Larfleeze #9 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis
Art By: Scott Kolins
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 26, 2014

Family Functions Are The Worst

Last issue of Larfleeze we saw the entire House Of Tuath-Dan come together for the first time in what I'm assume is a insanely long time.  The reason for the family reunion was to discuss what they were going to do about Larfleeze, and as you would expect they all figured that death was the best solution for the orange monkey.  At the end of the issue the one member of the House of Tuath-Dan who didn't want to attend the meeting, found Larfleeze, and made him come to the family function, and all hell breaks loose.  Let's see if the guru of greed is bested by the god like family from another dimension.

Adventures of Superman #49 Review

Written by: Steve Niles
Art by: Matthew Dow Smith
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: March 31, 2014

Ghosts of Krypton

Never build a house on an Indian Burial Ground and never build a Moonbase on a...you'll have to read to find out.  Steve Niles gives us a quick little one-shot about space travel, the Man of Steel and ghosts.  It's not bad, but it's not a story that will stay with you very long after you finish.

Adventures of Superman is unique title that allows varied writers to give Superman a spin around the block. To me, that is it's greatest strength, especially when the creative team is unfamiliar.  This week we get Steve Niles, the author of 30 Days of Night and Matthew Dow Smith who has done art on Nightcrawler, Doctor Who and Stormwatch to name a few.  I'm not a big horror guy (my co-writer Eric is, big time) so I haven't read Niles work and am not familiar with Smith's.  Treading new ground always excites me.

Just For The Hell Of It Mondays 3/31/14

Yeah I got gypped out of having a Just For The Hell Of It Monday on April Fools Day, but will I let that bring me down?  Of course I will I'm a very fragile person.  But nonetheless I will bring you something that you might know, but not everyone, I'm counting on not everyone, to know this to be real, but doesn't seem like it could actually be possible.  A pseudo April Fools video, which I remember when it aired, and remember laughing my ass off, at the absurdity of it all.  So for your enjoyment, a pre fools day funny, from the animated series Justice League Unlimited.  Stick around for the month of April, I've got a theme I'm going for and I think you'll like it.  Boosh!

The Royals: Masters of War #2 Review

Written by: Rob Williams
Art by: Simon Coleby
Cover Price: $2.99
Release date: March 12, 2014

This Means War

I'll admit, I wasn't quite prepared for The Royals when I read last months first issue.  A book set in an alternate World War Two where the Royal families of the World have Super Powers?  Very strange and also very intriguing.  So, I picked it up on a whim and read it.  Guess what?  It was really good.  Rob Williams' story seemed larger than life and had enough mystery to keep the reader guessing about what was really going on while Simon Coleby's art was equally unique and impressive.

DC Universe vs The Masters of the Universe #6 Review

Written by: Keith Giffen and Tony Bedard
Art by: Pop Mhan and Eduardo Francisco
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 26, 2014

Cracking Skulls

I have enjoyed the DC Universe/Masters of the Universe mashup that Giffen and Bedard have given us. While it will never be mistaken for a cerebral read with layers and hidden meanings, it has been good, exciting fun.  I don't know about you, but that's something I look for in comics and unfortunately in our gritty is better world, it is sometimes hard to find.  After the ending of last issue, I couldn't wait to see the final battle between Orko's mind controlled minions and the combined forces of The Masters and DC Universes. Well here it is, but was it worth the wait?

Suicide Squad: Amanda Waller #1 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Jim Zub
Art By: Andre Coelho
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: March 26, 2014

Building The Wall

Here we go with a one shot again, but this time we'll move away from a good character, or an evil character and go towards someone that lives in the grey.  Amanda Waller, or The Wall, or as I like to call her Sweet Sassy Mo Lassy, but that's a thing between her and me, and I don't want to hear any of you call her that.  This is a weird one shot for me personally because I really didn't like Team 7, and I find that she's the least interesting part of Suicide Squad, so to have a book actually feature her seems like a nightmare.  But let's quit the bitchin' and dive into the story.  Just so you know this issue takes place before Forever Evil, so we get a pre Crime Syndicate world for this story.  

