Batman: The Jiro Kuwata Batmanga #20 Review

Written By: Jiro Kuwata
Art By: Jiro Kuwata
Cover Price: $1.99
Release Date: November 15, 2014

The Revenge of Clayface (Chapter 1 of 4)

Whenever anyone thinks of Batman in the 1960's two thoughts come to mind: the comic book published by DC Comics and the 1966 William Dozier TV series Batman--camp at it's finest. The versions of Gotham City that both of those products presented was bright and colorful but what a lot of people fail it realize is that there is another Gotham City. The Gotham City of legendary manga writer Jiro Kuwata.

Infinity Man and the Forever People #5 Review

Written by: Dan Didio and Keith Giffen
Art by: Tom Grummett
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014

Blood Bath

I have been a big supporter of Infinity Man and the Forever People because even when I have no idea what is going on, I still have a hell of a good time.  No, I am not fully versed in New Gods lore and I am far from a Kirby-file, but through this book I am slowly learning and loving every baby step I take with the gang.  This month we get a little history lesson, a setup for some major conflict and a all out brawl with one of my favorite characters in the DC Universe.  Yes, Guy Gardner is in the house and he is pretty pissed off.

DC Comics Best Covers of the Week 11/29/14

Thanksgiving has come and gone and everyone has gone crazy with Brown Thursday and Black Friday shopping so now it's time to relax. What?  There still is Cyber Monday?  Don't get me started with that robot holiday.  Why do they deserve a holiday anyway?  Ridiculous.  Anyway, I'm not here to discuss the whole robot rights issue, I'm here to talk about comic book covers.  I went against my better judgement (and early prejudice) and included a Lego variant.  It's not the best cover by any stretch, but it did make the list because it just looks cool. Other than that, the list includes two versions of a cool #1, another trippy Lantern cover and one that features a giant...robot?!?!?  Oh damn it!

Green Lantern #37 Preview

Written By: Robert Venditti
Art By: Francis Portela
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 3, 2014




“Godhead,” Act 3, Part 1: Hal Jordan has to enlist the help of one of his greatest foes, Black Hand, or else watch the universe fall before the growing army of the New Gods! But getting Black Hand to help and getting him to help the way you need him to are two very different things.


Zombie Invasion On New Genesis!  Well I don't know if we're there yet, but man is that something that I want to see.  Pompous Gods running around like they own the place and then BAM!  Zombies.  Now when I see Hal Jordan and Black Hand together like this I have to think back to the Book of Black; that said that Hal Jordan would be the greatest Black Lantern.  Did that already happen in Green Lantern #20 or is that an all around prophecy?  I don't know, damn prophecies are never specific enough for my liking.  No matter what goes down this issue I'm sure that the interactions between Black Hand and Hal will be priceless.

Sinestro #7 Preview

Written By: Cullen Bunn
Art By: Ethan Van Sciver
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 3, 2014




“GODHEAD,” Act 2, Part 5: The mission to Zamaron and the Star Sapphires yields a shocking secret about the White Lantern, but in this case, knowledge isn’t power. It’s clear that a strike on New Genesis is imperative, but without a Mother Box, the home of the gods is forever out of reach. Sinestro, however, is not convinced, and a determined Sinestro can be a very bad thing!


Alright we've got the Sinestro Corps teaming up with the Star Sapphires, well possibly just Sinestro teamed up with the Star Sapphires and I can't wait to see what Sinestro has to say about John Stewart's choice of new wardrobe.  Really that's the main reason that I want to read this issue but I'd be lying if I told you I didn't want to know what the Sapphires know about the power of the White Lantern and that whole bit where knowledge isn't power.  What do they know?  The White Lantern is a guy........ Good one Sapphires.  Seriously though after reading this week's issue of Red Lanterns, I'm totally hyped to see our heroes make their way to New Genesis and whether it's a good idea or a bad one, it should be a lot of fun.

Red Lanterns #36 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Charles Soule
Art By: J. Calafiore
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014

It's Not A Mission To Guy Unless It's A Suicide Mission

We're back with GODHEAD Act 2 Part 4, where we pick up where we left off last Red Lanterns, where Guy Gardner and Simon Baz were getting their asses kicked by Malhedron and company.  It seems like we're finally going to get Baz doing some hero work in the New 52, it's just too bad that he chose Gardner to team up with because Guy plans on taking the fight back to New Genesis and to get a little payback for the New Gods killing so many Green Lanterns.  Yeah, it sounds like a bad plan to me too.  So let's see if Guy realizes that he doesn't possess the best decision making skills and maybe our two heroes can live to see the end of this story arc.  Let's check it out.

Deathstroke #2 Review

Written and Illustrated by: Tony S. Daniel
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 29, 2014

Paycheck Payback

The initial issue of Deathstroke was hit or miss with me.  I loved Tony S. Daniel's art, but was not a big fan of his story.  It's no surprise what you're going to get with a Deathstroke title, but yet it still felt generic.  There was the obligatory gunfire, sword slashing and explosions on top of the mission gone wrong, don't know who to trust stuff that is in almost every antihero book.  Of course, having such a popular character as the lead helped out a bit and Daniel did insert some humorous touches that pushed it above average, but I expected it to be better.  The most divisive part, however, was the big twist.  Slade being young again is bound to be a love it or hate it development, but right now I'm sitting on the fence.  If it helps the story, I'm all for it.  So far it just feels weird.  That weirdness continues this month and while the story still felt generic, it was better than last month and did offer up a few interesting mysteries.

