Saturday, June 10, 2017

Babyteeth #1 Review


That's the Tooth!

Writer: Donny Cates
Artist: Garry Brown
Publisher: Aftershock Comics
Release Date: June 7, 2017
Cover Price: $3.99

With Donny Cates and Garry Brown’s Babyteeth we have my first foray into Aftershock Comics. A pretty new publisher, launching in 2015, that seems to comprise of mostly Hollywood and Movie executives behind it. With that in mind it would make me assume that Aftershock is mostly looking to launch properties that can eventually lead to movies or other opportunities.

Extremity #4 Review


Revenge Served...Extreme!

Writer: Daniel Warren Johnson
Artist: Daniel Warren Johnson
Publisher: Image Comics

Release Date: June 7, 2017
Cover Price: $3.99


With the previous issue of Extremity setting up some things that could come to a head pretty shortly, I come into this issue excited to see stuff getting serious. It’s been a big surprise to me just how much I’ve liked this book and my only hope is that it keeps the streak going. Follow on below to see if it sticks to the trend or takes a, hopefully short lived, dip in quality.



Friday, June 9, 2017

Top 5 Fridays: Top 5 Moments in Frank Miller's Dark Knight Earth


Welcome to another dark installment of Top 5 Fridays! BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THE DARK KNIGHT III IS FINALLY OVER! What started as a highly anticipated miniseries turned into a year and a half slog... But overall, I'll admit it was much better than I thought. Alright, it wasn't perfect, FAR FROM IT, but it was a massive improvement over The Dark Knight Strikes Again with some fantastic and memorable moments. It was a wonderful conclusion to The Dark Knight Earth... Then I realized: The Dark Knight Earth is no longer continuity as of The Multiversity series. This is disappointing as the series that comprise this Earth(More Returns and Master Race) are full of fantastic moments that define it, and that's what we'll be going over today! As always, this is an opinion-based list, so if you don't see something you like, I apologize. With the formalities out of the way, grab your capes and hop into this week's list!

Everafter #10 Review


Happily Everafter?

Written by: Dave Justus and Lilah Sturges
Art by: Travis Moore, Micheal Wiggam and Todd Klein
Cover Price: $3.99
Review by: Travis Laborde 


So, what's been going on inside the cube?  Are our Fables any closer to breaking in to save the kids in the school?  What about the ghost-woman with the bleeding eyes?  Has the Indian boy had his fill of sexy times with everyone yet?  Is this a good month or a bad month for the artwork?  Read on, and find out....


Savage Things #4 Review



You Savages!

Written by: Justin Jordan
Art by: Ibrahim Moustafa, Jordan Boyd and Josh Reed
Cover Price:$3.99
Release Date: June 7, 2017
Review by Mark Fossas

Check out Mark's Podcast, Nation of Nerds HERE


Issue 4 literally starts off with a bang and after last issues cliffhanger. We finally see the aftermath of Abel’s decision to go after Cain instead of trying to help Kira. Was she able to survive the blast?


Will Eisner's The Spirit: The Corpse Makers #3 Review and *Spoilers*




A Reasonable Amount of Trouble

Written and art by: Francesco Francavilla
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: May 17, 2017


Another issue of Francesco Francavilla’s wonderful take on Will Eisner’s most famous creation, another classic hardboiled crime quote for the opening page. This one’s from Dashiell Hammett. “I don’t mind a reasonable amount of trouble.” Well, it’s that word ‘reasonable’ that’s the kicker, isn’t it? A ‘reasonable’ amount of trouble is trouble you can handle, trouble you can, with a little effort, take care of. How fitting or ironic this quotation is when applied to the situations The Spirit finds himself in this issue is up to you, but I’m going with irony, I think. Let me tell you why.

