Archives: Prelude to the Deadpool Corps

Prelude to the Deadpool Corps

Issues #1-5

All issues released in May, 2010

Team

Writers - Victor Gischler

Art - (1)Rob Liefeld (2)Whilce Portacio (3)Phillip Bond (4) Paco Medina (5) Kyle Baker

Colorist - (1) Matt Yackey (2) Thomas Mason (3) Tomislav Tikulin (4)Edgar Delgado

All Covers by Dave Johnson

This is a very fun series that I picked up as a set quite a while ago. Unfortunately, I never got my hands on the regular series. It lasted a total of 12 issues and, since rereading this prequel, I will be ordering the 2 Trade Paperbacks.

All 5 books were originally released on the same month, which is a very odd marketing strategy. The covers are a very cool concept. All 5 members of the Deadpool Corps are shown on all five covers in a race, and it features who the book is about. All seem to be snapshots taken within moments of each other in slightly different perspective. That alone makes it worth getting these books in the floppy form, instead of the Trade Paperback. Lots going on in the background, and lots of Deadpool type humor.

The premise of the book is that some cosmic force(the Watcher)has commissioned Deadpool to jump through a multitude of universes to collect 4 other alternate-earth Deadpools to save the universe. It sounds convoluted and weird, but you just have to kind of go with it.

In book 1, Deadpool gets Lady-Deadpool. He saves her butt from being destroyed by General America(Alternate Universes

remember?) The General has a Bionic arm to replace the one cut off by our normal Deadpool some time ago, and he is not happy. Lady Deadpool is every bit as fun of a character as the original Deadpool. Just as egotistical, just as nuts and just as funny

The art in this book is by Rob Liefeld and he seems to have been born to draw Deadpool.

Book 2, we get introduced to Kid-Pool. He goes to the Xavior Orphanage for Troubled Boys. I love that Kidpool is secretly wondering to himself if he will outgrow the voices in his head.

That little statement just cracked me up. We get to see a lot of interactions with kid wolverine, and kid Cyclops(who acts just like

you would think he would act as a kid. Also a great scene with Xavior trying on wigs to impress Emma Frost. This is, by far, the funniest book of the series and the art is my favorite.

Book 3 is Dog-pool. He was being experimented on and he is presumed dead, dropped in a plastic bag and left in a dumpster. As you can probably guess, Dog-Pool has the Famous Deadpool regeneration ability and he comes back to life and is really ugly. He finds a home with the Carnival when they discover his abilities and they drop him in acid, shoot him out of cannons, etc. Deadpool eventually saves him and recruits him. The art felt very "cartoony" it

did fit the tone of the book very well

Book 4 is Head-Pool. It is the disembodied head of a Deadpool that,

of course, will not die. Deadpool plays a very large in this book, stuck on an island where guys are hunting him for sport. As I am sure you already guessed, this did not end well for them....at all. Art was good, but not as great as the first 2 issues

Book 5 was when they all get together as a team. They were fighting, and destroying what looks like an army of care bears. It is always entertaining to see a sword go through a very bloody but otherwise cute teddy bear. While I enjoyed the art in the other books a lot, this was one of the the worst art I have ever seen in a book. It goes between a horrible CGI to Doodles to watercolor

All in all, this was a great series and it makes me so excited to buy the Trades of the regular series.

I give it and overall score of A

Archives: Batman Arkham City

So I have been going through some old comics and have decided that it would be fun to do reviews of different older minis, story arcs, or even older runs. Here is my first.

Batman Arkham City

5 Issue Mini Series

Published July 2011-October 2011

Team

Writer - Paul Dini

Artist - Carlos D'Anda

Colorist - Gabe Eltaeb

This was such a fun Mini, I can't believe that I forgot about it.

Oh, I want to give a quick disclaimer... I did play Batman Arkham Asylum,

but I have not yet played Arkham City.

This book takes place between Arkham Asylum and Arkham City. It starts at the end of Arkham Asylum with the Joker being taken back to jail. He is quite obviously sick beyond all measure and definitely standing on his last leg.