Gotham Academy #3 Preview

Written by: BECKY CLOONAN and BRENDEN FLETCHER
Art by: KARL KERSCHL
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 3, 2014


If you thought getting detention was a pain, just wait till you see detention Gotham Academy-style!

Besides the generic solicit, I love everything about this book.  Actually, I even like the generic solicit.  It looks like were going to have to put the mystery of Olive's Mother on hold for a little bit as we deal with the ghost in the North Hall.  It looks like that mystery has turned from "if" there is a ghost to "who" the ghost actually is.  Those kids and their secret societies and summoning rituals.  What happened to smoking in the bathrooms and putting chalk in the erasers?  

Batman '66 #48 Review

Written By: Jeff Parker
Art By: Scott Kowalchuk
Cover Price: $1.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014

Batman in Papyrus

Despite DC Comics late release of a Batman zombie story, getting it on digital stands in time for Thanksgiving instead of Halloween, they managed to release quite a tale. The last issue left off with Batman & Robin facing off against King Tut's army of the undead, who had been exposed to the Osiris virus. This issue follows up on that.

As is to be expected from a Batman story (especially one in the world of Batman '66) the Dynamic Duo seemingly find themselves on the verge of death and then--spoiler alert--they seemingly come back from the dead; all while explaining what transpired. This time around, however, it seems that the antagonist of the tale, King Tut, actually has some degree of common sense as well as decency as he questions why he never stays to watch the Caped Crusader and the Boy Wonder die--the reason being he has too much decency. Arguably, this is the first time (at least that I've seen) where a villain flat out says "I don't have the stomach to watch these two heroes die by my own hand."

Top 5 Black Fridays: Things You'll Want To Pick Up On Black Friday In The DC Universe

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend from all of us at Weird Science, but the Turkey munching portion of the holiday is over and now it's all about you lunatics out there that are flooding the stores and malls in search of your gifts for friends and family, but more likely yourselves.  Yeah, I might come off a little high and mighty here but if I had any sort of actual money and wasn't hindered by anxiety caused by large groups of people.......... Yeah, I'd probably be out there too.  For today's very special Top 5 Black Fridays, we'll be looking at certain items within the DCU which if they were actually for sale with the added bonus of having their prices slashed for this consumer holy day, we'd totally be camping out in front of stores to get our grubby hands all over them.  So pull out your thermoses and sleeping bags as I try to get your imagination working with this week's Things You'll Want To Pick Up On Black Friday In The DC Universe.  Let's get our avarice going and check it out.

Aquaman #36 Review

Written by: Jeff Parker
Art by: Paul Pelletier
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014

Martian Mystery Theater

I have been a big supporter of Jeff Parker's run on Aquaman since he took over from Geoff Johns.  While Johns legitimized the character, Parker made the book fun.  I know some may scoff at the idea, but some of my favorite issues (class reunion!) have been by Parker.  With his new story, Maelstrom, Parker is setting his sights on something bigger than a few chuckles.  Last issue started the mystery of Arthur's missing Mother and a living Atlantis and this month, Parker gives us a heavy hitting guest star. Martian Manhunter is in the house and while it seems like an odd fit at first, it makes sense...for the most part.

Earth 2: World's End #8 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Daniel H. Wilson, Marguerite Bennett, Mike Johnson
Art By: Tyler Kirkham, Joe Weems, Stephen Segovia, Jason Paz, Jorge Jimenez, Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014

Losing Ground

Last week in World's End we saw Huntress at the mercy of Desaad, who seemed hellbent on turning her into Darkseid's newest Fury.  Batman was taking out undead Superman clones while Apokolips was boom tubing to Earth.  It's dark times for our Earth 2 heroes and even a reunion between Alan Scott and his thought to be dead lover Sam Zhou ended with heartache when we discovered that while Sam looks like Sam, he's seems simply to be more the embodiment of The White and only concerned the duties that the job of avatar entails.  Finally after Doctor Fate got whammied by the spell he put on Famine, he sought out Jimmy Olsen and Mister Miracle's Mother Box to cure his ailment and......... well it looks like the Helm of Fate was some kind of Mother Box and it merged with Mister Miracle's and the result of it turned Jimmy Olsen into some kind of New God or something that we've never seen before.  All that and Constantine is gathering a gang in the ruins of the World Army Arkham site, so let's check out what this issue has in store for us.

Happy Thanksgiving From Weird Science!

Try Not To Be Such Jive Turkeys Today!

Catwoman #36 Review

Written by: Genevieve Valentine
Art by: Garry Brown
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014

A Crime Not to Read

In my review of last month's issue of Catwoman, I remarked that this book just didn't seem like my cup of tea and wondered out loud if this was the Catwoman that fans wanted.  Well, at the risk of dating this review, I guess I'll be eating my words for Thanksgiving this year because I really, really enjoyed what Genevieve Valentine is doing with Selina.  Sure, this book is not "fun" in the way I thought I wanted, but Valentine has quickly convinced me that Catwoman can and should be so much more.  In just two issues she has given fans such a strong and smart Selina that I can't see ever going back.

