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.

Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #6 Review

Written by: Brian Buccellato
Art by: Scott Hepburn
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 26, 2014

We are Family 

Brian Buccellato turned what looked like a throw away mini into a great Forever Evil title.  It's been a slow burn for me, with each issue getting better and better.  The same goes for Scott Hepburn's art.  I wasn't a fan at first, but he's won me over big time.  Now that the book is over I'm sad to have my time with the Rogues come to an end and hope to see them all again really soon.

Brian Buccellato changes things up a bit this last issue by featuring the Pied Piper.  He's a part-time member of the Rogues and is here for a few reasons.  One is to kick ass with his musical abilities.  The better reason is to show how good a guy he is and also how good the Rogues are.  You see, the Pied Piper is gay.  The Rogues don't care about that.  Nope, they care about the person and like I said, Piper is a good person. So, in this mini and the villains' month issue, Buccellato has shown the Rogues to be  fun loving criminals with hearts of gold who also are unprejudiced and loyal to their own.  In other words, they are awesome.

Batman: The Dark Knight #29 Review

Written by: Gregg Hurwitz
Art by: Jorge Lucas and Ethan Van Sciver
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 26, 2014

Insane in the Membrane

Batman say Ouch and Abraham Langstrom wants to have homeless people for dinner.  Kirk Langstrom and Batman come up with a plan, if you can call it that.  When Man Bat gets a drink, he snaps out of it, but is temporally insane.  Batman doesn't do his job again, but still acts like he did.

This is the last issue of Gregg Hurwitz's Dark Knight and it is perfect.  Perfect because it really shows what I liked and hated about this series as a whole.  I feel like I should be more positive so I will start with what I liked first.  Plus, that will be a lot quicker than what I hated.

Catwoman #29 Review

Written by: Sholly Fisch
Art by: Pat Olliffe
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 26, 2014

The Good, The Bad and the Sexy

Selina is partying at Taylor Pharmaceuticals, but she isn't only there for the champagne.  She is there to steal some drugs for a mysterious client and she does her best Ethan Hunt to do it.  When the alarm is triggered (but who triggered it?) she throws one of the drugs at a security guard and he Bane's out and attacks. Catwoman finally escapes and returns the other drug to her client, but who he is and his reason for the heist are a bit of a surprise...and a bit ridiculous.  

Sholly Fisch gets a chance at a little Catwoman one shot and I have to admit, I was happy when I saw a name other than Nocenti on the cover.  If you've read my other reviews of Catwoman, you know why. After reading the issue, I wasn't as impressed as I hoped I'd be, but it's still one of the better Catwoamn issues I've read in a long time.  That may not be saying much, but at least it's saying something positive for once.

Teen Titans #29 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Scott Lobdell
Art By: Tyler Kirkham
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 26, 2014

OUTATIME

In the past, when we read about the Titans in the future, Kid Flash staged a coup during his trial.  So a lot of fighting between the Functionary and the Revolutionists, The Titans and the Revolutionists, and even the Titans and Kid Flash.  The fight was stopped though, when Kid Flash's sister came, and talked some sense into the renegade speedster.  In the end Kid Flash accepted his punishment, and was sentenced to life with hard labor, but he won't be going alone.  In order to not be separated from her love, Solstice killed one of the judges, so she too could be sentenced.  Things are looking bad for the Titans, especially where Superboy is concerned, but if you want info on that, read the book or read the reviews.  With only a couple issues left to the series conclusion, let's hope for the best for our juvenile heroes.

Red Lanterns #29 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Charles Soule
Art By: Alessandro Vitti
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 26, 2014

Teenage Rage-ahol!

Okay we're finally moving forward.  This issue takes place after the Green Lantern/Red Lantern flipbook, where we saw our angry young Supergirl with a Red Lantern ring.  It went from the Green Lanterns finding her, to them taking her to the Red Lanterns, and then throwing her into a magical blood pool.  You know pretty normal stuff.  So thanks to the magical blood pool, Kara isn't insane anymore, and we can get on with the Red Daughter of Krypton story.  Well we can get on, but Guy Gardner is still worried about what kind of power a Kryptonian will have with a rage ring, and even more worried about what kind of rage Superman will have once he finds out his young cousin, has banded with a group who's leader looks like a ginger Hobo With A Shotgun.  Let's go down to Ysmault, and see what's going down.

