Saturday, August 8, 2015

DC Comics: Bombshells #3 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Marguerite Bennett
Art By: Marguerite Sauvage
Digital Price: $0.99
Release Date: August 8, 2015

Stargirl Almost Gets Goose-ed


*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Our World War II story continues and it's time to get some more recruits in Commander Waller's war ending squad...... Well, it's time to at least get introduced to them.  In the first issue we saw Amanda Waller recruit Batwoman, but in the last issue all we had was Steve Trevor's first interaction with Wonder Woman.  So yeah, it looks like we're taking our time to get into the war, but as long as we have strong introductions to these characters, I guess I'm okay with it.  Let's jump into this issue and see the Bombshell versions of Supergirl and Stargirl as we head over to Moscow.  Let's check it out.

Friday, August 7, 2015

Batman: Arkham Knight #25 Review

Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Art by: Ig Guara, Julio Ferreira and Andrew Dalhouse
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: August 7, 2015

Here's Mud in Your Eye


Reading this book is an odd thing for me.  When Arkham Asylum came out, I was a huge gamer who ate, drank and slept video games.  I wanted to start a review site and host a podcast all about my favorite hobby.  When Arkham City was released, I had just started reading the New 52, but my heart was still firmly in the video game camp.  Between then and now, I have almost completely given up on video games and am now a full fledged comic enthusiast, reviewer and podcaster.  Sure, that may all be due to my craziness (which has received multiple and often conflicting diagnosis), but it still feels strange reading and reviewing a video game tie-in from the other side of the fence.  It doesn't hurt one bit that Peter Tomasi is writing a book that is great for fans of both video games and comics. I don't know if I will ever play the Arkham Knight game, but I know I will stick with this book until the end because I am enjoying the hell out of it.  It's been consistently great and is the best bang for your buck (or 99 cents) out there today.  So, is this issue just another brick in the excellent Arkham Knight wall?  Let's find out...

Top 5 Fridays: DC Comic Characters I HATE But People Love


Welcome to this week's Top 5 Friday!  This week, I thought I've been much too positive in the past few Top 5's.  I need to be a bit saltier, a bit grumpier..... just a bit meaner.  This week we'll be going over the Top 5 Characters I HATE But People Love.  As a constant reminder, this is my list and if you don't agree with it, you can make your own.  Also this list contains major spoilers on certain storylines, including the Superman Truth storyline. Enough talk, lets begin!

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Midnighter #3 Review

Written by: Steve Orlando
Art by: Aco, Hugo Petrus and Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 6, 2015

Stranger Danger


Midnighter came out of the gates kicking ass and taking names.  Steve Orlando put the focus of the book squarely on the character and let him loose in this world of hi-tech craziness and I loved it.  I was a little disappointed when the second issue shifted that focus a bit, but it fleshed out the story so I was good with it.  While the idea of the stolen God Tech is cool, I liked seeing the man behind the mask even more.  I can't wait to see the perfect blend of action and character that both issues teased, but didn't quite get.  Is this the issue that does it?  Let's find out...

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Lobo #9 Review

Written by: Cullen Bunn and Frank Barbiere
Art by: Szymon Kudranski and Blond
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 5, 2015

The Itsy Bitsy Spider...


I don't know about you, but I had a hell of a good time reading the Lobo Annual last week.  In fact, I had so much fun that I was worried that going back to this arc would be a bit of a let down.  Go back to spiderbots and have to wait until September for Lobo to team up with Sinestro?  No thanks. However, I have a job to do and that job involves reading and reviewing Lobo #9.  So, here I go...

Bat-Mite #3 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Dan Jurgens
Art By: Corin Howell, Mike Atiyeh
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 5, 2015


Mite-y Fine Pair


*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

I've been loving this six issue mini something fierce.  It's really fun to be able to step back sometimes and just look at something that doesn't really matter to continuity and just have a goofy good time.  Yeah, you might say that continuity really doesn't matter in the DCYou, but that's just lazy thinking and I won't be apart of it.  Anyway, in the previous issue we saw our Dark Mite take down Dr. Trauma and end her plans of permanently transferring her mind into Hawkman's body....... I say permanently because she did manage to get a little savage until Bat-Mite took her down and got her assistant to swap the brains back to their original places.  Happy endings all around and our little hero even managed to find a place to stay with two captives that were really appreciative in not having their minds scooped out and their bodies sold to the highest bidder.  All is not well though in the world of Bat-Mite, as we saw as the issue ended.  It turns out that there's a new villain in Gotham going by the name of Gridlock and it seems that he's got his eye on the city's newest hero.  Let's jump into this issue where our impetuous imp meets up with the Boy Wonder.  Hopefully Damian doesn't kill him outright.  Let's check it out.

The Omega Men #3 Review

Written by: Tom King
Art by: Barnaby Bagenda and Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 5, 2015

One for the Road


I have quickly fallen in love with the Omega Men.  I give Tom King all the credit in the world, because I'm usually not a patient man, but the slow burn story of this team and the Universe it inhabits grabbed me right away and hasn't let go.  Sure, I want to know more about then asap, but that's more because I've loved the little we've gotten so far.  Did this month's issue open the curtain a little bit more?  Was it another great issue?  Let's find out...