Superman #36 Review

Written by: Geoff Johns
Art by: John Romita Jr.
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014

Something for (Almost) Everyone

I'll admit it, when Geoff Johns and John Romita Jr, took over Superman, I was ecstatic.  It was my first real taste of Romita's art and I loved it and from page one, John's writing was the best this book had seen since the start of the New 52.  Now that we are a handful of issues in, I've come back to Earth a bit.  The thrill isn't gone, but the slow burn story of Ulysses has cooled my jets a bit.  Last issue finally heated things back up and the cliffhanger was really intriguing.  Ulysses has been a mystery and while we still don't know much about him, he laid his cards on the table.  Go with him to the Fourth Dimension and live a perfect life or stay on Earth.  Unfortunately, there is a limited number he can take with him and besides, when something seems too good to be true, it usually is.

The New 52: Futures End #30 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Brian Azzarello, Jeff Lemire, Dan Jurgens, Keith Giffen
Art By: Tom Ramey, Hi-Fi
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014

And The Eye's Have It!

For our quick recap this week you'll need to know that Oliver Queen faked his death and then sent Lois Lane a box of clues to get her onto the scent of Cadmus Island.  What has Oliver Queen been doing while he's presumed dead you ask?  Well he's been gathering an army that consists of the Earth 2 Red Arrow, The Outsiders, his normal Green Arrow crew and the recently recruited Big Barda.  You see Green and Red Arrows have been putting together a plan to free the captive heroes of Earth 2 and even though I don't remember them actually knowing of Brother Eye taking over the island and the heroes, after reading this issue it looks like they did.  So Green Arrow's army is going to Cadmus Island, Lois Lane just parachuted in and tripped over her Earth 2 counterpart Red Tornado and Grifter and Lana Lang are still palling around with Deathstroke who we've recently learned is working with Brother Eye.  All of that and Mister Miracle and Fury on the island trying to figure out how to shut Brother Eye down as well.  Let's jump into this issue and see how the assault on Cadmus Island goes and see if our heroes can shut down Brother Eye once and for all............ But seeing as Batman Beyond came back in time to shut it down, I'm guessing they won't.  Let's check it out.

Arkham Manor #2 Review and *SPOILERS*

Writing By: Gerry Duggan
Art By: Shawn Crystal
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014

Know Your Role

We're back to Wayne Manor for the Criminally Insane where last issue we saw Arkham crumble and Bruce Wayne leave his life long home to see it turned into a temporary asylum for his worst enemies.  Now if that isn't a fucked up premise, I don't know what is, but to add to the fun we also see Batman hang up the cowl to go undercover in Arkham Manor to figure out who's responsible for two deaths since the inmates have been transferred in.  Let's see if our hero can keep his cool and his wits about him as he enters the lion's den and hopefully there isn't any lasting affects from him getting into his role of Jack Shaw: Criminally Insane Inmate.  I gotta say that I was really on the fence about this title after reading last month's issue, but let's go in with an open mind and see if this tale of murder and madness grabs us with this second issue.  Let's check it out.

The Flash #36 Review

Written by: Robert Venditti and Van Jensen
Art by: Brett Booth and Andre Coehlo
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014

Vice Versa

Last month's issue of The Flash was just crazy.  Barry versus his future self with the Speed Force and all existence on the line? Those are some pretty heavy stakes and Robert Venditti and Van Jensen continue to show fans that they are not afraid to take chances by letting the bad guy win.  That's right, the clash between Barrys ended with future Barry in the present day and our Barry in...I really don't know where or when he is.  In one of the craziest cliffhangers I've seen in a while, Barry found himself being attacked by dinosaurs and pursued by robots in a jungle with half his outfit ripped off.  To say I was slightly interested in seeing where this was going is a bit of an understatement.  Actually, it is a flat out lie.  I couldn't freaking wait.

Gotham By Midnight #1 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Ray Fawkes 
Art By: Ben Templesmith
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014

Seeing Is Believing

Well the wait is finally over all you supernatural lovers, Gotham By Midnight is here and we're going to see what Ray Fawkes and Ben Templesmith have up there sleeves to hook us on a team of Gotham cops and specialists that devote their time to investigating the things that go bump in the night that threaten the land of the living.  It's a very cool premise and it's good to get another title into DC's Dark category........ Is that still a thing?  It doesn't matter because we're going into Gotham and Batman isn't our main character and we're focused on Jim Corrigan and The Spectre isn't our main character, so this title right off the bat is working outside the box of superhero comics.  Let's check out what this first issue has in store for us and see if this is something that we can expect to grab us each month and put a little fear into our hearts as we scan each panel.  Let's check it out.

