Deathstroke #7 Review

Written by: Tony S. Daniel and James Bonney
Art by: Tony S. Daniel, Sandu Florea and Tomeu Morey
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 24, 2015

Clash of the Titans

So far, I would say that Tony S. Daniel's run on Deathstroke has been style over substance.  While the story has struggled to find it's direction, the art has been over-the-top excellent.  If you are looking for a book where blood and severed limbs are the order of the day, look no further. However, man can't live on missing arms alone and I've have been patiently waiting for the story to catch up and make this book a must read.  Did the two month Convergence hiatus and the new God-Killer story line start this book down that path or is it a matter of been there done that?  Let's find out...

Gotham By Midnight #6 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Ray Fawkes
Art By: Juan Ferreyra, 
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 24, 2015

Monster of The Week

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

It's time to get back to walking the spooky alleyways of Gotham as we follow the Midnight Shift of Precinct 13 and after the events of last issue, I'm all for it.  When last we followed Jim Corrigan and his crew, they had their hands full with the manifestation of genocide that the original Colonial settlers of the area caused when they came to America and man does this thing want Gotham to pay for it's past sins.........which brings us to the ultimate dealer of judgement, The Spectre.  It was really incredible to see this giant abomination and a giant Spectre duke it out, towering over Gotham and luckily for all the people who inhabit the city, Sister Justine prayed for their well being and traded her life for theirs.  The threat was over but for who long?  As the entity slunk back to Slaughter Swamp it dropped the black flowers we've seen throughout the first issues of this book all over the city.  Hopefully, there won't be any ramifications there........  Let's see what our team are doing one week later as we get into this book.

Teen Titans #9 Review

Written by: Will Pfiefer
Art by: Kenneth Rocafort and Dan Brown
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 24, 2015

Kon's Day Off

As with a couple of other books this month, I took this one over from Eric to review.  It's funny because the Teen Titans are one of Eric's favorite teams and I really don't have much of a history with them.  I am not going to consider that a bad thing, though.  I have read all of the issues in this current run and actually have liked it more than Eric.  So, was my first issue of Teen Titans a great issue that has me thrilled it's now in my review pile?  Let's find out...

The Flash #41 Review

Written by: Robert Venditti and Van Jensen
Art by: Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund and Andrew Dalhouse
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 24, 2015

Zoom Zoom

I have been waiting for Flash to come back for one thing...Professor Zoom.  I am one of the few reviewers who seemed to love the Savage Land of the Speed Force and the future Barry of the last arc, but when it ended with the reveal of Professor Zoom, I think everyone cheered.  Of course, the two month Convergence layoff made the wait that much harder, but Flash #41 is finally here.  Was it worth the wait?  Let's find out...

Batman: Arkham Knight #19 Review

Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Art by: Viktor Bogdanovic, Art Thibert and John Rauch
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: June 26, 2015

Diver Down

I was worried about this book this week.  While I have loved every minute of it, it is a prequel to the Arkham Knight game...that came out this week.  Once people play the game, are they going to be interested in reading the prequel comic?  Only time will tell, but I really hope that the game's release drums up even more interest because this book deserves all the attention it can muster.  So, what does Peter Tomasi have in store for such a big week for everything Arkham Knight?  Was it any good? Let's find out...

Top 5 Fridays: Story-Arcs of The New 52 Part 1

This week's Top 5 Friday has been a mess to put together. I had to try and pick 5 of my favorite story arcs throughout the entire New 52, to continue my tribute towards it. This became a challenge as there were some amazing story arcs that came out from this. So with that in mind, I split my Top 10 favorite story arcs and split it between this week and next week! This week we will be tackling numbers ten through six, and I want to make this clear that these are MY favorites. If you don't see yours, then I apologize, but it doesn't mean it's a bad story. ENOUGH TALK! Let us begin!

Aquaman #41 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Cullen Bunn
Art By: Trevor McCarthy, Guy Major
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 24, 2015

Power Up

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Like Superman this week, this will be my first review of Aquaman and I've been waiting awhile to get a hold of this title.  Again, if you read Superman reviews here before and liked Jim's style......well, like that book I'm going to be spoiling the hell out of Aquaman now, so hopefully you can get behind what I do too.  We're starting fresh with this one, so if you haven't checked out this title before or fell off at some point, this is a perfect place to start.  Let's get into this story and see what all the hubbub is about with Mera wanting Aquaman dead and him being on the run from his own people.  Let's check it out.

