Saturday, April 26, 2014

All Star Western #30 Review

Written by: Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray
Art by: Staz Johnson and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 23, 2014

Back In the Saddle Again


Jonah Hex is back in the Old West. Jonah in the future was good fun, but I'm so glad the book is back to the "Western" promised in the title.  Much to my surprise, this book also makes good of the "All Star" as well, but was it any good?

Red Lanterns #30 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Charles Soule
Art By: J. Calafiore, Alessandro Vitti
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 23, 2014



Justice Isn't Blind.  It's A Red Lantern, Get The Hell Out Of There!


Last time we saw the Red Lanterns they were hanging out in Supergirl #30, and the gang was defending a planet against invaders.  We also saw Kara give a long drawn out explanation why she hates people that commit genocide, and her problem solving skills led to the conclusion that the people committing genocide should all be killed.  So we have a bit of a hypocritical solution here.  In the end of that issue we saw that the alien invaders want to use Kara for their own goals to wipe species almost off the map.  It's what they call "their gift" you see, if you almost kill an entire species the survivors will become stronger.  If this is what people are calling gifts nowadays then I'm not celebrating shit anymore.  So let's see if Bleez is ready to talk about what happened to Rankorr, and see what Guy Gardner plans on doing about Atrocitus.

Friday, April 25, 2014

Smallville: Lantern #7 Review

Written by: Bryan Q. Miller
Art by: Marcio Takara
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: April 25, 2014

Fear Factor


A little disclosure before I start.  My name is Jim and I'm a Bryan Q. Miller fanboy.  I actually came to Smallville because of him and through the comic ended up a fan of the show.  It may be the reverse of the usual, but we all ended at the same place so all is good, right?  Guess what?  I also am a huge Green Lantern fan so this arc is tailor made for me.  After the  slight letdown of chapter 4, it has really gotten good.  In fact, after this issue it is my favorite Smallville arc.

Superman #30 Review

Written by: Scott Lobdell
Art by: Ed Benes
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 23, 2014

Six Pounds of Something in a One Pound Bag


Superman is a busy book.  A new creative team is on the horizon, but first, Scott Lobdell gets to say farewell with his part in the upcoming Doomed story.  In Lobdell's world, that seems to mean throw a whole bunch of plots and ideas at the readers with little to no transition, explanation or resolution.  Like I said, it's a busy book.

There is so much going on it's hard to sort through it.  Doomsday kills some honeymooners, Smallville's residents all fall into a coma, the eradicator holds Superman lovingly and warns him about Doomsday, Cat misses Clark, Kandor's citizens wake up and Lois is a 12th level intellect and newlywed to boot.  Did you notice my lack of transition and explanation?  Get used to it if you read this issue.

The Flash #30 Review

Written by: Robert Venditti and Van Jensen
Art by: Brett Booth
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 23, 2014


Getting Up to Speed


The main reason to check out Flash this month is the new creative team of Robert Venditti, Van Jensen and Brett Booth.  It's always fun to see how a new team goes about making their mark and the three do it by presenting a time traveling mystery, the return of a fan favorite character and a story that's a good jumping on point for new readers.  Everything is in place, but is it any good?

Central City is a mess.  I mean, it's not as bad as Gotham, but what city is?  I'm joking, but it's a real mess. Gorilla Grodd and the Crime Syndicate may be to blame, but a certain really fast running guy blames himself. The people of Central City are trying to pick up the pieces and that includes the CCPD and Barry Allen.  In order to return to duty they must all pass a psychological evaluation.  We may not know the final bit of Forever Evil, but we can guess two things...the good guys won and it took it's toll on everyone.