Batman: Eternal #33 Review

Written by: Kyle Higgins
Art by: Jason Fabok
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 19, 2014

Trouble Brewing

Eternal has been pretty hard on Batman and last week, things got worse.  Hush's plan kicked into high gear and the preparations that usually make Batman unstoppable may be his undoing.  Worse yet, the whole mess may also point towards Bruce Wayne and Wayne Enterprises which wouldn't be a surprise after what's been happening over at Arkham Manor.  In other words, Hush is winning and Gotham and everyone in it is in big, big trouble.  Guess what?  Things look like they are going to get worse before they get any better.

Injustice: Year Three #9 Review

Written by: Tom Taylor
Art by: Bruno Redondo and Juan Albarran
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: November 25, 2014

Three's a Crowd

Year Three has been very magical and a little too predictable.  The magical part has been so cool with the likes of Constantine, The Spectre joining the fight while the predictable part has been upsetting.  Maybe it's the fact that we've been through so many crazy things in this book that the shock value has diminished, but nothing that's happened lately has been surprising.  While that can be said for this week as well, I did like the character work Tom Taylor gives us as well as one hell of a guest star.

The Flash #36 Preview

Written by: Robert Venditti and Van Jensen
Art by: Brett Booth and Andre Coelho
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014


Out of time! The Flash is trapped in a bizarre, lost landterrorized by castaways from the past, present, and future. But that leaves Central City without a hero...or does it?


Okay, if you read the last issue (it seems so long ago) and you are like me, you've been counting the days to find out what the f*** happened to Barry.  Dinosaurs, flying robots sounding like Daleks...where and when has Barry gone?  Well, it looks like we may get some answers this month as well as more questions.  Meanwhile, Future Flash seems to be up to no good with loving on his mind.  Watch out Patty!  Brett Booth's art looks stupendous as usual and Andre Coelho shows he's no slouch, either. Plus, Venditti and Jensen show they still have no respect for Breakfast Cereal.  I blame Venditti...he's a Kix fan.  

He-Man and The Masters of The Universe #19 Preview

Written By: Rob David
Art By: Tom Derenick
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014




The secrets of the House of Grayskull are revealed! Flash back to Prince Adam’s childhood, when rebellion struck King Randor’s throne. What does this moment in time mean for the future war in Eternia? Find out in this prelude to MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE: THE ETERNITY WAR #1!


So we're done with the Origin of She-Ra and before we finish this series off and get to the renamed and renumbered Masters of the Universe title: Masters of The Universe: The Eternity War #1, we have a final issue showing us the day that Keldor came to Eternos and turned Eternia's world upside down and started young Adam down the path that would eventually lead him to become He-Man.  Dan Abnett and Pop Mhan are off this month, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy our monthly dose of He-Man as we look at the scrawny kid Prince Adam used to be and it certainly won't stop us from wetting our lips at what Eternity War will bring.

Batman '66 Meets the Green Hornet #6 Review

Written By: Kevin Smith and Ralph Garman

Art By: Ty Tempelton

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: November 19, 2014

The End of Crime’s Tether

For the last few months DC Comics has been publishing Batman ’66 Meets the Green Hornet—a followup to the classic Batman TV crossover from the 1960’s William Dozier series, written by Hollywood Babble-On co-hosts Kevin Smith and Ralph Garman.

The plot of the series has been simple, following the Dynamic Duo as they team up with the Green Hornet and Kato, as they attempt to stop General Gumm and the Joker from pulling off the greatest stamp crime in history. This has been a really fun series to follow as it came out and I’ve constantly felt that it’s captured the spirit of the show, as well as of the episode, quite well. 

Infinite Crisis: Fight for the Multiverse #26 Review

Written by: Dan Abnett
Art by: Christian Duce and Angel Hernandez
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: November 23, 2014

What a Croc

I may have been a bit harsh on this book last week.  I may have even suggested that it shouldn't exist.  Well, after another week and a new issue, I'm still not sure why it exists, but at least I can say this issue isn't horrible.  It's not good, but it's not horrible.  I guess we can be thankful for the little things.

Last week ended with Atomic Wonder Woman finding a door and summoning the old team to her Earth.  It was very convenient and heavy handed, but that's what we got.  We pick up form there with Batman, Damian, Catwoman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern trying to figure out what's behind the door.  After a bunch of theories, they decide to get some answers from it's protector...Killer Croc.

Bodies #5 Preview

Written by: Si Spencer
Art by: Tula Lotay, Meghan Hetrick, Phil Winslade, Dean Ormston
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014


While Whiteman is summoned to the high court, Edmond is busted out of jail, which leads each to very different near-fatal encounters. Shahara has lost the most important part of her case while Maplewood comes face to face with hers. The killers are approaching…and the wind begins to howl.

Catwoman #36 Preview

Written by: Genevieve Valentine
Art by: Garry Brown
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014

“Family Business” part 2! Selina struggles to maintain her role as the leader of Gotham City’s crime families when…Catwoman attacks?

Listen, last issue may have been one of the best issues of Catwoman since the start of the New 52, but I'm worried.  It's a personal thing, but this Pant Suit Crime Boss Selina is not hitting me in my Q Zone. It's odd that when DC finally seems to be bringing more fun, Catwoman gets serious.  Trust me, I'm not giving up on this book and it may just be a matter of getting used to what's going on before I start to really enjoy it.  Maybe this issue will do the trick.