We find out that the latest Mayor of Gotham, Quincy Sharp, is little more than a puppet of a man that is having his strings pulled by (we later find out) Hugo Strange.

His master plan is to wall off half of Gotham City and make it the most dangerous prison on the planet.

What we end up seeing a lot of is huge power plays by most of the notorious Super Villains of Gotham to see who will really pull the strings in the new Arkham City.

We get appearances by, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, Penguin, Two-Face, Riddler, and Robin.

The are is very reminiscent of Romita Jr's work in Kick-Ass, Which means that I like it a lot.

This is definitely worth a second (or first) look

Dust in the Wind

Yeah, sorry for getting Kansas stuck in your head when you read the title, but it did seem very fitting with today's subject matter.

We all knew it would just be a matter of time, but DC will be canceling a few of their new titles from the reboot after 8 issues. But do not fret my dear geeks, they will be doing replacements that sound, for the most part, pretty good so it will remain the new 52 universe.

Lets start with the titles that will be blowing off into oblivion and soon to be forgotten.

Hawk and Dove. Of the book meeting their demise, this is the only one that I had bought any copies. The people that I know that were reading this, it was just doing enough to kind of keep them interested enough. I was only in one issue but I deemed it forgettable enough to not care enough to keep up in a second issue.

Men Of War. This one I am kind of surprised and not at the same time. The historic value of this one alone, being that it comes from the Sgt. Rock series that was around forever, I thought would have been enough to keep this title around. Unfortunately this had a few things working against it. Gritty war stories are really not too popular anymore. Perhaps they make people think about real life too much and people read comics for an escape.. The other strike this had against it was the dreaded $3.99 price point. While it may work for Justice League or Action Comics, those are staples that people feel they need in their collections. Men of war would not make that criteria.

Mister Terrific. I honestly have not personally met anyone that reads this book. I had no

interest to start it so it seems that mot other people didn't either.

Blackhawks. You can copy and paste what I said about Mister Terrific.

Static Shock. This is another one with at least a "B" list character that a lot of people can identify. When I saw this title, I assumed a lot of people would buy.

I guess I was wrong. What I should have thought is who really cares?

O.M.A.C. This one really surprised me that it was getting the axe. I have read and heard a lot of very positive fans views on this book. I never picked it up because it tied too closely to the Frankenstein book and the acronyms were getting to be a bit much.

So taking their place will be......(Drum roll Please!)

Batman Incorporated.

Writer - Grant Morrison

Artist - Chris Burnaham

This is one of the titles that I was most disappointed that was cancelled with the incoming new 52. I am very happy that this one will be coming back. Unfortunately I will have to justify yet another Bat Book into my comic budget.

Earth 2.

Writer - James Robinson

Artist - Nicola Scott

I will be picking up the first issue of this just to see for sure. I think this book could go either way. It will be a Justice Society of America book. I was wondering how long DC could last without have a multitude of universes. I honestly don't know how I feel about that.

World's Finest.

Writer - Paul Levitz

Artist - George Perez and Kevin Maguire

This will be the Huntress and Power Girl stranded in a third universe and trying to get back to the Earth 2 universe. I will pick this up because I love Huntress and am very glad that she is getting her own book(kind of). However, I really hate the amount of universes that are already starting to convolute everything. Does DC really need an "Ultimates" line?

Dial H.

Writer - China Mieville

Artist - Mateus Santoluco

The Premise is that an average guy gets superpowers and his mental state when he gets them. Another one that could go either way.

G.I. Combat.

Writer - J.T. Krul

Artist - Ariel Olivetti

Pass

The Ravagers.

Writer - Howard Mackie

Artist - Ian Churchill

This is a spin off from Superboy and the Teen Titans. Don't we already have 2 teem Meta-Human books? Why do we need a third?

