Saturday, May 30, 2015

Convergence: Infinity Inc. #2 Review

Written by: Jerry Ordway
Art by: June Brigman
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 27, 2015

Infinitely Confusing, Inc.


This has been such a hard tie-in for me to review.  First off, it's the one I am the least familiar with.  I have NO previous interaction with the Infinity Inc. team besides laughing at Eric for liking the Star Spangled Kid.  Second, Jerry Ordway (who co-created the team) didn't hold any hands when it came to jumping in.  I'm sure that if you are an Infinity Inc. fan, you were sitting in your mansion, eating strawberries the size of hand fruit, enjoying one last fling with your favorite team while I sat here, struggling to follow this book while eating stupid, regular sized strawberries.  Why did I review it then?  We only have two guys on the site and I promised myself we would review every book. Stupid promises lead to stupid reviews.  I apologize in advance.  And away we go...

Convergence: World's Finest #2 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Paul Levitz
Art By: Jim Fern, Ron Wagner, Joe Rubinstein, Wayne Faucher, Jose Marzan Jr., Paul Mounts
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 27, 2015


2001: A Scribbly Jibbet Odyssey 


*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Man, was the first issue to this two-parter a downer, but it was able to go above and beyond and make me a fan to something I had worries about going in.  A Scribbly Jibbet joint?  When I want to see a pure Seven Soldiers of Victory story.......... nonsense.  Who knew it would go and touch me in a way that I'm not ashamed to show people on a doll where it was and make it one of my favorites of last month's Crisis titles.  As for the downer parts, we saw before the dome came down that Green Arrow and Speedy were killed and during our heroes time under the dome, Stripesy would get sick and without proper dome HMO, he died of pneumonia.  Once the dome was lifted though we saw things turn around as Sir Justin's youth was restored and he was chosen to represent Metropolis against their Qwardian opponents......... hopefully Scribbly Jibbet doesn't get him killed.  Let's check it out.

Convergence: Detective Comics #2 Review

Written by: Len Wein
Art by: Denys Cowan, Bill Sienkiewicz and Chris Sotomayor
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 27, 2015

Red Son Burn


The first issue of Convergence: Detective Comics had me torn.  I didn't like what we got of Dick and Helena, but I loved Red Son Superman...I just wanted more.  So, I can't say that I was waiting with baited breath for this issue to arrive, but I was hoping that Len Wein would right the ship and give fans a book that would right the ship.  Is it smooth sailing or did the boat sink to the bottom of the ocean?  Let's find out...

Convergence: Blue Beetle #2 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Scott Lobdell
Art By: Yishan Li, Dave McCaig
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 27, 2015


A Sham, A Ruse, A Con Job.......... A Blue Beetle Plan!


*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Let me just start out by saying, I think it's in everyone's best interest to read Convergence: Booster Gold #2 before you read this issue because it clears a few things up that this issue won't.  Like in the last issue we had Ted Kord working on a machine that he hoped would take down the dome, but instead of that it seemed like it gave Captain Atom his powers back.  Yeah, I thought that was weird, but I went with it because I don't know what kind of tech Ted is packing, but in Booster Gold we realize that because of Booster's time aura or chronal energy or some such nonsense, his proximity to other characters grants them their abilities back............ So yeah, that's what went down last issue........ and none of that matters here because the dome is down, Booster has bolted and the Legion of Super-Heroes are here to kick our trio's asses.  So let's jump into this issue and see if Blue Beetle, Captain Atom and The Question are formidable enough to take out the entire Legion and win the survival of Hub City.

Friday, May 29, 2015

Convergence: Shazam! #2 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Jeff Parker
Art By: Evan "Doc" Shaner, Jordie Bellaire
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 27, 2015


Mr. Mind By Gaslight


*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

It's time to finish out our visit to Fawcett City with this conclusion to Convergence: Shazam! and while I wasn't exactly a fan of the first issue, I will be sad to see it go because even though I have a hard time going back to older comics, due to how much the medium has evolved over the decades....... There's still something special about a more innocent time and our heroes being more cheesy than....... well, not cheesy I guess.  Well, there's no one cheesier than the Big Red Cheese himself, Captain Marvel and after we saw the Captain defeat a new incarnation of the Monster Society of Evil last issue, the cliffhanger showed us that Mary Marvel, Captain Marvel Jr. and him would have to take on Gotham By Gaslight and they better get to it pretty fast because as we saw, that city's zeppelins were bombing the hell out Billy Batson's hometown.  Let's see if our heroes prevail in this issue and if Fawcett City gets to survive.  Let's check it out.