Thank Grodd It's Friday


Top 5 Fridays: Titles We (Mostly I) Want To See In 2014


DC Comics is going full throttle with the Futures End event coming in September, we've got preludes, titles jumping five years ahead, and most likely we'll have epilogues after the event is finished.  Even though we just got done Forever Evil and will probably be feeling the effects of said event for awhile longer, when do we have time to have new titles with regular non-event stories?  Well I don't have an answer for that, I just have a need to have a event free DCU for at least half a year.  It's just so much, and then to jump ahead to five years in the future to an event I'm lost on because we jumped ahead five years in the future, it just sounds so exhausting.  We need some breathing time in between DC, time to get our bearings straight, and to just sit back with a comic that doesn't depend on us reading four other titles to understand.  Okay ranting done, so for this week's Top 5 Friday I figure we'll look at some new titles that we want to see here at Weird Science before the end of the year.  Which is ridiculous to think about because it's only April, but the Futures End event will come fast and furious and before we know it, it will take us into the new year, so that's why we need something quick.  Here are the ones I want to see the most.  Let's check it out.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Secret Origins #1 Review

Written by: Greg Pak, Kyle Higgins and Tony Bedard
Art by: Lee Weeks, Doug Mahnke and Paulo Siqueira
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: April 23, 2014

Now for Something Completely...the Same


I'm a sucker for origin stories.  When DC announced Secret Origins, I squealed like a little school girl.  Not only do I get origins, but these are secret.  Secrets are funny things, though.  If everyone knows what they are, they aren't really secrets anymore.  This issue is an origin issue, but calling it secret is a stretch.  But is it any good?

Worlds' Finest #21 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Paul Levitz, Greg Pak
Art By: RB Silva
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 26, 2014


Closing The Bridge, Not Like Jersey


So this is about a month late due to Batman/Superman #9 beings so late, and my refusal to do it until I could read the whole story, but we're here and we can finish the First Contact story in order together.  Last issue Kaizen Gammora opened the portal to Earth 2, Superman destroyed his nanites, even though they appear to be some residual nanite action going on here, and Huntress and Power Girl look through the universal bridge to see a world they no longer recognize.  It's time to stop Kaizen once and for all, and don't expect our two heroes from Earth 2 to get home because the issue after this one still has them on Prime Earth.  How do you like that for a spoiler?  So let's get done this really disappointing story.

Batman/Superman #9 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Greg Pak
Art By: Jae Lee
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 23, 2014


Fighting And Punching, That Is All


So it's finally out, the issue that I've been waiting for for two months.  Now I wrote a small article about this issue being part 3 of First Contact, and the fact that part 4 came out a month ago totally ruined my day.  So even though the conclusion has been out, I refused to read it until this issue hit the shelves.  So I'm going in fresh, and then after this I'll be reviewing Worlds' Finest #21 so we get the end of this story the way it was meant to be read.  So with that out of the way let's talk about what happened in Worlds' Finest #20.  It looks like Superman now has the nanite problem that Power Girl had for many months, and before his powers become a problem Batman gives him a kryptonite ring to keep his powers at bay.  So Batman and Power Girl infiltrate New Gammora to find out what Kaizen is up to, and it appears he's the one behind the nanites, he also made some Kryptonian human hybrids, and is opening a portal to Earth 2.  Got all that?  Good let's jump into this issue and see where the nonsense goes.

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Teen Titans #30 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Scott Lobdell
Art By: Tyler Kirkham
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 23, 2014


Callbacks And Tying Up Loose Ends


Is it weird that I'm bummed this is the last issue?  I know the we still have an Annual, and that the Titans will return in July starting fresh, but I have a certain sadness about this final standard issue.  I don't know I'm a sad sack, but I'll try not to let that bring me down here.  When we last left the Teen Titans they said goodbye to their friends Solstice and Kid Flash, and left them to the fate they decided.  No grand rescues or prison breaks, just a goodbye as the two lovers choose to serve out the punishment for their crimes.  The remaining team go back to their own time, where we meet up Bunker and Beast Boy fighting for their lives against two villains calling themselves The Light and The Way.  So it's out of the frying pan and into the fire and some more metaphors that apply to this situation.  Let's see the trouble that's in store for our young heroes this month.

