Saturday, December 31, 2016

Wolfcop #3 Review


Wolfcop v Terminator v Kaiju

Written by: Max Marks
Art by: Allan Ottero, Arcana Studios and Chris Barrett
Cover Price: $3.99
On Sale Date: 12/28/16
Review by: Ryan Douglas

Check out Ryan’s podcast, Columbus Comics Corner HERE

SPOILERS!!!

I've enjoyed this book since the start of the series tremendously. It has been my go to read for non-superhero stories. There are plenty of comedic moments with 80’s type action-packed panels. Issue three has arrived, let’s dive into this and see if it continues the hype I’ve given this book.  

Generation Zero #5 Review


Creep Show

Written by: Fred Van Lente
Art by: Francis Portela, Diego Bernard and Andrew Dalhouse
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 28, 2016
Review by: RepairmanJack



As a new reader to the Valiant Universe I came into Generation Zero not really knowing what to expect. I had gotten some fun cape comedy from Faith, some mind bendy ninja assassin plot from Ninjak and sci-fi thriller from Divinity III. I came into Generation Zero expecting something along the lines of a Teen Titans with maybe a little darker slant to it. What it started out as was a little more fun and light hearted than I had expected with one of the issues taking a comical spin on the Archie format. That being said it quickly started to show that darker side with an issue that oddly disturbed me more than I thought a comic actually could. So as the story arc starts to come to a head does the book continue to go down that darker side or does it continue to evolve and maybe surprise by going in an entirely different direction?

Friday, December 30, 2016

Top 5 Fridays: Top 5 Moments I Want to See in 2017


Welcome to the last Top 5 Friday of 2016!!! It has been an eventful year in the world of comics. The New 52 came to a close as Rebirth stepped up to the plate and the landscape for DC has changed because of it. A New Superman(both in China and America), Wally West returning with other old characters, new heroes and villains like Gotham Girl and Godspeed, etc. However, as the final hours of 2016 tick down, I find myself thinking about the next year and what I want to see, and that's what we'll be talking about today. As always, this is an opinion-based list, so if you see something you don't like, I apologize. With that out of the way, let us begin the final list!

Weird Science DC Comics Podcast Spotlight: Flash #13



Spotlight is on...The Flash #13.  Eric and Jim both love the Flash so much and can't get enough of the comedy relief that is kidnapping.  They also talk a bit of movies and detail the upcoming live awards show.  If you like what you hear, check out the big podcast that comes out every single Sunday Night where they review every DC Comic book worth reviewing...all of them!


Thursday, December 29, 2016

DC Comics Best Covers of the Week 12/28/16

An Embarrassment of Variants

It's the day after the last New Comic Book Day of 2016, and you know what that means! It's the last Best Covers of the Week for the year! Although roughly eight-hundred comic books came out from DC Comics, I struggled to find five worthy of a coveted position on this list. But since the "best" of anything is a relative term, I eventually got it done. Take a look at the last winners before your attention is swayed by another celebrity death!

Weird Science DC Comics Podcast Ep 103: DC Rebirth Week 27, Christmas and Toilet Jesus


 The Gang's all here and it's the Holiday Season...which means over ten hours of podcast under the tree.  Yep, no Holiday break for these guys and the books may have been up and down, but the spirits are a bit low this week.  Maybe the New Year will bring better times...maybe we should all pray to Toilet Jesus for that!

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Harley’s Little Black Book #5 Review and **SPOILERS**



Let’s Get Ready to Bumble

Writers: Amanda Conner & Jimmy Palmiotti 
Artist: Neal Adams 
Colors: Paul Mounts 
Letters: Dave Sharpe 
Cover: Neal Adams & Paul Mounts
Cover Price: $4.99 
On Sale Date: December 28, 2016

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

When I was a kid, there were a handful of comic books you might see on people’s bookshelves. Never mind that, in my neighborhood, bookshelves themselves were quite a rarity, and if any of my friends’ parents did have books they might be Reader’s Digest collections and some romance paperbacks. But besides at my home, where the comic strip reprints came thick and heavy courtesy of my father, the two comics I saw filed away with various Time-Life series and the past year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue was the Marvel Treasury adaptation of the Land of Oz, and Superman vs. Muhammad Ali. I remember thumbing through it at other people’s houses (my father didn’t actually own a copy of this, despite having three collections of Uncle Scrooge and Donald Duck comics), but it wasn’t until the deluxe reprint from a few years ago that I learned just how insane this story is. You don’t need to read it to enjoy this issue of Harley’s Black Book, but it does draw heavily from Superman vs. Muhammad Ali and would help your understanding some of the…wackier stuff. Though if you’re a regular reader of Harley Quinn, wackiness is nothing new to you! Still, maybe you should go get Superman vs. Muhammad Ali and read it, then come back to my review, okay? I’ll be here when you’re ready, just look below!

