Batman: Arkham Knight - Robin Special #1 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written by: Peter J. Tomasi

Art by: Robson Rocha, Daniel Henriques, Rob Schwager, Travis Lanham

Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: November 25, 2015

Looking Out for Number Two

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

The city of Gotham as defined by the comic books is known to be different than the city as defined by Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham Knight video game. For one thing, it rains less often in the comics. The game offers a kind of pastiche continuity, pulled from the Batman comics, cartoons and movies, to create its world. Then there are characters like Tim Drake, the current Robin of the Arkhamverse, who is normally little more than a placeholder and babysitter for villains that Batman beats up. Is there more to this red-breasted sidekick, or is he Gotham’s equivalent of the wizard from Legend of Zelda who tells you that it’s dangerous to go alone and gives you a wooden sword? Read my review to find out!

Superman: Lois and Clark #2 Review

What a Super Family

Written by: Dan Jurgens
Art by: Lee Weeks, Scott Hanna and Brad Anderson
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 25, 2015

There are some things that come along at just the right time and no, I'm not talking about my daily pizza delivery.  I'm talking about Superman: Lois and Clark.  While I originally thought this book sounded like nonsense and a desperation move by DC, it is exactly what the doctor ordered...if doctors ordered comic books.  It's a strange thing, but most people want to like their superheroes, especially Superman.  The Superman in the main DC You is not likable, in fact, he's kind of a jerk. Sure, he's lost most of his powers and doesn't have a secret identity anymore, but when it comes down to it, no matter what happens, people look to Superman to be a good, no great, person.  Fans just haven't got that recently.  Until last month, that is.  Superman: Lois and Clark gives us fans that Superman, but Dan Jurgens doesn't stop there.  He gives us a Lois Lane who is a thousand times more likable than what we are getting (Lois fans have had it bad as well) and little Jon who I can only pray will eventually fill the void of a good Superboy.  That's a lot of hope being heaped on one book, but after one issue, I think it may be able to do it.  I'm getting ahead of myself, though, as we are here to see if this issue is any good.  Spoiler alert...it is.  Now, after I pay for this pizza, we'll get on with the show.  See you in a few...

Top 5 Black Fridays: Things You'll Want To Pick Up On Black Friday In The DC Universe *JODY EDITION*

Welcome back to another exciting and a little silly, Top 5 Friday!  Last year Eric covered what he thinks would be the Top 5 things to pick up on Black Friday in the DC Universe (click HERE to see last year's list), and I got to thinking that times change and so does preference when it comes to items. Just because that Bat-mobile was cool last year, doesn't mean that the Bat-Truck this year isn't on the top buyers list. With that reason in mind (and the fact my mind is still in a food coma from Thanksgiving), this list will be MY version of the things you want to pick up on Black Friday!  As I said it is my list, so if you don't see what you want on here, TOO BAD! Enough talk! Let's begin!

The Flash #46 Review

Secret, Secret, I've Got a Secret

Written by: Robert Venditti and Van Jensen
Art by: Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, Andrew Dalhouse and Pat Brosseau
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 25, 2015

This week is the penultimate issue of both the Zoom Crew story and Brett Booth's time on The Flash. Yep, you read that right, Brett Booth will be leaving this book after finishing up this arc next month and I am one upset man.  Since starting this site, Booth has been one of my favorite artists and I have really enjoyed his run on The Flash.  I'm sure that opinion isn't making me a hit on Reddit, but I have a few words for the haters that inhabit that dark pit of the internet.  However, before I tell them to fuck off, I should probably remind everyone else about what happened last issue in this book.  Well, Professor Zoom got his hands on his Freddy Kruger/Speed Force sucking glove and made quick work of Magali's powers all while the Flash got everyone out of the power dome that had trapped him and the Central City PD.  It may have been obvious that Flash was a hero, but it didn't seem to matter to Captain Frye, who blamed the Flash for just about everything bad that happened.  It's all part of Zoom's plan to destroy the Flash...the person and the myth.  Zoom's plan already feels like it's coming apart at the seams a bit, but the excitement is ramping up.  Does this issue set up the book for a great finale?  Let's find out...Wait, I forgot what I was going to say to those guys on Reddit.  Oh well, on with the review.

Dark Knight III: The Master Race #1 Review and *SPOILERS*

The Dark Knight Returns

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Written by: Frank Miller, Brian Azzarello
Art by: Klaus Janson, Andy Kubert
Cover Price: $5.99
Release Date: November 25, 2015

The time has finally come. I have been waiting for this book for better or for worse since it was first announced. On the one hand it could have been like The Dark Knight Returns; A dark, action packed and thoughtful book with some satire but could be the thing that could make people love comics again. On the other, it could be like Strikes Again: An over satirized propaganda piece that makes either the characters a bunch of jerks or idiots. Both books are famous(well infamous in the case of Strikes Again), so either way the Dark Knight: The Master Race has a LOT to live up to.
So we need to know: Does the team of Frank Miller and Brian Azarello actually have what it takes to bring back the Dark Knight? Let's find out...

