Batwoman #30 Review

Written by: Marc Andreyko
Art by: Jeremy Haun
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 16, 2014

Slowly Spinning a Web

Marc Andreyko's short run on Batwoman has been good.  He has done a bang up job with lead Kate Kane, especially when it comes to her relationship with Maggie and more recently with her daughter Jamie.  Where the book has been lacking, however, is in the actual story being told.  The Art Mystery comes off as a poor man's Da Vinci Code and the Wolf Spider is a pretty weak villain.  It doesn't help that the story has been in neutral with Andreyko pushing it down the road slightly each issue.  This issue pretty much is par for the course.  We get some silly action, a hint at a major personal conflict in the future and a little bit of overall story progression.

Batman and Wonder Woman #30 Review

Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Art by: Patrick Gleason
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 16, 2014

It's the Pits

I Loved Damian.  I'd do anything to get the little pumpkin headed brat back in the Robin outfit by his Father's side.  Peter J Tomasi was at his best with Batman and Robin.  Since then, the Batman and (insert character here), unfortunately, has ranged from good to simply unnecessary.  Last months  Batman and Aquaman was dangerously nearing the later.  This month, Batman and Wonder Woman gets there.

Smallville: Lantern #6 Review

Written by: Bryan Q. Miller
Art by: Marcio Takara
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: April 18, 2014

Game On

The Green Lantern Corps doesn't know of a treaty, but they have a few secrets.  Oliver is out "sleuthing", but forgot to mention it to Chloe.  We see two big bads face-to-face and one is bigger and badder than them all.

We are half way through this Lantern mini and Bryan Q. Miller is messing with my mind.  Just when I think I have a grip on where the story is going, he makes a left turn into WTF ville.  This issue has a huge moment that makes this already good story totally epic.  Suddenly, there is so much more at stake than just Sector 2813.

Thank Grodd It's Friday

Top 5 Fridays: Villains That Should Be In Batman '66

This week's Top 5 comes from a discussion that Jim and I were having in the Weird Science Cave, about our love for the 1960's Batman TV show, and how insane it is that over the course of 120 episodes they only had 30 villains.  Obviously since we loved the show so much, we really get into the Batman '66 comic series by Jeff Parker.  If your not familiar with Batman '66 it's a comic series that continues as if the show had never left the air.  Pretty cool right?  Well we think so, and as far as we can see it only suffers from a few problems.  It relies too much on old jokes, old villains, and doesn't bring anything new to the pop culture phenomenon that the '66 show was, and in our opinion still is.  So for this week's Top 5 Friday we're going to take a look at villains in Batman's rogues gallery that pretty much beg to be a part of this series.  Now I don't want to catch shit for these choices because some of the villains were created after the show ended, that doesn't matter to us.  Criteria for being on the list is character's looks, personality, back story, and pretty much just because I say so.  That's right mom I'm in charge now.  Oh and Jeff Parker, I'm not saying that I need to be named co-author on any of the Batman '66 issues you get out of this, but I don't think an honorable mention is too far out of line.  So let's dive into the list and see "Villains That Should Be In Batman '66".

Supergirl #30 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Tony Bedard
Art By: Emanuela Lupacchino
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 16, 2014

Always Say Die!

Last time we saw Supergirl was actually Red Lanterns #29, and in that issue we saw Kara go up against her cousin Superman.  Well they had a small spat, she really only hit him with a cargo ship.  As you can image Superman wasn't too pleased with Kara being a Red Lantern, but in the end he decided that if this is what she wants to do who is he to stand in the way.  But imagine it more as if he's cutting her out of the family because of the way she's been acting since the beginning of the New 52.  All in all Guy Gardner got the threat of bodily harm if anything happens to Supergirl, and when the team make their way back to Ysmault they find a bloody Bleez who tells our team that Atrocitus is coming.  Let's see what the new protectors of sector 2814 are up to this month.

