Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #1 Review and Spoilers

What a Pal!

Written by: Matt Fraction
Art by: Steve Lieber
Colors by: Nathan Fairbairn
Letters by: Clayton Cowles
Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 17, 2019

So, Matt Fraction's at DC (courtesy of Brian Michael Bendis?) and he's chosen to write… a Jimmy Olsen book. To be fair, I'd read his take on any character shy of G'nort, but I've got to be honest. Jimmy Olsen has never really floated my boat and any book featuring him (much less a 12 issue maxi-series) isn't even on my list of 'DC books I'd quite like to see'. (Don't tell Jim, but a Metal Men book – even one written by Dan Didio – actually is…) But, this is Matt (Sex Criminals, Hawkeye, Ody-C) Fraction, so it's got to be worth a look, right? Let's find out…

Aquaman #50 Review

Under the Sea

Writer: Kelly Sue DeConnick

Art: Robson Rocha, Eduardo Pansica, Daniel Henriques, Julio Ferreira, Sunny Gho, Clayton Cowles, Jason Paz, and Alex Sinclair

Price: $4.99

Release Date: July 17th, 2019

As Aquaman settles the Old Gods of Unspoken Water into their new lives in Amnesty Bay, Jackson Hyde, a.k.a. Aqua-lad seeks out Aquaman to be his new mentor in this week’s all-new landmark 50th issue of AQUAMAN by Kelly Sue DeConnick.  Let’s dive in to see how Black Manta, recently kicked out of the Legion of Doom, prepares to make his next move against his greatest nemesis.

Nightwing #62 Review

Totally Exposed

Written By: Dan Jurgens

Art By: Ronan Cliquet, Nick Filardi, Andworld Design

Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 17, 2019

Lex Luthor's offer has made its way to Bludhaven this issue, but beyond that we'll be stepping back into the Blud to see Ric Grayson's continued evolution from drunken cabbie to hero and hopefully for many fans, remembering the Dick of it all and making his way back to being Nightwing.  Right now though we still have the Nightwing squad to deal with so let's jump into this issue and see what Dan Jurgens has for us this issue.  Let's check it out.

Teen Titans #32 Review and **SPOILERS**

Feetal's Giz... An Offer Ya Can't Refuse!

Writer: Adam Glass
Artist: Bernard Chang
Colorist: Marcelo Maiolo
Letterer: Rob Leigh
Release Date: July 17, 2019
Cover Price: $3.99

It's time for Round 2 of Crush vs. Lobo... and wouldja lookit that, it's a Year of the Villain tie-in to boot!

"Year of the Villain", eh?  I'm trying to decide if that title is just a little more cringy or just a little less cringy than "Forever Evil" a half-decade ago.  I think it might just be a tie.  Then again, we live in a world where somebody green-lit the title "Justice League Dark", so nothing really ought to surprise me.

Anyhoo, let's see how this one plays out!

Batman #75 Review and *SPOILERS*

Arkham City

Written By: Tom King

Art By: Tony S. Daniel, Mitch Gerads, Tomeu Morey
Letters By: Clayton Cowles
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 17, 2019

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Well, we have finally reached it. City of Bane is finally upon us and I’m really hoping this is an epic story similar to what we got at the beginning of Tom King’s run. However, my fear is that instead we will continue to get half answers and plot points that go nowhere, much like we have been in our most recent issues of this book. One thing I can say is that I am extremely excited to see Tony S. Daniel on this book as I’m such a huge fan of his art and if there’s one thing that Tom King really likes to do, it’s let his artists shine. Hopefully, accompanying that great art will be a story that will properly compliment it by intriguing the audience and giving them what they’ve been waiting for with this book. Let’s cross our fingers and jump into this issue to see where it takes us.

Justice League #28 Review

Sexual Tyrannosaurus

Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Javi Fernandez, Daniel Sampere, Juan Albarran, Hi-Fi, and Tom Napolitano
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 17, 2019

I have been enjoying the Justice League book lately and while I still am trying to put my finger on what exactly the Year of the Villain will end up being, this is the place to be for that.  While all the other big books are dealing with offers big and small, the one that Lex Luthor ended the last issue of Justice League with seems like it's the big one.  So, does this book keep getting bigger and bigger this month and is it any good?  Let's find out...

