Comics

Captain America #5

/ / Comics

captain-america-5-coverIt might have taken an extra month (and an extra artist) but the latest volume of Captain America finally ends its first arc. As Captain American is trapped in the dream reality battling Codename: Bravo, Sharon Carter pleads with the only man alive who can save him – Jimmy Jupiter.

Although Steve McNiven and Giuseppe Camuncoli’s art don’t compliment each other as much as I’d like, issue #5 proves to be a good finale for the first arc by introducing psychological warfare as the best weapon to use against Steve Rogers.

Sharon Carter gets a couple of nice moments here as well including being the one responsible for bringing Cap back to reality, and kicking the shit out of Codename: Bravo.

As to Queen Hydra‘s plan to use Cap’s patriotism against him, I’m intrigued to see where writer Ed Brubaker will take us next. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

Captain America #5 Read More »

Birds of Prey #4

/ / Comics

birds-of-prey-new-52-4-coverIt takes more than half the issue but Batgirl finally joins the team. The addition of Batgil may mean good things for the future of the comic but it doesn’t do much to help out here as the story is still stuck in neutral with invisible ninja assassins and super-secret scientists planting bombs in peoples heads.

Birds of Prey is a comic I want to like but now for four months it’s given me little reason to do so. The addition of Batgirl isn’t the only change that needs to be made on this title. We still know next to nothing about Starling, Katana remains a one-note character, and I don’t see how Babs sticks around for a team that includes Poison Ivy as one of its members.

The good news is Batgirl works well here, especially with Black Canary. It’s good to see the Babs/Dinah team back together. Now if we can just figure out a way to get Zinda Blake and the Huntress to replace Poison Ivy and Katana we might, might have something. Hit-and-Miss.

[DC, $2.99]

Birds of Prey #4 Read More »

Nightwing #4

/ / Comics

nightwing-new-52-4-coverAnother of DC Comics New 52 titles goes off the rails. We know we’re in trouble from the very start when the comic is opened to find a that Trevor McCarthy has replaced Eddy Barrows as artist for this issue. Aside from not knowing what age to draw Dick Grayson (a common problem in Bat-books this month) McCarthy’s art is certainly slick, but he seems to be suffering from the same affliction of Jim Lee and Todd McFarlane in wanting to draw characters in awkward angles in big splash pages regardless of whether it helps tell the story (or makes sense).

The story is also confusing as Batgirl comes to town asking for Nightwing’s help (after telling him to stay away just one month ago). I don’t know if the writers’ were going for a Buffy/Angel homage here, but it’s impossible not to see the similarities with “Sanctuary” and “The Yoko Factor.”

The villain is an undeveloped stand-in for Clayface that comes off disappointing that the pair deal with without too much trouble. The more looming threat of a villain who knows Nightwing’s secrets is mentioned but instantly discarded.

…

Nightwing #4Read More »

Nightwing #4 Read More »

Justice League #4

/ / Comics

justice-league-new-52-4-coverI’ve enjoyed the New 52 version of the Justice League, but this latest issue from writer Geoff Johns and artist Jim Lee is a complete trainwreck. For the issue that introduces Darkseid, one of DC Comics’ biggest and baddest villains, to fumble the ball this badly is simply inexcusable.

Almost everything goes wrong here as the characters speak in nothing more than clipped plot and character points, Lee’s art finds the characters in more and more ridiculous poses, and even the action shots don’t make sense from panel to panel.

The humor and character interactions that worked well in previous issues are missing (except for Green Lantern‘s comment about Batman‘s reaction to GL touching Wonder Woman‘s lasso of truth). Darkseid is imposing, but I’m not really sure we needed a centerfold of the character, and the layout of the sequence is bizarre as the League is starring at the villain emerging from a Boom Tube yet, in close-ups, the Boom Tube is to the back of every character. How is this possible? Pass.

[DC, $2.99]

Justice League #4 Read More »

Young Justice #11

/ / Comics

young-justice-11-coverWith so many Bat-titles out right now imagine my surprise in finding the best Batman and Robin story of the month in Young Justice. The rest of the team is given most of this issue off as Robin helps Batman track down Ra’s al Ghul and foil his latest diabolical plot to rid the planet of humanity.

The action is great. We get Batman and Robin battling several assassins as well as Ubu, Talia, and a final showdown between Batman and Ra’s al Ghul.

Writer Greg Weisman makes good use of Talia’s torn loyalties and her feelings for the Dark Knight Detective as well as Batman’s more understated feelings for her in return (who knows Talia isn’t going to be pleased by Robin being responsible for the latest “death” of her father).

The rest of the Bat-books have been a little shaky this month, but I’ll give credit for Young Justice for delivering a fun Bat-story on all counts. And the best part is we’ll get even more as the story concludes next month! Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

Young Justice #11 Read More »