Wonder Woman #30 Review

Written by: Brian Azzarello
Art by: Goran Sudzuka
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 16, 2014

Gods and Monsters...and Bondage Minotaur

Let me start off by telling you, I'm not a lifelong fan of Wonder Woman.  I always liked her whenever she popped up in what I was watching or reading, but I never followed her solo titles.  Until the New 52. Actually, until we started out little site to review the New 52.  When we divided up the books, I got "stuck" with Wonder Woman.  As it turns out, it was like getting "stuck" with a winning lottery ticket.  I was immediately enthralled by Brian Azzarello's mythological take, but it was the depth of character and interactions that hooked me in.  His characters are real people, gods and people alike.  Cliff Chiang's artwork didn't hurt one bit either.  After thirty issues, I still am in love with the book for all the same reasons.  

Sinestro #1 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Cullen Bunn
Art By: Dale Eaglesham
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 16, 2014

Fear Itself

Here we are with a brand new Lantern title, and unlike when Larfleeze started, I'm psyched.  As far as I can tell this title takes place after Forever Evil because our favorite face of fear has parted ways with Parallax, and has been spending his time isolated from the rest of the universe.  So let's dive in and see what pulls Sinestro from his self imposed exile, and puts him back in the game.  What game you ask.  Well the game of FEAR!  Let's get started.

DC Finally Announces Their New Weekly Series, Earth 2: World's End

It's been talked about for awhile now, but as you all know talk's cheap and I wasn't willing to get my hopes up for something that might never happen.  Earth 2: World's End will be the new weekly title coming out of DC starting in October, and I can't wait.  The writing team will consist of Tom Taylor, Daniel H. Wilson, Paul Levitz, Marguerite Bennett, and Mike Johnson, and the art will be provided by Tyler Kirkham, Eddy Barrows, Jorge Jimenez Moreno, Paulo Siqeira, and Stephen Segovia.

That's all well and good, but the one name we're missing to get me worked up to almost completion is Nicola Scott.  For some reason in my mind Nicola Scott is needed to make an Earth 2 book, and I don't know if the regular title would be as popular as it is without her.  We'll have to wait and see but I'm hyped man.  I had a bit of an issue dealing with Forever Evil: Blight being every week, and I got a bit burnt out from it.  But Earth 2 is a joy to read every month, and I don't think October can come quick enough.

Looking at the promotional art here it looks like we get a few spoilers about the fate of our Worlds' Finest duo.  It looks like Power Girl and Huntress finally make there way back to Earth 2, and what that means for their own title I don't know, but it would seem weird keeping it going with a weekly title, and the monthly Earth 2 book.  Who knows maybe we'll get three Earth 2 books then, and I'm still cool with it.  So get hyped up, and build a time machine for me so I can get this weekly title ASAP.

Justice League #29 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Geoff Johns
Art By: Doug Mahnke
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 16, 2014

Rage Against The Machine

It's late but it's finally here.  Last issue of Justice League we saw Cyborg search out Dr. Magnus, to get the aid of his Metal Men to take down the Crime Syndicate, and free the Justice League from Firestorm's matrix.  Well we saw that and the awesome back story to the Metal Men, if you missed that check out the SPOILED review HERE.  Now it's time to reactivate the Metal Men, and for Cyborg to get a little curb stompin' payback on Grid.  Let's check it out.

Batman Eternal #2 Review

Written by: Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
Art by: Jason Fabok
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 16, 2014

Better Than A Train Wreck

Batman Eternal is a weekly comic.  That means it comes out every week for the year long event.  Every week.  I'm not sure the multiple writers got the memo because they shove so many plot points and new characters into issue #2 it is almost ridiculous.  I say almost because it is pretty damn good as well.  A big, awesome mess of a story.

Last weeks issue left people dead, Batman confused and Jim Gordon in handcuffs.  Spoiler issues aside (I'm still a bit mad at DC for that), the first issue of Eternal was good.  Knowing the length of the story, I didn't expect tons of answers this week, but I also didn't expect so many more additions.  In fact, there might be too much here.  I know, how can I complain about getting too much?  Well, everything is just thrown at the reader without much transition.  I wouldn't say it's confusing, but it is an overload.  It would have been nice to let some of the big things sink in.

