Batman Beyond 2.0 #36 Review

Written by: Kyle Higgins and Alec Siegel
Art by: Thony Silas
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: October 4, 2014

Wrap It Up

I have to admit, the news that this book was canceled really took the wind out of my sails when this arc began.  Also, the fact that it came after such an awesome arc as The Mark of the Phantasm didn't do it any favors either.  However, as it continued I warmed up to it and really started liking what Higgins and Siegel were giving fans.  This week we get the finale and while it was satisfying enough and sets up the end of book, it felt a bit rushed for my tastes.  Remember, this is a Kyle Higgins joint so it's still good, just not as good as I've come to expect.

Smallville: Continuity #6 Review

Written by: Bryan Q. Miller
Art by: Ig Guara
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: October 3, 2014

Feeling Blue

I had been down on Continuity until last week, but that issue swept away my fears that it would be the first Smallville mini that I didn't like.  However, Bryan Q. Miller won me over (again) with some great action, lots of humor and the greatest teamup I didn't even know I wanted...Lois Lane and Lex Luthor.  It was so great and if you haven't read last week's issue, go do it right now, dammit!  Okay, now that you're back, it was great wassanit?  I guess you're wondering if this weeks issue is as good and the answer is almost, but almost still means pretty damn good in this case.

New Suicide Squad #3 Preview

Written by: Sean Ryan
Art by: Jeremy Roberts
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 8, 2014


Enough is enough! The tensions and anger has been building and they can no longer be held back. It’s Harley vs. Joker’s Daughter in an all-out brawl through the streets of Moscow! Meanwhile, Deadshot has been captured by the Russians and is being tortured for information. How can things get any worse? Deadshot’s about to find out.

Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman #8 Review

Written by: Neil Kleid
Art by: Dean Haspiel
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: October 2, 2014

Master of None

Until last week, this book was nailing it week after week.  It has been a celebration of Wonder Woman, but also her fans as well.  Since I'm one of them, it made me feel good to finally have a fun book with my favorite Amazon that I could recommend to others and spread the joy.  I did say "until last week" and anyone who read last week's issue should know what I mean.  However, the great thing about a book like this is even the worst story can be replaced in a week or two and all is right again.  That's the theory at least.  This week we get a new creative team, an awesome retro look and yet another bad issue.  It is only a one shot so let's cross our fingers that next week bucks the trend. Wonder Woman and her fans deserve better.

Batgirl #35 Preview

Written by: CAMERON STEWART and BRENDEN FLETCHER
Art by: BABS TARR
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 8, 2014


Barbara Gordon is no stranger to dusting herself off when disaster strikes… so when a fire destroys everything she owned, she spots the opportunity for a new lease on life — and seizes it! Following the rest of Gotham’s young adults to the hip border district of Burnside, Barbara sets about building an all-new Batgirl… and discovers all-new threats preying on her peers! It’s a re-invention of Batgirl from the boots up, by the incredible creative team of Cameron Stewart (BATMAN INC.), Brenden Fletcher (WEDNESDAY COMICS), and rising star Babs Tarr!

Klarion #1 Preview

Written by: ANN NOCENTI
Art by: TREVOR McCARTHY
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 8, 2014

Klarion the Witch Boy makes his New 52 debut and stands for the forcesof chaos in this new ongoing series!


I'm not going to say anything about getting this book instead of Shazam.  I'm not going to mention that every book Ann Nocenti does nowadays turns into a ridiculous shit fest.  Nope, this preview is like the start of Spring Training in Philadelphia...full of hopes and dreams that will likely be smashed on Wednesday when the book is released.  I will say that Trevor McCarthy's art looks really good.

Detective Comics #35 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Benjamin Percy
Art By: John Paul Leon
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 1, 2014

A Terminal Disease

Okay, Futures End has come and past and now we can get back to some serious detective work for this title.  Remember how excited we were when Buccellato and Manapul took over and the world of Detective Comics seemed like a bright new place where anything could happen under their guidance?  Well don't expect that here.  For whatever reason our creative team has taken a hiatus this month and we're given a story by people I don't know and I don't like not knowing people and I kind of feel like I need an adult as we dive into this story that is brought to us by strangers.  I don't know they could be good guys, I just needed something to write here in my recap section since ICARUS is over and Futures End has no bearing here.  So let's stop the nonsense and see if this book has anything to offer us.  Let's check it out.