Batman: Arkham Knight #15 Review

Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Art by: Viktor Bogdanovic, Art Thibert and John Rauch
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: May 29, 2015

Beatdown Boulevard 

Peter J. Tomasi has been teasing us with Bane ever since this series started.  We watched as he grew from an unrecognizable prisoner to the hulking figure we know and love.  Actually, a lot of it happened behind the scenes so we didn't necessarily watch him, but we knew he was there this whole time...waiting for his moment.  Well, his moment came last issue when he turned the tables in Stone Ridge and ordered an all-out attack on Batman.  A hail of bullets can't stop the Dark Knight, right? Let's find out...

Lobo #7 Preview

Written by: Cullen Bunn
Art by: Cliff Richards
Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: June 3, 2015


Cosmic speakeasies, intergalactic drug dens and even exotic alien women can’t distract Lobo from his first love: hunting men for money! Once you’re on Lobo’s hit list, there are only two possible outcomes: your death or his.

I have high hopes for Lobo going forward.  Cullen Bunn is awesome and I am not against this new Lobo one bit.  In fact, I'm intrigued to see where we are going since learning the real truth behind the fate of Czarnia...or did we?!?!  I'm trying to be mysterious, but the 2 month layoff has messed up my memory. I'm sure Cullen will get us all up to speed on Wednesday.


Top 5 Fridays: Memorable Moments of DC Television


Welcome to the final week of the DC television Top 5's of the season! If you just found this list, don't forget to check the Top 5 lists for HEROES and VILLAINS ! This week were going to see what I believe are the best moments of the television season. These could be happy, sad, or just plain epic! All of DC's shows have had excellent defining moments over the course of this one season, and we are going to keep it that way by restricting it to it. Enough lallygagging, LETS START!

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Convergence: Action Comics #2 Review

Written by: Justin Gray
Art by: Claude St. Aubin, Sean Parsons, Lovern Kindzierski and Hi-Fi
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 27, 2015

Quit Your Stalin


The first issue of Convergence: Action Comics was a bit of a mixed bag.  I liked seeing Superman and Lois under the Dome, but I really didn't like Power Girl's "First World under the Dome" problems.  Seriously, Metropolis has been uprooted on an alien planet and all PG was worried about was getting bags under her eyes.  I wanted to slap her.  Luckily by the end of the issue, the Dome disappeared and Red Son Wonder Woman looked prime to dish out an ass kicking.  Did that particular scenario play out?  Let's find out...

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

He-Man: The Eternity War #6 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Dan Abnett
Art By: Pop Mhan, Tom Derenick, Mark Roberts
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: May 27, 2015


I Hope He-Man Doesn't Go Around Telling People That He Has A Child Inside of Him


*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

It's time to get back to the Eternity War, where last month we saw some surprising shit go down and not all of it good.  While yes, we had Skeletor turn the other cheek bone and join up with team "good guy" against the forces of Hordak, but we also had Evil Lyn find out and she didn't take it too well.  Actually she took it as bad as she possibly could when she stole the Eyes of Grayskull and delivered them to Hordak and swore allegiance to the dark lord.  So yeah, there's some ups and downs going on in Eternia.  Hopefully He-Man finds out what he needs to find out to end the war because as we left that issue, He-Man with the help of the Sorceress was shown thirty years in the future where he had defeated Hordak and was now the King.  Let's get back to the future and see what He-Man has going for himself thirty years from now.  Let's check it out.

Convergence: Justice Society of America #2 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Dan Abnett
Art By: Tom Derenick, Trevor Scott, Monica Kubina
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 27, 2015


Forever Young


*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

You know what I love?  Earth 2, that's what and I was tickled pink........ which now that I write it sounds terrible, but that doesn't matter.  What I'm trying to say is that I love Earth 2 and reading this book last month gave me so much joy in catching up with these Golden Age heroes and it's definitely on my Top 5 of best books of Convergence list.  In that issue, we had our heroes, Hawkman, Flash, Green Lantern and Dr. Fate feeling old as hell after they spent a year under the dome without powers and we spent that issue walking through a day in their lives, while it made us realize how much it sucks to get old.  Don't worry though, instead of the dome falling and our heroes simply falling and breaking their hip, Dr. Fate gives them the choice to become young again, one last time and our heroes take that choice and run with it as they went off to fight a Qwardian death machine.  Let's see how our favorite young old timers fair as they protect their city.  Let's check it out.