Book Review. Inheritance

Inheritance

By Christopher Paolini

Knopf Publishing

2011

849 Pages

This book is a bit of a mixed bag for me, but before I get into my opinions, here is a bit about the story.

This is Book 4 of the Inheritance Cycle. The first 3 books are Eragon(2002), Eldest(2005) and Brisingr(2008). It follows the adventures of Eragon and his Dragon, Saphira, as they find themselves key elements in a war against the evil Galbatorix. There is a huge supporting cast with more sub-plots than I can count.

If you are a fan of epic storytelling, Dragons, Magic, and a great coming of age story, than this 4 book series is for you.

I think that the pictures that Mr. Paolini pains with his words are just fantastic. The Dragons are described in such detail that you fall in love with the creatures before the end of the first

half of the first book.

He also has a very interesting take on the relationships that would take place for a human and a Dragon to have to make a team.

I felt that parts of this book were so exciting that I refused to put it down. There were also parts of this book that just dragged on and on and did nothing to move the story forward. This book comes in at 849 pages but I feel like it could have easily have lost about 200-250 pages comfortably.

My largest complaint is that the main story climaxed, and then the author decided to put in another 100 pages of wrap up so that there would be no more books in the series.

The story may be done as far as Eragon and Saphira, but Mr. Paolini definitely seemed to leave a huge back door open to create more in the universe that he has created.......And I would love

to see this happen. I am a huge fan of this series and I would love to see more of it.

Although this was not the strongest book in the series, It was still far above most fantasy books that I have read.

I would love to see the rumored Graphic novel show up this year. Unfortunately, the movie that was made in 2006 was a disaster and made it impossible to continue the whole cycle without completely rebooting the entire film franchise and pretending the first movie never happened (I wish)

My Final Grade for this book............. A-

My Grade on the whole series.............A+

Comic Reviews for January 11, 2012

So this is week two on having to wait on my books. So here is the plan. On books that I just can't seem to wait to read, I will be keeping them on my pull list and picking them up at my LCS on Wednesdays. On books I like, but do not really love, or are more expensive, I will be shipping them from www.DCBService.com on their once a month shipping plan (cause it is the cheapest) It is great, if you are not like me and constantly looking forward to Wednesday.

As far as my pick of the week, this has been one of the hardest choices that I have had. Almost everything that I have read was a new to me series. And everything was absolutely fantastic. I will be splitting the honors and dividing it between Whispers #1 and Avengelyne #6. All of these books were great though and you would be happy with all of them. ... I can't wait to read the ones I missed when they come in on Monday.

MARVEL COMICS

The Amazing Spiderman #677

Team

Writer - Mark Waid

Art - Emma Rios

Colorist - Javier Rodriguez

LOST CAT

Well this was a very pleasant surprise to me. Not really a big Spidey fan but I did start picking up the Avenging Spiderman a few issues back. Because I am getting so few issues from my LCS (Oasis Comics in Las Vegas) because of this months experiment with DCBService.com(more on that from my opening notes), I decided to pick this one up because of the tie-in with the next issue of DareDevil.

I actually enjoyed this issue enough to add it to one of my pull lists. I enjoy seeing Spidey team up with DareDevil. It is really usually a EMO contest of who can life crap on the most and still keep a smile on your face.

Issue starts with a heartbroken and pathetically horny Peter Parker and ends with a search trying to clear Black Cat from stealing a very important piece of Smart phone technology.

Wait, Spiderman isn't a reporter anymore? What happened? As I say, I have not been into Spiderman for quite some time.

I really enjoyed the art. It doesn't have the clean lines that I usually favor, but it worked well with the story. I have a minor complaint that they made Peters eyes way too small when he is wearing his costume

Grade

Story - A

Art - B+

Scarlet Spider #1

Team

Writer - Christopher Yost

Art - Ryan Stegman

Colorist - Marte Gracia

LIFE AFTER DEATH

I have been seeing adds for the last few months about this book, and I am a sucker for getting in on a new character or #1 so I decided to pick it up.