Justice League 3001 #1 Review

Written by: J.M. DeMatteis and Keith Giffen
Art by: Howard Porter and Hi-Fi
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 25, 2015

Twinkle, Twinkle

I'd love to say that Justice League 3000 was my guilty pleasure of the New 52, but that would be a lie.  Why?  Because I don't feel guilty at all for loving the hilarious adventures of the almost Justice League as they fought gods, monsters, demons...but mostly themselves.  I was hooked from the beginning and the book just got stronger and stronger with each issue.  However, at times it really felt like I was alone on an island begging people to give this book a try.  I gave it my all, but low and behold Justice League 3000 was canceled.  But in a move that would make the fiery phoenix jealous, Justice League 3001 has risen from the ashes with promises of more jokes, action and a new #1 issue. Will that be enough to get more people on the trolley?  Let's find out...

WE ARE ROBIN #1 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Lee Bermejo
Art By: Jorge Corona, Rob Haynes, Trish Mulvihill, Khary Randolph, Emilio Lopez
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 24, 2015

When Can I Be Robin?

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

I was really interested in this title when it was announced because funny enough, one of the things I love most about Batman...... is Robin.  That's right, I'm more of a Robin fan than the Dark Knight himself and the title of this book really captured my imagination.  Then I saw the Sneak Peek and saw all the texting going on and simply dismissed this as another series that DC was trying to incorporate "things that the kids do" as a way to get new younger readers instead of just telling an intriguing story.  Hopefully, I'm wrong and this is a story that will be remembered for a long time as the era that inspired the people of Gotham themselves to become the sidekick to the Caped Crusader and do what needed to be done in the Batman's absence.  Let's check out WE ARE ROBIN and find out. 

Batgirl #41 Review

Written by: Brenden Fletcher and Cameron Stewart
Art by: Babs Tarr and Serge Lapoint
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 24, 2015

Gonna set this town on fire

Just a quick disclaimer, Eric is no longer reviewing Batgirl so you can expect less snarky comments, spoilers and horror movie references.  In it's place, you will be getting more constructive criticism...Oh hell, I can't make any promises except that I am going into this book with an open mind.  I have been reading Batgirl since the beginning of the New 52, but I was glad that this issue was a good jumping on point for new readers and new reviewers alike.  It makes my job easier (especially in this introduction) to just get on with the review without a big "previously in Batgirl" explanation.  If you want that stuff, go back and read the issues (or Eric's snarky reviews) because I am moving forward starting with this month's issue. Was it good?  Let's find out...

Green Lantern: Lost Army #1 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Cullen Bunn
Art By: Jesus Saiz
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 24, 2015

The Christmas Lantern

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

You better be worth it Lost Army, after giving up New Guardians, Corps and Red Lanterns, oh you better be worth it.  It's time to get into a whole new Lantern adventure, where we have John Stewart and company in what I can only call another dimension, away from the Central Power Battery and every other Corpsmen.............but since we've seen that the Green Lantern Corps are completely gone in the Universe, maybe they aren't......who knows.  This is one of the most mysterious new titles that has come out this month and I can't wait to get some answers, so let's check this out and see what Cullen Bunn has up his sleeve with this first issue of Green Lantern: Lost Army.

Grayson #9 Review

Written by: Tom King and Tim Seeley
Art by: Mikel Janin and Jeremy Cox
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 24, 2015

Straight Shooter

To say I'm a huge fan of Grayson is an understatement.  It is one of my favorite books and this is coming from someone who was devastated when Nightwing was canceled, but I'm not going to use this intro to continue begging Dick Grayson fans to give this book a try.  That ship has sailed and if you haven't jumped on this book by now, it's your loss.  Of course, most of the returning books have used this June restart to provide easy jumping on points for new readers. Tom King and Tim Seeley don't play that here. They assume you have read the previous eight issues and don't look back (actually, they look back a whole bunch).  Sure, there are some changes, but that's for the actual review.  So...let's get going, shall we?

Superman #41 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Gene Luen Yang
Art By: John Romita Jr., Klaus Janson, Dean White
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 24, 2015

The Fan

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Alright, my first review of Superman!.......sorry if you were a fan of Jim's style of reviews because from here on out....... or at least until we switch books again, I'm going to be spoiling the hell out of them.  For this issue of Superman we'll be diving into the Truth, but even though we've had a bunch of issues dealing with that story so far, this will be a prologue setting things up.......which I find really weird, but what the hell?  We'll go with it.  So let's dive into Superman and eventually find out what led to Superman's depowering and Lois outing Superman's secret identity.  Let's check it out.

Injustice: Year Four #8 Review

Written by: Brian Bucellato
Art by: Mike S. Miller
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: June 23, 2014

Stop Playing Games

I am a huge Injustice fan.  I've read every issue, reviewed over sixty, told everyone who would listen to read it and had my intelligence questioned for defending it.  That's why Year Four is killing me. It's been hit or miss so far and the last couple issues have been whiffs.  However, when Batman called for Wonder Woman to fight Superman at the end of last issue, it felt like the good old days.  The cover has promised this fight for weeks and now that Batman has taken advantage of the situation, it's on.  Did this issue get Injustice back on track?  Let's find out...

