Saturday, January 26, 2019

The Adventures of Superman #485 (1991) - "Out of the Mist" Review


Writers: Jerry Ordway
Artists: Tom Grummett, Doug Hazelwood
Cover Price: $1.00

This is the fifth issue and conclusion to the Blackout story arcSuperman and Mr. Z have been zapped with everything the Metropolis power grid had, leaving them without any memories of who they are and causing Metropolis to lose all of its power. While riots and chaos fill the streets back home, Supes and Z washed up onto Dinosaur Island where they were taken prisoner by a group of Neanderthals. In the last issue (Superman #62), Lois Lane and the Guardian arrive just in time to stop Superman's wedding to the Neanderthal king's daughter.

Friday, January 25, 2019

Goddess Mode #1 Review




“Out of Sync”

Written By: Zoe Quinn
Drawn By: Robbi Rodriguez
Colors By: Rico Renzi
Letters By: Simon Bowland
Cover Price $3.99
Release Date: December 12, 2018
Review by: Mike Knox


An ambitious first issue by Zoe Quinn that misses more than hits. Great art by Robbi Rodriguez isn’t enough to save this book, as it ends up falling flat due to weird pacing and structure issues. The title of this issue perfect sums up the way this issue felt to me.

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Chris and Regge's Cosmic Treadmill ep. 125 - Black Hammer (2016) + Jeff Lemire speaks


It's Hammer Time

Greetings, citizens of Spiral City! In this episode, embittered heroes Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) dip their toes into a brand-new superhero universe when they read Black Hammer #1 by Jeff Lemire and Dean Ormston, published by Dark Horse Comics in 2016! After the necessary biographical information, our inter-dimensonal phase-shifters go through the entire issue, lending their voices to the proceedings. Then, after some thoughts on the issue and wrapping up Jeff Lemire's bio, we hear from Jeff himself! He talks all about how he got into comics, when he came up with the idea for Black Hammer, and lets us in on what's coming down the line. This episode is more fun than you can have without being trapped in the body of a nine year-old, you don't want to miss it!

DC Comics Best Covers of the Week: January 23, 2019

The Fifth in Fourth

Hey folks! I didn't do the list last week. The reasons why aren't important, what is important is that I am back to choose five of the best covers coming from DC Comics this week and type some blabber about them. Funny thing is, this week is pretty sparse for releases, while next week looks like an absolute deluge. So it's almost like the fourth week of this month is a fifth week in terms of releases, while the fifth week behaves more like the fourth! Get what I'm saying? No? Ahh, the hell witchyas.

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Sideways #12 Review



There Are Actual Detectives In Gotham!



Storytelling by: Shane Davis, Kenneth Rocafort, Michelle Delecki, and Dan DiDio
Colouring by Hi-Fi and Dan Brown
Lettering by Dave Sharpe

This was just a mess of an issue, all around. Dan DiDio only seems to be interested in ending these issues with cliffhangers because he really went backwards in plotting these past two issues.  Alright, let's see how much of a mess it really was though.

DC Primal Age #1 Review


A Primal Letdown


Writer: Marv Wolfman
Art Team: Scott Koblish, Tony Avina, Wes Abbott
Cover Price: $9.99
Release Date: January 22, 2019


You may have walked down your local Target aisles and seen a strange mash up, packaged much like the classic He-Man and Masters of the Universe toy-line from the 80's, only with DC Characters in the iconic poses of He-Man, Skeletor, and the rest of the merry crew. That my friends is what the folks over at DC are calling the DC Primal Age. Being the huge He-Man and DC fan that I am, I was pumped when this was all announced, mostly because the inner 5 year old inside me screamed with anticipation of yesteryear again. The most recent announcement of a 100 page Target exclusive comic book only added to my excitement. So with that being said lets see what we have on our hands here shall we.

Teen Titans #26 Review and **SPOILERS**




Sonny Came Home



Writer - Adam Glass
Artist - Bernard Chang
Colors - Marcelo Maiolo
Letters - Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 23, 2019

Well, this here is one'a them "get a load of that cover" sort of books.  Just looking at it makes me feel like a kid again.  Even if I wasn't following this title, this is the kind of cover that might nudge me in the direction... of course, the cover also has that pesky "$3.99" on it, so I might just be talking out my backside.