Top 5 Fridays: Top 5 Gimmicks In DC Comics History

Who doesn't love a good gimmick every now and then?  The problem is there really are quite few "good" gimmicks out there, but that doesn't matter because even the bad ones have their own charm that allows us to nudge our friend and point and laugh at the hilarity of it all.  As most of you comic book fans are aware, the 90's were rife with gimmicks and even though it almost killed our beloved industry, it seems we always have fond memories when talking about the days of pop up and hologram covers.  It's simple nostalgia that people who weren't there will never understand and since we're a bunch of snobs for the most part, we like to lord it over those people and get a brief sense of pride for merely being born in the right decade.  Yeah I know, I'm making us sound awful, but I know what I am and I won't be ashamed of it anymore.  I'm a awful fanboy jerk and it's okay.  Probably not and I'm losing my point here.  Anyway let's look at some of my favorite gimmicks that DC has used over the years to try and get me and others like me to buy more comics.  I say try and we all know those bastards succeeded.  Let's check it out.

Justice League 3000 #10 Review

Written by: Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis
Art by: Howard Porter
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 1, 2014

The King and Us

Justice League 3000 has no right being among my favorite books.  It's an odd title that lies outside the New 52 (in more ways than one), has a crazy premise and a team I'm still not sure we're supposed to like.  However, it also has a sense of humor, great art and an awesome sense of "what the hell is going to happen next".  This issue proves each of those points and had me grinning the whole time.  It also ended what may be the longest opening arc I've read in a long time.  The Justice League and The Five finally go toe-to-toe, but was it worth the wait?  Let's find out.

Injustice: Year Two Annual #1 Review

Written by: Tom Taylor and Marguerite Bennett
Art by: David Yardin, Daniel HDR, Vicente Cifuentes, Mike S. Miller and Jheremy Raapack
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: October 1, 2014

Deleted Scenes

It's no surprise to anyone following our little site that Injustice is one of my favorite books.  Tom Taylor does such a great job with every character he throws at the reader (and there are quite a few) and I think that Bruno Redondo is DC's best kept secret on art.  I never thought I'd complain about getting more Injustice, but this Annual is the first.  I have my reasons.  First off, DC has screwed up again and released it on the day Year Three started instead of the empty week between Year Two and Three.  Second, Tom Taylor only provided the plot and there is no Bruno Redondo in sight. The last reason is these two stories are forced and way too predictable.  In other words, I hated it.

Arrow Season 2.5 #3 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Marc Guggenheim, Keto Shimizu
Art By: Joe Bennett, Craig Veung
Digital Price: $0.99
Release Date: September 29, 2014

The Man Behind The Mask

If you've been following the Arrow Season 2.5 story line then this won't do you any good, but this is my recap time and I'm going to use it.  When last we stepped into the world of Arrow we were desperately waiting for Season 3 to begin on TV, but we also saw that Roy was severely injured by gunfire when Oliver and him took down a drug smuggling plane.  It also seems that Detective Lance has been in a coma since the Season 2 finale and even though we saw him die by Ravager's blade, it seems that Brother Blood is alive and well and recruiting homeless off the streets to join his secret army.  Yeah things could be better for Ollie right now and couple all that with the fact that he doesn't have any money anymore, I would say that our Emerald Archer could really use a hug.  So let's jump into this issue and see what's going down in Starling City.

Green Arrow #35 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Ben Sokolowski, Andrew Kreisberg
Art By: Daniel Sampere
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 1, 2014

Trying To Hit The Mark

Alright boys and girls, the Outsider War is over and Green Arrow is back in Seattle with a new direction and creative team taking over the reigns of our Emerald Archer.  Another big change you might find here is that Jim isn't reviewing this book anymore and that means it falls to me and I'm going to SPOIL the shit out of it.  I apologize in advance if you don't want to know everything going on in Green Arrow, but that's what I do and that's what you'll get.  So let's dive into this issue and see what Ollie is up to and if this new direction can match the beloved run of Jeff Lemire and Andrea Sorrentino.  I'd like to say hopefully not because personally I wasn't a fan of that run, but that's neither here nor there.  Oh and also you should know that this new direction also includes turning our beloved Green Arrow into something that more resembles his television counterpart, so hopefully you're still on board.  Let's check it out.

The New 52: Futures End #22 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Brian Azzarello, Jeff Lemire, Dan Jurgens, Keith Giffen
Art By: Patrick Zircher
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 1, 2014

Oh God, What The Hell Is That!?