WE ARE ROBIN #1 Preview

Written By: Lee Bermejo
Art By: Rob Haynes, Khary Randolph
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 24, 2015

Spinning out of the pages of BATMAN! The teenagers of Gotham City have adopted the “R” and made it their own. A new Robin? No, HUNDREDS of new Robins! Don’t miss the start of this new series from rising star writer Lee Bermejo (JOKER, SUICIDERS), who also provides the covers!

When I initially heard about this title, I was really looking forward to it because my imagination went wild with what this title could be.......then I saw the Sneak Peek and.......well, I wasn't really sold with the comic.  Hopefully, this first issue will open up the world more and I can get into it, but as of right now I can't say that I'm looking forward to this.

Green Lantern: Lost Army #1 Preview

Written By: Cullen Bunn
Art By: Jesus Saiz
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 24, 2015


Imagine waking up in a strange place where you didn’t recognize anything, and everyone you knew and loved was nowhere to be found. Now imagine that you are a Green Lantern. The rest of the Corps is missing, you don’t know where you are and there’s not a Power Battery to be found for as far as your ring can scan. Where are you? How did you get here? Those are just two of the many questions facing our heroes.
Starring John Stewart, Two-Six, Kilowog and Arisia, and featuring a surprise guest-star we promise you’ll never predict, LOST ARMY is an incredible journey of discovery, survival, morality and heartbreak. Never has the Corps been challenged in this way – and not everyone is going to make it home!

Out of all the new titles that have come out his month, this has got to be the one that raises the most questions.  We've got our cast of characters stuck in a strange place and back in the regular Universe; we have the entire Green Lantern Corps wiped out.  I really hope that this series sheds some light on that so we don't have to wait for Hal to get to the bottom of it in his title.  Seriously though, why can't John Stewart ever catch a break?

Deathstroke #7 Preview

Written by: Tony S. Daniel
Art by: Tony S. Daniel
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 23. 2015

Preview via Nerdist

Beginning a titanic new arc: “God Killer”! Slade is armed by Hephaestus to take down one of the Olympian Gods! If any man is bold enough to believe he can murder a god – it’s Deathstroke!

I have been a fan of the bloody goodness that's been Deathstroke so far, but this "God Killer" arc looks to take it up a notch.  I can't wait to see how far Slade goes and what havoc he leaves in his wake.  I guess we'll start finding out tomorrow!

Old Time Tuesday: The Adventures of Superman ep 20: The Mystery of Dyerville Part 3

In this episode of The Adventures of Superman, the Yellow Mask threatens to destroy the whole town Dyerville if he doesn't get One...Million...Dollars!  Yes, I have my pinkie up to the corner of my mouth right now. Oh, the good old days when men were men and the livestock ran scared.  This episode originally aired on March 27, 1940 and while that was years before I was born, I still love these old time radio shows.  Enjoy.

The Fly: Outbreak #1 Review and *SPOILERS*

I'm going to continue my horror trend for Just For The Hell of It Mondays........ because I simply want to and I don't have another outlet for my love of horror inspired media.  I'm going to step away from Puppet Master this week (don't worry we'll get back to it) so we can take a look at a comic based off The Fly series.  You know that David Cronenberg flick with Gina Davis and Jeff Goldblum, who slowly turns into a fly after he went through his teleportation machine, "the Telepods" unsupervised and a common house fly went through with him........FUSION!  Yeah, everyone loves that flick, but this book here is more of a sequel to that movie's sequel The Fly 2, which not a lot of people liked and starred Eric Stoltz as Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis' son Martin........who slowly turns into a fly, do to his buggy genetics.  So while people might not be interested in this book because it's a story about Eric Stoltz, it's still part of The Fly family and I had to get my hands on it.  So let's check this out and see what shenanigans science is up to here.

Superman #41 Preview

Written By: Gene Luen Yang
Art By: John Romita Jr., Klaus Janson
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 24, 2015


The epic new storyline “TRUTH” continues with the debut of the amazing new creative team of new writer Gene Luen Yang (American Born Chinese) and continuing artists John Romita Jr. and Klaus Janson! What will happen when the big secret is revealed?

It really feels like this issue should have come out the first week of June since we've had so many instances of *See Superman #41*.  Hopefully we get some clarity from this issue and we can see Truth in a whole new perspective.  I'm really interested to see what Gene Luen Yang brings to the Superman table and can't wait to review my first issue of Superman.

