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Superboy #3 Review

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Nov 202011

by Andrew Hurst, CMRO Contributing Writer

Superboy

Issue #3

Written by Scott Lobdell, Art by R.B. Silva

Published: January 2012

We’re three issues in to DC’s relaunch, and while a a feeling out process is expected for the first couple of issues, most titles have already established their goals and have begun getting back to telling the superhero stories we want in our comics. Superboy is not one of those titles.

If you haven’t been reading Superboy, you haven’t been missing out on anything. We were first introduced to this new Boy of Steel when he broke out of the test tube he was birthed from and began wondering. Two issues later, he’s still wandering. This series still hasn’t figured out what exactly it wants to be; or at least it’s taking way to long to do it. So far, all we’ve seen from Kon-El is him trying to adjust to the rest of the world and falling ass backwards into supervillain fights and young girls who aggressively flirt with him.

I understand that DC wants that masturbatory fantasy book for all their 14-year old male readers, but it would be nice if they would building a coherent story to go along with that theme. What we’ve seen is random moments of action and espionage with twists thrown in just for some kind of shock value.

Once upon a time in previous DC continuity, Superboy was one of the most interesting characters, having to deal with being half Superman and half Lex Luthor. It would have been easy to just retell all of that drama, but I’m starting to wish they had taken that route because what we’ve been presented so far is borderline garbage. And it’s R.B. Silva’s wonderful art that keeps Superboy from crossing that line.

We’ve seen how great the Superboy character can be, and not every creative team can capture that magic, but I hope this series finds its niche soon. Not just the readers, but the main character, simply deserve better than this.

Action Comics #3 Review

Posted by Lindsay Young DC Reviews, Issue Review No Responses »

Nov 122011

by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer

Action Comics

Issue #3

Written by Grant Morrison, Art by Gene Ha & Rags Morales

Published: January 2012

Superman’s new title continues to move along faster than a speeding bullet, this time opening up with a flashback of the destruction of Krypton. Clark Kent continues as the beleaguered Daily Planet reporter and secret superhero, but this issue deals mainly with the consequences of his well-intentioned rampages in previous issues. Not everyone is happy with him – in fact, most are set on demonizing him.

Superman’s origins as essentially an immigrant to America are interestingly examined here. The dialogue frequently paints him as a misunderstood outsider, and his frustration at the misconceptions surrounding him are perfectly sympathetic. As he is threatened by the authorities for his intentions to ‘expose corruption’, he faces a conflict between standing out and fitting in, of self-sacrifice or self-preservation. It gives the issue an effective tension that underscores all of his attempts at heroics.

Superman continues to be a little more brash and uncertain than more mature incarnations of the character tend to be, but it’s a move that works well to establish his youth and general inexperience with hero work. It’s compelling if you can get behind it. This issue in particular highlights the character’s trademark moral streak, and is a nice link between young Clark Kent and a more mature Clark Kent.

There’s some lovely artwork in the Kandor flashback, and the expressions are vastly improved from previous issues. There’s not a whole lot of action, but it’s nice to take a break from that and get some time to settle into the universe a little more. Still, there are some abrupt transitions between scenes that make the issue feel somewhat choppy. The issue ends with the promise of more action to come, setting up the next challenge set to come Superman’s way in a cool cliffhanger.

All-Star Western #2 Review

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Nov 062011

by Andrew Hurst, CMRO Contributing Writer

All-Star Western

Issue #2

Written by Justin Gray & Jimmy Palmiotti, Art by Moritat

Published: December 2011

Out of all the 52 titles launched by DC in September, I honestly would have ranked All-Star Western #1 in the top 10. But the make or break for all of those first issues is how well issue #2 follows it up. What I loved about issue #1 was how well the creative team made Gotham into a kind of dark, drizzly 19th century London and put Jonah Hex and Dr. Amadeus Arkham into a Sherlock Holmes and Watson type role. Sadly, all that magic built in the first issue doesn’t exactly come through in issue #2, but this title still delivers on plenty of gun-slinging action.

We last left our unlikely duo of the famed bounty hunter and the lowly psychologist in the middle of a murder mystery resembling something out of the Jack the Ripper case. This issue wastes little time putting Hex in the middle of a gun fight with a dozen outlaws out for Hex’s head, looking to force him out of town. An awesome 3 pages of panels gives us a Clint Eastwood worthy bullet battle royal, but after that, the story turns into something that feels more like a bad James Bond plot rather than a unique murder mystery.