Batman #30 Review

Written by: Scott Snyder
Art by: Greg Capullo
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 16, 2014

Madness Is Coming At Ya

Zero Year has been Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo's ambitious retelling of Batman's origin.  It's been great because of the winks and nods at the past while establishing it's own mythos.  The final chapter, Savage City, is here and the title is fitting.  Gotham City is barely recognizable.  Where the first two parts seemed familiar enough to grasp, Savage City is different.  This difference is not just a surprise to the reader, but to Bruce Wayne as well.

The issue opens with a flashback/dream sequence reminiscent to the Tokyo Moon bit that started the Zero Year story.  It's quick, eerie and I'm sure will pay dividends in the future.  This is Scott Snyder, you know. Then, after a shout out to No Man's Land, we get to the heart of the matter, Bruce Wayne didn't come out of Dark City unscathed.  In fact, it looks like he's been out of it for a while..

Red Hood and The Outlaws #30 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Wil Pfeifer
Art By: Rafael Sandoval, RB Silva
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 16, 2014

Deadly Robots, Frankenstein, Aliens, Yeah We've Got An Issue

When last we saw our tenacious trio, they were hanging out, relaxing and taking a breather from the world of mobsters, monsters, and the league of assassins.  But the world didn't want to leave them alone, and a group of aliens came to the Outlaws remote island to steal Starfire's ship, and they got Arsenal as a bonus.  So we have Red Hood and Starfire kicking the shit out of an ET left behind to get intel on where the ship's heading, and we have Roy pulling a John McClane in the vents of the ship.  All in all we had a great time and a great issue.  Let's see if the fun can continue and dive right in.

The Lost Boys: G.I. Combat #1 Review

Written by: Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti and J.T. Krul
Art by: Ariel Olivetti and Dan Panosian
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 2, 2012



The Book that DC Forgot

This post is the first in what may be a continuing series where I go back and review New 52 comics that have been canceled.  They are also comics that I always wanted to get around to reading, but for one reason or another I never did.  The first is G.I. Combat by J.T. Krul, Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti.  I have to admit, when this book was announced it was kind of a laughing point with Eric and Myself at work.  I would walk by and say "G.I. Combat?" and we would both giggle.  We're stupid like that.  Of course, this was way before we started reviewing comics.

When we started the site and divided up the books, I got two that I wasn't reading yet.  Batwing and All Star Western, both written by Palmiotti and Gray.  I fell in love with both (books, not the men) and looked to see what other books they wrote.  G.I. Combat?!?!  Well, I have read it and it is no longer a joke, but is it any good?

Old Time Tuesday: Adventures of Superman ep 8 "Fuel"

Old Time Radio is so great.  I know it's not all the rage these days with the kiddies, but I love it so much.  I
have suffered from ADHD all my life, but for some reason I can put on OTR, close my eyes and sail away into my mind.  Here is a quick top five of my favorite OTR shows:

5. The Martin and Lewis Show
4. Six Shooter
3. Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar
2. The Adventures of Superman
1. The Jack Benny Show

DC Comics Announces Grant Morrison's Multiversity Details

I hope this is President Superman

It seems like a century ago when Grant Morrison first talked about his Multiversity comic.  In fact, Eric and myself actually figured it was cancelled before it came out. Well, CBR proved us wrong by announcing it's coming in August and even showed some artwork.

Adventures of Superman #51 Review

Written by: Jerry Ordway
Art by: Steve Rude
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: April 14, 2014

Kirby's Epic Yarn

Jerry Ordway and Steve Rude give us a Jack Kirby tribute wrapped around an Adventures of Superman issue.  Superman may be on the marquee, but the star here is OMAC the One Man Army Corps.

Superman is called into action by STAR LABS to stop an ansteroid heading on a collision course with Metropolis.  The asteroid, Kurtzberg-17, is the first nod to Kirby. When he goes into space to investigate, he finds the asteroid and a whole lot more.  A transforming (or maybe just forming?) robot, kryptonite, villains from the future and OMAC  There is so much going on.  