Aquaman #29 Review

Written by: Jeff Parker
Art by: Paul Pelletier
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 26, 2014

Outrageous!

Jeff Parker knows how to write "fun".  From the very first line of this issue, he gives readers a book that makes you smile.  It's as if he took everything Geoff Johns left for him and put it in the Silver Age Writing Machine, cooked it for a few hours and Alakazam...best of both worlds.  This issue is a prime example of that.

Aquaman has had his problems lately.  He's always late for meetings, kills ancient Atlantean protectors, but this issue takes the cake.  As seen in last issues cliffhanger, he can't find his trident.  Yes, he left his mighty weapon unguarded and it was "borrowed" by Dr. Evans who used it to open a gate...to Hell.

Batman Beyond 2.0 #17 Review

Written by: Kyle Higgins
Art by: Thony Silas
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: March 29. 2014

"Neo World Order"

The Beyond Universe has been so good as individual titles, but they have been disconnected a bit.  The last issue of Justice League 2.0 ended with the promise of the Justice Lords and a fully combined arc with Batman Beyond 2.0.  The arc starts with this issue and I can tell you, things are a a bit strange.  Strange, indeed.

Weird Science DC Comics News: Week of March 26, 2014 Edition

Hello folks, It's been a couple of weeks without a news column, but now after not one person requested it, it's back!  The reason for the lapse is two-fold.  I got lazy and then I got real lazy.  However, the news waits for no one, not even an unpaid DC Comics blogger.  Go figure.  Now, without further ado...

On With The News



DC Announces Teen Titans: Earth One


With so many spots to fill to get the New 52 up to, I don't know, 52 books maybe, you would think we'd get some more announcements than Star Spangled Glorious Stories Concerning War and Forever Infinity People of the Past, but no.  DC announced this week that Jeff Lemire and Terry Dodson would be giving us the Teen Titans: Earth One graphic novel.  I am not a huge fan of the Earth One books, so this is not huge news for me.  I know Eric here at Weird Science loves the Teen Titans (almost as much as Gilmore Girls), but I bet he's not even that excited.

All Star Western #29 Review

Written by: Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Art by: Cliff Richards
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 26, 2014

Smoke 'Em If You Got 'Em

Jonah Hex's vacation in the present day DCU got him a new woman and a new face.  Both returned to the past with him, but I wondered how long both would last.  This issue answers half of that question, but not much else.  In a bit of a slip for such a consistently good book, this issue falls flat as filler that doesn't do much to move the narrative forward. 

All Star Western #29 main narrative is a story-in-a-story about revenge and racism.  Jonah tells Gina the story of a bounty gone wrong.  The bounty in question is a man with a hatred of Indians.  That hatred has led him to kill and in turn, led him to be a wanted man.  He tells Jonah some lies and half truths to explain himself, but in the end he is pretty much a racist piece of crap.  He looks at Jonah as a man who should agree that white males are in danger of losing power and should fight back, but our antihero ain't got no time for that.  

Superman #29 Review

Written by: Scott Lobdell
Art by: Ed Benes
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 26, 2014

I See London, I See France

Scott Lobdell gets a bum rap.  Has his New 52 Superman been great?  Nope, but when it was announced Geoff Johns was taking over, there was dancing in the streets, sailors kissing women...  Seriously, the book wasn't that bad.  I've said it in many of my Superman reviews, Lobdell is more of an idea man than a writer. H'el on Earth and Krypton Returns are really good on paper, just not the paper of the actual comics.  Before leaving the book he is giving us one last big event, Doomed.  This issue is a prelude to next months prelude. I know that sounds ridiculous, but I actually liked it for what it's worth.