Batman Beyond #3 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Dan Jurgens
Art By: Bernard Chang, Marcelo Maiolo
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 5, 2015


Admiral Ackbar Line 


*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

It's time to get back to the future....... Ha ha, see what I did there?  Yeah, I know that it's old hat to make a Back To The Future joke in referring to time travel, but that doesn't make it any less fun...... jerks.  Anyway, when we last looked thirty-five years into the future, we saw that Tim Drake wasn't having the best of times as the new Batman.  After traveling to a Brother Eye prison to free Max Gibson......... mainly so Matt McGinnis would get off his back, Tim found himself become one of the prisoners and after spending an entire issue running around the complex, keeping one step ahead of Brother Eye and his borged out goons, it looked like all was for not.  Not only was Max Gibson captured and turned into a drooling Brother Eye loving idiot, but by the end of the issue we saw Barbara Gordon and Tim Drake captured as well.  Hopefully Inque, the warden of The Lodge, will come to her senses and turn against the Eye in the sky or Batman Beyond finds a way to escape because as of right now, things look pretty grim.  Let's check this issue out.

Detective Comics #43 Review

Written by: Brian Buccellato
Art by: Fernando Blanco and Brian Buccellato
Cover Price: August 5, 2015

Hitting the Fan


Brian Buccellato's run on Detective Comics is coming to a close and it's a shame because I've really enjoyed what he and Francis Manapul gave us during their brief stay.  I don't know if it's all because of the new Batman status quo, but the focus on Harvey Bullock and the Gotham Central vibe coming off this book has kept my interest and turned it into something so much more than just another Bat book.  Don't get me wrong, though, I love seeing Gordon/Batman and Buccellato has done a great job of showing the learning curve that Gordon is suffering through.  That lead to last issue's best moments, especially the great cliffhanger of Jim Gordon stepping out of the Robo Batsuit and facing La Morte gang mano y mano.  Did Gordon totally kick ass and did we get any closer to the explosive sneak peak from May?  Let's find out...

Fanboy Theories: Professor Zoom's Secret




A Link to the Past

If you have been keeping up with the latest Flash story arc, you would see that Professor Zoom has returned and has been preparing to take down the Flash once and for all.  In last week's annual, you see him recruiting some of the strangest metahumans this side of the DC universe, all having been touched by the speed force.  We have an age controller, a man who can fold in and out of space, a woman who can become as dense as granite and the kid equivalent to the Tasmanian Devil.  Add the brilliant mind of Selkirk (who I'm still convinced is supposed to be Jay Garrick's Reverse Flash) and you have the ultimate team to KILL the Flash.
Yes, I said KILL. This is where the theorizing begins when I ask, "Why would Zoom kill the Flash?"  If anyone doesn't know, Zoom is the one who killed Barry's mother, which started the chain of events that leads to the creation of the Flash...which in a few centuries leads to the creation of Professor Zoom...  So what gives?  Why kill him if he's never been allowed to before by the laws of space and time?  Because he is a paradox...The Flashpoint Paradox. I believe this Zoom is actually the same Zoom that supposedly died at the end of the Flashpoint event, and here's why...

Green Lantern #43 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Robert Venditti
Art By: Ethan Van Sciver, Alex Sinclair
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: August 5, 2015


The Source of The Problem


*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

It's time for Hal to find out what happened to Virgo's people because as we saw in the last issue of Green Lantern, after Hal rescued the royalty and brought him home, there wasn't much of a home to go back to.  Virgo's home had been turned to stone and after a space pebble touched the ships of the crew that was responsible for Virgo's original kidnapping, it looks like Trapper, the kidnapper himself doesn't have much to go back to either.  So together with Hal, these three will search out the mysteries behind this Medusa effect and hopefully along the way, they'll also find out what happened to the Green Lantern Corps as well.  Let's get back into this story and see how this motley crew are getting along as they play The Hardy Boys in space.  Let's check it out.

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Injustice: Year Four #14 Review

Written by: Brian Buccellato
Art by: Xermanico, Tom Derenick and Rex Lokus
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: August 4, 2015

How About Them Apples


Year Four of Injustice has really heated up over the past couple of weeks.  It's a good thing because this Year didn't come out of the gate running.  I wouldn't even say it was jogging, but Brian Buccellato has picked up the pace and the book has benefited greatly.  The Year of the Gods is finally paying off with the wild action Injustice fans crave and demand.  Last week, Shazam jumped back into the fray and really kicked ass and the issue ended with Superman being Superman and in this book that means being a huge asshole.  Did Superman have to pay for his actions?  Did the fun continue this week?  Let's find out...

Midnighter #3 Preview

Written by: Steve Orlando
Art by: Aco and Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 5, 2015


Midnighter’s up against Multiplex, the man with the power of infinite self-replication—in other words, all his dreams are coming true! Infinite clones mean infinite bones to break…

I have enjoyed the first two issues of Midnighter and the addition of Multiplex should be fun.  I just hope that he gets over Apollo one of these issues so he stops telling his new boyfriends how great his ex is. Not a good move, Midnighter!


