Green Lantern: New Guardians #36 Review

We’ve all been in a situation where we had to put our trust in someone we don’t even know. Most of the time (at least in my experience) everything turns out okay and no harm done. However because life loves to throw the occasional breaking ball, just when you think said individual has your best interest that’s when it all goes to hell in a hand basket. Given the cover for this issue it appears that Kyle may have made a mistake by going with High Father. Let’s see if that is actually the case with the latest chapter of Godhead.


If I could sum up this issue in one word it would sadly be elementary. The outcome of the issue is exactly what one would expect given the nature of how this crossover has been it almost takes the dramatic element during the scenes between Kyle, Carol, and High Father. I will admit that I kept getting Superman II vibes during this scene due to Kyle wanting to be rid of the Life Equation (not the ring itself) to protect Carol. It’s not an exact remake of the scene but the sentiments ring through, especially once Kyle is ultimately left ringless.

What is interesting about this issue is High Father’s characterization in this issue itself. In previous chapters he’s been shown as a leader who is operating on a macro level. His methods may be harsh but it’s for the greater good so it justifies the means. The High Father in this issue steps over the line into villain. Even Diogenes Neves rendered fantastic maniac expressionin for High Father for several panels. It’s not a surprise that this is the route they’ve put High Father on but it just feels to sudden.
Sure you could argue that the descent was there from the first chapter and I’ll agree it just feels like it was two sudden for him to seem power hungry. Not knowing how High Father was a character prior to this is possibly why I’m giving a pass on this, either way it still feels to soon.

I am happy to report that Carol and Kyle’s dynamic is still just as wonderful as previous issues, to bad they only get the last few pages of the issue to shine the two continue to develop their relationship in the most elegant of ways. At least as elegant you can by while being stuck in another dimension.
Diogenes Neves returns once again for penciling duties but something about his art simply looked off and it took me a while to realize it was him. The characters faces in some panels just looked either stretched out or if they were hoarding food for winter. Sadly his New Genesis splash was lacking in spectacle, considering that this is the first time the DCU is seeing it in this continuity. It’s not Neves’s strength, he does tell a solid story from panel to panel and his best panels were the one’s focused on High Father himself, more so the final one near the end of the chapter.

New Guardians #36 pretty much steered the course with an occasional bump in the road. The plot for Godhead moves along fine and it leaves Carol and Kyle in an interesting place in whatever issue they show up next during this crossover.

Get full review from Green Lantern Corps here

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Justice League #36 Review

I have to admit, I’ve been rather excited about this arc, with the concept of Amazo’s powers manifested in a virus having me well and truly intrigued. The resulting narrative proves to be just as enticing as I’d hoped, as though there are a lot of grey areas that need touched upon, the story is still in early days. In saying that, the background narrative, and interaction between the likes of Superman and Batman, and Luthor and Wonder Woman was extremely gripping.

Geoff Johns will always be one of the best writers at DC, as though the likes of Scott Snyder and Jeff Lemire have given him a run for his money, the Chief Creative Officer hasn’t missed a step. The way that he builds suspense in this opening chapter is simply amazing, with the transition between sequences allowing for an exciting flow. Johns also builds tension between characters, with the mystery behind the Patient Zero being tantalising to say the least.

Jason Fabok has established himself as one of the best Batman artists in recent history, and now he’s transitioning these skills into Justice League. The result is something that makes his Batman work look average. I’m not sure whether it was the varied supes, or the fact that his pencils are contrasted by light for a change, but there is certainly something that adds that extra spark. Regardless, Fabok does an amazing job of the Leaguers, with Superman, and especially Wonder Woman looking awesome. Brad Anderson also delivers sleek colours, with the highlights, and boldness of his palette irradiating quality.

Justice League may have finally found the arc that will change its fortunes, with the suspense and character tension setting wonderful atmosphere. There’s also plenty of mystery, and wonderful background, making this issue easy to recommend.

Get the full review from Unleash The Fanboy here

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Batman And Robin #36 Review

Peter Tomasi has taken Batman, and by extension the audience, on a rollercoaster ride of action, emotion, allies, and more. Robin Rises continues to feel very much like a grand crescendo to all of the events that have proceeded since the tragic events of Batman Incorporated. The newest issue is full of vicious action and exciting moments that no Bat-fan should miss, and it features a conclusion that some fans have been waiting for since the end of issue #6 of Justice League.

Justice League? You’ll see when you get the final page of this brawler of an issue. Batman takes absolutely no prisoner here, and his Hellbat suit continues to get an extreme workout. Batman has used a surprising amount of armored suits in the New 52, and while his new suit effectively turns Batman into a “superman,” Tomasi smartly focuses on the terrible toll that it’s taking on Bruce’s body. This adds a great deal of tension to the battle sequences beyond the incredibly fun action scenes themselves. Batman’s allies, team Robin, also get a lot of milage this issue. Along with Titus and Cyborg, the team manage to kick a little butt themselves and keep the team-up aspect of this book alive and well. There really isn’t much more to this issue other than a series of lively action sequences, and while it is a bummer that we don’t really get too much in terms of character development, Tomasi does give the characters the chance for some humorous interactions towards the end.

