+

Art - A-

Avenging Spiderman #2

Team

Writer - Zeb Wells

Art - Joe Madureira

Colorist - Ferran Daniel

This is still a fun little title. It seems to be such a good introduction to a lot of marvel characters and inside jokes. I understand just enough to get it.

I liked the first issue a bit more but I still liked it quite a bit.

I really don't know if I love Red Hulk or not. He is more interesting than my last experience with the regular (green) Hulk.

I like Spider-Man a lot. Not enough to buy multiple Spider titles but enough that I do want to keep buying this one.

Grade

Story B-

Art - B

The Punisher #6

Team

Writer - Greg Rucka

Art - Matthew Southworth/Matthew Clark

Colorist - Matt Hollingsworth

"THE EXCHANGE"

I finally figured out why you really have to think with this comic...Between all of the killings i mean. Frank Castle shows NO internal Monologue. With how rarely Frank seems to speak, you really do need to kind of guess what is going on with him.

Dear Marvel, Please fix Franks eye already...It must be very infected by now.

There is a bit more of a cliff hanger on this issue. I hope they start doing that a bit more.

Grade

Story - B-

Art - B-

Venom #10

Team

Writer - Rick Remender

Art - Lan Medina

Inker - Nelson Decastro

Colorist - Marte Gracia

"ROAD TRIP PART ONE"

Another issue that renews my faith in the Venom franchise. So glad we are getting past all of the Spider Island nonsense.

Dear Marvel, I love Captain Americas Harley Vrod. It is beyond cool and I want one so bad. Can Marvel Santa bring me one for Christmas?

I am not really in love with Cap in this book. I did prefer him in Deadpool quite a bit more.

Grade

Story - A-

Art - B

Comic Reviews for October 26, 2011

So I Have 13 books this week and I have decided that I really need to whittle some of them down. You should see my lists get a bit smaller and more manageable in the future. This week I dropped Flash, Batman the Dark Knight and I Vampire.

The competition for new books is getting more fierce because the books keep getting better... That is a great problem to have

Dynamite Entertainment

A Game of Thrones #2

Writer - George R. R Martin

Art - Tommy Abraham

So to be fair, I am considering dropping this book. Not because it is not great, because it is, but I think this may read a whole lot better as a whole collection as a Graphic Novel.

The art once again lends itself well to such an epic tale.

Although this will most likely be my last issue, I think the wait will be a better choice for me..Perhaps if I had read the books or watched the show I would read it monthly but I need the story all at once I think.

Writing A+

Art A+

Vampirella #11

Writer - Brandon Jerwa

Art - Johnny Desjardins

So I loved the story, I hated the art. It is not that it was bad, it just was not the look I like from the Vampirella titles.

I really enjoy that the writers are using more of Sophia as an integral part of the team and not just as a tag along.

The undercurrent really felt like a message on the cruelty of men that will use religion to control others.

Writing - A

Art - C

Vampirella and the Scarlet Legion #5

Writer - Joe Harris

Art - Jose Malaga

This is the way a Vampirella book should look!

It was a very nice wrap up to the Scarlet Legion story arc for sure. It was dark and a mostly not happy ending, but that is what I like in Vampirella. Now I just have to wonder if this title goes away

Writing - B

Art - A

Marvel Comics

The Incredible Hulk #1

Writer - Jason Aaron

Pencils - Marc Silvestri

Colorist - Sunny Gho

So I have always wanted to get into the Hulk, so when I saw that they will begining this title back at #1, I got really excited to pick it up. What I feel like I got was a weird Conan the Barbarian

Now I don't know if I am just not immersed enough in the Hulk mythos, but I don't know if I like this at all.

I mean I understand where the story is going, however the separation of Dr. Banner and the Hulk may just be a bit too much for me to swallow.

I can't say there is anything wrong with this title, I just don't feel like it is my cup of tea

Writing - C-

Art - C

Deadpool #45

Writer - Daniel Way

Art - Salva Espin

"What is evil Deadpool" is the title. Evil Deadpool was pieced together by Deadpools stalker from the last few issues. It is very hard for me to put into words the difference between the two. Perhaps it is normal Deadpool kind of knows where to stop.

We are now back to the States in this issue which puts the whole UK nonsense behind us.

This is such a fun title. Between this and Deadpool Max, I will be sticking with this one I think. I love the art and I am a bit more invested in the storyline.