With a typically convoluted Marvel history, they were kind enough to give you a diagram about how this character, Kaine, came into being.

This is a great story so far. In fact, this will probably be my second favorite character in the Marvel universe. This was a great execution.

Kaine, The Scarlet Spider, is a cross between Spidey and the Punisher. I just wish they had left him with the long hair and beard he had in the beginning of the book. It was a much cooler look IMHO.

This will most likely end up being my Spiderman Book.

Grade

Story - A++

Art - A

VERTIGO

Northlanders #47

The Icelandic Trilogy

Team

Writer - Brian Wood

Art - Declan Shalvey

Colorist - Dave McCaig

PART 6: COMMERCE 1000

So I bought this book in a trade paperback a while back and I loved it. However, I think that these books were made to be read in trade form.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this book, but much the same as A Game of Thrones, I don't want to read this broken up. It is the same fantastic storytelling as what I read earlier, however this will be the last single issue that I will end up buying. I will continue to slowly collect all the back issues in Trade, and will eventually catch up and have the whole series.

Grade

Story - A

Art - B+

IMAGE COMICS

Whispers #1

Team

Writer - Joshua Luna

Art - Joshua Luna

Wow, Another great surprise this week. I love the premise of this story. I think this one could go far.

Basically its about a guy, that when he falls asleep into a dream world, he can leave his body and go to see anyone that he knows. When he gets there, not only can he read their thoughts, but he can introduce anything he says into their subconscious so that he can influence any of their decisions.

The art is fantastic.

I hope this one gets a very long run

Grade

Story - A+

Art - A+

Avengelyne #6

Team

Writer -Mark Poulton

Art - Owen Gieni

Colorist - Dexter Weeks

THE HAND OF GOD PART 3 OF 3

There is only one thing that I don't like about this book..It is always over way to soon. Everything about this book is just great.

This issue we get closure to the creepy serial killer named Torment from the first few issues. A .45 exploding your brains all over the room is pretty closed as far as I can tell.

Father Micheal is even more over the edge.

If you are not reading this comic, you should be

Grade

Story - A+

Art - A+

The upcoming year

So 2011 as a year may not go down as the greatest year in history, or even a year that people in general even want to remember. However, there were a few really good things that came out in my geek universe.

In the comic world, there were a few great moments. We had the complete DC Comics reboot in the for of the new 52. It has been a major success that far exceeded most peoples expectations. In the Marvel universe, there have been huge changes in the X-men Universe, as well as a huge push toward the Avengers movie next year. The Ultimates Universe has had some great changes wit the death of Peter Parker and a new multi-

ethnic Spiderman.

Movies we saw some good, and some disappointments for the geek world. Thor, Xmen first class, Captain America and Green Lantern were all released and had many geeks going to

midnight showings in IMAX and 3D.

A few books came out towards the end of the the year, most notably for me there was Inheritance by Chris Paolini, which was the fourth and final book in the Eragon series and the fourth book of the Wicked series, Out of Oz by Gregory MaGuire quietly was released.

Enough about last year. This blog is about some of what I am looking forward to this year.

Let's start with movies.

The Dark Knight Rises. If there is a lesson on how to do a fantastic

trilogy of a comic movie, this would be a great study. The Dark Knight has been very dark and it has really fit the Batman character. Because the director, Christopher Nolan, has been very clear that this is the end of his run with Batman at this movie, we can really see how far he can take the franchise. Because the villain that Batman will be fighting is Bane, I would really like to see not a happy ending. As most comic fans know, Bane did more damage to Bruce Wayne than anyone in history, going so far as breaking his back, which would be a logical place for the movie to end.

The Hobbit. Another geek heaven movie. After the huge success of Lord Of The Rings, it is

great to see Peter Jackson return to give this prequel all of the magic that it deserves.

The Avengers. Unless you have been living under a rock for the last 5 years, you would have seen the slow build up that has been orchestrated by Marvel Studios to set this movie up. My only thing that I am disappointed with this movie before I have seen it would probably be the fact the Edward Norton will not be returning to reprise his role as Bruce Banner/The incredible Hulk.

