Monday, December 30, 2024

Absolute Wonder Woman #3 Review




  • Written by: Kelly Thompson

  • Art by: Hayden Sherman

  • Colors by: Jordie Bellaire

  • Letters by: Becca Carey

  • Cover art by: Hayden Sherman (cover A)

  • Cover price: $4.99

  • Release date: December 25, 2024


Absolute Wonder Woman #3, by DC Comics on 12/25/24, unveils Diana's plan to thwart the massive Tetracide and explains the high price Diana paid to return Steve Trevor to the land of the living.



Is Absolute Wonder Woman #3 Good?


First Impressions


Absolute Wonder Woman #3 is a complicated issue to review. Writer Kelly Thompson arguably has the best handle on creating an alternate (Absolute?) version of an established DC character, but a few gaps in storytelling fundamentals detract from the imaginative concept. It's like a really cool cake decoration on a lopsided cake.

Recap


When last we left the Absolute Woman of Wonder in Absolute Wonder Woman #3, Diana encountered a castaway Steve Trevor in Hell... somehow... signaling the beginnings of a potential romance. In the present, Wonder Woman defeated Harbinger Prime... somehow... followed by the arrival of the Tetracide.

Plot Synopsis


In Absolute Wonder Woman #3, the story waffles between Diana's time in Hell with Steve Trevor and the present conflict against the Tetracide on the shore of Gateway City.

In the past, Diana finds an ancient spell that will send Steve Trevor back to the surface world, despite no explanation as to how he wound up in Hell in the first place. The spell, however, requires a great sacrifice, and Diana pays the price by cutting off her right arm.

In the present, Diana attacks the Tetracide with physical attacks and magical spells, but her efforts only slow the creature down. She later warns the military that the Tetracide will soon emit a sound, a Siren's Song, that will mesmerize the entire city to race to the shore and willingly sacrifice itself to the beast. Since evacuation efforts are taking too long, Diana concocts a magical plan to temporarily deafen the entire city.

The issue concludes with Diana losing her magical prosthetic right arm and replacing it with a robotic placeholder and Diana running into Barbera Minerva.

What’s great about Absolute Wonder Woman #3?


If you read the synopsis above and thought to yourself, "Huh? That's weird, I guess, and maybe kinda cool. A one-armed Amazon from Hell doesn't sound like a traditional Wonder Woman comic, so sure. Let's go with that," then you get the gist. Kelly Thompson goes out of her way to distinguish this version of Diana in uniquely interesting ways, and the lengths Diana goes to for the protection of others says volumes about her character.

What’s not great about Absolute Wonder Woman #3?


Big, wild, weird things are happening, but you don't know why. Motivations for the heroes and villains are a fundamental aspect that must be established quickly for readers to make sense of the plot. If not, the flash and spectacle become little more than empty calories.

Why is the Tetracide attacking? Why is the Tetracide attacking Gateway City? How are the gods involved in this conflict? If they're not involved, why not?

In effect, you're dropped into a conflict without pretext, so the stakes become random. On paper, the plot so far reads as "Wonder Woman fights a giant random monster," which has all the narrative depth of a Saturday Morning Cartoon.

How’s the Art?


Hayden Sherman's art is a mixed bag. Sherman has a strong knack for making beautiful, expressive faces, which buoy the emotional moments between Circe, Diana, and Steve in Hell. However, the details of the figure gestures and action scenes leave a lot to be desired. 



About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter



Final Thoughts


Absolute Wonder Woman #3 is a strange mix of cool character developments and interpersonal interactions for Diana, paired with an oddly incomplete plot. Kelly Thompson's script at least gives you the most different Absolute version of one of the Holy Trinity, but the lack of character motivations and pretext, combined with Hayden Sherman's uneven artwork, makes this issue a tough recommendation.

6.8/10



We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media: 

Connect With Us Here: Weird Science DC Comics / Weird Science Marvel Comics

If you're interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.

Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com



As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support. 


Thursday, December 26, 2024

Justice League Unlimited #2 Review




  • Written by: Mark Waid

  • Art by: Dan Mora

  • Colors by: Tamra Bonvillain

  • Letters by: Ariana Maher

  • Cover art by: Dan Mora (cover A)

  • Cover price: $3.99

  • Release date: December 25, 2024


Justice League Unlimited #2, by DC Comics on 12/25/24, finds the Justice League grappling with a different kind of alien invasion. Meanwhile, Martian Manhunter admits a painful secret.



Is Justice League Unlimited #2 Good?