Not a whole lot of separate plot points happen so there is not a lot to put, but this is a book you just jump on to enjoy the ride

Writing A-

Art - A-

Venom #8

Writer - Rick Remender

Art - Tom Fowler

I do not like when an event (Spider Island) invades my titles so I have no real idea what is going on. It has noting to do with the story I have been following.

I really have nothing to say on this issue. I'm not in love with the art and if it is Spider Island again next month, I will not be picking this up.

I am not saying anything bad about the Spider Island event, but I have paid no attention to it so therefore I have no interest in it taking over my books

I won't be giving this a grade because I don't feel it is fair to grade something I have just been dropped in the middle of

Writing - N/A

Art - C

Daredevil #5

Writer - Mark Waid

Art - Marcos Martin

This is a title that I do love right now.

I have never really been into Daredevil before this run but it is fun, the way comics are really supposed to be.

There is a great supporting cast that does not shine so bright that they are your focus but they are interesting enough that you actually do care.

Writing A

Art B-

Image Comics

Avengelyne #4

Writer - Mark Poulton

Art - Own Gieni

The Hand Of God Part 1 of 3

So after a very successful(IMHO) last story arc, we start the second Arc of the series.

This arc is starting out even stronger than the last. It is not so much of the gratuitous violence just for the sake of shock value. There is callbacks to the last arc as Avengelyne and the stripper we met named Heaven are now friends. Ned Crowley, the serial killer is also briefly mentioned in passing.

We also have a new Spirit of Vengeance in the form of Father Michael. He will be a very interesting character indeed. We spend a lot of time with Passover. I look forward to seeing what a Bad Ass he can be.

Writing - A

Art - A

DC Comics

Green Lantern New Guardians #2

Writer - Tony Bedhard

Art - Tyler Kirkham and Harvey Tolibao

Ink - Batt

Colorist - Nei Ruffino

All I can say to start out is that this is so much better than last issue. Where last issue felt a bit too compressed and maybe even a bit dry, this felt very well paced and full of intrigue.

We start where we ended last issue with members of all of the different Lantern Corps (except Orange) getting ready to destroy Kyle Rainer for "stealing" a ring from each Corp. After a bunch or action, Kyle and a Blue Lantern, Saint Walker, finally escape towards Oa to try to get some answers from the Guardians, with all of the rings following him.

Of course there will be a big explosion of action next issue as all the others are following.

We then learn that Ganthet has been basically been lobotomized by the the other Guardians and all of his emotions have been wiped from existence( See Green Lantern #1) I love that they are making these books intertwined a bit. It makes it very exciting for me personally.

Finally we get to see all of the rings basically attach themselves to Kyle's fingers. What comes of Kyle is a Hybrid of all of the rings and I think will make him the most powerful Lantern of all. Again that is speculation but this is very cool.

I am really enjoying this book and am so glad it is part of the Green Lantern Family of books and I am dying to see what happens next.

Writing - A

Art - A-

Teen Titans #2

Writer - Scott Lobdell

Art - Brett Booth

This is a fun title and such a great jumping on point to Teen Titans. I have never really been into Teen Titans mostly because it was so steeped in it own mythos that I really could not follow it.

I am loving this because, like Justice League, they are really taking their time introducing the characters and letting us get to know them. We are in issue 2 and we still haven't met the whole team yet. It will be even longer till we see them all actually come together as a team.

I know last time I reviewed #1, I had complaints about Bart Allen, AKA Kid Flash, but he has really started to grow on me. Now that I am getting to know the characters, I am starting to like them all a lot more.

I wasn't a Red Robin fan in the old universe but now I like him every bit as much as Nightwing or Damian.

I really like the art in this as well. I can look at it all day

Writing - A

Art - A

All Star Western #2

Writer - Jimmy Palmiotti

Art - Justin Gray

I want to make 1 thing 100% clear.........Jonah Hex is a Bad Ass MF'er.

Half of this book is beyond fun. The second half is another story with a Zorro Knock off that I could care less about.

Lets start with the good. The Jonah Hex stuff is just bad ass. It doesn't matter that this is set in the old West, it still feels relevant. If it had a soundtrack, it would be pure screaming guitars and metal. The story is great. Still not in love with the art but it fits the story well.

Here comes the Bad.... They decided to add an entire second story that I found to be very thrown together and will most likely skip in future issues. Because of this filler story, they charge $3.99 instead of the standard $2.99. That will not do. I hope that DC gets the message because I would hate to lose Jonah Hex.

