Thursday, January 31, 2019

Chris and Reggie's Cosmic Treadmill ep. 126 - Spider-Man 2099 #1 (1992)


Party Like it's 2099


Greetings, futurists! In this episode, Alchemax janitors Chris (@AceComics) and Reggie (@reggiereggie) head thirty-five years into the past...in order to rocket 107 years into the future when they read Marvel Comics' Spider-Man 2099, written by Peter David and pencilled by Rick Leonardi in 1992! After some creator biographies and an explanation of how this concept came to be, our duo delve into every page of this landmark issue, lending their guttural growls and burps along the way. After a break, the pair return to finish off the creators' info and tell what happened to Marvel's 2099 line after this issue. And they wrap up with a look at some other comic book stories and properties that exist in the future––for that is where you and I would like to spend the rest of our lives! You don't want to miss it!

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

Teen Titans Annual #1 Review and **SPOILERS**



A Chat in the Family



Writer - Adam Glass
Pencils - Ryan Benjamin & Jose Luis
Inks - Richard Friend & Jordi Tarragona
Colors - Hi-Fi
Letters - Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: January 30, 2019


Looks like it's Annual Week at ol' DC... well, it is technically a "fifth week", which is kinda wonky this time out with the weird Diamond Distribution Holiday pushing everything back a week.

Let's see what's next for the kids!




The Silencer #13 Review





The Secret Origin Of Silencer


Storytelling by V. Ken Marion and Dan Abnett
Inking by Sandu Florea
Colouring by Mike Spicer
Lettering by Tom Napolitano



This is the second issue of this book we've gotten this month. It feels like it's been months since I read the last issue. It's been that kind of month, you know?

Wonder Woman #63 Review


Truth and Consequences 

Writer: G. Willow Wilson
Art team: Emanuela Lupacchino, Ray McCarthy, Romulo Fajardo Jr. and Pat Brousseau
Covers: Xermanico, and Kamome Shirahama
Release Date: 1/30/19
Cover Price: $3.99
Reviewed by: Jon Wayne

In the last issue of Wonder Woman, the Durovnian civil war ended abruptly. Why you ask? Because the Prime Minister gave a mildly compelling speech. Yeah it wasn’t great, especially considering solicits and the book itself posited the war as the “War to end all Wars,” and apart from a few panels in each issue, we never actually saw this war… Alas, we’re moving on in G. Willow Wilson’s new run on Wonder Woman and I’m hoping we get a little more as we press ahead. Let’s dive in and see if we do!

Books of Magic #4 Review and **SPOILERS**


From the Library to the Dreaming

Written By: Kat Howard
Drawn By: Tom Fowler
Colors By: Jordan Boyd
Letters By: Todd Klein

Cover Price: $3.99
On Sale Date: January 30, 2019

"Breezy" is generally the word I use to describe this book... I probably use the term too often.  It's funny, while out of all the books I discuss, this is certainly the quickest to read... yet at the same time, among the most difficult to write about.

I can't shake the feeling that I do a book a sort of disservice if I don't say enough about it... good or bad.  Unfortunately, with the "breezier" books, my hands are sort of tied.  It's not like I can make up things to talk about... right?


The Terrifics #12 Review and **SPOILERS**


Drop Everything and Reset

Storytellers: Viktor Bogdanovic & Jeff Lemire
Inks: Bogdanovic & Jonathan Glapion
Colors: Michael Spicer
Letters: Tom Napolitano
Cover: Evan “Doc” Shaner
Assistant Editor: Andrew Marino
Editor: Paul Kaminski
Group Editor: Marie Javins
Cover Price: $2.99
On Sale Date: January 30, 2019

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Wait a minute—I thought the team had broken up?! Shadow Chick went back to her home planet (and her spaceship exploded on the way), Plastic Man was having an awkward family reunion, and Rex Mason was sponging off his girlfriend Sapphire. Everything was going just fine, even Mr. Terrific was as happy as a pig in poop, gallivanting around the multiverse. So what more needs to be said? Anything significant? You can find out in my review of The Terrifics #12, which has been posted below for your perusal!