Recap


When last we left the expanded cast of superheroes in Justice League Unlimited #1, an away team saved a group of civilians during a catastrophe. Meanwhile, Batman and Blue Beetle uncovered a nest of alien eggs in Costa Rica. The issue ended with one of the newest JLU members, Airwave, struggling with his role as a saboteur.

Plot Synopsis


In Justice League Unlimited #2, a second team of Leaguers arrives in Costa Rica to aid Batman and Blue Beetle with their discovery of an alien egg farm. What types of aliens are we dealing with? Parademons. Lots and lots of parademons.

Superman arrives via Boom Tube with Star Sapphire, Wonder Woman, Mary Marvel, Dr. Occult, Martian Manhunter, and Black Lightning. As soon as they step out, the scene is engulfed in assorted sizes of parademons. A battered Batman emerges from the jungle to direct the team to split up where their strengths are needed most.

Wonder Woman and Mary Marvel head back into the jungle to isolate the alien egg farm. Superman, Batman, Black Lightning, and Star Sapphire remain to fight the parademons. Dr. Occult and Martian Manhunter depart to find the kidnapped children.

In brief asides, we learn the Atoms have figured out how to restore powersets to their original heroes. Stargirl and Mr. Terrific continue their search into the mysterious Inferno group who made their deadly debut in the last issue.

Back in Costa Rica, the split teams make progress while learning more about each other and their current predicaments.

Wonder Woman and Mary Marvel decide to rip out a plot of soil underneath the egg farm to fly the whole lot into space. During their task, Mary learns what the Greek and Roman pantheons do and don't have in common.

Elsewhere, Dr. Occult and Martian Manhunter finds the source of Costa Rica's troubles is the first sentient parademon, sent to Earth years ago by Darkseid to watch over the egg nest as a backup. Time on Earth has made the sentient parademon desperate, so it developed a plan to kidnap children as an offering for Darkseid in the hopes that the offering will be enough to let it come home.

The issue ends with the Martian Manhunter taking out his frustration on the sentient parademon. Through the dialog and fight, Dr. Occult deduces Martian Manhunter was affected by the Absolute Power switching in ways he hasn't admitted until now.

First Impressions


Justice League International #2 is a super-quick read that gets the job done, hinting at possibly interesting things happening behind the scenes, but the big surprises from issue #1 get surprisingly little attention. Writer Mark Waid hits readers with a gut punch at the end of the last issue but chooses not to build on it, opting instead for a fairly standard action fest.

How’s the Art?


It almost goes without saying that Dan Mora is one of the best artists on DC's roster. Superman, Batman, and all the members of the JLU look their absolute best, and the Atoms get a costume upgrade which looks pretty snappy. That said, there are a few scenes toward the latter half when Martian Manhunter and Dr. Occult work their way through a dark cave that looks slightly sketchy.

What’s great about Justice League Unlimited #2?


Mark Waid's central concept about a sentient parademon who takes matters into its hands to find a way back to Apokalips is just the kind of adventure the JLU was made for. Every hero has a moment to shine, and the sentient parademon's realization that Darkseid is dead adds an element of tragedy to give the issue emotional weight.

What’s not great about Justice League Unlimited #2?


Justice League Unlimited #2 reads like an episode of the acclaimed cartoon in comic form, but what's missing is the connection to an over-arching narrative. As noted above, the big gut punch that Airwave has a secret mission to kill the JLU does not make any progress or provide clarity. Is Airwave's mission connected to this mysterious Inferno group? Why did Inferno choose to attack in the previous issue? What does Inferno want? If Airwave isn't connected to Inferno, what's the reasoning behind his mission?

There's nothing wrong with having an episodic series that inserts little nuggets to maintain the connective tissue with a larger arc, but we need nuggets that are bigger than grains of sand. File this one under "A good one-off but a poor follow-up."



About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter



Final Thoughts


Justice League Unlimited #2 delivers a tragic tale about an alien who makes the wrong choices at the wrong time. Mark Waid's script reads just like a classic JLU cartoon episode, complete with heavy action and emotional weight, and Dan Mora's art is top-notch. That said, Waid doesn't capitalize on the wow moments from the first issue, so the reading continuity is lacking.

7.8/10



We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media: 

Connect With Us Here: Weird Science DC Comics / Weird Science Marvel Comics

If you're interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.

Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com



As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support. 