Aquaman #36 Preview

Written by: Jeff Parker
Art by: Paul Pelletier
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014



Aquaman races to find his mother, who is suddenly very much alive – even though her presence threatens to destroy everything he has built in his kingdom!

I have really enjoyed Jeff Parker's run on Aquaman so far and this story already feels so epic.  Aquaman's Mother alive?  What's next, Martian Manhunter ending up in Atlantis?  Now that would be awesome.  Enjoy the preview.

The Multiversity: Pax Americana #1

Written By: Grant Morrison
Art By: Frank Quitely
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: November 19, 2014

Who Paxes The Pax?

We're back to the weird worlds of Grant Morrison as we take a look at The Multiversity: Pax Americana.  Every month when this comic comes out I swear up and down that Grant's just writing this to fuck with me.  I read this issue on Wednesday and planned on reviewing it then, but then I sat back and had no idea what the hell I was going to write about because this book is all over the place with different stories that appear to just not go anywhere and the main story that goes back and forth throughout time with no indications that we're anywhere different than where we were during the last page.  So I really wanted to take the time and reread the book so I could actually wrap my head around what was going on here and for any of you out there that think this book is easy to understand or straight forward, well go fuck yourself because you're a goddamn liar.  So I'll do my best here to convey what's going on, but I can't promise that I won't miss something because this book is all over the place in a world and story that seems very familiar due to the Watchmen, but takes the original Charlton Comics characters and turns them on their ears as we explore Earth-4 and the end of superheroes.  Let's check it out.

Arkham Knight Game Play Trailer: ACE CHEMICALS

This is part one of I guess a couple different trailers that are set to be released as time runs down to Arkham Knight's release date and man after watching it, I just want to be Batman.  It's funny to me because I'm not really a gamer at all, but I went out and got a Xbox 360 just so I could play the first three games and now I guess I'm going to have to go out and get an Xbox One because.......... Well because I have to play this goddamn game!  When I first saw that this trailer was up and that it was a game play trailer with more Batmobile scenes, I just sat back and thought that I really didn't need to see it.  Just take my money..............TAKE IT!  I'm seriously hyped right now to play it and I'm not a patient man, so this next six months are going to kill me.  So check out the trailer and start salivating like I did a couple of minutes ago..........I'm sure you already watched it because who gives a shit about what a guy in a headband writes about when there's a Arkham Knight trailer a head of it.

Red Lanterns #36 Preview

Written By: Charles Soule
Art By: J. Calafiore
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014




“GODHEAD,” Act 2, Part 4: It’s Guy Gardner, the Red Revenger, Simon Baz, Earth’s Green Lantern, and Hal Jordan, a man on an insane mission, against the undead! The heroes must enlist the aid of arch-villain Black Hand in the ongoing battle against the New Gods or die trying – not that Black Hand would mind!

Let's assume for a minute that this solicit is actually being honest about what's coming to us this week in Red Lanterns.  Under that assumption I have to say that this comic sounds like the most bad ass thing that has happened in GODHEAD yet.  We've got Guy getting a full on rager, Simon Baz actually participating in the Green Lantern world and Black Hand and the Black Lanterns making their triumphant return.  It's just too good to be true and with that in mind I don't know whether to get excited or not.  Either way DC, you had me at Simon Baz and I don't care about all the haters out there that don't like the character, because I was just like you when he was first announced, but after reading his issues of Green Lantern, I knew that this was someone I wanted to see more of................ and then I didn't see any of him.  So bring on Simon Baz and everything that bad ass solicit promises.

Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman #15 Review

Written and Illustrated by: Gilbert Hernandez
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: November 20, 2014

Yakety Yak

After reading and reviewing the first part of Gilbert Hernandez's two part story last week, I was a little afraid of getting some backlash.  I say "a little" because any time you review something and throw it out on the intranets, you open yourself for attack, but I'm used to that.  What I was afraid of was that people were going to glance at the issue and write it off because the art was so different.  Different as in retro, indie and/or unique.  I'll admit, at first glance I didn't know what to think.  At second glance, I still didn't, but as I read the issue (three times to be exact), I came to appreciate both the art and the story and more importantly, how they complimented each other.  This week we get the conclusion and after last week, I jumped right in knowing what to expect and enjoyed every minute of it.

Batwoman #36 Review

Written by: Marc Andreyko
Art by: Georges Jeanty
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 19, 2014

Better Left Unknown?

Last month, Marc Andreyko started his new Batwoman arc with a very cold opening...in Space.  It was fun, if not a bit confusing, with Kate teamed up with Clayface, Alice, Ragman and Etrigan.  The ending promised that we'd get to see how it all came together and that's just what we get this month.  The issue is aptly titled, "How In The Hell Did We Get Here?" and while most of it is setup (it is only part one), I'm intrigued to see more of the "Unknowns".  Unfortunately, I really didn't like anything that happened with Kate.  I'd say that's a pretty big problem.

DC Comics Best Covers of the Week 11/22/14

I'm sorry if I seem a little down today, but I just found out that the Queen Latifah Show was canceled.  With that and Here Comes Honey Boo Boo no longer on television, what the hell am I supposed to do?  At least I still have Manhattan Love Story, right? What?  That's been canceled too?  Now I'm really depressed.  I'll try to get out of my funk for just a little bit so I can pick this week's best covers, but I will do so with tears in my eyes.  It's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday...  Boys II Men, you always know how to make me feel worse.