Story - A first story / D second story

Art B- First Story/ B+ second story

Justice League Dark #2

Writer - Peter Milligan

Art - Mikel Janin

So I will go ahead and say it....I like this title way more than I like the regular Justice League title. The only negative thing that I can really say about it is that there is almost too much going on.

I would almost definitely put this in my top 10 favorite books.

The relationship between Dawn(Dove) and Deadman has me totally sucked in and caring about these characters I normally would not give a second glance.

When dealing with Magical characters in the DCU, it really feels like you are dealing with people on the brink of being completely crazy. It makes them very intriguing to me.

Writing A

Art B+

Zenescope Comics

Fly #5

Writer - Raven Gregory

Art - Eric J

This is supposedly the end of this book as a story arc, but it really did still leave as a cliff hanger.

Once again this follows our characters into the depravity of their addictions. At the end we see the character Danielle supposedly die from taking an unknown treatment for her addiction that was supposed to take her powers away.

This book definitely walks the line between preachy and entertaining very nicely. The art is absolutely beautiful and really takes you into the story

Writing B-

Art A+

Comic Reviews for October 12,2011

This Weeks books were purchased at Comic Oasis (www.comicoasis.com or @comicoasis on Twitter) 3121 N. Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas. (Not a paid endorsement)

DC Comics

Suicide Squad#2

Team

Adam Glass

Frederico Dallocchio

Andrei Bressan

This book just made a personal record with me. It is the top of my stack, even with Green Lantern coming out. Not that it means anything but Congratulations

This was not even a little bit disappointing. Such a great comic book.

It will be hard not to get attached to the characters in this book. Unfortunately, as Amanda Waller says so blatantly, "everyone on your team is expendable". It is only issue 2 and already one of our characters(Voltaic) is dead.

Deadshot comes up as the leader of the team and it is an interesting choice. I would have went with Harley Quinn being the leader but I would have been wrong. That is why I don't write comics my friends.

One of the opening lines was fantastic. A guy comes running onto the field, where the team has been sent to kill everyone, and he says "Oh thank god, the Justice League" It just struck me as so funny. Especially when he is shot a few panels later.

The Characters are really coming to light in this issue. As I said, it will be very hard not to get attached to these characters. El Diablo has the most redeeming qualities so my guess is that he will die next issue.

Grade

Story A++

Art A

Green Lantern #2

Team

Geoff Johns

Doug Mahnke

Christian Alamy

Keith Champagne

I did like issue #1, I even recommended it in my last blog and have to some of my friends. This issue BLEW IT OUT OF THE WATER. This is so good.

I love seeing how good Sinestro really is. He did what I never would have thought a ring could do, he actually created another ring with it so that he could have an ally in Hal Jordan and he can control him. Maybe there are other instances of ring duplication in the past but I have never personally read it.

Hal also get a very strong lesson from Sinestro when Hal tries to save some people falling off a collapsing bridge. Instead of letting Hal save a few, Sinestro fixes the bridge and saves everyone. No matter how Evil Sinestro has been percieved as, Hal, and really all of the lanterns can learn a lot from him

Grade

Story A+

Art A-

Batman and Robin #2

Team

Peter J. Tomasi

Patrick Gleason

Mick Gray

My first impression of this book when I saw the cover was not highly favorable. I am not sure why, but the angle of the Batmobile looks a bit like a pig from hell. But you know the old saying about not judging a book by it's cover.

This is very quickly becoming my favorite Batbook. There was a fantastic intro to who Damian actually is. This probably could have been the issue #1, and is a much better start point than the last issue. It is as if the creative team just now realized that not everyone really knows this Robin.

I love how Bruce is now trying to not be just a mentor, but is trying to be a father. Alfred is of course, being the father to Bruce and the concerned Grandfather to Damian, without the title of course.

Bruce has been showing more and more humanity. I love when he confesses that he is afraid of dying for the first time in his life because he is afraid what would happen to the frail psyche of Damian.

Some very frighting glimpses into Damian when it shows when no one is around(except Alfred, who is lurking like a weird Pedophile(just Kidding) ) he grabs a bat out of the air, crushes it to death, looks at it, kind of pets it, and then disposes of it down the bottom of the cave.