Green Lantern: New Guardians #29 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Justin Jordan
Art By: Brad Walker, Andrew Hennessy
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 19, 2014

The Wrath Of God's People

Here we are, God Killers part 2.  Last issue Kyle, Carol, and the Templar Guardians found themselves a
planet where a new religion has come, and split the people between believers, and non believers.  Of course Kyle jumped the gun, and resorted to smiting the non-believers, but you gotta cut him some slack, because they were about to smite the believers.  But all the fighting stopped, when the actual god of the religion of Light and Fire; X'Hal, showed up.  Now it's time to see what a god is all about, and hope Kyle doesn't resort back to the smite.

Injustice: Year Two #6 Review

Written by: Tom Taylor
Art by: Bruno Redondo
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 25, 2014

Chapter Six: Return to Oa

While the Green Lanterns gather their forces, Gotham is partying like it's 1984.  Meanwhile, Hal breaks up with Carol...again and we learn what a "Peeping Ganthet" is.  Finally, James Gordon finds out his daughter is in a girl group that would make Girls Generation green with envy.

I have to give Tom Taylor some props.  Last Year, he made a video game tie-in a must read and was rewarded justly. I don't just mean getting Earth 2, but also Injustice: Year Two.  Last Season,  Taylor needed to grab new readers with over-the-top action and death and destruction weekly, but now he can use the admiration and trust he's gained from readers to slowly build the Year Two story.  Don't get me wrong, there has been plenty of action and twists, but the extra time and care Taylor has give character development has been great.  The book is building to something huge and you can cut the tension with a knife.

Old Time Tuesday: Adventures of Captain Marvel - Chapter One: Curse of the Scorpion

I love old time movie serials and I love Shazam.  The combination of the two is even better.  Originally released in 1941, Adventures of Captain Marvel starred Tom Tyler a weight lifting champ who was known to be a clutz and acidently connected on many a stunt punch. Ouch!  These serials are looked at as being some of the best ever produced, so sit back and enjoy.

Adventures of Superman #48 Review

Written by: Joe Keatinge
Art  by: Tula Lotay and Jason Shawn Alexander
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: March 24, 2014

It's the End of the Universe as We Know It

Adventures of Superman is great because it lets writers and artists a chance to give readers various tales of the Man of Steel and maybe even their favorite villains and characters as well.  We have even had some surprises along the way.  Then when a creative team is done, we get a new one the next week.  For Superman fans it is a treat.

Joe Keatinge has used his opportunity to show us that Superman is timeless and always there for us.  What started out as a walk down memory lane for the last astronaut on Earth, Kamandi, has turned into much, much more.  I just wish Ming Doyle and David Williams were there for the ending.

Justice League Beyond 2.0 #16 Review

Written by: Christos Gage
Art by: Iban Coello
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: March 22, 2014

End User

Brainiac has met the Justice League on Paradise Island and the League still has the odds stacked against them.  However, last issue's cliffhanger is ready for action and Brainiac is in trouble.  The Battle ends with kisses, tears and a really pissed off Superman.

Justice League Beyond 2.0 has become one of my favorite books.  I'll admit it, I started reading the book because I like Christos Gage and it's a companion to Batman Beyond 2.0.  Well, I'm glad I gave it a chance because I love it.  This Brainiac arc has been so good and now the final issue is upon us and I'm happy to tell you, it was worth the wait.

Batman and Aquaman #29 Review

Written by: Peter J. Tomasi
Art by: Patrick Gleason
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 19, 2014

Having a Whale of a Time

Batman and (fill in the blank) has not been the same since Damian died.  I know, it doesn't take a rocket surgeon to come up with that nugget, but the rotating guest stars have only made me wish for a new Robin to be introduced so we can get on with it.  Granted, Damian was great and the dynamic between him and Batman made this book a must read.  So, when I heard the book would feature the "Hunt for Robin" arc I was excited.  Well, after reading this issue, I'm a little less excited and a bit more skeptical.