Teen Titans #9 Preview

Written by: WILL PFEIFER
Art by: KENNETH ROCAFORT
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 24, 2015

On the run with Superboy, the Titans must uncover the truth behind the Boy of Steel’s crimes – or they all might end up serving time with their former teammate.

This is another book that I will finally get a chance to review.  I'm sure Eric wouldn't have agreed on giving it to me if he knew that Superboy would be figuring in the story this much, but I declare "No take backs!" That makes it official and I can't wait for Wednesday.

Gotham By Midnight #6 Preview

Written By: Ray Fawkes
Art By: Juan Ferrerya
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 24, 2015


The Midnight Shift is in danger from both its members and the rest of the GCPD! In a deadly new Gotham City, does the paranormal really still pose a threat? As the task force struggles to rebuild after their tragic loss, their only weapon against the supernatural and Internal Affairs both might be in the form of attorney Kate Spencer. Ray Fawkes and new series artist Juan Ferreyra are ready to take Jim Corrigan and his motley crew on the adventure of their lives – or afterlives!

With all this story over continuity mumbo jumbo, I'm not sure if I can still call what we've been given since 2011 and what we have now as the "new continuity" or if that word even has a place in comics today.  What I'm getting at is, I love that Kate Spencer is getting into "continuity".  As for the Midnight Shift, I don't know if anyone will continue being part of the team after they saw Spectre almost pull a Godzilla on Gotham........ So yeah, I'm really looking forward to this issue.

Aquaman #41 Preview

Written By: Cullen Bunn
Art By: Trevor McCarthy
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 24, 2015


Aquaman is on the run from Atlantis! The kingdom he once saved now wants him dead – and nothing will ever be the same again!


Poor Aquaman.  After reading the Sneak Peek, I'm really interested in seeing what Arthur could have done to get Mera cursing his name and wanting him dead.  She's the one person who always had Aquaman's back...... so he must have screwed up pretty bad.  I'm not sure about the new look, but hopefully it will grow on me.

Batgirl #41 Preview

Written by: Brenden Fletcher and Cameron Stewart
Art by: Babs Tarr
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 24, 2015

There’s a new Batman in town…and that spells bad news for Barbara Gordon! She’s already got enough upheaval in her life, with her roommate Frankie in on her biggest secret…and now she’s looking to get even more involved in Batgirl’s business!

This is going to be my first review of Batgirl after taking the book over from Eric and I will tell you, I really liked this preview.  It's a mix of The Amityville Horror, Six Million Dollar Man and Robocop.  The final bit is the best because while we've already seen a bunch of this new Batman, he's got a history with Batgirl and I'm not sure she knows who is in the suit. That, my friends, sounds like an awesome setup to a kick ass story.

Sensation Comics Featuring Wonder Woman #39 Review

Written by: Carla Speed McNeil
Art by: Carla Speed McNeil
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: June 18, 2015

Lion Around Town 

It's been quite some time since I've picked up, read and reviewed an issue of Sensation Comics.  It wasn't the quality of the book that turned me away, rather a large review pile and my undying laziness.  While I can't control what books come out when, I can change my lazy habits and this is my first step in that direction.  Much to my luck, this week's Sensation Comics is a one-shot story written and drawn by Carla Speed McNeil so I could  jump right back in.  Was this issue a nice welcome back to the series or should I have just laid around and done nothing as usual?  Let's find out...

Weird Science DC Comics Podcast Episode 24: Justice League, Black Canary and the DC You

Because Eric has to go away for the weekend, the boys get together on Friday to record and while it 
seemed different, they got the job done.  Eric talks about being a shoplifter, Jim ends his feud with Brenden Fletcher and the guys talk about all the books of the week.  They are both surprised at Black Canary, but disagree about almost everything else.  We also get Dan’s Geek News and Ryan Clark reviewing Southern Bastards #9.

Batman: Arkham Knight #18 Review

Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Art by: Ig Guara
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: June 19, 2015

If He Dies, He Dies

I keep using these introductions to tell everyone how much I love this book and I'm sure you are getting sick of it.  I know I am.  So, instead I will tell you what I don't like about it.  There is only one thing and it's not really anything to do with what has been in the book, just one thing that hasn't.  I'm talking about the Arkham Knight, of course.  The game is coming out this Tuesday (June 23rd) and up until now we have only seen dribs and drabs of the Big Bad.  I shouldn't be shocked that the major reveals are left for the game, but I thought we'd get more.  Maybe the games release will free up Peter Tomasi to explore things a bit more, but I'm worried that it will also make this book obsolete.  I'll still be reading and reviewing it because I love it (sorry, I had to say it) and it deserves all the attention it gets.  This week ends the Bane of Existence arc and while I was hoping for more, it was still good fun.  Does that equal another good issue?  Let's find out...