Earth 2: World's End #8 Preview

Written By: Daniel H. Wilson, Marguerite Bennett, Mike Johnson
Art By: Tyler Kirkham, Joe Weems, Stephen Segovia, Jason Paz, Jorge Jimenez, Eddy Barrows
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014




Welcome John Constantine to the chaos and fire of Earth 2 – he’ll be right at home! Continued from this month’s CONSTANTINE #19.


Look I love Constantine as much as the next fanboy, but do we really need to clutter up this already cluttered series with another character, especially one that isn't even from that universe?  Now I'll agree that the Constantine series seriously needs a sales push, but I figure that his TV show that seems to be blowing up will boost the sales enough to keep our Brash Brit in paneled pages for a long time.  So get Constantine out of Earth 2 and back to kicking magical asses in the good old Prime Universe.  Really I don't understand what I'm bitching about because he'll probably have a page or two in this book and that's it.  Damn lying solicits are always trying to get the better of me.

Earth 2: World's End #7 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Daniel H. Wilson, Marguerite Bennett, Mike Johnson
Art By: Jan Duursema, Keith Champagne, Robson Rocha, Guillermo Ortego, Tyler Kirkham, Joe Weems, Stephen Segovia, Jason Paz, Jorge Jimenez
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 19, 2014

Mother Boxes Had Sex On Jimmy Olsen.....Nuff Said.

Last week in Earth 2: World's End we saw Doctor Fate's whammy on Famine have a bit of a backlash in that he now causes everyone around him to reenact the movie "Thinner", so it's time for a cure and he believes it lies in Jimmy Olsen and the Mother Box that seems to have taken a shine to him.  Ted Grant aka Wildcat made his New 52 debut and Aqua Woman has released a Cthulhu monster on the Apokoliptians, but between you and me, I'm not sure that it can tell the difference between the good guys and the bad guys....... It's a goddamn Cthulhu monster, so pretty much the end is nigh.  During Alan Scott and Grundy's buddy cop team up they came across the avatar of the White, who just so happens to be Alan's dead boyfriend Sam, who we also find out was going to propose to Alan when Alan was going to propose to him......... So I think they'll change their facebook status to "It's Complicated".  That was last week, so let's get to what's going on this week with this issue of Earth 2: World's End.  Let's check it out.

Green Lantern: New Guardians #36 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Justin Jordan
Art By: Diogenes Neves, Marc Deering, Wil Quintana
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 19, 2014

Duping A White Lantern

Welcome to GODHEAD ACT 2 Part 3 where we'll see what's going down with Kyle and Carol on New Genesis, but before we get into it let me tell you that Kyle had some really good reasons to want to go to the home of the New Gods.  Last issue of New Guardians, The Guardians told Kyle that they've purposely kept him away from the other Lantern Corps' because they knew that he had the Life Equation within him after he escaped the Source Wall way back in Green Lantern Annual #2.  So obviously Kyle's pissed and when he tries to leave the Guardians acting more and more like their insane brethren try to stop him..... Well apparently the Life Equation doesn't like being touched because Kyle went ape shit with it's power changing the universe around him and at one point even turning Carol into his long dead girlfriend Alex.  Eventually Highfather came a calling and offered Kyle the chance to have that pesky Life Equation removed and him not wanting to explain to Carol why he pictures her as other women accepts and Highfather, Kyle and Carol boom tube off to New Genesis.  Now you know this can't be good, so let's find out how bad Kyle has it in this issue of New Guardians.

Trinity of Sin #2 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: J.M. DeMatteis
Art By: Yvel Guichet, Jason Gorder
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 19, 2014

The Dark World......... Not That Thor Movie

Last issue of Trinity of Sin we saw our trio of the damned being attacked separately by monster assassins and it really took Pandora calling forth a spell that gave the Trinity the strength to survive.  After Phantom Stranger and Question overpower their attackers, they are transported to Pandora and it looks like it's team up time! Woo!  Only the Question told them to go to hell, so it looks like it's only Pandora and Phantom Stranger having a team up.  After calming himself over the death of Dr. Thirteen, Phantom Stranger felt where the darkness was coming from and our sinful duo flew into space to confront a.......a....... well it's some kind of ancient bird man creature.  Now I wasn't a fan of the first issue of this series, but let's keep our minds open as we check out this issue and see if our heroes can take on that awful bird thing.  Let's check it out.

Red Hood and The Outlaws #36 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Scott Lobdell
Art By: RB Silva, Wayne Faucher
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 19, 2014

Bringing Back Their Girl

Last month in Red Hood and The Outlaws we saw a very disappointing issue that really made me feel terrible because I really want this book to be awesome and it decided to be riddled with nonsense.  Now don't get me wrong, there was some cool stuff going on like Jason sitting with Roy Harper who had been terribly burned as we saw in the end of the issue by a drugged up Starfire and really Jason sitting with Roy and contemplating how they got there that was the highlight of the book.  Hell, Oliver Queen even showed up for that section of the story, but the rest was just the team going after some terrorist cell from some issues back and what happens when you try to be an Outlaw and a drug addict at the same time......... Apparently you burn your boyfriend almost to death.  So let's head back into this world where Jason is still sitting with Roy while flashbacking to him fighting the terrorists and finding his friend.  Let's check it out.