For your quick recap you'll need to know that Red Robin's girlfriend left him when he came clean about his past, Lois Lane has outed Shazam as impersonating Superman and Jason Rusch is working on a teleportation device with Dr. Yamazake.  Grifter's old friends have been on the run from King Faraday and I don't really know where this story will go.  Batman Beyond broke into Terrifitech with Key, Coil and Plastique and after getting the information about Brother Eye that he needed, he set off an alarm getting Key and Coil caught by the guards, but when he went to take out Plastique, he couldn't bring himself to do it because he saw her staring at her future dead borg self.  Out in space Frankenstein, Amethyst and Hawkman have been held prisoner by Hawkman's old teammate The Engineer, who is now being controlled by Brainiac.  Okay, I think that should do all of you for this issue that haven't been keeping up with the story.  Let's check out what the future holds for us this week.

Grayson #3 Review

Written by: Tim Seeley and Tom King

Art by: Mikel Janin

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: October 1, 2014

That's My Dick

I know that people have had mixed feeling on Grayson.  Heck, I'm one of them.  Nightwing is (was?) my favorite hero and his solo book was getting better and better before it was canceled as a result of what I think was a cheap gimmick at the end of Forever Evil. When Grayson was announced it was yet another slap in the face by DC and the first issues didn't dull the pain.  I can happily report that after this issue, the pain has finally gone away a bit.  It still stings, but if Seeley, King and Janin continue with issues like this, I may be able to finally move on.

Justice League #34 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Geoff Johns
Art By: Scott Kolins
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 1, 2014

Getting Acclimated

Last time we waltzed through the pages of Justice League we saw our team taking on The Doom Patrol for possession of Jessica Cruz and the Earth-3 Power Ring.  While Chief of The Doom Patrol figured he'd conduct some sort of brain surgery on Jessica to get the Power Ring off, Lex decided that the best way to stop the ring was to shock the shit out of Jessica until she was unconscious.  Both were dick hole plans and in the end all it took was Batman talking to her to calm her down.  That's right folks the one hero that uses fear as his power was able to stop Jessica from being afraid and saves the day through talking.  I'm still not sure if I'm okay with that ending, but it is what it is.  Cyborg got a bit scrambled when he tried to interface with the ring, but besides for that all was well and Jessica was taken to the Watchtower to get more help from the Justice League and the issue ended with Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman deciding to let Lex Luthor into the League in order to keep a closer eye on him.  So let's check out this strange world where Lex is a member of the Justice League and I'm okay with it.  Strange.

Green Lantern #35 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Robert Venditti
Art By: Billy Tan
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 1, 2014

Time To Get Spanked

Here we are with Act 1 Part 2 of GODHEAD and man what an issue we're about to get into.  Leading us here is this week's beginning to the story Green Lantern/New Gods: GODHEAD #1 and man did it set a stage.  After searching for the Life Equation for what is a long time for a God, Highfather finally finds a clue by communing with the petrified Relic in the Source Wall, who spoke of a Lantern that breached the wall and discovered it's secrets within.  So Highfather decided to gather all seven rings of the emotional spectrum to use in a device to breach the wall himself and discover the Equation that would finally end the war between Darkseid and himself.  Only problem is that the device that harnessed the rings power didn't work the way they expected, so it's off to find the mythical White Lantern and see what secrets he holds.  So yeah, a big assault against all the seven Corps across the universe, you know that won't go unanswered for.  So let's check out this next part as we begin our journey into this long long crossover.  Let's dive in.

Lobo #1 Review

Written by: Cullen Bunn
Art by: Reilly Brown
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 1, 2014

My Main Man

I must start this review with a disclaimer.  I am not the biggest Lobo fan in the World.  Somewhere that guy is sitting in his basement, looking like an overweight Gene Simmons with dreadlocks, yelling to his elderly mother to make him a hot pocket.  Nope, not me.  In fact, I don't really have much of a history with Lobo.  That's okay because this ain't your big brother's Lobo.  This is sexy time Lobo (or Faux-bo, if you will) seen in last years Villains Month issue.  I'd call him the main man, but that moniker goes to series writer Cullen Bunn.  The golden boy of villains and anti-heroes everywhere gets the unenviable task of fully replacing a cult favorite character with an already much maligned reboot and does a pretty good job of it.  I'm sure the internet chat rooms will still be in an uproar, but I enjoyed this issue and am looking forward to seeing where Bunn takes the character.