PREVIEW: Aquaman #50

Writer: Kelly Sue DeConnick
Artist: Robson Rocha
Release Date: July 17, 2019
Cover Price: $4.99

As Aquaman settles the Old Gods of Unspoken Water into their new lives in Amnesty Bay, Jackson Hyde, a.k.a. Aqua-lad, seeks out Aquaman to be his new mentor! Back in Atlantis, Mera makes a move that shocks the Widowhood. Meanwhile, Black Manta, recently kicked out of the Legion of Doom, prepares to make his next move against his greatest nemesis...but Lex Luthor is about to make him an offer he can't refuse. Don't miss our landmark 50th issue and the start of a brand-new story!

PREVIEW: Batman #75

Writer: Tom King
Artist: Tony Daniel
Release Date: July 17, 2019
Cover Price: $4.99

"City of Bane" begins! Bane's minions have moved into Gotham City, taken control and are ruling with an iron fist-including rounding up any villain who refuses to sign onto Bane's program-and Batman is nowhere to be found. At least not the Batman anyone knows. It's like someone has replaced the real Gotham City with a twisted funhouse-mirror version of it. Meanwhile, the real Bruce Wayne is on a spiritual quest to regain his fighting spirit after his showdown with his father in the desert. Can the people of Gotham hold on until their protector is strong enough to come to their rescue? Plus, what does Lex Luthor's scheming mean for Gotham City when Bane and the villains are already in control? This extra-sized anniversary issue kicks off a new multi-part storyline that ties together all the threads of the first 74 issues of Tom King's epic BATMAN run!

PREVIEW: Justice League #28

Writer: James Tynion IV
Artist: Javi Fernandez
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: July 17, 2019
Cover Price: $3.99

The Apex Predator rises! Justice-Doom War is coming! This is the culmination of the Legion of Doom's master plan, and they will take the Justice League to far-out places they may never return from...and do things the DC Universe may never recover from.

PREVIEW: Superman's Pal Jimmy Olsen #1

Writer: Matt Fraction
Artist: Steve Lieber
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: July 17, 2019
Cover Price: $3.99

Jimmy Olsen must die! Wait, we're getting ahead of ourselves. Jimmy Olsen lives! Superman's best friend and Daily Planet photographer Jimmy Olsen tours the bizarre underbelly of the DC Universe in this new miniseries featuring death, destruction, giant turtles and more! It's a centuries-spanning whirlwind of weird that starts in Metropolis and ends in Gotham City. And then we kill Jimmy.

PREVIEW: Teen Titans #32

Writer: Adam Glass
Artist: Bernard Chang
Release Date: July 17, 2019
Cover Price: $3.99

Lobo's back-and he's got his daughter, Crush, dead to rights! At least she can ask him about the identity of her mother, right? And as the Teen Titans square off against the Main Man, an enemy more sadistic than any they've ever faced before, questions about the team's future are still hanging in the balance-that is, if they have any future at all! Plus, Lobo wants a daughter he can be proud of. Crush wants nothing to do with her father. Lex Luthor is about to ruin Crush's life.

PREVIEW: Wonder Woman: Come Back To Me #1

Writer: Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti
Artist: Chad Hardin
Release Date: July 17, 2019
Cover Price: $4.99

Available to comics shops for the first time! When Steve Trevor is called in for a test flight of an experimental new aircraft, he winds up lost in the Bermuda Triangle and it's up to Wonder Woman and Etta Candy to follow his trail to a mysterious, savage island! These stories written by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti with art by Chad Hardin were originally published in JUSTICE LEAGUE GIANT #3-4!

PREVIEW: Nightwing #62

Written By: Dan Jurgens

Art By: Ronan Cliquet, Nick Filardi, Andworld Design

Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 17, 2019

After the epic conclusion to the Burnback saga, it’s clear that while he may have forgotten his past, Ric Grayson’s innate skills and instincts as a team leader elevate Team Nightwing to a new level. But what does that mean for the Bludhaven PD, and what does that mean for a man who is looking to live a life without the baggage of his past to hold him down? Ric seeks comfort in Bea’s arms, but may find answers in another’s Talons as we dive headlong into the Year of the Villain! Plus, Lex Luthor delivers the Court of Owls the means to own what they covet most: Ric Grayson.