Patrick Gleason continues to provide some stunning artwork while being tasked with some pretty extreme scenes to portray. His action is a breeze to follow, and considering the scale of everything going on currently, that is truly an impressive feat. That said, there are a few instances where character faces look a bit rough, but it proves to be only a minor distraction.

Get full review from IGN here

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Batman Eternal #33 Review

Batman Eternal is having a really good run as of late. The book is at its best when it’s less cluttered and less pressured to tie multiple plotlines together. Lately, all of the character development in previous issues (some of which I was convinced was going absolutely NOWHERE) is really paying off for a couple of key players.

Well, when we last left our hero, Hush had just slipped past Batman and revealed the next step in his grand plan to level Gotham: blowing it up using Batman’s secret bunkers filled with explosives. Because Batman wouldn’t be Batman if he didn’t have The Most Horrible Thing Imaginable ready to go just in case of The Most Horrible Thing Imaginable. It occurs to me that for a guy that always seems to have a plan for every occasion, he NEVER seems to have a plan for someone coming along and stealing his plans. You never really have to have a plan for beating Batman. You can just use one of his. It’s not like he’ll see it coming. Anyway, now, Batman and Julia Pennyworth have teamed up to try and beat Hush to the punch and neutralize the bunkers before Hush can blow Gotham all to Hell. Kyle Higgins is quarterbacking the scripting on this issue and does a really good job of balancing action and exposition.

Having a smaller cast to deal with this time around helps him really flesh out characters and make some that haven’t gotten their due feel a bit more fleshed out. Jason Fabok’s visuals have definitely stepped up a notch from last week. He seems to be improving each week. The action beats feel twice as crisp, the facial expressions feel even more definitive than before. This, mixed with the improvement in script pacing, makes this chapter in the series one of the best yet.

Get full review from Black Nerd Problems

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Batman Superman #16 Review

Batman/Superman “The Nemesis Objective” has mind wiped itself of all the mind wipe hullabaloo that came before. We have a brand new arc that is a good jumping on spot for new readers, much like Justice League this month. Also, like Justice League, there is a new artist on board and I’m very excited about it. For all the newness in the title, Greg Pak is still at the helm and guiding this ship. While I don’t think this issue exemplified his finest writing moments, I’m certainly willing to follow especially if we can keep our new artist Ardian Syaf along.

The issue opens up with a set-up for something I found very momentous. What I’m talking about is the guys who dressed up as Batman and Superman to entertain those little kids in the hospital. I won’t ruin it, but it’s sad and that’s an emotion I rarely honestly have while reading comics. (Certainly most of us have been desensitized to the death of Martha and Thomas Wayne. Even though I know it’s sad, I don’t always feel it.) Superman, Supergirl, Steel and Krypto are saving some orca whales when suddenly something terrible happens.

Of course, Superman dons his glasses to do some investigative reporting. But as we all know, this is Batman/Superman and Clark just isn’t smart enough to figure things out on his own, so he goes to see the world’s greatest detective, Benedict Cumberbatch… I mean, Batman. After some moments at the hospital, they return to the Batcave where I believe some of the worst dialogue takes place.
Up until the cave I felt very strongly about this issue. It had heart, looked great, and was interesting. We get to the Batcave and Bruce just starts talking very strange. I’m not opposed to the root of what is said, but it’s presented to us -the readers- as it might have been presented to the editors at DC.

“Here’s an idea guys, what if Superman had to face a villain similar to one of Batman’s? What if, somehow, Bruce could use his intimate psychoanalysis of a certain nemesis that would come in handy when Superman has to deal with the same type of threat?” I felt like it was another case of telling us what was going on than showing us. The set-up with the volunteers was great to show a particular point: the villain is cruel and that guy was truly a hero. But there should have been hints at this too that would help the reader accept it and feel those tiny pieces of information fall into place. Instead, we get an opening transcript from Lois Lane about people feeling better. I’m all about what is revealed, but the process and way it was presented was lacking. That disappoints because I felt it had/has potential.


But not all the dialogue and flow of the story is off. There are sincere moments between Bruce and Clark that are written well. There is an element of danger that feels honest and not contrived. One page in particular really shows the potential for danger that is headed Superman’s way. I really want to see the next issue, so that is a plus for sure.

Recommended if:

• You want to see a Batman/Superman issue with good artwork again.
• You think there’s nothing better than the dualities between Batman and Superman.
• You’re looking to start this series. It’s a great place to pick it up.

Overall:
I am thrilled to see Syaf’s artwork. I like the overall direction this arc looks like it’s taking us. I feel like the last quarter of the book had more potential than was recognized, at least in the writing department, though the rest of the book made up for it. It’s a good first chapter in a new story arc. I’d recommend it.

Get full review from Batman News here

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Worlds' Finest #28 Review

In Worlds’ Finest #28 we see that Wonder Woman has been sent to the world of man to protect the young Bruce and Clark from evil forces that might kill them before they become the heroes we all know.

Like the last issue we get to see more of what Earth 2 was like back before the first Apokolips war. While the last issue focused more on Superman, this issue gave more time to the rest of the cast. We learn quickly learn that the Batman scenes are starting to make sense with each issue along with that we haven’t seen the last of the villain Intri. I think what really sold me on this issue was Wonder Woman herself. She didn’t get much backstory in the Earth 2 universe other then her death and the reveal of her daughter Fury. So it was nice to see what she was like back then and how she became a super hero of that particular universe.

