Batman Beyond 2.0 #28 Review

Written by: Kyle Higgins and Alec Siegel
Art by: Phil Hester and Craig Rousseau
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: August 9, 2014

State of Love and Trust

In my review for last week's Batman Beyond, I mentioned that this Mark of the Phantasm arc seemed bigger than the rest of the series. That's not an insult to what came before it, just a huge compliment to the now four issues Higgins and Siegel have given us.  This book should be required reading for anyone with even the tiniest interest in Batman Beyond or Batman the Animated Series.  I know "required reading" sounds like a chore, but this is far from it.  Trust me.  I hate chores.  I'm lazy.  I love Batman Beyond 2.0.  And Hamburgers, but enough about me.  Let's talk about this awesome issue of Batman Beyond 2.0.

Smallville: Chaos #10 Review

Written by: Bryan Q. Miller
Art by: Agustin Padilla
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: August 8, 2014

Man With a Plan

Last week in Smallville: Chaos, Lex Luthor channeled his inner Dan Didio and suggested a reboot of the Smallville Universe.  To say I was anticipating this issue all week is an understatement.  Smallville is my favorite comic and while I've enjoyed the Chaos mini, it seems to be losing a little steam instead of building to an epic conclusion.  I blame the way these issues are eventually packaged more than the issues themselves. There is a certain ebb and flow that goes along with it.  However, Lex's proposal was a great ending to last issue and a jump start to the final three starting this week.

Action Comics #34 Review

Written by: Greg Pak
Art by: Aaron Kuder and Scott Kolins
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: August 8, 2014

ACTION comic

Before we start, have you already read Action Comics Annual and Superman/Wonder Woman Annual also out this week?  You should. Mainly because they are Doomed issues that lead into this one, but also because they are damn good books.  In fact, this is a banner week for Doomed fans with three damn good issues hitting the shelves.  Yes, that's a bit of a spoiler for this review, but get used to it. It's becoming harder and harder to review these issues completely spoiler free, but I'll do my best.  If you don't want to read the ramblings of a crazy old man, just glance at the score below and buy this issue now.  If you've been following the Doomed event, you will not be sorry. Like George Zimmer, I guarantee it.

Top 5 Fridays: Top 5 Heroes We Want To See In Earth 2

With this week's conclusion to "The Kryptonian" story arc in Earth 2, I figured I'd take the time to talk about some characters that should grace the pages of our favorite parallel Earth in the future.  *SPOILER* The awful Superman has finally been put down and the war with Apokolips has at least been put on a hiatus for the time being and I can't think of a better time to see some new Wonder blood join the roster of the pre-Justice Society of America.  Now I've said it a hundred times that Earth 2 is my favorite book in the New 52 and I really want this universe to grow and actually feel like Prime Earth does, at least with the individual lives of it's heroes.  Now I don't know if that can be accomplished with Worlds' Finest becoming a Earth 2 title, or with the weekly Earth 2: World's End coming out in October, or if it will take more solo titles from the world of Earth 2.  I just want this universe to grow and I hope all of you who haven't check out the book yet will get on top of that shit, because this is definitely where it's at.  It = Awesome, in case you didn't know.  So let's check out this week's Top 5 Fridays with Top 5 Heroes We Want To See In Earth 2.

Superman/Wonder Woman Annual #1 Review

Written by: Charles Soule
Art by: Ed Benes, Tony Daniel, Pascal Alixe, Cliff Richards and Jack Herbert
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: August 7, 2014

Epic

The Doomed story is really heating up.  I am a huge fan of Charles Soule and Superman/Wonder Woman is one of my favorite books, so I am hoping this Annual rebounds from (what I thought was) a lackluster last issue.  Unlike that issue, this Annual gives us a good dose of Superman and Wonder Woman.  Imagine that.  What's even better, we get a massive amount of guest stars ranging from Steel to Simon Baz and almost everyone in between.

Phantom Stranger #22 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: J.M. DeMatteis
Art By: Fernando Blanco
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 6, 2014

Facing The Godnado

When we last walked with the cursed Phantom Stranger we were dealing with the possible resurrection of Zauriel.  After finding out that Zauriel was his guardian angel since the time he was born, The Stranger was left with bad taste in his mouth and feeling that something was watching him during his suffering drove him to leave Dr. Thirteen to face the trial (that determines whether our angel is restored or not) alone.  While Doc Thirteen was up to the task, it doesn't seem that his body would of succeeded and our Stranger returns to face the trial himself.  Only problem with that is now that he's the champion, he has to face The Presence himself in the form of a tornado.  It looks like the fight is rigged as we step into the official final issue of Phantom Stranger.  Let's check it out.