Grade

Story A+

Art A+

Batgirl #2

Team

Gail Simone

Ardian Syaf

Vicente Cifuentes

This is another issue that has far exceeded the last issue. Wow, the places this story is going is just fantastic.

You have Batgirl coming to the realization that she is back to early since she came out of her wheelchair. I am sure it has happened in other stories but it feels so new and fresh to have a superhero so unsure of themselves.

Like I said last Batgirl review, I love this villain, the Mirror. He is so understandable why he became what he is. You can almost empathise with him. You will learn why she is on his list to kill

I only have one complaint, and it is about the art. Whenever Barbara is in costume, I love the art throughout the entire panels, however, whenever she is not, the art seems to change throughout, it is the most noticeable when she is on her date.

Grade

Story A+

Art A/C+

Frankenstein Agent of S.H.A.D.E #2

Team

Jeff Lemire

Alberto Ponticelli

I am still trying so hard to love this book. I will say that I did like it better than the last issue which is good. I like the story, in fact I like the story a lot. What I don't like, which is less extreme than last issue, is the computer information that pops up on panels. It just feels like too much.

This book has made the cut(barely) but will be re-evaluating after next issue. I so want to love this

Grade

Story B-

Art D

Dynamite Publishing

Vampirella #10

Team

Eric Trautmann

Heubert Kahn Michael

Marshall Dillon

Stefani Rennee

This is the final Vampirella of this story arc. So, anyone that has been waiting, next issue will be a new arc and a great jumping on point.

We get to finally see the end of the Blood cult demons what wear the Guy Fawkes Masks. Honestly not the greatest ending but everything was nicely wrapped up.

I did have very high hopes that her sidekick, Sophia, was going to develop into something so much more at this issue as her "secret weapon" but it was just kind of normal and mundane. I am hoping she will have some sort of twist to her eventually.

Grade

Story B+

Art A

IDW Publishing

Dead Rising Road to Fortune #1

Team

Tom Waltz

Kenneth Loh

Ester Sanz

I didn't buy this because it is a video game, in fact, I didn't even know it was until I opened the cover and there is advertisement for it. No, I bought it because the cover has a guy hitting a Zombie with a guitar. I thought to myself, this is going to be awesome. Remember what I said about judging a book by its cover?

The story and the characters feel like things you have seen a million times before. It is trying to be a bit of Max Pain, the Walking Dead and a touch of Army of Darkness..I never said the good parts of any of it.

The art goes from pretty good, to pretty bad. It is very inconsistent

I won't be picking this up again, however, I am sure it is a very good video game, where it should have stayed

Grade

Story D+

Art C

Marvel Comics

Ghost Rider #4

Team

Rob Williams

Matthew Clark

Sean Parsons

Rob Schwager

Wow, so it does look more and more like Johnny Blaze is out and Alejandra is in as the Ghost Rider. But really, who knows?

This is the most readable of the last 4 issues of Ghost Rider. Still not in love with the art but as far as the storyline goes, I am in.

We get to see the departure of the very psychopathic Adam in this issue. I am very curious where this is going

Grade

Story B+

Art C+

The Punisher #4

Team

Greg Rucka

Marco Checchetto

Matt Holingsworth

Another great Punisher issue with Frank Castle doing what he does best, not taliking too much and being a Bad-Ass.

Honestly, there is nothing new in this issue, just Punisher type action, which is what I want in a Punisher comic.

You either get his sense of morality of you don't

Grade

Story B

Art A-

Dark Horse Comics

Orchid #1

Tom Morello

Scott Hepburn

Dan Jackson

I love that Dark horse will take a lot of their first issues of their new series and make them $1.00. Otherwise I would have never have given this particular issue a second look.

I also love that this gook was written by Tom Morello, the guitarist for Rage Against The Machine and Audioslave

This is a post-appocoliptic comic. At least the world didn't end with Zombies. It is a little hard to follow, especially for a brand new title. The clothing is all over the board as far as time periods, maybe some time travel is involved?

This will be a girl goes for revenge type title and because they were nice enough to sell me this copy for one dollar, I will give this title one more chance

Grade

Story C+

Art B

Kull The Cat and the Skull

Team

David Lapham

Gabriel Guzman

I Picked up this title because I wanted a Fantasy type book like Conan. I should have bought Conan.

Although I loved the art, and it was very well done, it just didn't seem to fit the story at all.

I was just expecting something.....Different.

Grade

Story C

Art B