Vigilante: Southland #3 Review and **SPOILERS**



What’s Happenin’? No Seriously, What is Happening Here

Writer: Cary Phillips
Artist: Elena Casagrande
Additional Inks: Moritat
Colors: Giulia Brusco
Letters: Todd Klein
Cover: Mitch Gerads
Cover Price: $3.99
On Sale Date: December 28, 2016

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Back to South Los Angeles—Southland, as I understand it is called—and I couldn’t be more ready because I spent several long hours in a rental car playing Backspin in Sirius XM radio for the past few days. And you know what that means: plenty of NWA, Dr. Dre, and DJ Quik to keep my South Central Los Angeles juices flowing. So if I happen to call you a “mark-ass buster” or ask “what set you claimin’,” I hope you will forgive me. I also hope the lord will forgive me for the comic book I am about to review. It’s Vigilante: Southland #3, and you can read all about it below!

Dark Knight III: The Master Race #7 Review and **SPOILERS**



Do the Lazarus

Story By: Frank Miller & Brian Azzarello
Pencils By: Andy Kubert
Inks By: Klaus Janson
Colors By: Brad Anderson
Letters By: Clem Robins
Cover By: Andy Kubert, Frank Miller & Brad Anderson
Cover Price: $5.99
On Sale Date: December 28, 2016

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Wow…didn’t I read issue #6 like two months ago? The schedule is getting better! Good job, Dark Knight III team! Let’s catch up with our old friends, while we can still faintly remember what happened before. Read on!

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #11 Review and **SPOILERS**



New In Box

Writer: Robert Vendetti
Penciller: Rafa Sandoval
Inker: Jordi Tarragona
Colorist: Tomeu Morey
Letterer: Dave Sharpe
Cover: Sandoval, Tarragona, Morey
Cover Price: $2.99
On Sale Date: December 28, 2016

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Last time we left this title…well, pretty much the same thing that happened the issue before happened again. Except that Hal Jordan is back, and Kyle Rayner is in the mix. So let’s stop hemming and hawing, and see who else might be crawling back from the pre-Rebirth Green Lantern universe! Read on!

The Hellblazer #5 Review and **SPOILERS**



Treeing Up the Wrong Bark

Writer: Simon Oliver
Artist: Pia Guerra
Colorists: Carrie Strachan
Lettering: Sal Cipriano
Cover Artist: John Cassaday with Paul Mounts
Cover Price: $2.99
On Sale Date: December 28, 2016

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Man, I kind of wish this John Constantine was like the one in Hard-Travelin’ Heroz.

Yeah, I said it. Read on for my review.

Sixpack & Dogwelder: Hard-Travelin’ Heroz #5 Review and **SPOILERS**



This is Ground Control to Major Barf

Writer: Garth Ennis
Artist: Russ Braun
Colorist: John Kalisz
Letterer: Pat Brosseau
Cover Price: $3.99
On Sale Date: December 28, 2016

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Dr. Timothy Leary suggested we all “tune in, turn on, and drop out,” but I prefer the wisdom of Sixpack that suggests we “drink lots, puke more, and pass out.” This has been a pretty metaphysical series for a comic book about a bunch of weirdo monsters and scumbag humans, owing quite a bit to the inclusion of John Constantine as a kind of life guide for Dogwelder. We’re in the home stretch now, so do you think Hard-Travelin’ Heroz will return to its regularly scheduled programming of fart jokes and sex crimes? I dunno, read on to find out!

