3/27/13

Marvel and DC galore! I had a "balanced" pull-list with many treasures and only one disaster. I also want to thank everyone who joined the G+ community this week +Sam's Pull List is also doing great. I am so thankful that all of you read and enjoy this blog.

My Pull-List this week. Enjoy!

• Deadpool Killustrated #3

This is one of the funniest non-Millar comics ever. With a hilarious new cast of story-book characters for Deadpool to butcher and some of the wittiest one-liners yet. The art was luscious with dark inks and bright colors and the cover art was spectacular. One of the most endearing parts of this particular storyline is it's ability to make supporting characters more than just mindless lackeys. When Deadpool takes over Frankenstein as a home for his "second mind" I thought: "We won't be seing much of him." I was so wrong. Frankenstein is the perfect sidekick for an insane mercenary and together they slash their way through many dear children's story characters. Some victims are:

• Scrooge
• The little Mermaid
• The jungle book characters

I mean, the Jungle Book characters? It was quite a battle to behold, complete with a Shakira reference. Great issue!

• Age of Ultron Book 3

I was so confused when this issue began. They showed a scene that seemed disconnected from the arc so far, and it was. Only when I began to read deeper into the issue I realized the thought behind the opening scene. What followed was an issue of lots of dialogue and very little action. This was quite enjoyable because BMB is a master of the craft of conversation. The plan that the survivors came up with was smart but risky. All of the major heros played a large part in the making of the final decision  but it was Hawkeye who really made the best points. The best part of this storyline is the ability to switch between little groups of survivors. Seeing how different heros are taking in the apocalypse.

About the art. Everyone LOVES Bryan Hitch. I do not understand that at all. His terrible facial expressions cause dialogue to be less meaningful which is tragic when the writer is the legendary BMB. I am excited for next issue and am thinking about buying the Ultron title.

• Batman Incorporated #9

I would have thought that it would be hard to settle back down to the normal BI after the universe altering #8. This issue was perfect in all aspects. A emotion filled funeral, suspenseful flashbacks, a sidekick becoming a hero, a tank and a speech that said that Batman was no longer welcome in Gotham. Bruce's speech at Damian's funeral was meaningful without crossing the line into cheesy-hell. The book was well paced and bleak with Chris Burnhams art remaining to be the perfect fit for this title. Batman is a very emotional character and Grant Morrison makes that very clear. I am sad that Morrison is leaving but think he has done a superb job on this crazy title. 

• Guardians of the Galaxy #001

I didn't know that this issue was being so hyped until I received a promo card and info card from the comic store tonight. They had already given away all of their posters. The issue was a great debut and I felt like I really got a good feel for all of the characters. I usually don't like Iron Man but in this story he is portrayed as less of a self-confident snob but more as a team member. The encounter of Peter and his dad was exciting and well-written, it is a very interesting dynamic that I am sure BMB will explore in more detail. The action sequence was terrific. I enjoyed how BMB split the Guardians into a few "mini-teams" within the team. 

• Batman: The Dark Knight

This is now one of my favorite DC title. The artwork is unmatched, with the best inking for a long time and Batman at his finest Ethan Van Sciver is a top-notch illustrator. It's emotionally driven. Gregg Hurwitz make the Mad Hatter one of the best in Batman's rogues gallery. The frequent flashbacks make this title less about Batman and more about the villains. This book deserves more than a T though, maybe T+ borderline A. There is a ton of brutal, immoral murder and gallons of blood. The Hatter seems to be planning some kind of performance and I can't wait to see what it entails. 

• Talon #6

The Grandmaster! What an ominous title. Calvin delves deeper into the court and finds things that were meant to stay hidden. The battles are great and suspenseful, the Washington's are their emotion driven selves and a HUGE secret is revealed. The art is beautiful and plays well with the writing. I was skeptical about this spin-off but know I am digging it. 

• Teen Titans #18

One word: Unreadable.

1/30/13

This week was a great week to be a comic reader, one of the best for a long time. I am going to review six books that I bought (In order of quality) Batman and Robin Annual #1, Batman Incorporated #7, Before Watchmen: Dollar Bill One-Shot, Talon #4, Batman the Dark Knight #16 and Teen Titans #16. So, without further ado here are this weeks reviews:

• Batman and Robin Annual #1

Annuals are always fun and long but the best Annual is always the one that tells the most interesting story that has nothing to do with the normal series. This creative team could have squandered their opportunity to create a good Annual if they had droned on about Death of the Family for 40 pages, but they didn't. Instead they created a wholesome story that seemed both loyal to the series and completely original. In this tale Damian gives Bruce a vacation by leaving him an international scavenger hunt to solve in order to rekindle his parents memory. The real reason that Damian is giving Bruce this treat is because Damian wants to try being Batman for a while. I had a smile on my face as I read every page of this wonderful issue. Well done!

• Batman Incorporated #7

The last couple of issues have been chaotic and confusing, but still good. I particularly enjoyed this issue because Grant Morrison really dialed it back and explained the whole story. In this issue we saw the relationship and the trust between Alfred and Damian grow. Batman was in little of the book as they focused mostly on Leviathan's attack on Gotham and the twisted plans of the sick Talia Al Ghul. I also liked the backstory talking about Damian's perfect twin fighting his way out of his womb in a dead whale and becoming Talia's #1 Henchman. Lots of action with all four Robins and Commisioner Gordon.

• Before Watchmen: Dollar Bill One-Shot

I went in to reading this comic with very low expectations, Len Wein tends to be a bit wordy and The art seemed a little cartoony for my tastes. I was very wrong. Like the other One-Shot I bought today Dollar Bill delivered an interesting but singular story. The story takes us through Bill Brady's entire life and on to his funeral. One of the best Watchmen prequels yet. My only complaint was that it revisited a lot of the content covered in the Minutemen series instead of coming up with more interesting missions of the Minutemen.

• Talon #4

This issue was the best comic James Tynion IV has ever written. It was well-paced, the characters were well thought through, the plot was intense and the battle was actually very interesting. This issue takes place in New York right where the last issue left off. The main story was the on and off battle of Calvin vs. The Butcher of Gotham who is an incredibly large and strong Talon (Talon SMASH!) that actually had some personality unlike other comic juggernauts. Calvin's relationship and conversations with Casey (old girlfriend) and her daughter are heartfelt without being overly cheesy. This was the first issue that I began to really enjoy learning about Calvin's troubled journey.

• Batman the Dark Knight #16

With a new creative team and a relatively new villain The Dark Knight has taken a turn for the best. This issue meant to be mysterious and delivered as well as being brutal and awesome. The story begins with the typical "chain of random kidnappings" but evolves to be much more. Although I am not such a  fan of the notion that "Batman is his Gadgets" the way the other wove the use of the Bat-Plane and various computers was very interesting. The art was some of the best (No inkers! Hallelujah!) I have seen on the book in a long time. I got my friend to subscribe to this book because I thought it was decent but now I am intrigued.

• Teen Titans #16

This whole mini-crossover within a crossover crap Scott Lobdell has pulled with both of his books has been painful at best. This book was the best, not that good, of the crossovers. I attribute that mainly to the fact that this book had the least appearances from the other team members. Jokers trap was mildly interesting but just played on the fact that Tim is smart and that Jason uses guns which are two points that were already visited upon in this crossover and are over visited upon in general. The art was good aside from the inks which gave the book an unfinished feel. This book turned me off of the series even though I am a big fan of Tim Drake.