After reading Worlds’ Finest #28 I have to say that Levitz really knows how to write Wonder Woman. It’s one of those times were after reading one issue that I’m invested in her character and want to see more of her stories.  It shows that it’s more than just a Superman and Batman story and that I want to see more characters in the next issues of Worlds’ Finest to come if they’re going to be well written as her.

The villain of this little story arc is called Intri. Intri is a  being from Apokolips who is tasked to bring Superman for her master. It looks like she’s not going to give up after one issue of Worlds’ Finest. The way she tries to interfere in Clark’s life is interesting to see how her actions lead to Superman becoming a hero. She’s one of the few new characters in New 52 to be apart of the New Gods. Unlike Kayo (another New God) Intri’s design makes it look like she could have been designed by Jack Kirby.

I highly recommend Worlds’ Finest #28 for fans of Earth 2 or just looking a comic where Wonder Woman is a bad ass. You can enjoy this if you just jumped into the series at this point because there really isn’t any backstory to cover that Worlds’ Finest #28 hasn’t already done to keep readers ahead. The secret history of Earth 2 is getting very interesting and can’t be missed.

Get full review from Geeked Out Nation here

The New 52: Futures End #28

Lois is leaping! Faraday and Fifty Sue are featured! Batman beats Batman! Madison is missing! These are all alliterated sentences that are both true and over-hyped. Yes, over-hyped. You see that cover above these words? Do you know where my level of Futures End excitement was at when I laid eyes on it? Up to here (I’m pointing at my forehead…this is really high). The reason why the excitement rose so much was because, as my grandparents would say, there’s no “hem hawing” around about it: Bruce and Terry are here to do business. But now I’ve read it. And while this issue is not the worst piece of mass produced art I’ve ever held, it’s certainly far from the best.

Cadmus Island — Lois took her “leap of faith” last issue. This issue: she lands. As we all knew would happen, she landed on Cadmus. She is confronted by an OMAC that she runs away from rather easily. As she’s running away from the second OMAC, she stumbles upon something she recognizes again rather easily: herself as Earth 2’s Red Tornado. It may be one of the more simpler sections but this is one of the better sections artistically in this issue. Andy MacDonald’s artwork throughout this issue, while not un-followable, is meager at best. It is understandable that characters will look different when illustrated by different artists, but “different” doesn’t seem like the case here. Fifty Sue has the face of a forty-year old, Faraday looks to be a teenager who’s been mauled by a dog, the fight and flight scenes we see later feel disjointed, and much of the panel layouts seem very rushed. We get a sense of where the story is headed, but did I enjoy watching it unfold? Not really. The best scene we get to see (and I’m not being too biased here) is that Ryan Sook cover with Bruce and Terry. Good golly that’s a ballin’ cover.*

Las Vegas — This is the first scene in this entire series that features Faraday and the Voodoo bunch that actually makes sense –at least on the first pass. Faraday and Rock are discussing Brother Eye. Rock has a hard time understanding everything and for our benefit he throws questions at Faraday. What gets rehashed and discussed? Fifty Sue has the power of a god. Banger and Mash are still a thing. Everyone did stuff in the war that they regret. There are ten super villains to every living super hero. Faraday had a major hand in creating Fifty Sue while he was looking for a cure for super powers. Rehash and discuss. Oh and yeah, in walks Fifty Sue out of no where to rag on Slade. Her comparison of herself and Slade with Batman and Robin only says to me that there will be some sort of story line in the future where Batman and Robin prove their devotedness to one another. Seems like theme-seed planting to me. Regardless, Fifty Sue wants a team to go and take back Cadmus and kill Deathstroke. Thank goodness Rock just assembled a weirdo team a few issues back!

New York City — We pick up after Bruce and Terry’s initial meeting when Plastique rolled one of her bombs in the room on them. Tim’s apartment above the Wounded Duck is on fire and Terry escapes out of the window with Bruce Bats in tow. The whole scene looks goofy. I mean, I get it and all, but it looks like a missed opportunity visually. The writers gave ample opportunity to show some smart action here and what we get just comes up short in my opinion. Very little dialogue allowed the space and the subject provided content. Too bad. The only thing we have here is Terry escaping with Plastique.
Elsewhere in New York — Tim (as Cal) approaches Ronnie for help finding Madison. Ronnie is cool about it and tells him to ask Jason. Tim goes to find Jason with Ronnie behind him volunteering to help find her too.

Else-Elsewhere in New York — Jason goes to Dr. Yamazake’s apartment to apologize “about…you know…Firestorm.” Weird. He hears voices behind the door so he does what anyone in that situation would do: bust down the doctor’s door to save him. He unfortunately finds a TV set on a loop repeat of the televised death of Dr. Yamazake’s wife’s death in a burning building. I’ve been saying it and surely you’ve noticed: Dr. Yamazake is cray-cray, bae.** About the time we see his oddity on display, we see him drag Madison into the teleporter device to test it on a human subject. I have severe qualms with this, not even on the level of the flow and story, but of practicality. It’s nonsense really, so into a spoiler tag it goes.

Recommended if:

You don’t mind another fairly uneventful build-up issue to stay abreast of the Futures End situation.
Convergence makes you excited because surely that’s where this series will be headed.
You don’t mind getting your hopes up by that cool cover.