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Throwback Thursday: Batman: Joker's Daughter #1 Review

Still a Mess, but a Better Mess

Written by: Marguerite Bennett
Art by: Meghan Hetrick
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: February 5, 2014

If you were around during the New 52, you experienced the crazy push that DC was giving Joker's Daughter.  Seriously, I don't think any character got so many chances...and so little respect that she did.  This issue was the second attempt at a one-shot origin story (the first was during Villains Month) and while it was the better of the two, it still stunk.  Enjoy... - Jim


DC Comics Best Covers of the Week 6/6

Four Twenty-Fours and One Thirteen

There was a wide selection of covers from DC Comics this week--almost twice as many as they had comic books! You'd think that makes my job more difficult, but it doesn't. Poring over pages of dynamic artwork is a treat! Still, I have to cull them down to five, and I have. Here are the covers I found most striking this week.

Throwback Thursday: Superman: Lois Lane #1 Review


Dazed and Confused

Written by: Marguerite Bennett
Art by: Emanuela Lappachino, Meghan Hetrick, Ig Guara, Diogenes Neves
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: February 26, 2014

I figured since the Steve Trevor one-shot was coming out this week, I'd focus on some New 52 one-shots that were...well, they weren't great.  I actually had high hopes that this one was going to right the wrong that was the New 52 Lois Lane and maybe set her up for her own solo book, but sadly it did neither.  It was pretty bad and just confusing as to why it existed.  Oh well, it was an attempt... - Jim


Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Throwback Thursday: The Flash 50th Anniversary Special Review




In a Flash!

Writer: Mark Waid, Len Strazewski, Gerard Jones, William Messner-LoebArtist: Mike Parobeck, Irv Novick, Larmine Infantino, Grant Miehm, Time DzonPublisher: DC ComicsRelease Date: 1990Volume & Price: Collected in The Flash by Mark Waid Book One $24.99

When Jim unveiled his idea of Throwback Thursday here on Weird Science DC it gave me an answer to something I had been craving for a while: The chance to check out older story lines and having a direction and purpose to steer it into something productive. With the idea planted I immediately set out for what would be my first project and finally landed on the idea of Mark Waid’s first foray into comics with Wally West as The Flash. So as I begin my journey into the days of DC’s past join me below to find out just what I thought of The Flash by Mark Waid.

Shade the Changing Girl #9 Review and **SPOILERS**


Going Atomic For You

Shade the Changing Girl #9
"In the City, Part Two: Band on the Run"Written By: Cecil Castellucci
Illustrated By: Marley Zarcone
Inks By: Ande Parks
Colors By: Kelly Fitzpatrick
Letters By: Saida Temofonte
Cover Price: $3.99
On Sale Date: June 7, 2017


Anybody who follows what I do online, which I realize is a silly egotistical thing to say, knows that I'm a really big fan of old comics... the comics from my youth... and the youth of my parents.  Can't get enough of 'em!  Even with that said, there are a handful that I have a bit of trouble returning to... and that's not an indictment on their quality.

There are certain books that literally take me back to the past.  I can remember exactly where I was when I read them.  These vivid memories, the sights, the smells, the tastes... they're sometimes too much for me.  I lose myself in a memory, rather than in the story.

Now what in the hell am I talking about?  Glad you asked... this issue of Shade the Changing Girl features a similar theme.  We'll talk about it more after the jump... but it was a powerful bit which immediately made me think of my childhood... guess I'm a soft touch.

Now will it give a normal person "the feels"?  Let's find out...

Superman #24 Review and *SPOILERS*



Time To Fight Your Father


Written By: Patrick Gleason, Peter J. Tomasi
Art By: Doug Mahnke, Patrick Gleason, Jaime Mendoza, Mick Gray, Joe Prado, Wil Quintana, John Kalisz, Hi-Fi, Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 7, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Goddamn has this been a messed up arc!  Not only are we getting into who Cobb and Kathy are, but we're seeing that Hamilton County as a whole isn't the pristine little down home paradise that we all thought it was.  In our previous issue, we saw Superman go up against Cobb as he was hurting Lois, but that didn't last long because out of nowhere, Hamilton County became infested with giant animals running a muck and it was up to Superman to stop them.......... or so we thought.  Instead, we saw the new Elite taking them down and making sure they stay down by brutal force and as Superman was trying to talk them out of using these means, Lois was caught with some shrapnel, cutting her goddamn leg off.  So yeah, Superman was out of the story after that as he desperately tried to get Lois to the hospital, but before we ended, we saw that Manchester Black was the one behind everything going on in Hamilton County and he was making Jon watch as his father failed to protect his mother with his antiquated morality.  Let's jump into this issue and see if Superman loses his shit after having his son kidnapped and his wife losing her damn leg.  Let's check it out.