Men in Black III. So I like this franchise. I hope they don't screw it up

Amazing Spiderman. While I do agree that this franchise needed a reboot after the horrific Spiderman 3, I don't know how much that I really want to see yet another origin story of Peter Parker being bit by a spider and losing poor old Uncle Ben. Other than that, it does look good and the trailer in 3d looked really cool

Ghost Rider, Spirit of Vengeance. Still hate the idea of Nick Cage in

this movie, but I love to see Ghost Rider. It does look like a vast improvement over the last film, which I do think was a lot better than most gave it credit for.

In comics

I think that DC will continue to make the most noise with their new 52 this year. I also think

that we will see huge sales for the upcoming mini- series collections of Watchmen prequels. I really am hoping that these books are beyond incredible. The writers will have ENORMOUS shoes to fill. If they do it well, it will be another multi-million dollar undertaking by DC.

I have heard rumors that someone may be doing a Graphic novel adaptation of the Wicked Series by Gregory MaGuire. I would love to see these on the book shelves.

My Predictions.

With the release of the now more affordable tablets on the market, I think that the comic industry will be pushing more and more on Digital Comics. I think that by the end of the year, all digital comics will be at least a dollar cheaper than the floppy copies. I would also venture to say that they will be giving a digital copy away with more than half of the comics sold.

I think Marvel will be pulling a panic switch soon if DC keeps selling so many more copies than they are. I don't know that they will also try to do a huge reboot, but I do think they will be trying several very unconventional market strategies.

I think that Image, IDW and Dark Horse will be putting out a lot more books and will be attempting to really start to compete with the big 2

Comic Reviews for January 4, 2012

This is a very small week for me. I am trying out DCBService out this month so I am waiting for most of my main titles. Unfortunately it will only ship 2 x a month so I am stuck waiting. Yeah, not a fan at all. I don't know if the money I am saving is worth it.

Anyways, pick of the week goes to Fatale. Just pick it up

DC Comics

Batman Detective Comics #5

Team

Writer - Tony Salvadore Daniel

Artist - Tony Salvadore Daniel

Colorist - Tomeu Morey

WHEEL OF MISFORTUNE

It was a very good, although way to short of read this book.

Interesting other sided look at OWS protesters. I would have never really thought that I would ever see people protesting FOR the Joker.

This book is setting up clues for future issues, the way a Detective comic should I suppose. Its a seemingly small mystery that will grow into a huge one as time goes by.

I don't really know why the Penguin seems a bit interesting to me this story. I usually only have a slightly passing interest in him at all, because he is always boring to me....With the exception of his appearance in the last few issues of the Secret Six.

As I said earlier, this was an abbreviated issue with only about 75% being the Batman story. The remaining 25% was a odd little story with Catwoman. I am not a big fan of the comic companies doing this...but at least it didn't cost me a buck extra for it

Grade

Story - B(would have been an A had it been full length)

Art - B

ZENESCOPE

The Theatre #4

Team

Writer - Raven Gregory

Artist - Robert Gill/ Novo Malgado

Colorist - Michael Garcia

DOWN THE STREET

To start, this was the creepiest cover in the world. The more you look at it, the more twisted you realise it is. The creepy smile on the guy holding the tea cup while just resting the knife out in the open. SHUDDER!

First for the mini story in the front and end......kinda predictable but still the right amount of ick factor.

The main story was actually pretty well done with the usual twist at the end that always happens in this title.

It is fun but I am considering jumping off this title soon. Nothing new really seems to happen and I know the formula for the storytelling at this point. Ill see what happens with the next issue

Grade

Story - B

Art - A

MARVEL COMICS

Wolverine and the X-Men

Alpha and Omega #1 (of 5)

Team

Writer -Brian Wood

Artist - Roland Boschi/Dan Brown

This book is way, way, way better than I initially expected.