Overall:

I don’t need huge consequences in order to appreciate a comic, nor do I need “blow me away” art. Unfortunately, this issue brings neither to the table. If this comic were food, it would be ice cream that’s sat in a bowl on the kitchen counter for three hours and is now all melted into some aerated warm creamy un-goodness. It wasn’t going to be nutritional, but it could have been fun to eat. This issue wasn’t gonna move mountains but it could have been fun to look at.


Get full review from Batman News here

New Suicide Squad #4 Review

I’m ok with the fact that this is an action book. I think a fast paced, action filled narrative is a smart approach to Suicide Squad. Clearly, you will sacrifice some of the emotional depth that helps ground stories, but if the action is smart and done well, then it will still be entertaining. Unfortunately, here, the action isn’t done well. More than half of the book is of Harley and Black Manta taking out Russian soldiers, and eventually fighting Deathstroke… and all of it looks cheesy. It’s over-the-top, unrealistic, cartoony action. And to be clear, the words “suicide squad” and “cartoony action” should not be in the same sentence. Imagine watching a Batman film where all of the action scenes haven’t been completely choreographed, and are filmed by stuntmen that aren’t trained. That’s what this book looks like! And for a book that relies so heavily on action, that’s a big problem.

I then realized that the action is also why I’ve had so much trouble reviewing the past two issues. Unless I provide a play by play of assault tactics, there’s not really much to talk about. I mean, I could take the time to write out the sequences (probably in a more entertaining fashion than Hunter draws it), but that would defeat the purpose of buying the book. But I don’t want to say that the book itself is bad, because I think it is actually decent. Hunter’s art just destroys what should be the best part of each issue.

The pacing is also a slight problem. Essentially everything that has happened in four issues (over five months), has all taken place within 24 hours in the story. This is going to create a better read once the arc is collected in a trade, and will fix some of my frustrations. But reading an issue each month really kills the momentum. Factor in the Waller/ Sage storyline that is more annoying than interesting, and an average plot with poor characterization, and you find yourself wondering what the difference is between Suicide Squad and New Suicide Squad. That’s never a good sign so early into the creative change.

Recommended if:

You want to see Deathstroke finally do something.
You love reading banter between Deadshot and Deathstroke.
You wonder what it would look like if your nephew drew a comic book.

Overall: I’m not providing a “good” and “bad” section, because most of what is available to call attention to without ruining any plot points in this story are listed above. If you’re looking for an average adventure with “familiar” characters, then go ahead and pick up the issue. I’m warning you though, the art is going to leave you disappointed and craving something better.


Get full review from Batman News here

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Justice League United #6 Review

This issue continues “The Infinitus Saga” from last month’s annual. The story improves now that Jeff Lemire is able to move past the exposition overload of the first chapter and focus more on the elements that work - epic action and memorable character dynamics.

The bonding between Equinox and Ultra stands out as especially strong. It also helps that the divided halves of the story are coming together, helping the series achieve a more cohesive feel finally. Neil Edwards also proves to be a great fit for the book thanks to his detailed, cinematic storytelling. Edwards’ pencils aren’t always as consistent as I’d like, but he shows a great talent for rendering classical superhero action and emotional facial work.

Get full review from IGN here

Green Lantern Corps #36 Review

If the theme of GodHead's first act was establishing the superiority of the New Gods then the second act so far seems to be about making the event more personal.  Last week's Green Lantern #36 built itself around the relationship between Sinestro and Hal Jordan with the former pointing out how the latter has allowed his new role as Corps Leader to change what makes Jordan the greatest Green Lantern.  This week in Green Lantern Corps #36 it gets personal for John Stewart when the New Gods bring the conflict to the Star Sapphires, forcing John to quickly come to terms with recent events between Yrra and himself when duty calls for him to intercede.

While Lady Shadowfall and her troops from New Genesis invade Zamoran the lanterns set up shop on Qward where Sinestro takes the opportunity to throw Hal under the bus for going off to enlist Black Hand into their forces.  Writer Van Jensen uses the scene to good effect, having John provide a suitable response and establishing that this rag-tag group is by no means united and the seeds of distrust could lead to defeat if all involved cannot move past their checkered histories.  Jensen also mines recent Green Lantern history and returns the Weaponer of Qward to the forefront, providing some great character moments for him while using his unique skill set to provide at least a momentary advantage in the coming conflict - weapons fueled by some of the energy of the White Lantern.

Jensen also uses Soranik Natu to great effect, probing beneath the surface of John's psyche a little to elicit an emotional response from Stewart which helps to define how deeply effected he is by what he perceives as manipulation by the Star Sapphires.  It sets up an emotional dilemma for John when it comes time to enter the fray and it flairs up against like and exposed nerve when Lady Shadowfall's tactics call for a rather unique and unexpected strategy.  The dialogue between John and the Zamoran Queen also reveals a glimmer of hope for John when it's revealed that their rings don't create love but rather they enhance a love that already exists.

This leads to the issue's climax, with John becoming the first real male Star Sapphire and Lady Shadowfall revealing that the ring bearers are unknowingly being herded so that they can be reborn as soldiers for Highfather and the New Gods.  That's an interesting plan if it's part of Highfather's strategy although it may undermine a little the view of the leader of New Genesis as a benevolent ruler with the best intentions for the multiverse.