Monday, August 3, 2015

Lobo the Duck #1 Review

Written by: Al Grant
Art by: Val Semeiks and Francesco Ponzi
Cover Price: $1.95
Release Date: June 1, 1997
Publisher: Amalgam Comics

Duck and Roll (a Cigar)


It's Monday again and while that means I had to get up early for work this morning, it also means that I can pick any book my little heart desires and review it for Just for the Hell of it Monday!  This week I bring you my review of Lobo the Duck #1.  Amalgam Comics was a shared imprint of Marvel and DC which they used to combine some of their most popular characters into one crazy ass character. Some of the cooler ones were the Batman/Wolverine combination, Dark Claw and the Iron Man/Green Lantern amalgam, Iron Lantern.  However, none of them jump off the page at me like the book I'm reviewing here.  I like the old Lobo enough and while I never got into Howard the Duck (yes, I did see the movie, but never read the comic), the combination of the two somehow turns this into a must read in my opinion.  Now that I've read it, is it still on the top of my list of Amalgam books?  Let's find out...


Puppet Master #3 Review and *SPOILERS*


Originally, I wanted to do the second issue of the Evil Dead 2 book today, but dopey me forgot that the book was bi-monthly, so instead we're going to be skipping a week and getting back to the Puppet Master series early.  Which is fine by me....... you know, one of my favorite horror film series and all.  Oh and in case you don't know, this is Just For The Hell Of It Mondays, where Weird Science, a normally all DC Comics website goes and does whatever they want...... You know, Just For The Hell Of It.  So let's check back into the Bodega Bay Inn and see what our tiny terrors are up to in this finale of the first story arc, "The Offering".

Injustice: Gods Among Us Year Four #7 Preview

Written by: Brian Buccellato
Art by: Bruno Redondo and 
Juan Albarran
Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: August 5, 2015


It’s a family feud years in the making, and raised to a devastating level, as a superpowered Batman and Robin engage in an earth-shaking battle. Meanwhile, Wonder Woman takes on Hercules, Shazam battles everyone, and even Zeus enters the fray!


I read and review Injustice when it comes out digitally every week, but I know a lot of you out there wait for the collected print work so I wanted to put this up.  If you haven't been keeping up with Injustice, Year Four is the Year of the Gods and this collection really amps up the action. Spoiler...Shazam kicks ass!

Bat-Mite #3 Preview

Written By: Dan Jurgens
Art By: Corin Howell
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 5, 2015


Bat-Mite and Robin! It had to happen…even if Damian fights it every step of the way! Does Bat-Mite really believe that Batman’s son will welcome his efforts to coach him? Sadly, yes. Say hello to crime fighting’s new Dysfunctional Duo.


I love Robin...... Hell, I'd go so far to say that I love Robin more than I love Batman and because of that crazy love that I have, I can't wait to read this book.  Just the idea of these two characters together makes me smile because you know that Damian isn't one for nonsense and I'm really interested to see how he's going to deal with this imp from the 5th Dimension.



Sunday, August 2, 2015

The Omega Men #3 Preview

Written by: Tom King
Art by: Barnaby Bagenda and Romulo Fajardo Jr.
Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: August 5, 2015

Save the princess! First, the treacherous Omega Men murder White Lantern Kyle Rayner in cold blood, then they steal a deadly Citadel warship, and now they’ve absconded with Kalista, the exalted daughter of Euphorix. What cruelty will they perpetrate upon the sweet princess?

I love this book.  I have enjoyed reading as Tom King slowly pulls the curtain back on the Omega Men team and the Universe at large.  It's a dream come true for sci-fi fans and anyone who just loves a great read with awesome art.  Check it out.

Green Lantern #43 Preview

Written By: Robert Venditti
Art By: Ethan Van Sciver
Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: August 5, 2015


“Renegade” continues!  Hal Jordan’s at the very edge of space confronting an old adversary who may be key in helping the former Green Lantern save the universe!

Relic's really making the rounds!  First we had him in the Green Lantern: Lost Army, where we found out that our Green Lantern Corps heroes were trapped not only in the past, but in the Universe that existed before our own and here it looks like Hal is going to the big behemoth for help......... It's like the Green Lantern titles have turned into that movie Lake House.  Hal Jordan is Sandy Bullock, John Stewart is Keanu Reeves and Relic is the mailbox....... As silly as that sounds, it actually peaks my interest a bit and I can't wait to find out what Venditti has in store for us.

Weird Science DC Comics Podcast Episode 30: Superman, Batgirl and the Killing Joke


This episode is a Frankenstein melding of two nights worth of material, so please give the editing a break.  Jim and Eric review every book released by DC Comics this week as well as talk about the news, read listener mail and recall their dealings with the Amish and Orangutans. It's long as usual, but hey, everyone needs a thing, right?  Enjoy.