Catwoman #30 Review

Written by: Ann Nocenti
Art by: Pat Olliffe
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 23, 2014

Stealing Money


Here we go again.  Catwoman is the book I love to hate.  Actually, I read it each month to get a couple chuckles.  Unfortunately, Ann Nocenti isn't necessarily known as a humorist.  No, the humor comes from the awful dialogue, the inane plot and just the pure ridiculousness of everything else.  After a month away, she is back and so are the laughs.

Catwoman #30 starts the "Race of Thieves" story and  I have to admit that I like the idea behind it.  A contest is being held to determine the best thief in the World.  Selina had just given up her life of crime, but who can pass up a contest?  Obviously not Catwoman.  Let the fun begin.

Justice League United #0 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Jeff Lemire
Art By: Mike McKone
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: April 23, 2014


JL Aye?


Here we are with the premier issue of Justice League United, or Justice League Canada as it was called when the rumors about it started flying last year.  We begin in a post Forever Evil world, where it appears the JLA have disbanded.  Let's start the story that will see the beginning of a brilliant new team in the DCU.

Batman Eternal #3 Review

Written by: Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV with Ray Fawkes, John Layman and Tim Seeley
Art by: Jason Fabok
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 23, 2014


"This is only beginning and it's about to get much bigger"


After reading this issue I have finally decided that I never want to visit (let alone live) in Gotham City. The joke is always that it's a horrible city, but Batman Eternal #3 kicks that up a notch. Bam!

It's easy to forget this is a weekly book.  Snyder, Tynion and company cram so much into each issue it is almost dizzying trying to keep up.  Last week, I mentioned this as a detriment.  I even speculated that there might be too many cooks, but this issue proved me wrong. So much happens, but it maintains a focus and pacing that makes it hard to put down.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Old Time Tuesday: Adventures of Captain Marvel Chapter 2 "The Guillotine"



It's Tuesday again and here is something old, The Adventures of Captain Marvel.  Released in 1941, it stars Tom Tyler as Captain Marvel and Frank Coghlan, Jr. as Billy Batson.  Enjoy!

Injustice: Year Two #8 Review

Written by: Tom Taylor
Art by: Bruno Redondo
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: April 22, 2014

Green on Green


Tom Taylor is taking his time.  The body count is down, but that hasn't made it any less exciting.  This issue takes place eclusively on OA.  Hal Jordan and the Guardians cannot see eye-to-eye on Superman's actions on Earth.  Hal is trying to convince them that everything Superman is doing is for the good of the planet, but the Guardians see Superman as a tyrant and a threat to the Galaxy.

Happy Earth 2 Day!



Monday, April 21, 2014

Trinity of Sin: Pandora #10 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Ray Fawkes
Art By: Ig Guara
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 16, 2014



Killing Them With Kindness


At the end of Forever Evil: Blight we saw our Dark heroes survive the Son's of Trigon, Project Thaumaton, and Nanda Parbat itself.  Now the Crime Syndicate is gone, (even though we haven't seen it yet DC!) and it's time for the world to put itself back in order.  For the heroes of the DCU that means picking up the pieces, and applying the glue to a frightened populace.  Now that the Seven Deadly Sins are dead, Blight is contained, and Pandora has some badass new powers which make her the embodiment of light and good in the world, she has some new choices to make herself.  Let's see what Pandora gets into next.

Just For The Hell Of It Mondays 4/21/14


Okay so we're on week 3 of the April themed Just For The Hell Of It Mondays, "How Bad We Had It In The 90's".  First week we took a look at the live action Flash TV show, and man was it over acted, wanna be Burton, and just plain silly.  Last week we saw The Adventures of Superboy and that had Lex Luger as the new Superboy, so nuff said.  I've said it every week this month but I'll do it another time just to nail it in the skulls of those of you who don't know because you've only lived in a world where live action super heroes have always been badass.  Shit was really rough in the 90's, hell we even have a Batman movie that's known as that which shall never be named.  So about this week's clip, I have for you a fight between Superman and a government agent Jason Trask, from Lois and Clark The New Adventures of Superman.  Let's check it out.