Green Lantern Corps #36 is an entertaining issue, tying the recent events in the series to the GodHead event in order to make this sprawling story a bit more personal.  Van Jensen, Bernard Chang and Marcelo Maiolo create the first male Star Sapphire and return a fan favorite character back to the spotlight.  Despite a few artistic bumps in the road the issue is a visual treat, earning four out of five lanterns.

Get full review from Blog of OA here

Earth 2: World's End #6 Review

Story:

Dr. Fate has the Famine Fury right where he wants her. He casts a reflection curse on her, causing her to waste away and shrivel up like all of her victims. The day seems to have been won, but not so fast — both the Flash and Hawkgirl are starting to waste away as well for some reason. Dr. Fate finds this rather interesting, but leaves them to their fate (no pun intended) when he senses Jimmy Olsen about to come into contact with a Mother Box.

Thoughts:

My same praises and complaints that I usually have for the book still apply here: Good plot points, way too much happening, interesting characters, slow pace and artwork that’s drawn well, but done with so many contrasting styles/artists that it doesn’t mix together well. It’s the same thing as always for this comic and while it’s nice that there’s no dip in quality, the comic still seems to be missing something. I wouldn’t mind seeing something big or shocking to really change things up or conversely… a nice slow down and a focus shift on only a few plot points. (For one issue at least).



Get full review from Adventures In Poor Taste here

Constantine #19 Review

THE POSITIVE
It’s risky in a monthly comic to take the time to set an atmospheric tone. It can leave the issue feeling flat and devoid of content. Ray Fawkes does an admirable job of it though, and gives readers a downer of an issue that still feels complete. This is largely in part to the way Fawkes employs the captions. In this issue, readers are given a good look into John’s head as he traverses Earth-2. This not only helps to compliment the artwork of the issue, but helps to control the pacing of the book for the reader, making sure that the book has an even feel with a lingering sense of despair.

Jeremy Haun’s artwork also does a great job of conveying the horrors, as there are tons of establishing shots of the world around Constantine. Most of the panels that feature John are tightly framed, creating a claustrophobic feeling, while the panels of the exterior of his car tend to focus on some horror in the foreground while the car drives by. This adds to the feeling of slowly going through a hellish landscape.

THE NEGATIVE
While a powerful atmosphere is fantastic to see in a monthly comic, the issue doesn’t add much at all to the development of the arc and is much slower-paced than the previous issue. If the pacing were similar, it’d be easier to determine what type of story this Earth-2 arc is going to become, but right now the story seems unfocused.

This is more an observation than a true criticism, but the cover to Constantine #19 has nothing to do with the contents of the issue inside. Normally I wouldn’t bat an eye, but the cover is so utterly different from the story within, it makes me wonder if it spoils a future plot point in the arc.

THE VERDICT
Constantine #19 is a tricky book to judge. It clearly wants to be a more meditative tale, focusing more on establishing its tone and style than forwarding the plot. And so the contents of the issue itself are strong, delivering a story with a quieter focus. But its overall place in the arc remains to be seen. As of right now, it doesn’t seem to match both the previous issue and where it seems this arc is headed. Still, a good issue is a good issue.


Get full review from DC Comics News here

Batman Eternal #32 Review

Kyle Higgins and Jason Fabok have outdone themselves! This issue is officially in my top three best issues of Batman Eternal thus far, and I couldn’t be more pleased with it. We end up getting a massive number of resolutions to plot lines that were hanging out there and a fantastically explosive setup for the issues to come. While some may have felt that Eternal has been meandering about for a little bit, this story puts it firmly back on course and full steam ahead!

I’m not really sure how Mr. Higgins managed to pull this issue off. Usually when we have so many events occurring, things tend to get overcrowded and rushed. With this story, however, despite the large number of events that occur, I felt like the issue really spent it’s time establishing the scenes and atmosphere. There wasn’t anything superfluous about the included scenes, nor did I find myself wishing for anything more than I was given. Everything flowed well from one scene to another and every piece was necessary to the picture this story was painting. There were times that this felt extremely cinematic in nature. So much, that I could actually hear the kind of score in my head that would usually accompany scenes of these types.

Jason Fabok handles art for this story, and from the composition of his action scenes to the facial expressions and body language of his characters; from being able to highlight the quiet moments as well as the bombastic ones; for generally being all around competent in his ability to tell a story with visuals alone, Fabok shows a real mastery of his craft. His stuff has a similar beauty to it as the work of Jim Lee, but while Lee has a more stylistic comic look, Fabok takes it to a more realistic comic style. I love this shot of Batman standing in front of that fire. I wish that dialogue balloon wasn’t there. In my opinion it is not telling us anything relevant and is intruding in a beautiful panel.

Recommended if…

You want to see an awesome physical confrontation between Batman and Hush.
You find enjoyment in paced character moments that allow you to breathe in the scene.
Having stories show loose ends getting wrapped up is important for you.
You appreciate when scenes are aligned in an order that enhances them.

Overall:

This issue is officially in my top three best issues of Batman Eternal thus far. If you aren’t treating yourself to this issue, I can only assume that it is because you hate yourself, because there is nothing in the issue itself that would warrant you not buying it. This is the kind of comic I wish I could read every week. Action packed, emotional, and expertly paced. I tip my hat to you Higgins and Fabok. You have shown a real mastery of your crafts in this issue.