Five DC Comic Books That Deserve Your Help...and Money

I'm going to let you in on a little secret of the Comic Book Industry...if a book doesn't sell well, it gets canceled.  What "sells well" means is up for interpretation and varies from company to company.  As a DC Comics fan, I start getting nervous when a book goes under 20,000/month, start wringing my hands when it dips below 15,000/month and start writing the eulogy if it actually makes it below 10,000/month.  In a perfect world, sales would be a matter of survival of the fittest.  Bad books wouldn't sell and would get canceled.  Good books would sell and continue being published.  Unfortunately, we live in a far from perfect world and you only have to look at a list of cancellations to see that.  Great books like All-Star Western and Animal Man no longer exist and the sales numbers were are a huge reason why.  Sure, sales aren't the only thing that gets a book canceled, but as fans, the best way for us to keep a book going is by buying it.  So, I am listing four books below that are in danger of being canceled and I feel deserve to continue.  If you agree, go buy them.  If you disagree, yell and shake your fist at me.

Top 5 Fridays: Favorite Villains of The New 52

Recently I did a Top 5 Fridays on who my favorite heroes of the New 52 were and I had a bit of fun doing it.  To my surprise the list actually did pretty well and then I was asked who my favorite villains were and I figured why the hell not........... Well as it turns out, figuring out my favorite villains was a lot harder than I originally expected it to be.  I don't know what it is about being able to easily identify who your favorite heroes are, but when it comes time to lay down your top villains, well then you begin over thinking things and you forget to pay your electric bill........ Don't judge, that shit happens.

I like a lot of villains and it's true what people say, a hero is only as good as their villains and man does DC have some great villains.  Now like the heroes list, where I said that I wouldn't be including Justice Leaguers because....... Well because who doesn't love Batman?  So like that list I won't be including Joker here because that's the obvious choice for most people.  Hell, when I ask people who their favorite Batman villain is, I always have to say except for the Joker because I want to get a real answer, none of this phony baloney "I like the most popular villain ever" bullshit.  So no Joker here and no big societies or teams because man were the Court of the Owls really bad ass villains, but as individuals they were pretty weak and that's not a fun list.  Alright enough bullshitting, let's get to this week's list of my Favorite Villains of The New 52.

Supergirl #36 Review

Written by: K. Perkins and Mike Johnson
Art by: Emanuela Lupacchino
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 19, 2014

Making the Grade

I have only recently started reviewing Supergirl and the last two issues haven't been the greatest.  However, this issue features a new creative team and a brand new direction.  K. Perkins, Mike Johnson and Emanuela Lupacchino are taking Supergirl to school...in space.  I love anything ...in space and the thought of a bunch of heroes-to-be hitting the books and gossiping in the halls of Crucible Academy sounds like a win to me. Now, if there's a brain, a jock, a basket case, a princess and a criminal learning about life and themselves on a Saturday, I can die a happy man. Hey, a man can have a dream, right?

Infinity Man and the Forever People #5 Preview

Written by: Dan Didio and Keith Giffen
Art by: Tom Grummet
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 26, 2014

The Forever People must fight off both Red and Green Lanterns – only to be confronted by the terror of Mecha-Darkseid!

How can DC get more people to read this book?  Guest stars with beards, that's how.  What better way to celebrate No Shave November than curling up with your beard and reading about more beards.  Guy Gardner and his awesome Red Lantern beard, Highfather and Darkseid with their Amish beards.  Beards a plenty, folks.  What's that?  Big Bear has a beard.  Not quite, he got the memo late and he's still rocking the George Micheal stubble.  Keep going Big Bear and you'll get there eventually.  Anyway, if you're not reading this book and enjoy old school Kirby New Gods (and beards), check this book out. It's one of the books I enjoy ready each month and it keeps getting better with each issue.

Superman/Wonder Woman #13 Review

Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Art by: Doug Mahnke
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 20, 2014

First Time, Long Time

It seems that every time I turn around there is a new creative team on one of my favorite books.  They have been hit-or-miss as far as quality, but this book has my favorite one...Peter J. Tomasi and Doug Mahnke.  Tomasi is a master of pulling things from the whole DCU into his books which is a thing I also loved about former writer, Charles Soule.  Doug Mahnke has proven to be at his best when illustrating the Justice League so doing Superman and Wonder Woman should be a breeze.  While this first issue of their run wasn't the instant smash I was hoping it would be, I'll give the two a bit of time to settle into the book.  In the meantime,  I'll just sit back and enjoy the cool villains and the mysterious cliffhanger this issue gives us.