Let's see what's goin' down in the cave!

Damage #13 Review




Monster Mash


Writer: Robert Venditti
Art Team: Aaron Lopresti, Matt Ryan, Hi-Fi, Tom Napolitano
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: January 22, 2019


Last we left our ol' pal Damage he was depowered, in the custody of the real Justice League, and looking for just one break from the 'good guys' for once in his life, since agreeing to undergo this experimentation. So it seems like this will all get straightened out, and they will totally believe everything Ethan has to say about the Damage program, right? However after glancing at the cover to this issue, "I don't think that's how this works, that's not how any of this works". Lets discuss.

American Carnage #3 Review and Spoilers




Vectors of Violence


Written by: Bryan Hill

Art by: Leandro Fernandez
Colours by: Dean White
Letters by: Pat Brosseau
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 23, 2019

Say what you like about Bryan Hill, but he knows how to ratchet up the tension. Last month's American Carnage ended with undercover white-passing mixed race FBI agent Richard Wright faced with an impossible decision. Tagging along with his new white supremacist buddies, Wright is confronted with a bound and gagged black man that the racists want him to beat up, seriously injure or possibly kill. How does he deal with this situation? Well, let's see, shall we?



Lucifer #4 Review and **SPOILERS**


It's Not a Toomuh... okay, maybe it is

Written By: Dan Watters 
Illustrated By: Max Fiumara & Sebastian Fiumara 
Colors By: Dave McCaig 
Letters By: Steve Wands
Cover Price: $4.99 
On Sale Date: January 23, 2019

Is it Lucifer Week already?  Man, the holidays really screwed up my internal calendar.

After being pretty completely lost issue, I gotta say it up front... I don't have the highest of hopes for this issue.  Hopefully I can be proven wrong!





The Wild Storm #19 Review and Spoilers


Welcome To The War

Written by: Warren Ellis
Art by: Jon Davis-Hunt
Colours by: Steve Buccellato
Letters by: Simon Bowland
Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 23, 2019

It feels like it's been way more than two months since we last had an issue of The Wild Storm. After a somewhat repetitive – though still enjoyable – third arc of this sci-fi reimagining of the Wild Storm universe, it's time for the final act and, hopefully, a bit more forward momentum. Let's dive in, eh?



Freedom Fighters #2 Review



Das Bügeleisen Riese


Written By: Robert Venditti
Art By: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Adriano Lucas, Deron Bennett
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 23, 2019


It's time to head on back over to Earth-X so that we can get to know our new Freedom Fighters of the modern era.  That's right, freedom, democracy and all that good stuff that makes Americans all ooey gooey about our country has been taken away after the Nazi's won the Second World War and it's up to a band of new heroes to make people remember the past so that we can all have a brighter future.  Let's jump into this issue and see if Black Condor, Phantom Lady, Doll Woman and the Human Bomb can take down a Ratzi War Machine.  Let's check it out.

Naomi #1 Review




Who's That Girl?


Writer: Brian Michael Bendis, David F. Walker
Artist: Jamal Campbell
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: January 23, 2019
Cover Price: $3.99

Of all the Wonder Comics books coming out, this was the one I picked to review.  I like David F. Walker, and I'm all about a new character with a mysterious origin story.  So, after reading the first issue, am I glad I put it on my review list?  Let's find out...

Shazam! #2 Review



Fun Is Fun


Written By: Geoff Johns
Art By: Marco Santucci, Mike Atiyeh, Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 23, 2019


Alright, after a bit of a delay we can finally get back to having some fun with our Shazam! Family and last we left our group of kids, they were exploring the Rock of Eternity, where Eugene had discovered a train to different lands of magic.  Hopefully the kids don't get into too much trouble because back at home, Billy Batson's biological father came to the Vasquez' home looking for his orphaned son and I don't know if our kids will be able to explain why they were out of the house........ or hell, how will the Vasquez' explain how and why all their foster kids up and disappeared.  Let's jump into this issue and check it out.