Get full review from Batman News here

Batman #36 Review

It would have been a reasonable guess to assume that "Batman" #36 is more of Batman fighting the Justice League. Instead, Snyder lets it play out to an appropriate conclusion, before using that entire battle as a launching point for what's next. In other words, it's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, little more than a lure for something bigger and more dangerous. And when you consider that the lure is the entire Justice League contaminated with the Joker's toxin, well you know that Snyder is planning something big.

At the same time, don't think that Snyder is simply brushing off the first big battle of the issue, as Batman tries to take down Superman. Snyder plays off the whole idea of Batman being forever prepared with great effect; Batman's well-armed for such a possibility, even as he realizes that there was one thing that he failed to account for that makes the battle less sure than first assumed. It's fun to see the crazy ideas that Snyder lets Batman dream up here, the ultimate extension of having every resource at your fingertips to come up with larger-than-life weapons for a larger-than-life foe.

What I probably appreciate the most in "Batman" #36 is the long-term planning of this story. Seeds planted much earlier finally come to fruition, and while the clues are in some ways a little obscure to have truly picked up on them, it's still fun to see how Snyder's been waiting for this moment for quite some time. As the issue screeches towards a conclusion and all of the pieces fall into place, Snyder and Capullo have created a genuinely tense closing scene; it feels eerie and awful in a way that the mentally-altered Superman just can't compare. This is the moment where everything has come to a head, and not in a good way for Batman.

The only part of "Batman" #36 that doesn't feel completely on point is the backup feature. It's great to see Graham Nolan drawing a story in Gotham again -- I have fond memories of his "Detective Comics" run back in the '90s -- and his stripped down, cleaner art style is always welcome. James Tynion IV's story never quite comes together for me, though; maybe when the next installment shows up it will feel a bit more focused.

"Batman" #36 is a fun comic, and those who enjoyed the first chapter of "Endgame" will find a lot to like in the second. It's easy to see why DC Comics was trying to keep a lid on the contents of this issue prior to release; it's an excellent comic, and Snyder and Capullo's reveals are best left unspoiled. That said, even if you know what's coming, it's still a strong and well-composed comic. This is more than just surprises lurking in the corner, and that's the sign of strong craft. Wherever "Batman" goes next month, I'll be ready and waiting.

Get full review from Comic Book Resources here

Batgirl #36 Review

This series gets even geekier this issue as Barbara Gordon continues to restart her life.  She’s not in as dire straits as Black Canary, whose every possession was torched.  Dinah has since been crashing with Babs and her less-than-enthusiastic roommate Frankie.  Babs gets even more supporting cast members when she submits her thesis at Burnside College, after her laptop was mysteriously swiped last issue with all of her information on it.  She meets a hot young professor named Jeremy DeGroot, and brother/sister Nadimah and Qadir (Muslims, further diversifying what is already one of the most diverse casts in comics).  Qadir, in particular, works in the robotics lab, so I expect him to be an important resource for Barbara in the future.

But in the main story, Batgirl has a mysterious doppelganger who has been contacting her… and others.  In this case, she must confront two anime obsessed superfans who are terrorizing the campus on stolen “robotic bikes” while recklessly slinging samurai swords.  Batgirl takes quite a beating, due to her lack of a grappling hook (since when?!) and it takes the arrival of campus police to drive the pair off, but something about their departing statement, “Tomorrow cries danger!” triggers a memory in Batgirl.

In the end, Batgirl uses her new info for a rematch with the Jawbreakers, but that only leads to more questions about the mysterious second Batgirl.

It’s extremely rare that a comic book capture actual urban youth culture.  Too often if comes across as forced, dated, clearly ripped off from whatever teen movie the writer last saw or just plain made up.  Cheesy dialogue, painful fashions, over-sexualization… all have plagued comics since the original ‘Teen Titans’ first exclaimed that The Flips were “Ginchy” and “Gear!”  This is one of the first times that young people in a comic come across like actual real urban young people.  Everything from their complete immersion in up-to-the-minute technology to their dialogue and fashions, even the locations they visit make me feel like my college neighborhood.  I expect loads of vegan restaurants and vinyl record stores to factor in at some point.

Obviously, I’m a big fan of the writing, from the intriguing second Batgirl story to the dialogue and character development, but the art is no slouch.  It’s not exactly mainstream, but it’s absolutely gorgeous and works well in both the quieter moments and action sequences.  There are even some nifty visual effects that help deepen the action bits, making them much better than simple straight-forward fight scenes.

I just love this book!  I’m not even sure how DC approved this drastic change.  The past two issues are nothing like those leading up to if after the New 52 relaunch.  I kind of wish this was just how the series had launched.  But I think it’s a change for the better.  This is one I’m sticking with for the foreseeable future.

Get the full review from ScienceFiction.com here

Superman Unchained #9 Review

The scope of the story has been expanding since the series' first issue, and now culminates in near-apocalyptic fashion in Scott Snyder and Jim Lee's "Superman Unchained" #9. Even as the events build and conclude, though, both Snyder and Lee symbolically bring the story back to its beginnings, poetically capping off their run on the title as they bring it to a close. Having set up everything prior to this final issue, the creators simply roll out the story's very loud and cinematic-style conclusion, giving themselves both plenty of room to stretch out and deliver a satisfying sendoff and a wrap-up that sums up the essence of both hero and villain.