Second Coming: An Interview with Mark Russell

Welcome to the Oblivion Bar where the first round is on me and the pretzels are free! I’m your tavern barkeep Dispatch, which you can find me on Twitter @dispatchdcu as well as on the award-winning Weird Science Marvel and DC Comic sites. 

Our guest tonight at the old watering hole is Mr. Mark Russell, which you may recognize from such comics as Prez, The Flintstones, Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles, and currently Wonder Twins! Most recently, AHOY COMICS just released Mr. Russell’s Second Coming, which readers can find at your LCS as of Wednesday, July 10th, 2019. 

Be warned: like the pickled eggs at the bar, this interview is going to SPOIL parts of Second Coming #1 rotten. So let’s sit back, relax, and toss back a few glass sandwiches and some laughing waters as we get to know Mr. Mark Russell. Without any further ado, here’s the discussion.

Dr. Fate #2 (1988) Review

THE NIGHT OF BRAHMA, PART ONE:
SUNSET

Writer: J.M. DeMatteis
Penciller: Shawn McManus
Inker: Mark McKenna
Cover Price: $1.25
Release Date: November 15th, 1988

Review by Joey Casco of TheWineStalker.net

Kent Nelson is dead but Nabu inhabits Kent's corpse to mentor the new Dr. Fate, Eric Strauss, who was a 10 year old boy aged up to an adult by Nabu. But the catch is that Eric must merge with his stepmother Linda in order to become Fate. Joined by a shapeshifting demon named Petey and a lawyer named Jack Small, Nabu and Eric and Linda must face the Lords of Order and stop them from allowing chaos to win. It's kind of like Shazam meets Firestorm meets Justice League Dark.

Oh, there's also vampires! And the issue opens up with them, narrated by the vampire the last issue closed with.

The Flash #74 Review and *SPOILERS*

Slow Down and Tell Me Where the Turtle Man Touched You

Written By: Joshua Williamson, Howard Porter
Art By: Howard Porter, Hi-Fi
Letters By: Steve Wands
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 10, 2019

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

It has been a while since I was this hyped up for an issue of The Flash. I was all down on this Year One storyline for a long time and while I still agree that the beginning of the story is not very good, it has all led to this confrontation between Barry and Turtle from the future and I am so excited to see where this story takes us. The cliffhanger from the previous issue really set the tone for what I want to see from this book and if Williamson and Porter can deliver, I will be overjoyed. Let’s stop talking about how excited I am for this book and instead, jump right into it.

Catwoman #13 Review

Blood Sugar Sex Magik

Writer: Joelle Jones
Artist: Joelle Jones, Fernando Blanco, Hugo Petrus, John Kalisz, Laura Allred, and Saida Temofonte
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 10, 2019

I was really into this series when it started, but I've been slowly losing interest in it since.  The overall story has been dragging and really isn't that interesting overall and while Joelle Jones has done some really good character work with Raina Creel, most of the other characters are just forgettable at best.  So, does this issue get things going in the right direction?  Let's find out...

Batman and the Outsiders #3 Review

Training Day

Writer: Bryan Hill
Artist: Dexter Soy
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 10, 2019

I am a Bryan Hill fan and really have liked this series so far.  How much have I liked it?  Well, enough to get blocked on Twitter by Tony Isabella for defending it!  Seriously, that guy hates the player, the game and just about everything else!  Oh well, I liked what we got in the first two issues of the series and am excited to pick up from the cool cliffhanger of the last issue.  So, how was this issue?  Let's find out...

Supergirl #32 Review and *SPOILERS*

The Big Rematch

Written By: Marc Andreyko
Art By: Kevin Maguire, FCO Plascencia
Letters By: Tom Napolitano
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: July 10, 2019

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Supergirl has slowed down for me significantly for the first time since Andreyko took over. All the stuff I liked about the series has been thrown aside to tie into this crossover with Superman. For the first time since I started reviewing this book, I found myself disinterested in reading this issue. However, I like to see each issue as a new opportunity and hopefully that is the case with this book. I’ve been enjoying it so much that I really hate to see what they’ve done with it in the most recently issues. We are still stuck in the middle of this crossover however so that might hold things back. Regardless, let’s just jump into this issue and see where it takes us.