Smallville: Lantern #3 Review

Written by: Brian Q. Miller
Art by: Marcio Takara
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date:  March 28, 2014

It's Not Easy Being Green

Oliver Queen is "Green" with envy, but him and the police have no idea what hit them.  Superman finds out why he was chosen and enjoys The Rise and Fall of the Green Lantern Corps documentary. Too many Lanterns in sector 2813 is something that everyone should be very afraid of.

To say I have been underwhelmed by Smallville: Lantern is an overstatement.  I have enjoyed it, but by Smallville standards, Bryan Q. Miller has been taking his time heating things up.  Well, issue 3 heats them up to scorching.  I'm so happy to tell you that we are in "Holy Cow, You have to read this" territory once again.

The Flash #29 Review

Written by: Brian Buccellato
Art by: Augustin Padilla
Cover Price $2.99I
Release Date: March 26, 2014

A Killer Finale?

Brian Buccellato (along with Francis Manapul) have made The Flash one of the best books in the New 52. It's been action packed fun from the start, but all good things must come to an end.  Yes, Manapul and Buccellato are leaving for Detective Comics, but Brian stayed behind to finish up The Flash with a couple artists joining him.  The last few issues seemed to be a proving ground for Detective Comics with Barry doing less running and more crime scene investigating and I have enjoyed it.  The Flash #29 ends the Keystone Killer arc and Buccelleto's run, but is it a worthy ending?

Talon #17 Review

Written by: Tim Seeley
Art by: Jorge Lucas
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 26, 2014

Murder Buddha

Calvin Rose's tale of rebellion and redemption versus the Court of the Owls has been a highlight of the New 52 for me.  Actually, to be quite honest, it was a highlight up until the end of the first arc.  Since then (issue 8 and beyond) it has been an average book at best.  I thought it lost it's direction and focus, adding unnecessary characters and villains in an attempt to spice things up.  This issue is the last of the series and while I'm sad to see it go I was hoping for a good finale.

Calvin and Anya are searching for Ra's al Ghul's Lazurus Pits.  Calvin wants to be mortal again and finally be free of the Court of Owl's curse.  This search has lead them face to face with Lord Death Man and Dr, Darrk.  Lord Death Man is the star here, but "too much of a good thing" quicky comes to mind.  He is a hilarious, evil parody of a villain who speaks in sing song gibberish and is proud of his Pokemon knowledge. He is insane and it's great in small doses.  Unfortunately, this dose is of the larger variety.

Reading First Contact? Well Suck It!

Do you know what happens when you don't do your homework?  You're completely unprepared, and look
like a jerk.  So there I am opening up my Worlds' Finest #21, and I'm baffled when I see that it's part 4, and some life altering comic book shit is going down.  So I went back and did my homework and found out that First Contact's order is all screwed up.  Batman/Superman #9 which is part 3 of the story, is now pushed back to April 23rd, and here I am left sitting with a part 4, and without a clue on how we got here.

I decided since I can't get the full story in the right order, that I'm just going to wait.  I SPOIL the shit out of comics, and I don't want anyone to accidentally look up the review, and there I am screwing up the story for anyone who's interested.  So I'm going to wait until Part 3 of the crossover comes out, and read and review the issues back to back.  Sorry for the delay, but for once it's not my fault.  We're both on the losing end, and I expect you to do the same as me, and bitch to whoever will listen.  That is all.

Justice League Dark #29 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: J.M. DeMatteis
Art By: Vicente Cifuentes
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 26, 2014

Wrap It Up

When we last left Forever Evil: Blight, Felix Faust had downloaded all the knowledge of the magical beings hooked up to the Thaumaton device.  While this knowledge would give him the power to rebuild Project Thaumaton and stop the Crime Syndicate and whatever is following them from Earth 3, it would end up killing all the people he stole the knowledge from.  It's a good thing during his evil monologuing that Constantine got behind him, and knocked him out.  All powerful mage my ass.  In the end, Constantine believed that Faust had the right idea, the master of the machine would just have to be Constantine instead.  Let's go check out the finale to Forever Evil: Blight, and see if everything is wrapped up with a nice little bow.