I am not very familiar with what is going on in the X Universe, but I have heard enough that I was able to follow what is going on in this story with no trouble.

This character, Quintin Quire is a full blown Douche bag. He is one of those characters that people will love to hate, so I am sure he will be around for a very long time.

Grade

Story - A

Art -A

AVATAR PRESS

Ferals #1

Team

Writer - David Lapham

Artist - Gabriel Andrade

Colorist - Digikore Studios

I honestly do not know what I was expecting when I originally opened of this book, but I do know that what I saw wasn't it.

This is a Werewolf book that has so much blood and gore inside of it that I honestly am looking to see if the book is dripping a red liquid substance.

I actually really liked the book, once I got over the initial shock of it all. I will be buying the next few issues at least, but honestly, I am not really sure how long this can stay interesting. I am sure the writers have some plans coming up to take us on a fantastically gory and disgusting trip.

Grade

Story - B

Art -A

IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT

Fatale #1

Team

Writer - Ed Brubaker

Artist - Sean Phillips

Colorist - Dave Stewart

BOOK ONE -

DEATH CHASES ME

I am sure that everyone on the Internet is buzzing about this book, and it is fantastic. I just heard about it this week and am so glad that I found it.

This is in a similar vein of the Incognito books(also written by Brubaker/Phillips). I always buy those in trade form but I think I will be sticking with these in the monthly form.

The art in this is absolutely great. Its moody and dark, but not pretentious.

Grade

Story - A+

Art -A

Comic Reviews for December 28, 2011

Sorry this is a day late, but with some issues with UPS, I couldn't get all of my pull list until today.

This weeks books were bought at Comic Oasis in Las Vegas

This weeks Pick of the week is a new title called Extinction Seed #1 by GG Studio. Its a very different kind of book but it is so worth taking a look at

DARK HORSE COMICS

The Guild - Zaboo One-Shot

Team

Writers- Felicia Day/Sandeep Parikh

Artist - Becky Cloonan

Colorist - Michelle Madsen

I have read a few of the Guild related books in the past. They would be a guilt pleasure to say the least. I got hooked on the show on Netflix instant streaming last year. Do yourself a favor and watch it if you have not yet seen it. It is a hilarious window into some geek subsets.

Anyways, back to the book. This takes place right before the first episode of the show. It is when Zaboo gets the wild hair up his ass to go meet Codex in real life.

It almost feels like Mad magazine a bit. It is just really a lot of fun.

If you are already into the show, this is definitely recommended to the highest degree. However, if you are a newbie to the Guild universe and you have never heard of the Knights of Good, you nay want to skip this one

The art is fun. In the same ball park as an Archie comic. Lots of humor inside of the art if you just look.

Grade

Story - B

Art - B

GG STUDIO

Extinction Seed #1

Team

Writer - Davide Aicardi

Artist - Livia Pastore

Colorist - Alessia Nocera

This is a comic i decided to pick up on a recommendation from my comic store, based solely on the art. He had read issue #0 (which I will now need to pick up) and he liked it a lot.

This all takes place in the early 1960's, but it still feels modern. It is not trying so hard to be a period piece that it is distracting at all. Other than some dates and a Beatles reference, it doesn't even really matter, although the time period is important to the story.. I hope I have not thoroughly confused you all.

This comic is very very French. The story telling feels very different from American storytelling. It will probably take a read through to get the proper feel for it and just get used to it. Although now I am beginning to love this. This will very quickly be moving up my stack.

The art is a very interesting blend of some CG, non-obnoxious Manga and current Vampirella. It is very beautiful.

I feel like I would definitely like to find more books in this vein. I would highly recommend it. It is not a quick read at all. Take your time with this one

Grade

Story - A

Art - A++

MARVEL COMICS

Deadpool #48

Writer - Daniel Way

Artist - Salva Espin

Colorist -Guru EFX

EVIL DEADPOOL PART 4:

JUST ME BABY

Not my favorite issue but still not too bad. I really like Interpol Bitch(yes, that is the only name that she chose to introduce herself as). Its what would happen if Steven Hawkings was an attractive woman, and a cop, and wasn't a super genius...Ok, maybe not a great comparison, but she is in a wheel chair and talks through a computer.