Aquaman #44 Review and **SPOILERS**


Sea Monkeys

Writer: Kelly Sue DeConnick 
Penciller: Robson Rocha 
Inker: Daniel Henriques 
Colorist: Sunny Gho 
Letterer: Clayton Cowles 
Cover: Rocha, Henriques & Gho 
Variant Cover: Rafael Albuquerque 
Assistant Editor: Andrea Shea 
Editor: Alex Antone 
Group Editor: Brian Cunningham 
Cover Price: $3.99 
On Sale Date: January 23, 2019

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Wow, has it really been a whole year since we last saw an issue of Aquaman? It has—technically speaking! Hey, I gotta get my dad jokes in somewhere. Luckily, there’s no expiration date on dad jokes, they’re rotten from inception. How about we read my review of Aquaman #44 and see how Kelly Sue DeConnick did on her second issue, hah?

Justice League #16 Review


Optimist Prime

Writer: James Tynion IV, Scott Snyder
Artist: Jim Cheung
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: January 23, 2019
Cover Price: $3.99

It's a mystery in space: Why would the Guardians of the Universe hide top-secret intel deep in the bowels of a secret vault on Thanagar Prime? That's what Martian Manhunter, GL, and Hawkgirl want to know! That's not the only puzzler popping off either, as an ancient connection that bonds Kendra and Shayera Hol unlock the secret of the map on Hawkgirl's Dark Metal wings. Back on Earth, Starman and the Trinity look to create a wormhole that could transport them to Thanagar Prime. The only catch? It could vaporize them!

Batman #63 Review




Nightmares...and Dreams!

Writer: Tom King
Artist: Mikel Janin
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: January 23, 2019
Cover Price: $3.99

The Nightmares arc continues and while it's been interesting enough, your overall enjoyment of it really will hinge on whether or not you trust Tom King to make it all make sense by the end.  I am kind of a middle of the road guy there so I am pretty much judging these issues as they come and I am struggling to get fully behind it one hundred percent.  Well, maybe this is the issue that sheds some light on it all and makes me not only love this issue but the two before it.  Well, does it?  Yes and no...

Tuesday, January 22, 2019

PREVIEW: Teen Titans #26


Your Father Just Got Home

Writer: Adam Glass 
Artist: Bernard Chang
Colorist: Marcelo Maiolo
Letter: Rob Leigh
Cover: Giuseppe Camuncoli, Cam Smith & Tomeu Morey
Variant Cover: Alex Garner
Assistant Editor: Andrea Shea 
Editor: Alex Antone 
Group Editor: Brian Cunningham 
Cover Price: $3.99
On Sale Date: January 23, 2019

The Teen Titans plot the ultimate break-in—the Batcave! But Batman’s security is no joke, and the Titans will need to work together to get past it without alerting the Dark Knight himself. What’s so important to Damian that he’d betray his father this way?

Hey, the Batman's in this one! That's always good for a little nudge in sales. Have a gander at the preview pages, okay? 

PREVIEW: Lucifer #4


Lucifer is Bustin' Loose

Written By: Dan Watters 
Illustrated By: Max Fiumara & Sebastian Fiumara 
Colors By: Dave McCaig 
Letters By: Steve Wands 
Cover By: Kyle Hotz & Dean White 
Edited By: Amedeo Turturro & Molly Mahan 
Assistant Editor: Maggie Howell 
Executive Editor: Mark Doyle 
Cover Price: $4.99 
On Sale Date: January 23, 2019

Lucifer is enlightened. Caught in a web of bargains and deceit centuries in the making, the Devil uncovers the truth about the peculiar prison he is trapped within. Meanwhile: the detective hiding in the bushes draws close to solving the mystery of Gately House, if only he can recall his own name.

I'm glad to hear Lucifer's gotten some answers, I've been sort of curious about what's happening myself! Check out some preview pages, why don'tcha? 