Green Lanterns #24 Review and *SPOILERS*



Graduation Day


Written By: Sam Humphries
Art By: Carlo Barberi, Matt Santorelli, Ulises Arreola, Dave Sharpe
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 7, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

This series has been a bit infuriating to me because it seems to go out of its way to change continuity and just simply get things wrong.  That being said, I do hold a bit of optimism when it comes to getting into our Volthoom arc because its been something that's been just sitting on the back burner of this series for a long time now and I'm optimistic because at least it will be something and not just filler getting in the way.  Yeah, I guess Simon and Jessica needed some proper training and I'm happy that they're with the rest of the Green Lantern Corps, it just seems like this series has been waiting to get going and now that it's waited so long, it has no idea how to start.  In our previous issue, we saw Simon go off with Kyle and Jessica go off with Guy to begin their training and while Simon's seems a bit easier since he only has to land a punch on Kyle, Jessica's seems like it's the training from hell and it's possible that she'll never finish that training because as the last issue ended, she lost it and socked Guy Gardner right in the face.  Let's jump into this issue and see if it's a "One Punch" scenario or if Guy went and got something sturdier than a glass jaw.  Let's check it out.

Aquaman #24 Review and **SPOILERS**



Give the Stupid People the Stupid Things they Want

Story: Dan Abnett 
Pencils: Scot Eaton & Philippe Briones 
Inks: Wayne Faucher, Philippe Briones & Scott Hanna 
Colorist: Gabe Eltaeb 
Letterer: Pat Brosseau 
Cover: Brad Walker, Andrew Hennesy & Gabe Eltab
Cover Price: $2.99
On Sale Date: June 7, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

The king is dead. Long live the king! I remember when Johnny Carson said that in some clip they used to promote the Tonight Show. Back then, I assumed that he was talking about Elvis, but now I must say I’m not sure. Anyway, let’s find out what’s happened to King Arthur in my review of Aquaman #24!

Nightwing #22 Review and *SPOILERS*



Block Party


Written By: Tim Seeley
Art By: Miguel Mendonca, Vincente Cifuentes, Chris Sotomayor, Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 7, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

If you've been following my reviews for Nightwing, you'll know that I haven't been a fan of this series besides for the initial coming to Bludhaven arc, where the Run-Offs first showed up and the problem for me seems to be that Tim Seeley doesn't want to tell any kind of original stories.  Hell, I was originally afraid that our Bludhaven arc was just going to be a rehash of what Chuck Dixon did in the 90's, but thankfully, Tim Seeley made that story his own and I think it helped....... I'm back to being afraid though because now we're dealing with Blockbuster in Bludhaven and that's right out of Chuck Dixon's run, but with any luck, it will be something new and different and not rely on making people remember how much they liked that story back in the day.  Let's jump into this issue and see if Nightwing can be redeemed and if it can be the series that we all think it should be.  Let's check it out.

Wonder Woman: Steve Trevor #1 Review


Nice Place to Visit...

Written by: Tim Seeley
Art by: Christian Duce, Allan Passalaqua and Josh Reed
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 7, 2017


Everything is coming up Wonder Woman these days and after the end of Greg Rucka's Lies/Truth Story, the Wonder Woman Annual and the movie, it's easy to see why.  So, it's easy to see why DC is pushing even more out this week with this special one shot staring Steve Trevor.  I like it that Steve is getting a little bit of attention because I am actually a fan of the character and enjoy when he gets a bit of time to shine.  So, does he indeed shine bright or just come off as just "Wonder Woman's boyfriend"?  Let's find out...