Thursday, December 19, 2024

Absolute Batman #3 Review




  • Written by: Scott Snyder

  • Art by: Nick Dragotta

  • Colors by: Frank Martin

  • Letters by: Clayton Cowles

  • Cover art by: Nick Dragotta (cover A)

  • Cover price: $4.99

  • Release date: December 18, 2024


Absolute Batman #3, by DC Comics on 12/18/24, finds Absolute Batman confronting the harsh truth, presented by Alfred, that the infamous Black Mask can't be defeated with fists and fancy gadgets.



Is Absolute Batman #3 Good?


First Impressions


Absolute Batman #3 may be the best issue of the series to date. To be sure, Scott Snyder's over-the-top goofiness rears its wonky head, but the overall narrative takes on a more serious and determined tone to give readers something to think about. What's an Absolute Batman to do when his mission exceeds his resources? That's the question Snyder asks and answers in a hard-hitting issue.

Recap


When last we left Bruce Wayne in Absolute Batman #2, the "Caped" Crusader stepped up his efforts to uncover the identity of Black Mask and his secret agenda for the Party Animals gang. Bruce reached out to his gang of familiar childhood friends to get a lead on the one person capitalizing on the Party Animals' attacks. The issue ended with Absolute Batman cornered in an office building but escaping in the largest, slowest, most expensive vehicle possible. 

Plot Synopsis


In Absolute Batman #3, we begin with the continuing flashback to a time after Bruce's father's death when Selina Kyle showed Bruce attention and kindness. Their evening of roaming the city gives Bruce a boost in courage.

Now, we pick up with the cliffhanger from issue #2. The Bat-Dump Truck "speeds" through the city streets while evading the Party Animals on motorcycles. Absolute Batman gives Alfred seconds to make his case for a partnership. To avoid capture/destruction from the Party Animals and pursuing police cars, Bruce flips a switch that converts the Bat-Dump Truck into a shorter Bat-Dump Truck to give them more speed (no, it doesn't work that way). When the Bat-Dump Truck runs out of room at the Gotham docks, Alfred finishes his compelling case for Absolute Batman to accept Black Mask's deal. Absolute Batman ejects Alfred into the Bay and drives the vehicle careening into the dark waters below, only to emerge in an underground lair via a drainage pipe.

Later, Ex-Mayor Hill brings Chief Bullock to Roman Sionis for a sweet deal that would supply Gotham City Police without vehicles and weapons to fight the Party Animals. Bullock is doubly impressed when he witnesses Sionis defeat a man twice his size in a sparring session.

Meanwhile, Bruce looks into the information that Black Mask is heavily funded by international crime lords and cartels connected to a private prison company. They're last project, Ark M, is the most advanced facility yet under construction in the heart of Gotham City.

With the violence escalating faster than he can fight, and his mother in the crosshairs after accepting the job of Deputy Mayor to support Mayor Jim Gordon during his re-election campaign, Bruce is forced to do the one thing he didn't want to do - compromise.

What’s great about Absolute Batman #3?


Here is the potential we've been waiting for. When faced with a global crime network, overwhelming odds, and risks to innocent people he can't protect, Bruce Wayne is forced to make a ethically painful choice.

That potential is valuable because the consequences of his choice have obvious benefits, but the possibility of a monkey's paw looms large. Now you're in a locked state of anticipation, wondering how this choice will turn out, and that's the making of a great hook.

Plus, the moments between young Bruce and Selina are as sweet and wholesome as any attempt by DC to tap into the YA market in quite a while.

What’s not great about Absolute Batman #3?


Give credit to Scott Snyder for the complex themes at play in this issue, but take some of the credit back on two points.

First, the over-the-top action scene in the beginning is silly to the point of ridiculous. A gigantic Bat-Dump Truck can't move fast enough to evade anyone going more than 45 mph, and dropping the roof to make it "sleeker" won't do a thing to improve the speed. It's still too big and heavy. Yes. the homemade jet engines help, but the whole concept is silly on it face.

Second, Snyder is trying to build up a big mystery surrounding the Party Animals and the identity of Black Mask, but you'd have to be deaf, mute, and blind not to figure out Roman Sionis is Black Mask. The man walks around in plain view with bodyguards, all wearing black animal masks. It's not a mystery that should take more than two minutes to solve.

How’s the Art?


Nick Dragotta's art shines in this issue by making the aforementioned chase scene a gripping one, even if it is silly, and for hitting hard with the character acting during several emotional moments. In retrospect, this is a dialog-heavy issue, but Dragotta's style has so much personality that you're pulled into each and every moment.