Mother Panic #2 Review and *SPOILERS*



Mother Panic #2
"A Work in Progress, Part 2"
Written by Jody Houser
Art by Tommy Lee Edwards
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: 12.28.2016

I remember reading comics as a teenager... if I ever came across a comic that used a four-letter word, boy I felt like I was getting away with something.  It was the pinnacle of depth and "maturity" for a 13-year old Chris to see "the F word" written in a comic book.  I will say, if Mother Panic hit the shelves in ye old 1993, I'd have thought it was the bee's knees... the cat's pajamas, even!

Now, seeing a whole bunch of curse-words in a comic as an adult... well, it's not necessarily a bad thing, though I'll concede it kinda makes me cringe.  Now, why in the world am I saying all of this?  Read on...


Teen Titans #3 Review and *SPOILERS*


Teen Titans #3
Damian Knows Best, Part Three
Story - Benjamin Percy
Pencils - Khoi Pham
Inks - Wade Von Grawbadger
Colors - Jim Charalampidis
Cover Price: $2.99
On-Sale Date: 12.28.2017

Many of the Teen Titans faithful know that there's something of a tradition for the team.  When the going gets tough, and the members don't quite see eye-to-eye, they... well, they have a camp out!  Back in the early 1980's there was a four-issue miniseries called Tales of the New Teen Titans (not to be confused with the newsstand reprint series) where they hashed out their differences under the stars.  Around the turn of the century, during Devin Grayson's run on Titans, they did the same.  Here we are some... oy, decade and a half hence, and we're gonna give it a go again!

I love it when traditions are kept... even if it's not intentional, and I'm just thinking way too hard about it!  Let's do it...

Justice League Vs. Suicide Squad #2 Review and *SPOILERS*



Justice Is Going Down


Written By: Joshua Williamson
Art By: Tony S. Daniel, Sandu Florea, Alex Sinclair, Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: December 28, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

After not really digging Joshua Williamson's run on the Flash, I was a little wary going into this event, but I have to tell you....... I don't know where this Joshua Williamson has been hiding, but I want more of what he gave us last issue in all the books he's doing.  Yeah, we had a certain amount of setup that was needed to get everyone on the Justice League Vs. Suicide Squad trolley, but even with that it was done really well and each and every character felt spot on to me.  On top of the action that the title promises, we also had Maxwell Lord showing up in this event and breaking out some of the world's worst villains in order to put together a group to help him save the world........ which in my mind means that the Justice League are in big trouble, what with Maxwell going on about how they aren't doing their job properly and they're not the only ones in trouble because as we ended the previous issue, we also found out that old Max wants his new crew to kill Amanda Waller.  Let's jump into this issue and see if the awesomeness continues and if we find out anything more about what Maxwell Lord is up to.  Let's check it out.

Super Powers #2 Review


Danger Zone

Written by: Art Baltazar
Art by: Art Baltazar and Franco
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 28, 2016

I don't care what anyone says about who this book is aimed at because it is aimed right at me!  Yep,
this is my type of jam and Baltazar and Franco make it so easy to like.  After their Tiny Titans book, I've been waiting for something to give me my cute fix and low and behold, they are back with Super Powers and all is right in the world.  Sure, I love the more "adult" fare that DC puts out as well, but nothing beats setting aside a couple minutes to actually smile or even laugh, god forbid!  That's what I do every time I read a book by these two and the first issue of Super Powers was no exception.  So, does it all continue with this issue.  It's hard to imagine it won't, but I will leave that sort of talk for my review.


Action Comics #970 Review and *SPOILERS*



Throw The Book At Him!


Written By: Dan Jurgens
Art By: Patrick Zircher, Ulysses Arreola, Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 28, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Superman has to save Lex Luthor?....... What?  Yeah, even though our Pre-Flashpoint Superman has spent his life fighting and despising Lex Luthor, now that our New 52/Rebirth version of the character has been taken by a intergalactic doomsayer bounty hunter, it's up to Superman to put all of his wariness about this version of his old foe aside so that he can be the Man of Steel we all know and love............. and maybe, get some answers about all the lingering questions that this series still has out there all willy nilly.  Yeah, I doubt we'll get any of that, but I like to stay optimistic.  So yeah, Lex Luthor was kidnapped by Zade and L'Call and brought back to their home planet of Mideesi so that he can face trial for the future crimes he will commit, that apparently consist of him becoming the next Darkseid and conquering the Universe.  Let's hope that Superman will be able to be a decent lawyer and prove that Lex isn't the man that even he made him out to be.  Let's check it out.