Harley Quinn #21 Review and **SPOILERS**



Be Cool to Your Tool

Writers: Jimmy Palmiotti & Amanda Conner 
Artists: Joseph Michael Linsner, John Timms 
Back-up Writers: Jimmy Palmiotti & Paul Dini 
Back-up Pencils: Bret Blevins 
Back-up Inks: J. Bone 
Colors: Alex Sinclair with Jeremiah Skipper 
Letters: Dave Sharpe 
Cover: Amanda Conner & Alex Sinclair 
Cover Price: $2.99 
On Sale Date: June 7, 2017

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

In life, you can count on two things: death and Harley Quinn. In my life, anyway. I criticize this comic book but I have to admit that the comics are always well-crafted. I don’t really say it enough, but if you like wacky antics and the character in general, you’ll never feel ripped off by an issue of Harley Quinn. Though sometimes, you’ll be annoyed. That’s an emotional response, right? Let’s see what I thought of issue #21, right now!

Bane: Conquest #2 Review and *SPOILERS*



The Enemy of My Enemy


Written By: Chuck Dixon
Art By: Graham Nolan, Gregory Wright, Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 7, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

While I wasn't too hip on the first issue of this year long series because of not knowing what it really was, like if this was taking place in current continuity or if it was picking up from Chuck Dixon's 90's run of Batman or what, I do have to say that I remain optimistic that this will be something that I'll eventually get into because old Chucky boy was my favorite DC writer back in the day and I wouldn't want to think he lost a step or anything like that.  Anyway, in our first issue we saw Bane go through Gotham, looking for answers as to who was bringing a shit load of weapons into the city.  Eventually, after killing and beating a bunch of people, he was given the name Damocles, which led him to.......... Well, it led him to an ass whoopin'.  Yeah, Bane jumped the gun going after Damocles and Damocles showed us that he's no one to trifle with.  Let's jump into this issue and see what Bane's fate will be now that his venom is taken away from him and he's at the mercy of this Conquest villain.  Let's check it out.

Green Arrow #24 Review



Burn Baby Burn

Written by: Benjamin Percy
Art by: Juan Ferreyra and Nate Piekos
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 7, 2017

I have been a fan of Green Arrow and I think that Ben Percy has made this book so much better since Rebirth started and the Rise of Star City has been good, even if it's been mostly setup.  I have liked what it's setting up and Juan Ferreyra's art has been fantastic.  So, do we get to the meat and cheese of the story and is it good?  Let's find out...


Deathstroke #20 Review


Teamup

Written by: Christopher Priest
Art by: Larry Hama, Carlo Pagulayan, Jason Paz, Sean Parsons, Jeromy Cox and Willie Shubert
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 7, 2017


I did not like the Lazarus Contract as a whole, but as far as Deathstroke goes, the ending did intrigue me.  While "Deathstroke No More" felt like a bit of a stretch, knowing that we was going to put together a Team Deathstroke had me excited.  The question was, how would he make it happen?  Half the characters that appeared to be on it hate or want to kill Slade and that there is where the excitement lies.  So, is the actual start as exciting as it seemed to be?  Let's find out...


Dark Knight III: The Master Race #9 Review


All Things End


Writer: Frank Miller and Brian Azzarello
Art Team: Andy Kubert, Klaus Janson, Brad Anderson, Alex Sinclair
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: June 7, 2017

You read that headline right. A year and a half after it started the nine issue Dark Knight III: Master Race series finally comes to a long awaited conclusion.  After leaving Themyscira with their tale between their legs, whats left of the bottled Kryptonian's of Kandor, led by Quar; regroup to make a final push to take over the common man. Let’s see if a rejuvenated Dark Knight, and the other heroes reassembling throughout this mini-series, has what it takes to win the day for this long delayed, then extended, and now finally in our hands conclusion.