Superman/Wonder Woman #23 Review

A Different Angle

Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Art by: Doug Mahnke, Jaime Mendoza, Mark Irwin, Keith Champagne, Will Quintana and
             Travis Lanham
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 25, 2015

If you are like me, every time one of the Superman books comes out, you have to get your head straight and try to figure out which storyline you're about to read.  Is this the one in Siberia with Batgirl?  Is this the book with Superman wrestling Gods?  Do I have to deal with those stinking Shadow Ninjas?  Well, Superman/Wonder Woman isn't any of those.  Nope, this book ended last issue with our title heroes breaking up their romance and breaking Parasite out of jail...well, actually a helicopter on the way to jail, but give me a little lead way here.  We all know that Parasite is going to suck big time, but did this issue follow suit?  Let's find out...

Aquaman #46 Review and *SPOILERS*

The Tides Are Changing

Written By: Cullen Bunn
Art By: Vincente Cifuentes, John Dell, John Livesay, Marc Deering, Guy Major, Tom Napolitano
Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: November 25, 2015

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Aquaman's been a tough sell lately...... you know, with everything just happening without much of an explanation about how or why...... that is until the big info dumps hit and takes up most of the issue with exposition that's accompanied by sub par art........... shit I sound like a Negative Nancy, but all I'm trying to say is Aquaman hasn't been that good lately.  The Thule story line has just been instances over and over again where Aquaman teleports in, fights the threat and moves on, while Atlantis keeps sending troops in to apprehend and or kill their former King and out of nowhere last issue we had Aquaman teleport to an alien planet....... where he just happened to learn from a species that didn't speak his language, that he was destined to be the destroyer of Thule.  Yeah, that was a weird issue, but hopefully this one will be better.  Let's jump into Aquaman and see what our former ruler of Atlantis is up to and if he can save his Queen Mera from her shape shifting, somehow sister Siren........ Yeah, it's a mess.  Let's check it out.

Grayson #14 Review

Dick's Got Crabs

Written by: Tim Seeley

Art by: Stephen Mooney, Jeromy Cox and Carlos M. Mangual

Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: November 25, 2015

Grayson is still my favorite book that DC Comics is putting out each month, but the last few issues (#13 and the Annual) are trying my patience.  While every book has it's ups and downs for various reasons, I'm going to use Occam's Razor in this instance to point out what I think is the reason...Tim Seeley.  While Tom King's scripts were full of over-the-top action sequences and crazy spy stuff, his character work and dialogue was always clever and witty.  Since Seeley has jumped in, that is not the case.  Everything is in your face and extreme and the humor that I loved has been replaced with 90's action one-liners that would make even a hardcore Running Man fan blush.  I know, because I am one!  Well, Tim Seeley is back this month and while I went in with finger crossed, I'm afraid to report that this issue is not much better in the dialogue department, but it does have some really good story moments.  Does the second outweigh the first to make this the first Seeley penned issue that I can recommend to fans and newcomers alike?  Let's find out...

Superman #46 Review and *SPOILERS*

Fight To Survive!

Written By: Gene Luen Yang
Art By: Howard Porter, Hi-Fi, Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 25, 2015

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Since Superman went and got outed as Clark Kent and had his power all but depleted....... shit's been rough for our Man of Steel....... and you know what?  It's been rough for the readers as well.  With the exception of Action Comics, it seems like all the other Superman titles have just been nonsense and the Superman title has been the worst offender of them all.  At least when we were dealing with the initial TRUTH story line, we had an idea when all of this was going on in correlation with each of them, but now it's a free for all, where Superman just seems to be multiple places at once and dealing with the craziest shit that you could think of without any clear idea of what his endgame is.  I mean, we're dealing with Wrath and her shadow monsters, Vandal Savage and his miniature sun......... and whatever the hell Mr. Bend is up to.  Here though, we've got Superman supposedly going after Hordr, but as we saw in the previous issue, he's given up on that so he can become a professional fighter in a god's UFC........... yeah.  So let's jump into this issue and see why the hell Superman would give up on everything that he should be doing and all the morals that his father taught him to get a paycheck punching people.  Let's check it out.

Batman and Robin Eternal #8 Review

Mother May I

Written by: Genevieve Valentine
Art by: Alvaro Martinez, Scot Eaton, Raul Fernandez, Wayne Faucher, Sandra Molina and
             Corey Breen
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 25, 2015

As a whole, I've been enjoying Batman and Robin Eternal.  Sure, not every issue has been a hit, but the mystery of Mother, Batman and the Robins has kept me guessing throughout.  Things are moving along at a really good pace (unlike Batman Eternal) and the concentration on a set number of characters has given it a sharp focus (again, unlike Batman Eternal).  Genevieve Valentine is back for this issue after giving readers an excellent one last week.  So far, she is by far my second favorite writer on this series right behind James Tynion.  Did this issue push her ahead or did it set her back to the level of Tim Seeley and Steve Orlando?  Let's find out...

