Justice League Beyond 2.0 #23 Review

Written by: Christos Gage
Art by: Dexter Soy
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: June 28, 2014

Father Figure

The Justice Lords story running through both Batman Beyond 2.0 and Justice League Beyond 2.0 has been so easy to recommend.  A main reason it's been so good is the shifting focus on some really great characters.  The backbone of this book has been the tragic story of Wonder Woman and Lord Superman.  It all lead to the reveal that Zod was their son.  Everyone was shocked, especially little Zod, himself.  Of course, he responded like a true hero which wasn't a shock to fans of this book.  The crossover will be over in mere weeks and while I can't wait to see how it ends, It'll be bittersweet knowing it's over.  It has been that good.

Aquaman #32 Review

Written by: Jeff Parker
Art by: Paul Pelletier
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 27, 2014

It Swims

Jeff Parker's Aquaman has been more than good, it's been fun.  To me, that is the ultimate goal and Parker has been scoring over and over again.  Since taking over the book, he's been setting up the pieces of his underwater puzzle and to mix metaphors, this issue they are coming home to roost.  Guess what?  It's great fun.  Go figure.

Triton Base may be a fun place to visit, but...actually it's a horrible place to do much of anything nowadays.  The blame goes to Dr. Orson and his "project".  Can you really blame a scientist who splices multiple undersea monsters to the body of a shark attacked diver?  I mean, what could go wrong?  If you really need to know the answer to that, read this issue.  It is right out of an old drive-in horror movie of the 50's which means it's totally awesome.

Smallville: Chaos #4 Review

Written by: Bryan Q. Miller
Art by: Daniel HDR, Agustin Padilla
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: June 27, 2014

Black, Yellow and Gold

Last month's issue of Chaos was one of the best issues I've read in a real long time.  Three (yes, three) awesome cliffhangers can do that sort of thing.  Of course, that sort of awesomeness is a hard act to follow, especially in a weekly book.  Remember, these issues are eventually collected into a print version so there is a bit of ebb and flow that you get used to as a fan.  This week turns up the grim and dismal level to eleven.  It's a turn I didn't see coming, but definitely raises the tension and the stakes quite a bit.

Thank Grodd It's Friday

Top 5 Fridays: Top 5 Masters Of The Universe Characters That Led To He-Man

For this installment of Top 5 Fridays we're going to take a break from the norm, and look at the man that wields the power of Grayskull, well more accurately we're going to take a look at the most important characters throughout the ages of Eternia that led Prince Adam to claim the Sword of Power.

Batman #32 Review

Written by: Scott Snyder
Art by: Greg Capullo
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 26, 2014

Zero Interest 

Zero Year has been great.  Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo have put their stamp on Batman by giving us something old and something new and a mix and twist on both.  So why am I not enjoying myself?  The only thing I can think is that the book is getting stale.  It's probably just me (and how well this book sells, that's a strong possibility), but while each individual issue is really good, I'm really tired of Zero Year as a whole.  Please don't chase me through the streets with pitchforks and torches, but I can't wait for Zero Year to end.

Batman, Jim Gordon and Lucius Fox continue working together to figure out where Nygma is hiding.  They are trying their best, but the Riddler is always one step ahead.  Unfortunately, guessing wrong has become a deadly option that will result in Gotham City being wiped off the map. Watching the three work for Gotham's future is my favorite part of the last couple of issues.  However, the tension when they are separated by Nygma is even better.

All Star Western #32 Review

Written by: Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Art by: Staz Johnson and Fabrizio Fiorentino
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 26, 2014

I Call Shotgun

Let's get it out in the light right off the bat.  All Star Western is ending in August and I'm pretty pissed off about it.  Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray have given us so many great Jonah Hex stories before and during the New 52, but everything must come to an end.  Even when that something is an awesome character driven Western that is unique and so good.  While All Star Western may not fit squarely into the New 52 concept, everything is better with Jonah Hex.  To finish off their run of over one hundred issues, Palmiotti and Gray are getting back to the basics and giving the readers a Western story. As in, the Old West.  No time traveling, no Men of Steel or Batmen in these parts.  Nope, just Jonah and Tallulah drinking, swearing and trying not to kill each other while collecting a bounty. Welcome back All Star, it's so sad to see you go.

Red Lanterns #32 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Charles Soule
Art By: J. Calafiore
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 25, 2014

The End Of The Reds?

Last time we stuck our heads into the Red Lanterns series, we watched a fight between Guy Gardner's Reds, and Atrocitus's Reds for who would take control of the newest Red Lantern "The Judge".  Once The Judge stopped being all crazy murder happy, she decided that she would like to spend some time with Guy Gardner's gang of goofballs to see what side she would ultimately choose to join.  So for now it looks like we have a little extra fire power for when the war with Atrocitus starts.  What's that?  It starts now?  Well let's stop lollygagging and get to it.