Justice League #22 Review





In Space...

Written by: Shea Fontana
Art by: Philippe Briones, Gabe Eltaeb and Dave Sharpe
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 7, 2017


It's Justice League time again and while I have not been a fan of this run up until now, this issue has me excited.  Why?  Because upcoming Wonder Woman writer, Shea Fontana, is in the house and that means two things...we get an idea of her writing (if you haven't already checked out her DC Superhero Girls) and we get a reprieve from Bryan Hitch.  I don't know which is bigger for me...I guess they are both pretty big.  So, how did Fontana do with the Justice League?  Let's find out...

Cyborg #13 Review and *SPOILERS*



Techno Ninja Filler


Written By: John Semper Jr.
Art By: Allan Jefferson, Tony Kordos, Guy Major, Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: June 7, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Goddamn, has this book been such a disappointment.  On top of dealing with the same baddie for thirteen issues now, we've had so much filler thrown in that I'm not sure even Cyborg knows what he's actually trying to do in this book.  In our previous issue, we saw Cyborg come back from his boom tube nonsense that never made any sense to find that he's been gone for six months, so with the threat of Anomaly still at hand and the possibility that his friends might have been hurt during his time away............... Cyborg goes to the University and takes in a lecture about The Singularity, which is a bunch of techno gobbledegook that pretty much means what Cyborg already is.  After that, we got ourselves a rap concert featuring Exxy and finally a fight with Rattattack, which made Cyborg look pretty goddamn awful in my mind.  So now you're all caught up on our current nonsense, let's check out what this issue has in store for us.  

The Fall and Rise of Captain Atom #6 Review and *SPOILERS*



Quantum *BLEEP*


Written By: Cary Bates, Greg Weisman
Art By: Will Conrad, Ivan Nunes, Saida Temofonte
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 7, 2017

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

We've come to the end of our six issue Captain Atom mini and while I pretty much enjoyed the ride, I really hope that it can be finished up well and not leave us with more questions than answers.  In our previous issue, we saw our hero take on the villain of this story, Ultramax, when the villain made a house call to General Eiling's.  It's at this point that we realized that the General, all around bad fellow that he is was even worse because before Ultramax was arrested for being a hitman and sentenced to death, the General was one of his last clients and it was one of those clients that got him arrested and put on the path to death.  Too bad Max Thrane didn't start with the General because goddamn did he kill a bunch of people just to make sure that he got the vengeance he believed he deserved.  Let's jump into this issue and see what Ultramax's plan is now that Captain Atom sent him packing with a bit of a quantum ass whooping and hopefully find out what the future holds for Nathaniel Adam's' son Genji.  Let's check it out.

Batman #24 Review


I Am...Unsatisfied

Written by: Tom King
Art by: David Finch, Danny Miki, Clay Mann, Seth Mann, Jordie Bellaire and Deron Bennett
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 7, 2017


Okay, now that the Button is over and we had our little fun with Swamp Thing, it's time for Tom King to get back to work and give us some answers, right?  I mean, we have been waiting patiently to find out what happened to Batman, Bane, the Robins, Gotham Girl, Catwoman...the list goes on and on.  I have to admit, I am a little worried that one issue just isn't enough for all of this, especially when King has said this is also a prelude to the War of Jokes and Riddles and a wrap up to the Button story as well.  So, did he come through for us or will will have to just keep being patient and wait even longer for answers?  Let's find out...


Tuesday, June 6, 2017

PREVIEW: Superman #24




Written By: Patrick Gleason, Peter J. Tomasi
Art By: Doug Mahnke, Patrick Gleason, Jaime Mendoza, Mick Gray, Joe Prado, Wil Quintana, John Kalisz, Hi-Fi, Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: June 7, 2017

“BLACK DAWN” part five! The Man of Steel faces the one foe he refuses to fight—his son. An emerging new ability for Superboy proves deadly to Superman as the promise of power appears to lead Jon Kent to betray his father.