I like Captain America in his own title and in the Avengers a lot, however all of these guest appearances make him seem like a Douche of Jersey Shore proportions.

It is funny but some of the things that I love about Deadpool, I hate about Evil Deadpool. His laziness mixed with his vindictiveness makes him so much worse.

I think this is a very interesting psychology paper written between the lines in this story arc. Here we have two people that are virtually identical. Same DNA, same powers, same limitations, however, one subject is so much more evil than the other one. Evil Deadpool has no history per se. His entire existence is who Deadpool truly is. Regular Deadpool has become who he is based on his experiences which basically goes to show that morality is conditioned, not in born. I found it interesting anyways.

Grade

Story - B-

Art -B+

Captain America #5

Writer - Ed Brubaker

Artist - Steve McNiven

Colorist - Justin Ponsor

AMERICAN DREAMERS PART 5

Really big improvement on the last few issues. It seems to be better on so many levels. The art feels much better and everything feels much more thought out and entertaining

We had a bit more of the back and fort in an alternate reality but it felt very well executed.

I don't know that I love the way they are shaking the very foundation of Captain Americas belief system. It feels a bit.......uncomfortable.

This is the end of this arc which is probably why there are two Captain America books out this week

Grade

Story - B

Art - A-

Captain America #6

Writer -Ed Brubaker

Artist -Alan Davis

Colorist -Laura Martin

POWERLESS PART 1

WTF? So Steve keeps having nightmares that the Super Soldier serum is reverting him back to his former self...And now his nightmares are coming true.

This is a great take on Captain America. I am sure that this will not be a permanent condition but I am wondering how far Brubaker will travel down this road.

Although I really liked this book and am fully on board through the next story arc, it really doesn't feel like too much is happening. It is very much the opposite of what DC seems to be trying to do in their universe

Grade

Story - B+

Art - A

ICON PUBLISHING

Kick-Ass 2 #6(of 7)

Team

Writer - Mark Millar

Artist - John Romita Jr.

Colorist - Dan Brown

This is almost always my pick of the week but the only thing holding back this week is the art. It is still really well done, its just not quite as good as it has been.

The story is moving along very nicely with the conclusion coming next week. There is so much that happens to this kid that it is almost physically exhaustion to read this book.

We are all set up for the grand finally next issue with the showdown between Kick-Ass and the former Red Mist, Mother Fu**er. I just don't know if they will give us a happy ending or not. It could go either way.

Grade

Story - A+

Artist - B

DC COMICS

All-Star Western #4

Writer - Justin Gray/Jimmy Palmiotti

Artist - Moritat/ Phil Winslade

Colorist - Gabriel Bautista/Dominic Regan

IN THE DARK UNDERBELLY OF GOTHAM/

THE BARBARY GHOST PART 1

Ill be breaking this into 2 different sections because this is, once again, 2 different stories.

The Jonah Hex story is once again a great story that is a little bit more Punisher then John Wayne.

Still not a fan of the art but the story is so damn compelling.

This is the begining of a new arc. If you remember last issue, Jonah was about to leave Gotham to search to bigger bounties. He was made an offer he couldn't refuse to find a wealthy mans missing son.

He is stumbling upon a whole circuit of stolen children in some kind of labor camp.

For the next story, I am very glad that they finished up the less than entertaining wanna be Zorro story.

So far it is a very abbreviated story about a Chinese girl in old west San Fransico that is doing the Batman thing with some sort of supernatural abilities.

While I don't love this story, it is leaps and bounds ahead of the last POS secondary story that was being run

Grade

Story -A/C+

Art -C/C

Justice League Dark #4

Writer - Peter Milligan

Artist - Mikel Janin

Colorist -Ulises Arreola

BY THE LIGHT OF THE MOONE

Another great Justice League Dark issue that makes you Question your own sanity if your relate too much with any of the characters.