Jonah Hex’s character stands strong, as you would expect from long time Hex writers like Justin Gray and Jimmy Palmiotti, but, with this issue, I’m a little confused about where the narrative is heading, or will pay off, but that could be a good thing as much as it could be bad.

Though the story has me lost in a left turn, the biggest disappointment was Moritat’s art. Last issue was fantastically muted and damp, capturing the mood and environment perfectly. But this issue felt dull and lazy in comparison. Facial expressions are often awkward, like on page 12 when Hex suddenly looks as sadistically insane as the murderer he’s after.

I highly recommended All-Star Western #1 to everyone I talked to about comics, and I don’t regret that, but I can’t blame any non-Jonah Hex/western fans for dropping the title after this issue. But, personally, I’ll at least be holding on until issue #3.

Catwoman #2 Review

Posted by Lindsay Young DC Reviews, Issue Review 2 Responses »

Oct 302011

by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer

Catwoman

Issue #2

Written by Judd Winick, Art by Guillem March

Published: December 2011

Despite having some reservations about the now-infamous first issue of DC’s new Catwoman, I found myself enjoying this second one. Maybe it’s the whip-quick pacing or Selina’s gutsy, somewhat-damaged personality, but despite being constantly made aware of her breasts, I have more good things to say than bad about Catwoman this time around.

Issue #2 picks up after Batman and Catwoman have sex, and Catwoman doesn’t stick around long to enjoy the afterglow. She’s off in a matter of pages to steal a prized painting and get revenge on the Russian mobster we met last issue. The pacing is so quick, and it’s a lot of fun to follow Selina as she leaps around on building tops and infiltrates Bruce Wayne’s fundraiser party in disguise.

It’s interesting that Selena seems to be constantly running from Bruce, whether he’s Batman or Bruce Wayne. The interaction between her and Bruce at the party is fun and flirty, especially when we know that Bruce knows who she is and is just putting on the dumb playboy act. It’s clear they’re going to circle each other for a while, and I’m intrigued to see how it plays out (although with that ending, I’m expecting some Batman-to-the-rescue in issue 3).

There’s an interesting dynamic in the inner monologue – sometimes Selina is playful and sexually aggressive, other times she’s vulnerable and lonely. Sometimes the dialogue borders on cheesy or try-hard, but there are some moments – particularly near the end – that are genuinely affecting.

The art is quite lovely too, with deep colours, interesting angles and lots of detail in the expression. There’s a good sense of movement in this issue, which makes the fighting scenes really pop.

I’m still nervous for the future, but there’s a lot to enjoy about Catwoman #2.

Batman: Arkham City (Video Game Tie-In) Review

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Oct 232011

by Andrew Hurst, CMRO Contributing Writer

Batman: Arkham City

Written by Paul Dini, Art by Dustin Nguyen

Published: July 2011

It’s pretty typical for major video game titles to release their own comic book tie-in, but it’s not so typical for those comics to be really good. Paul Dini, the legendary Batman writer behind the script for the game, Batman: Arkham City, also pens the prequel comic leading into the game. And as you would expect from Dini’s work, it’s awesome!

For those unfamiliar, Arkham City is a section of Gotham’s slums bought up and made into a prison city with all of Batman’s deadliest foes inside. In reality, the idea of an Arkham City is preposterous, but it makes a perfect setting for a Batman video game. And don’t worry; you don’t need to have played the first game, Batman: Arkham Asylum, to follow the story, because Dini brings you right up to speed.

When Mayor Quincy Sharp, former warden of Arkham Asylum, commissions Arkham City with the influence of his psychiatrist, Dr. Hugo Strange, Bruce Wayne is obviously fuzzy on what this all will really turn into. While outside the walls of Arkham City, Bruce Wayne lobbies for its closure, and inside, Batman is taking a closer look.

If you’re a Batman reader, then you’re likely familiar with Paul Dini’s expertise on crafting a Batman story, and Dini shines just as bright in this video game adaption. Game developer, Rocksteady, and Dini have taken all the best characteristics of Batman’s universe and created a definitive version of the Dark Knight. And all the makings and mysteries for a perfect Batman story are brewing here.

Carlos D’anda, who provided beautiful character art for Arkham Asylum, is on pencil duty in this series, and his designs for each character are fantastic. D’anda is an artist I really hope to see part of ongoing Batman titles in the future.

In addition to the five issues of Batman: Arkham City is five digital chapters, all written by Dini and penciled by a different artist, that add new insight to the villains and other characters locked in Arkham City.

