Comics

DC Retroactive: Green Lantern – The 70’s

/ / Comics

green-lantern-70s-retroactive-coverGiven the fact that I’ve been less than impressed so far with DC’s Retroactive titles maybe I should have been prepared, but this is a 1970’s Green Lantern story told by Dennis O’Neil (although drawn by Mike Grell instead of Neal Adams). After the overall meh-ness of the Batman title (don’t even get me started on the crappy Flash one) my expectations were set pretty damn low for this one. Turns out, I was still expecting too much.

We get two separate stories here. The first has Hal Jordan discovering a relative of Abin Sur in a crashed spaceship in the middle of a war zone. The second involves a kid traumatized by seeing Green Arrow kill which has inexplicably morphed him into a world class archer and killer. Both stories go nowhere and are hastily wrapped up in a single page.

If disappointment has a face it very may well be the cover of this issue, or the entire DC Retroactive experiment. Other than the proposed Justice League International issue I’m done with spending $5 a pop on these poorly executed tales that actually make me like the source material a little less. Pass.

[DC, $4.99]

DC Retroactive: Green Lantern – The 70’s Read More »

Comic Rack

/ / Comics

It’s a new week so it must be time to talk about comics! Welcome to the RazorFine Comic Rack boys and girls. Pull up a bean bag and take a seat at feet of the master as we offer you this quick list of all kinds of comic book goodness set to hit comic shops and bookstores this week from all your favorite publishers including DC, Marvel, Dark Horse, BOOM!, Dynamite, Image Comics, and others.

This week includes Amazing Spider-Man, The Boys, Drums, Flash Gordon: Invasion of the Red Sword, Flashpoint, G.I. JOE, Hulk, Megamind, Moon Knight, Moriarty, Savage Dragon, Scalped, Usagi Yojimbo, X-23, X-Factor, the first issues of Infinite, Kult, Mystic, The Punisher, Severed, Strawberry Shortcake: Berry Fun, Zorro Rides Again, and the final issues of Adventure Comics, Batman Beyond, Flashpoint: Batman – Knight of Vengeance, Flashpoint: Secret Seven, Green Wake, Secret Six, Suicide Girls, Superman, and Wynonna Earp: The Yeti Wars.

Enjoy issue #139

…

Comic RackRead More »

Comic Rack Read More »

Detective Comics #880

/ / Comics

detective-comics-880-coverSplitting the story between the perspectives of both Batman and Commissioner Gordon, the latest episode gives us a Joker story that’s not really a Joker story at all.

One issue away from the title’s wrap-up before the massive DC reboot writer Scott Snyder continues the story he’s been weaving for months and brings events full circle.

Someone has targeted the Gordon family using an old version of Joker venom. Batman is hot on the heels of the Clown Prince of Crime but discovers, perhaps too late, that the Joker isn’t responsible for the attack on Barbara’s mother or the imminent attack on Barbara herself.

I have mixed feelings with the art in the issue which is especially inconsistent with regards to both Batman and the Joker, but the story itself, including the reveal, works quite well. It looks like Detective Comics is one title DC plans to let go out with a bang.

[DC, $2.99]

Detective Comics #880 Read More »

DC Retroactive: Batman – The 70’s

/ / Comics

dc-retroactive-batman-70s-coverAs DC Comics looks forward to the future and it’s 52 issue reboot of the DC Universe it also takes a look back with a series of one-shots featuring writers and artists returning the characters and stories they told in the 1970’s, 1980’s, and 1990’s in an attempt to create new tales in the style of those eras.

The first of these Retoractive titles features Batman as Len Wein returns to the character. The story itself isn’t great. I wasn’t expecting a Joker story but I was hoping to get more than the Terrible Trio, but at least it gives me my favorite Batmobile and that old Batman title logo.

Tom Mandrake does a fair job in his artistic duties by given the issue the layout and feel of a 1970’s Batman title. As with all the Retroactive issues this one also includes a bonus issue from the same period (Batman #307). It’s overpriced and not nearly as good as I was hoping for (but still a damn shade better than pretty awful Flash Retroactive issue). Longtime fans of the character may want to pick this up, but others can give this one a pass (escpecially given the $5 price-tag). For Fans.

[DC, $4.99]

DC Retroactive: Batman – The 70’s Read More »

Daredevil #1

/ / Comics

daredevil-1-coverMarvel’s latest reintroduction of Daredevil features the hero stopping a kidnapping by the Spot at a mobster wedding. Of course, our hero doesn’t leave before kissing the bride.

The comic, much like Matt Murdock himself, is less successful at attempting to reintroduce Murdock’s life now that everyone knows he’s Daredevil even though he still denies it publicly. His response is nothing more than “Am not!” If the choice isn’t to have Murdock embrace the public nature of his less-than-secret identity (as Tony Stark has) some form of retcon seems to be in order.

Although this gray area might provide plenty of ammo to help screw up Murdock’s personal life and his role as a lawyer, his response being nothing more than a blanket denial isn’t going to work for very long (nor should it).

The first issue is a good re-introduction to the character plopping the Murdock right back into his old life (even if it does skirt the consequences of Shadowland). Worth a look.

[Daredevil, $3.99]

Daredevil #1 Read More »