As he has in past issues, artist Dustin Nguyen also contributes to the story with a flashback to Clark's youth, where Clark demonstrates perhaps his first act of heroism. It's an act that's in the aftermath of Clark's actions, though, which shows he's still just a human who makes mistakes. This is a theme that Snyder addresses more than once throughout the issue, making it very clear that while Superman is a super hero, he's not perfect -- but he still learns from past mistakes. Moreover, Snyder cleverly voices this supposed foible through the words of Lex Luthor, whose narration implies that this characteristic is a negative trait, while the voiceover ironically takes place as Supes prepares himself to make the ultimate sacrifice, to achieve the noblest of victories.

When Luthor's voiceover pauses, Snyder also steps aside and lets Lee do the talking with a grand, five-page wordless sequence that shows -- perfect or not -- Superman acting every bit the super hero that he is. Lee uses inset panels over a series of impressive and dynamic single and double-page spreads that both evoke the enormity of the threat facing the world as well as The Man of Steel's heroic bravery in confronting it. It's a wonderfully laid-out series of pages that are beautifully colored by Alex Sinclair, only matched by the subsequent climactic pages where a possibly unexpected ally steps in to help. Snyder's words are poignant, and Lee and Sinclair's art give the story's climax a big budget, space opera kind of feel that make eight issues of story building all pay off.

The conclusion brings symmetry to the nine-issue story, as the explosive ending to the battle recollects the Nagasaki bombing shown in the arc's opening scene in issue #1, and brings The Wraith's involvement in both to a redeeming and positive close. "Superman Unchained" #9 brings the entirety of the series to a positive close, as well; a series that has consistently outshined the other Superman titles during its run.

Get full review from Comic Book Resources here

Futures End #27 Review

Green Arrow Island — We know Green Arrow’s gang is getting ready to attack Cadmus. What we don’t know is how he knows where Cadmus is. Thankfully, Green Arrow got Deathstroke to unknowingly take a tracking device with him when GA faked his death. Barda’s ready to go.

Metropolis — Tim breaks into Lois Lane’s apartment and is waiting on her arrival home. She isn’t too pleased but seems to get over it pretty fast. Tim is looking for Madison who (as we know from the crazy Dr. Yamazake incident) has gone missing. The writers still want to remind us that whoever sent Lois those strange items (the prism, the coordinates, the red arrow) intended them for Tim. I find that whole “Lois has these things but they’re intended for Tim and Red Arrow’s the only one who knows I’m alive” sub-sub-plot boring and a weak attempt at getting Lois on the cover of Futures End jumping out of a plane. There is this “leap of faith” micro theme between Tim and Lois. Tim took a leap of faith to tell Madison about his identity and it backfired. Lois is about to take a literal and metaphorical leap of faith with Tim about the coordinates. Let’s hope for her sake it ends well.

Cadmus Island — Deathstroke, Lana, and Cole are creeping around the island. Fifty Sue isn’t around. There is a vault filled with the DNA of nearly every superhuman and Deathstroke wants to keep Brother Eye out. If Brother Eye gets to the vault he could potentially use the DNA with nefarious intent. Though really, if Brother Eye has been actively in control of the island for at least two days, it stands to reason that anything valuable on the island would’ve been found and controlled by now. Meanwhile, elsewhere on the island, Mister Miracle is not with Fury but stalking at the medical unit when Huntress (controlled by Brother Eye) attacks. Brother Eye wants to absorb(?) him but he runs away.

[Unlabeled Section] — The section header should have read “300 Miles East of Cadmus Island” or something to provide some approaching suspense. Like a ticking clock, this could have been the counting down of miles. Anyway, Green Arrow’s army is on its way to Cadmus in a large, green water vessel. They turn on the tracking device to find out it actually works. The point of this section is to tell us how bad the battle will be when they finally get there.

Manhattan— Terry and Plastique are at Tim’s bar. Tim isn’t there, he’s off to see Lois. They want to talk to Tim and get his help. So what do they do? Break into his apartment above the bar. What a way to introduce yourselves. It’s Terry who does the breaking I should say. Plastique stays in the bar. It’s while Terry is alone that Alfred encourages him to not work with Plastique, that including her could ruin the mission. Alfred also suggests that Terry may be infatuated with Plastique. A few other things happen that I’ll just drop in this tag.

[Unlabeled Section] Lois is making her leap of faith. Who knows what she’s liable to experience just parachuting onto Cadmus. I’m still not sure why she agreed to go with her lack of skill set. It’s not like she’s a Tim Drake replacement.

Recommended if:

Increased time spent with the Bat Family interests you.
You’d like to see multiple characters from different story lines converge on central locations.
You wanna know who that is on the cover parachuting and where they think they’re going.

Overall:

I’m happy with the pace this weekly comic is moving. This issue provides a tantalizing confrontation that you’re going to want to know more about, a promise of a huge battle to come, and a train wreck situation from which you won’t be able to look away when it happens. When reading the series as a whole, this issue is a worthy addition.