Teen Titans #4 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Will Pfeifer
Art By: Kenneth Rocafort
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 19, 2014

Kansas City Shuffle

Last issue of Teen Titans, we saw our young heroes take on the mechanical menace that is Algorithm.  The fight began at the nightclub where the Raven tribute band plays and after Raven began rocking out too hard to the music inspired by her.... Well everyone in the club wanted to hang with the daughter of Trigon and as it turns out, so did Algorithm.  The two clashed for a bit and eventually the rest of the Titans showed up and finished off the nanobot nightmare.  So now it's all cheers and pancakes as the Titans head off to breakfast and Red Robin decides to check up on a clue he discovered that led him to STAR Labs.  Too bad that Algorithm had put herself back together again and the clue left behind was really a trap to get our once Robin isolated and I guess....... eventually dead.  Let's check out what this issue has in store for us and see if we get the fun time that we had last month.  Let's check it out. 

Batman '66: The Lost Episode Review

Written By: Harlan Ellison and Len Wein
Art By: Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Cover Price: 9.99
Release Date: November 19, 2014

The Two-Way Crimes of Two-Face

If you have ever read one of my Batman '66 reviews, you know I am a huge fan of the property, as Batman '66 story ever written has finally been seen by the public. Two-Face was one of the most iconic villains from Batman's comic book history that never actually made it onto the small screen. Fortunately, since DC has been revisiting the Batman '66 property in full force since straightening out the rights issues, one piece of unfinished business finally wrapped.  As well as the current line of comics DC publishes set in that universe. As of today, what may be the greatest

The New 52: Futures End #29 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Brian Azzarello, Jeff Lemire, Dan Jurgens, Keith Giffen
Art By: Patrick Zircher, Hi-Fi
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 19, 2014

Who They Are

For our quick recap this week we'll be talking about Tim Drake going by the name Cal Corcoran and how Lois Lane came into his life and turned it upside down when she told his girlfriend that he was Red Robin.  Now this wouldn't be too bad except that after denying it for weeks, Tim took Lois's advice to come clean to Madison and when he did....... She left him.  No matter how many times Tim apologized it didn't matter and Madison eventually became close with Ronnie Raymond.  If this love triangle isn't enough for you, we also have Dr. Yamazake's continuing spiral into madness since his wife died during the war and his growing hate for the superheroes that didn't save her.  Now the crazed doctor is working on a teleportation machine that would be able to get people out of harms way, but when he eaves drops on his lab assistant Jason Rusch's conversation he finds out Jason's super heroic secret and immediately fires him.  This leads to his friend Madison who we already talked about, going to the lab looking for Jason and Dr. Yamazake kidnapping her and planning on using her for his first human trial.  Tim Drake and Ronnie Raymond teamed up to look for their lady love and we're about all caught up here.  So let's check out what this week's foray into the land of Five Years From Now has in store for us.

Batman/Superman #16 Review

Written by: Greg Pak
Art by: Ardian Syaf
Cover Price: $2.99
Release date: November 19, 2014

A Crisis of Identity

Recently, this book has been struggling to find an identity.  It's been going back and forth to Earth 2 which I didn't really enjoy and the revolving door of artists all seem intent on mimicking Jae Lee's style which I wasn't a fan of in the first place.  Now that the Clean Slate story is over (thank God), we get what feels like a ...clean slate.  Greg Pak is joined by new regular artist, Ardian Syaf, for a story that is intriguing, exciting and just a little bit heavy handed.  Two out of three ain't bad.

Wonder Woman #36 Review

Written by: Meredith Finch
Art by: David Finch
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 19, 2014

No Wonder

I do not envy Meredith and David Finch for having to follow the incredible run of Azzarello and Chiang on this book. It was only one of the best runs of Wonder Woman ever and such a hard act to follow.  However, a creative change usually brings a breath of fresh air to a book and at the very least is a good jumping on point for new readers.  Unfortunately, the Finchs don't really take that route.  Instead of their own spin, they rely so much on the previous run that this issue seems more like an epilogue than the beginning of a new run.

Justice League #36 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Geoff Johns
Art By: Jason Fabok
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 19, 2014

Getting Sick Just Became Worse

Last month in Justice League we saw Bruce becoming partners with Lex Luthor in a joint venture to pull their resources together and make a better world for all of us, but what Lex didn't know is that this was a giant ruse for Bruce to find incriminated evidence that the Justice League could use against the villain turned hero.  During Bruce's private tour of Lex's personal lab an assassin named Neutron breaks in and intends on collecting a bounty put on Luthor's head.  During the scuffle Neutron blows a hole in a containment area and unleashes a outbreak known as The Amazo Virus.  That's where we left off on that issue, let's see what Metropolis looks like twenty four hours later as our heroes try to find Patient Zero and hopefully end this outbreak.  Let's check it out.

Harley Quinn #12 Review

Written by: Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti
Art by: John Timms and Chad Hardin
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 19, 2014

Infinity Rings...and Beyond

I love Harley Quinn and this book has been such a consistently funny read with it's in-jokes, pop culture references and potty humor.  However, a fan can't live on fart jokes alone and after all these issues, the one thing that has eluded this book is an ongoing story. Enter Power Girl.  Her and Harley have been such a great team and guess what?  Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti have used the two of them to give the book the best story since the book started.  I wish "Pee Gee" could stay in this book forever, but when she leaves, fans will always have this awesome arc to read over and over.