Batman: Eternal #25 Review

Written by: James Tynion IV
Art by: R.M. Guera
Cover Price: #2.99
Release Date: September 24, 2014

We are Fam-i-ly 

I've been having a weird relationship with this book.  I tell all my friends that I'm sick of it and will stop reading it, but I keep coming back.  When I'm with it, I have such a good time, but as a whole I'm just not that impressed.  At least I don't drive by it's house late at night to see if any one's there with it...yet.  This issue is a bit more setup than usual, but I liked it.  It's a pretty straight forward story with a lot to like if you're a fan of the Bat family and Robin(s) in particular.  I am both so I had a smile throughout this dark and dismal tale.  I'm sick like that.

Star Spangled War Stories featuring G.I. Zombie: Futures End #1 Review

Written by: Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Art by: Scott Hampton
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 24, 2014

Zombiacolypse Now!

What an odd thing, having a Futures End issue for a book that is only a couple of issues in.  I know DC did the same with Grayson, but that issue was mainly about Dick and everyone knows Dick, right?  I can't say the same about G.I. Zombie.  I hardly know the undead soldier, but here he is in his own Futures End title and he's brought his partner, Carmen, along for the ride...kind of.  This story is fun, action packed and really has no right to exist.  In the end, however, I'm glad it does.

Injustice: Year Three #1 Review

Written by: Tom Taylor
Art by: Bruno Redondo and Xermanico
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: September 30, 2014

Well,  I'll be Someone's Uncle                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Injustice is back, baby!  I know it's only been a few weeks, but when you love something as much as I do this comic, any wait feels like an eternity.   Well, the wait is over and if you are a fan of Injustice, you are probably wondering what kind of story Tom Taylor is going to give us this Year.  Year one crazy action and death?  Year Two slow burn character building?  Maybe a combination...we'll call slow, crazy, action building death or something entirely new.  Of course, I have no idea yet, but after reading this issue I can't wait to find out more.

You Mean I Have To Mail Something? DC's 75th Anniversary of Batman Adds Stamps

I guess I can admit that these stamps look pretty cool, but that doesn't take away from the fact that they're still stamps.  For the mass majority of us out there, we all love Batman and Batman related things and what better an opportunity to blast the market place in the face with Bat merch than the characters 75th anniversary?  The quick answer is it doesn't really matter because we'll always buy The Bat.  Now while all the philatelists out there, that's stamp collectors to you and me, might be getting all wet over the announcement of a collection of stamps, I've left wondering, "Do I keep these?  Do I have to get a pen pal?"  Maybe the simple answer is that I simply buy them, lick'em a bit and "Puttin' On The Ritz".  Yeah that's a stretch to try and make a joke, but isn't that what Taco's "Puttin' On The Ritz" was all about?  Stamps?  I'll go with it and you'll go with your new sweet stamp collection you can get over at DC Comics main page.  A little nostalgia for those of you that are stuck in the digital age.

Infinite Crisis: Fight for the Multiverse #20 Review

Written by: Dan Abnett
Art by: Christian Duce
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: September 29, 2014

Are Those Metallos?

DC Comic fans have multiple options when it comes to Multiverse action these days.  You can't turn around without tripping over a different Earth or character.  Unfortunately, this book is the weakest of them all.  It's a shame because this book has a cool cast of characters and the basis of a cool story, but the problem lies in it's execution.  The dialogue is horrendous and the plot is moving at a snail's pace. If you want an example, check out this issue because the problems that plague this series are all here.  Better yet, skip this issue and save your money. This has been a public service announcement from Weird Science.

Swamp Thing #35 Preview

Written by: Charles Soule
Art by: Jesús Saíz
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: October 1, 2014

“THE MACHINE QUEEN,” part 1: Between the Red, the Rot, the Green and the Grey, Swamp Thing thought he’d seen it all. But now he’s about to meet the avatar of a whole new Kingdom whose impact on the lives of all humanity goes deeper than even the Green’s – the Machine! And when Swampy gets the opportunity to step aside and allow the Machine to take over, he may have good reason to accept the offer!


I was so upset when I heard that Charles Soule was leaving DC Comics because Swamp Thing is one of my favorite books.  He has expanded the Swamp Thing mythos so much and this issue goes even further with the introduction of the Machine.  I know it's only a couple days away, but i can't wait.