About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter



Final Thoughts


Absolute Batman #3 is the strongest and most gripping issue in the series so far. Scott Snyder finally confronts Absolute Batman with a problem that can't be solved with fists or gadgets, and Nick Dragotta's stylistic art makes even the quiet dialog moments captivating. Even if you find the Bat-Dump Truck a step too far, check out this issue.

9.3/10



We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media: 

Connect With Us Here: Weird Science DC Comics / Weird Science Marvel Comics

If you're interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.

Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com



As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support. 


Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Wonder Woman #16 Review




  • Written by: Tom King

  • Art by: Bruno Redondo, Caio Felipe

  • Colors by: Adriano Lucas

  • Letters by: Clayton Cowles

  • Cover art by: Daniel Sampere, Tomeu Morey (cover A)

  • Cover price: $4.99

  • Release date: December 18, 2024


Wonder Woman #16, by DC Comics on 12/18/24, puts Detective Chimp on the case to solve Steve Trevor's murder by making the Sovereign "bananas" with questions.



Is Wonder Woman #16 Good?


First Impressions


If you're a Wonder Woman fan, you'll probably have mixed feelings about the second issue in a row where Wonder Woman is nothing more than a presence in the background. Writer Tom King gives Detective Chimp the spotlight for the next round of takedowns against the Sovereign in a tale that has a certain charm but misses the mark on character work. Your mileage may vary.

Recap


When last we left Diana in Wonder Woman #15, she gently nurtured her "newborn" child while the assorted Wonder Girls spread out across the world to cripple the Sovereign's financial caches. Cassie Sandsmark sank an autonomous battleship containing untold riches. Yara Flor robbed a number of North American banks to withdraw the Sovereign's deposits. Donna Troy ripped a precious jewel from the still-living body of Solomon Grundy, and Cheetah shredded a lonely accountant who held the keys to Sovereign's online accounts.


Plot Synopsis


In Wonder Woman #16, Detective Chimp arrives on the Sovereign's doorstep to ask a few trivial questions related to his investigation into Steve Trevor's murder.


At first, the Sovereign humors Det. Chimp by answering his questions with vague answers that would satisfy the average investigator. Det. Chimp is not the average investigator.


Detective Chimp revisits the Sovereign several times over the course of weeks, catching the villain in lies, and then forcing the Soveriegn to concoct bigger lies to cover the previous lies. Eventually, the Soveriegn lies about a piece of evidence he doesn't have, so he sends Circe to break into Steve Trevor's office to steal what he needs. However, the Sovereign doesn't realize that he sent Circe into a trap that gives Detective Chimp and the Spectre the hostile witness they need to uncover the Sovereign's history. 


The issue ends with the Sovereign's reputation being exposed, thanks to an illuminating news report by Clark Kent.


Backup Story


Jimmy Olsen live streams a series of TikTok-ish videos reacting to Clark Kent's story about the Sovereign.

What’s great about Wonder Woman #16?


For good or bad, it's a net positive to see Detective Chimp act like a detective and get the job done. It's strange to think a character who pops up in so many titles rarely gets a chance to show off his talents. Here, Detective Chimp is literally the star of the show.

What’s not great about Wonder Woman #16?


Making Detective Chimp the star of the show means this is the second issue in a row where Wonder Woman lingers in the background with her new child. When a series about a character doesn't star that character, that's just bad form. Marvel is learning that lesson the hard way right now with Ultimate Spider-Man.

Further, Tom King seems to be under the impression that Detective Chimp is a DC analog for the famous TV detective Columbo, which is not at all in line with his character. It's almost a given that Tom King either can't or won't do his character research, but it's still a disappointing shock every time you see how far off the mark King goes.

Further still, how was Detective Chimp able to casually get an audience with the "King of America" without immediately getting swarmed by security or being assassinated to prevent further intrusion? Chimp's detective skills may be admirable, but the plot only works if the Sovereign is suddenly nerfed well below his introduction.

Last but not least, the Sovereign's narration is painfully slow and not at all additive to the plot. You'd think that the same criticism, levied over and over, would prompt King to tighten up the Sovereign's voice, but it seems not. 

How’s the Art?


Bruno Redondo steps in as the guest artist, and the net result is pretty okay. In the interests of full disclosure, I was not a fan of Redondo's bland work on Nightwing. He fares better here, probably due to the coloring from Adriano Lucas, but the art doesn't reach Daniel Sampere's level.