PREVIEW: Aquaman #44


Speak Not of Unspoken Water

Writer: Kelly Sue DeConnick 
Penciller: Robson Rocha 
Inker: Daniel Henriques 
Colorist: Sunny Gho 
Letterer: Clayton Cowles 
Cover: Rocha, Henriques & Gho 
Variant Cover: Rafael Albuquerque 
Assistant Editor: Andrea Shea 
Editor: Alex Antone 
Group Editor: Brian Cunningham 
Cover Price: $3.99 
On Sale Date: January 23, 2019

-->Aquaman no more! Still reeling from the stunning events of last issue, the onetime Sea King becomes obsessed with finding the mysterious redheaded woman from his vision. But where to even start? Don’t worry, Arthur: that mysterious redhead is looking for you, too, as Mera begins the hunt for her missing mate. Amnesiac Atlanteans, redheaded mermaids and more, all on a collision course inside the mysterious town called Unspoken Water.

The town is called Unspoken Water? Huh...well that might have been a good thing to know. Take a little tour in the preview pages, which are below! 

PREVIEW: Freedom Fighters #2




Written By: Robert Venditti
Art By: Eddy Barrows, Eber Ferreira, Adriano Lucas, Deron Bennett
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 23, 2019

The Freedom Fighters go public in present-day Nazi America! It’s been 50 years of fascist rule in the U.S. under Hitler and his heirs, and frankly, everyone’s had enough. A new Freedom Fighters team makes a very public debut in hopes of rallying the people and re-igniting the long-dormant American spirit. Phantom Lady, Black Condor, Doll Girl and Human Bomb strike a blow against the Gestapo’s Iron Police Force, but will it be enough to summon the long-lost Uncle Sam from retirement?

PREVIEW: Wild Storm #19


Writer: Warren Ellis
Artist: Jon Davis-Hunt
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: January 23, 2019
Cover Price: $3.99

Beginning the fourth story arc of THE WILD STORM. Jenny Mei Sparks has been around for over a century. She's seen a lot of things. Enough bad stuff that she took 20 years off to get drunk. And now she's back, and she has a plan. The problem is that other people have plans, too, and one of them is about reducing the population of Earth by around 90 percent.

PREVIEW: Naomi #1


Writer: Brian Michael Bendis, David F. Walker
Artist: Jamal Campbell
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: January 23, 2019
Cover Price: $3.99

When a fight between Superman and Mongul crashes into a small Northwestern town, Naomi (last name?) begins a quest to uncover the last time a super-powered person visited her home—and how that might tie into her own origins and adoption.

Follow Naomi’s journey on a quest that will take her to the heart of the DC Universe and unfold a universe of ideas and stories that have never been seen before. Join writers Brian Michael Bendis, David Walker and breakout artist Jamal Campbell in Wonder Comics’ massively ambitious new series and star...NAOMI.

PREVIEW: Justice League #16


Writer: James Tynion IV, Scott Snyder
Artist: Jim Cheung
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: January 23, 2019
Cover Price: $3.99

It's a mystery in space: Why would the Guardians of the Universe hide top-secret intel deep in the bowels of a secret vault on Thanagar Prime? That's what Martian Manhunter, GL and Hawkgirl want to know! That's not the only puzzler popping off either, as an ancient connection that bonds Kendra and Shayera Hol unlocks the secret of the map on Hawkgirl's Dark Metal wings. Back on Earth, Starman and the Trinity look to create a wormhole that could transport them to Thanagar Prime. The only catch? It could vaporize them!

PREVIEW: Damage #13


Writer: Robert Venditti
Artist: Aaron Lopresti
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: January 23, 2019
Cover Price: $3.99

Damage gets a new home: the Hall of Justice! The Justice League takes in former super-soldier Ethan Avery after their clash from last ish, and looks to train him to better use his powers. The lovefest ends quickly, though, when the League's tactics cause Ethan to have flashbacks to the military experiments that transformed him into Damage. Batman may be the World's Greatest Detective, but it might take more than a big brain to stop a power-house like Damage from setting his own path. And oh, what a path he chooses! Enter Damage: monster hunter!

PREVIEW: Batman #63


Writer: Tom King
Artist: Mikel Janin
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: January 23, 2019
Cover Price: $3.99

There are strange goings-on in the dark alleys of Gotham City, mysteries that will require a different skill set than the Caped Crusader's if he's going to stop the whole city from succumbing to the darkness. John Constantine, the Hellblazer, is a person with just those skills-but after the events of "The Witching Hour," is Constantine in any condition to help the Dark Knight Detective?