Justice League Dark #32 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: J.M. DeMatteis
Art By: Andres Guinaldo
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 25, 2014

Hello Nurse!

Last issue of Justice League Dark we explored what Nightmare Nurse really was, and how she possessed a woman named Alice Winter decades ago.  When Nightmare Nurse lost control of her host and was forced out she was able to send herself to "The Between", where she reached out to Constantine to try and help her reclaim her body.  Surprisingly Constantine agrees and the two head to the House of Mystery, but Zatanna isn't willing to let poor Alice Winter be possessed and controlled by a dark entity she doesn't truly trust.  In the end the JLD fight Constantine, and Zatanna put herself in the way of Nightmare Nurse reclaiming her body, which only means bad news for this issue because now Nightmare Nurse resides in the body of Zatanna.  Let's step into the House of Mystery and see if Nightmare Nurse simply gives the body back and everyone can be friends again, and maybe celebrate a job well done with a sleep over.  Sounds like a Teen Titans Go version of the JLD, anyway let's check it out.

Catwoman #32 Review

Written by: Ann Nocenti
Art by: Patrick Olliffe
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 25, 2014

On Your Marks...Rev It Up...Race!

Webster's defines a "guilty pleasure" as something pleasurable that induces a usually minor feeling of guilt.  Catwoman is my guilty pleasure even if my guilt in enjoying it is far from only minor.  It is a  laugh out loud rip roaring good time even if Ann Nocenti doesn't mean it to be.  I have called for Nocenti to be dropped from this book numerous times, but when the inevitable happens I will be sad. Sure, we'll get a better Catwoman book that the character deserves, but where will my monthly quota of horrible dialogue, ridiculous situations and inane characterization come from?  Well, that's not here nor there because this month we return to the Race of Thieves, the global event that takes place mainly in Gotham and hasn't really involved a race yet.  I say yet, because this month we get an actual race.  So start your camel, tank and bullet train, the race is on.

The New 52: Futures End #8 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Brian Azzarello, Jeff Lemire, Dan Jurgens, Keith Giffen
Art By: Scot Eaton
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 25, 2014

The End Is Nigh..... Five Years From Now

Last week when we traveled Five Years From Now, we saw Frankenstein fight off Black Adam in the Phantom Zone and escape with Ray Palmer and Amethyst without a single escapee.  Go Frankenstein.  Grifter's spine was fixed and he was recruited into a team with Deathstroke and a creepy little girl named Fifty Sue on Cadmus Island.  We had a little bit of argument between Lois Lane and Red Robin's girlfriend Madison that led to nothing, and in the end Mister Terrific cornered Terry McGinnis who retreated to fight another day.  Only problem with that is he left the dead Borg/Brother Eye body of Plastique from the future behind and we can only guess that it will lead to some Cyberdyne type madness in the future.  So let's jump back into this strange future world, and see where this week takes us.

The Flash #32 Review

Written by: Robert Venditti and Van Jensen
Art by: Brett Booth
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 25, 2014

A Cold Goodbye

Venditti and Jensen continue their multi-time Flash story and so far it's been so good for the reader and so bad for the Rogues.  Future Flash is trying to make things right while present day Barry Allen is trying to get his life together and maybe right the ship for young Wally West.  Unfortunately, the Speed Force has been damaged and everything is headed for a collision of epic proportions.  Of course, Brett Booth is along for the fun and his art is fast, detailed and awesome.  Just like The Flash should be.

The issue begins with future Flash paying Captain Cold a visit.  Oh no, not Captain Cold!  If you've read the past Venditti and Jensen issues, you know what happens when a Rogue (or Gorilla for that matter) is featured.  Well, nature and a DNA sequencer have already taken a toll on old Leonard.  It's so sad and so fitting all rolled up into one.

Justice League #31 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Geoff Johns
Art By: Doug Mahnke
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 25, 2014

One Ring To Destroy Them All

The last issue of Justice League saw a brave new world for us to explore where Lex Luthor is the world's greatest hero, and it's driving Superman fucking nuts.  Luthor creates a new Watchtower for the League, and brings in Shazam to add some muscle to the group.  Only problem is none of the League want Luthor on the team.  It was like watching a kid get rejected by a pretty girl.  It was just awkward to see.  So what does Luthor do when he doesn't get his way?  Well apparently he goes and figures out that Bruce Wayne is Batman.  That's what he does right?  If that wasn't bad enough Power Ring's ring is still out there and the League need it's data to find out what's coming from Earth 3, and in the end we see that the ring has found a new host in a very scared woman named Jessica Cruz.  Let's see what trouble the Justice League can get in with it's ever evolving team and story.