Green Lantern/New Gods: GODHEAD #1 Preview

Written by: Justin Jordan, Van Jensen, Cullen Bunn, Charles Soule, Robert Venditti
Art by: Various, Rags Morales, Billy Tan, Pete Woods, Ethan Van Sciver, 
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: October 1, 2014







“GODHEAD” Act 1, Part 1: Highfather, leader of the New Gods, has long studied the infinite and infinitely mysterious Source Wall which surrounds the universe. Now, he has learned that during “Green Lantern: Lights Out,” the ring-wielders broke through the Wall and stole secrets of cosmic importance. Determined to breach the Source Wall himself, Highfather must gain one of each colored ring in the emotional spectrum. But even mighty Highfather doesn’t know all, and the forces he’s about to unleash will have transformative effects on the whole DC Universe! Cosmic mystery, overwhelming odds, familiar and brand-new New Gods – This one’s got it all! This issue also includes a special fold-out that will take you to the Source Wall like never before!

Just For The Hell Of It Mondays: Booster Gold

Well it's happened all you herophiles out there, our beloved Booster Gold has finally come back to comics with his very own Booster Gold: Futures End tale.  Now while I'd love to say that I was digging this harder than a grave robber, I have to be honest because.........  Well I don't have any reason to be honest, that's just the kind of guy I am.  Sorry ladies this man child is taken.  But anyway I didn't completely read the Booster Gold issue, yeah I read a bit and scanned through the rest, but what I took away from it was utter confusion.  Now that could just be me being an idiot and not paying attention to what I was reading......... and that seems to be the case since Jim gave the book a 8/10.

Aquaman and the Others: Futures End #1 Review

Written by: Dan Jurgens
Art by: Sean Chen
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 24, 2014

The Other

This issue is a continuation of the Aquaman: Futures End title earlier this month and if you haven't read my review for that (here), let me fill you in...I hated it.  It basicaly ruined everything I love about the regular series run and was an exposition filled crap fest.  I would say I don't mean to sound harsh, but I do.  As far as the Others go, I haven't been a fan of the series, so if Dan Jurgens wants to ruin them, I won't stand in his way.  However, he redeems himself a bit in this issue.  It's not great, but at least I didn't want to punch anyone after reading it.  I guess that's something.

Batman: Eternal #26 Preview

Written by: Tim Seeley, Kyle Higgins, Ray Fawkes, James T Tynion IV, Scott Snyder
Art by: R.M. Guera
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 1, 2014




Martial law is imposed on Gotham City! Learn the secret history of one of Batman’s most dangerous foes as he takes center stage!

Catwoman: Futures End #1 Review

Written by: Sholly Fisch
Art by: Patrick Olliffe
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 24, 2014

Crack that Whip

I sound like a broken record, but this Futures End Event has been pretty disappointing to me.  Yes, there have been some highs (Harley, Swamp Thing, Green Arrow), but the lows have been lower and more plentiful than usual.  Then there is Catwoman.  Believe me, being a reader of Ann Nocenti's regular run has set the bar very low for any story featuring Selina Kyle and yet this issue barely clears it.  It's not a bad story and I don't blame Sholly Fisch or Patrick Olliffe, but everything here feels shallow and unnecessary.

DC Comics Best Covers of the Week 9/27/14

Finally, the last week of the Futures End Event.  I'm not saying the Event was bad (actually, I am), it's just that I hate those 3D covers so much.  I can't wait to get back to the regular series with their regular stories and their regular covers.  That being said, there were a couple of covers I liked this week.  Of course, I am a huge Green Arrow fan so it was not hard for me to select my favorite.  Enough chit chat...on with the covers.

Five Questions With...Pop Mhan

There are a couple benefits of doing a website like ours.  Long hours of work for no money, people laughing at us when they find out what we do, no free time at all...wait a minute, all of these aren't benefits.  Why the hell do we do this?!?!  Well, one of the real benefits is getting to talk to some of the creators of our favorite books.  It's even better when they end up being nicer and cooler than we ever would have guessed.  One such guy is Pop Mhan.

When we review a book or write an article, we put it up on Twitter and it makes us so happy when a creator retweets it and to a lesser extent favorites it  (why won't Geoff Johns retweet anything I do!?!?!), but from the get go, Pop Mhan actually talked to us.  Us?!?! Two idiots from Quakertown who read comic books for a nonliving.  The best is, he gives Eric shit for his reviews on He-Man and the Masters of the Universe which is hilarious.  We truly consider Pop a friend of our site and when we came up for the idea of Five Questions With...we knew we had to get him on it.  Well, the time is now and I'd like to thank Pop for doing this and for being a great guy in general.  Now, if I can force Eric to give He-Man a 10/10 to keep up with my side of the bargain...