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Green Lantern: New Guardians #30 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Justin Jordan
Art By: Brad Walker, Diogenes Neves
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 16, 2014


Getting Emotional, But In A Good Way


In part 2 of the God Killers we saw X'Hal's origin, her herald's (who we're calling Kala this issue) origin, and the God Killer's origin.  It's not everyday you get to see the birth of a god, and then at the same time see a battle to kill a god.  The issue ends with the God Killers showing up on the planet, and attacking X'Hal, so let's see if Kyle, Carol, and the Templar Guardians can find a peaceful solution to this fight.  Knowing Kyle though it's not likely.  Let's dive right into God Killer Part 3 and take a looksie.

Birds of Prey #30 Review

Written by: Christy Marx
Art by: Robson Rocha
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 16, 2014

Don't Blink or You May Miss It


Birds of Prey is a book that seems to be running to stand still.  DC cares enough about it to include it in major events (Zero Year and Gothtopia recently), but it's these events that have killed any momentum the book's main story line has tried to build.  Not this month.  Christy Marx has had a  couple of months to settle in and tell her story.  The battle between Mother Eve and Ra's al Ghul is in full swing, but is it any good?

Harley Quinn #5 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti
Art By: Chad Hardin
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: April 16, 2014



Super Zero Team Up


Last issue of Harley Quinn saw the kidnapping, and torture of a family deemed cruel and uncaring by our title character.  Only problem is Harley jumped the gun on her judgments, because the old lady that complained about her family being cruel by never visiting has Alzheimer's.  Oopsy Daisy, well even Superman makes mistakes from time to time.  In the end of the issue Harley is confronted by a elderly wheelchair bound gentleman that used to be a government super hero Sy Borgman, known as Syborg.  Ha ha.  He's requesting Harley's help in finishing a mission he started years ago, namely killing elderly Russians.  So we'll jump into this issue and see if all goes according to the Syborg's plans.

Justice League Beyond 2.0 #18 Review

Written by: Christos Gage
Art by: Dexter Soy
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: April 19, 2014



Wonder...Woman


This Justice Lords arc is already good and with last weeks Batman Beyond, it's only getting better.  While the Batman Beyond story is more of the street level view, the Justice League Beyond book is where the reader gets the overall plot of the story.  This week, Christos Gage slows the pace down a bit in order to give us some back story and mystery and then BAM!  Blind sides us with a right-left combo that leaves us on the ground wondering what the hell just hit us.

Weird Science DC Comics News: WonderCon/Easter Edition

Easter Sunday.  Like everyone else, two things that always pop into my mind when I think about Easter are Candy and WonderCon News.  What doesn't pop into my mind are movies.  Every Holiday seems to have it's own go to movie, but what is Easter's?  Of course, there are plenty of religious movies, but The Passions of the Christ is not my idea of a good time.  I like fun Holiday movies like Groundhog Day, Christmas Vacation and My Bloody Valentine.  So, here is my list of best Easter Movies:

Top 5 Mostly Non-Religious Easter Movies that are Fun and aren't that Religious

5. Holiday Inn
4. Easter Parade
3. Hop
2. The First Easter Rabbit
1. It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown

Honorable Mention: Easter Bunny Kill! Kill!

And now...


On With The News

DC Releases Darwyn Cooke's Batman Beyond Animated Short

DC Comics is pushing Terry McGinnis/Batman Beyond so hard, I expect him to be facing John Cena in Wrestlemania 31.  Of course, most know the character from the Batman Beyond animated series that ran from 1999 to 2001, but there is suddenly so much more.  There is the Digital First comic written by Kyle Higgins that is excellent and later this year he will star in the weekly Futures End comic.  Yesterday, the good times continued when DC released Darwyn Cooke's Batman Beyond animated short for the Batman 75th Anniversary.  Check it out, it's awesome.