Superman #32 Review

Written by: Geoff Johns
Art by: John Romita Jr.
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 25, 2014

A Friend in Need

The New 52 Superman has been a mess and it's such a shame.  While Batman and Wonder Woman have enjoyed great runs, Superman has looked on from the shadows of a mediocre book.  Hell, even Aquaman can laugh at the New 52 Superman.  Well, the laughing stops here.  Geoff Johns is back on a Superman book and he's brought John Romita Jr. along for the ride.  Johns is well known as a champion of ridiculed and down trodden characters.  The already mentioned Aquaman, Vibe...and now Superman.  It doesn't seem right putting Superman in that category, but the New 52 is a strange place.  The Man of Steel is in great hands and as the solicit says, A New Era for Superman begins.

He-Man and The Masters of The Universe #14 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Dan Abnett
Art By: Pop Mhan
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 25, 2014

Family Matters

When we last stepped into Eternia, we traveled a thousand years into the past and witnessed the victory of King Grayskull over the evil Hordak.  But victory would be short lived, when King Hiss in the guise of a trusted "Gar" adviser creates a coup against King Grayskull.  The issue culminated in the "Gar" uprising where they burned the kingdom and murdered it's people, and King Grayskull's trusted handmaiden Saryn slit the throat of her king and loved father figure.  It was an amazing issue, and if you haven't checked it out yet, make sure you do.  With the knowledge of the past, let's jump to the present and find out the secret origin of She-Ra The Princess of Power.

Trinity Of Sin: Pandora #12 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Ray Fawkes
Art By: Francis Portela, Tom Derenick
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 18, 2014

A Savage Change

When we last looked in on Pandora she had decided that she was going to begin "Taking It To The Streets."  But it wasn't all fun and games like when Rog, Dwayne, and Rerun met the Doobie Brothers, no this little foray into the world of superheroism would leave Pandora up against a rogue Agent Kincaid.  Agent Kincaid with the help of a stolen weapon from SHADE known as the immortal killer was able to un-curse Pandora and now our age old heroine is mortal for the first time since she opened the dreaded box.  Even with the handicap Pandora holds her own against Agent Kincaid, and in the end Vandal Savage finally catches up with Pandora and we see him holding her love and weaponsmith Marcus Severin by the neck.  Hopefully Pandora will be able to survive this confrontation with the first immortal Vandal Savage.

The Unwritten - Apocalypse #6 Review

Written by: Mike Carey
Art by: Peter Gross
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 18, 2014

Knight Time

The Unwritten - Apocalypse has been so good and now it's halfway to ending.  It doesn't seem possible with so much yet to find out and see.  It's also heartbreaking knowing we'll have to say goodbye to such great characters...if they live that long, that is.  The way things are going, there may not be many left by then, but at least we'll get to be with them whatever may lie.

The Unwritten - Apocalypse #5 Review

Written by: Mike Carey
Art by: Peter Gross
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 21, 2014

Uncommonly Good

The Unwritten takes a brief detour this issue to give us a Mr. Bun one-shot.  At first, it appears this issue in more for longtime fans than those who started reading at Vol 2, but Mike Carey quickly gets everyone up to speed and twist and turns the story.  At the end it is obvious that this side tale is more important to the overall story than it first seemed and is a good yarn to boot.  Pretty much everything you'd expect from The Unwritten.

Harley Quinn #7 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti
Art By: Chad Hardin
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 18, 2014

Nocturnal Ambition

Last time we checked in on our favorite Loony Tune psychopath, she was teamed up with a geriatric cyborg still holding a grudge against his enemies from the Cold War.  So the two team up and have a all night massacre taking out all the Russian relics of Syborg's past.  After the blood soaked romp the two part ways and Harley comes home to her best gal pal Poison Ivy, who has figured out who put the hit out on Harley's life.  Let's take a trip to Coney Island and see what kind of trouble these two can get in as they hunt down the person who put a target on the back of our dear sweet Harley.

Injustice: Year Two #12 Review

Written by: Tom Taylor
Art by: Bruno Redondo
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: June 24, 2014

This Game is Changed

Injustice: Year Two has been great in many ways.  Tom Taylor has given us the slow burn character moments I love and then hit us hard with the crazy shock and awe that everyone loves.  This combination makes it so much more of a "book" then the spectacle of Year One.  Don't get me wrong, I voted Year One my favorite book of 2013, so what I'm saying is high praise indeed.  Unfortunately, not every issue can be great, even in Injustice.  This issue is one of those good not great issues that crop up now and again.  It's more filler and setup than usual and while it sets up some major events, it is what it is.