Get full review from Batman News here

Swamp Thing #36 Review

Swamp Thing: Futures End #1 was one of the few Futures End one-shots to read like a natural extension of the main series. It's a treat to dive into Swamp Thing #36 and see Charles Soule building connections to both that issue and the recent Swamp Thing Annual #2. Everything is coming together as Soule builds up the conflict between Swamp Thing and the Machine Kingdom and moves toward what is presumably the climax of his run. It's shaping up to be another memorable storyline.

Jesuz Saiz does a great job of bringing the Machine Kingdom to life. Their clean, elegant, orderly designs clash with the organic power of Swamp Thing and his allies. Saiz brings a great sense of mood and emotion to every page in addition to the impressive level of detail. This series is never better than when Saiz is at the helm.

As the cover suggests, Soule also tackles the long-awaited reunion between Swamp Thing and Abigail Arcane. Here the issue takes on a new level of emotional resonance. Here are two lovers doomed by fate and circumstance to forever remain apart. Soule does a great job of capturing their emotional bond and the sadness that comes from their newfound distance. The blend of fantastical action and mystery with very grounded, human drama gives Swamp Thing its core appeal, and it's something Soule is so frequently able to tap into.

Get full review from IGN here

Lobo #2 Review

If there’s one thing I love its comics set in space. And if there’s another thing I love (what can I say? I’m a big-hearted guy) it’s a good old fashioned caper. So when information started dropping earlier this year off the back of the re-invented Lobo’s appearance in DC’s villains’ month, I was tentatively excited.

The first issue, however, as discussed by our own Brian Salvatore, did suffer from a slightly jarring lack of symmetry with regards to lining up what fans might have expected from a Lobo re-launch to what they actually got. And what they got was the standard ‘charismatic anti-hero with a specific set of skills and a moral code that helps him justify the trail of bodies that he’s left behind’ trope. It was entertaining enough, but there was nothing in the first issue that truly cemented Lobo as anything other than a standard devil-may-care cool guy and, if there’s one archetype that comic-books have seen enough of it’s definitely this one.

“Lobo” #2 has both of these in spades, but combines them with a sense of levity that could have pushed Lobo’s character in some more interesting directions. As it stands, however, it still plays a little too by-the-numbers to be fully enthralling. Lobo, a characteristic lone wolf, is teamed with a posse of human mercs to facilitate his continuing attack on the targets he’s been contracted to take out. Lobo doesn’t like the idea of working with ‘Earthers,’ but gives in without much of an argument, and, really, that’s about the extent of the conflict we see in this issue. Lobo manages to dispatch two of the supposedly unkillable killers on his list with relative ease, but the lack of any real danger for our protagonist really only serves to undermine the reputation of his opponents, instead of bolstering our belief in Lobo’s skills.

In fairness to Brown, his work on this issue is crisp and dynamic, excelling during the fight scenes that see his incarnation of Lobo contorting and cavorting with confidence and panache. Brown’s previous work on multiple “Deadpool” issues is very visible in his recreation of Lobo and, when our titular hero is wielding his sword there’s almost no difference in their physicality at all.

DC has plenty of lovable rogues in their arsenal, even their fair share who aren’t averse to serious wet-work, but there are really few characters in either of the big two that are as murderously manic as the Lobo that was. Bunn’s proved he could add a sense of humanity to a criminal who started off decidedly one-dimensionally, and netting Brown for the project could’ve meant that the outrageously OTT destruction that he brought to the page in his “Deadpool” days could’ve made its way to DC’s roster. But, after all the streamlining and updating, the Lobo that they’ve finally delivered just feels a little too forgettable to make it worth adding to your pull list.

It’s understandable that, in a world of Lokis and Bucky Barneses, DC might be looking to offer up more sympathetic variants of their iconic villains. It seems, however, that in the rush to recreate a character for a new generation they might have ended up losing the traits that made Lobo interesting in the first place.

Final verdict. 5.7 – A passable enough read from a competent team of creators. Still, its lack of character leaves me pining for some uproarious 90’s carnage.

Get the full review from Multiversity Comics here

Green Lantern #36 Review

The Good

Writer Robert Venditti makes some huge changes and sets a few things straight dealing with the Green Lantern universe. It's nice to see not only a writer in the New 52 be so blunt about what's canon and not, but also decide to take some major chances with characters they've been building upon for months. Even in the midst of a giant cross-over event.

One of the biggest things to happen in the issue comes towards the end. As you can probably tell from the cover, Black Hand is a part of this issue and Venditti and crew take him in a bit of a weird direction. Johns' version of the character was darker and on the brink of madness, a character obsessed with death. Here, Black Hand still has that obsession with death, but he's full-blown on the side of madness. He's lost it all and the undead seem to be his only companions. My only concern is that the character is dangerously close to being a bit too silly and falling into Deadpool territory.

The Bad
The biggest problem with the book is that the issue comes off as a tad boring. The dialogue is fine, but it feels a bit overdone at times, especially in the Orion/Highfather scene and the Hal/Sinestro scene. This all makes the issue feel really dense. Bombshells of information are dropped on the readers and on Hal and company. It's almost too much for a single issue.

The Verdict
Godhead continues to be a very strong story. Sure, it's super-long and runs through way too many books, but overall, it's been a fantastic ride, so it's worth it. A lot is happening in this issue and there's a lot of revelations, almost too many, and the book is a bit slow and a tad dull at parts, but overall, it's a great read and a very essential moment in the overall Godhead story arc.

Get the full review from Comic Vine here