Comics

The Flash Annual #3

/ / Comics

The Flash Annual #3The Flash Annual #3 is confusing on a number of levels as the new creative team cement their storyline of a future version of Barry Allen deciding to return to the past and set things right. Introducing us to Wallace “Wally” R. West for the first time its obvious the character has gone through the same New 52 filter that continues to adversely effect several of DC’s once-great heroes.

While I’m fine with DC deciding to change Wally’s ethnicity from Caucasian to African-American, it does create problems for Iris West as even in this issue’s artists Brett Booth and Ron Frenz have trouble deciding just how to draw and shade her color her character consistently. I honestly couldn’t tell you at this point whether Iris is white, black, or green.

Far more troubling is that Wally has gone through the same dickish redesign the makes the New 52 Billy Batson an insufferable prick. This version of the character’s defining attribute seems to be that he’s a street punk in need of a white big brother to set him straight. Jeez.

…

The Flash Annual #3Read More »

The Flash Annual #3 Read More »

Silver Surfer #2

/ / Comics

Silver Surfer #2I saw someone on Twitter compare Dan Slott’s new Silver Surfer series to Doctor Who. I think that’s a fair analogy as the series captures both the good and bad of the modern version of Time Lord’s adventures including centering the storyline on a new companion who instantly is pushed as the most important character ever.

Silver Surfer #2 finds the Silver Surfer defending The Impericon from the threat of the Never Queen who shows the Surfer a glimpse of his possible futures while Dawn Greenwood escapes capture along with the many other aliens abducted by The Impericon as leverage to force powerful beings to do as they wish.

Speaking of wishes, Dawn’s wish is underscored for the second straight issue as it both saves the Surfer from the Never Queen’s wrath and further links them going forward. I’m far from sold on Dawn, but so far I’m enjoying Slott’s take on the character – except for his bizarre misconception that the Surfer is human under the adamantium skin which he can remove at will (seriously WTF?). Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

Silver Surfer #2 Read More »

Smallville Season Eleven: Detective

/ / Comics

Smallville Season Eleven: DetectiveWhen the news first broke that Bryan Q. Miller was introducing Batman to the Smallville Universe and bringing Stephanie Brown with him I was excited. DC Editorial decision to substitute Batman’s partner for Barbara Gordon (who they were currently pushing as part of the New 52 reboot) had just the adverse effect. So I’d stayed away from the storyline until I recently picked up the collected trade paperback. Sure, I’d rather have Steph than Babs, and this version of Batman’s costume is a little too much like Knight for my liking, but it’s still pretty good.

The story centers around Batman and Nightwing coming to Metropolis in search of Joe Chill as the Dark Knight Detective has finally got a lead on the man who murdered his parents. Offering us the first meeting between Batman and Superman, in classic comic fashion as the pair fight before later cementing their friendship, the storyline also features Mister Freeze and the Prankster who team-up to take down the heroes with Kryptonite bullets and an insidious plan using the likeness of one of comic’s greatest heroes as a ploy to steal weaponized drones.

…

Smallville Season Eleven: DetectiveRead More »

Smallville Season Eleven: Detective Read More »

Dexter’s Laboratory #1

/ / Comics

Dexter's Laboratory #1Continuing to grow Cartoon Network presence in their comics, the first issue of the new four-issue mini-series introduces the characters from Dexter’s Laboratory into the IDW universe. Fans of the show and those, like me, with only vague memories Genndy Tartakovsky‘s cartoon which ran for four season is the late 90s and early 2000s should enjoy themselves here.

After his sister Dee Dee destroys yet another of his experiments, Dexter comes up with a new plan and wastes no time to create his newest invention which he believes will fulfill his wishes while he dreams and get rid of that pesky sister once and for all.

With the opening issue ending on a cliffhanger as Dexter tries out his invention for the first time we’ll have to wait another month to discover its fallout. The tone and pace Derek Fridolfs and Ryan Jampole and create here is a hellova lot of fun while crafting an intriguing idea for a story that I’ll definitely come back for more of. Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

Dexter’s Laboratory #1 Read More »

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures #10

/ / Comics

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures #10When Spider Bytez starts kidnapping people from the surface and dragging them down into his lair the Turtles hop into action, but are soon caught like flies in his web. Thankfully Michelangelo‘s plan to cover himself in pizza, based on his presumption that the disappearances are he result of the Kraang working with ghosts and Big Foot, proves to be the key to getting the Turtles out of another sticky situation.

Mikey slips out of the webs and distracts the villain, allowing Donatello, Raphael, and Leonardo time to escape and free the hostages before taking Mikey’s lead and further infuriating Spider Bytez with a few insults of their own.

The goofy adventure (set bizarrely around Valentine’s Day for a late April comic) is fun while highlighting another of the Turtles’ weirder villains. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures #10 also includes a Mikey back-up story where the Turtle’s one-track mind races his brothers into a desperate situation (which turns out to be pizza). Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: New Animated Adventures #10 Read More »