Infinite Crisis: Fight for the Multiverse #6 Review

Written by: Dan Abnett
Art by: Stjepan Sejic
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: June 23, 2014

By Daylight Fair...

Infinite Crisis: Fight for the Multiverse may have started off on shaky ground, but Dan Abnett is quickly making up for the few missteps.  Each issue is getting better and better by upping the crazy and turning on the action.  This issue doesn't do any of those. Instead, this issue dials everything back to give us a backstory.  If you expect me to boo hoo about it, though, move along because this was my favorite issue of the series so far.  It didn't hurt that it was Sir Harold's backstory and he is by far my favorite character in the book.  

The Unwritten - Apocalypse #4 Review

Written by: Mike Carey
Art by: Peter Gross
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 23, 2014

Dream Weaver

If you are a reader of The Unwritten, I tip my cap to you the way I imagine a mountain climber does to a fellow climber.  Only someone else who has experienced the same trials and tribulations can truly know each other on that special level.  Some of you are probably thinking, "Jim, we're talking about a comic book here".  Well, if you think that, you haven't climbed the mountain yet.  The Unwritten is a bit more than a comic book, a bit more than a story about stories and a bit more than pages of beautiful artwork.  I wish I could tell you exactly what it is, but it's just something a bit more...and it's ending.  The Unwritten -Apocalypse is the final hurrah and it seems that Mike Carey and Peter Gross have saved the best for last.  This issue ends the War Stories arc and in familiar fashion it's great, confusing and spellbinding.  

The Unwritten - Apocalypse #3 Review

Written by: Mike Carey
Art by: Peter Gross
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 19, 2014

A Mystery wrapped in an...

I know, I know, I'm a lazy bastard.  It's just what makes me special.  That and my complete lack of attention span and inability to act like a normal human being.  Other than those little flaws, I'm fine.  However, my laziness led me down the dark path of falling behind in my reviewing The Unwritten - Apocalypse.  I really liked the first two issues and not reviewing it past then had nothing to do with my enjoyment of the book.  Laziness did.  Well, I'm getting off my duff and putting my nose to the grindstone for a marathon session of the Unwritten.  My plan is to have every issue reviewed (including last week's new #6) by Wednesday.  I'm writing this to force myself to do it, but we'll see if I can hold to my word.  Enough about me, let's get on with the review of The Unwritten -Apocalypse #3.

Just For The Hell Of It Mondays: Don't Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em

Alright all you DC junkies I have to admit to you that I was out of town all weekend, and I didn't have a Just For The Hell Of It Monday prepared for this week, so I'm kind of just throwing this one together.  Now I assume that's already said every week, but damn that's pretty harsh.  Bunch of shit talking bastards.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time #1 Review

Written by: Paul Allor
Art by: Ross Campbell
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 18, 2014

Fun in a Half Shell

First off, I know that TMNT is not a DC comic.  Second, I don't care.  Eric and myself have come to an agreement that some things go beyond who publishes it. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is one of those things.  Add in the fact that this is the start of a mini series with ties to one of our favorite video games of all-time and it's a no-brainer.  So, without further ado, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time #1.

I love having fun, I love the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and I love Dinosaurs.  Paul Allor and Ross Campbell give the reader all three and more.  This book exists to make fans smile.  It comes on the heels of the TMNT Annual...well, actually it doesn't.  That book isn't out yet, but Allor even gets a great joke about that in the beginning into.  This book is truly out of time.

Weird Science DC Comics News: Week of June 18, 2014 Edition

This is a tough week here at Weird Science.  Each year on this weekend, Eric goes to visit his Father's grave.  I have only known Eric for a couple years, but when I started working with him, our common love of everything 80's made us fast friends.  We spend most of our day (actually, more like all) talking about cheesy movies, awesome cartoons and toys from when we were kids.  That always leads to Eric saying, "My Dad introduced me to that", "My Dad made me watch that", "My Dad bought me that".  His Dad really seemed to be
a little kid, himself.  I guess Eric got more from him than his freakish height.   I don't know much about Eric's Dad and their relationship, but when he talks about this stuff, I can tell how much he loved him and also how much he still misses him.  If we ever get off our asses and start our podcast, you will hear plenty of great stories about him.  Two of the best are his idea of what the Star Wars Prequels were about and the names of the Puppets in the Puppet Master movies.  Classics.

The funny thing about me is that I took to these sorts of things as a way to escape my family life.  Don't get me wrong,  my Parent's weren't mean, they just didn't pay much attention to me.  That coupled with a major social anxiety lead me to sitting in my room watching movies and cartoons...alot.  It's kind of a weird way the two of us ended up loving the same things from two completely different paths.  I wish things would of been different, especially for Eric, but I'm glad they ended up this way.


On With the News...