Batman: Arkham City can still be enjoyed without having to play the video game, but as soon as you’re done reading, you’ll absolutely want too. And, having finished the game myself, I promise you you’ll be glad you did.

Static Shock #1 Review

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Oct 212011

by Brandon St. Denis, CMRO Contributing Writer

Static Shock

Issue #1

Written by Scott McDaniel, Art by Guy Major

Published: December 2011

I’m going to get this right out of the way to being with. I love Static Shock, always have. The new reboot is simply fantastic. Everything that made this comic/TV series/story are great is still here.

The art style is as fresh as you’ll find in any of the comics published by DC, which is still greatly appreciated. The panels and story flow very smoothly and you will not have a hard time moving between moments. Guy Major has definitely polished Static to a bright and shining example.

Scott McDaniel’s writing isn’t slacking here either. Static Shock’s is still as witty and sharp as ever, a true pleasure to read, and it is hard not to appreciate how clever McDaniel can be. Despite it’s cleverness however, it still holds true to it’s scientific roots. That is really where this particular series shines. McDaniel really understands the audience for this comic. I cannot recommend the dialogue and writing in this comic highly enough. A part that really stands out to me is how the people of New York reacted to Static. They reacted in the EXACT same way that everyone on the planet imagines they would, just shy of tearing him apart on the hood of a taxi.

The whole comic comes together very well and picks up right with the action, while still leaving time for exposition and character development. If it were up to me; you’d be reading that comic instead of this review, two thumbs up, five stars and my personal seal of approval.

Superman Action Comics #2 Review

Posted by Lindsay Young DC Reviews, Issue Review No Responses »

Oct 202011

by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer

Superman Action Comics

Issue #1

Written by Grant Morrison, Art by Rags Morales

Issue #2 of the re-launched Superman title certainly lives up to its name. So far, the New 52 Superman has been anything but idle. Going up against speeding trains and wrecking balls in issue one, issue two finds Superman combating a mob of government guns to make his grand escape from captivity. All this takes place mere seconds after he has been gassed, electrocuted, and tortured! This is definitely not a series that rests on its laurels, building up tension towards the action-backed conclusion. It’s on its feet right away, from the first page to the last.

This new Superman feels green. He hurts himself while fighting, he’s rough around the edges and somewhat overconfident (although, considering he’s Superman, he probably has good reason to be). Morrison writes the character in such a way that his youth really comes across loud and clear, which leaves a lot of room for Superman to grow and mature in the coming issues. I have to admit that the characterization, while not what I would have expected, does intrigue me. He reminds me of the original 1930s Superman, where our boy would simply toss bad guys aside without really thinking about whether or not it might, you know, kill them. This take on the character just seems more self-aware.

The art doesn’t do a whole lot for me. The action is impressive, but character expressions and facial features are really hit-or-miss. How old Lois and Clark look can change depending on the panel. It’s not bad, but Morales is much better at bodies and action than he is at expression.

Still, so far I think the new Superman has been a really enjoyable thrill ride, and I’m curious to see where the characterization is headed.

Hawk & Dove #1 Review

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Oct 172011

by Brandon St. Denis, CMRO Contributing Writer

Hawk & Dove

Issue #1

Written by Sterling Gates, Art by Rob Liefield

The new reboot of Hawk and Dove, one of DC’s new 52, reminds me of a classic buddy cop film. The details of the comic are secondary to the back story and character development at play here. The dialogue is exactly the kind of thing you’d find watching half of the shows on any of the major networks at prime time. The story and the powers of the heroes themselves are relatively interesting, coming from gods of War and Peace respectively. The series is worth looking into if you have a love of the more ‘mystical’ side of DC characters. The comic also featured ‘Deadman’ which was an interesting turn of events if nothing else, and that alone is enough to sell me personally on the comic.

I’m not much of a fan of the writing style, not just informal but it feels like it literally jumped from the 1990s and into a comic.

The art style seems kind of stock and isn’t exactly as sharp or poignant as the other entries in the new 52, which is sort of disappointing. One of the things that I really enjoyed about this particular comic was the opening, it started with a news report regarding a portion of the comic’s story and also to establish the current Arc of this part of the series.

I can only hope that it’s readers will stick with it through the change of characters and the gap in the comic’s eras.