Fanboy Theories: Batman's Endgame


BEYOND

To those who haven't learned yet, there is a new Batman hitting the streets of Gotham in June's comic line up. Jim Gordon will be piloting a power suit with the finest technology Powers Corp. can manufacture. They felt a need to make this grandiose Batman as the original "died" at the end of Joker's Endgame.  I use quotes because the fact remains that in the case of the Justice Leagues books, he is alive. It is only a matter of time until he comes back to Gotham, ready to take back his role and take down the imposter...or will he? When he returns, he will definitely retake his place as the protector...but I don't think he's going to let the robot suit go. I believe Scott Snyder has ANOTHER "Endgame" planned. I don't mean Batman is going to destroy the city, I think, with the help of this new Batman, he's going to make sure its protected FOREVER!

Convergence #8 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Jeff King, Scott Lobdell
Art By: Stephen Segovia, Carlo Pagulayan, Eduardo Pansica, Ethan Van Sciver, Jason Paz, Scott Hanna, Trevor Scott, John Starr
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: May 27, 2015


Brainiac's A Fickle Mush Head


(Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom)

Well, it's finally here.  After highs and lows....... and some more lows, we've finally made it to the end of Convergence and even though I love me a good event....... I'm seriously burned out and can't wait to get back to our regularly scheduled titles.  In the last issue, we had Deimos go up against Telos in a big battle royal to end all battle royals.......... only to have Parallax come in and kill Deimos.  It's not all pinatas and RC Cola though, since Deimos absorbed the power of the Time Masters, the energy had nothing to contain it once it's vessel was destroyed and it shot out into the New 52 Universe.......... Looking like it killed everyone who came to see the planet Telos force itself into their reality.  Let's see if our Universe survived as we head into this final story and hope that when this is all over, we'll be able to wrap our heads around everything that went down.  Let's check it out.

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Injustice: Year Four #4 Review

Written by: Brian Buccellato
Art by: Mike S. Miller
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: May 26, 2015

Green with Anger


When I first heard that Year Four of Injustice was going to be the "Year of the Gods", I was all in.  Who better to step in and stop the nonsense going on than the immortals up on Olympus.  It didn't hurt that I am a mythology geek since seeing Clash of the Titans as a young lad.  Of course I'm talking the original one starring Harry Hamlin.  The original one and the only one.  Well, we are a handful of issues in and since seeing Ares early, there hasn't been much God action since.  Brian Buccellato has been taking his time telling this year's story so it was only a matter of time before we get more and I'm happy to say, the wait is over...kind of.  What am I talking about?  Let's see...

Convergence: Detective Comics #2 Preview

Written by: Len Wein
Art by: Denys Cowan, Bill Sienkiewicz 
Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: May 27, 2015

STARRING HEROES FROM CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS! Helena Wayne and Dick Grayson attempt to keep Bruce Wayne’s memory alive as they come to blows with the powerful Superman Red Son characters!

The first issue of this book was a mixed bag for me.  I didn't care much for the Gotham part of things, but man I loved Red Son Superman. So much so that I just want more and more of him. It looks like we will get it this issue.  I hope he kills Huntress because she really mucked it up last issue.  Let's keep out fingers crossed.

Weird Thoughts: Week Three of DC Comics June Sneak Peeks



Like Tag Team, we are back again with another Weird Thoughts on the DC Comics Sneak Peek Previews tucked all nice and snug in the back of those Convergence tie-ins I know you are all reading.  If you somehow haven't gotten your hands on them, you can go  HERE and get them for free.  Yes, I said free!!!  Wait that's not all. After you download them and read them, you can come back here and tell us what you thought as well.  Truth be told, I care more about what you guys think than anything Eric has to say.  I talk to that guy all the time and between hearing about horror movies and watching him adjust his headband, I kind of tune him out.