Raven: Daughter of Darkness #12 Review and **SPOILERS**


The Sun Also Sets

Writer: Marv Wolfman
Artist: Pop Mhan
Colorist: Lovern Kindzierski
Letterer: Saida Temofonte
Cover Price: $3.99
On Sale Date: January 30, 2019


Is it... is it finally over?

Full disclaimer here, folks.  The first thing I did when I got this one is open it to the last page to make sure there wasn't a "To Be Continued..." blurb!

So, was there one?  Well, you haven't heard about a certain comics reviewer throwing himself into traffic, so... I think it's safe to say there wasn't.


Mysteries of Love in Space #1 Review and **SPOILERS**


In Space, No One Can Hear You Smooch

Cover: Joƫlle Jones
Editors: Alex Antone & Dave Wielgosz
Cover Price: $9.99
On Sale Date: January 30, 2018

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Well, wouldja lookit that: another ten dollar anthology by DC Comics! Does anyone actually buy these? I’m serious. There’s about three of these a year, and increasingly they don’t even have big names attached to latch on to. I’m not saying you shouldn’t buy these if you want to, I would just love to know the reasoning. I, for one, was a huge fan of the anthology comics format, but after reviewing successive DC Comics attempts, I have to admit to being less so today. But perhaps Mysteries of Love in Space will turn that all around! Blind naivete is the same as hope, right? Check out my review!

The Flash Annual #2 Review and *SPOILERS*


Same Old Song and Dance

Written By: Joshua Williamson
Art By: Scott Kolins, Luis Guerrero
Letters By: Wes Abbott
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: January 30, 2019

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Perhaps it is unfair to this book that I am reviewing it at this time. I have just finished by review of Flash #63 (please check that out if you haven’t already) and frankly, it has put a bad taste in my mouth. Considering this annual is a direct continuation of that book, I’m not looking forward to it that much. That said, the review must be done and I will attempt to review this book as fairly as possible. However, the Flash book has been far from one of my favorites at the current moment which is such a shame because I really liked this book when it first started in Rebirth. However, that’s the way things go sometimes. Instead, let’s just jump right into this issue and see where it takes us.

The Flash #63 Review and *SPOILERS*


Dream Over

Written By: Joshua Williamson
Art By: Minkyu Jung, Hi-Fi
Letters By: Steve Wands
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 30, 2019

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

I’m not sure if this book knows what it’s doing. I mean, I know the writer has a plan and that this whole story has been a part of that plan but at the same time, this Force Quest storyline has been kind of head scratching with the exception of a couple middle issues. When I think of this book, the part that interests me the most is the side-story involving Commander Cold. When I want to read a Commander Cold book more than a Flash book, there is an issue. However, I believe that Williamson can turn this around and that this book can be great. Perhaps I’m just a dreamer but let’s jump right in and see what this book has in store for us.

Batman Beyond #28 Review



Joker Beyond


Written By: Dan Jurgens
Art By: Brett Booth, Norm Rapmund, Andrew Dalhouse, Travis Lanham
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 30, 2019


Thirty-Five years from now Batman is facing off with the Joker, but not the Joker as you know him.  No, he's gone and decided that if Batman can upgrade, so can he.  What this means......... Well, he's taken control of a cyborg and has a screen on his chest so that he can see the destruction and also taunt Terry McGinnis at the same time.  So yeah, nothing really special there.  Really though, it seems that in his old age, the Joker wants to relive his greatest hits;  destroy Gotham, shoot Barbara Gordon and for the coup de grace......... Kill another Robin.  Oh, poor Matt has some bruises coming....... if he's lucky that is.  Let's jump into this issue of Batman Beyond and see if this arc has picked up at all.