Penguin: Pain & Prejudice #1

Posted by Andrew Hurst DC Reviews, Issue Review 1 Response »

Oct 162011

by Andrew Hurst, CMRO Contributing Writer

Penguin: Pain & Prejudice

Issue #1

Written by Gregg Hurwitz, Art by Szymon Kudranski

Even though I am a die-hard Batman fan I’ll admit that Penguin has never been Batman’s most interesting villain. So when I heard DC was releasing a mini-series starring Mr. Cobblepot I though it could only be a big waste of time. As it turns out, Penguin: Pain and Prejudice was basically amazing.

The first issue (of five) begins at Cobblepot’s birth leading into his early childhood. The origins of Penguin have rarely been explored outside of the opening scenes of the movie Batman Returns and the writer, Gregg Hurwitz, shows us flashbacks of the harsh and brutal life of a deformed Oswald. Right from the first page you can feel the growing tension that leaves you with an ache in the back of your mind, knowing the next page is going to be tougher to read than the last. But Penguin’s story is such a tragic one that you can’t put the book down.

The narrative has a very noir feel and I couldn’t help but imagine I was reading the DC universe version of Hitler and Scareface’s prodigy rising to power. You won’t see this Penguin wielding gimmicked umbrellas and shooting sleep gas at his enemies. Instead you will see him ordering hits, organizing brutal crimes, and dealing in human trafficking. He’s definitely not the lovable Burgess Meredith most people think of when they think Penguin.

The icing on this delicious cake is the entire art team’s work. The issue is very shadowed and you can feel the oily stench of madness and rage building in the Penguin through this entire story. Szymon Kudranski illustrates the emotion and action wonderfully and delivers on some extremely gnarly, yet awesome, panels. Especially a brilliant introduction of the Dark Knight late into the book.

Penguin is a character who will be tough to sell to non-Batman fans, but this issue was truly an unexpected treat. For anyone who ever thought Penguin was a lame or goofy rogue, this first issue will do a pretty damn good job of changing your mind.

Huntress #1 Review

Posted by Lindsay Young DC Reviews, Issue Review No Responses »

Oct 132011

by Lindsay Young, CMRO Contributing Writer

Huntress

Issue #1

Written by Paul Levitz, Art by Marcus To

Recently DC has been taking some heat for the way some of their female characters have been portrayed in their new releases. Thankfully, Huntress # 1 manages to avoid the awkward content of some of its predecessors and delivers on a first issue that is both sexy and tasteful.

The new miniseries revolves around the introduction of the title character as she arrives in Italy, infiltrates a cargo ship full of illegal guns and human hostages, pissing off the scumbags in charge in the process. Not surprisingly for a first issue, it’s somewhat standard fare involving a lot of setup for the bigger story, but there’s enough here to make me want to pick up the second volume, and in that way I consider Huntress #1 a success.

It’s great to see how in-control and cool-headed the character has been written. She goes about her mission like an old pro, protecting civilians and beating up thugs like she’s done it a million times before. There’s a sense of comfort in watching her kick ass like it’s no big deal, as though I can completely trust her to get the job done without any messing around or too much monologing. The dialogue is kept mostly brief – Huntress’s thoughts are practical and straightforward for the most part, which really endears me to the character.

The artwork is simple, elevated in quality by the bright colours and lots of light. The actual line art has a tendency towards awkward proportions, however, and Huntress pulls off a backwards high-kick at one point that looks like it should hurt her more than her intended victim. Still, the art’s biggest crime is only in being as straightforward as the title character, and I can’t fault it much for that.

Flash #1 Review

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Oct 082011

by Joshua Frank, CMRO Contributing Writer

Flash

Issue #1

Written by Francis Manpul, Art by Brian Buccellato

Marvel has Peter Parker, a young wise cracking genius know it all with a quick wit and charm to his compatriots and villains alike. Then… there’s Barry Allen. The king of cool, the jester of the justice league, everything this man does is meant to bring a smile to civilians and hate and rage to his foes. But you harm one innocent person you are playing with a time bomb.

Part of DC’s New 52, this is the first issue of the new run of the Flash. Having not read any of the last issues of Flash for over a year, which also means I haven’t read the huge DC event revolving around flash, I know that technically makes me a noob to flash point. But don’t fret fellow readers I will take it upon myself to read all of it.

Now to the comic at hand The Flash, of which I have to ask, oh my god how awesome is this issue? It felt like reading an old Flash comic from the 1960’s. At the beginning of the story you get this completely awesome two-page spread just to introduce flash to the readers. It has everything on those two pages to tell you what you need to know about who and what the Flash is. The story is engrossing and will make you want to throw a fit when you get to the last page. I practically screamed out NO… THAT CAN’T BE IT! It makes you want to read more and more, and you know Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato got it right if they can make you say that.