This week feels a bit different than the first two because it is dominated by returning books instead of new ones.  Granted, they are some of my favorites (Gotham Academy, Grayson and Catwoman), but I really enjoy seeing the new stuff.  Enough chat, let's get to it...

Convergence: Infinity Inc. #2 Preview

Written by:Jerry Ordway
Art by:June Brigman
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 26, 2015


STARRING HEROES FROM CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS! Jade, Obsidian, Nuklon and the rest of the Infinity Inc. team try to prove that they deserve their place among the Earth-2 heroes as they fight the post-apocalyptic Jonah Hex!

I wasn't the biggest fan of the first issue of Infinity Inc., but I'm going into this finale with an open open (so you can all get inside).  I am interested in seeing more Jonah Hex so I have that going for me.  While it's odd that Ben Caldwell doesn't return for this issue, June Brigman's art looks pretty good in this preview.  I hope that with one issue under my belt, I care a little more for the Infinity Inc. team.  Time will tell.

Monday, May 25, 2015

Convergence: Plastic Man and The Freedom Fighters #2 Preview

Written By: Simon Oliver
Art By: John McCrea
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 27, 2015


STARRING HEROES FROM CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS! The fantastic Plastic Man and the Freedom Fighters take the battle to the Earth-X Nazis and the robot super heroes from Futures End!


I don't know what to think about this book because while this title was one of the ones I was looking forward to the most, the first issue didn't really grab me and after seeing the silly rendition of the Futures End Batman at the end of last issue, that The Freedom Fighters and The Nazi's would have to team up to tackle, I guess I'm just going to have to wait and see on this one.

Convergence: Superboy and The Legion of Super-Heroes #2 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Stuart Moore
Art By: Peter Gross, Mark Farmer, John Rauch, Pat Brosseau
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 20, 2015


Our Little Boy Is Becoming A Man


*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Outside of space and time, we're headed to the city of the Legion of Super-Heroes and now that our Legion heroes have gotten their powers back, it looks like they'll have to defend their city against the Atomic Knights............... Which sounds like it's a cakewalk if you ask me.  Yeah, I don't know shit about the Atomic Knights besides that they're a bunch of people that have survived a terrible war and now ride around on giant dalmatians, all decked out in armor.  So with that as my baseline for who these characters are, you can understand how I believe they'll get their asses kicked by the combined forces of the Legion and Superboy.  Maybe they're bad asses, I don't know, all I know is that I really didn't care for the first issue to this two-parter and I'm really hoping that this issue will bring it.......... "it" being something interesting.  So let's check this out and see if I can get behind Convergence: Superboy and The Legion of Super-Heroes.

Convergence: Crime Syndicate #2 Preview

Written by: Brian Buccellato
Art by: Phil Winslade
Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: May 27, 2015


STARRING HEROES FROM CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS! The Crime Syndicate from the past and the heroes from the farthest future of DC One Million clash on the Convergence battlefields!


This is one of my favorite Convergence tie-ins and I can't wait for this issue.  Brian Buccellato won me over and made me fall in love with the Crime Syndicate of whom I had little previous experience with.  The art had a lot to do with it as well and looking at Phil Winslade's work in this preview, the retro goodness continues.  I already said it, but I can't wait.  This one is a day one read/review for me.


Sunday, May 24, 2015

Convergence: Action Comics #2 Preview

Written by: Justin Gray
Art by: Sean Parsons, Claude St. Aubin
Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: May 24, 2015

STARRING HEROES FROM CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS! Will Superman and Power Girl meet their demise at the hands of Red Son Wonder Woman?

It seems that Power Girl has been able to put her image issues behind her and get to what Telos demands...a battle.  I don't really have a horse in this race, but I guess I'll be rooting for Red Son Wonder Woman.  She is the hero of the story, right?

Weird Science DC Comics Podcast Episode 20: Convergence, Mae West and The Duke of Wellington

The Weird Science Podcast is almost drinking age and Eric celebrates by buying a new microphone while Jim channels his inner Mae West.  They finally get to the comics and talk about Donna Troy's dance moves, the plight of the Justice League Detroit and the Duke of Wellington.  We also get Dan's Geek News and Ryan Clark's Other Side segment so all is not lost.  Enjoy.