Peter J. Tomasi wastes no time at all getting to the action.  Batman (and stowaway Titus) are on the trail of Ra's al Ghul and it's lead then to an Island in the Pacific Ocean.  However, as they approach they are met by Aquaman.  He has his reasons for showing up, but they are really a stretch.  It just doesn't feel organic at all.

Just For The Hell Of It Mondays 3/24/14

SPRING HAS SPRUNG

As you all know, or at least should know, Spring was sprung last Thursday.  That little bit of information is
enough to pick most people's spirits up, so let's try to put a stop to that.  For this Just For The Hell Of It Monday, I'm sorry to tell you that I'm going to give you a little bit of green to go with Spring.  What kind of green you ask.  Well the type that's most important to the DCU, and has to deal with spring. ( Damn DC's lousy with green.) So for your enjoyment, or utter depression, this week I'll show you what happens to Swamp Thing when he enters the small screen in live action, and in animation formats.  It's just awful.  Either it's boring as hell, or it's a jumbled nonsense that takes the song "Wild Thing", and makes it more ridiculous, check it out after the break.  Have a good week, and I hope to bring you something better next week, but better could mean worse too.  Boosh!

Animal Man #29 Review

Written by: Jeff Lemire
Art By: Travel Foreman and Jeff Lemire
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 19, 2014

It's Hard to Say Goodbye

Animal Man has been one of the New 52's best books.  Jeff Lemire wove a tale of adventure, tragedy and most of all, family.  It has been both uplifting and heartbreaking and now it is ending.  Jeff Lemire announced a couple months ago that issue #29 would be the end and that the final issue would reunite him with Travel Foreman for one last go.  The end is here and it is both uplifting and heartbreaking...go figure.

Last month's issue of Animal Man tied up the book fairly well, bringing most of the loose ends together in a very satisfying ending.  So what do Lemire and Foreman have for us this month?  Pretty much a near perfect book that will leave fans with a lump in their throats and a tear in their eye.  

Trinity Of Sin: Pandora #9 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Ray Fawkes 
Art By: Francis Portela
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 19, 2014

Uber Faust!

Last issue of Forever Evil: Blight, Nick Necro saw the future, and witnessed the monster that's following the Crime Syndicate.  Through this sight to the future Necro realized that Zatanna will die, unless Constantine, or Necro himself dies before the event.  So the battle to save Zatanna's future begins.  The two tussle, and in the end Constantine get's sent to hell, but not before throwing a energy blade through Nick's chest.  So it seems that the two are done, really done, let's hope that doesn't have any consequences for Zatanna.  So let's dive back in, and see if Pandora, Phantom Stranger, Cassandra Craft, and the son's of Trigon will succeed in stopping Felix Faust, and taking down Project Thaumaton.

Birds of Prey #29 Review

Written by: Christy Marx
Art by: Robson Rocha
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 19, 2014

Kill and Kill Again

Condor is a real a-hole, Canary just wants her husband back and Strix is the geek squad's worst nightmare. The war between Ra's and Eve is going down and don't think of bringing a gun to a sword fight.

Let me start this review by telling you a fact.  I really want to like Birds of Prey.  I like the characters (except for one whose name begins with Condor) and don't get many team books in my lineup of reviews.  That being said, Birds of Prey has not been good.  In fact, it has downright sucked.  It hasn't all been the fault of the creative team, though.  It seems that every time the book makes a little stride forward, it is hit by a tie-in (Zero Year and Gothtopia, I'm looking at you) that does nothing to help it.  It's like MC Scat Cat sang with his homegirl, Paula Abdul, two steps forward, two steps back.  This month is a bit different.  Christy Marx gets us back on track and things may be looking up.

Smallville: Lantern #2 Review

Written by: Bryan Q. Miller
Art by: Marcio Takara
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: March 21, 2014

Learning Curve

A certain NYPD detective carries a ring along with his gun and handcuffs. Superman tries to adjust to his new role, but is in desperate need of training.  Luckily, their paths will intersect, but it better happen quick.

Superman as a Green Lantern is so good.  After gaining the ring last issue, I couldn't wait to see what happens next.  In my crazy mind, he would wield the ring like a pro right off the bat.  Thank the maker I don't write this book because what's the fun in that.  Nope, Bryan Q. Miller gives us a Superman who not only doesn't know how to use the ring, but quite frankly doesn't even want it.