Detective Comics #34 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato
Art By: Brian Buccellato, Francis Manapul
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: August 6, 2014

The Moral Of The Story Is Don't Go To Gotham

Last issue of Detective Comics we saw the Kings of The Sun kill The Squid, mostly by accident I would think, but they also kidnapped The Squid's brother Johnny.  It seems like the Kings of The Sun's leader, Holter is the father that Annie never knew and now he wants his daughter to kill Johnny for murdering her mother.  Got this so far?  So Batman follows his leads to the abandoned Kane Power Plant and it looks like Bullock had the same idea, which I can only assume makes both of them pissed off because they start punching each other about the face.  At the end of the issue we saw that pink glowing fella walking about and while I thought we just saw his glow off in the distance, it turns out he's caused an explosion down by the waterfront.  Hopefully our hero and Bullock can put a hold on the face punching long enough to figure out what the hell is going on.  Let's check it out.

Green Lantern #34 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Robert Venditti
Art By: Billy Tan, Rob Hunter, Martin Coccolo
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 6, 2014

Ping Ping Ping

Last time we looked at the Green Lanterns we ended the crossover event Uprising and like we all knew they would, the Green Lantern Corps came out on top and defeated the power hungry Durlans.  So now the universe is safe and it's time to get back to patrolling the universe and hopefully convince the people of said universe that the Corps isn't destroying the universe by using their rings, even though they actually are.  So let's jump into this issue and see how Hal is spending his time now that he's not leading a war and maybe I'll stop saying universe.

Grayson #2 Review

Written by: Tim Seeley
Art by: Mikel Janin, Guillermo Ortego and Juan Castro
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 6, 2014

Who Watches the Birdwatcher?

I have to admit, I am surprised how much I like Dick as a Secret Agent.  Tim Seeley won me over and convinced me that Dick belonged right where he is and not in Chicago or Gotham.  That's a complete 180 from when this book was first announced.  This week continues the spy goodness with what boils down to a one-shot adventure that doesn't just focus on Dick, but some pretty cool guest stars as well.

The New 52: Futures End #14 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Brian Azzarello, Jeff Lemire, Dan Jurgens, Keith Giffen
Art By: Aaron Lopresti
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 6, 2014

No Seriously, Something Bad Needs To Happen To Fifty Sue!

Last issue, I prayed and prayed to a deity I don't believe in for something terrible to happen to Fifty Sue, but like most things in life I was disappointed.  The recap for this week to keep you in the know goes like this, Fifty Sue and Grifter try to track down the stealth OMAC that attacked him by climbing down a air duct to a sub basement level of Cadmus Island.  Red Robin get's robbed at his bar by a very haggard looking Captain Cold and he later tracks him down and kicks the shit out of him to get his girlfriend's necklace back, while Batman Beyond was double crossed by his villain associates that want him off the team since Mister Terrific plastered his face on every television station.  In the end Big Barda and Emiko are tricked into walking down a dark alley by Fifty Sue who apparently can be at two places at once and the two heroes are confronted by Deathstroke.  Let's get this Five Years From Now party started.

Action Comics Annual #3 Review

Written by: Greg Pak
Art by: Ken Lashley, Aaron Kuder, Jack Herbert, Cliff Richards, Julius Gopez, Will Conrad and Pascal Alixe
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: August 6, 2014

My Body is a Cage

In general, I have enjoyed the Doomed story so far.  Yes, some chapters have been better than others, but that's par for the course with events like this.  After a flurry of releases, it's been almost a month since the last chapter in Superman/Wonder Woman #10.  Superman/Wonder Woman Annual and this Annual ends the SUPERDOOM chapter with tons of guest stars and the realization of the real threat facing the Universe.

Earth 2 #26 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Tom Taylor
Art By: Nicola Scott
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: August 6, 2014

Saving The World

Last time in Earth 2 we saw a bunch of bad shit going down.  Not only did we watch the Man of Steel murder Johnathan Kent with his heat vision, but Mister Terrific and Terry Sloan finished their ultimate Boom Tube device that opened a portal to Apokolips.  But this time around we don't have to worry about things coming to us, no this big bad Boom Tube is designed to pull the Earth to Apokolips and give Darkseid a new stomping ground.  While Green Lantern wrapped a net around the world to keep it from getting stolen, Val-Zod took it upon himself to keep Superman distracted.  Let's dive into this parallel world and see if Earth 2's Wonders can beat back the forces of Darkseid and stop the once great hero Superman.  I'm so scared.

DC Comics Artists Love Their Cereal

AWESOME!!

It was announced by USA Today.... today that DC Comics artists teamed up with General Mills to recreate their monster brands of cereal for the Halloween season.  Jim Lee redesigned Boo Berry, Terry and Rachel Dodson went after Count Chocula and Dave Johnson recreated Franken-Berry.  