We Are Robin #6 Review and *SPOILERS*

Learning To Fly

Written By: Lee Bermejo
Art By: Jorge Corona, Rob Haynes, Christine Duarte Peter, Carmine Di Giandomenico, Mat Lopes, Jared K. Fletcher
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 25, 2015

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Oh boy, I sure do love me some We Are Robin.  I'm pretty sure I say this every time I start out to review this book, but it's a title that went above and beyond anything I ever thought it could be and became one of my favorite titles to come out since June.  I usually hate the way that kids are depicted in comics because they always come off over the top........ and awful, but Lee Bermejo really has a handle on the way these Robins act and they come off appropriate with their responses to the things they encounter.  It's just really refreshing to see.  In the previous issue, we had our Robins try to deal with their current situation, which is the loss of their teammate Troy and the reality that they've been lied to in finding out that Batman isn't all about what they're doing........ but since it's the Jim Gordon Batman, it shouldn't really matter.  So yeah, our kids are hurt and confused, but after receiving a visit from Nest, who was rocking a truckload of Robin goodies for our heroes, for the most part our characters got back on the trolley.  Only problem is that trolley led them right into the sights of a Talon looking to recruit.  Let's jump into this issue and hopefully not see our heroes ripped limb from limb when they face their biggest threat yet.  Let's check it out.

Weird Science DC Comics Podcast Episode 46: Poor Stinky Jamie

This Podcast may not be the place to go for world events, but if you want to hear about all of this week's DC Comics comic book releases, you could do worse...possibly.  Jim and Eric decide they are the James Brown's of podcasting and it has little to do with smoking crack and beating up their women...or does it?  They eventually talk DC Comic comic book news, and review all of this week's comics, read listener mail and are joined by Reggie and Ryan for the Recklessness and the Other Side Segments.  Oh yea, we also learn about Jim's favorite person from Eric's past...Stinky Jamie.  It's just another week in Weird Science Podcast Land.  Enjoy!

Tomboy #1 Review

A Killer Origin

Written by: Mia Goodwin
Art by: Mia Goodwin
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: November 18, 2015
Publisher: Action Lab Comics


When the Weird Science Get Fresh Crew came up with the idea of "Just for the Hell of it Monday" reviews, it was all about taking one day to spread our wings and fly.  Lately, however, I've been grounded by my busy schedule and complete dedication to laziness and have not been participating as much as I'd like too.  There are so many non DC Comics that I'd love to read and review that it's sometimes hard to pick.  Well, this book kind of fell in my lap...Action Lab Comics sent us a review copy. I took that as a sign or maybe just a promotions department doing their job and said, "What the Fuck, I'm doing it."  So, here is my review of Tomboy...

Puppet Master #7 Review and *SPOILERS*

The Devil's In The Details

Written By: Shawn Gabborin
Art By: Michela Da Sacco, Yann Perrelet
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 28, 2015

Publisher: Action Lab: Danger Zone

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Everybody seems to have a problem with Mondays but here at Weird Science, Monday means I get to dive into my horror obsession and continue my reviews of Puppet Master and who doesn't love Puppet Master?......  You naysaying bastards better keep your mouths shut.  That's right it's Just For The Hell of It Mondays and the last time we took a look at Puppet Master, our puppets made a deal with the psychic Madam Adon to transfer their souls out of their wooden vessels and into actual bodies.  All she asked for in return was the puppets themselves and not seeing any reason to hold on to them, Andre Toulon agreed to the deal.  Everything seemed fine and actually felt like a fitting end for these tortured souls who for almost eighty years were forced to live out their days under the whim of different Puppet Masters, never finding peace.  Well, they aren't finding the peace they were hoping for here either.  While our characters tried to get back to something that resembled living, it seems that the puppets weren't done with them yet and one by one we saw them murdered by their former bodies and at the end of last issue, it seems that they have actually gone to hell........ which is a crazy to think of in this series.  So let's see what Action Labs has in store for us with this issue and if it continues to be as awesome as the rest of this series has been so far.  Let's check out the finale to Rebirth!

Doomed #6 Review

Doomsayer

Written by: Scott Lobdell
Art by: Javier Fernandez, Ulises Arreola and Corey Breen
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: November 18, 2015

I am not going to kid anyone reading this by saying that this series will be remembered by more than a handful of people as they sit on the porch, sipping lemonade and waxing poetic about the good old days.  Okay, that scenario will probably never play out at all, but I am sad that Doomed was cancelled.  It's more of a wasted opportunity thing than the actual quality of the book as I had this pegged as DC's potential answer to Spider-Man.  You can stop laughing now.  It's hard enough to establish a new character in our ADD riddled world, but Scott Lobdell seemed to want to develop side characters at the expense of his main and that just didn't work.  I can't say things would have been better with a more focused plan of attack, but...  Oh well, Scott seems to have learned his lesson a bit, but since this is the last issue of the series, that's infuriating in it's own right, but more on that later.  I am here to tell you if the last issue of Doomed is a good read or not and that's what we'll do right about now...