Constantine #13 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Ray Fawkes 
Art By: ACO
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 9, 2014

Coming To Terms With The Spellbinder

Forever Evil: Blight is over, and last we saw of our antihero, he was cowering away and leaving his friends to fend for themselves.  Luckily Zatanna picked up Constantine's slack, and the Justice League Dark survived Nanda Parbat and Project Thaumaton.  So where does this leave Constantine?  Let's dive into this very strange issue, and try to decipher what's going on together.

Just For The Hell Of It Mondays 4/14/14

Continuing with our April theme of "How Bad We Had It In The 90's", this week we'll dive into the live action Superboy television show that most people have completely forgotten about.  Hell even when I thought back on it, I swore up and down that Superboy was played by Jerry O'Connell.  But like most things in life, I was wrong, and the role went to someone named John Haymes Newton for the first season, and then to Gerard Christopher for the rest of the series.  Don't feel bad if you have no idea who these people are, neither do I and I'll continue to have fond memories of Jerry O'Connell as The Teen Of Steel.  Now I'm going to rant a little bit more, because last Friday I saw Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and throughout the movie I kept thinking "Fuck you kids of today".  Not only do you get another badass superhero movie, but even before I saw it the "Hail Hydra" memes had started, and they're hilarious.  Back in the 90's we'd see a shitty superhero movie, leave the theater, and there wouldn't be any memes.  Hell in the early and mid 90's the only people with computers you could find were the kids who's parents worked for some sort of computer company or Matthew Broderick from War Games.  No computers, and certainly no interwebs the way you think of it today, just us secretly singing "Kiss From A Rose", and wondering just how far Riddler and Two-Face actually took their relationship.  Man I wish I was fifteen right now.  Okay enough ranting let's make things really shitty on the superhero front and travel back to 1991 to the easily forgettable Adventures Of Superboy.  In this week's clip we see Superboy living out his worst nightmares which appear to be him as a robot, and the wrestler Lex Luger becoming Superboy.  Yup it's the 90's alright.  Enjoy, and I'll see you in seven.  Boosh!

Green Lantern Corps #30 Review

Written by: Van Jensen
Art by: Scott Kolins and Chris Batista
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 9, 2014

Oh Brother, What Art is That?

I have been enjoying Green Lantern Corps lately.  I like the "Space Cops travel the Universe" vibe Van Jensen has given us and when Bernard Chang pencils it, it looks amazing.  However, I have not been a fan of the Durlans or this storyline.  For one, it's been a little confusing.  The Durlans and the Khund are real hard to tell apart and when it comes down to it, I just haven't cared for either of them.  No, what I've liked is seeing the various Lantern recruits learn the ropes with the guidance of John Stewart.  Unfortunately, Jensen doesn't give much of that this issue, but he does try to make readers care about the Durlan by giving a much needed history lesson.  But is it any good?

The Royals: Masters of War #3 Review

Written by: Rob Williams
Art by: Simon Coleby
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 9, 2014

War, Huh! What is it Good For?

For the uninitiated, The Royals: Masters of War is a six part story set during World War Two in an alternate timeline where Earth's Royal Families all have super powers.  Since these powers could end existence if used, they have agreed to a treaty as where no matter what happens (like say, a World War), they will always remain neutral. Sounds great on paper, but as we saw in the first two issues of the series, Britain's Prince Henry has broken the treaty to save England during the Battle of Britain.  As the Allies hail him as a hero, Henry's actions have mobilized the other Royals.  Last issue showed that Japan's Royal Family is not going to sit on the sidelines anymore and they pay America a little visit.  This issue shows they mean business.

Weird Science DC Comics News: Week of April 9, 2014 Edition

Time for another week of news, kiddies.  On a personal note, I haven't got any resolution on my parked car being totaled by a possibly drunk driver last weekend.  I have a rental car so I can get to work, yippee! Hopefully I hear something soon. News this week included the Jackson Four are lazy (don't tell Joe), Terrell Owens owes some money, a MacGyver villain is being threatened and Shadowfax was put down.  I had my eye on that beautiful steed for quite some time now.  Such a loss.  Oh well...