The art was fan-freaking-tastic. The art style it looks like straight up story boarding, something we don’t see as often and I love it. With crisp lines you’ll have no problem with the art, it’s simply beautiful to look at. I even enjoyed the dialogue bubbles. They have a look that is so retro and yet still feels modern. The amount of detail they put into this book is outstanding. You could read this comic twice and not see everything.

If I were you I would go out right now and pick this book up. You will not be disappointing. Was that clear enough of a recommendation?

Suicide Squad Review #1

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Oct 082011

by Brandon St. Denis, CMRO Contributing Writer

Suicide Squad

Issue #1

Written by Adam Glass, Art by Gederico Dallocchio & Ransom Getty

I know I am jumping the gun on the decision part of the review, but the new Suicide Squad is an absolute must have. Out of all of the comics in The New 52 it has to be among my personal favorite. On with the review…

The series opens as most do, with the character introductions. In this case they are all done entirely through flashbacks at the various of the character’s behests. Speaking of characters, Harley Quinn has always been one of my favourite DC characters by a huge margin, ranking with the Joker for obvious reasons. In this issue her lines are as fresh as ever and still enough to make you smile when you read them. Glass seems to put a special effort into her dialogue, enough to keep her as a dramatic character but still employ the trademark sense of dark humor. Harley aside, the other characters are all relatively new and honestly I hope Mr. Glass puts more into them as it continues. As it stands the other characters, who are not nearly as old or well fleshed out as Harley, seem almost cliche when put next to her

The artistic style as always is as sharp as ever with the individual panels leading into one another beautifully. The comic features a handful of old favorites with new coats of paint on, with Batman even making a special albeit brief appearance.

With the end of this issue DC has promised an even more exciting follow-up, and I for one, am excited.

Resurrection Man #1

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Oct 072011

by Brandon St. Denis, CMRO Contributing Writer

Resurrection Man

Issue #1

Written by , Art by Andy Lanning

Today I review another one of the ‘New 52′, this time it’s Resurrection Man. Resurrection Man has a plot that’s about as penetrable and simple as an octopus made of stone. Events in this story start picking up right away, so if you aren’t a fast reader this particular series may not be for you.

I found the dialogue to be a bit stale. Much of the dialogue took fairly confusing directions at times, leaving the reader to jump around looking for the next sentence. The narration of the comic, that is the yellow bubbles that tend to be off to one side, has a poetic quality to it that I really liked. Putting the two together this issue leaves the reader with a feeling that the writing is kind of a mixed bag.

Abnett does take the time to establish how valuable the main character is, mostly as a prize to be had by what appears to be three separate factions.

The overall artistic style of this title comes off pretty dark, which I guess may be a little excepted considering the content, but it still hurts the feel of the book. Very few things seem to be ‘bright’ in even the loosest sense of the word. Beyond just the artistic tone, this issue also gets a little messy at times, going so far as to overlap entire panels with just one full shot.

Perhaps it was just a slow issue to start but my hoe is that things will pick up in future issues. I’m interested in seeing more of this character and I hope that DC will not disappoint.

Legion of Super Heroes #1 Review

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Oct 072011

by Brandon St. Denis, CMRO Contributing Writer

Legion of Super Heroes

Issue #1

Written by Paul Levit, Art by Francis Portella

Another in the line of the New 52, this first issue of the Legion of Superheroes was particularly good. The story appeares to pick up In Medias Res at the beginning of a mission, jumping between a shock team out in the field and the Legion’s headquarters. Particularly, I found the way Levit handled these new characters very well done. I enjoyed the careful information he give on each of the characters introduced in this issue. This is doubly impressive considering the number of characters needing development, what with the introduction of so many new faces. Aside from just development, the dialogue was also well delivered.

The only major qualm I had throughout the comic was a single and shameless act of self promotion. At one point, one of the characters expresses concern towards a recent past event, at which point the writers took it upon themselves to put in an advertisement for the comic that said past event could be found in. The went so far as to quote the character in doing so.

Portella gives the comic an exquisite flow, the art often lending itself in such a way that guides the readers eye towards the next panel, a must for comics that is to often lacking. I find myself often lost in the sharp drawing and shading style being employed in these newer runs of DC comics. The recently introduced characters each have a design that lends itself to the aesthetics of the comic setting and overall story.

All plugging aside, the comic was a great first issue and interested me further in the other issue of this title.