This news is a bit funny to me, because Jim and I have been talking about our favorite cereals for the past two days and with that I was even planning on doing a Top 5 Fridays dealing with the best depictions of DC Characters in cereal.  So now it seems a little too late, or maybe it's just the right time, I don't know it could go either way.  All I really know is that I can't wait for October, with all the creative changes and new titles coming out and now I'll be sure to pick up some redesigned cereals to spoon into my fat mouth.  

So if you want to check out the full interview that Jim Lee did with USA Today go and check it out, but it mostly has to do with Lee's love for Boo Berry, which is odd to me because it's the grossest of this trio of terrifying ways to start your day.

Injustice: Year Two #18 Review

Written by: Tom Taylor
Art by: Bruno Redondo
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: August 5, 2014

Back to Basics

Last issue Mogo turned the sky green.  Harley might have thought it looked pretty, but I'm sure the Sinestro Corps would have a different opinion.  If they were alive, that is.  This week opens with a rundown of the devastation. Superman, Sinestro and Hal Jordan survived, but many weren't so lucky.

Tom Taylor is back to his old ways.  Explosions, action, fighting and Harley Quinn in her old outfit.  It's great to be back.  I'd say this is like Year One, but it's better.  The craziness has more substance after the character building and tension of Year Two.  The two show stealers this issue are Harley (no surprise there) and Catwoman.  Two strong ladies leading the way for Team Batman.

Detective Comics Annual #3 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Brian Buccellato
Art By: Werther Dell'edera, Jorge Fornes, Scott Hepburn
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: July 30, 2014

Pulp Fictiony

For this Annual we'll continue to take a look at the Icarus story arc, but for this one we'll be dealing with a prequel story that sets up the events of Annie Aguila's death and sets our Dark Knight Detective on his investigation into the Kings of The Sun and The Squid.  So if you needed more info on what's up with the gang land activity in Gotham and a drug that sets you on fire and gives you super speed when you OD on it, then this is the Annual for you.  Let's dive deep into this Pulp Fictiony narrative that sets the stage for Buccellato and Manapul's run on Detective Comics.

Infinite Crisis: Fight for the Multiverse #12 Review

Written by: Dan Abnett
Art by: Tom Derenick
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: August 4, 2014

Just Like Starting Over

This is the spot where I usually begin my review by telling you guys what happened last issue, but that's pretty mute here.  Why? Because after 11 issues and two teams of heroes, we are beginning anew...again.  Don't get me wrong, that isn't a bad thing per se, except when we barely get to know each one.  The lack of character development has really killed my enjoyment of this title and it all starts again this week.  We say goodbye to Zatanna, Flash and Cyborg and say hello to Supergirl, Zod and...Zatanna?  Yep, this is the multiverse so things are bound to get crazy.

Just For The Hell Of It Mondays: DC's Super Powers Collection!

You guys know how this works by now, it's Just For The Hell Of It Mondays and I usually go into details about something in my life and talk about a video I took straight off of Youtube.  I don't consider it stealing since I always tell you about the creators and give a link if it's purely created by someone, so I live a relatively guilt free life.

Batman '66 Meets the Green Hornet #5 Review

Written by: Kevin Smith and Ralph Garman
Art by: Ty Templeton
Cover Price: $1.99
Release Date: July 16, 2014

An Unlikely Pair

Personally,  Batman '66 Meets the Green Hornet has been a bit of a disappointment.  Maybe I expected too much from Smith and Garman or possibly expected something a little different.  The biggest problem I've had is something I thought this book would provide in spades...fun.  I'm just not having much.  Batman '66 is something that makes me smile just thinking of it, but this book just doesn't do it for me.  It's obvious that Smith and Garman know and love the source material, but something seems lost in translation.  Maybe they are afraid to take it too far in fear of sullying the name of Batman '66, but so far they've given the reader a pretty by-the-numbers story.  This issue starts a new arc, but does it change things in general?  Let's find out.

Sinestro #4 Review and *SPOILERS*

Written By: Cullen Bunn
Art By: Rags Morales
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: July 30, 2014

Fear The Paling!

Last issue of Sinestro we saw the Corps boxing up all their possession to get ready for the big move to their new HQ.  On top of all that, Sinestro has located some more Korugarians that he plans on saving and for the most part he succeeds.  By most part I mean, yeah he stopped his people from being sold into slavery and delivered a few face punches to their would be slavers, but before they could go and celebrate a job well done, they were met by the "The Paling", the cult that wants to purge the universe of all emotions.  Now we'll see if Sinestro, Soranik and a handful of Fear Lanterns can stand up against these emotionless extremists, or if they too will succumb to "The Paling".  Let's check it out.