Titans #6 Review and *SPOILERS*



The Speed Force Don't Have Shit On Wally West


Written By: Dan Abnett
Art By: Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, Marc Deering, Andrew Dalhouse, Carrie Sirachan, Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 28, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Well, it looks like we're right back to where we started with this series....... or really, right back to where we started with the Rebirth Special because when we left the previous issue, we saw Wally West run fast enough to go and get his ass stuck in the Speed Force again.  So yeah....... that's a weird turn, but I'm guessing that we need this little story to end our arc so that we can find out why it will never happen again.  Yeah, like anyone thinks that Wally is gone forever and we'll just be dealing with the rest of our Titan heroes the rest of the run.  I don't care if we have Nightwing, Donna Troy or Arsenal in this book, Wally West is the star and you know we'll be seeing that boy return but quick.  Let's jump into this issue and see if there's anything more to it than that.  Let's check it out.

Batgirl #6 Review and **SPOILERS**

-->

Nightmare at $2.99

Writer: Hope Larson 
Art: Rafael Albuquerque 
Colors: Dave McCaig 
Letters: Deron Bennett 
Cover: Rafael Albuquerque 
Cover Price: $2.99 
On Sale Date: December 28, 2016

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Flew in from Shanghai, by way of Okinawa
Didn’t get to bed last night
On the way my Batarang was digging in my back
Man, I had a dreadful flight
I’m back in the B.U.R.N.
You don’t know how lucky you’ve been, boy
Back in the B.U.
Back in the B.U.
Back in the B.U.R.N., yeah

Deathstroke #9 Review


A Slow Death(stroke)

Written by: Christopher Priest
Art by: Cary Nord, Jeromy Cox and Willie Shubert
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 28, 2016

I think I have given Christopher Priest and his Deathstroke book more than a fair shake.  Even while I was confused with what was going on, I remained impressed by the character work and was intrigued by the criss cross double cross that they were embroiled in.  Nobody is good in this book and the minute you trust them is your last minute alive.  Exciting stuff indeed, but I also put a lot of trust in Priest to show me the way a bit and tie some story threads together and that's where I feel betrayed.  Maybe I'm just a big dummy, but this series is becoming too much work for me to enjoy and after the last arc, the risk/reward shifted into a bad area.  That being said, I'm still here and will give each issue it's due.  Does the start of this "Four Rooms" arc get me onboard the Slade Wilson Trolley?  Let's find out...


Supergirl: Being Super #1 Review




Zit Juice


Written by: Mariko Tamaki
Art by: Joёlle Jones, Sandu Florea, Kelly Fitzpatrick and Saida Temofonte
Cover Price: $5.99
Release Date: December 28, 2016

I love Supergirl and I can never get enough of her!  So, this is a great time to be a fan since after a overlong drought, we are getting Supergirl in spades.  When this comic was announced, I got so excited and grabbed it to review immediatley.  So, did my enthusiasm pay off with a great book to review?  Let's find out...


The Flash #13 Review


Baby, It's Cold Outside

Written by: Joshua Williamson
Art by: Neil Googe, Ivan Plascencia and Steve Wands
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 28, 2016

While I didn't end up loving the Shade's visit to Central City (and the Shadowlands) in the last two issues of Flash, I did enjoy the Barry/Wally interaction and the way the last issue ended had me so excited!  Barry asking Iris out on a date is what Rebirth is all about!  Joshua Williamson may just win me over yet.  I respect him so much as a writer, but to this point, it feels like he is not a great fit for The Flash.  Does this issue change my opinion?  Let's find out...


Batman Beyond #3 Review and *SPOILERS*



Diagnosis........ Terminal!


Written By: Dan Jurgens
Art By: Bernard Chang, Marcelo Maiolo, Travis Lanham
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 28, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Quit clownin' around Terry McGinnis and give us some of that sweet, sweet Batman Beyond action.  I know that we're only at issue #3 and that I should probably just calm down and stop yelling at comic books, but the real fact of the matter is that we've been without a proper Batman Beyond book for awhile and now that we got one, it seems that Terry figures he's too out of shape to be the Bat right now......... not to mention that his whole "out of shape-ness" led to the Batman Beyond suit being a little messed up.  Dana Tan still needs saving from the Jokerz though so Terry pulls out his clown paint and makes himself up to be the long lost son of Matches Malone, Trey Malone and infiltrates the group by looking like he's so much of a bad ass that he was able to take Batman down.  Let's jump into this issue and see if Terry can keep the ruse up and if he discovers what Terminal is actually up to and find the still being reanimated body of The Joker.  Let's check it out.