About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter



Final Thoughts


Wonder Woman #16 sends Detective Chimp to tear down the Sovereign's reputation, one lie at a time. Tom King's oddball script has a certain charm, thanks to Detective Chimp's weird impersonation of TV detective Columbo. That said, another Wonder Woman comic without Wonder Woman is just bad form, and the guest artist's output is solid but not as good as regular artist Daniel Sampere.

6.5/10



We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media: 

Connect With Us Here: Weird Science DC Comics / Weird Science Marvel Comics

If you're interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.

Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com



As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support. 


New Gods #1 Review




  • Written by: Ram V

  • Art by: Evan Cagle, Jorge Fornés

  • Colors by: Francesco Segala

  • Letters by: Tom Napolitano

  • Cover art by: Nimit Malavia, Evan Cagle, Pete Woods (cover A)

  • Cover price: $3.99

  • Release date: December 18, 2024


New Gods #1, by DC Comics on 12/18/24, regales readers with the tales of Gods and Monsters when Darkseid's death instigates a new prophecy from the Source, prompting Highfather to assign a deadly task.



Is New Gods #1 Good?


First Impressions


When this title was announced, my gut reaction could best be summed up as "Oh, no." When you combine DC's most high-brow cast of characters and turn the property over to DC's most pretentious (unsuccessfully so) writer, all signs point in the wrong direction. That said, New Gods #1 has merit. You have to wade through some flowery nonsense to get to the heart of the story, but once you get there, the hook is solid. Let's see if it holds up.

Plot Synopsis


New Gods #1 begins with overwritten narration about Amaxzu, the creation of the universe, the creation of Darkseid, and a brief impression of the Source and the Source Wall. Now, we learn that Darkseid's death, depicted in the All-In Special #1, has created an imbalance of power throughout the universe. Alien races, parademons, and more have either retreated or gone on the offensive now that Darkseid is no longer around to maintain balance.

On this day, Metron delivers a prophecy to the Highfather about a special child born on Earth. We never learn the details of the prophecy, but Highfather is obliged to take action, so he summons his adopted son, Orion, for a special mission.

Later, we catch up with Scott Free, aka Mister Miracle, and Big Barda as they enjoy domestic life on Earth with their infant child, Olivia. Orion pays Scott a visit while Olivia and Barda are sleeping to tell him the mission Highfather assigned him is to find and kill this special child. Orion contacts Scott because he must obey, but he doesn't want to succeed, so he begs Scott to find and escape with the child before Orion returns in seven days.

The issue ends with a trip to India where a young child, Kamal, is hunted by Maxwell Lord's mercenaries.


What’s great about New Gods #1?


At the heart of the issue is an intriguing hook. Scott is tasked with saving a child from death before his ally is forced to kill it on behalf of Highfather, presumably to stave off some great disaster. Ram V gives you a focal character, a goal, conflict, and a vague but tangible sense of stakes. If you're going to tackle DC's most enigmatic cast of characters, that's as good a start as you could hope for.


What’s not great about New Gods #1?


The flowery, pretentious, overwritten narration is terrible. Ram V just can't help himself, so it's to be expected. Thankfully, the narration only takes up a couple of pages, but when it shows up, the issue comes to a screeching halt. In retrospect, you could remove the noble narration, and nothing about the plot changes, which tells you how completely useless it is.


How’s the Art?


Evan Cagle and Jorge Fornés bring the story to life with interesting updates to familiar characters, particularly Orion, cinematic action in the last scene, and cool flourishes with the use of New Gods tech. On the whole, New Gods #1 is one of the best-looking #1s from DC in quite a while.



About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter



Final Thoughts


New Gods #1 is an interesting start to a new tale when Orion is forced to carry out an extreme order, and only Mister Miracle can get him out of it. The heart of Ram V's story is intriguing and ripe with potential, even if his penchant for overwritten narration rears its ugly head, and the art team's visuals make this issue one of the best-looking #1s DC put out this year.

7.8/10



We hope you found this article interesting. Come back for more reviews, previews, and opinions on comics, and don’t forget to follow us on social media: 

Connect With Us Here: Weird Science DC Comics / Weird Science Marvel Comics

If you're interested in this creator’s works, remember to let your Local Comic Shop know to find more of their work for you. They would appreciate the call, and so would we.

Click here to find your Local Comic Shop: www.ComicShopLocator.com



As an Amazon Associate, we earn revenue from qualifying purchases to help fund this site. Links to Blu-Rays, DVDs, Books, Movies, and more contained in this article are affiliate links. Please consider purchasing if you find something interesting, and thank you for your support.