The art is stunning and really brings the characters to life.

My favorite moment in the comic was a quick homage to the Watchmen when Constantine has broken into Dawns apartment to talk to Deadman and is sitting there eating cold beans out of a can.

It seems like this issue is at the height of the arc and next issue should be the ever important climax. This is a fun book but it is very far away from a quick, light read. You really do need to pay attention and keep re-reading to really get it. I don't know how well this title is doing in sales but it does worry me, because I feel like it may get bumped for something else because I don't know how many people really can get into a title like this. Yes, it is more of a Vertigo title than DC and I kind of wish that was how it was kept.

Grade

Story - A-

Art -A+

Green Lantern New Guardians #4

Writer - Tony Bedard

Artist - Tyler Kirkham

Colorist - Nei Ruffino

THE RING THIEF REVEALED!

Wow, its another really great issue that has built on the previous issues a lot.

It looks like they will not yet tell us why exactly the rings chose Kyle Rayner in the first place, but it is definitly teased. It seems that Ganthet knows the awnsers but because of his new found exorsisim of his emotions, he wont be just giving the awnsers because he likes Kyle and belives in him.

Sayd returns to Oa for the first time since the ending of Blackest Night when she agreed to go with Larfleeze. It does seem that she is the Mastermind to everything that is going on....and hopefully an eventual change of heart for Ganthet eventually.

On a timeline scale, this is happening sometime before the current events of the Red Lantern book because Bleez does not yet have her cognitive thoughts. Its a pity because St. Walker could have saved her the pain of the Blood Ocean.

Grade

Story - A+(but only if you have read all 3 of the previous books)

Art - A

Teen Titans #4

Writer - Scott Lobdell

Artist - Brett Booth

Colorist - Andrew Dalhouse

DANGER SQUARED

Awesome. We finally get to see the whole team together...Sort of. All of the teen titans will be taking on Superboy, which is what everything has been setting up for the whole run so far.

We see that Bart and Tim(Kid Flash and Red Robin) will be picking eachother apart on a constant basis. Cassie(powergirl) is in and has even followed a bad lead to try to help Red Robin in New Yorks Time Square.

Celene is a character that I don't know if I will end up liking or not. She seems way too EMO.

Solstice seems like she will be a very likable character. Miguel seems like they are trying to make a fan favorite. I just hope they don't push too much harder.

Grade

Story - A-

Art - A

Aquaman #4

Team

Writer - Geoff Johns

Artist - Ivan Reis

Colorist - Rod Reis

THE TRENCH CONCLUDED

So this was the wrong issue to start out at. This was the conclusion of the first arc. Next issue is starting the new arc, and based just on the art work, I will be buying it through the next arc to give it a chance.

It is npo secret that I have never been an Aquaman fan at all, however, I like to see where Geoff Johns is taking him. It is a completly different feel and if I can get past my preconcived notions about the guy that talks to fish, I think I may be able to get into this book.

The art is so good in this book...Every bit as good as the Justice League stuff. I could possibly go through this book and not read it all and just look at the art and have a good idea of the story. Very good job at telling a story through art.

I didn't love this book, mostly because of where I stepped into it but I see enough there that I will enjoy exploring it for a possible very long time

Grade

Story - C+

Art - A++

DYNAMITE PUBLISHING

A Game Of Thrones #4

Writer -George R. R. Martin

Artist -Tommy Patterson

Colorist -Ivan Nunes

I keep trying to jump off this book and wait for the trades...I really do. I know it will read better. But damnit, I am hooked. It is crack.

The art is again as stellar as I belive could be possible. Just a thing of beauty that should be framed.

The story is beging to feel more and more interesting to me. The exposition can get a little too much in places but all in all it is a good pace for the kind of book that it is.

The violence is so well executed that you can almst feel what is happening at the time.

Grade

Story - B-

Art -A++