Wonder Woman #13 Review and *SPOILERS*



Send Me An Angel


Written By: Greg Rucka
Art By: Renato Guedes, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Jodi Wynne
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 28. 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Now that the "Lies" are behind us, I hope that we start getting to some meat in this story because even though I really enjoyed the first arc of our current timeline story, there's just so many lingering questions left out there and how the answers to those questions will affect what we previously read in the New 52.  I don't know what to believe anymore and I'd like some clarity.  Anyway, in the previous issue of this part of our story, we saw Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor on what they believed to be Themyscira, but even a big dummy like me realized that this Paradise Island wasn't right and I don't know if it was supposed to be the island of the New 52 or not, I just know that things didn't really match up with what we previously knew to be true, like Wonder Woman's mother being alive here and all that.  Eventually, with the help of the Lasso of Truth...... or "The Perfect" as it's known here, Wonder Woman was able to get past all the lies surrounding her and the reality that she thought to be true shattered around her, leaving Diana and Steve on a island that was nowhere near to being Wonder Woman's home.  Let's jump into this issue and see how Wonder Woman's coping with this revelation.  Let's check it out.

All-Star Batman #5 Review and *SPOILERS*



Two Ways To Go


Written By: Scott Snyder
Art By: John Romita Jr., Danny Miki, Tom Palmer, Sandra Hope, Richard Friend, Dean White Steve Wands
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: December 28, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

We've traveled pretty hard with Batman on his way to find a cure for Two-Face and seen some disturbing things along the way...... as well as some bad ass things, but all in all it's the greed and secrets of people that this series seems to be all about because on one hand we have the good people of Gotham........ and pretty much everyone else really, who want to keep their secrets to themselves and because of this they want to stop Batman from getting Harvey to the place where this so called "cure" lies and we have villain after villain showing up to do the same because they were promised a fortune if they succeeded in stopping Batman.  This arc has all been about curing Two-Face of this second persona and Harvey's more dangerous side doing all that he can to stop our hero.  It's been a tough road so far, hopefully the final mile eases up a bit and gives Batman and Duke a break.  Let's jump into this issue and find out what all of this has been about.  Let's check it out.

Blue Beetle #4 Review and *SPOILERS*



New Beginnings


Written By: Keith Giffen
Art By: Scott Kolins, Romulo Fajardo Jr., Josh Reed
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 28, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

While I'm still not sold on this Blue Beetle title, what with it's over the top dialog that just seems to fill every panel to the brim, I do have to say that I go into this title every month with an open mind and the hope that the comic will come around and "Wow" the hell out of me.  It's hard to think that this series will just up and out of nowhere change, but a boy can still dream.  In the previous issue we saw our hero being led by the scarab armor to a hole in the ground that was infested with beings that called themselves the Horde and while I understand that this might have been a traumatic experience, we then saw Jaime go through the rest of the issue just telling everyone he could get a hold of about it.  Ultimately, it led to Jaime agreeing to let Ted Kord test him so that they can possibly find out if Jaime could be separated from the scarab and with that, give him a normal life again.  Let's jump into this issue and see what old Teddy boy finds.  Let's check it out.

Detective Comics #947 Review


Battyleaks

Written by: James Tynion IV
Art by: Alvaro Martinez, Raul Fernandez, Brad Anderson and Marilyn Patrizio
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: December 28, 2016

I was a huge fan of this book...right up until the Victim Syndicate showed up.  Sure, the Syndicate seemed pretty cool at first, but while I wanted to know more about these colorful villains and their master plan for revenge, it all seemed to be just setup for Spoiler to fly to coop.  The reason I loved this book at the start of Rebirth was the team and now James Tynion is dismantling it piece by piece right before our eyes.  So, does this finale of the Victim Syndicate arc tie everything together and make the Detective Team stronger going forward somehow?  Let's find out...