Batgirl #31 Review and **SPOILERS**


Cornball Cormorant

Writer: Mairghread Scott
Penciller: Paul Pelletier
Inker: Norm Rapmund
Colorist: Jordie Bellaire
Letterer: Deron Bennett
Main Cover Artists: Emanuela Lupacchino & Dave McCaig
Variant Cover Artist: Stanley “Artgerm” Lau
Editor: Brittany Holzherr
Group Editor: Jamie S. Rich
Cover Price: $3.99
On Sale Date: January 30, 2019

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Boy, ever since Barbara Gordon’s gotten back to Gotham City, it’s been one thing after another! There was that thing with Grotesque that led to a tearful moment with her dad, then Babs volunteering for a politician that’s caused a little friction with her dad…come to think of it, most of her problems have had to do with being in proximity to her father. This is why we move away from home, kids! To avoid the drama! You can embrace the drama by reading my review of Batgirl #31, right here!

Old Lady Harley #4 Review



Strip Maul

Written by: Frank Tieri
Art by: Inaki Miranda, Eva De La Cruz, and Dave Sharpe
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 30, 2019

I know this book has caused a bit of a discrepancy amongst reviewers.  I can't speak for anyone else, but I kind of see a bit of a bias when it comes to this book.  Why anyone wants to turn an alt-timeline Harley book into a soapbox is beyond me, but I guess they can do whatever they want.  I am just going to try to enjoy the goofiness of this story, especially because I really am not enjoying anything else Harley is in these days.  So, did this issue put a smile on my face in a Mad Magazine meets old SNL kind of way?  Let's find out...

Action Comics #1007 Review



Follow The Leader


Written By: Brian Michael Bendis
Art By: Steve Epting, Brad Anderson, Josh Reed
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 30, 2019


Let's head on back to Metropolis and the Daily Planet, where we'll find our hero going through a whole bunch of problems nowadays with the Secret Syndicate, his wife wanting a new kind of relationship and the fact that his son is still out in space (that's right, this takes place before Superman).  With all that it seems like we couldn't put anymore on our Man of Steel's shoulders, but with Leviathan Rising, it seems like he's just going to have to take it because there's a new mystery in the City of Tomorrow.  Let's check it out.

Justice League Odyssey #5 Review



Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artists: Carmine di Giandomenico, Ivan Plascencia, Deron Bennett
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 30, 2019


The Ghost Sector. A group of planets that, during the events of New Justice, were released from bottled imprisonment on Brainiac's home planet of Coluan. Cyborg, Starfire, and Azrael have been lured into the Ghost Sector by Darkseid, where they find out that many of these planets have worshipped them as gods for thousands of years. Joined by the Ghost Sector's Green Lantern sentry Jessica Cruz, the team is searching for a way out of the sector while also getting down to the mysteries of their deity status and what Darkseid wants from them.

Detective Comics #997 Review



Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Artists: Doug Mahnke, Christian Alamy, Mark Irwin, David Baron, Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 30, 2019


This is Part 4 of the Mythology story arc. Somebody has been hunting down the people who made Bruce Wayne into Batman; killing Leslie Thompkins and Henri Ducard, and almost killing Alfred Pennyworth and Bruce's sensei. Now they've used Thaddeus Brown, the original Mister Miracle and the one who taught Bruce how to escape any situation, as bate to trap him.

Justice League Annual #1 Review



Fixing a Hole

Written by: James Tynion IV
Story by: Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV
Art by: Daniel Sampere, Juan Albarran, Adriano Lucas, and Tom Napolitano
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: January 30, 2019

I need answers and what better time to get them than Annuals Week, right?  Snyder and Tynion are going big and while that means they don't have to go home, I really need some footing so I can enjoy these huge moments they are dishing out.  Does this Annual give me what I'm looking for?  Let's find out...

Heroes in Crisis #5 Review and **SPOILERS**


Peas, Porridge in the Pot

Writer: Tom King
Artists: Clay Mann
Colorist: Tomeu Morey
Letters: Clayton Cowles
Cover By: Trevor Hairsine & Rain Beredo
Variant Cover By: Ryan Sook
Associate Editor: Brittany Holzherr
Editor: Jamie S. Rich
Cover Price: $3.99
On Sale Date: January 30, 2019

**NON SPOILERS AND SCORE AT THE BOTTOM**

Oh those heroes! They’re still in crisis, from what I understand! We’ve passed the halfway mark on this…event, so let’s see what’s popping in Heroes in Crisis #5, by reading my review as follows!

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

PREVIEW: Wonder Woman #63


Writer: G. Willow Wilson
Artist: Emanuela Lupacchino, Ray McCarthy
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: January 30, 2019
Cover Price: $3.99

When Themyscira and the remnants of Olympus fell, the Gods weren't the only refugees to come to Earth. A small horde of mystical creatures have found their way here, and they're determined to start new lives...but what happens when the people of our world are equally determined not to let them? Can Diana open their minds and show them that a centaur is more than half a person?

PREVIEW: Old Lady Harley #4


Writer: Tieri, Frank
Artist: Inaki Miranda
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: January 30, 2019
Cover Price: $3.99

Harley's on to the next stop on her quest to find out how the Joker is haunting her from beyond the grave-and that's the 51st state of Atlantis! Sure, the city under the sea is all Starbucks and water-logged hipsters now, but since Aquaman was the last person to see the Clown Prince alive, can the King of the Sea provide Harley with some much-needed answers? And will they come in time before the Laughing Boys make their ultimate move?

PREVIEW: Justice League: Odyssey #5


Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Carmine Di Giandomenico
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: January 30, 2019
Cover Price: $3.99

It's Cyborg and Jessica Cruz versus giant battle robots-to the death! To save her teammates, Starfire must absorb the next language in the Codex in order to gain new, dark powers. But this Rosetta Stone could prove dangerous to Kory! And betrayal looms for the Odyssey League when Rapture kidnaps Azrael and offers him a deal that could save the Ghost Sector-as long as he sells out his teammates.

PREVIEW: Justice League Annual #1


Writer: Scott Snyder, James Tynion IV
Artist: Daniel Sampere, Juan Albarran
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: January 30, 2019
Cover Price: $4.99

The Source Wall has degraded too much, and the League must patch the hole right now or the whole Multiverse will collapse! Our heroes scramble for a solution and turn to the only thing that might work: the Omega Titans! The only problem? They killed the Entropy Titan back in JUSTICE LEAGUE: NO JUSTICE. Whoops...but never fear! Kyle Rayner, Miss Martian and Steel-from the non-planet-eating Titans team-guest-star with a plan to create a new Entropy Titan...one that's so crazy it just might work.

PREVIEW: Flash #63


Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Rafael Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: January 30, 2019
Cover Price: $3.99

It's two against one when Gemini tag-teams the Flash! The threat is doubled for the Scarlet Speedster when Gemini gets their hands on the Strength Force. But where's that leave Powerhouse? She and the Flash must ride or die together in order to get her super-strength back, but they'll have to survive a trip through the Strength Force first. Follow along in the Flash's footsteps on the next leg of his Force Quest!

PREVIEW: FLASH ANNUAL #2


Writer: Joshua Williamson
Artist: Scott Kolins
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: January 30, 2019
Cover Price: $4.99

A HEROES IN CRISIS tie-in! In Barry's grief and guilt following Wally West's death at Sanctuary, he refuses to divulge the heartbreaking news to the rest of the Flash family until he's searched every corner of the globe for his former partner- including inside the Speed Force itself. But his journey into the heart of all speedster powers inadvertently triggers the release of his long-lost ally Godspeed! And when Godspeed immediately races off to attack Kid Flash Wallace West, Barry must hunt his former friend and check in on his fellow speedsters. What is Godspeed planning and what does he want with the rest of the Flash Family? Can Barry protect everyone after he couldn't save Wally? With a heart-wrenching appearance from Wally's former sidekick, the recently returned Bart Allen, this annual is an absolute can't-miss for all Flash fans!

PREVIEW: Detective Comics #997


Writer: Peter J. Tomasi
Artist: Doug Mahnke
Publisher: DC Comics
Release Date: January 30, 2019
Cover Price: $3.99

There's no man on Earth more convinced that he knows what makes Batman tick than Dr. Hugo Strange! Which makes him a natural target for the thing that's hunting Batman, unless Batman gets there first!